Upper Sioux Agency State Park

Upper Sioux Agency State Park contains the site of the Upper Sioux or Yellow Medicine Agency. The park was established in 1963 to preserve and interpret the remains of the old Agency site. The park covers 1,280 acres and offers diversity: open prairie knolls, bluffs, and cool, wooded slopes. From the vistas, visitors enjoy the trails which are ideal for birding – especially with the Minnesota River serving as a suitable corridor for migrants.

DIRECTIONS: From the town of Granite Falls at the intersection of State Hwy 212 and 23, go south about one block to State Hwy 67. Turn left on 67 and go eight miles to park entrances. The first of the park’s three entrances will take you to the horse rider campground. The second entrance takes you to the main park entrance. The last entrance takes you to the campground.

Watch for white pelicans and great blue herons along edges of shallow pools. Spotted sandpipers, killdeer and other shore birds frequently hunt for insects on the gravel bars and mud flats along the river. Red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures and white pelicans catch the air currents above the valley. Bald eagles winter in the Minnesota River Valley.

Migrations brings warbler diversity, includeing Blue-winged, and Black-throated Green warblers. Tanagers and Flycatchers are diverse as well, with Yellow-bellied Flycatcher being observed as recently as 2006. Towhee and other sparrow species can be found in abundance in the camping area, and bluebirds nest throughout the park.

The landscape in the park is diverse with grasslands, wetlands, woods, rivers, open prairie knolls, old fields and meadows. Scattered bur oaks are the oldest trees in the park. The Minnesota River flows along the park’s northern boundary. The rugged scenic beauty of the river valley can be viewed along the trails and the prairie knolls.

Click Here for the Bird Checklist at Upper Sioux Agency State Park.

Sioux Prairie Wildlife Management Area

Sioux Prairie Wildlife Management Area is another reminder of what life was like long ago. You may first want to scan the Gislason Lake area in Lincoln County for water birds, herons, and egrets, or listen for rails and wrens. Tundra Swans use this lake during migration while mergansers congregate in the spring when the lake is starting to open up.

DIRECTIONS: From Highway 19 at the Lincoln-Lyon County Line

Two sections of the Sioux Prairie Wildlife Management Area are accessible. The first is 0.25 miles East of the Lincoln-Lyon County line, and is accessible from Minnesota Highway 19. To access the back portion of this unit, the best directions to take are to turn South on the Lincoln-Lyon County line for 1 mile, then either park at or take the minimum maintenance road (260th Street) East into Lyon County for 1/2 mile. WMA land is on both the North and South sides of 260th Street.

The Sioux Prairie Wildlife Management Area consists of mostly grassland with one small open wetland North of 260th street, and several smaller wetlands in the northern part, with a major creek, rolling grassland hills with occasional scrub-brush complexes, and large deciduous woodland on the East side of the south unit. Upland Sandpiper, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Willow Flycatcher nest here along with Mallard and Wood Duck, and possibly Northern Harrier or Swainson’s Hawk.

In migration this would be a suitable location to look for Eastern Meadowlark, Cattle Egret, Alder Flycatcher, or a stray Lark Bunting along with the more expected American Pipit, Brewer’s and Rusty Blackbird, LeConte’s or Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow. And don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for that wandering Ferugginous Hawk. The wetlands will most likely not hold much in migration, but are easily scanned for ducks or possibly Eared Grebe.

The woodland is an easy walk following the maintenance trail through the prairie grasses and flowers, (which blossom in summer) and might be worth the effort in spring or fall with a Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s Hawk, Canada, or Wilson’s Warbler, or Gray-cheeked or Swainson’s Thrush. The woodlands and scrub provide good cover in winter for Ring-necked Pheasant and Gray Partridge, though the site is not very accessible after significant snow events.