[mou] Huge Migration in NW Minnesota (Long and Chatty feel free to delete)
Heidi Ferguson
Heidi.Ferguson@mci.com
Mon, 28 Mar 2005 10:57:20 -0600
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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All,
=20
=20=20=20=20Sorry=20this=20is=20a=20little=20late.=20=20I'm=20just=20getti=
ng=20to=20my=20computer.=20=20
=20
=20=20=20=20On=20Saturday=20I=20was=20in=20Wilkin,=20Otter=20Tail,=20Grant=
,=20Travese=20and=20Stevens
counties.=20=20I=20saw=20a=20lot=20of=20great=20birds,=20but=20the=20numbe=
rs=20of=20geese=20were=20truly
impressive.=20=20I=20haven't=20seen=20that=20many=20Snow=20Geese=20since=20=
the=20Platte=20River=204
years=20ago.=20=20I=20think=20seeing=20the=20long=20skeins=20of=20geese=20=
moved=20and=20undulate=20for
miles=20is=20one=20of=20natures=20wonders.=20=20=20=20The=20numbers=20of=20=
Greater=20White=20Fronted
geese=20were=20astounding.=20=20=20I=20saw=20many=20flocks=20of=20100=20to=
=20200.=20=20Along=20with=20mixed
flocks=20of=20Canadian=20and=20GWF=20Geese.=20=20=20I=20was=20also=20treat=
ed=20to=20seeing=20large
flocks=20of=20snow=20geese=20in=20flight.=20=20I=20love=20the=20way=20they=
=20"flicker"=20in=20the=20sky
and=20had=20been=20hoping=20to=20see=20some.=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20I=20was=20being=20my=20usual=20lazy=20self=20when=20=
I=20realized=20that=20there=20was
something=20wrong=20with=20the=20calls=20of=20those=20geese=20over=20head.=
=20=20Sure=20enough=20they
were=20GWF=20instead=20of=20the=20Canadians=20I=20expected.=20=20So=20I=20=
started=20to=20pay=20more
attention.=20=20=20It=20was=20nice=20for=20me=20to=20really=20be=20able=20=
to=20learn=20the=20difference
between=20the=20calls=20of=20the=20different=20geese.=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20At=20one=20point=20I=20saw=20a=20huge=20=20white=20=
cloud=20of=20snow=20geese=20on=20the=20horizon.
I=20tried=20chasing=20it=20but=20they=20were=20just=20to=20far=20ahead=20o=
f=20me.=20=20=20There=20must=20have
numbers=2010,000=20-20,000=20to=20appear=20so=20prominently=20at=20such=20=
a=20distance.=20=20=20=20In
the=20early=20AM=20the=20flocks=20were=20heading=20north=20but=20by=20abou=
t=209:00=20I=20started
noticing=20that=20they=20were=20heading=20back=20south.=20=20My=20guess=20=
is=20that=20they=20realized
there=20was=20no=20open=20water.=20=20The=20only=20open=20water=20were=20r=
ivers,=20including=20the
Ottertail=20and=20the=20Pomme=20de=20Terre.=20=20I=20was=20not=20success=20=
in=20finding=20the=20Snow=20or
GWF=20geese=20in=20the=20field=20=20despite=20following=20several=20large=20=
flocks.=20=20I=20believed
that=20many=20were=20hanging=20out=20on=20inaccessible=20stretches=20of=20=
the=20Ottertail=20River.
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20Around=204PM=20I=20was=20in=20Grant=20=
county=20and=20notice=20a=20large=20flock
heading=20south.=20=20They=20then=20reeled=20west=20and=20flew=20directly=20=
over=20me.=20=20They=20were
almost=20exclusively=20Snow=20Geese=20and=20I=20believe=20this=20flock=20n=
umbered=20over
10,000+.=20=20=20=20They=20appeared=20to=20be=20heading=20for=20the=20area=
=20outside=20of=20Alexandria
that=20is=20dotted=20with=20lakes.=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20My=20personal=20belief=20is=20that=20t=
he=20numbers=20are=20so=20high=20right=20now
because=20they=20are=20taking=20advantage=20of=20the=20full=20moon=20to=20=
migrate.=20=20=20I'm=20hoping
they=20stick=20around=20a=20little=20longer.=20=20
=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20It's=20too=20bad=20that=20I=20couldn't=20be=20in=20=
the=20area=20in=20the=20evening.=20=20It
would=20have=20been=20fun=20to=20see=20the=20migrating=20silhouettes=20aga=
inst=20the=20large=20full
moon.=20=20
=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20Here=20are=20the=20other=20birds=20I=20saw.=20
=20
=20=20=20=20Wilkin=20County
=20=20=20=20Greater=20Prairie=20Chickens=20-=20Rothsay=20lek=20(which=20I=20=
successfully=20flushed)
=20=20=20=2010=20Meadlow=20Larks=20(I=20believe=20Western=20from=20the=20o=
ne=20I=20heard=20sing)
Interestingly=20the=20only=20place=20I=20saw=20Meadowlarks=20were=20in=20t=
he=20Rothsay=20area.
