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J Vy to S all v, a Ltt ft ¢ fe et rs ‘ Ameri ese oW!€ 8 gene bere) is Nhs 14 v LT eh v ane - nee ewe as sya 4 ws 7D o% y OP ie aie Be ™ ar “\ t d _aly iia er BT NAIA dial” pierene ee ‘patton, ‘ye MAL eae TUL at ly Th ri ‘ewe r “s «jtqe aed § SC oie’ \. 1 bs vy | we (VF oe al : dd tel ly es 'e LJ yu oN rh Me jv" \ opty By hdale i waeee iat Tet |Aleee Rasta, say geiG vee wl heh del del foal me TULA eeeccesnaae DP ae F Aq PTT ree, Fo wet naw Ty ft eras Wide ren ONE TU . cay WT STARTS < Do IV OLLINISEM PS Of ie {w Ly ff fo Atty DW ‘ Soe CPA a sine Transactions of The Academy of Science of St. Louis. a 4 > “ VOL. XXIII. No. 8. BIRDS OF THE KANSAS CITY res ae — HARRY HARRIS. iy Issued February 27, 1919. INTRODUCTION. The following list of birds contains those species which have been noted in the vicinity of Kansas City, Missouri. Most of the birds listed have been seen in Jackson County, Missouri, but the ground covered by the list includes Clay and Platte Coun- ties, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas. The extreme limits of the region covered by the notes used in the preparation of the list are Warrensburg, Missouri, Johnson County, forty-seven miles (as the Crow flies) from Kansas City, Corning, Missouri, Holt County, ninety-four miles from Kansas City, and Douglas County, Kansas, twenty-eight miles from Kansas City. Kansas City itself is on the Missouri River, at its junction with the Kansas, or Kaw River, in Lat. 39, Long. 94 30’. The Missouri River makes a sharp turn to the east here. It is bor- dered on the south by bluffs of loess and cliffs of limestone which rise to a height of more than 250 feet above the river. On the north, in Clay County, there is a broad flood plain, bor- dered at some distance from the river by cliffs. These alterna- tions of bluff, cliff, sand bar and flood plain are characteristic of the Missouri River throughout its course in the region above defined. Where small streams find their way to the river, a ‘‘draw’’ winds for a short distance back of the bluffs. The bluffs and the ‘‘draws’’ are richly clothed with pawpaw and red bud, wild grape and black maple, the haunts of the Car- dinal and the Carolina Wren. Where small rivers, such as the Big and Little Blue, have cut a valley to the Missouri from the higher prairies, they dupli- cate in miniature the features characteristic of the great river; narrow bottom lands fringe one side, and cliffs the other, al- | ternating as the streams wind. The rich soil along the rivers is shaded by great elms, tall hackberries and ‘‘Cochi’’ beans (Kentucky Coffee trees) ; the base of the cliffs are covered with bladder-nut and cornel. Here the Kentucky Warbler, the Tufted Tit and the Red-bellied Woodpecker are characteristic birds. Above the cliffs there are thin-soiled shelves of limestone, (213) 214 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. covered in summer and fall with a profusion of bright flowers, nigger-heads, asters, goldenrod and blazing star. If these so- called barrens are extensive, they are covered with thickets’ of plum, wild crab and buckthorn, the favorite home of Bell’s Vireo. Where the soil becomes deeper and the prairie begins, man has for the most part taken possession, and turned the stiff prairie grass under, and is now raising wheat, clover, alfalfa and grass. The Prairie Horned Lark, the Mourning Dove, and the Dickcissel are the birds of the wheat fields. On the farm- steads themselves and in the windbreaks of soft maple that sur- round them, breed the birds which the farmer boy knows best. the Wren, the Kingbird, the Purple Martin, the Bluebird, and the rest of the well known list. In the osage orange hedges that divide the upland fields, Shrikes nest and many migrant birds find shelter. The river, as it sweeps past on its way to the Gulf, has of- fered for untold centuries a highway for the many species that breed in northern latitudes. The House Wrens and Orchard Orioles of Nebraska rest in early May in the willows along its bars, the Purple Finches and Siskins on their way south in the fall, feed on the ‘‘buttons’’ of the sycamores. But to the real river-man, who has watched for many years the floods make and remake the ever-shifting shores, the flight of birds suggests the great waves of ducks and geese that rest on the sandbars, or in the swift current itself, or the ‘‘Snipe,’’ the Sandpipers or Plover that feed on the exposed flats or wheel with shrill pip- ings over the muddy water. With these birds are associated all the other waterfowl less important to the sportsman, but often coming within his ken, the majestic Pelican, the Grebe, the Coot and the Herons. The city itself has destroyed many former