The Pelicans Return to Chambers Grove!

Year 7
On this Earth Day 2020, just like the swallows return to Capistrano, White Pelicans return to Chambers Grove on the St. Louis River every spring. (image taken yesterday morning)
 
It is worth noting that when I was a child in the 1960’s the St. Louis River was essentially a dead from the wastes deposited by our Northland cities. Years later through the efforts of Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) and other efforts … sturgeon spawn in the river, birds fish, and mammals live / hunt the river banks. As a child I would not have even thought of swimming in that water. Ugh.
 
Thus, let’s applaud our past efforts to clean up the environment, but also protect the laws which protect our land, water and air. Just yesterday the Trump administration rolled back Federal protections for streams and wetlands. If we keep killing nature through pollution, we will eventually kill ourselves. (story from National Public Radio about the roll back of environmental protection laws)
Some more photographs I took yesterday morning of the White Pelicans …
All is calm …
For some reason I imagine this one pelican is exhorting its buddies that IT IS TIME TO GET UP! Given the temperature was 28F with a stiff breeze, I suspect everyone else thought fishing could wait! Finally one other pelican yells …. “Shut Up!”

Ospreys Mating: Canosia Wildlife Mgmt Area

Year 7

Some time it pays to be lucky! However, you make your own luck. I know from previous springs that a certain Osprey nest in an old steam shovel bucket is the preferred nesting site in the Duluth area. This nest always has ospreys on it first, and this spring was no exception. What makes this nest special? Proximity to both Fish and Rice Lake in the Canosia State Wildlife Management Area, or in other words … plentiful food.

Three mornings ago while visiting an old nest, I noticed a male looking for a mate. Yesterday when I visited mid morning, I thought I was in for a boring non eventful session. While there was an osprey sitting on the nest, it was hunkered down against the strong NW wind. The temperatures was cold for April 21st (28F) with a windchill. The lakes in the area were still ice bound. I didn’t expect much. After watching the Osprey take off and circle out of sight, I decided it was time to go home. However at the last moment I caught sight of two Ospreys far off in the distance. I changed my mind about leaving and walked back to a good nest viewing spot. I knew it was worth waiting. Four years ago had watched four osprey fight over this nest on a similar morning. After all in addition to easy food, how many nests are built in Mike Mulligan’s Steam Shovel?!

Wow! Uff Dah! I saw these two Osprey mate. Their total time on the nest together was less than five minutes. The mating was over in a few seconds. Thankfully I was prepared and had my camera pointed at the nest.  Here is the sequence of 15 photographs.

Waiting for Godot (or an Osprey thinking it should have used the new online bird dating app from eBird!)

How about tonight dear? Let me think about it …

You’re going to watch? with a camera??!

The approach …

Ospreys Mating

All done … just a second or two

I’m tired … need to rest!!!

Was it as good for you as it was for me, dear?

Lady Osprey by her lonesome. After about ten seconds of resting, the male Osprey flew off to a dead snag about 300 yards distant. I watched the two birds for about another fifteen minutes. Neither moved an inch. I went home!

Six Eyes and 1/2 a Rabbit … a Tale of 3 Owlets!

Year 7

Do you ever have a sneaking suspicion when hiking through the forest there are eyes upon you? Perhaps six eyes?! It’s more than a suspicion for me!

Recently the triplets have started throwing food at me … LOL! When I walk over at sunrise there is often evidence of the previous night’s menu! If you were a baby owl, I guess you might be unhappy if Mom dared to serve the “back end” of a rabbit for supper!

In the past few days I have found two dead rats (one whole, one half), decapitated robins and crows, the hind quarter and talon of what I believe to be a Northern Harrier … all immediately underneath the nest. By the next morning all these rejects are gone. Given the frequent fox tracks I find at the base of the nest tree, I suspect someone is stopping by for “take-out” every night. Regardless, Miss Manners would not approve of the table manners of the Great Horned Owl chicks!

One more pic … I rarely see all three triplets. It is amazing how such large owlets can hide behind tree boughs.