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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 1944-Summer Season 1 June through 31 July 1944 COMPILED BY William H. Longley |
Seventeen reports incorporating the findings of 35 bird-watchers are the basis of this annual recapitulation of the 1944 nesting season. Nests, or results of nesting, of 89 species are included, and, discounting estimates of large colonies, approximately 1200 individual nesting efforts were noted. Reports came from St. Paul, Minneapolis, St. Cloud and Duluth and represented observations in 11 counties. Contributors are as follows: From St. Paul, Brother Hubert Lewis and Brother J. Pius of Cretin High School, Russel Hofstead, Ross Olson, Wm. Cummings, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Erickson; from Minneapolis, Miss Lulu May Aler, Fred Blanch, Sadah W. Field, Stanley Moore, Wallace E. Hamilton, Severena Holmberg, Mrs. Frances B. Smythe, Helen Towle, and Whitney H. Eastman; from St. Cloud, Mrs. A. J. Trainor, Julia Grebin, Alice and Fern Zimmerman, Mrs. Davis, Mr. Heimenz, and Mr. Friederich; from Duluth, Olga Lakela, Margaret Hatfield, Mary I. Elwell, Evelyn Jones, Cora Clementson, Dr. E. W. Bohannon, Alvera Larson,
Mrs. W. C. Olin, James L. Bird, Jack Huele, Donna Swain, Joyce Malmrose, Katherine Lieske, and Marian McLennon; from Stillwater, George C. Kutz.
Of course, space could not permit inclusion of all nesting dates; thus, in the case of abundant species only first and last and other important dates are listed. Our object has been to outline the nesting season of each species wherever ample data were available. We regret that some material was unusable for lack of certain information. The number immediately following the species name indicates the total number of nests reported for that species.
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Species |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | May 7, 18 eggs, Minneapolis, Ross Olson. | ||||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | 3. June 28, ten young, week old; June 29, six young, two days old; St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. July 1, seven half-grown young, Itasca County, Ellen and Arnold Erickson. | ||||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 3. July 16, nine eggs, St. Louis County, Margaret Hatfield. Two others found by Brother Hubert and Brother Pius later were flooded. | ||||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | 4. Aug. 9, two broods, of six and of seven large young; August 12, August 14, two broods of six large young; all on Lake Superior, Lakela and Mary I. Elwell. | ||||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 3. July 23, 13 downy young; August 14, eight half-grown; August 16, two halfgrown; Lake Superior, Lakela and Elwell. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | 3. July 4, two broods about five-weeks old, 11 young near Tower, seven young near Ely, Ellen and Arnold Erickson. Another found by Mrs. Olin and Katherine Lieske. | ||||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | 4. April 9, four eggs, Ramsey, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. May 13, nine eggs, Hennepin, Fred Blanch. May 20, eight eggs, Ramsey, Olson. | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | 54. April 29, building, Minneapolis, Eastman. May 8, two eggs, St. Paul, Hofstead and Olson. August 9, two young, St. Paul, Hofstead. Others found by Holmberg, Hamilton, Blanch, Trainor, Field, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, Hofstead, and Olson. | ||||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | 2. June 13, two eggs, Fillmore County, Mrs. A. J. Trainor and Julia Grebin. Another reported by Eastman. | ||||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | 7. May 29, two eggs, St. Paul, Hofstead. Others with eggs, on May 31, June 1, June 7, found by Fred Blanch, Hofstead, Olson, and Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | May 30, two eggs, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | July 20, two large young, St Cloud, Mrs. Davis. | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | May 20, finished nest (11 eggs on May 30), St. Paul, Olson. | ||||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | 4. June 6, built, Hennepin, Eastman. June 22, two nests, nine eggs and two eggs, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. June 27, four small young, Hennepin, Hoistead and Olson. | ||||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | 3. May 21, building, Ramsey, Olson. June 22, two nests with eggs, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Plovers | |||||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | 7. May 27, four eggs, St. Paul, Olson. May 30, June 1, four eggs, Duluth, Lakela. July 10, four eggs, Minneapolis, Hamilton. July 23, four large young, Duluth, Lakela. Another found by Brother Hubert. | ||||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | July 16, two young (which may have been in migration), Duluth, Lakela. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | 7. May 31, June 28, four eggs, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. July 1, four eggs; July 16 and 22, three and two large young, respectively; Duluth, Lakela. Another found by Aler. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | 30. May 20, one egg, St. Paul, Olson. June 19 and June 20, three nests with three eggs each, Hoistead and Olson. Others found by Eastman, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, and Olson. | ||||
