[mou-net] Goodhue Co Avocets

[Larry Sirvio]

Goodhue County this morning. Kevin Smith found American Avocets and several 
other shorebirds. Location Goodhue County 18 south of Hastings. Coord: 44.673, 
-92.728. Flooded field next to highway.


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[mou-net] Eastern Whip-poor-will Washington Co

[Larry Sirvio]

One Eastern Whip-poor-will heard at 9PM. Location Gray Cloud Dunes SNA – West 
side close the the pond near the rr track. Probably
on the golf course property. 

Larry S
Cottage Grove


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[mou-net] Washington Co - Semipalmated plovers

[Larry Sirvio]

Six semipalmated plovers and 10 least sandpipers in the pond on Jamaica north 
of 70th St (Cottage Grove) at 2PM.

Larry S


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[mou-net] Washington Co - Wilson's phalarope

[Larry Sirvio]

Wilson’s phalarope still present on Jamaica Ave pond north of 70th St (Cottage 
Grove) at 6:30 PM
Larry S


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Re: [mou-net] Black Throated Gray Warbler

[Larry Sirvio]

Facebook as a way of quickly spreading a message (along with photos)is just 
the latest in changing technology. I can imagine a few years ago - as the 
internet started (with mounet) - someone was saying "The internet connected 
folks found out about a sighting before those of us with a telephone"...and 
so it goes. In the not too distant future it will be something else. If you 
want to keep up... keep up with changing technology.


I've talked to some who are fearful of Facebook. I think this fear is 
unfounded. It can be confusing. Maybe the biggest problem is that there are 
no instructions. You have to figure it out yourself or get some help.
I use mounet and mnbird along with Facebook. I find Facebook a more useful 
system. Photos, immediate back and forth discussions, imbedded links, 
imbedded maps, etc.



Larry S

-Original Message- 
From: Michael Hendrickson

Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2014 8:11 PM
To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: [mou-net] Black Throated Gray Warbler

I just noticed on the Minnesota Birding Facebook site that a birder named
Brian Plath spotted this warbler in his backyard today (no time given or
address) outside Austin, MN.  A photo depicting the bird was attached to
the sighting.

I am seeing a trend that many Minnesota birders who are not Facebook
members are not knowing about casual or accidental sightings that have
shown up in Minnesota. For example the Eurasian Tree Sparrow was posted
initially on Facebook another Facebook site then shared on the Minesota
Birding Facebook site. After 2-3 days this sighting eventually made to the
MOU newsletter.  This is not the first time this has happen where I see a
significant sighting being posted on Minnesota Birding but it took 1-3 days
after the initial sighting, the sighting was shared to the MOU listserv.

Hopefully the administrators of Minnesota Birding on Facebook can discuss
about sharing casual and accidental bird sightings in MN to the MOU
listserv on a timely basis.

Has anyone else besides me notice this trend? Maybe it's not a big deal but
I thought I share this for discussion.

Waiting for the warblers to arrive in Duluth. (-:

Mike


--

*Mike Hendrickson*

*Mike Hendrickson Guiding *
*Sax-Zim Bog *


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[mou-net] Slilppery slopes

[Larry Sirvio]

Since Scott mentioned slippery slopes – banning playback will be next.

Larry S


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Re: [mou-net] [mnbird] C. Nighthawk, St. Paul

[Larry Sirvio]

Once upon a time I had a similar situation at home . I had a common nighthawk 
sitting on the peak of my garage roof. Thinking it was injured I climbed up to 
help. It finally flew after I got within inches. I suspect it was tired from 
migration and would have preferred to rest some more. 

Larry S
Cottage Grove, MN (Washington Co)



From: linda whyte 
Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2013 4:59 AM
To: mou-net@lists.umn.edu ; mnb...@lists.mnbird.net 
Subject: [mnbird] C. Nighthawk, St. Paul

A call late yesterday afternoon for raptor-rescue turned out to be--at least I 
hope--a happy false alarm. The bird in question had been perched, seemingly 
immobile, on the railing of a third-floor deck all day, with no inclination to 
move at the homeowners' approach. As many people do, they decided it was a 
raptor, and asked The Raptor Center for a rescue.  

The bird was a C. Nighthawk, with no apparent injuries. It was flattened out 
prone on the railing, facing into the sun, looking like every other Nighthawk 
I've ever seen lying at rest in day-time on broad branches---which is a grand 
total of two, since most of the time I've only seen them on the wing, hunting. 

This one was indeed reluctant to move when approached, but it took note of me 
and actually gave a hissy alarm call. Then it got up on its short legs and 
began inching away from me, raising wings a bit in the process. There seemed 
nothing wrong with the way it held or moved its wings, so unless it has 
something like a coracoid(sp?) fracture, it appeared able to fly. Plumage 
seemed intact, save a bit of downy molt around the under-tail. It was decided 
this bird might be better off given time for the natural, stress-free recovery 
of a sunny nap, before any trip to the Wildlife Rehab Center. I hope it was the 
right call.

I wondered if this one might have had a window collision. There were full glass 
doors opening onto that deck, but they were still screened. Since the third 
floor was clearly living-space, perhaps lighting attracts insects--and hungry 
Nighthawks, especially later, tired young migrants. In any case, if it's still 
there this morning, the concerned homeowners now know it should be taken to the 
Wildlife Rehab Center.

Linda Whyte




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[mou-net] Primary feather emargination - why

[Larry Sirvio]

I had a crow die in my yard this week. This gave me an opportunity to study its 
plumage. I noticed primaries 8,7,6, were emarginated (leading edge is wider at 
the base than at the tip). 
I know that many flycatchers have emarginated primaries but I don’t know about 
other species.
The real question though is:  Why emargination of any primary? Why would it be 
variable from species to species?

Thanks
Larry Sirvio
Cottage Grove, MN


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[mou-net] Washington Co - Wilson's phalarope

[Larry Sirvio]

Eirk Collins reported a Wilson’s phalarope on a pond south of Headwaters 
Parkway (south of the Forest Lake Airport). I did see one Wilson’s phalarope 
briefly as well as a small flock of peeps and possibly a dunlin.  The latter 
birds were too far to id and when I moved closer I could not re-find a dunlin 
nor id the peeps. Several yellow-headed blackbirds were seen on the north side 
of the wetland and appeared to be guarding territory. I assume they are going 
to nest there. Also seen were Caspian and Forster’s terns and green-winged 
teal. 

The wetland is not adjacent to the road so you will have to hike a little bit 
to see it. 

Larry Sirvio
Cottage Grove (Wash Co)


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[mou-net] Woodbury - Am Black Ducks

[Larry Sirvio]

I don’t see black ducks in Washington County very often. This afternoon there 
were three in a small pond at the intersection of Bailey Rd and Radio Drive. 
The pond is at the SW corner of the intersection. 
Larry S


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[mou-net] Snow bunting X Lapland longspur hybird article

[Larry Sirvio]

www.jeaniron.ca/2012/Arctic65-3-344.pdf

I had never realized what the breeding plumage of the snow bunting was until I 
saw the photo in the article
Larry S


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[mou-net] Dickcisselsn & meadowlarks SoWashCo

[Larry Sirvio]

I know dickcissels are everywhere this year. Now dickcissels on the east side 
of East Ridge High school in Woodbury. There’s not much for grass there. 
Several of both species singing. What gives?
(Bailey Rd and Mile Road – near the gravel pit pond on Mile Rd.)
Larry S


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[mou-net] Nesting Loon - N Washingto Co + black terns

[Larry Sirvio]

Tom Bell and I went back to N Washington Co again today to find the black terns 
found yesterday by Linda Whyte. They were in a small wetland on Manning Trail 
just south of Highway 4. The wetland is the one that is right next to the road 
on both sides of Manning. There were 4 black terns that were flying back and 
forth. They were likely using other ponds in the area because they would appear 
and disappear periodically. 
Just to the east of Manning is May Avenue N. We went south on May and found a 
nesting Common Loon on the east shore of Staples Lake just south of 165th St. 
It was easily seen from May Avenue.

Larry S
Cottage Grove (Washington Co)


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[mou-net] Mallards roosting on the roof (Goodhue Co)

[Larry Sirvio]

On the way back from Craig Mandel’s Fillmore Co trip on Friday evening we 
stopped at a restaurant near the Mississippi River. At sunset we saw 7 or 8 
drake mallards sitting on the roof of a condo next door to restaurant. 
Some were sleeping – others were preening or stretching. It looked like they 
were going to roost there overnight. The condo was a 2 story and the roof was 
peaked. Has anyone ever seen this before?
Larry & Yoli Sirvio + Kevin Smith


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[mou-net] Am Bittern Falcon Hts

[Larry Sirvio]

Thanks to Manley for posting this. Yoli and I went to see it this afternoon 
and almost missed it.

I put a pic on the MOU website
http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl

Larry S

-Original Message- 
From: Manley Olson

Sent: Tuesday, May 01 10:56 AM
To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU ; mnbird
Subject: [mnbird] Am Bittern Falcon Hts

This morning I saw an Am Bittern at Community Park in Falcon Heights.
The park is at Cleveland and Roselawn and the bird was by the pond in
the SW corner of the park.  It was in the cattails on the SE corner of
the pond, between the two wood duck boxes. I watched it for about 5
minutes  and came by about 15 minutes later and it was still there.

