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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 12, 2025 - Birding at Kutzky Park
Eleven birders found 33 species of birds this afternoon on our walk around Kutzky Park. The birds had plenty of cover and were great at hiding from us amongst the leaves and high up in the trees. The wind also disguised their movements and it took all our patience to find what we did. Our bird of the day was an Olive-sided Flycatcher - an uncommon bird here. We also found 8 species of warblers, but only got fleeting glimpses of them. Learning birds songs helps. Thanks to Lance Vrieze for leading today. Photos by Sandy Hokanson Species list: Mallard, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Olive-sided Flycatcher. Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow. Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern House Wren, European Starling, Gray Catbird, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, American Redstart. Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak May 11, 2025 - Birding at Hok-Si-La park
We thought the birds were staying up high in the trees on BIG Day but today at Hok-Si-La Park we all had sore necks from constantly looking up. Then there was the added challenge of a strong breeze blowing the leaves in front of the birds blocking our views. Sigh. But birders gotta bird! Our favorite sighting was a pair of Prothonotary Warblers which seemed to be courting and considering a nesting site very near the bridge on the entrance road. The male is a stunning yellow color while the female is a bit paler. We saw 14 species of warblers but mostly in ones and twos scattered through the woods. Baltimore Orioles were everywhere and we saw at least a dozen. We found most of the birds we expected and even got a quick glimpse of a Peregrine Falcon with something gripped in its talons flying over the treetops - possibly a first for our Hok-Si-La trips. After lunch we traveled to Sand Point and the pools near Frontenac. All combined we found 63 species for the day. Our group of 14 was quite pleased. Many thanks to Dave Gross and Sandy Hokanson for leading and for the help of the other experienced birders in our group. Bird Species today: Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Ring-necked Pheasant, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chimney Swift, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray Catbird, Northern House Wren, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Prothonotary Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting Photos by Sandy Hokanson May 10, 2025 - BIG Birding Day
This year marked our 8th anniversary taking part in the Cornell Labs Global BIG Day of Birding. The weather was sunny with a nice breeze and temps ranging between 50 - 75 degrees. Our 3 dozen or so volunteers were out in force and searched several known birding hot spots including Eastside WMA, Silver Creek Reservoir, Chester Woods, Kutzky Park, Willow Creek, the Izaak Walton Wetlands and more. Not all reports are in but so far we've found at least 134 species. That's pretty good for one da! Highlights included 21 species of warblers (lots of Blackburnians), a Scarlet Tanager, a Semi-palmated Sandpiper and so many more - really all birds are pretty fantastic. See the complete list (so far) here (scroll down on page) Many thanks to our expert group leaders including Mike Degerstrom, Brendan Lanpher, Lance Vrieze & Dave Gross - plus all the expert independent birders who shared their lists and everyone else who participated in this fun citizen science event. Photos by Brendan Lanpher & 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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