The Chat BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH. N. C. John H. Grey, j» . Editor 1719 PARK DRIVE VOL I March, 1937 No. 1 FOREWARD This first issue of THE CHAT goes to two hundred people in North Carolina, and outside the state, who have shown an interest in our birds. Following issues will go only to members, and to certain libraries for permanent record. THE CHAT will publish two types of information about birds. The first type will be information which is of scientific value helping us know more accurately the life history of particular species. This data will deal with the scarcity or abundance of this species throughout the state, migration dates, nesting data, sub-species and the like. Much of this information must be gathered regularly by someone in each community: therefore we welcome all field notes and will publish such notes by localities. The value of such notes will depend upon their accuracy. The other type of information will be of a popular nature. All of our people are not interested in doing work of the first type, and some have not yet learned enough about our birds to gather much data. All of us are interested in the aesthetic values of birds and in the sheer pleasure which they bring to us. Therefore we hope to publish articles which will stimulate our interest in our birds, help us know more species, and perhaps lead us into that keener interest which will spur us to gather information of scientific value as well as aesthetic. You will recognize that an article may contain both types of information for the two types are not mutually exclusive. Page 2 THE CHAT March 1937 The April Number . The next issue of THE CHAT will appear about the middle of April. The feature article will be by C. S. Brimley, President, on the "Additions to the North Carolina Avifauna." The article will deal with the thirtyfour additions to our check-list since the appearance of THE BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA in 1919. Brimley is revising this book in preparation for a second edition. Included also will be all field and banding notes received by April 6th. These will emphasize March observations, but will include any made before then and not yet published. Single copies of any number may be secured from the Editor for twentyfive cents. Organization Meeting of North Carolina Bird Club Seventyfive people came from all over the State to form a state-wide society of ornithology. The meeting was called by the Raleigh Bird Club and was opened by Mrs. Charlotte Hilton Green, President of the Club. Those present were asked to introduce themselves, stating their community and the following were repre- sented: Asheville, Statesville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Southern Pines, Pine Bluff, Sanford, Oxford, Cary, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville, Washington, Tarboro, Raleigh, Syracuse, N.Y., Belfast, N.Y., and Lexington, Virginia. The purpose of the meeting was stated and Mrs. Green asked the Rev. Dr. J. J. Murray of Virginia to tell of the work of the Virginia Society of Ornithology and other groups. Murray has been Editor of THE RAVEN, bulletin of the V.S.O. for seven years, is the Secretary of the National Association of Audubon Societies and was last year elected to full membership in the American Ornithologist's Union- of which there are less than 150 full members. He stated that their Society began seven years ago with eighteen members which were increased to forty charter members. Meetings are held annually in various cities to increase interest. The Society has gathered data for a state book on Virginia birds, stimulated interest in the value and protection of birds and has probably saved the State ten thousand dollars a year in preventing the return of the bounty on hawks- and owls. He said that any state could maintain such a club if twelve people were vitally interested in the work and fifty more were increasing their interest. Page 3 THE CHAT March 1937 The group voted to organize a state club. A constitution for such a club was presented, revised and adopted. The name to be "The North Carolina Bird Club", with dues of