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18 Mar Fillmore. Mower, and Steele Cty [Dennis and Barbara Martin ] 18 Mar [mou-rba] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, March 18, 2010 [Jeanie Joppru ] 18 Mar Lake Byllesby, late afternoon today [Laura Coble ] 18 Mar Migrant Waterfowl [Bruce Baer ] 18 Mar SIGNOFF MOU-NET [Alice Laudon ] 18 Mar Geese over St. Peter, Nicollet County [Robert Dunlap ] 18 Mar Prescott and Lake Byllesby migrants today [Jim Mattsson ] 18 Mar Snowy Owl, Glacial Ridge NWR [Kelly Larson ] 18 Mar Cardinal & Hawk Owl in northern St Louis County [] 18 Mar Fwd: Tundra Swans, Dakota and Goodhue Counties [Laura Coble ] 17 Mar Great Blue Heron rookery, Hennepin county [Curt Rawn ] 17 Mar Bald Eagles on Boot Lake [Gary and Cindy Nelson ] 17 Mar Wells Lake update [Dave Bartkey ] 17 Mar Wells Lake update [Dave Bartkey ] 17 Mar Western Great Lakes Owl Monitoring ["Debbie Waters" ] 17 Mar Western Great Lakes Owl Monitoring [Debbie Waters ] 17 Mar Carver County addition [John Cyrus ] 17 Mar Northern Hawk Owl Map Update [Michael Hendrickson ] 17 Mar Duluth migrants and White-winged Crossbills [Kim R Eckert ] 17 Mar birds apps for Google Nexus One [Ben Parke ] 17 Mar Arrivals ["Pastor Al Schirmacher" ] 17 Mar Carver County-Hundreds of Tundra Swans [John Cyrus ] 17 Mar Arrivals [Pastor Al Schirmacher ] 16 Mar Mixed species V formation [] 16 Mar Tundra Swans - Dakota County [Scott Loss ] 16 Mar Swans [Linda Roberts ] 16 Mar bird sights [Mike Butterfield ] 16 Mar Birding 3/15-16 [Michael Hendrickson ] 16 Mar Great Horned Owl fledglings shimmying up side of tree, follow up post ["Pastor Al Schirmacher" ] 16 Mar Great Horned Owl fledglings shimmying up side of tree, follow up post ["Pastor Al Schirmacher" ] 16 Mar Great Horned Owl fledglings shimmying up side of tree, follow up post [Pastor Al Schirmacher ] 16 Mar Great GrayOwl in St Louis County [] 16 Mar Great Horned Owl Behavior ["Pastor Al Schirmacher" ] 16 Mar Great Horned Owl Behavior [Pastor Al Schirmacher ] 16 Mar Great Horned Owl Behavior ["Pastor Al Schirmacher" ] 15 Mar Blackdog Road closed ["R.D. Everhart" ] 15 Mar Red-shouldered Hawks (photos), raptor species & more! [Erik Bruhnke ] 15 Mar Re: A Listing Question [Pastor Al Schirmacher ] 15 Mar Audubon Birds of America ["dan&erika" ] 15 Mar Audubon Birds of America [dan&erika ] 15 Mar Re: Crows remember their enemies [Bill Kahn ] 15 Mar Crow story - link correction [Claudia Egelhoff ] 15 Mar listing [Michael K Stickel ] 15 Mar Crows remember their enemies [Claudia Egelhoff ] 15 Mar Re: [mnbird] about the metro [Warren Woessner ] 15 Mar about the metro [Steve Weston ] 14 Mar Hooded Merganser - Ramsey County [Jim Ryan ] 14 Mar Hooded Merganser - Ramsey County [Jim Ryan ] 14 Mar Turkey Vulture [Dave Bartkey ] 14 Mar Re: Sandhill Cranes [Holly Peirson ] 14 Mar Sandhill Cranes [roy zimmerman ] 14 Mar Turkey Vulture [Dave Bartkey ] 14 Mar 300 and other lists [Frank Berdan ] 14 Mar Mute Swans [Dave Bartkey ] 14 Mar Mute Swans [Dave Bartkey ] 14 Mar Goldeneye on Miss.River near Hennepin Ave. [Patricia Novakovich ] 14 Mar Broad-winged Hawk at Carver Park [Don Darnell ] 14 Mar Wood Lake [Amy Blake ] 14 Mar Carver County [John Cyrus ] 13 Mar Sandhill crane [Stefanie Moss ] 13 Mar new species in southeast [Steve Midthune ] 13 Mar olmstead county birds [james otto ] 13 Mar Help a CO birder? [Carol Sullivan ] 13 Mar MOU Board meeting [] 13 Mar Re: A Listing Question [Jim Ryan ] 13 Mar Living Green Expo [Tom Bell ] 13 Mar Re: A Listing Question [Jason Caddy ] 13 Mar Re: A Listing Question [Craig ] 13 Mar A Listing Question [Diana Doyle ] 13 Mar Re: MOU-NET Digest - 11 Mar 2010 to 12 Mar 2010 (#2010-19) [Raymond Potthoff ] 13 Mar Re: A Listing Question [Laura Erickson ] 13 Mar Re: A Listing Question [Jason Caddy ] 12 Mar A Listing Question [Michael Hendrickson ] 13 Mar Eagle (owl) Cam [Gail Wieberdink ] 12 Mar Red-winged Blackbirds [] 12 Mar Birding Faribault this afternoon [Forest Strnad ] Subject: Fillmore. Mower, and Steele Cty From: Dennis and Barbara Martin <dbmartin AT SKYPOINT.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:58:28 -0500 Fillmore At least 1500 Canada Geese moving in various places, 9 Sandhill Cranes in flocks of Canadas, 30 Tundra Swans on 121st Ave just south of 200th St., both Eastern and Western meadowlarks singing, Long-eared Owl in Beaver Creek WMA (migrant as this bird not here last weekend, probably gone in a day or so), best bird in county was a Loggerhead Shrike carefully studied, as expected it to be a northern, on 121st Ave at 190th St., our earliest date ever although have seen in March before. Mower Excellent flooded field on Cty Rd 25 about a mile north of Cty Rd 2 or about 6 miles north of Austin, in field were 125 While-fronted Geese, 3 Ross's Geese, 9 Snow Geese, 90 plus Tundra Swans, uncounted 100 plus Canada Geese and at least 10 Cackling Geese, and none were more than 80 yards from the car, also 70 Tundra Swan were seen between Taopi and LeRoy in southeast Mower Cty. Steele Flooding of the Straight River complex on Cty Rd 45, a couple of miles north of State 30, has produces huge numbers of all kinds of waterfowl, also check SE 143rd St east of Cty 45 and SW 128 St west of Cty 45, at least 2000 were ducks including nearly every normal species, and very large numbers (probably in excess of 2000 or more) on the ground and flying above of Tundra Swans, White-fronted, Canada, Cackling, and Ross's geese (only species not seen were Snow Geese.) A family group of Trumpeter Swans were also present here. I consider this speces unusual, but getting more common) in most of southern Minnesota. Dennis and Barbara Martin Shorewood, MN dbmartin AT skypoint.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: [mou-rba] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, March 18, 2010 From: Jeanie Joppru <rba AT MOUMN.ORG> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:10:03 -0600 -RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *March 18, 2010 *MNDL1003.18 -Birds mentioned Snow Goose Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan Tundra Swan Mallard Northern Pintail Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Gray Partridge Sharp-tailed Grouse Greater Prairie-Chicken Wild Turkey Northern Harrier Golden Eagle American Kestrel Merlin Sandhill Crane Mourning Dove Snowy Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Shrike Black-billed Magpie Horned Lark American Robin Cedar Waxwing Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes Date: March 18, 2010 Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours) Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru AT q.com) This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, March 18, 2010 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888. Spring is coming the the northwest. As I compile this report, the ice is slowing sliding out of the Red Lake River by our house east of Thief River Falls, although I know that some ice still remains as the river passes through town. Birds are starting to come back - I saw two small flocks of geese, and a merlin on my way to work, and the resident horned larks have arrived in our neighboring fields. I have reports of CANADA GEESE, and HORNED LARKS from most counties. Larry Wilebski in Kittson County reported on the species that he and Ron Erpelding saw in northwest of Lancaster on March 12: WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in Lancaster, GRAY PARTRIDGE, WILD TURKEYS, MERLIN, and NORTHERN SHRIKE among others. Connie Cox reported a pair of TRUMPETER SWANS and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER in Clearwater County this week. From Agassiz NWR in Marshall County, Gary Tischer reported that the pools are about 50 % ice free already, and the first waterfowl are starting to come in. This week there were a few CANADA GEESE. 5 MALLARDS and several COMMON GOLDENEYE arrived on March 16. On March 13, there were 15 CEDAR WAXWINGS at headquarters, and the BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES are making a nest there also. On March 18 a NORTHERN HARRIER was seen, and a BUFFLEHEAD showed up at Agassiz Pool. Along MN 89 at Mud River there were 2 SNOW GEESE, and a TUNDRA SWAN on March 16. Ten NORTHERN PINTAILS were observed on private land north of the refuge on March 18. Pam Murphy in Pennington County southwest of Thief River Falls reported a pair of SANDHILL CRANES, several MOURNING DOVES, and a flock of 80-100 WILD TURKEYS that are resident nearby. Some of these turkeys were also reported by Bruce Olson who lives west of Thief River Falls. Zeann Linder observed a MERLIN calling near her house in the city. Anita Vettleson reported that she saw four WILD TURKEYS near Plummer in Red Lake County this week. Ron Erpelding and I saw a GOLDEN EAGLE just inside Red Lake County in the northwest corner of the county on March 13. Chris Merkord found WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on the East Grand Forks campus of Northland Community and Technical College in Polk County on March 13. Sandy Aubol reported 2 COMMON REDPOLLS in East Grand Forks on March 16. Kelly Larson, while birding in Polk County at Glacial Ridge, saw TRUMPETER SWANS, CANADA GEESE, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GRAY PARTRIDGE , NORTHERN HARRIER, and many HORNED LARKS on March 17. Best of all, she found an adult SNOWY OWL on the snow clumps along the edge of the road a quarter mile southeast of the gravel company office. Ron Erpelding and I found two GOLDEN EAGLES in the county on March 14- one at Glacial Ridge in the gravel pit, and one southeast of Sherack near the border with Red Lake County. Mel Bennefeld reported two flocks of CANADA GEESE and a female NORTHERN HARRIER at the Pondorosa Golf Club in Clay County on March 17. In Otter Tail County, Dan and Sandy Thimgan saw AMERICAN KESTREL on March 16, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS on March 17, and COMMON GRACKLE and AMERICAN ROBINS on March 18. Thanks to Anita Vettleson, Bruce Olson, Chris Merkord, Connie Cox, Dan and Sandy Thimgan, Gary Tischer, Kelly Larson, Larry Wilebski, Mel Bennefeld, Pam Murphy, Ron Erpelding, Sandy Aubol, and Zeann Linder for their reports. Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru AT q.com OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, March 25, 2010 Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Lake Byllesby, late afternoon today From: Laura Coble <shearwater45 AT FRONTIERNET.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:03:07 -0500 Between 5 and 6:30 pm, on the west side of Lake Byllesby (accessed from Hwy 88, 1/4 mi. east of Randolph, on a trail from the pullout), I saw most of what Jim Mattson saw in his previous report this am, except for the Sandhill Cranes and the hawks: I added Bufflehead and and Red-breasted Merganser to the ducks I saw yesterday. Due to Michael Mann, who arrived later at this location, and pointed them out, I saw 2 White-fronted Geese and the Ross's Goose that Jim reported, though neither of us had seen his post yet. Michael had seen a Northern Pintail earlier. About 200 of the geese lifted off, including the Ross's Goose, and it was great fun to see the little goose flying among the gigantic geese. We also found at least 20 Cackling Geese among the hundreds of Canada Geese that had originally landed. We saw only 6 Tundra Swans. Many of the Canada Geese were taking off as I left, and there were skeins of geese everywhere in the sky, some flying at very high. Laura Coble ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Migrant Waterfowl From: Bruce Baer <bbbaer957 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:38:56 -0500 Two very flocks of White-fronted Geese over Sand Point. Many flocks of Canadas on the move. In the corn stubble at Kellogg Dunes were 200 grounded Tundra Swans. Two Cackling Geese amongst the hundreds of Canadas at Orinoco. Three Trumpeter Swans in Whitewater Valley. I expected to see hundred or more Bald Eagles, but came home with not more than twenty. Water fowl were very scarce and few in numbers. Pepin and Whitewater Valley are still frozen over for the most part. A few Killdeer, Eastern Bluebirds, Common Grackles and Sandhill Cranes. Bruce Baer Bloomington, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: SIGNOFF MOU-NET From: Alice Laudon <ali_lau AT MSN.