Saint Paul Bird Alliance

Birds and Beverages Saint Paul!
2025-09-23 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-10-22 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-18 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Sweeney’s Saloon, 96 Dale St N, Saint Paul, MN, 55102, United States
A monthly gathering to meet other birders and talk about birds! Come and share your birding stories and hear what’s new. We gather in the Ashland Room at Sweeney’s Saloon to visit over a meal and beverages.
Photo Credit – Michael Cassella/Audubon Images

AHATS Habitat Restoration - September 26
2025-09-26 09:00 - 15:00 | Arden Hills Army Training Site, 4761 Hamline Avenue North, Arden Hills, MN, 55112, United States
Volunteer for AHATS Clean Up Days
For many years, the Arden Hills Army Training Site has partnered with the Saint Paul Bird Alliance to allow birders access to its expansive area with many habitats for field trips and special events, such as looking for owls and woodcocks. Twice a year, the site invites the public to help pick up trash, clean up vegetation, gather seeds (fall), maintain trails, and more. Participants are also welcome to bird and look for butterflies and other wildlife.
Dates: Friday, September 26, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: Enter the AHATS campus on the Hamline Ave extension just north of MN Hwy 96. Turn left (west) onto Ben Franklin Rd, and follow it approximately ¼ mile to the gate. Enter the Ben Franklin gate, and park as directed. Location is near 1567 Ben Franklin Rd. 45.08330° N, 93.16482° W
Attire: Wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes or boots, and clothes that can get dirty. No open-toed shoes or sandals.
Equipment: AHATS will provide gloves, vests, trash bags, rakes, and other tools and supplies.
Food and Beverage: Bring a snack. Water will be provided.
Animals: No pets allowed. Service animals are always welcome.
Weather: Clean Up Days occur rain or shine.
Registration: No RSVP or registration needed. Just come and go between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm as it works with your schedule.

Avian Influenza in Minnesota
2025-10-09 19:00 - 20:30 | ZOOM Meeting Online
Co-Sponsored with Land of Lakes Bird Alliance
Zoom Registration Info
Avian Flu is in the news again. This talk will go over a brief history of avian influenza in Minnesota and discuss the current state of the disease in Minnesota. Ms. Baker will also discuss key actions you can take to ensure you are not contributing to the spread of this deadly disease.
Liz Baker is a member of the Wildlife Health Program within the Minnesota DNR. She has been with the program since August 2022, and her position focuses on data management and disease response activities.

Town Hall Meeting - Help Stop Bird Strikes in Saint Paul
2025-10-15 18:00 - 20:30 | Highland Park Community Center Auditorium
Join us at an upcoming St Paul City Council public hearing on October 15, Town Hall meeting on River Issues with Mayor Carter. 6:30 pm (check-in at 6:00 pm) Highland Park Community Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, St Paul, MN 55116.
Be a Bird Activist. Attend this town hall and provide your input on how Saint Paul should upgrade their building ordinances to include bird safety practices.
Every year, St. Paul and Land of Lakes Bird Alliance volunteers search, gather, photograph, and document dozens of birds that have struck buildings or skyways. Intact carcasses are donated to the Bell Museum for research. Live, injured birds are contained in Chinese food takeout boxes and delivered to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, where veterinarians evaluate their injuries. Most birds are euthanized due to unsurvivable trauma to their bones and internal organs.
Read this post for more information.

Sandhill Cranes at Crex Meadows SWA
2025-10-21 16:00 - 20:15 | Crex Meadows SWA, 102 E Crex Ave, Grantsburg, 54840
102 E. Crex Ave., Grantsburg, WI
Tuesday, October 21, 4:00 ~ 8:15 PM
Since historic times, Greater Sandhill Cranes have congregated by the thousands every autumn evening in the marshes and ponds now called Crex Meadows SWA, located on the north side of Grantsburg, WI. People likewise gather to witness the sight of seemingly never-ending strands and haunting sounds as the birds seek and settle in to shelter for the night. Perhaps this is your year to experience anew or again this enduring ritual. Introductory remarks and instructions will begin at 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Visitor Center at Crex Meadow State Wildlife Area in Grantsburg WI. Destination(s) chosen will depend on CMSWA staff information, recent main roost areas, number of cars in the caravan, and current weather. Most likely either roost sites in Crex Meadows or at Fish Lake will be the general area.
DIRECTIONS Take I-35 North to the Rock Creek/ Grantsburg Exit #165 (Highway 70), approximately 34 miles from Forest Lake. Take exit 165, turn right (EAST) on Highway 70, go 15 miles to the stop light in Grantsburg, WI. Turn left (NORTH) onto Pine Street. Follow the goose signs through town to the Visitor Center, located on the NE corner of the junction of County Road D and County Road F. Park and meet in the parking lot. 45.796350, -92.680483
INSTRUCTIONS Bring binoculars and a scope if possible. Dress for cooling temperatures during the evening. Consider bug repellant, sunscreen, water, car supper or snack. Group will gather in the parking lot for basic information by the leaders with Q and A. Departure time from the parking lot depends more on weather than conversation. We will caravan from the parking lot and depart as one group at the end of the evening. If destination is in Crex Meadows SWA, carpooling will be strongly encouraged; if destination is Fish Lake SWA all will drive separately.
REGISTRATION Register with Louise Eidsmoe 651-231- 0453 louise.eidsmoe@gmail.com
DIFFICULTY Viewing can be improved somewhat by walking the road slowly, staying close beside the cars, so as not to spook the cranes. Primarily a car caravan with some short walks along road. NOTE: Modern restrooms are located in the Visitors Center (715-463-2896) which has limited hours in October.
LEADERS Louise Eidsmoe 651-231-0453 louise.eidsmoe@gmail.com Chase Davies 651-246-9754 RockyBirder@gmail.com

