| Next Meeting
Outings
Christmas Bird Count
Birds
Links and Events
Home |
 
Calendar of Events |
******************************** | |
|
Early Morning Bird Hikes in La Crosse
April 27 - May 20, 2010
Tuesdays, April 27, May 4, 11 and 18 in the La Crosse River Marsh, Meet at the Myrick / Hixon EcoPark parking lot in Myrick Park. Leaders: Bobbie and Pat Wilson and Dan Jackson
Thursdays, April 29, May 6, 13 and 20 in Hixon Forest. Meet at the Hixon Forest trail parking lot just east off of Hwy. 16 on Bluff Pass Road. Leaders: Bobbie and Pat Wilson and Dan Jackson
Start your day by checking out the spring migration. Bird walks start at 6:30 a.m. and last until about 8 a.m. You’re welcome to leave early or stay later. Bring binoculars and a bird guide if you have them. This event is free and open to the public.
I-90 Clean-up
April 24, 2010
Just a reminder that the Coulee Region Audubon Society will be doing its semi-annual Highway Clean-up on Saturday April 24.
This effort is led by Mark Webster and his wife and it would be great to get as many people out there to help out as we possibly can. (Many hands make light work). CRAS has signed up to clean a two mile stretch of I-90 starting at the Minnesota Rest stop below the Dresbach dam
If you can help out, plan to meet at the rest area by 9:00 am. Then Minnesota DOT will provide safety vests and plastic bags. This effort takes about 2 hours to complete.
| |
8th Annual RIVERS & BLUFFS
FALL BIRDING FESTIVAL
See Dates Below
Major Improvements Made in Popular Rivers & Bluffs Fall Birding Festival for 2009
After 7 consecutive years of attracting visitors from all corners of the U.S., and from more than a two dozen states in all, major improvements have been made in a Mississippi River birding event for 2009.
Late autumn visitors will again be amazed by awesome close-up views of 15-18 thousand Tundra Swans; of fifteen to twenty other waterfowl species in enormous concentrations of up to 200 - 300 thousand birds; plus scores of Bald Eagles and many other wildlife species. But rather than being held on a single weekend, the 2009 experience will take place on 3 consecutive weekends of Mississippi Explorer Cruises on wildlife-rich Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
Special "Fall Migration Cruises" will take place twice on Saturdays and twice on Sundays on the weekends of: Oct. 31-Nov. 1; Nov. 7-8; and Nov. 14-15. Each day the times will be 9 AM to Noon, and from 1 PM to 4 PM. All of these cruises will leave from the waterfront in downtown Lansing, Iowa - just 35 miles south of La Crosse, or 35 miles west of Viroqua. Mississippi Explorer Cruises use large, enclosed and heated boats with windows on all sides, where passengers will enjoy a cozy ride on the most comfortable tour boats on "The Father of Waters," and the closest views of Tundra Swan concentrations available anywhere. Free hot apple cider will further sweeten the experience for one and all.
The unique " Fall Migration Cruises " will take place when wildlife numbers will be at their peak for the entire year. Festival organizer, Ric Zarwell, and at least one expert birder will be on each of the weekend cruises to help visiting individuals and groups observe, understand, and appreciate the enormously abundant waterfowl, other wildlife, and various biologically-rich river habitats. This is definitely the time for passengers to use their cameras and binoculars!! Avid birders and photographers, especially those who are unfamiliar with the tremendous natural resources on Pool 9, may wish to repeat these unique tours on all three weekends.
Pre-registration is required for "Fall Migration Cruises," as well as for all other tours with Mississippi Explorer Cruises. This can be accomplished quickly by free phone call to 877-647-7397. Additional information can be found online at www.MississippiExplorer.com. All birdwatchers / nature lovers and their families and friends are invited to experience this nationally recognized wildlife spectacle.
