This is the 1st of a 4-trip Silverwood Park birding experience (February thru May). Attend one or all the trips!
Silverwood Park is a beautiful urban park on the shores of Silver Lake. The variety of habitats in the park–oak forest, marsh, grassland, and lakefront–make it a great birding destination, with over 180 different species sighted in the park.
Birding in a single location over several months can be a great way to get into birding. This series of four field trips will repeat popular excursions from last year, giving participants the chance to know the park and watch for different birds each month as the seasons change. In addition to getting to know the birds of Silverwood, participants will also be introduced to basic birding techniques and tools, including digital resources. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars; a few extra pairs will be available.
DIRECTIONS: Meet at the doors leading into the Visitor Center from the parking lot. Field trips will be conducted in most weather, with the exception of heavy rain. 45.046808, -93.224715
REGISTRATION: No registration necessary. Come for any of the sessions–attending all is not required.
DIFFICULTY: Most paths are paved, but may be icy in the winter. Walks will range from 1-1.5 miles.
LEADER: Jen Miller and Liz Richards; email birdingjen@gmail.com with any questions
Tuesday, February 18: 2-4 PM
Birding in the winter is a great way to get comfortable with the species who live in the park year-round–plus, there are no leaves on the trees to get in the way of seeing birds! This month, we’ll look for common Minnesota winter birds like chickadees and nuthatches, along with several different woodpecker species. We might even get lucky and see the park’s resident great horned owls as they start nesting.
Tuesday, March 18: 2-4 PM
During March, we will start to see some early migrants returning to the park–some waterfowl, and maybe even robins and red-winged blackbirds. We’ll also notice an increase in bird songs that we will learn to identify.
Tuesday, April 15: 2-4 PM
April showers melt the ice on Silver Lake, which brings more waterfowl, along with sparrows, swallows, and maybe even some early warblers or phoebes. With some luck, we might catch a glimpse of a migrating shorebird along the lakeshore, or see the fluffy head of an owlet.
Tuesday, May 13: 2-4 PM
May brings warblers, warblers, and more warblers! We’ll also begin to see some of the beautiful summer residents of the park, including orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and bluebirds. While the leaves returning to the trees makes seeing birds more challenging, the variety of species in the park in May makes this one of the most exciting times of year for birding.
