Loon monitors needed for lakes in Crow Wing and Aitkin counties

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking volunteers to help monitor loon populations on selected lakes in Crow Wing and Aitkin counties. The Minnesota loon monitoring program is in its 12th year of counting loons in six index areas.

One index area is located north and west of Mille Lacs Lake between Garrison and Aitkin. Lake assignments have already been done for most of the 111 lakes in this index area, but volunteers are needed for 22 lakes.

The lakes in Aitkin County where loon monitors are needed are Section 12, Linde, Sixteen, Section 25, Lingroth, Mallard, Horseshoe, Three, Four, Shadow (Black), Long, Spirit, Hickory, Apple, Tarr and Lily. In Crow Wing County, monitors are needed for Long/Tame Fish, Clearwater, Rice, Reno, Unnamed and Long.

Instructional materials, maps and a data form will be provided. Volunteers need their own binoculars and transportation. A boat, canoe or kayak will be needed for some lakes; other lakes can be surveyed from shore. Time commitment is two to four hours per lake.

The survey must be conducted between 5 a.m. and noon during the survey period of July 2-12.

For information about being a loon monitor for one of these lakes, contact Kevin Woizeschke at (218) 833-8729 or kevin.woizeschke@dnr.state.mn.us.

DNR asks for reports on trumpeter swan pairs

Trumpeter swans have made a dramatic comeback and Minnesotans are being asked to help in the restoration effort.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Program is asking for reports on sightings of new swan pairs in wetlands in order to help locate new nesting sites.

The Minnesota flock of trumpeter swans now consists of more than 1,750 individuals, according to Steve Kittelson, DNR Trumpeter Swan Project leader. The DNR trumpeters have expanded their range and have paired up with trumpeters from other restoration projects, including Iowa, Wisconsin and Canada.

The DNR’s trumpeter swan restoration project has released more than 300 swans since 1987. “These free-flying birds could show up virtually anywhere in the state and we need help to keep track of them,” Kittelson said.

Kittelson asks anyone seeing a new pair of trumpeter swans accompanied by young swans, at a wetland, to write down the date and location of the sighting, the number of tagged and untagged birds, the color, and the I.D. number from wing tags or neck collars, if possible. Minnesota DNR swans have orange plastic wing tags (right wing on males, left wing on females).

New swan families should be reported to Kittelson at (651) 296-9662 in the Twin Cities metro area, toll free at 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367), or e-mail steve.kittelson@dnr.state.mn.us.

This information can help determine which birds are nesting, where they nest, and whether or not they’re successful.

In general, In general, June is a great time for avid and novice birders to jump in a canoe and check-out the shallow prairie marshes in search of the many species of waterfowl and waterbirds. Sightings may include grebes, coots, ducks, geese and swans, as well as wrens, rails, minks, raccoons and otters.

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

The ROCK WREN and the two SAY’S PHOEBES are still being seen at Felton Prairie in Clay County. From the town of Felton, travel south on State Highway 9, then east to the end of pavement on Clay County Road 108, and turn left to the gravel pit entrance. Look for the Phoebes around the north and east rim of the pit. The wren can be seen near Rock Pile #6002.

A GREAT GRAY OWL was found by Kim Eckert along Stickney Road in the Sax-Zim Bog area of St. Louis County on June 22nd, roughly one-tenth of a mile north of Arkola Avenue. Another was along McDavitt Road, two and one-half miles north of Sax Road. Also in the bog were two LONG-EARED OWLS that were seen hunting at mid-morning along Owl Avenue, just south of Overton Road.

A female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was found by Linda Sparling along Net Lake Road, three-quarters of a mile west of Carlton County 146.

Jim Fitzpatrick found a CAROLINA WREN in Clearwater County on June 11th, at the north end of Minerva Lake.

Two HENSLOW’S SPARROWS have been heard singing along the Pet Trails at Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington, in Hennepin County. Another was at Elm Creek Park Reserve, in Hennepin County, on June 20th along the bike path, and two Henslow’s Sparrows have been seen in Kandiyohi County for a couple of weeks. The birds have been seen near the towns of Hawick and Regal. From Hawick, travel southwest on State Highway 23 for one mile, then turn north on County Road 2 to County Road 33, and head west one mile to County Road 135. At least two birds have been heard at this intersection. And a Henslow’s Sparrow was located on June 17th east of State Highway 32 on Polk County Road 45, just south of the first grove of aspen trees.

