Indian Lake County Park
Indian Lake County Park, Dane County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Open Water, Marsh, Southern Hardwood Forest, Native and Restored Grasslands, Oak Savannah.
Best Birds: The prairie and edge surrounding the main woods will have resident birds such as Field Sparrow, Blue-Winged Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Eastern Meadowlark, and many others. Flycatchers abound at this park with resident Eastern Kingbird, Great Crested, and Willow Flycatcher (wet and prairie edges) as well as migrants such as Alder and Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher. The heavily wooded trails will have any number of warblers, vireos and thrushes in migration as well as a very unique set of resident birds for Dane County such as Acadian Flycatcher. The park also hosts all seven species of woodpeckers including hard-to-get Dane resident Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker and Red-Headed Woodpecker.
The lake itself holds many migratory ducks, geese, wading birds, gulls and, if water levels are lower, shorebirds. Although less birded in winter, the park hosts Northern Shrike as well as large volumes of American Tree-Sparrow.
Directions: 18 miles northwest of Madison. Turn south off of Highway 19 onto the entrance road (Matz Road) and arrive at the parking area (43.189601, -89.621259). Hike the trail system taking any number of routes.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Indian Lake County Park is home to an incredible variety of habitats and birds. There are many miles of trails that work the edges and wooded area.
8183 WI-19, Cross Plains, WI
https://parks-lwrd.countyofdane.com/park/IndianLake
Shawn Miller
