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18 Mar Bluebird [Pius Klein ] 18 Mar Embden Thursday [cnorheim ] 18 Mar Morton County birds [Bob Scarlett ] 18 Mar ND Bird Records Committee: progress report [Dan Svingen ] 18 Mar Spring [] 17 Mar Mandan [Clark Talkington ] 17 Mar More Spring [Corey Ellingson ] 17 Mar Bald Eagles [Bernice Houser ] 17 Mar Ramsey County [Rod Fossen ] 17 Mar bluebirds [Peder Stenslie ] 17 Mar red-tailed hawk [Lillian Crook ] 17 Mar peregrine return [Keith Corliss ] 17 Mar crossbills & sawwhets [David Lambeth ] 17 Mar Pheasants [Pius Klein ] 17 Mar RBA: North Dakota, March 16, 2010 [Jane Kostenko ] 16 Mar Bluebirds -- almost! [G & J Sailer ] 16 Mar SPRING! [Corey Ellingson ] 15 Mar Raptor Migration [Maureen OMara ] 15 Mar Trefoil Park Fargo [cnorheim ] 14 Mar Ward County Near Upper Souris Refuge [Rod Fossen ] 14 Mar Fw: Raptor Workshop Announcement [James Tyler Bell ] 14 Mar Raptor Migration [Bob Shettler ] 13 Mar Garrison Dam Saturday [Ron Martin ] 12 Mar Spring Arrival - Am. Kestrel [Lawrence D Igl ] 12 Mar New Subscriber [Pius Klein ] 11 Mar Northern Harrier [Randy Joe Toppen ] 11 Mar Common Grackle LaMoure County [jlegge ] 10 Mar Robins [Peder Stenslie ] 10 Mar Bird Sightings [Rod Fossen ] 10 Mar Spring arrival - Mallards [Lawrence D Igl ] 9 Mar RBA: North Dakota, March 9, 2010 [Jane Kostenko ] 8 Mar NDBS Spring trips - Devils Lake [Corey Ellingson ] 8 Mar adult snowy owl in Wells Co. [Wayne Easley ] 8 Mar eagles on nest [Janelle Masters ] 7 Mar Re: White-winged Crossbills [Corey Ellingson ] 7 Mar Tailrace [Sherry ] 7 Mar White-winged Crossbills [Corey Ellingson ] 7 Mar Upper Souris Refuge. [Rod Fossen ] 7 Mar Weekend Observations [Buchanan Law Office ] 7 Mar Re: Garrison Dam area [Peder Stenslie ] 6 Mar Whooping Crane [Chris Hiatt ] 6 Mar Don Stoecker [Stevan Hawkins ] 6 Mar Ward County [Rod Fossen ] 6 Mar brown creeper in Jmst [JLegge ] 5 Mar first chimney swifts [Nancy Drew ] 5 Mar Robins in Mandan [Howard Lien ] 4 Mar Whooping Crane viewing opportunities [Stevan Hawkins ] 4 Mar Whooping Crane update [Stevan Hawkins ] 3 Mar 6 raptors [Corey Ellingson ] 2 Mar RBA: North Dakota, March 2, 2010 [Jane Kostenko ] 2 Mar Northern Goshawk (Juvenile) [Buchanan Law Office ] 1 Mar Belated trip report [Charles J Taft ] 1 Mar Sheyenne National Grasslands [Dan Svingen ] 27 Feb testing [Sherry ] 24 Feb RBA: North Dakota, February 23, 2010 [Jane Kostenko ] 23 Feb Ramsey County [Rod Fossen ] 22 Feb ND Birding Society website [Corey Ellingson ] 21 Feb Missouri River Bird Watching [Rod Fossen ] 21 Feb unsubscribe [] 20 Feb Peregrine in Grand Forks [Ross Lagasse ] 20 Feb From Sheyenne River by VC [JLegge ] 20 Feb GF area [David Lambeth ] 19 Feb Snowy Owl, etc. [Bernice Houser ] 19 Feb Snowy Owl [Lawrence D Igl ] 19 Feb Artic Snowy OWL, with address of sender. [Kay Buri ] 19 Feb Arctic Snowy Owl [Kay Buri ] 19 Feb Absence, apology for not replying to e-mails; Impending Golden-cheeks [Stevan Hawkins ] 16 Feb RBA: North Dakota, February 16, 2010 [Jane Kostenko ] 9 Feb American Robins - belated report [Marty Anderson ] 9 Feb Sharp-shinned Hawk [Rick ] 9 Feb RBA: North Dakota, February 9, 2010 [Jane Kostenko ] 6 Feb Saw Whet Owl across river from Mickelson Park (N. Moorhead) [Dennis Wiesenborn ] 5 Feb Overwintering Sandhill Crane near Rogers [Lawrence D Igl ] 2 Feb RBA: North Dakota, February 2, 2010 [Jane Kostenko ] 31 Jan 1/31 Bottineau County [Rod Fossen ] 31 Jan Interesting bird [Linda Gregg ] Subject: Bluebird From: Pius Klein <pk AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:31:07 -0500 Seen 6 Mountain Bluebirds SE of Minot, around the Country Villa area along the fence line. Couldn't believe how skittish they were, but I did manage to get one picture at about 100 yards away for the proof. Keep looking for the Whooping cranes! Good birding Pius Klein Subject: Embden Thursday From: cnorheim <cnorheim AT MSN.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:55:20 -0500 I drove to Embden and Lake Bertha this afternoon, partly to look at the flooded fields and also hoping for some waterfowl. Certainly found the flooded fields, even some water on the edge of the interstate. Didn't see even one Mallard. Had a small flock of Canada Geese fly over and several Horned Larks in the nonflooded fields. The road through Lake Bertha is driveable and there's about 5 feet thawed at the shore. Did see my first Eurasian Collared Dove in Embden, along with several American Robins and one Dark-eyed Junco, feeding on the ground across the street from the church parking lot. Connie Norheim 232-4386 Fargo Subject: Morton County birds From: Bob Scarlett <bobkat AT BTINET.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:31:34 -0500 It's spring! Last Sunday there were 4 or 5 western meadowlarks in Morton County along Big Muddy Creek. I hung around until I heard one or two of them sing - definitely spring music! Also noted a couple of northern harriers, a prairie falcon and large flocks of horned larks and robins and a pair of collared doves in downtown Almont. And one mange free red fox laying on a snowbank next to his/her den too close to the road for its safety. Haven't seen a fox out there for several years. Last summer I built a small cabin halfway between a Golden Eagle and Bald Eagle nests along the Heart River. It was good to see both pairs back in and out of the same nesting trees, both observable with the spotting scope from the cabin! The bald eagles have three nests that they seemingly randomly pick and the goldons have two, so it'll be interesting to see where they call home this year. They usually fledge out one or two offspring apiece each year. Have been watching a great horned owl in a nest the last few times we've skiid and snowshoed out there. All winter we haven't had a single redpoll at our feeders here SE of Bismarck, though we've had plenty of goldfinches, house and purple finches, both species of nuthatch, pine siskins, bluejays and all the usual other species like woodpeckers and chickadees. Usually we have dozens, if not hundreds of redpoles all winter but very few last winter and not a one this winter. One cedar waxwing was eating thistle seed this morning - they come in flocks to the birdbath, but we've never seen any eating from the feeders. Subject: ND Bird Records Committee: progress report From: Dan Svingen <dsvingen AT FS.FED.US> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:52:00 -0600 On 26 October 2009 I posted email re: the committee's progress on updating the official North Dakota bird checklist. Therein I noted that Ron Martin and I had just approved author proofs for the ND BRC's third report. That report is now published: Svingen, D. and R. E. Martin. 2009. Third report of the North Dakota Bird Records Committee: 2004-2005. Prairie Naturalist 41(1/2):29-53. I am awaiting PDF version of this paper from publisher. I will then email copy to all observers involved in bird sighting records that were assessed by the committee in 2004 & 2005. I will also include "rejected records" report. I do not know when PDF will be received. Dr. Larry Igl (current secretary) and I are pulling togethor data for the committee's 4th report. Ron, Larry, and I continue to work on paper that will update checklist for all birds (i.e. not for just the rare species). I hope we will have something ready for peer review by time of ND Birding Society's spring meeting. Ron will be senior author, as we are picking his mind the most. Under our bylaws, though, it is my responsibility as chair to ensure the checklist is periodically updated. Therefore, any accolades should go to Ron. Any 'holding feet to fire' should come to me. Have a wonderful spring. dan. Dan Svingen Grasslands Biologist Dakota Prairie Grasslands Bismarck, ND (701) 250-4443 ext. 107 Subject: Spring From: alanwat AT INFIONLINE.NET Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:42:20 +0000 Hi All Last couple of days we have seen and heard Canadian Geese. Yesterday I was sitting on a piece of old farm equipment on the north side our shelterbelt and two Northern Pintails landed right in front of me on small body of water. Today we saw some Snow Geese. Good Birding! Sharon Watson Buxton ND ndbackyardbirding.com Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Subject: Mandan From: Clark Talkington <ctalkington AT BIS.MIDCO.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:28:25 -0500 March 17, Wednesday afternoon Hi to everyone I checked the Mandan Union Cemetery and found a White-winged Crossbill singing on territory. Also a Red-breasted Nuthatch and several Pine Siskins were present. South of Mandan, just north of Fort Lincoln near the Heart and Missouri Rivers were about 3,000 Canada Geese, 6 Greater White-fronted Geese, 1 Snow Goose and 3 Cackling Geese. With the geese were about 50 Northern Pintails and about 300 Mallards. Clark Talkington Mandan Subject: More Spring From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:20:51 -0500 Greetings ND-Birders: Clark Talkington and I surveyed Bismarck-Mandan a bit independently this afternoon. Canada Geese were streaming over all afternoon. Clark Talkington observed the following this afternoon on the Mandan side. White-winged Crossbill (male singing) in the Mandan Union Cemetery off of Exit 153/I-94, where a flock has been observed the last two weeks. Canada Goose - thousands below the north end of the old road to Fort Lincoln, also: White-fronted Goose - 6 Snow Goose - 1 Northern Pintail - 50 Corey Ellingson checked Fox Island at same time for the following: Ring-billed Gull - 3 California Gull - 45 Herring Gull - 2 White-fronted Goose - 1 Common Merganser - 3 males flying by Later Corey Ellingson checked McKenzie Slough (south end) Northern Pintail - 106 Northern Shoveler - 4 males White-fronted Goose - 3 Snow Goose - 1 (blue phase) Cackling Goose - 225 in a tight flock west of McKenzie Slough Great Horned Owl - 3 on nests this afternoon Eurasian Collared-Dove - (pair) sitting on the cross of St. Hildegard Church, across from Menoken. Ah, finally spring! Good Birding, Corey Ellingson Bismarck, ND Subject: Bald Eagles From: Bernice Houser <sanishnd AT RTC.COOP> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:41:49 -0500 Saw one gorgeous adult Bald Eagle just east of Watford City today, and 9, mostly sub-adult,Bald Eagles at the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence, around a small patch of open water on the river. Bernice Houser Rural New Town ND Subject: Ramsey County From: Rod Fossen <rfossen AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:24:25 -0500 Today I was able to watch a hunting Golden Eagle near Crary, it was flying low checking out a stubble field that held a few Canada Geese and a few Pheasants. It disappeared suddenly from view so I think that it might have gotten something. There is now open water under the bridges around Devils Lake and at one I saw my first duck since December. On my way back to Minot an adult Bald Eagle flew overhead near Granville (Mchenry Co.). Rod Fossen, Minot Subject: bluebirds From: Peder Stenslie <Peder.Stenslie AT SENDIT.NODAK.EDU> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:22:41 -0500 Had 4 Mountain Bluebirds in our backyard this evening. Peder Stenslie Mandan Subject: red-tailed hawk From: Lillian Crook <lilliancrook AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:51:35 -0500 A red-tailed hawk in Mandan, just west of the river on I94. Lillian CrookBismarck _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850552/direct/01/ Subject: peregrine return From: Keith Corliss <koolhand AT JUNO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:40:43 GMT As of Sunday (Mar. 14) Judge Corwin is seeing a female perched in the usual spot on the bank building. He suspects this is the same bird as the last couple of years. Keith Corliss, W. Fargo Subject: crossbills & sawwhets From: David Lambeth <davidlambeth58201 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:40:00 -0700 Hi all, We are still seeing White-winged Crossbills in the GF-EGF area with flock size up to 15 or more. The Red River reached flood stage earlier this week. So it was Monday night or wait quite a while if I was going to check for owls along the Red. At the spot where I heard sawwhet on Dec 18 and 20 for the GF CBC, a sawwhet responded to played recordings and a much less vocal (mate??) began calling from a different direction. I then went along the river behind the Lincoln Golf Course where I heard a sawwhet before playing any owl recordings. I then tried for screech owls (no luck), but before quitting I tried sawwhet recording and got a response. Could be that the first bird followed me 300 yards or so, or was it a different one? Whether 3 or 4 sawwhets, it was quite a night for owling. It will be interesting to see if any these birds are around later this spring.   