* North Dakota
* Statewide
* March 22, 1999
* NDST9903.22
- Birds Mentioned
Snowy Owl
Common Redpoll
Snow Bunting
Tundra Swan
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Northern Harrier
Rough-legged Hawk
Pintail
Canada Goose
Meadowlark
American Coot
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Mourning Dove
Common Grackle
Killdeer
White-fronted Goose
Golden Eagle
Eastern Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird
Short-eared Owl
- Transcript
Hotline: North Dakota Update
Date: March 22, 1999
Number: (701) 250-4418
To Report: (701) 250-4418
Coverage: Statewide
Compiler: Ken Torkelson, USFWS
Compiled: March 22, 1999
Transcriber: Jane Kostenko
mailto:kenneth_torkelson@mail.fws.gov
This is the North Dakota Birding Society Hotline for the
week of March 22, 1999.
Welcome to the Birding Hotline operated by the North
Dakota Birding Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service...This report was recorded on Monday, March
22, 1999.
The last days of winter and first days of spring present
great opportunities in the Grand Forks area. Eve Freeberg
reports lingering winter birds such as SNOWY OWLS,
COMMON REDPOLLS and SNOW BUNTINGS, plus spring birds such
as TUNDRA SWANS, BALD EAGLES, GOLDEN EAGLES, RED-TAILED
HAWKS, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and a NORTHERN HARRIER. She says
most of those sightings were Friday, March 19, along the
Red River near Grand Forks. You can call Eve at 701-772-4105.
Raptors and waterfowl have been moving in to the area
around the Valley City National Fish Hatchery. John MacFarlane
says March 15 brought three BALD EAGLES across from the
Hatchery and another one along Highway 1, just south of
Valley City, plus a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK across from the
Hatchery and four more near Stoney Lake National Wildlife
Refuge in Barnes County. On Marach 16, lone BALD EAGLES were
reported across from the Hatchery and at Stoney Lake refuge.
The refuge also attracted 75 PINTAILS that day. MacFarlane
adds that CANADA GEESE have been showing up every day, and
can be found all up and down the Sheyenne River. You can
contact John at 701-845-3466.
Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge near Pingree is reporting
a larger-than-normal BALD EAGLE visitation during spring
migration. Refuge biologist Paulette Scherr believes the
birds are attracted by large fish populations in the James
River Valley. For more information, call the refuge at
701-285-3341.
Another good place to see the eagle migration or waterfowl
migration is Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Aberdeen,
South Dakota. Sunday is the refuge's annual Eagle Day Open
House, and it will include live birds of prey from the Raptor
Center at the University of Minnesota. And, weather and roads
permitting, refuge staff will give guided bus tours of the
refuge from 12:30 until 4:30 on Sunday afternoon. For more
information, call Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge at
605-885-6320.
Several seasonal firsts for Ron Martin. He recorded his
first MEADOWLARKS in the Minot area on March 19, the first
AMERICAN COOT and the first YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in
Burleigh County on March 20, the first MOURNING DOVE and
the first COMMON GRACKLES in Ellendale on March 21, and the
first KILLDEER in the Minot area on March 22. Ron also
found WHITE-FRONTED GEESE near McKenzie on Marach 20 and
in LaMoure County on March 21. Between McKenzie and Long
Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Ron recorded all the
expected duck species, with especially high numbers of
PINTAILS. Other sightings included two GOLDEN EAGLES in
Ward County on March 19, and two more in McLean County on
Marach 20. Also on the 20th in McLean County, Ron observed
an EASTERN BLUEBIRD and two MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. The Saturday
visit to Long Lake refuge also produced two SHORT-EARED
OWLS. You can reach Ron at 701-624-5241.
That concludes this week's report from the North Dakota
Birding Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To
hear it during regular business hours, dial 701-250-4418 and
when the receptionist answers, ask for the Birding Hotline.
It's Voice Mailbox number 601. During non-business hours,
call the same number and follow the directions.
End Transcript