Alliance Events

You can use our free local birding map to find the location of one of our guided group trips, or go on your own.  Most of these are also described on the Minnesota birding hotspots website and more info is at eBird.

Warbler Walk

Events Calendar

View past presentation videos

Events List

The Events List is being replaced with the Events Calendar in 2025, (see sample above).  There are many more features including:

    • View events as a list or calendar
    • See a map with directions from where you are to events
    • Can load the calendar directly to your schedule by subscribing

EVENTS

November Program

Bird and Human Migration: Adventures in Imagination

with Jeffery Davis


November 14th, 7 PM

at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth


This month’s program takes us from the desert borderland of southeast Arizona to the St. Lawerence Island tundra between hemispheres in Alaska to the coastal flyway at Cape May, New Jersey in an effort to explore intersections between bird and human migration. NEMN Bird Alliance president Jeffery Davis will guide us through his journeys to these liminal zones to see what can be learned from birding in places of both bird and human migratory significance.  


Jeffery Davis serves as pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Duluth. He has been on the board of the Northeastern Minnesota Bird Alliance since 2017. He enjoys playing basketball,  and board games, as well as leading the Spring Warbler Walks at the Waabizheshikana Trail. He delights in turning vacations with his wife and two daughters into unexpected, often unwanted, birding excursions.

Superior Entry Gull Watch

with Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus as your guide


Dates: November 3, 10, 17, 24
Time: 10 am to 1 pm

We will always start at the Superior Entry


Join obsessive gull watcher and Northeastern Minnesota Bird Alliance Vice President Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus for this season's Northeastern Minnesota Bird Alliance Superior Entry Gull Watch! This field trip has the intention to view and learn about gull identification in the field. Gulls can be a difficult group of birds to identify and this field experience will work to help attendees better understand the nuances of Gull ID in Minnesota. 


The field trip will meet at the Superior Entry Breakwall (very end of Wisconsin Point) at 10 am. Depending on gulls present, the event may last from 2-4 hours (or more!). Locations might change depending on the gulls, but we will always start at Superior Entry. Dress for the weather (usually colder than you expect!) and please bring one loaf of bread or more for the gulls! There are no bathroom breaks or time for lunch scheduled, but there is an outhouse near our gull watching location. 


Species documented on past events include Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Iceland Gull (Kumlien's and Thayer's), Glaucous Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, California Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, and even hybrids like Nelson's Gull (Glaucous x Herring). Other non-gull birds documented include Short-eared Owl, Red Crossbill, Snow Bunting, Bohemian Waxwing, White-winged Scoter, Western Grebe and more rarities! 


No Registration is required and you don't have to be a member of Northeastern Minnesota Bird AllianceNortheastern Minnesota Bird Alliance to attend. 


With questions about this field trip, please contact Clinton at [email protected].


October Program

Raptor ID 101: Duluth Edition

with Erik Bruhnke


October 10th, 7 PM

at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth


Have you ever wondered what that speck of a hawk is way out on the horizon, or the one circling right over your head? Would you like to learn about the raptors found migrating throughout the Duluth area, including ones right in your backyard? Are you interested in fine-tuning your hawkwatching skills? Come join us as Erik Bruhnke shares a wealth of knowledge about raptors along with catchy identification anecdotes, and an abundance of his raptor photography, to help you enhance your appreciation and identification skills of these splendid birds.


Erik Bruhnke has loved birds since he was a child looking at chickadees. In 2008 he graduated from Northland College in Wisconsin with a Natural Resources degree. Erik taught field ornithology at Northland College for three semesters. Between 2009 and 2014, he spent his summers conducting field research focused on breeding bird transects in Upper Michigan, point counts for a breeding bird atlas in Minnesota and Wisconsin’s Northwoods, vegetation and breeding bird surveys throughout wind farms in North Dakota’s prairie potholes, and cavity-nesting surveys in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon.


