Extensive spring rain in many areas of the state ended talk of widespread drought conditions for the summer, and helped mitigate the wildfire threat in northern Minnesota. Rainfall in June was near normal to above normal in most regions, with the northwest and the southeast particularly wet. A few of these communities endured record high totals for the month of roughly 12 inches! The wet weather during both May and June produced inundated fields, soil erosion, and urban flooding in some counties. There were not many severe thunderstorms in June, but there were numerous days with strong winds — gusting over 40 miles per hour in many places. Total precipitation in July was more modest, with the notable exception of the weekend of 7–10 July, when torrential rains pummeled the Twin Cities metro area, causing extensive erosion and flooding.

June temperatures generally ranged from 2 to 4 degrees F cooler than normal statewide; record low temperatures were recorded in the northeast near the end of the month. This trend continued into July, and was highlighted by an amazing week at mid-month during which the temperatures averaged 10 to 20 degrees F colder than normal! Based on daytime temperatures, it was the coldest 18 July in Minnesota history.

Seasonal Highlights

No fewer than 277 species were seen this season, exceeding the record set last year (please note that the 1999 total was originally 275, but a belated report added another species). The average number observed over the past ten years has been only 267 species. Seasonal Reports and/or breeding information were submitted by 156 individuals, also a record high total. Contributors sent in 997 nest or brood cards, similar to the previous year; breeding data were collected for 170 species (above average). The top contributors of breeding information were Jon Little & Jacob Langeslag (202 nest/brood cards), Jean Segerstrom & Mark Newstrom (192), and Michael R. North (94). A very hearty thanks to all contributors for your outstanding time and effort!

It is important to note that the number of observers has increased significantly over the past five years. Obviously, this is something to keep in mind when comparing data to previous years. It is also a factor when determining the number of different counties in which an individual species is reported (usually referred to in the species accounts as the “number of reports”). Close to 18% of all species had a record high number of reports this summer! Many others were well above average. But complicating this issue is the fact that many of the additional observersin recent years are e-mail contributors only, who tend to report a few specific observations; the number of people who fill out and contribute Seasonal Report forms (the source of the vast majority of these data) has not really changed much at all. Another complication is the pattern of observations; for example, no warblers and very few waterbirds were reported in record numbers, while woodpecker and sparrow observations were extraordinary.

Summer started with several records of late Red-throated Loons at the western end of Lake Superior. Perhaps the term “late” should not be used; migration well into June seems to be the norm for this species, rather than the exception. Also on Lake Superior, the adult Pacific Loon discovered in late May lingered into early June. Clark's Grebes were reported from five different counties, by far the most ever; hybrid breeding (with Western Grebe) was suspected at two of these locations! Please note that it is still important to carefully document sightings of Clark's Grebes anywhere in the state, especially when breeding is suspected.

Noteworthy among the herons were reports of Snowy Egrets from Otter Tail and Dakota counties in June; a summer record of the Tricolored Heron near the Twin Cities (actually a holdover from late May); five separate occurrences of small groups of Cattle Egrets; and two well-described adult Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. The latter represents the typical summer tally for this marginal resident in recent years; breeding was last confirmed in 1986 (Pig's Eye Lake, Ramsey County). Also of note was the brief observation of two unidentified flying ibises (Plegadis sp?) in western Minnesota.

Waterfowl were well represented this season, with unseasonal occurrences of Greater White-fronted Goose (only the fifth summer record in the past 20 years), Snow Goose (three separate reports), Mute Swan (Lake Superior), and Cinnamon Teal (an adult male unusually far east in St. Louis County). Of interest was the Minnesota DNR report that numbers of Canada Geese now rival those of the ubiquitous Mallard! Meanwhile, reports of the Trumpeter Swan are increasing as the population becomes more established. Please be aware that careful identification of all swans is increasingly important. A brief note on your Seasonal Report form, explaining how the birds in question were identified, would be very much appreciated!

Bald Eagles continue to expand their range and numbers, and currently nest in most areas of the state. A nesting record for the Merlin in Hennepin County was remarkable because of the location (all previous nesting records were confined to northern Minnesota) and because one of the pair was confirmed as the Richardson's race. Richardson's were also observed in northwestern Minnesota, for the third consecutive year. The nesting population of Peregrine Falcons is also expanding, headlined by exciting news that pairs have re-established aeries on the cliffs along the Mississippi River Valley in southeastern Minnesota.

Due to recent mild winters, numbers of Ring-necked Pheasants were up, as were reports of Wild Turkeys. Also due to mild winters, Ruffed Grouse numbers declined much less than expected at this point of their ten-year cycle. Northern Bobwhites were reported for the second consecutive summer in Winona County. There is some evidence to suggest these may be wild birds, possibly representing an extension from a small population in nearby Wisconsin; more data are needed.

The spring migration of shorebirds did not extend into June to any great degree. For several species, there were relatively few, if any, early June reports. Southbound migration, on the other hand, was very impressive, with numbers gradually building to a peak at the end of July. No fewer than 2,372 shorebirds (20 species) were observed along a Big Stone County shorebird survey route on 31 July! Survey results, along with increasingly detailed records from various observers, continue to provide new insights concerning the timing of both spring and fall migration. Noteworthy records included American Avocets in St. Louis and Rice counties (both unusually far east), a record peak daily count of 27 Solitary Sandpipers at Carlos Avery WMA on 30 July, an unusual number of Willets (15–20) in western Minnesota on 8 July, and two reports of Red-necked Phalaropes.

Two larids provided the first summer records for the state: a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Crookston, Polk County, and a Great Black-backed Gull in St. Louis County. A record number of Short-eared Owl observations (reported in nine northern counties) was documented, including 18 individuals in 10 different locations within the northwest region on 18–19 June. American Three-toed Woodpeckers were in Lake and Cook counties, and the state's southernmost nesting record for Black-backed Woodpecker was well-documented in Pine County.

Two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were the most for a summer season since 1993. Observations of the Loggerhead Shrike were down; contributors are reminded to make a special effort to document the exact location and number of individuals for this species of Special Concern. Most unusual was the female Carolina Wren nesting (apparently, without a mate) on a propane tank in Otter Tail County! Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were found in record high numbers; an amazing nine nests were discovered in Cass County, an area representing the northern edge of this species' expanding range. Three Northern Mockingbirds was about average for summer.

Distribution and migration of warblers this summer was, overall, quite ordinary. The strong push of fall migrants observed in July of 1999 was not as evident this year. Blue-winged Warblers continue to slowly expand westward. Researchers at Cedar Creek Natural History Area, Anoka County, reported exceptional numbers of territorial Chestnut-sided Warblers; also of interest, record high numbers of Chestnut-sideds were subsequently banded at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in St. Louis County (please see the Fall 2000 report). Once again, a pair of Yellow-throated Warblers was found at Sibley State Park in Kandiyohi County; unexpected was an additional June report from Washington County. Single Kentucky Warblers were reported in Blue Earth and Scott counties, representing the first summer records in four years. A remarkable 16–21 territorial Hooded Warblers were documented at Murphy-Hanrehan Park in Scott/Dakota counties, with three nests (all parasitized by cowbirds) and one brood located; this species was also found in Anoka County. Six singing male Wilson's Warblers in northern Lake County are a reminder that breeding was first confirmed in June 1980 in extreme northeastern Minnesota (The Loon 52:183–184). Two Yellow-breasted Chats were discovered; this species may still breed, albeit extremely sparingly, in southeastern Minnesota.

A second-year male Summer Tanager made a brief appearance in Scott County on 24 June. A well-documented Spotted Towhee in Meeker County continues the trend of about one record each summer since the towhees were split. A remarkable number of Henslow's Sparrows was reported. Documented observations occurred in four counties, with as many as 12 individuals believed to be present at one location in Winona County! There were unsubstantiated reports from six other counties. Observers are reminded that this species is of Special Concern in Minnesota, making it most important to carefully document every sighting.

Very surprising was the late summer Harris's Sparrow carefully documented and photographed in central Minnesota, where it remained into early fall. Blue Grosbeaks were unusually mobile this year, as evidenced by three reports away from the four counties in extreme southwest Minnesota (and don't forget the lost bird in Cook County this spring!). Even farther out of range was the stunning male Painted Bunting that reappeared (presumably the same bird that was seen here last August) at a feeder in western Hennepin County. In many southern and central regions, Dickcissels showed a dramatic increase in abundance, which is not unusual for this cyclic species… more reports were received than in any year since the huge irruption of 1988.

Lastly, there were two Casual/Accidental species which have been regularly seen at their respective locations during each of the past three years. The Great-tailed Grackle recently expanded into Jackson County along the southern border of the state; this summer, nesting was confirmed for the first time in Minnesota. In western Minnesota, an Eurasian Tree Sparrow returned (presumably the same bird) to a feeder in Clay County.

Format, Maps, and Acknowledgments

The format for the species accounts is similar to that of recent years. The key to the Seasonal Report is located on page 15.

Breeding records are classified based on criteria found in The Loon 58:22 or in Minnesota Birds, p. 7 (Green and Janssen 1975). Each species having at least one nesting record in 2000 has an accompanying map depicting counties in which the records occurred; confirmed nesting records are indicated by dark shading, possible nesting records are indicated by lighter shading. Counties for which confirmed breeding is documented for the first time since 1970 are in italics and identified as such according to updated versions of County Nesting Records of Minnesota Birds (Hertzel and Janssen 1998, M.O.U. Occasional Papers: Number 2). The division of Minnesota into regions (e.g., north-central, southeast) is based on those delineated in Birds in Minnesota (Janssen 1987) (see page 14).

A final thanks to all of the summer season reporters who document avian distribution and migration. Thanks also to Anthony Hertzel for preparing the breeding maps, and Karl Bardon, Kim Eckert, and Peder Svingen for their assistance in preparing this report.