[mou] Birding in the Classrooms
Hi Melissa, There are several organizations (Wildlife Science Center, The Raptor Center, several local nature centers) that do fee-based programs taking live raptors into classrooms around the state. There is also some great curriculum out there. Since you live in Prior Lake, your boys probably go to Jeffers Pond Elementary School or Five Hawks. They have a school naturalist who works with students in their school forests and she does some cool birding things with them. If you are interested in volunteering there, contact Cara Rieckenberg (their Environmental Education Coordinator) at crieckenberg at priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us or Andrea Swanson (Naturalist) at aswanson at priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us If you are interested in teaching K-8th grade students about birding, you may want to attend a Flying WILD workshop (www.flyingwild.org) which is offered by the Minnesota DNR. The Project WILD Coordinator is Jan Welsh. You can reach her at (651)982-9720 or by e-mail at jan.welsh at dnr.state.mn.us There is a Flying WILD / One Bird, Two Worlds workshop scheduled at the Raptor Center on August 1st. Flying WILD is a national activity guide, while One Bird, Two Worlds was written in Minnesota for Minnesota classes. For more information, visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/projectwild/index.html Some really cool curriculum and activity guides can be found at http://birdday.org/ This is the site for International Migratory Bird Day and you will find items for sale and for free download there. I facilitate some of the Flying WILD workshops and I have created a comprehensive resource list I distribute to participants. If you'd like a copy, send me an e-mail and I'll reply with it as an attached WORD document. Let me know if you need it in a different format. Several of the local Audubon chapters have Minnesota Ornithologist Union Youth Mentorship Kits to help teach students about habitat and bird identification. Their volunteers take classes, scout groups, etc. on bird walks using good quality binoculars. Being an expert birds is NOT required; only a passion for sharing your love of birds and nature with others is all that is necessary. Happy birding! Beth Girard Cambridge, MN Beth_girard at msn.com -- Message: 5 Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 15:36:27 -0400 From: Melissa Knaak Subject: [mou] Birding in the classrooms, looking for volunteer, expert. To: mou-net at moumn.org Message-ID: <8CA7F59F16893AC-1084-4DE at WEBMAIL-MC03.sysops.aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I hope this is appropriate for this list.? I am only on this one birding list and am new to this whole "family" networking of birders and I have a question: I have thought about this for years now.? I have two boys in 2nd and 6th (8 and 12) grade now that go to a private school in Prior Lake and in this school the parents do alot of with volunteering and that includes ideas for field trips, classroom activities, etc.? I am an avid birder!!? I am no expert, but I simply love birds and especially am fascinated by raptors.? I can never seem to learn enough about them and have passed this "hobby" or "appreciation" to my boys and have always thought what a terrific idea it would be if I could find someone that comes into the classrooms and teaches the kids (and teachers too) about birds, the significance and importance of them and how to start noticing them around you and maybe they have some materials and even better birds to bring in for a "show and tell" experience.? I think it is also great that the school is near Cleary Lake where there is an Osprey nest, there is a great learning experience there I have thought about as well.? My boys have learned much these past years and I would like to pass that on to others in the community so we could get more of an awareness out there.? Any ideas on who, what, where to contact for such info?? Thanks so much fellow birders! Melissa Prior Lake/Shakopee Scott County, MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080508/8665ef26/a ttachment-0001.html --
[mou] 2 White-faced Ibis, Big Stone NWR
While birding Big Stone NWR today, I flushed two White-faced Ibis from the ditch along the duck-banding road. They didn't fly too far before touching down in a thicker patch of reeds where I lost sight of them. Although the high winds made birding tricky (I saw an American Bittern fly backwards for about 30 ft), I also found 12 species of shorebirds, the highlights being Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Baird's Sandpiper, and White-rumped Sandpiper. Good birding, Josh Christian _ Make every e-mail and IM count. Join the i?m Initiative from Microsoft. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?source=EML_WL_ MakeCount -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/9ca56f67/attachment.html
[mou] Leucistic Yellow-rump, Dakota Co.
