66 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 73 



Nesting Season Distribution: The first reported nesting in the Valley oc- 

 curred in the Kohler-Peet area north of Crex Meadows along the St. Croix 

 River in 1903. Roberts (1932) mentioned a local farmer reported sandhill 

 cranes nesting in Burnett County from 1904 through 1930. Recent summer 

 observations indicate that cranes still probably nest at Kohler-Peet; how- 

 ever, nests or young have not been observed. 



Currently, sandhill cranes are fairly common during the nesting season at 

 Crex Meadows. Recent surveys indicate that 30 to 40 pairs are nesting at 

 that location. Elsewhere, Green and Janssen (1975) cited a 1950 nest record 

 near Beroun, Pine County. Johnson (1976) reported breeding season sandhill 

 cranes in Thunder Meadow and the St. Croix River marshes, Pine County, 

 and in the extensive marshes of the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management 

 Area, Chisago County, during 1974-75. Henderson (1978) showed that 

 breeding season sandhill cranes occurred in three Pine County townships: T. 

 42 N., R. 16 W.; T. 41 N., R. 13 W.; and T. 38 N., R. 17 W. 



Habitat: Breeding sandhill cranes are typically associated with large ex- 

 panses of Northern Sedge Meadow characterized by tussock sedge, bristly 

 sedge, fox sedge, bluejoint grass, rattlesnake grass, marsh cinquefoil, and 

 marsh bellflower. 



FAMILY RALLIDAE: Rails, Gallinules, and Coots 

 King Rail {Rallus elegans) 



Status: Casual spring migrant and nesting species. 



Migration: Rare spring migrant near the St. Croix River. Spring arrival 

 dates range from 24 April 1977 in St. Croix County to 9 May 1958 in Bur- 

 nett County. Fall migration records are not available. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Observations at Crex Meadows, Burnett 

 County, include 12 June 1969, 25 June 1975, 27 and 28 June 1956, 3 July 

 1963, and 12 August 1970. These breeding season records suggest possible 

 nesting although nests or young have not been found. In St. Croix County, I 

 observed a male king rail at East Twin Lake on 17 June 1976. Green and 

 Janssen's (1975) Washington County record is the only confirmed nesting 

 observation in the Valley. 



Habitat: King rails at Crex Meadows are usually associated with dense 

 cattail vegetation in man-made impoundments. 



Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) 



Status: Regular migrant and nesting species, one winter record. 



Migration: Common migrant in St. Croix, Polk, and Washington counties, 

 uncommon to rare elsewhere. Spring migrants arrive about 25 April (ear- 

 Uest— 16 April 1958, Burnett County): peak abundance is 10-15 May. Peak 

 fall migration occurs between 20 September and 1 October and departure by 

 30 October. 



