MARYLAND It ill!:...., mi J3 u[[&Hn oj~ tiiz czA\axytanA G*mi{A ofogical * V-. «’ •. °— ° " rX ^,7 ?~ x-x— X— * £9 - cj o c PROPOSED 3 I! * — X — XX — X Boundary Trail 1 Roads Gate HI Planted Area 2 Swampy Area 3 ’ * a % Parking Area Deciduous Woods Evergreen Woods N/^ Multiflora Rose, White Pine Cherry, White Pine, Douglas Fir CROSSINGS TRA IL f a\ co December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 1 6 k MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27. Ho. 4 ly disturbed by the heavy trucks of Rt. 40 or the whistle of a remote locomotive. HISTORY If you care for historical associations, reflect on the fact that the Sanctuary gate sits athwart the trail that General Edward Braddock's troops hacked out of the wilderness in 1755' on their way to war on the French and Indians. The vestige of Braddock's trail marks the Sanctuary's southern boundary. In the summer of 1970, an old British coin was found near the gate. The copper penny bore the image of King George II who died in 1760. Wow let's go back to 1887. The land that is now Carey Run Wildlife Sanctuary was at that time two military lots owned by Mr. Richard Hall Beall (1817-1893). Mr. William A. Murphy negotiated with Mr. Beall to buy military lots Nos. 658 and 596. The Murphys built the present Sanc- tuary house that same year. (However, the deed was not conveyed to Mr. Murphy until January 28, 1898 by Susan Uhl Beall, widow of Richard Hall Beall.) The entire land was covered with a thick stand of white pine trees. A sawmill was installed and lumber was cut to build the house and other necessary farm buildings. Then cutting and clearing were done to make way for planting crops. (The main crops raised were potatoes, oats, corn, and strawberries.) The Murphys reared eight children. Several are still living and come back to reminisce. Mr. William A. Murphy sold the farm to his nephew, Mr. William W. Murphy in September, 1926. The Murphys lived there with their son and three daughters until May, 1951. Mr. William W. Murphy then sold the farm to Mr. Bernard A. Minnick. The Minnicks lived there with their children for seven years. In 1958 they bought a home on the Finzel Road because of the severe winters. Mr. Minnick had difficulties getting to work at Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. But they kept the farm and spent many happy hours there during the sum- mer months. Because of arthritis and being unable to work, it became necessary for the Minnicks to sell the farm. DESCRIPTION Essentially, the Carey Run Wildlife Sanctuary is a single, narrow valley bounded by steep hillsides. With a floor less than a hundred yards wide, the half-mile long valley is bisected for most of its length by Carey Run. Much of the acreage consists of open fields thick with grasses and wildf lowers. The Sanctuary was once a farm and the owners used the cleared land for crops and pasturage. Nowadays the open fields are interrupted by broad strips of food plantings for birds and other wildlife. The strips are sown and tended by the Maryland Fish and Wild- life Administration. The several dozen bird houses sprinkling the hill- sides testify to the MOS's concern for the plight of the bluebirds. An attractive feature of the valley floor is the pond lying at the December 19J1 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 165 head of the valley. Roughly triangular, 150 feet long and 200 feet wide, the pond was cre- ated by impounding the water of Carey Run. A second small watercourse, Hefner Run, also crosses Sanc- tuary property. Hefner Run joins Carey Run in the lower part of the valley. In years past a beaver family found this locality suited to building a dam. When the water rose and flooded the farm lane , the beavers were trapped and exiled. One of the Sanctuary's most delightful nooks lies alongside Hefner Run. It is an area of crowded hemlocks, deep shade and pungent forest odors. (See top photo on page l6l.) In season the damp carpet is the habitat of orange efts and ghostly white Indian pipes. Elsewhere on the Sanctuary at higher elevations are groves of de- ciduous trees where the entry of sunlight fosters the growth of a variety of ferns and woodland wildflowers . On the flat land atop the hill at the Sanctuary's southwest corner, the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Maryland maintains an experimental plantation of white pine, Douglas-fir and wild cherry trees. THE SANCTUARY HOUSE Human activity at the Sanctuary focuses at the farmhouse, a two- story structure trimmed in white and sided with asbestos shingles. With five rooms, an ample cellar, and front and rear porches, the farmhouse offers comfortable though plain accommodations for day or night. The large kitchen is equipped with sink, refrigerator and a range fueled by bottled gas. A steep flight of stairs leads to the second floor and the bedrooms, one large and two small. About a dozen camp cots are avail- able, some with matresses. A Ben Franklin stove provides heat for the living room. Old-fashion- ed chunk stoves warm the kitchen and largest bedroom. All units burn wood and a supply of firewood is stored in the woodshed. The farmhouse has no indoor toilet. The privy is located about 150 feet from the back door. Only cold water is available in the farmhouse, even at the shower cubicle on the rear porch. The water is pumped indoors View across the pond to the sanctuary house Photo by George Newcomer 1 66 MARYLAND BIRDL IFE Vol. 27, No. 4 from a well. Water quality is checked each year. During clement months, lawn chairs and picnic benches beckon the visitor to "come set a spell" beneath the wide-spreading maples of the front yard. CLIMATE Situated at an elevation of 2500 feet, the Sanctuary always has colder weather than the eastern parts of the State. Even on summer's hottest days, a cool breeze sweeps down the valley past the farmhouse. In winter, snows are frequent and often accumulate to considerable depths. The white blanket endures well into spring. When temperatures of zero and below become commonplace in mid-winter, Carey Run Wildlife Sanctuary becomes the exclusive domain of the wildlife. Mr. William W. Murphy, who now lives near Frostburg, remembers the winters of 1928 and 1936 especially. In 1928 on January 27-28 there was a continuous snowfall of 32 inches. In 1936 the temperature dropped to -2L°; he measured ho inches of snow where it had not drifted and 9 feet in drifts. During a dry summer In years when there is less than the expected annual precipitation of 38-^0 inches, Carey Run is not affected very much. The crops get enough moisture from the heavy dew. JUNIOR ACTIVITIES Junior activities, with Carey Run in mind, began in one fifth grade before December 1, 1962. Suet feeders that defy Starlings were made by the boys and girls during free time. By the time the class had completed arrangements to visit Carey Run four days later, a dozen feeders, filled with suet, were ready for the birds. No beaver activities were to be seen on September 8, 1962, but by September 22 there was quite a pond and many tree stumps with pointed tops . By December 4 , there were four smaller ponds , two lodges , a canal , branches completely stripped of bank, two well-worn paths leading to the apple and pear trees, and many imprints in the soft mud of beaver tracks. Such excitement! What a wonderful afternoon! (Beavers have visited Carey Run almost every summer, but have never spent the winter since 1962-63. ) In the spring, that same group of boys and girls helped to plant evergreen seedlings. In fact, there are always boys and girls who help with the activities at Carey Run. NATURE CAMP In July 1965 we held our first Nature Camp at Carey Run. The first week was for eight boys and the second week for ten girls. Each boy and girl participated in classes planned to study the plant and animal life December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 167 at Carey Run. Early morning bird walks and late evening walks gave us a camp list of 50 "birds . The boys cleared Trail #1 and made markers for many plants along the route. The girls did Trail #2 in the same manner. They also chose an improve- ment project. The boys helped to convert the foundation of the old barn into a usable shelter. The girls built a retaining wall for an island of evergreens and berry- bearing shrubs . There was still time for a campfire each night, cook-outs, group singing, and sleeping under the stars on the highest hill of the Sanctuary. The Trail of the Eagle was a Boy Scout Eagle Badge project BLUEBIRD TRAIL The Allegany Chapter of MOS joined the many groups who have been helping the bluebirds make a comeback. One hundred nesting boxes were made at Junior Nature and Conservation Camp in 1966 . Campers who had a suitable place near their homes took eighty boxes to put up at home. The other twenty houses were taken to Carey Run. Two weeks of camp followed: one week for ten boys and one for ten girls. As a part of the week's activities each group erected ten bluebird boxes on metal poles. The House Wrens took over that year. The summer of 19&7 was different . A pond had been made during the fall of 1966 and many Tree Swallows were attracted to the area in the spring. They used about half the boxes. The Bluebirds arrived early too, and were able to take possession before the House Wrens arrived. However, when the boxes were cleaned in 1967 and 1968 there were wren nests on top of many Bluebird and Tree Swallow nests. Nevertheless, Bluebirds were fledged every year. In early April of 1971 » fifteen new nesting boxes were added. Twenty-eight young Bluebirds were fledged that summer. We have more boxes ready and waiting to be put up by March 1972. BANDING ACTIVITIES During the winter of 1962-63 bird banding was begun at Carey Run by Anderson J. Martin, and since then 233 individuals of 39 species have been banded. We noted this winter the return of a Slate-colored Junco which 168 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. £7, No. b was one of the first birds banded at the Sanctuary. The most interesting banding items were a Sharp-shinned Hawk caught during last fall's sampling project and this spring’s recapture of a Slate-colored Junco that had been banded at another station. So we are anxiously awaiting information on the Sanctuary's first "Foreign Retrap." Between August 10 and October IT, 1971, 171 birds were banded during 80 hours of work by John Willetts. The 26 species banded included: 29 Field Sparrows, 18 Myrtle Warblers, 17 White-throated Sparrows, l4 Ruby- crowned Kinglets, lb Song Sparrows, and 11 Indigo Buntings. It is hoped that the banding program will give us more information on the variety and abundance of species visiting Carey Run each year. PARTIAL LIST OF THE SANCTUARY’S FLORA Club Mosses Wi Idf lowers Trees Staghorn Trailing Arbutus Cucumber Crows foot Solomon's Seal Maple (Norway, Sugar, Red) Ground Pine False Solomon's Seal White Ash Shining Turk's Cap Lily Eastern Hemlock Canada Lily American Beech Hellebore Oaks (Black and White) Ferns Jacob's Ladder Shagbark Hickory Dalibarda (False Violet) Serviceberry Maidenhair Mountain Laurel Hawthorn Ebony Spleenwort Rhododendron Yellow Birch Rattlesnake Closed Gentian Black Birch Cut-leaved Grape Trillium (White and Red) Alder Christmas Black-eyed Susan Witch Hazel Lady Scarlet Bergamot Sassafras Hay-scented Southern Coralroot Orchid Trembling Aspen Spinulose Wood Pink Azalea Black Locust SNAKES AND MAMMALS Snakes Mammals Red-belly Virginia Deer Striped Skunk Ring-neck Fox Weasel Garter Cottontail Rabbit Gray Squirrel Black Rat Woodchuck Chipmunk Milk Beaver Muskrat Common Water Opossum Shrew Green Raccoon Mole BIRDS Between 1963 and the winter of 1970-71, 137 species were identified in Carey Run Wildlife Sanctuary. These included 25 different warblers and such unusual species as the Golden Eagle, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Henslow's Sparrow. December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 169 The following species have nested on Carey Run Sanctuary, 1963-71 Ruffed Grouse Turkey American Woodcock Yellow-billed Cuckoo Whip-poor-will Yellow-shafted Flicker Downy Woodpecker Eastern Kingbird Eastern Phoebe Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Catbird Brown Thrasher Robin Wood Thrush Eastern Bluebird Cedar Waxwing St arling Red-eyed Vireo Golden-winged Warbler Yellow Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Yellowthroat House Sparrow Scarlet Tanager Cardinal Indigo Bunting American Goldfinch Rufous-sided Towhee Vesper Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Song Sparrow Birds observed at Carey Run during the winter season are: Re d-t ailed Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Marsh Hawk Ruffed Grouse Pileated Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Blue Jay Common Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-br. Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Golden-crowned Kinglet Starling Myrtle Warbler House Sparrow Cardinal Evening Grosbeak Purple Finch American Goldfinch Rufous-sided Towhee Slate-colored Junco Tree Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow 4.20 Beall Street , Cumberland 75 Broadway, Frostburg ANOTHER CARDINAL IN ABERRANT PLUMAGE Jan Reese % first year of birding was highlighted by spotting an aberrant (yellow) Cardinal (Riehmondena oavdinalis) during the St. Michaels Christmas count on January 1, 1961 . This unusual bird was seen at the same location by many other observers during the following 3 months and was reported by Kleen {Maryland Bivdlife 17: 103-104, 1961 ). Exactly 10 years later and 4 miles south-southeast of the 1961 sight ing I observed another aberrant Cardinal near a bird feeder at my parents home just outside St. Michaels. This individual was seen at the feeder almost daily during the period January 1 to February 6 , 1971. Ventrally this Cardinal was pale orange, similar to a pumpkin. Dorsally its back, wings and tail were darker though more brownish- olive than red. The bill was orange and the area surrounding it black as in typical Cardinals. The chip note was the only vocalization 170 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27, No. b heard and it did not differ from other Cardinals'. Its habit of appear- ing briefly before sunset and just after sunrise, taking food only from the ground, quickly returning to the nearby woods for consumption, and failure to mix with the 20 or so regular (mostly banded) Cardinal visitors indicate this bird was probably an immigrant to our local area. Other- wise it behaved like other Cardinals. Feather color is created in two ways: by colored pigments physio- logically deposited in the feather, and by structural properties of the feather that modify the refracted light. These sources are inter-related. It is doubtful if all of any color can be attributed solely to one source. Pigments are classified in three major groups: porphyrins, melanins , and carotenoids (lipochromes ) . Porphyrins are synthesized nitrogenous compounds diffused in body water. Little is known about these pigments and they have been found in only a few exotic African and South American species. Melanins are the most common pigments. They are synthesized from blood in the integument, deposited in granular form in the growing fea- ther, and are responsible for the sober red, brown, and black colors. Carotenoids are naturally occurring hydrocarbon compounds little changed from their plant origin. Food materials supply pigments that are diffused in fat solvent, and then deposited in feather barbs when the solvent disappears during keratinization. Carotenoids are very common and are responsible for bright feather colors such as yellow, orange, and red. Light refraction is not important in red feathers; therefore, altered pigmentation is probably responsible for this Cardinal’s unusual color . Any deficiencies along a complex chain of events could affect the color of feathers: differentiation of pigment cells, secretion of hor- mones initiating pigment synthesis by enzymatic action, vitamins in diet, pigment size (melanins), circulation of blood, fat distribution, keratin- ization (carotenoids), or excessive feather wear during growth. Only by lengthy laboratory studies could the exact cause of the abnormality be determined; facilities for such study are not available to me. It is hoped that this documentation may be of use in the future. St. Michaels ANNOUNCEMENT " STATEWIDE BIRD COUNT, Every member can participate in this annual tally which is taken on this one day at the peak of the spring migration. We hope that once again a list will be submitted from every county in Maryland. Check with your local Chapter for details and to avoid duplication. If there is no Chapter in your county, check with coordinator Douglas Hackman, 208A Donnybrook Lane, Towson 2120^. Record time and mileage, and counts of each species. December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 171 FIRST MARYLAND RECORD FOR THE SAGE THRASHER Richard A. Rowlett On October 24, 1971, while birding on Assateague Island State Park and Assateague National Seashore, Worcester County, Maryland, my atten- tion was drawn to a small, dark, heavily streaked mimic that suddenly answered my "pisching" attempts to arouse birds from their hiding places among the predominating shrubs , consisting of Wax Myrtle or Bayberry (Myrica serif era) . I immediately determined the bird to be a Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) , based on prior experience with the species in northwestern New Mexico. The bird was very cooperative and allowed excellent study at eye level as close as 30 feet . The bird was smaller than a Mock- ingbird or Brown Thrasher, and shorter tailed, being about the size of a Blue Grosbeak, with which it was regularly seen. The underparts were white with a buffy wash on the flanks. With ex- ception of the chin, the entire under- sides were heavily streaked with bro- ken black lines, and the very bold, black malar marks were highly conspicuous. The back of the bird was dark gray, much darker than a Mockingbird, and becoming somewhat lighter on the sides of the head. The wings were dark gray with two faint lightish wing bars. Some orange-buff was evident on the wings, most conspicuously at the base of the primaries and as a wash of buff through the middle third of the wing. This mark reminded me of a very similar field mark on the wings of the Townsend’s Solitaire, and to a lesser degree, the Ipswich Sparrow. Ety-e color was pale yellow, andjthe bill was mimic like, but relatively straight and short. In flight, the bird looked like a small dark, short-tailed Mocking- bird, but without any white in the wings. Flight was very similar to a Mockingbird with deep, rapid wing beats, then going into a dipping glide when landing. The tail was almost black, and the white spots at the tips of the outer tail feathers were conspicuously flashy in flight. The Sage Thrasher was in view for a total of 20 minutes, between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. at a distance of 30 to 60 feet. It was seen in the area around the main entrance gate to Assateague Island State Park, where it frequented the Wax Myrtle and often perched atop a snow fence along the edge of the road. It was right along the boundary between the State Park and Assateague National Seashore and was seen on both sides of the dividing line. 172 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27, No. 1* Some interesting behavior was noted with relation to a female Blue Grosbeak, which was constantly being harassed by the thrasher. The Sage Thrasher was ultimately photographed at 60 feet with the aid of a ’’Swift" Zoom Spotting Scope. The bird was last seen when the Blue Grosbeak re- turned the harassment by "dive-bombing" the thrasher and chasing it out of sight. Attempts to find the bird for the next two hours were futile. The Sage Thrasher is a characteristic species of the vast semi-arid sagebrush plains. Its breeding range extends from southern British Col- umbia to northern Mexico, and as far east as eastern Wyoming and New Mexico. It winters in Mexico, north to southern California and Texas (Bent, A . C . 1948. Life Histories of North American Nuthatches, Wrens, Thrashers , and Their Allies. U.S. Nat'l Mus. Bull. 195: 427-435). The weather had been partly cloudy and mild, and the winds had main- tained an east-southeast direction for at least the preceding 12 hours . On this same day, I found a flock of four Western Kingbirds only four miles northwest of the site where the Sage Thrasher was seen, and another flock of five at Fenwick Island, Del., right on the Maryland State Line north of Ocean City. Still another flock of eight Western Kingbirds was found at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, on this same day by A. E. Conway. One can only speculate why. 17 Western Kingbirds and a Sage Thrasher might be found within a UO-mile stretch of Mid-Atlantic coast in one day! This observation and photograph constitute the first record of the Sage Thrasher in Maryland. To my knowledge the only specimen from east of the Mississippi River was the one collected near Braddocks Bay, Mon- roe County, New York, on April 12, 1942 (A.O.U. Check-list, 1957). There have been several sight records in the East, however, including one banded near Leesburg, Virginia on December 5, 1962 by Mrs. Herbert M. Church, Jr. ( Raven 34: 4-5). Co. E 1st Bn 3rd Inf (TUS), Fort Myer , Va. RECORD LATE DATE FOR BOBWHITE EGGS Dickson J. Preston On October 3, 1971, when James Newcomb was cutting silage near Trappe, Md. , his machine's blades uncovered a female Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) on a nest containing four eggs. Fearing there was no way to save the eggs once they had been exposed, Mr. Newcomb carefully picked them up despite the Bobwhite' s frenzied protests. He took them to the nearby home of Mr. and Mrs. S. Stockton White and put them in a quail in- cubator. All four eggs hatched on October l4 . Since the normal Bobwhite incubation period is 23 or 24 days (Forbush), these clearly were well in- cubated when Mr. Newcomb found them on October 3. The previous late re- cord for viable eggs in Maryland was September 21. R. D. 5, Box 607, Easton December 1971 MARYLAND BIKDLIFE 1T3 22nd ANNUAL NEST CARD SUMMARY, 1970 Danny Bystrak As Cornell University continues to expand its nest card program, Maryland's second year of cooperating with their program showed an unfor- tunate continuation of the low level of reports which started in the mid- 1960' s. In 1969 we dropped to 73 species, approaching the record low of 71 in 1966 . Believe it or not, 1970 squeezed in between and set a new second place low with 72 species reported! In 1970, U 30 cards were sub- mitted representing 664 nests. These two counts are also second only to 1966 . Members of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology have presented sev- eral talks on the nest card program and generated considerable interest by reporting at the 89 th meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union on geographical variation in clutch size in four passerine species. The variation was found not to conform to that found by Lack for a number of European passerines. Another project being developed is the use of nest- record cards as an international monitoring device, based on the premise that breeding success of birds is an index to the health of the environ- ment. It