When submitting eBird observations for Spring Run Complex WMA, it is most helpful to start a new checklist for each hotspot within the area. Use this hotspot for checklists of birds when you have a checklist that includes multiple locations, or if there is no other hotspot or personal location appropriate for your sightings.

Important Bird Area.
A huge, sprawling complex (approximately 4,800 acres) of prairie lakes, marshes, native & mostly open uplands. One of NW Iowa's largest wildlife management complexes, comprised of both state and federal lands, under management of DNR. Entire complex is a DNR Bird Conservation Area and Audubon Important Bird Area.

Northeast of Milford in northeast Dickinson Co. (See also separate listings for Bartley Tract, Krummen Tract, Prairie Lake, Reiter-Lair W.A., and Wolthius Tract, all sub-portions of Spring Run, elsewhere on this website). The original core area of 950 acres is most easily reached as follows: from main downtown intersection with Hill Ave. in City of Spirit Lake, take IA Hwy 9 & US 71 east about 4 miles to reach 280th Ave. Turn south on 280th and travel 3 miles to reach the NE corner of the historic core area.

Shallow prairie lakes, original and restored prairie pothole marshes, tame grasslands, native and restored prairies, scattered small cropfields and small patches of trees/brush. Virtually every grassland and wetlands bird nesting in or migrating through NW Iowa may be found here. A BCA site guide and bird checklist is available from Iowa DNR. This is a public hunting area.

Spring Run Wetlands Complex has been named one of DNR's new Bird Conservation Areas, for its significant contribution to large-scale habitat protection for declining bird species. Its classic prairie-pothole landscape offers nesting habitat for countless waterfowl, cryptic marsh birds, grassland raptors and neotropical migrant songbirds.

Spring Run Wetlands Bird Conservation Area is easily accessed from Iowa Highway 9, 2 1/2 mi. east of the City of Spirit Lake. Turn south on graveled road and continue 2 mi. to reach the northern portions of this 3,500-acre area. It may also be reached by following County Highway M56 south 5 miles from Higway 9 just east of the bridge over East Okoboji Lake, or by following County Highway A34 east 2 1/2 mi. from Arnolds Park. The area consists of several large and small tracts scattered over a 15 sq. mi area, with plenty of road access to all parcels