The Prairie Enthusiasts Field Trip

Birds & Flowers of Underwood & Schurch-Thomson Prairies  Iowa Co.

Come see dry and dry-mesic prairies in a 400-acre sea of CRP grassland rich with grassland birds such as bobolinks, meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows, upland sandpipers, and Henslow’s sparrows.  Early summer prairie flowers such as pale-purple coneflower, white wild indigo, white prairie clover, Coreopsis, leadplant, and other flowers should be in bloom.  Schurch-Thomson Prairie, which is a part of TPE’s 570-acre Mounds View Grassland preserve, and the adjacent Underwood Prairie which is privately owned by the Hanley Family Trust.  Be prepared for a long hike. Bring binoculars.

Trip leader:  Rich Henderson (608-845-7065 or tpe.rhenderson@tds.net)

Directions:

  From the intersection of US Hwy 18-151 and County F (south of Blue Mounds in western Dane

County), take F approximately 5 miles south, then turn right on to Reilly Road.  Proceed to parking lot and kiosks at the end of the road (past the barn). (Note: A half mile south of F from 18-151, pay close attention to the road signs, for F turns to the right & the straight ahead road becomes County Z.  Stay on F.)  Enter “Reilly Rd, Barneveld, WI” in map app.