[mou] MSP Snowies (4) and Cowbird
markfalcon@comcast.net
markfalcon@comcast.net
Sat, 07 Jan 2006 19:06:28 +0000
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I got to the Cargo Rd de-icing facility at 8:30 and two Snowy Owls flew right over me and continued out to nearby runway areas. Their flight pattern was the same I had seen the day before with one bird, coming from the general area of the FedEx building or the 4 antennas in array at a high elevation (100 feet); passing diagonally over the concrete tank area, dropping low to the ground before moving to their selected perch. No Gyrfalcon today. These birds were very active and we soon found three birds perched and visible at one time. These three were easily distinguishable as individuals via scope. A large female first year bird is very darkly barred overall which is easily seen in flight as well. She has very dark thick bars on her tail feathers and a short white bib ending at her throat/chin area; Another heavily marked bird is not so darkly marked as the first, has a white bib that goes halfway down the breast area, is lightly marked on the back of the head, a narrow band
of markings connect the cap markings to the back markings. This bird may be male/female based on the dark markings, but an extended white bib and a thinner broken tail band markings make me think it is a first year male. Another bird was mostly white, with sparse but regular brown markings seen on its back and less on the breast. There are two darker spots on the back of its heads that seem like eyespots. This was most likely the bird I saw on 1-6-06, I think it is a second year male. This white male flew up and away disappearing from sight behind the FedEx building. I scanned and found another male in the direction of the main terminal at a great distance, probably a half mile from whre I had seen the Snowy disapear 30 seconds before. This bird was hunkered down and inactive.We could still see the two other birds, so I am certain there are at least 4 Snowies at the airport right now. 1 female. three males. One of the ligth males flew right over us at a height of about 60 f
eet and when just over us, emitted a short shriek much like the calls I have heard Great Grays give last year, but shorter in duration. Its tonality is similar to shriek calls young Great Horneds give when chasing their parents around in the fall. Three birders from Iowa and two from the sities were on hand and heard the call, as well. It was not really very loud, but it was a windless day so it was clearly heard. This is a first. Winter vocalizations of Snowy Owls are virtually unknown. The activity of Owls was very high this morning with many flybys and moving about. Again I am impressed with the expanse of habitat these birds cover in an hour, hundreds of acres is needed. Around 9:30 AM, the birds became less active and squatted more, seeming to settle in for the day. This is two days in a row that Snowies have flown into this area from the SE and been very active. No head bobbing was seen today, which is odd, for it was almost nonstop from the owl the day before. Perha
ps they roost to the SE and their first feeding forays are in this region. 4 snowies and a first ever vocalization, what a great start to the day! Sunup at teh de-icing area is the place to be, it seems. Please take care to park out of teh way and not to walk about in teh work areas or on the concrete pads. A trip to Black Dog yielded no gulls, but from a vantage point to the south at the dead end on Rupp Rd, a winter Brown-headed Cowbird was seen with a flock of House Sparrows. This bird was seen as close as 6 feet away. Robins are in the area as well. Good Birding.
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<DIV>I got to the Cargo Rd de-icing facility at 8:30 and two Snowy Owls flew right over me and continued out to nearby runway areas. Their flight pattern was the same I had seen the day before with one bird, coming from the general area of the FedEx building or the 4 antennas in array at a high elevation (100 feet); passing diagonally over the concrete tank area, dropping low to the ground before moving to their selected perch. No Gyrfalcon today. These birds were very active and we soon found three birds perched and visible at one time. These three were easily distinguishable as individuals via scope. A large female first year bird is very darkly barred overall which is easily seen in flight as well. She has very dark thick bars on her tail feathers and a short white bib ending at her throat/chin area; Another heavily marked bird is not so darkly marked as the first, has a white bib that goes halfway down the breast area, is lightly marke
d on the back of the head, a narrow band of markings connect the cap markings to the back markings. This bird may be male/female based on the dark markings, but an extended white bib and a thinner broken tail band markings make me think it is a first year male. Another bird was mostly white, with sparse but regular brown markings seen on its back and less on the breast. There are two darker spots on the back of its heads that seem like eyespots. This was most likely the bird I saw on 1-6-06, I think it is a second year male. This white male flew up and away disappearing from sight behind the FedEx building. I scanned and found another male in the direction of the main terminal at a great distance, probably a half mile from whre I had seen the Snowy disapear 30 seconds before. This bird was hunkered down and inactive.We could still see the two other birds, so I am certain there are at least 4 Snowies at the airport right now. 1 female. three males. One of the ligth
males flew right over us at a height of about 60 feet and when just over us, emitted a short shriek much like the calls I have heard Great Grays give last year, but shorter in duration. Its tonality is similar to shriek calls young Great Horneds give when chasing their parents around in the fall. Three birders from Iowa and two from the sities were on hand and heard the call, as well. It was not really very loud, but it was a windless day so it was clearly heard. This is a first. Winter vocalizations of Snowy Owls are virtually unknown. The activity of Owls was very high this morning with many flybys and moving about. Again I am impressed with the expanse of habitat these birds cover in an hour, hundreds of acres is needed. Around 9:30 AM, the birds became less active and squatted more, seeming to settle in for the day. This is two days in a row that Snowies have flown into this area from the SE and been very active. No head bobbing was s
een today, which is odd, for it was almost nonstop from the owl the day before. Perhaps they roost to the SE and their first feeding forays are in this region. 4 snowies and a first ever vocalization, what a great start to the day! Sunup at teh de-icing area is the place to be, it seems. Please take care to park out of teh way and not to walk about in teh work areas or on the concrete pads. A trip to Black Dog yielded no gulls, but from a vantage point to the south at the dead end on Rupp Rd, a winter Brown-headed Cowbird was seen with a flock of House Sparrows. This bird was seen as close as 6 feet away. Robins are in the area as well. Good Birding.</DIV></body></html>
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