Category Archives: Year 7

Brown Thrasher Nest Building

Year 7

The strong winds out of the Northeast have finally abated, and this afternoon’s temperature will actually reach 70’s … even next to Lake Superior. The combination of some warmth plus rain and fog over the past two days has created a bug explosion. Trees are finally blossoming here in the Northland, and birds know that means FOOD! Yes, the migrants who like to eat bugs are finally appearing here at the “head of the lakes”. Over the next few days as we approach June 1st, the final “returnees” will reach the Boreal Forest. Believe it or not, once these birds arrive our first southern departures will be only six weeks away. Upland Sandpipers are some of the first birds to head south for their wintering grounds in South America. Folks often joke here in Duluth that if you blink, you miss summer!

Regardless, this morning down on Park Point (Minnesota Point) I had the unique privilege of watching two Brown Thrashers building their nest. These thrashers are one cool bird, or in this case two cool birds. They have an “evil eye” which is set off by their great singing. Normally, I only see thrashers high atop trees in the spring … singing for a mate. When I find them on the ground, they spook very easily. Thus, watching from only ten yards distance was a treat, and I now know where they nest is located! (Learn more about Brown Thrashers … Cornell School of Ornithology)

Brown Thrashers Building a Nest

The thrashers weren’t the only birds I photographed this morning …

Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher

Chestnut Side Warbler

Indigo Bunting

Ain’t late spring grand?! Summer will soon be here.

Mud House Building Barn Swallow

Year 7

Barn Swallow Mud Collecting!

This is the one time of year a person might see Barn Swallows on the ground. While out watching warblers yesterday, I saw some Barn Swallows on the wing. Given it has been very dry in northeastern Minnesota, I told a friend who was birding with me to watch this puddle. I knew both given there are very few puddles around (dry conditions) and the time of near (mating), the swallows would land and get mud as building materials for their nests. We were not disappointed!

Birding is Dangerous!

Yup … that’s me after yesterday’s trip to the owling grounds. In addition, there is a long gash underneath the left sock from a day earlier. While, I am obviously okay this particular fall was quite painful. If you are like me and tend to go birding, bicycling and Nordic skiing in remote places, quite often off trail … a bit of caution is useful.

In my case, Molly always is able to track me via Google Location Sharing. I posted on this subject one year ago. I have privately shared my location with real time updates with Molly via Google. I even tested whether Molly could truly determine my correct location. I hiked into remote areas in northern Minnesota which I could identify via landmarks in Google Satellite View. We then determined by my making a quick phone call to Molly and she taking a screenshot whether my location was reported correctly. Our family also owns a Garmin InReach GPS real time tracking via satellite with messaging capability for even more remote areas. Learn more via my previous posts:

Google Location Sharing is free assuming one has a mobile phone. The Garmin Inreach required purchasing their device and paying a small monthly fee. Here are both a Garmin and Google screenshot showing Hoeg family use. I strongly recommend both of these services. Most people will not need the Garmin satellite service … just us folks who live and recreate in the middle of nowhere!

Sticking the Landing! Great Horned Owl

Year 7
I’ve been watching my Great Horned Owl family since February 8th when they nested near my Duluth Amity Creek home (and listening to the parents hoot after sundown since late November). This morning at sunrise I spent 90 minutes with the triplets.
For the first 60 minutes a whole lot of sleeping was going on, but then Mom arrived and told the kids it was time to get more protected perches before the daily crow attacks began (serious comment … when Mom owl arrives the kids know its time to bed down for the day deep within the white pines). Thus, I adjusted my camera settings and waited. Just like fishermen have favorite spots, owls have preferred branches. It is a 100% requirement that the branch upon which this youngest of the owlets is landing must be utilized before a longer flight.
It was really nice to see the youngest chick flying around so well. This is the owlet I rescued three weeks ago when it was not very flight capable. If you would like to see some images and video from that rescue, follow this link.

Wake-Up and Morning Stretch

Count the Owls! (you will need to maximize this image)
Two!
Stretch!