IOWA BIRD LIFE [

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE \

IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION \

VOL. XXI SEPTEMBER, 1951 NO. 3 5

OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

President — Albert C. Berkowitz, Des Moines, Iowa

Vice -President— John Paul Moore, Newton, Iowa

Sec’y-Treas. — Mrs. George Crossley, Farley, Iowa

Librarian — Dr. J. Harold Ennis, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa

Editor — Fred J. Pierce, Winthrop. Iowa

Executive Council:

Miss Zell C. Lee, Sioux City, Iowa
E. J. Petranek, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Clifford Johnson, Dubuque, Iowa

The Iowa Ornithologists’ Union was organized at Ames. Iowa, February 2S.
1923, for the study and protection of native birds and to promote fraternal re-
lations among Iowa bird students.

The central design of the Union's official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, desig-
nated 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. 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 at Winthrop,
Iowa, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXI, 1951

4(i

NOTES ON BOB-WHITE FALL AND
WINTER MORTALITY*

By R. E. MANGOLD

Iowa Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit
Iowa State College
AMES, IOWA

Since 1935 the Iowa Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit has conducted in-
vestigations on various phases of the life-history and management ol the
Eastern Bob-white, Colinus <i\ vtrginiamts L., on the Decatur. County Quail Re-
search Area in south-central Iowa. Fall and spring Quail population estimates
from 1935 to 1944 have revealed losses varying from an estimated winter mor-
tality of 6 percent to a fall and winter loss of 88 percent (Sanders, 1943). Some
causes for fall and winter losses of Bob-whites are hunting pressure, exposure,
starvation, predation, and movement. As hunting pressure has often been
considered the primary cause for large decreases in fall Quail populations,
emphasis was placed on the evaluation of this factor in the fall and winter
study of mortality during 1949-50.

TECHNIQUES OF RESEARCH

The 7,713-acre Decatur County Quail Research Area contains parts of High
Point and Woodland townships In Decature County and parts of Clay and Jef-
ferson townships in Wayne County. Because of the large size of the entire re-
search area, only the northern 4,739 acres were investigated intensively.
Residence was established with a farmer on the north edge of the area on
September 26, 1949, and was maintained until March 15, 1950. The investiga-
tor was on the area daily during this period, except between December 20
and 28.

The time afield in September and October was used to become acquainted
with the residents of the area and to census the Bob-whites. During the
Quail hunting season, November 1 to December 15, emphasis was placed on
contacting hunters. Weekends and Armistice Day were used exclusively for
hunter contact, and some of the time through the week days, when there was
no apparent hunting activity, was spent maintaining contact with the Bob-
white coveys. After the hunting season closed on December 15, an early win-
ter census was initiated and was completed on January 19. After that contact
was maintained with each covey until March 15, when the field investiga-
tions were terminated.

Census methods included listening for dawn whistling of the birds while
still on the roost, as explained by Stoddard in a letter to Errington and Ham-
erstrom (1936), investigating farmers’ reports of coveys seen, and searching
the entire area afoot with the aid of a bird dog. When “sign”— roosting
sites, dusting areas, droppings, feathers or tracks— w-as found, the location
was marked on a map as an aid in establishing limits of covey ranges. If
these locations did not correlate with known coveys, a search was made for a
new covey. When a covey was flushed, a count was made. If the count was
satisfactory, the covey was left undisturbed; but if the enumeration w r a$ be-
lieved to be inaccurate, the covey was recounted within a day or two. Dur-
ing January and February snow provided an excellent medium to locate
coveys and to check covey size by track counts.

During the Bob-white hunting season, an attempt was made to obtain in-
formation on all quail hunters on the area. To this end, the roads were pa-
trolled daily by car and when hunters were observed or heard shooting, they

* Journal paper No. J-1676 of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, Amos, Iowa,
Project No. 494. The Fish and Wildlife Service (U. S, Department of Interior), Iowa State
College, Iowa State Conservation Commission, and the Wildlife Management Institute co-
operating.

