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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 1932-Summer Season 1 June through 31 July 1932 Compiled by Alden Risser |
The custom of publishing the nest-finding activities
of the members of the :V.d.nnesota Bird Club in the Common Flicker was
inaugurated by s. A:. Grimes in 1929, and has been followed
ever since. This is my excuse for the following 15 pages.
The list of nests was compiled from the reports of 23 observers, 16 of whom sent in complete lists. We are very grateful to all who cooperated, but will not give their nar.1es ' here, for they appear in the bcdy of the list; with their respective records. The full nnm.o is given the first tir:1e it appears in the list.
The nesting records provided by Mr. Swanson from the northern part of the state '.rere made while he was doing field work in the interests_of the University Mus'eum of Natural History, and they are used with the kind pennssion of Dr.
Roberts, the director. We are especially grateful for the UB'e of these notes, for they contain the fir:st Minnesota breeding records of the Balqpate and Piping JP.lover as well as many other interesting records.
It is obviously impossible to r~cord all the nests t"ound,-when, for instance, 33 Hourning Doves' nests were reported; so the followinG plan is· used. When several nests or a species were found, only the first and last are given, except where there is sone interesting observation nade at a different nest. Unfinished nests, unin~estigatec1 nests, North Dakcta nests, old birds carrying good, and young birds out of the nest are recorded only when but one or no occupied Minnesota nests wre found. All reports are fro1:1 the Twin City -Robbinscale -Shrucopee region unless otherwise stated.
Due to the hearty cooperation of the 23 observers, the follow.Lig nesting list is the largest yet put forth by the Minnesota Bird Club. It includes 136 species, of which 135 were found breeding in Minnesota. Nests of 109 species were seen, the other 25 being records of adults carrying food, or of young birds out of the nest.
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Species |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | Morse reports a fenale with a brood of 10 young, approximately 10 days old, at Itasca Park on July 4th. | ||||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | Two nests of this little duck were found, one with 14 eggs at Swan Lake on May 28 (Dobie) 1 and the other with 5 eggs on May 30 (Swanson). | ||||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | The only spoonbill's nest was found west of Fargo, N. D. by Ralph Woolsey. He found it with 11 eggs on May '29. Soall downy young were also seen. | ||||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | On July 8 at Ericsburg, Gustav s~ronson saw a fet:lale American Wigeon with 12 dowy young, constituting the first positive breeding record of this duck for Minnesota. | ||||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 'l'Ho Mallards 1 nests wore found, one on 1-.hy 11th with 10 eggs (Swanson), und tho other on June 4th with 8 eggs (Leander Fischer). _ | ||||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | A nest vd.th 8 eggs, found at St.ran Lake, June 13, by John Dobie, is the only one roportec. The sru1e observer saw downy young 3 days later. | ||||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | Dobie found the oruy Redheadt s nest of the season at Swan L.."L~e on Juno 1.3, with 7 eggs. Swanson saw. young birds on Tl'1..ief Lc':lke that were still un:~~le to fly on August" 10. The Redhead was omr.itted fron1 it1s prop~r place in the list, after the Wopd Duck, through an er.ror. \ | ||||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | A trood of 6 young Whistelers was seen by Swanson at &icsburg, June 1~~ | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | Swanson fcupd a female with\ a brood of ~ downy young at 1Mcs1)urg, June 16. · | ||||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | Three broods of young Goosanders. "WeJ"e found, all by Mr. Swanson. In all casc:s they were about 3/4ths gown. The first 2, consisting of 15 & 21 young, were seen at Rainy Lake, July 100 Going after bigger and better , broods, he found the thi~d on July 2.3-at Lako of the Woods, consisting of a.(enale with 26 yoting. | ||||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | On June 17, as we were walking thru a slough in Polk Ccunty, Charles Evans called me over to see a large nest that he had found. It~s built of coarse reeds, -21 -The Common Flicker, 1932 anq the 7 hugh eggs were completely covered. 