Indiana Dunes offers great birding trails

A great blue heron along the Great Marsh Trail. NPS photo.

Among the best places to go birding in the upper Midwest is Indiana Dunes National Park. With its variety of ecosystems – from hardwood forests and wetlands to Lake Michigan beaches and towering dunes – the national park naturally attracts hundreds of bird species, especially during the spring and fall migrations.

Among the top park trails for birding are:
• Cowles Bog Trail – The trail, which traverses the edge of woodlands and marshes while heading through an oak savanna, was named a globally significant Important Bird Area. Its wetlands are a major nesting area for American bittern, American black duck., black-crowned night heron, little blue heron, marsh wren, sandhill crane, and Virginia rail. Other rare species that can spotted along the trail are the American woodcock, solitary sandpiper, rusty blackbird, sedge wren, and whip-poor-will.
• Great Marsh Trail – Day hikers can see a number of the famous birds drawn to the national park by hiking the 1.26-miles round trip Great Marsh Trail. Thanks to a recent restoration of the wetlands, migratory birds – including sandhill cranes and great blue herons – stop over there every spring and autumn. After only a few steps on the trail, you’ll be immediately impressed by the array of bird life in the Great Marsh. Coots, mallards, wood ducks and geese are abundant here. During the annual migrations, wading birds such as herons and egrets stalk the shorelines. Kingfishers, red-winged blackbirds, tree swallows, and warblers also are abundant.
• Heron Rookery Trail – For some six decades, more than a hundred great blue heron nests could be found in the tall sycamores along this 3.3-miles round trip trail at 600 East south of 1350 North. Though the herons have since abandoned the site, plenty of other birds can be spotted on this wooded portion of the East Arm Little Calumet River. Among them are kingfishers, kinglets, a number of migrating and nesting warbler species, woodpeckers and wood thrushes.
• West Beach Trail – Several migratory birds rarely seen in Indiana can be spotted on the West Beach Trail, which passes Long Lake and a Lake Michigan beach. An Important Bird Area, in late fall and winter, the common redpoll, long-eared owl and red crossbill can be spotted. The common loon and red-breasted merganser, red-throated loon, and western grebe also can be spotted here. Many raptors such as bald eagles, northern harriers, peregrine falcon, red-shouldered and sharp-shinned hawks also stop over here. Also keep an eye out for the hairy woodpecker. At the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk on West Beach’s east end, spring hawk flights over the high dunes are impressive, and during March and April, at the migration’s peak, up to 300 bird species can be seen on any given day.

Great Marsh Trail makes for top birding trail

A Great Blue Heron sits near the Grand Marsh Trail at Indiana Dunes National
Park, America's newest national park. NPS photo.

Day hikers can see a number of the famous birds attracted to the Indiana Dunes National Park by hiking the Great Marsh Trail.

The 1.26-miles lollipop trail, with a spur to the observation deck, gains a mere nine feet of elevation as it traverses a marsh alongside Lake Michigan. Thanks to a recent restoration of the wetlands, migratory birds – including sandhill cranes and great blue herons – stop over there every spring and autumn.

To reach the trailhead, from Chicago take U.S. Hwy. 12 east or from Michigan City, Ind., go west on the road. Upon reaching Beverly Shores, Ind., turn north onto Broadway Avenue. Park in the South Lot on the street’s right/east side. The largely grass trail (some patches are packed dirt) heads out from the lot’s east side.

Interdunal wetland
The Great Marsh is an interdunal wetland, a water-filled depression between two sand dunes. It’s the largest wetlands complex in the Lake Michigan watershed, stretching for several miles between Burns Harbor, Ind., and Michigan City.

At 0.3 miles, the trail comes to the first junction. Go right/east on it. The marsh is on the trail’s left/north side.

You’ll be immediately impressed by the array of wildlife in the Great Marsh. Coots, mallards, wood ducks and geese are abundant here. During the annual migrations, wading birds such as herons and egrets stalk the shorelines. Kingfishers, red-winged blackbirds, tree swallows, and warblers also are abundant. Another surprise: sometimes beavers can be spotted playing in the marsh’s channels.

In 0.1 miles, the trail reaches the loop’s beginning. Continue straight-right/east, which takes you onto slightly higher ground.

