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-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*December 18, 2003
*MNDL0312.18

-Birds mentioned

• Trumpeter Swan
• Bald Eagle
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Merlin
• Gray Partridge
• Ruffed Grouse
• Greater Prairie-Chicken
• Wild Turkey
• Barred Owl
• Great Gray Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Black-backed Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Gray Jay
• Northern Shrike
• American Tree Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Pine Grosbeak
• Red Crossbill
• White-winged Crossbill
• Common Redpoll
• Hoary Redpoll
• Evening Grosbeak

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: December 18, 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, December 19, 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.

This has obviously been a busy week here in the northwest as the shoppers and cooks went about their business, so birding reports have been somewhat sparse. A little more snow has made the area look really Christmassy, and has brought all the regulars to the feeders.

One exciting find was sent in by Gretchen Mehmel- she saw three GREAT GRAY OWLS in Beltrami County on December 18th. Two were in the reservation along Highway 89, and one was at the intersection of Dick's Parkway and the Moose River Road.=20

Wayne Brininger reported on the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge CBC held on December 15th. The best sighting by far was a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER found along East Round Lake Road about 1/8 of a mile from Becker CR 35 on the northwest side of the refuge. Among the other species counted were two WILD TURKEYS, three BARRED OWLS, a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, and three NORTHERN SHRIKES. During count week both PINE GROSBEAKS and EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen.

In Otter Tail County, Roland Jordahl found some TRUMPETER SWANS and reported the usual feeder birds in his yard. These included PILEATED WOODPECKER, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and COMMON REDPOLLS.

Rick Gjervold reported a NORTHERN SHRIKE in Moorhead near the Red River in Clay County on December 15th.

Randy Chaffee reported a GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN along Hwy 75 north of Hendrum in Norman County on the 18th.=20

>From Clearwater and Hubbard Counties, Doug Johnson, reported that the Itasca State Park Christmas Bird Count found GRAY JAYS, A HOARY REDPOLL and 50 COMMON REDPOLLS north of the park, and about 20 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS by Lasalle Creek at the northeast corner of the park. Seventeen RED CROSSBILLS were found on Highway 133 along the southern edge of the park. This count took place on December 14th.

In Polk County, Dan Svedarsky observed a SHORT-EARED OWL near the Pembina Trail SNA along County Road 45 on December 11th, and a group of GRAY PARTRIDGE south of Pancratz Prairie on the 13th. On Friday, Nathaniel Emery saw the MERLIN which has been reported on the Crookston Campus of MSU. Mike Christopher had a PILEATED WOODPECKER at the feeder in Crookston on the 14th. Lori Becker in the northwest part of the county found a BALD EAGLE at the entrance to the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary on December 12th. Finally , from Polk County, Shelley Steva reported two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS along CR 21 two or three miles west of the Pembina WMA.

Pennington County birds reported this week included RUFFED GROUSE and PILEATED WOODPECKER seen by Loren Race in rural Goodridge. PINE GROSBEAKS came to the yard of Sue Braastad near Thief River Falls on December 11th. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues to make regular visits to our feeder near the city of Thief River Falls.

Gretchen Mehmel reported a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Beltrami County along Dick's Parkway. In Lake of the Woods County, she has GRAY JAYS and PINE GROSBEAKS near Norris Camp.

Thanks to all who sent in reports this week. A Merry Christmas to all!

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. Please include the county where the sighting took place. 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, December 26, 2003.

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