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2010 Minnesota Birding Festivals, Field Trips & Meetings
                            (also see additional trip information at bottom) 		Compiled by
 Bob Ekblad 

February 2010
S M T W T F S
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7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 - - - - - -
Project FeederWatch  (ongoing through April 3rd)
 
  • Participants count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders each week and send the information to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
  • To learn more and to sign up, visit www.feederwatch.org or call the Lab toll-free at (800) 843-2473. In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Lab members) participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds in their area, a calendar, complete instructions, and the FeederWatch annual report, Winter Bird Highlights.
February 12-13-14 - Sax-Zim Winter Bird Festival
 
  • Sponsored by and headquartered out of the community of Meadowlands.
  • There will be catered home style cooking dinner events on both Friday and Saturday nights with Al Batt and Kim Risen as featured speakers.
  • Field trips will concentrate on finding birds like Sharp-tailed Grouse, Great Gray Owls, Northern Hawks Owls, Boreal Chickadees, Black-backed & Northern Three-toed Woodpeckers, Gray Jays, Common & Hoary Redpolls, White-winged & Red Crossbills, and Pine & Evening Grosbeaks.
  • A photography workshop will also be held on Saturday, led by Sparky Stensaas and Shawn Zierman.
  • For a registration form and additional information check out the Sax-Zim Bog website.
February 12-13-14-15 - Great Backyard Bird Count
 
  • Sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with support from Wild Birds Unlimited
  • Held right in your own back yard (or any place you happen to be).
  • Enter your bird count checklists online at http://www.birdcount.org.  Click on the big “Enter your Checklists” button at the top of the page.
  • Check out the GBBC blog at http://www.birdcount.org/blog, run by Audubon’s Senior Scientist, Rob Fergus
February 20-21 - Eagle Watch Weekends
 
  • Volunteers from the Environmental Learning Center will be at Colville Park on Hwy 61 south of Red Wing from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday to answer questions about eagle behavior, ecology and recovery
  • For information about special events in Red Wing call 800-498-2344 or visit http://www.redwing.org
February 27-28 - Eagle Watch Weekends
 
  • Volunteers from the Environmental Learning Center will be at Colville Park on Hwy 61 south of Red Wing from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday to answer questions about eagle behavior, ecology and recovery
  • For information about special events in Red Wing call 800-498-2344 or visit http://www.redwing.org
March 2010
S M T W T F S
- 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31 - - -
Project FeederWatch  (ongoing through April 3rd)
 
  • Participants count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders each week and send the information to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
  • To learn more and to sign up, visit www.feederwatch.org or call the Lab toll-free at (800) 843-2473. In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Lab members) participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds in their area, a calendar, complete instructions, and the FeederWatch annual report, Winter Bird Highlights.
Mar 5-6-7 - Festival of Owls
 
  • Sponsored by the Houston Nature Center in Houston, Minnesota
  • This is the only full weekend, all-owl event in North America.
  • Events include many activities at the nature center and around town and also include owling field trips.
  • This is an international event.  There were 900 participants in attendance last year.
  • Check out the Festival of Owls web site or the Houston Nature Center web site for more information.
March 6-7; Mar 13-14; Mar 20-21- Eagle Watch Weekends
 
  • Volunteers from the Environmental Learning Center will be at Colville Park south of Red Wing from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday to answer questions about eagle behavior, ecology and recovery.
  • For information about special events in Red Wing call 800-498-23444 or visit http://www.redwing.org
    •
March 6-7; 13-14; 20-21; 27-28 - Soar with the Eagle
 
  • Sponsored by the National Eagle Center at 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha, Minnesota
  • The objective of the Soar with the Eagle weekends is to provide an educational, experiential and entertaining program that features The Migratory Flyway (6th & 7th) The Eagle (13th & 14th), The Mississippi Riverway (20th & 21st) and The Human Connection (27th & 28th).
  • Get the specific schedule of events for each day on the National Eagle Center Festival web site or check out their main web site for additional information.
    •
March 13-14; Mar 20-21 - Eagle Watch Weekends
 
