Northwest Minnesota
Buffalo River State Park: Dancing and booming greater prairie chickens. Off Hwy. 10, 11 miles E of Moorhead.

Chippewa Prairie: Dancing and booming greater prairie chickens. Off Hwy. 59, 2 mile S of Appleton.

Felton Prairie: Nesting chestnut-collared longspurs. Swainson's hawk, upland sandpiper, mabled godwit, sedge wren, loggerhead shrike and several species of sparrows.

Mille Lacs Lake Area: Common loons are abundant during spring migration, and Pacific and red-throated loons may be seen.

Rothsay Wildlife Management Area: Migrating flocks of sandhill cranes and Smith's and Lapland longspurs Co. Rd. 16 W from Rothsay to 300th Ave., drive north to the WMA.

Twin Valley Scientific and Natural Area: Dancing and calling sandhill cranes, dancing and booming greater prairie chickens. Twin Valley off Co. Rd. 24, west of Hwy. 32.

Tympanuchus Wildlife Management Area: Dancing and booming greater prairie chickens, whistling upland sandpipers; short-eared owls. Red fox and moose. Buffalo bean, blue gramma, alum root, blanket flower, dense blazing star, western prairie fringed orchid and cordgrass. About 3.5 miles south of Harold, near Hwy. 102.

Northeast Minnesota
Duluth Park Point: Shorebirds may turn up on the beach, and on the bay side of the point, and scoters (tough to find in MN) may be found in either the bay on the south side or the lake side. Foggy mornings in spring sometimes cause a buildup of migrating passerines on the point, waiting for better weather to cross the lake, and some mornings have 20+ warblers (including Mourning, Golden-winged, and Connecticut), and many other passerine birds: Loons, grebes, mergansers and gulls during the spring smelt run; Ring-billed Gulls nesting.

Greater Twin Cities Area

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Spring migration, over 20 species of warbler migrations, nesting bald eagles and Cooper's hawks, Prothonotary Warbler, Virginia Rail, Least Bittern, Scarlet Tanager, Dickcissel, Peregrine Falcon. Nesting bald eagles and Cooper's hawks, ducks.

Southeast Minnesota

Weaver Bottoms: Spring waterfowl migration. On Hwy. 61, 1.5 miles S of Weaver.

Mid-April

Upper Midwest in General and Statewide Minnesota
Shorebird Migration

Lake Byllesby: The western end of the lake may hold a wide variety of shorebirds.

Purgatory Creek wetlands in Eden Prairie: In 2008 more than 20 species of shorebirds showed up between April and June.

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: During the spring American woodcocks perform aerial mating displays over the fens north of the ball fields (across the railroad tracks) at the Fens Unit on the south side of Black dog Lake.

The State Park marshes east of the Cedar Avenue bridge on Black Dog Road often has wood ducks, blue-winged teal, great blue and green herons, and great white egrets. Nesting prothonotary warblers may be found at the Bass Ponds Unit. The Refuge contains several Units along the river from Fort Snelling to the town of Jordan. The Visitor Center is off 1-94 in Bloomington, where you can pick up maps of each area.

Western Minnesota
Horned Larks, Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings.

May - June

Southwest Minnesota
Oronoco: Captive elk calves being born, over 700 elk. 1/2 mile north of Oronoco on Hwy. 52.

May - August

Upper Midwest in General and Minnesota Statewide
May through August is when you may see nesting yellow rail, Connecticut warbler, scarlet tanager, Baltimore oriole, orchard oriole, American redstart, eastern towhee, rose-breasted grosbeak, bobolink, yellow-bellied sapsucker, loggerhead shrike, horned lark, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, eastern bluebird, gray catbird, brown thrasher, cedar waxwing, great crested flycatcher, eastern kingbird, eared and western grebes, Forster's terns and Franklin's gulls. Herons, egrets and cormorants are on their rookeries.

Northwest Minnesota
Aggasiz National Wildlife Refuge: 280 species of birds, 49 mammals12 amphibians and 9 reptiles. Approximately 25,000 breeding pairs of Franklin's gulls, redheads, canvasbacks, ruddy ducks, sandhill cranes, American bitterns, and eared and red-necked grebes. Approximately 17 species of ducks with 7,200 breeding pairs. Two wolf packs, moose. On Co. Rd. 7, 11 miles east of Holt.

Big Bog State Recreation Area: 300 bird species including Connecticut, mourning, gold-winged and Blackburnian warblers, boreal chickadees, great gray and short-eared owls, yellow rails, spruce and sharp-tailed grouse, and LeConte's and Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow. On Hwy. 72, 9.5 miles north of Wakish.

