Bonus Around Lake of the Isles

I don't know why I bother trying to get exercise going around Lake of the Isles, I always get distracted. Today I grabbed some milkweed pods to replenish our supply behind the bird store and then I found a cluster of sulfur shelf mushrooms (left). It's known as one of the "Safe Six" according to Start Mushrooming and in some circles is even known as one of the "foolproof four". It's so tasty many people refer to it as the "chicken of the woods".

New Blog by a Bill

Birds are moving through the Twin Cities today. When I arrived to work a kettle of turkey vultures were thermalizing above the field behind our strip mall and Periodically, while carrying out bags of seed throughout the day I could see small flocks of blackbirds and swallows heading south. Denny also found a small kettle of hawks over the store when he came back from doing the home delivery route. I keep hoping for exciting sparrows on the NovaBird Camera, but I will have to content myself with this blue jay I photographed today. I've just got to get a Harris sparrow on this camera this fall, I've just got to or I'll just die (that last part should be read in the voice of Jan Brady...because I don't sound geeky enough--oh no avoiding the birdchick mission statement, my universe is collapsing on itself-aaaaaaaaaaaaa).

There's a new blog called Bill of the Birds...not to be confused with Non Birding Bill. It's run by Bill Thompson III of Bird Watcher's Digest. He's a pretty good writer so I'm sure this will be an entertaining blog.

4 Charged with Killing Great Gray Owls

This from the Minnesota Star Tribune:

DULUTH, Minn. — When thousands of great gray, boreal and northern hawk owls flocked to northern Minnesota last winter looking for food, they became targets.

Stemming from separate incidents, four men have been charged in federal court with killing the protected birds. Together, more than a dozen owls were shot dead.

"We know of several more owls that were shot but, as of now, we don't have enough information to prove any more than these four cases,'' said Scott Staples, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer.

"Most people enjoyed driving around and seeing all the owls last winter, so I think people were pretty upset when they saw or heard about the shootings,'' Staples said.

Experts say about 5,000 owls arrived to northeastern Minnesota last winter. Nearly 1,000 owls — mostly great grays — were killed after being hit by cars.

Those charged for shooting the owls include Ronald Mlaskoch, of Willow River; Tyson Warner, of Tamarack and Roy and Jacob Line, both of Cromwell. All faced fines ranging from $850 to $6,800.

When questioned by DNR officials, Roy Line said he would consider shooting owls if they threatened geese on his property. Line later confessed he had shot an owl, the DNR said in a news release.

In the most severe case, officers say they found at least 10 owl carcasses on Warner's property. He pleaded guilty to violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 24 in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. His hunting, fishing and trapping privileges could be suspended for two years.

DNR officials said outraged members of the public led them to investigate reports of people shooting the owls.

Sparrow Sparrow Whoa!

So while downloading photos from the NovaBird Camera I set up behind the store, I was watching oodles of sparrow photos go by when this one suddenly interrupted them--a wood chuck. This is new, we haven't seen a chuck behind the store before. I hope it behaves and stays out by the feeders and doesn't try to eat it's way into the crib (our extra storage). I love woodchucks in areas I don't mine them chewing, but I just can't have them in the store.

Another thought: I might need to change my moniker. I called my publisher and when the receptionist asked who it was I said, "Sharon the Birdchick". There was an awkward "oh" and then silence. Gordon got on the phone laughing his head off and asked, "Sharon?" I answered that it was in fact me and between guffaws he asked how I described myself...apparently, the receptionist didn't hear "birdchick" but "birds***".

Birding Day, Pet Tangent and Live Journal

Cinnamon came with me today to the Minnesota River Birding Day. She wasn't too thrilled to be on the leash but had a fun time. The leash is more for her protection, for some odd reason some people with dogs think it's funny to have their dog lunge longingly and growl at my rabbit and say "Isn't that cute he wants the bunny!" Once I was asked by someone if I could hold Cinnamon up to their dog so the dog could sniff her and we "could see what happens". Meanwhile the dog in question was shaking and yapping excitedly.

