[mou-net] Last Chance to Pre-register for the MOU Paper Session
All pre-registrations for the MOU Paper Session and Annual Meeting must be post-marked by Thursday. Pre-registration allows you to save a dollar off the ridiculous low admission fee of $5. Box lunches may also be ordered via pre-registration. If you send your registration in today, tomorrow, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday please send me a quick eMail letting me know it is coming as I will have to order the lunches on Wed. The program, directions, registration form, and other information is available on the web site http://moumn.org/paper.html Carl Greiner Vice President, Minnesota Ornithologists' Union 1616 Hill St. S.W. Chatfield, MN. 55923 507-271-8286 cgrei...@mchsi.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] Snowy Owl in North Saint Paul
I was just out taking a walk in the North Saint Paul Urban Ecology Center (north of County Rd B and to the west of the corner of B and McKnight) and saw a Snowy Owl. It was first seen in the north end of the center (near 36) flying south being mobbed by crows. I then saw it on the south end of the center (near Cty Rd B) on the Gateway Trail. It was scared off by a jogger and landed on a bus at the edge of the Center's land. It was last seen hopping from bus to bus northwards, mobbed by a pair of crows . Also saw a hawk I could not identify (I'm new, sorry) it looked to be a juvenille with thick bars on the tail feathers, a streaked brown and white head and mostly white ventral wing coloration. Appeared smaller than a red-tailed. Good Birding! -Abrahm 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] Snowy Owl still present North St. Paul
The Snowy Owl is currently sitting on top of one if the school buses in the bus lot just north of CR B on the west side of McKnight Rd. The bird appears to be a female or juvenile. Approach with care. Bob Dunlap 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] Summer Tanager at CNC this morning
The Summer Tanager was seen at the Carpenter Nature Center again this morning between 11:15-11:35 or so, then gone. She was feeding on the berries on the vines on the side of the Bat building. Also seen there this morning: Red-breasted Nuthatch Fox Sparrow And the usual Blue Jays, Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees, Goldfinches, House Finches, and a Red-tailed Hawk. Gerry Hoekstra Northfield 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] Sherburne County - White-winged Crosbill
Going off an earlier post from Pastor Al regarding White-winged Crossbill at Blue Hill Trail, I decided to give it a try. Yesterday I was denied, (due in part to bad weather), a Golden Eagle with the Wabasha Golden Eagle group. Today, however, I had great success. Taking Blue Hill Trail just as the trail turns left and the conifers join, I was greeted by 2 White-winged Crossbills atop a White Spruce. They were easy to locate, but maybe I was just lucky. Also, the spot where I saw them is easy to find. You can't miss where the conifers join, it's just that obvious. I also need to thank Betsy Beneke for introducing me to MOU and being a huge networking source for me. Pete Makousky Anoka, 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] Late Harris Sparrow
Not a lot new lately but I have a had a Harris Sparrow on and off for the last couple of weeks. It appeared today after not seeing it since Tuesday. Less than two weeks until it can be counted as a winter bird if it sticks around. We had two White-crowned's over winter a few years back. Thank you, Blaine Seeliger avoce...@charter.net 612-414-0214 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] Correction on Scoter/Lake Osakis
The Scoter I saw yesterday AM on Lake Osakis was mis-identified as a Black Scoter and it was a SURF Scoter. It was a larger Black duck, with no white on the wings, had lighter markings on the head but it was difficult to see details as it was diving constantly and the waves were constant. It used its wings to assist each dive (which I had mistakenly associated with Black Scoter and White Wings and in fact Sibley notes that this trait is absent in Black Scoters and is present in White Winged Scoters and Surf Scoters.) The absence of white on the wings (seen clearly several times and on each dive at different angles) mark this as a Surf Scoter when my ignorance is factored out.Thanks for your continued patience. John Ellis- St. Paul 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] plain-tailed wren duet research--- from Science Now
I didn't pay attention to the discussion earlier this month on research on the brain activity of duetting birds. There were a couple of comments on duetting in North American birds, which is rare compared to its occurrence across families in Africa and elsewhere in the tropics. I was aware of it in Wrentits, but found a study where it's noted for 21 species! Her conclusion is that Duetting behavior appears to have evolved at least 17 different times among North American passerines. However, this includes casual or sporadic duetting, not just the tight and consistent singing shown by Neotropical wrens, African barbets, etc., though Pygmy Nuthatches, Wrentits, and Gray Catbirds are among those that are very precisely timed. Guess I need to pay more attention... L. Benedict, J. Avian Biol. 39: 57_65, 2008 http://www.unco.edu/biology/lbenedict/Benedict%202008%20-%20Occurrence%20and %20life%20history%20correlates%20of%20vocal%20duetting%20in%20North%20Americ an%20passerines.pdf or http://tinyurl.com/887epw2 Stephen Greenfield Minneapolis tapac...@q.com - From: Matt Dufort [mailto:zeledo...