Top Gun Birder

I had an interesting day yesterday. Got to meet a "top gun birder" actually. My birding mentor, Mr Science, brought one of Minnesota's birding "uber-gurus" John H. by for a "consultation." Now what would a pro like John be doing being

hitched up with a raw rookie like me?

To begin with Mr. Science was helping

John plan a Fillmore county birding tour

for the Zumbro Valley (Rochester)

Audobon Society. As a side issue, I was

to familarize John with "ebird". Ebird, for

those not attuned, is Cornel Universities

birding website and the home of the Christmas

Bird Count. I had been using it for over a year

as my "listing" repository.

I had just finished that job when I began

demonstrating a few of the birding posts on

this blog. One of them involved a line of

pelicans floating on the calm waters of

Lake Pepin. It had turned out they were

not floating but standing on a sand bar in the

middle of the lake. They had saved my

butt from crashing into the sandbar, when

racing towards it, I realized the birds were

standing, not floating.

John had been intently looking at the various

bird pictures, when suddenly he asked me

to magnify the Pelican picture. "What are

the little ones to the right," he asked.

"Some kind of seagulls," I ventured. "Draw

it up closer," he suggested. I took a stab. "Er

Ringbills?" "Yes, but not those two on the

right. Caspian terns are what they are."

Even Mr. Science was amazed.

According to the Minnesota Ornithological

Societies records John has the most birds

ever listed in Fillmore County. He is also

high on the list in many other counties in

the state. He is also approaching the top

record for the state as a whole. Given the

fact that he is also at least ten years younger

that all those ahead of him on the lifetime

Minnesota list..... well, with his great skill

and a little luck someday...

Yup, yesterday March 2, 2009, I was

fortunate to be in the presence of one of

birdings All-Stars!

I Lost A Friend Recently

We were not really really "close" friends and you will understand why. He didn't care much for people in his face. I learned to like him though. And I mostly respected his spirit. It was the spirit of the wilderness. The spirit of independence. The spirit of an age largely gone by. He lived life to the fullest. His name was # 6.





Let me tell you how we met. I first saw him on a video from the National Park Service. It was mostly showing why it's not a good idea to to get too close to the buffalo, bear and elk in Yellowstone Park.





The elk come down from the "high country" to spend the
winter in the grassy park like areas of Mammoth Hot
Springs. There is a restaurant there as part of the headquarters complex. In the video, a bunch of tourists are standing on the concrete steps leading to the entrance to the restaurant. They are watching a massive elk, which is standing on the sidewalk, minding his own business. Then a tourist comes up the sidewalk, walks within a few feet of the elk and takes a flash picture right in his face. The tourists turns around and begins walking away, when the elk gives him a shot from behind. No fatality here but a nasty leg gash for the foolish tourist.

Yes, the bull elk are little testy during the rut. It's not that easy keeping track of your harem of 25 females when they tend to wander all over the area munching grass. For this "crime" the elk had his antlers removed and an identification
tag attached to his ear. It said # 6



A year later, in October we, along with our friends Gary and Rosie, arrived for a brief stay in Mammoth. This time # 6 had had his antlers removed again. An "urban legend" had already sprung up about # 6 claiming that he had tipped a small red volkswagon over. It wasn't true, according to the restaurant manager. I had asked him about that, while sipping my morning coffee and reading the paper. However, he had managed to mangle the bumper of the little red car. It had stopped right next to him on the curb. "Too bad he lost his rack again," I replied, already revealing my prejudice in favor of "# 6." When I looked outside to the parade ground, there he was approaching another large elk (#10). He was going to try and win his harem back. He didn't stand a chance though as soon as the fight began. Without horns, he could only
side butt with his head. The crowd watched the uneven contest. I finally had to look away. Later, that day I found him battered and resting on the
lawn beside our little cabin. We had a talk and I gave him the "life goes on" pitch. I don't know if he bought it. Perhaps, he was already plotting his comeback for the next year.

The following is the story as released by the NPS last
week in Yellowstone National Park






Accident Claims Life Of Infamous Yellowstone Elk

A bull elk well known to fall visitors to Mammoth Hot Springs has died as the result of a freak accident.
Photo by Ken Meyer.
The animal, known as "Number 6" due to his orange and black ear tag, was found dead Sunday night in Gardiner, Montana. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks staff members believe the animal tripped while trying to cross a fence and somersaulted onto his back, where he was pinned between rocks with his antlers beneath him and suffocated.
A necropsy indicated that bull was at least 15 years old and weighed 725 pounds. Elk have an average life span of 13 to 18 years, with bulls typically topping the scales at 700 pounds. His rack, although diminished in size from previous years, still gross scored an impressive 356-5/8 on the Boone and Crockett scale. At his peak, the animal would certainly have been considered a "trophy" by elk hunters.
Several large bulls with impressive antlers venture into Mammoth Hot Springs each fall to compete for the attention of cow elk during mating season. The aggressive behavior of these animals brings with it a threat to people and property.
Number 6, and his regular sparring partner Number 10, were both ear tagged several years ago. Number 6 had his antlers removed in August 2004 and again in August 2005 in an effort to reduce the danger he posed to park visitors. Number 10 was last seen in the Mammoth Hot Springs area shortly after the rut concluded.
In the fall, a dedicated group of park staff and volunteers can be seen patrolling the Mammoth area, reminding visitors to stay at least 25 yards away from the animals. Those who fail to abide by this requirement not only put themselves in danger, they may also be subject to a citation and fine.
Park regulations require people to stay at least 25 yards away from most animals and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves at all times. Visitors desiring a closer look at animals should use binoculars, spotting scope, or the zoom lens on their still or video camera.

