Meadowlark at Blue Mounds

Oil on Panel - 4 x 4 inches

     Of all the birds in the world, the Western Meadowlark might rank near the top to qualify for a new name, for it is not a lark. It’s a member of the Icterinae subfamily, i.e. blackbirds. 

     This well-known grassland bird is the state bird of six states: Kansas, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, North Dakota and Nebraska. In Minnesota, good opportunities to see this bird can be found in the tallgrass prairie biome in the western and southwestern parts of the state. Of all the biomes in Minnesota (tallgrass prairie, tallgrass aspen parkland, hardwood forests and pine forests), the prairie is my favorite. 

     Each year, I make a point to visit the prairie, usually somewhere I’ve never been before. This year’s visit included Buffalo River State Park (25 mi east of Fargo) and surrounding areas.

     With less than 1% of Minnesota’s native prairie still in existence, prospects for the Western Meadowlark and other grassland birds to remain in the state are concerning, but efforts have begun to preserve and restore this important habitat. Grassland birds are declining faster than any other group of birds.

     Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge in Polk County is the largest prairie and wetland restoration project in Minnesota and the United States. Initiated by The Nature Conservancy in 2000, it has made significant progress to bring back a small piece of this vanishing habitat. More than 24,000 acres were purchased by the Conservancy and most of the land has been restored to prairie and wetlands.

     I’m guessing it can’t be easy to restore a prairie, let alone thousands of acres of it. Planting one plant without unwanted plants popping up here, there, and everywhere is a challenge, just ask any gardener or landscaper.

     Together with The Nature Conservancy and other conservation groups, the DNR, and private landowners, along with changes to farming methods such as the use of regenerative grazing, hope is not lost, but the task still seems monumental. Reversing course before the birds run out of habitat and leave the state altogether matters.

     Many written descriptions about Western Meadowlarks mention their bubbly, complex and attractive song. I would agree, it’s quite pleasant and can even be found as a ringtone for cellphones – not that you can’t find a ringtone for the American Bittern whose song is, well, from another planet. When singing, Western Meadowlarks are often perched high on wires, trees, or shrubs, making them easy to spot. 

     For me, there’s something particularly special about the prairie. Bobolinks, meadowlarks, and sparrows are a big draw, of course, but overall, it’s the feeling that I get when spending time in a prairie. There’s just nothing like it. 

     Reference photos for my oil painting were taken at Blue Mounds State Park during the spring of 2021 when this Meadowlark was singing on top of a newly, leafed-out, bur oak.

     Below is my recording of a Western Meadowlark from Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area, Clay County, MN on May 31, 2025.

     Stay wild, my friends.

References

 

Breining, G. (Autumn, 2023). Battling a green glacier. Living Bird, 42(4), 28-40. 

Goetzman, K. (2018, July-Aug). Go Great Grasslands. Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, 81(479), 2.

Harrison, K. & Harrison, G. (1983). America’s favorite backyard birds. Simon & Schuster. 

Janssen, R. B. (2015). Birds of Minnesota State Parks. State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources. 

Minetor, R. (June, 2022). The grassland conundrum. Birding, 54(4), 34-43. 

Nature Conservancy, The. (2025, July 22). Glacial Ridge project. https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/glacial-ridge-project/ 

Smith, M. & Devokaitis, M. (Spring, 2023). What if the state birds were determined by data? Living Bird, 42(2), 35. 

Wildtones. (2025, July 22). Western Meadowlark bird call iPhone ringtone. https://www.wildtones.com/iphone-ringtones/western-meadowlark-bird-call-iphone-ringtone/

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