ISSN 011*7-9725

MARYLAND

Jl5u[[ztiu oj thz J\\ a lij [and &Xnit(io[ocjLca[ <zSoc.Lz.tij, fJnc.

SEPTEMBER 1980
VOLUME 36
NUMBER 3

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Cover: Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge,

November 22, 1979. Photo by Debbie Dupree.

September 1980

Number 3

MARYLAND

Volume 36

AVIAN MORTALITY AT AN OFFICE BUILDING
IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

Glenn D. Therres

Avian mortality as a result of collisions with mad-made structures
was reported in North America as early as the late 1800’s (Dutcher 1884,
Kumlien 1888). Since then, many accounts have been published reporting
such collisions (consult Avery et al . 1980 for sources). Banks (1979)
estimated that 31.6% of all human-related avian mortality results from
collisions, including those along roadways, at towers, tall buildings,
airport ceilometers , and picture windows. Klem (1979) estimated a mini-
mum of 79.6 million birds die annually in the United States as a result
of flying into windows of all types.

A number of studies have dealt with bird losses at radio and TV
towers (Brewer and Ellis 1958, Stoddard and Norris 1967, Taylor and
Anderson 1973, Seets and Bohlen 1977 , Avery et al . 1978) and airport
ceilometers (Spofford 1949, Howell et al . 1954). These studies dealt
with periodic mass mortality at these tall structures, usually during
migration periods. Mortality resulting from flying into towers occurs
mainLy to nocturnal migrants. It is estimated that 2,500 birds per
tower per year are killed as a result of flying into these obstacles
(Banks 1979).

Few comprehensive studies have dealt with avian mortality at lower
structures such as houses, buildings, or factories. Mortality at these
structures results primarily from birds flying into glass windows, par-
ticularly large ones. This paper presents the results of a two-year
study of bird losses at an office building in Annapolis, Maryland. Dur-
ing the second year of the study, raptorial silhouettes were tested for
their effectiveness in reducing avian mortality at the building.

STUDY AREA AND METHODS

The study was conducted at the Tawes State Office Building in sub-
urban Annapolis. The building complex is located approximately 1 . 2 km
northwest of downtown Annapolis, along Roscoe Rowe Boulevard. College
Creek and numerous woodlots are in the immediate area, providing avail-
able habitat for a great variety of birds.

92

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, No. 3

Tawes State Office Building is a series of 4 four-story buildings
joined to each other at each level by passageways. Three of the build-
ings are oriented in a northwesterly direction, while the fourth is
oriented in a northeasterly direction, resulting in an L-shaped complex.
The buildings are faced with tinted glass, which has partially reflective
properties. Between each building and at the ends of the two extreme
buildings is an elevator and staircase enclosed in a concrete structure.
Glassed-in walkways connect the buildings with these at each level.
Transparent windows enclose each walkway on its sides, thus allowing un-
obstructed vision through either side of the passageways. Each window
is 3.1 ra long X 2.6 m tall. There are 64 such windows in the building
complex. The building is landscaped with numerous trees, shrubs, and
herbaceous plants, as well as with three ponds.

Searches for dead birds were made several times a week (usually 3 to
5 days) throughout the study period, from the fall of 1977 through the
Summer of 1979. The searches entaiLed walking around the perimeter of
the building, looking for dead birds along the sidewalks, on the lawn,
in the flower beds, or trapped in the various grates around the building.
When a dead bird was found, the date, species of bird, and location
around the building were recorded. No attempt was made to differentiate
between sexes or age groups. Searches were usually made in the morning
hours, generally between 0800 and 1000 EST. To reduce the possible in-
fluence of scavengers (Crawford 1971), dead birds were removed from the
immediate area by the investigator.

During the second year of the study, falcon silhouettes were placed
on the windows in the passageways to test their effectiveness in re-
ducing avian mortality. The silhouettes were 19.5 cm long from head to
tail, with a wingspan of 44 era. They were obtained from the If. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service's pamphlet entitled “Tricks to Control Birds." A
silhouette was placed in the upper corner of each window in every pas-
sageway during the fail and winter of the second year. The falcon was
taped to the window in a steep diving position as was recommended. Dur-
ing the spring and summer of the second year, the silhouettes were placed
in the upper center of each window in the same diving position.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Size and composition of losses — During the two years of the study,
220 birds of 52 species were found dead as a result of flying against
the building (Table 1). Twenty-four families of North American birds
were represented. The most common species killed were Northern Junco
(10.0%), Gray Catbird (8.2%), House Sparrow (7.3%), and House Finch
(7.3%). Though the season of highest frequency of mortality was differ-
ent for each of the four seasons, these birds have two characteristics
in common. First, all four species occur in the surrounding area for an
extended period of time. Secondly, all four species spend much of their
time on or near the ground.

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

93

Table 1. Bird losses at the Tawes State Office Building,
fall of 1977 through summer of 1979

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

Silhouettes pre:
Winter Spring

sen t
Summer

1977

1977-78

1978

1978

1978

1978-79 1979

1979 Total

Mallard

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

Sharp-shinned Hawk

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

Common Bobwhite

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

2

Mourning Dove

-

-

-

2

4

-

-

1

7

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

3

Chimney Swift

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

1

2

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

1

3

Belted Kingfisher

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

Common Flicker

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Downy Woodpecker

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

1

Acadian Flycatcher

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

2

Barn Swallow

-

-

2

4

-

-

-

5

11

Blue Jay

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

2

Carolina Chickadee

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

-

2

White-breasted Nuthatch

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Brown Creeper

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

House Wren

-

-

-

-

-

“

1

1

Northern Mockingbird

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

Cray Catbird

3

-

2

3

6

-

1

3

jlo

Brown Thrasher

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

1

American Robin

-

-

1

3

1

-

2

2

9

Wood Thrush

-

-

1

-

2

-

1

-

4

Hermit Thrush

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

Swainson's Thrush

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

Veery

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

2

European Starling

-

1

-

-

-

-

- 2

3

Red-eyed Vireo

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

-

2

Black-and-White Warbler

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

2

Tennessee Warbler

1

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

3

Northern Parula Warbler

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

1

Cape May Warbler

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

Yellow-rumped Warbler

1

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

4

Blackpoll Warbler

-

-

-

-

2

-

1

-

3

Ovenbird

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

2

Northern Watcrthrush

-

-

2

-

2

-

3

-

7

Kentucky Warbler

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

Common Yel.iowchroat

-

-

3

1

3

-

1

1

9

Wilson's Warbler

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

American Redstart

-

-

1

1

1

-

-

-

3

House Sparrow

-

1

-

7

2

-

1

5

16

Common Crackle

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

2

Brown-headed Cowbird

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

Northern Cardinal

1

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

3

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

2

Indigo Bunting

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

-

2

House Finch

-

-

2

10

-

-

-

4

16

Rufous-sided Towhee

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

Northern Junco

12

4

2

-

2

2

-

-

22

Field Sparrow

-

1

1

-

1

-

-

-

3

Wlii te-throated Sparrow

2

-

3

-

4

-

-

-

9

Swamp Sparrow

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

Song Sparrow

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

2

Unidentified

11

”

"

4

“

1

16

TOTAL (52 species)

42

8

26

35

56

3

19

31

220

94

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, No. 3

Of all species killed, only 15.4% were strictly migrants in this
area. These represented only 9.1% of the total kill. The remaining
90.9% were either permanent residents, breeding birds, or birds that
winter in Maryland (Stewart and Robbins 1958). Although many breeding
and wintering birds were killed while migrating, over 40% of this group
was killed during non-migratory periods. Thus, the data suggest that
the highest frequency of mortality was experienced by those species that
occur in the area for an extended period of time.

Table 2. Composition by family of bird losses at the Tawes State
Office Building, fall of 1977 through summer of 1979

Fall 1977 -
Summer 1978

Fall 1978 -
Summer 1979

Total*

Swallows (Hirundinidae)

6

5

11 ( 5.3%)

Mimics (Mimidae)

11

10

21 (10.2%)

Thrushes (Turdidae)

9

10

19 ( 9.2%)

Warblers (Parulidae)

15

22

37 (18.0%)

House Sparrow (Ploceidae)

8

8

16 ( 7.8%)

Finches (Fringillidae)

41

22

63 (30.6%)

Others

12

27

39 (18.9%)

Total

102

104

206

*The totals in this table do not include 14 unidentified birds, but do

include two sparrows that could not be identified to species.

Four of the six major families (Table 2) incurring mortality at the
building consist primarily of birds generally terrestrial in habits
(i.e., members of the families Mimidae, Turdidae, Ploceldae, and Frin-
gillidae). Mortality occurring within these families accounted for 57.8%
of the total mortality at the building. Johnson and Hudson (1976) found
that 62.1% of the birds killed at a glassed-in walkway in Washington
state belonged to three of the four families mentioned above. Add such
species as Common Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, Ovenbird, and Common Yellow-
throat to this list of ground-associated birds, and this further suggests
the greater frequency of mortality at low man-made structures to those
species that are generally most active near the ground.

The species composition of the kill of the present study differed
from the results of a study conducted in Baltimore (Jewell and Jewell
1978). In the Baltimore study 46.2% of the kill consisted of Parulids,
while only 18.0% of the kill in the present study were warblers. Also,
six of the ten most common species killed at the Tawes State Office
Building were not found at all in the Baltimore kill. These differences
probably resulted from the different situations under which the two
studies were conducted. The Baltimore study occurred at a 13-story
building in the downtown area during the migration period only, while
this study was conducted throughout the year at a much lower structure.
Also, available avian habitat in the vicinity of the Baltimore study
was minimal , while that was not the case here.

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

95

Seasonal variation of losses — The seasonal distribution of the
kill differed from that of other studies (Stoddard and Norris 1967, John-
son and Hudson 1976), which show highest mortality occurring during per-
iods of migration. Mortality at the Tawes State Office Building was
greatest in fall (44.5%) and summer (30.0%) instead of the expected faLl
and spring. This is compatible with the finding that greater mortality
occurred to those species that are found in the area for an extended
period of time. Thus, higher mortality occurred during the breeding
season than during the spring migration period. Sspring mortality (20.5%)
was less than that of fall, as expected, because of fewer and more ex-
perienced birds migrating in the spring and the shorter period that each
species is present as compared to fall. Winter mortality (5.0%) was ex-
pected to be low because of the smaller number of birds wintering in the
area .

L ocation of losses — Mortality at the Tawes State Office Building
complex occurred in two ways. Either the bird was klLled by flying into
the partially reflective glass windows of the buildings themselves, or
by flying into the transparent windows in the passageways.

Table 3. Location of bird losses at the Tawes State Office Building,
fall of 1977 through summer of 1979

Fall 1977 -
Summer 1978

Fall 1978 -
Summer 1979

Total

Passageway

81

72

153 (69.5%)

Build ing

30

37

67 (30.5%)

Total

111

109

220

Table 3 shows the number of birds killed by location for the two
years of the study. The results show that 69.5% of all birds killed had
collided with the windows in the passageways. Chi-square analysis shows
this result differs significantly (P^< 0.05) from an expected frequency
proportional to available surface area. Apparently the birds mistook the
glassed-in passageways for open air space. Klem (1979) found that birds
do not discriminate between unobstructed habitat and habitat seen through
windows. Thus, this high frequency of mortality seems to be the result
of the birds failing to recognize that the buildings were connected by
glass passageways, and therefore were killed while attempting to fly be-
tween the buildings in what they perceived as open space.

The direction from which the birds were flying before collision
seems to have been completely random. Birds were found on all sides of
the building and seemingly in numbers proportional to the surface area
available. Jewell and Jewell (1978) and Klem (1979) have also noted that
orientation seems to be random in bird-window collisions.

Effectiveness of silhouettes — Because of the high frequency of
mortality at the pasageways, silhouettes were used during the second
year of the study in an attempt to reduce this mortality. Table 3 shows

96

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, No. 3

the results of the second year of the study as compared to the first.
Prior to the use 'of silhouettes, 73.0% of the mortality occurred at the
passageways, while 66.0% occurred there after silhouettes were placed in
the passageways. Thus, the use of silhouettes reduced frequency of mor-
tality at the passageways by only 7%. However, this frequency was not
significantly different (_P > 0.05) from the frequency observed without
silhouettes present. Johnson and Hudson (1976) reduced mortality with
the use of raptorial silhouettes to one-third the rate prior to their
use. Hem (1979) also reported a reduction in bird-window collisions
with the use of silhouettes. Therefore, the use of silhouettes may re-
duce mortality, but the amount of reduction can vary by location, spe-
cies, time of year, and perhaps other factors.

Table 4. Location of mortality of the ten most common species killed
at the Tawes State Office Building, fall of 1977 through
summer of 1979.

Fall 1977 - Summer 1978

Fall 1978 - Summer 1979

passageway

building

passageway

building

Mourning Dove

2

_

5

_

Barn Swallow

6

-

5

-

Gray Catbird

5

3

6

4

American Robin

1

3

2

3

Northern Waterthrush

1

1

2

3

Common Yellowthroat

3

1

1

4

House Sparrow

7

1

7

1

House Finch

12

-

4

-

Northern Junco

16

2

4

-

White-throated Sparrow

5

2

2

Locations of mortality of the ten most common species killed during
the study are given in Table 4. Comparisons for each species by year
suggest the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of silhouettes in reducing
mortality at the passageways for these species. The use of silhouettes
may have been effective in reducing mortality of Northern Juncos and
House Sparrows at the building. Mortality was one-fourth and one-third
the rate prior to the use of silhouettes for each species, respectively.
Of course, this result assumes that there were similar numbers of birds
present during both years of the study. Also, the data suggest that the
use of silhouettes may have reduced mortality of Common Yellowthroats at
the passageways, and possibly that of White-throated Sparrows. The use
of silhouettes did not appear to reduce mortality for the other six
species listed. It appears that the use of silhouettes may vary in
effectiveness depending upon the bird species involved.

The location of the silhouette on the windows in the passageways did
not change the effectiveness in the situations tested. When the sil-
houettes were placed in the upper corner of each window, 67.8% of the
mortality occurred at the passageways, while 64.0% occurred there when
the silhouettes were placed in the upper center of each window.

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

97

SUMMARY

A two-year study of avian mortality at the Tawes State Office Buil-
ding in Annapolis, Maryland, was conducted from the fall of 1977 through
the summer of 1979. A total of 200 birds of 52 species were killed by
flying against the building. The most common species killed were those
that occur in the area for an extended period of time and are most ac-
tive near the ground. Losses were greatest in fall and summer, instead
of the expected fall and spring that proved most important in other
studies .

A high frequency of mortality occurred as a result of- birds flying
into the glass passageways that connect the four buildings in the com-
plex, instead of into the partially reflective glass of the buildings
themselves. For this reason, the effectiveness of raptorial silhouettes
in reducing avian mortality at these passageways was tested the second
year of the study. Use of the silhouettes reduced frequency of mortal-
ity at the pasageways by only 1 %. This difference was not statistically
different (P_ > 0.05) from the frequency observed without silhouettes
present. However, for certain species the use of silhouettes may have
been effective in reducing mortality.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am grateful to Bernard F. Halla, Director of the Maryland Wild-
life Administration, for expressing his desire for the initiation of
this project. D. KLem, Jr., J. S. Lindzey, C. L. Rice, C. S. Robbins,
and J. S. Wakeley provided helpful criticism and suggestions for im-
proving the paper. Special thanks are extended to Carol Jones for
typing the manuscript.

LITERATURE CITED

Avery, M. L., P. F. Springer, and J. F. Cassel . 1978. The composition

and seasonal variation of bird losses at a tall tower in southeastern
North Dakota. Am. Birds 32: 1114-1121.

Avery, M. L. , P. F. Springer, and N. S. Dailey. 1980. Avian mortality
at man-made structures: an annotated bibliography (Revised). U. S.

Fish & Wildl . Serv . , FWS/OBS-80/54 . 152 p.

Banks, R. C. 1979. Human related mortality of birds in the United
States. U. S. Fish & Wild. Serv. Spec. Sci. Rep. Wildl. 215.

Brewer, R. , and J. A. Ellis. 1958. An analysis of migrating birds kil-
led at a television tower in east-central Illinois, September 1955 -
May 1957. Auk 75: 400-414.

Crawford, R. L. 1971 Predation of birds killed at TV tower. Oriole
36: 33-35.

Dutcher, W. 1884. Bird notes from Long Island, N. Y. Auk 1: 174-179.

Howell, J. C. , A. R. Laskey, and J. T. Tanner. 1954. Bird mortality at
airport ceiloraeters. Wilson Bull. 66: 207-215.

Jewell, D. G. , and M. M. Jewell. 1978. Migration casualties in downtown
Baltimore. Md . Birdlife 34: 175-177.

98

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol . 36, No. 3

Johnson, R. E. , and G. E. Hudson. 1976. Bird mortality at a glassed-in
walkway in Washington state. Western Birds 7: 99-107.

KLem, D. , Jr. 1979. The biology of collisions between birds and win-
dows. Ph.D. Dissertation. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Kumlien, L. 1888. Observations on bird migration in Milwaukee. Auk
5: 325-328.

Seets, J. W. , and H. D. Bohlen. 1977. Comparative mortality of birds
at television towers in central Illinois. Wilson Bull. 89: 422-433.

Spofford, W. R. 1949. Mortality of birds at the ceilometer of the
Nashville airport. Wilson Bull. 61: 86-90.

Stewart, R. E. , and C. S. Robbins. 1958. Birds of Maryland and the
District of Columbia. U. S. Fish & Wildl. Serv . , N. Amer. Fauna 62.
401 p.

Stoddard, H. L. , and R. A. Norris. 1967. Bird casualties at a Leon
County, Florida, TV tower: an eleven-year study. Tall Timbers Res.

Stn . Bull. 8.

Taylor, W. K. , and B. H. Anderson. 1973. Nocturnal migrants killed at
a central Florida TV tower; autumns 1969-1971. Wilson Bull. 85: 42-
51.

As far as I can ascertain, there are only three records of the
breeding of the Sora (Porzana Carolina) in Maryland. William H. Fisher
located a nest with eggs in the Bush River marsh, Harford County, on
May 25, 1899. A photograph of the nest appears in A. C. Bent's Life
Histories of North American Marsh Birds (Smithsonian Institution, U. S.
National Museum Bull. 135, 1926). Stewart and Robbins in Birds of Mary -
land and the District of Columbia (U. S. Department of Interior, N. Amer.
Fauna 62, 1958) also cite this record; and they state that J. Thomas re-
ported that a female with an egg ready to lay was killed by a dog on the
Gunpowder River marsh. May 5, 1899. This is a probable fourth nesting
record.

