• $53  

• 4:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

• Bus leaves from Fair Hills Resort  | Maximum registrations - 10

• The pristine woodlands of Tamarac Refuge are host to 25 species of warblers including the Golden-winged Warbler. Nearly 43,000 acres make up this premier bird refuge of Northwestern Minnesota. Tamarac’s wildlife biologist will be on board to guide you through the mosaic of habitats including pine and hardwood forests, lakes, rivers, marshes and brushy grasslands. You’ll trek into key sections of the refuge for the best views. Sturdy boots or knee high rubber boots are recommended for the short hikes through brushy terrain. The refuge has a bird list of 258 species, so there will be plenty of feathered friends to see here. Birds we’ll be looking for: American Woodcock, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, vireos, 25 species of warblers including Golden-winged, Solitary Sandpiper, Trumpeter Swans, Ruffed Grouse, nesting Bald Eagles and Common Loons. 

• NOTE: This field trip is offered and conducted by the Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds. Ten seats on this field trip are reserved for Gathering Partners participants, so you may register for this field trip along with the rest of your Gathering Partners registration OR you can register separately for it on the Festival of Birds website where they have more seats available. The bus for this trip will pick up 10 participants at the Fair Hills Resort at 4:45 AM and return to the resort around noon. If you register for this trip through the Festival of Birds website, you should either provide your own transportation to/from the pick up site at M State College  in Detroit Lakes or send a message to gatheringpartners@umn.edu to request to be included in the Fair Hills pick up/drop off. 

• $53  

• 4:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

• Bus leaves from Fair Hills Resort  | Maximum registrations - 10

• NEW FIELD TRIP SITE: These two sites are near Frazee, 10 miles east of Detroit Lakes. The Wannigan site is a recently purchased 158-acre property that is designated as a regional park. Three trails meet in the Frazee area – the Otter Tail River State Water Trail, North Country National Scenic Trail and multi-use Heartland State Trail. The park habitat is a mix of pine and hardwood forests and open grass areas along the Otter Tail River. This mosaic of landscapes lend to several varieties of birds for viewing. Today’s birding trip is the premiere tour of the park, helping to build a bird and plant checklist. An additional stop is at the Ike Fisher Farm, where numerous mowed trails meander along lakes, wetlands, maple and basswood forests and grasslands. Mr. Fisher hosted the annual 5th Grade Conservation Tour for many years and was a delight for students for decades. His family continues to open the property for birding. We will divide into small groups at each site for the best viewing opportunity. Expect considerable walking on this trip.  Birds we’ll be looking for: Western and Eastern Kingbirds; Baltimore and Orchard Orioles; Eastern Meadowlarks; Brown Thrashers; Sandhill Cranes; a myriad of spring migrating Warblers; Clay Colored, Grasshopper and Chipping Sparrows; Scarlet Tanager; Rose-breasted Grosbeak and waterfowl including Trumpeter Swans. There is a chance of seeing Red-headed Woodpeckers.

• NOTE: This field trip is offered and conducted by the Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds. Ten seats on this field trip are reserved for Gathering Partners participants, so you may register for this field trip along with the rest of your Gathering Partners registration OR you can register separately for it on the Festival of Birds website where they have more seats available.  The bus for this trip will pick up 10 participants at the Fair Hills Resort at 4:45 AM and return to the resort around noon. If you register for this trip through the Festival of Birds website, you should either provide your own transportation to/from the pick up site at M State College  in Detroit Lakes or send a message to gatheringpartners@umn.edu to request to be included in the Fair Hills pick up/drop off. 

• $45  - Bus leaves from Fair Hills Resort  | Maximum registrations - 45

Description:

Visit a large SNA with a unique, very clear undeveloped lake, Greenwater Lake SNA! Come along to explore this SNA surrounding Greenwater Lake in northeastern Becker County. Help us celebrate 40 years of protecting a diversity of plant communities here as well as the entire shoreline of the 77-acre Greenwater Lake. The North Country National Scenic Trail provides a pleasant way to explore the SNA as we search for a variety of springtime wildflowers and birds. Bring those field guides and binoculars so you can document what you see on iNaturalist and/or eBird.

