Date: 7/25/26 7:13 am From: DAVE ZUMETA <00005287632b8317-dmarc-request...> Subject: [mou-net] Carolina Wren and Brown Creeper at Crosby Lake Park
At 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, I heard a Carolina Wren singing its characteristic rollicking, three-parted "teakettle, teakettle, teakettle" song at Crosby Lake Park in St. Paul. The bird was in dense undergrowth on the extreme western end of the small lake that is west of Crosby Lake. The bird sang for about five minutes, but I was unable to see it. At 9:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, I returned to the main parking lot at Crosby Lake Park and immediately heard a Carolina Wren singing several hundred feet to the south in the bottomland forest between the parking lot and the Mississippi River. Using the Merlin app on her phone, another birder named Sharon confirmed that the song was that of a Carolina Wren. Sharon and I looked for the bird for about 20 minutes as it sang intermittently from dense undergrowth and gradually moved south along the fence line separating the western border of the park and the boat marina to the west of the park. Through our binoculars at a distance of 30 to 40 feet, we finally saw it perch for several seconds on the top of a large cottonwood trunk that was on the forest floor. The bird was considerably larger than a House Wren but a similar shape. Its crown, back and wings were a uniform, rich cinnamon color. Its breast and belly were white or whitish buff. It had a distinctive white stripe over its eye. The bird continued to sing in the same area until about 9:30 a.m.
At about 9:25 a.m., 100 feet east of where we saw the Carolina Wren, Sharon and I saw a Brown Creeper about 20 feet up on the trunk of a large cottonwood. We both observed it through binoculars at a distance of 30 feet: a small bird with a very thin body, white underparts with a mottled brown back. The bird was silent as it spiraled up the bark of the cottonwood.
Dave ZumetaSt. Paul
Date: 7/20/26 1:30 pm From: Samantha Nelson <slburger7264...> Subject: [mou-net] MOU State Fair Booth Volunteers
Good Afternoon,
We are still looking to fill volunteer shifts at the MOU Booth at the State Fair DNR Building. If you love talking to the public about birds, this is a fun opportunity! Volunteers receive a complimentary ticket to the Fair. You can sign up to volunteer at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BACAB28A3FAC16-63272495-2026#/
Please email me with any questions: <slburger7264...>
Date: 7/7/26 7:06 pm From: Thomas Greseth <thomas.greseth...> Subject: [mou-net] Summer Birding at Sax-Zim Bog?
Hi, I was thinking about going on a trip to Sax-Zim Bog in early August. I know that the bog is an excellent place to bird in winter, but several interesting species like the Bobolink, Western Meadowlark and even apparently Magpies appear to be there in summer. This would be my first time birding there and I would appreciate any tips or suggestions. Please contact me if you have any.
Date: 7/2/26 8:14 am From: Matt Hoberg <mhoberg1...> Subject: [mou-net] Dragonfly and Bird Field Trip - August 16
*August 16: Dragonflies and Birds at Wakan Tipi (St Paul)*
9 AM
The MOU is pleased to partner on a special birds and dragonflies field trip with Jeff Fischer, Master Naturalist and board member of the Minnesota Dragonfly Society with extensive birding experience. This is a superb opportunity to learn about the natural history and identification of dragonflies from a local expert. Along with Jeff, Matt Hoberg will lead this trip on behalf of the MOU. For more information and registration (required), visit the registration page <https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48A9AC2FA5FFCE9-64320312-birds>.
