PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE IIQWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION President — Dr. George 0. Hendrickson, Ames, Iowa Vicc-Pres. — Mrs. C. C* Clark, Burlington, Iowa Sec'y-Treasurer — Miss Kate E. LaMar, Des Moines, Iowa Editor— Fred J. Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa Executive Council: Dr, Paul L. Errington, Ames, Iowa W. F. Kubichek, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Mrs. C. J, Fulton, Fairfield, Iowa Ex-officio Council Members (Past Presidents) : Walter M. Rosene Walter W. Bennett Arthur J, Palas Dr. F, L. R. Roberts SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Iowa, $1.00 a year. Outside of Iowa, 50c a year. Special rate for all libraries, public or college, l 50c a year. Single copies 15c each. Orders for reprints from arLieles or extra copies of the journal must be in tbe hands of the editor before publication. Plea-e notify the editor promptly of change of address and state whether the new address is permanent or temporary. Field Notes on Iowa birds, book news, and historical or biographical material pertaining to Iowa ornithology are desired for publication. VOL. IV MARCH, 1954 NO. 1 EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE WINTHROP, IOWA Entered as second-class matter February 5. 1932, at the post office at Winthrop, Iowa, 9 IOWA BIRD LIRE THE BALD EAGLE "Despite the fact that the Hald Eaele is protected under 'he frame laws of the State of Iowa a few of them are killed each year. - , . It is highly improbable that, the murk will ever nest in Iowa npiiin, but every elTnrt should be made to preserve the murrnnt birds while they are with ns." I This plate is from the Wild Life School and is published by courtesy of J, F. Widmfln and Sons. McGrepor. fowtui THE BALD EAGLE AS AN IOWA BIRD THE BALD EAGLE AS AN IOWA BIRD By PHILIP A. DU MONT During the past quarter of a century the Bald or White-headed Eagle has been known to Iowa bird students only as a spring and fall migrant, and occasionally as a winter resident The rivers of this bird across the state is restricted primarily to the larger nveis, although it is reported irregularly from the interior. , , In the earlier accounts of Iowa birds t^his eagle nesting in various parts of the state. Dr. R. M. Anderson, in of Iowa 1 ' (1007), stated that it was formerly common and frequently nested in favorable localities. However, by 1907 it was considered a tolerably common migrant along the larger water courses, and was noted occasionally in winter. Actual records of breeding are somewhat rare. In his Eire nis- tories of North American Birds” (Plate ix, fig. 7 > Major figured an egg of the Bald Eagle from a set of two obtained at Alden, Hardin County, Iowa, April 18, 1873. Morton E. Peck reported breed- ing birds in Blackhawk County about 1872. Chade * R \, Ke ^ that eagles had nested along the Cedar River near Mt Vernon about 1882 In 1906, J. L. Sloanaker of Newton stated that a Bald Eagle had recently nested near Kellogg, Jasper County, and that individuals had been taken there each summer for several years, two young had been captured during the summer of 1905. Keyes and Williams (Birds of Iowa, 1889) considered this bird , are; In the "List of the Birds of Winnebago and Hancock Counties Iowa (1897) Dr. R. M. Anderson termed the Bald Eagle a rare visitant. Dr. Paul Bartsch, in his list of the "Summer Birds of the Oneota l Val- ley” (1897), reported seeing a Bald Eagle about a cliff m Alla.ntakee County, June 28, 1895. Burtis H. Wilson, in his report on the Buds of Scott County, Iowa” (190G), stated that it was seen at every season of the year, although he believed that none bred in the ^unty, Lester P. Fa gen listed this bird in his "Summer Resident Birds of Polk County, Iowa” (1909), but stated that it no longer was resident there. H mentioned that it had been found by the earlier settlers. W ■ E. Praeger included the eagle in his list of the Birds of the ^e s Momes Rapids” (1925), and stated that it occurred at all seasons except mid- summer; in winter they often lit on the ice or lingered around the a On h e 0l must conclude that the Bald Eagle certainly must have been more numerous in Iowa at one time to Justify such names as Eag e Grove (Wright County), Eagle Center (Blackhawk