 |
Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
|
The 1940-Summer Season 1 June through 31 July 1940 By Hugh R. Engstrom |
THIS year's compilation is the result of the work of 54 individuals or groups affiliated with the MOU. Nestin~ data, gathered in about 4 I areas in all parts of the state, have been submitted on a total of 97 species of birds. For some reason the interest in nesting records has fallen off considerably in the last two years, but those who have contributed must be commended for their diligence and their cooperation in making this report possible.
Some of the I940 records of more than passing interest, either because of their rarity or because of unusual circumstances connected with them, pertain to the following species: black duck, hooded merganser, duck hawk, piping plover, upland plover, Forster's tern, black tern, rubythroated hummingbird, cliff swallow, yellow warbler, mourning warbler, and yellow-headed blackbird.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Species |
Information |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | This duck was found incubating on May I9, at the Bass Pond, Hennepin Co., by the members of the MOU who attended the annual meetings in Minneapolis this spring. | ||||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | Because of the numerous reports of this duck only the first and last are mentioned. The earliest nest of the season was seen by the T. S. Roberts Club on May 22, in a slough near Clear Lake; it contained r I fresh eggs. At Otter Lake, Ramsey Co., on July I5, R. M. Berthel saw a hen and ro downy young. | ||||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | The single report for the spoonbill was received from C. Ed ward Carlson, who found on May 2I, in Martin County a nest with 8 eggs. The nest was later destroyed. | ||||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | Five observers reported this species. The first nest of the season (I 2 eggs) was observed west of St. Cloud on Lake Osakis by the T. S. Roberts Club on May I5. The last nest was reported on July 3I, from Lake Vermillion by K. Carlander. | ||||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | The first report of this species in four years came from R. M. Berthel. A hen with 5 half-grown young were seen August Io, on Basswood Lake, St. Louis County. | ||||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | A nest with 6 eggs was observed by the T. S. Roberts Club at Lake Osakis on May I5· The nest was destroyed. | ||||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | Six young and the adult birds were seen on Lake Vermillion, July 30 by K. Carlander. A single record. | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | A female of this species, with 6 downy young, was observed by the T. S. Roberts Club on July 20, near St. Cloud. K. Carlander witnessed an unusual sight in that he saw 3 5 young following one parent on Lake Vermillion, July 3 r. | ||||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | Dr. Lakela and others observed 7 young with the female and 8 young with the female on July 5 and 7, and young with the female on July 6 at Sea Gull Lake, Cook County. On August I3, at Grand Portage, Cook Co., R. M. Berthel noticed a hen with I2 half-grown young. | ||||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | R. M. Berthel observed a hen ruddy duck at Otter Lake, Ramsey Co., on July r8, with 5 downy young. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | G. Rysgaard saw 8 young that were about 2 days old on June I2, and 9 young on July 3, at Sturgeon Lake. John C. Andrews flushed a female with 8-Io young on Honeymoon Trail, Poplar River, Cook Co. on July I4 | ||||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | C. Edward Carlson was the only observer who reported chis species. His dates for 8 nests ranged from May 20 to June 26. The nests were all found in Martin County and usually contained from I2-20 eggs. Only a few eggs were successfully hatched. | ||||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | Many nests were reported for this species. The first of the season, a 9 egg nest, was found by C. Hero in Renville Co. on May 5· The last record, a female with 7 young sighted on the early morning of August 5, at Lake Sylvia, Wright Co., was made by the author. | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | There were two records for this Grebe. The first nest, found on a pond near Pleasant Lake contained r downy young; several others swam about. The second nest was located on a pond near Grand Lake. Both reports were submitted by the T. S. Roberts Ornithology Club and were for June I2. | ||||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | Kenneth Carlander was fortunate to find 7 young, just out of the nest, at Lake Vermillion, St. Louis Co., on July 30. | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | Almost every observer reported nesting doves this year. The first and last records were obtained by Harrell and Longley on May 9 and June 19 for Ramsey Co.