This leads me to another curiosity, for those of us with odd and or unusual pets. Have you ever noticed that when you have an unusual pet and people find out, they seem to take that as a cue to tell you their worst horror story about the time they or a friend had the exact same kind of pet and some grotesque, torturous death befell that pet? What is up with that? Just because I have a rabbit doesn't mean that I want to hear about the time you had a rabbit that had only three legs after it was run over by an uncle's tractor but died three months later because of a record breaking bot fly infestation. Really, honestly, I don't want to know.

Another reason to keep Cinnamon on leash when she is outside is because of hawks. The likelihood of a hawk coming out of the sky and nailing a rabbit surrounded by people is pretty darn slim, but why chance it?

The birding today was slim, most of the people who participated had lists of between 30 - 40 birds but their were some fun ones seen including blackpoll warbler, eastern bluebirds, American white pelicans, sharp-shinned hawks and a winter wren.

In other news the Birdchick Blog is now syndicated on Live Journal courtesy of fellow Hoosier Stardust Girl. You can subscribe to it here. Thanks Stardust Girl!

Hawk Ridge Fun and Excitement

Can you spot the three nature photographers hidden in this photo?

So, what do you do when it's a warm 70 degree gorgeous fall day? Sit under camo hoping sweating like crazy hoping for hawks to come by of course. I spent the last few days with Stan Tekiela and Brian Wheeler who were helping train a new guy named Wayne in the delicate art of raptor flight photography. It's not an easy business, at one point a first year goshawk flew in and landed just above Wheeler. We couldn't hear his camera clicking so Tekiela tried grunting out "Brian...goshawk...above your head..." Still no sound, and then the young gos took off, made a few more passes over our group and was gone...suddenly Wheeler came to life spouting a mightly long string of profanity. He uses film instead of digital and not only was he at the end of his roll, he couldn't get the camera to open to change it.

It was interesting to listen to the boys compare their cameras and why one uses film over digital. Wheeler is very old school and dedicated to film so I doubt he will ever convert to digital. When you look at his books and realize every photo he has taken was with film and absolutely no enhancement, it makes your head spin. One of the big advantages of digital though is that we got so see some of Tekiela's images right away and of course he has some gorgeous shots of the gos as well as one of a sharp-shinned hawk. Periodically, I would break out my little digital Kodak digital camera and the boys would laugh at me. Nice to know I was at least keeping them entertained.

Broad-winged hawks put on quite a show this moring (photo above). One of the highlights of a hawk watching season is watching a morning lift off. Late in the day all those kettles of broad-wings have to get out of their thermals and find a place to roost for the night. The next morning all those kettles come up from the trees and reform. It's the coolest thing to watch all those hawks lift off as if from nowhere. Everywhere you turn hawks are popping up around you and then they form these flocks and spin around in thermals. It's also kind of eerie because you see all these birds and you don't hear them making any noise. Sends chills down my spine. When the birds do that it always reminds me of my first tattoo.

Well, that's my first trip up to the Ridge. I'll be back in about a week and a half to watch more, I can never get enough hawk watching. Boy, Hawk Ridge is really coming together. Dave Carman was showing me a new program area with some nice benches where the naturalists can give programs and yet the audience can still see the raptors flying by. There's still plenty of time to catch the broad-wing push and you can still sign up for the big Hawk Weekend. If you can't do that, October is loads of fun, you tend to see more goshawks and red-tails.

I and the Bird #6

Welcome to I and the Bird #6 which for some odd reason was put into the care of the birdchick whose blog has been referred to as an "ornithotabloid". So with tongue planted firmly in beak and in spirit of Weekly World News I bring you this week's edition of I and the Bird! Our cover bird this week is a first year sharp-shinned hawk in honor of the fall raptor migration.

Headlines:
Goshawk Nails Chicken! Reported by Whip-Poor-Will, the lord high executioner of the north woods lives up to the folk name "chicken hawk".

Hummingbird Wars have been Declared! Demented Pixie noticed war had finally broke between the various factions on her balcony. Fear is spreading that the conflict is spreading to other species, when will the carnage end?

Woman Shacks Up with Parrot! Girl Scientist takes in a friend's African Grey Parrot and learns some valuable life lessons.

