The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH. N. C.

John H. Grey, jr.. Editor
1719 PARK DRIVE

y£L. IV JANUARY 1940

UNUSUAL RECORDS IN 1939
John Grey-

One of the important works of the North Carolina Bird Club has
been the gathering of records throughout the State. C.o. Brimley
has commented on some of these records in recent issues, but has
left the unusual records for this article.

1 -Audubon* s Shearwater Puffinus 1. Iherminieri. This seems
to have been a flight year for these birds of the southern oceans,
with more than thirty individuals reported on six dates in comparison
with five dates for the State in past years. ohurchill Braga w ob-
served them July 23rd, a few miles off the mouth o± the Cape Rear
River 'near Southport. Walker observed them at Pea Island. July.

21 28 29, and August 20, and the K. C. B. C. on their field trip tc

Pea Island observed three at Oregon Inlet August 17. July 27,. 1930
7/alker saw eight at Oregon Inlet# A puzzling feature of this in—
vision is the number of sick and dead birds iound on the beach.

Walker found seventeen dead one day and two on other days, none of
these being killed by oil and all were emaciated. I took one at
Back Bay August 1st which was still alive, its head dropping as does
a chicken suffering from ’’limber neck. 1 ’

2— Greater Shearwater P uf f inus gravis . o. A. Walker and T.
Gilbert Pearson picked up a dead bird June 22nd on Currituck Beach,
and Walker found another on Bodie Island Beach June 26th. Two other
records from the State. Mrs. A. need and I saw one flying at
Cape Henry, Virginia, July 31st.

3- Yellow-billed Tronic -bird Phaethon lepturus catesbyi . One
picked'up dead, July 5th/on north shore of Oregon Inlet by S. A.
Walker who tried to preserve the skin but the bird was too badly
decomposed. On the N. C. B. C. field trip C. S. Brimley saw the
remains and agreed with Walker’ s identification. The head is pre-

Page 2

THE CHAT

January 1940

served in the Museum,

4- White-fronted Goose Anser a. albifrons, One observed by

S. A. Walker, Under Manager of the Pea 'Island Migratory Waterfowl
Refuge, on the refuge February 2, 6, 7, 21 and March 5. Also one
observed there the year before on January 19, 1938. Two of these
rare geese were in our section last year as one was observed on the
Back Bay Refuge February 5-11, 1939. Three other records for N. C.

5- Blue Goose Chen caerulescens. 8. A. 'Walker observed this'
goose on the Pea Island Refuge from "November 2, 1938, to February 9,
1939, Thirteen birds being observed February 8th, and at other
times there were several in with the Greater Snow Geese. The earli-
est record 'for the State was made by Walker in observing one bird
October '18, 1939. Before 1937 this goose was considered a rare
visitor, but Walker has recorded 'as a regular visitor to the refuge
in small flocks, Nov. 13, 1939, immature specimen taken by

T. G. Empie below Fort Caswell.

6- Gadwall Chaulelasmus streperus, S. A. Walker records the
first record of this duck breeding in the State, June 12th he
found an adult and ten young on the pond on Pea Island Refuge, the
ducklings were about 4 to 5 days old. June 26th he saw the female
and the ten young again, and on July 10th banded one bird.

7- Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator . While this bird
is a year-round visitor to the coast Churchill Bragaw is the first
to record its having bred in the State. Bragaw was at Camp Wright
on Currituck Sound on July 27th when someone brought into camp a
young merganser which was sick. The bird was several weeks old,
Bragaw did not think to secure the specimen, but took it to be this
species. There is one other report of the bird having bred in N. C.

8- Florida Red-tailed Hawk Buteo borealis umbrinus . A new
form for the State list. F, H. Craighill of Rocky Mount sent to
the State Museum' two birds one of which had been shot near Nashville
January 21, 1939, and the other some two years earlier nearer Rocky
Mount, The birds were sent to Washington and Dr. H.-C. Oberholser
upheld Craighill’ s identification of them as umbrinu s , and said they
were the first satisfactory record of these birds outside Florida,
Craighill has seen one other bird near Rocky Mount, and one on the
coast, which he thinks may belong to the Florida form. In the field
it is difficult to distinguish the Florida from the Eastern form;

In the hand umbrinus has a "dark back, 'dark band on lower breast,
dark' throat with absence of white chin, broader dark band at end of
tail, and sometimes dark spots along- shaft of tail feathers." One
of the specimens has all these marks, the other lacks the dark spots
along the shaft of tail feathers.

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January 1940

THE CHAT

9- Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa. A flock of twenty-one ob-
served on Pea Island, December 28th , by S. a. calker, Mrs# a. C.

Peed of Norfolk, and myself. be watched them for more than half
an hour in the air and on the mud flats of the fresh-water pond,
at times they were within a hundred yards of us. These birds are
sunnosed to winter from Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana south 'to
South America, although one was recorded from near Charleston, S. C.,
last year in the Christmas Census. Formerly our latest date was
October 17th. Walker has reported small flocks one to seven birds
in the fall migrations of 1938 and 1939. His observations indicate
an increase in these birds in the last few years in comparison with
observations before 1935= Thos. D. Burleigh reporting only one bird
August 18, 1934 in a two week stay 'at Kitty Hawk. Witmer Stone
lists the birds at Cape May, N« J., as from two to five birds a
year between 1932 and 1935. The only recent records from Virginia
of which I know are two birds August 18, 1938 at Sand Bridge, Back
Bay, seen by J. J. Murray and me.

10- Avocet Recurvl rostra americana. One observed September
8th on the beach at Nags Head Coast Guard Station by F. II. Craighill
and S. A. Walker. They observed the bird for some time at close
range in the air and on the beach. Another bird was observed the
same day and also on the 9th at Sand Bridge at the head of Back Bay
in Virginia by Harry A. Bailey and Griffith of the Biological Survey,
stalker recalled seeing a similar bird in 1936, but as he could not
then identify it he made no record. One other record for N. C.

11- Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius. One picked up dead
November 16th at Rocky Mount by F. ll.' "5raighill. The bird was on
"Flat Rock" on the banks of the Tar River and within the city limits.
There was no evidence that it had been shot, and no wires nearby that
it might have struck. The bird was sent to the Museum but the skin
could not be preserved. This is a bird which rarely comes to land,
spending most of its time on the ocean. when it does come inland it
is usually on or near the coast, and usually following some kind of
'storm. Yet in mid-November the weather had been mild with no storm.
Six other records for the State, one other being somewhat inland as
Harry T. Davis picked up one in the road in Onslow County March 8,
1934. A. C. Bent lists four records of this bird inland for the
Atlantic 'Coast : Woodstock, Vt; Bucks Co. Penna; Ottawa and also
Hamilton, Ontario ( Bull . 142 U.. S. Rational Museum )

'12- Roseate Tern Sterna d, dour, alii . Adult -female taken 'August
17th, and adult male next day by Mrs. Roxie Simpson and myself, at
Oregon' Inlet. S. A. Walker reported these rare terns in 1938 on
July 4, 7, August 26 , and September 8, J. J. Murray and I doubted
Walker’s identification and collected a tern at Back Bay, Virginia,

Page 4

THE CHAT

January 1940

only to find it a Common Tern in juvenile plumage. Walker then
pointed out the difference in plumage between the bird we had taken
and the ones he called Roseate. The birds we collected proved him
to be correct. Walker and Craighill report these fairly common
at Pea Island August 28 through September 8, 1939. The only other
record for N. C. is a bird taken on Pea Island August 22, 1904, by
Louis Bishop.

The above data may be the most important gathered this year.
Roseate Terns are uncommon on the Atlantic Coast South of N ew York. -
Howell reports them in Florida "as a rare migrant on the Gulf Coast,
but it has apparently never been recorded from the east coast."
( Florida B ird L ife, p. 264 ). A. C. Bent sums up the meagre migra-
tion data on this species: "The fall migration leaves Bermuda

in September and Massachusetts about October 1. Other migration
data seems to be lacking; probably the migration occurs well off the
coast, " ( Bull . 113 U. S , National Museum, p. 264 ). Wayne records

it in S. Cl as a "rare transient visitant took it near Charleston

in October," ( Birds of South Carolina ) Before 1890 it bred in
Virginia, but has not been recorded there since. Witmer Stone re-
cords it as a scarce breeder in Hew Jersey, ( Bird Studies At Old
Cane May )

13- Dovekie Alle aide . By H. H. Brimley . Doctor Ben F. Royal,
of'Morehead City wrote me" Nov, 29th as follows: "Since Friday, Nov,

24, I have had four Dovekies brought me for identification." One of
the above was picked up on the highway between Morehead and Beaufort
and another on the causeway between the Beach Bridge and Atlantic
Beach, "A resident of Salter Path has just brought in another
specimen and says that the birds are present all along Bogue Beach,
literally by thousands. He says they are in flocks containing as
many as two hundred, just like Black-heads (Lesser Scaup),"

On December 4, Geo, W f . Ball, Raleigh, brought a specimen to the
Museum that he had picked up on Atlantic Beach on the previous day,
its being one of at least 30 dead specimens he observed lying along
the beach. This seemed to be about the end of the large influx of
Dovekies in the Beaufort region, as Mrs. Roxie Collie Simpson found
that the bulk of the birds had left when she reached Beaufort Dec. 3*

T. G. Samworth, of Marines, N. C., also reported Dovekies as*
occuring plentifully around the mouth of New River, Onslow County,
about the same time as their appearance in the Beauf ort-Morehead
region, and Theodore Empie, Wilmington, also submitted several
records that indicated a number off the beaches from Wrightsvillc to
below Fort Caswell.

Alexander Sprunt, Jr., of Charleston, S. C., advised me Dec. 26lh
that he had no records of this species off the coast of South Caro-
lina this season, but had heard from Greene "recently" that some had
shown up around Cape Hatteras.

Second-hand information reached me to the effect that large num-
ber of Dovekies were in evidence on Core Sound, near Atlantic, about

Page 5

THE CHAT

January 1940

the same time they were so recorded from the Morehead City region.

Only one Dovekie was reported from Pea Island and one was ob-
served just over the Virginia line along the coast near Back Bay,

14- Saw- whet Owl Cryptoglaux acadica. By H. H. Brimley , A
dead and much emaciated male was picked up in Oakwood Cemetery at
Raleigh, on Dec, 6, 1939, and brought to the State Museum. It only
weighed an ounce and three-fourths,

A male hybrid between a Black Duck and a Mallard was received
in the flesh at the State Museum on December 6, 1939, from lower
New River, Onslow County, where it had been taken a day or two pre-
viously by T. G. Samworth . H, H, Brimley

CHRISTMAS CENSUSES FOR 1939

Twelve localities report a census for 1939 as opposed to nine in
1938 and six in 1937 which is a very gratifying increase. Those
which appear for the first time this year are Micaville and Windom in
Yancey County, Healing Springs in Davidson County and Pea Island in
Dare County on the Outer Banks. The census from the Great Smoky
Mountains is included although it is actually in Tennessee.

A grand total of 127 species and subspecies are reported this

year.

Those reported from only one locality are Great Horned Owl, Long-
eared Owl, Horned Lark, Black and White Warbler, Yellow Palm Warbler,
Yellowthroat , Blue headed Vireo, and Redpoll, several of which appear
in off-census dates for the month at other places. Besides these are
nearly twenty species of water and shore birds that appear on the
Pea Island census but not elsewhere.

