■N

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

^Bulletin of the ^Maryland Ornithological Society, Jnc-

aioi CBolton Street, ^Baltimore 17, ^Maryland

Volume 12

JUNE 19 56

n

Number 2

THE MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.
2101 Bolton Street, Baltimore 17, Mi.

State President:
State Secretary:
State Treasurer:
Vice Presidents:

Richard L. Kleen, St. Michaels, Md.

Charles M. Buchanan, 101* W. Melrose Aye, Balto 10, Md,
A. J. Fletcher, Route 1, Denton, Md.

Dr. Thomas Ambler, Edwin Barry, Richard Douglass,
Marvin Hewitt, George Miller, Hilda Smith,

Dr. H. G. Tanner, Elmer Worthley

LOCAL UNITS

Allegany County Bird Club Frederick Branch, M. 0. S.

Avid Avista of Anne Arundel Co. Harford County Bird Club
Baltimore Club of M. 0. S. Takoma Park Nature Club

Caroline County Bird Club Talbot County Bird Club

Active membership (including Maryland Birdlife and $2.00

membership in one of the local units)

Out-of-state membership (Maryland Birdlife only) $1.00

CONTENTS, JUNE 1956

The Yellow-headed Blackbird at Ocean City Charles M. Buchanan 39
Maryland Nest Summary for 19f>5 A.J. & R. B. Fletcher 1*1
Can You Identify These? Marvin Hewitt 1*8
Report of State-wide Bird Count, May 5, 1956 Chandler S. Robbins 1*9
1955 County Bird Lists Charles M. Buchanan 57
Arkansas Kingbird in Talbot County Richard L. Kleen 5 9
We are Incorporated! Seth H. Low 60
The Season - January, February, March, 1956 Chandler S. Robbins 61
Junior Activities: Operation Bird Nest Meade Lloyd 6 $
A Productive Nesting Area Richard L. Kleen 6 $
New Members 66
Announcement 66
Articles of Incorporation of M. 0, S., Inc. 67
By-Laws of Md. Ornithological Society, Inc. 69
Trip Report: Talbot boat trip, March 11 Homer and Gemma Risner 71
Successful Relocation of Phoebe's Nest Jean Worthley 72
Coming Events 72

COVER: Catbird. Photo taken by Charles J. Stine at the home of Mr. &

Mrs. Joseph P. Stokes. The young left the nest on June 9, 1956.
HEADINGS: By Irving E. Hampe, Art Editor

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc.
to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Maryland

Editor: Chandler S. Robbins, Patuxent Refuge, Laurel, Md.

Editorial Board: Mrs. Roberta Fletcher, Mrs. Mabel Hoyler,

Richard L. Kleen, Gordon Knight, Mrs. Martina Luff,
Mrs. Helen Miller, Charles Stine, W. Bryant Tyrrell
Junior Editorial Board: Gordon A. Knight, Joe Spurry, Peter Bailey

Production* Mrs. John Bauer, Shirley Geddes, Ray Geddas, James

Travis, Marylou Travis, Bertha Howard, Grace Williams

THE YELLOW -HEADED BLACKBIRD AT OCEAN CITY
Charles M. Buchanan

On Saturday, May 12, 1956, at the M. 0. S. State Convention at Ocean
City, lid,, the ocean trip cruise far "pelagic" birds set sail on a foggy
morning. Fingers were crossed in the hope that the fog would lift and
give us a better chance to scan the ocean around us. However, this was
not to be, aid after a few hours of vainly patrolling back and forth,
the boat returned to Ocean City a little ahead of schedule.

Some of us wanted to continue birding for a while before lunch, and
I suggested we go to the pond across the bridge and a little way to the
north, to try for herons.. In my car were Adam Hubbell and Joe Turner of
Alexandria, Va., and following us were the Misses Elizabeth Gillingham,
Elizabeth Lippincott, Alice Rogers and Sarah Aldridge, all of the Phila-
delphia area, and Mr. Cook from Baltimore. We found no herons, but sev-
eral kind e of swallows and an elusive Northern Water -thrush kept us busy
for a while. We were in our cars ready to head back to the hotel for
lunch when I noticed a bird fly into a small tree nearby. My first im-
pression was a Meadowlark, because of a yellowish appearance around the
throat, but I remarked to Adam Hubbell that it didn’t have the right pro-
portions for a Meadowlark. "We put our glasses to it and, after a little
furious thinking, we announced to each other, "Yellow-headed Blackbird!"

I yelled to the others to examine the bird without telling them
what we had decided, and they were in puzzled agreement with us. At
this we left our cars, opened a "Peterson," and proceeded at our leisure
to tie down every field mark for the female of the species — so we thought
— including the vhi ti sh streaks on the breast and the generally brownish
coloration rather than the rich black of the breeding male. It was a
new species for all of us, however, and in our excitement we overlooked
the possibility that it could be a male not yet in full breeding plumage.
This question came up immediately after lunch when most of the other
birders temporarily postponed their afternoon plans to get a look at the
bird, which very fortunately stayed around the whole weekend and was
photographed in color by several members (see cover photo). The inten-
sity and extent of the yellow and the presence of a white wing patch con-
firmed that the bird was a male.

40

MARYLAND BIHDLXFE

2

Yellow-headed Blackbird from Eodachrome taken through 7 x 50
binoculars at Ocean City on May 13, 1956 by Stephen W. Simon

I returned to the pond on Sunday with Hilda Smith, wto explained
that she had seen these blackbirds in her home state of Massachusetts.
Ironically enough, Miss Smith had talked her friend, Mrs. Cornelius
Rinsma, also of Massachusetts, out of reporting the very same bird which
she apparently saw by herself on Friday and correctly identified!

A youngster by the name of Larry Lewis, about 11 years old, lives
just across the road from the pond where the bird was found, and he de-
clared that he had seen this bird during the entire summer of 1955. Even
though the bird is well marked, this observation would certainly be open
to question; but the boy receives support from Dr. Charles Stine, who
believes he also saw it last summer in the same area, but hesitated to
report such a rarity. The files of the Patuxent Research Refuge show 53
records of the Yellow-headed Blackbird in Atlantic Coastal states (all
except New Hampshire and Rhode Island) from 1851 to 1954. Only 14 of
these are spring records, 2 are summer records (Connecticut), and the
remaining 47 are fall records. In the 1890 f s there were 11 records from
Massachusetts to Georgia, including all three previous Maryland records;
and from 1930 to 1934 there were 11 records from Maine to Florida. The
only previous May records are for Pennsylvania in 1880, Virginia in
1930, and New York in 1932. Maryland's previous records were as follows:
a male with Red-wings near Curtis Bay on September 10, 1891, collected
by Otto Nickel; a female at Patapsco marsh on September 18, 1893, collec-
ted by Richard Cantler; and a female at Patapsco marsh on October 1,

1894, shot but not preserved by Edwin Sehenck,

104 J, Melrose Ave., Baltimore

MARYLAND NEST SUMMARY FOR 1955
Hr. and Mrs. A. J. Fletcher

A total of 75 observers recorded data on 980 nests of 89 species
of birds found breeding in Maryland during 1955. The number of nests
per species recorded varies from one in 43 cases to 314 for Red-wings.

The difficulty of finding nests of some very common species is well
known to bird watchers. But that only one Baltimore Oriole nest was
recorded in his "home 11 state in 1955 is unfortunate! We know that the
number of nests found by observers does not indicate the true propor-
tion of nests, but greater interest in this mass study would result in
better coverage.

It is a credit to local units that a number of junior members par-
ticipated in nest- finding activities during 1955- Three outstanding
juniors are: Jimmy Cummings with 26 nests and Tommy Lomax with 21, both
from Talbot County, and Gordon Knight of Harford County, with 25 nests.
Adults with ten or more nests to their credit are: Elsie Bilbrough,

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Fletcher, Richard Kleen, Robert Mitchell, Fred
Schmid, Robert Stewart, Chandler Robbins and Jean Worthley. In all,
nests were reported from 13 counties. The highest number of species
was reported from Caroline County with 36 . Garrett County, thanks to
Pleasant Valley, was second with 22, and Talbot recorded 15 species
for third place.

Special comment is due a study being conducted in Queen Annes
County on Purple Grackles and Red-wings. This extensive work has re-
vealed some interesting data from a total of 85 grackle and 270 Red-
wing nests. Red-wings usually build within three or four feet of the
water or marsh. One nest in this study was found to be ten feet high!

In the particular habitat studied, grackles preferred dense growths of
Honeysuckle (Lonlcera laponica) as nesting sites.

One Interesting phase of the reports is the proportion of success-
fully hatched clutches, the total being 306 of 658 nests with sufficient
data. This relation is rather close to that found ty Willis in the past
few years. For the student interested in this phase of nest study,
there is a challenging field open in the study of conditions contribute
ing to nest success (or failure, as the point of view of the student
dictates) of some of our Maryland nesting birds.

The total number of species for which nesting evidence has been sub-
mitted during the seven-year period of these summaries has nov reached
160. This total includes four that were added in 1955: Gadwall, Herring

Gull, Nighthawk, and Sharp-tailed Sparrow. These four species were all
found nesting in Eastern Shore counties: Somerset, Talbot, Caroline, and

Worcester, respectively. Five species were missed for the first time in
seven years: Bob-white, Pileated Woodpecker, Homed Lark, Tufted Tit-

mouse, and Long-billed Marsh Wren. If you would like to add a new species
in 1958, here are some to watch for: American Bittern, Sharp- shinned.

Duck, and Cooper's Hawks, Florida Gallinule, Chuck-will 1 s -widow Yellow-
bellied Sapsucker, Raven, Short-billed Marsh Wren, Hermit Thrush, Golden-
crowned Kinglet, Bobolink, Henslow's Sparrow, and Ring-necked Pheasant.

42

MARYLAND BIRDLIKE

Vol. 12, No. 2

GREEN HERON - One nest found in a Loblolly Pine about 15 feet
from the ground in Talbot County by Dick Kleen and Joe Spurry. Four
young in nest on June 2, and on June 12 three dead on the ground
following a heavy rain.

MALLARD - Five young in nest on May 15 at Heine's Pond, Worcester
County (MOS) .

BLACK DUCK - Two nests reported in Talbot County by Cummings et
al . with six eggs each, June 23 and July 24.

GADWALL - Female flushed from nest with 9 eggs on Fish Island in
the Manokin River, Somerset Co., July 19 ( R. E. Stewart and C. S.
Robbins) .

WOOD DUCK - Clutch of 9 eggs, observed May 4-31 , hatched before
June 5 at Owings Mills (George Worthley and Jean Worthley).

RED- SHOULDERED HAWK - 2 Patuxent Refuge nests (Stewart & Schmid) .

BALD EAGLE - Nest with young about 50 feet in a Loblolly Pine at
Trippe's Creek, Talbot County, April 16 (Kleen).

OSPREY - Six nests reported from Talbot, Caroline and Worcester
Counties. The earliest nest on April 5 at Denton (Fletcher). On May
14 two nests with three eggs in Worcester Co. (Crowder). Latest date
from Talbot Co. on July 19 with one young in nest (Kleen).

SPARROW HAWK - Parents feeding young in a Sugar Maple tree cavity
about 25 feet high at Pleasant Valley, Garrett County (Knight) .

KING RAIL - Cummings found a clutch of eight eggs in a brackish
swamp on a clump of grass, June 23 in Talbot County.

CLAPPER RAIL - Nest recently vacated by young at Robins Marsh,
Worcester Co., July 18 (Stewart).

VIRGINIA RAIL - Three downy young found with parents in Somerset
County by Clark Webster on June 16. This is the fourth downy young
record for Maryland.

KILLDEER - Four nests reported from Caroline and Worcester Coun-
ties. Nesting activity had begun by March 30 at Denton (Fletcher).

WILLET - On May 14 and 15, two nests were reported from Worcester
Co. with four eggs each (Simon et al. , and E. M. Wood).

HERRING GULL - This is the first nesting record for the State.
Three nesting pairs were found in Spartina grass on Sharp's Island,
Talbot County, by Kleen, Cummings and Dize. Egg measurements were
taken as proof. Two nests contained one egg each, while the third
nest held two eggs on July 24.

June 1956

MARYLAND BIRDLIKE

43

LAUGHING GULL - 144 young caught by hand and banded on an island
off South Point, Worcester Co., July 18; only two nests still contain-
ed eggs: one nest with one egg and one young just hatched, the other

nest with two eggs and one day-old young (.Stewart and Robbins) . One
nest with two eggs on Robins Marsh island the same day.

GULL-BILLED TERN - Eight young and a nest with four eggs found on
a Sinepuxent Bay island, Worcester Co., July 18 (Stewart and Robbins).

COMMON TERN - Eight nests with one to three eggs and eight young
banded on July 24 on Sharp's Island, Talbot Co. (Kleen, Cummings & Dize) .