County), Eagle Lake (Hancock County), and Eagle Point (Dubuque County). Until the last few iyears the migrant Bald Eagles found in Iowa were assumed to belong to the race leacoctphalm, which inhabits the Carolina and Gulf Coasts. Whether the Itfwa breeding buds did ac- tually belong to this race is pure speculation. The only d ‘ ff , e , r e nee be- tween this smaller bird of southern United States and the larger Alaskan race, atutcanns, appears to be the factor of size recorded (Univ. Iowa Studies Nat. Hist., XV, No. 5, pp. 52-53) measurements of nine Iowa specimens of Bald Eagle, and all except one were considered referable to the Northern Bald Eag ** oV^in^the fl/umii*!. The single exception is of an adult male. No. 28882, in the University of Iowa Museum. It was collected at Marshalltown Mar- shall County, by Ira N. Gabrielson, Mav 13, 191b. It is probably the onlv Iowa specimen of the Southern Bald Eagle, HJiantus 1 One writer Doints out that while the eagle is the emblem Republic, standing for freedom to enjoy life, liberty and the P^suit of happiness, it is actually a piratical parasite whenever it gets the 4 IOWA BIRD LIFE chance. By preference the Bald Eagle is a scavenger, feeding on dead fish or other carrion. A common sight along the west coast of Florida during the winter months, is the Osprey dropping for a fish, coming up, and starting back to its favorite perch. Frequently it will hardly have made the catch before an eagle comes diving down upon it, forc- ing the Osprey to drop the fish in its effort to escape. Continuing the dive, the eagle will catch the fish before it hits the water. In the northwestern part of this country and through Alaska the White-headed Eagle is reported to do considerable damage to wild- fowl and mammals. Certainly many of the tales concerning the size of its prey are exaggerated. Seldom does one of these birds weigh over twenty pounds, and a goose would certainly make a good load for it. Despite the fact that the Bald Eagle is protected under the game laws of the State of Iowa a few of them are killed each year. In most instances it is the result of a person "wanting to see if he can hit it.” It is highly improbable that the eagle will ever nest in Iowa again, but every effort should be made to preserve the migrant birds while they are with us. GENERAL NOTES The Cardinal in Emmet County, — In the data on the extension of range of the Eastern Cardinal in DuMont's "A Revised List of the Birds of Iowa,” the year 1933 is given as the time of its first appearance in Emmet County. This is an error which was probably caused by my no" making the data I submitted to Mr. DuMont sufficiently clear. That year referred to my latest observation of this bird and not to the first. My first record of the Cardinal in Emmet County is June 13, 1909, when I experienced the thrill of seeing a male bird in the yard of our farm home at High Lake. During the autumn of 1910 females were occasionally seen. The first time a bird was observed for any length of time was during the winter of 1914, when a male bird stayed around our home during the winter and early spring. From late winter until his departure, perhaps late in April, his song, which was usually giv^n from a tall cottonwood nearby, afforded us a daily thrill. He had no mate and perhaps left in search of one. After that I saw no Cardinals for a number of years; but in late years occasional individuals or pairs have been seen around Estherville during winter months. They seem to leave in the spring. The Cardinal has also been reported from Graettinger in Palo Alto Countv several times during recent years. — B. 0. WOLDEN, Estherville, Iowa. The American Egret and Little Blue Heron in Iowa during 1933. The writer summarized {'Iowa Bird Life'. II, pp. 48-50) the invasion of the American Egret or “White Crane’* into Iowa during the late summer of 1932. An effort was made to secure reports of this bird and of the Little Blue Heron in Iowa during the past summer. 