A comment on weather: This spring I'm regularily checking the bird migration weather site at http://homes.comet.ucar.edu/~guarente/birdweather/stream.htm   The beauty of this site is that it projects not just surface winds, but winds at the elevations where birds migrate. For the first week or so of March, there was a southerly wind flow along the eastern side of Nebraska and the Dakotas. Since then, the above surface winds have not been favorable and sightings of migrants have been sporadic. We had about 9 or 10 day period when the Red River Valley was covered with fog and temperatures did not fall below freezing day or night. Hard to imagine such occuring in the first half of March!  That all changed yesterday when the sun reappeared.   Good birding!   Dave Lambeth Grand Forks, North Dakota Subject: Pheasants From: Pius Klein <pk AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:40:17 -0500 Coming from Minot I drove over to Burlington along the Country Club road, and seen 6 pheasants feeding along the roadside. While driving up to Bakers bridge, I saw 4 deer along the trees on the west side. Then going on my way to Lake Darling, seen about 15 Horned Larks along the roadside. Looking around the open water below the dam at Lake Darling, I saw nothing, but did hear some Canadian Honkers. Must have been an off day for anything new. Happy birding, Pius Klein Subject: RBA: North Dakota, March 16, 2010 From: Jane Kostenko <jkostenko AT SOMD.LIB.MD.US> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:40:13 -0400 * RBA * North Dakota * Statewide * March16, 2010 * NDST1003.16 - Transcript Hotline: North Dakota Update Date: March 16, 2010 Number: 701-527-0730 To Report: 701-527-0730 Coverage: Statewide Compiler: Ken Torkelson Compiled: March 16, 2010 Transcriber: Jane Kostenko mailto: tork02 AT juno.com - Birds Mentioned Common Grackle Northern Harrier American Robin Hairy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker House Finch Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch American Crow Mallard American Kestrel Northern Pintail Gadwall Great Horned Owl American Tree Sparrow Northern Shrike Prairie Falcon Golden-crowned Kinglet Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, March16. Unless otherwise noted, any phone numbers mentioned are area code 701. Transcriber's Note: Birds listed in ALL CAPS in the Birds Mentioned section signify that the Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds lists them as Occasional, Accidental, Extirpated, or never having occurred before for the season being reported. Some seasonal firsts, other good sightings and a change from last week. Jean Legge saw her first-of-the-year COMMON GRACKLE at Marion in LaMoure County on March 11. For details, contact her at 845-4762. Randy Joe Tappen's seasonal first was a female NORTHERN HARRIER on March 5. It was observed between Jamestown and Valley City. For the exact, precise location, contact Randy at 845-0483. Connie Norheim saw her first AMERICAN ROBIN of the year on March 15 during a one-hour walk through Trefoil Park in Fargo. Her other sightings included HAIRY WOODPECKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, HOUSE FINCH, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, AMERICAN CROW and MALLARDS. For more information, call Connie at 232-4386. Larry Igl relayed a report from Tom Buehl, who recorded an AMERICAN KESTREL on the outskirts of Jamestown on March 11. You can reach Larry at 253-5511. Ron Martin returned to the Garrison Dam area on March 13. Along the Missouri River below the dam, he saw four NORTHERN PINTAILS. He added a GADWALL at the fish hatchery marsh, noted that the bald eagle nest below the dam is now active, saw two GREAT HORNED OWLS on nests, and observed that a few AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS are on the move. Ron has details at jrmartin AT srt.com Rod Fossen birded the area near Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge on March 14. He recorded a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a PRAIRIE FALCON, both were between Baker's bridge and Foxholm. You can contact Rod at rfossen AT min.midco.net And, the birds that Peder Stenslie saw near New Town on March 7 have been identified as GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, not ruby-crowned kinglets as we reported last week. That concludes this report from the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. - end transcript Subject: Bluebirds -- almost! From: G & J Sailer <jngsailer AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:37:12 -0700 All --   Heads up!  Bluebirds are on the way!  My husband, Gerry, was thrilled yesterday to see a male mountain bluebird -- against the snow and in the sunshine, yet! -- at our ranch in SD, about 25 miles south of the state line.    Who couldn't use a bluebird just now?   Jan Sailer Hettinger Subject: SPRING! From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:09:25 -0500 Greetings ND-Birders: There are a few species that I look for on the Listserve, and out and about in March to tell me spring is actually here. Ron Martin and Clark Talkington both reported Northern Pintails this past weekend. Western Meadowlarks and Bluebirds are probably out there somewhere, and the last species I look for is GULLS! On the Missouri River south of Expressway bridge were 10 CALIFORNIA GULLs this afternoon. All but one bird was sleeping, but they all appeared to be the same size and mantle color. I am looking forward to the influx of birds for 2010. Right now I am enjoying the first clear skies here in the last 3 weeks, as the fog and drizzle has been downright depressing! Oh yea, in addition to 10 California Gulls, were 3 Cackling Geese. These birds had short necks, square head, and were much smaller. Good Birding, Corey Ellingson Bismarck, ND Subject: Raptor Migration From: Maureen OMara <mo1_omara AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:01:21 -0700 Howdy, Replying to the group in case anyone else is interested in this organization. When I lived in SLC, Utah I did some work with Hawkwatch Int'l at their Goshute's site over in NE Nevada. This mountain ridge had over 10,000 raptors fly over during fall migration the season I observed for them. Not sure if that's still the record. http://www.hawkwatch.org/ Mo O'Mara Sidney, MT ________________________________ From: ND-BIRDS automatic digest system To: ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU Sent: Mon, March 15, 2010 1:00:09 AM Subject: ND-BIRDS Digest - 14 Mar 2010 to 15 Mar 2010 (#2010-49) There are 3 messages totalling 322 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Raptor Migration 2. Fw: Raptor Workshop Announcement 3. Ward County Near Upper Souris Refuge ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:56:54 -0500 From: Bob Shettler Subject: Raptor Migration This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0023_01CAC365.0EDBA7B0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello, My name is Bob Shettler and I live near Winnipeg, Manitoba. We have been = watching migrating raptors at a place called Windygates which is just = over the North Dakota / Manitoba border in the Pembina Valley. Each = year, beginning about mid March thousands of raptors primarily = Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles use the valley as a migration route. We = typically get around 10000 raptors in a spring season. Is anyone aware = of a similar site on the US side of the border (probably in the Walhalla = area) where you get this kind of concentrated migration? If so, could = you give me detailed directions to get there? Bob Shettler Headingley, Manitoba, Canada ------=_NextPart_000_0023_01CAC365.0EDBA7B0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello,   My name is Bob Shettler and I live near = Winnipeg,=20 Manitoba. We have been watching migrating raptors at a place called = Windygates=20 which is just over the North Dakota / Manitoba border in the Pembina = Valley.=20 Each year, beginning about mid March thousands of raptors primarily = Red-tailed=20 Hawks and Bald Eagles use the valley as a migration route. We typically=20 get around 10000 raptors in a spring season. Is anyone aware of a = similar=20 site on the US side of the border (probably in the Walhalla area) where = you get=20 this kind of concentrated migration? If so, could you give me detailed=20 directions to get there?   Bob Shettler Headingley, Manitoba,=20 Canada ------=_NextPart_000_0023_01CAC365.0EDBA7B0-- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:50:53 -0700 From: James Tyler Bell Subject: Fw: Raptor Workshop Announcement --0-1342236323-1268614253=:31326 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I can't remember if I forwarded this announcement or not. Apologies if I di= d! Sounds like an interesting workshop.=0A=A0=0ATyler Bell=0Ajtylerbell AT yah= oo.com=0ACalifornia, Maryland =0A=0ARaptor Workshop:=0AIf you're looking fo= r a chance of a lifetime to work with some of =0AWisconsin's finest birds, = consider attending the Raptor Workshop.=A0 During =0Athis workshop you will= be active in assisting in on-going research projects =0Ahere in central Wi= sconsin.=A0 You will capture, band, and release several =0Adifferent specie= s of raptors, from the powerful Red-tailed Hawk down to the =0Abeautiful Am= erican Kestrel.=A0 You will receive "hands-on" training in many of =0Athe f= ield techniques used to study raptors.=A0 Small class sizes of 8 =0Astudent= s, allows for individualized instructions throughout the course. =0AThese t= wo 5-day workshops entitled "Introduction to Raptor Field Techniques" =0Awi= ll be held in Stevens Point, WI by Eugene Jacobs of the Linwood Springs =0A= Research Station and Loren Ayers of the Wis. Dept. of Natural Resources. = =0ASession #1 June 7-11, 2010 and session #2 June 21-25, 2010. This course = can =0Abe taken for credit through UW-Stevens Point.