IOWA BIRD LIFE PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION VOL XVIII MARCH, 1948 NO, 1 OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION President — Charles C. Ayres. Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa Vice-President — Dr. Robert F, Vane. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Sec’y-Treas, — Miss Lillian Serbousek, 1226 Second St. S.W.. Cedar Rapids, Iow T a Librarian — Dr, Warren N Keck. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Editor — Fred J, Pierce, Winthrop. Iowa Executive Council: Mrs, Harold R Peasley, Des Moines, Iowa Miss Zell C. Lee, Sioux City, Iowa Miss Mary H. Young, Waterloo. Iowa The Iowa Ornithologists’ tJnin.n was orpu nixed at Amos, I iwa, February 28, 1923, for the study and protection of native birds and to promote fraternal re- lations among; Iowa bird student'. The central design of the Union's official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, desig- nated State Bird of Iov, a in 1-33 Publications of the Union: Mimeographed letters, 1923-1928 : ‘The Bulletin,' 1929-1830 : 'Iowa Bird Life.’ beginning 1931 . SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $1.00 a year. Single copies 25c each. Subscription to the magazine is included in all paid memberships, of which there are four classes, as follows: Contributing Mem- ber, $10.00 a year: Supporting Member, $3.00 a year; Regular Mem- ber, $1.00 a year; Junior Member (under 16 years of age), 50c a year. EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE WINTHROP. IOWA Entered as second-class matter February 9, 1932. at the post office al Winthrop. Iowa, under the Act of March 3, 1879. 9 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XVIII, 1 ( T) 2 3 8 — ^3 X n Li f! ’ D C rj i* * “ ■s r ft r i- ps " ii c = p ft; r :>> L j T 3 35 5 Tl - ~ Sj T -' n ! V n “j£ ? > a a f! r ; d r a r r 6 1 ft ^ ft p i 2. ! * - S» o s; v 3 = =r M* 9» ^ =5 X ape 0 s' J o' » “R a & a as ? 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V A * * V V A A *■ V 1 1 -V AX V X A A\ \> A Y A V V-t Vi \ ' \ ^ v - *. ** v \ *£ l k 4 * ^ t \ < * ^ V tf i t + A v 1 *AV tfv / ' v/‘"‘' T i j A 1 1 1 i w 1 ** * I '•> ,V\ T 1 %l' ^ / "i* ' u f ^ ’n. V - A V A 1 N 1 K h t ^ i rT U f - t * * v 1 « ‘ ~ l \ rV > ‘0 L t ^ i 1 d r 1 l * T 1 *. *“ * v " V- „ 1 ’ ' H 1 Ai 1 1 * .''•>/ ■“ V >■- . ’• ’-‘v J \./ .- . \r 4 “ . ■ ’ “'* 1 '* , r r,\* , rv, ^ - 1 t*/ sv i t ^ t \ „ r . ^ l > i h> r Vi * 'y' t- ? *- j A>YV ■ l jwr“' v i d <\ : ^ f j fr 1 * * J » ^ ^Sr’A “S - V • ' -'A - -> •> KSv- v - : ■ * ■•■ > « • vf-l' • ■ /;,- " j , V i .. •?-:*• . ' ' •••■:•» i ^;f.7 v. .va. ss : ~ c -y< r - ■ ■ ✓ , J ** ' ■ -j-r ' ■ - ^1 ' ■ ' ,- * - - T ' ' ' '.y . , ,J . f ‘ . ■. / ' -V /Jet; S :^> *V ; fDes Moines "Register & Tribune” photograph! IOWA BIRD LIFE— XVIII, 1948 V2 during the season, the take would be 125 million waterfowl. That was from a continental population of somewhere near 500 million birds. It is estimated that last year 24 million people were licensed to hunt and fish in the United States Whatever the breakdown may be as to hunters and fishermen, it still remains apparent that even though the bag limit were 4 per day, the in- creased number of hunters would still take at least as large a percentage of the somewhere near 100 million migratory waterfowl that exist on the con- tinent at this time. I have absolute confidence in the ability and the integrity of the officials of the U S. Fish and Wildlife Service and I am equally sure that they are aware of this condition. Yet I am alarmed at what might happen to our Blue Goose population should their limited numbers concentrate in Iowa during the fall and be subjected to the same pressure that is exerted upon other species of waterfowl which are apparently much more able to adjust themselves to changing conditions. I do not know what, if anything, can or needs to be done about it at this time, and I only offer as a caution the thought that the orni- thologists and conservationists of the state should watch carefully for any further indications of a major change in the fall migration habits of that most spectacular of all Iowa waterfowl, the Blue Goose. One must first crawl before he walks, yet few bird lovers seem able to recognize a kindred soul in the hunter or that he, as well as they, is striving within the limited means of understanding possessed by each to satisfy a deep and primitive desire that can only find expression in mankind's oldest sport — the hunt. Ornithologists "bag" sight records: hunters bag