MOURC Proceedings Archive - Screech-Owls, Owls Accepted
Duplicates
This is the 1981 to present Records Committee Proceedings archive for
The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The last 2 years are available to MOU members.
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Proceedings
Species: Screech-Owls, Owls
Northern Hawk Owl
Burrowing Owl
Great Gray Owl
Boreal Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl

Burrowing Owl (A) (Athene cunicularia)Start Date 1986-01-01
RefFirstLastLocationCounty23CommentStatus
1:0MOU1932-07-14MadisonLac qui ParleAccepted
5:591933indexBurrowing Owls
2:0MOU1937-04-22MilanChippewaThe Flicker 12:12Accepted
3:0MOU1937-06-18BensonSwiftThe Flicker 14:36Accepted
4:0MOU1939-05-19Fergus FallsOtter TailThe Flicker 12:20Accepted
12:201940indexWestern Burrowing Owl in Otter Tail County
18:1191946indexBurrowing Owl Observation
5:0MOU1950-06-13near GracevilleTraverseAccepted
6:0MOU1954-06-091954-07-23T114N45WYellow MedicineThe Flicker 27:40Accepted
7:0MOU1954-07-181954-09-07T111N40WLyonThe Flicker 27:40Accepted
27:40-411955indexRecent Observations of Burrowing Owls in Lyon and Yellow Medicine Counties, Minnesota
28:1601956indexAn Unusual Day of Migrants
28:1681956indexBurrowing Owls
28:1701956indexProbable Burrowing Owl Record for Central Minnesota
8:0MOU1956-04-091956-04-125 miles southeast of St. CloudSherburneThe Flicker 28:170Accepted
9:0MOU1956-05-251956-05-26Minnesota PointSt. LouisThe Flicker 28:160Accepted
10:0MOU1956-08-08WheatonTraverseThe Flicker 29:87Accepted
29:871957indexAdditional Burrowing Owls in Traverse County
30:1591958indexNesting Record of a Burrowing Owl
11:0MOU1958-06-011958-07-31Chief Twp.MahnomenThe Flicker 30:159Accepted
31:1031959indexNote on Food Habits of the Burrowing Owl in Minnesota
12:0MOU1959-05-23Highway 27 & County Road 15TraverseThe Flicker 31:96 The Flicker 31:103Accepted
13:0MOU1959-07-11MahnomenThe Flicker 31:103Accepted
32:127-1281960indexBurrowing Owls in Martin County
14:0MOU1960-04-221960-05-19Fraser Twp.MartinThe Flicker 32:127Accepted
15:0MOU1963-05-051963-07-26between Herman and WheatonTraverseThe Flicker 35:54 The Flicker 35:89Accepted
16:0MOU1963-05-181963-06-083 miles northeast of CollisTraverseThe Flicker 35:54 The Flicker 35:89Accepted
17:0MOU1964-04-18near WheatonTraverseThe Flicker 36:50Accepted
18:0MOU1964-06-011964-07-31StevensThe Flicker 36:85Accepted
19:0MOU1964-06-011964-07-31TraverseThe Flicker 36:85Accepted
20:0MOU1964-09-011964-09-18AlbertaStevensThe Flicker 36:122Accepted
37:2-171965indexThe Burrowing Owl in Minnesota
21:0MOU1965-04-21GrantThe Flicker 37:139Accepted
22:0MOU1965-04-27TraverseThe Flicker 37:139Accepted
23:0MOU1965-05-02Big StoneThe Flicker 37:139Accepted
24:0MOU1965-05-22TraverseThe Flicker 37:139Accepted
25:0MOU1965-05-30RochesterOlmstedThe Loon 38:37Accepted
38:37-381966indexBurrowing Owl in Olmsted County
26:0MOU1967-05-20TraverseThe Loon 39:92Accepted
40:1011968indexBurrowing Owl in Watonwan County
27:0MOU1968-04-05RockThe Loon 40:82Accepted
28:0MOU1968-08-26Fieldon Twp.WatonwanThe Loon 40:101Accepted
29:0MOU1971-05-151971-05-22St. LeoYellow MedicineThe Loon 43:85Accepted
30:0MOU1972-04-15DaltonOtter TailThe Loon 44:78Accepted
31:0MOU1973-04-17OrtonvilleLac qui ParleThe Loon 45:125Accepted
46:1711974indexNesting Burrowing Owls
32:0MOU1974-06-011974-07-31near JeffersCottonwoodThe Loon 46:171Accepted