Sandhill cranes, Great Blue Herons, egrets
Sandhill cranes are easy to pick out when they stop over on their migration. Tall and graceful, the slate gray bird has a long neck, legs and wingspan. Their wings can stretch up to 2.2 yards across from tip to tip.

After another 0.3 miles, the loop reaches its northwest corner and re-enters the marsh.

Another large migrating bird using the Great Marsh are Great Blue Herons. Slightly larger than sandhill cranes, the gray-blue bodied bird has a barely longer wingspan. They often wade along the shoreline picking off small fish but being opportunistic will eat everything from insects to snakes.

In 0.1 miles, the trail comes full circle. Go right/west back onto the stem trail.

Egrets – a type of heron with white plumage – also inhabit the marsh. Other than the coloring, they look virtually identical to the Great Blue Heron. Indeed, the word “egret” comes from the French “aigrette,” which means “silver heron.”

About 0.1 miles later, you’ll reach another junction. Instead of continuing on the stem trail, go straight/left/west onto the boardwalk.

For almost a century, virtually none of the wetlands birds could be found here. During the early 1900s, the wetlands was drained through a series of ditches so that the land could be used for farming and housing. As the wetlands disappeared, the water table dropped, allowing trees to take over the interdunal area.

Wetlands restoration
In less than 0.1 miles, the boardwalk reaches a spur leading to the observation deck. This is a great spot to break out the binoculars and camera.

The National Park Service in 1998 began restoring the wetlands. This including filling ditches and plugging culverts that drained the marshes, erecting levees with spillways, removing the non-wetlands trees, and replanting the sedges and grasses that existed when the wetlands existed.

After taking in the sights, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Wear boots with good traction, as the trail can be muddy and slippery. No pets are allowed on the trail.

Note that the North lot is handicap parking only. A short wheelchair-accessible trail runs from the lot to the overlook of the marsh.

Great tips on birdwatching for hikers

• How to find a bird's nest on a day hike
• Traits to look for when identifying birds on a day hike
• Meet the red-shouldered hawk
• Meet the Canada warbler
• Meet the Louisiana Waterthrush
• How to make birdwatching fun for children on a day hike

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Saguaro NP's best birdwatching trails

The saguaro cactus is a favorite perch of the cactus wren.

Birds can be seen throughout Saguaro National Park, but some spots are better than others either for spotting rare species or for seeing a diverse number of them.

Some of the better birding trails in the park include:

Desert Ecology Trail
Day hikers can see some of the national park’s most famous birds on the Desert Ecology Trail. The short 0.3-mile lollipop trail sits in the park’s eastern Rincon Mountain district just off of popular Cactus Forest Drive. It’s a perfect walk for young children to experience and learn about desert ecology. The saguaro is a good place to focus your attention if looking for birds. The plant is like an apartment building for native wildlife, providing homes to a variety of birds, such as the Harris’s hawk, Gila woodpecker, and the tiny elf owl.

Javelina picnic area
The opening section of the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail, especially at the Javelina Picnic Area, mark an excellent spot to see canyon wrens and black-chinned sparrows. The area in the park’s Rincon Mountain (East) district is slightly more verdant than the surrounding desert and so provides more opportunities for homes and food. A walk around the picnic area and the first 300 feet of the trail for a 0.2-mile round trip journey should yield some sightings.

Visitor Center Trail
In the Tucson Mountain (West) district, ash-throated flycatchers, Say’s phoebes, curve-billed thrashers, and Gila woodpeckers can be seen near the visitor center buildings. In the winter season, neotropical migrant species including hummingbirds, swallows, orioles, and warblers also can be seen. To see them, try this 0.37-mile trail circling the Red Hills Visitor Center off of North Kinney Road.

Short trail great for seeing Saguaro NP birds

Several birds nest in saguaros in south-central Arizona.

Day hikers can see

some of Saguaro National Park’s most famous birds on the Desert Ecology Trail.

The short 0.3-mile

lollipop trail sits in the park’s eastern Rincon Mountain District just

off of popular Cactus Forest Drive. It’s a 

perfect walk for young children to experience and learn about desert ecology.

