Saint John's Arboretum > Spring Birding Day

Spring Birding Day

Saturday May 9
5:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
or 8:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
and/or 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. NEW MOU-sponsored tour of the Avon Hills!!

For all sessions, meet in Room 269 in the Peter Engel Science Center (follow the signs). Directions to Saint John’s Arboretum

Cost:

Morning sessions - $12 for Arboretum members, $16 for non-members (breakfast & lunch included)
Afternoon session - NO FEE

Pre-registration preferred, but not required

Photo by Liam Cofell-Dwyer
2007 Arboretum Photo Contest Best In Show

Saint John's Arboretum and the Minnesota Ornithologists Union (MOU) have partnered to bring you a day of hiking through an "Important Bird Area" in Minnesota during peak migration! In the morning, we'll stay on the 2,740 acres of Saint John's Arboretum and do all our birding by walking. We have seen 100+ species in past years at Saint John's. Early risers will be stunned by the abundance of birds active early in the day, while latecomers can join either the second birding walk or botany professor Steve Saupe's "Botany & Wildflower" walk.

New this year!! With the help and expertise of the MOU, extend your birding day to the greater Avon Hills area. In the afternoon, join a carpool into the backroads of Avon and Albany to explore a variety of other great birding habitats in the Avon Hills.

Sitings in recent years have included: Gray-cheeked thrush, Cerulean warbler, Mourning warbler, Eastern towhee, Avocet, Harris sparrow and more! To view an index of bird species that have been spotted at Saint John's, click here.

Binoculars are available if needed. Dress for the weather - we go rain or shine!

Schedule: (all tours start in Room 269 of the Peter Engel Science Center - follow the signs)

5:30 a.m. – 8 a.m. – Birding in small groups at Saint John's (e.g. Boardwalk-wetlands; Deep woods –Cerulean)

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. – Continental Breakfast – Room 269 – Peter Engel Science Center

8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. - Birding in small groups

Or – Based on past requests, one small group will visit the Arboretum Plant sale for 1 hour and then go back to birding.

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – All you can eat luncheon at the Saint John’s Refectory and group review of the birds seen, led by Bob Russell from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and SJU alum.

1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Birding with the MOU in the neighboring Avon Hills area, led by MOU member Milt Blomberg. Contact Milt with any questions about the MOU tour.