- RBA
* North Dakota
* Statewide
* April 18, 2006
* NDST0604.18
- Transcript
Hotline: North Dakota Update
Date: April 18, 2006
Number: 701-250-4418
To Report: 701-250-4418
Coverage: Statewide
Compiler: Ken Torkelson, USFWS
Compiled: April 18, 2006
Transcriber: Jane Kostenko
mailto:kenneth_torkelson@fws.gov
- Birds Mentioned
WHOOPING CRANE
Sandhill Crane
American White Pelican
Piping Plover
Great Egret
Stilt Sandpiper
Marbled Godwit
WHITE-FACED IBIS
Ross' Goose
Long-billed Dowitcher
Greater Scaup
Vesper Sparrow
Horned Grebe
Solitary Sandpiper
Hudsonian Godwit
Pectoral Sandpiper
Snowy Owl
Willet
Purple Martin
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Burrowing Owl
Rough-legged Hawk
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ferruginous Hawk
Least Sandpiper
Common Redpoll
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
THAYER'S GULL
American Pipit
Swainson's Hawk
American Avocet
Cinnamon Teal
Wilson's Phalarope
Lesser Yellowlegs
Baird's Sandpiper
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Harrier
Loggerhead Shrike
Great Blue Heron
Ovenbird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Chestnut-collared Longspur
California Gull
Greater Yellowlegs
Wilson's Snipe
Ruddy Duck
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Common Loon
Bonaparte's Gull
American Kestrel
Merlin
Song Sparrow
PEREGRINE FALCON
Tree Swallow
Long-tailed Duck
Common Raven
Osprey
Wood Duck
GRAY JAY
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Hermit Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Brown Creeper
Eastern Phoebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Chipping Sparrow
Virginia Rail
American Bittern
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Pied-billed Grebe
Say's Phoebe
White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Barn Swallow
Dark-eyed Junco
American Robin
Blackpoll Warbler
Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota
Birding Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This report was
prepared on Tuesday, April 18. Unless otherwise noted, all phone numbers
mentioned are area code 701.
Transcriber's Note: Birds listed in ALL CAPS in the Birds Mentioned section signify
that the
Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds lists them as Occasional, Accidental,
Extirpated, or
never having occured before for the season being reported.
Some high-profile species in the report this week.
Two WHOOPING CRANES flew over Minot at noon on April 16. Dave and Ellin
Lindee say the whoopers were with a flock of about 25 SANDHILL CRANES. For
more information, try davelindee@srt.com
The number of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at Chase Lake National Wildlife
Refuge near Medina had grown to 4,700 by April 16. Rick Bohn says that
compares to 5,200 on April 24 of last year. You'll recall that the Chase
Lake colony has had some problems the past few years. Among them...heavy
chick loss due to West Nile virus, an abandonment in 2004, and a major
chick die-off in 2005. The colony had been considered the largest in North
America. Sorry, no contact information for Rick Bohn.
The first two PIPING PLOVERS of spring were reported by Clark Talkington on
April 17 at McKenzie Slough, east of Bismarck. They've been on the
Endangered Species List since 1985, although they fall into the
"threatened" category. On April 16, Clark saw two GREAT EGRETS at the
Adams WPA in Burleigh County, a STILT SANDPIPER at McKenzie Slough, 71
MARBLED GODWITS at McKenzie Slough and Long Lake NWR, and two WHITE-FACED
IBIS at Long Lake NWR. Clark's finds on April 15 included four ROSS' GEESE
at the YMCA WPA, six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at the Bryan/Mohler WPA in
Burleigh County, two GREATER SCAUP at McKenzie Slough, five VESPER SPARROWS
in Mandan at the Tesoro Refinery, plus 40 HORNED GREBES, five SOLITARY
SANDPIPERS, a HUDSONIAN GODWIT, 12 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a SNOWY OWL at
Long Lake NWR. Refuge staff saw a WILLET and a PURPLE MARTIN on April 10.
