We're in the transition stretch of March when winter still grips our senses but spring has a foothold. Still many times anchored indoors, we weigh optimistically the adventures, large and small, that await us in Minnesota's outdoors — and beyond. Drawn to dream as the coming days grow longer and warmer. Here are a few topics that say spring:
Watch birds of prey
"I think of spring migration as a parade," said Margie Menzies, education director at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, noting the order of birds of prey that Hawk Ridge counters monitor. The parade begins with adults (and larger raptors), intent on getting to their northern breeding grounds, with juveniles following. So far, since Hawk Ridge's count began March 1, bald eagles are most abundant, as they are every spring. The count continues daily through the end of May on West Skyline Parkway from an overlook just below Enger Tower. (There is a second location, Thompson Hill, depending on the day's wind direction.) The public is encouraged to join as parade-watchers. Historically, counters have seen as many as 500 bald eagles on peak days. A record was set March 21, 2019: 1,076 bald eagles were spotted. "It's pretty amazing on those peak days," Menzies said. Hawk Ridge staff should know — the spring and fall counts are in their 50th year.
