sax-zim bog & northern minnesota:
winter specialties
February 9 to 13, 2023
Georgia Audubon Host: Michelle Hamner, Director of Development
Local Guide: Red Hill Birding (2nd guide and van will be added with more than 6 participants)
Group Size: Minimum group size of 6 / Maximum group size of 13
Member Price: $2,310* per person
Non-member Price: $2,360* per person(includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $370
*Based on double occupancy
Only to a birder does a trip away in the middle of winter to northern Minnesota seem like a good idea. But this is a classic "quality over quantity" birding experience, where species diversity may be low but the quality of birds is through the roof. The boreal forests in winter are home to mouth-watering birds like Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Bohemian Waxwing, Evening Grosbeak, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Spruce Grouse. The northern woods at this time of year are a real winter wonderland -- snow-covered, quiet, and peaceful, the silence occasionally punctuated by a noisy flock of crossbills or the tapping of a woodpecker on a tamarack.
This trip, led with local support by Red Hill Birding, is designed to take in the best birding that Northeast Minnesota offers in winter. We will visit the world-famous Sax-Zim Bog, the forests of Superior National Forest, and the North Shore of Lake Superior. We will be based in a single Duluth lakefront hotel for the duration of the trip. Because of the short nature of this trip and the short day length of the norther winter, we will be eating early breakfasts and spending full days in the field to see as many of the specialty birds as possible. If we're lucky, we may even come across a Northwoods mammal like a wolf, moose, porcupine, or pine marten.
>>View the 2022 Trip Report and species list on eBird.
Contact Michelle Hamner by email or at 678-973-2437 with any questions.
trip overview
Click on each day for more information.
Day 1: Thursday, Feb. 9
We will meet in the early afternoon in Duluth, load up the van, and set out. With limited time on our first day, we may head up the north shore just a short distance from the city, looking for our first northern birds, like Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Shrike, Bohemian Waxwing, and perhaps Ruffed Grouse or even a Great Gray Owl. If a Gyrfalcon is being seen along the Duluth waterfront, that would be a priority as well.
day 2: friday, feb. 10
Our first full day will be dedicated to Sax-Zim Bog, the area's premier birding area. It's a patchwork of private and public lands, with wonderful and welcoming feeder setups and an array of highly sought-after birds. Here we will look for Sharp-tailed Grouse around their leks; Canada Jay, Black-billed Magpie, and Northern Shrike along the roadsides; Ruffed Grouse feeding in alders; White-winged and Red Crossbills at the tops of tamaracks and spruces. We will make special efforts to find some of the bog's more difficult-to-find specialties like Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Goshawk, and Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owl. We will visit various feeder setups where birders are welcome, where we are likely to find Evening and Pine Grosbeaks and will search flocks of Common Redpolls for the rarer Hoary Redpoll.
day 3: saturday, feb. 11
On this day, we head northeast from Duluth to Superior National Forest, arriving around dawn to look for Spruce Grouse along the road edges. Our main targets here are three of the area's most tricky-to-find specialties: Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, and the aforementioned Spruce Grouse. The forests here are quiet in winter, but we are likely to come across other birds as well, like crossbills, Pine Grosbeak, Canada Jay, and Ruffed Grouse. We will head to a nearby town for lunch, after which we will bird our way back to Duluth along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Depending on the conditions at the time, we may check towns for Bohemian Waxwings, harbors for gulls and ducks, or the forest edge for owls and Northern Shrike.
day 4: sunday, feb. 12
Our last full day of birding is a "wild card" day to ensure we have a chance to go after birds that have been reported in the area. This may mean heading farther afield to look for a Northern Hawk or Boreal Owl, or returning to Sax-Zim Bog to look for Great Gray or Snowy Owl or any of the bog's specialty birds that we haven't seen yet. We will also bird in Duluth's Canal Park if there is open water, where the hotel is located, for ducks and gulls, including perhaps Glaucous or Iceland Gull; sometimes Gyrfalcon winters on the Duluth waterfront.
day 5: monday, feb. 13
We will have one final morning of birding before our departure. Depending on what we still want to see, we may cross into Wisconsin to stop in at the local dump to search for rare gulls and along the lakefront to look for Snowy Owl. Or we may bird around the town of Duluth to add a few more birds to our trip list.
additional details
Price Includes:
Price does not include:
COVID-19 Travel Precautions:
Until further notice, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date, including having at least one booster. Georgia Audubon will verify participants' vaccination status at least two weeks prior to the travel dates. Participants will also be expected to adhere to all local travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel. If you are unable or unwilling to comply with the COVID-19 travel precautions, please do not register for this event at this time.
