OFFICIAL BULLETIN
of the

YORKTON NATURAL HISTORY

SOCIETY

In Co-operation with
The Saskatchewan Provincial Museum

The Late Editor Mrs. I. M, Priestly

THE BLUE JAY

The official organ of the Yorlrton Natural History Society

Editor - C.C, Shaw

Continued in loving memory of the founder, our first President and Editor,

the late Isabel M. Priestly

Officers - Honorary President: His Honour L.T. McKim, Melfort
Acting President: Cliff Shaw Vice-President: J.R. Foreman
Acting secretary: Miss Pauline Summers Directors: Hiss Gladys
Eraser, Vernon Barnes, W.A. Brownlee.

The annual membership fee: PIETY CENTS, payable October first each
year, which includes four quarterly copies of the "Blue Jay".

President's address - Ste 3 Rotstein Apts, Yorlrton, Sash.

Secretary’s address - 34 sixth Ave., Yorlrton, Sash.

A HE -PRINT FROM THE HELL HXTOVLT COLOI.5N, CHICKADEE NOTES, AS
PUBLISHED IN TEE VJIMIPEG EKEL-PRL33 BY A.G. LAURENCE

ISABEL. M. PRIESTLY

"The Blue Jay," one of the most useful and interesting of the many
mimeographed nature magazines, was commenced in the fall of 1942 by the
Yorlrton Natural History Society as a result of the organizing ability and
enthusiasm of Mrs* Robert J. Priestly, the Society’s President. Her
totally unexpected death at middle-age last April came as a shock to her
friends -who knew her personal charm and to a wide circle of Canadian and
American nature-lovers who appreciated her scientific training, gift of
writing and untiring devotion to the advancement of nature study as a
recreation and a hobby.'"'

"Although her position as Editor will be difficult to fill, the Society
has decided to continue ’’The Blue Jay" as a tribute to her memory, Mrs.
Priestly’s keen enthusiasm brought as many as a hundred letters a month to
her desk and so popular has the magazine become, the Saskatchewan govern¬
ment is now assisting in its publication so that the records and reports
received from observers may be made available for the Provincial Museum

and the Department of Natural Resources. This :
excellence of Mrs. Priestly’s leadership and abilr

a fitting tribute to the

In a letter to the Society, C, Stuart. Francis of Torch River makes the
following suggestion: "Now that Isabel Priestly can no longer guide the
destines of our natural history society, and can no longer inspire us to
greater efforts along this lino, it is up to all ‘the members to dig in
and endeavour to make our society an even bigger and better organization,
both for tho benefit of all nature, and to prove to Isabel Priestly that
her very earnest efforts wore not in vain. I have boon thinking that it
would bo a fine idea if lovers of nature all over tho west would take some
united action to have a forest reserve or provincial park, such as tho
Duck Mountain park, or some lake or river named after her memory".

VOLUME 4 NO. 4

JULY-AUG-SEL T . 3.946

PUBLISHED QRARTEI

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GENERAL NOTES

The Yorkton Natural History Society is losing several of its most active
members this year. Hiss Ruth Beck, our energetic secretary for the past year,
has left to attend Normal School at Noose Jaw this winter. At the last execu¬
tive meeting of the Society, Sept. 4, Hiss Beck was presented with a make-up
kit on behalf of the members of the Society. Throe of the directors of the
Society are also leaving. Hiss Gladys Eraser has returned to the University
of Saskatchewan to accept a position in the Biology Department and work on her
Master’s degree, Xu A. Brownlee has accepted a promotion with the Provincial
Dept, of Natural Resources, and is now stationed at Regina, and Vernon Barnes
will attend Regina College during the coming winter. In addition, J.R, Martin,
Superintendent of School
transferred to Saskatoon,
where he will coni '

o here, and one of our most active members, has been

Harvey Beck is returning to Saskatchewan University
studios in biology. Stuart Houston enters first

year medicine at Manitoba Medical College, Stuart’s address is 768 Victor

St roc

e o

Winnipeg,

Summo:

