Come enjoy the fall migration! A Refuge naturalist will be available on Saturdays and Sundays beginning Sat. November 7 through Sun. November 22, 2026 from 10am – 2pm, weather permitting. The naturalist will have a spotting scope and bird ID guides during these FREE programs to help visitors identify birds and answer questions about the migration.
The Brownsville Overlook is one of the best places along the river to view thousands of tundra swans, ducks, pelicans and bald eagles. This roadside pull-off is located about 3 miles south of Brownsville, Minn. alongside MN-HWY 26.
Though peak migration is difficult to predict, the best time to see the tundra swan migration is usually mid-to-late November – BUT, even when they're not yet at peak numbers, the swans' cheerful calls are a celebration! Many other species of birds are present and each day brings something new. Recent bird sightings will be updated weekly on our website – https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river – beginning late October through the end of the naturalist season.
For more info, please call the La Crosse District Visitor Center, 608-779-2399. The Visitor Center is located at N5727 County Road Z, Onalaska, WI 54650. Open winter hours Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 3pm; closed on federal holidays.