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 8:43 AM Subject: Re: plain-tailed wren duet research--- from Science Now Thanks, Gordon, for forwarding that. It's an interesting read. Duetting is actually quite common in other parts of the world, especially tropical areas. Africa, Central and South America, Australia, and other places have lots of species that duet. Plain-tailed Wrens, which this study focused on, are masters of it. Something this article didn't mention is that this species sometimes lives in large cooperative groups, and those groups sing in chorus. Multiple males singing the male part together, and multiple females singing the female part together. Some great examples of this are here: http://www.xeno-canto.org/37014 and here: http://www.xeno-canto.org/184 Compared to the rest of the world, duet singing is unusually uncommon in the US and Canada. The only species here that comes to mind is Northern Cardinal, though I suspect there are others. Matt Dufort Minneapolis On 11/8/11 9:50 PM, G Andersson wrote: This article reports research on the duet singing of this wren species from Ecuador. Given its name, could this be the only wren species without a barred tail? Anyway there are links in the text to listen to the duet and the single song.. also a link to the original journal article for those who like neurology. I don't think there are any duetting bird species in N America, but there are in Africa. I would guess their finding apply to all such species worldwide, but who knows? Gordon Andersson St Paul http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/11/wrens-brains-are-wired-for-due ts.html?ref=hp 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] North Shore/Sax-Zim Birding Weekend
First I wanted to thank everybody who responded for places to bird this weekend, but we ended up birding in Duluth and Sax-Zim bog this weekend anyways. Friday November 18 we went to Canal Park in the morning and looked at the gulls there. Fortunately for us we met Peder Svingen there who helped ID some of the gulls we were seeing there. Thank you to him! Along with the normal Ring-billed and Herring Gulls there were Thayer's Gulls and an Iceland Gull. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnbirder/6373821475/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnbirder/6373868521/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnbirder/6373870235/in/photostream/ On Saturday November 19 we visited Sax-Zim Bog and saw a few highlights: Rough-legged Hawk (many) Bald Eagle (many) Gray Jay - 2 White-winged Crossbills - 7 Northern Shrike - 2 Black-billed Magpie - 2 Snow Buntings - Along CR 7 Common Raven Mammal highlights included a very small white Weasel sticking his head out of the freshly fallen snow on the side of the road. Also a Beaver keeping the water open at his dam on Stony Lake. On Sunday we had a few highlights both at Park Point and at French River as we drove up the North Shore. At the 13th St access to Duluth Harbor on Park Point we saw what we believe to be a first-year or juvenile Glaucous Gull. It was a very white and large gull, any input would be appreciated. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnbirder/6374029445/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnbirder/6374029681/in/photostream/ Then at French River: Rusty Blackbirds - 2 http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnbirder/6373682433/in/photostream/ Fox Sparrow American Robins LINCOLN'S SPARROW - This was an absolute surprise, as this is a very late date to see Lincoln Sparrows anywhere in Minnesota. I only got to see the sparrow for about 10 seconds or so before it disappeared and could not be refound but it was a small-medium sized sparrow with a yellowish wash on his chest and fine streaks on his chest. I have no doubt it was a Lincoln's Sparrow, unfortunately I did not get a picture before it flew away. A great weekend of birding! Thanks to Peder Svingen for his assistance Friday morning at Canal Park. Also thanks to Erik Bruhnke for advice on where to bird along the North Shore when we ran into him this weekend. Ben Harste Bloomington, 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] Gulling at Canal Park in Duluth, St. Louis County; 11/20
Gulled Canal Park this Sunday afternoon from about 1230-1600 today with breaks for lunch and non-Larid watching. Among the Herring and Ring-billed frenzy, I was able to pick out some interesting individuals using my fledgling gulling abilities (and new scope)--some of these species have been previously reported. I observed gulls on the lighthouse side of park. Here are the highlights: 1. Iceland Gull: beautiful individual with lovely eyeshadow, 3rd winter bird; took photos 2. Thayer's Gull: 1 delicately plumaged first year bird; took photos--thanks to Mike Hendrickson for looking at one of my photos 3. Glaucous Gull: 2 immatures both with black-tipped pink bills. One was very white with little patterning (mostly light brown spots on breast); the other was lightly patterned with light brown marks all over. Took photos Looking up (and still managing to avoid gull presents), Alex Cruz Jr Hennepin and Ramsey 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] Rarities