In the course of studying rails in a marshy impoundment at the
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center near Laurel, I located a nest of
hatching young Soras on June 3, 1965; and a flightless juvenile was
trapped and banded in the same impoundment on July 15, 1968.

Several birds, and in some cases pairs, have beren reported in
Dorchester County in June, but there has been no evidence of nesting
there.

Md. Wildlife Admin., Tawes State Office Bldg., Annapolis 21401

BREEDING STATUS OF THE SORA IN MARYLAND

Brooke Meanley

P. 0. Box 87, Fishersv ille , Va. 22939

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

99

SPECIMEN OF THE 6ANNET (Morus bassanus) FROM POINT LOOKOUT

Ernest Willoughby and Thomas Courtney

The Northern Gannet is an oceanic bird normally found over contin-
ental shelf waters beyond sight of land except near its nesting islands
in the North Atlantic. In the Middl e-Atlantic States region it can often
be seen from shore between early autumn and spring, and occasionally it
enters estuaries (Stone 1937, Schorger 1962, Robbins and Bystrak 1977).

We report here a specimen found at Point Lookout, a location that is re-
markable because of its position far from the ocean and because Robbins
and Bystrak (op. cit.) have not listed it as occurring in the Western
Shore section of Maryland. [There are a few sight records for Calvert
and Anne Arundel Counties, the first of which was 5 birds on the Dec. 21,
1946 Solomons Christmas Bird Count during a rain storm. — Ed.]

Fig. 1. Three views of the study skin of the gannet found at Point
Lookout on September 23, 1979. The scale is one meter long.

100

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, No. 3

On September 23, 197 9, Courtney found a large, long-winged water
bird of a species unknown to him caught against the leader of the pound
net he operates at Point Lookout just inside the mouth of the Potomac
River. The bird was dead and entangled in several meters of monofila-
ment fishing line. As it was against the north side of the leader, the
side facing into the prevailing surface current at this spot, Courtney
surmises that the dead or disabled bird had drifted into the net. Court-
ney notified Willoughby, who salvaged the specimen under authority of
Federal and Maryland State migratory bird permits and transported it to
St. Mary's College of Maryland. The carcass was kept frozen until July,
1980, when it was made a study skin for the bird collection at St.

Mary's College.

This bird proved to be a male in .subadult plumage, most likely in
its second year as judged from plumage descriptions given by Nelson
(1978). Figure .1 shows three views of the specimen. It weighed 2096 g,
the skull was fully ossified, the left testis measured 10 x 3 mm, and it
had been undergoing a prolonged molt of body, wings and tail. The long
duration of the molt is most noticeable in the remiges and their coverts,
which range from very worn and faded to new feathers just pushing out of
their follicles. The stomach and gut were empty and there was no sub-
cutaneous or visceral fat. The musculature was not emaciated, however,
and the uropvgial gland appeared to have a normal amount of fatty secre-
tion, so it does not appear that the bird died of starvation alone.

Necropsy revealed no obvious injuries or gross pathology, and an
estimated 10 to 15 ml of bloody water in the abdominal and thoracic air
sacs,, trachea and gullet suggested drowning as the immediate cause of
death. As the carcass was quite fresh, there being no decay of internal
organs and no odors of putri faction , it appears that the bird died at or
very near the point of recovery.

September 23 was two and one-half weeks following the strongest on-
shore winds from Hurricane David (Sept. 6). It is therefore possible
(but not at all certain) that this bird may have entered the Chesapeake
Bay from the Atlantic as a result of that storm.

REFERENCES

Nelson, J. Bryan. 1978. The Sulidae — Gannets and Boobies. Oxford Uni-
versity Press.

Robbins, Chandler S. , and Danny Bystrak. 1977. Field List of the Birds
of Maryland. Md . Avifauna 2. Md . Ornith. Soc . , Baltimore.

Schorger, A. W. 1962. "Gannet." Pp. 30^-315 in Palmer, R., ed. Hand-
book of North American Birds, Vol. 1. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven.

Stone, Witnier. 1937. Bird Studies at Old Cape May, Vol. 1. Delaware
Valley Ornithol, Club (Dover Publications reprint, 1965, New York),

Biology Dept., St. Mary's College, St. Mary's City, Md,
P. 0. Box 16, Scotland, Md. 20687

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

101

REPORT OF THE STATEWIDE BIRD COUNT, MAY 3, 1980
David W. Holmes

'Twas midnight and the sly May-counter
Was likely to encounter water.

Before you groan about more verse.

Relax! It's stopped.

And so did the wet. The early morning sprinkles and drizzle had
ceased by dawn, and the fog and haze lifted through the morning to give us
a gorgeous, sunny spring day. The reported temperatures ranged from about
48°F up to about 7 5°F and the winds were listed as calm to light and
variable. Several days of rainy periods preceding Count Day fairly ef-
fectively prevented any waves of migration, but the day itself was a near-
ly perfect day to be out — and the Blue Jays loved it. They flew in a
major stream up the Western Shore and Fall Line for most of the day (see
totals ) .

The birders created a moderate wave in 21 counties with numbers of
people and party-hours well below record levels, but certainly repre-
senting a major effort. No reports were received from Charles or Queen
Anne's Counties this year and the Worcester County effort, while appre-
ciated, was a bit spotty. Apparently almost no time was spent in the
woods and brush, as eight species of common upland residents (Downy Wood-
pecker, Am. Goldfinch, etc.) were missed in the state only in Worcester
County. There were 23 species recorded in all 21 counties and 17 more
in all counties except one. Of the 17, 15 might be the results of in-
complete coverage: Mockingbirds are very rare in Garrett County, and

the Eastern Phoebe missing from Dorchester County has to be just one of
those crazy misses. On the other end of this list, 22 species were lis-
ted from single counties and 18 from two counties only.

Party-hours were reported from every county except Talbot this year
although the Baltimore list was incomplete. As the bird counts in these
two counties are similar to previous years, l have estimated the cover-
age to be similar to that of last year and have used these estimates for
calculating the numbers of birds per party-hour. This year’s report,
however, can never be used for any study in which absolute statistical
accuracy is needed. The reported hours by foot, car, etc., also add up
to almost 100 short of the reported hour totals, so this will be a frus-
trating year for statisticians. The only accurate solution is to throw
out the bird lists from all counties with incomplete reports. Perhaps
compilers in future years can enforce this procedure now that this warn-
ing is appearing in print.

The other hit of exhortation this year again concerns submission of
details on unusual sightings. This is becoming increasingly important
as more states develop procedures for accepting sight records on official
lists and as more Maryland counties compile their own official lists.

This compiLer would like documentation on any bird that is within 2 nr 3

Table 2. Statewide Bird Count, May 3, 1980

Species

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Mont

Howa

Carr

Balt

Harf

Cecl

AnAr

Pr.G

Calv

St .M

Kent

Caro

Talb

Do re

Wico

Somr

Wore

TOTA

Common Loon

2

6

5

1

7

10

17

42

-

-

78

4

_

15

11

-

1

12

211

Red-throated Loon

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Red-necked Grebe

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

_

2

Horned Grebe

2

9

-

-

-

3

-

8

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

11

-

_

36

Pied-billed Grebe

1

7

-

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

1

3

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

_

16

Double-cr. Cormorant

-

-

-

-

1

1

-

2

-

4

5

-

-

342

2

-

-

76

-

1

9

443

Anhinga

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

~

-

-

1

Great Blue Heron

1

1

4

4

4

3

5

12

5

1

34

47

1

24

37

9

3

30

1

2

1

229

Green Heron

6

16

17

13

29

16

6

24

2

-

28

21

-

1

9

6

1

13

l

2

211

Little Blue Heron

*1

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

_

4

Cattle Egret

-

-

-

-

5

-

1

-

1

21

2

7

1

9

23

-

-

30

2

4

17

123

Great Egret

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

1

-

1

1

-

-

35

1

-

6

51

Snowy Egret

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

24

3

-

1

-

-

-

41

-

1

2

73

Louisiana Heron

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

_

_

2

Blk-cr. Night Heron

-

-

-

-

3

1

-

22

-

-

3

2

-

-

-

-

2

4

-

-

-

37

Yellow-cr. Nt. Heron

“

“

-

-

1

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

3

Least Bittern

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

4

_

_

6

American Bittern

-

1

-

1

5

1

1

2

-

-

3

5

-

-

1

1

-

2

-

23

Glossy Ibis

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

9

14

Mute Swan

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

3

Whistling Swan

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

16

-

-

1

r -

-

-

18

Canada Goose

4

-

78

-

121

17

6

5

526

12

1

133

-

1

337

-

14

69

-

13

3

1340

Snow Goose (Blue)

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

_

3

Mallard

43

31

152

35

146

34

16

84

11

1

30

79

-

13

70

33

9

42

-

33

6

868

Mallard X Black Duck

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

Am. Black Duck

-

3

-

-

7

-

2

6

-

-

12

22

-

2

5

4

-

27

2

1

_

93

Gad wall

6

-

-

-

-

-

-

6

-

-

1

-

-

-

6

-

2

4

-

-

-

25

Common Pintail

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

2

-

_

_

5

Green-winged Teal

2

-

-

-

-

1

7

-

-

-

-

10

-

-

4

4

-

4

-

_

_

32

Blue-winged Teal

23

12

6

6

16

-

6

1

5

-

-

17

-

-

2

-

3

30

-

-

-

127

American Wigeon

4

-

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

2

-

10

Wood Duck

36

41

78

17

102

13

1

28

10

3

18

22

-

2

8

20

5

3

-

-

-

407

Ring -necked Duck

9

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1 1

Canvasback

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

6

Greater Scaup

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

*1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Lesser Scaup

4

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

4

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

11

Common Goldeneye

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

Buff lehead

9

1

-

-

7

-

-

-

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

19

Scoter sp.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

115

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

116

102 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Table 2 (cont.)- Statewide Bird Count, May 3, 1980

Species

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Mont

Howa

Carr

Balt

Harf

Cecl

AnAr

Pr.G

Calv

St.M

Kent

Caro

Talb

Do re

Wico

Somr

Wore

TOTA1

Ruddy Duck

-

-

2

-

-

4

-

88

-

-

8

-

-

2

-

-

_

_

_

5

109

Hooded Merganser

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

7

Common Merganser

4

5

-

-

1

7

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

56

Red-br. Merganser

1

1

17

-

1

1

-

1

-

-

-

7

-

-

1

-

-

26

-

-

-

18

Turkey Vulture

8

36

76

36

102

64

1

42

9

6

27

29

4

10

80

280

39

41

68

42

25

1025

Black Vulture

-

-

37

20

3

17

1

10

-

-

-

7

-

-

3

5

4

3

-

1

-

111

Sharp-shinned Hawk

3

1

5

l

15

6

-

13

3

-

31

3

17

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

100

Cooper's Hawk

L

3

2

1

2

-

-

1

-

-

-

2

7

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

19

Red -tailed Hawk

1

6

12

5

24

14

1

5

6

3

9

15

1

1

7

13

2

6

7

-

2

140

Red-shoulder. Hawk

-

2

4

4

28

20

-

9

1

-

16

18

1

-

2

2

-

2

4

-

-

113

Broad -winged Hawk

4

10

12

2

19

9

-

10

-

-

2

3

-

-

4

-

-

2

-

-

-

77

Rough-legged Hawk

-

-

-

-

*1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Bald Eagle

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

4

-

2

8

-

1

-

18

Northern Harrier

-

-

-

2

3

1

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

2

2

-

5

-

-

-

17

Osprey

2

-

4

6

5

2

1

7

5

-

21

• 14

1

21

16

6

4

30

5

5

2

157

Peregrine Falcon

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Merlin

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

American Kestrel

8

4

5

6

13

9

-

9

2

3

7

15

2

3

3

5

-

-

-

-

-

94

Ruffed Grouse

36

4

3

43

Bobwhlte

1

5

26

4

29

21

-

33

10

3

23

28

7

6

9

61

26

30

14

14

3

353

Ring-neck. Pheasant

-

2

51

43

7

20

11

50

3

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

191

Wild Turkey

10

18

2

-

1

31

King Rail

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

7

1

-

5

-

-

-

14

Virginia Rail

17

1

-

-

11

1

-

34

-

-

-

64

Sora

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4

-

-

-

2

-

-

11

-

-

-

17

Black Rail

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

2

Common Gallinule

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

6

-

-

-

8

American Coot

54

5

4

2

2

-

2

4

-

-

2

4

-

-

7

-

-

_

2

-

-

88

Am. Oystercatcher

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

2

Semipalmated Plover

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

17

-

-

10

-

-

-

29

Killdeer

54

35

29

15

6

8

3

27

2

5

2

24

-

6

9

10

2

6

2

2

5

252

Black-belly Plover

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

9

-

-

-

11

American Woodcock

8

5

5

2

4

3

-

10

-

4

-

4

-

-

27

9

-

16

-

-

-

97

Common Snipe

10

-

2

2

1

2

-

-

1

-

-

21

-

-

-

-

3

1

-

-

-

43

Upland Sandpiper

1

-

-

3

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

7

Spotted Sandpiper

29

34

42

30

40

39

6

56

3

-

18

150

-

2

8

25

41

11

4

-

1

539

Solitary Sandpiper

8

21

8

52

31

8

2

29

9

-

5

40

1

-

8

8

1

12

5

-

-

248

Willet

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

36

1

-

2

39

Greater Yellowlegs

-

3

5

14

1

-

-

8

9

-

-

29

-

-

20

34

64

45

15

8

1

256

September 1980 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE m

Table 2 (cone.)- Statewide Bird Count, May 3, 1980

Spec les

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Mont

Howa

Carr

Balt

Harf

Cecl

AnAr

Pr.G

Calv

St.M

Kent

Caro

Talb

Do re

Wico

Somr

Wore

TOTAI

Lesser Yellowlegs

27

12

6

10

30

5

_

18

13

_

1

18

_

-

8

_

68

4

2

_

_

222

Yellowlegs sp.

-

-

-

-

-

-

9

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9

Pectoral Sandpiper

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

6

-

-

3

1

-

1

-

“

13

White-ruraped Sandp.

*3

-

*1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

U

Least Sandpiper

i

17

4

8

1

-

-

39

1

-

5

3

-

12

237

3

7

25

3

-

-

366

Dunlin

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

12

-

-

88

-

-

-

101

Short-b. Dowitcher

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

8

Semipalra Sandpiper

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

9

-

30

7

13

2

10

-

-

-

74

Western Sandpiper

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

Sanderling

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

Glaucous Gull

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

*1

L

Gr. Blk-back. Gull

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

101

1

-

13

-

-

13

11

-

-

3

5

-

-

147

Herring Gull

1 1

15

1

-

5

1

-

93

-

-

875

37

-

73

212

-

1

275

31

-

-

1630

Ring-billed Gull

132

15

15

-

71

50

-

1810

52

3

34 56

1 561

12

190

979

60

86

12

66

102

-

8672

Laughing Gull

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

94

-

2

2893

-

8

202

142

743

133

110

167

197

25

4718

Bonaparte's Gull

27

-

3

-

14

-

-

23

-

2

2

5

-

-

-

-

1

10

-

-

-

87

Forster's Tern

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

2

-

-

-

15

1

-

-

19

Common Tern

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

17

-

-

-

l

-

-

5

24

Little Tern

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

10

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

2

13

-

-

-

33

Royal Tern

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

50

-

-

2

-

-

-

57

1

-

-

110

Caspian Tern

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

61

-

-

13

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

74

Black Skimmer

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

30

-

-

-

-

-

-

20

50

Rock Dove

4

97

102

94

322

318

6

1307

10

-

33

472

-

3

23

57

5

3

4

6

7

2873

Mourning Dove

74

44

234

122

446

227

12

336

39

7

60

194

12

25

79

129

26

15

19

16

1

2117

Ringed Turtle Dove

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

l

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Yellow-bill. Cuckoo

-

-

-

1

15

6

-

3

-

-

3

10

-

1

2

8

2

7

4

-

2

64

Barn Owl

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

-

-

2

1

-

-

-

3

-

1

-

, -

-

14

Screech Owl

3

-

3

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

L 2

3

-

6

-

'' -

-

34

Great Horned Owl

1

1

3

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

3

1

-

-

10

3

-

2

-

-

-

26

Barred Owl

3

1

2

1

22

8

-

1

1

1

6

19

1

-

5

13

-

3

-

-

-

87

Chuck-will 's -widow

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

3

1

-

3

29

1

-

25

-

-

-

63

Whip-poor-will

4

6

2

1

24

6

-

25

-

21

1

43

-

1

27

21

-

14

-

-

-

196

Common Nighthawk

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

7

-

-

-

-

-

7

Chimney Swift

41

88

307

192

134

30

3

227

10

15

141

53

27

15

24

108

13

27

■ 16

5

22

1503

Ruby-thr Humming bd

-

5

2

1

14

2

-

6

-

-

3

7

1

-

10

14

2

2

1

1

-

71

Belted Kingfisher

4

13

19

13

19

10

1

12

-

-

9

8

-

1

6

8

-

-

2

-

-

125

Common Flicker

31

89

76

39

103

48

11

60

15

1

34

29

-

2

27

23

17

14

9

8

2

638

Pileated Woodpkr

2

13

21

5

40

8

-

2

-

-

3

10

-

-

-

3

2

5

3

-

-

117

Red-bellied Woodpkr

2

34

73

26

247

101

5

62

12

13

45

51

4

8

24

60

34

11

9

2

-

823

104 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Table 2 (cont.). Statewide Bird Count, May 3, 1980

Species

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Mont

Howa

Carr

Balt

Harf

Cecl

AnAr

Pr.G

Calv

St.M

Kent

Caro

Talb

Dorc

Wico

Somr

Wore

T0TA1

Red -headed Woodpkr

6

_

7

3

3

_

1

_

_

_

2

-

_

_

_

1

1

_

_

24

Yellov-b. Sapsucker

1

3

1

-

3

-

1

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

13

Hairy Woodpecker

7

8

35

4

18

11

-

5

1

-

9

4

-

1

5

12

-

-

-

1

-

121

Downy Woodpecker

35

60

77

23

120

36

4

43

3

5

39

37

2

3

16

32

5

3

8

2

-

553

Eastern Kingbird

3

3

38

23

64

41

2

29

4

2

37

47

4

1

35

25

2

19

13

1

-

393

Gt. Crested Flycat.

