Come enjoy the fall migration at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge! Listen to the clamorous chorus of tundra swans, ducks, and geese, and the calls of bald eagles above. See the river come to life as birds take off and land at one of the best rest stops for people and wildlife on the Mississippi Flyway!
A Refuge naturalist will be available at the Brownsville Overlook from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning Sat. November 7 through Sun. November 22, 2026, weather permitting. They'll have a spotting scope and bird guides to help you identify what you see. It's FREE to come visit!
The Brownsville Overlook is one of the top places along the river to see this fall show. This roadside pull off is located about 3 miles south of Brownsville, Minn. along MN-HWY 26. Please dress for chilly weather - it is always a little breezy by the water.
The naturalist will also be part of a special event on Sat. Nov 14, called “Waterfowl Observation Day.” More details about Waterfowl Observation Day can be on our events page here: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river/events
Peak migration can be hard to predict. The best time to see the tundra swans is usually mid-to-late November. Many kinds of birds stop here and each day brings something new! Recent bird sightings are updated once per week on our website - https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river.
For the real bird nerds (our kind of company) - the timing of when the swans arrive depends partly on temperatures in their northern breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska - as bodies of water begin to freeze there, the swans gradually migrate to the Mississippi River. The swans will usually stay here for about one month or until the river freezes. If the weather is warm here, the swans may not spend as much time close to the overlook. As the water on the Mississippi River freezes, it pushes them to group up in areas where they can best find food and shelter. Even if they're not super close to the overlook, the sound of their calls and the sight of large groups of birds is still a celebration to experience!
For more information, please call the La Crosse District Visitor Center at 608-779-2399. The Visitor Center address is N5727 County Road Z, Onalaska, WI 54650.