[mou] Hedbom Forest Road plowed
shawn conrad
dingermcduff@hotmail.com
Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:43:05 -0600
I've visited the road myself--didn't post as my trip wasn't nearly as
successful as others...one Black-backed and a few WW Crossbills--I think
what makes the road a great birding spot is the accessibility rather than
the habitat or the bird selection. Bogs similar to the bog on Hedbom with
similar birds are found throughout the northern counties, especially western
Koochiching (where myself and others will be this weekend....we'll let you
know how we do!), but very few offer the "relative" closeness to Duluth and
the Twin Cities as well as a decent road cutting through, 100% public land,
and wide enough lanes and few enough people to make stopping easy.
If you're willing to drive farther, do a little more research, deal with
uncertainties regarding traffic and ownership, and maybe walk a trail or
two, you can have the fun and satisfaction of discovering all of these birds
in "your own" spot. However, if you're like many (especially out of staters
like Mike is guiding) and what little time you have to bird up north might
be your one shot at seeing these great birds, Hedbom seems to be a great
option. Of course, if you live fairly close like me, you can have your cake
and eat it too by trying both!
(By the way, I was talking with 2 tree disease experts today about the larch
beetle infestations and the large number of Black-backed/Three-toed
Woodpecker sightings this year. They told me that with these warm winters,
larch beetle infestations and tamarack stand mortality has been, and could
continue to be, excessively high. This could mean birds are moving down for
this huge food source and more tamarack stands in Minnesota could become
favorable for overwintering and breeding woodpeckers. (I believe I've heard
up to 6,000 beetles have been found in a single tree!) Also, we looked at
some maps and saw some pretty extensive recent tamarack mortality in eastern
Ottertail County, of all places. It's possible that some of the mortality
could have been caused by flooding or other reasons, but if it is from larch
beetles, that county could be worth keeping an eye on.)
Just welcomed this chance to toss in my opinion on Hedbom. Good birding!
Shawn Conrad
Bovey
>From: "Mike Hendrickson" <smithville4@charter.net>
>To: "MOU-net" <mou-net@cbs.umn.edu>,"Kim R Eckert"
><kreckert@cpinternet.com>
>Subject: Re: [mou] Hedbom Forest Road plowed
>Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2007 17:32:06 -0600
>
>Hello:
>
>"Yesterday was the first time I had to check this area, and I must say I
>was disappointed. Given the number of postings about this road
>recently, birders might be under the impression that this area is
>something special"
>
>In my opinion as a active bird guide in northeast Minnesota this area is
>SPECIAL because it is so far the most consistent place in Minnesota to find
>Great Gray Owls! The bog maybe roughly only 3 miles long but again it's
>very consistent for viewing American Three-toed Woodpeckers and
>Black-backed Woodpeckers. Also this area has a consistent flock of Common
>Redpolls where birders are finding Hoary Redpolls. On top of that,
>White-winged Crossbills and Red Crossbills are being seen fairly regular
>along the Hedbom Logging Road.
>
>No one has ever mentioned on this listserv that this is a some sort of
>fantastic spot but like Kim Risen said "This bog might replace the bogs in
>Sax Zim" In Sax Zim, McDavitt Road Bog and the the Owl Avenue Bog are
>scheduled to be logged. So having a nice tamarack bog that is roughly
>about 15 miles away from Sax Zim Bog gives birders anther place to search
>for some of Minnesota winter specialties and summer specialties. I also
>recall that Kim Risen specifically mentioned in his postings that the best
>place to bird is the very last section near the St. Louis and Aitkin County
>line. No one ever mentioned that the entire road was bog habitat and also
>I am very thankful to Kim Risen for sharing this road to us and I am sure
>all the birders that made the trip up to the Hedbom Logging Trail Bog were
>very happy to view the Great Gray Owls, Three-toed and Black-backed
>Woodpeckers plus the winter finches.
>
>On another note, the only sighting of a Great Gray Owl in Sax Zim Bog was
>during the Christmas Bird Count and yes I agree with Kim Eckert there are
>many other places to search for Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers in
>St. Louis Co or Aitkin County BUT the Hedbom Logging Trail Road is the
>ONLY road in Minnesota where you have a damn good chance of seeing the
>owls, woodpeckers and winter finches all within a 3 mile area! Again that
>is pretty special to me!
>
>I also want to say I been getting several emails from folks outside and
>inside Minnesota thanking me for creating a map to this new location.( I am
>sure Kim Risen is getting thank you emails as well) Dennis Martin called
>upon us birders to share bird sightings and share bird information on this
>listserv. What incentive would it be now to anyone coming on to this
>listserv announcing a new place to see birds only having one of Minnesota
>leading birders down playing it and basically saying "its not so special".
>
>In my opinion the Hedbom Logging Trail Bog is a GREAT place this winter to
>view Great Gray Owls and other winter specialties all within close
>proximity of each other. This bog also has GREAT potential for Connecticut
>Warblers, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Golden-winged Warblers and other bog
>specialties. I would not be surprised that Great Gray Owls nest near this
>bog as well. Sax Zim Bog is still may favorite place in the winter to
>birdwatch but when the day comes when the independent loggers come to log
>out McDavitt Rd or Owl Avenue, it's damn good feeling to know there is
>another bog not far away for birders to enjoy!
>
>Thanks Kim Risen for sharing this location to all of us on this listserv
>because as a guide who has several parties coming up this winter it sure
>feels good knowing there is a reliable spot for Great Gray Owls and other
>winter specialties not far from Duluth to show birders.
>
>
>
>Michael Hendrickson
>Duluth, Minnesota
>http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/
>
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