Sites in Minnesota are identified by a technical committee made up of ornithologists and bird conservationists from around the state. They collectively represent a broad range of government and non-government organizations. After reviewing bird population and distribution data, habitat quality, and site threats, those areas that are the most important to Minnesota's breeding, wintering, or migrating birds are identified as IBAs.

The refuge supports an abundance of bird species of conservation concern, including: bitterns, northern harriers, marbled godwits, wilson's phalarope, grasshopper and LeConte's sparrows, prairie chickens, and bobolinks.

Hamden Slough Refuge was established in 1989, after multiple state and federal agencies noted the loss of wildlife abundance in the historic Hamden Lake area. Refuge Manager Mike Murphy stated that upland and wetland restoration began in 1991, and the response by prairie species, shorebirds and waterfowl has been explosive. Murphy noted that the refuge has again become a "hot spot" for regional birder watchers. The area had been visited in 1871 by John James Audubon's niece, who had heard about the abundant wildlife area. Accompaning her was the Minnesota governor and a survey party of 20. Audubon's niece was so impressed with the abundance and diversity of bird species that she asked the governor to name a recently monumented township for her uncle. Today, Hamden Slough refuge is located in Audubon Township, one mile northeast of the City of Audubon, Minn.

To qualify for IBA status, an area must qualify in at least one of four bird abundance catagories. This includes: 1) significant concentrations of breeding or migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, marsh birds or raptors; 2) a concentration of endangered, threatened or species of special concern; 3) rare, threatened or unique habitat; or 4) long-term research or monitoring value. Murphy stated that the refuge staff and volunteers were delighted that the refuge qualified in three of the four catagories. He noted that the dedicated refuge staff, volunteers, youth groups and Sentence-To-Serve inmates had made a major difference for wildlife in western Minnesota.