one dollar a year. Anyone interested in birds to be elegible for membership, meetings to be held annually, the bulletin to be THE CHAT and the Executive Committee to consist of the following five officers: President, three Vice-Presidents and a Secretary-Treasurer who would also edit the bulletin. Mrs. Green appointed as a Nominat- ing Committee: Harry T. Davis and C. H. Bostian of Raleigh, Miss Nancy Eliason of Statesville, A. D. Shaftsbury of Greensboro and J. J. Sigwald of Wilson. Luncheon was served in the Woman's Club, in which the meet- ing was being held, with sixty-five present. John H. Grey, Jr., presented Dr. Murray who again spoke to the group. His subject was "Wild Wings", in which he spoke of ornithology as an art, a science and a sport. Dr. Z. P. Metcalf presided over the afternoon session. He presented the report of a special committee appointed to recom- mend the amount to be charged for annual dues. Their report of one dollar was adopted. Mr. Davis presented the report of the Nominating Committee. Their report was adopted and the following elected as officers: OFFICERS OF N. C. B. C. C. S. Brimley, President, N. C. Department Agriculture, Raleigh. Francis H. Craighill, Vice-President, Church of the Good Shepherd, Rocky Mount. Nellie F. Sanborn, Vice President, President, Southern Pines Bird Club, Southern Pines. Ethel F. Finster, Vice President, Asheville Teachers' College, Asheville. John H. Grey, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer-Editor, West Raleigh Presbyterian Church, Raleigh. The Club voted to elect Dr. T. Gilbert Pearson of New York, President of the International Committee for Bird Protection, a charter member of the Club. The following telegram arrived at the home of the Secretary too late to be read: "Greetings and best wishes to North Carolina ornithologists meeting in Raleigh today. I shall eagerly follow your every movement and rejoice with you at every success." T. Gilbert Pearson. Page 4 THE CHAT March 1937 Abstract of Papers Read Before the Club WHEN IS A SIGHT RECORD VALID? C. S. Brimley. Several cases of sight records were cited which for various and obvious reasons were erroneous. The validity of such records depends upon the knowledge of the observer, particularly his knowledge of what points to observe about the particular bird, and also his reliability as an accurate observer. Then there en- ters the question of the ease or difficulty with which the parti- cular bird could be identified, and whether the identification was made while observing the bird in the field or only made after going home and looking at pictures of birds. In the latter case, the record might not have much value. Further, records of well- known and easily-identified birds can be accepted where similar records of unusual or obscurely marked birds might have to be thrown out. ADVENTURES IN BIRD BANDING Mrs. Charlotte Hilton Green Bird banding in America began in 1803-04 when young Audubon placed a silver cord on the legs of a brood of phoebes. The fol- lowing year, two of the brood returned. Systematic banding began in 1899, when a young Danish teacher began banding and keeping careful records of certain birds. From Europe it spread to this country. So much accurate information was gained as to migratory routes, breeding range, winter homes, etc., that in 1920 banding was placed under the Biological Survey. Frederick C. Lincoln has been in charge of the work for several years. Since 1920, 2,181,150 birds have been banded with returns on 135,953, an average of about 16%. This work has been done in some 2,000 sta- tions. Only a few of these stations are located in southern states. North Carolina now has ten stations, but only five are reported as active. To band birds, one must have a permit from the Biological Survey. One of the most interesting returns is that of a Common Tern banded in Maine in 1913 and found dead by a Negro in western Africa. Curious as to the band, he took it to a missionary who sent a report of it back to the Survey. Page 5 THE CHAT March 1937 RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE NORTH CAROLINA CHECK LIST Francis