MARYLAND BIRDLIFE IBufbUn oj- tllZ when 223 birds were pro- cessed. Although 223 is not a particularly high total for one day, they were all caught in k hours of netting. Miss Ireland furled the ■ nets at 10 a.m. after taking out 184 birds. The nets were lowered again at 5 p.m. and an additional 39 were taken. Our nine -day total was 908 birds of which 290 were Catbirds. We handled 66 species. It is hoped that a longer period can be spent by some team in this area next fall as December 19 66 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 103 the location seems to have great potential. Max C. Thompson and Irma T. Ireland Dams ite Banding at Dams ite OR station was gratifying chief- ly because of the change of pace adopted this year. Rather than numbers , we spe- cialized in thoroughness of processing, striving to main- tain our best standards of completion of records and promptness of reporting. Tills often necessitated closing nets during peak Black -throated Blue Warbler flights when help was scarce. Dams ite Fortunately, many of the heaviest days were on the week end. Thanks to the cooperation of experienced banders such as Mel Garland and Lina Whiteside, we achieved the honor of being mentioned in the OR Progress Report as one of the "five most valuable stations." Added to this was the staunch perennial assistance of Hilda Kane, James Smith, and the Delarios, who carried the main responsibility for clear- ing nets and keeping records. Dr. Katherine Yaw cooperated with Dr. Sonenshine on the tick project. Mr. Robbins' visits were inspiring, in- formative, and appreciated. My special thanks go to everyone who helped and particularly to the Migratory Bird Populations Station staff, who were always on hand with prompt service and information whenever the need arose. Dorothy A. Mendinhall Denton The Denton Station was in operation for 20 days during August, 10 days in September, and 12 days in October. In August, only 51 birds were banded in klb net -hours, the most common being Mockingbird. •The most common bird in September was Cardinal, and in October, the White -throated Sparrow. A total of II 38 net hours dur- Blackburnian Warbler - Tjnmsite ing the three months yielded ll4 birds of 51 species. The most noteworthy was a Lark Bunting. Roberta B. Fletcher 104 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22, Wo. 4 Kent Po int Banding operations began at Kent Point this year on August 27 and continued every day to October 2. The skies were clear through Septem- ber 13- Over 1700 birds were banded during this period of good weather. The unusually prolonged rains in late September were detrimental to both banding and banders J In the last 17 days of September , rain was re- corded on eleven days and fewer than 1200 birds were banded. September l4 was the BIG DAY for Danny Bystrak. He records, "Fantastic weather l Wind 24 m.p.h. and tide two feet above normal. It has rained all day and is now coming down in buckets (ouch.'). Four trees and an offshore duck blind washed into the Bay today. The nets have caught 'fifteen million' leaves and are plastered against the trees; some have a foot of water under them. Two new birds were caught today. I certainly look forward to many more happy days at Kent Point, although I know there will never be another day like THE BIG DAY. 11 Another day, the fifth rainy day in a row for Jane Church, was recorded as "about as lousy as possible i" In spite of the rain the station was operated every day, which shows, I suppose, that some people are either very dedicated or do not know when to stop birding and go home. The station was also operated for eight days in October, mostly on weekends. October 15 was a record day at Kent Point with the largest number of birds (536) ever caught, of which 490 were Myrtle Warblers. Blue Jay migration was not as spectacular this fall with only 455 banded compared with 95^- last year. However, two Blue Jays were caught that had been banded at Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania (May 1963) and Jamesburg, New Jersey (June 1965). Monarch butterflies were very rare this fall because of a virus which has killed most of the population. David Bridge Ocean City In previous years Chan Robbins has taken on the task of opening the Worth Ocean City station. In 1966 he was unable to do so and two of our young college students, Ted Stiles from Oberlin College in Ohio and Ed Rykiel, from Loyola College in Baltimore, opened up on August 31 and manned the station until September 9- They completely processed (which means weighing, measuring the wing, examining far fat and ticks, ageing, sexing, and banding) every bird. It takes dedication for young people to give of their time when the summer vacation is ending and others are resting on the beaches. Our sincere thanks to Ted and Ed. September was wetter than usual and many times nets had to be furled, waiting for the rain to stop. There were no peak days of migration that month. Our best day was 251 banded. There Is some advantage to slow banding; this gave us time for comparisons and discussions. If the in- formation acquired is to be of any value, there must be uniformity among the banders. Each person had a chance to perform all the operations in processing the birds, which we did not have time for on a busy day. We also had time to talk and explain Operation Recovery to interested visitors, many of whom wanted to help. Later in October we were very grateful for their assistance. December 19 66 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 105 From October 9 until November 1, there was no shortage of birds- On three different days we were forced to furl the nets as the birds were coming in too fast. I feel sure that if we had had adequate help this would have been our best year in numbers banded, as it was our best year species -wise. ■When it was possible to put up a few nets in the marsh, we were rewarded by Virginia Rail, Dunlin, Lapland Longspur, Ipswich Sparrow, Sharp -tailed Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow’ s Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow and Vesper Sparrow. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Ocean City The station at North Ocean City could not be run so efficiently without the help of older birders who plan their vacations at that time. On week ends the young people are available, but in mid-week we depend upon people like Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Douglass ( 5 years) from Cumberland, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Bryan (2 years) from New Jersey, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Kuch (4 years) from Pennsylvania, Capt. and Mrs. J. E. M. Wood (5 years) of Annapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Hackman (3 years) from Perry Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge Pepper (6 years) from Denton, and Mr. Ed Unger (4 years) of Federalsburg. The prize should go to Mrs. Pepper this year for it was her per- suasion that coaxed the Lapland Longspur into a marsh net on the last round on October 30. Gladys H. Cole Mrs. Cole "skulling" a bird to determine its age. The wing of each bird is measured. 106 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22, No. 4 1966 BREEDING-BIRD CENSUS IN CALVERT COUNTY John H. Pales This report is part of a continuing study of the breeding and win- tering bird populations of a MIXED HARtWOOD FOREST In Calvert County. The study area is 28 acres in size and is situated northwest of Plum Point, one mile inland from Chesapeake Bay, between Maryland routes 263 and 261. The study area and its vegetation were described in detail in the June 1959 issue of Audubon Field Notes (13033)* This is the sixth (the fifth successive) breeding-bird census in this area. Winter bird- population studies have been made in the same area the previous eight winters. All these studies have been published in Audubon Field Notes . The rest of this report follows the standardized form for breeding-bird censuses. The first number after each species is the number of terri- torial males in the 28-acre study area; this closely approximates the number of breeding pairs, but since the censusing is based primarily on singing males (some of which may be unmated or even polygamous) it is the number of territorial males that we actually are counting. The numbers in parentheses are the computed densities expressed as territorial males per 100 acres. These density figures, which are used to compare populations in areas of different acreage, are familiar to readers of Birds of Maryland . Note that densities for the first three species are higher than any densities for these species cited in Birds of Maryland . The species below are listed in order of decreasing abundance. Weather : The latter part of this census period was especially warm and dry. The low area dried out and the creek ceased to flow. Ten of the 18 trips were in clear weather and 2 were in rain. The high tempera- tures on census days varied between 5 6° and 96° F. Coverage : April 3. 