Date: 3/19/26 5:23 am From: Gelvin-Innvaer, Lisa A (DNR) <000049809f756d99-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [mou-net] Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles
Both redwing blackbirds and grackles observed in Nicollet Co at least a week ago ( I didn't note the date but it was during the spring-like weather before the snowstorm)
-Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer
-----Original Message-----
From: Minnesota Birds <MOU-NET...> On Behalf Of MOU-NET automatic digest system
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2026 12:00 AM
To: <MOU-NET...>
Subject: MOU-NET Digest - 14 Mar 2026 to 18 Mar 2026 (#2026-18)
This message may be from an external email source.
Do not select links or open attachments unless verified. Report all suspicious emails to Minnesota IT Services Security Operations Center.
________________________________
There are 8 messages totaling 410 lines in this issue.
It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when I have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between Virginia and Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to the south would have posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They have by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders. Reports are that they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring arrivals?
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:03:28 -0500
From: Dan Ahlman <daahlman...>
Subject: Re: Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles
I have been seeing Red winged black birds regularly in the twin cities. I haven’t seen a grackle yet.
Dan Ahlman
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tanya Beyer <epiphaniesafield...> wrote:
>
> It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March
> when I have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between
> Virginia and Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to
> the south would have posted their first of season sighting of our
> common blackbirds. They have by this time normally come a few at a
> time to our feeders. Reports are that they're dying off due to
> neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how drastic is this
> die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring arrivals?
>
> *Tanya Beyer*
>
> http://www.e/ > piphaniesafield.com%2F&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> S%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c2159828
> c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932383684311%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGk
> iOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyf
> Q%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PKqYPYNQ8Q9rY%2BzO0r5rbNEpm5j5CvHDQfOaZXbem
> 60%3D&reserved=0
>
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moum/ > n.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> .US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c21598
> 28c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932383701367%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hc
> GkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjo
> yfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=czCpZic47W6yervANqJLHT9kEXmaOf7gb1s%2Fw%2
> F0tW9I%3D&reserved=0
> Archives:
> http://lists/ > .umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%
> 40STATE.MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f2
> 6b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932383717603%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJ
> FbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpb
> CIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=q9cSUEocmuvtAJlzSW%2FvHcN01Q%2F
> OvHyxuhNFd2GmXN4%3D&reserved=0
Interesting. Grackles, as I remember from a piece in Audubon magazine, have suffered massive setbacks due to pesticides. Thanks for your reply.
*Tanya Beyer*
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 11:03 AM Dan Ahlman <daahlman...> wrote:
> I have been seeing Red winged black birds regularly in the twin
> cities. I haven’t seen a grackle yet.
> Dan Ahlman
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Mar 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tanya Beyer
> > <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
> >
> > It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March
> > when I have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between
> > Virginia and Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to
> > the south would
> have
> > posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They
> > have by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders.
> > Reports are
> that
> > they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By
> > now--how drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many
> > other spring arrivals?
> >
> > *Tanya Beyer*
> >
> > http://www/ > > .epiphaniesafield.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%40STATE.
> > MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c2
> > 159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384026833%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB
> > 0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCI
> > sIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Ov7qZ%2BUGDelVGyGNoV%2B14v7uVSw
> > p79WITCQL9hZJpl8%3D&reserved=0
> >
> > ----
> > General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moum/ > n.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> .US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c21598
> 28c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384047163%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hc
> GkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjo
> yfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Zop%2Fx0nD7mTTNePlFam%2FCm0vNrh39D93PIlqv
> N%2BGPrs%3D&reserved=0
> > Archives:
> > http://lis/ > > ts.umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innv
> > <aer...>%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c44
> > 5198f26b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384064368%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZ
> > sb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkF
> > OIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5GOYO0hqpa%2FpZSAjm
> > %2BwZ6OuPIVixzz9M466gFe%2FAtC8%3D&reserved=0
>
>
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:22:20 -0500
From: Sue Keator <chickadeedee55...>
Subject: Re: Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles
Here in Edina I had FOY Grackle 3/10 and RWBL the 9th.
Sue Keator
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 11:03 AM Dan Ahlman < <00004fc1683d3fd8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I have been seeing Red winged black birds regularly in the twin
> cities. I haven’t seen a grackle yet.
