Mike Jacobs
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GRAND FORKS, N.D.—Poor Dean Bresciani. He intended to shoot the media in the head, it seems, but when the gun went off, the bullet hit Bresciani himself. Somewhere above his...
It could be that there's been a bigger upset in North Dakota's political history, but the occasion doesn't leap immediately to mind. Doug Burgum carried 49 of 53 counties in Tuesday's primary election. In 17 of them, he won more than 60 percent of the votes. Statewide, his winning margin was 59.5 percent to 38.6 percent for Wayne Stenehjem, the attorney general. Votes for the third candidate, Paul Sorum, and a total of 50 write-ins account for the rest.
Two things about Ed Schafer’s endorsement of Doug Burgum are hard to accept. Not that he did it. He’s the state’s pre-eminent political figure. Of course he has political opinions...
You shouldn’t expect to see a burrowing owl in the Red River Valley, but the unexpected sometimes happens. Last week, a burrowing owl showed up near Park River, N.D. That’s...
The killdeer is a familiar bird that still maintains an aura of mystery. It is much admired for its "broken wing" antics, which it uses to draw predators away from its nest and young. Its call is familiar, a loud two notes often repeated: "Kill-dee! Kill-dee!" Hence the bird's name. Killdeer are easily recognized by sight, too. Their facial pattern is unique, and the double band on the breast separates them from other birds of similar size, shape and habits. This is one facet of mystery for beginning birders.
This isn't a good time of year to be picking a bird of the week. There are just too many candidates. The task was harder this week, because the week took me across North Dakota, from Grand Forks to Marmarth and from the Badlands to the Turtle Mountains. This wasn't a birding trip, and I didn't keep a list. My companions were UND geography students; the trip was meant to bring them face to face with the state we've been studying together throughout the academic year. My role was driver, guide and storyteller.
Kestrels reliable signs that winter will end The kestrels are out there, hanging on phone lines, perching on snags, cruising the cold air. This happens in early April Some days,...
The arrival of the northern harrier is a sign of spring, but not one that is widely recognized. This is no surprise. The harrier is a common bird but not a familiar one. There are two reasons for its relative obscurity. One is that it is a bird of open country. Most city dwellers never encounter it, and most country people who notice it dismiss it as just another hawk. The second reason for the harrier's obscurity is the bird appears to be two species rather than only one, and so it provides a double challenge to those who wish to know the names of birds.
Early spring brings waves of Canada geese over the Red River Valley. The noise of migrating geese was almost continuous on mornings last weekend, and the same has been true on the weekdays since. The goose plays a funny role in our folklore. It is seen as a silly creature and a wanderer, but it is neither.
The word hawk has taken on new importance in North Dakota, but we don't know quite yet what will be its meaning. That's up to a consulting firm that will create a logo—and try to build a brand—for The Fighting Hawks, the new name for UND athletic teams and an important part of the school's identity. "Hawk" itself is what grammarians consider a "generic term." It doesn't say much on its own.
