Events
🗓️ January 3, 2026
9:30 am – 11:00 am
Winter Early Birders at the Beach
Guided birding walk at Theo Wirth Lake/Bassett’s Creek in Minneapolis, perfect for spotting wintering waterbirds and local species with experienced naturalists. A great way to explore urban birdlife in the colder months.
More info: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/event-calendar/tag/eloise-butler-wildflower-garden/list/ Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
🗓️ January 3, 2026
4:00 pm
Expert-led Owl Prowl
Educator Jo Severson’s ability to imitate owl calls has become a bit legendary. Join Jo to learn the calls of our local owls, owl prowl etiquette, and then drive your vehicle following the Owlmobile to some remote Houston locations to try to call in some wild owls. We normally hear but don’t see the owls (unless we’re really lucky.) $15 for non-members, $10 for members. Limit 30 people. The next owl prowl is January 31.
More info: https://app.getresponse.com/email_marketing_click.html?x=a62b&co=wY4GoB&lc=zItC1B&mc=IY&s=B0P1vaV&u=S5iHY&z=EFL9IC5&
🗓️ January 3, 2026
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Bagels & Birds
A relaxed morning at River Bend Nature Center in Faribault with coffee, bagels, and birdwatching through the Interpretive Center’s “Windows on the Wild.” Suitable for all ages and a casual way to enjoy winter wildlife.
More info: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/janfebmarprograms/event/bagelsbirdsjan26/
🗓️ January 5 – March 16, 2026 (Mondays)
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Lunch Hour Nature Walks at Wirth Beach
Join garden staff for weekly 30-minute nature walks during the lunch hour — perfect for getting steps in, soaking up some sunshine, and enjoying time outside with good company. These casual walks take place on Mondays and often include wildlife sightings as you explore the area around the Wirth Beach parking lot. More info: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1317849177047156&id=100064662580859
🗓️ January 8 – March 19, 2026 (Recurring Weekly)
10:00 am – 10:30 am
Nature Storytime at The Trailhead
Enjoy nature-themed stories and songs led by Garden Naturalists at the Trailhead in Theodore Wirth Regional Park. While not exclusively birding, it’s perfect for young naturalists interested in birds and other wildlife.Â
More info: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/event-calendar/tag/eloise-butler-wildflower-garden/list/
🗓️ January 10, 2026
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Washington County Bird Hike – Lake Elmo Park Reserve
Guided bird hike through Lake Elmo Park Reserve led by Washington County Parks. Participants can practice bird identification skills, enjoy winter woodland and wetland habitats, and contribute to citizen science data. Washington County MN
More info: https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/2174/Bird-Hikes
🗓️ January 20, 2026
10:00 am – 11:15 am
Winter Birding Walk (AM)
Guided winter birding walk with a garden naturalist at The Trailhead (Theodore Wirth Regional Park). Learn to identify common winter birds and enjoy the season’s unique birdlife.
More info: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/event-calendar/tag/eloise-butler-wildflower-garden/list/
🗓️ January 20, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Winter Birding Walk (PM)
An afternoon version of the guided birding walk at the Trailhead with a garden naturalist — excellent for families or birders with afternoon availability.Â
More info: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/event-calendar/tag/eloise-butler-wildflower-garden/list/
🗓️ January 25 – 27, 2026
All Day
Minnesota Winter Owling Tour
Multi-day guided tour based in Duluth and Sax-Zim Bog focusing on owls and other boreal winter birds (e.g., Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk-Owl) with travel between hotspots and harbor gull sites.Â
More info: https://www.naturalistjourneys.com/tours/2026/01/25/minnesota-winter-owling-tour
🗓️ January 26 – 31, 2026
All Day
Sax-Zim Bog Birding Tour (Ecotour)
Join a northern Minnesota birding tour focusing on wintering boreal species including owls, finches, and woodpeckers across the Sax-Zim Bog and Lake Superior regions — an extended experience for avid birders.Â
More info: https://www.birdingecotours.com/tour/birding-tour-usa-minnesota/
🗓️ January 31, 2026
4:30 pm (approx)
International Owl Center – Owl Prowl
A live owl program at the International Owl Center in Houston, MN — perfect for owl enthusiasts. Programs typically last about an hour and include owl education and live owl exhibits.
More info: https://www.internationalowlcenter.org/
🗓️ 2026 BRRRRdathon
Friday January 2nd and Saturday January 3rd, 2026
All Day
Sax-Zim Winters Coldest Birdathon
The famed BRRRRdathon invites teams to bird in extreme winter conditions in Sax-Zim Bog — often one of the coldest birdathons in the world. A fun challenge for dedicated birders.Â
More info: https://saxzim.org/events/brrrrdathon/
General resources
- Index to exploring birds in each of Minnesota’s 64 State Parks: https://moumn.org/parks.html
- MOU facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MNornithU/
- MOU affiliated Bird Clubs: https://moumn.org/clubs.html