As we all remember so well and would just as soon forget, Winter 1978-1979 was miserable. The theories of those of us trying to rationalize our tolerance of the Minnesota climate were shattered -we liked to think that if it were 30 below at least it was too cold to snow and when it did snow that temperatures in the balmy 20s and 30s were expected. Unfortunately, this past winter somehow heaped upon us both extreme cold and heavy snow. As an example of how severe things were, this writer had to endure a February in Duluth that was no less than 14 degrees below normal (a month only five or so degrees below the average is usually considered extreme enough) while being treated to a view of 100% frozen over Lake Superior (the first time on record this lake had so much ice)!

Knowledgeable birders, however, often claim that bad weather for people means good weather for birds.

Yet another theory shattered. With only a very few exceptions, the number of birds around was obviouslyand drastically down. Sixty-four contributors and 37 Christmas Bird Counts managed a total of 131 species, almost the same as the last two winters.

Although this sounds respectable enough and although many CBCs even recorded higher than normal species totals, the reality simply was that there just were not many species notable for either aboundance or rarity to speak of. The good numbers and variety of water birds reported seems to be surprising on the surface, but a logical explanation would be that a shortage of open water produced by severe cold served to concentrate birds into fewer and more observable locations. Obviously the most outstanding representatives of this group were the Eared Grebe and White Pelicans, both first Minnesota winter records, although many listers might prefer that Common Eider at Stoney Point. Diurnal raptors were glowingly represented by a lot of Golden Eagles, two Ospreys and many Sharp-shined/ Cooper's Hawks -at the time of this writing an eye-opening article on accipiter indentification is appearing in the May issue of American Birds that no serious birder can afford to miss.

The revival of pheasants and continued increase of Gray Partridge was again documented, a Virginia Rail chose an especially challenging winter to appear, and the lack of Herring Gulls on frozen Lake Superior may have been unprecedented. After last winter's spectacular owl influx, it might have been reasonable to expect an "echo invasion." But Great Gray and Boreal numbers were no more than average, in spite of a big influx farther east, with our sole consolation the excellent numbers of Snowy Owls at Duluth. Most impressive were the Red-bellied Woodpecker way up in Kittson County and the concentration of three-toed woodpeckers at Sea Gull L. in Cook County. As always, the Northern Mockingbird reported was unpredictable, but the increase recently in Townsend's Solitaires seems more part of a logical pattern. On the other hand, part of an illogical pattern were the Yellow-headed Blackbirds again partial to the mundane Cottonwood CBC circle. The lack of winter finches, especially Pine Grosbeaks, redpolls and crossbills, was perhaps the most depressing part of the winter, but at least the tremendous numbers of American Goldfinch somewhat filled the vacancy left at feeding stations.

Of final note, Minnesota's first overwintering Chipping Sparrow was photographed at Austin, providing documented proof that even the worst of winters can be survived by Chippies, people, and other animals that are illadapted to this Minnesota season.