Amber at Birder's World Online

I just got an email from Amber, she has a photo up at Birder's World Online of an adult goshawk we got at the banding station last fall. It's very cool!

I Am A Golden God...and I'm on drugs!

Full rabbit disapproval!
Cinnamon disapproves of wisdom tooth removal, she says that greatly impairs chewing ability.

I don't know who these crazy people are who say they had their wisdom teeth taken out and were out and about two days later, I am on my butt, and my rabbit looks more frightening than usual up close. I called my oral surgeon and asked if my swelling, pain and fever were still normal after three days. He asked how much Vicodin I had been taking and I told him only one or two a day and he gently reminded me that he prescribed lots of Vicodin for a reason. So, I started taking the recommended dosage and now whoo hooooo do I feel better...although I still have chipmunk cheeks. He also prescribed and antibiotic for infection since I was still having a fever and I don't feel safe operating heavy machinery or even binoculars at the moment.

I got a report from Amber that the rescheduled owl tour was a HUGE success. She said Denny Martin (who filled in for me) helped locate 51 great gray owls, 4 northern hawk owls and 1 barred owl--all south of Duluth and Sax Zim Bog. They birded the areas of Pine County and Carlton County. I was bummed I couldn't go, but I'm grateful that most of the people who signed up for the original trip went today and got to see the owls as promised.

My cabin fever was out of control so non-birding Bill kindly took me for a drive (actually with all my whining I'm shocked he didn't pull over and leave me in a deserted field in Dakota County). We looked for the great gray owl that has been reported at the Eagan post office but were unable to locate it. We took a drive down to Black Dog Lake and we did find some bald eagles hanging out.

There were quite a few bald eagles off of 494 near the airport. With all the great gray owl excitement I haven't done much scouting for the Take Your Sweetheart to See Eagles Tour coming up around Valentine's Day so I need to get to work on that in the next week or so.

I have been taking the time to read the back issues of Birding that Bill got me for Christmas and I was so excited to discover one issue had this fascinating article I had read a few years ago that linked the extinction of the passenger pigeon to the rise in Lyme Disease in the United States. I also took the time to read a few other books. One is a new owl book called Owls of the World by Dr. James R. Duncan--wonderful book full of incredible photos. There are all kinds of interesting stories compiled by researchers like an account of a young screech owl found dead in the nest box. The cause of death was attributed to a red-breasted nuthatch that it was trying to eat. As the young owl bit down, the nuthatch's bill punctured the top of the owl's mouth and impaled the brain. Don't worry, it's not all gore and is fun reading. If you know someone into birds and you're at a loss of a gift for them, I highly recommend this book. It has enough photos that if you know a kid eight years old and above, I think they would enjoy it too.

The other book I've been reading was one I found a few months ago called Extinct Birds by Errol Fuller. Maybe it's the pain killers affecting my opinion on this, but as I'm reading the accounts of extinct birds I can't help but feel that the author is trying to slap the wrists of the human race for allowing all of these birds to disappear. Of course, this could be the nature of writing a book about birds that are no longer in existence, you can't help but get caught up in the main reasons creatures go extinct is because of humans. At the same time I'm tired of listening to the blame and I just want to move on and work with the birds we have left. The book is a handy reference tool, but I don't think I would recommed it as a gift for a birder, it's a downer.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

I had four wisdom teeth removed Wednesday. Ow. I'm using this as an opportunity to read some of the many bird books I've collected in the last few months. This may be the Vicodin talking but Biosystematics of Crows is really interesting!

Good grief, I just caught my reflection in the mirror--I look like Mrs. Potatohead.

On a more exciting note, I'm working with Birdzilla to do webcasts. I'm working on topics and guest ideas right now but I'm hoping to do some exciting things with it like take the microphone out in the field and describe some fun bird situations. I don't mean like a meandering tramp in the woods where we discuss this little warbler here and the little thrush there, I'm thinking more along the lines of peregrines flying at my head while checking nests sites and the sound of pelicans barfing. Maybe even merlin banding or who knows something to bring the exciting part of birding to the web. Perhaps I will interview the pigeons on my window?

