It was another cold winter in Minnesota but 62 observers recorded 129 species.

A first winter record Western Grebe spent the period at Ortonville. Waterfowl were down in numbers. Spectacular was the invasion of Great Gray and Boreal Owls, the biggest birding event to be recorded in Minnesota.

Finally there was an excellent invasion of finches, Pine Grosbeaks were seen in numbers and were recorded in many southern areas of the state.

This winter was in many respects noteworthy, and among gallinaceous similar to the previous one. Coverage birds a survey of Gray Partridge in was about the same with 62 contribuWilkin County was striking evidence tors and 33 Christmas Bird Counts of that species increase in the state. (CBCs) supplying data on 129 species, The Thayer's/ lceland Gull problem one more than last winter. Also simiwas still there this winter with excellar was the weather, but that was one lent looks (and even photos) of two similarity we could have done very birds by experienced observers unwell without. No one wanted to beable to prove anything for sure; also lieve those long-range forecasters who discouraging for listers was that yet predicted another cold winter, but acanother Ivory Gull showed up but curate they were and we had to suffer didn't hang around. The big Rock Pigeon through the second miserable one in peaks on the Duluth CBC may be a in a row. There was a brief thaw in thing of the past, but this "blessing" mid-December, and while January was is obviously nothing to cheer about. especially frigid it wasn't quite as bad Clearly the thing to cheer about was as last year. Perhaps the worst part that spectacular invasion of Great of it all is that it was a lot snowier Gray and Boreal Owls, probably the than last year, except in n.e. Minn., biggest birding event ever to hit Minwith the western part of the state nesota with some 200 out-of-state birdespecially hard hit. Also discouraging ers from 21 states also invading the was that February remained cold with Duluth area. These birders also made little in the way of thawing -at least note of the healthy numbers of Hawk February 1977 had turned out warmer Owls, but in the excitement those than usual. above average numbers of Barred, But there seemed to be a lot more Long-eared and Short-eared Owls birds around this winter than last, were easy to overlook. No less than and in two situations the results were six thrush species was extraordinary quite spectacular. About the only (a normal winter might register two), group to make a disappointing showbut even more startling and inexplicing were the waterfowl, an expected able was that hopelessly lost Water result of some severe cold snaps which Pipit in January at Duluth. Also in began as early as November. A most Duluth was a Yellow-rumped Warbler unexpected exception in this group which managed to survive through was that Western Grebe which someJanuary (at the same feeder with that how survived the entire winter at OrHermit Thrush). The second majortonville; several Harlequin Ducks event of the winter was the finch inaround Duluth also brightened the vasion, led by Pine Grosbeaks, both waterfowl picture. Among the hawks, redpolls and White-winged Crossbills: four Gyrfalcons (one of which was Pine Grosbeaks even penetrated as far poisoned) and two Merlins were most as the southwestern part of the state, 156 The Loon the size of some redpoll flocks was simply staggering, with Hoaries even crossing the Minnesota-Iowa line for the first recorded time. I guess you could say, then, that the weather wasn't that much better than last year but the birding certainly was.