-

17

11

3

43

4

1

7

-

-

12

9

-

4

9

28

47

15

13

1

-

224

Eastern Phoebe

19

33

43

22

62

21

4

27

1

3

3

21

2

1

10

30

9

-

3

2

3

319

Acadian Flycatcher

-

1

-

-

14

8

-

1

-

-

-

3

-

2

-

9

4

1

1

1

-

45

Alder Flycatcher

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

*1

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

Least Flycatcher

-

1

-

-

-

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

Eastern Pewee

4

-

2

-

7

2

-

2

-

1

-

-

-

3

2

4

1

2

1

3

-

34

Olive-sided Fly.

-

-

-

-

*1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

*1

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

Horned Lark

8

-

7

1

1

-

-

12

-

-

-

8

-

3

8

18

-

3

-

-

-

69

Tree Swallow

77

18

173

4

67

15

10

80

3

2

760

121

4

3

109

35

9

66

4

2

-

1562

Bank Swallow

5

-

6

3

7

-

-

55

24

-

353

44'

1

2

64

•4

-

2

-

-

-

570

Rough-wg. Swallow

7

11

125

29

46

11

32

29

-

2

4

8

1

2

10

10

-

-

2

-

-

329

Barn Swallow

144

40

179

118

330

229

15

243

33

19

458

307

36

75

211

202

96

100

70

80

30

3015

Cliff Swallow

103

10

5

-

12

6

-

20

-

-

-

12

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

169

Purple Martin

72

1

289

16

59

12

-

82

8

2

41

46

67

38

202

154

2

29

66

12

5

1203

Blue Jay

217

90

183

339

2657

1060

127

2132

287

56

6874

695

1573

37

359

179

52

44

39

12

4

17016

Northern Raven

2

-

6

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

--

-

8

American Crow

236

145

317

375

625

226

32

367

23

3

157

192

6

50

50

243

20

30

23

21

1

3142

Fish Crow

-

-

18

21

89

8

3

37

14

3

18

34

3

68

13

17

45

10

2

-

-

403

Blk-cap. Chickadee

92

36

79

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

207

Carolina Chickadee

-

-

33

35

307

90

10

133

16

12

85

101

4

14

58

63

24

16

23

9

-

1033

Tufted Titmouse

21

65

137

55

309

112

4

111

8

11

68

84

7

25

35

71

25

13

30

8

1

1200

White-br. Nuthatch

40

17

11

5

35

8

-

8

-

-

-

2

-

1

-

2

1

-

_

-

_

130

Red-breast. Nuthatch

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

_

_

_

3

Brown-headed Nut.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

1

5

_

_

_

8

Brown Creeper

7

-

3

2

4

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

1

-

-

-

19

House Wren

14

30

111

89

370

101

10

80

12

2

30

32

1

1

39

11

1

12

8

5

-

959

Winter Wren

2

-

-

-

2

-

-

2

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

_

7

Carolina Wren

1

7

47

18

98

25

2

38

4

2

44

27

4

16

16

32

18

10

4

5

1

419

Marsh Wren

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

2

-

12

10

-

1

6

-

-

35

3

2

74

Sedge Wren

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

6

-

-

-

-

-

_

7

Northern Mockingbird

-

35

66

39

174

92

4

67

26

9

66

93

5

21

72

96

42

7

19

19

2

954

Gray Catbird

4

20

67

51

353

228

24

147

20

2

74

125

11

11

61

51

5

1 1

5

2

1

487

Brown Thrasher

31

29

54

23

68

29

9

26

11

5

34

23

4

6

43

66

14

4

21

14

4

1304

American Robin

380

393

461

278

484

220

26

304

72

13

254

204

26

33

265

256

52

31

74

31

17

3894

September 1980 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE L05

Table 2 (cone.). Statewide Bird Count, May 3, 1980

Species

Carr

Alle Wash

Fred

Mont

Howa

Carr

Balt

Harf

Cecl

AnAr

Pr.G

Calv

St. M

Kent

Caro

Talb

Dorc

Wico

Somr

Wore

TOTA

Wood Thrush

12

30

48

23

210

93

7

91

16

30

88

53

7

11

74

106

48

13

15

12

_

987

Hermit Thrush

3

-

1

5

17

4

-

6

2

-

2

2

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

43

Swainson’s Thrush

2

-

-

-

11

-

-

2

-

-

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

17

Gray-cheeked Thrush

-

-

-

-

*1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Veery

3

2

-

-

22

11

-

9

1

1

4

5

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

59

Eastern Bluebird

12

L9

127

33

68

44

8

12

9

-

5

57

-

4

8

20

-

1

-

2

1

430

Blue-gray Gnatcat.

52

106

207

19

610

97

8

116

8

11

69

35

-

3

27

21

8

9

2

-

-

1408

Golden-cr. Kinglet

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

2

Ruby-cr. Kinglet

36

15

31

15

66

41

1

35

2

2

32

18

1

1

3

2

-

3

-

-

-

304

Water Pipic

1

-

2

-

1

-

-

18

-

-

-

-

-

-

16

-

1

-

-

-

39

Cedar Waxwing

-

10

51

-

107

-

-

13

-

-

6

14

30

-

10

7

-

-

-

-

-

248

Loggerhead Shrike

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Starling

119

288

594

310

1068

395

19

796

85

20

564

594

15

80

366

713

263

46

305

95

39

6774

White-eyed Vireo

2

7

7

6

122

97

6

92

13

6

84

63

4

12

31

32

41

21

43

22

2

713

Yellow-thr . Vireo

-

7

16

-

50

18

2

12

-

2

6

7

-

1

8

3

-

-

3

-

-

135

Solitary Vireo

6

1

6

-

15

9

-

-

-

-

3

5

-

-

8

-

-

-

-

-

-

53

Red -eyed Vireo

5

8

29

9

267

85

3

104

21

14

202

144

8

32

76

82

28

26

20

25

-

1188

Philadelphia Vireo

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

—

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

3

Warbling Vireo

-

-

31

3

52

3

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

1

-

-

-

1

-

95

Blk-&-white Warbler

7

1

11

4

63

53

4

59

7

20

21

55

-

15

15

7

5

6

8

1

-

362

Prothonotary Warbler

1

1

12

j2

71

-

-

-

-

1

3

5

-

-

11

22

2

6

5

10

-

152

Worm-eating Warbler

-

1

9

-

18

9

-

10

-

1

5

-

-

-

8

2

9

4

3

-

-

79

Golden-wing. Warbler

-

4

6

-

7

4

-

2

-

-

-

1

-

-

3

-

1

-

-

-

-

28

Brewster's hybrid

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Lawrence's hybrid

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Blue-winged Warbler

-

1

6

-

53

25

1

28

1

1

22

14

-

1

11

1

2

1

3

-

-

171

Tennessee Warbler

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

1

1

-

2

1

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

15

Nashville Warbler

3

2

3

1

8

2

-

-

-

-

2

2

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

24

No. Parula Warbler

-

21

21

1

240

57

5

43

3

8

49

59

1

16

6

7

4

4

2

-

-

547

Yellow Warbler

24

62

65

11

48

47

-

46

29

3

17

51

-

2

138

8

3

19

11

2

-

586

Magnolia Warbler

1

2

-

-

10

2

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

19

Cape May Warbler

-

-

-

1

15

1

-

1

-

1

-

4

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

23

Blk-thr. Blue Warb.

4

-

2

2

33

7

-

8

1

-

12

6

1

3

3

-

2

-

-

-

-

84

Yellow-rumped Warb.

68

36

108

91

927

216

7

347

41

15

167

476

10

27

320

44

32

23

31

-

-

2986

Blk-thr. Green Warb.

42

4

6

1

33

4

-

3

-

-

5

5

-

3

8

2

-

-

-

-

-

116

Cerulean Warbler

-

1

70

-

50

3

1

6

-

-

-

5

-

2

3

-

1

-

-

-

-

142

Blackburnian Warb.

2

1

1

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

1

1

-

3

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

12

Yellow-thrtd. Warb.

-

1

34

-

44

4

-

3

1

-

1

-

-

-

1

1

2

2

1

-

-

95

Chestnut-sided Warb.

5

-

2

-

10

-

-

2

-

-

-

4

-

-

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

33

106 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Table 2 (cont.). Statewide Bird Count, May 3, 1980

Species

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Mont

Howa

Carr

Balt

Harf

Cecl

AnAr

Pr.G

Calv

St.M

Kent

Caro

Talb

Do re

Wico

Somr

Wore

TOTA

Bay-breasted Warb.

1

_

_

_

2

_

_

3

_

_

3

1

10

Blackpoll Warbler

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

_

_

_

7

Pine Warbler

1

2

4

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

16

25

1

18

7

12

4

38

26

_

_

157

Prairie Warbler

6

9

17

-

57

56

4

31

5

4

40

33

l

15

21

11

1

8

11

14

_

342

Palm Warbler

2

3

-

1

3

2

-

-

1

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

_

_

14

Ovenbird

2

1

12

4

70

54

3

37

-

38

55

61

6

9

19

40

28

26

40

17

_

522

No. Waterthrush

-

1

2

-

15

4

1

13

3

2

8

3

-

-

2

1

-

_

1

_

_

56

La. Waterthrush

101

24

41

5

41

11

2

18

3

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

2

-

2

_

272

Kentucky Warbler

1

-

1

-

16

17

-

11

1

2

4

1

1

1

9

7

1

1

1

_

_

75

Mourning Warbler

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

*1

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Common Yellowthroat

7

22

42

49

378

265

31

198

50

21

149

108

15

8

178

70

28

88

44

32

2

1785

Yellow-br. Chat

-

3

4

-

13

23

-

5

2

-

9

4

1

-

7

12

1

7

_

3

94

Hooded Warbler

-

1

1

-

5

22

-

14

-

2

47

19

5

2

_

_

2

_

5

_

125

Wilson's Warbler

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

_

_

3

_

_

_

_

7

Canada Warbler

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

-

-

-

_

_

6

American Redstart

3

4

56

1

87

59

1

28

3

1

25

76

1

5

11

1

4

-

_

14

-

380

House Sparrow

145

135

543

284

255

149

10

353

32

13

79

192

30

58

125

223

96

15

71

40

31

2879

Bobolink

9

-

-

-

2

1

-

-

-

-

203

5

100

-

-

-

-

4

_

_

324

Eastern Meadowlark

141

43

91

90

58

51

8

21

19

1

22

42

8

17

22

13

14

22

_

8

1

692

Red-wing. Blackbird

444

181

664

236

750

315

62

578

204

118

1338

645

655

56

611

496

128

700

99

63

10

8353

Orchard Oriole

-

3

17

1

23

3

-

2

1

1

18

5

-

2

19

22

3

16

15

1

1

153

Northern Oriole

1

13

100

12

51

10

6

21

2

2

19

7

2

1

12

25

-

1

-

285

Rusty Blackbird

1

10

3

-

7

-

-

2

-

-

-

16

-

-

3

_

-

1

_

_

_

43

Boat-tailed Crackle

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

_

_

_

_

8

_

37

2

47

Common Grackle

372

499

1215

466

1134

269

18

512

77

69

474

260

55

227

354

943

66

600

223

62

60

7955

Brown-head. Cowbird

66

100

247

49

361

87

29

127

10

5

61

34

475

18

214

97

27

44

23

15

3

2092

Scarlet Tanager

1

5

16

5

57

29

-

16

1

8

37

37

3

4

13

24

4

2

10

7

-

279

Summer Tanager

-■

-

-

-

4

-

-

-

-

-

2

2

-

1

-

12

2

5

-

-

-

28

Northern Cardinal

64

184

283

148

743

327

26

351

52

20

239

207

18

23

191

185

46

20

46

32

3

3208

Rose-br. Grosbeak

2

-

3

-

7

5

1

7

3

1

2

4

-

-

2

1

-

-

-

-

-

38

Blue Grosbeak

-

-

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

5

2

-

3

11

16

1

2

18

-

3

63

Indigo Bunting

-

2

5

2

59

9

3

10

-

-

12

21

-

16

7

2

2

1

4

14

-

169

Dickcissel

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

_

_

_

_

_

2

Evening Grosbeak

26

37

6

1

3

1

-

1

-

-

1

1

_

_

-

8

_

_

5

_

_

90

Purple Finch

37

31

113

35

68

15

-

53

1

-

-

6

-

2

3

2

-

-

-

-

-

366

House Finch

10

73

141

12

16

3

1

52

3

-

7

21

-

-

2

1

-

-

_

_

-

342

American Goldfinch

373

427

694

194

965

307

13

510

43

10

147

129

3

9

119

50

82

2

7

1

-

4085

Rufous-sided Tovhee

100

58

86

61

281

142

25

164

42

22

85

76

17

10

60

65

21

25

16

9

3

1368

Savannah Sparrow

5

11

25

2

44

8

-

41

-

-

37

16

8

4

4

1

2

5

-

-

-

213

September 1980 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 107

Species

Grasshopper Sparrow
He ns low's Sparrow
Sharp-tailed Spar.
Seaside Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Northern Junco
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-crowned Spar.
White-t hroated Spar .
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow

Total Species
Total Individuals

Party-hours: foot
car
boat
other

total

Party-miles: foot
car
boat
other

total

Start Lng Time
Ending Time
Total Observers
Total Parties

Table 2 (cont. ). Statewide Bird Count, May 3, 1980

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Mont

Howa

Carr

Balt

Harfj

Cecl

AnAr

Pr.C

Calv St.M

Kent

Caro

Talb Dorc

WIco

Somr

Wore

TOTAL

1

3

9

6

15

13

-

8

-

-

3

30

-

6

2

-

3

3

4

-

2

-

104

4

-

-

“

"

“

“

3

“

:

2

17

“

:

2

*

-

75

4

_

“

2

101

2

-

18

4

4

2

-

6

-

-

-

2

-

-

2

7

-

-

-

-

-

47

6

1

8

11

4

-

-

1

2

-

7

1

1

-

-

5

-

-

-

-

-

47

211

121

122

32

126

69

2

111

13

ii

54

61

-

25

63

115

25

13

23

30

-

1227

102

69

121

38

2 59

86

20

45

7

6

30

48

13

12

41

44

3

12

6

2

-

964

2

1

44

1

2

3

-

1

-

-

1

2

l

-

12

2

-

-

-

-

-

72

44

162

219

280

998

631

61

461

96

11

274

232

41

4

73

138

77

7

42

3

2

3856

64

7

4

4

20

6

:

54

1

-

4

15

*3

-

8

-

1

3

2

1

_

3

194

243

163

144

108

283

126

29

198

22

14

73

125

16

9

40

10

13

11

1

10

1

1639

139

133

146

117

169

135

80

165

96

82

153

162

75

120

169

127

106

149

97

78

55

243

5316

10790

20360

882

2290

22631

3429

7838

2251

2108

419

4895

5106

8286

1 5022-

812

9917

2321

7231

3991

1294

1371 59

69

56*5 100

33

186

83

9

?

7

2

7

81

8

2

12

68

7

4h

?

7

2

720+

24

9*5

20

10

36

12

1

?

?

7

?

14

0

10

35

33

7

17

7

7

2

230+

2*5

0

0

0

0

0

0

?

7

0

0

2

0

0

0

2

7

0

0

0

0

6*5

4

0

0

0

0

1

0

7

?

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

?

0

0

0

0

7

99h

66

120

43

222

96

10

95

16

9

51*5

99

8

12

47

103

25

21*5

17

10

4

1175

60

32

125

20

140

64

4+

42

5

1

27

65

6

3

20

32

10

2

2

4

H

665

376

112

400

220

277*5

165

?

165

?

29

95

213

0

189

197

299

?

190

128

50

40

3146+

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

7

?

0

0

6

0

0

0

2

?

0

0

0

0

13

4

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

?

7

0

5

0

0

0

0

?

0

0

0

0

11

445

144

52 5

240

417*5

231

?

207

?

30

122

289

6

192

21 7

333

?

192

130

54

41

3815+

0500 0530

0450

0500

0400

0300

0001

0600

0430

0005

0000

0001

2130 2100

2230

1 500

1300

2100

2100

1400

1630

2300

21 30

2300

25+

25

24

19

69

27

6

28

4

2

17

30

1

2

14

37

5

3

6

3

2

349

?

7

15

4

?

7

7

15

2

1

7

21

1

1

5

?

7

1

?

7

7

?

*These reports needed confirming details but were submitted without them. Without substantiation, they should not be
considered for season reports, etc. The scaup, gull, and Alder Flycatcher are often difficult identification problems.

The others are possible but questionable on the basis of location and/or expected dates. Very special thanks to my father,
Carl S. Holmes, who did much of the work on this table.

u>

cr

2

O

to

108 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

109

days of record arrival or departure dates as well. These can easily be
checked in the Robbins and Bystrak "Field List of the Birds of Maryland,"
1911 . Compilers from only Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George's, and
Dorchester Counties even indicated that some birds were unusual. Any
comments are greatly welcomed even if they do not get directly quoted.

For instance, this compiler was skeptical of the number of Anne Arundel
County Royal Terns, but Armistead's offhand comment that he could not ex-
plain why Royal Terns had made such a good showing in Talbot and Dorches-
ter Counties this spring really eased the mind. I wish someone had simi-
larly explained the number of Laughing Gulls in Prince George's County
( zero) .

The most amazing bird on this May Count has to be the Anhinga (the
first for the Count) on the C & 0 Canal in Montgomery County; it had
been reported the previous week at a nearby location. The Montgomery
County Olive-sided Flycatcher was carefully documented to the local com-
piler. The Prince George's Peregrine Falcon was seen not far from the
hacking platform at Merkle Wildlife Refuge and the Montgomery Rough-
legged Hawk was at least noted as unusual. However, details were defin-
itely desirable, as this bird broke the state departure record by a
week. It was simply not a count full of rarities; the spring was a bit
late, the winds were wrong, but the day was delightful enough so the
life to the spirit was real — rarities or not.

