[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, April 16, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, April 16,
2004 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 appears to have finally arrived after a few bumpy starts, and the
birds are arriving daily. The first warblers have been sighted in
several counties and soon we will be getting stiff necks searching the
treetops for these feathered jewels.

Shelley Steva, in traveling through Todd County on April 11th, observed
two hundred GREAT EGRETS along I-94.

In Otter Tail County, Alma Ronningen reported a BELTED KINGFISHER on
April 10th, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on the 12th, a NORTHERN CARDINAL on
the 13th, TURKEY VULTURES, and six TRUMPETER SWANS on the 14th, and
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS on the 15th. Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported
AMERICAN WIGEON, CANVASBACK, COMMON MERGANSER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and
WILSON'S SNIPE on the 12th. On the 14th, they saw a HERMIT THRUSH and
three PURPLE MARTINS. At Sand Lake, Roland Jordahl saw WHITE PELICANS
and GREAT  BLUE HERONS on April 13th. On the 12th at Maplewood State
Park, he observed EASTERN PHOEBE, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, and SONG
SPARROW.

Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported that the CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS have
returned to their traditional nesting grounds at Felton Prairie along
the "longspur road", and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS have returned to that area
in force.

Becker County species seen by Shelley Steva included an OSPREY near
Dunvilla, and a BALD EAGLE.

Barbara and Dennis Martin, on April 13th, observed a high count of 1490
SANDHILL CRANES in Norman County north and west of Agassiz-Olson WMA.
This is one mile south of the Polk County line and 2-3 miles east of CR
30.=20

Cliff Steinhauer had an unusual sighting about four miles south of
Sherack in Polk County on April 13th- a flock of about 200 SNOW BUNTINGS
crossed the road in front of the car. Lori Becker at the Wetlands,
Pines, and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary reported that there was a MOURNING
DOVE, an EASTERN PHOEBE, and a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET there on April
13th. Nathaniel Emery reported BROWN CREEPER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, CHIPPING SPARROW, and SONG
SPARROW near the University Campus in Crookston. Elsewhere in the county
on April 11th, GRAY PARTRIDGE, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, and GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKEN were found west of the Melo Church east of Angus in the
northern part of the county. Many ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were also in
evidence there on Sunday. At least seven hundred SANDHILL CRANES were
seen west of the church also. At the Melo impoundment were hundreds of
ducks of several species, CANADA GEESE, TUNDRA SWANS, and a single
GREATER YELLOWLEGS poking around a muddy patch.

In Pennington County on April 11th, more than 1000 SANDHILL CRANES were
seen near the Pennington - Marshall County line along Highway 1. Several
flights of TUNDRA SWANS were seen flying north over our yard near Thief
River Falls this week.

>From Agassiz NWR in Marshall County, Gary Tischer reported that the
first Chorus and Wood Frogs have been heard, and the RUFFED GROUSE have
been heard drumming. A LESSER YELLOWLEGS was seen on April 9th, and on
the 11th a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was observed in the Wilderness area. On
April 15, a COMMON LOON  was seen on Headquarters Pool, and fifty WHITE
PELICANS were on Pool 21.

In Beltrami County, Barbara and Dennis Martin saw three TREE SWALLOWS
flying north at the Knutson Dam on Cass Lake on April 12th.

Thanks to Gary Tischer, Randy Chaffee, Alma Ronningen, Nathaniel Emery,
Barbara and Dennis Martin, Roland Jordahl, Cliff Steinhauer, Lori
Becker, Shelley Steva, Bruce Flaig, and Dan and Sandy Thimgan for their
reports.

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 23, 2004.