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Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*February 9, 2006
*MNDL0602.09

-Birds mentioned

• Great Blue Heron
• Common Merganser
• Bald Eagle
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Wild Turkey
• Snowy Owl
• Northern Hawk Owl
• Black-billed Magpie
• Bohemian Waxwing
• Northern Shrike
• Northern Cardinal
• Snow Bunting
• Pine Grosbeak
• Red Crossbill
• Common Redpoll
• Evening Grosbeak

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 9, 2006
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, February 10, 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.

Days are getting longer, and the sun has more power. This week has been colder but lack of wind and bright sunshine have made it very tolerable. Birds are starting to be more active, and some species are starting to pair up for the coming nesting season.

A SNOWY OWL was seen in Koochiching County on February 4 along CR 36 less than one mile west of MN 71.

Several NORTHERN HAWK OWLS were found in Lake of the Woods County that day along MN 72, and CR 77. One was along CR 1 one mile west of MN 72, another near the north end of CR 77, another near to where CR 77 meets MN 72, and one was along MN 72 south of CR 77, between there and the Beltrami County line. Nettie Lein reported a NORTHERN CARDINAL in Baudette, as well as EVENING GROSBEAKS, and PINE GROSBEAKS. SNOWY OWLS had been reported in Lake of the Woods County recently, but no dates were given. One was seen at the intersection of MN 72 and MN 11 east of Baudette, and one was seen on the tower at Stoskopf's Redi-Mix in Warroad.

Larry Wilebski this week is reporting SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, WILD TURKEY, and COMMON REDPOLLS in Kittson County near Lancaster .

In Beltrami County, NORTHERN HAWK OWLS were seen on February 4 along MN 72 north of Waskish. Two NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen in the county - one along CR 108, and one at CR 23 and MN 1. Kelly Larson reported BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, and 21 SNOW BUNTINGS in Beltrami County on February 6. Pat Rice observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE in her yard near Bemidji on February 8.

Kelly Larson saw a COMMON MERGANSER on Cass Lake in Cass County on February 5.

Clearwater County sightings reported by Kelly Larson included 12 PINE GROSBEAKS, and 4 RED CROSSBILLS northeast of Clearwater on February 6.

I have a secondhand report of a GREAT BLUE HERON near the home of Chad and Sharon Konickson along the Red Lake River in River Falls township south of St Hilaire in Pennington County on February 4.

Mark Vettleson saw a SNOWY OWL in Red Lake County on February 3. Location is 2.5 miles east of Brooks along MN 92 and 2 miles south. Shelley Steva observed 50 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS four miles northeast of Oklee on February 3.

Bruce Flaig reported two BALD EAGLES and a NORTHERN SHRIKE in southern Polk County on February 9.

Three BALD EAGLES flying south along US 59 were seen by Mark Vettleson three miles south of Ogema in Mahnomen County on February 9.

Thanks to Mary Broten, Kelly Larson, Shelley Steva, Mark Vettleson, Nettie Lein, Pat Rice, Larry Wilebski, and Bruce Flaig 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 17, 2006.

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