MINNESOTA: Owls and Winter Birds of Sax-Zim Bog NANPA Photo Tour
DATES: Jan 21 - Jan 24, 2026
TRIP LEADERS: JENNIFER LEIGH WARNER
COST: Early Registration: $1195 NANPA/ASMP Members, $1395 non-members by October 19, 2025
After October 19, 2025: $1295 NANPA/ASMP Members, $1495 non-members
If you are not currently a member, you may want to consider joining NANPA to take advantage of member pricing on all NANPA photo tours (1 year membership $100)
GROUP SIZE: 7
Join Jennifer Leigh Warner photographing owls and other birds in Northern Minnesota in winter. Sax-Zim Bog in northern Minnesota in the winter time is a bird photographer’s paradise. Named for the towns of Sax and Zim, Minnesota, the Sax-Zim Bog was created around 10,000 years ago following the last glacial retreat in Minnesota. The area covers 300 square miles and contains a tamarack bog, black spruce, upland aspen/maple forests, floodplain forest, sandy upland pine stands, lakes, rivers, lakes, meadows, farms and towns. This mix of habitat makes the area “THE place” to find northern owls like Great Gray Owls. Not only are there a variety of owl species to be found (Great Gray Owls, Snowy Owls, Northern Hawk Owl, Saw-whet Owl, and the Barred Owl), but other bird species include, woodpeckers, chickadees, purple finches, common redpoll, grosbeaks, nuthatches and crossbills. Bird Life International and Audubon Minnesota designated the Bog an Important Bird Area (IBA).
WHAT TO EXPECT:
We will spend most of our time in and around the Sax-Zim Bog area looking for birds. We may visit other areas within an hour driving distance of Duluth, Minnesota. We will be following ethical birding practices, and will not bait, call or otherwise disturb the birds and wildlife we photograph. Our first day will be a travel day. We will meet at 5 PM at the hotel to go over the schedule and expectations for the next few days. For day two and three we will leave before sunrise and stay out until after dark looking for owls and other bird species. We will stop for a lunch around noon. On the last day we will have a final morning photo session in the Sax-Zim Bog area before heading back to Duluth for our final lunch.
NEAREST AIRPORT:
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) (roughly 2.5 hour drive)
Duluth International Airport (DLH) (roughly 15 min drive)
EVENT TRANSPORTATION:
Transportation to and from the airport is not included and is the attendees’ responsibility.
NANPA will provide ground transportation (12-person passenger van/s driven by the event assistant) to get participants between the hotel and the photo shoot locations. Participants will not need to rent a car.
Note that NANPA, and Jennifer Leigh Warner, do not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assume no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.
LODGING:
We will be based in Duluth, Minnesota during this photo tour.
Lodging is not included in the event fee, but NANPA is holding a block of rooms for event participants at a rate of $119 per night plus tax.
Hotel details and reservation procedure will be shared with registered participants.
The last day to register in the NANPA room block is December 19, 2025.
MEALS:
A group brunch on Saturday January 24th is included in your registration. All other meals are on your own.
PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS:
Your leader is familiar with the areas that you’ll be visiting, and locations will be based on what’s most photogenic at the time, wildlife activity, weather conditions, etc.
We will be doing road-side photography in the Sax-Zim Bog area.
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:
Please note schedules are fluid due to weather conditions, recent wildlife sightings and other variables.
Wednesday January 21
“Meet and Greet” at 5:00 pm in the hotel meeting room. There will be a brief slide show and discussion of the trip.
Dinner on your own (plan to eat after the meet and greet)
Thursday January 22 – Friday January 23
We will leave before sunrise and stay out until after dark looking for owls and other bird species. We will stop for a lunch around noon.
Saturday January 24
We will have a final morning photo session in the Sax-Zim Bog area before heading back to Duluth for our final group brunch around 11 am. (included in fee)
Hotel check out
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Please note a low fitness level is required. Most shooting locations will be very close to where we park. Some locations will require a walk. The length of the walk will be up to the participant and how much they wish or are able to explore, there will be photographic possibilities along the way.
