Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors Highlands

Beating the Pandemic!

Year 8,

This Pandemic rots. I obviously don’t need to tell anyone that fact, but it still rots big time. Here in northern Minnesota folks may think we might be challenged in finding ways to safely get together with friends. Not true! Winter and cold temperatures are only a problem should you choose to have a defeatist attitude. Thursday evening Molly and I got together with good friends … safely and outdoors. We sat outside, wearing our long underwear, and enjoyed a roaring fire plus good fellowship. My friend Jon has even built snow walls to protect against the winds blowing in off Lake Superior. In total we sat outside for over 3 hours in 20+ degree weather. I was never cold! (warm chili and a glass of wine helped). I hope everyone else is “beating the Pandemic”. (remember … Molly has her own blog)

Obviously for me, in addition to outdoor gatherings in the northern Minnesota Winter, birding helps beat the Pandemic. Over the past few days I saw this Barred Owl, and quite a few Great Grays.

Great Gray Owl Banding and Hunts

Year 8

I’ve been spending a lot of time up in the Superior National Forest for many reasons. The Hoar Frost has been dumbfoundingly beautiful for over a week, and there are quite a few Gray Gray Owls. Unfortunately for the first time since well before Christmas the temperature rose above freezing … melting hoar frost and snow off pine trees. The artist in me was in love with the conditions. However all good things must end.

Early yesterday morning I came across some friends who were banding a Great Gray Owl. I appreciate their research. It was fun to touch the owl … look at its ears … and count wing bands to determine age. The owl was also checked for general health (good) and many other items which were all recorded. A Great Gray Owl has an amazing amount of down, which is required to survive our northern winters where temperatures may fall below -20F.

Here is the subject of the banding effort … a 3rd year female.

You might also enjoy this video (link for email subscribers) of Denver Holt from the Owl Institute as he bands a Great Gray Owl family in much warmer conditions. The Owl Institute does great research and I am personally a donor.

In total over the past two days, I have seen 10 unique owls … 8 Great Gray Owls and 2 Snowy Owls. The images below unfortunately were taken without hoar frost. Either the birds were not cooperative with their perches, or it was in the afternoon after the frost had melted. Still a great time!

Hunt #1: Great Gray Owl Sunset Hunt

Hunt #2: The Strike! (Notice how the owl is striking the snow with its talens. It uses its offset ear and trigonometry to triangulate a mouse or vole running beneath the snow. Thus, death smashes through the snow from above.)

Backlit! (taking images directly into the setting sun can be rewarding)

A Snowy Owl (immature male shopping at Menards!)(LOL … its perch)

Frost Encrusted Great Gray Owl

Year 8

While all the recent Hoar Frost and Freezing Fog makes for beautiful conditions, animals and birds may not like the frozen moisture. Yesterday morning I found this Great Gray Owl hunting after the fog lifted. You may need to maximize the photograph, but in addition to the frost encrusted cedar branches, the owl itself has a lot of frost on its body. It’s tough being a bird out there in this environment.