Great River Birding Trail

Danny Johnson

The Mississippi River is a national treasure despite decades of engineering, pollution and neglect. It is a working waterway, serving as the country's main artery for the shipment of grain, coal, petroleum and other commodities. But the river and its 30-million-acre floodplain also form an internationally significant flyway for migratory birds and provide destinations for millions of Americans who enjoy birding and whose visits enrich local economies.

Birds are also barometers of the river's health. Populations of many species have declined dramatically over the last century, due mainly to the loss and degradation of habitat. To remain a source of life and prosperity for birds, other wildlife and people, the Mississippi must be nurtured and restored through a system-wide vision. We hope you will join Audubon and its many partners to help save America 's River.

The Great River Birding Trail website provides an interactive map with links to hundreds of state parks, conservation areas, nature centers, and other areas to enjoy birds, other wildlife and the habitats that suppor them.