MOURC Proceedings Archive - New World Vultures 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.
Families
Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
New World Quail
Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys
Grebes
Pigeons, Doves
Cuckoos
Nightjars
Swifts
Hummingbirds
Rails, Gallinules, Coots
Limpkin
Cranes
Stilts, Avocets
Plovers
Sandpipers
Jaegers
Alcids
Gulls, Terns
Loons
Shearwaters and Petrels
Storks
Frigatebirds
Boobies and Gannets
Anhingas
Cormorants
Pelicans
Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons
Ibises
New World Vultures
Osprey
Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles
Barn Owls
Screech-Owls, Owls
Woodpeckers
Caracaras, Falcons
Flycatchers
Vireos
Shrikes
Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows
Martins, Swallows
Kinglets
Silky-flycatchers
Nuthatches
Wrens
Thrashers, Mockingbirds
Dippers
Thrushes
Old World Flycatchers
Old World Sparrows
Pipits
Finches
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Towhees, Sparrows
Yellow-breasted Chat
Blackbirds, Orioles
Warblers
Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks

Proceedings
Species: New World Vultures
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture (R) (Cathartes aura)Start Date 1936-01-01
RefFirstLastLocationCounty23CommentStatus
avian
information
1937-12-27Lyon12/27 Lyon (first winter record)
avian
information
1956-12-26Wabasha12/26 Wabasha (first winter record)
avian
information
1958-12-31Wabasha12/31 Wabasha (second winter record)
avian
information
1966-12-21Wabasha12/21 Wabasha (third winter record)
12-21 Whitewater State Park, Winona Co., 1 or 2 on Xmas Count, DGM; very few winter records for state.
avian
information
1972-02-19Cass2/19 Cass (first winter record)
avian
information
1978-12-16Olmsted12/16 Olmsted (first winter record)
One probably seen on the Rochester CBC (VH) (Needs details).
23:901951indexTurkey Vulture Nesting Record
28:1701956indexTurkey Vulture Nesting in St. Louis County, Minnesota
39:261967indexTurkey Vultures Seen in December
44:591972indexAn Early Turkey Vulture
46:102-1031974indexNesting Turkey Vultures in Southeastern Minnesota
48:174-1751976indexTurkey Vulture Nest in Itasca State Park
54:73-1041982indexRaptors of Minnesota -- Nesting Distribution and Population Status
54:1471982-02-28Forest LakeWashington(vote 1-6) The identification was based solely on the "V" posture of the wings and the "lighter flight feathers" from below, but such a description does not preclude a dark phase Rough-legged or Red-tailed Hawk. Not Accepted
154:1471982-03-01MinnetonkaHennepin(vote 6-1) Accepted
56:271-2731984indexTurkey Vulture Nest in Beltrami County
57:1831985indexTwo Late Fall Migrant Raptors in Hennepin County
59:56-571987indexA Very Early Turkey Vulture
59:1051987indexA Winter Turkey Vulture
259:1431987-01-17near Minneopa S.P.Blue Earth(vote 5-2; The Loon 59:105). Accepted
359:1431987-02-07near EitzenHouston(vote 6-1). Accepted
459:1431987-02-09near RushfordFillmore(vote 5-2; The Loon 59:56-57). Accepted
avian
information
1992-12-19Cook12/19 Cook (first winter record)
One individual reported on the Grand Marais CBC, 12/19 Cook fide KMH, providing one of the state's few winter records, and the first in the north.
avian
information
1994-02-26Pope2/26 Pope (first winter record)
Reported 2/26 Pope fide PBa (second earliest arrival date for MN).
avian
information
1998-02-21Dakota2/21 Dakota (first winter record)
67:1181995indexLate Turkey Vulture Records
68:158-1641996index1995 fall raptor migration along the Mississippi River at Reno, Minnesota
68:176-1771996indexTurkey Vulture nest report
71:1561999-02-07Amherst Twp.Fillmore(record #99-14, vote 1-6). The entire description of this bird, which was feeding on carrion, only includes mention of a “dull buff naked head.” While the behavior might suggest the identification was correct, the documentation is inadequate since there is no description of the bird's size, shape, plumage, etc. Not Accepted
72:1641999-12-18North MankatoNicollet(record #2000-19, vote 2-5). This is another species with a history of erroneous reports 167 Fall 2000 in winter, and accordingly the committee is cautious about accepting such records. In this case, neither the small-headed profile nor the two-toned underwing pattern, which are distinctive on a vulture, were noted in the brief, incomplete and casual documentation. And, while one late-lingering vulture might be credible, the majority was skeptical that five individuals were seen. Not Accepted
avian
information
2001-12-15Sibley12/15 Sibley (first winter record)
avian
information
2003-12-20Blue Earth12/20 Blue Earth (first winter record)
Early south 2/29 Houston (Caledonia) SPM.
avian
information
2004-12-18Chisago12/18 Chisago (first winter record)
avian
information
2005-12-012005-12-31Cook12/1-31 Cook (second winter record)
avian
information
2007-12-02Cottonwood12/2 Cottonwood (first winter record)
Late fall migrant 12/2 Cottonwood (Windom) †BRB.
avian
information
2007-12-15Cook12/15 Cook (third winter record)
Late fall migrant 12/2 Cottonwood (Windom) †BRB.
avian
information
2008-01-17Steele1/17 Steele (first winter record)
Late fall migrant 12/2 Cottonwood (Windom) †BRB.
avian
information