  • Volunteers from the Environmental Learning Center will be at Colville Park south of Red Wing from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday to answer questions about eagle behavior, ecology and recovery.
  • For information about special events in Red Wing call 800-498-23444 or visit http://www.redwing.org
    •
March Woodcock Flights - Private Land Opportunity in Wadena County
 
  • Dedicated birders are welcome to attend the 2010 evening woodcock courting flights on Kent Scheer's land near Wadena, MN.  So far, this has occurred annually like clockwork about 9PM from late April through late May within predictable dates.
  • The location is exceptionally convenient, handicapped accessible, and less than 1/2 mile from an AmericInn if overnight is needed.....a prior call is requested for introduction and very current updates on timing and weather conditions.
  • There is no cost, only good environmental citizenship is required.
  • Contact Kent Scheer, Green Island, Wadena, MN (rscheer@charter.net   218-631-3084)
    •
 
March 13 - "Lansing Loop" Tri-state Field Trip
 
  • Led by Fred Lesher and joint with the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology and the Coulee Region Audubon Society.
  • Meet at 9am at the Kwik Trip at the intersection of Highways 16/35/61 in La Crescent , MN (about 2 miles south of I-90).
  • Birders will travel south along the Mississippi River as far as Lansing, Iowa where they will lunch on their own.
  • In the Afternoon birders will cross to Wisconsin and travel north back to La Crosse.
  • You can expect to see lots of waterfowl and some raptors.
  • This is approximately a 90 mile loop along and near the Mississippi River in WI, IA, MN.  Estimated travel time is 6 hours.  You are free to leave the group whenever you choose.
  • Contact the trip leader via e-mail at Fred Lesher or via phone at 608-783-1149.
March 13-14; 20-21; 27-28 - Soar with the Eagle
 
  • Sponsored by the National Eagle Center at 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha, Minnesota
  • The objective of the Soar with the Eagle weekends is to provide an educational, experiential and entertaining program that features The Migratory Flyway (6th & 7th) The Eagle (13th & 14th), The Mississippi Riverway (20th & 21st) and The Human Connection (27th & 28th).
  • Get the specific schedule of events for each day on the National Eagle Center Festival web site or check out their main web site for additional information.
    •
Mar 20-21- Eagle Watch Weekends
 
  • Volunteers from the Environmental Learning Center will be at Colville Park south of Red Wing from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday to answer questions about eagle behavior, ecology and recovery.
  • For information about special events in Red Wing call 800-498-23444 or visit http://www.redwing.org
    •
March 27-28 - Soar with the Eagle
 
  • Sponsored by the National Eagle Center at 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha, Minnesota
  • The objective of the Soar with the Eagle weekends is to provide an educational, experiential and entertaining program that features The Migratory Flyway (6th & 7th) The Eagle (13th & 14th), The Mississippi Riverway (20th & 21st) and The Human Connection (27th & 28th).
  • Get the specific schedule of events for each day on the National Eagle Center Festival web site or check out their main web site for additional information.
    •
April 2010
S M T W T F S
- - - - 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 -
April Woodcock Flights - Private Land Opportunity in Wadena County
 
  • Dedicated birders are welcome to attend the 2010 evening woodcock courting flights on Kent Scheer's land near Wadena, MN.  So far, this has occurred annually like clockwork about 9PM from late April through late May within predictable dates.
  • The location is exceptionally convenient, handicapped accessible, and less than 1/2 mile from an AmericInn if overnight is needed.....a prior call is requested for introduction and very current updates on timing and weather conditions.
  • There is no cost, only good environmental citizenship is required.
  • Contact Kent Scheer, Green Island, Wadena, MN (rscheer@charter.net   218-631-3084)
    •
 

April 2 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip (pre)
 
  • Goodhue & Wabasha Counties - base in Red Wing
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $25 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

April 3-4 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Houston & Winona Counties - base in La Crosse, WI
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $40 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

