Yesterday was significant in turns of birding in NE Minnesota … two big events:
- Pond Ice Out
- Mom is Off the Nest
The big storm that took place two nights ago dumped enough rain, and created additional current in areas streams that any pond with a decent inlet / outlet is now ice free. In addition, after almost two months straight on the nest, Mom Great Horned Owl is now helping out Dad Owl with hunting duties. She still sits very close to the nest most of the time (ten feet away), but just not in the nest. Her owlets are getting to large.
This photograph was taken at Hartley Nature Center. Although the Trumpeter Swans indicated their displease with the presence of the Canada Geese, the swans were obviously just migrating through. If they had planned to nest at Hartley, they never would have allowed the geese in such close proximity. Ice Out on the ponds mean the duck migration will not really start in force (perhaps delayed by the forecast NE winds over the next week).
Meanwhile back at the old homestead, my Pileated Woodpecker visits many times per day. The male (pictured below) uses any one of three trees as sounding boards and drills his territorial announcements while the female eats. Once she is done, he moves down to the suet. I like to keep the meat suet up for the woodpeckers at this time of year. I wonder when my first bird feeder bear attack of the season will occur? Real beef suet is aromatic, and will definitely attract Yogi and Boo Boo.
