Category Archives: Will County

Midewin Tallgrass Prairie: Iron Bridge access

While there are many grassland species that can be found breeding here, including Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, Dickcissel, Sedge Wren and so on, the main attraction is Northern Mockingbird and Loggerhead Shrike.

In the map below, the main parking lot is shown at the end of Schweitzer Rd. The green line marks the trail to the area where the Mockingbirds and Shrikes can be found. The blue marker is the row of osage orange trees where the shrikes nest. Note that the closest access is the trail (the trees where the shrikes nest is off limits, and fenced), and a scope is helpful. Sometimes the birds can be seen at close range on the barbed wire fence. Northern Mockingbird is usually easily seen along this trail also.


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