Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area Bird Trail

Lake and marsh, deciduous woods, alder thickets, fields.

This large wildlife area, managed by the Minnesota DNR, contains a large shallow lake as well as several thousand acres of upland forested ridges. All told, the unit is 55,000 acres in size and provides habitat for 232 different bird species. A small elk herd can be sighted in the vicinity.

Five species of grebes, American Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, waterfowl including Canvasback and Ruddy Duck, Franklin’s Gull, Sandhill Crane, warblers and grassland sparrows.

Follow the road along the south end of the lake. There is a “wildlife viewing mound” along this road. The area is noted for providing nesting and migratory habitat for many waterfowl species. There is a handicapped accessible wildlife observation mound located east of the headquarters and spectacular views of the lake can be had from the mound. Look for shorebirds by the thousands during August.