Bird Watching Hot Spots Near Stevens Point and Wausau

One of the very best things about Wisconsin is its amazing accessibility to wildlife and the great outdoors. The state teems with forests, wetlands and prairies, which makes it the perfect place for wild birds to thrive. An area that’s particularly known for its birdwatching is Central Wisconsin, including Stevens Point and Wausau.

This region is filled with scenic outdoor spaces perfect for spending quality time with your favorite people and viewing majestic wildlife. Read on to discover some great birding spots for your next adventure. 

Ready yourself with a birding guide (like this one from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point) and don’t forget the binoculars!

Bird Watching Spots in Stevens Point

Start your excursion at Milladore’s George W. Mead Wildlife Area, famed as one of the very best places to spy local and migrating birds. At 33,000 acres with 273 documented bird species, your group has a good chance of seeing blue herons and cormorants throughout this expansive property, which includes three low-difficulty walking trails.

Ideal for both hiking and biking, the 27-mile Green Circle Trail in Stevens Point ambles through woodlands and marshes and is another great place for bird spotting with your crew. Punctuated with over 245 bird species, you can even take a bird checklist with you to see how many fowl each of you can spot.

At over five acres, the Godfrey and Maybelle Erickson Audubon Park in Stevens Point flanks the picturesque McDill Pond and is filled with trails where you can view waterbirds along the shoreline.

South of Stevens Point, head to the 12,700-acre Buena Vista Wildlife Area to see birds who prefer to flit in and out of Wisconsin’s native grasses, like the threatened greater prairie chicken along with owls, meadowlarks and more. Follow the 1.5-mile trail that makes for an easy hike brimming with bird-watching opportunities.

Additionally, you and your group can traverse the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail, a highway-based route that will take you to several birding locales, including Portage County’s Central Sands Prairie Region. There’s even a handy guide so you can make the most of your trip together.

Birdwatching in Wausau

Apart from Stevens Point, Wausau is another area that boasts many chances to observe birds while spending time with your favorite people.

For instance, you can visit Bluegill Bay Park, a 68-acre park that resides along the Wisconsin River and allows visitors to see marshland varieties along with woodland birds. Hiking trails can also be found throughout for further adventures.

Or, head to Rookery View Park on Lake Wausau in Rib Mountain. This two-acre peninsula provides a view of a great blue-heron rookery that lives on a nearby island.

On the lookout for birding events and tours during your trip to the region? Then look no further than the local Aldo Leopold Audubon Society, which offers bird-centric presentations, field trips and other events so you can learn all about the beautiful birds that inhabit the area. Your kiddos, or the pals that you’re traveling with, will enjoy learning about birds right alongside you.

Discover more great places to bird watch with this beginner’s guide to Wisconsin’s birding hotspots.