2009-02-25Hennepin2/25 Hennepin (first winter record)
Early south migrant 2/25 Hennepin (soaring over Ft. Snelling) PEB.
avian
information
2016-02-262016-02-27Wabasha2/26, 27 Wabasha (fourth winter record)
Early spring migrants from three south counties: 2/26 Wabasha DBz, 2/27 Houston SHo, Olmsted †MiD, Wabasha (2, Weaver Dunes) †CBv, 2/29 Olmsted JWH. These are the first February records since 2009.
avian
information
2016-02-27Houston2/27 Houston (first winter record)
Early spring migrants from three south counties: 2/26 Wabasha DBz, 2/27 Houston SHo, Olmsted †MiD, Wabasha (2, Weaver Dunes) †CBv, 2/29 Olmsted JWH. These are the first February records since 2009.
avian
information
2016-02-272016-02-29Olmsted2/27, 29 Olmsted (second winter record)
Early spring migrants from three south counties: 2/26 Wabasha DBz, 2/27 Houston SHo, Olmsted †MiD, Wabasha (2, Weaver Dunes) †CBv, 2/29 Olmsted JWH. These are the first February records since 2009.
avian
information
2017-02-192017-02-23Washington2/19, 21, 23 Washington (first winter record)
. Influx of early spring migrants starting 2/19 from seven counties, totaling about 10 or more individuals, and including one north report: 2/21 Becker (west Tower Road) ShG, ph. HeH. All south reports: 2/19 Washington †EzH, JHh, 2/21 Washington (2) †GJa, 2/23 Rice DAB, Washington †MJM, 2/25 Scott JEB, 2/26 Scott BHe, Houston †BRe, 2/27 Blue Earth ChH, Scott JEB, 2/28 Dakota KDS. There have been February records in only two of the previous ten winters.
avian
information
2017-02-21Becker2/21 Becker (first winter record)
. Influx of early spring migrants starting 2/19 from seven counties, totaling about 10 or more individuals, and including one north report: 2/21 Becker (west Tower Road) ShG, ph. HeH. All south reports: 2/19 Washington †EzH, JHh, 2/21 Washington (2) †GJa, 2/23 Rice DAB, Washington †MJM, 2/25 Scott JEB, 2/26 Scott BHe, Houston †BRe, 2/27 Blue Earth ChH, Scott JEB, 2/28 Dakota KDS. There have been February records in only two of the previous ten winters.
avian
information
2017-02-23Rice2/23 Rice (first winter record)
. Influx of early spring migrants starting 2/19 from seven counties, totaling about 10 or more individuals, and including one north report: 2/21 Becker (west Tower Road) ShG, ph. HeH. All south reports: 2/19 Washington †EzH, JHh, 2/21 Washington (2) †GJa, 2/23 Rice DAB, Washington †MJM, 2/25 Scott JEB, 2/26 Scott BHe, Houston †BRe, 2/27 Blue Earth ChH, Scott JEB, 2/28 Dakota KDS. There have been February records in only two of the previous ten winters.
avian
information
2017-02-252017-02-27Scott2/25, 26, 27 Scott (first winter record)
. Influx of early spring migrants starting 2/19 from seven counties, totaling about 10 or more individuals, and including one north report: 2/21 Becker (west Tower Road) ShG, ph. HeH. All south reports: 2/19 Washington †EzH, JHh, 2/21 Washington (2) †GJa, 2/23 Rice DAB, Washington †MJM, 2/25 Scott JEB, 2/26 Scott BHe, Houston †BRe, 2/27 Blue Earth ChH, Scott JEB, 2/28 Dakota KDS. There have been February records in only two of the previous ten winters.
avian
information
2017-02-26Houston2/26 Houston (second winter record)
. Influx of early spring migrants starting 2/19 from seven counties, totaling about 10 or more individuals, and including one north report: 2/21 Becker (west Tower Road) ShG, ph. HeH. All south reports: 2/19 Washington †EzH, JHh, 2/21 Washington (2) †GJa, 2/23 Rice DAB, Washington †MJM, 2/25 Scott JEB, 2/26 Scott BHe, Houston †BRe, 2/27 Blue Earth ChH, Scott JEB, 2/28 Dakota KDS. There have been February records in only two of the previous ten winters.
avian
information
2017-02-27Blue Earth2/27 Blue Earth (second winter record)
. Influx of early spring migrants starting 2/19 from seven counties, totaling about 10 or more individuals, and including one north report: 2/21 Becker (west Tower Road) ShG, ph. HeH. All south reports: 2/19 Washington †EzH, JHh, 2/21 Washington (2) †GJa, 2/23 Rice DAB, Washington †MJM, 2/25 Scott JEB, 2/26 Scott BHe, Houston †BRe, 2/27 Blue Earth ChH, Scott JEB, 2/28 Dakota KDS. There have been February records in only two of the previous ten winters.
avian
information
2018-12-15Ramsey12/15 Ramsey (first winter record)
First December report since 2007:12/15 Ramsey (Snelling Ave. and C.R. C) † RMD.
avian
information
2020-12-03Chippewa12/3 Chippewa (first winter record)
 Reported from three counties in December: 12/3 Chippewa (Clara City) †HHD, 12/17 Martin (Fairmont CBC), 12/19–21 Rice (near Faribault) ph. GHo, KDS. There is only one other December record since 2007 (15 December 2018, Ramsey).
avian
information
2020-12-17Martin12/17 Martin (first winter record)
 Reported from three counties in December: 12/3 Chippewa (Clara City) †HHD, 12/17 Martin (Fairmont CBC), 12/19–21 Rice (near Faribault) ph. GHo, KDS. There is only one other December record since 2007 (15 December 2018, Ramsey).
avian
information
2020-12-192020-12-21Rice12/19, 21 Rice (second winter record)
 Reported from three counties in December: 12/3 Chippewa (Clara City) †HHD, 12/17 Martin (Fairmont CBC), 12/19–21 Rice (near Faribault) ph. GHo, KDS. There is only one other December record since 2007 (15 December 2018, Ramsey).
 
 Breeds throughout.

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