And, as a daily fixture at Hawk Ridge in Duluth each fall for 14 years, Panda had a special fondness for perching atop this one rock, the tallest one along Skyline Parkway. Indeed, he became part of the “Skyline” of the Ridge, the first sight many would notice upon their arrival. It almost seemed every Minnesota birder and hawk watcher came to know Panda and perhaps lost something, too, when he died. The landscape of Hawk Ridge then seemed diminished – that highest rock still stands, but not quite as tall as it did before.
Regretfully, those years with Panda and the decades with Bob are long gone now. A time well before eBird, narcissistic Facebook pages and other anti-social media, birding apps of dubious merit, and electronic gimmicks and gadgets. It was a time of developing telephone hotlines, the first birding listserves, and bird-finding guides telling you where to go. It sometimes seems no one is interested in finding their own birds and birding places any more. I actually hope this guide is not too comprehensive, that there are still places left to discover and birds to find on your own.
________
I recited this poem on Friday night of the Reunion, although it doesn’t really seem to have much to do with MBWs – at least not directly. But you might want to consider we’ve long had a love-hate relationship with Trumpeter Swans (aka White Starlings), that I was an English major at St. John’s, and always have this literary inclination. And consider that Lorie's life here calls to my mind the end of this MBW era. By the way, the swan in the poem is most likely a Mute Swan, not a Trumpeter, but that's OK since the poem isn’t really about swans anyway...
The Swan at Edgewater Park
Isn't one of your prissy rich peoples' swans
Wouldn't be at home on some pristine pond
Chooses the whole stinking shoreline, candy wrappers, condoms
in its tidal fringe
Prefers to curve its muscular, slightly grubby neck
into the body of a Great Lake,
Swilling whatever it is swans swill,
Chardonnay of algae with bouquet of crud,
While Clevelanders walk by saying Look
at that big duck!
Beauty isn't the point here; of course
the swan is beautiful,
But not like Lorie at 16, when
Everything was possible—no
More like Lorie at 27
Smoking away her days off in her dirty kitchen,
Her kid with asthma watching TV,
The boyfriend who doesn't know yet she's gonna
Leave him, washing his car out back—and
He's a runty little guy, and drinks too much, and
It's not his kid anyway, but he loves her, he
Really does, he loves them both—
That's the kind of swan this is.
–Ruth Schwartz
________
I still remember Molly Henke’s assessment of the Rock County MBW as we adjourned at the Hardwick sewage ponds to return home that Sunday: “It was great sport.” Molly didn’t go on that many MBWs, and this was several years ago. But I never heard anyone before or since describe a MBW in this way. As Bob Russell once wrote before the dawn of the MBW era, “Oh well, think about things...” Maybe Molly was on to something.
________
One of my favorite movies of all time dates back 60 years, to 1965. You’ve probably never heard of “A Thousand Clowns”, but it was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar that year, and the line I remember most is when Murray Burns, the free-spirited protagonist, says to his brother:
“If most things aren’t funny, Arnie,
then they’re only exactly what they are.”
Murray would have made a fine Junior Tour Leader.
* * *
The JTL Report
by John Quinn (aspiring Junior Tour Leader)
I am a late arrival to the Kim Eckert ERA tour. A sort of desperate cowbird who snuck into the nest then began begging for full attention at the expense of the real birders. Thus, my appreciation for the long winding – or is it winded? – journey that is Kim’s and MBW’s as told by others. What a blessing it was to hear more of those tall tales and amusing anecdotes from so many people. And I feel much better as an aspiring JTL that others had been fired before me. Someday I hope to receive my badge and diploma. Plus, compensation for all my unpaid breaks, mandatory overtime, and union mandated naps.
Thursday morning, I left Minneapolis and wandered my way north following the “Damn Book” through Pine and Carlton counties. I stopped frequently and listened to the winter silence far away from the hustle and grumble of cars and people. A Ruffed Grouse flushed on the snowmobile trail I walked before the flock of Red-breasted Nuthatches and chickadees descended on my JTL 2500 device. I discovered the Gandy Dancer Road is not plowed through in the winter. (Obviously that needs to be in the next revision.) I went to bed that evening reflective and a little nervous about my promotion to field trip leader the following day.
