The buck stops here. Don't blame Editor Bob Janssen, blame us for the lateness of this issue of the Loon.

These seasonal reports are not the easiest things in the world to do, and often they are the only thing holding an issue up for printing. We're told that the June issue will be on time, however, so perhaps things will get back on schedule to stay. We're also told that there have been some volunteers to help on these reports, which is good news, because we certainly need the help.

It's traditional here to start with a weather summary, but we lost the data we compiled, and there isn't enough time to go look for it. But even though, as of now, there was no weather to speak of last fall, there were a lot of birds around worth mentioning, and enough observers around to mention them. A total of 280 specials were recorded, probably the highest ever for a fall season. 54 observers contributed reports, which is much better than last fall's 42, but still not enough when you consider that only about one-fourth of these are from the north.

But the western part of the state had better representation than usual, especially in the west-central and southwest.

Our style is similar to that of our previous reports, except for one major change. From now on, in both the spring and fall reports, the printing of observers' ipitials will not be as prevelant.

Observers with the earliest and latest records of a species will not be acknowledged. Initials will only accompany unusual late or early dates, peak numbers, and for those rare and uncommon species in which all reports are listed. There are two reasons for this change. First, normal early and late dates for migrants is data that is not unusual or interesting enough in itself to record the observer. Just the date and county is sufficient. The second reason is that these reports are very difficult to compile, type, and print. Elimination of initials will greatly ease the enormity of these tasks, and should help in getting and keeping the Loon on schedule.

Even though the spring migration is more interesting to most of us to observe and record, it is the fall season that perhaps has the most to offer in the way of an unpredictable and puzzeling migration. Why is it in the fall that observers in the northern half of the state often record southbound migrants as late or later than those in the south? With early migrants in the spring, the south almost always has a decided edge. And why is it that so many common (or at least regular) species are not seen as often in the fall as in the spring? Some are missed altogether, such as this fall no one saw Swainson's Hawk, Spruce Grouse, Hudsonian Godwit, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Prothonotary Warbler, Bluewinged Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush.

There are, of course, partial answers to these questions too numerous to mention here, but at least it is interesting to read these seasonal reports in detail to observe and answer yourself the interesting questions raised. It is, after all, the curious and unpredictable that keeps the birder going.

With a record (?) 280 species recorded, there were of course many things of interest, but the following seemed the most significant. BH's Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, and Cattle Egret were still around in August after nesting at Lake Johanna.

White-faced Ibis continued to show up into late September to top off a mild 1971 invasion for this species. Agassiz refuge again recorded some very high peaks for ducks as it did last spring.

Scoters found their way to inland Minn. on 4 different occasions, and seem to be regular in small numbers away from Lake Superior in migration.

Harlan's Hawks were reported, but since this bird is difficult to separate from a dark phase Red-tail, only the most highly documented observation can be accepted. But other raptors made up for Harlan's being left out: 2 Gyrfalcons appeared, one even in the southwest; both eagles showed up in very encouraging numbers; and a Redshouldered Hawk turned up in northern Beltrami Co. Northern Bobwhites continued to occur in southwest Minn., but one has to wonder about their origin. (Sorry about that TS and JB, I almost forgot your Ferruginous Hawk in Aitkin Co.; now don't you forget to send in details.) King Rails appeared as they so often do, in late summer with their young, after not being observed all spring and summer. 50,000 Coot is impressive for a peak, but many other waterfowl would have been preferable to the colorless mudhen. As they did last spring, shorebirds and Marshall made the news. Western Sandpipers and Buff-breasted Sandipers were almost abundant at Marshall, while Knots made a rare inland appearance at Agassiz, American Avocets somehow turned up in Duluth in late October, and Stilt Sandpipers were very late in leaving the Fergus Falls area.

Another unidentified jaeger was found on L. Superior, and a Hawk-Owl returned to its old Sax-Zim area. Snowy Owls appeared in good numbers and spread farther south. It was definitely an invasion year for Northern 3-toed Woodpeckers, and many listers were able to check off this elusive species.

Perhaps the best bird was Minnesota's first Western Wood Pewee seen and heard well in Lyon Co. It will be a long time before this species turns up again. Tree and Cliff Swallows peaked well at Sherburne NWR, a new and interesting area with a lot of potential.

Carolina Wrens showed up a few times, even in northern Itasca Co.

A Varied Thrush showed up again as was expected, but the Loggerhead Shrike turned up only once and may be on the decline like some of the larger predators. Common Grackles showed up in huge numbers in the Twin Cities area, and all the winter finches invaded all over in good numbers, heralding one of our best winters for these birds. Every fall has those species that linger a month or two past their normal departure for some unknown reason, and this year the Great C r e s t e d Flycatcher, Swainson's Thrush, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and Vesper Sparrow were extremely late. Finally, Smith's Longspurs again appeared to be regular in the prairie counties, but a couple also wandered to the shore of Lake Superior.