The 300 Club
Folks on the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union's listserv have been discussing the question of whether having seen 300 birds in Minnesota should be considered a significant milestone.
"Pshaw," I thought, pshawfully. "I've seen way more than 300 birds in Minnesota."
Then I realized they were talking about 300 species of birds.
Uh-oh.
I finally began keeping a list of the birds I've seen about seven or eight years ago, using a journal published by the National Geographic. Much to my embarrassment, I've never taken my time to actually count the birds I've marked as "seen" in that journal. I came closest a year ago, when I started transferring the birds I've marked in the journal to a Web site designed for the same purpose. Not much of a chore, but somehow I didn't finish it.
So it's my goal to get that done next week. If the weather remains gray and dreary, I just might actually get that done. When I come up with a number, I'll let you know what it is. One thing for sure: It will be well below 300. It will be well below 100. But this gives me room for growth. There are plenty of birds I've yet to see that aren't all that uncommon in this part of Minnesota: boreal chickadees, gray jays and several kinds of owls, among others.
In the meantime, what about you? Do you keep a list of the birds you've seen? Do you keep a list that's specific to the state you live in, or to trips you've been on? How many birds are on your lists? Do you have a goal? I'd love to know.
By the way, most of the serious birders seem to think that 300 bird species in Minnesota is a significant milestone. For what it's worth, I concur wholeheartedly.
You can contact me at: jlundy@duluthnews.com.
Posted by: John Lundy on 3/13/2010 at 4:57 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Tags: wannabe birder birding outdoors
Raptors of spring
One of the many signs of spring is the return of raptors to the Northland. Another is the return of Hawk Ridge raptor-counter Karl Bardon -- but not at Hawk Ridge.
According to Debbie Waters, the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory's education director, spring migration takes raptors on a different path than fall migration, although both paths come through Duluth. In the spring, the route comes through the southwest part of town. Bardon, who began counting on March 1, will be at a pullout overlook below Enger Tower are from the south, southwest, southeast, north, northwest or west. He'll be at Thompson Hill -- the overlook just below the rest stop -- if winds are from the east or northeast.
I should pause to note here that this isn't like Hawk Ridge in the fall, when there are all sorts of interpreters and educational activities available. If you're a beginner like me, you might be better off to wait until fall (although I suspect I might take a look at least once). If you're more advanced and you don't need someone to tell you what you're seeing, you can get great looks in the spring, according to Waters. The reason is that the colder ground doesn't promote huge thermals, so the birds ride updrafts along the ridge. Hence, they're closer to you.
Here, according to Waters, are the peak times for various raptors:
- Eagles, around March 25
- Rough-legged hawks, April 10-20
- Red-tailed hawks, April 10-20
- Sharp-shinned hawks, April 10-20
- Broad-winged hawks, May 1-10
Your pictures and observations about birds eagerly awaited at: jlundy@duluthnews.com.
Posted by: John Lundy on 3/7/2010 at 5:45 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Tags: wannabe birder birding outdoors
Bird droppings
Bits and pieces from here and there:
- Coming soon to a North House Folk School near you (specifically, in Grand Marais): the Spring Boreal Birding and Northern Landscape Festival. Keynote speaker for the event, which takes place June 3-7, is Bernd Heinrich, author of "Ravens in Winter," who will speak on "Ravens: Adventures with the Wolf Birds." The core of the festival is a variety of courses and workshops, ranging in length from one to three days. Among the presenters is Jim Gilbert; my parents in Estherville, Iowa, listen to him every Sunday morning on WCCO radio. Gilbert's subject is "Spring Wildflowers." Another offering is the cleverly titled "Owl In A Night's Work," led by Bill Lane. Is there a Web site where I can get more information and learn how to register? You betcha: www.northhouse.org/programs/events/birdingfestival.htm
- This one might be for those of you with more of a scientific and/or professional bent than, uh, me. But it's worth mentioning because it's so close to home. The 2010 Hawk Migration Association of North America conference will take place April 15-18 at the Radisson Hotel in Duluth. The Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is the host. With topics such as "Productivity cycles in raptors and links with the Northern Atlantic Oscillation Index," this probably isn't for the casual bird-watcher. But I suspect it will attract experts in the field from near and far. Here's the Web site: www.hawkridge.org/events/hmana.html
- Also coming up is the sixth annual Birding Festival at North Lakeland Discovery Center, which is at Manitowish Waters in north central Wisconsin. This one takes place May 14-15. To lift a sentence from the festival's press release: "On Saturday, May 15, 6 a.m.-5 p.m., Great Lakes area birding experts will share their talents with participants through sunrise warbler hikes, morning field trips, ongoing bird banding and afternoon presentations." Sounds like a long, fun day. More information here: www.discoverycenter.net/events.htm
- Last but not least, here are a couple of more pictures sent via the magic of e-mail by Bernie St. George of Summerfield, Fla. First, you'll see a cardinal peering through magnolia leaves, then a cedar waxwing that was part of a flock of waxwings munching on mountain ash berries across the street from the St. Georges' residence:
Your e-mail contributions relished at: jlundy@duluthnews.com.
Posted by: John Lundy on 3/5/2010 at 8:45 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Tags: wannabe birder birding outdoors
Report from Florida
Bernie St. George worked in Duluth for 34 years, but he and his wife live in Summerfield, Fla., now. He sent along several of his wife's pictures of the birds they're seeing, some of which can be seen around here; some of which can be seen around here, but not now; and some of which can never, or only rarely, be seen around here.
This is in the latter category:
This picture of a pair of tufted titmice was taken on Tuesday. Bernie notes that titmice are skittish, and it's unusual to get two of them together in a picture.
I think I've mentioned before that the tufted titmouse is one of my favorite birds. You don't have to go to Florida to see them. I saw titmice frequently when I lived in Ohio. You might see them even in southern Minnesota. I've never seen them in the Northland, though, and I think it would be an unusual sighting.
We see robins, sometimes even in the winter. But we probably won't see 500 at a time in the winter. That's how many Bernie estimates invaded them over a two-day period. Here's a picture of a handful of them:
Robins -- all birds, I suppose -- appreciate it when folks make water available.
Thanks for the pictures, Bernie. I'm going to save the rest for a few days.
Posted by: John Lundy on 3/2/2010 at 11:05 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Tags: wannabe birder birding outdoors
First robin?
Carole Lent and her husband, Bob, were walking near the end of Park Point on Monday afternoon when Bob spotted a group of robins in the trees. Carole, who has contributed several pictures to the "shipping traffic" feature in the Duluth News Tribune, shot this wonderful picture of one of the robins:
My question for you, dear readers: Were these robins that had spent the winter in Park Point? Or were they early spring arrivals?
I can well imagine Park Point as a place where a few robins might hang out for the winter. On the other hand, it HAS felt like spring out these past few days ...
Your comments, observations and photos zealously awaited at: jlundy@duluthnews.com.
Posted by: John Lundy on 3/2/2010 at 12:10 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
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