Previous reports: December 4 11 18 25 , January 1 8 15 22 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*January 29, 2004
*MNDL0401.29

-Birds mentioned

• American Kestrel
• Merlin
• Mourning Dove
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Northern Shrike
• Northern Cardinal
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Snow Bunting
• Pine Grosbeak
• Purple Finch
• Common Redpoll

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: January 29, 2004
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, January 30, 2004 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.

On this coldest week of the new year most birds reported were seen at feeders or from windows. No surprise there. What was a surprise was which birds were reported. There were three reports of MERLINS. One was reported by Shelley Steva near the intersection of 3rd Street and Maple Avenue in Thief River Falls, Pennington County on January 28th. Another was reported by Ross Hier in Crookston. That bird, exhibiting some avian intelligence, was seen preening perched on a chimney top which was spouting a warm heat plume. The third Merlin was reported by Arlene Furuseth and Dan Olson who saw it take a Rock Pigeon outside the PCA office in Detroit Lakes in Becker County. So at least for this winter, we can say that Merlins are over wintering in Northwest Minnesota.

Here at our feeder near Thief River Falls , a female RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER appeared Thursday, January 29th, early in the morning when the temperature was about 35 degrees below zero. Other birds visiting this week included PURPLE FINCH, and COMMON REDPOLL.

Randy Chaffee in Climax , Polk County, reported a male AMERICAN KESTREL which came to his feeders to check out the clientele. No word on whether it had a successful hunt. Donna and Leon Thoreson are still feeding 104 SNOW BUNTINGS in their yard near Climax, along with 45 COMMON REDPOLLS, four DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and several other species.

>From Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Becker County, Wayne Brininger observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and PINE GROSBEAK this week. Miggs Anderson reported a MOURNING DOVE visited her feeder on January 23rd, and a pair of NORTHERN CARDINALS have been at her feeder since fall. Another NORTHERN CARDINAL was reported by Peggy Johnson on Pembina Trail in Detroit Lakes. Duane and Marilyn Olson near Lake Park had a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at their feeder on January 25th.

Thanks to Shelley Steva, Randy and Leon Thoreson, Arlene Furuseth, Dan Olson, Miggs Anderson, Peggy Johnson, Duane and Marilyn Olson, Ross Hier, and Randy Chaffee for their reports.

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, February 6, 2004.

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