Episode 34

full
Published on:

4th Aug 2026

Why are Three Specific Bird Species the Focus of Conservation in Minnesota?

Emilia Skogen fell in love with birds at a young age and has been working with them ever since. In today's episode, I talk with her about why she's specifically working with three bird species in Minnesota and what conservation for them looks like through forestry management. Emilia is a Minnesota Public Lands Conservation Forester with the American Bird Conservancy.

RESOURCES

https://abcbirds.org/

https://abcbirds.org/ways-to-give/

https://abcbirds.org/get-involved/


Outdoor Heritage Fund work - Details about the three bird species Emilia works with, where the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) works, and how many acres of habitat ABC has worked with partner agencies to manage for birds so far.

https://abcbirds.org/where-we-work/north-america/great-lakes-ohf-grants/


FREE FORESTRY FOR MINNESOTA BIRDS GUIDE

https://www.birds.cornell.edu/landtrust/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ForestryForMNBirdsGuidebook.pdf


EMILIA SKOGEN CONTACT INFORMATION

Fee free to email or call Emilia if they'd like more information on any topics, or want to connect with ABC's private lands foresters on managing their land for birds and other wildlife: eskogen@abcbirds.org / (612) 439-2011

Contact Emilia for any information about ball cactus.


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

WI DNR MOSS (managed old-growth silvicultural study)

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/research/moss


Audubon MN secretive marsh bird surveys

https://www.audubon.org/umr/projects/monitoring-secretive-marsh-birds-minnesota

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Global Grit Experience

About the Podcast

The Global Grit Experience
Stories of inspiring people with grit protecting nature, wildlife and the outdoor places we love.
The Global Grit Experience is a podcast featuring inspiring people with grit - passion, perseverance and an unwavering dedication in protecting, and loving, nature and wildlife. Whoop! Whoop! Host Erika Gilsdorf (that’s me!) is an international, award-winning video producer, who leaves the camera behind (for the most part) to let conversations breathe authentically in a podcast that spans diverse guests and topics. I include mental health guests, too who help us cope with all the crap and find joy amidst all the junk happening to our outdoors. Uffda…it’s a lot! (I’m a Minnesotan if you can't tell). Most importantly, this is a podcast about inspiration, hope, action, and connection. We have each other my friends!

About your host

Profile picture for Erika Gilsdorf

Erika Gilsdorf

Hi! Thanks for being here! I’m Erika, the Global Grit Experience podcast creator and host. Though the podcast format is fairly new to me, I’ve been sharing stories close to 20 years in Minnesota, the U.S. and around the world. Some of those I’ve worked with include The Minnesota Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, General Mills, United Airlines, and National Geographic. I’m an outdoor enthusiast, adventurer, and climate and nature activist. I chose ‘grit’ because everything worth pursuing takes grit - passion, perseverance, courage, curiosity, hope and an unwavering determination to protect. Nature deserves a bit of our grit. Thanks for giving some of your grit for the love of nature.