H. Craighill. The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) : This is perhaps the most widely distributed of all birds, being found on all five continents and in Australia. It breeds in Florida and has been recorded in several northern states and in Canada, but not here- tofore from North Carolina. It has now come to light that in late August or early September, 1926, Captain Tillett of the Bodie Island Coast Guard Station saw a flock of five of these birds and shot one for identification. His companion on that occasion was Mr. Arthur Harris of the Nags Head Station, and the bird was identified as in Ibis by Mr. Frank Stick. Lawrence's Warbler (Vermivora lawrencei) : Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers often mate and the hybrid progent is either a Brewster's Warbler which is practically a Golden-winged Warbler without the black throat and ear patch, or much less fre- quently a Lawrence's Warbler which is to all intents and purposes a Blue-winged Warbler with the black throat and ear patch of the Golden-winged. On June 26, 1935, a bird was reported from Rocky Mount by Craighill and Hugh H. Battle, Jr., which checked exactly with the picture and description of the Lawrence's Warbler. Kirtland's Warbler (Dendroica kirtlandi) : A very rare warbler. Has been found breeding only in three counties of Mich- igan. It winters in the Bahamas, and has been reported in migra- tion from both Virginia and South Carolina. On September 2, 1936 Craighill saw near Rocky Mount a warbler which in appearance and action checked with the pictures and descriptions of the Kirt- land's Warbler. It is hoped that some member of our Bird Club may soon be able to supplement these sight records with collected specimens, and give these two warblers an established and legitimate place in our North Carolina Check-list. CHARTER MEMBERS N. C. B. C. Section 1. To date: (All those joining by May 6, 1937, may become charter members. Anyone interested in birds enough to invest $1.00 per year and send his or her address to the Secre- tary by this date, will become a charter member.) Prof. Catherine Allen, Meredith College, Raleigh Murray Allen, Esq., 609 Security Natl. Bank Building, Raleigh Miss Grace Anderson, 528 Walnut Street, Statesville Joseph D. Biggs, 220 Chamberlain Street, Raleigh Page 6 THE CHAT March 1937 Dr. C. H. Bostian, 2208 Hope Street, Raleigh C. S. Brimley, N. C. Department of Agriculture, Raleigh H. H. Brimley, N. C. State Museum, Raleigh Mrs. E. M. Brown, Washington Mrs. Turner B. Bunn, 509 Falls Road, Rocky Mount Mrs, Charles C. Cheek, Sanford The Rev. Francis H. Craighill, 225 N. Church Street., Rocky Mount H. E. Craven, 1710 Park Drive, Raleigh William Craven, 1710 Park Drive, Raleigh Ferd Davis, Zebulon Harry T. Davis, N. C. State Museum, Raleigh Mrs. M. Dollar, 201 Park Avenue, Raleigh Mrs. L. M. Dye, 701 N. Blount Street, Raleigh Miss Louise Eaton, Oxford Orphanage, Oxford Mrs. Minnie H. Eliason, Mitchell College, Statesville Miss Nancy Eliason, Peace Junior College, Raleigh J. S. Farmer, Tenacres, R. F. D. #1, Raleigh Miss Ethel B. Finster, Box 5015 Biltmore Station, Asheville Mrs. Miles Goodwin, 120 Hillcrest Road, Raleigh R. W. Green, 2818 White Oak Road, Raleigh Mrs. Charlotte Hilton Green, 2818 White Oak Road, Raleigh The Rev. John H. Grey, Jr., 1719 Park Drive, Raleigh Miss Margaret Habel, 327 E. Jones Street, Raleigh Earl H. Hall, W. C. of U. N. Cl, Greensboro Dr. T. P. Harrison, 1800 Park Drive, Raleigh Milford W. Haynes, Box 731, Tarboro Miss Clara Hearne, Roanoke Rapids Bert Heidelbach, Jr., N. C. S. Box 3133, Raleigh Mrs. G. H. Holmes, Tryon J. S. Holmes, N. C. Dept. Conservation and Development, Raleigh Mrs. J. S. Holmes, 302 Forest Road, Raleigh Mrs. Samuel Hoshour, Mansion Park Hotel, Raleigh Miss Lida Hutchings, Pine Bluff Mrs. Frank C. Kugler, Washington Miss Eva Mangum, R. F. D. #1, Morganton Lacy L. McAllister, Pilot Insurance Company, Greensboro Dr. Z. P. Metcalf, N. C. State College, Raleigh Ralph H. Mozo, 406 E. Ninth Street, Greenville Mrs. Ralph H. Mozo, 406 E. Ninth Street, Greenville The Rev. J. J. Murray, DD., 6 White St., Lexington, Virginia Miss Katherine V. Nooe, Statesville Mrs. Louis