[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, February 6, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, February 6,
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.

For the first time in several years northwest Minnesota is having a more
typical winter, with cold temperatures and snow. There seems to be
increasing activity at bird feeders as a result.

In Becker County, Marlene Wiley had a NORTHERN SHRIKE visit her feeder
on Lake Sallie on January 30th.

Terry Tollefson in Polk County reported that a lone CANADA GOOSE
appeared at his bird feeder on January 30th.  A covey of GRAY PARTRIDGE
was seen four miles east of Crookston along County Road 11. Heidi Hughes
saw six SHORT-EARED OWLS at the Pancratz Prairie near Crookston on
January 31st. To get there take Highway 2 east from Crookston about 10
miles to CR 46 then go 1.5 miles south on CR 46. Also there were a
number of GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS. At the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies
Audubon Sanctuary in the northern part of the county, Mike and Lori
Becker reported that a NORTHERN GOSHAWK  has been cruising through the
sanctuary yard for the past few days. Randy Chaffee in Climax had a
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER visit his feeder on February 5th. On January
31st, about 25 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were discovered in the Oakdale
Cemetery in Crookston. Many SNOW BUNTINGS were also in evidence in the
county on that day.

In Red Lake County on January 31st, a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE and several
large flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS were seen.

Mike Hendrickson reported  that a number of SHARP-TAILED GROUSE are
being seen regularly in southern Pennington County a few miles northwest
of Oklee.

More 	SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were reported by Cliff Steinhauer in
Marshall County near the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. With them was
one GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN.

Beth Siverhus in  Roseau County, observed an AMERICAN ROBIN in Warroad
in late January.

A report was received that three GREAT GRAY OWLS are being seen
regularly near Norris Camp in Lake of the Woods County.

Thanks to Mike Hendrickson, Marlene Wiley, Terry Tollefson, Heidi
Hughes, Lori and Mike Becker, Randy Chaffee, Cliff Steinhauer, and Beth
Siverhus 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, February 13, 2004.