MARYLAND BIRDLIFE J^uttziLn of tkz zo lia’u/tcind Gxnltholocjlcat zSocU.hj f One. c,a uin ^ i'ta/ii Lon t 49*5 ^/i££nifi’iinfj c^f'jz. . 'jB.attimorz Q, 42SST EASTON NINE’ MILE-5 THE MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. Cylburn Mansion, 4915 Greenspring Ave. , Baltimore, Maryland 21209 STATE OFFICERS President: Mrs. Edward Mendinhall, R. 0. 2, Chestertown 778-0826 First V.P. : Mrs. Richard D. Oole, 625 Valley Lane, Towson 4 VA3-2650 Second V.P. : Dr. W. Rowland Taylor, 15^0 Northboume Rd., Balt. 12 ID3-1803 Treasurer: Dr. Turner L. Smith, R. D. 2, Box 224, Chestertown 778-3691 Rec. Sec'y: Mrs. Katherine Bauer, Royal Oak HI5-2731 Exec. Sec'y: Miss Mildred F. Cole, 4201 Belmar Ave., Balt. 6 HA6-0190 EXECUTIVE CODICIL Mr. David Bridge 4310 Jefferson St. , Hyatt sville Miss Estella Everett Bel Air Dr. Howard Hodge 436 W. Greenwood Rd., Linthicum Hgts. Mrs, Robert E. Kaestner 6005 Lakehurst Dr., Baltimore 10 Mr. Richard L. Kleen St. Michaels Mr. Edward Mendinhall R * D. 2, Chestertown Mrs. C. Gordon Taylor 75 Broadway, Frostburg STATE TRUSTEES 927-0834 TE8-5835 ST9-3687 DR7-8990 RI5-4821 778-0826 0V9-6791 Allegany: Anne Arundel: Baltimore: Caroline : Frederick: Active membership (adults) Junior M (under 18 years) Family membership Sustaining membership Life membership Out-of-state membership ♦Mrs. Grace H. Wright Miss Estella Everett ♦Mrs. Edward Mendinhall Mr. Edward Mendinhall Melvin Kleen David Bridge ♦Mr. Mr. ♦Mr. Joseph Minke Harford: Mrs. C. Gordon Taylor ♦Mrs. Edwin C. Gras Kent: Cmdr. E. P. Wilson ♦Dr. W. Rowland Taylor Patuxent: Mrs. Richard D. Cole Mr. Compton Crook Soldiers' Mrs. Robert E. Kaestner Delight: Mr. Chandler S. Robbins ♦Mr. Aldridge E. Pepper Talbot: Mrs. Aldridge E. Pepper ♦Mrs. Mary S. Motherway Dr. Howard Hodge * Chapter President $ 2.00 plus local chapter dues .50 plus local chapter dues 3*00 plus local chapter dues 5*00 plus local chapter dues 100.00 (payable in 4 annual installments) 2.00 (MARYLAND BIRDLIFE only) ♦Dr. Elmer G. Wbrthley Mrs. Bertha Poe ♦Mr. Richard L. Kleen Mr. Robert Sharp II CONTENTS, JUNE 1964 Report of State-wide Bird Count Tameness of Black-capped Chickadee Report from the President Maryland Nest Summary for 1963 Minutes of Annual Meeting Annual Reports of Local Chapters Committee Appointments, 1964-65 Scholarship Winner Annual Report of the Treasurer By-Laws of M. 0. S. The Season— Jan., Feb., Mar., 1964 Coming Events Cover drawing by Mrs. Katherine Headings: Irving 3* Hampe, Art Vernon M. Kleen 31 Burton Alexander 38 Dorothy A. Mendinhall 39 David and Margaret Bridge 40 Katherine B, Bauer 48 Chapter Presidents 50 55 55 T. S. Carswell 56 58 Chandler 3. Robbins 68 72 L. Tillingimst Editor MARYLAND BIRDLIFE iPuljfiilizcl cfuaxtzxty (jy tfiz <^A/[axijtand Q’lnithotocjlcal Jdocizhj, £fna, Cylburn Mansion, 4915 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore 9, Md. Volume 20 JIMS 1964 Number 2 REPORT OF STATE-WIDE BIRD COUNT, MAY 2, 1964 Vernon M. Kleen The seventeenth annual May Count was a disappointing one because summer residents were late in arriving and few transients were present. Although there were 203 observers (8 fewer than last year's record num- ber) we had 656 party-hours this year as compared to last year's 564. The weather had been cold the week before and hindered the arrival of most of the spring migrants; it also kept several of the winter spe- cies here in much greater numbers than in several previous years . On count day, the weather had much influence on the numbers of birds that could be recorded by song. The wind was from the northeast, varying from 15 m.p.h. or more in most areas up to 35 to 40 m.p.h. at Ocean City. This made birds hard to hear, if they were singing at all. The wind probably caused the downfall of Ocean City's great lists to only 104 species this year. Because of the wind, many observers discontinued their counts well before evening; few owls or goatsuckers were heard. Winter Holdovers Night Species " 19 S 2 1963 1964 I 962 1963 1964 Canada Goose I 067 1768 Screech Owl 13 13 5 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 5 6 6 Barred Owl 28 25 19 Brown Creeper 2 4 6 Chuck- will ' s -widow 126 56 6 Rusty Blackbird 0 7 18 Whip-poor-will 133 81 36 Slate- colored Junco 6 78 77 White- throated Sparrow 568 962 1150 This year 53 .,328 individuals of 218 species were seen. Only 4 counts have exceeded this number of species. There were 18 species re- corded on every list and an additional 12 species were on all but one list. Forty species were found by only one party; 25 additional species appear on only two lists. The Ocean City observers had 15 species no one else recorded and St. Marys County had 6 . The other 19 were spread throughout the other lists . Only 7 lists contained 100 or more species . Kent County led with 124 species; St. Marys County was a close second with 123 species. Seven lists had more than 2,500 Individuals; Kent County was first again with 9,839 and next was Caroline County with 6,556. The most abundant bird this year was again the Common Grackle (6,047); Red-wing was next (3,8ll). STATE -WIDE BIRD COUNT Gar All NEr Crl How SMo RES Whi Bal LRa Lau BRC PRC Ode Ann Gib Cal StM Cec Ken Car Tal Wlc_ Wor Total Common Loon — 7 • - 1 11 - _ - - - - 23 - - 12 - - - - - “S’ ' 49 Red -throated Loon 21 21 Horned Grebe 19 Pied -billed Grebe 3 Dbl-cr. Cormorant 305 352 Great Blue Heron - - 1 - 3 - - £ - - - - £ - 4 1 3 600 6 19 8 10 - 1 660 Green Heron i - 1 - 8 l 3 - 23 - - - 3 1 1 7 3 4 2 9 4 1 1 - 73 Little Blue Heron - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - 1 “ 4 Cattle Egret 38 1 - 8l 126 Common Egret 15 Snowy Egret 10 12 Louisiana Heron 1 1 Bl.-cr. Nt. Heron 42 American Bittern - 2 Glossy Ibis 7 Whistling Swan 5 - 8 - - 13 Canada Goose - - 1 - - 653 - 4 - - - - - - - - 3 251 556 - 300 - - 1768 Snow Goose 2 Mallard _ - 1 2 - 43 8 6 4 - - - 16 - 7 10 - - 9 910 - 1 - 1 1018 Black Duck - - - - 2 - - - - - - 3 - - 1 1 4 - 90 10 4 1 11 127 Pintail - 2 Green-winged Teal 9 - - 9 Blue -winged Teal - 1 2 3 American Widgeon 2 Shove ler 3 Wood Duck - - 11 1 4 4 2 9 - - - - 20 - 3 - - - 4 8 1 7 - - 74 Redhead - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - 2 - - 5 Canvasback - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 3 - 3 - - - - 7 Greater Scaup 3 Lesser Scaup 29 29 Buff lehead 2 30 6 1 39 Oldsquaw 3 White-wing. Scoter 300 Common Scoter 2 2 Ruddy Duck _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 800 - - - 16 - 15 - - 831 Hooded Merganser 1 Red~br. Merganser - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 - 5 - - - - - 90 100 Turkey Vulture 2 4 14 11 4s 17 15 5 7 16 4 2 3 1 20 3 68 55 17 244 238 19 6 65 881 Black Vulture 4 1 1 6 £ 1 19 3 7 - - 44 Sharp -shinned Hawk 2 _ _ _ _ _ _ - - _ - - - - - _ 1 - _ 1 _ . - 4 Cooper's Hawk- 1 2 4 Red-tailed Hawk - - - 2 - - - - 1 - - - - 1 1 - l 4 1 9 4 3 l - 28 ro Species Gar All NFr Crl How SMo RRS Whi Bal LRa Lau BBC PRC Ode Ann Gib Cal StM Cec Ken Car Tal Wic Wor Total Red-shoulder Hawk 1 - - - E 1 - 2 2 1 1 - 2 2 - - 1 3 - 2 - - 2 32 Broad -winged Hawk - 1 2 3 1 3 - 8 - - 2 1 - - - - 1 5 - - - - 2 29 Am. Rough -1. Hawk 1 1 2 Bald Eagle - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 3 - - 2 - 2 * - - - 8 Marsh Hawk - - - 1 - 2 - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 4 - - - - 8 Osprey - - 2 - 3 3 5 - 1 - - - 1 1 1 - 5 74 1 28 7 4 - 4 I4o Pigeon Hawk 1 1 Sparrow Hawk - - 1 5 2 - - 2 3 - - - 2 1 2 - 1 2 3 - 14 1 - - 39 Ruffed Grouse 2 2 Bobvhite - 3 7 3 9 11 4 4 9 1 14 2 3 8 46 11 59 22 8 50 70 3 6 8 361 Ring -neck Pheasant - - 2 5 2 3 1 - 2 7 - - - - - 1 - 1 10 - - - - 3^ Clapper Rail 3 3 Virginia Rail 1 2 3 Sora l 1 American Coot - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7 - - 3 - - - - 10 Am. Oystercatcher 2 2 Semipal . Plover 15 16 Piping Plover A 4 Killdeer 1 - 1 7 8 - - 2 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 12 1 8 30 1 - 6 83 Black -bel. Plover 3 ?? Ruddy Turnstone 6 American Woodcock - - - 1 4 2 - - 1 - 5 - 3 - 3 3 - 2 1 - - - - - 25 Common Snipe - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 2 11 1 - - 16 Upland Plover l 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 - 12 - 4 1 l 5 2 1 1 - 1 - 1 2 15 8 - 2 3 3 - - 63 Solitary Sandpiper - - 10 - - 3 - 1 1 2 - - 2 3 - - 3 1 - 5 4 - - 35 Willet 29 29 Greater Yellowlegs - - - - 1 - - 2 - - - - 5 - - 2 2 2 1 46 10 5 - 17 93 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 4 52 4 - - - 62 Purple Sandpiper 3? 3? Least Sandpiper 9 4 50 32 - - 4 - - 10 109 Dunlin 1 134 135 Short-b. Dowitcher 41 4l Semipalm. Sandpiper 4 2 10 4 20 Western Sandpiper 2 2 Sanderling - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 36 - - - 32 69 Gt. Bl-Back. Gull - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - 1 - 4 - - - 4 12 Herring Gull - - - - - - 9 - 12 - - - - - 15 50 24 45 21 204 91 25 - 260 756 Ring-billed Gull - - - 2 2 - 1 23 - - 12 - - 13 8 20 23 96 14 78 139 7 - - 4.38 Laughing Gull l 1 11 365 - 4 288 100 4 14 788 Bonaparte' 1 s Gull - - I - I - I - I I - - - ~ - 2. Z - I I I I I I 2 Forster ' s Tern -------- - --------------3 3 Common Tern ----------------------2 2 Least Tern -----------------1-----8 9 Black Tern 1 ------ - 1 t_U Lo June 1964 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Species Gar All NFr Crl How SMo RRS Whi Bal LRa Lau BRC PEC Ode Ann Gib Cal StM Cec Ken Car Tal Wic Wor Total Mourning Dove 1 2 35 - 70 56 33 93 21 37 15 22 31 38 42 20 112 83 10 4 751 Yellow-bil. Cuckoo 5 6 Black -b il . Cuckoo - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - - 3 Barn Owl 1 1 Screech Owl - - - - 2 1 2 5 Great Horned Owl 1 3 Barred Owl - - - 1 2 1 - 2 1 - - - 2 - 7 - - - - - 3 - - - 19 Chuck -will ' s -widow - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 3 - - 2 - - - 6 Wh ip -poor -will - - - - 5 2 - - 3 - 1 - - 3 5 2 - 2 l - 10 1 1 - 36 Chimney Swift 6 .2 23 6 27 8 73 11 ?! 25 8 6 49 7 - 200 86 100 63 149 4 8 2 939 Ruby-thr. Hum' bird - 1 - 1 - 2 1 - 1 - - - - 2 1 1 4 - - 2 2 2 - 3 23 Belted Kingfisher 2 - 2 2 6 1 3 4 3 6 - - 2 - 4 5 3 2 l 3 11 3 1 1 65 Yellow-sh. Flicker 7 7 14 20 41 3 4 6 14 22 18 3 7 7 5 31 9 9 14 27 33 3 4 5 313 Pileated Woodpecker 1 3 1 3 - 2 - - - 1 - - - 11 Red -bellied Woodpecker - - - 3 28 14 5 5 13 77 5 2 16 11 23 £5 13 6 11 8,3 30 2 4 4 380 Red-headed Woodpecker 1 - 2 1 5 Yellow-bt Sapsucker - - - - 1 - - - 2 - - 1 1 1 6 Hairy Woodpecker 1 4 - 2 3 2 2 l 6 20 - - 4 7 7 - 1 1 2 26 7 1 1 - 98 Downy Woodpecker 4 8 9 3 31 25 19 4 ^2 27 12 3 10 15 9 10 10 ■4 4 56 15 2 6 2 310 Eastern Kingbird - - 6 1 5 7 - - : 2 1 3 2 2 - 8 1 5 4 7 23 29 12 2 1 121 Gt. Crested Flycatcher - - 2 1 2 ’ 2 8 - 7 1 - 1 5 13 2 1 1 4 3 ll+ 13 ■ 4 2 2 88 Eastern Phoebe 7 4 6 14 18 2 10 2 6 17 2 3 2 1 4 3 9 l 11 2 24 1 - 4 153 Yellow-bel. Flycatcher 1 1 2 Acadian Flycatcher - - - - 2 - - - - - - - 1 1 1 - - - - 1 1 - - 1 8 Least Flycatcher 3 4 Eastern Wood Pewee £ - - 1 - - - - 2 - - - 1 - 1 - - - - 3 3 - - - 15 Horned Lark i 2 - - 1 - - 9 - - - - - - - - 4 2 4 1 30 1 2 3 60 Tree Swallow - - 4 1 1 10 - - 20 - - 1 2 - 5 4 40 9 33 155 228 21 12 546 Bank Swallow - - - 2 - 1 - 55 - 1 - - 6 - 2 - - 2 - 4 16 - - - - 485 Rough -wg. Swallow k - 5 2 4 - - - _J9 22 - - 1 - - 12 9 28 10 - - 141 Barn Swallow 9 11 15 15 72 59 ik 39 32 125 9 - 52 8 D 9 50 164 &2 76 240 287 l+i 20 8 "1*77 Cliff Swallow 2 _ 2 Purple Martin L25 32 16 11 15 10 - 7 6 - 20 - 12 6 32 5 9^ 32 13 133 84 20 10 3 686 Blue Jay 10 11 31 30 107 58 46 122 15 50 25 62 39 37 62 32 8 57 126 58 6 6 6 1047 Common Crow 6 6 35 9 101 15 43 23 5^ 3 1 12 10 17 ?7 16 45 56 26 292 75 5 4 12 1006 Fish Crow - - 2 - 1 1 1 2 3 1 6 7 11 3 15 2 2 8 - - 71 Bl.-cap. Chickadee 21 23 - - - 2 - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - 6 - - - - 54 Carolina Chickadee _ - 13 3 48 35 31 9 37 32 17 1 13 24 19 22 31 6 3 9h 56 1 8 10 505 Tufted Titmouse 8 14 4 3 23 28 23 6 22 29 17 6 19 24 21 55 20 16 22 89 59 3 10 19 540 White -br. Nuthatch 1 6 - 2 4 10 - - 7 4 1 - - 3 2 1 - - 6 3 - 1 - 51 Re d -b r . Nuthat ch 1 - - - 3 - - 1 - 3 - - - - 1 - - - 13 2 - - - 2l+ Brown -he ad. Nuthatch 10 2 4 - 16 Brown Creeper - - - - - - - 1 - 4 - - - - - - - ■ - l - - - - 6 House Wren 10 12 19 5 25 2 - 4 19 7 4 1 5 3 1 17 2 1 1 22 15 - 2 1 178 Winter Wren 1 1 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, No Species Gar All NFr Crl How SMo RRS Whi Bal LRa Lau BRC PRC Ode Ann Gib Cal StM Cee Ken Car Tal Wic Wor Total Carolina Wren - - - - 5 1 3 27 2 - 1 5 IS 13 13 ~iS 3 51 ~lS 11 2 198 Long -bill. M. Wren 3 Short-bill. M. Wren 1 1 Mockingbird - 1 9 8 35 24 4 18 25 55 14 3 10 9 31 34 69 84 6 215 93 2 2 4 755 Catbird 8 4 17 13 36 5 2 3 3f 4 19 5 6 10 9 2 ^ 11 45 4 22 27 4 4 4 317 Brorni Thrasher 6 9 29 4 25 12 1 2 8 4 10 6 3 6 26 43 10 35 7 48 3 S 1 392 Robin 18 64 96 100 98 32 4 27 105 106 52 10 15 31 4l 39 76 80 78 237 363 4 29 38 1734 Wood Thrush 4 8 16 30 68 2 11 9 15 38 16 3 12 18 48 20 14 32 14 7 43 9 8 4 449 Hermit Thrush - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - - 5 2 - 1 - 3 1 _ _ 14 Swain son ' s Thrush 2 Veery 1 - 2 - 6 1 - - 5 - - 1 - 2 - 2 1 2 - - 1 - - 2lT Eastern Bluebird 4 3 1 2 6 7 - 2 4 - - - 3 4 1 - 6 3 5 _ 24 1 _ _ 76 Blue -gr . G-natc at oner - 6 4 20 49 - 19 7 11 39 - 4 26 9 10 14 3 2 10 3 28 2 _ 9 275 Golden-cr. Kinglet 2 1 3 Rnby-cr. Kinglet 8 7 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 - - - 1 6 1 10 6 - - 18 1 1 2 - 77 Water Pipit 8 43 25 - - 76 Cedar Waxwing - 7 8 15 1 3 - 3 - - - - 38 2 2 - 6 2 - 21 . ig8 Starling 15 30 27 100 ill 277 21 35 158 131 63 25 48 26 111 140 127 372 20 464 386 11 20 350 3068 White -eyed Vireo - - - - 23 1 12 3 8 13 8 2 6 12 7 13 15 8 3 2 38 2 2 20 198 Yellow-thr. Vireo 1 - - - 9 2 - - 3 - - 1 2 10 2 2 1 1 3 - 5 - 2 1 45 Solitary Vireo - - 1 - 1 - - - 1 - - - - - - 1 - 1 - _ - - . 5 Red-eyed Vireo - - - 2 - - - 2 - - - 1 16 9 10 1 21 8 1 1 28 2 2 3 107 Warbling Vireo - - - 1 1 - - - 1 2 1 2 - 1 _ 9 Black-&-wh. Warbler 6 2 1 1 12 - 6 2 8 18 4 1 6 17 3 5 7 5 5 17 12 4 4 7 153 Prothonotary Warbler - - - - - 2 6 - - - - - 4 2 - 2 2 - 20 _ 4 14 56 Swainson's Warbler 2 2 Worm-eating Warbler - - 1 - 1 - - - 3 1 - - - 4 - - - _ 5 _ 4 1 _ 3 23 Golden -wing. Warbler 1 Blue -winged Warbler 1 - 1 - - - - 1 1 1 1 - - 6 1 4 2 1 1 _ 3 4 1 _ 29 Nashville Warbler 1 Parula Warbler - - - - 17 - 12 - 5 - - 3 21 20 7 20 26 1 8 - 2 1 _ 3 TXE Yellow Warbler 7 6 - - 4 5 1 6 5 5 - - 1 7 8 4 1 2 17 9 2 _ 90 Magnolia Warbler 2 1 - - 5 Bl.