[mou] She made it though the night!

[Laura Erickson]

Although this morning's temperature was 14 degrees, it got down to 6 last 
night before I went to bed.  The hummingbird was at my feeder at 7:23 this 
morning.

I'm obviously very concerned about her, and left the window to my office 
open for quite a while yesterday, just in case she happened to wander 
in...  She did fly in for a few moments, circled the room giving it a 
once-over, but then headed back outside.  Like Huck Finn, this little bird 
apparently does not want to be sivilized.

Laura Erickson
Duluth, MN

NOTE address change: blue...@lauraerickson.com

Producer, "For the Birds" radio program


There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of 
birds.  There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of 
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.

 --Rachel Carson

[mou] A comment on those Boreal Owl inquiries

[Jim Williams]

Forward by Jim Williams, Wayzata

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dave DeReamus 
Date: December 3, 2004 12:46:20 AM CST
To: birdc...@listserv.arizona.edu
Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Fw: MN/Duluth RBA - December 2, 2004
Reply-To: Dave DeReamus 

Hi all,

I read this and did a double-take.  Note the part in parentheses.

- Original Message -
From: "Minn. Ornith. Union David Cahlander" 

> -RBA
> *Minnesota
> *Duluth/North Shore
> *December 2, 2004
>
> Over 300 BOREAL OWLS have been banded in northeastern Minnesota this
> fall, another astounding number. However, these were all birds that
> were netted at night, banded, and released immediately. I am aware of
> no other sightings of this species. Quite a few observers have written
> to me to ask (and in some cases, demand) that I 'fess up about where
> the boreals are. If a stake-out bird of this species is located, it
> will be reported as soon as possible.
==

Is that crazy or what?  At first, I couldn't believe it, but then I 
thought
about some of the situations that I've been put in in the past (rare 
birds
on private property, etc.) and realized that it's becoming more and more
expected, even if it is ridiculous for a birder(?) to act that way when 
they
can't get to see a particular bird.  What's nextpersonal threats 
made to
the compiler if he doesn't "fess up"?

As far as I'm concerned, any so-called birder who "demands" to know 
where a
bird is should NEVER be told about ANY rare sightings since it's obvious
that this person would do whatever it takes to see the bird.

OK, I'm done venting now.

Good Birding,

Dave DeReamus
Compiler of the 'Eastern PA Birdline'
Easton, PA
bec...@fast.net
Eastern PA Birding Website:  
http://www.users.fast.net/~becard/index.html

BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html
Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html

[mou] partial albino GGO

[Anthony X. Hertzel]

I have this article if anyone would like a copy.

>On Thu, 2 Dec 2004 byo...@aol.com wrote:
>
>  Pentti Alaja and Heimo Mikkola have apparently published information about
>  albinism in GGOW, but thus far I have unable to locate this information...
>>
>
>Ben and Steve,
>
>"Albinism in the Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) and other owls" by
>Alaja and Mikkola was published on pp. 33_37 in:
>Duncan, J.R., D.H. Johnson, and T.H. Nicholls (eds.). 1997. Biology and
>Conservation of Owls of the Northern Hemisphere. USDA Forest Service
>General Technical Report NC-190.
>
>The authors note that although total and/or incomplete albinism has been
>reported in 13 different owl species, the Great Gray is the only species
>of owl with more than five published records, as follows:
>
>27 March into November 1994, Vesanto, Finland and probably the same bird
>(based on comparison of photos) 165 km farther north in March 1995 near
>Kajaani, Finland, incomplete albino (Blue Jay 52:228, Dutch Birding
>1/95:19_20).
>
>(no dates) 1980 in Targhee National Forest, Idaho, followed by several
>observations between 1990 and 1992 in SE Idaho about 112 km from the
>Targhee N.F. site, male incomplete albino, mated with normally-plumaged
>female and raised normally-plumaged young (Blue Jay 53:197_199).
>
>(no dates) two or three partial albino Great Grays in Yellowstone N.P.
>seen by Terry McEneaney fide D.W. Holt (Canadian Field-Naturalist
>109:121_122).
>
>prior to mid-1980s, five Great Grays with some abnormal white feathers
>noted by Herbert Copeland and Robert Nero among 300+ live and 80 dead
>Great Grays examined (Blue Jay 42:173_174).
>
>June 1990 near Norway House, Manitoba, incomplete albino (Blue Jay 49:31).
>
>December 1990 different incomplete albino north of Winnipeg (Blue Jay
>49:32).
>
>The article includes photographs of the Finland and Idaho birds, defines
>all of the terms referred to above, and lists records of albinism in other
>species of owls. Based on this information, a note of interest in The Loon
>regarding the melanistic and albinistic Great Grays seen in Minnesota,
>especially if accompanied by photographs, would make a fine contribution
>to the world literature.
>
>---
>Peder H. Svingen - psvin...@d.umn.edu - Duluth, MN
>___
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-- 
Anthony X. Hertzel -- axhert...@sihope.com