To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 10 in Tucson exit onto East Speedway Boulevard and head east. Turn right/south onto Freeman Road then left/south onto Old Spanish Road. Next, enter the park by turning left/east onto Cactus Forest Drive. The park’s eight-mile road eventually becomes a one-way. A parking pullout for the trail is on the right/west. After parking, cross the road to the trailhead.

The wide, paved trail loops through the desert, following the Javelina Wash part of the way. Barrel cactus, chain fruit cactus, creosote, mesquite, palo verde, prickly pear cactus, teddy bear cholla, and of course the saguaro line the route.

Apartment building
The saguaro is a good place to focus your attention if looking for birds. The plant is like an apartment building for native wildlife, providing homes to a variety of birds, such as the Harris’s hawk, Gila woodpecker, and the tiny elf owl.

With a chocolate brown bottom and head and bright brown wings, the Harris's hawk resides throughout the saguaro forest. It can reach up to 20 inches long. Unlike most other hawk species, it lives and hunts in groups. Several non-breeding adults help feed and defend the breeding pair’s young. During a hunt, some in the group will flush prey out of brush so another may catch it in the open. The Harris’s hawk dines on lizards, rabbits, rodents, snakes and other birds.

The Gila woodpecker, with a red stripe atop its forehead, nests inside saguaros. Pecking a cavity between the cactus’ skin and inner rub, this hole serves as excellent protection from predators while also remaining cool. Abandoned holes often are taken over by kestrels, purple martins, and elf owls. The Gila woodpecker eats berries, cactus fruit, and insects.

The world’s smallest owl – the elf owl – measures a mere 5.75 inches long. Its diet likewise consists of small creatures, specifically insects and arthropods, that it hunts at night. Because of their nocturnal lives, they can be difficult to spot. Further, they’re only in the park from March to October, as they winter in Mexico.

Additional favorite pads
Watch the cholla for cactus wrens. They build their nests on the cholla, as few predators are willing to risk being stabbed by the cactus’ needles for a meal of young chicks.

Arizona’s state bird, the cactus wren likely will seek you out. It possesses a curious nature and boasts a rough, abrasive call that is difficult to miss. Stretching up to 8.5 inches long, the mottled brown bird with white stripe over its eyes and long beak, raises several broods a year. For meals, it prefers arthropods, fruit, insects and seeds.

Look for plants with the parasite desert mistletoe on it to spot phainopepla.

Phainopepla will be easy to identify. The male is a shiny black with a crest and red eyes; the female is brown but also has red eyes. The mistletoe provides shelter and its berries food for the small songbird. Phainopepla plays a key role is spreading mistletoe as the seeds are dispersed by passing through the bird’s digestive system. The bird also eats insects.

Roadrunners, the iconic bird of the American Southwest, also live along the trail. They rarely fly but are fast runners, hitting speeds of 15 mph as they use their tail as a rudder. Adults can stretch up to 23 inches in length with almost as wide of a wingspan. A predator, they eat lizards, small birds, small mammals, and snakes, but also will gobble down fruit and seeds if available.

Other common birds...
Three other species you might spot on the Desert Ecology Trail are rufous-winged sparrows, verdins, and Cooper’s hawks.

Rufous-winged sparrows usually can be spotted around mesquite and desert hackberry or areas with good grass cover. Rusty brown to gray with dark streaks and pale gray underneath, it’s small for a sparrow but has a long tail. In the United States, they live only in south-central Arizona, as most of its range is in north-central Mexico. They mainly eat caterpillars and grasshoppers during the summer than switch to mainly eating seeds in the winter.

The tiny verdin measures a mere 4.5 inches at most with a wingspan that’s just slightly longer. The male builds several spherical nests with the female selecting one to lay her eggs. Its light gray body sports a yellow face with a red spot on the wing. Verdins are only distantly related to other Western Hemisphere birds, so they are believed to have hitchhiked their way here from Europe or Asia, where they are common.

Cooper’s hawks are about the size of a crow. Adults sport tan barring on the breast and a dark cap on the head; several dark lines cross their long, rounded, long tail with a white band on the tip. Their dark red-orange eyes see differently than human eyes; browns and grays – the color of their prey – stand out while green hues are filtered out. They are incredibly strong; their large yellow talons carry the punch of 150-200 pounds per square inch; in comparison, an average healthy man has a PSI of 110. Their favorite meals are squirrels and rabbits.

