Previous reports: January 8 15 22 29 , February 5 12 19 26 , March 4 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*March 4, 2004
*MNDL0403.04

-Birds mentioned

• Canada Goose
• Bald Eagle
• Northern Harrier
• Northern Goshawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Merlin
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Ruffed Grouse
• Greater Prairie-Chicken
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Wild Turkey
• Great Horned Owl
• Snowy Owl
• Northern Hawk Owl
• Great Gray Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Black-backed Woodpecker
• Horned Lark
• American Crow
• American Robin
• Northern Shrike
• American Tree Sparrow
• Snow Bunting
• Pine Grosbeak
• White-winged Crossbill
• Common Redpoll
• Hoary Redpoll

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 4, 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, March 5, 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.

March, as usual, is proving to be a fickle month- one day it's spring, the next it's below zero again. However the lengthening days give us hope that the cold will soon be over, and brings spring birds even at winter temperatures.

>From Otter Tail County, Alma Ronningen sent in the first report of an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW since late last fall. Other species seen in the county were HORNED LARKS, another migrant species, and COMMON REDPOLLS which have been in the area all winter.

Wilkin County has produced some exciting birding lately. Dan and Sandy Thimgan were there on March 2nd, and counted 91 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS , the greatest number of which were near the intersection of 300th Ave. and 190th Street in the Rothsay Prairie area. Other species found there included 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES, and a single SNOW BUNTING.

Jan Campbell in Detroit Lakes , Becker County, reported a BALD EAGLE soaring over the city on March 2nd, while Kay Hartness saw a RUFFED GROUSE, AMERICAN CROW, and AMERICAN ROBIN, her first for the spring.

On March 1st, Rusty Miller spotted a flock of WILD TURKEYS on US highway 75 near Georgetown in Clay County.

In Polk County a SNOWY OWL was observed by Diana Morkassel north of Angus along Highway 75 on February 29th. Donna and Leon Thoreson found two BALD EAGLES feeding on a dead deer along Minnesota Highway 9 near the Red River bridge. In Crookston, John Loegering saw the local MERLIN in the Oakdale Cemetery area- this is the area where it nested last year. A GREAT HORNED OWL was also on the scene when the Merlin was sighted. Nathaniel Emery saw a NORTHERN HARRIER along Minnesota Highway 102 on February 29th. A WILD TURKEY was spotted on a lawn near Fertile, and HORNED LARKS were reported by most observers this week. Heidi Hughes has been making regular trips to Pancratz Prairie lately and has been treated to the sight of from six to twelve SHORT-EARED OWLS hunting over the prairie at dawn and dusk.

Maggie Anderson reported seeing a group of eight CANADA GEESE flying over Thief River Falls in Pennington County this week. It is unknown if these over wintered here, as some did last winter, or if this is the vanguard of returning geese. If so, they will find it hard to find open water in the area, except for the small area below the dam.

Mark Otnes went to Roseau County on February 27th. He reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL along highway 310 throughout the day between mile markers 8 and 9. This is the same area where this species was reported last year several times , and it is assumed to be a resident bird. Mark also reported NORTHERN GOSHAWK, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, PINE GROSBEAK, COMMON REDPOLL, and HOARY REDPOLL. Betsy Batstone-Cunningham visited both Roseau and Lake of the Woods Counties on the weekend, and she saw four GREAT GRAY OWLS, and SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, as well as many of the same species reported by Mark Otnes. The HORNED LARKS have even reached Roseau County this week so spring must be on the way.

Thanks to the many folks who sent in reports of bird sightings this week.

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 12, 2004.

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