ISSN 0147-9725 MARYLAND BIROLIFE Su/Tfitn of tfi£ zMaxyCand iQinitfiofogicaf ^Society , One. JUNE 1990 VOLUME 46 NUMBER 2 MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. Cylburn Mansion, 4915 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21209 STATE OFFICERS FOR JUNE 1989 TO JUNE 1990 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL President: John Malcolm, 10205 Kindly Ct., Gaithersburg, MD 20879 977-5788 V. President: Richard J. Dolesh, 17800 Croom Rd., Brandywine, MD 20613627-2270 Treasurer: Emily Joyce, 816 Oak Trail, Crownsville, MD 21032 923-6053 Secretary: Patricia J. Moore, 24600 Woodfield Rd., Damascus, MD 21403 253-2796 Exec. Secy.: Joy Aso, 1250 4th St., SW, #709 W, Washington, DC 20024 554-8529 Past Pres.: Robt. F. Ringler, 6272 Pinyon Pine Ct., Eldersburg 21784 549-6031 STATE DIRECTORS Allegany: *Roy Brown, Jr. Howard: ‘Thomas Strikwerda Teresa Simons Martha Chestem Mark Weatherholt Jane H. Farrell Helen Zeichner Anne Arundel: ‘Sue Ricciardi Paul Zucker Helen Ford Allan Haury J ug Bay: ‘Wally Stephens Joan Stephens Baltimore: ‘William Newman Brent Byers Kent: ‘John Lorenz John Cullom Margaret Duncan-Snow Graham Egerton Jim Or gain Montgomery: ‘John Bjerke Karen Skuldt Margaret Donnald Joy Wheeler Gary Nelson Lola Oberman Caroline: ‘Mariana Nuttle Patuxent: ‘Chandler S. Robbins Oliver Smith Lawrence Zeleny Carroll: ‘Melinda Byrd Talbot: ‘Carolyn Mills Wayne Gordon JeffEffinger Frederick: ‘Stauffer Miller Melvin Bennett Washington: ‘Cameron & Norm Lewis Robert Keedy Harford: ‘William B. McIntosh i Joseph Swope, Jr. Todd Holden William Russell W icomico: * Gail Vaughn ‘Denotes Chapter President Charles Vaughn Active Membership (adults) $ 6.00 plus local chapter dues Student Membership (full-time students) 2.00 plus local chapter dues Junior Membership (under 18 years) 1.00 plus local chapter dues Family Membership (Mr. & Mrs.) 8.00 plus local chapter dues Sustaining Membership 10.00 plus local chapter dues Life Membership 200.00 (4 annual installments) Member-at-large ( Maryland Birdlife only) 5.00 Cover: Female Worm-eating Warbler incubating ground nest, May 27, 1985, Pretty Boy Reservoir watershed, Baltimore County. Photo by Paul Noell. MARYLAND BIRDLIFE VOLUME 46 JUNE 1990 NUMBER 2 AN OLD NESTING RECORD FOR THE BALD EAGLE Roger B. Clapp While working on a paper on egg dates of Virginia birds I noted a clutch of Bald Eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) eggs in the collection of U. S. National Museum (USNM 34810) that would have been the fifth known nesting record for the Virginia Piedmont (fide Kain 1987, Virginia Avifauna 3:29). According to the USNM catalog, the clutch was collected by Edward J. Court and Theodore W. Richards on February 22, 191 1 in Loudoun County “40 miles above Washington.” The record was so listed in the USNM computer inventory, leading to these eggs being reported from Loudoun County in the recent summary of Virginia raptor specimens by Johnston and Ehmann (1990, Virginia Avifauna 4:12). Richard’s egg catalog (in the USNM) states that the nest with its three “perfectly fresh” eggs had been in a “tall sycamore [ Platanus occidentals ] on island ft mi. long in Potomac River, near Tuscarora Sta. Metropolitan Br. B. & O. R.R.” Several islands currently meet this description, but perhaps Nolands and Meadow islands are the most likely. In any case all the islands in that region, and the river itself, are in southeastern Frederick County, Maryland, not in Virginia. Additional notes in Richards’s egg catalog indicated that the eagles had nested on the island for “15 to 20?” years, evidently in another sycamore about one-quarter mile away, but the nest from which the eggs were collected had been built the preceding year. The nest was about 85 feet high and was reached by bracing a pole from a branch in a nearby tree to the first limb of the sycamore, 45 feet off the ground. This maneuver, the snow, and sub-freezing temperatures made the nest “very difficult to reach.” Stewart and Robbins (1958, North American Fauna 62:115) provided no nesting records for the Bald Eagle in Frederick County, Maryland; the nearest nesting site was to the east in adjacent Montgomery County. Neither Robbins (pers. comm.) nor Robert Ringler (pers. comm.), who maintains a computer file of Maryland bird records, knows of any nestings in Frederick County subsequent to the summary by Stewart and Robbins. The record reported here apparently is both the only known nesting in Frederick County and the northwestern most known nesting in the state. Biological Survey Section U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Museum of Natural History Washington, D.C. 20560 36 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 REPORT OF THE STATEWIDE BIRD COUNT MAY 12, 1990 Jim Stasz The 43rd Annual May Count (Table 1 ) was above average. Biased by the previous year’s spectacular day, some observers expressed disappointment in their indi- vidual counts; however, the numbers were not disappointing. The count of 180,009 individuals and 256 species was exceeded only once before: in 1981. The 451 observers in 238 parties walked 786 miles in 1082 hours and drove 5630 miles in 597 hours. Except for the Lower Eastern Shore, everyone experienced a relatively windless overcast day with scattered light rain and showers. Once again, all 23 Maryland counties and the District of Columbia reported. No species was added to the cumulative list. Even with a high overall species total, there were fewer noteworthy birds than in 1989: Golden Eagle: Ed Boyd and JLS observed an adult flying near Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, the 4th May Count report; two previous in Dorchester County and one in Kent. Sandhill Crane: Robrt Hilton reported the same bird noted in last year’s report, at Poolesville, Montgomery County. Black-necked Stilt: Discovered by the Armistead party near the Blackwater NWR Visitor Center “in the same place where the first State Record was found in 1966.” Ruff: An Adult male found on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore County, by Hank Kaestner. 4 th May Count report. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Of several reports, the most notable was one in a pecan tree in Laura French’s yard in Somerset County. Olive-sided Flycatcher: Found by Roberta Ober and June Vaughn near Dublin, Harford County. Sedge Wren: An apparent migrant on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore County, found by Hank Kaestner. This species has become rare enough that details are mandatory. Loggerhead Shrike: Sketched by Marshall Iliff at Crystal Spring Farm, Anne Arundel County. Although we are still finding one or two every year, this species is in serious decline. Philadelphia Vireo: This rare spring migrant was found by Richard Johnson along Town Creek Road, Allegany County. Henslow’s Sparrow: Now apparently gone from the traditional locations in Dorchester County, one migrant was found by Graham Chisom at Rockburn Park, Howard County, and two breeding birds were reported from Garrett County by Dave Walbeck and Joan McKearnan. June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDUFE 37 Boat-tailed Grackle: Although relatively common on the Lower Eastern Shore, the adult male found by Hank Kaestner at Black Marsh, Baltimore County, is the first record in more than twenty years for the Upper Western Shore. All of these were supported with written documentation. Details were also received for Wilson’s Phalarope, all of the Red-breasted Nuthatches, the Gray- cheeked Thrush, and Lincoln’s Sparrows. Even a few species where notes were not required had written descriptions. This is not a complaint: it is always better to write something down that is not required than to rgret it later: especially when someone raises his eyebrows and somewhat sceptically exclaims, u 0h realty” The most unusual report came from Fran Pope in Garrett County. Although claiming it was not an attempt to “inflate” the County List, a photo and written description were supplied for the Goodyear Blimp. This sighting is not on Table 1 pending review by the A.O.U. I have not included the usual Tables 2 and 3 because work is under way on a more detailed analysis of May Count data. Refer to Maryland Birdlife, Vol. 45, #2, if you are curious about trends in some of the species. Once again I must express my appreciation to all of you for putting forth so much effort. Some individual County Coordinators now have as many observers and parties as the totals for the earliest of the Statewide Counts. Special thanks go not only to the M.O.S. Chapters for their support, but to the other bird clubs: the Southern Maryland Audubon Society for their coordination in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties; the Prince George’s Audubon Society, the Wye Oak Audubon Society for participation in Queen Anne’s, and the Garrett County Semi-organized Group (rumored to become the next M.O.S. Chapter). OBSERVERS GARRETT COUNTY: Lisa Drees, Charlotte Folk, Margaret Fulk, LeJay Graffius, Elizabeth Hinebaugh, Sheila Hughes, Wanetta Jack, Jan Janssen, Joan McKearnan, Todd Metz, Jeff Opel, Fran Pope (compiler: 503 F Street, Mt. Lake Park 21550), Connie Skipper, Kathryn Speicher, David Walbeck, David Winner, Marvin Yoder. ALLEGANY COUNTY: Don Barnett, Bill Devlin, Deloris Gingerich, Barbara & Richard Johnson, Ray Kiddy, Charlotte Lackey, Dorothea & Henry Malec, Mark Malec, John Pfeiffer, Teresa Simons (compiler 141 North Bel Air Drive, Cumberland 21502), Mary Twigg, Mark Weatherholt, John Willets. WASHINGTON COUNTY; Rick & Sunny Banvard, Genevieve Beck, Charlie T. Brightbill, Karen Brown, Rick Brown (compiler 400 Cherry Tree Drive, Hagerstown 21740), Eunice Fouche, Beulah Green, Laura Grove, Carl & Jeanette Hull, Elizabeth Johnson, Don & Marilyn Kauffman, Bob & Mary Keedy, Cam & Norma Lewis, Judith Lilga, Alice Mallonee, Allen & Cheryl Swope, John L. Taylor, Marlin & Bertie Thurmond. FREDERICK COUNTY: Judith Blake, Judy Burdette, Hobson Calhoun, Kathy Calvert, Norman Chamberlin, Mark Dagro, Sonia Dapper, Charles Finley, Helen Horrocks, Linda Keller, Elinor Miller, Stauffer Miller, Charles Mullican, William Shirey, David Smith, Linda Smith, Barbara Stevens, Jim Stevens, David Wallace, Michael Welch (compiler: 1832 Millstream Drive, Frederick 21701), Marilyn Yost. 38 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Table 1. Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Species Carr. A He. Wash. Fred. Carr. D.C. Mont. Howa. Balt. Harf. Cecl. Red-throated Loon . . . . . . - . . . Common Loon 3 . . 1 3 l 7 12 4 2 - Pied-billed Grebe - - . . - - 2 - - - - Northern Gannet - - . - - - . - - Double-created Cormorant - - - 3 - 27 21 - 123 91 179 American Bittern . . . . . 1 . 1 . Least Bittern - . . - - 1 - - - Great Blue Heron 2 l . 4 1 5 13 11 97 148 101 Great Egret - - - - - - - - 8 1 15 Snowy Egret • - - - - - - - 4 - Little Blue Heron . . . . . . . . . Tricolored Heron - - - . . . . - - - - Cattle Egret - - - 3 - - - - - 1 2 Green-backed Heron 4 7 8 15 1 1 19 17 19 5 2 Blk.-crown. Night-Heron - - - - - 103 2 1 8 6 1 Yel .-crown. Night-Heron . . . . . . 2 . . Glossy Ibis - - - 1 - - - - - - Tundra Swan - . - - - 2 - 1 - Mute Swan . - . . . - 15 - - Snow Goose - - - - - - - - ■ • Canada Goose 35 8 68 87 97 26 376 148 107 128 67 Wood Duck 19 72 85 30 33 15 90 23 54 31 30 Green- winged Teal - - - - - - - - - - - American Black Duck 3 2 - 1 - 2 - - 9 - Mallard 118 56 203 48 62 96 120 142 284 106 20 Northern Pintail . _ . . . . . . . Blue-winged Teal - 6 - 2 - - - - - - Northern Shoveler . . - - - 2 - Gad wall - - - - - - - - - - American Wigoon 3 - - - - - ■ 2 2 Canvas back . _ . . . . 2 . Lesser Scaup 6 - - 2 - 4 - 1 - Oldsquaw - - - - - - - - - Black Scoter - - - - - - - - - - Surf Scoter - - • - - - - - - Common Goldeneye . . 1 - - 1 Buffiehead 2 3 - - - - - 1 - - Hooded Merganser - - - - - - - - - Red- breasted Merganser 5 - - - 7 4 - - 2 - 1 Ruddy Duck - - • - • - - 1 1 - Black Vulture . . 8 8 39 1 13 7 17 19 26 Turkey Vulture 37 25 64 66 64 1 42 45 89 102 57 Osprey 4 4 2 - 2 3 2 5 19 19 3 Bald Eagle (adult) - - - - - - l - 3 6 - Bald Eagle (immature) - - - - - - 2 1 - 8 1 Bald Eagle (age unknown) . . . . . . - - - Northern Harrier 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 1 2 - 1 Shaip-shinned Hawk 1 1 - - - - 1 1 - - - Cooper’s Hawk 2 - 3 2 2 - - - - - - Red-shouldered Hawk 1 - 3 3 7 2 15 22 15 9 - Broad- winged Hawk 3 3 6 - 1 - 2 2 2 3 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 1 7 11 9 - 6 7 12 12 1 Golden Eagle - - - - - - - - - - American Kestrel 6 3 4 17 14 - 4 10 17 3 4 Merlin - - - - - - 1 - - - Peregrine Falcon - - - - - - - 5 - - Ring-necked Pheasant - - 6 8 25 - 6 4 10 2 - Ruffed Grouse 10 2 11 - - - - - - - Wild Turkey 11 5 16 - - - - - 8 - - Northern Bobwhite 2 16 6 - 1 11 10 29 15 8 June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDUFE 39 Table 1 (cont.). Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Pr.G. Anne Calv. Chas. St.M. Ken QuAn. Caro. Talb. Dorc. Wico. Some. Wore. Total Co’s. 7 13 20 - 2 1 5 3 • 2 8 - * l l 94 l 17 - - 1 - - - - - - . . 1 - 4 3 - - - - - . - . 7 7 1 - 93 102 24 37 4 4 - 3 115 7 15 118 966 17 . . . _ 1 _ . . . _ 3 3 - - 2 - - 1 1 . . 4 . - 9 5 18 78 6 128 57 47 43 21 60 45 7 14 6 913 23 1 - 2 - 37 . 8 - 11 30 1 17 25 156 12 1 - 2 - 4 1 7 - 27 20 4 30 34 134 11 . 1 . . . . . 2 . 1 8 12 4 - - - - - - - - - 1 5 4 10 3 - 1 2 1 3 2 10 4 35 7 11 2 26 110 15 4 26 2 6 6 6 24 2 14 7 2 14 1 212 24 - 1 - - 2 2 - - - - - 6 - 132 10 . _ . _ . . . . . 7 9 2 - - - - 3 - . - . - 17 48 69 4 - - - - - . 1 - - . . . - 4 3 ■ : 1 3 - 17 12 2 88 70 - - 1 1 209 1 9 1 186 39 7 33 35 68 12 14 12 250 4 64 42 1913 24 18 12 3 19 9 11 41 42 14 IS 4 1 4 675 24 * - - . - . - . - 1 . . . 1 1 3 2 3 - . 2 16 5 6 20 2 13 8 97 16 49 103 48 45 71 339 203 65 85 75 39 39 66 2482 24 - - - - - - 4 - 1 5 - 8 - 1 26 1 6 • - - - 1 - . /. . - 3 2 - - - - - - 3 - - 1 4 - 8 3 - - - - - - l - - - - * - 8 4 . 2 . 1 _ . . . . . . 5 3 - - - - - - 2 1 - 16 - - • 31 1 6 1 . _ . . ! 1 1 . . . 1 1 1 1 • - - - - - - - 2 - - - 1 3 2 . . . „ . . . . 1 . . . . 3 3 - - - 1 - - - - . . - . 1 8 5 - 8 - - . . 1 . . - - - 9 2 * 1 1 1 . 7 - . . 3 . . 7 39 11 - - - - - - - - - - - 3 3 3 4 1 5 16 2 12 6 11 3 3 2 2 208 22 13 42 36 23 55 61 141 134 161 55 51 48 77 1489 24 6 63 44 37 58 28 34 17 145 30 14 12 26 577 23 - - 1 6 6 1 6 2 2 . 3 . 1 38 15 - * 2 3 4 2 3 • 1 4 - - 31 0 . . . _ _ _ . . . 17 . . . 17 0 - - - . 1 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 17 13 1 4 1 - 2 . 1 1 . . . 2 - 16 11 - - 1 - - . . - . . 1 - 11 -6 1 6 6 5 4 ■ 1 1 - 1 3 - 3 108 19 . _ . 1 1 4 . . . . . . 29 12 4 7 7 6 - 10 8 20 3 12 2 8 155 t 21 1 4 10 1 1 1 3 2 1 ! 1 2 I 107 1 19 - 1 1 - 1 1 - - - 1 - - - 6 6 . 1 . 1 . . . . . _ 1 8 4 - 1 . . . 1 . . 1 . . - 64 10 . - . . . - . . - . - - 23 3 . . 5 - - . 1 3 . - . - • 49 7 5 12 8 17 23 13 24 44 26 15 8 31 16 340 22 40 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46 , No. 2 Table 1. Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Species Garr. Alle. Wash. Fred. Carr. D.C. Mont. Howa. Balt. Harf. Cecl. Black Rail - - Clapper Rail - - - King Rail Virginia Rail - 3 - - - - - 1 - 1 Sora 2 4 - - - 1 * 1 • 4 Common Moorhen _ . _ _ . 