No redbreasted nuthatches nor siskins were reported anywhere ex-
cept the former from two mountain localities. Wild Turkeys, Ameri-
can Mergansers, and Purple Grackles were also missing from all lists.

Species which 'appear to be -commoner than usual are the Brown
Thrasher, Bluebird, Meadow Lark, Junco and Field Sparrow,

Species of more than usual interest are Black and White Warbler,
Black-capped Chickadee, and Redpoll, all from Arden, and Marbled
Godwit from Pea Island.

Two of the censuses, Pea Island r Dec, 28, -and Chapel Hill, Dec.

26 were after Bird Lore’s dead line of t)ec* 25, but The Chat will
always print any North Carolina census taken within a week of
Christmas Day in either direction, that is from about Dec. 18 to
31, inclusive.

Page 6

THE CHAT

January 1940

Winston-Salem, N. C. (within a 7g mile radius, covering Salem
Lake; along Salem Creek; local airport; Children's Home grounds; *
Beuna Vista; Camp Lassiter; Reynold's Park; Hanes' Park; Reynolda,

N. C. — including evergreen and deciduous forest, open country, and
water) -- Dec. '17; 6:55 A. M. , to 6:45 P» M, Clear; light breeze;
min. temp, 33° , max, temp. 70°, Observers in twelve groups as
follows: Party I- 1 observer afoot, £ hour, g mile; Party II- 2 ob-

servers afoot and by bicycle, 2g hours, 1 mile; Party III- 3 observers
2-7 hours, 19 miles by auto, 1-g miles afoot; Party IV- 4 observers b^
auto, l-?/4 hours, 8 miles; Party 'V- 1 observer afoot, 4 hours, 5
miles; Party VI- 1 observer afoot, 65 hours, 3 miles; Party VII- 1
observer afbot,'10 hours, 15 miles; Party VIII- 2 observers, 4 'hours,

8 miles by auto, 3 miles afoot; Party IX- 1 observer, 4s hours, 6 •
miles by auto, 3i ' miles afoot; Party ’X- 1 observer afoot, 2^ hours,

5 miles; Party XI, 4 observers afoot, 1 hour, 4 miles; Party XII, 1
observer at home, 4 hours. Total miles bjr auto, 44; total miles
afoot, 4 I 5 ; total 'hours, 43s- Pied-Billed Grebe, 1; Mallard, 17;
Common Black -Duck, 56 ; Lesser Scaup, 2; Turkey Vulture, 24; Sharp-
shinned Hawk, 1 ; Cooper's Hawk, 1 ; Sparrow Hawk, 4; Bob-white, 42 ;
Killdeer, 16 ; Woodcock, 1; Wilson’s Snipe, 3; 'Mourning Dove, 149;
Screech Owl, 2; Belted Kingfisher, 1 ; Flicker, 6 ; Yellow-bellied-
Sapsucker, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Downy Woodpecker, 6 ; Blue Jay, 19;
Crow, 65; Carolina Chickadee, 115; Tufted Titmouse, 28 ; White-breast-
ed Nuthatch; 18; Brown Creeper, 8 ; Winter Wren, 2; Carolina Wren, 34;
Mockingbird, 17; Bluebird, 18; Golden-Crowned Kinglet, '54; Ruby- '
crowned Kinglet, 10 ; American Pipit, 20; Cedar Waxwing, 1 ; Shrike, 2 ;
Starling, 2581 ' (est. 2500 roost on city limits in west of city);

Myrtle Warbler, 19; Pine Warbler, 3; English' Sparrow, 36 ; Meadowlark.

2 L; Cardinal, 68 ; Purple Finch, 5; Goldfinch, 19; Red-eyed Towhee,

39; Slate-Colored Junco,'258; Field Sparrow, 164 ; White-throated
Sparrow, 81 ; Fox Sparrow, 2 ; Song Sparrow, 125 . Total, 48 species;
4173 (est) individuals; Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds seen recent-
ly but were missed today. A Barred Owl was killed by a bus on
Dec. 19. -- W; K. Chance, David Fetter, Fred Kill, Billy Chance,

Andrew Mickle , G. G. Reeves, Transou Hamilton, Haywood Witherington,
John Shipley, Bill Ashby, J. R. Brewer, Horace Cooper, Alton Scar-
borough, Eddie Moore, James L. Stephenson, Bill Anderson.

Washington, N. C . Along Pamlico River, with brief excursion by
rowboat, around Grandpap's Island, marshes and sand shoals; on foot
around Washington Park shore and back north along Runyon's Creek, and
west over fields to 'Rodman’s 'Foods covering all small ponds on way,
Dec, 19; 7:30 A. M. , to 12:30 P. M. , 2:00-5:00 P. M, ; heavy fog in
morning, lifting under clear sky before noon; wind very light,
southerly; tern. at start; 54°at return. One observer, alone on
foot. Total miles about 9, total hours 8 .

Page 7

THE CHAT

January 1940

Sparrow Hawk, 2; Bob White, 22;' Killdeer, 4-5 Herring Gull, 51; '
Ringbilled. Gull, 3; Mourning Dove, 80; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Flicker ,
3; Redbellied Woodpecker, 1; Yellowbellied Sapsucker, 1; Downy Wood-
pecker, 2 ; 'Phoebe, 1; Blue Jay, 6 ; Crow, 419; Carolina Chickadee, 5;
Tufted Tit, 2; Whitebreasted Nuthatch, 1; Carolina Wren, 7; Mocking-
bird, 2 ; 'Catbird, 1; Brown Thrasher, 3; Robin'13, Hermit Thrush, 2;
Bluebird, 5; Kinglet sp,'2; Loggerhead Shrike, 2; Starling, 4; Myrtle
Warbler, 5; Pine Warbler, 1; Yellow Palm Warbler, '2; English Sparrow,
30; Meadowlark, 126; Redwing, 4; Rusty Blackbird, 10; Cardinal, 4;
Goldfinch, 1; Towhee, 6 ; Savannah Sparrow, 2; Junco, 44; Chipping
Sparrow, 8 ; Field Sparrow, 5; W : hitethroated Sparrow, 16 ; Fox Sparrow,
3; Swamp Sparrow, 4 ; Song Sparrow, 13. Total 45 species, approx.

929 individuals; larger numbers partly estimated. Common Loon on
river, Dec, 22, Long-eared Owl in adjoining Co., (Pitt), Dec. 15,
Barred Owl the same week, Barn Owl, Dec, 27. Joe D. Biggs.

"h* Rocky 'Mount, N. C. (City Lake, Rock Quarry, Cemetery, airport,

Xfcona Farm, Bryan's Pasture, Beech Branch, Seven Bridges, Bellamy's
Lake and Braswell’s Pond). - Dec. 20; 7 A. M. , to 6 P. M. Rain in
morning, clearing, with North-west wind in' afternoon; temp 54° at'
start, 62° max., 44 ° at return. Two cars, each'with 4 observers,

&nd one observer alone. Miles afoot, 7; in boat, 2; in car, 52;

Total miles, 6 l; total hours, 21. Black-crowned Night Heron, 1;
Black Duck, 1; Wood Duck, 33; Ruddy Duck, 2; Turkey Vulture, 35;

Black Vulture, 73; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3; Cooper's Hawk, 3; Red-tail-
Sd Hawk, 1; Red-shouldered Hawk, 4 : Broad-winged Hawk, l{not supposed
-wp be in U. S. at this season. Ed,); Marsh Hawk, 6 ; Duck Hawk, 1;
Sparrow Hawk, 15; Bob-white, 10; Killdeer; 6 l; Woodcock, 1 ; ’Wilson
SMipe, 15; Mourning f)ove, 122; Barred Owl, 2; Belted Kingfisher, 6 ;
TFlicker, 48 ; Pileated Woodpecker, 2; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 6 ; Red-
headed Woodpecker, 5; Downy Woodpecker, 6 ; Phoebe, 2; Horned Lark, -
5>0; Blue Jay, 23; Crow, 265; Carolina Chickadee, 5; Tufted Titmouse,

6 j ; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Brown Creeper, 3; Carolina Wren, 25;
Mocking Bird, 11; Brown Thrasher, 8 ; 'Robin, 6 ; Hermit Thrush, '4;
bluebird, 70; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2;
American Pipit, 55; Cedar Waxwing, 50; Loggerhead Shrike, 16 ; Starliqg,
248; Blue-headed Vireo, 1; Myrtle Warbler, 27; Pine Warbler, 5;English
Sparrow, 290; Meadowlark, 222 ; 'Redwing , 500; Cowbird, 50; Cardinal,

AS; Purple Finch, 9; Goldfinch, 17; Towhee; 23; Savannah Sparrow, 34;
Slate-colored Junco, 302; Chipping Sparrow, 31; Field Sparrow, 66 ;
White^throated Sparrow, 172; Fox Sparrow, 1; Song Sparrow, 179.

Total, 64 species; 3,254 (est 8 ) individuals. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,
Yellow Palm Warbler, Winter Wren, Great Blue Heron and Blue-winged
Teal on 18th; Bonaparte Gull on 21st; Bluegray Gnatcatcher on 12th.

V. F. Sechriest, Richmond Corinth, Randolph Butler, F. H. Craighill,

J. J. Sigwald, Frank Williams, Earl Cade, Neverson Lewis, Douglas
Brake .

Micaville, Yancey County . Dec; 20, Clear, cold, windy,
Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 2; Ruffed Grouse, 1 ; • Bob-white , '
8-10 (one covey); Ring-necked Pheasant, 1; Long-eared Owl, 1; Flicker,
2 ; Red-headed Woodpecker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker,

Page 8

THE CHAT

January 194-0

2, Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 14; Tufted Titmouse, '3; White-breasted Nuthatch,
2; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Brown Creeper, 2; winter Wren, 1; Robin,
5; Bluebird, 2; 'Cedar Waxwing, 1; Northern (Migrant? Ed.) Shrike, 1;-
English Sparrow; 18; Meadowlark, 2; Cardinal, 4; Slate-colored Junco,
8; Tree Sparrow, 2; Chipping Sparrow, 3; ‘Field Sparrow, 3. Total:

28 species, 98 individuals. H. H. Cash.