W. Payne, 1920 Sunset Drive, Raleigh Dr. T. Gilbert Pearson, 1775 Broadway, Room 841, New York City Miss Dorothy Rivers, 530 N. Person Street, Raleigh Dr. Ben F. Royal, Morehead City Mrs. Nellie F. Sanborn, Birdhaven, Southern Pines Dr. A. D. Shaftsbury, W. C. ofU. N. C., Greensboro Mrs. W. B. Shannon, Pine Bluff Miss Mary Shelburne, City Museum, Washington Page 7 THE CHAT March 1937 John J. Sigwald, Box 1197, Wilson Mrs. A. J. Skaale, 3401 Hillsboro Street, Raleigh Dr. D. T. Smithwick, County Historian, Louisburg R. A. Urquhart, Lewiston Mrs. H. E. Wilson, Parkview Apartments, Raleigh R. H. Witherington, Box 3253 N. C. S . , Raleigh Notes from Eastern North Carolina J. J. Murray, Lexington, Virginia. In the course of field trips made in recent years in eastern North Carolina, and particularly in Robeson County, I have col- lected some records which amplify the data given on certain spe- cies by Pearson and the Brimleys in "The Birds of North Carolina". Southern Robin (Turdus migratorius achrusterus) : In "The Birds of N. C . , " it was stated that the southern limit of the range of this bird in North Carolina had not been worked out. That point may have been cleared up by this time. At any rate I have found it to be a not uncommon breeder at Red Springs, Robe- son County, only twenty miles from the South Carolina line and about a hundred miles from the coast. It has the same status at St. Pauls, in the northern, part of that county, and at Raeford, Hoke County. I found a few at Greenville, Pitt County, May 4-10, 1936, where they appeared to be settled for nesting, and where I was told that they did nest occasionally. Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius 1. ludovicianus ) : I have found this bird fairly common in May in Robeson County. It was fairly common at Greenville, May 4-10, 1936. Starling (Sturnus v. vulgaris) : This bird seems now to have covered eastern North Carolina. It is a fairly common breeder in Robeson County; I saw several pairs feeding young at Greenville on May 5, 1936; and found it common at Lake Mattamuskeet the fol- lowing day. It is still scarce as a breeder at Blowing Rock and other higher points in the west. Swainson's Warbler. (Limnothlypis swainsoni): At the time of the publication of "The Birds of N. C." the only record of a nest for the State was from Edenton. I have been surprised to find the bird nesting as far inland as Robeson County. In "The Auk", October, 1935, p. 459, I reported an empty but new nest at Red Springs on May 2, 1935; another nest on May 6 with one egg; and a bird seen at still a third place. I found a pair in the same swamp on. May 4, 1936, but did not locate the nest. Page 8 THE CHAT March 1937 Yellow Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea) : This bird is said, in "The Birds of N. C. " , to winter "at least spar- ingly in the east". Skinner does not list it in his book, "A Guide to the Winter Birds of the North Carolina Sandhills". In ten winter trips to Robeson County, I have found it one time, when a few were feeding at the edge of a swamp near Red Springs, January 15-17, 1929. Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria v. virens): A contribution to the first issue of "The Chat" would not be complete without a reference to the sprightly bird which is the living original of its name. Pearson and the Brimleys state that this bird "appears to be absent from the eastern border of the State" . I have pre- viously recorded it (The Auk, October, 1930, p. 576) as having been fairly common in thickets on the edge of a savannah near Shannon, Robeson County, on May 17, 1930. I also saw it near Red Springs on May 7, 1935. Messrs. C. S. Brimley and John H. Grey and I found three at Atlantic Beach, Carteret County, May 11, 1936. I had not seen it in Pitt County, where I had spent the previous week, nor at Lake Mattamuskeet , where I visited on May 5 . Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) : This is another species which in "The Birds of N. C." is listed as only a transient in eastern Carolina. I found it common at Red Springs, May 12-22, 1930. My sister-in-law, Miss Mary Linda Vardell, has found a nest on the campus of Flora Macdonald College. I saw one, which may have been a transient, at Lake Mattamuskeet on May 6, 1936. Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus, subsp.?): Robeson County should be added to the breeding territory of this bird, but I have not found it common there in the breeding season. It was fairly common, May 12-22, 1930. I saw one at Red Springs on April 29, 1935; one at St. Pauls on May 2; and found it common in one spot between Red Springs and Shannon on May 7 . The status of the Towhees of this region is of some interest. Certainly the summer and winter birds are of different races. All birds which I have been able to observe closely in winter have had red eyes. Three which I watched at close range on May 7, 1935, had light eyes, two of them light brownish yellow, and the other straw- colored. It will take some judicious collecting to refer the breeding bird to its proper race. I venture to suggest that they will turn out to be intermediate between canaster (the Alabama Towhee) and alleni (the White-eyed Towhee) . Curiously enough, Towhees which I was able to study at close range at Atlantic Beach, while in company with Messrs. C. S. Brimley and J. H. Grey on May 11, 1936, had red eyes. The eyes of one bird, indeed, approached an orange color, but it was nearer red than yellow. Page 9 THE CHAT March 1937 Additions to the List of Raleigh Birds C. S. Brimley. In November 1930, I published a list of the Raleigh Birds in the JOURNAL OF THE ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY (Vol. 46, No. 1) . This list included 215 full species, for where two or more subspecies of the same species occurred they were listed as one species. The following list brings our total species to 221. Ring-necked Duck (Nyroca collaris) . Common on Lake Johnson, in numbers varying from 12 to 120. Earliest date October 27, latest April 13. Only observed in winters of 35-36 and 36-37. If noted in previous years it must have been taken for Lesser Scaup. Golden-eye Duck (Glaucionetta clangula americana) : March 2, 1936, Dec. 1, 1936 to March 9, 1937. Observed in all on ten occasions, one to three birds on each. Ruddy Duck (Erismatura jamaicensis rubida) : Jan. 21, 1933, Nov, 21, 1933, Nov. 26, 1935 to April 13, 1936. Oct. 27, 1936 to present (3-9-37). Mostly on Lake Johnson. Largest lot seen, thirty . Canvas-back Duck (Nyroca valisineria) : Lake Johnson, Dec. 10, 14, 21, 1936. One seen on each occasion among flock of Ringnecks. (All duck records principally by J. H. Grey, partly aided by Roxie Collie and myself.) Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis ) : Nov. 25, 1932, adult killed by an auto. Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) : Nov. 15, 1932, immature bird killed on Lake Raleigh. A Yellow - Crowned - Ruby - Crowned Kinglet Nellie F. Sanborn, Birdhaven, Southern Pines I hasten to share an unusual experience with you. I was loitering before my kitchen window, which is a large one with 20 panes of glass. Outside is a big Scuppernong grape vine that comes within a few feet of the window, and when I am supposed to be working at the sink my eyes are usually focused outside to see what is going on in and around the grape vine. I caught a glimpse of a little olive gray bird about one half the size of an English sparrow. He had such a quick fidgety motion catching insects on the vines I had to keep a sharp watch until I caught some of his identification marks. There was a Page 10 THE CHAT March 1937 white eye ring, short stubby slightly notched tail, and two wing bars that came together forming a pattern on the back that I have not seen in illustrations. As I watched him, he stopped in front of me, laid the feathers on the top of his head to each side, like opening a book, and showed the most gorgeous ruby crown I have ever seen. I forgot every thing, and watched for another exhibition, for one of my bird books says "out of 100 ruby-crowns seen in the Sandhills during the winter only five showed any sign of a crest" . My ruby crown was flashing rubies often when I espied another bird exactly like him, and I thought ah ha ! a female (they have no