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Birding in Minnesota
Minnesota has some great birds! You just have to know where -- and when -- to find them.
This lens provides links to tons of information about birds and birding in MN.
Did you know....? that birders from all over the US come to MN in the winter to see the species that are hard to find elsewhere? Species like the boreal owl, boreal chickadee, and great gray owl.
The Curious Wren - Your Birding Guide
Let the Curious Wren be your guide to birding.She has a whole series of lenses about birding, bird feeders, field guides, bird books, gifts and equipment.
Some lenses are "How To" lenses.
One part of her series is state-by-state birding guides -- Florida, Wisconsin, California and more!
Go to the Curious Wren hub for links to all her lenses.
Birding Festivals in Minnesota
http://www.hendersonmn.com/HHH/index.php
A New Visitor to My Feeders!
Tufted Titmouse! Since December 06, this titmouse has been coming to my feeders. He doesn't stay long, but I've been able to photograph him (or her) a lot. I reported it to the Cornell Ornithology Lab and they listed it on their Rare/Unusual Bird List.They are usually only seen in SE Minnesota, so it is a fairly rare sighting for the Twin Cities.
3 Ways to Make Birding in MN More Fun
1. Check the Rare Bird Alert every week and seek out the rare sightings. (Links to RBAs are provided below.)2. Plan a weekend trip to one of the state's hotspots during peak time. For example, Hawk Ridge in Duluth in October, where you can see hundreds of raptors. (Link to Hawk Ridge below.)
3. Attend a program at The Raptor Center in St. Paul. (Link to Raptor Center below.)
Provide Birds Water in Our Cold Winter!
Even if you don't want to mess with putting out a feeder, think about providing fresh water. It really attracts birds, even woodpeckers!With our temps, you'll need a heavy-duty de-icer. I use this one from Farm Innovators, available at Amazon for about $35.
General Information (Entire State)
- Minnesota Bird Listing Software
- Listing software and migration data for the birds of Minnesota.
- Bob Ekblad's Minnesota Birding
- Events, checklist, birding guide for southeastern Minnesota with detailed guide to Olmsted County, and many useful links.
- Andrew Longtin's Birding Pages
- Bird photos and trip reports, mostly from Minnesota.
- Laura Erickson's For the Birds
- Minnesota-based radio program. Archives and stories.
- Birding Minnesota
- A blog from the MN Ornithologists Union. Weekly birding reports and links.
- Birderblog.com
- Duluth area trip reports, news, and notes by Laura Erickson.
- Minnesota Ornithologists' Union
- Rare bird alerts, MOU-net e-mail group information and archive, index to The Loon, checklists, reporting forms, media guide, species distribution maps, list of hotspots, rare bird photos, field trips, and birding records.
- Minnesota Birding Network
- Information on subscribing and archives of the MnBird e-mail group.
- Birds of N. America - Cornell
- Cornell University's Ornithology Lab provides VERY detailed information about every N. American species (700 of them). Subscriptions cost $40 per year, but there are 6 species you can read about for free, including the ivory-billed woodpecker.
- Raptor Center (St. Paul)
- "Established in 1974, The Raptor Center specializes in the medical care, rehabilitation, and conservation of eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons. In addition to treating approximately 800 birds a year, the internationally known program reaches more than 240,000 people each year through public education programs and events, provides training in raptor medicine and surgery for veterinarians from around the world, and identifies emerging issues related to raptor health and populations. The majority of its funding comes from private donations."
Specific Areas of MN
- Duluth - Hawk Ridge
- Fall hawk watching site in Duluth. Events, count results, abundance graphs, research and educational programs, and raptor guide.
- Shoreview/New Brighton - Rice Creek Map
- Map of Rice Creek Park.
Checklists for MN Birds
- 16 Refuges
- Seasonal checklists for 16 refuges in Minnesota.
- Index to state checklists
- From Thayer Birding Software. Just click on the link (Free State and Province Checklists), then click on the state of MN.
Sites Devoted to One Species
- Owls
- Bill Lane's site on Northern Minnesota owls, with species profiles and survey data.
- Giant Canada Goose
- Photos of a subspecies of Canada Goose that is much larger (Branta canadensis maximachloropus) at Silver Lake in Rochester.
- Peregrine Falcon Cam
- Seasonal: April through June. Webcam of peregrine falcons nesting at three Xcel Energy power plants. Refreshes every two minutes.
- Operation Rubythroat
- All about ruby-throated hummingbirds. Includes details about Project Rubythroat - for K-12 teachers and students.
Birding Trails
- MN River Valley Birding Trail
- Project to link together the best birding sites in the Minnesota River watershed. Project overview, list of valley birds, and newsletter.
- NW MN Pine to Prairie Birding Trail
- Site guides to 43 Northwestern Minnesota hotspots, checklists, and photo gallery.
Rare Bird Alerts for MN
Check them weekly to find interesting sightings!
- Statewide Rare Bird Alert
- Statewide version.
- Duluth Rare Bird Alert
- Duluth area.
- Detroit Lakes Rare Bird Alert
- Detroit Lakes area.
Be A Contributor to Important Bird Research
Don't worry that you'll be tied down to watching birds all day. You can do it casually and intermittently, and if you're too busy to watch at all, you just don't send a report. But you do have to take it seriously and follow the directions. Here's how it works - you choose two consecutive days that are one week apart (e.g. weekends). Keep the tally sheet out and jot down your species numbers. (You'll also be asked about temperature and precipitation, and how much total time you spend watching your feeders that day.) Then you enter your numbers online and hit the "Send" button.
