Horicon NWR--Dike Rd., Dodge County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Open Water, Marsh, Restored Grassland, Willow Swamp and Southern Lowland Forest
Best Birds: Waterfowl, herons and egrets, rails and wetland songbirds can be viewed closely on foot on Main Dike Road. Restored grasslands, shrubs and lowland forest are found at the entrance leading to a wide expanse of cattail marsh and open water.
Directions: 66 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
The Main Dike can be accessed from Dike Road, 43.53082, -88.59124. Dike Road itself extends west from County Road TW. Main Dike crosses the southern end of the NWR and provides the longest drive into the interior of Horicon Marsh, dead-ending in a parking area 2.6 miles to the west, 43.53132, -88.64399.
Also from Dike Road, leading south, is Northern Road, 43.52343, -88.58611. This short dead-end road leads through Southern Hardwood Forest and Shrub Carr habitat. The upper part of this road is surrounded by private land while the portion adjacent to the Rock River runs through the State Wildlife Area. Roadside birding and hiking along the dike trails is available at this site which can be productive for migrant songbirds and other species. This area is open to hunting in fall.
Address and additional information
Dike Road, Mayville WI
Horicon - Horicon - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov)
Bill Volkert