FORSTER'S TERN - First nests on Robins Marsh destroyed by flood
tide. Of 42 late nests there on July 18, 7 held one egg; 26, two eggs;
and 10, 3 eggs (Robbins and Stewart); no young seen on this date.

LEAST TERN - On Sharp's Island, Talbot County, four nests were
found in the sand on July 24 (Kleen, et el. ). Twenty- four were banded.

ROYAL TERN - 76 well-grown young corralled and banded at island off
South Point, Worcester Co., July 18 (Stewart, Fahkhauser and Robbins).

BLACK SIMMER - Of 55 nests with eggs on the middle island off
South Point, Worcester Co., on July 18, 12 contained one egg; 16, two
eggs; 19, three eggs; and 8, four eggs (Robbins and Stewart).

MOURNING DOVE - Two nests reported from Caroline County on May 5
and 6. Both were destroyed.

BARN OWL - Kleen found a nest with two eggs at St. Michaels, Tal-
bot County, on May 9- Two young were banded on June 19.

SCREECH OWL - On February 11 an adult was sitting in a nesting site
at Frederick School for the Deaf Campus (S, Quinn). Five young were seen
after May 11. The same nesting cavity has been used for three or four
years.

HORNED OWL - On April 19 two young were seen at a nest site in a
Loblolly Pine in Talbot County. Young birds were out of nest on May
21 (Kleen)..

NIGHTHAWK - A nest with two eggs was found on the schoolhouse
roof in Denton, May 31 (Fletcher). Still incubating on June 9.

CHIMNEY SWIFT - Young heard in a Greensboro chimney from June 27
to July 5 (E. Bilbrough) .

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - A nest discovered on June 9, young in
nest on June 15 and out of nest on June 30 at Gibson Island (Henderson
and Tappan) . Another nest found on June 12 in Garrett County (Knight) .
Both nests were from 15 to 18 feet high. The firat bird was seen to
attack a Wood Pewee.

44

MARYLAND BIRDUFE

Vol, 12, No, 2

FLICKER - At Pleasant Valley, Mrs. W. B. Tyrrell found a nest in
a dead Chestnut tree on June 15* Two young were being protected by
adults on June 25 at Denton (Fletcher) .

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER - Two nests were reported by Marvin Hewitt:
May 16 an adult was seen going into a nest site at Henderson, and on May
21 an adult was seen feeding two young i n nesting cavity at Federals-
burg. Both nests were about 20 feet from the ground.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER - Two nests in the Northvood section of
Baltimore, 15 and 40 feet up. Young left one successfully; the other
was destroyed when a storm blew the limb off (Lydra Gillespie) .

DOWNY WOODPECKER - An adult was seen carrying food on May 17 at
Denton (R. Fletcher) .

EASTERN KINGBIRD - Six nests were reported ranging from six feet
to 25 feet in height. One bird in Greensboro raised two broods, build-
ing May 8-18, feeding June 17-27, and three out of nest by June 28.

The second nest was started on July 13 and young were out of the nest
by August 15 (E. Bilbrough) .

CRESTED FLYCATCHER - Of the three nests reported, one nest con-
tained four eggs on June 25 and another three young on June 27.

EASTERN PHOEBE - Four nests from May 1 to June 15 . One nest in May
had four eggs while the three in June had young, all from Garrett Co.

ACADIAN FLYCATCHER - A nest overlooking a stream in Baltimore Co. on
June IS with two nestlings (Walkers). Nest nearly covered with catkins.

EASTERN WOOD PEWEE - Three nests in Baltimore, Caroline and Garrett
Counties from June 5 to July 10. Denton (Caroline County) nest was as
low as ten feet.

TREE SWALLOW - Began nesting activities as early as May 7 in boxes
put up for Bluebirds at Denton (Fletcher) . Only one of the five nests
were successful at Denton, as Bluebirds took over the nesting boxes.

On June 10 a female was feeding young in a duck box at Pleasant Valley,
Garrett County (E. Minke) .

BANK SWALLOW - One nest about four feet high in a bank on the
Chesapeake Bay, Talbot County, June 5 (Kleen) .

ROUGH- WINGED SWALLOW - Birds flying in and out of two nests in a
clay bank on May 7 and 17, Denton (Fletcher) .

BARN SWALLOW - Of the nine nests reported, five used old nests.

Four of the nests contained five eggs; 33 to 40 days elapsed from the
time the first egg was laid until the young birds left the nest. Lat-
est date for the birds to leave the nest was July 22, Greensboro
(A. Bilbrough) .

June 1956

MARYLAND BIRDLLFE

45

PURPLE MARTIN - Adults still building nests on May 27 at Denton.
June 25, ^adults had deserted about 35 nests because Raccoons had eaten
eggs. One box which the Raccoons could not reach had young on July 16
and by August 3-H the young were leaving six successful ne3ts, none
banded (Fletcher) .

BLUE JAY - Broods of 4 & 5 young banded at Laurel, May 22
(Robbins) .

CROW - Three young and one egg hatching on May 2 in nest 25 feet
up in top of dead Virginia Pine at Owings Mills (jean Worthley) .

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE - Three nests reported from Pleasant Valley
from two to six feet above the ground. All three contained young.

CAROLINA CHICKADEE - One nest in a bird house about four feet from
the ground in a flower garden; birds were building on May 8 and six
birds left nest on June 23 at Greensboro (E. Bilbrough) .

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH - Building under loose bark 20 feet up in
tree at Pikesville, Baltimore Co. on May 7 (Jean Worthley).

HOUSE WREN - Two broods raised at Gibson Island (Henderson and
Tappan) . May 8 to June 12 first brood, and July 12 second brood being
fed in the nest.

CAROLINA WREN - Six nests reported. Earliest nest at Greensboro
on February 27 in a chicken house (E. Poore) . Nest heights varied
from on the ground to seven feet.

MOCKINGBIRD - Of the eight nests reported, the earliest was May
6 and latest nest taken from a Cardinal on July 29 — the fledgling
left the nest on August 24 (Fletcher). A Greensboro nest was being
built only four days. May 21-25, had five eggs by May 30, five birds
on June 15, five young left the nest on June 22 — a total of 33 days
in all (E. Bilbrough) .

CATBIRD - Seven reports, birds leaving nests from June 9 to
July 20. Nesting height varied from three feet to seven feet. Four
nests were successful.

BROWN THRASHER - Ten nests reported with first nesting activity
noted on May 8 at Denton (Robert Fletcher) . Height of nests varied
from ground level to 11 feet. Five were successful. On July 17
adult birds seen sheltering nestlings from the hot sun at Denton.

ROBIN - Seven ty-f our nests were reported. Fifteen nests were
built in evergreens and eleven on buildings. The height of the nests
ranged from two to 50 feet. Nesting dates were from April 13 to July
1, with young leaving nests about 14 days after hatching. About 50$
of the nests were successful.

46

MARYLAND BIRDLIKE

Vol. 12, No. 2

WOOD THRUSH - Three eggs at White Hall, Balto. Co., July 2
(Worthley) .

EASTERN BLUEBIRD - Of the ten nests reported, the earliest was
April 19, while the latest was July 17. Eight nests were successful —
six with four young and two with five young. All reports were of
nests in boxes.

BLUE-GRAY GtfATCATCHER - On May 7 both birds were bringing nesting
materials for a nest 25 feet up in a crotch of a tree at Frederick
(Sarah Quinn).

CEDAR WAXWING - Three nests on June 15 at Pleasant Valley, placed
in Hawthorn trees from seven to 15 feet up. The trees were on a hill
with second- growth deciduous trees and heavy undergrowth (Gordon
Knight, Lois McCollough and Eleanor Minke).

STARLING - Brood of 7 banded in nest box at Laurel, May 6
(Robbins) .

YELLOW- THROATED VIREO - At Denton on June 28 a nest was found
about 45 feet high in a hickory tree; July 2 one adult singing in the
tree, and the other on the edge of the nest as if feeding young
(Fletcher).

RED-EYED VIREO - Five records from May 10 to July 27, ranging from
five to 15 feet above the ground. A Cowbird and vireo fledgling were
being fed by an adult on the ground at Denton, July 27 (Fletcher).

PRQTHQNOTARY WARBLER - Building on May 14, Ocean City (J. Worthley).

SWAINSON'S WARBLER - Egg laid on May 15 by bird trapped for band-
ing in Pocomoke Swamp, Worcester Co. (C. S. Robbins).

GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER - At Pleasant Valley Gordon Knight found a
nest on the ground at the edge of a clearing with four young on June
13- Parents were feeding young on June 17.

PARULA WARBLER - Mrs. Chester Snow found a nest in her back yard
at Chevy Chase on May 26. The nest was about 30 feet in the same
spruce tree in which they nested in 1954* On June 9 adults were feed-
ing steadily all day. Male and two young left nest on June 10.

YELLOW WARBLER - A nest discovered by Mrs. Walker on May 29 at
Glencoe about 15 feet in a willow tree. No activity at nest on June 5*

MAGNOLIA WARBLER - Female on the nest on June 12 at Pleasant
Valley (Knight). The nest was about 12 feet up in a Hornbeam tree.

CHESNUT-SIDED WARBLER - A nest with two young at Pleasant Valley
on June 15 (McCollough and Minke) about three feet high in a blackberry
bush.

June 1956

Maryland birdlime

47

OVEN-BIRD - Two records at Pleasant Valley on June 14 and 17 with
four and five eggs. Nests were among ferns and logs (McCollough and
Cook) .

YELLOW- THROAT - Adult seen carrying food into briars at Greensboro,
June 6 (M. W. Hewitt).

HOODED WARBLER - Female was seen feeding a young Cowbird in Prince
Georges Co. near Laurel on July 3 (C. S. Robbins).

AMERICAN REDSTART - A nest found by Adams in Pleasant Valley on
June 16 with young which left nest site (Hawthorn tree) on June 17.

ENGLISH SPARROW - Three eggs in refurbished Barn Swallow nest
eight feet up at Owings Mills, July 5* destroyed by Homo sapie ns (J.
Vorthley) .

EASTERN MEADOWLARK - On June 21 Knight found young leaving nest
under Canada Thistle in Harford County.

RED-WING - 314 nests recorded. Eggs were in 12 nests by May 17.
There were a few young by the last of May, but the majority of nests
had young during the month of June. Nests were found from ground
level up to the unusual height of ten feet.

ORCHARD ORIOLE - Four nests reported from Caroline County. Two
of these were successful. Two nests were built by the same bird at
Greensboro, but finally deserted, probably because Purple Grackles
were too near (E. Bilbrough) .

BALTIMORE ORIOLE - One nest reported from Caroline County. Male
bird was carrying food on June 3 to nest in walnut tree (Fletcher) .

PURPLE GRACKLE - Of the 86 nests reported, 80 had young on May 18
(Mitchell and Schmid) . Nesting heights ranged from five feet to 20
feet. Earliest nesting date was May 5, and latest date, June 17.

Thirty nests contained 3 eggs or young while 29 had 4 eggs or young
and only five nests had five eggs.

COWBIRD - Two records in nests of Chipping Sparrow and Field
Sparrow during July and August.

SCARLET TANAGER - A nest at Pleasant Valley, June 14, 18 feet high.

SUMMER TANAGER ~ Adults feeding 2 fledglings, Denton July 25
(Fletcher) .

CARDINAL - Four records: earliest at Denton, May 28, and a late
record of adults feeding fledgling on October 10 and for two weeks
following at a Bel Air feeder (Mrs. J. H. Wills).

48 MARYLAND BIRDLIEE Vol. 12, No. 2

BLUE GROSBEAK - Two records, from Caroline County, both successful.
June 22, adults feeding two young at Greensboro (Bilbrough) and four
young being fed at Denton on Ju3jr 27 (Fletcher).

INDIGO BUNTING - Knight found a nest with three eggs in Harford Co.
in a blackberry bush, July 24. On August 6 there were four newly-
hatched babies.

EASTERN GOLDFINCH - Adults feeding two fledglings at Denton on
September

RED- EYED TGWHEE - One record — Denton: April 22 there were two eggs;
April 25, four eggs; May 2, destroyed.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - Adults carrying food to Denton nest on June
3 (Fletcher) .

SHARP-TAILED SPARROW - Nest of four eggs found on the ground on
an island in Worcester County on May 14 (Captain J.E.M. Wood).

CHIPPING SPARROW - Eleven nests from April 23 to August 9, ranging
from one to 16 feet up. Six nests in evergreens, nine successful.

FIELD SPARROW - Seven nests reported. May 1 to July 17. Nests
were on the ground and up to four feet in bushes in fields and woods
borders. Two to four eggs were found in these nests.

SONG SPARROW - Seven nests with three to five eggs each from May
22 to July 8 found on the ground and up to six feet. All nests but
one were near dwellings. One was found in Cunningham Swamp, Pleasant
Valley (Winfield) .

Addendum : BOB-WHITE - Nine eggs, St. Michaels, July 4 (Peter Bailey).

Route 1, Denton

* * * *

CAN YOU IDENTIFY THESE ?

