[mou] RE: [mnbird] Henslow's Sparrow relocated, Glacial Ridge nesting updates, Merlin "rescue"

[Jeanie Joppru]

I was very disturbed to learn that point counts are being conducted on
ATV with all the disturbance that they cause, and even more unhappy to
hear that Nathaniel is willing to take people to the Henslow's site on
the ATV, thus creating even more disturbance. Having done point counts
at Agassiz for several years, I can tell you that the wet shrubby
habitat there is far harder to navigate on foot than a simple grassland;
there is no excuse for taking an ATV to do point counts on the prairie.
All the counts that I did were done on foot so as to get a true picture
of what was there and not disturb any nests. Also, although I do not
have knowledge of the management plan, it seems that mowing while the
species that are nesting there are still on the nest would be counter
productive. I hope there is a good explanation for these procedures.

Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County


> -----Original Message-----
> From: mnbird-admin@lists.mnbird.net
> [mailto:mnbird-admin@lists.mnbird.net] On Behalf Of Emery, Nathaniel G
> Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 9:59 AM
> To: mou-net@cbs.umn.edu; mnbird@lists.mnbird.net
> Subject: [mnbird] Henslow's Sparrow relocated, Glacial Ridge=20
> nesting updates, Merlin "rescue"
>=20
>=20
> Folks:
> I easily relocated the Henslow's Sparrow male at the same
> location I previously posted. I believe that the disturbance=20
> that the ATV causes riles him into singing from exposed=20
> perches. It would be illegal to take a private ATV to the=20
> site but if you contact me personally I would have no problem=20
> taking you to see him. The Nature Conservancy will be mowing=20
> the site soon to control exotic cool-season plants so the=20
> sooner you make the trip the better! The Dickcissels must=20
> have come in late but they are relatively abundant on the=20
> property now. Almost each site I stop at has at least one=20
> singing male. A few females have been observed but nobody has=20
> monitored them closely enough to determine if they are=20
> nesting. My male Dickcissel count is over a dozen so that is=20
> good news. The Upland Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope nests=20
> that I located have all hatched successfully. A couple=20
> Greater Prairie- chicken and duck nests were destroyed by=20
> mowers or abandoned. The Virginia Rail nest was clipped by=20
> mowers as well. A Western Meadowlark now raises her family in=20
> an ampitheater as opposed to the dome she had built prior to=20
> mowing. The 2 nestlings and 2 eggs seem to be doing fine.=20
> Yesterday on the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus we=20
> had the "Great Merlin Rescue, 2005." It is thought that two=20
> of the nestlings got blown out of the nest during the wind=20
> storm we had last Thursday/Friday. One survived the fall and=20
> one did not. The survivor was being fed on the ground but we=20
> wanted to place it back in the nest and document any other=20
> nestlings that might be present. The operation was successful=20
> in returning the fallen young and another healthy chick was=20
> present 60 feet up in the top of a spruce. Kirby Nielsen of=20
> Roers Construction assisted by providing the equipment and=20
> operation of a large lift to take he and I to the nest. Mike=20
> Christopherson of the Crookston Times was present so watch=20
> that media for a picture or article or both. Also yesterday=20
> the Short-eared Owl that resides near Polk CR 46 was perched=20
> on the phone lines just south of Hwy 2 and the Pankratz=20
> Prairie. It was a very congenial host as I stopped my vehicle=20
> and observed it for 5 minutes. It was still there when I left=20
> just after 9 a.m.
> =20
> Nate Emery
> Polk County, NW MN
> (218) 281-8141 _______________________________________________
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> mnbird@lists.mnbird.net=20
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>=20