Listed on this page in detail are trips from the MOU run by Bob Williams and Minnesota Birding Weekends led by Kim Eckert.

Minnesota Birding Weekends, which began back in 1986, will again be directed by Kim Eckert, author of four editions of A Birder's Guide to Minnesota and birding tour guide for over 25 years. Our successful combination of modest fees and a five-fold mission as we begin our 23rd year still remains:

• To introduce participants to Minnesota's best birding places;
• To find the specialty birds of these locales, and to enhance the county, state, and life lists of our participants;
• To study both the basic and finer points of bird identification;
• To meet other birders – we feature two-way radios to keep everyone in contact, a group dinner at day's end, and other personal touches which contribute to a sense of community;
• And, to simply have fun – while we are serious about finding birds, our Weekends have long been characterized by an easy-going approach, with a sense of humor always setting the tone.

We have now had a total of 267 Birding Weekends, more than 5,000 registrations, and our composite bird list is 351 Minnesota species! Last season, we again had Birding Weeks in South Texas and in California, and these two popular destinations (with Arizona added to California and moved to January!) are again being offered. New counties will again be included on the schedule, those mostly overlooked by birders – most are Friday-only trips, which can be taken separately or combined with full, two-day Weekends.

Continuing as well is our "Frequent Birders" Program, in which participants earn a $5 credit for each Weekend attended, with the credits accumulating to eventually earn free registrations on future Weekends.

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Registration and fees for each Weekend are required in advance and can be sent in at any time. Registrations are accepted on a 'first-come-first-served" basis, and please note that some Weekends become filled weeks or months in advance. Maximum registration for most Weekends is 19 participants. A separate registration form and separate check must be made out for each Weekend: please make checks payable to Minnesota Birding Weekends. Unless a Weekend is filled, checks are deposited as they are received, and your canceled check is the confirmation of your registration. Participants are encouraged to be members of Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union ($25 individual membership / $35 family).

Refunds of registration fees will be made in full if a registrant cancels at least ten days in advance of the Weekend (unless stated otherwise in the Weekend information letter); refunds for later cancellations will depend on the individual circumstances. There will also be full or partial refunds if a Weekend is canceled or shortened (e. g., due to weather).

Meeting time and place and other information for a Weekend is normally sent by U.S. mail to those registered about four weeks in advance of the Weekend. Unless stated otherwise, Weekends normally begin at dawn on Saturday, end early to mid-afternoon on Sunday, and are typically based in the same city from Friday night until Sunday.

Transportation, meals, and lodging are not normally included in the Weekends fees, but arrangements can be made for participants to car pool to the base city or to share lodging – a list of those registered and lodging options in the base city are included with the information sent. Participants will be able to bring their own food along for meals and/or to eat at restaurants, and we travel in car-pooled caravans (normally limited to 5 vehicles) during the Weekends.

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• March 29-30 / Nobles and Jackson Counties / $35
For those anxious for the arrival of spring, there is no better place than the southwestern corner of the state. We could see thousands of waterfowl, with probably Ross's and white-fronted geese among them; hawks, sparrows, longspurs, and blackbirds should also be on their way north; and we’ll hope for a stray Prairie Falcon, a juniper-roosting Long-eared or N. Saw-whet owl, and Mountain Bluebirds. (Base Worthington)

• April 26-27 / Polk County / $40
• pre-Weekend option / April 25 / Norman County (additional grasslands and wetlands; Base Ada) / $30 *
The grassland tracts near Crookston are perhaps the best places in the state to see both Sharp-tailed Grouse and Greater Prairie-Chickens displaying, often side-by-side. Other birds to see in this area's many wetlands, fields, and aspens include lots of waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, and Black-billed Magpies. There is always a chance of a rarity or two, like a California Gull, Short-eared Owl, or Smith's Longspur. (Base Crookston)

• May 3-4 / Stearns, Douglas, and Grant Counties / $40
• pre-Weekend option / May 2 / Sherburne County (Sherburne NWR and vicinity; Base Elk River) / $30 *
These counties are best known for their many herons and egrets at the Pelican Lake rookery, and for the Red-necked and Western (and Clark's?) grebe colonies at Lake Osakis. We will look for rarer waders like Snowy and Cattle egrets and Little Blue Heron, and for shorebirds at this area's many sewage ponds. These counties’ woodlands should also have some early warblers and other spring migrants. (Base Sauk Centre)

• May 24-25-26 / Southeastern Minnesota / $70
The specialties of this corner of the state have long been attractive to birders: e.g., Common Moorhen, Acadian Flycatcher, Tufted Titmouse, Bell's Vireo, Blue-winged, Prothonotary and Cerulean warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Henslow's Sparrow. We will also look for Least Bittern, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Willow Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole (and, of course, strays from the Southeast U.S.) at places like Beaver Creek Valley, Reno, La Crescent, Whitewater WMA, and Weaver Dunes SNA. (Base La Crosse, WI)