=A0 For more details vi= sit =0Awww.RaptorResearch.com=0A=0AEugene Jacobs=0ARaptor Services, LLC=0A1= 601 Brown Deer Lane=0AStevens Point, WI 54481=0A715-347-7998=0AWebsite: www= .RaptorResearch.com=0A=0A=0A --0-1342236323-1268614253=:31326 Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =0A I can't remember if I forwarded this= announcement or not. Apologies if I did! Sounds like an interesting worksh= op.   =0A Tyler Bell jtylerbell AT yahoo.com California,= Maryland =0A =0A =0A = =0A =0A Raptor Workshop: =0A If you're looking = for a chance of a lifetime to work with some of Wisconsin's finest bird= s, consider attending the Raptor Workshop.  During this workshop y= ou will be active in assisting in on-going research projects here in ce= ntral Wisconsin.  You will capture, band, and release several diff= erent species of raptors, from the powerful Red-tailed Hawk down to the beautiful American Kestrel.  You will receive "hands-on" training in = many of the field techniques used to study raptors.  Small class s= izes of 8 students, allows for individualized instructions throughout t= he course. These two 5-day workshops entitled "Introduction to Raptor F= ield Techniques" will be held in Stevens Point, WI by Eugene Jacobs of = the Linwood Springs Research Station and Loren Ayers of the Wis. Dept. = of Natural Resources. Session #1 June 7-11, 2010 and session #2 June 21-25, 2010. This course can be taken for cre= dit through UW-Stevens Point.  For more details visit size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New, courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif">www.R= aptorResearch.com Eugene Jacobs Raptor Services, LLC<= BR>1601 Brown Deer Lane Stevens Point, WI 54481 715-347-7998 Websi= te: http://www.RaptorResearch.com" rel=3Dnofollow target= =3D_blank>www.RaptorResearch.com <= /div> =0A=0A --0-1342236323-1268614253=:31326-- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:09:44 -0500 From: Rod Fossen Subject: Ward County Near Upper Souris Refuge This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01CAC3CB.6F3F3070 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Today while driving around hoping to see returning raptors I saw 1 Northern Shrike and 1 Prairie Falcon. This is the first time I have positively identified a Prairie Falcon. Both of these birds were between Bakers Bridge and Foxholm. Rod Fossen, Minot ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01CAC3CB.6F3F3070 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Today while driving around hoping to see returning = raptors I saw 1 Northern Shrike and 1 Prairie Falcon.  This is the first time I have = positively identified a Prairie Falcon.  = Both of these birds were between = Bakers = Bridge and Foxholm.   Rod Fossen, Minot ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01CAC3CB.6F3F3070-- ------------------------------ End of ND-BIRDS Digest - 14 Mar 2010 to 15 Mar 2010 (#2010-49) ************************************************************** Subject: Trefoil Park Fargo From: cnorheim <cnorheim AT MSN.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:11:04 -0500 I took an hour walk through Trefoil Park this morning before flooding and clay dikes make it inaccessible. Bike paths are under water Had my first robin of the year, otherwise nothing unusual: Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Mallards, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow. Had hoped to find some Wood Ducks. Connie Norheim 232-4386 Subject: Ward County Near Upper Souris Refuge From: Rod Fossen <rfossen AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:09:44 -0500 Today while driving around hoping to see returning raptors I saw 1 Northern Shrike and 1 Prairie Falcon. This is the first time I have positively identified a Prairie Falcon. Both of these birds were between Bakers Bridge and Foxholm. Rod Fossen, Minot Subject: Fw: Raptor Workshop Announcement From: James Tyler Bell <jtylerbell AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:50:53 -0700 I can't remember if I forwarded this announcement or not. Apologies if I did! Sounds like an interesting workshop.   Tyler Bell jtylerbell AT yahoo.com California, Maryland Raptor Workshop: If you're looking for a chance of a lifetime to work with some of Wisconsin's finest birds, consider attending the Raptor Workshop.  During this workshop you will be active in assisting in on-going research projects here in central Wisconsin.  You will capture, band, and release several different species of raptors, from the powerful Red-tailed Hawk down to the beautiful American Kestrel.  You will receive "hands-on" training in many of the field techniques used to study raptors.  Small class sizes of 8 students, allows for individualized instructions throughout the course. These two 5-day workshops entitled "Introduction to Raptor Field Techniques" will be held in Stevens Point, WI by Eugene Jacobs of the Linwood Springs Research Station and Loren Ayers of the Wis. Dept. of Natural Resources. Session #1 June 7-11, 2010 and session #2 June 21-25, 2010. This course can be taken for credit through UW-Stevens Point.  For more details visit www.RaptorResearch.com Eugene Jacobs Raptor Services, LLC 1601 Brown Deer Lane Stevens Point, WI 54481 715-347-7998 Website: www.RaptorResearch.com Subject: Raptor Migration From: Bob Shettler <sshettler AT SHAW.CA> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:56:54 -0500 Hello, My name is Bob Shettler and I live near Winnipeg, Manitoba. We have been watching migrating raptors at a place called Windygates which is just over the North Dakota / Manitoba border in the Pembina Valley. Each year, beginning about mid March thousands of raptors primarily Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles use the valley as a migration route. We typically get around 10000 raptors in a spring season. Is anyone aware of a similar site on the US side of the border (probably in the Walhalla area) where you get this kind of concentrated migration? If so, could you give me detailed directions to get there? Bob Shettler Headingley, Manitoba, Canada Subject: Garrison Dam Saturday From: Ron Martin <jrmartin AT SRT.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:09:44 -0600 ND-Birders: There were 4 N. Pintails on the Missouri R. below the dam today. There was a Gadwall at the Fish Hatchery Marsh, probably a wintering bird. The Bald Eagle nest below the dam is now active. I also had 2 Great Horned Owls on nests today. A few Am. Tree Sparrows on the move. Lots of fog today. Good birding, Ron Martin Sawyer Subject: Spring Arrival - Am. Kestrel From: Lawrence D Igl <ligl AT USGS.GOV> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:16:31 -0600 Tom Buhl reported an American Kestrel on the outskirts of Jamestown on 11 March. ************************************************************** Lawrence D. Igl, Ecologist U.S.G.S. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 8711 37th Street SE Jamestown, North Dakota 58401-7317 Phone: 701-253-5511 Fax: 701-253-5553 E-mail: ligl AT usgs.gov Internet: www.npwrc.usgs.gov ************************************************************** Subject: New Subscriber From: Pius Klein <pk AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:52:04 -0600 I live in Minot, and this is my first post. Looking forward for the Whooping Crane migration, and hopefully getting an opportunity to see some. Good Birding to all, Pius Subject: Northern Harrier From: Randy Joe Toppen <randy.j.toppen AT SENDIT.NODAK.EDU> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:02:13 -0600 46°52'53.18"N 98°17'28.14"W Female, Friday, March 5, 2010, FOY -- Randy J. Toppen, Biology Teacher Valley City High School Science Department 460 North Central Avenue Valley City, ND 58072 701-845-0483 http://www.valley-city.k12.nd.us/jrsrhigh/jrsrstaff/jrsrstffpgs/rt.html randy.j.toppen AT sendit.nodak.edu Subject: Common Grackle LaMoure County From: jlegge <jlegge AT DAKTEL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:50:40 -0600 LaMoure County, Marion, ND Thursday, March 11, 2010 First of year, Common Grackle Jean Legge Subject: Robins From: Peder Stenslie <Peder.Stenslie AT SENDIT.NODAK.EDU> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:18:39 -0600 Today was the first day we saw a female robin in our yard. Since January we have had a male who seemed to claim our yard. He was very territorial... in January!! That was strange. Today, he had a female companion. That sure seems remarkably early for robins to be pairing up. Peder Stenslie Mandan Subject: Bird Sightings From: Rod Fossen <rfossen AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:56:12 -0600 Today, south of Devils Lake I saw 1 White-winged Crossbill in the same neighborhood where I saw several 10 days ago. Also I spotted a Merlin in NE Minot at the top of the same spruce tree where I saw one Sunday (By First Pres. Church). Rod Fossen, Minot Subject: Spring arrival - Mallards From: Lawrence D Igl <ligl AT USGS.GOV> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:02:28 -0600 This morning, Chris Zinke observed a pair of Mallards (a drake and a hen) on the James River at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (Stutsman County). Mark Sherfy reported a Snowy Owl on a utility pole on 7 March, about 2 miles west of Tappen (Kidder County). ************************************************************** Lawrence D. Igl, Ecologist U.S.G.S. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 8711 37th Street SE Jamestown, North Dakota 58401-7317 Phone: 701-253-5511 Fax: 701-253-5553 E-mail: ligl AT usgs.gov Internet: www.npwrc.usgs.gov ************************************************************** Subject: RBA: North Dakota, March 9, 2010 From: Jane Kostenko <jkostenko AT SOMD.LIB.MD.US> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:24:28 -0500 * RBA * North Dakota * Statewide * March 9, 2010 * NDST1003.09 - Transcript Hotline: North Dakota Update Date: March 9, 2010 Number: 701-527-0730 To Report: 701-527-0730 Coverage: Statewide Compiler: Ken Torkelson Compiled: March 9, 2010 Transcriber: Jane Kostenko mailto: tork02 AT juno.com - Birds Mentioned American Kestrel Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Merlin Sharp-shinned Hawk White-winged Crossbill Northern Harrier Common Merganser Bald Eagle Eurasian Collared-Dove Great Horned Owl Canada Goose Mallard Common Goldeneye Common Grackle American Tree Sparrow American Goldfinch Downy Woodpecker Black-capped Chickadee Blue Jay Ring-necked Pheasant Northern Goshawk Cedar Waxwing Wild Turkey Pine Siskin Red-breasted Nuthatch Gray Partridge Snowy Owl Sharp-tailed Grouse Horned Lark Ruby-crowned Kinglet Brown Creeper Rusty Blackbird Snow Bunting Rock Pigeon American Crow White-breasted Nuthatch Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker House Finch Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, Mar. 9. Unless otherwise noted, any phone numbers mentioned are area code 701. Transcriber's Note: Birds listed in ALL CAPS in the Birds Mentioned section signify that the Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds lists them as Occasional, Accidental, Extirpated, or never having occurred before for the season being reported. This is one of the times when more birders equals more observations. Early March brought good raptor viewing for Corey Ellingson. On March 3, he saw an AMERICAN KESTREL just south of the N.D. Game and Fish Department offices in Bismarck, two RED-TAILED HAWKS near the airport and livestock yard and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in the same area. One day earlier, a MERLIN flew over