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Other Hotlines: Minnesota Statewide | Minnesota Duluth/North Shore

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*March 16, 2006
*MNDL0603.16

-Birds mentioned

• Canada Goose
• Mallard
• Bald Eagle
• Northern Harrier
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Golden Eagle
• American Kestrel
• Gray Partridge
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Greater Prairie-Chicken
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Sandhill Crane
• Killdeer
• Mourning Dove
• Great Horned Owl
• Snowy Owl
• Northern Hawk Owl
• Barred Owl
• Great Gray Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Horned Lark
• American Crow
• Northern Shrike
• Lapland Longspur
• Snow Bunting
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Western Meadowlark

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 16, 2006
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, March 17, 2006 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 week, the brakes have been put on the arrival of spring as cold temperatures have returned. The sun , however, is strong and gives hope that warmer weather is just around the corner. Meanwhile, a few migrants are showing up as the scouts are working their way north.

Sandy and Dan Thimgan in Otter Tail County reported RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS on March 10, and also an AMERICAN KESTREL near Underwood. They also mentioned that there are many RING-NECKED PHEASANTS being seen in Glendalough State Park. A NORTHERN SHRIKE has been visiting their yard in recent days. Beau Shroyer reported a SHORT-EARED OWL along I-94 east of Fergus Falls near milepost 64. Janet Timmerman found four BALD EAGLES at Maplewood State Park, and a BARRED OWL was seen along CR 24 south of Dent on March 11.

In Wilkin County on March 12, Beau Shroyer reported 11 GRAY PARTRIDGE, many GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, NORTHERN HARRIER, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, HORNED LARKS, and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK.

>From Douglas County, Susan Wiste reported that KILLDEER, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are returning.

Wayne Conley in Detroit Lakes, Becker County, saw a MOURNING DOVE on March 16.

In Clay County on March 15, Matt Mecklenburg observed 25 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS , 22 of which were on a mile and a half stretch of CR 12 going east from MN 9. Of these , six were dark morphs.

Terry Brokke relocated the GREAT GRAY OWL in Norman County on March 12. The location is one mile west of MN 32 along CR 151. Please be advised that CR 151 is deteriorating, and there is no good turn around place past the half mile point. Consider current conditions when deciding to go there.

Russ Reisz reported that a few CANADA GEESE, and NORTHERN HARRIERS have returned to Polk County.

Shelley Steva in Red Lake County on March 14 observed four SHARP-TAILED GROUSE , many HORNED LARKS, and 6 SNOW BUNTINGS along CR 5.

Shelley also saw a WESTERN MEADOWLARK in Pennington County on March 10. On the 16th, she saw up to 75 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE in three different leks. The route she traveled included CR 22 south from MN 1, CR 3, and CR 23. The largest group which was along CR 22 was displaying on the road itself. HORNED LARKS and LAPLAND LONGSPURS were also seen. On March 14, Diane Gonsorowski saw a SNOWY OWL in the city of Thief River Falls along N. Crocker Ave not very far from the bridge on US 59.

Becky Carlson reported that a few CANADA GEESE have returned to Agassiz NWR. At least two BALD EAGLES, and many AMERICAN CROWS have also come back.

Larry Wilebski in Kittson County reports that SHARP-TAILED GROUSE have started dancing there, and HORNED LARKS have returned to the county. A SNOWY OWL was found along CR 16 on March 13. Another was found along MN 11 three miles west of Donaldson on March 8. On the 14th, a GREAT HORNED OWL was seen two miles south of Lancaster.

Randy Prachar, reporting from Roseau County , mentioned that CANADA GEESE, MALLARDS, SANDHILL CRANES, AMERICAN CROWS, and HORNED LARKS have returned. On March 16, several dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were seen at Pool 2 of the Roseau River WMA. A NORTHERN HAWK OWL was found by Frank Nicoletti near the north end of MN 310 north of Roseau on March 10.

In Lake of the Woods County on March 10, Frank observed an adult GOLDEN EAGLE along MN 72, a BARRED OWL along MN 11, and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS along CR 82 near MN 72.

Another NORTHERN HAWK OWL was reported by Frank Nicoletti north of Kelliher along MN 72 in Beltrami County on March 10. Kelly Larson reported 9 BALD EAGLES in Beltrami County on March 10, and a RED-TAILED HAWK on March 12.

Thanks to all the many folks who sent in reports this week.

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, March 24,2006.

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