April Nature Notes
After a long winter filled with drab greys and browns amidst a white landscape, we're all in need of some uplifting color. Fortunately, spring brings us multiple shades of green in the ground cover, understory and tree canopies, along with flowers of various colors, and the arrival of birds with bright plumage.
Some of the favorite early spring arrivals include ruby-crowned kinglet, purple martin, eastern bluebird, red-winged blackbird, hermit thrush and various warbler species such as yellow, yellow-rumped, orange-crowned, palm, pine, black-and-white, Tennessee and Nashville. Towards the end of April, keep an eye out for scarlet tanager as well.
Some areas are already bursting with the songs of eastern phoebe and hermit thrush. The shallow wetlands and mudflats are teeming with shorebirds. Great-horned owl, bald eagle and Canada goose are already raising their young!
Did You Know?
If you are a beginning birder, you may wonder where to start. Consider checking out the Audubon Society's Get to Know These 15 Common Birds. The majority of the birds listed are frequent visitors to our backyards and feeders!
Upcoming Birding Events
April 7, Henderson
Birding Field Trip
The Ney Nature Center provides a mix of habitat, offering birders a chance to observe a nice variety of resident and migrant song birds. Ney Nature Center. 952-240-7647
April 7, Lanesboro
Dinner on the Bluff
Warm yourself up with a night of great food and enlightened conversation. Hear from Jim Fitzpatrick on the topic of ivory-billed woodpeckers. The current population status on this amazing creature is highly controversial. See past research projects and make the determination for yourself. Dinner includes a 3-course meal and an hour-long presentation. The dinner menu is by reservation only, consisting of obscure food pairings. Guests are encouraged to bring their own adult beverage of choice! Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. 507-467-2437
April 7 & 14, Wabasha
Bald Eagle Viewing Field Trips
Learn about bald eagles in the Upper Mississippi River Valley and enjoy great views of bald eagles in the wild on guided tours with expert naturalists. Little walking is required - just step on and off the bus. Field trips return to the National Eagle Center for light refreshments and a chance to share photos and stories from the day, concluding by 5pm. National Eagle Center. 651-565-4989
April 8, Bloomington
Bird Walk at Bass Ponds
Enjoy a bird walk, search for migrating waterfowl and raptors, and learn about the birds that migrate to and through Minnesota. There is a good chance of seeing early spring migrants such as a mix of sparrows and the first yellow-rumped warblers of the season. Birders of all skill levels are welcome. Bring your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather. Bass Ponds at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. 952-240-7647
April 12, Zimmerman
Spring Celebration
Learn about migratory birds and pollinators, and enjoy guided hikes, nature crafts, a Friends of Sherburne Plant Sale, and more! Oak Savanna Learning Center at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. 763-389-3323
April 14, Cannon Falls
2018 Bluebird Recovery Expo
Learn all about bluebirds through speakers and programs during this all-day bluebird expo. Keynote speakers will present "The Science of Climate Change," It's All About Bluebirds," and "Bluebird Monitoring." Breakout sessions will address bird languages, bluebird trail setup & analysis, defending bluebird habitat and more. Lunch and cookies are included in the price of admission. Cannon Falls High School 507-645-9470
April 15, Zimmerman
Bird Tour
Meet your guide at the Mahnomen Trail to learn about native birds at the refuge. Binoculars are available to borrow for the hike. Amateur and expert birders are invited. Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. 763-389-3323
April 21, Hastings
Earth Day Birding Festival
Celebrate the many birds of Minnesota at the 4th Annual Hastings Area Earth Day Birding Festival. Just some of the many highlights include an “Introduction to Birding” class, “Raptors 101,” bird banding demonstrations, and guided bird trips in the Hastings area. Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center. 651-437-4359
April 28, Marietta
Salt Lake Birding Weekend
The 41st Annual Salt Lake Birding Weekend offers birders a chance to view over 150 different species! Volunteers will guide birders around Salt Lake, Big Stone Refuge, and the lakes, wetlands and native prairies of Lac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine and Big Stone counties. 952-595-9265
Recent Bird Sightings
Check the Duluth/North Shore Rare Bird Alert and the Northwestern Minnesota/Detroit Lakes Rare Bird Alert for recent bird sightings. Recent sightings throughout the state can be found at the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Minnesota Statewide Rare Bird Alert.
For additional information, consider joining the Minnesota Birding community on Facebook.
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