[mou] Re: [mnbird] Hawk Ridge: Swainson's Hawk & record passerines!

[Laura Erickson]

Yesterday morning, boaters and fishermen came upon a sizeable bird kill on
Lake Superior between Grand Marais and Paradise Harbor.  Molly Hoffman
called to tell me about it this morning.  Apparently "hundreds" of small
birds including Swainson's Thrushes and warblers were seen dead in the
water, floating in "slicks" of debris, including birch branches with
leaves still on them.  The DNR went out there yesterday afternoon and
picked up some of the carcasses.  It's hard to know what happened.

If anyone has observed anything like this, or has any ideas what may have
happened, I'd appreciate hearing from you.  I've posted what I know about
it on my blog, along with John Idzikowski's comments (he's an authority on
using weather data and radar to study nocturnal migration) and would like
to keep people updated.

http://www.birderblog.com/?v=09-08-05#09-08-05_113806.txt


Laura Erickson
Duluth, MN

Staff Ornithologist
Binoculars.com
www.birderblog.com

There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. 
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the
winter.

			--Rachel Carson


> Hi folks,
> The migration is in full swing!  Don't forget Hawk Ridge this fall--we've
> got a lot of programs planned, and more staff at the overlook to answer
> questions and point out passing birds.  For those wanting a quieter
> experience, there are 9 other overlooks on our trail system from which to
> view migrating raptors.  Trail maps can be found on our website.  Please
> feel free to contact us for help planning your trip.
>
> There's still time to register for Hawk Weekend, scheduled for September
> 23-25.  Dr. Mark Fuller will speak on Friday evening about raptor
> migration,
> and humorist & birder Al Batt will tell "Bird Stories" on Saturday
> evening.
> Join us!  More information can be found at
> http://www.hawkridge.org/events/hawkweekend.html
>
> For those of you interested in receiving the weekly "Hawk Ridge News" via
> email, please visit our website to read the latest edition & subscribe:
> http://www.hawkridge.org/about/news.html
>
> We had a terrific look at an immature SWAINSON'S HAWK yesterday afternoon
> at
> Hawk Ridge.  It was also a record day for passerines: 271 birds were
> banded
> in 8 hours!
> Debbie
> __________________________________
> Debbie Waters, Education Director
> Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory
> P.O. Box 3006
> Duluth, MN 55803-3006
> (218) 428-6209
> dwaters@hawkridge.org
> www.hawkridge.org
>
> "I am a predator.  I hunt for knowledge!"  --4th grader, Northern Lights
> Elementary
>
> "Migration--it's a family tradition!"  --4th grader, Great Lakes
> Elementary
>
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