 |
Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
|
The 1961-Summer Season 1 June through 31 July 1961 by Ronald L. Huber |
Weather: The weather for the summer
was not particularly unusual, except
for the comparative lack of precipitation.
Hardest hit in this respect
was the northwestern portion of the
state. Members of the Avifauna! Club
made numerous trips to that portion
of the state to study some of the
grassland birds. We found things to
be fairly normal there up until midJune,
but by mid-July, the effects of
the drought could be clearly seen.
Marshes dried up, meadows became
brown and parched. Salt Lake, Lac
qui Parle County, a well-known area
to most of us, was nothing more than
a brackish puddle by the first week of
August.
General Considerations: The usual
seasonal patter will be extolled here,
but we shall address ourselves primarily
to treating of nesting species.
Data was accumulated from 13 observers
who traversed 26 counties.
This was a small number of observers
as compared with some previous nesting
seasons. Most of the material is
again from the same few observers.
The Huber brothers alone recorded
53 nesting species from 15 counties.
Again let me invite all of you to submit
your records, no matter how few.
A total of 100 species were reported
nesting, a fair total, considering that
less than one-third of the state was
covered.
LOONS AND GREBES:
Common Loon with young seen by
R. Grant on 28 July along Canadian
border at end of Gunflint Trail. Two
adults seen near Waubun, Mahnomen
County on 4 July by Avifauna! Club
members. One adult seen just south
of Itasca Park on Highway 113 by R.
Huber on 5 Aug. A. C. Rosenwinkel
saw two adults and two young on 24
July at Big Whitefish Lake, American Crow
Wing County.
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|
Species |
Information |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | H. Huber reports 22 young at La Crescent on 1 July. A. C. Rosenwinkel saw four broods in Ramsey County between 14 June and 14 July. | ||||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | Small flock of adults seen at Swan Lake, 8 July by R. Janssen. | ||||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | A. C. Rosenwinkel saw three broods of young in Ramsey County between 13 June and 14 July. | ||||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | A. C. Rosenwinkel reports a brood of four in Ramsey County on 14 July. Blue-winged Teal: Wabasha County, 10 June, 10 young near Lake City, Huber brothers Hennepin County, 24 June, 11 young, Minneapolis, H. Huber Mahnomen County, 4 July, two broods of five and seven, near Waubun, Huber brothers Ramsey County, 14 July, three broods at Goose Lake, A. C. Rosenwinkel Washington County, 7 July, seven young, Dean Honetschlager | ||||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | On 17 June, Avifaunal Club members saw an adult with eight young near Waubun. | ||||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | Avifaunal Club members report five broods of eleven, eight, seven six, and four young near Waubun, Mahnomen County on 4 July. | ||||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | An adult and nine young were seen near Mahnomen, Mahnomen County on 4 July by members of A vifaunal Club. | ||||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | A. C. Rosenwinkel saw three broods on Lake Superior, just south of Gooseberry Park, Lake County, from 14-18 August. HAWKS, VULTURES, EAGLES: | ||||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | A. C. Rosenwinkel reports 10 males, two females and six half-grown young on 14 July at Goose Lake, Ramsey County. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | An adult with ten young was seen by the Huber brothers on 1 July near Freeburg, Houston County. Dean Honetschlager saw a hen with four young on 9 August near Star Island. | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | Adults with young seen at Rice Lake Refuge, Aitkin County on 29 July by Brother Theodore. | ||||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | Avifauna} Club members saw several near Syre, Norman County, on 17 June. Three seen between Ulen and Felton, Clay County on 4 August, by R. Huber. | ||||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | Two adults with 17 young seen on 15 July just south of Felton, by Avifauna} Club members. RAILS: | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | H. Huber saw an adult with five chicks in Minneapolis on 10 June; on 24 June, many young of all sizes seen at Swan Lake by the Huber brothers; in Mahnomen County, near Waubun, Avifaunal Club members saw an adult with three young on 4 July; A. C. Rosenwinkel reports four broods near St. Paul on 1 July. PELICANS: | ||||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | Two nests with three and four eggs seen at Swan Lake, Nicollet County on 24 June and 8 July, respectively, by Avifaunal Club members. See article elsewhere in this issue. | ||||
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | Ten nests examined by Avifaunal Club members on 24 June at Swan Lake each contained from two to four eggs. On 12 July at the same area, 12 nests each contained from one to three eggs. Many more nests were seen but not examined as to contents. See article elsewhere in this issue. | ||||