...and a couple of rarities
A total of 107 bird species call Saguaro National Park home. Among them are two species found in only a few other locations across the United States – the vermilion flycatcher and the whiskered screech owl. One threatened species, the Mexican spotted owl, also calls the national park home.

Other common birds found throughout the park include Gambel’s quail, great horned owls, hummingbirds, kestrels, ravens, and turkey vultures. Mexican jays, Northern goshawks, yellow-eyed juncos, typically can be seen at the park’s higher elevations.

The best time for bird sightings is usually early morning and early evening.

There’s no shade on the short trail, so be sure to don sunscreen, sunglasses and sunhat. Leashed dogs are allowed.

TOPO MAP

Click for larger version.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks series.

Birdwatching trails abound on Lake Pepin

Tundra swans can be seen each autumn near Alma, Wis., and Kellogg, Minn.

The National Audubon Society has named the Lake Pepin region an important Birding Area, and for good reason. Magnificent birds – both large and small – can be seen here year around.

Each spring, from March through May, tundra swans and pelicans migrate through the Mississippi Riverway and stop over her. Warblers arrive in early May and congregate at Frontenac State Park and Lake City’s Hok-Si-La City Park.

During summer, the rare peregrine falcon often can be seen gliding on the thermals above Maiden Rock Bluff. Bald eagle sightings also are common over all of Lake Pepin.

The migration runs in reverse come autumn. Tundra swans in particular can be spotted at Rieck’s Lake Park in Alma and the Weaver Bottoms south of Kellogg.

While most birds leave the area for warm weather during winter, bald eagles stay year around. They’re easy to spot in winter, too, with the tree leaves gone. Great locations to see them include Red Wing’s Covill Park, various pull-offs on U.S. Hwy. 61, and Alma’s lock and dam.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

How to find a bird’s nest on a day hike

Photo courtesy of Photoree.

One fun activity to do on a hike is to search for bird’s nests. If walking through a woods, you almost certainly pass them without realizing it. Knowing what to look for, however, will help you spot them.

Begin by searching for locations where birds might build a home. Their primary concerns are making the nest difficult for predators to reach and camouflaging it so predators won’t see it. That makes rocky ledges on cliffsides a good spot. Trees with a thick array of branches or holes high about your head also are common choices. Ground nests, called scrapes, usually are built in depressions.

Next, try to spot unusual objects in those locations. For example, a collection of twigs and grass likely wouldn’t be bunched together on a rocky cliff, a tree branch, or a hole in a tree trunk. Usually such twigs and grass are shaped like a bowl, which the wind wouldn’t shape into.

Another strategy is to watch for bird’s protective behavior. If you hear birds chattering in alarm rather than singing, then they may be warning one another about you. Watch for the males of the species to fly away from the nest. This is an effort to bait you away from the younglings. Simply trace the line of flight back from the male to the nest.

A related technique is to watch where a male bird flies as it sings. Such singing usually is a sign of a male marking his territory. Often he will flit from point to point in a circle around the nest to let other males know that space is taken. The nest probably is in the center of the circle. You’ll likely need a binoculars and some patience to see where the male goes.

A long-term approach to nest finding involves starting in spring when birds build their nurseries. They usually do this during the morning. Simply watch for birds picking up dried materials such as spider webbing, moss, or dead leaves, and look to see where they fly to. This then allows you to watch the nest through the summer and into autumn.

Once you do find a nest, don’t disturb it. Doing so can cause undue stress to the hatchlings and even potentially dislodge the nest. Your best bet is to just view it from afar with a binoculars.

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.

St. Croix Valley’s best birdwatching trails

A number of day hiking trails in Minnesota and Wisconsin’s St. Croix River Valley offer great birdwatching opportunities.

As the river valley stretches directly north from the Mississippi River almost to Lake Superior, during spring and autumn several migratory birds stop off to feed and rest. Many even stay for the summer.

Here’s a sampling of the best river valley trails to spot birds.

Purple Trail (Kinnickinnic State Park)
An overlook of where the Kinnickinnic and St. Croix rivers merge is ice-free year around, making it prime feeding ground for American bald eagles during winter. Prairie restoration along a segment of the trail has created homes for partridge and ringneck pheasants.