[mou] RFI: Disposition of dead owls

[Chris Fagyal]

I certainly am not "collecting" them as I do not feel I have the
appropriate knowledge/skills/licenses to pick up and save dead owls.  I
did however report immediately (within minutes) to the Duluth RBA and
then later that evening to the listservers the exact location of what
appeared to be a roadkill Great Grey in excellent condition (If it wasn'
t on the shoulder of the road, i'd have never known it was probably a
road kill as what I couild see of the bird (I didn't turn it over or
touch it etc) was all in great shape, feather-wise etc)).  Hopefully
this reporting of the owl allowed someone with more experience and
expertise in this area to retrieve it.



Chris Fagyal
Senior Software Engineer
United Defense, L.P. ASD
Fridley, MN 
(763) 572-5320
chris.fag...@udlp.com

>>> Laura Erickson  12/02/2004 17:46:59 PM
>>>
Is anyone collecting dead owls this winter for study?  I just received
an 
inquiry about what to do about a dead "Barred Owl" hit by a car near 
Brimson.  Is anyone studying them to see what condition their bodies
are 
in?  If not, is there a good institution where they should be brought?

Laura Erickson
Duluth, MN

NOTE address change: blue...@lauraerickson.com 

Producer, "For the Birds" radio program


There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of 
birds.  There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains
of 
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the
winter.

 --Rachel Carson


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[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, December 3, 2004

[Chris Fagyal]

This sickens me.  Why would anyone shoot a Great Grey Owl, an owl whose
primary food are rodents which most people consider pests (voles have a 
hasty habit of digging under fresh lawns and creating tracks all through
the lawn..it really looks pretty let me tell ya).  I hope the person
responsible for shooting an Owl gets caught, prosecuted, and stuck in
jail for his/her stupidity.


Chris Fagyal
Senior Software Engineer
United Defense, L.P. ASD
Fridley, MN 
(763) 572-5320
chris.fag...@udlp.com

>>> "Jeanie Joppru"  12/02/2004 20:22:27 PM >>>
[snip]

Owls are again the big news this week. From Lake of the Woods County,
Gretchen Mehmel sent in a secondhand report of two GREAT GRAY OWLS at
Long Point on Lake of the Woods on November 27th. These were spotted
by
a resident there. Jeff Birchem picked up a dead one that had been shot
near Warroad. Two more were picked up by Beth Siverhus after being hit
by cars, and sent to the Raptor Center for rehabilitation. One was
found
east of Clementson along MN 11, and one was picked up 6.5 miles south
of
Warroad on CR12.
[snip]

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[mou] GGOW shooting

[hawko...@aol.com]

 I strongly suggest the birding community follow any developments in the 
shooting. In the 90's a friend of mine witnessed a GGOW shooting on the upper 
penninsula of MI. He followed through and had the man brought to court. I can't 
remember the details exactly, but it happened in this general manner. The jury 
was taking a few hours to deliberate. The judge called the jury out and said 
something to the extent of, "this is ridiculous, this is over a bird, I want a 
decision." In spite of the fact that there was an eye witness to the shooting 
of a federally protected bird, the man responsible was found not guilty. The 
judge's attitude towards the case seems to have had a strong impact on the 
verdict.
This is an account of the story I was told first hand from my friend who 
witnessed the shooting and took the man to court. I'm not saying this would 
happen again, but we can't take for granted that if the shooter is brought to 
court, justice will be served.
Chris Neri

[mou] Temperature and the MN CBC

[ignacio_mag...@rohair.com]

Looking for a CBC to do where you won't freeze you bins?

