Tuesday, September 22, 12 pm – 2 pm at Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park

Did you know these dragonflies migrate South in the Fall just like many of our songbirds do? Come see for yourself on Tuesday, September 22 at Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park.

INFORMATION: Dragonfly expert John Arthur, from the Minnesota Dragonfly Society, will lead us on an adventure tracking the migration and seeing what birds join us as we hike through the park. Volunteers from Pig’s Eye Park Friends – Tom Dimond, Kathy Sidles, Carissa Scanlan, and Kiki Sonnen – will help out too. We know the land’s history and the challenges it still faces. This land provides critical shelter and habitat for butterflies, dragonflies, coyotes, otters, beavers, deer, over 100 species of birds, several species of turtles and snakes, toads and frogs – including the endangered Blanchard’s Cricket Frog. Pig’s Eye is a critical resource for river fish who spawn and live in the main channel of the Mississippi. Pig’s Eye Lake serves as a nursery for baby river fish who grow up here until they are big enough and old enough to live in the main channel of the River.

We will have available loaner binoculars, a few butterfly nets, bird field guides, and Dragonfly and Damselfly field guides.

We will meet in the parking lot, which is about 1/2 mile from the entryway off Pigs Eye Lake Road. As we gather, we will have short introductions, and then we will set off on a truck trail to the concrete bridge over Battle Creek. We expect to see the dragonflies following the creek on its southerly route to Pig’s Eye Lake. We may see Kestrels and Kingfishers try to take down a few of the dragonflies. Other birds we may see are migrating warblers, Indigo buntings, goldfinches, Bald Eagles,  Killdeer, Spotted Sandpipers, White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, woodpeckers, mourning doves, turkeys, song sparrows, Great Blue Herons, blackbirds, and more.

DIRECTIONS: Park address is 2165 Pig’s Eye Lake Road, St Paul, MN 55119. We will meet in the park’s parking lot. From I-94, take the Warner Road exit. Watch for brown & white street signs marking the way to Pig’s Eye Park. From Warner Road turn onto Childs Road. Then turn again onto Pig’s Eye Lake Road. This happens right by the congregation of blue cement trucks’ staging area. The park entrance is about a mile south of this point. As you turn onto Pig’s Eye Road you will cross a major RR track line. If you are stopped there because of train traffic, call or text Kiki at (651) 331-9560 to let her know you’re delayed. Sometimes train traffic only stops you for a few minutes. Sometimes it is 15 minutes or longer. We will wait for you. Continue on Pig’s Eye Lake Road. Go past the Wood Chipper. Then you will see the Park Welcoming sign. Turn into the park and follow the dirt road until you reach the parking lot.