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Minnesota Global Birders

I am one of the organizers behind the Minnesota Global Birders group. We host monthly presentations by different people about trips that they've taken to various global destinations. Our first few years we had in-person presentations, but with the onset of COVID-19, we switched to an online format. One of the silver linings has been that we can record these presentations so that people can watch them later. This page is where we house these recordings.  For an upcoming presentation, click on the date link to go to an Eventbrite page for signing up. For past presentations, once the recording has been edited and prepared, click on the title of the presentation to access the recording (which is stored on Google Drive).

 

As a  group, we are committed to equity, conservation, travel and a love of birds. For a more detailed mission and values statement, along with best practices and general information about our presentations, please see this document

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Birding Japan -  with Dani Collier

Who said a honeymoon has to just be about celebrating love for your favorite human? It can also be about celebrating your mutual love for tori (birds)! Join Dani as she talks about her and her husband Tim's long-awaited honeymoon trip to Japan in April of 2023.

The presentation will take you through their two week trip to Japan and highlight the places they found to go birding and the birds you can find there while still experiencing and enjoying the amazing food, beautiful nature, and wonderful culture of Nippon (Japan)!

The four cities we will journey through will be Kyoto, Kinosaki (Hyōgo prefecture), Osaka, and Tokyo. Dani will also give some helpful tips for preparing for a trip to Japan and what to expect when you get there.

Feb. 13, 2024 7:00pm

Spotted Pardalote by Annie Shao

Birding New South Wales - and Painting the Birds -  with Annie Shao

The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) is a diverse area with over 600 recorded bird species. In September 2023, Annie spent 2 weeks in NSW on her first international birding trip. Together with her non-birder husband, Josh, she birded in urban parks of Sydney, Jervis Bay, Royal National Park, Minnamurra Rainforest, and Blue Mountains National Park - all within a 2.5-hour drive from Sydney. This presentation will include travel and hiking information, Annie and Josh’s photos of Australian wildlife and scenery, as well as some of Annie’s watercolor paintings of Australian birds. These paintings are a part of Annie’s ambitious project of painting all the bird species on her life list - which increased significantly after seeing 117 lifers in Australia!

Jan. 8, 2024 7:00pm

Palmchat by Gerry Hoekstra.jpeg

Birding the Dominican Republic with Gerry Hoekstra

The island of Hispaniola, which includes the countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, has the greatest geological diversity of all the Caribbean Islands. Not surprisingly, this results in a wide variety of habitats, from dense tropical forests to coastal mangroves, offering an ideal haven for over 300 bird species, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. Besides its 32 endemics – which include the bright green Hispaniolan Parakeet, the tiny Vervain Hummingbird, and the pervasive Palmchat, the country's national bird – the Dominican Republic hosts a number of other permanent residents and serves as the wintering grounds for many North American migrants.

Gerry Hoekstra will offer a presentation on his birding trip to the Dominican Republic earlier this year. He will offer observations on travel in the country and its birdlife using his own photographs. He has previously given talks for MGB on birding trips to South Africa, Peru, Panama, and Costa Rica.

Sept. 13, 2023 7:00pm

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Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and Northwest Argentina with Michael Hurben

Antarctica may have the fewest bird species of any continent, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a birding trip. The jaw-dropping beauty of this almost unspoiled place, and its unique fauna, makes for a true "quality over quantity" experience. Moreover, one can return from this long journey with a large species tally by adding some time in the antarctic's most convenient gateway country: Argentina. In this presentation, Michael Hurben will cover logistics and highlights from a December 2022 trip that included Tierra del Fuego, the Drake Passage, the Antarctic Peninsula, and a trek from Córdoba, Argentina up into the high Puna near the Bolivian border.

July 19, 2023 7:00pm

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Northeast Brazil with Stephen Greenfield

The dry caatinga habitat of northeastern Brazil is very different from our expectations of that country. Along with the more widespread cerrado savanna, it houses many unique birds, including a few of the rarest species on Earth. The forests near the Atlantic coast also have numerous endemic species because they are so isolated from Amazonian and other forests. Stephen Greenfield will lead a presentation of a trip in January that featured a very long north-to-south transect of this special region... and more than a few caiparhinas.

June 12, 2023 7:00pm

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Birding Vietnam with Nina Hale

Covering a north-to-south range almost as long as that of the US, Vietnam hosts more endemics (19) than any other mainland Southeast Asian country, including some only discovered or rediscovered near the end of the 20th century. Not to be outdone, there are also 29 "near-endemic" birds (those with a range extending into bordering countries).