is already accepted that this premise is correct in the case of persistant pesticides, but there are wider implications. It is hoped that lower production of birds due to attrition of the ecosystem will enable these changes to be noted early before catastrophic changes occur. The Laboratory is also working on the possibility of international, cooperation on nest-record cards. A study conference has been set to see if the various European programs can agree on a common approach. In 1972 the Laboratory is planning a nation-wide survey of the Great Blue Heron. They desire any and all information available on the loca- tion of heronries. They would like location, description and as much history as possible. Anyone having any such knowledge is urged to inform me or Cornell of this. It is hoped that an inventory of heronries can be completed before the winter is over so plans can be made for census work in 1972 . Back in Maryland, probably the most unusual nest reported in 1970 was that of the Brown Creeper found by Mrs. Frances Pope near Cockeysville in Baltimore County. This is a new locality for this northern-bird-come- south. Elwood Martin also found a creeper nest in the already-established nesting locality along the C&O Canal, in Montgomery County. This species has been reported almost every year since definite evidence of its nest- ing in the State was first detected in 1964. Mrs. Pope also found a Black-and-white Warbler nest — a ground-nesting woodland species, the nest of which is not often reported. Irish Grove has finally received some exploration in terms of nests. A Seaside Sparrow nest and a Long-billed Marsh Wren nest were found there by Ted Van Velzen, as well as a Tree Swallow nest by Chan Robbins, and 174 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27, No. 4 several Barn Swallow nests. The Barn Owl successfully raised young in the barn again in 1970. This record was eclipsed, of course, by the 17 Barn Owl nests found by Jan Reese in duck blinds on his Eastern Shore Osprey survey. Jem's survey again contributed many cards of several otherwise rarely reported species including 193 Osprey nests, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Common Egrets, Black Ducks, Mallards and Mute Swans. This recently and well established European swan has now been found nest- ing in at least three Eastern Shore counties. The Eastern Bluebird came through as the most commonly reported nest. Altogether 9 2 cards were received. Rossmoor Leisure World came into the nest card picture this year thanks to R.H. Rule who submitted 7 detailed bluebird cards from this area. Of the 92 bluebird cards submitted, 59 were from Dr. Lawrence Zeleny's bluebird project on the Beltsville Agri- cultural Research Center. This project produced some interesting facts again this year. Dr. Zeleny reported that four pairs attempted three broods each. These four produced totals of 16 , 12, 7 and 2 young. The last pair mentioned covered its first clutch of five eggs and built a second nest with three eggs which they covered with a third nest in which only two eggs were laid. These two were then successfully raised. This same phenomenon happened in another nest which had five eggs and two weeks later had a new nest with three eggs over the old one. Another pair nested twice and laid six and five eggs, all of which were pure white instead of the usual pale blue. All eleven young were successfully raised. The only species reported of the many which are exclusive to j Maryland's too often ignored mountains was a Ruffed Grouse which I flushed in Swallow Falls State Park. The parent was sitting on eight young which scattered in all directions as their mother feigned injury. This year one more county was represented than last year — a total of 15* Table 1 shows the distribution of the records received by counties. Table 1. 1970 Nest Record Summary by County County Species Allegany 20 Anne Arundel 12 Baltimore City & Co. 13 Calvert 3 Caroline 25 Dorchester 3 Garrett 6 Howard 18 Kent l6 Montgomery 12 Prince Georges 21 Queen Annes 8 Somerset 8 Talbot 13 Worcester 6 72 Observers Nests Cards 2 33 33 7 25 25 4 38 38 2 3 * 3 6 42 42 1 13 3 3 6 6 15 64 64 2 24 24 4 21 21 9 92 92 2 35 10 5 16 14 4 244 47 2 8 8 53 66V 430 Total December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 175 That Maryland is suffering severely in recent years from a lack of interest in nest finding — and apparently worse, nest reporting — is not an easy fact to hide. In the Brooks Bird Club's Mailbag Norris Gluck complained of a similar lack of interest in West Virginia. He suggests that possibly an increased interest in other "foray" activities has caused this. This does not seem to be a reasonable excuse in Maryland since, in our State, organized birding of any kind seems to take a vaca- tion during the summer months. All or most of the chapters of the MOS cease to hold meetings for these three months and there are no state-wide projects such as the Christmas Counts to occupy the observers. The Breeding Bird Survey might be used as a partial excuse since it is the main (although poor) excuse I have for my decreased effort in recent years. But so very few MOS members participate in the BBS that I don't think that is the reason. As I look back over past issues of Maryland Bivdlife I see that many of the active nest-finders of the years when we had up to 119 species reported are still with us and are still somewhat active ornithologists. This is one activity in which even the not-so- active members can take a considerable role. I have rarely traveled any- where in the State during the nesting season that I have not been able to find nests of some species, often when I was not even birding! The remarkable thing is that the drop-off was so sudden. In 19 66, 71 species were reported whereas previously never fewer than 89 had been reported, and usually above or near 100. Even in the very first year (19^9) of compilation, 98 species were submitted! Not only has the number of cards fallen off but the quality has dropped considerably. I get many cards with sketchy, approximate and sometimes almost useless data. In 1970 I received 3 cards which had absolutely no writing on the back! Once- visited nests and nests with incomplete site descriptions are still appreciated as long as they are neatly written. I have heard some people say that they did not submit cards because they visited the nest only once and Cornell wants at least two visits. This is because Cornell is receiving large numbers of cards from across the country and can afford to be picky. Please submit to me records of all nests found, even if they are visited only once. Some observers may feel that they have con- tributed cards for years and very little has been done with the data. This is, unfortunately , very true. Don't think that the data have not been used, however. Two examples are the analysis of incubation and nestling periods by David Bridge ( Maryland Bivdlife 20 (2): 4l), and Ted Van Velzen's summary of Brown Thrasher nest data in Maryland ( Maryland Bivdlife 2b ( 1 ) : 3-9). Also Cornell has used much of our past data. All our cards for all years of Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Robin and Eastern Bluebird have been sent up and transferred to punch cards for .their files. Ironically, now that we are participating with Cornell and the data are being used by more and more ornithologists, our degree of participation is falling off. If the problem for anyone is a lack of cards , feel free to write me or Chan Robbins at the Migratory Bird Populations Station, Laurel, 20810 or me at my home address, or contact your Chapter president . When I read in Maryland Bivdlife of Yellow-crowned Night Herons that "two nests found in 1969 were unsuccessful" or "U0 pairs of Herring Gulls at Robins Marsh" I wonder why these nests were never submitted on cards. Work on the 1971 nest summary has not begun primarily because so far I 176 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27, No. 4 have received fewer than one-half of the number submitted in 1970 and only 50 species. Without better results than this, there will not be much to summarize for 1971. Anyone who has any 1971 cards or knows any- one with them is urged to get these cards to me soon. I hope no one is sending cards from Maryland directly to Cornell and not through me. Please remember that all the cards I get are sent on loan to the Labora- tory of Ornithology when I have finished the Maryland Nest Summary. The usual difficulties with the cards have arisen again. Some peo- ple put only the number of host eggs in the "Eggs" column and write the number of cowbird eggs under "Comments," which, according to Cornell’s rules, is correct. Others total the eggs in the "Eggs" column and write how many are cowbirds under "Comments." When a cowbird egg is present, please indicate in the "Comments" column how many eggs are host and how many are cowbird . Then there can be no doubt . Also please fill out a separate cowbird card with Brown-headed Cowbird under "Species." If you are not certain of your latitude and longitude or elevation, please en- close a drawing of where the nest is located. If the drawing is good enough I can look up all three on county maps. ANNOTATED LIST Brief notes on all 72 species reported have been included in the following list. The number following the species name is the number of Maryland nest cards submitted in 1970. GREAT BLUE HERON, 3. Three colonies — no nests checked (JGR). GREEN HERON, h. Two colonies plus 2 individual nests ( JGR) . COMMON EGRET, 1. About six pairs with Great Blues in Talbot County (JGR). SNOWY EGRET, 1. About 50 pairs in Queen Annes County colony (JGR). MUTE SWAN, 6. Nest with five eggs on April 1_ (RF); four nests fledged young . MALLARD, l8. One at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp (WLA) , rest in duck blinds (JGR). BLACK DUCK, 2. In Eastern Shore duck blinds (JGR). WOOD DUCK, 1. Sixteen young with a hen on C&0 Canal in Allegany County ( JFP) . TURKEY VULTURE, 2. One in Kent County, one in Howard; each with 2 eggs (SMB). RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 1. Pair seen on edge of nest, contents not seen (DB). OSPREY, 3. 152 active nests in Talbot County; 111 young fledged. 12 active nests in Dorchester County; l6 young produced. 29 active nests in Queens Annes County; 11 nests produced young (JGR). RUFFED GROUSE, 1. Adult with 8 young in Garrett County (DB). (AMERICAN COOT — No cards submitted, but Harry Armistead found several pairs with young in Somerset County — adding this species to the State breeding bird list. Maryland Birdlife 2 6 (3): 79— 8l ) KILLDEER, 1. Two eggs on a gravel road — graded the next day (EFF). AM. WOODCOCK, 1. Four downy young at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (EMM). WILLET, 3. Assateague Island — in beach grass, clutches of 3, U and H (WTV ) . December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE ITT HERRING GULL, 1. Small colony on Cedar Islands behind Assateague Is. near the Va. border in Worcester County (JGR). LAUGHING GULL, 1. 300 young banded at colony on Cedar Islands; 800-1000 pairs (WTV). COMMON TERN, 2. Colonies in Worcester and Talbot Counties. LEAST TERN, 1. A small colony in Oxford apparently abandoned in June (LB) ROYAL TERN, 1. 6T young banded on Cedar Islands, Worcester County (WTV). BLACK SKIMMER, 1. Colony of an estimated T5 pairs on Assateague Island (WTV). MOURNING DOVE, 9. Nests in six counties, eggs from Apr. 20 to July 5, young from May 2 to Sept. 26 all with the normal clutch of 2. YELLOW- BILLED CUCKOO, 1. One young produced in Howard County nest (DJR). BARN OWL, 18. Five young produced at Irish Grove. Rest in duck blinds. SCREECH OWL, 1. 