MARYLAND BIRDLIFE J3ulletin of tke ^Maryland Orniiko Logical Society si 03 Bolton Street, Baltimo re ij, ^Maryland VOL. I JULY - AUGUST, 1945 HO, 3 THE IHCUBATIOH PERIODS OF SOME BIRDS AT BALTIMORE In the determination of birds 1 incubation periods opportun- ity and luck so greatly outweigh patience and will that there are not too many closely calculated figures on record* A few observations that I have made in Baltimore are therefore given here; some of these are not as precise as could be wishdd, but they at least f ix the periods within vefy narrow limits. All of the times given are Eastern Standard. "KILIDEER ( Charadrius vociferus) — One observation: about 25 days. Set of four* eggs ’completed April 4, 1939; before 4:37 pirn*, hatched between 5 p.m. on April 28 and 3:50 p.m. on April 29. The nesting was on a stony slope in Hanlon Park. ROBBT ( Turdus migratorius ) — Two observations: from a few hours more, ■tcTaTfew hours less, than 12 days. ~Third of 'four marked eggs, laid July 6, 1943, between 12:01 and 12:27 p.m., hatched July 18 between 6:39 and 7:18 a.m.; maximum possible period 11 days 19 hours 17 minutes. Hanlon Park vicinity. Third of three marked eggs, laid May’ 12 t 1945, at 11:30 a c m 0 , hatched May 24 between 1:19 add 3:04 p.m.; minimum possible per- iod 12 days 1 hour 49 minutes. Hillsdale Park. WOOD THHfrSH ( Hylocichla mustelina ) — Six observations: 12 1/3 to perhaps 13 days. Third of four marked eggs, laid May 17, 1943, between 9:29 - 12 - and 11:14 a.m., hatched May 29 between 5:05 a.m. and 5:42 p.m.; maximum possible period 12 days 8 hours 13 minutes . Hanlon Park vicinity. Third of thrSe marked eggs, laid June ‘4; 1943, between 6:56 a.m. and 7:17 p.m. f hatched between 7:38 p.m. on June 16 and 6:27 a.m. 'on June 17; maximum possible period 12 days 23 hours 31 min* utes. Hanlon Park vicinity. In my experience, the last egg of this specie s* clutches usually hatches at night. This makes precise determination of the incubation period very difficult, but at the same time ’in- dicates a normal period within the range that I have shown. COWBIHD (Molothrus ater ) — One observation: about 11 1/3 days 0 Egg laid May 18, 1944, before 8:47 a.m., in Wodd Thrush nest and incubatGd steadily. Hatched May 29 at 1:25 p.m. Hanlon Park vicinity. SCHG SPARROW ( Mglospiza me 161 ia )— One observation: between 13 days and 13 days id 1/2 hours. * Third ' of * three marked eggs, laid May 15, 1945, between 4:53 and 5:27 a.m., hatched on May 28 between 5:20 a.m. and 3:46 p.m. Howard Park section. Hervey Brackbill TEE LESSER SCALP BT MARYLAND BJ LATE SUMMER On August 26, 1945 I observed a male Lesser Scaup Duck on the Severn River at Annapolis, Maryland. The bird was in the eclipse plumage.. When first observed it wa3 sitting on a board at the edge of the water. It allowed me to approach within six feet before it took to the water and swam away. Late the same afternoon, the bird was discovered in the same spo$. Wildfowl occassionally are found during tho summer in what is normally their wintering area. Due to gunshot wounds, 6r other reasons they are 'unable to join the migrating flocks. Another observation of this type was made on July 12, 1939 when Haven Kolb and I found a male Ruddy Duck on the Patapsco River marsh near the Hanover Street bridge. Irving E. Hampe - 13 A LATE SUMMER BIRD TRIP Seldom, does the amdteur bird student realize the need for year round observations • The spring migration and breeding sea- son over, the presence of the summer residents are only casually noted and very little Is recorded of the subsequent behavior* Late summer is an interesting period in the life of birds* Fam- ily cares are over, most of the species have molted or are molt- ing into winter plumage, mdny birds are forming into floats and some have begun to migrate* The notes made on a recent trip along the Chesapeake Bay may serve to illustrate 'some of the interesting data that can be obtained at this season* On the afternoon of August 12 » 1944 Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel and the writer Sailed from Annapolis in the twenty-foot sailboat, The Boa Gull* A hdrried departure gave little opportunity to observe birds on shore* Purple Martins were flying about as we left. Several Laughing Gulls were perch- ed on wharf pilings and six Common Terns were observed fishing near shore* Birds were scarce in the Harbor and nothing of in- terest was seen. During an earlier trip, late in May, I had ob- served Purple Grackles flying out over the harbof and fluttering down to pick up food of some sort from the water* This time I searched carefully hoping to discover what sort of food they pro- cured, but no grackles were observed* Approximately twenty Herrihg Gulls were resting on the platform of the Greenbury Point Light* They paid little or no attention to our boat and we ap- proached close enough to see the flesh-dolored legs, one of the distinguishing features of 'this species* Yery few immature birds were observed* in the group* In spring the immature birds were very numerous* A steady wind and a choppy sed made it almost Impossible to hold binoculars steady on any bird*' Sailing across the bay to Kent Island we observed a few gulls, mostly Herring Gulls and a few laughing Gulls* The Laughing Gulls were in all stages of molt* The majority showed the black head but a few of them had