RIP # 6
Your friend, Troutbirder

Minnesota Ornithogical Union

The Minnesota Ornithogical Union (M.O.U.) is the state-wide birding society. I joined it over a year ago when I decided to become a birder with a camera instead of a upland game hunter with my shotgun. You get several magazines with membership including the "Minnesota Birding" and "The Loon." A web site also provides you with several "listservs" where you can keep track of your sightings and inform others around the state.
Imagine my total and complete surprise when a picture I had submitted over a year ago turned up in the most recent issue. I was dumbfounded.As you can see an Eastern Screech Owl is peering out of a woodduck house, one of my sons built for me many years ago. It is fastened to an oak tree in our backyard. Screech owls are not very common around here much less hanging around in a house built for ducks! He was most frequently seen on the coldest mornings facing east toward the morning sun.

GSD'S

I ran across this picture of a German Shepherd Dog recently. The breed is noted for being very loyal, brave, highly intelligent and trainable. They also need a firm but friendly hand, wanting to be the boss themselves. Their abundant energy needs to be channeled into positive socialization with other people and animals. They are a good guard dog, barking when strangers approach but otherwise are generally quiet. Like most dogs, they can be as good or bad as their upbringing tends to make them.

We got our Baron two years ago this fall as a 8 week old puppy. He has proven to be an outstanding companion-dog. He quickly learned the boundaries of our property, which is surrounded by an invisible fence. Chasing squirrels and cats who venture here seems to be his favorite yard activity. He enjoys being in the house, although he is restricted to the mud room, kitchen and basement. This is due mainly to the fact that GSD also stands for German Shedding Dog. Romping madly after the quicker housecat (Simba) can also be an issue when things get knocked off tables in the chase.

Baron & friend

Summer Wildflower Dreams

This morning I awoke to subzero temperatures and forecasts for the next few days of "dangerous wind chills" in the -40 to -50 degree range. Yuk! Thinking summer thoughts, I found some solace in scanning through my Minnesota summer wildflower file.

The Rest Of The Story

A year ago last fall, I had posted the facts surrounding my year old GSD Baron's two hour disappearance, while hiking in the Maynard Underbakke state forest near Wykoff. My CSI investigative powers had shown, that having spooked a large deer, he took off after it. He had disappeared around a bend in the hiking trail. When I got there, I had found huge deer tracks in the mud on the trail. Unfortunately, this was the second time this had happened. In Minnesota, it is legal to shoot a dog chasing deer. Besides, it was hunting season already and I was very nervous that I might never find my puppy.

Early this sping a cure was in order. I took "Mr Adventurous" with me on a trout fishing expedition to the nearby South Branch of the Root River. He was outfitted with his training collar. I had the remote in my pocket. All was well until the stream entered a cow pasture. We both noticed a large herd of dairy cattle about the same time. I kept fishing. He went to investigate. He cautiously approached the herd. Remote in hand I watched. Several of the cows turned to faced him. The rest seemed oblivious.

Now German Shepherds love to chase and herd. It's there thing. Baron got within about 5 ft. of the herd and started to bark. Time for Lesson #1 in the "don't spook and chase" large animals curriculum. It's from the Chapter titled "Tough Love." Ouch

He came running back to me and spent the rest of the afternoon close by, below the bank of the creek, alongside me. He kept peeking over the bank to try and determine which one of those big black and white "deer" had bit him. He hasn't chased any deer since. Thats the "rest of the story."

Hiking the New Bike Trail

Baron and I have been doing a lot of hiking on the new Spring Valley bike trail this fall. Well... its not exactly a bike trail yet but a work in progress. The grading, graveling, bridges, tree planting and underpass are now complete. Spring will see the trail blacktopped and then the bikers will have smooth sailing. Come on along on a "composite" hike from early August to just last week. Baron will lead the way.

Bridge construction going on here. Several bulldozers were also in action as a path was cleared and leveled.

Two bridges were built over the creek as the trail passed from one side to another. Land issues made this necessary.

Along the way we see the "trout farm" eagles nest. I was initially worried that the trail might come too close to the nest but upon seeing the route close hand I don't believe that it does.

Here is a cattle "overpass" constructed so that the cows can cross the trail without being run into by bikers or vice versa.

Inside the culvert some swallows have already taken up residence. They were already gone so I'm not sure what kind they were. Probably barn.

The trail now has two layers of gravel, smoothed and packed, preparatory to blacktopping


The trail basically follows Spring Valley Creek, one of Bluff Countries fine trout streams. I'm sure with the arrival of hordes of bikers (including me) my exclusive franchise to the trout in this stream will be lost. Oh well.

As we came around a bend I heard that special fall sound of migrating geese. Honk! Honk! Honk! Baron and I ducked down in the grass and they landed across the creek in a pasture. Mr Baron von Curious wanted to go investigate but I held him close. My Chesapeaks would have gone crazy in this circumstance.

And I had given up goose hunting several years ago. My instincts kicked in and I was able to "shoot" a few with my camera. Wow!

Fall hiking with the Baron. Not too bad!

Minnesota - Wisconsin Architecture Compared

It seems that on my previous post of our recent trip to Milwaukee, a former resident (ncmountainwoman)commented upon the local name for the Mitchell Park Domes. They are known as the "Polish Bra." Not to be outdone by any present or former Wisconsinites, I give you the Grand Meadow, Minnesota public school. Known locally here as the "boob" school you can plainly see that they are larger and more colorfull. I rest my case.