Rescuing the Rookery: Fergus Falls birders work to save the city's unique attraction

NEWS - Rescuing the Rookery 

By Veronica Marshall | 

Posted: Mon 6:42 PM, Jul 15, 2019  | 

Updated: Mon 7:07 PM, Jul 15, 2019

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (Valley News Live) - For Wayne Perala - birding is a labor of love that has lasted for years.

"I've been birding non-stop probably for six years, but I think most people know I bird almost in all of my free time. So I work and bird and that's what I do," the avid birder says. "It's the most rewarding hobby I've ever picked up. It's so fulfilling – you're not taking anything from the environment, all you're doing is observing. And it's the chase of finding a lot of birds and photographing birds and finding rare birds – it's extremely satisfying."

Perala visits Fergus Falls' bird sanctuary at Adams Park often - and his passion is matched by others all over the country.

"From the state of Minnesota – the western side of the state is viewed as we get all of the good birds. So there's a lot of trips where people come from the cities out to this side of the state in order to catch a glimpse of some of the rare birds found out here," he says. "We bring busloads of people down here to view the birds up close. It's always a popular destination."

And it isn't just the birders who benefit.

"This rookery draws visitors in from all over – bird watchers and tourists come here to see them. It's an asset to our city," says Molly Stoddard, the Instructional Systems Specialist at U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Prairie Wetlands Learning Center. "I'm just glad this rookery is here. It's so different, it's so unique. And it's a great opportunity for people to watch wildlife."

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