Detroit Lakes RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *March 24, 2001 *MNDL0103.24 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 24, 2001
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, March 23rd, 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.
Early migrants continue to make an appearance in northwestern Minnesota. Bald eagles have begun to nest at the Tamarac Refuge in Becker County. Waterfowl seen in the Otter Tail, Buffalo, Egg and Pelican Rivers of Becker County include Canada goose, trumpeter swan, mallard, lesser scaup, common goldeneye and common merganser.
PINE GROSBEAKS seem to have moved out of most areas. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, PURPLE FINCH, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and PINE SISKIN are moving in, along with AMERICAN ROBIN and DARK-EYED JUNCO. There are GREAT BLUE HERONS in Otter Tail County; RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS in both Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties; and two COMMON GRACKLES in Roseau Co.
A KILLDEER was reported at the north end of Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Becker County on the 23rd.
Both WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and SONG SPARROWS successfully over-wintered in Becker and Otter Tail Counties respectively.
The most exciting find in Becker County was on the 23rd. Tamarac Refuge biologist, Lowell Deede, discovered a male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD along CR 26 about two miles east of the refuge headquarters/visitor center. It was on the north side of the road across from the turn into the Blackbird Auto Tour Route. Temperature at the time was 16 degrees F.
In the northern regions, both GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS were seen this past week in Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties, although their numbers seem to be declining. The SNOWY OWL was still present along Hwy. 71 near the hospital in Bemidji, Beltrami Co., on the 23rd.
A pair of MERLINS were seen in Thief River Falls on the 21st. A RICHARDSON'S MERLIN was seen in Bemidji on March 15th.
Other raptor sightings include BALD EAGLE as far north as Kittson Co.; RED-TAILED HAWKS in Polk, Becker and Otter Tail Counties; AMERICAN KESTREL and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Kittson, Polk, Norman, Becker and Otter Tail Counties. COOPER'S HAWKS were seen at Old Mill State Park in Marshall Co. on the 12th and in Cass Co. on the 18th and a GOLDEN EAGLE was in Wilkin Co. on the 12th.
Both GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN and GRAY PARTRIDGE were observed in Wilkin Co. on the 12th.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was in Kittson Co. on the 18th.
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen in Pennington Co. on the 22nd and CEDAR WAXWINGS were in Becker Co. on the 13th and 20th.
Thank you to EVERYONE who reported sightings. Names are too numerous to mention during this report, but I appreciate hearing from ALL of you.
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, March 30th.
