[mou-net] Significant Migration Activity, Sherburne Mille Lacs
Significant migration activity in the Sherburne southern Mille Lacs County areas - 16 year birds today and Saturday - Greater Lesser Yellowlegs, 17 ducks (not all new), pelicans, Bonaparte's Gull, both kinglets, Yellow-rumped flocks, Vesper Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird (have only had one Rusty one Brewer's this season). Of course, in the birding envy category, Nate had two Smith's Longspurs at Fort Sheridan in Chicago area. Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs Sherburne Counties Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] 4/10 Springbrook Nature Center Bird Banding
Volunteered at yesterday's bird banding session at Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley and was surprised at the low number of birds caught in nets and cages (narrowly based on the new flurry of activity in my yard the past few days). Wasn't sure if it had to do with the storms/fronts, the windy conditions blowing the nets into neighboring branches, or a combination of this and other factors. However, we did get a chance to band a few birds that were special (beyond the usual BC chickadees, downy and hairy woodpeckers, etc.): *brown creeper *fox sparrow *swamp sparrow *hermit thrush Hoping for bunches of warblers at the next Springbrook banding gig on May 1. Good birding and banding! Kathy Confer Near Lake Josephine in Arden Hills Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Swainson's Hawks Cottage Grove Washington County
Two Swainson's Hawks were circling over the field on the west side of Hwy 61 over a field between Innovation Road exit and Menards around 11:00 a.m. today. I did not spot them on my return trip at 12:15. Jen Vieth Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Baker Golf Course
Today at Baker Golf Course 30+ Am white pelicans fly over FOY Eastern towhee 8 Sandhill cranes Nick Tangen Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Nicollet Island and Boom Island Park, Minneapolis
Saw a bunch of brown creepers, ruby-crowned kinglets, and yellow-rumped warblers on Nicollet Island and Boom Island Park this morning. At least four of each. Also saw a hermit thrush, resident phoebes who returned a couple of weeks ago, and a single coot who might have been the same one that I've seen hanging around there for the last week or so. Song sparrows were duking it out, chipping sparrows were present as well. There's a Cooper's hawk pair building a nest in a tree on the edge of the Nicollet Island path that leads to the bridge to Boom Island. On Friday I got a great look at the female eating some sort of rodent while the male alternated between trying to mount her (she ignored him - busy eating) and gathering small branches and taking them to their nest. It looked like he was perching precariously near the ends of branches, flapping wildly to stay balanced, and then snapped some smaller ones off to take to the nest. It was neat to be able to compare the sizes of the two -he was so much smaller than her! Karen Kraco Minneapolis, MN Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Survey for Use of Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Dear Theodore Wirth Regional Park Visitor, The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has convened a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) to review and prioritize needed improvements for Theodore Wirth Regional Park. Because of the scope of this project, CAC members would like to collect feedback from neighbors on their use and ideas of the northern area of the park that is used for trail, winter recreation and golf activities (roughly that area to the north of Highway 55/Olson Memorial Highway, but not including the Twin Lake area). Please take a moment to complete this BRIEF online survey (link below) by end of day on April 17, 2011. The information will be used by the CAC to help shape recommendations. For each question, please consider the needs of all members of your household. We will have similar surveys for other key parts of the park throughout the design process. Starting April 5, this survey will also be available at the MPRB Headquarters Building and Harrison and North Commons Recreation Centers or by calling 612-230-6400. Survey Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YKVNZ6M Please forward to those you think will be interested in completing this survey. Jennifer B. Ringold Manager of Public Engagement and Citywide Planning Minneapolis Park Recreation Board 2117 West River Road Minneapolis, MN 55411 ph. 612-230-6464 fx. 612-230-6506 Please consider the environment before printing this email. END Posted to MOU-Net by Elizabeth Bell on Grey Cloud Island 5868 Pioneer Road South Saint Paul Park MN 55071-1143 (651) 459-4150 Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] sandhill crane hunting season
The sandhill crane bill referenced below is part of the larger game and fish bill currently before the Legislature. This is a technical provision that clarifies DNR's authority to to charge for a permit to hunt cranes. Regards to all, Bill Penning On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 7:03 PM, kess0...@umn.edu wrote: A bill that includes making permanent the sandhill crane hunting season in northwestern Minnesota has begun its movement through the Minnesota legislature. If you have strong feelings one way or the other regarding a sandhill crane season, now is the time to contact your legislators to express your views. Ann Kessen MOU President Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Green Heron and others in Minneapolis
Hi all, I took a walk along the swollen Mississippi River today, along portions of the path that parallels E. River Parkway between Franklin Ave and Lake Street. Much of this path is flooded, as are many of the access points. I was surprised to see an early Green Heron in a little backwater. In the same area were Blue-winged Teal and Pied-billed Grebe. And the nearby woods held a flock of about 12 Fox Sparrows, plus Phoebe, Siskin, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warblers, singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and 5 species of woodpeckers (no Sapsucker). I also heard a single sparrow song that sounded a whole lot like White-crowned, but it didn't sing again, and I couldn't find the bird. Nice to see some decent diversity! This was my first day in the city this year that really felt like spring. Good birding, Matt Dufort Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Winter Wren, Dodge Nature Center
Early this evening we surprised a Winter Wren feeding at the base of a tree, next to a water channel that empties a pond north of the farm buildings and small orchard. It scooted behind the tree, then made a mad dash for a little brush pile, remaining hidden there until the path brought us next to it. At that point it zipped out, and slipped under the footbridge over the channel nearby. Linda Whyte Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Today's raptor/songbird migration, with pictures (Duluth, MN)
Today was a fun, but slightly slower-than-expected day of counting raptors. The day's total came to 155 raptors, with two new-to-the-count passerines... Double-crested Cormorant and a Belted Kingfisher! The Duluth count broke the 4,000-raptor count this year, as of today. Also, today is the first day of this year's spring count where all 3 falcon species were observed in one day! The weather conditions look like an exciting raptor migration is in store for tomorrow. A cloudless sky (at least here in Duluth), plus SW winds tomorrow means that birds are going to be migrating with a slight tail-wind. Keep your eyes to the skies tomorrow :) Osprey: http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/133859916 Double-crested Cormorant: http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/133859914 Belted Kingfisher (female): http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/133859911 Good birdwatching, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN *NATURALLY AVIAN* www.pbase.com/birdfedr www.naturallyavian.blogspot.com birdf...@gmail.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
[mou-net] Today's raptor stats
Forgot to add this from the last email. Darnit (again) :-) Today's raptor and songbird totals can be found in the link below. Enjoy! https://www.hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=543ryear=2011rmonth=04rday=11 Good birdwatching, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN *NATURALLY AVIAN* www.pbase.com/birdfedr www.naturallyavian.blogspot.com birdf...@gmail.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
