3 Feb Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival 10th Anniversary [Pipestem Creek ]
1 Feb Red-Bellied Woodpecker [Linda Gregg ]
1 Feb Tree Sparrows [Dave and Ellin ]
30 Jan Sunday birds in the west [Lillian Crook ]
29 Jan McHenry County Scavengers. [Rod Fossen ]
26 Jan Snowy owls - Adams Co. [G & J Sailer ]
23 Jan Fw: Act Now to Help Imperiled Sage-Grouse [James Tyler Bell ]
23 Jan Mallards and Turkeys [Buchanan Law Office ]
21 Jan Morton and Sioux Cos. [Ron Martin ]
21 Jan Common Redpolls [Linda Gregg ]
20 Jan Snowy Owl [Brian Chepulis ]
18 Jan snowy owls [Wayne Easley ]
17 Jan Re: Another listing game [Corey Ellingson ]
17 Jan Another listing game [David Lambeth ]
17 Jan Mandan birding [ ]
16 Jan North Dakota birding trips [Ron Martin ]
15 Jan Snowy Dozen [Corey Ellingson ]
15 Jan Screech owl boxes timing ["Shawn C. Goodchild" ]
15 Jan Rough-legged hawks [Larry Jones ]
15 Jan Garrison Dam Big Day [Ron Martin ]
14 Jan Cass Co. [K Corliss ]
14 Jan Snowy Owl [Linda Gregg ]
14 Jan Re: Eurasian-Collared Doves [Dave and Ellin ]
14 Jan Eurasian-Collared Doves [Linda Gregg ]
11 Jan A Prairie Conservation Yahoo-group has been created. [Stevan Hawkins ]
10 Jan pine grosbeaks [Pat Bradley ]
10 Jan Fw: 11 snowy owls and others in Burleigh and Kidder Counties, ND [Wayne Easley ]
10 Jan Eurasian Collared Doves [Howard Lien ]
10 Jan hacked email virus is now quarantined [Jean Legge ]
10 Jan ADMIN: Spam alert [James Tyler Bell ]
10 Jan No Subject [Jean Legge ]
9 Jan Yard Birds and more []
9 Jan Sheyenne National Grassland, winter bird count ["Svingen, Dan -FS" ]
9 Jan Long-eared Owl [Sherry ]
9 Jan SW ND timing [James Tyler Bell ]
9 Jan January eagle day in SW ND [Lillian Crook ]
9 Jan Snowy Owls, Nelson and Grand Forks County [Sandy Aubol ]
8 Jan Garrison Dam Sunday [Ron Martin ]
8 Jan Northern Shrike on Greenway [Betsy Batstone-Cunningham ]
7 Jan 5 snowy owls [Wayne Easley ]
6 Jan correction on date [Wayne Easley ]
6 Jan snowy owl in S. Pierce Co., ND [Wayne Easley ]
6 Jan Van Hook and Minot FOY [Dave and Ellin ]
6 Jan FAA grounds Operation Migration whooping cranes in Alabama - Tampa Bay Times [Alan Watson ]
5 Jan western meadowlarks [bob neugebauer ]
5 Jan Owling ["Svingen, Dan -FS" ]
5 Jan Strange winter [BobKat ]
4 Jan Northern saw-whet [Larry Jones ]
4 Jan Cedar Waxwings [Linda Gregg ]
3 Jan worth sharing [Lillian Crook ]
3 Jan Snowy Owls in the NW [Connie Mueller ]
2 Jan snowy owl near Voltaire, ND (Ward Co.?) [Wayne Easley ]
2 Jan Garrison Dam, Mandan Snowys [Corey Ellingson ]
2 Jan Re: Mandan Snowys [Lillian Crook ]
2 Jan Red Winged Blackbird [Randy Toppen ]
2 Jan Last and First Birds [Bernice Houser ]
1 Jan FB of the New Year 2012 [Sherry ]
1 Jan Re: [grandcitiesbirdclub] FOY 2012 Bird [Betsy Batstone-Cunningham ]
1 Jan FOY 2012 Bird []
30 Dec Re: Snowy Invasion progress [David Lambeth ]
30 Dec female wood duck [Randy Toppen ]
30 Dec pileated woodpecker [Jean Legge ]
29 Dec Snowy Owl [Linda Gregg ]
28 Dec Snowy Invasion progress [Corey Ellingson ]
27 Dec snowy owl [Lillian Crook ]
27 Dec townsend's solitaire [Larry Jones ]
26 Dec Snowy Owl [Linda Gregg ]
24 Dec Garrison Dam Saturday [Ron Martin ]
24 Dec Mandan Snowys [Corey Ellingson ]
24 Dec snowy owls in Pierce Co., ND [Wayne Easley ]
24 Dec Denbigh, ND CBC results ["Svingen, Dan -FS" ]
23 Dec GF-EGF CBC Results [David Lambeth ]
23 Dec Snowy Owl [Linda Gregg ]
21 Dec Jamestown Christmas Bird Count results [Lawrence D Igl ]
21 Dec Bismarck-Mandan, 20 Dec ["Svingen, Dan -FS" ]
19 Dec Belted Kingfisher [Buchanan Law Office ]
Subject: Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival 10th Anniversary
From: Pipestem Creek <pipestem AT DAKTEL.COM>
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 12:57:59 -0600
The 10th Anniversary of the Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival is coming
up June 13th to the 17th. We are proud to showcase the new visitor's center
at Arrrowwood National Wildlife Refuge. New tours have been added with the
best guides in the state. Check out www.birdingdrives.com for detailed
information.
Ann Hoffert
Festival Coordinator
Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival
Subject: Red-Bellied Woodpecker
From: Linda Gregg <n0lg.linda AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 17:04:17 -0600
We had a nice male RB Woodpecker at the suet this afternoon. This is the first
we've seen for quite awhile.
Linda Gregg
Horace, ND
Sent from my iPhone
Subject: Tree Sparrows
From: Dave and Ellin <daveandellin AT SRT.COM>
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 15:31:36 -0600
We observed 3 Tree Sparrows at the Van Hook game preserve east of New Town.
Dave and Ellin Lindee
Minot
Subject: Sunday birds in the west
From: Lillian Crook <lilliancrook AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:28:19 -0600
Snowy owl, west of Sweet Briar Lake. Sunday, 1/29/2012
Lillian
Subject: McHenry County Scavengers.
From: Rod Fossen <rfossen AT MIN.MIDCO.NET>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:17:26 -0600
On Saturday I watched 3 Bald Eagles, 3 B.B. Magpies and 3 Common Ravens on a
deer carcass in Mchenry county. It was interesting to see how they
interacted especially how the Magpies would repeatedly grab the tail
feathers of a juvenile Eagle. In fact the Ravens and one of the other
Eagles were picking on that poor juvenile also; it didn't seem to be getting
any respect.
There was also a Rough-legged Hawk on an irrigation rig nearby and at the
Denbigh Experimental Forest there was another Eagle and many Purple Finches,
a first for me.
Today at the Bison Plant in Ward County there were two adult B. Eagles
flying over the river, possibly the same two I saw there in December.
Rod Fossen, Minot
Subject: Snowy owls - Adams Co.
From: G & J Sailer <jngsailer AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:34:21 -0800
All --
I saw two snowy owls this afternoon about six miles NE of Hettinger, about a
mile apart. One was very white. My husband and/or I havetallied 21 owl
sightings (some undoubtedly the same birds) since Dec. 8, but all had been in
Perkins County, SD -- and we hadn't seenany for about two weeks. These were
the first in North Dakota (Adams County). The really neat thing is that some
are still around, so they must be getting enough food.
Jan Sailer
Hettinger
Subject: Fw: Act Now to Help Imperiled Sage-Grouse
From: James Tyler Bell <jtylerbell AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:56:57 -0800
Please consider submitting your comment using the link below. Greater
Sage-Grouse could soon be extirpated from North Dakota!
Tyler Bell
jtylerbell AT yahoo.com
California, Maryland
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Steve Holmer
To: "abcorgs AT npogroups.org"
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 4:16 PM
Subject: Act Now to Help Imperiled Sage-Grouse
Please forward:
Act Now to Help Imperiled Sage-Grouse
The Greater Sage-Grouse, iconic bird of the western sagebrush, has suffered
extensive population declines in recent decades, and continues to be impacted
by oil and gas drilling, wind energy development, and livestock grazing across
a vast region.
We have a chance to change that!
The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service are developing a plan to
conserve this imperiled bird that will affect how nearly 50 million acres of
public lands from Colorado to Oregon will be managed.
You can make a difference on how this plan is implemented by submitting a
public comment at
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5400/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9246.
Please urge the BLM and Forest Service to:
· Conserve sagebrush habitat affected by land uses such as energy
development and livestock grazing.
· Create sagebrush reserves that protect the best remaining
habitat.
· Include all Greater Sage-Grouse habitat in the conservation
plan.
· Include other species that depend on sagebrush habitat, such as
Sage and Brewer’s Sparrows in the plan.
Submit your public comment at
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5400/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9246.
For additional information see American Bird Conservancy’s website at
www.abcbirds.orgor contact Steve Holmer, sholmer AT abcbirds.org.
