MBWeekends
MINNESOTA BIRDING WEEKENDS & WEEKS
MARCH 2010 - FEBRUARY 2011 / OUR 25th SEASON
As Minnesota Birding Weeks & Weekends (MBW) enters its 25th season offering unique, modestly priced birding trips in association with the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union (we originated in 1986 as MOU Birding Weekends), we have now accumulated a total of 320 MBWeekends, 5,700+ registrations, and a composite Minnesota list of 355 species.
In addition to a wide selection of MBWeekends, our schedule of out-of-state MBWeeks will not only continue (to South Texas, Big Bend, Arizona, and California) but expand, with the addition of destinations guided previously for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours: e.g., Platte River, Colorado grouse, Churchill, and Newfoundland/Nova Scotia. Other MBWeeks are planned for future seasons – and be sure to compare our inexpensive fees to similar trips by other birding tour companies.
Continuing as well this season is our "Frequent Birders" REBATE Program: all participants will earn a $5 credit for each MBWeekend attended, with these credits accumulating to earn free registrations on future MBWs.
As part of our celebration of 25 years, this season's schedule included a special Memorial Day MBW based at Deep Portage Conservation Reserve in Cass County: photos, anecdotes, and other MBW memorabilia were featured in evening programs – along with three days of birding trips.
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Registrations and MBWeekend fees / MBWeek deposits will accepted on a “first-come-first-served" basis, based on U.S. mail postmarks, and note that some MBWs can become filled months in advance. Maximum registration for most MBWeekends is 15 participants; for most MBWeeks the maximum is between 11 and 13.
Multiple MBWs can be included on a single registration form and on a single check: please make checks payable to M B W. All MBW registrations must include an e-mail address. Unless a MBW is filled, checks are deposited as they are received and registrations are confirmed by e-mail.
Confirmed registrants canceling at least one week in advance of a MBWeekend will receive a refund of 80% of their registration fee; refunds for later cancellations would depend on individual circumstances. The cancellation deadline for refunds of MBWeek deposits is generally one month prior to the MBWeek, when full payment of the MBW fee is normally due.
Those on waiting lists not confirmed for a MBW will receive full refunds; canceled/shortened MBWeekends (e.g., due to weather) would also result in refunds.
The meeting time and place and other information is sent by e-mail to those registered, usually about 4 weeks in advance of the MBWeekend, or 3-4 months before a MBWeek. Unless stated otherwise, MBWeekends 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 generally not included in MBWeekend fees, but participants can make arrangements 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 MBW's e-mailed information. Participants will be able to bring their own food along for meals and/or to eat at restaurants, and our car-pooled birding caravans are normally limited to 4 vehicles as we travel.
The Friday-only, pre-Weekend options to mostly new counties (those not normally included on previous MBWs or covered by most birders) may be taken separately or in combination with the corresponding two-day MBWeekends in adjacent counties.
MBW participants, especially those who are Minnesota residents, are encouraged/expected to be members of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union (http://moumn.org/join.html).
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- 2010-2011 MINNESOTA BIRDING WEEKENDS -
Click on the highlighted name of the MBWeekend for a previous summary of this or
a similar MBWeekend from recent years
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MBWEEKENDS
NOTE: It is still worth registering for a MBWeekend which is FILLED, since there could be cancellations, or an additional leader or extra weekend can sometimes be arranged to accommodate those on the waiting list – full refund of MBW fee is provided if no vacancies develop.
• April 3-4 / Houston & Winona Counties
• pre-MBW option / April 2 / Goodhue & Wabasha Co's
Click here for summary of this 2010 MBWeekend
• May 15-16 / Rock & Pipestone Counties I
Click here for summaries of the 2010 and 2007 MBWeekends
• May 22-23 / Rock & Pipestone Counties II
Click here for summaries of the 2010 and 2007 MBWeekends
• May 29-30-31 / MBW 25th Year Reunion / Deep Portage, Cass County
• pre-MBW option / May 28 / Morrison Co.
Click here for summary of this 2010 MBWeekend
• June 19-20 / Lake of the Woods County
• pre-MBW option / June 18 / Beltrami Co.
Click here for summary of this 2010 MBWeekend
• August 21-22 / Stevens & Traverse & Big Stone Counties
• pre-MBW option / Aug. 20 / Douglas Co.