Last year in early May there were  up to 8 Soras and one or two Virginia
Rails here but have seen neither yet this year. Only other birds of
interest were a snipe and a small flock of White-throats, first time I
have seen more than 2 together this Spring. No warblers, only seen a few
Yellow rumps so far.
Manley Olson
Falcon Heights
Ramsey Co


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[mou-net] South Washington Co - Greater Yellowlegs

[Larry Sirvio]

For shorebird challenged So Wash Co. – There were 6 greater yellowlegs in a 
wetland that is now drying out so it has some good mud. This was the same 
wetland that had a small flock of white-fronted geese in March.
The wetland is in Woodbury – on Pioneer Drive just north of Baily Rd – on the 
west side of Pioneer Dr. It is just across the street from Stonybrook Drive. 




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Re: [mou-net] Inquiry (no sightings)

[Larry Sirvio]

Jim- I use ebird mostly because I think they are collecting valuable info; 
especially for OUS sightings.
I've never had too much trouble posting sightings but I haven't used it to 
see what has been seen by others in places where I might go. Maybe most of 
the OUS places I go have not been reported. I will spend some time checking 
this week.


I can tell you that I've received more than one email from ebird requesting 
verification of a sighting. At least one that I remember was my error. The 
other 2 or 3 I could verify by checking with another birder who was with me 
(North Dakota) or with photos (OUS).


One of my questioners from ebird got more than he bargained for. I had some 
unknowns from Mexico so I sent them to him for help. He ID'd them for me so 
I was impressed - because the pix were not that good.


The latest version of ebird allows linking a bird observation to either 
Picasa or Flickr website pix - really neat.


By the way if you want to do some research on birds OUS, Flickr 
(www.flickr.com) has the best quality pix that I've found.




I also put sightings on MOU - usually new county sightings or unusual 
sightings - like a meadowlark in early March.


OK - for what it's worth, that's my experience. I know there is more - Ebird 
has some phone apps for instant notification. Not familiar with that since I 
don't have a smart phone.


Larry S


-Original Message- 
From: Jim Ryan

Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 1:38 PM
To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Inquiry (no sightings)

I tried to use ebird years ago (circa 2004) and it was horrible. I gave up.

I heard now it's better so I went back late last year. After farting around
on it for about half an hour, I still think it sucks.

I use computers everyday for work and have done so since 1995 (back in the
day of Windows 3.1) but I still can't figure out how to pull up anything
I'd consider useful from ebird. Maybe it's my left-handed but logical brain
but I must need to be led by the hand through the wonderland that is ebird
'cuz I ain't finding it on my own.

Reliability is a whole 'nother factor - If I have no clue who a birder is,
or what their ID skill level is, I ain't going chasing after their
mis-identification. Does ebird have any sort of verification process for
the validity of their "scientific database" ??? There, I said it.

I already get good info from the MOUMN.org website and mostly reliable info
from the MOU and MNBird list servs.  And oddly, sometimes it's just fun to
try your luck on your own.

I know I must be a luddite, as my cell phone is still dumb and I'm not a
twit (don't tweet). My Face is not in a book that's not made of paper
either and I email far more than I text (OMG, LOL). But apparently society
marches on to it's cyber drummer with me in it's virtual dust.

--
Sincerely,

Jim Ryan
Saint Paul's Westside

One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and
Nature shall not be broken. -* Leo Tolstoy*

A well governed appetite is the greater part of liberty. - *Lucius Annaeus
Seneca*


On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 10:19 AM, Chris Fagyal 
wrote:



I'd actually be inclined to believe most Mou members don't use ebird.  For
example,  I haven't lived in Minnesota since Oct of 2009, but I'm still
number three for lifetime ebird list in Minnesota with only 311.  If one
looks at the moumn listing page there are well over 150 people on the 300
club.  It pains me to see so many people not utilizing such an awesome
resource.  It makes things easier for the listers (especially county
listers) and it helps to grow the understanding of Minnesota's birds. 
With

the various cool new iOS and android apps, submitting checklists can even
be done in the field while birding!

Ebird provides excellent tools for looking at distribution bar graphs by
state, county or even location so one can see which birds are most likely
at a given time of year.  A great tool for looking at species arrivals
during migration to know what is expected to be showing up.  I use them 
all

the time to try to understand arrival dates in Kansas as I continue to
learn here in my new home.

It's also very easy to import sightings from things like avisys or birders
diary.  If anyone would like help doing so I'd gladly offer some
assistance.  It only took me a few days to take sightings from five
countries and ten years worth of data when I did so last year when Ebird
went global.  I haven't even used my listing software since because ebird
does what I want so well.


Cheers,
Chris Fagyal




Jonathon Jongsma  wrote:

>On Mon, 2012-04-02 at 09:17 -0500, linda whyte wrote:
>> too. Finally, I suspect that many MOU folks are e-bird users and figure
>> that's all they need do to share.
>
>This is certainly possible (I admit that I feel this way sometimes), but
>it doesn't really explain the difference between Wisconsin and Minnesota
>mailing lists.  Wisconsin birders submit *far* more ebird reports than
>Minnesota birde

[mou-net] More GWF Geese - Washington Co

[Larry Sirvio]

At 2PM there were 12 greater white-fronted geese in the pond on Pioneer Rd 
about 200 yards north of Baily Rd in Woodbury (Washington Co). I'm not sure if 
they just arrived or were there earlier and I didn't see them.

Larry S


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[mou-net] Greater White Fronted Goose - South Washington Co

[Larry Sirvio]

There were 3 greater white-fronted geese in a temporary wetland on Pioneer Rd 
(just north of Baily Rd) in Wooodbury at 11AM this morning. 

Larry Sirvio
Cottage Grove (Washington Co)


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[mou-net] Summer Tanager at Carpenter Nature Center

[Larry Sirvio]

The summer tanager was spotted by bird bander Tom Bell this morning at 
Carpenter Nature Center. He was sitting in a pine tree trying to get some sun. 
I don't think he was staying warm though. 


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[mou-net] Summer Tanager: Bird of the Month - Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center - National Zoo| FONZ

[Larry Sirvio]

I have included here the interesting page about summer tanagers

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/featured_birds/default.cfm?bird=Summer_Tanager

Larry S


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[mou-net] Summer Tanager at CNC

[Larry Sirvio]

The summer tanager is still at Carpenter Nature Center (Friday 11/18)
It was seen near the apple shack about 10:30 and later near the administration 
bldg. The admin bldg area seems to be a good place to find it when the sun is 
shining - The bird was seen on the roof and gutters hawking insects when it 
warmed up today. It has also been seen eating berries from ivy vines on the 
east side of the center bldg. I'll post another photo on the MOU website. I had 
better light today so the bird was not in shadow - as was the case earlier in 
the week. 

Tom Bell was happy to add a new Washington Co bird to his list today.


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[mou-net] Summer Tanager at Carpenter Nature Center

[Larry Sirvio]

What a treat to see such a colorful bird at an otherwise not-so-colorful time 
of year.
Posted a photo at http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl

Larry S


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[mou-net] Fish Crows in Minneapolis????

[Larry Sirvio]

Wow - The problem might be that crows can do so many calls and make lot of 
other sounds.
It would take some kind of special "diagnostic" call I imagine - I wonder if 
the fish crow rattle is different enough.


- Original Message - 
From: "dan&erika" 

To: 
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 9:19 AM
Subject: [mou-net] Fish Crows in Minneapolis



Hi All--

Working on my blog, I serendipitously wrote a post today about the Fish
Crow. ( http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com ) Come to discover that
Fish Crows are found up the Mississippi Valley to St. Louis and
accidentally into southern Ontario!  Fish Crows are moving north. Twice
this fall I saw or heard odd crows.  One was noticeably small but not
obviously young.  Another time I heard crows call like a Fish Crow--this
was in Updown near 47th street or so.  At the time, not knowing that a 
Fish

Crow was remotely possible, I wrote the calls off as off-pitch American
Crows.

No way I am listing these!  But we should be on the alert.  The two 
species

are so similar, I am somewhat puzzled as to how one would tell them apart
here in Minnesota.  I have Fish and American crow calls on the blog.

dan

--
Dan or Erika Tallman
Northfield, Minnesota
http://sites.google.com/site/tallmanorum
http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika
daner...@gmail.com

" the best shod travel with wet feet"
"Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes "--Thoreau


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[mou-net] Common Redpoll at Carpenter NC

[Larry Sirvio]

This week there has been a small flock of common redpolls seen at Carpenter 
Nature Center (Washington Co). One was banded today. We don't get to band these 
very often. 

I seem to remember a few years ago we had some coming to a feeder all winter 
but never banded one. 

I guess they like thistle so we'll have to bait the ground traps with thistle.

Larry S


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Re: [mou-net] Birding Request

[Larry Sirvio]

Amen

- Original Message - 
From: "Fr. Paul Kammen" 

To: 
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 10:45 AM
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Birding Request


While I can understand the importance of protecting habitat, one of the
reasons I subscribe to this list is to hear from other birders where 
opportunities

might be found to view and photograph various birds. Last winter, a poster
kindly let us know a northern saw-whet owl was in his yard; I showed up and
other photographers were there as well and everyone was respectful.

I would hope that most people on this list are respectful of property and 
birds;

this past summer the location of the grosbeaks was reported, as was the
location of Whooping Cranes and I appreciated that. For me, it's helpful to
know where birds are, and I'm especially fond of owls, and would love to 
drive
to a spot, and take pictures from a distance. It would be rather frustrating 
to
have someone just say they found an owl or bird at a particular park - 
frankly I
don't know what the point would be of posting that at all if no one else 
could

enjoy it. The Purple Sandpiper was a great example of the exact location
noted, the bird being found and enjoyed.

