Judd Brink is a local guide and naturalist who provides a weekly birding report during the spring bird migration, the summer nesting season, and the fall bird migration for Visit Brainerd. This is the 12th season Judd has provided birding reports about the Brainerd Lakes Area in Central Minnesota.

Birds Spotted in the Brainerd Area:

Today’s birding report comes from the Brainerd lakes area: this week’s report is a bit slow due to the cooler weather and rain.  Common Loon, Blue-winged Teal, Sandhill Crane, Great-blue Heron, Woodduck, Mallard, Trumpeter Swan, Canada Goose, Ring-neck Duck, Ring-billed Gull, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Peregrine Falcon, Broad-winged Hawk, Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, American Woodcock, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, American Goldfinch, Wild Turkey, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Killdeer and Yellow Legs. Happy Birding! If you want to share a photo or have a unique bird sighting please email them to Judd Brink.

Here is a fun link to view how many birds are taking flight each night throughout the spring season! Last night 158.500 birds flew over Crow-Wing County, in a few weeks it will be in the MILLIONS!
Brainerd Area Birding Locations:
  • French Rapids ( Mississippi River): Waterfowl
  • Kiwanis/Rotary Park (Mississippi River): Waterfowl and Warblers
  • Northland Arboretum: Sparrows, Warblers and Tanagers
  • Crow Wing State Park: Songbirds, Waterfowl and Warblers
  • Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge: Sandhill Cranes

Judd Brink is the owner of MN Backyard Birds and can help make your home and or business more active and attractive for our feathered friends with bird-scaping. This is a great time to think about bird-scaping your yard to help attract more colorful birds. Ask for native fruiting trees and shrubs to plant around the house or cabin to bring in more birds naturally.

We hope you can share the joy of watching birds from your home or with others when visiting one of the many great birding areas found in the Brainerd area.

Plan your birding trip to Brainerd/Baxter, MN, today. There are a variety of hotel accommodations, wonderful dining, and a lot of other indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy.