Return to Home Page
-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *March 21, 1996 *MNDU9603.21 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore
Date: March 21, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 525-5952
Compiler: Kim Eckert
Transcriber: Sr. Pam Kern pkern@css1.css.edu
This is the Duluth birding report for Thursday, March 21, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Since last week's tape more winter like temperatures have returned to Duluth and northeastern Minnesota, and only a few signs of early spring migration were reported. Also after some four months of so many owls and other northern Minnesota specialties being present and being seen and reported by so many birders, the birding coverage by those looking for these species seems finally to be winding down for the season.
Only two live GREAT GRAY OWLS were reported this week, both of these relocated in the Sax-Zim bog area at the intersection of St. Louis County Road 52 and 207 and at the intersection of County Road 7 and 133. But there are undoubtedly other GREAT GRAYS still in that area and else where in northeastern Minnesota including Aitkin County where Warren Nelson and others have been seeing them all winter long. Another dead GREAT GRAY OWL was found dead last weekend along one of the cross country ski trails at Lester Park. It apparently died from injuries after unsuccessful attempts to crack through the hard crusted snow in search of prey. Also a dead BOREAL OWL was found yesterday on the 9400 block of Congdon Boulevard, presumably from starvation.
Also in the Sax-Zim bog this week three NORTHERN HAWK OWLS were found, one was relocated at that GREAT GRAY OWL location at the intersection of County Road 52 and 207. And the other two were along County Road 7, one of these a mile and a half or rather a mile north of Sax and the other a half mile south of Sax. It is not known if the HAWK OWL seen earlier in March along County Road 319 at Sax-Zim or near the intersection of Highway 53 and Haines Road in Duluth are still present.
Mike Dansenbaker of California found SPRUCE GROUSE at three locations in Lake County this week, one was at the traditional location on County Road 2 near the Sand River, 4 + miles south of the Highway 1 intersection. And the other two were on Highway 1 at 7 + miles and at 9 miles northwest of County Road 2.
Terry Wiens found a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER near the Jay Cooke State Park headquarters in Carleton County last week. Sue Levy found a flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS today on the 2600 block of Park Point.
As far as signs of spring are concerned, Rick Schroeder found some flocks of gulls, presumably HERRING GULLS, at two locations last weekend including the Superior, Wisconsin landfill which is located at the south end of Wisconsin Point where he also saw three GLAUCOUS GULLS. The other flock of gulls was near the sewage treatment plant in Duluth. Rick also relocated that adult PEREGRINE FALCON mentioned on last week's tape. It was perched on the cement elevator at the Port Terminal in the Duluth harbor area. And speaking of the harbor area, no one has reported seeing that GYRFALCON which had been present since January. And if anyone is still looking for it, again beware that the PEREGRINE FALCON is present and might be mistaken for it.
Another possible sign of spring has been the increased number of reports recently of NORTHERN SHRIKES which may be passing through now on there way back north. There had been a sudden lack of sightings of SHRIKES after that severe cold wave in early February.
Finally that blue-morph SNOW GOOSE which had been present in Duluth for nearly a year and a half, was seen again last weekend at Canal Park near downtown Duluth.
The next scheduled update of this tape will be on Thursday, March 28, and as always, if you have birds to report, you may leave a message after the tone. Beep