https://ebird.org/hotspot/L17468741
Habitat: Bottomland Hardwoods, Sand Prairie, Savanna, Marsh, Open Water.
Best Birds: At the boat landings and along VV are primarily floodplain forest with oxbow lakes, emergent marsh and pine-clad sandstone cliffs in some areas. Birds include Wilson’s Snipe, Belted Kingfisher, Barred Owl, Willow Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Veery and Mourning Warbler. The large floodplain canopy trees are nesting habitat for Red-shouldered Hawk. This area is under-birded and may contain some surprises.
The sand prairie and barrens start about 2 miles upstream from North Bend on the sandy, semi-open river terrace of the Black River. Bird life includes Common Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will, Brown Thrasher, Field Sparrow, and Clay-colored Sparrow.
Directions: 31 miles NNE of La Crosse. Drive through on County Hwy VV and bird from the roadside or explore more extensively by boat. VV passes north/south through the area for 1.1 mile from the Black River crossing to Lockington Road. A boat landing and parking lot is on VV south of the river, (44.08225, -91.12414). Downstream of this landing is the Half Moon Bottoms SNA, part of the wildlife area. Depending on water levels it may be possible to walk southwest along the river’s edge for 0.2 miles into the site. Upstream is initially floodplain forest and in 2 miles you reach the sand prairie and barrens. Another landing a half mile upriver in the town of North Bend is at the end of North Bend Drive, (44.08957, -91.11548). An alternative to paddling upstream is to put in at the Highway 107 boat launch just south of Melrose, then canoe downstream nearly 6 miles to the eastern edge of the site.
Site Address & Additional Information:
County VV, Mindoro WI
North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area | Wisconsin DNR
Black River Savanna State Natural Area - Wisconsin DNR
Half Moon Bottoms State Natural Area - Wisconsin DNR
Carl Schroeder and Randy Hoffman
