[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, March 26, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, March 26,
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.

There is no doubt that spring is here now. Large numbers of birds are
moving north, and even a chipmunk has been reported this week. The warm
weather is melting the snow quickly, and puddles have appeared. Some
open water is in the southern part of the region and soon open water
will be present  throughout the northwest. Even a few insects were seen
by several observers this week, so we are making progress.

Most reporters have mentioned decreasing numbers of COMMON REDPOLLS, and
increasing numbers of  DARK-EYED JUNCOS and PURPLE FINCHES. Raptors are
on the move also with numerous reports of BALD EAGLES, RED-TAILED HAWK,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, and AMERICAN KESTRELS.

Bob and Adele Powell in Roseau County reported PURPLE FINCHES at the
feeder this week. Katie Haws observed 9 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE two miles
south of Wannaska along Highway 89.

Katie also reported TRUMPETER SWANS near Bemidji in Beltrami County. The
BALD EAGLES have returned to their nest site in the county, and HORNED
LARKS are being seen.

Marshall County species noticed by Alice Sather included CANADA GEESE,
AMERICAN ROBINS, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. The
redpolls are nearly all gone now. Gary Tischer of Agassiz National
Wildlife Refuge says that some SANDHILL CRANES returned on March 23rd,
twenty AMERICAN ROBINS were seen on March 24th, a pair of AMERICAN
KESTRELS  were seen along CR 7 just west of the refuge. A swan of
undetermined species has returned to the refuge, and it is suspected
that it may be the trumpeter that nested there last summer. A pair of
GREAT HORNED OWLS are being seen regularly in the spruce trees at the
east end of the Habitat Drive along CR 7.

In Pennington County, Sue Braastad reported NORTHERN SHRIKE, DARK-EYED
JUNCO, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. Several observers have mentioned seeing
AMERICAN ROBINS in Thief River Falls this week, some of them singing.
John Holland reported two BALD EAGLES  perched in a tree along CR 3 near
the Polk County line. Other birds mentioned by John included
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, WILD TURKEY, and AMERICAN KESTREL. He also observed
several flocks of migrating ducks, and geese including some SNOW GEESE.
A small flock of swans was also seen, but no determination of species
was made.

Shelley Steva found an AMERICAN KESTREL and four ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS in
Polk County on March 21st. Mike and Lori Becker  at the Wetland, Pines ,
and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary reported that the redpolls have nearly
all left and been replaced by DARK-EYED JUNCOS. An AMERICAN ROBIN was
seen on March 23rd. RED-TAILED HAWK, SANDHILL CRANES, and SHORT-EARED
OWL have returned to the area. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen near the
sanctuary. Jason Eckstein reported from Rydell NWR  that AMERICAN
ROBINS, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS have returned this week. A few
MALLARDS are back also. Elsewhere in the county, he observed GREAT BLUE
HERON, SANDHILL CRANES, KILLDEER, an AMERICAN CROW carrying nesting
material, and WESTERN MEADOWLARK as well as the  raptors and grouse that
are being reported by all this week. A second report of MALLARDS came
from Randy Chaffee near Climax, so doubtless many more ducks are on the
way following the open water areas as they move north.

In Norman County, Shelley Steva saw a NORTHERN SHRIKE on March 21st.

>From Becker County, Shar Legenhausen reported TRUMPETER SWANS, GREAT
BLUE HERON, KILLDEER, AMERICAN ROBIN, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. Kay
Hartness saw some of the same species as well as PURPLE FINCH. Joan
Burke reported two GREAT BLUE HERONS, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-SHOULDERED
HAWK, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.=20

Alma Ronningen saw a pair of AMERICAN BLUEBIRDS in Otter Tail County on
March 24th, and also reported a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and a
KILLDEER. At Glendalough State Park, Jeffrey Wiersma reports that the
BALD EAGLES have returned to their nest in the park.

>From Douglas County Susan Wiste saw an AMERICAN KESTREL along Highway 27
on March 21st.

Thanks to Alice Sather, Jason Eckstein, Kay Hartness, John Holland,
Randy Chaffee, Gary Tischer, Jeffrey Wiersma, Katie Haws, Susan Wiste,
Shelley Steva, Sue Braastad, Mike and Lori Becker, Bob and Adele Powell,
Alma Ronningen, and Shar Legenhausen 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, April 2, 2004.