After a severe winter Minnesota experienced an exceptionally late cold :;pl'ing which delayed the appearance of the early migrants from one to two weeks. At date of this writing, May 20, ice still remains on the northern lakes and snow banks lie in sheltered hollows in the north woods. As late as April 25 a blizzard and heavy snow blocked roads and closed schools in some sections of the state. Disastrous floods causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage are at prcsr·Lt occuning along the river courses. Destruction is extensive along the. Red Hiver of the North. Very strong winds, at times of hurricane proportions, prevailed throughout April and these winds together with freezing temperatures caused considerable mortality among migrating birds. Reports from several localities show that large numbel ·s of swallows, the martins particularly, died of· starvation. The following report by J. P. Jensen, Dassel, regarding the loss of his martin colony is typical of the experiences of seYeral other persons having martin colonies. In part Mr. Jensen wrote, "My la1·ge colony of about fifty birds came mostly on the 24th, (April) just before the long period of bad weather. HowL'\' el· Spring Lake had opened some and knew they could capture midges· there that commence to emerge from the surface as soon as the lake is open. On a couple of still but colrl mornings they did capture a few ! these small flies but not enough to maintain their body heal aud ellerg;.• so they became weaker and weaker. The snowstorm of Saturday, April 29th was the last straw in their destruction and they collected in the rooms of the bi1·d houses up to as many as six to nine in one room. This was to help keep warm but after the storm they were too far gone. They had little energy, there was a cold wind and no food. Death was the result for most of them. Only one male of my iarg colony remained alive.

"Reports from here and there tell the same tale of woe. The colonies of Victor Ostlund, Ed Isaacson and Albert Edlund have all died."

The harbor at Duluth was still iccbound on May 13 and a report from Mira Childs on May 8 stated that birds there were dying of starvation due to so much snow and cold.

The vanguard of the tree swallows appeared in the Twin City area on April 2 and without doubt these birds died, since extreme weather oCCUlTed after their arrival.

Yellow-rumped Warblers and both the Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen at the Izaac Walton Bass Ponds on April 1 by Paul C. Murphy. There were not many which is fortunate for they must have perished. Warblers in abundance have been reported this season. There has bee11 a succession of waves beginning on May 10, and except for the first wave in which the Myrtles predominated, nearly all species were rcpt·esented. Reports from observers indicate that an exceptionally large wave passed through the Twin City area on May 19. At the Izaac Walton Bass Ponds there were literally thousands feeding avidly on the ground. The common warblers were very abundant but almost all species were there as well as vireos, flycatchers and others They seemed hungry and were very tame. Reports indicate that migrating birds fed mostly on the ground thi:> season. A small flock of Blue-winged Warblers was seen near the State Fish Hatchery on May 7 by A. C. Rosenwinkcl.

Rails arrived in goodly number3 nn May 10. Nearly everywhere the water was high enough to cover the rushes so for several days they lived on rafts of broken reeds and other vegetation that floated along the shore lines. Trees and shrubs did not begin lo leaf out until about May 15 to 20 so not only rails but all other birds were easily observed. A Yellow Rail was captured by Dr. D. W. Warner, :tn account of which appears elsewhere in this issue.

The migration of thrushes and sparrows was later than usual and at p;·c>l'llt they are still passing through the Twin Cities and sunounding tenitory. A Nelson's Sparrow, far from his natural habitat, sojourned for part of a day in the writer's yard on May 19. The Leconte's Sparrow was found near Anoka on May 6 by Dr. W. J. Breckenridge. Sheridan S. Flaherty of Morris, Minnesota reported an Arctic Eastern Towhee. It came to his yard on May 6 a·1d stayed a few days.

Evening Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings remained in the southern part of the state until late in April. :::ieveral l'locks or these birtb \1'('1'\ ' reported from various sections.

On April 6 A. C. Rosenwinkel saw a Northern Saw-whet Owl dozing in an apple tree. It was in a thickly settled district along one of the busiest thoroughfares in St. Paul. Mr. Rosenwinkel also sent in the unusual record of five White Pelicans, seen in the Minnesota River bottomlands near the Izaac Walton Bass Ponds. The date was April 2!J.

Hawks migrated at about the usual time and according to reports numbers were small except in one instancP a good sized flight passed over St. Paul on April 2. A Northern Goshawk was still livin~ along the Minnesota River south of Minneapolis on March 19th. Members of the Minneapolis Bird Club saw a Pig-eon Hawk capture a Red-winged Blackbird and perch to eat it. It was at the Izaac Walton Bass Pond April 9. Included in the same report was that of a White Pelican which was seen. in the same area. An interesting observation was made by some members of the Minnesota Bird Club near Winona, Minnesota on May 2. A Duck Hawk stooped repeatedly to strike a Red-tailed Hawk. At each attack the Red-tailed Hawk turned on its back to present its talons to its assailant. The speed at which the falcon stooped was astonishing. In · straight flight also its speed was very swift. It literally flew circles around the Red-tailed Hawk.

Due to the ice-bound waters the gull migration was late. Of interest were several reports of the Franklin':,; Gull passing through eastern Minnesota. Mr. Whitney Eastman stated thal while he was out along the Minnesota River on April 16, he saw hundreds moving westward.

The Sandhill Crane is not often seen migrating through eastern Minnesota. THE FLICKEH March ao they were seen in flight over Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, by George Hysgaard.

Tundra Swans arrived at about the usual time but there was little open water. Their departure was about a week late from the southern part of the state. They were reported from Rcveral localities but one of the largPst concentrations of Tundra Swans IH'CUlTing in Minnesota was at Faribault in April. From four to five hundred were reported.

Geese appeared at the usual time in normal numbers in the western part of" the· state. No large flights wen· t·rported from eastern Minnesota.

Ducks were a few days late. Only one large concentration was reported from the area near the Twin Cities. Paul C. Murphy reported ducks numbering about two thousand at Otter Lake in Ramsey County on April 22. There were about one thousand Lesser Scaup, three hundred Canvasbacks, two hundred and fifty Redheads and other Rpecies in small numbers. 0. A. Rustad or Northfield reported ducks and geese in small numbers on April 2. In thr MiRRiRRi ppi valiPy a!'! far Routh ns La Crosse the only duck that appeared in fair numbers this season was the Lesser Scaup. There were very few of all other species except the Mallard. The number of Blue-winged Teal i;; noticeably less than normal in thiR section. On a field trip to Frontenac on May 14 members of th~ M. 0. U. observed a European Widgeon, an unusual record.

At present writing very few shorr birds have been reported. Water i;; so high that the mud flats they frequented in other seasons are covered. Rivers, lakes, ponds, and sloughs arr flooded and shore birds may have difficulty sm·v1v111g unless their migration is delayed.

The following report was receivrd on March 25, too late for the Winter Seasonal Report. It is interesting and important enough to be recorded. ReYerend 0. L. Bolstad, Badger, Minnesota wrote as follows; "This winter several flocks of Magpies have wintered here in Roseau County. It is something unusual. A few have been seen at. different times before but very few. This winler they have stayed all winter."