Location:
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- South Central Indiana
- Jackson and Jennings Counties, Indiana
- DeLorme Page 51, grids 12 E and 12 F
- GPS Coordinates:
- 38°58'01”N
85°47'44”W – Main Entrance
- 38°57'35”N
85°47'55”W – Visitors Center
- 38°57'19”N
85°47'54”W – Richart Lake
- 38°57'19”N
85°48'43”W – Endicott Marsh
- 38°56'25”N
85°49'39”W – West Entrance
- 38°56'25”N
85°49'03”W – M6
- 38°56'27”N
85°48'32”W – M5
- 38°56'14”N
85°47'51”W – Stanfield Boat Ramp
- 38°55'59”N
85°48'14”W – Myers Cabin
- 38°55'16”N
85°47'48”W – Sandhill Ponds
- 38°56'02”N
85°47'57”W – Stanfield Lake Dam
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Description:
| Muscatatuck, Indiana's first
National Wildlife Refuge, was established in 1966. Funds from the sale
of federal “duck stamps” were used to purchase
7,724 acres which were set aside to provide resting and feeding habitat
for migratory waterfowl. Muscatatuck is part of the National Wildlife
Refuge System comprised of over 500 refuges whose habitat is managed
specifically for wildlife. The refuge also operates a 78 acre parcel
near Bloomington, IN known as the “Restle
Unit” that will not be covered in this site guide.
The refuge takes its name from the Muscatatuck River
which forms its southern boundary. The name means “the land
of the winding waters”. The name is a very good description
given of the area that the Native Americans were attracted to for its
abundance of wildlife.
The refuge contains a wide variety of habitats on its gently rolling
terrain. “Approximately 55% of the land is woodland (43%
upland forest and 57% bottomland hardwood forest), 20% shrub/scrub, 13%
water, 11% cropland and 1% grassland” (LEWIS and VANOSDOL
1999). There are three large lakes (Richart, Stanfield and Moss),
two creeks (Mutton Creek Ditch and Storm
Creek Ditch), many marshes and moist soil units(flooded in
the fall and drained or allowed to dry up in the spring) including the Mac
Donald and Endicott Marshes. The refuge also maintains a few
“green tree reservoirs” that are flooded in the
fall then drained in the spring.
Muscatatuck has 8 hiking trails varying in length from 0.2 miles to 4
miles. All trails are easy to moderate although the two river trails
may become impassible due to flooding. The 0.4 mile self-guided Chestnut
Ridge Interpretive Trail leaves from the visitor center
parking lot and is wheel chair accessible, Richart Lake Trail
0.9 miles, Endicott Trail 0.2 miles, Bird
Trail 0.7 miles, Turkey Trail 1 mile, Wood
Duck Trail 0.5 miles, East River Trail 3
miles and West River Trail 4 miles.
The Muscatatuck self-guided auto tour is a 4 mile loop that begins and
ends near the Visitors Center. About half of this route is one way.
Along this route are Richart Lake, 4 large marshes,
cropland (a 57 acre “farming for a Clean Watershed”
project), green tree units, and moist soil units.
The refuge is home to a great variety of birds with over 280 species
having been recorded. At least 90 species breed here, including Bald
Eagle.
Since 2003 "Operation Migration" has used a remote area of the refuge as
a stopover site in its efforts to reintroduce the endangered Whooping Crane.
17 species are of management concern. Wood Thrush, Cerulean
Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Eastern
Meadowlark, and American Woodcock have a
high priority conservation status with Henslow's Sparrow and Sedge Wren
being state endangered species (LEWIS and VANOSDOL 1999).
Muscatatuck NWR is recognized as a “continentally
important” bird area. The refuge became a reintroduction site
for the River Otter in 1995 when 25 otters from Louisiana were
released. They have adjusted well to their new home and may be seen on
most trips. The refuge is also home to the endangered Copperbelly Water
Snake which is abundant on the refuge.
