The Minocqua area is a birder’s paradise with its abundant trails, forests and lakes. Whether you prefer to hike, kayak, canoe or even drive, you’re sure to see a variety of species in their natural habitats, and you might even spot some rare or endangered birds.
Some of the north woods’ most treasured birding sites include the Rainbow Flowage area, Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area, North Lakeland Discovery Center, and the Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest.
Rainbow Flowage is a 5000-acre habitat that has been designated an official Wisconsin Important Bird Site. It is home to a tremendous variety of interesting birds, including olive-sided flycatchers, merlins, boreal chickadees, spruce grouse, Northern waterthrush, black-backed woodpeckers, gray jays, yellow-bellied flycatchers, evening grosbeak, palm warblers and Canada warblers. Waterfowl congregate here during migration periods, shorebirds gather when mudflats are exposed in the fall, and bald eagles and osprey nest around the flowage.
An 1800-acre refuge is located in the middle of the 4300 acres that make up Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area. Bird species often seen here include songbirds, great blue herons, marsh hawks, eagles, sandhill cranes, Northern harriers, black terns, Nelson's sharp tailed sparrows, sharp tailed grouse, Henslow's sparrows, LeConte's sparrows and short-eared owls.
The North Lakeland Discovery Center offers a 25-kilometer trail system and is located along the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail. The center offers self-guided tours as well as a number of bird-related learning programs. Diverse populations of nesting and migrating songbirds, raptors and waterfowl can be found here.
The Northern Highland - American Legion (NH-AL) State Forest is more than 220,000 acres of lakes and woodlands. This pristine wilderness area offers some of the best opportunities to see bald eagles in their nests. Rare bird sightings include the gray jay, Nelson’s sharp-tailed sparrow and LeConte’s sparrow, but birders may also spot the alder flycatcher, vesper sparrow and yellow-bellied sapsucker.
The Lakeland area of Minocqua, Woodruff and Arbor Vitae offers everything a birder could ask for. Local outfitters are happy to provide you with maps and advice to help you plan your birding expedition.
