[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, December 31, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, December 31,
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.

The ground is finally covered with snow in the northwest, albeit with
ice underneath. Temperatures remain somewhat mild but the forecast if
for that to change. Northern owls continue to be found in the area,
though not as many as in the northeastern part of the state. Winter
finches are also being reported and species counts are good this year on
the CBC's in the area.

The Beltrami Island CBC in Beltrami Island State Forest in Lake of the
Woods county was held on December 29th. A count of 21 species was
tallied, and although the species count is among the top ones for that
CBC, preliminary results indicate that the number of individuals was
down. The only owls found were two BARRED OWLS, a species which is
seldom seen on that count. Other species included a NORTHERN GOSHAWK,
SPRUCE GROUSE, BOREAL CHICKADEES, five species of woodpecker, one SNOW
BUNTING, RED CROSSBILLS, COMMON REDPOLLS, and one PINE SISKIN. The
woodpeckers included both 3-TOED WOODPECKER, and BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKER. A pair of each was found within a few yards of one another
south of the s-curve on the Faunce Road south of the Bankton Road. Also
in Lake of the Woods County, Jenny Moorman reported a HOARY REDPOLL at
her feeder in Baudette. A NORTHERN SHRIKE continues to visit the Norris
Camp feeding station to look for prey. Five GREAT GRAY OWLS were seen on
the Baudette CBC conducted on December 28th.

Martin Kehoe found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL along MN 72 at milepost 48.5 in
Beltrami County on December 26th.

Several GREAT GRAY OWLS were reported in Marshall County this week. On
December 27th, Cliff Steinhauer observed one at the end of the Airport
Road along CR 7 in Agassiz  NWR. On the 21st, Cliff's son saw one in
Adgar Township of Marshall County, and on the 28th, he found one in Holt
Township. Gary Tischer at Agassiz NWR reported that 50 COMMON REDPOLLS
showed up at the office feeder on December 28th. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are
being seen in the woods and on the fruit bearing trees around
headquarters, and on December 28th, a SHORT-EARED OWL was seen near the
intersection of CR 12 and 270 St. NE in Marshall County.=20

Doug Johnson reported on the Itasca CBC which was held on December 26th.
An encouraging 80 EVENING GROSBEAKS was found on that count. A NORTHERN
CARDINAL was found in Clearwater County. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were
also found on the count. A GREAT GRAY OWL was found in Becker County
along MN 133 6.5 miles west of US 71 near a sign designating the
entrance to the White Earth Indian Reservation.=20

Doug Johnson had a secondhand report of two GREAT GRAY OWLS along MN 64
near Akeley in Hubbard County.

In Pennington County,  BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS continue to be seen in and
around Thief River Falls. At our feeder today, there were good numbers
of both COMMON REDPOLLS , and PINE SISKINS.

Leo Lantz reported a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Tamarac NWR, and a BARRED OWL
along Island Lake Road.

Thanks to Cliff Steinhauer, Gary Tischer, Leo Lantz, Gretchen Mehmel,
Jenny Moorman, Doug Johnson, and Martin Kehoe 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, January 7, 2005.