breeding places of the birds, but in the residence section the planting of trees and shrubs has attracted those species that adapt themselves to the neighborhood of man. The Brown Thrashers and Catbirds nest in the shrubbery, Orioles and Robins in the elms, Blue- birds, Wrens and Martins in the boxes now so generally put up. The Chimney Swift is still seen over the mass of stone and con- erete that covers the downtown section of the city. During migration many of the smaller birds pass through the tree tops in the residence sections of the city, or hide by day in Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 215 the shrubbery of the yards. In any open space, such as Penn Valley Park, Mount Washington or Forest Hill Cemetery, a large number of migrants may be found. Swope Park is so ex- tensive and so varied in character that almost every bird be- longing to the Kansas City region may be found there either breeding, wintering or passing through. A census of the birds in Swope Park, made by Mr. A. E. Shirling, includes 150 spe- cies, of which 73 species, represented by 2,025 singing males, bred within the borders of the Park. The region about Kansas City probably compares favorably with any section of the country in the number of birds that are found at different seasons of the year. In only one respect is the region unfavorable for certain groups of birds; it lacks extensive marshes or reedy lakes where Rails, Marsh Wrens and Bitterns could find the shelter in which they breed. There are a few places, chiefly near the Missouri River, where such birds have been found. In Platte County the shallow river- lakes, such as Bean Lake, and Sugar and Mud Lakes at Ar- mour, are covered in part with a growth of ecat-tails. Here Gallinules, Least Bitterns, Black Terns and Yellow-headed Black- birds are fairly common. The increase of ducks and geese, since the passage of the Federal Migratory Bird Law, has been noticeable. More ducks have passed through, and, in many localities, several species are remaining to breed, which formerly were driven off by spring shooting. The larger birds, those which were hunted, and the birds of prey which depend on the game birds for food and were them- selves a mark for gunners, have diminished to a deplorable extent. All the earlier naturalists noted the abundance of waterfowl along the Missouri, and of game birds on its banks. Canada Geese nested in the Missouri bottoms in the days of Audubon, Wild Turkey and Prairie Chicken were everywhere common. Eagles and Fish Hawks built bulky nests in the tall trees in the bottom lands; Duck Hawks and Ravens had their homes in the cliffs. Several species once plentiful or even abundant are now ex- tinct, either in the whole country, or in the region covered by this list. The Passenger Pigeon and the Paroquet have van- 216 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. ished everywhere; the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and the Ruffed Grouse are gone from Western Missouri. On the other hand, some birds have probably increased with the cutting off of the timber and the cultivation of the fields. There are probably more Dickcissels and Prairie Horned Larks, more Shrikes and Bluebirds now than fifty years ago. Their enemies have decreased and the land suitable for breeding has grown more extensive. Very little has been previously published about the birds of Western Missouri. The following references form as complete a bibliography as the author has been able to compile: On June 25, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition encamped for the night on an island in the Missouri River near the moutk of a large creek called the Blue-water (now known as Big Blue River) and on the next evening had reached a point at the con- fluence of the Kansas {Kaw) where they remained for two days. Here they secured game in plenty, including Deer and Wild Turkey. On their return they passed this point on September 15, 1806, and killed an Elk and saw many Wild Turkeys. Thomas Say, of the Long Expedition, made an excursion across Jackson County from Fort Osage (Sibley) to the Konza River (Kaw), leaving the fort on August 6, 1819, and rejoin- ing the main party on the Missouri, near the mouth of the Platte, about September 1. He mentions the abundance of game and states that here Ravens were first seen by the party. He adds that in this region he saw a pretty species of Sparrow that was altogether new to him. Reference is here made to the Lark Sparrow which the party had discovered a short time be fore further down the Missouri River at Bellefontaine. In the spring of 1834, Thomas Nuttall in company with Jno. K. Townsend passed through Jackson County on the old Inde- pendence- Westport Road on his way to the Pacifie Coast. Men- tion of this stage of the journey is made in the second edition of his ‘‘Manual,’’ published in 1840, where the Mourning Finek (now known as Harris’s Sparrow) is deseribed and the type locality given as ‘‘a few miles west of Independence.”’ Maximilian, Prince of Wied, had ascended the Missouri River in 1833, and on his return the next spring, just 17 days after Nuttall and Townsend had left Independence, he dis- Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 217 covered, near the mouth of Platte River, a finch new to him which he named Fringilla comata. He minutely described this bird (the Mourning Finch of Nuttall) in the second volume of his journal published in 1841. Audubon, who reached this point on May 2, 1843, on his journey up the Missouri River to Fort Union, speaks in his journal of the abundance of Wild Turkeys and Paroquets, and gives a list of 49 species of birds observed or collected. This list contains such locally extinct or rare birds as Ruffed Grouse, Duck Hawk, Swan, Bald Eagle (two nests). In the bottom land on the Missouri side, near Leavenworth, his party took specimens of the sparrow which he named after his friend Edward Harris, not knowing of the discovery of this bird in 1834 by Nuttall. At this point was discovered a vireo, new to science, which Audubon named after another member of the party—J. G. Bell. On the return, in 1843, four Paroquets and two Ruffed Grouse were killed in the vicinity of St. Joseph, and near Leav- enworth great flocks of migrating Geese and Pelicans were seen on October 10th. Three days later a great number of Sandhill Cranes were seen. Edward Harris, who accompanied Audubon, and for whom the supposedly new finch was named, published a list of 118 species seen between Fort Leavenworth and Fort Union (5th Annual Report Smithsonian Institution, for 1850). Of the birds noted by Dr. P. R. Hoy in this vicinity in 1854, at least one species, the Purple Sandpiper, has not since been observed (19th Annual Report Smithsonian Institution, 1864). Dr. J. A. Allen collected a series of specimens in May, 1871, in the bottoms of Platte County, and took several species of water-birds about a lagoon, probably Horseshoe Lake. (Bull. Museum Comparative Zool., 1872). W. E. D. Scott, who was employed at the Normal School of Warrensburg, Johnson County, during the spring of 1874, published a list of 147 species observed and collected in that vicinity (Nuttall Bulletin, Vol. 4, 1879). A few scattered field notes and short articles on rare and unexpected species, by local observers, have from time to time appeared in the bird journals. No previous attempt has been 218 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Lous. made to give a complete local list, excepting of course the admirable state list of Mr. Otto Widmann. This list was pub- lished in 1907 by the St. Louis Academy of Science as Vol. XVII, No. 1, of their Transactions. The list is a monument to the accurate and full information which Mr. Widmann gath- ered together from his own widespread observation and from his correspondents throughout the state. RatpH HOFFMANN BIRDS OF THE KANSAS CITY REGION. Harry Harris. PREFACE. There has been no list of the birds of the Kansas City region which local students of birds could consult. It is hoped that the present summary of an extensive study of the avifauna of Jackson County, Missouri, and vicinity, will be of service to local nature-study classes, and to bird students in general. It is hoped also that it may stimulate that scientific interest in bird-study which is an active and powerful incentive to the growing movement for bird protection. No attempt has been made to furnish a means of identifying birds, since so many standard works covering this ground are available. A list of desirable books is given in the text. The nomenclature used is that of the American Ornithologists’ Union Check List. The total number of species and subspecies listed is 343. This number includes 8 species that have become extinct in this region, and 17 that occur here only as wanderers out of their ranges. The summer residents—that is breeders—number 117, of which 12 are very rare. The 9 species and subspecies indi- cated in the text by brackets, have not yet been authenticated, but they should occur here and are included to eall the atten- tion of local students to the possibility of establishing their presence in this vicinity. Credit is due several local ornithologists for the generous loan of notes and material which have greatly aided in the working out of migration periods and in authenticating the oc- eurrence of a few rare species. These courtesies are here ac- knowledged with thanks. The greatest stimulus to