IOWA BIRD LIFE PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION VOL. XIV MARCH, 1944 NO. 1 OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION President — Dr. Martin L. Grant, Cedar Falls, Iowa Vice-President — Ethan A. Hemsley, Dubuque, Iowa Sec’y-Treas. — Miss Lillian Serbousek, 1226 Second St S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa Librarian — Dr. Warren N. Keck, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Editor — Fred J. Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa Executive Council: Mrs. Mary L- Bailey, Sioux City, Iowa Miss R. Lucile Loban, Waterloo, Iowa Mrs. Myrle L. Jones, Hamburg, Iowa The Iowa Ornithologists' Onion waa organized at Ames, Iowa, February 28, 1923. for the study nod protection of oinve birds end to promote fraternal re- lations among Iowa bird students. The *-entral design of the Union’s official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, designated State Bird of Iowa in 1933, Publications of the Union: Mimeographed letters, 1923-1928; *The Bulletin* 1929-1930; ‘Iowa Bird Life,’ beginning 1931- SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $1-00 a year (includes membership dues). Single copies 25c each. Claims for missing or defective copies of the magazine should be made within six months of date of issue. Keep the Editor informed of your correct address. EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE WINTHROP, IOWA Entered an lecond-clas* matter February 9. 1932, at the post office at Winthrop, Iowa, under the Act of March 3. 1879. IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIV 1944 SCREECH OWL From a piiintiiiff by i** ^ ■ Si* (Ten V V: . IOWA OWLS 3 IOWA OWLS I KNOW By EARNEST W. STEFFEN CEDAR RAPIDS. IOWA { niuntrntiona I>y the author) During' the Christmas census in Cedar Rapids, the group on several occasions went through what we thought was good owl territory. We scanned the trees carefully for a view of an owl hugging the trunk. We inspected the ground under promising trees for pellets. Our efforts were all in vain, however, for no owl did we see. Yet there are owls in this territory. Owls have a peculiar interest, and affect one in a different manner from any other bird. That is normal, no doubt, for they are much different in appearance, have very peculiar eyes set differently in the head, are nocturnal in habits, and utter their cries at night in a de- cidedly hair-raising manner. Then too their flight is different. Lt is noiseless and, it seems, effortless. Their very appearance and manner make them seem well fitted for the somber solitudes of night It occurs to me that the ornithologists did not decide very early upon the placement of the owl in systematic ornithology. Early in the cen- tury they placed him with the Birds of Prey as a suborder of Raptores, between the doves and parrots. The present ornithologists have shoved him much higher in the scale — several orders above the Birds of Prey — and have elevated him to an order of his own: Strigiformes. He re- poses now in the systematic order between the Cuckoos and the Goat- suckers. My earliest experience with owls, and for a number of years the only experience, was with the Screech Owl. This was the Eastern Screech Owl { Otiui wiio naeviuif). How well do I remember the quavering voice in the night, and the fear it engendered in me! And how well do I remember that I pulled the covers over my head, if I were in bed, to shut out the dread sound ! I recall that when a boy I captured a number of these Screech Owls, both young and old, at different times. I dis- covered how fiercely they could bite, how strong and sharp were their claws, how very small were their bodies for so large an appearing bird, yet how strong and wiry they were, and how fluffy and luxurious were their feathers. The Screech Owl with a body no bigger than a sparrow's is a fierce little bird with strength to match its fierceness. It can handle prey larger than itself without much difficulty. Authorities have tried to give it a good reputation by reciting its food habits. During the summer this owl eats many grasshoppers and other large insects. In fact, it is given credit for eating more insects than any other owl except the Burrowing Owl. Undoubtedly its main article of diet is mice and other injurious rodents. According to Fisher, its diet consists of birds only one-seventh. Others claim the percentage considerably higher and recommend that the Screech Owl be drastically reduced in number. I re- call that Althea Sherman so recommended. The Screech Owl nests in old woodpecker holes or in natural cavities in trees and, no doubt, roosts in similar places. Many other birds, especially our resident birds, use such places also as nesting and roosting places. I have often wondered whether this owl in its seach for a roosting place and a nesting place would not chance upon many a bird and eliminate it from the picture. Why could it not develop the habit of searching for its prey in holes and cavities? The next species of owl with which I got acquainted was the Short- eared Owi (Amw fiammeus jiammeus). This was the first of the larger owls SCREECH OWI* 4 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIV, 1944 SHORT EARED OW'D that I had ever seen. T was much excited. I was told that it was a Swamp Owl. This bothered me because there was no Swamp Owl listed in Ridgway's Manual, Quite a long time elapsed before I finally found out, or was told, that Short-eared Owl and Swamp Owl are one and the same. I even remember the kind of day on which I saw that first Swamp Owl. It was a dark, foggy day. No doubt the owl looked larger in the fog than it otherwise would have looked. He was plying up and down some pasture land that bordered a small stream. Often he would alight on a post and look around in his peculiar owl-like manner. I noted especially his queer bobbing flight. With each downward stroke his body rose, and I got the idea that his wings were too strong for the weight of his body. The Short-eared Owl is quite diurnal in habit. Very often these owls may be seen in the early evening, even before the sun has set, plying back and forth over grass lands in search of prey. Likewise, they may be seen on dull cloudy days. Their habits are entirely, or almost entirely, good. They take a few ground-skulking birds, but live almost entirely on mice, ground squirrels, young rabbits, and such fare. Al- though it does not come down into Iowa in numbers until the winter season, the Short-ear frequently falls victim to the hunter. Many game species, including