1 . - 11 American Coot - - - - - 1 - - - - - Sandhill Crane - - - - - l - - - - Black-bellied Plover - - - - - - - 9 - - Semipalmated Plover 1 2 - l - - - 7 - 6 Piping Plover - Kill deer 27 39 19 35 20 3 8 27 25 19 5 American Oystercatcher - Black-necked Stilt Greater Yellowlcgs - 3 - 4 - 1 2 3 2 7 Lesser Yellowlegs 5 9 1 5 - 15 7 4 3 Solitary Sandpiper 7 4 6 25 10 19 34 24 14 8 Willct - - - - - - - 1 - - Spotted Sandpiper 27 17 18 44 9 14 77 31 156 42 9 Upland Sandpiper 3 Whimbrel Roddy Turnstone 15 - - Sanderling - - - - - - - 1 - - Semipalmated Sandpiper - 3 - 1 - 3 1 468 1 20 Western Sandpiper 4 - - Least Sandpiper 7 35 . 67 . . 1 85 41 98 White- romped Sandpiper - - - - - - 5 - - Pectoral Sandpiper 7 - Purple Sandpiper Dunlin 200 • - Ruff . . _ _ _ 1 _ _ Short- billed Do witcher 1 - - Common Snipe - - - 1 - - 1 1 1 - American Woodcock 10 8 - - - - - 5 1 - Wilson's Phalarope - Laughing Gull - - . - . . . 63 - - Bonaparte’s Gull Ring-billed Gull 4 167 1 132 15 272 20 29 690 no 673 Herring Gull - - - - - 3 1 - 314 2 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull - - - - - - - - 1 - - Glaucous Gull Great Black-backed Gull - - - - - 14 - - 92 47 4 Gull-billed Tem - - Caspian Tem - - - - - - - - 271 6 3 Royal Ton Common Tem _ _ _ _ . _ 2 _ . Forster’s Tem - - - - - 5 - - 1 - - Sterna sp. - - - - - - - - 20 - - Least Tem 4 13 * Black Tem 9 - - - - - - - 1 - • Black Skimmer Rock Dove 119 207 200 334 195 63 192 409 648 148 71 Mourning Dove 75 76 181 232 243 61 329 393 509 223 86 Black-billed Cuckoo - 7 5 - 5 - 10 17 9 - l Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3 20 15 10 9 1 47 62 23 9 6 Barn Owl Eastern Screech-Owl Great Horned Owl Barred Owl Northern Saw-whct Owl 1 2 - - 3 - 4 3 4 1 3 - 4 2 2 - - 3 1 10 5 2291 2 - 12 53 10 3 1 --------- June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 41 Table 1 (cont.). Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Pr.G. Anne Calv. Chas. St.M. Kent QuAn. Cara Talb. Dorc. Wica Some. Wore. Total Co’s. . . _ . . . 2 . . . 2 1 . - . . . . - - . 3 - 6 1 10 3 . . - . - 3 - 1 • 1 - - . 5 3 * 9 2 2 - 15 - . 18 118 2 2 - 173 11 - - 1 - - 2 * - 1 3 - - * 19 9 - - 1 - - 1 - 4 * - - 2 - 19 2 5 2 - - - * 5 30 12 - 13 8 2 116 1 195 1 8 - 1 1 - 5 5 19 21 5 10 43 - 22 149 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 12 1 4 9 3 7 7 7 27 23 15 4 9 2 5 349 24 . - - - . - - - - 4 . - 17 21 2 - - - - - - - • . 1 - 3 . 4 2 2 ■ 1 1 1 11 13 31 3 40 - - 16 141 17 1 2 . 1 3 17 31 6 20 . 1 1 132 18 6 1 8 5 11 2 4 1 3 7 - - 199 20 - - - - - 2 . . . 10 3 4 80 100 6 21 59 22 23 11 4 9 12 24 12 4 - 8 653 23 - - - - - - * * - - - - - 3 1 . . . . _ . . _ . 112 112 1 . . - - . - . 1 25 - - 47 88 4 - - 4 - 16 . - - 18 4 . - 205 248 6 1 ; 1 - 7 14 10 1 1 - 17 6 840 1395 4 17 1 1 7 5 55 54 39 41 50 40 41 3 5 675 19 - - - - . - - . - . . . 5 1 - - - - - 3 - 1 . - - - - 11 3 - - - - - - - - - - . - 19 19 1 - - * - - * - 5 3 345 - - 245 798 5 - - ■ - - 18 - • - 10 - - 7 1 36 1 4 - - - - - - - - - - . - - 4 4 2 6 2 1 - 3 - 1 2 7 1 - 2 ■ 50 1 13 1 2 497 110 30 467 180 72 158 1241 900 463 272 489 4944 14 - - - - - - - - - - - • 18 18 1 40 371 101 447 295 1219 391 31 286 80 72 31 102 5579 24 - 336 52 3 276 50 43 4 31 550 3 1512 452 3644 1 17 1 1 1 22 - 20 2 1 4 4 - - 5 20 - 18 32 263 13 . - - • - . - . . . - 4 4 1 - 21 5 - - 2 - - - - - - 308 6 2 9 114 56 29 - - - 5 12 - 8 235 8 . . 9 _ 32 2 . 1 4 1 . 4 1062 1117 9 - 29 16 5 4 10 5 25 52 115 25 10 7 309 14 - - - - 11 - - - - - - - - 31 0 - - 18 2 8 1 3 - 14 3 4 3 25 98 12 - 4 - - - ■ - - ‘ ■ - - 14 3 . . . . . . . . 55 . . 118 173 2 39 159 2 3 36 15 96 101 50 2 4 6 14 3113 24 132 251 91 93 136 67 96 134 90 20 28 20 37 3603 24 - - - - - 1 1 - - 3 - - - 59 10 13 14 2 5 3 13 10 12 18 15 11 - 4 325 23 _ . . 2 1 1- 3 . 7 4 . 4 3 . 5 6 1 - 1 6 - - - 44 14 . 1 2 4 3 15 3 3 17 4 . . 2 84 18 5 4 4 25 2 8 6 5 2 - - - 2 112 20 i l 42 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Table 1. Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Species Garr. AHe. Wash. Fred. Carr. D.C. Mont. Howa. Balt. Harf. Cecl. Common Nighthawk - 6 l 2 - 3 l 2 3 - - Chuck-will 'i- widow - - - - - - - - 1 - - Whip-poor-will - 7 4 - 4 - i - 2 6 5 Chimney Swift 24 96 311 169 121 91 707 234 2148 122 74 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 10 14 6 9 9 1 21 13 16 15 6 Be] ted Kingfisher 8 4 12 6 4 1 6 9 17 4 3 Red-beaded Woodpecker 4 - 1 3 3 - 1 - 2 1 - Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 35 87 69 60 18 119 168 177 87 46 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - - - - - - 1 - * - - Downy Woodpecker 24 22 43 37 27 7 56 51 64 12 11 Hairy Woodpecker 18 2 7 9 5 4 10 15 10 4 3 Northern Ricker 20 26 70 44 47 12 59 95 92 37 12 Pilcated Woodpecker 6 23 25 10 7 2 31 15 17 3 3 Olive-sided Flycatcher - - - - - - 1 - - 1 - Eastern Wood-Pewee 8 15 17 27 18 5 69 48 59 18 5 Acadian Flycatcher 2 3 29 36 26 4 124 111 75 32 14 Alder Flycatcher 1 - - - - - - - - - - Willow Flycatcher - - 1 1 3 - 3 1 - - - Least Flycatcher 9 3 - - - 15 5 - 1 - Empidonax sp. - - • 4 - * - * - 4 • Eastern Phoebe 22 40 63 24 29 3 42 42 53 21 14 Great Crested Flycatcher 12 42 103 32 13 8 65 46 55 9 9 Eastern Kingbird 14 3 46 60 50 9 81 117 123 76 11 Homed Lark 2 - 2 2 2 - - - - 2 1 Purple Martin 6 - 71 46 81 3 159 90 62 48 4 Tree Swallow 329 35 93 157 53 5 284 78 38 741 297 N. Rough-winged Swallow 56 74 114 90 37 33 221 40 183 29 21 Bank Swallow 97 21 42 24 12 39 48 5 35 54 - Chff Swallow 163 24 48 3 52 - 26 33 45 4 Bam Swallow 1614 830 46 6 892 350 68 587 423 838 641 223 Blue Jay 94 86 235 128 174 10 119 253 242 103 64 American Crow 193 171 401 291 180 67 452 383 679 212 57 Fish Crow - . 17 16 56 2 32 14 35 12 11 Crow sp. - - - - 178 - 19 198 56 40 29 Common Raven 2 1 3 2 - - - - - - * B Lack-capped Chickadee 115 62 6 8 - - - - - - - Carolina Chickadee - - 91 81 66 62 231 186 232 76 53 Tufted Titmouse 56 110 121 104 80 53 187 214 217 63 18 Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 1 1 1 - 1 2 - 3 - 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 31 17 32 21 14 12 26 29 46 1 6 Brown-headed Nuthatch . . . . . . - - - - Brown Creeper - 2 1 - - - - 2 - - Carolina Wren 8 51 118 67 101 50 154 156 219 58 39 House Wren 35 13 83 75 58 13 130 74 121 11 5 Sedge Wren - - - - - - - - 1 ' - Marsh Wren . . . . - - - 18 2 5 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 - - 2 - - - - - - Ruby-crowned Kinglet 16 5 6 4 5 - 3 3 17 2 - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 28 89 76 43 51 21 153 113 102 46 21 Eastern Bluebird 48 58 100 43 44 - 21 105 107 61 6 Vccry 6 1 3 5 3 33 27 33 77 6 1 Gray-cheeked Thrash - - - - - - - - 1 - - Swainson's Thrash 1 - 2 6 - 24 16 20 53 - 5 Hermit Thrush - 2 1 - - 1 2 1 - - - Wood Thrush 30 22 55 79 91 21 131 306 179 113 97 American Robin 449 273 526 503 689 52 333 591 852 290 561 Gray Catbird 120 92 165 255 328 68 402 588 620 157 59 Northern Mockingbird 1 32 71 111 124 20 102 163 177 128 28 Brown Thrasher 12 14 69 35 32 2 7 29 19 13 13 American Pipit - - - - - • - 45 - - - June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 43 Table 1 (cont.). Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Pr.G. Anne Calv. Chas. St.M. Kent QuAn. Cara Talb. Dorc. Wico. Some. Wore. Total Co’s. . 3 1 1 1 . . . . 3 . . . 27 12 . 3 7 1 33 15 2 l 14 18 - 2 14 111 12 6 . 12 12 21 - 7 2 5 2 - 1 - 97 16 19 211 22 27 57 31 26 34 152 25 5 - 16 4722 23 4 20 16 5 14 12 12 13 6 3 4 9 6 244 24 2 10 4 3 2 1 5 2 3 1 . 2 1 110 23 - 1 6 4 3 1 - - 2 6 4 1 - 43 16 26 55 20 57 37 23 51 46 52 10 13 - 23 1284 23 . . . . . - - . - - - 1 - 2 2 5 20 5 14 20 11 9 17 13 6 10 2 10 4% 24 1 5 2 3 5 3 3 3 4 5 2 . 2 125 23 12 53 4 9 17 13 22 19 21 10 6 3 3 706 24 2 3 11 8 5 . 2 3 2 6 4 7 195 22 . . . . . . . - - - 2 2 8 10 10 18 13 28 30 18 46 10 14 6 17 517 24 5 30 29 33 23 8 11 28 14 2 12 3 23 677 1 9 24 1 ' _ . . . _ . . _ 1 5 - - 2 - - 1 2 3 • - 3 • - 44 10 - - - - 2 - - - - - ■ - - 10 0 5 11 2 7 15 6 11 16 7 . 3 8 444 22 3 35 5 23 15 26 40 51 72 25 35 13 32 769 24 35 53 19 17 59 24 52 29 30 20 5 14 14 961 24 - - 20 2 1 50 24 7 16 8 2 - 2 143 16 56 13 63 49 64 144 86 158 91 45 20 5 27 1391 23 109 68 11 7 336 166 34 201 28 55 15 39 24 3203 24 2 35 6 13 9 3 26 6 8 - 2 • 3 1011 22 7 109 13 . . 7 2 - 26 . . 7 5 553 18 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 398 9 49 351 231 183 214 101 192 251 377 75 93 67 78 9194 24 23 181 43 32 90 79 60 72 70 10 33 16 24 2241 24 212 184 65 139 189 160 56 93 81 25 32 12 31 4365 24 8 74 28 6 20 113 42 74 63 15 2 31 5 676 22 - 65 - - 107 - 30 - 1 - - 1 134 858 8 0 4 191 4 26 103 44 83 138 107 54 46 63 5 39 4 31 1821 22 25 92 48 85 73 48 27 66 69 20 37 5 34 1852 24 - - - - - - - - - - . - - 15 8 3 13 1 16 - 4 4 2 1 1 2 * 3 285 22 . . . . 10 . 4 2 . . 7 23 4 - - 3 . 2 - - 1 • - - - 11 6 28 68 25 55 83 43 45 59 53 20 45 16 12 1573 24 4 19 1 2 - 9 9 14 4 10 9 10 . 6 715 1 23 1 - 7 12 1 - 12 4 - - 25 - 4 1 91 11 -1 I 1 ! 1 I 6 1 ! 1 ' o 71 l 14 17 29 26 43 20 27 9 21 11 6 9 - 16 977 23 32 21 95 41 107 35 36 135 68 15 5 35 7 1225 23 2 16 3 3 4 4 2 - 3 1 1 - 1 235 1 160 22 i 11 16 1 1 1 _ 3 . . 1 14 1 . 3 . - 6 - - - - - - - 17 8 30 59 24 48 20 111 92 88 103 10 13 2 21 1745 24 116 246 68 179 219 129 312 224 171 55 106 38 73 7055 24 55 162 25 45 56 91 57 28 32 6 22 4 87 3524 24 33 85 45 35 133 65 124 101 74 10 26 16 23 1727 24 9 23 5 15 35 23 13 35 13 - 7 2 16 441 23 . . . . . - . . - . 45 1 44 MARYLAND BIRDUFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Table 1. Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Species Garr. A lie. Wash. Fred. Carr. D.C. Mont. Howa. Balt. Harf. Cecl. Cedar Waxwing 7 18 55 19 12 10 239 54 10 14 22 Loggerhead Shrike European Starting 238 218 658 818 972 150 657 1076 1684 706 476 White-eyed Viieo 5 10 4 8 24 7 53 147 83 57 33 Solitary Viieo 12 2 2 * 1 - - - 1 ■ - Yellow-throated Viieo 3 11 5 8 2 21 31 25 8 1 Warbling Viieo - 4 78 20 6 2 22 6 11 15 6 Philadelphia Viieo - 1 Red-eyed Viieo 51 172 136 95 126 62 261 360 337 108 42 Blue-winged Warbler 1 6 7 5 3 - 4 5 13 9 - Golden-winged Warbler 14 7 2 _ _ _ _ 1 . Tennesiee Warbler 2 3 2 9 1 1 5 5 8 . - Nashville Warbler 2 1 2 3 - - 1 1 . 3 Northern Parula 10 8 8 17 22 9 121 76 81 15 17 Yellow Warbler 49 76 30 31 59 3 37 79 166 27 11 Cheatnut-iidcd Warbler 42 7 7 2 4 4 12 42 11 3 1 Magnolia Warbler 35 7 4 5 4 4 11 25 33 5 2 Cape May Warbler 3 2 4 11 - - 1 6 18 1 Blk.-thrt'd. Blue Warbler 7 - 6 19 10 13 22 35 92 5 1 Yel -rump.(Mynlc)Warbler 104 35 41 12 23 18 89 76 207 268 16 Blk.-thn'd. Green Warbler 15 7 1 12 7 5 8 22 46 3 1 Blackburnian Warbler 12 - - 4 - 1 2 2 1 2 3 Yellow-throated Warbler - 2 5 . 1 3 29 9 6 . - Pine Warbler - 24 6 1 1 - 8 10 6 1 2 Prairie Warbler 6 15 8 1 6 - 30 25 28 37 4 Palm Warbler . 1 1 . 1 . . . . . . Bay- breasted Warbler 6 3 2 2 _ 4 _ 5 3 „ _ Blackpoll Warbler - 1 2 6 3 4 19 7 13 2 - Cerulean Warbler 3 11 2 6 9 - 14 5 12 8 1 Black-and-white Warbler IS 3 2 4 8 3 16 28 34 11 5 American Redstart 19 29 20 18 22 14 52 85 139 25 6 Pro tho notary Warbler 3 - 8 4 - 1 41 1 10 1 1 Worm-eating Warbler 1 6 11 2 11 1 3 11 13 3 2 Ovenbiid 31 6 14 20 19 13 51 162 104 23 18 Northern Waterthrush 10 3 7 4 - - 21 5 15 2 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 7 8 17 8 11 . 21 26 16 6 1 Kentucky Warbler - - 1 8 11 1 10 56 24 19 3 Mourning Warbler 1 - - - - - 1 1 - - - Common Yellow throat 139 78 29 37 74 24 104 239 293 85 85 Hooded Warbler 7 10 3 2 3 - 2 49 17 - - Wilson's Warbler 1 _ 5 _ 6 5 5 3 1 Canada Warbler 6 2 - 1 1 2 11 20 31 5 . Yellow-breasted Chat 2 17 14 4 . 16 48 15 20 17 Summer Tanager - - - - - - 2 - - . - Scarlet Tanager 53 48 44 27 14 12 59 112 131 37 14 Northern Cardinal 68 225 336 229 220 83 385 485 480 255 90 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 71 5 1 5 5 3 10 16 33 3 1 Blue Grosbeak - 1 4 - - - 2 5 7 14 2 Indigo Bunting 103 214 143 no 37 5 143 196 150 85 67 Rufous-sided Towhee 146 80 74 55 39 14 90 159 147 43 50 Chipping Sparrow 246 165 94 36 53 8 50 91 105 48 35 Field Sparrow 41 65 62 46 37 - 61 147 49 14 22 Vesper Sparrow 1 - 6 1 3 - 2 1 - . - Savannah Sparrow 9 2 3 - 1 - 1 8 6 2 . Grasshopper Sparrow 7 4 11 13 11 - 6 11 5 1 1 Henslow's Sparrow 2 _ _ . . 1 . Sharp-tailed Sparrow - - Seaside Sparrow - - - - - - - 2 - - Song Sparrow 183 77 93 121 157 34 96 149 240 50 51 Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 - - - - 2 - 1 - June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 45 Table 1 (cont.). Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Pr.G. Anne Calv. Chas. St.M. Kent QuAn. Cara Talb. Dorc. Wico. Some. Wore. Total Co’s. 27 125 2 - 1 - 341 449 140 24 69 41 1 2 2 7 1 - 2 1 47 218 172 1 3 1 . 2 - 4 1 9 64 1 55 12 35 3 3 11 4 4 23 5 1 2 - 3 34 7 20 85 5 1 17 2 - 5 - - 1 7 - 6 11 18 18 6 _ 2 . - 3 - 4 28 7 - 2 - 7 35 10 25 53 20 1 7 3 - 7 1 21 45 28 1 8 5 _ 3 1 2 6 18 34 169 45 7 17 25 . 4 1 18 2 11 30 17 1 10 14 46 18 73 262 99 1 6 5 6 19 16 31 67 39 25 65 22 76 40 28 IS 5 1 8 8 1 5 31 46 12 113 5 5 17 247 495 206 419 52 57 36 21 - - 2 - 11 2 11 1 4 145 112 67 45 - - 1 - - 1 1 - 73 35 8 3 29 2 89 14 5 3 4 . 1 4 17 - - 2 4 - 3 13 6 1 21 21 93 17 1 6 8 . 2 - 8 - 5 14 2 - 20 39 7 4 30 56 8 5 1 . . 1 - 4 . 8 2 2 * 12 18 22 3 19 16 32 1 13 2 13 11 - 5 4 . 45 48 29 16 4 1 2 ■ 8 9 1 1 30 6 8 2 47 92 120 92 39 5 - * . 2 . - - 4 . 21 41 6 9 4 17 . . 40 26 33 21 94 202 169 164 3 - 3 5 9 52 19 37 100 101 86 100 61 67 33 37 45 109 39 70 15 24 17 60 - - 1 - - 5 3 1 13 30 10 35 27 26 49 37 - 9 * - 476 283 70 120 19 16 15 30 7 4 3 5 93 69 15 42 4 8 18 4 14 6 22 7 1 . 2 . 1 1 10 - 1 2 1 - 1 2 11 2 5 9 20 10 4 . 6 . 1 1 - - - 4 4 6 6 30 40 30 5 5 2 10 . 1 - 3 - - - 15 • 5 i 9 19 8 l 10 5 44 1 2 31 2 10 22 . 8 2 7 20 44 10 31 - 2 1 - 5 4 . 4 5 10 - 8 34 91 40 29 - 1 - - . 1 . . - - - 2 6 14 5 19 3 13 10 14 22 33 7 9 70 121 20 45 4 15 1 - 32 29 9 10 41 91 12 37 21 26 10 11 58 87 15 24 22 23 3 16 . 1 1 . 12 7 2 3 - - 1 - - - 35 2 10 17 4 4 - - 763 19 - - 1 1 58 147 11104 24 2 23 836 24 - * 23 8 . 3 175 22 - - 174 13 - - 1 1 6 34 2815 24 * • 63 14 . . 27 6 - - 41 11 - - 14 8 17 692 23 9 - 797 23 . 1 169 20 - . 201 20 - - 59 15 - 2 299 22 1 11 1206 24 . . 168 18 - - 44 13 - 12 110 16 4 27 283 21 4 24 351 23 . . 7 6 - - 36 11 . 3 131 18 - - 74 12 10 292 23 . 22 669 23 - 60 245 21 2 7 107 20 8 45 851 24 * - 92 17 _ 3 160 20 . 8 236 20 - - 3 3 14 40 2034 24 - 2 189 15 . . 33 10 - - 106 14 5 10 347 22 1 2 77 11 - 13 833 23 28 31 4234 24 - 2 198 21 - 8 281 19 7 22 1987 24 2 25 1302 24 14 21 1563 24 - 3 ■ 794 22 - - 15 7 - - 48 14 - - 199 21 . 3 2 - 1 1 29 4 78 7 6 31 1551 24 - - 4 3 46 MARYLAND BIRDUFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Table 1. Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Species Carr. Alle. Wash. Fred. Carr. D.C. Mont. Howa. Balt. Harf. Cecl. Swamp Sparrow 46 1 4 2 3 i 4 6 23 2 . White-throated Sparrow 15 10 4 12 2 24 15 27 83 15 5 White-crowned Sparrow 8 2 2 1 3 - 3 3 2 7 - Dart-eyed Junoo 7 Bobolink 73 25 6 168 95 4 191 610 588 281 - Red-winged Blackbird 450 227 191 379 375 66 256 505 855 314 619 Easton Meadowlark 25 39 56 84 44 - 46 25 10 31 25 Rusty Blackbird 1 - - - - - 3 - - - - Boat-tailed GrackJe - - - - - - - - 1 - - Common Gntclde 313 163 741 933 931 26 610 676 768 511 281 Brown-headed Cowbird 56 68 105 113 97 19 150 162 199 152 44 Orchard Oriole - 13 9 7 5 5 47 30 31 25 20 N. (Baltimore) Oriole 39 63 135 62 39 11 86 64 114 65 21 Purple Finch 11 - 22 - - - 1 - - - - House Finch 89 72 333 163 175 75 322 371 558 130 61 Pine Siskin 239 6 21 . 1 . 1 3 4 1 . American Goldfinch 157 243 368 430 307 87 434 410 444 267 68 Evening Grosbeak - 4 - House Sparrow 94 79 218 298 267 186 153 161 505 92 39 Total individuals 7712 5941 9142 9359 Owv 2580 12037 13998 22045 8745 5697 Total species 145 138 141 137 129 107 153 148 182 144 131 Observers 17 15 27 21 14 6 40 49 65 31 9 Parties 11 8 15 12 11 4 24 21 30 10 4 Party-miles: Foot 30.0 31.0 31.3 29.0 31.0 16.0 87,1 125.0 133.0 24.5 11.5 Car 610.0 299.0 336.8 360.0 150.0 32.0 102.0 288.0 241.0 291.0 345.0 Boat 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 210 0.0 Other 0.0 0.0 13.0 0.0 12.