Tag Archives: MN North: Pine Island State Forest

Broad-Winged Hawk Research Project

Year 12, , ,

I am helping out with a Broad-Winged Research Project this summer, and you may help me help both northern Minnesota’s Hawk Ridge and Pennsylvania’s Hawk Mountain‘s research efforts (Learn more about Broad-Winged Hawks via the Cornell School of Ornithology). This beautiful raptor’s population population has fallen 16% out in its eastern range since 1980’s. Thankfully here in the Central Flyway populations appear to be stable, and perhaps even rising. This Broad-Winged Hawk Research Project will be one of the first extensive studies of this bird specie. It is hoped to band many of these hawks with transmitters that will let us follow their migrations and learn more about where they truly winter in Central and South America … perhaps leading to habitat preservation along their migration paths and wintering habitats.

In the past week I have personally identified eleven Broad-Wing breeding territories with GPS coordinates … including one actual nest! How can you help? If you discover Broad-Winged Hawk Nests this summer in the Northland please contact me (Richard.Hoeg@GMail.Com). I will need both the GPS coordinates and a description of the nest site. I promise NOT to share the nest location to eBird or any other individuals OTHER than the research staff from Hawk’s Ridge. If the nest is on private property we will need permission to access the given location.

Here is the Broad-Winged Hawk I have seen twice within the past few days near Sax-Zim Bog’s Welcome Center and Overton Road.

Boreal Blowouts

Year 11

Today should have been a great birding day, but it wasn’t! I was hoping and expecting to see Great Gray Owls in the Pine Island State Forest wilderness west of Big Falls, Minnesota. The wind was dead calm … the skies were overcast and dark … it is mid November (i.e. owls start hunting meadow voles).  Even when the owls did not appear, Toomey-Williams Forest Road always provides excitement, except when it doesn’t.

Oh well, last week I had a great time birding just north of Tucson. I always enjoy seeing the “metallic blue cardinal” which is otherwise known as a male Phainopepla.

Tomorrow I will give Toomey-Williams one more try. The sun is even supposed to make an appearance in the morning. Thankfully all was not lost today. I am at our small Northwoods cabin which is actually shut down for the season (read … no running water or heat except for the wood stove). After supper I really wanted a treat and discovered a 10 year old container of Jiffy Pop. All the other food had been taken home for the winter. The Jiffy Pop popped. “It’s as fun to make as it is to eat! Jiffy Pop”. (Jiffy Pop TV commercial from 1980 … email subscriber link)

Terrific Toomey Time!

Year 11

Although I had a great Northern Lights distraction my first night up at my cabin, my goal for the three day stay was to bird and enjoy the wilderness west of Big Falls, Minnesota via Toomey Williams Forest Road. Tuesday and Wednesday saw me arrive at Toomey before dawn, and I was rewarded for my efforts. In addition I enjoyed peace and solitude … hours and hours including many hikes in the deep forest … never seeing another person or evidence of humanity (such as a cabin, shed, etc).

Mr. Moose! Apparently I do NOT know how to make a very good Cow Moose call. After watching Bullwinkle for five minutes after sunrise on Wednesday, I tried to make my best cow moose call. Apparently that effort was extremely poor! Rather than coming out of the thicket and walking towards me, the moose looked towards me and then hurried off! LOL. Regardless, I was only 35 yards from this huge creature!

After my time with Bullwinkle, the Spruce Grouse decided it was warm enough to come out and eat. The temperature when I arrive at Toomey each morning was in the mid 20’s. In the first few images you will see why these grouse have the word “spruce” as part of their name. This bird was eating spruce buds.

In this second sequence a pair of Spruce Grouse were eating seeds on the side of the road. They allowed me to walk within about 15 yards.

My other “hangout” is always a beaver pond that I found about one year ago. The beavers have dammed up a small creek and wildlife absolutely love the result.

White-Winged Crossbills (love to grit up on the dirt road next to the pond … have seen them four times in a row at the beaver pond)

My other treat was a Belted Kingfisher which was hanging around the Northwoods rather late this year. It also loves the beaver pond, and this bird allowed me to get within 15 yards and watch for 20 minutes during its search for breakfast. Please understand kingfishers spook so very easily; thus I was thrilled with my access.

I know many folks follow this blog because I often bird and report about Sax-Zim Bog. Toomey Williams makes Sax-Zim look like a big city, and Toomey’s habitat is wunderbar.