MM) LIFE

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE

OIRP^IITIHOILOGIISTS’'

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NO. 4 1

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VOL. VII

DECEMBER, 1037

OFFICERS OP THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
President — Myrle L, Jones, Pomeroj'^, Iowa
Vice-President — Dr. Warren N. Keck, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Sec'y-Treas.’ — Miss Kate E. LaMar, 1231 30th St.,

Des Moines, Iowa

Editor — Fred J. Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa
Executive Council:

Mrs. E. J. Petra riek. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
Atlantic, Iowa

Dr. Winifred Gilbert,

Mrs. Billy Williams,

Ex-officio Council Members (Past Presidents) :

Walter M. Rosene 'Walter W. Bennett

Arthur J. Pal as Dr. F, L. R, Roberts

Dr. George 0. Hendrickson

EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE
I N T H R 0 P , IOWA

The Iowa Ornitholoi'ists' Union w:is organiieti .it Ame?. Iowa, February 23,
1023. for the study and protection of n.ative birds and to promote fraternal re-
lations .imonfr Iowa bird students.

The central design of the Union's official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, designated
State Bird of Iowa in 1933.

Publications of the Union: Mimeographed letters. J923-1023 1 'The Bulletin.*

ia29’^l930 : 'Iowa Bird Life,' bepinninff 1931.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Iowa, $1.00 a year (includes

membership dues). Outside of Iowa, 50c a year. Special rate
for all libraries, 50c a year. Single copies 1 5c each, (Keep the
Editor informed of your coiT'ect address.)

tored as second*class matter February 9. 1932, at the post office at Winthrop, Iowa,
under the Act of March 3, 1379.

4-2 IOWA BIRD LIFE— VII, 1937

Eastern Hawks — what They Look tike in the Air

Aclantjc Coast West to the Great Plains

Ail Birds Drawn to Same Scale

broaD’w:hgcd or mouse: hawks

^OUOII MAWK

LLKCD

^COTaJ|_ED1H^P hawk

r

POINTED- winGCD
FALCONS

□ UCM. g M A-dVlK

PiiOC.Qr4 4j hlA-wk^

S'OA'ftrtaiv<.“

;SM 0 RT-WJNG£D BIRD HAWKS

■jOSm ^W►'.

f 5 It AW K

n r_D M ikkTH

SMALL- HEADED CARRION BtRDS

Wk-T^inE

WHlTE-HEADtD^y WATER-FREOU LNT 1 NG BIRDS

A

Some of These Hawks Are Among Our Useful Birds

- LLii.’i'tcsv <iC NaU. A->n, nf AuHliilirm Siu'iiaiobi,

IOWA HAWKS

43

IOWA HAWKS AXD THEIR ErOEOOICAH NICHES

By RrCHARD H. POUCH

Natiun:il As>oci;uion of Audubon Societies

The orig-inal fauna of Iowa included ten nesting- species belonging
to the bird-of-prcy order Torlay, two of these are gone. Was it
because the habitat they required was destroyed as a part of what
we call settlement and progress? Is the ecological niche they occupied,
in the original primitive natural balance that the fauna and flora of
Iowa represented, gone? If so, their loss was inevitable and whether
they were shot or not becomes entirely an incidental n^atter.

The Bald Eagle and the Swallow*taiIed Kite are the two once’Common
species now lost. Is it just a coincidence that they are, of all ten,
the two most picturesque and spectacularly beautiful? The niches
they occupied, the habitats they required, and the food chains of which
they formed the ends, are still in existence. Why are they gone? To
what can we contribute this impoverishm^'iit of our fauna; this loss
of two beautiful species that once graced the Iowa landscape? If the
food to feed them and the habitat to furnish homes for them are still
here, why are not they?

The evolution of the native fauna and flora of Iowa created places,
in other words niches, for a vast number of living things. Each had
certain unique characteristics that adapted it perfectly to some habitat
and food supply. If a native species is lost, no other exactly fills the
gap created. The food that could have supported a population of
Swallow-tailed Kites and Bald Eagles now goes unutilized and every
citizen of Iowa is the poorer for it.

There would seem to be only one answer to the disappearance of
these birds — willful destruction at the hands of man. But why the
insect-eating and completely harmless Kite of all species? The common
desire to kill that which is large, conspicuous and beautiful would
seem to be the answer, plus possibly the fact that they made good
targets. The reason in the case of the Bald Eagle is similar, although
in its case prejudice against it as an allegably harmful species prob-
ablv also entered in, plus the desire for the bird as a mounted trophy.

What is to be the future of the eight species of birds of prey that
Iowa has left? They are still being mercilessly persecuted by many
people, despite the fact that all but two are now protected by law.
Many are now scarce where they were once common. Must they go
too? The answer lies in the future, but the members of the Iowa
Ornithologists' Union, more than any other group in the state, have
the responsibility for seeing that everything possible is done to make
sure that the answer is “no." You know the loss that every citizen of
Iowa who has an eye for the beauty of the outdoor world, and the
things that live in it, would suffer if they went; a loss for which there
would be no compensating a^ain.

The unprotected Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks live on birds,
but unless they cause loss to poultry they do no harm to man. Game
if p rovided with good habitats anci food need not fear them unduly,
as they will catch but few. The other species on which they prey are
prolific and produce numbers of young each year that far exceed
those needed to replace individuals dying of old age. Obviously, the
habitats of tlie various species cannot for long accommodate constantly
increased numbers. What better purpose then can these surnlus birds
fulfill each year than to continue the food chain by which they were
fed Kill these hawks and the suiplus birds they have always fed
on must die some other \vay, while those who enjoy the aerial prowess
of these masters of flight are robbed of one of the thrilling sights of
the outdoors. Still greater is the loss if the Red-tailed, Red-shouldered.
Rough-legged, Marsh and Sparrow Hawks go. because their presence
tends to hold at normal levels such troublesome species as small rodents
and grasshoppers, or the Vulture that is such a useful and utterly
harmless scavenger.

