Bird Photography Walk & Talk at Oak Ridge Waterfowl Production Area

Here is a quick heads-up for anyone who loves birds, photography, or just a peaceful Saturday morning in the outdoors. The Friends of the St. Croix Wetland Management District are hosting a Bird Photography Walk & Talk on Saturday, August 15 at the Oak Ridge Waterfowl Production Area. It is free, family-friendly, and exactly the kind of low-key community event that makes living in the St. Croix Valley so special.

What's the Bird Photography Walk & Talk?

Exactly what it sounds like. The Friends of the St. Croix Wetland Management District are leading a guided morning walk through the Oak Ridge Waterfowl Production Area, focused on bird photography. Whether you shoot with a DSLR with a telephoto lens or just your phone, the idea is to explore the wetlands, practice photographing the birds and wildlife you find, and learn from fellow nature lovers along the way.

The Oak Ridge WPA is a real gem. It covers about 385 acres of restored grassland, marsh, oak savanna, and shallow lake habitat about two miles east of Star Prairie, Wisconsin — just a short drive from the St. Croix River and an easy trip from the Twin Cities lake communities. The centerpiece is Oak Ridge Lake, a 149-acre shallow lake that serves as a major stopover for migrating waterfowl. Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, a wide variety of ducks, great blue herons, egrets, and countless other species pass through here. There is an ADA-accessible viewing platform, which makes the photography workshop accessible to all.

A Perfect Saturday Morning Outing

Here is why I love events like this. It gets you outside on a summer morning when the light is soft and the wildlife is most active. It pairs a skill you can practice anytime — photography — with a landscape that is genuinely worth photographing. And it brings together people who care about the outdoors and want to learn more about the natural world around them. No sales pitch, no pressure, just a couple of hours in one of Wisconsin's nicest wetland areas with your camera and some good company.

The Friends of the St. Croix Wetland Management District do great work maintaining and protecting these spaces. The Wetland Management District covers parts of western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota along the St. Croix River valley. It includes 42 individual waterfowl production areas, and Oak Ridge is one of the highlights. Events like this walk are a wonderful way for the community to experience these public lands firsthand.

Bring the Family, Bring Your Camera

This walk is open to all ages and skill levels. Kids who love spotting birds and animals will have a great time. Photographers — from beginners to experienced — will find plenty to practice on. And if you do not own a fancy camera, your smartphone will do just fine. The best camera is the one you have with you, and mornings at Oak Ridge are full of photo opportunities no matter what you are shooting with.

A few tips for the morning:

What You Might See

Oak Ridge is a known hotspot for waterfowl and wetland birds. Depending on the morning, you could spot wood ducks, blue-winged teal, great blue herons, egrets, sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, swallows swooping over the water, and all kinds of songbirds in the surrounding woods and grasslands. The early morning light over the lake with a layer of mist rising off the water is a photographer's dream. If migrating swans are passing through, you might even catch Tundra or Trumpeter Swans on the lake.

August is an excellent time for wetland birding, too. Late summer brings a mix of resident birds and early migrants beginning to move through. The variety is part of what makes this area special.

Plan Your Visit

The walk runs from 8:00 to 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 15. No registration needed — just show up at the Oak Ridge Waterfowl Production Area with your camera and a willingness to explore. The event is hosted by the Friends of the St. Croix Wetland Management District, a volunteer group that supports conservation and public access across the district's properties. If you have questions or want to learn more, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the area and keeps information posted on the district website.

Whether you are a seasoned bird photographer, someone who just got a new camera and wants to test it out, or a family looking for a free Saturday morning activity that gets everyone outside — this walk is a great choice. The wetlands are beautiful in August, the company will be good, and you might come home with a photo worth framing.

Love Birding? Check Out the St. Croix Valley Bird Club

The St. Croix Valley Bird Club is a local group that hosts monthly speakers, bird walks, field trips, and annual events like the Crane Count and Christmas Bird Count. If you are interested in birding in the area, it is a great way to get involved.

Hope to see you out on the marsh.