On the 14th, Clark found a FOX SPARROW and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW in his yard
in Mandan and two VESPER SPARROWS southeast of McKenzie Slough. While
birding in Morton County on April 13, Clark discovered two BURROWING OWLS
north of Solen and a total of six ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. On April 11, Clark
saw eight HORNED GREBES at Brekken/Holmes Lake and New John's Lake, two
RED-NECKED GREBES just into Sheridan County on ND 14, a WESTERN GREBE at
Harriet Lake, a total of 14 GREATER SCAUP in five locations, 34 HOODED
MERGANSERS at the Mandan Tesoro Refinery, a total of 400 COMMON MERGANSERS
and two RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Brekken/Holmes Lake, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK
on a nest, four LEAST SANDPIPERS at the Rath WPA and a blind COMMON REDPOLL
at a residence in Mandan. For more information, contact Clark at
ctalkington@bis.midco.net
Dan Svingen found two more adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at the Bismarck
landfill on April 15. He says they are different birds than the one seen
earlier. The landfill also held a first-year THAYER'S GULL. At McKenzie
Slough that day, Dan saw AMERICAN PIPITS, ROSS' GEESE, two SWAINSON'S
HAWKS, AMERICAN AVOCETS and a male CINNAMON TEAL. Call him at 250-4443,
ext. 107.
Highlights from Russ Dawson's April 11 visit to Long Lake NWR included a
HORNED GREBE, WILSON'S PHALAROPE and two SNOWY OWLS. For more information,
contact Russ at nicroft@bis.midco.net
Derek Bakken fit in a visit to Long Lake NWR while in the Bismarck-Mandan
area for Easter. On April 15, Derek saw five likely LESSER YELLOWLEGS, six
MARBLED GODWITS, eight BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, SWAINSON'S HAWK and COOPER'S
HAWK, four NORTHERN HARRIERS, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE and a GREAT BLUE HERON.
Contact Derek at spottedtowhee@gmail.com
Mark Gonzalez heard an OVENBIRD singing on April 14 in northwest Bismarck.
It was his first of the spring, and considerably early. For more
information, call Mark at 250-4443, ext. 106.
Two YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS stopped in Corey Ellingson's Bismarck yard on
April 16. Corey says he has seen the species four times in 11 years in
Burleigh County, and three of those times have been in his yard. Contact
Corey at tcellingson@juno.com
Dan Rogers found several seasonal firsts in Morton County on April 12 and
13. At Fish Creek Dam, he saw CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR and CALIFORNIA
GULL, and Sweet Briar Lake held GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WILSON'S SNIPE,
AMERICAN AVOCET, RUDDY DUCK and HORNED GREBES. Dan added four SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS and six GREATER YELLOWLEGS at a pond just south of Center, while
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were present southeast of Mandan. Contact Dan at
daniel.rogers@bsc.nodak.edu
>From the southeast corner of the state, Mark Otnes checked out Kraft Slough
in Sargent County on April 14, finding nine RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and a
single COMMON LOON among large numbers of ducks, grebes and BONAPARTE'S
GULLS. Call Mark at 241-4194.
Bob O'Connor found lots of birds on April 15 at Lake Bertha in southwestern
Cass County. His list for the day included WESTERN GREBE, RED-NECKED
GREBE, EARED GREBE and HORNED GREBE, two GREAT EGRETS, 14 WHITE-FACED IBIS,
14 duck species, a WILSON'S SNIPE, seven NORTHERN HARRIERS, six AMERICAN
KESTRELS, a probable MERLIN, two VESPER SPARROWS and two probable SONG
SPARROWS. Contact Bob at robert.oconnor@ndsu.edu
The first PEREGRINE FALCON egg is in the nest in downtown Fargo, where the
birds have been nesting since 2002.
>From Buxton, Sharon Watson reports the first TREE SWALLOW of the season at
7:37 am on April 14. Contact her at alanwat@infionline.net
Ron Martin found a LONG-TAILED DUCK at the large settling pond at the sugar
beet plant near Hillsboro on April 15, followed on the 16th by a COMMON
RAVEN in western Pierce County. Ron says there are no breeding records for
the species in Pierce County, but believes the late sighting could indicate
nesting. He reports new sightings in the Minot area for April 13 were
OSPREY and SWAINSON'S HAWK. Contact Ron at jrmartin@srt.com
The first WOOD DUCKS of the season arrived April 13 near Burlington.