the pheasant, occupy the same kind of environment as the Short-eared Owl. This owl is a useful bird and should not be killed, a fact that all hunters should learn. The foregoing observations are from impressions received while I was young, and while still living in Grundy County. My observations of these owls around Cedar Rapids have not been very numerous. Two other owls, however, I have noted with interest in and near Cedar Rapids. These are the Barred Owl and the Great Horned Owl. My first observation of the Northern Barred Owl (Stnx van a varm) was within the city when, on a dull, cloudy day, I noticed a large owl being hectored by a number of other birds, chiefly Blue Jays. The owl paid very little attention to the birds, seeming actually to ignore them. He stayed in one place Jong enough for me to identify him, then flew away among the trees with a following of crying birds. I had received impressions from books that owls saw well only at night, but I noted that this owl missed all the trees and seemed to be able to avoid objects without trouble, I at once gave up the impression that owls cannot see by day. My second observation of this owl was also within the city. This time one came to our yard and stayed for quite some time. As he sat in a large black oak not more than 20 feet away in early evening I got a very good look at him. As I watched him and tried to fix in my mind the pose, the proportions, form, and other features, it occurred to me that in some way he was different from other owls. I puzzled over that for quite a while. Finally I decided that it was his eyes. The Barred Owl has dark brown irises instead of yellow ones as most owls have. The food habits of the Barred Owl are almost entirely good. Very few birds are taken. This fact should be better known to farmers BjjtRED OWL and hunters. fn « in {tiffs w AN IOWA BIRD ARTIST The Great Horned Owl (Bubo uirf/inianH# nr- /fimnntts) ig, however, a bird of a different color. "Tiger of the Air" is a title that aptly describes this owl. Poultry not housed are freely taken as are also various kinds of game birds and other large birds. The one redeeming trait of this owl is the fact that he does not hesitate to take the common domestic cat as one item of prey. That should do his reputation a great deal of good. One often sees the carcasses of these birds draped on the fence or some other prominent place, to advertise the prowess of some farmer or gunman. They seem able to hold their own, however, for there are many wooded tracts where one may hear at night the hoot of the Horned Owl as well as the Barred Owl. These sounds are, indeed, a thrill to any birdman. GREAT HORNED OWT, THE ANNUAL CONVENTION The 22nd annual convention of the Iowa Ornith- ologists' Union will be held at Des Moines on Sun- day, May 14, with the Des Moines Audubon Society as host. The same factors which cut down on the con- vention activities last year are even more influ- ential this year, and we are fortunate again in hav- ing a central location for the meeting. Tentative plans call for a convention similar to that held at Cedar Rapids in 1943, with a field trip in the morn- ing, a noon luncheon, and a short business meeting in the afternoon, followed by an informal social get-together. In order to arrange for field-trip transportation, the noon luncheon, and a meeting place, will each member who expects to attend please notify the Secretary, Miss Serbousek. by post card by May 1, telling how many people you will be bringing, and whether or not you will take your car. You will be answered with a statement as to time and place of meeting and other details which will have been arranged. If there are any last minute changes in your plans, I would suggest writing to the secretary of the Des Moines club, Mrs. Lester W, Haskell, 236 East Creston, Des Moines, The officers very cordially invite you to attend, and all members should be glad of the chance to renew and increase friendships. As to gasoline, let your conscience be your guide. The Des Moines Audubon Society is one of our largest and most active local groups, and their President, Miss Irene M. Smith (2923 Rutland Ave.}, assures us of the fullest hospitality.- — MARTIN L. GRANT. it it f! * 7 * AN IOWA BIRD ARTIST On January 3. at the monthly meeting of the Cedar Rapids Bird Club, Earnest W. Steffen gave a very interesting lecture on "Bird Artists and Their Work", a subject on which he is well qualified to speak, for he i3 a bird artist of ability and is fast gaining a reputation as such. Three of Mr. Steffen's drawings have appeared in 'Iowa Bird Life' and we have the promise of others in the future. We are grateful to him for the fine pictures which have embellished our pages. He is an able writer as well as an illustrator, a fact brought out in his article on owls in this issue. Mr. Steffen lives at Cedar Rapids, where he is a teacher in the public schools. The bird club in that city finds him a cooperative and valuable member. 6 IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIV, 1944 MR, STKKVKN" Mr. Steffen's introduction to birds came at an early age. This was, to put it into his own words, “before I was able to com- prehend what it was all about. With a con- siderable portion of the money laboriously saved by my parents for a baby carriage, my father bought Ridgway’s Manual ot North American Birds- Thus I was never perambulated. Whether I walked any sooner as a result. I am unable to say, but I did come to treasure the Manual. It is still a valued volume in my library, much worn and dog-eared to be sure, but still uselul and wholly intact.' 