Steve Holmer
Senior Policy Advisor
American Bird Conservancy &
Director, Bird Conservation Alliance
202-234-7181 ext. 216
sholmer AT abcbirds.org
Skype: sholmerabc
www.abcbirds.org, www.birdconservationalliance.org, ABC on Facebook, ABC Videos
Subject: Mallards and Turkeys
From: Buchanan Law Office <bulaw AT DAKTEL.COM>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:53:53 -0600
Yesterday (Sunday) I saw 5 Mallards, a drake and hen with young, in the James
River at Nickeus Park in NW Jamestown. Not long after, 10-12 Wild Turkeys were
seen perched on a residential fence just off 8th Ave NW, a couple of blocks
from the park. Earlier this month there was a small flock of Dark-eyed Juncos
in the yard at home.
This winter has been unusual in so many ways. Far fewer birds are coming to
feeders and a heated water dish at home than ever before.
Dan Buchanan
Box 879
Jamestown, ND 58402
Tel. (701) 252-6604
Fax (701) 952-4757
bulaw AT daktel.com
Subject: Morton and Sioux Cos.
From: Ron Martin <jrmartin AT SRT.COM>
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:57:11 -0600
ND-Birders:
Corey E. and I made a run through eastern Morton and northern Sioux Counties
this afternoon. Raptors seen:
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
Rough-legged Hawk - 21
Ferruginous Hawk - 3
Golden Eagle - 3
Am. Kestrel - 2
Snowy Owl - 5
At Kist Livestock in Mandan we had 2 N. Pintails and a female Wood Duck among
the 400 Mallards.
On my way south this am I had a Snowy Owl in Oliver Co. Lake Sakakawea froze
over this week, so there were no gulls at Garrison Dam this morning. The
Long-tailed Duck was in the tailrace, and 53 Bald Eagles were visible from the
boat
landing.
Good birding,
Ron Martin
Rural Sawyer
Subject: Common Redpolls
From: Linda Gregg <n0lg.linda AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:05:22 -0600
We finally have a small flock of Common Redpolls at the feeders today. It's the
first I've seen in the yard all winter.
Linda Gregg
Horace, ND
Sent from my iPhone
Subject: Snowy Owl
From: Brian Chepulis <brian.j.chepulis AT VCSU.EDU>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:24:17 -0600
Along my drive from Valley City to Devils Lake I spotted a Snowy Owl perched
atop a utility pole 2 miles south of Rogers on Hwy 1.
Brian Chepulis
Valley City, ND
Subject: snowy owls
From: Wayne Easley <easley57 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:11:54 -0800
Hello: The past few days my wife and I have attended a church conference in
Bismarck. To make life more bearable, we birded some on the way down to
Bismarck and on the way back. On Sun. the 15th, we saw a total of 5 snowy
owls. The first owl is hanging around the Wells Co, Kidder Co. line on #3
south of Hurdsfield. This bird is almost pure white. There was a second owl
just south of Tuttle. This is probably the owl that we had previously seen
north of Tuttle. There were 2 rough-legged hawks that we observed sw of
Steele. We watched and photographed one of the hawks as he sat on a power
pole. Suddenly, he lifted into the sky, began to hover and darted in on a vole
which he caught and carried to a nearby fencepost. He picked the vole apart,
into three equal sized pieces and that was that! Nice to see these birds
finding something to eat. At the main dike south of the Long Lake Refuge
Headquarters, the ring-necked duck is still out
and about. We had observed this bird over a month ago. I guess it is only a
matter of time until he no longer has any open water. Between, McKenzie and
the bypass at the edge of Bismarck, we saw three snowy owls, each of them on
power poles to the northof the highway (I guess that is old highway 10 but it
may have a different name now?). Our return trip, we simply followed the same
route in reverse. East of Bismarck, along old 10, we saw 4 snowys; three were
likely the same ones we had seen earlier but the 4th was just to the nw of Long
Lake Refuge. Sinceit had been very cold for a couple of nights, the
ring-necked, while still alive and well, is beginning to lose his space. We
saw no rough-legged hawks between the refuge and Steele, but did see a snowy
owl way high on a power line. That owl was sitting about 50-60 ft. upon one of
those massive power deals. Our sixth owl for the day was the owl we havebeen
seeing along the
Kidder/Wells Co. line. He had moved about a half mile east and was clearly
visible from the highway. By the way, my wife and I will be leading a group to
Peru in Feb. so we hope you keep the owls around till we get back. Wayne and
Wanda Easley in rural Harvey, ND at 701-324-2344
Subject: Re: Another listing game
From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:59:57 -0600
Dave and all,
Yes, this is another fun listing game to play and yes this would be a good
year to do it. Basically what happens most winters is you reach the 70
species mark of all the winter residents, and the Christmas Bird Count
holdouts the first week or two of January. From February 1st to mid March,
possibilities are pretty slim and you pick away until migration begin in
earnest the middle of March with the waterfowl arrivals. If the year list
is not ahead of the 75-80 species mark in mid March as Dave says, you lose.
J
Out of curiosity, I looked up my numbers from the Big Year 2006 I did with
Ron Martin. I believe Ron was over 100 species by April 1st, and I had 99
species the 31st of March. When the waterfowl started arriving the 17th of
March or so, I was just a couple species ahead of the number of days versus
the number of species seen. Then the 23rd of the month the floodgates
opened, and the threshold of days to species was not reached until the 13th
of November which I was "stuck" on 318.
This may be the year to reach 100 species before April having had a good
start now, but until the migration kicks in mid March I will have to wait
and see. Also, a lot of the species that show up mid March are also the
species I have picked off at the Garrison Dam and Bismarck area (ducks and
gulls).
Good Birding,
Corey Ellingson
Bismarck, ND
From: Birding Discussion List for North Dakota
[mailto:ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU] On Behalf Of David Lambeth
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 11:49 AM
To: ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
Subject: [ND-BIRDS] Another listing game
A "game" that some birders play (I heard about this from an Iowa birder) is
to see how far one can go into the year and have a number of species for the
year (statewide list) that equals or exceeds the number of days of the year
that have passed. It seems to me that in North Dakota, the challenge would
be to make it to when spring migration kicks in. Achieving that, then making
it into November should be possible. This would be the year to give it a try
(from what Corey and Ron have posted, they should be able to make it past
the late winter doldrums).
Good Birding
Dave Lambeth
Grand Forks, North Dakota
_____
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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Subject: Another listing game
From: David Lambeth <davidlambeth58201 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:49:29 -0800
A "game" that some birders play (I heard about this from an Iowa birder) is to
see how far one can go into the year and have a number of species for the year
(statewide list)that equals or exceeds the number of days of the year that
have passed. It seems to me that in North Dakota, the challenge would be to
make it to when spring migration kicks in. Achieving that, then making it into
November should be possible. This would be the year to give it a try (from what
Corey and Ron have posted, they should be able to make it past the late winter
doldrums).
Good Birding
Dave Lambeth
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Subject: Mandan birding
From: Corey Ellingson
<crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:47:08 -0600
Greetings,
I birded around Mandan some yesterday afternoon with the following
highlights:
Kist Livestock:
Mallard (200)
Northern Pintail (female) - was present also on Jan 2.
American Wigeon
Mandan Experiment Station:
Apparently there has been Northern Goshawk there for the last few weeks.
I walked the area for the first time since the CBC and flushed a Great
Horned Owl. After flying down the row of spruces to the south, a
Northern Goshawk appeared in hot pursuit!
Southwest Mandan:
I checked the area that has had several Snowys present for a month and
only found one - way off on a hay bale. The Snowy just south of Ft.
Lincoln also could not be located. Cold weather move the birds? En
route to the area off of Hwy 6 (same? another?) Northern Goshawk flew
across the road and proceeded to soar down the ravines to the south.
My January list is now 70 species, and I have never reached 60 species in
January before. I am loving the mild winter thus far.
Good Birding,
Corey Ellingson
Bismarck, ND
Subject: North Dakota birding trips
From: Ron Martin <jrmartin AT SRT.COM>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:41:22 -0600
All:
If you are planning a birding trip to N. Dakota in 2012 there are a few things
you should know to help with your planning. The oil boom in western ND
continues everywhere west of US Hwy 83. It is often very difficult to get a
motel room in Minot, Williston, or Dickinson. In the smaller towns it is
impossible. Also, renting cars can be difficult much of the time. You should be
trying to get reservations now if you plan to come this spring or summer. Truck
traffic in the west is very heavy, so be careful if you are birding in this
area. The refuge trails that were flooded last summer were reopened this fall,
so access looks good at this point. We have no snow cover over most of the
state. Come see western ND now, before it is gone.
Good birding,
Ron Martin
N. Great Plains Region Ed.
N. American Birds journal
Subject: Snowy Dozen
From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET>
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:48:42 -0600
Greetings ND-Birders:
I wasn't sure what to do this morning but it was a nice day for January.
I wandered southwest of Mandan, intending to go to the Mandan Experiment
Station. I drove south of Fort Lincoln SP, and the Snowy Owl photographed
for the Bismarck Tribune Sunday Dec 18th was still there, sitting on the
water tank. I then continued on CR 138 west across Hwy 6 and wandered
southwest. Cathy Clayton had told me she saw a few Snowy Owls along CR 137
(which is 4 miles further south than the 5 Snowys I have been reporting in
the CR 138 area). The drive was an adventure as several miles of the CR
were two track instead of high gravel that I was expecting! Anyways, I
made a square to the west crossing the Heart River a couple times. In the
afternoon, I made a swing to the east through McKenzie and Long Lake NWR.
Long Lake has several areas of open water - by the acre!! There was a pair
of Mallards at C Dike bridge.
The birds:
Morton county:
Snowy Owl - 7
CR 137 - 3, CR138 - 2, CR 82 - 2
Golden Eagle (adult)
Bald Eagle (adult)
Rough-legged Hawk (3)
Red-tailed Hawk ("western" - dark morph with a red tail over Hwy 6)
American Kestrel
Northern Shrike
Burleigh county:
RING-NECKED DUCK - still under B Dike bridge since the CBC.
Snowy Owl - 5
Lincoln Rd - 2, McKenzie Slough - 2, Long Lake NWR - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - one at Moffit
Prairie Falcon
Merlin - carrying food
*
Coyotes - FOUR at Long Lake NWR
Good Birding,
Corey Ellingson
Bismarck, ND
Subject: Screech owl boxes timing
From: "Shawn C. Goodchild" <achirus AT EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:24:41 -0600
Any idea of a good time to put up screech-owl nesting boxes for this year's
breeding in the Fargo area? Is it too late?
thx shawn goodchild - Faaaargo
Subject: Rough-legged hawks
From: Larry Jones <jljones AT DAKTEL.COM>
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:19:00 -0600
Did a little crosscountry drive today south of our place to
Robison,Tuttle,and Horsehead Lake. Made this trip 3-4 times this winter
without seeing much but today had 6 rough-legged hawks,4 horned owls and a
snowy. Harris,song,tree sparrows and many redpolls are still hanging
around the farmstead.
Larry Jones
Rural Bowdon
Subject: Garrison Dam Big Day
From: Ron Martin <jrmartin AT SRT.COM>
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:55:50 -0600
ND-Birders:
Corey E. and I did an impromptu January Big Day in the Garrison Dam area
yesterday. We came up with 52 species, our first time with over 50 species in a
day in January. We missed Sharp-tailed Grouse, Belted Kingfisher, N. Shrike,
Black-billed Magpie, and a few other species that had been in the area. We had
7 gull species, a new high for January. A few notes from the day.
Long-tailed Duck - one male is wintering.
Com. Goldeneye - 330, the number at the dam has been increasing every week
since the CBC.
Bufflehead - 17, also increasing every week.
Hooded Merganser - 3
Com. Merganser - 195, a very good number for mid-winter.
Western Grebe - 1, the first seen since before the CBC, and the latest record
for the area.
Bald Eagle - 61, unprecidented numbers in the area this winter.
Franklin's Gull - 1, the latest date for the state.
Ring-billed Gull - 1, the latest date for the state.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1, the latest date for the state.
California Gull - 1, this species had not been seen since November. Very
unusual in January, and the latest date for the state.
Glaucous Gull - 6, the highest count this winter.
Lapland Longspur - 3600, new movement, as few were seen on the CBCs.
Good birding,
Ron Martin
Rural Sawyer
Subject: Cass Co.
From: K Corliss <kcor708 AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:31:28 -0600
A short afternoon jaunt with Joe and Doug Leier to a couple Cass County
sites this afternoon produced...not much. Highlight was a lone Townsend's
solitaire northeast of Absaraka.
K. Corliss
West Fargo
Subject: Snowy Owl
From: Linda Gregg <n0lg.linda AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:58:17 -0600
On 45th st and just south of 32nd Ave South, in Fargo, we see a Snowy Owl
sitting atop one of the tall street lights. Must be the same one I posted about
last week. I wonder?
Linda Gregg
Horace, ND
Sent from my iPhone
Subject: Re: Eurasian-Collared Doves
From: Dave and Ellin <daveandellin AT SRT.COM>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:33:40 -0600
We have had four regulars at our feeders in Minot. My brother in Montana
says that is how his started; now he typically has over 40 per day.
Ellin Lindee, Minot
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding Discussion List for North Dakota
[mailto:ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU] On Behalf Of Linda Gregg
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 10:29 AM
To: ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
Subject: [ND-BIRDS] Eurasian-Collared Doves
We had two ECD's at the feeders this morning. They were really beautiful,
healthy looking birds.
Linda Gregg
Horace, ND
Sent from my iPhone=
Subject: Eurasian-Collared Doves
From: Linda Gregg <n0lg.linda AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:28:51 -0600
We had two ECD's at the feeders this morning. They were really beautiful,
healthy looking birds.
Linda Gregg
Horace, ND
Sent from my iPhone
Subject: A Prairie Conservation Yahoo-group has been created.
From: Stevan Hawkins <shawkins4 AT SATX.RR.COM>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:59:36 -0600
ND-Birders:
James Tyler Bell, ND-Birds listowner, has authorized the announcement below
that was initially posted on SD-Birds.
Go forth, discuss, and hopefully save some habitat!
Steve
Stevan Hawkins
San Antonio TX
***************************************************************************
From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mmelius AT hcinet.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 11:14 AM
To: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [sd-birds] Prairie conservation mailing list
In an effort to broaden the discussion of prairie conservation beyond this
bird-centered list, I've started a Yahoo group dedicated to the subject:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prairiesave
Please sign up if you're passionate and/or knowledgeable about this subject.
I've just now set it up so will probably need to be making some refinements
in the near future.
Michael Melius
Hermosa
Subject: pine grosbeaks
From: Pat Bradley <pjcroth AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:58:58 -0500
last nite saw 2 beautiful pine grosbeaks in devils lake cemetery; looked like
russets - either female or first year;
Patricia J. Bradley, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Lake Region Human Service Center
200 Hwy. 2 SW
Devils Lake, ND 58301
701-665-2200 X2258
pjbradley AT nd.gov
Subject: Fw: 11 snowy owls and others in Burleigh and Kidder Counties, ND
From: Wayne Easley <easley57 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:56:12 -0800
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Wayne Easley
To: "easley57 AT yahoo.com"
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 5:54 PM
Subject: 11 snowy owls and others in Burleigh and Kidder Counties, ND
Hello: Monday, the 9th of Jan., Larry Jones of rural Bowdon, ND and I made an
attempt to see as many snowy owls as we could in a day. We left Bowdon appx.
9:00 am and were back at sundown. In the course of our adventure, we saw a
total of 11 snowy owls. The owls were seen in the following locations:
1-about 5 miles SW of Tuttle
2-about 8 miles north of Wing
3-appx. 2 miles east of McKenzie
4-on the ice at McKenzie Slough
5-about 3 miles NW of Long Lake Headquarters
6-near the bridge at the main dike S. of the LLHeadquarters
7-along #83 just north of Moffit
8-about 4 miles SE of C dike at Long Lake
9-about 1 mile W. of #3 south of Steele
10-S. of Horsehead Lake
11-about 3 miles SE of Tuttle along #3
All of these birds appeared to be juveniles and in good condition. We missed 2
owls which my wife and I had seen on Sat. the 7th of Jan.. Other birds
observed were 1 golden eagle north of Wing, 2 Northern Shrikes, both in the
Long Lake area, 1 prairie falcon just to the NW of Long Lake. We did not see a
single rough-legged hawk. Today, my wife and made a shopping trip to Minot and
saw 2 more snowy owls; one to NE of Drake, ND and the other one just to the E.
of Voltaire. Enjoy the nice weather while it lasts! Wayne Easley in rural
Harvey, ND at 701-324-2344
Subject: Eurasian Collared Doves
From: Howard Lien <hlpromo AT SRT.COM>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:17:58 -0800
I saw two Eurasian Collard Doves today (Wed., Jan. 11th) in Turtle Lake, ND.
The two doves were across the street from the Equity Elevator there.
Howard Lien
Minot, ND
701-578-4705 Cell
Subject: hacked email virus is now quarantined
From: Jean Legge <jlegge AT LIVE.COM>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:21:07 -0600
a Trojan virus was quarantined after it was located this morning so hopefully
the hacking problem is resolved.
Sorry for the uproar!
Jean Leggedakotabirding.com3212 115 Ave SEValley City, ND 58072jlegge AT live.com
Subject: ADMIN: Spam alert
From: James Tyler Bell <jtylerbell AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:14:24 -0800
Whatever you do, don't click on the emails to the list from Jean Legge. Just
delete them.
Tyler Bell
ND-Birds Listowner
________________________________
From: Jean Legge
To: ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 12:45 PM
Subject: [ND-BIRDS]
No Subject [Jean Legge ]
-->
Subject: No Subject
From: Jean Legge <jlegge AT LIVE.COM>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:45:24 -0600
http://thephj.com/2095/cache/magpie_cache/search.php?info128.png
Subject: Yard Birds and more
From: alanwat AT INFIONLINE.NET
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 22:29:00 -0600
Hi All
Feeder birds today were way too many House Sparrows, Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers,
White-breasted Nuthatches, Blue Jays and Black-capped Chickadees. The 2
Mourning Doves were last seen January 4th and Juncos on January 6th. Early this
morning an adult Bald Eagle fly over the house.
Birding within a mile from home today - 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Black-billed Magpies
(Magpie #s down), 2 Ring-necked Pheasants, Rock Pigeon and Common Redpolls.
Saturday I walked our CRP and found 1 Snow Bunting. Also walked our gravel pit
and found Common Redpolls.
