Migration was delayed by cold temperatures persisting from the severe winter of 1995–96, retarded melting of ice on lakes, and lack of food before mid-May for leaf-gleaners and insectivores. As the northwest region finally began to thaw out, its heavy snowpack produced severe flooding which was exacerbated by heavy rains in May. When conditions finally changed, migrants came flooding into the state. The previous record for county Big Days in Minnesota (162 species in Roseau County) was smashed by two teams on 18 May during the annual Hawk Ridge Birdathon in St. Louis County; the team of Terry Brashear, Mike Hendrickson, Mark Ochs and Kim Risen reported an amazing 177 species while another team tallied 173!

Red-throated Loons were reported from Duluth but more unusual was the one found on Hanging Horn Lake during scouting for a Carlton County Big Day. Unlikely concentrations of Horned and Red-necked Grebes were reported from flooded fields and flowing rivers in northern Minnesota, where open water was otherwise scarce. The Clark's Grebe was a first for Freeborn County but not far from Minnesota Lake in Faribault County, where breeding was suspected in 1994 (The Loon 66:208). Unprecedented numbers of American White Pelicans along the North Shore of Lake Superior were undoubtedly displaced by the lack of open water elsewhere.

In contrast to last spring's poor showing, good numbers of Snowy Egrets were found, although only one Little Blue Heron was reported. The total of Cattle Egrets was up compared to last spring but still far below the 105 reported during the spring of 1993. Singularly startling was the Cattle Egret that flew over the mouth of the Warroad River shortly after sunset, accompanying gulls as they headed towards the middle of Lake of the Woods for roosting! All reports of the White-faced Ibis were from the southwest and west-central regions, where records of this Casual species are less unexpected.

Despite record cold temperatures in February, a few Greater White-fronted Geese arrived by early March. Ross' Geese were not plentiful, but they were well-distributed across five south counties. One of the three Cinnamon Teal reported this spring was relatively easy to relocate, an event much rarer than the species' status might suggest. Chuck Krulas and Jeff Stephenson tried to relocate an Eurasian Wigeon that had been reported in Goodhue County; they eventually found it in Dakota County, for a first county record! Only one Ferruginous Hawk was reported; during migration, Janssen (Birds in Minnesota, 1987) considered this species twice as likely to occur in spring. Over the past 20 years, the number of spring records (28) is less predominant than fall records (20). There were also seven June/July records during this period of time. The Prairie Falcon in Clay County was a good find, as this species remains an exceptional spring migrant in the state.

At first glance, it would seem impossible to predict the serendipitous discovery of Minnesota's first Rock Ptarmigan, apparently also a first for the “Lower 48.” However, several late spring records in southern Canada provide perspective on its presence. The decline of Sharp-tailed Grouse in Minnesota's northwest region is particularly disturbing; this has been their stronghold despite seemingly inexorable habitat loss. Yellow Rails went undetected during migration and were found only in known breeding areas. Reports of the Common Moorhen were up significantly.

Participants in the Hawk Ridge Birdathon on 18 May will forget neither the variety of shorebirds (27 species, mostly at the 40th Avenue West/Erie Pier area in Duluth) nor the bizarre parade of avocets, plovers, and sandpipers riding along the North Shore of Lake Superior on ice floes! The only report of Piping Plover was two on the beach at Morris Point, near their last Minnesota breeding location in Lake of the Woods County. American Avocets invaded the state with >105 individuals reported, compared to just 13–14 birds last spring. Willets were reported from at least 18 counties but in smaller numbers than usual. For the second consecutive spring, four Whimbrels traveled off their usual migration route and were detected, this time in Aitkin County. Hudsonian Godwits were found in an unremarkable 11 counties while the only two Red Knots were both in Duluth, as usual. Red-necked Phalaropes were apparently scarce for unclear reasons.

The Parasitic Jaeger in Duluth was of interest; there are fewer than ten spring records of jaegers in Minnesota. For the third consecutive spring, the Little Gull was not found in Duluth! Approximately half of all Minnesota records are from Duluth, with at least one bird recorded in 16 of the past 25 spring migrations. The adult California Gull on the Otter Tail River in Fergus Falls was not only a first county record but also the earliest date ever in Minnesota. April appears productive for finding the Glaucous Gull in unusual locations; first county records for Grant and Koochiching were established this spring. Both Lesser and Great Black-backed Gulls were reported again. My comments from last spring may be worth repeating: all should be carefully documented regardless of status, since species not yet recorded in the state may be overlooked if observers become “casual” about dark-mantled gulls.

A single Burrowing Owl was sighted in two adjacent counties; this declining species is Casual in the state. Remnants of their record 1995–96 invasions, Great Gray and Boreal Owls persisted far south of their usual range. Ray Glassel's knack for finding migrant Long-eared Owls resulted in an overdue first Waseca County record. Short-eared Owls were well above the ten-year spring average of sixteen birds seen in nine counties.