3 eggs on May 2 were 3 young on June 1 , in a Wood Duck box in Kent County (EFF). RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, 2. Two young in nest until June 28 near Penni field along C&O Canal. YELLOW- SHAFTED FLICKER, 3. In Kent, Caroline and Allegany Counties. PILEATED WOODPECKER, 2. Baltimore County nest with 2 young (FBP). RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 1. Late nest with young still in on July 19 (CSR) DOWNY WOODPECKER, 2. Young in nests in Prince Georges and Allegany Counti EASTERN KINGBIRD, 5- Mostly young out of nest. GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, 3. No contents seen. EASTERN PHOEBE, 5- Should have been more of this common species. ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, 1. Three eggs on July 12 in Howard County (DJR). EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, 1. Storm destroyed Caroline County nest (RBF). TREE SWALLOW, 1. Young in pine tree cavity at Irish Grove (CSR). ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, 1. Successful nest in gravel bank in Kent County (DAM). BARN SWALLOW, 9* Six nests at Irish Grove. CAROLINA CHICKADEE, 8. Eggs from May 5 to- May 30. TUFTED TITMOUSE, 2. Both nests in bluebird boxes. BROWN CREEPER, 2. In Baltimore (FBP) and Montgomery (EMM) Counties. HOUSE WREN, 2k. Eggs from May l6 to Aug. 10; young from May 30 to Aug. 22 Most nests successful, one with 8 young at Irish Grove. CAROLINA WREN, 1*. All in sheds on the Eastern Shore. LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN, 1. Nest with one egg destroyed next day (WTV) . MOCKINGBIRD, 9. Young from May 1 to Aug. 22. CATBIRD, 13. Eggs from May IT to Aug. 5; young from May 25 (ties early record — JCL) to Aug. 2k. BROWN THRASHER, 9- Eggs from May 2 to June 29. ROBIN, 33. Eggs from April 13 to June 30; young from May 2 to July 15. WOOD THRUSH, 6. Eggs from May 19 to June 21. EASTERN BLUEBIRD, 92, Eggs from Apr. IT to Aug. 12; young from May T to Aug. 22 (LZ). Mean clutch size of T2 nests 4.6T; range 2-6. STARLING, 4. In Allegany, Caroline and Kent Counties. RED-EYED VIRE0, J. Fairly early young on June T (CSR); fairly late eggs on July 21 (EMM) . BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, 1. Baltimore County nest with 3 eggs on May 28 (FBP). WORM-EATING WARBLER, 1. Feeding young cowbird on telephone line (JFP). PRAIRIE WARBLER, 1. A very early nest that had been empty on May 1*+ 178 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27, No. 4 contained 4 eggs on May 18. May 14 is the earliest egg date for the State (EMM). OVENBIRD, 2. A very early nest with 3 Ovenbird and 2 cowbird eggs on May 15 was destroyed the next day (DB); another nest with 4 Ovenbird eggs on June 5 was destroyed two days later (CSR). AMERICAN REDSTART, 1. A nest being built on May 12 had the female incubating on May 19 (FBP). HOUSE SPARROW, 25. Eggs from Apr. 24 to July 10; young from May 19 to Aug. 5. Young have been found earlier than this year's earliest egg and eggs later than this year's latest young. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, 10. Early young for Allegany Co, on May 17 ( JFP) . ORCHARD ORIOLE, 2. Two young in a Howard County nest on June 20 were gone on June 24 (DJR) . BALTIMORE ORIOLE, 8. No contents visible. COMMON GRACKLE, 1. Two young produced in Allegany County nest (JBP). BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, 7* Hosts: 3 Red-eyed Vireos, Worm-eating Warbler, Ovenbird, Indigo Bunting and Song Sparrow. CARDINAL, l6. Eggs from May 1 to June 30; young from May 18 to Sept . 5. ( HGB ) . BLUE GROSBEAK, 1. Young left a Caroline County nest on Sept. 6 (IB). INDIGO BUNTING, 2. One lost to cowbirds (EMM) ; 3 young on Aug 3. (WTV). AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, 3* Rather early young on Aug. 11 (JFP). Very late nest in Howard Co. Viable egg still present on Sept . 21 and young in nest till Oct . £ (DJR). RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE, 2. Two apparently unsuccessful nests. SEASIDE SPARROW, 1. Two eggs on June 5 at Irish Grove (WTV). CHIPPING SPARROW, 9. Young left a Caroline County nest on Oct . 2. (RBF). FIELD SPARROW, 1. Four eggs on May 9 were four young on May 22 fPGB). SONG SPARROW, 2. Cowbird fed by both parents (GCR). Four young at Carey Run (DB). In the five years from 1966 to 1970 (the lowest ebb in the history of Maryland's nest card program) 131 species have been reported nesting in the State. There are at least 6l more species possible. These species are listed below in hopes that someone with the urge to discover will read this and attempt to locate the nests of some of them. After each species is a suggestion as to the best locality in the State in which to look, and the known nesting season in Maryland. An asterisk before the name indicates that the species was not reported nesting in the last ten years; two asterisks , those species for which a nest has never been reported from Maryland. In addition to these 192 species there are 7 more known to have bred formerly in the State and 5 whose breeding has never been confirmed. *YELL0W-CR0WNED NIGHT HERON - along the Potomac above D . C . , northern Baltimore, and tidewater areas of the lower Eastern Shore - mid-April to mid- July AMERICAN BITTERN - marshes of Dorchester and Somerset Counties - uncertain, probably mid-May to mid- July *GADWALL - marshes of Somerset County - late April to early August BLUE-WINGED TEAL - marshes of Dorchester and Somerset Counties - mid- April to early August December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 179 BLACK VULTURE - southern part of Washington and Frederick Counties; Charles and St . Marys Counties - mid-March to early July *SHARP-SHINNED HAWK - forests of Garrett County - early May to mid-July *COOPER'S HAWK - extensive forests on Western Shore - mid-April to late July *BROAD-WINGED HAWK - deciduous forest in Western Md. - late Apr. to mid-July *MARSH HAWK - Dorchester & Somerset Co. marshes - late Apr. to mid-July **RING-NECKED PHEASANT - agricultural areas of northern Carroll and Baltimore Counties - uncertain ^TURKEY - woodlands of eastern Allegany County - uncertain, probably May- July VIRGINIA RAIL - tidewater areas of the Eastern Shore - late April to late August SORA - marshes of Harford and Baltimore Counties - uncertain (one nest) *BLACK RAIL - Elliott Island marshes in Dorchester County - uncertain, probably May-June ^COMMON GALLINULE - marshes of Harford and Baltimore Counties - early May to mid- July AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER - Assateague Island - uncertain, probably June- July (one nest) PIPING PLOVER - Assateague Island - early May to late July *WILSON ' S PLOVER - Assateague Island - uncertain, probably May-July *UPLAND PLOVER - agricultural areas of southern Frederick County - early May to late June SPOTTED SANDPIPER - tidewater areas of the Eastern Shore - early May to late July *GULL-BILLED TERN - sandy islands of coastal bays of Worcester County - mid-May to early August *ROSEATE TERN - Assateague Island and islands of Chincoteague Bay - uncertain, probably June- July BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO - open forests in Garrett County - early May to late July GREAT HORNED OWL - forests - statewide, especially Dorchester and Garrett Counties - late January to late May BARRED OWL - floodplain forests and swamps of Eastern and Western Shores - late February to late June *LONG-EARED OWL - dense stands of young pines on Western Shore and Piedmont - mid-March to early June *SHORT-EARED OWL - marshes of Dorchester County - uncertain (one nest) ** SAW-WHET OWL - bogs of Garrett County - uncertain CHUCK-WILL 1 S-WIDOW - loblolly pine woods near tidewater in southern Eastern Shore and southern Western Shore - uncertain, probably early May to mid- July #C0MM0N NIGHTHAWK - flat rooftops of any large city - late May to mid- July ^YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER - moist woods in Garrett County - uncertain (3 nests) *RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER - over-mature loblolly pine woods of Dorchester County - uncertain (one nest) * LEAST FLYCATCHER - Deep Creek Lake area of Garrett County - early May to mid- August ^COMMON RAVEN - steep cliffs in Western Maryland - uncertain, probably early March to late May WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH - moist deciduous forests almost State-wide; 180 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 27, No. 4 most common in Garrett County - late March to mid-July *BEWICK'S WREN - vicinity of farm "buildings or towns in Western Allegany County - late April to mid- July *SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN - marshes of Dorchester and Somerset Counties - uncertain (one nest) **HERMIT THRUSH - moist woods of Garrett County - uncertain VEERY - woodlands of Garrett County and Catoctin Mountain area - early May to mid- July ** GOLDEN- CROWNED KINGLET - "bogs of Garrett County - uncertain * LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - supposedly in east-central Prince Georges County; no evidence of nesting in Maryland in many years - mid-April to late June * YELLOW-THROATED VIREO - floodplain forests of Eastern Shore and Western Shore - mid-April to late July **SWAINSON'S WARBLER - drier portions of swamp along Pocomoke River and its tributaries in Worcester County - uncertain * GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER - brushy areas of Western Maryland - uncertain, probably late May to early July BLUE-WINGED WARBLER - Catoctin Mountain area and Susquehanna valley - mid-May to early July ^NASHVILLE WARBLER - bogs of Garrett County - uncertain, probably late May to late June MAGNOLIA WARBLER - coniferous areas of Garrett County - uncertain, probably late May to early July *BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER - moist forests of Garrett County - uncertain, probably late May to early July **BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER - hemlock woods of Garrett County - uncertain, probably mid-May to early July ^NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH - bogs in Garrett County - uncertain, probably late May to early July #*MOURNING WARBLER - Backbone Mountain in Garrett County above 3,000 feet - uncertain *B0B0LINK - hayfields and pastures in north-central Garrett County - uncertain (one nest) *R0SE~BREASTED GROSBEAK - Deep Creek Lake area of Garrett County - late May to early July *PURPLE FINCH - bogs or red spruce in Garrett County - uncertain (one nest) HOUSE FINCH - residential areas, especially Baltimore suburbs - uncertain (one nest) **SAVANNAH SPARROW - hayfields and pastures in north-central Garrett County - uncertain *HENSL0W'S SPARROW - broomsedge fields and sedge meadows, especially in Dorchester County - mid-May to mid- July *VESPER SPARROW - fields almost State-wide; most common on upper piedmont - mid- April to mid- August * BACHMAN ' S SPARROW - weedy, abandoned fields on Western Shore and in Allegany County - mid-May to mid- July *SLATE-C0L0RED JUNCO - Backbone Mountain area in Garrett County - mid-May to mid-July SWAMP SPARROW - open wet areas with shrubs or small trees in Garrett Co. That 25 of these 6l are most common in mountainous Garrett County indicates that this area of the State is not well represented in the December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE l8l Maryland nest summary, at least in the last five years. And that l8 of hi species for which nests were not found in the last ten years and 6 of 8 never found are in Garrett County, indicates that this area has never been sufficiently explored. Thanks are extended to the 53 observers who participated in 1970 and special thanks to those observers who participated in more than one county and filled their cards out well. This is the one count which seems to be on the upswing. Fifty- three is the highest number of observ- ers since 1963 . The numbers in parentheses are the number of cards sub- mitted followed by the number of species represented. Exceptional numbers of cards or species are underscored: W.L. Anderson ( 1—1 ) , H.T. Armistead (l-l), J.M. Bean (2-l), E.V. Bilbrough (2-l), I. Bilbrough (2-2), D.L. Bowers (2-l), H.G. Brackbill (12-2), L.R. Buchanan (3-2), M.J. Buterbaugh (8-2), M. Butenshoen (13-10) , D. Bystrak (l6-ll), P.G, Bystrak (7-5), S.M. Bystrak (l-l), E.B. Cole (l-l), E. Cook Tl-l), R.D. Coon (l-l), S.M. Coon (l-l), D.M. Euler (l-l), C.T. Fletcher ( 4 - 3 ), R.B. Fletcher (20-12), E.F . Folsom (ll-8), J.E. Ganter (l0-7), W.L. Grogan (l-l), E.S. Hacker (l-l), 0. Hackman (l-l), K.H. Harzer (l-l), C.D. Hawkins (2-l), J.C. Lusby (12-5), E.M. Martin (10-8), D.A. Mendinhall (l3-9), B.W. Meredith (l-l), P.L. Moffett (l-l), J.F. Paulus (26-16), B.W. Poe (2-l), F.B. Pope (15-13), R. Price (2-l) , D.J. Rauth (30-14.77 J-G. Reese (53-12), C.S. Robbins ( 1 3—9 ) 3 E-C. Robbins (12-3), G.C. Robbins (ll-4), E.R. Rogers (8-6), R.H. Rule (8-2), J.L. Ruos (l-l), M.B. Sowers (2-1), R.V. Truitt (2-2), V.E. Unger (l-l), W.T. Van Velzen (l4-ll), M.C. Welsh (2-l), H.W. Wessel (2-1), G.L. Williams (2-l), L. Zeleny T^l_-3) . 