-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*March 7, 2013
*MNDL1303.07

-Birds mentioned
Spruce Grouse
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Bald Eagle
Great Horned Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Great Gray Owl
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Merlin
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Horned Lark
Boreal Chickadee
Bohemian Waxwing
Snow Bunting
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Grosbeak
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 7, 2013
Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours)
Compiler: Jeanie Joppru ([log in to unmask])

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, March 7,
2013 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 has been an interesting week but spring seems just around the
corner in spite of the frequent snowfalls. The sun has real power now ,
and we are seeing changes in the mix of species being seen. Numbers of
common redpolls seem to be decreasing while we are seeing larger flocks
of snow buntings and increases in the numbers of American crows in the
northwest. The great gray owl irruption is rapidly going away. Owls are
still being seen but the numbers are way down this week.

From Lake of the Woods County, Martin Kehoe reported that he has been
seeing AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS at the Hand Dug ditch deep in the
Beltrami Island State Forest, also SPRUCE GROUSE and BOREAL CHICKADEES.

Beth Siverhus reported that there were quite a few GREAT GRAY OWLS in
the Warroad area of Roseau County early last weekend but that numbers
have really dropped off this week. On March 4, she saw a BALD EAGLE, and
on March 5, a NORTHERN HAWK OWL was seen south of MN 11 at the Hay Creek
Bridge. On March 2, Jeff Siverhus found a GREAT HORNED OWL near Hayes
Lake.

Lynda Knutsen at Agassiz NWR in Marshall County reported that the BALD
EAGLES are back at the nest site near Parker Pool, and HORNED LARKS are
being seen along CR 7 west of the refuge.

Zeann Linder in Thief River Falls in Pennington County reports that the
MERLINS are back in town this week.

In Red Lake County, Shelley Steva saw 32 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE five miles
north of Oklee on March 4. HORNED LARKS are also being seen along the
roadsides.

On March 1, Sandy Aubol reported about 200 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in East
Grand Forks, Polk County. On March 4, she observed a MERLIN. On March 2,
Jeff Siverhus found 30 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE near Gully. Heidi Hughes at
the Audubon Center near Warren reported that the SHARP-TAILED GROUSE are
dancing west of the Center, and GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS are being seen
near the Radium turn along MN 1.

From Mahnomen County, Kristy May reported HORNED LARKS, and AMERICAN
CROWS on the increase, while PINE GROSBEAKS and SNOW BUNTINGS are still
being seen.

A BALD EAGLE was seen by Kristy May south of Hitterdahl in Clay County
on March 3.

In Becker County Kristy May saw a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE south of Ogema on
February 28.

Alma Ronningen in Otter Tail County reported that 10 AMERICAN TREE
SPARROWS and two DARK-EYED JUNCOS have over-wintered in her yard. She
also reported large numbers of HORNED LARKS appearing along the
roadsides this week.

Thanks to all the folks who sent in their sightings this week.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than
Thursday each week, at [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 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, March 10, 2013.

Jeanie Joppru
Pennington County, MN