BIRD FINDING 
Mermet Lake Conservation Area Massac County 
Description: The Mermet Lake Conservation Area is managed by the Illinois Department of 
Conservation primarily for waterfowl and is an excellent concentration point for these species. 
Pin Oak and Willow Oak provide high quality food along with the planted crops for these 
species. The total area includes 2,577 acres of which 690 are water. A structure allows for 
manipulation of the water level so that it is high in the summer and lower for the fall and winter. 
Being in extreme southern Illinois and close to the Ohio River, this area provides habitat for 
species more typical of the southern U.S. Outstanding areas include the lotus and cattail 
marshes where the only known Illinois nest of the Purple Gallinule was located in 1973. The 
southern portion of this Conservation Area is a dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve. Mermet Lake 
also abounds with a great diversity of reptiles and amphibians — if you have never seen a 
Cottonmouth, this area provides one of the easiest places to find one (and extreme caution 
should be exercised if you intend to wade in the water). 
Directions: The area is located in Massac County west of U.S. Rt. 45 at Mermet which is 
practically half way between Vienna and Metropolis. There are two entrances into the 
Conservation Area (note map). 
Birding: Although birding is excellent all year, Lake Mermet is chiefly visited in the summer by 
those desiring to find the southern specialties that occur here. With extreme luck (and much 
wading) a birder may find the Purple Gallinule in the lotus or cattails bordering the eastern 
portion of the Reservoir. During the search, you will probably encounter one or more Least 
Bitterns as they nest throughout the same area. 
Little Terns are often found flying over the Reservoir Area (June and July) and herons 
regularly visit the area. Shorebirds and rails are also attracted to the area. The entire Reservoir 
Area is surrounded by roads and there are several pull-offs allowing views over the entire 
stump-filled lake. Land birds are best noted along the eastern portion of the refuge in the 
wooded areas and marshy edges. Orchard Orioles, Prothonotary Warblers, Acadian Flycatch- 
ers, White-eyed Vireos and Carolina Chickadees should be expected. 
Since this is a waterfowl refuge, caution may be in order during the hunting season; 
however, it is quite appealing during the rest of the year. 
—Vernon M. Kleen 
2311 Huntington Rd. 
Springfield, Il. 62703 
Illinois Audubon Bulletin, Summer, 1976. 
Supplement to BIRD FINDING IN ILLINOIS, 
by Illinois Audubon Society, 1975. 
