Wednesday, April 15 and 22 (attend one or both) @ 8:00 pm – 10 pm

4761 Hamline Ave N., Arden Hills, MN

The Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) is a 2,370-acre military training area for the Minnesota National Guard and the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs. Its vast area and variety of habitats are also used for environmental and wildlife conservation programs. Over 170 species of birds have been recorded at the site.

Spring American Woodcock courtship display flights are wonderful to behold. The Woodcocks like wet meadows and open woods. The AHATS habitats host breeding Woodcocks each year. So we hope your trip is exciting and very rewarding. We will park in the main parking lot and walk a little over 1/2 mile or so on the gravel road. We’ll stop whenever we hear the Woodcocks making their “Peent!” call. Or when we see them making their whirligig flight into the night sky.

DIRECTIONS: Enter the AHATS campus on the Hamline Ave extension just north of MN Hwy 96. Stay on the Hamline extension to the main building at 4761 Hamline Avenue N. The site has restricted access. You will drive through an automated gate and proceed to the main parking lot of the main building on site.

INFORMATION:  We’ll park in the lot and gather for a short orientation. Then we will walk along a gravel road. There is a slight incline. Bring Bright flashlights if you like. Laser point lights may be used too. But keep the lights out of people’s faces. Children of all ages are welcome. No dogs please. Dress for the weather. Loner binoculars will be available.

REGISTRATION:  Registration not required.

DIFFICULTY:  We will be walking 1 to 1.5 miles round trip on a gravel road. There is a slight incline. An outdoor porta-potty is on site at around the halfway point.

LEADERS:    Mary Lee, AHATS Environmental Protection Specialist & Kiki Sonnen, Saint Paul Bird Alliance President

Photo: Vincent Iadevaia/Audubon Photography Awards