Here is a list of upcoming MOU Field Trips for this spring. Please note the May 3rd trip which has not previously been publicized. April 24-26 - Salt Lake Weekend led by Ken Larson, Steve Weston, et al. Details of this long-standing event can be found at www.moumn.org/saltlake or by contacting Ken Larson at prairiemarshf...@comcast.net. May 3 - Crane Meadows NWR in Morrison County with Milton Blomberg and his son Caleb. Birders will start at 8:00am at the kiosk at the entrance to the refuge and bird until noon. Lunch will be provided by the refuge and M.C. Birders. After lunch birders can continue to bird around the Little Falls area. A wide variety of species can be found at the refuge including Sandhill Cranes, waterfowl, shorebirds, rails, and woodland and prairie birds. Contact Frank Gosiak at fgos...@gmail.com or at 320-616-7001 or Milt Blomberg at 320-828-1171. May 9 - Stearns County This year we are again teaming up with the folks at Saint John's Abbey and University for an event on May 9th in Stearns County. Their portion of the day starts at 5:30am and goes until about 1:00pm with breaks for breakfast and lunch. They will be exploring the campus with different groups led by experienced birders. The cost is $16 and you can get more information at http://www.csbsju.edu/arboretum/arb_highlights/spring/spring_birding.htm . The MOU portion of the day will be in the afternoon with Milt Blomberg. He will start from the campus and head to the Avon Hills area to look for migrant passerines and shorebirds. Possibilities include Gray-cheeked and Wood Thrush, Cerulean and Mourning Warbler, Red-shouldered Hawk, Scarlet and Summer Tanager and a number of shorebirds. Contact Milt at mjbflw...@msn.com or at 320-656-5272. The afternoon trip is free and open to MOU members and is in collaboration with the Arboretum Avon Hills Initiative. May 15 - Sherburne NWR and Mille Lacs Kathio State Park led by Al Schirmacher. Meet at 7am at the Mahnomen Trail parking are at the north side of the refuge west of US 169. Birds will hike two trails and take the driving tour through the refuge. There will be an optional afternoon trip to the state park at the SW corner of Lake Mille Lacs. Contact Al Schirmacher at pasto...@princetonfreechurch.net. May 16 - Sibley and Le Sueur County led by Art and Barb Straub. Meet at 7:30am at The Ney Center on Hwy 19 at the top of the bluffs just east of the Minnesota River in Le Sueur County. Birders will explore the Ney Center property and then split up into groups and bird other locations in the area using detailed maps, descriptions and birdlists that will be provided to them. Contact Dolores Hagen at dha...@closingthegap.com. May 23 - Cedar Creek Ecological Science Reserve in Anoka and Isanti County led by Jim Howitz. Meet at 7am at the Cedar Creek facility on Co. Rd. 24 east of Hwy 65 in East Bethel. Birders will explore the 8 square miles of the reserve for migrants and breeding birds, including Lark Sparrow and Red-headed Woodpeckers. Contact Jim Howitz at jlh...@aol.com. May 24 - Wild River State Park in Chisago County led by Joe Sausen. Meet at 8 am at the boat ramp along the St. Croix River in the park. Birders will explore the park looking for migrants and breeding birds, including Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers. Bring your lunch and enjoy a pleasant view from the elevated deck at the park overlooking a beautiful prairie. Contact Joe Sausen at jcsau...@earthlink.net. May 30-31 - Blue Earth, Nicollet and Brown County with Bob Dunlap, Chad Heins and Brian Smith. This will be a two day event with three local birders who know these counties as well as anyone. Final plans will depend upon weather and habitat but expect to do some serious birding both days. Contact them at rdun...@gac.edu(Bob), che...@blc.edu(Chad) and brsm...@sleepyeyetel.net(Brian). June 5-7, Weekend in Hubbard County at the Neilson Spearhead Center and in Cass County at Deep Portage Learning Center. Birders will meet on Friday at 7am at the Neilson Spearhead Center, located about 9 miles southwest of Bemidji and managed by the Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society, and spend a relaxed day at the center. The morning will feature a guided birding tour of conifer forests, bogs and lakeshore with the possibility of migrant and resident passerines, including the chance for nesting Black-backed Woodpeckers and Yellow-headed Blackbirds. On the lake there should be Common Loons and Bald Eagles. There will be a picnic lunch after which birders will be free to explore the area on their own or just relax and enjoy Spearhead Lake. The cost for this portion of the trip is $15 which includes a box lunch. To register for Friday at Spearhead contact George-Ann Maxson at gamax...@paulbunyan.net or at 218-586-3414. This portion of the trip is being cosponsored by the Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society. For information about the center go to http://theearthhome.wordpress.com/neilson-spearhead-center/ On Friday evening(after dinner) birders will meet at Deep Portage Learning Center. They will bird that evening in search of Yellow Rails, Nelson Sharp-tailed and Le Conte's Sparrows and Whip-poor-wills. Lodging is available at the center for $25 per night which includes breakfast. Rooms are double and triple occupancy only and you will need to supply your own linens. Credit Cards are not accepted so bring cash or check. On Saturday there will be guided birding around the area in Cass County with excellent resident birders. Such species as Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Connecticut Warbler are likely. Birders will be responsible for their own lunch and dinner. Food can be stored at the center over night if required. Birders can stay a second night at the center and have breakfast for another $25, but they should plan to leave on Sunday morning. To register for this portion of the trip contact Ben Wieland at wielan...@yahoo.com. For information about Deep Portage go to www.deep-portage.org/. Birders can register for either or both of the Neilson Spearhead portion and/or the Deep Portage portion. June 13 - Aitkin County with Al Schirmacher. Meet at 7:30am at the parking lot at the main entrance to Rice Lake NWR on Hwy 65 south of McGregor. Birders will explore the refuge and then go on to other areas in the county. Contact Al Schirmacher at pasto...@princetonfreechurch.net. It is suggested that you be an MOU member to participate these field trips. The cost is $25 for a single person and $30 for a family. Other levels of membership are listed in MOU publications and on the MOU website. Anyone interested in Kim Eckert's MBW Trips should contact him at ecker...@gmail.com or at 218-525-6930. Information on his trips can also be found on the MOU website. If anyone would like to lead a field trip or has a suggestion for a field trip, please contact me at bxwilli...@cbburnet.com or at 612-728-2232. Bob Williams MOU Field Trip Coordinator
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