Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Longspurs and Snow Buntings 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: Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Lapland Longspur
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Smith's Longspur
Thick-billed Longspur
Snow Bunting

Smith's Longspur(Calcarius pictus)
YearSeasonNS
1961FallOne, in buffy fall plumage, seen with 400-500 Lapland Longspurs by W. R. Pieper on 11 Nov., west of Lac qui Parle reservoir. The birds were feeding in a grassy field and Pieper studied the bird for several minutes. Other members of the Avifaunal Club were studying the flock and saw, on several occasions, buffy birds which displayed juncolike outer tail feathers when alighting. The flock would feed for several minutes, and then, in several small groups, arise and re-settle for more feeding. Hence observations were difficult but far better than usual for longspurs. It was felt that there were at least three Smith's Longspurs in the flock, but with only one positive identification. This bird may be a more common migrant through the
1962FallNov. 17, Salt Lake, s·ee above species for details. Large flocks of Longspurs in SW Minnesota during late fall and winter deserve -close scrutiny. Since the Smith's Longspur is known to winter as far north as NW Iowa, it seems likely that they could winter in SW Minnesota, and perhaps more than just occasionally. Look for very buffy birds with Longspur call-note, and Junco-like outer tail feathers.
1963FallNov. 2, Triumph, Martin Co., one, in molt, with many Lapland Longspurs in a plowed field, R. L. Huber.
1966Spring4-10 Rock Co, near Luverne, adult male, attaining breeding plumage, collected for Minnesota Museum of Natural History; probably first or second specimen taken in Minnesota.
1966Fall10-20 Traverse Co., 10 mi E of Wheaton, 2 seen with mixed flock of Lapland Longspurs and Horned Larks, good details, JAR.
1970Springone possibly se~ 5-8 Lac qui Parle, Robert P. Russell, fide KE; "longspur rattle heard and small white wing patches seen on flying bird within 100 feet-only field marks noted."
1970Fall10-24 Ghent, Lyon Co. (76) HK; good details, an unusual concentration; see details in June issue.
1971Spring2 reports of this rare but overlooked species: 3-13 Russell, Lyon Co. (6) 1-IK; 4-10 Lynd, Lyon Co. (4) HK.
1971Fallno less than 3 reporth with good details: 10-13 Duluth JAB (see Notes of Interest, Summer 1971 Loon); 10-9 Wilkin (at least 4) and 11-6 Grant KE (see Notes of Interest, Dec. 1971 Loon); also on 9-25 In Lake Co. 2 were reported with Incomplete details by J. Pratt. ~~~~th~untlng: early 9-18 Lake; 9-26 Cook; 10-9
1972SpringOne Smith's Longspur was found among the 2300 Laplands In Lyon Co. on 3-12 (KM, HK).
1973Fall Seen only in Duluth, where it is rare: 9-16 thru 11-1 St. Louis (JAB), (JCG), (RBJ), (OLJ), (FN), (KBZ).
1974Spring 1 report 4-28 Rock (1) KE.
1974Fall 9-21 Duluth RBJ, PE.
1975Spring 2 reports: 5-10 Cottonwood (4 females, 1 male) RAG, RBJ; 5-17 St. Louis (1 male) KE, HCK, TS.
1975Fall10-26 Fort Snelling Hennepin county (7) W. Jiracek.
1976Spring 4-13 Wilkin Frank Cassel.
1976Fall 3 reports: 9-25 Duluth DS, 9-27 Aitkin L. Paynter, 10-9 Wilkin (7) GO, GW.
1977Fall 10-15 Wilkin (250) (GW, GO, RJ); 10-23 Wilkin (30) (GO).
1978Spring 4-1 Cottonwood (7) RBJ; 4-23 Lac qui Parle (2) KE, RBJ; 4-26 Wilkin (4) GO.
1978Summer One report north 10-21 Wilkin GO and DGW; one report south 11-15 Lac qui Parle CMB.
