You can use our Duluth Audubon Society Birding Map to find the location of one of our guided group trips…or go on your own. Most of these are also described on the Minnesota birding hotspots website and more info is at eBird.
Events Calendar
[Here is a link to past presentation videos]
EVENTS | ||
Saturday, May 11, 2024 | Boulder Lake Big Day On Saturday, May 11th, the Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center will host their Big Day! Gathering at 7 AM, birders will divide into groups to scour the campus and wider area to find as many species as possible. Re-convening at 11 AM, they will share their findings and contribute them to the historical record! Registration details will be sent as available! | Registration Details on the way |
MAY 2024 (TBA) | Spring WARBLER WALKS!!! The time is near! On Tuesday mornings in May, join leaders Clinton and Kristina Dexter-Nienhaus to explore the Park Point Recreational Area environs for migrants! On Thursday mornings in May, Jeff Davis and Eric Gdula will guide participants on a search along the Waabizheshikana Trail. More details will be in the May newsletter! | Park Point (Tuesdays)/ Waabizheshikana Trail (Thursdays) |
April 11, 2024 @ 7 pm (CT) | Around the World with Disney Conservation with Dr. Jason Fischer Disney Conservation works to save wildlife and build a global community inspired to protect the magic of nature. In this presentation, you'll learn more about Disney's conservation efforts on their properties and in collaboration with other conservation organizations. From the Shanghai Disney Resort to the Walt Disney World Resort and beyond, join Dr. Jason Fischer, a Conservation Program Manager for terrestrial wildlife projects, to learn more about Disney's avian conservation efforts around the world. His work involves supporting international avian conservation efforts with the Disney Conservation Fund and developing research and engagement programs focused on the wildlife that calls Walt Disney Parks and Resorts home. | Virtual (ZOOM) Meeting Only (Click Here for Meeting Link) |
March 14, 2024 @ 7 pm (CT) | Camera Trapping Ryan Pennesi is a wildlife and nature photographer living on the North Shore of MN, based in Finland. At our March program he will share photography stories and techniques from his journey as an artist. Ryan’s specialty is "remote camera trapping" which involves a motion sensor and off camera flashes. He will discuss the history of camera trapping as well as what it can teach us in the modern age. He is most interested in using the images and the accompanying tales as conservation tools. Join us as Ryan sparks our curiosity and helps us connect to the natural world in a different way! | (In-Person ONLY) Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth 835 W College St, Duluth, MN 55811 |
Feb. 8, 2024 @ 7 pm (CT) | Wild Orchids in Northern Minnesota with Rubin Stenseng Did you know that there are native, wild orchids right here in the northland? There are 35 species of orchids in the Minnesota Arrowhead region, and they come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, shapes, and seasonal blooms.
| (In-Person ONLY) Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth 835 W College St, Duluth, MN 55811 |
Jan. 11, 2024 @ 7 pm (CT) *** CANCELLED *** | Camera Trapping with Ryan Pennesi Ryan Pennesi is a wildlife and nature photographer living on the North Shore of MN, based in Finland. At our January program he will share photography stories and techniques from his journey as an artist. Ryan’s specialty is "remote camera trapping" which involves a motion sensor and off camera flashes. He will discuss the history of camera trapping as well as what it can teach us in the modern age. He is most interested in using the images and the accompanying tales as conservation tools. Join us as Ryan sparks our curiosity and helps us connect to the natural world in a different way! | *** 1/11/2024 THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER - WILL RESCHEDULE AT A LATER DATE *** (in-person only) Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth 835 W College St, Duluth, MN 55811 |
December/January | Duluth Area Christmas Bird Counts - Get involved! There are CBC Counts that you may be able to participate in. You can even contribute just be counting birds at your own feeder. | |
Nov. 9, 2023 @ 7 pm (CT) | AUTWIN: A MICRO-SEASON WITH LARRY WEBER AutWin is a name that Larry Weber invented for this time of year; the time after the leaves have fallen from the trees and before the lasting snow cover. Usually, it is from about October 20 to November 20; the time of year that we are in now. AutWin is a remarkable time! It is Awesome AutWin! Join us for an evening with Larry Weber as he shares what he has observed in nature during this micro-season! He will also have books of the same name for sale at the presentation. | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth (in-person only) 835 W College St, Duluth, MN 55811 |
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26 @ 10 am CT | SUPERIOR ENTRY GULL WATCH Join obsessive gull watcher and Duluth Audubon Society Vice President Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus for this season's Duluth Audubon Society Superior Entry Gull Watch! This field trip has the intention to view and learn about gull identification in the field. Gulls can be a difficult group of birds to identify, and this field experience will work to help attendees better understand the more common gulls in Minnesota, as well as give pointers on how to spot the more uncommon species of gull that make their way to the state every fall and winter.