1 At about the age of 11 he was inspired to draw and color a representative of each genus of the birds of North America, a project that required a period of three or four iears but was nevertheless completed. The budding artist used nickel tablets and colored his drawings with wax crayons, and while the finished product probably did not entirely satisfy him. it did indicate what his interests and inclinations were. Cuter in life, art training was received at Cornell College. There his chief art interest was birds, but he felt it was necessary to learn to paint landscape and bene his efforts largely toward that end. He received his B. A. degree from Cornell in 1915. , , A - A p- During subsequent years Mr. Steffen s career has been varied. Cit- cumstances decreed that his interest in bird painting had to be second- ary, and it was not until about 1932 that his ideas of what he wanted his bird paintings to be definitely took shape When this was decided upon he began a program of bird painting and drawing, which through quite* steady work has resulted in a series of over 120 oil paintings of the more common birds of Iowa, as well as between 300 and 400 pencil drawings based upon the oil paintings. In addition, he has new water-color paintings portraying the Iowa winter birds with appropriate winter landscapes. These have been exhibited at meetings of the Cedar Rapids Bird Club and at other gatherings, where they have drawn much praise for his work. This project of painting Iowa birds, he says, is ° n in preparing himself to paint birds, the Cedar Rapids artist felt it necessary to become familiar with the pose, form, haunts and habits ot each species so that it would be pictured exactly true to life and in natural surroundings. This requires constant observation of the most exacting kind. He does not depend on museums or skins though he has used museum facilities to some extent. He comments on this phase ot the work: “I do not depend upon other artists, for I wish to develop a style and technique distinctly my own; yet I cannot deny that I have made a considerable study of the work of other artists, chiefly Fuertes and Brooks. However. I do depend on the living bird, and check my paintings constantly as I observe the birds from time to time It is interesting to know that the picture of the Screech Owl appear- ing in this issue was worked upon during a period of about two months. The artist tells us: "I made one in pencil at first, adding tempera to bring out high lights and deep darks. Then l placed it m the room to see whether I could live with it or not. I couldn't. Then I made one in black and white wash and put it to the test as I did the other one. But again I couldn't Live with it. Criticism began to develop until it became necessary to make another picture. The final picture seems to stand the test, as t had it under constant observation for three weeks or more.” MRS. BLOSSER KATE LA MAR BLOSSER 1889-1944 Kate LaMar Blosser was born November 21. 1880. at LaMar Station, Missouri. Her untimely death occurred on February 6, 1044, at Pat- terson, Iowa, where she had lived since her marriage to Mr, Noah J. Blosser on June 9, 1040. Her death was caused by a malignant abscess on the lung. She had been in ex- cellent health, apparently, until the latter part of last November. Kate, as she was called bv every- one who knew her. attended Marys- ville State Teachers College in Missouri, and was graduated from Warrensburg State Teachers Col- lege. After teaching several 5 ears in her home town, in Oklahoma, and in Wyoming, she came to Des Moines, Iowa, where she remained 18 years as a primary teacher in. the Park Avenue and Clarkson Schools, serving also a Principal at the latter school. Her graduate work in the University of Califor- nia, the University of Colorado, the University of Iowa, and the Allegheny School of Natural His- tory, was in the various fields of nature study. In 1936 she went to the Audubon Nature Camp at Muscongus Bav, Maine, as a rep- resentative of the Des Moines Audubon Society and the Des Moines Garden Club. For 20 years Kate was a member of the Des Moines Audubon Society and served that organization as Presi- MRS. blosser dent; Chairman of the Conserva- tion Committee; Chairman of the Program Committee; and Chairman of the Field Trip Committee. She became a member of the Iowa Or- nithologists' Union in 1927, and served very faithfully as Secretary- Treasurer of this organization from 1932 to 1940. At the time of her death she was a director of the Madison County Farm Bureau, a mem- ber of the Madison County 4-H Board, and was president of the Beving- ton Garden Club. Kate became a local authority on bird life, but her interest extended to the entire natural environment. For example, when the Des Moines Audubon Society fenced some marshland to preserve the nesting grounds of certain water birds, she led an interested group in making a thre^- year study of the area, including grasses, water plants and shrubs, as well as the nesting birds. She spent two summers in research in the Ruthven and Spirit Lake regions. An accurate observer, she was pains- taking in her research. She had a natural gift for drawing, which she perfected by practice, and enjoyed illustrating her notes. Several of her articles have been published, but the bulk of her notes awaked future completion when she hoped to have more time for this kind of work. Friends prize her colored drawings of Darticular flowers and plants, mementos of a shared pleasure. She also made some photo- graphic studies of birds and unusual plants. Possessed of enormous energy and vitality, Mrs. Blosser stimulated enthusiasm in those about her. Her outstanding contribution was her 8 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIV, 1944 ability and unfailing 1 willingness to share her interest and her knowl- edge with others. She had increasing opportunities to associate with eminent naturalists* This was always regarded by her as a great privi- lege, but she never lost her keen and sincere interest in guiding an amateur, child or adult, in his first observations. Kate enjoyed visiting the state parks of Iowa and gained definite knowledge of birds, plants and flowers to be found in each of them. She knew where rare plants could still be found. At her home in Patterson she was collecting some of the less common native shrubs of Iowa, such as the nine bark, the button bush and the leatherwood. One of her last expressed wishes was to see again the migration of the geese on the Missouri River. Burial was at Winterset, Iowa. She is survived by her husband, her parents who live at Elmo, Missouri, and by seven sisters and one brother. Another brother met a tragic accidental death on February 1, 1944. —MRS. DWIGHT SMITH. THE 194;; CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUS IX IOWA Early December in Iowa was mild and clear, but toward the middle of the month cold weather came with several sub-zero waves of short dur- ation, Snowfall in most parts of the state was light, and practically none was remaining at Christmas. On the whole, the first two months of the winter presented unusually mild and open weather conditions, which account for the many records of birds that would not be found in the state during a severe winter. Christmas week was mild and ideal for making census trips. The fine weather was taken advantage of by many of our members whose names are found on ihe accompanying lists. Comment on the many interesting records is desirable but is impos- sible due to limited space. Careful study of the tabulation will reveal much information, and it is recommended* The scarcity of Rough- legged Hawks is evident, and the entire absence of winter Horned Larks and Cedar Waxwings is quite unusual. The several records of Ruby- crowned Kinglet, formerly an extreme winter rarity, have been investi- gated by the Editor. The observers apparently saw their kinglets under favorable conditions, and were satisfied with the identification. We received a census from Mr. and Mrs, Ivan L, Boyd, former Iowans, taken at Baldwin, Kansas, For obvious reasons their list of 36 species could not be included in our Iowa tabulation. Data on place, time, weather and the observers who reported are given below. (Hours are given in Central War Time.) BACKBONE STATE PARK (Delaware Co.): Dec. 26; 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. Cloudy all day; ground bare; very light S. wind; temp, 32° at start. 