This is primarily a spot to scope waterbirds in fall/early winter and spring.  In summer there is little to look at and large numbers of boats; in winter the lake is frozen and mostly barren.  A scope is necessary to effectively bird this spot. The birds are almost always at a distance and the lake is usually choppy.  Pick either the east or west pullout based on which will put you closer to the birds and/or provide the best light. The lake usually freezes over by mid-December but sometimes waterfowl-packed holes will remain a bit later.

Fall/early winter: big rafts of ducks form off the dam.  The dominant species early are usually Mallard, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy Duck.  In some years, Franklin's Gull numbers reach the tens of thousands and Sabine's Gull is close to annual. This is a great spot for minor rarities like Pacific and Red-throated Loons, Red-necked and Western Grebes, scoters, and Long-tailed Duck.  Later, Mallards remain, but the scaup flock is replaced by large, dense flocks of Common Mergansers (thousands) and Common Goldeneye (hundreds).  The merg flocks attract large gulls including rare regular species like Glaucous, Iceland, and Lesser Black-backed and occasionally much rarer species like Great Black-backed, California, and kittiwake. Snow Buntings can occasionally be heard flying along the dam face while scoping the waterbirds.

Spring: much like fall, but usually with lower numbers and fewer rarities.  Most years there is a large Gizzard Shad winterkill and these fish become available to gulls and eagles as the ice melts in spring.  Gulling can be excellent if you happen to catch the window when the ice is melting.

Important Bird Area.
If arriving from east on I-80/I-35, north of Des Moines, go six miles north on Hwy 415, including turns west and north again, to NW 84th Avenue. Turn west and follow the signs to the dam.  If arriving from the west, take the Merle Hay Road exit north to NW Beaver Drive.  Take Beaver west/northwest for about a mile and follow signs to the dam.

Saylorville Reservoir is an extremely important stopover area for migrating waterfowl, gulls, terns, American White Pelicans, shorebirds, and other waterbirds. It supports nationally important concentrations of several species as well as smaller concentrations of many other species. The adjacent uplands support a variety of woodland species, both during the nesting season and in migration.

Saylorville Reservoir is located on the Des Moines River about 4 miles north of Interstate 80/35 north of Des Moines. Land on both sides of the reservoir is owned by the Army Corps of Engineers and includes several access points on both sides of the lake. County owned Jester Park on the west shore of the northern part of the reservoir also offers good access to some important birding areas. Big Creek State Park and adjacent state wildlife areas provide important upland habitat.