-thr. Blue Warbler - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 6 - _ 1 . - 3 _ _ _ 11 Myrtle Warbler - - 36 3 34 15 - 5 10 1 4 6 - 9 10 16 23 18 15 47 15 6 20 14 307 Bl.-thr. Green Warbler 13 1 24 Cerulean Warbler 10 Blackburnian Warbler 4 4 Yellow-th. Warbler 1 6 3 1 _ * 4 15 Chest nut - s . Warb le r 1 2 13 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Pine Warbler - - - 1 - - - - - 1 - 1 - - - - - 9 - - 8 2 _ 1 23 Prairie Warbler - 3 - 20 23 2 16 - 6 24 6 l - 8 - 31 3 4 3 3 12 3 1 3 172 Palm Warbler - - 1 1 11 1 - 1 1 2 20 Ovenbird 1 2 - - 22 ' - - 2 10 _2L 8 15 16 9 14 3 2 2 i4 2 4 10 201 u> \-n June 1964 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Species Gar All NFr Crl How SMo RRS Whi Bal LRa Lau BRC PRC Ode Ann Gib Cal StM Cec Ken Car Tal Wic Wor Total Iio. Waterthrush - - - - 1 - 1 - - 1 - 1 ' 3 - M - 1 .2 - .2 3 - - 20 La. Wat e r t hrusJi 1 - - - 14 - 5 - 3 5 - - 3 3 7 - 4 - - - 2 - 2 12 6 l Kentucky Warbler - - - - 3 - - 1 1 4 2 - 3 3 2 4 2 1 - 2 4 2 - 4 38 Yellowthroat - - 2 20 50 4 2 8 14 75 9 2 27' 13 16 10 11 12 8 11 35 6 4 8 347 Yellow -br. Chat 1 4 4 3 5 1 1 1 3 4 - - - 2 4 1 5 4 2 - 6 1 - - 52 Hooded. Warbler - 1 - - 2 - - 3 - 2 3 2 2 17 1 11 15 2 - - - - - 5 66 American Redstart _ 1 _ - 6 1 11 10 4 12 - 2 20 18 18 - 6 8 - 2 3 1 2 15 140 House Sparrow 20 104 59 - 82 174 17 58 56 75 30 2 14 10 77 126 241 128 16 601 434 1 50 400 2768 Bobolink 1 - - - 1 - - - - - - - 2 - - - 12 - - 8 - - - - 24 Eastern Meadowlark 15 15 35 20 53 28 12 4 16 27 13 8 3 - 5 3 29 76 26 136 73 2 4 10 M 13 Red-wing. Blackbird 49 26 ' J +9 100 79 163 10 73 77 115 25 12 204 17 51 I 83 229 475 33 989 352 38 12 450 ^HiT Orchard Oriole - - 1 1 1 3 - - - - - - 1 - - - 2 5 4 3 - 4 - - - 25 Baltimore Oriole 3 21 6 2 - 2 2 - 6 1 4 - - 1 - 3 Ml 5 5 4 14 1 - 1 82 Rusty Blackbird 2 1 - - - 7 1 2 - - t - 4 - - - - 18 Boat-tailed Crackle 11 11 Common Grackle 6 3 b 244 20 215 109 523 21 326 146 87 12 67 53 78 216 332 75 O. 145 IOH 967 33 20 650 6047 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 24 74 30 47 83 22 9 66 14 10 6 12 12 56 63 371 2 £5 321 128 2 20 13 l4l4 Scarlet Tanager - - 1 1 1 - 1 - - 1 2 2 1 9 1 2 4 1 2 1 6 1 2 3 42 Summer Tanager 3 1 - 1 1 - - 6 Cardinal 8 24 40 - 102 68 55 16 4l 77 19 3 36 42 84 90 86 96 12 390 203 11 12 23 1538 Rose-br. Grosbeak - 2 4 - 3 - - 5 _ 1 - - 2 10 2 - - - 1 - - - 1 31 Blue Grosbeak - - - - - - - -■ - - - - 2 - 6 - - 2 - 3 6 - - - 19 Indigo Bunting - - - 1 1 2 - 1 1 - - - - - 1 1 1 13 - 5 8 - - 3 38 Evening Grosbeak 5 13 - - 12 9 - 8 2 6 38 - - 2 11 - 15 - - 20 144 1 40 - 326 Purple Finch - 4 50 - 5 2 2 - 11 - 1 - - 14 1 - - - - - 2 - - - 92 Pine Siskin - 11 _ - - - - _ 7 - - - 6 - _ - - - - - - - 24 American Goldfinch 8 11 110 100 181 157 63 11 138 415 17 50 21 60 9 135 65 6 109 io4 161 19 25 16 1991 Red Crossbill 2 2 Rufous -s. Towhee 27 7 8 30 82 11 15 5 39 82 27 8 13 45 73 54 42 35 32 65 90 14 8 11 823 Savannah Sparrow - - - 1 - 6 - 1 - - 1 - 2 - 1 2 10 19 - 12 6 6 - - 67 Grasshopper Sparrow - - 2 10 9 - 7 - 2 - - - - - - - 3 4 1 2 10 3 - - 53 Seaside Sparrow 8 1 - - - - - - 9 Vesper Sparrow 1 - 1 1 1 3 9 1 - - 17 Slate -col. Junco - 11 1 5 4 12 1 1 22 - - - 4 - 2 5 - - 3 1 3 2 - - 77 Chipping Sparrow 10 25 1 11 15 15 5 15 10 22 4 8 9 8 14 80 40 15 40 73 144 2 2 5 573 Field Sparrow 30 12 23 8 51 29 17 3 13 18 25 - 9 i4 5 2 22 13 20 74 46 2 2 3 441 White -cr. Sparrow - - - - 2 30 - - 6 - - - - - 6 - - - - 20 1 - 25 - 90 White -th . Sparrow 3 10 11 8 90 29 48 9 6 l 32 27 12 27 48 54 152 92 95 23 134 147 18 - 20 1150 Fox Sparrow - - - - - 1 1 3 Swamp Sparrow - - 2 3 3 3 1 1 2 10 5 - 2 5 l 1 3 1 1 11 - 1 - - 56 Song Sparrow 21 22 25 30 33 27 i4 l4 44 54 17 4 17 4 15 35 33 13 3 98 22 1 1 TOTAL SPECIES TOTAL INDIVIDUALS 65 56 74 77 103 82 74 82 99 72 63 50 95 78 107 93 102 123 89 124 111 99 62 104 218 558 1318 2531 1981 2017 804 1152 1501 3198 1484 6556 471 53323 692 913 17 99 736 2263 288 919 2958 4826 9839 971 3548 11 11 12 8 24 8| 13 10i 33 28 22 6 ri 24 30 33 52^ 18 15 200 50 12 5 22 656 ro TOTAL PARTY -HOURS MARYLAND BIRD LIFE Vol. 20, Mo. June 1964 MARYLAND BIRTLIFE 2L Summary of Coverage GARRETT COUNTY. Carey Run Sanctuary and Grantsville area. 10 observers In & parties. 40 miles by car. Mr. & Mrs. R. Douglass, Dan Polk, Debbi Lapeyre, Dee Lapeyre, Mr. & Mrs. William leeson, Anderson Martin, Elnora Scbrock, Billie Taylor ( compiler ) . ALLEGANY COUNTY. 5 observers in 4 parties. 52 party-miles (7 on foot, 45 by car). Charlotte Folk, Mrs. K. Lapeyre, Anderson Martin (compiler), Mrs. John Richardson, Billie Taylor. NORTHERN FREDERICK COUNTY. 6 observers in 1 party. 5 a.m. to 5 p.m, 5^ party- miles (4 on foot, 50 by car). Jerry Coates, Bruce Hanson, Mary Motherway, Charles Mulliean, William Shirey, Dorothy Wilson. CARROLL COUNTY, 6 observers in 2 parties. 35 party-miles (3 on foot, 32 by car). Tommy Cantwell, Bill Hilgartner, Bertha Poe (compiler), Billy Worthley, Dr. Elmer Worthley, Jean Worthley. HOWARD COUNTY. Patuxent drainage. 7 observers ih 4 parties. 4:10 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. 56 party-miles (8 on foot, 48 by car). Mrs. G. C. Munro, Mrs. H. B. Rauth, Chandler S. Robbins (compiler ), George Robbins, Jane Robbins, Stuart Robbins, Ted Stiles . SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 21 observers in 2 parties. Mrs. Herbert Church (compiler), K. Crowley, M. Hubahk, H. Lessig, 0. Payne, Lucille V. Smith (compiler), Lathrop Smiths and 14 members of Virginia Society of Ornithology (along Potomac River). ROCK RUN SANCTUARY and portion of Susquehanna River, Harford County. 2 observers in 1 party. 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. l4 party-miles (4 on foot, 10 by car). Mrs. R. Tb Cole, Mel Garland (compiler). HARFORD COUNTY. 1 observer. Not Included in table because of incomplete report. 42 species (10 of which were not recorded on the Rock Run count). 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. 6 ^ miles on foot. Joseph Pannill. WHITE MARSH, Baltimore County. 2 observers in 1 party. 5 a.m, to 3:35 p.m. l6 party-miles (5 on foot, 11 by car). Roger B. Clapp, C. Douglas Hackman (compiler). BALTIMORE CITY AND COUNTY. 11 observers in 5 parties. 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Janet E. Ganter, B. Hilgartner, Alice Kaestner, Bonnie Mogavero, Grace Neumann, Bertha Poe, Edward Rykiel, Stephen Simon, Warren Skipp, Dr. Elmer Worthley, Jean Worthley. LOCH RAVEN, Baltimore County. 2 observers in 2 parties. 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 90 party-miles (l6 on foot, 74 by car). William Corliss, Gerald Elgert (compiler). LAUREL, including mostly northern Prince Georges County, but also small sections of adjacent Howard and Anne Arundel Counties. 7 observers In 3 parties. 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 10 party-miles (8 on foot, 2 by car). Eloise Austin, Glenn Austin (com- piler), Henry Bell, Irene Campagna, Melvin Kleen, Kenny Myers, Les Myers. BELTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, Prince Georges County. 2 observers in 1 party. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 11 party-miles (3 on foot, 8 by car). E. Strieker, Tom Valega ( compiler ) . PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER, Prince Georges County. 3 observers In 1 party, 4:20 a.m. to 12 noon, 14 party-miles (4 on foot, 10 by car). David Bridge (compiler), Margaret Bridge, Betty Riedel. 0DENT0N and Little Patuxent River area, Anne Arundel County. 3 observers in 2 parties. 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 21 miles on foot. Bill Anderson, Danny Bystrak, Paul Bystrak. ANNAPOLIS, Anne Arundel County. 11 observers in 3 parties. 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. 53 party-miles (17 on foot, 36 by car). Mr. P. Goldsborougb (compiler), Mrs. P. Goldsborough, Cdr. J. Hough, Prof, and Mrs. David Howard (compilers ), Michael Law, Mrs. Martina Luff, Douglas Seely, Mrs. J. Singbach, Cdr. Edward Wilson (compiler), Mrs . Edward Wilson . GIBSON ISLAND, Anne Arundel County. 24 observers in 3 parties, 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 21 party-miles (6 on foot, 15 by car). Mr. & Mrs. Charles Buchanan, Mrs. Robert Cochran, Linda Dwight, Mrs. Bradley Fisk, Mrs. Joseph France, Mrs. Richard Henderson, Judge and Mrs. (compiler) William L. Henderson, Mr, & Mrs. Jackson Kidd, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Leeds, Mr. & Mrs. George Metcalf, Herbert Mills, Madam 0'C-rady, Mrs. V. Romesburg, Dr. & Mrs . W. Sladen, Mrs. E. Symington, Mrs. Gail Tappan (com- piler), Victoria Zouck. 38 MARYLAND BIRD LIFE Vol. 20, No. 2 CALVERT COUNTY. 6 observers In 5 parties. 7:25 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 433 party- miles (21 on foot , 4l2 by car). John Fales, Laddie Flyger, Alda Gras, K. Friel Sanders, Dr. Paul A. Stewart; Seth M. Stewart. ST. MARYS CGUltef* 3 observers in 1 party. 3 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. l84p- party -miles ( 6 |- on foot; 178 by car). Vernon M. Kleen (compiler); Ken Libby; Steve Robidoux. CECIL COUNTY. 5 observers in 2 parties. 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. James Brennen; Seal Brooks, Vernon Rossman, Tom Talarowsky; Roy Turrett. KENT COUNTY. 24 observers in 8 parties. James Anthony; Howard Bailey; George Burger; Mrs. Arlene Delerio, Mrs. Maryanne Emesine; William Friedburg, Gerry Gardner; Dr. Daniel Gibson (compiler); Mrs'* Clarke Grieb, Mr. & Mrs. Guastwino; Frances Jay, Mabon Kingsley, Dick McCovan, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mendinhall, Mr. & Mrs . Roy Ruhnka, Dr. & Mrs. Sevin, Mr. & Mrs. Turner Smith, Mrs. W. Snydour, Mr. Terry. CAROLINE COUNTY. 16 observers in 10 parties. 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. 347y party-miles (l 6 Jr on foot, 331 by car). Annabelle Bilbrougb, Elsie Bilbrough, Irene Bilbrough, Margarete Butenschoen, A. Jerome Fletcher, Roberta Fletcher, Marvin Hewitt, Naomi Hewitt, Alicia Knotts, Aldridge Pepper, Robert Pepper, Essie Pepper, Carol Scudder, Bill Scudder, Jacqueline Smith, A. May Thompson. TALBOT COUNTY. 4 observers in 2 parties. 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. 59 party-miles (4 on foot, 55 by car). Bill Bryan, Chris Clark, Richard Kleen, Don Meritt . WICOMICO COUNTY. 1 observer. 5:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. (5 hours). Samuel H. Dyke. WORCESTER COUNTY. 28 observers in 3 parties, 246 party-miles (7 on foot, 239 by car). Audubon Naturalist Society, Dr. Fritz Scheider and Dr. H. M. Johnson (leaders). This year we fell short in the number of counties participating. No one helped In Washington, Charles, Queen Annes, Dorchester or Somer- set. The number of species reported from each county that did partici- pate is shown below, with party-hours in parentheses: Anne Arundel 132 (87) Worcester 104- (22) Montgomery 82 ( 8 i ) Kent 124 (200) Howard 103 (24) Carroll 77 ( 8) St . Marys 123 (18) Calvert 102 (52|) Frederick 74 (12) Caroline 111 (50) Talbot 99 (12) Garrett 65 (11) Baltimore 110 (61) Cecil 89 (15) Wicomico 62 ( 5) Prince Georges 109 (35s) Harford 84 (17) Allegany 56 (11) 339 Talbot Ave. . , Laurel TAMENESS OF BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES Burton Alexander During a recent nature walk at Penn State University two Black- capped Chickadees ( Pams atricaplllus ) came so close I decided to "freeze” and see if they would get nearer to me. I stood with my butterfly net handle protruding behind me (under my right arm), a small tree just in back of that, and the shadow of the stick visible down to my right. Sure enough, one of the chickadees landed on the stick, I watched its shadow creep toward me on the pole. If it got that far safely, why stop? It soon was on By right shoulder, then on my head. It then said something to the other in the tree and they switched places. A snipping sound told my hair was soft enough for baby chickadees to be raised in. At least they did not dig it out, nor did they bald me, for they left soon. The Central Pennsylvania Barbers' Association has fixed a $1.75 price, but I have found a cheaper way. 2712 Southern Ave., Baltimore 21214 June 196^ MARYLAND BIKDLIFE 39 REPORT PROM THE PRESIDENT Dorothy A. MendinhaU This issue brings you the excellent reports of the Annual (Meeting) Convention at Ocean City, and it is my pleasure to report that the meet- ing and Convention were superlative in every way. The most glorious weather, finest leaders for splendid trips, the highest species count (207'), the greatest number of birds at the three banding stations (more than 800 birds of 77 species), the best boat trip, and surpassing everything was the marvelous evening program ''Birds Throughout the Year in the Howards ' Gardens . " Professor and Mrs. Howard are distinguished members of M.O.S. and are widely known for their photography and interest in ornithology. Their lecture was a highlight of the Convention and greatly appreciated. Thanks to the ability, fine cooperation and hard work of your Trus- tees, Committee Chairman, Executive Secretary, and many hard working Chapter members, the business meeting moved along rapidly and was cli- maxed with the vote of the membership that arrangements be made to pur- chase the Mill Creek Sanctuary in Talbot .County. This means you must all "dig down" and support the Talbot Chapter in this splendid M.O.S. project. Let's build the Sanctuary Fund up, up and up in ' 65 . There is good news that Mr. Unger is recovering from his illness which forced him to withdraw his name from nomination as your President this year. I know you all join me in wishing him a rapid recovery. Mr. MendinhaU and I hope many of you will want to bring your family and friends to picnic at Damsite on Saturday, July 11. A welcome awaits all members. This is just a fun day. Directions: Take any route to Chestertown, then Route 20 to