Up Close and Personal with the Great Gray Owl
2025-11-13 19:00 - 20:00 | ZOOM Meeting Online
Co-Sponsored with Land of Lakes Bird Alliance
Get Your Zoom Link Here
Join us for a presentation on Great Gray Owl biology and ecology by Dr. James Duncan. Jim has been studying this “Phantom of the Northern Forest” for over four decades in Manitoba, Ontario, Minnesota, and California. One of his most recent discoveries is how this owl overcomes an auditory illusion when hunting small mammals under thick snow.
Jim Duncan obtained a Ph.D. in 1992 from the University of Manitoba for research on the Great Gray Owl. Throughout his biology career, Jim was active in diverse local, national, and international conservation initiatives until his retirement in 2018 as Director of Manitoba’s Wildlife and Fisheries Branch.
Jim claims that his various jobs were simply a way to support his obsessive habit of studying owls with his life partner and fellow zoologist, Patsy. Together, they have researched owls for 40 years, have banded over 2,500 owls, and have published hundreds of articles, papers, and several symposium proceedings on owls. Jim’s three beautifully illustrated books on owls of the world are an example of the importance Jim places on sharing scientific knowledge with the public in an engaging manner.
In 2018 Jim established a social enterprise called Discover Owls which conducts education, research and conservation programs on owls in Manitoba and around the world. To date he has delivered over 600 live owl presentations to school classrooms and other venues and has delivered over 180 lectures and talks on owls and conservation.
https://www.facebook.com/discoverowls.ca
www.discoverowls.ca
Zoom Registration Information to Follow

Why “YOU” are not like a bird - Stan Tekiela - This Event is Full
2025-12-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Aŋpétu Téča Education Center, Roseville, MN, 1910 County B Road West, Rm 207, Roseville, MN, 55113, United States
This Event is FULL
In Person Only – No Cost but Reservations Required
Co-Sponsored with Land of Lakes Bird Alliance
We often compare our human bodies and senses (such as eyesight, hearing, digestion, reproduction, and more) and project what we think we know onto birds and their behavior. In this fun, yet in-depth presentation, Stan walks us through why we are almost always wrong when we compare ourselves to the birds. His extensive knowledge of bird biology is presented in his usual humorous, accessible manner.
Naturalist, wildlife photographer, and author Stan Tekiela is the creator of the popular state-specific field guides, including Birds of Minnesota, Wildflowers of Minnesota, and Trees of Minnesota. Over the past four decades, Stan has authored more than 200 field guides, nature appreciation books, and wildlife audio CDs for nearly every state in the nation, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, trees, wildflowers, and cacti.
With a Bachelor of Science in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and more than 40 years as an active professional naturalist, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and has received national and regional awards for his books and photographs. He is also a well-known columnist and radio personality; his syndicated column appears in over 20 newspapers, and his wildlife programs are broadcast on several Midwest radio stations. He is a member of the North American Nature Photography Association and Canon Professional Services along with many other professional organizations.

Happy New Year - In the Company of Eagles
2026-01-01 11:00 - 14:00 | Kaposia Landing Park, 800 Bryant Avenue, South St. Paul, MN. 55075, 800 Bryant Avenue, South Saint Paul, 55075, United States
Welcome in the New Year by watching the Eagles at Kap’osia Park in South St. Paul, Thursday, January 1, from 11 am to 2 pm.
You are invited to bring in the New Year in the company of over-wintering Bald Eagles. This section of the Mississippi River main channel has open water, not iced over. Eagles, gulls, and waterfowl can be expected. We will learn about the history of Kap’osia Landing. We will discuss scientific information about Eagles and share stories of mystical connections with them. Bring your stories of Eagles to share.
Location: Kaposia Landing Park, 800 Bryant Avenue, South St. Paul, MN. 55075
Directions: Meet at the South end of the parking lot. There is ample parking at the park.
Difficulty: We will be staying on level, paved paths. We cannot guarantee the paths will be shoveled. We will stay within a half mile or so from the parking lot.
Information: Loaner binoculars and field guides will be available for your use. We hope to have spotting scopes to use too. Dress for the weather and wear boots, hats, and mittens. It’s always colder and windier by the River. Port-a-potties are on site.
Leader: Kiki Sonnen Kikisonnen@gmail.com