the birds them- selves. They are not as far apart as might appear on the surface. Our early ornithologists to the last man carried fowling pieces and collected their specimens. Substituting the binoculars for the gun was a slow process. Many duck hunters today are supplementing their autumn expeditions with dog and gun by spring excursions with a field guide and binoculars. In the com- mon interest of preserving for posterity the magnificent spring migration of Blue Geese up the Missouri River Valley, this common bond must be recog- nized and strengthened. The urge for people to find expression in the presence of wildlife in the marshes, fields, and woods is increasing at a tremendous rate Without direc- tion this is most often made manifest in the form of hunting with a shotgun. The increased pressure upon our wildlife continues and the end is not in sight. Game to be shot and carried home can no longer be furnished in sufficient quantities to satisfy the demand. More people must somehow enjoy our present and, in many instances smaller, wildlife populations. This is taking place, but too slowly. Each year more and more people gather along the Missouri River in March to see the “goose flight." Twenty-five years ago I witnessed it with few companions and was aware of a complete absence of public interest except as it might be related to poaching or indirectly assoc- iated with fall hunting. Now we are making some progress, but it is too slow. Instead of considering the hunter as an outsider, let’s draw him closer into our circle. Let s teach him to enjoy wildlife without shooting it. Cultivate his interests that so closely parallel ours. Invite him to join our clubs and participate in our field trips. We will not convert him simply by condemning hunting; we must provide something equally interesting and stimulating in its place. We the ornithologists must be the missionaries. In fairness to him let us recognize that he pays the bill to protect our interests as well as his own. All enforcement of wildlife laws in Iowa is paid for out of hunting li- cense fees. Our Fittman-Robertson program of purchasing and developing wildlife refuges is paid for by the hunter. Our Cooperative Research program MIGRATIONS OF WATERFOWL 13 expense comes out of the hunter’s pocket. He will confine his activities to shooting birds just as long and until he comes to know that there is another way to enjoy them. To perpetuate our wildlife we must change the thinking of the people who enjoy it. RECOLLECTIONS OF THE MIGRATIONS OF WATERFOWL By ELLISON ORR WAUKON, IOWA In 1857 I was born in a log house beside the Old Military Road, to Fort Atkinson, not far from McGregor. Iowa. In the same year my father bought 80 acres of wild land adjoining the town of Postville, 25 miles from the Mis- sissippi River, This was nine years after the Indians were removed from the Neutral Ground Reservation, and five years after the land had been opened to settlement. Later my father made other purchases. For 40 years, as a boy and man, this was my home. No one who did not see and know that land in its pristine beauty can conceive the abundance of the bird and wild animal life of those years of the early settlement. Seventy-seven species of birds nested within the limits of our boyhood excursions. These did not include the waterfowl, countless thousands of which passed by on their way to summer homes farther north. The first of the waterfowl migration reached us as islands of bare ground began to appear in the fields. Their coming, like that of the Robins, the Blue- birds and the Meadowlarks, was a matter of course. It was so every spring— but with a few exceptions only a general recollection remains in my mind. For a short time during the early spring, nearly every day from one to several flocks of the “Honkers," as we knew them, passed in a wedge-shaped formation. Usually there would be a small, disorganized flock a little to one side, or in the rear, near the end of the wedge. They always flew high, well out of shotgun range. Often we heard their clamoring in the night as they passed. During the winter we would get out a pile of “sled-length" wood from the “timber lot” down on Yellow River. When warm sunshine and mild spring winds began to clear the fields of snow, we worked this up into “stove wood.” If the geese were flying, as they usually w'ere, we would keep the rifle handy and take a shot at any that came within range. A neighbor boy once brought down a gander. He boasted much about his skill, and he had a right to boast. We