This year's fLight of fancy for the compiler involved curiosity
about the most common species. The top 15 birds were listed for each
of the last 15 May Counts. Total individuals and birds per party-hour
were figured for each species in each year and combined into the 15-
year totals. Then, the birds per party-hour figures were averaged for
each 5-year group of counts (1966-70, 1971-75, 1976-80). Even when one
considers the instability of coverage, changing dates, and weather as
variables, the averages can suggest some fascinating trends.

As you see in Table 2, the native blackbirds (grackles, Red-wings,
and cowbirds) decreased, the real drop coming during the unusually cold
winters between 1971 and 1973; and populations seem to be holding with
only a hint of upward movement in the last two or three years. House
Sparrows also dropped significantly between 1971 and 1972 and seem to be
continuing a slow decline. Hadn't you noticed? Or do you think these
birds are best ignored? Breeding Bird Survey data confirm the decline
in the northeastern states (Virginia to Maine) and strongly suggest it
in Maryland. Now, if someone will discover the reason for the failure
to recover after 1973...

The saga of the gulls is equally fascinating. In 1976 (in the
rain), there seemed to be an explosion. First thoughts were that the
sudden blitzing of eastern Baltimore County was responsible, but that was
not begun until 1977 and the explosion was at least bay-wide. But, num-
bers have remained high. Is it Increased interest, or increasing gulls?

Another species showing a remarkably steady increase is American
Crow. This is also confirmed by Breeding Bird Survey data, as is the
increase of Mourning Doves.

110

MARYLAND

BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36

, No. 3

Table 2.

Trends

for species

that have been in the

top 1 5

Total

Birds per

No. Years

Species

Birds

Party-hr*

in Top 15

Mean Birds per Party-hr

1966-80

1966-80

1966-80

1966-70

1971-75

1976-80

Common Grackle

173,821

10.89

15

13.99

11.27

9.46

Eur. Starling

126,947

7.95

15

7.67

8.25

8.09

Red-wing Blkbird

124,742

7.82

15

9. 75

7.31

7,33

Blue Jay

108,398

6.79

15

5.67

8. 58

5.05

American Robin

63,609

3.99

15

3.34

4. 51

4.04

Am. Goldfinch

62,449

3.91

15

4.04

3.89

3.98

Barn Swallow

62,423

3.91

15

3.48

3.62

4.52

Ring-billed Gull

59,211

3.71

12

1.13

1.84

7.71

House Sparrow

53,375

3.34

14

4.47

3.38

2. 72

Yellow-r. Warbler

47,969

3.01

9

1.20

1.83

5.09

Northern Cardinal

44,210

2.77

14

3.03

3. 15

2.74

White-thr. Spar.

41,291

2.59

7

1.14

2.77

3.33

Laughing Gull

37,729

2.36

8

1.55

1.15

4.42

American Crow

33,349

2.09

11

1.55

2.01

2. 58

Tree Swallow

29,017

1.82

6

1.24

1. 72

2.21

Brown-hd Cowbird

27,746

1.74 7

(all pre *75)

1.82

1.95

1. 50

Canada Goose

27,566

1. 73

4

1.80

2.62

0.96

Mourning Dove

25,490

1.60

2

1.28

1.60

1.80

Herring Gull

24,470

l. 53

4

0.95

1.27

2.24

Rufous-s. Towhee

22,880

1.43 5

(all pre ’73)

1.59

1.39

1.37

Chimney Swift

21,855

1.37 6

(pre '71, ’79)

1. 59

1.08

1.64

No. Mockingbird

17,327

1.09 4

(all pre '71)

1.50

1.12

.80

Bobolink

17,120

1.07 3

(see text)

0.24

0. 12

2. 54

Gray Catbird

16,827

1.05 1

(1966)

1.24

0.84

1.11

Dunlin

5,922

0. 37 l

(see text)

0.30

0.50

0,36

Rock Dove

4

(see text)

—

—

3. 52

*Total party-hours, 1966-80, = 15,960

For the true migrants, this chart is just an exercise; irt has no
significance. Too much depends on the date and weather conditions. We
seem to average a real Blue Jay day about every four years. The 1971-75
count group hit two — so that average is much higher than the other sets,
which had one each. The earlier the count, the higher the robin totals
(coincidence?); and while White-throated Sparrow totals are similar, they
are not so nicely consistent. Bobolinks were IN in 1977, 78, and 79 and
insignificant in all other years. American Goldfinch averages are amaz-
ingly similar, especially for a bird in migration at this time of year.
Rock Dover were not counted before 1975 and Dunlin made the list on the
basis of a single large flock in Worcester County in 1973.

One interesting trend is the increase in numbers of birds per party-
hour needed to make the list of the top 15. In 1966-69, the cut-off
point was about 1.25 birds per party-hour. This year and last, the cut-
off points have been about 2,50. This may say more about efficiency of
coverage than it says about numbers of birds; or it may say a good deal
about species response to human influenced environmental changes (gull

Ill

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, No. 3

totals?); or yet again, it may reflect a proportional decrease of time
spent in the woods and suburbs — observers going where the birds are rather
than where they would like the birds to be.

As always, the numbers simply raise more questions. And isn't this
a lot of the fun of a Count, to see what sort of screwy thing you will dis-
cover next? And your curiosity will bring you out on the next count, and
the next, and ...

SUMMARY OF COVERAGE

GARRETT (Garr) 25+ observers. 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

A1 Bourgeois, David, Hillel and Seth Brandes, Drew Ferrier, Charlotte and Dan
Folk, Sheila Hughes, Vinnedge Lawrence and students from Washington and Jefferson
College in Washington, Pa., Grace Lichty, Bill Pope, Fran Pope (compiler), Barbara
Schrock, Jay Sheppard, Barb Swiger, Diane and Fred Thayer, Sallie Thayer, Becky,
Daisy, John and Sam Yoder, Bradley and Gary Yoder, Marvin Yoder.

ALLEGANY (Alle) 25 observers. 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Tod Davis, Bill Devlin, David Forney, Florence Giffin, Kendrick Hodgdon (compiler),
Jon Jansen, William, Mark & Dorothea Malec , Martha Meek, Mr. & Mrs. Lamar Minnick,
Paul Nazelrod, James Paulus, Debra Pence, John Pfeiffer & son, Mr. & Mrs. Reikle,
Paul and Ann Smith, Mary Twigg , James Wilkinson, John Willetts, Harriet Williams.

WASHINGTON (Wash) 24 observers.

Laura Arant Ted Banvard, Genevieve Beck, Dan Boone, Cindy Bunnell, Mary & Ross
Corderman, Frances & Don Cutchall, Barbara Dowell, Leontine & Truman Doyle, Chuck
Dupree, Beulah Green, Debbie Landis, Cam & Norma Lewis, Marilyn Mause, Jean Neely,
Nancy Pierce, Dorothy Ridenour, Doris Ruthrauth, Frank Sturges, Bertie Thurmond.

FREDERICK (Fred) 19 observers.

Melvin Bennett, Serene Collmus , Edward and Sonya Dapper, John Helm, Howard and
Phyllis Hodge, Kenneth and Carolyn Maize, Marilyn Mause, William Meredith,

Charles Mullican (compiler), John and Ruth Richards, William Shirey, Linda Smith,
John Thrasher, David Wallace, Michael Welch.

MONTGOMERY (Mont) 69 observers. 4:50 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Shirley Bean, Louise Berry. Chip Bonde, Larry Bonham, Joy and Mike Bowen, Rich
Bray (compiler), Bob and Ellen Caswell, Dick and Marjorie Cleveland, Paris and
Alice Coleman, David Czaplak, Don and Margaret Donnald, Paul DuMont, Dan Eberly,
Bill and Marie Elliott, Heather, Robert and Tony Futcher, Gregory Gough, Delores
Grant, Bob Hahn, Even and Ives Hannay, Les Holtschlag , Duane Hope, Glory Houck,
Heidi Hughes, Vince Jones, Katherine Jones, Ruth Klein, Nancy and Stuart MacClln-
tock, Louise Marsh, David Mehlman, Helen Meleney, Jean Mielczarek, Ed Mirsky,

Ann Mitchell, Phyllis Morrow, Gary Nelson, Lucy Perron, Ella Pfeifer, Aline
Pinkard , Marie Plant, Ray Prybis, Irene Ritch, Cheryl Roslund, Leslie Roslund,
Nicholas Root, Nich Schliapin, Margaret Sickels, Wayne Sieck, Dick Thorington,

Tom Valega, Winnie Walker-Jones , David and Diane Weber, Don Weber, Bill Wendell,
John Weske, Claudia Wilds, Frank Witebsky, Paul Woodward.

HOWARD (Howa) 27 observers.

Joe Byrnes, John and Eileen Clegg, John Grabowski, David Holmes, Alice Kretz,

Terry Landon, Chris Ludwig, Dennis and Ginny Matthias, Mike and Grazina McClure,
Linda McDaniel, Nancy Mohr, Rosamond Munro, Nancy Powell, Dorothy Rauth, Fred
and Nan Rhinelander, Chandler and Eleanor Robbins, Stephen Simon, Jo Solem, Earl
Strain, Mark Wallace, Jack Whyte, Paul Zucker (compiler).

CARROLL (Carr) 6 observers.

Harold Burkett, David Holmes, Bertie MacGregor, Jerry Newton, Patsy Perlman,
Margaret Stevenson. Bill Ellis, compiler.

112

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, No. 3

BALTIMORE (Balt) 28 observers.

Mike Beyer, Warren Bielenberg, Peggy Bohanan, Ed Boyd, Martin Brazeau, Chris Cheney,
John Cullora, Bob Dixon, JoAnn Dreyer, Martha Farmer, Steve Hardiman, Scott Hartlaub,
Betty Iber, Bob Jarboe, Hank. Kaestner, Peter Kaestner, Cindy Lane, Bob Lyon, Bertie
MacGregor, Patsy Perlman, Mike Resch, Bob Ringler (compiler), Mike Smith, Jim Stasz,
Charles Swift, Dave Wallbeck, Pete Webb, Joy Wheeler.

HARFORD (Harf) 4 observers.

Bill Braerman, Matt Peterson, Spike Updegrove, John Wortman.

CECIL (Cecl) 2 observers. 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clark Jeschke, Marianne Rentsch.

ANNE ARUNDEL (AnAr) 17 observers. 3:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Ron Amoss, Bob Augustine, Danny Bystrak, Amelia Cockran, Phil DuMont, Alberta Flash-
man, Ellen Gizarelil (compiler), Sally Henderson, Wayne Klockner, M. Jenkins, Ben
Paga , Lynn Palmer, Linda Pivacek, Codfrey Rockefeller, William Sladen, Sally
Symington, Hal Wierenga.

PRINCE GEORGES (Pr.G) 30 observers. 12:01 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Stanley Anderson, Maureen Blades, Rich Dolesh, Sam Droege, Greg Eck, Janet Ganter,

Joe Hanfman, Gary Hensler, Mary Janetatos, Kathy Klimkiewicz, Dorothea Leonnig , Greg
Lewis, Sam Lyon, Elwood Martin, Jim Nichols, Paul Opler, Robert Patterson (compiler),
Betty Porter, George and Harriet Powell, Betsy Reeder, Chan Robbins, Mike Sorensen,
Chris Wagnon, Mary and Michael Warts, Robert and Steve Whitcomb, Charles Williams,
Lawrence Zeleny.

CALVERT (Calv) 1 observer. 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. John H. Fales.

ST. MARYS (St.M) 2 observers. 4:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. V. Ray and Alden Taylor.
KENT (Kent) 14 observers.

Joe and Margaret Blair, Arlene Delario, Maggie Duncan, Chris Durham, Jim Grubety,
Beverly Henry, Dolly McSorley, Ed and Dottie Mendinhall, Floyd Parks (compiler),

Manly Parks, Jack Skinner, Pat Wilson.

CAROLINE (Caro) 37 observers. 12:05 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Annabelle Bilbrough, Elsie Bilbrough, Irene Bilbrough, Winifred Bright, Margarethe
Butenschoen, Elizabeth Cannon, Kristi Cliff, Elsie Collison, Ethel Engle, Wilber
Engle, Roberta Eveland , A. J. Fletcher, Roberta Fletcher, Robin Fletcher, Donna
Glime, Inez Glime, Joe Glime, Marvin Hewitt, Naomi Hewitt, Alicia Knotts, Kathleen
McKee, Kathy Ann McKee, Sean McKee, Timothy McKee, Mariana Nuttle, Essie Pepper,

Ethel Poore, Joan Powell, Wilbur Rittenhouse, Thomas Robbins, Carol Scudder, Carlene
Schmick, Dolly Seamans, L. T. Short, Isabelle Todd, Michael Todd, Steve Westre.

TALBOT (Talb) 5 observers.

Lester Coble, Richard Kleen, Jan Reese, Bob Trever, Kathy Trever.

DORCHESTER (Dorc) 3 observers.

Harry Armisatead (compiler), Carl Perry, Erika Wilson.

WICOMICO (Wico) 6 observers.

Ruth Denlt, Hugh and Sally Hanson, Charles (compiler), Gail, and Daphne Vaughn.
SOMERSET ( Somr ) 3 observers. Polly Batchelder, Ralph and Laura French.

WORCESTER (Wore) 2 observers. Frances Brueckmann, Mary Humphreys.

5643-A Harpers Farm Rd. , Columbia, Md. 21044

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

113

THE SEASON

SPRING MIGRATION, MARCH 1 - MAY 31, 1980

Robert F. Ringler

Rain played a large role in this spring's migration and probably
delayed the arrival of numerous passerines from the south. Precipita-
tion was about an inch and a half above normal in both March and April
and near normal in May. The last measurable snowfall was on Mar. l4
when Cumberland received 7 1/2 inches. However, this was dissipated
within three days as the thermometer there hit 62° on the l6th. Over-
all, temperatures averaged 2° below normal in March, 0.7° above normal
in April, and 1.1° above normal in May.

The warm moist weather permitted early growth on most trees, the
exception being the northeast part of the state where the infestation of
Gypsy Moths is epidemic. Consequently, in most areas, the trees were
fully green before large numbers of migrant songbirds had arrived and
finding them was more difficult in the dense foliage. Particularly good
days for observers were May b and May 9 following the passage of frontal
systems. Migrants sped through during the middle of the month and most
had passed before the rains of May 18-21. The mild weather of the re-
mainder of the month allowed the last birds to slip through on time.

In Tables 1 and 2 the earliest arrival and latest departure dates
are listed for the counties. For convenience or lack of reports Harford
and Cecil Counties have been combined; Charles, Calvert, and St. Marys
have been included as Southern Maryland; Kent and Queen Annes Counties
have been combined; and the Lower Eastern Shore comprises Somerset,
Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. Under these columns respectively in
the tables all dates are from Harford except those followed by a "c" for
Cecil; Southern Maryland dates are from Charles except those followed by
a "c" for Calvert, "s" for St. Marys, or "+s" for Charles and St. Marys
both; in the Ke/QA column "q" follows dates from Queen Annes, all others
are from Kent; for the Lower Eastern Shore most dates are from Worcester,
but others from Wicomico are followed by "w", Somerset by "s", and "+w"
indicates both Worcester and Wicomico. A zero in the table indicates
the species was not seen in the county, a dash indicates the bird was
seen in the county during the season but the date was not significant as
either an arrival or departure, and underscored dates indicate birds
that were banded.

