BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



35 



Fall migration begins about 1 September with the formation of loose 

 flocks among local breeding birds. A gradual influx of migrants adds to the 

 population, and peak fall migration occurs 15 October to 5 November. The 

 largest concentration on record is 8,000 at Crex Meadows on 31 October 

 1970. The fall population rapidly declines after the peak and most birds have 

 departed by 10 December. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Currently a fairly common nesting species 

 throughout the region, common at Crex Meadows. The success of the 

 Canada goose as a nesting bird is related to the reestabhshment of breeding 

 adult giant Canada geese (B. c. maxima) at Afton, Washington County, and 

 at Crex Meadows. A captive flock was established at Crex Meadows in 1957, 

 and the first young were produced in the wild in 1960. This flock steadily 

 increased and now over 100 pairs produce 300 young annually (WDNR files). 



The Afton flock was estabUshed in 1960 and resulted in movement of 

 breeding birds into nearby wetlands of Washington, Polk, and St. Croix 

 counties. Canada geese were first recorded summering in St. Croix county in 

 1961 and nesting was recorded in 1963. EstabUshment of free-flying flocks 

 of Canada geese was very popular in east central Minnesota and western 

 Wisconsin throughout the 1960's and early 1970's. Many of these releases 

 were successful and now several hundred breeding pairs return to the Valley 

 each spring. 



Winter: Casual winter resident in the Western Upland, primarily associated 

 with the St. Croix River. Nearby agricultural fields are typically used for 

 feeding during winter. 



Habitat: Canada geese are usually found nesting on semipermanently and 

 permanently flooded wetlands in the Western Upland. Many goose nests are 

 found on old muskrat houses in these wetlands. At Crex Meadows, nesting 

 Canada geese typically use large man-made impoundments. 



Brant (Branta bernicla) 



Status: Accidental, three fall records. 



Records: A flock of three birds clearly identifiable to this species was ob- 

 served at Crex Meadows, Burnett County, on 2 October 1954 (N. R. Stone). 

 A group of 10 brant was observed at Crex Meadows on 6 October 1974 

 (K. H. Dueholm). N. R. Stone observed a brant referable to the Pacific sub- 

 species (B. bernicla nigricans) on 31 October 1959 at Crex Meadows. The 

 bird was observed from 120 m; the neck markings were present and the 

 black underwing coverts were noted, distinguishing this bird from the east- 

 ern race. 



White-fronted Goose {Anser albifrons) 

 Status: Regular migrant. 



Migration: Rare spring migrant, with records from Burnett, St. Croix, and 

 Washington counties. Arrival dates do not demonstrate any pattern, rang- 