Raleigh, N. C . (Triangular area: 5 mile base east and west, 3
miles north,' including City Limits, Boneyard Lake, Lake Raleigh,

Lake Johnson, Lead Mines), Dec, 21: 7:30 A. M. , to 5:00 P. M, Clear,
10-14 m. p.'h. southwest wind, temp 33°-54°. Four parties in morij-
ing oh foot, two' parties in afternoon on foot and in car: 27 hrs, -
14 mi. on foot, 46 itii» by car, ' Common Loon, lj Pied-billed Grebe,

6; Great Blue Heron; 3; Mallard, 10; Black Duck, 8; Green-winged Teal,
7; Ring-necked Duck, l6l; Canvas-back, 1; Lesser Scaup, 7; Golden-eye,
1; Old-squaw, 1; Hooded Merganzer, 13; Turkey Vulture, 26; Black
Vulture, 11; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Cooper’s Hawk, 3; Red-tailed
Hawk, 4; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Marsh Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 10;
Bob-white, 32 (3 coveys); Killdeer, 32; Woodcock, 1; Wilson’s Snipe, •
7; Ring-billed Gull, 2; Mourning Dove, '249; Barred Owl, 2; Kingfisher,
4; Flicker, 18; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 3; Red-headed Woodpecker, 2;
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 4; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker,

12; Phoebe, 5 ; Blue Jay, 48 ; Crow, '75; Carolina Chickadee, 29; Tit-
mouse, 26 ; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Broan-headed Nuthatch, 9; '
Brown Creeper, 4; Winter Wren, 15; Carolina Wren, 19; Mockingbird,

14; Brown Thrasher, 1; 'Robin, 12; Hermit Thrush, '2; Bluebird, 155;
Golden-crowned Kinglet, 58; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 28; Pipit, 36 ;

Cedar Waxwing, 7; Migrant Shrike, 1; Starling, 390; Myrtle Warbler,

34; Pine Warbler, 34; English Sparrow, 158; Meadowlark, 177; Red-wing,
280; Cowbird, 10; Cardinal, 46 ; Purple Finch, 17; Goldfinch, 43 5
Red-eyed Towhee, 12; Savannah Sparrow, 10; Vesper Sparrow, 3; Slate-
colored Junco, 494; Field Sparrow, 173; White-throated Sparrow, 144;
Fox Sparrow, 9; Swamp Sparrow, 5; Song Sparrow, 138. Total, 73
species, 3 } 371 individuals. Loon and Green-winged Teal not recorded
before on census from central part of State. Ring-billed Gull ob-
served by Quays at Lake Raleigh, noting greenish-yellow legs, under
tips of wings black as above, and size; both birds adults. Mr. and
Mrs.'R. W. Green, Mr, and Mrs. T. L. Quay, Mrs, Roxie Simpson, D. L.
Wray, C. H. Bostian, and John Grey: members Raleigh Bird Club.

Two other species were noted earlier in the month, Pectoral Sandpiper
on Dec. 4 and iQ,and Blueheaded Vireo on the 12,.

Arden, Buncombe County, N, C. Dec. 21, 9 A, M. , to 5 P* M.

Two hours out in middle of day-Clear, calm, temp. 23°“50o, Practi-
cally same territory covered as last 'year, five mile radius including
Royal Pines Development, Rosscraggen, Biltmore and Sandy Bottoms
on the French Broad River. One observer on foot in morning, 3 miles,
afternoon in car, total mileage 16. Also Miss Susan Sheppard ob-
served 'part of the day on her own 'grounds at Rosscraggen. Ruffed
Grouse, 1; Bob-white, 8; Killdeer, 1; Mourning Dove, 2; Flicker, 4;
Pileated Woodpecker, 1; Redheaded Woodpecker, 1 ; 'Yellow-bellied Sap-
sucker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 10; Phoebe, 1;

Page 9

THE CHAT

January 1940

Blue Jay, 2; Crow, '6; Black-capped Chickadee, 10; Carolina Chickadee,
4 j luf ted Titmouse, 16 ; 'White-breasted Nuthatch, 12; Red-breasted Nut-
hatch, 8; Brown Creeper, 5 ; Winter Wren, 2; Carolina wren, 10;
Mockingbird, 1; Brown Thrasher, 1; Hermit Thrush, 2 ; Bluebird 6;
Gold-crowned Kinglet, 2; Black and White Warbler, 1; Myrtle Warbler
2 ; Pine W arbler, 2; English Sparrow, 6; Meadow Lark, 6; Cardinal 5 •
Purple Pinch, 1; Redpoll, 2; Goldfinch, 1; Towhee, 4 ; Junco, 35 ; Tree
Sparrow 4 , Chipping Sparrow, small flock, Field Sparrow, 2 ; white-
throated Sparrow 12; Pox Sparrow, 1; Song Sparrow, 2. Total, 43
species, about 216 • individuals . The redpoll is the first recorded
for North _ Carolina, away from the coast, mockingbirds are rare in
this section, but 'there are a few in certain localities, Dodette
Westfeld Grinnell, Susan Sheppard (latter only part of day on her
own grounds ) ,

Greensboro, N: C. Dec. 22 ; dawn until 5 P. M. , with half hour
for lunch. Clear, morning calm, after 9 , a cold N to W wind about
5 miles per hour, temperatures 190-420, Same territory covered as
in previous censuses (5 mile radius including Hamilton Lakes, City
Reservoir, Reedy Fork Swamp, Golf Course, woods and open fields).
Observers together except for two hours in the afternoon. Trip by
auto and on foot,' About five miles were on foot. Pied-billed
Grebe, 8, Mallard, ' 9 ; Black Duck, 2 ;'Buffle Head, 3 (?}; Lesser Scaup,
20; Turkey Vulture; 9 ; Black Vulture, 1; Cooper ’ s 'Hawk, 1; Sparrow
Hawk, 2; Bob-white, 14; Barred Owl, 1; Kingfisher, 2; Red-bellied
Woodpecker , 1; Yellow-bellied 'Sapsucker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 3;

Downy Woodpecker, 4 ; Blue Jay, 4 ; Crow, 23 ; Chickadee, 26; Tufted
Titmouse, 14; Wliite-breasted Nuthatch, '7; Brown Creeper, '2; Winter
Wren, 3; Carolina Wren, 3 ; 'Mockingbird , 5 ; Hermit Thrush, 1; Bluebird,
43; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 16 ; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 5 ; 'Starling, 8;'
Loggerheaded Shrike, 1; English Sparrow, '12; Meadow Lark, 40 ; Cardi-
nal, 16; Goldfinch, 20; Towhee, 3 ; Junco, ' 453 ; Field Sparrow, 400; '
White- throated Sparrow, 102; Song Sparrow, 143. Total, 40 species,
about 1,335 individuals. Large numbers are partly estimates. Wade
Fox and Earl H. Hall.

Healing Springs, Davidson County. N. C. (Along part of High '
Rock Lake shore and railroad track, in woods-principally evergreen-,
fields, and along streams, not exceeding 15 mile diameter) Dec, 23 ,
9:45 A. M. to 6:45 P. M. Cloudy, turning to sleet, snow, and rain
(all'were light and did'not prevent us from taking the survey); light
wind, temp 460 at start, 44° at return (both temperatures were made
inside an unheated car). Observers together. * Miles afoot; 20 ;
miles by auto, 20 ; hours 65. Downy Woodpecker, 1; Blue Jay; 2 ; Crow,
4 ; Carolina Chickadee, 10 ; 'Tufted Titmouse, 4; Carolina Wren, 3;

Herm.it Thrush, 1; Bluebird, 1; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1; Myrtle
Warbler, 1 ; Meadowlark, 35 ; Cardinal, 2; Goldfinch, 2; Red-eyed
Towhee, ' 2 ; Slate-colored' Junco, 135 ; White-throated Sparrow,' 5; Fox
Sparrow, 1; Song Sparrow, 15 . Total, 18 species, 225 (partly est.)
individuals. Several hundred ducks were seen on High Rock Lake, but
due to bad light and distance from them, we were unable to make iden-
tifications. The lake was very low and left a hundred yards and more
of lake bottom exposed on either side, Jim Stephenson and Bill

Anderson.

Page 10

TIIE CHAT

January 1940

Southern Pines. N.' C. Territory about five 'mile radius, in-'
eluding Bird Sanctuary, Powell’s Pond.) Dec. 24? Rain in morning,
clearing in afternoon, temp. 40°-55°, sharp-cold wind. Two groups
on foot in morning, one group on foot and in car in afternoon, 9:00
A. M. , - 5:00 P. M. ' (About 10 hours - Miles? Ed.) Sparrow Hawk, 2;
Bob-white, 17; Dove, 16 ; Flicker, 2; Red-bellied Woodpecker ,1; Yellow-
bellied Sapsucker, '2; Downy Woodpecker; 3; Blue Jay, 10; -Crow, 3;
Carolina Chickadee, 5; Tufted Titmouse, 5; Brown Creeper, 1; Carolina
Wren, 5; Mockingbird, 6; Brown Thrasher, 4; Robin, 1; Hermit Thrush,

2; Bluebird, 4; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, '1;
Migrant Shrike, '1; Starling, 64; Myrtle Warbler, 2; Pine 'Warbler , 10;
English Sparrow, 23; Cardinal, 34; Goldfinch, 32; Towhee, 1; Slate-
colored Junco, 276; Chipping Sparrow, 10; Field ' Sparrow, 4; 'White-
throated Sparrow, 108; Song Sparrow, 2. Total, 33 species , '664
individuals. Miss L. Haynes, Mrs, A; Swan, Mrs. Cookingham, Miss
Doris Cookingham, Mrs. Nellie Sanborn, Mrs. Cecil Robinson, Mary
Keller Wintyen, members Southern Pines Bird Club,

W'indom. N. C. Dec. 24, 8 A. M. to 4 P. 'M. , 1 hour out in middle
of day. Cloudy early, clearing in afternoon, temperature 25° to 35°.
About 4 inches snow. Territory south of highway between Burnsville
and Windom - up Bowlin's Creek and across the foot of Black Mountain
at head of creek and back dovm Bear Wallow to just below Windom,

One observer. All observations made on foot and total mileage about
8. Sparrow Hawk, 1; Bob-white, 36 ; Downey ’woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay,

6; Crow, 2; Tufted Titmouse, 1; House Wren, 3 (Carolina? Ed,); Winter
Wren , 2; Cardinal, 10; Goldfinch, 2; Carolina Junco, 225 (est,); Tree
Sparrow, 2; Field Sparrow, 20; Song Sparrow, 2. Total, 14 species,
305 individuals. Due to adverse weather conditions a greater number
was not observed. This is the first bird census reported from
Yancey County to the knowledge of the observer. James Hutchins,
Burnsville, N. C.

Chanel Hill, N. C. , ' Dec. 26, from 5:30 A. M. , to 5:30 Pi M.
Partially clear in A. M. , cloudy in P. M. , rain in late P. M. , calm,
temp, 30o 'to 45°. Territory around Chapel Hill, including Univer-
sity Lake, Strowd’s Lowgrounds, and New Hope Swamp. Pied-billed '
Grebe, 1; Great Blue Heron, 2; Mallard, 35; Black Duck, 3©; Redhead,

1; Ring-necked Duck, 5; Canvas-back, 3; Lesser Scaup Duck, 20; Buffle-
head, 2; Hooded 'Merganser , 10; Turkey Vulture, 12; Cooper's Hawk, 1;
Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Red-shouldered Hawk, 6; Marsh Hawk, 2; Sparrow
Hawk; 2; Bob-white, 21; Killdeer, 22; Wilson's Snipe, 10; Mourning
Dove, 28; Screech' Owl, 1; Great Horned Owl, 1; Barred -Owl, 1;

Belted Kingfisher, 2; Flicker, 21; Pileated Woodpecker, 1; Red-bellied
Woodpecker, 6; Red-headed Woodpecker, 6 ; ' Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,

8; Hairy 'Woodpecker, 7; Downy Woodpecker, 16 ; Phoebe, '6; Blue Jay,

33; Crow, 49; Carolina Chickadee, 47; Tufted 'Titmouse, 44; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 20; Brown-headed Nuthatch, 4; Brown Creeper, 10;
Winter Wren, 3; Carolina Wren, 64 ; Mockingbird, 14; Catbird, 2; Brown
Thrasher, 1; Hermit Thrush, 25; Bluebird, 77; Golden-crowned Kinglet;
100; Ruby- crowned Kinglet, 17; Cedar 'Naxwing, 3; Shrike, 3; Starling,
42; Myrtle Warbler, 63; Pine Warbler, 18; English Sparrow, 23,

Page 11

THE CHAT

January 1940

Meadowlark, 97; Rod-viurcd ' Blackbird , 105; Rusty Blackbird , 1;
Cardinal, 86; Purple Finch, 10 ;' Goldfinch, 67; Towhee, 17; Savannah
Sparrow, 1; Slate-colored Junco, 4 68 ; Field Sparrow, 78; White-throat-
ed Sparrow, 600; Fox Sparrow, 6; Swamp Sparrow, 165; Song Sparrow,'
268. Total, 68 species; 2,920 individuals. Arnold Breckinridge,
Coit Coker, Dan Hamilton, Joe Jones, Thomas Odum, Edmund Taylor.