Okay, I'm sounding weird and need to rest.

Oodles of Owls...and an Osmond!

Can I say how much I love my life?? I have had some pretty unique experiences thanks to birding and today is one of those days that takes the cake. This morning at KARE 11 I got to meet Donny Osmond--for those curious, he is still very cute. How can you have a bad day meeting a guy like that. His reputation preceded him, everyone at KARE 11 just went on and on about how nice and wonderful he is and a pleasure to have on. He was nice enough to let Amber and I get photos. It was one of the few times we were speechless.

Later we went up with WCCO to film an owl segment at Sax Zim Bog. While there we ran into some banders from Whitefish Pointe Observatory who had come across an injured great gray owl on HWY 7. Amber and I offered to take the owl back to The Raptor Center after out segment. We tooled around with WCCO for about an hour and of course found tons of great gray owls. After we got some great shots we decided to head for the Twin Cities. Before leaving we contacted Gail Buhl from the Wolf Center to see if anyone had any other injured owls we could take back with us. Gail put us in touch with a private rehabber who had an injured great horned owl (probably hit by a car). When we picked up that bird, she told us about another injured great gray owl in Cloquet. Since that was on our way home we stopped and picked up that bird as well. As we headed towards The Raptor Center we called to warn that we were arriving with two great grays and one great horned owl. They asked if we would mind picking up an injured barred owl in Forest Lake at the Wildlife Sciences Center on our way...how could we say no? So we helped pick up four owls today. It was a blast!

Photos of today's adventure can be found here.

Owl Trip Rescheduled

Well we have rescheduled the great gray owl trip for next Saturday, January 29. Most people are still able to go but a few are still cancelling. So if anyone would like to join a day trip to see great gray owls by the dozen call 952-473-4283. I won't be able to go because of a tooth extraction but Amber will be there and Denny Martin is going in my place. Who knows, maybe if my pain killers are strong enough I might hang out in the back of the bus.

All Seasons Owl Tour

Due to weather conditions we are cancelling the one day owl trip to see great gray owls on Saturday January 22, 2005. I am bummed beyond belief.

Updated MOU Website

The Minnesota Ornithologists's Union has updated its website and it's really great. You have to check the owl section there are photos of the unusual owls seen, including the melanistic great gray owl.

Creepers Descend on Uptown

Brown Creeper avec Suet

I've been going non-stop for the last three weeks and felt a little crispy yesterday. When working on the last schedule I wisely planned a random Thursday off (today) as a day to get my stuff together. I took a walk down the street to my neighborhood coffee shop. After getting my beverage I walked back to my apartment with softly falling snow around me and then I heard it. A tingly whistle sound that seemed to say "Pee pee, I have to pee." A flock of brown creepers were on most of the trees. I haven't heard many people talk about them this winter and then on Tuesday, Ron our home delivery guy saw one on his route and yesterday a customer saw one in her backyard. I was going to point this out to Non-birding Bill, but he has such an aversion to all birds brown--heretic.

I went to see The Life Aquatic movie tonight. I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as I enjoyed Rushmore and The Royal Tennennbaum's but I did kind of zone out and imagined what life would be like with my own bird documentary crew. I imagined my employees filling the gaps of the crew. I wonder if I can get them to wear little red wool caps?

Regular Owl

Last night as I was closing the store I saw a large lump sitting on a dead tree branch across the highway. This is the spot where we usually see one of the resident red-tailed hawks perched. Since it was so late I thought it unusual to see a red-tail out so close to dark. Not only that, the lump was kind of slumped and not as erect as a red-tail usually sits. I grabbed the store binoculars hoping there was still enough light to get a better look at the silhouette. There was and as soon as I got it in focus I could see two feather tufts on top of the head--it was a great-horned owl. I wonder if it is nesting nearby and if it is using the nest that the red-tailed hawks built last year?