A total of four Western Kingbirds was reported along Lake Superior's North Shore in May, two each in Lake and St. Louis counties. The six Mountain Bluebird reports were welcome as this species continues to increase in Minnesota. Only one Townsend's Solitaire and only one Varied Thrush were fewer than anticipated in recent springs. On the other hand, ten Northern Mockingbirds were certainly more than expected; stay tuned for news of nesting in the summer report! Publicity about the 1995 statewide survey of Loggerhead Shrikes by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources resulted in an unusually high number of reports that spring; the reports from 18 counties in 1996 compares well with reports from 17–20 counties during 1992–94. Unfortunately, not enough observers give specific locations so that duplicate sightings can be avoided; this is especially a problem in Dakota County.

The previously mentioned “condensed” migration of passerines was followed by a few late dates for straggling vireos and warblers. Peak warbler passage occurred 14–20 May statewide, with Steve Carlson also noting a late surge of flycatchers and 12 species of warblers on 30 May in Hennepin County. A Blue-winged Warbler returned to Otter Tail County and another was found in Becker for a second county record; this species now occurs in northern Minnesota each spring. The singing Yellow-throated Warbler at Sibley State Park was undoubtedly the same individual for the third consecutive year. The famous Kentucky Warbler at Seven Mile Creek County Park in Nicollet County was actually not reported until summer but was presumably on territory by late May; this is the fifth consecutive year! Sadly, the reports of only two Yellow-breasted Chats must now be considered “above average.”

One of the two Summer Tanagers reported was both early and unusual at any time of year, in Duluth. Echoing last spring's unprecedented invasion, Western Tanagers were documented from at least two locales. None of the Spotted Towhees was documented; the Minnesota Ornithological Records Committee (M.O.R.C.) is requesting details on all reports of this species so that its status, dates of occurrence, and distribution in the state can be accurately determined. The three Henslow's Sparrows at O. L. Kipp State Park were paltry compared to former numbers there but certainly better than three out of last four springs, when none were found. The Orchard Oriole staged a mini-invasion of its own into the north-central and northeast regions. Both crossbills were reported more often than usual in southern Minnesota, including the first White-winged Crossbill nest. Perhaps related to the harsh winter of 1995–96, Common Redpolls lingered late and reports of Hoary Redpolls were up.

Unconfirmed and Undocumented Reports: Ibises at Marsh Lake, Lac Qui Parle Co. and in Lincoln Co.; Mississippi Kites in Anoka and Big Stone Co., Arctic Terns on Mille Lacs L., Least Tern in Winona Co., White-eyed Vireo in Rice Co., Worm-eating Warbler in Scott Co., Painted Redstart in Hennepin Co., Western Tanager in Wabasha Co., and Lazuli Bunting in Wabasha Co. This list includes only plausible reports that remain undocumented and does not include obvious misidentifications or records found Unacceptable by the M.O.R.C.

Weather Summary: Following record cold temperatures in February, March was predictably 5.5 to 8.4 degrees F. colder than normal in all regions and it never really warmed up thereafter, even in May. The ice broke up on 18 May at Rainy Lake, the latest ice-out date recorded there since 22 May 1950. April was especially cold in the northwest and north-central regions; these were 7.4 and 6.6 degrees below normal, respectively. The statewide average for May was 3.0 degrees below normal. In fact, among 40 reporting stations summarized online by the Minnesota Extension Service Agricultural Meteorologist and the Department of Natural Resources State Climatology Office (URL: http://www.soils.agri.umn.edu/research/climatology) all but one of these stations reported below average monthly temperatures for each month from March through May 1996. Precipitation was generally below average the entire period, except during May in the northwest and west-central regions which both received more than one inch of rain above normal. Mostly due to melting snow, the Red River crested 17.8 feet above flood stage in East Grand Forks on 21 April. Meanwhile, light snow on 12 April in Duluth produced a new all-time record for snowfall in one season; by the end of the month, the old record of 131.6 inches set in 1949–50 was history and 133.7 inches became the new benchmark. International Falls received 9.6 inches of snow on 25 April and their new all-time record of 116.0 inches was also set.

Acknowledgments: Many thanks to Scott Krych who stepped forward to help compile the spring and fall migration reports over the past three years when he was most needed. Bob Janssen has maintained a handwritten list of early and late dates for many years; Paul Budde constructed a computerized data base from which interpretive comments about median arrival and departure dates have been gleaned. As always, thanks to Kim Eckert and Anthony Hertzel who continue to summarize reports called in to the M. O. U. “hotlines” in Duluth and the Twin Cities. They also made suggestions that improved this foreword to The Season. Carol Schumacher summarized sightings posted on the Minnesota Birding Network. Terry Wiens called my attention to the online climatological summary.