| Loons | |||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | 3. Two nests found near Aitkin by James L. Bird; one egg in late May; two eggs on July 4. August 3, one young with parents, St. Louis County, Dr. Olga Lakela. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | 5. Two nests, June 6 (downy young on the 17th), and June 26, one young, Hennepin County, Miss Aler. Two nests, July 6 and August 3, each with two large young, Ramsey County, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. Another found by Olson. | ||||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | 100. Brother Hubert recorded an increase of 68 nests in the St. Paul colony, from 32 on June 15 to 100 on August 18. | ||||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | July 29, two young, Hubbard County, Whitney Eastman. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | 3. May 12, four eggs (hatched on June 9); June 10, four eggs hatching; Hennepin, Olson. July 16, two young left nest when approached by Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, Ramsey County. | ||||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | 2. April 30, building, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. May 27, (two eggs on June 3) Hennepin, Hofstead and Olson. | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | April 22, two eggs, Dakota County, Olson. | ||||
| Barn Owls | |||||
| BARN OWL (Tyto alba) | July 28, large young out, Park Rapids, Eastman. This is the most northerly record of this species' breeding, according to Dr. Roberts in Audubon 1\Iaga.zine, Field Notes Section, November-December, 1944. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | June 3, two young out, Hennepin, Olson. | ||||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | March 5, one egg, Hastings, Hofstead and Ofson. | ||||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | 3. May 13, status uncertain, Frontenac; June 5, adults carrying in food, Fort Snelling; Eastman. June 27, two large young, Dakota County, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | 2. June 6, feeding young, St. Paul, Olson. July 6, feeding young, St. Paul, Bro ther Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | July 16, young out, Park Rapids, Eastman. | ||||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | 2. May 12, excavating, Hofstead: June 20, eggs, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius: Both in St. Paul. | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | 12. May 20, two eggs, St. Paul, Olson. July 30, five young out, Duluth, Lakela. July 15, young, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. Others found by Lakela, Hofstead, and Olson. | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | 5. April 28, May 4, apparently eggs, St. Paul, Hofstead. May 20, adult carried in food, St. Paul, Olson. July 2, young out of nest, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. August 1, two young out, St. Louis County, Lakela. | ||||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | 13. May 24, building, Hennepin, Miss Aler. June 6, two eggs, St. Paul, Olson. July 16, large young, Park Rapids, Eastman. June 16, four eggs; young out, August 1 and 3; Duluth, Lakela. Others found.by Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, and Ho!stead. | ||||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | 3. June 27, two eggs; July 16, three young; Minneapolis Stanley Moore. August 14, one young out, Hennepin, Sadah Field. | ||||
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | June 24, four eggs, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | 3. May 30, building, Duluth, Jack Huele. July 12, young, Hennepin, Sadah Field. July 29, three young out, Duluth, Lakela. | ||||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | 22. April 16, building, Hennepin, Eastman. May 16, five eggs, Hennepin, Cummings. June 29, two large young, Itasca County, Ellen and Arnold Erickson. July 16, four nests with young, Park Rapids, Eastman. July 30, five young out, St. Louis County, Lakela. Others found by Aler, Moore, Cummings, St. Cloud Bird Club, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, Hof- DECEMBER, 1944 stead, and Olson. | ||||
