68 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 73 



Crex Meadows may shed additional light on the breeding status of this 

 species. 



Common Gallinule {Gallinula chloropus) 

 Status: Casual migrant and nesting species. 



Spring Records: Gallinules were observed at Crex Meadows, Burnett 

 County, on 9 May 1958 and 10 May 1976. In St. Croix County spring 

 records include 16 May 1961 and 25 May 1976. Washington County records 

 range from 15-30 May. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Green and Janssen (1975) showed a nesting 

 record for Washington County. Since 1975, I have found common gaUinule 

 during the nesting season near Lake Elmo, Washington County. In Wis- 

 consin, one bird was observed at Crex Meadows on 11 June 1958. The first 

 St. Croix County nesting record was obtained on 9 July 1976 near Star 

 Prairie. On 14 July 1977 an adult with a brood of three was observed on a 

 wetland near Hudson. Additionally, a single adult was observed near 

 Roberts on 11 August 1975. 



Habitat: Most common gallinules observed during the nesting season are 

 associated with seasonally and semipermanently flooded wetlands. These 

 wetlands typically support an abundant submerged and emergent flora. 



American Coot {Fulica americana) 



Status: Regular migrant and nesting species, casual in winter. 



Migration: Abundant migrant throughout the Valley. Spring migrants 

 arrive in the Western Upland about 10 March reaching the Northern High- 

 land 1-10 April. Peak spring abundance occurs between 20 April and 1 May. 

 The first fall migrants arrive between 1 and 10 September. Peak fall abun- 

 dance occurs 25 September to 10 October and departure by 15 November. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Common nesting species on prairie wetlands in 

 St. Croix, Polk, and Washington counties. Fairly common nesting species at 

 Crex Meadows in Burnett County. Uncommon to rare elsewhere during the 

 nesting season. 



Winter: Casual early winter resident along the St. Croix River. Afton CBC 

 records include one each on 1 January 1957, 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1975. I 

 observed one along the Apple River, St. Croix County, on 19 December 

 1977. During the winter of 1975-76, a single bird remained on the St. Croix 

 River near Bayport, Washington County. 



Habitat: American coots are characteristic of seasonally and semiperma- 

 nently flooded wetlands. Predominant vegetation associated with American 

 coot nesting habitat includes cattail, river bulrush, softstem and hardstem 

 bulrush, burreed, and phragmites. Nesting also occurs to a more Umited 

 extent on lower quality acidic wetlands characterized by waterlily and 

 pickerelweed. Very few nesting pairs are found on riverine habitats. 



