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Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge Important Bird Area (map #3) – Situated in the transition zone between the tallgrass prairie and prairie pothole region in northwestern Minnesota, 40,000 ducks and 14,000 geese use this IBA during migration. The largest Franklin’s Gull colony in Minnesota and one of the largest in North America, along with Black Terns, Eared Grebes and other waterbirds nest here.

Arden Hills Army Training Site - Rice Creek Important Bird Area (map #23) – Located in north-central Ramsey County is a natural area of nearly 2,000 acres in an urban landscape supporting 66 bird species. It consists of two parts: the Ramsey County Open Space known as Rice Creek North and the Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS). It has important habitat for waterfowl, raptors, and passerines all within an urban area, offers a unique opportunity for birders and others to view wildlife in the Twin Cities. Trumpeter Swans with their young have been observed repeatedly and a small number of Forster’s Terns and Red-shouldered Hawks have been seen.

Avon Hills Important Bird Area (map #18) – Approximately 72,000 acres located in Stearns County this IBAs prominent features include the large tamarack-rimmed St. Wendel Bog which includes Swamp Lake, the St. John’s Arboretum (2,737 acres) which includes the St. John’s University campus, three waterfowl production areas and two state scientific and natural areas (Max Partch Woods, and the Avon Hills Forest SNA. The area is rich with waterbirds, including nesting Wood Ducks, Common Loons, Blue-winged Teal, Common Mergansers and Pied-billed Grebes. Species common to both the northern and southern part of the state are found here including Red-shouldered Hawks, Cerulean Warblers, and Blue-winged Warblers.

Big Bog Important Bird Area (map #4) – The Big Bog IBA, over 1.7 million acres in size is in habitat generally known as the Red Lake Peatlands, and contains some of the most unique terrain and habitat in the United States. It is a vast, forested, boreal landscape at latitude where elsewhere in the eastern forest in the US, boreal forest is uncommon. The area is located in north central Minnesota north and east of the Red Lake Reservoir. This IBA includes land within the Red Lake Indian Reservation along with a number of state owned Wildlife Management Areas, Scientific and Natural Areas and State Forests and Parks. At least 289 bird species are found in this area, including at least 12 species of breeding warblers. At least 110 species are major users of this habitat. Numbers alone do not convey the unique diversity of species found in this transitional zone between prairie, deciduous forest, and northern boreal forest. Boreal forest species such as Spruce Grouse, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers and many species of neo-tropical warblers occur and breed in this area. The site is a major concentration point for Northern Hawk Owls and Great Gray Owls during the period November to March. The fact that some mammals and many bird species are at the southern edge of their distributional range in this IBA confers even more ecological significance to this area.

Bluestem Prairie/Buffalo River SP Important Bird Area (map #10 ) – The Bluestem Prairie and Buffalo River State Park constitute one of the largest continuous, undisturbed grasslands in Minnesota. This site consists of over 10,000 acres of native and restored prairie and has been designated as one of the highest quality prairie sites in the United States. Also included in this IBA are the Margherita Preserve – Audubon Prairie, the Magnusson W.M.A and three other Nature Conservancy parcels. This IBA is located east of Moorhead, Minnesota just south of U. S. Highway 10. It is bounded on the west by Minnesota State Highway 9, on the east by Clay County Road 23 and on the south by Clay County Road 10. Located within Buffalo River State Park is Moorhead Minnesota State University Regional Science Center. Within this IBA Greater Prairie-Chickens occur in large numbers, one of the largest concentrations remaining in Minnesota The grasslands at the site also provide prime habitat for other species of grassland birds including Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Short-eared Owl, Western Meadowlark, Bobolink and Northern Harrier. Grassland sparrows including Savannah, Clay-colored, Le Conte’s, Grasshopper, Field and Lark are well represented at this site. Henslow’s Sparrow’s are found sporadically especially at Buffalo River State Park. The Loggerhead Shrike, a Minnesota species on the Threatened List, is found regularly in this area.

