I was going over little notices that I have for upcoming events to promote in the blog and have noticed a glut of bird festivals in or very near Minnesota. Piece of advice: if you are planning a bird festival or event, avoid doing it the weekend before Memorial Day--there's too much going on! On the upside birders have a plethora of options and a variety of well known bird people to meet:
Events for May 17 - 20, 2007
May 17 - 20
Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds in Minnesota featuring guest David Sibley. I'll also be at this one (as will Cinnamon) giving a talk on bird calls and run a Birdchick Booth. This is one of my all time favorite bird festivals in the country. One day, you're in the boreal forest watching black-backed woodpeckers and loons. The next, you're in the prairie watching chestnut-collared longspurs and godwits--whoot. Also, one of the best warbler festivals out there. Incidentally, my field trip saw the most warbler species in one spot last year.
May 18 - 20
Cheqaumegon Bird and Nature Festival in Wisconsin featuring guest Julie Zickefoose. If you're not going to come see me or Sibley that weekend, go see Julie! Extraordinary natural beauty and abundant public land make the south shore of Lake Superior the ideal location for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. If I weren't already booked for Detroit Lakes, I would seriously go to this one to see my pal, Julie. However, I'll have that chance again at Potholes and Prairie in North Dakota in June.
May 18 - 20
Oak and Savannah Birding Festival in Minnesota featuring Bobby Harrison. I have to admit that I got a kick out of the announcement that read "The Oak Savanna Birding Festival will feature a presentation by BOBBY HARRISON from Huntsville, Alabama. He is one who claims to have seen the Ivory-billed Woodpecker." It's gone from "rediscoverer" of the ivory-bill to "he who claims". No matter what side of the fence you are on, Bobby is a great story teller and more than worth the price of admission. Pre-registration is required. For more information or registration call: Terry Dorsey – 507 433-4483 email - twdorsey@charter.net or Dick Smaby – 507-433-1925 email rnsmaby@charter.net
May 19
MOU field trip to Sherburne NWR. This will be good for warblers, sparrows, shorebirds and wild cards like yellow-breasted chat, hooded warblers, or a summer tanager. Should be a fun day trip.
May 19
Hawk Ridge sponsored big day--how many species of birds can you see in St. Louis County in one day.
May 19
Lake Superior Pelagic Trip organized and led by the infamous Mike Hendrickson. It's a day trip on a boat starting in Duluth on Lake Superior to look for pelagic species like jaegers and scoters. You know, if you're not sure how you would fare on a pelagic trip on the ocean, this would be a good way to test yourself out.
So lots of birding and great people to choose from this particular weekend. I'm sure after I post this, I will get a notice that I missed something. In the past there has been the Bluff Country Bird Fest that same weekend, but I can't find any info for a 2007 event and they are a little late in the game if they haven't started advertising that by now.