Warbler Fallout at National Arboretum! DC Birding Blog narrowly survives 52 species in a bird walk with warblers everywhere.

Head for the Hills Pipits are coming! The folks at The House and Other Arctic Musing warns of the arrival of these migrants. Do the come in peace or war...read the entry and you decide.

Crime Watch:
Have you seen this Potoo? Crows are Wise asks if you can find the potoo in their photo. It was last seen Veracruz, Mexico. If found, please let me know because I sure can't see it.

Cooper's Hawk on the Loose! Dharma Bums follow the maruading of a blue darter that could be in your neighborhood checking your feeders.

Swallowed Swallows! Charlie's Blog reports on the incredible work of one man trying to conserve the delectable swallow in Africa. Graphic, yet oh so interesting photos in this post.

Society Page:
Gyrfalcon Remodels! Bird TLC gives us the inside scoop on remodeling for the falcon of kings.

Roadrunners Caught on Tape! Firefly Forest Blog caught this exclusive video of a certain male roadrunner caught in coitus with a certain female roadrunner. An exchange of payment is distinctly visible though no charges have been filed. Warning, this video is graphic and is intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion advised (as is Barry White playing in the background).

Hummingbirds Moving In! Mensa Barbie reports that a hummingbird we know and love has found a cozy nest in an adorable modern little abode. A source claiming to be close to the hummer reports that she will be raising the chicks on her own, but her publicist could not confirm that report.

Yellow Warbler snuck into Far Cartouche for a snack of moths.

Lifestyles of the Feathered and Australian! Ben Cruachan's Blog gives us the inside scoop on nesting down under. When many birds are focusing on migration these birds are content to stay home and raise chicks while reading "The Proper Care and Feeding of Male Fowl for the Current Nesting Season".

Inside Scoop:
Pelagics lead to Warblers! 10,000 Birds tried to go pelagic birding but were forced to watch migrating warblers instead. Is this a vast government conspiracy to cover the future presidency of Briteny Spears or coincidence...you be the judge.

Ivory-bill Causing Condor Cover Up? Bootstrap Analysis wonders if the more glamourous Ivory-billed Woodpecker is taking away valuable funding from a not so pretty scavenger.

Ruth Beasley looks in depth at kingfisers, are the benevolent family birds trying to make their way in this world or cruel water lords exploiting fish for their carnivorous pleasure?

Opinion:
Dave Pollard offers bird feeding tips and insights into bird feeding behavior. Are birds scrupulous gourmets or little Jean Valjeans looking for moral victories?

Who is Tom Nelson and why should we care? I don't know, but he sure has a lot to say about Ivory-billed Woodpeckers.

Birds Smell Good. Birdchick explores her obsession with smelling birds. Is this a new way to appreciate birds...or is she just some sick weirdo who shouldn't be allowed around children?

Thomasburg Walks explores why he's a birder. Is it Chi imbalance or caving to peer pressure or a genetic mutation? Read on and learn the answer.

David Ringer offers his advice for birding...and almost ends up dead. Could these rules work for you and improve your birding...if not, you'd at least be dying doing what you love.

Travel:
El Llanero describes a perfect birding day in Red Bluff Lake...which I find incredibly hard to believe since there were no goshawks involved.

Bear With Me...

Okay, not a bird but SUPER cool.

These pictures were taken near Gordon, Wisconsin by Ron Rudquist. It's not every day that you come across a white black bear cub. Ron said, "I don't know how rare it is for a black bear to have a white cub but at least we can say we've seen it no matter how rare it is! Since there seems to be no sign of a pink nose or eyes, I would say that it is not an albino. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the photos!"

As Ron points out, the cub doesn't appear to be an albino since the nose and eyes are not pink. Black bears are known to have several color variations including cinnamon, dark brown and blonde. There are occasional albino black bears but I know in Minnesota there was at least one white phase black bear that showed up a few years ago at the Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary in Orr (which, by the way, is one of the most exciting things outside of birding that you can do in Minnesota). You can read more about white phase black bears at the Sanctuary's site.