9, 23, 24, 26 (night), 30; May ?, 14, 22, 30; June 5* 12, 19 (evening), 26; July 4, 10, 16, 31* Total, 18 trips; the 15 full trips in daylight averaged 1 hour and 48 minutes and started between 1 \ 50 and 10*37 A.M., except for one at 1*30 P. M. Census: Red-eyed Vireo, J2 (114); Cardinal, 26 (93); Wood Thrush, 18 (64); Hooded Warbler, 16 (57); Acadian Flycatcher, 15 (5*0 » Tufted Tit- mouse, 14 (50); Parula Warbler, 14 (50); Kentucky Warbler, 12 (43); Carolina Chickadee, 11 ( 39 ); Scarlet Tanager, 8 (28); Eastern Wood Pewee, 7 (25); American Redstart, 7 (25); Red-bellied Woodpecker, 6 (21); Downy Woodpecker, 6 (21); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 6 (21); Yellow- throated Vireo, 6 (21); Rufous-sided Towhee, 5 (18); Mourning Dove, 4 (14); Yellow- throated Warbler, 4 (14); Brown-headed Cowbird, 4 (14); Yellow- shafted Flicker, 3 (11); Great Crested Flycatcher, 3 (11); Carolina Wren, 3 (11); Louisiana Waterthrush, 3 00; Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 2; Ruby- throated Hummingbird, 2; Eastern Phoebe, 2: Catbird, 2; Ovenbird, 2; Yellowthroat , 2; Indigo Bunting, 2; American Goldfinch, 2; American Wood- cock, 1; Barred Owl, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1. Total : 35 species; 252 territorial males (900 males per 100 acres). Visitors (average number of individuals per 100 acres): Broad-winged Hawk,+; Botwhite, +; Barn Owl, +; Pileated Woodpecker, +; Blue Jay, +; Common Crow, +; Fish Crow, +; Brown Thrasher, +; Robin, +; White-eyed Vireo, +; Warbling Vireo, +; Black-and- December 1966 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 107 white Warbler, +i Yellow-breasted Ghat, +; Purple Orackle, +. A Turkey Vulture occurred over the area on two occasions and a Black Vulture once. Remarks : Thirty-five species were judged to be on territory which equalled the average of the previous three studies. The territorial males recovered from last year's IH loss as compared with the 1964 count of 24?. This year's count was the highest of the six-year study, slightly exceed- ing the previous high recorded in 1964. The Red-eyed Vireo, as in other years, was first in total territories and showed an increase over the Cardinal, which has been second in territories 4 out of 6 years with little fluctuation. Species recovering from marked losses of the last two years were Tufted Titmouse, Parula Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, and Scarlet Tanager. Also showing increases were Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Wood Thrush. The Carolina Wren showed a marked decrease in number of territories, but the major loss was with the Ovenbird, which dropped in territories from a four-year average of 8 to 2. Not occurring this year were Whip-poor-will and Worm-eating Warbler. The American Woodcock was the only new species considered to be on territory this year. Huntinertown RED-NECKED GREBE AND ALBINO BLACK DUCK AT LOCH RAVEN Peter Kaestner A Red-necked Grebe ( Podiceps grisegena ) and an albino Black Duck ( Anas rubripes ) were the highlights of a trip to Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County on Sunday, November 13. The Red-necked Grebe was spot- ted flying across the lake and was observed for several minutes; identi- fication was confirmed by Hank Kaestner. The albino Black Duck was noticed when a large flock of ducks (almost all Blacks) rose off the water. Some of the high counts for the day were: 500 American Coots, 150 Black Ducks, 65 Hooded Mergansers, 3 Common Loons (flying over), and 3 Horned Grebes. We also saw many Pied-billed Grebes, Mallards, Redheads, Canvasbacks, American Widgeon, and Green-winged Teal. A trip to Loch Raven during the fall migration can be very rewarding. 405 Hollen Road, Baltimore 1965 COUNTY BIRD LISTS Hank Kaestner For the twelfth year, lists of species of birds reported in Mary- land's counties have been compiled. This year's total of 295 is 3 species higher than last year, but is 12 under the record of 307 recorded in 1963. Eighteen counties showed an increase over last year, with 6 counties re- coring over 200 species each. Perennial record holder, Worcester County, again led with 264 species, followed by Talbot (225), Anne Arundel (2l6), 108 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22. No. 4 Kent (208), Dorchester (208), and Queen Annes (200). A column for the District of Columbia is included again this year, but the D. C. birds have not been included in the county totals in the last column of the table . Worcester County, with its varied habitat, recorded 19 species seen nowhere else: Audubon's Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Gannet, Harlequin Duck, Oystercatcher, Piping Plover, Whimbrel, Knot, Purple Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, American Avocet, Parasitic Jaeger, Pomarine Jaeger, Black-headed Gull, Little Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Swainson's Warbler, Ipswich Sparrow, and Clay-colored Sparrow. Other species recorded in only one county were Baird's Sandpiper, Red Phalarope, and Northern Phal- arope (Frederick) , Brown Pelican and Varied Thrush (Montgomery) , Pine Grosbeak (Baltimore), Barnacle Goose (Kent), Common Redpoll (Talbot) and Long-billed Dowitcher and Iceland Gull (Dorchester). The Barnacle Goose and Varied Thrush were recorded this year for the first time since county lists have been tabulated. Harris' Sparrow and Oregon Junco were both recorded from two counties and House Finch from counties. This year 5 6 species were reported from all 23 counties. These birds, listed here, are omitted from the table: Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Bobwhite , Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Ruby- throated Humming- bird, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, East- ern Kingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood Pewee, Homed Lark, Bara Swallow, Purple Martin, Blue Jay, Common Crow, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Robin, Wood Thrush, Eastern Bluebird, Golden- crowned Kinglet, Starling, Yellow- throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Myrtle Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellowthroat , Yellow-breasted Chat, American Redstart, House Sparrow, Eastern Meadow- lark, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Common Grackle, Brown- headed Cowbird, Scarlet Tanager, Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, American Gold- finch, Rufous-sided Towhee, Grasshopper Sparrow, Slate-colored Junco, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, White- throated Sparrow, and Song Sparrow. All of these except Homed Lark and Prairie Warbler were also seen in D.C. I wish to thank all those who sent in records, no matter how few. Unfortunately, space does not permit listing all those observers kind enough (or interested enough) to send in their lists, but the following were major contributors: Gar rett and All egany Counties — Anderson J. Martin; Wash ington — Vernon Kleen; Fred erick — Carl Carlson; Carroll — Betty Fisher and Elizabeth Francis; Bal timore — Stephen Simon and Janice Cooper; Har ford — compiled by Gladys Cole; How ard — George Robbins; Mont gomery — Carl Carlson; Washington, D. C . — Robert L. Pyle; Prin ce Georges — David Bridge; Ann e Arundel — Dan Bystrak, Prof, and Mrs. David Howard, Harold Wierenga; Cal vert — John H. Fales; Cha rles and St. Ma rys — Vernon Kleen; Kent — Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mend inhall; Quee n Annes — Ted Stiles; Caro line — Mrs. A. J. Fletcher, Mrs. Alicia Knotts; Tal bot — Jan Reese; Dor chester — Harry Armistead; Wic omico — Samuel Dyke; Some rset — Harry Armistead and Samuel Dyke; and Wor cester — Samuel Dyke. Chandler Robbins was an invaluable aid in gathering reports and in making avail- able records from the Breeding Bird Survey. 405 Hollen Road, Baltimore December 19 66 MARYLAND BIRD LIRE 109 Table 1 . 