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Illinois

When to catch Meredosia Refugeat its best

Meredosia Refuge through the year: spring migration (2 separate phases, from typically late February to early March), wildlife by season (2 separate phases, from Late May to early June) and winter wildlife (usually: migration typically peaks in November). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.

RIGHT NOW · SEP 30

  • Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
  • This weekend (NWS)Sat sunny, 68°F · Sun sunny, 70°F
  • Park alertsCheck the managing agency before you go

When are you going?

Fall at Meredosia Refuge

Good in fall

  • Ducks from October through late November; migration typically peaks in November

From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.

Next peak here after fall

USUAL PEAK · WINTER WILDLIFEMeredosia RefugeMigration typically peaks in NovemberIllinois

“migration typically peaks in November” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

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Where to go at Meredosia Refuge

Spots, visitor points and places nearby
  • Spring
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Best spots

Where each event's source says to go

Spring migration

  • Evan's Prairie Nature TrailA quarter-mile accessible gravel-and-boardwalk trail from the kiosk in the Evan's Prairie parking area (2227 N Beach Road) through sand prairie, old pine plantings and bottomland forest, ending on a boardwalk over Carver Lake; open all yearU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Shearl-Skinner UnitWetlands with two service roads to walk quietly: one topped with milkweed, where you can look for monarch butterflies, and one lined with woods, for wood ducks, hawks and owls; a kiosk with maps is at the parking areaU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Wildlife by season

  • Shearl-Skinner UnitWetlands with two service roads to walk quietly: one topped with milkweed, where you can look for monarch butterflies, and one lined with woods, for wood ducks, hawks and owls; a kiosk with maps is at the parking areaU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Evan's Prairie Nature TrailA quarter-mile accessible gravel-and-boardwalk trail from the kiosk in the Evan's Prairie parking area (2227 N Beach Road) through sand prairie, old pine plantings and bottomland forest, ending on a boardwalk over Carver Lake; open all yearU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Winter wildlife

  • East side of Meredosia LakeRefuge land along the east side of Meredosia Lake in Morgan County, open on foot even during the October 16 to January 31 waterfowl sanctuary; cars can use Beach Road on the lake's east side, and the boat ramp to the lake stays open all yearU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Evan's Prairie Nature TrailA quarter-mile accessible gravel-and-boardwalk trail from the kiosk in the Evan's Prairie parking area (2227 N Beach Road) through sand prairie, old pine plantings and bottomland forest, ending on a boardwalk over Carver Lake; open all yearU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Next 7 days at Meredosia Refuge

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodaySlight Chance Rain Showers81° / 70°15% rain
  • ThuShowers And Thunderstorms77° / 60°94% rain
  • FriRain Showers68° / 51°81% rain
  • SatSunny68° / 50°4% rain
  • SunSunny70° / 46°4% rain
  • MonSunny65° / 45°–
  • TueSunny66° / 51°2% rain

Today: sunrise 6:58 a.m., sunset 6:48 p.m., light until 7:15 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)

Nearby, and when they peak

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Towns nearby

Straight-line miles; each town page has frost dates and its nature year

Meredosia Refuge in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Bright yellow prickly pear cactus flowers among dry grasses
Prickly pear cactus in bloom in the sand prairie at Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge (a flower photo, not of the birds). Photo: Courtney Lopez/USFWS · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

What's the spring frog chorus like?

It starts with the long, high trill of American toads and, if you're lucky, the birdlike whistles of the rare Illinois chorus frog, a state-threatened species of the refuge's sandy ground. Later come spring peepers, southern leopard frogs and gray treefrogs.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Meredosia NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How many snow geese?

More than 100,000 at once is not unusual, rolling together over the gaps in the ice; ducks follow as the ice opens in mid-March.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Meredosia NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Is the whole refuge open in spring?

Yes. From February 1 to October 15, all land and water areas are open on foot and by boat, from sunrise to sunset.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Meredosia NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How do I get there?

From Jacksonville, take Route 67 north about 25 miles to Highway 104, then west about five miles; turn north on Putnam Street, east on Gaskill, then north on Beach Road for half a mile.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Meredosia NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages; checked Sep 30