Meeman-Shelby Birding
Warning Alert
Road Closed Due to Erosion
Due to erosion issues, One Way Road, past the campground at Meeman-Shelby, is closed. Please don't try to access these areas for your safety.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions about your upcoming reservation, please call 1 (888) 867-2757.
Birding at Meeman-Shelby Forest
The Audubon Society designated Meeman-Shelby an Important Bird Area in 2006.
The 12,539-acre park contains bottomland hardwoods, swamps, lakes, and upland forest. There are over 20 miles of trails in the park, which offer great opportunities for birding. Over 250 species of birds have been reported from the park.
Substantial numbers of neotropical migrants can be found during the spring and fall migrations. Summer breeding birds include cerulean, Swainson’s, and hooded warblers, Mississippi kites, anhinga, yellow-crowned night-herons, and great egrets. In winter, visit Poplar Tree Lake for waterfowl and the boat ramp to the Mississippi River for gulls, ducks, and geese flying over. Owls, woodpeckers, wild turkey, and other resident birds are common year-round.
Featured Birds
- Great Blue Heron
- Mississippi Kite
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Warbling Vireo
- Tree Swallow
- Warblers
- Tanagers
- Baltimore Oriole
- Orchard Oriole
- Great Blue Heron
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Acadian Flycatcher
- Fish Crow
- Thrushes
- Summer Tanager
- Scarlet Tanager
- Least Tern
- Bank Swallow
- Indigo Bunting
- Barred Owl
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- Cerulean Warbler
- Swainson’s Warbler
- Louisiana Waterthrush
- Songbirds
- Waterfowl
- Wading Birds
- Shorebirds
- Hawk
- Egrets
- Bald Eagle
- Shorebirds
Birding Locations
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Poplar Tree Lake
Featured birds: Great Blue Heron, Mississippi Kite, Red-headed Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo, Tree SwallowThe forest and open areas surrounding the 125-acre lake provide habitat for a large diversity of birds.
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Island Forty Road
Featured birds: Great Blue Heron, Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Acadian Flycatcher, Fish CrowThe poorly maintained gravel road (it may be best to walk most of the road) heads west to Eagle Lake. The State Park does offer canoe trips on the lake.
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River Road and Sasser Boat Launch
Featured birds: Mississippi Kite, Least Tern, Bank Swallow, Flycatchers, VireosListen for cerulean warblers and other birds as you drive River Road (there are few places to pull over along the road). From the boat launch area scan the river for gulls and terns and watch for bank swallows flying close to land. Large flocks of geese are sometimes seen flying over the area in winter.
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Pioneer Springs Trail
Featured birds: Barred Owl, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Cerulean Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, Louisiana WaterthrushThe trail runs along the borders of the upland bluff and bottomland forests. -
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Eagle Lake Refuge Parking
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Wading Birds, Shorebirds, Mississippi Kite, HawkThe area is mostly cleared Mississippi River floodplain partitioned into water management units. The refuge is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on non-hunt days, but closed to all entrance from November 15 to last day of February. Over 225 bird species identified.
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Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Egrets, Herons, Osprey, Bald EagleThe site contains a variety of forested and non-forested habitats and access to Mississippi River riverfront and sandbar habitats. Thousands of ducks and geese are typically observed in and around the managed ponds near the headquarters. Please refer to Refuge personnel about hunting seasons and public access dates. Access dates vary by site. Over 180 bird species identified.
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Ensley Bottoms Complex and Ensley Sewage Ponds
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Gull, Terns, HawkDue to the complicated nature of this site, please visit the Tennessee Watchable Wildlife page at www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/wheretowatch.cfm and navigate to the Ensley Bottoms Complex for information. Mudflats and ponds provide excellent birding opportunities. Over 300 bird species identified.
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Responsible Birding
- Do not endanger the welfare of birds.
- Tread lightly and respect bird habitat.
- Silence is golden.
- Do not use electronic sound devices to attract birds during nesting season, May-July.
- Take extra care when in a nesting area.
- Always respect the law and the rights of others, violators subject to prosecution.
- Do not trespass on private property.
- Avoid pointing your binoculars at other people or their homes.
- Limit group sizes in areas that are not conducive to large crowds.
Discover More at Meeman-Shelby Forest