33:0MOU1975-03-25Lake BentonLincolnThe Loon 47:168Accepted
34:0MOU1975-08-25LincolnThe Loon 48:99Accepted
35:0MOU1975-11-20Crow WingThe Loon 48:99Accepted
36:0MOU1976-05-07T109N41WLyonThe Loon 48:119Accepted
37:0MOU1976-05-29PolkThe Loon 48:164Accepted
49:1791977indexBurrowing Owl, Wilkin County
38:0MOU1977-04-101977-04-29just west of LawndaleWilkinThe Loon 49:179Accepted
39:0MOU1977-04-12LincolnThe Loon 49:219Accepted
40:0MOU1977-04-16JacksonThe Loon 49:219Accepted
41:0MOU1977-08-01Prior Twp.Big StoneThe Loon 50:15Accepted
50:215-2161978indexA Burrowing Owl
42:0MOU1978-05-20MarshallThe Loon 50:199Accepted
43:0MOU1978-08-21Garfield Twp.Lac qui ParleThe Loon 50:215Accepted
44:0MOU1979-04-16Blue EarthThe Loon 51:186Accepted
45:0MOU1979-05-15DuluthSt. LouisThe Loon 51:186Accepted
46:0MOU1979-09-28Blue Earth D.O.R. The Loon 52:77Accepted
52:1161980indexBurrowing Owls, Clay County
47:0MOU1980-05-011980-07-09DownerClayAccepted
53:2271981indexBurrowing Owls in Stevens County
48:0MOU1981-04-291981-07-27StevensThe Loon 53:227Accepted
54:73-1041982indexRaptors of Minnesota -- Nesting Distribution and Population Status
49:0MOU1982-08-011982-10-15CottonwoodThe Loon 55:73Accepted
50:0MOU1983-05-091983-05-14HardwickRockAccepted
MOU1983-05-14HardwickRockJanssen sighting. at burrowDuplicate
51:0MOU1983-06-011963-08-14Denver Twp.RockThe Loon 55:57Accepted
52:1MOU1986-04-06Lac qui ParleThe Loon 58:180Accepted
53:2MOU1987-05-23Felton PrairieClayThe Loon 59:198Accepted
avian
information
1987-05-23Clay5/23 Clay (first state record) (first county record)
5/23 Felton Prairie, Clay Co. KE; only report.
54:3MOU1988-04-241988-09-14Yellow MedicineThe Loon 61:26 The Loon 61:70 The Loon 60:162Accepted
avian
information
1988-04-241988-09-14Yellow Medicine4/24-9/14 Yellow Medicine (second state record) (first county record)
55:4MOU1988-06-011988-07-31PipestoneThe Loon 61:26Accepted
avian
information
1988-06-011988-07-31Pipestonesummer Pipestone (third state record) (first county record)
Probable nesting in Traverse, Pipestone, Yellow Medicine, Rock (JSc); more reports than usual.
56:5MOU1988-06-011988-07-31RockThe Loon 61:26Accepted
57:6MOU1988-06-011988-09-14TraverseThe Loon 61:26 The Loon 61:70Accepted
61:189-1911989indexNine Owls
58:7MOU1989-04-15CrookstonPolkThe Loon 61:180Accepted
avian
information
1989-04-15Polk4/15 Polk (fourth state record) (first county record)
Only reports: mid April Crookston, Polk Co. fide KH, Rock m.ob. (nesting).
59:8MOU1989-04-151989-10-04near Blue Mounds State ParkRockThe Loon 61:180 The Loon 62:28 The Loon 62:87 The Loon 63:64Accepted
60:9MOU1990-04-08near Blue Mounds State ParkRockThe Loon 62:215Accepted
61:10MOU1990-05-11LincolnThe Loon 62:215Accepted
62:11MOU1990-07-21Mound Twp.RockThe Loon 62:227Accepted
63:12MOU1991-05-231991-09-07RockThe Loon 63:257Accepted
64:13MOU1992-04-19DunnellMartinThe Loon 64:209Accepted
avian
information
1992-04-19Martin4/19 Martin (fifth state record) (first county record)
Two reports: 4/19 Martin, reported in Fairmont Photo Press of 4/22, 4/26 Traverse EL.
65:14MOU1992-04-26TraverseThe Loon 64:209Accepted
66:1568:581995-04-30Troy TwpPipestone The Loon 67:217 The Loon 68:59Accepted
avian
information
1995-04-30Pipestone4/30 Pipestone (sixth state record) (second county record)
Only report 4/30 Co. Roads 13/73, Pipestone Co. AB.
