SPRING MIGRATION By Judd Brink Owner and guide MN Backyard Birds
SPRING IN MINNESOTA CAN BE VERY UNPRE-
but my favorite time of year is the spring migration of birds. The new songs and colors that fill the trees each spring are sure ways to cure cabin fever for many of us here in central Minnesota. Both the spring and fall bird migrations allow many of us to enjoy a good variety of birds in higher numbers as they move through our state. Bird feeding and watching is the second largest recreational activity in the United States and continues to grow. Why is Minnesota such a p popular p birdingg destination for so many people no matter what the he weather is or month of year? The state is located within three major biomes or habitat types to the west we have open grasslands orr native prairiee to the north we have boreal or coniferous forest est and to the east we ood have our hardwood sota forest. Minnesota has wonderful opportunities to witness the migration of birds in many unique habitat types such as Hawk Ridge in Duluth or Tamarack Refuge near Detroit Lakes. There are several bird watching festivals and events DICTABLE
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that take place each spring and fall during those peak migration periods to watch or to learn from bird watching guides. The festival of Birds in Detroit Lakes is the oldest birding festival in the state; May 20-23 2010 will be the 13th year. The location of this particular festival lies within a transition zone of different habitat types thus creating unique birding opportunities; it’s possible in one day to bird in several entirely different habitats. According to the Minnesota Ornithologist Union, the state bird list contains 421 species that have been observed. o Most of our breeding specie species are known as long-distance migrants migra or neotropical migrants, birds that winter in central or south Ame America but migrate to the United State and Minnesota to breed and States raise rais young. Many or almost all of our warbler species are considered neotropical ne migrants as they travel many thousands of miles each spring sp to arrive in suitable habitat ta to raise their young. These long-distance migrants use u major fly ways or corridors that aid in guiding them back each year here in Minnesota we have the Mississippi River Flyway. The mighty Mississippi F River starts its journey at Itasca State Park and ends at the Gulf of o Mexico; this waterway serves as a rreference f r n orr a guide g id to help birds find their way back to the state. The other major flyways are Atlantic, Pacific and Central. Each flyway has its own geography that the birds use to aid their flights of migration. For our residents,