1952 Map of Birding Island

About this map

Birding Island lies at the heart of this Idaho landscape, formed by the split of the Payette River and Big Willow Creek. The map documents a highly managed water system essential for local agriculture, featuring the Diversion Dam, the winding Forty-nine Slough, and an extensive network of unnamed ditches. On the northern bank of the creek, the Fort Wilson (Site) marks a point of significant historical interest, suggesting the early frontier footprint in Payette County. The terrain is shaped by both natural drainage and industrial utility, with several Gravel Pits and a Rock Quarry carved into the hills. Transportation is defined by a mix of established roads and more ephemeral routes, including a Jeep trail and a primitive Trail cutting through the northern gulches. An Airway Beacon on a high ridge underscores the era's reliance on visual navigation aids for regional flight paths.