1978Fall One report north 10-21 Wilkin GO and DGW; one report south 11-15 Lac qui Parle CMB.
1979Spring Four reports: 4-15 Clay LCF (150), 4-19 Wilkin KE, 4-21 Yellow Medicine KE and RJ.
1980Fall One report: 9-11 St. Louis KE.
1981Spring Two reports: 4-25 Wilkin JPI AM, 4-26 Big Stone KE, 25 birds.
1981Fall One report: 10-29 Stevens GMO.
1982Fall Two reports: 9/26 St. Louis KE, 10/10 Hennepin OJ. See The Loon (55:34-35)
1983Fall Three reports 9/19 St. Louis NH, 10/2 St. Louis OJ, 10/28 Clay KL.
1984Spring One report 5/12 Otter Tail GMO.
1984Fall 9/15 St. Louis BL, DZ.
1987Fall One report 9/19 Cook RG.
1988Spring One report 4/17 Cottonwood AB, TI.
1988Fall 9/23 Duluth KE, 10/14 Rothsay WMA, Wilkin Co. SC; 10/20-26 Jeffers Petroglyphs, Cottonwood Co. m.ob. ; all reports.
1989Fall All reports 10/11 Clay PS, 10/20 Clay PS, 10/21 Clay WN, KR, Wilkin KE, 10/22 WilkinSDM, 10/25WilkinDB, 10/28CiayOJ.
1990Spring All reports 4/28 Lac qui Parle KE, Traverse PS, 4/29 Lac qui Parle mob (The Loon 62:156-158), 4/30 Lac qui Parle CMB.
1990Fall All reports: 10/13 Norman PS, 10/20 Clay MO, 10/21 Wilkin MO.
1991Spring Three reports 4/13 (earliest date on record) Otter Tail KE, 4/14 Wilkin KB, 5/6 Wilkin PB.
1991Fall All reports: 10/3 Cook PS (1), 10/23 Clay KR.
1992Fall Early north 9/29 St. Louis TD, 10/12 Wilkin PS; late north 10/23 Clay fide PB, 10/24 Wilkin KE; one report south 10/21 Swift AB.
1993Spring One report 5/2 Pipestone AB.
1993Fall Reported 9/11 Cook RK, 10/8 Roseau PS.
1994Fall Reported from Wilkin 10/23 mob.
1995Fall No reports.
1996Spring No reports.
1996Fall After no reports last fall, there were surprisingly many this year. One was found 9/29 Kittson (Sec. 9, Norway Twp.) PS. Seven other reports came from Wilkin between 10/2 and 10/27. The largest flocks reported were 40–60 on 10/16 (SDM) and 25 on 10/20 (CF).
1997Spring No reports.
1997Fall No reports.
1998Spring No reports for the fifth consecutive spring. Since this species winters in Oklahoma and Kansas, and is regularly found as far east as eastern Illinois in the spring, why do we see so few in Minnesota in this season?
1998Fall More reports than usual: 9/26–10/2 St. Louis (40th Avenue West) MH, mob, 10/9–10 Cook (Grand Marais) KE, mob, 10/13 Clay (11 at Felton Prairie) KB, PS, 10/23–25 Wilkin (8+ at Rothsay WMA) KE et al., 10/24 Cottonwood (25 at Jefferson Petroglyphs) DA/BE.
1999Spring Only report: 5/23–24 (latest spring date) St. Louis (female at 40th Ave. West in Duluth) WM et al.
1999Fall All north reports: 9/25 Wilkin (3 birds at Rothsay WMA) AH, 10/20 Marshall (3 near Warren lagoons) PS, 10/20 Polk (1 near Crookston lagoons) PS. Only south reports: 9/26–10/25 Cottonwood (near Jeffers Petroglyphs) BBo, mob.
2000Spring No reports.
