DANIEL BOONE
CONSERVATION AREA
Edge Wade, 2016
3,523 acres Warren Co. DeLorme 39, D-8/9
GPS: 38.7755762,-91.4021856
MDC owned; for information call 636-441-4554
Directions: From Jonesburg (I-70 exit 183), take Rt. Y
southwest for 5 miles, then continue southwest on Tower Rd. for 2 miles into
the area.
This area has been
designated by Audubon Missouri as an Important Bird Area (IBA).
The 923-acre Razor Hollow Natural Area is best accessed from the
third parking area (first on the left) via Area Access Trail 1213.
ADA Information: This is an area of rugged, ridge/valley
terrain. There are no ADA compliant
facilities. Birding from a vehicle along
the roads and in parking and camping areas can be very productive, especially
during passerine migration seasons.
When to
Visit/Species to Expect: Reported birding trips to Daniel Boone CA show a skew to early spring
(particularly March). This is because it
was one of the sites at which Ruffed Grouse were re-introduced and monitored in
an attempt to reestablish the species as a Missouri breeder. Drumming Ruffed Grouse have not been reported
here since late March 2005.
Spring migration records include Winter Wren, Gray and Swainson’s Thrush, and both kinglets, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, and Blackpoll Warbler.
Breeding warblers include Louisiana Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Common
Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Worm-eating, Black-and White,
Kentucky, Hooded, and Pine.
Among other breeders are Chuck-will’s-widow, Whip-poor-will, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Yellow-breasted Chat, Eastern Towhee, Summer and Scarlet Tanager, Blue Grosbeak and Baltimore Oriole.
Features of
interest to birders: Although the MDC site description touts hikes through “deep valleys, woodlands, savannas, glades and rugged hills,” it should be noted that of 3,523 acres, only 5 acres are described as “glade”, only 10 as non-praire grassland and 50 acres as “savanna”. Four ponds total 4 acres; thus 3,451 acres are forest and woodland. The “deep valleys…and rugged hills” is certainly an accurate description. Tower Rd. bisects the area in a generally northeast/southwest direction, for the most part running along a ridge top.
The pine stands along Tower Rd. often harbor nesting Pine Warblers
that may arrive on territory as early as March. If the first stand has no warblers, try the next one, as the warblers
may not be in all of them.
Short walks from any of the parking areas may turn up a feeding flock, any of Missouri’s resident woodpeckers, and in summer a variety of species singing on territory.
At the 5th lot there is a picnic table with a small open area. Check it for woodpeckers and small
passerines. A short two-track road leads
to a garage building and beyond is a short trail that loops around a food plot.
At the fork, a right off Tower Road leads past a small pond very
near the parking area at the split. At
the end is a parking/horse staging/camping area offering an open area for
viewing into trees and grass, with a pond nearby.
Staying left on Tower Road leads to three more lots (all on the
left). There are two ponds on the
right. Pond #1 can be seen from the road
and examined more closely with a very short walk. A food plot behind the last lot offers a rare
opportunity to bird a flat open area and the adjacent ecotone.
Toilets: None
Camping: In all parking lots, no amenities.
Hazards/Limitations: The area has rugged terrain. It is a popular hunting destination
(especially deer and turkey seasons).
Nearby Birding
Sites: Loutre Creek Access*, Danville CA*, Frank
Reifsnider SF, Little Lost Creek CA, Graham Cave SP.
*Birders’ Guide available
