MRVAC Photography SIG Meeting - February 9, 2026

Our February 2026 Photography Special Interest Group get-together will cover E-Bird and Photography. Shanda Fisher will walk us through the process of uploading photos to an E-Bird checklist. She will discuss how her birding and bird identification skills have improved ......More

Our February 2026 Photography Special Interest Group get-together will cover E-Bird and Photography. Shanda Fisher will walk us through the process of uploading photos to an E-Bird checklist. She will discuss how her birding and bird identification skills have improved through photography. She will also share a few of her images from prior checklists she created during her travels and share a few stories. For additional information, contact MRVAC Photography SIG Coordinator, Shanda Fisher,  612-719-0981 (cell phone).

Penn Lake Library, 8800 Penn Ave. S, Bloomington, MN, 55431, United States

Bird Watching Trek

Birdwatching Trek: Wilkie Trailhead Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a bird walk to learn about the birds that we find on the refuge. Learn about the different types of habitats at the refuge that support over 100 species of birds, many of which migrate through a......More

Birdwatching Trek: Wilkie Trailhead Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a bird walk to learn about the birds that we find on the refuge. Learn about the different types of habitats at the refuge that support over 100 species of birds, many of which migrate through and nest on the refuge during certain times of the year. No experience needed, this program is intended for those interested in birding regardless of experience level. Registration required. Questions? Contact [email protected] or call (952) 854-5900. Date and Time: Saturday, February 14, 2026 from 8-10:30am Location: Meet us at the kiosk at the Wilkie Unit Trailhead. 7701 County Road 101 E, Shakopee, MN 55379 Registration Information: Registration required through Signup.com, which can be accessed via the Minnesota Valley NWR’s website. Capped at 25 participants. Please indicate in your registration if you would like to receive a birding summary and species list from the walk. Activity Level: This program is entirely outdoors. Distance covered is 1-2 miles total. The walk is easy active, slow moving, with plenty of stops along the way. What to Bring: Comfortable clothing is recommended, including boots for wet/rainy conditions on muddy trails. If you have them, bring along your own pair of binoculars and field guides. Volunteers have spotting scopes available for all to use as well. Accessibility: Accessibility at the Wilkie Unit Trailhead: There are no restrooms or water located at this trailhead. The Minnesota Valley State Trail is a paved flat route, and the Blue Lake Trail is natural surface and mostly flat. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter). Paths may not always be suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. There are no benches or rest areas along the route. The trailhead is

Wilkie Unit Trailhead, 7701 County Road 101 E., Shakopee, MN, United States

Bird Watching Trek

Birdwatching Trek: Old Cedar Avenue Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks i......More

Birdwatching Trek: Old Cedar Avenue Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds that migrate through the refuge each spring and those that stay to nest on the refuge. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather.Questions? Contact [email protected] or call (952) 854-5900. Date and Time: Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 8-10:30am Location: Meet us at the OCA parking lot at Old Cedar Avenue. 9551 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425 Registration Information: Registration required through Signup.com, which is available on the Minnesota Valley NWR’s website. Capped at 25 participants. Please indicate in your registration if you would like to receive a birding summary and species list from the walk. Activity Level: This program is entirely outdoors. Distance covered is 1-2 miles total. The walk is easy active, slow moving, with plenty of stops along the way. What to Bring: Comfortable clothing is recommended, including boots for wet/rainy conditions on muddy trails. If you have them, bring along your own pair of binoculars and field guides. Volunteers have spotting scopes available for all to use as well. Accessibility: Accessibility at Old Cedar Avenue: Restrooms and water fountains are available seasonally, from last frost to first frost typically. The restrooms are managed by the City of Bloomington. There is dedicated handicap parking. A portable restroom is available on site. Bluff and Hogback Ridge trails are nature surface. Bluff trail features a wooden boardwalk and has many steep inclines and declines approximately 0.25 miles in, but connects to the Minnesota Valley State trail 3.4 miles in, which is a flat and paved path. The pedestrian bridge is a flat concrete path. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter). Paths may not always be suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. There are no benches on the trails, but rest areas are located at the pavilion, Nature Play Area, and fishing pier. Trailhead is a

Old Cedar Ave Brdge, 9551 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN, 55425, United States