The following locations have the highest average reported temperature on
Count Day.
_
Two Harbors  33.7
Mankato  32.6
LaCrosse-LaCrescent  30.7
Lamberton29.2
Rochester28.6
Fairmont 28.5
Morris   27.2
NW McLeod Co.26.4
Austin   26.0
Big Stone NWR25.8
Grand Marais 25.3
Excelsior25.2
Little Falls 25.2
New Ulm  25.0
_


Feeling Brave? Got fog-proof binoculars?
Here are the CBCs in MN with the coldest average temperature.
__
Warren: -4.3 F
Isabella:   -2.6 F
Baudette:   -1.8 F
Long Prairie:0.5 F
Roseau:  2.2 F
Itasca S.P.: 2.3 F
Hibbing: 2.4 F
Beltrami Island: 2.5 F
Duluth:  4.5 F
Grand Marais:4.6 F
__

And if you're feeling brave AND want to take your chances, the following
list includes the Top 10 Coldest Recorded Temperatures of all MN CBCs.
(NOTE: CY refers to the Nth Year for the Audubon CBC effort. CY 1 was
conducted in 1900, therefore CY 74 was the 1973-74 CBC season.)
__
Itasca SP:   -42 F (CY 74)
Aurora:  -41 F (CY 81)
Itasca SP:   -38 F (CY 77)
Hibbing: -35 F (CY 94)
Roseau:  -35 F (CY 93)
Sherburne NWR:   -33 F (CY 84)
Aurora:  -32 F (CY 84)
Isabella:-31 F (CY 91)
Itasca SP:   -31 F (CY 79)
Grand Rapids:-31 F (CY 84)
Cedar Creek Bog: -31 F (CY 84)
__


Can't forget about wind-chill in Minnesota. According to the revised
wind-chill index formula (2001), the following events were conducted in
the most severve temperature conditions... not for the faint of heart!
_
Roseau:   -68 (CY 93)
Tamarac NWR:  -64 (CY 90)
Aurora:   -60 (CY 84)
Grand Marais: -60 (CY 44)
Cedar Creek Bog:  -58 (CY 68)
Mountain Lake-Windom: -55 (CY 74)
International Falls:  -54 (CY 74)
Cedar Creek Bog:  -54 (CY 84)
Grand Rapids: -54 (CY 84)
Roseau:   -53 (CY 91)
Hibbing:  -53 (CY 59)
Warren:   -53 (CY 82)
St. Paul (NE suburb): -53 (CY 76)
_

For those that can't get to the Tucson CBC, bundle up and keep that hot
chocolate ready upon you're return. The Minnesota CBC... Still Counting
after all these years.

[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, December3, 2004

[SSMORTON]

Many people use birds and critters for target practice out of ignorance.
They are not stupid people, just ill informed. Don't jump to conclusions. It
could also have been an accident...someone aiming at something else, even a
large branch, and hitting the owl by mistake.  They may not have even seen
it or even know that they shot it..It takes a keen eye to spot an owl.  I
think the solution to this problem is education.  Write your local paper,
offer to give a talk at a local club, organization, or school.  There are so
many positive things we well-informed birders can do.  If the culprit is
found, give them the "benefit of the doubt". Educate them. Take them out on
an owl watch. A positive makes change more easily than a negative. If the
shooting was done on purpose...Hey it's illegal to shoot owls so let's go
shoot some...well, I guess that is another story.  Just remember, we live in
a country where you are innocent until proven guilty and that's a good
thing!

Sue Morton, Cottonwood
- Original Message - 
From: "Chris Fagyal" 
To: ; 
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 9:21 AM
Subject: Re: [mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, December3,
2004