Later=20in=20the=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20day=20I=20didn't=20see=20any=20at=20=
all,=20esp.=20further=20south.=20=20
=20=20=20=20Ring=20Neck=20duck=20Approx.=205
=20=20=20=20Scaups,=20=204=20or=205
=20=20=20Immature=20Golden=20Eagle=20=20
=20=20=20=20Bald=20Eagle
=20=20=20=20Numerous=20Harriers=20(taking=20advantage=20of=20the=20Prairie=
=20winds=20to=20hover=20just
feet=20away=20from=20my=20truck).
=20=20=201=20very=20lonely=20sounding=20Sandhill=20Crane
=20=20=20=205=20American=20Tree=20Sparrows
=20=20=20=20Horned=20Larks,=20RWBB,=20Killdeer,=20Robins,=20mallards
=20=20=20=20Possible=20Virginia=20Rail=20
=20
=20=20=20=20Grant=20County
=20=20=20=20Sharp=20Tailed=20grouse
=20=20=20=20Immature=20Bald=20Eagle
=20=20=20=20Red-Tail=20Hawk=20(only=201)
=20=20=20Kestrel
=20=20=20Harriers=20-=20several,=20=20one=20hunting=20in=20downtown=20Norc=
ross
=20=20=2040=20Pintails=20mixed=20in=20with=20about=20100=20Mallards=20on=20=
a=20flooded=20farm=20field.=20=20
=20
=20=20=20=20It's=20great=20to=20be=20out=20birding=20in=20the=20Spring!!!
=20
=20
Heidi=20Ferguson=20
Saint=20Paul=20
=20
=20
______________________________________________________________________
This=20e-mail=20has=20been=20scanned=20by=20MCI=20Managed=20Email=20Conten=
t=20Service,=20using=20Skeptic=99=20technology=20powered=20by=20MessageLab=
s.=20For=20more=20information=20on=20MCI's=20Managed=20Email=20Content=20S=
ervice,=20visit=20http://www.mci.com.
______________________________________________________________________
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<BODY>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">All,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Sorry=20this=20is=20a=20little=20late. =20=
I'm=20just=20getting=20to=20my=20
computer. =20</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20On=20Saturday=20I=20was=20=
in=20Wilkin,=20Otter=20Tail,=20
Grant,=20Travese=20and=20Stevens=20counties. =20I=20saw=20a=20lot=20o=
f=20great=20birds,=20but=20the=20
numbers=20of=20geese=20were=20truly=20impressive. =20I=20haven't=20se=
en=20that=20many=20Snow=20
Geese=20since=20the=20Platte=20River=204=20years=20ago. I=20thi=
nk=20seeing=20
the long=20skeins of=20geese=20moved=20and=20undulate=20for=20mi=
les=20is=20one=20of=20
natures=20wonders. =20 =20The=20numbers=20of=20Greater=20White=20=
Fronted=20geese=20were=20
astounding. =20I=20saw=20many=20flocks=20of=20100=20to=20200.&n=
bsp;=20Along=20with=20mixed=20
flocks=20of=20Canadian=20and=20GWF=20Geese. =20I=20was=20also=20=
treated=20to=20seeing=20large=20
flocks=20of=20snow=20geese=20in=20flight. =20I=20love=20the=20way=20t=
hey=20"flicker"=20in=20the=20sky=20
and=20had=20been=20hoping=20to=20see=20some. =20</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20I=20=
was=20being=20my=20
usual=20lazy=20self=20when=20I=20realized=20that=20there=20was=20something=
=20wrong=20with=20the=20calls=20of=20
those=20geese=20over=20head. =20Sure=20enough=20they=20were=20GWF=20i=
nstead=20of=20the=20Canadians=20
I=20expected. =20So=20I=20started=20to=20pay=20more=20attention. =
; It=20was=20
nice=20for=20me=20to=20really=20be=20able=20to=20learn=20the=20difference=20=
between=20the=20calls=20of=20the=20
different=20geese. =20</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20At=
=20one=20point=20I=20
saw=20a=20huge =20white=20cloud=20of=20snow=20geese=20on=20the=20hori=
zon. =20I=20tried=20chasing=20
it=20but=20they=20were=20just=20to=20far=20ahead=20of=20me.=20 =20The=
re=20must=20have=20numbers=2010,000=20
-20,000=20to=20appear=20so=20prominently=20at=20such=20a=20distance. =
=20In=20the=20
early=20AM=20the=20flocks=20were=20heading=20north=20but=20by=20about=209:=
00=20I=20started=20noticing=20that=20
they=20were=20heading=20back=20south. =20My=20guess=20is=20that=20the=
y=20realized=20there=20was=20no=20
open=20water. =20The=20only=20open=20water=20were=20rivers,=20includi=
ng=20the=20Ottertail=20and=20
the=20Pomme=20de=20Terre. =20I=20was=20not=20success=20in=20finding=20=
the=20Snow=20or=20GWF=20geese=20in=20
the=20field =20despite=20following=20several=20large=20flocks. =20=
I=20believed=20that=20
many=20were=20hanging=20out=20on=20inaccessible=20stretches=20of=20the=20O=
ttertail=20
River. =20</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">  =
; =20
Around=204PM=20I=20was=20in=20Grant=20county=20and=20notice=20a=20large=20=
flock=20heading=20south. =20
They=20then=20reeled=20west=20and=20flew=20directly=20over=20me. =20T=
hey=20were=20almost=20
exclusively=20Snow=20Geese=20and=20I=20believe=20this=20flock=20numbered=20=