3 days later I . revisited the nest, hoping to see the b;i.rd l1eave it. This did not happen, but while I was neasuring the eggs, the female came spla~hing acros's an open space of water, and aminute later appeared in fuU view a few feet in front of' t'le, apparently trying to lure me away fron the nest. It had not-occurred to us that the nest bel~nged to as ~1a duck as the Ruddy on accOUJ:}.tb of the irnr:.1ense eggs. The eggs of a Ruddy DUck are as lo:pge as those. of any other duck th~t nests in Minnesota with the exception of the.Anerican Merganser. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | 2 nests of this.noble game bird were found; one by John Huseby at Center City, June 5. This nest contained 11 eggs. The other one had 12 eggs, lll'ld was found by Robert Nicol at Brainerd, May 22. 1-hny broods of young Grouse wore seentas many as 10 in one day along the Gunflint \'rail (Swedonborg) • | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | A fe~lo with 8 small downy young was seen at Ericsburg, June 1? (Swanson). | ||||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | No occupied nest was found, but Evans and Risser noticed a nest full of recently deserted broken egg shells and 2 unhatched eggs on June 19 in Polk Ccvnty. | ||||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | 5 nests of this noisy bird wore found. The earliest one conta.i~cd tho iQmcnso nmJbor of 23 eggs, and was found M~.y 1 (Swcdonborg). Tho latest was found June 11 with 10 eggs (the writor). | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | A nest with 6 eggs was found on l~y 14 {Morse). ihe last nest held 8 eggs on June 26, and was seen by Swru1son at Eri~sburg. / -20 -The Common Flicker, 1932 | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | 33 nests of this bird were found. All contained 1 or 2 eggs or young except a. -very unusual set of 4 eggs found by Rc,lph Woolsey, May 4~ Tho first and last sets of eggs were both found by S·t.c.ncly Stein, Mt:.y 1st and September 12th respectively. The lnst. date is later than any date for eggs in Dr. Roberts', Birds~of Minnesota. | ||||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | The first nesting dnte f~.tbis peroneal bird is June 5, on which dny Breckenridge found two nasts with 1 egg each, and S,.o~odonborg found ono with 6 eggs. The last nest was found on July 29th with 3 eggs which, however wore apparently deserted (Horse). | ||||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | T\rc nests of this crepuscular bird were found, both with 2 eggs. One \ras found by Huseby on June 13th, and the other by Breckenridge on Jt:cc 23rd. ~ 25 | ||||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | A nest with ; eggs was found at Ericsburg, July 5th (Swanson). It 1;as unique in being constructed on the wall of an abondoned cabin rather than the chimney. Bowey & Eisele report Swifts gathering twigs on Jw-·:G 1st. | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | Dobie found the first nest, l-1ny 22. It harbored 7 eggs. Tr.o last one was found on Juno 11 with 9 eggs, most of which were pipped (the writer). | ||||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | On June 11 I found a rail's nest with 13 eggs, · but not being an oologist, I :?.id not know the ~pocios to which it belonged until W~ltor Downey nnd Ralph Eisele flushed a Sora from the nest a few days later•. | ||||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | 2 nosts were found, both on Mo.y 29, One had 5 eggs, and was seen by John Dobie at Swan Lake, while the other had 10 eggs, ru1d was found by s. Stein. | ||||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | Mel·.y mudhon' a nests were found, the first on May 22 with 2 eggs (Eisele and Downey), and the last on Juno 19 with 9 eggs, seen by Evans and Risser in Polk County. | ||||
| Plovers | |||||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | No Killdeer nests were found until Hc'l.Y 11 1 when 2 were observed, both with 4 eggs, one by s. Stein, and the other by Dobie. The eggs in the former nest were hatching. The last set was found by the writer on June 24, and contained 2 fresh eggs, an incomplete set. | ||||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | Gustav Swanson established the first Minnesota breeding record or this bird when he found a nesting colony on Curry Island, Luke of the Wocds, on Ju.l.y 21. There were mru.1y yolUlg birds and a nest with 2 eggs, one of which · h~tched the following day. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | H. J. Breckenridge found the 'only nest of this fine prairie bird en lhy 21, when it held 4 eggs. t-t~s. C. E. Peterson reports downy young on June 24 at l1adison, and larger young on later elates. | ||||
