ALMA is well known for bald eagles, tundra swans, herons and pelicans. Rieck's Lake offers opportunities to view migrating tundra swans. From December to March, wintering bald eagles congregate around Lock & Dam #4 to feed and are seen sitting on the ice. There are many great opportunities for birding photographs so take your camera everywhere ... you never know what you'll find in your travels. All the photos on this web page were taken in our area by local amateur photographers. Most birding is personal and private, but there are group birding opportunities sponsored by Wings Over Alma Nature & Art Center throughout the year. The Upper Mississippi River serves as a major flyway for waterfowl, bald eagles abound and you may get a rare glimpse of some of Wisconsin's endangered species such as the trumpeter swan or the peregrine falcon. On June 1, 2009 the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge was designated a Wetland of International Importance. The 27th US wetland to receive this designation and the 2nd in Wisconsin.

This Refuge was established by an Act of Congress on June 7, 1924, "as a refuge and breeding place for migratory birds, fish, other wildlife, and plants." The north end begins at the confluence of the Mississippi and Chippewa rivers near Wabasha, Minnesota and the south end is near Rock Island, Illinois. Just over 240,000 acres of wooded islands, marshes, and backwaters comprise the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge. Created The Refuge is celebrating it's 88th anniversary and the idea and dream of the Refuge still lives. The 240,000-acre refuge winding through 4 states for 261 miles provides a home for hundreds of species of fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and native plants. It is a place where the rare and uncommon seem common place.

Located on Main Street, the Center offers a 50-foot viewing deck overlooking the Mississippi River and Lock & Dam 4. Spotting scopes and binoculars are available for your use where you can view Bald Eagles, a variety of waterfowl & birdlife, as well as the activity on the Great Alma Fishing Float. Winter is a favorite time for Bald Eagle viewing from the deck. The wintering Bald Eagles gather just below the dam on the ice for fish and the Center has had seasons with hundreds of Bald Eagles at one time. Contact us today for up-to-date information.

Alma Visitor Center
110 N Main Street
Alma, WI 54610
608.685.3303
wingsoveralma@icloud.com

If you visit this city park any time of the year you won't be disappointed, but spring & fall migration or spectacular times to check it out. Located 500 feet above the community of Alma, Wisconsin, it's a small park with a big view of the Mississippi River for several miles to the north and south. Equally impressive are the number of birds that you can see in this small area. The raptor migration along this area of the river is spectacular; in the spring you can see Red-tailed Hawks, Peregrine Falcons and Broad-winged Hawks, and in the fall add American Kestrals, Cooper Hawks and Wintering Bald Eagles to your list. The woody area found in the park and hiking trail harbor lots of songbirds including Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, Great-crested Flycatchers and Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

Buena Vista Road
(Off County Road E)
Alma, WI 54610
608.685.3330
Open daily, dawn to 11pm
cityalma227@gmail.com

Two miles north of Alma is Rieck's Lake Park offering two wildlife observation decks, camping and open-roofed shelters for family gatherings. Rieck's Lake was once a favorite for tundra swans along the Mississippi River Flyway as they migrated in the fall and spring. However the natural loss of habitat appropriate for tundra swans has drastically reduced their number at this park.

Off Wisconsin State Hwy 35
Alma, WI 54610
608.685.3330
Open daily, Dawn to Dusk
cityalma227@gmail.com

Throughout the year, driving the back roads of Buffalo County, Wisconsin can be a rewarding experience for viewing wildlife and birding. Western Buffalo County is ranked 17th among the top 50 birding spots in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Society for Ornothology. Wild turkeys, pheasants, sandhill cranes, red-tail hawks, bald eagles, golden eagles, canada geese and several varieties of ducks can be seen throughout the county. The National Eagle Center has released rehabilitated golden eagles in Buffalo County with radio tracking and they continue to return to the county during their migration. A Golden Eagle survey is held in Buffalo County each year.

The Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail is a mapped auto trail that reaches into every area of Wisconsin, including Buffalo County. Full-color viewing guides with maps and descriptions of every site leads the nature traveler to warblers, shorebirds, eagles, loons, cranes and all manner of mammals found in some of the state's premier wildlife venues. Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative Birding Guides

Website

Located 16 miles north of Alma is Tiffany Wildlife State Natural Area (also known as Tiffany Bottoms). This 717-acre portion of the most extensive river delta in the Midwest contains a representative portion of the larger Tiffany Bottoms floodplain forest. Flowing into the Chippewa River and the Mississippi River, the Bottoms abound in wildlife and contain rare and uncommon birds such as red-shouldered hawk, great egret, cerulean warbler, prothonotory warbler, great-blue heron, pileated woodpecker, and blue-gray gnatcatcher. Tiffany Bottoms is owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and was designated a State Natural Area in 1958. It is also included as part of the designation of the Upper Mississippi River as a Wetland of International Importance. The Bottoms can be accessed from all four sides, including State Hwy 35 & State Hwy 25.

WI-25,
Durand, WI 54736
608.266.2621
Website

Big Swamp Wildlife Area is an 844-acre property in Buffalo County. Find it 5 Miles west of Mondovi south of Hwy 10 and approximately 25 miles from Alma. Currently access is only available from County Hwy A on the south side of the property. The property consists of upland hardwoods and marsh. Big Swamp Wildlife Area is owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Acquisition began on the property in 1956 with the goal of protecting winter pheasant cover for pheasants and has since grown to 844 acres in size. Management on the property is limited as much of the acreage consists of tamarack swamp and lowlands, although there is a mix of upland hardwoods on the property. The property is surrounded by private lands so it is important that users know and respect the property boundaries.

US-10
Mondovi, WI 54755
888.936.7463
Website

Located along the lazy Mississippi River north of Fountain City and about 10 miles from Alma, the 322-acre Merrick State Park is popular with anglers and boaters. The marshy backwaters are home for egrets, herons, muskrats and otters. Merrick State Park is owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and has been a park since 1919 when the land was donated. It is also included as part of the recent designation of the Upper Mississippi River as a Wetland of International Importance.

S2965 WI-35
Fountain City, WI 54629
608.687.4936
Website

Whitman Dam Wildlife Area is a 2253-acre property in Buffalo County. Find it 3 miles southeast of Cochrane across the main river channel from Merrick State Park. Access available from Merrick State Park or at the end of Whitman Dam Road west of Kamrowski Road. The property consists of floodplain forest and marshland. Whitman Dam Wildlife Area was established in 1965 from land donated to the state of Wisconsin for Merrick State Park in 1919. It is also included as part of the recent designation of the Upper Mississippi River as a Wetland of International Importance.

S River Rd
Cochrane, WI 54622
608.266.0394
Website

The Alma Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center is located in the Wings Over Alma Building on Main Street. Let us know if you have any questions or comments. We are happy to provide more details. Please email us 24/7 or call us to learn more.