Christmas Bird Count 2010

Volunteers gathered at refuge headquarters early Saturday morning December 18 to get this years count underway. The temperature was below zero at the outset, but fortified with coffee, pastries, and maps the group of about two dozen set off in teams to systematically drive all the roads within 15 miles of refuge headquarters. Each team was given a route map and a checklist with the objective to count and record all the birds seen along the way.

Some of the more athletic members of the group covered the Mahnomen and Blue Hill Trails within the refuge on cross country skis.

The event leader collects the results from all the field teams and tallies them. The results are then forwarded to the Minnesota Ornithological Union where they become part of the historical record used to track trends in bird populations. The count at Sherburne is just one small part of an effort that covers the entire country.

Refreshments and talk dispel the effects of early rising

on a cold day and set the mood for the morning.

Betsy Beneke photo

CBC 2010 leader Dean Kleinhans checks the route

assignments while Ken Brennen checks the master map.

Betsy Beneke photo

Dean makes sure the drivers know where to go.

Betsy Beneke photo

Then it's bundle up and out the door for three

or four (or more) hours of driving and counting.

Betsy Beneke photo

Winter Wonderland

The heavy snowfalls of December have turned the Refuge into a winter wonderland.

A fine outing on a day where the visual impressions of your Wildlife Refuge are striking.

Come enjoy the winterscape in all it's wonder.

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Mahnomen Trail offers XC Sking Thanksgiving Day

Just barely enough snow covering the trail for reasonable XC Ski outing. But it was fun and fast enough to keep us warm as we skied along, occasionally stopping to review an animal track or pick up a downed branch on the trail.

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Snow Buntings !

October 31, 2010
Zimmerman, MN

In an earlier entry for today entitled "Serenity" I mentioned that this was a very quiet day on the Wildlife Drive. In the chill of this frosty morning even the usual small winter birds were hiding somewhere. I thought the water fowl and a few raptors would fill out the mornings birding.

But as has been said so often about the natural world, "You never know what's around the next bend." Today it was a wonderful surprise: snow buntings. . I felt the thrill of discovery. These birds are not even included in the "Uncommon" column of the Sherburne Refuge bird list even though my field guide says they are common in this area.

A group of these small sparrow-like birds was pecking in the gravel road just beyond the Big Bluestem Pool. In my four years in the Zimmerman area I have seen only one solitary snow bunting. That in itself was unusual because, like juncos, they usually travel as a flock. Now at last I was seeing a small flock.

Snow Buntings Through The Windshield

As I tried to slowly drive closer to them to have a better view and take a picture they would burst into flight, then settle back into business as usual further down the road. Finally I took my foot completely off the accelerator and idled very slowly toward them at a snails pace. This time they ignored my approach until I was reasonably close.

What handsome birds they are with their buffy cheeks, white breasts and contrasting brown and black wings. This first impression would probably fade into familiarity if flocks of snow buntings were common here. But they would still be handsome.

Snow Bunting, Side View

Snow Bunting, Front View

Snow Bunting, Rear View

I pulled off to the side then sat and watched these buntings doing nothing more than hopping around and pecking at the gravel. It was a very relaxing fifteen minutes until a car came by at full speed (twenty per) and scattered them into the distance. The people in that car were probably not aware of what they were missing as they hurried on. But once more I found joy in the small stuff.

Serenity

Sunday October 31 brought a beautiful morning to the Wildlife Drive. There was a chill in the still air, the sky was clear, and the streaming sunlight illuminated the frost clinging to the prairie grasses as though they were lighted from within.

I stopped to chat with one of our regular visitors. We noted that the summer birds were all gone, leaving the refuge particularly quiet, and that on this peaceful morning we hadn't seen much wildlife beyond a collection of trumpeter swans near the entrance and a red tailed hawk stationed in a distant tree.

As we parted the visitor said "It's time to get on with today's dose of serenity. I love this place. It keeps my life from getting too complicated."

Immediately I was reminded that underlying all of our nature-oriented activity is a quest for serenity. We often overlook serenity when we talk about our nature connections, yet it is is the most potent cure nature offers the flagging human spirit.

The dictionary defines serenity as being calm and tranquil. I experience it as a kind of floating above the details of life's busyness, a complete state of relaxation while still being aware of my surroundings but not much else. This is a step beyond the active searching, observing, thinking parts of the mind. Our nature-oriented activities such as hiking, photography, drawing, or driving bring us close enough to serenity that we can feel it rubbing out some of our cares. But true serenity means letting go of even these activities and basking in a feeling of being alone with ones self and being at peace.

So the next time you're driving around fruitlessly searching for a turn-on in a nature venue that really reaches out to you, stop. Try floating in the ambiance of the place. Just enjoy being here at this moment in a place that holds off the bustling concerns of your usual life. With a little exploration you'll probably find a special spot where you can experience serenity at Sherburne Refuge. It will be your secret hide-out from the rest of the world.

Fall Colors Still Attractive

Cooler temperatures common now along with occasional gray skies and rain don't diminish the rich colors of late fall. Come out to the refuge now to see the migration in full swing. Along with cranes in number, Hooded Mergansers also can be spotted in the pools.

**http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Memorial Outlook pictures of good hunting

This eagle found good hunting near Memorial Outlook. The drawdown this spring and summer apparently keeps this falls ducks and geese in good food stores. This is the pond to check out this fall.

Thanks to Mary Carlson for the pictures.

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

BIG SIT results from October 10 event

Big Sit Results, October 10, 2010
Sunny, 75 degrees.
17 counters over the course of the day (6:30 am-6:30 pm)
43 species counted


Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck
American Widgeon
Mallard
Blue-Winged Teal
Ring-Necked Duck
Ring-Neck Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Plam Warbler
Vesper, Fox, Song, Lincoln's, Swamp and White Throated Sparrows.
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
American Goldfinch

This count of birds happens from observation point within 17 foot diameter circle and this year was located along the Wildlife Drive.

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

October Colors along Wildlife Drive

Fall colors are waning but still impressive.

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Wildlife Festival pictures

The campfire (with sing along music) provides opportunity to roast a marshmallow and the Hospitality tent was busy with lunch activities including the Birthday cake celebrating 45th year the refuge has existed. Also in Hospitality Tent was silent auction items donated generously by local supporters of the refuge.

Petting the horses at end of the ride or posing for pictures with Major and Mika are always popular activities.

The Friends gift shop and Face Painting activity are always busy during the festival.

Puddles was seen all around the Festival sight and was found to be very interesting by Duke and Spike, two of the horses pulling a wagon for rides. Word has it that Puddles did not take a wagon ride this year.

The Raptor Center presentation was overflowing as usual.

The last Horse drawn wagon ride of the Festival happened just after a very brief rainfall (just sprinkles really). It didn't dampen anyones spirits but did provide for beautiful rainbow over the refuge at the end of the day.

Horse drawn wagon ride was as popular as ever. Over 600 people took rides this year. Major and Mika did the work pulling on this wagon as Mel drives the team. Friends volunteer interpretors ride along and answer questions and talk of refuge history, events and activities, and the mission of the refuge staff to ensure the future of the refuge.

Geocaching was a new activity for this years festival. Kind of a high tech scavenger hunt the participants were able to borrow a GPS unit and go around within walking distance to find caches. This activity is not allowed on federal lands on normal basis so special thanks go to Anne Sittauer, refuge manager to approve this one day event only.

Fall Colors in Late September

Fall colors along trails and roadways of the Sherburne Nationals Wildlife Refuge