Marvin Hewitt

Last year I sent a bird list to two loeal newspapers (whose names
will remain anonymous) . Apparently my longhand was not too legible; for
in the midst of a long list of names familiar to all of us were tbe fol-
lowing "species' 1 : killdee, spooted sandpiper, guster yellowlegs, red-

billed woodpecker, accordian flycatcher, powla warbler, overbird,
Louisiana waterthrust, brooded warbler, ruby crowned knight, purple
gackle, blue grasback, goldfish, red-eyed tawler and clipping sparrow.

Greensboro

June 1956

MARYLAND BIRDLIJE

49

REPORT OF STATE -WIDE BIRD COUNT, MAY 5, 1956
Chandler S. Robbins

The most successful count of Maryland birds ever undertaken was the
State-wide Count of 1956. Thinking back on the chilly morning of May 5
and recalling the scarcity of migrants you observed on that day, you may
wonder how the present project could be called such a great success. On
many other days this spring you noticed migrants much easier to find
than they were on the 5th of May. And if you will glance back at Haven
Kolb's summary of the 1950 Count ( Maryland Birdlife 7: 30-37) you will
see totals of 50 Cape May Warblers, 123 Black -throated Blues and 45
Canada Warblers as compared with 10, 26 and 14, respectively, for these
species thi s year.

Success is measured not in terms of the number of birds seen in a
given area by you or your party, but in terms of the total amount and
quality of coverage that is obtained by all parties afield. In total ob-
servers we fell far short of the 178 participants we had in 1948, the
year of the first State -wide Count. The total number of individual
birds counted in 1956, however, was about twice as high as the average
for the nine years of this count, and the number of species identified,
§3Q» exceeded the previous one-day high by 24. But more important than
the number of birds identified are the accompanying details of the amount
of time spent in observation. This information enables us to make direct
comparisons between each of our areas and to state that a given readily-
identifyable species is more common in one part of the State than in
another part. Let us consider, for example, the Cardinal. The hipest
count of 105 came from Gibson Island, and cue of the lowest counts, 16,
from nearby Annapolis. Do you believe for one minute that the Cardinal
is 6^ times more common at the former location than at the latter? If,
however, we apply a little arithmetic and compute the number of Cardinals
recorded per party -hour afield, we find Gibson Island had 2.3 as com-
pared with 2.0 for Annapolis. In other words, the Cardinal is just about
as common at one of these localities as at the other. Similar compari-
sons may be made between many other common species, to show relative
abundance in various parts of the State on this day. As the data accumu-
late over the years, comparisons can be made of the less common species
as well; and average relative abundance for this time of the year can be
obtained. Many participants cover the same areas each year; the more
uniformity of coverage we can attain the more significant will be the
results.

General Comment on Results

Examination of Table 1 shows vividly many features of the migration
across our State. Vie quickly sift out those water birds that are present
only at Ocean City (last column), and those that are confined to the
vicinity of the Bay (roughly the right hand half of the table). We note
that the Osprey, Tree Swallow and Fish Crow fit fairly well in the latter
category. Our eye then searches fbr birds that are present only in in-
land areas, or birds that become scarcer and scarcer as we read from left
to right (northwest to southeast) . The Purple Finch is the most strikin g
example in this category; it was seen in very small numbers in three

50

MARYLAND BIHDLUE

Vol. 12, Ho. 2

Western Shore coastal plain areas, it was found in all hut one area to
the west and north, and in none to the south and east. Less impressive
examples are the Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Blue-heeded Vireo, and
some of the warblers.

The lateness of the 1956 migration is shown by the relatively high
counts of species that normally reach their peak of abundance in April,
and the low* tallies for species which do not arrive in large numbers
until Meyi The Purple Finch, referred to above, is generally a scarce
bird this late in the season. Oh this same date in 1952 ( Maryland Bird-
life 8 : 32) only 3 individuals were found— all in one area. 'White-
throated Sparrows were twice as numerous this year as on comparable dates
in other years. The most unusual showing of late stragglers was the
appearance of the Fox Sparrow on three lists; this species habitually
departs in early April and there are only tlree previous May records far
Maryland. There were also indications of lateness among some common
summer resident species. The Red-eyed Vireo, which is seldom missed on
more than one or two areas, was seen on only 14 out of 20 counts this
year. It is hard to believe that this abundant resting species was still
so scarce on May 5 that only three areas in the State found as many as
one Red-eye per hour, it is indeed a strange experience to have nearly
90 species on cue's list before the first Red-eyed Vireo of the day is
heard or seen — but that's exactly what happened to me in Howard County.
Note that the White-crowned Sparrow appears on almost half the lists
this year instead of the usual one or two.

We Misse d

’When a cooperative effort such as this scours all sections of the
State and finds 229 species in one day, there obviously are not very many
species of regular occurrence in early May that are missed. With more
parties operating in our one coastal county we would certainly have added
several more species of shorebirds. -Western Maryland should be able to
produse Turkey, Raven, Duck Hawk and Golden-crowned Kinglet, and perhaps
the Long-eared Owl and Saw-whet Owl. We were just a little too early to
find late migrants such as ths Alder and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, the
Mourning and ’Wilson's 7/arblers, and the Lincoln's Sparrow. A good list
from Dorchester County would certainly have provided the Short-billed
Marsh Wren and Florida Gallinule.

Just Luck

As would be expected, a couple of dozen species were represented by
only cne individual, and in probably half of these cases it was not a
matter of good pl anning but just .plain luck that the species were no-
ticed. Finding only one King Rail was bad luck; we should have had them
in several areas. Finding only one Gannet and one Surf Scoter probably
indicates that the observers stopped looking when they found the first
one. But coming up with an American Golden -eye on the Patapsco River, a
Stilt Sandpiper at Kent Island, a single Pine Siskin and Red Crossbill in
Patapsco State Park, and an early Olive-sided Flycatcher at Patuxent Ref-
uge can be attributed only to luck. It's not that the Pine Siskin la a
rarity or the Red Crossbill entirely unexpected; but rather tint siskins
have been strangely absent this 3 ) ring, and tint the crossbills are so

June 1956

MARYLAND BIRDLIEE

51

Table 1. State-aide Bird Count, Uoy 9, 1956

1

2

3 4

5

6

7 8

9 10 11

12

13

14

15

1$

17

18

19

20

Spec lea

All Was Emm Fro

Uni

Plk Rav Rol

Wym FPk How Gbit

Pat

Gib Ann Cal

gen Talb Car

OcC

TOT

Common Loon

1

1

2

3

1

8

Red-throated Loon

1

"

22

23

Horned Grebe

12

12

Pled-bllled Grebe

1

2

8

11

Gennet

1

1

Double-cr. Cormorant

4000

5

2

226

4233

Great Blue Heron

i

3

2

2

3

9

3

2

4

29

American Egret

1

1

2

Snowy Egret

2

2

4

Little Blue Heron

1

1

Green Heron

X

1

2

1

£

2

4

3

6

l

1

21

4

2

6

56

Black-4 r. Nt. Heron

1

1

14

16

Yellcw-or. Nt. Heron

4

4

American Bittern

1

1

1

1

1

5

Least Bittern

X

X

Whistling Swan

1

2

10

19

32

Canada Gooae

15

100

115

Brent

20

20

Mallard

X

4

£

2

6

3

1

16

Black Duck

4

2

4

1

52

2

14

1

80

Oedmll

2

£

Blue -winged Tael

2

16

10

Wood Duck

X

4

1

1

2

10

9

10

37

Ring-necked Duck

3

3

Canvas-back

2

1

3

Greater Scaup

8

28

36

Leaser Soaup Duck

10

3

12

25

Am. Golden -eye

1

1

Buffle-heed

4

4

Old-squaw

4

4

White-wlnged Scoter

12

12

Surf Scoter

1

1

Am. Scoter

75

75

Ruddy Duck

1

219

15

235

Hooded Merganear

1

1

Am. Merganser

6

■ 6

Red-br. Merganser

81

81

Turkey Vulture

X

7

10 3

10

6

13

6 £0

8

7

8

5

34

200

52

175

66

630

Black Vulture

2

£

1

2

1

5

5

18

Sbarp-ehlnned Hawk

X

1

1

2

4

Cooper's Hawk

1

1

1

1

1

1

6

Red-tailed Hawk

£

4

11

1

2

20

Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hank
Bald Eagle
Marsh Honk
Oeprey
Pigeon Hawk

12 1

4 £

4 1

13 1

1

14 1

12

“l 3~
5 13

1

29

15

5

6
62
.2

Sparrow Hawk
Ruffed Grouse
Bob-white
Ring-neck Pheaeent
Sing Rail
Clapper Rail

1 2
1

2 26 21

4

7 30 4 16

12

14

2

185

7

1

2

Virginia Rail

Sora

Coot

piping Plover
gemlpalmated Plover
TM 11 dear

1 10 2

8 10

26

L13

40

14

15 10

£

2

43

2

166

144

Blaok-bellled Plover
Ruddy Turnstone
Woodoock
Wilson's Snipe
Upland Plover
Spotted Sandpiper

175

13

12

1

1 1

2 8 30

175

13

9

7

1

83

Solitary Sandpiper
Wlllet

Greater Yellow-legs
Lesser Yellow-lega
Knot

Purple Sandpiper
‘ dpiper

1 10 15

3

1

10

45

5

7 1

48

18

36

59

2

dk

least Sandpiper
Red-backed Sandpiper
Eastern Dowltcher
Stilt Sandpiper

LBO

1

12

4

IB

1

52

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 1£, IJo. 2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

£0

Spec las

All Waa gnm Fro

Pnl Plk Raw Rol

»ym FPk How Gbit

Pat Gib Ann Cal

Ken Talb Car

pcC

TOT

Seal pal • Sandpiper

1

3

40

44

Western Sandpiper

1

1

Sandorllng

53

53

Black-becked Gull

z

2

Herring Gull

1

301

4

49

a

300

676

Ring-billed Gull

£0

3

3

17

151

1

16

208

Laughing Gull

2

66

to'

Bonaparte's Gull

1

18

19

Gull-billed Tern

4

4

Forster' e Tern

100

100

Comoon Tern

565

565

Black Tan

24

24

16

2

Io

26

Royal Ten

5

5

Caspian Ten

1

e

9

Black Skimmer

55

55

Mourning Dove

X

4

20

4

4

5

5

2

1

2

87

60

20

33

1

13

12

39

25

13

350

Tallow-billed Cuckoo

2

3

4

9

Black-hilled Cuckoo

2

— £

Barn Owl

3

3

Screech Owl

1

3

4

Horned Owl

3

1

2

1

1

1

9

Barred Owl

1

2

1

2

6

Short -eared Owl

2

2

Chuck-will* s-wldon

5

T

7

Whip-poor-will

x

3

2

3

19

6

5

4

9

1

a

2

62

Nlghtbawk

X

4

£

1

1

8

Chimney Swift

z

r.oo

30

15

1

50

41

5

40

50 316

40

20

60

19

120

30

40

23

1400

Ruby- 1 hr. Hummingbird

1

1

1

3

7

1

7

a

Belted Kingfisher

X

l

£

3

2

1

1

1

1

15

5

1

1

£

1

2

39

Flicker

z

s

20

£

5

4

£

4

2

6

7

2

II

2

I

“8T

— T

~T

ir

T?6

Plleated Woodpecker

z

l

4

1

6

Rad-bellied Woodp'r

3

1

1

1

4

1

£

25

9

15

15

6

4

14

9

12

5

127

Red-headed Woodpecker

1

1

£

1

5

Yel.-bel. Sapeucknr

X

1

1

2

Hairy Woodpecker

X

1

1

3

1

8

1

3

4

3

1

26

z

2

6

2

6

3

~T

r

£

2

6

8

ST

4

2

1

~r

— 5"

~vr

~~T

9S

Eastern Kingbird

6

3

5

30

3

14

22

10

57

6

7

sx

14

19

7

224

Created Flycatcher

X

4

£

2

2

2

11

1

8

7

1

8

13

12

3

76

Eastern Phoebe

z

9

10

£

£

5

4

1

1

10

7

17

6

6

3

4

14

7

108

Least Flycatcher

z

1

£

1

4

Aoadlan Flycatcher

2

1

1

6

1

2

2

3

12

30

Eastern Wood pewee

4

1

1

1

e

z

17

OllTo-slded Flycatcher

1

1

Horned Lark

£

2

3

4

13

26

Tree Swallow

z

£0

4

10

6

47

2

6

£0

60

1

16

8

200

Bank Swallow

12

10

3

SO

1C

55

Rough-winged Swallow

X

16

1

3

1

2

50

17

25

1

87

5

1

4

3

13

£29

Barn Swallow

X

£0

40

io

£6

56

-w

2

2

l£

~sr

58

“4b 155'