67:1669:281996-05-161996-05-28Moulton TownshipMurray Accepted
avian
information
1996-05-161996-05-28Murray5/16, 28 Murray (seventh state record) (first county record)
Reported 5/16 and 5/18 Leota Township, Nobles Co. ND, 5/28 (same bird) Moulton Township, Murray Co. ND.
68:1769:281996-05-161996-05-28Leota TownshipNobles The Loon 68:201Accepted
avian
information
1996-05-161996-05-18Nobles5/16-18 Nobles (eighth state record) (first county record)
Reported 5/16 and 5/18 Leota Township, Nobles Co. ND, 5/28 (same bird) Moulton Township, Murray Co. ND.
69:1869:1521997-05-31DuluthSt. Louis(record #97-28, vote 7-0, The Loon 69:168-169). Accepted
avian
information
1997-05-31St. Louis5/31 St. Louis (ninth state record) (first county record)
Reported 5/31 Duluth (40th Avenue West/Erie Pier) PS et al. (The Loon 69:168–169).
70:1974:1612002-05-062002-06-02Lowville TownshipMurray(record #2002-43, vote 7-0). This individual was seen by many observers and photographed. Although observed in and near an apparent badger hole, the owl apparently disappeared after a few weeks and no nesting evidence was ever reported. Accepted
avian
information
2002-05-062002-06-02Murray5/6-6/2 Murray (tenth state record) (second county record)
An unmated adult faithfully attended a burrow 5/6+ Murray (Lowville Twp.) m.ob., ph. DAC (The Loon 74:165). First documented record since May 1997.
71:2076:1522003-05-052003-05-13Moyer TownshipSwift(record #2004-008, vote 7-0). This individual was found dead on the latter date and the specimen was turned in to the Bell Museum of Natural History (BMNH #44835). Accepted
avian
information
2003-05-052003-05-12Swift5/5-12 Swift (eleventh state record) (first county record)
Reported 5/5–13 Swift (Moyer Twp.). Found dead 5/13 and subsequently deposited at the J. F. Bell Museum of Natural History in Minneapolis as specimen #BMNH44835.
76:1522004-04-21Perry TownshipLac qui Parle(record #2004-032, vote 6-1). Field notes and sketches were submitted of a bird observed through a spotting scope at an estimated distance of 80 yards for 20 minutes beginning “just after 8:30 P.M.” According to the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department, sunset was at 8:18 P.M. and civil twilight ended at 8:50 P.M. The dissenting vote was based on light conditions. Recirculated
87:42004-04-21Lac qui ParleThe Loon 76:155Rejected
72:2176:1522004-05-222004-06-02near LewisvilleWatonwan(record #2004-026, vote 7-0). This mated pair was photographed near a burrow, but the burrow was subsequently taken over by a fox. Accepted
avian
information
2004-05-222004-06-02Watonwan5/22-6/2 Watonwan (twelfth state record) (first county record)
One seen 4/21 Lac qui Parle (Perry Twp.) †BJU. Potential nesting pair 5/22+ Watonwan (near Lewisville) DLB, ph. AXH, unfortunately disappeared early June after burrow was dug out by fox.
73:2277:1692005-04-302005-05-14Hantho TownshipLac qui Parle(record #2005-012, vote 7-0). Digital images were obtained of this apparently unmated adult at a burrow. Accepted
78:1782006indexBurrowing Owls in Norman County
78:2332006indexBurrowing Owls in Polk County
74:2378:1262006-04-272006-05-06Tilden TownshipPolk(record #2006-041, vote 7-0 for each of two adults). Accepted
avian
information
2006-04-272006-05-07Polk4/27-5/6, 5/7 Polk (fifteenth state record) (second county record)
Two adults claimed a burrow 4/27–5/6 Polk (Tilden Twp.) JEk et al., †JMJ, ph. †PHS (The Loon 78:233). A pair of copulating adults 5/6 Norman (near Lockhart) †ABL were still present 5/29. A calling male at the Rochester airport 5/9+ Olmsted †JWH, ph. CCB, †ADS was recorded by JJS and furnished a second county record, but failed to attract a mate.
avian
information
2006-05-052006-06-24Olmsted5/5-6/24 Olmsted (fourteenth state record) (first county record)
Two adults claimed a burrow 4/27–5/6 Polk (Tilden Twp.) JEk et al., †JMJ, ph. †PHS (The Loon 78:233). A pair of copulating adults 5/6 Norman (near Lockhart) †ABL were still present 5/29. A calling male at the Rochester airport 5/9+ Olmsted †JWH, ph. CCB, †ADS was recorded by JJS and furnished a second county record, but failed to attract a mate.