Contributors: Garrett County - Fran Pope, Sallie Thayer; Allegany -

Jim Paulus; Washington - Dan Boone, Alice Mallonee; Frederick - David

Table L. Spring Arrival Dates, 1980

Med ian

Species

10-y r

1980

Carr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Carr

Balt

HaCe

Howa

Mont

Pr.C

AnAr

SoMd

KeQA

Caro

Talb

Dorc

LES

Common Loon

4/12

4/ 5

3/26

4/28

__

__

4/ 5

4/12

0

4/18

_

__

4/ 2

4/ 6s

4/26

0

3/28

3/30

Horned Grebe

3/17

3/19

--

3/23

0

0

3/16

3/ 8

0

4/ 8

3/ 1

0

3/30

--

—

Pied-bi lied Grebe

3/16

3/12

3/12

—

0

3/ 1

3/25

3/14

0

3/ 9

—

3/24

—

0

2/13q

—

0

0

—

Double-cr. Cormorant

4/11

3/30

0

0

0

0

—

4/18

—

—

—

0

—

3/ 9

3/26q 4/29

4/ 6

3/30

3/ 3

Great Blue Heron

3/12

3/ 9

3/15

—

—

3/ 9

3/25

3/15

—

3/ 4

2/19

3/ 4

Green Heron

4/17

4/14

4/29

4/18

4/23

4/ 7

—

4/14

—

—

4/12

4/11

—

4/ 6s

4 / 19q 4/18

4/11

—

—

Little Blue Heron

4/25

4/12

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

4/ L

0

0

0

4/11

4/12

0

5/ 3

0

0

—

--

Cattle Egret

4/10

4/ 6

0

0

0

5/ 1

—

3/16

—

—

4/30

--

—

—

3/28

4/ 6

—

--

Great Egret

4/10

4/ 6

0

0

0

—

0

4/20

—

3/17

0

—

0

4/ 6s

—

0

4/11

3/30

—

Snowy Egret

4/13

4/ 7

0

0

0

0

0

--

0

0

0

—

4/13

4/ lc

4/ 6q

0

4/ 9

3/30

4/19

American Bittern

4/14

4/13

0

--

0

--

--

4/19

0

3/30

4/13

—

—

0

4/ 1

—

0

4/19

—

Glossy ibis

4/ 9

4/ 8

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 2

4/ 6s

4/15

0

4/ 8

3/30

—

Whistling Swan

3/ 7

3/16

3/18

3/23

0

3/ 9

3/20

3/17

0

3/23

3/15

—

—

3/ 9

3/ 5

3/ 8

3/16

--

—

Canada Goose

3/ 3

3/ 7

3/15

3/10

0

3/23

2/29

3/16

—

2/23

3/ 1

2/28

—

3/19

3/ 5

Gadwall

3/11

3/11

—

4/ 2

0

0

4/ 5

—

0

—

2/24

0

—

0

2/23q

0

3/11

—

0

Common Pintail

3/ 4

3/ 6

3/15

4/ 2

0

0

3/16

2/13

0

3/ 8

—

0

2/24

0

3/ 5

2/23

3/ 9

—

3/ 4

Creen-winged Teal

3/20

3/16

—

3/23

0

4/ 3

3/16

2/ 9

0

3/ 8

4/12

2/26

3/16

3/19

3/18

--

3/ 9

—

0

Blue-winged Teal

3/22

3/26

3/23

3/29

4/22

3/22

4/ 5

4/12

—

3/29

3/15

3/ 8

—

4/ 6s

3/22

4/ 2

3/ 9

3/30

—

American Wigeon

3/ 7

3/ 8

3/27

3/23

0

0

3/16

2/21

0

—

2/24

2/23

0

3/ 19s

3/ 5

2/23

3/11

—

--

Northern Shoveler

3/18

3/14

0

3/26

0

0

0

0

0

3/22

0

2/26

0

0

3/14

0

0

—

3/ 4

Wood Duck

3/ 9

3/ 9

2/26

3/ 9

—

3/ 9

3/16

2/18

—

3/29

3/ I

3/15

—

—

—

2/23

—

3/30

—

Redhead

3/ 7

3/ 6

0

3/29

0

0

3/25

3/ 5

0

3/12

0

2/26

0

0

2/1 3q

3/ 7

2/ 9

0

—

Ring-necked Duck

3/ 9

3/15

3/19

3/15

—

0

3/16

3/15

0

2/21

2/24

3/10

3/16

3/19

3 1 5

—

—

3/ 5

—

Canvasback

3/14

3/15

3/22

3/15

0

0

0

—

0

3/12

0

3/27

0

3/19

3/ 5

0

2/ 9

3/30

3/ 4

Lesser Scaup

3/ 9

3/12

3/19

—

0

0

3/20

—

0

3/20

—

3/ 6

--

—

3/ 5

3/ 6

—

—

0

Common Goldeneye

3/ 3

3/ 6

2/29

--

0

0

0

—

0

—

3/ 8

3/11

—

—

3/ 5

3/ 6

—

—

0

Bu£ f lehead

3/ 10

3/12

3/23

--

0

0

3/16

3/11

0

2/29

3/ 9

3/13

3/16

—

3/ 5

0

—

—

0

Oldsquaw

3/19

—

0

—

0

0

0

3/15

0

0

0

0

0

3/19

3/ 5

0

—

—

0

Ruddy Duck

3/11

3/25

3/27

3/26

—

0

3/16

—

0

—

0

3/13

—

0

3/25

0

—

0

—

Hooded Merganser

3/ 4

3/ 8

3/10

3/ 7

—

3/ 9

3/16

3/ 1

0

3/12

2/24

2/23

0

0

—

0

0

0

0

Common Merganser

3/ 4

3/14

2/26

—

0

3/ 9

3/16

3/16

0

3/12

—

0

0

—

3/20

0

0

—

0

Red-breast Merganser

3/15

3/22

3/27

3/23

—

3/22

3/16

3/15

0

—

4/ 6

—

0

3/ 15s

3/20

0

3/23

—

—

Turkey Vulture

—

3/ 8

3/ 8

2/24

—

3/ 7

—

3/15

—

—

3/20

—

3/ 8

3/19

Sharp-shinned Hawk

3/11

3/11

3/14

—

—

3/10

0

3/23

3/ 3

—

4/ 1

3/11

2/17

--

0

Cooper's Hawk

—

3/17

4/13

--

—

4/ 5

0

—

0

0

3/15

—

3/ 8

3/19

2/ 13q

0

0

0

0

Red-tailed Hawk

2/28

3/ 9

—

—

—

3/ 1

—

3/15

—

—

3/ 9

3/16

3/ 8

—

Red-shouldered Hawk

—

3/10

3/15

—

—

3/ 1

—

3/16

2/25

—

—

2/16

3/ 8

3/19

3/13

Broad-winged Hawk

4/15

4/11

—

4/11

4/23

—

—

4/12

—

4/ 7

4/19

4/ 6

4/10

—

—

—

0

—

—

Osprey

3/26

4/ 3

4/11

4/20

4/ 5

3/29

4/ 5

4/ 4

—

4/10

4/ 6

4/ 3

3/15

3/ 15s

3/ 5q

3/17

3/10

3/30

—

American Kestrel

3/ 2

3/13

3/ 1

—

—

3/ 1

—

3/23

—

3/12

3/20

3/24

3/ 8

3/ 15s

3/ 7

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Table l (cone.). Spring Arrival Dares, 1980

Median

Spec ies

10-yr

1980

Garr

Aiie

Wash

Fred

Carr

Bal t

HaCe

Howa

Mont

Pr .G

AnAr

SoMd

KeQA

Caro

Talb

Dorc

LES

Sora

4/26

4/26

0

0

0

4/12

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

0

4/19

American Coot

3/17

3/16

3/19

3/29

—

3/22

3/25

3/16

0

0

3/ 9

3/26

—

3/ 9

2/1 3q

0

2/ 9

0

3/ 4

Semipal mated Plover

5/ 5

5/ 3

0

5/13

0

5/15

0

5/11

0

0

0

5/ 3

—

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

Kllldeer

2/26

2/25

3/15

—

—

2/17

3/25

2/ 9

—

3/ 4

2/17

3/ 4

2/ 9

—

—

Black-bellied Plover

5/ 2

5/ 6

0

0

0

0

0

5/11

0

0

0

0

5/10

0

5/ 3

0

—

3/30

—

Upland Sandpiper

4/26

4/26

5/ 3

0

4/26

4/26

0

5/ 2

0

0

0

0

4/22

0

0

0

4/13

0

0

Greater YeLlowlegs

3/24

3/28

0

3/16

—

3/29

0

4/ 4

—

4/27

3/19

3/24

—

0

3/28q 3/27

4/12

3/30

—

Lesser YeLlowlegs

4/15

4/ 4

—

4/18

—

3/29

4/13

4/ 4

—

—

—

3/27

—

4/11

3/28q

0

4/20

3/30

—

Solitary Sandpiper

4/29

4/19

5/ 2

4/15

4/23

4/12

—

4/19

4/29

4/18

4/ 6

4/ 9

—

—

4/26

—

4/27

—

4/20

Spotted Sandpiper

4/27

4/21

4/22

4/15

4/23

4/12

5/ 3

4/10

—

4/24

4/17

4/16

—

—

4/21 q 4/23

4/19

4/26

—

American Woodcock

2/28

3/ 9

3/11

3/ 9

4/24

3/13

—

3/ 8

—

3/ 9

2/24

3/17

—

3/ 8

—

2/22

3/ 7

4/19

—

Common Snipe

3/ 9

3/ 8

—

4/18

—

2/17

4/ 5

3/ 1

—

3/ 8

—

--

--

4/ lc

2/1 3q

4/ 8

—

—

3/ 3

Semipal ra Sandpiper

5/ 4

5/ 3

0

5/11

0

5/15

0

5/ 3

0

4/27

0

5/ 3

—

5/ 3£

4/18

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

Least Sandpiper

5/ 1

4/23

—

4/27

—

4/19

0

4/19

4/29

—

—

4/18

—

4/27

—

—

White-rump Sandpiper

5/ 6

5/10

5/ 3

—

0

0

0

5/11

0

0

0

5/ 3

5/14

0

5/ 3

0

0

5/10

5/10

Pectoral Sandpiper

4/Ll

4/11

0

4/27

0

4/ 3

0

4/12

—

—

0

5/ 1

0

0

4/11

—

—

3/30

0

Dunl in

4/24

4/23

0

4/27

0

5/ 3

0

4/19

0

0

0

0

3/16

0

4/18

0

__

5/ 3

—

Ring-billed Gull

3/ 3

3/ 4

3/15

3/ 9

—

2/18

2/29

—

3/15

3/10

2/17

2/16

Laughing Gull

4/ 7

4/ 6

0

0

0

' 0

0

3/29

5/ 3c

0

5/ 3

—

--

4/ 6s

3/3 1 q 4/19

4/ 4

3/30

4/19

Bonaparte's Gull

3/31

3/30

4/17

4/ 2

—

/ 0

0

3/23

—

0

0

3/30

3/30

—

Common Tern

5/ 1

4/19

0

4/30

0

0

0

4/12

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3s

0

0

4/19

4/19

—

Little Tern

5/ 4

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

4/30

5/ 3s

5/ 2q

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

Royal Tern

—

4/11

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4/30

5/ 3s

0

0

4/11

3/30

4/ 6

Caspian Tern

4/20

4/12

0

0

0

0

0

4/ 4

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

4/ 6s

0

0

4/19

0

—

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

5/ 6

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

4/26

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 3a

4/29q 4/26

4/27

5/ 3

5/ 3

Black-billed Cuckoo

5/ 7

5/11

5/29

0

0

0

0

5/11

0

—

5/10

5/ 7

—

0

5/13

5/ 6

0

0

5/11

Whip-poor-will

4/23

4/19

—

4/20

4/24

—

—

4/20

4/ 9

4/15

—

4/23

4/14

—

4/18

4/19

Common Night hawk

5/ 6

5/ 8

5/22

5/ 6

—

5/12

—

4/30

5/11

5/ 1

5/11

5/ 4

5/10

—

Chimney Swift

4/18

4/13

—

4/ 15

4/12

4/ 8

4/13

4/10

4/20

4/ 13

—

4/13

4/13

4/ 5

4/20q

—

4/ 3

--

4/19

Ruby-thr Hummingbird

4/29

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

—

5/ 1

4/27

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 3c

5/ 3

4/22

4/28

5/ 3

4/20

BeLted Kingfisher

3/15

3/ 6

3/ 7

—

—

3/ 9

—

2/21

—

2/19

—

3/16

3/ 5

—

Common Flicker

3/18

3/11

4/ 7

—

—

2/24

4/ 5

3/ 7

—

2/23

—

3/16

Yellow-bel Sapsucker

—

3/26

4/10

—

—

3/22

—

3/30

0

2/23

—

4/18

0

0

3/26

3/ 1

0

0

0

Eastern Kingbird

4/26

4/24

5/ 3

4/29

4/24

4/24

—

4/20

5/ 3c

4/23

4/23

4/10

—

4/12

4/29q 5/ 3

4/24

5/ 3

—

Ct Crest Flycatcher

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/29

—

5/ 2

4/26

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3s

5/ 3

4/17

4/26

5/ 3

4/19

Eastern Phoebe

3/17

3/19

3/17

—

—

3/22

3/25

3/20

3/23

3/17

3/ 8

2/26

3/27

3/19

—

3/ 3

—

3/30

—

Acadian Flycatcher

5/ 5

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

—

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

4/26

5/ 3

—

5/ 3s

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

WilLow Flycatcher

5/20

5/24

5/24

5/24

5/31

5/13

5/13

--

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

Least Flycatcher

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/18

5/ 3

0

—

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Eastern Pewee

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

—

—

5/ 3

5/ 3c

5/ 1

4/20

—

—

5/ 3s

5/ 3

4/19

4/30

5/ 3

—

Tree Swallow

3/29

3/29

4/17

4/ 2

4/23

3/29

4/ 5

4/ 4

—

4/17

3/24

3/17

3/ 8

3/ 19s

3/ 19q

3/26

3/19

3/30

—

September 1980 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Table 1 (cont.). Spring Arrival Dates, 1980

I — 1
ON

Spec ies

Median
10-yr L980

Garr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Carr

Balt

HaCe

Howa

Mont

Pr .G

.AnAr

SoMd

KeQA

4/ 3q
s —

Caro

Talb

Dorc

LES

Bank Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cl if I 1 Swallow
Purple Martin

