Lake Superior State University and Center for Freshwater Research and Education

Lake Superior State University has a fairly small campus situated on a high ridge overlooking the St Mary's River. The ridge acts as a funnel for migrating songbirds, and such main campus can be a spring migration hotspot! Take a walk through campus and be on the lookout for a variety of warblers and sparrows that can be seen in the spring and fall. 

The trees scattered around campus and the small patch of woods to the east of the Center for Applied Science and Engineering Technology (CAS Hall) can be loaded with warblers. Upwards of 6 adult Blackpoll warblers were once seen together in a single tree here. The small patch of woods just north of the LSSU Arts Center is another good place to check. 

Thrushes, warblers, vireos and tanagers can all be found in these woods in large numbers after good migration nights in spring and fall. Other interesting rarities have been found roosting in the trees on campus such as long-eared owl and northern saw-whet owls. Bohemian waxwings can be spotted feeding on the many fruiting trees in late fall and throughout winter months. Other species found in migration include ruby crowned kinglet, blackburnian, palm and Nashville warblers, American redstart, savannah and Lincoln's sparrows, and white winged crossbill resting on campus trees. 

A second LSSU site is the Center for Freshwater Research and education. This recently built research center has a public visitors center called the Discovery Center. From in here you can see amazing views of the St Mary's River. In all 4 seasons you can view several bald eagles from here fishing and resting on the power plant. In the spring, summer and fall expect to see foraging common and Caspian terns, Common merganser and many other waterfowl. 

You might also see some wayward migrants resting in the native plant gardens around the building. In the winter, waterfowl numbers really increase and become concentrated in the open water around the adjacent powerplant. Hooded mergansers, common goldeneye, and many other waterfowl can be seen from here. In some years lucky individuals can pick out rarities in the winter months here. 

Past rarities include gyrfalcon, Barrows goldeneye, harlequin duck and the states only record of yellow-billed loon. Bohemian Waxwings and Pine grosbeaks can also be found foraging on the fruit trees along the entrance drive.