Sunday we drove to Sand Lake (NWR) SD 1 Snowy Owl, several hundred Canada
Geese, unidentified ducks and 1 (2yr old) Bald Eagle. On the way back home 1
Snowy Owl at Tewaukon (NWR), 1 Ring-necked Pheasant, Thousands of Canada Geese
and unidentified ducks.
For those of you that our interested in viewing a Dark-eyed Junco with (BLUE
Eyes) I photographed between October 31 thru November 8, 2011, I have posted
several photos on my flickr photostream. Here is the URL for viewing http://ww
w.flickr.com/photos/missygracey/
The paragraph below is a reply back from a Sparrow expert I received today -
Unusual, indeed. I have not even seen such an animal. I can only guess that eye
color is genetically controlled as it seems to generally be (e.g. humans) and
that this is unusual -- a mutant, as it were. Probably a recessive as these
pallid sorts of individuals are general individuals that fail to be able to
produce a product that drives a metabolic pathway -- making of dark eyes, in
this case. If it takes off -- e.g. if members of the opposite sex select such
individuals as mates -- who knows? Perhaps your great, great grandchildren will
see blue-eyed juncos regularly, just as we see blue-eyed humans on a regular
basis.
From Dave Lambeth -
I'm not sure about his explanation of what is causing the eye color but at
least he agrees it is unusual. It could be that the cause of different eye
pigments could be pursued on the web. I'm wondering if their normal dark eye
(is it really black or very dark brown) is due to a mixture of pigments and one
of them is missing leaving a blue color.
Eye color is quite complex and is not entirely due to pigments - Eye Color URL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_color
Thanks for your help Dave regarding the Dark-eyed (BLUE Eyes)Junco.
And a BIG thanks to both Sandy and Dave for transferring the
grandcitiesbirdclub website to a new location and keeping the data current!!!
Its nice to have the info at your fingertips as I refer to it often.
Good Birding!!!
Sharon Watson
Buxton ND
Subject: Sheyenne National Grassland, winter bird count
From: "Svingen, Dan -FS" <dsvingen AT FS.FED.US>
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 22:16:26 +0000
ND Birders -
If you would be willing and able to help with a winter bird count on and near
the Sheyenne National Grassland (Lisbon, ND) on Thursday, 19 January, please
let me know.
With the recent mild weather this might be an interesting day. Good birding!
dan.
Dan Svingen
Grasslands Biologist
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
US Forest Service
240 W. Century Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 250-4443 ext. 107 (office)
(701) 214-8286 (cell)
Subject: Long-eared Owl
From: Sherry <bird_nd AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 13:10:04 -0800
Walked a Cedar grove about 1 mileNE of the Audubon Refuge and scared up a
Long-eared Owl. By the old refuge site had a Great-horned Owl.
Sherry Leslie
725-4389
Subject: SW ND timing
From: James Tyler Bell <jtylerbell AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 08:03:16 -0800
Jane Kostenko and I are contemplating a family visit to ND in late spring to
early summer and would like to try again for the SW ND specialty birds. Right
now our calendar is wide open and we'd like suggestions as to the best couple
of days where we would maximize the likelihood of scoring on everything that
we've missed there so far. Our list includes, but is not limited
to,Long-billed Curlew, Common Poorwill,Western Wood-Pewee, Violet-green
Swallow, McCown's Longspur, Brewer's Sparrow, Western Tanagerand Bullock's
Oriole. We have directions to locations for all (well, some of these are total
wish birds with no probable locations!) so we really only need a spread of
dates. According to eBird, which by no means is perfect since there are so few
submissions for the northern plains, it looks like the first week of June might
be the jackpot.
Thanks in advance!
Tyler Bell
jtylerbell AT yahoo.com
California, Maryland
Subject: January eagle day in SW ND
From: Lillian Crook <lilliancrook AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 09:39:35 -0600
Yesterday, 1/8/2012, my daughter & I spent the day birding in SW ND. It was a
big day for eagles and hawks, and she got to see her first snowy owl (or at
least her first she is old enough to remember).
Adult snowy, I 94, mm 139 west of Mandan, #2 juvenile snowy, I94 mm 131.Between
Glen Ullin and Elgin on Highway 49 two rough-legged hawks and 2 bald eagles
(one adult and one juvenile).East of Elgin, a rough-legged and a ferr.
hawk.Just south of Carson, an adult bald eagle.Two miles N of Carson, an
american kestrel! Further N of Carson, four more rough-legged hawks.S of
Almont, three more immature balds and 1 more RL hawk. On Heart River crossing S
of Almont, 20 wild turkeys and another RL hawk. Near Almont, one golden
eagle.On the way back to Bismarck, saw snowy #1 and 2 again, and ended the day
with a third adult snowy just west of the west Mandan exit of I94.
Lillian CrookBismarck
Subject: Snowy Owls, Nelson and Grand Forks County
From: Sandy Aubol <egf_baseball AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 06:40:43 -0800
My husband was out yesterday and said he saw 2 Snowy Owls. One was just east of
Petersburg in Nelson County, very white with just a little bit of black on the
head; the other was in Grand Forks County just east of Hwy 32 along the road to
Orr.
Sandy Aubol
East Grand Forks, MN
Subject: Garrison Dam Sunday
From: Ron Martin <jrmartin AT SRT.COM>
Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2012 22:27:24 -0600
ND-Birders:
Still lots of birds in the Garrison Dam area as the warm weather continues.
Some of the birds seen today.
Canada Goose - 16,000
Cackling Goose - 140
Ross's Goose - 3
N. Pintail - 1
Gr. Scaup - 4
L. Scaup - 4
Long-tailed Duck - 1
Bufflehead - 16, only three were seen on the CBC.
Com. Goldeneye - 155
Bald Eagle - 34
Franklin's Gull - 1
Ring-billed Gull - 5
Herring Gull - 190
Thayer's Gull - 5
Glaucous Gull - 5
Killdeer - 1, still around from the CBC.
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Com. Grackle - 1 in Riverdale.
Good birding,
Ron Martin
Rural Sawyer
Subject: Northern Shrike on Greenway
From: Betsy Batstone-Cunningham <batsham AT GRA.MIDCO.NET>
Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2012 12:13:25 -0600
Just saw a Northern Shrike across the street from my house.
Betsy Batstone-Cunningham
Elmwood Dr & the Greenway
Grand Forks ND
218.791.5079
Subject: 5 snowy owls
From: Wayne Easley <easley57 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2012 18:20:07 -0800
Hello: Following a tip from one of my church members related to snowy owls, my
wife and I drove south of Goodrich, ND (Jan. 7, 2012)on #14 to Rice Lake,
backtracked to Wing and took # 36 eastto Tuttle and returned home to Harvey,
NDvia #3. We saw a total of 5 snowy owls. The first owl was seen along 14
just to the north of Wing. The 2nd was just to the north of Rice Lake which is
on 14.That owl has somesort of problem with its right eye; the eye appears
to be fine but there is agashof some kind below the eye.Our 3rd owl was
spotted about 5 miles to the SW of Tuttle. My friend had told me he had been
seeing this owl for3 weeks or so andit would most likely be in acertain tree
at the side of the road. Sure enough, the bird was right on target. The 4th
owl was on a large dirt mound just to the southwest of Tuttle (some sort of
gravel or sand works). Our last owl wasalong 3 just to the north of Tuttle.
This bird
wasa gorgeous individual and was very actively working the edges of a
lagoonthrough which3passes. The first two owls were observed in Burleigh
Co., and the last 3 were in KidderCo.. Of the 19 owls, I have seen this
winter, I have yet tosee an owl eating or catching anything. With the warm
weather there may be some muskrats out and about and I have observed a few
meadow voles but not many. Enjoy those big white owls, Wayne Easleyin rural
Harvey, ND at 701-324-2344
Subject: correction on date
From: Wayne Easley <easley57 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 16:00:39 -0800
Hi: It is way too early in 2012! Of course the owl was seen today, Jan. 6,
2012, not as I stated in 2011! Wayne Easley
Subject: snowy owl in S. Pierce Co., ND
From: Wayne Easley <easley57 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 15:37:23 -0800
Hello: I observed a snowy owl today (Jan. 6, 2011) about a mile and a half
north of the cemetery near Selz, ND. The bird flew a couple of times and may
be one of the two birds I had seen several weeks ago about 5 miles north of
this spot. Other than the owl, the cupboard is pretty bare; there are few, if
any, rough-legged hawks, just the occasional horned lark or snow bunting. Be
glad when all those snowys that are down south start coming back through. Have
a nice Jan., Wayne Easley in rural Harvey, ND at 701-324-2344
Subject: Van Hook and Minot FOY
From: Dave and Ellin <daveandellin AT SRT.COM>
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 13:06:40 -0600
At out lot in Van Hook (near New Town) on January 1st:
. Hairy and Downy woodpeckers
. Slate-colored juncos
. Hoary and Common redpolls
. Goldfinches
. White-breasted and Red-breasted nuthatches
. Brown creeper
. House sparrow
. Black-capped chickadees
. Pheasants
. House finch
. Northern shrike
. Canada geese
At the Garrison Dam tailrace:
. American crows
. 7 mature bald eagles; 1 third-year; and 12 juveniles
. Mallards
. Common and Barrow's goldeneye
. Thayer's gull
And south of Parshall - a HUGE bull moose
2 January at Van Hook, we also had a Great-horned Owl
3 January in Minot
. Northern flickers - male and female yellow-shafted; one
red-shafted with a red crescent on the nape. Hybrid? It comes and goes
quite frequently.
