[mou] Hummingbird Update: It's a girl!
Thanks to additional photos yesterday of the hummingbird's rump and tail feathers, Don Mitchell (master hummingbird bander who did a lot of work with Selasphorus in California) is convinced the bird is an adult female. Photos and Don's valuable comments are at the hummingbird page http://www.lauraerickson.com/Birds/NovemberHummingbird.html I also added 18 seconds of video footage (actually 9 seconds, only it's at half speed). My family is going to Florida on Tuesday, and will be gone until the following Wednesday. While we're gone, my mother-in-law will be here keeping the feeders going. It's a lot of work to bring them in at night and set them out in the morning, especially in dim light--she's 85--so if anyone is around to help some days, especially when it's slippery out there, I'd sure appreciate it. She will call me with updates, so tell her if there are any new developments in the identifying process, and though I won't be able to update the website while I'm gone, I will be able to call if there is a volunteer on both lists who can bring people up to date on new information. Denny Martin shot two rolls of film on her, and when those are developed, I will scan and add to the body of photos. Laura Erickson Duluth, MN Producer, For the Birds radio program http://www.lauraerickson.com/ 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] Hummingbird back on Saturday
She appeared momentarily at 7:22. Then not again until 7:54. Dress warm--it's cold and windy today. Laura Erickson Duluth, MN NOTE address change: blue...@lauraerickson.com Producer, For the Birds radio program http://www.lauraerickson.com/ 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] Pacific Loon - Two Harbors, Lake Co.
There was a winter-plumaged Pacific Loon at Agate Bay in Two Harbors this morning near the end of the western breakwall. I heard about the bird second-hand through Jan Green - it apparently was present on Thursday, too. This may be the same bird that Dan Amerman reported on October 26. Jim Lind Two Harbors
[mou] Great Black-backed Gull - L. Calhoun
Lake Calhoun's 7th gull species of the season was spotted identified this evening just before 5PM by Bruce Fall. It is a first winter bird. Also present were several adult Thayer's Gulls, 6 Horned Grebes, 2 Common Goldeneyes. The CAGU and LBBG were NOT found. Paul Minneapolis, Minnesota pbu...@earthlink.net
[mou] Townsend's Solitaire refound, Sherburne County
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This afternoon (Saturday) the Townsend's Solitaire was still on the Ann
Lake Campground Road, 1.5 miles east of CR5, on the north side of the
road. During the 15 minutes I was there, it was perched almost the
entire time atop a thin, scrawny oak tree, flying off just once to grab
a berry from the small tree behind it, then returning to the oak.
Herb Dingmann
St. Cloud
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[mou] Clark's Nutcracker Report 11/20/04 North Shore
An anonymous caller left a message today with details of a sighting of a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER near Tom's Logging Camp, which is on Scenic Hwy 61 east of Duluth, across from Stoney Point. Dave Benson Duluth, MN
[mou] Excelsior CBC
Earlier this year a letter was sent to all participants in the Excelsior CBC notifying them of the need for a new compiler. At this time, while there have been several conversations, there has not been a volunteer to take over the compiler duties. We would truly hate to see this CBC die, after all it is one on the oldest is the state with a 55 year history. The requirements are a modern computer, internet access, an enjoyment for CBCs', and some time. The time requirement is basically what you want to put in it, but, you could expect 10-15 hours in early December organizing and another 10-15 hours in late December and early January compiling and entering the info on a audubon web site. The current compiler will provide you with names, phone numbers, etc. of all the participants and will be available to help you this year. This count is not sponsored by any club. Hennepin Parks (Carver Park) does the count in their area and the rest is through the efforts of various MOU members. As a result the compiler tends to ask for new participants whenever possible but the current number of volunteers have been pretty stable and very skilled so many changes are not anticipated. Contact me for info. Dennis Martin 952 474-4371 dbmar...@skypoint.com
[mou] Hummingbird update
She stayed today through 1 or 1:30, and then retreated for the day, so a few people didn't get to see her. I've posted some videos on the website: 1 Slow motion with Windows Media Player, 5 mb file http://www.lauraerickson.com/graphics/Birds/LauraDigitalCamera/Hummingbird/RufousSlow18sec.wmv 1 fairly long one of her feeding--has 3 feeding bouts--Real Media, 2 mb file http://www.lauraerickson.com/graphics/Birds/LauraDigitalCamera/Hummingbird/Rufous3Clips.rm 1 of her belly as she feeds--this has no useful data, but is pretty cute--Real Media, 0.9 mb. http://www.lauraerickson.com/graphics/Birds/LauraDigitalCamera/Hummingbird/RufousFeedingClose.rm Laura Erickson Duluth, MN NOTE address change: blue...@lauraerickson.com Producer, For the Birds radio program http://www.lauraerickson.com/ 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] Owl etiquette