Sherry Leslie says they were looking over the houses in her yard. Contact
her at sherry_leslie@excite.com
The GRAY JAY on Lake Drive south of Grand Forks was still there on April
11, reports Dave Lambeth. From talking to the local homeowners, Dave
believes the bird has been there since last fall. He adds that the GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKENS are in full display on the leks north of Mekinock.
Contact Dave at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com
Betsy Batstone-Cunningham found HERMIT THRUSHES in the Grand Forks cemetery
and a MERLIN behind the Hugo's supermarket on 20th St. N on April 16. On
April 12, Betsy saw a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BROWN CREEPER and EASTERN
PHOEBE at the cemetery, where she heard a COOPER'S HAWK. North of the
lagoons, a flock of 25 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flew over her car.
Contact Betsy at batsham@gra.midco.net
>From Stutsman County, Steve Stucker saw two COMMON LOONS at the Jamestown
Reservoir on April 10 and a CHIPPING SPARROW the following day, a
RED-NECKED GREBE and two HORNED GREBES near Streeter on April 8, plus a
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER near Medina on April 8. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER
visited Larry Igl's backyard in northeastern Jamestown on April 11. For
details, call Larry at 253-5511.
Dan Buchanan found a WILSON'S SNIPE, at least two VIRGINIA RAILS and a SONG
SPARROW south of the village of Fried, northeast of Jamestown on April 13.
Call him at 252-6604.
Carl Stangeland saw two WOOD DUCKS and two HOODED MERGANSERS during an
April 13 visit to McElroy Park along the James River in Jamestown. He's at
carlcs@daktel.com
Jean Legge took some students birding near Marion in LaMoure County on
April 18. The highlight was an AMERICAN BITTERN. Jean's yard near Valley
City attracted a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET on April 16, along with SONG SPARROWS
and VESPER SPARROWS. April 13 brought the first TREE SWALLOW of
the season. Call Jean at 845-4762.
Ross Lagasse birded Rolette County near Rolla on April 15. Highlights
included four RED-NECKED GREBES, a small flock of EARED GREBES, several
PIED-BILLED GREBES, a SWAINSON'S HAWK and a SAY'S PHOEBE about 10 miles
east of Rolla, where he sees them most springs and summers. Heading back
to Sidney, MT the following day, Ross saw HOODED MERGANSERS, COMMON
MERGANSERS and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Long Lake just east of Rolette,
along with HORNED GREBES. A slough west of Rolette held WHITE-FACED IBIS,
AMERICAN AVOCETS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and SNOW GEESE.
At J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Ross added an EASTERN PHOEBE,
plus BARN SWALLOWS and TREE SWALLOWS. Contact him at on2stix@yahoo.com
Bernice Houser recorded her first-of-the-year SONG SPARROW on April 14 near
New Town. Her feeders continue to attract one DARK-EYED JUNCO and one
TREE SPARROW. She's at sanishnd@hotmail.com
Over Easter weekend, Jesse Kolar saw a partial-albino AMERICAN ROBIN
northwest of Richardton and a lone BURROWING OWL west of New England.
Jesse has been noticing CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS on fence posts between
Rhame and Medora since April 13. Contact him at jekolar@hotmail.com
The first TREE SWALLOW checked out Diane Bingeman's nest boxes on April 13.
She also reports a probable female BLACKPOLL WARBLER on that date. Call
Diane at 872-3256.
For your calendar, the North Dakota Birding Society has set June 3-4 for
its spring field trip to the Turtle Mountains. For details, try
www.ndbirdingsociety.com
That concludes this report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the
North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each
Tuesday. The Fish and Wildlife Service operates 62 National Wildlife
Refuges and 1,100 Waterfowl Production Areas in North Dakota...offering
some of the best birding opportunities in the state. Contact refuge
managers for more information about visiting. For phone numbers of
individual refuges, as well as additional information, go to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service web site at www.fws.gov Click on Offices, and click
on North Dakota on the map.
