The Heron Pond Avian Observatory offers exceptional opportunities to view waterfowl including wintering Trumpeter Swans and many other species of birds and wildlife in wetland habitat. You will get close enough to the birds without disturbing them allowing you to take photographs or video or simply enjoy the experience. 

The observatory is not only a unique structure for viewing birds, it is an attraction for those who appreciate innovative design! This one-of-a-kind observatory was designed and constructed by students of the Washington University School of Architecture for a class that their professor, Andrew Colopy, titled “Studio Confluence.” The purpose of the class was to design, fabricate and build an avian observatory at Riverlands in collaboration with the Audubon Center at Riverlands and the Rivers Project Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Studio Confluence was awarded a grant from the Gephardt Institute at Washington University to engage in a positive process of community-based teaching and learning.  Students' design research focused on camouflage for enhanced bird viewing as well as innovative, earth-friendly building concepts.