Su[[ztin of itis 'z liaiyLand £)*inLt(io [ocjLca[ <zSocizttj f f]nc.

SE PTEMBER 1975
VOLUME 31

NUMBER 3

MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

Cylbum Mansion, 1+915 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21209

STATE OFFICERS FOR MAY 10, 1975 TO MAY, 1976

President: Mr. Barclay E. Tucker, l4l7 Grafton Shop Rd,Bel Air 21011+ 838-6269
First V.P. : Mr. Charles Vaughn, 1306 Frederick Ave, Salisbury 21801 71+2-7221
Second V.P,: Dr. Donald Messersmith,104l8 Brookmoor Dr,SilvrSpg 20901 593.5942

Secretary: Mrs. John Ford, 408 Beach Drive, Annapolis 21403 267-8417
Exec.Sec'y: Mrs. C. B. Perryclear, 204 St. David Ct , Cockeysvl 21030 666-38l4
Treasurer: Mr. W. Gordon MacGregor, 5009 Greenleaf Rd, Balto 21210 435-3044

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Mr. Dale B. Fuller 420 Beall St., Cumberland 21502 724-6906
Mr. Larry Hood 5473 Wooden Hawk Circle, Columbia 21044 730-9251
Mrs. Dorothy Mendinhall Dams it e, R.D. #2, Chestertovn 21620 778-0026
Dr. J. William Oberman 4l00 W St . NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 333-6315
Mr. John Poteet 5608 Stonington Ave. , Baltimore 21207 448-1967
Mr. Maurice Rimpo 102 Linthicum Drive, Cambridge 2l6l3 228-1905
Mr. August Selckmann Route 2, Box 212, Frederick 21701 874-2515

STATE TRUSTEES

Allegany :
Anne Arundel

*Mr. Dale B. Fuller
Mrs. C. Gordon Taylor

: *Mr. Richard E. Heise, Jr.

Harford :

*Mr. Eldred Johnson
Col. Leland Devore
Mr. John Wort man

Mrs. Patricia Flory
Mrs . Laddie Flyger

Howard:

*Miss Martha Che stem
Mr. Larry Hood

Baltimore :

*Mr. John Cullom
Mrs. C. Lockard Conley
Miss Jane Daniels

Kent:

*Dr. Daniel Gibson
Mrs. Edward Mendinhall

Mrs. Raymond Geddes, Jr.
Dr. Roger Herriott
Mrs. Edward A. Metcalf

Montgomery :

*Mr. Paul Woodward
Mr. Robert Hahn
Dr. J. William Oberman

Dr. Benjamin F. Pos cover
Mr. John Poteet, Jr.

Miss Claudia Wilds

Mr. Chandler S. Robbins
Mrs. Joshua Rowe

Patuxent :

*Mrs. Ellen Gizzarelli
Mr. Elwood Fisher

Caroline :

*Mrs . Wilber Engle
Mr. Stephen Westre

Talbot :

*Mr . Ray Bryan
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Price

Dorchester :

*Mr. Maurice Rimpo
Mr. Milton Webster

Washington :

*Mr . Robert Keedy
Mr. Edward Peters

Frederick :

*Mr. William Shirey
Mr. August Selckmann

Wicomico :

*Mr. D. Maurice Davis
Mr. Charles Vaughn

* Chapter President

Active Membership ( adults )

Student Membership (full-time students)
Junior Membership (under 18 years)
Family Membership (Mr. & Mrs.)
Sustaining Membership
Life Membership

Member-at-Large

$ 5.00 plus local chapter dues

2.00 plus local chapter dues

1.00 plus local chapter dues

6.00 plus local chapter "dues
10.00 plus local chapter dues

100.00 (payable in 4 annual
installments )

5.00

Cover: Gray Kingbird, Girdletree , Md. , June l4,,1975.

Photo by David Holmes.

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Volume 31 September 1975 Number 3

FIRST MARYLAND RECORD OF GRAY KINGBIRD

David Holmes

At 8:50 on Saturday morning, June l4, 1975, an Orange Subaru pulled
up to Stop 1*7 on the Newark., Maryland Breeding Bird Survey Route. The
routine was well established. The driver checked the clock, the mileage,
casually noted the bird on the wire a distance ahead, grabbed the egg
timer, and all three occupants piled out with clipboards and binoculars
to record independently whatever sang, called, or flew over for the next
three minutes. We all started tallying singing birds and the driver
suddenly broke the concentration by saying "Y'all better take a look at
this. It's the screwiest kingbird I've seen in a while." Dan Boone and
Mark Hoffman joined me in looking for field marks for two or three min-
utes before we got out the books. By this time, I was quite certain the
bird was a Gray Kingbird ( Tyrannus dominiaensis) .

We were watching an almost Robin sized bird, definitely of kingbird
shape with uniformly gray head, back, and wings; white to light gray
underparts without any trace of yellow, a strong suggestion of a dark
face mask, an unusually heavy bill, and by moving, we were able to see
the uniformly colored, dark, forked tail.

We moved closer; the bird flew after an insect and alit on a wire
behind us. By this time, the identification was settled and cameras
appeared. The bird allowed fairly close approach and about two dozen
pictures (unfortunately cross-lit) before taking off after another in-
sect and flying across a soybean field to perch on a dead snag about 200
yards into the sun.

Twenty minutes later we resumed stop 47. After discovering a Red-
headed Woodpecker nest at stop 48 and finally completing the route, we
drove back and made sure the bird was still on its snag before stopping
at the pay phone in Girdletree only to become almost totally frustrated.
Just try to find a birder at home at 10:00 on a gorgeous Saturday morning!

That evening, the kingbird was seen by Kathy Klimkiewicz, Sam Droege,
and Edward Salo , and photographed by Doug Bonham with Peter Pyle . On Sun-
day, people searched the area from 6:30 A.M. throughout the day to no
avail. The bird was not seen again.

This was the first Maryland record for a bird that normally breeds
within sight of salt water in Florida, although. at one time it occurred
regularly, .as far -up the- coast as Charleston, S.C.- This -bi-rd-does get
moved by tropical storms and there are 15 scattered fall records along

104

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol . 31, No. 3

the East Coast from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to New Brunswick,
Canada. More interesting are the spring records, most of which are
probably not storm connected. These out-of-range spring records, listed
by month and day , are as follows :

April 16, 1959 near Raleigh, N- Carolina (far inland)

April 24, 1974 W. Galveston Is., Texas (photo by H.G. Stevenson

of Annapolis, Md.)

April 29, 1921
May 1, 1970
May 18, 1973

Orient, Long Island
Louisiana coast

Buxton Woods, Cape Hatteras , N. Carolina

(by Rich Rowlett)

May 29 , 1968 Cape Henlopen , Delaware

May 30, 1923 Cape May, New Jersey

June 7, 1930 Jones Beach, Long Island

The next record does not appear until late July so it seems that
not only was the Maryland bird 1,000 miles out of range, but a week late
in being there. Most of these records are for one day only so it appears
this bird was following a normal if unfortunate pattern for most Maryland
birders. There is, of course, no way of knowing how long the bird had
been in the area before it was identified.

The weather for the previous several days had “been inconclusive.

A warm front beginning as a stationary front along the Georgia coast on
Monday, June 9, finally started moving up the coast on Thursday, only to
be pushed offshore by a cold front very early Friday morning. The winds
behind the warm front were light and southerly. The winds behind the
cold front were moderate northwesterly and by Friday night had become
light and variable. There had been light to moderate WSW winds Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday, June 5-7, but a cold front Sunday the 8th changed

the wind direction to northwest.

The exact location of the bird
was 3/4 mile southwest of Girdletree
on Bird Hill Road in southern Worces-
ter County, about three miles inland
from Chincoteague Bay in a typical
Eastern Shore faming area of fields ,
hedgerows, occasional houses, and
distant woods. This area probably
gets birded only once a year. The
suggestion must then follow that you
all do some exploring away from the
traditional "hot spots."

Photos of this bird, including
a color print by Doug Bonham, have
been deposited in the National Photo-
duplicate File (accession numbers
445-2-Ba, Bb and C) .

9635 White Acre Road, Columbia 21045

September 1975

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

105

ANOTHER KINGBIRD - ANOTHER CENTURY

Nanay D. Rowe

As I read Jan Reese's article "Eastern Kingbird Strikes Pond Surface"
in the December 19lh Maryland Birdlife (30:U:127), I was struck with the
similarity of his observations to those recorded by John James Audubon
over 135 years ago.

I have recently been reading one of the original octavo editions of
Audubon's Birds of America ( l8i+0— lQi+li- ) in which, unlike the elephant folio
(1827-1838), the plates are accompanied by a text taken from his Ornitho-
logical Biographies , which he had published previously (1831-1839). I
have found these volumes to be fascinating reading, especially such por-
tions as those concerning now-extinct species and the enormous Chimney
Swift roost within a huge hollow tree. But most of his- descriptions of
bird behavior are still pertinent today, as witness his observations of
kingbird behavior in Vol. I, p. 207. They compare so strikingly, where
underscored, with Jan Reese's observations of a year ago:

"He frequently flies high over the large rivers and lakes, sailing
and dashing about in pursuit of insects. Again gliding down towards the
water, he drinks in the manner of several species of Swallow. When the
weather is very warm, he plunges repeatedly into the water, alights after
each plunge on the low branch of a tree close-by , shakes off the water and

plumes himself, I have never seen it dive after fish, or even after

aquatic insects, although, as I have already mentioned, it .throws itself
into the water for the purpose of bathing; nor have remains of fishes
been found in its stomach or gullet."

Audubon carefully stated he had "never seen it dive" after aquatic
insects and Reese equally carefully noted that "this incident suggests
the kingbird was removing aquatic insects from the surface..." Whatever
the explanation, the question remains until final proof; meanwhile, only
the kingbird knows the answer.

11235 Glen Arm Road, Glen Arm 21057

EASTERN KINGBIRDS CATCHING WHIRLIGIG BEETLES

Hervey Brackbill

Observations I once made at Lake Ashburton, a Baltimore City res-
ervoir, show that Jan G. Reese was undoubtedly correct in conjecturing
( Maryland Birdlife 30: 127, 197*0 that whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae) or
other aquatic insects were being caught by an Eastern Kingbird ( Tyrannus
tyrannus) he saw darting to the surface of a Cecil County pond in which
such prey abounded.

Lake Ashburton has a sloping rim made of broken rocks. From these,
on the afternoon of May l6, 19^0, two kingbirds time and again flew out
and struck into patches of whirligig beetles. Or struck a little dis-
tance to one side of a patch, where probably a stray beetle was swimming.

io6

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vnl. 31. No._3

I never could actually see a beetle snatched up, but there can be no
doubt that this was done, for sometimes the birds struck in the very
center of the close— packed swarms. The rate of catching was quite ir-
regular; sometimes the birds would take several beetles in a single min-
ute, sometimes minutes would pass without a flight by either. In this
spasmodic way the feeding vent on for at least a quarter-hour. Reese
believed his bird was taking the beetles to young; mine were foraging
for themselves.

On May 25, 1939, a kingbird that was flying low across Lake Ash-
burton curved down and touched the water once, then went back to its
original level. I could not see what part of its body broke the sur-
face, and cannot guess whether this was feeding, drinking or bathing.

2620 Poplar Drive, Baltimore 21207

*

RESULTS OF THE M.O.S. BLUEBIRD PROJECT IN 1975

Lawrence Zeleny

Cold and windy weather in early April evidently caused most of
the bluebirds in our region to delay the start of their nesting season.
This delay caused the first broods to be more vulnerable to House Wren
attack and also appeared to -reduce somewhat the number of third broods
produced. In spite of these adverse factors the bluebirds had a suc-
cessful season largely because of almost ideal weather conditions from
late April to the end of the nesting season in early September.

Reports were received from 51 collaborators who monitored approxi-
mately 1,180 nesting boxes in 1975- An estimated 2,402 young bluebirds
were fledged from these boxes, which is an increase of 31% from 1974.

Table 1. Estimated
number of bluebirds
fledged by year

Year Young fledged

1969 246

1970 503

1971 688

1972 797

1973 1,191

1974 1,837

1979 2 ,1+02

7,664

Table 2. Estimated young
fledged by county

County Young fledged

Allegany

4

Anne Arundel

90

Calvert

303

Caroline

37

Carroll

4

Frederick

46

Garrett

34

Harford

675

Howard

120

Montgomery

247

Prince Georges

649

Washington

193

Total

Maryland total 2,402

September 1975

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

107

Table 1 gives the estimated number of bluebirds fledged under the
project each year since 1969, and Table 2 shows the estimated number
of bluebirds fledged in each county. It is gratifying to note that the
number of birds fledged has increased each year of the project and that
the total for the seven-year period now exceeds 7,600 birds.