April 15-18 - Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) Conference
 
  • The Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) conference will be hosted by Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory and held in Duluth, Minnesota
  • The conference will feature scientific presentations, informative posters, entertaining keynote speakers, a silent auction, fantastic northern-specialty field trips as well as free shuttle service from the conference site to Hawk Ridge's Spring Hawk Count site.
  • Friday and Saturday programs will include speakers, presentations and field trips from sunrise to sunset each day, and we'll offer the same field trips on Friday AND Saturday so you don't have to choose between the speakers you want to hear and the birds you want to see!
  • Visit www.hmana.org or www.hawkridge.org for additional information.  You can register online, by mail or by phone. Field trips and banquets are optional, so you can customize your conference weekend to suit your greatest interests.
April 24-25 - Salt Lake Birding Festival
 
  • Sponsored by the Prairie-Woods Nature Society.  The event is open to the public.
  • Headquartered in Marietta / Madison with birding in Lac Qui Parle and Big Stone counties.  Lodging is available in Madison, Montevideo, Dawson, Appleton or Canby.  Camping is available at Prairie Marsh Farm, 1770 151st Ave., Marietta, located 7 miles west of US 75 and 1.5 miles south of US 212 (for more info, contact Ken Larson - see below).
  • Saturday breakfast at 7am at the Marietta American Legion located one block west of Co. Rd. 7 on Hwy 40.   Groups will head out from there on field trips to Salt Lake and the surrounding area.  Lunch will be available at the legion and trips will head out again in the afternoon.
  • Saturday evening chicken dinner at 7:30pm at the Sons of Norway Hall on Hwy 75 in Madison, eleven miles east of Marietta. Reservations are required for the dinner and can be made with Becky Skallerud at 320-598-5554 or beckaberk@yahoo.com. The dinner is $10.   There is a species tally after the dinner.
  • For more info contact Ken Larson - phone is 952-595-9265.
  • Check out the web page about the event.
May 2010
S M T W T F S
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2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31 - - - - -
May 1 - Boulder Birding Big Day
 
  • Sponsored by Boulder Lake Management Area - free admission
  • Held at Boulder Lake Environmental Center from 7 am to Noon
  • 7328 Boulder Dam Road, Duluth, MN
  • To register or obtain more information contact Mara at 218-721-3731 or you can email blake@mnpower.com
May 1-2 - Morris Wetland Management District Birding Festival
 
  • Bus tours on Saturday at Noon and Sunday at 7 am.
  • Registration starts at 10 am on Saturday morning at the Morris Wetland Management District office located 4 miles east of Morris, MN on Co Rd #10 (43875 230th Street).
  • Registration is $25.  Call 800-248-5868 or e-mail kdliving@yahoo.com to reserve your space.
  • A guided coach bus tour on Saturday will begin at 11:00AM and return at 4:00PM.   A catered dinner and a presentation will follow at the local Senior Center.  Guides are Bob Janssen, Jerry Bonkoski, and Doug Buri.  The tour bus will leave on Sunday at 7:00AM and return at noon.
  • Hosted by Friends of the Morris WMD and Friends of Prairie.
May 1-2 - Duluth's Down by the Water Spring Bird Festival
 
  • Co-sponsors are Duluth Audubon Society and the Lake Superior Zoo
  • Speakers, field trips & kids' activities
  • Distribution of new Duluth-Superior Area birding map
  • For more information contact the zoo at 218-723-3854 or edu@iszoo.org or see the Duluth Audubon web site
May 7-8-9 - Mississippi Flyway Birding Festival
 
  • Headquartered out of LaCrosse/Onalaska, Wisconsin
  • Birding events in both Wisconsin and Minnesota
  • For more information or to register, see the web site or call Bonnie Koop at 608-784-2292 or Gretchen Skoloda at 608-781-7502
May 8 - Saint John’s Arboretum Spring Birding Day
 
  • Spend a morning hiking through the woods on the grounds of the Saint John's Arboretum with birders during peak migration.  Groups are led by experienced birders and people who know the area.
  • Meet at the Pendulum in the New Science Center at 5:00am to 1:00pm or at 8:00am to 1:00pm.  Early risers will be stunned by the abundance of birds active early in the day.
  • Coffee and rolls will be served at 8:00am with lunch at 12:30pm.  Cost is $12 for Arboretum members; $16 for nonmembers. Preregistration required via phone 320-363-3163 or e-mail.
  • A list of birds seen at Saint John’s in its 150 year history are posted here.
  • For more information check out the web site or contact Thomas Kroll.
May 8 - North American Migration Count Day
 