On another note, we are going through Nyjer like crazy at the bird store. Last winter we had some common redpolls, this winter they are back in force so keep an eye out for these small guys a the feeder. What people tend to notice about them first is the black feathers around the bill, it looks like they are sporting a goatee.

Trade Show Advice

Me with Mike Dunn of Duncraft Feeders. Part of me was geeking here because Greg Butcher a former editor of Birder's World was taking the picture.

Well I geeked out on a whole new level this weekend. As stated earlier I attended the birding trade show this weekend called Birdwatch America and met all kinds of fun new people. It was fun networking and meeting face to face the people who make various feeders and bird houses. On top of that attendees included field guide authors, bird writers, bird magazine editors and a few ornithologists.

I always find during trade shows and bird festivals that it's always best to hook up with binocular reps. If there's a banquest or luncheon, find out where they are and sit at their table. They usually are chatty easy going guys with fun stories. One year Amber and I were lucky enough to hook up with a Swarovski guy and a Brunton guy and went birding with them at a Conservation Through Birding Summit. They were so kind and let us try out some of their optics. However, apart from using them for cheap thrills with high end optics they really tend to be great conversationalists and have a sense of humor (let's face it, if you're going to use a birder/ornithologist to sell optics you have to hire they one who is engaging not shy and reserved). At the banquet this year we had a Leica rep at our table and his sense of humor was almost as naughty as mine. Through the conversation I learned that he was a hawk watching/banding freak like myself. Then I learned that this was Jeff Bouton from the book Season at the Point. I think I did a pretty good job of not freaking out and keeping my cool, but we had a great time and discussed the merits of a goshawk vs a peregrine falcon--he tried to convince me that a peregrine is cooler than a goshawk. These men who love these flashy falcons, what's to be done with them?? Anyway, after the banquet a small group of us went to a sports bar to watch his laptop full of an indepth raptors of Florida id class. I have to say that I sadly zonked out at around midnight and returned to my hotel room and the grand prize for raptor geekery goes to Amy at Wild Bird Magazine who stayed with him until 1am. Bottom line, it was great to meet someone I has read out in Jack Connor's book and to learn that he has a sense of humor and is fun to hang out with.

On another note the "are we watch the great gray owls too much in Minnesota" debate continues. Opinions are all over the place. By far my favorite opinion has been from our resident norther owl expert Bill Lane. While everyone else is focusing on the ethics of how close is too close, to feed them or not feed them, hug an owl, love your fellow man, are your tour groups too close, blah blah blah, Bill's main concern has been proper terminology and information. He nailed me for calling it a migration as opposed to an irruption--that's my kind of guy. I truly love researchers for always keeping us accurate. Go Bill, I'm cheering for you. Incidentally if you are looking for a hard core owl trip, you should hook up with Bill Lane sometime. His trips tend to fill up months in advance but are well worth it.

Birdwatch America

I tried posting this earlier but there are some issues with the internet cafe here in Atlanta...where it's 50 degrees not below zero.

I'm at the big trade show for the bird feeding industry called Birdwatch America in Atlanta. I feel like a kid in a candy store, although there doesn't seem to be much innovation in squirrel proofing, but lots of pretty stuff.

There's a new hand held pishing device or a little maching you can set a few feet away from you that plays crows mobbing, chickadees mobbing or running water that is supposed to bring birds in. The birder part of me says, "Cool!" the birding ethics side of me feels a little uncomfortable with this. Word on the street here is that many at the show are uneasy with it too.

The Stokes are here pimping some new binoculars. They look really good nice field of view and very reasonably priced (I promise I was not paid for any kind of indorsement) I'm going to look at them again and seriously consider trading my Swifts. Brunton has a fun monocular with an 18" focus, perfect for butterfly people and the price isn't bad. There are LOTS of fun new jelly and oriole feeders and a guy who makes UNBELIEVABLE sculptures. I've been drooling over a $3000 adult Cooper's hawk in flight. I'll see if I can link to their site later. They do other birds too and I so wish I was independantly wealthy, I would buy them all and decorate my store with them.

