[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, March 28, 2003

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, March 28,
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.

Migration is progressing nicely in northwestern Minnesota this week , in
spite of the fact that as of Thursday, some parts of the region now have
as much or more snow than we had all winter. The ground was bare when
the recent storm blew in, but we hope that this latest snow will soon
melt.

Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported that a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE is being
seen in the town of Herman in Grant County. It can be seen in the
neighborhood surrounding St. Charles Catholic Church on the corner of
south Berlin Avenue and Wells Street.

The Thimgan's also found AMERICAN WIDGEON, RING-NECKED DUCK, AMERICAN
KESTREL, RING-BILLED GULL and an EASTERN BLUEBIRD in Ottertail County on
March 24th. A SONG SPARROW was seen on the 25th. Alma Ronningen reports
an EASTERN PHOEBE,  and at the feeder a RUSTY BLACKBIRD .

Rick Gjervold observed TRUMPETER SWANS in Becker County, while Joe
Gartner saw them in Norman County on March 19th, and Juancarlos Giese
reported on March 27th that they have returned to Rydell NWR also.

In Clay County, Mark Otnes found a SONG SPARROW at Buffalo River State
Park on Sunday, March 23rd.

Norman County sightings by Shelley Steva included a RED-TAILED HAWK and
an AMERICAN KESTREL.

In Polk County Becky Eckstein  and Juancarlos Giese reported that the
ducks are coming back with HOODED MERGANSER, MALLARD, BUFFLEHEAD, and
WOOD DUCK at Rydell NWR , and NORTHERN PINTAIL, and AMERICAN WIDGEON at
Glacial Ridge. I saw  COMMON MERGANSER there also and a NORTHERN SHRIKE
as well as GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENS. On Sunday at the Wetlands, Pines,
and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary in the northern part of the county were
dozens of TREE SPARROWS.

Even little Red Lake County had birds to report this week. Shelley Steva
found an AMERICAN ROBIN in Plummer on March 24th, and Zeann Linder heard
SANDHILL CRANES  in the county on March 25th. She also reported a
NORTHERN HARRIER.

Linda Johnson saw a large flock of MALLARDS in a field on the east side
of Highway 3 between Warren and Old Mill State Park, Marshall County, on
March 27th. There were many CANADA GEESE, and 7 TUNDRA SWANS were also
there. Many ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS are also migrating through the county
this week. 12 SHARPTAILED GROUSE were seen by Gladwyn Lynne and me on
Sunday, March 23 just north of the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon
Sanctuary.

I heard the first KILLDEER to arrive in Pennington County on March 23rd-
at least the first for me. The next day 6 AMERICAN ROBINS appeared in
our yard. Also AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, PURPLE FINCH, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS
are coming to the feeder. The MERLINS are being seen and heard
periodically in Thief River Falls these days, and soon we will be
searching for the nest of choice for this year.

There were reports of CANADA GEESE, AMERICAN ROBINS, RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRDS, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and HORNED LARKS
from most of the counties of the northwest this week.

Thanks to all the wonderful folks who sent in birding reports this week.

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, April 4, 2003.