Hi, I tried the Felton Prairie today and found 48 prairie chickens on four leks. There are at least five other active leks in the area and probably more. I heard a snipe winnowing over a wetland along County Road 27 (about a mile south of 34) and had a Northern Shrike in the same spot. At one point it hovered for 20 seconds or so like a kestrel and dove after something. I checked carefully to make sure it wasn't a Loggerhead. Sandhill Cranes have been at the prairie in good numbers for the past few days, Common and Hooded Mergansers are on the ponds to the east of the prairie, and two Trumpeter Swans were trumpeting to each other near Hotsie Lake. I'm only aware of one nesting record for the county (four young at a site a few miles northeast of Downer about five years ago); I hope this pair stays to produce another brood.
Bob O'Connor Moorhead
