for the state. Only 6 Short-eared Owls were re- 
ported, 3 each from North and South Dakota. 
HUMMINGBIRDS 
THROUGH THRUSHES 
A Rufous Hummingbird photographed at 
Jamestown, ND 18-19 Jun provided the first 
Jun record for the state and the 2nd for the 
summer season (CSt). Making just the 2nd 
nesting record for the Turtle Mts. of North 
Dakota, a Pileated Woodpecker nest with 
young was photographed by many attendees 
of the Minot American Birding Association 
Conference 16-18 Jun (DOT). Olive-sided 
Flycatchers were late 1 1 Jun in Charles Mix, 
SD (DS) and 17 Jun in Bottineau, ND (DOL). 
The latest spring migrant for North Dakota, a 
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was at Minot 8 Jun 
(REM). A rare nester in the Missouri R. valley 
of North Dakota, an Eastern Phoebe was be- 
low Garrison Dam in McLean 16-20 Jun 
(CDE). Casual in w. Montana, a Philadelphia 
Vireo was near Freezeout L. 2 Jun (p.a., MS). 
A single Philadelphia Vireo at Westby, MT 9 
Jun (TN) was more expected. A rare nester in 
the Missouri R. valley in North Dakota, a Yel- 
low-throated Vireo was below Garrison Dam, 
McLean 16 Jun (REM). Rare away from the 
Black Hills in summer, a Brown Creeper was 
in Charles Mix, SD 20 Jun (RM). The first nest 
record for nw. South Dakota, a pair of Blue- 
gray Gnatcatchers were building a nest in 
Harding 3 Jul (p.a., KM). Accidental in sum- 
NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS 
mer in North Dakota, a Townsend’s Solitaire 
was in Wells 20 Jun (p.a., LJ). 
WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES 
Late Black-throated Blue Warblers were at 
Westby, MT 3 Jun (EH, RW) and in Stanley, 
SD 17 Jun (KM). A rare summer record for 
North Dakota, a Palm Warbler was in 
Stutsman 4 Jun (BJA). A late migrant Yellow- 
rumped Warbler was at Ft. Peck, MT 28 Jun 
(CC). Prothonotary Warblers with young 
were in Union lOJun-5 Jul (p.a., CM, RD)— 
the first nesting record in the modern era in 
South Dakota. Providing the first summer 
record for South Dakota, a Louisiana Wa- 
terthrush was in Union 3 Jul (p.a., DC). Acci- 
dental in summer in South Dakota, a Hooded 
Warbler was in Minnehaha 20 Jun (p.a., DC). 
Unusual was a Connecticut Warbler singing a 
Northern Waterthrush song in Grand Forks, 
ND 1 Jun (DOL). Eastern Towhees and prob- 
able hybrids with Spotted Towhees were 
singing various songs in Bottineau, ND 12-18 
Jun (REM, DOL). Both species occur in small 
numbers in the scrub oak belt on the edge of 
the Turtle Mts. Le Conte’s Sparrow numbers 
were poor this year, likely because most of the 
habitat was flooded by the massive snow 
melt. Several observers reported that Nelson’s 
Sparrows had another banner year in North 
Dakota. The 3rd summer record for South 
Dakota, a White-throated Sparrow was in 
Lawrence 7 & 18 Jun (DGP). 
The first Jul record for South Dakota, a Sum- 
mer Tanager was in Fall River 6 Jul (p.a., RP). 
Two Northern Cardinals were singing 13 Jun in 
the Turtle Mts. of Bottineau, ND (DOL); there 
are no nesting records for this area of the state. 
Providing the 8th record for Montana, and the 
first confirmed nesting, Blue Grosbeaks were 
near Bridger 13 Jun-31 Jul (CM). Casual in 
North Dakota, an Eastern Meadowlark was 
singing in Stutsman 4 Jun (REM, DOL). About 
the 13th and 14th reports for Montana, single 
Lesser Goldfinches were in Billings 21 Jun (GS) 
and at Ft. Peck 22 Jun (CC). 
Contributors (state editors in boldface); 
MONTANA: Chuck Carlson, Ed Harper, Stan 
Heath, Lisa Lister, George Mowat, Ted Nord- 
hagen, Mike Schwitters, Monty Sullins, Gary 
Swant, Robin Wolcott. NORTH DAKOTA: Bob 
J. Anderson, Carolyn Begley, Keith R. Corliss, 
Jiri Dadok, Wayne Easley, Corey D. Ellingson, 
Eve E. Freeberg, Tim Hochstetler, Phil Jeffrey, 
Larry Jones, Dave 0. Lambeth, Greg S. Lam- 
beth, Ron E. Martin, Mike J. Rabenberg, Dean 
W. Riemer, Greg P. Schonert, Carl Stangeland, 
Dan N. Svingen. SOUTH DAKOTA: Doug 
Chapman, Roger Dietrich, Chris Goldade, 
Todd Jensen, Ron Mabie, Kenny Miller, 
Charles Mills, Jeffrey S. Palmer, Richard Pe- 
terson, D. George Prisbe, Dave Swanson. © 
Ron Martin, 16900 125th Street SE 
Sawyer, North Dakota 58781-9284, (jrmartin@srt.com) 
Southern Great Plains) 
Joseph A. Grzybowski 
W. Ross Silcock 
T he summer provided another series of 
data points for the avian phenomena of 
the current era. Southeastern species 
such as Acadian Flycatcher and Summer Tan- 
ager continued to expand their ranges north- 
westward in response to global warming but 
also in tandem with the expansion of woody 
vegetation, particularly along riparian corri- 
dors. Decades of fire suppression have also in- 
creased the extent of woody vegetation in the 
Plains. Species such as Red-shouldered and 
Broad-winged Hawks have shown tendencies 
to pioneer new areas as the availability of trees 
for nesting and foraging increases, and the 
ranges of some sibling species, such as the 
wood-pewees’, may be edging closer to one an- 
other as well. During wet summers, as in 2009, 
wetland obligates such as Least Bittern, White- 
faced Ibis, King Rail, and Common Moorhen 
typically prosper, but it may also be the case 
that the southward spread of Trumpeter Swan 
in the Plains has been facilitated by the current 
wet cycle. Shorebird records during the mid- 
summer are a frequent source of consterna- 
tion, as species one expects to be much farther 
north opt instead for the hot flats of the Salt 
Plains and Quivira National Wildlife Refuges; 
some of these are surely non-breeders or failed 
breeders rather than simply late or early mi- 
grants that have yet to breed or have complet- 
ed a successful nesting season. But the warmer 
climate that creates ever-earlier spring arrivals 
may also allow earlier completion of breeding 
activity and departures, as is the case with 
some populations of Long-billed Curlew and 
Marbled Godwit, for instance. 
Abbreviations: Cheyenne Bottoms (Chey- 
enne Bottoms W.M.A., Barton, KS); Hackber- 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 4 
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