Previous reports: November 3 17 24 , December 1 8 15 22 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*Dececmber 29, 2000
*MNDL0012.29

-Birds mentioned

• Bald Eagle
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Cooper's Hawk
• Northern Goshawk
• Ruffed Grouse
• Wild Turkey
• Snowy Owl
• Great Gray Owl
• Belted Kingfisher
• Black-backed Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Black-billed Magpie
• Common Raven
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• American Robin
• Bohemian Waxwing
• Northern Cardinal
• American Tree Sparrow
• White-throated Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Lapland Longspur
• Snow Bunting
• Common Grackle
• Purple Finch
• Red Crossbill
• White-winged Crossbill
• Common Redpoll
• Pine Siskin
• American Goldfinch

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: Dececmber 29, 2000
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Betsy Beneke (BetsyBeneke@lakesnet.net)

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, December 29th, sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Lakes Area Birding Club. You may also hear this report by calling (218) 847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

GREAT GRAY OWLS continue to be reported from Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Beltrami and Koochiching Counties. Latest reports suggest looking for both Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls northeast of Bemidji along both Highway 71 near Gemmell and Highway 72 between Waskish and Baudette.

A report from Lake Bronson State Park in Kittson Co. on the 26th included a SNOWY OWL seen in Section 32 of Percy Township, just off Hwy. 28. Other sightings from the park were BALD EAGLE, COMMON RAVEN, SNOW BUNTING, PINE SISKIN and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

A December 27th report from Old Mill State Park in Marshall Co. included a SNOWY OWL sighting along CR 3, four miles SW of the park. Birds reported in the park included BALD EAGLE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COMMON RAVEN, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, RUFFED GROUSE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, PURPLE FINCH, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and PINE SISKIN.

The "RED-SHAFTED" NORTHERN FLICKER is still being seen at Dan and Sandy Thimgan's feeders in central Otter Tail County. Other birds reported from this county include BOHEMIAN WAXWING, COMMON GRACKLE and LAPLAND LONGSPUR.

At the Rydell NWR in Polk County, AMERICAN ROBINS remain, feasting on the many crab apples available around the visitor center.

At the Tamarac NWR in Becker County, a male NORTHERN GOSHAWK was observed along Co. Hwy. 26 just east of the visitor center on the 29th.

Tim Kessler reported seeing a late BELTED KINGFISHER along the river at the Dunton Locks Co. Park in Becker Co. on the 20th.

The Itasca State Park Christmas Bird Count was conducted on the 23rd. Some sightings of interest included both RED CROSSBILL and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, three NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER.

The Detroit Lakes Christmas Bird Count, held 12/30/00, ended with 33 species (unofficially). Highlights of the day included SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, WILD TURKEY, COMMON RAVEN, AMERICAN ROBIN, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, SNOW BUNTING, NORTHERN CARDINAL, PURPLE FINCH, PINE SISKIN, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, RED CROSSBILL and COMMON REDPOLL.

Thanks also to Celeste Colson, Gladwin Lynne, Mary Broten, Rick Julian, Jay Johnson and Doug Johnson for sharing sightings.

If you have interesting birds to report, contact Betsy Beneke by e-mail at: betsybeneke@lakesnet.net OR call the Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992.

The next scheduled update of this report is Friday, January 5, 2001. Happy New Year!

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