Upper Mississippi: Habitat Diversity for Fabulous Birding
Program Number:
5613RJ
Start and End Dates:
5/27/2013 - 5/31/2013
;
Duration:
4 nights
Location:
Winona, Minnesota
Price starting at:
$669.00 -
Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type:
Birding
Meals:
12; 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
The upper reaches of the Mississippi River are nestled between groves of woodlands, bluffs and sand dunes — ideal birding habitats. With an expert ornithologist as your instructor, journey to the Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge and the valley of the Whitewater River to search for sandhill cranes, Henslow’s sparrows, Bells vireos, Swainson’s hawks, sedge wrens and willow flycatchers in Minnesota’s birding paradise. You are sure to turn up an interesting species list! If you have joined this program before, come back as we're always looking for new species and new territory.
Highlights
• Explore the mighty Mississippi River’s upper reaches in search of an amazing variety of bird species.
• Explore the unique avian fauna of Minnesota with your award-winning, expert ornithological instructor.
• Discover the rich architectural and historical town of Winona, a onetime logging town founded by a steamboat captain.
Activity Particulars
Walking up to one mile over uneven terrain in all weather. Must be able to enter/exit a van several times a day.
Coordinated by Winona State University.
Winona
Situated between sandstone bluffs and the Mississippi River in southern Minnesota, Winona looks to the river for images of its past and for the pleasures of its present. Outdoor activities abound, as do riverside art festivals and performances.
Accommodations
Comfortable hotel accommodations.
Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Carol Schumacher
Carol Schumacher is one of Minnesota’s most active and respected birders. The recipient of the T.S. Roberts Award for lifetime contributions to Minnesota ornithology, she has conducted many independent research studies for various government agencies and has spotted more than 280 species in Winona County alone. Carol enjoys sharing her knowledge of the region’s bird species with Road Scholar participants.
Meals and Lodgings
Days Inn
Winona, MN
4 nights
Days Inn
Type:
Motel
Contact info:
420 Cottonwood Drive
Winona, MN 55987 USA
phone: 507-454-6930
web:
daysinn.com
Room amenities:
Hairdryers in every room; Cable 58+ channel television with HBO.
Facility amenities:
Free high speed internet; Wheelchair-Accessible Rooms with Roll-in Showers; Coffee and Tea Available 24 Hours.
Smoking allowed:
No
Additional nights prior:
Determined by motel. Call motel for rates at 507-454-6930.
Check in time:
3:00 PM
Additional nights after:
Determined by motel. Call motel for rates at 507-454-6930.
Check out time:
11:00 AM
Travel Details
Start of Program:
3:30 p.m. in hotel for Road Scholar registration You will be staying at
Days Inn
that night.
End of Program:
11:30 a.m. at hotel You will be staying at
Days Inn
the night before.
Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
Parking availability:
Parking is free. There is no inside parking.
Transportation
To Start of Program
Location:
Winona, MN
Nearest highway:
Hwy. 61
Nearest airport:
La Crosse, WI (LSE)
From End of Program
Location:
Winona, MN
(
Additional transportation information same as above
)
Travel Details
La Crosse, WI (LSE), Rochester, MN (RST), Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP)
From Airport
Service:
Commercial Van/Shuttle
Go Carefree Shuttle
phone: 888-781-5181
Advanced Reservations Required
Per Person/One Way:
Fares vary depending on airport location
Prices are subject to change.
Travel Time:
Varies depending on airport location
Distance:
Varies depending on airport location
Visit their website for more information: www.gocarefreeshuttle.com/index.html
La Crosse, WI (LSE), Rochester, MN (RST) or Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP)
To Airport
Service:
Commercial Van/Shuttle
Go Carefree Shuttle
phone: 888-781-5181
Advanced Reservations Required
Per Person/One Way:
Fares vary depending on airport location
Prices are subject to change.
Travel Time:
Varies depending on airport location
Distance:
Varies depending on airport location
Visit their website for more info: www.gocarefreeshuttle.com
Driving Directions
Interstate 90
Exit at Highway 43 North to Winona (six miles). At T intersection, turn left. At next stop light turn left onto Highway 61. Stay on Hwy. 61 to stop light at intersection of Hwy. 14. Turn left. Days Inn will be on your right.
North of Winona, including Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN
Take Highway 61 South. At intersection of Hwy. 14 turn right. Days Inn will be ahead on the right side.
Equipment Requirements:
You will want to bring binoculars or scopes if you have them available. Other items that would be helpful are:camera, water bottle, hats, boots or sturdy shoes, insect repellent with DEET (the more the better), Sibley or National Geographic Field Guide (if you have them).
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.
Daily Schedule
Day 1:
Road Scholar Registration/Orientation
(Monday, May 27)
Afternoon:
Check into hotel and pick up informational folders and register with Road Scholar coordinator. We will do introductions before going to dinner.
Dinner:
Dinner at near-by restaurant.
Evening:
After dinner we will do some evening birding and review the schedule for the week.
Accommodations:
Days Inn
Meals Included:
Dinner
Day 2:
Birding
(Tuesday, May 28)
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the motel.
Morning:
Area birding habitats will be explored by van. Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge.
Lunch:
Lunch will be in an area restaurant near the birding site.
Afternoon:
Area birding habitats will be explored by van. Wildlife refuge, Lewiston, Utica and Altura areas.
Dinner:
Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.
Evening:
Birding at Whitewater Wildlife Management Area. Ponds and roadside woodland birding.
Accommodations:
Days Inn
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3:
Birding
(Wednesday, May 29)
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the motel.
Morning:
Area birding habitats will be explored by van. Beaver Creek State Park.
Lunch:
Lunch at an area restaurant
Afternoon:
Area birding habitats will be explored by van. Wiscoy area.
Dinner:
Dinner in area restaurant.
Evening:
Evening birding
Accommodations:
Days Inn
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4:
Birding
(Thursday, May 30)
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the motel.
Morning:
Area birding habitats will be explored by van. Great River Bluffs State Park.
Lunch:
Lunch will be in area restaurant convenient to birding sites.
Afternoon:
Weather permitting we will go on a pontoon boat ride on the backwaters of the Mississippi River.
Dinner:
Farewell dinner will be held in area restaurant.
Evening:
Evening birding. Trempealeau wetlands.
Accommodations:
Days Inn
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5:
Birding/Check out
(Friday, May 31)
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the motel.
Morning:
Area birding habitats will be explored by van. John Latsch State Park/ Whitewater Wildlife Management Area.
Lunch:
You will check out of motel and grab a quick bite for lunch before heading home.
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch
Free Time Opportunities
Winona, MN
Winona Convention and Visitors Bureau
Your guide to Winona. For additional information, visit
www.visitwinona.com/
Important information about your itinerary:
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.
You can't find a better value than Road Scholar.
As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing all-inclusive educational programs at great value. From lectures to gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the tuition you pay up front is all that you pay.
Specifically, this program includes:
4 nights accommodations
12 meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Field trips: 9
Field trips
The world is your classroom, as you're on location with an instructor to pursue your educational theme firsthand.
Plus these special experiences...
Weather permitting, we will be going on a pontoon boat ride on the Mississippi River backwaters!
Visits to a national wildlife refuge and three area state parks!
View the Daily Schedule to see more
And included with all Road Scholar programs:
Learning led by expert instructors who are authorities in the field of study.
An experienced Group Leader attuned to the needs of Road Scholar participants.
Customary gratuities throughout the program that you would normally pay yourself.
The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, providing 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage.
Taxes
© Road Scholar 2013
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Call toll-free: 1-800-454-5768