See Map Long known among serious birders as THE place to find northern owls and other boreal birds, the Sax-Zim Bog IBA is home to a unique array of species and habitats not found in other parts of the United States. The Sax Zim Bog has a bird list of over 240 species including northern rarities such as Great Gray Owl, Boreal Owl and Northern Hawk-Owl. Over 450 Great Grays were counted in one weekend in January 2005.

The Sax Zim Bog IBA, located in St. Louis County, approximately 3 hours north of the Minneapolis/St Paul metro area, and 1 hr. west/northwest of Duluth. From the Twin Cities, take I-35 north to Hwy 33 into Cloquet, and then north on Hwy. 53. From Duluth, take Hwy 53 north. This area includes a mixture of State, County and private land including the Cloquet Valley and the Whiteface River State Forests and Sax and Zim Wildlife Management Areas. Nichols, Murphy and Artichoke Lakes, as well as many others are located throughout the IBA. The Whiteface River bisects the IBA, and the St Louis River makes up part of the northern border of the site.

The Sax Zim Bog¡¦s unique combinations of many diverse boreal forest habitats make it an ideal choice for birds, both migrants and breeding species. There is a mix of lowland spruce, tamarack, and northern white cedar bog with Norway pine, white spruce, aspen, birch, balsam, and jack pine found in the upland. Level to gently rolling topography is characteristic of this region. There are stemless lady¡¦s slippers and other species of bog vegetation such as sundew, pitcher plant, leatherleaf, and bog birch. Other wildlife native to the Sax-Zim area includes black bear, moose, beaver, deer, pine martens and timber wolves.

There are currently hiking trails in McDavitt Township Park. The Minnesota Ornithologists¡¦ Union is arranging for a six car parking area to be set up near the land they are leasing at the SW corner of section 21 in T.54.

The Sax Zim Bog has a bird list that includes over 240 species, and is nationally known a great place to see northern owls such as the Great Gray Owl, Boreal Owl and Northern Hawk Owl in the fall and winter months. Over 450 Great Gray Owls were counted in a weekend in January 2005. Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Bald Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks are also founds and summer months bring Wilson¡¦s Snipe, and several species of flycatchers, including Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and Alder Flycatchers. Warblers are in abundance and include Connecticut, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Cape May, Canada, Blackburnian, Palm, and Black-and-White Warblers. Lincoln¡¦s Sparrow, Pine Grosbeak, Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay, Northern Waterthrush, Sedge Wren, Black-billed Cuckoo, Northern Shrike, Sandhill Cranes, White-winged Crossbill, and LeConte¡¦s Sparrow have also been recorded. A remnant population of Black-billed Magpies can be seen year round, and may be one of the most eastern populations in the United States. The A.B.A. consistently ranks the Yellow Rail in the Top Ten Birds people most want to see, and there are four records of nesting Yellow Rails since 1993.