were not so lucky, but we got a thrill from trying. Occasionally during the spring migration the news of the day, circulated by word of mouth, would bring us the information that a flock of geese had “lit down" in Mr. So-and-so’s field during the night, to rest and feed but had left early. As I came out of the door early one spring morning, I saw a flock of geese in a stubble field, perhaps 60 rods away. I owned a good rifle and it occurred to me that I might be able to sneak up near enough for a shot and get a goose. But I never got that near. They were too wary and took off against the north wind toward and directly over me at a height of 40 or 50 feet. I was too astonished to shoot. They were disorganized at first, but be- fore they had passed out of sight they had formed the usual wedge. We seldom saw them flying other than in the regular wedge formation, and if that was disturbed, it w*as soon re-formed. Only once can I recall when u IOWA EIKD LIFE— XVIII, 1943 it was not, I was making a survey a couple of miles west of the Mississippi, when a small flock passed near me flying against a strong headwind. They were thoroughly disorganized — flying like a flock of ducks, just above the tree-tops, dipping down into ravines and rising over the tops of the bluffs that parallel the river. I cannot recall ever having heard of the geese flying up the immediate canyon of the river or alighting on its channels, lakes or ponds. The numerous spring flights persisted well into the '70 s, and then we saw them less and less, until the passage of a clamoring flock was an item of real news. We always thrilled to the sight and watched them as they passed quickly from our view — it recalled the days that had slipped by us into the past. If my memory is correct, the flocks of the spring migration very rarely CANADA GEESE From a painting by George Miksch Sutton, Reprinted from “Wilson Bulletin,” Sept-. 1928. RECORD OF FILEATED WOODPECKER 15 exceeded 100. Fall migration flocks were much larger, when they came in waves, often in the night, and roused us with their calls. In later years they sometimes became bewildered by the bright electric street lights of the town. They circled about, low over the houses, and clamored loudly — which would bring out some shotguns. Once a fusillade of shots brought down a half dozen geese before they drifted away out of range and reorgan- ized their ranks. In late October, 1936, while on an archaeological survey in the valley of the Upper Iowa River, three large flocks of geese passed over us, at a height of about 800 feet. They were going west and were separated by about two miles. Some of the men with me tried to count them. In checking counts they concluded that very close to 800 had passed over, of which about 75 were in straggling, disorganized flocks. A teacher in a country school 18 miles to the south told me that on the same day the excited children came running in to tell her that wild geese were flying over. There were, she said, two large flocks headed almost straight west, and she thought there were about 100 in each flock. Those flocks that passed over us on the Iowa River in Oc- tober, 1936, were the last “Honkers” I have seen. Every spring the vast assembly of Blue Geese move slowly up the Missouri River in their migration. It appears that practically ALL of them are in this gathering. Judging from photographs, they are much given to circling about— much like a runaway swarm of bees, The Canada Geese did not migrate that way. They flew in flocks scattered over an extensive area of inland ter- ritory, and proceeded north without loitering. They usually alighted at night for rest and food, and moved on early the next morning. Only very inclement weather slowed them up. In northern Saskatchewan I once saw a flock of about 2,000 Snow T Geese about a small lake. They were very restless, and many of them circled above the water. At another time I saw a flock circling about high overhead, evi- dently to gain height, but I never saw them fly in level flight toward their destination. A NESTING RECORD OF THE PILEATED WOODPECKER IN DUBUQUE COUNTY By EMMETT B. and EDITH H PGLDERBOER DYERSVILLE, IOWA Pileated Woodpeckers have been seen in most of the northeastern counties of Iowa, east of the Cedar River drainage, by the writers during the past ten years. Although they seem to be present in small numbers in the densely timbered river valleys in this section of the state, we have not seen a recent record of their nesting in Iowa. It was our good fortune to find a nest of young Pileated Woodpeckers in western Dubuque County late in the spring of 1947. While hiking through a stand of hardwood timber between Dyersville and Rockville, on the Delaware-Dubuque County line, on June 15. 