50 observers turned up 262 species, 162 of them nesting, which is the best reporting effort for the last five years. The highlights were the first nesting record of the Boreal Owl in the United States south of Alaska and the first documented breeding record of the Bufflehead in Minnesota.

In comparison to the last three years there was a small increase in the number of people turning in seasonal reports with a subsequent tiny increase in the total number of species and a good increase in those found breeding.

Lots of hours in the field combined with accurate record keeping continue to produce results that are important in charting bird life during that all important nesting season. There is much to be learned, however, which will be discussed later. For now, the figures on effort for the last four years are as follows: 1975, 42 reporters found 241 species with nesting evidence for 133; 1976, 45 reporters found 240 species with nesting for 156; 1977, 47 reporters found 261 species with nesting for 155; 1978, 50 reporters found 262 species with nesting for 162.

Many of the county listings were by peripatetic birders. Not surprisingly the places with the best steady coverage · were where the population centers are -Duluth, the Twin Cities metro area, southeastern Minnesota and the St. Cloud area. Anoka (JLH; KJL, Beltrami (DW et al.), Lac Qui Parle (CMB) and Martin-Watonwan (EBK) Counties were especially well surveyed. No one at all ventured into Koochiching County and hardly into Pine or Itasca. Two other conspicuous gaps this year were the Minnesota River Valley segments of RenvilleRedwood Counties and Carver-Scott Counties.

Without the indefatigable nest finding of NMH and the bird survey of the peatlands around Waskish by the University of Minnesota biologists the breeding species list would be meagre indeed. Brood or nest cards on file, giving actual breeding information, are necessary to change the many open dots in Minnesota Birds to solid dots and to accurately map the ranges of our breeding avifauna. Land use changes and climatic changes add a dynamic dimension to the breeding maps and we want to be able to describe them as well. A final reason for filling in the cards rather than just writing "nested" is to provide dates so that the normal incubation and fledgling times for different parts of the state can be determined.

The format I used in the species accounts differs slightly from past years. No attempt was made to count counties for many common species known to nest throughout the state.

The word "seen" obviously means heard as well. The verbal summation of counties into range descriptions used the regions and the two halves of the state as outlined in Minnesota Birds. An index map showing the divisions is on page 29 of this report. Two dates were used for shorebird migration when they were available.

The highlights of the nesting season were the first nesting record of the Bora! Owl in the United States south of Alaska (see elsewhere in this issue) and the first documented breeding record of the Bufflehead for Minnesota.

A few accidental or casual species were discovered, mostly shorebirds or gulls. A Laughing Gull and Arctic Tern lingered at Duluth to the first of June and in July a Ruff was seen in Ottertail County and a California Gull in Big Stone County. The western prairie seems to be the place to go for surprises during early fall migration. A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and a Kentucky Warbler again showed up in the summer in unlikely places the former in Sibley County and the latter at Itasca State Park.

Several comments can be made about the rarer breeding species. Four regular nesting species that are at best difficult to find were not located on territories this year at all -King Rail, Burrowing Owl, PhiladelphiaVireo, and Yellow-breasted Chat. The Chukar may finally have vanished from Ely. Does anyone have any information negative or positive? The American Avocet and Western Wood Pewee showed up at the localities where they nested last year but breeding was not confirmed for this year. The "usual spot" was the only location where Baird's Sparrow, Sprague's Pipit, Piping Plover, Bell's Vireo and Louisiana Waterthrush were found. Negative information for these species is very hard to evaluate. Did anyone look elsewhere? The Yellow-crowned Night Heron was not found at the "usual spot" in Houston County but was discovered trying to nest in Ramsey County and was seen a couple of times in the southwestern region.

There are several northern species whose breeding in Minnesota is possible but unconfirmed. Of these, singing male Wilson's Warblers were found briefly at two locations and White-winged Crossbills were seen twice. Rusty Blackbirds were not seen at all. The Solitary Sandpiper has possibly nested once in the state and may do so more regularly. Was the June record for St. Louis County a possible breeding location? Two other northern passerines, the Blackpoll Warbler and Gray-cheeked Thrush were each seen once in early July but their presence should be conservatively interpreted as early migrants because their normal breeding ranges are far north of Minnesota.

Some interesting records that expand our knowledge of ranges of species w1thin Mmnesota were received. The Marbled Godwit and Wilson's Phalarope observed at the Expandere W1ldlife Management Area in Cottonwood County were very encouraging smce these species have become almost extripated in the drastically altered prame ecosystem. Also in the southwestern region evidence for a small population of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Northern Cardinals was turned up again this season. The continued breeding presence of Western Grebes in the Twin Cities area appears to be a range expansion. Acadian Flycatchers also were seen in the Twin Cities area which is north of their usual range· actual breeding needs to be document~ ed. More work needs to be done as well on delineating the ranges of the Willow and Alder Flycatchers. The southern and western margins of the range of many northern warblers are poorly known. This year new marginal localities for Black-and-white, Goldenwinged, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian and Canada were found. These places should be checked in the future for signs of breeding.

In fact if anyone is tired of just making lists and is looking for a new vacation experience think of all the opportunities there are for summer bird investigations. The greatest need is across the range boundaries of many northern species, not just the warblers listed above (look in Minnesota Birds for examples). The most fruitful areas are probably Kittson-Roseau Counties, Becker-Ottertail Counties and Pine County. To add new squiggles in the range maps for northern passerines note of exact location by township is required. Searching for breeding evidence would also be most helpful. Looking for new localities for some of our rarest species should also offer a challenge. Does the Piping Plover just nest at Duluth (what about Lake of the Woods and Red Lake)? Is the only native prairie that will support the Baird's Sparrow and Sprague's Pipit at Felton (what about other Nature Conservancy tracts)? Is the only wooded stream where Louisiana Waterthrush can be heard at Franconia? Patient stalking might also turn some of our summer sightings of Wilson's Warbler, Rusty Blackbird and Whitewinged Crossbill into first state breeding records. Prepare for next season. Go find a comfortable log in a bog and buy plenty of bug dope.