40 s at return; total foot mileage in the park per person, about 3; trio included an auto trip from Winthrop to the park and return on a different road, with roadside birds included in the census. Observers together. Harold Rector, Harry E. Rector, Paul A. Pierce, F. J. Pierce. CEDAR FALLS (Snag Creek, and areas down the Cedar River: Josh Higgins Park. Hartman Reserve. Casebeer Heights; deciduous forest 40%, woodland 45%, fields 10%, marshes 5%): Dec. 26; 9 a, m, to 12, 12:45 to 5:45 p. m. Cloudy; ground bare; all water frozen except for openings in streams; no wind: temp, 32* to 36* ; total hours, 3 (7 on foot, l in car) ; total miles, 47 (10 on foot, 37 by car). Observers to- gether. Mr. and Mrs. Martin L, Grant, Mrs. Russell Rugg, Mrs. Warren Tay. Frances Crouter. CEDAR RAPIDS (Cedar Lake and Mound Farm areas; 3 miles along Cedar River s. e, of city; Van Vechten Park, Bever Park, Prairie Creek and Oak Hill Cemetery; mostly open woodland): Dec. 26; 9:15 a. m. to 12:30 p. m., 1:30 to 4:45 p. m. Visibility very poor; ground bare; mild 3. w. wind; temp. 30 fl to 38*; 8 miles on foot, 8 by car. Observers in 2 groups. Mr. and Mrs. Ross Lund, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Petranek, Lillian Serbousek, Virginia Slauson, E. W. Steffen, Myra G. Willis. CHJ IIS' .. J -t i s J I'M/ "3 % ka 1 3 V u C U “3 ■— -- BIRJ fi ■4 lr D C ENSUE J£ - 1_ L. — 3 1 SL 1 - X * z = X O H I 3 3 55 3 3 3 > 9 * M i 5 ili Mallard , . | . . . 1. ■ -1 lUP 5000 I- ■ American Holden -eve . . ... 1:::* « * 1 * ■ ■ 1 . .. . ... ■ - ■1 * * * Ited-rmled Hawk ‘J l . . :i . . . . i . . 11 ■ Y . . 1' 1 . .di r 3 11. a LI : i ■ 1 Mui'ih Hawk . . . . . 1 . .. - - i . . . tii . . . - - I . . 1 ..11 ... 4 . . . ; ■1 lioii- white . . , - . ■ .2H! ! . . 27 ! .21 . 15 .301 RinC’ necked Pheasant ! . 1 . . _ 1 | | r - - ‘ :r “ *1 . . . 1 . . . 1 . . , 1 . . .11 ' . VJ\ 1 . . . . . 2 1 1 1 nil ■'..!... I ... .: ■Y 1 •> * . i . . 1 . .11 l j if... lieltcd Kiiictislier 1 . . 1 il l Flicker , . , . -1 . . » | .1 rr I'ileUtrtl Wood lnn-klT . . . . . J . ] . [ „ . . 1 . . . . ! . . . . . . 1 iled-ludlN’d Woodpecker , . 7 _ 7 . . »■ . . 1 7 1 . , 0 . . 1 . . 0 . 1 ' ' ~ . . 31 .10 . 12 It rnJ ■ 1 i ended Wore J pecker 1 , ip . . .41 " ‘ * [ , , . 51 Yellow-bellied chip mucker J . . . ■ 1 l fairy Wnml pecker ! " ii . . .7 1 . . !i 1 . -20 ' It ■ 1 . A . . 1 . 1 . . .51 , . 2 ' . . 3’ 1 town v Woodpecker . . . . . , ' 1 . Ii . 1 1 . . 5 1 - Ill . . .J . . ii . 1 , - ) llt . , AM . 14 .21 Blue day * . . _ . i.ti . :jcm . 35 ■ . . 77 . 20 . .;i . . i . ,u : . . . 2 ! . ■ 7 ‘ 1 ’, . . 6 Aineri i-an Macjiie (Tow . . ;, JT , *1 1 j i . 1*2 II a 7-7 ■ 1 ut> .24 ”7 . . 1 . . . 1 1 < 1 ' . . . ! L 7 .7 1 i:? 6 i . . 1 I ‘Im kridcH . . !l*‘ , 75 1*2 A 1 . 2.7 . 12 . «>5 1 . 14 7 ' , 26' 1 10 : , 26 Tllfttnl Tl ttlPHISe „ . , - " 2 ' .47 , A Wlii tcdire lifted X urhateh . 1 * 2 ! . 1 H . :io ■ . d:n . i.» . m 1 a , . 5 . . 7 ■ . . 17' - ili . 2 r . - 5 Red-brrrihted Nuthatch . . -. i >1 ■ . . I . . I . . 1 . . - 1 - ■ - ■} ' ■ ■ - Brown (‘rceper W 1 t i f W ren . . I : 1 1 . . u ■1 ! . . . t» ■ . . I . ■1 . 0 . . 1 1 . . . 5 : . . 4 H 1 ’ 1 1 1 | ■ ! 1 ■ 1 . .9 1 n • . .3! 3 1 1 . 1 5 | ijoiu^n^TOw nwi f\j n iciri Ruhr-crowned Klmclet . . f\ 1 ( Starling . 10 i ion i . *200 1 .20 . .70 . 3 . 47' 15 . . . 3^ . 79 36.5 Enclij'h Sparrow . . , r - . 70' , 20 1 500 1 . 052 250 1 UO 2 40 .63 .25- e M5; 200 210 . 40 Red- win ceil Blackbird i . . .1 1 * « - 7 . . . ; ■ ' u . 275; 1 . 26 Bronzed (Iraricle i . . . ! 1 . . . 1 . „ * ‘ . . „ ! ,564| . .*! . .4! , . . Cardinal . . . . ; i . ’. iii . iii 1-72 ! .21 io e . 5 . 4' . 12 1 . . .6 1 . 161 . 19 , 30 Purple Finch . . 3 1 . . 4 ' 1 fdddtfnrh . . 3t . .- . 55 .29 .30- . .311 . 2 «; | . 36i240 i 1 . i v* niir’Crnw nni ciinrruH Sane Sparrow . . , A' -i . . . 6 1 . . . 1 . 4 . . , : 21 ! ■> | . M . 1 Number uf Soectes m w 9 m \ , 2 v .30' . 2:11 . .41 ' .25 .24 . 24 22 .30 , .331 . 2HI ■ VO 1 .23 Number uf Observers , . ‘i . 2 1 . . 1 'See data under '-ration in 111 M t V of article. Tula] town Li s* I ........ . , . , til 2 specie* (EDITOR'S NOTE. F eb. 26: The Febnmrv issue o( ‘Audubon Mucsii ne‘ contained twn censuses not published uhov*- Atlantic one* Davenport. The Atlantic censu* wan sent tn Iowa Bi rd Life' hut n't* received too late for publication. The Atlantic Ust contained 6 specie* not listed above. and Davenport contained one, Thene. if published in Iowa Bird Life' would have made the Iowa total 69 specie*. ‘Audubon Macau ne credited Dubuque with a record of White-winced Cross hi It ; thn* error ws* corrected to Red Croaabill before our lint was compiled.) 10 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIV, 1944 DES MOINES (Charles Sing Denman Wood. Dove Woods along Bea- ver Creek. Crocker Woods, Waukonsa, Sycamore Park, woods along Des Moines River from Euclid Ave. to Lovington, Walnut Woods State Park. Brown’s Woods. Morning Star); Dec. 21; 8:30 a. m. to 6 p. m, Clear; no snow; wind s., 14 m. p, h. ; temp. 24° all day; half the trip on foot, half by car. Observers in 5 groups. Mrs. Toni Wendelburg, Olivia McCabe. Irene M. Smith. Bruce F. Stiles. Albert C. Berkowitz, Mrs. Joe Chamberlain. Dwight T. Smith, Jack Musgrove. Mrs. H. R. Peasley. The White-crowned Sparrows were studied at close range with 8-power binoculars bv Stiles. Peaslev and Musgrove. DUBUQUE (Linwood and ML Calvary Cemeteries. Gen, Pike Lock and Dam. Ham Island): Dec. 26. Cloudy; ground bare: river frozen above dam, open below dam; no wind; temp. 28® to 42°; 5 miles on foot, 5 by car. Observers together. Ival Schuster. Mrs, Robt. Ruegnitz. J. Dockal, Geo. Crossiey, Henry