1947, we heard the loud ‘wick-wick-wick" note of a Pileated Woodpecker. A moment later we saw the bird, an adult female, fly through a stand of trees along a bluff and alight on the side of a tall sugar-maple stump. A raucous noise similar to the sound produced by young Flickers indicated that the woodpecker was feeding young. The mother bird left the nest immediately after the feeding IOWA BIRD LIFE— XVIII, 1943 16 but the young continued their noise-making for more than a minute after her departure. The ne$t-stump was about 200 feet from us and we had no trouble finding it. The large oblong hole was on the southwest side of the stump and was about 30 feet above the ground. Two young were sticking their heads out of the hole as we approached the nest. One of the young retreated to the bot- tom of the nest and was not seen again; the other, a fully-fledged young male with a bright red crest, kept poking his head out of the hole as though antic- ipating the return of his mother with another morsel of food. Although we heard the mother bird in the nearby timber several times while we were ob- serving the young, she did not return to the nest during the 15-minute period when we were watching it. The male parent was not seen at any time. On June 20 we returned to photograph the young woodpeckers at their nest-stump only to find the nest deserted. Since the young were fully feath- ered when we first saw them, they must have left the nest within a couple of days after our first visit. If we allow approximately three weeks for the laying and incubation of the eggs, and another probable three weeks for the young to become fully feathered, the time of mating and the beginning of the nesting period must have occurred during the last week of April or the first week in May. The nesting area was in the center of a tract of timber three miles long and varying in width from one-half to one mile along the meandering course of the North Fork of the Maquoketa River. The nest stump was on the west slope of a steep limestone bluff in a scattered stand of mature lindens and sugar maples. At the base of the bluff was a stand of silver maples and elms on a narrow flood-plain. Above the bluff the timber cover consisted of a dense stand of white oak saplings that had overgrown an area totally cut over 15 years ago. Adult Pileated Woodpeckers have been seen in this tract for the past five years, but prior to 1947 we had no knowledge of their nest- ing there, ANNUAL CONVENTION TO BE HELD AT SIOUX CITY MAY 15 AND 16 Our convention this year will be in the form of a joint meeting with the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, and will be held at Sioux City, Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16. The Sioux City Bird Club is acting as hosts to the convention and is handling all local arrangements. Interested groups from South Dakota. Minnesota and other regions are being invited to attend, The 1948 convention promises to be one of the finest in the history of our organ- ization .and offers exceptional opportunities for broadening our knowledge of bird life and for meeting many bird students from our neighboring states. At the time this issue is prepared for the printer the convention is in the early planning stages, but advance reports indicate there will be an unusual- ly interesting and instructive program of papers and pictures, together with the usual pleasant social contacts and good fellowship. The Sioux City region is one of the best areas for bird observation in Iowa, as has been shown by the success of the field trips taken there during our several previous conven- tions. We expect the dates of May 15-16 to coincide with the peak of spring bird migration up the Missouri River valley. The annual Ornithologists’ Banquet will be Saturday evening. Dr. George Miksch Sutton, famed artist, author and ornithologist, will be the speaker of l GENERAL NOTES 17 the evening. The field trips, starting in various directions toward the best bird habitats and converging at a designated spot for noon luncheon, will oc- cupy Sunday forenoon. A complete program, final announcements and other necessary information will be sent to each member at a later date. Reservations for the field trip and banquet should be sent to Miss Zell C. Lee. President of the Sioux City Bird Club, 1423 