Category Archives: Background

Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding Map (interactive)

Background, Year 5

It may be the middle of Summer, but before we realize it, the cold North Wind will blow and the snows will come. Many birders will want to visit the Arctic Riviera and enjoy some winter birding just north of Duluth in Sax-Zim Bog.

There are many ways to plan your visit in search of winter birds including the Great Gray Owl. I serve as a volunteer naturalist at the small one room cabin / Welcome Center found in the middle of the Bog. The Welcome Center is run by the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog, a 501(c) non profit dedicated to protecting the bog and its habitat / wildlife. Their web site has a section on planning your visit, including a downloadable pdf map.

Realizing how many birders use Google Maps on their smart phones, I have built a Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding Map which works in conjunction with Google Maps.

  • Add Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding Map to Google Maps
    • Make certain you are first signed in to your Google account
    • No app or software install necessary
    • One time setup, but may repeat process if map gets lost or unpinned
  • Version 1.3 created on July 26th, 2018

INSTRUCTIONS          SCREEN SHOTS          INSTRUCTIONS

Follow this process any time AFTER you click upon the link given above to add the Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding module to Google Maps. This will always bring the map/module back to the forefront. This assumes you are logged in to your Google account.

Step #1: Go to “Google Maps”. Press the “Drop Down Menu”

——————–
Step #2: Press “Your Places:

——————–
Step #3: Drag screen to display “MAPS”

——————–
Step #4: Press “Maps”

——————–
Step #5: Press “Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding Map

——————–
Step #6: Explore map options. Learn more information.

——————–
Step #7: Navigation to return to Google Maps screen.

Step #8: You’re finished! Repeat process if map is lost.

I would like to thank Elliot Nelson from Michigan State University who built a similar winter birding map for the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan (add Upper Peninsula map), and pointed me to the right tools to create the Sax-Zim Bog Google Maps add-in.

Lake Superior Day Speaking Engagements

Background, Year 5

If it isn’t obvious, I love Lake Superior. Thus, I am happy to donate my time and give two different talks this coming Saturday, July 21st at part of Port Wing, Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Days. Gitche Gumee is a great resource and needs to be protected.

I will be speaking for 30 minutes on two different topics, birding Western Lake Superior and Watching / Photographing the Night Sky (Aurora Borealis). My wife Molly will also give a presentation at 9:45 am on the bike tour we took around the western half of Lake Superior, cutting across the Lake by backpacker ferry to Isle Royale. My talks are at 9 am and 10:30 am in the local high school. There is no charge for admission.

Learn about all the events in Port Wing this Saturday via their web site.

The photograph shown below is not my own, and was provided by the City of Port Wing.

365 Days of Birds Now “https” Compliant

Background, Year 5

Not a very exciting post, but I implemented enhanced site security today for this blog. If you have bookmarks on your computer or mobile device, replace the “http” with “https” in my web address and rebookmark. This will serve up content to you in a more secure manner.