-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *August 19, 2011 *MNDU1108.19 -Birds mentioned Common Nighthawk Chimney Swift Cliff Swallow Cedar Waxwing Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore Date: August 19, 2011 Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) Reports: (218) 834-2858 Compiler: Jim Lind (jslind@frontiernet.net) This is the Duluth Birding Report for August 19th, 2011 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Fall migration is well underway in northeast Minnesota, with COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, CLIFF SWALLOWS, CHIMNEY SWIFTS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and other passerines seen heading down the shore of Lake Superior during the past week. The fall migration count at Hawk Ridge in Duluth started on the 15th with expected low numbers of early migrating raptors, but good numbers of non-raptors. Karl Bardon and others counted more than 2,800 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and more than 2,500 CEDAR WAXWINGS on the 17th. Laura Erickson has seen a flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS daily during the past few weeks in the Lakeside neighborhood of Duluth. The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, August 25th. The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858. Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded message. The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us at mou@moumn.org, or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org. --====1313762361==== Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*August 19, 2011
*MNDU1108.19

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: August 19, 2011
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind (jslind@frontiernet.net)

This is the Duluth Birding Report for August 19th, 2011 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

Fall migration is well underway in northeast Minnesota, with COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, CLIFF SWALLOWS, CHIMNEY SWIFTS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and other passerines seen heading down the shore of Lake Superior during the past week. The fall migration count at Hawk Ridge in Duluth started on the 15th with expected low numbers of early migrating raptors, but good numbers of non-raptors. Karl Bardon and others counted more than 2,800 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and more than 2,500 CEDAR WAXWINGS on the 17th.

Laura Erickson has seen a flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS daily during the past few weeks in the Lakeside neighborhood of Duluth.

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, August 25th.

The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858. Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded message.

The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us at mou@moumn.org, or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org. --====1313762361====-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:27:24 -0600 Reply-To: "hagsela@aol.com" Sender: Rare Bird Alert From: "hagsela@aol.com" Subject: [mou-net] Blue Grosbeak, Murray Cty. Aug. 18 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable While stopped at a quarry pit pond I was delighted to hear a Blue Grosbeak = singing away. I located him on a tree in the middle of the lake. He sang = for the whole time I was there. This is located towards the eastern edge o= f the county in Des Moines River Township, .2 mile west of County 42 (260th= Av.) on 81st St. He was towards the western end of the pond. I saw very few shorebirds, with little variety. One small mud hole in Pipe= stone County and in Cottonwood County a small wetland off Hwy 71. Linda Sparling ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:49:41 -0600 Reply-To: dan&erika Sender: Rare Bird Alert From: dan&erika Subject: [mou-net] Henslow's Sparrow Afton State Park Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi All-- Erika and I heard and then saw a Henslow's Sparrow yesterday at the Afton State Park interpretive prairie loop trail. The call was distinctive, but the individual was difficult to identify. I have posted photos and a short discussion on my blog-- http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com I would welcome thoughts on the plumage of this bird. dan --=20 Dan or Erika Tallman Northfield, Minnesota http://sites.google.com/site/tallmanorum http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika danerika@gmail.com ".... the best shod travel with wet feet" "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ...."--Thoreau ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:38:17 -0600 Reply-To: Jeanie Joppru Sender: Rare Bird Alert From: Jeanie Joppru Subject: Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, August 25, 2011 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="====1314322697====" --====1314322697==== Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" -RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *August 25, 2011 *MNDL1108.25 -Birds mentioned Red-necked Grebe Swainson's Hawk Greater Yellowlegs Short-eared Owl Chimney Swift Loggerhead Shrike Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Wilson's Warbler -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes Date: August 25, 2011 Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours) Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@q.com) This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, August 25, 2011 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. It has been a quiet week in the northwest. Hints of the autumn to come can be seen if you look hard enough. A few tired leaves are floating down mostly due to dry weather. After a long wet spring, summer has proved to be quite dry in the northwest, and we could use a shot of rain. From Becker County, Steve Midthune reported a WILSON'S WARBLER at Dunton Locks Park in Detroit Lakes, Becker County on August 22. A few yellowlegs can be seen at Hamden Slough NWR but due to high water, there is not much habitat. In Polk County , Heidi Hughes saw 5 SWAINSON'S HAWKS, a group which included 3 juveniles, on the road near Warren east of US 75 on August 21. Several LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were seen on CR 23 just east of Angus, and several SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen at dusk along CR 68 north of CR 23. Also in Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported several COMMON NIGHTHAWKS,about 20 CHIMNEY SWIFTS, a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and a YELLOW WARBLER in East Grand Forks on August 21. Shelley Steva had 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS fly over the road near Sherack, and a RED-NECKED GREBE was seen near East Grand Forks in the Grand Marais River - both on August 16. Thanks to Heidi Hughes, Shelley Steva, and Steve Midthune for their reports. Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@q.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. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, September 1, 2011. Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN --====1314322697==== Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*August 25, 2011
*MNDL1108.25

