Eagle Slough Natural Area

Evansville, Indiana

About Eagle Slough

Eagle Slough is a 127-acre wetland conservation project in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, near Evansville. It is located at 5000 Waterworks Road on the Indiana–Kentucky state line, in the floodplain of the Ohio River and immediately north of the Ellis Park horse-racing track.

The property consists of three parcels: a 53-acre donation from Traylor Brothers Construction Company and two parcels purchased from the State of Indiana totaling 74 acres. Nearly all of Eagle Slough is forested, while its northern portion includes lakes that provide habitat for migrating waterfowl.

The site’s vegetation is varied but typical of an Ohio River wetland. Of particular biological significance are bald cypress trees, which are not commonly found north of the Ohio River. Species inventories at the preserve are ongoing.

  • Area 127 acres
  • Trail length About 0.6 mile
  • Surface Gravel and dirt
  • Primary use Walking and birding

Location

5000 Waterworks Road, Evansville, Indiana

Trail Information

The main trail is a flat, easy 0.6-mile gravel-and-dirt path. A back-country route winds along the western edge of the property and can be rugged and overgrown at times.

Birding

Eagle Slough’s varied plant life and topography provide excellent habitat for common birds such as chickadees, wrens, robins, and grackles, as well as less commonly seen species including blue-gray gnatcatchers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, blue-winged teals, double-crested cormorants, and ruby-crowned kinglets. Warblers also pass through during migration.

The Evansville Audubon Society has conducted an ongoing inventory of nesting and migratory birds at the property. More than 100 species have been sighted, with 127 species documented in the original account. Early spring is generally the best time for birdwatching, during migration and nesting season; late spring and summer can be very buggy because of standing water.

Bird lists: A list of birds sighted at Eagle Slough over the preceding three years was available through Wild Birds Unlimited.

More Information

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