IT

SI

ISO

SS

iS

US

"559

Cliff Swallow

X

2

1

5

3

13

1

£5

Purple Martin

z

6

10

4

4

37

4

£

10

2

1C

15

314

37

40

26

5a

Blue Jay

X

3

40

4

30

52

1

15

30

12

71

42

33

289

4

4

35

8

15

3

691

Crow

X

100

£0

15

10

ICO

35

3

7

6

61

£1

40

52

10

7

80

200

55 136

958

Fish Crew

10

1

2

1

1

1

S

£

B

9

10

4

£

56

Blaok-cappsd Chick.

z

1

1

Carolina Chickadee

4

6

6

4

3

3

£

1

9

33

22

25

10

7

5

12

46

8

£06

Tufted Titmouse

X

7

20

3

4

6

5

3

4

£

41

33

30

26

1

11

7

IB

£6

13

260

White-br. Nuthatch

4

4

£

3

1

14

Red-breasted Nuthatch

1

£

3

Brown -headed Nuthatch

16

2

18

House Wren

X

5

25

£

10

5

■5

£

~T~

£

£4

13

11

89

12

17

1

15"

£36

Carolina Wren

z

IS

6

1

4

1

3

2

1

1

19

£1

9

31

3

11

11

12

17

8

178

Long-bill Harsh Wren

1

2

3

Mockingbird

7

IS

3

3

3

3

2

3

1

45

27

15

SO

4

15

46

24

35

23

366

Catbird

X

11

30

4

8

12

7

10

2

50

29

42

15

139

3

10

58

3

30

£

465

Brown Thresher

z

6

30

3

4

6

4

£

5

£

24

41

9

97

6

7

4

3

29

E

284

Robin

X

75

SO

e

£0

50

9

16

io

25

56

lie

.28 195

16

25

256

'SB 135" ls9"

1264

Wood Thrush

z

10

30

£

10

30

12

6

5

10

74

£9

25

36

2

4

3

15

30

3

336

Hermit Thrush

1

1

1

3

OliTe-baoked Thrush

7

3

l

2

1

1

4

4

3

10

3

1

1

18

2

61

Grey-cheeked Thrush

5

1

1

£

1

10

Teery

2

1

1

1

£

1

E

7

3

5

4

4

33

Eastern Bluebird

X

$

Is

3

6

12

7

2

9

17

3

37

2

T 3

5

i

EB

1e

■m

Blue-gray Gnatoatchsr

X

6

1

B

4

4

13

££

£1

6

2

23

8

12

£5

155

Ruby- crowned Kinglet

1

1

£

1

10

1

16

American Pipit

X

71

3

100

104

Cedar Waxwing

X

SO

13

60

6

99

Migrant Shrike

1

1

June 1956

MARYLAND BIRDLIEE

53

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

PO

Species

All

»_as

atn Fro

Uni pik

Rav

Hoi

7; yin ppk How Gbit

Pat

Gib

fjm Cal

Ken

Taib Car

OcC

TOT

Starling

X

400

50

25

20

30

n

20

20 100

81

175

36

74

50

28

500

23

150

245

2038

./hite-eyed Vireo

1

2

10

12

13

0

9

3

6

11

16

91

Yellow-thr. Vireo

X

3

1

1

6

6

1

7

4

10

1

3

1

44

Blue-headed Vireo

2

1

2

5

Red-eyed Vireo

X

3

2

2

1

12

10

24

46

6

5

15

15

9

150

Philadelphia Vireo

1

1

2

Garbling Vireo

8

1

6

1

1

17

Black & White Warbler

5

4

3

2

8

5

3

2

16

9

12

1

2

3

8

4

7

94

Prothonotary Warbler

2

2

2

4

8

6

24

Worn-eating Warbler

1

1

5

5

12

Golden-winged Warbler

X

1

7

2

6

16

Blue-winged i/arbler

X

1

3

11

5

1

1

1

1

24

Tennessee Warbler

1

1

2

Nashville Warbler

1

3

2

1

5

4

7

7

1

1

32

Parula V/arbler

X

6

1

1

3

7

1

14

18

22

30

2

2

4

1

12

124

Yellow V/arbler

X

2

1

2

1

7

2

3

3

4

25

1

£4

1

5

4

85

Negnolia i/arbler

2

2

12

1

1

18

Cape Hay V/arbler

3

5

1

1

10

Blk-thr. Blue V/arbler

1

4

1

2

1

2

6

7

1

1

26

Uyrtle Warbler

X

6

10

4

20

12

7

2

21

278

38

26

14

7

4

25

14

70

558

Bk-thr. Greea V/arbler

X

4

10

1

2

5

1

1

3

3

2

7

1

1

1

42

Cerulean Warbler

X

1

1

2

Blackburnian Warbler

4

30

3

8

10

8

3

17

1

1

85

Yellow-thrtd V/arbler

1

2

1

1

4

9

Che3t. -sided V/arbler

X

5

3

4

3

2

3

2

16

9

12

3

2

1

65

Boy-breaeted './arbler

2

1

3

Black-poll Warbler

1

10

2

5

2

20

Pine V/arblor

8

2

4

4

2

3

23

Prairie Warbler

X

5

5

22

2

12

24

11

26

6

4

6

22

145

Western Pain V/arbler

2

2

Ovenbird

X

3

20

4

6

7

1

2

11

5

20

2

7

8

7

8

111

No. Water-thrush

1

1

1

5

3

1

12

La. Water-thrush

X

2

2

2

3

6

2

2

11

10

6

1

3

3

53

Kentucky Warbler

1

1

1

4

3

10

6

4

6

7

43

Yellow-throat

X

2

20

2

10

30

5

1

12

40

18

30

33

4

26

12

16

16

277

Yellow-breasted Chat

X

3

10

8

4

13

1

1

26

6

2

6

2

4

16

3

99

Hooded V/arbler

4

6

2

14

26

21

32

105

Wilson's Warbler

2

2

Canada V/arbler

1

1

5

1

2

3

1

14

An. Redstart

X

14

20

1

12

20

1C

1

50

53

3C

51

4

4

2

2

3

305

English Sparrow

X

100

50

20

5

25

4

10

10

76

26

14

29

60

63

125

200 190

45

1052

Bobolink

X

1

2

6

1

4

14

S, Uendoivlerk

X

14

25

10

10

12

109

13

16

7

8

73

50

100

35

482

3 . Redwing

X

500

50

12

25

50

68

20

132

67

30 175

8

60

237 1000 120

220

2774

Orchard Oriole

2

3

3

1

3

2

2-

2

10

28

Baltimore "Oriole

X

7

4

2

2

2

5

8

4

1

3

4

4

1

47

Rusty Blackbird

2

2

4

Boat-tailed Crackle

51

53

Purple Crackle

X

400

50

15

35

75

3

5

6

12

62

5

21

41

6

44

461

1000

256

340

2837

E. Cowbird

X

12

30

5

15

30

12

5

7

12

39

6

7

81

6

9

147

22

56

41

542

Scarlet Tanager

X

3

10

1

6

4

2

17

34

14

8

1

10

10

17

1

138

Summer Tanager

2

5

2

9

Cardinal

X

17

20

4

10

12

30

4

6

10

64

38

20

105

16

29

39

40

76

37

577

Rose-br. Grosbeak

X

1

,4

4

1

4

1

15

Blue Grosbeak

2

2

4

Indigo Bunting

X

2

2

1

2

2

5

11

15

6

4

1

3

5

1

60

Evening Grosbeak

3

1

4

Purple Finch

X

10

30

5

2

6

12

3

LOO

29

3

2

1

203

Pine Si 3 kin

1

1

E. Goldfinch

X

200

40

12

10

100

30

20

150

50 181 1320

40

130

18

44

38

295

76

2754

Red Crossbill

1

1

Red -eyed Towhee

X

12

30

3

2

25

20

3

7

6

61

96

30

102

3

10

20

21

68

28

547

Savannah Sparrow

1

2

8

10

14

4

3

11

53

Grasshopper Sparrow

X

4

20

18

4

28

1

6

6

2

89

Henslow's Sparrow

2

1

3

Sharp-tailed Sparrow

4

4

Seaside Sparrow

2

2

Vesper Sparrow

X

6

10

2

2

9

4

33

Slate-colored Junco

X

2

2

1

12

2

19

Chipping Sparrow

X

15

20

10

12

1

2

2

14

. 2

21

61

3

13

17

6

60

5

264

Field Sparrow

X

21

20

3

5 -

12

15

1

47

10

26

7

16

15

10

61

16

285

V/hite -crown Sparrow

X

3

4

10

6

1

4

6

11

45

Yhite-thr. Sparrow

X

7

30

3

20

25

20

5

10

50

32

93

33 102

16

41

30

20

69

80

686

Fox Sparrow

X

1

1

2

Swann Sparrow

4

1

1

1

8

5

1

1

4

26

Song Sparrow

X

21

30

3

6

12

25

3

3

25

59

21

16

96

5

24

29

3

19

36

436

TOTAL SPECIES
TOTAL INDIVIDUALS
PARTY -HOURS

82 89 94 56 70 94 69 47 54 71 108 110 117 117 50 67

2752 £31 1039 242 796 3345 7516 759

1217 480 645 404 2593 1420 360

15 14 4 4 6 7 4 6 12 10£ 14fc 46r 8 6fc

u

3556 4458

4145 2823 38763

12 15 51 18§ 246g

54

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 12, No. 2

much less common than the pine woods they frequent that it f s usually mere
coincidence if an observer stumbles upon them. Even so, coincidences
seem to be piling up on each other to the point where we are beginning
to wonder whether Red Crossbills may be regular but mighty scarce spring
transients along the Maryland fall line. In three years out of the past
Ibur I have found cue or more Red Crossbills in my area during the
State-wide Count — but in a different place each year.

Birds* Eye View of Previous State-wide Counts
Counts for the period 1952-1955 have not jet been publidied, but it
is hoped that this material can be worked up in the near future and pub-
lished as space permits. In the meantime, a summary of the total number
of species recorded, the commonest bird, and -the area with the highest
species total may be of interest fbr compariscn with 1956. In 1952 and
1953 some of the most strategic areas were covered on Sunday instead of
Saturday so the total list far cne day is greatly reduced.

Date

Species

Commonest

Species

Highest Area

May

8,

1948

190

May

7,

1949

183

McDonogh

92

May

6,

1950

193

Goldfinch

1,184

Patuxent Refuge

123

May

5,

1951

187

Goldfinch

1,375

Ocean City

134

May

10,

1952

159

Bobolink

959

Patux ent Refug e

106

May

11,

1952

199

Cormorant

4,600

Ocean City

168

May

9,

1953

188

Starling

1,092

St. Marys County

133

May

10,

1953

184

Red-w ing

319

Ocean City

147

May

8,

1954

205

Red-wing

2,62Q

Charles & St. Marys

129

May

7,

1955

195

Red-wing

2,538

Gibson Is. — Talbot (tie)

125

May

5,

1956

229

Cormorant

4,233

Ocean City

130

County Comparison

You have already noticed that some lists were made by a single ob-
server or a single party of observers. Others were county compilations,
the work of several teams cf counters. Host, but not all, of the reports
with more than 100 species fall in the latter category. In order to
make a fair comparison between counties such as Baltimore, Prince Georges
and Anne Arundel (each with several separate lists in the table), and
Caroline and Talbot (with all local participants contributing to a single
combined list), we have prepared county totals by combining several of
the lists in Table 1. Since the Patapsco State Park and Patuxent Re-
search Refuge lists both include parts cf two counties, and since observ-
ers were not asl©d to keep their records separate by counties, several
species on these lists could not safely be assigned to a county list.

It is quite likely also that several of the Pocomoke birds credited to
v/orcester County were actually seen in adjacent Wicomico County. So
keep these shortcomings in mind vhile you read the county totals for the
top twelve counties:

Prince Georges

133

^ueen Annes

111

Frederick

99

V/orcester

130

Talbot

109

'./ashing ton

89

Anne Arundel

124

Caroline

108

Allegany

82

Baltimore

114

Howard

108

Montgomery

70

June 1956

MARYLAND BIRDLIIE

55

Bare Facta

For the benefit of folks who may use some of this year's data for
future comparisons, a resume of coverage and results is in order. At the
end of Table 1 are the total specie s, total individuals and total party-
hours for each area and far all areas combined. Names of participants
and additional information concerning the individual areas are given at
the close of the article. All lists submitted are included there, and
all lists that gave counts for each species are included in the table.

7/eather conditions on May 5, 1956 may be summarized in three words:
clear, cold and calm. £he mergury dipped to 31° in Allegany County, 35°
in the piedmont, and 42 to 44 near Chesapeake Bay; and it rose to
between 65 and 71 during the day. Wind remained negligible inland,
but rose to 10 miles per hour aLong Chesapeake Bay and 20 miles per hour
along the ocean in the afternoon.