I

BOB-WHITE MORTALITY

47

were contacted. Farmers were questioned about hunters, but this method
did not reveal any additional information. Data obtained by these methods in-
cluded number of parties on the area, number of hunters in each party, num-
ber of coveys located, number of birds harvested, and number of birds crip-
pled and lost,

RESULTS

By October 3L 18 coveys had been located on the area, Three other
coveys were located, one each on November 3, 16, and 24, for a total of 21
coveys containing about 305 Bob-whites (Table I). Contact was maintained
at two to three-week intervals with the known coveys, and the area was
searched periodically to discover any influx of birds onto the area.

The early winter census, completed on January 19, indicated a Bob-white
population of about 200 birds in 18 coveys, No coveys entered the area in
the fall, but two coveys, totaling 30 Bob-whites, left the area.

Between January 19 and March 15, two coveys, totaling 27 Bob-whites,
entered the area, one covey of 13 Quail left the area, and two small coveys
united. As of March 15, when the spring census was completed, there were
about 202 Quail in 18 coveys.

Losses were separated into three categories: hunting, egress ^movement
off the area), and undetermined, such as predation, accidents, disease, etc. No
extensive losses due to severe winter weather occurred. Gains consisted of in-
flux of coveys onto the area.

During the Quail hunting season, 13 parties containing 34 hunters were
contacted. These hunters harvested 12 and lost 2 Bob-whites for a total of 14
birds, about 4.6 percent of the fall population of 305 birds. These 14 Quail
were taken from only 3 of the 21 coveys on the area. Moorman and Hend-
rickson (1941) found that 20 known hunting parties harvested less than 4

HOB-WHITES HIDING IN OSAGE ORANGE HEDGE Photographed hy Jim Sher-
man. Reprinted from “Iowa Conservationist,"

I

48

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXI, 1951

percent of the fall population on the 7,713-acre area during the 31-day open
season in 1940,

Egress of 3 coveys, totaling 43 Bob-whites ( 14.1 percent of the fall popu-
lation), occurred; one covey in mid-November, one in December, and one in
mid-February, One covey moved from a pasture containing no corn to a
cornfield edged by a wooded gully. The other two coveys left heavily graz-
ed cornfields for cornfields that were ungrazed or moderately grazed.

Undetermined losses between October 31, 1949, and March 15, 1950, to-
taled 73 Bob-whites, 23,9 percent of the fall population (Table I). Sixty-one
of these losses occurred before January 19, when the early winter census
was completed, and the other 12 were lost between January 20 and March 15.

Illustrative of various losses that occurred were those from coveys 3.
14, and 22 (Table I). Covey number 3. containing 16 Quail on October 31.
was located in an open pasture about 400 yards east of a cornfield. The covey
gradually moved eastward along a gully and was found in January along a
drainage ditch some 500 yards away. Four birds were lost between November
1 and 25, one was lost between November 26 and December 9, and one between
December 10 and 23. The covey moved southward about 500 yards after the
middle of January and lost one bird between January 21 and March 3 for a
total fall and winter loss of 7 Quail (43.8 percent).

Covey number 14, containing 11 Quail, was located on a hillside pasture
that was heavily grazed in October and November. There were no cornfields
within one-half mile of the covey. Contact with this covey was lost early
in December, While the entire covey was considered undetermined loss, it
was strongly suspected that covey number 23, located in January, contained
the remnants of covey number 14.

The largest covey, number 22, contained 26 Bob-whiles on November 16.
It lost 8 birds between December 20 and 28, One more bird was lost between
March 4 and 10 so that 17 survived.

TABLE I GAIKS AND LOSSES SUSTAINED BV 23 BOB-WHITE COVEYS ON THE DE-
CATUR COUNTY QUAIL RESEARCH AREA, SEPTEMBER 24, 1949, TO MARCH, 15, 1950

a Exact count on November 24. c Located November Id

b Located November 3. d Poaching suspected-

BOB-WHITE MORTALITY

49

BOB-WHITES

Art adult bird is seen in the left photograph, taken by r ' ! d °J"

Shows Bob-white chicks, newly hatched, sitting quietly m the hand. Reprinted from
Conservationist.”