So, my hope is in coming months the updates continue on where to find 
various
birds from snow buntings to waxwings to owls and that the folks on this list 
can

enjoy seeing these beautiful feathered friends.

Just my two cents,
Fr. Paul


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[mou-net] rusty black bird NOT

[Larry Sirvio]

Ooops again. I went back to the Dennison Sewage Pond this morning and found my 
bird in the same area. This time I got a photo. What a strange plumage 
red-winged blackbird. Yoli was looking in Sibley and at my photo and she really 
burst my bubble :(((
I put a photo on the MOU Showcase website. Another lesson learned the hard way.
Larry S


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[mou-net] rusty blackbird-Rice Co

[Larry Sirvio]

Found one rusty blackbird near the entrance to the Dennison Sewage ponds this 
morning.
It didn't look like it was in a hurry to go anywhere - just sat in some willows 
in a ditch next to a small bridge.

The entrance to the ponds is a dirt road next to an unpicked corn field west of 
Dennison (south) off Rice Co 31 (Dennison Blvd)
If you are going west on Co 31 and go to Lamb Ave you have gone too far.

Also saw a large flock of American pipits at Randolph Industrial park 
(previously reported by Laura Coble) + one meadowlark and several savannah 
sparrows. 



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Re: [mou-net] Whooping Cranes and lists vs. memories

[Larry Sirvio]

Why not see it in Rice Co and then wait for that group of birds to become 
established.:))  Then is should count.



Larry S
- Original Message - 
From: "hags...@aol.com" 

To: 
Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2011 9:24 AM
Subject: [mou-net] Whooping Cranes and lists vs. memories


It perhaps bears repeating that these birds would not be "countable" on 
state or life (or county lists).  This restriction only applies if you are 
submitting numbers to the ABA or MOU, for example.  I went to Silver Lake in 
Rochester some years ago to see a Smew.  I did so with the knowledge that I 
could not count the bird on the state, year, county and life lists I 
maintain.  I will, however have the memory of that strikingly beautiful bird 
forever.  If birds are known not to be countable (in the case of the Smew, 
it was a known escaped bird), it would be helpful to especially newer 
birders to have that information.  Whooping Cranes in SE MN have been from 
the Necedah flock that is not yet considered established, i.e. not able to 
sustain itself in the wild.  The hope is that one year, the efforts to 
reestablish this birds on the eastern flyway migration route will result in 
a wild flock.  Since I hope to see my life Whooping Cranes in Texas (or 
western MN, provided there's no evidence they're from the WI group) I've 
chosen not to travel to Rice County.  If you know all this and want to see 
this magnificent pair of birds, I hope you are able to get great memories 
from your visit.



Respectfully,


Linda Sparling


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[mou-net] palm warbler at Carpenter Nature Center

[Larry Sirvio]

On Friday a very young palm warbler was banded. I don't remember seeing palm 
warblers in August before and this one didn't even have all his wing 
feathers in yet.

Pic at:
http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?op=showcase

Larry S


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Re: [mou-net] [mnbird] virus threat ???

[Larry Sirvio]

I opened it and it was a website for selling viagra - no damage (didn't buy 
any:::)))
  - Original Message - 
  From: Paul Schumacher 
  To: mnb...@lists.mnbird.net 
  Sent: Monday, August 01, 2011 7:48 PM
  Subject: [mnbird] virus threat ???


Jim Ryan's message got flagged by my computer as being a threat.  Do 
not open it
until it is proven safe.  I doubt that Jim even sent it.

Paul Schumacher
   



--


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[mou-net] Fw: [eBird Alert] Needs Alert for Minnesota

[Larry Sirvio]

Note the nest location here. I wonder if parking anywhere is going to be a 
problemepsecially with all the heavy equipment operating nearby.



- Original Message - 
From: 

To: 
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 10:00 AM
Subject: [eBird Alert] Needs Alert for Minnesota



Needs Alert for Minnesota
NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated

***

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) (4) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jul 23, 2011 18:00 by Garrett  Wee
- Garrett's Backyard, Lyon, Minnesota
- Map: 
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.605219,-95.6721961&ll=44.605219,-95.6721961


Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jul 23, 2011 08:30 by Bruce Fall
- 140th St. Marsh, Dakota, Minnesota
- Map: 
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.7465808,-93.0168629&ll=44.7465808,-93.0168629
- Comments : "Male, singing on pole, guywire, and tree top at W end of 
territory, from 150 m NW of former entrance road (fenced off) E another 
150 m. This is different behavior from last weekend, when he was at the E 
end of territory, all the way to the woodlot. Tony Hertzel found the nest 
about 5 days ago, containing only a single punctured egg (female still 
incubating). The nest was near the W end (he didn't specify how far, but I 
believe it was within 50 m or less of the old entrance road). The male is 
obviously still defending his territory, but I did not see the female."


***

You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Needs 
Alert for Minnesota


View this alert on the web:
http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN10367

Manage your eBird alert subscriptions:
http://ebird.org/ebird/alerts 



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Re: [mou-net] unknown baby duck

[Larry Sirvio]

Hi Gail -

Last year I saw a group of wood ducks that looked like this. I've never seen 
this appearance of woodies before. I only knew what they were because I saw 
them with mom. When I went back a week later they had changed into something 
that looked more like a woodie. My conclusion was that there is a short 
period of time when woodies have this appearance. Maybe someone else has 
seen this as well.


Larry S
- Original Message - 
From: "Gail Wieberdink" 

To: 
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 11:20 AM
Subject: [mou-net] unknown baby duck


This baby duck has been on Lake Vadnais (Ramsey County) in recent days and 
I

haven't been able to figure out what it is.  It sort of looks like a
mallard, or a wood duck, but the bill is very different and the markings 
are

wrong.  I've posted a couple photos on Flickr if anyone wants to take a
look.  I would really like to know what it is!



http://www.flickr.com/photos/gailw/sets/72157627037309411/



If you click on the photo, you can see a larger version.



Gail Wieberdink



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Re: [mou-net] "Boreal" chickadee photo on Recently Seen

[Larry Sirvio]

Rather than removing such an interesting pic why not just rename it?
I doubt many have seen a bird like this before.

Larry S

To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: [mou-net] "Boreal" chickadee photo on Recently Seen

Before it is removed from Recently Seen, the photo of an aberrant 
Black-capped Chickadee is worthy of study. It is quite easy to see how a 
brief view of such an individual could result in it being incorrectly 
identified as a Boreal Chickadee. It's really a cool photo.


http://moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl

Jim Mattsson
Eagan


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[mou-net] Dunlins and willet

[Larry Sirvio]

Went with Tom Bell to look for the whooping cranes today but they were gone. 
As a consolation prize we went to Randolph Industrial Park and found 2 dunlins 
and a willet - all very nervous at our approaching car. 
This place is a few miles north of Lake Billsby on Highway 56 (west side)

Larry S


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[mou-net] Woodbury - Washington Co Black Ducks

[Larry Sirvio]

In Woodbury - Co 19 (Woodbury Dr) and Dale Rd. NE of this intersection there is 
a small wetland in picked corn that always has lots of waterfowl in the spring. 
There were 3 black ducks (all drakes) in that pothole this afternoon. 

The surrounding corn field had lots of Canada geese and mallards. No luck 
trying to find the odd goose today.
Larry S


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Re: [mou-net] Newby

[Larry Sirvio]

Be warned - you will have a small window of opportunity to bird your 
property. Between the melting of the snow and the appearance of the insects.


Cheers
Larry S

- Original Message - 
From: "Bruce Marzinske" 

To: 
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 8:21 AM
Subject: [mou-net] Newby


Hello!, I just moved up to No. Central Mn from N. Iowa. This is my first 
winter at the lake place between Hackensack and Longville. I am really 
happy with the winter finches I've been seeing this winter. Mostly the 
Redpolls of which I'm looking at 40-50 at this moment, as I drink my 
morning coffee and watch my feeders just 6' from my window. I even have 
2-3 Hoary Redpolls (lifer) coming at a regular basis. Evening/Pine 
Grosbeaks are irregular but present as well. Can't wait to see what 
happens as winter peels back. I have 45 acres of land with many cart paths 
winding throughout various habitats. We have 1/4 mile of undeveloped 
marsh/bog shoreline, a 14-15 acre tamarack/tea bog, and the usual 
hardwood/aspen/pine. I would welcome any member to tour my grounds if you 
call ahead. It's a little dicey to walk now with the massive melt/freeze, 
but I'm hoping that will change soon. We have several orchid species as 
well for those so inclined. Bruce.  218 682 2029



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[mou-net] Crow family together again?

[Larry Sirvio]

After feeding 2 crows all fall and winter (rarely, a third crow would show up 
too) there have been 4 at the feeding station for the last 3 days. It appears 
that the adults are with the youngsters again. Maybe finding food is more 
difficult for the adults with the deep snow. 
I'm pretty sure these are the same adults that have visited us in previous 
years because they don't fly off from the yard trees when I go outside to leave 
them some food.
Larry S


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Re: [mou-net] [mnbird] Yard Observations

[Larry Sirvio]

An interesting observation about robins eating snow. The word from the 
experts is that robins don't eat snow and need open water to survive in 
colder areas. 