2000Fall Four North Shore reports! Observed 10/4 Lake (Silver Bay) KWR, 10/6 Cook MH, 10/15 Lake (Beaver Bay) CRM, 10/20 St. Louis (4 at Stoney Point) †PHS. Also reported from expected locales 10/9 Wilkin (Rothsay WMA) PHS, 10/9 Big Stone (Otrey Twp.) †PHS, 10/15 Cottonwood (11) JWH, 10/21–22 Cottonwood (20 at Red Rock Prairie) BRB.
2001Spring Reported 4/28 Lac qui Parle (8 at Plover Prairie) †CRG, JWH.
2001Fall All reports: 10/19 (6 near White Rock Dam) Traverse MO, 10/20–23 Cottonwood (vicinity of Jeffers Petroglyphs) BSe, JJS, †CRM, 10/21 St. Louis (40th Avenue West, Duluth) †PHS. Another report from Cottonwood (Red Rock Preserve) BRB was undated.
2002Spring Only report: 4/14 Clay (Felton Prairie) ph. DAC.
2002Fall Singles reported along the North Shore of L. Superior 10/2 Lake (Silver Bay) KWR, MCA, 10/22 Cook (Grand Marais Campground) AXH. Only south reports: 10/12 Cottonwood (one at Red Rock Prairie) RMD, 10/13 Cottonwood (2 at Jeffers Petroglyphs) †PHS.
2003Spring All reports: 3/27 Martin †JJS, CAK, 4/27 Cottonwood (6 at Red Rock Prairie) CRG et al.
2003Fall Reported along L. Superior's North Shore 9/13–17 St. Louis (40th Ave. West, Duluth) DWT, MH, †PHS, 9/29–30 Lake (Two Harbors) ph. †JWL, †PHS, 10/2 St. Louis (Rose Garden, Duluth) fide DRB, 10/13 St. Louis (40th Ave. West) MH. All other north reports were in western Minnesota: 9/28 Pennington (Thief River Falls W.T.P.) †PHS, 10/12 Wilkin (Rothsay W.M.A.) CRM, JJS, 10/18 Traverse MO, 10/19 Norman (Ada W.T.P.) CAS, 10/19–23 Red Lake (Red Lake Falls W.T.P.) CAS, †PHS. Only south report: 10/18 Cottonwood (up to 75 at Red Rock Prairie) BWF, JJS, RMD.
2004Spring First county occurrence 4/24 Meeker (Kingston South Twp.) †DMF. Also reported 4/17 Cottonwood (4 identified by voice at Red Rock Prairie) BWF, plus additional reports from Lac qui Parle (max. 13, 4/12) through 4/24 BJU.
2004Fall Two north reports: 10/9 Marshall (20) JMJ, 10/16 Lake (4 at Iona's Beach) †PHS. Remainder of reports from Southwest: 10/14 Cottonwood (1) †JPM, 10/16 Cottonwood (~10) BWF, 10/17 Cottonwood BRB, 10/20 Lac qui Parle (7) †PHS. Cottonwood reports were all from Red Rock Prairie.
2005Spring Male reported without details in flock of longspurs 5/7 Kandiyohi (East Lake Lillian Twp.) RSF.
2005Fall Singles documented 9/30 St. Louis (Park Point, Duluth) †PHS, 10/20 St. Louis (Park Point) †MTA, 10/21 Big Stone (Browns Valley W.T.P.) †PHS. High count 10/29 Wilkin (50+ at Rothsay W.M.A.) †JPE. Reported without details from Beltrami (3), Cottonwood, Norman (31).
2006Spring South reports (none with details) 4/17 Big Stone (4) BJU; 4/17 (7), 4/22 (90), 4/28 (106), 5/4 (1) Lac qui Parle BJU, m.ob. Only north report: 5/9 Polk (well-described flock of 60 birds at Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) †RPR et al.
