Birds of the Gunflint Trail
March 2, 2019
Text and photos by John Silliman
Gunflint Lodge Head Naturalist
It is hard to believe that we are already to the end of February. This day also marks the end of meteorological winter (December/January/February). I have spotted a fair number of bird species this month, and have spotted the first migratory bird of the year (the American crow) on the lower Gunflint Trail. Here is a list of all the birds I have spotted on the Gunflint Trail.
1. American Crow (Lower Gunflint Trail)
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. Blue Jay
4. Canada Jay
5. Common Raven
6. Common Redpoll
7. Downy Woodpecker
8. Hairy Woodpecker
9. Hoary Redpoll
10. Pileated Woodpecker
11. Pine Grosbeak
12. Pine Siskin
13. Red-breasted Nuthatch
14. White-breasted Nuthatch
We have other wild visitors at the Gunflint Nature Center feeders as well. Two of my favorites are the nocturnal flying squirrels, and the red squirrels we see during the day. I did not get any good pictures of the flying squirrels this month because the lighting was too dim, and it would be cruel to shine a flashlight or camera flash at an animal with such sensitive night vision.
However, I did get some fun pictures of the red squirrels. One of the pictures below is of a squirrel eating on the ground, and the other is one who managed to pry up the lid of one of hanging feeders, and squeeze inside. In case you are wondering, he managed to get out on his own as well.