Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

The Morning Sing … Now with More Percussion!

Year 12

If you do not keep your windows open at night, you are missing the morning sing! In fact, Molly and I keep a window open even on the coldest of winter nights (down to -30F at our house). There is nothing like an extra blanket to keep oneself warm, and as we move into spring one gets to listed to the “morning sing”. The birds start their chorus at this time of year (April 23rd) about 45 minutes before sunrise, or at 5:20 am. I am normally awake by that point and enjoy listening as different species start up their songs.

For some reason the Mourning Doves, and Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers are the first to perform. Within a few weeks as the sun dips less and less below the horizon, the sing will start a bit earlier before sunup … 60 minutes prior to sunrise. On the first day of summer sunrise will be at 5:14 am, which means the morning sing will start at 4:15 am!

Now that the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers have returned from points south, they start drumming on any of my yard’s dead trees very early. I never cut down dead trees as long as:

  • The tree is not diseased
  • The dead tree does not threaten our home

The band’s percussion group in my yard now includes these kinds of woodpeckers: Downey, Hairy, Northern Flicker, Pileated and Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers. Often when one species of woodpecker starts drumming, another species will come to investigate. I now can identify all five of these species by the rhythm and sound of their drumming.

Anyhow … a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker and Pileated Woodpecker … both photographed in my yard over the past two days. Enjoy the sing!

Owl Nest Failure

Year 12

Unfortunately I will not be blogging about the Amity Owls this spring. While the pair hooted their love starting in September, and nest on February 5th, over the past few days I am not able to find either Les or Amy (Mom and Dad Great Horned Owl). This was the 7th year I found their nest in the dead of winter by hiking long after sunset and triangulating the hoot. Over the past two days the nest is empty, and I can not find Poppa Owl in any of his hiding spots. Another give away is the crows have stopped harassing the father. The owlets were due to hatch in a little over one week.

Amy (taken a few days ago)

Les (taken one week ago … guarding)

Scoring the Owl Trifecta: Boreal, Great Gray & Great Horned Owls

Year 12, ,

The Owl Irruption means crazy birding excursions like mine yesterday afternoon are possible. In just over one hour, I saw all three species of these owls: Boreal, Great Gray & Great Horned Owls. I consider myself lucky to live in the Northland where all three of these owls species both live, but also some of their cousins from north of the border will occasionally pay us a visit. Normally owl irruptions end on or about March 1st, which is only 11 days away. Anyhow, yesterday’s terrific trio! Did I mention it was cold? All three owls wanted sun, but also to avoid the fierce Northwest wind. This morning it is -15F to 25F below zero depending upon where you live (real cold air collects at the bottom of hills).

Boreal Owl (sleeping in the sun … it did apparently not move for the next four hours)

Great Gray Owl (trying to get comfortable within its pine needle mattress before a snooze)

Amy! My local Great Horned Owl

The sun is finally peeking out between the trees at 7:20 am. Time to go make my rounds of all three bird feeder stations. My feathered friends should all be hungry after such a cold night.