Fall Walk along Blue Hill Trail

Fall hikes along Blue Hill Trail are pleasant with no flies or mosquitos and the temperatures allow comfortable hiking. The colors are muted this year but the views from the top of Blue Hill observation platform are still stunning.

Along the way around the short trail we passed through the Enchanted Forest and then found 8 Trumpeter swans leisurely feeding in Buck Lake. The observation platform added at the edge of the lake makes for a very comfortable stopping point. The viewing scopes brought the swans and some ducks into clear view.

If you have not been on the Blue Hill hiking trail yet, try it sometime for a refreshing and fun hike. There are three loop trail options from 2 miles to just over 4 miles in length.

Rover View 1

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WILDLIFE FESTIVAL OCTOBER 10, 2009

Snowy conditions greeted early morning festival attendees as they went with Refuge staff to a special place on the refuge to watch the Sandhill Cranes awake and fly off to their morning feeding areas. The snow and such cold is unusual for this time of year but the clear skies, sunrise and sights and sounds of hundreds of cranes flying easily warmed the spirits.



Puddles was on-location to greet Refuge visitors later in the morning.

Refuge firefighters present information on fire safety and practices used on the Refuge.

Many booths provide information on how to view and sustain the birds and animals we all enjoy around the refuge region.

Several hands-on activities stands offered an opportunity to learn about archery, fishing, air rifle marksmanship, and viewing wildlife using binoculars.

Face painting table is always a popular activity within the Old Schoolhouse.

Raptors of the Midwest presentation put on by the UM-Raptor Center staff is always interesting and well attended.

Who can take a horse drawn hay wagon ride without wanting to pet the horses Major and Minnie Pearl. This is always a well attended activity and this year there were two wagons in use so festival goers did not have to wait so long in the cold.

The festival offered many more activities from a performance by musician and storyteller Doug Wood to nature hikes around the immediate area and bus tours of the Wildlife Drive. Other display stations provided information on wildflowers seeds, animal pelts, bones and feathers, along with live reptiles on display. After taking in all this, lunch was available and a free piece of Refuge Anniversary cake celebrating Shernburne Refuges 44th year.

Another fine Wildlife Festival and even though it was colder than many years, there were still over 800 attendees for the day long festivities. If you were not able to make it this year, plan ahead for nexts falls event.

Rover View1
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Notes from Fall Bird Tour at Sherburne Nat'l Wildlife Refuge September 5, 2009

An eager group met at the School House to go in search of birds along Blue Hill trail and the Wildlife Drive. Refuge volunteer Doug Stucki led the group along with help of volunteers Marsha and Dean.
In general we did not find the diversity of bird species that we thought might be passing through on fall migration, but we did spot Lincolns Sparrow, Black and White Warbler, Nashville Warbler, and the Red Headed Woodpecker. Also some great viewings of Eagles, White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes and Cedar Waxwings. Many more of usual residents.

We also visited the newest display on the Wildlife Drive. The Eagle Nest Discovery Area is finished which offers interpretive display boards and an opportunity to walk inside a full size eagle nest (adapted for human use). This is located at the first parking lot near main kiosk on the Wildlife Drive.

It was an enjoyable 3 hours out looking at the refuge habitat and the visitors. If you have not taken advantage yet of the guided events such as Spring and Fall bird tours, it is highly recommended for learning how to better identify and recognize not only migratory birds you will only see on the refuge, but also those common visitors to your back yard. There is another opportunity to join such a group the morning of the Wildlife Festival October 10, 2009. See the Friends of Sherburne website (www.exploresherburne.org) for complete information.

Rover View1
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Summer Views of Refuge

Rovers Linda and Bob recently passed on some pictures from visits they have made to Sherburne Refuge. These are current views along the Wildlife Drive in July.

Marsh Wren

Thanks Linda and Bob for sharing your visits to the Refuge

Rover View 1

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Wildlife Drive Residents

Driving with care along Wildlife Drive recently some common residents were also using the roadway. One gets special care to make sure the nest is protected.

