BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



111 



on the Solon Springs CBC (Northern Highland), Comparison of CBC and 

 BBS data (Tables 4 and 5) shows that the relative abundance of this species 

 among physiographic regions is reversed between seasons. This is logical 

 considering the periodic influxes of this species into areas south of the breed- 

 ing range throughout the eastern United States. 



Habitat: The black-capped chickadee is rather cosmopolitan in its choice of 

 habitats during the nesting season. Breeding pairs in the Western Upland 

 use Southern Deciduous Forest and Lowland Deciduous Forest most exten- 

 sively. Habitat use in the Central Plain includes Northern Hardwood Forest, 

 Lowland Deciduous Forest, Black Spruce-Tamarack Bog, and Jack Pine 

 Barren. In the Northern Highland, extensive use is made of Northern Hard- 

 wood Forest, primarily stands of medium-aged mixed forest that is domi- 

 nated by sugar maple, basswood, and scattered white pine. Also important 

 in this region are Lowland Coniferous Forest, Black Spruce-Tamarack Bog, 

 and remnant stands of Upland Coniferous Forest. One important aspect of 

 black-capped chickadee breeding habitat is the presence of natural cavities 

 or dead snags for nest placement. The spread of Dutch Elm disease, pri- 

 marily in Lowland Deciduous Forest, may benefit this species. Several 

 breeding pairs that I observed in this habitat in the Western Upland were 

 using holes in dead American elm that had been excavated by woodpeckers. 



Boreal Chickadee {Parus hudsonicus) 



Status: Casual winter resident, one summer record. 



Winter: Boreal chickadees have been recorded on several CBC's: Afton— 

 29 December 1966 and 1 January 1972; Suburban St. Paul— 1 January 1975; 

 Grantsburg— 26 December 1976; and Solon Springs— 23 December 1976. A 

 single bird was recorded at St. Croix Falls (Polk County) on 3 January 1950, 

 and one individual in Washington County on 30 September 1972. 



Nesting Season Distribution: An adult was seen and heard near Solon 

 Springs, Douglas County, on 27 June 1972. Boreal chickadees are not known 

 to nest in northwestern Wisconsin; Bernard (1967) mentioned only v/inter 

 records from Douglas County. Green and Janssen (1975) showed that the 

 breeding range of this species in Minnesota extended south to central 

 Carlton County. 



The midsummer Douglas County record increases the probabiUty that the 

 boreal chickadee nests rarely in the Valley. An abundance of suitable 

 Lowland Coniferous Forest habitat exists along the St. Croix in southern 

 Douglas County and throughout Pine County. Additional field work in this 

 region during the summer may provide confirmation of nesting. 



Habitat: Boreal chickadees observed during the winter are usually found at 

 feeding stations. The June 1972 observation was of a single bird in Lowland 

 Coniferous Forest. 



Tufted Titmouse [Parus bicolor) 

 Status: Regular permanent resident. 