5/ 1
-4/16
4/ 6
5/ 2
4/ 2

4/19
4/ 6
4/ 6
4/23
3/30

5/ 3
5/ 3
5/ 3

4/11
4/ 2
4/14
3/27

4/12
4/12
5/ 3
4/ 2

4/26

3/29

4/10

0

3/29

0

4/ 5
4/ 5
4/13
4/ 5

4/19
3/25
4/ 4
4/13
3/25

4/16

0

4/20

4/10

5/ 3
4/18

4/19
3/23
4/ 8
3/30
3/16

4/15
4/11
4/ 5
5/ 3
3/18

4/20
4/ 7
4/ 3
4/ 5
4/ 7

4/ 6s
4/ 6s
0

4/ 6+

0

3/28

4/19
4/ 5
4/ 6
0

3/30

3/30
5/ 3
3/30

4/20

4/19

0

Brown Creeper

—

3/29

—

—

--

3/ 9

4/ 6

3/28

—

4/10

—

—

—

3/30

3/21

House Wren

4/21

4/20

5/ 1

4/24

4/21

4/24

4/20

4/ 6

4/29

4/17

4/20

3/24

4/13

—

5/ 2q

4/18

4/29

—

—

Gray Catbird

4/25

4/27

3/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 1

5/ l

5/ 3

4/20

4/ 5

4/13

4/15

4/13

—

4/ 6s

4/22q

—

4/27

--

--

Brown Thrasher

4/ 8

4/11

4/20

4/ 7

4/21

4/17

4/20

3/29

—

4/11

3/16

4/ 7

—

4/11 -l-s 4/9q

—

4/ 4

4/12

—

American Robin

2/22

3/ 3

3/ 9

—

2/18

3/ 2

—

3/ 8

3/ 9

3/ 5

2/22

3/ 3

--

3/ 3

--

2/25

2/ 9

—

—

Wood Thrush

T/23

4/28

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/25

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/26

4/26

4/30

4/22

4/25

—

—

—

4/22

4/27

—

—

Hermit Thrush

4/12

4/16

4/16

0

4/23

—

0

4/12

—

4/10

4/18

4/30

—

0

3/25

0

4/30

4/12

Swainson's Thrush

5/ 6

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

—

0

5/ 3

5/11

5/ 6

4/22

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3c

5/ 8

—

0

0

0

Gray-cheeked Thrush

5/ 9

5/11

5/15

0

0

0

0

5/13

0

0

5/ 3

—

5/10

0

5/ 7

5/15

0

u

0

Veery

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 8

—

4/14

5/ 3+c 5/1

4/20

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 9

3/ 9

0

0

Eastern Bluebird

2/25

2/24

3/15

—

—

2/24

—

2/14

—

3/ 8

—

3/24

—

--

2/15

2/21

—

Blue-gray Gnatcatch

4/11

4/11

4/17

4/11

—

4/ 5

4/13

4/ 8

4/13

4/ 4

4/ 7

3/30

—

4/ 6s

4/22q

—

4/13

4/12

Goiden-cr Kinglet

3/26

3/27

0

0

0

4/ 4

—

3/25

0

0

0

0

0

—

3/ 6

—

—

3/30

Ruby-cr Kinglet

4/10

4/ 6

4/ 7

—

—

3/22

—

3/20

4/12

4/ 3

3/16

4/10

—

4/11+s 4/9

—

4/ 5

__

Water Pipit

3/23

3/20

3/12

3/15

—

3/25

0

4/13

0

0

2/24

4/ 5

0

0

0

—

0

__

0

Cedar Waxwing

2/22

3/ 9

—

—

—

3/ 2

—

3/24

--

3/ 9

—

3/ 4

3/28

White-eyed Vireo

4/20

4/16

5/ 2

4/10

—

4/20

4/20

4/15

4/13

4/11

—

4/18

4/13

—

4/19

Yellow-thr Vireo

4/30

4/24

0

4/24

—

5/ 1

4726

4/24

4/24

4/20

Solitary Vireo

4/26

4/18

4/ 9

4/20

—

—

0

4/19

0

4/18

4/15

4/13

—

0

4/22

0

4/30

0

0

Red-eyed Vireo

4/30

4/20

4/19

—

4/20

4/20

4/20

4/20

—

4/22q

4/24

4/27

4/20

Warbl ing Vireo

4/30

4/26

0

4/27

4/23

4/26

—

5/ 2

—

—

4/26

—

—

0

—

--

—

0

—

Black-4-white Warb

4/22

4/20

—

—

4/24

--

—

4/13

—

4/12

4/24

4/12

4/22

4/12

4/22

—

4/25

--

4/19

Prothonotary Warbler

4/23

4/22

0

5/ 3

—

4/26

0

—

5/ 3c

0

4/13

4/22

4/22

—

—

4/20

4/28

—

4/19

Worm-eating Warbler

5/ 1

4/30

0

5/ 3

4/25

—

—

4/20

5/ 3c

5/ 1

4/25

4/25

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

4/25

4/30

5/ 3

4/19

Colden-wing Warbler

5/ 3

3/ 3

5/15

5/ 2

5/ 3

0

0

4/28

0

5/ 3

4/30

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

0

Blue-winged Warbler

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 3+c 5/2

4/30

4/28

5/ 3

5/ 3s

4/29+q 5/3

4/28

5/ 3

5/ 3w

Tennessee Warbler

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 7

5/ 3

0

0

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

4726

4/26

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

Nashville Warbler

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/27

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

4/25

5/ 1

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

N. Parula Warbler

4/23

4/20

—

4/27

4/24

4/24

4/20

4/15

5/ 3c

4/10

4/12

4/ 3

4/20

4/11

4/29q 4/23

4/25

4/19

Yellow Warbler

4/25

4/24

4/25

4/27

4/23

4/26

—

4/22

—

4/18

4/20

4/22

4/24

--

—

4/28

4/29

__

Magnolia Warbler

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/11

0

5/ 6

5/13

5/ 3

4/26

—

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/14

0

0

Cape May Warbler

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/15

—

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3c

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

0

4/29

0

0

0

0

Black-thr Blue Warb

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/26

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/26

4/24

4/24

5/3cs

4/30

5/ 6

5/ 1

5/10

0

Yellow-rumped Warb

4/14

4/ 5

3/22

4/13

4/12

—

4/ 5

4/13

3/24

—

—

3/20

—

4/ 6

Black-thr Green Warb

5/ 4

5/ 2

4/28

4/26

4/23

5/ 3

0

5/ 2

5/ 8

5/ 3

4/26

4/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 3s

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 4

5/10

—

< Jb

MAEYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 36, No

Table 1 (cont-)- Spring Arrival Dates, 1980

Median

Species

10-yr

1980

Carr

A 1 1 e

Wash

Fred

Carr

Balt

HaCe

Howa

Mont

Pr.G

AnAr

SoMd

KeQA

Caro

Talb

Dorc

LES

Cerulean Warbler

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 2

_

4/26

4/27

4/26

__

5/ 3s

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

0

Blackburnian Warbler

5/ 5

3/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

4/28

—

—

4/26

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3s

4/30

0

5/ 2

0

0

Yeilow-thrtd Warbler

4/16

4/16

0

4/27

4/12

—

4/22

4/20

0

4/26

4/ 6

4/30

0

0

0

4/1 1

4/13

4/ 7

Chestnut-sided Warb

5/ 5

3/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 2

0

5/-7

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

0

4/24

5/ 6

0

0

0

Bay-breasted Warbler

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

5/11

5/14

5/ 3

5/10

5/ 3

5/ 3s

5/ 7

0

5/14

0

0

Blackpoll Warbler

5/ 6

5/ 6

0

0

-

5/21

0

5/ 7

0

5/16

4/26

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 3s

5/ 6

0

5/ 6

5/10

Pine Warbler

3/17

3/23

—

3/30

—

3/23

—

3/23

—

3/29

—

—

—

3/1 lc

2/1 3q

3/24

2/19

3/30

—

Prairie Warbler

4/24

4/22

—

4/29

4/24

—

—

4/20

—

4/21

4/26

4/ 3

—

—

4/29q

—

4/20

__

Palm Warbler

4/14

4/ 7

—

—

0

4/10

0

4/ 9

—

4/17

4/ 3

4/ 6

—

0

3/20

0

0

0

0

Ovenbird

4/23

4/23

5/ 3

—

4/23

5/ 2

5/ 3

4/20

5/ 3

4/23

4/17

4/12

4/22

4/12

4/29q 5/ 3

4/27

4/19

Northern Wacerthrusli

5/ 1

5/ 3

—

4/29

4/24

--

5/ 3

4/20

5/3+c

5/ 3

4/21

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

4/26

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3w

Louisiana Waterthr

4/ 7

4/ 6

—

4/11

4/ 6

4/24

—

4/ 4

--

4/ 9

4/ 5

4/ 6

—

4/ 6

4/ 3

4/21

4/13

4/ 7

Kencucky Warbler

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 7

—

4/19

5/3+c

5/ 3

4/25

4/22

5/ 3

5/3cs

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/29

5/ 3

4/19

Common Yellowthroat

4/21

4/19

—

5/ 2

4/23

5/ 1

—

4/19

—

4/24

4/20

4/16

—

4/1 l+s4/22q 4/15

4/12

4/12

Yellow-breasted Chat

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

—

4/26

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/29

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3d

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

Hooded Warbler

5/ 1

4/25

4/12

—

4/26

4/25

5/ 1

—

—

0

0

4/19

Wilson's Warbler

5/ 6

5/ 3

0

0

0

—

0

5/ 9

0

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

Canada Warbler

3/ 7

5/ 7

5/15

5/ 3

0

—

0

4/19

0

5/14

5/ 7

—

--

0

5/ 3

0

0

5/10

0

American Redstart

4/30

4/20

--

—

4/25

—

—

4/19

—

4/29

4/20

4/20

4/20

—

—

—

4/30

—

4/19

Bobolink

5/ 5

5/ 3

4/18

—

4/26

—

0

4/18

5/ 6

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/30

5/ 3

5/ 3c

—

5/ 8

5/ 6

5/ 3

0

Red-winged BLackbird

2/21

2/24

—

2/26

2/19

3/ 2

—

2/21

2/24

—

2/23

2/29

Orchard Oriole

5/ 1

5/ 2

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 1

—

4/23

5/3+c

5/ 3

4/23

4/25

5/ 3

5/ 3s

4/29q

5/ 1

4/27

5/ 3

—

Northern Oriole

4/30

5/ 1

5/ 3

4/27

5/ 1

5/ I

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/3+c

4/18

—

4/13

—

—

—

4/28

4/29

Rusty Blackbird

3/ 7

3/28

—

--

--

4/ 3

0

—

0

4/18

3/15

3/23

—

0

3/18

0

4/ 6

0

Common Crackle

2/20

2/24

—

2/24

—

2/18

—

3/ 5

—

2/24

2/23

3/ 1

Scarlet Tanager

3/ 1

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 2

—

—

5/ 2

4/24

4/24

—

—

4/24

—

__

__

Summer Tanager

5/ 5

5/ 3

--

0

0

—

0

—

0

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3s

0

4/20

4/28

5/ 3

—

Rose-br Grosbeak

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/13

5/ 3

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/3+c

5/ 3

4/16

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 4

5/10

Blue Grosbeak

5/ 5

5/ 3

0

5/18

5/ 3

—

--

5/ 2

—

5/15

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3s

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/30

5/ 3

5/3+w

Indigo Bunting

5/ 1

5/ 3

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 6

4/25

4/26

3/26

5/ 3

5/ 3s

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/3sw

Purple Finch

2/16

4/ 8

4/13

--

—

--

4/ 5

4/12

—

—

—

3/16

4/22

—

—

3/27

0

0

Rufous-sided Towhee

3/24

4/ 5

3/22

4/ 7

—

4/17

4/ 5

4/ 1

—

4/16

—

4/ 4

—

4/ 6s

Savannah Sparrow

3/26

4/ 9

—

3/27

4/23

3/15

0

4/12

0

4/29

4/ 9

2/29

2/24

3/ 19s

4/22

—

4/13

Grasshopper Sparrow

3/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

4/23

4/27

—

5/ 3

5/ 1

4/ 8

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3s

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/19

5/ 3

5/ 3s

Vesper Sparrow

4/ 4

4/12

—

4/15

4/23

4/27

4/ 5

4/12

—

--

4/12

—

0

0

3 / 1 9q 4/ 3

0

0

0

Chipping Sparrow

4/ 4

4/ 8

4/16

3/27

—

4/22

—

3/31

4/12

4/ 8

4/ 5

4/ 7

—

3/22

4/ 9q

4/ 1

3/19

4/12

Whitc-crown Sparrow

5/ 3

4/26

5/ 3

5/ 2

4/26

—

—

4/18

0

4/11

4/ 2

5/ 3

0

0

Fox Sparrow

2/28

2/27

--

0

0

3/ 9

—

—

0

2/23

2/12

2/24

2/27

3/12

3/ 2

3/ 8

2/24

0

0

Lincoln's Sparrow

5/11

5/11

5/16

0

0

0

0

5/11

0

0

5/11

0

0

5/ 3c

0

0

0

0

0

Swamp Sparrow

4/17

4/15

4/25

—

—

4/ 3

—

4/15

—

5/ 2

4/17

4/30

—

4/1 Is

3/22

—

3/16

__

September 1980 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE ITf

118

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol . 36, No. 3

Wallace; Carroll - Bill Ellis, Gerry Newton; Baltimore - John and Peg
Barber, Jeff Bickart, Warren Bielenberg, Peggy Bohanan, Gladys Cole, Bob
Jarboe, Hank Kaestner , Peter Knight, Michael Reid, Joe Schreiber, Eddie
Slaughter, Jim Stasz; Harford - Dennis and Jean Kirkwood; Howard -
Brenda and John Bell, George Chase, Martha Chestem, Frances Ehlers,

David Holmes, Kris Krishnamoorthy , Grazina and Mike McClure, Rosamond
Munro, Steve Simon, Jo Solem, Jean Solomon, Earl Strain, Eva Sunell,

Mark Wallace; Montgomery - Larry Bonham, Margaret Donnald, Bob Warfield;
Prince Georges - Rick Blom, Danny Bystrak, Ric Conn, Bill and Floyd
Hayes, Betsy Reeder, Chan Robbins; Anne Arundel - Hal Wierenga; Charles -
Paul Nistico; Kent/Queen Annes - Chris Ludwig, Floyd Parks; Talbot -
Terry Allen, Les Coble, Dick Kleen, Jan Reese, Roger Stone, Bob and
Kathy Trever; Caroline - Kristi Cliff, Ethel and Wilber Engle, Roberta
Eveland, A.J. and Roberta Fletcher, Inez Glime, Marvin Hewitt, Alicia
Knotts, Kathleen McKee, Mariana Nuttle, Ethel Poore, Wilbur Rittenhouse,
Carol Scudder, Oliver Smith; Lower Eastern Shore - Henry Armistead,

Carl Perry.

Loons , Grebes . An early Common Loon was on Broadford Reservoir on
Mar. 26 (PopeT! Wierenga counted a season total of 830 Common Loons
flying past Sandy Pt. this spring with a peak of 236 on Apr. 12. Other
reports of note were 26 in Talbot County on Apr. 11 (Reese), IT near
Bellevue, Talbot Co. on Apr. 13 (Armistead), IT over Laurel on May 2
(Robbins), and 3 at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co. on May 2h (Ringler).

Late Red- throated Loons were seen at Ocean City on May 11 (Robbins,
et al.), on the lower Patuxent River on May 23 (Erika Wilson), and at
Baltimore on May 31 (Stasz, Blom, Ringler). The only Red-necked Grebes
reported this year were at Baltimore on Mar. 29 (Ringler; and at Piney
Run on Apr. 5 (Blom, Reeder;. High counts of Horned Grebes came from
Pt. Lookout where Blom estimated 500 on Apr. 6 and 200 on Apr. 11, and
from Bellevue where Armistead counted 185 on Apr. 13 and 383 on Apr. 19-
Two Pied-billed Grebes on a pond at Mardela Springs on May 9 (Allen,
Coble, Reese) were rather late to be migrants.

Pelagic s . Cormorants . On a May 25 pelagic trip out of Ocean City
observers counted 9 Sooty Shearwaters and approximately 250 Wilson's
Storm Petrels. Blom saw one adult and one immature Great Cormorant at
St. George Island on Mar. 19. Early Doubl e-crested Cormorants were at
Ocean City on Mar. 3 (Slaughter), at the east end of the Bay Bridge on
Mar. 26 (Allen), and 115 at Hooper Island on Mar. 30 (Armistead, Perry).
As usual the cormorants massed in St. Marys County where Blom estimated
300 at Pt. Lookout on Apr. 6 and 6,300 there on Apr. 11. Other sightings
of note were at Baltimore, Apr. 16 (Bielenberg), Denton on Apr. 29
(Hewitt), 50 in Talbot County on May 9 (Reese), 1 at the Waterford Farm
in Howard County on May 23 (M. Wallace), and 1 at Piney Run on May 2h
(Ringler). Rich Rowlett spotted an immature or female Magnificent
Frigatebird at Ocean City on Apr. 28 and followed it north into Delaware.

Herons and Ibis . Armistead and Perry counted T5 nests of Great
Blue Herons at Bloodsworth Island on Mar. 30. Early Green Herons were
seen on Apr. 11 at Upper Marlboro (Blom) and 3 in Talbot County (Allen,
Reese). Early Little Blue Herons were in Baltimore on Apr. 1 (Barber),

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

119

a "calico" bird at Upper Marlboro on Apr. 11 (Blom) , and an adult at
Sandy Pt. on Apr. 12 (Wierenga). Cattle Egrets were widely reported
with a record-early bird in Cabin Branch, Curtis Bay section of Baltimore
City on Mar. 1 6 (Stasz, et al.). This one was followed by 5 at Tanyard
on Mar. 28 (E. Engle), 1 at Back River on Apr. 4 (Blom), 25 in Talbot
County on Apr. b and 50 there on Apr. 13 (Reese), 33 near Bellevue on
Apr. 26 (Armistead) including one almost uniformly salmon-colored bird,

4 at Beltsville on Apr. 30 (Robbins), 8 at Locust Grove, Frederick Co.
on May 1 (D. Wallace), 21 in Cecil County on May 3 (Clark Jeschke), 2 at
Merkle Wildlife Management Area on May 7 (Robbins), 7 at Laurel on May l8
(Robbins^, and another salmon-colored bird sighted near Whaleysville on
May 19 (Armistead, et al.). An early Great Egret was at a farm pond near
Clarksville on Mar. 17 (Reeder) and one was at.Pt. lookout on Apr. 6
(Blom, Reeder). There were 3 Snowy Egrets at Calvert Cliffs on Apr. 1
(Blom) and 1 at Kent Narrows on Apr. 6 (Allen). A Bl ack-crowned Night
Heron was at Knoxville, Frederick Co. on Apr. 5 (Warfield), 3 were at
Sandy Pt . , May 3 (Wierenga), and 1 was in Allegany County on May l8
(Paulus). The first Yellow-crowned Night Herons were 2 adults at Syca-
more Landing, Montgomery Co. on Apr. 5 (Murphy, Don Messersmith) , and 2
adults were seen along Snowden's Run in Carroll County on May 10 (Ellis).
The high count of Least Bitterns was 8 in Southern Dorchester County on
May 10 (Armistead, et al.). Boone heard an American Bittern calling in
the Elliott Island marshes on Apr. 19, 3 were at Summit Hall Turf Farm
on Apr. 20 (Jean Howell), and late birds were at Lilypons on May 15 (D.
Wallace) and at Sandy Pt. on May l8 (Wierenga). The first Glossy Ibis
were 2 at Blackwater on Mar. 30 (Armistead, Perry) followed by 1 at Pt.
Lookout on Apr. 6 (Blom, Reeder), 3 at Bozman on Apr. 8 (Ernie Burns), 1
at Allen's Fresh, Charles Co. on Apr. 11 (Blom), 1 in Queen Annes County
on Apr. 15 (Ludwig), 3 at Sandy Pt . on May 2 (Wierenga), and an impres-
sive 150 flying over St. Michaels on May 22 (Reese).

Swans and Geese . There were 26 Mute Swans near Bellevue on May 17
(Armistead). Warfield noted the main flight of Whistling Swans and
Canada Geese over Germantown on Mar. l6 while Blom saw a big flight on
the evening of Mar. 19 at Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management Area with 930
swans and 1,400 geese counted before dark and another 6 flocks of swans
and flocks of geese heard after dark. Blom spotted one "Blue" Goose
in one of the Canada Goose flocks. Eric Blanks reported 60 Brant at
Ocean City on Mar. 31. A Snow Goose lingered on a pond near Worton,

Kent Co. from Apr. 18 through May l6 (Parks). Kaestner saw 3 "Blue"

Geese flying over Hunt Valley, Baltimore Co. on Mar. 22, and Reese saw
2 in Talbot County on Apr . 2 .

Ducks . A hen Mallard with 11 downy young was on the C & 0 Canal
above Qldtown on Apr. 29 (Paulus). On Mar. 30 in Southern Dorchester
County Armistead and Perry estimated 35 Gadwalls, 120 Pintails, 195
Green-winged Teal, 70 Blue-winged Teal, and Lo Northern Shovel ers.

Reese counted 30 Blue-winged Teal at Kent Narrows on Apr. 13. There
were 50 American Wigeon at Piney Run on Apr. 5 (Blom, Reeder) and a very
late bird at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center on May 31 (Bystrak). A
late drake Northern Shovel er was on a farm pond near Triadelphia Reser-
voir in Howard County on May 17 (M. Wallace, John Moroney). Blom saw 12

Table 2- Spring Departure Dates, 1980

Median

Species

10-yr

1980

Carr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Carr

Balt

HaCe

Howa

Mont

Pr.C

AnAr

SoMd

Kent

Ca ro

Talb

Dorc

LES

Common Loon

5/ 9

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/24

5/25

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/15

6/ 9

5/ 3s

5/28

0

5/ 7

5/10

5/11

Horned Grebe

5/ 4

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/19

0

0

—

5/18

0

5/ 3

4/13

4/29

5/10

5/ 3s

0

5/ 7

5/10

5/10

Pied-billed Grebe

5/ 6

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/23

0

—

4/ 5

5/ 9

0

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

5/11

Dbl-cr. Cormorant

5/20

6/10

0

0

0

0

5/24

6/28

—

5/23

—

0

6/10

—

—

irt*

6/17

6/ 7

6/17

American Bittern

—

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

5/15

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/18

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/10

4/20

Whistling Swan

5/ 2

3/25

3/19

3/23

0

—

3/20

3/17

0

3/27

5/ 3

—

—

3/19+s 5/3

-

4/25

5/ 3

—

Canada Goose

5/ 5

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/14

0

5/22

4/13

5/31

5/ 3c

4/14

5/24

5/ 3

—

—

5/17

—

4/11

—

5/11

Snow Goose

4/ 3

3/28

0

0

0

0

0

3/22

0

3/ 8

5/ 3

0

0

3/19

5/16

—

4/ 2

Cadwail

4/26

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/ 2

0

0

4/ 5

5/ 3

0

4/17

3/ 9

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/10

0

Common Pintail

4/19

4/ 4

3/16

4/ 2

0

0

4/ 5

2/18

0

3/ 8

5/ 3

0

2/24

0

5/ 3

4/ 2

4/13

5/ 3

3/ 4

Green-winged Teal

4/29

4/29

5/ 3

4/18

0

4/24

5/ 3

4/24

0

5/ 3

4/12

5/ 3

3/16

3/19+s 5/3

5/ 3

4/13

5/ 3

0

Blue-winged Teal

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/18

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/27

5/ 3

5/10

5/10

4/1 Is

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

--

—

American Wigeon

4/23

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/18

0

0

4/ 5

—

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/31

0

3/ 19s

5/ 3

2/23

3/Ll

3/30

5/ 3s

Northern Shoveler

4/13

4/12

0

4/ 3

0

0

0

0

0

5/17

0

3/24

0

0

4/18

0

0

4/12

—

Redhead

4/ 6

3/28

0

4/ 3

0

0

3/25

3/23

0

3/12

0

—

0

0

3/30

4/ 2

—

0

—

Ring-necked Duck

4/15

4/13

5/ 3

4/ 6

5/ 3

0

3/25

—

0

5/26

—

5/ 7

3/16

3/19

4/ 3

4/15

4/13

-

0

Canvasback

4/15

4/ 2

3/27

3/15

0

0

0

5/1!