Pea Island. (5,700 acres of Refuge, extending' from Oregon Inlet
to Rhodanthe-15 miles, including fresh-water ponds, ocean, and sound.
Also 8 miles of beach from Whale Bone Filling Station to Oregon Inlet).
Dec. 28, 8:30 A. M. , to 3 **30 P. M. , Cloudy, Northwest -wind 14 mph, '
temp, about 40°. Observers together in car and on foot, 50 miles,

7 hours. Common Loon, 2; Horned Grebe, 1; Pied-billed Grebe, 100;
Great Blue Heron, 7; Black-crowned Night Heron, 9; whistling Swan, 11^
Canada Goose, 2-, 000 (partly estimate as are other large numbers);
Greater Snow Goose, 100; Mallard 2; Red-legged Black Duck; 5 00 ;

Common Black Duck; 500; Gadwall, 8; Baldpate, 25; Pintail, 1000;
Green-winged Teal, 400; Blue-winged Teal, 1; Shoveller, 200; Ring-
necked Duck, 3; Canvas-back, 4; Lesser'Scaup Duck, 20; American
Goldeneye, 2; Bufflehead, 6; Old-squaw, 1; White-winged • Scoter , 20;
Surf Scoter, 3; Ruddy Duck, 100; Red-breasted Merganser, 300; Turkey *
Vulture; 6; Bald Eagle, 5; Marsh Hawk, 20; Duck Hawk, 3; Sparrow Hawk,
2; Coot, 1,000; Black-bellied Plover, 2; Willett, 25; Greater Yellow-
legs, 6; Lesser Yellow-legs, 1; Marbled Godwit, 21; Sanderling, 50;
Great Black-backed Gull, 100; Herring Gull, 200; King-billed Gull,

200; Barn Owl, 2; Kingfisher, 1; 'Carolina Wren, 1; Short-billed
Marsh Wren, 3: Catbird, 1; Robin, 10; Starling 20; Myrtle Warbler,

15; Athens (?) Yellow- throat , 1; English Sparrow, 10; Meadowlark, 25;
Red-wing, 20; Boat-tailed Grackle, 25; Cowbird, 15; Savannah Sparrow,
100; Swamp Sparrow, 2; Song Sparrow, 20. Total 58 species, 6,300
individuals. Godwits observed for half hour flying and resting
close at hand, Walker had observed them for two days before.

Largest flock he had ever seen, and only record for the State after
October 17th. Large rafts of ducks seen in sound but not identified,
probably Scaup' and Redhead, W T alker saw Killdeer and Red-backed
Sandpiper ' 27th. Mrs. A. C. Reed, Norfolk; S. A. Walker, Manteo;

John Grey, Raleigh,

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. (that area of
the park lying within a circle of 15 miles' diameter whose center is
Bull Head, ' including such points as Mt. LeConte, Mt, Kephart, Green-
briar Cove, Elkmont, and the Tennessee-North Carolina divide from
Collins' Gap to Charlies Bunion; also Emerts Cove and the towns of
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, just outside the park boundaries). —

Dec. 17, 7:00 A. M. , to 4:30 P. M. Clear most of the day, ground
bare and dry in lowlands, snow-covered to a 'depth of 1 to 2 inches
in shaded areas 'in mountains; wind moderate, variable; temp. 44° to
60 ° in lowlands, highest 47° in Mountains. Altitude range, 1200 to
6600 feat. Observers in 7 groups as follows: Party I, 2 observers,

8 hours, 16 miles afoot, 10 miles by auto; Party'll, 3 observers, 3
hours, 1 mile afoot, 10 miles by auto; Party III, 2 observers, 7

Page 12

THE CHAT

January 1940

hours, 7 miles afoot; Party IV, 3 observers, 7 'hours, 5 miles 'afoot,

20 miles by auto; PartyV, 1 observer, 3 hours, 5 miles afoot, 3
miles by auto, Party VI, '5 observers, '7 hours, '7 miles afoot, '28
miles by auto; Party VII, 5 observers, 8 hours, 2 miles -afoot, 30
miles by auto, Turkey Vulture, 21; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Cooper's
Hawk, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 2; Duck Hawk, 4; Sparrow Hawk, 4; Ruffed
Grouse, 14; Bob-white; 10 (one covey); Killdeer, 5; Mourning Dove,

13; Belted Kingfisher, 3; Elicker, 2; Pileated Woodpecker, 4; Yellow-
bellied Snnsucker , 1; Hairy Woodpecker; 2; Downy Woodpecker, 11;
Phoebe, 2; Blue Jay, 5; Raven; 6; Crow, 19; Chickadee (both Black-
capped and Carolina observed), 90 (est.); Tufted Titmouse, 6; White- -
breasted Nuthatch, 1; Brown Creeper, 2; Winter Wren, 5; Carolina Wren,
26; Mockingbird; 2; Robin, 63; Hermit Thrush, 4; Bluebird, 21; Golden-
cornwed Kinglet, 81; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 4; Migrant Shrike, 3; '
Starling, 12 ; 'English Sparrow, 30 (est.); Meadowlark, 7; Cardinal,

43; Goldfinch, 38; Towhee, 1; Savannah Sparrow, 3; Junco (both Slate-
colored and Carolina observed), 200 (est.); Field Sparrow, 175 (est.);*
White-throated Sparrow, 49; Fox Sparrow, 1; Swamp Sparrow, 2; Song
Sparrow, 26. Total, 43 species; 1050 (est.) individuals. As in
1938, Red Crossbills and Pine Siskins were not to be found. Absence
of Red-breasted Nuthatches proved to be quite unusual. Seed crop
of spruce and fir was very light this year. The Eastern Turkey -was -
observed a few days prior to the census day. -- Charles 0. Baird, -Jr.,
Mary Ruth Chiles, Edward W. Dougherty, Delia' C. Hall, John J, Hay;

H. P. If ams , 'Mr. and Mrs. William M. Johnson, Mrs, Frank Leonhard,

Mary McGriff, Elise 'Merrell , S. A. Ogdon, W. M. Walker, Jr., Dr.
Dorothy E. Williams, members of East Tennessee Ornithological Society;
William - F . Alston, Carlos C. Campbell, Betty Jean Hay, Elizabeth B.
Johnson, Dr. Willis King, Joe F. Manley, Arthur Stupka.

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH. N. C.

John H. Grey, jr., Editor
1719 PARK DRIVE

VOL. IV F VrWtiARY 1940 No. 2

THE EASIEST BIRDING IN NORTH CAROLINA
Thomas L. Quay - Raleigh

Many bird observers have been both confused and discouraged by
vainly attempting to identify a nondescript sparrow in the grass or a
flitting warbler in the tree tops. There is one spot in North
Carolina where the only effort necessary to the close observation of
thousands of both large and small birds is that of traveling to it
over good, hard^surfaced roads. That spot is the Lake Mattamuskeet
Wildlife Refuge, at New Holland, North Carolina.

On the first Friday and Saturday of this month Ross 0. Stevens,
of State College, and his students in Wildlife Conservation and Man-
agement, visited the refuge in order to study the bird -life and also
the management practices involved in caring for the 85,000 ducks,
geese, and swans present this winter.

Early Friday morning, sitting comfortably in the lodge at the
edge of the lake, we looked out over the marsh and open water at myr-
iads of birds. Swimming in the canal- just 50 feet away was one
Lesser Scaup Duck, one Ringnecked Duck, 10 Mallards, one Pied-billed
Grebe, and 5 Coots. Thousands of Starlings, Cowbirds, Redwings,
and Crackles moved restlessly up and down the canal bank, close
enough to identify with the naked eye. A hundred yards up the canal
a Bald Eagle sailed into the trees.

The large flocks of wildfowl in the air took our eye. Thousands
of Pintails flew by so close that we saw both the long necks and
the long tails. They turned towards us and we were dazzled by the
white breasts in the morning sun. They settled down on the ground

Page 13

Page fe 14

THE CHAT

February 1940

near us to feed on the wheat and corn put out for them.

Next came loose groups of honking Canada Geese, with their
noticeably slower wing-beat and shining white throat patch. In
smaller groups the beautiful, large, pure white Whistling Swans dotted
the sky.

And all this while comfortable seated in a warm room and without
the aid of field glasses.

From the observation tower we gained a view of the whole refuge.

> T ith the aid of Mr. Johnson’s 36.5 power telescope we got close-up
views of Swans, Geese, Pintails, Black ducks, Mallards, Green - wi ng e d
Teal, and Baldpates, while the birds were resting quietly on the water.
On clear days the telescope reveals the Biological Survey’s aluminum
bands on the legs of the Geese and Swan.

Friday afternoon we drove to one end of the refuge, just as a
driving snow storm was coming up; We stood at the edge of a few
acres of marshland while over 10,000 wildfowl of seven or more species
were in the air at once, beating vainly into the wind.

Saturday morning we walked out to the lake edge along one of the
old canal banks. Several hundred Tree Swallows rose from the myrtle
bushes and flew around, no more than 30 feet from us. Myrtle warblers
were numerous all through the bayberries. Whereas before, we saw
the waterfowl from the side and from above, now we saw them from under-
neath. All kinds rose from the marsh and lake edge and flew directly
over our heads, affording us unexcelled opportunities for studying
both flight and form.

The unique thing about this refuge is that there are thousands
of large birds wdiich can be closely observed with only the slightest
effort. Every North Carolinian should experience this great spectacle,
whether or not previously interested in birds.

MATTAMU SK2ST FIELD TRIP

Due to impassable roads west of Raleigh and influenza the trip
to Mattamuskeet in January was cancelled. Since that time I have
written to people in various sections of the State asking if they
could go on another trip before the middle of March. From the re-
sults of my inquiry it appears more desirable to plan a trip for next
year rather than plan another trip for the whole club this year.

The Mattamuskeet Lodge is not able to give definite reservations be-
cause of conflicts in a meeting to be held there by the Biological -
Survey, which will also require the whole attention of Mr. Johnson,
the Refuge Manager. I suggest that those interested in going plan
to go in small parties before the middle of March, and that they write
for reservations to be made for them if possible. In ease the Biolog-
ical Survey leaders are there it would be possible to stay at O'Neals
Tourist Camp, C. H. Bostian, Sec, N. C. B. C.

Pago $ 15

THU CHAT

February 1940

ONE OBSERVER'S ANSWER' TO QUERIES
Wm. B. Mcllwaiho, Jr.,
Alexandria, Virginia

In the July-August (1939) issue of The Chat Mr. G. S. Brimley asks
for further information on the distribution in North Carolina of cer-
tain common birds. Having lived for ten years in the city of Char-
lotte, and having kopt for the last ■ three years of that period full
records of my observations of birds, I offer conclusions from my own
notes for the species designated'by Mr, Brimley, for the Charlotte
area for the period Spring, 1929 ~ Summer, 1931.

