Hi All,
Sax-Zim Bog birding report and upcoming events/field trips below:
UPCOMING FRIENDS OF SAX-ZIM BOG EVENTS & FIELD TRIPS
BIG HALF YEAR FOR THE BOG
Set your own birding goals (for anywhere in the World!…not just Sax-Zim)
Details below or at http://saxzim.org/big-half-year-for-the-bog/
Bdathon this Friday and/or Saturday
Not too late to join world’s coldest Birdathon!
Details below or at http://saxzim.org/signature-events/
BOREAL WINGS GALA Sunday January 21
At Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley
Details below or at http://saxzim.org/signature-events/
CLINTON’S FIELD TRIPS
Free to members!
Details below or at http://saxzim.org/events/
SAX-ZIM BOG BIRD REPORT
Great Gray Owls—They continue to be seen early and later in the afternoon along
McDavitt and Admiral Roads, but others have been spotted along Owl Avenue south
of the Welcome Center, Nichols Lake Road, and CR133 east of CR7. But REMEMBER,
Great Grays are much more visible on calm, cloudy, snowy, warm days (temps in
20s) than on bitter cold, sunny, windy days. Set your expectations accordingly.
Northern Hawk Owls—At least two continue to be seen along McDavitt and Admiral
Roads.
Black-backed Woodpeckers—They are here…but you have to find them! Best bets are
to listen quietly for a bird flaking bark in a Black Spruce bog…and then go in
and find it!
American Three-toed Woodpecker—Several sightings this late fall/winter. You
probably have to bushwack to find one though. Try McDavitt Road bogs and
Nichols Lake Road bogs (east of the lake about a mile from US53). Look for
larger spruce and tamarack with flaked bark.
Common Redpolls—All over
Hoary Redpolls—Several females at Welcome Center feeders
Pine Grosbeaks—If you want to see males at eye-level, check Loretta’s feeders.
Also regular at Blue Spruce feeders and Mary Lou’s feeders in small numbers.
Evening Grosbeaks—Mary Lou’s in the morning is the place to be. She even has a
photo blind thanks to Friends of Sax-Zim Bog’s Hoeg Family Good Neighbor Fund.
Remember, the grosbeaks depart by early afternoon.
Rough-legged Hawks, Snowy Owl, Snow Bunting—rare this winter in Sax-Zim
Sharp-tailed Grouse—Check the feeders along CR29/229 just a ways south of
intersection with Correction Line Road. Up to 8 grouse at the feeders in early
morning.
Boreal Chickadee—Not regular at Admiral Road feeders this year (or last year).
But they are around. Pishhh and squeak loudly at any stretch of dense Black
Spruce bog. They hang with Black-caps in winter.
Bdathon
Friday and/or Saturday, January 5-6
http://saxzim.org/signature-events/
REMEMBER, “PLAYING FIELD” IS ALL of Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern
Wisconsin
Link to Map of Area you are allowed to bird during the Bdathon
A birdathon in northern Minnesota in January? You’ve got to be kidding! The
Bdathon may be the world’s coldest birdathon but it can also be the most
exhilarating with the possibility of many boreal specialties in the North
Woods. Imagine tallying the likes of Great Gray Owl, Boreal Chickadee,
Black-backed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing, Hoary Redpoll,
Gyrfalcon and Northern Hawk Owl in a two-day birding spree! And raising money
for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog in the process. Win-win-win!
**NEW FOR 2018! POINTS SYSTEM
Beginning with the 2018 Bdathon, we’ll have a points system in place.
Basically, the rarer the species, or the harder the species is to find and see,
the more points it will be worth. See the linked PDF for the points for each
species.
Link to New Species Points System
But the two-day event requires some serious strategizing to maximize your
species list. And the playing field is large…all of northeastern Minnesota and
northwest Wisconsin. Most species tallied in the two-days wins.
We also have a One-day Bdathon category, and for the hardy (or just plain
foolhardy)[1-day participation can be either Friday or Saturday] a Wintergreen
event where all birding must be done via non-motorized travel modes (dogsled?
snowshoe? bicycle?).
All participants are invited to an awards and compilation dinner on Saturday
evening where great food and surprising prizes are awarded. Winning teams get
the honor of having their name memorialized on “Gary the Great Gray Owl,” a
solid granite sculpture by Minnesota artist Keith Raivo.
**COMPILATION DINNER/POTLUCK WILL BE AT DULUTH FOLK SCHOOL IN 2018. 1917 West
Superior Street, Duluth. Begins after dark…About 5pm.
$25 per person per event. This entry fee includes a one-year Friends of Sax-Zim
Bog membership (including free field trips for one year!)
http://saxzim.org/signature-events/
Snowshoe Hike
Sunday January 7
9:00- 12:00pm Meeting at the Welcome Center
Snowshoes are a great way to continue being active during the winter season and
are a great way to explore hard to get to locations in the Bog. Join us for a
leisurely hike through the woods to learn a little bit about boreal forests and
animal sign you