| Vireos | |||||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | June 27, young, Hennepin, Hofstead and Olson. | ||||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | 5. May 26, eggs, St. Cloud, Mrs. Trainor. June 1, June 11, eggs, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. June 23, three large young, St. Paul, Hofstead. June 27, two young, St. Paul, Olson. | ||||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | June 20, three young, Hennepin, Stanley Moore. | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | 15. April13, building, St. Paul, Hofstead. April 28, four eggs, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. July 12, two young out, Hennepin, Field. Others by Hamilton, Blanch, Hofstead, and Olson. | ||||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | 8. April 22, three, five, and six eggs, Dakota County, Hofstead and Olson. Also, April 22, six eggs, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, Dakota County. April 23, seven eggs; May 13, four eggs; Ramsey, Olson. | ||||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | May 15, eight eggs, Hennepin, Sadah Field. | ||||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | 8. April 9, four eggs; June 22, two young; St. Paul, Hofstead. Others, all apparently un successful, reported by Olson, and Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | April 29, one nest and four excavations, Fort Snelling, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. May 21, four eggs; June 27, 33 nests with young; Dakota County, Hofstead and Olson. June 22, one building, and one with two eggs, St.. Paul, Hofstead. Brother Hubert reports on an estimated 1,000 birds digging nests on June 23, Ramsey County. | ||||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | 66. April 20, building (five eggs on May 23), St. Paul, Hofstead. Brother Hubert supervised the erection of 64 houses around Fort Snelling Lake, and he reports all houses in use, four or five by bluebirds, the remainder by the swallows. Others reported by Aler, Hamilton. | ||||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | 52. May 13, excavating, Fort Snelling; June 21, building; St. Paul, Hofstead. Brother Hubert and Brother Pius estimated that 50 were using drain tiles for nesting, on May 16, Fort Snelling. | ||||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | 13. June 19, eight nests with eggs and young ; July 2, five nests with young; St. Paul, Hofstead. | ||||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | 4. July 18, five eggs; July 20, building; Cottonwood County, Olson. August 1, five young, St. Louis -county, Lakela. August 15, young, Washington County, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. May 28, five eggs, Stillwater, Kutz. | ||||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | 135. May 30, a colony located, 125 old nests; June 15, eight nests; St. Louis County, Lakela, Mary Elwell, Evelyn Jones. July 10, one nest built, Hennepin, Wallace Hamilton. August 15, several nests with young, Lake Minnetonka, Eastman. | ||||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | June 17, young, St. Cloud, Mrs. Davis, Mr. Friedrich, and Mr. Hiemenz. | ||||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | 3. July 6, two eggs, St. Cloud, Mrs. Davis and Trainor. July 31, building (four eggs on Aug. 6), Duluth, Mrs. Olin. August 12, one young out, Lake County, Lakela. European Starling, 8. April 25, building; June 24, large young; St. Paul, Hoistead. May 16, young, Hennepin, Cummings. Others by Hofstead. | ||||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | 3. April 19, building, Minneapolis, Eastman. May 10, eggs; May 20, ten eggs; St. Paul, Olson. | ||||
| Wrens | |||||
| House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | 13. May 15, building (first egg on May 29), Hennepin, Hamilton. June 3, two nests, seven eggs and four eggs, St. Paul, Hofstead and Olson. July 4, four young, St. Louis County, Hatfield. July 8, three young out; August 19, four young out; Duluth, Lakela. Others by Hamilton, Field, Marian McLennan, Hofstead, and Olson. | ||||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | July 21, built, Park Rapids, Eastman. | ||||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | 2. May 13, two nests, Ramsey, Olson. | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | 37. May 21, three nests (building, one egg, two eggs) Dakota County, Hofstead and Olson. June 12, four eggs, St. Paul, Hofstead. July 11, two eggs, St. Cloud, Trainor. Others by Hamilton, Blanch, Olson, Hofstead, and Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | 33. May 1, building, Minneapolis, Eastman. May 10, two eggs and one cowbird egg, St. Paul, Olson. June 20, one egg, Dodge County, Fred Blanch. Others by Cummings, Hofstead, Olsbn, Brother Hubert, Brother Pius, and Kutz. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | 22. May 9, building, St. Paul, Hofstead. May 23, five eggs, St. Paul, Olson. June 27, five eggs, Hennepin, Hofstead and Olson. Other nests found by Hamilton, Olin, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, Hofstead, and Olson. | ||||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | 3. June 3, two eggs and one cowbird egg, Duluth, Donna Swain and Joyce Malmrose. July 11, five large young, Duluth, Cora Clementson. July 21, two young out, Duluth, Dr. E. W. Bohannon. | ||||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | 4. May 13, building, Fort Snelling, Cummings. Also May 13, two eggs, Fort Snelling, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. May 23, three eggs and six cowbird eggs, Hennepin, Fred Blanch. June 3, young, Hennepin, Sadah Field. | ||||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | 127. April 13, building; August 4, four young; St. Paul, Hofstead. July 18, two eggs, Park Rapids, Eastman. Others found by Moore, Hamilton, Cummings, Holmberg, Mrs. Smythe, Blanch, Trainor, Field, Lakela, Olson, B'rother Hubert and Brother Pius, and Hofstead (74). | ||||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | Reported