Children’s Book Award Finalist!

February 25, 2020Background, Year 7richardhoeg@gmail.com

Yup! Snowy’s Search for Color has just been named a University of Minnesota Duluth’s NEMBA finalist! The winner will be announced on May 21st which also happens to be my 37th wedding anniversary. Guess who will not be taking his wife out to dinner that night due to the awards ceremony? Sorry Molly.

Remember, you may download a full PDF copy of my book for FREE!

Book theme: Follow the adventures of a young Snowy Owl as it flies south from its home on the Arctic Ocean in search of color! The owl meets up with other owls, red foxes, and even Smokey the Bear! It is a magical journey.

Answers to “Ask the Outdoorsman Questions”

A few weeks ago I started up a new service of this blog named: Ask the Outdoorsman. Remember, my blog now has a “contact Rich” form where you may privately ask me questions. Go to the “About / Contact Rich” section of this web site which is easily found via the menubar at the top of every page. Depending upon the question, I will either answer you privately or via a blog post (but keeping your identity secret)

Karen G. asks whether I would be open to having her “tag along” on one of my Bog birding trips. Yes, but recently I have not planned my excursions till late the prior evening … when I understand the weather forecast. Given I only live 45 minutes from Sax-Zim Bog, in the winter I pay extreme attention to forecast temperatures, clouds and wind before making a visit decision. I often wait till 5 am on the planned day of my birding outings to make a decision.
Nancy N. wants to know how to train chickadees to eat out of her hands. The answer is patience, patience and more patience. The best way to ultimately make this happen and hand feed chickadees is to have only one bird feeder on your property, preferably a platform feeder. You must be willing to stand next to the feeder for hours, and even put your hand in the feeder with the proper treats. I’ve done this once in my life.
Mary S. lives near my house in Duluth and she was interested in seeing a Snowy Owl. I helped her accomplish this task via some friends of mine (I was out of town).
Deborah Crooks, who is a folk song artist, contacted me and asked if I would promote her song, Be Your Own Bird. While I don’t normally provide endorsements and have never allowed advertisements on this web site, I listened to Deborah’s song and like it … Be Your Own Bird has a nice message. I found her singing style pleasing, almost a female sounding Bob Dylan style. Deborah makes her song free for listening via her own web site … thus … here’s a callout to Deborah Crooks
- Be Your Own Bird! (song and lyrics owned and copyrighted by Deborah Crooks)
- Post Script: I used Deborah’s last name, because in this instance I know she was interested in the publicity. I promise to not hold it against Deborah that she is from California! The song is also available on Spotify. If you want to learn more about this singer, here is a link to her web site.

With Deborah’s permission, here are the lyrics to her song. Remember, you may listen to Be Your Own Bird via her web site at no charge. She owns the copyright to both the lyrics and the music.

Song sparrow sings its own song
No other place it belongs
Like the towhee peeps in the leaves
In your own life you must believe
And be your own bird

Hummingbird nest in the tree
Spun thread a tiny blue egg
Wings a blur in the air
We all have our own truth to declare
Be your own bird

Nature can beautiful nature can be cruel
Some days you win, some days you play the fool
Mockingbird attacking its own reflection

Across the meadow I see some geese
Dabbling in the green green grass
No one’s first and no one’s last
Everyone has their own path
Be your own bird

Nature can beautiful nature can be cruel
Some days you lose some days you completely rule
Eagle perched atop the highest mountain

Be your own bird
Be your own bird
Be your own bird

©Deborah Crooks (ASCAP)

Boreal Bird Bonanza: Red Crossbill Nest Building!

February 24, 2020Year 7MN North: Sand Lake Pine Forestrichardhoeg@gmail.com

The weather forecast screamed I should head north towards Ely this morning (11F, sunny and calm winds). Taking Lake County #2 out of Two Harbors one quickly enters the Superior National Forest, and although my home is within the Boreal Forest, getting north of Two Harbors means true wilderness. Near a small river as one approaches Mn Hwy 1 is a hot spot for Spruce Grouse, and this year … Crossbills. The four miles from the Sand River to the radio tower are fantastic birding, just watch for logging trucks in the rear view mirror. Otherwise the traffic is very light.

Most people head to this region for Spruce Grouse, but my target birds also included Red Crossbills. Neither bird disappointed! The numbers of Crossbills I saw shortly after sunrise was amazing, and I was extremely fortunate to spot nest building is process. Red Crossbills will nest at any time of year given an ample supply of pine cones. Their unique shaped beak is perfect for cracking open pine cones. Most other animals and birds are not able to access the seeds within, so the food is all theirs. The Northwoods definitely has a great supply of pine cones this winter from last summer’s growing season.

A Female Red Crossbill works nest building while her mate supervises! The female eventually walked around the tree and sat down. I could see her with my binoculars, but not the camera.

More Red Crossbill images

Spruce Grouse in a Pine Tree (very lucky view up into the tree)

Snowshoe Snowy (Owl Trifecta at Dawn)

February 22, 2020Year 7MN North: Sax-Zim Bogrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Up in Sax-Zim Bog there is a female Snowy Owl which rarely hunts near any road. Most views of this bird are from 3/4 of mile away. This morning a bit after sunrise I decided today was the perfect day to snowshoe the 3/4 mile from Hwy #7 to said Snowy Owl (1.5 miles round trip). The weather was perfect … starting at 3F and ending at 28F with light winds.

If you know where this Snowy hangs out, there is no sneaking up on the bird, and any wind would make the snowshoe trip very, very cold. However, Madam Snowy decided said human (i.e. me) was harmless and waited for me to make my long approach.

While I was only 1/2 the way across the open meadow, the owl took off on an aborted hunt, but returned to the same perch. I was rather concerned all my efforts would be for naught, but that was not the case.

It was actually a great trifecta of a morning with a Great Gray right at sunrise, and then a Hawk Owl. I did all my birding along Hwy #7 except for a hike far back in along the South Logging Road Trail from McDavitt (saw nothing).

As always it was great time in the Bog, and hiking / snowshoeing away from the road I was rewarded with private time with some neat birds. Even with the snowshoes I broke through the crust at times … falling on multiple occasions. I was still home by 12 noon (brief stop for lunch), and then enjoyed a warm sunny Nordic ski on the Lester Amity Ski Trails. The mercury at this point was up to 43F. Great day.

Snowshoe Snowy Owl