National Bird Day At The Refuge
2026-01-07 10:00 - 13:00 | MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 3815 American Boulevard, East Bloomington, MN, 55425, East Bloomington, MN, 55425, United States
You are invited to celebrate National Bird Day by visiting the bird feeders with us at the Minnesota River Valley National Wildlife Refuge’s Visitor Center on Wednesday, January 7. We’ll be there from 10 am to 1 pm. The Visitor Center has a great bird feeder system, which attracts most of our winter feeder birds. Cardinals, chickadees, juncos, sparrows, woodpeckers, and wild turkeys are expected. You can bring a camp stool to sit outside, watch the birds, and take in the scenery. Or you can go inside the warm, welcoming Visitor Center and view the birds through the picture window (note the bird-safe glass). Consider bringing your sketchbook along for added entertainment.
Location: The Minnesota River Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is located at 3815 American Boulevard E., Bloomington, MN 55425.
Directions: Meet at the Visitor Center. There is ample parking in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Difficulty: The Visitor Center and the viewing area by the feeders are ADA-compliant. The sidewalks are paved and level. They should be cleared of ice and snow if the weather cooperates.
Information: Loaner binoculars and field guides will be available for your use. Dress for the weather. Even if you plan on staying inside the Visitor Center, it’s always nice to have warm footwear, hats, and mittens for the transition from outdoors to indoors. The Visitor Center also has gifts for sale, taxidermied creatures, interpretive info on Minnesota wildlife, and river and forest habitats. Plus the Center has public restrooms.
Leader: Kiki Sonnen Kikisonnen@gmail.com

Tammah Watts - Keep Looking Up: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching
2026-01-08 19:00 - 20:30 | ZOOM Meeting Online
** Co-Sponsored with Land of Lakes Bird Alliance **
** Zoom-Only **
Registration Link and Zoom Meeting Info

Birds are beautiful, funny, mystical, and enduring, just like we are. Like them, we come in varying colors, shapes, and sizes and it is our differences and what we have in common that serve as our greatest strengths. -Tammah Watts
Join Tammah Watts as she weaves together personal story and avian life to reveal the marvelous phenomenon shared among us. This interactive presentation invites the audience to become acquainted, or perhaps re-acquainted, with the many benefits one experiences connecting with our feathered friends at home, in the community, and beyond.
Learn about and explore:

the many benefits of spending time in nature, and in particular with birds, for one’s physical and mental health, and overall well-being
how spending time with birds in a mindful way can deepen one’s appreciation for our feathered friends as well as enhance our connection to the natural world, and to ourselves
ways to develop heightened awareness and acceptance for birding in various settings and capacities from at home to far distant lands and,
how one’s story about life and birds can foster a sense of community that honors what we have in common as well as celebrates our differences

Experience birds in a whole new way wherever you are and whenever you wish- all you have to do is look up, take notice, and open your heart and mind.
Tammah Watts (she/her), is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide, California Naturalist, birder, and advocate for equitable access to nature, health, and mental wellbeing.
KEEP LOOKING UP: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching, (Hay House), is her first book–a narrative memoir and guidebook with contemplative exercises– that chronicles her journey towards healing by meaningfully connecting with birds.
Tammah serves on regional and national boards dedicated to conservation and environmental stewardship including Audubon CA, San Diego Bird Alliance and Cornell Lab of Ornithology Project FeederWatch + DISES Dayer Lab Project.
She is an Associate Licensed Mental Health Counselor at a local college where she supports student mental health and personal development across the lifespan and integrates mindfulness and nature therapy.
Tammah is passionate about collaborating with diverse groups and organizations to advance environmental, social and intergenerational justice, amplify community belonging, and foster healing connections between people and the natural world.
Her work and perspective have been featured in a variety of media outlets, including The New York Times, Therapy for Black Girls, Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds, Washington Post, The Bird Joy Podcast, and Psychology Today and has included being a speaker for Biggest Week In American Birding, Birdability Week, San Diego Bird Festival, Black Birders Week and Wild Bird Feeding Institute, among other venues.
She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, Harrison, and their little dog Sophie Cat, all the while trying to combat empty-nest syndrome by visiting (and birding) with their children and grandchildren whenever possible.

