The following are directions and GPS for 14 GGOW and a single NHOW seen = in Northern Pine County on 1/8, from 3:30 PM to 4:30 pm. These sightings = are all within an area defined on the south by Hwy 162, on the north by = County Line Road, which runs from Moose Lake to Nickerson). From Duluth, = take 23 S towards, you can turn onto County line rod at Nickerson and = head west. From the south, get of at the Askov/Finlayson exit and take = 23 North; you can take 162 west from Duquette or go Zn to Nickerson. = Duquette general store is very friendly to birders and makes good = sandwiches and pastries and has fresh coffee. A great sit-down meal and = some really good feeder arrays are to be found to the South at Banning = Junction, near the intersection of 35 North and Hwy 23, north of = Sandstone. Pine Grosbeaks and redpolls are all over here, as well as = deer at night. There is a caf=E9 and a dining room; the feeders are = viewable from the dining room. Please tell the hostess you heard they = cater to birders. You may find lodging at the Audubon Center of the = Northwoods, in Sandstone, MN. This is a wonderful facility dedicated to = wildlife conservation and education. The number at the Nature Center is = 320-245-2648. I was able to plan my own route when we set up the Owl Census Program, = so I made sure my route started where I had staked out a NHOW on = territory, and I made certain it ended in the Boreal forests of Net Lake = Road, where I have gotten Boreal Chickadee and Gray Jay on my CBC (not = this year). I put little though into the rest of the route, = serpentining it around in my CBC area to end up at 34.5 miles. The = middle 25 miles of the route is mixed deciduous and conifer mainly, with = some farms and open areas along the Military Road. The Owls are being = seen in mixed deciduous and conifer areas adjacent to farms. The Owls = are everywhere after 3:30 pm. If I were not on the route, I feel I = could average an owl every .2 of a mile by driving County Line Road from = Moose Lake to Nickerson and going north and south on the intersecting = roads, but staying north of the 162, the East-west road from Duquette to = the south end of Sturgeon Lake, staying east of Hwy 23. I feel the = birds in the next several weeks will move further south in Pine County. = Pine County is the new Sax-Zim. We could use some birding activity her = to explore the waves of owls and determine its extent. Please use all = the precautionary guidelines for behavior we have asked for in Sax-Zim.
For review, some of these are: * Stick to the uninhabited areas or to feeder homes where you know you = are welcome.=20 * Do not drive less than 45 mph when on the main roads, if you have to = stop, pull off where there is a place to do so. Walk to a better = viewing area. * Use a scope when a closer proximity is not available * Go out of your way to be friendly. Wave and smile at all passing = motorists.=20 * If you have to stop and see birds at someone's home, please go knock = and talk with the person first, this may flush the birds, but it is more = important for you to gain permission than to see the birds.=20 * Carry calling cards or business cards to give to people you meet or to = leave at local businesses. * Show respect to EVERY ONE. Trappers and people with aggressive = trespassing signs should all be able to go on with their normal lives = without us disrupting them in any way. Enjoy and report back on your findings here. I love Pine County and they = have always been very friendly to me as a birder. I hope each of you can = have this wonderful experience here, as well. Good Birding. Pine County Owl Census Route Mark Alt. Steve Novatney 1/8/05. 3:30 - = 4:30 pm. =09 Qty Species Long Lat Habitat Notes 1 NHOW N46=B022.220 W92=B043.286 3=3Dopen/agricultural Perched atop a = utility pole @ Old Military Rd .8 miles N of Hwy 46 1 GGOW N46=B025.093 W92=B039.173 3=3Dopen/agricultural East on County = Line Rd .2 mi E of Willow Hay 1 GGOW N46=B025.092 W92=B038.752 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine East on = County Line Rd .3 mi E of Willow Hay 1 GGOW N46=B025.090 W92=B037.805 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine East on = County Line Rd 1.0 mi E of Willow Hay 2 GGOW N46=B022.791 W92=B034.774 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine South 0.2 Mi = on Oak Lake Rd from where it turns south to go on Oak Lake's Eastern = Shore 1 GGOW N46=B024.688 W92=B035.647 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine 0.4 Mi E on = Oak Lake Rd from where it turns to go on Oak Lake's N shore 1 GGOW N46=B022.784 W92=B035.259 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine 1.6 Mi E on = Oak Lake Rd from where it turns to go on Oak Lake's N shore 1 GGOW N46=B023.751 W92=B034.491 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine South 0.3 Mi = on Oak Lake Rd from where it turns south to go on Oak Lake's Eastern = Shore 1 GGOW N46=B023.218 W92=B034.434 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine South 1.0 Mi = on Oak Lake Rd from where it turns south to go on Oak Lake's Eastern = Shore 1 GGOW N46=B023.003 W92=B034.434 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine South 1.1 Mi = on Oak Lake Rd from where it turns south to go on Oak Lake's Eastern = Shore 1 GGOW 46=B024.725 W92=B030.249 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine Net Lake Road = E from Nickerson past net Lake 1 GGOW 46=B024.633 W92=B030.030 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine Net Lake Road = E at RR tracks 1 GGOW 46=B024.641 W92=B030.037 6=3Dpine/spruce/fir upland Net Lake = Road E 0.2 Mi E of RR tracks 1 GGOW N46=B019.915 W92=B029.250 4=3Dmixed deciduous/pine Intersection = of 154 E of Townline Rd and Kerrick Rd (154), 5 miles E of Kerrick Mark Alt=20 President,=20 Minnesota Ornithologists Union J. F. Bell Museum of Natural History University of Minnesota 10 Church Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104 MOU.mn.org [email protected] Cell: 612-803-9085
