[mou] MOU RBA 8 May 2003

[Anthony X. Hertzel]

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 8th.

For the second consecutive year, a territorial BURROWING OWL has been 
found in the state. It's being seen in Moyer Township of Swift 
County. Go one mile west of the intersection of highway 59 and Swift 
County Road 36. This will be 60th St. and 190th Avenue, then go 1/2 
mile north and look on the east side of the road. Road markers were 
expected to be installed to indicate caution to traffic at the site. 
For the time being, two metal poles with small reflectors have been 
placed on either side of the burrow. Disturbance here is a serious 
threat. Because the Burrowing Owl is an Endangered Species in the 
state, it's best for birders to err on the side of caution and keep 
disturbances to an absolute minimum while keeping as great a distance 
as is possible.

A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was found in Appleton, Swift County. There 
is a small park in town near state highway 7 where the bird was found 
on the 25th. Another Collared-Dove was seen along the 2400 block of 
25th Avenue South in Minneapolis.

On May 3rd, Bruce Fall saw two unidentified IBIS fly over Long Meadow 
Lake and the Bass Ponds, Hennepin County. They flew in from the 
southwest, circled overhead, and then departed back the way they came.

A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD is being seen in a small grove of trees near 
the intersection of Baraga Cross Road and state highway 61 in 
Schroeder, Cook County. It has perched on the fence above the highway 
rest stop on north side of road, and poked about small woods on the 
lake side. Another Northern Mockingbird was seen May 3rd on the 
Church Road off of Emerson Road about 12 miles north of Duluth. Go 
north on St. Louis County Road 4 and right on Emerson. Then go north 
on Church 1/2 mile to the white farm house on the left and look up 
the driveway in the plumb trees. And on the 8th a Northern 
Mockingbird was reported from the Hormel Nature Center in Austin, 
Mower County. And at Tamarak National Wildlife Refuge a Mockingbird 
was reported on the 7th. It was along Becker County Road 29 a quarter 
of a mile north of highway 126.

A Common Moorhen was found on the 6th in the WPA just west of Twin 
Lakes, Freeborn County. From Twin Lakes and highway 69 go north on 
Freeborn County Road 77, turn west onto County Road 80 and go four 
fifths of a mile to the large waterfowl impoundment on the north side 
of the road.

On the 7th, several CATTLE EGRETS were seen at the corner of East 
80th Street and 24th Avenue in Bloomington, Hennepin County.

HENSLOW'S SPARROWS were reported from several locations, including 
Redwood County along highway 101 near the North Redwood airport, and 
at the Pet Trails area of Murphy-Hanrehan Park in Scott County.

I also now have reports of the following spring arrivals: CASPIAN 
TERN, BLACK TERN, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, GREAT CRESTED 
FLYCATCHER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, SEDGE WREN, MARSH WREN, SWAINSON'S 
THRUSH, WOOD THRUSH, NORTHERN PARULA, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, 
CERULEAN WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, LARK 
SPARROW, and BOBOLINK.

This state-wide birding report is brought to you and financially 
supported by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU). The MOU is 
Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club.

The report is composed from observations generously submitted by MOU 
members and other birders throughout the state. You can support this 
weekly update by submitting your bird reports to Anthony Hertzel at 
axhertzel@sihope.com or by calling the hotline directly at 
763-780-8890 and leaving a detailed message.

MOU members receive this report directly on MOU-net, the club's free 
e-mail listservice, which is available to anyone interested. For 
information contact David Cahlander at <david@cahlander.com>.

MOU members receive the organization's quarterly journal "The Loon" 
and the bimonthly magazine, "Minnesota Birding". For membership 
information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at 
moumembers@yahoo.com.

In cooperation with the Minnesota Office of Tourism, highlights of 
this hotline can be now heard at a toll free number which is 
available to callers outside the Twin Cities area. The number is 
1-800-657-3700.

The MOU is pleased to offer this service. Thank you, and good birding.

The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, May 15th.
-- 
Anthony Hertzel -- axhertzel@sihope.com