Blazing Star Scientific and Natural Area: Threatened logger-head shrike, endangered chestnut-collared longspur, Sprague's pipit ad Baird's sparrow. Pasque flowers, and small white lady 's slippers. 5 miles SE of Felton,

Blue Stem Prairie Scientific Area: Upland sandpiper, marbled godwit, loggerhead shrike and greater prairie chicken. 3 miles from Glyndon.

Buffalo River State Park: Bobolinks, grassland sparrows, marbled godwits, upland sandpipers, Dakota skippers, powesheik and fritillary butterflies, jackrabbits and coyotes. Off Hwy. 10, 11 miles east of Moorhead.

Glendlough State Park: Common loons, nesting bald eagles, northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, eastern screech owls, red-headed woodpeckers, scarlet tanagers, white-tailed deer, beaver, red fox, coyotes and river otters. On Co. Rd. 16 about 3.5 miles NE of Battle Lake.

Lake of the Woods: 65,000 miles of shoreline and extensive marshland. Breeding bald eagles, American white pelicans, Wilson's phalarope, Franklin's gulls, double-crested cormorants, sandhill cranes, and Franklin's, black and common terns. Short-eared owls, Bonaparte's gulls, piping plover and other migrating shore birds. Black bears, gray wolves, coyotes, pine martens, fishers and moose.

Plover Prairie: Short-eared owls, loggerhead shrike and Wilson's phalarope. 4 miles N of Bellingham.

Rothsay Wildlife Management Area: Gray partridge, greater prairie chickens, short-eared owls, Marbled Godwit, Prairie Falcon Co. Rd. 16 W from Rothsay to 300th Ave., drive north to the WMA . Migrating flocks of Sandhill Crane and Smith's and Lapland Longspurs.

Roseau Bog and Lost River State Forest: Nesting Wilson's Phalarope and Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Resident birds include Great Gray Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay and Boreal Chickadee.

Tamarac National Wildlife Area: Common loons, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks, ovenbirds, scarlet tanagers, black-throated green, chestnut-sided and golden-winged warblers. Bobcats, badgers, river otters and mink. On Co. Rd. 26, 18 miles NE of Detroit Lakes.

Twin Valley Scientific and Natural Area: American bittern, Virginia rail, Wilson's Phalarope, marbled godwit and northern harrier. Twin Valley off Co. Rd. 24, west of Hwy. 32.

Itasca State Park: Birds you can expect to see include loons, grebes, cormorants, herons, ducks, owls, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, kinglets, vireos, tanagers, finches, and warblers. Trails in the park are shared with deer, chipmunks, and squirrels. Beaver, porcupine, black bears, and wolves also reside in the park.

Lake Bemidji State Park: Many species of warblers and sparrows during spring migration. Hikers can explore the beauty of a tamarack bog carpeted with showy lady's slippers, pitcher plants, dragon's mouth, grass pink, and insect-eating sundews. Most flowers are blooming in the bog during late spring and early summer.

Northeast Minnesota
Duluth's Park Point: Migrating songbirds. Best on days with drizzle or fog when the warblers are grounded in May. Minnesota Avenue to Park Point.

Gunflint Trail: Boreal owls, bald eagles, common loons, read and white-winged crossbills, spruce grouse, black-backed and three-toed woodpeckers, redpolls, boreal chickadees, and at least 15 species of wood warblers. Moose, gray wolves, pine marten, black bears, Canada lynx and river otters. Co. Rd. 12 from Grand Marais to Sea Gull Lake.

Kimberley Wildlife Management Area: Sharp-tailed grouse. Aitkin

Lake Vermilion: In 2003 this area was home to 298 common loons, 18 breeding pairs of bald eagles, and 24 breeding pairs of osprey. American white pelicans, great blue herons. Black bears. North of Tower on Co. Rd. 1.

McGregor Marsh: Best place for yellow rails. McGregor

Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Breeding black terns and LeConte's sparrows.

Sax-Zim Bog: Sharp-tailed grouse, Connecticut, olden-winged and pine warblers, yellow-bellied flycatchers, yellow rails, black-billed cuckoos, black-backed woodpeckers and best place for Le Conte's sparrows. Along Co. Rds. 7 and 52 W, between Duluth and Virginia.

Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary: Black bears, open Tuesday -Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 5PM to dusk. Co. Rd. 23, about 13 miles west of Hwy. 53, ear Orr.

