Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

Killdeer!

Year 7,

I found two Killdeer nests this morning! It will be fun to see the fuzz balls in about one month. The decision to look for grassland birds grew out of yesterday’s cold weather. I even chickened out of my daily bike ride. A chill factor in the low 20’s along Lake Superior, even though it was quite sunny, was just too much to handle.

In the past I have noted when birded pay attention to the BIG factors which drive bird habitat. In my local geographic case it is Lake Superior. Thus, this morning I drove 40 miles and birded the NW Wisconsin grasslands near Cloverland. Near my house 75% of the wind directions come across Lake Superior or out of the North. Even a what should be a “warm” south wind comes across the big lake. Thus, I live in the Boreal Forest. This area warms up much later in the Spring than NW Wisconsin which has grasslands and mixed deciduous forest. As noted … I found my Killdeer this morning (and lots of Meadowlark, and even the very rare Upland Sandpiper). The farmers are to be complemented near Cloverland. Most them do not mow their hay till July. Thus, the grassland birds are able to raise their families without fear of tractor mowers.

Of course I continue to have fun with my owls. I visiting them at sunrise this morning (and sunset last night). Here are a few more images from those visits.

Squirrel! (see video in yesterday’s post)

I think they’re called feet! I have them too!

Siblings (Great Horned Owl Triplets)

Finally, as some of my readers know Molly and I love to bicycle tour. Late last summer we toured up in the Norwegian Arctic. Molly wrote an article (see page 32) for Adventure Cycling for which I provided the photographs. We have toured over 11,000 miles in the North American and Europe … the huge majority on self-supported tours. We still hope to tour late this Summer if the pandemic crisis abates … perhaps closer to home. (our bike tours … my trip diaries on the Crazy Guy on a Bike Portal). As a fyi … this is the tour during which I crashed and fractured my ribs on Day #2 due to my vision problems. I still bicycled for another 16 days after the accident. I will admit there was some pain involved but the Norwegian Arctic is stunning. Never give up in life!

Obviously I did NOT take this photo! Location is The Lofoten Islands.

Great Horned Owl Triplets Honor Mother’s Day!

Year 7

Coronavirus has made for a strange spring. Many Moms out there will not be able to see their children on Mother’s Day because of “Shelter in Place” directives in place around the world. Thankfully, over the past two days Mom Great Horned Owl has had some quality time in the sun with her owlets … at least I think it’s quality time! However, just like families everywhere sometimes siblings get in fights and are not perfectly behaved. As Molly and I look back over the years we prefer to remember the perfect moments, but the reality is sometimes different. Mom Great Horned Owl perfectly understands this dichotomy.

Happy Mother’s Day Everyone!

In recognition of Molly … my wife … Mom / Grammy to three kids and six grandchildren. See her post via Molly’s Superior Footprints Blog titled a “Wake-Up Call“. Non birding spouses will appreciate reading her post. Molly is NOT a birder, yet I phoned her at 6 am this past Sunday morning when she was still in bed! As I said … learn more.

Family Portrait of Great Horned Mom and her Triplets!

Mom giving the children a “good talking to”!

Children … cute … what we prefer to remember!

Reality!

Finally … often Mom just needs a break!

Videos from the past two mornings …

Squirrel! (video link for email subscribers)

Crow Attack (video link for email subscribers)

Sibling Shove (video link for email subscribers)

Family Time Supervised by Mom (video link for email subscribers)

End of post …

Rescuing a Great Horned Owl Chick (videos)

Year 7
I rescued a Great Horned Owlet this morning at 5:45 am!
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I have watched this family of owls since the parents first selected their nesting site  in early February. I actually refer to this owlet by the name of “Tweedledum” or “Dum” for short. Why that name? It’s a long story for another day.
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Just before sunrise this morning I found this guy standing on the ground on a local hiking trail being dive bombed by a HUGE flock of crows. The owlet had been forced to the ground by the crows and was still under attack. Between me, Ma and Pa Owl … we stopped that attack. I stopped the attack on the ground. The parent owls then chased the crows away.
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My second task was to get the owl off the public trail where it would have been harmed by well meaning people later in the morning. I herded the chick into the woods … a deep thicket where it would be safe and could rest. I knew that later in the morning the owlet should recover enough strength to fly back up into a tree. I hung around till 7:15 am to insure that early morning predators like foxes or coyotes would not find my friend. Once I saw my first morning hikers through the trees, I knew the evening hunters would now be scarce and I could leave.
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Background Information: Great Horned Owlets when they first fledge are very weak flyers for many days … only able to fly 25 to 50 yards. The owlets must then rest (flight muscles are not yet strong). The crows caught my owlet at sunrise. The combination of the attacking crows and high winds was more than this chick could handle, but all is fine now (I checked later in the morning).
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Summary: I left the owlet in a safe place. Both parent owls were watching over it while the chick was on the ground. All and all … a good morning’s work! As a fyi … if you come across a situation in the woods like I did this morning. First, make certain all is well and the owl is not injured, but then just like my actions this morning, leave the owl alone! I protected the owl, but ultimately relied upon nature and the parent owls to take care of the situation.
On the Trail … Stopping the Crow attack … Herding the Owlet
When I first arrived, the owlet was NOT happy with me or the crows. In the first two images the chick is trying to scare me hoping I will go away. At this point it does not understand my presence has now stopped the crows from attacking.
Second image of the owlet trying to scare me …
This is the start of my herding process. By slowing inching forward I encouraged the owlet to leave the public hiking path for a near by thicket where I felt it would be safe. Although the woods were deserted at 5:45 am, this area would have lots of hikers in about an hour.
Both Ma and Pa Great Horned Owls landed in the trees directly above my head, but NEVER remotely threatened  or dive bombed me. I think they somehow both knew I was not a threat and was helping. While the parents ignored me, they made repeated vicious attacks at the crows. One hundred percent of their attention was on the crows and driving them away. Their other owlets were in a near by tree, which was not a safe perch in terms of avoiding crow attacks (yes … the missing triplet has reappeared!!!). Here is an image of Ma on the lookout …

In the thicket of trees

The owlet is now safely settled in the thicket, which was a walk of about 100 yards.
Just looking at me … no more aggressive behavior in my direction.
The ultimate complement … the owlet went to sleep. It had had a very tough early morning. Remember, I hung around for about one hour (sitting on the ground) to insure no predators crashed this party. When I saw my first hikers of the day, I left. I was quite camouflaged where I was sitting.

Just another image of the chick checking me out …

The look an owl gives you as one hikes away. The parents were in the trees above watching out for the chick. Later in the morning I confirmed the owlet had made the flight back up into a tree. Last night was this chick’s first flight where it actually left the nesting tree. At this point its flight muscles are very, very weak. It needed rest before it could fly up into a white pine tree.

Videos
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On the trail during the crow attack (video link for email subscribers)
Note: The chick regards me as a threat at this point. I have just stopped the initital dive bombing of the crows. It is 5:45 am. The crows left the owlet alone because they were scared of me.
Down in the thicket … I am about to leave (video link for email subscribers)
Note: Everyone is calmed down, and the chick is safely in a thicket where is well off the trail and can not be seen.

End of post.