Sakatah Trail Birds

Just like I am not a botanist (see flowers), I am not an Ornithologist. Everything I have learned, has been from observation and a few books. One of the best (in my opinion) is The "Birds of Minnesota Field Guide" by Stan Tekiela. The illustrations are excellent and there is a lot of information. The Sakatah is teaching me to become a naturalist. I call myself a "practical naturalist" because I am not a hunter (although I can understand and appreciate, their viewpoint), likewise I can also understand "ultra-green" environmentalists. I'm somewhere in between with a big focus on identifying and learning about nature. I think learning about such things brings appreciation. I think that if more people learned the names of plants and animals, and how they work, there would be less litter and more thought put into the future of nature. I have a brother-in-law who is an "outdoors genius" I used to envy his knowledge of all things outdoors. When I started, I knew very little, but I wanted to know more. I would say that I know more than last year, and have a high degree of confidence in identifying plants and animals. It's a good feeling.

I am told that there are over 300 birds in the Minnesota River Valley. The birds listed below are ones that I have personally identified. There are also birds I have run into, that were elusive. I know they were different by song and coloring, but they were too quick for identification. No doubt this list will keep growing. I have no pictures, because my camera equipment cannot capture them, perhaps someday in the future, I will be able to get a camera that can get some pictures so I can put some up.

Here is my bird list - Birds I have personally observed on the Sakatah Trail

Link to DNR Bird Checklist Sakatah Lake Park