44

IOWA BIRD LIFE— VII, 19S7

\ MAESII XESTIXff ('i)LOXY OF BLA(.'K-CROWXED
XIOHT TIEKoXS*

By

LOGAN' J. BENNETT

U. S. Bureau of UioLuj;icJil J^iirvey^*

and

KATE E. LA MAR

Public Srh(jt>ls. Dea Moinea, Iowa

For the past five years the senior author has carried on waterfowl
investierations in the vicinity of Ruthven, Iowa. During the course of
the waterfowl studies a close check was made each year on other
marsh and prairie birds that nested in the region. The region is the
largest remnant of breeding grounds for ducks an<l other marsh nest-
ing birds left in the State.

On July 7. 19oT. while on a field trip in Barringers blough. Clay
County, Iowa, the' writers came upon a colony of Black-crowned Night
Herons ;n ( v btmt fht nesting in the marsh enxiionment.

Although the bird is not an uncommon nesting bird in Iowa, it is
usually found nesting in trees. Because of the shortage of records of
this bird nesting in marsh habitats in the State, the writers have
undertaken to give a description •’•t the colony and its home. The
observations were mailu .July 7 to July ’J5. Ihe study was noc

complete, as the colony wa,s not found until after incubation had
started and the observations ceased before ihe young birds were al>ie

to fly, , 1 ■

Barringer's Slough 's a marsh of approximately l.oOO acres lying
immediately southwest -^f Lost Island Lake. During the spring of
1037 the Iowa Conservation Commission purchased about .500 acres
of the slough for a waterfowl restoration project. Eventually the
area will be improveil to produce near the maximum numbers of wild-

life. ^ ,

The heron colony of 31 nests was located in a lo-acre arm m the
northeast end of the slough. The eolenv of nests itself covered, roughly,
five acres of the 15-acre tract. About four acres of sedges , C;irrv
river bulrush I'it'irjua tJ/niiiftSis i . spike rushes f tU'oehitfis arrow-head

/.p/Of.pp,', and bur-rectl ; ffii-ywiypintn , in water IG to

‘^4 inches deei). wa.s surrounded hv a dense growth of bulrushes

s. f and s, 'l l to flO inches tall in water 13 to 25

inches deep. The low vegetation surroun<led by the taller growths
gave the appearance of an aiemi-like situation. It ViUis in the tall
vegetation surrounding and facing the lower vegetation that 25 of
the nests were found. There were nine clumps of tall bulrushes, seven
clumps of reeds { Fhr^_nnnh-( i . and one clump of cattails (Tyi^htt

out in the .-^Imiter vegetation. Si.x nests were found in the
clumps of bui rushes out in the shorter vegetation.

The nests ^vere grouped ejuite closely together. The average dis-
tance from nest to nest was about eight yards. Some nests were
within four feet of each r»ther, and one nest was 50 yards from the
nearest nest,

XESTIXC DATA

S:fnl>rr >t The common number of eggs found in the nests wa,s

four. XesLs containing three {Figure I) and five eggs were also

observeti. . , i i

CoiiUiin nu!t uf .VL vti, All the nests were constructed of buliu.slies fS.
ntinF 'If ths. S. or S. Fiv'^ of the nests htul supiiorting

material of sedges tC. npji-ftn.

All the ne^t.s wore found in die tall bulrush cover

'rpHirniil Xi>. rJ. I'^l <jI tht‘

'"lowji suoi' roiii',Tf, lo'.vii ronsci
hiiificiij .Sui'Vi-y L!i.k>|n.Tiiti no wiih tbt*

Inwn Ai,'i-i(,-ulUi t il I KNistfTimcnt SliiiikJti, .\mcsi. lowii.

■viMinii ion , ;irnl ihe U. .3- liureiiii uL’ IPu-

.-V mt'rik'nn WihlliP' Insiitiite.

NIGHT HERONS

45

IOWA BIRD LIFE— VII, 1937

4 ()

within ten feet of the edge facing the four acres of shorter vegetation.

of Cover. The bulrush cover in which the nests were

found was 24 to 60 inches above the water. The density of the cover
was 30 to 50 steins of bulrush per square foot.

Eicvatwti Of The Lops of the nests were 6 to 25 inches

above the water.

Diameter of Xciti. The nests ranged from 15 to 24 inches in outside
diameter and from 9 to 18 inches inside diameter,

Rau,p io A ramp of broken bulrushes leading from the water

to the top of the nest was part of 25 nests. The ramps varied from
10 to 30 inches in length.

D(/)/5 of WCi/er. The nests were constructed over water that was 13
to 27 inches in depth,

Dfufiinic of iVe'i/![ frofii Dry Luinf. The colony of nests was about 100
yards from the shore.

Data obtained conceining nest destruction and desertion were very
meager. On July 21 one nest of three eggs had been deserted for
some unknown reason. One other nest of four eggs had been deserted,
and one of the eggs had been punctured by the bill of some bird.
Three eggs of another nest had been raked out of the nest into the

water. . ,

There was some evidence of juvenile mortality. Two dead young
birds, about one week old, wtue founil entangled in the vegetation of
the ramp of one nest. One young bird, just hatched, apparently had
been trampled by its older nest companions. Two other dead birds
near two nests were found, but the cause of their demise remained

unsolved. , , , n

On July 7, when the colony was visited for the first time, all the

nest.s observed contained eggs but no young. At that time upon our
approach to the nests the adult birds gave a squawk or two and de%v
away. On July 21, when most of the nests had from one to four
young birds in them, the old birds often circled overhead two or three
times and intermittently uttered squawks before they left the colony.

Bv July 18 some of the young birds had grown to a length of 12

inches, there was quite a variety of ages among birds in the same

nest. Some had just hatched while otheis were ten days old or older.
When the young reached the age of ten days or older they reached
out with their heads and necks to peck at intruders {Figure II), and
in doing so they usually uttered several hoarse squeaks.

