Tag Archives: MN North: Canosia Wildlife Area

Double Your Pleasure Owling! (and other birds)

Year 7, ,

Ever wonder why it is hard to find owls? This was my view yesterday afternoon around 4 pm. My thanks to the Blue Jays which led me to the tree. At first, I only saw one Great Horned Owl. I keep wondering how long the parents will continue to help feed the youngsters. My understanding is a helping hand (or talon) will be given into the Fall. Most nights the young owls fly over to my yard, start screeching (begging) in the hopes Mom or Dad will bring them some food.

Individual Portraits

I also stopped by one of my local Osprey nests where food was also in the process of being delivered.

Even though today is July 30th, winter migration has definitely started. I found these two Great Yellowlegs enjoying some insects in a local pond. Their summer breeding range starts about 500 miles north of Duluth, and they will work their way down to the Gulf Coast of the United States and Mexico for the winter.

Great Blue Heron Food Fight at the Rookery! (movie)

Year 7

I got up my courage to brave all the deer and horse flies and hiked into the Great Blue Heron Rookery this morning. I was thrilled to discover at the end of my hike that I did not have one single wood tick on me! (unusual). Regardless, the Great Blue Heron chicks are getting big, and should fledge soon. When they have a food fight, their beaks become lethal weapons. Please realize each time the parents deliver fish, a food fight entails. Make sure you watch the video!

Mom has just arrive. Bedlam awaits!

Food Fight Close-Up

Great Blue Heron Chick Food Fight (Mom just dropped off the fish and flew away)

Videos!

Mom tries to provide some fish … food fight starts
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Quiet reigns for a few moments at the Rookery (view of 1/4 of the nests)
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Short video showing what my hike out from the Rookery is like
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Morning at the Pond (Sandhill Cranes & Colts)

Year 7,

I owe one to the bugs … all those swarms of mosquitoes and deer flies. Let me explain. About one hour after sunrise this morning I arrived at the trailhead to the Great Blue Heron Rookery in the Canosia State Wildlife Preserve. Less than five minutes into my hike the swarms of bugs in combination with the thick undergrowth drenching me (thunder storms last night), I remarked to myself that my walk was definitely not fun! I turned around and bid a hasty adieu to the woods.

When I got in my car to escape the bugs, a short drive down the dirt road found me unexpectedly meeting a brand new family … two Sandhill Cranes and their two colts (chicks). They were out in the open near a pond with lots of wildflowers on the shore. I was in photographic heaven!

{Just below all the Sandhill Crane photographs and movie you will find an audio recording I took of Hoot last night at 3 am. I was standing in my bedroom next to the window!}

Sandhill Cranes and Colts

Movie! (link for email subscribers)

One final item … I have often remarked that many nights I can hear Hoot, the Great Horned Owl, from my bedroom window. I made this audio recording last night at 3:15 am of Hoot. She was screeching (two toned) and demanding to be fed by her parents.

Hoot at 3 am … audio only … recorded next to my bedroom window! (link for subscribers)