Registration & Schedule

 Special thanks to the Montevideo Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for funding the coach buses. Please email rager001@umn.edu if you need any special accommodations for this event.  We will do our best to make your Salt Lake Birding Weekend a memorable experience!

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.  ALL SLOTS ARE FILLED!

 Volunteers will staff the registration area at Lac qui Parle state park and can share the local birding hot spots for people to explore on their own.

To Register now online click here:  SALT LAKE REGISTRATION

To register, you will need to have a Minnesota Master Naturalist account.  If you do not have one, please create one.  It will be a visitor account.

Choose the: ADV Salt Lake Birding Weekend 

Scroll down on the page and you will see a button that says "TAKE THIS COURSE"  click on that button.

You will now be taken to the payment page where you will also have to create an account.  This is the payment portion and it is seperate from the MNat website, for your credit card and data privacy safety.  Please follow the prompts on the screen.  

When you choose Salt Lake Birding Weekend, then choose "continue" at the bottom and then you can choose the meals that you wish to purchase.

Follow to the end and you are all set!  

SCHEDULE

Friday, May 1

 5:00 pm Registration- LqP State Park/WMA  

5:15 pm  Tacos available- for those who chose this option in registration.   Pick up info, people are welcome to hang out at the visitor's center.

6:00  Birding for Non Experts- LqP State Park/WMA Visitor Center-Randy Fredrickson

This class will be held outdoors, attendance is optional.  Topics to be covered will include: basic bird ID, shorebird ID, optics, and resources. This will better prepare us for the weekend. The second half of our time together will be question-driven.    

We can easily elaborate on any birding topic to your satisfaction.  This could include: bird houses, bird feeders and feed, ID questions, even specific birds (loons, purple martins, bluebirds) or bird groups like ducks, sparrows, warblers, owls…we won’t run out of topics or fun conversations.

8:00 pm LqP building closes

Saturday, May 2

6:15 am   Coffee Doughnuts- LqP State Park/WMA

6:30 am  Load Buses

6:45 am Buses Leave for birding locations

6:45 am-1:30 pm  Birding locations on buses

Salt Lake, Marsh Lake Dam, Waterfowl Production Areas, Other Wildlife Areas

12:30 pm Lunch Marietta Legion, all bus participants will be taken here for lunch- payment in registration $10 (BBQ, Chips, beans, bar, beverage-Vegetarian option available with notice)

2:15 pm Car Caravans leave from LqP for other local sites,

5:00 pm LqP Building closes

6:00 pm Supper and bird tally at Montevideo Legion, Meatball supper-payment in registration $20 (meatballs, potato, vegetable, bread, dessert, beverage-Vegetarian option available with notice) 

6:45 pm Speaker: Curt Vacek, Appleton Area Wildlife Supervisor, MN DNR 

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly-A Life in Bird Management"  

Sunday, May 3

7:00 am LqP State Park Visitor Center open for info and birding information

Possible car caravan leave from LqP  groups can gather at 7 am, 10 am and noon

Steve Weston will lead groups leaving at 7 and noon.

More groups will be shared as we know of them.

Visit local attractions

3:00 pm Final Tally of species due to LqP

Birding the Prairie Guidelines

• Drive Slowly & Safely: Birding can be done from the car, as it acts as a blind. Drive slowly to spot birds in grass, on wetlands or in wet areas in farm fields.

• Stay on Roads: Do not trespass on private property.

• Park Safely: Pull fully off the gravel road to let others pass. Park behind other birders.

• DO NOT PARK in/near the field approaches (driveways).  Farm equipment is very large, and this is their access point.  You never know if a farmer is working in the field.

• Farm equipment is large and often takes up the ENTIRE road.  You will need to find a safe spot to pull over and allow them to pass.  They have the right of way.

• Respect the Birds: Do not chase or crowd birds.  Keep a distance to avoid causing birds to fly.

• Use Technology: Use the Avenza Maps app to download maps for offline use, as cell service can be spotty. Check eBird/Facebook/Discord for local reports

• Ethical Photography: Avoid using flash and do not call in birds with recordings, which can disrupt their habits.

Personal Safety

• Be Prepared: Bring plenty of food, and water. Have ample supply of bug spray and sunscreen.  The Prairie is a treeless grassland, think no shade!

• Fill your gas tank, the closest services are often miles away and may not take a credit card at the pump. 

• Dress in layers:  morning temperatures can be cool and afternoon temperatures can be hot.

• Cell phone service can be spotty, so always be prepared.

Prime Locations and Timing

• Best Time: Spring (late March - mid May) is peak season for migratory birds, waterfowl and shorebirds. 

• Time of Day: Daylight hours for shorebirds and waterfowl. 

• Key Spots: Wildlife Management Areas, Waterfowl Production Areas, State Parks, Scientific & Natural Areas, Nature Conservancy properties