Audubon Upper Mississippi River

09/28/2026

Birds are in trouble across much of America’s farm country, but there’s good news: farmers, ranchers, and conservationists are working together to create healthier landscapes for both wildlife and agriculture.

This recent article from the Land Stewardship Project explores how regenerative grazing and perennial grasslands can help "bend the bird curve" for species like bobolinks, eastern meadowlarks, and savannah sparrows. It also highlights the work of Audubon grassland ecologists Krysten Zummo and Ashly Steinke, who are helping landowners manage working lands in ways that support birds, soil health, clean water, and thriving rural communities.

As Ashly's own farm demonstrates, grassland birds can return when high-quality habitat is restored and carefully managed. That's encouraging news for birds and for the people who depend on these landscapes every day.

Read the full story: https://landstewardshipproject.org/avian-ag/

Birds are in trouble, and nowhere is that more evident than in farm country. A study published in the journal… Read More →

09/22/2026

A tiny owl, a remarkable journey.

This Northern Saw-whet Owl was tagged in Arkansas and later detected in Missouri before making its way north to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center along Minnesota's North Shore.

Weighing about the same as an American Robin, Northern Saw-whet Owls undertake impressive seasonal movements across the continent. Thanks to the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, each detection helps scientists better understand where these secretive nocturnal predators travel and the habitats they rely on.

For Northern Saw-whet Owls, Minnesota's northern forests are especially important. The vast spruce, fir, pine, and mixed hardwood forests of the North Woods provide critical habitat for breeding, shelter, and hunting. These forests support the small mammals that owls depend on for food and offer the dense cover needed to raise young and avoid predators.

Saw-whet Owl populations are declining throughout their range, with steep declines in southeastern Canada. We need to conserve health forests to support their population throughout their range.

This owl's journey is another reminder that conservation is about connections. From Arkansas to Missouri to Minnesota's boreal transition forests, birds depend on a network of healthy habitats across state lines and international borders. Protecting Minnesota's northern forests helps ensure that species like the Northern Saw-whet Owl continue to find what they need throughout their annual cycle.

Every detection adds another piece to the puzzle, helping us better understand and protect the remarkable birds that move through the Mississippi Flyway and beyond.

The tower installed at was part of a collaboration between the Minnesota Zoo and Upper Mississippi River and was funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

09/11/2026

🌳 Trees do more than beautify our communities. They provide critical habitat for birds and wildlife, improve air and water quality, reduce urban heat, and help build climate resilience.

Join Audubon Upper Mississippi River at the Urban Tree Summit on October 1 to explore how urban forests can support both people and nature. Our Director of Conservation, Dale Gentry, Ph.D., will be speaking about the role trees and healthy ecosystems play in conserving birds and strengthening communities across the Upper Mississippi River region.

We're excited to join climate resilience expert Jessica Spanswick and other Summit participants for this important conversation about the future of our urban forests.

Learn more and register today (no cost): https://www.tickettailor.com/events/greencitiesaccord/2325514

Urban Tree Summit – PAIKKA, Thu Oct 1, 2026 - Extreme heat, poor air quality, and a changing climate are creating real challenges for our communities. Urban trees are one of our most powerful tools to fight back. They cool our neighborhoods, clean the air, capture carbon and provide shelter for th...

08/31/2026

ACT NOW: The Roadless Rule protects habitat such as public forest land around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota and areas within the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri.

44 million acres of national forests are at risk, and we have less than a month to speak up for them. The Roadless Rule bans industrial logging and most roadbuilding within designated intact areas of our public forests like the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. Many bird species, including Bald Eagles and Western Tanagers, rely on these protected places. Now, the U.S. Forest Service is considering repealing the Roadless Rule. ACT NOW: join us in urging the Forest Service to uphold protections for roadless areas. https://bit.ly/4c94wqX

08/27/2026

Audubon Upper Mississippi River and the Minnesota Zoo have partnered to install a new Motus Wildlife Tracking System tower on the roof of Two Harbors High School. This tower will help researchers track the movements of migratory birds and better understand how they use habitats across Minnesota and beyond.

