Because of the extremely wet conditions and the threat of more heavy rain, we postponed the Sabine Woods Work Day for one week until Saturday October 9. Please join us then if you can.
In June 2019 a group of Golden Triangle Audubon members made an expedition to Northern Minnesota to see breeding Common Loons and other species of the area. We stayed at the Spring Bay Resort, on the western edge of Vermilion Lake. The Covid-19 situation has prevented us from presenting this program until now. We hope this time will work, but check this website before setting out!
The lake has the highest concentrations of breeding Common Loons in the area, and our visit was timed to coincide with the presence of young chicks. A good variety of warblers breeds in the area, including Connecticut Warblers. Both of the North American "three toed" woodpeckers, the American Three-toed and the Black-backed Woodpeckers breed in the area, and we were able to see both species.
In addition to Vermilion Lake and its vicinity, the group visited the famous Sax-Zim Bog northwest of Duluth, made a brief excursion into the Rainey River area of Ontario, Canada, and visited the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary in Orr, MN operated by the American Bear Association to showcase American Black Bears.
We will plan on having the doors open by 6:00 p.m. and the program will start at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be available from 6:15 p.m.
Leader Steve Mayes. Meet at Sabine Woods, which is 4.1 miles west of Sabine Pass on the north side of Highway 87. Meet at 7:30 a.m. or join the trip in progress in the woods later. Waterproof footwear will probably be a good idea, especially if it is at all wet from previous rain or just heavy early morning dew. Bring mosquito repellent just in case. There are few services available on weekends in Sabine Pass, and no gasoline is available. Bring drinks.
October 23 is towards the end of fall songbird migration, but often brings a good variety of birds. A cold front may drive down the last of the warblers and the first big push of wintering birds. Some of our winter birds may be arriving, and often the woodland species that winter in the Big Thicket overshoot a little at first. In some past years, this has included Red-breasted Nuthatch and Brown Creeper. There are always interesting birds at Sabine Woods! Birding Sabine Woods is relatively easy walking.