1965 County Bird Lists G A w F c B H H M w p A c c s c K Q C TL D w s w a 1 a r 1 a a Q o D r n a h t e e u a a o i o 0 r 1 a e 1 1 r V n C i n 1 a M c n e r 1 r c m r Tot a Common Loon X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X lb Red-throated Loon X X X X 4 Red-necked Grebe X X 2 Horned Grebe X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Pied -billed Grebe X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Sooty Shearwater X 1 Audubon 1 s Shearwater X 1 Brown Pelican X 1 Gannet X 1 Double -cr. Cormorant X X X X X X X X X X X 11 Great Blue Heron X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Green Heron X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Little Blue Heron X X X X X X X X X X X X 12 Cattle Egret X X X X X X 5 Common Egret X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14 Snowy Egret X X X X X X X X X X X 10 Louisiana Heron X X X X X X X 6 Black -cr. Night Heron X X X X X X X X X X 9 Yellow-cr. Night Heron X X X 2 Least Bittern X X X 3 American Bittern X X X X X X X X X X X 11 Glossy Ibis X X X X X 5 Whistling Swan X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Mute Swan X X 2 Canada Goose X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Brant X X X X 4 Barnacle Goose X 1 Snow Goose X X X X 4 Blue Goose X X X X X 5 Black Duck X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 20 Gadwall X X X X X X X X X X X X 11 Pintail X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X l4 Green-winged Teal X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Blue -winged Teal X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X l6 American Widgeon X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X IT Snoveler X X X X X X X X X X X 10 Wood Duck X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Redhead X X X X X X X X X X 9 Ring-necked Duck X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Canvasback X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13 Greater Scaup X X X X X X X X X 8 Lesser Scaup X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14 Common Goldeneye X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13 Rufflehead X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Oldsquaw X X X X X X X X X X 9 Harlequin Duck X 1 White-winged Scoter X X X X X X X T Surf Scoter X X X 3 Common Scoter X X 2 Ruddy Duck X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13 Hooded Merganser X X X X X X X X X X X 11 Common Merganser X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Red-breasted Merganser X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14 Black Vulture X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Sharp-shinned Hawk X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Cooper's Hawk X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Red-tailed Hawk X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Red-shouldered Hawk X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Broad -winged Hawk X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Rough-legged Hawk X X X X X X X X X X X 10 igteden Eagle X X X 3 Bald Eagle X X X X X X X X X X X X X 12 Marsh Hawk X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X IT Osprey X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Peregrine Falcon X X X X 4 Pigeon Hawk X X X X X X X X 7 Sparrow Hawk X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Ruffed Grouse X X X X 4 Ring-necked Pheasant X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13 Turkey X X X 3 King Rail X X X X X X 6 Clapper Rail X X X X X 5 Virginia Rail X X X X X X X 7 Sora X X X X X X X 7 Common Gallinule X X X X X X X 7 American Coot X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Am. Oystercatcher X 1 Piping Plover X 1 Semipalmated Plover X X X X X X X X X X 10 Am. Golden Plover X X 2 110 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22, No. 4 G A w F c B H H M w p A c c s c K Q c T D w s w a 1 a r 1 a a o o D r n a h t e e u a a o i 0 o r 1 s e 1 1 r w n c i n 1 a M c n e r 1 r G m T Total Black -bellied Plover X X X X X 5 Ruddy Turnstone X X X 3 American Woodcock X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Common Snipe X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Whimbrel X 1 Upland Plover X X X X it Spotted Sandpiper X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Solitary Sandpiper X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13 Wiliet X X X X 4 Greater Yellowlegs X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14 Lesser Yellowlegs X X X X X X X X X X X X X X l 4 Knot X 1 Purple Sandpiper X 1 Pectoral Sandpiper X X X X X X X X X X 10 White -romped Sandpiper X X 2 Baird's Sandpiper X 1 Least Sandpiper X X X X X X X X X X X 11 Dunlin X X X X X 5 Short-billed Dowitcher X X X X X 5 Long-billed Dowitcher X 1 Stilt Sandpiper X 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper X X X X X X X X 8 Western Sandpiper X X X X 4 Sanderling X X X X X 5 American Avocet X 1 Red Phalarope X 1 Northern Phalarope X 1 Parasitic Jaeger X 1 Pomarine Jaeger X 1 Iceland Gull X 1 Gt. Black -backed Gull X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Herring Gull X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Ring-billed Gull X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 20 Black -headed Gull X 1 Laughing Gail X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14 Bonaparte ’ s Gull X X X X X X X X 7 Little Gull X 1 Gull-billed Tern X 1 Forster's Tern X X X X X X X X X X X 10 Common Tern X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13 Least Tern X X X X X X X X X X X 10 Royal Tern X X X X X X 6 Caspian Tern X X X X X X 5 Black Tern X X X X X X 6 Black Skimmer X X X 3 Yellow-billed Cuckoo X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Black-billed Cuckoo X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 17 Barn Owl X X X X X X 5 Screech Owl X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Great Horned Owl X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Barred Owl X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Long-eared Owl X X X 3 Short -eared Owl X X X X 4 Sav-vhet Owl X X X X X 5 Chuck -will ' a -widow X X X X X X X X 8 Whip-poor-will X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Common Night hawk X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Pileated Woodpecker X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Fed -bell ied Woodpecker X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Red-headed Woodpecker X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Yellow-bell- Sapsucker X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 20 Hairy Woodpecker X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Western Kingbird X X 2 Yellow -bell . Flycatcher X X X X X X X X X 8 Acadian Flycatcher X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Traill's Flycatcher X X X X X X X X X 9 Least Flycatcher X X X X X X X X X 5 Olive-sided Flycatcher X X X X 4 Tree Swallow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Bank Swallow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Rough -winged Swallow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Cliff Swallow X X X X — X 4 Fish Crow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Black-capped Chickadee X X X X X X X X X X X 10 Carolina Chickadee X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Red-breasted Nuthatch X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 17 Brown-headed Nuthatch X X X X X X 7 Brown Creeper X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 20 Winter Wren X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Carolina Wren X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Long-billed Marsh Wren X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14 Short -billed Marsh Wren X X X X X X 6 December 1966 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 111 G A w F c B H H M w p A c c s c K Q c T D w s w a 1 a r 1 a a o o D r n a h t e e u a a 0 i 0 0 r 1 s e 1 1 r V n c i n 1 a .M c n e r 1 r e m r Total Mockingbird X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Varied Thrush X 1 Hermit Thrush X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Swainson's Thrush X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Gray-cheeked Thrush X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Veery X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 1B Blue -gray Gnatcatcher X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Ruby- crowned Kinglet X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Water Pipit X X X X X X X X X X 10 Cedar Waxwing X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 20 Loggerhead Shrike X X X X X X X X X X X X X 12 White -eyed Vireo X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X .22 Solitary Vireo X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Philadelphia Vireo X X X X X X 6 Warbling Vireo X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Prothonotary Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Swainson 1 s Warbler X 1 Worm-eating Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Golden -winged Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X iL Blue -winged Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X IT Tennessee Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13 Orange -crown. Warbler X X 2 Nashville Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Parula Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Magnolia Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X IT Cape May Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X 12 Black-thr. Blue Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Blk-thr. Green Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 20 Cerulean Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13 Blackburnian Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Yellow-thr. Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X IT Chestnut -sided Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Bay-breasted Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 12 Blackpoll Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Pine Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Palm Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Iff Northern Waterthrush X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X IT Louisiana Waterthrush X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Kentucky Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Connecticut Warbler X X X X X X X 6 Mourning Warbler X X X X X X 5 Hooded Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Wilson's Warbler X X X X X X X X X X lb Canada Warbler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Bobolink X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Orchard Oriole X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 20 Rusty Blackbird X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Brewer's Blackbird X X 2 Boat-tailed Grackle X X X X X X 6 Summer Tanager X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X lb Rose -breasted Grosbeak X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Blue Grosbeak X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Dickcissel X X X X 3 Evening Grosbeak. X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Purple Finch X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 House Finch X X X X X X X X X X X 10 Pine Grosbeak X 1 Common Redpoll X 1 Pine Siskin X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Red Crossbill X X 2 White-winged Crossbill X X X X X 4 Ipswich Sparrow X 1 Savannah Sparrow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22 Hens low 1 s Sparrow X X X 3 Sharp-tailed Sparrow X X X X X Seaside Sparrow X X X X X X " 1 Vesper Sparrow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19 Oregon Junco X X 2 Tree Sparrow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Clay-colored Sparrow X 1 Harris' Sparrow X X 2 White -crowned Sparrow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Fox Sparrow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 20 Lincoln’s Sparrow X X X X X X X X X 8 Swamp Sparrow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21 Snow Bunting X X X X X 5 106 ' 00 IU2 w 152 25 155 off lffr off Iff? Iff! IW nr N +9 190 m 1 ST 103 200 225 lffo 112 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22. No. 4 HIGHLIGHTS OF BALTIMORE CHAPTER'S JUNIOR NATURE CAMP, JUNE 10-12, 1966 An exceptionally interested group of children and an enthusiastic staff of counsellors combined to make the seventh annual Junior Nature Camp the best yet. The program got off to a good start Friday evening with a talk by Mr. Mel Garland in which he suggested that we have a wide range of interests at camp, looking at the world as a whole but seeing related parts . Ornithologically the highlight of the weekend was a Black Rail, identified by Mr. Chan Robbins, at dusk in the marsh along the Patuxent River. Mr. Robbins was generous with his time and spent a large part of the weekend at the camp. Birds observed included a Red-headed Woodpecker, immature Bald Eagle, Gnateatcher on the nest, Common Gallinule, 4 Blue- birds and a Green Heron's nest with 3 young which Mr. Dave Bridge banded. The campers were fortunate in having Mr. and Mrs. Bridge from the Smithsonian to demonstrate owl calling, banding, mammal trapping and skinning, and birds' nest study. Mr. Rodney Jones, counsellor for the boys, was at camp for his seventh year leading bird and plant trips. The entomologists were guided by Dr. Betty Fisher, another seventh year counsellor, who was also called on frequently for help with plant identification. Teaching herpetology was Mr. Russell Dunn, and under his leadership a good assort- ment of snakes, turtles, lizards and frogs was brought in. Best find was a 12|- inch Red- bellied Turtle, discovered in a field by Bonnie Mogavero. Mr. Dunn estimated that it was about 5° years old. At the suggestion of Camper Andy Simon, Mr. Dunn carved the date, 66, in the lower shell of each turtle before it was released. Perhaps we shall meet some of them again next year. Mrs, Dunn's Water Biology group collected animals and plants from the river and marsh and used the newly purchased MOS 'stereo-microscope to help identify them. Saturday after lunch Mr. Robbins talked informally to the group about his work and answered a variety of questions. Later that afternoon Dr. Elmer Worthley talked on "Edible Plants" and passed around specimens among the campers. Many people enjoyed the sketching class conducted by Mrs. William Schneider. Their work was later exhibited in the dining hall. At our closing meeting, Charles Hauss, junior counsellor, presented our faithful librarian, Mrs. Dixie Stollenwerck, with a plant press made during the woodworking session. We are grateful to the many members and friends of our society who have contributed so much to make this camp a successful one. Charlotte M. Lawson Martha D. Schaffer December 19 66 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 113 DEDICATION OE FLORENCE BURNER AND SETH LOW MEMORIAL Barbara Larrabee The Dedication of the Florence Burner and Seth Low Memorials took place at Rock Run Sanctuary on Saturday, October 1, 19 66 . The planned bird walk with Mr. Mel Garland as leader was cancelled because of the weather . While the rain poured down, eighteen members gathered in the living room by the roaring fire to hear Baltimore Chapter president. Dr. Rowland Taylor, pay tribute to Miss Burner and Mr. Low, both of whom had contributed so much to the Maryland Ornithological Society. After lunch the group braved the weather to inspect and admire the memorials . A redwood bench placed on a flagstone terrace surrounded with ivy and with a backdrop of dogwood trees honors Miss Burner. The plaque, set in the flagstone, is illustrated below. A large redwood feeder within good watching distance, set also on a flagstone base, commemorates Mr. Low. His plaque reads, "In Memory of Seth Haskell Low, President, 1959-1962, The Maryland Ornithological Society, Ornithologist — Conservationist . " The Society owes a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Robert E. Kaestner, who was the conscientious, capable chairman of the Memorial Committee for the Baltimore Chapter. Dr. Elizabeth Fisher, Mrs. Evelyn Gregory, and Mrs . Curtis Wormelle were her faithful helpers . They made innumer- able trips to Rock Run and gave much time and thought to their task. Mr. Walter L. Glanville constructed the large, durable feeder. Mr. Gilman Paul generously contributed the flagstones. Those present for the dedication came from far and wide: Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mendinhall and Mrs. Turner Smith from Chestertown, Mr. and Henshaw and daughter Anne from Annapolis, Mrs. Robert E. Kaest- ner, Mrs. Harvey Moore, Mrs. Joshua Rowe, Mrs. Evelyn Gregory, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Glanville, Mr. Mel Garland, Dr. Rowland R. Taylor, Mr. James E. Dure 11, Jr., and Mrs . Martin Lar- rabee . Why don't you plan a trip to Rock Run soon to see these two fine additions? 1907 South Road Baltimore 114 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22, No. 4 Memorial to Florence Helen Burner Memorial to Seth Haskell Low December 19 66 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 115 THE PRESIDENT'S PAGE WELCOME, WICOMICO CHAPTER 1 V. Edwin Unger What happier season could I hope to find to announce the formation of another Chapter of M. 0. S.? The Wicomico Chapter held its first meeting on November 28. Efforts have been made previously to form a club in Salisbury, but a fortuitous chain of events led up to its ac- complishment this Fall. Already, the Chapter is planning to partici- pate in the Annual Christmas Bird Count . Fortunately, they have in their midst three experienced men to conduct the project. The interest displayed by the group from the very start augurs well for the success of the Chapter. Happily for them, the geographi- cal location is almost unbeatable. Within an hour's drive are six major points of interest: The Ocean City area, Pocomoke Swamp at Whaleysville , Assateague State Park and the Assateague Wildlife Refuge, Blackwater Refuge and Assawoman Refuge. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is only slightly farther away. Speaking of a happy season, there must be many of you to whom the coming of Winter brings a certain thrill, as it does to me when we reflect upon the expected return of our feathered friends of previous seasons (banders have learned that juncos, White-throats, finches, etc. return year after year to the same yard and feeder ) . The pleasure of watching for these winter residents and for the casual and rare visi- tors can make the difference between dread and pleasure when we con- template the approach of winter weather — brrrri We are pleased to have an article in this issue by James G. Deane, who is leading a vigorous campaign to preserve nesting habitat for the Bald Eagle in Maryland and Virginia- -be fore it is too late. Mr. Deane has our full support in this important program. Those of you who look forward to our Convention in May will be interested in knowing that plans have already begun and that we will be working on them rather constantly from now until May. We have the assurance of extended facilities to accommodate a larger convention in keeping with a growing interest — and a growing membership . Federalsburg ll 6 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22, No. 4 JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, 19 66 Chandler S. Robbins The words "hot and dry" sum up Maryland's weather from the begin- ning of July until mid-September. The U. S. Weather Bureau reported that the mercury at Washington, D. C- reached 90° or higher on 20 days in July and 19 days in August --nearly two days out of three during this two-month period. The heat, coupled with less than half the normal rain- fall, caused drought conditions to intensify week by week. In September, Maryland had no measurable rainfall until the 12th. Then a most welcome storm on Sept. 13-15 dropped 10 inches of rain on Thurmont, 8 inches on Frederick, 4.2 inches on Baltimore, and 1.6 inches on Salisbury. This single storm, the heaviest in Maryland in ten years, raised the Palmer Index of drought severity from -6.0 (very extreme drought) to -4.9 at Baltimore. Another storm on September 19-21 brought over 3 inches more to Baltimore, and this was followed by several smaller showers before the end of the month. By the close of September, the Palmer Index had risen to between -3-0 and -4.0 over most of Maryland; although this range is classed as "severe drought," surface moisture had been restored and reservoirs were beginning to return to more normal levels. Full effects of the five-year drought on birdlife cannot be appraised at this time. Food supplies for wintering birds are expected to be subnormal, although some birds may benefit from crops that were too poor to be harvested. Migration Table . Table 1 gives a summary of the earliest fall migration dates recorded in those Maryland counties with the largest num- ber of reports. Underscored dates in this table represent banded birds-- that is, birds identified in the hand. Underscored dates and numbers elsewhere in this report are record-breaking observations for their re- spective Section of the State. As usual, a great many members contributed observations for this table and some birds were seen by a dozen or more people. Where State records were involved, details are given later in this report. For the great bulk of the observations we can only give credit In a very general way to the principal contributors for each county and point out that the individual reports are on file at the Migratory Bird Populations Station. Whether acknowledged here or not, each observation submitted has helped in piecing together a partial story of a fascinating migration period. The principal contributors by counties were: Frede rick County- -Robert W. Warfield, Carl W. Carlson, Sarah Baker, Dr. John W. Richards; Baltimore City and County- -Stephen W. December 19 66 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 117 Table t v Fall Arrival Dates, 1966 Species Canada Goose Broad -winged Hawk Sparrow Hawk Semipalmated Plover Common Snipe Free 9 / 1 C 9 /l£ 8/?i) -2/J Bali lO/lc 9 /H 9 /r 0 0- Har i io 7 T 0 6 Q r How r 9/ 8/2 8/ 0 Mon 9/1 8/2 0 t Pr.C 0 7 — O Anne 8/lC | Kent ~ m 0 } tj 0 Cart } 9 M 0 8/ l 9/2C Q-Ar ' W L , 9 / 8 /i 5 9 / ^ 0 Tall 972 * 9 / 8/ 8/li o/ii Wore 1 107 l 7 0 9/11 7/25 SpoiSiM. Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellovlegs Pectoral Sandpiper Beast Sandpiper 7 /r 7 /r 8 /g 4 7 / 1 " 9 / 5 9 /n 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1^7721 7/2 8/ 8/ 7/21 -- • 7/1 -0 0 i - 1 0 * 0 1 8/ lc 8/1; 8/lC S/lc I! B/ir -- .0 0 0 0 7 / 2 = 7 / 3 ; 8/li 0 i/ll Q 9 / P 0 9 / 4 7/31 0 8/ 9 /l£ 7/1 f i 9 /. 1 T/^ 7/29 — Semipalmated Sand. Yellow-billed Cuckoc Black-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Yellow -shaft. nibke a/ 2 b 0 r 0 8/22 0 9/ 6 9/11 0 ; 0 0" 7/55 .0 8/17 9/28 0 . 9 / 1 ? ■%/r 9 / £ ! 0 0 8/28 ! — ~n§ 7 ic 9/11 0 8/22 9/14 0 9 / 6 o‘ 0 9/10 0 8 / 9 8 / 7 8/10 0 ■9/ 1 0 9 / i 9/17 — j: , 71 yi 8 9/11 8/19 8/14 9/17 7/9 9/22 9 l 2 8/l0 9 / 9 Red-headed Woodpecke Yellow-bel. Sapsucke Hairy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Phoebe r 0 r 9/18 9/27 3/11 9/10 9/26 0 10^9 9/25 9/21 9/25 ? 0 9/30 ' -- 0 9/27 10/13 9/16 10/ 7 , 0 9/27 0 10/ 3 2/27 9 Tt 9/20 9/24 9/24 9/18 9/18 9/24 '“Pa 9/24 97 ll 9 T ~7 9/30 Yellow-bell. Flycate Traill’s Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Tree Swallow Blue Jay her 0 0 0 9/10 0 0 9/10 0 9/11 9/16 m 7717 0 0 j 9 / 1 0 9/28 — . 0 0 0 0 ; 0 8/27 . 0 9/19 - "W 8/28 9 / 3 S/23 nrj il± 9/ 7 0 O 8/19 7 /§f 9/ 2 8/28 8/27 wm 9/17 0 8/27 m 7/2 9/18 9/2 8 / 3 t 8730 10/ 5 White -br. Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Swainson's Thrush Gray-dheeked Thrush 10/ 7 j 0 8/22 9/18 S /23 9/10 9/11 9/25 10/ 9 10/ ? 9/ 9 0 __ W ~9 10/ 2 9/10 9/21 % 25 10/ 8 10/10, 9/24 97 l 9 10/ 8 10/ 1 f/li 0 10/11 M 9/1 9/10 10/22 9/10 9/16 10/22 97 |o 9 TI 97 H 10/ 1 TpF 9 / 3 9J1L 9/18 : 9/24 : 9M Veery Ruby-er. Kinglet Cedar Waxwing Solitary Vireo Philadelphia Vireo 10/15 9/10 10/15 0 y/u 9/10 9/10 2/16 9/25 0 “ 5 ? 20 9 / 2 ? 9 / 3 0 9/10 10/ Y 9/10 9/27 0 70/15 10/ 1 9/10 0 0 9/1 9727 0 0 0 8/27 9/18 97 % 9??7 87 % 9 / 2 1 10/17 8/27 0 -•$ t 9 / 2 9/11 9/15" 9/23 9/11 ; 0 0 9 /n Blk-and-wht. Warbler Blue -winged Warbler Tennessee Warblor Nashville Warbler Parula Warbler 0 9/10 “ 5 757 : 0 9/10 9/ 1 9/ 3 8/28 9/16 5775 8/27 0/31 9/26 9/21 ^7211 - mm 5 0 0 j 0 9/17 | 0 01 . 9 M 0 10/ 2 2 La 2 L± 0 9 / IS 9 / 3 0 0 9/17 8%7 9 A 7 9 / 9 “872T 8/21 8/27 0 9/24 9/72 9 A 5 q/ll Yellow Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Blk-thr. Blue Warblei Myrtle Warbler 9/10 9/10 0 9/10 10/ 3 9/ 3 9/1? 9/10- 9 /p 6 9/16 0 9/16 8/30 9/18 9 /io 10/ £ 9717" 9/ 1 9/28 9/ 1 — — 8/30 9/29 10/16 8/29 0 0 10/ 6 9/ 2 9 / IT 9 Z_l 9/27 9 / 8 9 /T 9 / 3 8/30 57 % 9 / 7 872 F 10/2 9/11 8/28 0 8/ST 8/31 9/2 97 T d 9/23 Blk-thr .Green Warblei Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warb. Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler 9/10 9/10 9/10 0 9 / 9 8/27 9/10 9 /m 9/10 IZE 0 9 / 2 ? -8730 8/29 8/26 9/21 9/11 ”9727 9/ 5 8/30 9/27 9/27 0 8 / 30 , 8/30 0 0 jl 10/ 2 0 8/28 , 9/27 9 / 7 9 / 2 9 /i 1/11 TO 0 0 0 0 9/_2 S /27 8/27 9 /Il 9 / 7 9/ 18 0 0 ' 0 9/25 _| 4 =| iff Palm Warbler Ovenbird No. Waterthrush Connecticut Warbler Mourning Warbler ■9710 0 0 0 0 9 / 7 G 0 0 0 8/27 97 i 7 9 / 1 8 0 8/12 0 0 G 0 9 / 5 0 0 0 0 O ; 0 !. 0 9 / 1 0 "W 9/17 0- 0 9/2 2ZH 97 io 0 8/31 O 0 9/16 8727 8727 sfet 0 8/27 0 9/11 0 g/ 3 l 9/11 97 io Canada Warbler American Redstart Bobolink Baltimore Oriole 0 0 8/21 8/22 8/22 8/20 9/10 8/28 5 M 37 % 0 " 7/27 8/26 8/21 8/20 8/17 8/ 2 0 0 0 0 8/19 9/16 0 8/ 9 912 2Z2 2Aj. 0 9 / 1 0 0 9/_8 7 / 9 8/25 9 / 1 3727 8%: 8/14 8/27 8/2 7 8717 8/21 9711 8/pi 5/31 8731 97 i 5 2/dl Kose-br. Grosbeak Rufous -sided Towhee Vesper Sparrow Slate -colored Junco White -thr. Sparrow 97 Io~ -- 1 9/18 Wm 8/22 1 0/10 9/26 9/23 1 9 AI 5 /f, -- 0/ 9 1 9 / 7 .0/11 0/ 7 1 w 9 / 9 9/21 -- 0/ 2 * 971 1 / 0 -0/12 1 3712 1 9/27 9/17 l ITT 0/2 0 9 / 2 0/13 1 9/10 w& 9/18 1 Vi 9/19 0/ 6 0 0 / 9 1 0 0/ 3 1 0 °/ 9 1 0 1 0/15 ' 0/17 o 7 l 3 9/26 9/ 17 0/ 2 : 07 2 1 0/ 3 9/28 1 Swamp Sparrow 0 -- 1 9/ 23 0/18 1 0717 1 0 0 /l 4 1 0 0/ 9 1 0/21 [1 0 1 0/13 0 — 1 97 T- 0 0/16 9/22 972 F 0/14 1 0/T 5722 1 118 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22, Ho. b Simon, C. Haven Kolb, Hank Kaestner, Mrs. J. P. Cooper, Jr., Mrs. Robert E. Kaestner; Harfo rd — Ed Rykiel, Mrs. Richard D. Cole; Howard — Mrs. Harry C. Rauth, Morris Collins; Montg omery- -Robert W. Warfield, Mrs. M. B. Donnald, Mrs. John M. Frankel; Prince Georges --Chandler S. Robbins, John H. Fales, George C. Robbins; Anne Arundel- -Prof . and Mrs. David Howard, Paul and Danny Bystrak, Prof. Harold Wierenga, Melvin Kleen; Kent --Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mend inhall. Dr. and Mrs. A. J. Delario, Mrs. Bryan Kane, Mel Garland; Carol ine --Mrs. A- J. Fletcher, Marvin W. Hewitt, Ethel Engle, Essie Pepper, V. Edwin Unger; Queen Annes — David and Margaret Bridge, Paul and Danny Bystrak, Mrs. Herbert M. Church; Talbo t - - Jan Reese, Richard L. Kleen, Harry Armistead, Don Meritt, Ted Van Velzen; Worce ster --Ted Stiles, Ed Rykiel, Mrs. Richard D. Cole, Robert W. Warfield Chandler S. Robbins. Loons, Herons . A summering Common Loon in non -breeding plumage was seen in the surf at Ocean City on July 2 6 (Robert W. Warfield); an early fall migrant was calling at sunrise on Sept. 9 at Kent Point (David Bridge). Although herons enjoyed a successful breeding season in Maryland there were few reports of inland concentrations in late summer. Snowy Egrets were regularly observed at Sandy Point throughout August, with a high count of 8 on Aug. l6 (Prof. Harold Wierenga). The second Yellow- crowned Right Heron for Talbot County was identified on Aug. 19 by Richard L. Kleen. Waterfowl . Jan Reese reported that the 5 Whistling Swans summering at the east end of the Bay Bridge were reduced to 3 by Aug. and only 2 could be found after the first of September. Warfield counted 8 nearby on Kent Island on Aug. 6, however, so the birds may have been moving about rather than decreasing. The highest count of summering Canada Geese in the same area was 7 on Aug. 6 (Reese). A pair of color-banded Canada Geese from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center raised 4 young at the Patuxent Community Ponds near Odenton (Paul and Danny Bystrak). The State record for early fall arrival of the Green-winged Teal was broken on Aug . 