Thank you to all who have commented on this report. I appreciate your
collective wisdom and birding experience. We are fortunate to have a
great pool of knowledgeable birders contributing to the MOU list.
I am aware that this species has a relatively late return date and
the chances of encountering an E. Wood Pewee this early in the season
are practically nil. That said, I am confident that the bird that I
heard calling repeatedly from the banks of the creek was not a
Starling. I am familiar with Starling mimicry and although Starlings
were present around the farm buildings on the property the bird I was
listening to never deviated from a perfect Pewee call. I listened for
several minutes before entering the poultry barns to choose a
breeding trio of GL Wyandotte. After crating the birds for the trip
north I listened to the bird calling from the same area for several
more minutes. While I was listening I verified the call using the
Stokes recordings on Bird-Jam. I did compare E. Phoebe call, and I
was convinced that the bird I was hearing sounded exactly like the
Pewee track.
I wish I would have felt comfortable asking the property owner for
permission to go search the bird out. I am not asking that anyone
accept this encounter as a confirmed sighting. I didn't see the bird.
I accept the possibility that this bird may have been an E. Phoebe
with an aberrant call.
I do ask that the possibility of such an early sighting not be
immediately dismissed. Weird things happen, climate and habitat are
changing, maybe it hitched a ride, got sucked up by a storm or had a
brain worm! As I understand the literature the food requirements for
Phoebe and Pewee are nearly identical. Both are insectivorous, but
both will take small fruits and berries when pressed. In addition,
fly-fishing aficionados will attest that Midges and several species
of small Mayflies are hatching on our rivers and streams at this time
of year. Anyway, three adult male R.B. Grosbeaks from two different
WI locations were reported around March 3rd, (I know they don't
winter as far south as our Pewee) exceptionally early!
Kelly Larson
The Bagley Farm -Clearwater
The Bemidji Loft -Beltrami
Minnesota
Eschew Obfuscation!
The middle of Nowhere is Somewhere!
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