There were 77 reports submitted with 303 species recorded.

The first part of March ushered in snow, cold and blizzard conditions which dumped as much as 16-20 inches of snow in many places. There was more snow on the last of the month. In between the conditions were balmy; in fact the temperatures were in the 40s and 50s much of the time.

Swans, ducks and geese, even shorebirds responded by moving north in unusual numbers. Trumpeter Swans that migrated south for the winter were reported as returning, and a couple of Mountain Bluebirds were reported from the northwestern part of the state. This month was the 9th warmest on record with the average temperature about 6° above normal; precipitation averaged three inches above normal.

April was the sixth warmest on record, temperatures averaged about 6° above normal, precipitation averaged five inches below normal. The first part was cool but by the middle of the month there were many days with unsettled weather and strong southeast winds with temperatures in the 70s and even the 80s. Many different species of hawks were seen in Carlton County and in the Morgan Park area of Duluth on the 20th and 21st.

In the Twin Cities on the 4th a female Red Crossbill was seen bringing nesting material to a location in a white spruce. A few days later an American Robin's nest was noticed not more than a foot away on the same limb of that tree. No more activity by the crossbill was noticed -you can guess the rest!

Other observers reported Red Crossbills building nests in the Twin Cities; TT reported three separate nests. As far as is known, no one reported young from these nests.

The last successful Red Crossbill nest that comes to mind was when a short-tailed young came to a feeder in Theodore Wirth Wildflower Garden in 1973. Crossbills were reported in the Twin Cities for the entire reporting period and extending to the lOth of June.

It was so warm at times that the Ruffed Grouse would drum, then lay on the log instead of remaining upright.

Very warm weather prevailed the first half of May: 80s and even 90s. But by the last of the month it became much cooler.

Rochester reported the warmest spring in 98 years! Little wonder that the average for the month was + 4°. Strong southeast winds much of the time may have influenced the migration somewhat. One observer stated, "We waited for the migration -it never came." Another said, "The warblers went through one day while I was at work." Sparrows were in evidence, at least in the Twin Cities. Puzzling were the hundreds of American Golden-Plovers and Pectoral Sandpipers seen in Rock and Nobles Counties flying in a southerly direction when the wind was from that direction with a velocity of around 25 mph.

A small wave of flycatchers was seen on the 6th and 26th of this month. A few thrushes were noted on the 8th.

Some of the unusual species, places or dates were as follows: Snowy Egret: Olmsted, Otter Tail, St. Louis; Little Blue Heron: Olmsted, St. Louis; Cinnamon Teal: Otter Tail, Morrison, Benton; Long-tailed Duck: Faribault; Ferruginous Hawk: Chippewa, Stearns; Common Moorhen: Marshal;