Lakes Area Watershed Tour – Phosphorus, Flowers, and Flow 

• $45  - Bus leaves from Fair Hills Resort  | Maximum registrations - 45

Description:

Join us on a tour of some of the projects the Pelican River Watershed has completed in and around the Detroit Lakes area. 

Rice Lake Wetlands Restoration – Two decades of water quality monitoring identified the upstream Rice Lake Wetland as a primary contributor of “legacy” phosphorus loading to Big Detroit Lake.  The project water quality goal is to decrease the phosphorus release by 40-60%. 

The project includes two phases of stabilization and increasing the water levels.  Phase I, the “upper Structure” is a rock-ripple spill way to allow for migration of fish and other aquatic species. This structure completed construction in 2022.

Phase II, the “lower structure,” has been approved for funding and will commence soon.  This project was the result of a partnership between the Pelican River Watershed District, BWSR, Clean Water Legacy Funding, MPCA, MN DNR and the City of Detroit Lakes.

Highway 10 Scenic Overlook – In 2008, a multiagency group in Detroit Lakes set a goal of restoring the shoreline on the north end of Detroit Lakes.  The Detroit Lake Overlook project removed 1,200 feet of riprap and planted over 14,000 native plants along 1,800 feet of shoreline.  PRWD continues to monitor and assist the City of Detroit Lakes with the maintenance and upkeep of this project.  The Overlook is a successful example of the beauty and enhancement of natural vegetation on a lake shore.

This project was the result of a partnership between the Pelican River Watershed District, MNDOT, Becker County SWCD, MN Conservation Corps, Lake Detroiters Association, MN DNR, the City of Detroit Lakes, and the Becker County Master Gardeners.

Wastewater Treatment Plant

https://www.tpomag.com/online_exclusives/2022/04/video-minnesota-city-solves-strict-nutrient-regulations-at-new-facility

The City of Detroit Lakes, MN completed a new wastewater treatment facility in 2021.  To protect the water quality of Lake St. Clair, the design of the new facility had to reduce nutrient effluent by 94% over the previous facility’s capacity.   The new facility accommodates 2.2 million gallons of wastewater per day while meeting or exceeding Phosphorus limits.

Presenters:

• Tera Guetter – Administrator, Pelican River Watershed District

• Rob Bredeson – Water / Wastewater Supervisor, City of Detroit Lakes

• $45  - Group will meet in Pavilion before departing from Fair Hills Docks  | Maximum registrations - 36

Presenters:  Maddi Nistler and Natasha Bartolotta

Description:  We’re all a little loony for Minnesota’s state bird! Whether you only know Common Loons by their iconic calls, or you are a long time loon watcher, these charismatic birds will never stop surprising you. This session will include a tour of Pelican Lake on Fair Hills Resort’s boat cruise to give you an up close and personal introduction to the physical and behavioral characteristics that make Common Loons unique. For those curious about loon related citizen science and volunteer opportunities, we will also discuss ways that you can be an advocate for loons in Minnesota.  

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Presenter biographies:  

• • Maddi Nistler is a member of the Minnesota Green Corps program serving as Community Outreach and Readiness personnel at the National Loon Center in Crosslake, MN. Her life-long love for the outdoors and inner workings of the natural world has led her to become a Master Naturalist and advocate for Common Loons. Since moving here from Colorado in 2019, Maddi has continued to share her passion for wildlife with others through the Loon Center and beyond. She can often be found off the grid with a fishing rod, or talking to trees and local squirrels.

  • Natasha Bartolotta joined the National Loon Center in November of 2021, migrating to the Midwest all the way from the Northeast. She became a Minnesota Master Naturalist in 2022 and this past year co-taught the North Woods, Great Lakes course at the NLC. Natasha is an avid hiker, kayaker, reader, and baker (and eater) of bread.

• $45  -Fair Hills Resort Deck | Maximum registrations - 12

Description:  Join Bell Museum curators in the process of preparing mammal & bird specimens. This session will include ID and dissections in order to collect data, preserve samples, and produce specimens for the Bell Museum natural history collections. 

• $45  -Fair Hills Resort Deck | Maximum registrations - 12

Description: Join Bell Museum curator, Dr. Kassandra Ford,  in the process of preparing fish specimens. This session will include ID and dissections in order to collect data, preserve samples, and produce specimens for the Bell Museum natural history collections.