The 664-acre McGregor Marsh Wildlife Management Area contains formerly commercial Wild Rice beds. Grass and brush dominate the low ground on this unit. The Sandy River runs through the southern portion of the unit. The east side of the unit joins the Grayling WMA.

This WMA offers good opportunities to see Coyote, Red Fox, Mink and Muskrat. Look for waterfowl, especially Ring-necked Duck and Sandhill Crane in the spring. Tundra Swan congregate here in spring and fall migrations. Look for Sora, Virginia Rail and listen for Yellow Rail in the sedge wetlands. Other wetland birds such as Sedge Wren, Swamp Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird are common here.

Management emphasis for this WMA is on deer, waterfowl and open land species such as Sharp-tailed Grouse and Sandhill Crane. A railroad runs through the southeast corner of unit. There are no developed facilities on this unit.

Directions: From McGregor go 1.3 miles north on State Highway 65, the WMA lies on both sides of the highway. There is a small parking area on the east side of State Highway 65.

Contact Information: Minnesota DNR, Area Wildlife Office, 1200 Minnesota Ave S, Aitkin, MN 56431, Phone: 218-927-6915.

McGregor Marsh Scientific and Natural Area is an extensive 400-acre marshland in the former bed of Glacial Lake Aitkin, containing the very specific habitat requirements of the rare Yellow Rail and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow. The best times to visit this site are in early summer, when the songs of territorial birds reveal their locations; listen at dusk until after dark for the calls of these elusive birds.

The McGregor Marsh SNA is part of the designated McGregor Important Bird Area. This large (67,175 acres) area visited by birders from all over the world is one of the most reliable sites for hearing and seeing Yellow Rail in the county. Centered at the Rice Lake NWR, the McGregor IBA includes federal, state, county and some private land. State lands include the Kimberly WMA, McGregor Marsh SNA, Grayling WMA and McGregor Marsh WMA, plus county lands and the City of McGregor.

Any of the open, wet, marshy grasslands surrounding the City of McGregor are potential habitat for the Yellow Rail. Listen for them south of McGregor along State Highway 65, both on the east and west side of the highway for about 2.5 miles. In early spring, they may also call near the junction of State Highway 65 and State Highway 210 on the northwest corner of town. To find Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow, listen along State Highway 65 or by walking the Soo Line Trail from State Highway 65 either east or west towards McGregor. Other birds of interest here include Sharp-tailed Grouse, American Bittern, Le Conte’s Sparrow and Sedge Wren.

This is not an easy place to hike, although birders for years have ventured into the