The season was marked by mild, fine weather until January when the ther­mometer for a few short periods fell below zero, as far as 30 to 40 below in the north. There was some snow there too, but in the south half of the state the only snow was a light fall at intervals. There was a paucity of birds. Very few flocks of Waxwings, Grosbeaks, Long­spurs, Redpolls or other birds from the north roamed about. Pine and Evening Grosbeaks were largely absent even at feeders. In a Jetter dated January 25, Dr. P. B. Hofslund stated as follows: "Bird life is very scarce this winter in Duluth. For instance, we counted only 49 Evening Grosbeaks on the Christmas census, and we usually get that many at one of Hero's feeders. I haven't had a bird at my feeder since November, and many others report the same thing. I don't see or hear birds on the way to school. We have a few reports of some birds that are rather unusual here, but these reports have been scattered throughout the winter. A Northern Cardinal flew into the window of one of my acquaint­ances, perhaps the one that has been reported from several places in the same neighborhood. Gary Kuyava captured a Richardson's Owl, which later died. Food is abundant in town and in the woods, so I suspect that the lack of severe weather has more or Jess kept birds from moving into areas where they would be encoun­tered most frequently. I doubt even if this very cold weather will move them, because the snow cover is exceptionally light." John Bero in Duluth stated that he had fewer Evening Grosbeaks than usual. The largest count this winter was 56, and he has had many more than that every season, sometimes 125. The Beros established their first feeder 12 years ago and now have three; one of them is a self feeder which holds in excess of 100 pounds of sunflower seed. These feeders are stocked the year around, and many bird-watchers from all parts of the state visit them, where they can observe woodpeckers, nuthatches and other com­mon birds besides Pine Siskins, Wax­wings and other rarer species that nor­mally feed there in winter. Sometimes sunflower seeds fall to the ground. This winter they attracted a large rat which was swooped down upon, captured and eaten by an owl. The Beros' sanctuary harbored two Golden-crowned Kinglets this winter.

The Paul Beckers at Walker, who build and sell excellent feeders, stated that there is a scarcity of birds in that area and that the fall migration was nil. They had one interesting visitor, a Hud­sonian Chickadee.

Mrs. Edward Harms, whose home overlooks the Minnesota River opposite Savage, operates feeders with which she has had success. Any disturbance causes a shower of red birds to rise and fly over the hill to the woods below. She had 21 Northern Cardinals and a goodly number of Purple Finches, also American Goldfinches, Tree Sparows and woodpeckers, including the Red-bellied and Pileated. A Sharp­shinned Hawk harassed her feeders all winter.

Three Tufted Titmice appeared No­vember 24-26 at a feeder owned by Dr.

W. R. Hiller, Crystal Village suburb of Minneapolis, and also an Dark-eyed Dark-eyed Junco arrived January 6 and a White-throated Sparrow, January 7. They all found the provisions so much to their liking that they are still there. Mrs. J. H. Reisinger reported a White-throated Sparrow and an immature Harris's Sparrow at her feeder, November 20. At Gibbon two Harris's Sparrows fed for several weeks at a feeder owned by Albert Testor. The following important record was received from H. H. Goehring, St. Cloud. He stated as follows: "One Tufted Tit­mouse stayed at my feeder stocked with sunflower seeds, December 6 to 9, !956. It was not disturbed or banded. Prev­iously, the only authenticated report of this bird in St. Cloud was the arrival of three birds November 17, 1953. All were banded. Two remained until Aug­ust 27, 1954 during which time they nested and brought five young to the feeder. Four of the five were banded. No reports between 1954 and 1956." An Dark-eyed Dark-eyed Junco appeared in Jan­uary at a feeder owned by Mrs. Fred­erick Bradford, St. Paul. Of interest is the record of a Baltimore Oriole at a feeder belonging to Ivan Sorenson in Minneapolis as late as November 28. The St. Paul water department operates sev­en feeders in the Lake Vadnais area.

A. C. ~osenwinkel visited these feeders several times and reported a White­throated · Sparrow, January 4, and on several · occasions in January three Tuft­ed Titmice were present. All of the common birds frequented these feeders. At her cabin in Cedar Forest, Mrs. A. D. Corniea keeps her feeders stocked the year around. Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches fly to meet her when she arrives. They feed on her hand and accompany her on walks in the woods. She was thrilled to have a Varied Thrush at her feeder, December 1 and 2. It stayed only two days. James Lundgren, living in the same area, fed a Flicker.all winter. Mrs. R. E. Whitesel, Minneapolis reported two Flickers. From Morris, Sheridan Flaherty sent the un­usual record of a male Northern Cardinal at his feeder, and Marie Aftreith reported one at Schroeder. She was one of the very few to report Pine Grosbeaks. Her rec­ord was dated November 30.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are increas­ing somewhat. This winter they were reportedly patronizing feeders in greater numbers than formerly. Pileated Wood­peckers were also reported by several observers. Red-breasted Nuthatches were scarce; very few were reported. Last year they were quite abundant es­pecially at Vadnais Forest.