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | Two nests containing one and three eggs, seen by the Huber brothers at Swan Lake on 24 June. See article elsewhere in this issue for details of this uncommon nesting. | ||||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | Forest Strnad found 12 nests with either eggs or young in Dodge County between 25 May and 10 August. William Pieper found a nest with two eggs near Rosen, Lac qui Parle County on 21 May. H. Huber found a nest with two eggs near Roseville, Ramsey County on 3 June. On 24 June the Huber brothers found and banded two nestlings at Swan Lake. CUCKOOS: | ||||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | Forest Strnad found a nest with two eggs on 3 July near Kasson, Dodge County. The nest was later destroyed. | ||||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | An adult with a tailless young was seen just south of Waubun on 15 July by R. Huber. OWLS: | ||||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | A. C. Rosenwinkel reports adult sitting on two eggs on roof of St. Paul Central Lutheran School, 20 June. On 4 July, he saw young peeking out from beneath parent's wing. SWIFTS: | ||||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | On 23 July, Dean Honetschlager reported young becoming noisy in his chimney at Marineon- St. Croix, Washington County. WOODPECKERS: | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| KING RAIL (Rallus elegans) | Dave Pearson observed two in the Carlos Avery Refuge, Anoka County on 30 May and again on 20 July. | ||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | On 8 July, A. C. Rosenwinkel saw five young in Washington County. The Huber brothers found a nest with five eggs at Swan Lake on 24 June. Avifauna} Club members saw two chicks near Waubun on 4 July and four chicks at Syre, on the same day. | ||||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | An adult with four young was seen on 8 July at Swan Lake by members of A vifaunal Club. Dave Pearson reports young on Diamond Lake, Hennepin County on 25 July and still other young in the Carlos Avery Refuge on 30 July. SHOREBIRDS: Only five species were reported as nesting, but at least 28 species seen during the summer months because of late spring migrants and early fall migrants. The overlap of these hegirae makes it possible to record a few of these species during each and every month of the summer. | ||||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | A. C. Rosenwinkel saw several broods in Ramsey County on 13 June. Huber brothers found three adults incubating on 10 June at Grass Lake, Hennepin County, 10 nests containing from four to 11 eggs at Swan Lake on 24 June and adults with young near Waubun on 4 July. | ||||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) | Seen by Avifaunal Club members on 17 June on Becker-Mahnomen County line, just south of Waubun. Heard again in same area on July 4. This was the first time we recorded their presence in the month of July. | ||||
| Stilts, Avocets | |||||
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | Nested at Salt Lake. (See Flicker, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 41, 57, 58, June 1961.) Birds seen again 17 June by members of Avifaunal Club, at least 20 adult birds seen; probably largest single group of this species ever seen in Minnesota. Birds gone by 4 August, at which time lake was almost dry. | ||||
| Plovers | |||||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | Nest with four eggs found near La Crescent, on 13 May by Avifauna} Club members. Nest with four eggs on Minnesota Point, Duluth, found by Avifauna} Club members on 27 May. Four young, just out of nest, banded by Avifaunal Club members at Syre on 4 July and still four more young banded same day in Clay County, just south of Norman County line on Highway 82. Two young banded in Hennepin County by R. Huber on 3 July. | ||||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | Two distinct pairs were seen at Salt Lake on 17 June by Avifauna} Club. Nesting very likely. This species used to nest on Minnesota Point, but in recent years it has apparently been displaced by Common Terns. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | Several nearly-grown young seen on 15 July near Felton by members of Avifauna} Club. | ||||
| RED KNOT (Calidris canutus) | Seen by Avifauna} Club mem- hers at Minnesota Point, Duluth on 20 and 26 August. Fall plumage. Dowitchers: On 23 July, nine Dowitchers were seen by Avifaunal Club members. Three remained silent, five flew off in another group, uttering a high-pitched, tu-tu-tu (Short-billed) and a lone individual, feeding apart from the others, also flushed, with a high-pitched keek note (Long-billed). On 8 July in Carver County, two Dowitchers were seen by the same group, but these birds were silent even when startled. On both of these dates, the Dowitchers were in with a large group of other migrating shorebirds, mostly Lesser Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpipers. | ||||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | Five seen on 20 A'ugust at Minnesota Point Duluth by Avifaunal Club members: Scattered individuals seen in same area by same observers on 26 August. | ||||
| WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri) | One seen at a distance of only a few feet, by' members of Avifaunal Club on Minnesota Point, Duluth. Bird had black legs drooping beak, bright russet-colored back with white markings and the wings were extended to eq~al length with the tail while the bird as at rest. Loose sand made it difficult to tell whether or not the bird had any partial webbing of the toes. Date was 26 August. | ||||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | Seen in Carlton County by H. Huber, Cass County by R. Huber, and Wadena County by R. Oehlenschlager, all on 26 August. | ||||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | A nest with four eggs was found on Minnesota Point, Duluth on 27 May by members of A vifaunal Club. | ||||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | A distinct pair and another individual were seen on 17 June at Salt Lake by members of A vifaunal Club. Here, too, nesting is a good possibility. On 1 July, Bob Janssen saw three Willets at Fisher Lake, Scott County. | ||||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | Several in fall plumage seen at Salt Lake, on 4 August by R. Huber. This is six days earlier than earliest fall date recorded in Roberts. | ||||
| Jaegers | |||||
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | Brother Theodore saw one adult sitting in the sand on Minnesota Point on 30 August. He approached within 12 feet of the bird. Again on 2 September, other members of the Avifaunal Club visited the area. We saw three Jaegers fly over the recreation area. Shortly thereafter we saw them sitting on Lake Superior near the small lighthouse at the end of the point. They then arose to harass a gull. TERNS: | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | On 19 June at Clearwater Lake, Stearns County, H. Huber saw a nest with two young. Forest Strnad found one young near Claremont, Dodge County, on 20 Jlme. DOVES: | ||||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | On 27 May, members of A vifaunal Club found three nests containing one to two eggs each on Minnesota Point, Duluth. | ||||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | On 24 June, the Huber brothers found five nests containing two or three each, at Swan Lake. | ||||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | On 24 June, the Huber brothers saw nine White Pelicans at Swan Lake. HERONS, BITTERNS, EGRETS: | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | An adult was seen feeding three downy young near Norwood, Carver County, by Avifauna} Club members on 23 July. | ||||
| Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) | Seen by Avifaunal Club members on 24 June and 8 July at Swan Lake. DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS: | ||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | Forest Strnad found 610 nests near Faribault, Rice County on 7 July. He banded five immatures. R. Grant reported 200 on nests in Ramsey County as early as 6 April. | ||||
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | Forest Strnad found 19 nests near Faribault on 7 July. He banded one immature. Many adults seen all summer at Dorer Pools near Whitewater Park, Winona County and near Reno, Houston County, by Avifauna} Club members. One seen on 9 July near Shakopee, Scott County (see M.O.U. Call Notes, Vol. 1, No. 3). One seen on 4 August at Salt Lake, Lac qui Parle County by R. Huber. It is interesting to note that while occasionally we have a sparse egret year, they are generally a common summer resident; a sharp contrast to the situation when Roberts wrote the Birds of Minnesota. | ||||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | Dave Pearson reports a nest with three eggs at Swan Lake on 6 July. | ||||
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | Two nests, occupied, seen near La Crescent, Houston County on 13 May and again on 30 May, by Avifaunal Club members. Seen again 14 July by R. Janssen. Nests were about 85 feet up in trees. | ||||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | Several seen on 10 June and 1 July near Reno, Houston County, by the Huber Brothers. | ||||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | R. Grant reports a pair at Clearwater County. Dave Pearson found a nest with three young at Many Point Scout Camp, Becker County, during week of 20-25 August. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | R. Grant found a nest with three young and an egg on 17 June, near Waubun. | ||||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | H. Vogel saw an adult fighting with an Osprey on 7 July at Star Island, Cass Lake, Cass County. GALLINACEOUS BIRDS: | ||||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | On 30 March, R. Grant saw a pair adding fresh twigs to a nest used three of the last four years in Ramsey County. Dave Pearson reports a nest nine miles north of Anoka, Anoka County; no date given. | ||||
| Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | One seen by Lowry Elliott on 20 August near Salt Lake, but in South Dakota. Two seen 17 June near Brown's Valley, Traverse County. | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | R. Grant reports an adult incubating one egg on 9 May, Hennepin County. | ||||
