A total of sixty-nine species of birds can be found here, with twenty-five nesting on a regular basis. Nearly three-fourths of the nesting species are woodland species. Two grassland species, the Bobolink and Grasshopper Sparrow, nest sporadically. Several preferring the woodland edge habitat found here include Gray Catbird, Eastern Kingbird, Brown Thrasher, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-headed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Baltimore Oriole, Northern Cardinal, House Wren, and American Goldfinch.

From the intersection of I-80 and County Road N54 (exit 76, by Adair), drive north on N54 (Frontier Road) for 11 miles to a T-intersection with Highway 44. Turn east (right) and go 3 miles to Indigo Road (sign: Sheeder Prairie State Preserve 1 mile). Turn north (left) and go 1 mile to 220th Street (T-intersection—watch for sign). Turn east (right) and go 0.1 mile to a small parking area on the north side of the road (sign: Sheeder Prairie Preserve).

Sheeder Prairie is a 25-acre tallgrass prairie. It is located five miles west of Guthrie Center in Guthrie County. The property was purchased in 1961 by the Iowa Conservation Commission from Oscar and Clara Sheeder, the son and daughter-in-law of the original homesteader. It was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1968. This preserve lies within the Southern Iowa Drift Plain, a landform region of gently rolling terrain. Over 200 plant species are found in this preserve, including thirty grasses.