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Bird Watching
 Roseau is at the juncture of three major ecosystems-the tallgrass prairie, the boreal forest and the aspen parklands. In this area there is an abundance of public land with significant amounts of wildlife, especially birds.
Over 250 species of birds have been recorded in this area including some highly sought after birds like: the Great Gray Owl, Gyrfalcon, Boreal Owl, Yellow Rail, Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Spruce Grouse, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, and the Connecticut Warbler.
using the following descriptions,   
Welcome to Northwestern Minnesota where a unique collection of habitats provide homes for a tremendous variety of birds. Pine forests, deciduous woodlands, native tallgrass prairie, aspen parkland, sand dunes (remnants of Glacial Lake Agassiz), calcareous fens, bogs, marshes, large and small lakes and rivers make up the transition zone that offers over 275 species of birds. Most of the sites are on public land or private reserves open to the public. There are not facilities at all sites.
 Some of the unique “lifers” you can see here include the Northern Goshawk, Ruffed Grouse, Greater Prairie-Chicken, Yellow Rail, American Woodcock, Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Great Gray Owl, Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadee; Bay-breasted, Connecticut and Mourning Warblers; Red and White-winged Crossbills and Pine and Evening Grosbeaks.
This Web site will help you get started. It provides a reference for beginning to advanced birders. 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.
The Pine to Prairie Birding Trail is dynamic. Birding trail logo signs are in place at a number of birding locations; however, complete signage is not currently in place. Interpretive signs are in place at featured sites; the future will bring additional signage and informational improvements.
Currently, check with Tourism Officials at Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids, Roseau, Thief River Falls and Warroad for information on bird sightings and assistance with trip planning.
The Pine to Prairie Birding Trail is a unique partnership between the NW Minnesota communities of Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids, Roseau, Thief River Falls and Warroad; participating agencies U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Non-game Wildlife Program, Explore Minnesota Tourism; the birding entities of the Minnesota Ornithologist’s Union, Audubon Minnesota, Lakes Area Birding Club and the Agassiz Chapter of the National Audubon Society.
CLICK HERE FOR THE MAP.
Site Descriptions
- Roseau River Wildlife Management Area: Large marshes and pools excellent area for waterfowl migration and birds like: grebes, Least Bittern, Sand hill Crane, Wilson's Phalarope, Franklin's gull, Forster's Tern, Marsh Wren, American Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron; Sora, Virginia, and Yellow Rails. Rarities recorded here include: Snowy Egret, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Black-necked Stilt, ani species (probably Groove-billed), and Baird's Sparrow.
 - Highway 310 North of Roseau: Conifer and tamarack forest along Sprague and Roseau Rivers. Watch for Great Gray Owls along highway. Other birds in this area include: Gray Jay, Spruce Grouse, Common Raven, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Evening Grosbeak; Magnolia, Blackburnian, Connecticut and Mourning Warblers.
- Lost River State Forest: Conifer and deciduous forest along with bog and alder thicket areas. A wide variety of birds can be seen in this area including Sandhill Cranes, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Whip-poor-will, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Cape May, Connecticut and Mourning Warblers. In the winter look for: Northern Goshawk, Gyrfalcon, Spruce Grouse, Northern Hawk, Great Gray and Snowy Owls, as well as Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers, Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadees, and winter finches.
- Warroad Marina: Mouth of the Warroad River and Lake of the Woods. This area is noted for its water birds including: Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, American White Pelican, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bonaparte's, Franklin's and Herring Gulls, Caspian and Common Terns. Shorebirds can be found along the beach and migrant passerines occur in the nearby city park and campground. In migration look for rarities such as Red-throated Loon, Harlequin Duck, Oldsquaw, scoters, Little Gulls, and Piping Plover.
- Beltrami Island State Forest: Deciduous and conifer forest and peat bogs. Great area for viewing forest birds including: Spruce Grouse, Black-billed Cuckoo, Whip-poor-will, Alder Flycatcher, Golden-winged, Pine, Mourning, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Cape May and Connecticut Warblers, Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers.
- Hayes Lake State Park: Deciduous forest, bogs and man-made lake. A variety of birds found here include: Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings, Black-billed Magpie, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Whip-poor-will, Gray Jay, Common Loon, and Sandhill Crane. Rarer birds recorded here include the Western Wood-Pewee and Western Kingbird.
- Roseau Sewage Ponds: These three treatment ponds and adjacent fields provide an excellent chance to view migrating waterfowl, gulls and shorebirds. Rarities recorded here include Harlequin Duck, California Gull, Gyrfalcon and Whimbrel.
- Pelan Park: The Western Wood-Pewee has been recorded nesting in this heavily wooded park.
- Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge: This large national wildlife refuge consists of large pools, marshes, brushy grassland and aspen woodlands. This habitat supports birds including: Five species of grebes, waterfowl, rails, Franklin's Gulls, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Sandhill Crane, Black-billed Magpie, Sedge Wren, LeConte's and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, and shorebirds. Rarities recorded include: Snowy and Cattle Egret, Cinnamon Teal, Snowy Plover, Clark's Grebe, Tricolored Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, White-faced Ibis, Brant, Cinnamon Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Mississippi Kite, Ferruginous Hawk, King Rail, Common Moorhen, Whimbrel, Red Knot, Ruff, Little Gull, California Gull, Ross' Gull, Sabine's Gull, Sage Thrasher, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Western Tanager, and Mountain Bluebird.
- Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area: This wildlife area consists of a lake and surrounding deciduous woods, alder thickets, and overgrown hay fields. Birds recorded in this area include: Five species of grebes, Franklin's Gulls, American Bittern, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, waterfowl including, Canvasback and Ruddy Duck, grassland sparrows and warblers.
- Red Lake Wildlife Management Area: This remote area consists of hardwood and conifer forest, bog and meadow. Birds to look for here include: Boreal and Great Gray Owls, Northern Goshawk, Ruffed Grouse, Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadee, and Connecticut Warbler.
For local information on Water birds and Owls contact the Roseau River Wildlife Management Area at (218) 463-1557. For local information on Woodland and Forest birds contact either the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area (218) 783-6861 or the Park Ranger at Hayes Lake State Park (218) 425-7971
To request a Roseau Birding Map (including directions, contacts, and descriptions of Roseau Area birding sites) and Roseau County Bird Checklist call (800) 815-1285 or e-mail Todd Peterson at tpetersn@mncable.net
Listed Below are some great resources for birding Minnesota:
- A Birder's Guide to Minnesota, by Kim Eckert, Williams Publications, 1994 Birding Minnesota, by Jay Michael Strangis, Falcon Press, 1996 Traveler's Guide to Wildlife in Minnesota, by Carrol Henderson, Andrea Lee Lambrecht and others
- DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer for Minnesota
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