Thanks to great cooperation from Tom Fallgren, Plant Manager, Xcel Energy, we have scheduled the following dates and times this week for viewing gulls and waterbirds from the now restricted causeway viewing area. This is the area we previously accessed from Black Dog Park and is now off limits to the public. We will schedule 2-3 days per week until birds depart for points south.
This week, we will meet at 3:30p.m. on Wed., Fri., and Sat. (Bloomington Christmas Bird Count day). On each day, we will gather in the parking area opposite the power plant main entrance on Black Dog Road. Anyone wishing to participate should arrive a few minutes early so that we all enter through the gate at the same time (3:30pm). Late arrivals will not be allowed to enter. We will be escorted to the viewing site by an Xcel employee. I will serve as the MOU representative permitted to enter the site. This will allow about 1.5 hours of viewing. Most days, gull numbers increase dramatically toward dark. However, it is very possible that very few or no gulls will be present for viewing at this site and may actually be better viewed from other non-restricted sites along Black Dog Road. I can be a bit of a crap shoot. If this is the case we will make a group decision as to length of time we will stay. We are extremely fortunate to have any viewing opportunities at all at this site. Hopefully, this type of schedule will work out well for both birders and Xcel Energy staff. If you have any questions, please contact me via email...you will probably be dumped into my "Suspect email" folder, but I do check that regularly. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT Xcel Energy regarding access to this site. They wish to deal with as few people on this issue as possible. I will post information for future viewing dates this weekend. Finally, special thanks to Sharon Stiteler, for putting me in touch with Tom Fallgren. Jim Mattsson Eagan ---- Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