North Central Minnesota
Voyageurs National Park: National Geographic's Traveler magazine called Voyageurs one of the 50 places in the world to see. Best explored by boat. Over 240 species of birds. Gray wolves, black bears, moose and Canada lynx. Off Hwy. 53 or 11, east of International Falls.

Suomi Hills Recreation Area: Ruffed grouse and American woodcock, warblers, great-horned, barred, long -eared and eastern screech-owls. Gray wolves, river otters and beavers. Hwy. 38, 13 miles N of Grand Rapids.

Central Minnesota
Itasca State Park: headwaters of the Mississippi River. 130 nesting bird species including common Loons, northern parula and Connecticut warblers, ruby-throated hummingbirds, gray jays, black-backed and pileated woodpeckers, Bohemian waxwings, evening grosbeaks. Gray wolves, river otters and black bears. Hwy. 71, 20 miles north of Park Rapids.

Long Lake, Kandiyohi County: One of the largest heron rookeries in Minnesota, 2,300 nests of cormorants, great egrets, cattle egrets, and great blue herons. Scan the lake along its north shore from County Road 27. From Willmar, take Hwy. 71 north and then turn left (west) onto County Road 27. The island is over a mile out into the lake, so consider putting a canoe in at the boat landing on County Road 27 or using a good spotting scope. Regardless of how close you may or may not get, the herons will be constantly on the move and easily seen flying to and from their foraging areas.

Lake Johanna in Pope County: A large heron rookery on the south end of the lake that provides nesting sites for great blue herons, cormorants, great egrets, and black-crowned night herons. Little blue herons and cattle egrets have bred here, too, the first recorded breeding sites for either species in Minnesota. The only real access is at the boat landing on the north end of the lake. Take Minnesota 104 south to County Road 8 and turn left (east). Go 0.9 mile and turn right onto a dirt road with a sign reading Public Water Access. The lake can't be adequately viewed from here, so put a canoe in for a remarkable birding experience. Even though you must stay a good distance away from the rookery, it is very exciting just to be a part of the general hubbub.

Egret Island on Pelican Lake, Grant County: Thousands of nesting great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, great egrets, and cormorants. A boat landing on the western shore provides good viewing, though the island is still a mile offshore. From I-94 take Minnesota 78 north 1.7 miles to the boat landing. Additional summer sightings in this area have included snowy egret, cattle egret (which may nest here), little blue heron, tricolored heron, and yellow-crowned night heron.

Lake Bemidji State Park: 200 bird species including black-backed woodpeckers, boreal chickadees, scarlet tanagers, brown creepers, veery, common loons, osprey, bald eagles, Nashville and chestnut -sided warblers. Porcupine, fishers, black bears. Pitcher plants, sundews, and lady's slippers orchids. Co. Rd. 20, 6 miles E of Alexandria.

Lake Osakis: 6000 acre 11 mile long on lake has the largest population of nesting western grebes in the state; nesting Forster's Terns; red-necked grebes, American white pelicans and Caspian terns. Co Rd. 27, 12 miles E of Alexandria.

Mille Lacs Lake Area: Indigo buntings, American redstarts, several species of forest songbirds. Two small islands near the south shore have breeding colonies of common terns. Hwy. 169 bordering the SW corner of Mille Lacs Lake.

Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area: Great crested flycatchers, broad-winged hawks, White-tailed deer, painted turtles, beavers, porcupines. Co. Rd. 16, between Cross Lake and Pequot Lakes.

Southwestern Minnesota
Big Stone Lake Wildlife Refuge: American white pelicans, herons, egrets, grebes, waterfowl and shorebirds in the spring. Upland sandpipers and Henslow's sparrow breed here. Short-eared owls, gray partridge, hooded mergansers, loggerhead shrikes. Beavers and river otters. Co. Rd. 19 a half mile W of Odessa.

Blue Mounds State Park: The only place in Minnesota where a Brewer's sparrow has been seen. Other notable birds include broad-winged, Swainson's and rough-legged hawks, merlin, peregrine and prairie falcon; American avocet and several species of sandpipers. Occasional burrowing owl, Say's phoebe, and blue grosbeak. American bison. Co. Rd. 20, 5 miles north of Luverne.

Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie: Bobolinks, vesper and clay-colored sparrows, dickcissels, Blanding's turtles and 25 species of butterflies including Dakota, ottoe and uncas skippers. Hwy. 75, 1.5 miles S of Lake Benton.

