Monthly Archives: May 2022

Western Grebes Dancing!

Year 9

Have you ever seen Western Grebes Dancing? If not, or you would just like to see this great spectacle once again, I have personally arranged a tour conducted by the locals on Lake Osakis (west central Minnesota … Osakis, Minnesota). For years the Grebes have danced as they courted on Lake Osakis. While there is no charge to take the boat tour (an 11 passenger pontoon boat), a donation to the Alexandria Area Let’s Go Fishing organization is HIGHLY encouraged! There is NO guarantee the Grebes will dance for us, but we will be visiting during the window when mating normally occurs.

You MUST contact me by email ASAP, and the spots are on a first come, first serve basis. My email address is RichardHoeg{at sign}GMail.com. You should be able to figure the email address out, but automated webbots cannot!

Basic details (specific details provided upon confirmation):

  • Wednesday, May 25th at 9:30 am on Lake Osakis (meet at 9:15 am)
  • Depending upon demand, another tour might run in the early afternoon.
  • No bad weather dates!

Photo Credit: Audubon.Org

A Good Birding Day!

Year 9

I should have known that yesterday would be a good birding day when one of the Great Horned Owl parents visited my yard at 3 am and hooted away for over 15 minutes. With my windows open I often awake to hooting, and then quickly fall back asleep. It is truly relaxing.

I decided if the parents were willing to visit me, I should be sociable in turn. Shortly before sunset I hiked over to the nest and the owlets were showing they were siblings who would friends forever!

Once I walked home, I thought my birding was done, but with the last light of day a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker visited one of the three prime drumming trees in my yard. In total, yesterday all of these woodpecker species took a turn at drumming on the tree. I’m getting pretty good at knowing which species is visiting based upon the syncopation  of the beat. My drumming tree visits were from:

  • Downy Woodpeckers
  • Hairy Woodpeckers
  • Northern Flicker (seems to be a favorite catch for my owls)
  • Pileated Woodpeckers
  • Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
  • Yellow-Bellied Woodpeckers (pictured below)

 

Crows Attacked Mom Great Horned Owl!

Year 9

The crows attacked Mom Great Horned Owl this morning (quite a regular occurance). She seemed quited nonplussed by it all, and some of these black birds may end up being tonight’s snack for the owlets. This could be one HUGE reason why the crows always try to drive the owls out of the neighborhood (w/o success) (video link for email subscribers of the crow attack).

Mom just prior to the crow attack in a tree near the nest

Now in a distant White Pine. Mom even starts to preen, but at one point the crows get a bit too close!

The expression seems to say … you’re back?? You are a bother!

And the youngsters. Images are from yesterday evening.