You can see the results of all the past FeederWatching online - there are maps showing species counts by region, and you can even see the locations of all the current watchers enrolled in the program. Help out the ornithologists at Cornell, and the birds too!
Read all about it and sign up here.
News Articles on MN Birds
- Crows Are Smart!
- "Caw of the Wild" article from Mpls. Star-Tribune tells interesting details about the intelligence of crows.
- MN Wrens - Preserving Habitat
- 3-27-06. Here's an interesting article about helping preserve the dwindling wetland habitat for Marsh and Sedge Wrens in MN.
- MN Birds start quest for best nest
- 4-18-06 Star Tribune.
- Bird Survey Takes Flight
- Bob Janssen has created bird lists for the 71 state parks in MN.
MN Birding Guides from Amazon
Birds of Minnesota Field Guide, Second Edition
A pocket-sized book that covers the common species. Not comprehensive, but good for beginners.
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Amazon Price: $9.32 (as of 12/10/2009) 
Minnesota Birds
Not a book, but a laminated brochure.
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Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 12/10/2009)
Birds in Minnesota
A county-by-county guide to what species have been reported.
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Minnesota Bird Watching : A Year-Round Guide
Only 176 pages -- hence the low price.
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Learn Bird Songs!
Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
$27. Book has built-in audio player - hear the song as you study the bird! 250 species and corresponding songs. Also has "lavish full-color illustrations."
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Amazon Price: $31.50 (as of 12/10/2009)
More Birding by Ear Eastern and Central North America: A Guide to Bird-song Identification (Peterson Field Guides)
Eastern - for birds east of the Rocky Mtns.
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Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 12/10/2009)
Bird Song Ear Training Guide: Who Cooks for Poor Sam Peabody? Learn to Recognize the Songs of Birds from the Midwest and Northeast States
Midwest and NE birds only.
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Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/10/2009)
Music of the Birds: A Celebration of Bird Song
Lang Elliott is one of the leading nature photographers and sound recordists.
The book and CD combo examine bird song from 2 perspectives - scientific and aesthetic. Elliott provides scientific information about bird vocalizations, but also discusses the beauty of bird song and its influence on poets.
Fantastic photos of singing birds in his book.
50 bird songs on the CD. Complex songs are explained - and even slowed down so that we can hear the complexity involved.
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Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 12/10/2009)
The Singing Life of Birds: The Art and Science of Listening to Birdsong
Comes with a CD.
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Amazon Price: $18.48 (as of 12/10/2009)
Cool Birding Stuff
Vortex Harness Strap
Take the strain off - and get rid of the pain in the neck!
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Swiss Gear Schloss Double Bottle Hydration Fanny Pack
$14.99. Great for birdwatching -- carry books, water, food. Comes w/bottles.
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Ivory Billed Woodpecker Machine Embroidered Wildlife Ballcap Bird Hat
$19.95. One size fits all, with adjustable backstrap. Embroidered.
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
More Cool Stuff
Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
$27. Book has built-in audio player - hear the song as you study the bird! 250 species and corresponding songs. Also has "lavish full-color illustrations."
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $31.50 (as of 12/09/2009)
Bird Watcher's Journal
$24.99. Refills available too (at Amazon). Spiral-bound pages encased in a durable water-resistant cover that zips closed. Holds pen too. Look like a real ornithologist!
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009)
Pocket Life List: A Birdwatcher's Life List and Diary of North American Birds
6.6 x 4 inches. 850 species. Each North American species is listed by common and scientific name. Space is provided to record when and where a specimen was sighted, along with other essential notes. Silhouettes in the margin key the sections containing each bird Order. Each species is also indexed by common and scientific name.
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Amazon Price: $14.49 (as of 12/09/2009)
Audubon Bird Call
Use this little gadget to make noises that birds find curious.
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009)
My #1 Pick for Squirrel-Proof Feeder
Droll Yankees YCPW180 Whipper Bird Feeder, Dark Blue
It really is squirrel-proof! Lifetime guarantee.
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Amazon Price: $72.99 (as of 12/10/2009)
MORE BIRD-RELATED SHOPPING
From The Curious Wren
Best Bird Feeders -- my tried and true recommendations, and most are squirrel-proof!Great Birdbaths and Fountains -- a nice selection of practical baths, drippers, fountains and accessories.
Hummingbirds! -- Facts, feeders, books and fun merchandise for hummer lovers.
Bird Shirts and Hats -- Shirts and hats featuring wild birds!
Great Gifts for Birders -- Gadgets, gear, clothing, CDs, DVDs -- everything a birder would love.
Best Field Guides (and Other Books) -- Your best selection of field guides.
Documentaries for Birders
The Life of Birds
The acclaimed 10-part PBS series. Attenborough takes us around the world to see amazing bird behavior.
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Amazon Price: $30.49 (as of 12/10/2009)
Winged Migration
A documentary with spectacular footage of birds in flight -- close up! More musical background than narration. Gorgeous.
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Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 12/10/2009)
March of the Penguins (Widescreen Edition)
Emperor penguins in Antarctica trek miles and miles to their breeding ground, and endure the harshest conditions. See how chicks are hatched and reared.
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Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 12/10/2009)
Birding Software
Software provides photos, songs, video, ID quizzes, and factual info.
The National Audubon Society Interactive CD-ROM Guide to North American Birds (National Audubon Society Interactive CD-ROM Series)
Software - covers entire US.
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
by nancoix
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