Herrmann, David Reed, Mrs, Ralph Johnson (Dubucue Bird Club). KEOSAUQUA STATE PARK: Dec. 26; 10 a. m. to 2 p. m. Cloudy ami misty. Warren N, Keck, LEDGES STATE PARK, Boone Co., and AMES, Story Co. (oak- hickory hills 60%. elm bottoms 30%, open farm land 10%. along Des Moines River in State Park, and at golf course, Iowa State College. Ames): Dec, 19; 6% hours. Partly cloudy; ground with trace of snow; little open water in river; wind n. and w.. 10 m. p. h. ; temp. 80 c to 35’; 5 hours on foot. 1% in auto; 33 miles in auto. 5 on foot. Observers to- gether. Geo. O. Hendrickson, Stanwood K. Bolton, Jr., Sam W. Gadd, MOUNT VERNON (circle north of town through farm lands and south of town through timber along the Cedar River) : Dec. 21: 9 a. m. to 12:80, L :30 to 5:80 p, m. Clear; ground bare; edge of river only was frozen: strong wind: temp. 35 J to 26°; 15 miles by car, 6 on foot. David Ennis, J. Harold Ennis. OTTUMWA (Community Gardens and Lake Wapello): Dec, 26; 2:80 to 5:30 p. m. Cloudy and mistv : temp. 42 p at start, 36° at return. Marv Wood, Jane Wood, Virginia Wood, Pearle Walker, W. W. Aitken. SIOUX CITY (Brown's Lake area. Brower’s Lake area. War Eagle’s Monument Park woods, along confluence area of Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers, lower Riverside area; hill woodland, mature deciduous virgin heavy timber land 65%, lake and river country 25%, open hill and lowland’ 10%) : Dec. 19; 10 a. m. to 7 p. m. Clear; ground mostly bare, with some large patches of hard-packed snow still remaining from blizzard of Nov. 7; all lake water except area south of Hoevers Island frozen over, Missouri River with some ice in it. Big Sioux frozen over; wind n„ n, w., 18 m. p. h. ; temp. 30°. Observers in 5 groups. Mr, and Mrs. W. J. Armour, W. W, Trusell, Zell C. Lee, Karl Kuhlmann, Don Bushar, Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Schott, Carl Wellhausen, Mrs. Mayme Brown, Mrs. Marie Dales. Mrs. Max Foster (Sioux City Bird Club). TAMA (and vicinity, including radius of 4 miles west, south and east of c ity — about the same area as reported from in past years) : Dec. 25; 9 a, rru to 12, 1 to 5 p, m. Clear; temp, 30*. Observers together, in car most of the trip. Mr. and Mrs. W. G, MacMartin. WATERLOO (and some areas near Cedar Falls): Dec. 28 ; 9 a, m. to 3:15 p. m. Slightly cloudy till noon, clear in p. m. ; ground bare and dry; no wind; temp. 9’ at start. 25’ at return; 25 miles by auto, 5 on foot. Mrs. John Barlow, and Misses Mary Young, Katherine Young, Carrie Neidy, Mardell Holley, Katherine Perry, Myra E. Loban, R. Lucile Loban (Waterloo Audubon Club). WAUBONSIE STATE PARK (chiefly within the park’s 630 acres of Missouri loess bluffs; s. e. 4 miles and return by auto, also 3 miles s. w. and return) : Dec. 23; 10 a. m. to 12:30, 1:30 to 5 p, m. Clear; 2 in. of 2 -weeks-old snow on sheltered slopes; light, raw s. e. wind; temp. 2° at start, 10° at return; 5 miles on foot, 6 on horseback, 14 by car, M. L. Jones, GENERAL NOTES 11 IXXoUXL'EMEXT UF THE SECOXD AXXUAL IOWA SPRIXG BIRD CENSUS By MARTIN L. GRANT The following rules for the 1044 Spring Bird Census have been formulated by a committee, appointed at the last annual meeting, con- sisting of F. L. R. Roberts, Chairman. C. C. Ayres, and Helen M. Peasley, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, May 5, G, or 7 (any on* of the tntee davs) is the time set. The actual choice of which week-end to use was left to the President. The following data should be included m the re- port: (1) Location. (2) Date. (3) Description of territory covered (4) Weather. (5) Number of observers participating:, (b) Number ot miles covered on foot and by other means, to be listed sepaiateiy. ( i) Number of hours spent in the held, (S) Names of all species observed, arranged in official A.O.U. order, preferably on one of the check-Ust cards of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. These cards may be obtained from the Secretary for lc each. (9) Number of individuals of each species seen. The letters “C” for counted, or “E” for estimated may be appended to the number for each species. (10) Signature of the person or persons responsible for compiling the report. The following quotation is from the report of the committee: In sending in reports of these held trips, any doubtful records should be discarded. Birds which may not reasonably be expected in your locality should not be recorded unless the circumstances under which they have been observed are such as to leave no doubt as to their identification. If rare or accidental species are repotted, the names of the persons seeing them, and the conditions under which they were observed should be reported in full. Records of our field observations can have con- siderable scientific value only if they do^ not contain internal evidence of careless or incompetent observation/" _ The census data should be mailed to Myrle L, Jones, Waubonsie State Park, Hamburg, Iowa. If they are sent in immediately, it may be possible to present a preliminary report of the census at the annual meeting, which will be the following Sunday. Any suggestions regard- ing modifications or changes in the census rules will be in order lor discussion at this meeting. Do not mail censuses later than June 1st. The initial census last year seemed to be a very popular feature of the Union's activities, and it is hoped that all local groups of bird stu- dents throughout the state will be represented this time. GENERAL NOTES Bird Note* from the Ottumwa Vicinity .—On June 15, 1943, we lo- cated the Mockingbird and Orchard Oriole a mile south of Ottumwa. Both birds nest there, and we were told that the Mockingbird has been returning to the same locality for a number of years. I went to the place several times and heard the Mockingbird sing, though later in the summer it was less in evidence. We found the nest of the Orchard Oriole and I have it in my collection. Norman Burke and I saw a Mockingbird in Memorial Park on February 20, 1944. I saw a Kentucky Warbler In the Community Gardens on September 19, 1943. It was in some shrubbery close to one of the ponds and I had an excellent opportunity to observe the bird through my binoculars. It is very uncommon in this vicinity. The Community Gardens also gave me the sight of a Catbird on December 19, 1943. It was in the underbrush, and though there was some snow on the ground, it didn’t seem to mind. About November 15, 1943, an immature Bald Eagle was shot. We went out to the place, which was not far from Ottumwa, and identified the bird, and the identity was later verified by Jack MusgTove. Its wm^spread was nearly six feet.