Area: 273 Acres

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Hiking Difficulty: C

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The land that Bierbrauer Waterfowl Production Area encompasses was formerly under agricultural production, being farmed extensively for corn and grain with some pasture. This land was once much drier than it is today: in the 1960’s, the east end of the wetland basin – an area that today provides habitat for dozens of marsh-loving species – was completely dry!

 

Birds of Interest: Sandhill Crane, Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Eastern Bluebird, Bald Eagle, Tree Swallow, Meadowlark, Bobolink, Red-Winged Blackbird, Ring-Necked Pheasant, Trumpeter Swan, Dickcissel, and various Sparrows and Wrens.

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• This WPA features a shallow marsh on its eastern side that extends into deep open water to the west, attracting diverse species of waterfowl

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• A beautiful blooming prairie is north of the parking lot while the state seed nursery stands just south of the parking lot

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• Locals value this WPA for its outstanding pan fish fishery. Many claim that Bierbrauers' sunrises and sunsets are the best in the area

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Directions: In the village of Star Prairie, turn east onto 235th Ave (Saratoga Ave). Travel 1.5 miles east. WPA is on the north side of the road.