Career Pathway Program Seeking Applicants

Applications are being accepted until May 28 for the Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers (IDEC) program, a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Board of Water and Soil Resources. The successful applicants will form the third cohort for this…

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Virtual Aldo Leopold Celebration – March 5

Celebrate Aldo Leopold Day with author and naturalist J. Drew Lanham as he presents “Coloring the Conservation Conversation” as part of the Viterbo University D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership’s Spring Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Friday, March 5 on Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/viterboethics. Lanham is the author of The Home Place: Memoirs of a…

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Volunteers Needed for Nest Survey

Winona District Staff needs your help to complete a nest survey of the Mertes Slough Heron Rookery! This time of year is perfect for counting nests from the previous breeding season; ice makes for easy access, no foliage makes for easy viewing, and we will not be disturbing any birds! The rookery is just north…

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Summer Jobs on the Refuge

Seasonal Biological Science Technician position This job description and pay level are typically filled by an employee who has a four-year degree in wildlife or other natural resources field. Note that these positions close on Thursday, December 17. The positions we typically advertise for students who are still in college will be coming out at…

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Fall on the Refuge Photo Contest – Deadline Reminder

Just a quick reminder that the deadline to submit photo entries for the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters fall photo contest is next week! Here are a few details: Photos in the following categories will be accepted until December 4, 2020: Scenic Views of the Refuge, Wildlife and Plants of the Refuge, and Connecting People…

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News Story about the Tundra Swan

Although we aren’t able to offer the Swan Watch this year, we hope that you are out and about enjoying the annual visit of the Tundra Swan. News8000.com ran a nice story that we wanted to share with you: www.news8000.com/flight-of-the-tundra-swan/

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Aghaming Park Management Plan Available for Public Review

The City of Winona, Minnesota (City) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) entered into a 25 year Lease Agreement to manage the lands and waters of Aghaming Park in March 2018. Under this agreement, the City maintains ownership of 1,139 acres of lands donated to…

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Swan Watching on the Upper Mississippi River

The swans are in! The text messages buzz and excited voices relay the information. Friday night, October 23 was a good night for flying if you were a tundra swan. Freezing temperatures turned water to ice at all points north signaling to migrating waterfowl that it was time to move on. Reports from Winona and…

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