75:2478:1262006-05-062006-05-29near LockhartNorman(record #2006-042, vote 7-0 for each of two adults). Accepted
avian
information
2006-05-062006-05-29Norman5/6-29 Norman (thirteenth state record) (first county record)
Two adults claimed a burrow 4/27–5/6 Polk (Tilden Twp.) JEk et al., †JMJ, ph. †PHS (The Loon 78:233). A pair of copulating adults 5/6 Norman (near Lockhart) †ABL were still present 5/29. A calling male at the Rochester airport 5/9+ Olmsted †JWH, ph. CCB, †ADS was recorded by JJS and furnished a second county record, but failed to attract a mate.
76:2578:1262006-05-092006-06-24Rochester airportOlmsted(record #2006-048, vote 7-0). All three Burrowing Owl records were documented by written descriptions and digital images; the Olmsted County bird was also recorded calling. Accepted
77:2680:52006-06-18near PipestonePipestone(record #2007-083, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2006-06-18Pipestone6/18 Pipestone (third county record)
Last seen and heard at Rochester Airport 6/24 Olmsted fide JWH (please see spring report). Another reported from the Southwest 6/18 Pipestone (near Pipestone) ph. Angela Kallsen. Two adults seen by local residents since at least 7/1 Stevens (Rendsville Twp.) were documented mid-August ph. DO. [Corrected]
78:2779:502006-07-012006-08-14Rendsville TownshipStevens(record #2006-065, vote 7-0 for each of two adults). Two adults were photographed at a burrow, but there was no evidence of successful breeding; fourth occurrence of this Casual species for 2006. Accepted
avian
information
2006-07-012006-08-14Stevens7/1-8/14 Stevens (first county record)
Last seen and heard at Rochester Airport 6/24 Olmsted fide JWH (please see spring report). Another reported from the Southwest 6/18 Pipestone (near Pipestone) ph. Angela Kallsen. Two adults seen by local residents since at least 7/1 Stevens (Rendsville Twp.) were documented mid-August ph. DO. [Corrected]
79:2880:52007-06-012007-07-28near Glacial Ridge National Wildlife RefugePolk(record #2007-039, vote 7-0 for each of two adults and two juveniles). Accepted
avian
information
2007-06-012007-07-28Polk6/1-7/28 Polk (third county record)
Observed 6/1–7/28 Polk (Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) m.ob. Initially, two adults were found by BJE and confirmed by †CMM; later, two adults and two juveniles were reported. Also documented by †DAB, †PCC, †JPE, ph. BDF, ph. †JMJ. First known successful breeding in the state since 1991. One adult clung to the outskirts of Moorhead beginning 7/2 or 7/3 Clay ph. DJBe, ph. KVH.
80:2980:52007-07-022007-10-02MoorheadClay(record #2007-063, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2007-07-032007-10-02Clay7/3-10/2 Clay (second county record)
Observed 6/1–7/28 Polk (Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) m.ob. Initially, two adults were found by BJE and confirmed by †CMM; later, two adults and two juveniles were reported. Also documented by †DAB, †PCC, †JPE, ph. BDF, ph. †JMJ. First known successful breeding in the state since 1991. One adult clung to the outskirts of Moorhead beginning 7/2 or 7/3 Clay ph. DJBe, ph. KVH.
avian
information
2007-07-082007-07-11Pipestone7/8, 11 Pipestone (fourth county record)
Observed 6/1–7/28 Polk (Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) m.ob. Initially, two adults were found by BJE and confirmed by †CMM; later, two adults and two juveniles were reported. Also documented by †DAB, †PCC, †JPE, ph. BDF, ph. †JMJ. First known successful breeding in the state since 1991. One adult clung to the outskirts of Moorhead beginning 7/2 or 7/3 Clay ph. DJBe, ph. KVH.
81:3080:52007-08-062007-08-18near EdgertonPipestone(record #2007-051, vote 7-0 for one adult and one juvenile). Accepted
80:52007-08-062007-08-18near EdgertonPipestone(record #2007-051, vote 3-4 for second adult, vote 2-5 for second juvenile). Submitted photographs depicted only one adult and/or one juvenile in each image. None of the observers submitted written documentation, which could have substantiated the presence of a second adult and a second juvenile. Not Accepted
avian
information
2007-08-062007-08-18Pipestone8/6-18 Pipestone (fifth county record)
One lingered in Clay from early July until 10/2 (see summer report for more details). A total of 4 birds (2 adults and 2 young, though only one adult and one juvenile documented) was discovered near probable nest site near Edgerton in Pipestone beginning 8/6 ph. DAC, ph. JeF, RBJ and subsequently seen by several observers through 8/18.