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis) | Lowry Elliott saw "a large rough-leg hawk" that must have been this species on 20 August near Salt Lake but in South Dakota. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | Forest Strnad found two nests with four eggs each near Claremont, Dodge County on 26 April. R. Grant found an adult with 2 young, Hennepin Co., on May 28. | ||||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | John Hall saw a half-grown young one in a nest on 9 June near Afton, Washington County. R. Grant reports an adult incubat- I ing on 28 April in Anoka County. | ||||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | On 12 July Dean Honetschlager observed three young in May Township, Washington County. | ||||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | R. Grant found two adults and four young on May 9 in Hennepin County. NIGHTHAWKS: | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | On 24 June, Forest Strnad banded two young in nest near Kasson. | ||||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | Dean Honetschlager reports young in his yard, May Township, Washington County, no date given. Dave Pearson reports young in Anoka County between 20 May and 2 June. | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | Dean Honetschlager saw many immatures on Star Island, Cass Lake, 6 August. FLYCATCHERS AND LARKS: | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Forest Strnad found five nests in Dodge County, between 20 and 26 June. The nests contained from four to five young each. | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | William Pieper observed this species stoop and take a Yellowlegs on 21 August near Redwing, Goodhue County. t | ||||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | Forest Strnad found six young in a nest near Claremont on 7 July. A. C. Rosenwinkel saw three young out of the nest on 16 June, in Ramsey County. Dean Honetschlager saw four young in nest on south shore of Turtle Lake, Ramsey County on 4 July. | ||||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | Four immatures being fed by adult on 5 August near Felton, seen by R. Huber. | ||||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | On 6-7 August, young just out of nest were being fed on Star Island, Cass Lake. Reported by Dean Honetschlager. Two nests near Felton on 4 July contained two eggs and three young. Seen by Avifaunal Club. On 27 June, Miss Ellen Jonas reports two young at Camp Oak Hills, Beltrami County. | ||||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | A nest containing four eggs and one Brown-headed Cowbird egg was found by H. Huber near Felton on 17 June. Miss Ellen Jonas reports a total of 5 nests, all but one of which contained young, at Camp Oak Hills between 4 May and 3 July. | ||||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | Forest Strnad found a nest with five young on 16 July near Kasson. Huber brothers found four nests in Winona, Wabasha and Houston Counties between 30 May and 1 July. | ||||
| Vireos | |||||
| Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) | A nest with four eggs was found at Reno on 10 June by the Huber brothers. | ||||
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | John T. Pratt reports a nest of birch-bark about ten feet up in a Cedar tree at Encampment Forest, Lake County on 29 May. | ||||
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | Dave Pearson reports adults feeding nearly-grown young on 21 August at Many Point Scout Camp. WARBLERS: Of about 40 species that have been seen or taken in Minnesota, about 22 are known to nest here and seven more occur during the summer, for a breeding season total of 29 species. Sixteen of these species were seen this ) ( season but only five were actually found nesting. | ||||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | An adult feeding well-grown young was seen at Pelican Lake, American Crow Wing County on 26 July by Bob Janssen. | ||||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | Dave Pearson found a nest at Many Point Scout Camp, Becker County, on 21 August. Miss Ellen Jonas reports a nest with four vireo eggs and one Brown-headed Cowbird egg on 23 June at Camp Oak Hills. | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | Forest Strnad banded four young from nest at Kasson on 9 June. | ||||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | Forest Strnad banded two young from nest on 3 June near Kasson on 6 May. H. Huber saw an adult incubating near Dawson, Lac qui Parle County. On 13 May he observed a nest with two young near La Crescent. | ||||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | Forest Strnad banded five young on 24 June near Kasson. WRENS: | ||||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | A nest with four eggs was found on Minnesota Point, 27 May, by Avifaunal Club members. SWALLOWS: All Minnesota species were found nesting this season. | ||||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | Dean Honetschlager reported a large colony north of Stillwater, Washington County, no date given. | ||||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | Dean Honetschlager reports that nesting began in two boxes at Marine-on-St. Croix on 7 May. Miss Ellen Jonas found a nest with four eggs on 26 June at Camp Oak Hills. | ||||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | Forest Strnad banded five young near Kasson on 28 June. R. Huber banded four young near Winona an 1 July. | ||||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | Forest Strnad found two nests with young at Kasson on 1 and 6 July and two other nests with young at Frontenac, Goodhue County on 10 July. JAYS, CROWS, CHICKADEES: | ||||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | Forest Strnad found 23 nests containing from three to five young each, most of which he banded, in Dodge County between 27 June and 9 August. R. Huber banded three young just leaving the nest near _Nimrod, Wadena County on 26 August. A fourth young eluded capture. | ||||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | Forest Strnad found 25 nests on 28 June near St. Charles, Olmsted County and 100 nests at Whitewater Park, Winona County on the same day. | ||||
