Salt Lake Birding Weekend

Dates

About

The Salt Lake Birding Weekend is in its 49th year. The 2026 event will be held May 1-3, starting at Lac qui Parle Wildlife Area Headquarters, near Watson, MN. Birders will be shuttled to several locations, including Salt Lake, to view migrating birds. There will be three coach buses with bathrooms for birders to have comfortable access to the remote locations to see the birds. This event has some exciting opportunities this year, along with new partnerships. The Minnesota Ornithologists' Union, Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter, University of MN Extension Minnesota Master Naturalist, and the Montevideo Area Convention and Visitors Bureau have all come together to make this a great outdoor experience for all participants.

In a typical year, about 150 people come together to count birds, enjoy fellowship, and learn from each other. What will you see? grebes, Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes, Advocets, Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, Ross's and Cackling geese, all things duck, short-eared owl, Harriers, and American Kestrels, to name a few from past years.

In 2025 147 species were identified, in 2024, 130 species; in 2023, 139 species, so it is an excellent place to get some of those birds on your life list checked off.

 There will be three buses taking participants to various locations, possibilities will include: Marsh Lake Dam, nearby WMA's, and Waterfowl Productions Areas that will have been scouted earlier in the week for birds.
Self-guided birding will be encouraged on Sunday, May 3th. Volunteers will be available to assist with birding locations.