A devoted raptor nerd, he is drawn to hawkwatches. Starting at the end of college and after graduating, he was an interpreter for six fall seasons at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; counted migrating raptors at the Corpus Christi HawkWatch in Texas in 2015; and was the 2016, 2017, and 2018 hawk counter at the Cape May Hawkwatch in New Jersey. He is thrilled to be back at Hawk Ridge, to volunteer-assist with interpreting to visitors and to help count the migration. Visibible migration makes him happy. Erik’s wildlife photography has won national awards, and he’s written for the American Birding Association’s Birder’s Guide, BirdWatching magazine, and Bird Watcher’s Digest. Erik is a full time guide for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) and also runs his own business, Naturally Avian. In his free time he loves to cook and bake, often following the recipes from his omas and opas.


September Program

Birding in Hawaii 

with Laura Erickson


September 12th, 7:30 PM

at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth



Laura and her husband Russ went to Hawaii this past February on a VENT tour guided by Erik Bruhnke. Hawaii has more endemic birds than any other state, and more endangered species than the rest of the United States combined. This talk will focus on the many joys and sorrows of birding Hawaii, the biggest issues facing the endangered birds, and which endemic and native species are doing well. Laura focused primarily on native species, but because she's a shameless lister as well as conservationist, there will be lots of photos of stunning but non-native birds as well. She'll also touch on the advantages and disadvantage of visiting Hawaii on a tour vs. on your own.


Special Meeting Regarding Organization Name Change


September 12th, 7 PM

at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth


Prior to the night’s program, the membership of the Duluth Audubon Society will gather to consider amending our articles of incorporation to adopt a new name for our organization. The task force authorized at the 2023 Annual Meeting went through a process of discernment and forwarded a resolution to the Board of Directors in Spring of 2024. This resolution to take steps to effect a change of name was affirmed by the Board. The task force selected a slate of names that was sent out to the membership in a survey. The most popular name (Northeastern Minnesota Bird Alliance) is included in the below motion. If the vote to amend our Articles of Incorporation with this new name passes, the process is still not quite complete. The Board of Directors are required to hold their own vote to finish the formalities. A “no” vote to the motion means that we retain the name Duluth Audubon Society. Amendments to the resolution, including substitute names are a possibility, as well.


Only current DAS members are eligible to vote. Upon arrival, you will sign in to the meeting, have membership confirmed, and receive a physical copy of the motion. This copy of the motion will also serve as your voting form. When the vote is called, you will be asked to check the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ option included on the page. After the votes are received, counters will quickly tally and report the results.


May Program, Annual Meeting, Birdwalk, and Potluck


"eBird Basics: Exploring an Important Citizen Science Tool"


with Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus


May 16, 2024 


Birdwalk at 5:30 (CT) @ W.R. Bagley Nature Area &


Program at 7 pm (CT) @ Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth

835 W College St,

Duluth, MN 55811



It is hard to find a bird-watcher nowadays who has not at a minimum heard of eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Merlin, or BirdCast. These tools have helped birders of all abilitylevels learn about or engage with birds in more ways than just simply watching them. The science behind these tools is impressive, but so are the opportunities for birders to navigate and use these tools to our benefit! Join us for this dive into the functional world of eBird: discovering the basics of using the platform, as well as learning about some of the many tools the platform offers, that we can use to become better birders!


Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus is the current Vice President of Duluth Audubon Society, as well as the Head Naturalist for the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog. He enjoys leading the wide range of DAS Field Trips offered by our organization as well as getting folks excited about the natural world around them.


Prior to the program, we will have a birding walk at the W. R. Bagley Nature Area! We will gather at 5:30 PM, meeting in the main parking lot at 725 Oakland Circle.


During the program, we will enjoy a desert potluck! Bring a goodie to share! Remain after the program for our Annual meeting. Prepare to hear updates and vote on board members. There may be further action items for the meeting sent to you between now and the meeting. We hope to see you for a full day of DAS fun!


Boulder Lake Big


DaySaturday, May 11, 2024


Registration Details on the way


On Saturday, May 11th, the Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center will host their Big Day! Gathering at 7 AM, birders will divide into groups to scour the campus and wider area to find as many species as possible. Re-convening at 11 AM, they will share their findings and contribute them to the historical record! Registration details will be sent as available!


