Birds of the St. Croix River Valley: 

 Minnesota and Wisconsin 



by 



Craig A. Faanes 



U.S. Fish and WildUfe Service 

 Northern Prairie WildUfe Research Center 

 Jamestown, North Dakota 58401 



Abstract 



The St. Croix River Valley encompasses nearly 11,550 km^ in east-central Minne- 

 sota and northwestern Wisconsin. A wide range of habitats are available for birds 

 including upland oak, lowland deciduous, maple-basswood, lowland and upland conif- 

 erous forests, natural basin wetlands, and grasslands. Situated in the north-central 

 region of the United States, the valley is a biological "crossroads" for many species. 

 Because of the mixed affinities of plant communities, the valley includes the northern 

 and southern range limits for a number of species. Also, because the valley hes near 

 the forest-prairie transition zone, many typical western breeding species (e.g. pintail, 

 western meadowlark, yellow-headed blackbird) breed in proximity to typical eastern 

 species such as tufted titmouse, eastern meadowlark, and cardinal. 



From 1966 to 1980, I conducted extensive surveys of avian distribution and abun- 

 dance in the St. Croix River Valley. I have supplemented the results of these surveys 

 with published and unpubUshed observations contributed by many ornithologists. 

 These additional data include compilations from Christmas Bird Counts sponsored by 

 the National Audubon Society and from the Breeding Bird Survey coordinated by the 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Three hundred fourteen species have been recorded in 

 the study area; data are presented on the migration period, nesting season distri- 

 bution, winter distribution, relative abundance, and habitat use of each species. 



Recognizing the uniqueness of the area, and its importance not only to wildhfe but 

 also to man, the U.S. Congress designated the St. Croix a National Scenic Riverway. 

 This action provided a considerable degree of protection to lands along and directly 

 adjacent to the river. Unfortunately, no similar legal measure exists to protect lands 

 away from the river. With the exception of the northern quarter of the St. Croix River 

 Valley, agricultural interests have made significant inroads into the habitat base. The 

 continuing expansion of the nearby Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan region has 

 degraded or destroyed many woodlots, upland fields, and wetlands. In numerous 

 instances, degradation of natural habitats has influenced the abundance and distribu- 

 tion of bird species. Because of these changes, both the Federal government and State 

 Departments of Natural Resources have hsted several species in various categories 

 based on their current status. In the St. Croix River Valley, seven species are endan- 

 gered, eight are threatened, and 29 are watch or priority status in either or both states. 

 Data presented in this report are of value to land managers, land use speciaHsts, and 

 ornithologists, in assessing current and projected habitat alterations on the avifauna 

 of this valley. 



