[mou-net] Golden Eagle Survey January 18
This coming Saturday will be the 10th Annual Wintering Golden Eagle Survey. Although all established routes have been spoken for, there is still an opportunity for you to help us out. Any Golden Eagle sightings anywhere in the state over the next two weeks would be greatly appreciated. Last year over 154 observers counted over 130 Golden Eagles in Southeast MN, Western WI, northern IL, and Northeast IA. Thank you for helping us better understand this wintering population of Golden Eagles. THANK YOU, *Scott A. Mehus* *Education Director* *NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER* 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Bonaparte's Gulls Wabasha, Wabasha County
In about a half hours time, from 9:00-9:30 am, I have seen over 375 Bonaparte's Gulls migrating by the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Wabasha County. It is by the far the most I have seen in Minnesota in such a short time span. they were all heading up river, so look over Lake Pepin for them. -- THANK YOU, *Scott A. Mehus* *Education Director* *NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER* 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Harlequin Duck Wabasha County still present
Bill Tefft and I observed the Harlequin Duck at 11:30 am January 20 2013. We observed the bird from the LD parking lot in Alma WI. We had tried an hour earlier and could not locate it, but came back for one more try. It took about 10 minutes this time before it just appeared, it must have been feeding up near the roller gates as it frequently does. -- THANK YOU, *Scott A. Mehus* *Education Director* *NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER* 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] Harlequin Duck Wabasha County Mississippi River
I observed the Harlequin Duck in Wabasha County from 4:00 until 4:30 pm when it took off with a flock of 6 Common Goldeneyes. Then at one point the goldeneyes veered downriver while the Harlequin headed upriver towards the LD, and then I lost it in the fading light. I have observed this other nights as well, I think it might even sit on the concrete of the LD at night. January 13 2013 *Scott A. Mehus* 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] Harlequin Duck Wabasha County
The Harlequin Duck was present below the lock and dam at Alma WI this morning 1-8-13. The bird was hanging out on the MN side of the river most of the time. -- THANK YOU, *Scott A. Mehus* * * 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]
The ninth annual Wintering Golden Eagle Survey will take place on Saturday January 19th 2013. All of the Minnesota Routes are spoken for, but there are multiple routes available in North East Iowa and also some routes in Wisconsin. The routes in WI are east of Prairie du Chien, and also in the Tomah and WI Dells area. On last years survey over 154 observers counted over 130 Golden Eagles in Minnesota and Wisconsin, if you would like to help out by taking take some of the last available routes, please let me know. THANK YOU, *Scott A. Mehus* *Education Director* *NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER* 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] Golden Eagle at the Coon Rapids Dam
Wanted to let folks know that Ron Taube just sent me photos of a first year Golden Eagle by the Coon Rapids Dam. It appeared to be working the waterfowl located on the river. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who happens to encounter this bird again. Photos would be great if you would be wiling to share, but also observations of the behavior of this bird near the water and the waterfowl. Thanks in advance! -- -- THANK YOU, *Scott A. Mehus* *Education Director* *NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER* 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Golden Eagle talk
On December 15th at 11:00 am I will be leading a talk on Golden Eagles in Minnesota at the Houston Nature Center. Following that, at 1:00 pm, there will be a field trip for those that will be participating in the 9th Annual Golden Eagle Survey which will be held on January 19th 2013. This field trip will focus on helping surveyors with ID tips for identifying Golden Eagles and how to increase the chances of finding Golden Eagles on the count day. If anybody is interested in the talk, field trip or survey please feel free to contact me. There will be a similar day held at Whitewater State Park on January 5 2013, the only difference would the be start of the public talk, at Whitewater it will start at 11:15 am. THANK YOU *Scott A. Mehus* *Education Director* *NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER* 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Hooded Warbler at Krueger Park Wabasha County
I was at Krueger Park from 7:45-9:05 am today and was able to relocate the male Hooded Warbler that Andy Nyhus reported yesterday. His directions were right to the T. The bird would actively signing for about 20 minutes and then be quite for about 20 minutes. It was very hard to observe the bird though in the heavy cover of this ravine. The bridge area seems to be the back side of it's territory as he would work his way to the North East while signing and then the song would become fairly faint. So be patient and eventually he works his way towards the bridge along the trail. Krueger Park is a great park to bird, there are lots of trails to explore! -- THANK YOU, *Scott A. Mehus* *Education Director* *NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER* 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Winona County Surf Scoter
I was able to relocate the Surf Scoter that Dedrick Benz found yesterday at Prairie Island in Winona. I located the bird close to the WI side of the river. I viewed the scoter from the spillway dike. The bird was associating with a group of Buffleheads. I watched the Surf Scoter from 11:10 - 11:40 am. It was fun to see this bird in full breeding plumage. -- THANK YOU, *Scott A. Mehus* *Education Director* *NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER* 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Winona County White-winged Dove 4-29-12
