Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

The Other Chickadee … Mr. Boreal!

Year 12

Most folks think chickadees are all year round residents, but in fact many, many chickadees migrate a bit further south each winter, while some stay all winter in the Northland. Over the past few weeks I have known that Boreal Chickadees were coming south … many along the North Shore of Lake Superior. How did I know that fact when Boreal Chickadees are normally NOT a feeder bird? My Raspberry-Pi Birdsong listening devices. The listening stations at my house, French River Lutheran Church and my friend who lives near the mouth of the Sucker River suddenly showed lots of Boreals migrating … from zero present only two weeks ago.

I love these little birds, and yesterday I decided to visit a Boreal Chickadee hot spot (the Admiral Road Feeds in Sax-Zim Bog). Another friend put out peanut butter, and for over an hour it was a non stop parade of Boreal Chickadees.

Meet Mr. (or Ms.) Boreal Chickadee!

As a fyi, earlier this week on a very gloomy day the Birdnet-Pi’s indicated White-Winged Crossbills were migrating along the North Shore of Lake Superior in the hundreds. After church I visited some spruce trees which I knew were loaded with cones and was rewarded with lots of sightings of crossbills. Actually I saw hundreds of crossbills. Both examples from this post are essentially non feeder birds. Both species will visit feeders on rare occasions, but it is not common.

Red-Winged Blackbird Attacks Bald Eagle

Year 12,

Momma warned me there would be days like this!!!

An immature bald eagle was repeatedly dive-bombed by a red-winged blackbird at the Park Point Recreation Area a few days ago. The blackbird had to have a nest near by with recently fledged young. I personally have been on the receiving end of blackbird attacks many times in my life.

As a fyi, Bald Eagles do not get their white heads and tails till almost 4 years old. This is not a Golden Eagle. However, we do get some migrating Golden Eagles coming south from their breeding grounds neat Hudson Bay in late October to early November.

Press or click upon any image to view at full size. It’s fun to see the eagle’s eye expressions.

Incoming

Close Encounters of the Blackbird Kind

And from a very wet early morning up in Sax-Zim Bog this past week … a drenched Broad-Winged Hawk.

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.