In general, early to mid-June is a great time for avid and novice birders to canoe shallow prairie marshes in search of the many species of waterfowl and waterbirds. Sightings may include grebes, coots, ducks, geese and swans, as well as blackbirds, wrens, rails, minks, raccoons and otters.

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

A male PRAIRIE WARBLER is patroling a territory at Ritter Farm Park in Lakeville, in Dakota County. Jim Mattsson first found it on June 6th, and it is still present and vocalizing in the area. To view this bird, take I-35W to the 185th Street Exit. Continue on the service road that runs south along the east side of the interstate for roughly one mile, and then turn west. Take a right at the sign for Ritter Park, and continue one-half mile to the main parking lot. Walk from the parking lot along the main trail north to Shelter #4. Continue on, staying to the right at the fork in the trail. After a few hundred yards the trail will parallel the north boundary fence — look for a small white sign that reads “Grant-in-Aid Trail”. This is the northeastern edge of the warbler’s territory.

The ROCK WREN and two SAY’S PHOEBES are still being seen at Felton Prairie. From Felton, travel south on State Highway 9, then east to the end of the pavement on Clay County Road 108, and turn left to the gravel pit entrance. Look for the phoebes around the north and east rim of the pit. The wren can still be found near rock pile #6002.

On June 10th, Julian Sellers found a LITTLE BLUE HERON in a small flooded field beside Wilkin County Road 30, roughly 200 yards west of I-94, and about five miles north of the town of Rothsay. Roger Schroeder found a SNOWY EGRET in the city of Marshall, in Lyon County, on the evening of the 8th, at the pond south of the Fire Station on Saratoga Street.

On June 15th, Bill Tefft found a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD near the road that circles the ballfields at Vermilion Community College in Ely, in St. Louis County.

A HOODED WARBLER was seen on June 15th by Paul Gempler in the Schulz Lake area of Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Dakota County. The exact location was immediately south of Schulz Lake, near Trail Marker E8.5. Another Hooded Warbler was found by Al Schirmacher on the 11th on the Blue Hill Trail at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Sherburne County.

A male SUMMER TANAGER was seen by Jay Hamernick on June 9th at Lake Vadnais, in Ramsey County. It was in the pines, south of the lake, across from the Lake Vadnais Church on Twin Lakes Boulevard.

There was an interesting report on June 13th of a first-year BLUE GROSBEAK in a field just southwest of the town of Vermillion in Dakota County. The bird was photographed along County Road 66 just over one-tenth of a mile west of where Fisher Avenue intersects 200th Street.

A GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen by Denny Martin on the 12th in a marsh across from Split Rock Creek State Park in Pipestone County.

In Clay County, the ROCK WREN, and the two SAYâ?TS PHOEBES, are still being seen daily. To view these birds, begin in the town of Felton and travel south on State Highway 9 for two miles. Turn east on County Road 108 and drive to the T-intersection. Follow the gravel road left and north to the gravel pit area.

Mary Broten reported a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at her feeder in Marshall County on May 29th. Mary lives about one-eighth of a mile west of U.S. Highway 59, roughly 12 miles north of Thief River Falls.

On May 31st, Drew Smith found a second summer LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at the west end of Black Dog Lake in Dakota County.

On June 1st, Bruce Baer reported a BELL’S VIREO from the Hogback Ridge Trail, east of the State Highway 77 Bridge at the Bass Ponds area of Bloomington — check the willows along the edge of the lake. Brian Smith found a Bell’s Vireo on the same day in the willow thickets on the west end of the Rosenau/Lambrecht Wildlife Management Area, which is west of New Ulm, in Brown County, along U.S. Highway 14. To reach the location, turn south off U.S. Highway 14 onto 200th Avenue, and search the thickets to the east.

Matt Mecklenburg found a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in rural Clay County on June 1st, at the 15,5XXâ?”block of 60th Avenue South. And on May 31st, Pam Perry had a Northern Mockingbird visit her yard in Brainerd, in Crow Wing County.

On June 2nd, a singing HOODED WARBLER was found by Al Schirmacher along the Blue Hill Trail of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Sherburne County. This location was about a ten minute walk from the parking lot.

DNR osprey photo contest deadline nears

The third Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Checkoff photo contest is underway. Carrol Henderson, DNR Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor, reminds amateur and professional photographers to send in their photo entries featuring ospreys, before the June 17 deadline.