After enjoying seeing the Surf Scoter in Winona I decided to visit Lewiston MN. I wanted to see if I could relocated the White-winged Dove that had been seen there and also to see the Lewiston sewage ponds before they go dry and we lose a reliable shore bird spot in Winona County. At the sewage ponds there were about 100 shorebirds and were mostly Greater and Lesser Yellow-legs, Pectoral Sandpipers, Killdeer.1 Long-billed Dowitcher, and 8 American Pipits. I then drove into town and searched for the White-winged Dove. I saw Rock Doves, Mourning Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves, and then finally a glimpse of a White-winged Dove as it flew away. Tried re-finding it for about an hour and then re-found it about1:50 pm across from the St. Johns Church were I was able to see it very well about 15 feet away in a red maple tree. Thanks to those who originally posted these birds. -- THANK YOU, *Scott A. Mehus* *Education Director* *NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER* 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Wisconsin golden eagle released with transmitter
This is Wisconsin bird news, but still pretty cool, so hope you will enjoy reading this! On February 16, 2012, the National Eagle Center and Audubon Minnesota released a golden eagle fitted with a satellite transmitter near Waupaca, WI. By tracking golden eagles known to use the blufflands in winter, The Golden Eagle Project strives to understand migration patterns, breeding origins and winter habitat needs for these birds. Golden Eagle Project Co-coordinator Scott Mehus notes, This bird shows that the range of wintering golden eagles may be larger than any of us expected. The Golden Eagle Project conducts an annual survey and has found the consistent presence of golden eagles wintering in the blufflands of southeast Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northeast Iowa. This year's survey on January 21, 2012 recorded the presence of 129 golden eagles in the survey area. The release yesterday of a golden eagle from north central Wisconsin will add important information to the growing body of data on golden eagles wintering in the Upper Midwest says Golden Eagle Project Co-coordinator Mark Martell of Audubon Minnesota. Golden Eagle 45 (Jeanette) was trapped in Waupaca County, Wisconsin on Wed. afternoon (Feb 15) at 4:15pm. We banded and tagged the bird on Thursday and released her around noon. Eagle 45 is a large adult female weighing in over 14 pounds. She had been feeding on deer carcasses in the area and was caught on trail cams since the beginning of January. This represents our most eastern capture and it will be very exciting to see where she ends up. Her immediate reaction after being captured was to leave the immediate area and move about 11 miles north. The release of this eagle is part of an on-going project investigating golden eagles that winter in Wisconsin and Minnesota. A golden eagle released in 2009 migrated from western Wisconsin and spent the summer north of the Arctic Circle. Photos and maps detailing the migrations and location of these birds are available at NationalEagleCenter.org and MN.Audubon.org. The Golden Eagle Project is a partnership of the National Eagle Center and Audubon Minnesota, with support from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Non-Game Division, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and funding support through Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. THANK YOU, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-5357 - Fax 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.orgmailto:sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Preliminary results from the 8th Annual Wintering Golden Eagle Survey.
I will send out a detailed report of the day's findings once we get all the data put together, but wanted to give everyone a little taste of what was found on Saturday. On Saturday, January 21st, 2012 volunteer observers got out around the blufflands and observed 125 golden eagles. More than 140 volunteer observers covered survey areas in sixteen counties in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. This year's total represents more than a 50% increase in golden eagles observed over last year. Clear skies and cold weather on the day of the count made for ideal golden eagle viewing. The survey also reported sightings of a variety of other raptors, including bald eagles. The Annual Wintering Golden Eagle Survey is part of an on-going project to learn more about the golden eagle population in the blufflands region. Golden eagles were not previously considered regular inhabitants of this area. For the last eight years, the Wintering Golden Eagle Survey has gathered important data to confirm a regular wintering population of golden eagles in the blufflands of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. The National Eagle Center offers opportunities throughout the winter months with field trips to learn more about golden eagles and view them in the wild. The Golden Eagle Project is also tracking golden eagles using GPS satellite transmitters to find out more about migration and possible breeding origin of these birds. Tracking maps are available at nationaleaglecenter.org. The Golden Eagle Project is a partnership of the National Eagle Center and Audubon Minnesota with support from the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources and United States Fish and Wildlife Service and funding through Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. To find out more about the Golden Eagle Project, contact Project Co-Coordinator Scott Mehus at the National Eagle Center. THANK YOU, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-5357 - Fax 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.orgmailto:sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Golden Eagle survey this Saturday and request for golden eagle sightings
