Re: [mou-net] Winter Question
Add to this: Searching for owls in fir standsnot hunted in Searching through ducks and geese for the unusual until they do leave.. Trying to outsmart the smart squirrels who think that I put out the seed for them. -Original Message- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:mou-...@lists.umn.edu] On Behalf Of john c. nelson Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 5:21 PM To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: Re: [mou-net] Winter Question Winter months are a great time for me for a number of reasons: Project Feederwatch begins in a week affording commmunication with dozens of folks from around the country comparing results. Always the chance of a surprise visitor at the feeders. Will the Pine Siskins and or Red Polls appear in the numbers experienced two years ago? What will the January/February Cardinal numbers be this year? Christmas and GBBC counts. Traveling the backcountry roads looking for Pheasants and maybe a Gray Patridge as well as swarms of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks. What else can brighten a snowy cold winter day like the birds? John Nelson Good Thunder MN On Nov 9, 2010, at 4:42 PM, Pastor Al Schirmacher wrote: Despite balmy temperatures here in the northern Midwest, winter is obviously coming. For most of us, bird numbers have greatly dwindled, plumages have diminished, songs are occasional or fragmented. How do you find satisfaction in your birding hobby (or passion, or obsession) during the December to February timeframe? Thanks! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs Sherburne Counties (Happy to compile results if significant) Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Winter Question
Al, I do very little birding in December (other than the Christmas Count) and focus on Christmas, shopping, and family in that month. Come January new year lists start (ND, SD, and MN) and that freshens things up. I try to make one trip to boreal Minnesota and one to Pierre South Dakota. The large numbers of birds (longspurs, raptors, waterfowl, robins, waxwings, solitaires, owls, finches, gulls and gallinaceous birds) in the Pierre area is an especially nice change from Fargo. Mark Otnes Fargo, ND On Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 4:42 PM, Pastor Al Schirmacher pasto...@princetonfreechurch.net wrote: Despite balmy temperatures here in the northern Midwest, winter is obviously coming. For most of us, bird numbers have greatly dwindled, plumages have diminished, songs are occasional or fragmented. How do you find satisfaction in your birding hobby (or passion, or obsession) during the December to February timeframe? Thanks! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs Sherburne Counties (Happy to compile results if significant) Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Winter Question Summary
Asked this question on Tuesday: For most of us, bird numbers have greatly dwindled, plumages have diminished, songs are occasional or fragmented. How do you find satisfaction in your birding hobby (or passion, or obsession) during the December to February timeframe? Here's a summary of the 41 responses (with apologies to those who were eloquent): * Christmas Bird Counts! (many times) * Chase boreal birds and gulls in the north country * Develop a passion for winter, from backpacking to quiet evenings to enjoying winter birds * Wait until January, start new lists * Work on county listing of winter birds * Go south young man! Florida, Texas, Arizona, Mexico, Central South America * I have discovered that it is enough when a single note is played. This one note or a silent beat, or any moment of silence, comforts me. -Arvo Part * Search for owls in the fir stands * Study behaviors. Move more slowly. It becomes a study of depth not breadth...details not numbers... * Just appreciate all the more those birds that winter with us. Accept what is offered, make the best of it. * Feed water them. * Live in Canada! * Savor the unusual birds. * Cut back on the birding a bit, rest. * Lutefisk. * Enjoy the cold, silent walks. Update your birding records. * Read birding books, listen to birding CD's * We get great pleasure out of training the chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches to eat sunflower seeds out of our hands. * Winter makes each individual bird that much more precious. Thanks to all for your input. Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs Sherburne Counties Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] January Newsletter deadline
Hi Folks, The deadline for materials to be considered for the January/February 2011 issue of Minnesota Birding is November 20th. Written materials may be sent to newslet...@moumn.org, and photographs to desig...@moumn.org. Thanks, Ben Wieland Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] South Dakota Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush survey
I am forwarding this for Nancy Drilling: Did you travel to the Black Hills in South Dakota to see the Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush (OBNT) this summer? If so, we are seeking your input to help assess the economic importance of birds and birding in the area. From July 17 to August 19, 2010, an estimated 400 people travelled to the Black Hills to see the bird -- only the third sighting of this Mexican species in the U.S. and the first north of Texas. Most of these visitors spent money on food, lodging, travel and other expenses. To gather information on the local economic impact, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory has created a short survey for people who saw or attempted to see the OBNT. The survey takes about 5-10 minutes to fill out and asks questions about your trip and about your involvement in birding activities. All responses and contact information are confidential and will not be used for any other purposes. We will report the results to area businesses and tourist agencies, land managers, and the general public. In addition, we hope to use this information to develop special birding programs and opportunities in the Black Hills. If you went to see the OBNT, go to http://www.rmbo.