Douglas St., Sioux City. Hotel reservations should be made well in advance of the meeting. At this writing we are able to give only a preliminary announcement. But we are confident this will be one of the most important in our long series of annual meetings. We urge every member to keep the dates in mind and make all possible plans to be with us at Sioux City, May 15 and 16. GENERAL NOTES Nighthawk on Lofty Perch. — While visiting the campus of St. Ambrose College at Davenport, July 31, 1947. I saw a Nighthawk fly to and alight on the top of a 50-foot flagpole in the center of the campus. The Nighthawk perched on the small metal sphere on top of the pole. The ease with which it flew to and alighted on this unusual perch suggested that it had made frequent use of the pole as a perch. — JAMES HODGES, Davenport, Iowa. Feeding Winter Birds.— During the winter I put out food for the birds. The following birds came to my feeders: Chickadees, Blue Jays, English Spar- rows, Slate-colored Juncos, Starlings, a Blackbird or Grackle, Downy Wood- peckers, and Cardinals. Some food that I put out in a weed patch along the edge of a cornfield attracted Slate-colored Juncos, Tree Sparrows, a White- throated Sparrow, a Song Sparrow, Ring-necked Pheasants and Mourning Doves.— DENNIS CARTER, Thor, Iowa. Red Crossbill in Scott County.— On November 22, 1947, I found an adult male Red Crossbill along Duck Creek in Davenport, just west of Harrison Street This is the first record of the species in this area since 1906. when Burtis H. Wilson reported it as an irregular winter visitor.— JAMES HODGES, Davenport, Iowa, Crossbills and Evening Grosbeaks at Clarksville. — On August 25, 1947, my mother. Mrs. E. B. Stevenson, and Mrs, Eldon Williams saw a flock of a dozen Red Crossbills at Clarksville, Iowa. At about the same time they saw a small- er number of Evening Grosbeaks. They were feeding on sunflower seeds when observed, and would cling to the face of the sunflower and eat out the seeds.— MRS. VERNON ULRICH, Cedar Falls, Iowa. Crossbills at Sibley in August.— Our grape arbor and sunflower patch at- tracted many interesting birds during the summer of 1947, and among the most important of these were eight Red Crossbills on August 13 and 14. There appeared to be seven females or immature birds, and I presumed the eighth was a first-year male, since it did not have the complete brick-red coloring shown in the books. During their two-day stay they remained on the flower’s and ate the green seeds. A friend and I stood not more than 10 feet from two of them and watched their bills scissor off the shell of the seeds. These birds were quite tame but always took off in a flock. It was the first time I had ever seen this species around Sibley — C, S. FITZSIMMONS, Sibley, Iowa. IS IOWA BIRD LIFE — XVIII, 1943 Fall Migration Notes from Sioux City — Despite the fine weather during September and October of 1947, migration data were not so spectacular as in the 1946 season and not so many good records were made. The flight of swal- lows was small and over quickly, with only a few Barn Swallows lingering until October 15. The last Nighthawks were seen on October 6, and Chim- ney Swifts were not seen after October 7. One Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen on October 7. I missed the usual heavy flight of vireos, and found only the Myrtle Warbler as a common migrant this fall. Orange-crowned Warblers were seen in small numbers almost daily from September 27 to October 7. My first fall records of Palm Warblers in 19 years were made on October 5, with about a dozen of the birds on the 6th and single birds on the 7th and 8th. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were not seen until October 6; they usually arrive sev- eral weeks earlier. According to my records, both the Slate-colored Junco and the Harris Sparrow were about two weeks later in arriving than usual. The hawk migration in the fall of '47 was very disappointing and not a dozen hawks in all were seen. Most of these were Sharp-shinned. Marsh and Red-tailed Hawks. The only interesting record was an Osprey, which was seen near the Missouri River on September 9. A small flock of Canada Geese was seen on October 23, and on October 6 hundreds of Franklin's Gulls flew over, with the big flight on October 22, when the gulls went over all day long and numbered many thousands. On November 11, while hunting in the hills of eastern Woodbury County, we flushed a Northern Shrike and watched it fly off with a portion of a small bird, probably a Junco or Tree Sparrow, Numerous small flocks of from 10 to 15 Meadowlarks were also seen, but 10 days later, while hunting in south- ern Sioux County, they were getting scarce and only a few were seen. New- comers were taking the Meadowlark's places. They were Lapland Longspurs from the north, and although only in flocks of tens, they were present to her- ald the coming of cold weather. Several flocks of Mallard ducks, from 100 to 400 birds, were flushed from cornfields. One Marsh Hawk and one Hough- legged Hawk were also seen. On December 9. a Sharp-shinned Hawk was noticed worrying about the neighbors* pigeons; it was around again on De- cember 11.