- End Transcript
* North Dakota
* Statewide
* April 18, 2006
* NDST0604.18
- Transcript
Hotline: North Dakota Update
Date: April 18, 2006
Number: 701-250-4418
To Report: 701-250-4418
Coverage: Statewide
Compiler: Ken Torkelson, USFWS
Compiled: April 18, 2006
Transcriber: Jane Kostenko
mailto:kenneth_torkelson@fws.gov
- Birds Mentioned
WHOOPING CRANE
Sandhill Crane
American White Pelican
Piping Plover
Great Egret
Stilt Sandpiper
Marbled Godwit
WHITE-FACED IBIS
Ross' Goose
Long-billed Dowitcher
Greater Scaup
Vesper Sparrow
Horned Grebe
Solitary Sandpiper
Hudsonian Godwit
Pectoral Sandpiper
Snowy Owl
Willet
Purple Martin
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Burrowing Owl
Rough-legged Hawk
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ferruginous Hawk
Least Sandpiper
Common Redpoll
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
THAYER'S GULL
American Pipit
Swainson's Hawk
American Avocet
Cinnamon Teal
Wilson's Phalarope
Lesser Yellowlegs
Baird's Sandpiper
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Harrier
Loggerhead Shrike
Great Blue Heron
Ovenbird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Chestnut-collared Longspur
California Gull
Greater Yellowlegs
Wilson's Snipe
Ruddy Duck
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Common Loon
Bonaparte's Gull
American Kestrel
Merlin
Song Sparrow
PEREGRINE FALCON
Tree Swallow
Long-tailed Duck
Common Raven
Osprey
Wood Duck
GRAY JAY
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Hermit Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Brown Creeper
Eastern Phoebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Chipping Sparrow
Virginia Rail
American Bittern
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Pied-billed Grebe
Say's Phoebe
White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Barn Swallow
Dark-eyed Junco
American Robin
Blackpoll Warbler
Welcome to the North Dakota Rare Bird Alert compiled by the North Dakota
Birding Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This report was
prepared on Tuesday, April 18. Unless otherwise noted, all phone numbers
mentioned are area code 701.
Transcriber's Note: Birds listed in ALL CAPS in the Birds Mentioned section signify
that the
Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds lists them as Occasional, Accidental,
Extirpated, or
never having occured before for the season being reported.
Some high-profile species in the report this week.
Two WHOOPING CRANES flew over Minot at noon on April 16. Dave and Ellin
Lindee say the whoopers were with a flock of about 25 SANDHILL CRANES. For
more information, try davelindee@srt.com
The number of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at Chase Lake National Wildlife
Refuge near Medina had grown to 4,700 by April 16. Rick Bohn says that
compares to 5,200 on April 24 of last year. You'll recall that the Chase
Lake colony has had some problems the past few years. Among them...heavy
chick loss due to West Nile virus, an abandonment in 2004, and a major
chick die-off in 2005. The colony had been considered the largest in North
America. Sorry, no contact information for Rick Bohn.
The first two PIPING PLOVERS of spring were reported by Clark Talkington on
April 17 at McKenzie Slough, east of Bismarck. They've been on the
Endangered Species List since 1985, although they fall into the
"threatened" category. On April 16, Clark saw two GREAT EGRETS at the
Adams WPA in Burleigh County, a STILT SANDPIPER at McKenzie Slough, 71
MARBLED GODWITS at McKenzie Slough and Long Lake NWR, and two WHITE-FACED
IBIS at Long Lake NWR. Clark's finds on April 15 included four ROSS' GEESE
at the YMCA WPA, six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at the Bryan/Mohler WPA in
Burleigh County, two GREATER SCAUP at McKenzie Slough, five VESPER SPARROWS
in Mandan at the Tesoro Refinery, plus 40 HORNED GREBES, five SOLITARY
SANDPIPERS, a HUDSONIAN GODWIT, 12 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a SNOWY OWL at
Long Lake NWR. Refuge staff saw a WILLET and a PURPLE MARTIN on April 10.