Birds and Beers Saint Paul!
2026-01-21 17:30 - 20:30 | Sweeney’s Saloon, 96 Dale St N, Saint Paul, MN, 55102, United States

Owl Prowl at Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) I
2026-02-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Arden Hills Army Training Site, 4761 Hamline Avenue North, Arden Hills, MN, 55112, United States
4761 Hamline Avenue North, Arden Hills, MN
Monday, February 9, 6 – 8 PM
SPBA is excited to offer two nights of owl prowls at AHATS! No reservations required
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, and there are a number of resident owls. Join us as we listen and look for owls on an evening drive along the roads.
DIRECTIONS: Enter the AHATS campus on the Hamline Ave extension just north of MN Hwy. 96. Meet up at 5:45 pm Main parking lot in front of 4761 Hamline Av N, Arden Hills MN 55112. Pass the white guard shack & enter fenced area, we will line up at Hamline gate and proceed by vehicle to multiple locations.
INFORMATION: The site has restricted access. Be prepared to ride in a car caravan with four individuals per vehicle. All caravan vehicles will enter and exit the property together. We will utilize SPBA walkie talkies so sightings and instructions can be shared in transit. Wear boots as snow and mud are likely. We will review flashlight and camera flash etiquette at the start.
REGISTRATION: No registration required.
DIFFICULTY: Ride in a caravan, get in and out of vehicles, and walk short distances from vehicles on plowed gravel or snowy surfaces. Outdoor toilets are very widely spaced across the site.
LEADERS: Mary Lee, AHATS Environmental Protection Specialist & Kiki Sonnen kikisonnen@gmail.com

Owl Prowl at Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) 2
2026-02-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Arden Hills Army Training Site, 4761 Hamline Avenue North, Arden Hills, MN, 55112, United States
4761 Hamline Avenue North, Arden Hills, MN
Tuesday, February 10, 6 – 8 PM
SPBA is excited to offer two nights of owl prowls at AHATS! No reservations required
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, and there are a number of resident owls. Join us as we listen and look for owls on an evening drive along the roads.
DIRECTIONS: Enter the AHATS campus on the Hamline Ave extension just north of MN Hwy. 96. Meet up at 5:45 pm Main parking lot in front of 4761 Hamline Av N, Arden Hills MN 55112. Pass the white guard shack & enter fenced area, we will line up at Hamline gate and proceed by vehicle to multiple locations.
INFORMATION: The site has restricted access. Be prepared to ride in a car caravan with four individuals per vehicle. All caravan vehicles will enter and exit the property together. We will utilize SPBA walkie talkies so sightings and instructions can be shared in transit. Wear boots as snow and mud are likely. We will review flashlight and camera flash etiquette at the start.
REGISTRATION: No registration required.
DIFFICULTY: Ride in a caravan, get in and out of vehicles, and walk short distances from vehicles on plowed gravel or snowy surfaces. Outdoor toilets are very widely spaced across the site.
LEADERS: Mary Lee, AHATS Environmental Protection Specialist & Kiki Sonnen kikisonnen@gmail.com

Speaker Series | Rebecca Heisman - Surprising Secrets of Bird Biology
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 | ZOOM Meeting Online
** THIS IS A ZOOM-ONLY PRESENTATION **
** Co-Sponsored with Land of Lakes Bird Alliance **
Reservation and Zoom Link
Because they’re warm-blooded, it’s easy to imagine that birds are basically feathery versions of mammals—but in reality, of course, they’re dinosaurs. Birds’ anatomy and physiology are wildly different from ours.
Rebecca Heisman promises that you’ll learn at least one new and surprising fact in this talk (probably more than one!) as we take a whirlwind tour of what birds are, where they came from, and how they breathe, fly, sing, sense the world around them, and more. It’s the ornithology course you never got to take in college, condensed into a single entertaining hour. It will share facts and stories about bird respiration, flight, song, and senses that many birders aren’t familiar with.
Rebecca Heisman is a science writer based in eastern Washington who loves “nerding” out about birds. She has contributed to publications like Audubon Magazine, Living Bird, and Bird Conservation. From 2015 to 2020, she worked for the American Ornithological Society, the world’s largest professional organization for bird scientists. Initially, as an independent contractor helping to promote research published in AOS’s scientific journals and later as its first full-time communications staffer, Heisman brought bird science to a broader scientific community and the public. There, she became deeply familiar with the North American ornithological community and grew excited about the diverse and fascinating methods for studying birds.
To learn more about Rebecca’s work, check out these sources:
https://rebeccaheisman.com/, https://rebeccaheisman.substack.com/

National Great Backyard Bird Count Day - MRVNWR
2026-02-13 11:00 - 12:30 | MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 3815 American Boulevard, East Bloomington, MN, 55425, East Bloomington, MN, 55425, United States
You are invited to celebrate Great Backyard Bird Count Day by visiting the bird feeders with us at the Minnesota River Valley National Wildlife Refuge’s Visitor Center on Friday, February 13. We’ll be there from 11 am to 12:30 pm.
The Visitor Center has a robust bird feeder system that attracts most of our winter feeder birds. Cardinals, chickadees, juncos, sparrows, woodpeckers, and wild turkeys are expected. You can bring a camp stool to sit outside, watch the birds, and take in the scenery. Or you can go inside the warm, welcoming Visitor Center and view the birds through the picture window (note the bird-safe glass). Consider bringing your sketchbook along for added entertainment.
Location: The Minnesota River Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is located at 3815 American Boulevard E., Bloomington, MN 55425.
Directions: Meet at the Visitor Center. There is ample parking in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Difficulty: The Visitor Center and the viewing area by the feeders are ADA-compliant. The sidewalks are paved and level. They should be cleared of ice and snow if the weather cooperates.
Information: Loaner binoculars and field guides will be available for your use. Dress for the weather. Even if you plan on staying inside the Visitor Center, it’s always nice to have warm footwear, hats, and mittens for the transition from outdoors to indoors. The Visitor Center also has gifts for sale, taxidermied creatures, interpretive info on Minnesota wildlife, and river and forest habitats. Plus the Center has public restrooms.
Leader: Kiki Sonnen Kikisonnen@gmail.com