Who is going to tally the next new species on the CBC? I think we will add a new species to the list this year. Will it be you that finds this rarity? You have to participate to find out. There has never been a Couch's or Tropical Kingbird on the Minnesota CBC. One was seen this month in St. Louis County There has never been a Summer Tanager on the Minnesota CBC. One is still being seen in Washington County. There has never been a Scott's Oriole on the Minnesota CBC. One was seen last month in Cook County. There has never been a Secretary Bird seen in Minnesota and there probably never will. In 23 days, the 2011 Christmas Bird Count officially begins. It is a chance for you to have some fun, get out of the house, contribute to the science of ornithology, help drive conservation initiatives, and set an example for the advancement of knowledge in all areas of science. To help, contact your local Audubon Chapter, the MOU CBC Coordinator, Carl Greiner at (507) 271-8286, or visit the MOU CBC website at http://www.moumn.org/CBC/ for more information or to sign up. Carl Greiner Audubon Society Minnesota Regional CBC Editor M.O.U CBC Coordinator 1616 Hill St. S.W. Chatfield, MN. 55923 507-271-8286 cgrei...@mchsi.com blocked::mailto:cgrei...@mchsi.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] Northwoods MN/WI sightings over the past week, with a unique Bald Eagle photo
Throughout this past week (Sunday through Saturday), I showed-around a bird photographer visiting from California, and we covered the northwoods of northern Wisconsin and far northeastern Minnesota. He has never experienced the upper Midwest before. We were treated to the stunning scenic views of rushing rivers through the northwoods of NW Wisconsin, the rustic and awe-ing habitat of Sax-Zim Bog, great views of raptors at Hawk Ridge, an intense of rush of raptors (as a cold front moved through) at Two Harbors up the north shore, gulls throughout the Twin Ports, and closer to the end of the trip, we spent a night in Grand Marais, MN – checking out the Gunflint Trail near Canada! Before showing the lists of birds seen per day over the past week, I wanted to share a neat photo I took this morning at Sax-Zim Bog. The Bald Eagle had a little scratch on it's face. It's one of my favorite shots this fall, and can be found in the link below: http://www.pbase.com/image/139799076 I’ve typed up a little summary of day-by-day sightings that were seen while out in the field. Over the past week, I’ve shot nearly 3,000 photos, and it will take me a little while to check through them. I am very excited to share the photos with you! *Nov 13 (Sax-Zim Bog - MN)* Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Bald Eagle Northern Shrike Hairy Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Black-capped Chickadee Common Raven American Crow Northern Shrike Black-billed Magpie Blue Jay Gray Jay Snow Bunting White-winged Crossbill American Goldfinch *Nov 14 (Wisconsin Point – WI, Hawk Ridge – MN, **Canal** **Park** – MN)* Red-tailed Hawk (including one dark morph) Surf Scoter Black Scoter White-winged Scoter Common Merganser Bonaparte’s Gull (32!!) Thayer’s Gull (8 Juvenile, 1 Adult) – all seen from the shore of Gull Bluff Herring Gull Ring-billed Gull Glaucous Gull Great Black-backed Gull Blue Jay Black-capped Chickadee Rock Pigeon Snow Bunting Common Redpoll *Nov 15 (Brule River – WI, **Ashland** – WI)* Tundra Swan Mallard American Black Duck Black Scoter (4 of them, from Maslowski Beach – Ashland, WI) White-winged Scoter (2 of them, from Maslowski Beach – Ashland, WI) Canada Goose Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk – 1 dark morph Bald Eagle Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Hairy Woodpecker Blue Jay Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Black-capped Chickadee Dark-eyed Junco Red Crossbill Common Redpoll American Goldfinch *Wolves were heard from the southern edge of the Brule River. We were photographing Red Crossbills in the bog habitat and heard the wolves off in the distance. It was amazing! *Nov 16 (**Duluth** – MN, Two Harbors – MN, up to Grand Marais – MN)* …we left Duluth around 7 this morning, and headed up the north shore to Grand Marais for the night; stopping at many places along the way. Agate Bay and the main lighthouse walkway were explored, and a big push of raptors came through during our early morning walk along the lighthouse walkway. In one hour from this location, I counted and photographed 21 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (5 were dark), 8 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 12 BALD EAGLES and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES. The raptors were cutting over the water and flying nearly overhead as we were on the cliff of Lake Superior! Early migrating Bald Eagles and winter finches were seen heading south around/after sunrise, so many birds were tallied below. The grand tallies of the birds observed that day are below. Tundra Swan 28 Herring Gull Ring-billed Gull Rough-legged Hawk 25 Red-tailed Hawk 11 Bald Eagle 24 Golden Eagle 2 Common Redpoll 330 Bohemian Waxwing 18 Pine Siskin 6 White-winged Crossbill 55 Purple Finch 13 Snow Bunting 52 *Nov 17 (Grand Marais – MN, Gunflint Trail – MN, back to **Duluth** - MN)* Horned Grebe Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Mallard Ruffed Grouse Rough-legged Hawk Bald Eagle Black-backed Woodpecker Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Blue Jay Gray Jay Black-capped Chickadee Bohemian Waxwing Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll *We heard a wolf briefly once along the Gunflint Trail, and one of the biggest surprises was seeing FOUR foxes! *Nov 18 (Wisconsin Point – WI, Indian Pt. Campground – MN, **Canal** **Park* * – MN)* Mallard Canada Geese Lesser Scaup Northern Pintail LONG-TAILED DUCK – 1 (WIsconsin Point, seen with the flock of fly-by scaup) Glaucous Gull – 3 (1 adult, 2 immature) Thayer’s Gull – 3 juvenile, plus one 3rd-cycle at Canal Park Iceland Gull – 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull – one 1st winter Rock Pigeon *Nov 19 (Sax-Zim Bog – MN)* Great Gray Owl - heard at sunrise, but not seen Pileated Woodpecker Black-capped Chickadee Gray Jay Black-billed Magpie Dark-eyed Junco White-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch Northern Shrike Red Crossbill White-winged Crossbill American Tree Sparrow Pine