0

3/12

0

3/28

0

4/ 6s

4/18

0

4/ 5

3/30

5/Ll

Lesser Scaup

5/ 1

4/12

5/ 3

3/29

0

0

3/29

5/31

0

5/19

4/12

5/ 3

—

3/30

4/ 2

4/19

3/30

0

Common Coldeneye

4/26

4/13

2/29

4/13

0

0

0

4/19

0

—

—

6/ 1

—

4/1 Is

5/ 3

3/ 6

4/19

3/30

0

Buf f lehead

5/ 2

4/27

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

3/16

4/21

0

4/17

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/1 1 s

3/30

0

5/ 6

3/30

0

Oldsquaw

4/12

4/11

0

4/14

0

0

0

—

0

0

0

0

0

4/1 Is

3/25

0

4/19

3/30

■ 0

White-winged Scoter

4/24

4/ 6

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3/11

5/10

4/ 6s

3/30

0

5/ 6

3/30

5/11

Surf Scoter

—

4/12

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4/lls

0

0

4/13

3/30

5/11

Black Scoter

—

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4/19

3/30

5/11

Ruddy Duck

5/ 5

5/ 3

3/27

4/30

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/31

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/10

0

5/27

0

4/11

0

5/ 3

Hooded Merganser

4/20

4/18

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/24

4/10

3/16

4/12

0

3/12

3/ 9

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

0

0

0

0

Common Merganser

4/ 9

4/16

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

3/29

3/25

3/29

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3c

3/30

0

0

3/30

0

Red-br Merganser

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

--

3/25

5/ 9

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

4/ 6s

5/ 3

0

4/19

5/10

—

Rough-legged Hawk

4/ 2

4/ 2

0

0

0

0

0

3/ 5

0

0

5/ 3

4/24

4/ 2

--

3/14

0

1/13

4/12

—

Northern Harrier

5/ 5

5/3

—

5/21

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 6

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/13

—

—

American Coot

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 9

0

0

5/11

5/ 3

5/10

3/19

5/22

0

5/ 7

0

5/11

Semipaimated Plover

5/27

5/21

0

5/27

0

5/22

0

5/19

0

0

0

—

5/10

0

5 20

0

6/ 1

5/10

6/17

Black-belly Plover

5/23

5/11

0

0

0

0

0

5/11

0

0

0

0

5/10

0

5/ 3

0

5/25

5/10

6/17

Greater Yeliowiegs

5/ 9

5/12

0

5/18

5/ 3

5/15

0

5/23

5/ 3

6/ 9

5/ 3

5/13

5/10

0

5/15

5/ 3

5/ 9

5/10

6/18s

Lesser Yeliowiegs

5/ 8

5/10

5/ 3

5/26

5/ 3

5/15

—

5/18

5/ 3

5/19

5/ 3

5/13

5/10

—

5/ 9

0

5/ 9

5/10

5/ 3w

Solitary Sandpiper

5/12

5/ 8

5/ 3

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/22

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/11

5/17

5/10

5/ 3c

5/ 9

5/ 9

5/ 9

5/ 3

5/11

Spotted Sandpiper

5/22

5/15

—

5/16

—

5/22

—

5/25

—

5/11

5/Ll

5/13

—

—

5/15

5/ 9

—

—

5/ 9w

Ruddy Turnstone

5/30

6/10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6/13

0

0

0

5/ 6

6/ 7

6/17

Common Snipe

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/ 18

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

4/19

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/10

—

3/26

4/ 8

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

Sanderl ing

5/10

5/ 7

0

5/19

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ 3

0

5/ 3s

5/20

0

0

3/30

5/11

Semi palm Sandpiper

5/26

5/15

0

6/ 5

0

5/15

0

5/18

0

—

0

5/10

5/10

—

5/20

—

5/ 9

5/11

6/17

Least Sandpiper

5/18

5/10

5/ 3

5/21

5/ 3

5/15

0

5/18

5/ 3

5/19

5/ 3

5/16

5/10

5/ 3s

5/20

5/ 9

5/ 9

5/10

5/10

White-rumped Sandp

—

5/20

—

6/ 5

0

0

0

5/19

0

0

0

--

5/21

0

5/15

0

0

5/10

6/17

Pectoral Sandpiper

5/ 6

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

4/27

0

—

5/ 3

5/ 8

0

5/ 3

0

0

5/13

5/ 3

5/ 9

5/ 3

0

120 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Table 2 (cone.)- Spring Departure Dates, L980

Median

Spec ies

10-yr

1981

Carr

Alle

Wash

Fred

Carr

Balt

HaCe

Howa

Mont

Pr.C

AnAr

SoMd

Kent

Caro

Talb

Pore

LES

Dunlin

5/25

5/21

0

5/21

0

51 3

0

5/18

0

0

0

0

—

0

5/15

0

5/25

6/ 7

6/17

Ring-bilLed Gull

5/ 9

5/11

5/ 3

4/15

—

5/11

—

5/11

51 3c

3/29

6/ 5

5/10

—

—

6/10

—

51 7

—

—

Bonaparte’s Gull

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/27

5/ 3

0

0

5/ 3

51 3c

0

5/ 3

51 3

5/10

—

—

0

51 3

5/ 3

5/11

Yel-bel Sapsucker

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/17

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

4/18

5/ 3

—

0

0

51 3

—

0

0

0

Brown Creeper

4/27

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

51 3

4/ 6

—

—

4/10

5/ 3

4/15

—

51 3s

4/23

51 3

5/ 3

—

—

Winter Wren

4/26

5/ 3

5/29

—

4/25

—

—

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

—

51 3

—

4/1 !

0

—

—

4/ 7

Hermit Thrush

5/ 5

5/ 4

5/10

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/17

51 3

51 8

5/10

5/ 9

51 3

0

51 4

0

4/30

4/12

--

Swainson's Thrush

5/25

5/25

5/22

0

0

5/23

0

5/28

0

—

5/29

5/25

--

--

5/17

5/29

0

0

0

Gray-cheek Thrush

5/23

5/23

5/18

0

0

0

0

5/28

0

0

5/28

5/23

—

0

—

5/17

0

0

0

Veery

5/18

5/15

—

—

—

5/23

—

5/22

—

5/15

5/25

5/18

5/10

0

5/13

5/10

51 9

0

0

Colden-cr Kinglet

4/16

4/ 5

0

0

0

4/ 4

4/ 5

4/12

0

0

0

0

0

3/30

3/30

5/ 3

4/ 5

3/30

—

Ruby-crown Kinglet

5/ 6

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/11

5/ 3

5/ 7

51 3

5/11

5/3+c

51 3

5/ 3

5/ 8

5/10

5/3cs

5/ 9

51 3

5/ 5

5/ 3

—

Water Pipit

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/15

0

5/16

0

0

5/ 3

5/ 1

0

0

0

51 3

0

51 3

0

Cedar Waxwing

5/27

5/27

—

—

5/20

5/27

—

6/ 1

—

—

5/24

5/26

6/ 9

—

—

5/31

5/14

—

—

Solitary Vireo

5/ 6

5/ 6

—

—

5/ 3

5/19

0

5/ 9

0

51 3

5/ 3

5/ 6

5/10

0

51 9

0

5/ 2

0

0

Tennessee Warbler

5/19

5/13

5/ 7

5/23

0

0

0

5/17

—

0

5/11

5/18

5/10

0

5/13

5/18

0

0

5/ 9w

Nashville Warbler

5/11

5/12

—

—

—

—

0

5/13

0

--

5/19

—

5/10

0

5/ 9

0

0

0

0

Magnolia Warbler

5/22

5/21

5/24

—

0

5/26

0

6/ 1

5/13

5/17

5/27

5/22

5/10

0

5/17

5/21

0

0

5/1 1

Cape May Warbler

5/14

5/14

5/22

5/22

0

5/11

0

5/ 5

--

5/14

—

5/17

5/10

0

5/13

0

0

0

0

Black-thr Blue Warb

5/16

5/15

0

5/17

—

—

5/22

5/17

5/10

—

5/13

—

--

5/10

0

Yellow-rump Warbler

5/14

5/10

5/ 9

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/10

5/ 3

5/17

5/ 4

5/13

5/11

5/31

5/10

5/3cs

5/20

51 3

5/14

5/10

5/11

Blk-thr Green Warb

5/14

5/Ll

--

5/18

—

--

0

5/11

5/ 8

5/12

—

--

5/10

--

5/13

0

5/22

5/10

5/11

Blackburnian Warbler

5/16

5/13

--

—

—

0

0

5/28

5/11

5/10

5/16

5/13

5/10

—

5/28

0

—

0

0

Chestnut-sided Warb

5/17

5/10

—

--

—

0

0

5/24

0

51 7

5/16

5/ 8

5/10

0

5/16

51 6

0

0

0

Bay-breasted Warbler

5/18

5/16

5/16

0

0

0

0

5/17

5/11

5/15

5/11

5/22

5/10

—

5/17

0

5/15

0

0

Blackpoli Warbler

5/31

5/24

0

0

5/17

5/23

0

5/31

0

5/31

5/24

5/25

—

—

5/28

0

5/14

—

5/11

Palm Warbler

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

--

5/ 3

51 3

51 3

5/ 3

5/10

0

4/26

0

0

0

0

Northern Waterthrush

5/20

5/23

—

5/27

—

5/23

—

5/28

5/17

—

5/31

5/26

—

0

5/15

5/13

0

0

5/1!

Wilson's Warbler

5/24

5/18

0

0

0

5/26

0

5/16

0

0

5/20

—

—

0

51 7

0

0

0

0

Canada Warbler

5/27

5/27

—

—

0

5/26

0

5/28

0

5/22

5/29

5/27

5/10

0

6/ 8

0

0

5/10

0

American Redstart

5/29

5/27

—

—

—

5/27

—

5/30

—

—

5/27

5/27

—

—

5/26

—

6/ 8

—

—

Bobolink

5/16

5/17

—

5/21

—

5/10

0

5/26

0

6/10

5/17

5/16

5/10

—

5/17

5/14

5/ 6

6/ 1

0

Rusty Blackbird

5/ 6

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/24

0

5/ 3

0

4/26

5/ 3

51 3

51 4

0

51 4

0

4/ 6

51 3

0

Rose-breast Grosbeak

5/19

5/13

—

5/13

—

5/11

—

5/25

—

5/13

5/10

5/25

5/10

0

5/15

—

5/17

5/10

5/10

Evening Grosbeak

5/ 5

5/ 3

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

0

5/ 3

0

51 3

51 3

5/ 7

51 3

0

0

5/ 7

4/30

0

5/ 3w

Purple Finch

5/ 5

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/12

5/ 8

—

5/31

51 3

51 3

5/ 4

5/ 4

—

5/ 3s

51 3

5/16

4/30

0

0

Savannah Sparrow

5/ 8

5/ 7

--

5/13

4/26

—

0

5/17

0

—

—

—

5/10

—

51 3

51 3

51 3

5/10

—

Northern Junco

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/ 3

5/ 3

4/17

4/24

5/ 6

5/ 3

51 3c

4/29

51 3

4/ 6

—

4/20

Am Tree Sparrow

3/24

3/21

5/ 3

—

—

2/17

--

3/15

—

4/27

—

3/17

—

—

3/25

0

—

--

--

White-crown Sparrow

5/ 9

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/16

5/ 3

—

51 4

0

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/10

5/ 3

5/ 3c

5/15

51 3

51 4

—

0

White-throat Sparrow

5/12

5/10

5/ 3

5/ 3

5/10

5/11

5/ 3

6/13

5/10

5/13

5/10

5/25

5/10

5/3cs

5/13

5/19

5/ 3

5/10

5/11

Fox Sparrow

4/ 8

3^2 5

4/17

0

0

3/ 29

3 25

3/25

0

4/ 10

3/30

3/ 16

3/18

3/17

3/ 22

4/ 6

3/ 16

0

0

Lincoln's Sparrow

5/ 24

5/ 23

5/ 16

0

0

0

0

5/ 23

0

0

5/ 25

0

0

—

0

0

0

0

0

Swamp Sparrow

5i 10

V 1 1

57TT

5/ 10

—

5/ 25

—

5/ 10

—

—

5 ! 14

—

5/10

—

September 1980 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 121

122

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, No. 3

Redheads and 6 Greater Scaup in Baltimore harbor on Mar. 5- There were
16 Redheads at Piney Run on Mar. 25 (Ringler). The high count of Ring-
necked Ducks was 90 at Denton on Mar. 6 (Hewitt) . Blom counted 40 Ring-
necks at Myrtle Grove on Mar. 19 and a late drake was on the Waterford
Farm pond in Howard County on May 26 (M. Wallace). Late ducks in Balti-
more harbor were 2 Canvasbacks on May 9 and 3 Lesser Scaup and 9 Ruddy
Ducks on May 31 (Ringler). High counts of Buffleheads were 100 at Pt.
Lookout on Apr. 11 (Blom) and 200 near Bellevue on Apr. 13 (Armistead).
Blom estimated 500 01 dsquaws flying over Myrtle Grove on Mar. / 19 with 3
more flocks heard after dark. He also estimated 400 Oldsquaws at Pt.
Lookout on Apr. 11 and Armistead estimated 750 near Bellevue on Apr. 13.
Bonham saw a female King Eider at Ocean City on Apr. 6 and two females
with a second-year male were there on May 11 (Paul DuMont, et al.).

Rare inland was a White-winged Scoter at Beltsville, Mar. 6-11 (Chuck
Dupree, et al . ) . There were 3 White-wings in the Washington Channel on
Mar. 9 (David Czaplak) and 100 at Sandy Pt . on May 10 (Wierenga). All
of the reports of Surf Scoters came from the bay with 25 at Solomons on
Mar. 11 (Blom, Reeder), 35 in Southern Dorchester County on Mar. 30
(Armistead, Perry), 150 at Calvert Cliffs on Apr. 1 (Blom), 2 near Belle-
vue on Apr. 4 (Armistead), and 6 at Pt. Lookout on Apr. 11 (Blom). There
were 30 Common Mergansers on the Potomac at Seneca on Apr. 5 (Murphy,

Don Messersmith) . High counts of Red-breasted Mergansers were 35 in
Talbot County on Mar. 23 (Allen), 65 on Deep Creek Lake on Mar. 27 (Pope)
and 26 at Hooper Island on May 3 (Armistead, et al.).

Diurnal Raptors . In addition to the migration totals in Table 3 by
Wierenga, several one-day counts were made in different parts of the
state. On Mar. 20 at Rockville Wierenga counted 15 Turkey Vultures, 27
Red-tailed Hawks, and 7 American Kestrels. At the same location on Apr.

7 he saw 3 Ospreys i and on Apr. 23 there he counted 13 Sharp-shinned
Hawks, 50 Broad-winged Hawks, and 2 Northern Harriers. On Apr. 11 near
the village of Robbins in Dorchester County, Ludwig counted 11 Northern
Harriers, 8 Turkey Vultures, 4 Ospreys, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, and 1
Rough-legged Hawk. At Beltsville on Apr. 15 the Hayes' counted 1 Red-
tailed Hawk, 9 Broad-winged Hawks, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Cooper's
Hawk, 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Ospreys, 1 American Kestrel, and l4 unidentified
buteos. At Monkton on Apr. 29 Reid counted 716 hawks in 2 1/2 hours of
afternoon watching. His tally was 11 Black Vultures, 70 Sharp-shinned
Hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 22 Red -tailed Hawks, 18 Red-shouldered Hawks,

472 Broad-winged Hawks, 85 . Ospreys, 2 American Kestrels, 34 unidentified
hawks, plus one Common Loon and 27 Canada Geese. He stated that winds
were light from the southwest at the time. The Osprey total is extra-
ordinary for the Piedmont. Other migrants were randomly reported. On
Mar. 23 there were 22 Turkey Vultures seen over Baltimore (Ringler) and
on Mar. 26 Reese counted 18 at Wye Mills. Robbins noted 46 Broad-winged
Hawks at Laurel on Apr. 19. Rough-legged Hawks were seen on Mar. l4 at
Remington Farms (Parks), on Mar. 30 at ELliott Island (Armistead, Perry),
on Apr. 6 at Beltsville (B. Hayes), on Apr. 12 at Blackwater (Armistead),
and on Apr. 24 at Patuxent WRC (Reeder, George Powell). There were more
Bald Eagle sightings on the Potomac this year as well as the usual ones
from the bay region. One was seen near the Wilson Bridge on Mar. 24
(Evan Wright). Armistead and Perry counted 12 in Southern Dorchester

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

123

County on Mar. 30. One adult was at Calvert Cliffs, Apr. 1 (Blom), an
immature at Ft. Washington, Apr. 2 (Paul Skinner), 2 adults near Wayson's
Corner, Apr. 23 (Mark Applebaum), an adult at Seneca on Apr. 26 (Richard
Cleveland), and an immature at Oxon Hill on Apr. 29 (Tom Manuccia).
Armistead also observed an immature Bald Eagle at Bellevue being har-
rassed by an Ospreys the latter was probably distressed by its proximity
to a nest. Early arriving Ospreys this year were seen at the east end
of the Bay Bridge on Mar. 5 (Allen, Reese) and at Tanyard on Mar. IT (E.
Engle). A Peregrine Falcon was seen on May 3 in a stoop over the Patux-
ent River marsh near Western Branch, Prince Georges Co., a few miles
north of the hacking site at Merkle WMA where 4 birds had been released
the year before. The only Merlins reported were at Plum Pt. on Mar. 11
(Blom, Reeder), at Montgomery Village on Apr. l 6 (Wierenga), and in Kent
County on Mar . 22 and Apr . l 8 ( Parks ) .

Table 3 - Migrant Raptors in the Annapolis Area, Spring 1980

Species

Total

First

Last

Highest Counts

Turkey Vulture

212

3/ 8

5/ 3

37 on Mar. 26, 29 on Mar. 15,
and 27 on Apr. 2

Black Vulture

11

4/10

4/11

7 on Apr. 10

Sharp-shinned Hawk

699

3/ 8

5/10

272 on Apr. 20, 126 on Apr. 25,
and 55 on Apr . 11

Cooper 1 s Hawk

22

3/ 8

5 / 2

7 on Apr . 20 and 3 on Mar . 8

Red-tailed Hawk

91

3/ 8

5/ 4

31 on Mar. 8 , 20 on Apr. 2,
and 11 on Mar. 15

Red-shouldered Hawk 21

3/ 8

4/10

10 on Mar. 15 and 4 on Mar. 8

Broad-winged Hawk

242

4/10

5/23

113 on Apr. 20, 37 on Apr. 11,
and 28 on Apr. 25

Rough-legged Hawk

2

4/ 2

2 on Apr. 2

Bald Eagle

3

4/15

4/17

2 on Apr. 17 (all adults)

Northern Harrier

42

2/24

5 / 6

14 on Apr. 2, 8 on Apr. 25,
and 4 on Apr . 15

Osprey

147

3/15

5/ 4

29 on Apr. 25, 21 on Apr. 2,
and 19 on Apr. 15

Peregrine Falcon

1

3/15

Merlin

10

4/ 9

5/ 3

2 on Apr. 25 and 29

American Kestrel

292

3/ 8

5/ 3

46 on Apr. 2, 37 on Apr. 10 and
11, and 34 on Apr. 9

Total

1,795

2/24

5/23

Approximately 50 days and

155 hours of observation.