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total miles 640.0 330.0 381.1 389.0 193.0 48.0 189.1 413.0 378.0 337.5 356.5 Party-hours: Foot 36.0 27,0 49.6 51.0 47.0 26.0 110.5 153.5 168.8 38.2 16.0 Car 55.8 100.0 34.3 32.0 17.0 2.0 10.8 19.0 36.0 30.5 30.0 Boat 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 5.0 0.0 Other 0.0 0.0 4.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 Feeder watch 6.0 1.0 10.0 6.0 3.0 0.0 7.0 0.0 93 17.0 1.0 Total hours 97.8 128.0 97.8 89.0 75.0 28.0 128.3 172.5 218.0 92.7 47.0 Hours owling 15 2.0 3.0 2.0 7 1.0 0.5 3.5 2.3 93 10.0 Miles owling 2.0 5.0 1.0 1.0 7 0.0 0.5 0.0 5.0 48.0 29.0 Tune at start 0090 0445 0400 0500 0330 0430 0430 0400 0500 0315 0000 Time at end 2130 2000 2100 1930 2100 1730 1930 2030 2245 1935 2300 Temperature: Pre-dawn 38 33 39 40 39 50 7 40 40 45 44 Dawn 42 41 43 40 7 50 30 45 45 48 7 Noon 48 50 57 60 7 65 60 55 60 65 65 Sunset 54 58 7 55 65 65 62 65 55 60 7 Night 48 58 7 7 7 7 7 7 55 7 7 Wind: Pre-dawn 0 0 5 0 0 7 7 0 0 0 0 Dawn 5 0 to 0 5 7 2 0 0 0 0 Noon 5 0 10 10 10 7 5 15 ESE10 10 5 Sunset 5 0 all 10 15 7 10 25 ESE10 7 5 Night 5 0 day 7 10 7 7 7 ESE10 7 5 Percent (%) Clouds: Pre-dawn 100 100 90 10 10 100 7 0 0 0 20 Dawn 100 100 90 10 10 100 75 0 20 0 25 Noon 100 100 100 100 100 50 95 75 100 100 80 Sunset 100 100 100 100 100 25 100 75 100 100 100 Night 75 100 100 7 7 7 7 75 95 7 100 Precipitation: Pre-dawn 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dawn shwrs. 0 0 0 0 0 trace 0 0 0 0 Noon rein light light light light 0 trace shwrs. shwrs. 0 0 Sunset shwrs. light light light light 0 trace shwrs. shwrs. 0 0 Night shwrs. shwrs. rain ? 7 0 0 7 shwrs. 7 0 June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDUFE 47 Table 1 (cont.). Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Pr.G. Anne Calv. Chas. St.M. Kent QuAn. Caro. Talb. Dorc. Wico. Some. Wore. Total Co’s. 3 3 4 2 4 l . . 1 . l in 18 40 10 8 14 4 8 2 1 28 . l - 328 21 2 3 . 3 . - - - - - - 39 12 1 - - - . - - 2 • - • - 10 3 12 169 78 1 210 1 95 - 26 6 l - 2640 20 241 310 59 228 436 774 465 615 694 575 130 192 123 9079 24 1 12 12 5 36 7 42 3 12 6 2 8 17 548 23 - . . . - . . - - - - - - 4 2 - - - - 5 - - - - 3 19 26 104 158 6 137 538 398 309 610 521 1141 1061 895 500 225 155 311 12754 24 25 88 42 44 133 27 50 7 90 50 30 28 61 1840 24 14 27 19 20 24 29 33 98 14 40 15 23 3 551 23 5 6 3 4 4 27 25 22 11 2 2 - 1 811 23 . . . - 2 - - - - - • - - 36 4 75 263 123 41 113 57 78 31 30 6 16 8 19 3209 24 1 1 3 1 _ . _ * _ 282 12 32 109 102 24 143 104 81 47 98 20 33 35 53 4096 24 - - - - - . - - - - - - - 41 62 118 62 100 219 85 98 206 39 10 36 39 33 3199 24 3105 8810 3828 4624 7863 7085 6500 6127 7772 5430 2657 3360 6926 180009 121 154 154 132 145 157 134 122 150 149 119 104 146 255 13 26 15 9 14 6 14 22 6 2 9 9 12 451 7 10 9 5 10 4 7 13 6 1 5 4 7 238 14.0 16.5 26.0 27.0 423 8.5 20.5 15.0 14.7 2.0 10.0 5.0 5.0 785.8 45.0 210.0 107.0 248.0 298.0 239.0 423.8 232.0 164.0 100.0 119.0 96.0 294.0 5630.6 0.0 14.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.0 25.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 0.0 85.5 0,0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 25.0 59.0 271.0 133.0 275.0 340.3 247.5 449.3 257.0 203.7 102.0 129.0 106.0 299.0 6526.9 33.0 82.5 53.0 29.5 50.0 10.0 19.5 26.0 16.1 8.0 12.0 12.0 7.0 1082.1 5.0 20.8 3.3 17.8 27.5 25.0 34.5 23.0 9.9 4.5 14.0 8.0 36.0 596.5 0.0 7.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 6.0 6.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 40.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.5 4.0 25.0 7.0 2.5 1.3 0.0 0.0 17.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 117.1 42.0 135.3 63.3 49.8 78.8 35.0 58.0 72.0 35.5 12.5 26.0 22.0 43.0 1772.2 2.0 4.5 3.5 4.8 6.5 2.5 3.2 1.0 2.1 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 71.4 3.0 8.5 53.0 43.0 44.3 40.0 3.3 0.0 31.0 55.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 372.5 0530 0330 0230 0330 0300 0300 0215 0500 ? 0000 0600 0530 0330 0000 2000 2200 1800 1930 2000 1830 1900 2100 7 1715 1900 2100 1730 2300 Min./Max. 42 45 42 45 52 46 50 40 7 45 7 7 7 33/52 45 50 44 45 55 40 55 45 43 45 50 60 50 40/60 55 58 65 62 75 60 60 60 48 70 58 75 65 48/75 60 63 61 62 70 58 58 55 61 7 50 70 7 54/70 7 7 57 7 ? ? 7 50 7 7 7 7 ? 48/58 0 7 0 0 5 NE5 0 0 7 l.tVar 0 7 7 10 E10 ESE 10 0 to NE 15 5 0 SW 2 UVar E 10 7 NE 15 10 E 15 ESE15 SW 15 20 NE 15 15 SE 15 SW 18 ESE 25 E 10 ? NE 15 10 SE 15 ESE 20 0 VAR NE 15 15 VAR SW 20 SE 10 7 7 7 10 7 ESE 20 7 7 7 7 0 7 7 7 ? 7 90 7 0 0 10 10 10 0 ? 0 0 0 0 100 30 5 0 20 10 50 10 5 0 50 0 5 100 100 100 90 too 60 75 50 100 40 50 50 90 100 70 100 90 80 100 100 50 100 95 100 0 20 100 7 100 7 7 100 7 50 ? 7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 tr. 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 tr. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 It tr. It tr. 0 It 0 0 0 0 0 0 shwrs 0 tr. 0 tr. tr. shwrs 0 0 shwrs shwrs 0 0 0 0 0 7 tr. It. 0 0 7 7 7 0 0 48 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 CARROLL COUNTY: Melinda Byrd, Wayne Gordon Jr. & Sr., Doug Hackman, Barbara Hale, Kathy Harden, Dave & Maureen Harvey, John Hattrup, Dave Hudgins, Bill Kulp, Bob Ringler (compiler: 6272 Pinyon Pine Court, Eldersburg 21784), Denis Smith, Sue Yingling. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Robert Caswell, Dave Czaplak (compiler), Ottavio Janni, Michael Jennison, Mary Ann Todd, Patricia Wood. MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Wain Barnes, E.A. & M.W. Behr, Larry Bonham, Michael & Joy Bowen, Margaret Bullock, Betty Chance, Marjorie & Richard Cleveland, Barry Cooper, Robert Hilton, Ann Hobbs, Dick Homan, Vince Jones, Bill Kulp, David Livengood, Nancy & Stuart MacClintock, Gail MacKiernan, Susanna Martin, Don & Mieke Mehlman, Don Messersmith, Joan Miller, Lola & Ted Oberman, Paul Pisano (compiler: 626 S. 1 8th Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202 ), Nancy Sasavage, Francis C. & Norman C. Saunders, Susan Savage, John Summer, Mary Ann Todd, Paul Woodward, William Young. HOWARD COUNTY: Scott Atkinson, Connie Bockstie, Joy & Michael Bowen, George Chase, Marty Chestem, Graham Chisom, John Clegg, Jane Farrell, Charles Fuller, Jane & Ralph Geuder, Richard Giannola, Shiras Guion, Anne & Ken Hart, Kevin Heffernan, Ann Higgins, John Hoffman, David Irene Keefer, Anu & Marcia Krishnamoorthy, Dave Kubitsky, Mike Leumas, Bob & Brigitte Lund, Nancy Magnusson, Kathy Mariano, Sherry Martin, Grazina & Mike McClure, Peter Osenton, Bonnie Ott, Susan Probst, Don & Jan Randle, Chandler Robbins, Michael Smith, Bob & Jo Solem, Chuck Stirrat, Linda Stirrat, Tom Strikwerda, Mark Wallace, Peggy Willson, Michele Wright, Helen Zeichner, Paul Zucker (compiler 112 Finale Terrace, Silver Spring 20901 ). BALTIMORE COUNTY: Debbye Anbinder, John Barber, Chip Bauer, Doug Behr, Frank & Margaret Bien, Peggy Bohanan, Brent & Mary Byers, John & Roland Canoles, Tom Carroll, Bob & Betty Christopher, Henry Coe, Bob Dixon, JoAnn Dreyer, Rick Fiedderman, Gail Frantz, Peggy Fulford, Shirley Geddes, Mary Gilley, Josie Gray, Theresa Guckert, Dan Haft, Jim Highsaw, Mark Hoffman, Kye Jenkins, Dave Johnson, Sukon Kanchanaraksa, Elliot Kirsch- baum, Lon Linder, Bunny Long, M. MacCrehan, Rob Mardiney, Peter Martin, Chris McSwain, Michele Melia, Alice & David Nelson, Paul Noell, Earl Palmer, Patsy Perlman, Jim Peters, Mac Plant, James Poultney, Linda Prentice, Roger Redden, Carol Renfrew, Art Rogers, Nancy Rowe, Mark & Valerie Rychwalski, Steve Sanford (compiler 8412 Downey Dale Dr., Randallstown 2 11 33), Jeff Schreter, Marian Shapiro, Don Sheppard, Mary Shock, Steve Simon, Karen Skuldt, Ed Smith, Nancy Smith, Cas & Ctauseon Smoot, Pat Stagg, Hank Stanton, Norma & Gene Struckhoff, Debbie Terry, Robin & Will Tress, Kristine Utley, Joni Ward, Pete Webb, Hal & Matilda Weiss, Jack Wennerstrom, Jim Wilkinson, Helen & John Wilson, Robert Wood, Ben & Heidi Yokel. HARFORD COUNTY: Diana Affleck, John Blake, Louise Blake, Jeff Buler, Tim Chumley, Jon & Barbara Cupp Sr., John Cupp Jr., Bridget Cupp, Les Eastman (compiler 4034 Wilkinson Road, Havre de Grace 20178), Lynn Feryus, Carol Flora, Harriett Gray, Bette Hoyt, Dennis Kirkwood, Dave Long, Roberta Ober, Bill Pfingsten, Jean Scarborough, Dave & Macrina Seitz, Don Soubie, Spike Updegrove, June Vaughn, Barbara Walker, Wyatt Wallace, Dave Webb, Pete Webb, Joan Wohlgemuth, John & Loraa Wortman. CECIL COUNTY: John Blake, Rick Blom, Jon Cupp Jr. & Sr., Leland Devore, Harold Fogleman Jr., Harold Fogleman Sr. (compiler 1170 Wilson Rd., Rising Sun 21911), Mark Komorosky, Pete Webb. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY: Marty Barron, Barbara Bowman, Frederick W. Fallon, Jane Fallon, Paul Jung, Leonard Lutwack, Elwood Martin, Greg Pluth, Betty Porter, Barbara Ricciardi, Eleanor C. Robbins, Bill Ruston (compiler 13023 Trumbull Drive, Upper Marlboro 20772), Connie Tippett. June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 49 ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY: Dell Alexander, Maggie Cadisalader, Lynn Davidson, Phil Davis, Paul DeRoo, Alice & Bob Dwight, Joyce Grell, Peter Hanan, A1 Haury, Sally Henderson, Marshal Iliff, Bunny Knipp, Kathy Lambert, Tony Leigh, Dave Mozurkewich, Dottie Mumford (compiler 1900 General’s Highway, Annapolis 21401 ), Sue Ricciardi, Bryon Rogers, Ed & Pat Rogers, Howard Rovelstadt, John Schorp, Hank Taliaferro, Hal Wierenga, Larry Zoller. CALVERT COUNTY: Andre Barbeau, David & Paula Bohaska, Ed Boyd, John H. Fales (compiler 2809 Ridge Road, Huntingtown 20639), Elizabeth S. Henry, Don & Helen Jones, Geoffrey Parker, Betty S. Shaub, Jim Stasz, Melissa Wilson [Southern Maryland Audubon Society]. CHARLES COUNTY: Mike Donovan, Cora Fulton, Carol Ghebelian, Polly Hancock, Ron Kagarise, Pat & Paul Nistico, Andrew Wilmot, George Wilmot (compiler: 401 Amherst Road, Bryans Road 20616) [Southern Maryland Audubon Society]. ST. MARY S COUNTY: Anne Bishop, Bob Boxwell, Jim Boxwell, Patty Craig, Stan Fuller, John Horton, Bruck Lockhard, Annette Molyneux, Ernest Willoughby (compiler 6 Hartman Drive, Lexington Park 20653) [Southern Maryland Audubon Society]. KENT COUNTY: Rick Blom, Maggie Duncan, John Lorenz, Floyd Parks (compiler 129 Washington Avenue, Chestertown 21620), Jared Parks, Zachary Parks. QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY: Wanda Adams, Gene Amos, Bob & Marion Folker, Mark Grande, Ben Hren, Roland Limpert, Lee McCollough (compiler Rt. 2 Box 537-M, Chester 2 1619), Carol McCollough, Danny Poet, Wilbur Rittenhouse, Lee Shivery, Scott Smith, Glenn Therres [Wye Oak Audubon Society]. CAROLINE COUNTY: Catherine Adams, Debby Bennett, Annabelle Bilbrough, Irene Bil- brough, Chris Dorset, Charles Ellwanger Jr., Jacqueline Ellwanger, Ethel & Wilber Engle, Jerry & Roberta Fletcher, Inez Glime, Mark Grande, Marvin Hewitt, Alicia Knotts, Minnie Miller, Mariana Nuttle, Wilbur Rittenhouse (compiler Rt. 1 Box 13, Queen Anne 21657), Ross Robinson, Isabelle Todd, Michael Todd, Shannon Todd. TALBOT COUNTY: Wayne Bell, Les Coble (compiler 46 High Banks Dr., Easton 21601), Jeff Effinger, Steve Ford, Don Meritt, Jan Reese. DORCHESTER COUNTY: George L. Armistead, Henry T. Armistead (compiler 523 E. Durham Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19119), Charles Perry Jr., Christopher C. Witt. WICOMICO COUNTY: Randi Anderson, Hugh Hanson, Ellen Lawler, Bettie Pitney, Chris & Eddie Slaughter, Dave & Darlene Weesner, Charles Vaughn (compiler 1 306 Frederick Avenue, Salisbury 21801). SOMERSET COUNTY: Randi Anderson, Polly Batchelder, Laura French, Margaret Anne Larson, Sylvia Saloma, Dave Thomdill, Dave & Darlene Weesner, Gail Vaughn [Charles Vaughn: non -participating compiler: see Wicomico County]. WORCESTER COUNTY: Randi Anderson, Fran & Jim Falcon, Mary Humphreys, George Jett, Margie King, Betty Pitney, Allison Turner, Dave & Darlene Weesner, Dick & Jean Woods [Charles Vaughn: non-participating compiler: see Wicomico County]. P.O. Box 71, North Beach, MD 20714 50 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 WINTER, December 1, 1989-February 28, 1990 Robert F. Ringler Weather extremes dominated the winter season: Exceptional cold blasted through the state in December; then, remarkably warm weather ushered in the new year and continued through the period. Little snow fell and most of that was in December. Most of Chesapeake Bay froze over solid before the end of December, concentrating waterfowl in available open water. Nevertheless, most species of ducks returned earlier than usual by taking advantage of the rapid dissipation of the ice in January when the temperature soared well above normal. Christmas Bird Counts were carried out in severe conditions but some landbirds were concen- trated along roadways making counting easy. Midwinter bird counts continue to add to our knowledge of avian distribution. Experimental counts were done in Worcester, Somerset, and Kent Counties in addition to those previously established. It is hoped that other counties can be added in the near future. The exotic bird of the season was a Rhea seen by Reese in a field near Neavitt on January 24. The bird was roaming freely from the collection of a local bird fancier. Abbreviations: The Bay - Chesapeake Bay, CBC - Christmas Bird Count, DC - District of Columbia, NWR - National Wildlife Refuge, PNAS - Patuxent River Naval Air Station, PWRC - Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, SP - State Park, UMCF - University of Maryland Central Farm, WMA - Wildlife Management Area. Locations (county in parentheses): Alpha Ridge Landfill (Howard), Assateague Island (Worcester), Back River (Baltimore), Bellevue (Talbot), Beulah (Dor- chester), Black HUl Reservoir (Montgomery), Blackwater NWR (Dorchester), Bradenbaugh (Harford), Bray Hill (Garrett), Brighton Dam (Howard/Mont- gomery), Broadford Reservoir (Garrett), Bush wood Wharf (St. Mary’s), Centennial Lake (Howard), Conowingo Dam (Harford unless noted otherwise), Deal Island WMA (Somerset), Deep Creek Lake (Garrett), Eastern Landfill (Baltimore), East Potomac Park (DC), Elk Neck SP (Cecil), Elms WMA (St. Mary’s), Fort McHenry (Baltimore City), Georgetown Reservoir (DC), Greenbury Point (Anne Arundel), Green Ridge State Forest (Allegany), Herrington Manor SP (Garrett), Hodges Bar (Kent), Hooper Island (Dorchester), Hughes Hollow (Montgomery), Huntingfield (Kent), Irish Grove Sanctuary (Somerset), Jug Bay (Anne Arundel), Lake Elkhorn (Howard), Lake Kittamaqundi (Howard), Langmaid Road (Worcester), Loch Raven (Baltimore), Love Point (Queen Anne’s), Mason Landing (Worcester), Masonville (Baltimore City), Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary (Prince George’s), New Design Road (Frederick), Piney Run Park (Carroll), PNAS (St. Mary’s), PWRC (Prince George’s), Remington Farms WMA (Kent), Rocky Gap SP (Allegany), Rodo Beach (St. Mary’s), Sandy Point SP (Anne Arundel), Schooley Mill Park (Howard), Susquehanna SP (Harford), Swan Point (Kent), Sycamore Landing (Montgomery), Triadelphia Reservoir (Howard unless noted otherwise), Trout Run Sewage Treatment Plant (Garrett), UMCF (Howard), Violet’s Lock (Montgomery). June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 51 Observers: Roger Anderson, Henry Armistead, Scott Atkinson, Dan Audet, Polly Batchelder, Chris Beaton, John Bjerke, Rick Blom, Larry Bonham, Bob & Jim Boxwell, Dave Brinker, Carol & Don Broderick, Martha Chestem, David