There is a 97-acre Acid Seep Spring Research Natural Area
located on the refuge. This type of seep spring is very unusual in
Indiana and would be more commonly found in Canada. The boggy area
contains several species indigenous to an acid seep spring including: alder,
winterberry, and black chokeberry; 4
species of ferns, including spotted, touch- me- not, and
halberd tearthumb; and at least 3 species of sedges: roughleaf
goldenrod, bog bluegrass and autumn bluegrass
(INDNR).
A visitor center which houses a bookstore, Conservation Learning Center
and bird viewing room is open when the bookstore is staffed by volunteer members
of the Muscatatuck Wildlife Society.
The Wildlife Society operates one of Indiana's finest natural history bookstores, offers the free use of a nature viewing kit (containing binoculars, a bird field guide and check list) for visitors who need them, maintains the feeders at the bird viewing room, helps fund projects on the refuge, works on cabin restoration and trail maintenance as well as staffing events held at the refuge i.e. Take a Kid Fishing Day, Wings Over Muscatatuck Festival and Log Cabin Day which is part of National Wildlife Refuge Week.
The property is also home to the restored Myers family cabin and barn and 2 pioneer
cemeteries.
Typical Time to bird: 3-4 hours will give pretty good coverage of all
sites within refuge.
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Birds:
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- Overview:
- Muscatatuck is a great location for migrating
waterfowl, shorebirds and passerines. A large variety of dabblers and
divers may be seen during spring and fall migrations. Several species
of shorebirds visit when water levels are right. Families of passerines
to be expected are: woodpeckers, flycatchers, vireos, swallows, wrens,
thrushes, warblers, tanagers, sparrows and orioles.
- Specialty Species:
- Tundra Swans can be found
December through early March on any of the large lakes.
- Much of the refuge is managed for Wood
Ducks. Large numbers occur here and may be found any time
there is open water--especially in the greentree reservoirs. 117 were
seen in an hour in October 2003.
- Ospreys usually make appearances
on Richart or Stanfield lakes late April through mid-May. There is a
nest platform on Richart Lake that unfortunately has not been used.
- Bald Eagle. In the closed area of the refuge Bald Eagles
nested successfully from 2002 through 2004, fledging 8 young. In the spring
of 2005 a storm blew the nest tree down, however the eagles have begun
construction of 2 new nests and hopefully more eaglets will be fledged
in the future. Eagles can often be seen on other parts of the refuge year
round.
- American Woodcock occur February
through May. Courtship flights may be witnessed just north of the main
entrance gate, north of the Sandhill Ponds or across the parking lot
from Myers Cabin.
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo can be
heard and seen mid-April through June. The area just east of Sioux Pond
is a good area for these birds.
- Large numbers of Red-headed Woodpeckers
nest on the refuge. They may be seen nearly year round in and around
M-2 and M-6.
- Check the Visitor Center feeders December through
March for Red-breasted Nuthatches.
- Late July through September Sedge Wrens
can be found at south Endicott Marsh.
- The area around Mallard Lake and Lake Sheryl are
good spots for Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat
and Orchard Oriole mid-April through June.
- Mid-April through June just east of M-6 where the
road crosses Mutton creek listen and look for Prothonotary
Warbler and Northern Parula.
- Check for Henslow's Sparrow in
the Endicott Marsh area in May and June.
- Blue Grosbeak can often be seen
late April through June in the area near the maintenance buildings.
- Noteworthy Records:
- Western Grebe - (08-Jul-1995); 4
birds found dead
- American White Pelican -
(18-Apr-1994); (05-Apr-1996); (14-Oct-1998)
- Little Blue Heron -
(10-May-2003)
- Black-crowned Night Heron -
(11-May-2002)
- Glossy Ibis - (24-Oct-1992)
- Surf Scoter - (02-Dec-1995);
(18-Mar-1996)
- White-winged Scoter -
(04-Mar-1990)
- Black Scoter - (15-Nov-1995)
- Long-tailed Duck - (08-Mar-1997)
- Mississippi Kite - (20-Jun-2002)
- Northern Goshawk - (28-Nov-1993)
- Wilson's Phalarope -
(10-May-2003)
- Yellow Rail - (23-Apr-1994)
- Common Tern - (10-May-1997)
- Black Tern - (May 1999)
- Long-eared Owl (01-Jan-2004)
- Northern Saw-whet Owl -
(01-Jan-2004)
- Bewick's Wren - (29-May-1988)
- Golden-winged Warbler -
(10-May-1997)
- Clay-colored Sparrow (Sep 2002);
(Sep 2003)
- Brambling - (31-Mar-1996)
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General:
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- Ownership:
- U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service
- Site Phone Number: 812-522-4352
- Hours:
- The refuge is open daily sunrise to sunset. There
are automatic gates inside the main and west entrances. The gates
normally give plenty of time to leave the refuge after sunset before
closing.