intersection of Route 21. Right on 21 toward Tolchester Beach. Watch for signs Tolchester Estates- -Elm Street (on your right), then follow markers to the house. Have a happy summer and good birding wherever you are . "Damsite", Chestertown ko MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, No. 2 MARYLAND NEST SUMMARY FOR 1963 David and Margaret Bridge The 1963 nesting season was highlighted by the discovery of a new species breeding in Maryland, Mel Garland reported the first House Finch breeding record for the state, bringing the total of species known to breed in Maryland to 19U* This year H9 species **ere reported breeding in the state j this ties the previous high record reported in 19£8, In addition, notes on three other species were received. Nesting activity was reported in all 23 counties for the first time since the nest program was organized. The number of contributors increased from dO in 1962 to 6 U in 1963, About 95>0 cards were received with information on about UilOO nests. The distribution of cards, species, and observers by counties is shown in Table 1 , Table 1. County and State Totals for 1963 County Number ctf Species Number of Observers Number of Nests Number of Cards Allegany 3 1 3 3 Anne Arundel 9 6 89 13 Baltimore 18 5 27 27 Calvert 5 3 12 5 Caroline 53 6 108 108 Carroll l 1 1 1 Cecil l 1 k 1 Charles k 2 93 22 Dorchester 25 k 523 7U Frederick 23 2 58 29 Garrett 18 15 23 23 Harford 13 5 25 15 Howard 3 3 3 3 Kent 5 k 21 5 Montgomery 29 13 65 6k Prince Georges U 8 19 237 217 Queen Annes 2 2 1 U 2 St. Marys 12 3 695 56 Somerset 11 5 351i 12 Talbot 31 5 601 158 Washington 1 1 1 1 Wicomico 2 2 3 2 Worcester 36 11 1 U 66 118 State Totals TO 55 miss 958 Many observers followed the history of some nests very closely. F!rom these detailed observations the incubation and nestling periods can be determined. In order that others may use this information, incubation and nestling periods reported in 1963 are listed in Table 2, Some of the periods are approximated, since not all the nests were observed in detail from start to finish. June 19&H MARYLAND BIRDLXFE Jtl Table 2. Incubation and Nestling Periods Species Incubation Period (in days) Hestling Period (in days) County Observer Osprey- 29+ StM V. Kleen Barred Owl — , 22+ Ann V. Kleen E. Phoebe 16 — Car C* Scudder E. Phoebe — 10 Mon J* Weske Acadian Flyctr* between between Car C* Scudder Horned Lark 10 and 12 10 and 12 between Car C. Scudder Barn Swallow lli+ 9 and 10 13+ Dor J* Weske Barn Swallow 10+ and 10+ 12+, 12+, Pri ?♦ Stiles Blue Jay 17 and ll;+ Pri D* Bridge House Wren between — - Pri E. Robbins Mockingbird 15*06 and 15.16 13 between Car C. Scudder (1st brood) Mockingbird 13 11 and 13 between Car C* Scudder (2nd brood) Mockingbird 15 12 and 13 10 Car C. Scudder (3rd brood) Catbird about 11 Car C. Scudder Robin 12 13 Tal J. Wanuga Robin 13 12 Pri E. Robbins Bl.-gr* Gnatctr. 13 lit to 15 Car C. Scudder Cedar Waxwing — about 13 Pri D. Bridge Starling — 10+ Pri 7. Kleen Starling — 12+ Mon D. Bridge Red-winged Blkbd. ave. of about 11 Pri D. Bridge Cardinal lit nests: I2.it range; 12 to 13 12+ Mon D. Bridge Blue Qrosbeak 15 7 Car C. Scudder Blue Grosbeak (left (prematurely) 10 Pri B. Meanlcy Indigo Bunting — 10 Car C* Scudder Chipping Sparrow — about 11 Pri D. Bridge MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Tol. 20, Mo. 2 k2 Annotated List Brief notes of each species have been selected for inclusion in the Annotated List- Record-breaking dates have been underscored, PIED-BILLED GREBE — A nest with 7 eggs on May 17 at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (FTJ, EM)* GREAT BLUE HEROU — 750 nests in three colonies located in three counties* GREEK HERON — 96 nests reported from 6 counties; average clutch size for 72 nests was 3*6 eggs* LITTLE BLUE HERON — The average number of young in 23 nests in Worcester Co* was 3*0* CATTLE EGRET— 11 6 young were banded in a Worcester Co* heronry, as compared to 19U young in 1962* COMMON EGRET — 256 nests were reported from six colonies in six tidewater counties. Dor*, Que*, StM*, Sohu, Tal*, and War. SNOWY EGRET — 3L5 young banded in June in Worcester Co* colony* LOUISIANA- 3HJ0N— Ave.'hrt* of 18 nests in Worcester Co. was 1 6 inches; 2 nests were on the ground* BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON — This species has continued to increase at the Worcester Co. colony; 6U young were banded. (YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON)— 1 2 adults were seen in a Somerset Co. heron colony on June 16 and 8 were seen in a Dorchester Co. colony on June 28; almost certainly these birds were breeding* IEAST BITTERN — One nest at Patuxent W. R. G.; this is the third consecutive year this species has nested there* AMERICAN BITTERN — One nest with four eggs at Patuxent W. R. C. on May 22 (DB). GLOSSY IBIS — 8 nests in Worcester Co* between 0 ft. and 1 ft.; 20 pairs in Snith Island heron colony on June 16 * MALLARD— of 6 nests with a total of 55 eggs, 37 hatched (67$) at Patuxent W. R. C. BLACK DUCK— The average clutch slab for lU nests was 8.L* BLUE-WINGED TEAL— John Weske flushed a female from 9 eggs on July 5 in Dorchester Co* WOOD DUCK— A total of 37 nests or broods were reported; one at Patuxent W. R. C* had 32 eggs, 20 of which hatched. HOODED MERGANSER — Two nests at Patuxent W. R. C*; the starting date for one clutch was March 20 ; the young hatched in the other nest on May 8* RED-TAILED HAWK — Large young in the nest on July 12 (C* Scudder) and on July 16 (L* Smith)* RED- SHOULDERED HAWK— 6 nests on Patuxent W. R. C. produced 12 young (F* C* Schmid). BALD EAGLE — Jackson Abbott studied 78 nests in Maryland for the National Audtibon Society; 1 I 4 . nests were active; duly one young was raised ! OS PREY— A total of 18 L nests were reported from seven counties* RUFFED GROUSE — Two young out of the nest in Frederick Co* on July 1 (SE)* BOH JUTE — The average clutch size of three nests was 16* RING-NECKED PHEASANT— One young with adults in Carroll Co* (SE)* June 1961; MARYLAND BIRDLXFB h3 (BLACK RAIL*-** John Weske spent several months studying this rare species along the Elliott Island Road in Dorchester Co, Although no nests were found, the following was recorded* 1, Spartina sp » marsh has many more rails than Juneus sp . marsh, 2, Up to 20 rails were heard on a given night, 3, the period of maximum calling activity seems to be the middle two weeks of June*) AMERICAN 0Y3TI® CATCHER — Small young out of the nest in Worcester Co, on Hay 12 (JR). PIPING PLOVER — ii eggs in a nest in Worcester Co. on June 15 and 29, KILLDESR — A nest in Caroline Co, contained five eggs on Hay 29 and five young on June 5 (CS). This species almost always lays four eggs; this is the only report of more than l; eggs of the 103 Killdeer nest records now on file, (SPOTTED SANDPIPER— About 10 pairs on Long Pt. in Queen Annes Co, on June 1, but no nest could be found,) WILLET — An amazing total of 23 nests with eggs were reported, all in June; this almost doubles the previous total; 18 nests with I4. eggs each, 3 nests with 3 eggs each, 1 nest with 2 eggs, and 1 nest with 1 egg. HERRING GULL — At least 60 pairs nested, I4.8 of them on Smith Island in Somerset Co, Five nests with eggs on June 1 in Worcester Co, (DB). LAUGHING GULL-- About 350 nests were foung on Robins Marsh, Worcester Co,; 57U young were banded, (FORSTER* S TMN— Maryland* s only large colony, on Robins Marsh, was reported taken over by gulls.) COMMON TERN — The main Worcester Co. tern colony is now located on Assateague Island. The average clutch size of 75 nests in Worcester Co, on June 15 was 2.13 eggs. The average clutch size of 7U nests in Talbot Co. on May 19 was 2.U8 eggs* LEAST TERN — 35 pairs in the Assateague colony; 16 young banded on June l5 » ROYAL TERN — Larry Calvert and John Weske found the second colony of this species in Maryland on Cedar Island in Chine ote ague Bay. This is the first nesting record since the South Point was abandoned in I960. Two nests were found with two eggs each on June 20; two young were banded on July 26. BLACK SKIMMER — About 100 nests at three locations in Worcester Co,; 13 young banded on June l5 * MOURNING DOVE — 16 nests reported from 9 counties. Young left too nests on Sept. 1, Baltimore and Talbot Co. YELLOW-BUJED CUCKOO — Two eggs in a Caroline Co. nest on May 26. BARN OWL— 20 nests reported, 16 in duck blinds, 2 in old houses, and 2 in the observation towers at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. SCREECH OWL — Tito young in Montgomery Co. on May 12 (WTV), GREAT HORNED OWL — One nest in Baltimore Co. (BW). BARRED OWL— Two nests with 3 young each, one in Caroline Co. on June 25 (CS), CHUCK-WILL ' S-WIDOW— A female was flushed from two eggs on June U in Worcester Co, "On June 5* the eggs were gone, but the female soon appeared from nearby and began to show alarm. This may indicate that the eggs had been moved, as has been reported for the species." (SD). COMMON NIGHTHAWK — One report, 3 young along a road in Talbot Co. on MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 20, No* 2 kh June 29. It is very unusual to observe three young. This species usually raises only 2 young# (JR) CHBMEY' SWIFT — Two nests reported from Frederick Co. RUBY- THROATED HUMMINGBIRD — Four nests were reported; two were very late with 2 young each, one in Talbot Co* on Sept. 1 (PD), the other in Howard Co. on Sept. 2 (MC). BELTED KINGFISHER — Two nests reported. YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER — Average height of 8 nests was lli .6 feet* One Caroline Co. nest produced 7 young* PILEATSD WOODPECKER — Three nests reported; average height of these was 30 feet. RSD-BELUED WOODPECKER — Young left the nest on May 15 in Caroline Co* RED-HEADED WOODPECKER — A young bird out of the nest was seen at Bel Air, Harford Co. (SE). HAIRY WOODPECKER — Two large young (heads out of hole) fed by adult on July U in Prince Georges Go* (SB). DOWNY WDODPECKER--Two nests reported. EASTERN KINGBIRD— Four nests in four counties. Young left two of the nests on June 22 and July 23* GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER— Average height of six nests was 8 feet. Only o &8 nest contained a complete clutch (6 eggs). EASTERN PHOEBE — 35 nests were reported; 2h were under bridges, 11 were in or on houses, none were reported on rock cliffs. Twenty nests contained full clutches, llj. with 5 eggs each and 6 with li eggs each; average clutch size was lw 8 . One egg was layed each day for five days in a Caroline Co. nest (CS)* ACADIAN FLYCATCHER — 5 eggs on June 6 in Caroline Co. TRAILL* S FLYCATCHER— One nest near the 1961 nest in Prince Georges Co. had 2 eggs on June L (BN). EASTERN WOOD PSWEE — Two nests reported in June, at 2$ and 30 feet. HORNED LARK — One record each from Caroline, Dorchester, and Prince Georges Co. The Caroline Co. nest produced 5 young, which left the nest on May 2li* TREE SWALLOW — One nest being built at Denton on May 20. BANK SWALLOW — About 75 pairs at the colony along Rt. 50 in Anne Arundel Co; one nest contained h young on June 8 . ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW — 10 nests reported from five counties. The most interesting report was of a nest under the bridge at Ocean City in a pipe only 2 feet above the high tide mark. It contained 5 young on June 15* BARN SWALLOW — ll ;6 nests reported. Ten nests on Rocky uorge Dam contained 39 eggs, 35 of which hatched (90$) (TS). A nest in Worcester Co. had 6 large young almost ready to fly on June 1 5; they were banded* !, 0n June 29 (at night) young still roosting in nest. Able to fly well." The young may have been a month old I (WTV) A pair in Montgomery Co. made Wo nesting attempts. First attempt — 5 eggs, all hatched, nest destroyed. Second attempt — 5 eggs, all hatched, again nest destroyed; they did not try to nest again in late July. PURPLE MARTIN — One pair nested in a Wood Duck box at Patuxent W. R. C*; 5 eggs were laid. BLUE JAY — An early nest in Prince Georges Co, had 1 egg on April 8 and 5 eggs on April 12. On April 28 there were 3 young and 2 eggs; the next day there were five young(DB). June 196it .MARYLAND BIRDLIFE U5 COMMON CROW — Building activity recorded in Baltimore Co. on Feb* 27 (GO). FISH CROW — k eggs in a nest on June 1 in Worcester Co* BLACK- CAPPED CHICKADEE — L young in a Garret Co. nest on June 17; this report ties the latest young date (MC)* CAROLINA CHICKADEE — A nest at Rock Run Sanctuary, Harford Co*, contained 5 eggs on May 25* TUFTED TUTMGU3E— U young were banded on June 1 in Montgomery Co. WHITE- BREASTED NUTHATCH — Only one nest was reported; adults were observed feeding young in Worcester Co. on May 18* BROWN -HEADED NUTHATCH — Young in a Talbot Co* nest were being fed by adults on July 9 (EM). HOUSE WREN— 1 £ nests were reported; one nest in Garret Co. contained ii eggs on June 8 and 7 eggs at noon on June 9* More than one female? CAROLINA WREN — Only two nesting records for the state this year* LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN — Ii active nests were reported; 2 contained h eggs each, 1 five eggs, and 1 five young* MOCKINGBIRD — One pair raised three successful broods of U young each (CS)* CATBIRD — h nests with eggs between May 26 and July It; 8 nests xvith young between May 2$ and August 3* BROWN THRASHER — Hie average height of 16 nests was It* 06 feet; the range was 1 foot to 8 feet. ROBIN— The average height of 31 nests was 12*2 feet; the heights ranged from 1*£ to $0 feet* WOOD THRUSH — Seven, nests were reported* EASTERN BLUEBIRD— lit nests were reported from six counties; perhaps this species is beginning to recover* Six nests contained four eggs each and one six eggs* BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHSR— 8 nests reported, one with five eggs on May 1 . CEDAR WAXWING — Two nests with young between July 16 and Sept* 8. STARLING— 29 nests in Wood Duck boxes at Patuxent W. R. C. Average clutch sisse of 22 nests was 5*L« WHITE-EYED VIREO — A very late nest at Rock Run Sanctuary, Harford Co*; the last young left the nest on August 19 (MG). YELLOW-THROATED VTREO— adults