Friday, January 9 – Sax-Zim Bog – 12:30pm @The Welcome Center
The Golden Eagle was a sign. Frank Forsberg and I were dutifully driving up early to Sax-Zim to scout the area prior to our first real MBW leadership opportunity. Black-billed Magpies flew up from edge of the road, a good trip bird, and we pulled over to get better looks and start an eBird list. Three years ago, I would have blown off the mottled, juvenile “bald eagle” and admired the white tail and head of the adult in the tree to the west. But I done got an edjumufaction having been tartly corrected by Kim on a Yellow-Medicine County trip a couple of years ago. I started ticking off the features. It had to be a Golden. Unwilling to stake my future career with a wrong ID bird report on the fancy WhatsApp group chat I took a picture and texted Proper Adult Supervision. “Yes. Where are you?” was Kim’s reply. Woohoo, this MBW leading business is easy, I exclaimed.
Especially after we drove south on CR 47 (signed as a “Hwy”) and the Northern Hawk Owl was perched so close to the road I took a video from the passenger seat. Frank and I were feeling pretty flush, until we realized that Kim had scheduled Craig and Mary to be nearby or participating at all times. Ah, a trusted and competent person sent along to keep an eye on the newbies. I wonder if he empowered them to fire me. Time would tell.
We met everyone at the Welcome Center. Frank had brought lunch for both of us. I ticked off the Pine Grosbeaks working the feeders outside.
The next couple of days were a bit of blur between fumbling radios, my cell phone, maps, and watching for birds. And in full transparency I abandoned my customary practice of personal eBird checklists at every stop along with journal notes. It was more important to help others find the birds, remain safe, and learn the trade (managing radios, maps, GPS, directions, etc.); therefore my recollection of who, what, where is sketchy. Corrections should be sent to my editor. Thank goodness Frank was driving. Especially when we had a rotating cast of characters in back seat. At one point Allison, Fran, and her sister Lonnie. Trial by fire.
Dividing up between Craig's group and “Who hasn’t seen the Northern Hawk Owl”, Frank and I returned to Hwy. 47 to find the bird in the nearly the same spot. Scopes came out and we all enjoyed a good winter bird for Minnesota. It flew several times to hunt over the fields and then returned. That was great. So often this is a “distant popsicle on a stick” bird. For a couple of people, it was a life bird. We paused at the golden eagle spot waiting for Craig's group to finish the Starflower Bog trail. It had not returned.
Everyone in our group was pleased. So far. Frank and I swelled up with confidence beyond the holding capacity of our seat belts as we decided to take St. Louis CR 7 north assuming a Great Gray Owl (or even Barn Owl) would be an automatic and then continue to the Admiral Rd feeders. I promptly missed the turn. We detoured to McDavitt Road, avoiding a flip-around on slippery roads, to look for the reported Evening Grosbeaks. Finding none we circled around to Admiral Road to meet up with Craig’s group while looking in the usual spots for non-existent Snow Buntings, Redpolls, Goshawks and other impossible birds to find. Time for some amusing Kim stories to distract the group.
Sam found the Boreal Chickadee high in the spruce tree on Admiral. Everyone got at least a partial look at the bird(s) – there might have been two. And multiple Pine Grosbeaks, with several of them dark red males. Knowing we needed to be back in Duluth for the evening festivities we hustled back to the cars. Fran, Allison, and Lonnie were so excited after their day of birding with Frank and me they drove off the road while leaving the Welcome Center. I believe some cookies might also have been involved but that’s their memory to share. Thankfully George was there and along with the miraculous appearance of white van filled with five strong men we were able to push out the car and still make it to dinner on time.
I had the pleasure of sitting next to Peder and his wife Sue and at the same table as the Two Harbors contingent led by Jim Lind. Think about that quantity and quality of birding skills as you peruse the MOU 300 Club.
