Powderhorn Bird Watch

I see that I have complained about unusual (cool, wet) weather in May for the last four years. I guess that means it is really not that unusual. But I heard Carol Henderson, an expert birder, bird trip leader and head of the non-game wildlife section of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, talk about it also this morning (June 2) on Minnesota Public Radio.

Last month, I mentioned the wind conditions more or less blowing the small birds right past us to their summer homes. Mr. Henderson mentioned that the cool, wet conditions also delay insect hatches, meaning the birds wouldn't find much to eat even if they did stop in the Prestigious Powderhorn area.

I think we are now finally in a period of summer-like weather, and the Eastern Kingbirds, Chimney Swifts, Night Hawks and Swallows are finding enough to eat. Plus there are at least three kinds of butterflies (Tiger Swallowtail, Red Admiral and Cabbage) in the park, along with large blue and green dragonflies that are mating and laying eggs in the lake. The frogs have returned for the fourth year and can also eat the insects and eggs.

Other birds that have passed through this spring include Redstarts, Palm Warblers, Hermit Thrushes, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and another wave of Yellow-rumped Warblers. A resident reported a Scarlet Tanager south of the park. I have not seen one here for a number of years. Once most people see the bright red and black bird, it becomes a favorite, but very rare, bird within the city.

Chipping Sparrows are in the park and staying as they usually do, and a hard-working park employee reported Killdeer in the ballfield area, but I have not seen any in the neighborhood this year. Another neighbor mentioned the lack of warblers in the area, but reported a Cerulean Warbler on Nicollet Island. I saw a Catbird and an Ovenbird on a chance visit to Nicollet Island. It looks like that area might be almost as nice as Powderhorn Park for an urban retreat.

The Great Blue Heron is back and often visible. A Black-crowned Night Heron has been back at least twice, and a Double-crested Cormorant once. But I have not seen a Green Heron or an Egret, or any other shorebirds on the lake this year, though I have seen all these birds pretty regularly in the metro area.

The shore side plantings were mowed (intentionally) in late April and barley straw bales were again placed in the water in early May. These actions are supposed to help the water and habitat of the lake, and I hope they work. Time will tell.

There might be a fourth species of turtles in the lake (besides Painted, Snapping and Spiny Softshell). I am still working on identifying them. The turtles are enjoying the willow tree debris, off the east end of the island, but the area also collects all kinds of floating trash. Maybe we can work out a system of picking up the man-made garbage and keeping the turtles and birds happy.

There might be two pairs of Coopers Hawks (or one pair of hawks and one pair of falcons) nesting in the neighborhood. I still have not had the time or good fortune to be sure of this but I will try to figure it out soon.

Back to Cormorants: Mark Martell of Audubon Minnesota had a good commentary piece in the June 2 StarTribune about the Cormorant shooting project at Leech Lake, and things wrong with the project. He pointed out that, Yes, they eat fish, but so do Loons, Bald Eagles, Ospreys and White Pelicans, and we would probably be outraged with a campaign to shoot them. Unfortunately, he is a little optimistic. There are people in Western Minnesota and the Dakotas that think we should be shooting Pelicans, also. If we could restore some semblance of a balance of nature and stop unchecked development, we would not have these situations. Besides that, I like Cormorants, and don't think they are ugly.

That's my ranting for this month. Thank you for all the calls, letters, e-mails and comments.