ISSN 0147-9725

^Hu^Etin of tfxE <Jl/\axLj[and iQxnLtftoCogLcciC eSocisty , iJnc.

JUNE 1982
VOLUME 38
NUMBER 2

MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

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STATE OFFICERS FOR MAY 8, 1982 TO MAY 14, 1983

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Second V.P.: Mr. James Stasz, RD 1 , Box 70, Marion Station 21838 623-4391

Treasurer: Mr. W. Gordon MacGregor, 5009 Greenleaf Rd., Balto. 21210 435-3044

Secretary: Mrs. Helen Ford, 408 Beach Drive, Annapolis 21403 267-8417

Exec. Secy: Mrs. Lettie Cullom, 437 Paradise Rd., Baltimore 21228 747-5870

Mrs. Emily Joyce
Mrs. Joy Wheeler
Dr. William Ellis
Mr. Ellis Porter
Mrs. Lola Oberman
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Rev. Ivan Morrin

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

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♦Mr. Ellis Porter

Capt. Lucille Wilson
Mr. Eldred Johnson
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Sustaining Membership
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Cover: Greater White-fronted Goose at Churchville, Harford Co.. Md.. Dec. 17, 1981. Photo by Bob Ringler.

Maryland birdlife

h, -.Hillman

VOLUME 38

JUNE 1982

NUMBER 2

IN SEARCH OF NESTING EASTERN BLUEBIRDS

Dawn B. Otello

Where to find an Eastern Bluebird ( Sialia sialis )? That is the question that has
plagued many people who desire to attract bluebirds. What environmental
eature, or more probably combination of environmental features, attracts
bluebirds to nest at a particular site?

gs

as

BIRDS PER F

Less than

1 - 3

P

■

4-10

■

U - 30

;d

■

Over 30

Figure 1. Breeding Bird Survey relative density man fnr

Bystrak 1979). Reproduced with permission. P * S lS Wlih Study sites (from

40

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

VOL. 38, NO. 2

Although the Eastern Bluebird is not a federally endangered nor threatened
species, if is doing poorly enough so as to be listed on the Nat, ona Audubon
Society’s 1980 Blue List. The Blue List is a compilation of species that have
recently or are currently giving indications of non-cyclical declines or range
contractions.. -which for reasons of effects of chemicals on breeding biology,
reduction of breeding or wintering habitat, predator problems (including man), or
other causes, are now, or seem to be, substantially reduced in numbers either
regionally or throughout their range" (Anonymous 1971).

This precariousness of bluebird numbers, along with a lack of studies that
objectively quantified bluebird-selected nesting habitat as indicated by the
literature searched, prompted me to quantify Eastern Bluebird habitat, and to
predict sites for bluebird nest boxes that would maximize chances for bluebird
occupancy. This study was conducted in 1979 and 1980 in five states: 99 sites in

Table 1. Code Translation.

Code

shrubvo

natper

artper

woodyht

shrubde

canclos

pctplo

sheltge

forgen

foodgen

DS

DT

ES

ET

struto

gends

gendt

genes

genet

treede

disnap

disarp

disedge

diswat

dishum

topo

vet

slope

aspect

orient

state

range

dens

depvar

Variable

(independent)

shrub volume
“ natural perches

# artificial perches

average woody vegetation height

average shrub density (# shrub stems per area)

% canopy closure
°/o plot open

# key shelter genera

# key foraging genera
n key food genera

deciduous shrub— present or not present
deciduous tree — present or not present
evergreen shrub — present or not present
evergreen tree — present or not present
total # of different structural types

# genera of deciduous shrubs

# genera of deciduous trees

# genera of evergreen shrubs

# genera of evergreen trees

average tree density (# boles per unit area)

distance to nearest natural perch

distance to nearest artificial perch

distance to nearest wood’s edge or hedgerow

distance to nearest permanent water body (lotic or lentic)

distance to nearest area of human activity

topographic elevation of site

vegetation immediately over nest— present or not present
slope of site
aspect of site

orientation of nest entrance

state in which each site was located

part of S. sialis range in which each site was located

density category of each site as indicated by a S. sialis density map

(dependent)

presence or absence of a bluebird nest site

JUNE 1982

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

41

New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut (the northern range study area), and
50 sites in Maryland and Pennsylvania (the central range study area). Fig. 1
illustrates the location of these study areas in relation to relative Eastern
Bluebird densities as determined by the Breeding Bird Survey (Bystrak 1979).
Note the Eastern Bluebird densities of the central range study areas are greater
than at the northern study areas. Maryland study areas were at the Agricultural
Research Center in Beltsville, the Goddard Space Flight Center at Greenbelt, the
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center at Laurel, and at Potomac. The Pennsylvania
study area was at Ligonier.

I recorded habitat variables (Table 1) in three circular plots (1/100 acre, 1/10
acre, and 1 acre) surrounding each bluebird nest site and potential nest site. I used
a mathematical tool called discriminant analysis to determine which of my
measured habitat variables did the best job of discriminating between two
ultimate groups: Eastern Bluebird nesting sites and Eastern Bluebird non nesting
sites, as well as to predict what sort of new sites would attract nesting bluebirds.
Then, in the spring of 1980 I erected an experimental bluebird trail of 25 nest
boxes in central Massachusetts, based on the hypothesized prediction that
minimal shrub volume and closeness to water constitute key Eastern Bluebird
habitat.

Table 2. Final Nest Box Predictive Analyses with Key S. sialis Habitat Discriminating
Variables.

Analyses

Manipulation

synopsis^

Number of
cases

Significance
of function 1

Key discriminating
variables 2

northern

range

2 group direct;
eliminated
state, range

156

.2496

(n.s.)

topo, ES, gendt,
artper, disedge,
treede, disarp,
genet, slope, DT,
genes, canclos

northern

range

test

2 group direct;
test; eliminated
state, range

78

.2604

(n.s.)

topo, sheltge,
gends, ES, disedge,
disnap, slope,
natper, veg,
foodgen, forgen

central

range

2 group direct;
eliminated
state, range

83

.0019

(**)

forgen, genet,
shrubde, ES,
woodyht, gendt,
diswat, slope,
topo, natper,
dens, ET

central

range

test

2 group direct;
test; eliminated
state, range

46

.0000

topo, dens, genes,
artper, pctplo,
gends, ES

1. “Test” indicates about 50% of the cases were used to create the model, the other 50%
used to test its classification ability.

2. Key discriminators are arranged in order of most to least contributory to the dis-
crimination. See Table 1 for variable code translation.

42

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

VOL, 38, NO. 2

The key discriminators for the central range (Table 2) were presence of
evergreen shrubs, topographic elevation of the site, and relative density of blue-
birds. Elevation and density were excluded from the final recommendations
for successful bluebird nest box placement in the central range because it would be
too strong a statement to recommend that boxes be placed in lower elevation sites
and in areas sparsely populated by bluebirds. The strongest conclusive statement
that can be made is that boxes placed in lower elevation sites have a better chance
of attracting central bluebirds than higher elevation sites. However, higher
elevation sites should not be excluded from consideration. Likewise, boxes placed
in low bluebird density areas have a better chance of attracting central bluebirds
than boxes placed in high bluebird density areas. Essentially, central range blue-
birds favored an evergreen shrub environment (at least within a 30 m radius of the
nest), where the woody vegetation was structurally deciduous, but where there
was a low generic diversity of deciduous vegetation. Structural habitat
parameters (which include vegetative life forms, topography, and spatial distri-
bution of species) are more important than generic type habitat parameters in
central bluebird range, which concurs with the literature (Wiens 1969, Shelford
1912, Schnurre 1921, Sunkel 1928, Odum 1945, and Hilden 1965).

In conclusion, caution and common sense should be used when implementing
recommendations to attract bluebirds to a site. This research was accomplished in
areas where bluebirds were already established. If one is aware of the general
needs of bluebirds — cavity, adequate and appropriate food, minimization of
competition, and open landscape in which to forage and spot predators — then one
can locate a reasonably favorable area. Specific guidelines for box placement in
such an area are offered by the above recommendations. Obviously there are many
additional factors beyond the scope of this study that also influence whether or not
bluebirds will be found at any particular place. Hence, choosing sites near existing
bluebird populations would seem the most prudent course in implementing these
recommendations.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish to thank the following individuals, organizations, and institutions for
their assistance throughout the course of this investigation.

For their professional and technical expertise, I thank Dr. John T. Finn, Dr.
Joseph S. Larson, Dr. Theodore Sargent, the late Harry Ahles, Eva Goldwater,
Brad Blodget, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mayers, Ethan Howard, David Boyt, and Dee
Ann Civello.

For their financial assistance, I thank: Maryland Ornithological Society, Sigma
Xi Scientific Research Society, Wildlife Management Institute, the University of
Massachusetts, National Audubon Society, and Manomet Bird Observatory of
Massachusetts.

For the use of their lands on which to conduct my study as well as the divulgence
of their knowledge on Eastern Bluebirds, I thank: Dr. Larry Zeleny, Delos C.

JUNE 1982

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

43

Dupree, Dr. John Pearl, Barbara Dowell, James Cairn, Raymond Briggs, Florence
Germond, Joseph DiFalco, Arthur Gingert, Thomas R. Baptist, Richard Turner,
and those private landowners throughout the five states who granted me access to
their lands.

Finally, a very special thank you goes to Dr. Richard DeGraaf and to Dr. Larry
Zeleny, who inspired this study by sparking my curiosity about the inner workings
of the bluebird habitat selection phenomenon, and instilled in me a sense of
urgency regarding the Eastern Bluebird’s plight.

LITERATURE CITED

Anonymous. 1971. Announcing the Blue List: an “early warning system” for bird's. Am. Birds
25 (6): 948-949.

Bystrak, D. 1979. The Breeding Bird Survey. Sialia 1(2): 74-79, 87.

Hilden, 0. 1965. Habitat selection in birds. Ann. Zool. Fenn. 2: 53-75.

Odum, E. P. 1945. The concept of the biome as applied to the distribution of North American
birds. Wilson Bull. 57: 191-201.

Schnurre, 0. 1921. Die Vogel der deutschen Kulturlandschaft. Marburg, 136 pp.

Shelford, V.E. 1912. Ecological succession. Vegetation and the control of land animal com-
munities. Biol. Bull. 23: 59 99.

Sunkel, W. 1928. Bedeutung optischer Eindrucke der Vogel die wahl ihres Aufenthaltortes.
Zeit. Weissensch. Zool. 132: 171-175.

Wiens, J.A. 1969. An approach to the study of ecological relationships among grassland
birds. Ornithological Monographs No. 8, American Ornithologists’ Union, 93 pp.

47 Main St. Cobleskill , N. Y. 12043

WILSON’S PHALAROPES IN SPRING AT BALTIMORE HARBOR

Steven H. Everhart

On May 13, 1980, while conducting a field reconnaissance for the biotic
community mapping phase of an environmental assessment of the Masonville
Dredged Material Deposition Area (located on the south shore of Baltimore
Harbor near the Patapsco River), I observed a pair of Wilson’s Phalaropes
(Steganopus tricolor) feeding near a group of Dunlins, Spotted Sandpipers, and
yellowlegs. As they were in spring plumage, the pair was readily distinguished
from the yellowlegs. The dark neck stripe and pale head of the more colorful
female was noted as was the slight tinge of rust on the neck of the male. Both birds
were feeding in a persistent pond behind one of the dikes. They fed in the manner
characteristic of the species: continuously walking and feeding from side-to-side
with their needle-like bills.

Coastal Zone Resources Division, Ocean Data Systems
4505 Franklin Ave., Wilmington, N.C. 28403

44

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

VOL. 38, NO. 2

WINTER SEASON, DEC. 1, 1981 - FEB. 28, 1982

Robert F. Ringler

The dominant feature of this winter was the onset of a frigid period of weather
beginning in the second week of January. Temperatures had averaged about a
degree below normal in December with precipitation near normal. A warming
trend in early January brought a high of 61° at Oakland on the 4th and similar
temperatures throughout the state. This balmy period ended abruptly on the 10th as
a mass of arctic air spread across the eastern two thirds of the country. This was
accompanied by brisk winds and followed by a snowstorm on the 13th to the 16th,
leaving virtually the entire state covered with snow until thawing near the end of
the month. For the ten-day period Jan. 10-19 Baltimore averaged 18° below
normal. Despite the warm periods before and after that time temperatures across
the state were approximately 7° below normal for the entire month. See Table 1
for comparison with previous years including the devastating winter of ’77.
Precipitation was about a */z inch above normal. The lowest officially recorded
temperature was - 34° at Eagle Rock, Garrett County on the 17th. Temperatures in
the 50’s at the end of the month wiped out most of the snow cover, except in the
western region where it reached a depth of 21 in. at Frostburg on the 26th and
27th.

