BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



77 



Migration: Common to locally abundant migrant in the Western Upland and 

 Central Plain, rare and local in the Northern Highland. Spring migrants 

 arrive about 5 May, reaching peak abundance 15-30 May. Departure occurs 

 5-10 June (latest— 13 June 1965 and 17 June 1977, St. Croix County). Fall 

 migrants arrive about 20 July. Peak abundance occurs 10-20 August and 

 departure by 5 October (latest— 16 October 1964; Kemper 1965). 



Habitat: Primarily a species of flooded agricultural fields, exposed edges of 

 wetlands, man-made impoundments, and sandbars associated with islands 

 in the St. Croix River. 



Western Sandpiper {Calidris mauri) 

 Status: Casual migrant. 



Records: There are spring records from St. Croix County including 2-4 May 

 1975 (peak of 11 on 3 May), 13 May 1976, 25 May 1963, 31 May 1965, and 

 2 June 1966. There are five fall records including three in St. Croix County; 

 2 August 1977, 14 August 1975, and 19 August 1974. At Crex Meadows, 

 Burnett County, one western sandpiper was observed on 15 and 21 August 

 1955, and on 12 October 1974. 



Habitat: The St. Croix County observations included birds associated with 

 the exposed edge of a semipermanently flooded wetland. The Burnett 

 County record was obtained from the exposed edge of a man-made impound- 

 ment. 



Least Sandpiper {Calidris minutilla) 

 Status: Regular migrant. 



Migration: Common spring and fairly common fall migrant in the Western 

 Upland and Central Plain, rare and local in the Northern Highland. Spring 

 migrants arrive about 30 April (earliest— 23 April 1959, Burnett County). 

 Peak abundance occurs 5-15 May and departure by 25 May. Fall migrants 

 arrive 5-10 July (earliest— 25 June 1972, Chisago County). Peak abundance 

 occurs 25 July to 10 August and departure by 30 September. 



Habitat: Primarily a species of flooded agricultural fields, exposed edges of 

 wetlands, and sandbars associated with St. Croix River islands. 



White-rumped Sandpiper [Calidris fuscicollis) 

 Status: Regular migrant. 



Migration: Fairly common spring migrant in the Western Upland, uncom- 

 mon to rare elsewhere. Uncommon to rare throughout the Valley in fall. 

 Spring migrants arrive about 10 May (earhest— 20 April 1974, St. Croix 

 County). Peak abundance occurs 20 May to 5 Juno and departure by 

 15 June. Fall migrants arrive about 20 July and depart by 15 September 

 (latest— 6 October 1964, Kemper 1965). Peak fall populations cannot be 

 determined because of few records. 