1933, Comparably, the post-breeding flight this year was somewhat less ex- tensive than in 1932 both as to area visited and maximum number seen. However, earliest individuals were reported on approximately the same date both seasons. Numerous trips were made by the writer and D. J. Bullock in all parts of Polk County during August and September, While many ponds which contained water last vear were dr”. a few remained which seemed entirely favorable as feeding areas. However, no egrets were seen. The f,fl rliest observation during the summer wa? bv I. T. Bode. State Gam^ Warden, who reported seeing throe juvenile Little Blue Herons at Wanello Lake. Davis County. Julv 20. The color of the legs and bill, and the smaller size were noted. GENERAL NOTES 5 Mrs. W, G. MacMartin, Tama, reported one American Egret at Chelsea Pond, two miles west of Chelsea, Tama County, July 30. On August 1, seven were present at the same place. On August 22, Mrs. MacMartin reported 11 American Egrets at Chelsea Pond and one or two about the ponds two miles southeast of Tama. These birds were seen until August 2b. John Kennedy, Des Moines, observed four American Egrets at Chelsea Pond, August 18, Thealtis Alberts, of iowa City, saw five American Egrets four miles west of Chelsea on August 13. The birds were in a small pond near Highway No. 6. A single bird was noted by Robert Stewart, August 19, at Brenton's Slough, 12 miles northwest of Des Moines in Polk County. Probably the same bird was seen the next day by Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Palas, and Mrs. John E. Stewart, in the same locality. The news release letter of the Iowa Fish and Game Department for August 17 contained a report of birds seen in the Conesyille Marsh, Louisa County, by W. E. Hicks, a deputy warden; 17 American Egrets were listed, presumably seen during August. Reports of egrets seen along the Des Moines River near Eldon, Wap* ello County, were received by J. Wilbur Dole. On September 20, a trip was made into that territory by Mr. Dole and P. S. Junkin. No egrets were noted. However, local residents confirmed the statements that several “large white birds as large as blue cranes” had been seen flying about during August. Two American Egrets were seen in that locality on September 5 by Malcolm McDonald, of Fairfield. While there are several Iowa specimens of the American Egret, there are no authentic specimens of the Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Wood Ibis, or Louisiana Heron. — PHILIP A. DU MONT, Des Moines, Iowa. Chrittmai Bird Census in Keokuk County, Webster, Iowa (Porter School and along English River), Dec. 30, 1933; 9:30 A. M. to 12:30 P. M. Temp. 34-40 degrees. Five miles on foot. Cooper’s (?) Hawk, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Bob-white, 30; Great Horned Owl, 1; Red- bellied Woodpecker, 4; Hairy Woodpecker, 3; Downy Woodpecker, 4; Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 14; Black-capped Chickadee, 33; Tufted Titmouse, 4; White-breasted Nuthatch, 7; Cardinal, 20; Slate-colored Junco, 1; Tree Sparrow, 33. Total, 15 species, 161 individuals. The Flicker and Marsh Hawk were also observed on previous days. — MYRLE L. JONES. Christmas Bird Census in Tama County, — Tama, Iowa (a small wooded tract and vicinity one-half mile southwest of the city), Dec. 26, 1933; 3 hours in the field. Rough-legged Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 1; Bob-white, 8; Barred Owl, 1; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 6; Crow, 15; Black-capped Chickadee, 8; Tufted Titmouse, 11; White-breasted Nut- hatch, 4; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Brown Creeper, 2; Northern Shrike, 1; Cardinal, G; Goldfinch, 5; Slate-colored Junco, 22; Tree Sparrow, 25. Total, 19 species, 127 individuals. One Short-eared Owl and a flock of 21 Bob-whites were seen on Jan. 2; 12 Meadow- larks, 3 Lapland Longspurs, 16 Ring-necked Pheasants, 1 Screech Owl, were seen on Jan. 4, 1934, all within Tama County. The Northern Shrike and Red-breasted Nuthatch were also seen on Jan. 2, although not in the same locality as on the Christmas census trip.