[mou] shrike sounds: purposeful mimicry?
This afternoon at Afton State Park, Rob and I observed a shrike in the act of broadcasting its repertoire. Before I caught sight of it, it seemed I was hearing an off-key bluejay---not too surprising, since the Sibley Behavior Book mentions its DNA relationship to corvids. But then the sounds morphed into something rather like calls given by our backyard chickadees when they arrive at the feeders. Very quickly, there were chickadees seeming to respond to the shrike's sounds, by calling and approaching its territory. After a bit, the shrike dropped down out of sight into a thicket behind its perch. There was no telling if it was in a pursuit for sure, but we never did see or hear it again, nor did we find a cache. Could the shrike be using mimicry to lure its prey, or to get other birds to reveal their position? Linda Whyte -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080316/c2e6658f/attachment.html
[mou] Anoka County - Coon Rapids Dam Park
Sunday, March 16 afternoon hike at the Coon Rapids Dam Park. Above the dam - several COMMON MERGANSERS and one male with three female REDHEADS. Took a walk down the Hennepin County side of the river. Saw two pairs GADWALL and two pairs RING-NECKED DUCK and COMMON GOLDENEYE. Did not relocate the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. Charlotte Wenger cawenger at landolakes.com 763-757-7888
[mou] hawk owl
I had a chance to make a brief trip up to the Sax-Zim bog yesterday. The northern hawk owl was not seen at the usual site just south of Stone Lake Road. I did, however, find a hawk owl on Highway 7 just north of Hwy 28. It was sitting in the aspens on the east side of the road with a group of crows. There were a few northern shrikes near Stone Lake road and one light morph rough-legged hawk in the same area. David Alexander Duluth, MN
[mou] St. Paul Redpolls & Carolina Wren
The small flock of Common Redpolls is still hanging around Amherst and Princeton in St. Paul, mostly south and west of that intersection. I have seen and heard them in the early afternoon on 3/2, 3/11, and 3/13, and at 9:30 and 12:00 today. Most of the activity is in tall trees (deciduous and conifer) south of Princeton on Amherst, near where an alley runs west from Amherst. They make lots of high-pitched chitter-chatter and occasional dry trills on a steady pitch, less buzzy than Siskin trills. Today they also made some display flights. On 3/13, I heard a Carolina Wren sing briefly from about 50 yards in along the aforementioned alley. Today, at 9:30, I heard a Carolina Wren sing from north of Princeton, west of Amherst. I have seen and (mostly) heard Carolina Wrens in this area on several occasions since last spring. Julian -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080316/b28fdd67/attachment.html
[mou] Red-Wing Blackbird- Woodbury
Red-wing Blackbird present in our yard about 930 hours today. Jim Gay Woodbury, MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080316/a4402ddf/attachment.html
[mou] Lowry Nature Center Banding Program 3/15
Hey everybody, Had a pretty slow day at the nature center banding program near Victoria, MN yesterday. Only had 10 individuals of 7 species. HOWEVER, the best catch of the day was a second year female Pileated Woodpecker. If you'd like to see her check out my birding blog at: http://minnesotabirdnerd.blogspot.com Here's hoping all the stuff being reported down south makes it up here soon. Roger Everhart North Central Bird Observatory Apple Valley, MN
[mou] Harlequin duck and his friends
He was by himself when we saw him early this afternoon. The mallards had moved a little upstream. Jeanne Tanamachi Lauderdale MN -- Original message -- From: "Larry Sirvio" > I got another look at the Harlequin duck this morning. He was on the rocks > behind Price-Rite Liquor store in Prescott, Wi. I got some better pics today. > He > was loafing on the rocks close to a group of mallards. Eventually the > mallards > moved off and the Harlequin folowed - like he was one of the group. They > swam > across the river and sat on the opposite shore (Dakota Co). I posted the pics > from today on the MOU website Galllery - MN region since I saw them in MN > this > time. For me this might have been the chance of a lifetime to get such a > close > look at this duck. > > http://moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=MN > > I'm wondering if this duck thinks he's a mallard. Maybe that's why he is > where > he is and is so easy to observe. He was very purposefully following the > mallards > as they left the shore and as they swam to the other side. He clearly wanted > to > be a part of the group. When they got to the other side they all sat together > on > the sandy shore next to the water - ready for another nap I suppose. Has > anyone > else seen this behavior? > -- next part -- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "Larry Sirvio" Subject: [mou] Harlequin duck and his friends Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:57:00 + Size: 4097 Url: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080316/9ed6486e/attachment-0001.mht
[mou] Harlequin Duck still at Prescott 3/15; GH Owl in Oakdale
For those who may still want to take a look at this fellow, the Harlequin Duck is still hanging around the train bridge at Prescott WI. We watched it move south of the bridge three times as trains crossed when it relocated to the area near the bright blue boat dock building. It's much easier to spot now that the hundreds of other ducks have moved on. A dozen or so Bald Eagles were on the wing, with several pairs performing courtship flights. We were told that a Peregrine Falcon has been seen around the bridge but did not see it ourselves. We missed finding the Snowy Owl today in the vicinity of 170th and Emory Ave. in Dakota County. In fact, raptors were notably scarce in that area. A Great Horned Owl on an old hawk's nest was easily seen this afternoon at the same location as last year in Oakdale. The nest is on the north side of Highway 5 just east of I694. There is a a lot of traffic there but the shoulder is wide enough to pull off for a good view. The nest is between the entrance ramp to I694 and the entrance to the Imation headquarters but closer to the entrance ramp. Jeanne Tanamachi Lauderdale MN