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | A downy chick was seen on J~mc 1S, and a nest with 3 eggs on the following day by Evans &Risser in Polk County. Details of these findings will appear in the next nunber of the Common Flicker. | ||||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | A American Woodcock's nest was found at Fc.1rt Snelling by Ill'. Da'l!JSon of the Zoology Departr.:.ent. The location was marked, and the nest was visited and photographed many t:ll1es bymmy people in the next three weeks. The :~a.tience of the bird was certainly put to a hard test, but i ·t did not fail. Altho one rainy day Donald Fischer found the eggs wet and cold, and one of thcLl cracked, the bird returned to the nest, and on May 13 all 4 eggs hatched. The first record I have of the nest being seen is on M<=ly 11 when it was visited by Suanson and Risser. | ||||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | Only 2 nests of this cannon bird were found. I saw one with 4 eges, as well ns downy young, on June 13, and Swa11son fmmd one with 4 eggs at F«-icsburg, June 28. | ||||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | On June 24 Mrs. C. E. Peterson and Mrs. N. o. Wilson se.w a pair of Willets with one downy chick at Ap~_,leton. Elccept for the observation of ~'bung Willets that were full (;Town at the sane place last year, this appears to be the first breeding record of the Willet in Minnesota. for the 2oth century. | ||||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | 3 beautiful downy young phalaropes, not oore than a day or two old, were found in Polk County, June 16, due to the strategic na.neuvering of Charles Evans. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | Cornon Tern Caspian Tern. | ||||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | On July 12 at lmchor Islands in Rainy Lake, Swanson found a colony of about 150 nests of this species. Sone had eggs (1 to 3), but in nost the young had hatched llnd were tu,nning abrut. Sone you."'1g wore already on -24-The Flicker, 1932 the wing. On Julx 8th near Two Harbors, Hr. Swedenborg found one downy young and two young about 1/3rd grOl-m. | ||||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | 17 nests of the Black Tern were found, the first on ~~Y 28 with 3 eggs (Dobie at Swru1 Lake), and the last on June 17 with 2 a:ad 3 c.ggs (Evans & Risser in Polk Co.) | ||||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | A large nesting colony was found at Lake of the Woods, July 20th (Sw~~son). Almost all the nests had 3 eggs, and some young had hatcJed, while others were on the wing. Another colony was seen by John Huseby at Mille Lues Lake on August 3rd. Tre re were sots of 1 and 2 eggs and young of all ages. | ||||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | The only nest of this western bird was found at Swan Lake, May 28th, with 3 eggs (Dobia). | ||||
| Loons | |||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | Young Common Loons about 5 days old were seen by Marius Morse at Itasca Park, July 15. Gustav S\oro.nson found young birds 3/4ths grown on July 2.3 nt Lake of the Weeds. | ||||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | Gustav Swanson reports the only Cormorant nests, having found 20 nests at Cormorant Reck, Lake of the Wcods, on July 23. Three nests contained four eggs; 5 had 3 eggs; ~d two had one egg. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | Anest with four eggs was found by the writer in Polk County, June 2oth. .. | ||||
| Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) | The only nest of this eccentric bird is reported froo Swan Lake, June 16th (Dobie). | ||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | A nwlber of heronries of this species were found, but the contents of the nests were determined only when the young birds were in the nest, first on June 12 at Lrute Minnetonka (Ralph Eisele & Walter Dewey), and last on July 12th at Rainy Lake1 the young being nearly full-grown in the latter colony (Swanson).. | ||||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | A heronry of this species two miles north of St. Paul was visited by several neobers, eggs nunbering 4 & !) to a S'ilt being seen first on May 8 (John Dobie). | ||||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | 3 nests were located, all with young birds, the first at Deer River by Frank Zoubek in the last week of June, and the latest at Lake of the Woods by Gustav Swanson on August 26. Tho latter nest was in a live spruce, a very unusual focation for this bird, which generally nests in dead trees. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | F1,.ve nests of this hawk were found, 1 all by Breckenridge, and all on the sane square 1nl!ii as the 4 Red-tails~ nests. The earliest was found on ~1.3, when it had, 1 The Flicker, 1932 4 eggs. It was a fresh set, for a fifth egg was deposited subsequently. The last nest was found on May 25, when it held 6 eggs. | ||||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | No nests of this avi·~ore were found, ~ both by Evans. 