Lunar New Year Snow Tracks & Winter Walk
2026-02-17 09:30 - 11:30 | Pig’s Eye Regional Park, 2165 Pigs Eye Lake Road, Saint Paul, MN, 55119, United States
Location: Pig’s Eye Chokan Tanka Park, 2165 Pigs Eye Lake Road, St. Paul 55119
Come celebrate the Lunar New Year by looking at animal tracks in the snow at Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park. This year’s Lunar Year highlights the Fire Horse. Not sure we will find horse tracks, but maybe we will see deer, coyote, vole, and bird tracks. Perhaps we will see signs in the snow of a Northern Shrike snatching a mouse! We’ll hold the event even if a warmup arrives and melts all the snow. Then we will look for tracks in the mud! The habitat at Pig’s Eye is grassland, wetlands, floodplain forest, and waterways of Battle Creek and Pig’s Eye Lake.

INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, a camera phone, a field guide, a sketch pad & pencil, if you can. We will have loaner binoculars and field guides available. Dress for the weather: hats, mittens, a scarf, and waterproof snow boots are advised. The closest facility is port-a-potty at the nearby Wood Chipper operation.
DIRECTIONS: If you are coming to this park for the first time, please reach out to trip leaders for more detailed instructions. The Warner Road / Childs Lake Road / Pigs Eye Lake Road intersections are a bit challenging. Meet in the parking lot at the far end of the entrance road from the sign Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park.
REGISTRATION: None
EVENT WILL BE CANCELED IF Blizzard conditions and / or windchill temperatures below -25 are predicted.
DIFFICULTY: We will be walking on a snow-packed trail for a mile in and a mile out. The trail is fairly flat, with slow dip in grade on the approach to and from the concrete bridge over the creek. The trail may be icy depending on weather conditions.
LEADERS: Kiki Sonnen kikisonnen@gmail.com
And Kathy Sidles kesid@aol.com

Birding through the Months at Silverwood Park
2026-02-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Silverwood Regional Park, St Anthony, MN, 2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, 55421
This is the 1st of a 4-trip Silverwood Park birding experience (February thru May). Attend one or all the trips!
Silverwood Park is a beautiful urban park on the shores of Silver Lake. The variety of habitats in the park–oak forest, marsh, grassland, and lakefront–make it a great birding destination, with over 180 different species sighted in the park.
Birding in a single location over several months can be a great way to get into birding. This series of four field trips will repeat popular excursions from last year, giving participants the chance to know the park and watch for different birds each month as the seasons change. In addition to getting to know the birds of Silverwood, participants will also be introduced to basic birding techniques and tools, including digital resources. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars; a few extra pairs will be available.
DIRECTIONS: Meet at the doors leading into the Visitor Center from the parking lot. Field trips will be conducted in most weather, with the exception of heavy rain. 45.046808, -93.224715
REGISTRATION: No registration necessary. Come for any of the sessions–attending all is not required.
DIFFICULTY: Most paths are paved, but may be icy in the winter. Walks will range from 1-1.5 miles.
LEADER: Jen Miller and Liz Richards; email birdingjen@gmail.com with any questions

Tuesday, February 24: 2-4 PM
Birding in the winter is a great way to get comfortable with the species that live in the park year-round–plus, there are no leaves on the trees to get in the way of seeing birds! This month, we’ll look for common Minnesota winter birds such as chickadees and nuthatches, along with several woodpecker species. We might even get lucky and see the park’s resident great horned owls as they start nesting.
Tuesday, March 17: 2-4 PM
In March, we will begin to see some early migrants returning to the park — some waterfowl and perhaps robins and red-winged blackbirds. We’ll also notice an increase in bird songs that we will learn to identify.
Tuesday, April 14: 2-4 PM
April showers melt the ice on Silver Lake, which brings more waterfowl, along with sparrows, swallows, and maybe even some early warblers or phoebes. With some luck, we might catch a glimpse of a migrating shorebird along the lakeshore or see the fluffy head of an owlet.
Tuesday, May 12: 2-4 PM
May brings warblers, warblers, and more warblers! We’ll also begin to see some of the park’s beautiful summer residents, including orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and bluebirds. While the leaves returning to the trees makes seeing birds more challenging, the variety of species in the park in May makes this one of the most exciting times of year for birding.