— MR. AND MRS. W. G. MACMARTIN, MISS BAY BRICE. (The February issue of ‘Bird-Lore* contains Iowa Christmas censuses from Backbone State Park, Davenport, Des Moines, Ogden and Pierson. An editorial mention shows that a list, unpublished, was also sent in from Sioux City. There were probably other Iowa censuses submitted which could not be published due to ‘Bird-Lore’s’ reduction of size of the census department, — Ed,) 6 IOWA BIRD LIFE Note* on Owli in Southeastern Iowa. — The owls as a family have been very interesting to me, and I will give a brief report on them as l have observed them here. We have the Screech Owl and the Barred Owl, both of which are common. We also have the Barn Owl, but tt is rare, and the Great Horned Owl is rather fare. I have also seen a small flock of the Richardson’s Owl, a northern species. This was dur- ing one cold winter many years ago when I was teaching a country school near What Cheer. When passing a certain ravine and washout with overhanging banks covered with tall dead grass, a flock of - five or six of these birds would ffy out of this retreat. 1 saw them there many times during the month of January, 1890, as 1 passed the place on my way to and from school. I have also seen a few individuals o the Long-eared and Short-eared Owls in Keokuk County during the many years in which I have kept records. During February, 1921, a young man in Sigourney called me to come and see what kind of owl he had caught investigation showed that he had a fine specimen of the Great Gray Owl shut up m a box. The 5 wl was blinking his yellow eyes and snapping his bill in \™ ost In- dignant manner, evidently not enjoying his predicament a bit. ne young man had found the owl asleep in a tree and threw a club which stunned it. This owl was later liberated, near the place where its slumbers were so rudely disturbed a few days befoie. When I was a boy we lived at the edge of an extensive timber area south of Keota, in the east part of this county. This fine hardwood forest has since been mostly destroyed. My mother raised much poul- try, including chickens, ducks, geese and wild turkeys. The turkeys were really wild stock, for I was with my father when we flushed the old turkey off the nest and he took the dozen eggs in his big sti aw hat and ran to the house to give an old hen the job of finishing the incuba- tion. Mother raised this stock for years with the addition of new stock some years later when father found another nest. When I was about eighteen years old, mother complained a great deal about owls taking many of her chickens. Father suggested that it was more likely minks, weasels or skunks. But the chickens kept disappearing, mostly from the fences and trees about the chicken house where the young chickens were roosting. This was m the late tali, October or November. Finally one of the family saw a huge bird take a chicken off the fence one evening just after it became dark. Later, when the weather got colder, we managed to get all of the chickens into their house, and the trouble almost ended. One evening in De- cember when the door of t,he building was left open unintentionally, I saw a big owl fly in and carry off a pullet. During the following February my brother and I were m the woods about 60 rods from our house. We were cutting wood. This occupa- tion was suddenly interrupted by a great fluttering and wing-beating among the limbs overhead. A glance upward showed us a Great Horned Owl leaving a big nest about JO feet up in an oak tree. The vicinity of the tree looked like a veritable shambles. The ground was covered with four inches of snow, and the snow under the tree was pretty well covered with feathers, bones, hair, skins and pellets of rejected ma- terials. A climb to the nest showed two white eggs a trifle larger than chicken eggs. The nest was erected on top of an old Crow s nest and was somewhat over three feet in diameter. Beside the eggs were poi- tions of rabbit, squirrel, chicken, Quail, and several species of mice, also evidently portions of the little flying squirrel and some shrews That these birds were incubating when the ground was covered with snow and zero weather prevailed, was certainly a revelation to me. Our parents decided that these were our chicken thieves, and their destruction was ordered at once. This was soon accomplished, One of the owls had a wing-spread of 56 inches and its mate measured 60 inches. GENERAL NOTES One summer a pair of Crested Flycatchers made their home in a hollow limb of a large maple that stands near our kitchen window. A pair of Screech Owls had their home in another hollow limb of the same tree for many years, and these owls and the flycatchers had their nests only seven feet apart. The flycatchers did not succeed in raising their family, for after having been seen and heard regularly for about 20 days, they suddenly disappeared, I think perhaps the Screech Owls invaded their lodge and made their breakfast on the fly- catchers, Perhaps the owls were unable to catch their regular supply of mice and grasshoppers.