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:53:33 -0500 SIGN OFF MOU-NET UNTIL MARCH 29,2020 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Geese over St. Peter, Nicollet County From: Robert Dunlap <rdunlap AT GUSTAVUS.EDU> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:41:41 -0500 Today I've been watching a significant movement of geese over campus here at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, This morning a flock of around 40 Canadas had a lone Greater White-fronted with it. Next came a mixed flock of 50 or so Canada and Cackling. A few pure Canada flocks came and went, then around 12:30 a very impressive flock of around 130 Greater White-fronted Geese flew over, heading NW. As I came out of a meeting around 3:30 this afternoon, I witnessed another flock of about 60 Greater White-fronteds flying overhead. Look up, Bob Dunlap, Nicollet County -- Bob Dunlap Naturalist, Linnaeus Arboretum Manager, Nobel Hall Greenhouse Gustavus Adolphus College 800 West College Ave. Saint Peter, MN 56082 507-933-7199 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Prescott and Lake Byllesby migrants today From: Jim Mattsson <mattjim AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:33:33 -0500 Prescott area 3/18 10:00-12:00noon First time in a while with non-northerly winds, and mostly Canada Geese were on the move. Everything else was quite slow, especially raptors. Most interesting were: Canada Goose = 2,620 - continuous flocks Gr. White-fronted Goose = 144 Cackling Goose = 2 Sandhill Cranes = 5 Tundra Swan = 220 Red-shouldered Hawk = 2 Red-tailed Hawk = 5 Northern Harrier = 1 Bald Eagle = 10 migrants, many others just circling to the south Lake Byllesby 1:00-1:45pm Ross's Goose = 1 -This guy came in with a large flock of Canada's Cackling Goose = 20 Gr. White-fronted Goose = 20 Good diversity of divers as well, but numbers low Jim ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Snowy Owl, Glacial Ridge NWR From: Kelly Larson <northernflightsfarm AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:28:26 -0500 Spent yesterday searching for signs of spring in Polk county. There was a lot of water in western part of the county. Miles of beet fields were flooded to the ditches along 75 south of Crookston and along Cty Hwy 1 east towards Fertile. The wind whipped white caps on the fields and hundreds of Horned Larks were locked in along the road edges. All that water, only one pair of Trumpeter Swans and a few C. Geese could be found. Glacial Ridge was pretty slow. A smattering of Sharp-tailed Grouse and G. Prairie Chicken heard from three different locations. The Chickens were moving around a bit, perhaps playing musical leks? Lots of Horned Larks. A beautiful, nearly pure white Snowy Owl was hunting from the tops of the last large snow clumps along the edge of the road 1/4 mile SE of the Tilden Jnct. Gravelpit Office. I watched the bird for about an hour and could find only 5 or 6 tiny flecks of black on the head and shoulder-caps of this individual. I assume this would indicate that it was an older male? Though alert and actively watching for prey it did not have the opportunity to chase anything while I was there. It did fly twice to different hunting posts and looked in fine in flight. Also at GR-NWR 1 Northern Harrier, male 4 Grey Partridge, a pair found in two different locations, both associated with farmsteads 3 foraging Striped Skunk 1 hunting Mink Steve....I added another lifer to my Road Kill lists. A very fresh, very clean, large male otter found on US Hwy 2 just east of McIntosh at 7AM. Other observations of the day... Fresh fruiting of Velvet Foot Mushroom Skunks love hard-boiled eggs! Kelly Larson The Bagley Farm -Clearwater The Bemidji Loft -Beltrami Minnesota Eschew Obfuscation! The middle of Nowhere is Somewhere! ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Cardinal & Hawk Owl in northern St Louis County From: dkuder AT CITLINK.NET Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:02 +0000 This year for the 1st time in Crane Lake, we have had a Cardinal overwinter, this morning he was singing. It was odd to hear, not something we're used to. As I was listening, I heard Evening Grosbeaks. The Pine Grosbeaks have left, the last Pine Grosbeak I saw was Saturday, the 13th. Then I was driving on the Crane Lake Road (CR 24) and I checked on the Osprey nest that is located by the Nelson Road (CR 424)and there was something sitting in it. I turned my car around for a closer look - the bird was small. The bird was eating some prey, as I got a better look I saw it was a Northern Hawk Owl. He flew down to another snag and I got a great look. There was some weird noises going on as well, do Hawk Owls vocalize during the day? When I got to work this morning (about 10 miles from Crane Lake and down the Echo Trail, CR116, a little bit) I found that the Starlings have returned to where they have nested in the past. Grrr. Dee Kuder Crane Lake ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Fwd: Tundra Swans, Dakota and Goodhue Counties From: Laura Coble <shearwater45 AT FRONTIERNET.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:10:49 -0500 Begin forwarded message: > From: Laura Coble > Date: March 17, 2010 7:00:44 PM CDT > To: mnbird.list AT mnbird.net > Subject: Tundra Swans, Dakota and Goodhue Counties > > Yesterday around 4:30 pm, I found 70 Tundra Swans and a mixed flock of ducks--Canvasback, Common Goldeneye, Scaup (Lesser and possibly Greater) on Lake Byllesby, viewed from Lakeside Cemetery off hwy 88 (Dakota Cty), a mile east of Randolph. > > At the boat launch (Goodhue Cty), accessed about 2 miles south of Randolph and several miles east of hwy 56, there were over 230 Tundra Swans, a small flock of Ring-necked Ducks and a few Common Mergansers. Much of the lake is still frozen east of the boat launch. > > At 180th St.,1/2 mi. east of hwy 85 in Dakota Cty, I saw Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 E. Bluebird, and heard my first Western Chorus Frog. I also saw 10 Tundra Swans fly over, going south. > > At around 5:20 pm, about midway between New Trier and Hwy 86, (Dakota Cty) I saw at least 150 Tundra Swans on the right side of the Hwy 85, feeding in a flooded field, near a bridge over a canal. Just before reaching Hwy 86, I saw another 30 or so Tundra Swans in a distant flooded field, on the left side of Hwy 85. These were probably most of the same swans I'd found earlier on Lake Byllesby. > > Laura Coble ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Great Blue Heron rookery, Hennepin county From: Curt Rawn <CNR22 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:33:58 -0500 I stopped by the North Mississippi Regional Park to look for Great Horned Owls nesting in the Great Blue Heron rookery. I saw none, though I was there for 1 1/2 hours. I did see 6 GBHE on 4 nests, and also saw mating behavior and one pair copulating. Here is a map link to the park. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=north+mississippi+regional+park&sll=44.966559,-93.295727&sspn=0.029756,0.053644&gl=us&layer=t&ie=UTF8&hq=north+mississippi+regional+park&hnear=&ll=45.072793,-93.290062&spn=0.112742,0.214577&z=12 The park is 8 miles downstream from the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, which also has a Heron rookery. Curt Rawn Plymouth, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Bald Eagles on Boot Lake From: Gary and Cindy Nelson <gc_nelson AT MSN.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:02:23 -0500 We spotted about 20 bald eagles, mostly juveniles, sitting on the ice on Boot Lake in the northeastern corner of Anoka County. Gary and Cindy Nelson Wyoming, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Wells Lake update From: Dave Bartkey <greathorneddave AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:46:05 -0500 Hi everyone, Wells Lake has rapidly opened up within the last two days and is starting to host some variety. I went there after work this afternoon and the main attraction were 56 Tundra Swans. Beside those, there were Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, American Wigeon and Red-breasted Merganser. Singles or small numbers of all. There were also many Common Mergansers with a few Common Goldeneye mixed in too. Also present was a single Great Blue Heron and a few Double-crested Cormorants. The next few weeks should be pretty exciting! Good birding! Dave Bartkey Faribault, MN greathorneddave AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_1 _______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Wells Lake update From: Dave Bartkey <greathorneddave AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:46:05 -0500 Hi everyone, Wells Lake has rapidly opened up within the last two days and is starting to host some variety. I went there after work this afternoon and the main attraction were 56 Tundra Swans. Beside those, there were Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, American Wigeon and Red-breasted Merganser. Singles or small numbers of all. There were also many Common Mergansers with a few Common Goldeneye mixed in too. Also present was a single Great Blue Heron and a few Double-crested Cormorants. The next few weeks should be pretty exciting! Good birding! Dave Bartkey Faribault, MN greathorneddave AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_1 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Western Great Lakes Owl Monitoring From: "Debbie Waters" <dwaters AT hawkridge.org> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:31:04 -0500 Hello everyone, The 2010 Western Great Lakes Owl Monitoring season is just around the corner! Many of you are hearing owls in your neighborhoods... and we're gearing up to survey the state for calling owls again. We have routes established all over the state of Minnesota, and are looking for volunteers to survey each route ONCE between April 1 and 15, 2010. We ask that you run the route between dusk and dawn (specific times are listed in our instruction booklet on our website), stopping once at each of 10 assigned points and listening passively for 5 minutes. Each route is 9 miles long, and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. Record anything you hear (including 'nothing'), and send in your data sheets. It's simple and fun, and a GREAT excuse to get out at night and listen for some birds. We have a certification process that we ask you to complete, the link to that certification is on our website also. http://www.hawkridge.org/research/springowl.html We don't have a master map online yet, but I've listed the counties below that have open routes. If you'd like a route in a particular county/counties, let me know and I'll do my best to accommodate your requests. When you email me, please include the following information: 1. Your full name 2. Your mailing address 3. Your phone number(s) 4. County in which you reside 5. County in which you would like a route 6. Number of miles you are willing to drive to the start of an owl route. DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Contact Julie O'Connor joconnor AT hawkridge.org if you want to volunteer or if you have any questions. Open routes are located in the following counties: Kittson Roseau Lake of the Woods (near Baudette) Koochiching (near Baudette) Marshall Polk Beltrami North central Itasca Cook (near Grand Marias) Cass (1 n central, 1 s central) Morrison Todd Norman Becker Clay Otter Tail (5 routes) Grant Stearns (all in SW of county) Kandyohi Chippewa Renville Redwood Brown Pipestone Murray Jackson Nobles Rock Pipestone (?) Waseca Rice (?) Goodhue (?) Thank you! Julie Julie O'Connor Volunteer Coordinator/Naturalist 218-348-2291 joconnor AT hawkridge.org Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory: www.hawkridge.org Spring Owl Monitoring: http://www.hawkridge.org/research/springowl.html Peregrine Watch: http://www.hawkridge.org/education/pw.html email: peregrines AT hawkridge.org _______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Western Great Lakes Owl Monitoring From: Debbie Waters <dwaters AT HAWKRIDGE.ORG> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:31:04 -0500 Hello everyone, The 2010 Western Great Lakes Owl Monitoring season is just around the corner! Many of you are hearing owls in your neighborhoods... and we're gearing up to survey the state for calling owls