[mou] American Golden-Plovers

Robert_Russell@fws.gov Robert_Russell@fws.gov
Fri, 13 Oct 2006 14:56:15 -0500 

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In response to Beau's inquiry on plover, it isn't unusual to find this
species as late as early November some year and rarely to mid-November =
but
most move through in September and the first half of October.  They are=

very hardy birds with some populations breeding in the high Arctic so a=
 bit
of snow is not a hassle for them.  They forage mainly on invertebrates =
like
worms and grubs and some seeds.   In Arctic Birds of Canada (great book=
 but
hard-to-find) author L.L. Snyder notes that young of the year are on th=
eir
way south in September and the exodus from the Arctic is complete by th=
e
close of September.   The Red River Valley and Big Stone region get fai=
r
numbers in Minnesota in fall with some birds as far east as Stearns and=

Sherburne Counties.  The majority of August birds seen in Minnesota are=

adults.   A separate group of birds seems to come through the Arrowhead=

Country and they are seen at Two Harbors and Duluth and over Hawk Ridge=
 in
fair numbers although they can turn up in any county in the state.   It=
's
interesting to note that these birds were seen on a burned field.  Form=
er
Big Stone NWR biologist Bridget Olson said she never saw golden plovers=
 in
spring-burned fields around the Big Stone region even though she often
looked for them.  Freshly ploughed wet agricultural fields are often
favored by this plover in spring and fall.  Bob Russell, US Fish and
Wildlife Service, Minnesota=

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<html><body>
<p>In response to Beau's inquiry on plover, it isn't unusual to find th=
is species as late as early November some year and rarely to mid-Novemb=
er but most move through in September and the first half of October.  T=
hey are very hardy birds with some populations breeding in the high Arc=
tic so a bit of snow is not a hassle for them.  They forage mainly on i=
nvertebrates like worms and grubs and some seeds.   In <i>Arctic Birds =
of Canada</i> (great book but hard-to-find) author L.L. Snyder notes th=
at young of the year are on their way south in September and the exodus=
 from the Arctic is complete by the close of September.   The Red River=
 Valley and Big Stone region get fair numbers in Minnesota in fall with=
 some birds as far east as Stearns and Sherburne Counties.  The majorit=
y of August birds seen in Minnesota are adults.   A separate group of b=
irds seems to come through the Arrowhead Country and they are seen at T=
wo Harbors and Duluth and over Hawk Ridge in fair numbers although they=
 can turn up in any county in the state.   It's interesting to note tha=
t these birds were seen on a burned field.  Former Big Stone NWR biolog=
ist Bridget Olson said she never saw golden plovers in spring-burned fi=
elds around the Big Stone region even though she often looked for them.=
  Freshly ploughed wet agricultural fields are often favored by this pl=
over in spring and fall.  Bob Russell, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Mi=
nnesota</body></html>=

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