"Bluebird trails" operated by collaborators were again mostly suc-
cessful, and there is continued evidence of expansion of the bluebird
population in the areas of many of these trails. Table 3 shows the
pertinent data for those trails that produced 50 or more young bluebirds
in 1975.

Table 3. Bluebird trails producing 50 or more young bluebirds in 1975

Location

Near Clear Spring, Washington Co.

Near Smithsburg, Washington Co.

Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co.

River Road and vicinity, Potomac to
Sycamore Landing, Montgomery Co.
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harford Co.
Laurel area (Howard, P.G. & A. A. Cos.)
Agricultural Research Ctr. , P.G. Co.
Goddard Space Flight Center, P.G. Co.
Near Bowie, Prince Georges Co.

Merkle Wildlife Management Area, near
Croom, Prince Georges Co.

Near Dunkirk, Calvert Co.

Farm near Sunderland, Calvert -Co.

Est. young
No. of fledged

Operator boxes 1975 ( 197*0

Daniel Boone

35

9^

(79)

Daniel Boone

35

81

(75)

Paul W. Woodward

55

53

(81)

Edwin T. McKnight
& D. B. Stewart

20

73

(75)

Ellis C. Porter

300

675

—

Eleanor Robbins

36

67

(58)

Lawrence Zeleny

7U

186

(196)

Charles Dupree

65

78

(80)

Paul Jung

k6

73

■ (ID

Edgar A. Merkle

20

128

(116)

Jon Boone

31

115

(125)

Lester Denton

Uo

150

(125)

Losses of eggs, nestlings, and in some cases adult bluebirds to
predators were rather heavy in some areas. The principal predators
were snakes. House Sparrows, raccoons, and House Wrens probably in that
sequence, although the order of predominance differed markedly among
different locations. Some promising research on practical methods of
deterring predators is being conducted under the project, but there is
an urgent need for more extensive research in this field by established
research organizations.

Our bluebird conservation, educational and promotional activities
have continued unabated during the year both locally and on a national
scale. Numerous lectures and demonstrations were given to garden and
bird clubs and at conservation organization workshops. As a result
of articles in nationally distributed periodicals and numerous news-
papers including the New York Times more than a thousand requests for
additional bluebird information were received during the year.

U312 Van Buren St., University Park 20782

108

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 31, No. 3

WORLD NATURE TOURS, INC.

P. O. BOX 693, WOODMOOR STATION
SILVER SPRING, MD. 20901, U. S. A.

WORLD NATURE TOURS, INC. is Che successor to Crowder
Nature Tours, the first to operate blrdlng tours to all parts
of the world. Expert local leaders are used whenever possible
and groups are small. Write for our tour brochures for more
Information about each of our 1976 tours.

FEATURE AREA: AUSTRALIA

Len Robinson, Australia's top field birder, will lead
both Australia tours and New Guinea in 1976. First discovered
by Mr. Crowder, Len has since proved his phenomenal abilities
to find birds for many groups. Our tours will provide the most
complete coverage of Australia ever offered birders. We expect
a large response to these tour offerings, so register now.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA ;
FIJI

AUSTRALIA
NEW GUINEA
AUSTRALIA
NEW ZEALAND

April 16-23
April 24-June 6
August 19-September 11
September 10-0ctober 24
October 23-November 13

EUROPE: HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS

June 20-July 11

NORTH AMERICA :

TEXAS

ARIZONA

ARCTIC CANADA

ALASKA (3- two week tours)

CHESAPEAKE BAY ECOLOGY

April 2-16
May 22-June 5
June 26-July 3
June 19-July 31
July

(one week tour by ship for MOS-ANS members)

ASIA :

SRI LANKA October 30-November 17

INDIA-HIMALAYAS-BHUTAN November 18-December 12

This will be the first birding trip to ever go to
Bhutan. Leader Bob Fleming of Khatmandu.

September 1975

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

109

FIFTH LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO CAREY RUN SANCTUARY FUND

Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Alexander
Mr. Harold B. Atkinson, Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. H. M. Baker
Mr. & Mrs. John G. Baker
Mrs. J. Kemp Bartlett, Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. L. N. Bent

Mr. & Mrs. J. Dallas Blades

Mr. 8c Mrs. George J. Bleul

Dr. M. Susan Bollinger

Mrs. Marion S. Borsodi

Mr. & Mrs. H. M. Bowen

Mr. J. W. Brandt

Mr. & Mrs. David Bridge

Mr. Charles T. Brightbill

Mrs. Catherine S. Brown

Mr. & Mrs. Donald M, Brown

Mr. Lawrence W. Burgess

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Burke

Mr. & Mrs. L. B. Buterbaugh

Miss Lillian M. Cain

Mr. & Mrs. S. James Campbell

Mrs. W. N. Campbell

Mrs. Thomas S. Carswell

Mr. James W. Cheevers

Miss Dorothy M. Christensen

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel P. Clark

Miss Margaret A. Coale

Mrs . Carlyle Cochran

Mrs. Richard C. Cole

Mr. & Mrs. Paris Coleman

Mr. & Mrs. Morris R. Collins

Dr. & Mrs. C. Lockard Conley

Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Cook

Miss Hallye M. Cornelius

Mrs. Donald K. Covington

Mr. & Mrs. Edwin G. Crocker

Mr. & Mrs. W. Donald Cutchall

Mrs. Anneke Davis

Mr. Paul G. Denit

Miss Alverta Dillon

Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Droege

Dr. & Mrs. Robert C. Duvall

Mr. & Mrs. Clayton 0. Eakle

Mr. & Mrs. William A. Fairlee

Mrs. Andre V. Fea^s

Mr. Elwoo.i L.T'iyier

Mrs. Patricia^. Flory

Mrs. L. B. r T.^er

Mr. & Mrs. .' ohn C. Ford

Mr. & Mrs. Harry E. Foster

Mrs. Carl G. Francis

Mr. Dale B. Fuller

Mr. 8: Mrs. Glenn E. Funkhouser

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Geddes , Jr.

Dr. Mildred E. Gebhard

Mr. & Mrs. Austin H. George

Dr. & Mrs. B. C. Getchell

Mrs . Harriet S. Gilbert

Dr. Francis E. Giles

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Gillespie

Mrs. Ellen Gizzarelli

Dr. & Mrs. Benjamin Goldberg

Mr. & Mrs. Robert H. Hahn

Miss Margaret E. Haile

Miss Clare C. Hardy

Dr. & Mrs. Philip E. Hartman

Mr. John F. Healy

Mr. & Mrs. Winfield Henning

Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Hewitt

Mr. 8c Mrs. Robert J. Hiegel

Mr. & Mrs. Kendrick Hodgdon

Mr. David W. Holmes

Prof. 8c Mrs. David Howard

Dr. & Mrs. Enoch Johnson

Mr. Sc Mrs. Robert E. Kaestner

Mr. & Mrs. Frederick H. Keer

Mrs. Genevieve H. Kemper

Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Kendle

Kiwanis Club of Pikesville

LtC. 8: Mrs. Lynn B. Kniesly

Mr. & Mrs. Haven Kolb

Mrs. Arthur B. Lakin

Mr. & Mrs. Francis C. Lang

Dr. & Mrs. Martin G. Larrabee

Miss Dorothy W. Lawson

Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Litz

Miss Reida Longanecker

Mrs. Carl B. Lubbert

Mrs. Walton M. Luce

Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy P. Maize

Mrs. Frank Martin, Jr.

Mr. Samuel Masland

Mr. Darrell McClain

Dr. & Mrs. Stuart McClintock

Miss Winisfred P. McDowell

Mrs. Susan McConnell McGuire

Mr. 8c Mrs. Edwin T. McKnight

Mr. R. Taylor McLean

Mr. & Mrs. Edward Mendinhall

firs: Clarence W. Miles

Mr. 8c Mrs. Joseph A. Minke

Montgomery Chapter M.O.S.

Ms. Mary V. Moss

Cdr . & Mrs. E. R. Mumford

Mr. & Mrs. H. B. Newman

Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Nolan

fir. John J. O' Conor

Miss Helen P. Ostrander

Mr. Edward V. Ostrowski

Mr. & Mrs. Waldermar E. Page

Miss Marion H. Pelton

fir. & Mrs. C. B. Perryclear

Mr. & Mrs. H. Edward Peters ■

Mr. & Mrs. John W. Poteet

Mrs. James E. Plymire

Mr. James W. Poultney

Mr. & Mrs. Robert K. Price

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Quinn

Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Reeves

Mrs. Samuel D. Robbins

Miss Jeanette Roos

Mr. & Mrs. Alan Ross

Mr. & Mrs. Joshua W. Rowe

Miss Georgetta Schenkel

Mr. & Mrs. William Schneider

Mrs. Gilbert J. Schwartz

Mr. & Mrs. Percy M. Scudder

Dr. & Mrs. Norwood K. Schaffer

Mr. 8c Mrs. Robert Sharp

Mr. & Mrs. James W. Shaw

Mr. & Mrs. F. L. Simon

Mr. Robert Smith

Miss Evelyn F. Smith

Miss Gertrude G. Smith

Mr. Oliver R. Smith

fir. & Mrs. Clauson G. Smoot

Mrs. Royce Spring

Mrs. Sue Craig Stauffer

Miss Helen L. Steuart

Mr. & Mrs. H. Godwin Stevenson

Mrs . Carroll Stewart

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Stone

Mrs. C. Gordon Taylor

Mr. John L. Taylor

Mrs. Ray P. Teele

Dr. 8c Mrs. James B. Thomas

Miss Elizabeth J. Thornley

Mrs. William Trago

Mrs. Florence J. Travis

Dr. & Mrs. Robert W. Trever

Mr. 8c Mrs. Barclay E. Tucker

Mr. & Mrs. V. Edwin Unger

Dr. 8c Mrs. F. Norman Van Brunt

fir. 8c Mrs. Peter Van Dyke

Mr. 8c Mrs. Leo J. Vollmer

Miss Josephine Walker

Miss Imogene Warden

Mrs. Louise S. Watson

Mr. Robert F. Whitcomb

Mrs. Katherine M. White

Mr. & Mrs. Rozelle B. Whiteley

Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Whitlock

Mr. & Mrs. LeRoy A. Wilbur

Dr. & Mrs. W. E. Wilkinson

Mrs. Harold M. Williams

Dr. Phyllida Willis

Cdr. & Mrs. Edward P. Wilson

Capt. 8c Mrs. J. E. M. Wood

Dr. Sc Mrs. Elmer Worthley

Mr. Sc Mrs. John Yost

Mr. 8c Mrs. Alger Zapf, Jr.

Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Zeleny

no

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 31, No. 3

THE SEASON

APRIL MAY, JUNE, 1975

Chandler S. Bobbins

The first half of April was remarkable in that the entire area of
the .48 contiguous states (except part of the Florida peninsula) experi-
enced consistently subnormal temperatures. Mercury readings averaged
6° to 9° below normal in Maryland, with conditions more severe to the
north of us and less severe to the south. Temperatures gradually moder-
ated during the latter half of April and the first half of May, but it
was not until the latter half of May that the average weekly readings
rose above normal .

There were many late departures of migrants that generally leave in
early and mid-April; but the heat waves of late May swept out the lin-
gering landbirds and prevented us from smashing late May departure dates
in what we hoped would be a stretched-out migration season.

Temperatures, of course, do not tell the whole story; but there is
a strong correlation between favorable (i.e. , south or southwest) winds
and spring migration in our area. There were only two days in the first
half of April (Apr. 1 and 3) and only five days in the second half of
April (Apr. 18-19 and 23-25) with favorable winds. In May there were
southwest or south winds on May 6, 11-13* 15-l6, 20-22, 27, and 29-31.

June was average in both temperature and rainfall. In the absence
of floods or other severe storms, all indications pointed to a success-
ful, though late, nesting season.