Gains by influx of birds occurred late in January or early in Febiuary,
when two new coveys, totaling 27 Bob-whites, weie located.

SUMMARY

X. The fall and winter losses of Bob-whites were investigated on the 4,739
acre north area of the Decatur County Quail Reseat ch Aiea.

2 r The October 31, 1949, population was about 305 Quail, a bird per 15.5

3. Hunting during a 45-day open season accounted for 14 Bob-whites or
4.6 percent of the fall population.

4. The January 19, 1950, population was about 200 Quail. The loss of
105 birds from the October 31 population was accounted for by hunting, 14
fl3.3 percent); egress from the area, 30 (28.6 percent); and undetermined
causes, 61 <58.1 percent'.

5 The March 15, 1950, population was about 202 Quail. The apparent
gain of two birds was explained by an influx of 27 birds, an egress of 13 birds,
and a loss by undetermined causes of 12 Quail.

6. The 1949-50 fall and winter loss was 33.8 percent of the October 31,

1949, population.

LITERATURE CITED

Errington, P. L. and F, N. Hamerstrom, Jr.

1936. The Northern Bob-white’s Winter Territory. Iowa Agri. Exp. Sta.
Res. Bui. 201: 302-443.

Mangold, Robert Edward

1950. Fall and Winter Losses of the Eastern Bob-white, Colinus v. virgin-
iar.us L., on the Decatur Cdunty Quail Research Area, 1949-1950,
(Unpublished M, S. Thesis.) Iowa State College Libiary, Ames,
Iowa.

Moorman, Robert and George O. Hendrickson

1941. The 1940 Bob-white Season in Southeast Iowa. Iowa Bird Life, 11:
42-46.

Sanders, Earl

1943. Development of a Bob-white Management Area in Southern lowa.
lowa Agri. Exp. Sta. Res, Bui. 317: 699-726.

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXI, 1951

50

THE BREEDING BIRDS OF CREDIT ISLAND

By JAMES HODGES

DAVENPORT, IOWA

The writer hopes to make a study of the fauna and flora of the hundreds
of islands located in the Mississippi River between the Iowa and Illinois shore
line. The present report deals only with the breeding birds of one small island
in this group.

I. CAVITY NESTING HABITAT

Credit Island contains 409 acres lo-
cated in the Mississippi River and con-
nected to Davenport, Iowa, by a cause-
way. It is a city park maintained by
the city of Davenport. The area has
a golf course, play ground, baseball
diamonds, lagoon for fishing, plus spa-
cious picnic grounds. These, however,
are confined to the upper portion of
the island; the lower end of the island
is covered with virgin and second-
growth timber. The area also abounds
in underbrush and a heavy growth of
weeds.

The island was named during the
days when Indians roamed the land.
During the spring the Indians would
bring their season's catch of furs to the
island for credit on the supplies that they would need during the year. During
the years that followed the island changed hands many times, until it was
purchased by the park board of the city of Davenport. The recreational facil-
ities were developed to some extent, but a large portion of the island was left

undisturbed. Recently rather exten-
sive cuttings into the virgin and sec-
ond-growth timber have been made,
and a large amount of the undergrowth
has been cleared away. This will have
an influence on the bird population
for years to come.

The accompanying table lists the
birds which nested on Credit Island
during the years 1949 and 1950. These
two years represent an average breed-
ing population. During 1950. 12 houses
were erected on various parts of the
island for Bluebirds and eight for
Wood Ducks. Aside from these two
types of structures no other attempt
has been made to provide the birds
with man-made nesting sites.

II WARBLING VIREO AND REDSTART
NESTING HABITAT

CAVITY NESTING
It is among the cavity-nesting species
that the greatest competition for nest-
ing sites is found The island contains
many dead trees, but high winds and
other factors of weather destroy a cer-
number of nesting sites every year.