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/OBNTsurvey_v4.pdf to download the survey from our website. The survey is a PDF form that you can fill in (you must have Adobe Reader or similar software). Then simply return the completed form by e-mail, or print and mail the form to the address listed on the survey. If you prefer a Word version of the survey or have questions or concerns, contact nancy.drill...@trmbo.org The more responses we receive from those who visited the OBNT, the more we can understand the bird’s economic impact. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Also, please forward this announcement to anyone you know who travelled to see the OBNT. Thank you! Good birding, Nancy Drilling Coordinator, South Dakota projects nancy.drill...@trmbo.org Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory www.rmbo.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Red-Breasted Nuthatch
We had a brief visit from a Red-Breasted Nuthatch yesterday morning. This afternoon an extended appearance at a feeder next to our bay window on a peanut feeder. Unfortunately we had no yet removed the screen from that window so was unable to get a photo. John Nelson Good Thunder MN Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Two Harbors Birding
Hello: I relocated the Summer Tanager on 4th Ave 3rd Street. Also seen at this corner were some White-winged Crossbills. I added a photo to the Recently Seen section in the MOU website. Mike Mike Hendrickson Duluth, Minnesota Website: http://www.mikehendricksonbirding.com Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] [mou-rba] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, November 11, 2010
-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *November 11, 2010 *MNDL1011.11 -Birds mentioned Snow Goose Cackling Goose Trumpeter Swan Tundra Swan Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Hooded Merganser American White Pelican Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Rough-legged Hawk Sandhill Crane Bonaparte's Gull Northern Hawk Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Shrike Bohemian Waxwing Snow Bunting Summer Tanager Purple Finch White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes Date: November 11, 2010 Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours) Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjop...@q.com) This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, November 11, 2010 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888. The cold is starting to creep ever closer as we hear of snow in the western Dakotas today. The bleak landscape needs the warm white blanket now before the big chill arrives. There is talk of some flurries in the forecast - can the first real snow be far behind? In Lake of the Woods County, Beth Siverhus saw a NORTHERN HAWK OWL at the usual place along MN 72 south of Baudette near mile marker 49 on November 4. Beth reported BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Warroad, Roseau County, on November 9. In Kittson County, Bob Ekblad found a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and also a flock of COMMON REDPOLLS in Karlstad on November 4. Bob Ekblad found a SUMMER TANAGER in Gonvick in Clearwater County on November 6. From Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge on November 10, Maggie Anderson reported several ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and SNOW BUNTINGS, and at the office feeders, one EVENING GROSBEAK and a flock of PINE SISKINS. Gary Tischer reported 40 SANDHILL CRANES migrating on November 6. None have been seen since. BALD EAGLES and NORTHERN HARRIERS are still very common at the refuge. On November 10, there were 400 scaup on Parker Pool along with about 10 HOODED MERGANSERS. Shelley Steva and I found six TUNDRA SWANS at the Thief River Falls wastewater treatment ponds on November 7, along with an assortment of diving ducks. No scoters were seen that day. In Polk County, Bruce Flaig reported two EVENING GROSBEAKS at his feeders on November 10, while Sandy Aubol in East Grand Forks reported many PINE SISKINS and a PURPLE FINCH at hers. Shelley Steva and I did some birding in Polk County on November 7. We found many geese at Oak Lake near Erskine including some CACKLING GEESE. Other species seen there included a late AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, GREATER SCAUP, LESSER SCAUP, and HOODED MERGANSER. At the Erskine WTP there was a SNOW GOOSE, and some TRUMPETER SWANS, while on the lake in Erskine were some BONAPARTE'S GULLS. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Glacial Ridge. Marshall Howe reported a dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Hubbard County on November 6. Other species seen in the county included RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, SNOW BUNTINGS near Dorset, and PINE SISKINS. Alex Watson in Otter Tail County found WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS at Glendalough State Park on November 9. Thanks to Alex Watson, Beth Siverhus, Bob Ekblad, Bruce Flaig, Gary Tischer, Maggie Anderson, Marshall Howe, and Sandy Aubol for their reports. Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjop...@q.com OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday,November 18, 2010. Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Rice Creek birds
Today late afternoon/early evening while kayaking on Rice Creel between Hodgson Road and Co. Road I. 2 Sandhill Cranes 1 very cooperative Great Horned Owl (never moved as I drifted right below the tree in which it was roosting) Coot Mallards Mourning Dove and a 10 point buck, lots of musk rats and beavers within less than a half mile of 35W. Keith Carlson keithec...@usfamily.net Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
