Detroit Lakes RBA
Detroit Lakes RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *February 15, 2002 *MNDL0202.15 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 15, 2002
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, February 15, 2002, 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.
In balmy northwest Minnesota, many areas are devoid of snow. With temperatures lately in the 30's and 40's, it feels more like mid April than mid February!
In Kittson County, three SNOWY OWLS have been reported this week. One along CR 6, between Humboldt and Orleans, another along CR 6 between Orleans and Lancaster and the third near the jct. of Crs 55 and 70 just south of the Canadian border. In or near Karlstad were American robin and sharp-tailed grouse.
In Roseau County, along Hwy. 310 in the Roseau Bog two NORTHERN HAWK OWLS are still present, along with GREAT GRAY OWL, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and PINE GROSBEAK.
At Norris Camp in the Red Lake WMA in Lake of the Woods County, feeder birds include GRAY JAY, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and PINE GROSBEAK. A BALD EAGLE was seen this week about one mile east of the camp.
In Polk County, two SNOWY OWLS were reported on the 14th. One bird was ½ mile north of CR 45 on CR 46. A second bird was 2 miles west of State Hwy. 32, and 1/8 mile north of CR 45. In the Pembina Trail Preserve 14 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS were found and at the Tympanuchus WMA 9 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS were present. Three HORNED LARKS were west of Eldred and SNOW BUNTINGS were also seen in the county.
In Mahnomen County, a SNOWY OWL was at the jct. of State Hwy. 113 and CR 26 on the 13th. Three HORNED LARKS were also west of this intersection.
In Norman County, in the town of Twin Valley, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were found feasting on crab apples in a couple of different yards. An AMERICAN KESTREL was along State Hwy. 32 just north of Syre and just south of town a RED-TAILED HAWK was soaring.
A few SNOW BUNTINGS and HORNED LARKS were present in both Clay and Becker Counties on the 13th.
At Hamden Slough NWR in Becker County on the 14th, two AMERICAN KESTRELS were found, and two SNOWY OWLS are still present. One (very white) bird remains near the intersection of Crs 14 and 13. During the day, this bird is often sitting on the ground in the lake basin on the NW corner of the intersection and is hard to see. Driving slowly to the north or west from the intersection is the best way to spot the bird. A second (very dark) bird is usually found south of this location, near the intersection of Crs 13 and 106. On the 10th, along the south shore of Big Detroit Lake, a MERLIN was spotted in a residential yard. At the Ottertail River outlet on the SW corner of Height of Land Lake, 23 TRUMPETER SWANS were present on the 11th. About 200 SNOW BUNTINGS and 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were north of the outlet near the intersection of Becker CR 126 and West H-O-L Drive.
At the Rothsay Prairie, Wilkin County, on the 14th, birds present included two NORTHERN HARRIERS, one ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a few GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS and two SHORT-EARED OWLS. These birds were all see along CR 15.
Thanks to Doug Johnson, Jeanie Joppru, Donna & Leon Thoreson, Blane Klemek, Arlene Ballard, Sally Hausken, Bob & Jennie Scherzer, Glenn Browne, Gretchen Mehmel and Beth Siverhus for reports!
To report bird sightings, contact Betsy Beneke by e-mail, no later than Thursday each week, at: betsybeneke@lakesnet.net OR call the Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. The next scheduled update of this report is Friday, February 22, 2002.