-2 nests with 2 eggs each. Several nests were reported by A. D. DuBois and G. Rysgaard. C. Hero and two of his students, James Kottom and Jack Sandberg, located several nests near Renville, Minnesota. | ||||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | A nest contammg 2 eggs was found near St. Cloud on June 18, by the T. S. Roberts Club. | ||||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | Three reports came in for the rain crow. Mr. A. D. DuBois located a nest with 5 eggs on June 12, near Lake Minnetonka. Harrell and Longley saw a nest with 4 eggs on July 15, and Mrs. Olin found a nearly grown young on Minnesota Point on August 23. | ||||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | Dr. Lakela discovered a nest with 2 eggs on Beck's Road near Duluth on June 16. The nest was empty on June 25. Warren H. Nord and the writer observed a young nighthawk on the University Campus, May 20. | ||||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | R. M. Berthel caught an immature swift after a driving rain on June 23, at White Bear Lake. He dried it off with corn meal, and it was able to return to its nest in a nearby chimney. | ||||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | We have two reports for the hummer. Miss Ruby Morine (Mpls.) found a nest with 2 eggs at Nissawa, Minnesota. On August 14, Mrs. Olin found a young bird in a nest at Duluth. She first observed the nest on July 19. | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | Four observers re ported this species. On June 7, Mr. DuBois found two nests with IO eggs each at Lake Minnetonka. Arno1d Erick son and Dana Struthers located a nest with I newly hatched young and 2 eggs at Mendota on June 29, and Rhoda Green found a nest near St. Paul which contained 9 eggs on May 29. | ||||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | As was true with this species last year, C. Hero reported the only nests for the Duluth area. On June 2I, he found a nest with 2 young and 5 eg~s; the second nest, found July I, con tained I young and I egg. Mr. DuBois found a nest with I I eggs on June 8; the last young hatched and left the nest on June I9. | ||||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | The single record of this species was submitted by A. D. DuBois, who found at Lake Minnetonka on June 3, a nest with IO eggs. | ||||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | The T. S. Roberts Club saw a nest at Clear Lake on May 22, which held 4 eggs. A. D. DuBois, saw a nest with 7 eggs on June 3, at Minnetonka. 4~' R. M. Berthel sent in an intc-r~sting report from Otter Lake where 1·e worked with this species. In 6 families observed both adults were present and the young numbered 5, 6, 6, 7, 5, and 4 respectively. These families were seen on July 8. | ||||
| Plovers | |||||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | As a great many nests of the killdeer were found, the earliest and latest nests are mentioned. Miss Alma Chesley, of Duluth, found a nest with 4 eggs in the Forest Hill Cemetery on May I6. The author found a nest at Sand Lake, Minnesota on July I I. The female was incubating and no effort was made to count her eggs. | ||||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | Minnesota Point and Lake of the Woods were again the only reported nesting sites of the species. All nests reported contained 4 eggs. The Duluth reports came from C. Hero, 8 nests; Ornithology class of Duluth State Teachers, 4 nests; Mrs. Olin, 3 nests. The dates ranged from May 23 to June 7· K. Carlander and Mrs. Carlander were responsible for the reports from Pine Island, Lake of the Woods. They found 5 nests on June 23, and reported all eggs hatched by July I I. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | C. E-:lward Carlson found, in Martin County on May 24, a nest with 4 eggs. | ||||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | Numerous nests were reported. C. Hero of Duluth found 8 nests in early June on Minne sota Point. On a trip to Duluth and the North Shore on June 7, Mr. Whitney Eastman (Mpls.) found a nest with 4 eggs on Minnesota Point. Other nests were reported by Mrs. \X/. C. Olin, George Rysgaard, and K. Carlander. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | Mr. and Mrs. K. Carlander caught and banded 23 young birds on June 30, at Gull Rock, Lake of the Woods. In the middle of June an adult female, whic~ had cared for a brood of 7 young, was kil!ecl by accident at Lake Kabetogama. Six of the young were transported to Sand Lake, Minnesota where the author saw them on July I. They all survived. Lakela, Graybeal, Elwell, Maher, and Hero saw three young on July 3 at Silver Cliff, Lake Superior. | ||||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | In St. Paul on Mav 29, Rhoda Green found a nest built of reeds which held 3 eggs. C. Hero saw a nest with 2 eggs on Minnesota Point on June 20. The author noted 6 nests at Sand Lake, Minnesota. All were on floatin3 ma~ses of vegetation and averaged 3 eggs each. In some cases young were hatching; they were banded as soon as they attempted to enter the water. A. D. DuBois saw several nests at Lake Minnetonka on June 3, mainly with 3 eggs. | ||||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | Thirty-four nests of this species were found at Lake of the Woods by Mr. and Mrs. K. Carlander on June 23. The nests averaged 2-3 eggs each. | ||||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | R. M. Berthel found a colony of about 25 pairs at Otter Lake, Ramsey Co. on July 12. In this group he saw 6 half-grown and 4 downy young, all swimming. | ||||
| Loons | |||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | A single nest of the great northern diver was found this year on May 30, at French Lake near Aitkin, Minnesota by Mrs. W. C. Olin of Duluth. In addition 5 recently hatched young were seen on July 5 and 6, at Sea Gull Lake, Cook County by Dr. Olga Lakela, Dr. Elizabeth Graybeal, Miss Mary Elwell, F dward Maher and Casimir Hero of Duluth. The last record for this species was obtained by C. Hero on July 2I, at Long Lake, Aitkin Co., when he saw 2 young with the female. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) | During the week beginning June 3, Mr. DuBois found 3 nests of this odd looking bird, containing 5, 4 and 6 eggs respectively. The nests were found in the vicinity of Lake Minnetonka. | ||||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | In a marsh between University Ave. and Hilltop Golf Course (St. Paul) Miss Rhoda Green found a nest with 4 eggs on May 29. At Mendota on June 29, Arnold Erickson and Dana Struthers observed 2 young birds. Mr. A. D. DuBois found a nest of 4 eggs at Lake Minnetonka on June 7· | ||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | The T. S. Roberts Club reported an undetermined number of this species incubating at the colony near Rockville, Stearns Co., on May I9-John Strey of Duluth visited a rookery of approximately 50 nests near Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine Co., on May I2. On investigating 8 nests he found they contained 5 eggs each. | ||||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | Two young birds were ob served leaving the nest on July 24, at Lake Vermillion by K. Carlander. This was the only record for the fish hawk. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | A nest with 5 eggs was found in the vicinity of Clear Lake, near St. Cloud, on May 22 by the T. S. Roberts Club. | ||||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | The reports for this species come on widely separated dates. The T. S. Roberts Club found a nest with an incubating bird on March 30, at Cold Spring. Mr. L. Hackl found a young hawk on the ground under the nest he located on the North Shore of Lake Superior near Duluth on July r. | ||||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | A single nest was found on July 6, at Sea Gull Lake by Dr. Lakela, Dr. Graybeal, Miss Elwell, E. Maher and C. Hero. It is believed the nest contained 2 young. | ||||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | One report came from Mr. DuBois for the Minnetonka area. He saw an adult incubating on April 27, and again on May 2. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | On February 27, a nest with 3 eggs was found at the Heron colony near St. Cloud, by the T. S. Roberts Club. A. D. DuBois found on April 22, at Minnetonka, a nest with 3 young. The 2 young St. Paul ornithologists, Harrell and Longley, found a nest with 3 young on May 4· | ||||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | A nest of the marsh owl was found near Mayhew Lake on June 20 by the T. S. Roberts Club. | ||||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | Arnold Erickson saw several kingfisher holes in the wall of a sheer bank on Sorrens Bluff at Red Wing on April 21. Several birds were seen. At Red Wing on June 15, G. Rysgaard observed several fledged young. | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | Near Avon on June 19, a nest, containing an undetermined number of young, was found by the T. S. Roberts Club. | ||||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | Harrel and Longley noted an adult bird feeding her young on May 4, at St. Paul. | ||||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | Young almost able to fly were found in a nest on June I8, at St. Cloud by the members of the T. S. Roberts Club. C. Hero saw a young and an adult bird together on July I7 at Duluth. | ||||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | In Hennepin Co. on May 30, young were found in a nest about eight feet off the ground by Harrell and Longley. The T. S. Roberts Club observed a nest full of young at St. Cloud on June 3· | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Two nests were found on Jun'! 5, by the T. S. Roberts Club. One contained a family of noisy young and the other an undetermined number of young. Calvin Jevne of Renville saw a nest with 3 eggs on May 12. C. Hero, on June 20, observed young awing on the D. S. T. C. campus. | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | A nest was found in Ramsey County by Byron Harrell and William Longley on June I9· As the nest was at least 50 feet up the young were not observed. | ||||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | James and Dana Struthers saw 2 young in a nest in Houston Co. on June I. | ||||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | The only record, a 5 egg nest, was found on June I2 at Grand Lake by the T. S. Roberts Club. | ||||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | On June I5, 2 nests were found on Minnesota Point by C. Hero with 3 and I egg respectively. Other nests were found in Duluth by Hero and R. Norman. G. Rysgaard located a nest with 3 eggs at Sturgeon Lake on June 28. The last report came from Harrell and Longley who found 2 nests on July 5 in Ramsey Co. | ||||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | This flycatcher was observed nesting on but one occasion. At Sturgeon Lake G. Rysgaard found a nest of 5 eggs on June I3. Horned Lark. Three young of this early nester were found by Ed. Maher on Minnesota Point on April 25. Harrel! and Longley found a nest with 2 young in Ramsey Co. on June 24. | ||||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | Many re· ports came in for this species. L. Hackl, C. Hero and LeRoy Haglund of Duluth all reported nests with young during the last week of June on the D. S. T. C. campus. Wynn Mahle found a nest of 4 eggs on June I5 at Burntside Lake. G. Rysgaard reported 2 nests with young at Sturgeon Lake, and the T. S. Roberts Club also reported 2 nests, each contain· ing 2 eggs. | ||||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | R. M. Berthel found a nest of eggs at White Bear Lake on May I; 4 young left it on July I3. On July 30, a nest holding 5 eggs was found at Lake Vermillion by K. Carlander. Dr. Lakela and C. Hero found 2 empty nests and 4 feathered young on July 4, at Sea Gull Lake, Cook Co. | ||||
| Vireos | |||||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | A nest containing 4 fresh eggs was seen on June r r, at St. Cloud by the T. S. Roberts Club. | ||||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | A nest of this interesting bird was found near Avon on June 12, by the T. S. Roberts Club; it contained 4 small young. | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | Milton Thompson observed a bird incubating her eggs on May 5, in Minneapolis. | ||||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | Harrell and Longley found a nest with 7 eggs on May I8 in St. Paul; all hatched by May 25. | ||||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | C. Hero found a nest with an egg on May I9 ncar Ren· ville and approximately 50 nests at Fond du Lac on July I5. Lakela, Graybeal, Elwell, Maher and Hero saw approximately 8o nests on July 7 at Cascade Falls in the Superior National Forest. At Sturgeon Lake on May 25, G. Rysgaard found a nest with 3-4 eggs. | ||||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | C. Hero saw r young out of nest on July 8, and 3 young out of nest, July