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We believe in connecting people with nature.
Most of our programs are FREE and open to the public. Check our calendar and join the fun! Recent happenings:
May 31, 2025 - Birdsong Walk at Chester Woods
Lots of "beer" today on our bird song walk at Chester Woods Park. This is the fourth time doing this annual walk on the first Saturday after Memorial Day. Normally we don't see )and/or hear) migrants but late migrants seen this year included the Alder Flycatcher singing its "free-beer" song. Here it is from a 2021 recording https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/341721101. And we also had an Olive-sided Flycatcher seen singing its "quick three beers" song. A possible Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was also seen. We offer this trip as one where we focus on bird song and bird calls but don't get many good looks at them with the trees now leafed out. But no one minded when birds such as the Scarlet Tanager and the Blue-winged Warbler offered us great looks. We had 20 participants on a very nice walk today. It was a long morning and about half did the extra loop to pick up the Red-shouldered Hawks, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Red-headed Woodpecker, Clay-colored and Henslow's sparrows along with a couple common raptors. Thanks to Mike Degerstrom and Dave Gross for leading. 59 birds were tallied which is a consistent number seen in previous years. Thanks to Brendan and Dave for supplying pictures. Here is our bird list (59 species): Canada Goose, Ring-necked Pheasant, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker. Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern House Wren, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird , American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrow , Lark Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Blue-winged Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting May 27, 2025 - Grand Meadow Chert Quarry - Presented by Tom Trow
At last night's program Tom Trow gave a fascinating talk to nearly 70 folks about a new archaeological site near Rochester called the Grand Meadow Chert Quarry and Wanhi Yukan Trail. This site, covered in deep pits, was brought to the attention of historians and scientists by the landowner in the 1950s but was mostly ignored for decades. Then in the 1980s interest was renewed and now we know this was an incredibly important site where Native Americans mined chert (also known as flint) for use in making tools like knives, scrapers, arrowheads and more. This site was used for 1,000s of years - not only as a mine - but also as a summer gathering spot where trade and ideas were exchanged among various native tribes in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. While many pits were filled in for farming, nearly 100 of the large pits remain and the 8 acre site is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It will open to the public starting in July 2025. Tom has worked for many years on this site and is the Project Director for creating a self-guided trail with interpretive signage which describes native life and how the pits were used. Thank you Tom for an extraordinary presentation! To find out more search online for "Grand Meadow Chert Quarry" and you'll find several stories and YouTube videos about the site. Or visit: https://mowercountyhistory.org/locations/the-grand-meadow-chert-quarry/ May 17, 2025 - Birding at Assisi Heights
Fifteen birders came bundled up in heavy jackets, hats and gloves for our walk at Assisi Heights this morning. The sunny warm weather we'd been having was just a memory. Still, we managed to find 25 species of birds and we're sure there were even more hiding behind leaves. A Red-headed Woodpecker gave early arrivals a quick glimpse but we never relocated it. We also watched a Robin bring a worm to feed her hatchlings in a nest inside the Canticle Shelter House (a nice spot out of the wind). We were also quite happy to spot a few Chimney Swifts circling the tower - swift numbers have decreased sharply so hopefully they will have a successful nesting season. Many thanks to Sue Hayes and Sandy Hokanson for leading this walk and to the folks at Assisi Heights for allowing us to explore the property. Remember that Assisi Heights is private property and you need permission to walk there. Species List: Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern House Wren, European Starling, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing. House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Yellow Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting Photos by Sandy Hokanson Zumbro Valley Audubon needs your help to pay for programs, printing brochures and outreach supplies to teach kids and adults about nature. Donate to Zumbro Valley Audubon via giveMN.org
© ZVAS 2023 - Zumbro Valley Audubon Society - PO Box 6244 - Rochester, MN 55903
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