Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

FuzzBall is Alive!!!

Year 10
FuzzBall is Alive!!!!!!!
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After getting home late last night from the Canadian Rockies, I knew I had to find the owls for my grandchildren who are visiting this weekend. Thus by 5:15 am this morning (4:15 Mountain Daylight) I was hiking …
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1. Owlet (Junior) branching up high in white pine by nest
2. Momma across creek up high in white pine watching Junior
3. Wait! Second Owlet down low in white pine next to creek!
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Yes … Two Owlets!!! FuzzBall is alive.
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Apparently two weeks ago when I found FuzzBall at 5 am on the ground, and then returned 15 minutes later to discover an explosion of white feathers, I incorrectly assumed FuzzBall met its demise to a local fox. What must have happened is Momma Owl delivered breakfast in that 15 minutes, and then FuzzBall must have jumped over the side of the ravine. Look out below! FuzzBall must have been hiding down next to the creek for the past two weeks. Now, the youngster is finally “branching” and I rediscovered the owlet. Life is good! (in many ways). FuzzBall is still way below the original nest, but the owlet is now up in a white pine about 20 feet off the ground. Yippee!
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Here is a photo of Fuzzball, and an image of Momma Owl with Junior (photos taken seconds apart).

Indigo and Red Were the Colors of the Day

Year 10,

Late Spring is a time of plenty for us birders. My first stop shortly after sunrise was the Hawk Ridge Ledges where Indigo Buntings were advertising for mates in full force.

Next I walked the woods only 800 yards from my own house. Apparently a pair of Red-Headed Woodpeckers are considering making my forest home their home! (Thanks to Ben Anderson who posted on eBird!) Red-Headed Woodpeckers may be expanding their range into the Duluth area. Each year a few more seem to nest locally, and now near my house!

24 Hours of Northland Owling

Year 10,

Early June is the time of year one often finds owls active after sunrise. Their owlets are getting big, and require lots of food, which means hunting lasts longer. Yesterday in addition to my local Great Horned Owls (see end of post), I watched a Great Gray Owl hunt for a bit shy of two hours up in Sax-Zim Bog. Actually the parent bird was still hunting when I left, but its hunting locale was getting to a boggy area where it was difficult to walk.

Sax-Zim Bog Great Gray Owl (dawn hunter – video link for email subscribers)

Hunting

Preening

Crow Fly-Over (the owl stands up tall and imitates a deadhead snag)

Back to Hunting

FuzzBall and its Great Horned Owl Mom