Czaplak, Lynn Davidson, Sam Droege (reporting for PWRC), Les Eastman, Ethel Engle, Jane Farrell, Jerry & Roberta Fletcher (reporting for Caroline Co.), Harold Fogleman, Cora Fulton, Geri Garvin, Carol Ghebelian, Jim & Patricia Gruber, Doug Hackman, Wilbur Hershberger, Marvin Hewitt, Robert Hilton, Marshall Uiff, Kye Jenkins, George Jett, Ray Kiddy, Dennis Kirkwood, Ellen Lawler, Nancy Magnusson, Kathy Mariano, Carol & Lee McCullough, Stauffer Miller, Dotty Mumford, Mariana Nuttle, Holly Obrecht, Michael & Paul O’Brien, Betty Pitney (reporting for Wicomico Bird Club), Fran Pope, Nick Powell, Kyle Rambo, Jan Reese, David Reinhold, Sue Ricciardi, Gene Scarpulla, William Scudder, Steve Simon, Teresa Simons, Connie Skipper, Chris & Eddie Slaughter, Jo Solem (reporting for Howard Co.), Jared Sparks, Eleanor Standaert, Jim Stasz, Chris Swarth, Charles Swift, Hank Taliaferro, Mary Twigg, Charles Vaughn, Dave Walbeck, Robert Warfield, Pete Webb (reporting for Baltimore Bird Club field trips), Hal Wierenga, Jim Wilkinson. Loons, Grebes. The only Red-throated Loons reported on the Bay after the CBCs were 2 at Point Lookout on Feb. 1 1 (J. Boxwell) and 1 at Sandy Point on Feb. 17 (Karen Skuldt +). Common Loons, always scarce during midwinter, were seen in the Bay region as follows: 3 at Point Lookout on Jan. 27 ( J. Boxwell), 3 at Swan Point on Jan. 30 and 7 on Feb. 8 (Grubers), 1 at PNAS on Feb. 14 (Reinhold), and 1 in Baltimore Harbor on Feb. 25 (Webb +). We know little of the movements of loons in these months. Horned Grebes staged in large flocks unusually early as a result of the rapid thaw. Largest concentrations were 35 off Rock Point on Jan. 22-27 (Jett), 60 at Huntingfield and 80 at Hodges Bar on Jan. 30 (Grubers), 15 at Greenberry Point on Feb. 3 (Iliff +), 250 at Swan Point on Feb. 1 5 and 250 at Hodges Bar on Feb. 19 (Grubers), 45 at PNAS on Feb. 21 (Reinhold), and 150 at Huntingfield on Feb, 21 (Grubers). Inland, Horned Grebes appeared equally early with 2 at Brighton Dam on Jan. 31 (Chestem), 1 at Rocky Gap on Feb. 5 and 5 there on the 26th (Twigg), 1 at Loch Raven on Feb. 7 (Simon), and 1 on Broadford Reservoir on Feb. 8 (Pope). Single Red-necked Grebes were on Back River on Jan. 14 (Ricciardi, Mumford +), at Annapolis on Feb. 9 (Iliff), and at Hodges Bar on Feb. 19 (Grubers). The Eared Grebe reported in the fall at Sandy Point remained through Dec. 13 (A1 Haury +). Gannets, Pelican, Cormorants. The Worcester midwinter count tallied 86 Northern Gannets offshore on Jan. 27. A remarkable sighting of a Brown Pelican at The Elms WMA was made on Dec. 30 (Brad Dorf). Great Cormorants included 2 at Sandy Point on Dec. 2 (Anderson), 4 immatures at Ocean City on Dec. 27 (Ringler), 3 immatures at Hooper Island on Dec. 27 (M. O’Brien) and at least 1 through Jan. 28 (Armistead, Sparks), 1 at Cambridge on Jan. 15 (Czaplak), and 4 at Point Lookout on Jan. 27 ( J. Boxwell). Double-crested Cormorants again remained late into the season, and some birds moved back into this area after the January thaw. This year’s reports included 1 at Conowingo through Dec. 3 (Swift, Scarpulla), an immature in DC on Dec. 30 (Czaplak), 15 at Rock Point on Jan. 22 (Jeff), 2 adults at Crisfield (Ringler) and 4 near Deal Island (Blom) on Jan. 28, 1 in Baltimore on Feb. 1 (Wilkinson) and 4 in Baltimore harbor on Feb. 25 (Walbeck +), 22 in Charles County on Feb. 8 (Ghebelian), 1 at Tolchester on Feb. 7 (Garvin, Powell), and 12 at Point Lookout on Feb. 17 (Jett). Herons. Most heron species were frozen out for the winter. American Bitterns were almost unreported after the CBCs with the most remarkable exception being 1 at Dorsey Hall in Howard County on Feb. 18-19 (Bonnie Ott, Dawn Parker +). Typical wintering flocks of Great Blue Herons included 100 at Conowingo on Dec. 52 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 10-16 (Eastman) and 19 in DC on Jan. 20 (Czaplak); possible spring migrants were a flock of 5 flying north at St. Michaels on Feb. 9 (Reese) and 25 near the Federalsburg colony on Feb. 13 (Inez Glime). A remarkably hardy Tricolored Heron was found at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 27 (Vaughn +) and Feb. 3 (Davidson, Wierenga). Wintering Black-crowned Night-Herons numbered 17 at Conowingo on Dec. 2 (Ringler) and 12 there on Jan. 13 (Swift), 7 at Masonville on Jan. 20 (Walbeck), 2 adults at West Ocean City on Jan. 27 (Ringler), and 63 in the roost at Deal Island WMA on Feb. 3 (Davidson, Wierenga). Exotic Waterfowl In this group we have a Black Swan at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 28 (Blom), the Falcated Teal that returned to Piney Run on Jan. 5-21 (Hackman), and 4 Red-crested Pochards that remained on Deep Creek Lake through Dec. 14 when the lake froze (Skipper). Sioans. The last fall migrant Tundra Swans reported were 2 flying southeast at Spring Gap on Dec. 24 (Kiddy). The January thaw brought some movement of swans with reports of 78 at Rising Sun on the 28th (Fogleman), 108 off Bushwood Wharf on the 29th (B. Box well), and 21 along New Design Road on the 29th (Hershberger). The 750 near Rock Point on Feb. 10 (Jett) may have been preparing for migration, and the 400 flying north up the Bay on Feb. 21 and 500 flying north over Chestertown the next day (Grubers) were on their way. Mute Swans are showing definite signs of spreading, particularly on the Western Shore. Interesting reports were of 4 at Denton on Dec. 16 (Nuttle), 1 adult in DC on Dec. 30-31 (Czaplak), 17 in eastern Baltimore County on Jan. 7 (Webb), 2 at Dowell in Calvert County on Jan. 1 1 (Walbeck), 2 at North Beach on Jan. 13 (Stasz, Ringler), 14 in Chincoteague Bay on Jan. 27 (Blom), 2 at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 28 (Blom), 5 at St. George Island on Feb. 19 (P. O’Brien), 2 on Goose Creek at PNAS on Feb. 25-28 (Reinhold), and 2 at Rodo Beach all season (J. Boxwell). This species’ new stronghold remains Hooper Island, where Armistead and Sparks estimated 260 on Jan. 28. Geese. Greater White-fronted Geese were widely reported with 1 at Gaithersburg through Jan. 2 1 (Scott Cohen, Czaplak), 1 near Madonna from Dec. 2 1 through Feb. 1 8 (Kirkwood), 1 at Blackwater on Dec. 23-Jan. 1 2 (Czaplak + ) and 6 there on Jan. 9 (Bev Leeuwenburg), 5 on Chancellor Point Road in Talbot County on Jan. 10 (Jeff Chynoweth), and 1 in Kent County on Feb. 10 (Grubers). Inland Snow Geese were a blue at Fulton from Dec. 3 through the winter (Magnusson + ), 1 at Frederick on Dec. 10 (Miller), 1 adult at Madonna on Jan. 10 (Kirkwood), and an impressive 750, including 2 blues, at Rising Sun on Feb. 17 and later (Fogleman). Large flocks of Snows were 7000, including 4 blues, at Greensboro on Jan. 2 (Fletchers), 22,000, including 150 blues at Hope on Jan. 10 (Grubers), Blackwater highs of 1 100 white Snows on Jan. 28 and 750 blues on Feb. 25 (Armistead +), and 25,000 at Ruthsburg on Feb. 20 (Grubers). Also notable were 6 Snows at PNAS on Dec. 28 (Reinhold), 5 at Dameron on Jan. 13 (J. Boxwell), and a blue at Merkle on Feb. 11 (Webb +). The Ross* Goose that was found at Blackwater during the fall remained through Feb. 19 ( many observers). Brant along the Chesapeake Bay shore were 3 at Sandy Point on Dec. 2 (Anderson), 5 at Point Lookout on Dec. 26 (J. Boxwell), 1 at Blackwater on Jan. 18-28 (Dave Carr +), and 4 at Hooper Island on Jan. 28 (Armistead, Sparks). Wintering concentrations of Canada Geese included 2000 at Jug Bay on Dec. 28 (Swarth), 750 at Piney Run on Jan. 15 (Ringler), 1800 at Loch Raven on Jan. 17 (Simon), 341 atPWRCon Jan. 18(Obrecht) and 1700 offBushwood Wharf on Feb. 6 (B. Boxwell). Early migrants included 100 at Rocky Gap on Feb* 15 (Twigg) and 2000 flying north over Chestertown on Feb. 22 (Grubers). June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDUFE 53 Puddle Ducks , The early thaw induced Wood Ducks to return to the state earlier than usual. Some of the February sightings of Woodies were 2 at Jug Bay on the 3rd (Swarth), 2 at Greenbury Point on the 3rd (Iliff +), 2 at Loch Raven on the 9th (Simon), 4 at PWRC on the 9th (Obrecht), 1 at Pinto Marsh on the 9th (Simons), and 20 at Jug Bay on the 16th (Mumford, Beaton). Similarly, Green-winged Teal appeared in February with 2 at PWRC on the 9th (Obrecht), 2 on Deep Creek Lake on the 10th (Pope), and 100 at Jug Bay on the 16th (Mumford, Beaton). High counts of American Black Ducks for the season were 200 at Susquehanna SP on Jan. 14 (Eastman), 350 at Piney Run on Jan. 5-15 (Hackman, Ringler), 300 at Jug Bay on Feb. 6-16 (Mumford +), and 123 at Hodges Bar on Feb. 19 (Grubers). Highs for Mallards were 325 at Deep Creek Lake on Dec. 14 before the lake froze (Skipper), 800 in a marsh along the Wicomico River near Pemberton Park in Salisbury on Jan. 10 (Lawler), 700 at Loch Raven on Jan. 10 (Jenkins), and 600 at Piney Run on Jan. 15 (Ringler). Numbers of Northern Pintail increased from 45 at Blackwater on Jan. 28 to 780 there on Feb. 25 ( Armistead +) and at Remington Farms from 7 on Feb. 3 to 1 23 on Feb. 17 (Grubers) while 2 reached Herrington Manor on Feb. 8 (Pope) and 44 were in DC on Feb. 10 (Czaplak). Unseasonal Blue-winged Teal were 4 at PNAS on Jan. 3 and 2 there on Feb. 7 (Reinhold), 4 at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 20 (Batchelder, Pitney), and 1 drake at West Ocean City on Feb. 18 (Mumford +). Highs for Gadwall were 44 in DC on Dec. 30 (Czaplak) and 80 at Piscataway on Feb. 18 (Ghebelian, Fulton). American Wigeon numbered 138 at Loch Raven on Dec. 10 (Simon), 800 at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 28 (Blom), and 38 at Rodo Beach on Feb. 24 (J. Boxwell). Aythya Ducks. High counts of Canvasbacks were 3000 on Back River and 500 at Fort Howard on Jan .20 (Ringler), 800 at West Ocean City on Jan. 27 (Ringler), 1500 in the Bozman-Neavitt area on Jan. 27 (Reese), 750 at Hooper Island on Jan. 28 (Armsitead, Sparks), 300 at Tolchester on Feb. 2 (Powell), 854 off Bushwood Wharf on Feb. 18 (B. Boxwell), and 420 at Cambridge on Feb. 19 (Czaplak); 1 had reached Broadford Reservoir on Jan. 30 (Pope) and 14 were at Lake Elkhorn on Feb. 24 (Mariano). Once again Redheads were scarce with 1 at Cambridge on Dec. 25 (Czaplak), 2 females at Arundel-on-the-Bay on Dec. 31 (Ringler), 1 female at Sandy Point on Jan. 1 (Davidson, Wierenga), 4 at West Ocean City on Jan. 2 (Slaughters), an impressive 23 at Loch Raven on Jan. 27 (Simon), 2 at Deal Island on Jan. 28 (Blom), 3 at Greenbury Point on Feb. 3 (Mumford), 1 female banded at PNAS on Feb. 6-10 (Rambo, Reinhold), and 1 at Black Hill Reservoir on Feb. 24 (P. O’Brien). On Dec. 13, before the freeze, there were 92 Ring-necked Ducks at Loch Raven (Simon) and 120 at Salisbury (Lawler). After the thaw high counts of Ring-necks were 200 at Black Hill Reservoir on Jan. 21 (P. O’Brien), 328 at PWRC on Feb. 16 (Obrecht), and 200 at Denton on Feb. 28 (Hewitt). Rare but regular on the Potomac in small numbers, Greater Scaup totaled 6 in DC on Dec. 2 and Dec. 30 (Czaplak) and 7 at Sycamore Landing on Jan. 18 (Bonham). At this species’ usual concentation points in the northern part of the Bay there were 1000 Greaters at Swan Point on Dec. 6 with 2500 Lesser Scaup and 5000 at Hodges Bar on Feb. 19 with 15,000 Lessers (Grubers). Eiders, Harlequin Ducks, Oldsquaws. A Common Eider was First reported at Ocean City on Dec. 27 (M. O’Brien) and was seen intermittently through Feb. 25. Two King Eiders were at Ocean City on Dec. 27 (Ringler), 6 on Jan. 1 (Reese), and 1 remained through Feb. 18. It was an unusual season for Harlequin Ducks with 3 in the Bay region: a female, at North Beach on Dec. 10-1 7 (Stasz +), followed by a male at PNAS from Dec. 25 through Feb. 14 (Rambo, Reinhold), and a female at Conowingo from Dec. 29 through Jan. 3 (Webb + ); the latter bird also was seen downriver at Lapidum on Jan. 1 (Eastman, Fogleman). At Ocean City there were 6 Harlequins on Feb. 18 54 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 (P. O’Brien) and 1 remained on Feb. 22 (Bonham). Inland reports of Oldsquaws this winter were 9 on Deep Creek Lake on Dec. 9 (Pope), 2 at Conowingo from Dec. 28 through Jan. 2 (Kirkwood +), 19 in DC on Jan. 6 (Czaplak), 3 on Lake Kittamaqundi on Jan. 28 (Chestem) and up to 2 at Rocky Gap, Feb. 5-17 (Simons + ). Local high counts of Oldsquaws around the Bay were 1500 at Swan Point on Dec. 6 and 2500 from Swan Point to Love Point on Feb. 1 (Grubers) and 343 at PNAS on Feb. 21 (Reinhold). Scoters , Goldeneyes, Bvffleheads, The only Black Scoters reported were 2 in DC, where rare, with 1 Surf Scoter on Dec. 5 (Czaplak), 300 at PNAS on Jan. 3 (Reinhold), and 250 at Hooper Island on Jan. 28 ( Armistead, Sparks). Highs for Surf Scoters were 120 at PNAS on Jan. 17 (Reinhold), 75 near Bellevue on Jan, 27 and 450 at Hooper Island on Jan. 28 (Armistead, Sparks), and 2700 off Deal Island on Jan. 28 (Blom). White-winged Scoters numbered 37 at PNAS on Jan. 3 (Reinhold) and 35 at Hooper Island on Jan. 28 (Armistead, Sparks). Highs for Common Goldeneyes before the freeze and after the thaw were 2000 at Hodges Bar on both Dec. 5 and Jan. 30 (Grubers) and 4000 estimated there on Feb. 7 by Garvin and Powell. There were 200 goldeneyes at Susquehanna SP on Jan. 14 (Eastman) as birds occupied open water on the rivers, and 5 that made it to Oakland on Jan. 30 (Pope). Buffleheads also returned early, with 1000 at Hodges Bar on Jan. 30 (Grubers) being the highest concentration. Mergansers. High counts of Hooded Mergansers were 44 at Loch Raven on Dec. 13 (Simon), 68 at Oxon Hill on Dec. 16 (Bjerke), 16 at PNAS on Jan. 3 (Reinhold), 30 at Deal Island WMA on Feb. 3 (Davidson, Wierenga), and 32 at PWRC on Feb. 9 (Obrecht). Conowingo is still the fall concentration point for Common Mergansers as 5000 were estimated to be there on Dec. 10-16 (Eastman). Eastern Shore sightings of Common Mergansers included 1 at Royal Oak on Dec. 17 (Steve Ford), 5 in Ayers Creek near Berlin on Dec. 29 (Ringler), 50 in Fairlee Creek on Jan. 21 (Garvin), and 50 in Worton Creek on Feb. 7 (Garvin, Powell). Other high counts of Common Mergs were 88 in DC on Dec. 30 (Czaplak), 130 at Jug Bay on Jan. 18 (Swarth, Audet), and 205 at Loch Raven on Feb. 2 (Simon). Red-breasted Mergansers moved much earlier than usual with a high of 275 near Bellevue on Jan. 27 (Armistead, Sparks) and an inland high of 29 on Lake Elkhorn on Feb. 28 (Mariano). Vultures, Ospreys, Bald Eagles. Very rare during this season in Western Maryland was a Black Vulture at Spring Gap on Dec. 16 (Kiddy); the high count for the season was at the Alpha Ridge Landfill-110 on Feb, 16 (Atkinson). Turkey Vultures also appeared in the west this winter with single birds in Allegany County at North Branch on Feb. 6 (Twigg) and Pinto Marsh on Feb, 18 (Simons); 10 were counted on the Garrett County midwinter count on Feb. 10. The high count of Turkey Vultures for the season was 170 at Tanyard on Dec. 10 (Engle). Sightings of single Ospreys followed the early thaw at Conowingo on Jan. 27 (Bill Pfingsten), Point Lookout on Feb. 7 (Craig), on the Wicomico River in Wicomico County on Feb. 16 (Brodericks), and at Denton on Feb. 24 (Short). The annual Bald Eagle survey by the Department of Natural Resources counted 81 birds at Blackwater on Jan. 12 and 178 birds at Aberdeen Proving Ground on Jan. 14 (Therres). Western Maryland sightings of Bald Eagles were 1 at Rocky Gap on Jan. 22 (Twigg), 2 adults at Deep Creek Lake on Feb. 2 and 1 on Feb. 28 (fide Pope), 5 at Triadelphia on Feb. 18 (Gerald Elgert), and 1 at Green Ridge on Feb. 19 (Kiddy, Simons). Buteos, Golden