Late last week there was a somewhat ambiguous report of a BLACK-NECKED STILT from Big Stone County. The bird was briefly relocated on April 24th at the Centennial Waterfowl Production Area, which is along County Road 6, roughly 4.3 miles east of the town of Clinton. Unfortunately, the bird has not been seen since.

On April 28th, two CATTLE EGRETS were in a farm field near Long Prairie in Todd County. The location was the dead end road that runs west from County Road 11, roughly one mile north of County Road 10.

AMERICAN AVOCETS, WILLET, LEAST SANDPIPERS, and BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS were all seen by Denny and Barb Martin in Big Stone County on April 25th. The Avocet was on County Road 61, about one mile north of County Road 4. They also reported a probable CLARK’S GREBE on Thielke Lake.

A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was at Chad Aakre’s feeder in Winona County last week, and it is still being seen in the general area. To view this bird, check the area along 10th Street between Harriet and Wilson.

There have also been recent reports of SWAINSON’S HAWK, DUNLIN, CASPIAN TERN, FRANKLINâ?TS GULL, BONAPARTEâ?TS GULL, PURPLE MARTIN, MARSH WREN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, YELLOW WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and LARK SPARROW.

A GLOSSY IBIS was found April 19th in Aitkin County just west of the town of Aitkin, and it was still present April 20th. The bird was in a flooded field on the north side of County Road 15, roughly two and a half miles west of town. A WHITE-FACED IBIS was reported on the 19th by Dedrick Benz from the Hills sewage ponds in Rock County.

Jerry Hansen found five CATTLE EGRETS in a field in southeast Rochester, in Olmsted County, on April 19th. The egrets were seen along 30th Street Southeast, one-quarter of a mile west of Marion Road. Craig Mandel reported five Cattle Egrets in Otter Tail County on the 17th in the northeast corner of the intersection of County Road 7 and 140th Street.

Dave Schmidt found a BLACK SCOTER in Inver Grove Heights, in Ramsey County, April 15th. It was in a small pond north of the junction of Argenta Trail West and 68th Street West.

As many as 180 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and two ROSS’S GEESE were in Jackson County on April 17th, just north of the junction of County Roads 66 and 67.

On April 16th, a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was located by Barb and Denny Martin in the town of Heron Lake, in Jackson County. The bird was on the west side of the town’s grain elevator.

On the 17th, John Morrison had a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD visit his backyard in the city of Austin, in Mower County. On April 18th, Brian Smith found a Northern Mockingbird at the rustic campground at Flandrau State Park, in Brown County. It was in the area closest to the park’s two outhouses.

Seven GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES were at Sandy Point County Park on the southwest shore of South Heron Lake in Jackson County on the 17th. Five more were at the Hills sewage ponds in Rock County on the 16th.

Other recent arrivals include AMERICAN BITTERN, SWAINSON’S HAWK, WHIP-POOR-WILL, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BROWN THRASHER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, PINE WARBLER, HENSLOW’S SPARROW, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, LARK SPARROW, and LINCOLN’S SPARROW.

Citizens throughout Minnesota are invited to help the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Minnesota state parks with their “spring cleaning” on GreenTouch Day scheduled for Saturday, May 7.

In its sixth year, GreenTouch Day encourages volunteers to plant trees and prairie, remove invasive species and make campgrounds “sparkle.” The event is part of a long-term commitment by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives to care for Minnesota state parks.

“GreenTouch Day is a great time for people to enjoy the spring weather, clean-up the parks for a few hours and feel good about their contribution,” said Courtland Nelson, director, Minnesota state parks. “Afterwards, volunteers will be treated to a picnic lunch, compliments of Touchstone Energy coops.”

During the past five years, more than 2,600 volunteers have donated an estimated 9,000 hours to take care of Minnesota’s state parks during GreenTouch Day.

All the GreenTouch projects are listed on the DNR Web site, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/spruceup_2005.html.

Volunteers interested in helping out should call the contact number listed for details. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own work gloves.

Wildlife watching is big business in Minnesota

Bird watchers and other wildlife viewers contribute more than half a billion dollars per year to Minnesota’s tourist economy.

More money is spent in Minnesota for wildlife watching activities than the amount spent on hunting. According to a recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey, wildlife watchers spent $531 million in 2000 for wildlife viewing, nature photography and bird feeding, compared with $480 million for hunting.

Carrol Henderson, Department of Natural Resources, (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor, gave a presentation recently in Grand Rapids on wildlife tourism and how local communities can attract national attention for wildlife viewing.

His presentation was part of a one-day workshop titled, “Making the Most of Mother Nature, a how-to guide for wildlife tourism.” More than 50 resort and motel owners, tourism developers, wildlife biologists, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, representatives of the Mille Lac Indian Band and others attended the workshop.

The DNR Nongame Wildlife Program, the Explore Minnesota Office of Tourism and the University of Minnesota Tourism Center sponsored the workshop.