. Blue Jays
. House finches
. SC Juncos
. BC chickadees
6 January at Van Hook
. Starlings (in addition to the birds listed on the 1st)
Highway 23 near Makoti, an adult Snowy Owl
Highway 83 just south of the Minot NDSU research station, another Snowy Owl
with considerable streaking
Finally, just before New Years we had 4 Eurasian Collared Doves, but they
haven't been back since.
Dave and Ellin Lindee
Minot
Subject: FAA grounds Operation Migration whooping cranes in Alabama - Tampa Bay Times
From: Alan Watson <alanwat AT INFIONLINE.NET>
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 07:33:55 -0600
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wildlife/article1209307.ece
Sharon Watson
Buxton ND
Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless
Subject: western meadowlarks
From: bob neugebauer <bobneugebauer AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 11:50:36 -0800
We saw four western meadowlarks yesterday (January 4th) along Highway 83 just
north of Strasburg. There were two snowy owls between Linton and Hazelton and
one snowy owl along Lincoln Road southeast of Menoken.
The Mandan Experiment Station yielded a northern goshawk today as well as two
Townsend solitaires.
Bob Neugebauerrural Bismarck
Subject: Owling
From: "Svingen, Dan -FS" <dsvingen AT FS.FED.US>
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 18:50:38 +0000
I have recently been having good luck owling.
The main differences between my recent attempts and my many past decades of
lower success rates, is year (which might be all there is to it), and the fact
that I have stayed in the truck, rather than standing outside the cab when
playing the census tapes. Interestingly, I am now seeing many more owls....and
not all have called back. From this I conclude that I may have been getting
more response in past years than I thought, but because I was outside the truck
and easily visible that any silent birds approached much less closely and thus
avoided detection by me.
To try to test this, I plan to try some experiments with response rates of me
inside vs. outside vehicle, as well as response rates of calling with and
without a 'decoy'. Because I cannot find an eastern screech-owl or N. saw-whet
life-size model, the girls and I made some mock-ups from Styrofoam over the
holiday break. Examining the products objectively now, I fear that my
experiment will only test the owls' credulousness.
Ila and I tried to conduct our first field trial last nite at Camp Neche in
southern Bismarck. Before the experiment could begin, however, two very
tolerant, very loud, very persistent long-eared owls began calling and
continued to do so over the next 1/2 hour. It was the grandest display I have
personally witnessed from that species outside of the heart of the breeding
season (I know many folks get to hear them lots, but not me).
Good birding.
Dan Svingen
Grasslands Biologist
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
US Forest Service
240 W. Century Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 250-4443 ext. 107 (office)
(701) 214-8286 (cell)
Subject: Strange winter
From: BobKat <bobkat AT BTINET.NET>
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 11:27:20 -0600
On Dec 18 about 25 miles SW of Mandan along the Heart River I saw a Great Blue
Heron and Belted Kingfisher along an open riverbend. On Jan 2 the belted
kingfisher was still in the area and I noted our two resident bald eagles, a
couple rough legged hawks and 4 snowy owls between there and Mandan. This
morning along Lincoln Road I saw 3 snowy owls and surprisingly a non shivering
kestrel on a wire.
Subject: Northern saw-whet
From: Larry Jones <jljones AT DAKTEL.COM>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 22:40:54 -0600
Had a saw-whet owl calling back in the trees this evening.
Larry Jones
Rural Bowdon
Subject: Cedar Waxwings
From: Linda Gregg <n0lg.linda AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:28:26 -0600
We had a flock of about 15 Cedar Waxwings in the yard this afternoon.
Linda Gregg
Horace, ND
Sent from my iPhone
Subject: worth sharing
From: Lillian Crook <lilliancrook AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:05:16 -0600
This article on Snowys worth sharing with the list.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2012/01/birding-national-parks-chasing-snowy-owl9242
Lillian
Subject: Snowy Owls in the NW
From: Connie Mueller <Connie_Mueller AT FWS.GOV>
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 08:17:31 -0600
The discussion of snowy owls has been a recurring one among Lostwood
National Wildlife Refuge staff (northwestern ND) this fall and winter. As a
follow up to Corey's post about where birds are being seen, I offer this
from the Refuge Manager:
Still seeing snowy owls in the Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge vicinity.
On Dec. 31, I sighted 3 snowy owls, and 2 rough-legged hawks along ND
Highway 50, from Lostwood NWR to Powers Lake. I've seen at least one snowy
owl every day, since then. Doug Leschisin, Refuge Manager, Lostwood NWR.
Connie Mueller
Wildlife Biologist
Lostwood Complex
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
rural Kenmare, ND
Subject: snowy owl near Voltaire, ND (Ward Co.?)
From: Wayne Easley <easley57 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 19:44:58 -0800
Hi: My wife and I made a shopping trip to Minot today (Jan. 2) and found a
snowy owl about 3 miles SE of Voltaire, ND. The bird was resting on
atelephone pole along Highway 52. The snowy, along with a lone raven, had
their eyes on a freshly killed mink which was dead on the highway. There were
blood stains on the face of the owl indicating he was likely feeding, or trying
to feed on the mink. Hope your new year is filled with lots of exciting
birds. Wayne Easley in rural Harvey, ND at 701-324-2344
Subject: Garrison Dam, Mandan Snowys
From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 19:34:45 -0600
Greetings ND-Birders:
Since all the CBCs were getting all-time highs this past season, I
thought I would try to break the 50 species barrier for the New Year which I
have never done. I had a pretty good start, but the day fizzled out after
lunch. A couple things I had counted on didn't pan out. Below are the
highlights for 46 species.
Garrison Tailrace: (only 14 gulls there at 8:00am), a flock of 150 later
revealed themselves out over the lake - unidentified.
Iceland Gull (1 adult), possibly both adults from the CBC.
Glaucous Gull (1st year)
Thayer's Gull (ad and juv)
Long-tailed Duck - male
Along Hwy 200 over to Riverdale from Hwy 83 had (2) Snowy Owls at sunrise,
including a nearly white individual.
Wolf Creek WMA (general area):
Northern Shrike (3)
Townsend's Solitaire (from CBC)
Harris's Sparrow (from CBC)
Red-winged Blackbird (25) flyovers
Lake Sakakawea State Park:
Hooded Merganser - female
Garrison Dam marsh was completely empty, I was counting on 2-3 puddle duck
species.
I had an experience in Riverdale. I stopped to see the Eurasian Collared
Doves by the hotel, and all of a sudden the birds went bezerk! About 100
yards south of me it seemed every bird in town was mobbing a pair of spruce
trees. I bet $100 that there was a Saw-whet Owl or Screech Owl there but I
couldn't see one. I didn't have to bother looking for other species
however, because I saw them all at the mob scene!
At 1:45pm I drove south to Bismarck as I had NO raptors thus far, and had
seen plenty around here - but WHIFFED.
Mandan area:
Northern Pintail (female)
Rusty Blackbird (5) south along Hwy 6.
Knowing I didn't have species to get and time to reach 50, I turned my focus
to the Snowy Owls. I had picked up Linda and we too observed FIVE Snowy
Owls in the same area that they have been reported for the last month, I
assume these may be the same birds reported by Lillian Crook. I did not go
further south than CR 138A. The bird south of Fort Lincoln on CR 138A was
still present also.
Good Birding,
Corey Ellingson
Bismarck, ND
Subject: Re: Mandan Snowys
From: Lillian Crook <lilliancrook AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 14:19:14 -0600
Today's update to Corey's posting. Jim & I drove around this area and further
south this morning and saw five snowies (four juvenile and one adult), all
along Highway 6. The adult was at the Bohemian Hall. See
http://theprairieblog.areavoices.com/2012/01/02/snowy-owl/ for photo.
Lillian CrookBismarck
Also saw a flock of lapland longspurs, one hairy woodpecker, and one magpie, in
the same vicinity. About a thousand Canada geese are still hanging around here,
and just this morning the Missouri River began to show ice.
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:31:52 -0600
From: crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET
Subject: [ND-BIRDS] Mandan Snowys
To: ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
Greetings ND-Birders: This morning I teamed up with Stacy Whipp who is in town
for the holidays to search for Snowy Owls. I searched the area that had some
the last couple weeks for the CBC. We observed FOUR Snowy Owls in the square
between Hwy 6 and 25th Ave to the west, CR 138 on the north, and CR 138A on the
south. This is 6 square miles. Afterwards we observed the Snowy Owl that was
photographed for the Bismarck Tribune last week still at the location 1 mile
south of the Veterans Cemetery by Fort Lincoln, also along CR 138A. Also seen
were two Am. Kestrels, and two Northern Shrikes. Good Birding,Corey
EllingsonBismarck, ND
Subject: Red Winged Blackbird
From: Randy Toppen <randy.j.toppen AT SENDIT.NODAK.EDU>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 11:31:44 -0600
1 male red winged blackbird in the cotoneaster hedge at home Tuesday 1/1/12
(Cuba Township, SE of Valley City). He was eating the berries. Very windy
and somewhat of a ground blizzard most of the day in rural Barnes County.
