30 .---------------------------------------------------------------,

Henslow's Sparrow 1987-1998

0 +-----~----~----~--~----~-----+----~----~----~----~--~

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Figure 1. Annual occurrence (counties) and approximate number (see text) of

Henslow's Sparrows in Minnesota.

late 1980s (Figure 1).

Denslow's Sparrow in 1997

Only one male returned to 0. L. Kipp

State Park in 1997 and remained on terri-

tory through mid-July. In late May, one

was found again in Clay County, this time

at the Blazing Star Prairie, but the sum-

mer season stole the show in 1997. Sur-

veys by Steve Millard in Otter Tail and

Wilkin, and Robert Janssen in Lac Qui

Parle, found birds apparently on territory

in these western counties. Previously un-

published records of single birds on 3

June at the Lawrence Unit, Minnesota

Valley SRA in Scott County (first county

record) and 17 June in Hennepin County

were accepted by the MCBS. In addition,

first county records were established for

Kandiyohi and Renville.

Denslow's Sparrow in 1998

Several observers failed to locate

Henslow's Sparrows at 0. L. Kipp State

Park in 1998 and the resident manager

knew of no reports in either May or June

(jide PS). Elsewhere in the state however,

there has been an extraordinary number

of reports. Data are preliminary as some

records have not yet been submitted and

others are unsubstantiated (dates, loca-

tions, observers, and even minimal de-

tails are lacking). Accurate totals are

therefore undetermined for 1998 but re-

ports have surfaced from at least nine

counties! A single individual was reported

13 May at Afton State Park, Washington

County. Additionally, written details and/

or photographs have been submitted for

up to three birds in Fillmore (Beaver

Creek WMA), and single birds were

documented in Brown (Stately Township,

first county record), Clay (Bicentennial

Prairie), Swift (near Appleton), and

Wilkin (Rothsay WMA) counties.

I thank Steve Stucker, Minnesota DNR,

for providing records from the MCBS and

for adding comments which improved

this article.

2602 E. Fourth St., Duluth, MN

55812-1533.

154 The Loon Volume 70