Tag Archives: WI North: Richard Bong Airport

Greenwood Creek Bird Feeders Update

Year 12,

Actually my update is on birds that love the habitat around the feeders, but never actually visit the feeders.

  1. American Three-Toed Woodpeckers are often being seen first thing in the morning just a bit after sunrise. They like to use the dead trees right near the bird feeders for drumming. I saw one Three-Toed yesterday, and heard another drumming nearby to the south in response. It seems like the best chance to see this rare species is first thing in the morning on calm, sunny days. The woodpeckers are starting to drum.
  2. Two Spruce Grouse were gritting up out on Lake Country 2 within 600 yards of the feeder’s parking area.

If you wish to visit the feeders arriving early at the feeders is a good idea, both because the birds are more active and the deep snow pack will be frozen solid. Yesterday it was 12F just 45 minutes after sunrise when I arrived, but the temperature rose to 37F within two hours. Hiking even on the snowmobile trail is easy while the everything is rock hard, but as the temperatures become warmer the trail gets mushy. No snowshoes are needed to walk the snowshoe trail.

Greenwood Creek Spruce Grouse

One final Snowy Owl (seen the evening before in Superior, Wisconsin)

Hello Saige, Good Bye Snowys!

Year 12,

Today I met my eighth grandchild, Saige Hoeg! Molly and I are doing what is most important in life … enjoying family and this instance being introduced to a little girl who has brought joy into the hearts of her family. Saige even wore home from the hospital the same exact little yellow sweater which I wore home on a cold spring morning just shy of 69 years ago. Now, this “little yellow sweater” has been worn by 3 generations of the family … cue the choir and orchestra as everyone sings out that famous song from Fiddler on the Roof, Tradition! (video link for email subscribers)

And in our case … Saige in the Little Yellow Sweater!

Now, I’m actually not real writer in the family; that crown goes to my wife. If you would like to learn more about “the little sweater” and see baby photos from across the generations in said sweater, browse to Molly’s blog … Superior Footprints (as in both Lake Superior and Life’s Footprints). A big TV station down in Minneapolis / St. Paul even learned about our little yellow sweater and with our family’s blessing created a piece about the sweater for their show, MInnesota Live. Watch Minnesota Live’s short documentary via Molly’s blog.

Now didn’t I mention that in this post’s title that it was also Good-Bye to Snowy Owls? By the time I am again actively birding the Northland (about March 1st), most owls including Snowys will be working their way northward. Thus, yesterday morning I went owling and arrived in Snowy Owl Land (Superior, Wisconsin) well before sunrise. Apparently the folks who arrange successful birding expeditions decided luck should be with me. I found not one, but two Snowy Owls and watched them hunt starting for about one hour both before and after sunrise. Both owls decided it was time take a siesta and I drove home.

Superior Snowys!

Owl #1

Owl #2

The sun has finally truly risen, and both owls will be asleep very soon. Light conditions were changing amazingly fast, which forces the photographer to adjust how they approach taking a picture. While both owls were alert and constantly looking around which made me believe they were still hunting, it is equally possible they did not want to settle down to sleep till they had both upchucked their owl pellets!

Owl Notes … the Irruption and Locals

Year 12,

The Owl Irruption is changing. While there are still Great Gray Owls in the Duluth / Two Harbors region, the numbers are down dramatically. The days of seeing an owl on almost every sign post and pole seems to be over. I suspect this change was caused by just too much hunting pressure, and the Great Gray Owls needed to move on because the local meadows and wetlands were hunted out.

In addition, an owl adventure that began on exciting high note on Sunday morning has ended poorly. I received a phone call at 9:15 am describing an owl which I believed needed help. I found the Great Gray, hand captured and delivered the bird to Wildwoods Rehabilitation Center in Duluth. It was interesting once more to have an owl, which was secure in a box, riding next to me in my Subaru. Unfortunately the owl did not survive past Monday. While the bird was not injured, it was starving and could not be saved. As a fyi, I do not photograph birds that I am involved with rescuing. Taking time out for photography would be wrong when the animal needs my help.

Nature must have known I needed a pick me up after the downer of the owl’s death. While quite cold yesterday, during a hike I discovered my local Great Horned Owl’s nest. Les and Amy are back for a seventh year nesting near my home. Here is a photo of Les keeping watch over his lady love. For the time being I will not be posting images of the nest to protect Amy. As a reminder, this is the time of year to take walks after sunset in the dark … listen to your local owl’s hooting … triangulate the sound … find the nest. The Poppa Owls will always perch very near (as in only yards away in a different tree). By triangulating the the hooting you can really zero in on the nest area. I then return after sunrise when I am better able to see.

And Amy … image taken two evenings before she nested.

The local Snowy Owls which winter here on the Arctic Riviera must have also decided to help cheer me up. An hour before sunset yesterday I found not one but two Snowys.

Snowy #1

Snowy #2