BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



69 



FAMILY RECURVIROSTRIDAE: Stilts and Avocets 



American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) 

 Status: Casual migrant. 



Records: There are three records from Crex Meadows, Burnett County: 

 30 April 1971, 16 May 1977, and 22 August 1965. One American avocet was 

 observed in St. Croix County near New Richmond on 13 May 1973. 



FAMILY CHARADRIIDAE: Plovers 



Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) 

 Status: Regular migrant. 



Migration: Fairly common migrant in the Western Upland and Central 

 Plain, rare to absent in the Northern Highland. The first spring migrants 

 arrive 25 April to 1 May (earliest— 19 April 1976, St. Croix County). Peak 

 abundance occurs 10-20 May and departure by 25 May. The first fall mi- 

 grants arrive between 25 July and 1 August. Peak fall populations occur 

 20 August to 1 September and departure by 25 September. 



Habitat: Most common on seasonally flooded wetlands. Uncommon on lake- 

 shores and in short vegetation associated with semipermanently flooded 

 wetlands. 



Piping Plover {Charadrius melodus) 

 Status: Accidental, two records. 



Records: S. D. Robbins observed a single piping plover near Roberts, St. 

 Croix County, from 3 to 15 May 1967 (Robbins 1968). S. V. Goddard found 

 one on the same wetland on 12 May 1972 (Faanes and Goddard 1976). 



Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 



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



Migration: Abundant migrant in the Western Upland and Central Plain, 

 common and more local in the Northern Highland. Spring migrants arrive 

 about 15 March (earliest— 2 March 1961, Burnett County); peak abundance 

 is 10-25 April. Fall migration begins about 10 August. Peak abundance 

 occurs 1-15 September and departure by 1 November. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Common nesting species in the Western 

 Upland and Central Plain, uncommon to rare and local in the Northern 

 Highland. 



Winter: There are eight early winter records for an area in Washington 

 County; the dates are from 15 to 30 December. S. D. Robbins observed one 



