Category Archives: Year 8

A Grosbeak Good-Bye!

Year 8

Yesterday, I spent a delightful morning in Sax-Zim Bog. How else might one describe a day with deep blue skies, calm winds and 44F?! The two week stretch of -175F weather got old! I took lots of hikes, and was surprised to learn how much snow has melted in the forest. My main reason for heading over to the Bog was to say goodbye for another year to the grosbeaks. Within days all of the Pine Grosbeaks should be gone and on their way up to the northern fringes of the Boreal Forest in Canada. I actually felt lucky to find two females.

The Evening Grosbeaks will hang around for a week or two longer. While a few will stay and breed in northern Minnesota, most will migrate north to the mid Boreal Forest up in Canada.

I also enjoyed some time with a few Gray Jays … a year round bird in northern Minnesota, and now Canada’s national bird (official new name … Canada Jay)

Finally, this morning I was out of the house shortly after 6 am in search of Great Gray Owls. I struck out 100%. The melting snow and time of year means it’s time for these owls to leave the roadsides where they hunt “meadow voles” and head deep back into the forest … to raise a new family and munch on “red backed voles” all summer.

Listening to the Weather

Year 8,

Before yesterday morning it had been almost a week since I had looked for Great Gray Owls. Although these owls thoughts will soon to turn to love, and they will retreat deep into the forest away from areas where they might me viewed, it still did not make sense to go birding for them. Since last Sunday the winds have been strong, which means the Great Gray Owls tend to conserve energy and wait for better hunting conditions. Loud winds mean these owls are not able to hear their prey running underneath the snow.

However, yesterday morning dawned with almost totally calm conditions. I immediately made the decision to go out owling and was rewarded with finding two owls out hunting long past daybreak. I heard from friends that one owl was seen hunting into the afternoon. Hunger is a great motivator.

Great Gray Hunting a bit after Sunrise (video link for email subscribers)

Upon getting home I hiked over to my own owls, the Great Horned Owl couple. At this point not much will happen till the eggs hatch, but I do enjoy the nightly singing / hooting easily heard from inside my house.

My Great Horned Owl Family (male in the tree, female on the nest)

Falling Down … Getting Back Up!

Year 8
When you fall down, you get back up!
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Today I took my first bicycle ride up the shore since I collapsed due to my bad heart valve. I told Molly I was going on a ride, and she asked if I wanted her to come along. I thanked Molly, but said I needed to conquer my fear on my own (I was greatly afraid of collapsing and crashing).
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While I am not out of the woods yet, and have another heart operation scheduled for April 2nd, I am doing well. However, when your last ride led to a crash due to “blackouts”, taking your first ride since getting a new valve is scary.
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Everything went fantastic, and I saw perfectly … no blackouts … no crashes. Given the 40F sunny day with light winds it was a great day to bike the shore. I both cried for joy, and then hummed the theme from Rocky.
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I was dog tired upon getting home, but it was a good tired. Oh yes, Molly was smart and decided to take a bike ride of her own. While I am certain she just wanted to get out enjoy the fantastic weather, just perhaps she also wanted to insure her husband was okay. It was nice to see her bicycle by on the other side of the road.
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Oh yes … remember I always bike with my Canon Sx70 Super Zoom camera. The Bald Eagles are migrating north. Seen during my ride today.