Late May into early July is generally considered to be the optimum period to bird here. Henslow’s, Grasshopper, Field and Song Sparrow and Bobolink can be expected, as well as the ubiquitous Dickcissel and Red-winged Blackbird. Western Meadowlarks are often present into early June; listen carefully. Sedge Wrens are known to come here for their second nesting in late July and August, but are also present in mid-late June.

This site is within the National Audubon Society’s Grand River Grasslands Important Bird Area (map below) and is on the Great Missouri Birding Trail. The northeast corner of the MDC land is adjacent to The Nature Conservancy’s 434-acre Pawnee Prairie.

This area and the adjacent Nature Conservancy property compose the largest holding of remnant tallgrass prairie in northern Missouri other than The Nature Conservancy’s 3,680-acre Dunn Ranch Preserve about a mile away. None of this area has ever been plowed. Most of this rolling terrain (about 400 acres) is considered degraded prairie, largely due to cattle overgrazing. Ongoing restoration practices include prescribed fire and controlled cattle grazing. In summer, even the most ardent birder is likely occasionally to focus attention on a striking representative of the grand array of prairie wildflowers present.

From I-35 at Eagleville, go west into town, then north on US 69 for 3.2 miles to a left turn (west) onto MO 46. Go west about 9 miles to Hatfield, to a left (south) turn onto 140th Ave. for .5 mile to the parking lot on the left.

From the small parking lot on the west side, a wide, mown pathway (field road) leads into the prairie. This is not a loop trail. Branches of pathways allow exploration of differing portions. The center of the area is worth the walk to experience the 74 acres of high-quality prairie with the greatest diversity of plants and birds.