This trip was previously scheduled on August 4. It is now rescheduled to September 1. Discover the fun of birding from a bicycle on the gravel road of the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, seven miles (road shared with cars, ground squirrels and turtles). Landscape includes wetlands, grassland and wooded/shrubby areas. A hybrid or street bike that can handle gravel roads, or a mountain bike, is recommended (racing style, skinny tires probably not best here).
LOCATION Sherburne NWR is located in Zimmerman, MN, about 60 miles NW of Saint Paul. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sherburne
DIRECTIONS Meet in the parking lot at the start of the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive
INFORMATION Bring bicycle, helmet with sun visor, binoculars, lunch, snacks, sunscreen and water. Leader will bring a scope and first aid kit. There are no picnic tables and few benches, so birders encouraged to bring something to sit upon for lunch break. There are short walking trails along the route, so a bike lock is useful.
REGISTRATION Required and limited to 8 participants. CONTACT sherrygray@yahoo.com to register. Participants will be asked to sign a liability release form at the start of the trip.
DIFFICULTY Easy, mostly level, graded seven-mile route with good visibility. As group will hear and see many birds, riding pace is relaxed. Birders and bicyclists of all levels, including newbies, very welcome to join.
LEADER Sherry Gray sherrygray@yahoo.com