Click here for summary of the 2010 and 2009 MBWeekends
• September 4-5-6 / Northwestern Minnesota / $70 (Base Karlstad; note change)
• pre-MBW option / Sept. 3 / eastern Roseau Co. (including Roseau, Warroad, and Springsteel Island) / $25
(Base Warroad)
Our 8th Labor Day MBW, again including Agassiz NWR (of course!), moves its base this time to remote Kittson County, enabling us to reach new sites in this under-birded county and in western Marshall, Pennington & Polk Counties: 150+ species are likely, including 20 species of both shorebirds and warblers.
Status as of 25 August 2010: FILLED (limit 26 participants with 2 leaders), 0 on waiting list; vacancies remain on pre-MBW option. (See note above on filled MBWs.)
• September 25 / Duluth I / $20 (Base Duluth)
• September 26 / Duluth II / $20 (Base Duluth)
• pre-MBW option / Sept. 24 / North Shore (additional migrants from Two Harbors to Grand Marais) / $25
(Base Duluth)
Join us for either or both of these one-day trips at Duluth's Erie Pier, Park Point, Stony Point, etc. The fall migrant possibilities are many and often exciting: perhaps Red-throated or Pacific loons, shorebirds, maybe a Sabine’s or Little gull or Arctic Tern, Parasitic Jaeger, grounded warblers, sparrows, longspurs & pipits, and many others.
Status as of 25 August 2010: 3 vacancies Sept 25, 2 vacancies Sept 26 (limit 15 participants each day).
• October 9-10 / Lyon & Lincoln Counties / $40 (Base Marshall)
• pre-MBW option / Oct. 8 / Minnesota River Valley (unique riparian woodlands and rocky grasslands) / $25
(Base Redwood Falls)
Numerous wetlands, grasslands, and woodlands provide endless opportunities for a wide variety of fall migrant waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds, warblers, sparrows, and other passerines. Western rarities and strays are always possible as we bird these productive counties along the South Dakota line – and anything is possible in October.
Status as of 25 August 2010: 9 vacancies (limit 30 participants with 2 leaders).
• October 23-24 / Polk County / $40 (Base Crookston)
• pre-MBW option / Oct. 22 / Mahnomen Co. (including several seldom-birded grasslands and wetlands) / $25
(Base Mahnomen)
The Nature Conservancy prairies, Glacial Ridge NWR, other grasslands, wetlands, and aspen groves southeast of Crookston are renowned for waterfowl, Greater Prairie-Chickens & Sharp-tailed Grouse, Sandhill Cranes, Short-eared Owls, magpies, longspurs, and more which all concentrate here, especially in late fall.
Status as of 25 August 2010: FILLED (limit 15 participants), 1 on waiting list; vacancies remain on pre-MBW option. (See note above on filled MBWs.)
• November 6-7 / North Shore of Lake Superior / $35 (Base Duluth / Grand Marais)
• pre-MBW option / Nov. 5 / Duluth (Park Point, Hawk Ridge, and other sites not covered Nov. 6-7) / $20
(Base Duluth)
Our annual and traditional fall search for Harlequin and Long-tailed ducks, all three scoters, Pacific Loon, Thayer’s and Glaucous gulls, Townsend's Solitaire, Bohemian Waxwing, grosbeaks, crossbills, redpolls, and a rich tradition of numerous North Shore rarities – e.g., witness our discovery of a Black Guillemot in 2009!
Status as of 25 August 2010: FILLED (limit 30 participants with 2 leaders), 2 on waiting list; vacancies remain on pre-MBW option. (See note above on filled MBWs.)
• January 8-9, 2011 / Duluth III / $30 (Base Duluth)
Another MBW with a long tradition seeking northeastern Minnesota specialties: Sharp-tailed and Spruce grouse, Gyrfalcon (maybe), northern owls (Great Gray, Snowy, N. Hawk), Black-backed and Am. Three-toed (perhaps) woodpeckers, Northern Shrike, Boreal Chickadee, Varied Thrush, Bohemian Waxwing, and winter finches.
Status as of 25 August 2010: FILLED (limit 15 participants), 5 on waiting list. (See note above on filled MBWs.)
