[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, March 21, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, March 21,
2003 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You
may also hear this report by calling (218) 847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

Spring has definitely come to the northwest this week. There are many
reports of migrating CANADA GEESE, BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIERS, and
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS from throughout the region. Russ Reisz reported this
week that the SHARP-TAILED GROUSE  are being seen on the leks in Kittson
County  as of Saturday, March 15th. The Varied Thrush reported in
Moorhead for the past few weeks has apparently moved on, as has the
Barrow's Goldeneye that was in Fergus Falls.

Donna and Leon Thoreson visited the Glacial Ridge Project on March 18th
and were excited to find two SNOWY OWLS sitting on rock piles about 1.9
miles south of Highway 2 along the gravel road that leads past the
Bradshaw Gravel Office - near the location where the Baird's Sparrow was
seen last summer.

 A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen by Craig Mandel  at the Rothsay WMA in Wilkin
County on March 17th. There were several reports of migrating BALD
EAGLES this week from Kittson, Polk, and Ottertail Counties. On
Wednesday, I saw four BALD EAGLES near our home in Pennington County -
three adults and one first year bird.

Roseau County birds seen on March 15th included a number of singing
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at Hayes Lake State
Park. =20

In Kittson County, a NORTHERN HARRIER was seen on March 15th, and in
Beltrami County, a NORTHERN HARRIER and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were found
hunting over a CRP field.

Linda Johnson went to Old Mill State Park in Marshall County on
Wednesday, March 19 and found CANADA GEESE, NORTHERN FLICKER, and
NORTHERN CARDINAL. Gary Tischer saw a NORTHERN HARRIER and a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Marshall County on March 15th.

In Pennington County, Gary Tischer reports that the Thief River Falls
MERLINS  returned to the 300 block of South Tindolph St on Saturday,
March 15th.

Lori Becker at the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary in
Polk County says that migration is certainly being seen there as the
number of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS  has increased in the last week. Other
birds reported by Lori included a NORTHERN HARRIER, two SHARP-TAILED
GROUSE on the sanctuary road one mile east of the headquarters, and two
SHORT-EARED OWLS in the open fields next to the sanctuary. Near Melvin
in the southern part of the county, the Thoreson's found a BALD EAGLE
being harassed by a NORTHERN SHRIKE. Elsewhere in the county they saw
SANDHILL CRANES, GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENS, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, and
RED-TAILED HAWKS.

A BARRED OWL  in Clay County was tracked down by Dennis Weisenborn who
finally located it along the Red River across from Fargo's Edgewood Golf
Course on March 15th. Linda Sparling found a GRAY PARTRIDGE along the
railroad tracks on the east side of Highway 53 at its intersection with
CR69. Craig Mandel reported a single WESTERN MEADOWLARK along Clay
County Road 11 south of Sabin. Leo Lantz observed a SHORT-EARED OWL at
Bluestem Prairie, and found 12 GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENS booming on a lek
in the pasture at the intersection on the NW side of Bluestem Prairie on
Saturday , March 15th.

Pam Lehmann, Becker County , reported a MOURNING DOVE on the 17th , and
a GOLDEN EAGLE on the 20th along CR 26 east of the headquarters of
Tamarac NWR.

Wilkin County birds reported by Craig Mandel included a first year
GOLDEN EAGLE at Rothsay WMA, and GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENS at Town Hall
Prairie. Rick Gjervold observed a SHORT-EARED OWL along Wilkin County 30
about five miles west of Lawndale on March 14th. Also there, were about
a dozen GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENS, two AMERICAN KESTRELS, and a NORTHERN
HARRIER.

Tom Smith found a SANDHILL CRANE in southwestern Ottertail County on
Sunday, March 16th. A GREAT HORNED OWL on a nest was located by Craig
Mandel along Ottertail County Road 21 about 2 miles north of CR 11  -
this on March 17th. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was also seen there. Jeff Schultz
reported a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, COMMON RAVEN, and a KILLDEER  on March
15th in Ottertail County. Alma Ronningen has seen COMMON GOLDENEYE, WILD
TURKEYS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, AMERICAN ROBINS, AND DARK-EYED JUNCOS in
the county during this week.

Thanks to the many folks too numerous to mention who sent in reports
this week. Keep up the good work.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than
Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@wiktel.com OR call the Detroit Lakes
Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders
please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took
place. When reporting by email please put "NW Bird Report" in the
subject line of your message. The next scheduled update of this report
is Friday, March 28, 2003.