Enhancing Minnesota’s St. Croix River Valley

Important Bird Areas are essential to maintaining healthy and diverse bird populations in Minnesota, and are the focus of the work along the St. Croix River. 

The St. Croix River watershed supports over 329 bird species, including Golden-Winged Warbler, Henslow’s Sparrow, Red-Shouldered Hawk, American Woodcock, and the Bobolink. Other wildlife species such as Gray Wolves, Fisher, and American Badger are among the 150+ species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) that also benefit from Audubon's concerted habitat enhancement and restoration efforts within the St. Croix River Valley.

Focusing our efforts across the St. Croix River Watershed is critical as much of southern Minnesota’s hardwood forests have been converted to agricultural production and greatly impacted by urban expansion of the Twin Cities Metro region. Research has revealed that migrant landbirds stopover in high concentrations in hardwood forests, especially those near urbanized areas, thus highlighting the importance of focusing on the hardwood forests of the St. Croix River Watershed that neighbor the greater metropolitan region.

Audubon has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources State Parks, State Forests, and Belwin Conservancy to expand available habitat for priority bird species. Efforts include brush management, tree plantings, native seed plantings, invasive species control, and encouraging natural regeneration in hardwood forests and oak savannas.