Some of the Christmas bird counts listed fewer individuals than usual. In­teresting items on a count by the St. Paul Audubon Society were Golden­crowned Kinglet, 14; Northern Cardinal, 22; Wil­son's Snipe, 8; Killdeer, 1; Belted King­fisher, 1; Pin-tailed Duck, 1. The Min­nesota Club listed a Golden Eagle and one Pine Grosbeak. Less than the usual number of Ring-necked Pheasants were counted. Dr. and Mrs. Mahle censused the birds from Plainview to Kellogg. The most interesting items on their count were Bobwhite, 18; Northern Cardinal, 28; Tur­key Vulture, 2; Tree Sparrow, 100. Nor­mally that is not an exceptional number of Tree Sparrows, but elsewhere they were reportedly scarce. This writer took a census south of Minneapolis between Cedar and Penn avenues. Most interest­ing records were two Wilson's Snipes and four species of hawks, Red-tailed, Northern Goshawk, Sharp-shinned and Sparrow. American Kestrels were apparently quite abundant this winter to date of this writing. A Peregrine Falcon was seen flying near the outskirts of Minneapolis Jan­uary 10 by Bruce Harris.

Several hundred Tundra Swans spent the first two weeks of November on Whitefish Lake, American Crow Wing comity, reported by George T. Ryan. December 12, two were still lingering at Weaver Marsh, Wabasha county, and in the same area there were an estimated 1500 Mallards and 75 American Black Ducks. This report was made by Rev. Forest Strnad. There were several large concentrations of Mallards in November, December and early January. A small strip of water was still open on Lake Harriet, Min­neapolis, January 8, and approximately 400 Mallards crowded into it. They remained until the lake was completely frozen over. Mrs. E. W. Joul said there were 80 Mallards and one Pin-tailed Duck on Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis, January 17. On Thanksgiving day, a very large flock of approximately 800 Mallards drifted about in broken forma­tions and finally landed in a field of corn stubble very near to dwellings and the highway. They rested without feed­ing and without making a sound until some children appeared. They then arose in a cloud of wings and circled just above my head. It was a thrilling ex­perience. Mallards were seen near Red Wing and on the Zumbro River, Decem­ber 28, by Bruce Hayward. On Decem­ber 27, I went to Rochester to observe the ducks and geese on the lake there. Several hundred Mallards were being fed by observers and were so tame they came up to our car doors and apparently would have entered the car if we had allowed it. When they found we had no food for them they shouted at us with loud indignant quacks as they waddled heavily away to the next car. There were about 1000 Canada Geese. It was an interesting and beautiful sight, so many wild birds in the heart of a city. While large numbers of them rested on the shores, many swam about in stately grace, and all the time conversed in low musical honks. Like the Mallards they, too, were very tame, and some of them approached to be fed.

There were reports of a large goose migration over the Twin Cities, Novem­ber 9. At Highwood, St. Paul there were seven high flying flocks of unde­termined species, reported by John Hall, Sr. On the same date, Mrs. Sylvester Koontz saw a large migration over Min­neapolis.

Very rare is the following record. Near Fairmont, Martin county an American Brandt was flushed from woods and shot in flight by Maynard Nelson. The head, neck and wings were sent to the Museum of Natural History, University of Min­nesota. Two immature White-winged Scoters were observed in Rice Lake in November by William Longley.

More than the usual number of Mead­ow Larks and Mourning Doves were reported. A Meadow Lark, two Mourn­ing Doves, one Loggerhead Shrike and one Eastern Bluebird were seen on the North Shore, November 11 by the Duluth Bird Club and reported by Joel Bronoel.

Usually American Robins are present in winter, sometimes in large numbers, but only one was reported to this writer this winter. It was seen in Como Park, St. Paul by A. C. Rosenwinkel, December 8. A flock, mostly Red-winged Black­ birds but which included a few Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds was seen by Dr.

D. W. Warner the first part of January near Red Wing. Except for one Rusty seen along the Minnesota River near Minneapolis, December 27, this is the only record of blackbirds received after the migration. Ravens were reported near Onamia, October 23, by M. Evan­ous. He stated that they appear in that area every fall. He also observed a Wild Turkey Vulture near Onamia, November 6.

Occasionally interesting reports are received from members at large that live outside of Minnesota. On January 11 one such report came from Mrs. Amy Baldwin, Chicago. She reported the following from that area: female King Eider, Western, Eared and Horned Grebes, hundreds of Old Squaws, one Harlequin Duck, White-winged, Ameri­can and Surf Scoters. Of course all these birds sometimes appear on the Great Lakes, but it must be a joy to see so many of them at one time.