2006Fall Only north report: 10/5–7 Lake (Castle Danger landfill) †JWL, DDM, BJM. South reports (all but one of which lacked details): 10/3–10 Lac qui Parle BJU (max. 60, section 25, Walter Twp.) BJU, 10/5 Yellow Medicine (15, section 6, Omro Twp.) BJU, 10/16 Big Stone (2, section 27, Otrey Twp.) BJU, 10/21 Cottonwood (Red Rock Prairie) CMB, 10/25 Big Stone (2, Browns Valley W.T.P.) †PHS.
2007Spring31 Early south 4/21 Meeker (8) DMF. All north reports: 5/9 Polk (Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) KRE, RPR, 5/19 Lake (female at Beaver Bay sewage ponds) ph. †JWL, 5/23 Becker (Hamden Slough N.W.R.) fide JMJ.
2007Fall1 Only report 10/15 Cottonwood (8 at Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.) RBJ.
2008Spring11 Only report 5/4 Clay (8) PBB.
2008Fall2 All reports: 10/3 St. Louis (H.R.B.O.) KJB, 10/4 St. Louis (Brighton Beach, Duluth) NAJ, 10/26 Cook (Lutsen W.T.P.) BAn, 10/31 Cook (Taconite Harbor) EEO.
2009Spring1 Only report 4/24 Kandiyohi (7) RSF.
2009Fall Only reports 10/3–4 St. Louis (40th Ave. West, Duluth) PHS, 10/1 St. Louis (Lakeview Cemetery, Duluth Twp.) JCG.
2010Spring2 All reports: four at Nicollet W.M.A. in Nicollet 4/9–11 ph. †RMD, ph. ChG, ph. †JPM, †PEB, m.ob.; 4/24 Lac qui Parle (Plover Prairie East Unit) ph. BJU.
2010Fall11 All north 9/25, St. Louis (27th Avenue West, Duluth) ph. MFu, †CRu, m.ob. Median early north 10/2, late 10/22. Only south 10/7 Sherburne (Sherburne N.W.R. wildlife drive) PLJ. Median early south 10/17, late 10/22. No reports from usual west region haunts.
2011Spring5 Two new county records: 4/10–23 Brown (Mulligan Twp., as many as 30 individuals) †BTS, m.ob, 4/23–24 Wabasha (Weaver Dunes) †DBz. Other reports 4/8 Lac qui Parle (Perry W.M.A.) BJU, 4/12 Nicollet (St. Peter) †RMD, 4/28 Big Stone (30) BJU, 5/4 Lac qui Parle (Yellow Bank Hills S.N.A.) fide RPR.
2011Fall2 No north reports. All south reports 9/24 (record early) Sibley (3) †RPR, 10/14 Lac qui Parle (30, near Salt Lake) BJU.
2012Spring4 New county record: 4/22 Nobles (Bloom W.P.A.) †BTS. Early south (median 4/21) 3/31 Lac qui Parle (4, Perry Twp.) BJU, 4/7 Brown (6, Mulligan Twp.) BTS. High count 4/18 Brown (47) BTS. Late south 4/29 Brown (20) ANy, MiO, BTS (median 4/28).
2012Fall24 More reports than usual. All north 9/27 Pine (2, C.R. 20 and Hwy 48) RBJ, DAC, 10/1 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) DBM, 10/21 Grant (30, Spink W.P.A.) DBM (median early 10/1, late 10/21). All south 10/17 Lac qui Parle BJU, 10/21 Lyon (50+, Russell W.T.P., season high count) KRE, m.ob., (1, county landfill) KRE, 10/23 Yellow Medicine BJU, 10/24 Faribault (10, Wells W.T.P.) RBJ, DAC (median early 10/15, late 10/21). [Corrected]
2013Spring23 All south 4/28 Lac qui Parle LWh, ph. SvB, 5/5–6 Blue Earth (100, estimated number at Lincoln W.P.A.; one photgraphed) ph. ChH, m.ob., 5/7 Lac qui Parle FGo, 5/15 Kandiyohi JoS (median early 4/19, late 4/28). All north 4/27 Wilkin ALo, KRE, RZi, 5/11–12 Clay KRE, m.ob. (median early 5/7, late 5/8).