molted the black and were in almost complete plumage* Immature Laughing Gulls were scarce, only a few were observed on the wh ole trip. As we approached Kent Island we observed and heard Common Terns flying Just off shore* Rarely more than one or two indi- viduals were seen at any one time* Rounding Love Point a pound net immediately attracted our attention* On nearly every pole was a bird* Gulls were most numerous, one Osprey and four Great Blue Herons were seen* The herons were uneasy at our approach and flew off toward the shore. The gulls scarcely paid any attention to us. The Osprey was the first to fly away. ’ Two Osprey had been observed just before reaching the point* One of them flew low over the water carry- ing a large eel. We anchored near Love Point ferry pier just be- fore dusk* - 14 - After our evening meal we hoisted sail and set out for deep- er water where we enjoyed a swim. The light on our b6at cast a feeble glow on the dark water as we plunged overboard* Immedi- ately the water around uS sparkled with the glow of innumerable phosphorescent creatures.' Every movement set up a flash as we swam through the darkness. Back at our anchorage we prepared our sleeping bags in the bottom of the boat and settled down to sleep with the gentle slap of the waves against the side of our boat. The hoarse Gall of Pish. Grows woke us just as the sun peeped over the horizon* We ate breakfast with our binoculars beside us as every bird in sight was carefully observed and notes taken. Several Eastern Green Heron and one Great Blue Heron were observ- ed along the shord* Red-winged Blackbirds wore very numerous back of the beach. * A flock of ten small sandpipers flew swiftly out across the bay. We nearly fell overboard in our rush to grab binoculdrs but the birds were out of sight before we could focus on them. A Spotted Sandpiper feeding along the ‘shore was seen and a flock of eleven Black Ducks flew overhead* Hoisting sail we set out for Sandy Point on the western shore. A choppy sea and heavy winds kept us busy but we noted the same species at the pound nets. The reactions of the birds to our presence were the same as noted the previous evening* The Gspreys took wing first, the herons followed, and the gulls merely moved on to other poles* A few Cammbn Terns were perched on the poles at the net and ‘they watched us, shifting uneasily about, but did not fly away. Anchoring off Sandy Point f we waded ashore and set out for a short walk. Red-winged Blackbirds were numerous in the marsh back of the point. Several immature Red-winged Blackbirds were' begging for food from the adults, but seemingly without success* Eight Black Ducks were flushed from a small pond in the marsh. Farther on a pair of Green Herons were furitively moving along the edge of the marsh, hesitating occassionally, and with quick jabs procuring their food. Small fish ‘and frogs were seen to disappear down their capacious gullets. ‘ Reaching higher ground we walked along the edge of a cornfield. A small flock of Mourning Doves wefe perched in the trees and allowed us to ap- proach very close. A month hence, when the gunning season opens, these birds will be very wary; and one needs to stalk carefully to get within gunshot of them. The wind began to change and we hastened back to our boat, stopping only long enough to observe a Summer Tanaaer and several Indigo Buntings. As we hoisted the sails a Great Blue Heron flapped heavily across the swamp. The hot, feted smell of the salt marsh, the heron overhead, and the salty spray against our faces as we sailed homeward, added the final touches to a picture of late summer in tidewater Maryland* Irving E. Harnpe 15 ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR BIRDS OF BALTIMORE AND TLCmiTI Winter Residents Kinglet, Golden- crowned Summer Residents Arrives 11/ /43 Departs 4/ /43 (common) Kingbird 5/4/43 Transient Migrants Duck , ' Ring-ne eke d ( 17 ) Eagle, Golden (adult) Hawk, Pigeon Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Siskin, ’Pine (24) Sparrow, Savanna h Tern, Caspian Warbler; Black-thr. Green Warbler, Western Palm 3/16/44 3/22/44 4/24/43 4/13/43 3/19/44 3/26/44 4/18/43 5/4/43 5/4/43 (common) (Marley Creek) Francis T* ElkiHs Glen Bumie, Md # - 16 - MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY Organized April 9, 1945 ^ fT The ^ object of this Club shall be to record the observations of bird life in Maryland; to disseminate in a popular manner the results of such ob servations; to collate the scientific data fur- nished by bird students throughout the State, and to supply such available information to other groups as requested; and - to pro- mote the cultivation 'of public sentiment in the preservation of our native bird life." Irving E. ’Hampe, President Orville Wo Crowder, Vice-President Mrs. Millard C. Kent, Recording Secretary Miss Helen Klinke, Corresponding Secretary Millard Co Kent, Treasurer OFFICERS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Mrs # John L* Cotsworth Miss Helen Coggins Miss J, Pearl Heaps Roy J*. Beasley Andrew Simon COMCCTTBES PROGRAM Miss J. Pearl Heaps Ray J* Beasley PUBLICATION Ray J # Beasley Miss Helen Klinke Millard C. Kent Irving E« Hampe MEMBERSHIP Miss Harriet L, C asp an Miss Helen Coggins HIKE Miss Florence H* Burner Orville w« Crowder BIRD RECORDS Miss Ruth Fishpaugh Miss Helen Klinke Irving E. Hampe