Corey's yard, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flew over on March 1. Scouting the area near the Missouri River on March 7, Corey saw about eight WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS at the Mandan Union Cemetery, had a flyover by a male NORTHERN HARRIER at the Mandan experiment station, counted two COMMON MERGANSERS, an adult BALD EAGLE, two RED-TAILED HAWKS and six EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES. For details, contact Corey at crackerjackbirder AT bis.midco.net Janelle Masters saw some nest activity on March 8. She watched two mature BALD EAGLES on a nest at Wolf Creek, and a GREAT HORNED OWL on a nest near Underwood. She also recorded a female MERLIN on a telephone pole and thousands of HORNED LARKS. You can reach Janelle at 224-5525. Sherry Leslie birded the area between Minot and the Garrison Dam tailrace on March 7. She saw thousands of CANADA GEESE and MALLARDS in an unharvested corn field four miles east of Riverdale, plus three adult BALD EAGLES nearby. The seven additional BALD EAGLES she found at the tailrace included one juvenile. Also at the tailrace were COMMON MERGANSERS, MALLARDS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, COMMON GRACKLES, TREE SPARROWS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, DOWNY WOODPECKERS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, nine BLUE JAYS, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, NORTHERN GOSHAWK and CEDAR WAXWINGS. Back at her rural Minot feeders, Sherry added 40-50 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 70 WILD TURKEYS and 2-4 PINE SISKINS. You can reach Sherry at bird_nd AT yahoo.com Rod Fossen birded the Minot Country Club on March 6. He discovered large numbers of AMERICAN ROBINS, plus RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, PINE SISKINS and CEDAR WAXWINGS plus a GREAT HORNED OWL and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. North of Minot, Rod saw RING-NECKED PHEASANTS and GRAY PARTRIDGES. He added a SNOWY OWL north of the fairgrounds, and a MERLIN in northeast Minot. Moving on to Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge the following day, Rod observed lots of GRAY PARTRIDGES, RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE and HORNED LARKS. He also recorded a young SNOWY OWL off Ward County Road #6. Contact Rod at rfossen AT min.midco.net Peder Stenslie saw his first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS on March7. The two birds were near his parents' place, north of New Town. He's at Peder.Stenslie AT sendit.nodak.edu Wayne Easley and Larry Jones discovered an adult SNOWY OWL six miles west of Fessenden on March 8. They also reported large flocks of HORNED LARKS in the area. Wayne is at 324-2344. Jean Legge reported a BROWN CREEPER near Klaus Park in Jamestown on Feb. 28, and two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in Marion on March 4. For details, call Jean at 845-4762. From his office window in downtown Jamestown, Dan Buchanan watched a juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK dining on a ROCK PIGEON on March 2. Dan says it's the second time in two years that has happened. On March 6, Dan birded the Jamestown parks and part of Stutsman County with out-of-town friends. They saw a flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS mixed in with EUROPEAN STARLINGS north of Medina, about five EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in Medina, abundant HORNED LARKS plus SNOW BUNTINGS, BLUE JAYS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, GRAY PARTRIDGES, RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, ROCK PIGEONS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, AMERICAN CROWS, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, DOWNY WOODPECKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, HOUSE FINCHES and HOUSE SPARROWS. For more information, contact Dan at 252-6604. For your calendar, here are the dates of the N.D. Birding Society's spring field trips. The group will bird the Devils Lake area on May 22-23, meeting at the Holiday Inn Express at 6am on the 22nd. For more information, contact Corey Ellingson at crackerjackbirder AT bis.midco.net That concludes this report from the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. - end transcript Subject: NDBS Spring trips - Devils Lake From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 21:57:16 -0600 Greetings ND-Birders: For those interested in planning ahead and booking early, the spring North Dakota Birding Society field trips are scheduled for the weekend of May 22nd and 23rd in Devils Lake. For several years now, the NDBS has met in the fall for "pelagic" trips in search of Little Gulls and Sabine's Gulls with good success. We have not however had a spring trip to this relatively underbirded area of North Dakota. We will meet at the Holiday Inn Express (address below) at 6 a.m. on the 22nd and go from there. We usually eat supper together on Saturday evening. That location will be announced on that Saturday morning. The VP Stacy has done some research in locating hotel information, which I have listed below. Hope to see you there! Corey Ellingson President, NDBS Bismarck, ND There are 8 rooms reserved at the Holiday Inn Express for the nights of May 21 and 22. Two of the eight rooms have already been reserved. They are 90.95 before a ten percent discount. And they accept dogs and have a good breakfast. Dogs just need to be 'declared' upon room reservation to insure a ground floor room. They will be reserved until April 21, 2010. Holiday Inn Express Hotel Devils Lake - www.hiexpress.com 875 Hwy#2 East Devils Lake, ND 58301 (701) 665-3200 Other locations which can be used for lodging, if you so desire: Fireside Inn 662-6760 Days Inn 662-5381 Super 8 662-8656 Great American Inn 662-4001 Subject: adult snowy owl in Wells Co. From: Wayne Easley <easley57 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 18:19:03 -0800 Hi:  On Mon. the 8th of Mar., Larry Jones (from Bowdon, ND) and I observed an adult snowy owl about 6 miles west of Fessenden, ND.  The owl was the purest white snowy owl that I have ever seen.  With the snow and the fog in the background, this bird was very difficult to locate.  We also noted large flocks of horned larks but not much else.  Surely Spring can not be too far away!  Wayne Easley of Harvey, ND at 701-324-2344 Subject: eagles on nest From: Janelle Masters <Janelle.Masters AT BSC.NODAK.EDU> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 08:54:52 -0600 Hello: I saw two mature bald eagles on a nest at Wolf Creek, and a great-horned owl on a nest north of Underwood. The eagles seemed to be in the flirtation stage; one brought some food to the nest and both were chowing down. The owl was quite intent on incubating. Also saw a very alert female merlin on top a telephone pole. 1000's of horned larks. Some seemed to be pairing off and getting ready to kick each other in the face, so I assume they are in love. Janelle Janelle Masters Dean of Academic Affairs 224-5525 NECE 346E Janelle.Masters AT bsc.nodak.edu Subject: Re: White-winged Crossbills From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 20:42:02 -0600 Greetings ND-Birders: In case anyone local looks for the Crossbills tomorrow, I meant to say they were in the southeast most section of the cemetery, where I usually see the most bird activity. Corey Ellingson Bismarck, ND From: Birding Discussion List for North Dakota [mailto:ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU] On Behalf Of Corey Ellingson Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 8:16 PM To: ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU Subject: [ND-BIRDS] White-winged Crossbills Greetings ND-Birders: I spent some time this afternoon checking the river for incoming ducks and gulls. Fort Peck, MT and Pierre,SD have both reported migrant gulls coming in. However I did not find anything of the sort in 3 locations. I did however find some other birds in a short afternoon with my mother. The highlight was finding about 8 White-winged Crossbills feeding in the spruces in the southwest most section of the Mandan Union Cemetery off I-94. Other main find was a high flyover male Northern Harrier while I was searching the trees at the Mandan Experiment Station. The birds: Common Merganser (2 male) Bald Eagle (adult) Red-tailed Hawk (2) Northern Harrier (male) American Robins (lots!) Eurasian Collared-Dove (6) in mid Mandan north of the high school. White-winged Crossbill (8) at Mandan Union Cemetery Good Birding, Corey Ellingson Bismarck, ND No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2727 - Release Date: 03/06/10 19:34:00 Subject: Tailrace From: Sherry <bird_nd AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 18:28:42 -0800 Leaving home from rural Minot, under sunny skies, we ended up driving thru many miles of fog to finally arrive at the Tailrace.  Horned Larks were thick along the road along with hundreds of Robins.  About 4 miles East of Riverdale there were thousands of Canada Geese and Mallards in an unharvested corn field. Sitting in a tree beside the field were 3 adult Bald Eagles.  Seven more Eagles, 1 juvenile, were found at the Tailrace along with Common Mergansers, Mallards, Common Goldeneyes, Grackles, Tree Sparrows, Goldfinch, Downys, Chickadees, Blue Jays (9), Pheasants, Goshawk (1) and Cedar Waxwings, but no gulls.  At our home feeders Goldfinch (40-50) are still the predominant bird besides the (70) Wild Turkeys.  Pine Siskins (2-4), Juncos, Chickadees, Hairy, Downys, Blue Jays and White-breasted Nuthatches. According to my records the earliest Bluebirds arrived at our houses were 2-28 in 2008, 3-5 in 2000, and last year not until 4-10.  Due to very deep snow and no bugs hopefully they will be smarter this year. Spring is coming (?), Sherry Rural Minot Subject: White-winged Crossbills From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 20:15:40 -0600 Greetings ND-Birders: I spent some time this afternoon checking the river for incoming ducks and gulls. Fort Peck, MT and Pierre,SD have both reported migrant gulls coming in. However I did not find anything of the sort in 3 locations. I did however find some other birds in a short afternoon with my mother. The highlight was finding about 8 White-winged Crossbills feeding in the spruces in the southwest most section of the Mandan Union Cemetery off I-94. Other main find was a high flyover male Northern Harrier while I was searching the trees at the Mandan Experiment Station. The birds: Common Merganser (2 male) Bald Eagle (adult) Red-tailed Hawk (2) Northern Harrier (male) American Robins (lots!) Eurasian Collared-Dove (6) in mid Mandan north of the high school. White-winged Crossbill (8) at Mandan Union Cemetery Good Birding, Corey Ellingson Bismarck, ND Subject: Upper Souris Refuge. From: Rod Fossen <rfossen AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 19:47:15 -0600 Drove out to Lake Darling to see if any W. Meadowlarks have started showing up. No Meadowlarks but lots of G. Partridge, Pheasant, S. T. Grouse and Horned Larks. Also saw a young Snowy Owl on a rock pile way out in a field ( County Rd #6), can't believe I spotted it, hope my digiscoping pictures turn out. Rod Fossen, Minot Subject: Weekend Observations From: Buchanan Law Office <bulaw AT DAKTEL.