- — CHARLES C. AYRES, JR., Ottumwa, Iowa. IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIV, 1944 12 Pileat«d Woodpecker in Clinton County. On July 3, 1943, while fishing along the Wapsipinicon River near Wheatland, my sister Dolly and I saw two Pileated Woodpeckers. Again in November one was in the vicinity. On December 30, 1943, we followed a Pileated for ap- proximately a mile through those woods, watching it hammer huge chips from oak trees, and hearing it3 call, which is much louder and slower than that of the Flicker. On our December 30 trip, we also observed Red-shouldered Hawk, Ring-necked Pheasant. Barred Owl, Red-bellied, Red-headed, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jay, Crow, Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Starling, English Sparrow. Cardinal. Goldfinch, Slate-colored Junco and Tree Sparrow. — C. ESTHER CQPP, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Returns from Bonded Bird* In Jackson County, The following rec- ords of banded birds recovered in Jackson County will be of interest: In mid-October. 1943, Harry E. Rector shot a Pintail near Maquoketa. It earned band No. 38-635367 and was banded by H. C. Lawrence, February 13, 1938, at the Lake Mattamuskeet Refuge, New Holland, North Carolina. A Chimney Swift was found dead at Maquoketa on September 28, 1942, just after the period of unseasonably cold weather that visited this region at that time. Its band number was 38-21455 and it was banded by B. B. Coffey, Jr., October 4, 1937, at Memphis. Tennessee. On October 17, 1943, Ray Beckman and Earl North killed a Mallard hen on the Green Island Bottoms in Jackson County, It had been banded by J. B. Low, October 18, 1942, at the Chautauqua Refuge, Havana, Illinois (band No. 41-736384).- — GARFIELD HARKER, State Conservation Officer, Maquoketa, Iowa. Woodcock* in Southern Iowa in Summer. My husband and I spent the summer of 1943 at the Hillculture Experimental Farm, at Floris in southern Iowa. We had the unusual experience of observing five or six young Woodcocks that had apparently hatched out in the woods near the experiment station. We stopped one evening at a neighboring farmhouse and were shocked to see a dead Woodcock upon the window- ledge. The farmer had seen the birds on several occasions, so had shot one for us to identify. He told us where to look for the young, in a swampy ravine of willow and birch virtually in our backyard. Shortly after that, one was observed three-quarters of a mile from that spot. At dusk we could hear them over the fence about 200 feet from our front porch. The last we heard or saw of them was on July 21. Some of the other rather unusual birds seen on the Experimental Farm were: Yellow-breasted Chat. Bell's Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Lark Sparrow, Mockingbird and Orchard Oriole. — MRS. IVAN L. BOYD, Baldwin, Kansas. The Blaek-throited Blue Warbler a* a Delayed Migrant. ^On No- vember 20. 1943, I had the very unusual record of a Black-throated Blue Warbler at the farm home of John Allert, five miles west of Mc- Gregor, Clavton County, Iowa. I was standing near the stove in the kitchen, talking to Mrs. Allert, when I noticed a bird fluttering around against the north window screen. Mrs. Allert remarked that “a bird has been doing that all morning/' I first thought it was a Chickadee and then I noticed how dark it was. Close inspection showed it to be the Black-throated Blue Warbler. It was a rare experience to be able to study this species at a distance of five to seven feet on the 20th of November! It was working over the screen, evidently finding dry bugs in the mesh. I followed the bird outside the house and it also worked up under the eaves and found something in the spider webs. It was a male bird. Mrs. Allert reported that it had been about the house the day before. This extreme delay in its migration 13 difficult to account for, — O. P. ALLERT, McGregor, Iowa. GENERAL NOTES 13 The Rcd-brea»tsd Nuthatch at Amet. — My earliest record for this species was made in 1923. I have had occasional records from that time on, but only one bird was seen on each occasion. On November 20, 1941, a Red-breast came to our home in Ames, The abundance of food at our station seemed to be something it could not understand- It flew madly from one place to another, eating suet, walnuts, sunflower seeds, then repeating the performance all day. The bird stayed all winter. In 1942 a Red-breast came on November 19, and again it stayed all winter. My last record for the winter of 1942-43 was May 17, a very late date. On September 15, 1943, a dead Red-breasted Nut- hatch was found on the school grounds — an earlier date than I have had it at my home. My first Red-breast in the fall of 1943 was seen on October 14. It was seen again of the 17th, but it was not until November 9 that it came to the suet feeder at the back of my house and settled down as a regular boarder. Soon after this I discovered that there was more than one, and on December 2 I saw four at one time. After that date they fed hourly or oftener, and made a quick procession with the chickadees. They were quite unafraid and would come to feed while I was working a foot or two from the feeding shelf. Their appetites seemed enormous. — MRS. F. L. BATTELL, Ames, Iowa. Red-breaited Nuthatch in Linn County. AT MOUNT VERNON. For the first time in many years Mount Vernon reports are available on the Red-breasted Nuthatch. Apparently the initial record was that of Miss Betty Smith, who found a dead bird on the Cornell College campus on October 4, 1943. Mrs. Forrest Millikin states that Red-breasted Nuthatches visited her feeding counter daily beginning December 14, Not more than two individuals of this species were noted at any one time. This bird was first seen at my feeding-station on December 27, 1943, and it reappeared on several occasions. The smaller size of this species and the black and white lines through the head do not allow it to be confused with its relative, the White-breasted Nuthatch. — J. HAROLD ENNIS, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa. AT CEDAR RAPIDS. On the morning of December 29, 1943, a Red- breasted Nuthatch appeared at our feeding-station, and was seen there frequently on a number of days following. The bird fed on the suet and appeared almost as soon as it was light; it came for its last morsel as late as 5:30 p. m. This is the first time this species has been reported in this area for several