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All, =20 =20=20=20=20Sorry=20this=20is=20a=20little=20late.=20=20I'm=20just=20getti= ng=20to=20my=20computer.=20=20 =20 =20=20=20=20On=20Saturday=20I=20was=20in=20Wilkin,=20Otter=20Tail,=20Grant= ,=20Travese=20and=20Stevens counties.=20=20I=20saw=20a=20lot=20of=20great=20birds,=20but=20the=20numbe= rs=20of=20geese=20were=20truly impressive.=20=20I=20haven't=20seen=20that=20many=20Snow=20Geese=20since=20= the=20Platte=20River=204 years=20ago.=20=20I=20think=20seeing=20the=20long=20skeins=20of=20geese=20= moved=20and=20undulate=20for miles=20is=20one=20of=20natures=20wonders.=20=20=20=20The=20numbers=20of=20= Greater=20White=20Fronted geese=20were=20astounding.=20=20=20I=20saw=20many=20flocks=20of=20100=20to= =20200.=20=20Along=20with=20mixed flocks=20of=20Canadian=20and=20GWF=20Geese.=20=20=20I=20was=20also=20treat= ed=20to=20seeing=20large flocks=20of=20snow=20geese=20in=20flight.=20=20I=20love=20the=20way=20they= =20"flicker"=20in=20the=20sky and=20had=20been=20hoping=20to=20see=20some.=20=20 =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20I=20was=20being=20my=20usual=20lazy=20self=20when=20= I=20realized=20that=20there=20was something=20wrong=20with=20the=20calls=20of=20those=20geese=20over=20head.= =20=20Sure=20enough=20they were=20GWF=20instead=20of=20the=20Canadians=20I=20expected.=20=20So=20I=20= started=20to=20pay=20more attention.=20=20=20It=20was=20nice=20for=20me=20to=20really=20be=20able=20= to=20learn=20the=20difference between=20the=20calls=20of=20the=20different=20geese.=20=20 =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20At=20one=20point=20I=20saw=20a=20huge=20=20white=20= cloud=20of=20snow=20geese=20on=20the=20horizon. I=20tried=20chasing=20it=20but=20they=20were=20just=20to=20far=20ahead=20o= f=20me.=20=20=20There=20must=20have numbers=2010,000=20-20,000=20to=20appear=20so=20prominently=20at=20such=20= a=20distance.=20=20=20=20In the=20early=20AM=20the=20flocks=20were=20heading=20north=20but=20by=20abou= t=209:00=20I=20started noticing=20that=20they=20were=20heading=20back=20south.=20=20My=20guess=20= is=20that=20they=20realized there=20was=20no=20open=20water.=20=20The=20only=20open=20water=20were=20r= ivers,=20including=20the Ottertail=20and=20the=20Pomme=20de=20Terre.=20=20I=20was=20not=20success=20= in=20finding=20the=20Snow=20or GWF=20geese=20in=20the=20field=20=20despite=20following=20several=20large=20= flocks.=20=20I=20believed that=20many=20were=20hanging=20out=20on=20inaccessible=20stretches=20of=20= the=20Ottertail=20River. =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20Around=204PM=20I=20was=20in=20Grant=20= county=20and=20notice=20a=20large=20flock heading=20south.=20=20They=20then=20reeled=20west=20and=20flew=20directly=20= over=20me.=20=20They=20were almost=20exclusively=20Snow=20Geese=20and=20I=20believe=20this=20flock=20n= umbered=20over 10,000+.=20=20=20=20They=20appeared=20to=20be=20heading=20for=20the=20area= =20outside=20of=20Alexandria that=20is=20dotted=20with=20lakes.=20=20 =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20My=20personal=20belief=20is=20that=20t= he=20numbers=20are=20so=20high=20right=20now because=20they=20are=20taking=20advantage=20of=20the=20full=20moon=20to=20= migrate.=20=20=20I'm=20hoping they=20stick=20around=20a=20little=20longer.=20=20 =20 =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20It's=20too=20bad=20that=20I=20couldn't=20be=20in=20= the=20area=20in=20the=20evening.=20=20It would=20have=20been=20fun=20to=20see=20the=20migrating=20silhouettes=20aga= inst=20the=20large=20full moon.=20=20 =20=20=20=20 =20=20=20=20Here=20are=20the=20other=20birds=20I=20saw.=20 =20 =20=20=20=20Wilkin=20County =20=20=20=20Greater=20Prairie=20Chickens=20-=20Rothsay=20lek=20(which=20I=20= successfully=20flushed) =20=20=20=2010=20Meadlow=20Larks=20(I=20believe=20Western=20from=20the=20o= ne=20I=20heard=20sing) Interestingly=20the=20only=20place=20I=20saw=20Meadowlarks=20were=20in=20t= he=20Rothsay=20area. Later=20in=20the=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20 =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20day=20I=20didn't=20see=20any=20at=20= all,=20esp.=20further=20south.=20=20 =20=20=20=20Ring=20Neck=20duck=20Approx.