Temperatures were near normal in February, with precipitation averaging 0.8
in. above normal. Snowfalls were generally followed by warm weather that rapidly
melted any cover. Warm periods on the 15-16th and the 19-24th started waterfowl
moving along with the normally early passerines.

Avian mortality during the severe January weather was high as one might
expect. Jan Reese in St. Michaels documented the following birds brought to him
during this period that were found dead in an emaciated condition: Horned Grebe,
Great Blue Heron, Mute Swan (total of 7, 5 with embedded or ingested shot).
Whistling Swan (3, all with ingested shot), Canada Goose (only 3 autopsied but all
had embedded shot), Mallard, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Common Bobwhite,
American Woodcock (4, 1 with embedded shot), Sanderling, Mourning Dove (11, 2
with embedded shot, 1 with ingested shot, 1 with nematodes), Carolina Wren,
Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, and White-
throated Sparrow.

In addition Jan also found the following species that were killed by cars while
feeding along the roadsides: Cooper’s Hawk, Greater Black-backed Gull, Herring
Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Common Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl,

JUNE 1982

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

45

Common Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Fish Crow, Brown Thrasher, American
Robin, Eastern Meadowlark, House Finch, and Song Sparrow plus 5 other species
commonly found dead along roads in any weather. This demonstrates the
magnitude of the problem that birds had in finding food during this severe period.

If anything pleasant was to come out of this season it would be the late flight of
northern finches that developed in late January and into February with Common
Redpolls, Pine Siskins, and White-winged Crossbills being the features. These will
be documented in the appropriate species accounts for this season and also for the
spring season in the next issue.

Contributors: Larry Bonham, Ric Conn, A. J. and Roberta Fletcher for all
Caroline County observers, Alex Hammer, Hank Kaestner, Walt Kraus, Debbie
Mignogno, Jim Paulus, Fran Pope, Jane Reese, Jo Solem for all observers in
Howard County, Sallie Thayer, David Wallace, Mark Wallace, Bob Warfield, Hal
Wierenga, and Jim Wilkinson.

Table 1. Average Temperatures (°F) and Departures from Normal for Month of January
1977-1982.

Station

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

Baltimore

Oakland

Hagerstown

Frederick

Salisbury

22.9/- 10.5 29.2/- 4.2 33.1/- 0.3 33.8/+ 0.4 * 27.9/- 5.5 25.5/- 7.9
12.7/— 14.8 17.9/ — 9.6 22.9/-4.6 28.5/+ 1.0 20.5/ — 7.0 22.3/— 5.2
18.3/- 13.0 25.1/- 6.2 28.8/ — 2.5 31.1/- 0.2 26.3/- 5.0 24.6/- 6.7
22.2/ — 9.5 27.4/— 4.3 31.2/ — 0.5 32.9/+ 1.2 28.7/-3.0 25.8/-5.9
26.4/ — 11.1 33.7/- 3.8 37.2/ — 0.3 36.0/- 1.5 30.6/ — 6.9 31.6/— 5.9

Grebe, Pelagics, Cormorants. A Horned Grebe, which mistakenly landed on a
patch of ground ice near Frederick on Jan. 29, was released in a nearby stream,
apparently in good health (D. Wallace). On a Feb. 14 pelagic trip off Ocean City
observers tallied 15 Northern Fulmars and 1,775 Northern Gannets. There were 13
Great Cormorants at Pt. Lookout on Feb. 20 (Ringler, et al.).

Herons. Mignogno noted the following species at Deal Island Wildlife
Management Area (WMA) during the winter; an immature Little Blue Heron from
Dec. 18 through Jan. 6, 2 Great Egrets on Jan. 6, and 5 Black-crowned Night Herons
on Jan. 5.

Waterfowl. On Jan. 14 Paulus found these waterfowl on the Potomac near
Cumberland: 5 Homed Grebes, 150 Mallards, 25 Black Ducks, 5 Common Goldeneyes;
1 Bufflehead, 1 Common Merganser, and 1 Ring-billed Gull. Bill Portlock listed
3,500 Lesser Scaup, 600 Oldsquaw, and 200 Surf Scoters wintering in the Smith
Island area this year. An immature Mute Swan remained at Sandy Point from Dec.
19 through Jan. 3 tWierenga). Ten Whistling Swans stayed on Deep Creek Lake to
Dec. 7 (Pope) and others in Howard County to Jan. 6 (M. Wallace). Wallace found
the peak winter count of Canada Geese in Howard County to be 1,815 on Jan. 20.

46

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

VOL. 38, NO. 2

Evidence of the late movements of this species were the 50 on Deep Creek Lake on
Dec. 12 (Pope), 12 flying over Germantown on Jan. 2, and 53 over Silver Spring on
Jan. 24 (Warfield). Sam Dyke noted a flight of 1,000 Brant and 500 Black Ducks
going south over Assateague on Jan. 17. White-fronted Geese put in a good showing
with single adults seen on the Choptank River at Horn Point on Dec. 13 (Ringler, et
al.), at Churchville at least through Dec. 17 (many observers), at Gaithersburg on
Jan. 7 (Warfield), and at West Ocean City from Feb. 7 (Ringler, et al.) through Feb.
15. Single Snow Geese were on Deep Creek Lake on Dec. 7 (Pope), at Woodbine on
Jan. 3 (Anne Walsh), in Howard County on Feb. 11 (M. Wallace), and in
Montgomery County on Feb. 20 (Bonham). The high count for Wood Ducks was 55
in Baltimore on Dec. 17 (Ringler). The 8 Canvasbacks at Wilde Lake in Columbia on
Feb. 13 (Linda McDaniel) were probably early migrants. In Garrett County, Sallie
Thayer saw a female Lesser Scaup on the Youghiogheny River on Jan. 2 and a
female Common Goldeneye on Feb. 7, both unusual mid winter records. Another
Common Goldeneye was at Lilypons on Jan. 16 and there were 37 on the Potomac
River in Frederick County on Feb. 21 (D. Wallace), the latter flock a definite sign of
spring migration. A female and a young male Common Eider were at Ocean City on
Feb. 7 (Ringler, et al.) and at least one bird was seen through most of the winter.
The 8 Hooded Mergansers at Lilypons on Jan. 20-24 (D. Wallace) were another
indication of birds continuing to move south, or to more open water, during the
January freeze. The high counts for Common Mergansers were 35-40 at Sycamore
Landing on the Potomac on Jan. 31 (Wilson) and 60 at Baltimore on Feb. 2
(Wilkinson).

Raptors , Turkey. The high counts of Black Vultures were 35 at Lake Linganore
on Jan. 5 (D. Wallace) and 30+ throughout the winter near Riva on the South
River (Tibbie Stevenson). Rough-legged Hawks proliferated this season with
numerous sightings in agricultural areas or about marshes. One was at Oldtown on
Dec. 18 (Paulus), at least 2 in the vicinity of Upper Marlboro from Dec. 1 (Conn), 1
at Fishing Creek Marsh, Calvert Co. on Dec. 24 (Kraus), 1 at Gaithersburg on Dec.
31 (Bonham), 4 in northern Baltimore County from January into mid-February
(Kaestner), 1 at Sandy Point on Jan. 18 (Wierenga), 1 near Owings Mills on Jan. 18
10 (4 light phase and 6 dark phase) at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 31 (Wierenga), 4
at Irish Grove Sanctuary near Marion on Feb. 20 (Stasz, et al.), 1 in Baltimore on
Feb. 21 (Ringler, et al.), 3 in southern Frederick County on Feb. 23 (D. Wallace),
and 19 (Gail Frantz), 10 (4 light phase and 6 dark phase) at Deal Island WMA on Jan.
31 (Wierenga), 4 at Irish Grove Sanctuary near Marion on Feb. 20 (Stasz, et al.), 1
in Baltimore on Feb. 21 (Ringler, et al.) 3 in southern Frederick County on Feb. 23
(D. Wallace), and 1 at Rockville on Feb. 28 (Wilson). Two Golden Eagles continued
at Blackwater through the winter. The only others reported were an immature at
Sandy Point on Dec. 13 (Hammer) and one bird at Irish Grove on Feb. 7 (Stasz). The
mid-winter survey of Bald Eagles tallied 53 adults and 59 immatures in the state
with the major concentrations being 47 in Harford County and 38 in Dorchester
County. Wierenga counted 22 Northern Harriers at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 31.
Early arriving Ospreys were at Benedict in Charles County on Feb. 18 (John
Gregoire) and Horn Point, Dorchester Co. on Feb. 24 (Don Meritt). One Peregrine
Falcon was seen in the vicinity of the Bay Bridge from Dec. 11 through Feb. 20
(Wierenga). A Merlin was seen at Fishing Creek Marsh on Dec. 19 (Kraus). The
only report of Wild Turkeys was 6 at Catoctin on Feb. 20 (D. Wallace).

JUNE 1982

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

47

Shorebirds. There were 3 American Oystercatchers on Sinepuxent Bay on Feb. 26
(Mignogno). Sam Dyke reported from Assateague a Long-billed Dowitcher on Dec.
12 and 12 Lesser Yellowlegs on Jan. 2. David Wallace found Common Snipe in
southern Frederick County on Dec. 6 and Feb. 4. David Czaplak estimated 2
Western Sandpipers and 800 Dunlin at Blackwater on Dec. 12. Harvey and Marion
Mudd found a Purple Sandpiper at Chesapeake Beach on Dec. 6 and 2 were there on
the 23rd {Wierenga, Mignogno).

Skua, Gulls, Tern, Alcids. The center for gull-watching this winter was the
Montgomery County Landfill in Rockville. Wierenga made regular surveys there
and estimated the January population to be about 8,000 birds. After the thaw of
mid-February he noted that the population increased to 14,000-18,000 with most of
the increase being in the number of Ring-billed Gulls. Of the less common species he
found 2 immature Glaucous Gulls there, Dec. 9 through Feb. 4, at least 6 different
Iceland Gulls with 2 immatures from late November to Jan. 18, a third immature
from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4, and an adult, a near-adult, and another immature on Feb. 5,
45 Greater Black-backed Gulls on Jan. 6, and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 adults
and a bird in second-winter plumage, from Jan. 6 to Feb. 23. The landfill near
Salisbury also provided some interesting gulls for Wierenga with a near-adult
Glaucous Gull, 3 immature Iceland Gulls, and an adult Lesser Black-back on Jan.
25, 2 adult Lessers on Feb. 1, and a second-winter Lesser on Feb. 15. Another
Glaucous Gull was at Chesapeake Beach on Feb. 28 (Kraus). Another Iceland Gull
was at Tilghman Island on Dec. 18 and 19 (Effinger) and at least one immature
continued at Rockville through Feb. 28 (Wilson). The now-traditional adult Lesser
Black-back spent its fourth winter at Fort McHenry. Another adult was at the
Annapolis landfill on Dec. 11 and a second-winter bird on Jan. 27 (Wierenga). Two
sub-adult Lesser Black-backs were at the Parkton landfill on Dec. 26 (Mike Resch),
an adult on the Severn River on Jan. 3 (Bob Patterson), 2 at Chesapeake Beach on
Jan. 5 (Kraus), and an adult at Ocean City on Feb. 7 (Resch, et al.). These figures
show the trend for gulls to seek out landfills as a major source of food in the winter
and attract the traditionally more northern species. This winter was probably the
greatest presence in history shown by the white-winged gulls and Lesser Black-
backed Gull in the state. Unseasonal Herring Gulls were at Lilypons on Jan. 8 and
(5 birds) on Feb. 23 (D. Wallace), and another was in Allegany County on Feb. 2
(Paulus). David Czaplak noted 1 Forster’s Tern at Blackwater on Dec. 5. A Feb. 14
pelagic trip off Ocean City produced 1 Great Skua, 1 Glaucous Gull, 1 unidentified
white-winged gull, 1,000 Greater Black-backs, 2,000 Herring Gulls, 400 Black-
legged Kittiwakes, 17 Razorbills, and 15 unidentified large alcids. A Razorbill was
seen from shore at Ocean City on Feb. 22 (Hans-Joachim Feddern).