Many resorts and lodging establishments have plenty of business during the fishing season and summer months, but are always looking for new ways to attract tourists during the early fall, winter and spring, when there is less tourism activity, said Henderson.

The recent owl invasion experienced in northern Minnesota generated an estimated $800,000 to $1 million for the area’s tourism industry this past winter, according to Henderson. This boom to the tourist industry during their slow season brought awareness of the tremendous wealth of wildlife in the area, and the possibilities for creating memorable wildlife viewing experiences, Henderson said.

The abundance of public lands in northern Minnesota provides wonderful opportunities that can be beneficial as well as sustainable for area resort and lodging businesses. This is in addition to the economic benefit already provided by hunting and fishing activities.

“Simple services can be offered and promoted to attract wildlife watchers, such as web-sites, birding trails, interpretive field trips, and wildlife viewing boat rides,” Henderson said. “This can provide income for local communities and businesses by capturing a few more months of tourist activity.”

More information on wildlife watching is available in the book, “Traveler’s Guide to Wildlife in Minnesota” authored by Henderson, naturalist Andrea Lee Lambrecht, and the DNR’s regional nongame wildlife biologists.

This traveler’s guide was published by the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program and is available for sale at Minnesota’s Bookstore by calling toll free 1-800-657-3757 or in the Twin Cities area (651) 297-3000.

Birdhouse-building workshop set for Old Mill State Park April 30

This season brings with it many spring delights including the welcome return a popular songbird, the Eastern Bluebird, decked out in bright blue feathers, a rusty colored throat and white belly.

The growth of the bluebird population in Minnesota is due largely to workshops and programs where individuals create nesting boxes for these birds to encourage successful population growth.

On Saturday, April 30, at 2 p.m., the entire family is invited to the picnic shelter at Old Mill State Park to ?help a bluebird? during a birdhouse-building workshop.

Park volunteers will give a presentation about the Eastern Bluebird, how to select an appropriate site to attract bluebirds, and how to maintain the birdhouse. After that, the construction of the birdhouses will begin. All nesting box material will be precut and ready for assembly. Materials for the birdhouse are free, but there is a limit of one box per family unless extra material is available.

Interested participants are asked to call the park before April 29 so volunteers can determine how many nesting boxes to have on hand. Participants should bring their own drill (cordless preferred), otherwise they will be provided. At Old Mill State Park, bluebird nesting sites have doubled over the past year.

The program is free and open to the public, however a Minnesota State Park Vehicle Permit ($25 for an annual permit or $7 for a day permit) is required to enter the park and can be purchased at the park office. For information, call (218) 437-8174.

As of April 10th, the gray-morph GYRFALCON was still in northeastern Dakota County. It was most recently reported by John Ellis just east of the junction of County Road 42 and State Highway 55.

GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS are becoming more difficult to find in northern Minnesota, but a few birds are still being reported. On April 10th, Warren Nelson found two Great Grays on Aitkin County Road 1, two more on County Road 29, and four on County Road 68.

A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was reported on April 10th from Murray County. Barb McGregor and Sue Bergman found it along County Road 8 between Highway 91 and U.S. Highway 59.

There was an interesting report of a TUFTED TITMOUSE from Baker Park near Maple Plain, in Hennepin County. Jim Solgard heard the bird calling on April 14th. To view this bird, begin at U.S. Highway 12, take County Road 19 north to County Road 24, then turn right and drive just under a mile. Look for the headquarters building and listen for the bird from the parking lot and from the walking trail.

Audrey Evers found a ROSS GOOSE at Fishermans Point of White Water Lake in Hoyt Lakes, in St. Louis County, on April 14th. Another Ross’s Goose was found by Keith Pulles in Wright County on the 13th at Beebe Lake.

Susan Hult reported an AMERICAN AVOCET at Pool #9 of the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area in Anoka County on April 10th. And a remarkable total of nineteen was found by Janet Timmerman on the 11th on the northwestern shore of Lake Wilson in Murray County.

On April 14th, a pair of LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES was seen by Emily Hutchins along Highway 30 near Blooming Prairie in Steele County, roughly one-quarter of a mile west of Highway 218. A second pair was found on the 13th by Steve Weston in Dakota County, just east of the 140th Street Marsh.

Also on April 14th, Conny Brunell reported one of the spring’s first BROAD-WINGED HAWKS in Eagan, in Dakota County. Other new reports this past week include HORNED GREBE, VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, FORSTER TERN, BROWN THRASHER, EASTERN TOWHEE, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and BREWER BLACKBIRD.

The third Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Checkoff photo contest is underway. DNR officials are asking Minnesota resident amateur and professional photographers to submit photos featuring live ospreys in the wild by the June 17 deadline.

Winning photos from the contest will be featured in the 2005 Nongame Wildlife Checkoff Poster, said Carrol Henderson, DNR Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor.

The poster which helps promote donations to the Nongame Wildlife Program, is available free to people who donate to the Wildlife Checkoff Fund on their Minnesota state tax forms.