I thank the many members who contributed migration dates for Tables
1 and 2. Those who served as county compilers or who contributed the
most dates for their county were as follows (counties arranged from
northwest to southeast): Garre tt County — Mrs. William Pope, John

Willetts; Alleg any — James Paulus, Kendrick Hodgdon, John Willetts,
Dorothea Malec ; Washi ngton — Daniel Boone, Robert Keedy, Mrs. Frances
Cut ch all , Mrs. Lloyd Mallonee; Frede rick — Dr. John W. Richards; Balti more
City and County — Mrs. Walter Bohanan, C. Haven Kolb, Joseph Shreiber,
Hervey Brackbill; Howa rd — Mrs. Robert Solem, Mrs. G. Colin Munro,

Chandler S. Robbins, Morris Collins, Charles Dupree; Montg omery — Herbert
Douglas, Rev. Ray Prybis, Dr. Robert and Peter Pyle, Robert Warfield,

Dr. Fred Evenden, Dr. Thomas Valega, Mrs. Morrill Donnald, Mrs. Stuart

Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1975

Median

Species

10 -yr

1975

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Balt

Harf

Howd

Mont

Pr.C

Anne

Chas

Calv

Kent

Caro

Talb

Pore

Somr

Wico

Wore

Common Loon

Vl 6

1/12

3/18

5/ 3

1/17

1 / 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

1/12

1 / 9

3/21

1/10

1/23

5/ 3

0

3/26

3/23

1/12

0

1/27

Homed Grebe

—

1 / 2

1 / 2

—

1/20

—

1/ 3

—

. 0

3/29

1/16

3/23

3/22

3/23

1 / 6

0

1 / 2

W

w

W

W

Pied-billed Grebe

—

3/12

3/31

2 / 8

2/21

3/22

3/ 2

0

0

3/29

l/i 6

3/30

3/ 1

3/23

3/ 1

2/26

W

3/23

w

W

w

Double-cr. Cormorant

—

1/15

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3/25

2/15

0

1/15

5/21

1/23

1 / 6

0

0

1/19

Great Blue Heron

3/22

3/12

2/22

u

1/ 5

W

3/25

w

3/16

2/21

2/28

3/15

2/3-5

1/ 5

w

W

3/10

w

w

w

w

Green Heron

1/23

14/20

1/27

1/20

1/20

1/29

1/22

—

1/26

T/isT

1/21

1 /IT

1 / 2 &

'T/22~

1/19

1/22

1/19

1/18

1/12

1/20

1/19

Little Blue Heron

—

1/19

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

1/19

0

0

0

0

0

l/ll

1/12

0

1/19

Great Egret

U/iU

b/12

1/11

1/29

1/12

0

0

0

0

1/25

5/ 3

5/ 3

3/22

3/15

1/20

5/ 9

1/13

3/23

3/29

0

1/10

Snowy Egret

—

1/22

0

0

5/12

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

3/23

5/ll

0

5 / 10 '

0

1/22

3/23

3/15

0

1/19

Louisiana Heron

—

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1/15

0

0

0

0

0

l/i 8

3/29

0

5/ 3

Black-cr. Night Heron

—

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

1/20

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 2

0

0

3/30

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

1/12

0

5/ 3

American Bittern

—

1/12

1/11

1 / 8

0

0

—

0

1/26

1/12

1/20

1/10

1/18

1/10

1/29

0

0

w

1/12

0

w

Glossy Ibis

—

1/12

1/17

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3/13

0

1/18

1/29

1/18

3/ll

1 / 6

1/12

0

3/ 6

Broad-winged Hawk

4/22

1/22

1 / 2

1/22

1/20

—

1/22

—

1/16

1/27

l/ll

1/20

5/ 3

5/ll

1/29

0

5/ 3

1/27

0

0

0

Common Gallinule

—

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

1/19

1/17

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

1/18

0

0

0

Semipalmated Plover

—

5/ 3

0

5/IT

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

5/ 3

5/31

5/ 3

—

0

5/ 3

Black-bellied Plover

—

5/ 2

5/ 1

5/ 2

1/27

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

5/ 2

0

0

0

0

0

1/21

0

0

5/ 3

Lesser Yellovlegs

5/ 2

1/18

5/ 1

l/ll

l/l 6

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 2

3/27

5/ 3

1 /lS

1/18

0

1 / 1

1/ 5

3/21

3/23

1/19

0

5/ 1

Solitary Sandpiper

5/ 2

1/28

5/ 3

1/22

1/13

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

1/20

1/13

5/ 2

1/19

1/17

0

1/19

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

Willet

—

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

■ 1/lB

0

0

0

0

0

1/10

3/29

0

1/20

Spotted Sandpiper

4/30

1/27

1/26

1/22

5/ 3

5/ 3

1/19

5/ 3

5/ 2

1/23

1/22

1/20

1/27

5/ 6

1/23

5/ 3

*4/27

5/ 3

c

5/ 3

Common Snipe

--

1 / 6

1 / 6

1/22

1/12

1/16

—

0

3/ll

3/29

1 / 8

3/ 1

w

—

3/15

1/18

1 / 6

w

1/12

0

3/22

Short-billed Dowitcher

—

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

1/18

0

0

0

0

0

1/18

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

Semipalmated Sandpiper

--

5/ 3

5/ 1

5/17

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

1/19

0

—

—

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

Least Sandpiper

5/ 4

5/ 2

5/ 1

1/26

0

5/ 3

—

—

5/ 2

—

—

3/31

0

5/13

1/29

5/ 3

5/31

1 / 6

5/ 1

0

5/ 3

White-rumped Sandpiper

—

—

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 6

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

Pectoral Sandpiper

—

I/ll

0

0

1/16

0

5/ 3

0

1/12

3/25

5/ 3

1/ 9

0

0

0

0

0

V 6

0

0

5/10

Dunlin

--

1 /lB

0

5/ 2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3/30

0

0

1/20

—

1/18

1 / 6

1/12

0

1/19

Laughing Gull

4/i6

1/ 9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1/20

3/22

3/22

1/21

1 / 1

1/15

3/29

1 / 6

1/12

—

1/19

Bonaparte's Gull

—

._!/ 1

1/ 9

3/19

0

0

0

0

0

3/ 8

1/ 5

2/21

—

0

1 / 6

0

1 / 1

1 / 6

0

0

3/22

Common Tern

—

1/20

0

1/15

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/19

1/20

0

0

0

0

1/20

5/ 3

1/12

0

1/19

Little Tern

—

5/ 3

0 -

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 6

0

0

5/ 5

0

0

5/ 3

1/12

0

5/ 3

Caspian Tern

—

1/20

1/21

1/15

0

0

0

0

0

0

1/17

1/10

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

5/ 4

5/ 6

5/ 8

—

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/22

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/29

1/26

—

5/iS

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/10

Black-billed Cuckoo

5/ 5

5/H

0

0

0

0

.0

0

6/11

5/10

5/ll

0

0

0

5/22

0

0

0

0

0

5 /n

Chuck-will 1 s-widow

5/ 2

1 / 26 '

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/28

0

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

1/23

1/25

T7ir

0

0

1/26

Whip-poor-will

1/21

1/23

5/ 3

1/21

5/ 1

0

5/ 3

0

1/19

1/19

1/lfi

1/25

1/18

1/ 7

1/21

1/23

1/19

1/21

1/26

1/26

1/26

Common Nighthawk

5/ 5

5/12

_5Z_S_

5/ 9

—

—

5/13

—

5/18

-S/--L

5/15

■ ■SOL.

5/13

—

5/10

0

V 9

0

September 1975 MARYLAND BIKDLIFE m

Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1975 (continued)

Median

Species

10-yr

1975

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Balt

Harf

Howd

Mont

Pr.C

Anne

Chas

Calv

Kent

Caro

Talb

Dorc

Somr

Wico

Wore

Chimney Swift

4/15

It /19

5/ 1

lt/27

1/19

4/20

1/21

1/18

1/18

4/11

4/ 3

1/10

1/21

4/16

1/10

1/10

4/21

4/26

4/16

4/19

Ruby-thr. Hummingbird

4/30

It /27

5/ It

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 2

4/27

4/25

4/25

1/25

1/ 7

4/15

1/ 2

1/ 7

5/ 3

4/20

5/ 3

4/26

Red-headed Woodpecker

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

3/ 9

0

0

0

4/26

5/ 3

0

1/17

0

0

1/ 6

5/ 3

0

0

Eastern Kingbird

1/26

It/25

5/ 3

1/28

5/ 3

1/20

4/23

5/ 3

1/28

4/27

4/25

4/24

1/16

1/21

5/ 3

1/21

1/23

4/25

4/20

5/ 3

Great Crested Flycatchr

4/28

lt/26

5/ 3

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/24

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/27

1/25

4/28

1/28

1/26

4/16

1/29

1/26

4/25

5/ 5

4/25

4/27

Acadian Flycatcher

5/ 1

5/ 3

0

5/21

—

—

5/ 3

—

5/ 8

4/25

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 9

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/16

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

Willow Flycatcher

—

--

—

0

6/10

—

—

0

5/18

5/24

5/28

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Least Flycatcher

5/ 6

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

4/25

5/ 2

0

0

5/ 7

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

0

Eastern Pewee

5 / §

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/12

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 1

4/27

5/ 8

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/11

5/15

5/ 3

5/15

5/ 3

5/11

5/ 3

5/ 3

Bank Swallow

v ?

5/ 2

5/13

5/ e

0

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 2

5/ 3

4/20

4/16

0

1/12

—

5/ 3

4/20

1/21

0

0

5/11

Rough-winged Swallow

*t /lk

It /2k

1/27

1/12

It/ 6

4/29

5/ 3

5/ 2

4/25

It/l6

3/20

0

1/21

7727"

1/10

—

4/21 "

0

0

4/27

Barn Swallow

It/ 8

It/ 7

k/11

1/11

3/23

1/ 6

4/13

—

1/26

3/23

3/23

4/ 3

1/ 8

1/ 8

3/23

3/31

4/ 2

1/ 6

4/12

4/19

4/l4

Cliff Swallow

--

5/ 3

—

0

1/12

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/26

4/27

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

Purple Martin

3/27

It / 2

—

—

It/ 5

3/30

—

0

1/ 2

3/30

4/ 1

3/11

1/ 8

4/ 1

3/27

3/22

4 / 9

1/ 6

4/12

—

4/19

Blue Jay

It/27

5/ 3

5/ ^

w

W

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

1/29

4/28

4/10

4/24

5/ 3

4/25

5/ 3

5/ 3

w

w

4/12

w

w

House Wren

‘ 1/21

It/23

1/26

1/23

1/23

1/21

4/24

1/25

4/20

4/ 8

4/23

1/ 4

4/26

4/25

1728

4/19

77DT

4/19

—

4/26

Marsh Wren

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

4/22

5/ 3

4/24

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

3/23

1/12

—

5/10

Gray Catbird

It/27

It/23

It/29

1/ 8

1/23

4/19

4/20

—

4/23

4/10

4/23

4/23

1/21

4/13

—

1/21

4/19

1/25

4/12

4/25

4/20

Brown Thrasher

4/ 7

it/ 9

k/21

1/ 8

1/27

1/19

1/ 8

--

4/ 9

1/12

4/ 6

3/28

3/25

4/ 9

4/ 8

—

1/ 6

l/ll

4/12

4/ 8

4/20

Wood Thrush

U/25

It/23

1/26

1/23

1/27

1/23

4/29

—

4/22

1/21

4/12

4/25

1/23

4/25

4/29

1/22

4/19

1/21

5/ 5

4/19

4/27

Hermit Thrush

4/13

lt/11

It/afl

4/ 5

—

”4/16

1/11

4/11

4/ 2

w

~TTT

7737"

1/18

777"

W

w

W

w

Swainson's Thrush

5/ 6

5/ 3

1/30

5/llt

5/16

—

5/ 3

5 / 3

5/ 3

1/29

4/30

5/ 2

5/20

4/28

—

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

Gray-cheeked Thrush

5/ 9

5/ 3

0

0

lt/27

0

5/ 9

0

5/14

5/ 3

5/17

5/14

0

5/ 3

5 / 3

—

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

Veery

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

—

5/ 3

5 / 3

5/ 3

5/ 2

4/29

5/ 2

5/ 1

4/28

5 / 3

5/ 3

5/18

0

5/ 3

0

—

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

4/l4

V 1 *

It /Ht

1/22

l*/27

^4/27

4/22

1/21

4/ 1

1/13

4/ 5

4/ ?