'the first was found May 11 when it cont~ined ! .3 eggs. There were 4 eggs when Dobie photographed the nest a week later. The other nest also had 4 eBgs 1~hen it was toupd on May 291 at Brainerdo ' | ||||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | MGrse reports the only el:tgle nest. ·It was found at Itasca Pork and contained.3 yom1g nearly fledged eaglets on July 1 • | ||||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | Two nests of this innocent species were founc11 one with 2 small downy young at B:r.ainerd, June 25 (Evans), and tho o(l1er with 3 young about t grown at \ Will~ams on July 27 (Swanson) • l f | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | Five nests of this hawk were found, the first on April 15, with 2 eggs (Stanley Stein),.and the last1 on May 12 by W. J. Breckenridge, also w.ith ~ eggs. Incidentally, the other 3 were also found by_Mr. Breckenridge, all 4 of his nests being within one square nile. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | Th~ only nest of this little creature was found by Curl Olson on May 1st, when it contained downy young not more than 3 days old. | ||||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | The earliest nest of this villainous hooter was found on Harch 25th by Stanley & EJ.onest Stein and Leander Fischer. There were 2 smll young in it. The latest was seen May 1at at which time the young wore.3/4ths grown ( B reckenridge) • | ||||
| BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) | On July 14th Hro. Pct<:;rson saw young Burrowing Owls in a pasture calling for food. This wns et l-L!.dir,on. | ||||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | On July 11th I ran ncress a far.1ily of Bc.rred Owls at Sturgeon L.'1ke. The young were full grown. | ||||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | Woolsey reports the only nest of this species. He fo~uod it on June 5th near Frazee, ru1d it contained .3 young about 3 weeks old and 1 addled ecg. | ||||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | S. Stt::in found a KinGfisher t s nest with 4 eggs on May 6o Nrs. Wilscn cbserved another fooding young in the nest at Montevideo, July 1st. | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | The first occupied nest of this handsone woodpecker was seen Hay 28th (S. Stein and L. Fishehcr), while the latest wns seen August 28th and contained vociferous young (Evans) • | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | On Mny 11th Swanson saw a Sapsucker excavating at Frontenac. The latest nest was seen a.t Gunflint Ln.ke, July 9th, with large young (Swcdenborg). | ||||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | Rnlph Eisele & Walter Dowey spare us the disgrace of ooitting this ccr.mon bird fron tho list by their record of a nest full of young birds fuund on June 3rd. | ||||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | The earliest nest was found on Mny 18th (A. c. Rosonwinkel), and the latest on July 7th at Itnsca Park (Horse). They both contained young, and in tho latter nest tho youne were leaving. | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Mrs. Wilson reports a Flicker excavating on April 2$, o.nd the nest being cor.rpletod May 3. Nests with young Flickers were found by several observers, the latest being July 4 ( Elmns) • | ||||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | Nr. Swanson e:xanunccl a full grow but juvenal Pilea"ted Woodpecker on August 27th at Lake of the l1oods. | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | Leadner Fischer saw a American Kestrel at its nest on Mny 22, He did not determine the contents.of the nest. | ||||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | Ralph Woolsey investigated a nest of this bird near Frazee on June 5th and found it to contain 2 eggs, as well as the proverbin.l snnkeskin. Hrs. Hilson watched young birds boing.fed in the nest at Montevideo, on July 2nd. | ||||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | The.first nest -was s eon May 28th n.t Mndison by Mrs. Peterson. Tho contents was not deter-hlined. The last was seen at Breckenridge, June 23rd, -when it held three ecrcs (Woolsey). | ||||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | The first nest of this pus~acious flycatcher wns found on Huy 28th with 4 eggs (Dobio). The latest date is July 14th, when a nest with 3 eggs was seen o. t Sturgeon Lake (tho writer). | ||||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | Mrs. N. 0. Wilson reports an incubcting Pewee a.t l | ||||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | A nest with 4 C€BS was found at Swan Lake, Ma.y 28 (Dobie). Swedenborc f ound the latest nest, which housed large young on July 17. The folloilinC interesting quotations is froo the pen of Ralph Woolsey, fron Fnrao, N.D. "Another nest cf the Least was unexpectedly disccvored on June 28. The excited cries of the little flycatcher caused ne to l cok upward, where I beheld a pestiferous English Sparrow calnly pecking holes in the cm::;s of the Least, who was trying her best to chase the intruder a.way, I did considerable shouting and throwing of dcb:cis befcre the villain left, Then the flycatcher cocly ronovod the brckon eggs fron the nest, 0leaneG it out, and settled herself in it for bettor or for worse. The nest was exmJinec the next day, but the birds hnd apparently been visited again, f(T it was deserted and sadly in disrepair. " | ||||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | Nineteen Eastern Phoebe nests were found, the first by Stanley Stein on April 20, when it had 4 eges. The latest was found on July 22 with 3 large young (Swedenborg). The last nest vith eggs was seen on July 1J by W. J. Brcckenrid6e in a bootleg cellar. Tsk. Tsk. | ||||
