Fairly warm but otherwise normal summer weather resulted in 265 species being reported, an average number, but with very few rarities. Highlights included Clark's Grebe, Laughing Gull, Sprague's Pipit, White-eyed Vireo, and Yellow-throated Warbler.

The pattern of cool weather in late spring continued into early June. Light frosts were recorded in northern Minnesota in the second week of the month; this period was also very wet, possibly creating problems for nesting birds. An abrupt change in weather occurred in mid-June, as unusually hot weather moved in to dominate the remainder of the month. During the third week of June, temperatures hit 100° in several localities. Statewide, temperatures for the month averaged anywhere from one to five degrees above normal; rainfall was somewhat below average.

July weather was much more “typical”, with overall temperatures averaging slightly below normal throughout the state, and rainfall slightly above normal. An extreme heat wave did hit the state
in mid-July, with temperatures breaking 100° in many southern locations (an incredible 111° was recorded on July 13th in Winona Co.!). High winds and thunderstorms ravaged north-central Minnesota in mid-July, resulting in extensive damage to eagle and Osprey nests, as well as forests (more than a dozen counties were declared disaster areas).

A total of 265 species was observed for the season, very near to the previous ten-year average of 266. Seasonal reports and/or breeding information was submitted by no fewer than 120 observers. Contributors sent in 1,242 nest or brood cards, a new record high. Breeding data was collected for 159 species, slightly above the average number for the past ten years. Special thanks go to the members of the Hiawatha Valley Audubon Nesting Project for contributing 166 nest/brood cards, and to the Minnesota County Biological Survey staff for contributing 31 cards (and additional observations) from several northwestern counties surveyed in 1995. Other top contributors of breeding information included Jean Segerstrom / Mark Newstrom (207 nest/brood cards), Russell Hofstead (163), Karl Bardon (125), Michael North (67), and Jack Sprenger (56). Thanks to all contributors for your outstanding efforts!

No single sighting stood out in 1995; relatively few casual and no accidental species were reported. A single Clark's Grebe was observed at Agassiz N.W.R.; there have been nine summer records for this species since it was “split” from Western Grebe in 1985. A Laughing Gull made a brief appearance in northwestern Minnesota in mid-June. A singing Sprague's Pipit, first discovered in the spring season, was relocated in Polk Co. at the beginning of June (this species may be one of the rarest breeders in the state; over the past 15 years, no more than one or two encounters have been reported in any given year). Another, potentially very rare breeder in the state, White-eyed Vireo, was discovered singing in early June in extreme southeastern Minnesota. And finally, a male Yellow-throated Warbler, first discovered in 1994, returned to Sibley S.P. in Kandiyohi Co. this summer.

Other interesting observations included a pair of Snowy Egrets in the vicinity of Pigs Eye Lake in the Twin Cities for most of July; several Cattle Egret reports from four southern counties; a Northern Bobwhite found in extreme southeastern Minnesota (where their range just barely extends into the state); Red-necked Phalaropes in two western counties; a Boreal Owl heard in Koochiching Co. in early June (despite this species being a regular breeder in northeastern Minnesota, it is not often detected during June and July); several reports, including a rare nesting record, of American Three-toed Woodpeckers in three northern counties; a number of Bell's Vireos in five southern counties; a mid-summer Yellow-breasted Chat seen by many people in Cannon River Wilderness Park (this species, although never abundant, has been notably absent for many summers); and Henslow's Sparrows at two locations in prairie remnants of western Minnesota.

Additional late migrants and summer vagrants included a June Snow Goose in southern Minnesota; late migrant Old-squaw and Surf Scoters on Lake Superior; mid-June records of a Rough-legged Hawk and an adult Ferruginous Hawk; and a record-breaking late migrant American Tree Sparrow lingering into early June in central Minnesota.

For roughly 30 species in 1995, there were more reports than usual, whereas reports were significantly down for only half that number. This was in sharp contrast to the previous year, when reports were down for a large number of species. Some species, such as Turkey Vulture and Wild Turkey, appeared to be continuing an expansion of numbers and/or range. Two re-introduced species, Trumpeter Swan and Peregrine Falcon, have had similar success. Two somewhat cyclic species, Black-billed Cuckoo and Dickcissel, are presently at or approaching high points. Several warbler species, including Cerulean Warbler, were more widely reported than usual, an encouraging sign. Also heartening was the increase in reports for Purple Martin, a species that has declined in recent years. A few other species for which there were significantly more observations included Green-winged Teal, Sandhill Crane, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Swainson's Thrush.

Species for which the number of reports declined included several water-birds such as Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Green Heron, Ruddy Duck, and American Coot. And, while pheasant numbers increased significantly, Gray Partridge continued to be scarce. Other species exhibiting marked drops in reports included Downy Woodpecker and Indigo Bunting.

Only two species regularly seen in the summer were not reported in 1995. Most disturbing was the absence of any Yellow-crowned Night-Heron records; this species had been observed in all of the previous 15 summers. With the exception of Hudsonian Godwit, all other species that have been reported in seven or more of the past ten summers were observed this year.

The format for the species accounts is the same as the past several years. The key to the seasonal reports is located below. Breeding records are classified based on the criteria found in The Loon 58:22 or in Minnesota Birds, p. 7 (Green and Janssen 1975). Counties for which positive breeding is documented for the first time since 1970 are in italics and identified as such according to updated versions of Janssen and Simonson's breeding maps (The Loon 56:167–186, 219–239 and 57:15–34). Divisions of the state into regions (e.g. west central, southeast) are based on those delineated in Birds in Minnesota, p. 25 (Janssen 1987).

A final thanks to all of the summer season reporters who make it possible to document avian distribution and migration. Thanks also to Peder Svingen for his assistance in preparing this report.