Interesting antecdote. The evening of May 14 Laura Mattsson and I watched a white-headed leucistic female Yellow-rumped Warbler at eye level, 15 ft. away at Schaar's Bluff, Spring Lake RP near Hastings. Except for the white head and neck, the bird was otherwise normal in appearance. It occured to me at the time that of the tens of thousands (millions??) of YRWAs I've seen during my 38 years of viewing birds, I have never seen one with aberrant plumage. Surprisingly, today, May 17, we happened across the same individual perhaps 200 east of the first location. I noticed the same tiny group of dark feathers in the crown seen on May 14. We know through banding data that migrant birds can remain at stop-over sites for extended periods, but it is rare indeed to have an opportunity to verify that an unbanded warbler has remained at one location during migration for a minimum of 4 consecutive days. James Mattsson mattjim at earthlink.net EarthLink Revolves Around You. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/047d4c72/attachment.html
[mou] Avon Hills MOU Field Day
Seven birders enjoyed the day together in the Avon Hills, now one of the most recently charted IBA's of the nation. We made a circuit route north of the I94 freeway, birding such spots as the Avon Hills Forest SNA, to Albany wasterwater ponds, to more of this the St. Croix moraine system around Collegeville S of the I94. We totaled 107 species, upon first talley. Incredible highlights include: 1. Summer Tanager (female) (feeding on the edge of a disced field along a spring-fed draw, movements and tail erect like an miniature olive-green catbird) Anyone with more experience on the feeding behavior or antics of this species, please let us know as to help us determine documentation. A field sketch was made prior to consulting field guides. (Location: North side of Avon Hills Forest SNA-north unit west of Tower Road). 2. American Avocets (2) at the Albany drawdown pond. 3. Red-necked Phalaropes (~3) at the drawdown pond and the upper large pond with Wilson's very close to the roadside! 4. Peregrine Falcon in stoop dives at the Albany ponds, raising up the flocks of shorebirds, watched this for a near five minutes. 5. Ruffed Grouse and a couple of drummers off in the woods--FOY of hearing drumming (finally late?) 6. With strong NW winds this afternoon, picking up warblers in the deciduous on the lee side of a White Pine grove in SJU backwoods---where we got the Golden-winged and a very suspect Brewster's. 7. Of note: all six Swallows; Vireos- Red eyed, Yellow throated, Blue headed; 16 warblers- many Wilson's! Thrushes: Swainson's (many), Veery's, seven Sparrows, Sedge wren. 8. FOY for some of us (besides the ones highligted above): RubyT Hummingbirds, Black Terns, YH Blackbirds, Red-eyed Vireos, Bobolinks, eleven Shorebirds, one GC Flycatcher and Scarlet Tanager. 9. some known to be in the area but missed: Sapsucker, Brown Thrasher, Oriole, W.Snipe, Lincoln's Sparrow, Savannah, Chestnut-sided, Palm W., Meadowlark, 10 some hopefuls but missed: Cerulean, Bay-Breasted, Gray-cheeked. sincerely mjb -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/7d39a98f/attachment-0001.html
[mou] Clark's Grebe(s) and other amazing birds, Blue Earth County
Chad Heins and I spent the day birding in Blue Earth County beginning at 2:00 AM. Probably our most notable find of the day was a Clark's Grebe at Indian Lake WMA in the northeastern part of the county. The bird was associating with a small group of Western and Red-necked Grebes on the north side of the lake. Chad also saw another Clark's on this lake while we were there that I was unable to find. To get to this lake from Hwy. 14, go south on CR 37 for two miles then turn west onto 195th St. In less than a mile the lake will be on your right. It can be easily viewed from the road, although there is a public boat access on the south side which might offer closer views. Perhaps equally notable were three Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows that we found singing at Cobb River WPA north of Mapleton at around 4:30 in the morning. In the town of Beauford along Hwy. 22, go east on CR 10 for a mile and then turn south onto 586th Ave. In just over a mile south on 586th, you will come to the WPA on your left. Drive to the second parking area and then walk out into the prairie east towards the treeline. In about a quarter-mile you will come to a large expanse of wet grasses/marsh where the birds were singing (again, early in the morning). Other notable finds: -Ruddy Turnstone and Red-necked Phalaropes at the Mapleton sewage ponds -Eared Grebe at the Mapleton sewage ponds -American Bitterns calling at Cobb River WPA -Kentucky Warbler at Williams Nature Center west of Mankato - from the parking lot, take the trail that goes right. The bird was singing in the vicinity of the second kiosk along this trail. -Common Tern on Lake Madison -20 species of warbler throughout the county A beautiful, spectacular, and full day of birding. And now I'm going to bed. Bob Dunlap, Nicollet County
[mou] Bass Ponds