| Vireos | |||||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | Yellow-throated Vireos nested on the Montevideo Golf Course, but the nests were too hiBh to be investigated (Mrs. Wilson). The only investigated.nest was found at Fargo, N.D. on June.3otht when the 4 young had seen about 7 days and nights (Woolsey}. | ||||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | On May 28th Dobie found a nest of this songster-with.3 eggs at Svron Lake. The last nest with eggs was seen on June 14th ($wedenborg). | ||||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | The first investigated nest is reported '· :·' by Woolsey frcm Deer River on June 19th, when.3 eggs comprised the contents. As late as August 9th a nest 'td.th nearlyfledged young was found at Mille Lacs (Huseby). | ||||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | A nest with 5 eggs was found on April ·~~-.~.; ' 26th (Swedenborg). When it was visited by Gustav Swanson on May 25th, it again held 5 eggs, eveidently a second brood. | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | Eight Blue Jays 1 nests were: found, the first' with 5 eggs on May 4th (s. Stein &Woolsey). The last had 4 eggs on lJune 21st (the witer). The foJ.:lowing acco•unt is written by ' Ralph Woolsey from Fargo, NQD., nen May 12th a. pair of jays started looking for a place to nest, finally choosing one near 'L thq house, where I could wntch the building c'porations and. their various mating antics and contortions, ac9mapanied by sounds which only jays are capable of produci.ngo On ~y 14th they commenced construction, workii?-g leistirely in the morning ' or evening, but not in the heat of the dl:w. Both birds took: part < in the buil¢ling program. ' The tl-Tigs were not picked up from the ground,"but were broken, off trees and bue:hes by the birds, 1 The nest was completed in a week, andj the first egg was laid ) · on the 21 st, fallowed by three more in as nan.y days. '1 ' I ~ ' | ||||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | An ~ncubating crow was seen f7.I'·st on April 24th (Evans). On May 10th a nest with 5 young about 5 days old was found by Eisele and Downey). | ||||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | Mrse Wilson w~tched Chicka4ees bui:f.ding o.t Montevideo, May 1st, but the only nest investigated ~s focnd by Downey & Eisele on Hay 13th, and. contained :3 eggs. that could be seen, and probably tlore. ) | ||||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | No nosts of this early breeding bird were found until Ma.y 29, when Downey found a nest a.t Trail with one. young, The last was seen June 24 with 2 eggs by the writer. Mrs. Wilson tells of a nest which contained young which were hatching on June 19. On this and the following da.y there was a tournaoent at the golf course on which this nest was built. The nest was on ~e fairway right in front of the 9th green, and the crowds of people wallted past both days, the young birds survived, and left the nest June 27th. | ||||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | A nest of this species which was started on May 11th cvntained 1 egg on May 18th (Downey 1 Eisele). The latest nests were found July 22nd, when several still harbored young (Swe~enborg). | ||||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | The earliest nests were f ound on May 22, one with 3 eggs, and ancthor with 2 young (Eisele &Downey). The last ~.s on Jw1e 29, when it hac 3 eggs (L. Fischer). | ||||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | The earliest nest 'olms found en May 28th by Stanley St~In it reposed 2 white eegs. Whroe nests wore found by Mr. Swedenborg, thu latest on June 25th, when the yount:; were about a week old. | ||||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | Many eolonies were see~n. Mors~ observed Martins gathering nesting material on May 12t.h,. tf11d Swedenborg saw a female feeding young in the nest as lat,e as July 30th, j ~· \ | ||||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | Both the first nnd last nests of this beautiful bird were found by E. D. Swodenborg. In the first were 2 eggs on May 18th, a.nJ the last had 4 eggs on July 30th. \ Ihe: Flicker, 1932 ""' 2:1 -I I ' ' | ||||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | Five colbnies of this relatively uncammqn sw'allow ~ere found. ' They were first seen building on May 12th, (Swedenborg) • The latest colony was found at Sturgeon Lake on July 14th by the witoer, when a nearly fledge1d nestling stuck, his heaQ. out at me. There were also young out of the nest. )j | ||||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | ..American Pipit 1 Cedar Waxwing ! Red-eyed Vireo ! Philadelphia VifooIBlo.ck and l~hito WarblerI Tennessee Warbler I Orange-crowned Warbler | ||||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | Although.:there are a nut1bor of breeding rucords, only 2 occupied nests of this species are recorded in Dr. Roberts', ~rds of Minnesota, both of which were found by lJ:r. Swedenborg. Two nore occupied nests were found this year, und both cf then were also fow1d by Hr. Swedenborg, c.t Onru:1in. The first had 9 eggs on Hay 29th, and tha second contained young which left the nest on Jtme 20th. Aside from these nests, young were seen being fed in five localities, the latest on July 29th (Swcdenborg). | ||||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | A nest with 3 eggs wns found by the writer~ June 24th. The last contc.incd 4 young on Au~:;ust 18th (Horse). | ||||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | l1arius Morse saw a single adult enter a hole at the top of a dead tamnrack in, the spruce-tamarack swan~ in Itasca P~k on June 23rd. This is an interesting · observation, for although it is a common bird, the nest has never been found in Minnesota, according to r~. Robert's, Birds of Minnesota. ' 1 | ||||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | The only Nut.hatch' s nest was found on April 27th, and contained eggs (Swanson). | ||||
| Wrens | |||||
| House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | No occupied nests were fqund until. June 19th, when Hueeby located one with 5 oggs at Millo Lacs, 'but a wren was seen building on May 12th by Downey and E:isele..The latest nest wa~ seen on August 5th, when. it P.oused ~~ young. Mrs. Wilson reports an olq syrup pail hung upside down between the _J wires of a fence as a nesting site for this beteronidifier. | ||||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | Four ¥oung out of the ne:st were seen' June 17th at Eric:Sburg (SJtiOllson)j Another 'J?rood of young was being 11 fed at Onamin, July 31st, before the eyes of E.D. Swedenborg. ~e The Flicker, 1932 latter is more southernly than any pOsitive breeding record given in Dr. Robertt s, Birds of J:>1innesota. | ||||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | A nest in the precess of construction was found June 11th by Downey & Risser. | ||||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | Eight nests were found on May 29th with contents averaging 4 eBgs (L. Fischer &s. Stein). Four nests were found on June 17th in Polk County, also with an average of 4 eggs (Evans & Risser). | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | Sixteen Gray Catbird nests were found, the earliest with 3 eegs on May 18th (S. Stein). The latest was seen August 6th, when it housed 3 young (Morse). | ||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | Huseby reports the earliest nest, May 10th, when 1 egg adorned its int0rior. The latest nest was found Juno 24th, and the writer was properly thl·ashed while examining the very small,·naked young. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | A nest with 1 egg was found on April 15th, an early date indeed {s. Stein). The latest date is June 19th, when a female was seen carrying nutritive nnterial to a nest {Swanson). An abandoned Bo.nk Swallow's hold is o.n interesting nesting sieht reported by Downey 1 Eisele. Still another nest was built under the eaves of o.n outhouse (Risser). | ||||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | Four nests of this musiCFl bird were found, the first on June 16th at Itc.scn. Park. Four eggs were being incubated (Morse). The last was found at Sturgeon Lake July 19th, with 2 eggs which hntched on the 29th (the writer)_.· | ||||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | The first nest was located on May 22nd,.. and contained 1 egg. A nest with 4 eggs was seen at Swan Lake on June 15th (Dobie). | ||||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | Needless to say, many American Robins' nests were observed, but the first egg was laid on April 13th (Eisele &Downey). A nest found at Ono.n:i.a, July 3oth was crowded with 4 large young (Swedenborg). · | ||||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | A nest at Madison harbored 1 egg on May 14dMrs. Peterson). Another at Onamia housed young birds on August 18 (Sweden borg) • | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | Mr. Swedenborg found the only nest of this species, at Onamia~ It was nearing co~pletion on May 30. Three other observers report young being fed out of' the nest, the ·lntest on August 7 (Huseby). J | ||||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | An e::ctreraely early nest of this species in \ whioh the 3 young had already hatched wns found on June 5 by Downey & Efsele. The last nest was seen.August 18, and the 2 young were almost full grown (Horse).. ' | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | The only Minnesota nest was found on June 1, when it was not finished (Swedenborg). 1·1oolsey reports a nest with 2 eggs at Fargo, N.D., May 22. Both these nests were later deserted, tho latter after the d deposition of 2 Brown-headed Cowbird eggs. | ||||