Eighteen species appear on all 20 lists in Table 1. Since some
lists were made in small areas such as a city park or a farm it is to be
expected that comparatively few species would find suitable habitat in
all 20 areas. If, on the other hand, we consider just the ten highest
lists (93 species or more), we are dealing with areas involving many
square miles and a wide variety of cover types, and we expect a large
number of species to be present on all lists. Forty-four species
(nearly half the total number of species on the smallest of the lists
considered) were fbund by all ten parties. All but three of the 44
species are summer residents through most of oar State. Of the other
three, the White -throat ed Sparrow and Myrtle Warbler are winter resi-
dents as well as very common migrants; and the Tree Swallow is strictly
a transient in all but three of Ihe areas covered. Other wide-spread
transients, found in 15 of Ihe 20 list3, were tbe Olive -backed Thrush
and Black- throated Green V/arhLer. Note how low Ihe total numbers of
these two species were.

Ocean City, as would be expected, had the most "scoops" (species
found by no other party): Gannet, 1 heron, 4 ducks, 1 hawk, 1 rail,

9 sharebirds, 1 gull, 5 terns, 1 skimmer, and 2 sparrows; total 26.

Kent Island had 5: Homed Grebe, Gadwall , American Merganser, Stilt

Sandpiper, and Short-eared Owl. Talbot County was next with 4: Brant,

King Rail, Bam Owl, and Palm V/arbler. Gibson Island recorded the only
Buffle-head, Old-sauaw, and Ruddy Duck; Howard County the only Little
Blue Heron and Red Crossbill; Patapsco State Park the only American
Golden -eye and Pine' Siskin; Patuxent Refuge the only Ring-necked Duck
and Olive-sided Flycatcher; Caroline County the only Black-billed Cuckoo
and Loggerhead Shrike; Bmmitsburg the only Ruffed Grouse; and Pikesville
the only Upland Plover. Of the 48 species found by only one party, only
seven were perching birds.

The total number of observers who participated in the 20 areas
shown in Table 1 was 117, Three other people contributed lists without
counts. It is interesting that no oounty vhich had been covered in a
previous year succeeded in passing its highest species count in 1956.
Allegany County contributors tied their 1954 total.

56

MARYLAND ■ BIRDLIFE

Vol. 12, NO. 2

Resume of Coverage

1. Allegany County; 3 partiee--C & 0 Canal near Oldtown; Martins Lit. ;
Cumberland to Frost burg via Mt. Savage and Eckhsrt. Species counts not received
in time for Inclusion in table. John WorkmeiBter, R. Douglass, M. Douglass, C.
Richardson, D. Folk, A. Everstine, E. Everstine, H. Miller, M. Taylor, C. Manley.

2. Washington County. 15 party-hours (5 a.m. to 9 p.m.); 189 party-miles
{9 on foot, 180 by car). Dr. fic Mrs. Ralph 3tauffer, Howard Dean.

3. Emmitsburg area of Frederick County. 14 party-hours (5:20 a.m. to 8
p.m.). Dr. John W. Richards.

4. Frederick area of Frederick County (Willis Derr Rd. and John Derr farm).
4 hours (1 party). Mabel Hoyler, Hazel White, Sarah Quinn, Wayne Clingan.

5. Unity (Stony Broke Farm) , Montgomery County. 4 hours. Seth H. Low.

6. Pikesville, Owings Mills and Worthington Valley, Baltimore County. 6
hours (1 party), 6 to 12 a.m., half time by car, half on foot. Elmer Worthley,
Jean Worthley, Rodney Jones.

7. Loch Raven, Baltimore Co. 7 hours. 3 observers, Erana Lubbert leader.

8. Lake Roland, Balto, Co. 4 hrs. 6 observers, Mrs. Leo Vollmer, leader.

9. Wyman Park, Balto. City. 6§ hrs. 7 obs. , James & Marylou Travis leaders.

10. Patapsco State Park, Baltimore and Howard Counties. 6 hours (1 party,

7 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Irving E. Hampe and Gorman M. Bond.

11. Howard County. 12 hours (4:45 a.m. to 8:50 p.m.). Chandler S. Robbins.

12. Greenbelt, Berwyn and Beltsville, Prince Georges County. lOg party-
hours (6 to 2, 5 to 7:30). Lewis Oring, Kenneth 'Wright, S. Fisher, D. Bridges.

13. Patuxent Research Refuge, Prince Georges and Anne Arundel Counties.

14§ party-hours (5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., observers together). Robert E. Stewart
and Paul F. Springer.

14. Gibson Island, Anne Arundel Co. 1,000 acres. 13 observers (4 part-
time) in 4 parties. 46 party-hours (on foot). Mrs. W. L. Henderson, Mrs. Gail
Tappan, Charles M. Buchanan, Dr. J. A. C. Colston, Robert Dwight, Mrs. Walter
Hughson, Mrs. Richard Henderson, Judge VJ. L. Henderson, Edith McHenry, Mrs.
Franklin, Mrs. Lawrence Romaine, Mr. and Mrs. Dolf Swing.

15. Annapolis (3each Drive, Hillsmsre Shores), Anne Arundel County. 8
party-hours (2 In mid-morning, 6 in afternoon). Carl St Bunny Long.

16. Calvert County. 3 observers in 2 parties plus casual observations by

4 observers near their homes. 6^ party-hours. Elizabeth Slater, Friel Sanders,
John If. Fales, Virginia White, Virginia Dorsey, Joseph Shovjalter, Cliff and
Margaret Trott .

17. Kent Island and Kent Narrows, Queen Annas County. 12 party-hours (5
a.m. to 7 p.m,). Richard and Martha Dubois.

18. Talbot County. 15 party-hours. Richard L. Kleen, James Voshell,

Meade Lloyd; scattered observations by others.

19. Caroline County. 51. party-hours (41 on foot, 10 by car); 240 party-
miles (20 on foot, 220 by car). Annabelle Bilbrough, Della Mae Bilbrough, Elsie
Bilbrough, Irena Bilbrough, Winnie Bright, Margarete Butenschoen, A. J. Fletcher,
Roberta Fletcher, Eobby Fletcher, George Gottwals, Marvin Hewitt, Naomi Hewitt,
Alicia Knotts, Michael Messix, Terry Moore, Ethel Poore, J. Scudder, Salome
Somers, Wilbur Rittenhouse, A. May Thompson.

20. Ocean City, Pocomoke and South Point, Worcester County. 18| party-
hours (6 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.; 2 parties in a.m., 1 in p.m.). Philip A. DuMont
and Harriet Sutton, leaders, Loi3 Morgan, Louise Berry, Gordon Merrick, Mrs. G.
W. Plett, Ellen Wilson, Mrs. Rehm, A. B. Trowbridge, Elois Rogers, Virginia
Daiker, Mr. & Mrs. William Ryan, Mr. 3c Mrs. George Golding, Elizabeth 3est,
Wilmer Hill, Bob Caswell, C. R. Hough, Sr.

21. Monkton, Baltimore County. 61 species. Stephen Simon.

22. Harford County. 64 species in 6 hours. Gordon Knight.

23. Queen Anne, Queen Annes Co. 60 species in 5 hours. Wilbur Rittenhouse.

June 1956

MARYLAND BIKPLIHS

. 57

1955 COUNTY BIRD LISTS
Charles M. Buchanan

In presenting the summary of the 1955 county lists, the use of a
table is omitted, as an experiment to see what the readers 1 reaction will
be. For the 1954 lists, five pages were taken up with listing every bird
reported and checking every county from which it was recorded. This
method is certainly the most thorough, but it i3 felt that the majority
of readers would be satisfied with just a written summary, highlighting
any unusual records, noting population changes, etc., and would pay little
or no attention to such a lengthy table. Any comments on this change in
procedure will be appreciated.

Although approxiiiHtBly the same number of observers submitted lists
in 1954 and in 1955, there were marked fluctuations in many of the

county totals.

The 1955

totals are as

follows:

Worcester

255

Queen Annes

166

Wicomico

93

Talbot

224

Dorchester

165

Cecil

91

Baltimore

204

Howard

149

Saint Marys

89

Anne Arundel

203

Charles

137

Somerset

72

Caroline

193

Calvert

136

Kent

67

Montgomery

178

Carroll

128

Allegany

45

Frederick

177

Harford

127

Garrett

44

Prince Georges

175

Washington

125

GRAND TOTAL

290

It is to be expected that ’Worcester County, encompassing Ocean City
and surrounding areas, should turn up the most specie s. The S3 species
seen there and nowhere else include Holboell's Grebe, 'Wilson's Petrel,
Gennet, Yellow- crowned Night Heron, European Teal, Harlequin Duck, Am.
Eider, Golden Eagle, Greater Shearwater, Glossy Ibis, Am. Oyster-catcher,
Piping Plover, Hudson i an Curlew, Knot, Purple Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper,
Marbled Godwit, Parasitic Jaeger, Avocet, Roseate Tern, Dovekie, Swain-
sen's Warbler and Lark Sparrow. These records are largely responsible
far the increase in the grand total to 290 birds from 279 in 1954. Talbot
County had more thorough coverage and added 23 species to its 1954 total,
recording the only Goshawk and Yellow Rail. Anne Arundel was represented
on fewer lists and slipped badly, 34 species under 1954. Nevertheless,
they added the only Wilson's Plover, White -rumped Sandpiper and Snow Bun-
ting. Baltimore barely maintained its standing in the exclusive 200-or-
over group, and contributed the only Rock Partridge. Other counties re-
porting birds seen nowhere else were Dorchester with Cattle Egret and
Black Rail, Frederick with Northern Shrike and Brewer's Blackbird, Caro-
line with European '.Vidgeon and the third state record far Oregon Junco,
Garrett County with Raven, and Montgomery with 'White-winged Crossbill.

In 1954, because of small lists from Somerset -and Queen Annes Coun-
ties, no more than 10 species were found in all 23 counties. Although
these two counties improved considerably in 1955, Garrett and Allegany
plummeted to new lows and again only 10 birds were seen in every county.
They were Turkey Vulture, Chimney Swift, Barn Swallow, Crow, Robin,
Starling, Yellow-throat, Red-eyed Towhee, Chipping Sparrow and Song

58

MARYLAND BIRDLIEE

Vol. 12. No. 2

Sparrow. The English Sparrow ha 3 yet to make the grade.

The winter of 1954-55, which brougit such an lnteze sting variety of
Irregular northern migrants into Maryland, migit be expected to yield
approximately the same distribution in 1955 as in 1954, but the fact was
that observations fell off a little in every case. For instance, the
Saw-whet Owl dropped from a total of 5 counties to 3, the Red-breasted
Nuthatch from 15 counties to 12, the Evening Grosbeak from 12 counties
to 10, and the Red Crossbill from 3 counties to 1. These are not appre-
ciable differences, but taken together they have some significance.
Perhaps these migrants are more easily found as they arrive than at
other times during their stay.

It would seem that Anne Arundel County occupies a unique position
geographically with regard to certain birds that are normally associated
with the coast. It was the only county west of the Bay to record Red-
throated Loon, Clapper Rail, Wilson’s Plover, Black -bellied Plover, Ruddy
Turnstone, White-rumped Sandpiper, Sander ling. Gull-billed Tern, Black
Tern and Boat-tails d Grackle. Part of this is due to the number of ob-
servers in the county, but it wouldn’t appear to be the only reason.

Anne Arundel also had the distinction of being the first county to re-
cord the Wood Ibis during its greatest northward movement in decades.

It was later found in Prince Georges, Baltimore and Talbot Counties.

For Ihe second year in a row, a few species which migit b6 inter-
esting to note are showing decided preferences for certain parts of the
State. The White-breasted Nuthatch becomes scarcer toward Ihe coast;
the Blue-headed Vireo heavily favors the western and central counties;
the Mourning Warbler sticks to central Maryland for the most part; and
the summer Tanager does not penetrate northwest of Montgomery County.
Again it must be said that Ihe distribution of observers has an effect
on the reported distribution of birds. It is difficult to say where
this factor ends and natural factcrs begin.

An expression, of thanks is extended to all the contributors of 1955
lists, the principal ones of which far each county are as follows: Alle-
gany — Leonard Llewellyn; Anne Arundel — Mrs. V J. L. Render sen , Mrs. Gail
Tappan, Prof. & Mrs. David Howard; Baltimore — Charles Buchanan, Elmer
Worth ley, Stephen Simon; Calvert T -Jack Hallman, John Fales, Elizabeth
Slater, Friel Sanders; Caroline — Marvin Hewitt, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Flet-
cher; Carroll — Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dubois; Ceoil— Edward Manners;
Charles— Allen R. Stickley, Jr.; Dorchester— Richard KLeen, John Terborgh;
Frederick — Dr. and Mrs. John Richards; Garrett — Chandler Robbins, Leonard
Llewellyn; Harford — Thomas A. Imhof, Gordon Knight, Orville Crowder;
Howard — Chandler Rob bins , Gorman Bond, Mrs. George Munro; Kent — Marvin
Hewitt; Montgomery — Seth H. Low, Jack Hallman, Orville Crowder; Prince
Georges — Chandler Robbins, Lewis Oring; Queen Annes — Mr. & Mrs. Richard
Dubois, Wilbur Rittenhouse; Somerset — Chandler Robbins, John Terborgh,
Robert Stewart; St. Marys— John Terborgh; Talbot — Richard Kleen; 'Washing-
ton — Dr. & Mrs. R. S. Stauffer; Wicomico — Chandler Robbins, Mrs. Carl
Lubhert; Worcester — Jack Hallman, Lewis Oring.