• May 31-June 1 / Aitkin County and Yellow Rails / $30
The Yellow Rail is easily heard and (with flashlight, boots, and patience!) even possible to see in the famed McGregor Marsh. Also possible on this Saturday evening - Sunday noon Weekend are Sharp-tailed Grouse, Great Gray Owl, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Boreal Chickadee, possibly 20 warbler species (especially Golden-winged, Cape May, and Connecticut), and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. (Base McGregor)

• June 14-15 / Pine County / $45 (Leader Craig Mandel)
• pre-Weekend option / June 13 / Chisago County (St. Croix River woodlands; Base North Branch) / $30 *
Our first Weekend ever in the county where South meets North. Along the St. Croix River, southern birds like cuckoos, Willow Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Eastern Towhee can all occur; while up in the Nemadji State Forest, there are Sharp-tailed Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Alder Flycatcher, Gray Jay, Canada and many other warblers, and Le Conte’s Sparrow. (Base Hinckley)

• June 28-29 / Koochiching County / $45 (Leader Craig Mandel)
• pre-Weekend option / June 27 / Itasca County (additional boreal forests; Base Grand Rapids) / $30 *
Probably no other county in the state has as much potential and mystery as this one. This Weekend will be only our third ever in these numerous bogs and vast coniferous forests, where some possibilities are Spruce Grouse, Black-backed (and Am. Three-toed?) Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied and other flycatchers, Boreal Chickadee, as many as 23 nesting warblers (including Connecticut), and crossbills. (Base Northome)

• August 9-10 / Stevens, Traverse, and Big Stone Counties / $40
• pre-Weekend option / August 8 / Pope County (woodlands, additional wetlands; Base Glenwood) / $30 *
Traverse County has both excellent wetlands (especially Mud Lake) and remnant prairie grasslands, with Clark's Grebe, White-faced Ibis, and Henslow’s and Le Conte’s sparrows all occurring in recent summers. There are also good wetlands (and sewage ponds) in Big Stone County, and this is the peak time and best part of the state for seeing shorebirds and studying their ID. (Base Morris)

• August 30-31-September 1 / Northwestern Minnesota / $65
Our sixth Labor Day Weekend in this corner of the state will include Agassiz NWR, Thief Lake and other remote WMAs, Lake of the Woods, plus lesser-known areas as far as Kittson County. With little birding here in fall, the possibilities are many and unpredictable. Past Weekends here have averaged 150+ species, highlighted by 20 species each of shorebirds and warblers, and rarities like Prairie Falcon, Red Knot, Long-tailed Jaeger, 110 magpies in a single flock, and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. (Base Thief River Falls)

• September 13-14 / Minnesota River Valley / $35
This forested "oasis" and migration corridor still remains as one of the most under-appreciated areas in the state. If the weather cooperates, we might well see the peak fall movement of warblers and other migrant woods birds; rocky outcrops, grasslands, and juniper groves invite western strays from the Dakotas; and nearby wetlands should yield a good variety of shorebirds and other water birds. (Base Redwood Falls)

• September 27 / Duluth I / $25 
• September 28 / Duluth II / $25
Join us for either or both of these one-day trips around Duluth and vicinity, as we scour Lake Superior, Park Point, and the North Shore from Stoney Point to Two Harbors for fall migrants of all kinds. Recent Septembers at Park Point have seen records of Red Phalarope, all three jaegers, California, Sabine's and Little gulls, Arctic Tern, and passerines like Say’s Phoebe and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. (Base Duluth)

• October 17-18-19 / Leech Lake, Lake Winnie, and Mille Lacs / $190 (meals and lodging included)
The fall counts of loons and gulls on these lakes have long been impressive, as is the list of recent rarities: e.g., Harlequin and Long-tailed ducks, all three scoters, Yellow-billed (twice), Red-throated and Pacific loons, and Little, Sabine's, California and even Mew gulls. A boat trip to Pelican Island (Elegant Tern here in 2007!) on Leech Lake will even be offered, all lodging and meals will be at Deep Portage Conservation Reserve near Hackensack, and the fee covers 3 nights lodging and 7 meals (Fri. breakfast - Sun. breakfast).

