Birding in Three Rivers
Hundreds of different bird species have been seen in Three Rivers parks. Some make their home here year-round and others use our parks as a resting point during their spring or fall migration. We've compiled all of our birding resources along with some from other organizations to give you a comprehensive guide to the birds of our area.
Check out what kind of birds are being found in Three Rivers parks! This map, based on bird sightings logged on eBird, shows where birdwatchers have seen different birds. Filter by park or by species to see what's been spotted where.
Grouped by types of bird, this checklist and observation guide shows in which park, what season and what type of habitat a specific bird is most likely to be found.
Bring the list with you to help you keep track of how many of the nearly 300 bird species you can spot throughout the year!
Birding Checklist
Grouped by types of bird, this checklist and observation guide shows in which park, what season and what type of habitat a specific bird is most likely to be found.
Bring the list with you to help you keep track of how many of the nearly 300 bird species you can spot throughout the year!
Recent Big Year of Birds Blog Posts
In Review: Our Big Year of Birds in Numbers
By: Sam Safran & Steven Hogg & John Moriarty
Learn about the number of birds and types of birds observed during our 2022 Big Year of Birds! Our natural resources experts dive into the data logged by park visitors.
Getting Started with Birding Lists and Competitive Events
By: John Moriarty
Want to take birding to the next level? Learn how you can start logging your sightings on bird lists or joining in bird-count competitions.
Birding Etiquette and How to Be an Ethical Birder
By: Three Rivers Staff
When you're birding, it's important to keep in mind how your presence can affect the creatures you're looking for. Learn basic guidelines that can help you respect the birds, their habitat and other people in the park.
Learn all about birds, their habitats and behaviors from the experts at Three Rivers!
- Nesting Birds of Three Rivers
- Drinking Coffee for Birds
- Phenology: Nature's Calendar
- The Sky Dance of the Timberdoodle (American Woodcock)
- The Search for the Red-headed Woodpecker
- Giving Wood Ducks a Home in Three Rivers
- How We're Protecting Purple Martins
- The Mississippi Flyway: A Bird Highway Through the Twin Cities
- How Canada Geese Went from Absent to Abundant
- Reintroducing Trumpeter Swans: What it Took to Succeed
- The Joy of Backyard Birding
- All About Wild Turkeys
- Fall Migration: When & Where to See Migrating Birds
- Osprey Reintroduction: The Great Success Story
- Bird Banding at Lowry Nature Center
- Owls of Three Rivers
- Reintroducing Wildlife at Three Rivers
At Three Rivers, it's our nature to preserve and protect native wildlife, including the many birds that use our parks.
Our biologists manage a variety of species by providing suitable habitat and maintaining a healthy but controlled population. Birds we manage are: Canada geese, eastern bluebirds, grassland birds, wood ducks and purple martins.
In addition to managing species, Three Rivers has reintroduced native species like trumpeter swans and osprey into our parks.
Learn about our Wildlife Department and how they're making our parks better for birds.
Get Involved
Help collect data that scientists use to understand the changing needs and behaviors of birds by participating in a community science project. Here some places to start:
- eBird (learn how to use eBird)
- iNaturalist
- Project FeederWatch
- Nest Watch
- Volunteer at Three Rivers by monitoring birds in the parks, participating in bird counts, helping with habitat improvement projects and more!
- Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
- Purple Martin Conservation Association
- Bluebird Recovery Program of Minnesota
Three Rivers Parks Birds Guide
Do you want help identifying birds in the parks? Our new Pocket Naturalist® Guide includes illustrations of birds that are commonly found in Three Rivers Park District. This guide is organized by bird type and folds out to show color images of more than 140 species, from the red-tailed hawk and the blue-winged teal to the house sparrow and the solitary sandpiper.
Purchase a Three Rivers Parks Birds pocket guide at select nature centers and visitor centers.
