The recent report of a Dipper seen on the ice of (most likely) the St. Louis River near Duluth once again raises interesting questions about the status of that species in Minnesota. The bird has been documented in the state, and other, anecdotal, reports of its sighting in northeastern Minnesota exist. The web site listed below, created by Doug Backlund of South Dakota, provides an excellent overview of this species, including information about its movement overland from one stream habitat to another. The South Dakota Dippers are found in the Black Hills. No other population of this species is closer to Minnesota.
Jim Williams Wayzata Begin forwarded message: From: "Doug Backlund" <[email protected]> Date: February 1, 2005 9:55:25 PM CST To: "sd-birds" <[email protected]> Subject: [sd-birds] Dippers I've updated the dipper webpage with new information, including last summers nesting results and the winter count. http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Diversity/dipper/index.htm Doug Backlund Pierre, S.D.
