Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Towhees, Sparrows Occurrence
This is the 1930 to present seasonal report archive for
The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The last 2 years are available to MOU members.
Seasons
Families
Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
New World Quail
Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys
Grebes
Pigeons, Doves
Cuckoos
Nightjars
Swifts
Hummingbirds
Rails, Gallinules, Coots
Limpkin
Cranes
Stilts, Avocets
Plovers
Sandpipers
Jaegers
Alcids
Gulls, Terns
Loons
Shearwaters and Petrels
Storks
Frigatebirds
Boobies and Gannets
Cormorants
Pelicans
Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons
Ibises
New World Vultures
Osprey
Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles
Barn Owls
Screech-Owls, Owls
Kingfishers
Woodpeckers
Caracaras, Falcons
Flycatchers
Vireos
Shrikes
Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows
Chickadees, Titmice
Larks
Martins, Swallows
Kinglets
Waxwings
Silky-flycatchers
Nuthatches
Creepers
Gnatcatchers
Wrens
Thrashers, Mockingbirds
Starlings
Dippers
Thrushes
Old World Flycatchers
Old World Sparrows
Pipits
Finches
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Towhees, Sparrows
Yellow-breasted Chat
Blackbirds, Orioles
Warblers
Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks

Seasons
Species: Towhees, Sparrows
Cassin's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
[Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)]
[Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)]
[Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided)]
[Dark-eyed Junco (White-winged)]
[Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed)]
White-crowned Sparrow
[White-crowned Sparrow (Eastern)]
[White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's)]
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
[Dark-eyed Junco X White-throated Sparrow]
Vesper Sparrow
LeConte's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Baird's Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Abert's Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Eastern Towhee
[Spotted Towhee X Eastern Towhee]
[Pipilo towhee]

Baird's Sparrow(Centronyx bairdii)
YearSeasonNS
1937SummerEvanson, Ry­ ~gaard, Pittelkow and Risser found a nest of two eggs near Euclid, on June 20.
1961SummerHeard singing by Dr. Breckenridge on 22 June, when he was looking for a Greater Prairie Chicken nest. He saw one Baird's Sparrow at that time, between Felton and Ulen, Clay County. On 4 July, members of the Avifaunal Club visited the same area and found four singing birds. On 15 July at least 20 singing birds were seen and heard. Le Conte's Sparrows: An adult was seen to feed one young a worm on 26 August in Becker County just south of Waubun, by R. Huber. Bob Cohen reports taking a few specimens about 40 miles north of Duluth on 20 July. These would be the first Boreal Zone specimens for Minnesota.
1963SpringMay 24, Clay Co., between Felton and Ulen, 2 seen and heard, R. Grant.
1967Spring4-26 Warroad, Roseau Co., 3, PEB, very good details.
1967Summer6-4 Roseau Co., near Pine Creek, 4+, (details ?), GES.
1968Spring 5-30 Clay Co., 3 mi. SE Felton, 1 singing male seen by AB, RLH; all field marks noted, but the very distinctive song is still the most reliable character; this "itinerant feathermerchant" seems to be nomadic along our western border, but perhaps, optimistically, it may still breed in small isolated colonies of untouched prairie?
1968Summer 7-21 Clay Co, 3 mi SE Felton, 3 singing males, excellent details, DB.
1970Spring5-23 v1rg1n prairie spot near Felton, Clay Co. (5) KE, PE; see article this issue.
1970Summer6-13 Felton, Clay Co. (2) DB. Perhaps this rare species nested there this year?
1971Springone reported by Tim I. Mjos on 5-13 at Felton, Clay Co.; no details.
1972Summer7-31 Felton, Clay Co. KRE. LeConte1 S Sparrow: seen in Marshall. Mahnomen, Clearwater, Hubbard, Aitkin, Lyon (HCK).
1976Spring 5-22 Clay Dr. Oscar Johnson; 5-31 Wilkin HK.
1977Spring 3 reports: 5-11 Wilkin (1) LCF; 5-29 Clay (Felton, 2) TS; 5-30 Clay (Felton, 1 seen 3 heard) RJ. See Loon 49:175.
1977Summer After 2 or 3 were found on 5-29 at the Felton prairie by T. Savaloja, many observers added this elusive sparrow to their lists in early June; last seen on 6-18 (JB).
1978Spring 5-14 Clay (2) GO.
1978Summer Seen in Clay (Felton, BDC).
1980Spring One report: 5-23 Clay NH.
1980Summer Seen in Clay (two males, Keene Twp., KRE).
1986Summer Seen in Clay (7/6 Felton prairie, LCF) and Crow Wing (6/24-28, The Loon 58: 131-132; first sighting in state away from western prairies). These are the first summer reports in the state since 1980.
1988Summer Two singing males at Felton Prairie, Clay (6/24, The Loon 60:132-133).
1991Summer One observed on 6/1 in Felton Prairie area, Clay Co. KR (The Loon 63:275); also singing male observed 6/19 to 7/9 within Roseau River WMA, Roseau Co. KB (The Loon 63:284-285).
1993Summer As many as three singing males observed from 6/26 to 7/5 at Felton Prairie, Clay Co. (KE et al.). This species has now been reported in five of the past fourteen summers.
1997Summer First summer record since 1993. Single bird discovered singing on 6/7 at Felton Prairie in Clay Co. AH, PH (The Loon 70:62); subsequently seen through 6/12 mob.
2002Summer Only the third summer that this species has been reported in the past ten years: 6/18 – 7/28+ Polk (Glacial Ridge Project) †JPR, ph. JJS, †PCC, †PHS, m.obs., and different individual 7/14 Polk (section 29, Tilden Twp.) †JPR.
2002Fall Reported in Polk (at The Nature Conservancy's Glacial Ridge Project) through 8/10 fide AXH. A photograph of this bird appeared on the cover of the previous issue.
2016Summer1 Reported 6/13–20 Douglas (Ost Rd. and C.R. 6) DaC, v.t. BWF, SC, †ADS, m.ob.
 
 Former summer resident northwest. Last breeding record 1937. State designation: Endangered. Last recorded in 2002.

Notes:

Click on the bird name to see a photographic image of the bird.
Column N  Number of counties where the bird was seen in the North.
Column S  Number of counties where the bird was seen in the South.