Gallinaceous Birds . Armistead notes that a modest number of Ring-
necked Pheasants have become established in the Lakesville-Robbins-
Andrews area south of Shorter's Wharf near Blackwater Refuge "and may be
heard crowing in the early morning far out in the scrub away from any
houses." A Wild Turkey was heard at Lilypons on Mar. 29 by Don Weber
and the Mehlmans. The Wild Turkey seen in a tree on the White House
lawn on Apr. 22 was probably a practical joke. The Chukar seen near
Oxford on Apr. 11 by Miles Leopold was probably an escape.

124

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, No. 3

Rails and Gallinules . A King Rail was at Pt. Lookout on Apr. 6
(Blom, Reeder). Wierenga heard one flying over Sandy Pt. on May 3 at
4:30 a.m. Eddie Slaughter found 7 Clapper Rails at Ocean City on Mar. 4.
Wierenga heard a Virginia Rail flying over his Annapolis house at 10 p.m.
on Apr. 12. A Sora was at Lilypons on Apr. 12 (the Hannays) and Boone
found them numerous in the Elliott Island marshes on Apr. 19, where Reese
found 4 on May 25 and one at the end of the month, indicating that they
may even breed there. The first Black Rail of the season arrived at
Sandy Pt. on Apr. 26 and was joined by a second bird on May l4; both
remained into June and were probably breeding (Wierenga). Armistead' s
tally of rails in Southern Dorchester County on May 10 was 9 Kings, 1
Clapper, 97 Virginias, 12 Soras, and 12 Blacks, plus 7 Common Gallinules.
Other Common Gallinules were found at Sparrows Pt. on Apr. 10 (Blom),
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (WRC) on Apr. 13 (Boone), and Upper
Marlboro on Apr. 22 (Blom).

Shorebirds . There were 10 American Oys tercatchers at Ocean City on
Mar. 4 ( Slaught er ) and 10 on Hooper Island on Mar. 30 (Armistead, Perry).
An American Avocet was seen by many observers at least during the period
Apr. 6 through May 10, and perhaps the same bird was seen on the north
end of Assateague on May 19 by Armistead and the Cutlers. Armistead saw
16 late Black-bellied Plovers near Bellevue on May 25- Wierenga report-
ed three impressive flights of WhimbrelS in late May. On May 18 he
counted 69 in groups of 1, 20, and 48 flying past Sandy Pt . On May 20
he saw 75 over Annapolis and on May 24 he counted 26 at Elliott Island.
John Cullom saw 15 Whimbrels at Back River on May 18. At least one
Upland Sandpiper was seen at the Easton airport, Apr. 13 through May 3,
with 5 there on Apr. 20 (Reese). Wierenga noted single Uplands at
Annapolis on Apr. 22 and near Sandy Pt. on May 3 and 4. High counts for
the season were 55 Greater Yellowlegs at Tanyard on Mar. 27 (E. Engle)
and 33 Lesser Yellowlegs at the rouge lagoons in Allegany County on Apr.
28 ( Paulus ) . There were 35 Solitary Sandpipers at Lilypons on Apr. 27
(Dermot Cooper). In the late afternoon of May 2 Fran Pope watched a
Solitary Sandpiper "flycatching" at a small pond in Pleasant Valley.

"It would walk along at the edge of the water and suddenly jump up into
the air, with a light assist from its wings, snapping at small bugs that
seemed to be swarming overhead." The first Will et was reported at Ocean
City on Apr. 7 (Bonham) and others were at Elliott Island on Apr. 11
(Ludwig) and 2 near Bellevue on May 17 (Armistead). Paulus counted 37
Spotted Sandpipers at the rouge lagoons on May l6. The May 25 pelagic
trip out of Ocean City produced 5 Northern Phalaropes. Short-billed
Dowitchers are uncommon in the bay region, but 3 were in Kent County on
Apr. 18 (Parks) and others were in Dorchester County on Apr. 19 (Ludwig)
and near Bellevue on May 25 (Armistead) . Eddie Slaughter saw 3 Red Knots
at Ocean City on Mar. 4, perhaps indicative of movement by birds winter-
ing north of the usual range, and Wierenga saw one at Sandy Pt. on May 11.
Unusual Sanderling sightings were one at the rouge lagoons on May 15-19
(Paulus) and one in Kent County, May 15-20 (Parks). Western Sandpipers
are rare in spring, but reports came from Ocean City, with 3 on May 11
(Murphy), Sandy Pt . , with 2 on May 14-21 (Wierenga), and Kent County on
May 20 (Parks). White-rumped Sandpipers were widely reported with sight-
ings in Kent County by Parks on May 3, 9, and 15; 3 at Mountain Lake

September 1980

MARYLAND BIRDLLFE

125

Park on May 3 (Pope), 3 at Ocean City on May 10 (Hayes'), 3 at Elliott
Island on May 10 (Armistead, Parks), up to 3 at Sandy Pt . May 14-21
(Wierenga), and 5 in Baltimore on May l8 (Knight). Two Dunlins were at
Sandy Pt. on Mar. l6 (Paul Leifer), one was at Lilypons on May 3 (D.
Wallace), and one near Bellevue on May 25 (Armistead).

Gulls . An immature Glaucous Gull was seen by many observers at
Ocean City at least from Apr. 5 through May 10. Other immatures were
seen in Baltimore from Mar. 15 through May 9 (Ringler, et al.) and at
Sandy Pt . on May 8 (Wierenga). Immature Iceland Gulls were seen at the
following locations: sitting on an ice floe at the east end of the Bay

Bridge on Mar. 5 (Allen, Stone, Reese), in Baltimore on Mar. 15 (Ringler),
at Rockville on Apr. 3 (Wierenga), and at Sandy Pt., May 4 (Wierenga).

Up to 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at the Rockville landfill.
Mar. 20 through Apr. 3, one was at Eastern Neck on Mar. 30 (Parks, Harvey
Mudd), the bird at Ft. McHenry remained through Apr. 19 (Bielenberg) , an
adult and a sub-adult were at Sandy Pt . on Apr. 29 (Wierenga), and an
immature was there on May 10 (Wierenga, Paul DuMont). Ring -billed Gulls
remained by the thousands at the Rockville landfill into May and by the
hundreds late into the month (Wierenga). The immature Black-headed Gull
was last seen at Cabin Branch, Curtis Bay on Mar. 29 (Murphy), but pos-
sibly the same bird appeared at Back River on Apr. 10 and 12 (Blom, et
al.). Two Laughing Gulls at Kent Island on Mar. 31 (Paul Leifer) were
moderately early. Wierenga identified a sub-adult Franklin's Gull at
Sandy Pt . on May 18 and found a differently marked individual of similar
plumage there on the 20th. Paulus counted 6l Bonaparte's Gulls at the

rouge lagoon on Apr. 15 and 2 late birds were in Cecil County on May 3

(Clark Jeschke). A Little Gull was at Ocean City on Mar. 5 (Slaughter)
and 2 there on the 15th (B. W. Keelan). Another appeared at Back River
on Apr. 10 and 12 (Blom, et al.) and 2 were there on the 13th (Stasz).

Terns , Puffin. An early Common Tern was at Back River on Apr. 12
(Ringler, et al . ) and one at the rouge lagoon on Apr. 30 (Paulus) was
unusual for Allegany County. Royal Terns were reported from three loca-
tions in the bay: 3 at Hooper Island on Mar. 30 and 53 there on May 3

(Armistead, et al.), 5 in Talbot County, Apr. 11 (Reese), and one at

Sandy Pt . on Apr. 30 (Wierenga). A high count of 177 Caspian Terns was
made in Baltimore harbor on Apr. 2b (Blom). The only Black Terns re-
ported were one near Oakland on May 12 (Pope), one at Ocean City on May
15 (Bonham), and an amazing 4 at Lilypons on the latter date (D. Wallace,
et al.). Highlights of the May 25 pelagic trip out of Ocean City were
an Arctic Tern, a possible Roseate Tern, and a totally unexpected breed-
ing-plumaged Atlantic Puffin (Wierenga, et al. ) .

Owls . Wierenga did not spend much time listening for migrant Barn
Owls this year but did hear a total of 9 birds from Mar. 16 through May
16 . Hal also found 2 fledged Great Horned Owls at Sandy Pt. on May 7-
Late departing birds from the winter were a Long-eared Owl at Piney Run
on Apr. 5 (Ringler, et al.) and a Saw-whet Owl at Gude's Nursery in
Rockville on Mar. 17 (Wierenga).

Caprimulgids , Kingfishers , Woodpeckers . A Chuck-wi 1 1 ' s-wi dow was

126

MARY LAM) BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, Wo. 3

heard at Patuxent WRC on May 3- An early Whip-poor-wi 11 -was at Federals-
burg on Apr. l4 (Glime) . Thayer noted Belted Kingfishers nest-building
along the Youghiogheny River on Apr. 7- Red-bellied Woodpeckers are
rather rare in the western mountains but Fran Pope saw one at Mountain
Lake Park on Apr. l8 and Thayer saw a pair prospecting along the Yough
on May 15* Wilkinson noted one at Frostburg on Apr. 25 where he had not
seen the species before. Reese entertained a pair of Red-headed Wood-
peckers in his yard at St. Michaels, May 14-18, but the birds were appar-
ently just passing through.

Flycatchers . An early Eastern Kingbird was at Upper Marlboro on
Apr. 10 (Conn) . Also early was a Great Crested Flycatcher in the Poco-
moke Swamp on Apr. 19 (Boone). Margaret Donnald banded a Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher at Adventure Sanctuary on May l6. Fran Pope counted 6 Alder
Flycatchers singing at Cranesville swamp on May 22 and 4 at Hammel Glade
Swamp on May 25. Wills and Rich Bray reported an Olive-Sided Flycatcher
north of Clarksburg on May 3 .

Swallows , Jays . Early migrants were 4 Tree Swallows at Ft. Small-
wood on Mar. 8 (wierenga) , a Barn Swallow at Shorter's Wharf, Dorchester
Co. on Mar. 30 (Armistead, Perry), a Cliff Swallow at Cape St. Clair on
Apr. 5 (Bob Augustine, Wierenga), and a Purple Martin at Pennyfield on
Mar. l6 (Harvey Mudd) . Six Cliff Swallows were at the Westminster Pike
bridge over Liberty Reservoir on Apr. 13 (Ringler), and one at Blackwater
on May 3 (Armistead, et al.) was rare for the Eastern Shore. The main
flight of Blue Jays was slightly late this year with counts of 145 in
Frederick County on May 3 (D. Wallace) and 55 at Laurel on May 4 (Robbins)
being typical. The peak may have been on May 10 when observers in Anne
Arundel County counted 2,738 Blue Jays.

Wrens . Early House Wrens were at Upper Marlboro possibly wintering
on Mar*! 2b (Conn), in Baltimore on Apr. 6 (Bohanan), and at Laurel on
Apr. 12 (Robbins). Wilkinson found 2 Bewick's Wrens at Dan's Rock on
Apr. 18. A Carolina Wren near Savage River on May 3 (Pope) may indicate
the species' return as a breeding bird in Garrett County. Armistead
reports that no Sedge Wrens were found in Southern Dorchester County this
spring .

Mimids , Thrushes . A Gray Catbird at Greensboro, Mar. 14-29* may
have wintered locally as was certainly the case with the Brown Thrasher
seen there through Mar. 14 (Hewitt). A late Hermit Thrush was in Laurel
on May 9 (Robbins). Early migrants were a Swainson's Thrush in Bethesda
on Apr. 22 (Mayanne Sansberry) and a Veery singing in Baltimore on Apr.
l4 (Barber).

Gnatcatchers , Kinglet , Pipits . Blom found the earliest Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher this year at Laurel on Mar. 30 and also made the highest
count for this species at Myrtle Grove of 58 on Apr. 11. A late Golden-
crowned Kinglet was at Henderson, Caroline Co. on May 3 (McKee). A
flock of 25 Water Pipits in the Belfast Valley of northern Baltimore
County on Apr. 13 had increased to 175 birds on Apr. 19 (Kaestner).

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

127

September 1980

Shrikes , Vireos . The only Loggerhead Shrikes reported were at Back
River on Mar. 25 (Ringler) and in Washington County, 3 on Apr. 23 (Boone)
An early White-eyed Vireo was at Allen's Fresh on Apr. 11 (Blom) and an
exceptionally early Solitary VireO was seen along the Youghiogheny River
on Apr. 9 and 10 (Thayer). Solitary Vireos seen in Frederick County on
May 19 (D. Wallace) and May 22-23 (Slaughter) are probably indicative of
a local breeding population. A Warbling Vireo at Concord on May 3 (Scud-
der) was a good find for the Eastern Shore.

Warblers . A few warblers took advantage of the early warm weather
and the following early arrivals were noted: a Prothonotary Warbler at

Seneca on Apr. 13 (.Warfield), a Tennesee Warbler at Beltsville on Apr.

26 (Hayes'), a Nashville Warbler near Frostburg on Apr. 27 (Wilkinson),
a Northern Parula Warbler at upper Marlboro on Apr. 3 (Conn), a Black-
throated Blue Warbler near Frostburg on Apr. 2 6 (Wilkinson), a singing
male Black- throated Green Warbler at Laurel on Apr. 1-3 (Reeder), a
Yellow-throated Warbler at Seneca on Apr. 6 (Warfield), a Prairie Warbler
at Patuxent WRC on Apr. 3 (Kathy Klimkiewicz) , and a Kentucky Warbler
heard singing in Pocomoke Swamp on Apr. 19 (Boone). Other interesting
sightings were a Prothonotary at Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase on
Apr. 21 (Phil DuMont), and a Ceruloan Warbler in Talbot County on May 3
(Coble, Kleen). The only Golden-wi nged Warblers reported were one band-
ed at Adventure Sanctuary on Apr. 30 (Donnald), one in Talbot County on
May 3 (Kleen, Coble), and singles in Kent County on May 3 and 9 (Parks).

A Blue-winged Warbler was flushed from a nest with L eggs in the Balti-
more County part of Patapsco State Park near Woodstock on May 17 (Ring-
ler). The hybrid "Lawrence's" Warbler was seen in 3 locations: near
Fletcher's Boathouse along the Potomac on May 3 (B. Hayes), near Lyon's
Creek in Anne Arundel County on May 3 (Klockner), and on Roosevelt
Island in the Potomac on May 9 (Cash). A "Brewster's" Warbler hybrid
was seen at Tolchester on May 3 (Mendinhall, Gruber). Except for banded
birds the only Mourning Warblers reported were at the National Arboretum
on May 10 (the Caswells) and near Potomac on May 27 (Wilkinson). Finally
Robbins saw a late male Yel 1 ow-rumped Warbler at Laurel on May 31.

Blackbirds . Early Bobolinks were noted on Apr. 18 with 1 at
Gortner ( Pope ) and 10 in the Belfast Valley (Kaestner) . The peak count
at the latter location was LOO-500 on May 6. Other counts were 50 in
Talbot County on May 6 (Reese) and 300 at Locust Grove on May 10 (D.
Wallace). A late Rusty Blackbird was at Robbins in Dorchester County on
May 3 (Armistead, Perry). Blora saw a Boat-tailed Grackle at Pt. Lookout
and another 5 about a mile north of there on Mar. 19 . He followed up
this with a sighting of a pair at Pt . Lookout on Apr. 11. The male was
singing and defending the territory against Fish Crows and the female
was observed carrying a small stick. This is a new breeding location
for Boat-tails as they have not been known to nest on the Western Shore.

Tanager , Finches . An early Summer Tanager was at Federalsburg on
Apr. 20 (GlimeT^ Also early was a Rose -breasted Grosbeak at Darnestown,
Montgomery Co. on Apr. 16 (Marjorie Leach). An Indigo Bunting at Upper
Marlboro on Mar. 26 (Conn) was exceptionally early for a migrant; the
possibility of wintering nearby should be considered. Dl’ckcissels

128

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 36, No. 3

appeared at two feeding stations, one in Rockville, Apr. 7-H (Mrs.
Charles Bicking), and one near Capitol Hill on Apr. l6 (Joy Chapper).

Sparrows , Longspurs and Bunting . An early Savannah Sparrow was at
Pt. Lookout on Mar 7 19 (Blom). Boone found 3 Henslow's Sparrows near
Elliott Island on Apr. 18 and the high count there was 6 on May 10 (Armi-
stead. Parks). "Oregon" Juncos were seen at Denton through Mar. 1 6
(Fletcher) and in Baltimore on Mar. 28-31 (Shirley Geddes). A late Fox
Sparrow was at Mt. Nebo on Apr. 17 (Pope). Of the 7 Lincoln's Sparrows
banded at Adventure Sanctuary this spring 4 were netted on May 11
(Donnald). Two Lapland Longspurs were still at Summit Hall Turf Farm
on Mar. 9 (Clark Baker) and 6 were seen along Oland Road in southern
Frederick County on Mar. 15 (Dermot Cooper). Parks found one Lapland
Longs pur in Kent County with a flock of 150 Snow Buntings on Mar. 3.

3501 Melody Lane, Baltimore, MD 21207

• CONTENTS, SEPTEMBER

Avian Mortality at an Office Building
in Annapolis, Maryland

1 980 •

Glenn D. Therres

91

Specimen of the Gannet (Morus bassanus)
from Point Lookout

Ernest Willoughby
and Thomas Courtney

99

Report of the Statewide Bird Count,
May 3, 1980

David W. Holmes

101

The Season — Spring Migration,
March 1 - May 31, 1980

Robert F. Ringler

113

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MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

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

Editor:

Asst. Editor:
Production :
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Chandler S. Robbins, 7900 Brooklyn Bridge Road,
Laurel, Md. 20810 (725-1176)

Robert F. Ringler, 3501 Melody L. , Baltimore 21207
Lettie Cullom

Barbara Larrabee and committee