Camp Ripley-Pillsbury-Lake Alexander Important Bird Area (map #15) – The Camp Ripley-Pillsbury-Lake Alexander IBA is located in central Minnesota within Morrison, Cass and Crow Wing counties. The Mississippi, Crow Wing and Gull rivers are significant water features within the landscape. This IBA encompasses an area of 155,432 acres. Public land areas within this IBA include Camp Ripley Military Reservation, Crow Wing and Cass county lands, Pillsbury State Forest, Crow Wing State Park, the eastern portion of Meadowbrook Wildlife Management Area, the Little Nokasippi River State Wildlife Management Area and Lake Alexander Woods Scientific & Natural Area. The Nature Conservancy and Minnesota Power & Light also own land within the boundaries of this IBA. This IBA supports the greatest known concentration of nesting Red-shouldered Hawks in the state. In addition, 228 species of birds have been documented at Camp Ripley including 28 species of warblers, including the most northerly site of the Hooded Warbler. Other species of concern found within this IBA include the Bald Eagle, Trumpeter Swan, Yellow Rail, and Louisiana Waterthrush.

Felton Prairie Important Bird Area (map #9) – Located in Clay County near the Red River south of Felton this IBA is home to many grassland species including Chestnut-collared Longspur, Baird’s and Henslow’s Sparrow, Sprague’s Pipit, Loggerhead Shrike, Marbled Godwit, Prairie Chicken, Yellow Rail, Swainson’s Hawk, Hudsonian Godwit, Dickcissel, and Bobolink.

Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge Important Bird Area (map #11) – Over 2 dozen species of waterfowl, 31 species of shorebirds, 11 marsh bird species, many neo-tropical migrants and avian predators rely on the shallow-water and prairie habitats that have been restored on the refuge. Located one mile northeast of Audubon in Becker County.

Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve Important Bird Area (map #12) – Over 60,000 migrating raptors fly over this IBA each fall. Large numbers of Broad-winged Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks and Bald Eagles are counted every fall. Located in Duluth, the reserve is owned by the City of Duluth and managed by the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory.

Itasca State Park Important Bird Area (map #6) – Over 220 species of birds frequent this site including trumpeter swans, goshawks, loons, and bald eagles. Located between Park Rapids and Bemidji, in Clearwater County, this IBA is home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

Kittson-Roseau Parkland Important Bird Area (map #2) – This IBA consists of almost 400,000 acres area of aspen parkland landscape in extreme northwestern Minnesota. Eleven Sandhill Crane roost sites with 12,000 birds and 262 species including significant numbers of Horned Grebes, Wilson’s Phalaropes, Yellow Rails, Marbled Godwits, Short-eared Owls, American Bitterns, Upland Sandpipers, and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows are found here.

Lac Qui Parle Important Bird Area (map #17) – This IBA extends from Montevideo in Chippewa County along the Minnesota River northwest from Lac Qui Parle Lake, to Mud Lake. It extends to the east to include almost all of Big Stone County and the south-west portion of Traverse County. This IBA contains a very diverse number of habitats including; prairie grasslands (both virgin and restored), floodplain deciduous forests and their riparian habitats, a wide variety of marshes, several very large lakes plus numerous smaller bodies of water such as prairie potholes. This has resulted in a rich diversity of species including some of Minnesota’s largest concentrations of Canada Geese and other waterfowl, the world’s largest American White Pelican breeding colony (2006) along with other waterbirds, shorebirds and grassland songbirds. This diverse wildlife habitat is surrounded by some of the best, and as a result, the most intensely farmed areas in the upper Midwest. The area is recognized as one of the top ranked birding areas in the State of Minnesota and also attracts waterfowl and upland game hunters and other outdoor recreation users.

Lake Byllesby (map #30) – Lake Byllesby lies in the Cannon River Valley located about 30 miles due south of downtown St. Paul. As birds migrate northward in the spring via the Mississippi River corridor, many eventually leave the corridor and head northwest across southeast Minnesota to follow the prairie-hardwood transition zone enroute to their breeding grounds to the north. The relatively large size of Lake Byllesby with its associated extensive mudflats and shallow areas provide important resting and feeding habitat that is in very short supply in this region of the state. The site contains an assemblage of species characteristic of shallow wetland and alluvial mudflat habitat type. This includes: 31 (78%) of Minnesota's 40 recorded shorebird species; 30 (70%) of Minnesota's 43 recorded waterfowl species; Common, Forster's, Caspian, and Black Tern; American White Pelican, and others.