Owls. A Long-eared Owl was seen on Assateague on Dec. 28 and 29 and another
at Irish Grove on Jan. 30 (Wierenga, Mignogno). Short-eared Owls were plentiful
this winter, with 1 on Assateague, Jan. 16 and Feb. 26, 8 at Deal Island WMA on
Jan. 22-24 (Wierenga, Mignogno), 5 near Walkersville on Feb. 14 (D. Wallace), 4 at
Irish Grove on Feb. 20 (Stasz, et al.), and 6 at Baltimore on Feb. 21-27 (Wilkinson,
et al.). A Saw-whet Owl was at Rockville from early December through the end of
the period (Wierenga). Another Saw-whet was found dead on the road at Concord,
Caroline County on Dec. 19 (Carol Scudder); live birds were seen at Assateague on
Dec. 28-29 (Wierenga, Mignogno) and near Wye Mills in Talbot County on Dec. 29
(Reese).

48

MARYLAND RIRDLIFE

VOL. 38. NO. 2

Flycatcher, Lark, Chickadees. An Eastern Phoebe was in Denton on Jan. 31 and
Feb. 25 (Roberta Fletcher). High counts of Horned Larks were 200 in southern
Frederick County during January (D. Wallace) and 225 in northern Baltimore
County on Feb. 13 (Kaestner). Kaestner and others also noted an influx of Black-
capped Chickadees into northern Baltimore County in early February, coinciding
with the movement of northern finches; however, the Black caps were not found
south of Ashland and did not appear in great numbers. Barbara Larrabee
entertained an albino Carolina Chickadee at her feeder near Loch Raven
throughout the period.

Nuthatches, Wren, Thrasher, Shrikes. Red-breasted Nuthatches were plentiful
and widespread this winter. A Carolina Wren at Fran Pope’s feeder in Mountain
Lake Park on Dec. 19 appeared very weak and probably did not survive the freeze.
The only report of a Brown Thrasher from the Piedmont was one that briefly
visited the Clegg's feeder during the coldest part of January. Loggerhead Shrikes
were seen at Graceham on Dec. 20 (Ringler, Nathan Webb) and in the Belfast
Valley of northern Baltimore County from Feb. 11 for several days (Kaestner, et al.).

Warblers. A Pine Warbler in Federalsburg on Jan. 14 (Inez Glime) was trying to
brave the cold weather. A Palm Warbler was seen at Sandy Point on Dec. 5
(Hammer) and on Jan. 3 (Wierenga, Mignogno) before the coldest paTt of the
season. Another Palm Warbler was found in Washington on Jan. 1 (David Czaplak).

Icterids. A male Yellow-headed Blackbird was reported from Church Creek in
Dorchester County on Feb. 28 (Paul Sykes, Bob Russell). “Baltimore” Orioles as
usual tried to spend the winter, with birds seen at the Halls in Howard County
during the first half of December, a male in Bethesda on Dec. 27 (Mieke Mehlman),
2 at Baldwin on Jan. 16 and 17 (Van Houtans), and 1 at Herald Harbor through Jan.
17 (Wierenga). Wierenga estimated that a flock of over a million blackbirds
roosted in a phragmites marsh south of Annapolis through the period. It consisted
of approximately 50% Common Crackles, 25°/o Red-winged Blackbirds, and 25%
European Starlings.

Finches. An Indigo Bunting spent the
winter from Jan. 9 on at a feeder in
Savage (Paul Leifer, et al.). An adult
male Painted Bunting visited the feeder
of John and Elizabeth Morton in
Pendennis Mount near Annapolis from
Dec. 26 through Jan. 21. The only
Dickcissels reported were a male photo-
graphed by Bruce Reid in Baltimore,

Dec. 30 through Jan. 1 and one in
Concord on Jan. 12 (Carol Scudder). A
southward movement of northern
finches began in late January and the
birds poured into the state in early
February. Fran Pope suddenly had 30-50
Evening Grosbeaks at her feeders on Feb.

5 and continuing through the month. She
noted a corresponding drop in the

Painted Bunting, Annapolis,
Jan. 12, 1982. Photo by
Harold Wierenga.

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49

number of House Finches from the daily total of 20-40 to less than 10 after that
date. Ethel Engle noted 80 + House Finches at Tanyard on Jan. 6. Near Oakland
Sallie Thayer saw the first 5 Common Redpolls at her feeders on Jan. 20 and had
banded 25 by the end of the period. Another Common Redpoll was in Salisbury on
Jan. 31 (Charles Vaughn). Numbers increased in February vvith 2 at Rodgers Forge
in Baltimore on Feb. 9 (Slaughter), 2 at Ashland on Feb. 13 (Kaestner), and others
in Allegany County on the 18th (Paulus), Reisterstown on the 21st (Gail Frantz),
and Columbia on the 27th (George & Carole Cleland). Fran Pope noted her first
Pine Siskin on Dec. 6 and numbers steadily increased to 25 per day in mid-January
and 50-100 per day in February with 635 banded there and near Oakland by the
end of the month. Other reports of Pine Siskins were 25 at Ashland on Feb- 13
(Kaestner), 20 at Gambrill State Park from Feb. 7-28 (D. Wallace), and another
huge flock at Patuxent WRC with 500 in February. American Goldfinches peaked
at 50 per day at the Mountain Lake Park feeders on Jan. 13 and gradually
decreased as the number of siskins increased. The only Red Crossbills reported
were 7 in Garrett County on Dec. 19 (Pope) and 1 flying over the Belfast Valley on
Feb. 25 (Kaestner). White-winged Crossbills made the biggest impression on
observers with all the records coming from February. On the 13th Kaestner noted
20 flying over the Belfast Valley and another 60 at Ashland with some birds
remaining at the latter location through the 27th. Also on the 13th one was at a
feeder in Howard County (Alice Grant) while others were seen at the National
Arboretum, Feb. 7-15(Czaplak). On the 14th Parksie Mulholland estimated 25-30 in
Ruxton. On the 15th Hank Niese found 12 in Howard County. Another 12 were at
Rockville on the 16th (Wierenga). In Garrett County there were 21 in Mountain
Lake Park on the 24th, 100 + in Crellin on the 26th, and 20 in Oakland on the 27th
(Pope). Another was at a feeder in Sunderland (Kraus). With the exception of birds
at feeders the White-winged Crossbills were found exclusively in hemlocks.

Sparrows, Longspur, Buntings. The number of Rufous-sided Towhees
attempting to winter this year was far above average as the Christmas Count
totals will testify. A Vesper Sparrow at Williston. Caroline County, on Dec. 12
(Carol Scudder) was unusual. The only Lapland Longspur reported was an
immature in the Belfast Valley on Feb. 13 (Kaestner). Snow Buntings dwindled to 2
at Sandy Point on Dec. 13 and the last one was seen on Jan. 3 (Wierenga).
Wierenga also found 1 at Rockville on Dec. 13. The flock at Triadelphia Reservoir
peaked at 53 on Dec. 4 and was last seen on the 17th before snow covered the
exposed lake bottom (M. Wallace, et al.), Other Snow Buntings were 6 feeding in
the road with Horned Larks in Garrett County on Dec. 19 (Pope), 4 at Tilghman
Island on Jan. 1 (Reese), and 10 at Chance in Somerset County on Jan. 25
(Wierenga, Mignogno).

3501 Melody Lane, Baltimore, MD 21207

Snow Buntings at Triadelphia Reservoir, Dec. 12, 1981. Photo by Bob Ringler.

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THE

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

Last year George Kramer and the Sanctuary Committee set out to cure
what we perceived as a loss of the old enthusiasm for the MOS
sanctuaries. They did this in several ways: for instance, by holding
regional meetings to encourage local participation, and by conducting
physical surveys to determine first hand the condition of each property.
Here again the local chapters participated to make sure their inputs were
considered. The surveys were followed up with working weekends.
Crews of 20 at Irish Grove and 40 at Carey Run showed up to clean, paint,
clear trails and generally put the places in shape for the season. Charlotte
and Dan Folk at Carey Run were especially appreciative of the work done
there.

A special and unusual event took place at Irish Grove. With the help of
the Department of Natural Resources a 40 x 90 x 6-foot hole was blasted
into the marsh in front of the observation platform. The idea was to
provide some deep water, which is otherwise lacking in the marsh, to
attract fish and other animals, and especially species of birds not
normally found there. All of this was accompanied by regular publicity in
the "Maryland Yellowthroat.”

Another change from convention has been the residency of Jim Stasz
at Irish Grove. Jim has performed a large amount of maintenance,
especially on the plumbing system, so the sanctuary looks livable for the
first time in many years. Irish Grove is receiving some of the personal
attention the Folks have lavished on Carey Run over the years.

George’s experiences in other similar organizations helped him to
accomplish these and other things this year. Unfortunately he will not be
able to continue. The MOS was fortunate to have George to get this
process started and now to have Ben Poscover agree to take over and
lead the Sanctuary Committee for the coming year.

John Cullom

1982 CONVENTION SUMMARY

The 35th annual convention planning began at the 34th annual business
meeting. The attendees at that meeting were so pleased with the Del-Mar-Va

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51

Convention Center at Delmar, Md. that they voted loud and clear to return for
another year. It had proved to be a good focal point for the Eastern Shore birding
spots and the Center’s accommodations were so right for the MOS activities other
than birding.

Registration, as in the past, began early Friday, May 7, as birders arrived
anxious to get settled quickly and head out in the field to do some scouting before
the official program began. Soon it became clear to the volunteers at the
registration table that this was not going to be a routine registration with quiet
times between the rushes. A steady stream of birders lined up and just kept
coming. Before the close of the registration Saturday, questions like “Where are
the programs?” and “What happened to the name tags?” were being asked, but
with no answers. Unbelievably we had run out of both which had never happened
before. It was clear we were going to set an attendance record — at least for recent
years and perhaps for all time. By Saturday afternoon, 315 had registered and a
few more walked in late Saturday and even Sunday morning. That was all good
news but it was unfortunate that it had not been anticipated so that everyone
could have had a program and proper name tag. A lesson for next year. Dr.
Stephen Kress from the Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, was the
guest speaker Friday night. The auditorium was set up with about 300 chairs but it
was necessary to bring in more chairs and still there were standees. Some guests
from the area had just dropped in to hear Steve’s program, “Bird Islands of the
North Atlantic.”

Saturday morning there was an overflow crowd for the 4:15 a.m. coffee and
doughnuts. Unlike previous years, there were even more early birders on Sunday
morning (usually after a busy Saturday there are “sleep-ins”). These birders had
come to the 35th convention to take advantage of every birding moment!

The field trips were organized by Chan Robbins and all well attended — many
with overflows. No matter the warnings on the sign-up sheets that certain trips
must be limited in numbers, persistent birders just kept signing up using the
margins and squeezing names between the lines. The final count of 202 species was
good and surpassed last year’s count of 185. The more birders looking, the more
birds are to be seen. Of course, the leaders must be given the big share of the
credit for their field work.

Dr. Benjamin Poscover was the Saturday night speaker and his program on the
MOS sanctuaries was so well received, Ben will surely be back next year with an
updated sanctuary program. After this presentation, the three raffle gifts were
given to the winners. The raffle this year brought in more money to the sanctuary
fund than in any previous raffle.

We were fortunate once again this year in that the weather was great except for
a shower midmorning on Saturday, which seemed to have interrupted the birding
only for brief moments. As a result of all the success stories mentioned above, the
membership voted to meet next year in Delmar for the 36th annual meeting. If you
missed it all this year, plan now not to repeat that mistake in 1983!

Martha Chestem

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VOL. 38, NO. 2

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING

The thirty-fifth annual meeting of the MOS was held in Delmar, Maryland on
May 8, 1982. A quorum was on hand when President John Cullom called the
session to order at 8:10 p.m. A motion by Mrs. Joyce was seconded and passed,
approving Minutes of the last annual meeting as printed in Maryland Birdlife.

Treasurer. Mr. MacGregor was pleased to announce that the budgeted deficit
had not occurred; instead the Society’s finances were well in the black. The
Treasurer’s complete annual report will be printed in this issue of Maryland
Birdlife.

