Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon - Blackbirds, Orioles 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: Blackbirds, Orioles
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark
Western Meadowlark
[Sturnella meadowlark]
Orchard Oriole
Bullock's Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Scott's Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Great-tailed Grackle
[Quiscalus grackle]

[Sturnella meadowlark](Sturnella sp.)
YearSeasonNS
1932SummerThe earliest and latest Meadowlarks' nest were not identified as to species. They were on Mo.y 1.3 (6 eggs, Dobie), and July 4 (3 eggs, E.'vans).
1967Fall late 11-1 Pope Co., 12, WH; 11-29 Roseau Co., 1, PEB.
1967Winter 12-8(100), 12-9 (1), 12-10(50), 12-24(200), 12-29(2), Wabasha Co., DGH; very interesting concentrations in view of absence elsewhere in state.
1968Summer (reported as Eastern Meadowlarks but localities seem rather unlikely) Hubbard, Crow Wing, Cottonwood, Blue Earth, Beltrami Co's.
1991Winter Olmsted 1/18 BSE.
1992Winter Ten reports (two l.y.), perhaps the most ever: 12/2 Otter Tail (two “Westerns”) RG, 12/16 Wilkin (“Western”) SDM, 12/20 Dodge PKL, 12/21 Winona PS, until 12/22 St. Louis KE, 1/5 Mower (three “Eastern”) RRK, 1/22 Le Sueur (“Western”) RG , 2/1 Rock (two “Westerns”) ND, and 2/24 Watonwan (“Western”) BBo. Also reported on the Lamberton CBC. None of these reports had details adequate enough for specific identification.
1993Winter Only one report (ten reports l.y.), 12/3 Pennington KSS.
1994Winter Eight reports, more than average: 12/10 Lake PS (details provided); the Minneapolis North CBC, 12/25 Cottonwood ED, 1/14 Wilkin CF, 1/28 St. Louis fide KE, 2/12 Dakota TT, 2/15 Wilkin SDM, and 2/25 Wilkin DW.
1995Winter Reported 12/10 Wabasha (2) CS, 12/21 Rice TBo and on the Crookston and Detroit Lakes CBCs.
1996Winter Reported 12/4 Winona CS, 12/8 Wilkin SDM, 2/9 Jackson ED and on the Rochester CBC.
1997Winter Reported 1/17 Todd PKL, 1/26 Houston FL and Otter Tail SDM, 2/28 Brown JSp, and the Grand Marais (count week) CBC.
1998Winter Reported in late January Dakota fide AH, and 1/23 Olmsted JSt.
1999Winter Overwintered at Rothsay prairie, Wilkin Co. mob (peak of 7 on 12/24 SDM) and in Rock ND (peak of 5 on 2/9). Also reported 1/28 Nobles (Worthington ) BBo, 2/19 Clay (3) RO, and 2/27 Freeborn ABa.
2000Winter Reported from eight south counties in December, plus two sightings in north: 12/5 Wilkin SPM, DKM, 12/23 Cook KMH.
2001Winter No reports.
2002Spring Seen 4/20 Goodhue PEB, 5/31 Cook †MeM, TV.
2002Fall Approximately 100 meadowlarks reported in a single field 9/27 Pine County JMP; most birds singing were Easterns, but many were silent. Also of interest was an unidentified meadowlark found 11/14 in Olmsted PWP.
2003Fall Unidentified meadowlarks 10/27 St. Louis SLF, 11/18 Steele NFT.
2003Winter All reports: 12/4–8 Lac qui Parle (3, Walter Twp.) BJU, 12/19 Watonwan BRB, 12/22 Jackson (6) BRB, ~2/15 Jackson BRB.
2004Fall Four unidentified meadowlarks: 10/2 Olmstead PWP, 10/15 Cook KRE, 10/20 Lincoln LBF, 10/21 Nobles LBF.
2004Winter Two reports of non-vocalizing “Western” Meadowlarks, but documentation insufficient to rule out Eastern: 1/28 Rice DAB, 2/24 Rice FVS.
2005Fall Unidentified meadowlark 11/11 Sherburne ASc.