Well, I'm back to geeking out. I just saw Mike Dunn of Duncraft Feeders walk by. Yipeee!

No segment on NBC tonight

Hello, everyone, this is Sharon's husband.

Sharon got a call this morning, and her segment on NBC's Nightly News has been postponed, so that they can do a story about the crazy weather, and how crazy said weather actually is.

In short, Sharon will not be on TV tonight. Please stay in your homes, and do not engage in any rioting.

The segment is being rescheduled, and we will let you know when it will air.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming, already in progress.

NBC Nightly News Date

The segment on the owl invasion is going to air Thursday on NBC Nightly News between 5:30pm - 6pm. I will probably miss the segment as I will be flying into Atlanta for Birdwatch America for the weekend but I'm sure my family will record it.

Whirlwind Weekend

Boy, this weekend was an adventure. My mom and sister Terri came in town to experience the owl invasion. I was so glad my mom could come up and see this. You know how it is, your mom shows you so much when you're little you'd like to show her something when you get older. It was absolutely magical and I'm still processing some of it. We saw 20 great grays and 7 norhtern hawk owls at the bog and then we went to the Inn on Gitche Gumee in Duluth. We got there an hour before sunset so we kidnapped one of the owners (Julie) and drove around North Shore Scenic Drive and some other side streets and racked up another 10 great grays--unbelieveable.

The next day Amber and I had our owl prowl so mom and Terri got to watch the class and come out with us as we took the class to see a northern saw-whet owl. The photo is below. I normally don't like to get this close to a bird, but the homeowner who had the owl has had it in his yard the last few weeks with his children playing right underneath it. Based on the huge pile of owl droppings not much bothered this bird. As his kids were playing beneath the owl, I snuck in and got this shot.

KBJR in Duluth

Based on several emails I got over the last two days, my segment on the NBC station in Duluth aired. For family members wishing to watch it you can visit this site to read it or watch it online at KBJR's website.

Calendars are done!

I'm done, I'm done! I finished up the Michigan and Wisconsin birding calendars last night. Whew. My mother and sister Terri are arriving today to take part in the owl invasion. Reports are pouring in from Duluth and other owls, like Boreal owls and even a snowy owl, were tentatively reported in Proctor yesterday.

Here's a link to the transcripts page for MOU-net that has lots of updates of where all types of owls (and varied thrushes) are being seen.

NBC Owls

Well yesterday was loads of finger and toe numbing fun. The NBC Nightly News Crew was a great team to ride around with. Although, I wasn't prepared for how much we would be outside. When we normally take people up to see owls, we stay in the vehicle, but when you're in a beautiful snow covered bog you need to do the camera shots and interviews outside rather than in a car. It was about 3 degrees outside with the windchill much colder. At one point as they were asking me questions for the interview I just stopped and said, "I have to stop, I'm too cold and can't feel my fingers." They laughed and let me warm up in the vehicle. They got some great shots of the owls--at a respectful distance from the birds, but with their professional cameras they are going to be some spectacular shots and I can't wait to see them.


It was a beautiful sunny day so I figured we wouldn't see too many great grays at first. I took a quick drive through the bog before meeting at Wilbert's Cafe and found two actively hunting northern hawk owls and had a good feeling. As we drove around early in the afternoon we found mostly hawk owls, I was momentarily nervous...did all the great grays go to Duluth? However, just as I suspected, as soon as the sun started to go down the great grays were dripping off the trees again. All in all a great day with fun people and of course, great birds!

I do have to say, the sign in booklet at Wilbert's is a hoot (so to speak) full of people from around the country with little notes of all the owls they have seen. I talked to some of the locals who good naturedly complained of how busy Wilbert's has been and all the crazy people stopped in the middle of the street and they guy they have had to pull out of ditches a few times. They said for the most part, they like having the birders there, even though a couple have blocked traffic but nothing too bad.