VI SI"

to Yorkton

pick Bird, A,R,P,S.? E.Z.A. , well-known nature photographer of Regina
spent three days in Yorkton the later part of June. Hr* Bird hid intended
to photograph birds nesting in this district, but during his entire visit
it either rained or the sun was completely hidden by clouds. Immediately
after he left of course the sun came out and wo had ideal photographic weather,
La wr once Port o n , of the entomological laboratory at Indian Head paid
us a visit in July and while here collected specimens of spruce needles
infested with pine needle scale * Mr, Norton was making a trip through the
province inspoct j ng insect Info®1*' ^ ms nri

assisting the laboratory by

assist with these surveys should write to Hr. Lloyd Peterson,

jojud areas and calling on those who have been
g in specimens. Anyone who would care to
to Ur,

officer in

cnarge oi

ml.

Small cartons are

led by the station

the Indian Head station-.-
for sending in specimens,

Earley Mowat , of Richmond Fill, Ontario, and formerly of Saskatoon, this
spring received his discharge from the Canadian Army after 6 years’ service,
having attained the rank of Captain, and he immediately bought a ’’Jeep” and
headed back to his old Saskatchewan ’’stamping grounds”. He spent the summer
collecting birds for various Eastern Museums, at Dundurn. Montreal Lake and
Lac. la Rcngo. On his way back East, ho stopped off at Yorkton for three days.
Hr, Mowat has several papers of local Saskatchewan bird lists, from field work
done before the war , which will appear shortly in the ornithological journals.

Dr ._ ^sjamumaxid, _j.Ir ♦_ _C ._ jgoudor ,

both of East St. Louis, Illinois, were

visitors to Yorkton during July, on their tour of Ducks Unlimited projects
in western Canada,

Michael Lysenko, D,U. biologist, and his assistant, Bruce C-roen , spent
three days here early in June making an ecological survey of the Ducks
Unlimited Lake Illinois project,

B. Xh Cartwright , Chief Naturalist, stopped briefly at Yor kroon, Sept. 2,
on a tour of western projects,

T. C. Main, General Manager of Ducks Unlimited, make a tour of western
Canada by'ciir, Sept. a - 11, chartering a Yorkton Air Services plane, Mr. Main
spent a day in Yorkton at the beginning as well as at the end of his flight,
and took a number of air photos of the lakes in this district.

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Any member with some spare time this winter, could contribute a great deal to
ornithology in this province, if he would compile a complete list of all the
species of birds ever noted in his district, with a short note describing the
relative abundance of each species. Average migration dates and breeding
records could be added whenever possible. The Yorlcton Natural History Society
would be pleased to receive such lists from competent observers, and might
possibly publish some of them in mimeographed form, as a Contribution of the
Society, in the same manner as Street’s "Birds of Nipawin”.

Ducks Unlimited have boon very
An. engineering party has been

active in the Yorkton district this summer,
hero since spring surveying a diversion ditch

to bring water from Cussed Creek through the Rousay Lakes to Leech Lake,
Crescent Lake and the Liaddaford marshes. Wo understand that this project,
which will restore thousands of acres of excellent marsh, will bo undertaken
jointly by the Saskatchewan Government and Ducks Unlimited next spring.

_o _o

i.

Shaw and Stuart Houston have co-operated to produce tlii

Clif

In the future Mr. Shaw will act as Editor, but members who
their particular fields will bo asked to give their assistance

s present in1-

arc authorities

ooue.
R in

Thus I

G.

Street Qj

M-i

uncc

i.lo,s undertaken to write the Bird Notes for coming issues.
Wo will have other associate editors, or at least advisors, in other fields.
Send all Blue lay material to Cliff Shaw, Suite 3, Rot stein Apts,, Yorlcton.

He will check it over and forward it to these exports where necessary.

According to a newspaper report, the wild life collection of the late Frank.

P. Lund, Prince Albert taxidermist, is to bo housed in that city for the next
five years. A building is being provided by the Saskatchewan government. The
collection which represents the life work of Mr, Lund has boon in storage since
his death in 1941, It contains over 1000 mounted animals and birds of Canada,
many of them being collected in the Prince Albert district. All who have seen
the exhibit will agree that it mil servo as a fine educational feature for
tourists and Saskatchewan people.

