Itasca County and Chippewa National Forest Birding

Lost in the Woods Bird Guiding

Do you have a few target northern specialties you’d like to try for?  Would you rather go out and find as many species as possible?  Are you new to birding and looking to learn bird identification?  Something else? 

Whether you’ve come a long distance to bird in northern Minnesota or you live here, we can plan the birding how you like to do it.  Summer, winter, driving, hiking…there are plenty of birding opportunities in northern Minnesota! 

The majority of my bird guiding is focused on the forests, wetlands, and fields of Itasca County, the Chippewa National Forest, and Koochiching County, though I am willing to visit adjacent areas if there is reason to. 

What can you expect from me?

• Casual conversation
• A notable lack of fancy gear
• I will work HARD to help make your birding trip a success!
• I’ll be straightforward with you about chances of finding a particular bird, expected conditions, and I’ll even tell you if I feel another local guide could better meet your specific needs.
• I am doing this for FUN more than profit.

What experience do I have?

• I’ve been an avid—no, obsessed—birder for most of the 21^st century! 
• I have taught several bird identification sessions for various organizations and have led / co-led a variety of bird hikes and field trips
• I have done bird surveys for the MNDNR, USFS, USFWS, Cornell, & Hawk Ridge
• I have handfed Gray Jays, Common Redpolls, and Black-capped Chickadees (Not a real qualification?  Really?)

What are some of the more interesting birds found in the areas I guide? 

Trumpeter Swan, Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Common Loon, American Bittern, Northern Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Black Tern, Northern Hawk-owl, Great Gray Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Shrike, Blue-headed Vireo, Gray Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Boreal Chickadee, Sedge Wren, Bohemian Waxwing, Golden-winged Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, LeConte’s Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, Evening Grosbeak, and many others!

Please note that these are all POSSIBILITIES.  No guide can promise 100% success on any rare species!  What I can promise is that I will give you realistic expectations and plan trips with the highest probability possible of finding the species you are hoping for.  I have observed over 220 species in Itasca County and numerous species in the other areas I cover, so I am well qualified to help you find birds. 

What else should you know? 

• Lodging and food in Itasca & Koochiching Counties are reasonable, modest, and limited in certain areas.  Let me know if you need help.
• Depending on your timing, insects or intense cold may be part of your experience.  I can help you schedule more comfortable times, but the bird variety may be different.
• I drive a rusty but trusty old Blazer.  It is not comfortable if you are used to anything post-1980s.  I can drive if you pay for my mileage and want a “remote African safari” transportation experience.  Otherwise, I highly recommend we use your vehicle.   
• I’m no expert, but I know about many of the trees, flowers, and mammals in northern Minnesota as well…just don’t ask me about bugs! 
• Because I am also forced to have a ‘real’ job, there are unfortunately days and weeks that I am simply not available. 

What about rates? 

$100 covers an 8-hour day for a group of 3 or less.  I can reduce the cost if you would like to bird for less than 4 hours or negotiate a reasonable price if you would like to bird significantly longer than 8 hours.  I can do larger groups for slightly increased rates.  If our trip requires me to stay out of town, I will charge you for that, though I am willing to room share and stay at the least expensive place available. 

Good birding!

Shawn Conrad

Northern Minnesota Birding Guide

Contact Me