By Jennifer Anderson

A mountain bluebird perches at Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho. The refuge is along a 280–mile U.S.–Canada driving tour known as the Two–Nation Birding Vacation. Credit: Stan Bousson

When you think of all of the magnificent places to see birds on the Refuge System’s 150 million acres of land and waters, Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho and Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee–Kentucky might not come immediately to mind.

However, those two refuges are doing a lot to attract and serve birders from their local areas and, occasionally, from farther afield.

Reelfoot Refuge

Reelfoot Refuge is a major stopover and wintering area for waterfowl on the Mississippi Flyway.

As many as 200 bald eagles land in the area each winter, joining the 23 nesting pairs. To help visitors spot eagles, the refuge provides driving tours.

In addition to eagles, the 10,428–acre refuge near the Mississippi River in northwestern Tennessee–southwestern Kentucky hosts more than 115 waterfowl species, including pintails, gadwalls, widgeons, hooded mergansers, mallards and American white pelicans. Warblers and other songbirds are common in spring.

Reelfoot Refuge has worked hard to enhance bird–watching activities, although “a lot of people just are not aware of what we’re doing,” says refuge education and volunteer coordinator Tara Dowdy.

The refuge has a 200–foot boardwalk over Reelfoot Lake that leads to an overlook designed to accommodate birders. A second viewing tower overlooks moist soil units—excellent food sources for waterfowl.

For birders who like to paddle, the refuge last spring established three circuit trails that launch from Reelfoot Lake. Fifty colored stakes in the water help paddlers stay on course; this summer the refuge plans to install 17 interpretive signs highlighting wildlife likely to be spotted.

At the refuge’s annual Migration Celebration during National Wildlife Refuge Week in October, 100 or so visitors enjoy a hayride with stops at moist soil units and hardwood forests to learn waterfowl identification and wood duck banding.

The refuge, which maintains bluebird and wood duck boxes and a pollinator garden, also is affiliated with seven bird–related citizen science projects, many of them run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Kootenai Refuge

The situation is similar at Kootenai Refuge in the panhandle of Idaho 20 miles south of the Canadian border. “We’re not thought of for birding,” says refuge manager Dianna Ellis. “People come here to see moose.”

But birding opportunities are plentiful. And the 2,774–acre refuge, whose 1964 establishment was funded by Duck Stamps sales, has been gaining a reputation as a bird–watching destination.

In 2006, Ellis joined representatives from other regional organizations to create the Two–Nation Birding Vacation. The 280–mile self–guided driving tour extends from British Columbia through northern Idaho and eastern Washington along a national scenic byway. More than 250 species of birds along the Pacific Flyway migrate through the area.

“The refuge is highlighted in all of the maps and travel guides,” she says, citing in particular the 2009 Rand McNally Road Atlas Best of the Road trips.

Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee–Kentucky is a major stopover for waterfowl on the Mississippi Flyway. Here, snow geese and white–fronted geese share foggy habitat. Credit: Tara Dowdy/USFWS

Through a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, last year the refuge restored a quarter–mile path to a 100–foot waterfall lined with cliffs that are ideal for viewing black swifts.

The refuge’s 4.5–mile auto tour road can be driven, biked or, in winter, cross–country skied. A compact disc that details likely bird sightings is available to visitors, and future plans include installing interpretive panels along the route as well as an eagle cam and viewing tower.

“We’re continually making improvements,” Ellis says. “For most of us, this place is our second home.”

Jennifer Anderson is a frequent contributor to Refuge Update.