Previous reports: January 16 23 30 , February 6 13 20 27 , March 6 13 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*March 20, 2003
*MNDL0303.20

-Birds mentioned

• Canada Goose
• Common Goldeneye
• Bald Eagle
• Northern Harrier
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Golden Eagle
• American Kestrel
• Merlin
• Gray Partridge
• Greater Prairie-Chicken
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Wild Turkey
• Sandhill Crane
• Killdeer
• Mourning Dove
• Great Horned Owl
• Snowy Owl
• Barred Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Northern Flicker
• Common Raven
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• American Robin
• Northern Shrike
• Northern Cardinal
• American Tree Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Western Meadowlark
• Rusty Blackbird
• White-winged Crossbill

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 20, 2003
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@wiktel.com)

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, March 21, 2003 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218) 847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

Spring has definitely come to the northwest this week. There are many reports of migrating CANADA GEESE, BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIERS, and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS from throughout the region. Russ Reisz reported this week that the SHARP-TAILED GROUSE are being seen on the leks in Kittson County as of Saturday, March 15th. The Varied Thrush reported in Moorhead for the past few weeks has apparently moved on, as has the Barrow's Goldeneye that was in Fergus Falls.

Donna and Leon Thoreson visited the Glacial Ridge Project on March 18th and were excited to find two SNOWY OWLS sitting on rock piles about 1.9 miles south of Highway 2 along the gravel road that leads past the Bradshaw Gravel Office - near the location where the Baird's Sparrow was seen last summer.

A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen by Craig Mandel at the Rothsay WMA in Wilkin County on March 17th. There were several reports of migrating BALD EAGLES this week from Kittson, Polk, and Ottertail Counties. On Wednesday, I saw four BALD EAGLES near our home in Pennington County - three adults and one first year bird.

Roseau County birds seen on March 15th included a number of singing WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at Hayes Lake State Park. =20

In Kittson County, a NORTHERN HARRIER was seen on March 15th, and in Beltrami County, a NORTHERN HARRIER and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were found hunting over a CRP field.

Linda Johnson went to Old Mill State Park in Marshall County on Wednesday, March 19 and found CANADA GEESE, NORTHERN FLICKER, and NORTHERN CARDINAL. Gary Tischer saw a NORTHERN HARRIER and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Marshall County on March 15th.

In Pennington County, Gary Tischer reports that the Thief River Falls MERLINS returned to the 300 block of South Tindolph St on Saturday, March 15th.

Lori Becker at the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary in Polk County says that migration is certainly being seen there as the number of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS has increased in the last week. Other birds reported by Lori included a NORTHERN HARRIER, two SHARP-TAILED GROUSE on the sanctuary road one mile east of the headquarters, and two SHORT-EARED OWLS in the open fields next to the sanctuary. Near Melvin in the southern part of the county, the Thoreson's found a BALD EAGLE being harassed by a NORTHERN SHRIKE. Elsewhere in the county they saw SANDHILL CRANES, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, and RED-TAILED HAWKS.

A BARRED OWL in Clay County was tracked down by Dennis Weisenborn who finally located it along the Red River across from Fargo's Edgewood Golf Course on March 15th. Linda Sparling found a GRAY PARTRIDGE along the railroad tracks on the east side of Highway 53 at its intersection with CR69. Craig Mandel reported a single WESTERN MEADOWLARK along Clay County Road 11 south of Sabin. Leo Lantz observed a SHORT-EARED OWL at Bluestem Prairie, and found 12 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS booming on a lek in the pasture at the intersection on the NW side of Bluestem Prairie on Saturday , March 15th.

Pam Lehmann, Becker County , reported a MOURNING DOVE on the 17th , and a GOLDEN EAGLE on the 20th along CR 26 east of the headquarters of Tamarac NWR.

Wilkin County birds reported by Craig Mandel included a first year GOLDEN EAGLE at Rothsay WMA, and GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS at Town Hall Prairie. Rick Gjervold observed a SHORT-EARED OWL along Wilkin County 30 about five miles west of Lawndale on March 14th. Also there, were about a dozen GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, two AMERICAN KESTRELS, and a NORTHERN HARRIER.

Tom Smith found a SANDHILL CRANE in southwestern Ottertail County on Sunday, March 16th. A GREAT HORNED OWL on a nest was located by Craig Mandel along Ottertail County Road 21 about 2 miles north of CR 11 - this on March 17th. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was also seen there. Jeff Schultz reported a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, COMMON RAVEN, and a KILLDEER on March 15th in Ottertail County. Alma Ronningen has seen COMMON GOLDENEYE, WILD TURKEYS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, AMERICAN ROBINS, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS in the county during this week.

Thanks to the many folks too numerous to mention who sent in reports this week. Keep up the good work.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@wiktel.com OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. When reporting by email please put "NW Bird Report" in the subject line of your message. The next scheduled update of this report is Friday, March 28, 2003.

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