Dickcissel in St. Louis County
2012-06-30

Uncommon in St. Louis County in the Summer season

At least four singing males and one female Dickcissel were found in suitable breeding habitat along St. Louis County Road 42 (Homestead Road), between 3 and 3.5 miles north of Old North Shore Road in Duluth Township, 30 June 2012. Homestead Road carries considerable traffic and there are no shoulders or safe pullouts, so it's recommended that birders turn west onto the Clover Valley Road and stop there to listen for Dickcissels on both sides of the Clover Valley Road near its junction with Homestead Road. Late this same afternoon, I heard a Dickcissel along Waseca Industrial Road in West Duluth. There have been several recent reports of Dickcissels from the Sax-Zim Bog area in St. Louis County and good numbers have been reported in much of Wisconsin as well. Earlier this week, I found 3 singing males along Douglas County Road 105, between Albany Avenue and the railroad crossing on the southern outskirts of Superior, Wisconsin. There are indications that this summer's irruption may be largest in Minnesota since Summer 1988. For additional information about the 1988 irruption and a summary of historical irruptions, please see Bob Janssen's article in The Loon 60:143-144.

Peder H. Svingen