Bird Paradise - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Bird Paradise

   It was built as a flood control project. But, it's turned into heaven for birds and those who like to watch them.

  Welcome to the newest member of the "Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail". It's the Agassiz Flood Control Project near Warren, Minnesota.

Nick Drees, Watershed Manager: "Which is upstream of the City of Warren, which helps protect the cities of Warren and Alvarado. But, it's become kind of a wildlife Mecca, especially for bird watchers."

  Eagles now soar and thousands of birds now gather at this spot originally designed to protect nearby sites from the Snake River.

  Massive dikes that can hold back water during heavy runoff, provide a bird paradise that includes four square miles.

Heidi Hughes, Agassiz Audubon Society: "Oh, we've got ducks and geese… we actually had tundra swans. Raptors, owls, song birds, you name it… even some of the rare and birds of diminishing numbers. It's really a bird watchers heaven."

  And big time bird watchers are starting to take notice. Once of the largest bird watching groups in Minnesota, from Minneapolis spent last weekend here.

Heidi Hughes: "Bird watching is a great economic generator. People who want to watch birds have to come and eat. They have to stay overnight.  We're far enough away that people will stay overnight. They don't want a 1 day trip. They'll spend a weekend or 3 or 4 days out here.

   The area has very easy access for people of all ages who enjoy bird watching. You can simply watch from your vehicle, by driving along a gravel road on top of the dike that encircles it.

  It's just 8 miles east of Warren, Minnesota on Highway One.