feeding young out of nest on July 22 (C3R) . RED-EYED VIREO — 2 out of U nests contained Brown-headed Cowbird eggs. Two young left a late nest in Montgomery Co. on August 17 (LVS). WARBLING VIREO— Jan Reese saw a pair and a nest at Wye Hills in a large elm between April 21 and May 5* BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER— A nest at Patuxent W. R. C. on May 30 contained four young (CSR); another at Pleasant Valley on June 19 with one egg and 2 young just hatching (MG). PROTHONOTARY WARBLER— A nest on Julyl6 in Montgomery Co. had L small young (no feathers). (0P,Ht,L5) PARULA WARBLER— Adults feeding young out of the nest in Calvert Co. on August 3 (JF). YELLOW WARBLER— A nest with It eggs on June 9 at Carey Run Sanctuary, Garrett Co. (GR). YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER— Adults feeding 2 young just out of the nest on June 16 in Worcester Co. (FGS). CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER— Two nests with four eggs each at Pleasant Valley. OVENBIRD— C. Robbins had a nest with b eggs on May 26. After a steady U6 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, No. 2 rain on June 2 and 3 (over 3 inches) the nest was deserted# KENTUCKY WARBLER— 3 young in a Caroline Co. nest on June 20. YELKTWTHROAT— A nest in Prince Georges Co# had U eggs on May 21* YELIKJW- BREASTED CHAT — A nest in a pear tree in Frederick Co. on June 6 was reported# AMERICAN REDSTART— 2 young out and 2 young in a nest at Rock Run Sanctuary on July 1 • HOUSE SPARROW- -Only one reportl Four young in a nest on July 1# EASTERN MEADOWLARK — 5 nests with young between June 11 and 2d; d nests with 3 eggs and one with one egg* RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD— 1 05 nests reported. On the Patuxent W* R. C. , the average clutch size for 31 nests in which the eggs were incubated was 3*675 21 nests had d eggs each and 10 nests had 3 eggs each* ORCHARD ORIOLE— A nest with 3 young on June 16 in Caroline Co* BALTIMORE ORIOLE — d eggs in a nest on June 10, first breeding record for Patuxent W. R* C* BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE — 53 nests in Worcester Co., most with eggs on June 1* Nests contained from 1 to 6 eggs each, but the majority contained 3 eggs* COMMON GRACKLE — 181 nests reported. One nest was located in a hollow stump over water* A late nest in St. Marys Co. had 3 young on July 8 (VK). BROwl^-HEAQSD COWBIRD — Eggs or young were found in nests of the following species: Red-eyed Vireo — 2, Ovenbird — 1, Red-winged Blackbird — 1 (raised successfully). Rufous-sided Towhee — 2, and Song Sparrow — 1* Young cowbirds out of the nest were seen being fed by a pair of Yellowthroats and a pair of American Redstarts. SCARLET TANAGER — d young, not over 2 days old on June 25 n Howard Co. 5 both adults feeding the young. CARDINAL— 1 5 nests reported# One had a full clutch of only 2 eggs. Average height of lit nests was d*9 feet. BLUE GROSBEAK — 5 nests reported. Also probably nested in Harford Co. (CDH)» A Caroline Co. bird laid one egg a day for four days. The five nests fledged 3, 3, 3, 2, and d young. INDIGO BUNTING — 1* just-hatched young on June 3 in a Caroline Co. nest. HOUSE FINCH — New species for state * Five young on June 10 and 13 (MG) • (See Maryland Birdlife, Vol. 19, No. 3, p.78). AMERICAN GOIDFffiClT— One nest contained 3 young on August 21* RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE — Four nests reported; tiro with cowbird eggs. One contained d towhee eggs and 2 cowbird eggs (jSWeske). GRASSHOPPER SPARROW — 1; eggs on June 10 in Howard Co* (WTV) . SHARP-TAILED SPARROW — 3 eggs on June 9 in Dorchester Co.; on June 2h young grown (JSWeske) * ‘ ~ SEASIDE SPARROW— 7 nests reported. Eggs on June 29 in Talbot Co. (JR and DM). Average size of clutch for ? nests was 3*d. Young in Dorchester Co. on June 13 (JSWeske) CHIPPING SPARROW— Three nests had d eggs each, and 12 nests had young as follows: 1 nest with 5 young, 7 with d> 3 with 2, and 1 with 2. FIELD SPARROW — 13 nests had an average height of id. 5 inches. SONG SPARROW — 6 of the 7 nest records were in June; do they nest in other months? Average height of 6 nests was 13*C inches. June l%k MARYLAND BIRDLIFE hi Mach year, all the nest cards received are placed in the Maryland Ornithological Society* s nest card file, which now contains approximately 18,000 cards. These cards are available to anyone interested in studying breeding cycles or behavior. This year for the first tine, cards have been requested by several people for such scientific studies. One of the most interesting nesting reports received this year was that of Roseate Tern. The Roseate Tern is rare in Maryland and has not been reported nesting here since 1 93®> although much field work has been done in the coastal areas of Maryland in recent years. Unfortunately, this report is unacceptable as a definite breeding record at this time, due to the lack of positive identification of the species with the nest. This report raises the question of acceptance of breeding records. Apparently, no criteria have been established for acceptance of nesting records, as has been done for sight records (Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia , Stewart and Robbins, p. 37#) Any unusual nesting record should be documented in at least one of Hie following ways, in order to be acceptable: 1. ) Specimen of adult, young, or eggs. (Only licensed collectors can collect specimens.) 2. ) Photograph of the adult associated with the eggs or young. 3*) Three or more reliable sight records of adult at nest or associated with young. (This is perhaps the easiest way, since a nesting bird remains in one locality for a relatively long period of time.) Tiie 6i| observers who participated in 1963 are listed below. Jackson Abbott, Bill Anderson, Earl Baysinger, David Bridge, Margaret Bridge, Stephen Bridge, Danny Bystrak, Paul Bystrak, Michael Calhoun, Larry Calvert, Gladys Cole, Morris Collins, Jackie Cook, Sally Donius, Pat Dunn, Samuel Dyke, Jay Eason, Sterling Edwards, Gerald Elgert, John Fales, A. Jerome Fletcher, Roberta Fletcher, Mel Garland, Douglas Hackman, Mrs. Charles Has lap, Marvin Hewitt, Lois Horn, Charles Iliff, Rodney Jones, Vernon Kleen, Natalie Latimer, Helen Lessig, Mrs. Carl lubber t, Frank McGilvrey, Anderson Martin, Brooke Meanley, Donald Meritt, Gary Minke, Pan Ilinke, Brent Nelson, Bruce Newman, Mrs. Lewis Payne, Aldridge Pepper, Bob Pepper, Essie Pepper, Jan Reese, Chandler Robbins, Eleanor Robbins, George Robbins, Jane Robbins, Fritz Scheider, Frederick Schmid, Carol Scudder, Mrs. C. N. Shaffner, Dave Smith, Lucille Smith, Ted Stiles, Jean Taylor, Francis Uhler, Willet T. VanVelzen, John Wanuga, John Webb, John Y/eske, Bill Worthley# U310 Jefferson St., Apt. 200 Hyattsville, Hu. MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, No. 2 48 MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING, MAI 9, 1964 The Annual Meeting of Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc., was called to order by the President, Mrs. Edward MendinhaH, May 9» 1964, at the Hastings-Miramar, Ocean City, Ed. , at 7:00 P. M. with over 75 members present. Mrs. Mendinhall thanked the members for their support during the year and the trustees for their splendid reports and for quorums on hand for the five meetings held this year. She has visited seven chapters, made three trips to Carey Run and two to Rock Run, where there have been remarkable accomplishments. Files at Qylburn have been housecleaned and office machines updated. A Handbook for officers was published and made available. A new membership list has been published. We have become reaffiliated with the National Audubon Society and a sixth Can?) scholarship has been awarded. Cooperation with the Fish and Wild- life Service and conservation groups throughout the State has continued. Mrs. Mendinhall asked the membership to continue their interest to bigger and better accomplishments . Motion was made by Mr. Douglass, seconded by Mrs. Cole, to dispense with the reading of the minutes. Mr. Mendinhall read Mr. Carswell’s treasurer's report to April 20. Mr. Wanuga stated that the report was acceptable to the Auditing Com- mittee and it was placed on file. The interim report by Mr. Mendinhall was placed on file subject to audit. Committee Reports: BIRDLIFE : Mr. Robbins reported the March issue will go to print on Monday and gave special thanks to all who had helped this year. Budget : Dr. Miner reported that the budget has been reviewed periodically through the year and asked that the chairmen prepare an estimate of expenses before September 1st. Conservation : Mrs. Spring stated that the work being done has been well reported and offered to answer any questions. Sanctuary and By-Laws : Voted to be postponed to regular business, Mrs. Mendinhall thanked the chapters for their continued interest in the Helen Miller Scholarship Fund and presented this year’s award to Mrs. Vagn Flyger. Mrs. Scudder was thanked for handling the registration single! landed. Chapter reports were read in full and placed on file. New Business : By-Laws :~ Mr. Tucker explained the change in the Articles of Incorporation, wording of Article THIRD, subpart (i), and an addition of Article TWELFTH, necessary for the Bureau of Internal Revenue's acceptance of M. 0. S. as a tax-exempt organization. Having been approved by the Trustees, it is now before the membership. Dr. Taylor MARYLAND BLRDLIFB June 1964 49 moved they be accepted; Mr. Douglass seconded, the membership approved unanimously and it was so ordered. Mr. Tucker read the recommendations of April 28, 1963 , made by the Trustees, for amendments to the By-Laws, After discussion concerning Article IX, Section 3 , Mrs. Robbins recommended an amendment to the amendment, changing the words "at least eight weeks" to "approximately eight weeks". Motion was made by Mrs. Robbins, seconded by- Mrs. Dole, approved by the membership and so ordered. Mr. Tucker asked the membership to approve the proposed amendments of October 5. 1963. as approved by the Trustees. Motion was made by Mr. Robbins, seconded by Dr. Taylor, to accept. It was approved and so ordered. Mr. Tucker asked approval of a change of wording in Article XIII - Dissolution. Motion to approve was made by Mr. Sharp, seconded by Mr. Tomlinson, approved and so ordered. Sanctuary Committee; Dr. Taylor reported on the committee's in- spection of the Mill Creek property in Talbot County on January 4, 1964. Negotiations by the Talbot Chapter have been successful to secure 107 acres of woodland at $75*00 per acre. The Trustees have approved plans to proceed and complete purchase. Dr. Taylor recommended that the State Treasurer be authorized to complete the necessary, funds, Talbot Chapter having raised $5300.00 to date. Motion of approval was made by Mr. Robbins, seconded by Miss Everett, and accepted unanimously by the mem- bership. Dr. Taylor stated that investigation of the Finzel Swamp cedar bog was proceeding. Nominating Committee : Mr. Garland reported that due to the illness of Mr. Unger, it had been necessary to remove his name from the slate of officers. The nominations for officers were* President Mrs. Edward Mendinhall 1st Vice-President Mrs. Richard D. Cole 2nd Vice-President Dr. W. Rowland Taylor Secretary Mrs. John C. Bauer Treasurer Dr. Turner L. Smith The nominations for Trustees had been made from the following chapters : Allegany Bird dub Mr. Joseph Mink© Mrs, C. Gordon Taylor Anne Arundel Bird dub Baltimore Chapter Caroline County Bird dub Frederick County Chapter Harford County Bird dub Mrs. Edwin C. Gras Cmdr. E. P. Wilson Dr. W. Rowland Taylor Mrs. Richard D. Cole Mr. Compton Crook Mr. Chandler S. Robbins Mrs. Robert E. Kaestner Mr. A. E. Pepper Mrs. A. E. Pepper Mrs, Mary S, Motherway Dr. Howard Hodge Mrs, Grace H, Wright Miss Estella Everett MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Yol. 20, No. 2 Kent County Chapter Patuxent Bird Club Soldiers* Delight Chapter Talbot County Bird dub Mrs. Edward Mendinhall Mr. Edward Mend i n h all Mr. Melvin Kleen Mr. David Bridge Dr. Elmer G. Worthley Mrs . Bertha Poe Mr. Richard L. Kleen Mr. Robert Sharp H Mrs. Gregory moved the nominations be accepted. Mrs. Taylor seconded, and it was approved. All officers and trustees will meet in ten minutes. Announcements: Proceeds from the sale of Mel Garland* s pictures for the Sanctuary Fund totaled $126.00. Wood's Picnic - September 13th Meeting at Damsite - July 11th Meeting adjourned Katherine B. Bauer, Secretary ANNUAL REPORTS of LOCAL CHAPTERS ALLEGANY COUNTY CHAPTER Beginning in September a total of l4 events were scheduled through May 2 of this year. Included in the activities was the annual fall pic- nic at the home of Gilbert Miller as well as numerous trips to Carey Run Sanctuary. With the assistance of many of you present, a thorough job of renovating the dwelling at the Sanctuary was completed. Through arrangements with the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the Game and Inland Fish Commission of Maryland, and the Department of Forests and Parks, a patch of winter wheat and 1,500 evergreens were planted last fall. Two thousand multiflora roses and 2,000 evergreens and "black cherry trees covering some two acres were planted this spring as well as additional clover and grass patches. As usual, the highlight was the annual Junior Nature Camp which was held in June at Pleasant Valley in Garrett County. It was the general concensus of the leaders that this was possibly the most successful one ever held from every standpoint. Full credit n this respect must be given to Nan Livingstone and Billie Taylor as ./ell as to their assistants. We are keenly disappointed to report that because of a conflict in dates, for the first time in 15 years our camp and adult weekend will not he held. Our application was filed on time, as usual, and we were shocked to learn the dates requested had been assigned to another group. We are extremely sorry for this turn of events as we know many of you have enjoyed these annual weekend visits to our part of the State. We