Margie Menzies, is one part educator, one part naturalist, and one part bird nerd! Who says slow and steady wins the race? After years in the formal classroom, this educator has abandoned the indoors for the great outdoor classroom. Margie joined the Hawk Ridge staff as a Naturalist in 2011 and currently is the Education Program Director for Hawk Ridge. Providing educational programming for the general public furnishes many colorful and meaningful experiences every day on the job. She loves birds, learning, and sharing the natural world with people of all ages. Banding songbirds is a passion for Margie, she bands at Hawk Ridge during migration and with three MAPS stations studying summer breeding birds at Hawk Ridge, Wolf Ridge, and Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center. She has a BA in Biology from Bethel University and a MA in Education from the University of St. Thomas. She is also an adjunct member of the University of Minnesota, Duluth Education Department working primarily with student teacher supervision.
The North Woods is home to an amazing number of raptors and each species with its own unique story. Each fall and spring, these birds migrate via the Central corridor, one of the premier flyways of North America. Believe it or not, fall migration is already underway for lots of birds! An average of 90,000 raptors and hundreds of thousands of other migratory birds have counted annually during the fall and spring counts conducted by Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory. A single day can easily yield thousands to tens of thousands in single species counts. Why do we see such huge numbers? What are we learning from these birds who fly by twice annually? Let’s explore the science of migration, differences between fall and spring migrations, what species are observed and when is the best time to see them, trends observed in 50 years of data, as well as research and education efforts underway at Hawk Ridge.
All presentations are family-friendly and free to the public. Donations are always appreciated.
NOTE: Date and Time!
Take your time driving up the Gunflint Trail, and enjoy the scenery!
