This spring the variable weather affected the migration in some instances. On March 15 the thermometer dippeato zero and several times during April and even up to the middle of May there was occasional freezing weather. To the contrary the first week in May was unseasonably hot and the temperature rose to above 90 degrees for several days. The temperature on May 3 was 93 degrees, an all time high for Minnesota for that date. Two days later strong south winds brought heavy rain and a great wave of migrating birds appeared in the Twin Cities and surrounding territory.

The migration of warblers was unusual in the respect that the earl"y ones come at the usual time but passed through almost continuously except during a very cold spell about the middle of May. At the date of this writing, May 26 they are still migrating through the southern half of the state. The migration of warblers seems to have telescoped. The late species arrived earlier than usual and the early species not only arrived on time but kept g0ing through at intervals during the whole migratory period. The following persons furnished detailed reports of observations: Dr. D. W. Warner (Hastings, Cannon River, Spring Lake, Frontenac), Dr. W. J. Breckenridge (Minneapolis area), A. C. Rosenwinkel (St. Paul area), Franklin Willis (Stewartville). Their records and verbal reports by others indicate that there were birds in abundance, especially warblers.

The Blue-winged Warbler was reported by Franklin Willis at Stewartville on May 1, and by Dr Warner near Cannon Falls, May 8. This diminutive bird nests in southeastern Minnesota and, due to the fact that it has been seen in migration as far north as Minneapolis, there is the possibility that it nests in other parts of the state. It may have escaped observation because of its shy and elusive habits. It builds its nest on the ground in grass clumps or weeds and has a weak, insect-like song.

A stray far from its western home, an Audubon Warbler, was seen by Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Peterson in the Lake Vadnais region near St. Paul on April 22. It was with a flock of Myrtle Warblers. Another accidental, a Wormeating Warbler, was reported in the Thomas S. Roberts Sanctuary May 22, by Mrs. F. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Swedenborg and Kathryn Yerksa. The first few days of March were fair and mild. A small flock of Canada Geese looked for a place to fand in the ice-bound lowlands of the Minnesota River near Minneapolis on March 3. Whether or not they migrated from south of the state is a question. They may have been part of the good-sized flock that wintered again near Rochester, Minn. Some of those geese have been reported nesting in that area this year. Miss Kern Bayliss, Cass Lake, reported the lake still frozen April 4, but that on April 4, 1946, hundreds of Snow Geese were resting on the lake. Flocks of geese were heard migrat- ing over the Twin Cities throughout the night of April 6. Snow and Blue Geese were reported as late as April 24. B. T. William~ of Orr, Minn., reported on May 2 that eight Blue Geese and two Snow Geese had been frequenting a pasture in St. Louis Co. since April 20. One of them was crippled. Ducks arrived a few days later than usual in the southern part of the state. This was due possibly to some severe weather in March which delayed opening of the ice. Reports indicate a siight increase in the number of ducks. An unusually large number of Hooded Mergansers spent several days in the Minnesota River lowlands south of Minneapolis. They were not shy and provided a fine opportunity for observation.

Dr. Abbott who lives on the north shore of Lake Superior stated in notes to the Museum of Natural History that ducks began arriving April 24. Among them were Green-winged Teal, Buffleheads, about 50 American Wigeons and a few Mallards and Scaup. Members of the M.O.U. saw two Old Squaws off the north shore of Lake Superior at Two Harbors on May 21. A small flock of Red-throated Common Loons and several White-winged Seaters were observed in the water along Minnesota Point the same day.

The remains of several ducks were found along the shores of Harbor Island and Minnesota Point by members of the M. 0. U. May 21. They were mostly Greater and Lesser Scaup. Residents in the vicinity said that dead ducks are often found there. Waste oil is dumped into the harbor from some of the boats and it is possible that the plumage of the ducks become oil soaked making flight impossible.

There were two reports of the European Widgeon. This bird, so far from its usual haunts, was seen at Lake Pepin on April 20 by Dr. Warner. Near the pumping station for Duluth Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Jacques saw one with a flock of American Wigeons on May 19.

Mr. Ron Anderson of Mankato contributed the following interesting information on the Double-crested Cormorant: "The Cormorant migration throughout the Mankato area began about a week earlier than in 1948, and lasted about two weeks longer. In all the majority of the birds were present on the surrounding lakes for a period of about five weeks. Sportsmans Clubs in this area came all out for a war on the Cormorants this spring. Over a period of about a month the number of birds killed on the flyway between Duck and Madison Lakes in Blue Earth County would easily number three or four hundred. On Buffalo Lake near Alma City a hunter with a reliable word told me he and his partner killed 97 birds in one day.

The birds that stayed on Madison and Duck Lakes displayed an interesting behavior pattern. At about 4:45 A. M. each morning the flocks of about ten to a hundred could be seen coming from Madison to Duck. In a period of two weeks the time of this flight did not vary more than ten minutes every morning. The birds would land on Duck Lake, feed there for an hour or two, then fly back to Madison in pairs or small flocks where they would spend the day among the drowned-out willows." There were no reports of large con centrations of shore birds but all of the species that regularly appear through out the state were observed. Greater Yellowlegs were in the vicinity of the Twin Cities on March 28. Willets, migrants that are becoming more common in Eastern Minnesota, were at the Isaac Walton Bass Pond, May 5. One of the thrilling highlights of the M. 0. U. convention was the discovery on a field trip, of 14 Hudsonian Curlews. They remained for several hours on Harbor Island and Minnesota Point so that many interested persons were able to see them. The height of the hawk migration came April 3. The day was fair with a strong south wind and flock after flock of hawks wheeled and circled northward all day. The migration was not nearly so heavy, however. as it was a few years ago. Due to exceedingly good visibility and a bright sun the beauty of the plumage could be clearly seen. The various plumages of the Red-tailed Hawk were particularly beautiful and interesting. There was an unusual number of Red-shouldered Hawks. In one flock there were 37 and there were several smaller flocks. Ospreys were reported by several observers. Dr. Warner saw six at Lake Pepin on April 20.

The arrival of Tundra Swans in the lowlands of the Minnesota River was reported April 5. Miss Kern Bayliss wrote that they were at Cass Lake the second week in April.

The American Egret made an appearance along the Minnesota River just south of Minneapolis this spring. One was seen May 22 by Mr. and Mrs. Clements and May 23 two more were reported by Milton Thompson. At date of this writing· they are still there.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was ap parently more abundant this year. There were several reports. Dr. Warner saw several pairs at Frontenac, May 14, and Dr. Breckenridge noted three in his yard for several days beginning May 7.

A small flock of Red Crossbills was found in Vadnais Forest on April 30 by A. C. Rosenwinkel. TI1ere was only one report of the American Pipit. A single bird was seen on April 27.

Mrs. P. A. Becker, who lives near Walker during the summer, wrote to say that, in her opinion, the spraying with DDT in that area has caused a decrease in the bird population and that there were fewer birds at her sanctuary last year. A recent issue of Audubon Magazine contains a statement given to the press by John H. Baker, President of the National Audubon Society. In it he warns that wholesale spraying with a heavy concentration of insecticide can be very harmful to birds and all wildlife. In a test in Maryland where insecticide amounting to 4.36 lbs. to the acre was dusted there was a mortality of 65% of birds in six days. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture have warned repeatedly against the heavy use of insecticides. Birds are killed by eating poisoned insects which have not yet died or insects laden with poison. The areas sprayed are devoid of food for birds and, should it be a large area, they cannot find food for their nestlings.