Miss Irene I.Ioore,a member of the Regina Natural ill story Society, and former
social editor of the Regina Loader-Post, who recently retired after more than
30 years of service, had this to say when asked about her future plans. "I
tool: up with the company of naturalists and now I could be persuaded that to
be mowed up in a library is for stormy days and dark nights. I realize that
for those in their eventide years, woodpeckers, meadowlarks , bluebirds and
goldfinches, wild roses, wild anemones and Indian paint brushes are the things
to seek in broad daylight".

The annual membership fee is
to the acting secretary Hiss

duo October first. Solid your remittance of .50^
Pauline Summers at 34 - Sixth Avc,, Yorlcton.

The Sa-1

.cat c no wan Pish and Game League reports that 37,898 predators were killed
in the league’s 1945 contest. The league’s 1946 winter campaign accounted for
1566 horned owls, 158 goshawks, 3,278 magpies and 767 crows. Those figures wore
presented by A. 1.3, VJilson, at the annual meeting of the league held at Nipawin
Sask., in June.

>

BIRD WATCHING FROM A »JEKP»
By Barley Howat

I arrived at Dumdum, Saskatchewan, on Hay 7, 1946, immediately sot up a
collecting camp, and prepared to devote a month to the study of migrational
birds in tho coiitral part of the province. During the few days when it mas
warm enough for the birds and myself to bravo tho elements I managed to make
some very interesting observations. One record of particular interest was for
a pair of Says Phoebcs noted on Hay 15, Although this seems to be a very north¬
erly record, apparently the most northerly for the province, it is not un¬
expected since some Says Phoebcs nest along tho Mackenzie River and are fairly
common migrants through central and northern Alberta, Apart from the Phoebcs,
the best observations were made on wading birds which were very abundant on
the few sloughs that remained alive in the Dundurn-Saskatoon area. On Hay 21,
at a place called Proctors Lake, I was fortunate enough to observe 27 species
of shorobirds in the space of five hours. Those included Avocots, Eudsonian
Curlews, Knots, Stilt Sandpipers, Buff -breasted Saiidpijjors, two races of
Dowitchor, a Redbackcd Sandpiper and what was almost certainly a female Red
Phalaropc. Specimens of all those were collected with tho exception of the
Rod Phalaropc which was in company with a thousand or more Northern Phalaropcs
and which could not be reached from shore.

Excepting the shore birds, the only other records of particular interest
from this area wore for Pinnated Grouse, Coopers Hawk, Virginia Rails, Arkansas
Kingbirds and innumerable Starlings. A total of 147 migratory species wore
observed during the month of Hay,

After leaving Dundurn I j coped north past Montreal Lake until the read
ran out and I was forced to revert to canoe and feet to carry me over some
hundreds of miles of muskeg and spruce ridges. In this great and watery
country I managed. to spare a little time from the mosquitoes to observe the
bird life and some of the more spectacular results of my search wore a downy
Solitary Sandpiper, which is apparently the first specimen ever to bo taken in
downy plumage ; a brooding colony of Dowit chops that seem to belong to the
recently invalidated 'Hendorsoni ’ race; breeding Sandhill Cranes; Franklins Gulls
to the number of plus a thousand in one flock; a single Lesser Snow Goose;
Bohemian Waxwings; Chimney Swifts; downy Bcaapartos Gulls, five miles from tho
nearest suitable nesting area; a Richardsons Owl; breeding Lessor Canada Geese;
and American Throe-toed Woodpeckers,

I would like to draw attention to tho infinitely small numbers of warblers
that appeared in the spring of 1946. I should say that only about five or ten
percent of the normal warbler breeding population arrived on tho northern nest¬
ing grounds this year, and no more than twenty percent of the numbers to be
expected wore in evidence during migration at Dundurn. I suspect this notice¬
able scarcity of an entire family of birds can bo co-r elated with a series of
unusual snow falls, and prolonged cold wot weather in early June 1945. Some¬
one interested in the effects cf climatic conditions on large masses of birds
might find some very interesting study here.

Another point that intriques me is to discover the reason why one of the
largest and most potentially productive ornithological areas in Canada, the
Churchill River Basin, has for so long been neglected by ornithologists. I
am fully convinced that detailed exploration of this area, particularly the
Saskatchewan section, vail more than fully repay the effort expended upon it,
not only by way of providing now data on birds and other animals, bur as living
proof that the spirit of tho Wild .Jest is not wholly dead.