Lake Pepin Important Bird Area Important Bird Area (map #26) – The Mississippi River – Lake Pepin Important Bird Area runs along the Mississippi River from Red Wing to Read’s Landing through Goodhue and Wabasha counties. It includes Frontenac State Park, Perched Valley WMA, Bald Eagle SNA and Hok Si La Park. This area is one of the most notable and significant birding areas and provides some of the best bird habitat in the State of Minnesota especially for migrant birds. Between 20 and 30 species of migrant warblers can be found annually. Bald Eagles nest, migrate, and winter within this IBA. Two to three hundred eagles use this IBA on a daily basis from November to March. The world’s largest migration concentration of Common Mergansers occurs on Lake Pepin during the month of November with over 70,000 counted on one day. Large concentrations of other species of waterfowl, Ring-billed Gulls and Herring Gulls are found with the flocks of mergansers.

Lake of the Woods Important Bird Area (map #1) – Lake of the Woods is the largest lake in Minnesota, although most of the lake is in Canada. The areas included within the IBA are the entire lake (United State portion), all the islands (approximately 25 in number), and the open wetlands (sedge, cattails, etc) immediately adjoining the lake. All of Zippel Bay State Park, Garden Island State Recreation Area, Pine and Curry Island Scientific and Natural Area, and Larry Bernhoft, Rocky Point, South Shore, and Border Wildlife Management Areas are included in the IBA. Parts of the Canadian side of the lake have been identified as an Important Bird Area (ON 144). Lake of the Woods is a large body of water attracting migrating waterfowl in both spring and fall. Historically tens of thousands of Lesser and Greater Scaup have migrated through the area. Lesser numbers of teal, American Widgeon, Pintails, and mergansers can also be observed during periods of migration with some local nesting. In recent years, the numbers of Canada Geese have been on the increase. Numerous raptors can be observed along the shores of Lake of the Woods as they skirt the large lake and travel along mainland corridors Pine and Curry Islands, Garden Island and the sandy beaches of the Northwest Angle may be the last areas where the Piping Plover can find adequate breeding localities in the state. Garden Island, with its large sandbars and beaches is a major stop over spot for many migrating shorebirds.

Lower Minnesota River Valley Important Bird Area (map #29) – The IBA includes, but is not limited to; Fort Snelling State Park, Minnesota River Valley NWR, Black Dog Lake and the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area. It regularly supports 50,000 waterfowl through spring and fall migration including 20 duck species. Over 260 species of birds have been recorded here, at least 100 of which are known to nest.

McGregor Important Bird Area (map #13) – Located northeast and southwest of the city of McGregor in Aitkin County this IBA is best known for fall ring-necked duck migration, the area also has American bittern, yellow rail, sora, black tern, Sandhill crane, 12 species of nesting warblers, trumpeter swan, bald eagle, American woodcock, wood thrush, black-billed cuckoo, LeConte’s sparrow and bobolink.

Mille Lacs Lake Important Bird Area (map #16) – The Mille Lacs IBA includes the entire water body and islands (Spirit and Hennepin) of Lake Mille Lacs, the surrounding shoreline, and significant areas adjacent to the lake. The IBA is located about 100 miles north of the Twin Cities in counties of Mille Lacs, Aitkin and Crow Wing. Lake Mille Lacs has a surface area of 207 square miles (132,500 surface acres) and is Minnesota’s second-largest lake. The total IBA area is 239,586 acres. Significant lands within the IBA boundaries include two state parks (Mille Lacs Kathio and Father Hennepin), the Lake Mille Lacs Indian Reservation, state forestry lands, six wildlife management areas, and county forestry lands (Crow Wing and Aitkin). Spirit and Hennepin islands comprise the Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, the smallest National Wildlife Refuge in the country. The Mille Lacs IBA is especially important for the Common Terns nesting on Hennepin Island, as a fall staging area for Common Loons and Bonaparte’s Gulls, for Red-shouldered Hawks that nest in the hardwood forest on the west side of the lake, for Bald Eagle nest sites, and during migration, for a variety of waterfowl, gulls, marsh birds, and passerines. Of the 231 species of birds recorded for this IBA, there are 62 Species of Greatest Conservation Need that have been documented.

Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Important Bird Area (map #28) – The four lakes which comprise Minneapolis' Chain of Lakes IBA are Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet. The lakes are approximately 1-3 miles west and southwest of downtown Minneapolis in primarily residential areas. The primary importance of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes is the significant acreage of water that provides migratory habitat for waterfowl and waterbirds within a highly developed urban landscape.

