February, 2O12 will go down as my Month of the Owls, having had sightings of Great-horned and Barred as usual, but also, Snowies, Great Grays, and now a Saw-whet. A third Snowy sighting was added yesterday at supper-time, when the Hastings Snowy flew over hwy 55, just east of 42. It landed on a utility pole on the south side of the road, just a few poles west of the treeline that marks the east border of the cornfield. This morning I had a chance to see the Saw-whet at Dodge Nature Center (Mendota Heights), thanks to someone who posted, and others who shared specific directions. I understand staff has posted directions at the Visitor Center as well. It seems this bird has had the territory staked for awhile. Here's hoping human activity doesn't drive it away.
Linda Whyte ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