13 when 3 were seen at Tanyard in Caroline County (E. Engle); another was seen at Germantown on Aug. 17 (Warfield). A vagrant Canvas - back was observed at the east end of the Bay Bridge on Sept. 3 (Bystraks). Another summer stray was a female Common Merganser at West Ocean City, Sept. 2-12 (Warfield). A flock of 5 Common Scoters flying south at Ocean City on Aug. 14 (Warfield) was believed to be a very early arrival; the next flock reported was on Sept. 2, when Don Meritt counted 23 birds in Talbot County. Cranes and Rails . A captive Sandhill Crane escaped from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in September and took up residence near David- sonville where it remained through the end of the period (Mrs. Martina Luff). At Sandy Point State Park, Prof. Wierenga found King Rails almost daily in August, 2 Virginia Rails on Aug. 12 only, and single Soras on Aug. 18 and Sept. 5-20. Shorebirds . The Whimbrel is one of our earliest fall migrants, and can almost always be found at Ocean City in the first week of July-- although the earliest recorded date is July 2. Warfield found the first December 19 66 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 119 Whimbrels there this year on July 4, and on the 7th he counted as many as 164 in a single hour passing Ocean City Inlet in small flocks. Most of the Whimbrels do not stop in Maryland, hut continue south to Chinco- teague, where they can he seen by the hundreds throughout the month of July. Whimbrels are rarely found in Chesapeake Bay, so a record of one at the mouth of the Little Choptank River in Dorchester County on July 4 (Harry Armistead and Mary Mallam) is of special interest. Thanks to Professor Wierenga 's detailed report of 19 shorehird trips to Sandy Point, we have a fine picture Of the ever -changing shorehird populations in the State Park ponds. Conditions for shorehirds were excellent until the heavy rains of Sept. l4 flooded the ponds. On every trip prior to the rain (Aug. 10 -Sept. 13) from 8 to 12 species of shorehirds were present and 17 species were identified between these dates. The Semi- palmated Plover, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, both yellowlegs. Pectoral, Least, Semipalmated, and Western Sandpipers, and Sanderling were present on the majority of trips. The most interesting day was Aug. l6, when a Willet, a Baird's Sandpiper and 2 Stilt Sandpipers added unexpected variety. The Baird's Sandpiper remained through the 22nd. Will Russell saw the first transient Upland Plover at the turf farm near Centreville on July 16. A peak movement took place on Aug. 20; after finding 3 k a field, at Dayton in Howard County I returned home just as one was flying over my house --the l80th species we have observed on or over our 3 acres at the edge of Laurel. Perhaps the most striking bird of the period was an American Avocet that Mel Garland and Phil Myers discovered at Black- water Refuge on Sept. 4 --the first seen there since 1940. Gu lls . Hardly a season goes by without further evidence of the in- crease in Great Black-backed Gulls. This species is now nesting as close as New Jersey. We would not welcome it as a breeding bird in Maryland because of its predatory habits in mixed colonies of gulls and terns; but, if the present trend continues, it may be nesting in Maryland within a decade. The highest one -day count for this species in Birds of Maryland is 26 individuals (195^ Ocean City Christmas Count). Now, just a dozen years later, Jan Reese counted 99 (half in adult plumage) in Queen Annes County on July 4, and Professor Wierenga counted 120 at Sandy Point State Park during a nor'easter on Sept. 20. A Bonaparte's Gull was sighted by James Banagan on June 26 at Coltons Point, where he identified two on June 20, 1963 » Another seen at Sandy Point by Professor Wierenga on July 14 is the third mid-summer observation of this species in Maryland. Terns . Harry Armistead and Mary Mallam saw two more vagrant Caspian Terns - (probably birds too young to nest) in Dorchester County, one along the Little Choptank River on July 4 and one at James Island on July 10. The first fall migrants of this species were seen at West Ocean City on Aug. 10 (Warfield) and Sandy Point on Sept. 1 (Wierenga). Royal Terns were surprisingly common as far up the Bay as Sandy Point, where Pro- fessor Wierenga saw the first 4 on Sept. 1 and a peak of _27 on Sept. 27- A late Least Tern was still at Sandy Point, Sept. 11 (Baltimore Chapter). Cuckoos . Cuckoo numbers were about normal at the Ocean City band- ing station in September (8 Yellow-bills and 15 Black-bills), but Black- bills were strangely absent from Kent Point. 120 MARYLAND BIKDLIFE Vol. 22, Mo. 4 Goatsuckers and Swifts . Professor Wierenga heard 2 Chuck-will 's- vidows as far north as 2 miles south of Annapolis on July 8- David Bridge found the fresh remains of an adult female Chuck-will ' s -widow near Roman- coke on the record-breaking date of Sept. 17; the wing is preserved at the U. S. Rational Museum. Whip-poor-wills were scarce this fall at Kent Pointy which is the only station that hands enough of them to make a comparison with past years. Kent Point is also a good location for de- tecting the beginning of the southward migration of Chimney Swifts, as there is no nesting population nearby. Mr. and Mrs. Bridge noted the first Chimney Swift on Aug. 27, followed by 40 on Sept. 1. Woodpeckers . A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker seen at Monkton on Sept. 11 is the second earliest fall arrival for Maryland (Stephen Simon). Both Kent Point and Ocean City reported a poor migration of Downy Wood- peckers, Only 10 were banded at Ocean City in September, as compared with 25 to 35 i n this month during a flight year. The September total at Kent Point was only l4. Flycatchers . This was an exceptionally good autumn for Yellow- bellied Flycatchers, with record-breaking numbers handled at the three big O.R. stations. Mrs. Mendinhall banded 14 at Damsite (Chester town). Sept. 1 to Oct. 3; Mrs. Cole banded l8 at Ocean City, Sept. 1 to Oct. 4; and the David Bridges banded 75 at Kent Point, Aug. 28 to Sept. 27- At Kent Point, 13 were banded on Aug. 28. Traill's and Least Flycatchers also were in good numbers; the highest one -day totals were 9 Traill's on Sept. 8 and 8 Least on Sept. 1, both at Kent Point. The first Olive - sided Flycatcher for Queen Annes County was banded at Kent Point on Sept. 3 by Ted Van Velzen, the Bystraks and the Bridges. Swallows . Tree Swallows reached a peak of 3^000 at Tanyard on Sept. "28; E. "Engle noted a white-headed one there on Sept. l8. There were two Eastern Shore reports of Cliff Swallows : 2 at Bellevue on July 31 ( Armistead) , and a major movement involving scores of Cliff Swallows among thousands of Tree and Bank Swallows along the Kennedy Expressway in Cecil County on Aug. 6 (Russell). Jays , Nuthatches , Cree pers . The Blue Jay migration was about nor- mal. The largest number netted at Kent Point was 60 on Sept. 30. Mel Garland and Phil Myers saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch at Wolf Swamp in Garrett County on July 4, the first summer record in Maryland in 30 years. Both the White -breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches were scarce throughout this period (only 2 Red-breasts and no White-breasts at Ocean City). Some of both species arrived in October, but numbers will be low this winter. On July 13 , 1965 , Paul and Danny Bystrak saw 2 Brown Creepers at Shad Landing State Park in Worcester County, for the first summer record on the Eastern Shore. On June 18, 1966, they heard one singing at the same location, suggesting that it may nest there.' Wrens , Thrashers . The only evidence of an abundance of House Wrens was a one -day total of 21 banded at Kent Point on Sept. 27; the total for the whole season was only 27- Mockingbirds, Catbirds and Brown Thrashers were up at some stations and down at others, with no signifi- December 19 66 MARYLAND BIEDLIFE 121 cant trend. Thrushe s . Swainson's (214) and especially Gray-cheeked Thrushes (4l) were below normal at Ocean City during September, but this is attributed to the excessive number of rainy days during the peak of their migration period rather than to an actual scarcity of these spe- cies. A Gray-cheek banded at Kent Point on Sept. 3 provided the second- earliest State record for this species. Waxwings . The Cedar Waxwing has been observed migrating (or wander- ing?) in Maryland in every month except July. Perhaps no other land bird in our area has such an extended migration period. A flock of 7 at Bellevue, Talbot County, on Aug. 7 (Armistead) tied the earliest Maryland fall arrival of Aug. J, 1965 , in Calvert County. Vireos and Warblers . In spite of the fact that lights on Baltimore's