There was a nice collection of birds seen on Saturday by our bird tour group, and a few more on Sunday. A common gallinule was seen and heard calling early on Sunday morning from the traditional spot on Big Bluestem Pool. A Henslow's sparrow was near the beginning of the Prairie Trail on the Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive. A pine warbler was singing from pines just off CR 15, on the SE corner of the refuge. And a lark sparrow was found singing on territory between the church and the cemetery on the Orrock Town Hall Road. (From Orrock, go east on CR 4 just a short distance and turn north on the Town Hall Road. Go to the end of the road, which is by the cemetery). Common nighthawks were migrating on Sunday evening - hawking insects over Stickney Pool. I also saw a flock of nighthawks over the refuge last Thursday.
And one item, not about birds... I'm "over the top" excited to tell you that we are going to be building a classroom building at Sherburne. Not the visitor center we've been trying to get funding for (for 15 years), but a portion of it. Since the old school house was closed, this new building will replace it in function. It will be a place to meet for field trips, hold classes and training, etc. Seating for about 60 people in the entire room, and can also be divided into two rooms with a folding wall. I can see some possible use by/for birders! It will be pretty basic, and no frills since budget is limited, but at least we'll finally have SOMETHING! Betsy Beneke Sherburne NWR ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
