All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Moose Madness at Greenwood

Year 12

Yesterday was a “work day” deep in the Greenwood Boreal Forest Bog. I wanted to set up and drop off my BirdNET-Pi birdsong listening device, and tweak locations/settings of my four trailcams. Given it had been two weeks since I had hiked into this wilderness area, I also swapped out simm cards. Oh my … make sure you watch the two videos of Poppa Moose! He has now moved into the area which is not surprising given all the females and the impending rut.  I have seen 8 moose in person over the summer but Poppa is much bigger than the males I have seen. One cool aside, I met the US Forest Service Ranger / Biologist with responsibility for this region. Given his research priorities and my personal focuses upon Greenwood, this is a nice meetup!

One fun aspect of the morning was having this Broad-Winged Hawk hunt near me for about 15 minutes while I was hiking into the bog. I have watched this family of hawks since late spring. Note the amount of color in the leaves already. Fall is well underway and this hawk will migrate south real soon.

In Search of Cooks!

Year 12

Did you know Bert and Betty, the Barred Owls have been waiting for me to pen an owl children’s book about their family? I have one problem … I have not been able to find the happy couple’s home. I have looked far and wide in the Duluth area for Bert and Betty without success. Now I may have a candidate couple at my cabin. Through my cabin’s new bird song listening device, BirdNET-Pi, I have learned there are Barred Owls at Northstar Lake. Last night they were recorded 45 times asking who was my cook! This would be too cool if I am able to find this happy couple. (my cabin’s listening station)

Just in case I don’t find this loving couple’s home, I would welcome help in the Duluth area. Barred Owls tend to nest in tree cavities. I would need access to your property from this time of year (courting / defining territory) through next June (Owlets fledging).

Marymoor Park Gardens

Year 12

This is the time of year to visit your local community garden. Flowers are now “going to seed” and vegetables are ready for harvest, which means FOOD FOR BIRDS! Earlier in the summer these gardens don’t have lots of birds as the food factory has not yet started up, but in early Fall … Uff Dah!

I love to visit the community garden at Marymoor Park. The number of birds at this Seattle area park is amazing, and the colors of late blossoming vegetables and flowers is beautiful. Fall migration can make for phenomenal numbers of birds at these green oases. Find your owl local community garden. I also find that the few garden plot owners out tending their plants always enjoy brief conversations, and have a love of birds. Photo Ops of even common birds become dramatic!

Marymoor Park Gardens

Coopers Hawk … amazed that the 50+ crows around left this raptor alone. The hawk was hunting songbirds and rodents.

American Crow and Sunflowers

Annas Hummingbird (the light was not good for flight shots … thus I slowed down the exposure which allows for neat exposures)

Black-Capped Chickadee

Dark-Eyed Junco (Oregon Plumage)

House Finch (female)

Song Sparrow

Spotted Towhee (last image is a juvenile)

White-Crowned Sparrow