-RBA
*Minnesota
*Detroit Lakes
*March 5, 2009
*MNDL0903.05

-Birds mentioned -Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes
Date: March 5, 2009
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 5, 2009 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.

As of this evening, one can smell spring in the northwest, but we are not kidding ourselves that it is permanently here just yet. Warm temperatures this week have decreased the snow cover, and a little brown dirt is peeking out now. HORNED LARKS are being seen everywhere, and tonight , here in Pennington County, I saw the few that nest along our road every spring as three of them flew back from the road shoulder into the field.

Lance Crandall at Lake Bronson State Park in Kittson County reported on March 3 that there were many flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS being seen in the county. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen at the park feeder.

Ben Wieland in Cass County saw a NORTHERN HAWK OWL south of Federal Dam along CR 73, two miles west of CR 8.

Shelley Steva is regularly seeing a lek of 9 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE one mile south of CR 3 along CR 23 in Pennington County.

In Red Lake County, Shelley saw three GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS one mile east of Plummer on March 2. Anita Vettleson saw a covey of GRAY PARTRIDGE along MN 92 east of US 59 on February 28.

Anita Vettleson saw a covey of GRAY PARTRIDGE along MN 92 north of US 2 on March 1.

From Otter Tail County, Terry Brokke reported a calling NORTHERN CARDINAL on March 1 in Fergus Falls. On March 4, he observed a BARRED OWL and 15 CEDAR WAXWINGS.

Thanks to Anita Vettleson, Ben Wieland, Shelley Steva, and Terry Brokke for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at [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 12, 2009.

Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN