[mou] RE: [mnbird] Metro Birding

[Tom Thomsen]

Some Nighthawks being seen in Stillwater. I only see YB Sapsuckers here in 
spring and fall migration. Saw a couple this spring.
Tom Thomsen


>From: "Steve Weston" <sweston2@comcast.net>
>To: "mnbird" <mnbird@lists.mnbird.net>,"Mou-net" <mou-net@cbs.umn.edu>
>Subject: [mnbird] Metro Birding
>Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 01:18:01 -0500
>
>Found an interesting hawk this evening in Eagan in Lebanon Hills, visible 
>in
>one of the small swamps on the south side of Cliff Road between the Holland
>Lake and the entrance to Shultz Lake.  I believe it was the swamp by the 
>old
>entrance.   This beauty was clean white below with only faint banding on 
>its
>tail and blond head markings.  From its long tail, fluffy white under tail
>coverets, and slim appearance, I believe this is an unusual light morph
>Coopers Hawk.  I assume it is a juvenile.  Tail feathers were in molt with
>only two feathers at full length.  I don't know that I have ever seen a
>picture of bird with this coloration.
>
>A friend inquired if I had seen any Nighthawks this summer, and I have not.
>I have not been driving through any of the small towns with my windows 
>open,
>so I may have missed them.  Is anybody finding them in eastern Minnesota?
>
>Got a call from a co-worker today asking what birds were building mud nests
>on his deck and how he might be able to discourage them.  It seems that
>these birds, which we determined were Barn Swallows, were terrorizing his
>kids.  After determining that the nests were empty, he washed them away 
>with
>his hose.   I suggested that he could hang plastic sheeting from hsi deck 
>to
>discourage the swallows, but that removing the nests was technically
>illegal, and especially illegal if the birds had started to lay eggs.
>
>Then I told him, that he was really missing a show that would really excite
>his kids.  I guaranteed him that if he left them to nest, the kids would be
>watching through the window everyday.  The Barn Swallow is an insect feeder
>and will scarf down more than its weight in mosquitos everyday.  (Well, 
>that
>may be a lie.  They may not eat  as many mosquitos as larger bugs.)   And,
>while the birds will dive bomb anyone approaching their nests to protect
>their young, as time continues they will probably become accustom to the
>kids and be less threatened by them.  In any case, they may dive at them,
>but they will not attack, and they wouldn't even draw blood if they were in
>hand.  (Oh, well that maybe another slight exaggeration.)  I hope I
>convinced him to welcome the birds.
>
>We are going through a lot of grape jelly.  Cherie had to refill the dish 
>that I filled yesterday.  She reported at least seven orioles today.
>
>Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN
>sweston2@comcast.net
>
>
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