again. We have routes established all over the state of Minnesota, and are looking for volunteers to survey each route ONCE between April 1 and 15, 2010. We ask that you run the route between dusk and dawn (specific times are listed in our instruction booklet on our website), stopping once at each of 10 assigned points and listening passively for 5 minutes. Each route is 9 miles long, and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. Record anything you hear (including 'nothing'), and send in your data sheets. It's simple and fun, and a GREAT excuse to get out at night and listen for some birds. We have a certification process that we ask you to complete, the link to that certification is on our website also. http://www.hawkridge.org/research/springowl.html We don't have a master map online yet, but I've listed the counties below that have open routes. If you'd like a route in a particular county/counties, let me know and I'll do my best to accommodate your requests. When you email me, please include the following information: 1. Your full name 2. Your mailing address 3. Your phone number(s) 4. County in which you reside 5. County in which you would like a route 6. Number of miles you are willing to drive to the start of an owl route. DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Contact Julie O'Connor joconnor AT hawkridge.org if you want to volunteer or if you have any questions. Open routes are located in the following counties: Kittson Roseau Lake of the Woods (near Baudette) Koochiching (near Baudette) Marshall Polk Beltrami North central Itasca Cook (near Grand Marias) Cass (1 n central, 1 s central) Morrison Todd Norman Becker Clay Otter Tail (5 routes) Grant Stearns (all in SW of county) Kandyohi Chippewa Renville Redwood Brown Pipestone Murray Jackson Nobles Rock Pipestone (?) Waseca Rice (?) Goodhue (?) Thank you! Julie Julie O'Connor Volunteer Coordinator/Naturalist 218-348-2291 joconnor AT hawkridge.org Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory: www.hawkridge.org Spring Owl Monitoring: http://www.hawkridge.org/research/springowl.html Peregrine Watch: http://www.hawkridge.org/education/pw.html email: peregrines AT hawkridge.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 Subject: Carver County addition From: John Cyrus <cyrus150 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:47:04 +0000 I meant to post this in the original message but the trail running north from the visitor's center at Rapids Lake MVNWR(just north of the old farm house) along the Minnesota River is flooded. The loop to the south is still water free, but I'm not sure if it will stay that way with the rising water. That also means the Chaska Lake unit is also submerged(easily floods) and will be for quite some time. I'll get to see if it has smelly dead fish on the trail by early summer like past years. Also, I believe that all the Tundra Swan flocks were taking off this morning, as they were all fairly low flocks. Some were so low that they probably took off from just across the river in Louisville Swamp which looked quite flooded this morning. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850553/direct/01/ ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Northern Hawk Owl Map Update From: Michael Hendrickson <mlhendrickson AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:35:29 -0700 As of today there are now 96 reported Northern Hawk Owls that have been reported from the late Fall season of 2009 to March 17th 2010. So far there are two known locations of Northern Hawk Owls that are looking to nest in northern Minnesota based on copulations, food transfers and vocalizations to each other. I am sure there are many more Northern Hawk Owls that will be attempting to nest in northern Minnesota. Thanks for all the reports and have a great Spring. To view map: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ * Also check the update news of the so-called movie based on the book " Big Year" on my blog as well. Mike Mike Hendrickson Duluth, Minnesota Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Duluth migrants and White-winged Crossbills From: Kim R Eckert <eckertkr AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:29:10 -0500 Today, March 17, the following spring migrants were noted in Duluth: Trumpeter Swan pair - Fond du Lac (131st Ave West) N Pintail - Indian Point Campground (E side) Hooded Mergansers - Erie Pier (W side) and Fond du Lac (Hwy 23 bridge) Song Sparrow - Erie Pier (W side) Also, as they have been off and on since January, White-winged Crossbills were heard again today along the 1900 block of W Kent Rd. Kim R Eckert MBWbirds.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: birds apps for Google Nexus One From: Ben Parke <trumpetplayers AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:36:57 -0700 I've been looking into upgrading to a smartphone.  I know there are quite a few excellent birding apps for the iphone.  I'm wondering if anyone has run across something of that sort for the nexus one or anyone of the android phones.   Ben ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Arrivals From: "Pastor Al Schirmacher" <pastoral AT princetonfreechurch.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:42:45 -0500 Recent arrivals in Mille Lacs County ("gateway to the north"): Sandhill Crane Lapland Longspur Rusty Blackbird Common Grackle The temporary agricultural pond on 169 (just across from Long Siding/CR 13) that was so good in mid-March three years ago is starting to fill with waterfowl. In 2007 74 Greater White-fronted Geese, a number of Snow & Cackling Geese and a single Ross' (latter not personally seen) were all present for a few days - the GWF's were first county record birds at that point. Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties _______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Carver County-Hundreds of Tundra Swans From: John Cyrus <cyrus150 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:47:06 +0000 This morning at Rapids Lake MVNWR I estimated a total of 650 Tundra Swans flying over the refuge. I counted 470 in multiple flocks between 7:25 and 7:45 and another 180 in 2 flocks at around 8:30. There were also a couple hundred Canada Geese that flew over, 17 Cackling Geese(mixed calling with a small flock of Tundra), 20 Mallard, 6 Common Goldeneye(heading south), and 2 Trumpeter Swans. Otherwise there were a few hundred blackbirds flying over, may have had Rusty mixed in but I only made out Red-winged and Grackle. The Belted Kingfisher was still in the area, and a Flicker was still around as well. I only saw 1 Purple Finch, but I heard a few others. I saw my first Killdeer earlier in the week, but there was 1 at the refuge today as well. Also, I am pretty sure but not positive that I heard a Savannah Sparrow. A female Northern Harrier was hunting in the grassland near the visitor's center. I've been told that they have nested nearby in the past but saw no signs of it last year. Today she landed twice. Soon after she landed the 2nd time the smell of a skunk came my way. She never took off again, so she may have gotten a meal. _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_3 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Arrivals From: Pastor Al Schirmacher <pastoral AT PRINCETONFREECHURCH.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:42:45 -0500 Recent arrivals in Mille Lacs County ("gateway to the north"): Sandhill Crane Lapland Longspur Rusty Blackbird Common Grackle The temporary agricultural pond on 169 (just across from Long Siding/CR 13) that was so good in mid-March three years ago is starting to fill with waterfowl. In 2007 74 Greater White-fronted Geese, a number of Snow & Cackling Geese and a single Ross' (latter not personally seen) were all present for a few days - the GWF's were first county record birds at that point. Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Mixed species V formation From: Jbaines317 AT AOL.COM Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:30:28 EDT Over lunch at Carpenter Nature Center we saw something I had not seen before. A flock of Canada Geese flew over in V formation... The only problem was that the lead bird wasn't a goose...it was a Sandhill Crane. It turned out there were four cranes in the V and about 6-8 geese. Quite a neat sighting for our new intern. There were also swans, eagles and a Red-shouldered Hawk migrating over today. Jen Vieth ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Tundra Swans - Dakota County From: Scott Loss <scottrloss AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:02:18 -0700 Quite a few Tundra Swans were moving over Dakota County this afternoon.  In addition to a flyover group of around 30 in Hastings, I found a flock of greater than 200 in a corn stubble field southeast of the Hwy 316 & Nicolai Ave. intersection southeast of Hastings. Other birds of spring included 3 Great Blue Herons at Rebecca Lake Park in Hastings, and  Grackles and Killdeer in the fields around Hastings.  Horned Larks were singing as well.  A reminder that we are still in winter was a Northern Shrike seen at the intersection of 220th street and Orlando Ave. Scott Loss St. Paul ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Swans From: Linda Roberts <douginda AT FRONTIERNET.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:38:03 -0500 Three swans flying SW on the corner of Hwy 65 and County Road 4, Aitkin County 4 P.M. Tuesday, March 16th. Spring is trying. Doug and Linda ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: bird sights From: Mike Butterfield <mike_kb0to AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:03:36 -0700 Carver county/EPrairie 5 BALD EAGLES-1 IMM. Sand Hill Cranes overhead 5 Swans in MN river valley S of 212 1 Mourning Dove Mike in NYA  MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Birding 3/15-16 From: Michael Hendrickson <mlhendrickson AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:49:09 -0700 Out guiding Mike Perkins of Texas the past two days. Highlights: ( lifers ) - Iceland Gull AT WI landfill ( 1 adult and 1 first cycle ) - Northern Shrike - Boreal Chickadee - Sharp-tailed Grouse AT Tamarack lek ( 14 birds ) - Northern Hawk Owl ( pair copulating and I found nest site ) * Lots of spring migration signs. A Trumpeter Swan flying low over CR 7 in Sax-Zim Bog and Rough-legged Hawks, Mallards and Canada Geese moving through the bog. Good Day Mike Hendrickson Duluth, Minnesota Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Great Horned Owl fledglings shimmying up side of tree, follow up post From: "Pastor Al Schirmacher" <pastoral AT princetonfreechurch.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:22:01 -0500 Thanks to all who responded. Short synopsis: typical behavior for owl fledglings first few days, called "laddering" or "branching", many raptors & owls capable of doing so (Red-shouldered and Barred mentioned specifically), can take days to make it all the way back up, seems to cause more human than bird stress. Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties _______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Great Horned Owl fledglings shimmying up side of tree, follow up post From: "Pastor Al Schirmacher" <pastoral AT princetonfreechurch.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:22:01 -0500 Thanks to all who responded. Short synopsis: typical behavior for owl fledglings first few days, called "laddering" or "branching", many raptors & owls capable of doing so (Red-shouldered and Barred mentioned specifically), can take days to make it all the way back up, seems to cause more human than bird stress. Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: http://www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: http://www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: http://www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn. Subject: Great Horned Owl fledglings shimmying up side of tree, follow up post From: Pastor Al Schirmacher <pastoral AT PRINCETONFREECHURCH.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:22:01 -0500 Thanks to all who responded. Short synopsis: typical behavior for owl fledglings first few days, called "laddering" or "branching", many raptors & owls capable of doing so (Red-shouldered and Barred mentioned specifically), can take days to make it all the way back up, seems to cause more human than bird stress. Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Great GrayOwl in St Louis County From: dkuder AT CITLINK.NET Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:02:17 +0000 Just saw a GGO on hwy 73 at Lind Road. A flock of WWCrossbills flew over too. The BC Chickadees were mobbing the Owl. Dee Kuder ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Great Horned Owl Behavior From: "Pastor Al Schirmacher" <pastoral AT princetonfreechurch.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:03:06 -0500 My mother-in-law, who lives in the mountains of northern Georgia, recently witnessed an interesting phenomenon. She saw Great Horned Owl young fly down from the nest, but not fly back - rather, work their way up the side of the tree back to the nest, using their talons. Has anyone else witnessed or heard about something similar? Thanks! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties _______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Great Horned Owl Behavior From: Pastor Al Schirmacher <pastoral AT PRINCETONFREECHURCH.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:03:06 -0500 My mother-in-law, who lives in the mountains of northern Georgia, recently witnessed an interesting phenomenon. She saw Great Horned Owl young fly down from the nest, but not fly back - rather, work their way up the side of the tree back to the nest, using their talons. Has anyone else witnessed or heard about something similar? Thanks! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Great Horned Owl Behavior From: "Pastor Al Schirmacher" <pastoral AT princetonfreechurch.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:03:06 -0500 My mother-in-law, who lives in the mountains of northern Georgia, recently witnessed an interesting phenomenon. She saw Great Horned Owl young fly down from the nest, but not fly back - rather, work their way up the side of the tree back to the nest, using their talons. Has anyone else witnessed or heard about something similar? Thanks! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: http://www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: http://www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: http://www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn. Subject: Blackdog Road closed From: "R.D. Everhart" <everhart AT BLACK-HOLE.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:11:01 -0500 High water has apparently caused Blackdog Road along the Minnesota River between Cedar Ave. and 35W to be closed. Be careful driving near high water, I'm afraid it's going to get worse before it gets better, Roger Everhart Apple Valley, MN www.ncbo.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 Subject: Red-shouldered Hawks (photos), raptor species & more! From: Erik Bruhnke <birdfedr AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:45:59 -0500 I hawkwatched up on Lapham Peak tower (Southeastern Wisconsin, south end of the Kettle Moraine Forest) from 11:00am until 2:00pm today. I am VERY excited, because I have been craving to see a Red-shouldered Hawk for many years, and finally saw my first Red-shouldered Hawk. I feel spoiled, as I was treated to seven Red-shouldered Hawks this morning :) They are an absolutely beautiful buteo! Here are my Red-shouldered Hawk photos from this morning. The photos were taken of the closest individuals, which were still a good distance out. Enjoy! http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/122761974 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/122762021 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/122762037 I observed a total of 7 raptor species today. Here is my list: Canada Goose 283 Great Blue Heron 1 Turkey Vulture 14 Northern Harrier 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 7 Red-tailed Hawk 32 hawk sp. 2 American Kestrel 1 Sandhill Crane 24 Killdeer 2 gull sp. X Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow 15 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Eastern Bluebird 2 Northern Cardinal 1 Red-winged Blackbird 15 Common Grackle 10 House Finch 3 American Goldfinch 2 When I returned home from hawkwatching, two Cooper's Hawks and a Red-tailed Hawk flew overhead. What a raptor-filled day. I'm suspecting this week will be good as the days progress. Clouds are expected to be minimal at most, and the winds are predicted to change westward and eventually southward - which will provide a tailwind for the migrating raptors and songbirds. Good birdwatching, Erik Bruhnke Waukesha, WI NATURALLY AVIAN - Bird photography and guided bird hikes www.pbase.com/birdfedr birdfedr AT gmail.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: A Listing Question From: Pastor Al Schirmacher <pastoral AT PRINCETONFREECHURCH.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:13:57 -0500 Since I was mentioned in the initial email, thought I would respond as well. If we're going to track birders' numbers at all, 300 appears to be a good yardstick. Speaking personally, took me four years to reach 300 in Minnesota, even though I reside in one of the better areas to bird (Sherburne Refuge and Mille Lacs Lake are 22 and 35 miles away, respectively). And I didn't quite reach 300 in Wisconsin over 10 years of birding, based in Madison, traveling only occasionally. Breaking these four years down further, this particular 300 would be the product of approximately 800 area walks, ~140 trips of 30-150 miles, and 10+ trips beyond that (primarily North Shore, Sax-Zim and Big Stone/Lac Qui Parle). The next 24 birds took a little over two years, so ratios are diminishing rapidly!:) Beyond 300, the focus has changed a bit to my two counties (Mille Lacs & Sherburne) - initially to become the top lister in these counties (Bob J, can you feel my breath?:)) - then to gradually make my way towards 300 in each, probably a 15-20 year goal, perhaps impossible. Listing has its joys, but also its dark side. Overdone, it can diminish the enjoyment of individual birds, allowing one to only enjoy the next "tic" - or cause one to be less than sharing with others - or cause anger over a rejected documentation - or cause environmental damage - or lead to a "boastfest" - or....you get the picture. The enjoyment of nature & birds is relatively easy, the enjoyment of listing is fraught with peril. But many succeed, and sometimes I do too. And I honor those in the 380's, 390's, and 400's. Well, well, well done. Good birding to all (migration is starting to hit here as well), Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Audubon Birds of America From: "dan&erika" <danerika AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:26:21 -0500 A friend sent me this e-mail and the site is awesome! Go here to learn the story: > http://www.lib.umich.edu/news/pictureit-rare-book-reader > Then go here to see the book: PictureIt Rare Book Reader (http://www.lib.umich.edu/pictureit dan -- Dan or Erika Tallman Northfield, Minnesota http://sites.google.com/site/tallmanorum http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika danerika AT gmail.com ".... the best shod travel with wet feet" "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ...."--Thoreau_______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Audubon Birds of America From: dan&erika <danerika AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:26:21 -0500 A friend sent me this e-mail and the site is awesome! Go here to learn the story: > http://www.lib.umich.edu/news/pictureit-rare-book-reader > Then go here to see the book: PictureIt Rare Book Reader (http://www.lib.umich.edu/pictureit dan -- Dan or Erika Tallman Northfield, Minnesota http://sites.google.com/site/tallmanorum http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika danerika AT gmail.com ".... the best shod travel with wet feet" "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ...."--Thoreau ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: Crows remember their enemies From: Bill Kahn <wjkahn AT MAC.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:24:25 -0500 I couldn't make that link work for me, but I guess it was to this: http://tinyurl.com/yzd64nz Bill Kahn Minneapolis On Mar 15, 2010, at 11:13 AM, Claudia Egelhoff wrote: > There is an interesting story in today's online MinnPost about > research > involving crows and their ability to remember both their friends and > their > enemies, but especially the latter. > > See: https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/ > 12762755694f1546 and > scroll down to "Scientific Agenda". ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Crow story - link correction From: Claudia Egelhoff <cegelhoff AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:42:13 -0500 Here is the correct link: http://www.minnpost.com/ -- Claudia Egelhoff ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: listing From: Michael K Stickel <mkstickel AT RA.ROCKWELL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:41:18 -0500 Hello All- Interesting thread about listing. I don't technically list, but what I do have is my Sibley's guide I bring with me into the field & a hardcover copy of NG's Complete Guide to NA Birds I bought at 1/2 -Price Books I keep at home. I write in the Complete Guide to NA Birds at the appropriate section if what I saw was: male/female; adult/immature; perching/flying/swimming/walking. I also collect bird postcards from around the country & put them at the appropriate pages, also. It's interesting to see how many different Bald Eagle, Common Loon, & Roadrunner postcards there are! Mike Stickel Senior Technician; Motor Engineering Design EH&S Coordinator Rockwell Automation 10120 W. 76th St, Suite B Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Office: 952.942.3745 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Crows remember their enemies From: Claudia Egelhoff <cegelhoff AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:13:40 -0500 There is an interesting story in today's online MinnPost about research involving crows and their ability to remember both their friends and their enemies, but especially the latter. See: https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/12762755694f1546 and scroll down to "Scientific Agenda". -- Claudia Egelhoff Minneapolis, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: [mnbird] about the metro From: Warren Woessner <WWoessner AT SLWIP.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:02:08 -0500 I found a Great Horned Owl yesterday at Wood Lake nature center in a pine near the south entrance, in what used to be the "trail for the blind" area. It was being harassed by crows. There were at least four Cackling Geese with the Canadas at the E. end of Black Dog Lake yesterday as well. Only ducks of interest were two Buffleheads. Warren Woessner From: mnbird-bounces AT lists.mnbird.net [mailto:mnbird-bounces AT lists.mnbird.net] On Behalf Of Steve Weston Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 9:48 AM To: mnbird; Mou-net Subject: [mnbird] about the metro Ah, spring..... Bare ground and birds singing, but drowned out by a noisy pair of honkers that have arrived on the lake to carve out their fiefdom. A pair of Mallards have arrived and apparantly have found a small patch of open water across the lake. A muskrat popped up along the shore. This morning a Crow was carrying a twig as it flew across the lake. I will try to find its construction project. In Carver County yesterday near Rapids Lake I found swans in a flooded field: two very dark Trumpeters and a Mute Swan. I suspect that the Mute Swan is the same one that was around last summer in that area. In the fields to the west of this area I saw a Richardson's Ground Squirrel, aka flicker-tail. I have definitely noticed an increase of road kill, possums, squirrels, and a fine looking, but squashed Mink in Eden Prairie. I have been looking for Great Horned Owls on nests with only minimal success. The two I have seen so far have both been along the freeways: 1) Mendota Hgts: I-494 NW of Dodd; 2) Eden Prairie: I-494 NE of Valleyview. Both have been seen at highway speed, but are not in areas affording easy viewing. It seems awefully early for spring. Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN sweston2 AT comcast.net ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: about the metro From: Steve Weston <sweston2 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:48:25 -0500 Ah, spring..... Bare ground and birds singing, but drowned out by a noisy pair of honkers that have arrived on the lake to carve out their fiefdom. A pair of Mallards have arrived and apparantly have found a small patch of open water across the lake. A muskrat popped up along the shore. This morning a Crow was carrying a twig as it flew across the lake. I will try to find its construction project. In Carver County yesterday near Rapids Lake I found swans in a flooded field: two very dark Trumpeters and a Mute Swan. I suspect that the Mute Swan is the same one that was around last summer in that area. In the fields to the west of this area I saw a Richardson's Ground Squirrel, aka flicker-tail. I have definitely noticed an increase of road kill, possums, squirrels, and a fine looking, but squashed Mink in Eden Prairie. I have been looking for Great Horned Owls on nests with only minimal success. The two I have seen so far have both been along the freeways: 1) Mendota Hgts: I-494 NW of Dodd; 2) Eden Prairie: I-494 NE of Valleyview. Both have been seen at highway speed, but are not in areas affording easy viewing. It seems awefully early for spring. Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN sweston2 AT comcast.net ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Hooded Merganser - Ramsey County From: Jim Ryan <muchmoredoc AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:30:58 -0500 Out & about on this gorgeous late winter day, we actually didn't see that many birds, but the best bird of the day was: *Hooded Merganser* -FOY pair at Red Rock Road in extreme Southeastern Ramsey County. Saw 7 Bald Eagles kettling over the Mississippi River at Lower Afton Rd. this morning. Canada Geese were paired off out on the ice of numerous ponds. A few Red-winged blackbirds here & there. -- Sincerely, Jim Ryan Saint Paul's Westside ---- "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community" - Aldo Leopold "Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises." - Samuel Butler ----_______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Hooded Merganser - Ramsey County From: Jim Ryan <muchmoredoc AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:30:58 -0500 Out & about on this gorgeous late winter day, we actually didn't see that many birds, but the best bird of the day was: *Hooded Merganser* -FOY pair at Red Rock Road in extreme Southeastern Ramsey County. Saw 7 Bald Eagles kettling over the Mississippi River at Lower Afton Rd. this morning. Canada Geese were paired off out on the ice of numerous ponds. A few Red-winged blackbirds here & there. -- Sincerely, Jim Ryan Saint Paul's Westside ---- "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community" - Aldo Leopold "Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises." - Samuel Butler ---- ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Turkey Vulture From: Dave Bartkey <greathorneddave AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:49:53 -0500 After my post from today, as I was leaving to take my daughter to work (about 4:45 pm), saw my FOY Turkey Vulture flying overhead. Later after arriving home, Common Grackle doing the same. Fun day! Dave Bartkey Faribault,MN greathorneddave AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850552/direct/01/_______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Re: Sandhill Cranes From: Holly Peirson <hpbirdscouter AT MSN.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:23:53 -0500 Ah, you beat me to it! The cranes also arrived at Carlos -- today!!! Holly Peirson Columbus, Anoka Co. > Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:56:24 -0700 > From: roymz756 AT YAHOO.COM > Subject: [mou-net] Sandhill Cranes > To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU > > I saw two sandhill cranes flying over Shoreview this afternoon. > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Sandhill Cranes From: roy zimmerman <roymz756 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:56:24 -0700 I saw two sandhill cranes flying over Shoreview this afternoon. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Turkey Vulture From: Dave Bartkey <greathorneddave AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:49:53 -0500 After my post from today, as I was leaving to take my daughter to work (about 4:45 pm), saw my FOY Turkey Vulture flying overhead. Later after arriving home, Common Grackle doing the same. Fun day! Dave Bartkey Faribault,MN greathorneddave AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850552/direct/01/ ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: 300 and other lists From: Frank Berdan <fberdan3 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:33:28 -0700 Another story: My personality includes a too-large dose of competitiveness, which partially explains my attraction to listing. But also, since even before grade school, my teachers had conveyed a love of nature and its understanding in intentionally Aristotelian ways. So since youth I’ve been a collector -- think: beetles, butterflies, killing jars, cigar boxes. With a measure of maturity came a realization that the collector perturbs the ecology of that which is collected. So consumptive study was replaced with photographs, notes, and lists. However, a focus on birding put me over the edge, elevating listing to a compulsion. With another measure of maturity (enter “life balance”) came a discipline similar to that of folks who’ve already weighed in. My chasing has been selective for some time now, the environmental cost of birding by car is being tracked (miles driven/species observed/year … try to minimize it), and birding-related volunteer activities have become more other-directed. But my listing persists without apology! Each December 31, while updating for MOU, year-on-year rising numbers produce great satisfaction. Merely an artifact of dubious progress, perhaps, but indicative of my increasing understanding about this most attractive class of living creatures, and the global context in which birds live and die. For years, the 300 list was my goal as a casual birder, and I’m proud to have finally achieved the game’s premier milestone. Not everything that can be counted counts (Einstein), and other more collective MOU data provide far more scientific value. But listing first engaged me. Nowadays the “mystery” of birds is in a better balance with my numerical objectives. Birds’ value simply exceeds their numbers in this world and as seen by my eyes. My expectations now focus on both my nemesis bird (LEOW) and being out there to just make some delightful observation. However, the experience of lsiting species in MN has provided suitable positioning for fuller appreciation of whatever the next wonder might be. Frank Berdan ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Mute Swans From: Dave Bartkey <greathorneddave AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:13:15 -0500 Hi everyone, This morning at 10:15 I found two Mute Swans in the small open water between Upper and Lower Sakatah Lakes in western Rice County. This area is known as "The Narrows" and is along Rice CR 99. To those who know it, it is the spot where the Swallow-tailed Kite was present back in 1999. This is the first time I have ever seen Mute Swans at this location. The swans of the past always hung around in Faribault, and I haven't seen any the last couple of years with the exception of a lone Mute Swan on Wells Lake last spring that didn't hang around more than half a day or so. As to the origin of these swans??? I don't know. There are cabins and maybe a few homes to the north of the narrows, but I would think that these swans would be seen more often if they were someone's pets. Other highlights today came in the form of migrating birds in the afternoon once the fog burned away. There was some fair raptor movement with a Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Red-shouldered Hawks, and 16 Bald Eagles and 26 Red-tailed Hawks. Also seen were Killdeer, Eastern Bluebirds and 3 silent Sandhill Cranes. We're still waiting for Wells Lake to start popping, but I was encouraged today by more open water and many geese on the ice edge, which usually immediately precedes other geese arriving, like white-fronted and snows. I'll keep my eyes open! Good birding! Dave Bartkey Faribault, MN greathorneddave AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_3 _______________________________________________ mnbird mailing list mnbird AT lists.mnbird.net http://lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird Unsubscribe: %(user_optionsurl)s Subject: Mute Swans From: Dave Bartkey <greathorneddave AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:13:15 -0500 Hi everyone, This morning at 10:15 I found two Mute Swans in the small open water between Upper and Lower Sakatah Lakes in western Rice County. This area is known as "The Narrows" and is along Rice CR 99. To those who know it, it is the spot where the Swallow-tailed Kite was present back in 1999. This is the first time I have ever seen Mute Swans at this location. The swans of the past always hung around in Faribault, and I haven't seen any the last couple of years with the exception of a lone Mute Swan on Wells Lake last spring that didn't hang around more than half a day or so. As to the origin of these swans??? I don't know. There are cabins and maybe a few homes to the north of the narrows, but I would think that these swans would be seen more often if they were someone's pets. Other highlights today came in the form of migrating birds in the afternoon once the fog burned away. There was some fair raptor movement with a Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Red-shouldered Hawks, and 16 Bald Eagles and 26 Red-tailed Hawks. Also seen were Killdeer, Eastern Bluebirds and 3 silent Sandhill Cranes. We're still waiting for Wells Lake to start popping, but I was encouraged today by more open water and many geese on the ice edge, which usually immediately precedes other geese arriving, like white-fronted and snows. I'll keep my eyes open! Good birding! Dave Bartkey Faribault, MN greathorneddave AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_3 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Goldeneye on Miss.River near Hennepin Ave. From: Patricia Novakovich <pnovakovich AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:41:58 -0700 A pair of Goldeneye, either Common or Barrow's, my binocs were not powerful enough to distinguish, on the Mississippi in the area across from Pracna (117 Southeast Main Street Minneapolis).  They were there both today, 3/14, and yesterday. Patricia N ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Broad-winged Hawk at Carver Park From: Don Darnell <darnell48 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:06:22 -0500 Had a tree-top level BROAD-WINGED HAWK float over our heads at the Lowry Nature Center in Carver County at noon today. Also: a juvenile Bald Eagle cruised low over the west side of the park. What a beautiful day once the sun poked out. Don Darnell & Michelle Kern Eden Prairie ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Wood Lake From: Amy Blake <blake115 AT UMN.EDU> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:15:54 -0500 On my walk into work this morning (about 10AM) I saw 5 Trumpeter Swans heading over our marsh at Wood Lake. Cheers, Amy ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Carver County From: John Cyrus <cyrus150 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:02:54 +0000 The first American Woodcock of the season was also calling and displaying at Carver Park early this morning. The only other migrants at the park were a few more Robins and 34 Red-winged Blackbird. A few of the swampy areas of Carver Park have thawed, but there was nothing in them. All the trails are still snow/ice covered and quite slick. Chevalle Wetlands in Chaska is partially thawed, and this morning there were Canada, Cackling Geese, Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Common Goldeneye, and Hooded Merganser increasing from just a few Canada Geese and Mallard the past couple days. On Friday I saw my first Belted Kingfisher of the season(near the location of one of the ice jams on the Minnesota River), but there wasn't a whole lot else. The American Tree Sparrows that had been at the refuge all winter had left, and there was a significant increase in the number of Goldfinches. _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_3 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Sandhill crane From: Stefanie Moss <stefanieandkurt AT USFAMILY.