EXPLORE MINNESOTA BIRDING REPORT - MARCH 31, 2011
During the month of April, watch for breeding displays by ducks, greater prairie-chickens and sharp-tailed grouse on their breeding grounds. This is also a great time to view shorebird migration to shallow wetlands and mudflats throughout the state. And all loon-lovers should check out the Common Loon migration page. Click on Loon #55480 to view Saint John's Abbey's summer resident loon "Big John" to see his amazing journey from the waters at St. John's University to the Gulf of Mexico and back again - he's nearly home!
The following information has been provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. This report is brought to you by ExploreMinnesota.com.
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With the cold weather, the influx of migrants has slowed, and migration activity consists of mostly waterfowl. The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On March 27, Jim Lind found an Audubon's Warbler at Lighthouse Point in Two Harbors in Lake County. It was foraging on the ground and in the conifers on the east side of the fence surrounding the lighthouse.
On March 28, John Cyrus counted 680 Tundra Swans in southwestern Carver County. On the 30th, the total had almost doubled to 1341.
Migrants reported over the last few days include Golden Eagle, Wilson's Snipe, Ring-Billed Gull, Short-Eared Owl, Eastern Phoebe, Swamp Sparrow, and Rusty Blackbird.
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. To submit a bird sighting, email Anthony Hertzel at axhertzel@gmail.com.