Spring WARBLER WALKS!!!

Park Point --

May 7, 14, 21, 28

(0700-0900 CT)


Waabizheshikana Trail --

MAY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

(0700-0900 CT)


Field Trip.

No Registration Required, just show up!


Park Point (Tuesdays)

[Park Point Recreation Area]


Waabizheshikana Trail (Thursdays)

[173 N. 4th Ave. W., Duluth]


On Tuesday mornings in May, join leaders Clinton and Kristina Dexter-Nienhaus to explore the Park Point Recreational Area environs for migrants!


On Thursday mornings in May, Jeff Davis and Eric Gdula will guide participants on a search along the Waabizheshikana Trail. 


Meet in the main parking lot at 7 AM. Expect some uneven terrain. Come and go as you need to. Bring your own binoculars or borrow from DAS


Around the World with Disney Conservation


with Dr. Jason Fischer


April 11, 2024 @ 7 pm (CT)


Virtual (ZOOM) Meeting Only


Disney Conservation works to save wildlife and build a global community inspired to protect the magic of nature.

In this presentation, you'll learn more about Disney's conservation efforts on their properties and in collaboration with other conservation organizations. From the Shanghai Disney Resort to the Walt Disney World Resort and beyond, join Dr. Jason Fischer,  a Conservation Program Manager for terrestrial wildlife projects,  to learn more about Disney's avian conservation efforts around the world. His work involves supporting international avian conservation efforts with the Disney Conservation Fund and developing research and engagement programs focused on the wildlife that calls Walt Disney Parks and Resorts home.

Camera Trapping


March 14, 2024 @ 7 pm (CT)

(In-Person ONLY)


Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth

835 W College St,

Duluth, MN 55811


Ryan Pennesi is a wildlife and nature photographer living on the North Shore of MN, based in Finland. At our March program he will share photography stories and techniques from his journey as an artist. Ryan’s specialty is "remote camera trapping" which involves a motion sensor and off camera flashes. He will discuss the history of camera trapping as well as what it can teach us in the modern age. He is most interested in using the images and the accompanying tales as conservation tools. Join us as Ryan sparks our curiosity and helps us connect to the natural world in a different way!

Wild Orchids in Northern Minnesota


with Rubin Stenseng

Feb. 8, 2024 @ 7 pm (CT)


(In-Person ONLY)


Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth

835 W College St,

Duluth, MN 55811


Did you know that there are native, wild orchids right here in the northland?  There are 35 species of orchids in the Minnesota Arrowhead region, and they come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, shapes, and seasonal blooms.  


Rubin Stenseng, a Minnesota Master Naturalist since 2006, enjoys the challenge and the reward of searching for and finding wild orchids.  He loves to share orchid information with others, including orchid ethics, pollination strategies, bloom phenology, and the rich diversity of species. He will guide us to learn about these delightful plants so that when we encounter them in the field, we will have a better understanding and appreciation of these fascinating treasures in our natural world.

Camera Trapping with Ryan Pennesi

Jan. 11, 2024 @ 7 pm (CT)

*** CANCELLED ***


*** 1/11/2024 THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER - WILL RESCHEDULE AT A LATER DATE ***


(in-person only)


Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth

835 W College St,

Duluth, MN 55811

 

Ryan Pennesi is a wildlife and nature photographer living on the North Shore of MN, based in Finland.

At our January program he will share photography stories and techniques from his journey as an artist. Ryan’s specialty is "remote camera trapping" which involves a motion sensor and off camera flashes. He will discuss the history of camera trapping as well as what it can teach us in the modern age. He is most interested in using the images and the accompanying tales as conservation tools.

Join us as Ryan sparks our curiosity and helps us connect to the natural world in a different way! 



Duluth Area Christmas Bird Counts - Get involved!


December/January


CBC Circles


There are CBC Counts that you may be able to participate in.  You can even contribute just be counting birds at your own feeder.