The Bob Russell Memorial Boardwalk at Winterberry Bog is complete! Wintering Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Barred Owls, Brown Creepers, Blackburnian Warblers, Russula mushrooms, Pink Ladyslipper, and Labrador Tea are just a few of the attractions at this 40 acre bog parcel.
Boardwalk Length:
1,000 feet: The boardwalk extends from the new parking pad just north of the existing sign and heads due west into the heart of the mature Black Spruce bog. It skirts the larch-beetle-infested Tamaracks that were worked over by the Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers during the last few winters.
Activities at this tract:
Hiking (currently on a trail), birding, photography, botanizing. Winter feeders are maintained here as well.
Location:
Address- 9105 Murphy Road, Cotton, MN
Trailhead Coordinates- 47.170382, -92.536680
Directions:
From Hwy 53: Head west from Cotton on Arkola Road (Co Rd 52) until you reach Murphy Road. Turn right (north) on Murphy road for 0.1 mi. The property and trailhead are on the left (west) side of the road.
See our Birding Map for details.
Parking:
A parking pad is present and can hold 6-8 cars. Extra parking along one side of Murphy road if there are multiple vehicles, to allow through traffic to pass.
Who was Bob Russell?
A letter from Friends of Sax-Zim Bog co-founder, Kim Eckert
Bob Russell got me started in birding in 1962, kept my interest alive in the early years, and had been my closest friend for over 50 years until he died in June 2019. Without him, it’s doubtful I’d ever become a birder. For those who didn’t know him, which is probably most of you, see http://www.mbwbirds.com/blog.html.
—Kim Eckert, May 2020