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: August 25, 2011
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru@q.com)

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, August 25, 2011 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.

It has been a quiet week in the northwest. Hints of the autumn to come can be seen if you look hard enough. A few tired leaves are floating down mostly due to dry weather. After a long wet spring, summer has proved to be quite dry in the northwest, and we could use a shot of rain.

From Becker County, Steve Midthune reported a WILSON'S WARBLER at Dunton Locks Park in Detroit Lakes, Becker County on August 22. A few yellowlegs can be seen at Hamden Slough NWR but due to high water, there is not much habitat.

In Polk County , Heidi Hughes saw 5 SWAINSON'S HAWKS, a group which included 3 juveniles, on the road near Warren east of US 75 on August 21. Several LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were seen on CR 23 just east of Angus, and several SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen at dusk along CR 68 north of CR 23. Also in Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported several COMMON NIGHTHAWKS,about 20 CHIMNEY SWIFTS, a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and a YELLOW WARBLER in East Grand Forks on August 21. Shelley Steva had 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS fly over the road near Sherack, and a RED-NECKED GREBE was seen near East Grand Forks in the Grand Marais River - both on August 16.

Thanks to Heidi Hughes, Shelley Steva, and Steve Midthune for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@q.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. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, September 1, 2011.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN

--====1314322697====-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:05:12 -0600 Reply-To: Brian & Risa Smith Sender: Rare Bird Alert From: Brian & Risa Smith Subject: [mou-net] Red-necked Phalarope, Brown Co. Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi, After seeing a total of 3 Red-necked Phalarope at the Sleepy Eye WTP's = from 8-1-11, their numbers have peaked over this weekend. Yesterday = there was a flock of 28 and today that flock grew to 52. I don't recall = ever seeing that many at the ponds. Also, there was a single = Buff-breasted Sandpiper in a mowed alfalfa field on the south side of = County Rd. 22, exactly one mile east of the intersection of Hwy. 4. = This is in Albin Township. Brian Smith Sleepy Eye ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:37:17 -0600 Reply-To: Bob Ekblad Sender: Rare Bird Alert From: Bob Ekblad Subject: [mou-net] Grant Cty Ottawa Impoundment - Prairie Falcon Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I spotted a Prairie Falcon Sent from Bob Ekblad's iPhone Byron, MN - Olmsted County http://www.Birding-Minnesota.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:11:37 -0600 Reply-To: Bob Ekblad Sender: Rare Bird Alert From: Bob Ekblad Subject: [mou-net] Grant Cty Ottawa impoundment - Prairie Falcon Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Try again. I spotted a Prairie Falcon at the North Ottawa Impoundment in Gra= nt Cty along the border with Traverse Cty. I was on the dead end road that e= nters the middle of the area from the west side. I first saw the bird flying= and easily identified it as a falcon but the bird flew over by me and land= ed in a dead tree (only one out there). When it landed it was facing me and g= ave a great view of the black underwing linings.=20 Also seen have been several imm Black-crowned Night-Herons, a couple of Amer= ican Avocets, an Eared Grebe and lots of shorebirds (not the quantity or the= number of species I was expecting - but fun nonetheless- mostly yellowlegs a= nd peeps). No Snowy Egret but lots of Great Egrets.=20 PS - I hate typing with fat fingers.