Wood Duck Drop

Year 10

I owe a HUGE thanks to my friend, Paul, who let me invite myself over on Memorial Day at 6:30 am for the “Wood Duck Drop!” Paul has the blog BirdsGV. I believe there will one more “live jump” within a day or two. Paul has cameras set up in the wood duck boxes and at strategic locations around his yard that provide excellent views of the jumps. You are able to watch live via the web. Subscribe to his blog and you will receive notification as to when the latest craziness is expected!

Geronimo! Except these little guys do not wear parachutes. I present to you Wood Duck Drop / Jump 2023!

Mom surveying the scene … looking for predators

One to Get Ready

Two to Go

Tail-End Charlie

All nine ducklings safely in the stream

See two minutes of the wood duck drop (video link for email subscribers). Paul and I sat in a blind for three hours!

Real Grosbeaks of Minnesota! (a hit new TV series)

Year 10
When folks think of the species of grosbeaks you might see in Minnesota, Evening, Rose-Breasted and Pine Grosbeaks come to mind. Did you know there is one more grosbeak species that migrates up from Central America and Mexico to breed in southern Minnesota? Meet the Blue Grosbeak, which I found and photographed at Eden Prairies’ Flying Cloud Playing Fields yesterday morning. The magic spot for me were the trees near the outfield fences, and the young oaks across the street bordering the church parking lot. At least two blue grosbeaks were hanging out and singing.

And the other Minnesota Grosbeaks … (all photographed this year)

Evening Grosbeak

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Pine Grosbeak

And just because “blue” was not enough color for the morning, I also had fun with some American Goldfinches. My mistake of the day was arriving at the ballfields at 6:30 am. All the local birds for which I was searching basically waited till 7:30 am before venturing forth … also corresponding to when the bug hatch got going.

Momma Great Horned Owl

Year 10

After Fuzz Ball’s demise, Momma Owl has not left the nest much. This image was taken early in the afternoon two days ago. She had reached the point that she was off the nest much more than being present at home, but now she hangs tight with her other owlet. This youngster is not yet branching, which is by far the latest in the five years I have watched the two parent owls. By Memorial Day each of the other four years, the owlets were always able to fly and exploring the Lester / Amity Forest … not this year.