There were some exhibitions of nmriness on the part of the young
birds after they attained the age of nearly two weeks. Two of the
largest birds were found out in the water in the close proximity of
their nests. Upon our approach they remained perfectly quiet with
their heads and necks stretched mit on the surface of the water. One
of the juveniles was observefl for five minutes and all the while hardly
a feather twitched.

The nestlings appeared to have great grasping strength in their toes,
but their legs were not strong enough to hold them upright. Upon
becoming excited several ten- day -old birds stood up and then fell for-
ward out of the nests into the water. They seemed to float very easily
ill the water but they navigated ouite awkwardly.

The young birds were fed by the adults mostly during early morning
and late evening. During the middle of the day when some of our
observations were made, the young birds stuck out their heads and
opened their mouths at the least sound, perhaps with the expectation
of food. Notes were kept on food remains found in the nests. One
nest contained the remains of one black bullhead i Anif/iirn^ _ . one

nest held portions of three dragon-fly naiads and in one nest

were found parts of two salamanders < .Amhx'.ianfti frinnunn.

Because of other duties, the writer.s were unable to carry on the
studies through to the end of the re u ing season. Perhaps in the future
more complete observations can be made of the colony.

FOOD HABITS OF BARRED OWL

47

COXCLUSIOXS AS TO THE FOOD HABITS OF THE
BARBED OWL IX lOWA^"

By

PAUL L. ERRINGTON

Iowa State Collette,* ** Aates, Iowa

and

MALCOLM McDonald

Parsons Colletro, Fsiirlield. Iowa

Efforts to study the food habits of Iowa Barred Owls f'S/r/v yurU)
on a quantitative basis have met with serious dithculties, chiefly because
of the evident contamination of pellet deposits with the pellets of
other owls. Great Horned Owls (Bubo v/rs;iinsii{iis) , in particular, make
use of retreats in the coniferous plantings and deep bottomland woods
usually frequented by Barred Owls — though seldom at the same time
of year — and the majority of our Barred Owl pellet collections in-
cluded some pellets centaining bones of large prey broken in a w^ay
impossible for the weaker of these two species of owls.

Many Horned Owl pellets are, of course, characteristic enough in
appearance to permit their being picked out of mixed lots, but the
small and intermediate sizes may not be distinguishable from Barred
Owl pellets of similar size if both owls have been feeding on similar
types of prey (Errington, 1932a), That food habits as well as pellets
of Horned and Barred Owls may at times have much in common has
been demonstrated by recent summer studies of tethered young owls
in south-central Wisconsin (Errington, 1932b).

Nevertheless, those lots of Barred Owd pellets that appear least
contaminated should furnish a fair index to the food habits of this
bird, especially if supplemented by the Wisconsin data from rather
comparable habitats. The 305 Iowa pellets upon which our generali-
zations are based relate principally to fall^ w'inter, and spring food
habits of the Barred Owl in central (Boone and Story Counties) and
southeastern (Jefferson and Wapello Counties) portions of the state
for 1933-’34 and We have few summer Barred Owl pellets

from Iowa, but Errington’s Wisconsin studies give us a good idea as
to what may be expected of Iowa owls for this season. The supple-
mentary W^isconsin data, as tiius far organized and published (Erring-
ton, 1932b), were largely obtained from observations on 9 nests and
from analyses (with the very material aid of the U. S. Biological
Survey) of 156 spring and summer pellets for 1930 and 1931.

What the Barred Owl eats is mainly conditioned by where it is and
by what prey it has a chance to feed upon with the greatest conveni-
ence. Despite the impression of size that it may give an observer
(in the woods or in flight, it may seem almost as large as the Horned
Owl), it is. after all, a slenderly built owl in a fluffy mass of feathers,
and its talons do not look very powerful when compared with those
of the larger raptorial birds. Considered season by season, the food
habits of the Barred Owl reflect its adaptations and its apparent op-
portunities.

Let us begin our brief sketch of Barred Owl feeding tendencies with
the young bird leaving the ncsi about the fore part of May. After
gaining some powers of flight, the young are attended and fed by
the adults for an unknown length of time, probably until June or
July (young Barred Owls tethered on the ground may be fed by their
parents as late as August).

We have few actual <!nta on the food habits of young Barred Owls
at the time that they become self-supporting. The young of other
raptorial species worked with subsist upon large insects, snakes, and

*Joiirn;il Paper Xo, J4ri7 of the lutva Ak^rLculumtl ENiieiiment Statiun. Ames. To^va.
Project

•*p)wn Fish lird Comimissiori CO-opei'iitirtjt, with rmiincij.1 cy rtlributions frym

J. X. “Diniij'' Dfirlini',

48

IOWA BIRD LIFE— VIT, 1937

other easily obtainable prey when they first start living independently,
and we suspect this to he broadly true tor Barred Owl juveniles, also.

Late summer and early fall diet appears to be made up strong'ly of
animals resident in low places. Crayfish constitute an im’

portant item, as do such cold-blooded vertebrates as small fish, frog's,
and garter snakes Mammalian prey is largely of mice

of different genera, especially Mit-ronii, and Ptrf/myu'us, with occasional
heavy representation of barn rats tRu/his nortrf^n-m} and moles fSijiopus
The birds taken are of the kinds that are common locally: Na-
tive sparrows (Fringillidae) ; Crackles iQinu‘diit$ ^ijnsLitfa) . Blackbirds and
othe’*’ Icteridae: thrushes (Turdidae), notably Robins fTrtrJus r ;

English Sparrows Jmsuntitit^i t and Starlings iSfitruns: Flickers

Blue Jays (CyjnfMt/fd cristiitj); Brown Thrashers {To.\ostot>!a
rfifmn; Sci'cech Owls (Offo: and individuals of miscellaneous species

that may happen to he available.