  • Count categories: Stationary, Feeder, Regular, Night
  • Minnesota data compiled by Dave Sovereign
  • Address is: 6479 Upper 55th, Oakdale, MN 55128
  • Phone # is: 651-777-0379
  • Forms must be submitted by June 15th
May 8 - Rice Lake NWR celebration of International Migratory Bird Day
 
  • Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center, located five miles south of McGregor on Highway 65, will be open from 7 am to 1 pm and 6 pm to 7 pm
May 8-9 - Great River Birding & Nature Festival
 
  • Birding By Mini-Rail Car through the Chippewa Bottoms and the Birding by Boat through the Mississippi Backwaters will be the only events. 
  • The Rail Car event will be reserved through Donna Krebsbach at Wings Over Alma and will run both Saturday and Sunday May 10 & 11 from 7am-12 pm.
  • The Birding the Backwaters with River Pilot Loren Waalkens will be held the May 9, 10, and 11 at 3 times each morning.
  • For more information check out the web site at www.mississippi-river.org/birding or call 877-525-3248

May 14 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip (pre)
 
  • Nobles County - base in Worthington
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $30 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

May 15-16 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Rock & Pipestone Counties - base in Luverne
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $50 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information
May 14-15-16 - Ramsey County Bird Festival
 
  • Activities include a day full of displays, demos and hikes at Snail Lake Regional Park, many birding tours to little-known spots within the county, a birding adventure by canoe and a tour of the rarely open Arden Hills Army Training Site (formerly known as the Twin Cities Arsenal).
  • Contact John Moriarty, Ramsey County Parks, for more information via e-mail or at 651-748-2500
  • Additional details and registration information are available on the festival website.
May 15 - Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Field Trip - Sherburne Refuge
 
  • This field trip will include Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge & Beyond.  It will be led by Pastor Al Schirmacher and his son, Nathan
  • This tends to be an excellent warbler/passerine migration trip.  For several years this trip has exceeded 100 species.
  • The trip will begin at 7AM and may head up to Mille Lacs Lake & Kathio State Park in the afternoon
  • There is no charge to attend but reservations are required.  Contact Pastor Al Schirmacher via e-mail to reserve a place on the trip.  You will get information on the meeting location when you reserve your spot.
May 15-16 - Austin Oak/Savanna Birding Festival
 
  • Sponsored by Friends of the J.C. Hormel Nature Center and the Austin Audubon Society
  • The event will be held at the Hormel Nature Center in Austin, MN.
  • Guided birding tours will be offered both Saturday and Sunday.
  • For more information, contact the Austin Convention and Visitor's Bureau at 507-437-4563 or email twdorsey@charter.net or jchnatur@smig.net or visit the Austin City website
May 16 - Hawk Ridge St Louis County Big Day
 
  • Sponsored by Friends of Hawk Ridge
  • More information and forms on their web page
  • Proceeds to support Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve
May 20-21-22-23 - Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds
 
  • Sponsored by Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Featured speaker is TBD.
    Includes workshops on a variety of topics and fieldtrips to several area birding locations such as Agassiz and Tamarac NWR, Rothsay and Bluestem Prairies.
  • For additional information contact the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of commerce at 1-800-542-3992 ext 730 or contact Kelly Blackledge via email.  Online registration and other information is available at www.visitdetroitlakes.com

May 28 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip (pre)
 
  • Morrison County - base in Little Falls
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $30 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

May 29-30-31 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Cass County - base at Deep Portage Conservation Reserve
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $200 fee - registration required (fee includes 3 nights lodging and 7 meals)
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information
June 2010
S M T W T F S
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6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 - - -
June 4-5 - Audubon Center Birding Festival
 

  • Enjoy a variety and abundance of breeding birds in a ecological transition area.

  • Interesting and skilled leaders.

  • Includes bird banding and resident birds of prey.