I'), at Duluth. | ||||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | K. Carlander found a nest with young on July I3, at Lake of the Woods. Several martin houses were occupied at Renville on May 30. | ||||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | The earliest report is that of Carol Nordby of Renville who saw a nest with young on May I2. C. Hero and K. Carlander observed several nests at Renville and Lake of the Woods respectively. Arnold Erickson turned in the latest report-4 small young in a nest at Rock Creek, Pii1e Co., on August Io. ' | ||||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | Only three persons reported this species. At c;ribou Lake, St. Louis Co., on June 30, C. Hero saw adults feeding young in 6o-7o nests. G. Rysgaard located a similar number of nests with eggs and young at Sturgeon Lake on July 2. Don Mahle located and studied during July 2 colonies of several hundred nests each at Whitewater State Park, Winona County. | ||||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | The Duluth area dominated the reports of the species: R. Norman, M. Laakso, Mrs. Olin, Dr. Lakela and H. Engstrom found nests. R. M. Berthel found a nest at Grand Portage, Cook Co., on August 13· The author observed several nesting pairs in tall Norway Pines at Sand Lake, Minnesota on June 30. | ||||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | At Blackhoof, Carl~ton Co. on June I2, Dr. Lakcla and C. Hero watched a male and female carry food to an opening in a tree. | ||||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | On May I6, Harrell and Longley found young in a bird house in St. Paul. C. Hero saw both the male and female carry food to a small hole in a tree at Renville on May I9, and G. Rysgaard found a young at Frontenac on June 8. | ||||
| Wrens | |||||
| Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | The T. S. Roberts Club found 3 occupied nests on June I 8, 12. Ruth Frisell (Duluth) found 3 young out of the nest on July r6. | ||||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | Arnold Erickson saw, at a marsh just south of Minneapolis on August 19, several young learning to fly. | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | About 30 nests with eggs and young were reported by numerous people. The T. S. Roberts Club reported the first nests for June 5, with eggs. The latest report came from R. Norman and C. Hero at Duluth, who saw a nest with one young on July 12. Most of the reports centered around June 15. | ||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | Many nests reported. The average number of eggs per nest was 3· Some members reporting were: T. S. Roberst Club, D. S. T. C. Ornithology Class and Nature Study Class, C. Hero, Reuben Lentz, Jack Lentz, R. Norman and Martin Laakso. In addition L. Hackl, Mrs. Olin, Miss Severena Holmberg and H. Engstrom. | ||||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | At Sturgeon Lake on June 12, G. Rysgaard watched an adult carry food to a nest. The T. S. Roberts Club observed a nest with young near Avon on June 19. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | Several nests were found by A. D. DuBois, T. S. Roberts Club, Harrell and Longley, Lester Carlander and K. Carlander. The earliest nest was noted at Lake Minnetonka on May 20 by A. D. DuBois; it contained 4 eggs. | ||||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | The 6 nests reported contained cowbird eggs. The early nest of the season was reported from Duluth by C. Hero on June q; the latest nest by G. Rysgaard from Sturgeon Lake on June 28. | ||||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | Many members reported many successful nests of the species. All areas of the state were represented. WOOD THRUSH Harrell and Longley found a nest with 3 eggs in a boxelder near Minneapolis on May 25. A. D. DuBois found a nest on May 27, near Lake Minnetonka, which contained 3 cowbird eggs and 3 thrush eggs. | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | A nest of the thistle bird was found with 5 eggs on September 5, near St. Cloud by the T. S. Roberts Club. Others were observed by H. Engstrom at Lake Sylvia on August 8. | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | This sparrow was reported frequently. H. Engstrom found 3 eggs on May I7. The nest was observed until the young, which were banded, left. Rysgaard, Hero, D. S. T. C. ornithology class, T. S. Roberts Club and A. D. DuBois also sent in records. | ||||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | Three nests with