A Birder's Guide to the Rainy River Area
Dave Elder of Atikokan, Ontario has written a comprehensive guide to birding in the Rainy River District, complete with bird list, maps and other helpful information.
Birding in the Rainy River District District
Birding in the Rainy River District The Rainy River itself, the lakes and waterways of the region plus the mix of northern, southern and prairie natural environments -- from northern spruce
and jackpine to southern hardwoods such as elm, ash and basswood - create a range of habitat for diverse species of birds. Pelicans return again and again to permanent nesting grounds; bald eagles, sharp-tailed grouse, pileated woodpeckers, sandhill cranes and Snowy Owls can be seen, along with occasional sightings of scarlet tanagers and Baltimore Orioles as well as prairie species such as western medowlarks and yellow-headed blackbirds.
Thanks to mixed decidious shoreline, wetlands, oak ridges and open agricultual fields, spring and fall migrations of almost 300 bird species can be enjoyed. Just 18 km northwest of town at the mouth of the Rainy River is the world-renowned Sable Island, home to a permanent breeding population of the endangered piping plover. The rare Connecticut Warbler also breeds in the region - truly a birders paradise.
I welcome you to browse through our birding site to see in detail the many birding areas available including detailed maps of each.
Click on image labels above for further information on Town of Rainy River, Chamber of Commerce, and search our web site, or call the town office at 807-852-1342.
With any degree of luck and cooperation from both the weather and the birds, you will have good looks at most of the special birds of the Rainy River area and good chances of seeing what you want. Not every road, field and woodlot has been described and exploration on your own could turn up almost anything.