This Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker insisted in having its photograph taken. It was working away at a tree only feet off our deck, and stayed in this one location (food motivates) long enough for me to walk down the hill to our garage, get something, walk back up to the house, go inside and then get my camera. Sapsucker’s are one of my favorite woodpecker. I think this is the unique bird which drums in the tree nest to our bedroom window every morning at 5:00 am. Who needs an alarm clock?!
Finally, here are two More videos from yesterday’s Great Horned Owlet Rescue. Make certain you see yesterday’s post which has some cool videos and images from the actual rescue. These two movies were taken with my good camera.
The first video was taken shortly after I found the owlets and before the DNR and the Community Service Police Officer arrived to effect the rescue. (video link for email subscribers)
The second video was taken shortly after this particular owlet had been removed / rescued from the dog park. The owl was not happy with us, but quieted down quickly. (video link for email subscribers)
Today was an unexpected but special day. Molly knows I have been experiencing M.O.S. (missing owlet syndrome). After six years of watching Les and Amy raise Great Horned Owlets near my home, I was looking forward to a seventh year. Although I found this season’s nest, four weeks ago for unknown reasons the nest failed (night time raccoon attack??).
Anyhow this morning I had some intelligence on a family of Great Horned Owlets within driving distance of my northern Minnesota home. Leaving shortly before 6:30 am I went to visit the owl location. After walking around for ten minutes, I heard an “owl squawk” which I recognized as a female Great Horned Owl. I knew wherever Mom was, the owlets had to be near by … I just did not realize how near the owlets were to me. I had been scanning high up in the white pines, but briefly I looked down and discovered two owlets were on the ground within 10 yards of my location.
I backed off immediately, as I was obviously too close. Unfortunately the owlets were on the ground within a fenced dog park. My inspection of the owlets told me their flight feathers were not fully developed, and that both birds had likely experienced a “controlled crash” from the trees the prior night. I realized this was NOT a good situation for either owls or dogs. They could not escape any dogs that found them within the dog park.
Thankfully for most of the time I was the only person present (no dogs). I contacted both the local police and DNR. Between the three of us, we briefly captured the owls and released them moments later outside the fenced in dog park area. Momma Owl was watching us the entire time. Both owlets are now still on the ground (not unusual), but in safer protected thickets where I assume they will use downed tree boughs to climb back up into some white pines. My thanks to the Minnesota DNR and the local police department (not named to protect the owl’s location). Both organizations responded to my help requests and were instrumental in saving the owlets. Normally one should leave owlets found on the ground alone, but not when the owlets could not fly and were within a fenced dog park.
Today was also my half way point for cancer radiation treatment (20 out of 40 treatments). God provided me a real gift.
Enjoy!!!
My view when I finally looked down, and not up into the trees!
Owlet A (trying to scare a dog which appeared at one point)
Owlet B (trying to scare me when I got too close)
Momma Great Horned Owl
The Rescue Video! (video link for email subscribers)
A few days ago I had a most excellent time in the rain at Forest Hill Cemetery. During migration damp and foggy conditions will often bring warblers down to the ground (rather than high up in the trees). Such was the case in the drizzle, but with calm winds. The warblers still congregated at the north end of the first pond at the cemetery. This area was the most protected, and for over a half hour I had Yellow-Rumped and Palm Warblers within just a few feet of me. It was fun.
A few birds from that fun time in the rain …
Palm Warblers
Brown Creeper
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Once the weather cleared over the past three days I have seen an amazing number of Broad-Winged Hawks. These smaller hawks set up on the side of the roads and hunt for both songbirds and small mammals. This morning it seemed like these raptors were wherever I looked on Lake County Two between Two Harbors and my Greenwood Feeders.
Broad-Winged Hawks a Hunting!
Finally I apologize for the falloff in terms of post frequency. Some of you know that I am re-battling Prostate Cancer. Tomorrow will be my 20th radiation treatment (out of 40 planned). Thankfully the prognosis is excellent, but the treatments and medication tires me out. Essentia Health was very cooperative in terms of scheduling my appointments in the early afternoon. They understand part of the treatment/healing process is to continue doing the things a person loves … for me birding. Thus, a typical days sees me head out for the boreal forest around 6:45 am, and get back late morning … then on to my daily radiation treatment. Unfortunately I have experienced some radiation side effects which my medical team has helped me battle through. However, by later in the afternoon I tend to be tired and thus blogging frequency has suffered. Sorry.
