The 1997 spring migration in Minnesota was delayed by cold temperatures, unfavorable winds, and lack of available food for insectivores. Even by the end of May, trees were not yet fully leafed out in northern regions. Flycatchers and vireos were especially late and passerine migration extended well into June. Shorebird migration was perceived as lackluster, except in flooded backwaters of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and in the southwest region. Staggering snowdrifts in western regions contributed to equally staggering floods, especially in the Minnesota River Valley and along the Red River Valley all the way north through Kittson County.

Lake Superior produced several Red-throated Loons and the only sizeable concentration of Horned Grebes, but none of the latter species could be found in the northwest region during late May. Big Stone County is becoming an expected location for the rare but apparently regular Clark's Grebe. Both American and Least Bitterns were scarce, following a few unexpectedly early arrivals. Even more startling were late March records of the Great Egret in northern Minnesota. Continuing the recent trend, only one Snowy Egret and no Little Blue Herons were reported. Cattle Egrets were also relatively scarce.

Many species of waterfowl overwinter in small numbers, especially in the southeast region and in the Twin Cities area; distinguishing overwintering birds from early migrants is impossible when locations and numbers are not specified by observers. It is much more informative to cite locations and dates for peak migration and to specify high counts. One informative example is the total of >2,500 Greater White-fronted Geese reported in a four-county area on 19 April by Paul Jantscher and David Neitzel. Recent population increases notwithstanding, the late May occurrence of the Ross's Goose in two different St. Louis County locations is still startling. For the second spring in a row, an Eurasian Wigeon was reported; this year's male in Lincoln County was one of very few ever found southwest of the Twin Cities area.

Three Ferruginous Hawks were all in southwestern Minnesota where they are most expected; most unexpected was the lack of previous records for Jackson County. Frank Nicoletti initiated a spring census of raptor migration in Duluth; highlights included a Red-shouldered Hawk in late May and a high count of six Golden Eagles on 11 April. Three records of the Prairie Falcon were certainly more than usual for spring but all were from expected locales.

The 19 Sharp-tailed Grouse in Aitkin County was the only significant number of this declining species reported. Few Yellow Rails were discovered in breeding locations by the end of May and no migrants were detected anywhere in the state. Except for two early reports from Winona and Washington counties, the Common Moorhen was apparently absent from the state.

Shorebird migration was condensed during mid-May, with 20 species found on 11 and 12 May in Rock and Jackson counties respectively, plus 18 species on 17 May in Dakota County. Most interesting were the five widely scattered Piping Plovers detected as migrants between 10 and 18 May. Compared to last spring's total of 115+, the 22 American Avocets seemed low but actually equalled the ten-year average for 1986–95. Willets are unusual anywhere in northeastern Minnesota so the flock of nine in Hoyt Lakes was astonishing. Records of the Whimbrel away from the North Shore are even more surprising; the reports from Dakota and Sherburne were both county firsts. The number of Hudsonian Godwits more than doubled compared to last spring. An impressive 12 Red Knots at the St. Peter lagoons in Le Sueur County was one of the largest flocks ever reported in the state. On the downside, Red-necked Phalaropes were again scarce with only six reports.

There are still <10 spring records for jaegers in Minnesota, so the unidentified jaeger in Duluth is noteworthy. Three Little Gulls were found although for the fourth consecutive spring, none were in Duluth. The first-year bird in Big Stone County was especially well-documented. Several other unusual larids were found in unusual places, including two Glaucous Gulls in Jackson County, but most exciting of all was the second-year Arctic Tern in Duluth, the first one since 1985!

The remarkable total of 20 Snowy Owls found in western Minnesota by one party in a single day would itself be a fitting climax to their 1996–97 invasion, but two Snowys in late May (and stay tuned for June!) provided an undeniable encore, as did the two Northern Hawk Owls found in appropriate breeding habitat during late May. Short–eared Owl reports were down sharply from last spring's exceptional numbers but were close to the average of 16 birds seen in nine counties for the preceding ten years.

The Say's Phoebe on 27 April was remarkably early considering this spring's late migration. Also remarkable was the single flock of 21 Western Kingbirds near Rocky Point; flocks of this species are rarely detected anywhere in Minnesota and especially in Lake of the Woods County! The Rock Wren seen on the headquarters building of the Minnesota River Valley NWR was one of the few ever seen by multiple observers. The pairing of a male Mountain Bluebird with a female Eastern Bluebird in Bemidji was the most ecumenical bluebird event since a similar pairing in 1986 (The Loon 58:194–196). Only two new Townsend's Solitaires were discovered, bringing the 1996–97 seasonal total to 12. The total of seven Northern Mockingbirds was more than usual. A seventh state record Sage Thrasher at the Anoka County Airport was one of the more cooperative rarities found this spring.

Although some of the vireo species were late and/or scarce, observers raved about the quality of warbler migration during the latter half of May. Representative daily counts included 24 species in Winona County on 14 May (AH, PS), 25 species in Scott County on 21 May (fide AH), 23 species in Hennepin County (DZ) and in Duluth (MH) on 24 May, and an amazing 24 species at Agassiz NWR Headquarters in Marshall County on 24 May (MBW) including a far out of range Yellow-throated Warbler. No fewer than six additional Yellow-throateds were reported, clearly the most ever in one season, although two remain undocumented at the time of this writing. Uncharacteristically, the Prairie Warbler in Anoka County and the Worm-eating Warbler in St. Paul both stayed put for several days and were easily relocated.

The Summer Tanager has been scarce in recent years, so this spring's three reports were encouraging. Nearly all of the six Western Tanager reports were documented; a significant improvement from spring 1995. What are the odds of going to look for a male Lazuli Bunting at a feeder in Lyon County and finding a female instead? Probably not as good as the chances of finding a Spotted Towhee in Lyon County during migration. We are beginning to accumulate records in late April/early May for this “new” species and the Southwest region appears to be the most reliable location in both spring and fall. One consequence of this spring's late migration was the dearth of Le Conte's Sparrows in northwestern Minnesota by the end of the period. During the second week of May, unusually high numbers of Harris's Sparrows were found throughout southwestern Minnesota.

Unconfirmed and Undocumented Reports: Gyrfalcon in Duluth, adult Great Black-backed Gull in Duluth, Yellow-throated Warblers in Anoka and Kandi-yohi counties, Townsend's Warbler in Rice County, Black-headed Grosbeak in Clay County, and Western Tanager in St. Louis County. This section does not include records found Unacceptable by the Minnesota Ornithological Records Committee.

Temperature and Precipitation Summary: Temperatures were significantly below average for each of the three spring months in all nine districts, as reported by the Minnesota Extension Service and the State Climatology Office. Precipitation was also below normal in nearly all districts during April and May, except in the Northwest during April (1.43 inches above normal) where it was most unwelcome. The Northwest district remained 4.6–5.0 degrees colder than normal during all three months. The Southwest was also one of the coldest areas; it was 4.8° below normal for the month of April and 5.8° below normal for the month of May. The statewide departure from average was 2.0° colder for March, 3.3° colder for April, and 5.2° colder for May.

Acknowledgments: I thank Carol Schumacher for helping to compile the spring and fall reports over the past two years. Kim Eckert and Anthony Hertzel summarized reports called in to the MOU “hotlines” in Duluth and the Twin Cities, respectively. Median arrival and departure dates were calculated by Paul Budde.