I took a break from my hummingbird watch to go out to the bog this afternoon. I made just a cursory run through, but still found 9 Northern Hawk Owls and one grouse (which I didn't see long enough to be sure, but it was probably a Ruffed). I ran into more birders than owls, though. It's thrilling to have so many owls so close, and wonderful to be able to share the pleasures of northern owls, but the excitement is apparently causing some people to forget a few rules about owling. When you first drive up to an owl, stay in your car for a bit. Try to photograph from within the car first so if it does fly off when you get out, you at least have something. If you're with a group, it's smarter for the people on the far side of the car to get out first, or for everyone to slide over and get out on that side, and stay as a bunch--these northern owls are fairly easy going and calm around people, but if they have to move their head back and forth to keep track of more than one grouping, they sometimes feel a bit besieged and fly off. Close your car door quietly. Also, especially if you're dealing with a Great Gray Owl that is actively hunting, make sure you turn your car engine off so it can hear mice more easily. When you see a car pulled over, remember you're not at Yellowstone. If you want to stop, stop BEHIND the other car, or beyond it if you're coming from the other direction, and wait your turn in your car if someone or a group is photographing or scoping, at least for a reasonable time before getting out. If you want to pass, go slowly and don't call out, especially if your car is between them and the owl. Never EVER walk between a bird and someone scoping or photographing it. If in your exuberance you do cause an owl or two owls to fly away when someone is right in the middle of trying to photograph them, there is only one proper thing to say: I'm sorry. You're going to cause a lot of hard feelings if you say, There's plenty more around. I personally didn't have any trouble at all today, but talked to two different groups who did and were understandably very upset. This may well turn out to be the best owl year of our lifetimes, at least from a birding perspective. Let's keep it fun and productive for everyone, and minimize the stress on the birds at the same time. Laura Erickson Duluth, MN NOTE address change: blue...@lauraerickson.com Producer, For the Birds radio program http://www.lauraerickson.com/ 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] Owling Excursion 11/20
---1101005242 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Definitely one of the best birding days for me in a long time! An early start from the cities got us to the bog a little after 7:20 am. We saw our two target owl species in the first 45 minutes in the area. NORTHERN HAWK OWLS (3) : .25 mi W of Hwy 7 on 133, 1424 MacDavitt .5 mi North of Sax Rd., East Stone Lake Rd. past the lake. GREAT GRAY OWLS (4): 2 on 133 between Hwy 7 and Owl Ave. one .5 miles E of Blue Spruce Rd., one by Ted Forsberg Hunting Shack Adopt-a-highway sign, 1 on MacDavitt about 1/2 way to Zim Rd., a very mellow-easy to observe GGOW next to Tom's Logging Camp on the Northshore Dr. MAGPIE (1): on Arkola east of Peary Rd. NORTHERN SHRIKES (2): Including one on Hwy 7 GRAY JAYS-lots including about 7 on East Stone Lake Rd. in two groups COMMON RED-POLLS: TONS on East Stone Lake Rd. SNOW BUNTINGS: A flock along Hwy 7 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIERS etc... What a GREAT day! Good luck owling everyone! Jen Vieth (Hastings) Helen Michael (St. Paul) ---1101005242 Content-Type: text/html; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable HTMLHEAD META charset=3DUS-ASCII http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3Dtext/html; cha= rset=3DUS-ASCII META content=3DMSHTML 6.00.2900.2180 name=3DGENERATOR/HEAD BODY style=3DFONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f= f DIVDefinitely one of the best birding days for me in a long time! An early= start from the cities got us to the bog a little after 7:20 am. We saw our=20= two target owl species in the first 45 minutes in the area./DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV DIVNORTHERN HAWK OWLSnbsp;(3) : .25 mi W of Hwy 7 on 133, 1424 MacDavitt=20= .5 mi North of Sax Rd., East Stone Lake Rd. past the lake./DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV DIVGREAT GRAY OWLS (4): 2 on 133 between Hwy 7 and Owl Ave. one .5 miles E= of Blue Spruce Rd., one by Ted Forsberg Hunting Shack Adopt-a-highway sign,= 1 on MacDavitt about 1/2 way to Zim Rd., a very mellow-easy to observe GGOW= next to Tom's Logging Camp on the Northshore Dr./DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV DIVMAGPIE (1): on Arkola east of Peary Rd./DIV DIVNORTHERN SHRIKES (2): Including one on Hwy 7/DIV DIVGRAY JAYS-lots including aboutnbsp;7 on East Stone Lake Rd. in two gro= ups/DIV DIVCOMMON RED-POLLS: TONS on East Stone Lake Rd./DIV DIVSNOW BUNTINGS: A flock along Hwy 7/DIV DIVROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIERS etc.../DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV DIVWhat a GREAT day! Good luck owling everyone!/DIV DIVJen Viethnbsp;(Hastings)/DIV DIVHelen Michael (St. Paul)/DIV/BODY/HTML ---1101005242--
[mou] RFI northern owls
Thanks to the many observers who continue to post dates, numbers of birds, specific locations, and the name of the county for Great Gray, Northern Hawk, Snowy, and Boreal owls in Minnesota. All these data are being compiled in order to document the magnitude and geographical extent of this remarkable influx. Updated reports of owls at previously known locations are especially welcome; in the absence of such data, its much more difficult to eliminate the possiblilty of duplicate sightings. Besides posting to this listserve, reports can be called in to any of the state's three Rare Bird Alerts or sent directly to me at the address below. Karen Sussman and I drove some township and forest roads east of St. Louis CR 4, south of St. Louis CR 16, and west of Lake CR 2 today in order to look for northern owls in areas that have received little or no coverage. We found five Great Gray Owls as follows: FR 118 (Camp 26 Truck Trail), 3.0 mi S of CR 16, St. Louis County; FR 425, 0.4 mi N of CR 16 near the intersection of FR 425/FR 788 northeast of Cadotte Lake, St. Louis County; two along St. Louis CR 44, one at the Brimson Fire Hall and another 0.3 mi N of the fire hall; one found dead (apparently hit by a vehicle) along CR 14, 1.9 mi W of CR 2, Lake County. -- Peder H. Svingen - psvin...@d.umn.edu -