> Dan Ahlman
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Mar 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tanya Beyer
> > <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
> >
> > It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March
> > when I have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between
> > Virginia and Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to
> > the south would
> have
> > posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They
> > have by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders.
> > Reports are
> that
> > they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By
> > now--how drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many
> > other spring arrivals?
> >
> > *Tanya Beyer*
> >
> > http://www/ > > .epiphaniesafield.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%40STATE.
> > MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c2
> > 159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384115571%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB
> > 0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCI
> > sIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OBDwgXy48ffK6rMU2o7b7uOyTqhyYIF
> > MFvWQ4F8akBo%3D&reserved=0
> >
> > ----
> > General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moum/ > n.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> .US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c21598
> 28c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384133495%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hc
> GkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjo
> yfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=crgIkaf5%2BFsdHTpr8lTON3R9SEuZn4YLQSXjcJj
> KrGU%3D&reserved=0
> > Archives:
> > http://lis/ > > ts.umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innv
> > <aer...>%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c44
> > 5198f26b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384150295%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZ
> > sb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkF
> > OIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2QWStoAjsF6Rt1sFsc3
> > JJju1cm4z2Rl15YyIKCnqSFw%3D&reserved=0
>
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moum/ > n.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> .US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c21598
> 28c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384166953%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hc
> GkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjo
> yfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xQilddkDCS3t2yVCmDEaMQTxQj3XBcmLz3g0SHRUc
> X8%3D&reserved=0
> Archives:
> http://lists/ > .umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%
> 40STATE.MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f2
> 6b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384183020%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJ
> FbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpb
> CIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PfOfKUfvDh9fv2pu4dq7RNa5EKvA%2F
> XKN3QgfYkplVg8%3D&reserved=0
>
I saw a RB nuthatch at my feeder. Before I have only had white breasted ones. I live near the Isles-Ceder lagoon.
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 11:03 AM Dan Ahlman < <00004fc1683d3fd8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I have been seeing Red winged black birds regularly in the twin
> cities. I haven’t seen a grackle yet.
> Dan Ahlman
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Mar 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tanya Beyer
> > <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
> >
> > It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March
> > when I have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between
> > Virginia and Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to
> > the south would
> have
> > posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They
> > have by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders.
> > Reports are
> that
> > they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By
> > now--how drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many
> > other spring arrivals?
> >
> > *Tanya Beyer*
> >
> > http://www/ > > .epiphaniesafield.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%40STATE.
> > MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c2
> > 159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384231191%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB
> > 0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCI
> > sIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=NN7lJrZYxSBoCIg1MT6dHbUnsLAObXt
> > OKkmpN%2F5G8Hg%3D&reserved=0
> >
> > ----
> > General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moum/ > n.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> .US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c21598
> 28c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384246758%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hc
> GkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjo
> yfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ei%2FwQ30BBJXf7ghR9ivnRYLuNLuKf1aWEaG1EKE
> 4vU4%3D&reserved=0
> > Archives:
> > http://lis/ > > ts.umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innv
> > <aer...>%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c44
> > 5198f26b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384262460%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZ
> > sb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkF
> > OIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=XfIgY6HX2Mvk20dBfuo
> > BhGSb04ih9gHcIFAxtWroIOw%3D&reserved=0
>
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moum/ > n.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> .US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c21598
> 28c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384279749%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hc
> GkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjo
> yfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RyWMng2xDOIVHEJ5unPtY%2F0oi0NPG7usYHFxsF3
> h%2B1c%3D&reserved=0
> Archives:
> http://lists/ > .umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%
> 40STATE.MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f2
> 6b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384295539%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJ
> FbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpb
> CIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hQF%2FqRoziGEKYOwD8FZqR9sA3zeuB
> e3VfZIkiCGE4A4%3D&reserved=0
>
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:23:34 -0500
From: linda whyte <birds...>
Subject: Re: Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles
Both Red-winged Blackbirds and occasional Grackles have been showing up in the metro area. At Carpenter Nature Center a huge flock of the former species showed up following our recent snowstorm. They're likely having to adjust their travel-schedule regularly, due to our weather craziness.
Linda Whyte
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 10:00 AM Tanya Beyer <epiphaniesafield...>
wrote:
> It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when
> I have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between
> Virginia and Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to
> the south would have posted their first of season sighting of our
> common blackbirds. They have by this time normally come a few at a
> time to our feeders. Reports are that they're dying off due to
> neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how drastic is this
> die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring arrivals?
