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  Guiding

Winter Bird Guiding

Sparky
I love to show folks the winter birds of Minnesota. During the winter of 2004-2005 I guided dozens of folks from 17 states to witness the amazing owl invasion. One day our group found 106 Great Gray Owls and 32 Northern Hawk-Owls! Boreal Owls were also found on four trips. Other northern Minnesota specialties we found included Spruce Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadees, Bohemian Waxwings, Northern Shrike, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, White-winged Crossbill, Red Crossbill, Common Redpoll and Hoary Redpoll. I also am glad to share historical and cultural information on the area.

Fees:
Full Day 1-2 people: $150
Full Day 3-5 people: $175
Half Day 1-2 people: $100
Half Day 3-5 people: $125

Half Day is sun-up to 1pm. (not including drive time)
Full Day is sun-up to sun-down (not including drive time)
Gas is included

Vehicle is a 6-passenger Dodge Grand Caravan
Food is each person's responsibility. We usually stop at a local café for lunch. Dinner and Breakfast are on your own.
Dress for the COLD temperatures. Conditions January through March can range from a 40 degree day (very rare) to brutal cold (Minus 40 degrees is not unheard of.) Most of the day is spent in the van with brief hikes to find or photograph birds.
Photographers welcome! BUT make sure all in your group have the same expectations of the trip.

Disclaimer: Birds have wings and move around so no species is a sure thing on any trip. We will try our hardest to find the birds you need but there will be NO REFUNDS OR DISCOUNTS if we miss a bird. I can guarantee we will have fun!

Birding Resume
Thirty years of birding experience (Since I was 13)
Guide for two National American Birding Association Conventions
Guide for Minnesota's Boreal Bird Festival
ABA North America List of 626
Minnesota Life List of 343
Sax-Zim Christmas Bird Count Compiler since 1986
Breeding Bird Survey Route Volunteer since 1993
Hawk Ridge Chief Raptor Counter (two seasons)
Minnesota DNR County Biological Survey Field Ornithologist (four seasons)

Sparky Stensaas Photography
2515 Garthus Road
Wrenshall, MN 55797
218.384.9856 home & office
218.341.3350 cell
sparkystensaas@hotmail.com

2515 Garthus Road . Wrenshall, MN 55797 . 218.384.9856    
sparkystensaas@hotmail.com