- Fees:
- None.
- Restrooms:
- Modern restrooms are available at the Visitors'
Center. Pit toilets are located before you reach the Stanfield Lake
boat ramp and at the Persimmon Lake parking lot.
- Lodging:
- There is no camping available on or near the refuge.
Several national hotel / motel chains are available in nearby Seymour.
- Access Restrictions:
- There is a waterfowl sanctuary within the refuge
that is closed to public access. The sanctuary is open to foot traffic
only during National Wildlife Refuge Week the 2nd
week of October. Guided tours are available during the Wings
Over Muscatatuck festival the 2nd Saturday of May. It may be
accessed other times of the year by special permission. Part of the
refuge is open to hunting (deer, rabbit, quail) and access may be
limited to birding from the road only. All hunting areas are well
marked.
- Special Considerations:
- Please adhere to the "No vehicles beyond this point"
signs located though out the property. Foot traffic beyond these signs
is permitted.
- Temporal Considerations:
- March and September through November are the best
times to visit the refuge for waterfowl. Mid-April through June are
best for migrating passerines.
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Directions:
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- From the North: Take I-65
South to exit 50A . Go east on US 50 for 3 miles. The main entrance to
the refuge is on the right side of the road. An alternate route from
north: US 31 south to US 50, turn left (east), go three miles to main
entrance on right.
- From the South: Take I-65
North to exit 50A . Go east on US 50 for 3 miles. The main entrance to
the refuge is on the right side of the road. An alternate route from
north: US 31 north to US 50, turn right (east), go three miles to main
entrance on right.
- From the East: Take US 50
west approximately 10 miles west of North Vernon, IN. The main entrance
is on the left.
- From the West: Take US 50
east and continue three miles east of Seymour, IN. The main entrance to
refuge is on the right.
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References:
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- Folzenlogen, Robert.
- A Birder's Guide to the Cincinnati Tristate.
- Littleton, CO: Willow Press, 1995.
- Homoya, Mike.
- Report on 97-acre Acid Seep Spring Research Natural
Area.
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
- Keller, Charles E., Shirley A. Keller, and Timothy
C. Keller.
- Indiana Birds and Their Haunts: A
Checklist and Finding Guide. Second Edition.
- Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1986.
- Lewis, Jason, and Teresa Vanosdol.
- Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
Breeding Bird Survey.
- February 1999.
- Scheffe, Charles E.
- "King Rail Visits Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge."
- Indiana Audubon Quarterly
56.3 (1978): 117-8.
- Seng, Phil T., and David J. Case.
- Indiana Wildlife Viewing Guide.
- Helena, MT: Falcon Press, 1992.
- White, Mel.
- National Geographic Guide to Birdwatching
Sites - Eastern U.S.
- Washington, D.C.: The National Geographic Society,
1999.
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Links: |
- U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service - Muscatatuck NWR
- Information on Muscatatuck NWR from the U.S. FWS
website.
- Bird
Checklist for Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
- Bird checklist from the U.S. Geological Survey
website.
- Darlena
Graham's Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge Page
- An excellent discussion of the birds of Muscatatuck
from Ned Keller's Birding
in Cincinnati website.
- Exerpts
on Muscatatuck NWR from "America's National Wildlife Refuges, A
Complete Guide"
- From the Defenders of Wildlife website, selected
information from the 2002 publication, America's National Wildlife
Refuges, A Complete Guide.
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Credits: |
Author: Gary Dorman
Additional Species Reports: Donna Stanley, U.S. FWS
Editors: Darel Heitkamp and Dick Patterson
Last updated: January, 2007
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