104 IV. Melrose Ave., Baltimore

June 1956

MARYLAND BIRDLIME

59

ARKANSAS KINGBIRD IN TALBOT COUNTY
Richard L. Kleen

The Eastern Kingbird ( Tyrannus tyrannus ) . which is so familiar to
all of us, is replaced in the western sections of our country by its
close relative, the Arkansas or Western Kingbird ( Tyrannus verticalis ) .
Although the eastern bird is a study in black and white and its western
counterpart is a beautiful blend of yellow, gray, brown and black, the
similarity of their habits bespeaks their close relationship. The Ar-
kansas Kingbird has also that quality, so popular among birders In
search of unusual birds, of often turning up in areas where it is not
expected. During the autumn season, with greater consistency every year,
this wanderer turns up along the Atlantic coast. The great majority of
all these records occur during the month of September. As winter ap-
proaches, most of these strays disappear, perhaps moving much farther
south; but there have been records of birds remaining as late as New
Years Day on Long Island and January 15 in Maine. Although the Arkansas
Kingbird is to be looked for, though not to be expected, in the eastern
states in the autumn, it has never been reported east of the Appalachian
Mountains in the spring.

I have often thought of the Arkansas Kingbird when bir ding in the
fall and have observed them cn three occasions on the south shore of Long
Island during the months of October and November. How ever , my thoughts
were just as remote from Arkansas Kingbirds as they were from Bulbuls and
Nightingales as I set out on May 22 with Miss Doris Defibaugh, a seventh
grader from St. Michaels High school, in search of nests of Belted King-
fishers and Bank Swallows, v/e walked along the &ore near Claiborne in
Talbot County. The water on our left was Eastern Bay, with Kmt Island
visible a few miles to the north. The land on our right was Rich Neck,
which had undergone great erosion resulting in a steep ten foot bank of
clay and sand. It was in this bank that we had found two nests of the
Belted Kingfisher end four of the Bank Swallow. We had almost reached
the point of the neck rtien a bird flew over our beads. It had the yellow
belly and dark mask of the Arkansas Kingbird. Nests were forgotten for
the day, but a further search failed to produce the suspected bird. As
we left the area, a strident call from the woods presented the disquiet-
ing thought that our bird might have been the similarly yellow-bellied
Crested Flycatcher. The next day, I retraced my steps far almost two
hours to no avail. I had just given up and mentally reduoed my patrician
kingbird to a plebian Crested Flycatcher, thereby congratulating myself
on an unusual conservatism, when, from a tree overhead flew the bird for
which I had been searching. It flew to a hummock in a plowed field about
60 yards away and presented all the field marks. I stalked the bird for
15 minutes and got to within 20 feet of it. On one occasion a pair of
Eastern Kingbirds divebombed our western, visitor. They appeared to
bother not at all the Red-wings and Mourning Doves that also frequented
the field, but seemed to recognize the relationship between themselves
and the Arkansas Kingbird. The observations on May 22 and 23 are the
first spring records for the Arkansas Kingbird east of the Appalachians
and are an addition to the mere handful of spring migration records east
of the Mississippi. St. Michaels

60 MARYLAND B3RDLIEE Vol. 12. No, 2

VJE ARE incorporated:

Seth H. Low

A corporation Is a legally formed association of persons, having an
entity of its own which is not dependent on any one individual and which
is perpetual. Our Society is now such a legal entity with the name of
Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc.

The incorporation came about in the following way. President
Richard KLeen received word that a substantial donation for initiating a
Sanctuary Fund mlgftt be offered to our Society if the donor were assured
that our Society would be perpetual and free of domination by any indi-
vidual. Incorporation seemed to be Ihe answer and a special meeting of
the Executive Board was promptly called.

The Executive Board met on November 20, 1955 and it was the unani-
mous opinion of those present that such incorporation was desirable. The
following were appointed as incorporators: Gladys H. Cole, Seth H, Low,

James R. Travis, Lester E. 7/ood and Jean R. IVorthley. Under the guidance
of our good friend and fellow member, E. H. Burgess, Vice-President and
General Counsel of the B. & 0. Railroad, the papers were prepared and
the first meeting of the Board of Trustees (Incorporators) was held to
execute the farms and forward them to the State Tax Commission. A second
meeting was then held to activate the new Corporation, to elect officers
to serve until the first annual meeting, end to prepare a report to the
members (see Articles of Incorporation on pages 67-68).

The first annual meeting of the Maryland Ornithological Society,
Inc., was held at the Hastings Hotel at Ocean City on Mayl2. After
hearing the report of the Board of Trustees, the motion was duly made,
seconded, and unanimously RESOLVED that the members do hereby ratify the
actions of its Executive Board and - its Incorporators and also that a
rising vote of thanks be given its Counselor E. H. Burgess and his right
hand man, Lester E. V/ood, for their very special efforts on behalf of
all the members.

R. D. 2, Gaithersburg

JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, 1956
Chandler S. Robbins

It was a Ians and cold winter, accentuated by low mercury readings
in January and excessive snow in March. Frederick's record of 43 con-
secutive rainless days was broken on Jan. 10, and by the end of that
month all reservoirs were full, assuring a plentiful supply of water for
human needs through the remainder of the year. A severe windstorm on
Feb. 25 brought a record-breaking gust (for mid-winter) of 68 miles per
hour to Friendship Airport, and 104 miles per hour to Hagerstown.

Temperatures at Friendship Airport dropped to near or below freez-
ing every night in the last half of March, and the maximum warmth re-
corded there by day during this period was 59°. Such conditions did not
either encourage the departures of our wintering birds, or stimulate
arrival of migrants from the south. Accordingly, arrivals tended to be
at least one to two weeks later than normal, though early strays of
several species managed to arrive nearly on schedule. Table 1 will
demonstrate the spread of arrival dates that resulted.

In this table, the counties are arranged from northwest to south-
east so the reader can determine which speolea arrived at about the same
time in all parts of Maryland, and which ones required' ten days or more
to progress across the State. In some cases late dates in the eastern
counties merely reflect the difficulty of detecting the first migrants
in an area where the species winters commonly. "W” indicates that the
species wintered so commonly no arrival of transients was recognized.
Observations for Frederick County were submitted by Dr. John ff. Richards,
Mrs. Austin Hofftaan, Sarah Quinn and others; Montgomery mostly by Seth H.
Low; Baltimore chiefly by Stephen YJ. Simon, Charles M. Buchanan, and
Richard and Gladys Cole; Harford by Mr. and Mrs. Y/alter Braun, Miss
Caimes, Orville Crowder, George Fletcher, Oliver Gaines, Evelyn Gregory,
Gordon Knight, Robert Merkel and Mrs. W. B. Munnikhuysen; Prince Georges
primarily by Chandler S. Robbins; Axme Arundel mostly by Vera Henderson
and Elize Tappan; Queen Annes by Richard and Martha Dubois and Wilbur
Rittenhouse; Caroline by Jerry and Roberta Fletcher, Alicia Knotts,
Marvin and Naomi Hewitt, Salome Somers and C. Guther ie; and Talbot by
Richard Kleen. Note that only a scattering of Eastern Fhoebes checked
in during early March and that nearly 20 days elapsed before the heavy
influx of Mar. 24 brought this species to the majority of its nesting
areas. Purple Martin arrivals, likewise, were spread over three weeks.

Grebes . It is frequently difficult for observers in the tidewater
areas of" Maryland to detect the first northward movement of water birds
that winter commonly within the State. We look, therefore, to the res-

62

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 12, No. 2

Table 1.

Spring arrival dates.

1956

Fred

Mont

Balt

Harf

PrGe

AnnA

Q,uAn

Caro

Talb

Whistling Swan

3710

0

375 ”

W

3720

w

3721

3727

W

Blue -winged Teal

3/28

2/25

3/10

3/21

3/11

Killdear

3/11

2/5

3/1

3/3

w

W

W

W

Wilson 1 s Snipe

3/28

3/18

3/3

3/17

3/5

3/19

w

Mourning Dove

2/28

W

3/2

W

2/23

VI

3/10

W

w

Yel-shaft Flicker

3/31

W

3/26

W

3/15

VI

3/20

VI

w

Eastern Phoebe

3/8

3/6

3/5

3/2

3/24

3/24

3/5

3/4

Purple Martin

4/6

3/24

4/1

3/31

4/4

3/26

3/27

3/14

3/21

Brown Thrasher

3/5

4/14

4/15

3/25

4/5

3/29

4/1

4/7

American Pipit

3/31

3/17

3/17

3/10

3/19

3/18

W

Cedar Waxwing

3/5

2/3

2/26

2/23

2/17

3/17

W

W

Cowbird

2/19

3/6

3/3

2/24

3/3

W

2/20

W

w

Evening Grosbeak

1/14 12/24

1/28

1/2

1/19 12/28

0

12/14

12/21

Red-eyed Towhee

3/15

3/8

3/6

3/15

3/25

3/10

3/17

W

Chipping Sparrow

4/10

4/12

4/5

4/3

3/24

3/24

3/3

Foi Sparrow

2/25

2/26

3/2

2/16

3/4

2/28

3/19

3/28

3/19

Song Sparrow

2/22

2/12

W

W

VI

2/20

W

W

ervoirs and ponds In the central and western counties to supply the
Initial migration dates for the species that migrate in silence. The
first Horned Grebe appeared near Emmitsburg on Mar. 8, and the first
Pied-bill on the 10th (John VI. Richards). By the 24th of that month the
flight was in full swing; Homed Grebes at Emmitsburg increased to 8, and
two days later an increase in Pied-bills was noticed at Kent Island.

Swans and Geese . The first Yfhistling Swans to depart were heard
over northern Baltimore County on Mar. 5 (Stephen Simon) . The peak
movement began in the late afternoon of Mar. 20 and continued through the
22nd. The last heavy flight occurred on Apr. 1 over Baltimore (Donald R.
MoComas) and Monkton (Simon) . Canada Geese were migrating as early as
Feb. 27 over GembriU State Park near Frederick (Mrs. Austin L. Hoffman);
the largest inland flight reported was 350 birds over Emmitsburg on Apr.

1 (Richards) .

Ducks . The Blue-winged Teal and the Shoveller are the two ducks
that we see regularly in spring and fall but seldom in winter. Two
Shovellers that wintered at Owings Mills (Elmer and Jean Ylorthley) pro-
vided the first Maryland winter record away from the coastal plain.

One at Qnmitshurg on Mar. 8 (Richards) was a very early spring arrival.

Vultures and Hawks . The Black Vulture, absent from Unity all winter,
returned on Mar. 25 (Seth Low) . The only Rough-legged Hawk identified,
a light phase bird, was at Monkton on Mar. 16 (Simon). A very early
Pigeon Hawk, the third Talbot County record, was studied at Claiborne on
Mar. 10 by Richard Kleen and Ernest Adams.

Turkeys . If you think you hear a turkey in the vicinity of Black-
water Refuge, chances are you are not just a victim of an over-active
imagination. Edmund Henderson saw 5 individuals at the refuge on Mar.

12, and investigation by Richard Kleen disclosed that about 30 Turkeys
had recently been released there.

Snipe . There were more reports than usual of Ylilaon’s Snipe.

Small numbers wintered in all parts of the coastal plain, and on Mar. 5

June 1956

MARYLAND HCRDLIFE

63

Richard and Martha Dubois noted 10 transients at Kent Narrows. The
Majority of arrivals clustered around Mar. 17-19, and a spectacular
peak of 110 was tallied on Mar, 25 at Sherwoods Pond near Easton by
Chick Welsh and Kleen.

Owls . Woodpeckers . Talbot County almost had a monopoly on Saw-
whet Owls once again, with four records during the period Jan. 14 to
Mar. 12. Outside of their normal range at this season were a Yellow-
bellied Sapsucker at UcCoole on Dec. 29 (Leonard Llewellyn) and a Red-
bellied Woodpecker in Cumberland through the winter (Mrs, Harold Smith).

Swallows , Chickadees . For the second year in succession Caroline
County turned in the first Tree Swallow report two weeks before any
other area. Since the Fletchers are the only M.O.S. members who have
succeeded in getting this species to use their nesting boxes, it would
be interesting to know whether these very early arrivals are the locally
nesting individuals. Black-capped Chickadees, which were recorded in
numbers by almost every observer in the State in the winter of 1954-55,
were found only as far south aa the Triadelphia and Annapolis Christmas
Bird Counts. The only subsequent report outside of the mouhtains was a
single banded bird that remained through the period at Monkton in
northern Baltimore County (Simon) .

