Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *December 2, 2004 *MNDU0412.02 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: December 2, 2004
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 728-5030
Compiler: David R. Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
Transcriber: David R. Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, December 2, 2004, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The selasphorus sp. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD or ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD at Laura Erickson's feeder in the Lakeside neighborhood of Duluth is hanging on. It was seen again today, in spite of the cold and snow.
This fall's remarkable owl irruption continues. There are now over 500 reports of GREAT GRAY OWL sightings, and another 125 NORTHERN HAWK OWL sightings. These species may be seen almost anywhere in northern Minnesota now. Some birders saw 30-50 owls in one day last weekend. An easily accessible Great Gray spot is along the Hwy 61 Expressway between Duluth and Two Harbors. In and near Duluth this week, Kim Eckert found one in Chester Bowl on November 30, Lori Hutchins reported another from Enger Golf Course on the 29th, and more than one observer reported birds at Hawk Ridge and along Rice Lake Rd. Both species are easy to find in the Sax-Zim area, and Cty Rd 7 between 52 and 319 remains the easiest place to spot hawk owls.
The irruption is likely the result of the four year low point in the population cycle of the small rodents that make up most of the prey for these species, combined with a very wet and cold summer across Canada that resulted in a further reduction in the available food. Numbers of these species increase in our area every four years or so (following the prey cycle), but this year's irruption is unprecedented.
Over 300 BOREAL OWLS have been banded in northeastern Minnesota this fall, another astounding number. However, these were all birds that were netted at night, banded, and released immediately. I am aware of no other sightings of this species. Quite a few observers have written to me to ask (and in some cases, demand) that I 'fess up about where the boreals are. If a stake-out bird of this species is located, it will be reported as soon as possible.
Michelle McDowell reported a SNOWY OWL at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge along the Magneson Refuge Rd 0.5 mile south of the visitors center.
Please continue to report all sightings of these owl species, leaving both a specific location and the time (especially the date) seen.
Jim Lind reported that a PACIFIC LOON was still present in Agate Bay at Two Harbors on the 27th. Ken and Molly Hoffman found an ICELAND GULL in the harbor at Grand Marais yesterday, and the bird was still present today. Jan Green saw a first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL at Agate Bay in Two Harbors on the 28th. Peder Svingen found an adult GLAUCOUS GULL at Canal Park in Duluth on the 25th.
Deb Buria Falkowski reported two female NORTHERN SHOVELERS, present at Silver Lake in Virginia, MN from the 18th through the 30th at least. Ben Yokel saw SHARP-TAILED GROUSE on Cty Rd 29 a mile north of Meadowlands on the 25th. Mark Alt found BOREAL CHICKADEES at the feeder along Cty Rd 319 where the road enters the residential area.
Fairly large flocks of COMMON REDPOLLS are still in Duluth, but I have few reports of other finches recently. Many observers out looking for owls have also seen ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS.
The Duluth Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 18, 2004. Anyone interested in participating should contact compiler Jim Lind by e-mail (jslind@frontiernet.net) for more information. The Grand Marais count will be the same day. Contact Jeff Kern (jkern@boreal.org) to participate.
The Two Harbors Christmas Bird Count will be held the following day on Sunday, December 19, 2004. Please contact compiler Frank Nicoletti (bjboreal@aol.com) if interested in participating
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, December 9.
The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-728-5030. Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded message.
The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum to mou@cbs.umn.edu, or visit the MOU web site at mou.mn.org.