Due to the expense of liability insurance, the festival will not have "organized" land-based field trips this fall. However, Ric Zarwell ( Ric.Zarwell@mchsi.com or 563-538-4991 ) will be birding the gorgeous tri-state region on a regular basis during weekdays throughout the fall, and will be available to join birders and other nature-oriented visitors who are willing to drive their own vehicles. He will spend from several hours to a full-day helping curious people experience, understand, and enjoy these extraordinary concentrations of wildlife.
Ric Zarwell
P.O. Box 299
210 North 3rd Street
Lansing, Iowa 52151-0299
Email: Ric.Zarwell@mchsi.com
Home/Office: 563-538-4991
Mobile: 563-419-4991
I-90 Clean-up
April 25, 2009
The I-90 highway clean-up will take place on Saturday, April 25th. Meet
at the 9:00 am at the Dresbach information Center.
| |
Early Morning Bird Hikes in La Crosse
May of 2009
The Hixon Forest Nature Center (now the Myrick - Hixon Ecopark) will be
hosting birding walks on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in May starting
with May 5th.
The walks start at 6:30 am and go until 8:00 or until
everyone is done. Tuesday morning walks will meet at the base of the
Rabbit Trail in Myrick Park and the Thursday morning walks will meet at
the Hixon Forest parking area. The walks are led by Pat & Bobbie Wilson
and Dan Jackson.
|
7th Annual RIVERS & BLUFFS
FALL BIRDING FESTIVAL
Nov. 7 – 8 – 9, 2008
A Nationally Recognized Wildlife Spectacle Enjoy Excellent Close-up Views
of 18,000 – 20,000 Elegant & Musical Tundra Swans 400,000 - 500,000 Colorful Ducks and Geese Dozens of Bald Eagles, and Many Other Kinds of Birds
“Identifying, Enjoying and Understanding All Birds Around Us”
Highlights:
3-hour Field Trips, AM and PM, Sat. & Sun. – to MN, WI and IA – led by top birders 3-hour Boat Trips, AM and PM, Sat. & Sun. Enclosed & Heated – Mississippi Explorer Cruises Introductory Presentation Friday Evening – Tim Loose, Biologist, Upper Miss. River Refuge Optional “Owl Prowl” – Fri. & Sat. 8 PM – 9:30 PM, to call-in & view, 3-4 species of secretive owls Delicious Homemade Sourdough Pancake Breakfast – Saturday Morning, 7 – 9 AM
Meeting Place:
United Methodist Church, 490 Center Street, Lansing, IA
Schedule:
Friday, Nov. 7 Doors Open: 5 pm; New River/Wildlife Program: 7 PM; Owl Prowl: 8 – 9:30 PM Sign-up for an Excursion Boat Tour of your choice with Captain Jack Saturday, Nov. 8 – same location, Special Breakfast + Continue Registration 7 – 9 AM Saturday and Sunday, All Field Trips & Boat Trips: 9 AM to Noon, and 1:30 to 4:30 PM Field Trips leave from parking lot at baseball field – Front Street and John Street Boat Trips leave from Mississippi Explorer dock on river near east end of Main Street
Registration Fee cut by HALF from 2007:
Age 6 and under Free! Ages 7 – 17, $ 1.00 Adults $ 10.00
PLEASE PRE-REGISTER FOR FESTIVAL BY MAIL.
Send names of registrants and make check out to Ric Zarwell Send to: P.O. Box 299, Lansing, IA 52151-0299
Mississippi Explorer Cruises: 1st Step: Everyone MUST Pre-register by mail for the Birding Festival FIRST.
2nd Step: Pre-register for a boat trip with toll-free phone call: 877-647-7397 At the festival: sign-up with Captain Jack for the cruise of your choice – first come, first served.
Previous festivals were enjoyed by people from 23 states. Average attendance has been about 250.
Family-oriented field trips and boat trips focus on education and experiencing the Mississippi River and it’s wildlife. Personal full and half-day field trips are available Nov. 10-15 by appointment.
Contact: Ric.Zarwell@mchsi.com
More information: www.lansingiowa.com and: www.mississippiexplorer.com
| |
Previous Page
| | | | | |
|
