Birds at Riverlands

The Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary is located at the heart of the Mississippi Flyway on the Mississippi River near its confluence with the Missouri River.  

Over 300-plus bird species, including 60% of all North American birds and 40% of the nation's waterfowl find food, shelter, and safe passage on the Mississippi Flyway, one of the greatest migration corridors on the planet.  

This 3,700 acre Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary provides unmatched opportunities to view the birds and other wildlife and experience the majesty of the Great Rivers every season of the year. Frequent visitors include Bald Eagles and Trumpeter Swans in winter, migrating shorebirds and warblers in spring and fall,  grassland birds in summer, and year-round residents like the Great Blue Heron.  

Bottomland woodlands, marshes, mudflats and pools provide excellent opportunities to view marsh birds, wading birds and waterfowl. As a critical stopover for shorebirds during fall and spring migrations, Riverlands provides ample opportunity to see avocets, godwits, dowitchers, plovers, sandpipers, snipes, stilts and more!  Eurasian Tree Sparrows are commonly seen around the immediate vicinity of the Center.

Riverlands features 8.5 miles of trails, a viewing platform and a uniquely designed avian observatory overlooking Heron Pond providing access to a variety of habitats. Trails are generally flat and well established. The trails on Ellis Island provides access to the main stem of the Mississippi River. The diversity of habitat is excellent, so make sure to carry binoculars and field guide at all times.

Ample parking, bird checklists, trail maps, a list of recent sightings, and knowledgeable staff and volunteers are found at the Center. Several scopes are available to view birds on Ellis Bay and Ellis Island from the Center, a welcome relief during inclement weather. Visitors will also find interesting exhibits on birds, other wildlife, and river ecology.

Birding by Season on the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Winter: Gulls, swans, and birds of prey, such as the Bald Eagle, are plentiful. Bald Eagles and Trumpeter Swans attract hundreds of visitors, who will be delighted at the spectacle of bird they can view from the Audubon Center’s warm confines.

Spring: Waterbirds are found here in spring as well as winter. Terns, bitterns and rails are also common, and many songbirds return.

Summer: Many wading birds arrive in summer. This is also a good time to see birds that don’t migrate farther north but prefer to stay in the Sanctuary during the summer months.

Fall: Autumn marks the beginning of a busy migration season. Shorebirds are among the first to travel through the Sanctuary on their way south. Raptors, waterfowl, and other birds migrate later.