The boat ramp area is a good spot to scope the upper lake for waterfowl and gulls.  The ponds at the parking lot occasionally attract marsh birds.  The grassy fringes of the ponds can be good for Le Conte's Sparrow and sometimes Nelson's Sparrow.  The scrubby areas that separate the forest from the more open lower floodplain area have Blue Grosbeak, Bell's Vireo, and Willow Flycatcher, and rarely Yellow-breasted Chat. The weedy/grassy floodplain/lakeshore habitat is loaded with Dickcissels in summer and has had wintering Northern Shrike, Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Merlin, and Short-eared Owl. 

Spring/Fall: waterfowl and gulls on the lake; passerine migrants along the wooded trails; Le Conte's Sparrow (and other migrant sparrows) around the ponds

Summer: less common breeders such as Willow Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole

Winter: raptors

Important Bird Area.

Located at the west end of the Mile Long Bridge which crosses the midsection of Saylorville Lake.  From Polk City go west on Highway 415/West Bridge Road, cross the bridge and arrive at a four-way stop.  Turn right (north), then immediately turn right again at the cemetery, proceeding past the cemetery to where the road forks.  At this fork, you can continue straight a very short distance to a gate where you can park and walk trails through wooded and old field habitats eventually leading down into the more open lakeshore areas.  Or, you can stay on the right fork, which is the main road, and follow it down to the boat ramp and parking lot to view the lake and some pond/marsh area.

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.