I went looking for Pine Grosbeaks at some old berry / crabapple farms and found instead one of the birds of the Boreal Forest which is unfortunately experiencing the greatest population drop of any kind of bird in North America. Rusty Blackbirds breed up in the Boreal Forest swamps north of the border in Canada, and we occasionally see them here in northern Minnesota during their southern migration. Their population drop has been estimated at 85 to 99 percent over the past 40 years. Hopefully they are not a “canary in coal mine”. 
Category Archives: Year 7
Amity Creek Sunrise
This morning I watched one of the best sunrises in my life. While there have been more brilliant displays of color, this movement of the colors and clouds through the pre-dawn sky were very awe inspiring to me. The vantage point is my own stairs 25 minutes before actual sunup.
Later in the morning my youngest son took me for a drive up the shore and some birding. I found a small flock of Wilson’s Snipes foraging in Two Harbors.
I am working on the promised bird feeder review. My concentration level is still sub-par. Stay tuned.
Video: Wilson Snipe Foraging (video link for email subscribers)
Video: Hoot Hiding from Crows (video link for email subscribers)
Found this video from late August I had taken and never processed
An update on me … my body hurts and I crave sleep / rest. Food is beginning to taste good again, but I have a long recovery road ahead. My wife took this photo of me just before dinner last night holding my two fingers full glass of Chardonnay (all I am allowed). I was four days post second heart surgery when this pic was taken last night, and nine days post open heart surgery.
Fox Sparrow Return
Home! One of the most beautiful word in the English language. While the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital is fantastic, and I sampled everything from the initial ambulance ride to my fantastic surgical teams, I am back where I love … Amity Creek and its ravine next to my house as winds its way down to Lake Superior.
My wife brought me home yesterday afternoon. My unexpected travels began two weeks ago today when I went out for a trail run. Just 1/2 mile into my run near the Lester River I collapsed and passed out on a trail in the woods. I have no idea how long I was on the ground … eventually coming semi alert but not able to see properly or stand up. I knew I was near the pine grove where Hoot lives. While still groveling on the ground, I yelled the following:
- Hoot, I need help
- I don’t want to die.
Thankfully God heard me, and after I was able to finally stand up, I attracted the attention of a young couple hiking on a nearby trail. They phoned 911, helped me to hike down to a nearby park parking lot where medical personnel met us. Over the past two weeks I have had two heart surgeries. The first surgery was “open heart” to replace a genetically defective mitral valve. The second surgery was much less invasive and installed a combination pacemaker / defibrillator device. I have a long recovery road as my medical team and I work through some issues, but the prognosis is very good.
When I returned home yesterday evening, some Fox Sparrows were busy having supper in my yard. These little guys are some of my favorite sparrows in terms of color. Fox Sparrows are recently arrived in my yard from the Arctic.
