https://ebird.org/hotspot/L13974622
Habitat: Bottomland Hardwoods, Mixed Coniferous Forest, Southern Hardwood Forest, Sedge Meadow, Open Water.
Best birds: The uplands steeply descend along a sandy terrace with numerous seeps and springs along the terrace base to a flat floodplain. This area harbors Winter Wren, Blue-headed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Golden-winged Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Canada Warbler.
The unusual maple-basswood bottomlands along the Black River iis excellent for Red-shouldered Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Tufted Titmouse, Wood Thrush, and Cerulean Warbler.
A nighttime visit in summer may produce Northern Saw-whet Owl and Whip-poor-will.
Directions: 55 miles SE of Eau Claire. The site has two access points because private land separates them. The first is 8.2 miles northeast of Black River Falls city center via Main St., Hwy 54, Mission road, and Pettibone Pass. The access road from Pettibone Pass to the parking spot (44.354346, -90.767308) is not well maintained. Bird west of the parking area downstream. The second access point is 13.7 miles northeast of Black River Falls via Main St., Hwys 54 and K, Highbank Road and Palm Road. At the southwest end of Palm Road there is a parking area under the powerline (44.366960, -90.756740). Proceed northwest to an old forest road that leads downhill into the dense forest.
Site Address and Additional Information:
Pettibone Pass Road parking 44.354346, -90.767308
Palm Road parking 44.366960, -90.756740
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=614
Randy Hoffman