HOUSE WREN. A rare migrant, heard occasionally in spring.

BROWN THRASHER. My earliest spring record is March 11, 1931,
when I saw 6 or 8 in a limited locality, one or two of them singing.

CATBIRD. I have no record for either winter or early spring.

HERMIT THRUSH. A regular winter resident, though not common.

I once heard this bird singing softly on March 11.

CEDAR WAXWING. On one occasion I saw the young of this species
in company with what I took' to be their parents. They flew perfect-
ly well, but they had- funny, short tails. I assume, though I cannot
saw with positiveness, that these birds were born not far from Char-
lotte. I saw them in the Steele Creek section.

SHRIKE. This bird is common in the area. I have seen a number
of nests in the city of Charlotte.

PIPIT. Dec; 30, 1929-200, plus. Fob. 10, 1930-40. March 10,
1930-60. Nov. 16, 1930-50. Jan. 30, 1931-2. March 26, 1931-200.
(Estimates)

PURPLE GRACKLE. No record of the nesting of this species in this

area.

SCARLET TANAGSR. In 1929 one male on Apr. 24 and one on May 8.
In 1930 one on May 5 and one on May 6. In 1931 three or four on May
2; the same on May 6; and several records of single birds, the last
record being on May 12.

T0WHSE. No Charlotte nesting records. The females seem to be
a little behind the males, disappearing after the first week of May.

SONG SPARROW. This bird does not nest around Charlotte. Heading
for Blowing Rock in summertime I would always expect to hear the Song
Sparrow first around Lenoir.

A fairly common winter resident.

FOX SPARROW.

THE CHAT

February 1940

Page 1.6

THi WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB
Maurice Brooks, W. Va., 'University
Morgantown, W. Va.

The officers and members of The Wilson Ornithological Club appre-
ciate the very courteous notice given the organization in the Novembor-
Dec ember Chat . It should, however, be pointed out that The Wilson
Bulletin is now being published at the University of Michigan, under
the editorship of Dr. Jossolyn Van Tyne.

A Southern State, Kentucky, just recently played host in a most
effective manner to the annual convention of The Wilson Club, the
meeting having been held at Louisville, on November 24-25, 1939.
Members of the N. C. B. C. would have found particular interest in a
number of the papers presented. Arthur Stupka gave an interesting
discussion of the breeding birds of the spruce-fir forest in the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. North Carolina and Tennessee, in
holding in custody this extreme southeastern extension of the Canadian
zone, are particularly fortunate.

Mrs. Amelia R. Laskey, of Nashville, reported further on her
studies on nesting Bluebirds. A discussion of intelligence in birds
was given by A. F. Ganier. Eugene P. Odum presented an illustrated
paper on bird distribution in western Canada. Comparisons and con-
trasts in the nesting behavior of the Prothonotary Warbler in Tennessee
and in Michigan were discussed by Dr. Lawrence H. Valkinshaw, of
battle Creek, Mich. I. Southgate Y. Hoyt gave some of the results of
his life history studies of the Pileated Woodpecker.

As a member of The Wilson Club, and an out-of-state member of the
N. C. B. C., I can heartily second the suggestion of The Chat » s editor
that The Wilson Club will welcome to membership any North Carolina
bird student.

Members of the W. 0. G. in N. C. are Roy V. Komarek (now Florida)
Raleigh; Dr. Z. P. Metcalf, Raleigh. Associate Members; Miss -Ethel
B. Finster, Asheville; Marvin Frost, Asheville, George B. Lay; Raleigh
(now Boston); Dr; A. D. Shaftsbury, Greensboro; I. Tracy Towe, Mt.
Airy; T. L. 4uay, Raleigh.

ANNUAL MEETING-HENDER30N, APRIL 26th and 27th : The opening session
will be held Friday 2 P. M. , in the West End Country Club. The
meeting will include a banquet Friday evening followed by a public
Mass Meeting and a Field Trip Saturday morning. Those who are will-
ing to read papers at the meeting are asked to send the titles of
their papers to Miss Claudia Hunter, Henderson, who is Program Chair-
man.

TH3 CHAT

February 1940

Pago 5 17

R0SSCRAGG0N WOOD, INC.
Mrs. D. Grinnell, Arden

Progress has boen made in the development of the bird sanctuary
and wild-flower preserve described in the September-October number of
The Chat since that article was written. The first payment on the
purchase of the property has been made and the deed is now held by the
corporation.

All 'available funds at present are being used to complete the
purchase, but plans for the future development of the area are being
formulated. It is proposed to improve the present system of walks
and trails and to extend it so as to make all of the steep terrain
more easily accessible. Suitable native plants not now growing in
the tract will be naturalized, but every activity will be undertaken
with the intention of preserving unspoiled the natural wild atmos-
phere of the area. All possible protection will be given the bird
and plant population.

As evidence of the potential value of this sanctuary the follow-
ing notes of a brief survey on November 17 are given.' Within a short
time were noted: Blue Birds, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Thrasher,

Phoebe, Slate-colored Junco, Robins, Hermit Thrush, White-breasted
Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Bob-
white, Ruffed Grouse, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Cardinal, Towhee
White-throated Sparrows and one White-crowned Sparrow.

On May 2, 1939, 44 species were seen on the property, of which
20 were Warblers.

While it has been found impracticable to offer membership to
clubs or organizations as such the corporation is glad to receive in-
dividual members who may be interested in its activities.

Memberships are of three classes. Active memberships are pur^
chasable at $5.00 each, in five equal annual payments if preferred,
for as many as may be desired, carrying the right of active participa-
tion in the affairs of the corporation. Bach active member has one
vote and pays annual dues of $1.00, regardless of the number of
memberships held. Associate members pay $2.00 annually as their solo
obligation. They have the privileges of the corporation without a
vote in its management. Honorary members are those who may wish' to
make a donation but incur no further obligation. They, likewise,
have the privileges of the corporation without a vote.

Subscriptions for any class of membership desired may be sent to
Harold B. Swope, Secretary-Treasurer, Sky land, N. C.

Pago 18

THE CHAT

February 1940

MEMBERSHIP • COMMITTEE
Claudia Hunter, President N.C.B.C.
Henderson

To increase our club membership to the one thousand members which
we have set as a goal the Executive Committee has invited a represent-
ative group of people throughout the State to serve as a membership
committee. The Massachusetts Audubon Society has 2700 members and
is increasing that number to 5000. They already maintain certain
refuges in co-operation with their State and employ full-time workers
to increase the interest of the people of Massachusetts in bird life
and the • work of conservation. The Florida Audubon Society has 1200
.members, maintains wardens at four sanctuaries, co-operates in
supporting a lecturer on wild life available to schools and civic
clubs. Our one thousand members -will enable us to do much more in
bringing young people into a finer appreciation of nature and into a
desire to preserve the natural beauty of our State. The membership
committee is composed of:

Dr. A. D. Shaft sbury,
Scout Executive J. J.

Miss Grace Anderson; Statesville
Dr. J. T. J. Battle, Greensboro
H, H, Brimley, Raleigh

Mrs. 3. M. Brown, Washington
Mrs. Edwin - 0. Clarkson, Charlotte
Coit Coker, Chapel Hill
The Rev. Francis H. Craighill, Rocky
Mrs, Andrew J. Davis, Henderson
Theodore G. Empie, Wilmington
Mrs. Charlotte H. Green, Raleigh
The Rev, John H. Grey, Jr., Raleigh
Mrs. D. W. Grinnell, Arden
Miss Clara Hearne, Roanoke Rapids

Greensboro, Chairman
Sigwald , Wilson, Asso .

R. II . Lewis, Oxford
Mrs. A. S. Pcarso, Durham
Dr. T. Gilbert Pearson,

New York

Mrs. Henry Pike, 'Siler City
Dr. Ben F. Royal, Mor ahead

City

Kit, Mrs. J. Buren Sidbury,

Wilmington

Eli B. Springs, Matthews,

Route 1

James L. Stephenson, Winston-

■ Salem

Dr. Wesley Taylor, Greens-
boro

R. A. Ur quart, Lewiston
Miss Mary Wintyen, Southern

Pines

THOSE "MILLIONS OF SWALLOWS"

John Grey

C. S. Brimley and I included in our first Bird-Lore season
an account of a swallow flight near Swananoa, in which the observer
reported that there were "Millions of swallows," and in which we

Page 19

THjS chat

February 1940

suggested they were probably Tree Swallows. Interesting reactions
have- come to light from Michael L. Hoffman of Trinity College, Hart-
ford, and William B. Mcllwaine, Jr., of Alexandria, Va.

Hoffman writes, "I happened to be in Waynesville, about
twenty five miles from Swananoa I believe, in early September and saw
what I presume was the same swallow flight-on about the second and
third, at Lake Junaluska. There were several thousand which flew
in there to drink in the early morning. But they were not Tree
Swallows. They were Cliff Swallows, I watched them for some time
on two successive days and made absolutely certain of the identifi-
cation, partly because I was so surprised to find those birds in
that particular migration route . "

Mcllwaine writes, "On August 29,*36,I, with members of my
family, was driving along the county road by the side of the Mountain
Orphanage, approaching Highway No. 70, This is between Swananoa
and Black Mountain. The time, as I recall, was shortly after sunset.
Just ahead of us we saw a large flock of Swallows coming from the
Northeast, and settling on telephone wires along- our road. -We stopped
to watch them. Now and again some would fly up, disturbed , take a
turn around the field, and come back again to the wires. I examined
them carefully at close range through my binoculars. They were ex-
clusively Cliff Swallows. Counting a section of fifty birds, esti-
mating the sections, and multiplying, we came to what we felt was a
conservative figure of from 2500 to 3000 birds."

This data would lead us to believe that Swananoa and Lake
Junaluska lie along the regular migration routs for Cliff Swallows,
particularly since Jack B. Davidson of Swananoa tells me that there
is an annual flight of swallows of some kind. He says "they some-
times blacken the wires from our house to the mountain orphanage, a
distance of about one mile." However, it is strange that if this is
a regular migration route that it has not been noticed before.

The region around Asheville has been thoroughly worked over a period
c-f many years. Observers like John S. Cairns, William Brewster and
Miss Marion Boggs and Mrs. Dot Grinnell and Thomas D. Burley have
not recorded similar migration flights of swallows. This is but one
illustration of how little we know of the birds of our State and
how much we need every observer to send in their data.

Page 20

THE CHAT

February 1940

NAME

NEW MEMBERS

STREET ADDRESS

CITY

William F. Alston

State College Station

Raleigh .

R. M. Armfield

211 State Off. Bldg.

ft

William Bragaw

1825 St. Mary’s St.

t?

Mrs. H. H. Brimley

106 Ashe Ave.

f?

Mrs. J. H. Buell

42 Tacoma St.

Asheville

Charles I. Bunn

Box 3125,4th Dorm.

Raleigh

1. M. Burden

Aulander

J. 0. Darsie

Federal Bldg.

Rockingham

T. G. Empie

Box 772

Wilmington

R. Bruce Etheridge

N.C .Dept .Con. & Dev.

