Three Great Kiskadees were seen just across the border in South Dakota this weekend. Birders have permission to visit the two yards where the birds were seen. One of the birds is more often seen than the other two.
Are observers certain? The bird — first just one, then three — was brought to the attention of members of the South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union, in attendance at their fall meeting in Brookings, 10 miles from the bird’s location. The meeting adjourned for a short field trip. Yes, they are certain. Two more kiskadees were found while looking for and watching the first bird. The birds are/were visiting two farms, feeding on flies (kiskadees are members of the flycatcher family). The farms owners had been watching one or more of the kiskadees for THREE months, realizing the species was unusual, but not knowing who to tell. Kiskadees are birds with a northern range just touching the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. They are seen throughout Mexico. There are scattered reports of sightings outside of Texas. There are no reports other than this weekend’s for Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Iowa. The previous verified sighting nearest Minnesota was in Kansas. You can see the bird from the county road (464th Avenue), and it is also a regular visitor to the suet of Lorna Jost on the acreage just to the south of Yumingers. Both homeowners have been very gracious, and are very, very nice people - perhaps a little perplexed that some have travelled so far to see this bird. The Yumingers both work in Brookings during the day, so if they are not home they have told me that people are welcome to look around the yard for the bird. Lorna Jost, who first listed the bird on eBird is usually home, and has welcomed any visitors to sit on her patio and wait for the bird to show up on the feeder or water. It would be more difficult for people to see the bird from the road at the Jost acreage. Location information was given me by Kent Jensen, PhD., Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University. Richard and Lorna Jost - 21939 464th Ave. - 605-826-4122 Scott and Kim Yuminger - 21935 464th Ave. - 605-826-4254 As always, please be respectful of these people and their property. Jim Williams Wayzata ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
