Category Archives: Year 12

Broad-Winged Hawk Research Project

Year 12, , ,

I am helping out with a Broad-Winged Research Project this summer, and you may help me help both northern Minnesota’s Hawk Ridge and Pennsylvania’s Hawk Mountain‘s research efforts (Learn more about Broad-Winged Hawks via the Cornell School of Ornithology). This beautiful raptor’s population population has fallen 16% out in its eastern range since 1980’s. Thankfully here in the Central Flyway populations appear to be stable, and perhaps even rising. This Broad-Winged Hawk Research Project will be one of the first extensive studies of this bird specie. It is hoped to band many of these hawks with transmitters that will let us follow their migrations and learn more about where they truly winter in Central and South America … perhaps leading to habitat preservation along their migration paths and wintering habitats.

In the past week I have personally identified eleven Broad-Wing breeding territories with GPS coordinates … including one actual nest! How can you help? If you discover Broad-Winged Hawk Nests this summer in the Northland please contact me (Richard.Hoeg@GMail.Com). I will need both the GPS coordinates and a description of the nest site. I promise NOT to share the nest location to eBird or any other individuals OTHER than the research staff from Hawk’s Ridge. If the nest is on private property we will need permission to access the given location.

Here is the Broad-Winged Hawk I have seen twice within the past few days near Sax-Zim Bog’s Welcome Center and Overton Road.

The Return of the Great Grays (owls!)

Year 12

Normally every spring I can count upon Great Gray Owls becoming somewhat easier to find for about 10 days towards the end of May. Such is the case this year. Both Friday and yesterday I found owls at dramatically different locations. I am pretty certain both birds were females which have now come off their nests … the owlets have been born and are getting bigger which means the parent Great Grays need to hunt a lot … including after sunrise. In both instances I found the owls around 7:00 am. (almost two hours after sunrise this time of year).

Yes … I am extremely close to this owl, but when the bird flies over and lands within 15 yards of your location … what are you supposed to do?!

Moose Family Videos! (Northern Minnesota)

Year 12

I have been tweaking the locations of my three trailcams over the past month based upon animal tracks, scat and locations which are trail choke points that are near water. I am certain that at least three moose families are featured in these videos, possibly four. My wilderness research is what allows me to occasionally have “in person” experiences … like this Canada Lynx!

Anyhow … family movies from the past month … all moose movie clips except for one short spot where my local Canada Lynx inspects my camera. Timber Wolves and Coyotes have also been regulars in my trailcams over the past 30 days … including “Poodle”! (a very large timber wolf whose tail looks like a poodle’s)

  • Moose Family Video 1: Movie link for email subscribers
  • Moose Family Video 2: Movie link for email subscribers

I also want to mention the night images and movies are taken with infrared light. Thus, the animals are NOT being blinded by any bright lights. Observe in any of the images or videos of bull moose, a new rack of antlers are under construction!

Moose Family Movies – Greenwood Bog

Moose Family Movies – Yukon Trail