  • Audubon Center is located near Sandstone, MN in northern Pine County

  • For more information see http://www.audubon-center.com 

  June 4-5-6 - Boreal Birding and Northern Landscapes Festival
 
  • Headquarters at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais on the North Shore of Lake Superior
  • More than a dozen different courses/workshops are at the heart of the festival. Boreal Birding with Dedrick Benz.  North Shore Birding with Jerry Bonkoski/John Hockema.  North Shore Geology with John Green.  Spring Wildflowers with Jim Gilbert.  Owl In A Night's Work with Bill Lane.  And more.  Courses range from 1 to 3 days in length.
  • Multiple featured evening programs offer opportunities to share discoveries and eat great desserts - including "The Remarkable Gray Jay", "Looking Through the Lens at the Boreal Forest" and "Into The Night: Shining the Light on Boreal Owls of Minnesota"
  • The Superior National Forest has a total of 155 species of birds that breed within its boundaries, more species than in any other national forest.
  • For registration and detail event schedule and information check the North House Folk School web site or contact them by e-mail or via phone at 1-888-387-9762
June 6-7-8-9-10-11-12 - Exploritas North Country Birds: Birding in the Superior National Forest
 
  • Exploritas is the new name of the organization formerly known as Elderhostel.
  • Explore the southern edge of the boreal forest to study birds in nesting territories.
  • During early morning field trips, expect to encounter approximately 100 species including Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Grey Jay, and Raven.
  • Observe up to eight species of flycatchers, several thrushes and vireos, kinglets, and 20 species of warblers, including the Connecticut. Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Great-grey / Saw-whet Owls, and Black-backed / Three-toed Woodpeckers are also possible.
  • For more information or to register for this program visit the main Exploritas Web Site (and enter 2216 in the search box in the upper right corner) or call 1-800-454-5768.

June 18 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip (pre)
 
  • Beltrami County - base in Bemidji
  • Led by Craig Mandel - more info at MBW
  • $30 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

June 19-20 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Lake of the Woods County - base in Baudette
  • Led by Craig Mandel - more info at MBW
  • $50 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information
June 19 - Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Field Trip - Aitkin County
 
  • This field trip will start at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge at 7:30AM and will carpool to various areas all around Aitkin County.  It will be led by Pastor Al Schirmacher and his son, Nathan.
  • Warblers, passerines and boreal nesters will be the focus.
  • There is no charge to attend but reservations are required.  Contact Pastor Al Schirmacher via e-mail to reserve a place on the trip.  You will get information on the meeting location when you reserve your spot.
July 2010
S M T W T F S
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4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
   
August 2010
S S M T W T F
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31 - - - -
August 6-7-8 - Shorebird Workshop
 
  • Doug Buri and Bob Janssen will lead a workshop based in Milbank, SD but will have most field trips into Minnesota .
  • The fee for this workshop is $160 which includes lunch on Saturday.
  • Contact Doug Buri for registration and additional information at dougburi@tnics.com or check out their web page at www.itctel.com/buri/SHOREBIRD.

August 20 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip (pre)
 
  • Douglas County - base in Alexandria
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $30 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

August 21-22 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Stevens, Traverse & Big Stone Counties - base in Morris
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $45 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

August 27-28-29 - Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah Festival
 
  • Presentations about hummingbirds and related topics by Bob Douglas, Carrol Henderson, Don Mitchell, Mark Peterson and Ron Windingstad.  Don Mitchell will also be banding hummingbirds for several hours on both Saturday and Sunday,
  • Details are posted on the festival weekend website. 
  • In addition, there are several activities planned earlier in the year (from April through August) to lead into this festival.  Those activities are listed on the Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah website.
  • The series of events are sponsored by Henderson Feathers and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce with cooperation from Minnesota Audubon.
  • For more information contact Dolores Hagen at Henderson Feathers at dhagen@closingthegap.com or 507-248-3824
September 2010
S M T W T F S
- - - 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 - -

September 3 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip (pre)
 
  • Eastern Roseau County - base in Warroad
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $25 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

September 4-5-6 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Northwestern Minnesota - base in Hallock (Kittson County)
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $70 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information
September 16-17-18-19 - Exploritas Hawk Ridge Program
 
