article thumbnail

What is the State Bird of Minnesota?

10,000 Birds

Those eerie calls come from the Common Loon, the state bird of Minnesota. Minnesota legislators named the loon their state bird in 1961, as their state has more Common Loons than any other barring Alaska. Minnesota legislators named the loon their state bird in 1961, as their state has more Common Loons than any other barring Alaska.

Minnesota 166
article thumbnail

Minnesota, a Winter Owl Wonderland

10,000 Birds

As for myself, in January of 2013, I finally took a much anticipated trip up to their world of ice and snow in northeastern Minnesota in search of them. My first day in Minnesota included a visit to Sax-Zim Bog, the most famous (and rightly so) birding hotspot in the region.

Minnesota 185
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

Trumpeter Swans: Don’t Shoot Them

10,000 Birds

They were heavily hunted as food, and for the feathers. Here in Minnesota they are listed as threatened. And apparently they are getting gunned down on a regular basis in Minnesota. … It’s illegal to shoot trumpeter swans in Minnesota. . … It’s illegal to shoot trumpeter swans in Minnesota.

Minnesota 211
article thumbnail

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes 2015 Expansion of Hunting and Fishing Opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges

10,000 Birds

Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe today announced as part of Great Outdoors Month the agency is proposing to expand fishing and hunting opportunities on 21 refuges throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Service is committed to strengthening and expanding hunting and fishing opportunities,” said Ashe. “The

Fish 143
article thumbnail

Wisconsin Falconer Legally Traps Snowy Owl

10,000 Birds

When I looked at lists of birds allowed for falconry in Minnesota years ago, I asked some of my falconer friends, “Really, owls?” ” Most shrugged and said very few US falconers fly owls because they’re slow and some species you can only hunt at night, that wouldn’t be much fun to watch.

Wisconsin 242
article thumbnail

Drones: The Next Thing Birders Will Be Arguing About

10,000 Birds

I work part-time for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and here are some stunning views of our very urban park along the Mississippi River through the Twin Cities in Minnesota: This video is not only remarkable for the views, but also the places they take the small drone–behind waterfalls, are you kidding me?

article thumbnail

Great Gray Owl: Seeing the Ghost

10,000 Birds

We arrived at Maclay Flat just in time to see three men unloading the sort of heavy-duty optics and camera equipment that signals serious birders on the hunt. My erstwhile classmate Asta answered the call, and away we went. Not only did they, but they invited us to tag along with them.

Owls 226