Carnivorous and Odd-Ball Plants Field Trip
Sax-Zim Bog
As we know, the Sax-Zim Bog is a network of habitats, which, in turn, allow for a large diversity of flowering plants! Some species are especially odd, especially considering the ways that they have adapt to thrive in less-than-ideal ecosystems. This field trip will place a special focus on the “plant weirdos” found within the Sax-Zim Bog, including pitcher plants, sundews, ghost pipe, pinesaps, coralroots, bladderworts, and more!
Galls and Leaf Miner Exploration Field Trip
Sax-Zim Bog
In a Patch of Goldenrod Field Trip
Sax-Zim Bog
Now, this field trip will not feature Larry Weber’s book of the same title, but is certainly honoring the book’s vision!
It may seem like an odd field trip, focusing on a stand of goldenrod, but goldenrods are a diverse bunch offering much to the patient observer.
New this year to Cottage Grove is the parkrun program!
parkruns are free weekly community events held all around the world taking place every Saturday morning in parks and open spaces. parkrun events are 5ks and are meant to be a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for all. There is no time limit and no one finishes last.
Whether you walk, jog, run volunteer or spectate, you are welcome to join us every Saturday at Hamlet Park for a parkrun!
Recently, Head Naturalist Clinton has dove head first into grasshoppers and their relatives in hopes of shedding some light on this relatively common, but underappreciated group of species.
Nearly omnipresent on the landscape, grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and tree crickets not only contribute to the local soundscape, but offer important prey options for birds and mammals alike.
This field trip will serve as an introduction to this wonderful group of species and experience the diversity of these insects across the Sax-Zim Bog.
In celebration of the 10th Annual Sax-Zim Bog Bioblitz, August 6, we have put a focus on the biodiversity of the region in social media posts and field trips.
Rarely on a Bioblitz, do groups get to spend time in just one location, choosing to visit multiple locations to showcase diversity across the landscape.
With interest in pollinators continuing to grow, many folks are showing a greater interest in native plants and those insects that help pollinate them.
Bees get a lot of attention, but while looking for bees, you would be hard pressed to not find a few of their look-a-likes: Flower Flies!
These charismatic and beautiful flies, with odd names like Leafwalker, Smoothtail, Calligrapher, and Falsehorn, frequent flower beds in both urban and wild spaces. This field trip will hope to show off the diversity of this group of flies and discover what makes flower flies so cool!
Fall Migration Field Trip
Sax-Zim Bog
Migration season offers some difficult bird watching in northern Minnesota, as many of the breeding species rush out of our area on their way south! The last bird-based field trip of the season will hope to experience a little of what migration has to offer in the Sax-Zim Bog! Because of the amount of habitat, it can be quite difficult to find birds in the Sax-Zim Bog and this field trip will hope to show you how to best navigate the Sax-Zim Bog during migration.
Join us this winter for a couple of winter birding field trips. The intention of these field trips is to give you an introduction on how to approach birding in the Sax-Zim Bog in the winter months. We will not be targeting owls, but will take a look at any we come across. This is a good field trip to attend, especially if you hope to learn more about how to approach winter birding in the vast Sax-Zim Bog.
