[mou-net] Nighthawk, swift, and swallow flight over Duluth
I've been rather housebound for the past few weeks, but from my front porch at 7 pm tonight I saw a group of 30+ nighthawks (I went out as they were passing by, and don't know how many were already beyond my field of view). So I ran in and got my camera and stayed on the porch for a half hour, but didn't see any more nighthawks. However, at least a hundred Chimney Swifts and at least a couple of hundred swallows, including for sure Cliff, Barn, and Tree. Early migration has definitely kicked in. A flock of about 20 Evening Grosbeaks continues to spend most of each day in my back yard. They spend as much time in the trees as at the feeders. There are also at least two pairs of Purple Finches and a few goldfinches. One or two Yellow Warblers are usually somewhere in the trees, and I've also had American Redstart, Cape May, Nashville, and Tennessee. I can usually hear one or two Empidonax flycatchers, too. There are a lot of juvenile Chipping Sparrows right now, and White-throated Sparrows are becoming regular. Hummingbird migration is really kicking in. Yesterday I momentarily had a small one--noticeably smaller than the adult male Ruby-throat that chased it off--but didn't get a good look before it was gone. (I was holding my camera, but didn't get a shot before it got chased off.) -- Laura Erickson Duluth, MN For the love, understanding, and protection of birds 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 Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. 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] Raptor Research Foundation Annual Conference--Duluth, MN
Hello all, Just a friendly reminder that the University of Minnesota's Natural Resource Research Institute and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory are hosting the Annual Conference of the Raptor Research Foundation in Duluth, MN on October 5-9, 2011. This conference features over 100 scientific presentations by the leading raptor researchers from around the world. Scientific speakers, symposia, and a poster session comprise the daily fare for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Field trips, social events, and evening banquets will offer opportunities for networking with individuals, organizations and institutions who all share a common concern for birds of prey. Symposia topics include: Wind Energy, Short-eared Owls, Aegolius Owls (Saw-whet, Boreal, Tengmalm's, Unspotted Saw-Whet and Buff-fronted), Golden Eagles, Pesticides and Contaminants. On Wednesday, Early Career Raptor Researchers are invited to attend special workshops designed to teach and train techniques for handling raptors in a variety of different settings. Complete details are available at the conference website: _http://www.raptorresearchfoundation.org/conferences/current-conference_ (http://www.raptorresearchfoundation.org/conferences/current-conference) or via the link on the Hawk Ridge homepage (_www.hawkridge.org_ (http://www.hawkridge.org) ). Contact Local Conference Coordinator Julie O'Connor if you have questions: _RRFinDuluth@aol.com_ (mailto:rrfindul...@aol.com) or 218-348-2291 Hope you can join us in Duluth! Julie Julie O'Connor 2011 RRF Local Conference Coordinator Duluth, Minnesota_ RRFinDuluth@aol.com_ (http://rrfindul...@aol.com/) 218-348-2291 Click on links below to visit:_ Raptor Research Foundation_ (http://raptorresearchfoundation.org/) _ University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resource Research Institute_ (http://www.nrri.umn.edu/) _ Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory_ (http://www.hawkridge.org/) _ Duluth Audubon Society_ (http://www.duluthaudubon.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] Last Call
The Iowa Ornithologists' Union Meeting--Decorah Iowa August 26-28 is still taking registration though the hotels are filling up rapidly (Super 8 has 7-8 rooms left). The real draw is Ted Floyd and Bob Anderson. Birding and habitat is exceptional as well. Don't miss the chance to spend the weekend with Ted. He will be doing leading a field trip, doing an afternoon program, and is the Banquet Speaker. Additionally, he has volunteered to do a couple of nocturnal listening sessions if people wish. Seriously, maybe the best programing ever for one of our meetings. Current registration are from WI, IL, CO, NE, and IA. Quick link to registration here: http://www.iowabirds.org/IOU/current_meeting.asp God Bless, Paul Roisen--IOU President 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-net guidelines
To mou-net subscribers: The guidelines for the benefit of those contributing to this listservice have long been present on the MOU website (http://moumn.org/listservice.html ), but it would also be useful to occasionally post them here on mou- net where they would be more accessible to subscribers: mou-net is a place where birders can share their sightings -- notable or otherwise -- with other interested people. We particularly invite posts of observations that contribute to the understanding of the birds in the state. This includes sightings of birds that are unusual, in an unusual location or out of season, or present in significantly higher numbers than normally expected. mou-net is also a place where you can ask questions or make observations regarding the identification, behavior, and natural history of birds in Minnesota. Finally, it is available for conducting or reporting on the business of the MOU and its affiliated clubs. These postings might include announcements of planned activities (such as a field trip) or simply be notices of upcoming meetings. Please limit your posts to the areas described above. If this list loses its focus, then it also loses its value. There are other mailing lists available for people interested in other issues. Of course, different people have different views