  • Exploritas is the new name of the organization formerly known as Elderhostel.
  • The activites for this program will be in the Duluth area - with emphasis on hawk migration.  More details will be available during the summer.  Registration for the program will also be available sometime during that time.
  • For more information or to register watch for updates here or at the Exploritas Web Site or call 1-800-454-5768. 
September 17-18-19 - Hawk Ridge Weekend
 
  • Sponsored by Friends of Hawk Ridge, Duluth
  • Friday evening includes a social and refreshments, a "Guess-the-Number-of-Hawks Contest", and a program on the birds.
  • Saturday will offer a variety of field trips and seminars away from the Ridge, and hawkwatching, interpretive programs, banded hawk and passerine demonstrations, optics displays, merchandise, and refreshments at the Hawk Ridge Main Overlook.
  • Saturday evening offers a social and refreshments, the annual member meeting, awards, an auction, and a keynote address.
  • Sunday will offer a variety of field trips and many activities at the Hawk Ridge Main Overlook.
  • All activities at the Hawk Ridge main overlook (on East Skyline Parkway) are open to the public.  The other events require registration.
  • For more details about Hawk Weekend or for online registration, visit http://www.hawkridge.org/events/hawkweekend.html.  You can also make contact by calling 218-428-6209 or e-mail to mail@hawkridge.org..

September 25 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Duluth I - base in Duluth
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $20 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

September 26 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Duluth II - base in Duluth
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $20 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information
October 2010
S M T W T F S
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3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 - - - - - -

October 8 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip (pre)
 
  • Minnesota River Valley - base in Redwood Falls (Redwood County)
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $25 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

October 9-10 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Lyon & Lincoln Counties - base in Marshall
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $40 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information
October 8-9-10 - Sparrow Workshop
 
  • Doug Buri and Bob Janssen will lead a workshop based in Milbank, SD but will have most field trips into Minnesota .
  • The fee for this workshop is $160 which includes lunch on Saturday.
  • Contact Doug Buri for registration and additional information at dougburi@tnics.com or check out their web page at www.itctel.com/buri/SPARROW.
October 16 - Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Field Trip - Mille Lacs Lake
 
  • This field trip will begin at 7:30AM and will carpool to various areas around Mille Lacs Lake.  It will be led by Pastor Al Schirmacher.  Expect to find loons.
  • There is no charge to attend but reservations are required.  Contact Pastor Al Schirmacher via e-mail to reserve a place on the trip.  You will get information on the meeting location when you reserve your spot.

October 22 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip (pre)
 
  • Mahnomen County - base in Mahnomen
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $25 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

October 23-24 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Polk County - base in Crookston
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $40 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

October 22-23-24 - Grand Marais Autumn Migration Birding Festival
 
  • Hosted by the North House Folk School, an educational nonprofit, in cooperation with the US Forest Service.
  • Headquarters at Grand Marais with morning field trips led be highly experienced birders are at the festival’s core.  Trips explore the Lake Superior shoreline along the entire length of the Sawtooth Mountains up to the Canadian border at Grand Portage.
  • Complementing morning field trips are afternoon workshops as well as two featured evening programs.
  • For information check the Grand Marais Visitor Information Center web site or contact the North House Folk school at 1-888-387-9762 or by e-mail
November 2010
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21 22 23 24 25 26 27
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November 5 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip (pre)
 
  • Duluth - base in Duluth
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $20 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

November 6-7 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • North Shore of Lake Superior - base in Duluth & Grand Marais
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $35 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information
November 5-6-7 - Rivers & Bluffs Fall Birding Festival (Lansing, Iowa)
 
  • Includes interesting educational programs including two with live educational birds; boat trips on the Mississippi in large, enclosed excursion boats to get close-up views of water birds; silent and live auctions; and other activities to match the magnificence of the area and our very special avian visitors.
  • Field trip leaders will help visitors see some of the 15-18,000 Tundra Swans and 250,000 to 350,000 other waterfowl (and other species as well) that visit the nearby section of the Mississippi River at this time each year.
November 6 - "Lansing Loop" Tri-state Field Trip
 