With so much history to cover it was impossible for everyone to share their stories. Capturing these could give Kim something to do in retirement besides reading to children. My suggested working title is Kim. “A picturesque novel by an English Major notable for its detailed portrait of the people, culture, and various birding religions of Minnesota – including the cult known as county listers.” Rudyard Kipling would be proud. Emotions ran high with laughter and tears from shared stories by people who had known Kim most of their lives. The evening concluded with pictures and commentary on several out of state adventures. Those were the days and decades. I fell asleep later that night reflecting on my own career and how a good life well lived impacts so many people.
Saturday, January 10 - Sax-Zim Bog – 8:00am @The Welcome Center
Frank and I rose early (hear that, boss?) so we could scout for Great Gray Owls in Sax-Zim prior to meeting our group. Snow was falling and conditions were slippery as we drove north in the dark. We didn’t find anything new but had an opportunity to reflect on the previous evening and how what we’re proposing to do in the future was audacious.
We met the new group at the Welcome Center and took a poll on who wanted to see the Northern Hawk Owl. It was a unanimous that our skillful guiding would be required. What a confidence booster to drive to a location, see the photographers’ cars, and breathe a sigh of relief that it was cooperative again.
While not as close to the road as the previous day we had great looks at the owl as it perched high in the spruce then flew out occasionally. It stayed put long enough to get the scope on it several times. A beautiful bird when you observe the complex variations of black and white.
Ellen kindly agreed to keep the eBird list for the trip. She is also a good spotter finding Northern Shrike and calling out other birds that I missed from the front seat. I was pleased to explain to her the Jeff Stephenson protocol: “If you want to stop. Say STOP! Mumbling from the backseat means I don’t stop.” This launched us into the “Oh, oh, oh” of Kathrynne and various other “I think I see a bird” utterings that could fill several pages of Kim’s next book. Please note: Indexing will be by others. We continued to share MBW stories, mostly at Kim’s expense, while we drove around Sax-Zim. Oh, if the conifers had ears.
We stopped at the Admiral Rd feeders and Claudia observed a possible Boreal Chickadee but I could not confirm nor did it make another appearance. We decided to make another trip to the Zabin (aka Sisu) feeders on McDavitt Road. The quantity of Evening Grosbeaks was marvelous. At first there where one or two, then a flock of birds descended on the feeders. We counted at least seventy-five fluttering and feeding in their black and gold finery. The joy of birding is a combination of persistent pursuit and right timing. As my new boss would say, “If you want to see more birds, go outside.”
We returned to Welcome Center before racing off to our next leadership opportunity in Canal Park. My trusty partner had packed enough lunch for both of us, again (I could get used to this), and we made it to Canal Park on time. On the way we discussed the responsibility of ensuring two great birders – Dana and Brad – found some good birds. Yikes. The pressure. And I wondered if Julie brought some of that famous Chicago popcorn to help ward off the cold made more pronounced by wind blowing in from the northwest. But Mary had given us a thumbs up at the end of the previous session. Wahoo. Maybe we can figure this out.
Saturday, January 10 – Duluth-Two Harbors – 12:30pm @Canal Park
We walked over to the canal and harbor to scan a flock of Common Goldeneyes, found one Common Merganser, Rock Pigeons, and a few gulls. With the wind blowing onto the lake Craig thought Leif Erickson Park could provide better views while remaining out of the wind. We sorted through 177 goldeneyes before someone spotted the Harlequin. It was easy to pick out once you were on the smaller bird with the characteristic white spots on the face. We found a flock of Red-breasted Merganser farther out on the lake, identifiable only with determination. The murmuration of Rock Pigeons alerted me to the Peregrine Falcon in pursuit of a late lunch. It stooped and swooped over the skyline. Even Dana was pleased with the day list addition.
The WLSSD’s Yard Waste Facility) is often worth a look for a Glaucous Gull. Only a single Bald Eagle was present. The group decided we were cold enough to call it a day and headed back toward Canal Park. On a whim I asked our group of they wanted to swing by Pier B where I had observed some ducks from across the harbor. Ellen, Judy J, Frank, and I got out of the wind behind the concrete grain bins and added Mallard and – most importantly– Canadian Honkers to our day list. Chilled to bone, Ellen invited us to join her in the Pier B hotel for warm drinks. I was sure a Hot Toddy would restore the feeling to my fingers and toes. I enjoyed the warmth of good company and more good stories from Judy, all while exploring the intricacies of eBird trip reports.