In winter, the owls turn more to mammals as mice and shrews
(Soricidae). Barn rats and flying squirrels lotdm} may be

locally available and accordingly preyed upon, as also may be moles
and weasels f Mro.u lj. 1 , To date, we have found no positive evidence
of Barred Owls killing adult cottontail rabbits (Syiuldxrfi .al-

though \ve think that they probably <lo, on occasion. The birds preyed
upon during the cold weather months are of the usual small wintering
species: Fringillidau. ineduding Juncos < Jitmo hyrtniiihi and Cardinals
^ RfcLfufufdcifii } ; English Sparrows and Starlings; small and

medium-sized woodpeckers {Picidael: Blue Jays; Titmice and Chicka-
dees (Parinae) ; Screech Owls; and Bob-whites fCoiimts i fry,tfiidt!in i.

Early spring diet is ivuich the same as that of the winter, with in-
creasing representation of crayiish. flsh. amphibia, and snakes, as the
waters open up and animals come out of hibernation. With advanc-
ing spring, toll will be taken of the weaves of passing migratory birds,
and soon the remains of young cottontails and young fox squirrels
/Snnrns r/ipiviitef) may be noted in the nests or pellets of the owls.

With the coming of summer, however, the food of the Barred Owd
becomes possibly still more varied. Among invertebrates, crayfish
usually continue to head the list, but large insects (not including
stomach contents of prey) such as Phyl!ol?!}diid (May beetles), Otvimfii'i,
and Dytiscidae (water beetles * may be frequently eaten. Staple verte-
brate items are flsh, salamanders { Anlnu/f/nd /, frogs, snakes,

adults and young of the more abundant passerine birds. Flickers, young
cottontails ranging in size up to about half grown, mice of several
species, and. to a lesser extent, barn rats, miscellaneous rodents, moles,
and shrews.

The nestling young seem to be fed the same sort of food that Is
eaten by the adult owls, except for very small prey (as insects) which
the adults apparently eat upon capture and rarely carry to the nest.
In early flying stages, the young are able to seize some insects for
themselves, relying meanwhile on the usual food supplied them by
their parents. Then, in due time, the young find themselves more and
more “on their own’' and feeding upon, like the adults, essentially
w'hat they recognize as food and are able to catch and to handle.

Preferences for certain kinds of prey, so far as we can see, seem
to govern the natural feeding of the Barred Owd very little. Habit,
however, probably plays a role in causing the owls to favor hunting
grounds w'here the available prey may be of characteristic types.
Virtually any animal living in the Barred Owi's habitat, from insects
to the largest vertebrates within its pow'cr to kill, may fall victim,
and the Iowa and Wisconsin notes at hand show^ such food items of
interest as Kingrishcr r A!r.i,'L/i i-n /( jUyitn. bat vr/uiri j . and small

mink t\hn/fLi muniK

Of the prey spoeic.s occurring in the Barred Owl’s diet, only the
Bob-white ha.s been thoroughly studied from the standpoint of popu-
lation on the .'^ame areas where the Barred Owl work was done and

i

BIRDS OF SIOUX CITY AREA

40

during- contemporaneou*^ season*=i. In all observed instances of heavy
Barred Owl pressure upon the Bob*\vhites, the latter were present in
numbers exceeding' the apparent capacity of their coverts to accommo-
date them. Under these conditi<ms. rctlucuon of surplus birds through
predation is a regular happening, and within limits observed, seem-
ingly irrespective of the kinds and numbers of natural enemies present
(Errington and Hamerstrom, 19:1b). Excess Bob-whites are usually
eliminated by the far more formidable Horned Owl or the Cooper's
Hawk i Ai i ipiti-r mopcr/>; but, in the event of scarcity or absence of
Horned Owls and Cooper’s Hawks, a compensating elimination seems
to take place through the medium of weaker or clumsier predators,
the Barred Owl included.

On the whole, the trend of research hnding.s on predation and popu-
lation indicates that the brunt of the attacks of predators is borne
by those proportions of the prey populations that find themselves at
the greatest disadvantage — individuals handicapped by over-crowding,
territorial strife or some other form of friction among themselves,
natural emergencies, inimaturuy, weaknesses, etc., plus some that are
simply unlucky or unwary. Likewise, the concept is continually grow-
ing that a vast amount of predation is oniy of neutral significance as
concerns the determination of population levels of many prey animals.

LITERATURE CITED

Errington, Paul L.

l'j:12a. Technique <if Raptor Food Habits Study. Condor, :14: 75-SG.

19^1 2b. Food fiabits of Southern Wisconsin Raptors — Part I. Owls,
Condor, :14: 170-180.

Endngton, Paul L.. and Hamerstrom, F, Nk, Jr.

19JG. The Northern Bob- white’s Winter Territory. Research Bul-
letin No. 201, Iowa Agr. Expt, Station: :i!0 1-448.

BIRHS OF TIIH SlorX (MTV ABFA tX iikKJ

Bv BRUCE F. STILES

SEOUX CITY, IOWA

The following list of 13f> species is made from my own t>bservations
and should by no means be considered a c<miplete 19 86 list for this
territory. Many other species were undoubtedly present. The groups
of warblers and sparrows are noticeably small. At least one observa-
tion of each species was made in Wo''dbuiy County, unless otherwise
stated. E.vcept in a few instances the ident ideations were made by
sight. All points of identification were checked with great care, A
great many of my field trips were made with Dr. T. C. Stephens, pro-
fessor of zoology at Morningside College. Without his help this list
would be without many records.

Eared Grebe, Rare: one record of three individuals on Brower’s
Lake, April 14.

Pied-billed Grebe. Common; two nests with eggs on New Lake,
M a y :n.

White Pelican. During most of September these birds were abund-
ant in the vicinity of Brown's Lake: on Se[)tember ti a dock of lOUO
was on the lake.

Double-crested Cormorant. One record of Lhiee individuals on
Brown's Lake. Jlay 1.

Great Blue Heron, Many vecord.s lioiu the latter part of July to
the middle of October.

