Hawkeye WMA--Babcock

About this Location

Boat ramp into Hawkeye WMA, but the fields on the way in and the trees can be good. Access and birding very much effected by water levels of the Coraville Reservoir
On the upper Coralville Reservoir, Hawkeye W.A., 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 1.5 miles north to Swan Lake Rd., just after a pond on your right. Turn right (east) on Swan Lake, a B-level road here, 0.8 mile to the Babcock entrance road on your left. Follow this to its end at a small parking area. Where the road turns left to the parking lot and boat ramp, an old road goes NE from this left turn and may be walked sometimes. This can also be accessed from Swan Lake, going W. The road is often in better shape coming from the E.
Beyond a small wooded area at the turn off from Swan Lake Rd. The habitat is row crop, sheetwater or mudflat depending on the water levels in the reservoir. Either of those can be good for shorebirds or waterfowl. The old oxbow, Babcock Lake, is a narrow channel that sometimes contains interesting birds. The old parking lot at end of the old road has a good view of the flats, E towards Sand Point.
This is a public hunting area.

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