Yesterday evening I had the rare opportunity to go birding. Our family schedule normally does not allow me to be away as the sun sets in the west. I made one final trip to the Wisconsin Grasslands in the hope that I might see some Red Headed Woodpecker chicks, but there was still no sign (or sound) of young at the nest hole. Last year I saw woodpecker chicks at various nest holes on June 29th. Here we are on July 9th and neither of the two woodpecker families I have been monitoring have chicks.
Why the last trip to see Red? Early Tuesday morning Molly and I head west for a week’s vacation with our children followed by our bike tour through the mountains of British Columbia to the Pacific.
Clear deep blue skies beckoned at 5:00 am which forced me to get out of bed, eat a quick bowl of cereal and drive the 35 miles from my house in northeastern Minnesota to the northern Wisconsin Grasslands near Cloverland. Just like my visit two days ago, hanging out down next to the swamp was a bug free experience (amazing).
For 90 minutes I watched the Red-Headed Woodpecker hole. Did you know that before the chicks are fledged, the mom seems to come out or her hole approximately every 15 minutes for a quick preen and flight? After a minute or two, it is back into the tree. Thus, in my time with “Red” I had six photo ops, followed by a lot of waiting.
After my quality time with the Red-Headed Woodpeckers, I moved two miles down the road to the Roy P. Johnson Mitigation Wetlands which is where I found this Bobolink hunting breakfast for its young. Returning home to Duluth, I even beat the thunderstorm which rolled into the area and drenched everything. Life is good!
I have been having fun this summer watching Red Headed Woodpeckers over in the Cloverland / Wisconsin Grasslands region just off Wisc. Hwy #13. As this kind of woodpecker is rarely seen in Boreal forests near my home in Northeastern Minnesota, the 35 mile drive to Cloverland is always fun and worthwhile given the different habitat and birds I experience.
This morning I stood at the edge of a swamp and watched this Red Headed Woodpecker at its nest hole. No chicks were present, but they should stick their heads out of the hole any day now. Even better, the bugs were not bad down next to the swamp.
Hugh thanks to Frank Nicoletti and the Wisconsin Breeding Atlas folks. Frank was doing a count for the Atlas and was kind enough to share the location on Green Acres Road.
Ah … summer in the Northwoods. Molly and I are spending quality time at our small Northstar Lake cabin. Our lake is far enough north that the small stream that empties from Northstar actually starts the water on its journey to Hudson’s Bay!
After dinner last night I asked my wife if she wanted to go birding with me. Normally the answer to this question is always “no”, but when birding actually meant “looning” I received an enthusiastic “yes” (read Molly’s account of looning). A short boat ride in our ancient smaller fishing boat (no ski boat for this guy) brought us within 100 yards of a pair of Loons and their chicks. Up here near the Minnesota Canadian border loon chicks have just hatched. I cut the engine and we started our slow drift towards the birds. Making certain never to stand up given a higher profile might disturb the loons, I worked our boat towards the loons using a canoe paddle. We stopped 25 yards away from the family, and thus began a delightful 1/2 hour with the Loons of Northstar Lake. Our slow approach had not frightened the loon family, and they proceeded with the evening fish and feed. At times the male loon, which was doing the hunting / fishing, would surface within a few yards of our boat. It would rest on the surface for 20 seconds and then dive again.
We could also hear the chicks and Mom softly communicating with one another. Every few minutes we would suddenly see air bubbles and a “V” wake working it’s way towards the Mom and chicks. The dad would then pop to the surface and deliver small minnows for the chick’s supper.
Twas truly a magic evening. We did not wish to overstay our welcome. Grabbing the canoe paddle I worked our way a bit more distant from the birds … started the outboard … and slowly started back to the cabin.
I hope you enjoy these photographs and videos of the Common Loon Family of Northstar Lake!