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | Mrs. Wilson saw adult Lark Sparrows carrying food ~t Montevideo, July 8, and on the 2oth young Lark Sparrows were on the wi-~g ~d feeding th~selvos. | ||||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | A tinished but empty nest was seen May 5 (Woolsey). A nest was found at Montevideo as late as AugUst 11, and in it were 1 sparrow egg and 1 Brown-headed Cowbird egg (Mrs. vJilson). | ||||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | Throe nests were found on June 5th, two with 3 eggs by Breckenridge, and one with 2 young by Eisele. A nest still contained young birds on July 13 (Breckenridge) • | ||||
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | Stro.nge to say, the only nest of this ~stern bird was found at ~~ntevideo. The nest was found on June 17, when it had 4 eggs. Ten days later it had been destroyed by a storm. It was seen by Mrs, Wilson &~~s. Peterson. | ||||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | Tree Sporrow Clay-colored Sparrcw Harrist Sparrow | ||||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | 4 eggs reposed in a Whit-e-throat's nest at Onrunia, Hay 28 (Swcdenborg) 1 o.nd the latest nest, with 4 young, was seen at Birchdale, July 15 (Swans on) • | ||||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | A nest with 4 eggs w~s found at Frazee, June 5 (Woolsey). One other nest was seen at Onmnia, May 29, at which time it housed 3 very small young (Swedenborg), | ||||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | Gustav Swanson saw a young Leconte's being fod at Ericsburg, June 1S. | ||||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | 4 nest~ of this bird were found, the first one with 4 eggs on May 21 (Swedenborg). The last nest was found by the w.rite:r in Polk County, June 20, when it harbored 5 eggs, 2 of which had been deposited by Brown-headed Cowbirds. · | ||||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | 15 Song Sparrow's nests ware found, One with 3 eggs was seen on the first day of Mqy, by Leander Fischer and Stanley Stein. It seems odd that out of 15 nests of this bird which generally raises so many broods, the last nest was seen on June 16. Hrs. Wilson found it at Montevideo, and it ccntained 5 eggs. | ||||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | No nest was found, but 4 young out of the.ne:st were seen at ·Ericaburg on June 'Z7 (Swanson) • | ||||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | The only Eastern Towhee's nest was found by Mr. Br~ck( · enridge on June 4. 2 Eastern Towhee eggs and 1 Brown-headed Cowbird egg adorned its interior. 1 j I 1 r ( ) The Flicker, 1932 | ||||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | The.first nests were seen at Swan Lake, Ma.y 28 with 4 eggs (Dobie). On June 17, many nests were seen with eggs and young in all stages of development at Polk County (Evans & Risser) • | ||||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | 6 nests of this songster w~e found within a week. Tho first was seen Juno 5, and it had 4 eggs (Eisele& Downey). 2 nests were seen on June 11, one with 3 and one with 5 eggs (Downey & Risser). At three nests that I saw, the female flushed directly from the nest only when aL'IJlost stepped upon. I mention this as it is contrary to certain popular beliefs. | ||||
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | A nest with 2 eggs plus 3 Brown-headed Cowbird eggs was found May 16 (Swodenborg). | ||||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | A nest of this species with 4 eggs was found on 1-ia.y 23 by Downey & Eisele, nncl nnothor with 5 eggs at :&icsburg,.June 28 (Sl-rnnson). | ||||
