Mississippi Park Connection and the National Park Service Present “Welcome Back the Herons” on March 30

An Annual Celebration of Migratory Wildlife’s Return to Minnesota

As the snow melts and the days grow longer, it's time to welcome back our beloved herons, cormorants, and egrets to their summer sanctuary in Minnesota! After their arduous migratory journey along the Mississippi River, these majestic birds are returning to mark the onset of spring and a season of renewal.

To celebrate this joyous occasion, Mississippi Park Connection and the National Park Service invite you to join them for the annual Welcome Back the Herons event, a festive celebration that brings hundreds of curious people to the rookery to celebrate nature's resilience and beauty. Explore the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - your national park! This event promises an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts of all ages.

Highlights of the event include:

Birdwatching: Take a leisurely walk to the heron rookery and witness these magnificent birds in action as they build their nests for the breeding season. Get up close and watch our feathered friends as they return to their nesting grounds along the Mississippi River. Experienced birdwatchers will be on hand to guide you through the diverse avian species that call this area home.

Educational Talks: Learn about the incredible journey of these migratory birds through engaging and informative talks led by birding experts and National Park Service park rangers.

S'mores and Bonfire: Experience the joy of bird watching along the Mississippi River while indulging in s'mores around a cozy bonfire. 

“It wasn’t so long ago that a Great Blue Heron was an uncommon sight. Over the last century, their population suffered – first from feather collectors who sought their elegant plumes, then from water pollution and the toxic effects of DDT. Now the herons have returned – tall, stately, elegant birds strutting along the riverbanks. Now they arrive each spring and congregate in great numbers in rookeries along the Mississippi River. They remind us that in the last decades our river has returned too. It now offers a bounty of food – and year after year the herons return to harvest it. At this event, hundreds can be seen in the treetops as they court each other, tend to their young, and lay the groundwork for the coming generations. They remind us how far we’ve come, and show that it’s never too late to begin again.” - Will Mathews, National Park Service 

Whether you're a seasoned birdwatcher, a nature enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the natural world, this event offers something for everyone. Come together with fellow community members to celebrate the return of the herons and embrace the spirit of conservation and stewardship.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, March 30

Time: Drop in anytime between 11 AM - 1 PM 

Location: Marshall Terrace Park, 2740 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Admission: Free

For more information and to RSVP, please visit parkconnection.org/events or contact Mississippi Park Connection at 651-291-8164 or info@parkconnection.org.