Minnesota River Valley Birding Trail

Kandiyohi Lakes Region


Overview
For birders, Sibley State Park is one of the jewels in the Minnesota state park system and the first place in the State of Minnesota where nesting Yellow-throated Warbler were recorded. Red-shouldered Hawk also nest there along with over 100 other avian species. Two hundred and six species have been recorded in the park. Thrushes, flycatchers, vireos, woodpeckers, swallows and many species of sparrow are migrants in this 3,000 acre expanse of green whose habitats include wooded hills, grasslands and wetlands. At 1,375 feet, Mount Tom is the best spot in the park for watching hawks in migration. The Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center offers a wide variety of habitats from woods to marshes. A Northern Saw-whet Owl recently nested here and Common Moorhens have been observed. Monson Lake State Park may be much smaller than Sibley State Park and not nearly as well known, but with its lake and extensive brushy woodlands it is still a great area for birds, especially early spring waterfowl migrants. A total of 116 species of birds were recorded in the park during a recent autumn bird inventory. The southern part of Pope County has rolling hills, lakes, marshes and woodlands, providing a variety of habitats for both migrating and resident birds. Lake Johanna with its large heron rookery lies within this area. The woodlands surrounding the lake are good for migrating warblers. Ordway Prairie’s magnificent landscape includes rolling grasslands and wooded hills and valleys, providing habitats suitable for many bird species. Make sure you stop at the observation area along Highway 104. It not only provides a wonderful panoramic view of the entire area, it is a great place to observe raptors during migration.
Site Description Directions to Site
PRAIRIE WOODS ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER Kandiyohi County (423 acres).
Habitat: woods, rolling grasslands, and wetlands.
Amenities: T, R, Nature Center.
Notes: The park gates are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The restrooms are in the Nature Center.
Contact: 320-354-5894.
Web Site Available.
From US 71 and US 12 on the east side of Willmar, travel north on US 71 about 7.0 miles to Co. Rd. 29, turn left and travel west about 1.5 miles to the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center.

SIBLEY STATE PARK Kandiyohi County (2,936 acres).
Habitat: woods, thickets, grasslands, wetlands, and lake.
Amenities: T, R, C, P, B.
Notes: The campground is open year round, but some trails may be closed in winter.
Contact: 320-354-2055.
Web Site Available.

Retrace your steps to US 71, turn left and travel north about 5.0 miles to Co. Rd. 48, turn left and drive west into Sibley State Park. If you continue on Co. Rd. 48 through the park, you will join Hwy. 9 about 2.0 miles west of its intersection with US 71.

SUNBURG WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AREA Kandiyohi County (255 acres).
Habitat: grasslands and wetlands.
Amenities: None.
Contact: 320-693-2849.
Web Site: None.

MONSON LAKE STATE PARK Swift County (187 acres).
Habitat: woods, thickets, some grasslands, wetlands, and lake.
Amenities: T, R, C, P, B.
Notes: The campground is closed from Labor Day to Memorial Day, but day use of the park is year round. This is a popular fishing lake.
Contact: 320-366-3797.
Web Site Available.

At the intersection of Co. Rd. 48 and Hwy 9 turn left on Hwy 9 and travel west 11.3 miles to Co. Rd. 95. (Note: Just west of Co. Rd. 36 at the City of Sunburg is Sunburg Waterfowl Production Area with a parking area on your right.) Turn left on Co. Rd. 95 and travel south 2.7 miles to Monson Lake State Park.

CAMP KERK STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA Swift County (1,022.7 acres).
Habitat: woods, thickets, grasslands, and wetlands.
Amenities: None.
Contact: 320-289-2493.
Web Site Available.

 Retrace your steps to Hwy 9 and turn left. Travel west about 5.5 miles to Co. Rd. 33, turn right and travel north and then east 2.4 miles to a parking area for Camp Kerk Wildlife Management Area.

BRENNER LAKE WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AREA Kandiyohi County (271 acres).
Habitat: woods, rolling grasslands, some native prairie, and wetlands.
Amenities: None.
Contact: 320-693-2849.
Web Site: None

 Continue north on Co. Rd. 33 1.8 miles to Co. Rd. 28, turn right and travel east about 5.0 miles to Hwy. 104. Turn left and travel north 1.0 mile to 70th Street NE. Turn right onto this gravel road. Brenner Lake Waterfowl Production Area lies on both sides of the road.

ORDWAY PRAIRIE Pope County (581 acres).
Habitat: some woods, rolling grasslands, and wetlands.
Amenities: P.
Contact: 612-331-0700.
Web Site Available.

 Retrace your steps to Hwy. 104. Turn right and travel north 3.2 miles to a scenic wayside on your right. You can park here and hike into the Ordway Prairie, a Nature Conservancy site.

LAKE JOHANNA WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AREA Pope County (358 acres).
Habitat: grasslands, native prairie, wet meadow, and wetlands.
Amenities: None.
Contact: 320-589-4971.
Web Site: None

LAKE JOHANNA PUBLIC WATER ACCESS Pope County.
Habitat: grasslands, wetlands, marsh, and lake.
Amenities: B.
Contact: 218-739-7576.
Web Site Available.

 Turn right on Hwy 104 and go north about 1.0 mile to Co. Rd. 84, turn right and travel east about 3.0 miles to Co. Rd. 37, turn left and travel north 1.4 miles to the first of two parking areas for Lake Johanna Waterfowl Production Area. Continue north 0.6 miles to the second parking area. Then continue north 0.4 miles to Co. Rd. 8, turn left and travel west 2.0 miles to a gravel road on your left that leads to a boat launch at the north end of Lake Johanna Public Water Access. The parking area is 0.5 miles south of Co. Rd. 8.

NELSON LAKE WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AREA Pope County (966 acres).
Habitat: trees, grasslands, native prairie, and wetlands.
Amenities: None.
Contact: 320-589-4971.
Web Site: None.

 Continue west on Co. Rd. 8 for 0.9 miles to Hwy. 104. Turn left on Hwy. 104/Co. Rd. 8 and travel south 0.5 miles to the point where Co. Rd. 8 turns west. Turn right on Co. Rd. 8 and travel 2.3 miles west to 182nd Ave. Turn right on this gravel road and travel north about 2.0 miles along the edge of Nelson Lake Waterfowl Production Area. To return to the starting point continue north a short distance on the gravel road to Hwy. 104, turn right and travel southeast about 12.5 miles to Hwy. 9. Turn left on Hwy. 9 and travel east about 12.0 miles to US 71. Turn right on US 71 and travel south about 14.0 miles to the starting point.
Key to Amenities: T: trail; R: restroom; C: camping; P: picnic area; B: boating.

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