BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



117 



Peak fall migration occurs 25 August to 10 September and departure by 

 1 October. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Common to abundant nesting species in the 

 Western Upland and Central Plain, uncommon and local in the Northern 

 Highland. Breeding Bird Survey data (Table 5) suggest that the greatest 

 abundance occurs in the Central Plain. 



Habitat: In the Central Plain and Northern Highland, the species is found in 

 Northern Sedge Meadow dominated by tussock sedge, manna grass, and 

 bluejoint grass. In the Western Upland, breeding pairs are frequently en- 

 countered in Shrub Carr Wetlands. During dry years, this wren also uses 

 alfalfa and timothy hayfields, Managed Grasslands, and occasionally Old 

 Field Community. 



FAMILY MIMIDAE: Mockingbirds and Thrashers 



Mockingbird {Mimus polyglottos) 

 Status: Casual visitor. 



Records: The first record was obtained at Crex Meadows, Burnett County, 

 on 7 May 1958 (MacBriar 1958). One was recorded at Crex Meadows on 5 

 and 16 May 1964 (Soulen 1965). Two were recorded in Washington County 

 on 23 May 1978 (Willard 1971) and 19 July 1978 (Green 1979). Single mock- 

 ingbirds were observed at Crex Meadows on 10 May 1975 and 23 May 1976 

 (M. Link, personal communication), and on 18 May 1980 (D. D. Tessen, per- 

 sonal communication). Faanes and Goddard (1976) cited a 25 April 1976 

 record from near Woodville, St. Croix County. 



Gray Catbird {Dumetella carolinensis) 



Status: Regular migrant and nesting species, casual in winter. 



Migration: Common (locally abundant) migrant throughout the Valley. 

 Spring migrants arrive in the Western Upland 1-5 May and the Northern 

 Highland 5-10 May. Peak spring abundance occurs 10-20 May. Fall migra- 

 tion begins in mid- August. Peak fall migration occurs 5-20 September and 

 departure 5-10 October. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Fairly common (locally common) nesting 

 species in the Western Upland, common in the Central Plain and fairly 

 common in the Northern Highland. Goddard (1972) found the gray catbird 

 the most abundant nesting species in the Kinnickinnic River Valley, Pierce 

 County. Breeding density in that area was 48.9 pairs per 40 ha. Breeding 

 Bird Survey data (Table 5) show that this species is well distributed 

 throughout the Valley and that greatest densities occur in the Central Plain. 



Winter: Polk County records include 9 January to 30 March 1956 at Luck 

 (Lound and Lound 1957a), and December 1956 to 19 January 1957 (Lound 

 and Lound 19576). A single gray catbird remained at a Newport feeder 