2013Fall No documented reports.
2014Spring2All south 5/1 Yellow Medicine (4, Echo W.T.P.) PME, 5/2–3 Lyon (36, Cottonwood W.T.P) GWe, BAb, GLa. No north reports.
2014Summer1Record late migrant observed 6/2 Cook (Grand Marais, Coast Guard station) KMH.
2014Fall3 All reports 10/25 Rock (12, Blue Mounds S.P.) RMD, 10/26 Brown/Cottonwood RMD.
2015Spring2 All reports from the Southwest and included two new county records: 4/4 Lincoln (2, possibly at least 4, Chen Bay W.M.A) BTS, KRE, m.ob., 4/11 Murray (9) GWe. Median early south 4/17, late 5/2.
2015Fall1 Only reports from Wilkin, 10/17 KRE, m.ob., 10/20 HHD. Median early north 10/1, late 10/21.
2016Spring4 All reports 4/9 Redwood (near Wahpeton W.M.A.) MJB, BTS, MiO, JWH, 4/23 Cottonwood JCu, Jackson JJu, Yellow Medicine (13) GWe (median 4/23).
2016Fall12 Only north report 9/27 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) †PHS. All south reports 9/27 Yellow Medicine GWe, 10/23 Cottonwood (3, Red Rock Prairie S.N.A.) RBW.
2017Spring25 All south reports 4/11 Jackson (11, Heron Lake W.M.A.) DAk, 4/15 Lyon (2, Lone Tree Lake) GWe, 4/29 Yellow Medicine (1, Mound Spring Prairie S.N.A.) RMD, m.ob., 5/8 Murray (4) GWe and a very late and out-of-range report 5/13 Blue Earth (5, Lincoln W.P.A.) LiH. All north 4/13 Beltrami (north side of Upper Red Lake) DPJ, 5/13 Traverse KnM.
2017Fall45 All north 9/28–30 Lake (Two Harbors, Paul Van Hoven Park) ph. JWL, m.ob., 10/3–11 St. Louis (Duluth, Old Stella Jones Pier) ALx, m.ob., 10/6 Pennington (32, season†™s high count, Thief River Falls W.T.P.) KCo, 10/17 Wilkin (Rothsay W.M.A.) KnM. All south 10/7 Lyon (3, Cottonwood W.T.P.) GWe, 10/13 Cottonwood (Red Rock Prairie) ASu, KnM, 10/18 Yellow Medicine (6, Mound Spring Prairie S.N.A.) BRB, 10/21–24 Redwood (max. 30, Lamberton W.M.A.) BTS, m.ob., 10/25 Lyon (2) NMe, 11/20 Renville (26, Kingman Twp.) RBJ.
2018Spring2 All reports 4/22 Yellow Medicine (6, Miedd Lake) GWe, 5/7 Yellow Medicine (Lyon/Yellow Medicine Conservation Easement) GWe, 5/10–12 Yellow Medicine (Echo W.T.P.) ph. GWe, m.ob.
2018Fall13 Only one north report 10/19 Traverse (8) LiH. All south 10/10 Lyon GWe, 10/11 Cottonwood (Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site) LHl, 10/19 Yellow Medicine (Miller-Richter W.M.A.) LiH, 10/21–27 Cottonwood (max. 11, Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.) JWH, KEm, RAE, MaJ.
2019Spring14 All south 4/15 Rock ASu, 4/20 Yellow Medicine (Clarkfield W.T.P.) LiH, 4/21 Lyon (20) GWe, 4/24 Lyon GWe, 5/15 Murray (35, also season high count) GWe. All north 4/28 Otter Tail (Glendalough S.P.) ebd, 5/10 Otter Tail JsS.