Dinner observations
Most of you were there for the event. It could not have gone better. You have your own memories. Keep those alive and close to your heart. Like a favorite poem. My JTL observations are two-fold:
Many people deserve recognition for their parts on this stage…
• Barb – What an extraordinary effort to work behind the scenes to bring all the pictures together, to help coordinate people, food, meeting places, the list goes on. I looked over a few times as Kim was wandering around the room. Her serenity in the midst of potential chaos and expected calamity was something to behold.
• Sparky – The “AV” guy is always under appreciated. Having the speakers, microphone, pictures, not to mention patiently adapting to the whims of Kim’s ramblings deserves a shout out.
• Bill and Bonnie – Their early outreach and coordination of donations was a big reason over $64,000 was raised for Sax-Zim Bog in recognition of Kim ’s MBWs.
• Mary – Always the efficient coordinator making sure things get done and people do what they’re supposed to. Preferably now.
• Craig – When I saw the early pictures of Craig, it brought home how dedicated he has been to Kim, MBW’s, and birders in general. Many of us are witnesses and beneficiaries of that. He’s the Yang to Kim’s Yin. I was pleased to be standing up in front with him as he has agreed to help lead our Never Ending Tour in 2026.
I’ve been a small business owner / entrepreneur for many years. There are a few reasons, in my observation, for Kim’s success…
• Passion – I’ll never forget when Kim and Jeff Stephenson hustled their way back from a ¼ mile away to see a Golden-crowned Sparrow. Kim was breathing hard and his visible excitement to see his ~498th Texas bird was palpable. I was more surprised when he reported after a slow day birding in Duluth that his favorite part was spending time identifying a female Red-breasted Merganser and helping us learn to do the same with a long, long lecture on the key diagnostics. And finally, how on every MBW he continuously calls out everyday birds with enthusiasm. Sometimes with outright joy. One too many American Redstarts might be his limit, but his passion is contagious.
• Urgency – From “Let’s blow this hell hole” to “We’re not here to look at Redstarts all day!” to random stops along back country roads based on “I hear… let’s stop and try this spot.” Kim’s timekeeping is a skill that is under appreciated. My propensity when I’m birding alone is to tough it out with another 1000 steps or just around the next bend. I learned now that if there aren’t birds go try someplace else more interesting. How does he find them? It must be in all of those emails I never read.
• Integrity – My bird ID confidence went up by 25% the day a raptor flew towards me, over my head, past Kim, and past the group. Cooper’s I called out. Joel called out Sharp-shinned. We both looked at Kim. For the right answer. He asked several ID questions for which I offered several guesses to convince the audience. Kim said, “I don’t know.” I thought, “Wait a minute, you saw the bird as well or better than I did! You’re the Proper Adult. I demand an ID!” Then the aha moment arrived. It is okay not to know and identify every bird I see. There will more birds. There will be more opportunities to learn and identify birds. Of course, there will be times when an ID is essential. The takeaway was never to compromise my integrity by adding a bird to my day list or life list for which I wasn’t sure. Kim taught me that it okay to not know. Of course, as JTL I am incapable of knowing anything.
• Deliver on the Promise – As a Junior Tour Leader, I am intent on making everyone on the trip happy. I promise that we will see certain birds on our trip, you know, like Black Guillemot or Sprague’s Pipit. I even encourage people to demand their money back if they don’t find their wish bird. Kim promises nothing except the opportunity to join other passionate birders, learn something every time you explore a part of the state you wouldn’t otherwise visit, have fun, and see some birds. Sometimes a lot, sometimes only a few. Exactly what I signed up for.
It is an honor to be a part of history. As I looked out over the room some of the best birders in Minnesota were present. And Kim’s many friends were also present. His lifelong dedication to birding has paid multiple dividends. And will long into the future. I am a witness to that. And I experienced that in microcosm when Kim shared his final thoughts and the poem.