Nina Hale will share her 2022 route through central Vietnam, covering some of the hotspots and general information, along with hard-won photos. She will also share her take on the rarified “weasel coffee” which has been passed though the digestive tracts of – you guessed it – weasels.

May 22, 2023 7:00pm

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Birding Eastern Australia with Steve and Cynthia Broste

In September of 2022, a group of four of us was fortunate to be able to travel to eastern Australia for more than three weeks of birding, mostly with professional guides. The trip had been initially planned for 2019, but was postponed because of the terrible fires in eastern Australia. Then, for 2020 and 2021, Covid-19 stopped travel to Australia. Finally, in 2022, the Covid restrictions were mostly lifted, and we were able to execute the trip. We found Australia easy to travel in (though hard to get to), and full of helpful and friendly people. Virtually all of the birds were new to us, as were most of the plants and animals. While we covered only a few small parts of this vast country, we saw an amazing diversity of wildlife, and I was able to photograph most of the birds and animals we saw. We owe a debt of appreciation to Kathy Mattsson, who planned and arranged most of the trip, and travelled with us on this adventure.

The presentation will include representative photos of the birds and animals, as well as some of the scenery. Tips on preparing for a birding trip to Australia and some ideas about where to go will be shared.

April 26, 2023 7:00pm

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill by Scott Clark

Namibia and Botswana with Scott Clark and Bob Dunlap

In September of 2022, ten Minnesota birders set off for a nature safari centering on Namibia and Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Although safaris conjure images of looking for the “big five” and other mammals, this adventure focused on experiencing everything: 325 bird species, 49 mammals, reptiles, land forms, and history.

Join Scott Clark and Robert Dunlap for a thrill-packed presentation where one will experience the heat, dust, and African nature mysticism that accompanied this trip daily.

March 28, 2023 7:00pm

Atlantic Puffins by Roy Zimmerman

Ireland and France with Roy Zimmerman

In June, 2012, Roy Zimmerman and family took a two-week tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland, inspired by a remote family connection. Castles, historic sites, Irish countryside and scenery, narrow Irish roads driving on the wrong side... and some very interesting birds.

In September, 2022, they took a two-week family visit to the southern two-thirds of France inspired by much stronger family connections. Rental car, 2,500 kilometers. Old ornate churches, vineyards, food, autoroutes (toll roads)... and some birds! Also a surprising Leonardo da Vinci finding; Notre Dame de Paris reconstruction; an enjoyable Tour de France.

March 8, 2023 7:00pm

Blood Pheasant by Gary Nunn

Northeast India with Tom Will

Northeast India is one of the most biologically diverse parts of Asia. The combination of Himalayan and Indo-Malayan species produces extremely rich and varied bird life. The wide altitudinal range also creates many habitats within a relatively small area. Come and hear about Tom's trip to this fantastic birding destination.

Jan. 23, 2023 7:00pm

Northern Potoo by Gregg Severson

Scouting for a birding and culture trip in Honduras with Gregg Severson

MN Global Birders co-organizer Gregg Severson and his partner, Kellie Hoyt, took a scouting trip to Honduras in March 2022, to get to know the country in preparation for organizing a group trip there in 2023. Their whirlwind 9-day tour visited many different great spots: national parks, private nature reserves, farms, a botanical garden, hotels & lodges, eco-tour operators, general tourist spots, bird sanctuaries, a youth support organization, and even included a painting class! Birding was a priority throughout, with lots of discussions about Honduran ecotourism and nature conservation. 

August 17, 2022 7:00pm

Masked Flowerpiercer by Nina Hale

Bird photography in northern Ecuador with Nina Hale

Take another spin through Ecuador, with a focus on photography. Ecuador’s 1600+ species are only surpassed (and only slightly) by other South American countries at least 4 times the size. Nina Hale will share photos and discussion of top hotspots from her latest trip to northern Ecuador — led by GB organizer Stephen’s brother, and former GB speaker, Paul Greenfield. In just 8 days, the trip netted an astonishing 53 species of hummingbirds alone. She will also spend a short time on some of the high elevation Páramo finds from an earlier trip.

