A lovely bird species going going gone in Minnesota

Chestnut-collared Longspurs have for decades been highly marginal nesters in Minnesota, although considered regular. At a time in the past, pre-agriculture, the species undoubtedly was numerous in our native grasslands. In more recent years the number of longspurs has been in steady decline. They have been regularly found in one small part of Clay County in northwestern Minnesota. A summer report said only one pair has been seen this year. We can expect that habitat change (what else?) soon will end the bird's regular presence here. The nearest locations to see this beautiful bird will be in the western Dakotas.