On the 14th, Clark found a FOX SPARROW and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW in his yard
in Mandan and two VESPER SPARROWS southeast of McKenzie Slough. While
birding in Morton County on April 13, Clark discovered two BURROWING OWLS
north of Solen and a total of six ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. On April 11, Clark
saw eight HORNED GREBES at Brekken/Holmes Lake and New John's Lake, two
RED-NECKED GREBES just into Sheridan County on ND 14, a WESTERN GREBE at
Harriet Lake, a total of 14 GREATER SCAUP in five locations, 34 HOODED
MERGANSERS at the Mandan Tesoro Refinery, a total of 400 COMMON MERGANSERS
and two RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Brekken/Holmes Lake, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK
on a nest, four LEAST SANDPIPERS at the Rath WPA and a blind COMMON REDPOLL
at a residence in Mandan. For more information, contact Clark at
ctalkington@bis.midco.net
Dan Svingen found two more adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at the Bismarck
landfill on April 15. He says they are different birds than the one seen
earlier. The landfill also held a first-year THAYER'S GULL. At McKenzie
Slough that day, Dan saw AMERICAN PIPITS, ROSS' GEESE, two SWAINSON'S
HAWKS, AMERICAN AVOCETS and a male CINNAMON TEAL. Call him at 250-4443,
ext. 107.
Highlights from Russ Dawson's April 11 visit to Long Lake NWR included a
HORNED GREBE, WILSON'S PHALAROPE and two SNOWY OWLS. For more information,
contact Russ at nicroft@bis.midco.net
Derek Bakken fit in a visit to Long Lake NWR while in the Bismarck-Mandan
area for Easter. On April 15, Derek saw five likely LESSER YELLOWLEGS, six
MARBLED GODWITS, eight BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, SWAINSON'S HAWK and COOPER'S
HAWK, four NORTHERN HARRIERS, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE and a GREAT BLUE HERON.
Contact Derek at spottedtowhee@gmail.com
Mark Gonzalez heard an OVENBIRD singing on April 14 in northwest Bismarck.
It was his first of the spring, and considerably early. For more
information, call Mark at 250-4443, ext. 106.
Two YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS stopped in Corey Ellingson's Bismarck yard on
April 16. Corey says he has seen the species four times in 11 years in
Burleigh County, and three of those times have been in his yard. Contact
Corey at tcellingson@juno.com
Dan Rogers found several seasonal firsts in Morton County on April 12 and
13. At Fish Creek Dam, he saw CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR and CALIFORNIA
GULL, and Sweet Briar Lake held GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WILSON'S SNIPE,
AMERICAN AVOCET, RUDDY DUCK and HORNED GREBES. Dan added four SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS and six GREATER YELLOWLEGS at a pond just south of Center, while
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were present southeast of Mandan. Contact Dan at
daniel.rogers@bsc.nodak.edu
>From the southeast corner of the state, Mark Otnes checked out Kraft Slough
in Sargent County on April 14, finding nine RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and a
single COMMON LOON among large numbers of ducks, grebes and BONAPARTE'S
GULLS. Call Mark at 241-4194.
Bob O'Connor found lots of birds on April 15 at Lake Bertha in southwestern
Cass County. His list for the day included WESTERN GREBE, RED-NECKED
GREBE, EARED GREBE and HORNED GREBE, two GREAT EGRETS, 14 WHITE-FACED IBIS,
14 duck species, a WILSON'S SNIPE, seven NORTHERN HARRIERS, six AMERICAN
KESTRELS, a probable MERLIN, two VESPER SPARROWS and two probable SONG
SPARROWS. Contact Bob at robert.oconnor@ndsu.edu
The first PEREGRINE FALCON egg is in the nest in downtown Fargo, where the
birds have been nesting since 2002.
>From Buxton, Sharon Watson reports the first TREE SWALLOW of the season at
7:37 am on April 14. Contact her at alanwat@infionline.net
Ron Martin found a LONG-TAILED DUCK at the large settling pond at the sugar
beet plant near Hillsboro on April 15, followed on the 16th by a COMMON
RAVEN in western Pierce County. Ron says there are no breeding records for
the species in Pierce County, but believes the late sighting could indicate
nesting. He reports new sightings in the Minot area for April 13 were
OSPREY and SWAINSON'S HAWK. Contact Ron at jrmartin@srt.com
The first WOOD DUCKS of the season arrived April 13 near Burlington.