BIRDS OF CREDIT ISLAND

51

A typical locality for such nesting sites is shown in photograph I. A total of
1C species use natural cavities for nesting sites. The larger woodpeckers
f Flicker, Red-headed and Red-bellied)
and the Crested Flycatcher seem to
have little difficulty in securing nest-
ing sites. The smaller birds have dif-
ficulty in finding enough cavities. It
will be noted that the House Wren is
the most common cavity-nesting spec-
ies. Of the 12 Bluebird houses that
were erected, all were occupied by
House Wrens except one. It is known
that this species plays havoc with the
other nesting species by entering their
nests and destroying their eggs.

TREE NESTING

The majority of the island’s bird
population is composed of the tree-
nesting species. The Warbling Vireo
and Redstart are the two predominant
species in this group. These two seem
to be concentrated in one portion of
the island (photograph II) while the
remainder of the tree nesters are
found in areas such as pictured in
photograph III. Some of these nesting
trees have been destroyed by the park

board, but as yet, I am unable to determine how this will affect bird life.

List of the Birds Breeding on Credit Island. 1949 and 1950:

GROUND NESTING

1949

1950

Red-shouldered Hawk

1

1

Spotted Sandpiper

. 4

0

Wood Pewee

... 10

12

Killdeer

2

0

Alder Flycatcher

0

1

Northern Yellow'-throat

0

1

Warbling Vireo

31

44

Oven-bird

1

0

Red-eyed Vireo ........

... 13

10

Song Sparrow

. 22

32

Yellow-throated Vireo

1

2

Red-eyed Towhee

0

1

Redstart

40

93

CAVITY NESTING

Yellow Warbler

. 7

1

Tufted Titmouse -

. 3

3

Baltimore Oriole

... 14

3

Flicker

3

3

Red-winged Blackbird

. H

5

Red-headed Woodpecker

5

6

Catbird

5

13

Downy Woodpecker

. 12

9

Black-billed Cuckoo

... 4

1

Hairy Woodpecker

0

1

Goldfinch

. 5

0

Red-bellied Woodpecker

0

2

Cedar Waxwing

8

0

White-breasted Nuthatch

1

5

Indigo Bunting

8

4

English Sparrow

.. 7

0

Blue Jay

. 7

1

Tree Swallow

1

0

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

. 2

4

Prothonotary Warbler

3

6

Brown Thrasher

. 1

1

Crested Flycatcher

11

12

Wood Thrush

... 3

1

Blk.-capped Chickadee ...

. 8

3

Mourning Dove

... 5

1

Starling

9

9

Chipping Sparrow

.... 2

1

Bewick’s Wren

. 1

1

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

... 2

3

House Wren

46

52

Robin

18

22

Bluebird

. 2

1

Cardinal

9

12

TREE NESTING

—

—

Crow

. 2

1

Species

43

41

Barred Owl

. 1

1

Nesting pairs

350

384

III. TREE NESTING HAlilTAT

IOWA BIKD LIFE— XXI. 1951

52

THE FALL MEETING AT NEWTON

By MRS. GEORGE CROSSLEY

Secy .-Trcas., Iowa Ornith h’^Ists* Union
FARLEY, IOWA

Iowa Ornithologists' Union members and friends met Sunday, September
16, for the fifth informal get-together at Maytag Park, Newton. Mr. and
Mrs. John Paul Moore were hosts and made all the arrangements for the
meeting.

It was a beautiful fall day. In a lovely setting among the trees of
the park tables were arranged and decorated with strips of blue and white
crepe paper and fall asters. An unusually fine pot-luck dinner was the re-
sult of the cooperative efforts of the members, most of whom were assembled
by noon. Cold drink, coffee, ice cream and cake were furnished by our hosts.

After the dinner President Albert C. Berkowitz asked the group to remain
for a short business meeting. Members were introduced. Appreciation and
thanks were extended to Mr. and Mrs. Moore for the invitation and their
gracious hospitality. The first item of business presented by Mr. Berko-
witz was a statement concerning the low financial status of the Union due to
continually rising costs without a corresponding increase in income. A
motion was made by Mr. Palas and seconded by Miss Serbousek that the
minimum dues of the Union be raised to $2,00 per year (other dues remaining
the same), this motion subject to ratification at the annual meeting in 1952.
The moton carr ed unanimously.

