This is one of several recreation areas that provide views of the lake for scoping waterbirds.  The beach is currently somewhat overgrown with vegetation; formerly more open and sandy and attractive to shorebirds and roosting gulls and terns, now less so but there is often still a smaller roost on the rocky point.  This is the only regular, consistent location in Iowa for Fish Crow.  The scrubby vegetation along the entrance road and pond can be great for migrant passerines and in summer has Orchard Oriole and locally uncommon Blue Grosbeak.  The woodlots around the beach are a weak migrant trap.

Important Bird Area.
On the east shore of Saylorville Lake in Polk Co. The area is at the end of McBride Dr., which runs south off a bend in Hwy. 415 about one half mile south of Polk City.

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.