| Sturnella meadowlark (Sturnella sp.) | The earliest and latest Meadowlarks' nest were not identified as to species. They were on Mo.y 1.3 (6 eggs, Dobie), and July 4 (3 eggs, E.'vans). | ||||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | Mrs. Peterson saw tl. femo.le Oriole 1. ea.rrying nesting material at Madison, May 18,. A nost \dth 1 egg ws l;>lotm to the grown during a storm at Montovicleo ·on ' '\ July 3 (Mrs. l-Jilson) o 1 ., • y I | ||||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | A nest with 4 eggs on May 1.3 is the earliest reported (Swedenborg). The latest record is of a nest with 2 young ~n June 21 (Breckenridge). -.31 I\ , | ||||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | Cm.rbird eggs were found in nests of the Eastern Phoebe, Hermit Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Eaetern Meadowlark, Eastern Towhee, Savannah Sparrow:, Grasshopper Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Clny-colorec1 Sparrow, and Song Sparrowo A young Brown-headed Cowbird was found in an Ovcm-bird' s 'n~st, " and young Brown-headed Cowbirds were seen being fed by Black-throated \ Green, Ihackburnian', and Mourning ~~arblers. The first Brown-headed Cowbird egg was seiim.May ~6 (Swedenborg), and thp lo.st one August 11 (:Hrs~o Wilson). f | ||||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | Gustav Swanson reports an odd nest of this species which vms built in a small spruce about 4 feet from th~ ground. It contained 3 eggs Oll May 1o, the ear-' li(3st do.te. The last date is June 17, when John Dobie founc, a nest with one young bird. | ||||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | The first completed nest contnined 3 eggs on April.30 (Powney & Eisele). The latest record in 4.volves another inte::.esting nesting site, a hollow stub in ,which young birds wpre being fed.. This was :seen,.at Ericsburg, June 23, also by Swans' on. | ||||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | Three nests of this bird were found. One seen near Deer River on.June 19th harbored a young Oven-bird, 2 dead young Oven-birds, and one Brown-headed Cowbird. "Stern justice was meted out to the apparent offender, and the remaining Oven-bird left the nest shortly after. 11 (1-loolsey) Another nest was found by Russell.Johnson at Itasca Park, and sheltered 4 eggs on June 28th. The other nest also had 4 eggs, and was found at Ericsburg on July 5th (Swe.nson). | ||||
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | A young bird out of the nest was seen at Mille Laos Lake, August 19th (Huseby). | ||||
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | John Huseby founc1 the only nest of this creeper at Millo Lacs. On July 24th tho young were ready to leave. Young being fed out ar the nest were seen a week later near the same place (Swedenborg). | ||||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | M.n-ius Horse found a nest of this species at Itasca Park "7n July 14tho There were i eggs, which wore about to hatch on the 21st. This is the only Nashville's nest reported. | ||||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | E. D. Swedenborg watched several adults f ceding their o·Hn young and a young Brown-headed Cowbird in Car1ton County, July 7th. | ||||
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | A nest with 5 eggs was found on June 5th (Breckenridge). The young in another nest left their home when approached on June 23rd by Robert Upson. | ||||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | Two nests were found, both by Swedonborg. The first on June 5th, and held 3 American Redstart eggs and t Brown-headed Cowbird egg, while the second contained 3 well developed young a week later. | ||||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | 1ln ndult was ibedin~ o. young Blackburnian and also a young Brown-headed Cowbird at Ona.rJia, July.31st (Swedenborg). | ||||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | A nest with 2 eggs on May 21st was the earliest one reported (Morse). The last was found on Muly 7th at Sturgeon Lalte, by the writer. It harbored 3 eggs of the wo.rbler and 2 of the Brown-headed Cowbird. A pair cf Yellow Warblers built a nest right under a House Wren's nest, and wore chased out by the wrens.3 days later (Mrs. Wilson). | ||||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | I watched a younc bird of this species being fed at Sturgeon Lake on July 8th., The Flicker, 1932 | ||||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | A young bird was being fod at Ericsburg on June 18th in the presence of Gustav S~son. | ||||
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | On Juno 1Oth a young bird was being feel o.t the Brule River, and.3 weaks lator an ~dult was seen feeding n youn~ Brown-headed Cowbird at On~Xia, both by E.D. ,Swedenborg•o | ||||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | A nest in the proc<:Jss of construction 'was seen at Bra.Jnerd, May 30 (J:Wans). I | ||||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | A nest with ;2 eggs1was looked into by EisO'le & Downey on\ Ju.."1e 4. The late:st nest ' was found at M:!ntevideo on July ~ 6, when it was the home of two young birds cCHrs~ Wilson). | ||||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | No nests of this, common bird were.; found, but I saw yo~g out of the nest being fed on June 24~ I ~ | ||||