There was discussion on the project of revising the present check-list.
It was moved by Dr. Ennis, seconded by Mr. Stempel, that the president ac-
cept volunteers, and that the old committee, with additional appointees,
continue working on this project. Motion carried. In order that the Union
benefit financially from firms and individuals who may will money or prop-
erty to our organization, Charles Ayres suggested (and offered his services)
that we be incorporated in the state as a non-profit organization. In our
present status we could not legally claim such financial support. Mr. Berko-
witz appointed Attys. Ayres and Palas to draw up such articles of incorpora-
tion and present them at our next convention.

The effect of DDT and 2,4-D spraying on our wild life was discussed. Mr.
Kozicky was named as the source of information on this subject with a re-
port to be made by him later. Dr. Ennis stated the need of more data on
the fluctuating bird population, and pointed out that each bird observer
could contribute information to such a study. Our group discussions were
highlighted by the remarks of Hans Wonsild from Denmark, a student at
Ames, who told about the great number of bird clubs, the actively interested
members, and current projects and problems in his country.

Mr. Ayres gave us a short account of watching the migration of birds
across the face of the moon through his telescope at Ottumwa, Iowa is ideal
for this study since, according to a study made by Geo. H, Lowery, Jr., ot
Louisiana State University, Ottumwa has the second largest seasonal density
of all stations on the North American Continent, and first in the United
States. Tampico, Mexico, ranks first in seasonal density. Mr, Ayres stated
that the peak of migration falls between 10:30 p.m, and 12:30 a.m. We hope
to have a report from Mr. Ayres at a later date, in which he will give us a de-
tailed account of "watching the migration of birds across the face of the
moon.” A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird which Mr. Ayres had with him
in a small cage created a great deal of interest and was the subject for many
photographs. The bird had struck a window in Ottumwa and was stunnned
temporarily. Careful attention and hand-feeding restored it to health. It

GENERAL NOTES

Do

died suddenly on the trip home from Newton, perhaps after having too much
excitement during the day.

The meeting adjourned about 4 p.m. A number of bird enthusiasts, led
by Mr. Moore, went on a 2-hour bird hike to Kellogg's Sloughs, and the
others went on their homeward way.

Attendance Register.— AMES, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Johnson, Hans Wonsild;
BOONE, Mr. and Mrs. M, L. Jones, Barabara, Charles and Loren Jones; CE-
DAR FALLS. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Dix, Mrs. Eugene Smith, Mrs. F. M. Stevens;
CEDAR RAPIDS. Lavina Dragoo, Lillian Serbousek, Myra Willis; CHARI-
TON, Bob Elgin; DAVENPORT, Rev. Thos. Feeney, Norwood Hazard, C. C.
Hazard, Jim Hodges, Peter Peterson; DES MOINES, Mr. and Mrs. Albert
Berkowitz, Abby and Eva Berkowitz, Mr, and Mrs. Woodward Brown, Mrs.
Chas. Christy. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Decker and two children, Mrs. Janetta Du-
Mont, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Graves, Irene Smith, Mrs. Harry Swanson, Mrs.
Toni Wendelburg; FARLEY, Mr. and Mrs. George Crossley; JEFFERSON,
Mr, and Mrs. C. H. Daubendiek; MT. VERNON, Dr. and Mrs. J. H, Ennis,
David Ennis; NEWTON, Rev. and Mrs. Edwin Briggs, Lucile McMurray, Mr.
and Mrs. J. P. Moore and three sons, Jimmy O’Brien, Mr. and Mrs. C, B. Welle;
OSKALOOSA, Mr. and Mrs. Audray Hale, Mr, and Mrs. Wayne Partridge,
Sue and Gene Partridge; OTTUMWA, Chas. C. Ayres, Jr., Chas. C. Ayres,
Sr„ Marietta Eighme, Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Stempel, Reid and Becky Ann
Stempel; POSTVILLE, Arthur Palas; TAMA, Mrs. J, G. Ennis, Mr. and Mrs.
W. G. MacMartin, Terry and Freddie Shelhanek. Mrs. Earl Soth; WINTHROP,
Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Pierce, Mrs. J. M. Pierce; WOODWARD, Mr. and Mrs, C.
C. Guthrie, Richard Guthrie; MT. CLEMENS, MICH., Bertha Daubendiek;
PHOENIX, ARIZ., Mrs. Vilma Shaffer. Total registered, 84.