the work has been the field-companionship of Mr. Ralph Hoffmann. The vast fund of ornithological and book lore possessed by this en- thusiastic and kindly naturalist has been a constant inspira- tion. Mr. Dix Teachenor, an experienced taxonomist, has as- (219) 220 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. sisted in determining subspecies, and has furnished for study a large series of sparrow skins collected in this region. Mr. B. F. Bush of Courtney, and Mr. Charles Tindall of Independence, have furnished valuable notes. Mr. Tindall has also loaned his BUCKNER a re = BLUE SPRIVOS 2 ef GRAIN, VALLEY LITLE of ia VAY, \ Si HICKMAN MILLS | |e SUMMIT QM Paeveve ”y, ; ope i Pe AN ae ! \ py pw : oe “WATS. ¢ OF REGION COVERED BY LIST. é Moacen 00D collection of skins. The notes of Mr. John A. Bryant have yielded several records as well as some early-day matter rela- tive to species now extirpated or very rare. Mr. Charles E. Dankers of Corning, Holt County, who has made an extensive Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 221 collection of the larger birds of Northwestern Missouri, has given free access to his notes and specimens. Mr. A. F. Smith- son of Warrensburg has contributed voluminous notes covering a period of several years. Mr. A. E. Shirling has assisted ma- terially in bringing the list down to date. Among the sports- men whose observations have been based on a knowledge of ornithology, Judge J. E. Guinotte of Kansas City, and Mr. R. P. Holland of Atchison, Kansas, have contributed matter of in- terest and value. The Kansas list of Mr. C. D. Bunker, Curator of the Kansas University Museum, and the admirable Missouri list of Mr. Otto Widmann have been freely consulted and a few records used. Order PYGOPODES. Diving Birds. Suborder Colymbi. Grebes. Family Cotympmar. Grebes. AECHMOPHORUS OCCIDENTALIS (Lawrence). Western Grebe. Accidental, possibly casual, visitant. The Western Grebe has been taken once near Lawrence (Bunker), and there is a Missouri River record from adjacent territory on the north (southeastern Nebraska). While no speci- men has been taken in this immediate vicinity, this grebe very possibly occurs on the Missouri River here as a casual visitant during migration. CoLYMBUS HOLBOELLI (Reinhardt). Holboell’s Grebe. Occasional visitant. This rare bird has been taken but twice in this vicinity ; once in 1854 and again on September 15, 1905. Two grebes observed on April 28, 1917, in the Missouri River overflow at the mouth of the Big Blue, were identified as this species. It is to be looked for during the migration seasons on any large pond or stream, but is more likely to occur on the Missouri River. COLYMBUS NIGRICOLLIS CALIFORNICUS (Heermann). Eared Grebe. Regular but rare migrant. The Eared Grebe occurs from the middle of April to the first week in May, and again during the second week in November. The small number of actual records for this bird in Jackson county may be accounted for by lack of enough suitable reedy lakes. Two specimens have been taken on the Missouri River near Courtney, and the bird has been observed at Lake City. It occurs regularly and in numbers, during migration, about the river lakes in Platte County. PODILYMBUS PODICEPS (Linn.). Pied-billed Grebe. Common migrant and rare summer resident. The Pied-billed Grebe arrives from the last week in March to the middle of April, and leaves in late November. This small grebe may be looked for on any small pond or stream. It has been frequently noted on all of the park lakes. (223) 224 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. It is easy of approach and, on being disturbed, instead of taking wing will usually dive, hence the vernacular name Hell Diver. The nest has never been found in Jackson County, but pairs of birds have remained all summer on Mill Creek, north of Inde- pendence (Bush), on Fish Lake, and on the lower Blue River. A nearly full grown young bird was seen at the mouth of Blue on June 13, 1916. Suborder Cepphi. Loons and Auks. Family GavipAE. Loons. GAVIA IMMER (Brunnich). Loon. Rare migrant. The few available records of this once common migrant indi- eate that it arrives from the north about the middle of October and returns during the first two weeks in April. It is observed mainly on the Missouri River, though a speci- men was taken at Lake City on October 10, 1902. It is still oe- easionally taken by duck hunters and a few individuals have been known to winter here during mild and open winters. Order LONGIPENNES. Long-winged Swimmers. Family STERCORARMDAE. Skuas and Jaegers. STERCORARIUS POMARINUS (Temmineck). Pomarine Jaeger. Accidental visitant. A fine specimen of this unlooked-for ocean bird was secured by two duck hunters on the Missouri