2019Fall2 All reports 10/7 Lyon (1, Rock Lake) GWe, 10/11 Lyon (15, Lone Tree Lake) GWe, 10/13 Cottonwood (6, Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.) FFa, MaJ, Lyon (1, Lone Tree Lake) MGi, 10/17 Cottonwood (13, Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site) EzH, (2, Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.) JCa, 10/23 Cottonwood (2, Red Rock Prairie, East Unit) CAs, KvM.
2020Spring12 All reports 4/14 Lincoln ASu, 4/15 Traverse (Wheaton W.T.P.) REN, RLF, 4/18 Rock MaJ.
2020Fall35 Most fall reports since 2017. All north 9/17–18 St. Louis (2, McQuade Small Craft Harbor) ph. KRE, †PHS, m.ob., 9/27 St. Louis (40th Ave. West) MLH, 10/8–11 St. Louis (max. 3, Park Point R.A.) TBl, CBl, †PHS, ph. LBa, m.ob., 10/24 Cook (Lutsen Resort) †MLH, 10/25 Aitkin (north of Lawler) KCR. All south 10/14 Lac qui Parle (5, Salt Lake) GWe, 10/15 Lyon (Island Lake) GWe, 10/17 Cottonwood (Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A) ph. FFa, 10/21 Lyon (6, Cottonwood W.T.P) GWe, 10/24 Cottonwood (near Red Rock Prairie) DWK, Lincoln (12, season’s high count, Lake Benton Twp.) ph. KEm, JWH, 10/25 Meeker †BAb, 10/27–28 Lyon (max. 8, near Runholt) ph. GWe, ph. RJS, MGi.
2021Spring5 All reports came from the southwest quarter of the state: 4/6 Lyon (Island Lake) REn, RLF, 4/11 Watonwan (3, 320th St. south of Madelia) LiH, 4/25 Yellow Medicine (3, Lyon/Yellow Medicine Conservation Easement) GWe, 5/9 Yellow Medicine (7, Curtis Lake) †GWe, 5/12 Redwood (12, Clements W.T.P.) WCM, 5/13 Pope (15, Glenwood W.T.P.) ANy, DBz.
2021Fall46 Widely reported, but mostly lone individuals. All north: 9/15 St. Louis H.R.B.O., 10/3 Wilkin (Breckenridge W.T.P.) REn, RLF, 10/17 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) †JLK, 10/24 Polk (S.R. 9 near Crookston) LHl. All south 10/3 Cottonwood (Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.) †LiH, 10/10 Meeker (6, season high count, Dassel) PKF, 10/23 Lyon (North Mahlke Marsh) GWe, 11/6 Lac qui Parle (Salt Lake) †DWK, Murray (Skandia Twp.) GWe, Yellow Medicine (Mound Spring Prairie) REn, RLF.
2022Spring4 Typical number of reports. All reports: 4/21–23 Lincoln (up to 5 birds, near Lake Shakotoan) EHi, ebd, 5/3 Cottonwood (Red Rock Prairie) ph. ALD, 5/5–7 Yellow Medicine (max. 5, Echo W.T.P.) ph. GWe, WCM, m.ob., 5/8 Carver (35, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) †DBz, †WCM, ANy.
2022Fall27 All north (median arrival 9/30) 8/30 St. Louis (Park Point R.A., near airport) ClN, KDx, 10/9 St. Louis (Park Point R.A., near airport) JLK, 10/20 Clay (10) TkL. All south 9/11-13 Waseca (Janesville W.T.P.) JGW, JWH, m.ob., 9/17 Carver (Carver P.R., Grimm Rd) JCy, 9/29 Olmsted (C.R. 9 and C.R. 102) LAV, m.ob., 10/19 Lac qui Parle DLP, 10/20–27 Cottonwood (max. 20, highest tally) JWZ, KEm, ebd, APi, 10/21 Lac qui Parle (Salt Lake) WCM, Murray GWe, 10/22 Lyon (10, Sham Lake) GWe, 10/23 Lyon (Cottonwood W.T.P.) GWe.
 
 Rare migrant mostly west and south-central.

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.