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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 1971-Winter Season 1 December 1971 through 29 February 1972 by Janet C. Green |
winter bird in both the southern and
The winter season of 1971 -72 northern parts of the state.
started out with unseasonably mild temperatures throughout much of December which caused some migrant waterfowl and sparrows to linger through Christmas time. However, when the new year came the temperature took some nose dives sometimes reaching 40° or more below zero. Lake Superior froze up about the usual time in early February but the intense and steady cold created an ice pack so thick and extensive that it didn't go out of the tip of the lake at Duluth until May 31st.
In spite of the cold and heavy snow in the northern part of the state birdwatching was rewarding because all the winter finches were present with the Common Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak and White-winged Crossbill occurring in invasion numbers. The latter two species penetrated far into the southern part of the state when the abundant cone crop in the north was depleted half way through the winter.
Like they were two years ago Common Redpolls were the most numerous
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Species |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | 12-18 Brainerd TS, JB; 12-29 -2-8 Rochester. | ||||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | 1-2 (1,CW), 1-7 (2,FVS), 3-14 (3,D. Raveling) Rochester. | ||||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | Migrants 12-18 (2) Brainerd JB, TS. All winter: (6-10) In Scott, Sherburne, Anoka, Dakota; (150) Carver, (500) Fergus Falls, (2,000) Lac qui Parle Refuge, (16,000) Rochester. | ||||
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | (11) captive flock, Carver KH. Swan sp.: 1-8 (free-flying) Rochester RBJ, RG. | ||||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | 12-12 (50) Winona FZL; all winter, cripple, Rochester. | ||||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | North 12-18 (6) -2-27 Fergus Falls KRE; 1-9 Virginia DB. South from 12-1 to 1-15 (1 or 2) In Sherburne, Hennepin, Ramsey, Winona, Carver, Anoka; later records: 2-l Anoka VL; 2-12 Scott KRE; 2-26 Hennepin CLH. | ||||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | 1-10 Ramsey RG. | ||||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | Migrants Hennepin OLJ; 12-18 (2) Fergus Falls KRE. All winter: 12-26 (3) -1-23 (16) -2-21 (10) Shakopee, Scott Co. | ||||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | last migrant, 12-5 Hennepin VL; winter, 1-2 (RG) -1-30 (VL) Shakopee, Scott Co. | ||||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | North 12-29 (2) Orr, St. Louis Co. NJH; 1-2 Duluth KRE; all winter (200) Grand Marais, (1500) Fergus Falls. SE Quarter all winter where open water, average flock (20-50); largest number: (100) Red Wing, It also was an invasion year for Snowy Owls; they were more numerous in the southern half of the state than they have been for several years. Raptors were particularly concentrated in the Duluth harbor where they fed on rodents, pigeons and pheasants that in turn feed on the spilled grain. During the winter 5+ Red-tailed Hawks, 3+ Rough-legged Hawks, 6+ | ||||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | North 12-18 (2) Brainerd TS, JB; 12·18 (3) Fergus Falls; all winter (20) Grand Marais. SE Quarter all winter where open water, average flock (1-6); largest number: (50) Elba, Winona Co. HLB. | ||||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 12-30 (5) Whitewater Refuge DGM; 1-18 Black Dog, Dakota Co. VL; 2-23 Beaver, Winona Co. RBJ. | ||||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | 12-18 