Eagles. Sightings of Rough-legged Hawks included a light phase bird at St. Michaels on Dec. 1 (Reese), 1 at Conowingo on Dec. 16 (Eastman), a dark phase bird at Trout Run on Dec. 17 (Pope), a light phase at Spring Gap and a dark June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDUFE 55 phase at North Branch on Jan. 1 (Kiddy), a light phase near Deep Creek Lake on Jan. 6 (Pope), a light phase at Stump Point Marsh, Wicomico County on Jan. 26 (Ringler, Blom), 1 at Great Monie Creek, Mt. Vernon on Jan. 26 (Batchelder), 18 at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 28 (Blom), and 3 light phase in Garrett County for the midwinter count, including 1 at Hammel Glade through March 4 (Skipper). Reports of Golden Eagles were an immature at Blackwater from Dec. 2 (Slaughters) through the winter with 2 near adults seen in Jan. 6 (Wierenga, Davidson), a subadult at Point Lookout on Feb. 17 (Jett), and an adult near Bellevue on Feb. 24 (Armistead +). Falcons. Pope observed a pair of American Kestrels copulating in Garrett County on the early date of Feb. 23. There were few substantiated reports of Merlins this winter with an adult male in DC from Dec. 2 through Jan. 6 (Czaplak +), 1 on Assateague on Jan. 20 (Iliff), and 1 at Point Lookout on Feb. 17 (Jett). Peregrine Falcon reports included an immature at Conowingo on Dec. 2 (Eastman), 1 north of Knapps Narrows (Reese) and 1 near St. Michaels (McCulloughs) on Dec. 17 which could have been the same bird, 1 south of Snow Hill on Jan. 13 (Vaughn +), and 1 at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 28 (Blom). Gallinaceous Birds, Rails, Coots, Cranes. The Chukar that Fogleman saw at Rising Sun on Feb. 27 was certainly an escaped bird. Ring-necked Pheasants found on the Coastal Plain were a pair at Mason Landing on Dec. 28 (M. O’Brien) and a hen at PWRC on Jan. 6 (Don Clark). Wild Turkeys are continuing their gains of recent years as introductions become established in various parts of the state. This winter’s interesting sightings were 24 at Rocky Gap on Dec. 12 (Twigg), 14 at Susquehanna SP on Dec. 1 7 (Eastman), a flock of about 30 near Sharpsburg on Dec. 23 (Ringler), 50 at Pinto Marsh on Jan. 14 (Simons), 1 at Elk Neck SP on Jan. 21 (Fogleman), 8 at Federalsburg on Feb. 13 (C. Schmick), 2 west of Vienna on Feb. 22 (Bonham), and 17 near Turkey Neck, Garrett County with a gobbler displaying on Feb. 23 (Pope). A King Rail was seen at Irish Grove on Jan. 28 (Stasz). The high counts of American Coots at Loch Raven were 400 on Dec. 2 before the freeze and 285 on Feb. 24 after the thaw (Simon). The Sandhill Crane at Poolesville remained through another winter (many observers). Danny Bystrak heard a Sandhill Crane flying near Jug Bay on Jan. 20 and this was perhaps the bird seen not far away at Merkle from Jan. 27 through Feb. 11 (Carol Beyne +). Shorebirds. An American Oystercatcher photographed at Tanner Creek on Dec. 28 ( J. Boxwell, Craig) was the first for St. Mary’s County. Also rare in winter in the Bay was an oystercatcher at Hooper Island on Jan. 28 (Armistead, Sparks). Oystercatchers, which began wintering in Maryland about 15 years ago, numbered 55 at Ocan City on Jan. 27 (Ringler). Winter reports of Greater Yellowlegs were more numerous than usual with 2 at Tanyard on Dec. 12-13 (Engle), 1 in South Baltimore on Dec. 19 (Walbeck), 12 in Somerset County on the midwinter count, 8 at Deal Island WMA on Feb. 3 (Davidson, Wierenga), 1 at Blackwater on Feb. 19 (Iliff) and 38 there on Feb. 25 (Armistead +), and 3 at Fort McHenry on Feb. 25 (Walbeck). There were fewer Lesser Yellowlegs, with 1 near St. Michaels on Dec. 1 7 (McCulloughs) and, on Jan. 28, 4 at Crisfield (Ringler) and 1 at Deal Island WMA (Blom). Rare in winter, 2 Willets were recorded on the Ocean City CBC oh Dec. 28. An exceptionally late Spotted Sandpiper was at Loch Raven on Dec. 2 (Simon +). There were 2 Red Knots at Ocean City on Dec. 27 with at least 1 remaining through Feb. 25 (Ringler +), and another 2 were seen on Assateague on Dec. 29 (M. O’Brien). Sanderllngs at Chesapeake Bay locations were 5 at PNAS on Dec. 29-30 (Rambo), 22 at Point Lookout on Jan. 21 (J. Boxwell), 8 at Cambridge on Feb. 19 (Czaplak), and 5 at Hooper Island on Feb. 25 (Armistead +). The Ocean City CBC also recorded 7 Western Sandpipers on Dec. 28. Rare but almost annual in the Bay were 3 Purple 56 MARYLAND BIRDUFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Sandpipers at Point Lookout on Dec. 30 (J. Boxwell, Craig). The winter high for Dunlins was 300 at Hooper Island on Jan. 28 ( Armistead, Sparks); the only other non-coastal report was of 9 at Deal Island WMA on Feb. 3 (Davidson, Wierenga). A Common Snipe was seen near Lilypons on Jan. 13 (Wilkinson +). American Woodcocks in Western Maryland, where very rare in winter, were single birds at North Branch on Jan. 28 (Simons) and near Gorman on Feb. 10 (Danny Bystrak). Other reports included 7 at St. Michaels on Dec. 26 (Reese), 1 at PNAS and 1 in Hollywood on Feb. 12 (Rambo), and 8 at Piney Neck, Kent County on Feb. 16 (Grubers). Dark headed, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. The 6 Laughing Gulls at PWRC on Dec. 8 (Obrecht) were late inland. Also unusual were 9 Bonaparte’s Gulls at Susque- hanna SP on Jan. 12 (Eastman). High counts of Ring-billed Gulls for the season were 3000 at Conowingo on Dec. 10 (Eastman), 1300 at Piney Run on Jan. 15 (Ringler), 6700 in DC on Jan. 20 (Czaplak), 1200 at Petersburg, Carroll County on Jan. 21 (Ringler), 5000 near Cambridge on Jan. 26 (Blom, Ringler), 2500 near Easton on Jan. 26 plus 1500 in the Bozman-Neavitt area on Jan. 27 and 1500 at St. Michaels on Feb. 1 (Reese), 2500 at Still Pond, Kent County on Feb. 2 (Grubers), 2000 at the Eastern Landfill on Feb. 8 (Scarpulla), 2000 near Rock Point on Feb. 10 (Jett), and 15,000 in fields from Chestertown to Rock Hall on Feb. 23 (Grubers). Rare in Western Maryland were single Herring Gulls on Deep Creek Lake on Dec. 1 0 (Pope) and at Rocky Gap on Feb. 16 (Twigg). Local high counts of Herring Gulls were 1740 in DC on Dec. 30 (Czaplak), 500 at Piney Run on Jan. 15 (Ringler), and 800 near Ruthsburg on Jan. 24 (Grubers). The most exciting gull find of the winter was a Herring Gull of a yellow-legged type at Georgetown Reservoir, Feb. 4-6 (Czaplak +). White-winged Gulls. A first-winter Thayer’s Gull was observed at Alpha Ridge Landfill on Feb. 24 (Blom +). Sightings of Iceland Gulls were a first-winter bird at the Beulah Landfill between Preston and Hurlock on Dec. 27 (Ringler), 1 at Berlin on Dec. 28 (Blom), 3 of various ages in DC on different dates from Dec. 30 through Feb. 11 (Czaplak +), a first-winter bird at Sandy Point on Jan. 1 (Davidson, Wierenga), an immature at Salisbury on Feb. 2 (Standaert), and an immature at Alpha Ridge on Feb. 1 9 (Magnusson + ). Reports of Glaucous Gulls were single birds at Showell on Dec. 28-29 (Mumford + ), 1 on Druid Lake, Baltimore on Jan. 1 5 (Peggy Bohanan +), Blackwater on Jan. 18 (Dave Carr), Eastern Landfill on Jan. 27 and Feb. 8 (Scarpulla), Choptank on Feb. 8 and 15 (Steve Ford), Brighton Dam on Feb. 1 1 and 18 (Magnusson +), and Alpha Ridge on Feb. 24 (Blom +). All were first- winter birds. Black-bached Gulls i, Terns. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were widespread again with 1 at Sandy Point on Dec. 2 (Anderson), at least 2 adults at Triadelphia from Dec. 2 through Feb. 18 (Magnusson +), 1 at Rugby Hall on Dec. 7 (Taliaferro), an adult at Conowingo on Dec. 10 (Scarpulla +), 1 at Berlin on Dec. 28 (Blom), 2 adults and 2 first-winter birds in DC on Jan. 20 (Czaplak), an adult at the Eastern Landfill on Jan. 27 (Scarpulla), a near-adult at Salisbury on Feb. 2 (Standaert, Slaughters), a near-adult at Liberty Reservoir, Carroll County on Feb. 5 (Ringler), 1 at UMCF on Feb. 10 (Atkinson), an adult at Georgetown Reservoir on Feb. 1 1 (Iliff), 1 at Jug Bay on Feb. 15 (Droege, Audet), and 2 adults at Alpha Ridge on Feb. 19 (Magnusson +) and Feb. 24 (Blom +). The only Forster’s Terns seen this winter were 1 off Assateague on Dec. 28 (Iliff, Taliaferro) and 1 at Ocean City on Jan. 27 (M. O’Brien). Owls, Woodpeckers. The only Bam Owl reports were of 1 found dead at Deal Island WMA on Feb. 3 (Davidson, Wierenga) and 1 at Federalsburg on Feb. 14 and 20 (R. Robinson). Reports of Short-eared Owls Were of 5 at Greensboro on Dec. 17 June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 57 (Fletchers), 1 at Jug Bay on Dec. 25 (Swarth), 1 at Assateague on Dec. 29 (M. O’Brien) and Jan. 19 (Iliff), and 3 at Deal Island WMA on Jan. 28 (Blom). Northern Saw-whet Owls were 1 found dead near Brooklandville, Baltimore County on Jan. 1 1 (Barbara Ross), 1 heard near Queen Anne, Queen Anne’s County on Jan. 1 1 (Wilbur Rittenhouse) and 1 through the end of the season at Hughes Hollow (many observers). A Red-headed Woodpecker seen south of Oakland in Garrett County on Dec. 17 remained through the winter (Pope +). There were very few sightings of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers after the CBCs. The report of a Red-cockaded Wood- pecker near Brandywine on Dec. 22 (Millie Kriemelmeyer) is being reviewed by the Records Committee. Flycatchers, Larks. Eastern Phoebes did well this winter with the following January reports: 1 on the C&O Canal opposite Shepherdstown on the 20th (Hershberger), 1 at North Branch on the 20th to the 30th (Kiddy +), 1 at Salisbury on the 25th (Lawler), 2 at Spring Gap on the 28th (Kiddy), and 3 on Langmaid Road on the 28th (M. O’Brien). February phoebes included 1 at Annapolis on the 1st (Iliff), 1 at Corrigan- ville on the 4th (Ringler +), 1 at Centennial Park on the 11th (Bonnie Ott), 1 at Bayard, Anne Arundel County on Feb. 14 (Walbeck), 1 at Greensboro on Feb. 21-24 (Scudder), and 2 at Jug Bay on Feb. 23 (Mumford, Beaton). Some of the later birds may have been early spring migrants rather than true wintering birds. Highs for Horned Larks were 300 at New Design Road on Dec. 2 (Scarpulla), 92 at Havens Peninsula, Deep Creek Lake on Dec. 18 (Skipper), and 100 at Bradenbaugh through the winter (Kirkwood). Crows, Chickadees. The big roost of American Crows at Hagerstown was estimated at 70,000 on Dec. 23 (Ringler). Blom estimated 22,000 Fish Crows flying over Deal Island WMA heading for a nearby roost on Jan. 28. No Black-capped Chickadees were reported out of range. Nuthatches, Wrens. The best report for Red-breasted Nuthatches was of 40 at Claiborne on Dec. 17 (Effinger). Carolina Wrens survived the worst of the winter in good shape with the 11 found on the Garrett County midwinter count on Feb. 10 being evidence of this species’ strong comeback in the mountains also. There were 4 House Wrens found on the Somerset County midwinter count on Jan. 28. The only Sedge Wrens reported were 2 at Irish Grove on Jan. 28 (Stasz). The only Marsh Wrens after the CBCs were 1 on Langmaid Road on Jan. 28 (M. O’Brien) and 1 at Jug Bay on Feb. 15 (Droege, Audet). Thrushes, Mimids. There were few notable counts of Eastern Bluebirds with the highest being 27 at Great Monie Creek, Mt. Vernon on Jan. 26 (Batchelder) and 30 at Denton on Jan. 29 (L. T. Short). American Robins were plentiful this season and some of the biggest flocks were 200 at Sandy Pines, Wicomico County on Jan. 19 (Grubers), 300 near Bush, Harford County on Jan. 27 (Kirkwood), 75 at Elk Neck SP on Jan. 27 (Fogleman), and 200 at Flintstone on Feb. 3 (Ringler, Karen Skuldt). Rare for Garrett County in winter was a robin at Mountain Lake Park on Jan. 23 (Pope). Lingering Gray Catbirds in the Piedmont were 1 at Piney Run on Jan. 14 (Mark Lipnick), 1 in northeastern Baltimore County on Jan. 20 (Swift), and 1 at Elk Neck SP on Jan. 27 (Fogleman). Rare in the highlands of Garrett County was a Northern Mockingbird at Oakland on Feb. 10 (Sheila Hughes). Wintering Brown Thrashers in the Piedmont were 1 at Granite on Jan. 27 (Wilkinson) and 1 at Wilde Lake on Jan. 31 (Helen Zeichner). Waxwings, Shrikes. Cedar Waxwings were scarce in most areas with the high counts for the season being 150 at Schooley Mill Park on Jan. 6 (Magnusson, Solem), 100 at Port Deposit on Jan. 13 (Swift), and 200 at Annapolis on Jan. 28 (Iliff). The 58 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 only Loggerhead Shrikes this season were the resident bird at Lilypons through the season (many observers) and 1 near Sharpsburg on Feb. 3 (Hershberger). Warblers, Cardinaline Finches. Single Orange-crowned Warblers were found on Assateague on Dec. 28 (Iliff, Taliaferro) and in Somerset County on Jan. 28 (Bob Dixon). A Yellow-rumped Warbler in Garrett County on Feb. 19 ( J. R. Farrar) was extraordinary there. Wintering Pine Warblers included 1 at Fruitland from Dec. 20 through the period (Slaughters), 1 at Parsonsburg on Jan. 13 (Pitney), and 4 in the Bozman-Neavitt area on Jan. 27 (Reese). Pine Warblers jumped into spring exceptionally early this year as 1 was singing at Loch Raven on Feb. 19 (Jenkins, Simon), 1 was on Green Ridge on the same date (Simons), and a male was at Waldorf on Feb. 24 (Jett). Wintering Palm Warblers were seen on Jan. 28 with 1 at Langmaid Road (M. O’Brien) and a western palm in Somerset County near Pocomoke City (Ringler). Common Yellowthroats were reported less than usual with a late migrant at Schooley Mill Park on Dec. 2 (Magnusson, Farrell, Solem), a female on Assateague on Dec. 28 (Ringler), and 1 in Baltimore County on Jan. 6 (Webb). Quite remarkable was the Rose-breasted Grosbeak that appeared at a feeder in Denton on Dec. 1 2 (Nuttle). The only Dlckclssel was seen in Gaithersburg from Dec. 12 through at least Feb. 24 (Kelsey Swanson +). Sparrows. After years of decline, American Tree Sparrows made a substantial recovery this year. Significant Coastal Plain sightings included 1 at Dameron, Dec. 10-31 (J. Boxwell), 10 at North Beach on Jan. 13 (Stasz, Ringler), and 1 at Deal Island WMA on Feb. 3 (Davidson, Wierenga). High counts of Tree Sparrows were in Baltimore with 50 at Masonville on Dec. 17 (Walbeck +) and 40 in Black Marsh on Jan. 20 (Ringler). Chipping Sparrows were also well represented this season with 2 at PWRC on Dec. 4 (Marshall Howe), 1 in DC on Dec. 16 and Jan. 7 (Czaplak), 6 at Mason Landing on Dec. 29 (Blom, Ringler), an adult at a feeder in Annapolis on Dec. 31 (Ringler), 1 at a feeder in Phoenix on Jan. 10 (Jenkins), 3 at Quaker Neck on Jan. 22 (Parks), 12 in Worcester County on Jan. 28 (P. OBrien), 7 in Somerset County on Jan. 28 (Ricciardi), 12 at Denton on Feb. 10 (Westre), and 2 at Parsonsburg on Feb. 26 (Pitney). A high count of Field Sparrows was 75 at Annapolis on Dec. 1 1 (Iliff), and a singing bird was heard at North Branch on Feb. 23 (Simons) for the first sign of spring migration. Wintering Yesper Sparrows included 2 at Queen Anne on Dec. 22 (Grubers), 1 in Worcester County on Jan. 28 (P. O’Brien), 1 at Loch Raven on Feb. 4 (Joy Wheeler) and 3 in Wicomico County on Feb. 11 (Vaughn). The high for Savannah Sparrows was 20 at West Ocean City on Jan. 27 (Ringler), and an oddity was an albino at Langmaid Road on Jan. 28 (M. OBrien). The only post-CBC Sharp-tailed Sparrows were 1 in Ocean City on Jan. 27 (Ringler) and 5 in Somerset County on the midwinter count. The first migrant Fox Sparrows of the spring were 1 at Indian Head on Feb. 13 (Ghebelian) and 3 at Jug Bay on Feb. 16 (Mumford, Beaton). Rare in winter was a Lincoln’s Sparrow at Mason Landing on Dec. 28 (M. O’Brien). There were 12 White-crowned Sparrows at Rising Sun on Jan. 27 (Fogleman) for the season’s high. Three “Oregon” type Dark-eyed Juncos