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:44:36 -0600 Saw and heard a lone sandhill crane which flew over St. Paul (Bidwell and Elizabeth St) while I did my mail route. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: new species in southeast From: Steve Midthune <smid AT HBCI.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:30:56 -0600 Great blue heron, Coot, lots of red-winged blackbirds, woodcock, killdeer, all seen around Winona. Migration is breaking out! ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: olmstead county birds From: james otto <jlotto1 AT MSN.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:16:15 -0600 Traveled down to Rochester with Dave Harbot and Melissa Polous to bird with John Hockema. On the way down Dave and Melissa saw a raptor in a tree along the highway. I turned around and went back, good thing we did, Red-shoulder Hawk was perched in the tree. In Rochester farmlands we saw Ross's Goose, White-fronted Geese, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneye Killdeer,and Eastern Bluebird . Thanks to John for his help. Jim Otto _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850552/direct/01/ ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Help a CO birder? From: Carol Sullivan <flam_owl AT COPPER.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:33:15 -0700 Hello from Colorado, I will be in the Pelican Rapids area (Otter Tail county) mid-April and would really appreciate some pointers from area birders as to where best spend my time. Target birds are Greater Prairie Chicken, Gray Partridge, and Ruffed Grouse..of course, any bird is a good bird! I have the Minnesota DeLorme and A Birder's Guide To Minnesota (third edition) to guide me. Please contact me privately. Thank you in advance for your help and tips. Carol Sullivan Bellvue CO Flam_owl AT copper.net ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: MOU Board meeting From: kess0010 AT UMN.EDU Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:00:54 -0600 The MOU Board will meet tomorrow, March 14, at 1:00pm at the Bell Museum, in the conference room off the Touch & See Room. The Board meeting is open to all members and the public. I apologize for this late notice of the meeting. There was an apparent miscommunication regarding posting of the notice. I'm hoping that "better late than never" holds true. We'll do better next time. Ann Kessen President ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: A Listing Question From: Jim Ryan <muchmoredoc AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:09:42 -0600 Good questions Mike (and Al), My opinion is YES, 300 MN birds is still a significant number, as is 200 and to some extent 100 + as a form of a ranking system to signify someone’s experience and/or efforts on a state level and certainly on a county level it is well worth noting. In Martial arts, even a white belt indicates participation and some effort! As for myself, I am still eyeing 300 and am within striking distance (this year?) at 289 MN Birds. Listing is the most common form of tracking one’s progress/prowess as a birder and a quick, easy if not altogether accurate way of comparing one’s ability and ‘status’ with other birders. I do have to agree with Laura’s comments about numbers vs. skills, as the two are far from synonymous in some cases. I believe that is the intent of the “Personally Found” category MOU has. Personally finding a bird is far more satisfying than running to a ‘stake out’ bird, or just having a highly experienced trip leader point out birds you’re not sure you could ID by yourself. Truthfully, in the past that hasn’t stopped me from taking advantage of someone else’s efforts and willingness to share (those darn gulls are hard, and shorebirds can also be tough for me). But I know more and more, I pride myself on really trying to be able to say to myself, “Yes, I am certain with no one else around I could ID that bird for sure”. That is more than half the fun and challenge of birding. The numbers should really only be a reflection of largely that ability in my view, not just an ability and willingness to drive all over creation or follow behind a skilled trip leader and take the easy pickings. As I now have enough experience, I won’t accept a bird as a Lifer if I can’t do that ID for sure myself. In the last two years, I‘ve passed up Lifer a Le Conte’s Sparrow others have IDed, because based on what I personally saw, I couldn’t be sure of the ID if I were alone. Just my own rule. Even so as Craig pointed out, 300 today is not as tough or impressive as in the pre internet/ iphone /GPS days, when cars, roads and gas stations may not have been as dependable or ubiquitous as they are today. This makes a direct comparison of the most veteran birders feats and the up and comers achievements a bit dicey. Still, 300 species in MN is an impressive accomplishment and worthy of note in almost any way you manage it. As for chasing, although the decision to chase or not to chase is a personal one, and I always tell new birders to enjoy the birds in whatever way they like, I make that decision on a case by case basis – One notable example; I passed up the possibility of seeing a Baird’s sparrow in MN in 2002 (my first BIG year) because as a single dad with a 12 yr old son, the prospect of 8 + hrs of driving with an uninterested 12 year old to see one bird was just out of the question. Being retired (or otherwise having plenty of time to call your own) and of some means (or just obsessive and fanatical) seems to make accumulating large lists that much easier. Regarding remembering your finds, Wow, I hope you remember! Although I just got Avisys last year and finally know what by MN and Life list numbers actually are , I can still remember many, many of my lifer moments, even if I couldn't say "That was my 280th MN bird". In doing many Christmas Bird counts or annual trips, I can recall birds I’ve seen in past years in certain locations, lifers, year birds or just awesome experiences. I always recount to myself (with others if possible) the highlight bird of the day or trip. That is also a big part of the enjoyment of birding for me. If you can’t remember what youv’e seen, What exactly are you doing? In my opinion, it’s well worth getting better at remembering what you’ve done than doing something you can’t even recall. Here's to this years migrants! -- Sincerely, Jim Ryan Saint Paul's Westside ---- "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community" - Aldo Leopold "Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises." - Samuel Butler ---- On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 7:38 PM, Michael Hendrickson < mlhendrickson AT yahoo.com> wrote: > Al Schirmacher always have a way to stir conversations up with questions > and I thought I share a birding question with all Minnesota birders who are > members of the MOU listserv or MnBird listserv. > > 1. Is getting 300 birds species in Minnesota still a significant milestone > for those that keep a Minnesota life list? > > 2. For those that already achieved the 300+ plateau do you remember what > your 300 bird was and your 301 bird was and also was it a big deal for you > to break the 300 barrier? > > I forgot what year it was when I got 300 and 301 but I do know I was part > of the Minnesota Birding Weekend and we were down in SE Minnesota at > Kellogg. Kim Eckert found a Bell's Vireo to the east of me and another > birding group found a Dickcissel to the west of me. I ran to see the Bell's > Vireo ( 300 ) and then ran over to look at the Dickcissel ( 301 ). It was a > significant milestone to be part of the 300 club and it would be interesting > to see if others today still feel that getting 300 ( life list NOT annual > list ) is still a milestone to achieve. > > Someone told me that getting 300 in Minnesota is no longer a milestone and > I respectfully disagree with him -- so I am putting this to the test by > asking the MOU members here if its still a milestone or not. Please respond > NOT to me but rather reply to "all" so we can hear your stories about > getting 300 in Minnesota. > > Mike > > Mike Hendrickson > Duluth, Minnesota > Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ > Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ > > > > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Living Green Expo From: Tom Bell <tnejbell AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:04:04 -0600 As the MEP representative for MOU I send you this message. Save the date! The 9th Annual Living Green Expo, now coordinated by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, will be Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Grand Stand. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. The event will feature more than 250 exhibitors, workshops, activities for kids and cooking demos. The event is presented by Windsource ® from Xcel Energy. Learn more atwww.LivingGreenExpo.MN or call Jan at 651.789.6571. Tom Bell Grey Cloud Island 5868 Pioneer Rd. S. St. Paul Park, MN 55071 651 459-4150 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: A Listing Question From: Jason Caddy <j.caddy AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:21:51 -0600 Thank you very much Laura for your post. I do see your point on bringing up the actual numbers on ones life list and the fact that there are birders who have far more birds than there skills would warrant. I personally believe that revealing the number of birds on your life list is simply interesting, although I know many who would disagree with this. For my two trips to Costa Rica and one to Peru I spent hundreds of hours researching the birds in field guides and other trip reports. Because of this I was able to "self-find" all but 2 of the birds I saw in those countries. I never hired a birding guide. I have also never once used playback tapes here or abroad. Not to say that either of these methods is necessarily bad. I also agree that "green" birding is my preferred choice of birding. If a rare sighting is in the Twin Cities area I do try to walk or bike to the spot if possible. Thanks for the comments, Jason Caddy Minneapolis, MN j.caddy AT hotmail.com > Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:23:24 -0500 > From: chickadee.erickson AT GMAIL.COM > Subject: Re: [mou-net] A Listing Question > To: MOU-NET AT LISTS.UMN.EDU > > After Kim Eckert (and now others) broke the ribbon and left everyone else in > the dust by attaining the Holy Grail of 400, and because chasing is a lot > easier in this technological age in terms of the speed of finding out when > and exactly where rarities are spotted and calling rare birds in with > playback (something I don't do but understand), I suppose 300 does seem like > a less thrilling goal to some. But I think it's still a wonderful benchmark. > It still takes time and planning and familiarity with the state's many > birding areas to reach 300. Yes, 300 is an arbitrary number. But it's a > pretty one, isn't it? > > I got to 300 back in the 80s when I had three small children and was pretty > overwhelmed, so I don't remember the day or the species that put me over the > top. I just remember finally going through AviSys and seeing I was at 303. > If I don't know what my #300 bird was, I do know what it wasn't--a Northern > Cardinal. I think I may be unique in this, but I reached 300 before I ever > saw a cardinal in the state. My pregnancies, babies, and toddlers kept me > pretty close to Duluth except for some specific trips, and nary a cardinal > on them! And every time I tried to chase down a cardinal on the Duluth > hotline, it eluded me. Of course, now they're all over my neighborhood, but > back then my nemesis bird in Minnesota happened to be the very species that, > in Illinois in the 1950s, taught me how to whistle. (My new nemesis bird is > Sabine's Gull.) > > I don't report my numbers to MOU or ABA or anyone else. A few birders (not > many, really, and none I've