Viewing points selected by experts; online map, navigation available
The birds are calling at Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a new guide to viewing them.
The Lac qui Parle WMA Birding Tour is now live, including an online interactive GIS map. The self-guided tour includes 14 points running along Lac qui Parle and Marsh lakes.
“Lac qui Parle and the surrounding network of publicly accessible habitat is a premier destination for birders in Minnesota,” said Mike Worland, Minnesota DNR regional nongame wildlife specialist. “This same landscape is part of a globally recognized Important Bird Area, underscoring its critical role in conserving birds and their habitats.”
The interactive map includes individual birding points that come with descriptions of the locations, the birds that can be seen, and links to navigation directions. Users can navigate to any of the 14 points directly, or they can follow one of two pre-prepared routes that span seven points each.
At 33,500 acres, Lac qui Parle is one of the largest WMAs in the state of Minnesota, filled with beautiful prairie, lakes and natural landscapes.
“This birding route is meant to draw nature lovers of all kinds,” Worland said. “It serves as a means of discovery of new, amazing places to go birding and to just enjoy nature in southern Minnesota.”
A tremendous diversity of birds can be viewed on the route, both during migration and breeding seasons. The two lakes and surrounding prairies include a variety of waterfowl species, water birds, grassland birds, and more. Marsh Lake is home to many thousands of great white American pelicans in the spring and summer, the largest colony in the state.
Find a handout and learn more about the Lac qui Parle WMA Birding Tour at the Lac qui Parle WMA webpage. With questions or feedback related to the tour, reach out to the area wildlife office at [email protected].
More about WMAs and Birding
In 2026, the Minnesota DNR is celebrating the 75th anniversary of WMAs in the state. WMAs are part of Minnesota’s outdoor recreation system and are established to protect those lands and waters that have a high potential for wildlife production, public hunting, trapping, fishing and other compatible recreational uses. They are the backbone to the DNR’s wildlife management efforts.
Birding continues to be a popular and growing activity for outdoor recreation users in Minnesota. In addition to WMAs and state forests, Minnesota state parks provide and preserve a variety of bird habitats, from the bogs of Lake Bemidji State Park to the prairies of Blue Mounds State Park. Learn more on the DNR website.