Birding—or bird watching—is a recreational activity enjoyed out in nature that involves tracking, observing, and photographing local bird populations and rare or unique bird species. Southwestern Illinois is home to several restored and/or protected wetlands and nature preserves, which make for excellent birding opportunities, whether you are an experienced birdwatcher or new to the activity! If you are just getting started with birding, the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville, IL offers an expert-led bird walk through the Watershed’s prairie, wetland, and forest habitats. The program is offered periodically throughout the year and is open to all ages.
Or if you are looking for more of a solo outing, perhaps try your luck at spotting a Bald Eagle along the Mississippi River near Alton, IL, a known nesting area for the national emblem bird. There is also Horseshoe Lake State Park in Pontoon Beach, IL, a common flyaway and resting area that is popular among local bird watchers, and Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area, a reclaimed surface mine in southern St. Clair County that covers nearly 1,800 acres of varied topography, including 20 lakes and ponds.
Metro East Birding Map
For even more birding opportunities across the Metro East, visit the MEPRD Birding Map, an interactive online map of known birding locations throughout Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois.