• November 1-2 / North Shore / $35
• pre-Weekend option / October 31 / Duluth (sites not done Nov. 1-2: Park Point, Hawk Ridge, etc.) / $20 *
Brant, King Eider, Yellow-billed Loon, Purple Sandpiper, Black-legged Kittiwake, Ancient Murrelet, Anna's Hummingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Fieldfare, Sage Thrasher: all recent North Shore records in November! More likely on this popular trip are Long-tailed Duck, all three scoters, Pacific Loon, Thayer’s Gull, Townsend's Solitaire, Bohemian Waxwing, winter finches, and more. (Base Duluth & Grand Marais)

• January 10-11, 2009 / Duluth III / $35
Little wonder this Weekend is such an annual tradition, with Sharp-tailed Grouse, Great Gray, Snowy and
N. Hawk owls, Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Shrike, Boreal Chickadee, Bohemian Waxwing, and winter finches all among the specialties. Also, some not unexpected rarities have included Harlequin Duck, Spruce Grouse, Gyrfalcon, Am. Three-toed Woodpecker, Varied Thrush, and many others. (Base Duluth)

• January 17 - 25, 2009 / CALIFORNIA & ARIZONA / FILLED with 14 on waiting list / $100 deposit / (Co-Leader Craig Mandel)
This Birding Week, our fourth in California, moves to January with Arizona (and balmy highs in the mid-60s) added to the itinerary! Coastal and montane habitats near San Diego, the Salton Sea, the Yuma and Phoenix areas of Arizona, and canyons and grasslands near Tucson will combine to produce well over 200 species. Among these: Brant, Eurasian Wigeon, Gambel's Quail, Black-vented Shearwater, numerous shorebirds and gulls (including Mountain Plover and Yellow-footed Gull), Ruddy Ground-Dove, Whiskered and Western screech-owls, Magnificent and Costa's hummingbirds, several woodpeckers (Lewis's, Acorn, Gila, Nuttall's, Arizona, and Gilded Flicker), Hammond's and Gray flycatchers, Hutton's Vireo, Mexican Jay, Bridled, Oak, and Juniper titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Canyon Wren, California Gnatcatcher, Western Bluebird, Wrentit, Bendire's, California, Crissal, and Le Conte's thrashers, Phainopepla, Townsend's Warbler, Painted Redstart, towhees (Green-tailed, Canyon, California and Abert's) many sparrows (Sage, Rufous-winged, Rufous-crowned, Brewer's, and Yellow-eyed Junco), and much more. Information on the itinerary, lodging, and costs (about $1,000 double-occupancy + air fare + meals) will be sent in October.

• February 7 - 15, 2009 / SOUTH TEXAS / $100 deposit
During this Birding Week, our 22nd to the lower Rio Grande Valley, we can expect a long list of birds not found in Minnesota, many which occur nowhere else in the U.S. – including Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Muscovy Duck, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Hook-billed Kite, White-tailed Hawk, Whooping Crane, Red-billed Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, Green Parakeet, Red-crowned Parrot, Groove-billed Ani, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ringed and Green kingfishers, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Great Kiskadee, Tropical and Couch's kingbirds, Green and Brown jays, Cave Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Clay-colored Robin, Tropical Parula, White-collared Seedeater, Olive Sparrow, Altamira and Audubon's orioles, and more. Mexican rarities are also seen each winter: e. g., in 2005 alone, we saw Roadside Hawk, Common Black-Hawk, Elegant Trogan, White-throated Robin, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, and Crimson-collared Grosbeak! Information will be sent in November about the itinerary, lodging, cost (last year about $750 double-occupancy + air fare + meals), and weather: normal highs are in the low 70s – some 50 degrees warmer than in Minneapolis.

* NOTE: The Friday-only, pre-Weekend options may either be taken separately or in combination with the corresponding two-day Weekends in adjacent counties.

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MINNESOTA BIRDING WEEKENDS REGISTRATION FORM

Weekend __________________________________________

Name _____________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Telephone(s) _______________________________________

E-mail address ______________________________________

Other(s) included in this registration (name, mailing address, telephone, e-mail):

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
       
Total amount enclosed: $ _____________

Please fill out a separate registration form and a separate check for each Weekend; make checks payable to: MINNESOTA BIRDING WEEKENDS, c/o Kim R. Eckert, 1921 W. Kent Rd., Duluth MN 55812. Your canceled check will serve as confirmation of your registration. Participants are encouraged to join the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union ($25 individual member / $35 family); MOU membership dues (on a separate check payable to MOU) may be included with your Weekends registration. THANK YOU!

Questions? Contact Kim Eckert / telephone (218) 525-6930 / e-mail <eckertkr@gmail.com>

The 4th edition (revised 2002) of A BIRDER'S GUIDE TO MINNESOTA is still available — with updates now on the MOU website. This standard bird-finding reference (the spiral-bound, soft-cover edition) is $20, and a limited hard-cover edition (only 40 copies printed) @$40 is also available. If you place your order with a Minnesota Birding Weekends registration, I will pay the $4.00 for sales tax and shipping. Make checks payable to: Gavian Guides, Kim R. Eckert, 1921 W. Kent Rd., Duluth, MN 55812.

____ Soft-cover copies @20.00

____ Hard-cover copies @40.00

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