[mou] RFI - winter specialties

[Michelle_McDowell@fws.gov]

Why not join us for the Rice Lake National Wildlife Christmas Bird Coun=
t on
January 3rd?  Pine and evening grosbeaks have been hanging around the a=
rea,
Bohmian waxwings, white-winged crossbills and a Northern goshawk were
observed last year.  All are welcome.  We are meeting at the Schoolhous=
e
Cafe in McGregor, MN at 7:15 to coordinate.  More information is below.=

Call if you have any questions.  Hope to see you there!

Michelle McDowell
Wildlife Biologist
Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge
McGregor, MN
218-768-2402



IT'S CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT TIME!

Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge is hosting the Christmas Bird Count =
for
the refuge and surrounding communities.  We're looking for area residen=
ts
to be feeder-watchers and field observers on Saturday, January 3, 2004.=


Feeder-watchers participate by watching their bird feeders on January 3=
rd
and calling-in the species and number of individual birds seen. Field
observers will meet at the Schoolhouse Caf=E9 in McGregor at 7:15 am on=

Saturday, January 3 to coordinate.  Observers 18 and under count for fr=
ee,
others pay $5 to help Audubon cover database and publication costs of t=
he
Christmas Bird Count results.

All birds observed within a 15-mile circle centering on the headquarter=
s at
Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge will be counted.  This area covers R=
ice
Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Kimberly, Lawler, and portions of Grayli=
ng
Wildlife Management Areas, and the McGregor Marsh Scientific & Natural
Area.  The communities of McGregor, Lawler and East Lake are also withi=
n
the count area.

The Christmas Bird Count is an annual event lead by The National Audubo=
n
Society.  The count is designed to monitor the status and distribution =
of
bird populations across the Western Hemisphere. Christmas Bird Counts a=
re
being done across North America between the dates of December 14 and
January 5.   Have some fun and be part of longest running citizen scien=
tist
survey; this the 104th year!

Anyone interested in being a feeder-watcher or a field observer should
contact Michelle McDowell prior to January 3 by phoning the Refuge at
218-768-2402.




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                      "Pastor Al"                                      =
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                      Sent by:                        Subject: [mou] RF=
I - winter specialties                                         =20
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                      12/30/2003 10:26 AM                              =
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Would like to use 1/1 (and perhaps 1/3) chasing some winter specialties=
.

Target birds for those days include Pine & Evening Grosbeaks, Bohemian
Waxwings, Red Crossbills and Northern Goshawks (of course, a Gyr is als=
o
welcome, but trying to be realistic).

Have covered Sax-Zim, Two Harbors and Highway 18/northern Aitkin County=
 on
trips this month - am willing to return - but are there other relativel=
y
dependable locations within a few hours of Princeton, MN (50 minutes no=
rth
of the Twin Cities)?  All feedback welcome.

Thanks!

Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN

PS Have consistently found a flock (10-20) of Golden-crowned Kinglets i=
n
Sherburne NWA (Blue Hill Trail) throughout December - not used to seein=
g
flocks in the winter in southern WI (former birding grounds) - is this
unusual in central MN?

=