New International Birding Trail

NEWS ALERT May 8, 2009 What: Minnesota and Manitoba tourism and wildlife officials dedicate the joining of a new international birding trail 500 miles long. (See attached news release for further detail.) When: Tuesday, May 19th, 1:00 p.m. Where: The dedication ceremony will be held at the MN/Manitoba border at the crossing north of Roseau, Minnesota on Highway 310. Media and guests are invited after the dedication to the City Center in Roseau for brief messages by dignitaries and a reception. Photo Opp: Dignitaries will participate in a ribbon tying ceremony (instead of a ribbon cutting ceremony) to represent the formation of this new international partnership. A motorcoach of birders and officials from Minnesota's Pine to Prairie Birding Trail begins in Fergus Falls at 8 a.m. and picks up guests along the route, concluding with the 1 p.m. celebration. Media are invited to ride along as guests. Please let us know by May 13th if you would like to ride the bus. Because the ceremony is being conducted on an international border attendees are reminded that: Participants arriving from Canada should proceed through U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection before parking for the event. Current documentary requirements are a minimum of government issued photo identification and a birth certificate, or just a passport. No personal or media photographs of vehicles being inspected due to right of privacy is allowed. Press representatives should wear visible identification on outside of clothing. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative information will be available from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Contact: Jean Bowman, Fergus Falls CVB 800-726-8959 218-205-1251 http://www.mnbirdtrail.com/ ___________________

News Release: May 8, 2009 (background to media advisory attached)

Minnesota and Manitoba partner to Create International Birding

The state of Minnesota and the province of Manitoba have formed a novel partnership to create the newest international birding trail in North America. The combined trail is 500-miles long and extends from west central Minnesota northward through Winnipeg to Hecla Island in the Interlake region of Manitoba. The 300-mile Canadian portion of the trail connects in the US near Warroad, Roseau and Lancaster to Minnesota's Pine to Prairie Birding Trail, a 200-mile long trail with 45 outstanding wildlife viewing sites.

The new Minnesota/Manitoba birding trail provides a unique opportunity to promote and encourage tourism among Americans, Canadians and International visitors in this ecologically rich region of vast lakes, wetlands, aspen parklands, boreal forest, and prairies. Birds do not recognize political borders and are an ideal symbol of the landscape scale of conservation necessary to preserve healthy ecosystems. Wildlife biologists and tourism officials from Manitoba have worked for the past two years to bring the trail partnership to life.

From the border connection, Minnesota's Pine to Prairie Birding Trail travels south from Warroad to Roseau, then along U.S. Highway 59 through Thief River Falls, Detroit Lakes, Pelican Rapids and Fergus Falls. The trail provides wildlife tourism opportunities where public lands are identified for their exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. Sites include the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area, Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area, and Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.

Manitoba's Pine to Prairie Birding Trail travels northward from the border to 30 sites including the Prairie Shore Interpretive Trail in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Grand Beach Provincial Park, Rainbow Falls, Whiteshell Provincial Park, Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Moose Lake Provincial Park, the world-famous Narcisse Snake Dens, and the Black Wolf Hiking Trail on Hecla Island Provincial Park in Lake Winnipeg.

Birding sites in both countries allow people to observe birds and provide and opportunity to connect with the natural resources essential for strong bird populations. Wildlife in this region includes some of the most "sought-after" birds in North America including the LeConte's sparrow, Henslow's sparrow, Connecticut warbler, chestnut-collared longspur, marbled godwit, great gray owl, northern hawkowl, and piping plover. Other species that can be seen along the birding trail include sandhill cranes, black bears, timber wolves, American white pelicans, hawks, owls, ducks, gulls, terns, and many species of songbirds.

Cleone Stewart of the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce has seen the Pine-to-Prairie Birding Trail become a nationally known destination for nature enthusiasts over the past ten years. "This new partnership with Manitoba promises to increase the appeal of the entire region as an international nature tourism destination and the benefits that accompany both industries," according to Stewart.

Carrol Henderson, Nongame Wildlife Program Supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, has been collaborating with officials for two years to see the combined trail project come to fruition. "I am pleased to see this idea develop into the newest international birding trail in North America," said Henderson. "It is the beginning of great opportunities for both countries."

Minnesota's Pine to Prairie Birding Trail was established in 1998, and is a collaborative effort of tourism agencies (in Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids, Roseau, Thief River Falls and Warroad), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Explore Minnesota Tourism, Lakes Area Birding Club and the Minnesota Ornithologists Union.

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