There is a large invasion of great gray and hawk owls into northern Minnesota. See Minnesota Ornithologist's Union web site, http://www.cbs.umn.edu/-mou/ for info. The Sunday Minneapolis Star Tribune had a full page article on December 26, Section C 16. My brother from Minneapolis birded yesterday for only 1 hour and saw 9 great grays and 1 hawk owl. The birds are in trees right next to roads. It is expected the owls will stay for the rest of the winter.