https://ebird.org/wi/hotspot/L757637
Habitat: Southern Hardwood Forest, Native and Restored Grassland, Marsh, Sedge Meadow, Willow/Dogwood Swamp, Open Water. Eldorado is primarily cattail marsh and grassy uplands with a scattering of sedge meadows, shrubby thickets, and deciduous woodlots.
Best Birds: Hooded Merganser, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Gallinule, Black-necked Stilt, Wilson’s Snipe, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Bald Eagle, Alder Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
The best area for observation is along the dike that crosses the marsh in an east-west direction. It can be entered either from County Highway I on the east or from HWY 23 on the west. From the east side before reaching the parking area, there are grasslands on the south side of the road. Check for Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow, and Dickcissel in the summer. The mile long stretch of Dike Road on the west side has brushy edges, wooded fields, and a small woodlot. On the north side of the marsh off County Highway N is another good place to observe wetland and grassland birds. On the southern border of the Wildlife Area, is a 3.5 mile segment of the Mascoutin Valley State Trail which provides views of the marsh and its bordering habitats.
Directions: 35 miles SSW of Appleton. Take Hwy 23 two miles west of Fond du Lac to County Highway I. Go north on County Highway I for two miles to Dike Road. Travel west for one mile on Dike Road to the parking area at its end, (43.81418, -88.56575). To enter from the west side, take Henrich Road, off Highway 23. In 0.4 miles turn left onto Dike Road. Follow Dike Road for 0.9 miles to the parking area, (43.81186, -88.58618).
The Mascoutin Valley trail has three parking lots. At the east end, just north of the intersection of County Highways I and OOO (43.79212, -88.53524), the west end on Henrich Road (43.80514, -88.58473), and about the halfway point at the end of Hageman Road (43.79267, -88.56374).
On the east side along Marsh Road there are three parking areas one can explore from. The south one is at 43.81861,-88.56894, then midway at 43.82497, -88.56547, and the north one at 43.83217, -88.56451. Another is at the intersection of County Highway I and Brenner Road (43.84319, -88.56713) These lots are primarily for fall hunters and there are no trails available for these points.
On the north side of the marsh off County Highway N, 0.6 miles west of County Highway I, is another good place to observe wetland and grassland birds. From County Highway N take the farm road south to the cul-de-sac and parking area, (43.84614, -88.58718).
Site Address and Additional Information:
Intersection of Marsh Road and Dike Road, Fond du Lac WI
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Lands/WildlifeAreas/eldorado.html
Jeff Baughman