President's Message. Mr. Cullom highlighted achievements of the past year,
among them special efforts made to enkindle greater interest in our sanctuaries.
Sanctuary Committee Chairman George Kramer was commended for an excellent
job of coordinating varied activities, including physical surveys of most of the
properties, regional meetings involving many people, blasting a pond in the marsh
at Irish Grove, workdays at the sanctuary houses and an active publicity
campaign.

This past year has also seen the first anniversary of The Yellowthroat. Two
very capable editors have contributed greatly to its success — first Dan Boone, and
currently Cameron Lewis.

Also noteworthy was the establishment of two new committees — the rare bird
Verification Committee chaired by Jim Stasz and Atlas Committee under the
leadership of Kathy Klimkiewicz.

First Vice President. Miss Chestem thanked all who attended the convention,
especially those who helped with arrangements and served as trip leaders. This
year there were 315 registrants, up from 248 last year and 220 the year before.
Registration fees netted $1070, in addition to approximately $180 realized from
the raffles.

Second Vice President Mr. Stasz is currently engaged in establishing the
Verification Committee to investigate unusual bird sightings in Maryland. He
anticipates that rules will be formulated and published in Maryland Birdlife
shortly, and the committee fully operational some time next year.

Executive Secretary. This year MOS membership reached 2078, an increase of
17 over the previous year. Mrs. Cullom thanked all chapter treasurers for their
continued cooperation. She cited especially Ed McKnight, stepping down after 17
years as treasurer of the Montgomery Chapter.

Committee Reports. Reports of the Auditing, Bluebird, Bylaws, Conservation,
Education, Library, Long-Range Planning, Research, Sanctuary and Scholarship
Committees were given. They will be printed in this issue of Maryland Birdlife.
The report of the Budget Committee was deferred until the Board meeting which
followed.

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MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

53

As an addendum to the Conservation Committee report, Mrs. Robbins spoke of
critical environmental issues now in jeopardy. She urged all members to write
their Congressmen to support legislation affecting clean water and air, preserva-
tion of public lands and protection of endangered species.

Election of Officers. The Nominating Committee presented the following slate
to serve for the forthcoming year: President, John H. Cullom; First Vice
President, CDR Anthony White; Second Vice President, James Stasz; Treasurer,
W. Gordon MacGregor; Secretary, Helen Ford. There were no nominations from
the floor. A motion was made by Mrs. Cole, seconded and passed, that nominations
be closed and the slate unanimously elected. A rising vote of appreciation was
given to Martha Chestem, retiring after three years as First Vice President.

Election of Trustees. The secretary read names of those nominated by the
chapters to serve as trustees {chapter president is denoted by *): ALLEGANY,
Mr. Kendrick Hodgdon*. Mr. Robert Hiegel; ANNE ARUNDEL, Mrs. Emily
Joyce*, Miss Rhonda Brown, Dr. Gary VanVelsir; BALTIMORE, Mrs. Joy
Wheeler*, Dr. Phillip Creighton, Dr. Roger Herriott, Mrs. Eleanor Jones, Mr.
Robert Lyon, Mrs. Jane E. Mazur, Mr. James Orgain, Mrs. Jean Worthley;
CAROLINE, Mr. Steve Westre*, Mrs. Marianna Nuttle; CARROLL, Dr. William
Ellis*, Mr. Nathan Webb; FREDERICK, Mr. David Wallace*, Mr. Norman
Chamberlain; HARFORD, Mr. Ellis Porter*, CAPT Lucille Wilson, Mr. Eldred
Johnson; HOWARD, Mrs. Jane Farrell*, Mr. Max Casper, Mr. Paul Zucker;
KENT, Mrs. Pat Wilson*, Mrs. Margaret Duncan; MONTGOMERY, Mrs. Lola
Oberman*, Mr. Philip DuMont, Mrs. Minette McCullough, Mrs. Margaret Donnald;
PATUXENT, Mrs. Virginia Kuykendall*, Mr. Chandler S. Robbins; TALBOT,
Reverend Ivan Morrin*, Mrs. Lucile Spain, Dr. Robert Trever; WASHINGTON,
Mrs. Mary Corderman*, Mrs. Norma Lewis, Mrs. Dinnie Winger; WICOMICO, Mr.
Chester Ross*, Mr. Karl Zickrick. A motion by Mr. Stasz was seconded and passed,
accepting these trustees.

New Business. The Sanctuary Fund was enriched by a gift of $1000. Mrs.
Wheeler made the presentation on behalf of the Baltimore Chapter and the MOS
Bookstore.

Mr. Ringler reported the status of the Cornell Peregrine Falcons in Baltimore.
Two birds were released recently, one of which stayed. Scarlett’s first clutch of
eggs was removed to determine if they were fertile. She has now laid four more
eggs, which hopefully will hatch around the first of June.

At 9:10 p.m., the members approved Mrs. Conley’s motion that we adjourn until
next year.

HELEN Ford, Secretary

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VOL. 38, NO. 2

ANNUAL REPORTS OF LOCAL CHAPTERS

ALLEGANY CHAPTER

The very popular annual banquet at Penn Alps in Grantsville was held on
October 21. Dr. Richard Johnson presented a program on his birding trips to
Mexico and Guatemala, “Mayan Adventure.” In November a Walt Berlet film
“Season of the Elk” was shown at the meeting. The club arranged to purchase
sunflower seeds in bulk for its members. The Christmas Bird Count was held on
December 19 with John Willetts compiler.

Dr. Van T. Harris presented a slide-illustrated talk on "The Gooney Birds of
Midway Island” during the January meeting. Bad weather cancelled the February
meeting. In March John Willetts shared his recent birding trip to the West through
a program “Bird’s Eye of the West."

A display of museum skins of warblers to be identified greeted club members as
they arrived for the April meeting. Dr. Robert Paterson of Frostburg State
College showed slides of warblers emphasizing his own work on the Black-throated
Blue.

In April a very successful clean up day was held at Carey Run Sanctuary with
participants from eight MOS chapters. The May Bird Count was held on the first
with Dorothea Malec as compiler.

Ken HODGDON, President

ANNE ARUNDEL CHAPTER

The Annapolis area chapter got off to an early start with a summer birding
workshop organized by the chapter and hosted by Sandy Point State Park, and
ended the year with a big plus- an all time high in membership (152). The officers
met in June and set up a program with 26 field trips, seven monthly lectures, and
two picnics. The directory designed by Linda Pivacek was printed and mailed to
members by August 1. A weekend field trip to Chincoteague in August captured
the sighting record for number of species (118) for the chapter year.

The fall season was opened by the gracious hospitality of Pat Duffy who
hostessed the kick off pot luck supper at her home overlooking the Magothy River.
A cumulative total of over 225 persons went on chapter field trips during the year.
The most popular trip was to Blackwater NWR in November led by Dotty
Mumford. With the peak of spring migration still ahead of us the organized trips
have chalked up 227 species, including 21 not seen in the previous year’s program.
Records were maintained for all the field trips and are on file with the chapter
president.

A cumulative total of 368 persons attended the monthly chapter meetings.
Highlighting the first Fridays were a group of outstanding speakers: Dr. Robert
W. Trever, A Mexican Adventure"; Matthew Perry, “Canvasback: King of the
Bay”; Chandler S. Robbins, “Warbler Sonagrams"; David W. Steadman, “Past and

JUNE 1982

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

55

Present Birds of the Galapagos"; Dr. Ben Poscover and Betty Iber, “Maryland
Spring Flowers”; and the film “Osprey." An excellent group of hostesses provided
refreshments following each meeting.

The Richard E. Heise Annual Wildlife Program was a well spoken and
beautifully illustrated presentation by Peter J. Dunne, Naturalist Director of Cape
May Bird Observatory. Entitled “Hawk Watch in the Shadow of Light" this special
program raised revenues for the MOS sanctuary and scholarship funds.

Despite the miserable weather with heavy rain, the Annapolis Christmas Bird
Count logged over 100 species and tens of thousands of feathered individuals. Once
again the Count was expertly coordinated and compiled by Hal Wierenga. A Navy
soup down tally for the soggy participants was hosted by Dick and Pat Chiles on
Broad Creek. The local star bird of the winter entered the count tabulation several
days later when it became known that an adult male Painted Bunting ( Passerina
ciris ) had been dining at a feeder on Pendennis Mount since December 26. He
remained on the scene brilliantly decorating the winter landscape until late
January.

For their many years of organizing and reporting the Annapolis Christmas
Count, verifying and documenting rare bird sightings, leadership in the field,
articles to journals, and tremendous contributions to the knowledge and under-
standing of avifauna in Anne Arundel County, the Chapter was proud to present
its highest award, honorary membership, to Professor Harold and Hal Wierenga.
The presentation of the honorary membership plaque was made at the chapter’s
February meeting.

The year was full of memorable events. Among them were the return to our
flock of Pat Duffy; innumerable trips to see the flock (3) of Gyrfalcons in
Pennsylvania; Past President Tony White returning to lead the 10th annual
winter weekend; the "Jive Turkey” at the National Zoo; coming back from Hawk
Mountain via Little Buffalo State Park; the Year of the Eagle ceremony in the
Governor’s office; side trips by members to Texas, Trinidad-Tobago, Japan, and
England; a Bald Eagle attempting to steal a fish from an Osprey, and the migration
of Linda, Bill, and Jason Pivacek to Nahant. Yet to go are Convention and a canoe
trip in the Pine Barrens. Thanks to our field trip leaders, monthly speakers, my
fellow officers, and an enthusiastic and supportive membership the Anne Arundel
Chapter fared well in 1981-82.

Jim CHEEVERS, President

BALTIMORE CHAPTER

To make a decision to begin this report with the most important feature of our
year would be a difficult judgment for me. As president, I feel the total life of the
Society is of paramount importance. So, unsure of the degree of importance of one
aspect over the other, I shall begin my report with the announcement that our
membership is up this year for the first time in some years; by no more than 20,
admittedly, but it is up. After several years of decline and several years of holding,
the membership rolls now list 623. Perhaps our emphasis on publicity helped, per-

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haps the general commitment of our members to convey the spirit of the Society to
interested citizens; perhaps the growing threat to earlier achievements within the
conservation movement; perhaps a real desire to use free time to enjoy the simple
offerings of nature instead of the elaborate products of technology; perhaps all of
these have contributed to the upward trend. For whatever reason, we welcome
the rising slant and have committed ourselves to work for a continued rise in the
coming year, in order to share our understanding of the environment through an
understanding of the world of birds.

Our Program included several lecture series that have contributed to that end;

1. Tuesday Evenings at Cylburn presented 7 of our members and 1 invited guest
opportunities to recount their experiences at some of the Bird-Hotspots of
North America: Tortugas and the Everglades, Apostle Islands on Lake
Superior, Tule-Klamath-Malheur, South Texas, Point Reyes, Gaspe-Bona-
venture, Cape May with Peter Dunne being our one invited guest speaker.
To bring our series to a suitable close Birding Hotspots in Baltimore area
were reviewed.

2. Come-As-You-Are Teas/Open House at Cylburn were offered with the
cooperation of The Cylburn Organization. The subjects were not limited
to birds but reflected the wider range of interest of many of our members
and visiting speakers. We felt that the cooperation was successful and
are planning to continue it another year.

3. Beginning Birdwatching series were held in the Fall and Spring, the Fall

session being a “mini-series” and the Spring session being offered with 1
credit from Essex Community College.

4. The Audubon Wildlife Lecture Film Series.

5. Nature Photography.

Field trips offered our membership 85 different times and places to pursue their
interest in bird sightings. Peter Webb, our intrepid Program Chairman went on
most of these trips and is determined to get together a trip list equally as
impressive for the coming year. His own best bird sightings on MOS trips were
Red Crossbills in December.

Of course, the membership was made aware of the rare birds in the area by our
Rare Bird Alert and produced its share of people who sought out the Gyrfalcon,
the Snowy Owls, the White-winged Crossbills, the Sandhill Crane, Painted
Bunting, the Loggerhead Shrike, White-fronted Goose, and Harris’ Sparrow.
Reports of early arrivals, late hangers-on and heavy eaters at the feeders were
shared through our Newsletter.

The Newsletter continues to receive kudos from its readership in Baltimore and
around the state. Our excellent editor and production staff certainly deserve it.