Easiern Gieen Heron. {>ri October 28, Weir Mills of Pierson
brought a crippletl Green Heron to Morning.side College. This bird,
a male, was taken in the southwest corner of ('herokee t'oiinty where
it had probably been woundefl by hunters. At the .suggestion of Dr.
Stephens I made a skin of the siiccimen. [ have a recon.! of one other
at New Lake on August 2.

50

IOWA BIRD LIFE — VII, 1937

Black-crowned Night Heron. One April record of three individuals
at the confluence of the Floyd and Missouri Rivers.

Am. Bittern. Numerous records from March to October.

Eastern Least Bittern. One at Crystal Lake, Nebraska, September 6.

Canada Goose. A number of records through the month of March.

I was unable to make a positive identification of this bird during the
fall months, although geese which probably were of this species were
seen at a distance several times.

Lesser Snow Goose. Numerous records through March and the first
half of April of many thousands; one fall record of 60 on October 18
near Salix. Iowa. ,

Blue Goose. From March 7 to April 12 this bird fed in large num-
bers on the Missouri River bottoms south of Sioux City. It outnum-
bered the Lesser Snow by at least ten to one. The largest single flock
of which I have a record for 1936 contained 3,500. In March, 1935,
while driving from Dell Rapids, South Dakota, to Jasper, Minnesota,

I saw a flock of Blue and Snow Geese which must have numbered far
above 10,000. All during the day I had seen one flock after another
feeding or resting in the fields, and flocks "were in the air constantly.
Many "of the flocks were large, running into the thousands, but none
that I had seen before, even on the Missouri River bottoms, compared
with this in size. The flock was so huge that literally clouds of geese
would arrive or leave without making any apparent change in the size
of the flock. Around this vast congregation for miles, were flock after
flock of from 25 to over 1000 birds. The geese were arriving, leaving
and milling around constantly. 1 had little chance to estimate their
numbers. There might have been 25,000 birds. The Blue Goose does
not come through here regularly in its fall migration.

Common Mallard. Common during migration, but I have no summer
record. In this locality the Mallard winters as far north as it con find
open water. On December 30, I saw 800 Mallards feeding in a field
adjacent to Lake Andes, South Dakota, The water there is kept open
over a small area by the artesian well which feeds the lake. I have
seen them there in other years when temperature was ten below zero
and snow banks were piled six feet high along the road. In this low
temperature a pretty sight is a flock of Mallards wheeling and diving
out of sight into the dense vapor cloud which rests like a snow bank
over the open water,

Gadwall. Numerous records.

Baldpate. Numerous records.

Am. Pintail. Numerous spring and fall records.

Green-winged Teal. Numerous records.

Blue-winged Teal. Common, although I doubt if it nested here m
any numbers as I have no record from May 24 to August 2,

Shoveller. Numerous records during migration.

Wood Duck. One record of 14 on Brower's Lake, April 21.

Redhead. Two records for April; 27 birds.

Ring-necked Duck. Numerous records.

Canvas-back. Seven records during April and May; 101 birds.

Lesser Scaup Duck. Common during migration.

Ruddy Duck. Several records of a few individuals.

Am. Merganser. One record each for April, May, November and
December: seven birds in all.

Turkey Vulture. Two records; two individuals.

Cooper's Hawk. One specimen taken March 20, south of Sioux City,
my onlv record.

Eastern Red-tailed Hawk. Numerous records.

Am Rough-legged Hawk. Three records; four individuals.

Ferruginous Rough-leg. Rare; a record of one individual near Sioux
City in March.

Marsh Hawk. Numerous records.

BIRDS OF SIOUX CITY AREA

Ol

Osprey* One bird at Brown’s Lake on August 23. Decidedly un-
common here.

Pig*eon Hawk. Two records; two individuals.

Eastern Sparrow Hawk. Numerous records from 3Iarch to October.

(Greater Prairie Chicken. One November record.

Eastern Bob-white. A record of two birds in Monona County Oc-
tober d and rtve birds in Woodbury County on Christmas day. On
December 30 i saw a dock of 30 near Lake Andes, South Dakota,

Rini^-necked Pheasant. Numerous records. Not as plentiful as in
1035.

Am. Coot. Abundant on ail marshes and sloughs during April and
May. A few probably nested as they were seen in small numbers
through the summer.

Kiildeer. Abundant from the middle of March to late October. Our
most common shore bird.

Wilson’s Snipe. Many records during migration.

Spotted Sandpiper. Known locally as the “Teeter Snipe.“ Nu-
merous records through the summer.

Eastern Solitary Sandpiper. This bird was present in small num-
bers during June, Jul}'^ and August. DuMont says in his ‘Birds of
Iowa’: “There are no recent reports of probable breeding." These
records might indicate the bird breeds here.

Greater Yellow-legs. Numerous records, but not as abundant as
the Lesser.

Lesser Ye How- legs. Numerous records from .\pril. May, August,
September and October.

Fcctorai Sandpiper, Seve>al records during migration.

Least Sandpiper. Common ■luring migration. It leaves about the
first of June and is back about the middle of August.

Dowitcher, One bird at New Lake on August 2 and a flock of 12
in Monona County on Ociobcr 3.

Semipalmatcd Sandpipe>'. Numciovts records for i\Iay and August.

Marbled God wit. Two individuals at Brower’s Lake on May 20,

Hudsonian Godwit. Three records: seven intlividuals.

Wilson’s Phalarope, Several spring records; on May 3 a flock of
dO w^as feeding on Brower’s La“e.

Herring Gull. One record each for March ami April.

Franklin s Gull. One recoid; the bird is usually a common niigyant,

Lea.st Tern. Numerous records through the summer, which indicate
that it probably breeds here.

Black Tern. Three records for May and one for .\ugust.

Mourning Dove. Abundant summer records.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Several records.

Black-billed Cuckoo. One bird seen near Brown’s Lake, July H>.

Eastern Screech Owl. One specimen, a female, taken at Sioux City
on October 17 is my only record.

