The eBird bar charts show visits birding reports clustered March through August, with most of June neglected. Little is known about winter species occurrence, although sparrows seem well represented and Greater White-fronted Goose was seen on a January trip. Bald Eagles occur in spring, and Mississippi Kites in July and August.

Spring and summer records include 19 warbler species, White-eyed, Yellow-throated, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireo, good representations of Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian and Great Crested Flycatcher, and Eastern Phoebe. Least Flycatcher was seen in early May. Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes use the area in migration, Wood Thrush nests here.

Winter Wren and Golden-crowned Kinglet have been present late February through mid-April.

From the intersection of I-72 (Exit 157) and Bus. 36, go southeast on Mark Twain Ave. which becomes 3rd St. Turn right onto Church St., then left onto 6th St., which becomes Ely St. at the intersection with Colfax Ave. The parking lot is on the right.

Missouri Department of Conservation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists confirmed the extensive network of abandoned limestone mines provides essential hibernating habitat for an estimated 168,000-211,000 endangered Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis)—approximately one-third of all the Indiana bats known to exist. This is the largest bat hibernaculum in the world. Prior to this discovery, it was thought all Indiana bats hibernated farther south and in considerably smaller numbers.

The Conservation Fund https://www.conservationfund.org/ in partnership with the City of Hannibal, purchased 185 acres with funds from the Flanagan South Pipeline Mitigation fund provided by Enbridge Inc., which supports mitigation for impacts to endangered species and migratory birds resulting from the construction of the nearby pipeline. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation holds a conservation easement, ensuring the property—and the bats—will be protected forever, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service monitors and manages the bat populations.

The highest concentration of bats is in October during the fall swarm. The nightly emergence starts in mid-April, and goes into September, with June through mid-August as the peak viewing period.

The trailhead for the 2-mile paved trail is at the Ely Street lot (the trail is labeled Shannon St. on Google Maps). This trail follows Bear Creek for a bit and includes a loop option leading to upland forest. Pirate Ridge Trail (1.5 miles) is unpaved. Many of the 33 gated mine entrances can be viewed from these trails. Additional trails are planned.