Bird watchers everywhere, rejoice: The Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge is co-sponsoring the 10th annual Festival of Birds May 17-20.
Tamarac, located approximately 35 miles northwest of Park Rapids, will host renowned author and bird watcher David Allen Sibley for the event.
Sibley will give the keynote speech for the festival and also be available to sign his numerable guidebooks.
A May 19 fieldtrip will take participants through the refuge to find songbirds, including the Scarlet Tanager and Marsh Wren.
More than 250 species of birds have been sighted at the refuge since its founding in 1938. Visitors have the opportunity to see eagles, trumpeter swans and a variety of songbirds and waterfowl.
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Visitors may pick up a checklist at the information kiosks to see a full list of possible sightings.
Those interested in other nature activities at Tamarac this summer can find hiking trails, fishing, photography, horseback riding, canoeing, wilderness areas, biking and picnics.
The biologically diverse site includes bogs, prairies, swamps and both coniferous and deciduous forests.
Tamarac offers a number of self-guided trails, including a five-mile Blackbird Automobile Tour route and the Old Indian Hiking Trail.
The visitor center includes exhibits, an observation deck, bookshop and auditorium. The center is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
Nearby campgrounds allow visitors to remain close to the site for extended recreation.
Other summer activities at Tamarac include:
- Feather Friendly Hike - 1 p.m. Saturday, June 2. Tamarac celebrates National Trails Day with a bird hike starting at the Chippewa picnic area on Highway 26. Participants are welcome to bring a bag lunch to eat before the hike begins. The 2.5-mile trail travels past a Bald Eagle nest, trumpeter swan nesting area and other unique bird habitats. No dogs, please.
- Friday Night Frogging - 8 to 10 p.m. June 8. Kelly Blackledge leads the traditional night of frogging. Blackledge will teach participants to identify frogs by their calls. Visitors should bring a flashlight and footwear suitable to walk through marshes to see frogs up close.
- Dragonfly Dreams and Butterfly Kisses - 2 p.m. Sunday, June 24. In a special double program, John Weber will present a fascinating look at the life of dragonflies and butterflies. The program includes photography and a short observational walk.