were reported: 1 banded at Salisbury, Dec. 8-24 (Vaughn +), a pink-sided form at Tolchester Estates on Dec. 17 (J. Gruber), and 1 at a feeder in Bel Air, Allegany County on Dec. 26 (Simons). Longspurs, Snow Buntings. Lapland Longspurs numbered a superb 30 at New Design Road on Dec. 2 (Scarpulla), 4 at Bradenbaugh on Dec. 17-29 (Kirkwood), 3 at Harvey’s Peninsula, Deep Creek Lake on Dec. 18-21 (Skipper+),2 near Ridgely on Dec. 27 (Ringler), 1 near Rehobeth, Somerset County on Dec. 27 (Vaughn, Pitney, Simone Jenion), and 1 on Assateague on Dec. 28 (Wierenga). Snow Buntings appeared at a number of places in December and were concentrated along roads or June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 59 bare spots in fields by the snow cover. There were reports of 1 at Triadelphia, Montgomery County on Dec. 2 (Magnusson), 4 at Sandy Point on Dec. 3 (Taliaferro), 4 at Rocky Gap on Dec. 6-7 (Twigg), 1 on Harvey’s Peninsula, Deep Creek Lake on Dec. 16-21 (Pope +), 200 near Ridgely on Dec. 16 (Ricciardi) and 50 there on Dec. 27 (Ringler), 1 at Bradenbaugh on Dec. 17 (Kirkwood), 300 at Ruthsburg on Jan. 9 (Grubers), 1 at Tavern Creek on Jan. 30 (Grubers), 3 at Ocean City on Feb. 10 (Brinker +), and 1 at Piney Neck, Kent County on Feb. 21 (Grubers). Icterines, The only concentration of Eastern Meadowlarks reported was of 63 birds at Ruthsburg on Feb. 20 (Grubers). An adult male Yellow-headed Blackbird was in Brooklyn on Dec. 17 (Wanda Schoenemann +), and a female was at Rising Sun on Dec. 23 and Jan. 13 (Fogleman). High counts of Rusty Blackbirds were 100 at Pemberton Park, Salisbury on Feb. 2 (Lawler), 200 in Garrett County on Feb. 10 (Skipper), and 30 on Roosevelt Island, DC on Feb. 24 (Hilton). Armistead and Sparks saw a male Boat-tailed Grackle at Hooper Island on Jan. 28 where it is rare in winter. Ringler estimated about 500,000 Common Grackles near Whaleysville on Dec. 29. The only Northern Oriole of the season was photographed at a feeder in Upper Marlboro on Dec. 26 and Jan. 1 (Sandy & Bill Ruxton). Cardueline Finches. An albino House Finch was seen at Waldorf through the end of the period (Jett). A singing male Red Crossbill was on Green Ridge on Feb. 3 and at least 2 birds were seen through the 18th (Ringer +). A male Common Redpoll was seen at a feeder at Bray Hill on Feb. 17 (Skipper) for the only report this season. Pine Siskins were locally plentiful, particularly in the west, though absent in most other areas of the state. Highs for the season were 150 at Mountain Lake Park on Dec. 1 1 and up to 200 on other days through the winter (Pope), 40 at a feeder near Cumberland on Jan. 6 and later (Simons), 46 at another Cumberland feeder on Jan. 13 (Kiddy), 80-100 at Bray Hill on Jan. 26 (Skipper), and 1 229 in Garrett County for the midwinter count. Coastal Plain reports of siskins included 30 at Davidsonville in early to mid January (Phil Davis), 30 at Waldorf on Jan. 21 and Feb. 4 (Jett) and 10 at Salisbury on Jan. 25 (Brodericks). Miller reported that a Europeait Goldfinch with an orange leg band was at a feeder near Urbana throughout the season. Evening Grosbeaks were also more plentiful in the west, with 40 at Bray Hill on Feb. 1 7 (Skipper) being the highest total reported. Other flocks of note were 18 at St. Michaels on Dec. 3 (Orem Gardner), 10-15 at Snydersburg on Dec. 7-8 (Sharon Schwemmer), 12 at Indian Head on Dec. 14 (Ghebelian), 15 near Hampstead on Jan. 6 (Webb), and 12 at Salisbury on Feb. 19 (Brodericks). 6272 Pinyon Pine Court, Eldersburg, MB 21 784 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY June 9, 1990 The annual membership meeting of the Maryland Ornithological Society was held on June 9, 1990, at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. A quorum was present when President John Malcolm called the session to order at 7:48 p.m. Minutes of the last annual meeting were approved as submitted. President Malcolm expressed his appreciation to all who have contributed to the continued success of the Society. He gave particular recognition to the Committee Chairs for the time and effort they have spent in voluntary participation. 60 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Several awards were presented, the foremost being those for VALUED SERVICE, created to be given in appreciation of members who have volunteered countless hours to the Society. The current honors were bestowed upon Mildred Gebhard, Rodney Jones, Lee Meinersmann, Dorothy Mumford, Chandler Robbins and Joy Wheeler. Past recipients of the award were also given recognition. For his able service as conference organizer, Steve Hitchner was given a canvas tote decorated with the conference pin design. The winner of the pin design contest, artist Connie Bockstie of Howard County, received a gift certificate. Outgoing secretary Pat Moore, who is moving to North Carolina, was surprised by a parting gift from the Montgomery County Chapter. Mr. Malcolm commended the efforts of both Silent Auction coordinator Sally Rowe and Raffle organizer Graham Egerton. The auction brought in $777.70. The raffle totaled $717. The high bidders and winners of both were announced. The funds will go toward meeting the Howard County matching grant of $2500 to benefit the Atlas. The totals of the registration donations to the Atlas will be published at a later time. President’s Message . John Malcolm reported that the current membership of MOS is 2,890, up 5% from the previous year. Although there are more members and more dues coming in, the Society is spending more than it is taking in because of Atlas expenses and higher costs of items such as postage. The total registration for the conference is 345, about 100 above the expected attendance. The field trips have been most affected by the overwhelming numbers and every effort has been made to find places for everybody. Mr. Malcolm has appointed Sally Ann Waldschmidt of Montgomery County as Chairperson of the Conference Committee. She will coordinate future conferences. Two committee chairs are yet to be filled: Education and Gifts. During the year there have been bequests to MOS from: Billy Taylor, Allegany Chapter Katherine Slotter, Anne Arundel Chapter John Wanuga, Talbot Chapter MOS has a surplus of 10,000 5 x 8 mailing envelopes, which are available for chapter use. Irish Grove Sanctuary suffered extensive damage from a freak tornado. Snapshots of the aftermath are on display in Hynson Lounge. Vice President Mr. Dolesh gave a progress report on the special MOS license plate. One hundred applications are necessary before the DMV will grant the use of the plates. Eighty have been received thus far. Applications may be obtained from chapter presidents. Mr. Dolesh gave credit to Sally Rowe for originating the idea. Treasurer. After distributing a financial report to the membership, Ms. Joyce emphasized the predicament of the Operating Fund. It receives money from dues, June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDUFE 61 interest income, and sale of publications. From that fund must come expenses for publications, administrative needs, research grants, and atlas. Because more is going out than coming in, help is needed. COMMITTEES. The following synopses will be published in full in Maryland Birdlife’s annual committee reports: Audit Rodney Jones. The financial records, which continue to be in excellent shape, accurately present the financial position of the Society. Budget Norm Chamberlin. The budget for May 1 , 1 990, through April 30, 1991, was amended and approved at the March 24, 1990, meeting of the Board. Bylaws. Bill McIntosh. Bylaws may be amended by a vote at a membership meeting, provided that the proposed amendment had been distributed in writing to the members not less than 30 days prior to the meeting, and provided that the amendment had been previously approved by the Board of Directors. Two proposed amendments were mailed with the March/ April Yellowthroat The first one would eliminate the need for two signatures on checks for expenses which result from normal operations. The motion for acceptance was made by Jim Stasz, seconded and approved by the membership. The second amendment proposed a change in the dues structure. The motion for acceptance, made by Emily Joyce, was seconded and approved by the membership. The new dues structure: Category Amount Individual $ 10 Household $ 15 Sustaining $ 25 Life $400 Junior $ 5 Conservation. Richard Dolesh.The recent 20th anniversary of Earth Day was not a one-day celebration, but a renewal of a committment to conserve our natural resources. MOS members need to continue to apply pressure to legislators in order to save our environment. On the Federal level the President’s Committee on America Outdoors needs backing and funding. Call, write, speak out on its behalf. On the state level the cap on Program Open Space is being lifted. The real estate transfer tax will bring in millions yearly to preserve Maryland’s natural heritage. Thanks can be given to Governor Schaefer, DNR, General Assembly, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The Non-tidal Wetlands Protection Act still needs our support. MOS members in Howard, Prince George’s, and Anne Arundel Counties should be particularly concerned over the 9,000 surplus acres that Fort Meade wants to sell. Write to President Bush and ask that the land be preserved. Eleanor Robbins made a special plea for several natural areas that need our help. Among them, Black Marsh, Indiana Dunes, some of our State Forest areas, and Pease Air Force base in New Hampshire that might be sold. 62 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Coherence. Steve Hitchner. The final financial figures are not in for the best- attended conference in several years. The unexpected 345 people who registered made field trip assignments a real problem. Mr. Hitchner asked for a round of applause for Gary Nelson for his extra work and the phone calls necessitated by the unprecedented number of people who wanted to participate in the trips. Mr. Hitchner also thanked his wife and all the Kent County members who helped make the conference a success. In 199 1 the conference will be hosted by Montgomery County on May 24-26 at the 4-H Center in Chevy Chase. John Bjerke extended a welcome on behalf of the county. Education. Joy Wheeler. At the 35th Baltimore Science Fair MOS presented its Award of Achievement to Christopher Pine, student in grade 7 at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Essex, Maryland, for his study on homing pigeons. The Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators had its annual conference on April 28-30. MOS was represented by Dennis Kirkwood of Harford County and Gail Frantz of Baltimore. library. Joy Wheeler. Surplus issues of Maryland Birdlife are being arranged in chronological order at Cylburn. Requests for back issues are being filled. The complete set of Maryland Birdlife at Enoch Pratt Free Library is now available nationwide on Interlibrary Loan. Long Range Planning. Joanne Solem. The committee examined the current dues structure and projected future increases to see if a dues change would be necessary. Operating expenses have exceeded the budget. The funding of research grants is such a drain on the operating budget that an attempt should be made to support them in another way. The committee recommended that a chair for the Gifts Committee be found so that an organized method of obtaining gifts and memorials could be put into action. Research. Karen Skuldt. Appreciation was expressed for the afternoon paper sessions at the conference. Two grants were awarded this year: $525 to Joan McKearnan, Frostburg State University, to study Avian Edge-effects along a Central Appalachian Riparian Zone; and $475 to Thomas Risch, Frostburg State University, to do Cross-Fostering Experiments with Colonial Waterbirds. Sanctuary. Dorothy Mumford. This has been a busy year for the committee. Some highlights of activities: MOS has donated conservation easements on two proper- ties: To the Maryland Environmental Trust, an easement on the new Marengo Woods Sanctuary in Talbot County; and to the Severn River Land Trust an easement on the Mandares Creek Sanctuary. Talbot County is the beneficiary of two legacies left to MOS to be used for buying land in that county. Connie Skipper, who lives near the Caroline Wilson Sanctuary in Garrett County, will over-see that sanctuary. Carey Run and Irish Grove have benefited from annual workdays, but the freak storm that hit Irish Grove on May 10, 1990, will necessitate more than a few workdays. Insurance will cover damages on the house, but there is much to be done June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDUFE 63 to put the property into repair. Scheduled Irish Grove workdays: September 16 & 16, and November 3 & 4. Scholarship. Mildred Gebhard. In response to requests for one week rather than the usual two week ecology sessions, the committee awarded three one week Helen Miller Scholarships at National Audubon Summer Workshops. The names of the seven recipients of the Ecology and Ornithology scholarships will appear in the complete report elsewhere in Birdlife. Two of the winners, Carolyn Lipscomb and Linda Bystrak, were present at the Conference. Atlas. Eirik Blom. The committee distributed a report on the progress made toward meeting the publication date of the Atlas. The publisher must have all materials by the end of November. All phases seem to be in good shape except for the species accounts, which are way behind schedule. They must be written immediately. Cavity Nesting. Delos C. Dupree. The Maryland Ornithological Society Trails (MOST) report for 1989 indicated a sizeable increase in the number of bluebirds fledged. This was due to an increase in the average number of young fledged per box, with a jump from 4.073 in 1988 to 5.611 in 1989. Of a total of 2,143 boxes monitored, 917 were used by bluebirds, 108 by chickadees, 37 by titmice, 92 by swallows, 420 by wrens and 1 by flycatchers. May Count James Stasz. Reports received through June 7 from 12 counties and the District of Columbia indicate a slight drop in the number of observers. The counts might have been affected by the overcast skies, showers and cool winds. Publications. Chandler Robbins. The June 1990 issue of Maryland Birdlife is waiting for Annual Reports from local chapters and committee chairmen. Records. Claudia Wilds. There have been some changes in the structure of the committee. The name has become Maryland/ D.C. Records Committee in order to include reports of rarities within the District of Columbia. The number on the committee will be expanded from eight to nine members and the terms of office have also been altered. Claudia Wilds will serve as Chairperson, and Erika Wilson will serve as Secretary. Old Business. DNR Calendars. Joy Aso has closed the books on the sale of the 1990 calendars. The Society profited $643 from 543 calendars. DNR will not publish similar calendars in 1991. New Business. Tropical Rainforest Challenge. Joy Aso reported that George DuBois of Montgomery County will donate $ 1 ,000 to benefit tropical rainforests if MOS will contribute $1,500. The details of the challenge are being discussed with Mr. DuBois and will be published in Yellowthroat William Pfmgsten, Harford Chapter, expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the conference field trips were handled. He found them overbooked and felt that additional trips and leaders should have been provided, and that registrants