candelabrum tower on Television Hill were turned off for the month of September, large numbers of migrating songbirds struck the tower on one or two nights. These casualties take place only on nights when condi- tions to the north of us initiate a heavy migration and a dense low cloud cover forces the birds to fly low enough to collide with the tower and its guy wires. A stationary front, separating cold air to the north of us from warm air to the south, often produces rain or drizzle and may create exactly the conditions under which bird strikes occur. Thanks to Hank Kaestner's frequent checking of the Baltimore tower during the fall migration, the hundreds of birds that struck on the nights of Sept. 24-25 and Sept. 25-26 were salvaged on Sept. 26, identified, and preserved. Much as we all regret the loss of this segment of the bird population, it is gratifying that the casualties can be used to supply information that will help us understand more about migration, production ratios, etc. For example, how well do TV casualties represent the migratory wave of which they are a part? How well do the Operation Recovery stations sample the same migratory wave? We are now in a position to check one sample against the other and see how well they agree. We have already found that ordinary field observations are strongly biased in favor of the more conspicuous birds; consider, for example, how many Yellow- bellied Flycatchers, Philadelphia Vireos, Connecticut Warblers, and Yellow-breasted Chats you see each fall. During September 1966, more Yellow-bellied Flycatchers than Eastern Wood Pewees were banded at Ocean City; more Philadelphia Vireos than Ruby-crowned Kinglets; more Yellow- breasted Chats than Canada Warblers; more Connecticut Warblers than Parulas. The nets obviously capture many thicket -seeking birds that are overlooked by the bird watcher. Mr. Kaestner submitted totals for 12 of the 40 species he salvaged from beneath the Baltimore TV tower on Sept. 26. Some of these birds struck on the night of Sept. 24-25, others on Sept. 25-26. From these I have computed the relative abundance of these birds in the Sept. 24- 26 migration and the number that should have been banded at the 0. R. stations if they had sampled the migration in exactly the same way as the TV tower. The computed totals are given in parentheses following "the banding totals in Table 2. 122 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22, Ho. 4 Table 2. Relative abundance of some common migrants striking Baltimore TV tower, Sept. 2k -26, as compared with the number banded at Maryland Operation Recovery stations, Sept. 25-26. Tower Banding Totals Casualties Damsite Kent Ft. Ocean City Total Red -eyed Vireo k9 2 (k) 1 (10) 8 (5) 11 (19) Philadelphia Vireo 7 0 (1) 0 (1) 1 (1) 1 (3) Black-&-white Warbler 100 0 (9) 17 (21) 13 (10) 30 (39) Tennessee Warbler 21 1 (2) 2 w 3 (2) 6 (8) Magnolia Warbler 257 28 (22) 75 (53) 9 (25) 112( 100) Black-thr. Blue 26 6 (2) 18 (5) 8 (3) 32 (10) Black-thr. Green 2k 2 (2) 2 (5) 0 (2) ^ (9) Blackburnian Warbler 25 0 (2) 0 (5) 1 (2) 1 (10) Chestnut -sided. Warbler 33 0 (3) 3 (7) 0 (3) 3 (13) Bay-breasted Warbler 30 0 (3) 2 (6) 7 (3) 9 (12) Ovenbird 113 21 (10) 23 (23) 12 (11) 56 (kb) Yellow-br. Chat 11 0 (1) 0 (2) 7 (1) T ( k ) Each O.R. station is located in a different habitat complex, so no two will sample migration in exactly the same way. Damsite, for in- stance, tends to have a high total of Magnolia Warblers, while Kent Point ranks high in Ovenbirds and Ocean City captures relatively more chats. Allowing for these characteristic differences between stations, we find that the totals agree remarkably well, suggesting that both the TV tower and the 0. R. stations sample the migration in a similar fashion--and more efficiently than does the field observer. The only general trends that seem to emerge from comparing the TV kill with the 0. R. bandings are the comparatively large numbers of Black -throated Blue Warblers banded and the small numbers of Blackburnians and Chestnut - sides. Further data will be necessary to show whether these are signi- ficant differences. The total numbers of warblers handled at the O.R. stations compared favorably with past years, in spite of the excessive rainfall. At Ocean City the following species reached a new September high: 97 Black-and- white Warblers, 6 Blackburnians, 120 Blackpolls, and 11 Prairies. Kent Point had record-breaking seasonal totals of 366 Ovenbirds and 183 Canada Warblers.' High numbers banded on a single day were: 7 Philadelphia Vireos at Ocean City on Sept. l6, 53 Black-and-white Warblers, 70 Magnolias, 11 Chestnut -sides, 80 Ovenbirds, 6 Mournings, k Wilson's, and 27 Canadas, all at Kent Point on Sept. 8, £1 Blackpolls at Ocean City on Sept. 23, and 86 American Redstarts at Ocean City on Sept. 7- Many of the Baltimore TV tower warbler kills reported in Table 2 also are higher than any previous one -day fall migration total from the Piedmont Section of Maryland: 100 Black-and-white Warblers, 21 Tennessees, 257 Magnolias, 26 Black-throated Blues, 2k Black-throated Greens, 30 Bay- breasteds, and 11 Yellow -breasted Chats. A Blackpoll Warbler banded at Ocean City on Sept. 5 (Ted Stiles) tied the earliest State record that was set there two years earlier. December 19 66 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 123 A Western Palm Warbler banded by Stiles on Sept, 4 was the earliest on record for the Eastern Shore. Grosbeaks and Sparrows . A male Evening Grosbeak, believed by Armistead to have been a sick or crippled bird, was captured at Bellevue by Mrs. Eunice Johnson's dog on the extraordinary date of Aug. J; this bird had been banded as an adult male at Powdermill Nature Reserve in western Pennsylvania in March 1964. The Evening Grosbeak does not nest closer than upstate New York and northern New England. A Lincoln's Sparrow was banded at Kent Point on Sept. 8 and identified by David Bridge, Mrs. Herbert Church, and Dr. Don Messer smith; except for a bird banded at Ocean City on Sept . 7, 1962, by the Bridges and one banded in Talbot County on Sept. 8, 1963, there is no Maryland record earlier than the l6th. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Migratory Bird Populations Station, Laurel Announcements Deadline date on applications for the Audubon Camp Scholarships is February 10, 1967 (See September issue. Page 87 ) This is the last MARYLAND BIRDLIFE you will receive if your 1966-67 dues are unpaid! Index to Volumes 14-20 Following the fine example set by Hervey Brackbill in the first cumulative index to Maryland Birdlife , published as part of the December 1958 issue, Ted Van Velzen has compiled a second index that covers the years 1958 through 1964. The index again is in two parts, a species index and an author index. A copy is being mailed with this issue. If you do not plan to save your copy of the index, please return it to M. 0. S. headquarters or give it to the secretary of your local chapter, as many future members will be eager to have a copy. 124 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22, No. 4 LAPLAND LONGSPURS AT SANDY POINT STATE PARK IN MID- OCTOBER Lewis A. Buck, Georgia Allen Buck; and Hank Kaestner On Saturday; October 15; 1966, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Buck; Mrs. Donald Smith and Edwin Poole discovered a Iapland Longspur ( Calcarius lapponi - cus) at Sandy Point. The plumage matched that of the winter female as illustrated in Birds of North America ; but had a heavier striping above the eye. It flew in a large circle about ten to twenty feet above the ground; uttering three or four single notes followed by a jumble of twittered notes. This pattern was repeated over and over as the bird circled. When it landed in the scrubby grass it was silent and quite still; rarely moving even as we walked within ten feet of it. On the following day; Hank Kaestner was to have led a Baltimore Chapter trip to Monument Knob for hawk watching. Owing to the heavy rain in the morning; he took the group to Sandy Point instead. They had not heard about the Bucks' observation; but joined Professor Harold Wierenga for some birding around the point . Suddenly two small birds flew by, resembling Horned Larks; but giving a very different call. The birds landed and the group hastened toward the spot . They promptly identified the birds as Lapland Longspurs and observed them from a distance of 15 feet; the whole group noted details of plumage for almost 20 minutes. After making sure that everybody had seen all the field marks , they flushed the longspurs again to hear their chattering call; so charac- teristic of Lapland Longspurs . Professor Wierenga returned to the park on October l8 and October 23 and found one of the longspurs still pre- sent on both dates; he could not find it on October 25 or subsequently. Although the Lapland Longspur has been reported only l8 times in the State of Maryland; it has been found in eight of the past ten winters and probably occurs here in small numbers nearly every year . All of the previous records; however; are in December; January; or the first half of February. Our October 15 sighting is seven weeks ahead of the earli- est Maryland arrival date . Lapland Longspur reports from neighboring states include a specimen taken as early as October 3 , 1889 at Erie; Pennsylvania by Sennett (Todd; Birds of Western Pennsylvania ; 1940 ) and one seen as early as October 22; 19^9 in Shenandoah National Park; Virginia by Alexander Wetmore (Murray; A Check - List of the Birds of Virginia ; 1952). Another early Lapland Longspur was flushed into a net and handed at Ocean City on October 30; 1966 by Mrs. Essie Pepper. This bird was photographed in color and one of its characteristic outer tail feathers was collected by Chandler Robbins as further substantiation of the record. This is one of the few species on the official Maryland list whose occurrence is not backed up by a collected specimen. 