Sunday, January 11 – Duluth – 8:00am @Canal Park
We met in the main parking lot, free in the winter season, and decided to walk over to the canal and harbor prior to driving over to Leif Erickson Park or E 21st to find the Harlequin Duck. The wind made it feel colder as we tucked behind whatever object we could find to block the wind. We scanned the harbor a couple of times observing mostly goldeneyes. Resigned to driving back to Leif Erickson Park to pick through the hundreds of goldeneyes, Rick scoped the harbor one last time. There was the Harlequin. Tucked up against the break wall. For several people this was a life bird with much better views than the previous day. While not the spectacular plumage of a breeding bird, the shape, size, and unique plumage makes this a fun bird to watch. Plus, my day list, county list, year list all were satisfied. Glassing the gulls, Rick called out the Glaucous Gull flying overhead. Once again demonstrating the benefit of birding as a group and confirming the importance of MBW’s in encouraging and educating others.
Pushing our luck, we decided to look for Bohemian Waxwings and the Short-eared Owl out on Park Point. Braving the cold and wind this intrepid group hiked out past the airport. Multiple Bald Eagles were perusing the ice-fishers discarded catch and from a distance we counted a dozen or more on the open water and ore dock. As we returned a coyote loped across the ice also looking for fish scraps.
We hustled back to the cars and made a fortuitous pit stop at the DeWitt Seitz building. There I found an espresso shop while Mary and Rick did some research. Discovering that Nicoletti’s feeders had not had Redpolls for a couple of weeks my leadership faced a rebellion. With some good old-fashioned collaborative thinking and a JTL’s future on the line we opted for returning to Leif Erickson Park to scan for Northern Saw-whet Owls, Peregrine Falcons, and waxwings. I immediately put Claudia in charge of the falcons (her target bird) and Sam and Jess in charge of waxwings (their target bird) and absolved myself of all responsibilities. Whew, that was close.
We diligently searched the conifers without success. As we started for the bridge, Jess called out waxwings. Maybe she should be leading this group. And I should have specified Bohemian. We added the Cedar Waxwings to our trip list and continued down to the lake. Not much was happening and some of us were ready to head home. We piled into cars to return to Canal Park. As we drove down Superior Street the peregrine swooped down in our line of sight and landed on the new building. We swerved, u-turned, and did a flip-around to enter the Fitgers parking lot. There were two falcons. The light was good so multiple people digiscoped as one of them perched surveying its realm. A great way to finish the trip. How hard can this MBW business be?
It’s the end of an era. I hereby officially by all powers not vested in anything promote Kim R. Eckert to Tour Leader Emeritus (TLE). Qualifications: English Major (St. John’s University) and 40 years of MBWs.
Respectfully submitted, John Quinn
Title: Co-leader (I promoted myself without asking anyone)
Qualifications: English Major (University St. Thomas), and a couple of years – not counting employment lapses – as MBW JTL.
[PS – A note about the future… The Never Ending Tour is in the works for the 2026-27 season. We have a schedule ready to be published. Craig is excited to lead and will provide the Proper Adult Supervision. Kim will be doing the same. Frank Forsberg’ and I are creating the organizational structure, setting up the new website, preparing for registration and fee collection, and other details associated with startup. I am looking forward to a great season after this long winter. The sooner the ICE is out the better.]
––––––––––––
Additional Field Trip Photos
MINNESOTA BIRDING WEEKENDS REUNION
A CELEBRATION OF 40 YEARS
1986 – 2025
––––
The End of an Era
Duluth, MN
January 8 - 9 - 10, 2026
We all sort of knew it couldn’t be done. Just how is it possible to adequately reminisce and remember 40 seasons of Minnesota Birding Weekends, not to mention nearly as many years of Minnesota Birding Weeks as well? And to do all that within a span of just a few hours spread over two evenings? But we went ahead and tried anyway, and the result was a unique and memorable early January weekend in Duluth. And we did manage to stir up both fond and funny memories of so many people, places, and birds that have combined to create the MBW Experience –although we still would have needed several more evenings to mention them all.