only by Eastman, July 17, building, Park Rapids. | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | 180. Brother Hubert and Brother Pius found 153 nests, from July 14 to September 14. All but nine were in thistles, St. Paul. Others found by Moore, Hamilton, Field, Hofstead, Olson, and Kutz. | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | 46. May 13, two eggs, St. Paul, Hofstead; Cummings also found one with two eggs on this date. August 19, two young and one young cowbird, St. Paul, Hofstead. Others were reported by Aler, Cummings, Helen Towle, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Trainor, Field, Eastman, Lakela, Hofstead, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, and Olson. | ||||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | 5. May 23, four eggs, St. Paul, Hofstead. July 7, July 15, July 18, each with eggs, Brother Hubert, St. Paul. August 4, four eggs, Duluth, Mrs. Olin. | ||||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | 10. May 21, two eggs and three young, Dakota County, Olson. May 24, four eggs, Minneapolis, Fred Blanch. May 30, one egg, Duluth, Mrs. Olin. August 30, four eggs, St. Paul, Hofstead. Others were found by Hamilton, Lakela, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | 5. May 13, five nests, one with one egg, Ramsey, Olson. | ||||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | 3. June 15, one egg; July 9, four young; St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. July 8, four young, all just recently killed by an unknown animal, Duluth, Alvera Larson and Lakela. MEADOWLARK, WESTERN? July 22, five eggs, Cottonwood County, Olson. | ||||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | 6. Nests with young reported by Hofstead, Olson, and Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, June 14 to June 27. | ||||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | 10. May 20, building, Minneapolis, Eastman; June 25, two young out, Duluth, Hatfield. July 16, young out, Park Rapids, Eastman. Others found by Aler, Field, Hofstead, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | 70. May 13, two nests with three eggs each, St. Paul, Olson. July 1, three eggs, Minneapolis, Hamilton. July 1, three nests with eggs, two nests with young, Duluth, Lakela. Others were found by Aler, Hamilton, Blanch, Eastman, Hofstead, Olson, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | Forty-five nests of sixteen species were parasitized. They are: Brown Thrasher, 4; Eastern Bluebird, 4; Wood Thrush, 2; Yellow Warbler, 4; Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1; Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, 1; Brewer's Blackbird, 5; Red-winged Blackbird, 6; Northern Cardinal, 1; Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 1; Indigo Bunting, 1; American Goldfinch, 1; Chipping Sparrow, 9; Song Sparrow, 3; Gray Catbird, 1. | ||||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | 42. May 14, building; June 7, three eggs; St. Paul, Hofstead. June 8, three young and one egg, St. Paul, Olson. Others by Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, Hofstead, and Olson. | ||||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | 26. April 22, several building, Minneapolis, Eastman. May 1, six with eggs, St. Paul, Cummings. May 20, six with eggs and young, Brown County, Hofstead. Others by Aler and Hofstead. | ||||
| Warblers | |||||
| Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) | July 26, juvenile found dead, Duluth, Hatfield. | ||||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | June 8, five eggs (hatched June 18), Duluth, Donna Swain and Joyce Malmrose. | ||||
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | 2. June 21, three young, St. Paul, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. July 17, adult feeding young cowbird, Park Rapids, Eastman. | ||||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | August 7, feeding young cowbird, Hennepin, Sadah Field. | ||||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | 20. Building: May 21, St. Paul, Hofstead; May 26, St. Cloud, Mrs. Trainor; May 31, Duluth, Jack Huele. Eggs: St. Paul, June 2, three eggs; June 21, three eggs; Hofstead. Young: Fillmore County, June 14, five just hatched; St. Paul, June 25, four left nest, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius; Cottonwood County, five young left nest, July 18, Olson; Duluth, July 13, three young out, Lakela. Others found by Aler, Trainor, Hofstead, Olson, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | July 22, adult feeding young cowbird, Park Rapids, Eastman. | ||||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | 2. May 16, one cowbird egg, Hennepin, Cummings. May 23, one young out, Hennepin, Miss Aler. | ||||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | 7. May 22, building, Minneapolis, Hamilton. May 29, three eggs and two cowbird eggs, St. Paul, Hofstead. July 29, one young out, Duluth, Lake\a. Others by Hamilton, Olson, Brother Hubert and Brother Pius. | ||||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | 5. June 22, two young cowbirds, St. Paul, Hofstead. Four nests noted by Brother Hubert and Brother Pius, from July 25 to Aug. 24, contained young, St. Paul. | ||||