Great Horned Owd. One specimen, a female, taken in the timber
along the Missouri River on November ID; another bird was seen at
the same time.

Eastern Whip-poor-will. Two records for July.

Sen nett's Night hawk. Numerous summer records.

Chimney Swift. Records through the summer.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Two records in September.

Eastern Belted Kingfisher. Two bivd.s in August and two in Se]>-
tember at New' laikc; considerably le.ss abundant in recent years.

Northern Flicker, Numerous records. I have a winter record for
1P35, but none for this year.

Red-headed Woodi>ecker. Numerous records, Dr. Stephens and I
counted nine in Riverside Park on Christmas <lay.

Vidlow-belHe<l Sapsucker. Three records; four individuals.

Eastern Hairy Woodpecker. Numerous records through the year.

Northern Downy Woodiitcker. Numeious records through the year.

52

IOWA BIRD LIFE — VII, 1937

Eastern Kingbird. Numerous summer records.

Arkansas Kingbird. Several summer records.

Northern Crested Flycatcher. A record of one bird on May 17 and
three on June 14.

Eastern Phoebe. Numerous records.

Eastern Wood Pe^vee. Four records; six individuals.

Prairie Horned Lark. Quite common. A nest with four eggs was
found April 14. All four eggs hatched and the last young bird left
the nest between April 30 (Avhen there were two birds in the nest)
and May 3 (when the nest was empty). On December 30, while driv-
ing from Mitchell to Yankton, South Dakota, I counted 2000 larks.
These were possibly Hoyt's Horned Lark.

Tree Swallow. A record of one bird at Crystal Lake on September 6.

Bank Swallow. Numerous records.

Barn Swallow. Common; large flocks during August and September.

Rough-w'inged Swallow. Conunon. Most of the large flocks during
fall migration are composed of three or four species, but the Barn
Swallow seems to predominate.

Northern Cliff Swallow. One individual at Riverside on May 17.

Purple Martin. Numerous from April 17 to .August 23.

(To be concluded in the March issue.)

GENERAL NOTES

The Franklin’s Gull at Independence.— — On the afternoon of June 8,
1937, I found this bird in a plowed held adjacent to the mill-pond at
Independence. As I approached the field, I noticed a small gull or
tern which was flying gracefully over the plowing, pausing occasionally
to pick up food. Its back was grayish blue, the head was a rich glossy
black, and the tail was snowy white, I knew the bird was not a tern
when I saw the rounded tail and I had no dilflculty in identifying it
as the Franklin’s Gull. The primaries were black, tipt3ed wdth white,
and the fact that the bill was red excluded the possibility of its being
the Bonaparte’s Gull. The bird remained at the held all afternoon
until evening, and continually followed a plow and tractor back and
forth across the field, often coming close to the driver. Whem attacked
by grackles it uttered a rather harsh note, which was not often heard,
however, due to the noise of the tractor. It often came within a
very few feet of me, so I was able to observe it closely. The Franklin s
Gull was reported once or twice before in the Independence region
in 1937. It is much more unusual than the Herring and Ring^billed
Gulls, both of which I saw at the Independence mill-pond in the spring
of 1937.— JOHN W. LYNCH, Independence, Iowa.

Migration of Warblers at Independence, Spring of 1937.— The fol-
lowing lisc is a composite record of warblers seen by several bird stu-
dents of Independence during the past spring.

Black and White Warbler. Very common during the second and
third week.s of Mav; dates were May 8 to 18.

Prothonotary Warbler. One bird was studied carefully on May 8.
It was perched in the top of a small willow bordering a stream.

Tennessee Warbler. Common between the dates of May 9 and 21.

Nashville Warbler. A few records between the dates of May 11
and 2fj.

Yellow Warbler. First record was May 8. It was abundant for a
time in the dense thickets at the mill-pond.

Magnolia Warbler. Fairly common from May 1 1 to 21.

Capo May Waroler. Quite rare: seen once on May 20. twice on
May 23, one bird on each occasion.

Myrtle Warbler. Abundant from April 17 to May 9.

Black-throated Green Warbler. I sa-w one on May 0, and four on
May 2G.

GENERAL NOTES

Cerulean Warbler. I observed one very closely in a thicket of small
trees alon^ the north branch of the Wapsipinicon River above the
mill-pond,

Blackburnian Warbler. Observed by Grace Leit^h durinpr May.

Chestnut-sided Warbler. Fairly common; dates are from May S
to 23.

Bay-breasted Warbler. 1 saw two in a i^rove on the grounds ot the
State Ho-spital on May 2G.

Black-poll Warbler. Fairly common: dates are from May IT to 25.

Palm Warbler. Very abundant during the first part of iMay; first
date. May 1.

Oven-bird. Common; arrived May 11.

Grinnell's Water-Thrush. Very common; arrived i\Iay S.

Louisiana Water-Thrush. Mrs. W. M. Woodward and .Viva M. Nor-
ton observed one bird at the mill-pond.

Connecticut Warbler. Rare; one bird seen on May 17 and IS.

Mourning Warbler. Seen from May 14 to 20.

Northern Velio w-thioat. A common summer resident, arriving May b.

^Vilson’s Warhler. Quite common between the dates of .May d and 24.

Canada Warbler, We had a few records from i\Iay 11 to 25.

.Vmerican Redstart. .V fai)ly common summer resident, arriving
May 9. — JOHN W. LYNCH, Independence, Iowa.

Herens at East Dubuque. — On September 10. lOJi, eight of us
members of the Dubuque Bird Club crossed the Mississippi River to
East Dubuque, Illinois, and we had a fine experience in e.xploring some
territory near that place. We came upon a secluded i^ond where 45
(actual' count) Great Blue Herons were fishing in every conceivable
posture. It wa.s a wonderful sight — so many of these large bird,s on
a fishing expedition. One American Egret honored the party with
his presence. There \vere several Black-crowned Night Herons at this
Dond, In trees nearer the ^'iver ’’ve saw perhaps 20U of the latter

bird. There were ducks to be seen, also. Some were too tar away
to identify; others w-ere in immature plumage. Earlier we had seen
a Ruddy Duck. On October 3 we found ten Semioalmated Plovers
and two Black Ducks at this pontl. Onlv six Great Blue Herons were
seen at this time, but the noml was shisnking raridiv duetto river
conditions. The Egret was aUo seen on this date — MRS. R. JOHN-
SON. Dubuque. Iowa.

