Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

Broad-Winged Hawk Research Project

Year 12, , ,

I am helping out with a Broad-Winged Research Project this summer, and you may help me help both northern Minnesota’s Hawk Ridge and Pennsylvania’s Hawk Mountain‘s research efforts (Learn more about Broad-Winged Hawks via the Cornell School of Ornithology). This beautiful raptor’s population population has fallen 16% out in its eastern range since 1980’s. Thankfully here in the Central Flyway populations appear to be stable, and perhaps even rising. This Broad-Winged Hawk Research Project will be one of the first extensive studies of this bird specie. It is hoped to band many of these hawks with transmitters that will let us follow their migrations and learn more about where they truly winter in Central and South America … perhaps leading to habitat preservation along their migration paths and wintering habitats.

In the past week I have personally identified eleven Broad-Wing breeding territories with GPS coordinates … including one actual nest! How can you help? If you discover Broad-Winged Hawk Nests this summer in the Northland please contact me (Richard.Hoeg@GMail.Com). I will need both the GPS coordinates and a description of the nest site. I promise NOT to share the nest location to eBird or any other individuals OTHER than the research staff from Hawk’s Ridge. If the nest is on private property we will need permission to access the given location.

Here is the Broad-Winged Hawk I have seen twice within the past few days near Sax-Zim Bog’s Welcome Center and Overton Road.

Yard Bird! Red-Headed Woodpecker!!!

Year 12

My Haikubox (read my blog post about this system) said there was a Red-Headed Woodpecker visiting my yard, but I did not believe the notification. However, yesterday afternoon when “Red” chased “Red” away from near my feeders, I became a believer! (“red-headed” chased “red-bellied” away). If I get lucky, Red #1 will nest near me. Two years ago a red-headed-woodpecker chose our woods for nesting.

These images and short video were taken while standing inside my house … about four yards away from my window. I did not want to spook the Red-Headed Woodpecker. (video link for email subscribers)

Yard Bird! Red!

My HaikuBox Notification … I need to also look for the other woodpecker!

NE Minnesota 2025 Warbler Fallout!

Year 12, ,

Yesterday songbirds, but mainly migrating warblers were almost falling out of the sky … known as a bird fallout. I spent 90 minutes on a protected St. Louis Bay (Duluth Harbor) beach which had some small mud flats which screamed bugs (i.e. food) to the migrating birds. I saw hundreds and hundreds of warblers and most of the time they were within ten yards of me, if not closer (think a few feet). The warblers would move up and down the beach, and just ignore me … landing two feet in front of me, and then behind me. When birds are extremely hungry, almost starving, a big monster (i.e. me) is not a concern.

I discovered yesterday when I used the term “fallout” with birds many folks did not know what I was talking about. Here is my definition … others might describe a fallout better. The term refers to what happens when birds almost “fall out of the sky” during migration due to weather conditions and often a migration barrier (like a barrier of water … think Lake Superior). Here in Duluth warblers were running into dense fog, and fierce winds out of the NE off Lake Superior. The fog brings warblers out of the treetops towards the ground in their search for bugs, and the wind makes it almost impossible for them to continue their migration northwards. The beach where I was standing was protected from yesterday afternoon’s wind (35 mph as measured by a buoy just off shore), and the lower level of Lake Superior water this year also means there is a small mud flat against the harbor shore (St. Louis River Bay) with bugs. Food!

Here are some of the photographs I took yesterday during the fallout. Make certain to watch the videos! I also spent some time up at the Hartley Nature Center. There is a stream immediately next to the parking lot, and over the years I have discovered that during migration warblers love the large culvert right next to the parking lot. Once again, the protected stream as it flows through the culvert tends to have some of the first bug hatches in the area.

Hartley Nature Center Birds

American Redstart

Black and White Warbler

Veery

Park Point / Minnesota Point Birds

American Redstart

Blackburnian Warbler

Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Northern Waterthrush

Palm Warbler

Scarlet Tanager

Tennessee Warbler

And when I got home … this Scarlet Tanager was hanging out within a few feet of our living room windows … next to my feeders, on our deck’s Adirondack chairs and one of the trailcams!

2025 Minnesota Songbird / Warbler Fallout … the Movies! (video links for email subscribers: Scarlet Tanager Video | Blackburnian Warbler Video … speed reduced by a factor of two)

That’s all, folks!