things that thrive on, or in, such dead mater-

ial. Another change from 1989 was the great

increase in rainfall and subsequent flooding

of margins of the Jake, the marsh area, and

the tamarack swamps . The high water may

have eliminated some Swamp Sparrow

habitat. Their numbers dropped from 14 to

eight pairs. Or were there fewer Swamp Spar-

rows because of the terribly cold December

of 1989 in the South? Maybe the Pine

Warblers decreased from nine to six pairs for

the latter reason . I think high water in the

tamarack swamps reduced habitat of the

Veery, Nashville Warbler, and Northern Water-

thrush and caused some abandonment of es-

tablished territories .

Storms wreaked havoc among old and

weakened trees and among the young trees

upon which they fell. Particularly, a heavy,

wet snowfall on 8 March broke off innumber-

able white pine branches , (even oak and

maple branches) . Some tops were also broken

off. Three of the few very tall (90-foot) jack

pines broke off 20 to 30 feet above the

ground . Most of the breaks occurred at places

of inner decay on any of the tree species.

In contrast to 1989, deer flies were almost

non-existent on the SNA this year. Apparently

the larval stage was drowned out by the high

water, a most welcome occurrence .

Categorizing the Ruddy Duck observed on

the SNA in 1989 as "Transient" proved to be

probably incorrect as a brood was observed

on the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management

Area in 1990. 532 W. Broadway, Forest

Lake, MN 55025.

Proceedings of the Minnesota

Ornithological Records Committee

Kim R. Eckert

A meeting of the Committee took place on 2 December 1990, and among the topics

discussed there were two involving votes on records . First, the "wildness" of the Eurasian

Tree Sparrow (The Loon 62:175-177) was voted on , and it was decided to accept it as an

A(b) record (vote 9-1; all ten members participate in votes on wildness)- i.e ., the majority

felt it was most likely a genuine vagrant and probably was not an escape nor transported up

the Mississippi River by barge . There are several records in recent years from southeastern

Iowa and at least two from western Wisconsin. Second, a vote on the Whooping Crane (The

Loon 62:177-181) was taken and it was accepted on a 7-0 vote.

The following records were voted on by mail July-December 1990 and found Acceptable:

-White-faced Ibis, 9 June 1990, Rutland Twp., Martin Co . (vote 6-1)

-Barrow's Goldeneye, 29 March-13 April 1990, Sherburne N.W.R ., Sherburne Co. (vote

7-0; The Loon 62:165).

-Eurasian Tree Sparrow, 20-27 June 1990, Eagan , Dakota Co. (vote 10-0 - all ten members

vote on potential first state records ; The Loon 62:175-177) .

-Ross' Goose, 27 April-11 May 1990, Manfred Twp., Lac Qui Parle Co. (vote 7-0; The

Loon 62:168) .

-Rufous Hummingbird, 17-19 July 1990, North Branch, Chisago Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon

62:170) .

-Short-billed Dowitcher, 15 October 1989, Wagona L., Kandiyohi Co . (vote 6-1; The Loon

62:169) .

-Sprague's Pipit, 28 July-August 1990, near Roseau, Roseau Co . (vote 7-0; The Loon

62 :167).

-Red-throated Loon, 26 May 1990, Duluth, St. Louis Co. (vote 6-1 ; The Loon 62:170-171).

-Tricolored Heron , 28-29 July 1990, near New Germany, Carver Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon

62:233) .

-Lesser Black-backed Gull, 19 August 1990, Black Dog L. , Dakota Co. (vote 6-1; The

Loon 62:171) .

-Western Sandpiper, 28 July 1988 , Bloomington, Hennepin Co . (vote 6-1) .

Spring 1991

41