Reaching the public with our message involved much committee and individual
effort this year. The Extension Service provided speakers for school classes,
church meetings and recreation groups. The Junior Program scheduled school
field trips to Cylburn and provided leaders through the Museum and on the trails.
The Publicity Committee supplied local newspapers with our calendar of events
and news releases of the Audubon Wildlife Film Lecture Series. Newspaper

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57

articles about many of our MOS personalities and special projects appeared
several times* The Cable TV program, Library Lens, taped a field walk led by two
of our members. Our phone information service answered 678 calls for information
about birds this year: Why are the robins pecking on our windowpanes this
Spring? The Mayor himself used our Bird Museum’s mounted crow for taping a TV
spot.

The Bookstore continues to strive to offer an expanded selection of nature-
related literature sought by its customers at its Reisterstown Road and Irvine
Natural Science Center branches. The chairman is exploring possibilities of
relocating the Reisterstown Road branch. The Piney Run Nature Center in Carroll
County has invited him to open a small branch there, an idea he is currently
exploring. Business at the Audubon Lecture Series is down, but in most other
areas business continues on an even keel. Volunteers are always welcome. A
contribution to the Sanctuary Fund is being made at the Convention.

Response to the Audubon Wildlife Film Lecture Series has been disappointing
again this year. At our invitation the Chesapeake Audubon Society joined us in
sponsoring the series with the hope that their added membership would be an
advantage. Size of our audiences continued to decline in spite of the fact that the
films and lectures were excellent. It is difficult to assess our lack of success here.
The Chairman of the committee has outlined some hopeful goals for next year’s
efforts, for we do believe that these film/lectures should be offered in Baltimore.

The heightened interest in the affairs of our Sanctuaries was reflected by the
numbers who responded to our Sanctuary Committee representative’s plea for
workers to join forces on the paint-up fix-up weekends at Irish Grove (7) and Carey
Run (6). It was gratifying to be able to contribute to noticeable improvements at
both Sanctuaries and to participate in the good fellowship while doing so.

Our Representative to the Cylburn Organization supplied guides in our Bird
Museum for the many occasions when Cylburn had Open House. We served tea to
those who attended our Sunday afternoon lecture series mentioned earlier. For
the first time in many years we participated in Cylburn’s Market Day, selling
cookies from a large bird nest constructed in our booth. (Could it have been an
Eagle’s Nest? or Osprey’s?) Nature-related books from the Bookstore were also
sold. We are happy to contribute the proceeds from the sales to the Cylburn
Organization.

Since the person who chairs our Conservation Committee also chairs the
Committee for the State MOS we will not include a report here, but will mention
that our Baltimore Chapter has not been allowed to sit back and let conservation
take care of itself. If Gary Trudeau’s characterization of us is true, as birdwatchers
who say “James Watt, who is he?”, it’s not because we have not been well informed
about what’s happening on all conservation levels, local, state and federal. We as
birdwatching citizens can no longer afford to be apolitical. We must press for
action on conservation issues. Surely, birdwatching is not just a sport or a pleasant
pastime for us. More than that, it is a spiritual quest to help us find our own place
in a Planet where such live, artful treasures exist with us, side by side. We must
work to keep it that way.

Joy Wheeler, President

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VOL. 38, NO. 2

CAROLINE COUNTY CHAPTER

The first event of the season was the annual May bird count on Saturday, May
1st. A total of 36 members contributed with a total count of 125 species. On
Sunday, June 14th we had a picnic get-together at Pelot Sanctuary. The weather
was excellent but the event was poorly attended.

Our season’s monthly evening programs started as usual with Steve Westre.
Steve presented a film on Nuclear Fusion. October’s program was presented by
member Dr. Chris Snyder with slides on his southwestern vacation trip. Nick
Carter of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Tidewater Fisheries,
gave a slide presentation on our bay and river fish for November. On Sunday,
December 13th, Marianna Nuttle hosted a social at her home in Denton on the
Choptank River. This event was well attended. On display was a dead Red-tailed
Hawk found along a road. It had apparently been injured in one leg and died of
starvation. The December 19th bird count resulted in a total of 95 species
observed by 32 participants. The weather was the coldest in memory.

Because of snow and bitter cold the January 1982 meeting was cancelled.
February’s meeting deviated from our printed schedule in that Doug Pyle talked
about his newly published book “Clean Sweep Wind’’ instead of a talk on
woodlands. Doug has privately printed his book on the West Indies and he delved
into the mechanics of printing a book. In March Hugh Galberth of Remington
Farms talked with slides on activities at this large area and how farming and
wildlife can be compatible. For April Dr. Robert Treaver gave his slide program
“Sky Island of Arizona” presentation. His superb talk was very refreshing.

Sunday, April 4th was clean up day at Pelot Sanctuary in preparation for Open
House on April 25th. Roberta Fletcher prepared maps of the sanctuary for hand'
outs. Jerry and Roberta Fletcher represented our club at the Irish Grove work
weekend, March 20th. The club again donated bird feed to the Caroline County
Nursing Home and ended the season with 46 paid-up members. All members
mourned the passing of Tom Robbins this past year who was an ever faithful club
member.

Oliver L. Smith, President

FREDERICK COUNTY CHAPTER

The 1981-82 season was another good one for the Frederick County Chapter. We
were again able to increase our membership.

Our meetings were well attended. Topics included birding in Arizona and
Colorado, Alaska and Australia, and Belize and Central America as well as birding
in Frederick and Montgomery Counties. We were treated to a complete pictorial
record of the growth of young Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and of various insects
common to Frederick County. We learned about the Department of Agriculture’s
work with nuisance birds and about the National Aquarium. All of the
presentations were very good. My personal favorites were the birding in Belize
and the insects of Frederick County. Our Christmas meeting at the Araby
Methodist Church included an excellent oyster and turkey dinner prior to the slide
presentation. All in all, we had a very good year.

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The list of field trips included such stand-by’s as the C & 0 Canal, Lilypons, and
Tresselt’s Fish ponds. New areas included Washington Monument State Park,
Sugarloaf Mountain and McKee-Besher’s Wildlife Management Area. The
Christmas Count was well attended. However, the May Count suffered from
spring migrations of counters and wasn’t as well attended as in past years. All of
the other trips provided the participants with new bits of bird lore.

The Frederick Chapter sent a contingent of workers to help at Carey Run. The
folks who went were enthusiastic about the weekend’s accomplishments and
several people felt the “tradition” should be continued.

Our Chapter’s elections provided us with a new President for next year, Dave
Wallace. Dave is quite enthusiastic over his new responsibilities and has some
good ideas for the Frederick County MOS. Dave has a wonderful group of people
with whom to work. I know his term(s) in office will be as enjoyable as mine has
been.

JOHN Helm. President

HARFORD COUNTY CHAPTER

We had many offers from members for the use of their homes for our September
picnic; however, we opted to use the turn Suden Sanctuary. It was felt the facility
was not being utilized to its fullest capacity. We had a splendid turnout and fine
weather. Some members did a bit of birding, but for the most part, everyone
enjoyed eating and relaxing in the quiet atmosphere.

Field trips throughout the season were enjoyed at various refuges and
sanctuaries in and around the state. Some folks traveled to nearby Lancaster
County, Pa. to see the rare Gyrfalcons and Snowy Owl. A Short-eared Owl was
also spotted there. Several of our members were lucky enough to observe the Sand-
hill Crane here in the county that “blew in” from the west. For the third year, Mr.
& Mrs. Winfield Mitchell boasted of a White-fronted Goose in their pond with
many Canada Geese. A Loggerhead Shrike and a Golden Eagle were not unusual
winter visitors.

Each year state and federal agencies cooperate in a joint effort in counting the
wintering population of Bald Eagles throughout the country under the direction of
the National Wildlife Federation’s Raptor Information Center. Here in Harford
County, Aberdeen Proving Ground flies an extensive survey on it’s nearly 80,000
acres. The author has been fortunate enough to have been on all the counts,
including the January ’82 count, when a total of 47 Bald Eagles were seen.
Thirteen of those were mature birds. We who were counting were amazed, to say
the least!

Reports we get from county residents seem to indicate that the Red headed and
Pileated Woodpeckers are on the increase, which is great news!

Barbara Bilsborough, usually assisted by Nancy Roberts, continues to band at
several stations in the county. Many school students get to observe their banding

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demonstrations at turn Suden. Isa Sieracki can also be found there, volunteering
her services to youth groups.

Our club meets in Churchville, normally on the first Friday in November,
January, March and May. These dinner meetings are well attended and the
programs are very interesting and informative. The November meeting featured
So Little Time , with Roger Tory Peterson. In January, the film Our Wildlife
Heritage was shown. Barbara Bilsborough shared slides of her Costa Rica birding
trip at our March function. Our May meeting was put off until May 14th because of
the State Convention. At this writing, the program is to be Birds of the Indian
Monsoon.

Our own Todd Holden, better known as Birdman, still enlightens local radio
listeners with birding information and current sightings.

BIRDING WEEK, May 3-9, was proclaimed in Harford County by County
Executive J. Thomas Barranger. The proclamation is being framed for display at
the turn Suden Sanctuary. Local newspapers carried a photo which included Mr.
Barranger, Todd Holden, Mr. Emerson Jackson and yours truly. Mr. Jackson, a
master Falconer, is shown holding one of his trained birds, a Red-tailed hawk.

Much credit and thanks goes to the "feeding crew,” who, all through the foul
winter weather, faithfully kept the feeders full at turn Suden. Some members took
part in the Christmas and May counts, and presently, many plan to attend the
State Convention. We are currently carrying 120 members.

ELUS C. PORTER, President

HOWARD COUNTY CHAPTER

The 1981-1982 season marked the 10th anniversary for the Howard County
Chapter. The November meeting was declared as the official celebration and was
highlighted by two events.

First, Chan Robbins was the speaker at the first regular meeting held ten years
ago. We were delighted when he accepted our invitation to speak at the November
meeting. His presentation on forest fragmentation was thoroughly enjoyed for its
technical completeness and also because much of the data used in the study was
collected in Howard County along the Middle Patuxent River. Second, a check for
$3,600 was presented to The Nature Conservancy for use in obtaining land in the
Nassawango Preserve on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The annual potluck dinner held in February has always been a great success.
This year was no exception. The evening was filled with good conversation, good
food, and an outstanding slide show. The slide show is put on by those members
who bring a handful of their favorite slides to share.

The bird seed sales continue to grow in popularity. At the time of the first sale
several years ago we were concerned about ordering, moving and distributing

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what seemed to be a staggering volume of seed (1800 lbs.). Gone are those days of
small orders! Our November 1981 sale of over 12,600 lbs. of seed has strained our
resources to the point where trucks may have to be rented to handle the volume of
future sales. Many thanks go to Eileen Clegg for her efforts at orchestrating these
ever growing seed sales.

Finally, this spring marks the completion of the spring wildflower study with the
publication of the early and late blooming dates for those species found in Howard
County. The three persons instrumental in carrying out this study are Bob and Jo
Solem and Chuck Dupree.

Mike McClure, President

KENT COUNTY CHAPTER

Guest speakers helped highlight our program year. Dr. Donald Messersmith,
MOS member and head of World Nature Tours, Inc., fascinated our group with
excellent slides and interesting information about his trip to Belize last summer.
Dan Boone, ex-editor of the “Yellowthroat” was equally received in October when
he shared his experiences with slides from his trip to Costa Rica last summer.

Then, too, the Chapter hosted Mrs. Assateague, herself, Judy Johnson, who
brought us the latest in what is and has happened at Assateague Island.

A local resident and Purple Martin enthusiast, Jim Gent, Sr., presented a
special evening on his favorite feathered subject: Martins.

Field trips were especially rewarding: a handful traveled to Washington
Monument State Park, Boonsboro, to join in the Hawk migration counts on
Saturday, October 10; 19 people turned up to visit Bombay Hook National Wildlife
Refuge on a cold, blustery November day, where we saw 30 species of wintering
waterfowl, hawks, shorebirds, and an immature Bald Eagle; closer to home, the
Chapter, including junior members, joined in a special wildlife day celebration at
our own National Wildlife Refuge, Eastern Neck, near Rock Hall.

Our group of one dozen juniors, directed by Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Parks, Jim
Gruber, and myself, continued special programs of study this year and learned
more about evergreens and their special importance to birds, especially in winter.
A special speaker, Mr. Dick McCown, the first president of the Kent Chapter, in
1967, presented a good look at the families of Hawks for the “juniors.” Plans are
being made now for a special project in identification of common birds of the
Eastern Shore with an MOS “patch" being the goal for the younger group next
year.