over=20
10,000+. =20They=20appeared=20to=20be=20heading=20for=20t=
he=20area=20outside=20of=20
Alexandria=20that=20is=20dotted=20with=20lakes. =20</FONT></SPAN></DI=
V>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">  =
; =20
My=20personal=20belief=20is=20that=20the=20numbers=20are=20so=20high=20rig=
ht=20now=20because=20they=20are=20
taking=20advantage=20of=20the=20full=20moon=20to=20migrate. =20=
I'm=20hoping=20they=20stick=20
around=20a=20little=20longer. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> <SPAN=20
class=3D921415915-28032005> <FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20=
MS"> It's=20
too=20bad=20that=20I=20couldn't=20be=20in=20the=20area=20in=20the=20evenin=
g. =20It=20would=20have=20been=20
fun=20to=20see=20the=20migrating=20silhouettes=20against=20the=20large=20f=
ull=20moon. =20
</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20</SPAN></DIV>=
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Here=20are=20the=20other=20birds=20I=20saw.=20<=
/FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"><U>Wilkin=20County</U></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Greater=20Prairie=20Chickens=20-=20Rothsay=20le=
k=20(which=20I=20
successfully=20flushed)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">10=20Meadlow=20Larks=20(I=20believe=20Western=20=
from=20the=20one=20I=20heard=20
sing) =20Interestingly=20the=20only=20place=20I=20saw=20Meadowl=
arks=20were=20in=20the=20
Rothsay=20area. =20Later=20in=20
the </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">  =
; day I=20
didn't=20see=20any=20at=20all,=20esp.=20further=20south. =20</FONT></=
SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Ring=20Neck=20duck=20Approx.=205</FONT></SPAN><=
/DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20Scaups, =204=20or=205=
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20
class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Immature&nbs=
p;Golden=20
Eagle </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20Bald=20Eagle</FONT></SPAN>=
</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20Numerous=20Harriers=20(tak=
ing=20advantage=20of=20
the=20Prairie=20winds=20to=20hover=20just=20feet=20away=20from=20my=20truc=
k).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"=
> =201=20
very=20lonely=20sounding=20Sandhill=20Crane</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">5=20American=20Tree=20Sparrows</FONT></SPAN></D=
IV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Horned=20Larks,=20</FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20
class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">RWBB,=20Kill=
deer,=20Robins,=20
mallards</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Possible=20Virginia=20Rail=20</FONT></SPAN></DI=
V>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"><U>Grant=20County</U></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Sharp=20Tailed=20grouse</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Immature=20Bald=20Eagle</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Red-Tail=20Hawk=20(only=201)</FONT></SPAN></DIV=
>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"=
> =20
Kestrel</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"=
> =20
Harriers -=20several,=20 one=20hunting=20in=20downtown=20
Norcross</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"=
> =2040=20
Pintails=20mixed=20in=20with=20about=20100=20Mallards=20on=20a=20flooded=20=
farm=20field. =20
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">It's=20great=20to=20be=20out=20birding=20in=20t=
he=20
Spring!!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV=20align=3Dleft><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"=20size=3D2>Heidi=20=
Ferguson=20</FONT></DIV>
<DIV=20align=3Dleft><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"=20size=3D2><SPAN=20=
class=3D921415915-28032005>Saint=20Paul=20</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV=20align=3Dleft><FONT=20face=3DArial=20size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BR>
______________________________________________________________________<BR>=
This=20e-mail=20has=20been=20scanned=20by=20MCI=20Managed=20Email=20Conten=
t=20Service,=20using=20Skeptic=99=20technology=20powered=20by=20MessageLab=
s.=20For=20more=20information=20on=20MCI's=20Managed=20Email=20Content=20S=
ervice,=20visit=20http://www.mci.com.<BR>
______________________________________________________________________<BR>=
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