North River Trail (Afton State Park)
Birds of prey, particularly red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures, find excellent feeding grounds atop the blufftop prairies and in the valley below where the St. Croix River reaches its widest span.

Hidden Ponds Nature (Black) Trail (Willow River State Park)
Three ponds amid woodlands is a favored nesting and feeding grounds for a variety of songbirds. The bright red scarlet tanager is among them.

Riverside Trail (William O’Brien State Park)
Traditional waterfowl, including geese and wood ducks, frequent Lake Alice and the St. Croix River along the trail. Bring some bread crumbs to feed them, which will delight any toddlers or preschoolers hiking with you.

Ridge View (Osceola and Chisago) Trails (St. Croix National Scenic Riverway)
Game birds including turkey and grouse, songbirds such as the scarlet tanager, and raptors like bald eagles, can be spotted in the diverse ecosystems the trail passes through.

Summit Rock Trail (Wisconsin Interstate State Park)
Atop the hill overlooking the river, sit and enjoy juvenile bald eagles gliding past you on the thermals. Often they fly within a few feet of you.

Redhorse Creek Northern Loop (Chengwatana State Forest)
A wide range of birds call this vast preserved area home. Among them are bald eagles, northern harriers, osprey, sandhill cranes, and warblers.

Hay Creek Trail (Crex Meadows Wildlife Area)
An internationally recognized bird area, just about any bird that frequents the Upper Midwest can be spotted at Crex Meadows. Most famous among them are giant sandhill cranes.

Read more about day hiking the scenic riverway in my guidebook Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

‘Hikes’ author presenting St. Croix River Valley’s best birding trails

Where’s the best place in the St Croix Valley to see eagles soar within a few feet of you? To hear songbirds sing a sweet soundtrack as you walk through the woods? To spot pheasants, turkeys and other game birds?

I’ll tell about those and several other locales during “Best Bird Trails of the St Croix River Valley,” an hour-long presentation on Thursday, May 14, at Chapter2Books in Hudson, Wis.

Each of the trails will be pulled from my bestselling book, Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Trails of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, and most are within an hour’s drive of Hudson. Copies of the book and my other hiking titles are available for purchase at Chapter2Books.

The presentation starts at 7 p.m. Chapter2Books is located at 226 Locust St. in historic downtown Hudson.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Instilling a love of nature in kids through birdwatching

Have kids carry binoculars to better see birds they might encounter on a hike.

Today, nature writer and birder Ernie Allison guest blogs for Hikes with Tykes.

Autumn is a great time for birding – there’s a lot of migration starting, and it’s great weather to be outside and see some wildlife. I’ve worked hard to make nature a big part of both my kids’ and grandkids’ lives, so that means lots of hiking year round. Throughout the years, I’ve learned some tips to making bird-centric hikes more engaging for kids, making the experience more pleasant for everyone involved.

Rob did post an article a few months ago about making bird watching fun for children on a day hike, so you should check that one out if you missed it and then continue reading for further tips.

Human preparation
As in most ventures with kids, making sure everyone is well-rested and fed before the trip will save a lot of frustration. Birding is most fruitful in the mornings, so following the “early to bed, early to rise” rule is best.

Tell the kids what they’re looking for
You’re probably not going to go birding without knowing what’s common in the area. Pull pictures of your most likely sightings from the internet so that the kids know what they’re on the lookout for. Let them study the pictures in the car, but when it comes time to hike, gear their attention to actual nature, not picture replications.

Making the kids aware of what to look out for makes it easier to create an “I Spy” game of the day. You can also make a checklist and see how many you can check off. If your kids are disappointed for missing some, make it an opportunity to elongate the game and return another time.

Teach appropriate outdoors behavior
Birding is a quiet activity. This isn’t to say to expect your kids to be silent, because that just probably isn’t going to happen. But let them know why animals are so skittish of humans. Encourage low voices and careful walking. Have them look out for signs of wildlife on the ground (this can also keep them from taking unexpected falls). Impart the importance of “pack it in, pack it out” and treating nature with respect. The whole experience of birding is educational. Take the opportunity to teach behavioral, scientific, and eco-centric lessons.