In conclusion I wish to thank tuc several, able local ornithologists
throughout the province who so kindly aided mo in my summer’s work, and who
with great good will managed to heal all of my spiritual wounds - ii not my
physical ones.

Tj1

jJ #11#

Hoi /at

Richmond Ilill, Ontario.

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WANTED - TEE CO-OPERATION OF ALL MEMBERS

Only through the continued active co-operation of all members vo.ll it be
possible to continue publication of the "Blue Jay", Wo fully realize that
it can never be the seme without the guiding genius of the late Mrs, Priestly,
but we can always do our best. We want our bulletin to continue to serve as a
friendly meeting place for all Saskatchewan nature lovers - a place where we
can all swap our experiences. Yet wo also wish to continue adding to the know¬
ledge of Saskatchewan wild life. If our members will all send in their nature
observations it will add to the wealth of information gradually accumulating
in the files of our Natural History Society. The "Blue Jay" has gained a very
favorable reputation among naturalists the continent over. Although written in
Mrs, Priestly’s inimitable, newsy, friendly manner, it contained a volume of
facts of scientific importance. To realize this, one need only look through
a set of the 15 issues which have boon published to date. If each member will
send in their observations for each issue, wo can continue to maintain a high
standard ,

We have received several very good bird migration date lists from our
members. Those are carefully filed away, and only the mere unusual records
are used in the "Blue Jay", However, if members will continue sending in these
dates, they will eventually serve to tell us much about the migration of birds
across this province. Perhaps next spring, if
from 15 or 10 representative districts of Saskatchewan ,
of these separately as a Contribution of the Y.N.H.S. Por the present, wo
v/euld like to receive lists of "last seen dates" for this fall. These require
more careful observation but are equally, If not more, valuable. Who: . keeping

re received migration dates

we could -Drink a list

such dates, either spring

or fall, please

try to differentiate between the date

best way to do this is to list dates under four columns as folio*

of the first straggler and the main movement of the species , Possibly the

date that
noted for

might raise our eyebrows

species first noted; number of individuals soon; date that species
the second time; number of individuals noted. Thus i
if the first Robin was seen at Saskatoon on Larch 22

.nd none wore soon at

Regina until March 28. However , the following would explain it;
March 22-1, April 1-10; Regina - March 28-4, march 29 - 15.

it oon

PLANT NOTES

Ladies’ Slippers. Reports of the increasing number of yellow ladies’ slippers
found blooming in the Yorkt on district this year have boon very encouraging.
This is one of the rarest and most beautiful plants in Sask.it chowan, and on no
account should any blossoms be picked, as the plant is in grave danger of exter¬
mination. W.A. Brownlee, Yorkt on, reported that ladies’ slippers appeared to
be plentiful south of Lcstock. S. Woychoshcn informs us that they arc scarce
at High I-Iill, and that loss than fifty percent of the plants produced blooms
this year.

Lilies. Jack Wilson, Ducks Unlimited fioldman, who was stationed in the Yorkt on
district last summer, was working in the The Pas areas this year. While stop¬
ping off in Yorkt on for a few minutes between trains in Juno, he brought us
the good news that the rod lilies wore very plentiful this season jin The Pas
district .

Sow Thistle. While visiting the forestry station at liadgo Lake during July, wo
wore shown several small patches of spruce trees in their third year of trans¬

planting, which had turned yellow,
previously grown in these patches,
soil which had affected the trees.

The forester said so w thistles had

rid

that they had left a chemical in the

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3IRD NOTES

Hi von, Slicho , reports that fairly largo numbers of Wilson’s Phalaropo;
aro present at nearby Salt Lake each spring, and that they often fly oyer his
yard in snail flocks, often just skinning the ground. One night, about dark,

a flock cane over, "diving like bullets", and crashed into

telephone wire*

Mr, Niven estimated that over a dozen wore knocked to the ground, for he and
his brother found eight birds that wore either killed outright, or so badly
wounded that they had to be killed. Others were just stunned and ran away
through the grass. The plialaropes flew so fast that one bird had its wing
sheared completely fron the body. Hr. Niven states, "I have seen Sharp-tailed
Grouse and ducks killed by flying into telephone wires, but they generally

manage to avoid then.

