Rush River Delta State Natural Area

The Rush River Delta protects a floodplain forest at the mouth of the Rush River where it flows into Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River. Lowland hardwoods dominate the 325-acre property. These floodplain forest areas are very important to breeding birds like the Red-shouldered Hawk, Acadian Flycatcher, and Cerulean and Prothonotary Warblers. The delta also holds a small Great Blue Heron rookery. A sand spit extending into Lake Pepin provides nesting habitat for turtles and feeding and nesting areas for shorebirds including Forester-Æs and Common Terns. Mallard Ducks and Wood Ducks use the areas extensively.