Winning photos from the contest will be featured in the 2006 Nongame Wildlife Checkoff Poster. The poster helps promote donations to the Nongame Wildlife Program and is available free to people who donate to the Wildlife Checkoff Fund on their Minnesota state tax forms or directly to the Nongame Wildlife Program.

Photographers may submit up to 12 original slides taken in Minnesota. Photos chosen to be included in the year 2006 poster will be published with photo credit. Contest winners will receive a framed copy of their winning photo, along with their choice of a complimentary copy of the best selling CD “Restore Your Shore” or a copy of the award winning book “Landscaping for Wildlife,” both published by the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program.

Slides or transparencies may be submitted with each slide labeled with the photographer’s first and last name. Slides should be submitted in a clear plastic 35mm slide sheet. A self-addressed, stamped envelope must be included for return of the slides.

Entry forms and contest rules may be obtained from the DNR Information Center by calling (651) 296-6157 or toll-free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367), or by visiting the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us.

Herb Dingmann reported an adult male CINNAMON TEAL in southern Mahnomen County on May 26th. The bird was found on the south side of County Road 12, roughly one-third of a mile west of County Road 3.

In Clay County, the ROCK WREN and two SAYâ?TS PHOEBES are still being seen daily. Directions from the town of Felton are to travel south on State Highway 9 for two miles. Turn east on County Road 108, and drive to the T-intersection. Follow the gravel road left and north to the gravel pit area.

There is a secondhand report of a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER seen on or around May 22nd in Dakota County, along 155th Street between Angus and Barbara avenues.

Peder Svingen found a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK in Rock County on May 24th. It was along the road that runs east, and then north, of the water-filled gravel pits that are south of Blue Mounds State Park. The grosbeak soon disappeared and Peder was unable to relocate it.

Out of range was the LARK BUNTING found May 26th in the city of Ely, in St. Louis County. From the north side of town, turn right onto State Highway 1 for one block, then left onto the dirt road. Check for the bird along the fence line of the ball field.

Bill Marengo found four AMERICAN AVOCETS at Mile Marker 17 of Highway 28, just east of Barry in Big Stone County.

In Duluth, nine RED-THROATED LOONS were seen by Sparky Stensaas on May 23rd, past the Sky Harbor Airport on Park Point. Three PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen out from the recreational area of Park Point on the same day. An ARCTIC TERN was reported here last weekend but has not been seen recently.

There have been many reports of NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD over the past week. One was seen on May 21st in Scott County, just west of Murphy Lake Boulevard, in the southwest corner of Murphy-Hanrehan Park, about half a mile north of 175th Street. On the same day, another was at the Minnesota River Valley Refuge Headquarters in Bloomington. In western Brown County, Brian Smith found one along 400th Avenue, just north of the intersection with 140 Street. On May 24th, Bob O’Connor found a Northern Mockingbird in Moorhead’s Gooseberry Park in Clay County. To view this bird, check the edge of the woods, from the park shelter to the footbridge.

Four more Northern Mockingbirds were found along the north shore of Lake Superior: one on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus at St. Marie Street and University Drive on the 24th, another at the scenic overlook over Boy Scout Landing in west Duluth on the 21st, one on the west end of Stoney Point Drive near Knife River, and another at the Two Harbors Lighthouse on the 23rd. In Hennepin County, Karen Murri reported one on the lawn behind the office building at 2381 Rosegate in Roseville.

Cole Foster reported seeing a SUMMER TANAGER on May 20th at the southeast end of Linwood Lake in northern Anoka County, near the northwest corner of Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. To view this bird, take Jordell Street north from Lexington Avenue to a T-intersection at the southern end of Linwood Lake. Take a right at the T and park at the dead end. There is an informal trail at the dead end which leads to the main trail that runs along the eastern shore of Linwood Lake. The bird was in the area where the informal trail intersects the main trail.

In Clay County, the ROCK WREN was still present on rock pile number 6002 as of May 18th. Connie Brunell found two SAY’S PHOEBES nearby on May 15th. Directions from the town of Felton are to travel south on State Highway 9 for two miles, turn east on County Road 108, and drive to the T intersection. Follow the gravel road left and north to the gravel pit area. Rock pile numbers 6002 and 6006 are just to the left, past the gate. Also at the Felton Prairie, a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH could still be seen in the wooded area just northeast of the eastern terminus of County Road 108. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen as well by Bob O’Connor. The bird was found on a wooden piling along the road to the Blazing Star Prairie, which is the gravel road running south from the juntion of County Roads 34 and 110.