However, the plialaropes dodge here and there

.e.

iiymg

and don't soon to watch whore they arc

going

n

While walking through the rushes at Upper Bousay Lake, May 29, Stuart
Houston made a totally unonpoctcd discovery - a Marsh Hawk’s nest on a platform

of bulrushes, twenty inches in diameter, in eighteen inches of water. Three
or four small twigs wore used in the construction above water, and the nest
was lined with grass. Undoubtedly the bird Lad used ai
possibly a Canvas back nest as two foundation for her nest.

old muskrat house, or
Reference to stand -

ay previous records of Mar,

Hawks

two eggs, one was infertile, but the other hatched

by the time the

ard bird books reveals no indication c
nesting over water. Of the
successfully and the young bird was banded.

Another Marsh Hawknost was found at Lower Bousay Lake, which had
originally boon in two inches of water, but was on dry land
young hatched. This nest was of much better construction, being eighteen inches
above the ground and firmly constructed of interwoven twigs. It, too, was
lined with grass. The long grass and rushes of the surrounding vegetation
provided owe client cover and shade for the nest, and all throe eggs produced
young, which were banded before they flew away. The interesting feature about
this particular nest, however, was the large number of waterfowl nests in the
immediate vicinity. Within 50 yards wore 9 nests, including 2 Mallard, 2
Redhead, 1 Canvas back, 1 Blue-winged Teal, 1 Coot, and 2 Lesser Scaup. The

)0 yards
of duck nests

two nearest , a Teal and Mallard were 15 and 10 yards awa

J •

Wit! In

wore an additional 9 no

rh =•!

j e i J

Tnis

was the thickest c,

l cent ratio

x ounc

1-, o i -p

. during a
the nests

summer ’ s si

xrvoy of waterfowl nests for Bucks Unlimited. Over
were begun after the marsh Hawk has started building its nest,

so it would appear that ducks have little fear of the Marsh Hawk, at least

before the young are hatched.

C. Stuart Francis, Torch River, states, "Goshawks are the bane of all
poultry raisers in this area, and it is safe to say that they dostro
of young chicks for the poultry raiser each year.

nine killed
through the door,
killed it.
into their house

GosuawL in ms cnic.«...on house. It

ccores

Two years ago a neighbor of
followed tho old hen right

v,S

as unoy

aw it enter they ran out, closed

the door, and

also hilled one

y

This year another party had a Goshawk follow a young chick right
;Micre the lady of the house killed it with a broom. They
"!-Loir chicken house. They aro so bold they will ccmo down

in

right at your foot to pick up a young chick".

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BIRD RECORDS OE INTEREST II

ER.

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BLACK- CROUIIED RIGHT HERON. Eour groups of nests, with a total of 21 nests, on
Lower Rousay Lake. Hosts, located in 15 to 20 inches of water, extended 10 to
12 inches above the water level, and consisted of mss os of rushes, with no
other lining. Two years ago those birds nested in willow and poplar trees on
an island in Upper Rousay Lake, and at that tine there wore 26 nests in the
colony. Last year a thorough search of all likely busies in the district
failed to reveal the now location of the colony, so undoubtedly they Lad
already forsaken the trees for a marsh site. Night Horens elsewhere have been
known to novo iron the marsh to nearby bushes in the event of floods, but this
is the first wo have hoard of this species making the opposite novo. Vie have
no idea what caused then to make such a drastic change in nest in

ng sites.

MALLARD. On May 23, just across the highway from Ercd Harris’ farm, throe miles
South of Yorkton, a Mallard was found nesting in a nest which was known to have
been occupied by a Magpie the previous year. The nest was about 12 feet above
the ground in willows, and as Cliff Shaw and Stuart Houston arrived, the nine
downy young were just jumping from their nest, the mother quacking anxiously on
the ground nearby. The light, downy young fell rather slowly, bouncing off
several small branches during their descent. Immediately on hitting the ground,
they jumped up and ran away into the underbrush, apparently none the worse for
their experience.

