Tiffany SWA--general (Buffalo Co.), Buffalo County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitats: Bottomland Hardwoods, Sedge Meadow, Marsh, Open Water, Oak Savannah, Native and Restored Grassland.
Best Birds: From the train station parking lot is the start of a foot trail which runs south. If the trail is flooded, walk on the elevated railroad grade. Or board a hobby train (reservations required) to venture five miles south into the Tiffany. The trail and railroad grade passes through sloughs with mergansers and Prothonotary Warbler, flooded forests with Cerulean Warbler and waterthrush, and savannas with Ruffed Grouse, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Orchard Oriole. After crossing the first slough, the rail and footpath intersect at Erickson’s Prairie, where you may find Eastern Towhee, and Henslow’s, Lark, and Field Sparrow.
Driving further south on Hwy 25 there’s a gravel drive to a parking lot at the end of which there is a wet opening where you can find Sedge Wren and Alder Flycatcher. As you continue south on Hwy 25, pull off near any un-mowed meadow and listen for grassland sparrows and Dickcissel.
The parking lot at Cty KK south of Misha Mokwa is a good place to see forest edge species like Blue-winged Warbler. Across from Fox Coulee Road is the road to the boat landing on Buffalo Slough. Hooded Merganser, Yellow-throated, and Warbling Vireo, a variety of warblers and Veery may be found here. On Hwy 35 the several boat landings are good places to look for Red-shouldered Hawk, and Prothonotary and Cerulean Warbler.
Directions: 35 miles SW of eau Claire/3 miles south of Durand on Hwy 25, across from Thibodeau Road, there is a train station parking lot (44.58360, -92.01106) where a foot trail begins that traverses the entire wildlife area for 10 miles south to Hwy 35. When the trail is flooded, walk the railroad grade instead. To explore by boat put in at the Fox Coulee boat landing (44.46514, -92.02813). The first landing to pull out downstream is on the northside of Hwy 35, 1.6 miles west of Hwy 25 (44.43544, -92.05148). The south end of the trail/railroad grade emerges on Hwy 35 at (44.43539, -92.06683).
Site Address and Additional Information:
Hwy 25 and Thibodeau Road, Durand WI
Sievright Rd parking, 44.57144, -92.01068
Misha Mokwa/KK parking, 44.49727, -92.01307
Fox Coulee Rd. boat landing, 44.46514, -92.02813
East Hwy 35 landing, 44.43544, -92.05148
Tiffany Wildlife Area | Wisconsin DNR
June Hotspot of the Month--Tiffany Wildlife Area - Wisconsin eBird
The 13,000 acre Tiffany WA is part of the larger Lower Chippewa River Important Bird Area. The Tiffany runs along the last 13 miles of the Chippewa River and is the largest contiguous floodplain forest in the upper Midwest.
There is a local train that runs into the Tiffany. Many of the train rides run by the Chippewa Valley Motor Car Association have a focus on birding and stop with ample time to get out and explore the various habitats.
Chippewa Valley Motor Car Association (ellawisc.com)
Tiffany can be very wet and buggy. Watch for Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Within this semi-wilderness there’s no signage therefore you could get disoriented so be prepared with a GPS or compass.
Anne Geraghty