June 25, 2022 7:00pm

Red-capped Manakin by Keith Olstad

Travel and birding in Belize with Robin Oxley and Keith Olstad

Join us for a brief overview of travel and birding opportunities in Belize, a Central American country with over 60% of its land surface covered by forest. Robin & Suzanne Oxley and Keith Olstad offer brief comments on their two separate trips to Belize a month apart this past winter. They will show photos of the sites and birds they encountered. The Oxley's trip included Crooked Tree, San Ignacio, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, the Belize Botanical Garden / DuPlooy’s, several Mayan ruins including Caracol, Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, stops along the Hummingbird Highway, Placencia, and Cockscomb Basin Nature Reserve. Keith’s trip included Ambergris Caye, and both visited Black Rock Eco-Lodge and Xunantunich Mayan ruins.

June 22, 2022 7:00pm

Tristan Thrush by Olaf Danielson

Olaf's unlikely trek to Tristan and the South Atlantic Ocean

Olaf Danielson will give a presentation on an epic voyage he took across the South Atlantic. After a start birding in Uruguay and Argentina, he headed to the Falklands and South Georgia, and on to Gough, Inaccessible, Nightingale, and Tristan da Cuhna, about the most remote islands on Earth.

May 17, 2022 7:00pm

Siberian Rubythroat by Michael Hurben

Birding (and living) in Thailand with Michael Hurben

While Asia is the largest continent, much of its landmass is remote and well to the north. The Himalayas boast great species diversity, but can be challenging to reach and navigate. It is the Southeast, extending well into the tropics, and having excellent accessibility, that offers the optimal birding. More specifically, Thailand is the perfect gateway to this lovely region, being easy to navigate, safe, and rich with birds and unparalleled architecture. Michael Hurben and his wife Claire Strohmeyer had the good fortune to live in Bangkok for some fourteen months for a work assignment, and birded extensively throughout the country that came to feel like their second home. In this presentation Michael will talk about birds, culture, and practical matters related to visiting "The Land of Smiles".

April 19, 2022 7:00pm

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Southern Peru from the Andes down to the Amazon Basin with Robin and Suzanne Oxley

Robin and Suzanne Oxley visited southern Peru in 2016, first traveling independently through the "Sacred Valley" to the Inca ruins at Macchu Picchu. They then took a 9-day guided tour with Ramiro Yabar down the legendary Manu Road to the Amazon Basin, staying at the Cock-of-the-Rock and Amazonia lodges. Along with birds, they will present information on the travel arrangements, their prep work, and the varied things they encountered.

February 16, 2022 7:00pm

Brazilian Tanager by Gregg Severson

The Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil with Gregg Severson and Jason Caddy

When Portuguese sailors reached the shores of southeast Brazil in the 1500s, they saw a vast tropical forested region that stretched hundreds of miles along the coastline. Today this forest is in remnants but is still large enough to be awe-inspiring and host a huge array of plants and animals. São Paulo state sits on the Tropic of Capricorn but has an entirely different mix of bird species when compared to the equivalent latitude in Mexico. Southeast Brazil is full of antbirds, cotingas, ovenbirds, and tanagers and has an immense wealth of flycatchers. Aside from the Atlantic tropical forest there is also the unique and beautiful araucaria forests in the mountains and the allure of the cosmopolitan mega-city of São Paulo, with its fantastic cuisine and captivating art. Please join Gregg Severson and Jason Caddy for this presentation on travel and birding to this wonderful region of the world.

January 24, 2022 7:00pm

White-throated Dipper

Birding in Southern France with Alyssa DuRubeis

France may not be on the top of birders' lists for birding destinations, but this diverse country offers a nice mix of cultural highlights and intriguing birds. In this presentation, Alyssa will describe her opportunistic birding hikes during a friend/family visit with her French partner. The trip took place in August 2021 and covers four locations in the southern half of France.

November 15, 2021 7:00pm

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Armenia: Rich Birdlife in an Ancient Landscape with Judith Benka (recording not available)

“Armenia is a landlocked country surrounded by Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. It has a total area of just under 12,000 square miles, mostly mountainous, and from time immemorial has been a migration route for birds between the European continent and places south of the Transcaucasus. Considering Armenia’s small size, its birds are highly diverse. A total of 346 species, resident and migrant, have been observed within its borders.

