Birding Tiffany Bottoms State Natural Area by Mini Train

All A-Bird! Join us for a half day of birding by hobby train and on foot with Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis and Chippewa Valley Motor Car Association.

Tiffany Bottoms State Natural Area lies within a large designated Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA), the Lower Chippewa River IBA. This area encompasses the final 40 miles of Wisconsin’s second-largest river before it meets the Mississippi. The floodplain is flat and meandering with many oxbows and bayous, and contains the largest contiguous floodplain forest in the entire upper Midwest. Prairie is found on the sand and gravel terraces, while the surrounding hills harbor goat prairie and savanna. There also are significant blocks of upland deciduous forest.

The area supports significant breeding populations for numerous high priority species, including Red-shouldered Hawk, Kentucky Warbler, and Prothonotary Warbler. It provides up to 10,000 acres of habitat for Cerulean Warbler core habitat and over 25,000 waterfowl may gather during the fall. Several hundred waterbirds, including herons, egrets, and bitterns, also congregate here in late summer. The site is an exceptional concentration area for migratory landbirds, particularly in the spring, with numbers conservatively estimated at 100,000 in a single day.

Loaner binoculars are available. You will be prompted to indicate whether you need binoculars in the registration online form.
The passenger cars are mostly open-air with seating on wooden benches, so all riders should dress for the weather. Please bring with them water resistant cushions, blankets, or plastic garbage bags to sit on in case of rain the night before. The train will run if it is raining lightly. The train will NOT run if there is lightning or an electrical storm approaching. Rain-gear, umbrellas, water, and snacks are all recommended items to bring in a small bag or pack. Train operating organization bylaws prohibit firearms and alcohol on the train. There is porta-potty on one of the rail cars.

Registration in advance is required. Once registered, you will receive a follow up email containing location information and directions to the parking/meeting spot as well as a reminder list of what to bring with you for the half day of birding.

Tickets: Chippewa Valley Motor Car Association is a nonprofit and supported entirely by volunteers. The Association does not charge a fee, but encourages cash or check only donation of at least $5. We encourage guests to donate whatever they are comfortable giving and to know that these donations help support the care and upkeep of this special train and tour.

Accessibility Notes: The Association noted that due to the design of their passenger cars, they are not handicap accessible and have no provisions for non-ambulatory passengers or wheelchairs. Only service animals are allowed on the train.

Source:: Photo: Wisconsin eBird