After zigzagging across the Mississippi floodplain, north of St. Peters, Missouri, we crossed the river on the Golden Eagle ferry as a bald eagle circled overhead. A second ferry took us across the lower Illinois River and, after a lunch in Grafton, we paid a visit to Pere Marquette State Park, which is draped across forested bluffs east of the River. A scenic drive takes visitors along the crest of the ridge and offers broad views across the Illinois' floodplain and adjacent terrain but the best views are obtained via trails that lead up and north from the Visitor Center; taking in the River and its associated wetlands, the spectacular vistas make one appreciate why this Midwestern stream is such a magnet for migrant waterfowl.
Heading north on Illinois Route 100, we visited parts of three National Wildlife Refuges: Two Rivers, Meredosia and Chautauqua. All harbored large, mixed flocks of waterfowl, migrant white pelicans and a variety of shorebirds (primarily yellowlegs). Bald eagles, great blue herons and a host of other waterbirds were also seen though I failed to spot any migrant cranes. We're spending the night in Peoria and will continue our tour of the Illinois and its floodplain tomorrow.
The Illinois River may be the least appreciated of America's large rivers. One often hears about the vast watershed of the Ohio-Missouri-Mississippi River System but most Americans know little about the Illinois and fail to appreciate the vital role that it plays in waterfowl migration. Per mile, there may be more National Wildlife Refuges, State Wildlife Areas and nature preserves along the Illinois than any other American river. Winding south-southwest through the heart of the Corn Belt (once a vast Tallgrass Prairie), this River and its spectacular floodplain appeals to human and avian travelers alike.