rggs were fou.nd by the T. S. Roberts Club on June 5, at St. Cloud. | ||||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | G. Rysgaard located a nest with 4 eggs on June 29, at Sturgeon Lake. | ||||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | G. Rysgaard and Don Sydow found 2 nests in the sand dunes, Anoka Co. One contained I cowbird and the other 3 eggs on May 22. Dr. Lakela reported a nest of 4 eggs for May 27. The latest record was submitted by W. J. Breckenridge and R. M. Berthel, who found a 2 egg nest in Ottertail 'County on August 3· | ||||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | Many nests were observed, the earliest by C. Hero on June 4, at Duluth. It held 5 eggs. The latest nest was reported by Sister Gervase, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth-4 young in a nest bn July I5. Minnesota Museum of Natural History, Uni-versity of Minn..· | ||||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | Several nests were reported. The T. S. Roberts Club investigated 129 nests at Clear Lake on May 22, which gave the following results: 45 nests with 4 eggs each; 9 nests with 3 eggs each; 5 nests with 2 eggs each; 20 nests with I egg each; and 50 nests either empty or in process of construction. Arnold Erickson and Dana Struthers saw 4 nests with eggs or young on June 2, at Minneapolis. | ||||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | L. Carlander and K. Carlander found a nest with 5 young and r fertile egg at Nine Mile Creek, Hennepin Co., on June 2. A nest with 2 young and cowbirds was found near Grand Lake on June 12 by the T. S. Roberts Club. | ||||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | An oriole was observed on its nest by the T. S. Roberts Club, June 3· G. Rysgaard saw 2 nests at Surgeon Lake on June 2 and 3; one held eggs, the other young birds. On July I2 in Duluth, E. Maher watched a young bird being fed out of the nest. | ||||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | As is usual with this species many nests were observed. Members reporting were: T. S. Roberts Club, D. S. T. C. Ornitholo~w class, A. D. DuBois, C. Hero, A. Erickson, D. Struthers, Rhoda Green, Mrs. Olin, and H. Engstrom. | ||||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | Eleven nests were observed from June 6-I2 by Harrell and Longley, built in willows along the Mississippi River flats (St. Paul). They contained from 4-5 eggs each. | ||||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | Several records were sent in by C. Hero from Renville for the month of May. The T. S. Roberts Club, 2 nests for June I7. R. M. Berthel found an egg that had. been laid in a banding trap. | ||||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | A nest with 3 eggs was reported by Miss Irene Johnson (Duluth) for June 9· Dr. Lakela and Dr. Graybeal saw a nest with 4 eggs at Sea Gull Lake, Cook Co. on July 6. | ||||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | A 3 egg nest was observed at Gunflint Lodge, Cook Co., by Dr. Lakela and Miss Elwell on July 7· | ||||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | This is perhaps the most common of all the nesting warblers in Minnesota. Many nests were reported. Rysgaard, Laakso, Hero, the T. S. Roberts Club and H. Engstrom were the main contributors. The author had an interesting experience with a nest built in a raspberry patch, which was cut down by mistake. By carefully propping up the nest with some of the cut shrubs and replacing the 2 young in the nest the parents were able to feed and care for them 4 days longer-the time necessary for the youn~ to leave the nest on their own accord. These birds were banded. | ||||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | An incubating bird was found on a nest which held an undetermined number of eggs, at Sturgeon Lake on June I3, by G. Rysgaard. | ||||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | In Wirth Park (Mpls.) a nest with 3 eggs was found by M. Thompson on May 5, all of which hatched but were destroyed. A. D. DuBois found a nest at Minnetonka on May I6, which contained 2 eggs and I young bird. | ||||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | Dr. Lakela and C. Hero found a nest on Skyline Parkway at Duluth ·on June 3; it held I egg. | ||||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | A nest with 2 eggs was found on June I9 by Harrell and Longley near St. Paul. The T. S. Roberts Club observed 2 nests, only one of which was successfuJ. It contained 3 eggs and a cowbird's egg on June 25. | ||||