GENERAL NOTES

Late Fall Notes from Northwest Iowa.— During the pheasant hunting sea-
son of 1950, the writer made several hunting trips to various counties. Since
my hunting was confined mostly to one or two counties during the course of
the day, the inclosed records will be given on a county basis. Several species
of common birds such as Tree Sparrows and the various woodpeckers, which
were seen on most trips, are not listed, because of extra space required for
printing.

November 11, Osceola County: Rough-leg Hawk, 15; Prairie Falcon, 1;
Marsh Hawk, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 2; Killdeer, 2; Mallards, a flock; Lapland
Longspurs, hundreds.

November 12, Osceola County: Rough-leg Hawk, 17: Red-tailed Hawk, 3;
Meadowlarks, numerous; Lapland Longspurs, thousands.

November 14, Sioux County: Rough-leg Hawk. 4; Red-tailed Hawk, 5;
Marsh Hawk, 1; Harris Sparrows, a few; Lapland Longspurs, a few.

November 17. Lyon County: Rough-leg Hawk, 6; Marsh Hawk, 3; Mourn-
ing Doves, Meadowlarks, Lapland Longspurs, a few of each species.

November 18, Sioux County: Rough-leg Hawk. 6; Red-tailed Hawk, 4;
Marsh Hawk, 1,

November 19. Osceola County: Rough-leg Hawk, 7; Marsh Hawk, 1; Mal-
lards, a flock, we flushed one lone Prairie Chicken; Rusty Blackbirds, a few,

November 28, Cherokee and Buena Vista Counties: Rough-leg Hawk, 5
f3 of these in dark phase); Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Short-eared Owl, 1 live one
and 1 dead one hung on fence: Northern Shrike, 1.

November 29, Cherokee County: Rough-leg Hawk, 3 ( 2 in dark phase);
Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Cooper’s Hawk, 1; Mourning Doves and Meadowlarks,
a few. We flushed 8 Short-eared Owls. Six of them were flushed from an
uncut meadow and I was kept busy shouting to the boys to let them go. This
was the largest number of Short-eared Owls 1 have ever seen together at
one time,— WM. YOUNGWORTH, Sioux City, la.

54

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXI, 1951

Waterfowl Migration at Little Wall Lake. Iowa. Spring. 1951 —Little Wall

Lake, a 273-acre public shooting area under the jurisdiction of the Iowa State
Conservation Commission, is in Hamilton County, central Iowa, In 1950. it
was about three-fourths grown with emergent vegetation, bulrushes, etc.,
and one-fourth with pondweeds, etc. The water depth in spring, 1951, was
about 5 to 6 feet in about three-fourth of the lake, and one-fourth was shal-
lower.

Twenty visits were made mostly by the senior writer from March 29 to
June 1951. At the first visit only a short narrow strip of open water at the
east side was seen. On April 8 the eastern half of the lake was open, and
all the ice had melted by April 13, about two to three weeks later than in
most years. The peak of the duck flight occurred about May 4 when 1900
ducks were estimated, The table below summarizes the periodic observations.