| Wrens | |||||
| House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | Six nestlings found at Swan Lake on 24 June by the Huber brothers. Forest Strnad found 11 nests near Kasson between 28 June and 10 August. All contained from four to seven young. Dean Honetschlager reported two nests in May Township, Washington County, no date given. THRUSHES, MIMIC THRUSHES, PIPITS: | ||||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | A. C. Rosenwinkel found four young in St. Paul on 6 June. Miss Ellen,Jonas found a nest with three eggs on 4 June at Camp Oak Hills. | ||||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | On 27 May, H. Huber found a nest with three eggs on Minnesota Point, Duluth. On 10 June the Huber brothers banded one young just out of the nest at Reno. Forest Strnad banded two young near Kasson on 7 June. | ||||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | On 24 May, A. C. Rosenwinkel received a live young one, just out of the nest, from one of his pupils in St. Paul. VIREOS: Five species were found nesting this season, including the Bell's Vireo. | ||||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | Forest Strnad found 11 nests with eggs or young between 25 May and 10 August in in Dodge County. One of these contained four eggs on 10 August, a rather late egg-date for this species. It was apparently a third-nesting by the same pair, all in the same nestbox. Dean Honetschlager reports two nests in Washington County: one with three eggs on 25 June. | ||||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | A. C. Rosenwinkel reports two broods of three and two on 15 and 24 May, respectively, in St. Paul. Dean Honetschlager reports two pair nested successfully in liis yard in May Township, Washington County, no dates given. Forest Strnad reports five nests at Kasson between 25 May and 19 June. H. Huber found three nests in Hennepin County on 1, 7 and 12 May, Mahnomen County on 17 June and Houston County on 10 June. Miss Ellen Jonas found seven nests at Camp Oak Hills between 12 May and 13 July. Eastern Blueb ird: Forest Strnad found 11 nests with eggs or young between 25 May and 10 August in in Dodge County. One of these contained four eggs on 10 August, a rather late egg-date for this species. | ||||
| Pipits | |||||
| SPRAGUE'S PIPIT (Anthus spragueii) | Seen by Avifaunal Club members on 17 June, 4 and 15 July near Felton. Several males, singing about 200 feet in the air, dropped occassionally to meet females some 20 feet in the air. Although no nests were found, these exchanges of food would seem to indicate breeding. | ||||
| Finches | |||||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | Small flock heard on 20 August at Minnesota Point, Duluth by Huber brothers. | ||||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | On 15 April a female was incubating at Lake Harriet, in Minneapolis, Hennepin County; seen by many observers. See Flicker, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 55-56, June 1961. | ||||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | On 20 August one nestling was shaken from nest on Minnesota Point, Duluth by A vifaunal Club members. Two more nests in Hennepin County on 3, 4 September, found by R. Huber. | ||||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) | Avifaunal Club ptembers saw them during most of the summer between Felton and Ulen. On 17 June, a nest with two nestlings was found. Banded adult female. On 4 July, one large, semiflying young, still in huffy juvenal plumage was captured and banded. On 15 July, a nest with three young and an unhatched egg was found. The young were banded. On 5 August one adult male, seven brown individuals that were either sub-adults or females, and one short-tailed young were seen. | ||||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | On 4 July near Felton, Avifaunal Club members found two nests with five eggs each. Although the eggs were the same size in either nest, the five of the first clutch were wreathed at the large end with brown markings, almost forming a solid cap. The eggs of the other clutch, about 60 feet away, were rather uniformly sprinkled with brown speckles. This variation was so marked that we at first thought the two clutches belonged to two different species. On 4 August, R. Huber banded four nestlings just northwest of Rothsay, Wilkin County. | ||||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | Dean Honetschlager found a nest with four eggs on 28 May in Washington County. | ||||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | A nest with two eggs was found by Huber brothers on 1 July near Winona. Nest with three eggs reported by Dean Honetschlager on 5 August in May Township, Washington County. | ||||
| Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) | Seen all summer long in Becker County, just south of Waubun. First seen on 17 June, last seen on 5 August. | ||||
| BAIRD'S SPARROW (Centronyx bairdii) | Heard singing by Dr. Breckenridge on 22 June, when he was looking for a Greater Prairie Chicken nest. He saw one Baird's Sparrow at that time, between Felton and Ulen, Clay County. On 4 July, members of the Avifaunal Club visited the same area and found four singing birds. On 15 July at least 20 singing birds were seen and heard. Le Conte's Sparrows: An adult was seen to feed one young a worm on 26 August in Becker County just south of Waubun, by R. Huber. Bob Cohen reports taking a few specimens about 40 miles north of Duluth on 20 July. These would be the first Boreal Zone specimens for Minnesota. | ||||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | Several seen and heard singing (if it can be called that) near Winona on 1 July by the Huber brothers. On 26 August R. Huber saw an adult and one short-tailed young between Felton and Ulen, Clay County. | ||||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | On 4 August R. Huber banded three young in nest near Nimrod, Wadena County. | ||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | |||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | Four adults seen on 1 July at Reno by Huber brothers. | ||||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | H. Huber reports three young being fed by adults at Sugar Lake, Wright County on 19 June. On 24 June, a nest with three eggs was found at Swan Lake by the A vifaunal Club. A. C. Rosenwinkel found three nests on 30 May in north St. Paul. Adults feeding young. Redwinged Blackbird: On 30 May, A. C. Rosenwinkel found adults feed- ing young in four nests, St. Paul. The Huber brothers found nests on 21 May, Lac qui Parle County, 3 June Ramsey County, and 17 June, 4 July in Mahnomen County. | ||||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | A nest with foug eggs was found 17 June by Avifaunal Club members. The nest was in Becker County, just south of Waubun. lt"estern Meadowlark:. A nest with two eggs was found at Salt Lake by Avifaunal Club on 6 May. | ||||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | Adult and immature coming to feeder in St. Paul, seen on 1 July by A. C. Rosenwinkel. Adults and many immatures seen at Blue Mounds State Park, Rock County on 23 July by Avifaunal Club. | ||||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | On 20 May, Forest Strnad noted nest being built at Elba, Winona County. A. C. Rosenwinkel found adults feeding three young in St. Paul on 10 July. Dean Honetschlager reports two nests in May Township, Washington County; no date given. | ||||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | See Least Flycatcher, American Redstart, Red-eyed Vireo. | ||||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | On 27 May at Minnesota Point, Duluth, a nest with five eggs was found by members of the Avifaunal Club. | ||||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | Forest Strnad found 14 nests on 29 and 31 May near Kasson. Reported by H. Huber on 6 May at Lac qui Parle County, 6 May at Stevens County and 3 June in Hennepin County. | ||||
| Warblers | |||||
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | Dean Honetschlager reports them as summer residents at Marine-on-St. Croix. | ||||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | Mrs. John Micensky saw a female feeding one young out of the nest. There are only two previous nestings recorded for Minnesota. Bob Cohen reports two singing males at Duluth: one at Chester Park on 28 June and one at Harbor Island, Minnesota Point, St. Louis County on 25 June. Mrs. John Micensky saw a female feeding one young out of the nest. There are only two previous nestings recorded for Minnesota. Bob Cohen reports two singing males at Duluth: one at Chester Park on 28 June and one at Harbor Island, Minnesota Point, St. Louis County on 25 June. | ||||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | Bob Janssen found a nest two feet off the ground on 1 July near Eden Prairie, Hennepin County. The nest contained two eggs plus two Brown-headed Cowbird eggs. Dave Pearson saw adults feeding juveniles on 20 August at Many Point Scout Camp. | ||||
| Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) | Dave Pearson reports adults feeding juveniles on 20 and 25 August at Many Point Scout Camp. | ||||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | Dave Pearson saw adults feeding juveniles on 25 August at Many Point Scout Camp. | ||||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | Miss Ellen Jonas at Camp Oak Hills reports that the nest reached the egg stage but was then destroyed. BLACKBIRDS AND ORIOLES: | ||||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | On 9 to 20 June Dean Honetschlager found a male singing over alfalfa field in Washington County. Another was seen near Donnelly, Stevens County on 17 June by Del Holdgrafer. Several seen on 10 June south of Hastings, Dakota County by Huber brothers. | ||||