Also on May 15th, John Ellis saw a WHITE-FACED IBIS at the Osakis sewage ponds in Douglas County. The Ibis was in the pond closest to Interstate 94, as you travel from town towards the ponds.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was found by Ben Fritchman on the 15th, just north of the town of Little Falls in Morrison County. It was seen at the picnic shelter of a county park along Highway 371.

Nels Thompson photographed a LAZULI BUNTING at his feeders in Steele County. Though the bird has not been seen since May 13th, directions from Interstate 35 are to take Exit Number 32, and travel east for three-quarters of a mile. Before the road reaches a T intersection, turn left up the driveway at Route Number 2328.

On May 15th, Randy Frederickson found a PIPING PLOVER in a wetland in southeastern Kandiyohi County. The wetland is two and one-half miles east of the intersection of State Highway 7 and County Road 8. At Mile Marker 118, look for the driveway at Fire Call 16001. Since this is public land, you may continue down the driveway and park in the open area west of the old building site. Walk down the road to the southeast to the wetlands where the Plover was seen. Another Piping Plover was at Lake Byllesby on the same day, as was a CATTLE EGRET. John Ellis reported 31 Cattle Egrets on the same day in a cow pasture at the southeastern end of Pelican Lake in Grant County.

A SNOWY EGRET was found on May 15th by Wally Swanson and Glenn Lee at Rice Lake State Park in Steele County. The bird was foraging amongst the reeds near the middle of the lake.

Somewhat far north was the COMMON MOORHEN discovered by Herb Dingmann in a portion of the Rum River State Forest in western Kanabec County. From the junction of County Roads 10 and 56, travel west on 56 for roughly one and one-half miles. Turn left onto Apple Street and drive past the cattail pond on the right to the open water. Look for the Moorhen here.

On the 13th, Kim Eckert found an adult LITTLE GULL at Park Point in Duluth. It was on the Lake Superior side of the Point, just out from 31st Street, associating with a large flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls. Earlier in the afternoon, Mike Hendrickson reported several RED-THROATED LOONS out from the Recreation Area on the lake.

There was an interesting report of a second-summer LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL found on May 12th by Doug Kieser. It was seen roosting with a group of gulls and terns on the grassy island in the Purgatory Creek wetlands of Eden Prairie, in Hennepin County. Also present were 145 CASPIAN TERNS and a single Cattle Egret.

On the 14th, Al Schirmacher visited Crow-Hassan Park Reserve in Hennepin County and reported a possible YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT calling from a small grove of trees. Walk about eight minutes down the center foot path to locate the grove of trees.

There have been three additional reports of WESTERN TANAGER since last week. On May 13th, Betty Smith reported a Western Tanager in her yard along Clausen Street in Bemidji, in Beltrami County. Another one was at Cheryl Creeger’s home in Rock County on the same day. And George Eckman’s home was visited by a Western Tanager on the 13th in the town of Oronoco, in Olmsted County.

Ron Erpelding found a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE on the 13th in Luxemburg Township of southeastern Stearns County. The exact location was the northeastern corner of the southwestern quarter of Section 25.

In general, the first half of May is the best time to view warblers and songbirds in their full breeding plumage. Some of the favorites include indigo bunting, scarlet tanager and rose-breasted grosbeak. Towards the end of May, birders have a second opportunity to see these beautiful birds in the far northern regions of Minnesota. Avid and novice birders may also want to check out International Migratory Bird Day at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls, May 14; the Detroit Lakes Festival Of The Birds, May 19-22; and The 6th Annual Bluff Country Birding Fest in southeastern Minnesota’s Historic Bluff Country, May 20-22. Each event offers guided bird walks, special bird activities, displays and demonstrations. More information on these events can be found at www.exploreminnesota.com

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

On May 10th, Bob Janssen and Jerry Bonkoski discovered a ROCK WREN in Clay County. The bird was seen atop rock pile #6002, which is located at the gravel mining operation at Felton Prairie. A pair of Rock Wrens were found nesting in this area last year. Also at the Felton Prairie, Bob O’Connor found a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on May 9th. The bird was in the woods along the gravel road that forks to the left at the north end of Clay County Road 108. This location is just northwest of the north gate.