Sherry Leslie says they were looking over the houses in her yard. Contact
her at sherry_leslie@excite.com
The GRAY JAY on Lake Drive south of Grand Forks was still there on April
11, reports Dave Lambeth. From talking to the local homeowners, Dave
believes the bird has been there since last fall. He adds that the GREATER
PRAIRIE-CHICKENS are in full display on the leks north of Mekinock.
Contact Dave at davidlambeth58201@yahoo.com
Betsy Batstone-Cunningham found HERMIT THRUSHES in the Grand Forks cemetery
and a MERLIN behind the Hugo's supermarket on 20th St. N on April 16. On
April 12, Betsy saw a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BROWN CREEPER and EASTERN
PHOEBE at the cemetery, where she heard a COOPER'S HAWK. North of the
lagoons, a flock of 25 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flew over her car.
Contact Betsy at batsham@gra.midco.net
>From Stutsman County, Steve Stucker saw two COMMON LOONS at the Jamestown
Reservoir on April 10 and a CHIPPING SPARROW the following day, a
RED-NECKED GREBE and two HORNED GREBES near Streeter on April 8, plus a
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER near Medina on April 8. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER
visited Larry Igl's backyard in northeastern Jamestown on April 11. For
details, call Larry at 253-5511.
Dan Buchanan found a WILSON'S SNIPE, at least two VIRGINIA RAILS and a SONG
SPARROW south of the village of Fried, northeast of Jamestown on April 13.
Call him at 252-6604.
Carl Stangeland saw two WOOD DUCKS and two HOODED MERGANSERS during an
April 13 visit to McElroy Park along the James River in Jamestown. He's at
carlcs@daktel.com
Jean Legge took some students birding near Marion in LaMoure County on
April 18. The highlight was an AMERICAN BITTERN. Jean's yard near Valley
City attracted a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET on April 16, along with SONG SPARROWS
and VESPER SPARROWS. April 13 brought the first TREE SWALLOW of
the season. Call Jean at 845-4762.
Ross Lagasse birded Rolette County near Rolla on April 15. Highlights
included four RED-NECKED GREBES, a small flock of EARED GREBES, several
PIED-BILLED GREBES, a SWAINSON'S HAWK and a SAY'S PHOEBE about 10 miles
east of Rolla, where he sees them most springs and summers. Heading back
to Sidney, MT the following day, Ross saw HOODED MERGANSERS, COMMON
MERGANSERS and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Long Lake just east of Rolette,
along with HORNED GREBES. A slough west of Rolette held WHITE-FACED IBIS,
AMERICAN AVOCETS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and SNOW GEESE.
At J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Ross added an EASTERN PHOEBE,
plus BARN SWALLOWS and TREE SWALLOWS. Contact him at on2stix@yahoo.com
Bernice Houser recorded her first-of-the-year SONG SPARROW on April 14 near
New Town. Her feeders continue to attract one DARK-EYED JUNCO and one
TREE SPARROW. She's at sanishnd@hotmail.com
Over Easter weekend, Jesse Kolar saw a partial-albino AMERICAN ROBIN
northwest of Richardton and a lone BURROWING OWL west of New England.
Jesse has been noticing CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS on fence posts between
Rhame and Medora since April 13. Contact him at jekolar@hotmail.com
The first TREE SWALLOW checked out Diane Bingeman's nest boxes on April 13.
She also reports a probable female BLACKPOLL WARBLER on that date. Call
Diane at 872-3256.
For your calendar, the North Dakota Birding Society has set June 3-4 for
its spring field trip to the Turtle Mountains. For details, try
www.ndbirdingsociety.com
That concludes this report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the
North Dakota Birding Society. This report is normally updated each
Tuesday. The Fish and Wildlife Service operates 62 National Wildlife
Refuges and 1,100 Waterfowl Production Areas in North Dakota...offering
some of the best birding opportunities in the state. Contact refuge
managers for more information about visiting. For phone numbers of
individual refuges, as well as additional information, go to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service web site at www.fws.gov Click on Offices, and click
on North Dakota on the map.
- End Transcript