in Springfield. In 1948, 350 Great Egrets singly or colonially, often in mixed colonies at 42 localities were reported; the first re­ with other Ardeids. The stick nests are gen­ ported date was July 14. Most localities erally placed in tall trees. The breeding sea­ were in the Champlain Lowlands. son in the northern part of the range is mid­ Aside from the 1948 summer record, April, but the dates vary from year to year there are 9 records for either June or July. and are perhaps influenced by the weather Of all 10 records, 5 are from Dead Creek (Harrison 1978). In Michigan, one nest Wildlife Management Area, 2 from Missis­ building date exists for Ap,ril 17, and one quoi Bay, and I each from Norwich, Water­ egg date for April 24 (Palmer 1962). Clutch bury, and Shelburne Bay. Most of these rec­ size is 3 to 4 eggs. ords were for late July, a strong indication Foraging Great Egrets are usually found that the birds were post-breeding-season in open areas; they are known to feed on wanderers. fish, amphibians, snakes, crustaceans, small Nesting habitats include swamps of cy­ mammals, and even insects (Palmer 1962). press or mangrove in the South or of willow Great Egrets, like Cattle Egrets, are known in the North, and forests on dry ground or to feed in fields where cattle are grazing on islands adjacent to marshes, swamps, or (Palmer 1962). estuaries (Palmer 1962). Great Egrets nest CHRISTOPHER FICHTEL

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

The Northern Shoveler is a prairie-nesting (D)-a probable nesting occurrence (ASR, dabbling duck. Before 1976 it had one nest­ G. O'Shea). ing record in Vermont, and during the Atlas Normal breeding habitat for shovelers Project it was recorded once. The species in the Great Plains includes tall-grass and reaches its greatest nesting densities in the mixed prairies, and open marshy areas with mixed prairie regions of south central Can­ "surrounding dry meadows for nesting" ada and the northern Great Plains (Bell­ (Palmer 1976). The clutch is generally initi­ rose 1980). Though widely distributed, the ated between the end of April and mid June. Northern Shoveler is a local breeder on the The clutch of 10 to II eggs is incubated for Great Plains and east of Manitoba (Bellrose 22 to 24 days; young can fly in 52 to 60 days 1980). Historically, shovelers have always (Palmer 1976). been rare in Vermont, although occurring Records of migrating Northern Shovelers occasionally as migrants on Lake Champlain indicate that the species is found most fre­ (Perkins and Howe 1901; Fortner et al. quently in marshes of the Champlain Low­ 1933)· lands. Peak counts during either spring or The Northern Shoveler has been con­ fall migrations are fewer than 10 birds per firmed as nesting in Vermont only once. On sighting. Spring migrants occur from the May 3I, 1962 a shoveler nest was discovered first week in April through the third week in in North Hero in a meadow, where on May 9 May, and autumn migrant shovelers can be a pair had been seen (Fuller and King 1964). found between mid August and early Novem­ The nest, located quite a distance from wa­ ber. This species winters in scattered loca­ ter, contained II eggs. This nest was subse­ tions along the middle and southern Atlantic quently destroyed by a mammalian predator Coast, and is abundant in coastal Louisiana, (Fuller and King 1964). In 1977, in the Mis­ Texas, California, and Mexico (Bellrose sisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, a pair of 1980). Northern Shovelers was observed mating Probably the most interesting facet of the

Northern Shoveler 393 Northern Shoveler's biology is its spatulate bill, for which the shoveler was formerly ,,' known by the genus name Spatula. CHRISTOPHER FICHTEL

No. of priority blocks in which recorded

TOTAL 0 (0%) Possible breeding: o (0% of total) Probable breeding: o (0% of total) Confirmed breeding: o (0% of total)

Physiographic regions in which recorded % of %of species' no. of region's total' priority priority priority blocks blocks bldcks

Champlain Lowlands o o o Green Mountains o o o North Central o o ' o Northeast Highlands o o o East Central o o o Taconic Mountains o o o Eastern Foothills o o o ,,'

American Wigeon Anas americana

Expansion of the American Wigeon's breed­ Historically, the breeding of American ing range southeastward from Manitoba Wigeons has been confirmed only once in and western Ontario appears to be respon­ Vermont-at Dead Creek Wildlife Manage­ sible for irregular nesting in eastern Can­ ment Area on July 17, 1962. A hen and nine ada, New York, and Vermont. Major con­ ducklings were discovered in a meadow of centrations of breeding wigeons occur from mixed grasses and forbs with scattered dog­ Alaska and northwestern and north central woods and red cedars (Fuller and King Canada south to the northern Great Plains. 1964). Most of the American Wigeon migration The sole Atlas Project record is a probable misses Vermont. Central Canadian breeders report (p for pair in suitable habitat) from generally move southeastward through cen­ Young Island, where on June 27, 1981 three tral New York (Bellrose 1980). An early fall widely scattered pairs of adults were discov­ migrant, this species is observed in Vermont ered swimming just off the island in Lake from late August through late October. It Champlain. Young Island is uninhabited and returns to Vermont early in the spring, typi­ overgrown with nettles and scrub (ASR, S. B. cally showing up about the second or third Laughlin and A. L. Gosnell). week of March. Few American Wigeons re­ Favored breeding habitats appear to in­ main inland during the winter, instead pre­ clude meadows near water, prairie potholes, ferring coastal marshes and estuaries. large river deltas, and islands in lakes (For-

394 Possible or Probable Breeders in Vermont