Who Cooks for Youuuu?!!

Year 13

Many folks have asked me if I have another children’s picture book planned, and the answer has been “sort of”. My desire has been to write & photograph a new owl picture book (and give away the PDF version) with the title … Who Cooks for Youuu?!! My basic theme would be about wildlife and their mom’s who feed the youngsters. Anyhow I have been in search of a Barred Owl nest which would help me increase my number of Barred Owl images. This morning that goal came a bit closer. Remember, anyone may currently download a free PDF copy of my prior owl children’s picture books.

Images and Video (movie link for subscribers) were taken shortly after sunrise this morning … only one Barred Owlet is out of the nest cavity at this point. Flying is some time off in the future. Mom was protecting her owlet from a nasty crow.

Moose & Bear Birding

Year 13

One does not head out birding with the aim of seeing moose or bears, but advance research enhances your probability of seeing either of these fine mammals. I spend lots of time on hikes or slowly driving back roads looking for wildlife signs (scat, tracks, trodden game trails, etc.). Using my trailcams helps me  learn/confirm whether an area is good bird and mammal habitat habitat. Remember, wetlands … bogs … and streams are fantastic food factories. In addition, most mammals prefer not to get their feet or bodies wet, and will use “dry choke points” to cross very wet spots.

With those thoughts in mind, and research done as noted over the past few weeks, in the past few days I have seen one bear, and four moose in the wild (not at or near my birdfeeders). Please note, wild animals should not to be feared. However always ensure you do not get between a mom and her young, which is about the only time Minnesota’s wildlife might get aggressive. Further commenting, unlike Grizzly Bears, Black Bears are mild natured.

Enjoy my images … it was fun to watch Momma Moose and her young, and early in the season the large Black Bear was at the top of a very tall aspen tree … eating aspen leaves and just emerging leaves.

I also enjoyed watching this Moose family. The two calves were obviously quite young.

My trailcams were active. Poppa Moose actually fogged up my trailcam in the daytime images … (video links for blog subscribers: one | two | three)

And I said this was Moose and Bear Birding … thus the birds … American Goldfinch, Blue Jay and Solitary Sandpiper … walking the Greenwood Bog Trail.

Puddle Power Birding!

Year 13

Today is sunny, but the past two days have been cold, dreary, wet and foggy. Each night saw significant rainfall in Northeastern Minnesota. Who would want to go birding in these conditions? Me!

As sometimes happens after heavy rains large puddles form in the parking lot for the Park Point Recreation Area. One area in particular has lots of potholes, gets very little automobile traffic and I have learned birds hiding from the wind blowing in off Lake Superior decide the big parking lot puddle is great habitat … think drowning bugs which make for easy meals.

While i did not see lots of birds, the puddle came through with some rare shorebirds working their way north to the Arctic (rare for Minnesota). Thus, I give you Puddle Power Birding. I was thrilled to see Short-Billed Dowitcher, a Wilson’s Phalarope, and the not so rare Great Yellowlegs.

Puddle Power Birding … the Movie (video link for blog email subscribers)