— E. D. NAUMAN, Sigourney, Iowa. Night Sin gen, — Several accounts of night singing birds have re- cently appeared in ‘The Condor 1 , and the writer would like to add to the list. It is not uncommon to hear Meadowlarks singing in the eve- ning, and members of the family Mimidae often sing at night. During the past few summers the writer has heard the Dickcissel singing on bright moonlight nights.— WM, YOUNG WORTH, Sioux City, Iowa. A NESTING KOIUN This scene is a familiar one to all hint sUuients, for the Robin is in the habit cf building its nest near the hornet of man where it is easily observed anil photographed. l Ity eourtrsy of .1 . F. Widmim and Sons. McGi'cuor. Iowa.} American IViagpie in Plymouth County. — On January 23, 1034, an American Magpie was observed in trees along the Big Sioux River, about six miles north of Akron, Plymouth County, Iowa, by a party composed of Logan Bennett, J. F. Reinhardt and the writer. One of the CWA workmen at that place told Mr, Bennett that a flock had been wintering near Westfield, Plymouth County, for the last several winters. I saw numerous large flocks of longspurs {probably Lapland) in Plymouth County during the latter part of January, 1934. — HARLOW B. MILLS, Ames, Iowa. Winter Notes from Sioux City. — A flock of more than 200 Horned Larks were seen on January 22, 1934. On the same day, a small flock of Lapland Longspurs were watched while feeding. On January 23, several Redpolls were seen. A Pigeon Hawk was seen near the stock yards district on December 28. 1933, and again on January 3, 1934. The first record for the Duck Hawk was on January 25.— WM. YOUNG- WORTH. Sioux City, Iowa. Publications on Iowa Ornithology during 1933. — (Not including those in ‘Iowa Bird Life.') Bennett, Logan J. The 1932 Fall Flight of Ducks through North- western Iowa; Wils. Bull., XLV, pp, 85-85. Bird-Lore. Christmas bird censuses from Iowa, NNXV, pp. 12, 45- 4 5, 8 IOWA BIRD LIFE Dill, Homer R. The Black Vulture in Dallas County, Iowa; Wils. BU DuMont^ PhiHp^A. The Atlantic Kittiwake Taken in Central Iowa; Auk L pp 102-103. A Revised List of the Birds of Iowa; Umv. Ia, Studies in'kat. Hist., XV, pp. 1-171. A Mensural Study of a Ca- tion of Grus Canadensis from Iowa and Nebraska, Wils, Bull, XLV, pp. 13-15. Some 1931 Middle Western Records of the SUrhng, Wils. Bulk, XLV, p. 29, The Snowy Owl in Iowa; Wils. Bulk, XLV pp. 82-83. The Iowa Specimen of Pacific Loon Re-examined, Wds. Bu XLV,' pp, 89-90. Second Occurrence of the Western Sandpiper in Iowa; Wils, BuLJ., XLV, p, 197. .. ^ YYYV Errington, Paul L. The Long- eared Owl as a Ratter Condor, aXAV p. 163. The Management of the Bob-white Quail in Iowa; Extensio ^Harris!’ A. Treveirnfnij. Nest^Found in 1032 Season at Sheldon, Birds Lives on Primary Iowa Roads; Wils. Bulk, XLV, p, 86. , T c jTquk H, E., and Parks, Pete. A Few Records of Bird. j Infrequently Seen in Southeastern Iowa; Proc. Ia. Acad. Sci,, XXXVIII, 1931, pp. 2 * Lincoln,' ^^Frederick^C. ^ State Distribution of Returns from Banded Dii C k c Second Paper, British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas; Bird-Banding, IV, (Iowa section) PP kauman, E. D. The Baltimore Oriole: A Study of ^Nesting Habits; Bird-Lore, XXXV, pp. 255-256. Too Much Red?; Wils. Bull.. XL Spiker, Clhas. 4 J. A Flight of Broad-winged Hawks; Wils. Bull., ^^SteDhens T. C. Early Snowy Owl Records from Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota; Wils. Bulk, XLV, pp. 83-85, Youngworth, Wm. Field Notes from Sioux City, Iowa; Auk, L, p. 124. Late Fall and Winter Bird Records 192C to 1930, the ^ p .?