Hawkeye WMA--Greencastle Ave. causeway

Hawkeye WMA--Greencastle Ave. causeway

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About this Location

At Coralville Reservoir, Hawkeye W.A., in northwest Johnson Co. A few miles north of I-80, take the North Liberty/F-28 exit off I-380. Go west on F-28 about 3.5 miles to Greencastle Ave. Take Greencastle two miles north, crossing Swan Lake Rd. just after a pond on your right, until you’re on the dike. SHOREBIRDS: In season there is usually a population or two that can be scoped from the road, to the east. Depending on conditions, you can often leave the road and walk east for a stretch to see more pockets of shorebirds--start just north of the inlet that reaches to the road. Also, with correct water levels on the west side, shorebirds often congregate along the far shore of the bay to your right. You can walk closer to them along the north shoreline, and a little farther west through the grass here is a second inlet with shorebird habitat. In all cases, boots are recommended.

About Coralville Reservoir/Hawkeye Wildlife Area/Lake Macbride State Park IBA

See all hotspots at Coralville Reservoir/Hawkeye Wildlife Area/Lake Macbride State Park IBA

This area has a large concentration of waterfowl and pelicans during migration. When water levels are right, large concentrations of shorebirds are found here during migration. The woodlands in the area produce significant numbers of migrating songbirds. Bald Eagle and Double-crested Cormorants nest in the area. There are large numbers of raptors in the area, some during migration and following the shorebirds, some nesting, and some wintering, such as Long and Short-eared Owls, Northern Harrier, and Rough-legged Hawk. There are heron rookeries, and large numbers of wading birds use the area during post breeding dispersal. The number of rare birds that have been found here over the years is quite large.

From highway 965 one and three-quarters miles north of North Liberty, go west on the Swan Lake Road to areas on the south side of Hawkeye WA. To reach areas on the north side, go west from highway 965 on the first road north of the reservoir (Amana Road).

Features

  • Roadside viewing

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Linda Rudolph, Iowa Ornithologists' Union, and Coralville Reservoir/Hawkeye Wildlife Area/Lake Macbride State Park IBA