Explore Minnesota Birding Report Update March 2, 2012
The months of February and March offer a chance to see many owls not normally seen when trees are filled with leaves. Look for snowy, boreal, great gray and northern hawk-owls. And don't miss the upcoming Festival of Owls held March 2-4 at the Houston Elementary School in the city of Houston in southeast Minnesota's bluff country region. This is the only full weekend, all-owl event in North America, and includes owling field trips, live owl programs, an Owl Face pancake breakfast, Owl Nest Box Building, owl photography contests, children's activities & face painting, a Kids' Owl Calling contest, Alice's Hatch-Day Party, live auction, World Owl Hall of Fame Award presentations, owl merchandise vendors, educational booths & displays, Owl Systematics by Professor Michael Wink, and a banquet & social hour! This very popular event draws people from throughout the world!
The following information has been provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and their affiliates. This report is brought to you by ExploreMinnesota.com.
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The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
Three Long-Tailed Ducks were seen at Agate Bay in Two Harbors, in Lake County, on March 1st.
On February 25th, a Townsend's Solitaire was at Montissippi Park in Wright County. It was near the trail that runs along the river from the sliding hill parking lot. Another was found by Mike Hendrickson on the 28th in Grand Marais, in Cook County, at 3rd Avenue and 1st Street.
A Carolina Wren continues to be seen at the Wild River State Park Visitor Center feeders in Chisago County where it has been since December 10th. And the Varied Thrush was seen again on the 1st at the feeders at a home on the 6200 block of East Superior Street in Duluth--birders are welcome to stop by, but are asked to stay between the driveway and the back door, and not walk into the backyard.
Spring migrants reported over the last week include Cackling Goose, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Ring-Necked Duck, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Horned Lark, and Red-Winged Blackbird.