UPLAND PLOVER. Two nests found at Rousay Lake by Stuart Houston, This bird is
now fairly common on uplands bordering the lakes of this district,

STILT S.'dTDI IPER . One noted at Leech Lake July 17, by Parley mowat and Stuart
Houston, and several were seen the following day,

SN0WYJ3UL. Two reported from Nipawin, Sept. 5, 1S46.

RED -HEADED WOCDIRCIUR . One bird, seen for one day only, by urn. Niven, Sheho,
July 6, 1946, A very good view was obtained of this handsome black and white
bird with crimson head and neck, as it flew from post to post.

CANADA. JAY. Two reported wandering around Sheho, August 10, by Uni, Niven.
This pair wore still present at the end of August.

SHORT -BILLED II iRSH VIREN. Several not ad by Earley Mowat and Stuart Houston,
Rokeby Karsh, July 19, 1946. Apparently a small nesting colony. Ratio: .t in
damp grass bordering marsh, never associated with the Long- tilled liarsn Ur on ,
which is partial to bulrushes.

MOCKINGBIRD. A male bird arrived at the home of Charles F. Holmes, Dollard,
July 6, and delighted them with song from their aerial or cnimney from *
four a.m. till noon and from four p.m. till eight p.m, each day. At times he
imitated a killdeor so well one was almost sure there was one around. Lo
sang so much that Mr, Holmes wondered wiion ho tool: time of a to cob, mo bird
disappeared again on July 16, The mockingbird is a rare straggler .m
Saskatchewan.

GAPE MAY HARBLER, Halo bird noted in Yorkton by Cliff 31iaw, may 17, 1946.
Unusually enough, this is our first definite record for tnis disoricc.

I ARK SPARROW, Increasing and now quite common at Dollard. Mr. Holmes states,
,?Wc have at least five nests in the yard, trirco on the ground at tuo foot of
a young spruce and two in a carragana hedge. One nest contained twro cowoiid
eggs, along with throe of the Lark Sparrows.”

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MJR NOT FEATHERS

On July 18th, Mr. P. C. Smith, the engineer at the Yorkton waterworks
department, phoned to say he had caught a strange looking bat. It urns
identified as a female Iloary bat Lasirus cinorsus (Boauvois). Mr.

Smith said

thoro wore three of the bats "hanging in a cluster" from the branch of a tree
about twelve feet above the ground. At first he mistook them for an orioles
nest. The Hoary bat is the largest of our Saskatchewan bats, and this part¬
icular one measured fifteen inches in wing spread. Wo have two previous
Yorkton records. A.L. Hand, in his "Bats of Saskatchewan,” remarks "always a
rare bat", Prom the 1944 check list of mammals of Saskatchewan by W.A, Puller,
we find that the Hoary has boon reported from Shaunavon (Hand 1943), Touchwood
Hills (Hollis 1902) and Emma Lake and Carlton House (Banfiold 1941). Mr,

Norris Elyo, director of the Winnipeg Museum, tolls us that he is of the
opinion that the Hoary bat seems to be much tie most common bat in the Winnipeg
district, and wc have come to the conclusion that it is not as rare in Sask¬
atchewan as has previously boon believed .

Dr, Swallow, Yorkton, tells us the following story: Gus Anderson of
Brodenbury was out in the Assiniboino Valley, near Birtlo, with his dog and
they discovered a groundhog burrow, containing nine young ones. The old
groundhog attacked the dog, a young collie, and hung on so viciously that Gu£
had to go to the rescue of his dog and kill the groundhog. Ho took three of
the young ones back to town with him and discovered a cat that had lost some
of her kittens, so he gave the cat a chance to adopt the young groundhogs,
which she accepted, and now she has a family of three kittens and' three
groundhogs, all accepting the situation very happily.

INSECTS

H.M, Raynor of I tuna, sent us a moth which lie had found resting on a twig
during the day. It was identified as one of the hummingbird, or hawk moths,
that arc often soon just before dark hovering over blossoms. These moths have
an extremely long proboscis for securing the nectar from deep throated flowers,
nnd as they dart from one plant to another arc sometimes mistaken for hurnming-

whon at rest

U.

birds,
erects it

«o called Sphinx moths, because the caterpillar
s head and assumes a position similar to the Egypt im

They arc a_i_o

n Sphinx,

A slender dark coloured beetle measuring about an inch in length, with
antenna almost as long, was sent in by Mrs, C, Hethorington of Old hives, Sc.sk,
The beetle belonged to the family of Long-Homed beetles and was identified as
Criocephalus agtrestis Xby. These beetles belong to a largo family as there
arc over ’600* species now described for North America'. Many of them are of
medium or large size and are strong fliers and swift runners. The larvae arc
borers, living in the wood of trees and shrubs.

Spruce trees in Yorkton were sprayed by the city workmen this spring for
pine needle scale infestation. The infested trees presented a grayish
appearance due to the presence of innumerable small white scales e In v/estorn
Canada the pine needle overwinters as an egg, under the scale formed the

to the

previous year by a secretion from the insect’s body. According
entomologists, pine needle scale is increasing in the three prairie provinces.
This summer the Indian Head entomological laboratory lias boon experimenting
with several new spray methods of controlling such posts.

Membership fees for the Yorkton Natural History Society for 1946-47 (50^)
are now due.

INFORMATION PLEASE

In "Wild Wings1*, in the Winnipeg Tribune, of Aug 31, 1946, B.W. Cartwright
expresses concern for the future of the large Sandhill Crane of the prairies.

A smaller subspecies, the Little Brown Crane, which nests in the far north,
still passes through in migration in fair numbers, but Mr, Cartwright states
that any specimens of birds brought to him as Sandhill Cranes in the past
thirty years have turned out to be of the smaller, northern subspecies. The
larger prairie bird, present in large numbers at the beginning of the century,
seems virtually to have disappeared, and may possibly soon be as rare as its
even larger and more showy relative, the Whooping Crane.

Any Sandhill Cranes nesting on the prairies are almost certain to be the
larger subspecies, the true "Sandhill"; however, the finding of a nest, or of
young not yet able to fly, is necessary to prove their presence, as non¬
breeding Little Brown Cranes occasionally summer on prairie marshes. The two
subspecies are almost impossible to differentiate in the field, the only
differences being in size, the true Sandhill being 3g- or 4 feet in length, as
compared with about 3 feet for the Little Brown Crane,

Mr. Cartwright states, "The only nesting location that I have heard of
many years is along Mosquito Crook, near Stavely, south- western Alberta, A
few are known to nest in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, north-eastern
California, Oregon and wn.cfi-
disapp oared.

m

oasningt on,
The. bird books say it

but over most of its former range it has

Jtill broods in Manitoba, Saskatchewan

and A.lborta, but it is surprising that wo never hear of any nests being found

d 1?

in these throe province

wo know that the Sandhill has disappeared from most of its former nesting
haunts. The drought of ton years ago pretty well completed driving them from
the few arras where they wore still relatively unmolested by man. Dr. C.J.
Houston reports that Sandhill Cranes nests wore found about five miles north
of Tyvan, Sask. , about 1914, and that thousands of cranes (of either or both
subspecies) stopped in migration each year. Now Cranes seldom oven stop
there in migration.

We know of two localities within forty miles of Yorkton whore Sandhill
have boon found nesting in recent years. Wo should like to hear of any

being found, especially recent records, although

in the early days .

Cranes

other records of their nests >

wo arc also interested

in learning tho extent of their rc

ngo

•ask.

who

writ cs

the interesting nature column

makes tho following inquiry: "Wo have been told of

Marion Nixon of Wauchope,
in tho Saskatchewan Farmer,
throe dens of coyote pups dug out this spring within a few miles of our farm.
All five pups in one den had white chest markings, and either tho front paws
or all four also showing white. The suggestion was made that it might show
Collie blood in the young coyotes. Have white-breasted coyotes been dug out
elsewhere?"

Charles. F. Holmes of Dollard asks- "Ha

iiuy anyone noted how robins dispense
when mud is scarce? Last spring before

with the plastering of their nest
rains came I found four nests with eggs minus the usual mud lining, but with
the rain Inter nests wore mudded?"