Mississippi River Twin Cities Important Bird Area (map #24) – This IBA includes the Mississippi River and adjacent floodplain forest and uplands extending for 38 river miles from Minneapolis to Hastings. It is situated along the migratory corridor for 40% of North America’s waterfowl, and shorebirds, loons, cormorants, gulls, terns, herons, egrets, pelicans, coots, grebes, and other species can be found. A mixed species heron rookery, 8 pairs of bald eagles and 6-8 pairs of peregrine falcons occur in the IBA.

Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve Important Bird Area (map #32) – Located about 18 miles south of downtown Minneapolis in Scott County this IBA is home to 85-90 species that breed regularly including common loons, ospreys, bobolinks and Henslow’s sparrows. It supports the only known regular breeding population of Hooded Warblers in Minnesota and some of the state’s highest concentrations of Acadian flycatchers and cerulean warblers.

North Metro Mississippi River Important Bird Area (map #20) – This Important Bird Area includes the Mississippi River and its adjacent floodplain forest and uplands extending 27 river miles from the Washington Avenue Bridge adjoining the Mississippi River Twin Cities Important Bird Area in Minneapolis to the mouth of the Crow River in Hennepin County. For the most part, the other boundaries of this Important Bird Area are congruent with the boundary of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. It also includes the Elm Creek Regional Trail, Elm Creek Park Reserve and the Rice Creek corridor, in New Brighton (Ramsey County). This IBA lies within an area that has a very high population density and an area that is one of the fastest growing areas in the Twin Cities area. This IBA affords the public numerous sites to view birds from the many parks and other public access points along the River. There are 13 city parks along the river and all provide good views of birds; that is in addition to the 6 boat launches and 4 canoe access points; and 4 regional parks. Lying within the Mississippi Flyway this IBA is important for waterfowl, other waterbirds, raptors, and Neotropical migrants. The Mississippi River is one of the great bird flyways in the world. This is the migratory corridor for 40% of North America’s waterfowl and shorebirds. A total of 234 species, compiled by various sources, has been documented in this IBA. There are four known heron rookery sites within this IBA. There are scores of double-crested cormorants that roost on islands in the Mississippi River between Coon Creek and the Coon Rapids Dam in the spring during migration. Species of Conservation Concern that use this IBA include Trumpeter Swan, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, American White Pelican, Horned Grebe, Red-shouldered Hawk and Forster’s Tern.

North Shore Peregrine Falcon Eyries Important Bird Area (map #8) – Nine discrete locations along Lake Superior, representing 70% of the natural Peregrine Falcon nest sites recorded in Minnesota.

Northland Arboretum Important Bird Area (map #14) – The Northland Arboretum IBA is located on the north side of Brainerd behind the Westgate Mall and is bordered on the west by the Paul Bunyan Trail. This 634 acre site encompasses land officially designated as the Northland Arboretum (including 160+ acres of The Nature Conservancy) plus state land managed by DNR Fisheries (118 acres) and approximately 80 acres owned and managed by Crow Wing County. The Northland Arboretum IBA is important for birds because it is green space in a rapidly developing city, with a total bird species list of 136, including 24 vireos and warblers, and 53 likely breeders. This site also has a mosaic of habitats including grasslands and restored prairie, jack pine forest, wetlands, a stream, shrub bog and of special importance, a 200-acre jack pine savanna.

Pigeon Lake Important Bird Area (map #27) – Pigeon Lake IBA is located in southeastern Meeker County and includes Pigeon Lake and the surrounding ponds and wetlands. This site has been a significant rookery for Double-crested Cormorants, American White Pelicans, and Great Egrets since before the mid-1960’s. A Bald Eagle nest is located just to the east of this IBA.

Sax-Zim Important Bird Area (map #7) – Located northwest of Duluth, this IBA is world famous as a wintering site for great gray, boreal, and hawk owls, and is important to a host of other boreal forest birds.

