Detroit Lakes Festival Of Birds

Detroit Lakes is nestled in the heart of a transition zone between tall grass prairie, northern hardwood and conifer forest ecosystems. That means there are lots of kinds of birds! Which, in turn, means a lot of serious birders flocking here each spring for the annual Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds.

The 28th annual Festival of Birds was held May 15-17, 2025 with registrants from seven states.
The early bird registrant who took home a Diamondback HD 8 x 42 binoc from Vortex was Jennifer Garaas Scott.

Schedule
Thursday, May 15, 2025
9 am-5 pm: Registration at Detroit Lakes Chamber Office, 700 Summit Avenue
4:30 pm-6:30 pm: Bird Trivia Social at Zorbaz, 402 West Lake Drive, Detroit Lakes

Friday, May 16, 2025
9 am-5 pm: Registration at Detroit Lakes Chamber Office, 700 Summit Avenue
5:30 am-2 pm: Field trip by coach bus to Mahnomen Ecoregion
5:30 am-Noon: Field trip by caravan to Dunton Locks County Park/Ortenstone Gardens (also held Saturday). Limit: 25 participants
5 pm-7 pm: Buffet dinner at M State College with Carrol Henderson presentation

Saturday, May 17, 2025
5:15 am-5:30 am: Registration at Detroit Lakes M State west parking lot
5:30 am-Noon: Field trip by caravan to Dunton Locks County Park/Ortenstone Gardens (Limit: 25 participants)
5:30 am- 2 pm: Field trip by coach bus to Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge
3:15 pm-4:30 pm: Book signing by authors Heisman and Henderson and Silent Auction at M State College
5 pm-7 pm: Buffet dinner at M State College with Rebecca Heisman presentation

4:30-6:30 pm, Thursday May 15, 2025
BIRD TRIVIA AT ZORBAZ
402 West Lake Drive, Detroit Lakes
4:30-6:30 pm, Thursday, May 15, 2025
Another fun time visiting with birders and stretching the limits of your brain power. Good thing we had pizza and macho nachos for fuel!

5-7 pm, Friday May 16, 2025
DINNER AND CARROL HENDERSON AT M STATE COLLEGE CONFERENCE CENTER
900 Hwy 34 East, Detroit Lakes
A National Legacy: Fifty Years of Nongame Wildlife Conservation, 1974-2024
We continue to be amazed at all Carrol has done for wildlife conservation – he received a standing ovation! Watch for the release of his book this fall.

5 pm-7 pm, Saturday May 17, 2025
DINNER AND REBECCA HEISMAN AT M STATE COLLEGE CONFERENCE CENTER
900 Hwy 34 East, Detroit Lakes
Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research
Rebecca’s presentation was not only informative about the early days of tracking bird migration, it was sprinkled with humor. There was even an instance of an early version of an antenna system on a car that resulted in a stop by MN police! Her book is definitely worth a read.

2025 Field Trip Leaders
Festival of Bird field trip leaders scout sites a few days before the event to get you looks at bird species you came for. Then on the day of the event, they are listening and searching for species to point out to attendees. Thank you field trip leaders!

(l-r) Kelly Blackledge, Gina Kemper, Nancy Henke, Carrol Henderson, Bill Penning, John Voz, Zac Whaley, Anuj Ghimire, Steve Midthune, Linda Slagter, (not pictured) Nick Larson and Wayne Brininger.

The weather on Friday and Saturday was cool – highs in the 30s-low 40’s, with misting rain on Friday. Still, attendees got looks at some species they were definitely hoping to see.

2025 Field Trip Checklists
Friday, May 16 2025 Mahnomen Ecosystem
Friday, May 16 2025 Dunton Locks/Ortenstone Gardens
Saturday, May 17 2025 Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, May 17 2025 Dunton Locks/Ortenstone Gardens

2024 Field Trip Checklists
Friday, May 17, 2024 Wannigan/Ike Fischer/Hamden Slough checklist
Friday, May 17, 2024 Tamarac Refuge checklist
Saturday, May 18, 2024 Rothsay/Dunton Locks checklist
Saturday, May 18, 2024 Warblers & Wildflowers checklist
Saturday, May 18, 2024 Tamarac Refuge checklist
2024 Checklist of Total Species Recorded on Field Trips

Festival attendees throughout the years have learned much about birds, wildlife and conservation efforts through presenters such as Don Kroodsma, John Fitzpatrick, John Marzluff, Joel Greenberg, Melissa Groo, Rosalind Renfrew, Sue Leaf, Drew Wheelan, Charlie Walcott, Richard Crossley, Scott Weidensaul, David Sibley, Bill Thompson III, Laura Erickson, Don and Lillian Stokes, Kenn Kaufmann, Dr. Paul Johnsgard, Stan Tekiela, Dr. James Grier, Sharon Stiteler, Al Batt, Jeff Gordon, Joe Hautman, Jeb Barzen, Ernesto Reyes, Noah Strycker, Lyanda Haupt, Kevin Karlson, Randy Kolka, Mike Havlik, Steve Maanum, Marshall Johnson and Rebecca Heisman.

If you would like to receive future Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds email updates, please contact us at dlchamber@VisitDetroitLakes.com or call 218-847-9202. For updates, “like” us on facebook. Enjoy our small town hospitality while in Detroit Lakes, including several lodging options.

In recent years, birders have checked these species off their list: Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Rough-legged Hawk, LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Golden-winged and Northern Parula Warblers, Alder Flycatcher, Greater Prairie Chicken and Black-backed Woodpecker.

Any time of year, we welcome you to check out several sites along the Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail that are near Detroit Lakes. For more birding opportunities in Minnesota, see the MOU website.

Everywhere you go in Detroit Lakes’ bird paradise, you’re guaranteed to see birds to check off your bird list. We welcome you to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Happy birding!