Quincy Bluff

 

Quincy Bluff, photo by Eric Epstein

Site Description

This central Wisconsin IBA, which includes Quincy Bluff and Wetlands State Natural Area, encompasses unique geological and ecological features, with sandy ridges and extensive wetlands surrounding Cambrian sandstone buttes and mesas that rise for hundreds of feet.  Wetlands include extensive sedge meadows, wet prairies, open bog, tamarack fen, and flowages.  Oak barrens, oak savanna, oak-jack pine forest, and red pine plantations are found in the uplands.

Ornithological Importance

This site is important to birds of both wetland and barrens habitats, including northern harrier, sandhill crane, whip-poor-will, red-headed woodpecker, willow flycatcher, brown thrasher, sedge wren, blue-winged warbler, field sparrow, swamp sparrow, and bobolink.  Several thousand sandhill cranes can be found staging in the sedge meadows in the fall, and golden eagles occur in winter.

Photo Credit: Eric Epstein