2165 Pigs Eye Lake Rd, St. Paul

Join us for birding at Pigs Eye Regional Park—North Unit. Each fall flocks of American White Pelicans gather in migration at the north end of Pigs Eye Lake. Here they rest up and refuel on minnows. Come wish them bon voyage as they travel to their wintering grounds in the Gulf of Mexico. Did you know? Pelican groups are called squadrons. We may also see grassland and woodland songbirds, swallows, Wild Turkeys, Bald Eagles, and more. If the timing is right, we may be able to watch the Corps of Engineers build dredge spoil islands in Pig’s Eye Lake.

DIRECTIONS     Meet in the public parking lot off Shepard Road at Chestnut Street in St Paul. There is a Caribou Coffee, 230 Spring Street, adjacent to the lot. We will car caravan from there to Pig’s Eye. The Pig’s Eye site is difficult to find the first time so car caravans can help us all get there safely. There are port-a-potties at the park. Better facilities can be used at Caribou Coffee where we first rendezvous.

DIFFICULTY     We will be walking on unpaved field trails with gentle slopes. There are spots of uneven ground and ruts. We will walk at a leisurely pace, birding along the way. In about 20 minutes we will arrive at our observation point.

SUGGESTIONS     We will still be quite a distance from the Pelicans, so we will use scopes to get closer views. Bring a scope if you can. But even with binoculars, we may be able to witness Pelican group maneuvers of herding fish into the shallows for the harvest.

LEADERS     Kiki Sonnen 651-331-9560, [email protected] and Chase Davies

Photo by Monica Bryand