Category Archives: Year 8

Arctic Riviera Birding

Year 8

Sounds like a broken record player … for those of you who can even remember what a record player was … it’s cold out this morning. Yup, near the shores of Lake Superior the mercury is pretty darn low, -29F. However, 30 miles inland my brother is reporting -40F at his home. Let’s hear it for the warming influence of Lake Superior, but I have zero plans for birding this morning.

Yesterday afternoon at 3 pm it was a balmy -5F with a moderate wind. Thus, it was perfect for going out birding. Realizing that temperature was still cold, what better decision could one make than to pursue a bird used to Arctic temperatures … a snowy owl?! Success was achieved although, but I could only convince myself to stay outside of the car for fifteen minutes at a time. When the Snowy Owl finally made its kill, I was happily getting warm in my car. I saw the event, but capturing it on my camera? No way!

Here are a few images of yesterday afternoon’s star. In the first image if you look on the bottom right of the photograph please notice an iced up air vent. Perhaps the owl is enjoying some slightly warmer air temperatures. The second image is 100% identical except I have used a “dehazing tool” to get rid of the steamy air. (expand and compare)

One more Snowy Owl Image

Finally, I even went birding two hours sundown last night. I am still working on figuring out the nesting location of my local owls. It was -13F during my evening hike.

Counting Birds

Background, Year 8

I’ll admit it, I am not a list person. While I will occasionally submit a birding list to eBird, this is not a normal activity for me, nor have I ever kept an annual list of sightings. However a few folks every year decide to have a Big Year. The goal is to see as many bird species possible in the United States and Canada. Steve Martin even starred in a movie based upon the book with the same name, The Big Year. Here is a clip from the movie (link for email subscribers)

While I don’t keep lists, today through Sunday (February 12 to 14) is the Great Backyard Birdcount sponsored by Audubon and eBird. Learn even more via the count’s web site. Over the next few days, thousands and thousands of birding lists from around the world … 15 minutes of sightings each … will be submitted. This data is then analyzed by the Cornell School of Ornithology and a better understanding is gained about how climate and habitat loss are affecting the bird population. Consider spending 15 minutes this weekend to help support this ongoing research. If you ask why, consider the “canary in a coal mine” scenario. These birds were kept down in coal mines. If the birds started to have trouble breathing the miners took notice (read article from the Smithsonian).

Here is my list from this morning … my own backyard. Thus, some lists are important! See the latest sightings from around the world.

Our cold snap continues. Every night the temperature drops to between -15F and -23F. During the day we don’t reach 0F. Right now it appears our cold snap will last for about 13 days. I am making occasional birding forays, but this weather encourages one to stay inside … too darn cold. Here is one of the cardinals that always visits my own feeders every morning. Photo taken about 10:00 am this morning.

Cold Snap Birding!

Year 8

Our cold weather continues. It was -16F (-27F) when I got up this morning. The long range temperature forecast shows overnight lows in the “double digits” below zero for the next seven days. We are now five days into the current cold weather. If the forecasts hold true, that makes for a 12 day polar vortex.

Given lower winds this morning, I decided I needed to get out birding … even if it meant staying close to the car for warmth reasons. I visited Sax-Zim Bog which is 45 minutes from my home. My two target birds were Pine Grosbeaks and a Northern Hawk Owl. The grosbeaks were easy to find. The owl eluded me.

Tonight I need to convince myself to take a hike as the temperature plummets long after sundown. My local Great Horned Owls nested on February 8th last year (two days ago if on the same timeline as last year). My female has stopped singing as she may be on whatever nest the couple has selected. The male still sings nightly. It’s hard to convince oneself to go hiking in the dark even with full thermal wear keeping me somewhat warm. Waiting at home for the “nightly sing” and then heading out has not worked real well. By the time I hike over to the “owling grounds” the happy couple goes silent making nest triangulation difficult. I have hiked over a number of nights in advance hoping for “hoot song” at a given time of night. Those efforts have been failures. When it is -10F or colder with a decent wind, hanging around in the middle of the forest doing nothing while awaiting the evening sing (i.e. motionless … thus no body heat being generated) is a cool experience.