Birds and Beers Saint Paul!
2026-02-24 17:30 - 20:30 | Sweeney’s Saloon, 96 Dale St N, Saint Paul, MN, 55102, United States
A monthly gathering to meet other birders and talk about birds! Come and share your birding stories and hear what’s new. We gather in the Ashland Room at Sweeney’s Saloon to visit over a meal and beverages.

Birding & Tracking on World Wildlife Day
2026-03-03 09:30 - 11:30 | Pig’s Eye Regional Park, 2165 Pigs Eye Lake Road, Saint Paul, MN, 55119, United States
Location: Pig’s Eye Chokan Tanka Park, 2165 Pigs Eye Lake Road, St. Paul 55119
Come celebrate World Wildlife Day by looking at animal tracks in the snow at Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park. We may see deer, coyote, vole, and bird tracks. Perhaps we will see signs in the snow of a Northern Shrike snatching a mouse! We’ll hold the event even if a warmup arrives and melts all the snow. Then we will look for tracks in the mud! The habitat at Pig’s Eye is grassland, wetlands, floodplain forest, and waterways of Battle Creek and Pig’s Eye Lake.

INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, a camera phone, a field guide, a sketch pad & pencil, if you can. We will have loaner binoculars and field guides available. Dress for the weather: hats, mittens, a scarf, and waterproof snow boots are advised. The closest facility is port-a-potty at the nearby Wood Chipper operation.
DIRECTIONS: If you are coming to this park for the first time, please reach out to trip leaders for more detailed instructions. The Warner Road / Childs Lake Road / Pigs Eye Lake Road intersections are a bit challenging. Meet in the parking lot at the far end of the entrance road from the sign Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park.
REGISTRATION: None
EVENT WILL BE CANCELED IF Blizzard conditions and / or windchill temperatures below -25 are predicted.
DIFFICULTY: We will be walking on a snow-packed trail for a mile in and a mile out. The trail is fairly flat, with slow dip in grade on the approach to and from the concrete bridge over the creek. The trail may be icy depending on weather conditions.
LEADERS: Kiki Sonnen kikisonnen@gmail.com
And Kathy Sidles kesid@aol.com

Hope Flanagan - Ojibwe Legends of our Insect World
2026-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Aŋpétu Téča Education Center, Roseville, MN, 1910 County B Road West, Rm 207, Roseville, MN, 55113, United States
Ojibwe Legends of our Insect World
March 12 – 7 pm
Aŋpétu Téča Education Center, Roseville, MN
1910 County B Road West, Rm 207
Roseville, MN 55113
In-Person ONLY – No Registration Needed
Co-Sponsored with Land of Lakes Bird Alliance
Winter is traditionally storytelling season in our Native communities in Minnesota. Many Ojibwe legends (Aadizookaanag) honor our natural world, and Hope will share some of her favorites with us.
Hope Flanagan is an elder who has taught and worked in the Twin Cities Native Community since the late 1970s. She is a long-time Community Outreach and cultural teacher at Dream of Wild Health. Before that, Hope taught in an Ojibwe Immersion classroom for 10 years and served as a storyteller for Minneapolis Public Schools. She teaches about plants and wild plant gathering and is also a leader for Urban Bird Collective walks.
Dream of Wild Health – https://dreamofwildhealth.org/
Urban Bird Collective – https://urbanbirdcollective.org/
This presentation will be in-person only – no Zoom or Recording

Birding through the Months at Silverwood Park
2026-03-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Silverwood Regional Park, St Anthony, MN, 2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, 55421
This is the 2nd of a 4-trip Silverwood Park birding experience (February through May). Attend one or all the trips!
Silverwood Park is a beautiful urban park on the shores of Silver Lake. The park’s variety of habitats — oak forest, marsh, grassland, and lakefront — makes it a great birding destination, with over 180 species sighted there.
Birding at a single location over several months can be a great way to get started. This series of four field trips will repeat popular excursions from last year, giving participants the chance to get to know the park and watch for different birds each month as the seasons change. In addition to getting to know the birds of Silverwood, participants will also be introduced to basic birding techniques and tools, including digital resources. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars; a few extra pairs will be available.
DIRECTIONS: Meet at the doors leading into the Visitor Center from the parking lot. Field trips will be conducted in most weather, with the exception of heavy rain. 45.046808, -93.224715
REGISTRATION: No registration necessary. Come for any of the sessions–attending all is not required.
ACCESSIBILITY: Most paths are paved, but may be icy in the winter. Walks will range from 1-1.5 miles.
LEADERS: Jen Miller and Liz Richards; email birdingjen@gmail.com with any questions

Tuesday, February 24: 2-4 PM
Birding in the winter is a great way to get comfortable with the species that live in the park year-round–plus, there are no leaves on the trees to get in the way of seeing birds! This month, we’ll look for common Minnesota winter birds such as chickadees and nuthatches, along with several woodpecker species. We might even get lucky and see the park’s resident great horned owls as they start nesting.
Tuesday, March 17: 2-4 PM
In March, we will begin to see some early migrants returning to the park — waterfowl, perhaps robins, and red-winged blackbirds. We’ll also notice an increase in bird songs that we will learn to identify.
Tuesday, April 14: 2-4 PM
April showers melt the ice on Silver Lake, which brings more waterfowl, along with sparrows, swallows, and maybe even some early warblers or phoebes. With some luck, we might catch a glimpse of a migrating shorebird along the lakeshore or see the fluffy head of an owlet.
Tuesday, May 12: 2-4 PM
May brings warblers, warblers, and more warblers! We’ll also begin to see some of the park’s beautiful summer residents, including orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and bluebirds. While the leaves returning to the trees make seeing birds more challenging, the park’s variety of species in May makes this one of the most exciting times of year for birding.