Consider all the highlights that would have to be gleaned from our history of 500
MBWeekends – going back to March 1986 in Nobles County…continuing on with 9,000+ MBWers registered to eventually visit all 87 counties…compiling a list of 371 species found within Minnesota (see mbwbirds.com/checklists.html). Concluding with our 500th MBW in November 2025 along the Mississippi River between the Iowa border and Lake Pepin. The rarest bird we ever discovered on a MBWeekend was the first-state-record Black Guillemot in Taconite Harbor in 2009, but highlighting this and no others would tend to disrespect the 57 other Casuals/Accidentals on our composite MBWeekends list.
Adding to all that, our evenings would still have highlights to mention from 35 seasons of out-of-state MBWeeks – the first ones in January and February 1988 in Florida and Texas…followed by nearly 130 other MBWeeks visiting 15 states and 7 Canadian provinces…with some 1,400 registrations through our final MBWeek in South Texas in 2024…and the final additions to our composite MBWeeks list of 730+ species – again, see MBWbirds.com. This last MBW probably had the most amazing list of rarities of them all: Bar-tailed Godwit, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Roadside Hawk, Mottled Owl, Cattle Tyrant, Gray-collared Becard, Brown Jay, and Fan-tailed Warbler! Quite a list, to be sure, but don’t forget there were 125+ other MBWeeks with about 280 non-Minnesota species worthy of note on their lists (the total MN list is 450+ species).
* * *
The Field Trips
Most of us went birding, too, of course...
Matt Schaut photo
MBW REUNION ~ January 9-10-11, 2026
Canada Goose
American Wigeon (Grand Marais harbor)
Mallard
American Black Duck
Harlequin Duck (2 of them: Canal Park area; Agate Bay in Two Harbors)
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Wild Turkey
Ruffed Grouse
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Aitkin Co)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Herring Gull
Iceland Gull (WLSSD compost @27th Ave W)
Glaucous Gull (ditto)
Golden Eagle (along CR 133 in Sax-Zim E of Meadowlands)
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk (Aitkin Co)
Snowy Owl (at least 3 in Superior airport area)
Northern Hawk Owl (CR 47 south of CR 133 in Sax-Zim)
Barred Owl
Great Gray Owl (Tom L from TX spotted his own lifer along Lake CR 2 !)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Three-toed Woodpecker (found by Julie G on Plum Creek Rd W of Cook)
Black-backed Woodpecker (up to 7 of them along Indian Creek Rd burn)
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon (2 @Greysolon Plaza Bldg)
Northern Shrike
Canada Jay
Blue Jay
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee (Admiral Rd feeders in Sax-Zim; Betty’s Pies feeders)
Bohemian Waxwing (Grand Marais only)
Cedar Waxwing
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
American Robin
House Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (8th Ave & 4th St feeders, Two Harbors)
Evening Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeak
House Finch
Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Snow Bunting
American Tree Sparrow (Aitkin Co)
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Although this is shaping up to be a relatively slow winter, we managed to find a decent total of 61 species during our birding efforts from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning. Unfortunately, these did not include White-winged Scoter, Spruce Grouse, Mountain Bluebird, and Townsend’s Solitaire which were all reported within a day or two of our Reunion Weekend. (The bluebird in Grand Marais was especially frustrating, being seen around noon on Friday, but not by any MBWers then or thereafter.)
It was nice to see that our WhatsApp texts worked out so well in keeping everyone informed during the self-service and guided field trips – it seems there were only a few who couldn’t figure out how it worked. (I’ll probably discontinue our MBW texting group next week, but perhaps it will reappear in some form once the new edition of MBWs begins this spring.) And my thanks to those who helped with the field trips: Frank Forsberg, Mary Gabrys, Julie Grahn, David Grosshuesch, Jim & Sharon Lind, Craig Mandel, Frank Nicoletti, John Quinn, Kim & Cindy Risen, and Josh Watson.
