Monthly Archives: December 2015

Ski Birding … Back in Business!

Over 1/2 foot of snow today! Still coming down. Set tracks up at my public bird feeders off Old Vermilion Trail (access map and ski trail data). I would have taken photographs, but a country work crew arrived as I was completing my ski. Good news! They are putting boulders at the entrance to my trails. Thus, no snowmobiles! They were happy to finally meet me … I am known as “squirrel man” because of my feeders. They also enjoy the birds!

On another note, try following Project Snowstorm this winter. It is a great organization which tracks Snowy Owls through a banding and radio transmitter system. Worth reading their latest blog post. The Snowy Owl apparently flew right over Duluth on the way from its summer range to wintering in central Wisconsin. Wonder if it is a snowy I saw a few weeks ago, and then could not relocated? Here is the map showing the route the Snowy Owl took.
Buena-Vista-June-6-2014

December Minnesota Birding News

Two important items with respect to December birding news:

  • As of yesterday the Sax-Zim Bog Visitor Center opened for another season of winter birding. I’ll be working next weekend, December 19th and 20th as a volunteer naturalist. Hope to see you in the Bog!
  • Help out with this year’s Minnesota Christmas Bird Count. Openings across the state!

Finally, my Snowy Owl which I discovered on Friday, was banded sometime in the past two days. Found the same bird on the same exact roost, but now with a huge wing band and shoe polish on its head. Why? There must be better ways to band which do not disfigure the bird.

Sunday … Snowy Owl with wing band and shoe polish on head
Y2-M12-Spectre-Snowy-Owl-5-Banded

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Friday … Snowy Owl w/o band or head polish
Spectre-Snowy-Owl-1-Corral