Minn. River VL; 12-19 Grass Lake RBJ; -both Hennepin. | ||||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 12-5 (6) Wright BAH; 12-12 (3) Hennepin VL; 12-18 Miss. River, Aitkin Co. TS, JB; 1-9 Virginia DB. | ||||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | 12-5 Wright BAH; 12-9 Hennepin CLH; 12-18 Fergus Falls KRE; 1-2 Ramsey JAB; 1-19 Scott RBJ. | ||||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | a few, Lake Superior; largest number: 1-29 (40) Encampment River, 1-29 (30) Good Harbor Bay. Common Scoter: 1-1 Grand Marais KRE. | ||||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | 12-5 Duluth JCG; 12-5 Wright BAH; 12-7 Hennepin CLH; 12-25 (1) -1-2 (3) Miss. River, St. Paul JAB; 1-2 Dakota RG; 2-5 Duluth JCG. | ||||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | North 12-18 (28) -2-27 Fergus Falls KRE; Lake Superior all winter, largest number: 12-23 (19) Duluth, 1-29, 30 (25) Cook Co.; 2-13 (48, after Superior freeze-up), 2-27, 29 (10) Scanlon, St. Louis River. SE Quarter all winter, average flock (10-20); largest number: (282) Miss. River. Ramsey Co. (Xmas,'(360) Black Dog, Dakota Co. (Xmas); increased numbers: late Feb., Wabasha DGM. | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | 12-7 Hennepin CLH; 12-18 Fergus Falls KRE; 1-10 (RG), 1-12 (RBJ) Ramsey; 1-23 (DB), 2-13 (RG) Pine River, Crow Wing Co. | ||||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | North all winter, Lake Superior; largest number: 2-5 (6) Duluth JCG. SE Quarter migrants: 12-5 to 12 (75) Wright BAH; 12-6 (200), 12-10 (1000), 1-2 (200) Wabasha DGM; 2-26 (20) Hennepin B&DC; all winter, a few on rivers in Dakota, Goodhue. | ||||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 12-26 (6) last, Duluth JCG; 1-1 (2) Dakota VL; 2-5 Cook RG; 2-21 Dakota KRE. | ||||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | 12-12 Wright BAH. | ||||
| New World Quail | |||||
| Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) | 2-13 (7) Elko, Scott Co. JAB. Rina-necked Pheasant: North reported by 5 people in Mille Lacs, Wilkin, Ottertail, St. Louis (Duluth). South reported by 33 people in 24 counties. | ||||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | North reported by 18 people in 12 counties; South reported by 6 people in Washington, Chisago, Sherburne, Hennepin, Car ver, Benton. | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | reported from Marshall, Beltrami (10), Aitkin (8), Lake of the Woods (42). | ||||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | 12-18 (1) Ottertail KRE. | ||||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | reported from Ottertail (10), Clay (13), Stearns (4), Rice (13), Nobles, Rock, Murray (12), Blue Earth, Watonwan, Dakota (20), Scott (17). | ||||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 12-30 Wabasha DGM; 1-1 Anoka DB; 12-18 (2) -2-27 Fergus Falls KRE; 12-12 1- 1 -2·19 (2) Black Dog, Dakota Co. | ||||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | 12-12 Hennepin FN, VL; 12-26 Duluth JCG. | ||||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | 1-29 St. Louis PF, B&DC; 1-31 Lake FN; -both Lake Superior. | ||||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | 1-8 Winona RBJ, RG -third winter record. | ||||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | stragglers 1-1 last, Hennepin; 1-2 thru 8 Rochester; winter: 12-18 (9) -2-27 Fergus Falls KRE; 12-18 -2-15 (2) Shakopee, Scott Co. | ||||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | 12-26, 2-7 Hennepin VL; 1-2 (3) Hennepin RG; 1-8 (4) Winona RBJ; 1-15 Winona FZL. | ||||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | migrants 1-1 Ramsey JAB; 1-1, 2-13 Dakota VL; 1-2 (2) Dakota RG. Lake Superior: 12-6 (400) Duluth: mid-Dec. to mid-Jan. (100-150), mid-Jan. to mid-Feb. (50) Duluth- Two Harbors area; 2-27 (200) Two Harbors; 1-30 (130) Grand Marais. Rina-billed Gull: 12-5 Dakota KRE; 12·6 Duluth JCG: 12-5 (200), 12-11 Wabasha DGM; 12-12 Henne pin VL. Mournina Dove: North last. 12-30 Cook Co. K. Carr; all winter, 12-1 -2-18 Duluth MMC. South all winter, reported by 23 neoplP. in 17 counties; nsuallv 1 or 2; largest number: 15 three places in Twin Cities and 46 on one farm (12-19 Sherburne). | ||||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | 2-8,9 Duluth MMC, JCG; 2-27 (2) Two Harbors FN. | ||||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | larg-est number, Duluth (1 A, 1 Imm.). 2-8,9 (3); largest number, SW Lake Co.: 2-27 (5) Two Harbors FN; other: 1-29 near Palisades Head B&DC. | ||||
| Loons | |||||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | 12-5 Wright BAH; 12-7 Wabasha DGM. | ||||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | 12-4 Carver KH; 12·5 Dakota KRE; 12-18 Fergus Falls KRE; 2-20 Winona RG. | ||||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | all winter (2) Lac qui Parle Refuge; 2-12 Morrison DAF. | ||||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | 12-24 Wadena NJ; 12-29 Scott JAB; 1-2 Ramsey JAB; 1-7 Marshall AzNWR. | ||||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | 12-5 Carver KH; 12-19 Sherburne BD; 12-23 Cotton, St. Louis Co. NJH; 12-29 Scott JAB; 2-18 Carver MHM; 2-26 Swift BAH; 2-27 Morrison LSR. | ||||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | 1-10 Sherburne, BD; 1-29 Hennepin OLJ. | ||||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | reported by 6 people in Cook, Beltrami, Duluth, Ramsey, Hennepin, Dakota. | ||||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | North fall migrants (7 birds) W. Mesabi Range fide HM; 12-9 (2 A) Ottertail KRE; winter: 12-26 (3) Clearwater; 12-11 (1, fide MI) -2-28 (2, TS) Brainerd; 1-20 Duluth MMC; 1-29 Crow Creek, Lake Co. B&DC; spring migrants: 2-26 Ely RG; 3-7 (2) Central Lakes, St. Louis C'o. fide HM. South last migrants: 12-12 Sherburne BD, 12-18 Carver KH; wintered Miss. River Hennepin (Osseo, 1-13) to Houston, maximum count (151 in Jan., scarce mid-Jan. to mid-Feb.; all winter (1) Lac qui Parle Refuge. | ||||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | 1-3 Winona RG; 2-23 Winona RBJ; 2-26 Winona HLB. | ||||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | North reported by 5 people; Dec. in Clearwater, Crow Wing, Ottertail; Jan. thru Feb., 5 birds minimum in Duluth. SE Quarter reported by 16 people in 11 counties. SW Quarter none. | ||||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | North reported by 3 people; Marshall (thru 1-6, then 2-27), N. Shore in St. Louis Co. (last, 12-13). 3 birds minimum In Duluth harbor all winter. SE Quarter reported by 12 people in 9 counties. SW Quarter reported by 2 people in 2 counties. | ||||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | renorted bv 7 people In Rice, Nobles, Hennepin, Washington, Sherburne. | ||||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | North reported by 7 people in 7 counties; South reported by 16 people in 14 counties. Snowv Owl: North a minimum of 8 owls In Duluth 12-6 to E>nd Feb. plus 12 owls in Cook, Lake. Ot• o.rt~n ('1~" St T.oni.~ fMes:tbi Ran~"e). MillP T.:H$ frorn 11-21. 28 (fide HMl and 12-9 (JPl to 2-29 (MI). South 14 owls in Wrig-ht, Nobles, Hennepin. Dakot•. Cottonwood. Mnrray, Goodhue, Ramsey from 12-11 (ETS) to 3-4 (FN). '"'~m..,..n"'tl! 1?.?7 w~~' | ||||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | 12-2 Lac qui Parle Mrs. OLE; 1-8 Clay L&CF; 2-21 Morrison LSR. | ||||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | 1-16 nhotographed SHERBURNE NWR, R. Watlov; 2-28 found dead, Duluth MMC.. | ||||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | North 12-18 Ferg-us Falls KRE. c::....., •., DP~" tl,rn mirl-.T~n. in O:::tkota. Olrnsted, Winona. Hennepin. Wabasha; later: 2-12 Sibley RG; 2-21 Olmsted HLB. | ||||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | North reported from Mille Lacs (3 birds), Crow Wing (4+birds); South reported from Sherburne, Anoka, Hennepin, Winona, Wabasha. | ||||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | 12-3 -1-22 (female), 2-13 (male) Deerwood TS; 1·8 (3 females 1 male) Deerwood EMB; 2-24 rural Duluth H: Roberts. NORTHERN THREE·TOED WOODPECKER: 11-273- 5 (minimum, 3 males, 1 female) Deerwood TS. | ||||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | North reported from 11 counties; South reported from 19 counties. Downy Woodpecker:North reported from 14 coun ties; South reported from 21 counties. | ||||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Dec. thru mid-Jan. in Ot tertail. Nobles, Wright, McLeod, Cottonwood, Wabasha, Sherburne. Chisago; late Jan. thru late Feb. in Lac qui Parle, Wabasha, Sherburne, Anoka, Cottonwood, Pope, Watonwan, Clay. | ||||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | renorted from 16 counties including Wadena, Douglas, Blue Earth on western margin. Red-bellied Woodoecker: North reported from Crow Wing (2, JB), Aitkin (JB), Cass (Walker). South reported from 13 counties: Stearns and Sherburne southeastward to Carver, Rice, and Olmsted on Western margin. | ||||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | SE Quarter reported by 23 people in 12 counties. SW Quarter reported by 2 people in 2 counties. | ||||
| GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus) | dark phase birds in Duluth harbor; descriptions of plumag-e indicate perhaps 2 or 3 different birds: 1-18 MMC, 2-9 MMC; 2-26 JCG, RBJ, RG, FN; 3-10 MMC. | ||||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | reported from Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Pi!Je (Kerrick), Aitkin (McGregor), Itasca, Crow Wmg (Deerwood), Cass (Wilkinson), Beltrami .U}~~ds~ake), Clearwater (Bagley), Lake of the Blue Jav: North reported from 14 counties· South reported from 20 counties. ' | ||||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | COOK CO. (1-29, 30 Kimball Creek MMC), ~Itkin (Palisade 12-12 -1-8), Marshall, Beltrami, Clearwater (25), Wadena (Nim· rod), Cass (Walker). | ||||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | North all winter in Ottertail Clay, Morrison. Mille Lacs, Crow Wing Aitkin' Duluth; migration: 2-22 in Duluth Bagley,' Onamia: South reported in 21 counties; greatest number: (110) Cottonwood, (2-300) Rice. · | ||||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | reported from Lake and Cook (20-25), St. Louis, Pine (Askov), Aitkin. Crow Wing, Itasca, Beltrami (Red Lake), Lake of the Woods Marshall (AzNWR). ' | ||||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | North reported from 14 counties; South reported from 19 counties. | ||||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | reported by 4 people in Lake Cook, St. Louis (Hibbing). ' | ||||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | reported by 10 people in HennePin. Winona, Washimrton, Olmsted RamseyDOUGLAS (1-~ -2-28, Lake Carlos, NJ). ' | ||||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | Dec. thru mid-Jan in Marshall Ottertail, Clay, Wabasha, Murray, Cottonwood; Lac qui Parle, Nobles, Rock, Swift, Kandiyohi, Dakota, Wright, Winona, Carver; South migration: 2·2 (250) Wabasha, Cottonwood; 2-8 thru 13 first ar~vals, nine people; 2-20 thru 28, flock~ (20-50) widespread; North migration: 2-21 Clearwater; 2-29 Morrison, Crow Wing. | ||||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | North reported by 19 | ||||