Observations in the Dubuque Region, — — ith an abundance of trees,
the Mississinpl River, and much marsh territory, Dubuc[ue otters ex-
ceptional advantages to the bird lo' ^r. The easily accessible marshes,
at the very edge of the northern part of the city, have been very
attractive and we have had opportunity to become acquainted with
many bird.s not otherwise to be seen. In season these maishes are
teeming with bird life. Below arc gi’ en a few of our moie interest-
ing records, in mo.st of which the members of the Dubuque Bird Club
shared.

.\nierican Egret, On September d. IP.JT. Miss klargaret Kohlman
saw a flock of 10 of these birds along the river, Ethan Hcmsley saw
the flock the next day and again an September IT, Their large si?.e
and >ellow bJl were carel'ullv noted, so there was im possibility ot
confusion with the immature Little Blue Heron,

.American Coot, common migrant. It is not at all un usual to
see a Coot, but to see a family of Coots — there vou liave something!
In June, 1935. several meitibers of the (flub saw Dt other and Dad a.nd
the little Coots out for a swim one fine Sunday afternoon.

.\ me r lean \V<H>dcoek. Some of the members saw several tif these
birds on Aniil 2.5, 193(>, at Frith hs Pond.

Greater Vellow-lcgs, Although the I.esser Yellow-legs is common.

54

IOWA BIRD LIFE— VII, 1937

the Greater Yellow-legs is less often seen. One flock of about 30
was seen at the marsh on April 16, 1933.

Wilson's Phalarope. Our records are: April 28, 1929; May 13, 1934;
April 29. 1936.

Pileated Woodpecker. Two records, June 2, 1033, and May, 1936.

Red-breasted Nuthatch. I have only two records — May 10, 1932,
and May 3, 1936,

Carolina Wren. Although we have become well acquainted with
this bird down on the farm in southern Indiana, we saw it here for
the first time on April 20, 1936, on Mrs. Bush’s place, and again in
the latter part of May at Durango.

Bohemian Waxwing. In February, 1932, a flock of these birds visited
Dubuque and were entertained at various apple trees over the city,
where neglected apples had clung throughout the winter. These pro-
vided my onlv record, though others have later records.

Starling. My first record here was April 22, 1934. In a very few
years it has changed from an uncommon bird into a very common one
— unfortunately !

Yellow-throated Vireo. It was hard to get acquainted with this
bird, but it is now easy to find if we look for it. After a positive
identification in 1930, I have seen it every year.

Orchard Oriole. One record only, May 21, 1933.

Blue Grosbeak. This bird is the phantom of the Bird Club, now
visible, then invisible. Mv first record was May 24. 1929; next. May
17, 1931. and May 14, 1933. My latest record was May 14, 1935, just
acros.s the street from Lin wood. The bird \vas carefully observed on
each occasion and distinguishing features wore noted. — MRS. R. M.
JOHNSON, Dubuque, Iowa.

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

AUDUBON’S THE BIRDS OF AMERICA, with introduction and
text by Wdliam Vogt (Macmillan Company, New York City, 1937;
cloGi. frontispiece and .500 colored, plates: price, 312.50).

The reviewer has seen the “Elephant Folio” edition of Audubon s
colored plates on only one occasion. That was a number of years ago
at the John Crerar Library in Chicago. He informed the <assistant
librarian that he wished to see th'^ books, and after being questioned
rather sharply as Lo i he extent of his interest in ornithology, he was
led to an upper room, where a steel vault was unlocked and the
treasured volumes disclosed. The next hour was spent in studying
the magnificent plates, which were printed from copper engravings
and hand-colored a century before. The set comprises four massive
books, each measuring about 2^- by 3^2 feet and weighing close to
forty pounds. The Elephant Folio ^et is excessively rare and valuable.
The later editions were in smaller octavo and contained both nlates
and text. They arc al.=o rare and accossiolc in only a few of the
larger libraries of the country.

Bi-d students have for years wished that some one would republish
the ‘Birds of America’. At last the wish is fulfilled as the Macmillan
Company brings out the sot of 590 colored plates in one volume, e
hoi^e the venture will prove nrolitable arul will be followed bv the
le-pLiblicntion of Audubon's ‘Ornithological Biogranhyh the text that
imeompanied his plates. So many of Audubon's observations are do-
ing o^'ertinle duty in present-day bird w'orks, it ^voubl seem that a
reprint of his text would prove quite welcome.

The new book is a very handsome one, both as to binding and con-
tents. The page .sixe is 9 by 12 inches, with one plate or drawing
to a page. Reproduction is by the deep-etch offset lithographic process
which gives the authentic colors of the original print. William Vogt

recext bird books

55

has AVTitten a short biography of Audubon, which with a frontispiece
portrait forms the introduction. A brief description of the bird pic-
tured, also written by Mr. Vopt. is a feature each plate. For the
amount of .space available, these descriiJtions contain a surprising

amount of information. Written in a lively and interesting' manner,
they arc e.vactly Avhat the plates need to fulfill a maximum usefulness
in the modern tiay. The original nomenclature and names of plants
and trees depicted are not retained on the plates but are fully tran-
scribed in a special section in the back of the book. The plants drawn
by Audubon were often given as much prominence as the birds them-
selves. This section giving the original names adds a good deal
to the historical value of the book. Production costs make a

book of this kind very expensive. No doubt many people will
not feel able to buy it: but here is where the public library

will perform its function. The book will be in great demand

at libraries, while after nearly a century of obscurity Audubon’s great
drawings will exert a sure educational influence on all library patrons.
It is an extraordinary book, a new presentation with historic back-
ground^ — a very Avoithwhile acquisition for any library, public or
private. — F. J, P.