Lac Qui Parle Wildlife Management Area / State Park: 1700 breeding pairs of American white pelicans, the largest colony in North America. During spring migration look for Canada and snow geese, sandhill cranes, golden plovers, tundra swans. Greater prairie chickens, short-eared owls and marbled godwits. From Hwys. 59 and 7, about 5 miles NW of Watson.

Salt Lake Management Area: From mid to late April look for plovers, sandpipers, godwits, phalaropes, eared grebes and American avocets. In late April look for Smith's longspurs. 23 miles S of Marieta on Co. Rd. 7, then 1 mile N on gravel road.

Southeastern Minnesota
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park: Migrating ovenbirds, cerulean warblers, American redstarts. Pileated, red-bellied and red-headed woodpeckers, barred owls. Coyotes, Blanding's turtles and timber rattler snakes. Off Hwy. 16 between Spring Valley and Preston.

Frontenac State Park: 261 species of birds including cuckoos, orchard orioles, eastern towhees. May is the best time to see the park's 32 species of warblers, and grasshopper, LeConte's white-throated, white-crowned, Harris' and Henslow's sparrows. Fox snakes, red foxes, beavers, coyotes, opossums, and nine species of frogs. Off Hwy. 61, 10 miles E of Red Wing.

Whitewater Wildlife Management Area: 237 species of birds including red-shouldered hawk, Louisiana waterthrush. In spring and early summer look for cerulean and prothonotary warblers, in the winter watch for golden eagles. In April and May look for and listen to mating wild turkeys. 42 species of mammals. On Hwy. 74, between Elba and St. Charles.

Greater Twin Cities Area
Afton State Park: Field and savanna sparrows, eastern and western meadowlarks, indigo buntings, wood thrush, eastern bluebirds, Baltimore orioles, wild turkeys, scarlet tanagers and pileated woodpeckers. Warblers during migration. Deer, gray and red fox, coyotes. At Afton on Co. Rd. 20, 3 miles E of Hwy. 95.

Carlos Avery Game Refuge: Nesting bald eagles, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, belted kingfishers, American bitterns and green herons. Woodland and march songbirds and sparrows. Deer, coyotes, river otters, and occasional black bears. Take Co. Rd. 2 which turns into Co. Rd. 18, 8 miles W of Forest Lake.

Carver Park Reserve: Waterfowls, shorebirds, hummingbirds, nesting osprey pileated woodpeckers and trumpeter swans. Deer, raccoon. Co. Rd. 11 in Victoria.

Pigs Eye Lake, St. Paul: This may be the only rookery of yellow-crowned night herons in Minnesota as well as the largest colony of black-crowned night herons. Nesting cormorants, great blue herons, and great egrets.

Rice Creek West Regional Trail: Prairie Warbler, Yellow-throated warbler, and Louisiana waterthrush. Nesting Cooper's hawk, broad-winged hawk, great-crested flycatcher, American redstart, and yellow-throated vireo. Anoka County Parks system. One of the best spots to find Connecticut warblers during migration. During spring and fall migration you may see up to twenty species of warbler.

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge: Nesting bald eagles, wild turkeys, lark sparrows, northern harriers, sandhill cranes, eastern bluebirds, indigo buntings, scarlet tanagers; migrating double -crested cormorants; wintering rough-legged hawks. Tiger and blue spotted salamanders, Blanding's turtles, gopher snakes, river otters, beavers, foxes and coyotes. Abundant prairie and wetland wildflowers. Off Hwy. 169 on Co. Rd. 9 N of Zimmerman.

University of Minnesota Raptor Center: The center treats more than 800 eagles, hawks, owls and falcons a year. Those that cannot be returned to the wild are on display at the center. 1920 Fitch Ave. University of Minnesota, St. Paul.

Wildlife Science Center: Over 30 gray wolves, red wolves, gray and red fox, black bear, Canadian lynx, hawks and falcons. Behind the headquarters building of Carlos Avery Game Refuge on Co. Rd. 18. Take Co. Rd. 2 which turns into Co. Rd. 18, 8 miles W of Forest Lake.

Wood Lake Nature Center: Nesting yellow-headed blackbirds, Forester's terns, and common yellowthroats. Migrating spring songbirds; up to 20 warbler species per day. Deer, fox, woodchuck. Lakeshore Drive off 66th St., Richfield.

T.R. Michels is a nationally recognized game researcher and naturalist. For information on Natural History Eco-Tours for game animal, birding, wildflower and scenic photography trips contact: Website Trinity Mountain Outdoor Adventures- Natural History Eco-Tours at www.TRMichels.com, E-mail T.R. Michels@yahoo.com.