Photographers may submit up to 12 original slides taken in Minnesota. Photos chosen to be included in the 2005 poster will be published with photo credit.

Contest winners will receive a framed copy of the poster featuring the winning photo, along with a 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.

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.

As of April 1st, the gray-morph GYRFALCON was still in northeastern Dakota County. It was most recently reported by Judy Sparrow at Mile Marker 215 of State Highway 55.

On April 5th, Dan Thimgan reported a PRAIRIE FALCON along Wilkin County Road 26, roughly four miles west and one mile south of the town of Rothsay. This location is about four miles south of where John Ellis reported a Prairie Falcon on the 3rd.

GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS are still easy to find across northern Minnesota, especially in Aitkin County and Pine County. Many observers still report finding multiple Great Gray Owls along Aitkin County Roads 1 and 4, and in Pine County east of the town of Sandstone.

On April 2nd, Al Schirmacher reported a ROSS’S GOOSE at the Princeton sewage ponds in Sherburne County. The ponds are located on County Road 2. Another Ross’s Goose was seen on the 3rd at Ocheda Lake along the east side of Nobles County Road 57, one-quarter of a mile north of 290th Street.

A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was in the town of Herman, in Grant County, on April 3rd. Denny and Barb Martin reported the Dove at the corner of 1st Street East and Berlin Avenue South.

The usual variety of early shorebirds have begun to arrive in southern Minnesota. Jim Mattsson viewed both GREATER YELLOWLEGS and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, as well as BAIRD’S SANDPIPER and PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Lake Byllesby in Dakota County on April 6th. MARBLED GODWITS were reported by Melissa Driscoll from Wilkin County on the 5th. On the same day, Kim Eckert found AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER at the Pipestone sewage ponds in Pipestone County. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were reported from the Albany sewage lagoons in Stearns County on the 5th. Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpipers, and Baird’s Sandpipers were also reported from Stearns, Lyon, and Cottonwood counties.

Tom Nelson found an early PALM WARBLER near the southwest corner of Deep Lake in North Oaks, in Ramsey County, on April 5th. Other migrants reported this past week include BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, OSPREY, BONAPARTE’S GULL, FRANKLIN’S GULL, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, WINTER WREN, VESPER SPARROW, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE.

The warm days of spring have prompted the return of peregrine falcons to Minnesota skies.

“After being completely wiped out by pesticides in the 1950s and 1960s, the peregrine falcon recovery represents one of the greatest conservation success stories in the nation,” said Carrol Henderson, supervisor, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Program.

Peregrine falcon restoration began in Minnesota in 1982. More than 182 falcon chicks have been released at a cost of $3,000 per chick. The first successful nesting occurred in 1987 at the Multifoods Tower in Minneapolis. Since then, the number of successful pairs and fledged young has increased annually.

Last year, 38 pairs successfully raised 84 young at traditional cliff areas along Lake Superior’s North Shore, new man-made habitats, power plant stacks, skyscraper balconies and rooftops, and on bridges over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester.

“Minnesotans can take pride in the return of the peregrine because they made it happen through their support of the Nongame Wildlife Checkoff Fund on their state tax forms.

The Raptor Center, The Nature Conservancy, The Bell Museum, Raptor Research Project, and the Minnesota Falconer’s Association,” stated Henderson.

The successful restoration of the peregrine falcon, bald eagle and trumpeter swan population is just the beginning. Minnesota is home to more than 800 species of nongame wildlife, some of which are in jeopardy because of habitat loss and environmental threats.

According to Henderson, the piping plover and common tern are two species that are currently in danger of disappearing from Minnesota landscapes.

The DNR Nongame Wildlife Program receives 80 percent of its funding through donations to the Wildlife Fund Checkoff on state income tax forms. Henderson urges Minnesotans to remember to look for the line with the loon and donate to the Wildlife Fund on their state tax forms.

“Every dollar donated will help ensure the future of all wildlife in Minnesota,” Henderson said.

Researchers from Louisiana State University, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other cooperating agencies are asking for help in tracking color-coded ducks as they migrate through the Upper Midwest.

Biologists are currently trapping, banding and color-marking lesser scaup, also known as bluebills, as they move into Pool 19 of the Mississippi River near Hamilton, Ill.

Colored plastic tags have been attached to the bills of each scaup. Observations of these marked will help researchers learn more about migratory corridors and the birds’ movement across the Upper Midwest.

“Scaup populations have been declining in North America for many years,” said Jeff Lawrence, DNR wetland wildlife group leader. “This research is aimed at determining whether food resources in the Upper Midwest are adequate for scaup during spring migration.”

The researchers are soliciting help from the public to help look for color-marked scaup. They will be mailing out an original scaup art print as a reward to participants with confirmed sightings.

If people see a color-marked scaup, they are asked to call the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367), and have the following information: name, address; and phone number; date of sighting; color of bill-marker; letter written on bill-marker; (if readable), male or female (if identifiable); and location of sighting (i.e., distance and direction from nearest town or name of lake, county, and state or province).