3/31

1/ 6

4/20

3/31

4/iB

1/ 6

4/19

—

4/ 6

Golden-crowned Kinglet

—

It/ 2

w

W

3/23

3/30

It/ 2

w

3/21

1/ 6

4/ 1

3/26

w

4/ 2

1 / 1

w

T7T

w

4/19

w

w

Huby-crowned Kinglet

U/12

It/ 5

1/21

3/23

1/10

1/ 1

3/31

—

3/21

1/ 6

4/ 2

1/ 2

3/ 6

4/16

4/24

w

w

w

4/19

4/19

w

Water Pipit

—

It/ 9

0

0

1/12

1/ 6

—

0

—

3/29

—

3/ 6

0

0

5/ 2

—

4/13

—

0

0

0

Cedar Waxwing

h/2h

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/18

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 2

—

5/ 3

—

—

W

5/ 3

w

Loggerhead Shrike

—

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

—

3/21

0

1/ 1

0

0

4/ 7

0

4/13

w

w

White-eyed Vireo

_ It”/ 2?

It/23

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

It/29

5/ 3

4/23

4/12

4/19

4/19

1/19

"7/23

T/5T

1/19

4/19

4/18

4/19

4/20

1/2(6

Yellow-throated Vireo

It /26

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

4/25

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/27

1/22

5/ 2

1/27

4/28

4/30

5/ 9

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

1/25

5/ 3

Solitary Vireo

It /26

4/28

5/ 3

1/22

1/27

4/27

4/23

5/ 3

4/21

4/25

1/18

4/26

1/28

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

—

0

—

Red-eyed Vireo

It /28

It/30

5/ 3

5/ 1

5/19

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/27

1/21

4/26

1/27

4/28

4/21

5/ 3

4/24

4/25

5/ 3

—

1/23

Warbling Vireo

5/ 2

5/ 1

0

5/ l

1/27

—

5/ 3

0

5/12

4/2°

1/29

0

0

0

5/ 7

0

0

0

0

0

0

Black-St-white Warbler

lt/22

it/23

1/27

1/22

5/ 3

5/ 3

TJ 2 T

5/ 3

1/22

T7gT

T7i6

'7726“

1/ 6

4/ 2

1/21

5/ 3

4/19

1/18

5/ 3

TTT

7777

Prothonotary Warbler

lt /26

lt/27

5/ 3

1/23

5/ 3

5/ 3

1/19

—

5/ 3

4/20

1/21

1/30

1/27

—

5/ 3

1/25

4/20

1/25

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/ 5

Worm-eating Warbler

5/ 2

5/ 3

1/27

5/ 3

—

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

1/29

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/19

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

1/25

0

5/ 3

4/21

Golden-winged Warbler

5/ It

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/11

—

0

5/ 3

0

0

5 / 3

5/ 1

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Blue-winged Warbler

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

-2/-3_

,-5L_3-

-57- ,3_

7T_i_

. 5/ .3

1/23

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/^7

0

4/30

4/27

U>

112 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 31, No

Med

i an

10-yr

1215

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Balt

Harf

Hovd

Mont

Pr.G

Anne

Chas

Calv

Kent

Caro

Talb

Pore

Somr

Wico

Wore

Tennessee Warbler

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/18

0

0

0

0

0

5/H

Nashville Warbler

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/30

5/ 2

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/27

4/25

5/ 2

5/ 3

0

5/ 2

—

0

5/ 3

0

0

5/11

Northern Parula Warbler

4/25

4/26

4/27

4/25

—

4/25

5/ 3

4/27

4/19

4/19

4/25

4/19

4/23

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/25

5/ 3

—

4/26

Yellow Warbler

4/27

4/26

4/27

4/22

4/27

5/ 3

4/25

5/ 3

4/30

4/25

4/22

4/17

4/26

4/25

4/24

4/21

4/27

4/25

4/26

5/ 3

5/ 3

Magnolia Warbler

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/12

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/14

5/13

5/15

0

0

0

0

. --

Cape May Warbler

5/ b

5/ 3

5/ 1

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 7

5/ 3

0

5/ 6

4/26

0

0

0

0

0

—

Black-thr. Blue Warbler

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/28

4/27

4/26

4/28

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

Yellow- rumped Warbler

4/16

4/12

4/ 6

5/ 3

4/ 5

4/12

4/ 2

—

4/20

4/13

4/13

4/ 2

w

4/ 6

w

w

4/24

4/25

w

w

w

Black-thr. Green Warbler

5/ 2

5/ 3

4/26

4/22

—

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/28

4/27

4/29

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/18

0

0

0

—

Cerulean Warbler

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/26

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 7

4/25

4/24

0

V 7

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 4

0

5/10

Blackburnian Warbler

5/ 4

5/ 5

3/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 7

5/ 6

0

5/11

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Yellow-throated Warbler

4/19

5/ 3

0

5/ 8

5/ 3

0

—

0

5/ 3

4/19

4/22

—

0

5/14

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

4/21

—

0

4/ 1

Chestnut-sided Warbler

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 8

—

5/12

5/ 3

0

5/14

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 9

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

Bay-breasted Warbler

5/11

5/10

5/15

0

0

5/l6

5/10

0

5/15

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/ 9

—

0

5/17

5/ 3

0

0

' 0

0

0

Blackpoll Warbler

5/ 6

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/17

—

5/10

0

5/12

5/ 3

5/ 6

^ ?

5/17

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/13

5/ 3

0

5/ 1

5/io

Prairie Warbler

4/25

4/25

4/24

4/22

4/27

—

W27

5/ 3

“1725“

4/27

4/21

4/24

lj/23

4/24

4/30

5/ 3

4/18

4/25

5/ 3

5/ 3

T/23

Palm Warbler

4/18

4/18

4/26

0

4/20

0

4/18

4/13

4/11

4/23

0

4/11

4/19

0

4/18

0

0

0

w

Ovenbird

4/27

4/25

5/ 3

4/30

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/25

—

4/22

4/26

4/19

4/25

4/19

4/20

4/21

4/24

5/ 3

4/16

5/ 3

4/20

4/20

Northern Waterthrush

5/ 2

4/26

5/ 3

4/24

4/20

4/27

4/29

5/ 3

4/21

4/25

4/19

4/24

4/28

0

0

4/30

4/20

0

5/ 3

0

—

Louisiana Waterthrush

4 /l 4

4/ 4

4/27

4/ 5

4/20

3/28

—

—

3/25

4/12

3/24

4/ 7

4/ 4

3/31

—

4/ 2

4/20

—

—

—

V 2

Kentucky Warbler

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/13

5/ 3

5/16

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/26

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

—

—

5/ 3

Mourning Warbler

__

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/24

6/ 3

6/ 1

5/26

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Common Yellowthroat

4/21

4/20

5/ 3

4/25

5/ 3

4/24

4/22

—

4/23

4/27

4/20

4/19

4/23

4/20

4/19

4/19

4/18

4/l4

4/12

4/13

4/19

Yellov-creasted Chat

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 1

4/26

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 2

4/24

5/ 2

4/30

4/28

4/25

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

Hooded Warbler

4/30

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 1

—

—

5/ 3

—

4/28

5/ 3

4/23

4/26

4/23

5/ 1

0

0

0

0

—

0

5/ 3

Wilson's Warbler

5/ 8

5/ 9

5/12

5/ 8

0

0

5/13

0

5/12

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 3

0

5/13

0

0

0

0

5/ 4

0

5/10

Canada Warbler

5/ 6

5/12

5/ 4

5/ 6

0

5/12

5/13

0

5/14

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/14

5/ 5

5/l4

—

5/22

0

0

0

0

—

American Redstart

4/29

4/30

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/29

—

5/ 7

4/27

4/25

4/30

4/26

4/25

4/30

—

—

—

5/ 3

4/30

4/21

Bobolink

5/ 6

5/ 3

4/27

0

5/12

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 7

5/ 3

0

5/10

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

—

Orchard Oriole

•?/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/27

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/20

4/25

4/21

4/23

4/27

4/20

5/ 3.

—

4/25

. 5/_3_

—

5/ 3

Northern Oriole

4/30

4/28

4/29

4/29

5/ 3

T/2T

4/27

5/ 3

4/25

4/20

4/20

4/27

4/22

5/ 3

4/22

4/28

T72 T

4/25

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

Scarlet Tanager

4/28

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/25

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/25

4/24

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/28

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

—

4/26

Summer Tanager

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/17

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

4/29

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/18

5/ 3

—

4/27

—

0

4/26

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

5/ 4

5/ 3

4/29

5/ 2

0

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

4/20

5/ 5

5/10

Blue Grosbeak

4/30

5/ 1

0

0

5/18

0

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/29

4/28

5/ 3

4/21

4/25

4/26

4/25

4/18

—

_sz_3

Indigo Bunting

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/24

4/30

4/26

V25

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/25

4/26

5/ 3

4/20

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

Grasshopper Sparrow

4/30

5/ 3

5/20

5/ 8

—

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/23

4/25

4/ 4

5/ 3

4/30

4/25

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/18

4/25

—

—

4/26

Chipping Sparrow

3/31

4/10

—

4/ 8

—

—

4/22

J — ■

■ 4/11

4/19

4/ 9

4/26

4/ 4

—

4/15

4/ 5

—

4/ 6

3/29

—

4/26

White-crowned Sparrow

5/ 4

5/ 3

4/30

5/ 3

w

w

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/28

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/25

5/ 3

4/21

4/21

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

Swamp Sparrou

—

4/io

4/30

—

4/12

3/27

3/29

—

3/21

4/10

4/12

4/ ?

yg_3_

3/16

W

w

4/18

w

w

w

w

September 1975 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 113.

Table 2. Latest Spring Departure Dates, 1975

Median

\

Species

10-yr

1975

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Balt

Howd

Mont

Pr.G

Anne

Chas

Calv

Kent

Caro

Talb

Dorc

Somr

Wore

Common Loon

5/ 9

5/ 3

5/H

5/ 3

5/17

5/ 3

5/13

5/ 3

4/27

5/ 8

6/ 6

5/ 3

4/23

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 4

5/11

Horned Grebe

—

5/ 3

4/27

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 5

0

—

5/15

5/ 6

5/ 3

4/13

4/ 6

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

6/ 7

Double-cr. Cormorant

—

5/20

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6/ 1

5/18

0

4/19

5/21

5/21

5/10

5/10

5/11

Whistling Swan

4/21

5/ 3

3/17

4/22

5/17

5/10

—

0

0

5/ 3

4/ 9

4/11

—

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/10

5/ 3

3/ 3

Canada Goose

4/30

5/ 4

3/13

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/io

5/19

5/lp

5/ 4

4/ 2

5/ 6

5/ 3

5/lp

5/10

5/10

Common Pintail

—

3/31

0

4/15

3/15

0

0

0

3/31

—

2/24

0

0

4/ 2

0

0

4/ 6

3/ 8

—

Green-winged Teal

5/ 3

5/13

5/ 9

—

0

5/ 3

0

0

5/10

4/ 1

3/25

3/15

5/ 3

4/ 2

5/ 4

5/10

4/12

5/10

American Wigeon

4/12

4/10

4/ 2

3/30

0-

0

0

0

5/18

5/ 3

4/22

3/30

3/ 1

4/15

—

5/10

4/ 1

4/19

Northern Shoveler

—

4/23

4/28

0

0

0

5/13

0

0

4/29

3/ 8

0

0

4/18

0

3/11

5/ 3

3/ 8

—

Ring-necked Duck

—

4/ 7

5/13

5/ 3

5/ 3

3/16

3/31

0

0

4725

0

4/ 7

0

4/ 4

4/17

3/18

3/23

0

—

Canvas back

4/17

5/ 3

3/29

5/22

0

—

0

0

4/28

5/ 3

4/ 6

4/ 6

4/19

4/17

4/14

4/ 6

4/ 1

5/ 3

Lesser Scaup

—

4/30

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/ 3

0

—

0

0

4/28

5/10

4/14

4/ 6

4/18

4/ 8

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/ l

—

Common Goldeneye

—

4/26

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

5/ 5

—

4/ 6

4/10

4/18

5/ 3

—

—

Bufflehead .

