Madison Waterfowl Production Area
DIRECTIONS:
The red star on the map at left shows
the approximate location of the Madison Waterfowl Production Area within the
state. Click
here or on the star for a road map of the immediate
area. It is approximately 5 miles southeast of Madison, in Lake County.
It is 1 mile south of the intersection of Highway 34 and Highway 19, just on the
west side of Lake Madison. From I-29, take Highway 34 west about 20 miles
to get to the intersection with Highway 19. From I-90, take Highway 19
north about 30 miles to get to the WPA.
The image below represents a black-and-white aerial photo of the
Madison Waterfowl Production Area. The position of the Madison WPA can be
seen with respect to Highway 34, Highway 19, and Lake Madison.
DESCRIPTION: A fairly large
lake sits at the center of the Madison Waterfowl WPA, and is a little over 1
mile in total length. The majority of the lake is extremely shallow,
although it must have deeper sections as it does support a large population of
carp and perhaps other fish. The shallow edges of the lake are ringed with
herbaceous wetland vegetation, which on some parts of the WPA can be quite
extensive. Note that water levels in the WPA can fluctuate quite a bit from year
to year. The lake and wetlands are set amidst a surrounding landscape of
grassland with a few small belts of trees. To view actual photos of
the WPA, click on the magenta numbers (1, 2, 3) on the black-and-white aerial
photograph shown below.
POINTS OF NOTE: Click on the numbers on
the image below for actual ground photos for those locations. While Highway 19
does intersect the water body on the eastern edge of the WPA, the best access
can be found by use of a gravel access road running along the north edge of the
water/wetland (shown in red on the aerial photo below). Note that the road
can get muddy and almost impassable after a recent heavy rain. While most
of the road is at the north edge of the wetland or runs through the upland
grasslands surrounding the wetland, it does intersect water and wetland at point
"1" (shown below). Good luck can be had just parking at point 1
and waiting for the birds to get used to your presence. After a time,
otherwise shy Sora and Green
Herons may appear out of the thick vegetation and come into open view, while
Great Egrets, Great
Blue Herons, gulls, terns, waterfowl, and shorebirds may also be seen from
this location depending on the time of year.
Grassland areas along the north side of the access road can
sometimes provide good viewing opportunities for typical grassland species,
including Bobolinks, Upland
Sandpipers, and grassland sparrows.
Also
note that a gravel road intersections a shallow water and wetland vegetation
expanse at the western edge of the WPA, shown at points "2" and
"3" on the aerial photo below. Water and wetland vegetation on
both sides of the road can offer excellent viewing of waterfowl, wading birds,
and shorebirds.
BIRDS OF NOTE: The vast expanses of
shallow water make the Madison WPA a tremendous location for shorebirds in the
spring. The road running through the west edge of the WPA (near points 2 and 3)
offer perhaps the best spring viewing opportunities for shorebirds.
Depending on water levels, point 1 may also offer good viewing opportunities.
Spring and late summer/early fall also may offer viewing of
large numbers of American White
Pelicans, Great Egrets, Green
Herons, Great Blue Herons,
while an occasional Snowy Egret or Cattle
Egret may make an appearance. Very large numbers of Franklin's
and Bonaparte's Gulls are sometimes
present, while lesser numbers of Common, Forster's,
and Black Terns can also be
found.
Waterfowl can often be found in huge numbers during the spring
and fall, with excellent viewing opportunities available from near points 2 and
3, and even from Highway 19 as it intersects the WPA.
Click on the photos or species names on the bottom of this page
for actual bird photos taken within the WPA.
NEARBY BIRDING LOCATIONS: Other
great nearby birding locations are (NOTE I'LL EVENTUALLY ADD LINKS TO PAGES FOR
THESE SITES AS WELL):
1) Lake Thompson/Lake Preston
2) Wentworth Ponds
3) Lake Madison / Long Lake
4) etc.
BIRDS OF THE MADISON WPA
RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE
Please mail any
comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry
L. Sohl
This page was last edited on
01/03/07
