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

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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!

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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!

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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!!

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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/