Payment Plan:
Participants may pay in full by choosing the Georgia Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $500 down-payment at the time of registration ($550 for non-members). Payment in full will be due by September 1, 2022. The single supplement will also be billed at this time if that option was selected.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by September 1, 2022, a refund of all payments (less a $50 cancellation fee) made will be given. If notice of cancellation is received between September 2 and October 20, 2022, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given. Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled. In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
Travel Insurance:
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
- All meals (excluding alcoholic or specialty beverages) from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5
- All ground transportation via 15-passenger van
- Hotel accommodations for 4 nights
- Expert local guide (two guides with more than 6 participants)
- All park entrance fees
- Bound checklist to keep track of sightings during the trip
Price does not include:
- Airfare
- Tips (for the local guide(s), housekeeping, etc.)
- Alcoholic or specialty beverages
- Optional activities
- Snacks
- Laundry
- Travel insurance, recommended
- Medical costs
- Souvenirs
- Other incidentals participants may wish to purchase
COVID-19 Travel Precautions:
Until further notice, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date, including having at least one booster. Georgia Audubon will verify participants' vaccination status at least two weeks prior to the travel dates. Participants will also be expected to adhere to all local travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel. If you are unable or unwilling to comply with the COVID-19 travel precautions, please do not register for this event at this time.
Payment Plan:
Participants may pay in full by choosing the Georgia Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $500 down-payment at the time of registration ($550 for non-members). Payment in full will be due by September 1, 2022. The single supplement will also be billed at this time if that option was selected.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by September 1, 2022, a refund of all payments (less a $50 cancellation fee) made will be given. If notice of cancellation is received between September 2 and October 20, 2022, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given. Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled. In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
Travel Insurance:
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
important information
Timing:
The trip will begin at 2:30 PM in the lobby of the group's hotel in Duluth, MN, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, and will end at 10:00 AM at the same location on Monday, February 13. We will let you know well ahead of the trip which hotel we will be using. The hotel will provide a shuttle to and from the airport. We will be birding in a single van with the local guide driving, or two vans each with a guide driving for a group size larger than 6. If participants prefer to drive to Duluth, there is plenty of parking in the hotel parking lot.
Physical Difficulty:
This trip is physically easy. Almost all of the birding will be done from roads or other easily accessible locations. Because of the cold weather and snow cover, we will be doing little birding away from such areas and will not be taking long walks. The longest walk we take is approximately 1/4-mile through snow-cover. Roads are often slippery to walk on when they are icy or covered in a thin layer of snow. We may take short walks on snowy trails to get away from the road in some areas.
Pace:
The pace of this trip is moderate. Because of the short day-length of the northern winter and the short duration of the trip, we will be spending full days in the field. A typical day will start with eating an early breakfast at the hotel, setting out before first light to arrive at our birding destination in the early morning, birding until lunch, eating in a local restaurant, birding for the afternoon, returning to the hotel for a break before dinner, then eating dinner in a local restaurant or ordering in to the hotel. We will compile our daily checklist (bound checklist provided) in the evenings. Because of the cold weather, eating meals in the field is impractical. We will be staying in a single hotel for the duration of the trip.
Hotels:
We will be staying in one hotel for the duration of the trip. It will be a high-quality hotel on the Lake Superior shore in Duluth that has wireless internet and a decent breakfast.
Photography:
The photographic opportunities are very good. The birds in Minnesota tend to be fairly tame and photographable, including owls. We will be visiting several feeder setups that offer excellent photo opportunities. That said, this is primarily a birdwatching tour, so while there will be ample opportunities for photography along the way, we will not be making special considerations for photographers. We will not be using mice to "bait" owls for better photos.
Weather:
Northeast Minnesota in winter is cold. Very cold. Average temperatures for Duluth at this time of year are 5° to 24° F and are even colder inland, where we will be spending time birding. In February 2022, the group experienced lows as cold as -36° F due to a cold snap. In the areas where we will be birding, expect early morning temperatures (and sometimes daytime highs) below 0° F. The ground will be covered in snow and we can expect snow to fall during the trip. We will never be far from the vehicle, so you can always get into the vehicle to warm up.
Dietary Restrictions:
All efforts will be made to accommodate any dietary restrictions. However, at some points during this trip, dining options will be very limited. Most mornings we will be eating breakfast at the hotel. Please contact Michelle Hamner by email to discuss your needs before registering if you think there could be an issue.
Packing Considerations:
You will generally want to wear very warm clothing in layers. A heavy jacket, warm gloves or mittens, a winter hat, scarf, heavy socks, and winter boots are essential. Layers are very helpful in case the daytime temperatures are much higher than the early morning temps. In the evenings, we will be eating in delicious local restaurants or bringing in take-out to the hotel, where the dress is entirely casual.
In terms of gear, apart from the usual binoculars, field guide, etc., most people will appreciate having hand warmers to put inside their gloves or mittens and foot warmers for their boots. Most people appreciate having a camera along. A reusable water bottle and, for some people, a travel coffee mug, are useful to have along in the car during the day. Some people may appreciate having a trekking pole to help with walking if the roads or trails are icy or uneven. We are unlikely to be birding in the dark.