"We spent 10 days in Armenia. We visited a variety of habitats including semi-desert, forest, lakeshore, and mountain meadow. This presentation will cover many of the 139 species of birds we encountered. Often we birded at sites of historical and cultural importance, such as a medieval fortress, a caravanserai on the silk road, and a prehistoric stone circle. In addition to our British tour leader/bird guide and local Armenian bird guide, we were fortunate to have an Armenian cultural guide. Therefore, since Armenia is a relatively unknown travel destination, I shall include photographs of some of the sites we visited, the various landscapes, some plants and butterflies, and briefly mention other topics of interest such as food and accommodation."

October 20, 2021 7:00pm

Great Blue Turaco by Stephen Greenfield

Uganda 2021 with Stephen Greenfield

With five days to go before Stephen Greenfield's trip to Uganda, the UK government put the country on their COVID "Red List," so the five British fellow birders could not go. He decided to go anyway and it worked out well, as the only client with the guide (and often also with additional local guides and park guards), as well as with fewer tourists around and less traffic. Along with stays at savanna National Parks, the focus of the trip was on the forest reserves in the west of the country, which he had not visited in his previous time in Uganda many decades ago.

September 13, 2021 7:00pm

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The Lima/Machu Picchu area in Peru and the Galapagos in Ecuador with Leslie Gillette

Is your travel companion a non-birder who seeks more than birds when traveling? A trip to Lima, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in Peru and Quito and the Galapagos in Ecuador will provide ample opportunities to bird and to experience natural beauty, non-bird wildlife, culture, art and food. Peru is home to more than 1,800 bird species with about 120 of them endemic to Peru. 177 species have been observed on the Galapagos islands with about 45 endemics. Leslie Gillette will share her November 2019 trip. Highlights include several tanagers and hummingbirds and Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies, Galapagos Penguins and Lava Herons among other Galapagos endemics.

July 15, 2021 7:00pm

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Birding Brazil during the pandemic with Michael Hurben

With a land area well larger than that of the continental USA, Brazil has an incredible variety of habitats and bird species - even without the Andes mountains entering the country. This past winter, Michael Hurben and Claire Strohmeyer birded three different regions: Amazonas (north-central), Sao Paulo (southeast Atlantic rainforest), and the northeastern states of Ceara and Bahia, recording 672 species over the course of 25 days. This presentation will focus on the first two regions; time permitting a few highlights from the northeast may be covered as well.

June 10, 2021 7:00pm

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Birds of eastern Panama with Gerry Hoekstra

Despite its relatively small size, the country of Panama hosts an impressive 1002 bird species. Gerry Hoekstra will report on a trip to Panama made several years ago with five other Minnesota birders. Although the trip lasted only ten days and covered only the eastern half of the country, he was able to chalk up 296 of them (unfortunately, not including the Harpy Eagle).

May 27, 2021 7:00pm

Wire-tailed Manakin by Peter English, used with permission

Birding Ecuador with Paul Greenfield

Ecuador is an inconspicuous and unassuming South American nation with much it could brag about. From its coastal lowlands to the Andes cordillera that cuts down the middle, and down to the upper Amazon Basin—not to forget the Galapagos archipelago located some 600 miles off its Pacific coast—this equatorial country offers a lot in a pint-sized package, and holds what may well be the highest biodiversity on Earth. Only a little larger than Minnesota, it contains more than 1700 species of birds.

Paul Greenfield, illustrator and co-author of the field guide and app "The Birds of Ecuador," will present an overview of this fascinating nation, focusing on its distinct geographical regions through the prism of Ecuador’s National Birding Trail Network and its avian hot-spots, highlighting a sample of bird species that characterize each sector. That network—which he helped create—has sparked a boom in local birding initiatives in even the most remote and least-accessible corners of its territory.

April 22, 2021 7:00pm

Stripe-headed Antpitta by Paul Budde

Birding Northern Peru with Paul Budde

While Colombia is acknowledged as the country with the most bird species in the world, Peru is close behind. In October 2018 Paul was able to join a small group touring the northern part of the country, from the head of the Amazon Basin to the Pacific Ocean. Each mountain ridge and valley brought its own surprises, especially to one who was birding South America for the first time. In all, the group tallied over 750 species with only 50 or so heard-only birds. But more special than the numbers were the introduction to such new families as Antpittas, Tapaculos, and Crescentchests; exploring the incredible diversity of families such as Hummingbirds and Tanagers; and the excitement of finding endemics and birds that have been described to science only within the last few decades. This will be a bit of a whirlwind tour, but should convince you that this area is well-worth visiting or re-visiting.

