Birding in the towns of Lawton and Bronson in Woodbury Co in western Iowa can give you a chance to see a few good birds. Although the habitat is scarce around here, you can find some decent birding areas. The area doesn’t have any nature preserves or parks but despite this 171 species of birds have been found here in the past few years. Rarities such as the Barn Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, and Chestnut-collared Longspur have been seen here before.

   Some of the best birding near the small town of Bronson is a bit south and west of town at a place nicknamed  “The Square”. It is a 1 square mile wetland that is privately owned but despite this the best habitat can be easily viewed from the road. The Square and the farm fields around it have had thousands of ducks and shorebirds during the peak periods during spring and fall migration as well as smaller numbers of gulls mixed in. Sparrows are most plentiful in fall and are present year round. Bird highlights from The Square and surrounding areas include Ross’s Goose, American Bittern, Swainson’s Hawk, Sora, Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Dunlin, Bonaparte’s Gull, Northern Shrike, Winter Wren, American Pipit, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, and much more. To get here from the town of  Bronson itself you start going west out of Bronson on the Bronson Blacktop (Front St.) towards Old Hwy. 141 (Loess Hills Scenic Byway). Turn left at Old Hwy. 141 and head south. About a mile down the road turn right on 220th St. From there turn left at Dallas Ave. and you should see the area on the left in about 1 mile.

   Birding in the town of Bronson can yield a few birds and it may be worth stopping by for a look. In some of the large spuce trees on the east side of town I have found Red Crossbills, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and even a Barn Owl before. Several warbler species can be found in the town during migration in some of the deciduous trees. Loggerhead Shrike are sometimes found on the power lines along Eastland Ave. in late summer, just east of town. Bird highlights from Bronson include Trumpeter Swan (as well as many other flyover waterfowl), Barn Owl, Western Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue-headed Vireo, Northern Mockingbird, and Red Crossbill.

   Elliott and Deer Creek south and east of Bronson are good places to find owls, ducks, hawks, and assorted passerines. I regularly hike there and it is the best way to access the area. In the spring and fall you may find a few flycatcher and warbler species moving through the area, feeding in the trees along the banks. In summer, look for nesting Wood Ducks, Red-tailed Hawks, Great-horned Owls, several woodpeckers, House Wrens, White-breasted Nuthatcher, vireos, Song Sparrows and two species of orioles. Cliff Swallows are also regular nesters under some bridges on the creek. In the fall sparrows are abundant and towhees and Fox Sparrow have been seen here before. In the winter look for wintering Mourning Doves, American Robin, Belted Kingfisher, and several sparrows as well as other various birds. Bird highlights from the area include Great Egret (flyover),  Bald Eagle, Pileated Woodpecker, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, and Spotted Towhee. To get to the best habitat along the creeks head east out of town on Front Street and keep going straight east. You will see the creeks very soon and can look for birds from there.

   The town of Lawton is located to the north of Bronson along Hwy. 20. I haven’t birded in this town before but there may be some potential for good birds especially at the cemetery north of town.

   Even though the areas I have listed above have the best potential for birds there is still a lot of exploring to be done. I’m sure there is more great habitat out there waiting to be found.