It may seem like the dead of winter, and even though today is February 18th and a ton of snow is on the ground, spring migration is officially in progress! While Owl Quest 2023 was a complete and total bust (in terms of finding owls), I saw hundreds and hundreds of Snow Buntings. These beautiful little birds are already working their way through northern Minnesota back to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Snow Buntings have learned to find farm fields with less snow, or where plows have cleared the shoulder of snow … which means seeds for food.
The other bird which is busy migrating is the Bald Eagle. While some eagle stay in the Northland year round, many head south. The eagles that migrated are also now working their way north. Look for Bald Eagles to arrive on location as soon as there is any open water (think streams, rivers, and where same empties in lakes and ponds)
I found some Bald Eagles this morning not to long after sunrise … enjoying the warmth of the rising sun till crows took exception to their presence.
Some Talons!