dealt with in Minnesota) put way too much > importance on numbers, which on their own really don't mean much at all. > I've known great birders who stick close to home so their number is low > relative to their skill, and lousy birders who go on lots of guided birding > trips or just aren't very careful, so their numbers are huge relative to > their skill. And I've always felt awkward about competitions (when I was #1 > in my high school class, I wouldn't even give the speech). So overall, I > feel happiest when I keep my numbers to myself. But I like that the listing > game is out there, and that the state and county goals are something I can > shoot for in my own private way. And I like knowing that the top birders are > way out ahead of me, having earned that big, big number with their inspiring > focus, determination, and amazing skills. > > The Boy Scout Bird Study Merit Badge keeps lowering the standards for kids > to meet in terms of how many birds they must see to earn the badge. It would > be ironic if we made our benchmark higher, wouldn't it? That said, I've > become less inclined to chase rarities in my dotage, mainly because I hate > wasting natural resources and contributing to the decline of air quality. > But people who spend their days driving all over tarnation seeing new birds > aren't watching TV, baking baguettes, doing laundry, playing on their Wii, > or all the other ways we squander natural resources, at least not while > they're birding, and we all have to figure out our own responses to energy > use based on our own needs and abilities. I'd love to see a "Green" birding > category become really competitive and fun, but even if we started doing > that, I can't imagine MOU without the worthy and time-honored tradition that > the "300 Club" is. > > Best, Laura Erickson > (soon to be back in Duluth) > > -- > -- > Laura Erickson > Science Editor > Cornell Lab of Ornithology > 159 Sapsucker Woods Road > Ithaca, NY 14850 > 607-254-1114 > > > If you've found this information useful, I hope you'll consider supporting > our work on behalf of birds and other wildlife. In addition to knowing > that you'll be making a difference for conservation, you'll receive our > award-winning Living Bird magazine and informative BirdScope newsletter four > times a year. We invite you to join our "force for nature." To sign up or > watch our video about membership, visit > http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/membership or call us at > 1-800-843-2473. > > For the love, understanding, and protection of birds > > There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. There > is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature--the > assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter. > > --Rachel Carson > > Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_1 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: A Listing Question From: Craig <cbird55051 AT Q.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:44:17 -0600 I would say it's still significant but, I don't think it's nearly as challenging as it was say 10-15-20 years ago. With the internet and cell phones, someone who is just starting out has a much easier time to hit the 300 mark compared to when I started keeping a list. It took many years before I finally broke 300 where as today someone can pretty much do it in a year with no problem. Is it more or less meaningful for someone to hit 300 in a shorter period of time compared to someone like me where it took many years? I don't know. I do know that I definitely remember my 300th bird and I remember how excited I was after finally hitting that magical 300 mark. Craig Menze ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Hendrickson" To: Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 7:38 PM Subject: [mou-net] A Listing Question > Al Schirmacher always have a way to stir conversations up with questions > and I thought I share a birding question with all Minnesota birders who > are members of the MOU listserv or MnBird listserv. > > 1. Is getting 300 birds species in Minnesota still a significant milestone > for those that keep a Minnesota life list? > > 2. For those that already achieved the 300+ plateau do you remember what > your 300 bird was and your 301 bird was and also was it a big deal for you > to break the 300 barrier? > > I forgot what year it was when I got 300 and 301 but I do know I was part > of the Minnesota Birding Weekend and we were down in SE Minnesota at > Kellogg. Kim Eckert found a Bell's Vireo to the east of me and another > birding group found a Dickcissel to the west of me. I ran to see the > Bell's Vireo ( 300 ) and then ran over to look at the Dickcissel ( 301 ). > It was a significant milestone to be part of the 300 club and it would be > interesting to see if others today still feel that getting 300 ( life list > NOT annual list ) is still a milestone to achieve. > > Someone told me that getting 300 in Minnesota is no longer a milestone and > I respectfully disagree with him -- so I am putting this to the test by > asking the MOU members here if its still a milestone or not. Please > respond NOT to me but rather reply to "all" so we can hear your stories > about getting 300 in Minnesota. > > Mike > > Mike Hendrickson > Duluth, Minnesota > Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ > Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ > > > > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: A Listing Question From: Diana Doyle <diana AT SEMI-LOCAL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:51:40 -0600 Laura's comment about green birding struck home with me and relates to my own "300 story." I reached 300 just after I completed a green birding year. Ironically, #300 ended up being almost a bit depressing in the context of the excitement of my local green birding quest. All I did for #300 was get in my car and drive to Shoreview! And to top it off, the bird was a Mute Swan (which I've seen hundreds of times in the Chesapeake, where it is considered a "pest species"!) I still was pleased, but with postings and cars, it almost seemed too easy. I guess I should have biked to Shoreview! Since that green year (when I had 210 "green birds") I've always dreamed of trying for 300 green birds. But that would involve state-wide biking and I'm not sure I'm up for that challenge! Diana Doyle S. Minneapolis ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: MOU-NET Digest - 11 Mar 2010 to 12 Mar 2010 (#2010-19) From: Raymond Potthoff <raypotthoff AT CENTURYTEL.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:09:02 -0600 I am a 3rd year fledgling birder age 70 and reaching 200 life birds would be a great personal milestone for me, just as joining the "century club for my county (Fillmore) was for me. In plain language I like to think of it as an opportunity for a personal goal (milestone) to be shared with others. :) ----- Original Message ----- From: "MOU-NET automatic digest system" To: Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2010 12:03 AM Subject: MOU-NET Digest - 11 Mar 2010 to 12 Mar 2010 (#2010-19) > There are 8 messages totalling 278 lines in this issue. > > Topics of the day: > > 1. [mou-rba] Duluth RBA 3/12/10 > 2. [mou-rba] MOU RBA 12 March 2010 > 3. McKinley Magpies > 4. Fw: [ia-bird] 61 Bald Eagles, Hwy 26, Houston Co. MN. Poole Slough, IA > 5. Birding Faribault this afternoon > 6. Red-winged Blackbirds > 7. Eagle (owl) Cam > 8. A Listing Question > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:56:30 -0700 > From: Jim Lind > Subject: [mou-rba] Duluth RBA 3/12/10 > > -RBA > *Minnesota > *Duluth/North Shore > *March 12, 2010 > *MNDU1003.12 > > -Birds mentioned > Long-tailed Duck > Sharp-tailed Grouse > Merlin > Ring-billed Gull > Glaucous Gull > Northern Hawk Owl > Bohemian Waxwing > -Transcript > > Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore > Date: March 12, 2010 > Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) > Reports: (218) 834-2858 > Compiler: Jim Lind (jslind AT frontiernet.net) > > This is the Duluth Birding Report for Friday, March 12th, 2010 sponsored > by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. > > The NORTHERN HAWK OWL along Lake County Road 3, 0.4 mile north of MN > Highway 61 was relocated on the 7th. Dee Kuder saw a NORTHERN HAWK OWL > on the 7th just south of Cook on US Highway 53. Norma Malinowski saw > BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS on the 10th in Ely near the sewage treatment plant. > > Mike Hendrickson reported the first RING-BILLED GULLS of the spring > along with several GLAUCOUS GULLS on the 10th at the Superior landfill. > Mike also saw 22 LONG-TAILED DUCKS on the 10th at Agate Bay in Two > Harbors. Jan and John Green saw a MERLIN on the 7th along 1st Street in > Two Harbors. > > Ron Erpelding and Herb Dingmann saw 9 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE in Koochiching > County on the 6th along CR 83, 3 miles from MN Highway 11. They also saw > a NORTHERN HAWK OWL along US Highway 71 near Margie. > > Unless something unusual is reported, the next scheduled update of this > report will be in two weeks on Thursday, March 25th. > > The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858. > Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded > message. > > The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota > Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more > information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us > at mou AT moumn.org, or visit the MOU web site at moumn.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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:11:36 -0700 > From: Anthony Hertzel > Subject: [mou-rba] MOU RBA 12 March 2010 > > -RBA > *Minnesota > *Minnesota Statewide > *March 12, 2010 > *MNST1003.12 > > -Birds mentioned > Wood Duck > Northern Shoveler > Canvasback > Ring-necked Duck > Long-tailed Duck > Ruffed Grouse > American White Pelican > Sandhill Crane > Ring-billed Gull > Northern Hawk Owl > Pileated Woodpecker > Black-billed Magpie > American Robin > Fox Sparrow > -Transcript > > Hotline: Minnesota Statewide > Date: March 12, 2010 > Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://moumn.org > Reports: (763) 780-8890 > Compiler: Anthony Hertzel (rba AT moumn.org) > > This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, March 11th, 2010. > > Up to 22 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were still at Agate Bay in Two Harbors, Lake > County, on the 10th. > > A pair of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS was reported on the 12th from the west > side of the Mississippi River in South St. Paul, Dakota County. They > were seen just south of the I-494 overpass. > > Returning spring migrants include WOOD DUCK, NORTHERN SHOVELER, > CANVASBACK, RING-NECKED DUCK, RUDDYDUCK, SANDHILL CRANE, RING-BILLED > GULL, AMERICAN ROBIN, FOX SPARROW, and an unidentified MEADOWLARK. I > also have reports of territorial RUFFED GROUSE, NORTHERN HAWK OWL, > PILEATED WOODPECKER, and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE. > > The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, March 18th, 2010. > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:24:52 -0600 > From: Andrew Birch > Subject: McKinley Magpies > > Two Black-billed Magpies flying back and forth over Cass County 19 > in McKinley Twshp east of Pine River this afternoon. > > Best, > > Andrew Birch > Hackensack, MN 56452 > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:02:43 -0800 > From: fred lesher > Subject: Fw: [ia-bird] 61 Bald Eagles, Hwy 26, Houston Co. MN. Poole > Slough, IA > > --- On Fri, 3/12/10, fred lesher wrote: > >> = > > =0A=0A--- On Fri, 3/12/10, fred lesher wrote:=0A=0A> > = > From: fred lesher =0A> Subject: [ia-bird] 61 Bald > Eagl= > es, Hwy 26, Houston Co. MN. Poole Slough, IA=0A> To: "IA-BIRD" > ts.iowabirds.org>=0A> Cc: IA-BIRD AT lists.iowabirds.org=0A> Date: Friday, > Mar= > ch 12, 2010, 9:07 AM=0A> Wednesday, March 10, I counted 61=0A> Bald Eagles > = > along Hwy 26 between LaCrescent, MN & the=0A> IA/MN state line: 37 > immature= > and 24 adults.=0A> =0A> At Poole Slough on the IA/MN state line there > were= > 15 Am.=0A> White Pelicans and 6 Sandhill Cranes.=0A> =0A> Fred Lesher=0A> > = > LaCrosse, WI=0A> =0A> =0A> =A0 =A0 =A0 =0A> =0A> =0A> ---=0A> Please > contri= > bute your sightings to our list; it is only as=0A> good as members make > it!