Inca dove, first reported in Minnesota, draws bird enthusiasts

Associated Press

Last update: November 13, 2007 - 3:41 PM

TWO HARBORS, Minn. At least 100 birders have made the trek to a Two Harbors neighborhood for a glimpse of the first Inca dove ever reported in Minnesota.

The bird, which has orange on its wings and is common in the southwestern United States, was first seen by Jim Lind on Oct. 30.

Lind snapped pictures of the dove eating birdseed in a neighbor's yard and dashed back into his house to post the photos on the Internet.

"I was shaking, I knew it was a very big deal," said Lind, an avid birder.

Inca doves favor warm climates but have expanded their range to places like Ohio and Colorado. It isn't clear how or why the dove ended up in Minnesota.

"The North Shore, in October and November, has a tendency to catch these wandering, vagrant birds," Lind said, noting that an ash-throated flycatcher also from the Southwest was seen in Two Harbors about eight years ago.

The morning after Lind posted the photos, a group of birders showed up in Two Harbors to look for the bird. More have come since then, roaming the neighborhood's alleys and pointing their binoculars around while searching for the dove.

"The neighbors are all good about it," Lind said. "We don't have to worry about ticking anyone off."

On the Net:

Minnesota Ornithologist's Union: http://moumn.org/

Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com

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