Previous reports: December 16 23 30 , January 6 13 20 27 , February 3 10 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*February 17, 2005
*MNDL0502.17

-Birds mentioned

• Canada Goose
• Bald Eagle
• Gyrfalcon
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Ruffed Grouse
• Greater Prairie-Chicken
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Northern Hawk Owl
• Great Gray Owl
• Long-eared Owl
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Black-billed Magpie
• Bohemian Waxwing
• Northern Shrike
• Common Redpoll

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: February 17, 2005
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 18, 2005 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.

Cold weather, but pleasant, has descended upon the northwest, putting a temporary end to the spring fever that gripped everybody last week. Some birds are still reacting to the longer days, and starting to sing their spring songs, and show their brighter plumage. Owls continue to be reported in the northwest, though in fewer numbers.

In Otter Tail County, the NORTHERN HAWK OWL was relocated near Bluffton on February 11th, and the GREAT GRAY OWL, or another, was found at 490th Ave one half mile north of CR 54 in Otto Township south of New York Mills.

>From Becker County, Jan Campbell of the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce reported a sighting of a BALD EAGLE. Elaine Hadel saw an owl five miles east of Detroit Lakes on MN 34 on February 11th. Species was not identified, but if you are looking for a Great Gray Owl in Becker County, you might want to check this one out.

An interesting sighting was reported by Peder Svingen in Norman County where he observed some CANADA GEESE flying around. They must have found some water somewhere. The NORTHERN HAWK OWL along MN 32 near Gary was refound by several observers.

Nathaniel Emery reported a flock of 38 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS one mile east of Stipa WMA near Gentilly in Polk County on February 12th. He also found a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE along Mn 102 , and a RING-NECKED PHEASANT 0.3 miles from the intersection of MN 102 and MN 32 near Fertile. Pam Wockenfuss reported that the GREAT GRAY OWL is still hanging around the Wetlands, Pines, and Prairies Audubon Sanctuary, and a LONG-EARED OWL is also seen there regularly.

A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen by Nathaniel Emery near Huot in Red Lake County on February 12th.

In Pennington County, the GREAT GRAY OWL that was reported last week along US 59 was relocated by two observers on February 12th and 13th 2.5 miles north of the intersection of US 59 and CR 3. On February 12th, Ben Fritchman found a flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS just east of Thief River Falls. Shelley Steva reported a probable GYRFALCON which flew over US 59 south of Thief River Falls on two occasions this week.

GREAT GRAY OWLS continue to be seen by numerous observers in and around Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall County, in the early morning and late afternoon hours. Ben Fritchman found a small flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Marshall County also.

A day of birding in Kittson County on Saturday, February 12th yielded several interesting sightings. A total of eight GREAT GRAY OWLS was seen, all along MN 11 west of Karlstad or along township roads running parallel on either side of MN 11. Elsewhere in the county, both RUFFED GROUSE, and SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were seen.

Jenny Moorman reported from Lake of the Woods County that Ron Sindelir had seen three GREAT GRAY OWLS within a four mile stretch of CR 2 south of Swift, and one 2 miles east of Birchdale along MN 11. In Baudette, she reported NORTHERN SHRIKE, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and COMMON REDPOLL.

Thanks to Cliff Steinhauer, Ben Fritchman, Peder Svingen, Nathaniel Emery, Jan Campbell, Shelley Steva, and Jenny Moorman 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. 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, February 25, 2005.

Return to Home Page