Followup
Kids pick up habits and passion through repetition. Going on a yearly family hike is great if that’s all you can do, but try to incorporate nature into your family’s everyday life. After the trip, you can look up more information about the birds you saw, teaching feeding, migration, and mating habits of different wild bird species.

You can also put out bird feeders to bring nature to you. I love the idea of wildlife gardens, utilizing plants to attract birds, beneficial insects, and other wildlife to your yard. Gardening as a family creates a family project, allows bonding opportunities, and has great nutritional benefits. And of course, can allow for some great bird sightings.

By instilling a love of nature in your kids, you can make individual hiking trips a lot more fun for everyone. If you have any tips and tricks for bird watching with kids, share in the comments!

Ernie Allison is a grandfather, hiker and birder who writes about nature and conservation. He resides in Idaho.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Traits to look for when identifying birds on a day hike

White-breasted-Nuthatch

For many children, spotting and watching birds – especially raptors, those that are courting, and rare species – is a great element of a day hike. Besides being entertaining, birdwatching offers many opportunities for learning while ensuring a memorable rest break.

Except for experienced birdwatchers, however, identifying the array of birds you see on a hike will be difficult. Because the time you have to observe a bird often is flitting is best, flipping through a birding field guide won’t be useful. Instead, jot down notes about the bird’s various traits or sketch its appearance so you later can look it up in a field guide.

When taking those notes or drawing the bird, look for the following traits, which will make identifying the bird easier in a field guide:
g Vocalizations – Almost every bird species sings a unique song or makes a unique sound. Often recordings of their vocalizations are available online.
g Size – Estimate in inches how tall and how long (from head to tail) the bird is.
g Shape – Note a general class that the bird appears to fit in. For example, is it shaped like a songbird, a pigeon, a turkey or a raptor?
g Beak/bill – Often all that sets apart one bird species from another is the length and shape of its beak or bill. That’s because this is a vital body part for eating a specific food that the bird species has adapted to.
g Facial markings – Often birds have stripes or special colorations on their face. Others have head feathers.
g Wing markings – List if patches or stripes appear on the bird’s wing as well as its coloring.
g Tail – The shape and length of a bird’s tail feathers often are specific to a species.
g Legs – Bird legs come in different lengths and colors. If possible, also note the number of toes and the direction they point.
g Food – If the bird is eating, try to determine what it’s dining on. Some birds eat only a few specific foods.

If you’re able to list or draw a number of these features, identifying the bird in a field guide once you return from your hike should be easy. It will make a great after hike activity for children.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

How to make birdwatching fun for children on a day hike

Hairy Woodpecker

For many children, spotting and watching birds – especially raptors, those that are courting, and rare species – is a great element of a day hike. Besides being entertaining, birdwatching offers many opportunities for learning while ensuring a memorable rest break.

Unfortunately, sometimes the birdwatching experience turns out to be a bad one, due to novice mistakes, and the hobby never takes root. There are a number of steps you can take, though, to ensure a birdwatch is interesting and fun for children:
g Know what to expect before hitting the trail – Many hiking guides will list what rare or spectacular birds can be seen along a trail. Look up those birds online or in books to learn more about them. This will help you more easily spot and identify them once on the trail. You also can get a good introduction to the hobby and learn some ins and outs of it by going on guided bird walking tours.
g Hike in the morning – Most birds are easier to spot in the morning than at other times of the day. That’s because many search for food during the morning.
g Search for birds in pairs or groups – Two sets of eyes often are better than one, and three even more so. You’re more likely to spot a rare bird when multiple people are looking in different directions for it on a hike.
g Skip the bird calls – While this may be useful for game birds, typically it scares off birds because it raises their stress levels. Ditto with artificial lighting during the evening.
g Bring binoculars – You’ll have a difficult time getting close enough to most birds to notice details about them. In addition, bring enough binoculars for everyone on the hike so that all can participate.
g Keep your distance – Should you be lucky enough to get close to where a bird is feeding or come across its nest, keep your distance. This also induces stress and can disrupt its natural habits.
g Leave the bird guidebook at home – The time you have to observe a bird often is flitting is best. By flipping through pages to identify the bird, one of two things likely will occur: 1) You’ll make noise that scares it off, or 2) It will fly away before you even get close to identifying it. Instead, jot down notes about the bird’s various traits or sketch its appearance so you later can look it up in a guidebook. Also listen closely for its vocalizations, as that will be very useful in identifying it.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

See multitude of raptors on Northwoods trail

Thousands of migrating
broad-winged hawks fly
through Duluth, Minn.,
each autumn.