| 5 Missouri Valley; Proc. Ia. Acad. Sci., XXXVI II, 1931, pp. ~ J --*>■> (issued in 1933). Migration Records of Eagles and Snowy Owls in the Upper Missouri Valley; Wils, Bulk, XLV, pp. 32-33. Large ' o c ' s of the Golden Plover and White Pelican near Sioux City, Iowa, Wils. (The October, 1933, ‘Annals of Iowa 1 contains a very interesting article, “William Savage, Iowa Pioneer, Diarist, and Painter of ^ Birds. The article is made up very largely of Savage s diary of which this is the first installment, William Savage was born in England in 1833. He came to Iowa in 1855 and died here in 1908, He was a farmer tailor and self-taught artist. During his life in Iowa he painted 300 or 400 bird pictures, which now repose in the Historical, Memorial and Art Department of Iowa, Des Moines, His diary of experiences as an early Van Buren County farmer is of great interest. The article is accompanied by his portrait. His son, Walter Giles Savage, ^ well known for his collections of Iowa birds, while another relative David L Savage, received distinction as editor of ‘The Iowa Ornithologist. ) — F. J. P, The 1933 Spring Flight of Shore Birds Through Clay and Palo Alto Counties. — These observations were made while carrying on some wild life research problems in Clay and Palo Alto Counties during the Seminal malted Plover. A continuous flight of many birds took place from May 13 to May 19. . , f Killdeer. A heavy flight of hundreds of birds occurred fiom May 14 to May 18. GENERAL NOTES 9 American Golden Plover. Fourteen of these birds were seen on a small pond near Mud Lake. May 14. Upland Plover. Several hundred of these birds were observed be- tween May 6 and May 18. The greatest flight was noted on April 25. Pectoral Sandpiper. A flight of a few birds was noted between May 10 and May 17. More were observed on May 14 than on any other date. Baird's Sandpiper. About 50 of these little sandpipers were ob- served between May 10 and May 26, Least Sandpiper. Hundreds of these little birds passed through from May 2 to May 14, the greatest numbers being observed on May 3 and 4. Red-backed Sandpiper. Only one bird of this species was seen. It was observed on Mud Lake, May 14 Stilt Sandpiper. Five of these birds were seen on Green Slough Mav 16 and one on Virgin Lake, May 2b. Semipalmated Sandpiper. The flight of these birds coincided with that of the Least Sandpiper. There were riot nearly so many of these birds, however. Hudsonian Godwit. Only three of these birds were observed — one on Trumbull L^ke, May 7, one on Mud Lake, May 17, and one on Green Slough, May 21. Sanderling. About 50 of these birds were observed on May 14, 15, and 16. Wilson's Phalarope. Small flocks of thr'se birds were observed from May 9 to May 19. — LOGAN J, BENNETT, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, A Trapped Red'brcasted Nuthatch, — We have a so-called '‘flat trap," one foot high, three feet wide and six feet long, placed over a pool. On the morning of October 8, 1933, we caught two Robins and banded them but had not re-set the trap. I soon noticed a bird fluttering in- side the trap. I rushed over and closed the exit hole, which is aboW six inches square. An inquisitive Red-breasted Nuthatch had crawled through that little place and had forgotten how to get out. Grdinarilv. we have considerable trouble in getting a bird to go out through this opening, and we were much surprised to have this nuthatch enter through it. The Red-breast, which now wears one of our bands, is the first one of the species we have ever seen at Pomeroy. — MYRLE L. JONES, Pomeroy, Iowa. Notes on RedpotL and Other Birds. — On December 1. 1933, we were driving in the extreme southern edge of Pocahontas County, and when crossing a dredge-ditch we saw a large flock of birds which started up from the roadside. They circled and came back near the road again, while we sought to identify them. I was prepared to see Goldfinches, but a glimpse through the glass placed them as Common Redpolls. A farmer in a wagon soon came along and frightened the flock away. Mrs. Jones and I then went up the dredge a quarter of a mile to where they were feeding much after the fashion of Goldfinches. I circled the flock and Mrs. Jones found cover. I was successful in driving them back and had many opportunities to observe individuals in various shades of plumage. The birds followed along the dredge so that Mrs. Jones was within a few feet of the flock as it passed over, slowly feed- ing on the way. Our count was 54 Redpolls, but as about half of the flock had gone off in another direction, there were probably nearly 100 birds in all. When returning to Pomeroy on January 7. 