Birds Observed This Past Week in the Brainerd Lakes Area

Birds observed this past week in the Brainerd Lakes area include: (New Arrivals) Grasshopper Sparrow, Northern Waterthrush, Indigo Bunting Winter Wren, Scarlet Tanager, Golden-winged Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Cuckoo, Eastern Towhee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren,Whip-poor-Will, Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark. Bald Eagle, Great-horned Owl (nest with 2 chicks), Turkey Vulture, Cooper’s Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Broad-winged Hawk, Great-blue Heron, Great Egret, Sandhill Crane, Green Heron, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Cliff Swallow, House wren, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Winter Wren, White-throated Sparrow, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Bluebird, Song Sparrow, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Woodduck, Clay-colored Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Loon, Pileated Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Common Nighthawk, Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird, Black and white Warbler, Barred Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Eastern Phoebe, Least Flycatcher and Great-crested Flycatcher. Happy Birding!

Clean Your Feeders

Now is the time to find and clean out your spring bird feeders for the Orioles and Hummingbirds. A clean feeder will attract more birds. Think about the birds when adding a new tree or shrub to the yard and consider a fruiting tree or shrub that will attract wildlife naturally. Some of my favorite shrubs ( highbush cranberry, dogwoods and arrowwoods) a few trees that also do the same thing include ( cherry, mountain ash and crabapples).

What to feed Orioles:
Oranges, mealworms, grape jelly and sugar water (3:1 ratio).

What to feed Hummingbirds:
Sugar water, do NOT add anything to the water such as food coloring. The ratio can be the same 3:1.

Be Bear  Aware!

Bears are now out looking for food so in some areas you will need to get in the habit of taking your feeders inside at night. Be well, be safe and enjoy watching the birds from home or on many trails found in the area.

Birding Kits

Go birding today and use our birding kits which are available for your birding convenience during your stay in the Brainerd Lakes area. Find more information on the Bird Watching.

Please report any unusual birds to Judd Brink via email. Please include a photo and or a brief description in the email if possible.