Previous reports: January 2 9 16 23 30 , February 6 13 20 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*February 27, 2003
*MNDL0302.27

-Birds mentioned

• Trumpeter Swan
• Canada Goose
• Mallard
• Common Goldeneye
• BARROW'S GOLDENEYE
• Common Merganser
• Bald Eagle
• Golden Eagle
• Prairie Falcon
• Northern Flicker
• Horned Lark
• Black-billed Magpie
• American Robin
• Varied Thrush
• Northern Cardinal
• Lapland Longspur
• Snow Bunting

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 27, 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, February 28, 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.

Some spring migrants are slowly appearing- a trip from Thief River Falls to Fergus Falls last weekend yielded sightings of SNOW BUNTINGS, and HORNED LARKS in every county we passed through.

The BARROW'S GOLDENEYE is still coming to the levee in Fergus Falls, at least as lately as last weekend. Other birds that are easy to see there are COMMON GOLDENEYE, MALLARD, CANADA GOOSE, and TRUMPETER SWANS, at least one of which can be hand fed.

Wilkin County birds reported by Craig Mandel included an adult PRAIRIE FALCON hunting at the southeast corner of County Roads 30 and 3, and several large flocks of LAPLAND LONGSPURS near Rothsay. Several SNOW BUNTINGS were also seen along County Road 30.

The VARIED THRUSH in Moorhead on the MSUM campus in Clay County was mentioned by several observers this week. Also there were the small flock of overwintering AMERICAN ROBINS. Dennis Martin reported many SNOW BUNTINGS, and HORNED LARKS on territory throughout Clay County. Two BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES were spotted in Spring Prairie township. Joe Gartner and Mel and Elaine Bennefeld reported a NORTHERN FLICKER at the feeders of the MSUM Regional Science Center east of Buffalo River State Park, and classes from the West Fargo Elementary School saw a BALD EAGLE at the Science Center also. The Bennefeld's also reported a NORTHERN CARDINAL just below the center on Wednesday afternoon. Jim Loegering sighted an immature GOLDEN EAGLE on Minnesota Highway 9 just south of Borup, approximately 18 miles north of US 10 on Saturday, February 22nd.

In Polk County, Randy Chaffee reported a possible GOLDEN EAGLE (or immature BALD EAGLE) along Polk County Road 1 east of MN Highway 9. He also noted that most of his usual winter residents are now appearing with mates in tow, so spring must be around the corner. Flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS and HORNED LARKS are being seen in the county.

Those overwintering COMMON MERGANSERS, and female COMMON GOLDENEYE are still below the dam in Thief River Falls, Pennington County.

Linda Johnson reported her first AMERICAN ROBIN in Marshall County this week.

Thanks to Jim Loegering, Randy Chaffee, Linda Johnson, Joe Gartner, Mel and Elaine Bennefeld, Dennis Martin and Craig Mandel 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, March 7, 2003.

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