Birding in the Edge of the Wilderness

Birds of a Feather

Bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the United States and in Minnesota. More than 420 species of birds have been recorded in Minnesota with 313 considered regular species. This area is part of a narrow forest belt that supports a higher diversity of breeding songbirds than anywhere else in the United States and Canada. Many of the most sought-after birds in North America can be found in the Edge of the Wilderness Area. These include the Great Gray Owl, Bald Eagle, Boreal Owl, Northern Goshawk, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay, Connecticut Warbler, and the Yellow Rail. In the winter you can also see the Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Northern Shrike, Gyrfalcon, Snow Bunting, Crossbills, Redpolls and Winter Finches.

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A soaring bald eagle is truly a sight to behold and your odds of seeing one are greatest in the Chippewa National Forest, as this area supports the highest breeding density of bald eagles in the continental United States. Eagles are often viewed soaring over the larger lakes of the area. Large fertile lakes, towering pine trees, and remote areas provide ideal nesting and feeding habitat. With a wingspan of over six feet, and the pure white head and tail of the adult birds, the eagle is truly a magnificent bird.