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Other Hotlines: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore | Detroit Lakes

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Minnesota Statewide
*May 8, 2003
*MNST0305.08

-Birds mentioned

• Ibis - species
• Cattle Egret
• Caspian Tern
• Black Tern
• Eurasian Collared-Dove
• Burrowing Owl
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Great Crested Flycatcher
• Sedge Wren
• Marsh Wren
• Swainson's Thrush
• Wood Thrush
• Northern Mockingbird
• Blue-headed Vireo
• Northern Parula
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Cerulean Warbler
• Northern Waterthrush
• Lark Sparrow
• Grasshopper Sparrow
• Henslow's Sparrow
• Bobolink

Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: May 8, 2003
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://biosci.umn.edu/~mou/
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (ahertzel@uswest.net)

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 8th.

For the second consecutive year, a territorial BURROWING OWL has been found in the state. It's being seen in Moyer Township of Swift County. Go one mile west of the intersection of highway 59 and Swift County Road 36. This will be 60th St. and 190th Avenue, then go 1/2 mile north and look on the east side of the road. Road markers were expected to be installed to indicate caution to traffic at the site. For the time being, two metal poles with small reflectors have been placed on either side of the burrow. Disturbance here is a serious threat. Because the Burrowing Owl is an Endangered Species in the state, it's best for birders to err on the side of caution and keep disturbances to an absolute minimum while keeping as great a distance as is possible.

A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was found in Appleton, Swift County. There is a small park in town near state highway 7 where the bird was found on the 25th. Another Collared-Dove was seen along the 2400 block of 25th Avenue South in Minneapolis.

On May 3rd, Bruce Fall saw two unidentified IBIS fly over Long Meadow Lake and the Bass Ponds, Hennepin County. They flew in from the southwest, circled overhead, and then departed back the way they came.

A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD is being seen in a small grove of trees near the intersection of Baraga Cross Road and state highway 61 in Schroeder, Cook County. It has perched on the fence above the highway rest stop on north side of road, and poked about small woods on the lake side. Another Northern Mockingbird was seen May 3rd on the Church Road off of Emerson Road about 12 miles north of Duluth. Go north on St. Louis County Road 4 and right on Emerson. Then go north on Church 1/2 mile to the white farm house on the left and look up the driveway in the plumb trees. And on the 8th a Northern Mockingbird was reported from the Hormel Nature Center in Austin, Mower County. And at Tamarak National Wildlife Refuge a Mockingbird was reported on the 7th. It was along Becker County Road 29 a quarter of a mile north of highway 126.

A Common Moorhen was found on the 6th in the WPA just west of Twin Lakes, Freeborn County. From Twin Lakes and highway 69 go north on Freeborn County Road 77, turn west onto County Road 80 and go four fifths of a mile to the large waterfowl impoundment on the north side of the road.

On the 7th, several CATTLE EGRETS were seen at the corner of East 80th Street and 24th Avenue in Bloomington, Hennepin County.

HENSLOW'S SPARROWS were reported from several locations, including Redwood County along highway 101 near the North Redwood airport, and at the Pet Trails area of Murphy-Hanrehan Park in Scott County.

I also now have reports of the following spring arrivals: CASPIAN TERN, BLACK TERN, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, SEDGE WREN, MARSH WREN, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, WOOD THRUSH, NORTHERN PARULA, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, CERULEAN WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, LARK SPARROW, and BOBOLINK.

This state-wide birding report is brought to you and financially supported by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU). The MOU is Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club.

The report is composed from observations generously submitted by MOU members and other birders throughout the state. You can support this weekly update by submitting your bird reports to Anthony Hertzel at axhertzel@sihope.com or by calling the hotline directly at 763-780-8890 and leaving a detailed message.

MOU members receive this report directly on MOU-net, the club's free e-mail listservice, which is available to anyone interested. For information contact David Cahlander at .

MOU members receive the organization's quarterly journal "The Loon" and the bimonthly magazine, "Minnesota Birding". For membership information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at moumembers@yahoo.com.

In cooperation with the Minnesota Office of Tourism, highlights of this hotline can be now heard at a toll free number which is available to callers outside the Twin Cities area. The number is 1-800-657-3700.

The MOU is pleased to offer this service. Thank you, and good birding.

The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, May 15th. -- Anthony Hertzel -- axhertzel@sihope.com

Send your rare and unusual Minnesota sightings to our electronic hotline: MOU-net@biosci.umn.edu. To learn more, send a message (the message being these two words: info mou-net) to majordomo@biosci.umn.edu.

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