Birding Minnesota
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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
NEW!! - Minneapolis Birding Festival - May 13-16, 2010
Mark your calendars now for a fun, free celebration of springtime birds, the Urban Birding Festival, May 13-16, 2010. Everyone, from brand-new to experienced birders, is invited to take part in any or all of the 22 bird walks and demonstrations of this family-friendly event, now in its fifth year. No registration is required, so just show up at the events you wish to attend.
Full details at this link:
http://www.saintpaulaudubon.org/events/special/ramsey-county-bird-festival
Mark your calendars now for a fun, free celebration of springtime birds, the Urban Birding Festival, May 13-16, 2010. Everyone, from brand-new to experienced birders, is invited to take part in any or all of the 22 bird walks and demonstrations of this family-friendly event, now in its fifth year. No registration is required, so just show up at the events you wish to attend.
Full details at this link:
http://www.saintpaulaudubon.org/events/special/ramsey-county-bird-festival
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
I just joined Cornell University's Project Feederwatch and I wish I had done so years ago! FeederWatch is a winter-long survey that runs every year. The observation period begins on Nov. 11th, but you can join at any time. Help researchers get valuable data on bird populations. It's easy - you just pay $15 to sign up (annually) and then watch the birds at your feeders and keep a tally of how many of each species you see at one time. So this is really a study of abundance. Of course with some species, you'll only see one at a time (and you tally those as well), but at my feeders, I see multiple finches, chickadees, cardinals and doves at once. On some days, I get crowds of over 20 finches at once.
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.
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
Learn Bird Songs!
Cool Birding Stuff
More Cool Stuff
My #1 Pick for Squirrel-Proof Feeder
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
Birding Software
Software provides photos, songs, video, ID quizzes, and factual info.
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