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:

Barred Owl, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, American Kestrel, Trumpeter Swan, Common Loon, Mallard, Ring-neck Duck, Common Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, American Coot, Wooduck, Blue-winged Teal, Belted Kingfisher, Harris Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Sandhill Crane, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Fox Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Eastern Bluebird, Wild Turkey, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Common Raven, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Snow Goose, Evening Grosbeak, Canada Goose and Snow Bunting. Happy Birding!

The fall bird migration is in full swing! Watch for young birds at your bird feeders, they can be very curious.  Visit https://birdcast.info/ (type Crow Wing County in search) to get last nights estimated bird count of birds migrating!

The Sandhill cranes are starting to stage at Sherburne NWR about an hour away from us here in Brainerd.  Whooping Crane was also spotted in southern MN!   

If you want to share a photo or have a unique bird sighting please email them to Judd Brink.

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.