Only blue jays, chickadees, house sparrows, and the one RWB so far in 2012
at the home feeder.
--Randy Toppen, Science Department
Valley City High School
460 North Central Avenue
Valley City, ND 58072
701-845-0483
Randy.J.Toppen AT Sendit.NoDak.Edu
http://www.valley-city.k12.nd.us/jrsrhigh/jrsrstaff/jrsrstffpgs/rt.html
Subject: Last and First Birds
From: Bernice Houser <sanishnd AT RTC.COOP>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 10:27:39 -0600
Happy New Year! How nice to leave the snow boots in the closet (if they
didn't wear out last year!).
My journal entry for Dec. 29, 2011 was almost identical to the entry for
Dec. 29, 1991. 2011 was '28 & very foggy at 8 a.m. Freezing rain off &
on all day.' 1991 was '30 at 8 a.m. Foggy & light freezing mist about
noon.' So this winter seems unusual, but it really isn't--only in
comparison to last winter.
The last birds here, on Dec. 31, 2011 were very interesting. The 50+
flock of robins reappeared at the bird bath, and fought viciously over
it. They were joined by 3 Northern Flickers--one male yellow-shafted,
with perfect facial features, and a male red-shafted with a super red
moustache--both were guide-book perfect. The third was a female, with a
very blank head with a faint golden cast to it, but when it changed
position in the tree and the under-tail colors showed--it was like a
little flame in the tree! We've had a lot of flickers over the years, but
never have I seen one with brilliant red-gold, almost flourescent under-
tail feathers! The sun wasn't even shining! They all came to the water
several times that day--beautiful birds!
The first birds of 2012 were goldfinches--lots of them, all rather drab
compared to the flickers.
Bernice Houser
Rural New Town, Mountrail
sanishnd AT rtc.coop
Subject: FB of the New Year 2012
From: Sherry <bird_nd AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2012 10:44:47 -0800
Happy New Year and wishes for a year of great birding!!
My first bird was a beautiful Hairy Woodpecker.Second a Purple Finch.
Usually love birding on the 1st of the New Yearbut since the winds are less
here in the valley decided to stay home.
Living in the country, surrounded by trees, we are able to hang deer carcass in
our trees and this really attracts the birds.
AM birds:
Pine Siskin 40
Common Redpoll 2
Hoary Redpoll 1
Goldfinch20
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker2
Blue Jays7-10 at a time
Purple Finch3
Juncos8
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Chickadees 7
Turkeys7
Good health and good birding,
Sherry Leslie
Rural Minot/Burlington
725-4389
Subject: Re: [grandcitiesbirdclub] FOY 2012 Bird
From: Betsy Batstone-Cunningham <batsham AT GRA.MIDCO.NET>
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2012 10:08:47 -0600
Sharon,
I had pine siskins and a chickadee this am.
Betsy
From: alanwat AT infionline.net
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2012 9:33 AM
To: ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU ; grandcitiesbirdclub ;
fmbirders AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [grandcitiesbirdclub] FOY 2012 Bird
Happy New Year ND Birders!!!
The first bird(s)seen were way too many House Sparrows this morning when I
looked out a window. My 2nd bird that makes birding a little more exciting was
a brief visit minutes later from a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Good Birding in 2012
Sharon Watson
Buxton ND
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Subject: FOY 2012 Bird
From: alanwat AT INFIONLINE.NET
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2012 09:33:02 -0600
Happy New Year ND Birders!!!
The first bird(s)seen were way too many House Sparrows this morning when I
looked out a window. My 2nd bird that makes birding a little more exciting was
a brief visit minutes later from a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Good Birding in 2012
Sharon Watson
Buxton ND
Subject: Re: Snowy Invasion progress
From: David Lambeth <davidlambeth58201 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:55:10 -0800
I would like to comment on Corey's message. In many years I think the
approximately 70,000 acres of saline grasslands in Grand Forks County ranks
highly for the number of raptors in winter. But not this year! There was a good
Snowy Owl movement in November, but they have been very scarce since. It's not
for a lack of effort in looking for them. We also have no Rough-leggeds,
Short-eared Owls, or Northern Harriers. It certainly has not been due to deep
snow cover as until yesterday we had none. I think it is a lack of voles here
and likely the Snowys keep going South to try to find a good food supply. They
are certainly gaining attention in central Illinois and in Kansas.
Vole populations are very cyclical. In the newly published Mammals of North
Dakota by Robert Seabloom (Professor Emeritus, University of North Dakota), he
states on p. 287 that "Like many other voles, meadow vole populations
frequently exhibit "cyclic" fluctuations over periods of two to five years.
Populations can irrupt from less than two to nearly 200 voles per ha, often
within the same year." He goes on to say that breeding occurs from the last
week of March to late November, they have litters of 2-8 after a gestation of
21 days, will breed again while nursing a litter, and a young female can breed
at one month of age. The Grand Forks area probably had high vole populations
judging from the high number of Rough-leggeds we had on the 2010 CBC (30) and
the number of Short-eared Owls on the 2009 CBC (38). So it is logical that
we are now at the bottom of the cycle. BTW Seabloom also states that more
species of predators take meadow voles than any
other American mammal.
Dave Lambeth
Grand Forks, North Dakota
From: Corey Ellingson
To: ND-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 9:12 PM
Subject: [ND-BIRDS] Snowy Invasion progress
Greetings ND-Birders:
I have spoken with a few birders regarding the progress of the Snowy Owl
invasion lately, and it seems that the majority of the birds are now south of
I-94. Some Snowy Owls are further north, but several CBCs missed them, or
counted just one. Near the end of November, an observer was seeing 5 Snowy
Owls a day for a week in the Chase Lake NWR area, but recently none have been
seen.
Meanwhile, here in Bismarck I posted that FIVE Snowy Owls were found on
Saturday Christmas Eve morning within five miles of Mandan in a 2 hour search
and photography session.
Monday (12/26) I had the day off due to Christmas falling on the weekend.
The forecast for wind was 40 mph+ after 10am or so the newscast said and they
were right! I made a run down to Cannonball in SIOUX county at sunrise to
follow up on a Snowy report. I saw FIVE more owls on this day. The
first bird was hovering OVER highway 1806 4.5 miles north of the Cannonball
river. Two birds were in the town of Cannonball, the first on the southwest
corner streetlight, and another a half mile on the north side of town.
Returning home via Hwy 6 a bird was a half mile south of the St. Anthony
turn. Lastly was a bird just off Hwy 6 in the area of the five on
Saturday. There was also a concentration of Rough-legged Hawks (11) along
Hwy 24 from Cannonball to Solen, and a Ferruginous Hawk.
Wednesday (12/28) I received a tip from a coworker in Carson of a Snowy
Owl. In a couple hours searching this afternoon, SEVEN more owls were
observed. Three SNOW were seen in a 10 mile stretch around the curve from
south to west, and south again of Hwy 6 east of Flasher. One bird was in
Grant just west of the Hwy 31 intersection, and two birds in a square mile
northwest of Carson. Also in that area were 13 Rough-legged Hawks and another
Ferruginous Hawk!
In Summary:
Snowy Owl (17) in three days in Morton, Sioux and Grant
Ferruginous Hawk (2) in Sioux and Grant. Prior to 2006 there were no winter
records of this species, and one CBC sighting in 1953. As you recall, I
also observed a Ferg on the Bismarck-Mandan CBC just outside Ft. Lincoln.
Rough-legged Hawk – pocket of 11 east of Solen, 13 area northwest of
Carson. Otherwise, raptors are fairly scarce.
Rusty Blackbird – 5 on the wire south of Mandan next to a feedlot on 12/28
I also want to comment that it seems as though the Snowy Owls are somewhat
bunched, but I am sure this is due to the available food base. Where I have
seen owls, there are also raptors nearby.
For those reading these reports from outside the ND area…. There are no
active “field birders” west of Hwy 83 (Bismarck to Minot) in ND, thus the
reports are somewhat lacking in the west half of the state. I would welcome
any posts from out there.
Good Birding,
Corey Ellingson
Bismarck, ND
Subject: female wood duck
From: Randy Toppen <Randy.J.Toppen AT SENDIT.NODAK.EDU>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:56:38 -0600
1 female wood duck left behind in Valley City. She was sitting on the ice
adjacent to the open water on the Sheynne next to the old Elk's on Main
St. in Valley City. Same spot 12/28 and 12/29. I wasn't in town today.
Also, piliated woodpecker has been hanging around on 5th avenue NW between
4th and 5th streets. Last observed on 12/29 but I've seen it several times
when in town since 12/21. (Great feeder setup on corner of 4th St. and 5th
avenue NW in VC - I have to stop by whenever I'm in town to see who's
around!)
--
Randy J. Toppen, Science Department: Life Science
Valley City High School
460 North Central Avenue
Valley City, ND 58072
701-845-0483 ext 2
http://www.valley-city.k12.nd.us/jrsrhigh/jrsrstaff/jrsrstffpgs/rt.html
randy.j.toppen AT sendit.nodak.edu
Subject: pileated woodpecker
From: Jean Legge <jlegge AT LIVE.COM>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:48:43 -0600
Friday, Dec. 30, 2011
Barnes County
The female pileated woodpecker has been showing up here in the yard fairly
regularly that I've noticed recently. She goes to the suet feeders and the
heated birdbath. She stayed 15 minutes this morning. The local downy woodpecker
did a bluff dive at the pileated this morning, and was ignored.