crown) and that is why you are showing off. Sud- denly they were within a few inches of each other on the same vine, when No. I gave a fine exhibition of his beautiful ruby- crown. Instantly/ as much as to say "if you think your crown is beautiful, look at mine", and a light yellow crown was lifted. I was nearly breathless from excitement, for I knew I had witnessed an unusual sight. When the show was over, I hastened to my bird books, and one after another did not mention a yellow crown. The last book I looked at did, and that is what saved my reputation from "seeing things that isn't". In that book, Birds of North Carolina, by T. Gilbert Pearson, C. S. Brimley and H. H . Brimley, I read, "The Yellow crown patch appears to be quite unusual, as out of 44 specimens only three were found with a yellow crown." Do you wonder I was thrilled? (C. S. Brimley reports 3 specimens of the Yellow-Crowned- Ruby Crowned Kinglet from Raleigh, taken in 1886 and 1889, Editor) FIELD NOTES GREENSBORO . The summer and fall of 1936 furnished some in- teresting observations on bird life about Greensboro. The first hint of these happenings was shown in 1935, when several nests of the Chipping Sparrow were found with dead fledglings and one with the occupants starving. The starving birds were fed for several days to no avail. Earlier notes convey the fact that this was recorded as not unusual for these birds about our homes. About mid-June of 1936 the following happenings were noted: two nests showed the parent dead on the incubating eggs; three nests held starving fledglings at different stages of maturity. Similar nests were found at different times throughout the nesting season. Of a total of eleven nests under observation five showed this disease-stricken state. This high rate of mortality led to the belief that this was unusual among the bird population. How ex- tensive were these happenings was not determined, as the work was Page 11 THE CHAT March 1937 done about the immediate dwellings. On examination the dead birds showed extreme emaciation, and the feathers about the vent were covered with white excrement. This superficial observation led to the conclusion that these birds had something like the common poultry disease called coccidiosis. Later in the fall of 1936 this disease was further estab- lished by Lacy L. McAlister, who furnished a Wood Thrush and a Veery dead from some disease. These birds showed the same be- smeared state that the Chippies did. McAlister further related peculiar actions of some English Sparrows, which appeared to weave and stagger as they came to feed at the station. Later, dead birds were found about the station for some time. It was at this same station that the two thrushes were found. It is granted that not enough work has been done to draw any conclusions; but if these things are repeated in 1937, more and better work will be undertaken. However, it is to be hoped that the occurrence will not be repeated and that the bird population will increase instead of decline. Earl H. Hall Statesville . I was delighted to hear Dr. J. J. Murray call the Song Sparrow his favorite bird in his speech before the state- wide meeting of bird lovers in Raleigh. The Song Sparrow has not until recently had his name on the list of permanent residents for Statesville. Three years ago a member of our Audubon Club heard his song through the summer. Investigation disclosed a nest in the shrubs of a nearby stream-crossed meadow. It was thought that the pair had a quixotic turn of mind that year, but in 1934 more nests were reported elsewhere in town. To date the birds are per- manent residents and on the increase. Through the misty gloom of the past months I have heard his delicious melodies making summer of our discontent. With field glasses I have watched him in his music hall - an old maple sprout that thrusts a spear through the honey-suckle hedge - feet aslant a twig, feathers windblown and mist laden, trilling his sweet repetoire . Grace Anderson Rocky Mount . Saw small flock Rusty Blackbirds 3-8-37 with individuals in three phases of plumage. They are rather unusual birds here, or perhaps we only identify them