years. — MYRA G. WILLIS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Emmet County Bird Obtervation*. — The first Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that I have seen in this vicinity was observed on May 16, 1943. The bird, a male, was observed for some time as it flitted about among the outer branches of a tall elm. How late does a cuckoo nest? I was walking in the woods near Mud Lake on September 6, 1943, watching the ground as I walked, I heard a bird start from a low branch overhead. The foliage was dense and I saw no bird, but there was a nest in the horizontal branch which I reached and bent down enough to see two pale blue-green eggs in the loosely constructed nest. The nest and eggs belonged to one of the cuckoos, but I have not had much occasion to note the differences be- tween those of the two species. The bird did not appear again while I was about and I do not know which one it was. It was two weeks before I could visit the place again, and then the nest was partiy de- stroyed and empty. During the last two years fall migration of Golden Plovers has been observed through here. In 1943 they were seen in considerable num- bers on November 5, Small flocks in the air had been seen before that. In 1942 a large number remained in an alfalfa field from October 27 to November 3. In previous years l had seen them only during spring migration, the earliest record being April 21 and the latest May 21. B. 0. WOLDEN, Estherville, Iowa. 14 IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIV, 1944 Winfr R**ord..— ^ Casual observations yielded the following records for Mount Pleasant during the winter of 1942-43: A Wilsons Snipe on December 22 and 23, 1942; a Red-breasted Nuthatch on January 4 1943 ■ and a Northern Flicker on January 17, 1943. — NICHOLAS L. and MABEL E. CUTHBERT, Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Th« Upland Plover in Southern low*.. — In May, 1942, while riding in the country, I saw four Upland Plovers in the vicinity of Moulton, a small town about 16 miles east of Centerville. On June 5 1943, 1 was at the same place and drove out to a farm belonging to my brother. We were looking at a field of oats and as we walked toward the east fenee an Upland Plover came flying to meet us. It circled 50 feet or more 'above our heads, crying as it did so. Two other Upland Plovers were perched on fence posts a short distance away but they made no effort to approach us. As the field was soaked from recent rains, we made no effort to see if the birds were nesting. My brother informs me that a pair of these birds were in the same field during the summer of 1942. Every time he or any of the men were in the field the birds flew about them and followed them for some distance as they left the field. He thought they had a nest there, but no nest was found and no young birds were ever seen. About five miles southeast of Don- nellson, Lee County, Iowa, an Upland Plover was seen perched on a telephone pole on June 7, 1943.— ALOIS JOHN WEBER, Keokuk, Iowa. Coot* Covered With Ice. — While carrying out a waterfowl investiga- tion in northwestern Iowa 1938 to 1940, American Coots (Fultca amery ccina) were often observed feeding on the accumulation of debris brought to the shore by the waves following the ice break-up in spring; The floating and semi-fioating debris consisted largely of dead and green plant stems, seeds and animal matter from decaying fish and other aquatic animal life. At the edge of the debris, where the splash- ing waves were roiling the water and continually stirring up the debris, the Coot apparently found the choicest food particles. However, dur- ing sub-zero cold periods which occasionally occurred after the birds arrived in spring migration, the water splashing on the Coot3 froze to ice. . . . , . On April 4, 1940, while making spring migration observations at Round Lake near Ruthven, Iowa, I found Coots along the shore un- able to fly and often barely able to walk because of the heavy loads of ice on their wings, necks, backs and sometimes on their heads. I picked up one dead Coot and three live Coots which were unable to move, while a half dozen others, walking laboriously under their loads of ice, managed to get into the water. Of these picked up one had ice over it 3 neck and over one eye; the dead Coot had ice over its head and bill. Still others already in the water when I arrived had chunks of ice hanging from their feathers. At my approach the Coots on shore moved toward the open water and in so doing broke off some of the encumbering ice particles. Coots suffered greater mor- tality during cold periods than other species of water birds. During one storm, April 4-6, 1938, an estimated 100 Coots died on Mud Lake and probably many more on other lakes in the vicinity. Under an overhanging side of a muskrat lodge 14 Coots and 2 grebes were found, while around other muskrat lodges as many as 2 or 3 Coots were found dead. Dead coots along the shore were scattered, indi- cating that they had probably died on the water and the wind and waves had washed them ashore. Coots caked with ice during cold temperatures were extremely handicapped and undoubtedly subject to predation since thev would fall easy prey to minks, foxes, dogs and other predators. — JESSOP B. LOW, Illinois State Natural History Survey, Urbana, Illinois. RECENT BIRD BOOKS V) RECENT BIRD BOOKS A GUIDE TO BIRD WATCHING, by Joseph J. Hickey (Oxford Uni- versity Press. New York, 1943; cloth, pp. i-xiv+ 1-262, with chapter- head decorations by F, L. Jaques, and bird tracks illustrated on end sheets; price. $3.50). . Ornithology with its various angles of ecology, physiology, parasit- ology, taxonomy, bird banding, game management and general wildlife research, is often so bewildering to the beginner that he becomes dis- couraged before he has made a fair start in bird study. Mr. Hickeys new book is intended to clarify the atmosphere for the novice and show him how to proceed with a minimum of wasted effort. Each decade sees the publication of a guide for newcomers to ornithology (for example, Job's 'How to Study Birds' and Pearson's ‘Bird Study Book’, in past years). This new- book, with its summary of accomplishments in bird work in boiled-down form and with the new trends and ideas explained clearly and concisely, will be the standard guide for at least the next decade. Its scope is much wider than its predecessors, and its pages are packed with the kind of information that bird students and bird clubs, eager to keep abreast of ornithological progress, now demand, It is