82:3180:1152008-05-222008-06-07MoorheadClay(record #2008-028, vote 7-0). Found in the same housing development as last year (The Loon 80:9). Photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2008-05-222008-06-07Clay5/22-6/7 Clay (third county record)
One bird present 5/22+ Clay (Moorhead, observed sitting on mound of dirt beside hole) ph. DRe, CMN, ph. †PHS, m.ob.
83:3283:32010-05-15Co. Rd. 12Clay(record #2010-026, vote 5-2). The original documentation lacked a description of the sighting. Subsequently, additional information was obtained via email providing a description. Some members felt that allowing additional information to be considered subsequent to the original documentation was a break from tradition and therefore inappropriate. At the 5 December meeting, it was decided to re-vote on the record and permit consideration of the additional information. The record was accepted on the second round (record #2010-026, second round vote 5-2). Establishment of a written procedure addressing situations where additional information is submitted subsequent to the original documentation will be a priority of the Committee at its next meeting. Accepted
avian
information
2010-05-15Clay5/15 Clay (fourth county record)
One bird observed 5/15 Clay (near Bluestem Prairie S.N.A.) †BMc, SBe.
84:33MOU2010-07-01Tilden Twp.PolkMNBBAAccepted
85:3483:992011-05-182011-05-19Clow TownshipKittson(record #2011-021, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2011-05-18Kittson5/18 Kittson (first county record)
First county record 5/18–19 Kittson (2, Joe River State Wildlife Area) ph. LW, ph. †TrB, RAE.
86:3588:912016-04-232016-05-23northeast of BreckenridgeWilkin(record #2016-010, vote 7-0). Photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2016-04-292016-04-30Wilkin4/29, 30 Wilkin (first county record)
One was present in Wilkin, northeast of Breckinridge, 4/23–5/23 MJM, ph. †JMJ, ph. PHS.
87:3695:32023-04-23 330th Avenue about one mile south of county road 20, Mulligan TownshipBrown (record #2023-018, vote 7-0). Adult, photographed. First county record.

Accepted
avian
information
2023-04-23Brown4/23 Brown (first county record)
All south 4/23 Brown (Bowser Easment) ph. †BTS, ARW, RAE, JSc (The Loon 95:235), 4/24–30 Faribault (Delavan Twp., discovered by an anonymous Reddit user) ph. †WAF, ph. †KEm, ph. †ChH, BAy, JWH.
88:3795:32023-04-242023-04-30 210th Street about 0.4 miles east of 450th Avenue, northwFaribault (record #2023-021, vote 7-0). Adult, photographed. First county record.

Accepted
avian
information
2023-04-242023-04-30Faribault4/24, 25, 26, 30 Faribault (first county record)
All south 4/23 Brown (Bowser Easment) ph. †BTS, ARW, RAE, JSc (The Loon 95:235), 4/24–30 Faribault (Delavan Twp., discovered by an anonymous Reddit user) ph. †WAF, ph. †KEm, ph. †ChH, BAy, JWH.
95:1152023-06-26 Sax-Zim Bog, on Sax Road just east of Cranberry LaneSt. Louis (record #2023-095, vote 0-7). The observer saw the bird along the side of the road while driving in the dark about a half hour before sunrise. A Short-eared Owl, which is significantly more likely, could also appear long-legged in alert posture while standing on a flat surface such as a roadside. Moreover, the ten second observation was made without optics from a moving vehicle.

Not Accepted
 
 Former summer resident southwest and west-central. Recorded in two (2016, 2023) of the last ten years. Last breeding record 2007. State designation: Endangered. Formerly Casual.

Notes:

The information in the above table comes from several different sources. The count in column 1 indicates which of the sources is considered the primary source.
'Accepted' MOURC entries from The MOURC Proceedings
'Not Accepted' or 'Rejected' MOURC entry from The MOURC Proceedings
Accepted MOU records assembled by David Cahlander
Sighting records for ()
Avian information from the occurrence maps, in dark red, assembled by Robert Janssen. Seasonal report for the species/season published in The Loon or The Flicker has been added.
Information from The Loon index assembled by Anthony Hertzel and David Cahlander