28 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 73 



Nesting Season Distribution: Common nesting species throughout the 

 Valley. The largest numbers occur on prairie wetlands of the Central Plain 

 and in the extensive marshes of southwestern Burnett County. 



Habitat: The pied-billed grebe occurs most commonly on seasonally and 

 semipermanently flooded wetlands with lush stands of emergent aquatics; 

 cattail and bulrush appear to be preferred for nesting. Nesting pied-billed 

 grebes are also found on large permanently flooded and Alder Thicket wet- 

 lands in the Northern Highland. Breeding populations in these habitat types 

 are lower than on seasonally or semipermanently flooded wetlands. 



FAMILY PELECANIDAE: PeUcans 

 White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorynchos) 

 Status: Casual migrant. 



Distribution: White pelicans have been observed in the Valley at least 10 

 times: St. Croix County— 28-30 April 1941 (Schorger 1954), May 1950, and 

 2-6 November 1975 (Lesher 1976). Polk County-23 April 1867 (Schorger 

 1954), and 24 April to 12 June 1947. Burnett County— 10 July 1970 (Crex 

 Meadows files), and 30 October 1883 (Schorger 1954). Washington County— 

 16 April 1976. Chisago County— about 60 white peUcans were observed 

 migrating upstream at Taylor's Falls on 14 April 1979 (Turner 1979). Pine 

 County— 18 September 1972 (M. Link, personal communication). 



Habitat: Most records of white peUcans have been of birds using large lakes, 

 man-made impoundments, or open stretches of the St. Croix River. 



FAMILY PHALACROCORACIDAE: Cormorants 



Double-crested Cormorant {Phalacrocorax auritus) 



Status: Regular migrant and nesting species. The Wisconsin Department of 

 Natural Resources (WDNR) has listed this species as endangered (Les 1979). 

 Loss of nest trees, use of pesticides, and human disturbance are listed as rea- 

 sons for their decHne. 



Migration: Rare and local migrant throughout the VaUey. Formerly a com- 

 mon to abundant migrant throughout its range, populations of double- 

 crested cormorants have experienced alarming decHnes. Records exist of 

 "flocks of thousands" migrating north along the Mississippi and St. Croix 

 rivers until the 1950's. Currently, observers are fortunate to find more than 

 25 individuals during the year. The average date of spring arrival is 18 April 

 (earUest— 4 April 1976, Chisago County). Peak spring migration occurs 

 25 April to 10 May, and departure from nonbreeding areas by 25 May. Peak 

 fall migration occurs between 10-20 September and departure by 15 Octo- 

 ber (latest— 3 November 1975, Burnett County). 



Nesting Season Distribution: Double-crested cormorants are rare and local 

 during the nesting season in this region, currently known to nest only at the 

 Crex Meadows and Fish Lake Wildlife Areas in Burnett County. The first 



