BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?

Subject: BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 09:08 AM

Around May 12th we are going to Minneapolis MN for a few days and will have a rental car. Can anyone from there recommend good bird-watching sites?

Subject: RE: BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 09:22 AM

Not to be mistaken for Minneapolis Kansas:

http://www.minneapolisksorg.org/

Subject: RE: BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?
From: Margaret V
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 10:05 PM

I can't help you with specifics but you might want to look at the websites of some of the local Audubon chapters in Minnesota:

http://www.audubon.org/states/index.php?state=MN

Also, my friend helps organize the folllowing Upper Mississippi birding festival which will be happening just as you arrive:
http://www.mississippi-river.org/birding/festival_events.html

Have fun, and let us know if you see anything!

Margaret

Subject: RE: BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 01:29 AM

If you're willing to drive an hour and a half north and east of the Twin Cities, I'd recommend Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, near Grantsburg, Wisconsin. I see they're having a Spring Birding Festival (see the link on the main page) on Saturday, May 13.

Though I'm not much of a bird watcher, I'm familiar with the place because it lies along a convenient route between St. Paul and my wife's family's cabin, where we spend many weekends in the summer.

While passing through, I've seen Canada geese, trumpeter swans, loons, sandhill cranes, great blue herons, lots of deer, and once a Blandings turtle (endangered). And that's all without any special effort or expertise; just driving through and keeping my eyes open.

I think this link to Google Maps will show you the area. Unfortunately, it doesn't show the boundaries of the wildlife area, but I think it includes just about all the light-yellowish-green area that you see in the satellite view.

In map view mode, zoom in to see road names, zoom out to see where you are in relation to Grantsburg and the Twin Cities.

If you aren't already familiar with Google Maps, I recommend you play around with it until you are. You can also use it to get driving directions.

Subject: RE: BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 10:32 AM

But it is Wisconsin, Jim, so they'll prob'ly be shooting Canada geese, trumpeter swans, loons, sandhill cranes, great blue herons, lots of deer, and Blandings turtles at the "Spring Birding Festival." Har har.

But, yeah, leeneia, it's supposed to be nice. Just head north on 35W/35 'til you get to the Rock Creek/Grantsburg exit, Hwy 70. Head East on 70 for about 15 minutes, and you're in Grantsburg. There's actually big yellow geese painted on the road in Grantsburg that lead directly to Crex Meadows. Impossible to get lost.

And not to scare you off: If you do go up there, do not speed through Grantsburg. The speed limit is ridiculously low, the cops are bored, and if they catch you speeding, you have to pay the fine right there, on the side of the road. If you don't have cash or a credit card, they'll take you to a cash machine. If you can't do that, they'll take you to jail. Seriously. Positively third-world. But, hey, it's pretty up there.

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?
From: lamarca
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 01:29 PM

Hi, Jeeneia - my folks live in SE Minnesota, so we go visit about once a year, and I try to get in some birdwatching. We like the drive up MN 61 along the Mississippi in winter - the base of Lake Pepin is a real bald eagle magnet, though it's probably not so good in spring. There's a bunch of good parks along the route, though - find your way to Red Wing, MN, then follow MN 63/61 south along the river. Check out the St. Paul Audubon newletter for the places they take field trips - they have a bunch of good local sites listed:

http://www.saintpaulaudubon.net/Newsletters/CardinalNewsAprilMay2006.pdf

Also, whenever I'm making a trip to someplace new, I checkout the local Birdlist on this site to see what local folks are excited about:

http://www.birdingonthe.net/birdmail.html

Good luck, and good birding!

Subject: RE: BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 09:19 PM

Thanks, everyone. I don't think we will have the time to go to Grantsburg, but Lamarca's suggestions about following the Mississippi sound good. I understand that Red Wing is a picturesque town. Anybody been there?

Subject: RE: BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 27 Apr 06 - 10:58 AM

I'm originally from Minnesota, so I'm in a position to recommend that you take particular care to try to glimpse the Kee bird.

But of course it's harder to glimpse them in the warm months. In the cold Minnesota winters you are more likely to see them, if only because of their distinctive, plaintive call.

You brave the wintry blasts and get out into the woods, and listen carefully, and you'll hear the song of the Kee bird:

"Kee!   Kee!   Kee!   Kee-RIST it's cold up here!"


Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Minneapolis MN birdwatching?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 27 Apr 06 - 11:10 AM

Thanks for the tip, Dave. I wonder if the Kee bird lives anywhere near the famed Wisconsin Hodag.
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Jesting aside, how about the Mississippi River Gorge? I read about it on the net. It sounds nice. Is it in a safe neighborhood?

The parks site says that 150 species of migratory birds have been spotted there. Of course, by May 12th, migration is over, but no doubt birds will be nesting.