Species

Date Largest

First Main Flight Concentration

Seen Seen

Date

Last

Seen

Whistling Swan

April 13

1

April 13

Common Canada Goose

April 16

13

April 16

White-Fronted Goose

..April 15

1

April 15

Lesser Snow Goose

April 22

3

April 22

Blue Goose

April 13

31

April 22

Mallard

April 4

April 13-15

100

May 23

Gad wall

April 15

April 15

30

April 29

Baldpate

April 9

April 13-25

100

April 29

Pintail

April 8

April 8

50

May 9

Green-winged Teal

April 13

April 13

20

May 4

Blue-winged Teal

April 4

April 19-May 9

300

June 1

Shoveler

April 8

April 16-29

300

May 9

Wood Duck

March 29

3

May 9

Redhead

April 8

April 19-25

50

May 23

Ring-necked Duck

April 8

April 25, May 2

50

May 23

Canvas-back

April 8

April 13-16

200

May 16

Scaups

April 8

April 9-May 4

1000

June 1

American Golden-eye

April 8

April 13

20

April 25

Buffiehead

April 8

April 25, May 2

50

May 9

Ruddy Duck

April 19

April 19-May 4

100

June 1

American Merganser

March 29

April 2-4

40

April 25

Red-breasted Merganser

April 8

April 25

10

May 2

Coot

March 29 April 19-May 9

5000

June 1

—LESTER C. FLEMING and

GEORGE O HENDRICKSON, Dept, of

Zoology and Entomology, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Dr. George O. Hendrickson, who had been an associate professor at Iowa
State College for a number of years, was advanced to a full professor of Wild-
life Management on July 1. Besides personal gratification to Dr. Hendrick-
son, it is a significant fact that a full professor is recognized on the college
teaching side, for it means progress and more stability and success for the
Wildlife program in Iowa. At a spring meeting of conservation officers and
biologists at Ames, Dr. Clarence Cottam of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Ser-
vice and Fred Poyneer of the Iowa Conservation Commission singled out Dr.
Hendrickson lor special praise and honor as an able publishing biologist, and
as having "trained more able wildlife biologists than any other professor in
the United States.” This praise is well deserved. We congratulate Dr. Hend-
rickson, our former President and fellow bird student.

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

.JO

NECROLOGY

Mrs. Ella Lamson Clark, who joined the Iowa Ornithologihts* Union in
1925 and held continuous membership, died at her home at Burlington, Iowa,
September 27, 1950. She was born at Fairfield, Iowa, August 26, 1862, the
daughter of Ward and Maria Lamson.

She attended the Fairfield schools and studied music at Boston, Mass.
Her interest in music continued through the years. She taught for some time
at her home, and later, with her husband, was closely identified with the mus-
ical development in Burlington years ago. She was much interested in birds
and flowers. Many years ago, with the late Mrs. Frank Millard, she made
a bird nesting survey north of Burlington, and the results were sent to the
U. S. Biological Survey at Washington. The Clark home on the north bluff
overlooking the Mississippi River was a center of social activities for years
and was regarded as having one of the most beautiful views in Burlington.

She married Charles C. Clark, an attorney, September 3, 1885. Their
children were a son and daughter. Warren P. and Margaret M. Clark, The
couple celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary shortly before her death.
(Mr. Clark died at the age of 91 on January 22. 1951). She was a member of
the Congregational Church and was active in various church organizations.
Mrs. Clark was editor of the book. "Bird Notes from the Journal of a Nature
Lover", by William Graham Ross, published privately in 1938 (reviewed in
Iowa Bird Life, 1938, pp. 29-30).

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

A GUIDE TO BIRD FINDING, EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, by Olin
Sewall Petfingill, Jr. (Oxford University Press. New York, 1951; cloth, 12mo,
pp, i-xxi + 1-659, with 72 drawings by George Miksch Sutton; price, $5).

This small-sized book has an enormous amount of information packed in-
to it With the ranks of bird students growing rapidly each year, and with
more of them going to new areas to look for birds, it will fill a very defin-
ite need and prove highly useful as a travel guide to bird study.

The 26 states lying east of the Mississippi River are thoroughly covered.
Two states, Maine and New York, also have their adjacent Canadian borders
described, since many bird students cross over from these states. The var-
ious places for bird finding were carefully sifted and chosen, after much
study of the literature and a voluminous correspondence with observers who
have worked the areas under consideration. Compiling the book was a co- -
operative undertaking of the first magnitude. The finished product is a mas-
terpiece of compilation and assembly of data, with a vast amount of material
presented in boiled-down form.

