May 6, 2010 Explore Minnesota Birding Report
The month of May can be one of the busiest and most exciting times for birders, with an abundance of migratory activity and subsequent special birding events and activities. Highlights include a Warbler Weekend at Villa Maria on Lake Pepin near Frontenac, located right on the Missisippi flyway, May 7?9; the Urban Bird Festival at various metro area birding sites, May 13-16; and the Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds in Detroit Lakes, May 20-23.
Birders have a special opportunity to contribute to the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA). BBAs are used throughout the world to document and map the distribution of breeding birds. Surveyors record evidence of breeding status for each species observed, and volunteers are needed to help gather data. Everyone is eligible to participate. Detailed information about the atlas and becoming a surveyor is available at the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas web site.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On April 30, Andrew Beerman reported that two male Eurasian Tree Sparrows were seen briefly near Oslo in Olmsted County. Though the birds have not been seen since, directions from town are to head south on State Highway 30 for seven miles to the farm on right side of the road at fire call 29611.
On May 2, Phil Chu found a Laughing Gull in Stearns County, but the bird has apparently left the area and has not appeared since. The gull had been on the northwest side of Lake Koronis near Paynesville, and was seen from Stearns County Road 181, roughly half a mile north of its intersection with Crest Ridge Road.
Andrew Nyhus photographed a White-Eyed Vireo on the 2nd of May in Winona County. It was in the city of Winona along Prairie Island Road at its junction with the McNally Landing access road. This is about two miles northwest of Riverview Drive. Another White-Eyed Vireo was found by Nels Thompson on the 5th in Steele County, one and one-half miles east of the town of Hope. No further information has been provided.
At Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County, Al Schirmacher reported two White-Faced Ibis on May 1 near the corner of 390th and 155th, one mile or so south of the headquarters building. On the same day, Bob Dunlap found two more ibis at a Wildlife Management Area one mile north of the town of Nicollet, in Nicollet County, on the east side of Highway 111.
On May 3, Nancy Jackson reported a Piping Plover at Twin Lakes in northern St. Louis County. Peder Svingen found two in Duluth on the 2nd, just south of the Sky Harbor Airport on Park Point, as well as an American Avocet at nearby Interstate Island.
Cindy Krienke found a Northern Mockingbird on the 2nd, roughly two miles west of Elysian on Le Sueur County Road 11 near fire call 1972. Another was found by Linda Whyte at the substation in the town of Empire, in Dakota County, also on the 2nd.
As many as 327 Willets were found by Conny Brunell on April 30 at Lake Byllesby in Dakota County, along with a dozen American Avocets, a few Hudsonian Godwits, and a White-Faced Ibis. Other migrants reported in the past week were Swainson's Hawk, Common Moorhen, Semipalmated Plover, Long-Billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Phalarope, Common Tern, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-Headed Vireo, Cliff Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, Blue-Winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Lincoln's Sparrow, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, and Orchard Oriole.
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by and financially supported by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. The report is composed from reports submitted by MOU members and other birders throughout the state. You can support this weekly birding update by submitting your bird reports to Anthony Hertzel at axhertzel@sihope.com or by calling the hotline directly at 763-780-8890 and leaving a detailed message. MOU members receive the organization's quarterly journal "The Loon," and the bi-monthly magazine, "Minnesota Birding." For membership information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at membership@moumn.org
"The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
