HAWK RIDGE

Its fall! 

I love love love fall! 

The cooler weather, scarfs, hoodies, fleece and warm drinks. 

Oh and its MIGRATION season!!! 

Katie, Frank and I at the top of the ridge

Here in Minnesota we have Hawk Ridge, which happens to be one of the best migration spots for watching raptors right in the city of Duluth. This past week I was lucky enough to head up to the ridge and watch some birds. Katie and I also were able to catch up with some friends! Of course, on our way home, we swung into the Audubon Center so I could see some folks and critters. What a fantastic way to spend a couple days off.

Katie and I holding hatch year sharp-shinned hawks after they were banded

I adopted a Merlin!!! I was able to release this beautiful bird after it was banded

Saying Hi to Spike!

Dakota Gatherings

Angel and I teaching in Winona

The last 2 Fridays, I have spent the day teaching 3rd graders about eagles as part of the Dakota gatherings here in Minnesota. In total, I saw nearly 1,000 school children across 3 twenty minute programs! These gatherings are great for the local children to learn more about the Dakota culture and I always enjoy presenting :)

Angel enjoying the sun during the program!

 

 

Septoberfest has begun in Wabasha! So my co-workers and I took some time to race horses

Was'aka loving the wind in Mankato

GO BADGERS!

Last weekend I got to have a girls weekend! We did some tailgating and a Badger football game. Good food, good game and lots of laughs. Hard to believe I met these ladies nearly 17 years ago! How time flies :)

Minnesota State Fair

It that time of year again! Minnesota State Fair which means I got to hang out with friends, eat a ton of food and find a new stupid hat. This year was no exception :) As a bonus, the weather was so fantastic that the fair had record attendance they day we went. Over 236,000 people were there!

Bird nerds with the U of M Rochester Raptor!

Trying a new ice cream & espresso duo. AMAZING!

Phone books

This past week I decided to give an old phone book to one of our resident eagles. He seemed to enjoy it!

Huber Wedding!

I spent the past weekend in the Wisconsin Dells for the Huber wedding. Before the festivities began, Katie and I headed over to the International Crane Foundation to see some birds. The rest of my weekend was filled with wedding - setting up, getting ready and cleaning up. I was so happy that I could be a part of my friends special day and wish them a lifetime of happy happy years in the future!

Katie and I in front of the Brolgas

The wedding party!

Katie and I!

BUGS!

There are a lot of little hidden away places to go hiking here in the river valley. I took a walk the other day on the refuge. The area had lots of tall grasses so I got to enjoy an abundance of dragonflies and damselflies as well as some beautiful sunshine!