Duluth day hike heads through internationally
recognized Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory

Fantastic views of Lake Superior and raptors migrating along the shoreline await day hikers of the Ridge Loop Trail in Duluth, Minn.

The 0.7-mile trail reaches the highest elevations in Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, a 315-acre nature reserve on Duluth’s north side. Established during the early 1970s, Hawk Ridge is now an internationally-renowned site for watching raptors with visitors from more than 40 countries.

Any day without fog is a good day to take in the views of Lake Superior. To see raptors, though, depends on three factors: the season; the time of day; and wind direction. You’ll spot the most raptors in September and October with the “Big Days” usually Sept. 10-25 when thousands of broad-winged hawks pass through. There’s also no need to get up too early; most raptors fly from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as their peak hours. If the winds are from the west or northwest, expect to see large number of raptors as they fly with the breeze; days with winds from the south or east see fewer birds, as they’d have to fly against the air flow.

Ridge Overlook
To reach the Ridge Loop Trail, take Minn. Hwy. 61 north of downtown Duluth. Turn left/north on N. 43rd Avenue E. and then go left/west on Glenwood Street. Finally, turn right/north onto E. Skyline Parkway. Look for the highest point ahead of you on the parkway’s north side. Just below this summit, park in the turnout on the road’s left/north side. The trailhead is a few feet southwest of the turnout.

The trailhead’s stem starts at an elevation of 1120 feet and heads north, quickly climbing the bluffside through a wooded area. In about 0.03 miles, the trail comes into an open, rocky area known as Ridge Overlook, which offers among the best views of Lake Superior in the city.

In another 0.06 miles, the trail reaches a junction with Middle Trail (a road) on the left/west. Just beyond this intersection is the Y that are the two ends of this trail’s loop.

Go left/clockwise on the loop. This way heads along the ridgetop’s backside, saving the lake views for the end. In about 0.12 miles, the trail reaches the ridge’s summit and the highest point in Hawk Ridge, which is about 1220 feet elevation. The entire back side of the ridge is nicely forested except for a few feet when passing beneath a powerline.

From the ridge’s summit, the trail descends over the next 0.12 miles as coming around the loop’s north side.

Forty raptors a minute
After passing a junction with the Pine Woods Trail, the loop curves to the ridge’s front side, where it runs for about a quarter mile. The trail here is fairly flat with a number of open spots for viewing the lake and raptors. Perhaps the best outlooks on the trail are the Summit Ledges, which are immediately past the Pine Woods Trail junction.

During fall 2014, observers at Hawk Ridge counted 8508 raptors in a little more than 11 hours. The broad-winged and the sharp-shinned hawks dominated, but among the many other species sighted were American kestrels, bald and golden eagles, black and turkey vultures, Cooper’s hawks, merlins, Mississippi kites, northern harriers, northern goshawks, osprey, peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks, rough-legged hawks, short-eared owls, and Swainson’s hawks.

Upon coming full circle on the loop, go left/south on the stem. The trail descends back to the road and pullout where you parked.

Be sure to bring a pair of binoculars. Leashed dogs friendly to others are welcome on the trail.

There’s no charge to visit the reserve, but donations are encouraged. See trail map.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Great activity for day hiking kids: Birdwatching

Hairy Woodpecker

Generally, exploring and discovery is enough for kids, but sometimes even they can grow bored with that and become restless. Remember that they naturally have shorter attention spans than adults.

Fortunately, there are lots of tried and true activities you can do on the trail that’ll keep kids from getting bored. Among them is birdwatching.

Early morning is the best time to watch birds. You’ll want to bring binoculars for each member of the party so there aren’t antsy kids while waiting to look. Good times to visit a park or nature preserve is when birds may be flying over and stopping over on their annual migrations. A bird identification guide can help you figure out what you’re seeing.

Materials: Binoculars, bird identification guide

Ages: 16 and up

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.