Robins, Waxwings . Robins wintered in great abundance in ell areas
east of the mountains and were plentifully scattered through the moun-
tains as well. Nearly 8,900 Robins were counted on the Maryland Christ-
mas Counts this winter, as compared with 600 last winter. They remained
equally numerous until the start of the migration at the end of February.
The nomadic Cedar Waxwings were also numerous, being attracted by the
plentiful crop of wild and cultivated berries. At Christmas time they
were here in only modest numbers (a little more than twice as many as the
previous year), but unlike the former year, they were present in all
parts of the State. Then, in late February, a sudden invasion of large
flocks appeared, breaking local records of abundance for this species.
From Feb. 23 to Feb. 25, 1,325 waxwings fed on Multiflora Rose hips on
the Patuxent Refuge (Llewellyn) . By the next day a thousand of the
birds had departed to feed elsewhere. Throughout the month of March
reports of smaller flocks continued to pour in.

Warblers . Despite the cold, windy weather. Myrtle Warblers win-
tered in the mountains of Frederick, YJashington and Allegany Counties,
indicating once more that a plentiful supply of Poison Ivy. berries will
support them in all kinds of weather. At least two of the wintering
Yellow-breasted Chats survived into February, and one of them to late
March. A chat that frequented Mrs. Chase Kirtley's feeder in Mitchell-
ville from Jan. 18 to Feb. 8 could have been the same individual seen
at Gembrills on Jan. 2 by Martina Luff. Another visited the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Y/illiam Zerr in Baltimore from late February until at least
the 27th of March; identification of this first March record for Mary-
land was confirmed by Lola Strack and Alice Kaestner.

Orioles . We are indebted to Hervey Brackbill of The Evening Sun
for the following oriole reports and for some of the notes on winter
finches in the next paragraphs. It seems more than a coincidence that
both Mrs. George Buck of Towson and Mrs. Robert Costen of Catonsville,
who had single Baltimore Orioles at their feeders in the winter of
1954-55 (Cole, Maryland Blrdlife 11:49), again entertained the same

64

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 12, No. 2

species this winter. Among other reports were unconfirmed flocks of
four at Dickeyville on March 28 and of eight at nearby Windsor Hills,
both in Baltimore City.

Evening Grosbeaks . This handsome species was present through the
winter in all parts of the State; and unlike last year, tended to con-
gregate at feeding stations where it ravenously consumed hundreds of
pounds of sunflower seeds. Queen Annas wab the only reporting county
to miss this grosbeak. As mentioned in the previous SEASON report,
Evening Grosbeaks were late in arriving in the fall; in fact, arrivals
continued to be reported through January, February and March, with a
peak building up during the latter month. At least one of the birds
trapped at my Laurel feeder had participated in the 1951-52 flight to
our area; furthermore, a bird banded in Laurel in the spring of 1952
was recovered in Michigan in the winter of 1954-55. There is also other
evidence from the banding records to show that the flight which pene-
trated into Maryland, the Carolines and Georgia last winter did not
originate in the same area as did the birds that visited us this year.
Fifty were banded at Laurel this spring by Chandler and Eleanor Robbins,
42 at the Paulsen* s feeder in Charlestown by Orville Crowder, and
smaller numbers at Towson {Simon) and Unity (Low). YJe can anticipate
that at least 2 or 3 of these banded birds will reveal something of the
further travels of these birds.

Other Northern Finches . Purple Finches, likewise, swarmed over
numerous feeding stations and nearly a thousand were banded in Maryland
during March and April. One bird that was trapped at Laurel answered
two interesting questions; how long it takes for this species to attain
its full wine-colored plumage, and where the bird had been hatched.

This particular bird, captured on April 27 in adult male plumage, had
been banded at Amsterdam, N, Y. f by Mrs, Margaret A* Fitzgerald, who
stated that she was "positive that he was hatched and raised here in
the summer of 1954, " This bird, therefore, had reached full plumage by
its second spring. Mrs. Fitzgerald added another interesting note to
the history of this particular bird by stating that it had returned to
her banding station on May 2, 1955. We are both looking forward to
seeing it again. In contrast to the two species above, the Pine Siskin
was hardly reported. The rare Pine Grosbeak visited the feeder of Mr.
and Mrs. John Workmelster in Cumberland for one day in mid-February.

Sparrows . ' Nearly everybody commented upon the exceptionally large
numbers of Fox Sparrows that frequented feeding stations from late
February into April. Most banding oooperators normally succeed in
trapping between 1 and 10 of these in a season, but this spring several
people tagged 50 or more individuals, and an aggregate of several hun-
dred were taken by banders in thl3 state. Other feeding station
operators reported the same thing — 5 to 20 times the normal number of
Fox Sparrows. We may surmise that the cold spring and heavy snowfall,
especially to the north of us, had caused these birds to pile up In our
State. Possibly this is part of the answer. Possibly also, the birds
that normally migrate through the Appalachians shifted their course
eastward to avoid the heavy snow cover in the mountains. Your guess on
this is probably as good as mine.

Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel

June 1956

MARYLAND BIRLLIFE

65

OPERATION BIRD NEST

Meade Lloyd

The seventh grade class of St. Michaels High School has been work-
ing on an Interesting project for about a month. The project is nest
finding, supervised by Mr. Richard L. ELeen (the president of the Talbot
County Bird Club and also our teacher). The object of the project Is to
see who can find the most and the best nests. Although many of the boys
are members of the bird club, most of the other classmates have done
Just as well and some have done even better. The nests are worth differ-
ent points to make the project more exciting. For example, the Great
Blue Heroes nest is worth 5 points, the Osprey 1 s nest is worth 3, and
the Barn Swallow only one. On June 6, when the contest was finished,

Ann Hambleton had the most points with 130. In second place was Doris
Defibaugh, and Med Marshall was third. Although we won't get points
during the summer, I think a lot of us are going to continue with
Operation Bird Nest.

St. Michaels

A PRODUCTIVE NESTING AREA
Richard L. Kleen

We who would rather study birds than shoot them often look upon the
duck blind, so prevalent In our tidewater counties, as solely an aid In
lowering our bird population. Although this is certainly true during
the hunting season, duck blinds may be used for far variant purposes
during the summer.

On a recent motorboat trip down Broad Creek near St. Michaels in
Talbot County, I visited twelve water blinds. Constructed upon eleven
of these blinds were active nests of Ospreys ( Pandlon hallaetus) . All
contained either eggs or young birds. The blind that proved the most
productive induced me to write this note.

On the top of this particular blind perched the usual Osprey nest,
this one with three eggs. As the adult birds flew over our heads at-
tempting to appear fierce, I searched the cedar branches which provided
the camouflage for the blind and fbund eleven nests of the Purple Grackle
(Ouiscalus quiscula) . These nestings were in all stages of development,
from eggs to young birds capable of flight. After banding a number of
the grackle fledglings which were hesitant to try their wings, I climbed

66

MARYLAND 3IRDLIFE

Vol. 12. No. 2

into the blind and under a bench discovered a Barn Owl ( Tyto alba) in-
cubating her eight chalk white eggs.

As there were thirteen nests in this small area representing twenty-
six adults and approximately fifty young, I think I shall have to search
far to find a nesting colony so thickly populated as this Talbot County
duck blind.

St. Michaels

NEW MEMBERS

Miss Florence Adams, 3t. Michaels.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Kemp Bartlett, Jr., "Tanglewood" , Woodbrook, Balto. 12.
Mtb. G. Lloyd Bunting, Valley Road, Brooklandville. VAlley 3^-4897
Mr. Martin Cain, Goldsboro.

Mr. George R. Fessenden, 1703 Northern Pky. , Balto. 12. IDlewood 5-6081
Mr. Richard Ford, 439 Shogan Drive, Greens burg, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Margaret P. Banks, Oxford.

Mrs. Dan Hannan, 327 Dixie Drive, Towson 4.

Mrs. Charles Henderson, Easton.

Mrs. Eunice Highley, Easton.

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Solter, 416 Columbus Avenue, Frederick.

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Kingsland, Easton.

Mr. E. 0. Melllnger, Savannah Nat * 1 Wildlife Refuge, Port Wentworth, Ga.
Mr. Michael Messlx, Queen Anne.

Miss Jane Moller, St. Michaels.

Dr. and Mrs. William D. Noble, Easton.

Mrs. W. Brice Owen, 1009 Poplar Hill Road, Balto. 10. HDpklns 7-0197
Mrs. Margaret D. Rlnsma, Stockbrldge, Massachusetts.

Prof. Samuel D. Robbins, 711 Pleasant Street, Belmont 78, Massachusetts.
Rev. Samuel D. Robbins, Adams, Wisconsin.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ross, Easton.

Dr. Norwood K. Schaffer, 8 Beechdale Road, Baltimore 10. TOxedo 9-0065
Mr. Thomas £. Shields, 128^ Edglngton Lane, Wheeling, West Virginia.

Mrs. D. C. Wharton Smith, 2 Wyndhurst Ave., Balto. 10. TUxedo 9-0663
Miss Dorothy Vernon Smith, 400 West 119th Street, New York, New York.
Mrs. Boone Strickland -Clarke, 1818 Greenberry Road, Baltimore 9.

Dr. and Mrs. James B. Thomas, 905 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick.

Mrs. F. W. Welch, Jr., Easton,

Mr. George R. Wilcox, 4006 Liberty Heights Avenue, Baltimore 7.

Mrs. H. P. Yerby, 210 East Dover Street, Easton.

Color Prints of Maryland Blrdllfe Cover Photos
Dr. Charles J. Stine has veiy kindly offered to provide at cost ($6
each) to M.O.S. members 8 x 10 Kbdachrome prints of the birds appearing
on any of the 1955 covers of Maryland Blrdllfe or of any future cover
photos made from his color transparencies. The colored prints are
excellent, sharp reproductions, suitable for framing. Send inquiries to
Dr. C. J. Stine, 6305 Belair Road, Baltimore 6, Md.

June 1956

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

67

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

THIS IS TO CERTIFY:

FIRST: That we, the subscribers, Seth H. Low, whose post office address
is Route 2, Gaithersburg, Maryland; Jean V.’orthley, whose post office
address is Owings Mills, Maryland; Gladys H. Cole, whose post office
address is 625 Valley Lane, Towson-4, Maryland; James Travis, whose post
office address is 3300 St. Paul Street, Baltimore-18, Maryland, and
Lester E. Wood, whose post office address is 1938 W. Lanvale Street,
Baltimore-17, Maryland, all being of full legal age, do hereby, under
and by virtue of the general laws of the State of Maryland authorizing
the formation of corporations, associate ourselves with the intention of
forming a corporation.

SECOND: The name of the corporation (whicii is hereinafter called the
Corporation) is:

MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

THIRD: The purposes for which this Corporation is formed and the objects
to be carried on and promoted by it are to engage in any such educational,
scientific and charitable pursuits as may be necessary or appropriate,

(a) To study and record the observations of bird life in Maryland and
vicinity and to collate the scientific data furnished by bird students.

(b) To publish and distribute at established times the official
publication of the Corporation.

(c) To promote the knowledge, development, protection and conserva-
tion of bird life and natural resources.

(d) To establish and maintain such scientific and educational pro-
jects as nature trails, exhibits, tours, camps and nature sanctuaries.

(e) To encourage the organization and operation of affiliated
groups in sympathy with the aforesaid aims.

(f) To cooperate, as occasion prompts, with national and state
ornithological organizations and conservation agencies, and with private
associations devoted to such interests and to conservation and education
in the field of natural resources.

(g) To hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions, and to develop and
maintain a library relative to the subjects mentioned above and related
matters.

(h) To publish and distribute documents as a means of disseminating
information about the subjects mentioned above and related matters.

(i) To acquire by purchase, deed, lease, devise, bequest, gift,
grant or otherwise, and to sell, lease, mortgage, improve, develop,
invest in, take, hold and grant title to and otherwise deal in, dispose
of and use real and personal property, and any interest therein, of
every kind and wheresoever situate, for the purposes of the Corporation.

(j) In general to do any and all of the things above set forth and
such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of
the objects and purposes of the Corporation.

FOURTH: The post office address of the principal office of the Corporation
in this state is 2101 Bolton Street, Baltimore-17, Maryland. The name and
post office address of the Resident Agent of the Corporation in this state
are Richard D. Cole, 625 Valley Lane, Towson-4, Maryland. Said Resident
Agent is a citizen of this state and actually resides therein.

FIFTH: The Corporation shall have no capital stock.

SIXTH: The Corporation shall be managed by a Board of Trustees elected
annually by the members in the manner provided in the by-laws, subject,
however, to the provision that the number of Trustees shall not be less
than three. The following five persons shall act as the Board of Trustees
until the first annual meeting, or until their successors are duly chosen
and qualify:

Seth H. Low
Jean Vorthley
Gladys H. Cole
James Travis
Lester E. Wood

SEVENTH: The present members of "Maryland Ornithological Society", an
unincorporated association, shall be the first members of the Corporation.
Additional members may be elected, all members may be classified, may
resign or be removed, and vacancies may be filled, as provided in the
by-laws.

