All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Battling Birds of Sherburne

Year 10

Oh my what a difference escaping Lake Superior makes in terms of climate. Earlier this week at home we had one day where even at high noon the temperature was 39F, and getting above 50F was impossible. Now I am 175 miles south for a family gathering and early summer is in full swing. Thus, at 5:30 yesterday morning I left for Wildlife Drive in the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. The prairie lupine were in full bloom, and in the early morning sun the fields were alive in purple. Prince would have been happy! The water level is high, and the reeds have not grown high blocking easy birdwatching.

Given courting is in force, the birds were singing and fighting. Some of the earlier nesting birds took umbrage when other birds got too close. The first fight on the card was between Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese. Normally the swans force the geese to move, but the trumpeters did not take into account an early hatch and brood for the geese. They fought back hard and encouraged the swans to move on.

The Fight!

The Vanquished Deliver a Bronx Cheer!

The next conflict on the morning’s fight card was between a flock of Sandhill Cranes and Red-Winged Blackbirds. Even given the HUGE size difference the blackbirds eventually forced the cranes to move.

Next it was time out from the fighting to enjoy a lifer singing its heart out in front of the prairie lupines … a Grasshopper Sparrow.

And then the real reason I had ventured forth to Sherburne, Yellow-Headed Blackbirds. The males were singing and staking out territories. I don’t think any females had yet arrived on the breeding grounds.

R.I.P. Fuzz Ball

Year 10

Fuzz Ball wanted to be free, and this morning the little owlet flew to its maker. Yesterday the little guy decided it was time to branch, which was made difficult because its temporary nest was not in the reach of branches. Yesterday morning after two attempts at placing Fuzz Ball in a pine tree yesterday morning only to see the Great Horned Owlet fall repeatedly to the ground, I returned it to its chair nest. However, just before sunset yesterday evening once Fuzz Ball jumped again to the ground and was off to explore. I knew putting the bird back up in its temporary nest was useless. It would just jump/fall again. Instead I relocated it on the ground deep in a protected bunch of deadfall. Given the parents were hooting at me, I knew they were well aware of the owlet’s location.

This morning I went hiking at 5:15 am, but could not find FuzzBall in the protected area. After a thorough search I found the owlet 100 yards away, next to a hiking path. I left the owlet for 20 minutes to return home and get some supplies. Upon my return I discovered Fuzz Ball had become prey … I suspect for some local foxes. While sad, staying in the wild under the care of its parents was Fuzz Ball’s best opportunity to live free. Unfortunately its real nest was too high to reach safely.

It is worth reading yesterday’s blog post, Fuzz Ball falls again, and again, and again.

R.I.P. Fuzz Ball

  • Nest discovered: March 11th
  • First Family Portrait of Fuzz Ball and its Mom: May 5th
  • Fuzz Ball Falls Out of Real Nest: May 15th
  • Fuzz Ball Dies: May 26th

Videos (links for email subscribers)

Fuzz Ball Falls Again, and Again, and Again …

Year 10

At 7:00 this morning I visited Fuzz Ball. I cheered when I realized the young owl was now starting to branch! (chair?). The sooner the little guy gets back up high in a white pine tree the better.  Here is an image from my morning visit.

Later this morning before heading out to an appointment, I visited Fuzz Ball again. I wanted to measure the distance from the owl platform nest I had constructed to a white pine with some branches which is near by. Could I build a “branch” between the two pines?

Fuzz Ball was not in its new nest! I scanned its white pine and the nearby tree. No Fuzz Ball. Oh my word, what had happened? I first feared a predator had caught my little friend, but the parent owls always seem to be watching. After a few minutes I saw Fuzz Ball on the ground about 50 yards distant. I investigated.  The young owl was not injured but was still not able to fly. I wondered if I placed the owlet in the pine with branches would it now be able to climb up high. Here is Fuzz Ball on the ground.

Unfortunately I discovered that not only can Fuzz Ball not yet fly, but the thin branches  on the nearby pine tree were also problematic. I placed the owlet twice directly on a branch, and watched in dismay as it promptly got into trouble and fell again  … twice. Eventually I returned Fuzz Ball to its manufactured nest. All is quiet once more in the forest, but here are two photos taken moments before the owlet’s second fall. Once again, I had placed FuzzBall directly on the branch.

Here are two videos from this morning.

As a fyi, Great Horned Owls often nest in locations where it is impossible to branch. The owlets must fly when they venture forth for the first time. I have seen nests with owlets under bridges, in barn rafters, and in the crooks of cactus trees. None of these owlets had branches upon which to explore.