SALT LAKE BIRDING WEEKEND - April 28-29 - Lac Qui Parle and Southern Big Stone Counties. This is only 10 days away now! Last year 148 species were counted including Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, White-faced Ibis, Hudsonian Godwit and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Don't miss this great opportunity to explore one of the best counties in the state for rarities. Saturday morning birders meet for breakfast at 7am at the Marietta American Legion located one block west of Co. Rd. 7 on Hwy 4. They form into groups and head out for the morning. At noon they stop back for lunch and sharing of info. That night there is a 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 320-598-3797 or beckaberk at yahoo.com. The dinner is $10. Lodging is available in Madison, Montevideo, Dawson or Appleton. 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. Contact Ken Larson at prairiemarshfarm at comcast.net for more information. Sunday birding is on your own.
CAMP RIPLEY FIELD TRIP - May 12 - Morrison County This trip is currently filled. I will start a waiting list in case anyone cancels. DEEP PORTAGE LEARNING CENTER - June 8-10 - Cass County This trip features a day and a half of birding in Cass County and 2 nights of birding for Yellow Rails, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows and other nocturnal birds with Ben Wieland, Dale Yerger and Molly Malecek. The cost is $100 which includes 2 nights at the Deep Portage Learning Center(rooms will be shared), 3 meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. More details are available upon request or you can check out the website for Deep Portage at www.deep-portage.org/rbirding.htm. The Deep Portage Learning Center is about 8 miles SE of Hackensack. This trip is limited to 20 but there is plenty of space available at this time. These trips are open to members and non-members alike. As always I am looking for more opportunities for field trips around the state. Contact me if you would like to lead one or if you have any ideas for trips. I can be reached at 612-728-2232 or at bxwilliams at cbburnet.com Bob Williams, Bloomington