—

5/ 3

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 5

0

5/ 3

5/10

5/10

5/ 3

4/ 5

5/18

0

5/20

4/ 6

4/12

—

Oldsquaw

4/22

4/10

4/24

0

0

0

0

0

4/22

5/13

4/22

4/ 6

4/17

0

5/20

4/ 6

—

6/l4

Ruddy Duck

5/ 3

5/ 5

5/ 8

5/ 3

0

4/15

0

5/ 3

'4730'

5/ 3

5/ 3

3/23

5/20

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/ l

—

Hooded Merganser

—

4/17

5/ 3

4/ 2

—

0

4/21

0

0

4/17

0

0

0

0

0

0

3/23

0

—

Common Merganser

—

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

—

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/18

3/11

0

0

4/21

0

0

Red-breasted Merganser

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

5/10

0

5/17

0

—

5/ 3

0

4/20

5/ 3

4/12

5/11

American Coot

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/30

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/10

5/19

5/ 3

5/19

4/22

2/22

0

4/ 9

5/ 3

0

—

Semipalmated Plover

—

5/29

0

5/19

0

0

0

0

0

0

6/13

0

0

0

—

"57nr

5/10

TTT

5/11

Black-bellied Plover

—

6/12

0

—

0

0

0

6/12

0

5/16

0

0

0

5/10

6/20

6/24

Greater Yellowlegs

—

5/10

5/ 3

5/19

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/10

5/10

5/26

5/ 8

5/ 5

5/31

5/ 3

6/ 7

5/10

6/ 8

5/11

Lesser Yellowlegs

—

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 6

5/10

5/10

5/27

—

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/24

5/10

5/ 8

5/10

Solitary Sandpiper

—

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/29

5/22

5/ 3

5/18

5/30

5/ 4

0

5/19

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

0

Spotted Sandpiper

5/21

5/25

5/22

5/10

5/21

5/29

5/27

5/ 8

5/22

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

—

Common Snipe

5/ 2

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/11

5/10

5/ 8

5/ 3

—

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/27

5/ 3

5/ 4

—

Semipalmated Sandpiper

—

6/17

—

5/20

6/ 7

0

0

0

0

0

6/28

0

0

0

—

6/17

5/10

6/20

6/24

Least Sandpiper

—

5/17

—

5/20

0

—

—

5/17

5/10

5/10

5/30

0

5/16

5/21

6/29

5/10

6/ 3

5/11

Dunlin

—

5/21

0

5/ 2

0

0

0

0

0

0

6/13

0

0

—

5/ 3

5/21

5/10

6/ 8

6/24

Greater Black-back Gull

5/10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4/ 7

5/10

5/ 3

3/30

6/ 7

—

6/ 9

5/10

5/ 3

5/H

Ring-billed Gull

—

5/10

5/27

5/ 8

4/27

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/27

5/10

5/18

5/17

6/ 7

5/ 3

6/ 2

5/10

5/ 9

5/H

Bonaparte's Gull

—

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 7

0

0

0

0

—

5/11

5/ 8

5/10

0

—

0

4/12

4/ 6

0

—

Caspian Tern

—

5/ 3

—

4/15

0

0

0

0

0

4/27

5/10

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

0

6/10

Black-billed Cuckoo

—

—

0

0

0

0

0

6/14

5/l6

0

0

0

0 '

5/26

0

0

0

0

5/H

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

4/24

.5/ 3

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 8

4/18

TTIfT

TfT

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

3/23

—

Blue Jay

5/14

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/14

5/19

7/ 2

5/ 3

5/15

5/ 3

5/ 3

6/10

—

—

5/10

White-breasted Nuthatch

—

4/24

4/ 7

—

4/21

—

4/27

—

5/ 3

—

0

4/14

5/10

—

Red-breasted Nuthatch

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 9

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 7

0

0

0

0

Brown Creeper

4/22

'5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/l6

4/28

5/17

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/20

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 31, No

Median

10-yr

1975

Garr

Alle Wash

Fred

Balt Howd Mont

Pr.G Anne Chas Calv

Kent

Caro

Talb

Dorc

Somr

Wore

Winter Wren

5/ 2

5/25/75/35/3

14/24 5/3 5/7

4/24 5/34/74/6

3/ 3

4/ 5

4/21

5/ 3

Hermit Thrush

4/28

5/ 3

5/ 7

5/35/3

5/ 3

5/75/3 5/18

5/ 7 5/13 5/35/3

5/ 3 4/18 4/24

4/27

—

57 3

Svainson's Thrush

5/214

5/26

5/18

— 5/21

—

5/26 5/30 5/26

6/ 1 5/29 5/20 5/28

5/18 5/19

0

5/ 3

0

0

Gray-cheeked Thrush

—

5/22

0

0

0

5/ 9 5 /ll+ 5/25

5/22 5/28 05/9

—

5/23

0

—

0

0

Veery

5 /IT

5/13

—

5/3 0

—

5/13 5/28 5/21

5/19 5/23 5/ 5 5/18

5/ 3

5/36/5

0

5/ 4

5/10

Golden-crowned Kinglet

it /ll

U/ 21

5/ 3

5/35/3

—

4/13 5/35/3

5/10 4/11 1+/18 4/12

4/21

—

4/17

4/18

—

Ruby- crowned Kinglet

5/ 2

5/ 6

5/15

5/95/35/3

5/ 6 5/ 3- 5/11

5/12 5/14 5/55/8

5/35/3

5/ 3

5/ 3 4/20

5/11

Water Pipit

—

5/ 3

0

0 5/3

5/ 3

5/35/35/3

5/12 — 0 0

5/25/3 4/13

—

0

0

Cedar Waxwing

—

5/17

5/10

5/15 5/24 5/17

5/26 5/18 5/28 5/17

5/18 5/ 3 5/18

5/10

5/ 9

5/11

Solitary Vireo

—

5/ 3

5/35/35/35/3

5/13 5/35/6

4/28 5/ 3 — 5/3

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3 5/10 5/10

Blue-winged Warbler

—

5/ 9

0

0 5/17

—

5/13 5/ 7 5/12

5/12 5/14 5/3 0

5/85/3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/10

Tennessee Warbler

—

5/18

5/11+

5/17 —

0

— — 5/18

5/22 5/14 5/30 0

5/18

0

0

0

0

5/11

Nashville Warbler

—

5/ 9

5/20

5/95/3

5/13

5/35/9 5/10

5/ 8 5/15 5/3 0

5/ 2

5/15

0

5/ 3

0

5/11

Magnolia Warbler

5/19

5/l6

—

5/ 9 5/17 5/16

5/13 6/ 7 5/25

5/20 5/30 5/26 5/14

5/13 5/15

0

0

0

5/11

Cape May Warbler

5/10

5/10

5/27

5/ 9 5/17 5/10

5/ 3 5/17 5/10

5/17 5/14- 0 5/6

—

0

0

0

0

5/10

Black-thr. Blue Warbler

5/14

5/16

5/15

5/6 0

5/10

5/20 5/24 5/21

5/22 5/15 5/16 5/ 9

5/l6

—

5/18

5/10

0

5/11

Yellow-rumped Warbler

5/10

5/l6

5/35/9 5/17 5/10

5/16 5/19 5/18

5/18 5/15 5/55/8

5/18

—

5/18

5/10

5/10

5/11

Black-thr. Green Warbler 5/11

5/11

5/10

5/20 5/ 5 5/H

5/14 5/14 5/ 4 5/11

5/ 9

0

5/25

0

0

5/10

Blackburnian Warbler

5/20

5/l4

5/27

—

0

5/13 5/14 5/11

5/17 5/14 0 5/11

0

0

0

0

0

0

Chestnut-sided Warbler

5/13

5/l6

5/18

5/20 5/20 5/11

5/14 5/14 0 5/11

5/18

—

0

0

0

0

Bay-breasted Warbler

—

5/16

—

0 0

TnE

5/13 0 5/H

5/18 5/15 5/30 0

5/18

—

0

0

0

0

Blackpoll Warbler

5/28

5/31

5/29

0 5/28

5/28

6/15 6/ 26/8

6/ 2 6/13 5/26 6/ 2

6/ 4

5/28 5/25

—

0

5/11

Palm Warbler

5/ It

5/ 3

5/35/85/3

0

5/35/35/4

5/65/3 0 4/27

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

Ovenbird

—

5/18

5/10 5/30 —

— 5/14 5/17 —

5/18

—

5/18

Northern Waterthrush

5/17

5/18

—

- 5/17

—

5/13 5/30 5/25

5/2 6 5/18 — 0

0

—

5/18

0

—

5/11

Wilson's Warbler

—

5/13

—

5/9 0

0

5/13 5/17 5/11

5/28 5/29 0 5/13

0

0

0

0

—

Canada Warbler

5/20

5/26

—

0

5/18

5/13 5/24 5/26

5/31 5/29 5/26 5/26

5/28 5/22

0

0

0

5/10

American Redstart

5/27

5/26

5/13 5/30 5/25

— 6/ 6 5/24 —

5/26

Bobolink

5/16

5/l*t

—

0

—

5/15 5/23 —

5/19 5/23 5/ 7 5/13

0

5/10

5/ 3

0

5/ 3 5/10

Rusty Blackbird

—

5/ 3

—

5/85/3

5/ 3

5/ 6 4/13 5/10

5/10 5/ 3 4/28 4/ 6

—

—

4/22

5/ 3

—

—

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

5/12

5/10

—

5/8 0

0

5/13 5/28 5/13

5/21 5/10 5/ 3 5/13

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

—

5/10

Evening Grosbeak

5/ 6

5/ 4

5/20 5/55/3

0

5/35/35/3

5/45/65/4 4/22

5/17 4/30 5/ 3

0

—

5/10

Purple Finch

5/ 3

5/ ^

5/35/95/35/3

5/20 5/14 5/10

5/ 4 5/14 4/27 5/ 3

5/ 3

—

—

0

—

—

House Finch

—

5/ 3

0

5/16 5/ 3

0

6/ 2 4/i4 5/ 3

5/35/3 0 4/12

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

0

—

5/11

Savannah Sparrow

5/ 6

5/ 3

—

5/ 3 —

—

5/ 3 5/17 5/10

5/10 5/16 5/35/3

5/35/3 4/17

5/10 4/20 5/10

Northern Junco

5/ 1

5/ 3

—

5/ 8 5/ it

5/ 3

5/35/55/3

5/35/35/45/3

5/ 3

5/ 3 4/27

5/ 3

5/35/3

White-crowned Sparrow

5/13

5/ 8

5/11 5/95/9

5/ 3

5/35/75/8

5/10 5/15 5/55/5

5/ 3

5/10

5/ 3

5/10

0

5/10

White-throated Sparrow

5/l4

5/13

—

5/19 5/ 3

5/19

5/13 5/17 5/25

5/19 5/18 5/45/7

5/18 5/13 5/ 4

5/ 3 5/11 5/11

Fox Sparrow

4/ U

1+/20

5/ 3 it/ l 5/ 3

—

- 5/ 3 4/18

3/23 4/17 — —

5/ 3

—

—

0

4/20

—

Swamp Sparrow

5/ 7

5/ 6

5/85/3

5/ 3

5/13 5/ 3 5/20

5/14 5/16 5/ 3 5/11

5/ 3

5/35/3

5/ 3 5/10 5/10

September 1975 . MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 115.

11 6

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 31) No. 3

MacClintock, Lucy MacClintock; Prince Georges — Sam Lyon, Herbert Douglas,
Danny Bystrak, Chandler and Eleanor Robbins, Leonard Teuber, Chris
Ludwig, Daniel Boone; Anne Arundel — Hal Wierenga, Danny Bystrak, Mark
Hoffman, Mrs. Rena Bishop, Friel Sanders, Prof, and Mrs. David Howard;
Char les — Leonard Teuber, Olive Sorzano, Dr. George Wilmot , David and
Andrew Wilmot; Calve rt — John Fales, Friel Sanders, Mary W. Goldman,

Charles Dupree; Kent — Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mendinhall, Margery Plymire,
James Gruber, Floyd Parks, Arline Delario, David Jones; Carol ine — Mrs.
Alicia Knotts, Marvin Hewitt, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Fletcher, Mrs. Wilber
Engle; Talbo t — Jan Reese, Harry T. Armistead, Danny Bystrak; Dorch ester —
Harry T. Armistead; Some rset — Mrs. Richard Cole, Barbara Ross, Paul
Bystrak, Charles Vaughn, Donald Jewell, Steve Hollens ; Wicom ico — Samuel
Dyke, Charles and Gail Vaughn, Mary Humphreys; Worce ster — Floyd Parks,
Chris Ludwig, Mark Hofftaan, Kathy Klimkiewicz, Jay Sheppard, Rodney Jones.

Loons . Hal Wierenga counted only l86 migrant Common Loons between
Mar. 21 (l bird) and June 6 (l late bird), a notable decline from his
tally of 4o4 the previous year in the Sandy Point area; 93 of this year's
birds were seen between Apr. 13 (48) and Apr. 21 (6).

