[mou] Duluth RBA 12/2/04

[David Benson]

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, December 2, 2004, 
sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

The selasphorus sp. (RUFOUS or ALLEN'S) HUMMINGBIRD at Laura Erickson's 
feeder in the Lakeside neighborhood of Duluth is hanging on. It was 
seen again today, in spite of the cold and snow.

This fall's remarkable owl irruption continues. There are now over 500 
reports of GREAT GRAY OWL sightings, and another 125 NORTHERN HAWK OWL 
sightings. These species may be seen almost anywhere in northern 
Minnesota now. Some birders saw 30-50 owls in one day last weekend. An 
easily accessible Great Gray spot is along the Hwy 61 Expressway 
between Duluth and Two Harbors.  In and near Duluth this week, Kim 
Eckert found one in Chester Bowl on November 30, Lori Hutchins reported 
another from Enger Golf Course on the 29th, and more than one observer 
reported birds at Hawk Ridge and along Rice Lake Rd.  Both species are 
easy to find in the Sax-Zim area, and Cty Rd 7 between 52 and 319 
remains the easiest place to spot hawk owls.

The irruption is likely the result of the four year low point in the 
population cycle of the small rodents that make up most of the prey for 
these species, combined with a very wet and cold summer across Canada 
that resulted in a further reduction in the available food. Numbers of 
these species increase in our area every four years or so (following 
the prey cycle), but this year's irruption is unprecedented.

Over 300 BOREAL OWLS have been banded in northeastern Minnesota this 
fall, another astounding number. However, these were all birds that 
were netted at night, banded, and released immediately. I am aware of 
no other sightings of this species. Quite a few observers have written 
to me to ask (and in some cases, demand) that I 'fess up about where 
the boreals are. If a stake-out bird of this species is located, it 
will be reported as soon as possible.

Michelle McDowell reported a SNOWY OWL at Rice Lake National Wildlife 
Refuge along the Magneson Refuge Rd 0.5 mile south of the visitors 
center.

Please continue to report all sightings of these owl species, leaving 
both a specific location and the time (especially the date) seen.

Jim Lind reported that a PACIFIC LOON was still present in Agate Bay at 
Two Harbors on the 27th. Ken and Molly Hoffman found an ICELAND GULL in 
the harbor at Grand Marais yesterday, and the bird was still present 
today. Jan Green saw a first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL at Agate Bay in Two 
Harbors on the 28th. Peder Svingen found an adult GLAUCOUS GULL at 
Canal Park in Duluth on the 25th.

Deb Buria Falkowski reported two female NORTHERN SHOVELERS, present at 
Silver Lake in Virginia, MN from the 18th through the 30th at least. 
Ben Yokel saw SHARP-TAILED GROUSE on Cty Rd 29 a mile north of 
Meadowlands on the 25th. Mark Alt found BOREAL CHICKADEES at the feeder 
along Cty Rd 319 where the road enters the residential area.

Fairly large flocks of COMMON REDPOLLS are still in Duluth, but I have 
few reports of other finches recently. Many observers out looking for 
owls have also seen ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS.

The Duluth Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 18, 
2004.  Anyone interested in participating should contact compiler Jim 
Lind by e-mail (jslind@frontiernet.net) for more information. The Grand 
Marais count will be the same day. Contact Jeff Kern (jkern@boreal.org) 
to participate.

The Two Harbors Christmas Bird Count will be held the following day on 
Sunday, December 19, 2004.  Please contact compiler Frank Nicoletti 
(bjboreal@aol.com) if interested in participating

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, December 
9.

The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-728-5030. 
Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded 
message.

The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota 
Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more 
information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum to 
mou@cbs.umn.edu, or visit the MOU web site at mou.mn.org.