BIRDING IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA

• Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge - 15 miles northeast of Thief River Falls
  This refuge boast 61,450 acres on the bay of glacial Lake Agassiz and the Mississippi Flyway. Open water, marsh , upland conifer and tamarack forests provide ideal habitats for moose, white-tailed deer and eastern gray wolf. Waterfowl include 16 duck species, Canada goose, great blue heron, great egret, white pelican, Franklin's gull, ruffed grouse and gray partridge. Its features include an auto tour route and a foot trail.
  
• Borup Cranes - 8 miles northeast of Felton
  Agricultural fields provide a staging area for thousands of sandhill cranes migrating south each fall. Test viewing is in October and early November.
  
  
• Glacial Ridge Refuge - located in Polk County
  This developing refuge is a major waterfowl breeding and nesting area. It provides critical habitat for declining grassland birds, greater prairie chickens, sandhill cranes, as well as the endangered western prairie fringed orchid, among other species. When complete, the Glacial Ridge will encompass 35,000 acres, forming the nation's largest tallgrass prairie.
  
  
• Pine to Prairie Birding Trail - Warroad
  The trail is over 200 miles in length with 45 sites to view birds. These sites offer some of the most spectacular birding in the state, along with scenic beauty and friendly communities. Although spring, summer and fall offer an abundance of birds, winter is also an exciting time to see winter specialties.