One of the junior leaders was “lost” this year to the Natural Resources
Department. Jim Gruber, a graduate of West Virginia University in outdoor
management, and one of our special juniors of about ten years ago, joined the
Marine Police and will take his prowess with birds and the outdoors to a much
needed arena — The Bay Waters. A bander taught by Mrs. Dorothy Mendinhall,
Jim will most certainly represent the MOS well in all its philosophy, and in a
manner in which we can feel proud that he is one of us, I feel sure.

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Finally, the most nostalgic loss this year is of selfish origin to the Kent Chapter.
Mrs. “Dottie” Mendinhall has resigned her post of many years as Trustee because
of limitations that cause her to make this decision. Margaret Duncan’s name is
placed in nomination to succeed Mrs. Mendinhall. Margaret hopes to have the
benefit of “the bird lady’s” company and knowledge at meetings as often as
possible.

The 1981-82 program year can be glad for its 75 members and 12 “juniors.” The
14 special activities realized participation of 316 persons.

September 1982 will usher in 25 years as a chartered affiliate of the Maryland
Ornithological Society for the Kent Chapter. We hope to make it an even grander
year for the promotion of Ornithology in our community and on the Eastern Shore.

Pat Wilson, President

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAPTER

At the beginning of the 1981-82 season, the Chapter faced the realities of
inflation and voted a dues increase, primarily to meet the rising costs of printing
and mailing of the annual calendar and the bi monthly Newsletter, capably edited
by Henry Bielstein.

The Chapter continued its strong program of field trips, monthly meetings, and
the operation of the banding station at Adventure under the direction of Margaret
Donnald, with the assistance of a band of dedicated volunteers.

The most significant change in activities this year was the establishment of a
Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of two Chapter members, Ernie Meyer and Vi
Hogan, who died during the past year. The Fund reaped the benefit of money
earned by Chapter members who participated in the Audubon Naturalist Society’s
1981 Birdathon, netting our Chapter over $300. This, added to individual
contributions, has enabled the Scholarship Committee, chaired by Bob Hahn, to
make a scholarship award for this summer, which will be announced at the May
meeting.

We were pleased and proud to learn that Rich Bray, former secretary of our
Chapter, was selected as the first recipient of the Chandler S. Robbins Scholar-
ship to go to Cornell University’s summer program on Bird Behavior.

Ives Hannay and her Field Trip Committee planned an attractive series of 23
trips, from September through May, only one of which had to be canceled due to
foul weather. Average attendance was 15 persons, with a low of 2 and a high of 36.
Coastal trips remain the most popular and consistently attract 20 or more
participants, regardless of season. The highly successful “backstage tour" of the
Smithsonian Bird Division last year was repeated by overwhelming request, and
again the trip was oversubscribed.

In addition to the 23 traditional trips, the Committee announced a series of
leaderless trips during spring migration. Members seeking migrant warblers

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and companionship on the trail gather at Seneca on Sunday morning. Results of
this experiment will be followed with interest.

Kathy Klimkiewicz, program chairman for many years, was assisted this year
by Claudia Wilds in preparing an outstanding program of monthly meetings. Bill
Oberman took us birding in Central America; Roger Clapp delighted us with his
experiences "Banding Boobies for Fun and Profit”; Margaret Donnald gave us an
intimate view of “Adventure — Our Chapter Sanctuary”; Claudia Wilds sharpened
our skills in identifying gulls; Ron Reynolds contributed a better understanding of
how waterfowl banding and surveys are conducted and used in establishing
hunting regulations; Robert Blohn took us to Manitoba to the breeding grounds of
the gadwalls; and William Melson held an audience of birders spellbound with a
non-birding subject: the 1980-82 eruptions of Mt. St. Helens. We are eagerly
anticipating Henry Bielstein’s talk on "Birding the North Dakota and Churchill,
Manitoba, Areas,” which will close our season.

Bill Oberman fielded a well-organized team for the Seneca Christmas Count,
which produced a total of 100 species. The Tally Rally, under the energetic
leadership of Delores Grant, was held for the first time at the new Nature Center
at Adventure — an attractive and convenient site. This promised to be a precedent-
setting event.

On the day scheduled for our January Social, the entire Washington area was
crippled by a heavy snowstorm and numbed by the news of a tragic airplane crash
in the Potomac River. The Social, capably organized by Ann Mitchell, was re-
scheduled for the following day, when time and the snow plows had had a chance to
do their work. Attendance was understandably lower than usual, and in a
subsequent meeting, the Board yielded to urgings for a change in the calendar:
The January Social will henceforth be known as the March Social.

David Mehlman took charge of the May Count and under his leadership, troops
of birders, numbering 53, brought in reports of 136 species, including 25 warblers.

Ed McKnight, our peerless treasurer for the past 17 years, stunned us all with
the announcement that he was retiring from that post — at the age of 80. We are
grateful to him for a job well done, and cheerfully done.

The Chapter continues to grow at a steady pace, now numbering 284 members.
Growth poses its problems. There are not many meeting rooms available to
accommodate the 100 or more who may show up at monthly meetings. Cutbacks in
library service may deprive us of the space granted us in the Chevy Chase Library
this year. Alternatives are not immediately apparent.

Officers for 1982-83 are as follows: Lola Oberman, President; Ives Hannay, Vice
President; David Mehlman, Secretary; Vincent Jones, Treasurer; Henry Bielstein,
John Malcolm, Gary R. Nelson, and Paul J. O’Brien, Directors. The incumbent
trustees, Margaret Donnald, Philip A. DuMont, and Minette McCullough, were
nominated for another term.

Lola Oberman, President

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TALBOT COUNTY BIRD CLUB

The major events of any bird club seem to fall under three categories: regular
programs, field trips, and conservation and ecology-minded activities. I am happy
to report that the Talbot Club has made reasonable and satisfactory efforts to
educate and entertain our members in these areas of concern.

In respect to regular meetings, we’ve had programs by talented persons in such
areas as "A Walk Through a Swamp,” “Techniques and Methods of Bird Painting,”
"Blackwater Refuge — Its Management and Future Plans,” two programs on Birds
of Arizona. Chandler Robbins was with us in April to do his ever popular program
on Warbler Identification-By Sight and Sound. All of these and our other programs
were well illustrated, with films, slides, charts, pictures, etc.

Our Field Trips were always well attended, especially the annual spring and fall
walks (7 walks in each season). The spring walks (7 to 10 a.m.) usually produce a
total of 65 to 95 species; in the fall, 50 to 75 species. We are fortunate to have
about 10 persons who can identify birds by sight and sound and who assume
leadership for these walks. Different members serve as hosts and a breakfast is
served each Sunday about 10:15 a.m. Average attendance is 25 persons. $1.00 per
person is contributed by participants to help the hosts pay for the food. Other field
trips took us to Chincoteague N.W.R., Hawk Mountain, Pa., Irish Grove
Sanctuary, along the C & 0 Canal, Carey Run Sanctuary, etc.

The club encourages its members to notify congressmen on state, local and
federal levels about those matters that require our deepest concern to promote
conservation of our natural resources. From monies granted by the annual
Waterfowl Festival in Easton, we are now engaged in producing and assembling
about 20 Wood Duck nesting boxes in Talbot County. Our club assisted at clean-up
and repairs for Irish Grove and also at Mill Creek Sanctuary near home.

We are happy to have the recipient of the Orville Crowder Scholarship Fund as
a member of the Talbot Club. Mr. Donald Merritt, Environmental Specialist II,
Horn Point Environmental Laboratory, Cambridge, Md., won that scholarship and
will be attending the Audubon camp in Wyoming this summer.

Each year our club sponsors a series of Audubon Wildlife Screen Tours. Locale
for these films were Africa, Argentina, Smoky Mountains and Hawaii. All were
held at Easton High School and the average attendance was 133.

Our regular monthly meetings are held (except summer) at 7:30 p.m. in the
Maryland Room of the Loyola Federal Savings and Loan Building, Easton, Md.
The public is always invited to attend. Currently we have 89 paid up active
members, but another 30 or so persons who are friends of our club and participate
in some of its activities.

A large group of our members are planning to attend the annual M.O.S.
convention at State Line Motel, Delmar.

Rev. Ivan R. Morrin, President

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PATUXENT BIRD CLUB

Our September meeting featured a display of the wood carvings of birds which
our member Ernie Blanks has made. Peter Robinson, Law Enforcement Officer of
the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Great Britain told us about his
work. In October Miss Friel Sanders told us about her life in Virginia and her
banding at home in a house by the Chesapeake. George Jonkel showed slides about
banding in Brazil. Dan Boone took us on a slide tour of Costa Rica and Dr. Don
Messersmith an expedition to Belize. Dorothea Leonnig told us about Nature
Conservancy work in Maryland, featuring the Nanjemoy Heronry & Nassawango
Creek Preserves. Ted & Lola Oberman showed slides of the crowd of spring
migrant birds at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario. Our Chapter members took
part in most of the Maryland Christmas Counts, in the May Count in several
counties, and helped on the Irish Grove and the Carey Run Sanctuary Weekends.
Danny Bystrak reported that his Birdathon and can collection drive to benefit the
MOS Sanctuary Fund should yield more than $1300. We contributed $200 toward
the Dec. 8 blowing of the hole in Irish Grove marsh. At our May 25 meeting
members showed slides: Paul Bystrak of work at Irish Grove, of a trip to Carey
Run, and of a Florida trip. Danny Bystrak showed slides of his and Paul Leifer’s
trip to Block Island {where the Nature Conservancy is now trying to establish a
Preserve). Dale Braeuninger showed some strange ducks he saw in Great Britain.
Joe Ondrejko showed the albino owl of the Western Pennsylvania Nature
Conservancy.

Eleanor Robbins still announces and summarizes our events in the LAUREL
LEADER, but our members come from four counties. In both June 1981 and June
1982 we enjoyed delightful picnics at the home of Paul and Linda Bystrak.

Virginia Kuykendall, President

WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAPTER

Membership increased again in 1981-82. We meet in the Maryland Room of
the Loyola Federal building, 32 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown, September through
April, except in December. These meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the
month, at 7:30 p.m. We publish a newsletter in each of these months. Through
announcements in the local newspaper, we welcome anyone interested to attend.
We had our first Birding Weekend in June, 1981, and we met outdoors informally
in July and August.

The Birding Weekend was held at the Fairview Outdoor Education Center of
the Washington County school system, near Clear Spring, Md., June 20-21. Meals
were provided by the staff of the Center. Overnight lodging was used by 25
attendees, and up to 40 were present at some of the meals. Field trips were led to a
variety of birding hotspots in Maryland and Federal wild and park areas within
easy driving distance. Nature trails on the grounds of the Center were also
followed. At least 80 bird species were recorded during the weekend, including
Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, Red-headed Woodpecker, Cliff Swallow, Worm-
eating Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler. Many favorable
comments were voiced on the success of the weekend.

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In the 1981-82 Christmas Count, 79 species were logged by 16 parties with 40
participants. Compiling of reports was done following a dinner that evening for
counters at Leontyne and Truman Doyle’s.

At meetings during fall, winter and spring, programs were given on birding
across America, in Alaska, in the Tropics, bird photography, and recognition of
spring warblers, in addition to presentations on wildflowers and beekeeping as a
hobby. Attendance at these meetings averaged 37. Two field trips were conducted
in most months, other than summer, and attracted usually 15 or more birders and
guests. Several of our members assisted at a Spring Workday at Carey Run
Sanctuary.

The hawk watch at Washington Monument State Park was again held in late
summer and early fall, with helpful participation by observers from several MOS
chapters and from West Virginia. Sixteen species of raptors were identified, with
a total of 4,671 individuals.

Increased numbers of bluebird nesting boxes were erected and managed, and
many comments have been heard this spring about a new abundance of bluebirds.
Members of this chapter have given talks on birds to other organizations.

With hopes for excellent birding ahead for all our enthusiasts, the writer is most
grateful to all who have helped this chapter to have a very fine year.

Cameron D. Lewis, President

WICOMICO COUNTY CHAPTER

The 1981-82 year was another excellent one for our chapter. We have continued
to grow and we have attracted many youthful members.

We have raised significant funds once again for local and statewide projects
through sales of birding materials at the annual waterfowl show held during the
fall in Salisbury.

