The birds return to Powderhorn

BY JOHN KARRIGAN

Ring-billed Gull

This has nothing to do with birds, but to me it seems important as I write this on March 31. I just saw one of the key figures of the upcoming holiday—the Easter bunny—at Powderhorn Park. He (or she) didn’t have anything to say, but was in the park, alive and well, a large tawny-colored rabbit wearing red shorts (or maybe long pants—it is hard to tell with rabbits). I don’t know what this foretells; I am just reporting what I saw. Maybe the meaning will become clear as time passes.

Now back to more normal sightings and observations. The ice went out on March 26, somewhat earlier than usual. The first regular water and shore birds were already there and waiting. Mallards arrived on March 9, Canada Geese on March 13, a pair of Wood Ducks on March 15, a Ring-billed Gull on March 17, and now there are all kinds of all of the above.

A Great Blue Heron was on and around the lake on ice-out day (the 26th), but I have not seen it since. I saw two goldfish before the complete ice-out but have not seen any large schools of them yet.

Today was the first turtle-sunning day and the second 70-degree-plus day. There were at least 15 turtles out on the island. I believe three species were represented.

In the rest of the park, I have seen Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Brown Creepers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Crows, Cardinals, Chickadees and a fleeting view of some kind of hawk. I have good reports of a bat and Golden-crowned Kinglets. I usually would have seen Robins, Nuthatches, and Northern Flickers by now. There are lots of Robins in the neighborhood and yard; I just haven’t seen any in the park.

So there are many more songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors and other animals that I hope to see in the park and neighborhood soon. Ooops, I left out insects. I saw a Mourning Cloak Butterfly in the block on St. Patrick’s Day and in the park today. And I have seen a Cabbage Butterfly and a few moths and other flying insects.

Some other non-bird park sightings: Park Board Comm-issioner Scott Vreeland (Commissioner for most of the Powderhorn neighborhood) was inspecting park path conditions (which range from OK to terrible) on his quiet motorscooter on March 11; a group of adult rocketeers were launching rockets (not fireworks, real rockets with little parachutes and small animals inside—OK, I’m lying about the small animals) on the athletic fields on March 23; and people were walking on stilts on March 25. The stilt-walking seemed normal to me but a young person came into the park building while I was there and wondered why this was happening. I replied, “Why not! This is Powderhorn,” but I guess this was not a sufficient answer. Park staff went outside and verified there was indeed stilt-walking. This may be against some Park Board regulation and the stilt-walkers may now be in custody at the Park Board’s palatial headquarters, but I am just speculating about that.

Of course, soccer, running, ultimate Frisbee and other activities are getting an early start.

Mourning Doves have joined the usual suspects in the back yard and Juncos have returned for a while. Of course I am hoping many more spring migrants will appear soon. An immature Bald Eagle has been seen in the neighborhood along with Red-tailed and Cooper’s Hawks.

Thank you for the nice letters and queries about hawks, owls and Phebes. The owl letter-writer was no doubt hearing the Saw-whet Owls. I have been trying to see and hear them (with no luck) for a couple of years. I might try again tonight.
Hopefully Phebes will return this spring, but local and world habitat and climate changes are troubling me and many others.

One thing returning soon to my block is chickens. (Domes-tic, I think. Not the wild varieties found in some parts of the world.) Maybe I can do an in-depth report when this happens.

Events
Here are a few events coming up in April and May:

•Earth Day Cleanup at Powderhorn Park on Saturday, April 17, 9:30 a.m. to Noon. Events for all ages.

•Salt Lake birding weekend in western Minnesota on April 24. Contact information at www.moumn.org/saltlake or Ken Larson at 952-595-9265.

•Urban Bird Festival in the Twin Cities, May 13-16. Contact information at www.urbanbirdingfestival.org.

•Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds, May 20-23. Contact information at www.detroitlakes.com or 1-800-542-3992, Ext. 20.

On a serious note, the Powderhorn Neighborhood has lost another longtime volunteer, activist, good citizen and May Day Café regular with the recent death of Michael Gramling on March 19. He will be missed by many friends and neighbors. May he rest in peace.

Comments and observations are always welcome. Send them to me, in care of Southside Pride. Thank you.