>
> *Tanya Beyer*
>
> http://www.e/ > piphaniesafield.com%2F&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> S%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c2159828
> c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384344103%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGk
> iOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyf
> Q%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Un3TeLCLtiNUqfWyxRlfrRJMnX%2F6gDWJlPajc5WFB
> DM%3D&reserved=0
>
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moum/ > n.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> .US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c21598
> 28c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384359806%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hc
> GkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjo
> yfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=C1lNudVlCQ03npSZwE44YANbQ9C%2BIYdf8oPrbxe
> GZNY%3D&reserved=0
> Archives:
> http://lists/ > .umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%
> 40STATE.MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f2
> 6b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384375440%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJ
> FbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpb
> CIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BAxMRanK8UucllKgLl1WioHfJ4Vi1k9
> rOv72nHRANJk%3D&reserved=0
>
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 12:23 PM linda whyte <birds...> wrote:
> Both Red-winged Blackbirds and occasional Grackles have been showing
> up in the metro area. At Carpenter Nature Center a huge flock of the
> former species showed up following our recent snowstorm. They're
> likely having to adjust their travel-schedule regularly, due to our weather craziness.
> Linda Whyte
>
> On Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 10:00 AM Tanya Beyer
> <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
>
>> It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March
>> when I have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between
>> Virginia and Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to
>> the south would have posted their first of season sighting of our
>> common blackbirds. They have by this time normally come a few at a
>> time to our feeders. Reports are that they're dying off due to
>> neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how drastic is this
>> die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring arrivals?
>>
>> *Tanya Beyer*
>>
>> http://www/.
>> epiphaniesafield.com%2F&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
>> .US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c2159
>> 828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384440984%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1
>> hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldU
>> IjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=owesv0TJqrBEZT%2FWr6w%2FYShxCXVuRzPvN
>> CFFagNTYTw%3D&reserved=0
>>
>> ----
>> General information and guidelines for posting:
>> https://mou/ >> mn.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%40STATE.
>> MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c21
>> 59828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384457021%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0e
>> U1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIl
>> dUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bJ3SUGYFJDERPsHclM78PHyrW%2BcLURbKt
>> 1Tt79YVkOo%3D&reserved=0
>> Archives:
>> http://list/ >> s.umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvae
>> <r...>%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c44519
>> 8f26b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384472627%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d
>> 8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoi
>> TWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jV7jA%2FlLPsUuh%2FqBba%2F
>> JhEdC8Mr8HVi9aVIB2fddHUw%3D&reserved=0
>>
>
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:56:05 -0500
From: john nelson <dsgabaska...>
Subject: Re: Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles
Had large flock of Red-Winged BB with a few Grackles clean up my feeders Monday and Tuesday and just a few this morning in rural Blue Earth County.
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 12:23 PM linda whyte < <0000004e7b0e779a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Both Red-winged Blackbirds and occasional Grackles have been showing
> up in the metro area. At Carpenter Nature Center a huge flock of the
> former species showed up following our recent snowstorm. They're
> likely having to adjust their travel-schedule regularly, due to our weather craziness.
> Linda Whyte
>
> On Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 10:00 AM Tanya Beyer
> <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
>
> > It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March
> > when I have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between
> > Virginia and Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to
> > the south would
> have
> > posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They
> > have by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders.
> > Reports are
> that
> > they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By
> > now--how drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many
> > other spring arrivals?
> >
> > *Tanya Beyer*
> >
> > http://www/ > > .epiphaniesafield.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%40STATE.
> > MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c2
> > 159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384519889%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB
> > 0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCI
> > sIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ClCz7jwHOWtwD2L4y7WCplunmxXmYtx
> > JPQiPAYolX8c%3D&reserved=0
> >
> > ----
> > General information and guidelines for posting:
> > https://mo/ > > umn.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%40STAT
> > E.MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89
> > c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384535446%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFb
> > XB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpb
> > CIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Z1UE%2FWfgSHeCdWhPtQvhIOq7AqF
> > Py95SIjy9Sl9yoAE%3D&reserved=0
> > Archives:
> > http://lis/ > > ts.umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innv
> > <aer...>%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c44
> > 5198f26b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384551511%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZ
> > sb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkF
> > OIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4ZM4TEYnMm3Ar3TF%2F
> > AUBlsy3lmoXBry0bIEaIbwiCDU%3D&reserved=0
> >
>
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moum/ > n.org%2Flistservice.html&data=05%7C02%<7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer...>
> .US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f26b89c21598
> 28c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384567656%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hc
> GkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjo
> yfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2F9%2FsjesgHEVuGJ7XzkwbLVjSYH1OjgKroNlSq
> D6XCDM%3D&reserved=0
> Archives:
> http://lists/ > .umn.edu%2Farchives%2Fmou-net.html&data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Gelvin-Innvaer%
> 40STATE.MN.US%7C3a6a9840d50f4fa2894a08de857474c3%7Ceb14b04624c445198f2
> 6b89c2159828c%7C0%7C0%7C639094932384584240%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJ
> FbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpb
> CIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=A4Fc9l4fM1tlHcg%2BQ%2FX5q1s0hNm
> hfP2OpxAhiRn%2B9I0%3D&reserved=0
>
Date: 3/18/26 1:56 pm From: john nelson <dsgabaska...> Subject: Re: [mou-net] Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles
Had large flock of Red-Winged BB with a few Grackles clean up my feeders
Monday and Tuesday and just a few this morning in rural Blue Earth County.
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 12:23 PM linda whyte <
<0000004e7b0e779a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Both Red-winged Blackbirds and occasional Grackles have been showing up in
> the metro area. At Carpenter Nature Center a huge flock of the former
> species showed up following our recent snowstorm. They're likely having to
> adjust their travel-schedule regularly, due to our weather craziness.
> Linda Whyte
>
> On Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 10:00 AM Tanya Beyer <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
>
> > It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when I
> > have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between Virginia and
> > Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to the south would
> have
> > posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They have
> > by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders. Reports are
> that
> > they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how
> > drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring
> > arrivals?
> >
> > *Tanya Beyer*
> >
> > http://www.epiphaniesafield.com > >
> > ----
> > General information and guidelines for posting:
> > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > >
>
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 12:23 PM linda whyte <birds...> wrote:
> Both Red-winged Blackbirds and occasional Grackles have been showing up in
> the metro area. At Carpenter Nature Center a huge flock of the former
> species showed up following our recent snowstorm. They're likely having to
> adjust their travel-schedule regularly, due to our weather craziness.
> Linda Whyte
>
> On Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 10:00 AM Tanya Beyer <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
>
>> It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when I
>> have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between Virginia and
>> Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to the south would
>> have
>> posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They have
>> by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders. Reports are
>> that
>> they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how
>> drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring
>> arrivals?
>>
>> *Tanya Beyer*
>>
>> http://www.epiphaniesafield.com >>
>> ----
>> General information and guidelines for posting:
>> https://moumn.org/listservice.html >> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >>
>
Date: 3/18/26 10:23 am From: linda whyte <0000004e7b0e779a-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [mou-net] Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles
Both Red-winged Blackbirds and occasional Grackles have been showing up in
the metro area. At Carpenter Nature Center a huge flock of the former
species showed up following our recent snowstorm. They're likely having to
adjust their travel-schedule regularly, due to our weather craziness.
Linda Whyte
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 10:00 AM Tanya Beyer <epiphaniesafield...>
wrote:
> It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when I
> have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between Virginia and
> Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to the south would have
> posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They have
> by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders. Reports are that
> they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how
> drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring
> arrivals?
>
> *Tanya Beyer*
>
> http://www.epiphaniesafield.com >
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >
I saw a RB nuthatch at my feeder. Before I have only had white
breasted ones. I live near the Isles-Ceder lagoon.
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 11:03 AM Dan Ahlman <
<00004fc1683d3fd8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I have been seeing Red winged black birds regularly in the twin cities. I
> haven’t seen a grackle yet.
> Dan Ahlman
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Mar 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tanya Beyer <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
> >
> > It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when I
> > have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between Virginia and
> > Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to the south would
> have
> > posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They have
> > by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders. Reports are
> that
> > they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how
> > drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring
> > arrivals?
> >
> > *Tanya Beyer*
> >
> > http://www.epiphaniesafield.com > >
> > ----
> > General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >
Date: 3/18/26 9:22 am From: Sue Keator <chickadeedee55...> Subject: Re: [mou-net] Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles
Here in Edina I had FOY Grackle 3/10 and RWBL the 9th.