trust it won't happen again. John F. Workmeister, President June 1964 MARYLAND BIRD LIFE 51 ANNE ARUNDEL CHAPM The 1963 - 64 program, which was full and rewarding, was accompanied by increased membership and attendance. Sixty-eight Annapolitans, a half more than our entire membership, attested to the popularity of the C & 0 Canal Barge Drip in crisp October weather; we tried a ’’sunset silhouette" hike Thanksgiving afternoon at Sandy Point; held both Christmas and May bird counts and held eleven Saturday field trips including one to Reming- ton Farms. Our winter lecture schedule included Dr. Douglas Miner's slides and movies, "Birds in the Hand and in the Bush"; Professor and Mrs. David Howard's outstanding recordings and their movie, "A Year in the Howards' Back- yard"; and Dr. Vagn Flyger's slides of "Antarctica" based on his recent banding of seals and penguins there . We cooperated ‘with Mr. Eugene B. Flanegan of National Audubon in conducting a Bald Eagle survey of the Chesapeake Bay Area. We are happy that Mrs. Vagn Flyger received the Helen Miller Scholar- ship award this year; Miss Reida Longanecker and Mrs. Edwin Gras, in- coming president, will join her at the Maine Audubon Camp this summer. This, combined with Miss Friel Sanders' field trips with juniors, pre- sents new and wider activities to our members . Edward P. Wilson, President BALTIMORE CHAPTER In mid- November, Cecil R. Ryan, our President for the past two years, was forced to resign because of a combination of change in employment and health. The Baltimore Chapter has missed his effective leadership, but because of his outstanding organizational talents chapter affairs have continued at the accelerated pace that he planned. We have had an out- standing year. Under the able joint leadership of Mrs. Robert E. Kaestner and Mrs. Joshua W. Rowe, our Program Committee has scheduled 38 field trips so far this year. These have varied from half-day local walks to three-day week- end trips. We have ranged from one end of Maryland to the other- -from Carey Run in Garrett County to Ocean City, from Rock Run in Harford County to the Calvert Cliffs. We have twice visited the C & 0 Canal. We have gone to Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania, Bombay Hook in Delaware, and Nags Head in North Carolina. Later this month we are going to Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey and to Catoctin Mountain in Fred- erick County. Attendance on all of our field trips was outstanding. More people have enjoyed more trips than ever before. This year out monthly meetings also have been superb, so much so that it is difficult and somewhat unfair to try to point to an outstanding program. For many, W. Bryant Tyrrell’s color film and lecture on the C & 0 Canal was certainly a highlight. A standing room only crowd of nearly 300 responded enthusiastically to Mr. Tyrrell's presentation. Other programs included C. J. Robertson's "Hawks and Owls" film, Mrs. Bradley Fisk's recollections of birding in the Caribbean Islands, Steve Simon's color films "The Birds Around Us" and "Wildlife on the Oregon ^ Coast", the National Audubon Society films "An Island In Time", "Quetico", and "Wings on the Wind", and a delightful discussion of birding tech- 52 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, No. 2 niques by Dr. Fritz Scheider. Last month our annual spring lecture was presented by Cleveland P. Grant to over 650 people. Mr. Grant, a well known nature photographer, gave us an evening of magnificent color photography of wildlife in Wis- consin, the Canadian Rockies, and Alaska. The success of this venture was due primarily to the effective leadership of Mrs. Robert E. Kaestner and her hard working committee. One of the most important activities of the Baltimore Chapter is the Junior Program directed by Mrs. Norwood K. Schaffer and Mrs. Alfred Law- son. Last June a Nature Camp Weekend provided outstanding educational recreation for 50 children. So far this year there have been 17 nature study sessions and bird banding demonstrations at the Cylburn Mansion in Baltimore for school, Cub Scout, Brownie and similar groups. In addition there have been special programs during school vacation periods. Our Junior Program Committee has had enthusiastic support and help from many members of other chapters . To them we extend our appreciation . The Bal- timore Chapter now boasts 70 junior members . The education of our adult members has not been neglected. This past winter, Mrs. Elmer Worthley presented six Wednesday evening seminars on the general subject of Maryland Birds Throughout the Year. Identifi- cation, behavior, ecology, and backyard research were discussed. The response was enthusiastic; Jean talked to a packed roomful of birders at all sessions but one. Elmer talked to the same audience that time. The Chapter's Book Committee has continued to furnish an excellent selection of wildlife books. The entire State organization sincerely appreciates the helpful and efficient operation of this project by Mrs. Naomi R. Taylor who runs it for the benefit of the Sanctuary System. The Baltimore Chapter is in sound financial condition, a tribute to the watchful eye of our treasurer, Mr. Malcolm Thomas. We have been kept well informed on both local and national conservation matters by our Conservation Committee, Dr. and Mrs. David Spring. Our local News- letter has been beautifully handled by the Newsletter Committee, Mrs. Joshua Rowe, Mrs. E. A. Metcalf, Mrs. Nicholas Kay, and Mrs. David Spring. Our trip records, bird exchange and general information center has, as in the past, been most effectively handled by Miss Florence Burner, a charter member of M.O.S. who we are happy to say is well on the way to complete recovery from her illness this past winter. The Baltimore Chapter now has 317 members. With the combination of experienced leadership and new talent that the membership has elected as its officers, trustees and board members, we are looking forward to an- other year of exciting programs and birding. Dr. W. Rowland Taylor, President CAROLINE COUNTY CHAPTER The Caroline County Chapter held six regular meetings which included films, speakers, and talks on our own birding experiences. We had a trip to Remington Farms near Chestertown, and a trip to Ivy Neck on the west- ern shore . The Chapter held a covered dish supper and also had a break- fast hike. Caroline birders took part in both the Christmas and May Bird Counts. We are proud of our record of 100% membership participation in these counts ( 13 adults, 2 juniors). Carol Scudder, President June 1964 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE si FREDERICK CHAPTER The Frederick Chapter moved forward this year with nine new members to its credit. Attendance at the monthly meetings reached a new high, with many non-members dropping in to hear our fine speakers and learn about bird life. Their interest, in part, was prompted by our wide pub- licity in the local newspapers and on the two radio stations . Lefty Kreh, outdoor writer for the Frederick papers, also has publicized our activities on several occasions in his "Maryland Afield" column. Three members attended the hearing on the Potomac River Dams at the Department of Labor Auditorium in Washington in September. Many others have written their Congressmen and the Governor expressing their opposi- tion to the construction of the dams and urging that some other solution be found to solve the water problem for Washington. Mary Haines attended the last meeting on this subject at Winchester, Va. in January. She has made periodic reports to the membership. Individuals have also written the Congressmen opposing the private development of Assateague Island. Sixteen members attended the outing and Trustees meeting at Carey Run in October. This was a record turn-out. Five members made a trip to Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania. Ten members went to Rock Run Sanctuary, April 11, for an all-day outing and the Trustees meeting. The Education Chairman of the Frederick Chamber of Commerce invited our Chapter to send a representative to attend the "Welcome to New Teachers" dinner-meeting held in October at the West Frederick Junior High School. Hazel White was chosen as our representative and reported a warm reception and considerable interest in our exhibit, consisting of a bird feeder, bird books, literature, and colored slides loaned by Bert Haines. This was the first recognition of M.O.S. by other organized groups in the area. Another first was the December dinner-meeting held at the Fort Det- rick Officers' Club. Our featured speaker for the evening was Mrs. Gladys Cole who gave an informative talk on her bird banding activities. Our State President, Mrs. Edward Mendinhall, was our special guest. By request, a second dinner-meeting was held at the same place in April. Both were well attended. The Christmas Count, in spite of extremely bad weather, was made by seven members. At the end of the day. Dr. and Mrs. John W. Richards ser- ved a buffet supper to the group at their Emmitsburg home, a most welcome gesture extended by them each year. We participated in the State-wide Bird Count on May 2. Organized bird walks were scheduled twice a month with fair parti- cipation. Individual walks by members, however, were made frequently. Our year will end with a walk and picnic at Seneca, May 24. Our total membership stands at 38 adults and 2 juniors. We wish to thank the officers of the Baltimore Chapter for their cooperation and assistance in furnishing us with literature, such as their Blue Book, monthly newsletters, conservation reports, and other material which has been so useful in guiding us along the path to success. (Mrs.) Mary S. Motherway, President 5 ^ MARYLAND BIRD LIFE Yol. 20, No. 2 HARFORD COUNTY CHAPTER The Harford County Chapter held four well-attended dinner meetings. Besides the good fellowship of a delicious home- cooked meal, we had en- thusiastic reports on the birds of the various neighborhoods. The speak- er at each meeting was good. Either slides or movies accompanied each talk. We have seventy members, nine of whom are juniors. Several members assisted in the bird counts . A sale of bird feeders and bluebird nesting boxes netted enough to permit a $100 contribution to the M.O.S. Sanctuary Fund. A $15 repair bill on the mower used at Rock Run Sanctuary also was paid by our Chapter. Several field trips were made, and a trip to the C & 0 Canal is scheduled for June 6. Grace H. Wright, President KENT COUNTY CHAPTER During the year 1963-64 the Kent County Chapter showed improvement in all areas except field trips . The regular monthly meetings were well attended, programs were outstanding, with local talent really coming to the front. Through the expert guidance of our State President, Mrs. Edward Mendinhall, there was increased enthusiasm in State activities, particularly the Sanctuary program, and the Christmas and Spring bird counts. New records were set for Kent County in each count with Dr. Daniel Z. Gibson at the helm. The Chapter's membership continued to grow with the addition of interested and outstanding birders . We are looking forward to greater things, and hoping for increased fellowship with member clubs during the coming year. G. L. Gardner, President PATUXENT BIRD CLUB Our Chapter's year was marked by increased attendance at monthly meetings and more Junior Audubon activity. Our speakers, all from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, brought us illustrated lectures on hawk migration (Robbins), Bald Eagles in Alaska (Chura), Operation Re- covery on Maryland's Eastern Shore (Bridge), a Duck's Eye View of Wet- lands on the South Atlantic Coast (Sincock), Coastal Plain Natural History (Meanley), Moose Management and life History in Montana (Peek), and Aus- tralian Wildlife (Dr. Elizabeth Boyd). Field trips were scheduled to all sections of the State. Chapter members participated in eight Maryland Christmas Counts and covered six counties for the State-wide Bird Count on May 2. We have a weekly column In the Laurel News-Leader. Melvin H. Kleen, President SOLDIERS DELIGHT CHAPTER At the monthly meetings we had Interesting speakers. Mr. Nigel O'Conner Wolff gave a fascinating account of his two years in Uruguay June 1964 MARYLAND BIRDLIKE 55 as Director of a planetarium, a zoo, and a museum. The Soldiers Delight Chapter entertained the Baltimore Chapter at an Open House at Red Dog Lodge, Soldiers Delight, Deer Park Hoad on June 29. We participated in the State-wide Bird Count, and took forays in Baltimore, Carroll, and Anne Arundel Counties. Several members went far afield on trips to Canada, Washington, California, Oregon, Mexico, New Mexico and Maine. They returned filled with interesting stories and lengthened life lists. Several Chapter members led about 70 school children on a six-week session on Natural History. (Mrs.) Bertha W. Poe, President TALBOT COUNTY BIRD CLUB In the fall of 1963, the Talbot County Bird Club, led by Robert ■ Smith, attended three meetings, six Sunday breakfast hikes, two Audubon Screen Tours, helped with Operation Recovery on Tilghman Island, found a Sanctuary site and made an offer on it- -and talked about how to raise money. On December 22, we tallied a record 113 species for the Christmas Count- -and talked about how to raise money. In winter and spring of 1964 we attended three meetings, four Sun- day breakfast hikes, three Audubon Screen Tours, took a field trip to Ocean City, signed an option agreement for the Sanctuary- -and talked about how to raise money. You will be hearing more about the Sanctuary, so that is all for now --except to say, Sanctuary Much. Richard L. Kleen for Robert Smith, President 56 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, No. 2 ANNUAL REPORT of THE TREASURER MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. Fiscal Year April 20, 1963 to April 11, 1964 Balance on Hand, April 20,, 1963 $ 5810.69 Receipts ; Operating Receipts: Memberships (other than life) $1310.50 Dividends, Perpetual Building Ass’n 43-71 Net receipts, Ocean City 1963 138.61 Advertisement, Mirakel Optical Co. 15.00 $1507.82 Helen Miller Scholarship Fund: Anonymous $100.00 Frederick Club 10.00 Mrs. ffyra C. Taylor (from 1962) 38. 