Previous reports: December 5 12 19 26 , January 2 9 16 23 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*January 30, 2003
*MNDL0301.30

-Birds mentioned

• Trumpeter Swan
• Canada Goose
• Gadwall
• Bald Eagle
• Wild Turkey
• Mourning Dove
• Great Horned Owl
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Downy Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• American Robin
• Varied Thrush
• Northern Shrike
• American Tree Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Harris's Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Purple Finch

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: January 30, 2003
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@wiktel.com)

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, January 31, 2003 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218) 847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

After another very cold week, we still have a number of interesting birds to report.

In Ottertail County, Teresa Jaskiewicz reported SONG SPARROW, immature HARRIS'S SPARROW, and a MOURNING DOVE at her feeders. A BALD EAGLE was seen from I-94 between exits 54 and 55.

Virgene Grubb reported that a NORTHERN SHRIKE caught a smaller bird in her yard on the west side of Lake Ida in southern Becker County about a mile from the Cormorant Church. Other birds in her yard included a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, and a PILEATED WOODPECKER, along with the usual DOWNY WOODPECKERS. Also in Becker County, Shar Legenhausen saw a pair of TRUMPETER SWANS on open water between Rock and Rice Lakes on the west side of Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD , 14-16 PURPLE FINCHES, and two RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are also coming to their feeders.

In Clay County, the VARIED THRUSH on the MSUM campus was seen by several people on the weekend and as recently as Wednesday near the Comstock Memorial Union. Five AMERICAN ROBINS were also seen there on Wednesday. Rick Gjervold found two WILD TURKEYS along the Red River. Mel and Elaine Bennefeld sighted 3 AMERICAN ROBINS feeding on rose hips just north of the North Dam and two male GADWALLS were just below the dam with 9 CANADA GEESE.

>From the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary in Polk County, Lori Becker reported one AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, 8 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.

Pennington County birds reported this week included an AMERICAN ROBIN in the crabapple trees at the home of Steve Tsukichi in Thief River Falls. Shelley Steva saw a GREAT HORNED OWL two miles south of the movie theatre along Highway 59 on January 23rd. A CANADA GOOSE landed in the parking lot of the Petro Pumper convenience store in Thief River Falls one day this week.

Gary Tischer and Maggie Anderson reported seeing a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge along Marshall County Road 7 near the airport road. This is approximately the same location where I observed one a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks to Gary Tischer, Maggie Anderson, Steve Tsukichi, Mel and Elaine Bennefeld, Shelley Steva, Rick Gjervold, Shar Legenhausen, Teresa Jaskiewicz, Lori Becker, and Virgene Grubb for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@wiktel.com OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. When reporting by email please put "NW Bird Report" in the subject line of your message. The next scheduled update of this report is Friday, February 7, 2003.

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