Birds and Beers Saint Paul!
2026-03-18 17:30 - 20:30 | Sweeney’s Saloon, 96 Dale St N, Saint Paul, MN, 55102, United States
You’d better come to Birds & Beers so we can discuss Horned Larks & other Early Birds. We’ll gather on Wednesday, March 18, at Sweeney’s, 96 N. Dale St., St. Paul, at 5:30 pm. All are welcome!
Photo Credit: Andy Raupp/Audubon Photography Awards

Welcome Herons on the Spring Equinox
2026-03-21 09:30 - 11:30 | Pig’s Eye Regional Park, 2165 Pigs Eye Lake Road, Saint Paul, MN, 55119, United States
Location: Pig’s Eye Chokan Tanka Park, 2165 Pigs Eye Lake Road, St. Paul 55119
Come celebrate the return of Herons at Pigs Eye.

INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, a camera phone, a field guide, a sketch pad & pencil, if you can. We will have loaner binoculars and field guides available. Dress for the weather: hats, mittens, a scarf, and waterproof snow boots are advised. The closest facility is a porta-potty at the nearby Wood Chipper operation.
DIRECTIONS: If you are coming to this park for the first time, please reach out to the trip leaders for more detailed instructions. The Warner Road / Childs Lake Road / Pigs Eye Lake Road intersections are a bit challenging. Meet in the parking lot at the far end of the entrance road from the sign Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park.
REGISTRATION: None
ACCESSIBILITY: We will be walking on a snow-packed trail for a mile in and a mile out. The trail is fairly flat, with slow dip in grade on the approach to and from the concrete bridge over the creek. The trail may be icy depending on weather conditions.
LEADERS: Kiki Sonnen kikisonnen@gmail.com
And Kathy Sidles kesid@aol.com

Photo – Audubon Library Jerry Waters

Welcome Back Kestrels!
2026-03-24 09:30 - 11:30 | Pig’s Eye Regional Park, 2165 Pigs Eye Lake Road, Saint Paul, MN, 55119, United States
Tuesday, March 24, 9:30 – 11:30 am & Saturday, March 28, 9;30 – 11:30 (attend one or both events)
Pigs Eye Chôkan Tanka Park, 2165 Pig’s Eye Lake Road, St Paul

EVENT OVERVIEW: You’re Invited to the Welcome Back Kestrels Party! Our birds, many of whom have been wintering in warmer climes, know that Spring is back in Minnesota. They also know that nesting spots are at a premium, so they have to get back here in a hurry to stake their claim. At both events, you will also be able to talk with Kestrel Nest Box Monitor Volunteers.

INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, a camera phone, a field guide, a sketch pad & pencil, if you can. We will have loaner binoculars and field guides available. Dress for the weather. The closest facility is a porta-potty at the nearby Wood Chipper operation.
DIRECTIONS: If you are coming to this park for the first time, please reach out to the trip leaders for more detailed instructions. The Warner Road / Childs Lake Road / Pigs Eye Lake Road intersections are a bit challenging. Meet in the parking lot at the far end of the entrance road from the sign Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park.
REGISTRATION: None

ACCESSIBILITY: We will be walking 1/2 mile in and 1/2 mile out. The trail is fairly flat with a slow dip in grade on the approach to and from the concrete bridge over Battle Creek. The walk will be on a truck trail which may be muddy and rutted. There are no benches. Bring a camp stool if you would like to rest. The closest facilities is a port-a-potty at the nearby Wood Chipper operation.
LEADER: Kiki Sonnen kikisonnen@gmail.com
American Kestrel (photo by Sam Swartley / Audubon Photography Awards)

Welcome Back Kestrels!
2026-03-28 09:30 - 11:30 | Pig’s Eye Regional Park, 2165 Pigs Eye Lake Road, Saint Paul, MN, 55119, United States
Saturday, March 28, 9;30 – 11:30 am
Pigs Eye Chôkan Tanka Park, 2165 Pig’s Eye Lake Road, St Paul
EVENT OVERVIEW: You’re Invited to the Welcome Back Kestrels Party! Our birds, many of whom have been wintering in warmer climes, know that Spring is back in Minnesota. They also know that nesting spots are at a premium, so they have to get back here in a hurry to stake their claim. At both events, you will also be able to talk with Kestrel Nest Box Monitor Volunteers.

INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, a camera phone, a field guide, a sketch pad & pencil, if you can. We will have loaner binoculars and field guides available. Dress for the weather. The closest facility is a porta-potty at the nearby Wood Chipper operation.
DIRECTIONS: If you are coming to this park for the first time, please reach out to the trip leaders for more detailed instructions. The Warner Road / Childs Lake Road / Pigs Eye Lake Road intersections are a bit challenging. Meet in the parking lot at the far end of the entrance road from the sign Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park.
REGISTRATION: None

ACCESSIBILITY: We will be walking 1/2 mile in and 1/2 mile out. The trail is fairly flat with a slow dip in grade on the approach to and from the concrete bridge over Battle Creek. The walk will be on a truck trail which may be muddy and rutted. There are no benches. Bring a camp stool if you would like to rest. The closest facilities is a port-a-potty at the nearby Wood Chipper operation.
LEADER: Kiki Sonnen kikisonnen@gmail.com
American Kestrel (photo by Sam Swartley / Audubon Photography Awards)

Speaker Series | Kara Snow - Project Pileated Woodpecker
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:30 | ZOOM Meeting Online
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 7 – 8:30 PM
THIS IS A ZOOM-ONLY PRESENTATION **
** Co-Sponsored with Land of Lakes Bird Alliance **
Reservation and Zoom Link
Kara Snow – Project Pileated Woodpecker: Characterizing Tree Cavity and Use by Minnesota’s Wildlife (One-year update!)
The Pileated Woodpecker is a keystone species in Minnesota’s forests, creating large cavities that many other wildlife species later use. In this talk, Ms. Snow will share an update from the first year of her Pileated Woodpecker project, including the methods we used to locate and monitor nesting cavities across a gradient of forest management.
Ms. Snow will touch on some of the challenges she and her team faced in the field, early successes from the first season, and what they are beginning to learn about habitat use. She will also highlight ways the public can help by sharing observations of Pileated Woodpeckers and cavity use, which can play an important role in supporting this research going forward.
If you are interested in getting involved in this project, click here for more details.
Photo-Rolland-Swain-Audubon

Birding through the Months at Silverwood Park
2026-04-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Silverwood Regional Park, St Anthony, MN, 2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, 55421
This is the 3rd of a 4-trip Silverwood Park Tuesday birding experience (February through May). Attend one or all the trips!
Silverwood Park is a beautiful urban park on the shores of Silver Lake. The park’s variety of habitats — oak forest, marsh, grassland, and lakefront — makes it a great birding destination, with over 180 species sighted there.
Birding at a single location over several months can be a great way to get started. This series of four field trips will repeat popular excursions from last year, giving participants the chance to get to know the park and watch for different birds each month as the seasons change. In addition to getting to know the birds of Silverwood, participants will also be introduced to basic birding techniques and tools, including digital resources. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars; a few extra pairs will be available.
DIRECTIONS: Meet at the doors leading into the Visitor Center from the parking lot. Field trips will be conducted in most weather, with the exception of heavy rain. 45.046808, -93.224715
REGISTRATION: No registration necessary. Come for any of the sessions–attending all is not required.
ACCESSIBILITY: Most paths are paved, with some unevenness and small inclines. Walks will range from 1-1.5 miles.
LEADER: Jen Miller and Liz Richards; email birdingjen@gmail.com with any questions

Tuesday, February 24: 2-4 PM
Birding in the winter is a great way to get comfortable with the species that live in the park year-round–plus, there are no leaves on the trees to get in the way of seeing birds! This month, we’ll look for common Minnesota winter birds such as chickadees and nuthatches, along with several woodpecker species. We might even get lucky and see the park’s resident great horned owls as they start nesting.
Tuesday, March 17: 2-4 PM
In March, we will begin to see some early migrants returning to the park — waterfowl, perhaps robins, and red-winged blackbirds. We’ll also notice an increase in bird songs that we will learn to identify.
Tuesday, April 14: 2-4 PM
April showers melt the ice on Silver Lake, which brings more waterfowl, along with sparrows, swallows, and maybe even some early warblers or phoebes. With some luck, we might catch a glimpse of a migrating shorebird along the lakeshore or see the fluffy head of an owlet.
Tuesday, May 12: 2-4 PM
May brings warblers, warblers, and more warblers! We’ll also begin to see some of the park’s beautiful summer residents, including orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and bluebirds. While the leaves returning to the trees make seeing birds more challenging, the park’s variety of species in May makes this one of the most exciting times of year for birding.

Wednesday Nights with Woodcocks at AHATS
2026-04-15 20:00 - 22:00 | Arden Hills Army Training Site, 4761 Hamline Avenue North, Arden Hills, MN, 55112, United States
Wednesday Nights with Woodcocks at Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) I

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 also be used. 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.
ACCESSIBILITY: 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, kikisonnen@gmail.com, Saint Paul Bird Alliance President
Photo: Jianbo Fei/Audubon Photography Awards