EIGHTH: The officers of the Corporation shall in the first instance be
elected by the Board of Trustees and thereafter they shall be elected
in the manner provided in the by-laws. The officers shall consist of
a President, one or more Vice Presidents as provided in the by-laws, a
Secretary and a Treasurer. One person may hold any two offices except
those of President and Vice President.

NINTH: The members attending in person any regularly convened meeting
of the members of the Corporation shall constitute a quorum, unless
otherwise provided by the by-laws.

TENTH: The duration of this Corporation shall be perpetual.

ELEVENTH: No part of the net earnings or income of the Corporation shall
inure to the benefit of any private shareholder, member or individual.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have signed end sealed this Certificate
of Incorporation on the 30th day of April, 1956.

(Sgd. ) Seth H. Lo w (SEAL)

(Sgd. ) Jean Worthley (SEAL)
(Sgd.) Gladys H. Cole (SEAL)
(Sgd.) James Travis t SEAL)
(Sgd.) Lester Eflw.Wood ( SEAL)

I hereby certify that on this 30th day of April 1956, before me,
the subscriber, a Notary' Public in and for the State and City aforesaid,
personally appeared Seth H. Low, Jean Worthley, Gladys H. Cole, James
Travis and Lester E. Wood, and severally acknowledged the foregoing
Articles of Incorporation to be their act and deed.

As witness my hand and notarial seal.

(Sgd.) F. Paul Dwyer

Notary Public

P^y Commission Expires May 6, 1957.

STATE OF MARYLAND)

CITY OF BALTIMORE) SS.

June 19^6

luAKiLAriB BIRDLIj-Ci

BY-LAVS OF

MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

ARTICLE I - SEAL

The Board of Trustoes shall provide a suitable seal for the Corporation which shall
remain in the custody of the Secretary.

ARTICLE II - MEETING OF MEMBERS

Section 1 - Annual Mee ting.

The annual meeting of the members of the Corporation 3hall be held in each year
at the office of the Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland, or at such other place in the State
of Maryland as the Board of Trustees may determine, on the second Saturday in the month of
May, for the purpose of electing Trustees and officers and for the transaction of 3uch other
business as may lawfully be brought before the meeting.

Section 2 - Special Meetings j

Special meeting of the members shall be called by the Secretary upon written re-
quest of the President or of any three Trustees. No business other than that specified in
the call thereof shall be conducted at any special meeting.

Section 3 - Notice s

Notice of the annual meeting and of any special meeting of members shall be mailed
at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting to each member entitled to vote, at his
last known post office address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation.

Section A - Quorum and Voti ng

The members attending in person at any meeting of the members shall constitute a
quorum. Each member, other than Junior Members, shall be entitled to one vote on any matter
coming before any such meeting.

Section 5 - Or d er of Busines s

At all meetings of the members the order of business shall be as follows:

(a) Call to order.

! b) Reading and settlement of the minutes of the previous meeting,
c) Reports of officors and committees.

(d) If the annual meeting or a meeting called for that purpose, the
election of Trustees and officers.

(e) Unfinished business.

(f) New business.

(g) Adjournment.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Members of the Maryland Ornithological Society as of May 1, 1956 shall be members
of the Corporation in their present membership classes. Additional members in the Corpora-
tion shall be by classes and on an annual basis for a fiscal year July 1 to June 30.
Membership in any class shall he open, upon such application and approval, as the Board of
Trustees shall from time. to time by resolution provide, to any person in sympathy with the
purposes and objects of the Corporation, and upon payment of the fee applicable to the class
of membership elected. The classes of memberships and fees payable therefor sliall be as
follows:

(a) Honorary: Honorary members shall be those to whom membership
is awarded, without dues requirements, by the Board of
Trustees in its discretion, for meritorious service in
behalf of the purposes and objects of the Corporation.

(b) Patrons: Those who contribute the sum of $1,000.00 or more,
without annual dues thereafter.

(c) Life members: Those who contribute the 3um of $75.00 in not
more than three installments, without annual dues thereafter.

(d) Sustaining members: Those who shall pay annual dues of $5*00.

(e) . Active members: Those who shall pay annual dues of $1.00.

(f) Junior members: Those who shall pay annual dues of $.50.

Junior membership shall be limited to persons under 18 years of

age, and shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the Corporation.

70

MARYLAND BIRDLIFK

Vol. 12, iJo. 2

ARTICLE IV - LOCAL UNITS

A Local Unit of the Society nay be organized by not less than six members of the
Corporation in any area in Maryland. Such units nay adopt by-laws and administer their
own affairs, provided such action is not in conflict with the charter and ky-laws of the
Corporation .

ARTICLE V - TRUSTEES

Section 1 .

There shall be a Board of Trustees of not less than three but equal to the total
number of Trustees the authorized Local Units may elect.

Each Local Unit having from 6 to 100 members shall be entitled to be represented
on the Board of Trustees by two of its members who shall be nominated by it annually, in
accordance with its by-laws, prior to the annual meeting of the Corporation. Units having
in excess of 100 members shall be entitled to be represented by, and in like manner shall
nominate, one additional Trustee for each 100 members, or part thereof, in excess of 100
members. The nominations of such Trustees shall be reported by each Local Unit nominating
them to the Nominating Committee of the Corporation prior to the annual meeting and shall
be reported as such nominees to the members at the annual meeting. Election of Trustees
at such meeting shall be by majority vote of the members present, voting by ballot, or
viva voce, as the meeting determines. The term of each Trustee shall begin on the date of
his election and continue for one year or until his successor is elected and qualified.
Section 2.

The Board of Trustees at the first meeting after its election, or as soon as may
be thereafter, shall appoint four persons from the members of the Board or officers of the
Corporation who, together with the President, shall constitute the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee, when the Board of Trustees is not in session, and in the absence
of specific directions by it, shall have general charge of the affairs and funds of the
Corporation. The Executive Committee shall meet upon call of the President or of any
three members thereof, and shall meet at least once a year. At other times its duties
may be discharged by mail vote of a majority of the Committee, provided all members of the
Committee have opportunity to vote on each natter so presented. Three members of the
Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum at all called meetings. The Executive Com-
mittee shall keep a record of it3 acts and proceedings and report the same to the Board of
Trustees.

Section 3.

The Board of Trustees shall appoint a Sanctuary Committee consisting of five
members chosen from the members of the Board or officers of the Corporation. The Sanctuary
Committee 3hall appoint one of its members Chairman and shall have the duty, subject to
the control of the Board of Trustees, of investigating the acquisition and construction,
and of supervising and managing the affairs of, any bird or wild life sanctuary or other
nature project belonging to or coming under the control of the Corporation.

Section L.

The Board of Trustees shall appoint a Nominating Committee of not less than
three members who shall appoint one thereof as Chairman. The Nominating Committee shall
prepare and present to the Board a slate of nominees for all Trustees and officers, includ-
ing all nominees for Trustee and Vice President received from the Local Units, for sub-
mission to the members for election at the annual meeting.

Section 5.

The Board of Trustees shall meet, at least once a year, upon due notice to all
Trustees and at such time and place as the majority shall determine. Special meetings of
the Board of Trustees may be called at any time by the President or any three Trustees.
Unless waived by all members, not less than ten days' notice of each meeting shall be
given by the Secretary in writing or by telephone.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

Section 1,

The officers of the Corporation shall be members thereof and shall be a President,
one Vice President from each Local Unit, a Secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom shall
serve for one year and until a successor is elected and qualified. The same person may hold
any two offices except those of President and Vice President.

June 1956

MARYLAND EIRDLIES

71

Section 2 - President

The President shall be elected from the members of the Board of Trustees. He shall
preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee.
Subject to the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee, he shall exercise general
supervision and control over the affairs of the Corporation and shall perform such other
duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Trustees or Executive
Committee.

Section 3 - Vice President

Each Local Unit, in accordance with its by-laws and not less than 30 days before
the annual meeting of the Corporation, may nominate one Vice President of the Corporation,
and report such nomination to the Nominating Committee, which Committee shall report it to
the annual meeting. The Vice Presidents so elected shall elect, as soon as may he after
the annual meeting, a First Vice President. He shall preside at all meetings in the absence
of the President and serve during any other inability of the President to act.

Sect io n 4 - Sec ret ary and Treasurer.

The Secretary and Treasurer shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them
by the President.

Section 5.

Each officer of the Corporation shall be elected by majority vote of the members
present and voting at the annual meeting, by ballot or viva voce as the meeting determines,
for a term of one year to begin from the date of the annual meeting and continue until a
successor is elected and qualified.

ARTICLE VII - VACANCIES

Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee, or in
any other Committee, or in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board of
Trustees by a vote of the majority of the entire number of Trustees.

ARTICLE VIII- SIGNATURES

All checks, drafts or notes of the Corporation shall be signed and/or counter-
signed by such officers, agent or agents of the Corporation as may be so designated from
time to time by the Board of Trustees of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IX - AMHTOMINTS

These by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular meeting of
the members, or at any special meeting thereof duly called for that purpose, by a majority
vote of the members present and voting thereat; provided that in the call for any such
special meeting notice of such purpose shall be given.

TRIP REPORT; Talbot County Boat Trip , March 11 , 1956

Under Dick Kleen' s leadership fourteen members went from Bozraan
wharf through Eastern and Chesapeake Bays to Poplar Island. We started
out in the rain but the sun came out very soon. We watched Horned
Grebes playing in the cove while a Turkey Vulture, poised in a tree on
the opposite bank, eyed us. We saw Whistling Swans and Canvas-backs
just after starting out. Soon we spotted an eagle, probably an immature
Bald, on a point. Then we saw a few Redheads. Next came American
Golden-eyes in profusion, myriads of Old-squaws, White-winged Scoters
and some Surf Scoters. As we continued our trip we saw some scaup, about
15 or 20 Brant, also a few Pintails and Black Ducks. Near Poplar Island
there were many swans and hundreds of Canvas-backs. The trees on the
island were full of Great Blue Herons and many more flew about, one far
out in the Bay. We saw Ring-billed and Herring Gulls, two or three
Great Black-backed Gulls, and on our return trip many Bonaparte’s Gulls.
— Homer and Gemma Rizner.

72

MARYLAND B3RDLIFE

Vol. 12, No. 2

SUCCESSFUL RELOCATION OF AN EASTERN PHOEBE’S NEST
Jean Worthley

On May 25> 1956, while visiting at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Arnold
Seligman, Park Heights Ave., Owings Mills, we were shown the nest of an
Eastern Phoebe, ( Sayornis phoebe ) , which was wired into a Dogwood tree
about .7 feet above the ground. ’The nest, containing young, had been
moved because of painting, from Its original location under the eaves of
a porch 10 feet away. The move had taken place that morning and Mrs.
Seligman asked us about the possibility of the parents continuing to
feed the young in the new location. We had just finished telling her
that the young would probably die of starvation, when into the Dogwood
tree flew both parent phoebes with food in their bills. They fed the
nestlings as if the nest had not been moved. The young successfully
left the nest a week later.

This incident recalls a similar interesting experiment undertaken
by Mr. Richard Cole of Towson in the summer of 195U in which he moved
the nest of a Barn Swallow, ( Hirundo rustica ), from a bam about to be
tom down and placed it on a beam in his garage 100 feet away. The
birds came into the garage but instead of using the nest that had been
moved built another near it and are now nesting in the garage for the
third successive summer.

Presumably the nesting and parental instinct in the species named
above is sufficiently strong to allow moderate artificial relocation of
the nest.

COMING

Owings Mills'

EVENTS

July

29

Sept.

9

Sept.

9

Sept.

8-23

Sept.

1U-16?

Sept.

15-16

Sept.

15-16

Sept.

21

Sept.

22

Sept.

2h

Sept.

29

Sept.

30

State Botanical Trip to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.
Woods* Picnic, Sandy Point and Annapolis, meet at Light &
Redwood Sts. at 8:00 a.m.

Talbot Club Migrant Hike to Tilghman’s Island.

Bird Banding and Observations of Migrants at Ocean City.
Cape May, Fall Migration, Lectures, Movies.

Hawk Flights, Dan*s Rock, Allegany County.

Talbot Club Weekend at Ocean City.

Talbot Club Monthly Meeting, Easton Library, 8:00 p.m..
Dr. Charles Stine, "Maryland from Coast to Crest."
Monument Knob, Hawk Flights.

Caroline Club Monthly Meeting, Camp Mardella, 8:00 p.m.
Upper Loch Raven, Hutzler Parking Lot, Towson, 7:30 a.m.,
Charles Buchanan. Fall Warbler Migration.

Stony Brook Farm, Unity, Md. Baltimore people meet west
end of Edmondson Village Parking Lot, 8:00 a.m.