8600 Lancaster Drive, Bethesda, and 405 Hollen Road, Baltimore December 19 66 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 125 WELL WE SAVE THE POTOMAC ’ S EAGLES ? James G. Deane What fate is in store for the Potomac River's Bald Eagles? Last April; Jackson M. Abbott; Chairman of the Bald Eagle Survey Committee of the Audubon Naturalist Society; issued a discouraging summary of four years of regional eagle censuses. The summary indicated, a continuing eagle decline throughout at least the northern half of the Chesapeake Bay Region- -dwindling numbers, a diminishing proportion of immature birds; and a low hatching rate. For the Potomac; the summary showed a precipitous drop in known pairs, from 26 in 1962 to 15 in 1965* The 1966 picture was no better. On the 100 -mile Potomac estuary only 11 pairs and 5 nests were definitely recorded. A single nest (off Maryland’s St. Clements Bay) successfully raised a lone eaglet. The Potomac's eagles obviously have special significance both in nearness to the Nation's Capital and in historical associations. Un- doubtedly these eagles are under duress from illegal shooting; pesti- cides; and other environmental contaminants, nesting-season disturbances and habitat loss. The most critical threat; recent surveys indicate; may be the accelerating disturbance of favorable habitat. To try to safeguard the future of the Potomac eagles, a Washington civic organization; The Committee of 100 on the Federal City; with the support of ornithological societies; has urged the Federal Government to establish a network of refuges along the estuary. The first would be at Mason Neck; on the Virginia shore a little below Mount Vernon. This is now the estuary’s northernmost eagle nesting area and has the Region's only known summer communal eagle roost. Other refuges would be at stra- tegic points still to be selected. Also needed; of course; are other land-saving measures at all governmental levels and an intensified effort against estuarine pollution (including the abandonment of outmoded and hazardous DDT street-tree spraying by the District of Columbia). President Johnson in October signed a new law authorizing National Wildlife Refuges for threatened species. With the southern Bald Eagle recently added to the Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species list and the Government itself soliciting public help in saving the liv- ing national emblem; the climate seems favorable for a concerted rescue effort . 1200 Cathedral Avenue, Washington, D. C. 126 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 22 No. 4 COMING EVENTS Jan. 5 FREDERICK Jan. 7 BALTIMORE Jan. 13 ANNE ARONDEL Jan, 14 Jan. 19 Jan. 21 Jan. 22 FREDERICK MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY BALTIMORE Jan. 22 Jan. 24 FREDERICK PATUXENT Jan. 25 ALLEGANY Jan, 28 ANNE ARUNDEL Feb. 1 Feb. 2 KMT FREDERICK Feb. 5 BALTIMORE Feb. 7 BALTIMORE Feb. 7 TALBOT Feb. 10 ANNE ARUNDEL Feb. 11 Feb. 11 FREDERICK PATUXENT Feb. 14 BALTIMORE Feb. 16 MONTGOMERY Feb. 17 BALTIMORE Feb. 18 BALTIMORE Feb. 18 MONTGOMERY Feb. 21 BALTIMORE Monthly meeting ?:30 p.m. Speakers C. & 0. National Monument Park Ranger, Wm. Clark. Film: "Potomac Concept". Sandy Point and Prof, and Mrs. Howard's Bird Sanctuary in Annapolis, Snow post- ponement date Jan. 14 Monthly meeting 8:00 p.m. at Anne Arundel County Library. Speaker: Mr, Francis Williamson. Illustrated lecture "Major Biological Features of Alaska Field trip Monthly meeting Field trip Covered dish supper and monthly meeting at Cylbum - 5*00 p.m. "Vacation Experiences" by members Field trip Monthly meeting 7:45 P.m. St. Philip's Parish House, Laurel. "Field Studies of Bird Behavior", Mrs. Robert Ficken Monthly meeting 7*30 p.m., Board of Education Bldg. Speaker: Mr. Edgar Reynolds Lake Waterford area, Pasadena, Md. 8:20 a.m. Take Ritchie Highway to Sevema Park, turn rt. on Md. 648, Proceed about 3+ miles to Lake Waterford on left. Leader: Mr, Eugene Levitt Monthly meeting - Film and member participation. Monthly meeting Java Farms, continuing help with bird census. Seminar: Birds and Habitats of the Baltimore Area, First of 5 Tuesday evenings 8 - 10 p.m. at Cylburn. Audubon Screen Tour, Robert W. Davison, "The Vanishing Sea", Monthly meeting 8:00 p.m. Anne Arundel County Library. "Maryland Birds in Color and Sound" by Prof, & Mrs. David Howard Field trip Trip to Local Bird Feeding Stations 8:30 a.m. Leader: Mrs, C. S. Robbins. Seminar Monthly meeting Monthly meeting - Film, "Look Down". Pratt Library 8 p.m. Perry Point and Susquehanna River for wintering waterfowl. Leader: Mr. Rodney Jones Field trip Seminar December I 9 66 MARYLAND BXRDLIFE 127 Feb. 22 ALLEGANY Monthly meeting 700 p.m. Bd. of Education Bldg. Speakers Mr. William Leeson Feb. 25 ANNE ARUNDEL Java Farms. Leaders: Mr. & Mrs, C. W. Hiatt Feb. 25-26 BALTIMORE Winter weekend in Chincoteague-Assateague Is- land area. Leaders Mrs. Robert E. Kaestner Feb. 26 FREDERICK Field trip Feb. 28 BALTIMORE Seminar Feb. 28 PATUXENT Monthly meeting. •‘Ospreys" . Mr. Jan Reese Feb. 28 TALBOT Audubon Screen Tour "The Untamed Olympics" , Walter Be r let Mar. 1 KENT Monthly meeting - Lecture Dr. Ray Erickson Mar. 2 FREDERICK Monthly meeting Mar. 5 BALTIMORE Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Little Creek Wildlife are on Delaware Bay, near Smyrna, Del. Leaders; Mr. & Mrs. Malcolm Thomas Mar. 7 BALTIMORE Seminar Mar. 10 ANNE ARUNDEL Audubon Wildlife Film Lecture "Land of the Drowned River" by Dr. Charles J. Stine. Mar. 10 BALTIMORE Monthly meeting "Wild Flowers of the Alps" . Alverta Dillon. Mar. 11 FREDERICK Field trip Mar. 11 PATUXENT Trip to Sandy Point State Park 8; 00 a.m. Mr. Paul Bystrak, leader. Mar. 16 MONTGOMERY Monthly meeting Mar. 18 BALTIMORE Bus trip to National Zoological Park and Roaches Run. Reservations by March 6, with Mrs. Phyllis Ravesies (TU9-5426) or Miss Ono Lescure (VA3- 5762) Mar. 18 KENT Field trip to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Leaders; Dr. & Mrs. Anthony Delario, Mar. 18 MONTGOMERY Field trip Mar. 19 ALLEGANY 2 1 00 p.m. Bird walk - Piney Dam. Leader: Mrs. Gordon Taylor. Meet at Beall School Road and Route 40 Mar. 19 BALTIMORE Courtship Flight of Woodcock at dusk. Leaders Mr. C. Haven Kolb, Jr, Mar. 21 BALTIMORE Spring at Lake Roland - First of Tuesday morning walks to follow migration. 8s 00 a.m. Leader: Mr. Fred Ward (433-0104) Mar. 22 AMGANY Monthly meeting 7:3° P.m. Speaker: Mr. Paul Footen. Mar. 25 ANNE ARUNDEL Severn Run Safari. Leader: Mr. Edwin W. Barry. Meet at Severna park High School. Mar, 26 ALLEGANY Bird Walk 2:00 p.m. Koon Dam. Leader: Mr. Edgar Reynolds. Mar. 28 BALTIMORE Lake Roland 8 a.m. Mar. 28 PATUXENT Monthly meeting Mar. 30 BALTIMORE Spring Birds at Cylbum - Nine Thursdays at 9*00 a. m. Leader: Mrs. C. L. Conley Apr. 1 PATUXENT Trip to Java Farms ?.*30 a.m. Leader: D. Bridge. 128 MARYLAND BIRDUFE CONTENTS , DECEMBE R 19 66 Vol. 22, No, 4 Magnificent Frigatebird at Ocean City Operation Recovery in Maryland, 1966 1966 Breeding-Bird Census in Calvert Co. Red-necked Grebe and Albino Black Duck 1965 County Bird Lists Baltimore Chapter's Junior Nature Camp Dedication of Burner and Low Memorials Welcome , Wicomico Chapter The Season - July, August, September 1966 Announcements Lapland Longspurs at Sandy Point Will We Save the Potomac's Eagles? Coming Events Hank Kaestner Willet T. Van Velzen and Station Leaders John H. Fales Peter Kaestner Hank Kaestner C. Lawson & M. Schaffer Barbara Larrabee V. Edwin Unger Chandler S . Robbins Buck, Buck, & Kaestner James G. Deane 99 100 106 107 107 112 113 115 116 123 124 125 126 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. to Record and Encourage and Study the Birds in Maryland Editor: Asst. Editor: Editorial Board: Production: Chandler S. Robbins, Patuxent Research Center, Laurel Mel Garland, 36 Burke Ave. , Towson, Md, 21204 C. Douglas Hackman, Vernon Kleen, Mrs. C. Gordon Taylor Bill Clark, Ethel Cobb, Gladys Cole, Mildred Cole Phyllis Ravesies, Ted Van Velzen, V. E. Unger. JJ- ad tineas iramar Ocean City, Maryland On the Boardwalk — Open All Year 90 ROOMS, 60 WITH BATH Phone: Ocean City: Atlantic 9-7417 EXCELLENT MEALS 30 BEAUTIFUL APARTMENTS PARKING space SPECIAL RATES FOR BIRDERS