Hello MOU Members, For 2005, I'll be acting as the MOU's Field Trip Chairman. I want to thank Mike Hendrickson for nominating me for the position and those who have helped me so far.
I've just finalized my trip schedule for the year and am making the official announcement and opening the trips to participants. I'm happy with the schedule I've put together and I think it will be an exciting year. The schedule is designed to give MOU members personally guided access to a large variety of Minnesota's birds, in different parts of the state at different times of the year. These trips are open to birders of all skill levels and everyone should feel welcome. One of the goals of these trips is to offer birders a chance to advance their identification skills and the leaders will always work hard to make sure that everybody sees the bird! Myself and another co-leader will be guiding each weekend, providing assistance throughout the trip. I like to keep the experience friendly and personal, so I'm going to put a limit of 25 birders per trip. I will keep a waiting list, incase people have to cancel and others are interested. The schedule follows: April 16th and 17th =E2=80=93 Rock County=20 Base: Luverne =09The far southwest corner of the state is considerably different from the rest of the state with places like Blue Mounds SP. Spring migration always has a good possibility of producing western vagrants and strays, such as Spotted Towhee, Mountain Bluebird, Rock Wren and Prairie Falcon. We have a good chance of seeing Great-tailed Grackle and Black-headed Gull. The timing will be such that plenty of waterfowl and raptors will still be present, but some shorebirds and some passerines will also be arriving. May 14th and 15th =E2=80=93 Lac Qui Parle Co. Base: Montevideo =09If you keep your eye on The Loon seasonal reports or North American Birds, you may have noticed that this county is a variable "hot spot" this weekend in May. Last year Black Rail, Curlew Sandpiper, Burrowing Owl, Say's Phoebe, and Black-headed Grosbeak were all found here at this time of year. Warblers and shorebirds should be at their peak. Overall, a big list of birds is expected. Not a trip to miss! May 21st and 22nd =E2=80=93 Southeast Specialties Base: Winona =09The very southeast corner of the state has been known to harbor numerous species which make restricted appearances in the state, such as: Acadian Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Hooded Warbler. We'll work the bottomlands for these and other species, hoping to run into an "overshoot" migrant from the south. September 17th =E2=80=93 Duluth Migration (one day) Base: Duluth =09This one day trip around the Duluth area will cover all the local migrant traps and funnels. Last year, during this time 22 species of Warbler were seen. If the weather cooperates (cloudy and foggy), a good fallout could occur. All types and species of bird are fair game at this point in fall migration in Duluth. As well, we'll spend some time looking for Jaegers and vagrant gulls, such as Little or Sabine's, on Lake Superior. October 15th and 16th =E2=80=93 Northshore Base: Duluth and Grand Marais =09There's no place most birders in Minnesota would rather be in the peak of fall migration than on the Northshore. The trip will start in Duluth and work its way north to Grand Marais, hitting all the best spots for migrants on the way up. Saturday night, we'll stay in Grand Marais and hopefully make a stop to Bill Lane's owl banding station that night, to see some Saw-whet Owl migration in action. On Sunday, we'll bird around Grand Marais, then head back to Duluth. The whole time, I'll be keeping an ear to the grapevine for any vagrants that may have appeared on the northshore. November 19th =E2=80=93 Gulls, Gulls, Gulls (one day) Base: Duluth =09Late November is the best time of the year for migrant and vagrant gulls on the Great Lakes and the Duluth/Superior area is no exception. If you're looking to hone your gull identification, then this is the trip for you. Up to 8 species of Gulls can be expected and hopefully well studied. The Knife River, Canal Park, Superior Entry, and (hopefully (fingers-crossed)) the Superior Landfill will all be locations where we will spend time. If you would like to sign up for one of these trips, please send an email to me and I'll put you on the list. Good Birding! Tom Auer Duluth, MN
