Welcome the start of the spring migration at the 35th annual Salt Lake Birding Weekend, on April 24, 2010. Volunteers will guide birders to Salt Lake, Big Stone Refuge and the lakes, wetlands, and native prairies of Lac Qui Parle and southern Big Stone counties. Last year 65 participants recorded 152 species including White-winged Scoter, Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie and Peregrine Falcons, Piping Plover, Hudsonian Godwit, White-faced Ibis, and American Avocet.

On Saturday April 24, meet at 7 a.m. at the Marietta American Legion, located one block west of the intersection of County Road 7 and State Highway 40, 11 miles west of Madison. Coffee, sweet rolls and milk are available. Guided car caravans will leave between 7 and 8 am. At noon, stop back at the Legion for lunch and to compare notes.

A Saturday chicken dinner, for $10, will be served at 7:30 pm at the Sons of Norway Hall on Highway 75 in Madison. Reservations are necessary for dinner, please contact Becky Skallerud at 320-598-3797 or beckaberk @yahoo.com. After dinner there will be a short program and then the species count for the day will be recorded. Sunday birding is on your own or stop by Prairie Marsh Farm for directions to local sites.

Local lodging is available at Lou’s Lodge in Madison 320-598-7518, the Vali Vu Motel in Ortonville 320-839-2558, Prairie Waters Inn in Appleton 320-289-2500, and the Country Inn by Carlson in Montevideo 320-269-8000. Free Camping is available at Prairie Marsh Farm, 1770 151st Ave, Marietta, located 7 miles west of US 75 and 1.5 miles south of 212. Contact Ken Larson for more information.