Sparky wanders around Sax-Zim Bog in early spring (which is late April in northern Minnesota) to see what birds have returned. A very chill Wilson’s Snipe allows for fairly close photos/video, a hover-hunting Roughleg finds a vole, and Common Loons are vying for territory on Stone Lake.

Northern Flickers are back in force and we witness some rollicking “Wicka bouts” (I am going to coin the phrase “Wicka Wars”) between two females. Soon after a pair of gorgeous Common Mergansers float by on the lake.

We also check in on the spring highway clean up to see who found the best piece of roadside junk. Will Board Member Julie retain her crown? 

And a rarely seen “bird” appears in the skies over Sax-Zim…A “gashawk”!

Six days below zero and the birds of Sax-Zim are doing just fine! We visit Mary Lou’s feeders and find over 40 Evening Grosbeaks! Sparky shares his BRRRRdathon: World’s Coldest Birdathon experience as he birds northern Minnesota’s Superior National Forest and Grand Marais. Highlights include multiple flocks of Bohemian Waxwings eating Mountain-Ash fruits.

Temperatures during the Polar Vortex of late January 2026 hit as low as Minus-37ºF but the Northern Hawk Owl along CR47 is doing just fine!

We also walk the Bob Russell Boardwalk and install a plaque for one of our Bog Buddies. Then we are off to Yellow-bellied Bog for a walk on the snowshoe loop to look for Snowshoe Hares.

The Welcome Center feeders host plumpfy Canada Jays, Pine Grosbeaks and Redpolls.

Virtually Live 57 S6E2

Owen and Quentin Reiser are a couple of interesting dudes who did a U.S. Big Year of birding via Kia Minivan in 2024. If you haven’t seen their LISTERS movie, you must do it now! Over TWO MILLION people already have! And don’t forget to pick up Quentin’s hilarious book about their Big Year.

They first contacted me in late 2023 to do a Zoom call so they could ask me questions about birding and doing a Big Year. I got a taste of their unique world view when their last question was, “How many Canada Geese could you take in a fight if you only had a jean jacket.” Well, the obvious answer is six or seven!

But we ended up birding together in Minnesota’s Sax-Zim Bog twice, and once in Texas. They helped me find a Groove-billed Ani in San Benito…a bird I hadn’t seen in decades! I helped them find the Black-backed Woodpecker in Sax-Zim Bog.

Their resulting movie on YouTube (LISTERS: A Glimpse into Extreme Birdwatching) has really struck a chord with millions of birders and NON-Birders. Let’s spend some time with these guys now out in the field and find out a little bit more about them.

Sparky kayaks around Stone Lake in northern Minnesota’s Sax-Zim Bog looking for birdlife. Highlights include Sedge Wren, Belted Kingfisher, Common Loon and an unexpected River Otter.

Late summer wildflowers are peak in late July/early August in the Bog and we take a look at a few finds. 

Sparky gives updates on upcoming events including the Artist-in-Residence program and author/photographer Paul Bannick’s Welcome Center talk on Saturday September 27. Paul will speak on his new book, Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North America’s Woodpeckers.

We end the video with highights of the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog BioBlitz XIII.

This is Virtually Live Episode 56 (Season 6, Episode 1)

Mammals take the spotlight in this early spring episode from Minnesota’s Sax-Zim Bog. Sparky encounters two charismatic weasel species in the Bog’s first unfrozen water of the year. 

The snow is mostly gone, but ice clings to area lakes and rivers, but Sparky finds some open water to check.

First he spots something on the ice at Sax WMA, which turns out to be a River Otter, but there is something wrong with this “mega water weasel.”

Later, while looking for early returning waterfowl at Stone Lake (Wood Duck, Canada Geese) he finds, and travels with, a fast-swimming Mink.

The day ends with a brief sunset encounter with a hunting Great Gray Owl.

Sparky shares his six favorite photos from the two days.

He also gives an update on upcoming spring and summer field trips in Sax-Zim Bog, and shares some details on Andy Forbe’s Big Green Year on behalf of Friends of Sax-Zim Bog.

Filmed March 17 & 22, 2025

Virtually Live 52 S5E7

January 3-6, 2025: Sparky finds and photographs FOUR species of northern owls during Friends of Sax-Zim Bog’s 2025 BRRRRdathon-World’s Coldest Birdathon. TWO Boreal Owls, TWO Great Gray Owls, Snowy Owl and Northern Hawk Owl! What a great event, and photos of the other teams are shared.

Bitter cold makes birding difficult as he tries to fat bike and bird on a remote forest road (unsuccessfully). But Sparky has more success along Lake Superior with a very late lingering Bufflehead. White-winged Crossbills appear along Gray Jay Way in Sax-Zim Bog. Other highlights include two “rough” birds…Rough-legged Hawk and Ruffed Grouse. Sparky also explores a bit of the 1010 acres Friends of Sax-Zim Bog recently purchased along Owl Avenue.

Sparky takes an early December spin around the Sax-Zim Bog to see what he can find. Redpolls and White-winged Crossbills seem to be everywhere! But he has to bushwhack in to the bog to find a very trusting Black-backed Woodpecker. Canada Jays are curious and give Sparky a close up look. A lingering American Tree Sparrow is also encountered.

Sparky updates all on Tiny Bird Art 2025, BRRRRdathon 2025, the new LIVE Bird Feeder Cam at the Welcome Center and much more.

Lots of positive and exciting things going on in Sax-Zim Bog! Sparky spends some time with the Evening Grosbeak researchers David and Mallory as they track the birds with satellite transmitters.

We also enjoy one last look at the beautiful white male Snowy Owl that graced Sax-Zim with its presence for a few weeks before being hit and killed by a train.

Sparky interviews young brothers Ari & Asher from Tennessee about their trip, and also runs across Big Year birders Owen & Quentin whom share in a close Black-backed Woodpecker sighting.

And how about some hockey at the Zim Rec rink?

In 2016 Arjan Dwarshuis of the Netherlands visited Duluth & Sax-Zim Bog in Minnesota during his quest to see more birds around the world in one year than anyone else. And Sparky guides him on a wonderfully productive day in 2016 (December 15). They add 16 species to Arjan’s Big Year including Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Canada Jay, Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak and many more.

Arjan’s book is finally out and it is a very enjoyable read. He highlights conservation efforts around the world…and shares his adventures and misadventures during his global Big Year. There is even a chapter about Sax-Zim Bog!