By joining the Motus network, this new station will contribute valuable data that supports science-based conservation and helps protect birds throughout their annual journeys.

A special thank you to the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) for making this work possible. Together, we are expanding our ability to learn from and conserve the birds that connect communities across North America.

08/13/2026

07/30/2026

🦇✨ Not all migration heroes have feathers!

Meet this American Hoary Bat, a tiny traveler carrying a Motus tag that allowed researchers to follow its incredible journey from California in September of 2025 across the Southwest, into Texas, and finally to Minnesota. Along the way, it was detected by five different MN Motus stations, helping us piece together a story that would otherwise remain hidden in the night sky.

Every detection is a reminder of the power of the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. A network of automated radio telemetry stations across the continent is helping scientists track the movements of birds, bats, butterflies, and other wildlife, revealing migration routes, stopover sites, and habitat needs that are critical for conservation.

Now, we know what some of you are thinking…"isn't Audubon supposed to be about birds?"

Well, technically yes, but bats are the only mammals capable of true flight, which feels close enough to honorary bird status for us!

We're proud to partner with the Minnesota Zoo to grow the Motus network across Minnesota, helping uncover the remarkable journeys of wildlife large and small, feathered and furred alike.

Because whether it's a warbler crossing continents or a hoary bat cruising through the night, every migration story matters.

07/16/2026

Audubon Conservation Ranching is growing in more than our region. Check out the good news from Montana!

In Montana, there are 516,980 acres of Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land spread across 28 ranches. As of last month, that total now includes four ranches managed by Old Salt Co-Op which meet strict standards for habitat management, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare, all verified through third-party audits—great news for species like the Chestnut-collared Longspur.

07/13/2026

🐦 Where has this Spotted Sandpiper been?

Thanks to a recent detection at our Motus tower at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, we can take a remarkable glimpse into this bird's migration journey.

The map below shows the movements of a Spotted Sandpiper that was tagged in Colombia and later detected by the Motus tower installed through a partnership between Audubon Upper Mississippi River and the Minnesota Zoo. The bird's route connects wetlands, rivers, and coastlines across thousands of miles, demonstrating just how interconnected bird conservation is across the Western Hemisphere.

Motus is an international wildlife tracking network that uses automated radio telemetry stations to detect tiny tags carried by birds, bats, and insects. Every time a tagged animal passes within range of a tower, it leaves behind another clue about where it traveled, when it migrated, and which habitats it depends on along the way.

The growing Motus network in Minnesota is helping researchers answer important conservation questions:

✅ Where do birds stop during migration?
✅ Which habitats are most important for migratory species?
✅ How are migration patterns changing over time?

Each new tower expands our ability to understand and protect migratory birds. This single detection at Agassiz NWR connects Minnesota to an international conservation story stretching from northern South America to the Canadian boreal forest.

Pretty amazing what we can learn from one small shorebird! 🌎✨



This project is funded by Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

07/09/2026

🎨🐦 450 Young Conservationists Help Bring Birds to Life in Hopkins!

We're thrilled to celebrate an inspiring conservation and arts collaboration at Alice Smith Elementary School in Hopkins.

This spring, the school's entire student body, approximately 450 students in grades K–5, participated in creating four large-scale murals featuring vulnerable Minnesota birds: the Henslow's Sparrow, Cerulean Warbler, Northern Goshawk, and Boreal Owl. Every student had a voice in the project by helping select the bird species and contributing a painted square to the finished murals.

The project began with a presentation from the Minnesota DNR about bird vulnerability and evolved into a school-wide learning experience, with students exploring bird conservation through art and education. The completed murals were unveiled during the school's annual art show and will soon be displayed on the exterior of the school.

By connecting creativity, community, and conservation, these students are helping raise awareness about birds that need our attention—and inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders.

👏 Congratulations to the students, teachers, families, and partners who made this project possible!