CONCORD RIVER, by William Brewster (Harvard University Press,
Cambridge. Mass., ; cloth, pp. i-ix -j- 1-259. 12 pis. d in color by

Fi'i'^nk W, Benson: price, d-1,50).

We haA'c read many books by the literary naturalists of the north-
eastem states. Thoreau was a ]ny>^tic who delighted in inverted mean-
ings, and his writings are hard to folloAv and to understand. Bradford
Toirey wrote quite interestingly of his bird experiences, though his
chapters are so wordy cne suspicions liim of using a good share of
his words as liller to lengthen his sketches. John Burroughs Ave find
entertaining enough hut given to .^oaring in the clouds with his pen.
The Avriring of William Brewster has none of these peculiarities. He
was a master of deseiiotion Avith a perfect literary style, and his ap-
preciation of the beauties of nature n'as as keen as anyone's, but he
kept his feet on tlie ground. His was the scientific mind. He searched
vnvemittingiy for scientihe truth, .and hi.-^ iliscoA'crics were set down
Avith the strictest ac'-uraev. The literary treatment of his observa-
tions as recorded in hi,^ dailv journals seems to have been an uncon-
scious process. He was writing for William Brewster, not for the
nublic. His journals are exceedingly interesting reading, especially
foi’ the nature lover, uiul his style of AAuitiiig is at once instructive,
entertaining, restful.

This book might be celled a sequel to ‘October Farm'. It is a con-
tmua'^ion of selections from tlv^ Brewster iournals, the first section
of which Avos published under that title. The locale is the same —
Throwster's large Avootled tract rui the roncord River, near Concord.
M'’ssrcbusftt.s, The selectitu's included in this volume extend through
T'^TP-USli^, and are of course ver\' similar ro those in the first book,
roviu-ing his observatiorus of biids, mammals and natural phenomena
during days an<[ weeks snent on his October Farm anrl the nearby
river. We haven't space ro comment on the things he recorded, but
we> narticularly liked his d-jscrintioti of the death of a voung Purple
Mait n by the talons oi a siuoll huAvk ipp. oP-dO); in this passage is
levcaled the tciuier narurc i-f the man, It semns unfortunate that
a larger size f)f page was chosen for this book so it is not uniform
with ‘October Farm'. — F. J. P.

'!: C

Send in your (’hristmas l)ird census. We idan to pui)lish all the
Iowa censuses, including those from Bird-Lore', in tabulated form
in our March issue.

IOWA BIRD LIFE^VII, 1037

5G

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MAGPIES, by Jean M. Linsdale
(Pacific Coudt Avifaona No. 25, published by Coopec Ornithological
Club, 20G8 Escarpa Drive, Lo« An^:eles, Calif., 1037; pp. 1-234, 9 pis.
1 in color. 20 text figs.; price, $3.50 in paper cover, $4.25 in cloth).

In recent years quite a number of bulky volumes have appeared,
each devoted to a single species of bird and covering the subject in
a very complete way. Among such monographs are PickwelTs Prairie
Horned Lark, Gross's Heath Hen. Herrick’s American Eagle, Pettin-
gill’s American Woodcock and Mrs. Nice's Song Sparrow. To this
series we may now add Linsdale's work on the Magpie; in thorough-
ness and scope it is a worthy companion of the others.

Consideration is given to the various magpies found over the world,
but the book is mainly des^criptive of the Yellow-billed and the Black-
billed Magpies found on the North American continent. The Yellow-
billed is restricted to the state of California, while the Black-billed or
American IMagpie is found over much of the western half of the United
States and in western Canada.

The chapter on ‘Habitat Relations’ explains why the magpie remains
in certain localities. The bird’s wings are short and rounded so that
it is incapable of swift or sustained flight. It depends on escape from
enemies by a quick retreat into clumps of bru.sh such as are found
in the plains region. A variety of food items being available there,
and bushy or thorny trees furnishing convenient nesting sites, the
Black-billed Magpie normally finds conditions suitable for an existence
in our western states. A water .supply in the form of lake, stream
or reservoir is a requirement in the bird's nesting area, and it shows
a decided preference for human neighbors, especially those who keep
domesticated animals on their premises. The chapter on food habits
shows the wide range of its diet, which includes grain and fruit in
season and insects an<l animal matter, of which birds' eggs and young
form a part, at other times of the year. It turns scavenger when
necessity or inclination directs, and carrion of all kinds i.s readily dis-
posed of. It is quite carnivorous, with vegetable food taken as second
choice. The magpie is only slightly migratory, and apparently it
migrates chiefiv rvhen footl becomes scarce or severe winter weather
mokes living dilUcult. The bird invades our own state during the
winter moirths. Other chapters cover nesting and courtship, eggs and
incubation, behavior and development of the young, plumages and
molting, populations and longevity, and relations to animals and to
man. In a discussion of habits such matters as perching and roosting,
bathing, flocking and voice are considered. Magpies in captivity have
been known to reach the age of 20 years. The birds have proved
a serious pest to stockmen when, due to lack of food in winter, they
have alighted on the backs of horses, cattle and .sheep and picked
laige holes in their bodies, sometimes killing the animals by persisting
in this habit. A very complete bibliography of 24 pages and an index
conclude the book, — F. J. P.

NOTICE TO MEMBERS

Membership dues for 1938 may be sent in at anv time, Send your
<lollar to Miss LaMar, 1231 Thirty-ninth St, Des Moines, as soon as
you can conveniently do so. It will save postage and Miss LaMar’s
time if voii will do this before she sends you the customary notice.

Let’s hear from you more often than during the past year. Other
members would like to know what you are doing in bird work and
what new birds you have added to your list. Let’s keep one another
informed through the pages of 'Iowa Bird Life'.

f