— WM, YOUNGWORTH, Sioux City. Iowa. RECENT BIRD BOOKS WILD WINGS, by Joseph James Murray (John Knox Press. Richmond, Va., 1947; cloth, 8vo. pp. 1-123, with 15 illustrations from photographs; price, $2.50), This book is in the class of "appreciation’’ books. The author, a Virginia minister, has made bird study his lifelong avocation, and he writes charm- ingly of his field trips and experiences with birds. He has the ability to ap- preciate and describe the beauties of nature as they are revealed in his home Valley of Virginia, The result is a collection of delightful chapters about the birds he has seen on his walks. It is not a reference volume or handbook of birds, but the sort of book one likes to read for relaxation. The reader accompanies Dr, Murray on his field trips, through the medium of vivid de- scription, and enjoys with him the hundreds of bird experiences that he has had in the beautiful Virginia countryside through all the seasons of the year. The book is divided into four parts. The first part is devoted to trips around the author’s home, which is at Lexington. Virginia. The second part takes the reader on a longer tour. By a series of brief chapters he visits the Great Dismal Swamp, the Back Bay country, White Top Mountain, Paradise Swamp in North Carolina, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. MEMBERSHIP NEWS A little later he is on the Kissimmee Prairie and follows the Tamiami Trail in Florida, finally exploring the Florida Keys, Dr. Murray’s pages are filled with wild wings of many colors, and one gets the urge to visit the southeastern coast and see these interesting birds at first hand. The third section of the book describes European birds, when the author visited England, Scotland. France, Switzerland, Germany and Holland. The fourth and closing part contains an article on Audubon, and another on “Jesus and Nature." followed by a discussion of birds mentioned in the Bible. Fifteen photographic reproductions, all but four of them from Allan D. Cruickshank's negatives, add considerably to the attractiveness of the volume. A colored plate of White Ibises in flight, by F, L, Jaques, taken from How- ell’s ' Florida Bird Life." is used on the jacket and should have been given a permanent place in the book, — F.J.P. HOW TO ATTRACT THE BIRDS: PLANTING, FEEDING, HOUSING, by Robert S. Lemmon ( American Garden Guild & Doubleday Co,. Garden City, N.Y., 1947; cloth, 12mo, pp. 1-126, with 30 drawings; price, $1.50). The numbers of bird lovers grow from year to year, and this little book will fill a definite need for a low-priced publication giving advice on how to attract birds about the home. A great deal of information is packed into its pages, while numerous line drawings and bird house plans supplement the written text. There is a chapter discussing various houses and shelters, with house measurements given in tabulated form for a dozen species. Another chanter tells how to attract birds by feeding and the best foods to use. This is followed by a detailed compilation of the trees and shrubs that may be planted both for ornamental purposes and attracting birds. Drinking pools and bird baths are also described. A chapter on birds’ nests and another briefly touching migration will give many persons having only a slight ac- quaintance with birds a desire to learn more about them, The little book is just what many people have been wishing for, and it should have a wide cir- culation, — F.J.P. MEMBERSHIP NEWS Audubon Magazine, ’ in its January-February issue, printed a number of photographs taken at the annual meeting of the National Audubon Society last October, Our President, Charles Ayres, Jr., appears in two of the pic- tures. We wish the National Audubon meetings were not held so far away and that more of our Iowa members could attend them. Harry E. Reetoi of Vinton, a state conservation officer, has resigned his