Went birding at the Bass Bonds in Bloomington today with three friends (formerly non-birders - likely converted to birders after today) and had a fairly productive 4-5 hrs with 15 species of warbler. Items of note were (in the order seen): indigo bunting (at the feeders of the visitor center) swainson's thrush wilson's warbler scarlet tanager (sitting in a tree by the porta-potty) baltimore oriole forster's tern canada warbler spotted sandpiper (5-10 foraging on edges of largest pond) louisiana waterthrush (foraging on w. edge of largest pond) chestnut-sided warbler blackburnian warbler nashville warbler cerulean warbler magnolia warbler ovenbird The most warblerish spot was in the pond area after the trail goes under Hwy 77 (side trail veres off to the left and goes down to a pond.) There also were a number of warblers etc. foraging on the path just west of the largest bass pond and also around the lower parking area. Ben -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/239b6598/attachment.html
[mou] Black-throated Blue-Itasca County
This seems to be the year for unusual sightings here in Itasca County. This morning I had a Black-throated Blue Warbler eating grape jelly at our Oriole feeder. I first saw it at about 7:00 AM for maybe a minute. I had another glimpse of it about 9:30 but haven't seen it since. I still have a Cape May Warbler coming regularly to the grape jelly. Earl Orf www.earlorfphotos.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/bf660f3b/attachment.html
[mou] Cape May Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler (Itasca SP), Harris's Sparrow (Hubbard Co.),
Hey Everyone, These are some of the birds Anya Johnson (Duluth) and I saw today while looking for purple finches: Itasca State Park (biological station): Cape May warbler (life) Chestnut-sided warbler Northern Parula Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Siskin Rose-breasted Grosbeak Just North of Itasca SP: Evening Grosbeak Rose-breasted Grosbeak RT Hummingbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Hubbard Co. Harris's Sparrow (2) (life) Black-and-white warbler Pine Siskin Connecticut Warbler Baltimore Oriole DE Junco Rose-breasted Grosbeak Clearwater Co. Baltimore Oriole RT Hummingbird White-throated sparrow Pine Siskin Rose-breasted Grosbeak Cheers, Sarah Knutie All over northern MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/1f0d7b85/attachment.html
[mou] Fwd: Yellow-Breasted Chat in Austin
-Original Message- From: rvje...@aol.com To: mou-net at biosci.cbs.umn.edu; mnbird at lists.mnbird.net Sent: Sat, 17 May 2008 12:52 pm Subject: Yellow-Breasted Chat in Austin Hello: ?This morning, May 17th, around 9:00 I observed a Yellow-Breasted Chat in our backyard along Turtle Creek in Austin. ?I had walked into the back to do gardening, carrying binoculars. ?Never know what one will see!! ?A bird flew up from some bushes and stopped in an evergreen. ?It then flew on to the ground and I got great looks from about 40 feet. ?I yelled for my wife and she observed it from our upstairs window. ?We observed it for another 30 seconds and then it flew off to the west along other backyards along the creek. ?The area is heavy in trees and brush. ? We have not observed it since. ?If it does reappear I will post it on the birdlist with directions. ?Our first Chat on our Minnesota list was the one by Black Dog Fen? last year just east of I-35 by Burnsville. ?Thanks, ?Bob Jessen, ?Austin, ?Mower County Plan your next roadtrip with MapQuest.com: America's #1 Mapping Site. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/3f576f68/attachment.html
[mou] Birding today: Schaar's Bluff
Hi all, I spent a few hours birding today at Spring Lake Park Reserve/Schaar's Bluff. The highlights included 15 species of warblers, including three Cape Mays, a half dozen Chestnut-sideds, many Blackpolls, Yellows and Palms, and millions of Yellow-rumped Wabblers. Thanks go out to James Mattson, for pointing out two of th4e Cape Mays to me, which were lifers. The rest I found myself, including the pair of male Chestnut-sideds that I watched for twenty minutes. Here's my list: Brewer's Blackbird|Dakota|20080517 Red-winged Blackbird|Dakota|20080517 Indigo Bunting|Dakota|20080517 Northern Cardinal|Dakota|20080517 Black-capped Chickadee|Dakota|20080517 American Crow|Dakota|20080517 Great Egret|Dakota|20080517 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher|Dakota|20080517 Canada Goose|Dakota|20080517 Rose-breasted Grosbeak|Dakota|20080517 Red-tailed Hawk|Dakota|20080517 Great Blue Heron|Dakota|20080517 Blue Jay|Dakota|20080517 Killdeer|Dakota|20080517 White-breasted Nuthatch|Dakota|20080517 Baltimore Oriole|Dakota|20080517 American White Pelican|Dakota|20080517 Eastern Phoebe|Dakota|20080517 American Redstart|Dakota|20080517 American Robin|Dakota|20080517 Chipping Sparrow|Dakota|20080517 Tree Swallow|Dakota|20080517 Gray-cheeked Thrush|Dakota|20080517 Wood Thrush|Dakota|20080517 Yellow-throated Vireo|Dakota|20080517 Turkey Vulture|Dakota|20080517 Black-and-white Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Black-throated