Birders more than birds are affected by the weather, and in turn so are the seasonal reports. This year is no exception as we find it difficult to even file a consistent weather summary. Precipitation was well above normal at both Minneapolis and Fargo (almost 4 inches above at Minneapolis and more th an 2 inches above at Fargo during the spring). But while temperatures at Minneapolis were slightly higher than average (1.8 degrees above in April and 1.2 degrees above in May), Fargo's temperatures were quite cool: 5.7, 2.9 and 3.7 degrees below average in March, April and May.

Suffice it to say that the weather this spring was mostly nondescript (as was migration): extremes in temperature and precipitation were not very extreme.

Since Ron Huber retired it becomes necessary for each seasonal reporter to explain his style. We have omitted the commoner permanent residents and listed only counties for the less common residents.

As a general rule you will find the three earliest arrival dates in the south, the two earliest arrival dates in the north, and where applicable the two latest departure dates for migrants. It's not that we have anything against northern observers or late dates, it's just that there are fewer observers in the north and that observers are more conscientious about noting early arrival dates than late dates.

SUMMARY: A total of 283 spec ie s (about the usual; perhaps a bit less than normal) was compiled by a re cord low number of observers: 59! This is the lowest number of spri ng reports recei ved in at least eight years. Compare this to 1965 when 132 observers contributed to the spring report! Just as outgoing Loon editor Bob Jan ssen expressed regret in last December's issue that relatively few birders are M.O.U. members, we find it di sturbing that so few members contribute to the seasonal reports.

And the number of observers has been generally declining for all seasons in the past couple years. If you are not a contributer now and wish to be, or if you know an active birder who is not now reporting to us, just request a Seasonal Bird Observation Report from Janet Green, 9773 North Shore Drive, Duluth.

While it makes our job easier to go through fewer reports, it also makes for a less accurate and less interesting accoun t of the seasonal stat us of birds in Minnesota. Such is the case this spring: generally we would characterize this migration as relatively dull. There seemed to be fewer reports of rarities, and many of the commoner species were reported fewer times. Weather probably had something to do with this, though at the same time heavier rainfall should have resulted in higher water levels and thus poorer shorebirding, but in fact it was a very good year for shorebirds. It also seemed a good year for migration "waves", with several observers noting particular dates. Most impressive of these were: April 4·5 in southwes t Minn. with a tremendous longspur and waterfowl migration; May 10 in Sherburne Co. where about 2000 warblers of 20 species were found in a single spot during a two hour period; April 21 in Duluth with a huge concentration of redpolls and juncoes; and May 25 in Duluth with another very large wave of warblers.

Even a relatively unassuming season will have its unique highlights. Of special interest thi s year were: all 3 "southern" herons at widely separated l.ocations, comparing nicely with similar heron movements in northern Illinois and eastern South Dakota; 5 Golden Eagles at Agassiz refuge; 3 Western Sandpipers and a Long-billed Curlew during a good shorebird migration; at least 8 Great Gray Owls in April in Roseau Co.; a Red-shafted( ?) Flicker at Agassiz; Minnesota's first Dipper still present in April; 2 Varied Thrush and a Townse nd's Solitaire, both species now practically regular in the state; 30 shrike reports, many of them misidentified; a very early Prothonotary Warbler on April 11; a Brewster's Wa rbler reappearing in Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis; 60 Canada Warblers in Duluth; 15,000 redpolls in Duluth ; 4 Red Crossbill nests; 5 Baird's Sparrows at the virgin prairie spot near Felton; and at least 150,000 longspurs in early April in the southwest part of the state.

For many birders an integral part of spring migration is the May Big Day, an attempt by only one party of any size to record as many species as possible within a 24-hour day. There is no limit as to area, but the participants must stay together. Your comp ilers (KE an d PE) ran one on May 16, start ing in the woods near St. Cloud an d moving southwest through the prairies, finishing near Marshall. We recorded 153 spec ie s in sp ite of a slow sta rt, getting 20 species of shorebirds and warblers each and several late-lingering migrants. As far as we know, no one in the state has been running systematic Big Days, but perhaps now with a tigure ot 15 3 to shoot for some ot you will give it a try.

We would lik e to thank Marygail Gilly and Bob Russell who helped in typing this report.