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[mou-net] Golden crowned kinglet

[Larry Sirvio]

I met Jerry Hogeboom at Carpenter Nature Center during the Friday bird banding 
session. He mentioned to us that he had seen a golden crowned kinglet on 
Wednesday at the Center. Somewhat skeptical, I asked where he had seen it. He 
told us which trail it was on - and for the doubting Thomases in the crowd he 
pulled out his cell phone with the photo. Not only was it a golden crowned 
kinglet - it was  beautiful photo. The crown of the male is clearly visible. He 
had actually seen two of them. 

The photo is on the MOU website - showcase gallery. 
http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?op=showcase
Thanks for showing us this beautiful shot.

Larry S


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[mou-net] Carpenter Nature center - Belize trip

[Larry Sirvio]

I'll add some comments to Jim Fitzpatrick's post. Yolli and I were at this 
resort in 2002. It is located in the interior of Belize. I seem to remember 
about a 2 hour ride from the Belize City airport. The resort is on the Mopan 
river across from the town of Benque. When we arrived in Benque we went by 
pontoon boat across the river to the resort. The way the resort operates is: 
Each day there is a day trip of some kind. You are free to go on the trip or 
stay at the lodge. There are a number of different trips. The ones I remeber 
are:
Mayan ruins at Tikal (in nearby Guatemala). This is an all day trip. The ruins 
are imressive.
Xunantunich (also Mayan ruins). Not as large as Tikal. Lots of birds at this 
one.
Che Chem Ha - An ancient Mayan cave that was "discovered" after being unused 
for about 500 years (as I remember). Fascinating place. Muli--levels, 
artifacts, left exactly as it was found by the landowner.  Canoing an 
underground river. Another day at a butterfly farm. 
These are the things I can remember. It was  really interesting and fun trip. I 
think I got about 40 new birds on that trip; pretty good considering that it is 
not a birding trip and we didn't have a birding guide. The lodge had a fruit 
feeder for tanagers and honeycreepers. Now they have added hummingbird feeders 
as well.

You can check out the lodge at: www.mopanriverresort.com

You can contact Jim Fitzpatrick at the Carpenter Nature Center at 
j...@carpenternaturecenter.org


Larry  and Yoli Sirvio
Cottage Grove, MN


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[mou-net] gray jays

[Larry Sirvio]

Last week was sharptailed grouse. This week it is gray jays. I saw 2 yesterday. 
One in Nemaji State Forest (Pine Co) and the other in Douglas Co, Wis. I didn't 
know they could be in the eastern part of MN.
One even perched close to me and watched. 
Earlier in the day I had been carrying a camera while grouse hunting but I 
didn't have it at that time. Rats. It would have been an easy one to photograph.

Larry S


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[mou-net] Sharp tailed grouse

[Larry Sirvio]

While driving north on I-35 this morning I had a flock of about 15 sharp 
tailed grouse fly over the highway in Pine County. I've been driving around 
and through Pine County for many years and have never seen these birds. I 
know they have been here for a while though but not in great numbers.


Larry S


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[mou-net] Long tailed Duck - Vadnais

[Larry Sirvio]

The long tailed duck was present this afternoon on Vadnais Lake. He was 
resting/preening with 4 common goldeneyes on the north end of the lake. After a 
few minutes they all flew off to the south. I spent another hour looking and 
could not find him. This bird is a mature male - nice plumage..



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[mou-net] Lake Elmo Park

[Larry Sirvio]

Went to Lake Elmo Park today (Washington Co). Lots of yellow rumped warblers, 
ruby crowned kinglets, robins, and jays moving through. Also found a few 
Swainson's thrushes, 2 eastern towhees and a few palm warblers. I have not seen 
any towhees since July. I wonder where they have go in late summer.

Larry S


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Re: [mou-net] A new idea about hanging Hummingbird feeders

[Larry Sirvio]

Vaseline is too soft. It will just melt away in this hear.Try wheel bearing 
grease. You can buy it in a small tub. It should be available at a place 
like   NAPA auto parts.



- Original Message - 
From: "john c. nelson" 

To: 
Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 1:22 PM
Subject: Re: [mou-net] A new idea about hanging Hummingbird feeders


The water moat ant guards are sure fire, though $8-10 is double what  you 
should expect to pay for one. Vaseline is also effective and I use  it on 
small feeders in hanging planters.


John Nelson
Good Thunder MN
On Aug 22, 2010, at 1:14 PM, Dennis and Barbara Martin wrote:

Interesting idea but why not just buy one of the inexpensive ($8-10)  ant 
guards.  They are designed to put water in and thus make a moat  that 
ants will not cross in their trip to the feeder. I use a bit of





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[mou-net] Rich Peet

[Larry Sirvio]

Rich Peet - I need your email address. Sorry to post on the bulletin board.
Larry S

lmsir...@comcast


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Re: [mou-net] hunting of cranes

[Larry Sirvio]

The hunt is not state-wide. It is in 6 counties in NW Minnesota. That is 
where the cranes from Canada migrate. If cranes nested in those counties 
they could be shot. For the rest of the state - the cranes are safe :))



- Original Message - 
From: "Richard Wood" 

To: 
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 10:42 AM
Subject: Re: [mou-net] hunting of cranes



And how does a hunter know the difference?

Richard




____
From: Larry Sirvio 
To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU
Sent: Mon, July 26, 2010 12:32:19 PM
Subject: Re: [mou-net] hunting of cranes


One last point. The population of cranes that is proposed for hunting is a
migratory population - not the ones that are nesting in Minnesota.

Cheers
Larry S
- Original Message - From: "Laura Erickson"

To: 
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: [mou-net] hunting of cranes



Can anyone find out how much of the DNR's Non-Game Wildlife Program funds
have gone to projects that have contributed to the increase of Sandhill
Cranes?


Laura Erickson

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.


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Re: [mou-net] hunting of cranes

[Larry Sirvio]

Laura and others. I don't think it is as simple as your email comment makes 
it seem. For example, I know that once upon a time the DNR (along with 
private organization contributions as well as non-game funds) created 
Lamprey Pass WMA. As I remember, Caroll Henderson was promoting this in 
order to protect a heron rookery that was threatened by development in that 
area. I don't remember waterfowl hunters complaining about protecting the 
herons.


Also, I remember the time when there were no cranes in Carlos Avery WMA. I 
can't say for sure but I'll bet that habitat work done in that area done for 
the ducks contributed to a substantial breeding population of sandhill 
cranes which now nest there.


One last point. The population of cranes that is proposed for hunting is a 
migratory population - not the ones that are nesting in Minnesota.


Cheers
Larry S
- Original Message - 
From: "Laura Erickson" 

To: 
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: [mou-net] hunting of cranes



Can anyone find out how much of the DNR's Non-Game Wildlife Program funds
have gone to projects that have contributed to the increase of Sandhill
Cranes?


Laura Erickson

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.


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Re: [mou-net] close up look at Black-Crowned Night-Heron Minnehaha Creek, Minneapolis

[Larry Sirvio]

The black crowned night heron was near the bridge on 30th Ave (pedestrian 
path) that goes over Minnehaha Creek. I almost missed it because I was 
looking on the water and the bird was sitting on the horizontal trunk of a 
tree that was stretched across the creek. After a few minutes a second one 
flew in and the two flew off downstream together about 50 yards. Thanks 
Madeleine for the post.


Larry S


- Original Message - 
From: "Madeleine Linck" 

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 8:36 AM
Subject: [mou-net] close up look at Black-Crowned Night-Heron Minnehaha 
Creek, Minneapolis



I watched a BCNH from about 10 feet away catch and eat a fish yesterday;
the view was from the pedestrian trail just west of where Nokomis Ave
crosses the Creek (and north of Minnehaha Pkwy). A lady walking a dog
said the heron hunts there every day. I had never seen a BCNH so close
before and it seemed completely unphased by my presence.
Madeleine Linck
Medina, Hennepin Co.


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[mou-net] Crow begging at the window

[Larry Sirvio]

We've been putting dog food out for crows for a few years now. They also 
learned to eat suet from a feeder on the back deck. A pair have been coming 
regularly but mostly in the winter. When spring arrives they don't come 
around so often. This year things are different. Apparently, the adults had 
young and introduced them to the "free lunch". Now the youngsters are here 
every day - sometimes more than once a day. Check out the photo at : 
http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?op=showcase


The adults never feed with the two youngsters. In fact, I don't think I've 
seen the adults since May.


This morning we were awaken by a noise - a tapping at the window next to the 
suet feeder. It was one of the juvenile crows on the window ledge. He was 
tapping at the window and doing the juvenile bird "begging" display. The 
suet feeder was empty and he was demanding that it be filled. Amazing. I'd 
often wondered if the crows realized that the humans inside the house were 
the ones furnishing the goodies. Apparently they do.


Larry S


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[mou-net] Afton State Park

[Larry Sirvio]

After being held prisoner for 3 days, I had to get out when the rain finally 
quit this afternoon.
At Afton SP I still did not see Henslow's sparrow. Pam Albin had told me she 
thought she had heard them a few days ago. I did hear and record some songs 
which apparently were Henslow's sparrows. Unlike last year, when they were 
easily seen, they are not showing themselves at all. They are in the same 
place. North entrance trail. Go south about 100-200 yards. They were on the 
east side of the trail. Just to confuse the issue, eastern meadowlarks in this 
area give a similar call. Most of the time the meadowlarks call is 3 or 4 notes 
- unlike the Henslow's which is 2 notes. Sometimes the meadowlarks call only 2 
notes. I suppose someone with good ears would not confuse the two because the 
Henslow's is higher frequency.