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 17:13:14 -0600 On Saturday I covered the Jamestown parks and part of Stutsman County with birding friends from Phoenix, AZ. It was overcast and foggy when we started and rained a couple of times between Pingree and Woodworth. Notable finds included a flock of Rusty Blackbirds mixed in with European Starlings at a farmstead not far north of Medina. In Medina, at the railway crossing, we saw about 5 Eurasian Collared Doves. Other species were Horned Larks (abundant), Snow Buntings, Blue Jays, Cedar Waxwings (flock in McElroy Park), Gray Partridge (flock near Buchanan), Ring-necked Pheasants, Rock Pigeons, American Goldfinches, American Crows, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy and Hairy Woodpecker, Northern (YS) Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, House Finches and House Sparrows. The blackbirds, doves, waxwings, partridges, jays and flicker were firsts this year for me. Dan Buchanan Box 879 Jamestown, ND 58402 Tel. (701) 252-6604 Fax (701) 952-4757 bulaw AT daktel.com Subject: Re: Garrison Dam area From: Peder Stenslie <Peder.Stenslie AT SENDIT.NODAK.EDU> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 12:09:10 -0600 I saw a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets at my parents' place north of New Town. It was the first time I'd ever seen one of those. What a treat! Subject: Whooping Crane From: Chris Hiatt <hiattch AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 19:52:51 -0800 Greetings from fairly warm Central California!  In response to an email from Steve Hawkins about w.cranes....I'm making this post mainly for the researchers tracking the cranes.   In Sept. or Oct. of 2005 I saw a w. crane on the bank of the Little Missouri River about two miles south of the Billings-Slope county line.   This was my lifer and the only one I have ever seen.   Hope your all staying warm up there, and can't wait to get back up there in two months.   Chris Hiatt Madera Ranchos, CA Bowman, ND Subject: Don Stoecker From: Stevan Hawkins <shawkins4 AT SATX.RR.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 21:03:26 -0600 ND-Birders: Judging by the several responses I got to an RFI on MOB, Montana Outdoor Birders, there is a good probability that some of you may know Don Stoecker. Gary Swant's reply, below, to my question about the owner of a vehicle with an unusual personalized license plate made me wish I had taken the time for Gary's friend Don to return to his van that day in July, 2008, when we were both parked at an overlook on the south side of the Little Missouri River along US 85. In the process of reading the responses to Mr. Swant's note, I got a partial understanding and appreciation of a person who all described as being very special. A number of those vignettes of encounters with Don Stoecker were quite moving and humbling. In retrospect I wish I had been more patient and waited to take the time to chat with Mr. Stoecker. We should all heed Mr. Swant's admonition about how we should bird while we can because we do not know the future. Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX **************************************************************************** *********************************************** Steve, That vehicle belonged to Don Stoecker. Don was an avid birder here in Montana and the last ten years or so of his birding days he traveled extensively across the United States. Don's goal at that time was to find 50% of all of the birds in every state. He fell short of his goal by three states before he could no longer bird. You saw Don's vehicle during his last summer of birding. In September of 08 Don came to my home in poor health, and disoriented. His intention was to head south again with the birds, but he was in such poor health that he no longer knew how to head south out of Montana. Don was never married, and has no family except for a sister who is older than he, who lives in California. I took Don "under my wing" so to speak, and he is in a rest home here in the community that I live in, Deer Lodge, MT. I try to see Don once a week, and birding is a distant memory for him, that only comes to life with my prodding and telling of my own birding adventures. Don has recovered physically and is doing well, but has lost his interest in birds and struggles remembering things. What I have learned from Don is, bird while you can, we do not know the future. Don's van has sat in my yard for nearly two years, and I have begun the process of cleaning it out. Anyone interested in purchasing a birding van at a very low reasonable price? You also need to know that Don was not only a good birder in his day, he also taught others to love birding. He was recognized by Montana Audubon with the Lifetime Achievement Award a few years ago for his efforts in promoting birding in Montana. Don is content, kind and helpful to the other residents, and is always glad to see me, even if he sometimes is not sure who I am. You saw the van of a great birder and sort of a legend in the circle of Montana birders. Gary Swant Deer Lodge .----- Original Message ----- From: Stevan Hawkins To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 1:38 PM Subject: [MOB-Montana] RFI: License plat Mobsters: After killing my computer in late December, 2008, now I am in the process of looking at photographs from all of memory cards as I download them to a new computer. The folder I am in at the moment is from late June, 2008. When I parked at an overlook along US 85 just to the south of the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, I saw a Dodge Ram SUV with Montana Bird Habitat license plates with "Birder" instead of some sort of numbers, letters, or combination of letters and numbers. Since I took that photo I have been curious as to who that person was, is. Thanks! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX Subject: Ward County From: Rod Fossen <rfossen AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 20:47:46 -0600 Went cross-country skiing at the Minot Country Club today. There are still large numbers of Robins, Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-winged Crossbills, Pine Siskins and Cedar Waxwings there. I also saw 1 G. Horned Owl and my very first Sharp-shinned Hawk which I differentiated from a Merlin by its more delicate call and the fact that it flew out from the inner branches of a Spruce tree instead of from the top. After leaving there I drove some paved roads north of Minot and saw lots of Partridge and Pheasant. I also saw a very white Snowy Owl on County 19 several miles north of the Fairgrounds, and a Merlin in NE Minot. Later in the day I brought my dog out to the Bison Plant for his exercise and he chased a Raccoon up a tree, a great day for both of us. Rod Fossen, Minot Subject: brown creeper in Jmst From: JLegge <jlegge AT DAKTEL.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 17:12:32 -0600 Report from Stutsman County, last week Feb. 26. Brown creeper in Jamestown in the vicinity of Klaus Park residential neighborhood. Report from LaMoure County, Marion, ND March 4 2 Eurasian Collared-doves -- Jean Legge 3212 115 Ave. SE Valley City, ND 58072 701-845-4762 j legge AT daktel.com Subject: first chimney swifts From: Nancy Drew <ncdrew AT POLARCOMM.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 23:36:40 -0600 I see my chimney swifts up in Mayville, North Dakota, although I have seen them very occasionally on my farm west of Clifford. I learned to identify them while living in Minneapolis. I lived a block from a huge cement chimney that housed over 800 chimney swifts. I left there in 1989 and don't know if they still are there. Nancy Drew one mile west of Clifford North Dakota West Traill County -------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Associate, The first Chimney Swifts of the season have been sighted on the Gulf Coast retuning from their wintering grounds in South America. As in past years we will be plotting the swifts' movements northward over the next few months. Please let us know when you see the first ones in your area. This year's results will be posted on our web site at:WWW.CHIMNEYSWIFTS.ORG along with past years' efforts. You can help us get the word our by passing this message along to any groups or organizations who might want to contribute. We look forward to hearing from you! Paul and Georgean Kyle Project Directors Driftwood Wildlife Association www.ChimneySwifts.org Please visit our website! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Robins in Mandan From: Howard Lien <hlpromo AT SRT.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 10:49:20 -0800 I noticed many flocks of Robins beginning on the south edge of Mandan and continuing south along Hwy. 1806 for approx. 20-25 miles. The Robins were seen Thurs. March 4th. Howard Lien Minot, ND Subject: Whooping Crane viewing opportunities From: Stevan Hawkins <shawkins4 AT SATX.RR.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 15:15:06 -0600 ND-Birders: For those who live near the Missouri River corridor I suspect that the passage of Whooping Cranes is a good indicator of the arrival of spring. Per the report in the other posting about Whooping Cranes today, forwarded to TexBirds by Patty Waits Beasley, the Aransas NWR-Wood Buffalo National Park flock of Whooping Cranes are still down here along the Coastal Bend of Texas. According to everything that I have ever heard, those birds should start heading towards North Dakota in late March to early April. That means that a person will have a chance to see Whooping Cranes on their wintering grounds if they come down here in the next few weeks. Because their boats allow a person to get much closer to the Whooping Cranes than a person can on land, the best way to see Whooping Cranes is to take one of the commercial boat tours, some of which advertise at http://www.birdrockport.com/whooping_cranes.htm Given the very large of information and links this site has, it appears to be a chamber of commerce web site. It seems to have links to most, if not all, of all of the commercial boat tours. Given that a web search this morning yielded 58,700 hits when I used "Whooping Crane tours" as a search term, a person should have no problem finding a boat they can ride on to get close up views of Whooping Cranes. The only problem with taking a boat tour is that a person almost gets too close to the Whooping Cranes. The boat rides almost make seeing a very endangered species of bird seem like a theme park ride. Personally I would rather be one of the lucky people to find Whooping Cranes in a field near Bismarck, New Town, Williston, and counties along the Missouri River. That general path is shown reasonably well at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/conservation/success/whooping_cra ne The more people who find Whooping Cranes in North Dakota, the better their migratory path will be understood, and the more North Dakotans may appreciate North Dakota's importance in the saving of this species. Good birding! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX Subject: Whooping Crane update From: Stevan Hawkins <shawkins4 AT SATX.RR.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 12:25:53 -0600 ND-Birders: See the below. Good birding. Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX The following report is forwarded with permission from Tom Stehn, USFWS biologist and US Whooping Crane Coordinator. ------------- begin report -------------- The sixth aerial census of the 2009-10 whooping crane season was conducted February 16, 2010 in a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions of Castroville, Texas with USFWS observer Tom Stehn. Sighted on the flight were 237 adults and 19 juveniles = 256 total whooping cranes. No evidence of mortality was noted on the flight other than the one juvenile that had died earlier in the winter. The radioed family on Lamar Peninsula was overlooked on the flight, but GPS data indicates it was on Lamar before and after the census flight. Since it has not been documented leaving Lamar since being tagged in December, it is considered very unlikely that they had moved over to San Jose to account for the extra family found there during the census. The flight provided a firm tally of the 20 family groups currently at Aransas. With one juvenile last seen in Oklahoma December 25th that apparently separated from its parents during migration and is presumably okay and wintering in an unknown location, and the S. Sundown Island chick that has died at Aransas, this accounts for 22 of the 22 juveniles found in Canada during the mid-August fledging surveys. This is one more juvenile accounted for than on previous survey flights this winter. With the one documented mortality this winter, the current flock size is estimated at 242 + 21=263. February 16th - Recap of whooping cranes (256) found at Aransas: Adults + Young San Jose 55 + 5 = 60 Refuge 47 + 5 = 52 Lamar 16 + 0 = 16* Matagorda 93 + 7 = 100** Welder Flats 24 + 2 = 26 Hynes Bay 2 + 0 = 2 Total 237 + 19 = 256* * One family group was overlooked. ** Ties record high for Matagorda Island set during the 2008-09 winter. The territories of adult cranes remain difficult to figure out as many of the crane pairs have left their marsh and are searching for food on the uplands. Upland areas on the barrier islands are flooded, with numerous wet swales on the uplands up to the beach dunes. Three cranes on Matagorda Island were in one of these flooded swales next to the dunes. Overall habitat use documented included an unusually high 67 cranes (26%) on unburned uplands, 16 in open bays, two at a game feeder south of the Big Tree on Lamar, 0 on prescribed burns, and 171 (67%) in salt marsh. Blue crabs are at low levels and the cranes are having to look for other sources of food, although some cranes continue to catch a few crabs. This is a stressful time of winter for the whooping cranes as evidenced by all the cranes on uplands. No whooping cranes have been reported up the coast at Smith Marsh in Matagorda County located west of the Nature Conservancy's Mad Island Marsh Preserve since 1/17/10. Two whooping cranes are continuing to winter northwest of Austwell on the Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. I noted one thing on the flight that I had never observed previously. Twenty sandhill cranes on the southern end of the crane range on San Jose Island flushed from the census aircraft and flew a very short distance to stand in open bay habitat. I had never seen sandhill cranes before in open bay habitat. Flight Conditions: Visibility was excellent throughout the flight, though the sun angle on late afternoon transects made for difficult viewing conditions when heading into the sun at Welder Flats. Winds were light and flight conditions were smooth until mid-afternoon, enabling us to travel at approximately 130 knots for most of the flight. Due to reported crane movements, the search area was expanded further out into upland areas. This paid off, as cranes were found near the beach dunes on Matagorda Island, inland in a pasture at Welder Flats and on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge uplands. The largest group size observed was 9 birds seen on the uplands on San Jose and in the marsh on Matagorda Island. Post-Flight Update Food availability improved for the cranes during the last week in February with more cranes observed feeding on 2-3-inch blue crabs. Upland swales remain very wet and bay salinities remain moderate < 10 ppt. Spring Migration, 2010 A single white-plumaged whooping crane was confirmed present at Salt Plains NWR in northern Oklahoma on February 24th and 26th. Since we did not know of any other white-plumaged whooping cranes in the Flyway this winter, this must be a case of a whooper on the Texas coast getting influenced by sandhill cranes and starting the journey ahead of the normal time for whooping cranes. Except for birds that had a history of separating from their parents as juveniles, I think it would be the earliest migration start on record. - Tom Stehn, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Subject: 6 raptors From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 17:43:58 -0600 Greetings ND Birders: My calendar says spring may be here most years, but not quite yet this year. I ran an errand down to the NDG&F building this afternoon, and got 3 year birds. I have only made 4 birding trips this calendar year. First trip was the Minot CBC the first weekend of the year. Two other trips around Bismarck-Mandan (if you count today), and a 4th trip to see a Varied Thrush out of town. I saw more raptors today (4) than I did that whole day. Anyways….. the birds: American Kestrel – just south of the NDGF. I saw a bird ½ mile north of here during the Bismarck-Mandan CBC, can I assume it was the same wintering bird? Maybe. (yearbird) Red-tailed Hawk – Two birds just south of the Livestock sales buildings, within the airport fence. (yearbird) Rough-legged Hawk – Bird actively hunting over the grasslands within the airport fence, also just south of the Livestock sales buildings. (yearbird) Merlin – Tuesday flyover as I was getting the mail. Sharp-shinned Hawk – Monday flyover as I was clearing the driveway of ice. Good Birding, we are just days away. Corey Ellingson Bismarck, ND Subject: RBA: North Dakota, March 2, 2010 From: Jane Kostenko <jkostenko AT SOMD.LIB.MD.US> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 17:04:33 -0500 * RBA * North Dakota * Statewide * March 2, 2010 * NDST1003.02 - Transcript Hotline: North Dakota Update Date: March 2, 2010 Number: 701-527-0730 To Report: 701-527-0730 Coverage: Statewide Compiler: Ken Torkelson Compiled: March 2, 2010 Transcriber: Jane Kostenko mailto: tork02 AT juno.com - Birds Mentioned Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch Bald Eagle Golden Eagel Merlin Horned Lark Black-capped Chickadee Cedar Waxwing Dark-eyed Junco Snow Bunting Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, Mar. 2. Unless otherwise noted, any phone numbers mentioned are area code 701. Transcriber's Note: Birds listed in ALL CAPS in the Birds Mentioned section signify that the Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds lists them as Occasional, Accidental, Extirpated, or never having occurred before for the season being reported. Results from a "winter bird count" and a road trip. Dan Svingen and two other staff members from Dakota Prairie Grasslands conducted a "winter bird count" on the Sheyenne National Grassland in southeastern North Dakota on Feb. 26. The total of 25 species included new highs for RUSTY BLACKBIRDS with four, and PURPLE FINCHES with 70. Other highlights included two BALD EAGLES, two GOLDEN EAGLES, MERLIN, 90 HORNED LARKS, 10 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 15 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 62 DARK-EYED JUNCOS and 360 SNOW BUNTINGS. For more information on that count, contact Dan at 250-4443, ext. 107. Charles Taft reports birding was slow on a Feb. 25 drive from Minot to Grand Forks. Near Larimore, he saw an eagle that was too far away to identify, and he observed several large flocks of "snowbirds" that he believed were HORNED LARKS. For details, contact Charles at cjtaft AT mac.com That concludes this report from the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. - end transcript Subject: Northern Goshawk (Juvenile) From: Buchanan Law Office <bulaw AT DAKTEL.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 14:36:05 -0600 A juvenile Northern Goshawk caught a pigeon behind my office in downtown Jamestown about 30 minutes ago. I became aware of it when they crashed into a window with a thump. This was the second time in the past 2 years that such a bird has had lunch at my office. The first was the winter of 2007-2008. As I began to write, the bird was perching on a tall utility pole in the alley in plain view. The pigeon is at the bottom of the outside stairway in a window ledge. We watched the hawk eating the pigeon for a few minutes, then, apparently tired of spectators, it flew to the pole. Dan Buchanan Box 879 Jamestown, ND 58402 Tel. (701) 252-6604 Fax (701) 952-4757 bulaw AT daktel.com Subject: Belated trip report From: Charles J Taft <cjtaft AT MAC.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 10:44:37 -0600 Heading to Grand Forks Thursday, the 25th, for State Hockey tourney, an eagle, too far away for ID and no scope or bin, at Milepost 320 on Hwy 2, would be just west of first bridge over Turtle River. Between Rugby and Devil's Lake several large flocks of "snow birds", most likely Horned Larks along the highway. Otherwise not much. Coming from Grand Forks to Minot, Sunday pm, 12 turkeys at Mouse River bridge west of Towner, about it. Charles J Taft cjtaft AT mac.com Subject: Sheyenne National Grasslands From: Dan Svingen <dsvingen AT FS.FED.US> Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 10:22:52 -0600 Dakota Prairie Grasslands' staff (Bernadette Braun, Bryan Stotts, and I) conducted a winter bird count on the Sheyenne National Grassland on Friday, Feb. 26. Results included: 2 bald eagle (thanks Mark!), 2 golden eagle, 1 merlin, 72 ring-n. pheasant, 8 wild turkey, 100 rock pigeon, 1 great-h. owl, 4 downy woodpecker, 2 hairy woodpecker, 1 red.