Otherwise, the only birds around are:
8 pine siskins
6 black-capped chickadees
20 house sparrows
2 white-breasted nuthatches
20 American goldfinches
2 downy woodpeckers
2 hairy woodpeckers
Jean Leggedakotabirding.com3212 115 Ave SEValley City, ND 58072jlegge AT live.com
Subject: Snowy Owl
From: Linda Gregg <n0lg.linda AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:21:18 -0600
I just saw a Snowy Owl on a light post on south 45th Street and 39th Avenue, in
Fargo, on my way home from work, if anyone wants to take a look.
Linda Gregg
Horace, ND
Sent from my iPhone
Subject: Snowy Invasion progress
From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET>
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:12:35 -0600
Greetings ND-Birders:
I have spoken with a few birders regarding the progress of the Snowy Owl
invasion lately, and it seems that the majority of the birds are now south
of I-94. Some Snowy Owls are further north, but several CBCs missed them,
or counted just one. Near the end of November, an observer was seeing 5
Snowy Owls a day for a week in the Chase Lake NWR area, but recently none
have been seen.
Meanwhile, here in Bismarck I posted that FIVE Snowy Owls were found on
Saturday Christmas Eve morning within five miles of Mandan in a 2 hour
search and photography session.
Monday (12/26) I had the day off due to Christmas falling on the weekend.
The forecast for wind was 40 mph+ after 10am or so the newscast said and
they were right! I made a run down to Cannonball in SIOUX county at
sunrise to follow up on a Snowy report. I saw FIVE more owls on this day.
The first bird was hovering OVER highway 1806 4.5 miles north of the
Cannonball river. Two birds were in the town of Cannonball, the first on
the southwest corner streetlight, and another a half mile on the north side
of town. Returning home via Hwy 6 a bird was a half mile south of the St.
Anthony turn. Lastly was a bird just off Hwy 6 in the area of the five on
Saturday. There was also a concentration of Rough-legged Hawks (11) along
Hwy 24 from Cannonball to Solen, and a Ferruginous Hawk.
Wednesday (12/28) I received a tip from a coworker in Carson of a Snowy Owl.
In a couple hours searching this afternoon, SEVEN more owls were observed.
Three SNOW were seen in a 10 mile stretch around the curve from south to
west, and south again of Hwy 6 east of Flasher. One bird was in Grant just
west of the Hwy 31 intersection, and two birds in a square mile northwest of
Carson. Also in that area were 13 Rough-legged Hawks and another
Ferruginous Hawk!
In Summary:
Snowy Owl (17) in three days in Morton, Sioux and Grant
Ferruginous Hawk (2) in Sioux and Grant. Prior to 2006 there were no winter
records of this species, and one CBC sighting in 1953. As you recall, I
also observed a Ferg on the Bismarck-Mandan CBC just outside Ft. Lincoln.
Rough-legged Hawk - pocket of 11 east of Solen, 13 area northwest of Carson.
Otherwise, raptors are fairly scarce.
Rusty Blackbird - 5 on the wire south of Mandan next to a feedlot on 12/28
I also want to comment that it seems as though the Snowy Owls are somewhat
bunched, but I am sure this is due to the available food base. Where I
have seen owls, there are also raptors nearby.
For those reading these reports from outside the ND area.. There are no
active "field birders" west of Hwy 83 (Bismarck to Minot) in ND, thus the
reports are somewhat lacking in the west half of the state. I would
welcome any posts from out there.
Good Birding,
Corey Ellingson
Bismarck, ND
Subject: snowy owl
From: Lillian Crook <lilliancrook AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:49:22 -0600
Saw a snowy owl Christmas Eve morning about ten miles south of Hurdsfield on a
power pole, along Highway 3.
Lillian CrookBismarck
Subject: townsend's solitaire
From: Larry Jones <jljones AT DAKTEL.COM>
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:37:53 -0600
Saw a townsend's solitaire in Bowdon City this morning. Seemed to be
harassing a couple of cedar waxwings.
Larry Jones
Rural Bowdon
Subject: Snowy Owl
From: Linda Gregg <n0lg.linda AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:27:44 -0600
We spotted another Snowy Owl north of Timber Lake, SD. The area is full of
Red-Tailed Hawks and Pheasants also.
Linda Gregg
Sent from my iPhone
Subject: Garrison Dam Saturday
From: Ron Martin <jrmartin AT SRT.COM>
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:07:47 -0600
ND-Birders:
The male Long-tailed Duck was in the tailrace this morning at Garrison Dam.
Among the estimated 170 gulls in the area were 2 Glaucous, 1 Iceland, and an
alternate plumaged Franklin's Gull. The Franklin's Gull was not seen on the CBC
last week.
Good birding,
Ron Martin
Rural Sawyer
Subject: Mandan Snowys
From: Corey Ellingson <crackerjackbirder AT BIS.MIDCO.NET>
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:31:52 -0600
Greetings ND-Birders:
This morning I teamed up with Stacy Whipp who is in town for the holidays
to search for Snowy Owls. I searched the area that had some the last
couple weeks for the CBC. We observed FOUR Snowy Owls in the square
between Hwy 6 and 25th Ave to the west, CR 138 on the north, and CR 138A on
the south. This is 6 square miles. Afterwards we observed the Snowy Owl
that was photographed for the Bismarck Tribune last week - still at the
location 1 mile south of the Veterans Cemetery by Fort Lincoln, also along
CR 138A.
Also seen were two Am. Kestrels, and two Northern Shrikes.
Good Birding,
Corey Ellingson
Bismarck, ND
Subject: snowy owls in Pierce Co., ND
From: Wayne Easley <easley57 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:49:29 -0800
Hi: I observed and photographed a snowy owl yesterday (Dec. 23) about 6 miles
north of Selz, ND. This bird appears to be a full adult bird. While in the
area, there were several voles seen which is a good sign that the owl is
getting food. This has been a concern of mine this winter as we have very few
rough-legged hawks in thevicinityand short-eared owls are scarce. On Sat.
the 17th of Dec., my wife and I found another snowy owl near a sand and
graveloperation to the NW of Harvey. There are several pairs of horned owls,
in and around Harvey, ND (Wells Co.) that are beginning to get serious about
family matters. Enjoy the weather, Wayne Easleyin rural Harvey at
701-324-2344
Subject: Denbigh, ND CBC results
From: "Svingen, Dan -FS" <dsvingen AT FS.FED.US>
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 01:59:17 +0000
Six birders reveled in the beautiful weather today to conduct the Denbigh CBC.
Very little snow. Grass conditions were good; berry crop poor; grain crops were
harvested, some corn and sunflower residual remained. Owling conditions were
clear, calm, and dark.
37 species. Of note were low gamebird & European starling numbers. Lots of owl
action (though a swing and a miss multiple times on the snowy owl who refused
to fly west that 1 measly mile to enter the magical circle). Numbers also good
on common redpoll and purple finch.
2 ring-n. pheasant
52 sharp-t. grouse (last year was 245)
10 wild turkey (landowner said that there were actually 300 in the flock, most
days)
8 bald eagles
1 red-tailed hawk
9 rough-l. hawk
1 prairie falcon
45 rock pigeon
3 ! eastern screech-owl
3 great horned owl
4 ! n. saw-whet owl (all-time ND CBC record?)
1 long-e. owl
9 downy woodpecker
3 hairy woodpecker
1 n. flicker (yellow)
3 n. shrike
29 blue jay
5 black-b. magpie
4 Am. crow
22 ! common raven
59 black-c. chickadee
9 red-br. nuthatch
14 white-br. nuthatch
1 brown creeper
9 ! golden-cr. kinglet
1 Townsend's solitaire
2 Am. robin
1 Eur. starling
4 dark-e. junco (slate-c.)
80 snow bunting
95 ! purple finch
30 house finch
631 ! common redpoll
3 hoary redpoll
7 pine siskin
5 Am. goldfinch
140 house sparrow
Thanks very much to the participants!
Good birding
P.S. My wife and I found a female belted kingfisher along the Missouri R. at
Pioneer Trail (Mandan), yesterday. Based on an assumption that a given bird is
not foraging >2 miles along the river, that would seem to indicate that at
least 3 birds are wintering in Bismarck-Mandan....aah, to have a boat.
dan.
Dan Svingen
Grasslands Biologist
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
US Forest Service
240 W. Century Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 250-4443 ext. 107 (office)
(701) 214-8286 (cell)
Subject: GF-EGF CBC Results
From: David Lambeth <davidlambeth58201 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:23:55 -0800
A downloadable Word file for the count is available at
http://grandcitiesbirdclub.web.officelive.com/ChristmasBirdCount.aspx When
you are on that page, click on 2011. The summary is pasted in below where
some formatting is likely changed. My comments on the count are at the end.
