Winter is giving up its grip on the Northland … slowly. Off trail by my Greenwood Creek Bird Feeders the snow is still deep, but the trails are rock hard for easy walking (melt during the day, freeze solid overnight). One of the very first songbirds to nest every season is the Canada Jay (Gray Jay, Whiskey Jack, Campground Robber). I found a pair of Canada Jays foraging next to Lake County 2 … three hours apart at the exact same location. While this might seen surprising given the location was miles from any bird feeder, these jays actually nest in February when the temperatures often reach minus 25F at night … or worse.

Thus, it is likely these two jays have a nest nearby! I will be checking the area over the next few week and month to see if the gray fluffballs appear. The weather was 50F this particular afternoon with sun, thus time off from incubating could be taken. Later that same day I took a hike out Park Point. The warm weather screamed to stay outdoors! The view is of the Superior Entry and Lighthouse into the harbor. The ice buildup happens every spring along the point as NE winds push ice ashore.

Here is today’s planned route. My first stop will be my bird feeders at Greenwood Creek, then via Isabella to Sawbill Landing. The snowpack inland from the big lake is still very deep. If I see more than four cars per hour once I head north from Two Harbors (20 minutes from my house) it will be a traffic jam! Once I leave Isabella I would expect to see zero other people. I am looking forward to a day in the wilderness. This route was planned based upon my knowledge of the area, the hour by hour weather forecast (particularly cloudy coverage, winds and temperatures), and the sun angle / position relative to my location and direction of travel.

While down in Florida recently I had a number of opportunities to watch and photograph Loggerhead Shrikes, the southern cousin of Northern Shrikes. In Florida the Loggerhead Shrikes were very accepting of human presence, and I was often able to get within 15 yards of the species. However, Northern Shrikes which breed every summer up in the Canadian Boreal Forest normally spook very, very easily. Getting close to the northern cousin is darned difficult. Both versions are known as “Butcher Birds”. Shrikes, actually a songbird, think like a raptor and catch small mammals, birds and insects. Have some nearby barbed wire? Shrikes will often impale their prey on the barbs for a future meal.

Thus, it was a fantastic morning on Wednesday when I managed to actually get close to a Northern Shrike, and watch it hunt for over 15 minutes. (video link for email subscribers)

• Links to the Cornell School of Ornithology
  • Northern Shrike
  • Loggerhead Shrike

Northern Shrike (7F in Northern Minnesota) (I have no idea what the shrike is watching in the 2nd image, and it is all puffed up against the cold in the 3rd photo)

The Southern Cousin … a Florida Loggerhead Shrike (70F outside!)