Tipping:
We encourage participants to tip our local Minnesota guide(s) for exceptional service. While tipping is never expected, if you feel that your local guide(s) went above and beyond, you are welcome to leave them with a gratuity. Tips at restaurants are included in the cost of the tour.
Travel Insurance:
We do not require travel insurance. However, we highly recommend buying it, as it is relatively inexpensive and can protect you from unforeseen costs associated with missed, delayed, or canceled flights, sudden illness, medical evacuation, damaged equipment, or other unexpected issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
Terms and Conditions:
Please review the Georgia Audubon Travel Program Terms and Conditions prior to registration.
The trip will begin at 2:30 PM in the lobby of the group's hotel in Duluth, MN, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, and will end at 10:00 AM at the same location on Monday, February 13. We will let you know well ahead of the trip which hotel we will be using. The hotel will provide a shuttle to and from the airport. We will be birding in a single van with the local guide driving, or two vans each with a guide driving for a group size larger than 6. If participants prefer to drive to Duluth, there is plenty of parking in the hotel parking lot.
Physical Difficulty:
This trip is physically easy. Almost all of the birding will be done from roads or other easily accessible locations. Because of the cold weather and snow cover, we will be doing little birding away from such areas and will not be taking long walks. The longest walk we take is approximately 1/4-mile through snow-cover. Roads are often slippery to walk on when they are icy or covered in a thin layer of snow. We may take short walks on snowy trails to get away from the road in some areas.
Pace:
The pace of this trip is moderate. Because of the short day-length of the northern winter and the short duration of the trip, we will be spending full days in the field. A typical day will start with eating an early breakfast at the hotel, setting out before first light to arrive at our birding destination in the early morning, birding until lunch, eating in a local restaurant, birding for the afternoon, returning to the hotel for a break before dinner, then eating dinner in a local restaurant or ordering in to the hotel. We will compile our daily checklist (bound checklist provided) in the evenings. Because of the cold weather, eating meals in the field is impractical. We will be staying in a single hotel for the duration of the trip.
Hotels:
We will be staying in one hotel for the duration of the trip. It will be a high-quality hotel on the Lake Superior shore in Duluth that has wireless internet and a decent breakfast.
Photography:
The photographic opportunities are very good. The birds in Minnesota tend to be fairly tame and photographable, including owls. We will be visiting several feeder setups that offer excellent photo opportunities. That said, this is primarily a birdwatching tour, so while there will be ample opportunities for photography along the way, we will not be making special considerations for photographers. We will not be using mice to "bait" owls for better photos.
Weather:
Northeast Minnesota in winter is cold. Very cold. Average temperatures for Duluth at this time of year are 5° to 24° F and are even colder inland, where we will be spending time birding. In February 2022, the group experienced lows as cold as -36° F due to a cold snap. In the areas where we will be birding, expect early morning temperatures (and sometimes daytime highs) below 0° F. The ground will be covered in snow and we can expect snow to fall during the trip. We will never be far from the vehicle, so you can always get into the vehicle to warm up.
Dietary Restrictions:
All efforts will be made to accommodate any dietary restrictions. However, at some points during this trip, dining options will be very limited. Most mornings we will be eating breakfast at the hotel. Please contact Michelle Hamner by email to discuss your needs before registering if you think there could be an issue.
Packing Considerations:
You will generally want to wear very warm clothing in layers. A heavy jacket, warm gloves or mittens, a winter hat, scarf, heavy socks, and winter boots are essential. Layers are very helpful in case the daytime temperatures are much higher than the early morning temps. In the evenings, we will be eating in delicious local restaurants or bringing in take-out to the hotel, where the dress is entirely casual.
In terms of gear, apart from the usual binoculars, field guide, etc., most people will appreciate having hand warmers to put inside their gloves or mittens and foot warmers for their boots. Most people appreciate having a camera along. A reusable water bottle and, for some people, a travel coffee mug, are useful to have along in the car during the day. Some people may appreciate having a trekking pole to help with walking if the roads or trails are icy or uneven. We are unlikely to be birding in the dark.
Tipping:
We encourage participants to tip our local Minnesota guide(s) for exceptional service. While tipping is never expected, if you feel that your local guide(s) went above and beyond, you are welcome to leave them with a gratuity. Tips at restaurants are included in the cost of the tour.
Travel Insurance:
We do not require travel insurance. However, we highly recommend buying it, as it is relatively inexpensive and can protect you from unforeseen costs associated with missed, delayed, or canceled flights, sudden illness, medical evacuation, damaged equipment, or other unexpected issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
Terms and Conditions:
Please review the Georgia Audubon Travel Program Terms and Conditions prior to registration.