Category Archives: Background

Old Vermilion Trail Forest Birding Map

November 14, 2014BackgroundMN North: Old Vermilion Trailrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Here in northern Minnesota we have one of the premier winter birding spots in the lower 48, the Sax-Zim Bog. However, from my home in Duluth it is 55 miles each way to the bog. Thus, I decided with all the great bird habitat around this area, while I still drive up to the bog on occasion, it should be possible to find good winter birds just outside of Duluth.

After plenty of exploring back roads I have now established a winter birding feeder on Old Vermilion Trail Road. The attached graphic may be used to find the feeder. However, Old Vermilion Trail Road is just 10.8 miles from the intersection of Jean Duluth Road and Glenwood Avenue. You will find on this road and Fox Farm Road great bird habitat … wetlands, streams, deciduous forest and pine forest.

Both photographs of the pine siskins and female common redpolls were taken this morning while I was out setting up the bird feeding station. Please contact me with birding reports from this area. I will try to swing by 2 to 3 times per week to keep the feeder full.

View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon images to view at full size)

Old Vermilion Trail Road and Fox Farm Road Birding Map

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Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls

Day 130: Wild Turkey and Chicks Photo

June 1, 2014BackgroundMN South: French Parkrichardhoeg@gmail.com

The quick version of this post is I spent fifteen minutes during a bike ride watching this mom and here chicks. When an eagle flew overhead, the mom got concerned!

The longer version of how one gets this kind of photograph is as follows … I like to take long bike rides in the Minnesota countryside. While on bike with my camera and monopod along for the ride, I am able to see many things that either a person in a car or walking would never view. In a car one moves to fast and is restricted to the road. Walking is great, but if I know good birding areas, my bike ride gives both good exercise and the ability to explore a bit quicker. (more on biking and birding)

Today when I saw the wild turkey family, I stopped at a distance and let the mom grow accustomed to me. It was important I not be perceived as a threat. For most of the time the chicks were in long prairie grass where it was almost impossible to see them. However, the mom finally led her brood out onto this grassy patch. I was in the middle of taking a sequence of photos when the eagle flew over and made my day, but scared the turkeys!

View this project’s Flickr stream

Mother Wild Turkey and her Chicks

Bird Photography by Bicycle

May 18, 2014BackgroundBirding Know How, MN South: Minneapolisrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Bicycling, birding and photography are a great combination. Yesterday I took a 24 mile ride on the Luce Line Trail. This rails to trails route which starts in the western suburbs of Minneapolis and proceeds into the rural countryside allows one to get some great exercise and also access areas not reachable by car. While one certainly may walk your local trails, when on a bicycle the birding photographer may quickly ride between prime habitat locations, and then either slow down or dismount for birding. By keeping a good lookout which in transit, unexpected sights will often present themselves.

My setup for birding photography is simple. I have a handlebar bag where my camera is stored for easy access. In addition I have a monopod lashed to rear bag for stabilizing my camera during long distance zoomed shots.

Here are a few photos from my Luce Line Trail bike ride. Please realize songbirds are just starting to migrate into the area. Photographic opportunities are yet a bit thin this spring.