582 Rita Drive, Odenton MOS BLUEBIRD PROJECT. 1971 Lawrence Zeleny The MOS Bluebird Project, which has now completed its second year, overlaps in some degree the Bluebird Project of the Audubon Naturalist Society. The latter project, which has completed its fifth year, has made encouraging progress and reported the successful fledging of 1117 young bluebirds in 1971 from nesting boxes set out and monitored by 52 collaborators (see Atlantia Naturalist 2 6 : l6l-l64) . Because of the overlapping of the two projects some of the results reported herein were also covered by the ANS report. ALLEGANY CHAPTER The Allegany Chapter had 32 nesting boxes located at Carey Run Sanctuary and adjoining property. From these boxes 28 Eastern Bluebirds, 39 Tree Swallows , and 48 House Wrens were fledged in 1971 • The Chapter plans to set out additional boxes in 1972 in an effort to build up the bluebird population at the Sanctuary and vicinity. BALTIMORE CHAPTER In the Baltimore Chapter area Sister Barbara Ann maintained 10 182 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27, No- h nesting boxes on the grounds of All Saints Convent near Catonsville. These yielded U 3 young bluebirds, a marked increase over last year. MONTGOMERY CHAPTER Edwin T. McKnight of the Montgomery Chapter together with David B. Stewart operated two bluebird trails in Maryland and one in Virginia. Their trail in an area about 5 miles east of Frederick consisted of 10 nesting boxes from which 21 young bluebirds were fledged. Their other Maryland trail was between Potomac and Sycamore Landing on the C & 0 Canal, where 57 young bluebirds were fledged from 19 boxes. Paul T. Woodward experimented with nesting boxes made from half- gallon plastic milk cartons. He set out 6 of these boxes along River Road between Old River Road and Hughes Road and in Hughes Hollow. Blue- birds nested in 4 of these 6 milk cartons as well as in 2 other boxes he had intended for other species. A total of 19 young bluebirds were fled- ged. Tree Swallows nested in one of the milk carton boxes in Hughes Hol- low and fledged 4 young. ROSSMDOR CHAPTER Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Rule operated a bluebird trail of 19 boxes on the Rossmoor Golf Course. Seventeen young bluebirds were fledged. PATUXENT CHAPTER The bluebird trail operated by the writer at the Agricultural Re- search Center near Beltsville jointly for MOS and the Audubon Naturalist Society was continued for the fifth year. A total of 6l nesting boxes including 10 experimental models was maintained. Fifty- two successful broods of bluebirds were raised and 193 young fledged. Walter T. Greenaway continued his bluebird trail of 9 boxes along the borders of fairways on the golf course of Gunpowder Country Club near Laurel. Forty-two bluebirds were raised from ten successful broods. WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAPTER Jon and Daniel Boone established a bluebird trail of l8 boxes in Pleasant Valley near Smithburg. Twelve successful broods were raised and hi young fledged. In early August the Boone brothers started a new bluebird trail near Dunkirk in Calvert County in preparation for the 1972 season. Bluebirds occupied one of these boxes immediately and started building in it the next day; a brood of 3 was fledged on Sept, 10, which may be a new late fledging date for bluebirds in Maryland. EASTERN SHORE The status of the bluebird on Maryland's Eastern Shore is somewhat of an enigma. The only nesting reported was a brood of two fledged from one of the many boxes at Irish Grove Sanctuary in Somerset County. The Eastern Shore garden clubs reported for the second year that no bluebirds were known to have nested in any of their 65 boxes. In the MOS Statewide Bird Count on May 1, 1971, however, a total of 52 bluebirds were reported from 5 of the 8 Eastern Shore counties {Maryland Blrdlife 21: 55-66). It would seem that these bluebirds should have been nesting at that time; December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 183 but if so, their nests were not found or not reported. Since the bluebird appears to be in particularly serious trouble on the Eastern Shore, each MOS Chapter in that area is urged to maintain and monitor at least a few nesting boxes in 1972. If bluebirds should dis- appear completely from the Eastern Shore during the breeding season it might be very difficult to reestablish them. DISCUSSION It has been demonstrated rather clearly that in suitable rural areas, except where bluebirds have disappeared entirely, their population can often be restored remarkably well locally within a few years by the pro- per use of nesting boxes. Since bluebirds are in serious trouble in most areas, largely because of a shortage of natural cavities and massive interference from House Sparrows and Starlings, all MOS members who own or have access to suitable rural property are urged to participate in this project and in turn to urge other persons to do the same. Broad public participation in this effort is necessary to do an effective job. Golf club members, for example, might well be reminded that golf courses often offer excellent bluebird habitat. The nesting boxes should be lo- cated in the "rough" near the edges of the fairways. Printed instructions for making, mounting, and selecting the best locations for bluebird nesting boxes were enclosed with the September issue of Maryland Bivdlife, Additional copies are available from the MOS office in Baltimore. For best results erect boxes before March 1. A news release concerning the plight of the bluebird has been sent to 69 Maryland newspapers for publication in January. The release is designed to encourage all interested persons in rural areas to help in our bluebird conservation program and to obtain the detailed printed in- structions from MOS. 4312 Van Buren Street , University Park HILL MYNA IN TALBOT COUNTY Dickson J. Preston Residents of the World Farm area near Oxford were treated to the sight of a most unusual starling in the fall and early winter of 1971 - It was a Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa ) , a member of the starling family native to India and other parts of Southeast Asia. The myna, undoubtedly an escapee, was a pigeon-sized glossy black bird with white on its wings, yellow wattles, a bright orange bill and yellow legs. It fed chiefly on dogwood berries and other fruits and be- came a regular visitor at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. John Critchlow Jr. and Dr. and Mrs. DeGraff Woodman. It flocked with Starlings, but its call notes, ranging from hoarse chuckles to clear whistles were distinc- tive. The Hill Myna is considered the world's most skillful bird at imi- tating human speech, being far superior in this regard to any parrot, parakeet, or any other species of Myna. R. D. 5, Box 607, Easton i84 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 27, No. 4 SANCTUARY NEWS The Sanctuary Committee met in Annapolis on July 10, 1971- The ses- sion began with an announcement that more than one thousand dollars had been raised by the various chapters in our pledge to match a gift of that amount made at the Ocean City convention in May. The plan to register private land as wildlife sanctuaries was rati- fied and the procedure for implementing it was formulated. News releases were distributed to the various chapters and to newspapers. Response was much greater than anticipated. Already 230 properties totaling 13,082 acres have been registered with MOS under this program. Procedures for handling applications to conduct research projects on MOS sanctuaries were discussed. Terms and conditions were agreed upon. Forms have since been prepared to assist the processing of appli- cations and to ensure compliance on the part of approved researchers. Mrs. Charles Pelot , a member of the Caroline Chapter, passed away on May 22, 1971 (See Maryland Birdlife 27: 150). In her will, she be- queathed her residence in Ridgely, Md. to the Society. Proceeds from the sale are to go to the Sanctuary Fund. This is the largest gift the Sanc- tuary Fund has received so far. She also bequeathed all her books of an ornithological nature to the library at Irish Grove Sanctuary. The use of a twelve-acre property of historical interest on Bodkin Creek, near Annapolis, known as "Hancock's Resolution", owned by Historic Annapolis, Inc., was offered to the Anne Arundel Chapter to operate as a wildlife sanctuary for a period of two years, with possible extensions. The offer was accepted, making this, in effect, our sixth sanctuary. At Irish Grove, Gladys Cole conducted her second annual Spring Band- ing Project, with continued emphasis on demonstration and instruction. Also, at Irish Grove, Brian Sharp spent several weeks this summer doing research on marsh sparrows, specifically Sharp-tails and Seasides. A wide variety of activities was reported from Carey Run Sanctuary. These included the planting of hundreds of shrubs and trees donated by the Maryland Fish and Wildlife Administration, and of three strips of wildlife food plantings (millet, oats, sorghum, buckwheat, etc.) by the Administration; mowing around and between various plantings by the Natural Resources Institute and the State; construction of the "Two Crossings Trail" by Robert Blankfield, an Eagle Scout candidate who also planted 25 dogwood trees; and installation of three super-feeders, each holding more than 100 pounds of seed to keep the birds well supplied during periods when the Sanctuary is snowbound. Improvements and repairs included the painting and papering of rooms, painting of windows and furniture, pur- chase of a metal kitchen cupboard and a Franklin heating stove, some roof repair, and 32 tons of gravel on the entrance drive. V. Edwin Unger, Chairman, Sanctuary Committee December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 185 THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE Many of us enjoy the hobby of feeding wild birds, especially in win- ter. Since feeders can be placed close to convenient windows, we can observe the birds at closer range than is ordinarily possible in any other way. And what a wonderful opportunity this is for shut-ins to en- joy birding! In Maryland we may expect 25 or more species of birds to visit our feeders in the course of the winter. The birds may not really need this kind of help most