Grebes . We received a belated report from Harriet Sheetz of a
Horned Grebe sliding down a snowbank at the New Germany ski resort on
Feb. 2 — apparently a bird that had been frozen out farther north and was
grounded by a snow storm over the mountains. Another was found in down-
town Keyser, W. Va. at about the same time; both birds were released on
open water.

Shearwaters , Petrels . Robert and Peter Pyle broke the Maryland
arrival record for the Wi 1 son 1 S Storm Petrel when they found at least 10
off Ocean City on Apr . 27 . Richard Rowlett's June 1 pelagic trip plowed
through empty waters- until they reached the 40 fathom line some 45 to 50
miles east-southeast of Ocean City. There, flying over a great pod of
whales and dolphins, were five species of shearwaters and petrels: 4o

Cory's Shearwaters, 5 Greater Shearwaters, loo or more Sooty Shearwaters,
1 Leach's Storm Petrel, and a conservative estimate of 3,000 Wilson 1 s
Storm Petrels (Rowlett, Barnhill, Peter Pyle, and 29 other observers).
Although 13 Greater Shearwaters were found dead on the beach at Chinco-
teague Refuge, June 28-29, no casualties were reported from the Maryland
shore .

Cormorants . On Feb. 15, Fred Burggraf and a Southern Maryland
Audubon group counted 2J. Doubl e-crested. Cormorants at Morgantown. On
Apr. l8, Armistead spotted 154 flying due north over Blackwater Refuge
and on May 21 Ethel Engle saw -40 flying up the Choptank River at Tanyard.
All of these counts are high for their respective localities and seasons.

Herons and Ibis . Great 'Egrets made it all the way up to Garrett
County, where Fran Pope found one on the early date of Apr. 11. Even
more extraordinary was a single Glossy Ibis, the first record for the
Maryland mountains, seen at Mountain Lake Park on Apr. 17 (Fran Pope).

A Snowy Egret on May l4 at Port Tobacco was a new species for Charles
County (Olive Sorzano and the Wilmots).

Sept ember I 975

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

117

The adult Black-crowned Night Heron pictured here
roosted in the Howards' garden in Annapolis, Apr.
9-30, where it was photographed by Prof. David
Howard. It arrived at about 6 a.m/ daily and
stayed until about 8 p.m. An immature bird
Joined it on some days. At Sandy Point State
park, Hal Wierenga saw all the heron and ibis
species that occur regularly in Maryland ; and
on June 6 alone Mark Hoffman counted 8 species
of herons there, including Great, Cattle, and
Snowy Egrets and Yellow-crowned Night Heron,
none of which are known to nest within commuting
distance of the Park. Early Louisiana Herons were seen in Anne Arundel
County at Churchton on Apr. 15 (Friel Sanders] and Sandy Point on Apr. 18
(Had Wierenga). For the third consecutive year, Harry Armistead visited
the offshore Chesapeake islands near the Virginia line to census the
heron and tern colonies and record the presence of other nesting birds.

On June 8 he counted 95 Great Blue Heron nests in the Deal Island im-
poundment. At Pons Point south of Fishing Creek on Hooper Island he
estimated 200 pairs of herons and ibis (5 species) in. a new colony on
June l6 — probably birds from the nearby Barren Island colony, which is
now eroding badly , but still has the remains of a mixed heron colony
(Mitchell Byrd). Armistead estimated 1^0 Great Blue nests on Bloodsworth
Island, June 19, together with 15 nests of Green Herons and 10 of Black-
crowns, but only 4 of Great Egrets. South Marsh Island had only 5 heron
nests, of 5 species, June 19* The largest colony this year was on Cherry
Island, Just off Smith Island; there were 330 pairs of herons and ibis
of 10 species on June 21: 75 Black-crowns, 60 Glossies, Lo each of Great

and Cattle Egrets, 30 each of Great Blues, Snowies, Louisianas , 10 of
Little Blues and Yellow-crowns, and 5 Greens. The Rhodes point colony
on Smith Island had an estimated 2k$ nests of 9 species , but the other
Smith Island colonies had decreased: only 16 pairs at Wop Town, 57 at

Ewell, a few Great Egrets on Hog Neck, and about 10 Great Blue nests
near Drum Point .

Swans and Ducks . A Mute Swan that arrived on Broadford Reservoir
on Apr. 28 and moved to Mountain Lake on Apr. 29 (Fran Pope) was a new
species for Garrett County. High counts of special interest were: 600

Blue-winged Teal and 700 Green-winged Teal in southern Dorchester County
on Apr. 6 (Armistead); 1,075 White-winged Scoters in 6 flocks flying
high over Sandy Point, heading basically north, on May 3, and about 250
in 2 flocks on May 8 (Wierenga); and 1,000 Oldsquaws in Talbot County on
Apr. 1 and Apr. 12, and 1,000 Lesser Scaup there on Apr. 13 (Jan Reese).

Hawk Migration . Why is it that we never seem to connect with a
good hawk flight during the Statewide Bird Count in the first week of
May? We probably think it is too late in the season to spend much time
watching the sky after the jay flight subsides in mid-morning; and be-
sides, th^re are so many songbirds to be found that we are too busy to
look up. It took Jim Paulus and Mike Mastrangelo to prove that there
are hawks migrating, if we watch at the right time and place. On May 1,
between 12:30 and 2:50 p.m., between Town Hill and Oldtown, they spotted

118

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 31, No. 3

flocks of 107, 120 and 189, plus ten smaller flocks making a total of
671 Broad-winged Hawks! The birds were flying due east; the weather was
bright overcast, calm, 66° at 2 p.m.

Rails . Migration dates for rails are rarely reported. Even when
present, the birds may remain silent, as on Apr. 6 when Armistead found
none at all in southern Dorchester County under windy conditions. By
contrast, he had 132 individuals of five species there on the May 3
count — even though his rail tape broke during the day! The first defi-
nate migrant reported was a Sora at Sandy Point on Apr. 1 (Hoffman) ;
another Sora stayed at College Pond near Emmitsburg from Apr. l6 to
May 3 (John Richards). The next arriving rails were a Clapper Rail on
Apr. 18 and a King Rail on Apr. 21 at Sandy Point (Wierenga). The
Clapper does not nest at Sandy Point, so birds seen there on May 8 and
May 15-17 were also transients. Black Rails were seen (and heard) at
Sandy Point only on May 15 and 17 ; and the last Sora of the spring was
found there on May 16 (Wierenga). Richard Rowlett again used a midnight
version of the Breeding Bird Survey technique to monitor Black Rail pop-
ulations along the Elliott Island road. In 1 to 1 H hours he counted 36
Black Rails on June 1 (10;%5-H:^5 p.m.), 21 on June 9 (l to 2:30 a.m. ) ,
and 13 on June 15 ( 1 : 35 to 2:1*5 a.m.); these counts were a little lower
than in past years. Rail call enthusiasts were astonished by Rowlett's
observation that 9. out of 23 Virginia Rails heard in the Elliott Island
marsh on June 9 were giving the "mystery call" that for so many decades
had gone unidentified and had been erroneously attributed to the Yellow
Rail; this call was not heard at all on June 1 or June 15.

Gallinules . Three April arrival dates for the Common Gallinule, as
well as four reports for May 3, are shown in Table 1. There was also a
late departure date from Emmitsburg, where one bird killed by a car on
May 16 was discovered by John Richards. This is the first time this
species has been noted in so many Maryland counties during the spring
migration; and there were multiple reports from some of these counties.

At least one Purple Gallinule resided along the C & 0 Canal at Seneca
from June 19 to 29 (Rowlett).

Qystercatchers and Stilts . An American Oystercatcher seen at Ocean
City on Feb. 23 by the Vaughns and Mary Humphreys was nearly two weeks
earlier than the one mentioned in the previous Season report. Harry
Armistead found 3 to 8 American Oystercatchers on each of the major mid-
Chesapeake islands he visited from June 1 6 to 22, except Barren Island.
One on Hoopers Island, June l6, was his northernmost. The newly dredged-
up spoil areas at Sandy Point State Park yielded a Black-necked Stilt on
May 25-26 (Hal Wierenga) and resulted in some of the best shorebirding
ever experienced in that area.

Plovers . The first Black-bellied Plovers found inland were 3 at a
farm pond in Leitersburg on Apr. 27 (John Taylor). Four days later, on
May 1, Fran Pope established the firqt record of this species for Garrett
County when she observed 2 near Mountain Lake Park. A Piping Plover seen
at Irish Grove on May h by Dr. Eugene Good and his students from Ohio
State University was a new species for the Sanctuary. On the northern

September 1975

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

119

half of Assateague Island, Armistead counted 9 Wilson's Plovers and 47
Piping Plovers (including 6 young) On June 24. Note the many very late
departure dates for plovers and sandpipers in Table 2.

Sandpipers , Turnstones , and Phalaropes . Thanks to the consistent
coverage of the dredge spoils at Sandy Point State Park by Hal Wierenga,
the fine line between spring departures and fall arrivals of many of the
shorebird species could be drawn. Semi pal mated Sandpipers, for instance,
dwindled from 75 on June 12 to 17 on June 19) 2 on June 22-26, and 1 on
June 28 ; the first 4 "fall" arrivals appeared on July 10. On June 28 ,
the same day the last spring Semi was seen, the first southbound Lesser
Yell owl egs arrived (after that species had been gone for a month);

Lessers were then present every day until the fall peak was reached.

Thus migrating sandpipers of one species or another were continually
present at Sandy Point throughout the summer. Spring arrivals and de-
partures of the more common species are summarized in Tables 1 and 2,
with most of the records supplied by Fran Pope (Garrett Co.), Jim Paulus
(Oldtown, Allegany Co.), Robert Keedy and Daniel Boone ( Leitersburg,
Washington Co.), Hal Wierenga and Mark Hoffman (Sandy Point, Anne Arun-
del Co.), Jan Reese (Talbot), and Harry Armistead (Talbot, Dorchester
and Somerset Counties). Several of the species not covered in the
tables merit special, mention. The first 6 Whimbrels for Irish Grove
Sanctuary were seen on May k (Dr. Good and class), and 2 that may have
been fall arrivals were at Assateague Island on June 2b (Armistead) ; a
peak tally of 1,500 Wi 1 lets on the Assateague beach was reached on
Apr. 20 (Samuel H. Dyke), coinciding approximately with arrivals of this
species in Dorchester and Anne Arundel Counties. Hal Wierenga' s Willet
total for the spring at Sandy Point was 39 individuals, distributed
among nine dates and with local peaks of 10 birds each on Apr. l8 and
May 13- Ruddy Turnstones peaked at 500 on Assateague on May 18 (Dyke),
and Sandy Point dates ranged from May 4 to May 30, with a high count of
12 on May 20 (Wierenga). The only Phalaropes seen in Maryland in the
spring were 2 Northerns at the Rouge Lagoon, Oldtown, May 17-19) photo-
graphed by Jim Paulus and also seen by Paul Smith. Short-billed
Dowitcher dates at Sandy Point ranged from Apr. l8 to a peak of 27
on May l6, after which no more were seen (Wierenga); one late straggler
was at Deal Island on June 8 (Armistead). Western Sandpipers, always
scarce in spring, turned up at Sandy Point on May 22 and May 30
(Wierenga), but were not detected elsewhere away from the coast. Mark
Hoffman called the abundance of White-rumped Sandpipers the highlight
of the season. The first were found in Dorchester County (Armistead)
and at Leitersburg (Keedy) on May 3, and the next were sighted at Sandy
Point on May 6 (Wierenga). Hoffman saw them at Sandy Point on six dates
from May 27 to June 20 (4 birds), and departure dates elsewhere were
June 7 at Leitersburg (3 birds, Boone), June 8 at Deal Island (4,
Armistead), and June 17 at Easton (5) Armistead). Sanderlings were en-
countered inland at Leitersburg on May 3 (Keedy) and at Oldtown on
May 19-20 (Paulus). One of the best finds of the season was a flock
of 8_ Stilt Sandpipers at Blackwater Refuge on Apr . 25 ; they dwindled
to 5 by the 27th (Armistead). The few previous spring records of Stilt
Sandpipers in Maryland have been of single individuals, all in the
month of May.