=20 Sent from Bob Ekblad's iPhone Byron, MN - Olmsted County http://www.Birding-Minnesota.com= ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:49:53 -0600 Reply-To: Robert_Russell@FWS.GOV Sender: Rare Bird Alert From: Rare Bird Alert Subject: [mou-net] Whooping Crane national update Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Here's the latest update on the Whooping Crane popualtion from the Reco=3D very team. Special thanks to Tom Stehn, national recovery team coordinator,=3D Aransas NWR, who has been a tireless advocate for this species and who =3D will be retiring in the fall. The population has made an amazing surge from=3D the 14-20 or so birds that characterized the 1950's and was dutifully repor=3D ted on by the Chicago Tribune. Every fall I held my breath until I read th=3D at little updated paragraph usually well-hidden on page 23 or some such pa=3D ge of that newspaper. Bob Russell, USFWS HIGHLIGHTS The Aransas-Wood Buffalo population (AWBP) of whooping cranes rebounded=3D from 263 in the spring of 2010 to 279 in the spring, 2011. With approximately 37 chicks fledged from a record 75 nests in August 2011, =3D the flock size should reach record levels of around 300 this fall. Threats=3D to the flock in Texas including land development, reduced freshwater inflo=3D ws, the spread of black mangrove, the long-term decline of blue crab populations, sea level rise, land subsidence, and wind farm and power l=3D ine construction in the migration corridor all continue to be important iss=3D ues. Twelve whooping crane juveniles were captured in Wood Buffalo National =3D Park (WBNP) in August 2011, bringing the total number of radioed birds to 23=3D . Crews visited migration stopover sites to gather habitat use data. Thi=3D s project is being carried out by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) with partners including The Crane Trust, Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), U.=3D S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and others. It is funded by the Plat=3D te River Recovery Implementation Program, The Crane Trust, and the Norther=3D n Prairie Wildlife Research Center. The tracking is the first done on th=3D e AWBP in 25 years and is a top research priority of the Whooping Crane Recovery Team! Since the 1950s, 525 AWBP whooping cranes have died wit=3D h only 50 carcasses recovered, and approximate cause of death was determi=3D ned in only 38 instances. It is imperative that we learn more about whoopi=3D ng crane mortality. Based on opportunistic sightings, the Cooperative Whooping Crane Tracki=3D ng Project documented 79 confirmed sightings of whooping cranes in the U.S=3D . Central Flyway during fall, 2010 and 49 sightings in spring, 2011. Ten captive-raised whooping cranes were released in February, 2011 at W=3D hite Lake, Louisiana where a non-migratory flock had resided up until 1950. Seven of the birds were alive after the first seven months of the proje=3D ct. Production in the wild from reintroduced flocks in 2011 was again very disappointing with no chicks fledged in Florida or Wisconsin. Incubati=3D on behavior in Florida and nest abandonment in Wisconsin continued to be t=3D he focus of research. Data collected so far in Wisconsin indicates that swarms of black flies play some kind of role in a majority of nest abandonments. The captive flocks had a good production season in 2011. Approximately=3D 17 chicks were raised in captivity for the non-migratory flock in Louisian=3D a, and 18 chicks are headed for Wisconsin (10 for the ultralight project a=3D t the White River marshes, and 8 for Direct Autumn Release at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge). Approximately four chicks of high genetic v=3D alue were held back for the captive flocks. Including juvenile cranes expected to be reintroduced this fall, flock sizes are estimated at 278 for the AWBP, 115 for the WI to FL flock, 20=3D nonmigratory birds in Florida, and 24 in Louisiana. With 162 cranes in=3D captivity, the total of whooping cranes is 599. In personnel actions, Dr. Mark Bidwell is the new Canadian whooping cra=3D ne coordinator. U.S. whooping crane coordinator Tom Stehn will be retirin=3D g September 30, 2011 after 29 years at Aransas. ******************************************************************=3D ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3D3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html