Did you know Bert and Betty, the Barred Owls have been waiting for me to pen an owl children’s book about their family? I have one problem … I have not been able to find the happy couple’s home. I have looked far and wide in the Duluth area for Bert and Betty without success. Now I may have a candidate couple at my cabin. Through my cabin’s new bird song listening device, BirdNET-Pi, I have learned there are Barred Owls at Northstar Lake. Last night they were recorded 45 times asking who was my cook! This would be too cool if I am able to find this happy couple. (my cabin’s listening station)
Just in case I don’t find this loving couple’s home, I would welcome help in the Duluth area. Barred Owls tend to nest in tree cavities. I would need access to your property from this time of year (courting / defining territory) through next June (Owlets fledging).
Labor Day Weekend is gorgeous so far up near Minnesota’s border with Canada. Molly and I have owned our small northwoods cabin for 35 years. We lease the land from the Chippewa National Forest, but own the cabin. Our landlord, the forest service controls the land and rules that cabins may not be larger than 600 square feet, and NOT year round structures (we pump water our of the lake). We love these rules. Northstar Lake is the southernmost lake of the Hudson Bay Watershed. It’s 1,100 acres, and over 90 feet deep in places with 12+ miles of shoreline. The Forest Service owns most of the lakeshore. The end result is our lake is not very developed. I recharge my personal batteries up here!
Shortly after sunrise this morning I found these two juvenile Broad-Winged Hawks having a sibling disagreement. I actually saw quite a few other hawks right after dawn. The first year youngsters are increasingly having to do their own hunting. Thus sightings are easier. Within 2 to 3 weeks Broad-Wings will start their southern migration, with thousands kettling on warm afternoons at Hawk Ridge’s thermals. I actually live at the base of Hawk Ridge in Duluth (105 miles distant from my cabin).
Immediately following are the Broad-Winged Hawk photos from this morning, and after the raptor images you will find some drone pics I took over the past few days at my cabin on Northstar Lake.
Broad-Winged Hawk Disagreement!
Drone Photos of Northstar Lake Taken from my Cabin
My cabin’s dock … on the left
Looking up the point (access to multiple bays and the other main section)
Looking down the narrows (access to the lower lake bays)
Enjoy a natural 4th of July explosion of color. The wildflowers are beautiful right now, and tend to be running late this year. Get into the countryside by 7 to 8 am while the light is not yet harsh. I left this morning at 6 am. Lupines are still very much blooming and daisies are only just coming into full blossom. A few Black-Eyed Susans are starting to flower, but the big displays of their color will be towards the end of July.
Remember, if you want to see a particular flower that normally might be past its best phase of blossom, just drive closer to Lake Superior. Every spring it is like a time machine in terms of plants. Lilacs are still in bloom next to the lake. Down south in Minnesota Lilacs blossomed back in mid May. One of my favorite wildflower drives is Lake County 2 leading from Two Harbors to Greenwood Lake.
And a few still images taken with my phone. Notice the Hawk Weed vs. The Indian Paintbrush. Most people confuse Hawk Weed for Indian Paintbrush, which is a much more rare wildflower.