of the time, but when heavy snow or ice covers all natural sources of food our feeders may save many birds that would otherwise perish. Problems often arise at feeders that may at times be annoying enough to discourage us from continuing with our otherwise delightful hobby. Starlings and House Sparrows may monopolize our feeders to the extent that the native birds get little chance to eat. A few Blue Jays in a short time can carry away an enormous amount of sunflower seed and other choice tidbits for their own private stock piles. A single Mockingbird may decide that our feeder is his own exclusive property and will then be remarkably successful in enforcing his imagined rights. A half dozen squirrels will eat more sunflower seed than most of us can afford to buy. Various types of selective feeders and squirrel guards are available to help solve some of these feeding problems , but for the most part these devices have been only partially successful. Research now underway may lead to better bird feeders in the future, greater knowledge of the food preferences of different birds, and the discovery that certain unusual foods will attract new birds to our feed- ers. The Griggsville Wild Bird Society of Griggsville , Illinois, in cooperation with the Trio Manufacturing Company is conducting this kind of research program. Experimental models of ingenious types of feeders are being supplied for evaluation to 164 collaborators in 38 States and 3 Canadian Provinces. The great current interest in bird feeding is demonstrated by the fact that these l64 collaborators were selected from more than 1,000 persons who volunteered within a month of the time the program was announced. Two of the collaborators chosen are in Maryland. Detailed instructions for evaluating the feeders as well as data sheets and report forms were furnished to all collaborators. It seems reasonable to expect that this carefully planned program of the Griggsville Wild Bird Society will result in greater interest and greater satisfaction from the useful and pleasurable hobby of feeding our wild birds. Lawrence Zeleny 186 MARDLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27, Mo. 4 SEASON JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, 1971 Chandler S. Bobbins The month of July was characterized by a phenomenal number of "cold" fronts. Seven of them crossed the State during the last three weeks of the month, but unfortunately these occurred too early in the season to cause heavy migratory movements of songbirds. In contrast, only four cold fronts passed overhead during the entire month of August, and only three in September. Monthly temperature averages were barely below nor- mal in July and August and about three degrees above normal in September. If the nesting season had begun ahead of schedule, we might have expected some early fall arrivals on the heels of the July cold fronts. But, since the nesting season began quite late throughout the Northeast, the birds had not completed their molts or stored up fuel for their southward trip by the time cold fronts were zipping by at the rate of one every three or four days from July 11 to Aug. 4. Thus the migration was quite ordinary, and heavy concentrations of transients were noted on only a few days. The only flight that occurred on a weekend was recorded on Saturday, Sept. 25, and was caused by a fast-moving front that was over Chicago at dawn on the 23rd and over the Atlantic Ocean 24 hours later. Rainfall during the period was adequate, averaging close to normal in each of the three months. Averages are misleading, however. One of the most damaging storms of the past forty years brought over 7 inches of rain to eastern Baltimore County (12.6 inches at White Marsh) on the night of Aug. 1-2. Severe flooding resulted in all neighboring counties. The lack of drought conditions assured an ample supply of natural foods for the coming winter. The first fall arrival dates reported are summarized by counties in Table 1. The lion's share of these dates was submitted by the following contributors: Alleg any County — James Paulus ; Washi ngton — Daniel Boone; Frede rick — Dr. John W. Richards, Richard Rowlett; Baltimore City and County — Mrs. Richard Cole, C. Haven Kolb, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bohanan, Janet Ganter, C. Douglas Hackman, David Holmes; Howa rd — Mrs. Harry Rauth, Mrs. G. C. Munro; Montg omery — Dr. Robert L. Pyle, David Holmes, Paul Woodward, Paul G. DuMont, Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Donnald, Robert W. Warfield; Prince Georges — Kathleen KLimkiewicz, Joan Lusby, David Holmes, John H. Fades, Chandler Robbins; Anne Arundel — Danny Bystrak, Prof. Harold Wierenga December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 187 Southern Maryland — John H. Fales ; Kent — Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mendinhall ; Carol ine — Marvin Hewitt, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Fletcher, Mrs. Wilber Engle; Talbo t — Jan Reese, Harry T. Armistead; Some rset — Mrs. Richard Cole, Harry T. Armistead. Loons , Grebes ■ Some or all of the following summer strays were probably crippled birds: Single Common Loons in Talbot County on Aug. 17 (Jan Reese) and at Ocean City on July 10 (Robert W. Warfield); and single Horned Grebes at Hills Point in Dorchester County on July 4 and Aug. 7 (Harry T. Armistead) and in Talbot County on Aug. 4 (Reese). A Pied- billed Grebe in a pond in Germantown on Aug. 7, however, is considered an early fall arrival (Warfield). Shearwaters , Petrels . All previous Maryland records of the Sooty Shearwater have been obtained during its spring migration period, May 8 to June 5 • The best explanation for the sighting of one 300 feet off the beach at Ocean City on Aug . 19 (Warfield) is that the counter-clockwise winds around Hurricane Beth picked up the shearwater off the New England coast about Aug. 15 and that northeast winds the next four days guided it to the Maryland coast. Another Sooty Shearwater was seen in Ocean City inlet at dawn on Aug . 28 after Hurricane Doria brushed the area with 60 m.p.h. winds during the night (Richard Rowlett). On Aug. 7 Carl Carlson and party took a fishing boat off Ocean City during a mill-pond calm; their only pelagic birds were 31 Wilson's Petrels and a Parasitic Jaeger. Cormorants . As usual, a scattering of non-breeding Double-crested Cormorants summered in Chesapeake Bay. One to 4 birds were seen in June, July or early August in Talbot, Dorchester and Somerset Counties (Armistead and Reese). The first fall arrival was noted at West Ocean City on Aug. 31 (Warfield). The highest Chesapeake count of the period was of 22 birds at Poplar Island on Sept. 25 (Reese). .Unusual for inland Caroline County were 4 birds at Tanyard on Sept. 27 (Wilber Engle). Herons and Egrets . About five miles west of Deal Island lie two large uninhabited marshy islands that are seldom visited by ornitholo- gists. The one to the north, Bloodsworth Island, is in Dorchester County; the other, South Marsh Island, is in Somerset County. Five miles farther to the south is Martin National Wildlife Refuge on Smith Island. Harry Armistead visited Bloodsworth Island in 1967 , at which time the only nesting herons were Great Blues, Common Egrets, and the two species of night heron. During a brief visit on Aug. 7, 1971, Armistead established the first Dorchester County nesting record for the Snowy Egret. Little Blue and Louisiana Herons also flushed directly out of the nesting colony, but no nests of these were confirmed. Bloodsworth Island is only 15 miles south of Blackwater Refuge, and probably provides many of the herons that we see at Blackwater — for example, 49 Snowy Egrets counted at Blackwater on July 11 (Armistead). There were many reports of Snowies in Talbot County, also, the highest tally being 15 birds on July 25 (Jan Reese). Cattle Egrets reached unprecedented late summer totals of more than 300 in Talbot County on July 23 (Reese) and 212 ten miles south of Elkton in Cecil County on Aug. 31 (Richard Kleen). Robert Warfield made daily counts of egrets flying over his West Ocean City home between 6 and 7:^5 p.m. Table 1. Earliest Fall Arrival Dates, 19T1 Median Species 10-yr 1971 Alle Wash Fred Balt Howd Mont Pr.G Anne S.Md Kent Caro Talb Somr Double-cr. Cormorant 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10/ 9 9/27 9/ 7 10/17 Canada Goose 9/26 9/24 10/26 — 0 10/ 3 9/21 9/19 9/24 10/ 1 9/28 91 1 9/22 9/23 9/24 Sharp- shinned Hawk — 10/ 4 — — — 9/26 10/ 1 — 10/ 4 10/ 9 10/17 Broad-winged Hawk — 9/18 9/15 9/17 — 9/18 9/ 5 9/1 9 9/22 — 9/13 0 — 9/25 0 Sparrow Hawk — 9/l8 — 10/ 3 — — 9/ 1 9/18 9/29 10/ 3 9/ 1 9/19 — 7/ 9 — Semipalmated Plover — — 8/ 1 0 8/25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7/25 0 Common Snipe — — 10/ 1 0 9/ 3 0 0 8/ 8 0 0 0 0 — 0 10/16 Spotted Sandpiper — 8/12 — 8/10 7/25 0 0 9/' 5 0 0 0 0 9/ l 8/13 7/18 Solitary Sandpiper — 7/2 6 7/2 6 0 7/25 0 7/2 6 8/ 8 0 7/l8 0 0 7/20 0 9/24 Greater Yellowlegs 8/10 9/ 5 8/ 1 0 9/30 0 0 9/ 5 0 0 0 9/1 6 9/ l 8/20 9/14 Lesser Yellowlegs — 8/l4 7/25 0 9/ 3 0 0 8/ 8 0 0 0 0 9/ 1 8/20 7/21 Pectoral Sandpiper — — 7/25 0 7/25 0 0 8/ 8 0 0 0 0 7/20 0 — Least Sandpiper — 7/25 8/ 1 0 7/25 0 0 8/ 8 0 0 0 0 7/20 7/16 — Semipalmated Sandpiper — 8/ 8 7/U 0 9/ 8 0 0 8/ 8 0 0 0 0 9/ 1 8/ 3 0 Sanderling — — 8/ 5 0 9/30 0 0 9/14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yellow-billed Cuckoo — 9/10 8/25 9/ 5 8/15 9/l4 9/18 9/18 — 9£I 9/28 Common Nighthawk — 8/22 — — — 8/19 8/15 8/19 8/21 8/22 8/27 0 9/ 9 9/ 1 0 Yellow-shafted Flicker — 9/26 9/20 10/28 — 9/28 — 9/13 9/ 9 9/27 9/28 — — 9/ 5 9/26 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 9/28 9/28 9/24 10/13 — 9/29 9/25 10/ 3 9/28 9/27 10/ 9 10/ 3 — — 9/25 Eastern Phoebe — 9/2 6 — -- — 10/ 6 10/ 1 9/23 9/ 9 — 9/12 9/22 9/27 10/. 9 9/26 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher — 9/ 1 0 0 0 8/2 9 0 2Li 9/3 9/ 6 0 8/23 0 0 — Least Flycatcher — 8/28 — 0 0 9TL 9/ 1 9/12 871^ — 0 8/24 0 8/15 0 Tree Swallow 8/30 9/13 0 0 0 8/l4 0 9/ 5 0 0 10/ 3 9/26 9/21 7/24 — Blue Jay 9/20 9/21 — — 9/25 9/15 — 9/ 5 9/19 — 8/31 9/23 — 9/25 9/29 White-breasted Nuthatch — 9/2 6 — 10/13 — — 9/14 9/ 5 10/11 10/ 3 9/18 0 — 0 0 Red-breasted Nuthatch 9/20 9/10 0 — 0 0 8/31 9/19 9/ l 10/ 4 10/ 9 9/ 1 — — 0 Brown Creeper 9/28 10/ 4 9/30 9/25 — 10/ 7 10/ 9 9/24 10/ 7 9/26 10/ 9 9/22 9/28 10/ 9 10/ 8 Swainson’s Thrush 9/ 8 9/18 9/10 0 0 9/10 9/10 9/18 9/_! 0 10/ 9 9/_A — 9/25 9/23 Gray-cheeked Thrush 9/15 9/26 10/11 0 0 9/26 9/15 9/28 9/26 0 0 9/19 — 9/25 9/22 Veery 9/ 4 9/ 7 9/10 9/ 3 9/ 7 8/29 0 9/ 8 8/25 9/14 9/ 5 9/25 Golden-crowned Kinglet 9/24 10/ 6 10/11 10/ 9 — 10/ 6 10/ 1 9/21 10/ 6 10/ 1 10/ 6 10/ 5 9/27 10/17 10/ 8 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9/24 9/24 9/30 — 9/24 9/17 9/22 10/ 3 9/22 9/21 10/ 3 9/17 — 9/25 9/24 Cedar Waxwing 9/ 2 8/29 — 8/16 — 9/ 7 8/ 7 10/ 3 10/13 8/12 8/ 8 8/29 — — 10/15 Loggerhead Shrike — 10/ 6 0 0 8/16 0 0 11/ 9 10/ T 0 0 0 8/31 10/10 — Solitary Vireo — 10/ 5 9/30 10/ 9 10/14 0 9/16 0 0 10/ 8 0 10/ 5 10/ 5 0 10/ 5 f— 1 oo CO <: o A) —3 13 O Ji' MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Median Species 10 -y] L 12H 1 Alle Wash Fred Balt Howd Mont Pr.G Anne S.Md Kent Caro Talb Somr Red-eyed Vireo 9/ 4 91 1 9/ 4 9/ 2 9/18 8/26 9/28 9/22 Philadelphia Vireo — — 0 0 0 0 8/22 9/18 0 0 0 9/12 0 0 9/22 Black-and-white Warbler 8/28 8/21 — 8/18 8/29 8/31 8/10 8/17 8/19 — 8/31 8/24 9/10 8/23 9/18 Golden-winged Warbler — — — 0 0 0 8/l6 9/ 1 9/_5 0 0 9/ 1 0 0 0 Blue-winged Warbler — — 0 0 — 9/ 2 8/ 7 0 . 