We have had a variety of speakers and programs this year featuring bluebirds,
birding in Mexico and nature slides, to name a few. The annual dinner was
attended to capacity and was again a highlight for our chapter.

With the benefits of both the Pocomoke River area and the Ocean City area, our
varied habitats have given excellent bird walks. In addition, the multitalented Jim
Stasz has provided us insight into other aspects of nature, such as flowers and trees.

Leadership of the club is with another husband and wife team for next year,
Chester and Dorothy Ross. We look forward to their guidance.

Hugh K. Hanson, President

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COMMITTEE AND PROJECT REPORTS

MOS BLUEBIRD PROJECT

The MOS Bluebird Project is closely integrated with the North American Blue-
bird Society, now in its fifth year. Bluebirds are in serious trouble in most parts of
the continent owing in large part to shortages in nesting sites and competition
from House Sparrows and starlings. The primary objectives of the Society are to
stimulate public interest in helping the bluebirds and other cavity-nesting species
by setting out and monitoring nesting boxes, and in conducting research designed
to make bluebird conservation efforts more effective.

The Society now has close to 3,000 members throughout most of the United
States and Canada. Maryland has the highest membership and many MOS
members are involved. Numerous "bluebird trails” have been established and
most of them have resulted in marked local recoveries in the bluebird population.

Several MOS members attended the first Canadian regional meeting of the
North American Bluebird Society held at Brandon University in Brandon,
Manitoba last June. They had the opportunity to see part of the famous and highly
successful 2,000 mile Canadian Bluebird Trail. MOS was also well represented at
the annual meeting of the Bluebird Society at the Holden Arboretum near
Cleveland, Ohio in October.

Preliminary reports indicate that bluebirds in Maryland survived the past
winter well in spite of record low temperatures and are now {early May) nesting in
about the same numbers as last year. Reports from Pennsylvania are equally good
and those from Virginia and North Carolina are even more favorable. On the
unhappy side, a report from Massachusetts states that after bluebirds in good
numbers returned from the South to their nesting areas, many and perhaps most
of them appear to have perished in the severe and unseasonable April blizzard.
Similar mortality quite likely occurred elsewhere in the North since the blizzard
was quite widespread. Bluebirds and some other species are particularly
vulnerable to unseasonably severe spring weather since by that time the supply of
berries and other fruits on which they must depend under these circumstances is
likely to be exhausted.

LARRY ZELENY, Chairman

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

During the past year, threats to the environment and to environmental
legislation have emerged which confirm the forebodings we felt at this time last
year. Rather than working with environmental groups toward common goals of
preservation of wilderness and park land and conservation of natural resources,
the present administration has cast these groups as opponents — as in fact they
are — of its all-encompassing program of exploitation of oil, timber, land, and other
resources.

Let me share with you a couple of quotations from current administration
officials. Andrew V. Bailey is Chief of Conservation for the U.S. Geological Survey

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and is responsible for regulating oil and mineral development on federal lands. In
1976 (in another post), he circulated a memo concerning strip-mined lands which
read in part, “Inflammatory words such as disturbed, devastated, defiled, ravaged,
gouged, scarred, and destroyed, should not be used. These are words used by the
Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, environmentalists, homosexuals, ecologists, and
other ideological eunuchs opposed to developing mineral resources.” (See
Audubon Leader, Nov. 20, 1981.) And John B. Crowell, who is Assistant Secretary
of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment, and who was formerly a
member of the Audubon Society, last March stated his conviction that the Sierra
Club and the Audubon Society “are also infiltrated by people who have very strong
ideas about socialism and even communism.” Crowell later apologized, saying that
he had “no reason to think the Audubon Society or the Sierra Club. ..are in any way
un-American,” but at that same press conference Secretary of Agriculture John R.
Block commented, “I’ve never belonged to those organizations. I don’t know what
is in the ranks of them. ..we’ll have to wait and see.” (D.C. Post , 3-20-82). These
attitudes are, of course, ludicrous, but they are extremely serious nevertheless as
indices of administration antagonism toward proponents of conservation. The
budget is a primary weapon. If ever there was a president in need of advice on
environmental matters, Ronald Reagan is that man — yet the Council on
Environmental Quality has been essentially defunded out of existence. On the
basis of activities assigned to it, the Environmental Protection Agency might
appear more important than ever but budget cuts, wholesale staff reductions,
cutbacks in public information and participation, and elimination of funds for
research, make it quite impossible for the Agency to do its assigned work — and
the industries it is supposed to control are well aware of its weakened position.

Reagan’s energy program allots billions of dollars for subsidies of the nuclear
industry and less than two million dollars for solar research; promotion of con-
servation and renewable energy resources is regarded as a joke. Secretary of the
Interior James Watt yields extraordinary power, in part because of lack of
effective opposition in Congress. Even he, however, does respond to public
pressure. For example, a May 6, 1982, article in the Baltimore Sun reports that
Watt has deferred oil leasing in four areas off the California coast, because of a
storm of public opposition.

Here lies the clue to what we, as citizens concerned about environmental values,
must do if we hope to have any effect on the present policies; We must be heard.
On specific issues, letters directly to Reagan and Watt, and letters to our senators
and representatives, have more influence than you may imagine — and certainly
more influence than silence. Reauthorization of the Clean Air Act is right now.
making its way through the labyrinth of Congress; the Clean Water Act will be
reconsidered later this year; and the Endangered Species Act must be
reauthorized by October 1, 1982. Making the effort to be informed, and speaking
out, individually and as a member of citizen groups, to our senators and our
neighbors, are things we all can do and will have to do if we hope to maintain a
livable world.

A brief review of the recently completed session of the Maryland legislature
shows mixed results. Commendable progress was made in water quality and
energy conservation. Air quality and agricultural land preservation were put on
hold. A bill which would have opened the Mattawoman Natural Environment Area

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to hunting died quietly in committee. And once again, the “bottle bill," which
would require deposits on beverage containers, was defeated. The bill to permit
funding of a non-game, and endangered species conservation program through a
checkoff on the income tax form, which was strongly supported by the Maryland
Ornithological Society, failed to pass; however, letters and telephone calls
generated by MOS and other conservation groups helped to change the pro-and-
con votes in the Senate Committee on Budget and Taxation from 4-6 to 9-3, and in
the House Ways and Means Committee from 2-19 to 10-12. With a little more
effort, we may get this bill through the legislature next year.

The use of off-road vehicles — dune buggies, snowmobiles — on public lands has
become a major issue, both nationally and in Maryland, where an additional two
miles of Assateague beaches have been authorized to be opened to ORV’s in spite
of overwhelming public testimony against them. {Secretary of the Interior Watt
has expressed a personal commitment to increased use of ORV’s in multiple-use
areas, including national wildlife refuges.) At the moment there is still some hope
that this ruling may be voided, but if it is not, the major national conservation
organizations are prepared to go to court over the issue. The Committee to
Preserve Assateague Island will join any such lawsuit, and MOS should certainly
support it also. (In Maryland, the Mobile Sport Fishermen’s Association is
pressing for additional access to bayside beaches, not content with their new two
miles of Assateague ocean beach.)

Gypsy moths have begun to appear in Maryland, and what to do about them will
probably soon become a hot political issue. There is no question that spraying
pesticides kills them— and many other creatures. It is also obvious that spraying
does not control the gypsies, which continue to spread and multiply. MOS
members are urged to become aware of the potential controversy over large-scale
spraying and to inform themselves about the issue as thoroughly as possible. A
good place to start is an article in Audubon, for March 1982, by Ted Williams.

ANNEKE DAVIS, Chairman

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The Program Exchange function has now been taken over by the Yellowthroat
The fall Listers Trip continues to be popular, with attendance increasing each
year. In fact, it becomes a mini-fall convention. The leaders and planning are the
reasons for its success. Under the heading of Sanctuary Educational Awareness
there was an exceptional weekend last spring at Carey Run. This year the
Maryland Association of Science Teachers and the Maryland Association of
Biology Teachers with MOS are sponsoring a Wildflower Foray, led by Dr. Melvin
Brown with dinner at Penn Alps and a workshop on using native plants for dyeing
of home spun materials by Miss Mary Wise, May 14, 15, and 16. No student was
nominated this year for the Outstanding Achievement in Ornithology Award. The
Speaker’s List is ready for distribution to the Chapters.

benjamin f. poscover, chairman

70

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

VOL. 38, NO. 2

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER
MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.
Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 1982

OPERATING FUND

Fund Balance, April 30, 1981 $17,032.53

Transfer from Sane. Endow. Income (Life Membership Cost) 340.00

$17,372.53

Receipts:

Dues remitted by chapters

$7,566.50

Convention income

896.00

Interest on savings accounts
Sale of Field Lists, Birdlife,

2,222.26

Subscriptions, Advertising
Reimbursements received for

457.96

Mailing Permit and Printing

20.00

Return of Grant made in Earlier Year

165.00

11,327.72

28,700.25

Expenditures:

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE, printing and mailing
MARYLAND YELLOWTHROAT,

2,946.50

printing and mailing

1,211.15

Convention Program

655.88

Executive Secretary Stipend

3,000.00

Administrative and Office Expenses

425.37

Research Grants

710.00

Various Memberships and Donations

550.00

Membership Report

50.00

9.548.90

Fund Balance, April 30, 1982

$19,151.35

SANCTUARY

FUND

$18,914.19*

Receipts:

Contributions Received

4,668.12

Interest and Dividends, Sanct. Endowment Fund

5,163.35

Miscellaneous

981.20

10,812.67

$29,726.86

Expenditures:

Property Tax

831.78

Insurance

1.298.00

Repairs

518.65

Utilities

1,702.29

Grass Cutting

100.00

Irish Grove-Pond

364.40

Miscellaneous

148.44

4,963.56

24,763.30

Transfer to Operating Fund

340.00

Fund balance, April 30, 1982

$24,423.30*

"^Beginning and ending balances include Anne Arundel Chapter restricted gift in the amount
of $5,472.45.

JUNE 1982

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

71

SANCTUARY ENDOWMENT FUND

Fund Balance, April 30, 1981 S31.880.00

Fund Balance, April 30, 1982 31,880.00

HELEN MILLER SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND

Fund Balance, April 30, 1981

$16,265.90

Receipts:

Contributions Received

$2,770.00

Interest

1,611,88

4,381.88

20,647.78

Expenditures:

Scholarships

1,730.00

Fund Balance, April 30, 1982

$18,917.78

Reconciliation of Accounts at End of Fiscal Year

Fund Balances, April 30, 1982:

Operating Fund

19,151.35

Helen Miller Scholarship Endowment Fund

18,917.78

Sanctuary Fund

24,423.30

Sanctuary Endowment Fund

31.880.00

$94,372.43

Fund Assets, April 30, 1982:

Checking Account, Maryland National Bank

831.75

Savings Account (Pooled Funds), Loyola Federal

1,193.36

Cert, of Deposit, Loyola Federal (7.500%)

6,361.50

T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund

44,060.23

Dayton Power & Light Bonds (8.000%)

3,0 1 2.67 *

Virginia Electric Power Bond (8.625%)

3,992.04*

Cert, of Deposit, Loyola Federal (7.750%)

3.500.00*

Cert, of Deposit, Loyola Federal (7.750%)

6,820.00**

T. Rowe Price Growth Fund

9,500.00**

General Telephone South East Bond (7.750%)

5,129.92**

Niagara Mohawk Power Bond (7.375%)

4,983.15**

Ohio Bell Telephone Bond (7.875%)

4,987.81**

94,372.43

•Helen Miller Endowment Securities, at cost
••Sanctuary Fund Securities, at cost

W. Gordon MacGregor, Treasurer

AUDITING COMMITTEE REPORT

I have examined the financial records of the Maryland Ornithological Society for
the year April 30, 1981 through April 30, 1982. In my opinion the aforementioned
records accurately present the financial position of the Society.

Rodney B. Jones, chairman

72

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

VOL. 38, NO. 2

LIBRARY COMMITTEE

The Exchange Program between Maryland Birdlife and other birding journals
is expanding its international phase from Poland, an exchange we’ve had for
several years with their Ring, to Moscow’s Library of Natural Sciences of the
USSR Academy of Natural Sciences, and now to Italy, with a request from Istituto
Nazionale Di Biologia Della Selvaggina. We have sent a small package of 3 lbs. of
back issues of Maryland Birdlife to Moscow and have placed their name on our
exchange. We feel fortunate to be asked to enter these exchanges and invite our
members, bilingual in Russian or Italian, to take advantage of the publications and
share some of the information with those of us who haven’t kept up with our study
of foreign languages as well as we have kept up with our study of birds.