position, effective July 1, to become Executive Secretary of the Iowa Izaak Walton League. His new work will include the publication of the “Iowa Waltonian." the League's quarterly magazine. Mr. Rector is well known as a lecturer and conservation authority in eastern Iowa. He has ad- dressed the Cedar Rapids Bird Club and many other organizations. He was organizer and director of the first wildlife school for boys, which was held under the joint sponsorship of the State Conservation Commission and a Buchanan County sportsmen’s club, at Littleton, Iowa, in 1944, The school proved to be a great success and a fine educational venture, and many similar wildlife schools for boys have been held over the state in the past three years, REQUESTS DATA. James Hodges, 3132 Fair Ave., Davenport, Iowa, is making a study of the status and distribution of the Pileated Woodpecker in Iowa, and would appreciate having notes on the habits and occurrence of this i>o IOWA BIRD LIFE — XV 111. 1948 species as observed in different areas of Iowa. Exact localities and dates are desired. The Audubon Screen Tours have been brought to many Iowa cities during the past winter and have been enjoyed by large audiences. This is talent from outside the state, of course. We have a number of lecturers among our Iowa members who are prepared to give bird and nature talks to interested groups. Sometime we would like to make up a list of these available speakers, their subjects, their rates, and other information which would be useful to local clubs who would like to use their services, Our President, Charles Ayres, Jr., does considerable lecturing to nature groups, and is prepared to give several different lectures. A very successful one which he has recently developed is entitled, ‘ Only Seven Wonders of the World?” It deals with the wonders of nature and concludes with the showing of a collection of fluorescent rocks. Another of his lectures, on bird migration, illustrated by electrically lighted maps, has been heard by many of our Iowa members and thoroughly apprec- iated, Mrs, Ross J. Thornburg, a former Des Moines member now living in Arizona, writes us that she and her husband have made up a series of Koda- chrome slides of western and southwestern birds, animals, western scenes and flowers for the use of nature clubs. Among the slides are 50 bird pic- tures showing the rare Coppery-tailed Trogon, which is found in the United States only in the mountains of southern Arizona, Roadrunner, Pyrrhuloxia, Verdin, Cactus, Rock and Canon Wrens, and many others. The animal pictures include moose, antelope, elk. deer and bear. Each slide has a printed lecture description. A charge of $15, plus mailing charges one way, is made for the use of the slides. Mrs, Thornburg should be addressed at Route 2, Box 369. Tucson, Ariz, Mrs. Thornburg writes: “We finished up a wonderful summer and added many new birds to our list on our trip through western United States. In Oregon we had opportunity to study Pi leafed Woodpeckers close at hand as they worked at the base of trees. Saw many Chestnut-backed Chickadees in Oregon, and some Harlequin Ducks playing and feeding in the rough surf. In California we saw Ancient Murrelet, Yellow-billed Mag- pie and Heermann Gull, all new to us. We enjoyed seeing many Winter Wrens in the Northwest, also Golden-crown Kinglets and Wren-tits. We saw the Great Gray Owl and three or four Pygmy Owls. Here on the desert our same birds welcomed us home, or at least welcomed the feed we provide. Our Rock Wren, which left on March 19 apparently to go higher for nesting, was here when we returned and was as friendly as ever.” THE 1948 SPRING BIRD CENSUS President Ayres announces that the state-wide spring bird census will be taken on the week-end of May 7-3-9. All participants— individuals or local groups — will take their census on any area they choose, on one of the three dotes mentioned. The census should contain the data on hours, place, wea- ther. mileage, names of observers, etc., as given in the censuses published in past years. Records of unusual birds should be accompanied by full descrip- tive evidence. Send censuses to Charles C. Ayres, Jr. f 208 East Second St., Ottumwa. Iowa. The lists will be compiled and put into tabulated form in the Ayres law office, The decision as to whether or not the censuses will be published in “Iowa Bird Life” rests with the Executive Council, If the decis- ion is negative, the reports will be mimeographed and made available in this form for those who wish to have copies of them.