Other Featured Destinations

Welcome to Carroll County Illinois

Where bird-watching is always a favorite pastime.

Located along the Mississippi River in Northwest Illinois, Carroll County hosts more than 190 species of birds. This region is known to be a perfect breeding area for nearly 100 species, including the bald eagle, double-crested cormorant, American white pelican, great blue heron, cattle egret, great egret, and ring-billed gull.

Although birding is a year-round event, the fall and winter are especially exciting. In the fall, the air and water are filled with dozens of varieties of migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, and warblers.

Up to 2,500 bald eagles winter along the Mississippi River near the locks and dams. Turbulence created below the dams provides open water and a smorgasbord of stunned fish for eagles to feast upon. In addition, the wooded bluffs that overlook the Mississippi River are excellent habitat for roosting eagles, and increasingly for nesting.

Bald eagle watches occur throughout January and February along the Mississippi River, but eagles can be seen in large numbers from mid-December through mid-March in any area of open water. It all depends on the winter's weather conditions. As warm weather arrives, most bald eagles will begin their journey back north to prepare for the nesting season. However, there are an increasing number of bald eagles that reside in the area year-round.

Birding and Wildlife viewing sites include:

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge: Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center in Savanna Illinois. Phone: 815-273-2732

Free monthly bird walks and bird drives, along with golf cart birding tours, are scheduled almost every month of the year on the refuge through the "Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge." Reservations are strongly encouraged and required in many cases. Phone: 815-565-0024.

Palisades State Park in Savanna, Illinois. Phone: 815-273-2731

Located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Apple rivers, the 2,500-acre Mississippi Palisades State Park is rich in Native American and natural history. Many hiking trails and scenic overviews provide great opportunities for birding. Camping also available.

For more information:

www.gocarrollcounty.com–Known as the "Hidden Treasure" of NW Illinois, Carroll County flourishes with unique traveling experiences, including the 62-mile Great River Bike Trail, which is great for biking, hiking, and birding enthusiasts. The Mississippi River offers both summer and winter activities. The many parks in the county host cross-country skiing, hiking, birding, and picnicking.

Carroll County also boasts several antique stores and farm markets as well as a variety of artisan stores and art galleries. Many artists have found their homes in our small, historic communities. Shops featuring jewelry, glass, photography, and rocking horses are plentiful.

From rustic cabins to elegant bed & breakfasts, there is sure to be something that fits your taste and attitude. Follow our scenic country roads to your home away from home and observe Mother Nature at her finest.

"Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge" (www.sumriver.org) provides a schedule of events.