1934, we saw a flock of about 75 Starlings eight miles west of Cedar Falls. By the time I had obtained permission from two farmers to shoot into the flock, they were not conveniently near. Along highway 2() near Iowa Falls we saw a Sparrow Hawk. — MYRLE L. JONES. Pomeroy, Iowa. 10 IOWA BIRD LIFE DLACK TERN AT NEST Birds Killed on Jefferson County Highways. I hiked , ? ^ deal during the summer of 1033, and I kept a record of the dead birds I noticed along the highways, a copy of which is given below. This list gives the number of dead individuals for each species, . £ ~ Sparrow, 16; Red-headed Woodpecker, 10; Blue Jay, 3; Robin, 3, Bronzed Crackle, 2; Goldfinch, 1; Kingbird 1; Mourning Dove 1, Quail, 1; Brown Thrasher, 1; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1. Total, 4U, These birds were all seen during June, July and August. If they are killed in the same number the rest of the year, that would give a total of 160 birds killed bv cars in Jefferson County during the year.— MALCOLM MCDONALD, Fairfield, Iowa. The Black Tern. — It would be interesting if every member who lives in the northern part of Iowa where there were many sloughs years ago, would send in his comparison of numbers of these birds in 1900 and now. The writer remembers vividly as a small boy in Dickinson and Kossuth counties in 1000 there were many ponds and lakes full of Black Terns. Now he would esti- mate there are only 1/lOOth as many nesting birds. What is your idea of the proportion? Of course these birds were not shot off much, but their decrease is due to draining off surface water They make their own floating island which is not easv for foxes, coyotes, skunks and other enemies to reach. — WALTER W. BENNETT. Arnolds Park. Iowa. they are very wild and have not yet dared ro come to the lunch cou E. D. NAUMAN, Sigourney, Iowa, December 28, 1J66, "Travel i n e with the Birds,” by Rudyerd Boulton. , Although intended for younger readers, this book will be eag y read bv adults as well. The subject is not a new one, of of g/ the author covers it rather thoroughly within ^imUs of 64 pa|te , hid stvle is a* once engaging and certain to hold the reauei s in terest through every page The study of migration is to many the mist fascinating angle of bird study. To these people this book will have an especial appeal. And all others Will enjoy the graphic and entertaining way in which Mr. Boulton unfolds the story of ? he J? Ur fngsot vainous groups of birds. Many facts about bird migration will be Thi r chahev titles are: Travelers of the Air. The Bird’s Engine The Bird’s Compass, The Bird’s Chart. Why Birds Migrate, Long Distance Champions, P |tay-at-Homes, Bird Gypsies, The Great Adventure These are the days cf handsomely illustrated bird > books. Ti®vel f PC with the Birds” is an outstanding example. Theie aie 1. oeautuui Colored plates by Walter A. Weber- as vivid and attractive a scr.es as we have ever seen. Numerous line drawings further illustrate the text. At its low mice ($1.50) this book offers much and it should enjol a wide sale. It is published by M. A. Donohue & Co., ill S. Deaibom St,, Chicago. It is bound in cloth, size 10 by 1- inches, e. J. MEMBERSHIP NEWS 11 MEMBERSHIP NEWS Chas. J. Spiker was the only Iowan registered at the meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union at New York City in November. The 1934 meeting is to be held at Chicago. # # it A We are informed that Dr. Evan M. Evans of New York City has a nearly complete set of The Hawkeye Ornithologist and Oologist' and George Seth Guion of New Orleans has a complete set. Mr. Guion has a large collection of sets of the natural history serials. He has nearly all of those published in Iowa; recently he was able to complete his set of ‘The Iowa Ornithologist.' * * * # * A December issue of the Waterloo ‘Courier’ contained the following item about one of our members: “George 0, Faulkner, 312 Mulbery St., who recently retired from the postal service after many years as a city carrier, will leave in the next few weeks for a trip to South America, He will sail from New Orleans on a Delta Line boat, and after various stops will arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 14. The ship will remain there until about March 1, Faulkner plans to come up the east coast of the con- tinent by train, taking the boat again at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He