00 Mrs. Erma J. Fisk (Kent) 25.00 Mrs. Gladys Hix Cole 5.00 Kent County Chapter 10.00 Total Helen Miller Scholarship Receipts 188,00 Sanctuary Fuad Receipts: Dividends, W. Balto. Bldg. Ass'n 181.09 Commodity Credit Corp. Carey Run 29.88 Subtotal 210 .97 Sanctuary Fund Donations: Mrs. Priscilla Zuckerman 10. 96 Mr. William McAlpin (Kent) 1000.00 Frederick Chapter 25. 00 Mrs. Dorothy A. Mendinhall 10.00 Baltimore Chapter 270.00 Ruth Anne, Nancy & Ted McSorley (Kent) 18.75 Hilda Kane (Kent) 10.00 Talbot County Bird Club 18.00 Eleanor de Chadenados 5-00 Mrs. Louise T. Carswell 6.00 Sale of Bird Houses, Kent Chapter 49. 00 Total Sanctuary Fund Donations 1422 . 71 Total all Sanctuary Receipts 1633 .68 Total of all Receipts $3329.50 $3329.50 June 1964 MARYLAKD BIRD LI PE 57 Expenses : Operating Expenses Addr e s s o graph - Mult i graph Co. $ 38 • 76 Maryland Birdlife Printing - 4 issues 642-50 Envelopes 10.43 Stamps 127.12 Subtotal, Maryland Birdlife 780.05 Expenses, Office Secretary 127.92 Printing Membership list 65.OO Membership, National Audubon Society 15.00 Mimeograph Machine 397-50 Typewriter 203.20 Stamps, Office of Treasurer 5.00 Nesting Cards, Mrs. Bridge 17.05 Total Operating Expenses 1649.18 $1649.18 Helen Miller Scholarship Fund Melvin R. Garland, recipient 115.00 115.00 Sanctuary Expenses Improvements to Carey Run 800.61 Insurance , Carey Run 40.55 Taxes, Carey Run 32.02 Fencing, Carey Run 76.17 Rent, Rock Run 120.00 Insurance, Rock Run 47.52 Total Sanctuary Expenses III6.87 1116.87 Total Expenditures of the M. 0. S. $2881.05 Balance on Hand, April 1 , 1964 $6259.14 Distributed as follows: Middletown Savings Bank (checking account) $1178.61 Perpetual Building Association 400 . 49 West Baltimore Building Association 4680 . 04 Total $6259-1^ Respectfully submitted, T. S. CARSWELL, Treasurer Maryland Ornithological Society Auditing Committee: Mr. John Wanuga, Chairman Mr. Mahon Kingsley Capt . J . E . M . Wood MARYLAND BIRELIFE Vol. 20, No, 2 BY-LAWS OF MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. Adopted May 9# 1964 ARTICLE I - PURPOSES Section 1 . The purposes of the Society shall be those stated in "THIRD" of the Society* s Articles of Incorporation. ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF MEMBERS Section 1 . The annual meeting of the members of the Corporation shall be held at the offices of the Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland, on the second Saturday in the month of May. The Board of Trustees may, at their annual meeting following the aforesaid annual meeting of the mem- bership, select another place or date in the State of Maryland for the meeting the following year. The purpose of the annual meeting of the membership shall be to elect Trustees and Officers, and for the trans- action of such other business as may be lawfully brought before the meeting. The meeting shall be convened by the ranking officer present at 7:oo P* M., and adjourned or recessed at or before 10*00 P.M., during which time no other meetings or activities shall be scheduled for the M.O.S* Section 2 . Special meetings of the members shall be called by the Secre- tary upon written request of the President or of any three Trustees, provided that these Trustees all come from different Local Chapters. The business to be considered shall be specified in the request. If the meeting is called by the President ,. he shall specify the time and place of the meeting. If the special meeting is called by three Trustees, they shall specify the time and place. Section 3 . At least ten days prior to the annual meeting, and at least thirty days prior to the date of any special meeting of the members, the Secretary shall mail a notice to each member entitled to vote, at his last post-office address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. The notice of a special meeting shall clearly state the purpose of that meeting. Section 4 . To constitute a quorum at any meeting of the members, 10$ of the voting membership of the Corporation must be present. Section 5 . Each member, other than Junior members, shall be entitled to one vote on any matter coming before such meeting. Eligibility to vote at the annual meeting shall be limited to members who are registered at the annual meeting and who have paid M.O.S. dues for the current year. Eligibility to vote at a special meeting shall be limited to those voting members whose dues are paid as of the date of the meeting. Section 6. Motions made for the purpose of purchasing, leasing, or renting a Sanctuary, or for terminating such arrangements, or for altering, re- pealing, or amending the By-Laws, require a two- thirds affirmative vote of the members present to carry; all other business, unless otherwise June 1964 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 59 directed in Robert's Rules of Order (latest revised edition), require a majority vote of members present to carry. Section 7 . At all regular meetings the order of business shall be as follows: (a) Call to order (b) Reading and approval of (or correction to) the minutes of the previous meeting. (c) Reading of the Report of the Treasurer. (d) Reports of Officers and Committees. (e) Unfinished business , (f) New business. (g) If the annual meeting, the Election of Trustees and Officers. (h) Adjournment. Section 8 . The minutes of the annual meeting, together with all reports or abstracts of such reports presented at the meeting, shall be published in the June issue of Maryland Sirdlife . which shall be mailed not more than 60 days after the meeting. ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP Section 1 . Members shall be by classes on an annual basis for the year September 1 to August 31 . Membership in any class shall be open, upon application to the Secretary, to any person in sympathy with the purposes and objectives of the Corporation, and upon payment of the dues applic- able to the class of membership elected. The classes of memberships and dues payable therefore shall be as follows: (a) Honorary : Honorary members shall be those to whom such mesber- ship is awarded for meritorious service in behalf of the pur- poses and objectives of the Corporation. Any member of the M.O.S. may nominate, in writing to the President, a candidate for honorary membership. The President shall then submit the name to the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, who will vote for or against the election of the Candidate. For election, it is required that an unanimous vote of the Trustees shall be in favor of the Candidate. An honorary member shall have all the privileges of an active member, but shall be excused from pay- ment of all M.O.S. dues and fees. (b) Patrons : Patrons shall be those who contribute in not more than four installments the sum of $1,000.00 or more, provided that no contribution for Patron membership shall be accepted if the designated use is determined by the Executive Council to be outside the scope of purposes stated in ARTICLE I. No annual M.O.S. dues thereafter shall be required from this class. (c) Life Members : A life member shall be a person who contributes the sum of $100.00 in not more than four annual installments; no annual M.O.S. dues thereafter shall be required from this class. Life membership dues shall go to the Sanctuary Fund. (d) Sustaining Members : Sustaining members shall be those persons who pay annual M. 0. S. dues of $5.00. (e) Active Members : Active members shall be those persons who pay annual M.O.S. dues of $2.00. (f) Family Members : A man and wife, as a family, shall pay annual 60 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20. No. 2 M.O.S. dues of $3*00. Children under 18 years of age shall not be listed as members. Only one copy of MARYLAND BIFnLTFB shall be sent to family members; but each member shall be en- titled to one vote. (g) Junior Members ; Junior membership shall be limited to persons under 18 years of age; they shall pay annual dues of $0.50; they shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the Corpora- tion. Section 2. Dues for new active or new family memberships received after February 1 shall be one-half of the^abeve amounts! Section 3 . Members t whose dues remain unpaid on February 1, shall be dropped from the roll. Section 4 . ** Dues for any class of membership may be changed at any time upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees and approval by two-thirds vote of the M.O.S. members present at any regular or special meeting. ARTICLE IV - LOCAL CHAPTERS Section 1. A Local Chapter of the M.O.S. may be organized by any group of not less than ten within the State of Maryland. After organization, the local group shall petition the President of the M.O.S., in writing, for recognition as a Local Chapter. The petition shall include a copy of the Constitution and/or By-Laws for the proposed Local Chapter. The President shall pass this petition on to the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, and the latter shall vote for or against the incorporation of the local unit in the M.O.S. Following such election, each Local Chapter may admin- ister its affairs in a manner consistent in all respects with the Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws of the M. 0. S. Section 2 . Each Local Chapter shall be responsible for the collection of dues from all of its members, and the forwarding of these dues to the Treasurer of the M.O.S. ARTICLE V - TRUSTEES Section 1 . Each Local Chapter having from 10 to 100 members shall be en- titled to be represented on the Board of Trustees by two of its voting members, who shall be nominated by the Local Chapter, in accordance with its By-Laws, at least twenty days prior to the annual meeting of the Corporation. In all cases, the President of the Local Chapter shall be nominated as one Trustee. Local Chapters having a membership in excess of 100 shall be entitled to be represented by, and in a like manner nom- inate, one Trustee from eaeh 100 members, or part thereof, in excess of 100 members. The nominations of such Trustees shall be reported as such nominees to the msmbers at the annual meeting. No nomineees from the floor for Trustees shall be permitted at the annual meeting. The mem- bers present at the annual meeting shall then vote upon the nominees; a majority vote of those present is required for election. The term of each Trustee shall begin on the date of the annual meeting and continue for one year, or until his successor is elected and qualified. June 1964 MARYLAND BIRDLIFB 61 Section 2 . A vacancy in a Trusteeship shall be filled by the Local Chapter in accordance with the By-Laws of that Chapter, and the nominee shall be confirmed or rejected by the Board of Trustees, ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS Section 1 . The elected Officers of the Corporation s hall be elected from and by the voting members thereof, and shall be a President, a First and Second Vice-President; a Treasurer, and a Secretary, each of whom shall serve for one year, or until a successor is elected. The officers shall rank in the order named above. Section 2 . It shall be the duty of the President to preside at meetings of the members, of the Board of Trustees, and the Executive Council. Sub- ject to the Board of Trustees and the Executive Council, he shall exer- cise general supervision and control over the affairs of the Corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him from tine to time by the Board of Trustees and the Executive Council. Section 3 . In the event that the President is absent, or is unable to act, or is totally incapacitated from performing his duties, the First Vice- President assumes the title and duties of the President. Section 4 . In the event that the First Vice-President assumes the office of President, or if the First Vice-President is incapacitated, the Second Vice-President assumes the title and duties of the First Vice-President. Section 5 . The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep the minutes of the annual and any special meetings; of the meetings of the Board of Trustees and of the Executive Council; to keep an up-to-date membership list, and to notify the members and Trustees of meetings, as provided in the articles above. The Secretary shall send a copy of the minutes of all meetings to the Executive Secretary within 10 days of the meeting. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the seal of the Corporation, Section 6 . ” The Treasurer shall have the duties of keeping the financial records of the. Corporation; of seeing that the dues are forwarded by the Local Chapters; of notifying the Chapters of any delinquencies in paying dues; and of furnishing the Secretary with a list of paid-up members at least ten days before the annual meeting. He also shall notify the Secretary, or Executive Secretary, of changes in the membership list once every month. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to prepare, for presentation at the annual meeting, a full and detailed financial state- ment as of April 20. Section 7 . Each Officer of the Corporation shall be elected by a majority vote at the annual meeting, by ballot or vive-voce vote as the meeting determines. The officers shall assume their duties immediately upon election, and shall hold office for one year, or until their successors are chosen, or unless they are removed from the office as provided in Section 8 immediately below. 62 .MARYLAND BIRBLIFE Vol. 20. No. 2 Section 8 . Any. Officer of the Corporation may be removed from office by a three-fourths vote of the total number of Trustees. It is not necessary for Trustees to show cause for such removal from office. Section 9. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President which cannot be filled by the succession of First or Second Vice-Presidents as specified in Section 3 above, the Board of Trustees, by a majority vote of the entire number of Trustees, shall fill the vacancy from the member- ship of the Board. Likewise, the Board of Trustees shall fill any other vacancy in any other office or in any Committee, in accordance with the requirements of the By-Laws. ARTICLE VII - EDITOR Section 1 . The Editor shall be a non-elected officer of the Corporation, appointed by the President. Section 2 . It shall be the duty of the Editor to write, edit, and publish, with such assistance as he may need, Maryland Blrdlife . or such other magazines or papers as the Board of Trustees may request. ARTICLE VIH - EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Section 1 . The Executive Secretary shall be a non-elected officer of the Corporation who shall be appointed by the President and who shall reside within a convenient commuting distance of the home office of the Corpor- ation at the Cylbum Mansion in Baltimore. Section 2 . The Executive Secretary shall, with the cooperation of the Treasurer, maintain a current list of the membership and a current file of addressograph plates; shall advise the appropriate Chapter Treasurers of any delinquencies in the paying of dues; and shall prepare for each meeting of the membership, of the Board of Trustees, and of the Execu- tive Committee, a current report on membership by class and Chapter. Section 3 . The Executive Secretary shall cooperate with the State Secre- tary in notifying the members, Officers, and Trustees, of meetings. On receipt of the minutes of a meeting from the State Secretary, the Executive Secretary shall, within 10 days, reproduce and mail copies thereof, to all the Officers and all the Trustees and any Committee mem- bers concerned. Section 4 . The Executive Secretary shall cooperate with the President and State Secretary in reproducing and distributing newsletters and memoranda. Section 5 . The Executive Secretary shall cooperate with the Editor in the preparation, publication, and distribution of the publications of the Corporation . Section 6 . The Executive Secretary, or his designated assistant, shall, at least once a week, visit the home office to obtain the mail and to take appropriate care thereof, and to file and maintain custody of the exchange periodicals. June 1964 MARYLAND BIKDLIFE *2 ARTICLE IX - BOARD OF TRUSTEES Section 1 . There shall be a Board of Trustees of not less than three, but equal to the total number of Trustees to which the Local Chapters are entitled. Section 2 . The Board of Trustees shall consist of the Trustees as elected in Article V, Section 1, and all the elected officers as described in Article VI, Section 1. However, only the elected Trustees shall have a vote on the Board; except that, in the case of a tie, the Presiding Officer shall cast the deciding vote. The same individual may serve both as a Trustee and as an Officer. Section 3 . The Board of Trustees shall have a minimum of two meetings each year: (A) An initial meeting following the annual membership meet- ing, and (B) A meeting approximately 8 weeks before the annual convention. Section 4 . At the initial meeting, the Board of Trustees shall organize for the year; elect the members of its Executive Council; elect the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Sanctuary Committee; select the loca- tion for the next annual meeting, and transact such other business as lawfully may be brought before the meeting. Section 5 . At its concluding meeting, the Board of Trustees shall receive and act on the reports of its Officers and Committees for the last year; prepare its report and recommendations for presentation to the member- ship at the annual meeting; and take care of any unfinished business. Section 6 . Between the meeting specified in Section 3» the Board of Trustees shall meet as often as needed to give proper and prompt atten- tion to the affairs of the Corporation. Such interim meetings may be called by the President or by any three Trustees, providing that each such Trustee shall be from a different Local Chapter. No less than ten days notice of such interim meetings shall be given in writing to the Trustees and to all of the Officers. The notice of such interim meetings shall indicate the major reasons for calling the meeting, but the busi- ness of the meeting shall not necessarily be limited to the stated items. Section 7 . At all meetings of the Board of Trustees, a majority of the total number of Trustees to which all the Local Chapters are entitled shall constitute a quorum. Section 8 . A Trustee who cannot be present at a meeting may designate in writing another member of the M.O.S. to serve as a proxy. Said proxy shall then have all the voting privileges of the absent Trustee. A proxy must be a member other than another Trustee and must be from the same Local Chapter as the absentee. Section 9 . The Board of Trustees may vote by mail on matters referred to it by the President or the Executive Council. The following procedure shall be followed in voting by mails 64 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, No. 2 (a) The matter or motion shall be fully and clearly stated. (b) It shall be stated who made and seconded the motion and what the vote of the Executive Council was on the motion. (c) A time and date, not sooner than 20 days after the mailing of the ballots, shall be specified for the return and the counting of the ballots. (d) The ballot shall provide three options, as follows* 1 in favor of 2 opposed to 3 for deferral of action until the next meeting of the Board of Trustees. (e) A suitable ballot form shall be prescribed by the Board for all voting by mail. (f) Any motion to be approved by mail shall receive not less than a three-fourths vote of the full Board in the affirmative. (g) Within ten days of the counting of the ballots, the Secretary shall mail to all Trustees and all Officers the result of the vote and shall list by name how each Trustee voted. (h) Each ballot must be signed and dated by the Trustee voting it. Date of receipt must be certified on each ballot by the Secretary. Ballots received after the specified time shall not be counted. All ballots shall be preserved for one year. Section 10. The Board of Trustees may fill a vacancy in any office by mail ballot, providing it is done in three steps, as follows* (a) Notice of the vacancy is mailed to all Trustees, together with a statement of who is eligible and a call for nominations. A date, not sooner than ten days after the mailing of this notice, is specified for the receipt of nominations in writing, together with a statement that the consent of the nominee has been obtained. (b) The list of nominees s hall be mailed to all the Trustees with a call for seconds. A date, not sooner than ten days after the mailing of the list, shall be specified for the receipt of the seconds in writing. (c) A ballot containing only the names of the persons who have been duly nominated and seconded shall be mailed to all the Trustees. A date, not sooner than ten days after the mailing of the ballots, shall be specified for the receipt of and the counting of the ballots. A Trustee shall sign and date his ballot; the Secretary shall certify the date of receipt on each ballot. Within ten days of the counting of the ballots, the Secre- tary shall notify by mail all the Trustees, all the Officers, and the successful nominee of the results of the election. Letters of nomination, letters seconding the nominations, and all ballots shall be preserved for one year in the records of the Corporation. Section 11 . Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the Board of Trustees. The Secretary of the M.O.S. shall act as Secretary of the Board of Trustees. In the absence of the Secretary of the M.O.S. , the Board shall appoint a Secretary pro-tern. June 196^- MARYLAND BIRELIFE 65 ARTICLE X - EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Section 1 . The Executive Council shall consist of seven Trustees and the Committee Chairmen as the voting members thereof, plus the Officers of the M.O.S. , as described in Article VI, Section 1, as ex-officio, but non- voting members. The other seven members shall be elected from the Trustees by the Trustees at the initial meeting of the Board of Trustees. Each of these seven voting members shall be from a different Local Chapter. Section 2 . The Executive Council, when the Board of Trustees is not in session, shall have general charge of the affairs of the Corporation. All meetings shall be in person and no business may be conducted by mail or by telephone or by other means of communication. Section 3 . The Executive Council shall meet as frequently as needed to attend to the business of the Corporation expeditiously, but not less often than once every three months. The Executive Council shall meet at the call of the President or any two voting members. Ten days advance notice of all Executive Council meetings shall be given to all its mem- bers. Section k . At meetings of the Executive Council, four voting members shall constitute a quorum. The ranking officer present shall preside. Section 5 . The Executive Council shall, prior to the start of the new fiscal year (September 1) prepare and adopt a budget for the new fiscal year. Section 6 . Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the Executive Council, The Secretary of the M.O.S. shall act as Secretary of the Executive Council. In the absence of the Secretary of the M.O.S., the Council shall appoint a Secretary pro- tern. Section 7 . Copies of the minutes of the Executive Council shall be mailed within 20 days after each meeting to all Trustees, all Officers, the Editor, and any Chairmen of Committees who are concerned. Section 8. All actions of the Executive Council are subject to review and approval by the Board of Trustees, Any action of the Executive Council may be reversed, superseded, or otherwise altered by a majority vote of the full Board of Trustees. ARTICLE XI - COMMITTEES Section 1, The Board of Trustees, at its initial meeting following the annual meeting, shall elect the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Sanctu- ary Committee. The President, with the approval of the Executive Council, shall appoint the other members of the Sanctuary Committee, and al l o ther Chairmen and members of other Committees, except the Nominating Committee, 66 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol, 20, No. 2 as provided in Section 3 below. Not more than two members of any one Committee may be appointed from the same Local Chapter. All standing Committees shall be composed of seven members, except for the Nominat- ing and Auditing Committees, as provided for in Sections 3 and 4 below, respectively. Section 2 . The Sanctuary Committee shall consist of voting members but shall not be subject to the restriction of Section 1, which limits the number of members on the committee from a given Local Chapter. The Board shall elect one member to be Chairman, and one to be Vice-Chairman. This Committee shall have the duty, subject to the control of the Board of Trustees, of investigating the acquisition, renting or leasing, and of the construction of, and of supervising and managing, the affairs of any bird or wildlife sanctuary or other nature project belonging to, or coming under the control of, the Corporation. Section 3 . The Nominating Committee shall consist of five voting members, appointed by the Board of Trustees from the membership at large. The Board of Trustees shall elect one of these persons to be Chairman. The Nominating Committee shall have the duty of preparing and presenting to the annual meeting a slate of names for all Officers, for submission to the members for election at the annual meeting. No nomination shall be made without the nominee's prior consent to accept the position if he is elected. Section 4 . The Auditing Committee shall consist of three persons appointed by the President from the membership at large; these shall be voting menu bers; they shall hold no other offices or trusteeships in the M.O.S. One person of these three shall be designated as Chairman by the President. It shall be the duty of the Auditing Committee to audit the books of the Treasurer one week before the annual meeting, and report to the members at the meeting. ARTICLE XII - SIGNATURES Section 1 . All notes of the corporation shall be signed by both the President and the Treasurer or, in the extended absence of the President, by one of the Vice-Presidents. Checks for running expenses (defined in Section 2) may be signed by either the Treasurer or the President. All other checks must be signed by both the Treasurer and President. Section 2 . Expenses which result from normal operation, such as taxes, rent, cost of electricity, printing Maryland Birdllfe . and others desig- nated by the Executive Council, shall be called Running Expenses. Running Expenses shall be paid by the Treasurer without action by the Council. Expenses other than Running Expenses shall be subject to approval by the Executive Council if not in excess of $200. or by a majority of the Trustees if in excess of $200, June 1964 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 6Z ARTICLE mi - DISSOLUTION Section 1. In the event of dissolution of the Corporation, action shall be as stated in TWELFTH of Articles of Incorporation. ARTICLE XIV - AMENDMENTS Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended by two-thirds favorable vote of the voting members of the Corporation present at any regular or special meeting, provided that the proposed amendment shall have been approved for consideration by the Board of Trustees, and shall have been distri- buted, in writing, to members of the Corporation not less than 30 days prior to the meeting. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS 1964-65 Audit: Mr. Mabon Kingsley, Chairman; Mr. John Wanuga and Capt. J. E. M. Wood. Budget : Dr. Douglas Miner, Chairman; Mr. Richard Kleen, Vice- chairman; Mrs. Shirley Gedde, Mr, Edward Mendinhall, By-Laws : Conservation Nominating : Publication : Sanctuary : Dr. Turner L. Smith. Mr. Barclay E, Tucker, Chairman; Mrs. John Murison. i_ Dr. and Mrs. David Spring. ~ Mr. Mel Garland, Chairman; Mrs. Robert Kaestner, Mrs. Joshua Rowe, Dr. Howard Hodge, Miss Nan Livingston. Mr. Chandler S. Robbins, Editor; Mr. Mel Garland, Assistant Editor. Dr, Rowland Taylor, Chairman; Mr. Mel Garland, Vice- chairman; Mrs. Gordon Taylor, Mr. William Corless, Mr. Anderson Martin, Mrs. Evelyn Gregory, Mr. Robert Sharp, H, Mrs. B. F. Early, Mrs. Turner Smith and Mrs. Gardner Tillinghast. SCHOLARSHIP WINNER We take pleasure in announcing that Mrs. Laddie Flyger of the Anne Arundel Chapter has been awarded the M.O.S. Helen Miller Audubon Nature Camp Scholarship for 1964. Mrs. Flyger will attend the Maine Audubon Camp. 68 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, No. 2 JAMJARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, 1964 Chandler S. Robbins Abnormally heavy snowfall in Maryland provided an appropriate setting for the invasion of winter finches that encompassed the entire State. By the end of March a seasonal record of 51-4 inches of snow had fallen at Friendship Airport, though no more than 7 inches were on the ground at any one time. At Bittinger on the Allegheny Plateau, however, the official snow cover reached a depth of 33 inches on Feb. 28. Temperatures averaged about normal in January, 2° to 4° below normal in February, then 2° above normal in March. February weather was not at all conducive to migration. Tempera- tures did not get above the 50' s at any Maryland station after the first week of that month. A most welcome break in the weather finally arrived on Mar. 5, when a warm front raised the mercury well into the 70 's at most stations east of the mountains. This front released the major migratory movement of Red -winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles and brought migrant Killdeers and Fox Sparrows. Maritime tropical air (not associated with warm fronts) again penetrated into Maryland on Mar. 9~10 and Mar. 25-26, and brought with it additional hordes of early migrants. Since none of the big March flights occurred on weekends there was often a delay of one or more days in observing the new arrivals . Table 1 shows first spring arrival dates, by counties, for selected species. A "0" indicates that the species was not reported during the period; "W" means that the arrival date was not noted because of the presence of wintering individuals; a dash means that the species was recorded, but not on a significant arrival date. Most of the observations summarized in Table 1 were supplied by the following members: Alle gany County- -Anderson J. Martin; Balti more City and County — Mrs. Robert E. Kaestner, Mrs. Richard D. Cole; Stephen W. Simon, Ed Rykiel, Hank Kaestner; How ard — Morris R. Collins, Rosamond Munro, Arthur Kraeski; Montgomery- -Lucille V. Smith, Robert W. Warfield; Prince Georges --Vernon Kleen,' Ted Stiles, Ted Van Velzen, Lois M. Horn, Brooke Meanley, Mr. and Mrs. David Bridge, Tom Valega; Anne Arundel-- Mrs. W. L. Henderson, Prof, and Mrs. David G. Howard, Kent & Queen Annes --Mr. and Mrs. E. Mend inhall, M. Emerine, Louise Carswell, Dr. Sevin, Turner Smith, Terry Moore; Carol ine --Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Fletcher, Marvin Hewitt, Harry Hubbard; Talbo t --Jan Reese, Don Meritt, Richard L. Kleen, June 19 64 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 69 Mildred Galloway, Chris Clark; Lower Eastern Shore-' -Samuel H. Dyke. Thanks are extended to these participants and to all other observers who submitted notes during this period. Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1964 Species Alle Balt Howd Mont Rr.G Anne K&QA Caro Talb LES Whistling Swan 3/13 3/8' 0 0 3/12 3/ 7 W 0 4/ 2 W Canada Goose 0 3/13 3/23 2/29 3/ 7 3/13 W W 3/22 W Wood Duck 0 3/27 __ 2/29 3/ l -- 4/19 3/10 3/29 2/21 Ring- necked Duck 0 3/19 -- -- 3/11 2/25 4/ 6 3/23 2/ 9 W Osprey 0 0 -- 4/ 6 4/ 9 3/28 3/29 3/15 3/ 9 3/18 Killdeer 3725 " 3/ 6 -- 3/7 2JW W W 3/ 7 w Common Snipe -- 0 -- 3/ 4 3/28 3/28 -- V 5 w Greater Yellowlegs 0 -- 0 -- 4/ 9 3/28 3/27 3/23 4/ 5 4/ 8 Yellow- sh . Fli cker 3/19 w 3/1 6 w 3/10 3/28 W w 3/22 W Eastern Phoebe 3/24 3/24 3/29 2/26 3/ 8 V 26 -- 3/ 12 3/22 3/ 9 Tree Swallow 1/2 T 4/11 3/27 V 3 3/27 3/22 Barn Swallow -- 4/23 4/13 -- 3/27 4/10 3/27 4/ 7 3/27 4/ 7 Purple Martin 3/29 -- -- 3/15 3/24 4/10 3/23 3/17 3/29 4/ 5 Robin 2/1 6 -- 2/16 2/10 2/ 3 3/28 w w 2/13 w Eastern Bluebird -- -- 3/14 3/ 8 2/26 w w 3 / 2 w Ruby-cr. Kinglet 4/25 3/24 4/12 4/18 4/10 3/30 4/26 ~37iT 4/25 3725 Pine Warbler -- -- 3/20 4/ 6 -- -- -- 3/10 3/22 3/ 6 Red-winged Blackbird -- 3/ 1 3/22 3/ 1 -- 3/ 6 W w 3/ 5 2/29 Rusty Blackbird 3/U 3/22 3/ 5 2/29 Common Grackle 2/10 3/ 6 3/16 2/13 W w w w 3 / 5 w Purple Finch hJW 3/30 4/24 -- -- V 3 4/24 4/19 3726 Rufous- sided Towhee 4/ 4 4/1 6 3/15 3/10 w w w W 3/22 w Vesper Sparrow 3/22 3/U -- -- 3/30 4/15 4/17 Chipping Sparrow 4/15 3/24 4/12 3/30 3/2 5 4/12 -- 4 / 3 3/29 3/20 Fox Sparrow -- 3/ 3 2/18 3/11 2/22 2/22 3/26 3/12 3/29 w Loons . Hank Kaestner, who visited Loch Raven reservoir periodically as part of a research project, found 2 Common Loons there on Mar . 27, eight days ahead of the earliest Maryland date for migrating individuals. Red -throated Loons were not recorded in Talbot County during the winter; a single bird seen at Tilghman on Mar. 20 hy Jan Reese probably was a migrant as the spring migration of this species starts a month ahead of that of the Common Loon. Grebe s . The southward migration of Horned Grebes generally is completed by mid -December . The latest record of a migrant prior to this winter was Dec. 29 . There must have been a considerable migration this winter on the night of Dec. 33 because on New Years morning about a dozen stranded birds were picked out of the snow in residential areas of Howard, Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties and neighboring Virginia. The most likely explanation for this phenomenon is that these grebes were migrating at night through the freezing rain and gathered so much ice on their plumage that they were unable to remain air- borne. Since grebes cannot take flight from land, these birds were quite helpless unless they happened to come down near open water. Waterfowl . The first sighting of migrating Whistling Swans was _on 70 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, Ho. 2 Mar. 7 over Annapolis "by Prof, and Mrs. David Howard. According to the weather map these birds would have run into a cold front accompanied by rain and snow showers before reaching the Great Lakes. That some of the birds from this flight may have turned back and retreated southward is suggested by the appearance of 3 individuals on Loch Raven the next day (Kaestner). Similar conditions prevailed on Mar. 12-13: light southeasterly winds and clear skies over the Chesapeake on the 12th, but a cold front and snow storm approaching over the Appalachians. This time it was not swans, but 53 Canada Geese that Hank Kaestner found nesting on Loch Raven on the 13th. His maximum count of 57 Common Mergansers on the 13th suggests an arrested flight of this species at the same time. His greatest variety (Mallard, Black Duck, American Widgeon, Blue -winged Teal, Wood Duck, Redhead, Ring -necked Duck, Canvasback, Greater Scaup, and Hooded, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers) Occurred on Mar. 27, when once again an extensive snow storm covered the area between Maryland and the Great Lakes. Prof. Harold Wierenga found a pair of European Widgeon at the mouth of the South River (Hillsmere Shores) on Mar. 23 only. As many as 4 King Eiders were seen at Ocean City on Feb. 15 by Don Meritt. Hawks . Despite the abundance of other northern birds this winter, there was only a moderate influx of Rough-legged Hawks. The highest tally was 3 at Tilghman on Jan. 29 by Jan Reese. An immature Goshawk was observed at Melson's, Wicomico Co., on Feb. 19 and 20 (Samuel H, Dyke)* Very few Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks were reported during the period; populations of these two species seem to be dropping at an alarming rate. The Pigeon Hawk is rare in winter in Maryland, especially at inland locations; one was seen at the Patuxent Research Center on Feb. 15 by Fred Schmid. Woodcock and Phalaropes . The first big influx of Woodcock was noted at Tilghman on Feb . 26 when Don Meritt counted 5* He had seen single birds since Feb. 3* Omitted from the fall summary were a Wilson's Phalarope and a Northern Phalarope, both near the Marshall Dierssen Refuge in Montgomery Co. on Oct. 5 (Carl Carlson). Jaegers . A jaeger report that should have been included in the fall migration summary was of 3 Parasitic Jaegers, including one with the long distinctive tail feathers of an adult. These were seen chasing Royal Terns at Ocean City on the late date of Nov . 3 Hy Dr. Fritz Scheider. These predatory sea birds migrate primarily far out over the ocean; the best time to look for them from the other beach is in late afternoon. Gulls and Terns . Gulls are so commonplace at tidewater locations that few observers bother to make the periodic counts that are necessary if the start of the spring migration is to be determined. Observations at Tilghman by Jan Reese show that a major influx of Herring Gulls occurred on or before Mar. 21; Ring -billed Gull, Feb. 20; and Bona- parte's Gull, Mar. 29- Also on Mar. 29, 2 migrating Bonaparte's were seen flying up the Potomac at Seneca by Robert Warfield. Terry Moore identified a Glaucous Gull at Kent Narrows on Mar. 24 and showed it Vol. 20, No. 2 MARYLAND BIRD LIFE 71 to Dick Kleen on Mar. 27- Sam Dyke found an early Royal Tern at Ocean City on Mar. 2 6 . Owls . There was a minor movement _ of Snowy Owls into the northern states this winter, but none was reported from Maryland. The Short - eared Owl was finally added to the Talbot County list on Jan. 5, when Jan Reese identified a single bird in the Tilghman area. Saw-whet Owls, if present, were not recorded; there should have been a northward movement during March, but few if any banders were operating nets at night at that time. Most of our information on the Saw-whet comes from banding stations and from road kills. Swallows . Purple Martins had arrived at Greensboro as early as Mar. 17 (2 birds by H. Hubbard), but in other areas they were not found until the last week of the month. All species except the Cliff Swallow were reported before the end of March. Nuthatches , Both the White -breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches were regular visitors at feeding stations in most of Maryland, but no one noted more than 5 individuals at a time . Thrashers , Thrushes . Two Brown Thrashers that attempted to winter at feeding stations in the Piedmont apparently failed to survive; one at Laurel was last seen on Jan. 5 (Ted Stiles), and one in Baltimore on Jan. 17 (Charles Buchanan). A third bird at Silver Spring survived to at least Feb. 17 (Dr. Clarence Cottam) . Hermit Thrushes began to arrive as early as Mar. 22 at Tilghman; the best Eastern Bluebird count, also from Tilghman, was of hO birds on Mar. 2 (Reese). On the latter date 6 Eastern Bluebirds also arrived at Denton (Roberta B. Fletcher). Pipits , Orioles . Jan Reese observed a tremendous movement of 2,000 Water Pipits on Mar. 22. He saw them first near Tilghman, where they "engulfed a field, much like a locust blight, and probably cleaned it dry of any grubs that were there." Then they passed on to the next field. Four hours later he found them again, six miles to the north up the Bay Hundred Peninsula. This is by far the largest number ever recorded in spring in the Free State. In addition to the Howards' usual wintering population of Baltimore Orioles in Annapolis, single birds were studied at feeding stations in Talbot County, Jan. 1-23 (Mrs. Mildred Galloway), Denton, Jan. 19 (Winifred Bright), Laurel, Feb. 22 to Mar. 1 (Mrs. Wyeth B. Albertie), and Greenbelt to Mar. 5 (Mrs. Rosemary Bridge ) . Crossbills . The highest counts of Red Crossbills for each locality were as follows: k at Bowie, Jan. l8 (Fred Schmid), l6 at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Jan. 2 4 (Bruce Newman), 3 at Odenton, Jan. 25 (Daniel Bystrak, Bill Anderson), 8 at Salisbury, Feb. 1 (Sam Dyke), 2 banded at Laurel, Feb. 15 (Ted Stiles). Bruce Newman submitted 11 re- cords of White -winged Crossbills, totaling 87 individuals, all but 2 in Prince Georges County; his highest counts by localities were: 15 at Riverdale, Jan. 5> 2 at Takoma Park, Jan. 5; ^ at Avondale, Jan. 7; 1 at Brentwood, Jan. 8; 21 at Beltsville, Jan. 19; 1 at Mt . Rainier, 72 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 20, No. 2 Jan. 22; and l4 at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Jan. 2k. This last observation brought the all-time Patuxent list to 252 species. High counts from other members were: 30 at Annapolis on Dec. 29 (Harold Wierenga); 25 at Beltsville on Jan. 27 (Tom Valega); and 25 at Laurel on Jan. 25 (Ted Stiles ) . Other Pinches ■ Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins occurred regularly at many feeding stations throughout the period. Too many members just took these birds for granted and did not bother to report counts or estimates of their populations. The highest totals reported were 50 to 100 Evening Gros- beaks daily at the home of Marvin Hewitt in Greensboro from Jan. 19 on; 296 Evening Grosbeaks banded by Vernon Kleen at his home in Laurel; and l6 Pine Siskins at Avondale on Feb. 1 (Bystrak). The only Pine Grosbeak known to have reached Maryland this winter was studied from a distance of 6 feet at Denton on Jan. 11 by Winnifred Bright, who also had a Dickcissel at her feeder, Jan. 19 to Mar. 21. Two Dickcissels were seen at Gibson Island on Mar. 10 (Mrs. W. L. Henderson). Migratory Bird Populations Station Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel COMING EVENTS June 19-21 July 11 Sept. 13 Nov. 5 BALTIMORE Junior Nature Gasp at Caap Waredaca in Unity, Md. , near the Seth Low farm. For information contact Mrs. Alfred Lawson, 233 Gaywood Rd. , Balt. 12. 'Phone DR7-