Sue Keator
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 11:03 AM Dan Ahlman <
<00004fc1683d3fd8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I have been seeing Red winged black birds regularly in the twin cities. I
> haven’t seen a grackle yet.
> Dan Ahlman
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Mar 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tanya Beyer <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
> >
> > It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when I
> > have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between Virginia and
> > Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to the south would
> have
> > posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They have
> > by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders. Reports are
> that
> > they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how
> > drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring
> > arrivals?
> >
> > *Tanya Beyer*
> >
> > http://www.epiphaniesafield.com > >
> > ----
> > General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >
Interesting. Grackles, as I remember from a piece in Audubon magazine, have
suffered massive setbacks due to pesticides. Thanks for your reply.
*Tanya Beyer*
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 11:03 AM Dan Ahlman <daahlman...> wrote:
> I have been seeing Red winged black birds regularly in the twin cities. I
> haven’t seen a grackle yet.
> Dan Ahlman
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Mar 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tanya Beyer <epiphaniesafield...>
> wrote:
> >
> > It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when I
> > have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between Virginia and
> > Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to the south would
> have
> > posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They have
> > by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders. Reports are
> that
> > they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how
> > drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring
> > arrivals?
> >
> > *Tanya Beyer*
> >
> > http://www.epiphaniesafield.com > >
> > ----
> > General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >
>
Date: 3/18/26 9:03 am From: Dan Ahlman <00004fc1683d3fd8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [mou-net] Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles
I have been seeing Red winged black birds regularly in the twin cities. I haven’t seen a grackle yet.
Dan Ahlman
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tanya Beyer <epiphaniesafield...> wrote:
>
> It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when I
> have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between Virginia and
> Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to the south would have
> posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They have
> by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders. Reports are that
> they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how
> drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring
> arrivals?
>
> *Tanya Beyer*
>
> http://www.epiphaniesafield.com >
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
It's been on my mind each day lately that this is the first March when I have yet to see a single blackbird. I live way north between Virginia and Cook, but even so had felt that someone in counties to the south would have posted their first of season sighting of our common blackbirds. They have by this time normally come a few at a time to our feeders. Reports are that they're dying off due to neonicotinoid and other pesticides. By now--how drastic is this die-off? How late due to weather are many other spring arrivals?
Date: 3/14/26 8:57 am From: Matt Hoberg <mhoberg1...> Subject: [mou-net] MOU Field Trip: Rapids Lake/Louisville Swamp April 25
*April 25*
*8 AM*
William Marengo will lead a field trip to the Rapids Lake unit of the
Minnesota Valley NWR and Louisville Swamp. We’ll spend the morning hiking
the trails at the Rapids Lake unit. Then break for lunch, meet at the
trailhead and parking area near the Renaissance Festival and spend the
afternoon hiking the Louisville Swamp unit.
We’re on the very edge of spring songbird migration. This outing isn’t
geared toward any specific species but just an opportunity to see what
early migrants have arrived. We’ll look for grassland and deciduous wood
species. If the conditions are good we should see some hawk migration along
the river valley and waterfowl should still be present on Rapids Lake and
the “swamp” at Louisville.
For more information and registration (required), visit the registration
page
<https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48A9AC2FA5FFCE9-62234486-rapids#/>.
Date: 2/28/26 7:15 am From: Matt Hoberg <mhoberg1...> Subject: [mou-net] MOU Woodcock Field Trips in March
Join Trey Weaver for a chance to witness the sky dance, a colloquial phrase for the male American Woodcock's courtship display. Carver Park Reserve is excellent habitat to find lekking woodcocks, as well as other nocturnal species, including owls.
The trips will be held on three consecutive Wednesday evenings: March 25 7:45 PM April 1 7:45 PM April 8 7:45 PM
Date: 2/23/26 11:16 am From: Rich Hoeg <RichardHoeg...> Subject: [mou-net] Nature Centers 3! Birdsong Listening Stations in NE Mn
The day prior to the huge blizzard last week I finished up my work building BirdNET-Pi birdsong listening stations for three nature centers located in northeast Minnesota’s Boreal forest wilderness. All three stations are now live and listening, and you may check out and listen to the birds each station heard over the past 24 hours (or pick your own preferred time period). Each nature center is located within microphone listening distance of unique Boreal forest, lake and pond habitat.
