Olson Park in Worthington MN is a really great place for birding. It’s right on Lake Okabena and there is a smaller pond as well that usually has tons of ducks and geese right next to the dog park. The surrounding wooded areas also make for a lot of different bird species. Today is the first day of Spring, and it showed! There were so many birds out today and I had such a great time watching and photographing.
Male wood ducks are among the most colorful North American waterfowl, with iridescent green, purple, and bronze feathers, striking red eyes, and bold white stripes on their faces and necks.
Female mallards are mottled brown with orange and black bills — their subtle, earthy coloration helps them blend in perfectly while nesting, protecting them and their eggs from predators.
Wood Duck, Mallard
The male Red-winged Blackbird call is not just for show. Each male has a unique variation of the song, which helps females recognize individuals and also signals dominance to rivals.
The song of the rusty blackbird is quite unique and often described as gurgling, creaky, and rusty-hinge-like, almost as if you’re hearing a rusty door slowly opening.
Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
The American Robins’ return north and the start of their singing is considered a classic sign of spring in many parts of North America.
Cedar waxwings are among the most frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds in North America, and can survive almost entirely on berries.
American Robbin, Cedar Waxwing
Male Downy Woodpeckers tend to forage on smaller branches and twigs, while females are more often found on larger trunks and thicker branches to reduce competition.
Blue Jays are part of the corvid family (alongside crows and ravens), known for high intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and complex social behavior.
Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay
