During the summer of 2006, a total of 276 species was reported, about average for the summer season. However, the number of reports was well above average. Many species were reported from a record-high number of counties. In fact, seven species were reported from every county in the state! These included Killdeer, Barn Swallow, American Robin, Common Yellowthroat, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird.

A Ross's Goose at Talcott Lake W.M.A., Cottonwood County, provided a seventh summer record. A pair of Mute Swans raised a family in Lino Lakes at Amelia Lake. Trumpeter Swans were reported from most regions. Most unexpectedly, in June, the Minnesota County Biological Survey found an immature male White-winged Scoter in Lincoln County. Wild Turkey reports continued to increase.

A single Horned Grebe was seen at Park Point on 1 June. Once again, a possible hybrid Clark's x Western Grebe apparently paired with a Western Grebe, this time at Thielke Lake in Big Stone County. It was a surprise when a Snowy Egret spent a few days in early June at 40th Avenue West in Duluth. A single Little Blue Heron observed at Lubenow W.P.A. was a first for Swift County.

A highlight of the season was the pair of Snowy Plovers that raised two chicks at Big Stone N.W.R., providing the first nesting record for the state. Shorebird surveys in western Minnesota found good numbers and diversity attributable to scheduled draw downs at Agassiz N.W.R., Marshall County, and Big Stone N.W.R., Lac Qui Parle County. The peak was 5,037 shorebirds of 16 species in Lac Qui Parle County 24 July. A California Gull was photographed at Lac Qui Parle Lake in Swift and Lac Qui Parle counties in June. A first state record Slaty-backed Gull spent several weeks at Grand Marais and allowed good looks for many observers. Least Terns showed up in both Nobles and Olmsted counties.

Eurasian Collared-Doves continued to expand, adding Goodhue and Stearns counties to the list of locations at which they've been found. A White-winged Dove at Nelson's Resort on Crane Lake in St. Louis County provided a tenth state record. Northern Hawk Owls were reported in record numbers. A Burrowing Owl lingered from spring until late June at the Rochester Airport, and two adults were observed in Stevens County throughout July. Black-billed Cuckoo numbers were up significantly in the Superior and Chippewa National Forests.

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were found in Carlton and Yellow Medicine counties. Blue Mounds State Park hosted a Rock Wren in early June. The Minnesota County Biological Survey found a Blackburnian Warbler in Lyon County in mid-June. In early June, a male Prairie Warbler sang near Ellsworth in Nobles County. A first county record Summer Tanager was found in Lincoln County.

A Breeding Bird Survey in Beltrami County produced an adult male Lark Bunting in mid-June. Henslow's Sparrows recapitulated last year's high numbers. An adult male Lazuli Bunting visited a feeder in Blue Earth County 10 June. Vocalizing male Great-tailed Grackles were reported from four southwestern counties. The Natural Resources Research Institute reported that Red Crossbill numbers were up in northern and northeastern counties.

Eighty-three observers documented nesting for 169 species. Apologies go to 15 observers from the 2005 season whose records were inadvertently left out of the 2005 seasonal report. The records that were left out included nesting data for 40 additional species. Included among these were 13 first county nesting records: Canada Goose Mille Lacs MRN and Pine JMP, Wild Turkey Kanabec JMP, Green Heron Hubbard MAW, Virginia Rail Rice DAB, Northern Flicker Kanabec JMP, Common Raven Kanabec JMP, Gray Catbird Watonwan DLB, Palm Warbler Itasca JWL, Ovenbird Pine JMP, Common Yellowthroat Kanabec JMP, Dickcissel Dakota ADS.

Weather Summary: Mean June temperatures were somewhat above average in most regions of the state. However, the Twin Cities area experienced a 17-day stretch of 80-degree days for the first time since 1936. Elsewhere in the state there were stretches of both warm and cool temperatures. Most of Minnesota was 1–3" below average in rainfall, with the exception of some isolated areas in southern Minnesota.

In July, much of the state experienced extremely warm temperatures, with Duluth having the hottest July on record. Nearly all of Minnesota was in moderate or worse drought. The lack of precipitation was particularly serious in northwestern and north-central Minnesota, where the drought was rated as extreme. As a result of the dry conditions, the northern two-thirds of the state experienced sporadic problems with wildfires.

Undocumented reports: Spruce Grouse 6/2 Kittson; Swallow-tailed Kite 7/8 Chippewa, 7/17 Ramsey; Summer Tanager 7/4–19 Sherburne; Pine Grosbeak 6/24 Beltrami.

Acknowledgments: Thanks go to all those who submitted summer season reports and nesting records. Their data make this report possible. Special thanks to Steve Stucker and Minnesota DNR for sending M.C.B.S. data, and to Jerry Niemi and Jim Lind for sharing N.R.R.I. data. Thanks also go to Anthony Hertzel, Jeanie Joppru, and Jim Lind for providing transcripts of weekly birding reports, to Paul Budde for compiling electronic records and early and late dates, and to Anthony Hertzel for preparing the breeding maps.