Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

Owls and Sapsuckers!

Year 12,

This Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker insisted in having its photograph taken. It was working away at a tree only feet off our deck, and stayed in this one location (food motivates) long enough for me to walk down the hill to our garage, get something, walk back up to the house, go inside and then get my camera. Sapsucker’s are one of my favorite woodpecker. I think this is the unique bird which drums in the tree nest to our bedroom window every morning at 5:00 am. Who needs an alarm clock?!

Finally, here are two More videos from yesterday’s Great Horned Owlet Rescue. Make certain you see yesterday’s post which has some cool videos and images from the actual rescue.  These two movies were taken with my good camera.

The first video was taken shortly after I found the owlets and before the DNR and the Community Service Police Officer arrived to effect the rescue. (video link for email subscribers)

The second video was taken shortly after this particular owlet had been removed / rescued from the dog park. The owl was not happy with us, but quieted down quickly. (video link for email subscribers)

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)