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Train Ride in the Tiffany Wildlife Area
Event Description: Board an antique open-air train and ride into the most remote areas of the Tiffany Wildlife Area! Enjoy stops with short hikes into floodplain forests, savannas, and prairies with views of the Chippewa River while you learn about ecology, land protection, and history of the area.
Mid-May is the peak of spring migration. Birds will be brightly attired, active, and vocal throughout the day. With luck, we’ll see newly arrived resident species, as well as birds headed to Canada to raise the next generation of boreal migrants.
Children are welcome, however, the educational content will be for an adult audience. No seatbelts are provided in the antique open-air train cars.
Read more about the guides for this event down below. You do not want to miss this unique opportunity!
Vortex Binoculars Giveaway! This year, event participants have a chance to win a pair of Vortex Triumph HD 10×28 Binoculars!
The Tiffany Train
Location: On Hwy 25, just south of Durand; Buffalo County.
Although we love our furry friends, please leave your dog at home for this group event.
Parking Area: Across from the intersection of Thibodeau Road and Hwy 25, 4.5 miles south of Durand, WI
Accessibility: This location is NOT wheelchair accessible.
Restrooms: There is a porta potty that comes along with us on the train.
Physical Activity: Must be able to get on and off of train up a step. Most stops will include short walks less than a quarter mile. There is one stairway that is optional. There will be one longer bird walk that will be approximately 0.75 miles.
What to Bring: Water, insect repellent, sunscreen, binoculars, and field guides. Wear appropriate footwear and field clothing.
Contact Person: Sara Norman – sara@landmarkwi.org
Cost:
- Adults: $30
- Kids: $10
- $0 – Free (Choose this option if the cost would be a barrier to your participation.)
Registration Required: Capacity is limited! Sign up today!
Meet Our Speakers!
Birds: Migration and Identification with Brian Collins
Brian Collins started birding in kindergarten. Now, with a half century of birding experience, he is still passionate about finding, researching, photographing and sharing the beauty of birds. Brian has been doing bird surveys for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, and the Wisconsin DNR for 20 field seasons and has been a high school biology teacher for 24 years at Unity High School in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. He is an enthusiastic outdoor educator and a 2024 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year.
Birds: Migration and Identification with Lucy Soulliere
Lucy Soulliere is a naturalist and outreach coordinator at Beaver Creek Reserve in Fall Creek, WI. She fell in love with birdwatching at the age of 12, which has led her to pursue a career in wildlife and conservation, and graduate college in 2024 with a degree in Organismal Biology and Ecology. Since graduation, Lucy has had the privilege of working on research projects with fairywrens in Brisbane, Australia, and grassland songbirds in the Sierra Mountains of California. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, swimming, baking, and of course more birdwatching.
A Geomorphic History of the Lower Chippewa River with Zach Hilgendorf
Zach is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He is also a graduate of the same program, with a B.S. in Environmental Geography (’15), an M.S. in Geography from Minnesota State University, Mankato (’18), and a PhD in Geography from Arizona State University (’22). Zach’s research interests focus on how landforms evolve through time and space and how human interactions alter this evolution. He is most passionate about applying these concepts to restoration of degraded natural systems and has been looking into everything from dam failures to trout streams.
Land Protection with Rick Remington
Rick is a native of central Wisconsin, and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. Rick has worked in conservation throughout the Midwest, Maine, and Kentucky in land management, restoration, and legal land protection before joining the Landmark Conservancy staff in 2002. In his spare time, Rick serves on the board of the Menomonie Market Food Co-op, and enjoys a variety of outdoor pursuits including running, biking, gardening, and spending time outdoors with his wife and daughter. Rick is the Executive Director for Landmark Conservancy.
