The major meteorological trend of the Spring of 1988 was the continuing below normal precipitation which began in the Fall of 1987; almost all areas of the state reported below normal rainfall. Precipitation amounts declined as the spring progressed. By the end of May, lawns in the Twin Cities were burned to a crisp as sprinkling bans went into effect.

Reporting stations showed precipitation at least three to four inches below normal throughout the state. Many lakes showed wide shorelines and some ponds and sloughs were already dried up by the end of May.

During March temperatures were warm during the first ten days of the month. A blizzard in the north and snowstorm in the south changed things rapidly. Fourteen inches of snow fell at Two Harbors along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Temperatures fluctuated from cold to fairly warm during the latter part of the month. Below zero readings were recorded in the north on March 19th and 21st however.

Some heavy rains fell in the southwest during the first few days of April; however, temperatures rose rapidly and dried the land quickly. It was 72° in the southwest on the 4th and a record 76° in the Twin Cities on the 7th. Little or no rain fell the rest of the month and strong winds absorbed what little moisture there was in the topsoil.

May saw a continuation of the April conditions except that it was hotter and drier, and the winds blew constantly. From the 1st to the 8th temperature highs were in the 80's across the southern part of the state. By the 18th, a high of 95° was recorded in the Twin Cities. The last four days of the month saw temperatures rise to 90° or above throughout southern Minnesota. The drought conditions present across the state at the end of May were a bad omen for the breeding season, especially for water and marsh birds.

What were the major ornithological events of this peculiar, hot, dry spring? My vote for the top event of the season was the invasion of Red Crossbills into southern Minnesota (see article on page 177 of this issue). The influx started the first week in March and the birds disappeared abruptly in late May. The most unusual species recorded this spring was the Williamson's Sapsucker seen at Itasca State Park in Hubbard County from 21 May to 30 May. This is only the third record for the state and the first in the north, the other two records being from the southern part of the state in Nobles and Winona Counties. The heaviest migration noted was on 7 May when 110 species were recorded in Waseca, Steele, Dodge and Mower Counties. Included were 21 species of warblers. On the lOth 119 species were seen in the northwestern comer of the state even though only 12 species of warblers were recorded. It was not a season for rarities. However Great Black-backed Gull and Laughing Gull were seen in Duluth harbor from 14 to 27 May. Say's Phoebes were seen in Murray and Rock Counties during May. House Finches continued their Winter 1988 spread into the state with several records in the Twin Cities, several in Mankato and the first record in the northwest from Thief River Falls.