Category Archives: Year 1

Cemeteries and Septic Ponds: Ross’s Goose

Year 1,

Yup, I like to hang out at Cemeteries and Septic Ponds (Sewage Treatment Ponds). Yesterday afternoon I struck paydirt at the LakeView Cemetery in Two Harbors when I saw a rare northeastern Minnesota migrant, a Ross’s Goose.

This Ross’s Goose was hanging out with about 1,000+ of its Canadian buddies yesterday afternoon at the cemetery. While Ross’s and Snow Geese might be a common sight in the western Minnesota border region with the Dakotas, it is rare in NE Minnesota. If you wondered how I was able to get close to the goose with so many birds around, the answer is to NEVER walk directly towards a bird. I spent ten minutes walking in oblique, non direct lines towards the geese. They would look at me, but decide I was not a threat. I made sure to stop every few feet.

Later this morning I plan on driving up to the Castle Danger Sewage Treatment Ponds. I generally hike / bird the area outside the fenced in ponds. It is at Castle Dangle four years ago when I found / rescued Silver the Snowy Owl while hiking.

Even with my propensity to hang out at these aforementioned unusual locations, I was “bog bound” two mornings ago. The combination of heavy ground fog overnight, plus light winds in the first two hours after dawn led me to believe my favorite Great Gray Owl would be out hunting after sunrise as the fog cleared. I was not disappointed. It was beautiful to watch the owl hunt with all the fall colors around.

Crisp Point Stormrise

Year 1

Volunteering as a lighthouse keeper at Crisp Point Lighthouse … very remote … our tent is our keeper’s residence. This was the scene looking out over Lake Superior a bit before sunrise a few mornings ago. Access to internet or cell network does not exist. Managed to find access for a few minutes while replacing supplies. 19 mile dirt road to access, and then another 19 miles to the first small town. More later when I am home.

Surprisingly very few birds even though only 20 miles from Whitefish Point, a major bird migration hub, but the birds then migrate south down Lake Michigan, and not due west along Lake Superior.

Rescuing a Northern Goshawk

Year 1

Yesterday evening a good friend texted me. They had found a young hawk on their lawn, and needed identification help. Shortly thereafter through the exchange of photographs I figured out the bird was a Juvenile Northern Goshawk. By chance a Ruffed Grouse had hit their window earlier in the day. Knowing grouse were a favorite prey of Goshawk’s, the dead grouse was offered to the young hawk. It happily took the offering.

The Goshawk was willing to let my friends get within a few feet. Knowing this was not normal, I asked them to contact me in the morning if the bird was still present. At 7:45 am I received a phone call that the Goshawk was again standing in their yard eating the remains of the grouse. No matter how close they got to the bird, it would not fly (no obvious injuries).

My assessment was that the juvenile was starving. When parent birds stop feeding youngsters, the juveniles need to quickly learn how to become successful hunters. I drove over to my friend’s house, and the hawk let me walk right up to it (not normal). I then hand captured the bird by dropping a blanket over it from behind. This accomplishes a few things:

  1. Birds talens only go forward. Thus, coming up behind a bird protects me.
  2. Covering a bird with a blanket has a calming effect. Although a bird is stressed out from the capture, covering its eyes makes life a bit better.

Once the Goshawk was in my car, I called WildWoods Rehab Center. Just by good luck, they had a driver going down to the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center in 45 minutes. Anyhow, I put the pedal down on my car and safely delivered the Goshawk and made the relay. The hawk should arrive at the Raptor Center about noon. Life is good!

The Northern Goshawk enjoying some grouse (just before I hand captured the bird)

Having its meal …

(video link for email subscribers)

The Rescue: I did have to keep one hand on the blanket to encourage the Goshawk to remain covered and not get free!