Unlike most counties around Minnesota, Aitkin County is a superb birding destination all months of the year. Spring brings huge numbers of waterfowl to Mille Lacs Lake, Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the various wild rice paddies around the county. Sharp-tailed Grouse are performing their manic displays, Barred, Great Horned, Great Gray and Saw-whet Owls call on still nights and Pileated and Black-backed Woodpeckers drum from treetop perches.

 As spring ends and summer begins, an impressive list of songbirds return to their breeding territories. Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Blue-headed Vireo, Boreal Chickadee, Winter Wren, Sedge Wren, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, a long list of warblers capped by Golden-winged, Blackburnian, Connecticut and Mourning (26 species occur in the county each year, 20 of them stay to breed!), Scarlet Tanager and LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows are but a few examples.

Highlighting autumn are the staggering numbers of waterfowl staging on the larger lakes of the county. Rice Lake NWR hosts a large percentage of the world’s Ring-necked Ducks for an all-you-can-eat buffet. Mille Lacs Lake, one of the best lakes in the state to view waterbirds, collects Common Loons as they congregate in groups that regularly number in the hundreds each fall (on October 18, 2006 there were a record 2,729!). Searching through the hundreds of Common Loons can be a bit of a treasure hunt as they have been joined by rarities such as Red-throated, Pacific and Yellow-billed Loons.

The cold temperatures of winter do little to slow the birding activity in Aitkin County. Indeed, it may the most popular season for birders from out of state, as winter is the best season to search for owls. Resident Great Gray Owls have their numbers increased by wintering Great Grays from Canada making them easier to find. During most winters, varying numbers of Snowy and Northern Hawk Owls join the Great Grays to form a northern owl trifecta. On special occasions, Boreal Owls make their presence known. The group of birds collectively known as ‘winter finches’, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Common and Hoary Redpolls and Red and White-winged Crossbills, bring color and whirling flocks to bird feeders and woodlands around the county. Not to be forgotten are the other northern specialties that visit Aitkin County like Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Shrike and Bohemian Waxwing.

Weather in Aitkin County can change quickly. The often heard comment, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes!” certainly rings true. Spring and summer thunderstorms can turn nasty and, given the proper conditions, turn dirt roadways into an adventure all their own. Winter can bring numbing cold and deep snow. Dress accordingly and carry a winter survival kit for safety.

 Mosquitoes, ticks & biting insects are a spring and summer annoyance or vicious pest, depending upon your luck. Insect repellent can be helpful. Wood and Deer Ticks are likely to be found if you visit any area with thick grass or brush. The smaller Deer Ticks can host Lyme’s disease, so a careful check for the tiny ticks after walking through grasslands and woods is recommended.

 Poison ivy grows throughout the county, especially along rivers and lakeshores. Remember the adage: Berries white, poisonous sight, leaves of three, leave it be.

County roads are generally in good driving condition year round. However, if you are visiting Aitkin County during late fall, winter or early spring you should be prepared for hazardous (i.e. mud, snow or ice) driving. Dirt roads over boggy terrain have frost boils in the spring and shady roadways that receive little sunlight during the winter months can remain ice covered. It is a good practice to carry a winter ‘survival kit’ (extra clothes, blanket, food and water), shovel and tow rope. A cell phone, don’t assume you can get a signal from everywhere in the county, can be a great help if you have car problems or become stuck in the ditch.

 Forest roads may be gated or posted closed due to poor driving conditions. You won’t have to use your discretion to determine if you can make it through—they’ll be closed. Forest Roads are NOT plowed in the winter unless there is logging activity, then caution for logging trucks and equipment is required. Give the loaded trucks the right of way and use caution, as these narrow roads do not have shoulders. They are open to all motor vehicle traffic unless posted otherwise. They are widely used by snowmobiles and ATV’s. Minimum maintenance roads should always be treated as ‘driving at your own risk’…because you are!

As one would expect in a county with this much public land, hunting season brings a new set of conditions of which to be aware. Hunters often use Forest Roads, trails and roadways in the fall. When hiking off the road it is always advisable to wear blaze orange and be aware that you may not be alone in the woods. Follow the guidelines provided by the MN DNR for safety considerations.