BIRD FINDING 
Rend Lake Jefferson and Franklin Counties 
Description: Rend Lake is a relatively new body of water, formed by the impoundment of 
the Big Muddy River. It is a large, rather shallow lake, seldom over ten feet deep, with 
extensive mudflats and small islands during the fall. Most lands adjacent to the lake are in 
public ownership and are mostly old fields, in various early successional stages, with 
scattered woodlots. Surrounding areas are oak-hickory floodplain woods typical of southern 
Illinois. 
Directions: The lake is located in Franklin and Jefferson counties, approximately 15 miles 
south of Mount Vernon. The main dam can be reached by travelling west on Ill. 14 about 
two miles from 1-57, then turning north at the Rend Lake sign. This road leads to the west 
end of the dam, and then parallels the west lakeshore up to III. 183. Detailed maps of the 
area are available from many local gasoline stations and from the Corps of Engineers 
administration building, located at the west end of the dam. 
Birding: At present, Rend Lake is an exceptional place for waterbirds, shorebirds, gulls and 
terns. Primary concentration points include the main body of the lake along and south of Ill. 
183, and the Rend Lake Refuge and Casey Fork Subimpoundment areas. 
Windy days are best since the birds will seek sheltered areas near the shore. Diving 
ducks tend to concentrate along the west end of the main dam, Sandusky Creek and Gun 
Creek areas. All common species are found here during migration; a few, including some 
rarities, winter in ice free areas. Gulls concentrate along the main dam, the southern tip of 
the state park, Gun Creek and especially the Marcum Branch area when it is frozen; both 
Sabine’s and Little Gulls have been found there recently. Terns are found in September on 
the islands off the south tip of the state park. Shorebirds occur anywhere there are mudflats 
and on the offshore islands. The Casey Fork Subimpoundment is the best area for them in 
the fall as the mudflats there are the least disturbed of the entire lake. Migrant flocks of 
pipits, longspurs and infrequent Snow Buntings utilize the lakeshore during November. 
Rend Lake State Park, while a major hunting area in the fall, is an excellent place for 
wintering hawks and owls, particularly Rough-legged and Marsh Hawks and Short-eared 
Owls. Marsh Hawks may also breed in the area. The broomsedge and foxtail fields provide 
good wintering habitat for the LeConte’s Sparrow. The wooded areas north and south of the 
lake, although flooded during the late fall, winter and spring, contain most of the common 
woodland birds of southern Illinois. 
Bruce Peterjohn 
405 E. College, Apt. 47 
Carbondale, Ill. 62901 