should have been advised that the numbers of people on trips were limited. Election of Officers. Paul Zucker, nominating committee. The following slate of nominees was presented: President - John Malcolm; Vice President - Richard Dolesh; Treasurer - Emily Joyce; Secretary - Joan Stephens. There were no 64 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 nominations from the floor. The motion that the slate be unanimously accepted was seconded and passed. The meeting was adjourned at 9:46. Respectfully submitted, Patricia J. Moore, Secretary PRESIDENT’S REPORT This has been a year of growth and change for MOS. We grew approximately 5%, to nearly 2900 members. We expect to continue to grow as Americans become more concerned about the environment, and come to understand that grass-roots organizations like MOS are an excellent way to help correct the problems. MOS is experiencing minor financial concerns, as we have been spending slightly more than we take in. We are not overly concerned, however, because this last year has been one of unusual one-time expenses (catching up on publication of Maryland Birdltfe and paying a consultant to coordinate the Atlas publication project). Maryland Birdltfe is now caught up, and won’t be an excessive drain on our treasury. We are also taking several steps to reduce expenses, such as: printing Maryland Bridltfe as a self-mailer (no envelope required), purging the mailing list of unnecessary addresses, and pushing to complete the Atlas publication project as soon as possible. On the positive side of our financial situation, at the June 1990 annual meeting the membership of MOS voted a dues increase, our first since 1983. The resulting increase in income will help offset the effects of inflation, and should put us “in the black,” except for the Atlas publication project. We suffered severe storm damage at the Irish Grove sanctuary recently. Many out-buildings were destroyed, but fortunately the house was not badly damaged. Our insurance will cover repairs on the house. MOS received three bequests recently, from Billie Tayor (Allegany), Katherine Slotter (Anne Arundel), and John Wanuga (Talbot). We used the funds in accordance with the wishes of the individuals. We recently filled the chair of the Conference Committee, but are still searching for people to Chair the Gifts and Education Committees. While we’re on the subject of helping MOS, we always need volunteers to help with any number of MOS projects. Anyone who wishes to lend skills, abilities, and enthusiasm to further our many efforts should contact me at (301) 977-5788. John G. Malcolm AUDITING COMMITTEE I have examined the financial records of the Maryland Ornithological Society for the year May 1, 1989 to April 30, 1990. In my opinion the records continue to be in excellent shape and accurately present the financial position of the Society. Rodney B. Jones, Chairman June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 65 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. May 1, 1989 through April 30, 1990 Budget Item: Budget Actual Total OPERATING FUND Income: Dues $11,000.00 $11,861.00 Transfer, Endowment Fund 414.00 424.00 Conference 1989 14,066.00 Conference 1990 8,689.00 Interest Income Investments 1,020.00 918.00 Pooled funds 1,100.00 459.67 Income, publications 100.00 247.60 Contribution, mail permit 25.00 30.00 Membership pins 150.00 54.50 Advertising, publications 473.00 Miscellaneous 2.00 Calendars 1,493.25 Total Income 13,809.00 38,718.02 Expenses: Publications Committee Maryland Birdlife (6 issues) Printing 7,350.00 5,654.48 Postage 750.00 646.66 Supplies & Misc. 700.00 525.55 Labels 162.55 Yellowthroat Printing 2,250.00 3,992.28 Postage 850.00 887.13 Supplies & Misc. 50.00 337.03 Total, publications 11,950.00 12,205.48 Administrative & Office Executive Secretary stipend 2,400.00 2,400.00 Calendars 950.25 Conference 1989 16,901.23 Conference 1990 686.12 Deposit, conference 1991 500.00 Postage 81.25 Bulk mailing permits 100.00 120.00 Bulk mailing 200.00 Membership list maintenance 750.00 663.30 Printing & duplication 200.00 Office supplies & misc. 900.00 537.61 4,550.00 22,839.76 66 MARYLAND BIRDUFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Conservation Committee Education Committee Library Committee Records Committee Research Committee Winter Bird Atlas Project Transfer To Atlas Project Affiliations and memberships General Liability Insurance Contingencies 100.00 100.00 100.00 125.00 1,000.00 100.00 1,000.00 225.00 2,000.00 200.00 15.00 87.59 1,000.00 1,000.00 225.00 Total committees 4,950.00 2,327.59 Total Operating Expenses 21,450.00 37.372.83 Operating Fund-May 1, 1989 14,473.83 Current value, Operating Fund 15,819.02 SANCTUARY FUND Income: Transfer from Endowment Fund $ 3,086.00 Interest Income-pooled fund 1,500.00 Sales, Sanctuary Signs 400.00 Use Fees 1,400.00 $ 4,659.85 2,282.76 53.50 1,462.73 Total Income 6,386.00 8,458.84 Mill Creek-Incidentals General liability insurance General contingency 200.00 1,600.00 1,000.00 Total expenses 15,155.00 4,176.01 Sanctuary Fund— May 1, 1989 Current Value, Sanctuary Fund Expenses: Adventure, banding project 200.00 22,967.81 27,250.64 Cary Run General maintenance Utilities Incidentals 1,455.00 250.00 20.00 579.95 149.32 238.46 Total, Carey Run 1,905.00 967.73 Irish Grove General maintenance Utilities Fuel Taxes Donations, Marion FD Incidentals 5.050.00 350.00 500.00 1.100.00 50.00 200.00 1,735.80 452.50 348.19 235.60 50.00 Total, Irish Grove 7,250.00 2,822.09 June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDUFE 67 turn Suden General maintenance Utilities Fuel Incidentals 2,000.00 300.00 500.00 200.00 386.19 Total, turn Suden 3,000.00 386.19 SANCTUARY ENDOWMENT FUND Income: Life membership $ 200.00 $ 400.00 Contributions Bequest 200.00 1,022.17 1,000.00 Interest Income Investments 1,700.00 2,450.50 Pooled funds 1,800.00 2,633.35 Total income 3,900.00 7,506.02 Expenses: Transfer to Operating Fund 414.00 424.00 (life member support) Transfer, Sanctuary Fund 3,086.00 4,659.85 Total Expenses Sanctuary Endowment, 3,500.00 5,083.85 54,431.17 May 1, 1989 Current value, Endowment Fund SCHOLARSHIP FUND 56,853.34 Income: Contributions Bequest $ 500.00 $ 667.15 500.00 World Nature Association 695.00 725.00 Bourne/Woods Scholarship 525.00 595.00 Interest income Investments 585.00 585.00 Pooled funds 1,500.00 2,415.20 Total income 3,805.00 5,487.35 Expenses Helen Miller Scholarships 1,390.00 1,500.00 Chandler S. Robbins Scholarship 525.00 595.00 Eleanor C. Robbins Scholarship 525.00 595.00 Orville Crowder Scholar. 695.00 725.00 Woods/Bourne Scholarship 525.00 595.00 Total expenses 3,660.00 4,010.00 68 MARYLAND BIRDUFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Scholarship Fund, May 1, 1989 30,411.14 Current value, Scholarship Fund 31,888.49 ATLAS PROJECT Income: Howard Co. Matching Grant Contributions, general $ 150.00 MOS conference, raffle & auction 750.00 Transfer, Operating Fund 1,000.00 $ 704.00 859.15 789.25 1,000.00 Total income 900.00 3,352.40 Expenses: Telephone Miscellaneous Services 600.00 400.00 1,751.73 381.78 15,960.89 Total expenses 1,000.00 18,094.40 Atlas Fund, May 1, 1989 18,749.35 Current value, Atlas Fund 4,007.35 Current value, all funds 135,818.84 Current Financial Status: Pooled Funds: Sovran (checking) T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Reserve Fund Potomac Electric 10,090.51 73,153.03 6,806.27 692.50 Investments: Operating Fund McDermott, Inc. 9,901.07 Sanctuary Endowment Fund Source Capital Niagra Mohawk Ohio Bell General Telephone, SW Scholarship Fund Dayton Power Virginia Electric Power 15,186.60 4,983.15 3,693.75 5,129.92 2,190.00 3,992.04 5,129 2,190 Total Funds $135,818.84 Emily Joyce, Treasurer June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 69 ANNUAL REPORTS OF LOCAL CHAPTERS ALLEGANY CHAPTER The Allegany County Chapter continued the tradition of providing its members with interesting speakers and good birding opportunities. Our 1989-90 schedule began with a picnic and business meeting at Carey Run Sanctuary in September. Also that month we participated in the National Hunting and Fishing Day at the Country Club Mall in LaVale, providing a low-impact alternative approach to the wildlife of our area. Our annual dinner, held at the Clarysville Inn, was very successful. Frank Rohwer, Avian Ecologist at the Appalachian Environmental Laboratory, gave an excellent presentation on the annual cycle of waterfowl. Other speakers this year included club members Robert Twigg on geology of Western Maryland and John Willetts on his recent trip to the wilds of Alaska. DNR wildlife technician, Nancy Green, spoke on upland game birds and Joan McKearnan of the Appalachian Environmental Lab on colonial waterbirds in Maryland. We feel very fortunate to have such people share their expertise and experiences with us. We participated in three bird counts again this year. In spite of the bitter cold of the Christmas Count we recorded 69 species. With milder weather, the Winter Count on February 3 yielded 66 species, including Red Crossbills atop Green Ridge Mountain. The May Count was down this year owing to a smaller area covered; 1 38 species were sighted. Our field trips included hawk observations at Green Ridge State Forest in October, and a wide variety of waterfowl at Shawnee State Park in Pennsylvania and on local ponds here in Allegany County during November. Heavy rain and snow cancelled two planned field trips. Our final trip for the year was an auto loop tour from Garrett County into Somerset County, Pennsylvania; many spring species were observed. Our County Hotline is in its second year of operation; the highlight this year was the arrival of seven American Avocets on the PPG Ponds, a rare sight for Western Maryland. I would like to thank all those members whose efforts contributed to the success of our club year. I look forward to working with you again this coming year. Roy H, Brown, President ANNE ARUNDEL BIRD CLUB Anne Arundel Bird Club members enjoyed an active and successful program year. Our eight monthly meetings were well attended with speakers taking us on photo-tours of Alaska, Belize, Guatemala, Jamaica, England, Scotland, and Spain. In addition, we learned how to attract backyard wildlife and identify warblers by sight and sound. Bill Clark recounted for us the spectacular hawk migration through Israel at our Richard E. Heise Annual Wildlife Lecture, which benefitted the MOS Sanctuary and Scholarship Funds. Members and guests participated in over twenty field trips, with hardy souls turning out on even the most foul-weather days. Spring and fall picnics with good food, birding and camaraderie were enjoyed, hosted by the Iliffs, Taliaferros and Knights. 70 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 Club members continued to be active in the MOS. Emily Joyce was the MOS treasurer, Dotty Mumford was the Sanctuary Committee chair and Jim Cheevers was the Education Committee chair. There was also good participation by members at the sanctuary workdays and on the Christmas and May counts. Dick and Pat Chiles hosted the Christmas Count tally-up as they have for several years. Funding for an MOS scholarship is provided through the generosity of Gerald and Vonnie Cotton. Contin uing a tradition of several years, the Anne Arundel Bird Club cosponsored with Sandy Point State Park several bird walks for people in the community. Additionally, Dotty Mumford, Chris Beaton, Sue Ricciardi, and Sam Droege volunteered at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, taking part in bird studies and surveys. Dotty Mumford also served as newsletter editor. Sue Ricciardi, President CAROLINE COUNTY CHAPTER The Caroline Bird Club has just ended its 1989-90 season with a slide program by the incoming President, L. T. Short. L. T. has most recently won 1st place for amateurs at a wildlife photography show in Cambridge, Md. Another member, Richard Webster took first place in the professional division. We’re very proud of these members and look forward to their next showings. Our bluebird box sales have netted us enough money to buy some nature books for our local library and to make a contribution to the MOS scholarship fund. Bird walks have been interesting and informative. Our speakers have been varied and we enjoyed them all. We are now looking forward to our 1990-91 season. Mariana Nuttle, President CARROLL COUNTY CHAPTER The Carroll County Bird Club had a very active and successful year. While the membership remained steady at 40, our regular program and hike attendance has become increasingly active in recent months. Outreach to the community through informational booths and school programs has sparked new interest in birding and the environment. Several of our members were active in promoting environmental awareness throughout the “Earth Day” months of March, April, and May in Carroll County. One of our members, Sue Yingling, has recently established her own weekly column on birds in the local newspaper which we expect will stimulate additional interest. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at Pine Run Nature Center in Sykesville at 7:30 p.m. and feature varied slide lecture presentations. The public is always invited. We are looking forward to a great year to come. Melinda Byrd, President June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 71 FREDERICK COUNTY CHAPTER Eight field trips were held, mostly in and near Frederick County, and 9 monthly meetings convened. Programs given at the meetings ranged from the environ- mental future of Frederick County to bluebirds to birding in Venezuela. A number of the members of the club assisted with clean-up of city Mallards which were oiled during an oil spill into Culler Lake in Frederick in January. Several members set up a booth at the County celebration of Earth Day on April 22, and others set up a similar booth in Middletown on April 28. In business transacted in April, the club voted to send $135 to The Nature Conservancy for tropical rain forest purchase, $1 35 to World Parks Endowment for purchase of tropical land in Guatemala (at $4 per acre), and $130 for the Maryland Breeding Bird Atlas. Stavffer Miller, President HARFORD COUNTY CHAPTER The Harford County Chapter continued its slow growth, reaching a membership of 212 at year’s end. As a consequence of exceeding 200 members, the Chapter elected Thomas Congersky as its third Director. Much of the recent growth comes from students in birding classes taught by Dennis Kirkwood and June Vaughn, and from publicity in local newspapers written by Jean Fry. The Field Trip Committee, chaired by Randy Robertson, planned 1 7 trips during the year, some in the immediate county area, and some to more distant localities such as the Potomac River, Bombay Hook and Brigantine NWRs, Hart-Miller Island and a migration site near Hawk Mountain. These trips are a major part of our program, and some are particularly structured for beginning birders. In addition to the fall picnic at Harford Glen, we held our usual four dinner meetings on the first Fridays of alternate months beginning in November. The first two featured programs by our own members, Karen Toussaint on her trip to Kenya and the team of Jean and Larry Fry on their visit to England and Scotland. In March, Lisa Nowakowski spoke on rain forest deforestation and at the May meeting Dr. David Thorndill enlightened us with a report on a winter feeder survey. Members from other chapters are welcome to attend our meetings. Reservations