Field Trips & Programs Spring and Summer 2018
The Friends of Sax-Zim Bog is continuing to build and offer diverse programming for all of the seasons! The spring and summer listings include a mix of public programs, field trips, naturalist hikes, and workshops! All of programs are FREE. All of the field trips are FREE for members who have donated over $20 in the last year. If you are not a member, the $25 Field Trip fee includes a membership and 12-months of free field trips. If you have any questions about any of the programs, field trips, naturalist hikes, or workshops, and to RSVP, please contact Head Naturalist Clinton Nienhaus via email at naturalist@saxzim.org.
Naturalist programs are funded in part by grants by the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation. Public programs are free to attend, but donations are always welcome! All field trips are free for members who have donated $20 in the last year. Membership is $25 and includes free entry to any field trip in a 12 month period! If you have any questions about any of the programs, please contact Head Naturalist Clinton Nienhaus via email at naturalist@saxzim.org.
**RSVP is REQUIRED for attendance to programs or field trips**
Saturday, August 4
BOG BIOBLITZ VI
Meet at the Welcome Center by 9 am, trips to return by 2:00 pm with specimen displays and species compilation to follow.
9 am- 3:30pm Meeting at the Welcome Center (BIRD trip leaves at 6:00 am and returns to Welcome Center by 9am so folks can join another field trip)
FREE!
Join experienced naturalists in the field as you explore scattered areas around the Sax-Zim Bog.
This is our SIXTH BOG BIOBLITZ. The Highlight for folks is learning an amazing amount of info while in the field AND the fun of sharing our sightings back at the Welcome Center. Each leader will detail their finds of the day…and some will even bring back specimens.
The Biodiversity of the Bog continues to amaze us. Join us as we continue to explore this magical place. BYOS (Bring your own Stuff… including Lunch and drinks, rubber boots, bug dope, snacks). Bird trips will be earlier (meet at Welcome Center at 5:50 am) and other trips will depart at 9am. No need to RSVP…Just show up and pick your field trip!
**All trips depart from the Welcome Center on Owl Avenue (see directions at bottom of this e-Newsletter or on our website)
**We will car caravan to locations (some groups will stay close to the Welcome Center while others will travel to the far corners of the Bog)
**Bring your own lunch to eat in the field (no close by places to buy food)
**Probably not possible to do more than one subject field trip.
This is the second BioBlitz to be done in August, and this year promises to be amazing! The first August BioBlitz was the inaugural effort, which only saw attendance by a couple of folks… So this year, the more eyes the better! August can be a fun time of the year to find species. Many hard to ID plants have begun to flower, butterfly numbers increase with some real stunners in the late season, dragonfly diversity nears the tail end of the peak of diversity, and many pollinating insects are active on our late season plants. Our 6th consecutive BioBlitz hopes to shine a light in an often un-visited time in the Sax-Zim Bog, with hopes of adding to our Master Species List and understanding of the species that call the Sax-Zim Bog home. Our Master Species list is now over 1300 species and growing, come out to the BioBlitz with a good chance to add a few more species to this amazing show of biodiversity in Minnesota.
A BioBlitz is a great way to interact with other enthusiasts and experts in a particular area of interest. Each trip will gather at the Welcome Center. These trips are meant to find species, but also to learn! If you have wanted to spend time in the field sharpening your skills at lichen ID or wonder what those dragonflies are that you are seeing by your pond, this would be the event for you. If you are interested in attending, there is no need to RSVP, but do plan on bringing a few things. Plan to be in the field all day, so bringing a lunch, water, bug spray, shoes/boots for wet conditions would be great. Field Guides will be provided on some trips, as will a few nets for the Dragonfly and Damselfly trip.
For more information about the trips or with further questions, please contact Head Naturalist Clinton at naturalist@saxzim.org. Further information about the trips can be found below! For information for the Hawk Ridge BioBlitz on August 5th, as part of the Bog to Ridge BioBlitz weekend, find information following this link: https://www.hawkridge.org/calendar/
Note: Saturday, August 4 BioBlitz will be at Sax-Zim Bog, while Sunday, August 5 is at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth.
Bog BioBlitz Field Trips start at 9:00 am and will return by 2:00 pm.
Leaders will display specimens and the compilation will be held from 2:30-3:30 pm.
FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE (**All Field Trips depart from Welcome Center)
6:00 am- 9:00 am Field Trips:
BIRDS (Sparky)
[We will return to Welcome Center so folks can join other 9am field trips]
9:00 am- 2:00 pm: Bog Blitz Field Trips
BUTTERFLIES & LADYBUGS (Jerry McCormick)
DRAGONFLIES (Clinton Nienhaus)
WILDFLOWERS (shrubs, sedges, etc) with Kelly Beaster
LICHENS with Joan Hunn
PADDLE STONE LAKE & EXPLORE EAST STONE LAKE BOG (Sparky)
TIGER BEETLES & OTHER INSECTS (tiger beetles, plants, butterflies, spiders etc) with Bill Tefft & Chris Smith
SPIDERS & INSECTS with Cassie Novak
MOTHS: Kristina Dexter and Clinton Nienhaus (early AM, email Clinton if interested; naturalist@saxzim.org)
*field trips are weather dependent and subject to change
2:30-3:30 pm: We will then all meet back at the Welcome Center around 2:30 to share our finds. Each leader will give a synopsis of what they found and even bring some specimens back.
Be sure to pack a lunch, water, bug dope, sunscreen, rubber boots, hat
POP and GRANOLA BARS will be for sale at Welcome Center
This is always a popular event. You will learn an amazing amount in a short time. No need to RSVP…just show up. See you Saturday August 4!
SEE PHOTOS & WRAP-UPS FROM OTHER BOG BIOBLITZES…
2017 Bog BioBlitz V photos & text
2016 Bog BioBlitz IV photos & text
2015 Bog BioBlitz III photos & text
2014 Bog BioBlitz II photos & text
2013 Bog BioBlitz I photos & text
Directions to Welcome Center on Owl Avenue
**Open mid December to mid March from 10am-3pm daily
**Also marked on our birding map
Directions from Cotton, MN on US53…
*Go West from Cotton on CR52/Arkola for 11 miles
*Turn South (left) on Owl Avenue
*Go 1.75 miles (second curve) to Welcome Center
Directions from Meadowlands, on CR133…
*Go West on CR133 to CR229/29
*Turn North (left) on CR229/29
*Go North to T at Correction Line Rd
*Turn West (left) on Correction Line Rd
*Road curves North and becomes Owl Ave
*Go North on Owl Avenue for 2.5 miles to Welcome Center
Naturalist programs are new for the FOSZB, funded in part by grants by the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation. Public programs are free to attend, but donations are always welcome! All field trips are free for members who have donated $20 in the last year. Membership is $25 and includes free entry to any field trip in a 12 month period! If you have any questions about any of the programs, please contact Head Naturalist Clinton Nienhaus via email at naturalist@saxzim.org.