Waterfowl Observation Day at
Brownsville Overlook on November 10
The annual Waterfowl Observation Day, hosted by the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and members of Mississippi River Wild (MRW), will be held Saturday, November 10th at the Brownsville Overlook between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Visitors will be able to view migrating birds that have stopped to rest and feed along their journey to their wintering grounds.
Binoculars, spotting scopes, and bird identification guides will be available for visitors to use. Refuge staff, members of MRW, and volunteers will assist with bird identification, discuss the Pool 8 island restoration project, and answer related questions. Refreshments will be available during this event with all donations benefiting MRW.
Brownsville Overlook is one of the best places along the river to view hundreds of tundra swans; diving and puddle ducks; bald eagles; and other birds. The overlook is located about three miles south of Brownsville, MN along Highway 26.
If you aren’t able to make the special event on November 10th, Refuge staff and volunteers will be available at Brownsville Overlook every Saturday and Sunday from November 3rd – 25th between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to share information about migrating waterfowl and eagles. Please note that food and drinks will only be available on November 10th.
For more information, contact the La Crosse District Office at (608) 779-2399 or visit the new visitor center, located at N5727 County Road Z, Onalaska, WI. Visitor center hours until November 21st are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. We will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Please call for winter hours after November 22nd.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
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The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the most visited refuge in the United States. The refuge extends 261 miles along the Upper Mississippi River from Wabasha, Minn. to Rock Island, Ill., protecting and preserving habitat for migratory birds, fish, and a variety of other wildlife.
In addition to being the most visited refuge in the country, the “Upper Miss” Refuge has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 11 locks and dams, within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 306 species of birds; 119 species of fish; more than 300 active bald eagle nests; thousands of heron and egret nests; spectacular concentrations of canvasback ducks, tundra swans, and white pelicans; and several threatened or endangered species.