Later I continued on and thought I heard the summer tanager. I thought I was 
hearing the exact call that Julian Sellers recorded last July at that location 
(I have it saved on iPOD). When I got home I could not find any recordings that 
I could identify as summer tanager. Wind interference made it difficult.  I'll 
have to try again on a quite day.

Other birds see were - eastern towhee, rose breasted grosbeak (not too 
different from the summer tanager song), clay colored sparrows, eastern 
meadowlarks, field sparrows, eastern bluebirds, brown thrasher.


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[mou-net] Yellow Baltimore Oriole

[Larry Sirvio]

Today at Carpenter Nature Center we banded a very yellowish Baltimore Oriole. 
It was a second year (from last spring) male - note the brownish wings on the 
photo at 
http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?op=showcase

I've never seen such a yellow colored Baltimore oriole - the only hint of 
orange was in the upper breast.

I'm interested to know about how common this is. Maybe it is not so unusual and 
I just haven't paid attention. 



Also, I think someone mentioned seeing or banding an orchard oriole - 2nd year 
male with a black head and yellow body. The bird was undergoing a molt to adult 
plumage - the head was changing to black before any of the body had become 
brick-red.
Any idea who described this bird ? 

Thanks
Larry S and CNC banders.


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[mou-net] Yellow Baltimore Oriole

[Larry Sirvio]

This morning at Carpenter Nature Center (Washington Co) we banded a Baltimore 
oriole that was very yellow. The only hint of orange was the orangy-yellow 
upper chest - otherwise nor orange at all. 
I've never seen such a yellowish Baltimore oriole. How about others out there?

I put a photo on the MOU website - showcase at
http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?op=showcase

Also, I read about someone seeing or banding an orchard oriole this year that 
had a black head - ie it was a first year male that was molting into adult 
plumage and got a black head before the reddish body. Anyone know who mentioned 
this bird?


Thanks
Larry S


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[mou-net] red-orange mix house finch

[Larry Sirvio]

I posted a pic of a house finch at
http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl

I've never seen a house finch that had both orange and red colors.
Maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention.

Larry S


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Re: [mou-net] Why a Canada Goose isn't Canadian

[Larry Sirvio]

and Lord Baltimore didn't name the oriole
and Joe California didn't name the California condor...

- Original Message - 
From: "Steve Roman" 

To: 
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 5:21 PM
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Why a Canada Goose isn't Canadian



So Jim Florida didn't name the Florida Scrub Jay?


Steve Roman
Champlin, MN
cicind...@gmail.com
http://steveroman.naturescapes.net/
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~decke003//CicindelaTropicale/Home.htm
612-508-1528

- Original Message - 
From: "Laura Erickson" 

To: 
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:39 PM
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Why a Canada Goose isn't Canadian


The Canada Goose was named by Linnaeus in 1758, and gets its name from 
its

breeding range.

It is of course perfectly acceptable and correct to call one a "Canadian
goose" if you see it's passport or some other verification of its
citizenship.

Best, Laura Erickson

On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 3:18 PM, Jeff Stephenson 

wrote:




I just read the information below on Wiki Answers. I don't know if it's
true (anybody else know) but if so then since the goose was named after 
a
person not Canada then it makes sense that it shouldn't be called a 
Canadian

Goose. I also didn't know a person could name a new species after
themselves.

*
John Canada was the taxidermist who first identified and classified the
Canada Goose from the North. He decided to name the bird after himself,
hence the name Canada Goose.

*
Jeff Stephenson
Olmsted County, Rochester MN
Cell Phone 507 254 8194
Home Phone 507 289 7635


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Science Editor
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-254-1114


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supporting

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--Rachel Carson

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[mou-net] Purple finch in summer - Washington Co ?

[Larry Sirvio]

I put a pic of what Steve Weston suggested was a purple finch. It looks like 
one to me. Anyone care to take a look and offer an opinion - yes or no. 
Thanks
Larry S


http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl


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[mou-net] No Summer Tanager - Washington Co

[Larry Sirvio]

Fortunately Bill Bronn had been with me at Afton SP when I recorded the summer 
tanager last Saturday. He suggested that I had been listening to that recording 
when I got home today from Falls Creek. 
When I checked the date stamp on my file - he was correct.
Sorry - my bad :(

He did ID a call of a yellow bellied flycatcher when he got home. It sounded 
like an attenuated phoebe call.


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[mou-net] Summer tanager at Falls Creek SNA

[Larry Sirvio]

Paid one last visit (or so I thought) to Falls Creek SNA in northern 
Washington Co - with Bill Bronn.
The bird singing activity was striking compared to Monday at Afton SP. I 
wonder if the yesterday's rain helped.


We heard yellow throated vireos, Acadian flycatcher, possible scarlet 
tanager, lots of great crested flycatchers, red eyed vireos, possible blue 
headed vireo (Bill knows this one) and saw a family of hairy woodpeckers (1 
juv for sure). I also recorded a song that I identified after I got home - 
It was a summer tanager. I should have known this one because I heard it so 
many times in the last two weeks at Afton SP.
If someone wants to hear the recording I will send it. It sounds quite like 
the one from Afton SP that Julian Sellers placed on the MOU website. 
http://www.moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=MN


On the way home I also saw a pair of sandhill cranes (1 juv) feeding along 
Manning Ave south of 170th St.


Falls Creek SNA is just north of Pilar Ave on the east side of Highway 95 in 
Scandia TWP.
Larry Sirvio 



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[mou-net] Afton State Park-wrong again ;(

[Larry Sirvio]

I went back again after dinner to see if I could get a better look at the 
bird. I also recruited a more experienced birder to accompany me. What we 
found was - a female orchard oriole (that was obviously what I saw). She was 
not the one doing the singing though. There was also a first year male 
orchard oriole with her. He was the one singing. He still sounded a lot like 
the Stokes summer tanager to me. We also heard what I assume were 2 or 3 
Henslow's sparrows but didn't see them. Another lesson learned the hard way.

Larry S


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[mou-net] Afton State Park

[Larry Sirvio]

Liz Stanley posted about a summer tanager at Afton SP. 
I got a brief look at the bird today and recorded the song and some calls. The 
bird had no red - only yellow. 
If someone with expertise with this bird wishes to hear these please, email me 
and I will send the recordings.
Thanks
Larry S

lmsir...@comcast.net


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[mou-net] Warbling Vireo nest

[Larry Sirvio]

Wow - what a great shot. If you haven't seen the MOU-BBA site - check out
http://www.mnbba.org/gallery/?region=MNSelect warbling vireo.

Ron Refsnider has an amazing shot of a warbling vireo nest with young. I'd like 
to hear the story of how he got that shot.
Congratulations

Larry S


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[mou-net] Red Breasted Nuthatch - Washington Co

[Larry Sirvio]

On Friday at Carpenter Nature Center (Washington County) we banded a female 
red breasted nuthatch. She had a brood patch indicating she could be nesting 
nearby.


Sue Plankis has heard a red breasted nuthatch several times at Carpenter 
this spring so this confirms her observation.


Larry Sirvio


- Original Message - 
From: "alyssa" 

To: 
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 12:24 PM
Subject: [mou-net] Red-breasted Nuthatch (Hennepin Co.)


This late morning, I was delighted to hear a male Red-breasted Nuthatch 
singing in the pine forest at Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis 
Park. Although it is not all too uncommon to find them in southern MN in the 
summer, (i.e. currently, there are apparently some breeding birds in Ramsey 
County), I thought it was a bit unusual for the following reasons: 1) R-B 
Nuthatches were scarce this winter, and 2) I briefly hiked the pine forest 
trail here yesterday, but I didn't hear anything.


He was singing pretty consistently while I was there for about 45 minutes. 
There was a clump of three Red Pines, just northeast of the feeding station 
in the pine forest, that he sung from most of the time. At one point, he 
flew westward and started singing inconsistently from the deciduous forest, 
but eventually returned to his original spot. I did not have binoculars, but 
I did get to see him a few times; at one point I saw his striped head. When 
I left, he was singing a quicker, more stacatto version of his song, where 
he "honked" about 15 times in a row instead of the more typical, drawn-out 
3-4 note song. He did not vocalize when White-breasted Nuthatches were 
vocalizing.


To me, it looks like he's establishing a territory. I'll have to listen and 
look for him more when I'm at the nature center next week.


Good birding!

Alyssa DeRubeis
Golden Valley, Hennepin Co.


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[mou-net] Lebanon-Hills Saturday

[Larry Sirvio]

Thanks to Sally Heuer and Paul Spritzer for leading the Lebanon Hills Park tour 
on Saturday (5/30).
The highlight was the blue-winged warbler.

After the tour on the Holland Lake side I went to the Schulze Lake side (main 
visitor center area). There is a trial on the west side of Schulze Lake. About 
1/4 mile south on that trail I heard the hooded warbler (same place I had seen 
it on Thursday - first reported by Jim Ryan on 5/23). This time the bird was 
farther from the trail and was not seen in about 20 min of looking. He was 
singing consistently. 
To find this bird there is a sign on the trail that says "Recipe for 
Woodlands". This is the spot to listen and look. 

Lebanon Hills Park is in Dakota Co - on Cliff road east of 35E. 