RoverView1

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July 4 brings the end of early season burning program and rebirth in many of the refuge plants. Visitors now see plants in full lush bloom that is dramatic after the fire operations clear away the dead foliage. Many animals are raising young or considering another brood. Opportunities abound to view feeding of young and the amazing growth of those newborns that were so cute a month ago.

Can you find the babies in the above pictures?


Using the spotting scopes can sometimes take a little practice. But if you are persistant you can see unexpected treasure as we did in June.


























White Pelicans do not stay long on their travels through in spring, but we should be seeing them come through again in fall travels back south.



Right now with the weather getting hot and the bugs out in impressive numbers, it is nice to visit the Wildlife Drive and surrounding roadways of the refuge in the cool of the evenings. Some memorable moonrises are available for visitors this time of year.



















RoverView1

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It is always a special time of year when the Lupines start to bloom. Memorial Day weekend brought on quite a show. Best viewing right near the Prairie Trail parking area, but there are scattered colonies of the short lived blooms all around the Wildlife Drive.

Hoary Puccoon is also appearing in bloom

RoverView1

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

New Observation Deck on Buck Lake

Winter 2008 brings new Observation Deck along Buck Lake hiking trail.

RoverView1

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Pasque Flowers at the Refuge April 2009

One of the first signs of spring are Pasque Flowers in bloom. Ron Cleveland shares his photos of recent sightings. Seek out other new arrivals starting this Saturday as the Wildlife Drive opens Saturday April 18.

RoverView1
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Special Visitors

On September 4th the refuge had two special visitors, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Assistant Secretary of Interior Lyle Laverty. They were at the refuge to view plans for the Discovery Center and to meet with members of the Friends of Sherburne. What an exciting day. Thanks to Ron Cleveland for sharing these photos!

You can view all the photos from Ron here... http://ronc.zenfolio.com/p73744582/

Were you there for the visit? Post a comment and tell us all about it!

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

photos from Ron

Ron Cleveland visited the refuge this week and send me these beautiful photos. Thanks Ron!


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photos from DeeAnn

Thank you to DeeAnn Larson for sending in these great photos!

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

photos from Dean

These are seven signets that were seen at the refuge. They are sticking close to their parents and learning how to eat grass seed. Thanks to Dean Kleinhans for sharing the photos!

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

My flowers are alive!

We went to the wildlife drive today and I was sooo excited to see these flowers. They are called Showy Penstemon. Last summer my family volunteered to be wildflower gardeners for a plot of prairie flowers on the wildlife drive. We had a newborn in the house and it was a HOT summer (that meant it was quite a challenge to keep the new plants alive). They were looking pretty scraggly by the end of growing season and I wasn't sure they'd even come back up this year. Evidently they had been putting down some good roots that first year because look at them now. So fun!
Robin Delong did the planting (since we had just had our son) and gave them water the week we were gone on vacation so she gets kuddos as well. :)


I just love it when the lupine is in bloom...
We saw this snake slithering across the wildlife drive. This is the first time I have seen a snake at the refuge. I don't know my types of snakes, can someone help me out and tell me what kind it is? Click on comments at the end of this post, I'm sure others are curious as well. Thanks!

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Lupine

The lupine is in bloom at the refuge. A big thank you to David Berger for sharing this photo...

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Photos from Ron

Images of the refuge from this week courtesy of Ron Cleveland...

Great photos, Ron! Thanks so much for sharing!!

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Hoary Puccoon

Just got this update from Denise...

Common nighthawks were swooping at the entrance of the Wildlife Drive on 5/27. A killdeer and three chicks were hanging out at the kiosks. Prairie flowers in bloom include the hoary puccoon and prairie smoke. The lupines have just started. They should be in full bloom in a week. Make sure to drive the loop to see them!

Gets me excited to visit the refuge.

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

iGive.com

It doesn’t cost a cent to join and once you’re a member, every time you shop through the iGive.com Mall, our organization receives a percentage of each purchase.

