<div dir="ltr">Here is some information on winter birds that may be showing up in Minnesota. This weekend is a big time for the Christmas Bird Counts, so make sure you get any reports of unusual birds reported, as they may be included on counts.<div><br></div><div><div>Bird report: (please excuse my abbreviations may be off)</div><div>Here is some information on winter birds:</div><div><b>Snowy Owls</b>: SNOW's are being reported all around the state and down into Iowa. There are extensive reports along both sides of Lake Michigan. It appears to be the start of a Snowy Irruptive winter.</div><div><b>Great Gray Owls</b>: Outside of Sax/Zim there are almost no reports of Great Gray Owls.</div><div><b>Pine Grosbeaks</b>: The prediction is that droughts and wildfires in Canada to the west of Lake Superior have created conditions that may push PIGR into Minnesota. Pine Grosbeaks are showing up in northern Minnesota. Reports of poor fruit crops in the Arrowhead may mean that they will push further south, but no such movement is being seen yet.</div><div> <b>White-winged Crossbills</b>: Poor cone crops from NW Ontario and westward in Canada should push these birds into the US including Minnesota in high numbers. This movement is already being seen. In Minnesota WWCR they are already being reported into the Metro Area and down in SW Minnesota.</div><div><b>Red Crossbills</b> are forecast to be slightly higher than average for Type 2 & 4 in our area. Few sightings have been reported outside of the north, but it should not be a bad year.</div><div><b>Redpolls</b>: Conditions in Canada north and west of Minnesota should favor some movement of these guys into Minnesota. Some 27,000 were counted over Hawk Ridge, which might be a record. There are widespread reports throughout the state with the exception possibly of the southeast. This should be a high count year.</div><div><b>Pine Siskins</b> should follow WWCR pushing into Minnesota. Reports are widespread but spotty, localized. They are not very common in the northwest, north central, or southwest. They will be around, but may be missing in some expected locations.</div><div><b>Evening Grosbeaks</b>: Last year was a major irruption year of EVGR''s This year the forecast is for a second lesser echo irruption, and widespread reports already indicate that it will be a good count in Minnesota.</div><div>Have fun! It looks like it will be a good year to find some good birds!<font color="#888888"><br clear="all"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></font></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div>Steve Weston</div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN</span><br></div>
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