Larry Sirvio



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Re: [mou-net] Potential First State Record Won't Be Shared

[Larry Sirvio]

Pastor Al
First let me say that I enjoy your postings. I want to mention a somewhat 
different experience that I have had on MOU-NET. A few years ago I had just 
begun birding and joined MOU. That first year I posted an observation of a 
really unusual bird - not knowing that it was all that unusual. At least one 
experienced birder went on a "wild bird chase' because of my post. I think I 
even used the word "unmistakable" in my identification. Really naive!.


I had recorded some audio and the correct id was made with the help of 
several others birders on MOU-NET who were kind enough to listen.


Never did I hear any criticism of my mistake. Maybe they realized I was a 
rookie. The lesson I learned was never say "unmistakable" and post pics if 
you are not sure.


The point is, my experience was more like the way it should be. I learn more 
from mistakes than from the easy id's.

I'll never mistake a rufous sided towhee for a lark bunting again.


Cheers
Larry Sirvio
Cottage Grove




- Original Message - 
From: "Pastor Al Schirmacher" 

To: 
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 11:52 AM
Subject: [mou-net] Potential First State Record Won't Be Shared


Yesterday I spoke with a birder who had a unique sighting.  This birder took 
substantial notes and is relatively certain about the bird they saw.


However, the sighting will not be shared.

It won't be documented because it would constitute a first state record and 
the perception is, without photos, it would never be accepted.


It won't be posted to the net because the perception is that people will 
judge and negatively verbalize about the sighting.


Over the last week I've been together with 30+ birders on my birding 
vacation and the MOU field trip.  Discussion item #1 was, of course, birds 
seen & heard.  Discussion item #2 - on multiple occasions (I initiated none 
of these discussions, many times simply listened) - was the perception that 
the MN birding community is often not friendly, and that posting unusual 
birds was a very risky proposition.  A couple of birders mentioned that 
they've only posted once and never would again.  There is also a perception 
of elitism and an "old boys club", that only "name" birders records are 
accepted, formally and informally.


Sad.

I'm not saying each of these accusations are true.  In one sense it really 
doesn't matter whether the unfriendliness is perception or reality, whether 
it's a majority or minority or even a very few birders.  The perception is 
driving behavior.  And the behavior is not sharing sightings, which impacts 
us all.


The perception needs to be changed.  Minnesota birders, on and off MOU, need 
to be perceived as and/or become friendly, helpful, welcoming.  Newbies need 
to be encouraged, publicly and privately.  Back channel emails need to be 
thought through carefully.  Comments in the field need to show restraint.


I know it can happen, having come from a state where the organization & 
listserv were generally perceived positively.


By the way, I am not the birder involved, just concerned about the impact 
(you know me, I share and let chips fall where they may).  And I am 
extremely thankful for all who have shared and do share - both in MOU and 
outside - there are many excellent, friendly birders in this state!


Good birding to all.

Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties



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[mou-net] Gallery pics

[Larry Sirvio]

I put some bird pics on the MOU gallery - Ecuador section.
One week in Ecuador with Tropical Birding Inc - Andean Intro tour. 
Good birds - lots of rain and washed out roads caused some problems.
Lighting for photography was mostly atrocious - camera screaming for more light.

http://www.moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=EC



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[mou-net] purple finch

[Larry Sirvio]

Today we had one female purple finch at the feeder. 
Last spring we had some purple finches for the first time at our feeder 
(Cottage Grove) in late April and early May.


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[mou-net] Camera help thanks

[Larry Sirvio]

Thanks to those who responded. The first two responses were within 5 minutes.
The problem was traced to a bent pin - the ones that make contact with the 
card. I was using an sd card with a CF adapter. The adapter was apparently 
crummy because one of the holes was a little smaller than the others (poor 
quality control).
Now I'll have to get it repaired.
Larry S


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[mou-net] Camera help

[Larry Sirvio]

This may be a little off topic but I'm desperate. Just bought a new Canon D50. 
After using it for a week it says the card is not formatted - a card I have 
been using. Tried to format that card and others - still does not recognize any 
card.
I'm desperate because I'm going on a birding trip soon (Ecuador). I'm not sure 
there is time to send the camera back for repair. Help!
Thanks
Larry S


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Re: [mou-net] Guess where I am?

[Larry Sirvio]

I'd say he's in Hong Kong checking out the latest electronics for Best Buy.

- Original Message - 
From: "Alt, Mark" 

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:41 PM
Subject: [mou-net] Guess where I am?


Here are the birds I have seen this week, guess where I am?

* Masked Laughing Thrush
* Eurasian Blackbird
* Little Grebe
* Brown Shrike
* Light Vented Bulbul
* Tree Sparrow
* Red-billed Blue Magpie

72 degrees out, feels like spring...

Mark Alt
Brooklyn Center, MN
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail


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[mou-net] Crossbills in your neighborhood?

[Larry Sirvio]

One thing I noticed in our area where crossbills have been feeding you will 
find spruce trees with lots of cones on the ground under the tree were they 
were feeding. At least if you see this you will know they are or have been in 
the area.
If not - keep looking :)


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[mou-net] Gull ID help

[Larry Sirvio]

I posted a picture of 2 gulls from the St. Croix River near Prescott. The one 
with the wings open needs id help. We'd like to include it in the Hastings CBC. 
Thanks


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[mou] Eurasian Wigeon-Hennepin Co

[Larry Sirvio]

At noon today (Tuesday) I tried to see the Eurasian wigeon from the north side 
of North Anderson Lake (GE parking lot) as described in previous posts. The 
lighting was bad so I went to the south side. I drove south off 494 on Prairie 
Center Drive and turned left (east) on Prairie Lakes Drive. I followed this 
until I got to 10700 Prairie Lakes Drive. From there I took a path north toward 
the lake (on foot). The path appears to have been made by the parks people for 
construction of a pipeline that is pumping water into the lake. I stayed on the 
hill overlooking the lake and found the bird feeding alone - more or less close 
to the south side. It was still pretty far away though. A spotting scope is 
almost a necessity. I took some pics that were not very good but good enough to 
id the bird. 
If someone wants more detail on how to get to this path - email me 
lmsirvio at comcast.net
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[mou] Park Point--from the MOU Conservation Committee

[Larry Sirvio]

Doesn't this sound like something the Non-Game Wildlife fund could help with?  
Can you mention this to Carrol Henderson?
  - Original Message - 
  From: Michael Hendrickson 
  To: Ken & Pam Perry ; mou-net at moumn.org 
  Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 9:11 AM
  Subject: Re: [mou] Park Point--from the MOU Conservation Committee


  To also add to this subject, yesterday while birding at Park Pt. I noticed 
that officials have already put red tape on many large spruce trees, birch 
trees, red maples and several other trees in the propose areas to be sold to 
developers.  The area is basically all the land from entrance to park point all 
the way to at least 200 feet away from the playground area.  This as many 
birders in Duluth know is prime area for viewing migrating birds.  Also the 
area describe has survey stakes erected and looks like its been surveyed and 
marked for potential buyers.  I was shocked on how many trees will be removed 
unless the red tape means these trees are to be saved but I doubt it.

  Mike

  Mike Hendrickson
  Duluth, Minnesota
  Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/
  Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/




  - Original Message 
  From: Ken & Pam Perry 
  To: mou-net at moumn.org
  Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 7:35:43 AM
  Subject: [mou] Park Point--from the MOU Conservation Committee


  Many of you are aware that the Duluth City Council has proposed selling Park 
Point land to raise money for the City.  Park Point is a significantly 
important area for birds.  More information about this issue can be found in 
the article at this link--



  http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:ZuQi-ghMeU0J:www.duluthnewstribune.com/a



  The Park Point land needs to stay in public ownership and not be developed.  
This is an important conservation issue for birds.  Comments to the mayor or 
letters to the Duluth News Tribune would be helpful at this time.  The Duluth 
mayor?s e-mail address is dness at duluthmn.gov



  --Pam Perry, MOU Conservation Committee Chair







--



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[mou] New Pics from Peru

[Larry Sirvio]

I posted some new pics on the MOU website from a recent trip to Peru. I had 
a chance to see a great variety of habitat - from high elevation down to 
cloud forest lowlands. Amazing stuff.
See:
http://moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=PE

If you don't want to go through all the pics in the Peru section -
scroll to the bottom of http://moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=PE
Look for "list records" and click
Next,  in the right hand column - find "photographer" heading - click on 
that, and it will sort alphabetically by photographer.
Then you can look at my pics - new and some older ones as well.

There are a few more to be added - but I think the best ones are there now. 

[mou] Hok-Si-La Banding

[Larry Sirvio]

This Saturday Carpenter Nature Center banders plan to be at Hok-Si-La Park
from 9AM to at least Noon.
Hok-Si-La is a Lake City, MN park just north of Lake City on Highway 61.
Everyone is welcome to come and watch. Oh yes, there are a lot of warblers
there now too -
Yoli and I went last night for a while and again this morning.

The migrant list for the day:

black and white warbler
black throated green warbler - see
http://moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?op=showcase  for a close encounter.
blue gray gnat catcher
Baltimore oriole
palm warbler
warbling vireo
yellow throated vireo (heard only)
yellow rumped warbler
yellow warbler
empidonax flycatcher

Judith Sparrow and Gary Ash were also there and their list was longer.
I hope the weather holds for the weekend.

[mou] Mourning warbler??

