Ben Douglas

@Minnesota_Tunes Leaving MN in spring as a bird watcher will ruin a person's day fast.

Ok but seriously, no more rare birds in Minnesota until I’m back

Heard it was Ruby-crowned Kinglet time on Twitter. This one from last night in a dance off with another male.

I gave a key note for a bird festival over the weekend. It was great to be speaking again. youtu.be/P-XyGpE4Ho0

Ooh, some nest building for a Sandhill couple at Lake Elmo Park yesterday. Love to see it.

@GReiMN48 To you as well Gary.

Top of the morning to everyone. Have a grand day.

Definitely not on a bird heater anymore after Say's Phoebe into Snowy Egret, into deceased Great-horned Owl. Not the way I wanted this hike to go. UMN Raptor Center has the poor bird now.

@candiburke I will scope birds from my 2nd floor office to add them to my yard list. Anything goes if I'm on my property.

What do you consider a yard bird? Does it have to land in your yard? What about fly-overs? What if it’s in your neighbors yard and you can see it from your yard?

Definitely on a heater finding a Snowy Egret while having breakfast.

Found myself a Say's Phoebe tonight at Grey Cloud Dunes SNA. Nice hiking prize and a 2nd County record.

@qthetrackcoach Looks like 4x400 time to me.

Trackheadz know exactly what event is on the track next.

Great Blue Heron just flew into neighborhood looking for something to eat. Left disappointed in our lack of spring in MN.

@baggins_bow It did go to the University for necroscopy, but I never heard. It was getting ill quickly within the 1st 24hrs after I found it. Poor thing just didnt handle the trip south well.

@hj70ft Oh shit. That's extremely sad. Any idea what happened?

Do you have any single bird sighting that stands out above the rest? For me, it was finding Gratiot County, MI's first-known Black-necked Stilt last year. I would have had no idea at the moment. Luckily I was with a local expert who knew it was a first.

@baggins_bow Great and tragic. I went to see the bird every day after I made the find. This was one of the last photos of the bird alive at sunset on day 3. It would be found the following morning deceased and huddled on the rocks along shore.

@hj70ft Ooohhh, and what a great pic you got!!

@baggins_bow Finding a Ross's Gull in my home County on a river in Minnesota will likely be my peak achievement for a long while.

The most innovative man to ever touch high jump has passed. Rest in peace and thank you for the Fosbury Flop. High Jump gave me something no other sport ever did. Confidence. instagram.com/p/CpvQXRwrRXY/…

@courtneyellis Grew up with what was the purest natural water on the planet, so I know almost instantly when water isn't "right". (Also from Wisconsin)

What superpower do you have because of where you were raised? I can pronounce Wausau, Oconomowoc, Chequamegon, Wauwatosa, and Lac du Flambeau. Grew up in Wisconsin.

31 FOY Sandhill Cranes flying over were not happy to see 100% snow coverage at my park tonight. They turned around quick. #mnwinter

@Minnesota_Tunes Schrodinger Swan, both Tundra and Trumpeter at the same time. I know this location all too well, and there is always a winter bird or two that begs Tundra id, but leaves us guessing. In Eckert's book, Birding By Hindsight he gives multiple treatments to this issue for Minnesota.

@RhiannaTruex 6 more inches of snow yesterday top of the 20 inches that were still present. Not looking good for spring yet.