are required for the dinner portion (at 6:15 p.m., announced in our Newsletter) but the business meetings/ programs beginning about 7:15 are walk-in affairs. We participated in three annual bird counts. The traditional Christmas count, overseen by Dennis Kirkwood, resulted in 53 birders in 13 parties finding 84 species and over 26,000 individuals. These included Ring-necked Ducks and a Harlequin Duck never before recorded in our count. During the recently initiated midwinter count, coordinated by Bill Pfingsten, 32 participants recorded 87 species, including a dozen new to the count, and almost 190,000 individuals. The latter included an estimated 150,000 “Blackbird species.” On the May count, organized by Vice President Les Eastman, ten parties found 144 species and 8,749 individuals. We continued for the third year to present three awards. Karen Toussaint was 72 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 honored as the Rookie-of-the-Year for 1989. She has, among other accom- plishments, authored a number of feature articles on birds and birders in local newspapers. The Bird-of-the-Year was a White-winged Dove that spent a few days at the Bystraks’ feeder. The featured award, Birder-of-the-Year, was won by June Vaughn, one of the most active birders in the Chapter. This year we plan to add a lister’s award. Pam Rhoads, who completed her taxidermy training under Greg Kearns (Jug Bay), has continued to add mounted specimens to the Chapter collection. The recent expansion of the County school system program at Harford Glen and provision of full-time staff there gives the Chapter a long-needed capability of displaying these specimens. Ultimately, every fifth-grader in the County will spend time at Harford Glen, being exposed to all facets of the environment. The bird exhibits will be very popular. Bird banding, initiated many years ago by Barbara Bilsborough, continued with the able assistance of Jon Cupp, Jr., Sue and Ken Heselton, Bill Pfingsten, Jim Wiley and Jean Williams. We look forward to an expansion of this effort. The volunteers named and others have devoted countless hours to this endeavor, including many demonstrations to the County school children. Our fifth annual Warbler Walk competition, organized and conducted by Jon Cupp, Sr., was finally won by old hand Dennis Kirkwood after years of finishing second, usually behind a rookie! During the past summer Beth Olsen attended the Audubon Camp in the West, located in the Wyoming Wind River Mountains. It was an extremely rewarding and pleasurable experience for her. For the coming summer, we have two scholarship winners: Linda Bystrak and Carolyn Lipscomb. Our rare bird hotline came of age with its first birthday anniversary in March. The hotline, now named WINGTIPS in a contest won by Karen Toussaint, covers a five-state area and the District of Columbia. It is updated regularly three times a week, and really hot information is added whenever it becomes available. During the celebrated appearance of the Ross’ Gull last winter, a number of other hotlines, including NARBA, directed their users to call WINGTIPS for the latest information. The number is (301) 638-0290. WINGTIPS is the brainchild of June Vaughn, who brought it into being and who spends a considerable fraction of her waking hours tending it. We also participated actively in the twentieth anniversary of Earth Day. In addition to sponsoring bird and wildflower walks, for three days Bill Russell was instrumental in focusing public attention on the Chapter with a display built around the borrowed MOS exhibit. The Chapter is looking forward to continued growth in membership and activities with the continued assistance of those who have served so well in the past. The Officers, Directors, and Committees have all worked long and hard at their jobs. Although many of the necessary functions of any organization are unexciting, and those who perform them never receive the credit they deserve, the efforts of all these dedicated people have made my first year as President a truly pleasurable one. Finally, there are the many who, simply by being members, have helped make the Chapter successful. "They also serve who only stand and wait.” William B. McIntosh, President June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDUFE 73 HOWARD COUNTY CHAPTER The Howard County Chapter had another full year of activities, consisting of many annual events and several highlights. The chapter’s yearly activities began in August at the Howard County Fair. Mike McClure coordinated the club’s effort, finding volunteers to display our bird collection, disseminate information and attract new members. Our two seed sales, in October and January, were once again great fund raisers for the club. These have been very well organized by Eileen Clegg. The October sale was our biggest ever, with over 43,000 pounds of seed loaded in about 3 hours. Our annual mid-winter bird count was held on January 27, followed by a tally dinner at the Simon’s and our May count tally dinner was hosted by the Randle’s on May 12. In March we had our annual potluck dinner, organized by Monika Botsai and Grazina McClure; we also hosted the meeting of the MOS state board of directors. The club’s close association with the county recreation department continued with club members leading or co-leading nature and birding walks in several meyor county parks. The club’s collections of bird specimens, nests, and slides were used by about 20 members for programs at schools, nature camps, scout groups, and other county organizations. The Howard Chapter mailed five issues of Maryland Birdlife during the year. Each “stuffing party,” planned by Maud Banks, provided an opportunity for several hours of socializing while trying to keep the zip codes properly grouped. Once again, by combining contributions and club funds raised by seed sales, we were able to make several sizeable contributions to The Nature Conservancy Appalachian Campaign. Our Cavity Nester Committee co-chairmen Joe Suess and Mark Wallace and numerous helpers reported that 1,515 Bluebirds fledged in the county last year. This project has really boosted the county bluebird population. The one-year county species list reached a new record with a total of 223 species seen in Howard County last year. Heading the list of 1989-90 highlights is publication of the Bird Checklist for Centennial Park, the county’s most popular park. The list is a compilation of sightings spanning 6 years and recorded by a team of compilers, headed by coordinator Charles Swift. Jane Farrell, our park list committee chair, edited the list and worked closely with the Department of Recreation and Parks, which agreed to print and distribute the list to park visitors. The checklist is the first in what we hope will be a series for major county parks. This year the club also donated a bulletin board to the Department of Recreation and Parks. The board, mounted at the Centennial Park concession building, displays items such as bird sightings, nature walks, and unusual plants or animals. Notices of meetings of environmental groups or other nature related events also are posted. In summary, 1 989-90 was another successful year. The brief report, however, can mention only some of the hard working people and good ideas that went into making this a great year for the Howard Chapter. Thomas Stnkwerda, President 74 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 KENT COUNTY CHAPTER The Kent County Chapter has had a year much like other years with the membership staying around 75. We had our usual program of six regular meetings, a dinner meeting and a picnic. Three field trips visited the “Damsite” banding station, the Wildfowl Trust sanctuary at Grasonville and the Lorenz farm on the upper Chester River. As a fund raising activity we switched this year from a yard sale to sale of T-shirts and sweatshirts imprinted with bird designs from Trish Gruber and Peggy Blair and a club logo. Information tables at the Chestertown Wildlife Show and the Chestertown Earth Day activities also sold the shirts. A very successful feeder watch and coffee was hosted by Tom and Peggy Arkinson, whom we thank for their hospitality. Participation in the Audubon Christmas Count was normal for us with a number of people coming across the bay, but our May count had only four participants so our coverage was not up to that of previous years. The bluebird nest box monitoring effort was increased this season (1990) and we thank Steve Hitchner for coordinating the program and compiling the results. John Lorenz, President PATUXENT BIRD CLUB Our meetings were held on the 4th Tuesday in Building 01 1 -A at the Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, one long block northwest of the USDA Library tower. Our speakers included John Tautin who led us on an African safari, Don Messersmith who took us on a birding tour of Inner Mongolia, Glenn Therres who talked about Maryland Bald Eagles, and several Patuxent scientists who presented illustrated talks on various phases of their research: Matt Perry who gave an overview of Patuxent’s first 50 years, Glenn Olsen (veterinarian to the endangered species program), Fred Johnson (on Fulvous Whistling-Ducks), and Chan Robbins and Barbara Dowell (on a recent trip to Sierra de las Minas, Guatemala). Our big project of the year was a fund-raising effort to help Defensores de la Naturaleza purchase the first large tract of tropical rain forest on Sierra de las Minas for a Biosphere Reserve. This extraordinary mountain range is said to have the highest biotic diversity in Guatemala and to include habitat for more than half the population of their national bird, the Resplendant Quetzal. Donations from our club purchased 640 acres (a full square mile) of this pristine forest. We thank Byron Swift of World Parks Endowment for giving us this unique opportunity to make such a significant contribution. Eleanor Robbins, our Conservation Chairperson, continued to give conservation updates at each meeting and write the Club column for the Laurel Leader. This year she also wrote a column for Beltsville News. Book sales yielded contributions to the Atlas Publication Fund, the Scholarship Fund, and the Sanctuary Maintenance Fund. In addition to participating in the Christmas and May counts and Winter Bird Survey, we displayed an Earth Day exhibit at Greenbelt, several members led walks in honor of Earth Day, and our Chapter helped sponsor the Citizens Conference on Forests and Forestry at College Park. Chandler S. Robbins, President June 1990 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 75 MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAPTER Members of the Montgomery County Chapter enjoyed another active year of meetings and field trips. In September, Ron Naveen spoke to us about South Georgia Island and his hopes for the entire Antarctic region. Gentle wit and magnificent photographs brought home the plight of this special place. We birded the C&O Canal and Point Lookout. October’s meeting featured Kent Minichello and important lessons on fire ecology and fire management in Yellowstone National Park. Field trips went to Harmony Hall and Broad Creek in PG County and to Waggoner’s Gap in Pennsylvania for hawk watching. In November, Hal Wierenga gave us an overview of the birds of Alaska and left many members devising schemes to pay for a trip to the Great Land. Field birding concentrated on migrating hawks and waterfowl with trips to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, a boat trip on the Potomac south of DC (thanks to MNCPPC-PG) and a weekend on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Just as the bitter cold of December descended on us, Bruce Beehler arrived to talk about his work with Birds of Paradise in New Guinea. The only field trip was to the fields of southern Frederick County, but members busied themselves with numerous Christmas Counts. The chapter cosponsors two: Seneca and Sugarloaf Mountain. The new year started with Vice-President Daphne Gemmill speaking about her experiences assisting bird studies through the aegis of Earthwatch. We all got another reminder about how valuable a dedicated amateur can be in ornithological research. Field trips included a visit to the ever popular C&O Canal. In February, we were wondering just how long the thaw was going to last and listening attentively as Glenn Therres told us about the Barn Owls of Maryland. Glenn also brought us up to date about some of the activates of Maryland DNR— particularly the nongame section. Field trips, included a long holiday weekend trip up and down the Delmarva peninsula and a shorter one day version that covered Henlopen to Ocean City. The annual social was held in March featuring outstanding food, animated conversation, a gallery of member’s favorite slides, and the election of officers. Our raffle raised slightly more than $500; almost all of this was donated to the MOS Sanctuary Endowment Fund. The field trip highlight was a trip to the National Zoo with Claudia Wilds who helped members with identification problems and techniques. Of course, many of us rushed to Baltimore to see the Ross’ Gull. In April, John Trott brought his beautiful photographs of Maryland birds and wildflowers and his impressive knowledge of natural history to our monthly meeting. A field trip to lake Needwood opened the spring migration season. In May, James Gibson spoke about music and bird song. As both a professor of music, a composer, and a bird tour leader he had unique insights into a subject particularly fitting as the spring migration rushed to a crescendo. Members tested their own auditory skills on trips to local hotspots and on the annual May Count. A weekend at Chincoteague sharpened our shorebird skills and introduced some of us to the Fork-tailed Flycatcher. The year ended with a weekend in Garrett County where singing “northern” warblers and drumming grouse were a special pleasure. The Chapter continues to do well with membership near 250 and attendance at monthly meetings ranging from 85 to 100. We continue our special support of Adventure Sanctuary. We look forward to another year of birding challenges 1990-91. (To be concluded in September 1990 issue) John Bjerke, President 76 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 46, No. 2 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 Rd., Laurel, Md. 20707 (725-1176) Assoc. Editor: Robert F. Ringler, 3501 Melody Lane, Baltimore, Md. 21207 Asst. Editors: Eirik A. T. Blom, 1618 Somerville Rd., Bel Air, Md. 21014 Mark Hoffman, 313 Fernwood Dr., Severna Park, Md. 21014 James Stasz, P.O. Box 71, North Beach,Md 20714 Mailing: Howard County Chapter Headings: Schneider Design Associates, Baltimore CONTENTS, JUNE 1990 An Old Nesting Record for the Bald Eagle Roger B. Clapp Report of the Statewide Bird Count, May 12, 1990 Jim Stasz The Season: Winter, Dec. 1, 1989-Feb. 28, 1990 Robert F. Ringler Minutes of the Annual Meeting, June 9, 1990 Patricia J. Moore President’s Report John G. Malcolm Report of Auditing Committee Rodney B . Jones Annual Report of Treasurer, May 1989-Apr. 1990 Emily Joyce Annual Reports of Local Chapters Chapter Presidents 35 36 50 59 64 64 65 69 Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. Cylburn Mansion 4915 Greenspring Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21209-4698 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Baltimore, MD Permit No. 4137 Chan Robbins 7902 Brooklyn Bridge Rd. Laurel, MD 20707-2822