Birding
The BorderWaters area offers incredible opportunities for beginning and seasoned birders. The area is strategically located on one of thefour major migratory flyways. Habitats include aspen parkland,coniferous forest, deciduous forest, wetlands and aquatic shoreline. These habitats encourage large numbers of birds to reside in the areaduring peak breeding periods.
Seasonal sightings include migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, boreal and wood warblers, flycatchers, raptors, thrushes, owls, bald eagles and osprey. There is also a remnant colony of endangered Piping Plovers located on an island sanctuary in Lake of the Woods. Pine and Currys Island Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) has been designated to protect one of the few remaining Piping Plover nesting sites in Minnesota.
Resident forest species include a wide variety of woodpeckers, including the rare black-backed woodpecker, great gray owls, pine and evening grosbeaks, gray jays, ravens, magpies and many upland game birds. Birding hotspots are plentiful and easily accessible.
Hundreds of thousands of acres of land are in public ownership in the region including Voyageurs National Park, the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area, the Beltrami Island State Forest, the Pine Island State Forest and Zippel Bay State Park. Information about the National Park, State Forests and Parks is available at any of the Tourist Information Centers located in the BorderWaters region. Make sure you have a good map of the area you intend to bird in before venturing into the wilderness. Also, call the local MN DNR Forestry offices to inquire about road conditions on State Forest lands.
In Canada, lovely Caliper Lake and Rushing River Provincial Parks offer visitors unique opportunities to bird pristine forested areas of the Canadian wilderness. Call 1-800-535-4549 for tourist information in Ontario. Come and sample the fabulous birding opportunities about throughout the BorderWaters area!
written by:
Jenny Moorman
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photo credit: Laura Erickson |
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