[mou] Embarrass Wildlife Management Area

[Bill Tefft]

>From 8 to noon on International Migratory Bird Day we explored what will
be called the Darwin Meyers Wildlife Management Area in Embarrass once
the paperwork is finalized.  This area was a commercial wild rice
operation in the early 80's and provides lots of wetlands, forest and
grasslands along the Embarrass River.

We observed 46 species during the morning before hot chili at the Four
Corners Cafe including:

Many sparrows - savannah, song, swamp, white-throated, white-crowned,
chipping and clay-colored with the first 3 species and sedge wrens
singing on territories 

Greater and lesser yellowlegs; several A. bitterns calling and flying
about; several northern harriers; a variety of ducks; the first
yellow-headed blackbirds seen there this year; a wave of yellow-rumped,
palm and yellow warblers; a trumpeter swan, plenty of tree and cliff
swallows plus a few barn swallows;  the first soras were heard this year
on May 7.

We don't know how the Governor was doing on Lake Vermilion, but we were
happy with our "stringer" of bird sightings.

Bill Tefft
Parks and Recreation Instructor
Vermilion Community College
1900 E. Camp Street
Ely, MN  55731
Phone: 218-365-7241
Fax: 218-365-7207