Bird Watching Trek

Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds......More

Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds that migrate through the refuge each spring and those that stay to nest on the refuge. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather. Date & Time: Sunday, March 8th from 8:00-10:30 a.m. Location: Bass Ponds – 2501 86th St. E, Bloomington, 55425 MN Registration Information: Registration required on SignUp.com. Which is available on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuges Website. Please indicate in your registration if you would like to receive a birding summary and species list from the walk. This program is capped at 25 participants. Activity Level: Easy-active, but with a short but steep downhill walk from the parking lot. We will walk slowly and make frequent stops. Meet Us: Meet at the upper Bass Ponds trailhead near the parking lot. Please consider carpooling with others in your party due to limited parking. What to Bring: If you have them, bring along binoculars and a favorite field guide. This program is held entirely outdoors, please dress appropriately for the weather. A cancellation notice will be sent via email to registered participants in the event of severe weather. Accessibility: Restrooms are located at the lower trailhead, a short but steep downhill walk from the parking lot. This walk takes place on mostly flat ground on a paved service road, wooden boardwalks, and natural surface paths. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may not be suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. There are no benches or rest areas along the route. Persons who cannot travel the steep hill from the upper to the lower trailhead on foot may receive a gate code to drive down to the lower lot. Please call or email the refuge for accommodations: 952-854-5900 or [email protected]. Program Leader: This program is led by Volunteer Naturalist Craig Mandel. Craig has been leading bird walks on the refuge for more than two decades. For questions about these walks, please contact Craig at 952-240-7647. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning or other accommodation needs to [email protected] by close of business two weeks before the date you wish to attend.

Bass Ponds, 2501 86th St. E., Bloomington, MN, 55425, United States

Bird Watching Trek

Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds......More

Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds that migrate through the refuge each spring and those that stay to nest on the refuge. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather. Date & Time: Saturday, March 21 St from 8:00-10:30 a.m. Location: Bass Ponds – 2501 86th St. E, Bloomington, 55425 MN Registration Information: Registration required on SignUp.com. Which is available on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuges Website. Please indicate in your registration if you would like to receive a birding summary and species list from the walk. This program is capped at 25 participants. Activity Level: Easy-active, but with a short but steep downhill walk from the parking lot. We will walk slowly and make frequent stops. Meet Us: Meet at the upper Bass Ponds trailhead near the parking lot. Please consider carpooling with others in your party due to limited parking. What to Bring: If you have them, bring along binoculars and a favorite field guide. This program is held entirely outdoors, please dress appropriately for the weather. A cancellation notice will be sent via email to registered participants in the event of severe weather. Accessibility: Restrooms are located at the lower trailhead, a short but steep downhill walk from the parking lot. This walk takes place on mostly flat ground on a paved service road, wooden boardwalks, and natural surface paths. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may not be suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. There are no benches or rest areas along the route. Persons who cannot travel the steep hill from the upper to the lower trailhead on foot may receive a gate code to drive down to the lower lot. Please call or email the refuge for accommodations: 952-854-5900 or [email protected]. Program Leader: This program is led by Volunteer Naturalist Craig Mandel. Craig has been leading bird walks on the refuge for more than two decades. For questions about these walks, please contact Craig at 952-240-7647. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning or other accommodation needs to [email protected] by close of business two weeks before the date you wish to attend.

Bass Ponds, 2501 86th St. E., Bloomington, MN, 55425, United States

Bird Watching Trek

Birdwatching Trek: Old Cedar Avenue Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks i......More

Birdwatching Trek: Old Cedar Avenue Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds that migrate through the refuge each spring and those that stay to nest on the refuge. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather.Questions? Contact [email protected] or call (952) 854-5900. Date and Time: Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 8-10:30am Location: Meet us at the OCA parking lot at Old Cedar Avenue. 9551 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425 Registration Information: Registration required through Signup.com, which is available on the Minnesota Valley NWR’s website. Capped at 25 participants. Please indicate in your registration if you would like to receive a birding summary and species list from the walk. Activity Level: This program is entirely outdoors. Distance covered is 1-2 miles total. The walk is easy active, slow moving, with plenty of stops along the way. What to Bring: Comfortable clothing is recommended, including boots for wet/rainy conditions on muddy trails. If you have them, bring along your own pair of binoculars and field guides. Volunteers have spotting scopes available for all to use as well. Accessibility: Accessibility at Old Cedar Avenue: Restrooms and water fountains are available seasonally, from last frost to first frost typically. The restrooms are managed by the City of Bloomington. There is dedicated handicap parking. A portable restroom is available on site. Bluff and Hogback Ridge trails are nature surface. Bluff trail features a wooden boardwalk and has many steep inclines and declines approximately 0.25 miles in, but connects to the Minnesota Valley State trail 3.4 miles in, which is a flat and paved path. The pedestrian bridge is a flat concrete path. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter). Paths may not always be suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. There are no benches on the trails, but rest areas are located at the pavilion, Nature Play Area, and fishing pier. Trailhead is a

Old Cedar Ave Brdge, 9551 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN, 55425, United States

Bird Watching Trek

Birdwatching Trek: Old Cedar Avenue Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks i......More