Date: 2/23/26 7:37 am From: Paul Budde <buddep...> Subject: Re: [mou-net] Log in failed
Dan,
I'm not seeing any problems when I try to log in. Perhaps it was a
temporary glitch in the internet. If you are still having a problem, please
email me directly with a description of what you tried to do, and what you
saw in the webpage.
Paul
*Paul Budde*
*<buddep...> <buddep...>*
On Mon, Feb 23, 2026 at 8:17 AM Dan Ahlman <
<00004fc1683d3fd8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Good morning
> Tried to log in and update sightings from yesterday and it wouldn’t let it
> happen. Let us know what has happened.
> Thanks
> Dan Ahlman
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ----
> General information and guidelines for posting:
> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >
Date: 2/22/26 9:45 am From: Gordon Andersson <gordonandersson26...> Subject: [mou-net] Fw: Tell Congress the Farm Bill Must Be Stronger for Birds!
G Andersson
St Paul
(MOU conservation committee)
________________________________
From: American Bird Conservancy <info...>
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2026 12:37 PM
To: Gordon Andersson <gordonandersson26...>
Subject: Tell Congress the Farm Bill Must Be Stronger for Birds!
The House Will Vote Soon:<https://click.everyaction.com/k/125720162/602693943/-1545318723?contactdata=O6uI3hIDsBXnDJYmNmwchSbmPeklGHNVHMjFmAdcfibG2OdLR6fBLmbT4udPyOx346sUrDnn7k4L9EkKhAxrhEzmGgSYvMaRdsfUqfzYBlutYoEhUt/aVDAHxqUiWMjZLIonL/wdoZHAb/Pydl9d4p8frpHuI+zRVCc+DGiv8vfiOl1ofJxY8AAVNEEKPpJnrBbMvNt9pjVCTbomzsHKUPc2mqmE4oR/h92ScYSJU8XZpqM5/b2neRDp/K+xc9V3&utm_medium=email&utm_source=advocacy&omhide=true&utm_campaign=em_aa_gen_farmbill_norecdon_021926&ms=em_aa_gen_farmbill_norecdon_021926&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9BQkNPTi9BQkNPTi8xLzg4NDQzIiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjFhNTU2OWIzLWMxMGQtZjExMS1hNjlhLTAwMGQzYTU3NTkzZiIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiZ29yZG9uYW5kZXJzc29uMjZAZ21haWwuY29tIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=cn_vUoWA_Kg8Fnmgn1XFHEGy0RDu2tCh2FitoGlRK7U=&emci=9d84e30c-0808-f111-832e-0022482a9733&emdi=1a5569b3-c10d-f111-a69a-000d3a57593f&ceid=897286>
Grassland birds like the Lesser Prairie-Chicken and Bobolink are vanishing faster than any other birds in the U.S. and Canada — more than half of their populations have disappeared in the last 50 years.
But there is hope: by restoring grasslands on farms and ranches, we can help bring these birds back.
A strong U.S. Farm Bill is crucial to restoring grasslands and conserving birds, offering a once-in-a-generation chance to improve funding for programs that benefit birds, farmers, and rural communities alike.
Passed every five years — and now three years overdue — the Farm Bill is the largest source of conservation funding in the world. It supports programs that protect millions of acres of grasslands, wetlands, and forests for birds and other wildlife while also helping farmers and ranchers conserve soil, water, and working lands for future generations.
Lesser Prairie-Chicken. Photo by Noppadol Paothong.
Without strong conservation action in the Farm Bill, farmers and ranchers will lose critical support they need to conserve working lands for future generations, putting our food systems and wildlife at greater risk. If the Farm Bill includes harmful provisions and decreases conservation investment, more species will be pushed to the brink.
The future of grassland birds — and the health of America’s farms, ranches, and communities — depends on strong conservation investments in the Farm Bill.
Birds need all the support they can get: Please forward and share this urgent call to support bird-friendly legislation and take bold action for birds!
Photos: Lesser Prairie-Chicken by Carrie Olson / Shutterstock; Bobolink by Paul Sparks / Shutterstock; Lesser Prairie-Chicken by Noppadol Paothong; Bobolinks by MTKhaled Mahmud / Shutterstock