> This sickens me.  Why would anyone shoot a Great Grey Owl, an owl whose
> primary food are rodents which most people consider pests (voles have a
> hasty habit of digging under fresh lawns and creating tracks all through
> the lawn..it really looks pretty let me tell ya).  I hope the person
> responsible for shooting an Owl gets caught, prosecuted, and stuck in
> jail for his/her stupidity.
>
>
> Chris Fagyal
> Senior Software Engineer
> United Defense, L.P. ASD
> Fridley, MN
> (763) 572-5320
> chris.fag...@udlp.com
>
> >>> "Jeanie Joppru"  12/02/2004 20:22:27 PM >>>
> [snip]
>
> Owls are again the big news this week. From Lake of the Woods County,
> Gretchen Mehmel sent in a secondhand report of two GREAT GRAY OWLS at
> Long Point on Lake of the Woods on November 27th. These were spotted
> by
> a resident there. Jeff Birchem picked up a dead one that had been shot
> near Warroad. Two more were picked up by Beth Siverhus after being hit
> by cars, and sent to the Raptor Center for rehabilitation. One was
> found
> east of Clementson along MN 11, and one was picked up 6.5 miles south
> of
> Warroad on CR12.
> [snip]
>
> ___
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> mou-...@cbs.umn.edu
> http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net
> ___
> mou-net mailing list
> mou-...@cbs.umn.edu
> http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net
>
>

[mou] Hawk owl- Chippewa county

[Randy Frederickson]

One of those buggers finally got down this way!

I have not seen this bird but it was reported from the refuge manager at Lac
que Parle Wildlife Refuge as being present for the past several days.

Directions are from the refuge headquarters, located on county road 33.
>From the headquarters go east on cty 33 for 1/2 mi
Take a left (N) on 32 go down the hill and across the bridge
The bird is about 1/2 mi past the bridge and has been hunting from power
lines and power poles

Again, I have not been here, so hope these directions make sense.

Randy Frederickson
Willmar

P.s. Thanks to our local DNR guys for giving me/us a heads up!

[mou] bohemian waxwings and another ggow

[Steve and Sherry Watson]

Hello All,

This morning around 8:15 my dad and I found another great grey
owl along the grade less than a mile from the McDonald Lake access
between their and the ball club road.  It was perched on the edge of a
large clear cut and allowed us great views.  There was also a large
flock of about thirty bohemian waxwings in Grand Marais.  Good birding

Josh Watson
Grand Marais 

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[mou] Hummingbird gone?

[Laura Erickson]

After the extremely cold night, the hummingbird came this morning at 7:23 
and fed often while I was watching until 9:25.  It's a cloudy day, but the 
temperature rose into the 30s, and it's supposed to be rather mild for 
several days.  I had some errands to run, and returned at 11, but I haven't 
seen her at all since then, though I've been keeping close watch, as have 
some birders who drove a long way to see her.  I'm disappointed they didn't 
get to see her, but with luck, she can cover a long distance today.  Of 
course, if she doesn't find any food, she may well turn around and come 
back, so I'll keep the feeders out there and ready for her.  But unless she 
shows up again, this will be the last hummingbird update.

Laura Erickson
Duluth, MN

NOTE address change: blue...@lauraerickson.com

Producer, "For the Birds" radio program


There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of 
birds.  There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of 
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.

 --Rachel Carson

[mou] Chippewa County Hawk Owl

[John Schladweiler]

Lac qui Parle Refuge Manager Dave Trauba has seen this bird three times
since early November.  The directions by Randy Fredrickson are correct. 
However, better directions are as follows:  From the junction of
Chippewa County Road 32 and MN Highways 7 and 59 (There are signs here
directing you to the LQP Refuge Headquarters) go south on County Road 32
approximately 1/2 mile.  This junction is located about 2 miles SE of
the city of Milan.

It is located in habitat that is anything but what is their normal
habitat but as Dave pointed out some adjacent evergreen plantings make
it LQP's equivalent to the boreal forest apparently.   Because it is in
marginal habitat, please show respect and give this bird plenty of room.
 Dave already has pictures of the bird for documentation.  Hopefully,
this bird will stick around until after the LQP Christmas Bird Count
which is scheduled for December 22.

John Schladweiler
New Ulm

[mou] 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, L. Calhoun

[Bruce Fall]

Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls (one adult and one 2nd-winter) were 
roosting on Lake Calhoun (Hennepin Co.) Friday evening (3 Dec.). The 
2nd-winter bird was present from at least 4:00 p.m. to dusk; the adult 
probably arrived about 4:30.

Bruce A. Fall, Minneapolis

[mou] great gray owl, Cook Co.

[Jim & Carol Tveekrem]

One great gray owl sitting on a telephone cable across from Birch Grove
School on Highway 61 in Tofte, Cook Co. about 1:30 p.m.

Carol & Jim Tveekrem
Schroeder