Birding

Click on site name for more information

• C.P. Adams Park & Hastings SNA: Great Crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush & Eastern Wood Pewee
• Lake Rebecca: Sandhill Crane, Prothonotary Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, Virginia Rail, Sora & Green Herons
• Mississippi River Flats/Lock & Dam #2: Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, Eastern Bluebird, Dicksissel & American White Pelican
• Vermillion Falls & Old Mill Parks: Cedar Waxwing, Cliff Swallow, Belted Kingfisher & Baltimore Oriole
• Lake Isabel, Hastings WMA & Gores State AMA: Barred Owl, Yellow Warbler, Northern Flicker, Wood Duck & American Redstart
• Hastings Sand Coulee SNA: Lapland Longspur, Eastern Towhee, Orchard Oriole, Lark Sparrow & American Woodcock
• 180th Street Marsh: Loggerhead Shrike, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Marsh Wren & Common Yellowthroat
• Lake Byllesby: Eastern & Western Meadow Lark, migrating waterfowl, gulls and shorebirds
• Point Douglas County Park: Trumpeter Swan, wintering Ducks & Gulls
• Carpenter Nature Center: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Bald Eagle, Cedar Waxwing, Field, Savannah & Clay-colored Sparrow
• Spring Lake Park Reserve: Barred Owl, American Woodcock, Brown Thrasher, migrating Warblers & other song birds

Mississippi River Twin Cities IBA: The Mississippi River and adjacent floodplain forest and uplands extending for 38 river miles from Hastings to Minneapolis was designated as one of the 1st IBAs. It is situated along the migratory corridor for waterfowl, and shorebirds, loons, cormorants, gulls, terns, herons, egrets, pelicans, coots, grebes, and other species. A mixed species heron rookery, 8 pairs of bald eagles and peregrine falcons occur in the IBA.

Vermillion Bottoms – Lower Cannon River IBA: The northern end is located at the junction of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers extending southeast to include the lower Cannon River. This IBA is a critical migratory corridor for waterfowl, forest songbirds, raptors, and waterbirds. C.P. Adams Park, Hastings SNA, Lake Isabel, Hastings WMA & Gores State AMA are all within this designated area. As one of the top four sites in the state for rare forest birds it has the highest numbers of two special concern bird species in southeast Minnesota: red-shouldered hawks and cerulean warblers. It also provides important nesting and/or migratory habitat for peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and Acadian flycatchers, and includes a bald eagle winter roost site and two colonial nesting sites for great blue herons and great egrets. The Minnesota County Biological Survey has documented 14 birds of conservation concern in the site. In addition, peregrine falcons nest in nest-boxes nearby and use the area for feeding. A total of 153 bird species have been recorded breeding or migrating through the area.

St. Croix Lake IBA: The St. Croix Lake Important Bird Area is located north/northeast of Hastings, along the eastern border of Minnesota. It is an important migration corridor for significant numbers of migrating raptors and waterbirds and open water on the river attracts wintering Bald Eagles and waterfowl. Point Douglas Park and Carpenters Nature Center are close places in this area for public viewing. The location and variety of habitats in this IBA result in great species diversity with 268 birds documented within the boundaries.

Lake Byllesby IBA: Lake Byllesby lies in the Cannon River Valley located 16 miles southwest of Hastings. As birds migrate northward in the spring via the Mississippi River corridor, many eventually leave the corridor and head northwest across southeast Minnesota to follow the prairie-hardwood transition zone enroute to their breeding grounds to the north. The relatively large size of Lake Byllesby with its associated extensive mudflats and shallow areas provide important resting and feeding habitat that is in very short supply in this region of the state. The site contains an assemblage of species characteristic of shallow wetland and alluvial mudflat habitat type. This includes: 31 (78%) of Minnesota's 40 recorded shorebird species; 30 (70%) of Minnesota's 43 recorded waterfowl species; Common, Forster's, Caspian, and Black Tern; American White Pelican, and others.

Hastings Environmental Protectors (HEP) is a local citizens group working to increase awareness of the status of unique natural resources. To achieve this goal, they work with government, community, conservation groups, and individuals to preserve, restore and protect these resources. Check out their website to learn more about this organization and conservation activities happening in and around Hastings.

Carpenter Nature Center - One of the best-kept birding secrets in the southeast Twin Cities metro area is the 725-acre Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center (CNC). Formerly the private estate of Thomas and Edna Carpenter, CNC opened for environmental education programs in 1981 and has been the source of many wonderful bird sightings over the years. The CNC yard list has tallied 189 species, including a 2008 flyover of four Whooping Cranes!

The Great River Road Learning & Visitor Center is located just across the St. Croix River following US Hwy 10 in Prescott, Wisconsin. More information is available at their web site.

Food, Fuel & Lodging– The scenic river town of Hastings, steeped in tradition, has a mix of shopping facilities, restaurants and services to compliment your outdoor activities. You will find food available in the western, midtown, southern and historic downtown areas. Fuel stops are throughout the city on major highways. Click on the link above to see more information on the Chamber of Commerce website.

eBird is a world-wide resource for bird sighting data operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY. Data for specific sites in the Hastings area (plus many others) can be found on the eBird web site. Search data by going to the “explore data” tab, choose “bar charts”, Minnesota and then select either Hot Spots or IBAs in Minnesota. You can then continue to the specific site you want to research. A bird list with graphic display of occurrence and times of the year for each species that has been found will appear. Map icons for every bird are available to show you exact locations. Even the bird lists submitted by others, when they saw the species can be accessed. This is a great tool you may want to use in preparation for your visits. Then, use eBird again to report your trip lists so important data can continue to help scientists, land managers and other birders in the Hastings Area.

The Minnesota Ornithologist Union web site is a state wide resource for birding information. The “Recently Seen” and “Showcase” sections have photos and documentation of what is currently being found in the state. The “Rare Bird Alert” is updated weekly to help spread the word on sightings of interesting birds and the locations you can check.