Gazetteer of Iowa Birding Locations
- West Central
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Many thanks to Mike Dooley for creating this important tool!
Click on the map or select an area in the dropdown box to find
directions to frequently mentioned birding areas in Iowa. Looking
for something in particular? Choose from this dropdown (all areas
are in alphabetical order).
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| County | Site Name | Directions |
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| Adair | Adair County Snowy Owl | In the southern part of the county, along 320th St, just west of Henry A Wallace Rd. | | Cass | Atlantic quarry | On the northwest edge of Atlantic in Cass Co.. The quarry is on the north side of Hwy. 83/2nd St., just west outside of town. | | Pottawattamie | Crescent area WeKi & BlGr (near Hitchcock N.C.) | At the far west edge of Pottawattamie Co. Take the Hwy. 988/Crescent exit east off I-29. Just under a mile along 988, begin birding on 152nd St. going north (left). After 2.5 miles, continue birding east (right) on Missouri Ave. After 2.5 miles and several turns, emerge at Old Lincoln Hwy. on the north edge of Crescent. The return to Hwy. 988 is one mile south through Crescent, and to the west. | | Harrison | Desoto NWR | Just west of the town of Missouri Valley on the Missouri River. From I-680, turn north on I-29 and within a mile will be the Desoto Ave exit. Take this exit and turn west to the refuge. | | Guthrie | Elk Grove W.A., all entrances | In northwest Guthrie Co. Northwest of Guthrie Center, follow F-32, seen on the Iowa highway map, six miles west from N-70 to Dogwood Ave. There is a parking area just north at Dogwood's first bend right, and also farther along Dogwood, about a mile north of its bend left. Finally, continue north on Dogwood to 165th St., and turn west 1.5 miles to a parking spot with a lane leading into the area. | | Guthrie | Elk Grove W.A., north entrance | In northwest Guthrie Co. Northwest of Guthrie Center, follow F-32, seen on the Iowa highway map, eight miles west from N-70 to N-46/Chesnut Rd. Proceed 2.5 miles north to 165th St., and east about half a mile to the north entrance. | | Cass | Evergreen Cemetery | Just north on Main St/White Pole Rd outside of Anita. | | Guthrie | Guthrie County Black-billed Magpie |
along Highway 44 on the eastern outskirts of Guthrie Center
| | Pottawattamie | Hitchcock Nature Center | In western Pottawattamie Co. Drive five miles north on Old Lincoln Highway (formerly Hwy. 183) out of Crescent and turn left at the Hitchcock N.C. sign, then turn right at the top of the hill. Raptor viewing is at the lodge. There is a $2.00 daily charge to enter (or get a year's pass for $10 from the rangers). | | Carroll | Hobb's Pit | Go 7 miles north of Glidden on N41 and turn east onto Treasure Rd. and go about 1/2 mile east. Treasure Rd is the 1st gravel past the Raccoon River Bridge. When you see the ponds on the north side of road, the BBWD was on the 2nd pond north of the road. There is an opening in the fence here and a deer trail to follow to the north and east (about a 2 minute walk). | | Guthrie | Junction of Highway 4 and 141 | From the town of Panora, head north on Highway 4 until you reach the junction of Highway 141. This is just east of Bagley. The cemetery in question is in the vicinity of this intersection. | | Cass | Lake Anita S.P. | - in northeastern Cass Co. Less than a mile south on Hwy. 148 out of Anita, look for the park entrance on the west side. | | Pottawattamie | Lake Manawa S.P. | - just south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie Co. Follow U.S. 275 west 1.5 miles off I-29 to the park’s entrance. | | Guthrie | Lakin Slough | In northeast Guthrie Co. From Hwy. 4 just west outside of Yale, take F-25/160th St. two miles east to the slough. The entrance is on the north side of the road, and easy to miss. A trail leads off from the parking area. NORTH SIDE: Along 150th, just west of P-30/Wood Rd. (the next road east from the above entrance), a lane leads into a boat launch with viewing of a large slough. A smaller lobe of water is viewable by parking along 150th just before the lane above, and climbing up the short embankment (there can be shallow water in the ditch along the road, requiring knee boots). | | Guthrie | Long Pond | In northeast Guthrie County. From its intersection with 1st Ave./Hwy. 144, at the south edge of Perry, take Hwy. 141 ten miles west to P-30/Quest Ave. Take P-30 south two miles to 140th St. and turn left (east) one half mile to the marsh. | | Pottawattamie | MidAmerican Energy settling ponds | South of Council Bluffs. (Directions below). SOUTH POND VIEWING REQUIRES PRIOR PERMISSION: There are established procedures to obtain permission that include completion of a background check. To avoid unnecessary problems, MidAmerican asks that well in advance of your visit you contact Joe Bannon at (563) 333-8620, or by email at JBannon@midamerican.com for more information.
SOUTH POND, viewable only from on site: Take Hwy. 370 (Bellevue exit) west from I-29 and quickly turn north on the first gravel road, 189th St., which parallels the interstate. 189th ends at the plant and the pond after about two miles. NORTH POND, viewing from public road, permission not needed: Take Hwy. 370 east off I-29 (Bellevue exit), crossing over the interstate. Take the first left (L-31/195th), a gravel road going north along the interstate. Follow this 2.75 miles to your first left, Basswood Ave., a dead-end road. Follow Basswood west just back over the interstate, and park along the shoulder. | | Pottawattamie | Missouri Rd Bridge North of Crescent | From the town of Crescent: Take the Old Lincoln Highway north out of town until you reach Missouri Ave. Turn left on Missouri Ave. Drive about 75 yards to a bridge. Park your vehicle, and walk along the bridge. | | Pottawattamie | Pottawattamie County Snowy Owl | along the south side of I-80 on some CRP ground near mile marker 32. | | Carroll | Swan Lake | - in Swan Lake S.P., at the southeast edge of Carroll in central Carroll Co. |
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