as to what constitutes a "notable" sighting. Ultimately, you are the only person who can judge what is important to you, and your decision to post a sighting or question here will be respected. This is an open mailing list. Unless noted otherwise, messages are posted here by individuals, not by the MOU as an organization. No effort is made to review messages prior to their dissemination to subscribers. There is no guarantee of the accuracy of any message. Messages must be courteous and respectful of others. People who flagrantly or repeatedly abuse this expectation could see their posting privileges revoked, either temporarily or permanently. Presumably this action will never be required. No private addresses are to be broadcast on mou-net without prior permission from the homeowner/landowner. If you include such an address, include the name of the person who received permission for such an announcement. If you "know" permission has been granted, but do not know who received this permission, do not post the address. If permission has been granted with conditions (e.g., only from 9 AM - 4 PM, only at most 5 people in the yard at one time, check in with homeowner before entering yard, etc.), include such conditions in your message. If you are the one to procure permission through direct conversation with the homeowners, be explicit with them as to what they can expect and ask them what conditions they would like to impose on birders. You might even volunteer some conditions, such as "not before 9 AM". It may not occur to them that someone might be in their yard at 5 AM looking for a bird. Do not assume that permission for birders to visit is the same as permission to post it to mou-net. - - - - - Following are a few additional comments which will hopefully assist mou-net subscribers to contribute useful and appropriate postings: - As it states above, there are postings other than bird sightings which are suitable for mou-net. In addition to those mentioned, postings regarding birding sites and birding references are welcome, and it has been acceptable to request help from subscribers in locating lost field guides and optics, or when searching for contact information on birders. - On the other hand, mou-net is not the place to advertise products or services (unless sponsored or endorsed by MOU or its affiliates). Nor is it the forum for non-Minnesota birding trip reports, debates between individuals, personal musings and monologues, or surveys about personal experiences. As it aptly says in the guidelines: "If this list loses its focus, it also loses its value. There are other mailing lists available for people interested in other issues." Always keep in mind as well that some responses to postings are best handled by private e-mails rather than by public postings on mou-net. - Finally, it is worth reiterating another statement in the guidelines: "There is no guarantee of the accuracy of any message." This includes reports of rarities, some of which are unfortunately never confirmed or documented. Of course, the vast majority of birds reported on mou-net are accurately identified, but a few are not, and accordingly subscribers should be aware that the occurrence or status of species cannot always be determined from a posting on mou-net. Again, for more complete information on mou-net (and mou-rba), see http://moumn.org/listservice.html . Please be sure to contact any of us on this committee if you have any questions or suggestions, and thanks for your continu
[mou-net] More Common Gallinules - Sherburne NWR
>From 0730 to 0800 this morning, I observed one juv common gallinule on Big >Bluestem Pool along the Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive. It was hanging out at >the edge of the cattails, directly across from the water control structure, >where the pool narrows into a channel - the corner on the left hand side, >right where the cattails meet the water's surface. This bird looks exactly >like the juv bird shown in the new Crossley guide (page 216), except that it's >head and chest are gray, not brown. Everything else is dead one - beak, eye >color, white in tail, etc. Even MORE exciting is that I found another family of gallinules on School House Pool, along the wildlife drive. There was one adult bird with 4 young (just slightly smaller than the Bluestem bird) moving in and out of a group of cattails on the right hand side of the drive. This spot is across from Nelson Pool, off the RIGHT side of the road, and looking down - just before the sign that says School House Pool. There are clumps of cattails of varying sizes, and the birds were about half way between the bottom of the hill and open water - straight out in the middle of the area. It's quite a ways out there - to get good views you really need a spotting scope. Field and grasshopper sparrows and cedar waxwings were all abundant this morning. The sparrows are singing like crazy - sounds like June instead of August out there. An eastern kingbird was flying around, displaying and calling in one area too - are they confused? Betsy Beneke Sherburne NWR 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] Miesville Bird Hike this Sunday
Miesville Ravine, Dakota County Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 8:00 am Come hike the heavily wooded trails of the least-known and least-birded metro park, Miesville Ravine County Park. Directions: Take Hwy. 52 to Dakota Hwy. 50 east to Miesville. At Miesville take CR 91 south (right) until it T's at 280th. Turn east (left) and meet at the north parking lot in the ravine. After lunch (biring a lunch) we will check out another site. Steve Weston swest...@comcast.net - 612-978-3993 Sponsored by the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter. This field trip is free and open to all. no RSVP is expected. Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
