The past spring in Minnesota was late and cold. The weather bureau reported temperatures at 25 degrees below normal. In northern Minnesota there was frost as late as June 3 and Duluth Harbor was still full of broken ice June 5. Although the nesting of nearly all species of birds was delayed about two weeks, there were several reports of nestlings dying of chill. In and around the Twin Cities the inCl'eased number of nesting song oirds was noticeable. They adjusted themselves to much smaller territories than formerly. American Robins in particular nested in close proximity to others of their kind. Two pairs of robins built nests about two feet apart on rungs of a ladder hung on the wall of a dwelling. The young hatched in both nests. Besides these robins there were four other pairs that nested twice, one pan· of brown thrashers, one pair of mourning doves, two pairs of orioles, one pair of starlings, two pairs of bluejays, one pair of house-wrens, one pair of white-breasted nuthatches, and several English sparrows, all of which nested in an ordinary city block that had a dwelling on each fifty foot lot. One pair of robins nested in a tree and iost both broods after they had left the nest, evidently predators got them. The nest of the robins nested on window sills and over doors of dwellings. Altogether they raised three young. The brown thrashers lost their young and one of the adults was missing. The other still lives in the area at the time of this writing, August 15. The mourning doves raised two young and September, the other species raised young the exact number of which was not determined. Though each nesting pair selected such a small territory, they lived amicably together.

Wood ducks nest each year in hollow trees at the home of Dr. W. J. Breckenridge. They began nesting about two weeks later than usual. Ron Anderson, Mankato, keeps a complete nesting record of the species found in the territory around Mankato. Most of the dates were late. :May 24 he found the nest of a wood duck on the ground under a rock outcropping at Siblf·~· Park. There were eleven young in it all of which apparently died of chill. Another unusual wood duck nesting site was reported by Whitney Eastmen June 5 at the Isaac Walton Bass Ponds. The nest was built about thirty feet above the ground in a vine that hung in a tree. There were eggs in the nest but due to its inaccessability the number could not be determined. Several saw the bird leave the nest at various times. Near St. Paul a wood duck nest was found nearly one-half mile from water by A. C. Rosenwinkel.

Reports from several areas in tlJe state indicate that due to flooded COllditions and cold weather the nesting of ducks was not only later but there were fewer of the first nests. Robley W. Hunt, Manager of Mud Lake N<:tional Wildlife Refuge, reported on nesting as follows, "Due to the greatly delayed spring migration and flooded condition of the area at the time the first migrants arrived the nesting pat tern has been very much upset. We had a very minimum of satisfactory nesting sites for land nesters and as a result it now appears as if our mallard, teal, baldpate, etc. population will remain somewhat low until such time as birds capable of flight return to the area later in the summer. As far as we are able to determine a good many of what would have been refuge nesters were forced to seek suitable nesting sites on the outside. On the other hand we have an apparent increase in the numbers of scaup, ring ·1cck, canvasback, redhead, ruddy, coot and pied-billed grebes. This might be expected as the raft type nesters would not be too handicapped by high water levels. We might also add that since taking our first brood count we have observed considerable additional broods of both dabblers and divers, possibly a combination of late nesting as water levels receded and second nesting attempts. In that spring migrants arrived when flood levels were at a peak we are of the opinion that actual loss through flooded nests could not have been great. The few suitable sites available upon arrival were utilized. From that time on water levels dropped until July 27 when normal levels on the larger marsh areas were finally attained."

In Steele County William Longley reported the following species of ducks with downy young (dates July 3 to July 13): mallard, pintail, gadwall and blue-winged teal. He stated that on June 28 at Silver Lake, Rochester, from three to four hundred tame mallards were seen to have about twentyseven broods with one hundred fiftynine young most of which were downy, some half grown. There were six Canada geese, a pair of which successfully nested and had four young which were half grown. At Mayowood, Rochester, on May 10 he found a pair of tame Canada geese with six young a day old. His report contained the record of a king rail with four downy young July 13, Steele County.

Mr. Longley saw a Swainson's hawk which he believed to be nesting in Dodge County, May 11. Red-shouldered hawks have been seen along the Minnesota River during nesting season and the nest of one was found at Forestville by Franklin Willis. Rev. 0. L. Bolstad, Badger, is of the opinio11 that the hawk population is on the decrease in that area. He drives in the country much of the time and saw only fom· hawks this summer. Thirty years ago, he states, any number of several species of hawks could be seen throughout the year but the last few years the~· seem to have disappeared. Many observers have had the same experience. Although nearly all species of hawks are protected by law in Minnesota, they are indiscriminately shot at any time of the year and the great flights of hawks in migration are very seldom seen.

Rev. Bolstad reported that the nesting of the sandhill crane has increased in the state during the past sevcr:ll years, that the magpie population is increasing also and that 12 or 13 are spending the summer at Roseau Lake. He stated also in his report that several ravens nested in the Northwest Angle last spring and that this summer there is a very heavy population of hummingbirds in that area.

Because of the high water observers did not have the opportunity to see the shore bird migration in easten1 Minnesota last spring. This summer their return has not been satisfactorily obse1·ved either because the vegetation is very lush in swampy areas along the rivers and only small mud flats are available. Harvey Gunderson and Bruce Hayward saw yellowlegs and semipalmated sandpipers July 18 near Cedar Creek Forest. To date very few shore birds have been reported.

A. C. Rosenwinkel made observations at Whitefish Lake July 1 to 7. He reported nine Caspian terns and two Bonaparte's gulls. Flood conditions around Badger brought an influx o( Franklin's gulls according to Rev. Bolstad. Thousands stayed all summer to feed after the water receded. Robley Hunt reported a nesting colony of between five and six thousand Franklin's gulls at Mud Lake Rcfu~e. Forester's terns nested at Swan Lake, Nicollet County. Seven nests were listed by Ron Anderson. From reports there was a high mol·tality among warblers last spring even though they arrived later than usual.

S. S. Flaherty wrote that at Morris many warblers perished from bad weather and lack of food. They were found dead along the roads and highways. No large waves of the late wm·blers were reported. Dr. D. W. Wamer reported nests of the bluewinged warbler in the southeastern part of the state in 1948. The nesting of this bird was again reported this season at Forestville by Franklin WilliR. In the city of Mankato forty-six nestings of the mourning dove were recorded by Ron Anderson. Twentyeight of them were unsuccessful.

It was a dickcissel year. They were seen throughout the southern half of Minnesota by Dr. W. J. Breckenridge, S. S. Flaherty, A. C. Rosenwinkel and others. The first appearance this season of the American egret was in Freeborn County July 6. In Waseca County they were seen July 11. Both of these early records were sent by Forest Lee. They have appeared at various points during late July and early August and the indications are that they have arrived in considerable numbers.

There were a few unusual records. A white pelican was seen in Aitkin County by Forest Lee and a redthroated loon in Duluth Bay, May 18, by Dr. 0. Lakela. A rare v~sitor to Minnesota, the Acadian flycatcher, was observed in Nerstrand Woods by A. C. Rosenwinkel. This is a very unusual record but Mr. Rosenwinkel listened carefully to its call and feels certain that his identification is COl"rPct.