2005Winter Non-vocalizing Sturnella meadowlarks reported from Red Lake (possibly overwintered near Red Lake Falls) in the north and Big Stone, Brown, Lac qui Parle in the south.
2006Winter3 All reports: 12/19 Lac qui Parle BJU, 2/9 Fillmore JWH, 2/9 Olmsted JWH.
2007Spring Six south reports of unidentified meadowlarks 3/6–4/7.
2007Winter7 All reports: 12/13,12/24 and 1/1 Lac qui Parle BJU; 12/18 Yellow Medicine BRB; 1/5 and 1/27 Brown (9) BTS; and 1/17 Steele NFT. Also reported on the following CBCs: Fairmont (1), Jackson (2) and Wabasha (1).
2008Fall Late unidentified Sturnella were 10/25 Clay (2) PBB and 11/9 Nicollet (2) RMD.
2008Winter3 All reports: 12/3 Brown BTS, 12/19 Lamberton CBC, Blue Earth ChH, 1/26 Lac qui Parle BJU. The latter two were reported as Western Meadowlark (S. neglecta) but without indicating how they were identified to species.
2009Spring1 One report properly left unidentified 5/23 Cook DFN.
2009Fall Likely Eastern Meadowlark wisely left unidentified 10/9 Carver JCy.
2009Winter12 All reports: 1/4–5 Red Lake MiH, 12/19 Lac qui Parle CBC, 2/13 Freeborn AEB. The latter two were reported as Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), but neither included information as to how each was distinguished from Eastern Meadowlark (S. magna).
2010Fall4 These late sightings were left unidentified: 10/29 Anoka WCM, 10/30 Sibley RBW. An even later bird 11/21 Blue Earth ph. ChH never vocalized.
2010Winter1 One report: 1/14 Lac qui Parle (2, section 12, Mehurin Twp.) BJU.
2011Fall47 Late migrant 11/28 St. Louis fide JWL.
2011Winter11Several winter records: 1/10 St. Louis (Duluth) SG, 2/29 Lac qui Parle (6, Walter Twp.) BJU. Also see Undocumented Reports.
2012Fall15
2012Winter2 Two reports of Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), but neither included information as to how it was distinguished from Eastern Meadowlark (S. magna): 12/16 Cottonwood CBC, 12/18 Rock JSn.
2013Fall47 Silent Sturnella reports wisely left unidentified throughout the season. Late north 10/27 Cook RMD, ANy, RZi, 11/5 St. Louis PRH. Late south 11/2 Stevens DLP.
2014Winter1 One report: 12/31 Olmsted MiD.
2015Fall29 Several silent Sturnella reports wisely left unidentified from September through late November.
2015Winter2 Several winter records: 1/1 Lac qui Parle DLP, 1/2 Brown ARW, 1/8 Mower PMM.
2016Fall39 Numerous silent Sturnella individuals wisely left unidentified from September through late November, including 11/23 Lac qui Parle DLP, 11/26 Brown BTS.
2016Winter3 Several winter records: 12/4 Blue Earth (Lincoln W.P.A.) ChH, 1/15 Dakota DFN, 2/23 Lac qui Parle DLP.
2017Fall39 Numerous reports of silent Sturnella individuals wisely left unidentified including these from the Northeast: 10/10 St. Louis KRE, 10/22 Lake KRE, 10/23–29 Cook KRE, 10/29 Lake RMD, 11/4 Lake DAB, 11/22 Cook DLB, JBs.
2018Fall31 These silent Sturrnella individuals were reported: 9/3 Grant IVa, 9/8 St. Louis IVa, 10/14 Meeker MJB, 10/21 Lake KRE.
2019Fall213 Several reports of silent Sturnella individuals last reported 11/1.
2019Winter2 Two reports: 12/3 Otter Tail WPl, 1/4 Roseau CBC.
2020Winter27 Nine reports of silent meadowlarks, far above previous winter season totals.
2021Winter4 Four reports of silent meadowlarks. Only post-December report 1/29 Rock PRH.
 
 

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.