All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Northern Hawk Owl Sticks the Landing!

Year 11

Even the East German judge had to give my friend, the Northern Hawk Owl, a perfect 10.0! Two afternoons ago I drove over to Sax-Zim Bog and had a great time with the Northern Hawk Owl. The crowds have now left the Bog, and I had this experience all to myself! Thankfully, this owl is one of our last real northern birds to head back up into Canada. Often Northern Hawk Owls will hang out till around till early April. In addition, this is about the only raptor that I am not able to determine when it will takeoff. Finally, this bird is fast. Blink and it is gone.

Thus, while definitely there is a lot of skill involved in taking these images, I will not lie and must admit there is plenty of luck involved. One of my favorite podcasts is “How I Built This” from NPR with the host Guy Raz. At the end of each episode, he asks the entrepreneur whom he is interviewing: “What percentage of your success do you attribute to skill vs luck?” For the moment, I refuse to answer that question. LOL!

Northern Hawk Owl Nails the Landing!

Just hanging out … soon to be in flight

The Flight and Landing (note the shadows!)

Hanging out once more on a nearby perch

Spring Northern Migration in Progess

Year 11,

Even here in northern Minnesota, the Spring Migration has started. In the last two weeks I have seen many Trumpeter Swans, Snow Buntings, Rough-Legged Hawks and Bald Eagles working their way northward. All of these species of birds are first arrivals to breeding grounds, and many breed upon the Arctic tundra. While those of you who live south of Minnesota already have open lakes and rivers (assuming they ever froze), up here we pay attention to ice out. Some waterfowl will use open water in rivers during migration (ice free before lakes), but many birds prefer to wait for open water on regional lakes. Ice free lakes generally equate to the start of more available food. If a river tracks generally

The Minnesota DNR has an excellent resource for determining ice out dates … essentially in real time. Even if the lake in which you are most interested is not listed, there will always be a nearby lake that you may check for ice conditions. If you follow the march north of ice out, you will get an excellent idea about where to look for the leading edges of significant bird migration. Just remember, all birds will want to ride strong winds out of the south.

Here is the link to the Minnesota DNR Ice -Out Resource and two annotated screenshots to help you understand the tool. I prefer to use a device with a larger screen.

And of course, what would any post be w/o a few images. I saw this immature Bald Eagle and Ruffed Grouse 3 days ago during an earlier morning bird at Sax-Zim Bog.

Bohemian Waxwings ID’d by my Haikubox!

Year 11

500+ Bohemian Waxwings stopped by for lunch yesterday. I was peacefully eating my own sandwich, oblivious to the outside world when my Haikubox notifications went off on my phone. I stepped over to the window, and Uff Dah! It was a mass feeding frenzy 50 yards away. The Bohemians quickly stripped the mountain ash trees in my yard of their berries, and then moved across the road to a large stand of buckthorn (interesting study from the University of Minnesota on Buckthorn and Birds) stripping those trees of their fruit in minutes.

So what the heck is a Haikubox? The answer is … a small device that listens 24×7 to birdsong and is hooked up to the Cornell School of Ornithology. I choose the species about which I wish to be notified, like Bohemian Waxwings, but not Black-Capped Chickadees. I like the little guys, but given my seven bird feeders, my phone would be sounding constantly with notifications. Instead I choose to be notified about any new specie, birds returning during the spring or fall migration, and my local favorites (like my local Great Horned Owls). You may wish to read my full Haikubox review. As always I receive ZERO compensation for any birding device I review, or any other financial consideration.

Bohemian Waxwings of Amity Creek

Bohemians … the Movie! (video link for email subscribers)

In total I watched the waxwings for over an hour. After they stripped the trees of their fruit in my yard, and across the road next to Amity Creek, they moved upstream. I followed for about 1.5 miles eventually finding a small bridge behind which I could hide and use as a bird blind.

Near my yard

Upstream by the bridge

If you’re still with me, here is a screenshot of my Haikubox notifications and my hiding spot next to the bridge. The Bohemian Waxwings would fly by under the span and land on the ice near me.