northern pike and bass. A fishing map and regulations can be obtained at the refuge information kiosks.
Summer programs and activities Visitor Center hours are MondayFriday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and summer weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (May 17-Oct 19). • Wildlife excursions will be offered every Thursday, June through August, from 10 a.m. to noon. Explore the refuge with a knowledgeable guide. Search for wildlife and learn about the natural history of Tamarac. Meet at the visitor center. • Wildlife films, special programs or activities will be offered most Sundays at 2 p.m. • Wild Wednesdays! programs will be offered every Wednesday at 10 a.m., June 11 through August. Explore the world of nature with your child or grandchild during this hour-long adventure. Activities designed for 3-6 year olds. Meet at the Chippewa Picnic Area. • May 15-18: Detroit Lake Festival of Birds – Join us for some great workshops, field trips and speakers. Tamarac’s birding excursion is on Saturday, May 17, from 5:30-11:30 a.m. Go to www.visitdetroitlakes. com for more information. • Saturday, May 17, at 9 a.m.: Nature Hike – Join a North Country Trail volunteer for a morning of exploration. Discover the first flowers of the season and listen for the sounds of spring as the forest wakes up. Meet at the 400th Avenue trailhead and shuttle to the Blackbird Trailhead for this 5 mile hike. • Friday, June 6, 8-10 p.m.: Frolicking with Frogs – Kick off your weekend with croaking frogs! Identify frogs by their calls while learning about their natural history and significance in the ecosystem. You may even get up close and personal with these wildlife critters. Bring a flashlight and boots or shoes you can get wet. Meet at the visitor center. • Saturday, June 7, 1 p.m.: National Trails Day Hike – Join a
A ruby-crowned kinglet North Country Trail volunteer for a 5 mile trek through Tamarac’s rich diversity of habitats. Meet at the 400th Avenue trailhead and carpool to Blackbird trailhead. • Saturday, June 14, 8:30 a.m.: Beginning Birding Tour – Join resident volunteer Judy Bell for a beginning birding tour. Find out the inside scoop on Tamarac’s hotspots. Learn to identify 20 species. Binoculars and guidebooks will be provided. Meet at the visitor center for this early summer adventure.
Spring is in the air Spring is in the air… at last! Days are getting longer, spirits are being lifted, and our feathered friends are returning to share in the enjoyment of the season. During this time millions of songbirds will be migrating back to their Minnesota breeding grounds. Amidst the earliest arrivals is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The Kinglet is among one of the smallest of our migratory songbirds, measuring only 3.5-4.3 inches in length. Males have a ruby red crown patch, often visible only during display or when the bird is agitated. Both males and females are overall
olive green with a teardrop-shaped white eye ring. Their wings are darker with yellowish edging and two white wing bars. The seemingly frantic movement of the Kinglet is a great identification clue. These birds can be seen foraging through lower branches of trees and shrubs, constantly flicking their wings to stir up insects, making feeding easier. They prefer to eat insects such as spiders and ants, but they do not mind indulging in seeds or fruit from time to time. Kinglets can be found in mixed forests and thickets where good cover is provided for foraging. This also provides them with a perfect place for nesting. The nesting sites are usually found high up in the trees, well protected and hidden by overhanging foliage. The female Kinglet lays a clutch of 8 to 12 eggs in one nest! Be sure not to miss the beautiful songs of these magnificent birds. Take time to visit Tamarac and enjoy the exemplary bird watching opportunities the refuge has to offer. If luck would have it, you could catch a glimpse of that incredible, ruby red crown.
DETROIT LAKES NEWSPAPERS SUMMER SCENE | MAY 2014 | 27