Sunday’s group after finding 7 Black-backed Woodpeckers near Brimson
(Dana Sterner photo)
* * *
MBWers Party Like It’s 1986
Barb also handled your dinner reservations at the door with the help of Mary Gabrys – Mary was helpful as well in several behind-the-scenes Reunion details. And Sparky Stensaas served as tech support as he made sure each night’s power points appeared without any glitches. But far more significant was the group led by Bill Marengo and Bonnie Mulligan who solicited funds for the surprising and exceptionally generous donation to Friends of Sax-Zim Bog in the name of Minnesota Birding Weekends. This was yet another project that I was unaware of until it was announced at Saturday’s dinner – an amazing grand total of $64,600 provided by some 130 MBWers! I don’t know who is more appreciative of this: myself or Sax-Zim Bog.
* * *
Some unrelated but Reunion-relevant images and comments follow; I wanted to include these somewhere and couldn’t find a better place to fit them in…
* It’s often said that I hardly ever smile for the camera, and when I do it tends not to be a pretty sight. But I wanted to include a picture of Tom Langschied, a close friend from Kingsville, Texas, who had never been birding up here in winter. I believe he had 4 or 5 life birds, including the Great Gray he spotted for us on Saturday’s field trip up Lake CR 2. Tom is on the left, and the goofy-looking guy next to him is KRE who looks that way because he’s trying to smile.
Frank Nicoletti photo
* Craig Mandel, of course, has been an essential part of MBWs since he has been leading these with me for some 30 years. He is best known for his generosity as he literally would lead MBWs even if he weren’t paid. (I think one year we figured he made $3.25 an hour – no wonder MBW fees have always been so low!) Craig's also known for his indecisiveness: ask me sometime about the Black Guillemot in Taconite Harbor in 2009, or when I seek his advice about MBW itinerary options ("well, we could do that too.") And for his aversion to cold weather – here he is in Thief River Falls in 2023 bundled up in his winter jacket on a day when it hit 90+ degrees.
KRE photo
* John Quinn started writing his unique and personal MBW summaries in early 2024. Now called The JTL Reports, these tangent-riddled ramblings have become essential reading after each MBWeekend. His odd narratives began when he started to be obsessed with becoming a MBW Junior Tour Leader. But he never quite made it as a JTL since the statute of limitations has now expired, as he and Frank Forsberg begin their version of MBWeekends in spring 2026. John took this turn of events in stride, as shown by the sticker on the back of his phone.
* * *
Deceased MBWers
After four decades, you are bound to have known some who have birded with us at one time or another but are no longer with us. Following are those who come to mind as I reminisce, with my apologies to those I may have forgotten…
Elizabeth Bell
Jo & Steve Blanich
Dorothy Brindle
Dave Cahlander
Bob DeWenter
Bob Ekblad
John Ellis
Molly Evans
Rick Fournier
Dick Hartman
Ken & Molly Hoffman
Nancy Jackson
Linda Johnson
Chuck Krulas
George Lahr
Tim Leahy
Fred Lesher
Al Loken
Becky Lystig
Molly Malecek
Leslie Marcus
Doug Mayo
Mike Mulligan
Warren Nelson
Jim Otto
Panda
Leata Pearson
Bob Russell
Terry Savaloja
* * *
Some Final Thoughts
After our modest beginnings 40 years ago as little more than a collection of a few field trips in association with the MOU, we have now built an actual MBW Community. One could almost say it’s evolved into a way of life – based on a sense of humor and never taking ourselves too seriously, always keeping in mind that there are often more important things than birds on a bird trip, that it’s possible to have fun even if the birds and weather fail to cooperate. That my car is sometimes in the back as we carpool, or for me to be last in line on a trail, not always the first to spot something or determine its ID. You have always served as my co-leaders, often leading the way as you help others to find and identify what’s out there.
I may have created MBWeek and Weekends, but I suspect I’ve learned more from you than you have from me. The MBW Community is probably the most important thing I’ve ever done, and I know I’ll miss it as it comes to the end of its present form.
