Gulls and waterfowl

Important Bird Area.
Good viewing spot for river birds; observation platform at the lock site. Bald Eagles in winter; gulls and waterfowl during spring and fall migration. From 2013-2015 a Peregrine Falcon pair has nested in a crevice in the cliff of the rock quarry located nearby.

From Hwy 151, take the Kerper Blvd. exit and follow Kerper Blvd. north to its end and turn right either on Hawthorne St. or Lincoln Ave, which will connect you with Volunteer Dr. This road runs north and south along the river and provides opportunities to park along the way to scan the river.

Nesting Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Prothonotary Warbler. Additionally, this area serves as a major migration corridor for many passerine and non-passerine species. This site meets the significant species concentration thresholds for all avian categories. Perhaps just as importantly however, is the fact that this site hosts a myriad of migratory songbird species each spring and fall, as well as large breeding populations of numerous songbird species. This site provides critical avian habitat during literally all seasons of the year.

The refuge extends along the Mississippi River in northeast Iowa. There are various access points. The McGregor Unit office is in McGregor.