Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

Do Owls Sweat?

Year 8
It is 91F in the shade this afternoon here in Duluth on the Fourth of July. The video demonstrates that owls do NOT have sweat glands and need to pant to cool off. You can see the feathers moving on the Great Horned Owl’s neck, and the bird’s mouth is open. (video link for email subscribers)
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The owlet should fly 1/4 mile down to Lake Superior. Down at the lake there is a nice light NE breeze is keeping things cooler (just finished a bike ride before going out birding).

Here are some still images I also took this afternoon.

Finally, this is what I saw when I first found the Great Horned Owlet! There was only one robin clucking in alarm … just one bird. However I was convinced by the robin’s actions there was an owl or hawk in the nearby woods.

Amity Creek Trail Cam!

Year 8

Now on video … a true nature classic … the first two weeks of the Amity Creek Trail Cam!!! Starring …

  • Bert the Bear
  • Rich … the birder
  • Molly … the bride (38 years)
    and
  • The Deer Herd!

YouTube video link for email subscribers (one minute, 30 seconds in length)

Stills from the movie featuring some of the stars …

Bert the Bear (tearing down feeders)

Wildcamera

Rich … the birder (fixing feeders)

Wildcamera

Bambi (enjoy the feeders once more)

Wildcamera

Know Your Local Ponds! Great Birding

Year 8, ,

Yesterday morning I “did the ponds.” These small bodies of water are great birding opportunities. Better yet, if the ponds have small islands to make wildlife feel safe, even better. Quite often cemeteries will have ponds. The best ponds do NOT have manicured lawns next to them. Tall grasses and wetlands are the best. In Duluth I often visit Forest Hill and Sunrise Cemeteries. In addition, Sam’s Club has a nice pond opposite its car service area. One final advantage of urban ponds, the wildlife is often accustomed to people which makes getting close much, much easier.

Pond Pics … A Otter, Kingfisher (female) and Green Heron

After a day at the ponds, I was out hiking before sunrise at 5:30 this morning. My local Red-Eyed Vireos started screeching in alarm and thus I was rewarded with finding two owlets.