WEATHER
In January, the average high temperature in Duluth, Minnesota is 23°F and the average low is 7°F. The average mean temperature is 15°F.
CLOTHING
It is preferable to dress warmly and in layers… temperatures can change significantly and quickly. Clothing for this time of year should include: warm jacket, hat, gloves, face buff, winter boots.
CAMERA GEAR:
Camera – DSLR or mirrorless, full frame or cropped sensor. Also, bring the camera manual should you need to consult it. Cellphone camera as backup is better than no camera and good for snaps of your group.
Lenses – We will use lenses from 400-600 mm on average. The longer the better.
Lens Cleaning Cloth and Wipes.
Tripod – Sunrise, sunset, twilight and nighttime light levels are too low to photograph properly without a sturdy tripod. A lightweight carbon fiber tripod with a ball head is recommended. If needed, a monopod is a better choice for shooting from the boat.
Memory Cards for 1/2 day to full day of shooting in the field.
Camera Battery Charger and Extra Batteries.
Sensor Cleaning Tools
Polarizing filter(s) to fit each of your lenses.
Shutter Release – You can use a locking cable release, a wireless remote, or the camera’s self-timer (except in BULB).
Rain Covers – For camera and lens protection
Laptop Computer – for downloading, processing and viewing your images.
Image Processing Software – Good choices include Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or Elements.
Back-up device – Such as an external hard drive.
Flash Drive – For sharing images, especially if weather keeps the group inside for a portion of the trip.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS:
Flashlight and/or Headlamp
Battery-powered Alarm Clock/Watch – In case cell phone service isn’t available. It’s better to bring your own alarm than miss a morning shoot!
Cell Phone
Water bottle/snacks/medicine
Energy bars or other snacks
GENERAL:
This event is designed for nature photographers at all levels of experience. For the best experience, please know your camera before you arrive, and bring your manual in case we need to look up something.
Assistance will be available in the field for those who wish to improve their photographic skills. If you already have plenty of photography experience, Jennifer will ensure you get to the best locations at the best times to capture those perfect shots.
Please keep in mind this NANPA Event is designed to be a photo tour, not a photo workshop. In other words, there are no formal instruction sessions planned, there are no assignments, you will not be receiving any handouts or the like. Your leader, Jennifer, has experience as a photography workshop leader and is available to answer questions and give you guidance. If you need help, please advocate for yourself and speak up and ask for help – Jennifer is happy to help. Be aware that many of your fellow participants may also be accomplished photographers and may be able to help you too. Part of the NANPA photo tour experience is the camaraderie that comes from sharing experiences and lessons learned among participants. If you notice someone with the same or similar camera, perhaps they can help you with an issue you’ve been wondering about, and maybe you can return the favor.
Attendance and participation at NANPA Photo Tours is limited to registered attendees only. Anyone wishing to participate in any portion of, or travel with a registered attendee during the group event must contact the NANPA office and pay the full registration fee.
NANPA Photo Tour Cancellation and No Refund Policy:
NANPA will not offer any refunds for registrations for this event regardless of when the cancellation is made or the reason for the cancellation. NANPA reserves the right to cancel any event or activity due to insufficient registration or any unforeseen circumstances. NANPA will offer refunds if NANPA must cancel the event. It also has the right to substitute presenters if those originally scheduled cannot attend. Registrants may purchase event insurance as part of the registration process through NANPA’s partner, Allianz. More information on this option will be shown during the checkout process for the event registration.
NOTE: If you do not purchase event insurance at the time that you pay for your registration, you will NOT be able to go back and purchase it with Allianz later.
If you choose to purchase travel insurance separately, you can do so with your own insurance carrier, or NANPA members can receive a special travel insurance rate through USI Affinity/Travel Insurance Services.