expects to return to Waterloo about April 1.” * # * * * We note bfc r the Mass. Audubon Society 'Bulletin’ that they had a series of three lectures illustrated by moving pictures scheduled for February. The February 17th lecture, at the Hotel Statler, Boston, was on “Wild Life of the Sand Hills,” by Walter W. Bennett, our well known member. These pictures are on the Prairie Chicken and the Long-billed Curlew, both series being familiar to our members through Mr. Bennett’s lectures at our conventions. * ;k * * # W. F. Kubichek's “Report on the Food of Five of our Most Import- ant Game Ducks” was published in To'wa State College Journal of Science’, Vol. VIII, 1933, pp. 107-126. This paper is based on Pro- fessor Kubichek’s investigations while in the service of the Biological Survey, a period of two and one-half years. His report contains a gTeat deal of detailed information on the food habits of certain ducks. * * * * * The report of the Iowa Fish and Game Commission on the “1933 Experimental Quail Shoot on Official Quail Management Areas” was published in January, copies of which may be obtained by writing to the Commission at Des Moines. The Commission has established about 100 quail management areas, and 14 of these were selected for use in the experimental shooting, the .object of which was to learn what percentage of seed stock should be retained to furnish the desired surplus quail population for shooting the following season. Increased shooting is to be permitted as soon as it is believed practicable. * ;j * * * Dr. Hendrickson calls our attention to the fact that especial care should be taken to feed the birds during March, due to the scarcity of weed seeds and other food. The drought last year, and the open win- ter with extensive work of farmers in burning, pasturing and plowing under weeds and other vegetation, have brought a scarcity of food, especially for Bob-whites. Feed the birds and help them to survive the bad March storms. Our complete membership roll, usually published in alternate years, is omitted at this time as an economy measure. 12 IOWA BIRD LIFE THE ANNUAL CONVENTION — AMES, MAY 18-19 The annual meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union will be held at Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, May 18-19, 1934. Several very interesting titles of papers have come in and a few more will be added to complete the Friday program. We expect to announce later a prom- inent bird lecturer as a feature of the meeting. The evening banquet will be held at the Memorial Union on the campus. An announcement of the complete program will be mailed to each member early in May. Professor Guthrie's large collection of specially mounted birds will be placed on exhibition. The Saturday bird hike will center around Ledges State Park and Camp Hantesa (Des Moines Campfire Camp neighboring the Ledges), where we shail be able to find a good list of warblers and other birds. Little Wall Lake, Goose Lake and Long s Pond will supply us with water and shore birds to make a recot d list. At the Camp are fine arrangements for serving a noon lunch and ex- cellent shelter in case of inclement weather. Iowa State College in- vites you to spend the week-end of May 18-19 at Ames. -GEORGE U. HENDRICKSON, Pres., Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Annual Meetings of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. 1923 (organi- zation meeting), February 28, Ames. 1924 March 8 Ames. 1925, February 20-21, Ames. 1926, May 14-15, Atlantic. 1927, April oO- May 1, Des Moines. 1928, May 11-12, Ames. 1929, May 10-11, Sioux City. 1930, May 1 16-17, Omaha, Nebr. 1931, May 8-9, Cedar Rapids. 1932, May 13-14, Des Moines, 1933, May 5-6, Fairfield. 1934, May 18-1 9* Ames. Glass eyes— Taxidermists', Tanners’, Furriers' Supplies Write for free catalogue and mention this ad. Specimens mounted, skins tanned, furs made up and repaired. CHAS A. SCHUMACHER 29 } Hdladay St. Jersey City, N. J Lowest prices in U. S. A. THE OOLOG1ST is the only publication on the American Continent devoted to those who are interested in col- lecting, preserving, and study- ing birds' eggs. Fifty cents per year. THE OOLOGIST Lacon Illinois Scop At Hotel Sheldon -Munn Ames, Iowa A Tangney-McGinn Hotel Reasonable Rates Dining room in connec- tion.