Tara is located in the Mississippi Flyway, which is a migratory route for neotropical birds and waterfowl. We see a wide variety of birds and wildlife throughout the seasons. See the list of birds that can be found at Tara (PDF).
We introduce campers to bird watching by discussing the migration of birds, showing them bird species when we are out on the trails, and talking about how to use binoculars and how to identify some of the more common birds.
The nesting and roosting areas along the Mississippi River provide a great opportunity for campers to see waterfowl, wading birds, and shore birds. With the many hummingbirds flying around the feeders on the porch of Tara Lodge, our summer campers can learn about these tiny birds too.
Campers get to tour Tara on the open-air bus and can view birds and other wildlife along the route that staff will point out. We also point out the calls of some of the local birds. We hope to instill a love of birding in our campers and familiarize them with some of the bird species and habitat at Tara.