Raleigh

Miss Maria Fletcher

Fletcher

Clarence H. Hill

403 W. Sycamore St.

Greensboro

Miss Janet Johnson

2602 Clark Ave.

Raleigh

Dr. Mychyle W. Johnson

Duke University

Durham

Mrs. Mychyle W. Johnson

Mr. Maynard S. Johnson

Lake Mattamuskeet Refuge

New Holland

T. C. Jones

Box 3604, -State College

Raleigh

Mrs. James T. Ketner

Woodacres, Rt. 5

Salisbury

Miss Laura Lazenby

322 W. Bell St.

Statesville

Richard H. Lewis

Oxford

Mrs. Evelyn McNairy

Rt. 2, Box 660

Greensboro

Wallace Majure

State College Station

Raleigh

Mrs. R. A. Olmstead

Sanford

Fa's. Jessie Parker

S. 301, Boylan Apts.

Raleigh

Mrs. Lillian B. Parsons

407 Larch Ave.

Bogota, N. J

Miss Patty Pittman

State Museum

Raleigh

J. 0. Rowell

State College Station

Tt

Jule Sharpe

Rt. 4

Greensboro

F. D. Sampson

1629 South Blvd.

Charlotte

Mrs. V. M. Shell

Arden

Miss Susan Sheppard

Skyland

Mrs. J. Buren Sidbury

Wilmington

Mrs. J. J. Sigwald

Oettinger Apt* D-3

Greenville

Mrs. Roxie C. Simpson

State Museum

Raleigh

Eli B. Springs, Esq.

Rt. 1

Matthews

Miss Pauline Stradtman

Mitchell College

Statesville

Mark H. Taylor

State College Station

Raleigh

Miss Kate Ur quart

Woodville

Miss Carrie Mae Watts

117 N. Race St.

Statesville

Chas. A. Webb

Asheville Citizen-Times

Asheville

Burgess Whitehead

Lewiston

Col, W. E. Wilmerding

Skyland

Fred Yates

State College Station

Raleigh

Mr s « J"* L • Y&tos

407 S. Third St.

Wilmington

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH. N. C.

John h. Grey. jr.. editor
STATE COLLEGE STATION

VOL. IV

MARCH 1940

NO. 3

TEN BIRD3 OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
C . 3. Brimley

Compiled from the card catalogue of the Division of Ento-
mology of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Buncombe County is situated in the Blue Ridge, about half way be-
tween the northern and southern . borders of the state. From an eleva-
tion of about 2,000 ft. in the valleys its highest mountains, the
Black Mountains and the Cra^gies, rise to over 6,000 feet.

The main source of our information on the birds of the county is
the late John 3. Cairns, who collected and observed birds at ’' T eaver-
ville , about 7 or 8 miles north of Asheville, from 1885 till his un-
timely death at the age of 30 on June 10, 1005 . He published two list
of the birds of the county: one in 1887, enumerating 169 forms; and
another published after his death, but dated 1891, which listed 304
kinds including subspecies. Three of those listed in the 1887 list
were dropped from the later one; namely, White-fronted Goose, Barrow’s
Golden-eye, and Swainson’s Hawk, Cairn presumably being convinced that
he had mistaken other species for these. They are not listed here.
Cairn did such a good job that his successors have not added much
additional data. In the list of birds the information given is based
on his observations, except where otherwise strted.

Cairns probably got his inspiration from the late William Drewstei
of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who made a trip through the mountains in
the spring ’of 1885, and I believe met Cairns at that time. Anywayiji
from that time on Cairns was in regular correspondence with a number
of the leading ornithologists of the country, many of his specimens
finding their way into their collections, especially into that of

Page 21

TH2 CHAT

Page 22 .

MARCH 1940

Brewster. The rest of his collection, after his death, came into the
possession of the University at Chapel Hill and is still there.

Our most active bird student at present is Mrs. D. U. Grinnell of
Arden, living near the southern limit of the county between Asheville
and Hendersonville at an elevation of 2,250 feet.

The compiler disclaims any credit for anything but the compiling
as the actual field work was done by others. A bibliography of papers
concerning the birds of the county is concluded at the end of the list
of species.

1. Common Loon Gavia i.immer. Rare transient.

2. Horned Grebe Colymbus auritus . Rare transient.

3. Pied-billed Grebe Podllymbus p. podiceps. Tolerably common
transient. April “4," .1893; August 1 - 25, 1890; October 8-21, 1891.

4. Y/hite Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos . A flock of 40 came up
the French Broad River in May 1889 ; five were killed and two came into
the possession of Cairns, one of which is now in the 3tate Museum at
Raleigh .

5. Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax a. au r itus. One taken near
Asheville in November 1889.

G. Great Blue Heron Ardca h. herodias. Hardiest March 29, 1894; latest
October 11, 1890. Have never their nests but think they breed.

7. Bnowy Dgrot B gretta t. thula. Only one a male in eight years
collecting, 1891*.'

8. Little Blue Heron Florida c. caerulea . Very common in June and
July in the white plumage.

9. Eastern Green Heron Butoriaes v. vlrescens . Not common; breeds.

10. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. noactli. Jeptember 28,1891,
two taken.

11. American Bittern Botaurus lent iginosus . April .12 - 16, 1891;

April till October, not detected breeding.

12. Eastern Least Bittern Ixobrychus e. exilis. Only two specimens
taken.

13. Common Canada Goose Branta c. canadensis . A few flocks pass over
each season.

MARCH 1940

THB GHAT

Pag

l -J O o

14. Common Mallard Anas p. platyrhynchos . Rare transient, March 9-21,
1894; October 31 - December 15, 1891.

15. Common Black Duck Anas rubripes tristis. Rare transient.

16. Baldpate Mareca americana. Weaverville, November 6, 1891, one shot.
Lake Ashnoca, adult male seen November 7, 1935 by R. B. Wallace.

17. American Pintail Dafila acuta tzitzihoa . Rare transient.

18. Green-winged Teal Nettion carolinense. Tolerably common transient

19. Blue-winged Teal Querquedula discors. April 16-23, 1892.

20. Shoveller Spatula clypeata . Transient. Tolerably common in Spring

21. Wood Duck Aix sponsa . Rare summer visitor.

22. Redhead Nyroca americana. Rare transient.

23. Ring-necked Duck Nyroca collaris. Rare transient. Cairns. Lake
Ashnoca, November 7 - December 20, 1935, fairly common, R. B. Wallace.

24. Greater Scaup Duck Nyroca marila. Tolerably common transient in
spring and fall, October 8 -lS, 1891.

25. Lesser Scaup Duck Nyroca af finis. Rare transient, April 9,10,1893,
Cairns. Lake Ashnoca, common throughout November, .1935, R. B. Wallace.

26. American Golden-eye Glaucionetta clangula americana . Rare
transient, February, 1893, Cairns. Lake Ashnoca, male seen December 2,
1935, R. B. Wallace.

27. Buff lehead Charitonetta albeola . Rare transient, Cairns. Lake
Ashnoca, male 3een, December 2, 1935, R. B. Wallace.

28. Old Squaw Clangula hyemalis . One taken in February, 1887.

29. Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus. Transient, tolerably
common. Cairns. Lake Ashnoca, December 2, .1935, R. B. Wallace.

30. American Merganser Mergus merganser amerlcanus . Transient,
tolerably common in spring.

31. Red-breasted Merganser Mer t us serrator. Lake Ashnoca, November
16, 1935, female seen, R. B. Wallace.

32. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura septentrionalis . Resident, abundant.

33. Black Vulture Coragyps a. atratus. Very irregular in occurrence.

MARGI-I 1940

THE CHAT

Page 24

04. Swallow- tailed Kite Slanoides f , f'orficatus. A few seen each
season on the higher mountains; transient only during the fall, August

<.’5. oharp- shinned Hawk Accipiter v. velox . Resident, common for a
hawk .

56 . Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperi. Resident, very common, breeds in
May .

3/. .^astern Red-tailed Hawk Buteo b. borealis. Resident, common breo
in March. * '

38. Northern Red- shouldered Hawk Buteo 1. lineatus. Winter visitor,
common. ’

39. Broad-winged Hawk Buteo p. platypterus. Summer visitor, breeds
in May, latest November 4, 1891.

40. American Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus s.johannis. Seon oc-
casionally in winter and spring.

41. Golden .ingle Aciuila chrysaetos canadensis. Tolerably common for
so large a bird. Breeds on the cliffs of the higher mountains.

42. southern Bald Eagle Haliaeetus 1. leuoocephalus . Resident,

breeds, rare. ' '

43. Marsh Hawk Circus hudsonius . Autumn transient, not common.

44. Osprey Pandion haliaetus carolinensls . Rare summer visitor
April 5, 18927

45. Duck Hawk Falco peregrinus anatum. Seen occasionally during the
summer months.

46. Eastern Pigeon Hawk Falco c. columbarius . Rare transient,

October 19, 1894, female taken.

47. Eastern Sparrow Hawk Falco s. sparverius. Resident, breeds in
April and May.

48. Canada Ruffed Grouse Bonasa Umbellus togato . Common on the higher
mountains; found abundantly among the firs on Black mountains in
September 1888. Getting scarcer each season.

49. Eastern Bob-white Colinus v. vir, .inianus . Resident, abundant.

50. Eastern Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo silvestris . Common
resident on the mountains, breeds from the first of May until the
middle of June; getting very rare in the valleys.

MARCH 1940

TEH CHAT

Pa&o

51. King Rail Rallus e . elegans . Rare summer visitor.

52. Virginia Rail Rallus 1. limioola . October 7, 8, 1891.

53. uora Porzana Carolina . Transient, tolerably common in autumn;
April 30 - May 3 - September 1-6, 1894.

54. Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis . October 19, 1894, male
taken .

55. Black Rail Creciscus jamaicensis stoddardi. Nest and four eggs
taken in July 1887.

5G. Florida Gallinule Gallinula chloropus cachinnans . May 16, 1891.

57. American Coot Fulica a.americana. Rare transient, May 15, 1891;
April 16, 1892.

58. Killdeer Oxyechus v. vociferus. Occasional in summer, breeds.

59 . American Golden Plover Pluvialis d. dominica. Rare autumn
transient in 1891.

60. American Woodcock Philophela minor . Resident, breeds early in
April.

61. Wilson's Snipe Capella delicata. Tolerably common transient,
March 5 - April 12, 1890-1894; October 20 - November 6, 1890.

62. Upland Plover Bartramia longicauda. November 10, 1894, male
taken.

63. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia. Rare in summer, common
transient, earliest April 10, average arrival April 13.

64. Eastern Solitary Sandpiper Tringa s . solitaria . Common transient

65. Greater Yellowlegs Totanus melanoleucus . Rare transient.

66. Least Sandpiper Pisobia minutilla . Rare transient.

67. Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensls , A pair shot near Asheville,
November, 1889.

68. Hastern Mourning Dove Zenaidura macroura carolinensls . Abundant
resident .

69. Passenger Pigeon Hctopistes Migrator ius . Female taken October
20, 1894, Cairns. G. M. Garren tells me he has seen enormour flocks
in the early eighties.

MARCH 1940

Till CHAT

Page 26 .

70. eastern Ground Dove Columbigallina p. passerina. One observed

May 29, 1891.

71. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus a. americanus . Summer visitor,
sometimes common, sometimes rare. Breeds in May, June and July.

72. Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus . Common summer
visitor, April 28 - October 5.

73. Southern Screech Owl Otus a.asio. Common resident, breeds in
April.

74. Great Horned Owl Bubo v. virginianus , Resident breeds from mid
January to late February.

75. Snowy Owl Nyctea nyctea . Once seen by Cairns.

76. Barred Owl Strix varia sp? (Subspecies undetermined) Rare
resident .

77. Long-eared Owl Asio wilsonianus , November, 1889.

78. Short-eared Owl Asio f. flammeus. November 6, 1891.

79. Eastern Whippoorwill Antrostomus v. vociferus . Summer visitor,
average arrival April 18, Cairns. Common in the mountains up to
3,500 ft. Brewster.

