Northeastern Minnesota Big Bird Month: October

Year 10,

Data collected over the years up at Hawk Ridge (about 600 feet up and 1/2 mile over from my house) indicates that October is “Big Bird Month” (my name for October). Check out Hawk Ridge’s migration data and you can see if you agree, or disagree with me. However, I am one birder who does not spend much time up at Hawk Ridge. While up at The Ridge may see thousands of hawks but from a distance, I prefer “close up and personal” down below. Thus, this time of year means I take lots of birding drives from my house up to Two Harbors and inland. Lake County 2 heading north from Two Harbors is a favorite of mine, followed by various roads uphill from the lake between my house and Two Harbors (Clover Valley … North … Korkki Nordic … Shore Community School area).

Here are a few pics from the past few days, including this morning …

A Horned Lark Gets its Worm

Broad-Winged Hawk

Wile.E.Coyote

Immature Bald Eagle

The American Dipper and Childhood

Year 10

The location … Gold Creek Pond

The memory … National Geographic Songbirds of North America

The bird … the American Dipper

When I was a boy, the first bird book which my parents bought me was “National Geographic Songbirds of North America”. This book moved with me to prep school (Exeter), college (Dartmouth), my job in the Twin Cities (Honeywell), and finally back to Duluth! Some books are worth keeping. I think the combination of this book and our two bird feeders near the “8th Street Woods” at my house while growing up drove my interest in birds. How did all of you become interested in birds?

My specific memory … I spent many hours perusing the birds in the book. Some photographs mesmerized me more than others, including the American Dipper. I was fascinated by the idea of a small bird which walked under water in mountain streams searching for bugs. Please realize I had never seen a mountain in my life at that point (about age 10). In addition the book came with a small record inside the front cover which had the songs of various birds, including the American Dipper. The sweet song of this bird with gurgling water in the background was a winner for me! My video of yesterday’s dipper has all those elements (video link for email subscribers). You may wish to read my full post about this super book, National Geographic Songbirds of North America.

A few more American Dipper images, and a Dark Eyed Oregon Junco (also from yesterday but no childhood memories)

Bears and Bird Feeders

Year 10

There are those of us who love to keep their bird feeders filled throughout the year. The local animals in addition to birds are our friends for that very reason. Last night, momma bear and her three cubs visited my seven feeders. As we move towards hibernation time the bruins were grateful for the free food. I was away from my house, but my real time alerts from my feeder camaras alerted me to the visit. Earlier in the day two large white-tailed bucks also visited the Amity Creek Feeders … occasionally I even get a few birds! In case you would like to read my review about my trail cameras.

Momma Bear and her Three Cubs (video link one and two for email subscribers)

The Bucks of Amity (video link for email subscribers)