Birdwatching Trek: Old Cedar Avenue Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds that migrate through the refuge each spring and those that stay to nest on the refuge. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather.Questions? Contact [email protected] or call (952) 854-5900. Date and Time: Monday, April 13, 2026, from 8-10:30am Location: Meet us at the OCA parking lot at Old Cedar Avenue. 9551 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425 Registration Information: Registration required through Signup.com, which is available on the Minnesota Valley NWR’s website. Capped at 25 participants. Please indicate in your registration if you would like to receive a birding summary and species list from the walk. Activity Level: This program is entirely outdoors. Distance covered is 1-2 miles total. The walk is easy active, slow moving, with plenty of stops along the way. What to Bring: Comfortable clothing is recommended, including boots for wet/rainy conditions on muddy trails. If you have them, bring along your own pair of binoculars and field guides. Volunteers have spotting scopes available for all to use as well. Accessibility: Accessibility at Old Cedar Avenue: Restrooms and water fountains are available seasonally, from last frost to first frost typically. The restrooms are managed by the City of Bloomington. There is dedicated handicap parking. A portable restroom is available on site. Bluff and Hogback Ridge trails are nature surface. Bluff trail features a wooden boardwalk and has many steep inclines and declines approximately 0.25 miles in, but connects to the Minnesota Valley State trail 3.4 miles in, which is a flat and paved path. The pedestrian bridge is a flat concrete path. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter). Paths may not always be suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. There are no benches on the trails, but rest areas are located at the pavilion, Nature Play Area, and fishing pier. Trailhead is a

Old Cedar Ave Brdge, 9551 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN, 55425, United States

Bird Watching Trek

Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds......More

Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds that migrate through the refuge each spring and those that stay to nest on the refuge. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather. Date & Time: Saturday, April 18th from 8:00-10:30 a.m. Location: Bass Ponds – 2501 86th St. E, Bloomington, 55425 MN Registration Information: Registration required on SignUp.com. Which is available on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuges Website. Please indicate in your registration if you would like to receive a birding summary and species list from the walk. This program is capped at 25 participants. Activity Level: Easy-active, but with a short but steep downhill walk from the parking lot. We will walk slowly and make frequent stops. Meet Us: Meet at the upper Bass Ponds trailhead near the parking lot. Please consider carpooling with others in your party due to limited parking. What to Bring: If you have them, bring along binoculars and a favorite field guide. This program is held entirely outdoors, please dress appropriately for the weather. A cancellation notice will be sent via email to registered participants in the event of severe weather. Accessibility: Restrooms are located at the lower trailhead, a short but steep downhill walk from the parking lot. This walk takes place on mostly flat ground on a paved service road, wooden boardwalks, and natural surface paths. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may not be suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. There are no benches or rest areas along the route. Persons who cannot travel the steep hill from the upper to the lower trailhead on foot may receive a gate code to drive down to the lower lot. Please call or email the refuge for accommodations: 952-854-5900 or [email protected]. Program Leader: This program is led by Volunteer Naturalist Craig Mandel. Craig has been leading bird walks on the refuge for more than two decades. For questions about these walks, please contact Craig at 952-240-7647. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning or other accommodation needs to [email protected] by close of business two weeks before the date you wish to attend.

Bass Ponds, 2501 86th St. E., Bloomington, MN, 55425, United States

Nine Mile Creek Birding Trip

Nine Mile Creek Birding TripApril 18, 20268:00 amRob Davies612-710-2626 We’ll be looking for early migrants and visiting a prairie remnant to see early spring wildflowers.Difficulty: A few very steep trail segments on an otherwise easy grade along the creek.

Nine Mile Creek Trailhead, 1826 W 106th Street, Bloomington, Minnesota, 55431

Bird Watching Trek

Birdwatching Trek: Old Cedar Avenue Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks i......More

Birdwatching Trek: Old Cedar Avenue Join refuge naturalist Craig Mandel for a spring bird walk. For these spring walks, the birds observed will change as the season unfolds. Expect waterfowl on the March and April walks, followed by sparrows and warblers on the walks in May. We will get to know the birds that migrate through the refuge each spring and those that stay to nest on the refuge. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather.Questions? Contact [email protected] or call (952) 854-5900. Date and Time: Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 8-10:30am Location: Meet us at the OCA parking lot at Old Cedar Avenue. 9551 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425 Registration Information: Registration required through Signup.com, which is available on the Minnesota Valley NWR’s website. Capped at 25 participants. Please indicate in your registration if you would like to receive a birding summary and species list from the walk. Activity Level: This program is entirely outdoors. Distance covered is 1-2 miles total. The walk is easy active, slow moving, with plenty of stops along the way. What to Bring: Comfortable clothing is recommended, including boots for wet/rainy conditions on muddy trails. If you have them, bring along your own pair of binoculars and field guides. Volunteers have spotting scopes available for all to use as well. Accessibility: Accessibility at Old Cedar Avenue: Restrooms and water fountains are available seasonally, from last frost to first frost typically. The restrooms are managed by the City of Bloomington. There is dedicated handicap parking. A portable restroom is available on site. Bluff and Hogback Ridge trails are nature surface. Bluff trail features a wooden boardwalk and has many steep inclines and declines approximately 0.25 miles in, but connects to the Minnesota Valley State trail 3.4 miles in, which is a flat and paved path. The pedestrian bridge is a flat concrete path. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter). Paths may not always be suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. There are no benches on the trails, but rest areas are located at the pavilion, Nature Play Area, and fishing pier. Trailhead is a

Old Cedar Ave Brdge, 9551 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN, 55425, United States