Shetek State Park

Lake Shetek and Shetek State Park offer diverse birding in one location. The big water of Lake Shetek has regularly draws a wide array of waterbirds, including an occasional Loon. The State Park – with its mature oaks, and prairie potholes – offers more diversity than most areas in Southwest Minnesota. One can find Western Grebe, Commer Tern, Virginia Rail, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Spotted Towhee all in a few short hours in this area.

Other than the lake itself, a few areas of particular interest include Loon Island, and the Webster, and Hanover Slough areas.

Look for just about anything in migration, but don’t expect anything. The big water is sometimes empty, and the woods silent. But catch this location during a potential migration stop site from bad weather, and the bounty could be great!

CLICK HERE for a birding checklist

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.

Camden State Park

You could easily spend a whole day birding Camden – especially during spring and fall songbird migration. Hiking one of the many park trails along the river and up through the deciduous woodland to the upper grassland tracts can produce as many as 15-20 species of warblers, plus orioles, tanagers, buntings. Camden State Park offers rich riparian woodland, and restored prairie with a few potholes to give you an idea of what life must have been like 200 years ago.

DIRECTIONS: Located along Highway 23 about 10 miles southwest of the city of Marshall.

Western specialties such as Spotted Towhee are seen in the park almost annually during migration, as are the less occasional Summer Tanager. The even more vagrant White-eyed Vireo has been seen here (May 2001) and Lazuli Bunting has been reported on a few occasions at feeders outside the park boundaries. (1997, 1999) Blue-gray Gnatcatchers nest in the South Picnic, and  Blue-winged, and Bay-breasted Warblers have turned up in Spring a midst the more common Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, and Magnolia Warblers.

Yellow-throated Vireo are common nesters here, as are Great-crested Flycatcher and Black-billed Cuckoo. Yellow-billed Cuckoo may also nest here when the tent caterpillar population is in a boom year. The grassland areas of the western side of the park are home to nesting Upland Sandpiper, Grasshoper Sparrow, Turkey Vuluture, and Northern Harrier; always accompanied by the more common nesting Western Meadowlark, Eastern Kingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Sedge Wren. Along the river one can find all five species of swallow nesting on the bank, under the bridges, and adjacent to the park. In the fall this riparian area is refuge to migrating Broad-winged, Red-tailed, Sharp-shinned, and Coopers Hawks, Peregrine Falcon, and Bald Eagle and Osprey.

In Fall you might find a Townsend’s Solitaire feasting on berries, or a Short-eared Owl along the prairie tracts. Winter brings a more quiet time to the park with the majority of activity confined to the permanent residents; woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, and Blue Jay.

During slightly mild winters the park is home to wintering Northern Goshawk, and may attract a Barred Owl; rare this far south of the Minnesota River. Early Spring at Brawner Lake is not as productive as nearby lakes, however this seems to be a better location than most to closely observe the mergansers, and Wood Duck. One final area to check is the Horse Camp. When busy with equestrian gatherings, the area along the river can be very productive.

Click Here for the Bird Checklist at Camden State Park.