[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, February 27, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, February 27,
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.

This week has been a mild week throughout the area, and signs of spring
are all around, even though we are sure to have some more cold and snow
in March. Most of the snow buntings have moved north, some horned larks,
and longspurs are being reported. The grouse family is starting their
courtship displays. Owls are also pairing off and getting ready to raise
a family.

>From Norris Camp in Lake of the Woods County, Gretchen Mehmel reported
that several GREAT GRAY OWLS have been sighted in the forest. On Sunday
and Monday, she saw one north of the Norris firetower, and June and
Ell-kay Foss saw three along the Winner and Faunce-Butterfield roads on
Monday on their way to work. GREAT HORNED OWLS are hooting near Norris
Camp also.

In Roseau County, Gretchen Mehmel saw two SHARP-TAILED GROUSE about
three miles west of Hayes Lake State Park on Tuesday, February 24th.
Rissa Foss saw a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER in her backyard south of the
park over the weekend.

Shelley Steva saw SHARP-TAILED GROUSE in Red Lake County one mile east
of the intersection of US highway 59 and County Road 1 on February 18th.
On the 23rd, there were ten BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in the town of Plummer.

Lori Becker reported from the Wetland, Pines, and Prairies Audubon
Sanctuary that the COMMON REDPOLLS have greatly increased in numbers
this week, and fifteen CEDAR WAXWINGS showed up to clean up the
remaining fruit at the sanctuary in Polk County. Mike Christopher in
Crookston spotted the local MERLIN hunting around town this week. Donna
and Leon Thoreson near Climax reported that most, if not all, of the
snow buntings that were in their yard departed with the coming of the
warm weather. Instead they now have several HORNED LARKS, and a
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. Randy Chaffee reported a NORTHERN SHRIKE near the
golf course at Climax on the 26th.

In Norman County on Sunday, Mel and Elaine Bennefeld saw a BALD EAGLE
along County Road 39 and 33 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS along Highway 32
south of Twin Valley. More GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS were seen along CR
39 east of Borup, and along CR 27 west of Twin Valley.

Clay County birds spotted by the Bennefeld's on Monday included three
WILD TURKEYS two miles north of Moorhead on County Road 1. At Bluestem
Prairie along CR 85 they found 37 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, and a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. On Tuesday, they found a NORTHERN SHRIKE at the
Ponderosa Golf Club.

Benjamin Fritchman birded in Wilkin County on the 21st where he observed
numerous GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS in the Rothsay area. Other species
seen there included three ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, SHORT-EARED OWLS, HORNED
LARKS, SNOW BUNTINGS, LAPLAND LONGSPURS, and three RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRDS. Rick Gjervold also was in Wilkin County this week at the
Waterfowl Production Area west of  Highway 9 and south of  CR 26 where
he found both RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, and GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS. He
also reported two GOLDEN EAGLES there. In the Lawndale area he spotted
nine GRAY PARTRIDGE, and a BALD EAGLE.

On his way through Long Prairie on the 21st, Benjamin Fritchman saw a
MOURNING DOVE, AMERICAN ROBIN, and  WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in that Todd
County town.

Thanks to Gretchen Mehmel, Mel and Elaine Bennefeld, Randy Chaffee,
Shelley Steva, Rick Gjervold, Benjamin Fritchman, Lori Becker, Mike
Christopher, and Donna and Leon Thoreson 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, March 5, 2004.