9J 1 0 0 8/30 0 0 0 Tennessee Warbler 9/10 9/lb 0 0 9/lb 0 8/20 0 0 9/23 10/ 9 8/24 0 0 0 Nashville Warbler 9/12 9 / 8 0 0 9/18 9/ 8 8/31 0 8/30 — 0 8/31 9/10 9/19 Parula Warbler — 9/ 2 __ — 9/H — 9/ 5 — 8/31 — 8/31 8/20 — 0 9/15 Yellow Warbler — 8/24 — — 9/ 5 7/29 8/13 — W — — 8/21 — 8/15 9/22 Magnolia Warbler 9/ 4 9/ 6 0 9/19 9/ 6 9l_l 9/ 1 8/26 9/11 9/ 6 9/18 8/20 — 9/ 4 9/16 Cape May Warbler 9/lb 9/ 2 0 0 9/18 0 9/ 1 9/ 2 8/29 8/31 0 8/24 9/26 9/18 9/15 Black -thr. Blue Warbler 9/ 7 9/H 9/ 1 9/19 0 9/_ 2 8/16 9/H 9/11 9/10 10/ 3 9/ 1 10/ 5 9/25 9/22 Myrtle Warbler 9/30 9/30 1:0/ 5 10/ 9 — 10/ 7 9/22 10/ 3 9/22 10/ 3 10/ 3 9/22 9/23 9/25 9/26 Black-thr. Green Warbler 9/12 9/16 — 9/19 9/ 6 0 8/31 9/18 9/23 9/ 5 10/ 3 9/15 — 0 0 Blackburnian Warbler 9/ 5 9/10 9/ 1 — 9/18 9/23 8/18 0 0 9/10 10/ 3 8/31 0 0 0 Chestnut-sided Warbler — 8/29 — — 9/10 8/31 8/25 9/ 3 0 8/25 8/28 8/30 0 8/23 — Bay-breasted Warbler 9/16 9/ 2 10/11 0 0 9/ 3 8/26 9L1 8/2 6 0 0 8/31 0 0 0 Blackpoll Warbler 9/15 9/12 0 -0 0 0 8/26 0 9/12 0 9/12 9/10 9/27 9/30 10/ 7 Palm Warbler 9/22 9/30 10/ 5 0 10/ 2 0 9/29 0 9/23 0 0 10/13 10/ 7 9/25 9/22 Ovenbird — 8/25 — 8/17 9/ 5 8/26 8/ 7 8/l6 8/11 — 9/ 6 8/24 — 9/ 5 9/17 Northern Waterthrush 9/ 1 9/ 5 9/10 0 0 0 0 0 8/14 0 0 8/29 — 9/ 5 9/15 Connecticut Warbler 9/12 9/19 0 9/ 3 0 0 0 0 9/19 0 0 10/ 6 9/23 0 9/15 Wilson's Warbler — — 0 0 0 9/ 3 8/24 0 0 9/15 0 8/30 0 0 0 Canada Warbler 8/23 8/21 9/ 1 8/iS 8/29 8/18 8/l6 8/17 8/24 8/ 3 0 W?h 0 9/1 9 0 American Redstart 8/30 8/21 — 8/16 9/ 5 8/1 8 8/ 6 9/ 2 8/25 — — 8/20 9/ 6 8/23 9/15 Bobolink 8/29 8/28 0 0 0 0 7/23 0 9/ 1 0 9/H 8/25 8/l4 9/24 Baltimore Oriole — 8/30 — — 8/20 8/22 — 9/ 4 8/24 9/16 0 9/l4 Scarlet Tanager — 9/18 — — 9/18 9/23 — 9/15 8/22 — — 8/29 9/22 9/30 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 9/12 9/12 9/ 8 9/19 9/ 6 9/23 9/ 2 9/18 9/13 9/10 9/18 8/28 9/ 7 9/1 6 Purple Finch — 9/24 9 / 2 1 — — 10/17 9/21 — 9/18 — — 9/10 10/21 10/17 9/25 Rufous-sided Towhee — 9/26 — 9/ 3 — 10/ 3 — — 9/10 — 9/ 9 10/ 6 — 10/9 9/26 Savannah Sparrow — 9/23 10/ 1 — — 0 — 9/23 9/19 0 — 9/ 8 9/24 Slate-colored Junco — 10/ 7 10/ 5 10/13 10/ 6 9/26 9/24 io/i4 9/29 10/ 7 10/16 10 / 1 10 / 7 10 / 9 9/25 White-throated Sparrow 9/25 10/ 3 9/29 10/11 10/ 6 9/25 9/25 9/24 10/ 3 9/22 10/ 3 9/22 10/ 8 10 / 9 10 / 7 Song Sparrow — 10/ 7 — — — 10/15 — |10/ 3 — — 10/ 1 — 10 / 9 10/ 7 December 1971 MARYLAND BIKDLIFE 190 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27, No. 4 from Aug. 31 through Sept. 8. The Snowy Egret counts, which were without precedent, ranged from 339 to 839 (Sept. 3) birds, with an average of 534 individuals. The evening flights continued until at least Sept. 25, when 340 Snowy and 20 Common Egrets passed by. The last inland Common Egret was sighted at Emmitsburg on Sept. 12 (Dr. John W. Richards). Swans and Geese . Whistling Swans, presumably injured birds , sum- mered in ones and twos at Hills Point, at Blackwater Refuge and at Elliott Island, all in Dorchester County (Armistead). The cold front of Sept. 24 brought the vanguard of what was to be an exceptionally heavy migration of Canada Geese. The first Snow Geese arrived at Blackwater Refuge on the early date of Sept. 25, and a Blue Goose there on Sept . 27 broke the State arrival date (Armistead). Ducks . The only diving duck that breeds in Maryland is the Hooded Merganser. Every summer several other species are reported from tide- water, but most are suspected of being cripples. This summer's list for Talbot and Dorchester Counties included Canvasback, Oldsquaw, all three scoters. Ruddy Duck and Red-breasted Merganser, all of which appeared not to be crippled (Reese and Armistead). A female Green-winged Teal near Old Town (Lock 71 ) on Aug . 8_ was a record-breaker for that Section of the State (James Paulus ) , but missed being a State record by two days. Hawks . The high count on Bald Eagles at Blackwater Refuge was ob- tained on July 19 when Wheatley, Richardson, Wodzenski and Brighton counted 7 adults and 1 immature from the observation tower; 1 young bird was raised on the refuge this summer (Refuge Manager William Julian). The peak flight of Broad-winged Hawks seems to have gone through on Sept. 21-24. A flight of well over 200 individuals was sighted over Chevy Chase on the 21st (Dr. Robert L. Pyle). A concentration of Sparrow Hawks lined the electric wires near the Irish Grove Sanctuary entrance through- out late September; 12 birds were counted at one time on Sept. 24 (Emily Morris, Gertrude Oakman, Robbins). Sho rebirds . The inland hot spot for shorebirds this fall was the Summit Hill Turf Farm upriver from Seneca. The greatest single attrac- tion was the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, a species unknown in Maryland prior to 1957* Richard A. Rowlett found Buff -breasts on 6 out of 8 trips from Aug. 25 (l bird) to Sept. 21 (2 birds). On Sept. 14 he counted a record-breaking l4_ individuals. His seasonal total included 17 different Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Other choice items among the 1 6 species of shorebirds that Mr. Rowlett observed at the turf farm in 12 trips from Aug. 10 to Sept. 30 were 2 Golden Plovers on the record-breaking date of Aug . 10 and a high count of 23 on Sept. 17; a Black-bellied Plover, Sept. 14-17 ; a Common Snipe on Aug . 10 (breaking the earliest piedmont record); 5_ Baird's Sandpipers, Sept. l4; a Sanderling, Sept. l4-15 ; and 2 Wilson's Phalaropes, Aug. 10. On every trip the Killdeer was the commonest species, with numbers ranging from 5 on Sept. 30 to 187 on Sept. 15 . The rarest bird at the turf farm was a Ruff, the fifth and latest for Maryland, seen on Sept . 5. by Philip A. DuMont and others. Lilypons in Frederick County was tame compared to the turf farm, with a Sanderling on Sept. 30 the most unusual of eleven species (Rowlett). This year's rarity from Old December 1971 MARYLAND BIRDLIFB i£i Town (above Lock 75 on the C & 0 Canal) was a couple of Short-billed Dovitchers on Aug. 1 (James Paulus ) . Marvin Hewitt saw eight species of shorebirds at Ridge ly in Caroline County, and Jan Reese and others found ten species in Talbot County, mostly on Poplar Island. Observations of special importance were: an Upland Plover at Easton Airport on Aug. 17, the first Talbot County record (John Valliant); a Willet at Bellevue on Aug. 15 (species number 2l6 for the Armistead property); 10_ Stilt Sand- pipers at Elliott Island on July 31 (Armistead); an extraordinary count of 450 Knots on Assateague Island on Sept, k (Charles Vaughn); a Wilson's Plover at the north tip of Assateague Island on the new late date of Sept . £; and 44 Northern Phalaropes three miles off Ocean City on the same day (both species by Rowlett). The only Maryland shorebirds not specifically reported during the period were Purple Sandpiper, White- rumped Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, the two godwits, American Avocet, Red Phalarope , American Oystercatcher and Piping Plover. Jaegers , Gulls and Terns . Maryland finally obtained an early August arrival date for a Parasitic Jaeger when one was sighted from a fishing boat off Ocean City on Aug . 7_, twenty days ahead of the earliest fall date (Carl Carlson). This species ought to occur along the Maryland coast from late July into November. High summer counts of non-breeding gulls at Poplar Island, Talbot County, were: 100 each of Great Black- backed and Herring on Aug. 13, 25 Ring-billed on Aug. 7 and Aug. 20, and 200 Laughing on July 24 (Jan Reese). Hills Point sandbar 12 miles due west of Cambridge held as many as 8l0 Laughing Gulls on July 4 and there was a Caspian Tern on the same day at nearby James Island at the mouth of the Little Choptank River (Armistead). Roseate Terns are rarely encoun- tered in Maryland waters at any season because their migration route lies far offshore; an observation of 3 individuals at Ocean City on Aug . 28 can be credited jointly to Hurricane Doria and Richard Rowlett. This is the first acceptable fall migration record for the State. Woodpeckers . A wandering Pileated Woodpecker turned up on Tilghman Island in Talbot County on Sept. 26 (Bob Sharp). This species is not known to nest on any of the great Eastern Shore necks that extend into Chesapeake Bay. Few present-day observers have seen as many as 4 migrat- ing Red-headed Woodpeckers in Maryland on the same day; yet 4 were seen from the tower at Washington Monument State Park on Sept. 24 (Rowlett). Flycatchers . No single day in this period was outstanding for migration of flycatchers, warblers and other passerines. Although mod- erate concentrations of transients were reported by several observers , no two people mentioned flights on the same date. I attribute this to poor cooperation by the cold fronts. All but two of the cold fronts that came near Maryland in August and September either deteriorated, stalled or slowed down appreciably on approach, with the result that the hoped for waves of transients simply did not materialize. Rather, the birds trickled through a few at a time. The two exceptions were the fronts of Sept. 21 and 24. Migrating Eastern Kingbirds were first detected at West Ocean City on Aug. 11 (Warfield). They reached a peak inland be- tween Aug. 20 (Emmitsburg by Dr. Richards) and Aug 28 (when 33 were counted in the Rauths ' field near Fulton), and a late straggler was noted 192 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 2T a No. 4 at Greenbelt on Sept. 30 (Charles Hills). The first arrivals of the Empidonax genus were identified on Aug. l4 : 2 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers in a loblolly pine island in the Blackwater River marsh (Carlson) and a Least Flycatcher handed at Pis cat away Park on the Potomac River in south- ern Prince Georges County (Kathy Klimkiewics ) . Empidonax counts were low everywhere in Maryland this season; the best daily banding totals sub- mitted were: 3 Yellow-bellies at Damsite on Sept. 1 (Mendinhalls ) and 3 at Chevy Chase, Sept. 1-2 (Dr. Robert Pyle); 6 Acadians at Piscataway on Sept. 3 and 3 Traill's each on Aug. 30 and Sept. 2 (Miss Klimkiewicz ) ; and a maximum of 2 Leasts per day during the period Aug. 20 to Sept. 3 at Piscataway and Damsite. Swallows . Three Cliff Swallows near Lock 75 above Old Town on Sept . 28 established a new late departure date for Maryland by five days (James Paulus). A flock of Rough-winged Swallows at Lilypons built up to 170 birds on Sept . 