=205 =20=20=20=20Scaups,=20=204=20or=205 =20=20=20Immature=20Golden=20Eagle=20=20 =20=20=20=20Bald=20Eagle =20=20=20=20Numerous=20Harriers=20(taking=20advantage=20of=20the=20Prairie= =20winds=20to=20hover=20just feet=20away=20from=20my=20truck). =20=20=201=20very=20lonely=20sounding=20Sandhill=20Crane =20=20=20=205=20American=20Tree=20Sparrows =20=20=20=20Horned=20Larks,=20RWBB,=20Killdeer,=20Robins,=20mallards =20=20=20=20Possible=20Virginia=20Rail=20 =20 =20=20=20=20Grant=20County =20=20=20=20Sharp=20Tailed=20grouse =20=20=20=20Immature=20Bald=20Eagle =20=20=20=20Red-Tail=20Hawk=20(only=201) =20=20=20Kestrel =20=20=20Harriers=20-=20several,=20=20one=20hunting=20in=20downtown=20Norc= ross =20=20=2040=20Pintails=20mixed=20in=20with=20about=20100=20Mallards=20on=20= a=20flooded=20farm=20field.=20=20 =20 =20=20=20=20It's=20great=20to=20be=20out=20birding=20in=20the=20Spring!!! =20 =20 Heidi=20Ferguson=20 Saint=20Paul=20 =20 =20 ______________________________________________________________________ This=20e-mail=20has=20been=20scanned=20by=20MCI=20Managed=20Email=20Conten= t=20Service,=20using=20Skeptic=99=20technology=20powered=20by=20MessageLab= s.=20For=20more=20information=20on=20MCI's=20Managed=20Email=20Content=20S= ervice,=20visit=20http://www.mci.com. ______________________________________________________________________ --Boundary_(ID_as6Es7k3l1bWoCK/j+dLwQ) Content-type: text/html; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE=20HTML=20PUBLIC=20"-//W3C//DTD=20HTML=204.0=20Transitional//EN">= <HTML><HEAD> <META=20HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type"=20CONTENT=3D"text/html;=20charset=3Dus= -ascii"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META=20content=3D"MSHTML=206.00.2800.1491"=20name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">All,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Sorry=20this=20is=20a=20little=20late. =20= I'm=20just=20getting=20to=20my=20 computer. =20</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20On=20Saturday=20I=20was=20= in=20Wilkin,=20Otter=20Tail,=20 Grant,=20Travese=20and=20Stevens=20counties. =20I=20saw=20a=20lot=20o= f=20great=20birds,=20but=20the=20 numbers=20of=20geese=20were=20truly=20impressive. =20I=20haven't=20se= en=20that=20many=20Snow=20 Geese=20since=20the=20Platte=20River=204=20years=20ago. I=20thi= nk=20seeing=20 the long=20skeins of=20geese=20moved=20and=20undulate=20for=20mi= les=20is=20one=20of=20 natures=20wonders. =20 =20The=20numbers=20of=20Greater=20White=20= Fronted=20geese=20were=20 astounding. =20I=20saw=20many=20flocks=20of=20100=20to=20200.&n= bsp;=20Along=20with=20mixed=20 flocks=20of=20Canadian=20and=20GWF=20Geese. =20I=20was=20also=20= treated=20to=20seeing=20large=20 flocks=20of=20snow=20geese=20in=20flight. =20I=20love=20the=20way=20t= hey=20"flicker"=20in=20the=20sky=20 and=20had=20been=20hoping=20to=20see=20some. =20</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20I=20= was=20being=20my=20 usual=20lazy=20self=20when=20I=20realized=20that=20there=20was=20something= =20wrong=20with=20the=20calls=20of=20 those=20geese=20over=20head. =20Sure=20enough=20they=20were=20GWF=20i= nstead=20of=20the=20Canadians=20 I=20expected. =20So=20I=20started=20to=20pay=20more=20attention. = ; It=20was=20 nice=20for=20me=20to=20really=20be=20able=20to=20learn=20the=20difference=20= between=20the=20calls=20of=20the=20 different=20geese. =20</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20At= =20one=20point=20I=20 saw=20a=20huge =20white=20cloud=20of=20snow=20geese=20on=20the=20hori= zon. =20I=20tried=20chasing=20 it=20but=20they=20were=20just=20to=20far=20ahead=20of=20me.=20 =20The= re=20must=20have=20numbers=2010,000=20 -20,000=20to=20appear=20so=20prominently=20at=20such=20a=20distance. = =20In=20the=20 early=20AM=20the=20flocks=20were=20heading=20north=20but=20by=20about=209:= 00=20I=20started=20noticing=20that=20 they=20were=20heading=20back=20south. =20My=20guess=20is=20that=20the= y=20realized=20there=20was=20no=20 open=20water. =20The=20only=20open=20water=20were=20rivers,=20includi= ng=20the=20Ottertail=20and=20 the=20Pomme=20de=20Terre. =20I=20was=20not=20success=20in=20finding=20= the=20Snow=20or=20GWF=20geese=20in=20 the=20field =20despite=20following=20several=20large=20flocks. =20= I=20believed=20that=20 many=20were=20hanging=20out=20on=20inaccessible=20stretches=20of=20the=20O= ttertail=20 River. =20</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">  = ; =20 Around=204PM=20I=20was=20in=20Grant=20county=20and=20notice=20a=20large=20= flock=20heading=20south. =20 They=20then=20reeled=20west=20and=20flew=20directly=20over=20me. =20T= hey=20were=20almost=20 exclusively=20Snow=20Geese=20and=20I=20believe=20this=20flock=20numbered=20= over=20 10,000+. =20They=20appeared=20to=20be=20heading=20for=20t= he=20area=20outside=20of=20 Alexandria=20that=20is=20dotted=20with=20lakes. =20</FONT></SPAN></DI= V> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">  = ; =20 My=20personal=20belief=20is=20that=20the=20numbers=20are=20so=20high=20rig= ht=20now=20because=20they=20are=20 taking=20advantage=20of=20the=20full=20moon=20to=20migrate. =20= I'm=20hoping=20they=20stick=20 around=20a=20little=20longer. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> <SPAN=20 class=3D921415915-28032005> <FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20= MS"> It's=20 too=20bad=20that=20I=20couldn't=20be=20in=20the=20area=20in=20the=20evenin= g. =20It=20would=20have=20been=20 fun=20to=20see=20the=20migrating=20silhouettes=20against=20the=20large=20f= ull=20moon. =20 </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20</SPAN></DIV>= <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Here=20are=20the=20other=20birds=20I=20saw.=20<= /FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"><U>Wilkin=20County</U></FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Greater=20Prairie=20Chickens=20-=20Rothsay=20le= k=20(which=20I=20 successfully=20flushed)</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">10=20Meadlow=20Larks=20(I=20believe=20Western=20= from=20the=20one=20I=20heard=20 sing) =20Interestingly=20the=20only=20place=20I=20saw=20Meadowl= arks=20were=20in=20the=20 Rothsay=20area. =20Later=20in=20 the </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">  = ; day I=20 didn't=20see=20any=20at=20all,=20esp.=20further=20south. =20</FONT></= SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Ring=20Neck=20duck=20Approx.=205</FONT></SPAN><= /DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20Scaups, =204=20or=205= </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20 class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Immature&nbs= p;Golden=20 Eagle </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20Bald=20Eagle</FONT></SPAN>= </DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"> =20Numerous=20Harriers=20(tak= ing=20advantage=20of=20 the=20Prairie=20winds=20to=20hover=20just=20feet=20away=20from=20my=20truc= k).</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"= > =201=20 very=20lonely=20sounding=20Sandhill=20Crane</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">5=20American=20Tree=20Sparrows</FONT></SPAN></D= IV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Horned=20Larks,=20</FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20 class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">RWBB,=20Kill= deer,=20Robins,=20 mallards</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Possible=20Virginia=20Rail=20</FONT></SPAN></DI= V> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"><U>Grant=20County</U></FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Sharp=20Tailed=20grouse</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Immature=20Bald=20Eagle</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">Red-Tail=20Hawk=20(only=201)</FONT></SPAN></DIV= > <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"= > =20 Kestrel</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"= > =20 Harriers -=20several,=20 one=20hunting=20in=20downtown=20 Norcross</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"= > =2040=20 Pintails=20mixed=20in=20with=20about=20100=20Mallards=20on=20a=20flooded=20= farm=20field. =20 </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005> =20<FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS">It's=20great=20to=20be=20out=20birding=20in=20t= he=20 Spring!!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20class=3D921415915-28032005><FONT=20 face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV=20align=3Dleft><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"=20size=3D2>Heidi=20= Ferguson=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV=20align=3Dleft><FONT=20face=3D"Comic=20Sans=20MS"=20size=3D2><SPAN=20= class=3D921415915-28032005>Saint=20Paul=20</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV=20align=3Dleft><FONT=20face=3DArial=20size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BR> ______________________________________________________________________<BR>= This=20e-mail=20has=20been=20scanned=20by=20MCI=20Managed=20Email=20Conten= t=20Service,=20using=20Skeptic=99=20technology=20powered=20by=20MessageLab= s.=20For=20more=20information=20on=20MCI's=20Managed=20Email=20Content=20S= ervice,=20visit=20http://www.mci.com.<BR> ______________________________________________________________________<BR>= </BODY></HTML> --Boundary_(ID_as6Es7k3l1bWoCK/j+dLwQ)--