On May 8th, Kim and Cindy Risen found an immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE on Lake Mille Lacs behind the Harbor Inn & Marina, just north of the town of Garrison on the Crow Wing/Aitkin County line.

Nels Thompson discovered a BLACK-NECKED STILT in Steele County on May 8th, and the bird was still present at least through the morning of the 11th. The bird was seen at Spindler Pond, situated one-half of a mile west of Rice Lake State Park, just east of Owatonna on Rose Street. Three stilts were found in the same location last year.

One of three SUMMER TANAGERS was found in Steele County this past week. Nels Thompson reported this bird at his home which is east of the town of Hope. At Interstate 35, take exit number 32 and travel east for three-quarters of a mile. The bird was seen in this area. Another Summer Tanager was at Hok-si-la Park near Lake City in Goodhue County on the 8th, but no further information is available. And at Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, in Hennepin County, a Summer Tanager was found by Bryan McKamey, both at his home and in the park. Within the park, the bird is most often reported in the southeast corner. A HOODED WARBLER has also been seen in the park along the short loop trail just west of the Nature Center building.

A WESTERN TANAGER was found by Julian Sellers at the Senn-Rich Wildlife Management Area in Waseca County on May 10th. It was foraging in the willows at the east end of the wetland, northwest of the entrance. The Senn-Rich Wildlife Management Area is four and one-half miles south of Waseca on State Highway 13. Rose Kneeskern found a LITTLE BLUE HERON east of the Oakwood Cemetery in Mower County on the 10th. This cemetery is at the northeast corner of the intersection of I-90 and 4th Street Northwest in Austin.

On May 8th, Bruce Fall found three CATTLE EGRETS in a field just west of U.S. Highway 52, roughly one-quarter of a mile south of 170th Street in Dakota County.

Kim and Cindy Risen reported a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the western shore of Lake Mille Lacs in Mille Lacs County on May 8th. The bird was at the intersection of County Road 25 and U.S. Highway 169.

Bob Dunlap found a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD on May 9th in the Gustavus Adolphus Arboretum in St. Peter, in Nicollet County. From U.S. Highway 169 in St. Peter, travel west on College Avenue to a T intersection. Turn left, continue straight past the stop sign, and take an immediate left into the Arboretum parking lot and look for visitor parking. Hike any of the trails into the Arboretum and just past the prairie area look for the large grassy area with scattered trees. The bird was foraging in this area, especially near the old pioneer building. Another Mockingbird was found by Barb and Denny Martin in the northwest corner of Redwood County. To view this bird, begin just south of the Minnesota River on County Road 7, and turn west on 440th Street. Drive west one mile to the large open field. The bird was seen here on both sides of the road.

In general, the first half of May is the best time to view warblers and songbirds in their full breeding plumage. Some of the favorites include indigo bunting, scarlet tanager and rose-breasted grosbeak. Towards the end of May, birders have a second opportunity to see these beautiful birds in the far northern regions of Minnesota. Another highlight of mid-May is the annual International Migratory Bird Day. To participate, head to the Windom Wetland Management District in the city of Windom on Saturday, May 7, or to the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls on Saturday, May 14. Both events offer guided bird walks, special bird activities, displays and demonstrations.

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

Up to four WHITE-FACED IBIS were reported from the marsh behind the Hills sewage ponds in Rock County by Bob Dunlap on May 1st. This is the same location where a single Ibis was reported on April 20th. Several GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES are also being seen in this area.

Shelley Steva found two SHORT-EARED OWLS in Polk County on May 4th. They were along Polk County Road 252, roughly three miles from U.S. Highway 75 near 260th Avenue.

A WESTERN TANAGER has been visiting a feeder in the city of Newport, in Washington County for the past several days. The bird can be seen along 8th Avenue, just east of U.S. Highway 61.

On May 5th, Dedrick Benz reported a PIPING PLOVER from Winona County. From the town of Winona, take U.S. Highway 61 south for one mile to Mud Lake, found on the left. The Piping Plover is in the company of several SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS.

A variety of shorebirds has been reported from Lake Byllesby in Dakota County over the past week. Species found there include SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCET, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, WILLET, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, DUNLIN, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, and WILSON’S PHALAROPE.

Other recent arrivals include AMERICAN BITTERN, GREEN HERON, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, SEDGE WREN, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, PALM WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, OVENBIRD, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, HARRIS’S SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, BOBOLINK, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.