Just wanted to let Minnesota birders know that this Saturday is the 8th Annual Wintering Golden Eagle Survey, hopefully we can top last year's count of over 80 golden eagles sighted. Thanks to a lot of interest we have a record number of over 48 routes in MN, WI, and IA, but at this time there are no open MN routes available, but you can still help us out. If you see a golden eagle somewhere in the state of MN over the next week, the Wintering Golden Eagle Survey would love to be able to utilize that information, so please post to the list serve or email me directly any sightings. THANK YOU for your time, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-5357 - Fax 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.orgmailto:sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] WI Barrows Goldeneye, White-winged Scoter, and Long-tailed Duck 1-5-12
On 1-1-12 Dedrick Benz posted a sighting of a Barrow's Goldeneye and a White-winged Scoter on the Mississippi River near Minneiska Minnesota and observed that the flocks of mergansers and goldeneyes that these birds were mingling with at times would fly over into WI waters. I wanted to let everyone know that I was able to re-find the Barrow's Goldeneye and White-winged Scoter and a Long-tailed duck in Wisconsin waters, but I also was able to observe them fly over into Minnesota as well. Most of the flock flew when an airboat was working its way through the backwaters. The birds would also move when chunks of ice would shift, causing eerie sounds that although were cool to hear, made me think about moving as well. I saw them in Buffalo City WI, Buffalo County WI from River Road and Second Street. When they flew into MN waters they would then be visible from the town of Minneiska MN. With the warm weather we are now having, there will be even more open water in the next few days maybe making the flocks stay in one place longer. Thanks to Dedrick Benz for originally reporting some of these birds so that I then took a closer look at what was hanging out on the WI side of the river. THANK YOU, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-5357 - Fax 651-565-4989 ext. 101 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] Wabasha county snowy owl not refound
In case anybody is interested, I took sometime this morning to try and relocate the snowy owl that Dave Bartkey had reported south west of Lake City along county road 15, but was unable to find it. It may have been hunkered down trying to avoid the 40mph gusts! THANK YOU, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-5357 - Fax 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.orgmailto:sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Freeborn county snowy owl
On Christmas day I thought it would be nice to show my mother a snowy owl, and thought we would head up to Albert Lea to try and relocate the snowy owl by Love's Truck Stop that Al Batt had reported earlier in the week. We had just gotten out of my hometown of Glenville along HWY 65 when we are able to spot a juvenile male snowy on a power line pole. My mother and boys were able to get great looks at this snowy which was about 2 miles north of the town of Glenville. We were unable to relocate the Truck Stop owl though. Of the ten snowy owls that I have seen this winter, this was one of the darkest yet. THANK YOU, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-5357 - Fax 651-565-4989 ext. 101 Email sc...@nationaleaglecenter.orgmailto:sc...@nationaleaglecenter.org Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] 9 Golden Eagles seen in Winona and Houston counties
Yesterday I met with Scott Leddy of Meadowlark Restorations who is actively and passionately involved in restoring bluff prairie habitat. He wanted to show me some of the work that they have done as he knows how I talk about how golden eagles utilize this type of habitat. We concentrated our looking in an area basically from Rushford to Houston to Wilson to Wyatviille. While looking at the habitat work he has done and other bluff prairies, I was able to show Scott some golden eagles as well. I had done some looking for golden eagles before and after meeting Scott, so for the day I was able to see 9 golden eagles. Eight were adults and were paired up and perching near each other or just a couple of trees away. Only one of the adults and the sub adult were the only ones observed in flight, making it difficult to find these birds unless you know where to look, and what I find so interesting is that it is the same bluffs or even the same trees that I have seen birds using for the past seventeen years that I have visiting these areas. If anybody is interested in helping with the 8th Annual Wintering Golden Eagle Survey which takes place on January 21st 2012, we still have some routes open in Houston and Fillmore counties. There are just as many golden eagles to be found in those areas, so if you would like to help with the survey and advance our knowledge on this wintering population, just let me know. Last year we had over 100 surveyors count over 80 golden eagles in south east Minnesota, north east Iowa and western Wisconsin. THANK YOU, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-4989 ext. 101 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] 274 Bald Eagles and 1 Snowy Owl
Wanted to let everyone know what the bald eagle numbers are like along the Mississippi River near Wabasha. At 1:00 today there were over 274 bald eagles near Read's Landing. Most of these were visible from the town of Read's Landing and the first pull off just upriver from the town of Read's Landing. One small sandbar had over 60 eagles sitting on it! There is also a nice assortment of waterfowl, along with both Tundra and Trumpeter Swans. From the HWY 61 Geological marker just upriver from the above mentioned spots, I also found a Snowy Owl. I was standing in Minnesota, but the owl was standing along the shoreline on the Wisconsin side of Lake Pepin. THANK YOU, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
