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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 27, 2001
*MNDL0112.27

-Birds mentioned

• Trumpeter Swan
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Northern Goshawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Wild Turkey
• Mourning Dove
• Snowy Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Black-backed Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• Varied Thrush
• Bohemian Waxwing
• Northern Cardinal
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Rusty Blackbird
• BRAMBLING
• Pine Grosbeak
• White-winged Crossbill
• Common Redpoll

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 27, 2001
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Betsy Beneke (BetsyBeneke@lakesnet.net)

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, December 28th, sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Lakes Area Birding Club. You may also hear this report by calling (218) 847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

The BRAMBLING is still being seen at the home west of Battle Lake in Otter Tail County. Birders are asked not to visit now until December 31st, January 2nd or 3rd. Please do not visit on New Year's Day. Viewing should be only from the upper deck of the house during daylight hours. Directions from the town of Battle Lake: Follow CR 83 west to CR 122. Turn left onto CR 122 and go approximately .25 miles to Big Buck Road. Turn right onto Big Buck Road and follow it for 1.2 miles to the fork. Take the right fork and follow it to the dead end. Walk up onto the deck on the left side of the house and go around to the back. The bird generally comes in with a flock of goldfinches and may occur anywhere in the yard, although it seems to prefer some cover and is often seen near the brush pile.

The VARIED THRUSH continues to be seen on the east side of Cotton Lake in Becker Co. as of the 27th. Take Becker CR 29 north from State Hwy. 34, east of Detroit Lakes. The address is 21246 CR 29 and is well marked. The bird is most often seen between the house and the lake in the area of the crab apple tree. The homeowner welcomes birders during daylight hours, except for the holidays.

At the Wetlands, Pines & Prairie Audubon Sanctuary in Polk County this past week, birds seen include SNOWY OWL, SHORT-EARED OWL, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, BOHEMIAN WAXWING and PINE GROSBEAK.

At Itasca State Park, Clearwater County, on the 22nd, a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was found ½ mile west of the headwaters parking lot along Wilderness Drive.

Other birds reported in the northwest this week included: TRUMPETER SWAN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, WILD TURKEY, MOURNING DOVE, NORTHERN FLICKER, NORTHERN CARDINAL, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, DARK-EYED JUNCO, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL and COMMON REDPOLL.

Thanks to Kay Hartness, Mark Eikren, Mary & Bill Wyatt, Margaret Kent, Dave Hochhalter, Doug Johnson, Dan & Sandy Thimgan and Blane Klemek.

To report bird sightings, contact Betsy Beneke by e-mail, no later than Thursday each week, at: betsybeneke@lakesnet.net OR call the Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202.

The next scheduled update of this report is Friday, January 4th.

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