120

MARY LAUD BIRDLIFE

Vol . 31, No. 3

Jaegers , Gulls . Single Parasitic Jaegers were seen in the Ocean
City area on Apr. 27 (Pyles) and May 11 (Floyd Parks and Blair Bernson).
A second-year GlailCOUS Gull, well seen on the bay side of Assateague
Island on June 24 by Armistead, provided the first summer record for
Maryland. Armistead and Stanley Marshall checked the two gulleries at
the north end of Tyler Ditch on Smith Island on June 20 and counted 174
occupied Herring Gull nests on the east side (Easter Point) and 85 on
the west side. From a count of more than 400 Herring Gulls in a photo
taken in the smaller colony, he estimates that at least 2 ,800 Herring
Gulls were present in these colonies ; he believes this is the largest
nesting population of this species south of Long Island! Armistead
checked the six channel islands north of the Assateague bridge on June
2k and found Laughing Gulls nesting on all of them. A great many of the
685 nests counted were empty, but the contents of 94 occupied nests were
recorded. The best count of Bonaparte's Gulls came from Oldtown, where
Jim Paulus saw 78 on Apr. 1'5 .

Terns , Skimmers . A Little Tern at Rumbly Point, just south of
Irish Grove Sanctuary, on Apr . 12_ broke the State arrival record (Fords,
Heises, and others). Better effort on the part of observers — and per-
haps on the part of the terns as well — resulted in the following infor-
mation on Little Tern colonies. Armistead counted 53 adults flying over
the south end of Barren Island, Dorchester County, on June l6, and a
total of 48 pairs in four colonies on the north end of Assateague Island
on June 24. After a year's absence, 3 pairs of Little Terns laid
clutches at Sandy Point State Park; one of the nests fledged two young,
but the others were destroyed (Wierenga). The Common Temery on West
Troy Island at Smith Island contained 188 occupied nests on June 21, a
50 percent increase from 1973 (Armistead). Two adult Sandwich Terns and
3 nests of Gull -billed Terns were on a channel island north of the
Assateague bridge on June 7 (Rowlett); the Sandwich Terns remained into
July, but no nest was found. Four wandering Royal Terns penetrated as
far up the Chesapeake as Sandy Point on May 13, giving Hal Wierenga his
first local observation of this southern species. Caspian Terns con-
tinue to tempt Maryland birders into believing they may be nesting some-
where in Chesapeake Bay, even though nesting in Maryland has never been
confirmed. From 1 to 6 Caspian Terns were seen regularly at Sandy Point
State Park throughout June and July, and on June 30 a full- flying but
recently fledged bird was seen begging food from an adult (Wierenga).
Could these birds have wandered north from a colony in Virginia?
Armistead saw single adults at South Marsh Island on June 19 and at
Assateague on June 24. A flock of 11 Black Skimmers explored the waters
off Sandy Point on May 1 6 (WierengaTT and 76 , including a few immatures,
were resting on Swan Island (at Smith Island), June 19-23 (Stanley
Marshall and Armistead).

Owls , Goatsuckers , Hummingbirds . Between Apr. 10 and May 8, Hal
Wierenga heard 12 Barn Owls calling as they flew northward in migration
over his Annapolis home. Mrs. Rosamond Munro heard a Chuck-wi 1 1 1 S-wi dOW
at her home near Fulton in Howard County on May 28. All other Chucks
reported were on the Coastal Plain, but one that Danny Bystrak heard
singing in June at Danville near TB in southern Prince Georges County

September 1975

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

121

was about 10 miles northwest of the known breeding range and well away
from tidewater. Two were still singing vigorously at Bellevue on
July 2 6, which is later than Armistead usually hears them. Three Ruby-
throated Hummingbirds were seen at astonishingly early dates. The first,
the northernmost , was at Greensboro on Apr . 2 _, a record date for Mary-
land (Wanda Smith), and the others were watched on Apr. 7 at Plum Point
in Calvert County (John Fales) and at Baileys Neck near Easton, where
one was feeding on blooming barberry (Hugh and Virginia Henry). No more
were noted on the Eastern Shore until Apr. 15, or on the Western Shore
until the 25th.

Swallows , Jays , Thrushes . Most species of swallows were still mi-
grating in the last week of May. It is a pity more observers were not
watching the bay and ocean shores and the mountain ridges in late May
and early June to spot late transients that had been delayed by the cold
spring weather. At Sandy Point State Park, Hal Wierenga broke State de-
parture dates for the Bank Swallow on May 30 and for the Purple Martin
on May 2 6. He also saw Tree and Barn Swallows on the 26th, but these
were not quite late enough to qualify for all-time records. Most ob-
servers also failed miserably to report the tail end of the Blue Jay
migration. Note Hal Wierenga' s counts from Sandy Point: 4,500 on May 3,

2,000 on May 6, 1,000 on May 8, 325 on June 6, 35 on June 18, and 175 on
July 2 ! Hermit Thrushes were among the winter birds that remained to
exceptionally late dates this spring. Every county west of the Bay had
them at least as late as May 3; and one that Mrs. Margaret Donnald banded
at Adventure in Montgomery County on May 18 was the latest Maryland tran-
sient of this century.

Vireos , Warblers . Really out of place in such a late season was
the first April record of a Philadelphia Vireo; it was seen at St.
Michaels on Apr. 26 by Richard Kleen and in addition to being excep-
tionally early is only the second ever seen in spring on the Eastern
Shore. The warbler migration was late in starting and in reaching its
peak, and the birds were hard to see because the foliage was not corre-
spondingly late in its development. Consequently several observers
thought the migration did not measure up to par. Those birders who were
most active, however, found nearly all of the expected species, and
there were good numbers of Bay-breasts and Tennessees to make up in part
for the scarcity of Gol den-wings and the lateness of CeruleanS. Although
a few Ceruleans arrived as usual in late April, most of the ones breed-
ing in my census plots along the Middle Patuxent River in Columbia did
not arrive on territory until after June 9* Prothonotary Warblers were
found in almost every county, including the first Garrett County record,
at Mountain Lake Park on May 3_ (Fran Pope). Another exciting record
from Garrett County was a Connecticut Warbler banded at Pleasant Valley
near Bittinger on May 7 by Ken Hodgdon, Dottie Malec, and John Willetts;
there is only one spring specimen of this species from Maryland. More
intensive banding in Garrett County may show this secretive species to
be a regular migrant through that part of the State in late spring. A
male Lawrence's hybrid singing the song of a Blue-wing was studied care-
fully in Anne Arundel County on May 6 by Mark Hoffman. A B1 ack-throated
Blue Warbler singing on June 29 along Fifteen Mile Creek in eastern

122

MAE Y LAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 31, No. 3

Allegany County (Rowlett) provided the first hint that this species may
"breed east of Garrett County, where it is found primarily at elevations
above 2,000 feet. This area, as well as other localities in Allegany '
County where Blackbu'rnians and Black-throated Greens are common, should
be carefully investigated in the next few years. Common Yellowthroat
was the only warbler found on the mid-Chesapeake islands , June 19-23
{ Armistead) .

Bobolinks , Grackles , Tanagers . Bobolinks are notoriously early
fall migrants, but an immature discovered on June_ 24_ on the north end of
Assateague Island by Richard Rowlett was so early one wonders how there
was time in such a late season for it to have been raised to the point
where it could be independent of its 'parents — to say nothing of making
a migratory flight of at least 100 miles. A male Boat- tailed Crackle
was "singing" at Sandy Point', well north of its breeding range, on May 4
(Wierenga). Another new species for Garrett County was a Summer Tanager
that found its way into Fran Pope's hilltop yard at Mountain Lake Park
on May 17 .

House Finch . We should make a special effort to document the
spread of nesting House Finches. We are receiving more and more reports
of summering birds at feeders, but the scarcity of actual nesting rec-
ords suggests that the finches may fly a considerable distance between
their food supply and their nests. For the second consecutive year
House Finches summered at the Wierengas' feeder in Annapolis, and on
May 29 they first brought a begging juvenile to the feeder. Two fami-
lies were seen in Bladensburg by Bob Patterson in June. Both the
Howards in Annapolis and Peggy Bohanan in downtown Baltimore fed House
Finches as late as June 2, and three pairs summered at the Cutchalls'
home in Hagerstown. We know they summered in other counties as well,
but the observers did not consider them of sufficient interest to submit
reports. Please do report them.

Sparrows . Hens low's Sparrows were found only at Oldtown, May 8
(Paulus and Napier Shelton) , and at the edge of the Elliott Island
marsh. May 3 to June 15 (Armistead and Wierenga). Two male Grasshopper
Sparrows, apparently singing on territory, on Assateague Island across
from the Ocean City airport on June 24 represent the first breeding
season record from the island (Armistead). And a Vesper Sparrow car-
rying food near Ellwood in Dorchester County on June l4 was at the limit
of breeding range ‘for this species (also Armistead). On Apr. 24, with
warm south winds and occasional showers, about 50 Seaside Sparrows and
2 Sharp-tails arrived at Sandy Point State Park, but neither species
stayed to, nest. Only 3 Seasides remained on May l8, and after that
there was only one singing vagrant on June 9 (Wierenga). Note that a ■
similar flight occurred on Apr. 23 , 1974 (Maryland Bivdlife 30 : 116 ).

For Lincoln's Sparrows it is recommended that you spend a few days at
Margaret Donnald's banding station at Adventure; she banded 6 individ-
uals, all on different days ranging from May 2 to May 23.

7900 Brooklyn Bridge Road, Laurel 20810

September 1975

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

123

THE

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

Potpourri for Non-sophisticated Birders , contributed for the March
issue of Birdlife by Leland Devore, has brought some comments — all favor-
able. The opinion expressed is that in the publication of a society such
as M.O.S. there is a place for articles of interest to birders other than
the scientific and statistical reports. Everyone agrees that Birdlife
is an excellent publication.

Your Executive Council has considered the idea of expanding our
channels of communication to permit publishing a newsletter. Research on
the problem will be the first step.

While discussing the subject of Birdlife , Chan Robbins mentioned
that delays in publication are caused by late submittals of reports or of
promised manuscripts. Therefore, it was decided that our Executive Sec-
retary will assist Chan by contacting compilers and authors whose manu-
scripts do not come in on schedule.

My special thanks are extended to Mr. August Selckmann, who fur-
nished the art and printing plate for that flyer soliciting the donation
of $7-00 from your tax refund from Uncle Sam toward wiping out the Carey
Run Sanctuary mortgage. We express our sincere thanks to the 165 members
who have responded to date with a total contribution of $2,125- May we
remind the rest of you that Gordon MacGregor, our Treasurer, living at
5009 Greenleaf Rd. , Baltimore, Md. 21210, will gladly accept additional
contributions I The mortgage will stand at $6,600 after our $1,500 pay-
ment is made in October. We would like to pay this off in 1976.

While on the subject of money, let me express my thanks to the Balti-
more Chapter for a recent contribution of $500 toward the Carey Run mort-
gage and to their President and his wife (Mr. and Mrs. John Cullom) for
operating the Book Store at Ocean City last May with the resulting pres-
entation of $1,200 to M.O.S.

Since conservation is one of our main interests, because it is so
often directly related to the survival of birds, I urge all of you who
know of proposed projects that threaten our birdlife to contact our Con-
servation Chairman, Col. William Bodenstein, R.D. 1, Box 366, Crownsville ,
Md. 21032 (telephone 987-^658) to advise him of the proposed project.

For example, two men from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, propose to
build a marina in Cecil County and, thereby, destroy valuable habitat of
water birds. The Army Corps of Engineers has to issue a permit. The
M.O.S. is requesting a public hearing, which the Corps would prefer to

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol . 31, No. 3

124

avoid. Our effort along with that of other groups could make the differ-
ence between keeping the habitat as it is or letting the drone of motors
replace the honking of geese.

While all our committees are to be praised for their efforts, let
me mention only two at this time. Our newly formed Library Committee,
chaired by Mrs. Joy Wheeler, has made the following report:

"Owing to the great geographical area encompassed in our state,
the committee has decided not to centralize our library in one location ;
rather, separate repositories will be established at Irish Grove, Carey
Run, Cy lburn, and possibly at some of the Maryland colleges. We are pre-
paring an inventory of the M.O.S. Library, which will be made available
to our members and to public and college libraries.

"The question of giving our documents outright versus lending them
was discussed. It was felt that M.O.S. should technically retain posses-
sion, but that our library, as well as our sanctuaries, should be avail-
able to the public for educational use.

"The Society welcomes gifts to add to our present collection. Mr.
Irving Hampe has offered a 36-year set of The Condor , which Towson State
College has offered to bind and house. There sire photographs at Cy lburn
worthy of inclusion in the library. The committee wishes to acquire new
books as well, and may ask to be included in next year's Budget.

"Many questions remain under consideration by the committee: how to

identify our books as M.O.S. property, how to organize the inventory, how
to set up machinery for private individuals to donate books to us, and a
method of lending books."