SUMMA
Grand Forks – East Grand Forks CBC
December 18, 2011
Snow Goose CW (2nd record)
Cackling Goose 20 (1st record)
Canada Goose 3005 (highest ever)
Mallard
29
Lesser Scaup 1 (3rd record)
Common Goldeneye 1 (4th record)
Common Merganser 1 (1st record)
Gray Partridge 37
Ring-necked Pheasant 4
Sharp-tailed Grouse 35
Greater Prairie-Chicken 4
American White Pelican CW (1st record)
Bald Eagle 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel CW
Merlin 1
Rock Pigeon 1340
Eurasian Collared-dove 4
Mourning Dove 2
Eastern Screech-owl 1
Great Horned Owl 5
Snowy Owl CW
N. Saw-whet Owl CW
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 39
Hairy Woodpecker 36
Northern Flicker
2
Pileated Woodpecker 7 (highest
ever)
Northern Shrike
3
Blue Jay
19
Black-billed Magpie 4
American Crow
532 (highest ever)
Horned
Lark
2
Black-capped Chickadee 263
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 94
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
American Robin
14
European Starling
319
Cedar
Waxwing 26
Eastern Towhee
1 (3rd record)
White-throated Sparrow 5
Harris’s
Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed (Slate-col) Junco 200 (2nd highest)
Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco CW
Lapland Longspur CW
Snow Bunting
12
Northern Cardinal 3
Purple Finch
3
House Finch
253
Common Redpoll
3
Pine Siskin
183
American Goldfinch 18
House Sparrow
434 (very low)
Total of 49 species on Count Day. Seven additional species plus one race
(Oregon Junco) were observed during Count Week, making a total of 56 species.
Total number of individuals = 6961.
Observers: 26 observers in field in 14 parties, plus 18 observers at
feeders. Time and Distance: 32 hours at feeders; 1.5 hours and 10 miles
owling (nocturnal). Total party-hours = 73 and total party miles = 698 ( 18
hours and 25 miles on foot; 51 hours and 669 miles by car; 25 miles and 4
hours on bicycle).
Participants in Field:
Sandy Aubol, Corey Bergsrud, Betsy Batstone-Cunningham, Charlie Christianson,
Don Croeker, Greg Cain, Jane Croeker, Tim Driscoll, Ann Flower, Erik Fritzell,
Eve Freeberg, Will Gosnold, Deb Hanson, Frank Kelley, Mike Jacobs, Cec
Lambeth, Dave Lambeth, Gladwin Lynne, Bette Olson, Ed Olson, Steve Rossiter,
Bob Seabloom, Pat Wilber, Russ Wilber, Bill Zaks, Deb Zaks
Feeder Watchers:, Tim Aubol, David Berg, Charlie Christianson, Ann Flower,
Perky Hertel, Mike and Cathy Kamedula, Dave Lambeth, Doug Peters, Rhonda
Poellot, Bev Rosencrans, Paul Ray, Nancy Swerdlow, Virginia Stewart, Keith
Trzynka, Julia Wallin, Russ Wilbur, Deb Zaks
Weather: Temperature range: 25 to 51 deg F. Winds southerly in AM switching
to northwest in afternoon, 10-17 mph. Mostly cloudy. No snow cover.
Conditions: Field crops within the circle had been completely harvested and the
acreage tilled in preparation for planting season next spring. Good crop of
crabapples and mountain ash. Small patches of open water were present at Kellys
Slough, below the dams on the Red and Red Lake Rivers, and Grand Forks
lagoons.
Comments:
The 51st Grand Forks – East Grand Forks CBC was conducted under
record-breaking temperatures (high of 51 deg F), and with no snow coverage.
This was likely the most thorough census ever within the circle because all
minimum maintenance roads could be driven, all of the greenway trails were
either walked or biked, and there were no impediments to covering city streets
and alleys. Although 49 species is the 3rd highest number for count day, it was
widely perceived by both observers in the country and in the city as well as
feeder watchers that birds were very scarce this year. Very few birds were seen
at feeders and open country was mostly devoid of birds. Due to a sizeable patch
of open water at the Grand Forks lagoons, many geese were present including a
first count record for Cackling Goose. The estimated 3000 Canada Geese broke
the previous high by nearly 100-fold and was the most abundant species on the
count. Three species of ducks were present at
the lagoons, and a female Common Merganser in a spring-fed pool at Kellys
Slough provided a first count record. Another first count record was American
White Pelican, seen off and on at the lagoons during count week but not on
count day. Where this bird spent its time when away from the lagoons is a
mystery. Open field birds such as Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, Horned Lark,
and blackbirds were all but absent. This could have been due to the complete
harvest and subsequent tillage made possible by the very dry fall. Also absent
(except for one Snowy Owl at the end of count week) were grassland raptors that
forage on voles. A strong movement of Common Redpolls and Snowy Owls earlier in
the fall did not result in good numbers at the time of the Christmas Bird
Count. Except for Sandy and Tim Aubol’s remarkable feeding station in East
Grand Forks, where the count’s 3rd Eastern Towhee, two Harris’s Sparrows,
and one White-throated Sparrow were
present, nothing unusual was seen within the two cities. This counters the
frequent assumption that a mild fall leads to survival and lingering of
semi-hardy species. Highest ever counts were recorded for American Crow and
Pileated Woodpecker, which could be more a reflection of the extensive coverage
than an actual increase in population.
Dave Lambeth
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Subject: Snowy Owl
From: Linda Gregg <n0lg.linda AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:53 -0600
On the way to South Dakota, 10 miles east of Flasher, ND, we spotted a huge
Snowy Owl. Got a couple of pictures, but then it flew. Cool bird.
Linda and Joe Gregg
Horace, ND
Sent from my iPhone
Subject: Jamestown Christmas Bird Count results
From: Lawrence D Igl <ligl AT USGS.GOV>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:34:23 -0600
Below are the results of the Jamestown Christmas Bird Count, which
occurred on Friday, 16 December. Overall, bird numbers seemed low.
Observers reported 44 species during count day, and two additional species
(Eastern Screech Owl and Black-crowned Night-Heron) during count week.
Thank you to everyone who participated.
Black-crowned Night-Heron: cw (2)
Canada Goose: 1
Snow Goose: 3
Mallard: 51
Northern Pintail: 1
Northern Shoveler: 2
Unidentified accipiter: 1
Prairie Falcon: 1
Merlin: 2
American Kestrel: 1
Sharp-tailed Grouse: 51
Ring-necked Pheasant: 31
Wild Turkey: 34
Rock Pigeon: 273
Eurasian Collared-Dove: 10
Great Horned Owl: 8
Short-eared Owl: 1
Eastern Screech Owl: cw (1)
Belted Kingfisher: 1
Downy Woodpecker: 31
Hairy Woodpecker: 13
Northern Flicker : 4
Horned Lark: 9
Blue Jay: 23
American Crow: 174
Black-capped Chickadee: 165
White-breasted Nuthatch: 23
Brown Creeper: 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet : 9
American Robin: 5
Townsend?s Solitaire: 1
Bohemian Waxwing: 7
Cedar Waxwing : 158
Northern Shrike: 4
European Starling: 79
American Tree Sparrow : 6
Lapland Longspur: 73
Snow Bunting: 43
Dark-eyed Junco: 40
Red-winged Blackbird: 1
Common Grackle: 3
House Finch: 30
Purple Finch: 2
Pine Siskin: 10
American Goldfinch: 88
House Sparrow: 741
Number of individuals (Count Day): 2215
Number of species/forms (Count Day): 44
Number of observers: 19
Observers: Stacy Adolf-Whipp, Russ Bryant, Dan Buchanan, Tom Buhl, Rachel
Bush, Charlie Dahl, Corey Ellingson, Rhianna Golden, Lynn Hill, Larry Igl
(compiler), Jordan Neau, Sarah Paycer, Pamela Pietz, John Lokemoen, Wesley
Newton, Megan Ring, Jill Shaffer, Amy Timm, and Mark Wiltermuth.
**************************************************************
Lawrence D. Igl, PhD
Research Ecologist
U.S.G.S. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
8711 37th Street SE
Jamestown, North Dakota 58401-7317
Phone: 701-253-5511
Fax: 701-253-5553
E-mail: ligl AT usgs.gov
Internet: www.npwrc.usgs.gov
**************************************************************
Subject: Bismarck-Mandan, 20 Dec
From: "Svingen, Dan -FS" <dsvingen AT FS.FED.US>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:03:37 +0000
I had a male northern pintail and a belted kingfisher at the Heskit Power
Plant, Mandan, yesterday. I was unable to relocate the belted kingfisher found
on the recent CBC at Fox Island boat ramp, nor have I been able to sex either
bird. Due to the fact that several (~5) river miles separate the two locations,
however, it seems very likely that we are hosting at least two birds this
winter. Very interesting.
Good birding. dan.
Dan Svingen
Grasslands Biologist
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
US Forest Service
240 W. Century Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 250-4443 ext. 107 (office)
(701) 214-8286 (cell)
Subject: Belted Kingfisher
From: Buchanan Law Office <bulaw AT DAKTEL.COM>
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:48:17 -0600
While walking on the roadway below Jamestown Dam on Sunday 12-18-11, I saw a
Belted Kingfisher dart out from the opposite bank, dive and splash, then fly
back to the river bank out of sight. That was the latest in the year I've seen
one around here. Too bad we were probably beyond count week for the Jamestown
CBC.
Dan Buchanan
Box 879
Jamestown, ND 58402
Tel. (701) 252-6604
Fax (701) 952-4757
bulaw AT daktel.com
|
