Some Nighthawks being seen in Stillwater. I only see YB Sapsuckers here in spring and fall migration. Saw a couple this spring. Tom Thomsen
>From: "Steve Weston" <[email protected]> >To: "mnbird" <[email protected]>,"Mou-net" <[email protected]> >Subject: [mnbird] Metro Birding >Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 01:18:01 -0500 > >Found an interesting hawk this evening in Eagan in Lebanon Hills, visible >in >one of the small swamps on the south side of Cliff Road between the Holland >Lake and the entrance to Shultz Lake. I believe it was the swamp by the >old >entrance. This beauty was clean white below with only faint banding on >its >tail and blond head markings. From its long tail, fluffy white under tail >coverets, and slim appearance, I believe this is an unusual light morph >Coopers Hawk. I assume it is a juvenile. Tail feathers were in molt with >only two feathers at full length. I don't know that I have ever seen a >picture of bird with this coloration. > >A friend inquired if I had seen any Nighthawks this summer, and I have not. >I have not been driving through any of the small towns with my windows >open, >so I may have missed them. Is anybody finding them in eastern Minnesota? > >Got a call from a co-worker today asking what birds were building mud nests >on his deck and how he might be able to discourage them. It seems that >these birds, which we determined were Barn Swallows, were terrorizing his >kids. After determining that the nests were empty, he washed them away >with >his hose. I suggested that he could hang plastic sheeting from hsi deck >to >discourage the swallows, but that removing the nests was technically >illegal, and especially illegal if the birds had started to lay eggs. > >Then I told him, that he was really missing a show that would really excite >his kids. I guaranteed him that if he left them to nest, the kids would be >watching through the window everyday. The Barn Swallow is an insect feeder >and will scarf down more than its weight in mosquitos everyday. (Well, >that >may be a lie. They may not eat as many mosquitos as larger bugs.) And, >while the birds will dive bomb anyone approaching their nests to protect >their young, as time continues they will probably become accustom to the >kids and be less threatened by them. In any case, they may dive at them, >but they will not attack, and they wouldn't even draw blood if they were in >hand. (Oh, well that maybe another slight exaggeration.) I hope I >convinced him to welcome the birds. > >We are going through a lot of grape jelly. Cherie had to refill the dish >that I filled yesterday. She reported at least seven orioles today. > >Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN >[email protected] > > >_______________________________________________ >mnbird mailing list >[email protected] >http://www.mnbird.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mnbird