River near the Eaton Bar on November 28, 1915. The skin is now in the possession of Charles Tindall of Independence, and constitutes the only ree- ord for the state. That there might be no question as to the identification, the specimen was forwarded to the Biological Survey at Washing- ton and identified by Dr. H. C. Oberholser. STERCORARIUS PARASITICUS (Linn). Parasitic Jaeger. Rare winter visitant. The Parasitic Jaeger has been taken several times by duck hunters on the Missouri River, though there are no specimens to substantiate the records. A flock of five were observed at close range near the mouth of the Big Blue River on April 23, Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 225 1916. There can be no question of the identification in this case, as the birds were close enough to show their distinctive charac- teristic, the sharp middle tail feathers a few inches longer than the others. | The older river men state that this bird was not uncommon in the days when the river was filled with refuse from the packing houses. STERCORARIUS LONGICAUDUS Vieillot. Long-tailed Jaeger. Accidental visitant. A specimen of this bird was taken at Bean Lake in the spring of 1910 (Holland). On October 3, 1916, Mr. B. F. Bush watched two of these easily identified Jaegers worrying a bunch of Blue- winged Teal on the Missouri River near Courtney. Mr. Bush is a trained scientific observer and there ean be no question as to this record, especially as the birds were within a few feet of him part of the time. These are the only known records for Missouri. Family Laripan. ‘ Gulls and Terns. Subfamily Larinae. Gulls. Rissa TRIDACTYLA TRIDACTYLA (Linn.). Kittiwake. Accidental. The only record for this gull is that of Mr. J. A. Bryant, who took a specimen in the spring of 1897 (Widmann, p. 24). It has been impossible to verify this record, as the specimen does not seem to have been preserved. LARUS ARGENTATUS Pontoppidan. Herring Gull. Fairly common migrant. The Herring Gull sometimes arrives in February, even when the river is filled with floating ice, as in 1916, but more often from the last week in March to the first week in April. This gull probably follows the Mississippi River south in the fall mi- gration, as there are no records of its occurrence here at that season. LARUS DELAWARENSIS Ord. Ring-billed Gull. Not uncommon migrant. Though there are but five authentic records of the occurrence 226 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Lows. of this gull in this vicinity—Oct. 27, 1899, May 5, 1902 (speci- men), Sept. 25, 1902, Apr. 18, 1915 and Apr. 12, 1917,—it prob- ably occurs oftener than indicated by these figures. Unfortu- nately the observers most liable to see it (the river fishermen) are unable to distinguish it from the preceding species. Further observation may prove it to be as common, if not commoner, than the Herring Gull. Larus ArricinuA Linnaeus. Laughing Gull. Casual migrant. The Laughing Gull has been repeatedly taken at Lawrence (six records, Bunker) and has been reported from points to the north and east (southeastern Nebraska and southern and cen- tral Iowa). It is probably a rare bird everywhere inland and has thus far escaped notice on the Missouri River in this imme- diate neighborhood. LARUS FRANKLINI Richardson. Franklin’s Gull. Common migrant. Long straggling flocks of these beautiful gulls begin to arrive from the south from the 10th to 20th of April and are but a few days in passing, as they are probably impatient to reach the breeding grounds. Late arrivals have been noted as late as the first week in May. They seem to be irregular in the autumnal flight ; during some years but a few are seen, during others great numbers pass through. They straggle along in a leisurely man- ner, feeding as they go, from the middle of October to the last of November. In the spring they are to be looked for on the Missouri River but in fall are likely to occur about any body of water. LARUS PHILADELPHIA (Ord). Bonaparte’s Gull. Not very rare migrant. Specimens of Bonaparte’s Gull are occasionally shot by hunt ers on the Missouri River; more often in spring than autumn. Available records of specimens are as follows: Sugar Lake, May 5, 1897, Bryant; Missouri River, Jackson County, May 10, 1900, Tindall; Holt County, May 5, 1908, Dankers; Missouri River, Jackson County, December 8, 1917, specimen in collection of Miss Clements of Independence. . Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 227 Subfamily STERNINAE. Terns. STERNA CASPIA Pallas. HyYDROPROGNE CASPIA IMPERATOR (Coues). Proposed April, 1917. Caspian Tern. Occasional visitant. _ Two specimens of this tern were taken by Chas. Tindall on the Missouri River near Courtney on October 14, 1914. Sev- eral more were secured, probably from the same flock, at the same place ten days later. A specimen was taken at Lake City by Mr. J. A. Bryant in the spring of 1886. No other records are available. STERNA FoRSTERI Nuttall. Forster’s Tern. Not uncommon migrant. Small flocks of Forster’s Terns appear late in April and early May, and again in September and October. Recent data seem to point to the increase of this tern which, though for- merly common, had later become very scarce. These graceful birds may be looked for on the Swope Park lakes or any other large pond, as well as on the Missouri River. STERNA HIRUNDO Linn. Common Tern. Somewhat rare migrant. The Common Tern is usually seen late in May or early June and again in October. It was formerly rather common. Some recent dates are May 10, 1916, when a flock of twelve were seen in Swope Park, and June 11, 1916, when fifteen were ob- served feeding in their characteristic manner about the mouth of Big Blue River. STERNA ANTILLARUM (Lesson). STERNULA ANTILLARUM ANTILLARUM Lessor. Proposed April. 1917. Least Tern. Somewhat rare migrant and occasional summer resident. Least Terns make their appearance in small numbers during the last few days in April in some years, but oftener in the first week of May. They leave for the South during the first fifteen days of September. Prior to 1900 this dainty bird was commonly met with on the Missouri River and about neighboring ponds and marshes. It 228 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louss. remained to breed in small numbers in favorable localities in the Missouri bottoms. During the summer of 1915 a pair were seen throughout the entire breeding season at the mouth of Big Blue, where they no doubt had a nest. This tern seems to be slightly on the increase; more individ- uals have been seen during the iast four years than for thirteen years prior to that time. HyYDROCHELIDON NIGRA SURINAMENSIS (Gmelin). Black Tern. Abundant migrant and not uncommon summer resident. The first impatient males begin to arrive about April 26th, followed in increasing numbers all through May by the bulk of the flight and until mid-June by the stragglers. A flock of be- tween fifty and a hundred birds have been seen migrating as late as June 11th. These terns follow the Missouri River in flocks of several hun- dred individuals and resort to favorite feeding and resting places where they may be observed during every migration. The Big Eddy just below the mouth of Blue is one of these. Here the feeding flocks may be easily approached in a launch and the many plumage variations observed at close range. This species has been seen about the Swope Park lakes, Penn Valley lake, Country Club pond and other small bodies of water in and around the city. They are observed during the entire summer at most of the duck-hunting resorts in this vicinity, and are very possibly breeding in favorable localities. Several were seen hawking for insects over an athletic field in the Country Club region in company with Nighthawks on May 17, 1917. Order STEGANOPODES. Totipalmate Swimmers. Family ANHINGIDAE. Darters. ANHINGA ANHINGA (Linn).Water-Turkey. Formerly an occasional summer visitant. A small flock of these curious Southern birds were observed by Bush on the Missouri River near old Wayne City (now Ce- ment City), in 1882. A specimen was taken by Bryant on the Missouri River at Parkville in 1898. This bird will possibly not be met with here again; it has been steadily driven south by the encroachments Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 229 of civilization until but a few pairs remain in the sunken re- gions of southeast Missouri. Family PHALACROCORACIDAE. Cormorants. PHALACROCORAX AURITUS AURITUS (Lesson). Double-crested Cormorant. Rather rare migrant. All available records but one of the occurrence of this bird here are in October and November, though it is known to pass regularly in the spring (two specimens, April 17, 1904, Dank- ers). During occasional migrations it is seen in considerable num- bers, as in 1904, when, on October 24th, a flock of between 100 and 150 were seen perched in the trees along the river bank across from the Big Eddy. Two specimens were taken from this flock. Again in the same year on November 17th a flock of twenty was observed on the river near Courtney. The river fishermen know this bird as the Water-Turkey and state that rarely a season passes without their seeing it. Family PELECANIDAE. Pelicans. PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCHOS Gmelin. White Pelican. Common migrant. This locality is fortunate in being favored with spring and autumn visits from this, the largest member of the North Ameri- can Avifauna. Pelicans arrive from the south during