The chapter for each state opens with an adequate introduction to the
ornithology of the state, followed by a good, general description of physio-
graphic regions, the areas of unusual bird concentrations in different seasons
of the year, and other information that the bird student will want to know
when planning a trip there. There are no long lists of species to be found
in each area, but special groups are mentioned so that one gets a very good
idea of what may be expected. Mention is made of the representative types
of bird habitat, from beachland to mountaintop. Special treatment is given
to the large metropolitan regions of the East, where there Is the largest con-
centration of bird students who are anxious to observe as wide a variety of
bird life as possible. The numerous national parks and wildlife refuges in
the eastern states, including some of the most popular vacation centers, are
thoroughly described. Up-to-date and reliable information on when to go
and where to go, directions for reaching each place from a certain highway
or city, and various other data are combined for the reader’s planning of a
successful bird trip.

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXI, 1951

5 (>

Quite apart from the basic purpose of this handbook is the fact that it
is all interesting reading, chapter after chapter. Even though one may not
expect to ever visit bird areas in another state, the book is still of interest,
for it is written in a way that makes one want to read it, in addition to using
it for reference. The reviewer found himself dipping into the various re-
gions and continuing to read them to the end. Of particular interest are
descriptions of the natural history museums and libraries in the respective
states. Many traveling bird students like to visit there and will welcome
the information on where they are located and what they contain.

The line drawings by Dr. Sutton are liberally sprinkled through the book
and serve to break the monotony of more than 600 pages of rather small
type— F. J. P

* * * * *

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, by Ira N. Gabrielson fThe MacMillan Co„
New York. 1951; cloth, 12mo, pp. i-xii-f- 1-274, with 40 photo illus.; price, $4.50)

The term wildlife is used in its broadest sense to include all species of
mammals, birds, and fish in which man has a management interest, We are
told that wildlife management involves much more than meeting the biolog-
ical needs of wildlife. It also requires the management of human activities
that affect wildlife and human use of the wildlife resources if it is to succeed,
The job of the wildlife manager is primarily that of producing the maximum
possible amount of wildlife, despite the utilization of vast areas for other pur-
poses, which to a greater or less degree limits wildlife production.

Chapter one outlines the problems of wildlife management. Succeeding
chapters tell about values and needs in wildlife research and education, inven-
tories, regulation of the harvest and refuges. The limitations and wasteful
costs of artificial propagation are set forth clearly. Constructive practical
advice is offered in dealing with competition between species of wildlife, be-
tween wildlife and livestock, and between desirable and unwanted cover
plants, A master in modern wildlife management, the author tells how to
manipulate the land and water environment, and also points out where more
research and trial in cover handling is needed. Positive sportsmanship and
constructive administration are clearly outlined. The first 12 chapters carry
lists of well-selected modern references upon which the author has drawn in
addition to his own experiences in more than 35 years in practical wildlife
management, including directorship of the U, S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
current presidency of the Wildlife Management Institute. In the last chapter
the question, ' Can public hunting and fishing be maintained?”, is answered
by an urgent call for more effective citizens’ leadership and organization
to manage wildlife and its environment more intelligently.

As in Dr. Gabrielson’s several other well-known books, the information
is up-to-date, and scientifically and philosophically correct as well as proven
practically sound. The words are not hard and the easy-flowing style carries
the reader along in a delightful, optimistic and inspired manner. He feels
that he has learned something really worth-while and that he must help in
the modern wildlife management program, — George O. Hendrickson.

*****

‘'Birds of Montezuma and Tuzigoot" is the title of a handsomely illustrated
booklet written by Henry H. Collins, Jr., and published by the Southwestern
Monuments Association. It is the first in a series designed to acquaint na-
tional parks and monuments visitors with the various birds to be found there.
Some 40 birds are briefly described in the present booklet. There is also a
check-list of all the birds reported from Montezuma Castle. This area in
Arizona is visited by thousands of tourists each year. The booklet will help
those who arc bird-minded to identify some of the common birds of the re-
gion. It sells for 25c and contains seven colored plates and 21 black and white
drawings by Roger Tory Peterson.