Our Education Committee, chaired by Dr. Benjamin Poscover, has done
much research and has made an extensive report. Their effort will be
summarized in the December issue of Birdlife.

Barclay E. Tucker , President

O

1974 SUMMARY OF IRISH GROVE ACTIVITIES

Charles R. Vaughn

For the second year in a row Irish Grove activities , affected by
the fuel shortage, have declined. The following table illustrates the
relative activity decline.

Year

1972

1973

1974

Days in use

l4i

125

85

Nights in use

101

80

50

People visiting

289

465+

272+

Organized groups

13

9

10

September 1975

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

125

The third row, giving the people visiting, is not the number of'different
visitors throughout the year, but rather, the sum of the different people
registering on a month-to-month basis. Thus, a person visiting in more
than one month would be counted in the total for each new month. In 197^
I counted 125 different names in the log book. This is low by 15 to 25
people, since some names were illegible, and one group did not indicate
the number in the group.

Organized groups visiting during 197^ include the Wicomico Chapter,
M.O.S. (3/25); Towson High School (3/29-31); The University of Maryland
(5/17); The Leisure Timers, Salisbury (5/2l); Towson State College (8/23-
24); the Harford Chapter, M.O.S. (10/13); the Four Season's Garden Club,
Salisbury (10/18); Towson High School (11/2-5); and a U/H Club (location
unknown). The M.O.S. Convention had trips to the sanctuary; and there
was the Cris field Christmas Count sleep-in at the end of December.

A major event at Irish Grove was the paint party, October 11-lU.
.Special appreciation goes to project director Ke.n Irey, general overseer
of duties; he and his wife Kathy and Mary Humphreys performed the monu-
mental week long job of removing, calking, painting and replacing all
the house windows. Twenty-five people congregated in the perfect weather
to scrape, prime and paint the entire house. A second significant event
was the building and delivery of museum cabinets for the mounted bird
collection. The Wicomico Chapter initiated this project and paid half
the $700 cost. To Bill Johnson, cabinet maker and former Wicomico Chap-
ter President, goes thanks for this fine job.

1306 Frederick Ave. , Salisbury 21801

■A

BOOK REVIEWS

Meanley, Brooke. 1975 • Birds and Marshes of the Chesapeake Bay Country .
Tidewater Publishers, Cambridge, Maryland 2l6l3
157 p. , 4 drawings, 9^ b+w photos, paperback $5-00

This profusely illustrated book discusses more than just birds and
marshes. It includes numerous interesting experiences the author has
had during his long association with the Chesapeake. Mr. Meanley recalls
early birding trips in the thirties when he travelled by train from
Baltimore and had some of his first adventures with bird photography
from a blind. Detailed information is given on where certain birds are
located and how they utilize the various habitats. The historical
aspects of the interrelationships of birds and man in the Bay make this
book exciting reading. Amateur ornithologists will enjoy learning more
about the habits and habitats of some of the rarer birds in the Bay area.
The titles of several chapters are. The Patuxent River Wildrice Marsh,
Rare Bird of the Pocomoke, The Elliott Island Black Rails, The Red-
cockaded Woodpecker of the Maritime Forest, Bald Eagle Lore, The King
Rail, Blackwater, and Somerset Marshes. Brooke Meanley is an ornithol- -
ogist at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, and a member of M.O.S. —
Matthew C. Perry.

126

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 31, No. 3

Welty, Joel Carl. 1975* The Life of Birds . Second Edition.

W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia. 623 p. $18.50.

It has been 13 years since publication of the first edition of this
elementary college text. Several differences are immediately apparent.

First the price, up from $ 12 . 00 . But, 77 more pages, a larger page for-
mat with l4 percent' more lines per column and several more spaces per
line add up to the buyer getting about as much increased text as price.

In some' instances minor rewriting of material is done, but basically the
text has been increased simply by adding paragraphs or sections to the
old text where advances in ornithology have been made. Welty has written
an extensive literature review complete with 1+3 pages of references.

I prefer the pedagogical, approach to textbooks, but this is a
matter only of personal preference. For those preferring this approach
Ornithology by Pettingill is better; the pedagogic approach is rare in
zoology and ecology texts, however. The difficulty with the review
approach to a text for students is that much of the material is pre-
sented in what sounds like a tentative manner, as if so-and-so said it
but it remains to be ■ determined whether it is fact.

Welty, however, states in his preface that the main intention of
his book is to stimulate interest in birds so the reader will pursue the
subject further on his own. To this end Welty has performed marvelously.

The style is very readable. And, except in some serious areas "noted be-
low, the factual material is well developed into a stimulating story.

With the above huzzas, must go a warning; there are some errors of
fact. The most glaring error which my quick reading detected was on
page 1+5*+: "The chief reason hovering flight requires unusual amounts of
energy is that the bird has no kinetic energy in the form of forward
momentum . . . " ! Kinetic energy is not a form of momentum. Worse yet,
high energy expenditure of .hovering has nothing to do with either kinetic
energy or momentum of forward motion; but rather the simple fact that the
relative air speed over the wings' is less if the bird has no forward motion.

On page 453 the observations of Blake on wingbeat rates of birds are
quoted correctly. However, Blake was wrong somewhere in his measurements,
or he wasn't measuring what is now referred to as the wingbeat of a bird.

Unlike the first example, this latter error is probably not the
fault of Welty since he may not be familiar with the work of Greenewalt
and others. Since I am not technically qualified to question most of
what Welty writes, I can only hope that the rest of the text is free of
such errors. If not it is best that' a tentative tone is often present.

I • found one instance where a reference in the text is not in the
list at the back of the book. And, a reference in the first edition was
eliminated from 'the text but not from the rear. Unfortunately Welty has
not incorporated any of the name changes of birds which the A.O.U. adopted
in 1973. Despite these minor problems, this new Welty book is basically
the best general elementary college text on the market. — C. R. Vaughn.

September 1975

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

127

Feb. 1

2

5

7

7

7

8

10

12

l4

14-15

14-16

19

20

21

23

24
24
29
29

Mar. 2

3

4

6

14

l6

18

19

20
20
20
22
23

OCEAN CITY PELAGIC TRIP. Register by sending $20 to Richard A.

Rowlett , 715 Main St., Apt. 5, Laurel, 20810.
BALTIMORE Trip to Gibson Is. Register with J . Schreiber ,661-8340
FREDERICK Meeting. "Fungi" by Martina Gilliam. Hodson Science
Bldg., Hood College, Frederick, 7:30 p.m.

BALTIMORE Trip to Aberdeen Proving Ground for shrikes , owls ,

hawks. Meet in parking lot of A.P.G. Museum, 8:30 am.
KENT Trip to Bombay Hook Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, Del.

OCEAN CITY PELAGIC TRIP. Sold out. See Feb. 1 and Mar. 6.

OCEAN CITY PELAGIC TRIP. Sold out. See Feb. 1 and Mar. 6.
BALTIMORE Meeting. Australian Birds, C. Robbins. Cylburn, 8 pm.

HOWARD Meeting, Swansfield Elem. School, Columbia, 7:45 p.m.

PATUXENT Annual Feeder Trip. Meet 9th & Montg'y, Laurel, 8 am.
BALTIMORE Trip to Chincoteague Refuge. Dr. A. Ross, 435-7166

HOWARD Trip to Chincoteague Refuge. Larry Hood, 730-9251

CAROLINE Meeting. Trip to Hudson Bay, Fletchers. library, 7:30
BALTIMORE Annual Social. Program by Audubon Camp alumni. Res-
ervations by Feb. 11, Mrs. G. Stuart, 771-4781
KENT Trip to Delaware Nature Education Center.

WICOMICO Meeting. Films, Sea Gull and Canada Goose. Also dis-
cussion on bluebirds. Asbury Methodist Church, 8 p.m.
WASHINGTON Meeting. Emma K. Doub School, Hagerstown, 7:30' p.m.
PATUXENT Meeting. St. Philips Parish Hall, 6th & Maine , Laurel ,8
BALTIMORE Come -As -You- Are Tea. Towson Public Library, 3 to 5 pm

WICOMICO Trip to Chincoteague, E. Main St. A&P, Salisb., 7

BALTIMORE Meeting. Nests. Dr. Phillip Creighton, Cylburn, 8 pm.
KENT Monthly Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

FREDERICK Meeting. Release of Peregrine Falcons in Eastern U.S.

Dr. F. Prescott Ward. Hodson Sci. Bldg., Hood, 7:30.
OCEAN CITY PELAGIC TRIP. Register by sending $20 to Richard A.

Rowlett, 715 Main St., Apt. 5, Laurel, 20810.
BALTIMORE Trip to Liberty Lake. Meet Rt . l40 bridge, 9 a.m.
BALTIMORE First of 12 Tuesday Lake Roland walks. Meet at

Robert E. Lee Park footbridge. Lake Roland, 9 a.m.
CAROLINE Annual Meeting. Preservation of Natural Areas. Ralph
Petcher, Supt. , Tuckahoe State Park. Library, 7:30
BALTIMORE Audubon Film, Papua New Guinea. Dumbarton Jr. High, 8

BALTIMORE Trip to Loch Raven, 8 a.m. Michael Resch, 668-6515 1

KENT Trip to Blackwater; may be changed to March 27.

PATUXENT Woodcock Trip in evening. Phone J. Sheppard, 776-8476

WICOMICO Annual Meeting. Birds of the Marshes, Asbury Ch. ,8 pm

PATUXENT Annual Meeting. Shorebirds , Richard Rowlett. 7:45 pm

128

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol . 31, No. 3

Mar.

23

BALTIMORE

23'

WASHINGTON

25

BALTIMORE

27

PATUXENT

27

WICOMICO

28

BALTIMORE

28

FREDERICK

30

BALTIMORE

Apr.

1

BALTIMORE

1

FREDERICK

3

BALTIMORE

6

BALTIMORE

7

KENT

8

BALTIMORE

9

BALTIMORE

10

FREDERICK

Lake Roland walk, 9 a. in. Mrs. F. Rackemann, 823-^709
Annual Meeting. Emma K. Doub School , Hagerstown , 7:30
Tree walk, buds and twigs. Cylburn, 10 a.m. G. Filby
Trip to Bombay Hook. Montg'y & 9th, 7* K.Klimkiewicz
Canoe trip to Adkins Mill Park, Povellsville . Meet
7:30 a.m., E. Main St. A&P, Salisbury. Maurice Davis
Come-As-You-Are Tea. Towson Public Library, 3-5 p.m.
Trip to Point of Rocks. Meet Culler L. Boat House, 2pm
Lake Roland walk, 9 a.m. Robert Ringler, 655-5738
Cylburn walk & banding demonstration, 9 a.m.

Meeting. Conservation practices in the National Parks.
N.P.S. representative. Hodson Sci. Bldg, 7:30
Lake Roland walk, 9 a.m. Mr & Mrs T.H.C. Slaughter.
Lake Roland walk, 9 a.m. Miss Etta Wedge, 366-2263
Monthly Meeting. Bird Song

Cylburn walk, with help for beginners, 9 a.m.

Spring social, featuring Mary McFarland Leister of
The S unpapers . Cylburn, 8 p.m.

Trip to Utica. Meet Culler Lake Boat House, 7:30

CONTENTS, SEPTEMBER 1975

First Maryland Record of Gray Kingbird David Holmes 103

Another Kingbird - Another Century Haney D. Rowe 105

Eastern Kingbirds Catching Whirligig Beetles Hervey Brackbill 105

Results of the M0S Bluebird Project in 1975 Laurence Zeleny 106

World Nature Tours, 1976 Donald Messersnrith 108

Fifth List of Contributors to Carey Run Sanctuary Fund 109

The Season — April, May, June, 1975 Chandler S. Robbins 110

The President's Page Barclay E. Tucker 123

197*i Summary of Irish Grove Activities Charles R. Vaughn 12h

Book Reviews :

Birds and Marshes of the Chesapeake Bay

Country by Brooke Meanley Matthew C. Perry 125

The Life of Birds by Joel Carl Welty Charles if. Vaughn 126

Coming Events 127

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc.

to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds of Maryland

Editor:

Chandler S. Robbins, 7900 Brooklyn Bridge Road^ Laurel,

Md. 20810 * (725-1176)

Asst. Editor:

C. Douglas Hackman, 3033 Woodside Ave. , Balto. 2123L

Art Editor:

William N. Schneider

Production :

Romell Decker

Mailing :

Barbara Larrabee and committee