https://ebird.org/hotspot/L276776
Habitat: Southern Hardwood Forest, Beaches and Mudflats, and Successional Oldfield.
Best Birds: The turbulent water below the dam on the Wisconsin River keeps the river ice-free during even the coldest winter weather, which attracts Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, and Bald Eagle. These colder months are a good time to check for uncommon waterfowl like Red-breasted Merganser, Black Scoter, and White-winged Scoter.
Large numbers of gulls gather below the dam, especially during spring and fall migration. Searching through these gulls can produce rarities like Glaucous, Iceland, Sabine’s, Franklin’s, and Lesser Black-backed. American White Pelican and Double-crested Cormorant also gather below the dam during the warmer months of the year.
In late summer and fall, the Wisconsin River water levels typically drop, producing sandbars and mudflats. With these exposed shorelines a variety of shorebirds and waders can be present and searching these shorelines below the dam has turned up species including American Avocet, Willet, Baird’s Sandpiper, and Sanderling.
Walking the trails south from the parking area toward Veterans Park, will provide an opportunity to see woodland species like Pileated Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, and Eastern Towhee,
Directions: 28 miles NW of Madison/1 mile north of Prairie du Sac. Take Dam Road to the east from Hwy 78 to the parking area at the dam.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Open Water, Southern Hardwood Forest, Beaches and mudflats Successional Oldfield. The Prairie du Sac Dam is a large hydroelectric dam on the Wisconsin River. The stretch of river below the dam has numerous sandbars and mudflats which are exposed when water levels are low. Along the road that leads to the dam is an area of Southern Hardwood Forest with some large White Pines. From the parking area at the dam, there are trails that lead south to Veterans Park. Walking these trails take you though Southern Hardwood Forest and some open areas of sandy Successional Oldfields.
Dam Rd, Prairie Du Sac, WI 53578
https://www.prairiedusac.net/index.asp?SEC={8280E7B4-045D-41BF-B028-2B809CC5F810}
Aaron Holschbach