> ; o • «

Wo are very anxious to have reyceia tram members as to who b her they have
noticed a docroaso in numbers oi uurbj.ors since oho uni ivorablo weather in the
spring of 1945, when thousands of the tiny songsters perished.

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— Additions to

A LIjJF OF THE BIRDS OF NIPAWIN, SASKATCHEWAN
MIMEOGRAPHED JULY 1943
(Contribution jfZ - Y.N.H.S.)

WESTERN GREBE. A single bird noted on tiio Saskat ell exvan river, near Nipawin,

May 22, 1945.

if RALDPATE. Female with young, Campbell Lake, June, 1945.

Hr LESSER SCAUP. Adult female with young on Campbell Lake, July, 1946.

# AIvIKR I CAIJ GO LDENEYE . Nest with 8 eggs in tree cavity, May 14, 1944.

PER]I!GRINE"jIALCON . Identified at close range (as it perched on a fence post),

8 miles cast of Nipawin, Oct, 14, 1944.

VIHQOLING CRANE . C. Stuart Francis, noted ono lone bird, May 10, 1944, W..G*

Karst ad saw 7 whooping c ran eg. flying in northerly direction, Ma> 13, 1944 at
Pontrilas. Three seen almost daily from April 29 to June 15, 1945, in the
vicinity of Campbell Lake by John Lyons and Joe Wark,

H SANDHILL CRANE. Adults noted with young, August 1943, near Campbell Lake.
SEviIPiULATED PLOVER. A single bird feeding about a muddy pond, 12 miles west
of Nipawin, Hay 30, 1945, accompanied by a small flock of Least Sandpipers,
GREATER YELLQWLBGS . Several recorded on each of the following dates; May 20,
1944, May 5, 1945, and April 23, 1946.

PECTORAL aEAlIPER. A flock of 14 noted 8 miles east of Nipawin, May 15, 1944,
and 8 soon May 21, 1946,

HUDSONIAN GODWIT. One feeding with several Marbled Godwits on grassy pond,

12 miles west of Nipawin, May 21, 1945,

POHARINE JAEGER. Two observed by C. Stuart Francis, flying at a height of 20 ft,
over his farm at Torch River April 20, 1944.

H BONAPARTE T S GULL . Found breeding about a muskeg pond, 3 miles oast and 3 miles
north of Nipawin. Nest on spruce bough 10 feet from ground. Two pair nested
here in 1945 and at least one pair present, May 25, 1946.

H YELLOW- BELLIED FLYCATCHER . Nest with four eggs, partially incubated, found in
side of a tamarack hummock, near Nipawin, June 25, 1944.

EASTERN BLUEBIRD. Pair noted October 4, 1943, near Glendower Post Office.

H COMMON STARLING. Young noted at Nipawin, May, 1944. Nov; broods throughout
district in small numbers.

H RUSTY BLACKBIRDS . Nest vdth 4 well grown young, June 4, 1944, muskeg pond.
if WESTERN TANGED. Nest vdth four oggs found July 1, 1945, ono half mile south
of Nipawin Union hospital. The used nest was collected by Fred G, Bard of
Regina.

GDIY-CROLJTED ROSY FINCH. With a flock of about 20 English Sparrows around a
machine shod of C. Stuart Francis’ farm, Torch River, early December, 1940.

Tho bird stayed for several days.

LARK BUNTING. An adult male in full breeding plumage noted on road two miles
wc st of Nipawin, May 22, 1946, This bird was kept under close observation
for 15 minutes by tho writer who followed the bird for some distance across a
recently ploughed field.

BAIRD’S SPARROW. Identified near Nipawin May 24, 1946. Several previous un¬
certain records for this specie.

[if indicates a species in Mr, Street’s list which had not previously been
recorded breeding in tho Nipawin district)

Tho above 15 now species recorded by Mr, Street since tho publication of
his list in July, 1943, brings his list to a total of 211 species. Tho 9
additional nosting records add up to tho amazing total of 124 species of birds
which Mr. Street has found brooding within 30 miles of Nipawin.

Wo still have a number of copies of Mr. Street’s 10 page mimeographed
’’List of the Birds of Nipawin, Sask." available at 10£ from the secretary.

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