Tag Archives: MN North: Duluth

Snowy Owls and more …

Year 9,

Yesterday evening was perfect! How else would one describe finding a Snowy Owl just before sunset and then the following occurs:

  1. The landowners invites me onto their land for a closer view of the owl
  2. The sun comes out for the final 30 minutes of daylight
  3. The Snowy Owl poses on a beautiful, natural perch

Before I show the results of yesterday’s photo session, I think many readers of this blog know I support Project Snowstorm. This research effort tags Snowy Owls with solar array powered GPS tracking / communication devices. The banding devices have provided fantastic data in terms of learning more about the year round life and locations of Snowy Owls. Although these devices are up in the Arctic much of the year as Snowy Owls return north for mating and raising owlets, there has been no such comparable effort for another winter  visitor, Northern Hawk Owls. Are Northern Hawk Owls only winter visitors which return north into Canada in late March or early April, or do they just retreat deep into the northern Minnesota bogland to raise families … far from any road (maybe both)?

Enter Hannah Toutonghi, a masters degree candidate at the University of Minnesota. For her research project she has been banding Northern Hawk Owls this winter with similar devices as those used by Project Snowstorm on Snowys. I am happy to be a financial supporter of her efforts. She will present a free webinar on March 17th at 6:30 pm CST about her initial research results and future efforts. The seminar is supported by the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog. Read more via their website (scroll down upon browsing over to Hannah’s webinar), and/or register here (it’s free … I’m attending)

Now back to yesterday’s Snowy Owl experience … and one photograph of a Northern Hawk Owl I watched early this winter.

Snowy  Owl Just Before Sunset Yesterday

Northern Hawk Owl Photographed Earlier this Winter

Sundown Snowy Owl!

Year 9

Sometimes you wonder as sundown approaches and is only ten minutes away whether it is worth waiting, and then something likes this experience happens! Yesterday this Snowy Owl suddenly appeared and perched on this pine tree for about five minutes just before sunset.

I often am not able to see whatever an owl sees in the sky above. This was one of those instances, but I have learned the owl is ALWAYS right. Something was up there!

This take-off was an hunting attack that failed.

Minnesota Boreal Forest Birding (Facebook Group)

Background, Year 9,

Earlier this morning I created a new Facebook Group, Minnesota Boreal Forest Birding. The image accompanying this post defines the area. Although the group is private, a Facebook account is required to join / participate. The group’s description and basic rules are listed beneath the map.

This group covers birding in the Boreal Forest Region of northern Minnesota, including The Big Bog, Sax-Zim Bog, the BWCA, and the North Shore of Lake Superior including Hawk Ridge.  Here is Facebook direct link:

Minnesota Boreal Forest Birding Rules:
  1. Our region is defined by the map accompanying this post
  2. Images MUST be posted within the group (not linked). Only one image is allowed for your primary post, but additional images may be posted in subsequent comments. Images should be your own, or clearly identify the owner.
  3. Posts of birding photographs should be recent, and note the basic date and location. For sensitive species using a general location is acceptable. Please add text describing your birding experience.
  4. No advertising or links to commercial websites without prior administrative approval. If your web site is “non commercial” and “not trying to sell something”, and has a clear relationship to birding in our area, links ARE allowed and most welcome.
  5. Discussion of ALL birding topics relevant to our region ARE allowed, but ONLY using polite civil language (no personal attacks or bullying).
  6. Our region is not 100% Boreal Forest. Feel free to post about birds seen in other habitat found throughout our area.