the last week of March or very early in April and return from the 13th to 25th of September, straggling along in varying numbers until late in November. They are still seen in considerable numbers, though not in such abundance as formerly. They seem to be holding their own of late years in spite of the odds against them. Flocks of several hundreds of these majestic birds are often seen flying high over the Missouri Valley, when they present a sight not easily forgotten, as with alternate series of flapping and sailing they make their way rapidly along. Unless at too high an altitude they are not to be mistaken for any other water bird. They have on at least one occasion been seen to make their 230 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Lowis. well-known concerted drive for fish into shallow water. This was observed at Goose Island in the Missouri River a short distance above the city. Hunters only too often bring in specimens of Pelicans wan- tonly destroyed for ‘‘sport.’? Among these have been noted males, taken in the autumn, with the nuptial horn or mandible keel still retained. This temporary appendage is usually cast on the breeding ground before the southward flight begins. Favorable localities, where they may rest and feed in seclu- sion, or where they are protected, have been known to harbor great numbers of these migrants for days and even weeks at a time. One lake in this district is visited twice a year by a flock of from 100 to 1,500 Pelicans. They sometimes remain on this pond for two weeks. Order ANSERES. Lamellirostral Swimmers. Family ANATIDAE. Ducks, Geese and Swans. Subfamily Merginae. Mergansers. MERGUS AMERICANUS Cassin. Merganser. Not uncommon migrant; occasional winter resident. Mergansers arrive late from the north, usually during the last half of November, and leave early, in some seasons as early as February, but more often in March and early April. During the winter of 1910-1911 a flock of six were observed during the entire winter at the mouth of the Big Blue. Again in 1916 another larger flock wintered on a nearby pond, leav- ing early in March. MerRGUS SERRATOR Linn. Red-breasted Merganser. Rare migrant. This duck is occasionally seen in hunters’ bags and is prob- ably more often taken than the records indicate. Two beauti- ful specimens were examined in a gunner’s string on March 18, 1916, on the Missouri River near Sugar Creek. There are a half dozen authentie records for the last few years. LOPHODYTES CUCULLATUS (Linn.). Hooded Merganser. Common migrant and formerly a not uncommon summer resident. This striking duck is regularly taken by hunters on the river and at the many shooting resorts in this vicinity. Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 231 It remains during open winters in favorable localities and has been known to breed in the county. The dates of its oceur- rence here cover the entire year, though lately it is seen only during migration. A flock of six nearly full-grown young were seen on Mill Creek, between Independence and Courtney, on June 17, 1892. Subfamily Anatinae. River Ducks. ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS Linn. Mallard. Abundant migrant, fairly common winter resident and occasional summer resident. The Mallard is present in some numbers during every winter that the Missouri River remains open. The first birds from the north begin to arrive early in September, though the great flocks do not come through until the middle of October, when they are here in varying numbers until the last days of Novem- ber and the first half of December. Unless the winter be ex- ceptionally severe, the northward movement begins late in Janu- ary and early February. By the last week in March the crest of the migratory wave has passed, though stragglers may be seen as late as the middle of May. In former times the Mallard nested commonly along the Missouri River bottoms from its mouth, and Widmann states that a few still find safe breeding grounds in the large tracts of spartina grass in the marshes of north Missouri. Smithson found Mallards breeding near Warrensburg in 1903 and 1904. They have been known to breed also during recent years near Bigelow. During the past two or three years there has been a very noticeable increase in the numbers of these and other ducks. The autumn flight of 1916 was decidedly larger than any seen for many years. On January 29, 1917, there was a surprising southward flight of thousands of Mallards and Pintails. A severe blizzard followed the ducks, accompanied by a temperature of twelve degrees below zero. These birds had spent the winter up to this date in northern Missouri, although there had been periods during which all lakes and streams, except the Missouri River, had been frozen solid. The closing of the river during this bliz- zard probably accounts for this movement. 