-b. woodpecker, 2 woodpecker spp., 22 blue jay, 2 American crow, 90 horned larks, 10 black-c. chickadee, 12 white-br. nuthatch, 2 American robin, 95 European starling, 15 cedar waxwing, 62 dark-e. junco, 360 snow bunting, 4 rusty blackbird (a new high count), 70 purple finch (a new high count), 60 American goldinch, 62 house sparrow. Total of 25 spcs., misses included greater prairie-chicken, sharp-tailed grouse, house finch, et al. All in all, a fun day. Thanks Bryan & Berni! dan. Dan Svingen Grasslands Biologist Dakota Prairie Grasslands Bismarck, ND (701) 250-4443 ext. 107 Subject: testing From: Sherry <bird_nd AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:27:20 -0800 Having computer problems, just testing. Sherry Subject: RBA: North Dakota, February 23, 2010 From: Jane Kostenko <jkostenko AT SOMD.LIB.MD.US> Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:12:03 -0500 * RBA * North Dakota * Statewide * February 23, 2010 * NDST1002.23 - Transcript Hotline: North Dakota Update Date: February 23, 2010 Number: 701-527-0730 To Report: 701-527-0730 Coverage: Statewide Compiler: Ken Torkelson Compiled: February 23, 2010 Transcriber: Jane Kostenko mailto: tork02 AT juno.com - Birds Mentioned Snowy Owl Common Grackle Mourning Dove Bohemian Waxwing Yellow-bellied Sapsucker American Goldfinch Common Redpoll Downy Woodpecker Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Northern Flicker American Robin Hairy Woodpecker Golden Eagle Bald Eagle Northern Shrike Black-billed Magpie Mallard Canada Goose Northern Goshawk Horned Lark American Crow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Ring-necked Pheasant Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, May 5. Unless otherwise noted, any phone numbers mentioned are area code 701. Transcriber's Note: Birds listed in ALL CAPS in the Birds Mentioned section signify that the Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds lists them as Occasional, Accidental, Extirpated, or never having occurred before for the season being reported. A great winter for snowy owls. Longtime Grand Forks birder Dave Lambeth believes it's the best snowy owl winter in some time for that part of the state. A Feb. 18 drive from the city of Grand Forks to the air base and back turned up five SNOWY OWLS, all north of U.S. 2. Dave says one of the owls is seen regularly right along U.S. 2, about two or three miles east of the Emerado/GFAFB interchange. He adds that none of his recent sightings have been adult males. Dave also notes that the pine siskins, American goldfinches and red-breasted nuthatches are no longer visiting his feeders, and he is down from four to one COMMON GRACKLE. Also from that area: Charlie Christianson reports three or four overwintering MOURNING DOVES, and Sandy Aubol of East Grand Forks has recently seen a lone BOHEMIAN WAXWING, apparently the only one in that area. The immature YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER first seen around the first of the year is still coming to Russ Wilber's feeders. Russ also had one of the birds in mid-winter a couple years ago. For more details on those sightings, contact Dave at davidlambeth58201 AT yahoo.com Kay Buri saw a SNOWY OWL at dusk on Feb. 18. She describes the location as one mile south of the town of Kief, near Highway 53. You can reach Kay at kayaktheprairie AT srt.com Larry Igl passes along a report from Mark Sherfy, who discovered a SNOWY OWL on Feb. 19. That owl was seen at milepost 81 of Interstate 29, which should be near Argusville. You can contact Larry at 253-5511. Bernice Houser didn't see the owl whose picture made the New Town paper, and she says things have been a little dull lately. She does have daily visits from a small flock of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and COMMON REDPOLLS, and also sees a DOWNY WOODPECKER, some BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Occasional visitors include a yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER, AMERICAN ROBIN and HAIRY WOODPECKER. You can reach Bernice at sanishnd AT rtc.coop Rod Fossen had decent birding on a Feb, 21 drive from Bismarck to Minot along Highways 1804 and 200. He recorded two GOLDEN EAGLES, nine BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, lots of AMERICAN ROBINS in many locations, 40 MALLARDS at the Garrison Dam tailrace, about 100 CANADA GEESE in a corn field a few miles from the dam, and a possible NORTHERN GOSHAWK. Contact Rod at rfossen AT min.midco.net From Barnes County, Jean Legge saw two adult BALD EAGLES at open water on the Sheyenne River, plus a HORNED LARK and AMERICAN CROW on Feb. 20. Between Valley City and Marion, she observed many large flocks of HORNED LARKS with some possible LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Jean notes that SNOW BUNTING flocks are still present and a few AMERICAN CROW groups. She adds that groups of up to 20 RING-NECKED PHEASANTS are appearing at road edges. For details, call Jean at 845-4762, And , Corey Ellingson has made some changes to the N.D. Birding Society web site. You can see them at www.ndbirdingsociety.com That concludes this report from the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. - end transcript Subject: Ramsey County From: Rod Fossen <rfossen AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:20:25 -0600 Today I saw at least 6 White-winged Crossbills in spruce trees several miles south of the town of Devils Lake. They were in the housing addition along county road 1 which goes to Lakewood and the Golf Course. I also saw another adult B. Eagle in Mchenry county near the Souris River, I don't want to take them for granted but they sure have been common this winter. Rod Fossen, Minot Subject: ND Birding Society website From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:38:37 -0600 Greetings ND-Birders: Over the weekend, some changes to the Birding Society photo gallery were unveiled. Both the regular and rarity photo gallery now have a new format. The pages will show the 10 most recent additions to the gallery on top. If you scroll down past the last entry, you will find a checklist of the birds of North Dakota. If the species name shows in green, a click on the name which will bring up a details page to show all the photos in the gallery for that species. Species listed in black print have no photo attached. Clicking on the back button of your browser will redisplay the checklist where you left off. The species in the checklist can be accessed by either gallery. Let me know if you find any photos out of place, as I numbered every photo with a checklist sequence number. I was told at the time there are nearly 350 photos in the gallery. Also, the checklist will be changing somewhat as the Record Committee goes through process of reviewing the backlog of sightings, and publishing a new ND Checklist. With the changes of the website, I have also added 3 photos from my collection. The first addition is a photo of a Boreal Owl. This bird was found at Icelandic State Park by Jack Lefor, along with Corey Ellingson and Clark Talkington. A disposable camera was purchased in a local community and Jack Lefor took photos. This photo in the gallery was recently scanned into the computer from a print Also added to the rarity gallery were two photos of the 1st ND record of White-winged Dove in 2000. These photos were also scanned in from prints. Check things out at the following link: http://ndbirdingsociety.com/ Winter still has a harsh grip on the landscape as the snow is piled high, but the calendar shows that the Horned Larks, Great Horned Owls and American Crows are pairing up thinking spring is near. Good Birding, Corey Ellingson Bismarck, ND Subject: Missouri River Bird Watching From: Rod Fossen <rfossen AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:12:28 -0600 Today I spent the whole day bird watching on my way back to Minot from Bismarck mainly on Highways 1804 and 200. I saw two Golden Eagles, 9 Bald Eagles, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Black-billed Magpie, lots of Robins everywhere, 40 Mallards at the tailrace and 100 + Canada Geese in a corn field a few miles from Garrison Dam. I also saw a large raptor with a blue/gray back that I believe was a Northern Goshawk, in my rush to get my camera out it flew off so I got neither a picture or a 100% ID, frustrating! Rod Fossen, Minot Subject: unsubscribe From: tkihn AT COMCAST.NET Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:19:29 +0000 Subject: Peregrine in Grand Forks From: Ross Lagasse <on2stix AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:55:53 -0800 Has anyone seen a Peregrine Falcon or another raptor in or around downtown Grand Forks? Over the last couple weeks, there's been a couple of pigeons found near city hall that looked like they had been killed and picked apart by a raptor. good birding, Ross Subject: From Sheyenne River by VC From: JLegge <jlegge AT DAKTEL.COM> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:34:58 -0600 Sat. Feb. 20 Barnes County It is slim pickings- 2 adult bald eagles soaring along the open waterway of the Sheyenne River and 1 horned lark, 1 American Crow. During this week on the way to work in Marion from VC, I saw many large flocks of horned larks and maybe some longspurs-couldn't tell for sure. There were 20-30 in a flock and within a few miles I saw hundreds of them. Snow bunting flocks are still here and a few American Crow groups are around. The ring-necked pheasants are getting braver and are flocked up at road edges, some groups up to 20. The white-tailed deer are standing in the unharvested corn field by the intersection of Hwy 46 and Hwy 1, up to 30+, some standing on a rock pile off in the middle where they have a vantage point for looking around. -- Jean Legge 3212 115 Ave. SE Valley City, ND 58072 701-845-4762 j legge AT daktel.com Subject: GF area From: David Lambeth <davidlambeth58201 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:10:08 -0800 Here's a update from the Grand Forks area. Russ Wilber reports that a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (immature) is still coming to his feeders. They first saw it around the first of the year. This is the same place that had one for a while in mid-winter a couple of winters or so back. I consider this the best Snowy Owl winter that we have had in sometime. On the 18th I found five between Grand Forks and the AFB base (about 12 miles west of GF), all north of US 2. They seem to be more faithful than usual to particular locations. One is being seen with regularity perched right along US 2, about 2-3 miles east of the Emerado-GFAFB interchange. None that I have seen recently are adult males. The siskins, goldfinches and red-breasted nuthatches that had been coming to my feeders have not been seen in days. At one point this winter, we had four grackles. We are now down to one with the weak flyer that appeared in October no doubt dying about 10 days ago. Charlie Christianson reports 3 or 4 overwintering Mourning Doves. Sandy Aubol who lives in East Grand Forks has seen a lone Bohemian Waxwing a couple of times recently. This is the only report I know of for our area of the state. Good birding! Bring on the migrants!!   Dave Lambeth Grand Forks, North Dakota Subject: Snowy Owl, etc. From: Bernice Houser <sanishnd AT RTC.COOP> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:35:37 -0600 Our local paper, The New Town News, which came today, had a great front- page picture taken near White Shield, of a beautiful Snowy Owl on a highline pole. Here at our domain, things have been a little dull, but here daily are: a small flock of American Goldfinches and Common Redpolls, a Downy Woodpecker, some Black-capped Chickadees, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch. Occasional visitors are a Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, an American Robin and a Hairy Woodpecker. A few Ring-necked Pheasants and a few White-tail Deer and Cottontails make it a bit more interesting in this cold and snowy neck of the woods. Mountain Lions have been sighted on the north edge of New Town, and tracks within the city limits, and I don't need that kind of excitement out here! Dull is good!! Bernice Houser Rural New Town sanishnd AT rtc.coop Subject: Snowy Owl From: Lawrence D Igl <ligl AT USGS.GOV> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:45:32 -0600 For the Snowy Owl enthusiast, Mark Sherfy just reported seeing a Snowy Owl near mile post 81 on Interstate 29. ************************************************************** Lawrence D. Igl, Ecologist U.S.G.S. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 8711 37th Street SE Jamestown, North Dakota 58401-7317 Phone: 701-253-5511 Fax: 701-253-5553 E-mail: ligl AT usgs.gov Internet: www.npwrc.usgs.gov ************************************************************** Subject: Artic Snowy OWL, with address of sender. From: Kay Buri <kayaktheprairie AT SRT.COM> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:39:38 -0600 Majestic Arctic Snowy Owl seen at dusk one mile south of Kief, near Highway 53, last night, February 18th. Put on a wonderful flight display, thrilling this birder with its incredible hunting prowess! Kay A. Buri Drake Subject: Arctic Snowy Owl From: Kay Buri <kayaktheprairie AT SRT.COM> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:39:59 -0600 Majestic Arctic Snowy Owl seen at dusk one mile south of Kief, near Highway 53, last night, February 18th. Put on a wonderful flight display, thrilling this birder with its incredible hunting prowess! Subject: Absence, apology for not replying to e-mails; Impending Golden-cheeks From: Stevan Hawkins <shawkins4 AT SATX.RR.COM> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:48:47 -0600 ND-Birders: This is to let my many friends and contacts in North Dakota that I am back on-line. This is to apologize to those folks I was unable to reply to while I was without a computer here at home. Back on December 26, 2009, I learned that you don't really want to push the power button on a Dell computer after the blinking green light has changed to no color and not doing anything. When I pulled that trick, I heard ominous noises and smelled an electrical fire that told me that I had escalated a simple bad power supply problem to frying who knows what, like maybe a mother board, inside the computer. Now I "get" to invest in what is called a "null modem" so that I can attempt to move data from the dead computer's hard drive to the one in this computer..... Before doing that I will reply to folks who sent me e-mails while I was out of touch. I still have notes to post from my visit in August, 2009, to the ancestral home of McKenzie County. I do want to get back up there in 2010. As cold as this winter has been, people should take comfort in the impending spring migration. The common wisdom in Central Texas is that the first Golden-cheeked Warblers arrive around March 1. I will be leading a hike to look for them on April 4 at Government Canyon State Natural Area http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/government_canyon/ That means that the Friends of Government Canyon will start taking reservations in early March. Between now and April 4, I will be doing scouting trips for GCWAs in Government Canyon. I also am going to be heading south to try for the Roadside Hawk, at Falcon Dam, the Amazon Kingfisher, at Laredo, etc. First, later today, I need to get a new battery in my truck. Onward! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX Subject: RBA: North Dakota, February 16, 2010 From: Jane Kostenko <jkostenko AT SOMD.LIB.MD.US> Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:35:06 -0500 * RBA * North Dakota * Statewide * February 16, 2010 * NDST1002.16 - Transcript Hotline: North Dakota Update Date: February 16, 2010 Number: 701-527-0730 To Report: 701-527-0730 Coverage: Statewide Compiler: Ken Torkelson Compiled: February 16, 2010 Transcriber: Jane Kostenko mailto: tork02 AT juno.com - Birds Mentioned SHARP-SHINNED HAWK American Robin Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Unless otherwise noted, any phone numbers mentioned are area code 701. Transcriber's Note: Birds listed in ALL CAPS in the Birds Mentioned section signify that the Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds lists them as Occasional, Accidental, Extirpated, or never having occurred before for the season being reported. One observant birder stayed home, and another didn't go far. Rick Holbrook recorded the first SHARP-SHINNED HAWK he had ever seen in his Fargo neighborhood. The bird was spotted in a cotoneaster near his feeders on Feb. 9. You can get more details by contacting Rick at fholbrook AT cableone.net Marty Anderson watched about 35 AMERICAN ROBINS enjoying the open water at a cofferdam near Oak Park in Minot on Feb.6. Marty says the open water was soon gone, and so were the robins. You can reach him at lstml AT evision-video.com That concludes this report from the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. - end transcript Subject: American Robins - belated report From: Marty Anderson <lstml AT EVISION-VIDEO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 14:49:54 -0600 Sorry for the late report... too busy I guess! Late Saturday afternoon (Feb 6th) I observed about 35 American Robins enjoying the open water at the coffer dam east of Oak Park in Minot. They were having a great time enjoying the water and 30 degree temps. Too bad spring only lasted one day and then back into winter. Marty Anderson Minot, ND Subject: Sharp-shinned Hawk From: Rick <fholbrook AT CABLEONE.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 14:38:07 -0600 I currently have a Sharp-shinned Hawk sitting on my Cotenaster near my feeders. This is the first time I have seen a Sharpie in this area. -- Rick Fargo, ND N 46°53'251" W 096°48'279" Remember the USS Liberty http://www.ussliberty.org/ Reply to: fholbrookatcableone.net Subject: RBA: North Dakota, February 9, 2010 From: Jane Kostenko <jkostenko AT SOMD.LIB.MD.US> Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 14:08:13 -0500 * RBA * North Dakota * Statewide * February 9, 2010 * NDST1002.09 - Transcript Hotline: North Dakota Update Date: February 9, 2010 Number: 701-527-0730 To Report: 701-527-0730 Coverage: Statewide Compiler: Ken Torkelson Compiled: February 9, 2010 Transcriber: Jane Kostenko mailto: tork02 AT juno.com - Birds Mentioned SANDHILL CRANE NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, May 5. Unless otherwise noted, any phone numbers mentioned are area code 701. Transcriber's Note: Birds listed in ALL CAPS in the Birds Mentioned section signify that the Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds lists them as Occasional, Accidental, Extirpated, or never having occurred before for the season being reported. An unusual overwintering bird. Larry Igl relays a report of an overwintering SANDHILL CRANE in the Rogers area. Carla Diemert first saw the crane on Jan. 28, and says it has been seen in two unharvested corn fields about four miles apart. She has also seen the bird in flight, and notes that it doesn't appear to be injured. For more information, you can call Larry at 253-5511. The NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL that Dennis Wiesenborn saw in north Moorhead, MN. on Feb. 6 was only his fourth in 21 years. Dennis describes the location as south of the toll bridge. You can reach him at d.wiesenborn AT ndsu.edu or 218-287-4420. That concludes this report from the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. - end transcript Subject: Saw Whet Owl across river from Mickelson Park (N. Moorhead) From: Dennis Wiesenborn <d.wiesenborn AT NDSU.EDU> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 10:37:00 -0600 This owl was found shortly after 10 a.m. today in riparian deciduous woodland. The location is in N. Moorhead south of the Toll Bridge, about 20 yards from the river bank. Anyone interested in more details or further updates may e-mail or call me. This is only my 4th saw whet in North Fargo-Moorhead in 21 years; this species eluded my yard list until today. I thank the local chickadees and nuthatches for the tip. Dennis Wiesenborn d.wiesenborn AT ndsu.edu 218-287-4420 Subject: Overwintering Sandhill Crane near Rogers From: Lawrence D Igl <ligl AT USGS.GOV> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:39:57 -0600 Carla Diemert reported an overwintering Sandhill Crane (first observed 28 January) using at least two unharvested corn fields (separated by 4 miles) near Rogers in Barnes County. The bird was observed flying and did not appear injured. She sent me a picture of the bird, and indeed it is a Sandhill Crane. ************************************************************** Lawrence D. Igl, Ecologist U.S.G.S. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 8711 37th Street SE Jamestown, North Dakota 58401-7317 Phone: 701-253-5511 Fax: 701-253-5553 E-mail: ligl AT usgs.gov Internet: www.npwrc.usgs.gov ************************************************************** Subject: RBA: North Dakota, February 2, 2010 From: Jane Kostenko <jkostenko AT SOMD.LIB.MD.US> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 20:15:21 -0500 * RBA * North Dakota * Statewide * February 2, 2010 * NDST1002.02 - Transcript Hotline: North Dakota Update Date: February 2, 2010 Number: 701-527-0730 To Report: 701-527-0730 Coverage: Statewide Compiler: Ken Torkelson Compiled: February 2, 2010 Transcriber: Jane Kostenko mailto: tork02 AT juno.com - Birds Mentioned Golden Eagle Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Gray Partridge Sharp-tailed Grouse Snow Bunting Bald Eagle Common Raven Black-billed Magpie American Robin Black-capped Chickadee Dark-eyed Junco Downy Woodpecker Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota Birding Society. This report was prepared on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Unless otherwise noted, any phone numbers mentioned are area code 701. Transcriber's Note: Birds listed in ALL CAPS in the Birds Mentioned section signify that the Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds lists them as Occasional, Accidental, Extirpated, or never having occurred before for the season being reported. Cold temperatures in late January kept a lot of birders at home, but the few brave enough to venture out were rewarded. Dave Lambeth repeated an earlier trip from Grand Forks to the air base and back on Jan. 28. Birds of note included an adult GOLDEN EAGLE, five SNOWY OWLS, a SHORT-EARED OWL, 14 GRAY PARTRIDGES, about 50 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE and 20 SNOW BUNTINGS. For more information, contact Dave at davidlambeth58201 AT yahoo.com Rod Fossen found two adult and one likely juvenile BALD EAGLES plus two COMMON RAVENS near Denbigh in McHenry County on Jan. 28. On the 31st, a deer carcass near Antler in Bottineau County attracted an adult BALD EAGLE, three BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES and at least 12 COMMON RAVENS. For details, it's rfossen AT min.midco.net From the west side of Minot, Charles Taft reported about 12 AMERICAN ROBINS in his front yard on Jan. 27. Visitors earlier in the day included eight PINE SISKINS, three BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, five DARK-EYED JUNCOS and a DOWNY WOODPECKER. You can reach Charles at cjtaft AT mac.com That concludes this report from the North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each Tuesday. - end transcript Subject: 1/31 Bottineau County From: Rod Fossen <rfossen AT MIN.MIDCO.NET> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:29:47 -0600 I drove to Bottineau County today to bird watch and to practice digiscoping. Around one deer carcass two miles north of Antler there were 1 adult B. Eagle, 3 Blackbilled Magpies and 12+ Common Ravens. I've never seen that many Ravens together before I thought that they were more of a "loner" bird. One flew over and treated me to a "croaking" concert. Rod Fossen, Minot Subject: Interesting bird From: Linda Gregg <lgregg AT FAR.MIDCO.NET> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:14:22 +0000 We have had so many Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers over the years that they are very familiar to us. This whole winter season we've had a woodpecker that is about the size of a Downy, but has a very dark brown color wash over it's entire head and breast area. I've looked at the pictures of the Pacific adult, but they have a buff colored wash. This bird is very brown, but has the markings of a Downy. Any ideas? Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry