Very strong-winds predominated during the season. Due to the drouth they whipped up vast dust storms in April and caused extensive grass and brush fires. Hundreds of acres were burned.

By May 1 precipitation was more than 3 inches below normal. Only the southeastern section received moisture to much of a degree. There, the worst snow storm in 10 years struck March 5 and another occurred March 15 which caused fear that the rivers in the area would flood from the melt. Up to May 1 temperatures were below normal for the season but on the above date an all time high of 91 was reached. The first 4 days of May were unseasonably hot.

Thunder showers relieved the drouth somewhat and brought cooler weather.

Common and Hooded Mergansers appeared on the Minnesota River near Cedar Avenue, Hennepin County about the middle of March, Red-breasted Mergansers about April 1. The last of March a large migration of Canada Geese occurred in Eastern Minnesota, though several small flocks were reported earlier. On March 7 A. C. Rosenwinkel reported 9 Canada Geese in a spot of open water in Lake Vadnais, Ramsey County. Two of the birds were much smaller than the others, possibly indicating Hutchin's Geese. Agnes Elstad sent a report of the same observation.

In Western Minnesota Blue and Snow Geese reportedly migrated at the usual time, the latter part of March.

Ducks began appearing on the open waters of the rivers the last week in March and by April 1, when the small lakes were open, the peak of the arrival was over. Mrs. Nubel and Mrs.

Thompson observed a Wood Duck and 8 young on Lake Harriet, May 5.

The first Tundra Swans were noted on Rice Lake, Hennepin County near Shakopee, March 28, by Robert Janssen.

There were approximately 100. At about the same time they appeared in various localities occupying the shallow waters of the river lowlands. Lyle Bradley stated that between 300 and 400 were seen on Diamond Lake near Anoka, Anoka County, April 13. Marie Aftreith sent word that 3 were seen in Duluth Harbor, St. Louis County, April 15 and an injured swan was found in nearby St. Louis River, April 28. Flocks of them accompanied Blue and Snow Geese at Lake Trave1·se, Traverse County.

As soon as Twin City Lakes opened about April 7, Common Loons appeared.

One lone Horned Grebe was noted on the same date. Later these birds arrived in the usual number.

Common Egrets again put in an appearance in the spring. Two were reported at the Bass Pond, Hennepin County, on April 14 by Robert Janssen. Three were found along the Vermillion River near Red Wing April 23. Dean Bonetschlager saw one flying over the south end of White Bear Lake, Ramsey County, April 26. Three were seen at Hanrahan Lake on boundary of Scott and Dakota Counties, by Daniel J. O'Connell May 5.

Amy Chambers and Jean Mcintosh were in Rothsay, Wilkin County, April 18-19. In the area adjacent they saw the Sandhill Cranes and Prairie Chickens that are usually found there in the spring. They stated that Marbled Godwits were fairly common.

Up to May 1 very few shore birds were reported. Wilson's Snipes were most abundant. Only small numbers of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were noted. Mrs. E. \V. Joul and others saw 78 Willets, May 1 on the shores of a small lake south of Minneapolis. Robert Janssen and Brother Theodore made observations in the region around Gaylord, Dowitchers, Upland Plovers, Wilson's Phalaropes, Golden Plovers and small peeps in goodly numbers. Pipets were seen in fair numbers. At Swan Lake, Nicollet County, there was an abundance of water birds. Altogether they checked approximately 100 birds for the day.

Reports on the hawk migration were sparse. There was a light movement of American Kestrels in the Twin City area the last of April. Most of the other species of hawks were seen but only single individuals now and then.

Robert Dickerman saw a Pigeon Hawk in flight near Randolph, Dakota County, April 26. Dean Honetschlager reported seeing 5 Red-shouldered Hawks near Marine-on-St. Croix, Washington County, March 27 and later that a pair was nesting nearby.

As stated in the report for last season there were no Snowy Owl records.

Since then an observation was received from Robert Janssen saying that one was seen one mile west of Hibbing, St.

Louis County, March 8, 1959. Brother Theodore and others took a trip to Hill City, Aitkin County, and Duluth, March 1. They saw 3 Hawk Owls, one of which was collected for the Museum of Natural History. There was an unusual number of these birds seen this season, 11 in all.

Ring-billed and Herring Gulls began arriving on the rivers in the Twin Cities the last week in March and Common Terns were seen in the same area the first week in May. Killdeers were seen March 23.

Apparently the returning Eastern Rluebird population was fairly large this season probably partly due to the houses established by George Rickert, Rev.

Strnad, William Longley, Oliver Charley and many others. The birds came in late March. A few Robins appeared in March, many arrived in early April.

Large concentrations of them lingered in parks and woodlands until almost May 1, then disappeared.

Hermit Thrushes came in early April, Swainson's Thrushes and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, May 1. Also on about the same date the Brown Thrasher, House Wren, Chimney Swift, Eastern Kingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole and Gray Catbird. These records were for an area in and about the Twin Cities.

Brother Theodore turned in the earliest Tree Swallow record, Maple Lake, Annandale, Wright County, March 22.

The peak of the migration was the first week in May. Date for Purple Martins, April 11.

A heavy wave of early warblers occurred in eastern Minnesota May 5.

The birds were apparently brought down by a heavy rain storm. Myrtle Warblers in goodly llumbers passed through in late April. The earliest Yellow-rumped Warbler record was received April 2 from Dr. W. J. Breckenridge.

Migrating Eastern and vVestern Meadowlarks appeared before April 1 and as usual there were hordes of Redwinged Blackbirds and Com m o n Grackles. The peak migration of Yellow- headed Blackbirds was the first week in May.

The movement of White-throated Sparrows was slow until the first few days in May after which they were present i1~ large numbers. Reportedly they were abundant in many sections of the state.

Chipping, Field and Vesper Sparrows were noted April 21. Song Sparrows March 20. This writer saw two Henslow's Sparrows, apparently in migration, between Shakopee and Savage April 10.

Agnes Elstad reported flocks of Lapland Longspurs in Northwestern Minnesota, April 11, Brother Theodore saw a flock of Lapland Longspurs and a flock of Snow Buntings near Hastings February 14. He reported seeing two American Pipits at Rice Lake near Shakopee March 29. A. C. Rosenwinkel saw one near St. Paul, March 31.

A record turned in by Richard Oehlenschlager is another proof of the increase in the number of Black-billed Magpies in Minnesota. He stated that this season he saw as many as 176 at various times in Wadena County. They were feeding on carrion.

A report on Tufted Titmice was received from Mrs. P. A. Becker which follows in part. "Fifteen Titmice have been noted at one counting, the birds feeding by preference among the elm trees and also weed seeds on the lake shore. They also feed at 2 feeders on the point, Leech Lake, Cass County." There were reports of 2 at Nevis, Hubbard County, 2 at Tenstrike, Beltrami County, 1 at Horseshoe Lake east of Backus, Cass County, 1 at Duluth, 2 at Walker, Cass County. These are records for winter and spring 1959.

The Minnesota Ornithologists Union held its annual meeting with the Thunder Bay Naturalists of Canada at Grand Marais, Cook County, February 21-22.

About 140 people attended the dinner.

Twenty-five species of birds were listed, most interesting of which were Glaucous Gulls, Lesser Scaup, Bald Eagle, Boreal Chickadee, Old Squaw and Blackbacked American Three-toed Woodpecker. Three Red-breasted Nuthatches were also seen.

On April 13-17 your reporter and others again visited Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota. This refuge contains 21,451 square acres where waterfowl stop to feed and rest during spring and fall migration. It is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and takes care of hundreds of thousands of birds.

The refuge now operates a hospital for wounded birds and is a very interesting place. It consists of a wire enclosure with a small pool of water in the center. One can approach to within a few feet of these beautiful wild birds and see the markings and colorings which of course would be impossible in the field. Several species of ducks, a Tundra Swan and a White-fronted Goose were in the enclosure. Most interesting was the fact that two sizes of the Canada Goose were present for comparison.

One of the men that has been employed at the refuge for several years told an interesting story about a pair of Canada Geese. In the fall this pair remained at Sand Lake after the migration had occurred. Upon investigation it was found that the goose had an injured wing probably caused by a hunter. It was brought to the hospital and cared for. After lingering and calling for some days the gander left. In the spring seemingly the same bird came back and began calling from the lake. It found the hospital and walked up and down on the outside of the enclosure while the injured goose followed on the inside. She finally was released. They met, placed their bills together and gabbled excitedly. They swam about near the hospital for a few days then disappeared. No doubt her injured wing had mended enough for flight. Some authorities state that geese mate for life.