232 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lowis. Malards are likely to drop into any small body of water dur- ing their migratory flights and are sure to be seen in Swope Park. ANAS RUBRIPES RUBRIPES Brewster. Red-legged Black Duck. Not uncommon but irregular migrant. The well-known controversy relative to the validity of this form is an interesting incident in the history of systematic orni- thology. It is included in this list in the firm belief that it is a perfectly good.and valid subspecies and that it will one day be returned to the American Ornithologists’ Check List. Black Ducks with intensely red legs and feet are not uncom- monly taken on the Missouri River and at the several duck- shooting resorts in this neighborhood. In some years only an oceasional specimen is seen. A hunter’s string was examined on October 27, 1917, that contained two specimens of this duck taken in Jackson County. William Andrews, who lives on the Missouri River and who has spent a great many years hunting and fishing there, recog- nizes the two forms of the Black Duck, and states that he has killed hundreds of the Red-legged subspecies in his time. He states further that they are much less common than formerly and are somewhat irregular in their occurrence. ANAS RUBRIPES TRISTIS Brewster. Black Duck. Rare migrant. This duck was formerly a common migrant and often pres- ent in winter. The older sportsmen recall the days when the ‘‘Black Mallard’’ was taken regularly. It has been noted but a few times during the past 15 years and is now considered a rarity. Two specimens were taken on the Missouri River, Oct. 30, 1903, and Nov. 15, 1909, respec- tively. CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS (Linn.). Gadwall. Fairly common migrant. The Gadwall is regularly met with on the Missouri River during March and April and in late October and November. A few single birds or small flocks are occasionally seen as early as the middle of February. A flock of over two hundred birds was seen on April 13, 1917, indicating that this species may be on the increase. Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 233 The Gadwall has been found nesting a few counties to the north. MARECA AMERICANA (Gmelin). Baldpate. Common migrant. The Baldpate is often found in the company of the Gadwall. The migration dates of these two species are about the same, though the Baldpate has not been known to breed in the state. Fairly large flocks of these two ducks have been noted during the last two years; we believe that both are increasing in num- bers. The Baldpate is occasionally seen on the park lakes. NETTION CAROLINENSE (Gmelin). Green-winged Teal. Very common migrant; occasional winter resident. The Green-winged Teal arrives from the north during Oc- tober; a few remain during the mild open winters. By the last week of April all have left for their northern breeding grounds. On account of their habit of flying in compact flocks and of circling back to the same spot again and again, great numbers of these beautiful little ducks are killed by hunters. They have often been noted on the park lakes. QUERQUEDULA Discors (Linn.). Blue-winged Teal. Very common migrant and occasional summer resident. This duck returns from the north early and is the last to de- part in the spring. Blue-wings begin to arrive early in Sep- tember, the bulk passing during the latter part of the month and in early October. A few are seen as early as February on their return but the bulk of the flight is not present until late in April and many are observed well into May. Pairs of Blue-wings are observed all summer wherever there are favorable nesting sites and if not disturbed would breed in numbers in the county. A brood of five young with the parent birds were observed on Mill Creek several times in June, 1916 (Bush). This is one of the species of water fowl that is fortunately showing an increase in numbers. It has been reported as breeding in great numbers in northern Missouri and in north- ern and central Kansas during the summers of 1915, 1916 and ity It is not uncommonly seen on the Swope Park lakes. 234 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. QUERQUEDULA CYANOPTERA (Vieillot). Cinnamon Teal. Occasional visitant. This western species has been noted many times in this vicinity, usually in the company of its near relative the Blue- wing. A pair taken by Bryant in 1904 were killed within the city limits. A flock of five were taken by Tindall at Lake City in 1895. Mn ¥ ee Fo ee at: ia ife e * Bhat iia PPK val ey 4 6 “ht ) 4, Onna AA) L 4 5 AA ‘ , - we Ass p i Ar, AS VA a WA Na a lehRac,