| Sign Up Required |
Oct. 28, 2023 (All Day) | NORTH SHORE FIELD TRIP Adventure up the shore on the 7th Annual Duluth Audubon Society North Shore Birding Field Trip! This day trip will be looking for sea ducks, but won't scoff at other late-fall rarities along coastal St. Louis, Lake, and Cook Counties! The trip will start at 7:30 AM in Canal Park with some early morning viewing of birds in the canal, hoping to see both winter gulls and waterfowl. From there, the trip will work up and along the shore, hitting hotspots like Brighton Beach, Agate and Burlington Bay, Taconite Harbor and more ending up in Hovland, just north of Grand Marais.
| Field Trip - Registration Required |
Oct. 12, 2023 @ 7 pm CT | A Birder’s Guide to Minnesota…again! with Kim Eckert Everything old is new again, or so they say. An updated version (including QR codes!) of the classic county by county guide to Minnesota birding will show this to be true. Join us for an evening with Kim Eckert as he fills us in on the latest additions and revisions to A Birder’s Guide to Minnesota! | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth (in-person only) 835 W College St, Duluth, MN 55811 |
Tuesdays in September - Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023 @ 7 am CT | FALL WARBLER WALKS! The birds are headed to their wintering grounds and we wish to bid them a safe journey! Trail and beach conditions may be un-even. Please reach out to [email protected] with any acomodations requests. No registration required. Weather-related cancellations will be communicated by email and Facebook prior to the walk. | Park Point - Duluth (Meet at Park Point Recreation Area) No Registration Required. |
Sept. 14, 2023 @ 7 pm CT | "Midway Island Seabird Conservation" Scott Wolff will share with us his conservation work with Albatross and other Pacific Ocean species on Midway Island. | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth (in-person only) 835 W College St, Duluth, MN 55811 |
June 20, 2023 @ 7-8:30 p.m. (CT) | Pick a Bird Brain Series Dr. James Paruk: Loon Lessons James D. Paruk is one of the world’s leading experts on the Common Loon. Paruk has studied breeding and wintering loons in several states and Canada for 30 years. He recently wrote a book entitled, Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver published by the University of Minnesota Press. The book provides the most current detailed account of what we know about loon biology, behavior, and conservation. Currently, he is a Professor of Biology at St. Joseph’s College, in Maine. This event is co-sponsored by Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Duluth Audubon, and UMD Center for Environmental Education. Come join Jim for an enlightening and entertaining evening celebrating the Minnesota State Bird, our beloved Common Loon. For those of you who will not be able to attend in person, the presentation will be recorded and made available online at a later date on the Hawk Ridge YouTube Channel. | UMD Life Sciences Bldg – Room 175 |
May 18, 2023 | DAS May Program and Annual Meeting - A Catalog of Birds: Birding at St. Scholastica with Brad Snelling and Todd White The College of St. Scholastica has a storied history of birding on campus! Join us for an evening with Brad Snelling and Todd White as they share about birding projects past and present. The program will be preceded by a birding walk with Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus at 5 PM, meeting outside the entrance to the library. The program and annual meeting will take place in the Raven Room at the library, beginning at 7 PM. With the academic year over, parking lots are available for parking. 5 p.m. - Birding Walk 7 p.m. - Program 7:45 p.m. - Annual Meeting | College of St. Scholastica |
May 11, 2023 @ 6 p.m. | Audubon Name and Legacy Discussions As you may be aware, the National organization considered a change of name, but ultimately decided to stay with Audubon. The exploration of a name change has been in response to growing knowledge of the complicated history and legacy of John James Audubon. Will you join us for a meaningful, civil discussion of two articles that explore this complicated history and legacy? We will gather for 90 minutes or so to discuss the following articles. Please read them beforehand and bring them for the discussion! https://www.audubon.org/magazine/spring-2021/what-do-we-do-about-john-james-audubon | Virtual |
