From Birds and Blooms · Lauren David · · 1m 30s
Birding Hotspots in Twin Cities
Minneapolis and St. Paul offer prime birding spots for migrants and locals alike.
In brief
Minneapolis and St. Paul offer prime birding spots for migrants and locals alike. Twin Cities has over 400 migratory birds passing through annually, with key spots like Bass Pond and Roberts Bird Sanctuary. Originally reported by Birds and Blooms.
Why Twin Cities Is a Birding Hotspot
The Twin Cities is a birding hotspot because it lies on one of the four U.S. migratory flyways.
“We have over 400 birds that come through Minnesota”
Migration Patterns in Twin Cities
Spring and fall are peak birding seasons as migratory birds use the rivers to travel between Central and South America.
“It’s kind of like their highway in and out of the two continents”
Key Birding Locations
Bass Pond, Roberts Bird Sanctuary, and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge are top birding spots in the Twin Cities.
“They have resident great horned owls”
Winter Birding Opportunities
Winter brings snowy owls to Minneapolis airport and owls from Arctic regions to Sax-Zim Bog.
“In the Twin Cities, there are snowy owls that will come to the Minneapolis airport every year”
Birding Groups and Events
Urban Bird Collective hosts 90 events yearly, with 400 new birders joining annually.
“We want to make sure that we’re available for anybody”
Changing Birding Demographics
Younger and more diverse groups are now active in birding, shifting from traditional senior-focused birding communities.
“Birding certainly has changed a great deal from being the type of activity seniors do”
Sax-Zim Bog Birding
Sax-Zim Bog attracts owls from Arctic regions and is a prime winter birding spot for northern species.
“Northern hawk owls, Boreal owls and great gray owls come to hunt”
Birding Accessibility
Birding groups offer free events in accessible locations, including parks with bus lines.
“Everything we do is for free, so we’re lowering that barrier of access”
Birding Community Growth
The Twin Cities birding community has grown to include over 800 attendees at events annually.
“We have 45 leaders ranging in age from 20 to 75”
Why Birding is Growing
Birding is becoming more popular among younger and more diverse groups, with increased interest in urban birding.
“It’s nice to see more young people and people of color out bird-watching”
Here's the gist
Twin Cities has over 400 migratory birds passing through annually, with key spots like Bass Pond and Roberts Bird Sanctuary.