Just think of it –– free money for the Friends of Sherburne, your choice of over 680 nationally known online merchants like Barnes & Noble, Staples, Lands’ End and PETsMART, your privacy guaranteed, plus money-saving deals and specials every day!

We hope you can’t resist!

Join http://www.iGive.com/exploresherburne today!

Bethany

Marsh Marigolds

It is warbler time on the Wildlife Drive!
Spotted 5/13: blackburnian,Wilson's, palm, yellow, yellowrumped, common yellowthroat, American redstartin numbers all around the loop.
The marsh marigolds are also in bloom.

Thanks Denise for the update and photo!

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Sunset on the refuge

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Volunteer Awards

C. Perry Schenk was named Volunteer of the Year at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Schenk volunteered more than 785 hours at the Wildlife Refuge over the past nine years. He has been involved in a wide variety of volunteer activities, including environmental education programs, collecting native wildflower seeds, assisting with festivals, and building wildlife quiz boards and other educational items.


Other volunteers receiving awards were Robin DeLong, Chuck Connell, and Judith Hidde.

The refuge recognized 782 volunteers for 6,374 hours of service during the last year.

Are you interested in volunteering your time and talents for either the Friends or the refuge? Follow this link to learn more...

http://www.exploresherburne.org/getinvolved/volunteer.html

Bethany

Images of the Refuge

We finally made it to the wildlife drive yesterday for the first time this season. A great experience as always. A few images from the wildlife drive...






Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

New observation deck

We checked out the new observation deck on the wildlife drive yesterday...

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

More Warblers

A big thank you to Denise for this update!

The warblers are arriving:
Palm, nashville, yellow and yellow rumped, and warbling vireo are everywhere on the Wildlife Drive. Also saw the first eastern kingbirds of the season.

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Warblers

An update from Denise (wildlife drive rover) -
The warblers are starting to fly through the area. Palm, yellow-rumped and common yellow throat warblers were spotted on Tuesday evening.

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Have you been to the wildlife drive?

Click on "comments" and tell me (and everyone else) all about it!

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Pasque flowers

Thanks so much to Denise for this great update...

The pasque flowers are blooming. One of the first flowers of the spring! Awhole field is in bloom on the refuge on County Road 4 just west of County15. They can be seen easily from the road--they are a fleeting flower, so this week is the time to catch them in bloom.

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Rover Joe says, "Squirrels and frogs and bugs, oh my!"

Bethany Marie is my inspiration. In fact, her stories about her refuge trips with her boys prompted me to get out of my recliner and drive to the refuge this week. I saw some really cool swans on the way there--right along the county road and easy to see from the car.

I got to the parking lot by one of those trails just fine. I even got out of the car and felt pretty good standing in the parking lot--kinda reminded me of the old neighborhood in south Mpls. where I grew up. The air is nicer at the refuge though--you can take a good breath and not smell car exhaust.

I was a little uneasy walking on the trail because last time I was there, the ground was white and everything was real quiet. This time it was brown with some grass starting to turn green, and there was STUFF there--like, you know, ALIVE stuff. Stuff that hopped and slithered and crawled and buzzed and ran around in the trees. Whoa--kinda too much wildlife for somebody who was raised in the shadow of the IDS!

Well, after a few steps into the woods I was freaked so I headed back to the car and down the county road again. This time I stopped to look closer at the swans and even rolled down my window. But then all of a sudden one of the swans stood right up in the water and started squawking real loud. That was enough for me! Guess I gotta ease into this wildlife stuff. As I drove home, I decided that Bethany Marie is not just my inspiration, she's also my hero and so are her little kids. If they can go out into the woods, I can probably do it too. Maybe next week.

Rover Joe

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Wildlife drive

Mark your calendar...
The wildlife drives opens on Saturday April 26th.

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Prescribed Burn

I was on an adventure with my little boys this afternoon and happened to come across a prescribed burn on the refuge. Probably the first of the year. Here is a picture...

Want to learn more about prescribed burning?

Visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/sherburne/burning.htm for some great information.

Bethany

http://www.exploresherburne.org/