Binoculars are a must, but don’t be intimidated by the choices. There are lots of options at all kinds of price points. You can also check out birding kits — complete with binoculars, guide books and park-specific bird lists — for free at most Minnesota state parks.

 

Footwear matters. I learned early on to be prepared for anything, especially if you’re birding in the spring. I recommend waterproof hiking boots. Don’t forget sunscreen and bug spray, depending on the season! 

 

You can bird anywhere. Literally. Sometimes rare birds are spotted in parking lots. Speaking of rare birds, there are groups that track them. The DNR has everything you need to know, including birding checklists. You can also check out whatever parks are near you and monitor the conditions and trail difficulty on the All Trails app.

 

Birding in a state park or regional park is my first choice. I will always have a soft spot for Wood Lake Nature Center, the first place I ever went birding. My binoculars hadn’t come yet, and I went out during spring migration to see what I could see. I will never forget turning the corner and coming face to face with a green heron — a bird I didn’t even know existed.

 

Believe it or not, you can also see pelicans at Wood Lake at certain times of the year. These semi-tropical birds stop there — for up to a few weeks sometimes — during fall migration. 

Start by reading up on birds in Minnesota. When you’re on the trail, you can identify birds by appearance and song with the Audubon or Merlin bird ID apps. You can even track migration patterns with BirdCast.

 

A lot of people like to keep a life list to record all of the species they see over the course of their life. You can purchase a simple notebook or just bring your phone. The Audubon and Merlin apps have life list functions. 

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