[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, March 5, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, March 5, 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.

March, as usual, is proving to be a fickle month- one day it's spring,
the next it's below zero again. However the lengthening days give us
hope that the cold will soon be over, and brings spring birds even at
winter temperatures.=20

>From Otter Tail County, Alma Ronningen sent in the first report of an
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW since late last fall. Other species seen in the
county were HORNED LARKS, another migrant species, and COMMON REDPOLLS
which have been in the area all winter.

Wilkin County has produced some exciting birding lately. Dan and Sandy
Thimgan were there on March 2nd, and counted 91 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS
, the greatest number of which were near the intersection of 300th Ave.
and 190th Street in the Rothsay Prairie area. Other species found there
included 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 RING-NECKED
PHEASANTS, 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES,  and a single SNOW BUNTING.

Jan Campbell in Detroit Lakes , Becker County, reported a BALD EAGLE
soaring over the city on March 2nd, while Kay Hartness saw a RUFFED
GROUSE, AMERICAN CROW, and AMERICAN ROBIN, her first for the spring.

On March 1st, Rusty Miller spotted a flock of WILD TURKEYS  on US
highway 75 near Georgetown in Clay County.

In Polk County a SNOWY OWL was observed by Diana Morkassel north of
Angus along Highway 75  on February 29th. Donna and Leon Thoreson found
two BALD EAGLES feeding on a dead deer along Minnesota Highway  9 near
the Red River bridge. In Crookston, John Loegering saw the local MERLIN
in the Oakdale Cemetery area- this is the area where it nested last
year.  A GREAT HORNED OWL was also on the scene when the Merlin was
sighted. Nathaniel Emery saw a NORTHERN HARRIER along Minnesota Highway
102 on February 29th. A WILD TURKEY was spotted on a lawn near Fertile,
and HORNED LARKS were reported by most observers this week. Heidi Hughes
has been making regular trips to Pancratz Prairie lately and has been
treated to the sight of from six to twelve SHORT-EARED OWLS hunting over
the prairie at dawn and dusk.

Maggie Anderson reported seeing a group of eight CANADA GEESE flying
over Thief River Falls in Pennington County this week. It is unknown if
these over wintered here, as some did last winter, or if this is the
vanguard of returning geese. If so, they will find it hard to find open
water in the area, except for the small area below the dam.

Mark Otnes went to Roseau County on February 27th. He reported a
NORTHERN HAWK OWL along highway 310 throughout the day between mile
markers 8 and 9. This is the same area where this species was reported
last year several times , and it is assumed to be a resident bird. Mark
also reported NORTHERN GOSHAWK, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN
SHRIKE, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, PINE GROSBEAK, COMMON REDPOLL, and HOARY
REDPOLL. Betsy Batstone-Cunningham visited both Roseau and Lake of the
Woods Counties on the weekend, and she saw four GREAT GRAY OWLS, and
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, as well as  many of the same species reported by
Mark Otnes. The HORNED LARKS have even reached Roseau County this week
so spring must be on the way.

Thanks to the many folks who sent in reports of bird sightings this
week.

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 12, 2004.