That said, we did encounter some hostility. We were pulled well over to film a great gray and got honked at by a snow plow. They had plenty of room to get around us, and none of the other snow plows had given us a hard time like that. On one of the side roads we were trying to get a shot of the reporter walking down the road with a great gray in a tree behind him. As he was walking and talking a teenager in a truck came out on the road, swerved all over, roared up and shouted for us to stay out of his (insert naughty word) out of the street. Ah, the adventure of the bog.

I heard the reporter, Kevin say something I find myself saying quite a bit: "Wow, I can't believe I get paid for this!" He said it in a good excited way, not in a 'take this job and shove it kind of way'

Great Grays are on the move!

I'm so excited I can barely work on any of my writing due at Adventure on Friday. The great gray owls are on the move. There was concern that the ice storm up north last weekend woudl cause the owls to move. This morning there was already a report that there were fewer owls in the bog, but they are heading towards Duluth. There have been quite a few reported on hwy 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors but now they are showing up closer to downtown Duluth. Tonight I got a phone call from Butch and Julie, the great folks who run The Inn on Gitche Gumee. I always stay there when I go up hawk trapping in the fall. They said that today they had a great gray in their front yard and that four more were found within a half mile of their place. Sounds like visiting both the bog and Duluth will get you owls. Also, if you are looking for a great place to stay, I highly recommend The Inn on Gitche Gumee, each room has a theme, the owners are very nice and take excellent care of you. Plus, they have award winning gardens that attract a variety of birdlife.

Sassified

Got my hair reddened today. It's quite sassy, and doesn't look like hair that a birder would typically have, I'm ready for national tv. I did have fun moment as my hair was being colored, I got a call from KBJR the Duluth NBC affiliate, and they wanted to know if I would have time for a quick interview with them before the NBC Nightly News interview, I felt so famous. Alas, though no matter how fabulous my hair or shining my personality, once the stations get footage of these owls, that's what people will remember. I'm just so excited and proud of Minnesota and that birds are getting some much needed attention in the media.

I'm kind of nervous about owl numbers. Early reports from the ice storm suggest that some have left the area and the numbers aren't as great. Now, I need to keep this in perspective, instead of seeing 25 we may only see 11 which isn't bad at all. Owls are already being seen in the central section of the state and more are expected.

Oh! And in case you missed it, The Raptor Center had a great article about great gray owl injuries in The Star Tribune today about the great gray ows and how they made a prosthetic bill for an injured owl. Interesting is that all of the great grays brought in have been injured from car collisions. Amber and I are teaching an owl class this Sunday and on January 23 at TRC. When we do this one, we always car pool out somewhere to see a wild owl, hopefully we'll be able to find one but they all appear to be up north. Although if great grays keep pushing south, we may get to take the gang to see one.

Strange Start to the New Year

Hope your New Year is off to a birdy start. Mine started off a little weird.

We spent New Year's at Neil and Lorraine's. It was low key but loads of fun, including having duck soup while watching "Duck Soup". My first bird of the year was a crow in Neil's yard which I thought appropriate considering he's a horror/fantasy writer. Of course I can't get a new year started without something wacky happening. A cat got a hold of a red-breasted nuthatch. I went out to get the bird away from the cat and inadvertently let the cat into the house. While being scolded for bringing a cat and with a wild bird into a house with more cats I somehow got the nuthatch away from the cat and onto my butt. If I were a hard core listing kind of gal I would immediately start a "Birds on My Butt" list, but there are enough birding weirdos out there, I'll let them have that title to play with. The nuthatch survived unscathed and was witnessed yesterday and today feeding hardily.

This morning I was walking in the woods down by a creek. On a high hill up away from the creek was a very tall pine with a large dark lump draped over one of the top branches. For a second I thought it was a great gray owl sitting at a very odd angle. As I focused my binoculars, the shape leapt into the air and took flight. It was a turkey. I had never seen a turkey that high in a tree, it was at least 150 feet above me and then to see it fly from that perch, over the road was spectacular...and a little silly, it had that little tail looking thing hanging from it's chest which kind of takes away a bird's majesty when it soars overhead.

So, weird new year, but fun new year.

Birding Bunny Alert

Cinnamon's impression of an American Bittern.