March 18, 2021 7:00pm

Band-backed Wren by Gregg Severson

Birding and Mosaics in Guatemala with Gregg Severson and Kellie Hoyt

Kellie Hoyt and Gregg Severson will present on their February 2020 trip to Guatemala. The impetus for the trip was for Kellie to join a group of mosaic artists traveling to San Lucas Tolimán (on the shores of Lake Atitlán) to make and install two mural-size mosaics in collaboration with local artists in one week. Happily, they were able to take extra time to explore Guatemala, and to go birding! They visited Guatemala City, Antigua, and the Lake Atitlán area. Both aspects of their trip (birding with local guides and participating in the mosaic program) gave Kellie and Gregg a unique connection to the local people and their culture.

Feb 22, 2021 7:00pm

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock by Scott Clark

Birding Colombia in 2019 and 2020 with Scott Clark

This month’s presenter for Minnesota Global Birders, Scott Clark, will highlight his two trips to Colombia in 2019 and 2020. These trips collectively covered portions of the central and eastern Andes (up to 13,000 ft.), the Magdalena River valley, the Caribbean coast, and the famous “sky island” of Santa Marta. With its amazing biodiversity, this geographically small country claims almost 2,000 bird species, 20% of the world’s bird population. Each trip netted around 400 species, and after eliminating duplicates the trip lists totaled around 575 species. Colombia’s varied geography affords a remarkably high level of localized speciation, and 45 endemic or near endemics were found, including one of the rarest birds in Colombia.

Jan. 12, 2021 7:00pm

Titicaca Grebe by Gerald Hoekstra

Peru: Lima to Lake Titicaca with Gerald Hoekstra

Although it wasn’t specifically a birding tour, Gerald Hoekstra’s circuit around southern Peru offered many birding opportunities, including stops at Lake Titicaca, the famed Colca Canyon (where one can see the Andean Condor), a ride across the altiplano, and a birding trip with a guide across the Malaga Pass. The last stop of the trip was Machu Picchu. His presentation will include photos of both the sites and the birds.

Dec. 15, 2020 7:00pm

Hummingbird by Steve Broste

Guatemala with Steven and Cynthia Broste

Guatemala in northern Central America is less visited by American travelers than neighboring Belize or Costa Rica, but has a lot to offer for birders. Over 750 species of birds are found in a range of habitats including volcanic mountains, Pacific and Caribbean coastal lowlands, dry scrub thorn forest, and the tropical lowlands surrounding the Mayan ruins in the north. Our two-week visit yielded more than 320 of those species, as well as other non-avian wildlife. A number of these birds are regional endemics, not found in the more visited countries of Panama and Costa Rica. The presentation will also include some discussion of the challenges of birding in Guatemala.

November 17, 2020 7:00pm

Long-tailed Shrike by Judith Benka

India with Judith Benka

For the October gathering of Minnesota Global Birders, Judith Benka will give a presentation on a 3-week trip to India in February, 2020. She and her family travelled almost 1,800 km overland, mainly in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The trip combined sightseeing (temples, forts, palaces, and ancient monuments) and wildlife viewing. They visited the National Chambal Sanctuary, Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve, and Keoladeo National Park/Ghana Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur. They saw around 180 species of birds (many on local walks and in the grounds of hotels and resorts) and various mammals and reptiles.

October 19, 2020 7:00pm

Belize Raptor Watch by Alyssa DuRubeis

Belize Hawkwatch with Alyssa DuRubeis

Belize is a popular travel destination for Americans thanks to its rich Mayan heritage, English language, and proximity to the United States. But few tourists, let alone seasoned birders, know about its hawkcount secret. Join Alyssa in exploring the fall hawk-counting site of Punta Gorda as she describes the raptors and other avifauna of southern Belize.

September 30, 2020 7:00pm

Taiwan Rosefinch by Stephen Greenfield

Birding Taiwan with Stephen Greenfield

In our August online gathering, Stephen Greenfield will give a presentation on his 2016 birding trip to Taiwan. Though much of the island is densely populated, over half is still forested and wildlife is well protected, which is especially striking in a region that is largely deforested and where birds and other animals are widely threatened by trapping and hunting.

The island is only 1/6 the size of Minnesota, so would not justify a birding trip and the long flight on its own, but is a great addition to a business trip or a visit to other countries in Asia. It also has 29 endemic bird species. This visit was only 6 days, en route to mainland China, so this will be a shorter presentation than the others we have had.

August 25, 2020 7:00pm

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