80. Nighthawk Chordeites minor §p? (Subspecies undetermined) Summer
visitor, April 19 - October 5.

81. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica . Common summer visitor, April
10 - October 6.

82 Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris. Summer visitor
earliest April 17.

83. Eastern Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle a . elcyon . Common transient,
a few breed, earliest March 11, Cairns. R. B. Wallace noted one all
winter on Lake Ashnoca in 1935.

84. Flicker Colaptes auratus sp? (Subspecies undetermined). Common
resident

85. Pileated Woodpecker Ceuphloeus pileatus sp? (Subspecies undeter-
mined) . Resident, rare, breeds.

86. Red-bellied Woodpecker Centurus carolinus. Common in
in winter, breeds.

summer , rare

MARCH 1940

THE CHAT

Page 27.

37, Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus . Tolerably
common resident.

80. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus v. varius . Resident, breeds
on the higher mountains.

39a. Eastern Hairy Woodpecker Dryobates v. villosus . A few breed on
the higher mountains.

89b. Southern Hairy Woodpecker Dryobates villosus auduboni . Resident,
tolerably common.

90a. Northern Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens medianus . Possibly
on the higher mountains.

90b. Southern Downy Woodpecker Dryobates p. pubescens. Resident,
common.

91. Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Common summer visitor.

92. Northern Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crlnitus boreus . Summer
visitor, arrived April 18 - 21.

93. Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe . Abundant summer visitor, a few
winter.

94. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris . One taken
August 11 , 1890 .

95. Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens. Common summer visitor.

96. Alder Flycatcher Empidonax t . trailli . Male taken, September 188

97. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus . Rare summer visitor, breeds.

98. Eastern Wood Pewee Myochanes virens . Abundant summer visitor,
April 29 - October 5.

99. Olive-sided Flycatcher Nuttallornis mesoleucus . Rare in summer,
a few breed on Black mountains.

100a. Northern Horned Lark Otocoris a. alpestris . Tolerably common
winter visitor.

100b. Prairie Horned Lark Otocoris alpestris praticola . Rare winter
visitor .

101. Bank Swallow Riparia r. r . Rare transient, April 10 - 20, 1891.

102. Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruf icollis serripennls .

Common summer visitor, earliest April 13.

MARCH 1940 TH3 CHAT Page 28.

103. Barn Swallow Hirunclo erythrogaster . Rare transient, April 11 -
May 29.

104. Northern Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon a. albifrons . April 22,1892
April 15 - May 1, 1893. In early September, 1939, great numbers of
unidentified swallows were noted at Swannanoa, and on September 2 and
September 3 of the same year M. L. Hoffman reported thousands seen
near Junaluska that were this species. Sari Hall reports thousands

at Junaluska September 8, 1938. W. B. Mcllwaine also reports great
numbers seen near Swannanoa on August 29, 1936.

105. Purple Martin Progne s . sub is . Summer visitor.

106. Northern Blue Jay Cyanocitta c . crlstata . Common resident.

107. Northern Raven Corvus corax principalis . Common resident, breeds
on Craggy mountains.

108a Ha stern Crow Corvus b . brachyrhynchos . Winter visitor.

108b Southern Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos paulus . Breeding form.

109. Black-capped Chickadee Penthestes a . atricapillus . Common on
Black mountains above 5,000 ft, Cairns. Mrs. Grinnell records it
from Arden in winter.

110. Carolina Chickadee Penthesles Q arolinensis Sp? (Subspecies
undetermined). Cairns lists 'as resident up to 5,000 ft.

111. Tufted Titmouse Baeoluphus bicolor . Common resident.

112. White-breasted Nuthatch ^itta c . carolinensis . Common resident.
Mrs. Grinnell calls it very common.

113. Red-breasted Nuthatch pitta canadensis . Tolerably common resident,
breeding on the higher mountains. Mrs. Grinnell records it at Arden
only in winter.

114a Brovm Creeper Certhia familiaris americana. Winter visitor in
the valleys. Observed by Cairns October 14 to April 10, 1894.

,L14b Southern Creeper Certhia familiaris nigre scans . This recently
discribed race breeds on the higher mountains and is probably resi-
dent in the county.

115. Ohio House 'Wren Troglodytes aedon baldwini . In Cairns’ day a
rare transient, at present a summer visitor and breeds. Mrs. Grinnell.

116a Hastern Winter Wren Nannus troglodyte s hiemolis . ’/inter visitor,
observed in valleys October 10 - April 21.

MARCH 1940

THIS CHAT

Page 29.

116b Southern ’Vinter "Iren Nannus troglodytes pullus . This recently
discribed race breeds on the higher mountains and is probably resi-
dent in the county.

117. Bewick's Wren Thryomanes b. bewickii . Coriimon summer visitor,
rare in winter, confined to the higher mountains.

118. Carolina Wren Thryothorus 1. ludovicianus . Common resident.

119. Long-billed Marsh Wren Telmatodytes p. palustris. Tolerably
common transient, October 14-19, 1890; September 20 - October 31, 1891-
September 22 - October 8, 1894.

120. 3a stern Mockingbird Mimu s p . polygloteos . Common summer visitor,
Cairns. Mrs. Grinnell says it is rare at Arden; a few winter.

121. Catbird Dumetella carolinensis . Common summer visitor, April -
October.

122. Eastern Brown Thrasher Toxostoma r . rufum. Summer yisitor,
common, earliest March 20. Cairns. Mrs. Grinnell records it on
February 27 and March 3 at Arden.

i-23a Eastern Robin Turdus m. migratorius . Rare as winter visitor,
cairns. May breed on higher mountains. Mrs. Grinnell records flocks
.'n January, 1940.

123b Southern Robin Turdus migratorius achrusterus . Abundant summer
visitor.

124. Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina . Common summer visitor, earliest
April 8.

125. Eastern Hermit Thrush Hylocichla guttata faxoni . Common winter
visitor, October 24 - May 15.

1.26. Olive-backed Thrush Hylocichla ustulata swainsona. Rare transient,
April 4-6, 1390: September 15 - October 16, 1890; September 2 -
October 15, 1891.

127a Gray-cheeked Thrush Hylocichla minima aliciae . Transient,
September 11 - November 10.

127b Bicknell's Thrush Hylocichla m. minima . Transient, September 20-
22, 1890, Csirns. Mrs. Grinnell also records it on September 21,1937,
and in May, 1937.

128. Veery Hylocichla f . fuscescens . Common summer visitor aoove
3,000 ft., April 14 - October 10.

129. Eastern Bluebird Sialia s. sialis. Common resident.

MARCH 1940

TH3 CHAT

Page 30.

130. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polloptila o . caerulea . Common summer
visitor, March 23 - September 9.

131. Eastern Gold- crowned Kinglet Regulus s . satrata . Resident on the
higher mountains; .October 13 - April 20 in valleys.

132. Eastern Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula . Common
transient, April 3-27; October 12-18.

133. American Pipit Anthus spinoletta rubescens . Rare transient,
Cairns. Only seen once, Mrs. Grinnell.

134. Cedar Vaxwing Hornby cilia cedrorum . Irregular resident.

135. Migrant Shrike Lanius ludovicianus migrans . Rare spring trans-
ient .

136. Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris. Introduced, resident, first re-
ported in 1926.

137. White-eyed Vireo Vireo g. griseus . Common summer visitor.

138. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavif ron s . Tolerably common summer
visitor.

139a Blue-headed Vireo Vireo s . solitarius . Transient.

139b Mountain Vireo Vireo solitarius alticula . Common summer visitor.

140. Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus . Common summer visitor, April 20,
October 10.

141. Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus . Once taken by Cairns,
no data recorded.

142. Eastern Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus . Summer visitor, rather
rare. First April 21, 1899, local, tolerably common, breeds, Minot
Davis .

143. Black and White Warbler Mniotilta varia . Summer visitor,
earliest March 28, Cairns. Mrs. Grinnell records it also on March 3,
and on December 31, 1939.

I 44. Worn-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus . Summer visitor,

■ arliest April 15.

'45. Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera . Rather rare summer
-"isitor, breeds in June, earliest April 9.

146. Brewster’s Warbler Vermivora leucobronchialis . Montreat, one s eev
i.ugust 28, 1939, by W. 3. Mcllwaine.

••ARCH 1940

Till GHAT

Page 31.

147. Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus . Rare summer visitor, Breeds

148. Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina . Fall transient, September
10 - October 29.

149. Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora c . celata . Male, October 18,
1893; female, January 15, 1894; both determined by Brewster.

150. I ashville Warbler Vermivora r . ruf icapilla . Scarce transient,
no dates.

151. parula Warbler Compsothlypis americana sp? (Subspecies undeter-
mined) . Summer visitor, breeds, earliest April 9.

152. Ja stern Yellow ''arbler Dendroica a. aestiva . Summer visitor,
very common, breeds up to 3,000 ft., April 27 - September 1.

153. Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia . May 8-11, 1890, May 7-19,
1899, Minot Davis; July 25-0ctober 4, 1891.

154. Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina . May 5-15, 1893; May 7-8,
1894; September 15-17, 1894; Cairns. May 5, 1899, Minot Davis.
September 25, 1911, common attacking grapes, "2. V. Hatbeck. Montreat
September 22-28, 1930; September 23, 1931, A. Sprunt, Jr. Often seen
in early May, Susan oheppard.

155a Black-throated 31ue Warbler D endroica c . caerulescens . Transient

155b Cairns's Warbler Dendroica caerulescens . Common summer visitor,
breeds in May on the Black mountains. This form was described by Coves
from a specimen taken on the Craggies and named in honor of John S.
Cairns. It is one of the few forms which has been described from a
North Carolina specimen.

156. Myrtle Warbler Dendroica coronata . Common winter visitor,

October 18 - May 18. Mrs. Grinnell says she has been them in June at
Arden.

157. Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica v. virens . Bummer visitor
common on higher mountains, April 15 - October 8.

158. Caerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea . Rare transient.

•59. Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca . Rare summer visitor, breed
ya the mountains, transient in the valleys. April 10 - Jeptember 15.

.'.50. Sycamore Warbler Dendroica dominica albilora . Rare summer
visitor, April 13 - September 15.

161. Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica . Summer visitor,
common on higher mountains, April 26 - September 20.

MARCH 1940

THJ CHAT

Page 32.

162* Blackpoll Warbler Dendroioa striata . April 29- June 1. No fall
dates .

163. Northern Pine Warbler Dendroioa pinus . Resident, tolerably
common.

164. Northern Prairie Warbler Dendroioa discolor . Rare summer ^/isitor

165a Western Palm Warbler Dendroioa p. palmarus. May 10-12, 1890;

May 8-15, 1894.

165b Yellow Palm Warbler Dendroioa palmarus hypochrysea , Transient,
tolerably common, A.pril 14 - May 13, oeptember 14 - November 28.

166. Ovenbir* Seiurus aurocapillus. Common summer visitor, April 17 -
October 5.

167. Northern Water-thrush Seiurus n. noveboracensis . Tolerably
common transient April 19 - May 17; September 10 - October 1.

