Category Archives: Background

Major Update to Minnesota Birding News

Background, Year 8

A major update has been implemented to the Minnesota Birding News Service (not an app anymore, but an online news service). Via this free service which I created two years ago and maintain for the Minnesota birding community, you are automatically informed (with a short synopsis of the new content) when any birding service from these categories posts new content:

  • Mn Bird Areas
  • Mn Bird Blogs
  • Mn Bird Orgs
  • USA Bird Blogs
  • USA Bird Orgs
  • Int’l Birding

Anyone already using the service should delete their content and download / install the OPML with today’s date (October 1, 2021).

For those of you who already have the service installed, there was a major change in Facebook’s format. Failure to replace your feeds will result in them failing to provide updates, if that in fact has not already happened.

Forest Fire Area Birding

Background, Year 8
I drove the Greenwood Forest Fire Area (see map) from the RR Tracks just north of Greenwood Lake, to Mn #1. Even though there are some hot pockets in the backcountry, Lake County 2 is open (not the back roads). I was interested to see the effect of a 26,000 acre fire, and determine if any birds were present (saw zero birds). In the past this area was good for Spruce Grouse and other Boreal birds. My intention is to bird this area over the months and years to come … determining how fast the forest regrows and birds repopulate same. I did submit an eBird report for my excursion using the Lake CR 2–Sand River hot spot. My expectation is by next summer Black-Backed Woodpeckers will move into the area.
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Here is the actual area I birded … from the out of service RR Tracks a bit north of Greenwood Lake to Mn Hwy 1 (16 miles roundtrip). Let me stress I only drove Lake County 2 which is legal & open to all traffic, and at no time was anywhere near fire fighting crews.

Ruby Hears a Knock!

Background, Year 8

As Steve Martin would exclaim in the movie, The Jerk … I am in the phone book! I am in the phone book! In our case, Susan Laron Kidd’s and my new book IS NOW published! View the online extras for this book.

Ruby Hears a Knock! Ruby is a Red Fox that lives in the northern forest. In this beginning reader’s children’s picture book, Ruby hears a “knock, knock, knock” and goes to investigate. During Ruby’s wanderings, she makes new friends with many animals and birds, and ultimately learns what makes the “knock, knock, knock” sound.

View: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | 18 pages in total

  • Purchase a printed copy via PayPal of Ruby Hears a Knock!
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Written by Susan Larson Kidd. Photographed by Rich Hoeg.
Copyright 2021. All rights reserved (story and photographs).

Download a free PDF or purchase a printed copy of my other two books: Do You Hoot? | Snowy’s Search for Color!