Green Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Blackburnian Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Blackpoll Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Canada Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Cape May Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Chestnut-sided Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Magnolia Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Palm Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Tennessee Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Wilson's Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Yellow-rumped Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Yellow Warbler|Dakota|20080517 Eastern Wood-Pewee|Dakota|20080517 Red-bellied Woodpecker|Dakota|20080517|||| House Wren|Dakota|20080517 Common Yellowthroat|Dakota|20080517 Some notes: * Blackburians do this walk two steps and hop when foraging, at least the guy I watched did this. * Redstarts respond somewhat to pishing. Note that I said somewhat. * I saw three separate Empids. Note that I didn't even attempt to ID them. I am leaning toward at least one of them being a Least. * The Gray-cheeked Thrush was cool. Yes, I am certain he wasn't a Wood Thrush, as he had that little window on his throat. He also showed me his business card. * Where are/were the Ovenbirds? * On two occasions, and in two separate locations, I heard the "zee zee zoo zoo zee" of a BTG Wabbler. Good birding, Richard Richard L. Wood, Ph. D. Hastings, MN rwoodphd at yahoo.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/9eea269c/attachment.html
[mou] Cedar Waxwings, Bluebird
We have a good 24 Cedar Waxwings in one of our apple trees right now. What a sight! Most are sitting in pairs and one is feeding the other a flower. Our Bluebird is on day 11 of incubating her five eggs. Won't be long before we have babies! -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/b08fbf62/attachment.html
[mou] Red Headed Woodpecker
I spotted a Red Headed Woodpecker yesterday afternoon 5-16-08 We're located about 14 miles south of McGregor, MN in Aitkin Co. He's still here this morning. Good birding!! Linda
[mou] Birding about the metro
Stopped by Murphy-Hanrahan Park in Scott County on Thursday evening. Found at least 12 warblers and might have had a Cerulean Warbler, including FOY Blue-winged and Wilsons. Best birds included several singing Wood Thrushes (no Veeries) and Great Creasted Flycatchers. Very abundant and noisy frogs definitely were a distraction, including Spring Peepers, Copes Gray Treefrog, American Toads, and a few Chorus Frogs. I met a father pushing a stoller and leading his two youngsters on a mushroom hunt. They were finding small morels. At home I am still being waylaid on my way out by migrant birds, including several Swainsons Thrushes, and at least five species of warblers, including Blackpoll and Magnolia, and a singing Blackburnian. In the evening a Copes Gray Treefrog walks across one of my windows. Along highway 280 I observed a Sharp-shinned Hawk closing in on a larger Rock Pigeon. Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN sweston2 at comcast.net
[mou] MRVAC meeting Thursday 5/22
MRVAC Presentation: Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 pm How do Birds Choose a Nest Site? By Doug Johnson Scientists as well as laypersons have long thought about the processes that birds use to select a territory for breeding. Such information is critical for conservation activities, so that proper habitat can be protected or managed. It is useful too for birders seeking to find particular species. Historically, most research on the topic focused on the vegetative and physical characteristics of the birds' territories, song perches, or nest sites. More recently, emphasis has shifted to larger scales, involving habitat patch characteristics and landscape features. In addition, some birds seem to use the presence or behavior of other birds to select a site. This talk will review the topic as well as present some new findings, with an emphasis on grassland birds. Douglas Johnson is a research statistician and senior scientist with the US Geological Survey's Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, headquartered in Jamestown, North Dakota. He also serves as Adjunct Professor in Conservation Biology and Wildlife Conservation. Doug and his colleagues have conducted a variety of studies of grassland and wetland birds in North and South Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota. He currently serves as Associate Editor for The Auk and Book Review Editor for the Prairie Naturalist. When: Please join us at 7:00 pm at the Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship to socialize over coffee and cookies from 7:00 - 7:30 pm. A brief business meeting and the featured speaker begin at 7:30 pm. The meeting concludes at 9:00 pm. MRVAC meetings are free and open to the public. Where: The Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 10715 Zenith Ave S Bloomington, south of Old Shakopee Road between France Ave and Penn Ave Steve Weston, MRVAC Program Chair sweston2 at comcast.net -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080517/6770871b/attachment.html
