East Grand Forks Sewage Lagoons

Access:
When going east over the Kennedy Bridge on US 2 (Gateway Drive), take the first ramp and then turn left on River Road NW. Follow this road through the residential area, across Valley Golf Course, to the section road one-half mile ahead. The southeast corner of the sewage lagoons is to the northwest.

Bald Eagles

Before surveying the ponds, note the cottonwood grove to the right where a pair of Bald Eagles has nested for several years. The nest is almost over the road going east.

There are two lagoons with the second, smaller lagoon located about a half-mile farther down the road. Although the thought of birding the lagoons may be off-putting to many people, birds obviously have no such qualms. Over the course of the year, every waterfowl species that occurs regularly in this region likely can be seen here.

Hooded Merganser

It is an excellent place to see broods of Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser, perhaps they nest in the woodland to the west of the lagoons. The north lagoon can be covered with ducks for days following spring melt. The ponds also draw terns and gulls in large numbers during migration. Grebes are also attracted and, by mid-summer, dozens of Eared Grebes nest on floating platforms built from submergent vegetation.

Eared Grebe

A variety of shorebirds occur here including nesting Spotted Sandpipers. Several species use the dike for loafing, and both Wilson Phalaropes and Red-necked Phalaropes may be seen spinning on the surface waters, especially during spring and fall migration. Up to six species of swallows patrol the airspace above the ponds where they feed on insects. Numbers can reach the many thousands.

Spotted Sandpiper

Wilson's Phalarope

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