Sherburne NWR Important Bird Area (map #19) – Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in east-central Minnesota in Sherburne County less than 1 hours drive from the Twin Cities. The IBA consists of 30,700 contiguous acres of land and water that is federally owned, protected, and managed for the conservation of wildlife. The diverse mixture of wetland, woodland, riverine and grassland habitats on the refuge support over 230 species of birds, over half of which have been documented as breeding here. Visitor facilities for viewing birds are comprised of a 7.3 mile automobile tour route, the Mahnomen and Blue Hill hiking trails. Twenty-four species of waterfowl use this IBA with fall migration counts of over 50,000 individuals annually. Sandhill Cranes, Bald Eagles, and a variety of oak savannah species are also found in large numbers.

St. Croix – Wild River SP Important Bird Area (map #21) – This IBA is located northeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul on the eastern border of Minnesota along the Saint Croix River. It extends roughly 24 miles north from the Xcel Energy hydroelectric dam at Taylor’s Falls, MN, to the northern edge of Wild River State Park in Chisago County, MN. This IBA has an exceptional diversity of birds and is important to Red-shouldered Hawks, Bald Eagles, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Trumpeter Swans.

St. Croix River Bluffs Important Bird Area (map #22) – Located west and northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul on the eastern border of Minnesota along the St. Croix River, extending 25 miles north from Stillwater to Taylor’s Falls this IBA is home to two great blue heron colonies, with a combined total of 534 nests, 11 pairs of bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks, Louisiana waterthrushes, and Prothonotary warblers.

Upper Minnesota River Valley Important Bird Area (map #31) – This IBA consists of the Minnesota River Valley (hereafter the Valley) extending from the City of Le Sueur in the northeast to Lac Qui Parle Lake on the west. The Upper Minnesota River Valley IBA contains significant bird habitat in an intensely agriculture area. Mono-cultures of corn and soybean extend for hundreds of miles in all directions from the IBA boundaries. In such an intensely farmed area, the river valley corridor provides the only prime bird habitat in this part of Minnesota. The valley is also a natural corridor for migrating birds such as vireos, waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and passerine species such as warblers, thrushes, flycatchers and sparrows.

Upper Mississippi River NWR Important Bird Area (map #34) – The Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge IBA follows the purchase boundaries of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge from the Minnesota-Iowa border at river mile 674 upstream along the Mississippi River to Reads Landing, MN (river mile 763.5). The IBA includes Pools 4, 5, 5a, 6, 7, 8, and part of 9 (in refuge Districts Winona, La Crosse and McGregor). It is an important site for migrating waterfowl (over 600,000 in one day in fall 2005), particularly Canvasbacks (over 50% of North American population); Tundra Swans (over 20% of Eastern North American population); nesting waterbirds, and breeding and wintering Bald Eagles.

Vermillion Bottoms-Lower Cannon River Important Bird Area (map #25) – Located at the junction of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers, the Vermillion Bottoms – Lower Cannon River IBA is a critical migratory corridor for waterfowl, forest songbirds, raptors, and waterbirds. This IBA is one of the top four sites in the state for rare forest birds. It has the highest numbers of two special concern bird species in southeast Minnesota: red-shouldered hawks and cerulean warblers. It also provides important nesting and/or migratory habitat for peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and Acadian flycatchers, and includes a bald eagle winter roost site and two colonial nesting sites for great blue herons and great egrets. The Minnesota County Biological Survey has documented 14 birds of conservation concern in the site. In addition, peregrine falcons nest in nest-boxes nearby and use the area for feeding. A total of 153 bird species have been recorded breeding or migrating through the area.

Waubun Marsh Important Bird Area (map #5) – Waubun Marsh is an 8,724 acre complex of wetlands and mesic prairie located in southern Mahnomen and northern Becker counties. A mix of federal and state managed units protect much of this area which is one of the most contiguous prairie wetlands in the western part of Minnesota. A number of rare birds can be found here including Horned Grebes, Wilson’s Phalarope, Marbled Godwit, Yellow Rails and Greater Prairie Chicken. Typical prairie species found here include Northern Harrier, Upland Sandpiper, Savannah Sparrow, and Bobolink.

Whitewater Valleys Important Bird Area (map #33) –242 species use the valleys for migration and breeding including 25 species of waterfowl, 22 species of shorebirds, 31 species of warblers and 17 species of sparrows. Up to 100 Bald Eagles use the valley as a migration stopover site or a winter roost site. This IBA is located in Winona County in southeastern Minnesota approximately 25 miles east of Rochester.