These closing comments may be starting to wander here, as in one of John Quinn’s World-Famous JTL reports (see below). But allow me to quote and paraphrase from the most recent edition of The Damn Book…
It was Bob Russell who had kept my initial interest in birding alive back in the ‘60s and introduced me to the subtle wonders along the back roads of Stearns County when I first came to Minnesota in 1964. I remember especially two trips with him. One, an aimless wandering north of St. Cloud in search of prairie-chickens. I think Bob already knew the birds were long gone from there. But no matter – we went anyway. The other, my first prairie birding experience into the Dakotas in an old Studebaker with only a 1950 road map as our guide. That trip must have been the spark for my fascination with the prairie landscapes of the Great Plains, which is still alive decades later.
There would be many more travels of this nature during the next half century. I learned from Bob that birding involves more than following directions to staked-out rarities, adding up numbers on life and county lists, dry and dusty ornithological research into complex ID problems leading to a headache or a nap. It is a reason to wander and explore, to appreciate the unplanned more than the predictable, to not take too much too seriously. To even enjoy a birding trip with few birds, and not necessarily mind getting stuck or lost miles from nowhere, just as we used to in Stearns County.
And there was Panda. During his nearly 17 years, he was often along as I birded, starting with our frequent hikes through Blue Mounds State Park back in the 1970s. There he had learned where to step to avoid the cactus along the park’s escarpment. Even years later on one of my Blue Mounds MBWs, he still remembered the way: as the group hiked along, they learned to fall in line behind Panda as he actually led them around the cactus without mishap.
Prince may have said that he partied like it’s 1999, but we went back long before then to summon our collective memories at our two-night Reunion in January. (Birders rock – they know how to party down!) There was so much happening that I wanted to make sure at this time that the best parts of it are not forgotten and to thank those who especially helped make it all possible.
Each of you, of course, contributed by just being here with us in Duluth, with many of you standing to express your thoughts to the assembled masses at the dinners. My partner Barb was among those who spoke, and she additionally assembled all your donated images and anecdotes in the ”MBW 40 Years” book, a remarkable collection of memories from MBWeekends, MBWeeks, Hawk Ridge, and beyond. Thanks again to all for these, and to those who helped gather all that material! Somehow, this project remained a secret from me, and I never saw the result until the Reunion. (Regrettably, no one had time either night to have more than a brief thumb-through of the contents, but there are tentative plans to print more copies – at least 40 of them? – for distribution at cost to anyone who’d like their own copy. More on this later…)
In addition, Barb single-handedly provided those eclairs for Friday’s dessert and the sheet cake on Saturday featuring a Black Phoebe image: MBWeekend species #371. But like the 40 Years book, I suspect many (myself included) didn’t get to see it before it was cut up. Here it is…
KRE photo
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MBW Glossary of Terms
The following words and phrases have often been heard on MBW and have become quintessential features of the MBW tradition. As a service to potentially new MBWers unfamiliar with our vocabulary, mastering the following glossary of terms will help you learn the proper terminology, fit right in, and avoid making an embarrassing faux pas. For their definitions and proper context, consult Frank Forsberg and John Quinn who have become fluent in MBWese.
Alien
Applebee’s
Channel 6 - 6
Checklist Boy/Girl
Chicken Hawk
Common Rookie Mistake
Flip Around
Honker
What’s worse on a MBW: Ignorance or Apathy? Answer: I don’t know and I don’t care.
I-Talian
Junior Tour Leader (and JTLMB)
Let’s Blow This Hellhole
Lily-livered Lollygagging County Lister
No Refunds
No Yellow Car Jokes After Noon
Okey Dokey
Perkins
Pine Tree (i.e., any species of conifer)
Proper Adult Supervision
Proper Scope Etiquette
Sea Gull
Spineless, Wishy-washy Tour Leader
Subway
The Damn Book
Too Good for the Likes of Us
Two-fer
Union Mandated 3-hour Lunch Break (and 1.5-hour Coffee Break)
White Starling
You're fired
Enter Text
CR 133, Sax-Zim Bog ~ John Quinn photo
Superior municipal airport ~ Steve Midthune photo
Indian Creek Rd. near Brimson ~ Matt Schaut photo
8th Ave & 4th St, Two Harbors ~ Jim Lind photo
Agate Bay, Two Harbors ~ Allison Jensen photo