  • Led by Fred Lesher and joint with the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology and the Coulee Region Audubon Society.
  • Meet at 9am at the Kwik Trip at the intersection of Highways 16/35/61 in La Crescent , MN (about 2 miles south of I-90).
  • Birders will travel south along the Mississippi River as far as Lansing, Iowa where they will lunch on their own.
  • In the Afternoon birders will cross to Wisconsin and travel north back to La Crosse on Hwy 35 viewing areas in both states not readily visible from the west side of the river.
  • You can expect to see lots of waterfowl and some raptors.
  • This is approximately a 70 mile loop along and near the Mississippi River in WI, IA, MN.  The trip features portions of the Upper Mississippi River Fish & Wildlife Refuge which reaches from near Keokuk, Iowa north to Alma, Wisconsin
  • Contact the trip leader via e-mail at Fred Lesher or via phone at 608-783-1149.
Project FeederWatch  (starts Nov 8th and runs through April 3rd, 2011)
 
  • Participants count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders each week and send the information to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
  • To learn more and to sign up, visit www.feederwatch.org or call the Lab toll-free at (800) 843-2473. In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Lab members) participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds in their area, a calendar, complete instructions, and the FeederWatch annual report, Winter Bird Highlights.
December 2010
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December 3 - MOU Board Meeting
 
  • 6:00 pm at Wood Lake Nature Center, Richfield
  • Open to all Minnesota Ornithologists' Union members

December 4 - MOU Paper Session
 
  • Sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union
  • Held from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Bell Museum of Natural History on the campus of the University of Minnesota (corner of Church St & University Ave)
  • Papers presented on various bird related topics; Displays available in the museum halls all day
  • MOU business meeting and election of officers
  • The MOU website has a page set up with the paper session schedule and a link to a PDF version of the registration form: http://www.moumn.org/paper.html.  If you wish to pre-register, registration forms need to be submitted by Nov 21.
  • Contact Donald Mitchell for more information

December 14th through January 5th  - Christmas Bird Counts  (same dates every year)
 
   
2011 Minnesota Birding Festivals, Field Trips & Meetings
                            (also see additional trip information at bottom) 		Compiled by
 Bob Ekblad 
January 2011
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Christmas Bird Counts continuing through January 5th
 

January 8-9 - Minnesota Birding Weekends Field Trip
 
  • Duluth III - base in Duluth
  • Led by Kim Eckert - more info at MBW
  • $30 fee - registration required
  • Contact Kim Eckert if you need additional information

January 15 - Golden Eagle Survey
 
  • Help survey the Golden Eagles in SE Minnesota (and NE Iowa and western Wisconsin) along the Mississippi River.
  • Join on one of the established routes in SE MN or SW WI, or if you think you have Golden Eagles wintering in your area, you are encouraged to do a route near you.
  • If you want to participate in the count, please contact Scott Mehus at 651-565-4989 ext 101 or via e-mail ( Scott@nationaleaglecenter.org )  and he will get you a route map and data sheets and all the details
  • You are invited to join one (or all) of the 3 seminars and field trips to be led by Scott Mehus with focus on identifying Golden Eagles. You are welcome on the field trips even if you do not plan to take part in the count. Field trip/seminars will meet at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha MN (see their web site at nationaleaglecenter.org for more information).
   

Minnesota Tours / Guided Trips
Minnesota Birding Weekends - Kim Eckert
Owlman Trips (Mar/Apr) - Bill Lane.  See the The Owl's Roost for more info.

Twin Cities Audubon Chapter Field Trip Information
  Minnesota River Valley Audubon George Skinner @ 952-936-0811
     The 2009-2010 field trip schedule is posted at:    --->
   Trips are open to all and free, except for overnight
      trips which have a fee.		 http://home.comcast.net/~mrvac/fieldtrip.pdf
http://home.comcast.net/~mrvac/fieldtrip.doc
 
  Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis Mary Ellen Vetter @ 763-561-1761
  Minneapolis Audubon Society Mary McGee @ 612-377-0630
  Saint Paul Audubon Society Julian Sellers @ 651-698-5737