In the past year 2 members have made gifts of books to our library holdings:
Etta Wedge’s estate in her memory presented us with the 2 volume set of Bird
Studies at Old Cape May. Jim Stasz gave us his extensive collection of issues of
The Auk.

Henry Armistead has informed us that in his will he has made the MOS the
beneficiary of his bird related library which now has a collection of about 2000
books and to which he adds about 40 per year. Given the long life expectancy of
birdwatchers, we can expect this to be a sizeable grant from a man now only 41
years old. And while there may be no urgency to the problem of where we’d put
such a collection, the problem does exist. Therefore, I charge the President and
the Board of Directors to actively seek a permanent headquarters in Baltimore or
Annapolis with library space.

I am submitting a number of book reviews to the Editor of Maryland Birdlife for
his consideration. These books have been received as publishers’ samples.

Henry Armistead, a librarian by profession, has agreed to serve on the Library
Committee, as long as most of our business can be done through the mail.

Joy G. Wheeler, chairman

LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE

This year the Long Range Planning Committee focused on topics given priority
by President Cullom.

We were asked to consider the feasibility of establishing a Baltimore-based
taped “hotline” for rare bird sightings in Maryland. After discussion, this
committee recommended that if a “hotline” were to be established it would be
better envisioned as a Baltimore Chapter project with some state MOS funding.
The reasons for that decision were as follows: Baltimore birders constitute the
single largest group in MOS and it is primarily these individuals who would

JUNE 1982

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

73

benefit from the line; Washington-area birders would continue to find it easier (and
probably cheaper) to call the “Voice of the Naturalist”; it is unlikely that many
birders from the Eastern Shore and far western portion of Maryland would use a
Baltimore-based line on a regular basis because of long distance charges (an 800
number suggested by a number of individuals is expensive); and much of the
material on such a line would duplicate the ANS sponsored “Voice.”

Long Range Planning Committee members continue to be concerned with the
Society’s image emphasizing the importance of increasing our visibility with the
general public. Until MOS is widely recognized as THE birding authority in the
state, we will continue to suffer from being overlooked and underestimated (not to
mention confused with various Audubon societies). This recognition can come only
from more consistent publicity and vigorous recruitment of new members.

Within the last two months a member of the Maryland Chapter of The Nature
Conservancy contacted MOS indicating an interest in meeting with a few of our
members to examine jointly the land acquisition programs of both organizations
over the next decade. The long term cooperation of these two societies could have
exciting implications, especially for our sanctuary program.

JOANNE K. SOLEM, Chairman

RESEARCH COMMITTEE

This year the Committee received six proposals requesting funding for re-
search. Five proposals were from college graduate students working on their
theses in Maryland. The sixth was a joint proposal from an undergraduate student
and one of his biology instructors. Four grants were awarded: David Ijon, at
Frostburg State College, received $180 for his proposal on the "Growth and
Behavioral Ontogeny of the Broad-winged Hawk.” James Devereux received $220 for
his “Breeding Ecology of Barred Owls in the Central Appalachians.” James is with
the University of Maryland, Appalachian Environmental Laboratory at the
Frostburg State College Campus. The Barn Swallow is being studied by Sherwood
Weisheit at Towson State University. He requested $60 to complete research on
the energy budget of nestlings.

Debbie Mignogno received $250 for her research into the role of orientation
during juvenile dispersal of the Cattle Egret. Debbie is at the University of
Maryland Eastern Shore Campus in Princess Anne.

The April 1981 issue of The Auk (Vol. 98, pp 270-81) had an article by Kimberly
Titus and James Mosher titled “Nest Site Habitat Selected by Woodland Hawks in
the Central Appalachians.” MOS was acknowledged for its support; Mr. Titus
received a grant in 1979.

Charles Vaughn, Chairman

74

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

VOL. 38, NO. 2

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

The Scholarship Committee is pleased to report that there were fifteen
candidates for the 1982 Audubon Ecology Workshop scholarships representing six
different MOS chapters. The winner of the Helen Miller Scholarship was Mr. Jay
H. Foster, Earth Science Teacher, Wood Junior High School, Rockville, Md. The
winner of the other MOS Scholarship was Ms. Jean Sobus, Recreation Major at
Catonsville Community College. The Amateur Gardeners’ Club of Baltimore
Scholarship was won by Mr. Bryan MacKay, Instructor of Biological Sciences at
the Baltimore County Campus of the University of Maryland. The Orville Crowder
Memorial Scholarship was won by Mr. Donald Meritt, Environmental Specialist II,
Horn Point Environmental Laboratories, Cambridge, Md.

These are all excellent candidates who will be using their Audubon Camp
experience in their work with groups of young people both in their professional
and vocational activities.

The Scholarship Committee is also pleased to announce the winner of the first
annual Chandler S. Robbins Scholarship. Mr. Richard 0. Bray of Bethesda, Md.
was chosen from a group of six excellent candidates. He will be attending a
workshop on Bird Behavior at the Laboratory of Ornithology of Cornell
University. Mr. Bray is a member of the Montgomery Chapter of MOS. He works
actively with young people in bird and nature study. He has recently undertaken
the teaching of ornithology on a college level. He is an active bird bander and has
published in Maryland Birdlife. We look forward to his continuing contributions in
the education of young people and to the field of ornithology.

The Scholarship Committee is sincerely grateful to all the chapters and
individuals who helped us find these excellent candidates for the Audubon
Workshops and for the Workshop at Cornell’s Laboratory of Ornithology.

MILDRED GEBHARD, Chairman

FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS IN PATUXENT RIVER
CDR John A. Gregoire, USN

At 10 a.m. on September 20, 1981, my son Chris and I identified six Fulvous
Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna, bicolor) along the western bank of the Patuxent
River at the Jug Bay Natural Area of Patuxent River Park. When observed, the
birds were at rest on a mud bank and log approximately 50m south of the Park’s
photography blind. Three were in full sunlight and standing very erectly on the
mud and log which is at the margin of wild rice marsh and swampy river bank. The
others were partially obscured by rice stalks. All were motionless until a Red-
shouldered Hawk ( Buteo lineatus) began to call from out over the main river
channel. At that point, three ducks sought cover in the rice while the others
displayed alarm behavior similar to geese in that they elongated their necks and
began scanning in all directions. During the scan motion the dull, off-white collar
on the anterior of the neck was much clearer.

JUNE 1982

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

75

When the ducks were at rest, the tawny head, very dark bill, dark back and off-
white marking separating back and side were clearly visible. The standing birds
were noticeably long-legged and the posture was extremely erect. As the birds
began to move, a slightly rufous patch was distinguishable at the shoulder and the
white rump and black tail were conspicuous. Observations were assisted by a
Bushnell Spacemaster scope with Zoom objective and 7 x 35 binoculars.

The Fulvous Whistling Ducks were possibly observed earlier in the day (0745)
moving within and on top of an abandoned duck blind in mid-river marsh opposite
the Park headquarters approximately one km upriver from the observation point;
the birds were noted in the same blind on September 13. Light conditions in both
cases precluded positive identification; only the unusually erect posture and dark
back over lighter sides were noted. On September 20, boat traffic in upper Jug Bay
became heavy at an early hour and an exuberant band of Cub Scouts in canoes may
have caused the ducks to opt for the protection of the more secluded area where
they were identified. There are apparently no previous records of wild Fulvous
Whistling Ducks in the Patuxent marsh although single birds have reportedly
been sighted (rare) in the Patuxent area.

The Jug Bay area of the Patuxent marsh is a delicate environment that attracts
many species despite the continuous fouling of the river by soil erosion and sewage
effluent. A project is underway to record confirmed observations in the Park area
(Md. Rte, 4 in the north, Merkle WMA in the south and 1-2 km from the river bank)
and to identify breeding species. To date, 190 species have been identified and a
new listing of Park birds is in preparation. Data contributions will be gratefully
accepted by the author.

9509 Small Drive, Clinton, Md. 20735

DARK-EYED JUNCO MISTAKES MOURNING DOVE

FOR HAWK

Hervey Brackbill

Discussing predator-evasion tactics of birds in "Behavioral Mechanisms in
Ecology,” Harvard University Press, 1980, Douglass H. Morse writes on page 133:
“Flocks of titmice [ Parus , sp.] in eastern North America almost always respond to
Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) flying rapidly through the forest. This long-
tailed dove bears a superficial resemblance to the principal predator on small birds
in these areas, the Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus). When a dove appears
suddenly, literally bursting through the trees, there is probably not enough time
for the titmice to distinguish it from the hawk.”

On March 23, 1962 I made this entry in my notebook: “While a [Dark-eyed] Junco
[Junco hyemalis ] was eating at one of my feeding places this afternoon a Mourning
Dove alighted about 10 meters up in a tree 3 or 4 meters away. When I looked up
from making a note on the dove’s arrival I found that the junco had frozen, and it
stayed frozen for 5 minutes, with only some slight head movements near the end of
that time. Then, although the dove was still in the tree, it resumed its eating for 4
minutes. It then flew away; the dove was still present. I believe the junco had
-stake, the dove for a hawk.”

Morse’s statement strengthens my belief; apparently this junco finally realized
lts mistake.

2620 Poplar Drive, Baltimore, Md. 21207

76

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

VOL. 38, NO. 2

WATERFOWL OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY COUNTRY

Brooke Meanley. Drawings by John W. Taylor. 1982. Tidewater Publishers.
Centerville, Md. 210 p., 85 black & white photos, 14 black & white line drawings,'
charts, maps, appendices, references, index. $19.95.

Listening & Recording
Devices, Binoculars. Bird
Books & Records, Seed.
Feeders, Houses, Baths.
Baffles, Poles, Heaters...
L And Nice Things for Your
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SEND FOR CATALOG

h THE BIRD’S NEST

7 Patten Rd
Bedford, NH 03102
603/623-6451^

For someone from afar, the desire to learn about
the waterfowl of the Chesapeake Bay before visiting
the area can be completely fulfilled by reading
Brooke Meanley’s latest book. For someone native
to the region, reading “Waterfowl of the Chesa-
peake Bay Country” can be completely fulfilling
too, even if you are able to observe, first hand,
all your own favorite and familiar places, those
same ones visited and studied by the author over a
lifetime of inquiry. The clear black and white photo-
graphs make up, in part, for not being on hand at
the moment at those familiar sites: close ups for
identification, long views for habitats and behavior
patterns. Full page maps plainly outline the North
American migration corridors of many of the species that winter in the Bay. Charts
and graphs present the most up-to-date information on distribution, abundance and
ecology of Chesapeake waterfowl, information which the author has been gathering
since he first acquired his interest in this fascinating subject while still living in his
boyhood home in Baltimore County. Mention of the MOS, Maryland Birdlife, and
reports of observations made by a number of our members are inserted at intervals
throughout the book. Not for the later reasons alone, however, is the book well
worth the price. There is a copy in the Cylburn Museum Library. -

CONTENTS, JUNE 1982 JOY WHEELER

In Search of Nesting Eastern Bluebirds Dawn B. Oteilo.... 39

Wilson’s Phalaropes in Spring at Baltimore Harbor Steven H. Everhart...A3

The Season - Winter Season, Dec. 1, 1981 - Feb. 28, 1982. . . Robert F. Ringler...A4

The President’s Page j ohn Cullom.... 50

1982 Convention Summary Martha Chestem.... 50

Minutes of the Annual Meeting Helen Ford.... 52

Annual Reports of Local Chapters Chapter Presidents. ...54

Committee and Project Reports Committee Chairmen.. ..§1

Fulvous Whistling Ducks in Patuxent River John A. Gregoire....l4

Dark-eyed Junco Mistakes Mourning Dove for Hawk Hervey Brackbill 75

Book Review: Jov Wheeler

Waterfowl of the Chesapeake Bay Country Brooke Meanley. ...76

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. to Record
and Encourage the Study of Birds in Maryland.

Editor: Chandler S. Robbins, 7900 Brooklyn Bridge Road, Laurel

Md. 20707 (725-1176)

Asst. Editor: Robert F. Ringler, 3501 Melody L., Baltimore 21207

Production: Lettie Cullom

Mailing: Barbara Larrabee and committee

Headings: Schneider Design Associates, Baltimore