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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *February 22, 1996 *MNST9602.22 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: February 22, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (612) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (tony@mill2.MillComm.COM)
This is the Minnesota birding report for Thursday February 22nd sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
I have received reports of 30 GREAT GRAY OWLS during the last week, mostly from the central parts of the state. With so many reports, I will only give a brief description of each bird's location:
In Hennepin County: A GREAT GRAY was seen in a yard in Bloomington on Feb 16th. Another GREAT GRAY has been seen for several days at the junction of Bloomington Ferry Road and Lindstrom Ave. in Bloomington. A GREAT GRAY can be found at Bradison Park in Edina. The park is south of Vernon St. at the end of Olinger Road, north of Crosstown.
In St. Louis County: Several GREAT GRAYS can be found in the Sax-Zim bog area. On Feb 18th three were on the Stone Lake Road, and three more were along highway 7 between Stone Lake Road and County Road 133. Another GREAT GRAY was at Alseth Road and U.S. 61 northeast of Duluth.
In Sherburne County: On Feb 17th a GREAT GRAY OWL was at the junction of county roads 5 and 3. A second GREAT GRAY was found Feb 19 at the intersection of county roads 4 and 9.
In Crow Wing County: Two GREAT GRAYS were reported. One near the town of Riverton and the other about two miles north of Crosby.
In Anoka County: Three GREAT GRAYS were found. Two were in Carlos Avery Refuge, one at pool #4 and the other near pool #1, and one was also found in Blaine at 109th Ave, one mile west of Lexington, this on Feb 22.
In Chisago County: A GREAT GRAY OWL has been visiting a yard in the town of Lindstrom since Feb 11. A dead GREAT GRAY OWL was reported 3.5 miles west of Almelund on Feb 16th.
In Mower County: The GREAT GRAY OWL previously reported north of Lansing was seen as recently as Feb 17th.
In Becker County: At the Tamarack NWR A GREAT GRAY OWL is still being seen three miles SW of the refuge.
In Washington County: Several GREAT GRAYS are around. One was south of Afton on highway 21 on Feb 18. The GREAT GRAY previously reported at highways 96 and 62 was seen again on Feb 19th. Near this location as many as three were reported in field west of county road 9 and 96. However, a BARRED OWL was also reported in this area, making at least one of these reports suspect. An injured GREAT GRAY OWL was found at the Maplewood Mall and taken to the Raptor Center on Jan 27th. In Oakdale a GREAT GRAY was seen along north 17th street on Jan 27th. Two more GREAT GRAYS were also reported from Oakdale at undisclosed locations. And that GREAT GRAY along Partridge Ave. was seen again on Feb 20.
In Aitkin County: I have two reports of GREAT GRAYS, one north of Palisade on county road 5, and one 1/2 miles east of Bennettville, both on Feb 17th.
In Kanabec County: As many as three GREAT GRAYS have been reported. Look along County 7 as well as along county road 70 just off county road 11.
But GREAT GRAYS aren't the only owl news, as other owls have been reported as well. A BARRED OWL was seen along highway 55, 3/4 miles south of Dodd Road on Feb 17th. Another BARRED OWL was found at Lakewood cemetery in Minneapolis at 36th St and Fremont on Feb 18th. BARRED OWLS have also been reported from Burnsville on Feb 17th, and in Kanbec County on Feb 21, and a dead BARRED OWL was picked up in Farmington earlier this month.
A SNOWY OWL was found by Anna Pidgeon in Wilkin County, southwest of county roads 19 and 16 on Feb 19, and another SNOWY OWL was reported by Dave Soverign along I-35, nine miles north of North Branch on Feb 17th.
Elsewhere, 12 GREAT BLUE HERONS were seen at Pig's Eye Lake on Feb 22nd. The overwintering BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was still at Blue Lake sewage ponds on the 21st, and two TRUMPETER SWANS were seen on the west side of Black Dog Lake on Feb 19th.
BALD EAGLES are returning to their territories around the state. At least three have returned to Sherburne NWR and five were at Carlos Avery refuge on the 22nd. BALD EAGLES are also being seen in good numbers at Pig's Eye Lake in St. Paul.
Three GOLDEN EAGLES were in Winona County on Feb 18th. Diane Anderson reports one was on highway 76 and two were on county road 2. Another GOLDEN EAGLE was in Wabasha County along highway 61 at county road 29 on Feb 21.
John Sherman has seen a NORTHERN GOSHAWK for several weeks near highway 100 and Duluth St. in Golden Valley.
Finally, migrating HORNED LARKS have been reported from Sherburne, Becker, and Washington counties. A WHITE- THROATED SPARROW was at Julie Brophey's feeder on Feb 22, and a HOARY REDPOLL was seen on Feb 18th in Carver Park.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday February 29th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, location, phone number and a brief but specific message.