[Larry Sirvio]

I posted a picture of a bird I think is a female mourning warbler, but I'm
not sure.
Take a look.  This is from Spring Lake Preserve (archery range) in Dakota
Co.
There were also several Nashville warblers there as well as a yellow
warbler.
http://moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?op=showcase

[mou] Mystery bird help

[Larry Sirvio]

I posted a bird from MN River Valley NWR in Bloomington on the  new showcase
section
http://moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?op=showcase
The bird was at the feeder on the south side of the headquarters.
It has some characteristics of a female house finch but it isn't like any
house finch I have seen before.
Check it out and name that bird.
Thanks
Larry S

[mou] Oriole & Towhee at Carpenter Nature Center

[Larry Sirvio]

The rains held off at Carpenter this morning for Friday banding. Most of the
banded birds were slate colored juncos and white throated sparrows.
We did see one Baltimore oriole and an eastern towhee in the yard during the
morning.

[mou] Harlequin duck and his friends

[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?
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[mou] Carpenter Nature Center Mazatlan trip

[Larry Sirvio]

CNC sponsored a trip to the Mazatlan area (states of Sinaloa and San Blas). 
Total species seen for the week was 232. I posted some pics from the trip on 
the MOU website - Galleries - region = Mexico.

Highlight of the trip for me was the tufted jay and red warbler. The boat 
billed heron pic is kinde cute too.  Others on the trip have some better 
pics than I do. Hopefully they will add their pics to the MOU Gallery.

http://moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=MX

[mou] Harleqin duck

[Larry Sirvio]

I finally found the Harlequin today - after lots of attempts. Tom Bell called 
us at Carpenter Nature Center (Friday banding session) and had it in the scope 
when we arrived. The bird was on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix River in 
Prescott, Wi. It was standing on a rock on the shore between the Highway 10 
bridge and the RR bridge. I posted a pic on the MOU website (world gallery). 
Not the perfect shot but the best I could do. It is in the Galleries section 

http://moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=WD

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[mou] Bird ID to settle a debate

[Larry Sirvio]

Interesting. It is an American Tree Sparrow.
However, look at Sibley's illustrations. Nowhere do I see very black legs. What 
gives here?
MOU photos clearly show black legs.
Is there some kind of geographic variability?
  - Original Message - 
  From: John Mikes 
  Cc: MOU Net 
  Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 7:31 PM
  Subject: [mou] Bird ID to settle a debate


  Can you learned folks take at look at this image and provide an ID?  

  Thanks in advance.

  John Mikes
  http://www.weekendshoot.blogspot.com";>Weekend Shooter



--


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Mailing list membership available on-line at http://moumn.org/subscribe.html.
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[mou] about wildlife funding in Minnesota

[Larry Sirvio]

A few years ago I visited Louisiana on business. While I was there I took 
some time to drive around in a rural area looking for birds and wildlife. I 
found that in that state if I wanted to enter on of their wildlife 
management areas I had to have a state stamp - I suppose it is similar to 
our state duck stamp. This is how they were addressing the issue you 
discussed.
Larry S
  - Original Message - 
  From: jeff fischer
  To: Jim Williams
  Cc: mou-net at moumn.org
  Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:13 AM
  Subject: Re: [mou] about wildlife funding in Minnesota


  Even though Jim has asked us to reply directly to him instead of posting 
to the list server, due to the potentially controversial nature of this 
debate, I believe that this is a discussion that birders need to start 
getting involved in.

  First off the point that Jim makes is a valid point. Hunters and fishermen 
are one of the main financial supports of the NWR system that many of us 
frequently use. Hunters and fishermen also financially support wildlife 
areas at a state level, such as Carlos Avery in Minnesota and Crex Meadows 
in Wisconsin.

  While many hunters may care only about their sport and not care at all 
about birds or conservation, they are still paying for land that is habitat 
for a lot of birds that are not game birds. The main way that they do so is 
through the purchase of Duck Stamps. The Duck Stamp is required for people 
who wish to hunt waterfowl. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service 98 
cents of every dollar that comes from duck stamps is used to purchase or 
lease wetlands for protection in the NWR system. While many of us do not 
agree with hunting, myself included, we have benefited from the money that 
hunters have put into the system.

  Over the past decade the number of hunters has been steadily decreasing 
while the number of birders has been increasing. Most of us would view this 
as a good thing, however it means that there is less money coming in to 
purchase critical habitat that is needed for birds, and in the larger 
picture the planet, to survive. This is complicated by less tax money going 
for parks and environmental purposes and a lot of  land development eating 
away at the small vestiges of nature that still exist in this world.

  It is time for us as birders to start paying our share so that we can 
preserve the birds and the wildlife, and the land, and the water and the 
skies that we all love. Many of us, as responsible birders and 
environmentalists, already do help by giving money to groups like the 
Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, the National Parks 
Systems or others. Or we donate our time to different friends of NWR groups. 
This is all great but we can all help a little more by buying Duck Stamps 
for ourselves, I have purchased 5 so far this year. The Duck Stamp is not 
only a license to hunt waterfowl it is also a pass that lets you free into 
NWRs that charge and, as I have already expounded, it is a way for us to 
preserve more critical habitat.

  The problem that I think that many birders have is that they associate the 
Duck Stamp with hunting. Those that are against hunting have a hard time 
buying one for that reason, I know I was in that same boat. I would like to 
see the Duck Stamp evolve so that it was not tied to hunting. I think that 
the stamps should instead be tied to the use of the land, like a passport 
into the NWR system and other federally protected habitat. That way everyone 
who wants to use the land, for birding, fishing, hunting, photography, 
walking, biology or whatever would all pay our share through a yearly fee 
which would be in the form of a Duck Stamp. At 15$ a year it should be 
affordable to most everyone. This money would continue to be used to 
purchase habitat. People who wanted to hunt or fish would need to have a 
stamp and purchase a hunting or fishing license which would also support the 
land.

  Unfortunately this would take a change made by the government which is 
difficult to accomplish and time consuming. So for the present I think that 
all birders should purchase a Duck Stamp and we should start changing the 
image of the stamps ourselves. Who knows, maybe if we all start to view them 
as a sort of passport some day the government might just catch on.

  If you are interested in more information about Duck Stamps here is the 
website.
  http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Info/Stamps/stampinfo.htm


  Thanks,
  Jeff Fischer
  http://ecobirder.blogspot.com/


  - Original Message 
  From: Jim Williams 
  To: MOU net 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 2, 2007 9:19:52 PM
  Subject: [mou] about wildlife funding in Minnesota


  > Hi,
  >
  > I want to ask two questions about wildlife funding in Minnesota.
  >
  > Before you read on -- responses, should you choose to make them --
  > are to be off net, to me directly, please. This is a subject some
  > might find debatable, and this network is not

[mou] MOU Galleries - New pics

[Larry Sirvio]

Hello all,
I posted some new pics from Kenya on the MOU Galliries, Kenya section.
See:   http://moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=KE


My expertise in this area is nil, so if I have some errors please let me 
know.
Also, if someone knows Kenya birds, I have a few pics of "unknowns" that I 
can't figure out - even with two books in hand. I could send you the pics.
Thanks
Larry Sirvio
Cottage Grove 

[mou] Red breasted nuthatch

[Larry Sirvio]

OK - I'll add my 2 cents worth. We had a red breasted nuthatch at the feeder 
outside our back door (Cottage Grove) this week. This is a first for the 
feeder.
Larry S 

[mou] MOU membership

[Larry Sirvio]

Well said Mike -
Now, how about everyone else just ignore Richard's rants. If he has no 
forum...
  - Original Message - 
  From: Michael Hendrickson
  To: Richard Wood ; mnbird ; Mou-net
  Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 11:43 AM
  Subject: Re: [mou] MOU membership



  Richard Wood  wrote:
Hi all,

I want to thank Steve for his answer to my question about why I (or 
anyone, for that matter) should join the MOU.

That being said, even though I consider myself to be a serious birder, 
I'm not sure if the MOU is an organization I would join, mostly for 
financial reasons.

Richard you have the money remember you have a PH.D! LOL

At this time, all I really need from the MOU is access to its web site, 
which I can, and am doing, for free.  I don't have any bird projects that 
require grants (I would think that one wouldn't need to be a member of an 
organization to get grant money from it), nor do I agree with how data is 
collected per the records process (should one support a process that is done 
in a way they disagree with?), and the paper session, I could probably live 
without that (I'm more interested in my own papers that I have to write as 
well as those of others in my field).  One also need not be a member of the 
vehicle of a group in order to be able to associate with that group.  I've 
met quite a few birders on my outings and found them to be very nice; the 
fact that they or I are or were MOU members had nothing to do with our 
interaction.

Richard please do not join the MOU!

I don't want it to sound like I am "dissing" the MOU, because I am not. 
I'm just saying that at this time, my dollar is already stretch so thin that 
it's transparent, so I really need to justify what I put my money into, and 
at this time, I wouldn't be getting enough back on my investment if I was to 
join the MOU.

Richard you have dissed the MOU!

Someone wrote me last night and suggested that I "get better acquainted 
with the MOU Records Committee".  I'm curious as to why I should do that. 
I'm sure that they probably wouldn't want to deal with me. knowing that I am 
not fully 100% behind the way that they do their "job".  It was also 
mentioned to me that "clearly you are not a biological scientist".  No, I'm 
not, but there is a process that a scientist goes through in the name of 
gathering data, which should be the same, whether one is a chemist, 
physicist or biologist, and that is, you gather the data, draw your 
conclusions, based on the data, and then publish to a "peer-reviewed" 
journal.  During this process, none of your data falls by the wayside, even 
if it's so bad that it doesn't fit your hypothesis.

