Terrell’s Island 2025 06

This week we decided to return to Terrell’s Island. You can read that post here if you have not or if you would like a refresher. Prior to righting this post I reread the former post to remember what I posted before. That post was really short compared to what I have been producing lately.

Key Features of Terrell’s Island

• Location: Situated on the shores of Lake Butte des Morts, Terrell’s Island is a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and birdwatchers.
• History: Originally constructed as a nesting area for pelicans, the island has since evolved into a thriving habitat for various wildlife species.
• Trails: The island features a network of well-maintained trails that wind through diverse landscapes, including wetlands, forests, and meadows.
• Wildlife: Terrell’s Island is home to a variety of bird species, including waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors. Visitors may also encounter deer, turtles, and other wildlife.
• Recreational Activities: Popular activities at Terrell’s Island include hiking, biking, birdwatching, and nature photography.
• Accessibility: The island is accessible year-round, although trails may be closed during inclement weather.

Review

This month I think I will revisit trails that I wrote about last year. Especially the early trails where I did not say much. Terrell’s Island is one of those places that I really like. So much so that I took senior pictures for one of my friends kids there. Though my wife is the one who suggested the revisit to Terrell’s Island.

Last year when we first visited we took the 2.1 mile trail out on the norther peninsula. So this year we decided to take the shorter 1.5 mile trail on the southern peninsula. Like I said last year that distance is deceptive. The trail is actually 3 miles long, they only measure the length of the trail to the end of the peninsula.

We arrived about midmorning and the parking lot already had about 6 cars. Though one group was just finishing their hike. We got out of our car and started to prepare for our own hike. My wife grabbed her backpack and I grabbed my camera.

I took a quick picture of a tree swallow, then we started walking down the path. Birds where chirping all around us as we walked. The cacophony of bird calls was over powering. So I took the video I posted to Facebook and Instagram yesterday.

One call was different. A flit of yellow flying past us gave us a clue. The pictures I took allowed us to identify it as a Yellow Warbler.

Robins, Blackbirds, Redwing Blackbirds, and Tree Swallows all perched on the power lines, in the trees, and on the reeds. Terrell’s Island is an interesting environment with multiple geographic features. Dense cattail reeds line the edges of the trail for the majority of the 1.5 mile trail. Trees grow on the islands and dikes which connect them. There is also a small grove of apple trees on one of the islands.

The property looked to be formerly a private hunting and fishing grounds that had been turned into a nature preserve. The former owners created the peninsulas on which the trails lie.

There is differences between the 2.1 mile trail and the 1.5 mile trail though. The 2.1 mile trail is for the most part man made. Large boulders were dropped into the lake to form a structure for dirt and gravel to make a barrier between the small bay in between the peninsulas and the larger Lake Butte Des Morte.

The 1.5 mile trail seems to have been made by connecting existing islands. Two of which contain buildings for people to stay in and for equipment to be stored. The last half mile of the southern peninsula though is similar to the northern peninsula.

Based on historic photos I have seen posted on the internet the two peninsulas were connected at one point. The connection was removed some time after the property became a wildlife preserve.

Stopping briefly at one of the islands to remove stones from our shoes we rested at a bench on one of the islands. Benches are strategically positioned as visitors hike along the trail. And as you get to the end of the trail the peninsula widens and several more benches are placed for enjoying the sights.

As we reached the end of the peninsula my wife took a selfie to taunt my children. We looked out on the proper and saw fishing boats. These sport fishers drift outside the mid-lake reed beds just off of Terrell’s Island.

We then turned around to return to our vehicle. To our south more rocky islands were visited by pelicans. Geese swam in the waters around us. Dozens of Pelicans and Sea Gulls flew high above us.

As we returned to the first island, we could see frogs and turtles in the marsh around the islands. Tree swallows had taken up residence in the Wood Duck houses along the trail. We saw more of the Yellow Warblers we had seen earlier.

As we got close to the last island I could see a White Egret in the shallow marsh. I took a quick picture and signaled for my wife to stop. Slowly I stalked closer to try and get a better photo, but he saw me and took off.

While we were walking back we passed about three groups of people. Maybe two groups on the way out. So people are starting to visit the preserve. A donation box at the parking lot asks for donations to help improve the preserve. If you visit please donate to keep the preserve a good place to hike.

We will be back to Terrell’s Island in the future. Maybe they will have another trail open. A boardwalk exists off the parking lot but is taped off and in dis-repair. In any event I promise not to write about it again this year.

Let me know if you’ve been to Terrell’s Island. Or if either of my post have peaked your interest. Either way putting a comment in the comment section will let me know who is reading my posts. Thank you again for reading.