when we get a clear view. No doubt they often pass at a distance as Redwings. The latter are now abundant, as are Chipping Sparrows. Francis H. Craighill Page 12 THE CHAT March 1937 Lenoxville . Plans are now underway to have a fire lane fifty feet wide cut around the Lenoxville Rookery to protect the Egrets and Herons which use there every year. In 1935, Capt. Goodwin, warden of the Audubon Association, was unable to check a woods fire which started southeast of the rookery. The flames spread to the rookery and it is estimated that thousands of nestlings and immature birds were baked alive. The birds which escaped returned to nest in 1933. Since the rookery is such an important one the Audubon Association is making every effort to secure the fire lane. THE BEAUFORT NEWS 2-27-37 Beaufort . Late last fall a Mockingbird came several times a day to our window trying to get in. It would fly against the panes till it found it could not come inside, then it would sit for a long time on the window sill before flying away. These visits were kept up for two weeks or more, then it disappeared. About the first of March a Mockingbird came to the feeding tray, and I am wondering if it is the same one. Our place is so public that not a great variety of birds visit the feeding trays or yard. The first week in March a lone Robin came for a few days. Only starlings and English Sparrows came to the trays during the cold- est weather. Mrs. L. Felton Raleigh . 10-36 to 3-16-37: Water birds - Ducks were noted on Lake Johnson and Lake Raleigh from 10-10-36 thru 3-16-37, most numerous species was Ring-necked which occurred during whole period in numbers from 12 to 60. Ruddy were the next commonest, not more than 15 or 16 observed on one day except 10-28 (30) . Black were third commonest. Mallard-one 12-21 and 2-15. Baldpate 10-27- (12), 11-2.4 (8), 3-16 (pr.) on Boneyard Lake. Pintail 12-10 and 14 (1 each), Shoveller 3-16 (pr.) Boneyard Lake. Wood duck 10-27 (15). Blue-winged Teal (pr.) Lake Myra, 2-19 (Grey). Canvasback (1) 12-10, 14, 21. Lesser Scaup a few from 10-24 to 1-26, and 3-17 (1) . Golden-eye one to three 12-1 to 3-9. Buffle- head 12-14 (1 fern.) full plumaged m. and 2 fern. 3-16. Old Squaw 12-21 (1) . Pied-billed Grebes were seen all through the winter thus definitely changing their status from that of transient to that of winter visitors. Horned Grebe, 12-10 (Grey); Great Blue Herons were seen about once a month but Kingfishers only on 12-21 and 1-26. (Observations by: R. Collie, Grey and C. S. Brimley.) Raleigh . Land Birds: Marsh Hawk 3-9 (Grey, Collie, Brimley) Purple Grackle 3-9- (2) . Yellow-throated Warbler 3-9-singing, seen next day (Mrs. Green) . Siskins-35 on 2-2 and 125 on 3-7 (Brimley with intervening records by Wm. Craven, Green and Joe Biggs). Page 13 THE CHAT March 1937 Blue-headed Vireo near Lake Johnson 3-9 (2, Collie, Grey, Brimley- seen same place and date last year) . Chipping Sparrow 2-28 (Wm. Craven) The Siskins were the first noted in Raleigh since Spring 1923. C. S. Brimley BIRD BANDING Ocracoke . A bird, said to be a Labrador Gull, was caught in a net in Pamlico Sound, a mile or two east of Ocracoke, about Feb. 1, 1937. The bird bore a band numbered 36-043530. The Biological Survey reports it was a Herring Gull, banded July 26, 1936, at Kent's Island, New Brunswick, Canada by W. A. 0. Gross. Harry T. Davis, Raleigh Raleigh . In the last published BIRD BANDING NOTES (Aug. '36) sent out by the Biological Survey but one Brown-headed Nuthatch was banded in the whole country. Jesse Primrose of Raleigh did that one. In the same issue only 10 Summer Tanagers were reported banded for the entire country - 7 of these were the ones I banded last summer, two of them adults and five young a week out of the nest. Following the heavy snow of 2-28-37 we trapped and banded 12 Myrtle Warblers, also Pine Warblers, Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, Carolina Wrens and a White-breasted Nuthatch. Made first record for brown creeper, (a bird difficult to trap) caught it in a tree-trunk trap 1-1-37. Have returns on 10 of the 46 Whitethroats banded at our station last year. Charlotte Hilton Green