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Current News
January 18, 2025 - Golden Eagle Survey
On Saturday several teams of birders took part in the annual Golden Eagle Survey sponsored by the National Eagle Center. Only one out of 3 ZVAS teams was able to locate a Golden Eagle and all reported that not many birds of any kind were flying.
It was a sunny day, around 15 degrees and there was a stiff north wind. Our teams found lots of other raptors including Kestrels, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Coopers Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles. Lots of woodpeckers were out and we found several Bluebirds and Tufted Titmouse as well.
The species list for Route 6 is below. We'll post the full tally from all the teams when the Eagle Center provides it (they have a lot of teams to correlate)! Many thanks to all the volunteers who took part in this year's survey and to the National Eagle Center for making it all possible.
Route 6 Species List:
Wild Turkey 3
Rock Dove 40
Mourning Dove 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 8
Red-tailed Hawk 7
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 12
Black-capped Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 4
Horned Lark 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 7
Eastern Bluebird 6
House Sparrow 12
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 7
Dark-eyed Junco 22
Northern Cardinal 2
Photos by Sandy Hokanson (who apologizes for the poor quality - the birds were just too far away!)
On Saturday several teams of birders took part in the annual Golden Eagle Survey sponsored by the National Eagle Center. Only one out of 3 ZVAS teams was able to locate a Golden Eagle and all reported that not many birds of any kind were flying.
It was a sunny day, around 15 degrees and there was a stiff north wind. Our teams found lots of other raptors including Kestrels, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Coopers Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles. Lots of woodpeckers were out and we found several Bluebirds and Tufted Titmouse as well.
The species list for Route 6 is below. We'll post the full tally from all the teams when the Eagle Center provides it (they have a lot of teams to correlate)! Many thanks to all the volunteers who took part in this year's survey and to the National Eagle Center for making it all possible.
Route 6 Species List:
Wild Turkey 3
Rock Dove 40
Mourning Dove 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 8
Red-tailed Hawk 7
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 12
Black-capped Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 4
Horned Lark 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 7
Eastern Bluebird 6
House Sparrow 12
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 7
Dark-eyed Junco 22
Northern Cardinal 2
Photos by Sandy Hokanson (who apologizes for the poor quality - the birds were just too far away!)
January 4, 2025 - Bird Walk at Quarry Hill
Birds and people alike were "fluffed up" trying to conserve their warmth on our walk at Quarry Hill this morning. The sunshine was much appreciated, a north wind and temps in the single digits less so. After gathering near the bird feeders our group of 16 decided to warm up a bit by going in to the Nature Center for a few minutes to view birds from the bird room. All the regulars were seen plus we also got to see a Brown Creeper - a very nice winter bird that we don't always find.
The we went out to walk around the pond. A Red-tailed Hawk was spotted perched in a tree far down the meadow, some crows were about aa well as a few woodpeckers, juncos and sparrows. Otherwise the woods were very quiet.
So to save our freezing fingers and toes we headed back to the warmth of the bird room and continued watching from there. Those who stayed the longest were rewarded with good views of a Red-breasted Nuthatch - another uncommon winter bird. All in all we saw 17 species today.
Many thanks to Joyce and Terry Grier for leading today and to Dave Gross for spotting both the Creeper and the Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Species list: Mourning Dove, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow. Northern Cardinal
Photos by Sandy Hokanson
Birds and people alike were "fluffed up" trying to conserve their warmth on our walk at Quarry Hill this morning. The sunshine was much appreciated, a north wind and temps in the single digits less so. After gathering near the bird feeders our group of 16 decided to warm up a bit by going in to the Nature Center for a few minutes to view birds from the bird room. All the regulars were seen plus we also got to see a Brown Creeper - a very nice winter bird that we don't always find.
The we went out to walk around the pond. A Red-tailed Hawk was spotted perched in a tree far down the meadow, some crows were about aa well as a few woodpeckers, juncos and sparrows. Otherwise the woods were very quiet.
So to save our freezing fingers and toes we headed back to the warmth of the bird room and continued watching from there. Those who stayed the longest were rewarded with good views of a Red-breasted Nuthatch - another uncommon winter bird. All in all we saw 17 species today.
Many thanks to Joyce and Terry Grier for leading today and to Dave Gross for spotting both the Creeper and the Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Species list: Mourning Dove, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow. Northern Cardinal
Photos by Sandy Hokanson
January 1, 2025 - Whitewater Christmas Bird Count
It was cloudy, very windy and light snow flurries were in the air while birding teams scoured the area around Whitewater State Park and the Wildlife Management Area on their annual Christmas Count today.
Several ZVAS members took part and found some great birds to start off their 2025 lists. We won't have the official tally for a few days yet, but an informal count numbered around 30-35 species - a very respectable number for mid-winter in Minnesota.
Some highlights included Merlin, Tufted Titmouse, Golden Eagle, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Pintail, lots of Cedar Waxwings and American Robins, and even 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (which should have flown south long ago!).
Several people stopped for lunch in the Visitor Center and watched birds at the feeders before heading out again in the afternoon to continue searching. It was a really fun day and we'd like to thank Jeremy Darst and the other staff at Whitewater SP for organizing this event (and providing coffee and muffins to start the day)!
Getting photos was a challenge in the field (much easier at the feeders.) I've included the tally sheet for Section 5 as that's the only one I have at the moment. We'll post again when I have all the numbers.
Reported by and photos by Sandy Hokanson
It was cloudy, very windy and light snow flurries were in the air while birding teams scoured the area around Whitewater State Park and the Wildlife Management Area on their annual Christmas Count today.
Several ZVAS members took part and found some great birds to start off their 2025 lists. We won't have the official tally for a few days yet, but an informal count numbered around 30-35 species - a very respectable number for mid-winter in Minnesota.
Some highlights included Merlin, Tufted Titmouse, Golden Eagle, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Pintail, lots of Cedar Waxwings and American Robins, and even 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (which should have flown south long ago!).
Several people stopped for lunch in the Visitor Center and watched birds at the feeders before heading out again in the afternoon to continue searching. It was a really fun day and we'd like to thank Jeremy Darst and the other staff at Whitewater SP for organizing this event (and providing coffee and muffins to start the day)!
Getting photos was a challenge in the field (much easier at the feeders.) I've included the tally sheet for Section 5 as that's the only one I have at the moment. We'll post again when I have all the numbers.
Reported by and photos by Sandy Hokanson