May 2, 2023 @ 6 p.m. | Audubon Name and Legacy Discussions As you may be aware, the National organization considered a change of name, but ultimately decided to stay with Audubon. The exploration of a name change has been in response to growing knowledge of the complicated history and legacy of John James Audubon. Will you join us for a meaningful, civil discussion of two articles that explore this complicated history and legacy? We will gather for 90 minutes or so to discuss the following articles. Please read them beforehand and bring them for the discussion! https://www.audubon.org/magazine/spring-2021/what-do-we-do-about-john-james-audubon | Blacklist Brewing Company, Duluth |
May 4, 11, 18, 25, 2023 (i.e. Thursdays) @ 7 a.m. (CT) | Spring Warbler Walks at Western Waterfront Trail! Trail and beach conditions may be un-even. Please reach out to [email protected] with any accomodations requests. No registration required. Weather-related cancellations will be communicated by email and Facebook prior to the walk. | Field Trip [No Registration Required] Meet at Waabizheshikana Trail (Marten or Western Waterfront Trail) Parking lot behind Munger Inn |
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2023 (i.e. Tuesdays) @ 7 a.m. (CT) | Spring Warbler Walks at Park Point! Trail and beach conditions may be un-even. Please reach out to [email protected] with any accomodations requests. No registration required. Weather-related cancellations will be communicated by email and Facebook prior to the walk. | Field Trip [No Registration Required] Meet at Park Point Parking Lot |
April 13, 2023 @ 7 p.m. (CT) | “Animal Rehab at the Great Lakes Aquarium” ~ Danielle Tikalsky (Great Lakes Aquarium) “What happens to animals that undergo a life event leaving them unable to be successful in the wild? For some, the answer can be bleak, but others find themselves on a path of rehabilitation and rehoming at zoos and aquariums! Serving now as ambassadors for their species and conservation, these animals live a different type of life while showing guests where we as humans intersect with their wild counterparts. Join Danielle Tikalsky from Great Lakes Aquarium as we meet Bogey, Horus, and Freeway to hear their stories! Each from different parts of the country, they can share insight into the process and benefits of animal rehabilitation.” | Virtual Presentation |
March 9, 2023 @ 7 p.m. (CT) | Finch Irruptions, the Finch Research Network (FiRN) and the Winter Finch forecast. ~ Matthew A. Young Birders are often delighted to observe winter finches during the winter, and the Winter Finch Forecast is one of the most highly anticipated birding/ornithological reports of the year. Matthew Young, President and Founder of the Finch Research Network, will talk about these interesting and beautiful winter finches and what led to the formation of the Finch Research Network (FiRN), and what FiRN plans to accomplish into the futureplan to talk about finch irruptions, the launching of the Finch Research Network, and where we plan to go in the future with the forecast and research we'll be doing at FiRN. | Virtual Presentation |
February 9, 2023 @ 7 p.m. (CT) | Birding in Cuba ~ with Laura Erickson In the depths of Northland winter, our minds drift like the wind-blown snow. A memory sends us back in time conjuring…what was that sensation again?….oh, yes. Warmth! The daydream takes us to someplace tropical with the sights and sounds of a decidedly different experience than our icy everyday. Laura Erickson will transport us to that place as she remembers her 2016 trip to Cuba. She brought home lots of stories and photos of exciting birds, including of her "Most Wanted" species, the Cuban Tody, to recall on deep winter days such as these. | Virtual Presentation |
January 12, 2023 @ 7 p.m. (CT) | "A Cultural History of Hummingbirds" ~ Noah Comet (Professor of English at U.S. Naval Academy) | Virtual Presentation |
December/January | Duluth Area Christmas Bird Counts - Get involved! There are CBC Counts that you may be able to participate in. You can even contribute just be counting birds at your own feeder. | |
November 6, 13, 20, 27, 2022 @ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (CT) | SUPERIOR ENTRY GULL WATCHES! | Field Trip - Registration Required |
Saturday, October 29, 2022 – ALL DAY | NORTH SHORE SEA DUCK ADVENTURE | Field Trip - Registration Required |
October 13, 2022 @ 7-8 p.m. (CT) | “Natural Connections: Natural Gifts” EMILY STONE – Naturalist | Virtual Presentation |
September 6, 13, 20, 27, 2022 (Tuesdays) @ 7-9 a.m. (CT) | FALL WARBLER WALKS! Park Point Recreation Area, Duluth Join in the fun as we seek to identify those difficult Fall warblers and distant raptors! We will meet at the main parking lot by the Park Point ball fields. For those with mobility or sensory challenges, there may be walking on uneven terrain and sand, as well as limited or no restroom access. | Field Trip - Registration Required |