Lake Farm County Park/Lower Yahara River Trail
Lake Farm https://ebird.org/hotspot/L201005
Lower Yahara River Trail https://ebird.org/hotspot/L6230647
Habitat: Field/Grassland, Southern Hardwood Forest, Open Water.
Best Birds: Lake Farm County Park: Nest boxes scattered throughout the fields provide sanctuary for Eastern Bluebird and perches for Eastern Kingbird. The woods between the fields and Lake Waubesa may host Merlin, and a variety of migrant and resident passerines including Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, thrushes, warblers and Scarlet Tanager. Scan Lake Waubesa for terns and gulls in early Spring and waterfowl year-round. The gravel road connecting the paved bike trail and group campground attracts White-Crowned Sparrows and Harris’s Sparrow in migration. Group camp has historically hosted Red-Headed Woodpecker).
Lower Yahara Trail (all birds seen from boardwalk): As a gentle current keeps water open year-round, nearly all waterfowl migrants have been seen here including Tundra Swan, scoters, and Long-tailed Duck. In late winter, a variety of gulls can be found on the edge of the ice including Glaucous Gull and Great Black-backed Gull, and an occasional Merlin can be seen at the edge of the woods north of the boardwalk. Scan the open water in spring for Forster’s Tern and in summer for American White Pelican and Osprey.
Directions: Located on the south side of Madison, two miles south of US-12/18 on Libby Road. Maintained gravel and dirt paths are accessible from various parking lots north of Libby Road (entrance at 43.025510, -89.333548). The Lower Yahara River Trail is accessible from trails at the north-most parking lot at Lake Farm County Park (43.031226, -89.329387) or from walking northwest on a new, mile-long boardwalk from McDaniel Park in McFarland (43.026850, -89.307582).
Site Address & Additional Information:
4330 Libby Road, Madison, 53711
https://parks-lwrd.countyofdane.com/park/William-G-Lunney-Lake-Farm
Brandyn Kerscher