= > =0A> ---=0A> Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use:=0A> > Pri= > mary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection;=0A> channel > 6/0=0A> ---= > =0A> This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists'=0A> > Union.= > =A0 Membership available on-line at > http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership= > .asp.=0A> -----=0A> You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: > corax6330 AT y= > ahoo.com=0A> =0A=0A=0A > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:48:14 -0800 > From: Forest Strnad > Subject: Birding Faribault this afternoon > > Kirsten and I saw these birds: > 60 Male Mergansers > = > > Greetings:=0A=0AKirsten and I saw these birds:=0A=A0 60 Male > Mergansers=0A= > =A0=A0=A0=A0 1 HerringGull=0A=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 1 Ring-billed > Gull=0A=A0=A0=A0= > =A0=A0=A01 Common Goldeneye=0A=0ARev. Forest V. Strnad and Kirsten Strnad= > =0A=0A=0A > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:55:45 -0500 > From: jbaines317 AT AOL.COM > Subject: Red-winged Blackbirds > > Our Red-winged Blackbirds of spring arrived at the Carpenter Nature > Center= > wetland this afternoon. > (southern Washington County) > > Jen > > > > > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:33:53 +0000 > From: Gail Wieberdink > Subject: Eagle (owl) Cam > > http://www.kare11.com/life/lifestyle/mnbound/default.aspx > > > This is a local eagle nest cam but it has been taken over by great-horned > owls! There are 2 eggs. > > > Gail > > > > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:38:16 -0800 > From: Michael Hendrickson > Subject: A Listing Question > > Al Schirmacher always have a way to stir conversations up with questions > and I thought I share a birding question with all Minnesota birders who > are members of the MOU listserv or MnBird listserv. > > 1. Is getting 300 birds species in Minnesota still a significant milestone > for those that keep a Minnesota life list? > > 2. For those that already achieved the 300+ plateau do you remember what > your 300 bird was and your 301 bird was and also was it a big deal for you > to break the 300 barrier? > > I forgot what year it was when I got 300 and 301 but I do know I was part > of the Minnesota Birding Weekend and we were down in SE Minnesota at > Kellogg. Kim Eckert found a Bell's Vireo to the east of me and another > birding group found a Dickcissel to the west of me. I ran to see the > Bell's Vireo ( 300 ) and then ran over to look at the Dickcissel ( 301 ). > It was a significant milestone to be part of the 300 club and it would be > interesting to see if others today still feel that getting 300 ( life list > NOT annual list ) is still a milestone to achieve. > > Someone told me that getting 300 in Minnesota is no longer a milestone and > I respectfully disagree with him -- so I am putting this to the test by > asking the MOU members here if its still a milestone or not. Please > respond NOT to me but rather reply to "all" so we can hear your stories > about getting 300 in Minnesota. > > Mike > > Mike Hendrickson > Duluth, Minnesota > Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ > Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ > > > > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > > ------------------------------ > > End of MOU-NET Digest - 11 Mar 2010 to 12 Mar 2010 (#2010-19) > ************************************************************* > ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: A Listing Question From: Laura Erickson <chickadee.erickson AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:23:24 -0500 After Kim Eckert (and now others) broke the ribbon and left everyone else in the dust by attaining the Holy Grail of 400, and because chasing is a lot easier in this technological age in terms of the speed of finding out when and exactly where rarities are spotted and calling rare birds in with playback (something I don't do but understand), I suppose 300 does seem like a less thrilling goal to some. But I think it's still a wonderful benchmark. It still takes time and planning and familiarity with the state's many birding areas to reach 300. Yes, 300 is an arbitrary number. But it's a pretty one, isn't it? I got to 300 back in the 80s when I had three small children and was pretty overwhelmed, so I don't remember the day or the species that put me over the top. I just remember finally going through AviSys and seeing I was at 303. If I don't know what my #300 bird was, I do know what it wasn't--a Northern Cardinal. I think I may be unique in this, but I reached 300 before I ever saw a cardinal in the state. My pregnancies, babies, and toddlers kept me pretty close to Duluth except for some specific trips, and nary a cardinal on them! And every time I tried to chase down a cardinal on the Duluth hotline, it eluded me. Of course, now they're all over my neighborhood, but back then my nemesis bird in Minnesota happened to be the very species that, in Illinois in the 1950s, taught me how to whistle. (My new nemesis bird is Sabine's Gull.) I don't report my numbers to MOU or ABA or anyone else. A few birders (not many, really, and none I've dealt with in Minnesota) put way too much importance on numbers, which on their own really don't mean much at all. I've known great birders who stick close to home so their number is low relative to their skill, and lousy birders who go on lots of guided birding trips or just aren't very careful, so their numbers are huge relative to their skill. And I've always felt awkward about competitions (when I was #1 in my high school class, I wouldn't even give the speech). So overall, I feel happiest when I keep my numbers to myself. But I like that the listing game is out there, and that the state and county goals are something I can shoot for in my own private way. And I like knowing that the top birders are way out ahead of me, having earned that big, big number with their inspiring focus, determination, and amazing skills. The Boy Scout Bird Study Merit Badge keeps lowering the standards for kids to meet in terms of how many birds they must see to earn the badge. It would be ironic if we made our benchmark higher, wouldn't it? That said, I've become less inclined to chase rarities in my dotage, mainly because I hate wasting natural resources and contributing to the decline of air quality. But people who spend their days driving all over tarnation seeing new birds aren't watching TV, baking baguettes, doing laundry, playing on their Wii, or all the other ways we squander natural resources, at least not while they're birding, and we all have to figure out our own responses to energy use based on our own needs and abilities. I'd love to see a "Green" birding category become really competitive and fun, but even if we started doing that, I can't imagine MOU without the worthy and time-honored tradition that the "300 Club" is. Best, Laura Erickson (soon to be back in Duluth) -- -- Laura Erickson Science Editor Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-254-1114 If you've found this information useful, I hope you'll consider supporting our work on behalf of birds and other wildlife. In addition to knowing that you'll be making a difference for conservation, you'll receive our award-winning Living Bird magazine and informative BirdScope newsletter four times a year. We invite you to join our "force for nature." To sign up or watch our video about membership, visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/membership or call us at 1-800-843-2473. For the love, understanding, and protection of birds There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter. --Rachel Carson Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Re: A Listing Question From: Jason Caddy <j.caddy AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:53:52 -0600 I find Mike's question very interesting. First let me preface this post with an admission that I love to list. I very much enjoy the wilderness and the bird behavior but I also love the listing aspect of the hobby. I always find it funny that many birders seem ashamed if they are listers and try to hide that fact. I think that one can enjoy listing and also enjoy all other aspects of the hobby. Personally, I do believe that 300 birds in Minnesota is a significant number. I only have 261 in the state and have birded here fairly extensively. I tend not to chase birds in the state that I have already seen elsewhere which probably hinders my numbers. I focus much more on my life list than my state list at this time. I just returned from Costa Rica and was able to see 249 birds with 92 of them being life birds. My life list now stands at 852. My North America list is 427. As for chasing birds, I tend to chase birds in the state that would be rare else ware. For example, if there was a Dusky Flycatcher found in Minnesota I wouldn't likely travel very far to see it even though it would be a "lifer". I figure that I will no doubt see this bird out west sometime in the future. However if there was an Ivory Gull found anywhere in the state I would chase it if I had time because this bird has a remote range and is also declining significantly. For me finding a bird on my own is the most rewarding. Although I have seen many tropical birds in Peru and Costa Rica I still consider my Boreal Owl "self-find" last winter as the best bird of my life. That could be another topic: what is your best "life" bird? Good birding, Jason Caddy Minneapolis, MN j.caddy AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_3 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: A Listing Question From: Michael Hendrickson <mlhendrickson AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:38:16 -0800 Al Schirmacher always have a way to stir conversations up with questions and I thought I share a birding question with all Minnesota birders who are members of the MOU listserv or MnBird listserv. 1. Is getting 300 birds species in Minnesota still a significant milestone for those that keep a Minnesota life list? 2. For those that already achieved the 300+ plateau do you remember what your 300 bird was and your 301 bird was and also was it a big deal for you to break the 300 barrier? I forgot what year it was when I got 300 and 301 but I do know I was part of the Minnesota Birding Weekend and we were down in SE Minnesota at Kellogg. Kim Eckert found a Bell's Vireo to the east of me and another birding group found a Dickcissel to the west of me. I ran to see the Bell's Vireo ( 300 ) and then ran over to look at the Dickcissel ( 301 ). It was a significant milestone to be part of the 300 club and it would be interesting to see if others today still feel that getting 300 ( life list NOT annual list ) is still a milestone to achieve. Someone told me that getting 300 in Minnesota is no longer a milestone and I respectfully disagree with him -- so I am putting this to the test by asking the MOU members here if its still a milestone or not. Please respond NOT to me but rather reply to "all" so we can hear your stories about getting 300 in Minnesota. Mike Mike Hendrickson Duluth, Minnesota Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Eagle (owl) Cam From: Gail Wieberdink <wieber64 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:33:53 +0000 http://www.kare11.com/life/lifestyle/mnbound/default.aspx This is a local eagle nest cam but it has been taken over by great-horned owls! There are 2 eggs. Gail ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Red-winged Blackbirds From: jbaines317 AT AOL.COM Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:55:45 -0500 Our Red-winged Blackbirds of spring arrived at the Carpenter Nature Center wetland this afternoon. (southern Washington County) Jen ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Subject: Birding Faribault this afternoon From: Forest Strnad <prairiefal AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:48:14 -0800 Kirsten and I saw these birds:   60 Male Mergansers Greetings: Kirsten and I saw these birds:   60 Male Mergansers      1 HerringGull       1 Ring-billed Gull       1 Common Goldeneye Rev. Forest V. Strnad and Kirsten Strnad ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html