30 , an extraordinarily late date for such a large number (Rowlett) . Nuthatches . Arrival of a few early Red-breasted Nuthatches at Fulton on Aug. 31 (Mrs. Rauth) and Tolchester on Sept. 1 (Mendinhalls) raised false hopes of this being a good flight winter. After a trickle of transients, this species all but vanished. Warblers . This fall Miss Klimkiewicz and assistants banded 30 Prothonotaries at Piscataway Park, Aug. 13 to Sept. 6. If we discount their first day of banding as involving birds already present, it is interesting to note that all seven of the days on which they banded 2 or more Prothonotary Warblers were preceded by winds from the southwest, south or southeast the previous night. If the same trend holds true in future years , we shall conclude that most of the fall Prothonotaries found west of Chesapeake Bay represent birds wandering up from southern states where they are common, rather than birds stopping by on their way south from their very limited nesting grounds to the north. Although the last new bird was banded on Sept. 6, one banded early in September remained to Sept. 19- The peak period (50 percent of the total birds banded) was Aug. 29 to Sept. 6. At Damsite, where the Prothonotary is a real rarity, one was banded on Sept. 15 (Mendinhalls). Another species rarely reported in autumn is the Cerulean Warbler. There were two re- ports this time, nearly bracketing the fall migration period: 1 in Washington County on Aug. 17 (Boone), and 1 at Widewater in Montgomery County on Sept. 19 (Charles Hills). Early arrival dates worthy of spe- cial mention are: Blue-winged Warbler seen at Highland on Aug. 7, Tennessee at Highland on Aug. 20 and at the Damsite banding station at Tolchester on Aug. 24 and 25, Nashville at Piscataway on Aug. 30 and at Highland and Damsite on the 31st, Magnolia at Highland on Aug . l6 (earliest piedmont record), Cape May at Damsite on Aug. 24, and Black- burnian at Highland on Aug. l8 . Highland observations were by Mrs. Harry Rauth, Damsite bandings by the Mendinhalls, and Piscataway bandings by Kathy Klimkiewicz. Bobolink , Tanagers . The first 2 migrating Bobolinks were found at Columbia on July 23 (Robbins). The West Ocean City Bobolink roost reached December 19T1 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 193 record proportions this year. Robert Warfield reported "very large flocks" over the marshes on Sept. 2, and four days later Rowlett esti- mated the population at 63 ,000 Bobolinks, which is nearly twice the pre- vious record set in the 19th century. This does not necessarily imply that Bobolinks are increasing, but perhaps that the roosting populations are more concentrated as suitable marsh habitat diminishes. Summer Tanagers were last recorded at Damsite on Aug. 29 (Mendinhalls ) , Seneca on Sept. 12 {Dr. Pyle), Fort Meade on Sept. 19 (Rena Bishop), Denton on Sept. 22 (Roberta B. Fletcher), and Greenbelt on Sept. 25 (Hills). Sparrows . There was a rare inland occurrence of a Lark Sparrow in the Hughes Hollow area west of Seneca on Sept. 2 (Rowlett). Another summer record of a White-throated Sparrow was documented, this time at Plum Point in Calvert County by John Fales , who observed the bird in his Breeding Bird Census plot on July 11, Aug. 15 and Aug. 22. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Migratory Bird Populations Station, Laurel COMING EVENTS Feb. 20 19-21 19-21 22 23 25 26 28 March 1 2 3 4 4 4 4 11 11 l4 i4 14 15 16 16 17 18 18 18 19 TALBOT trip to Ocean City. Bring lunch. BALTIMORE trip. Chincoteague , Va. Mr. & Mrs. William Schneider MONTGOMERY trip. New Jersey coast. Paul DuMont & C.S. Robbins PATUXENT Meeting. Nat'l. Waterfowl Management Program. C.E.Addy ANNE ARUNDEL trip. Hillsmere and Thomas Pt . Meet Bay View 8:30 BALTIMORE Social Evening. Birds and the Changing Environment by John Trott . Northwood-Appold Church (see Newsletter) ANNE ARUNDEL trip. Eastern Neck Refuge. Richard Heise. KENT Audubon Film. Arcadian Reflections by Robert Fultz KENT Regular Meeting. Program by Juniors. Wildlife Film. FREDERICK Monthly Meeting. Bird Banding by Clark Miller. 7:30 ANNE ARUNDEL Annual Spring Lecture. Whistling Swans by W.Sladen HARFORD Dinner Meeting, Churchville Presbyterian Church. MONTGOMERY trip, Sandy Pt . & Kent Is. Meet Sandy Pt . St. Pk. , 8 PATUXENT trip, Sandy Point State Park. 8 a.m. , Montg & 9th. BALTIMORE trip to Ivy Neck. Meet Ritchie Mart, Rt . 2, 8 a.m. ANNE ARUNDEL Woodcock Trip. Meet 5=30, Parole parking lot. PATUXENT trip to Gude's Nursery, Rockville. 6:15, Montg & 9 th. TALBOT Audubon Film, Mule Deer Country by Buzz Moss, Easton BALTIMORE First of weekly Tuesday trips to Lake Roland. 8 a.m. BALTIMORE Meeting. Social Behavior of Birds by Stephen Simon ALLEGANY Monthly Meeting. Wildflowers of the Hills and Fields by A. Clifford Bradley. Board of Educ . Bldg., 7:30 pm CAROLINE Monthly Meeting. 2 nature films. Co. Library, 7:30 pm MONTGOMERY Monthly Meeting. Habitats of Birds by C. S. Robbins TALBOT Monthly Meeting. Film: Secret in the Hive. 8 pm ANNAPOLIS Youth Trip to Cylburn. Meet Annapolis Sr. High, 8:30 HARFORD trip to Bombay Hook and Little Creek, Delaware. MONTGOMERY trip to Ocean City and Cape Henlopen. WICOMICO trip to Chincoteague Refuge. Meet 9 am, beach park lot MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 27 , No, h 19^ Mar . 2h 2h 25 26 27 28 29 Apr. 1 1 1 + 5 6 7 9 12 12 13 15 15 15 16 18 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 22 22 22-23 23 23 23 2h 25 25 27 29 29 BALTIMORE Audubon Film, Antillean Adventure by Don Heintzelman MONTGOMERY Woodcock Trip, Hughes Hollow. Phone 301-536-8813 ANNE ARUNDEL trip to Cunningham Falls State Park. 7:30 a.m. FREDERICK trip to banks of the Monocacy. Leave 2 p.m. WICOMICO Monthly Meeting. Bluebirds by Dr. Lawrence Zeleny PATUXENT Monthly Meeting. Spring Migration by C . S. Robbins ANNE ARUNDEL trip to Water Works. Meet Parole parking lot, 8:30 WICOMICO trip to Blackwater Refuge. Meet headquarters, 9 a.m. MONTGOMERY trip to C&0 Canal, Seneca. Meet Potomac Safeway ,7 am BALTIMORE Lake Roland walk. Meet footbridge below dam, 8 a.m. KENT Meeting. Remington Farms. Spring Migration, C. Robbins BALTIMORE First of h weekly Thursday walks at Cylburn. Meet 9- ANNE ARUNDEL Meeting. Habitats of Birds, C. S. Robbins, 8 p.m. WICOMICO trip to Chincoteague . Meet at beach parking lot, 9 am TALBOT Audubon Film, Mexico to Alaska by Walter Berlet . Easton High School, Mecklenburg, 8 p.m. ANNE ARUNDEL trip to Cylburn. Meet Severna Park, 8:30 a.m. CAROLINE Meeting. Current Ideas about Ecology by Mrs. William Collier Jr. in her classroom, N. Caroline High, 7:30 BALTIMORE walk at L. Roland, 8 a.m. Mr & Mrs T.H.C .Slaughter MONTGOMERY trip to Piscataway Park banding station. Meet at B&J Drive-In, Ind.Hd.Hwy (Rt. 210) at Bryan Pt Rd , 8:30 ANNE ARUNDEL Youth Trip to Camp Letts Nature Trail, 8:30 a.m. TALBOT Breakfast Hike. Meet Easton Library, 7 a.m. BALTIMORE walk at Lake Roland, 8 a.m. Mrs. Raymond Geddes , Jr. ALLEGANY Meeting. Lesson in Identifying Spring Birds by Sight & Sound by K. Hodgdon. Alleg Bd of Educ Bldg, 7:30 MONTGOMERY Monthly Meeting. Birds at the Zoo hy Dr. Samuel E. Weeks. Perpetual Bldg Assn., Bethesda, 8 p.m. BALTIMORE walk at Cylburn. Meet there at 9 a.m. BALTIMORE Audubon Lecture. Audubon's Labrador by Prentice K. Stout. Dumbarton Junior High School, 8 p.m. TALBOT Monthly Meeting. Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge by Ed Folsom. Talbot Co. Library, Easton, 8 pm BALTIMORE walk at L. Roland. Meet at footbridge below dam, 8 am MONTGOMERY trip to Lilypons and New Design Rd. Meet at Peoples Drug, Wildwood Shopping Center, Old Georgetown Road, 1 mi. north of Capital Beltway exit 18, 7:15 a.m. HARFORD walk at Rock Run Sanctuary PATUXENT trip to Ft. Meade. Meet Montg'y & 9th, Laurel, 7:30 ANNE ARUNDEL trip to Irish Grove Sanctuary. Mrs. John Ford BALTIMORE trip to Mill Creek Sanctuary. Meet there at 8:30 a.m. TALBOT Breakfast Hike to Bow Knee Pt. Farm. Bring breakfast. WICOMICO trip to Wicomico & Worcester Cos. Meet at Zoo, 8 a.m. WICOMICO Meeting. Identification of Spring Warblers by Sam Dyke. Asbury Methodist Church, Salisbury, 8 p.m. PATUXENT Monthly Meeting. Falconry by James Ruos. St, Philips Episcopal Parish Hall, 6th & Main, Laurel, 7:45 p.m. BALTIMORE walk at Lake Roland. See April 22. S. Geddes BALTIMORE walk at Cylburn for migrants and banding. 9 a.m. HARFORD Dinner Meeting at Churchville Presbyterian Church. WICOMICO trip to Pocomoke River. Meet Salisbury Zoo, 7:30 a.m. December 1Q71 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 195 Apr. 29- May 12 - 19 ' 20 June 29 29 -30 30 30 2 3 k 6 7 7 9 11 -14 13 lh 1 6 18 18 19 20 20 -21 20 20 20 ,21 21 22 ANNE ARUNDEL trip Towpath from Great Falls to Seneca. Parole park- ing lot, Riva Road entrance, 7:30 a.m. Bring lunch. ALLEGANY trip to Shawnee Lake. Meet at Super Shoe Mart, Rt 36, 10 MONTGOMERY Night Trip to Elliott Is. Black Rails. 301-536-8813 TALBOT Breakfast Hike. Meet at Easton Library at 7 a.m. WICOMICO Boat Trip on Pocomoke River. Meet Shad Landing State Park entrance, 8 am. Reservations by Apr.l8, C. Vaughn BALTIMORE walk at Lake Roland. See April 22. E. Lubbert ANNE ARUNDEL trip to Dumbarton Oaks. Meet Parole park lot, 8:30 BALTIMORE trip. Rock Run. Hut tier's Towson parking lot, 8 a.m. STATEWIDE BIRD COUNT. SEE ANNOUNCEMENT ON PAGE 170. BALTIMORE trip to Horsehead Woods. Meet W side of McDonogh Rd. RR bridge, 1 mile W of Reisterstown Rd. , 8 a.m. TALBOT Breakfast Hike. Meet at Easton Library, 7 a.m. BALTIMORE walk at Lake Roland. See April 22. BALTIMORE walk at Woodstock. Hutzler's Towson park lot, 8 a.m. STATE CONVENTION AT OCEAN CITY. Convention Call is being mailed to all members under separate cover. BALTIMORE trip to Finally Farm, Phoenix. Meet Hutzler's, 8 a.m. BALTIMORE trip to Rock Run Sanctuary. Meet there at 8:30 a.m. BALTIMORE walk, Lake Roland. See April 22. MONTGOMERY Monthly Meeting. Work of the Chesapeake Bay Center for Environmental Studies by Dr. F.S.L, Williamson Perpetual Bldg Assn, Bethesda, 8 p.m. BALTIMORE trip to Loch Raven. Meet Hutzler's Towson, 8 a.m. MONTGOMERY Sea Voyage from Norfolk, Va. Reservations: EM3-899E BALTIMORE walk at Loch Raven. Meet Hutzler's, Towson, 8 a.m. BALTIMORE trip to NJ Pine Barrens. See Newsletter for details. BALTIMORE Cape May weekend with NJ Audubon. Phone 377-9032 ANNE ARUNDEL Picnic Supper at Thomas Point, E:30 p.m. CAROLINE Wildflower Walk followed by wildflower slides by Marvin Hewitt. A. J. Fletcher home, Garland Rd. 7:30pm trip to Elk Neck Springtime at Carey Run Sanctuary. Education and fun for the whole family. Lectures, banding, and nature walks every two hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Breakfast Hike. Meet at Easton Library, 7 a.m. Monthly Meeting. Hummingbirds by Aline Mitchell. Asbury Methodist Church, Salisbury, 8 p.m. Monthly Meeting. The Bird Atlas Project, Kathleen Klimkiewicz. St. Philips Parish Hall, Laurel, 7 ; ^5 ANNE ARUNDEL walk in Corcoran Woods. Meet Anglers, Ht 50, 8:30 BALTIMORE trip to Loch Raven with Nat .Hist . Soc . See May l8 ANNE ARUNDEL walk at Obligation Farm. Parole park lot, 7:^5 a.m. BALTIMORE walk at Lake Roland. See April 22. BALTIMORE trip to Patapsco State Park, Glen Artney Area. Meet Hutzler's Westview parking lot, Rt U0 west, 7 a.m. WICOMICO trip to Ocean City and Henlopen. E.Main A&P, 8 a.m. BALTIMORE trip to Catoctin Mt. 8c Buckeystovn. See Newsletter. BALTIMORE Picnic Supper, All Saints Convent, Catonsville, h p.m. ANNE ARUNDEL walk at Hancocks Resolution. Meet Pantry Pride park lot behind Esso in Severna Park, Route 2, 7:^5 a.m. HARFORD ALLEGANY TALBOT WICOMICO 23 PATUXENT 2k 25 27 27 27 28 28 3 3 196 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 27, No. k June k CAROLINE 11 WICOMICO 25 ALLEGANY 27 PATUXENT Annual Picnic at Mill Creek Sanctuary, 2:30 to dusk Annual Picnic at Irish Grove Sanctuary. Call 7^9-3895 Carey Run Anniversary Day. Guided tour at 2 p.m. and covered dish supper at 5 p.m. Annual Picnic at Rocky Gorge Reservoir, 5 p.m. CONTENTS, DECEMBER 1971 Know Your Sanctuaries: Carey Run D. Fuller & M. Taylor 159 Another Cardinal in Aberrant Plumage Jan Reese 169 Announcement: Statewide Bird Count 170 First Maryland Record for Sage Thrasher Richard A. Rowlett 171 Record Lake Date for Bobwhite Eggs Dickson J. Preston 172 22nd Annual Nest Card Summary, 1970 Danny Bystrak 173 MOS Bluebird Project, 1971 Lawrence Z eleny 181 Hill Myna in Talbot County Dickson J. Preston 183 Sanctuary News V. Edwin Unger 18 U The President's Page Lawrence Ze leny 185 The Season — July, August, September, 1971 Chandler S. Robbins 186 Coming Events 193 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc, to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds of Maryland, Editor: Chandler S. Robbins, Migratory Bird Populations Station, Laurel, Md. 20810 Asst, Editor: C, Douglas Hackman, 208A Donnybrook, Towson, Md, 21204 Art Editor: William N. Schneider Production: Portia ’Baughman, Gladys Cole, Janet Gantner, Robert Hurley, Frances Zapf Mailing: Barbara Larra’oee and committee OPEN ALL YEAR 101 ROOMS On the Ocean at 15th Street Ocean City. Md. 21842 MOTOR HOTEL Catering to Small Conventions & Banquets •SWIMMING POOL •ELEVATOR •DINING ROOM Phonc ATlantic 9-7 192 •AIR-CONDITIONED & HEATED