The hobby of birdwatching doesn't need scientists like yourself.  We are 
doing just fine without you.

Shouldn't birding be like that?  As it stands now, there is a person 
that will look at the results of CBC's and will "throw out" observations 
that that person deems to have not happened; kind of like the times I used 
to report seeing Baltimore Orioles in San Antonio, TX during migration to 
ebird, and someone there would write back to me and tell me that I didn't 
see Baltimore Orioles, when in fact, we did.  This happened on several 
occasions.
This may not bother many (if any) of you, but to me there is something 
so wrong in all of this that, to me, it almost borders on scientific 
misconduct, the fact that one can do an "experiment", using us as data 
collectors, and throw out any of our observations, on nothing more than a 
whim. and say I didn't give them enough "evidence".  Heck, one gentleman 
that I know of submitted the pages from his notebook as part of his report 
and they said, "you didn't see that...".  Good grief.

Richard on one of your records you submitted to the Utah records 
committee along with photo of the hummingbird, well it was turned down 
because the "high priests" of birding determine it was another species of 
hummingbird that is common to see in the state plus a author of a very well 
known hummingbird guide (woman) agreed with the Utah records committee!!  I 
know- I know you are a scientists with a PH.D and anytime you say you 
something unusual we MUST believe in you and your experience as a birder! 
Well Richard I did a lot of research on you and you made several ID mistakes 
you either posted on some listserv and if anyone disagrees with you and 
offers other possibilities you lose it!
Richard as long as you live in Minnesota I will not believe in any rare, 
casual, out of range or season bird species you spot and then share on this 
listserv.  I never met anyone like yourself! You move to Minnesota, you join 
the MOU-listserv and before you really had a chance to understand the MOU 
you bashed the organization, the people on the records committee, you bashed 
some people on this listserv, you labeled local bird experts as "high 
priests of birding" and you did all this in less than 3 1/2 mont

[mou] omygosh a cowbird :(

[Larry Sirvio]

Wow - another new visitor to the yard -
Never had one before - I should have been able to figure this one out from 
the behavior.
Another one of those lessons I won't soon forget.   Thanks to those who 
responded.

Larry Sirvio
Cottage Grove 

[mou] Rose Breasted Grosbeak Inter-Species Feeding

[Larry Sirvio]

I had an unusual visitor at the feeder and in the yard today. I finally 
figured out it must be an imm. rose breasted grosbeak. Sibley didn't have an 
illustrattion that matched so I posted 2 pics on the MOU website. 
www.moumn.org
Go to the Galleries and select Photo Gallery - MN
There are several other rbgb photos already there. Mine will be the last 2. 
I'm ready to be corrected if someone else can tell me what it is.
I've never seen a rose breasted grosbeak in my yard except for early spring.
The really amazing thing was that this bird was begging for food from a 
chipping sparrow. He had a routine. If the chipping sparrow showed up he 
went to a branch in a tree and begged. The chipping sparrow fed him several 
times. Each time the feeding would be in the tree - not at the feeder. I 
have some photos of the two together - in somewhat poor light but the size 
difference is very obvious. I've never heard of cross species feeding 
before - any comments?
Larry Sirvio
Cottage Grove 

[mou] ID skills retooling

[Larry Sirvio]

Regarding being "browbeaten" by so-called experts -
Nowadays we have two tools at our disposal to back up claims of unusual 
birds - cameras and sound recorders. I've used both - and shot down all of 
my own questionable observations
Butif I did see an unusual bird I'd sure try to document what I saw. 
Even a slightly fuzzy pic can be enough to convince...one way or the other.
So we should not feel intimidated if we have some evidence.. 

[mou] Black and White warbler?

[Larry Sirvio]

I saw a bird that looked like a black and white warbler at my bird bath this 
evening. At first I thought it was a nuthatch (one lives in the 
neighborhood) but the patches of black and white were striped not solid like 
the nuthatch. It looked like a female with the area behind the eye not as 
black as the male and the breast area was streaked black and white. Does 
anyone know if black and white warblers could be seen in Washington Co in 
July? I've never seen one in my back yard at any time prior to today.
Thanks
Larry Sirvio
Cottage Grove 

[mou] Dakota Co Mockingbird

[Larry Sirvio]

How ironic - after spending time with Craig Mandel in the cemetery in Mora,
MN looking for the mockingbird - I stumbled onto one at the Archery Range
picnic pavilion (part of Spring Lake Park Reserve - west of Hastings, MN). I
had gone there looking for the wood thrush after missing it on Monday.
It was perched on a sign post near the pavilion. I followed it when it flew
but never saw it again. I made the loop aroung the archery range and looked
again an hour later with no success. We did hear two wood thrushes at the
end of the walk around the loop.

The archery range is at the end of Fahey Avenue which goes north off Highway
55 a few miles west of Hastings.

Larry Sirvio
Cottage Grove

[mou] Black throated blue warbler

[Larry Sirvio]

I uploaded a pic of the black throated blue warbler to the MOU website.
http://moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=MN

It's not a great pic - too far away and really bad lighting. Tried video too
and that was worse.
Unfortunately the extraneous noise (stone cutters, dogs, etc) made audio
recording conditions worse than the photo conditions.
The bird was seen on the south side of Wood Lake Nature Center. Enter back
gate on Bryant Avenue. The bird is hanging out about 100 yards inside the
gate. Take the left trail when you enter the gate and listen. He calls
frequently. When I recorded the video he was singing a different song from
the one I heard most of the time I was there.

[mou] Carlos Avery Cuckoo

[Larry Sirvio]

Went with Bob Holtz and others to Carlos Avery this morning. Quite a few of
the usual things that others have been seeing..exceptthe highlight
of the day was a black-billed cuckoo. The bird was sitting on the road and
fluttered up to a shrub on the side of the road for a 30 seconds or so
giving all a good look.
As always, Bob was dispensing useful information for birders to help them id
and remember the birds.
Thanks again Bob
Larry Sirvio

[mou] Wood Thrush pics

[Larry Sirvio]

I entered the wood thrush pics from this morning on the MOU website -
galleries/MN

http://moumn.org/gallery/index.php?region=MN

Hopefully someone with a good camera can get some better ones (note to David
C)
Larry Sirvio

[mou] EZ to see wood thrush

[Larry Sirvio]

I went to Spring Lake Park Reserve (Dakota County Parks System) about
11:30AM. As I got out of the car I could
hear 2!! wood thrushes singing nearby.and from the tree tops
as well. I went for the closest one and it took about 1/2 and hour to
finally see him - even though he was singing for the whole time. He was
actually in a dead tree - out in the open. Still too far for a great photo.
I took some anyway - and video of him singing. Still too far away for good
video. But still, to see that bird out in the open.and he didn't move
for more than an hour.
I walked around the archery range trail and found another singing wood
thrush. This one was a little jumpier. He was out in the open and moved from
tree to tree whenever I approached.

There was also an ovenbird doing the same thing - out in the open - flitting
from tree to tree. This one was nervous too and wouldn't let me get close
enough for a good pic. I played his call back to him and he really
responded - flying back and forth.

My guess is that if someone wants to get a good recordings of either of
these, now would be a good time. With a good camera or maybe digiscope you
might get a good shot.

The wood thrushes were still singing when I left the part about 1PM

This park has several parts. The part I went to is located west of Hastings
off of Highway 55. The entrance is on Fahey Avenue which goes north off of
52 - about half way between Hastings and Highway 52.

Thanks to Jen Veith for putting me on this one.

[mou] Ecuador Gallery

[Larry Sirvio]

I added some more pics to the MOU pictures gallery - select Ecuador for the
area and look for:
long tailed tyrant
yellow tufted woodpecker
mottle backed elaenia
olive chested flycatcher
pale legged (Pacific) hornero
white banded swallow
Some of these are a little fuzzy. I'll have to go back and try again.
Larry S

[mou] MOU Photo Galleries

[Larry Sirvio]

I've had several questions regarding the location of the MOU photo
galleries.
The MOU website is at:
www.moumn.org
On the left side of the page you can select "galleries", then gallery - MN,
then from a drop-down menu select the part of the world you want to view.

Larry S

[mou] Peru pics

[Larry Sirvio]

I added a few more pics from the puna (high altitude). Most of these are
from 14,000 to 15,000 ft just off the central highway that goes from Lima to
Ticlio. Unfortunately I never made it to the last stop in Ticlio. The
altitude got to me and I told the guide that we had to turn back before I
got really sick. This trip was a one day trip taken through Kolibri
Expeditions in Lima. The guide was Alejandro Tello.Birds that I entered
were: bright rumped yellow-finch, Andean ibis, ash breasted sierra-finch,
white winged cinclodes, streak throated canastero, mourning sierra-finch,
and black siskin.

Larry Sirvio

[mou] New Birds for gallery

[Larry Sirvio]

I added some new birds to the gallery. They are listed under Peru. The ones
I added today were from Lima; long-tailed mockingbird, saffron finch, shiny
cowbirds, bananaquit, and the really interesing dark morph vermilion
flycatchers from Lima. Apparently, Lima is the only area where the dark
morph (obscurans) is really common. Also the non-dark morph females seem to
have a lot of variability as far as color (red or salmon or none) and also
the extent of the color on the belly is variable (from none to the whole
belly area). The variability of the females is not confined to Lima. I saw a
female in Ecuador with no color on the belly - just the light brown stripes.
Larry Sirvio