in every sense an up-to-the-minute, vital book, Mr. Hickey begins by explaining the modern art of bird watching. He tells how'it may become a useful avocation leading to a lifetime of pleasure with the added possibility of making a worthwhile contribu- tion to science. He answers many questions which beginners are cer- tain to ask: the source of bird names, how to learn them, how to iden- tify birds in the field and to learn their songs, how to pick a good field glass, how to meet other students, where and when to look for birds, how to take notes and keep records. There are chapters on bird migra- tion, counting birds, distribution and food of birds, bird banding, bird watching and life-history studies. Helpful advice is given in an outline of what to publish and how to prepare manuscript. The author's simple language and enthusiastic style will hold the interest of all readers. It is not a book just for beginners. The whole broad subject of bird study is covered authoritatively with skillful sifting and assembling of facts about newest developments and discoveries in the science- — knowl- edge that is important to all classes of bird students, from beginners to veterans. Interspersed with the serious discussion are personal anec- dotes of the author which enliven the pages considerably. The appendix is a most useful feature containing five sections. One introduces the subject of bird tracks, one gives the results of breeding- bird censuses, a third outlines a life-history study, a fourth (32 pages long) gives an annotated bibliography of bird books for all forms of reference, and the last gives the names and addresses of all local bird clubs in the United States and Canada. High wartime production costs are indicated in the price of the book. A few years ago a book of this size without plates would have been sold for about half this figure. It is to be hoped that later editions will see these costs lowered so that the book will reach more readers and thus attain a greater usefulness. — F. J. P, * * * * • CONSERVATION AND THE SCHOOL, by Charles F. Martin and Lou A. Shepherd (Klipto Loose Leaf Co., Mason City, Iowa; cloth, pp. 1-105, illustrated; price, GOc). Mr. Martin, senior author of this book, is Superintendent of Schools of Jackson County, Iowa, and a member of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union. The book is valuable for teachers who stress conservation in their classes, and the subject is very thoroughly covered, A full out- line of the need of conservation of our depleted natural resources is given, followed by detailed plans and suggestions on how to develop an interest in wildlife study as part of the school program. The text 16 - IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIV, 1944 is based on sound conservation principles, and teachers will find excel- lent organisation of all the material. The building of feeding-stations for wildlife is considered an important step in conducting the nature program. There are diagrams of many types of feeders, with informa- tive detail on correct placing, kinds of foods most attractive to different species, and other useful data. Outlined according to the grades m school, from kindergarten upward, the authors give methods of keeping records and scrapbooks, making homemade movies and pictures, having school plays, and many other ways of stimulating interest m the work and making it tie in successfully with the curriculum. There is a good bibliography. Teachers have been waiting for just such a handbook. — F, J. P. NECROLOGY Walter D. Baker died suddenly at Ottumwa, Iowa, October 11, 1943, aged 43 years. He came to Ottumwa in 19 38, and became a supervisor of elementary science studies in the grade schools, and a teacher of industrial arts in the Stuart Junior High School. Before coming to Ottumwa he taught at Nevinville and Boone. He was a graduate of the CUrinda High School and attended Iowa State College at Ames, the University of Southern California, and the University of California, at which tatter school he obtained his B. A. degree. One of the hardest working teachers in the Ottumwa schools, Mr. Baker was very popular with the students and faculty. He was active in Boy Scout work and in church circles, and was very well versed in the sciences. As one of the most active members of the Ottumwa Bird Club, he will be greatly missed, for he was ever willing and able to join in making any project a success. He became a member of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union in 1939. Burial was at Los Angeles, Calif. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Susie L. Baker, a brother Paul R. Baker, and a sister, Mary Jane, all of Los Angeles. — Charles C. Ayres, Jr. George Seth Guion, a lawyer of New Orleans, Louisiana, and a mem- ber of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union since 1933, died at New Orleans, August 1, 1943, aged about 56. We are unable to obtain biographical data of any kind. Mr. Guion was keenly interested in birds, but he apparently did no writing for publication. His main activity was the building of a library. He had one of the finest private ornithological libraries in existence, one that was particularly rich in complete files of old and rare serial publications. He spared himself neither time nor expense in collecting these, and had a constant stream of letters going to all parts of America to obtain the publications desired. From one of his letters written in 1935 we take this interesting excerpt: « . . . Up in the attics of the rural homes of this nation. I'll wager there is many a priceless old magazine. I wonder if we may ever bring them to light. It is a problem, this collecting of old periodicals. I have many interesting letters from those pioneers in bird study, the old school of oologists. They hold on to their boyhood efforts in this school of journalism with a tenacity which bespeaks the great sentiment attached to it.” — F. J. P. We had hoped to present a selection from the letters of some of our members in the armed forces in this issue of ‘Iowa Bird Life’. We have had interesting letters from Robert A. Pierce, with the Army in Italy* John D. Goodman, with the Army in Africa; Ralph Heuer, with the Seabees in the South Pacific. However, this issue is crowded, and these letters are necessarily deferred. * * * * * There is a newly adopted son in the Waubonsie Park home of Mr. and Mrs. M, L. Jones. This fortunate young man is Loren Keith Ran- som Jones, who arrived late in 1943, at the age of one and a half years. Congratulations!