168. Louisiana Water Thrush Seiurus motacilla. Common summer visitor,
earliest March 25.

169. Kentucky Warbler Oporornis Formosus . Summer visitor, tolerably
common up to 4,000 ft.; April 18 - September 20.

170. Mourning Warbler Oporornis Philadelphia . Montreat, July 31, 1931
one seen by W . B. Mcllwaine.

171a Northern Yellow-throat Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla .

Transient .

171b Maryland Yellow-throat Geothlypis t . trichas . Transient,

,171c Athens Yellow-throat Geothlypis trichas f yphicola . Thos. D.
Burleigh assigns Asheville specimens of the breeding bird to this race
which he recently described Proe. Biol. Soc . of Washington V. 47,

P. 21-22.

172. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria v. virens ♦ Common summer visitor,
April 15 - October 1.

173. Hooded Warbler Wil sonla citrina . Common summer visitor in the
valleys. April 12 - September &0.

174. Wilson’s Warbler Wil sonia p, pusilla . May 7, 1894; May 8, 1890;
September 22-25, 1894.

175. Canada Warbler Wil sonia canadensis ,
higher mountains, May 4 - October 10.

Common summer visitor on the

MARCH 1940

THE CHAT

Page 33.

176. American Redstart Setofohaga ruticilla . Common summer visitor,
earliest April 7.

177. English sparrow Passer d. domesticus . Comraon resident.

178. Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus . Tolerably common transient, May
4, September 7, October 15.

179. Eastern Meadow Lark S turnella m. magna . ’Vinter visitor, common,
October £0 - April £2

180. eastern Redwing Agelaius p . phoeniceus ♦ Summer visitor, earliest
February 10.

181. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius . Summer visitor, earliest April 29

}.82 . Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula . Common summer visitor, earliest
April 16, Cairns. Mrs. Grinnell says she has only seen it twice.

183. Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus . Transient, February 2 -
May 2 .

184. Brewer’s Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus . Noted by T. D. Bur-
leigh on November 25, 1930, November 16 - December 31, 1932; February
25 - April 12, 1932; April 6, 1931; and by R. B. Wallace, November 19,
1935, from one to twenty noted on each date. These are the only
records for the State.

185a Purple Grackle Quiscalus q. stonei . Summer visitor, not very
common, Cairns. Brewster found several pairs breeding in Asheville in
1885.

185b Bronzed Crackle Quiscalus q. aeneus . Tolerably common transient,
March 10 - 30, 1890, a male and four females taken.

136. Eastern Cowbird Molothrus a. ater . Sprin^. and fall transient,
February 21 - May 12, August 18 - December 8, Cairns. Burleigh noted
cases of their laying eggs in other birds' nests in 1935, though they
left for the north almost immediately after.

187. Scarlet Tanager Piranga erythromelas . Summer visitor, April 17-
October 14.

188. Summer Tanager Piranga r ♦ rubra . Summer visitor, common in the
lower valleys, April 20 -"October 7.

189. Eastern Cardinal Richmondena c . cardinalis . Common resident.

190. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Hedymeles lucovicianus . Summer visitor
from 4,000 ft. up, April 15 - October 25. Seen several times at Arden
in July, Mrs. Grinnell.

MARCH 1940

TIM CHAT

Page 34.

191. Eastern Blue C-rosbeak Guiraca c . caerylea . Rare summer visitor.

192. Indigo Bunting Passorina cyanea. Common summer visitor. Anri I
27 - October 20.

193. Eastern Purple Finch Carpodacus p. purpureus. Transient, common
in spring, March 5 - May 5, 1390, Cairns. February 7, 1891, October
20, 1394, Cairns. February 13, 1940, Mrs. Grinnell.

194. Common Redpoll Acanthis 1. linaria . Arden, December 3, 21, 1939,
Mrs. Grinnell, first records for the mountains.

195. Northern Pine Siskin Spinus p. pinus . Resident on higher
mountains, winter visitor in the valleys.

196. Eastern Goldfinch opinus t . tristis. Resident, abundant, breeds
in July and August.

197. Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra pusilla . Resident on Black
Mountains, breeds.

198. Red-eyed Towhee Fipilo e . erythrophthalmus . Resident.

199a Eastern Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis savanna. Mint e
visitor and also breeds on the higher mountains.

199b Churchill Savannah Sparrow Passerc ulus Sendwichensis oblitus.
Peters and Griscom in describing this new race list a female from
Buncombe County taken March 23, 1895. (Bull Mus. Comp. Zoology V.80
No. 13, January 1938.

200. Eastern Grasshopper Sparrow Ammo d ramus savannarum australis.
Summer visitor, tolerably common.

201. Eastern Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes g, g ramineus . Resident, com-
mences to breed about April 18.

202. Bachman's Sparrow. Aimophila aestivalis bachmanl . Summer
visitor, tolerably common, March 28 - November 1.

203a Slate-colored Junco Junco h. hyemalis . T "intor visitor, October
18 - April 14.

203b Carolina Junco Junco hyemali s carolinensis . Resident, abundant
on the higher mountains.

204. Eastern Tree Sparrow Sp izella a. arborea. Noted at Arden by
Mrs. Grinnell, November 25, 29, December 7, 26, 1938; November 25,

1937; December 1, 3, 1939. Not observed by Cairns.

205. Eastern Chipping Sparrow Spizella p . passerina . Abundant summer
visitor, March 9-November 4, Cairns. Small flock seen by Mrs. Grinnell
December 21, 1939.

MARCH 1940

TH3 CHAT

Page 35

206. Eastern Field Sparrow Gpizella p . pusilla . Very common resident.

207. White- crowned Gparrow Zonotrichia 1. leucophrys. October 16,
1889, Cairns. November 17, 1939, Mrs. Grinnell .

208. White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis. Common winter
visitor, October 11 - May 18, Cairns. Mrs. Grinnell states that it is
seen throughout the year at Arden, except for a few weeks in August
and September.

209. 3a stern Fox Sparrow Passerella i . iliaca . Tolerably common
winter visitor.

210. Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza 1. lincolni . May 6, 1893, Cairns.
Seen on seven or eight occasions by T. D. Burleigh in September and
October, 1936; two seen by A. Sprunt , Jr., on September 17, 1931.

211. Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana . Transient, common, March 27 -
April 24; October 4 - December 1, Cairns. December 21, 1939, Mrs.
Grinnell .

212a Eastern Song sparrow Melospiza m. melodia . Vinter visitor.

212b Mississippi Song sparrow Melospiza melodia Huphonea . In Cairns's
day Song sparrows were found in winter only, but are now found through-
out the year. T. Gilbert Pearson first noted them in summer, July 26,
1902, only a single pair being observed. This newly-described species
is to replace beata, the Mississippi Song Sparrow given in the Fourth
A. 0. U. check-list.

MARCH -1«40

THIS CHAT

Pago 36

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brewster , "'illiarn. "An Ornithological Reconnaissance in Western
North Carolina". Auk III, 94-112, 173-179.

Brewster, William.
Qrn . & Ool. August,

"Nest and Sggs of the Mountain Solitary Viroo"
1888, 113.

Bruner, ,j. C. , and A. L. Feild. Notes on the Birds observed on a
urip through the Mountains of Vest era North Carolina" . Auk XXTX

Burleigh, Thomas D. "Present Status of Brewer's Blackbird in the
southeast". Wilson Bulletin, XLV, 111-113.

Burleigh, Thomas D. "-.gg-laying of the Cowbird
Wilson Bulletin XLVIII, 13-16.

during Migration".

Cairns, John S. "List of the Birds of Buncombe County, North Caro-
lina". Qrn. & Ool . , January, 1887, 3-6.

Cairns, John S. "The Summer Birds of Buncombe County, North Caro-
Una" . Qrn. & Ool. , February 1889, 17-23.

Cairns, John S. "'List of the Birds of Buncombe County". Privately
printed; list is dated at end of reading matter " July" 16 1891".
Oberholser says it was printed in 1902.

Coues, Jlliot . "Characters of Dendroica caerulescens eairnsi".

Auk, XIV, 96.

Davis, Minot. "Bird Notes from Western North Carolina". Orn. & Ool
August 1893, 113. i

Ladd, Samuel B. "Nesting of the Black-throated Blue Warbler in Bun-
combe County, North Carolina. Orn. & Ool., September 1892. 129-130.

Sprunt, Alexander, Jr. "Lincoln's Sparrow again in North Carolina".
Auk , XLIX , 100.

Wallace,
Auk. Ill
Ashnoca.

Robert B. "Unusual Birds in 'Western North Carolina".

<^7, Notes on 14 species, mostly ducks, observed near Lake

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH. N. C.

John H. Grey, jr„ Editor
1719 PARK DRIVE

VOL. IV

APRIL 1940

NO. 4

FIVB-Y3AA PROGRAM FOR NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

Claudia Watkins Hunter
Synopsis of Presidential Address

The progress of the club during the past three years is illustrated by
the increase in local clubs, with a total of twelve, four being; new
clubs this year. Nearly a dozen more local clubs are in the pre-
liminary stages of organization. Further progress is indicated by four
municipalities having become bird sanctuaries; by the organization of
Rosscraggen Wood in Buncombe County as a sanctuary; by the activities
of the membership committee which has more than doubled our membership
since last fall; by the numerous field trips arranged; and by some of
the gaps in local records being filled.

Also during 1939 Dr. Pearson and the Brimleys have revised and re-
written the book on the birds of our State to the point where the
manuscript only needs the results of the collecting done by the
National Museum in the State last summer to bring the book ujj to date
and ready for publication.

The chief assets of the club are: (1) an increasing number of young
students of bird life, (2) a rising tide of interest within the State
in our birds, (3) co-operation on the part of other organizations such
as the North Carolina Garden Club and the Board of Conservation and
Development, (4) an increasing membership fairly well distributed over
tne State, (5) the fine personalities of our bird students.

Tie chief liability of the club is that the volunteer staff has not the
time to meet the demands for information, lectures on birds, leader-
ship in organizing new local clubs, and guidance in forming and leading

Page 37

TUB CHAT

APRIL 1940

field trips throughout the State. To maintain the interest of the
enlarged membership these needs will have to be met or the club will
stagnate. In order to enlarge the usefulness of the club we offer a
tentative program covering a period of five years.

PROGRAM FOR FIRST YiAR

A membership of 1,000, some members contributing more than the vl.00
membership fee, (2) reserving a part of the Chat for helps to beginner,
in identifying birds, and printing the journal instead of mimeograph-
ing it as at present, (b) certain changes in the constitution giving
various classes of membership so that our revenue can be increased, and
also enlarging the executive committee, (4) helping to make the re-
publication of the Birds of North Carolina a possibility, (5) an
adequate program of state' Wide field trips’, (6) pushing the movement
to make every incorporated town in the State a sanctuary for bird life.

To carry out such a program and allow the club to meet the demands for
an adequate educational program in the study and protection of the bird
life in our State, we need a man to give his full time to the work of
the club. Such a person would serve largely as a field man, lecturing
in schools, clubs, groups of sportsmen, and other organizations; assist
ing local groups in organizing a club and cooperating with various cit:;
in their efforts to become a bird sanctuary. If this sounds like an
adventurous undertaking for the club we must remember that the Florida
Audubon Society employs such a man in addition to several wardens, and
that Massachusetts Audubon Society has several full-time workers, and
that in our own State just a few years ago Dr. T. Gilbert Pearson
secured more than 500 members for an Audubon Society and that group
helped formulate our present game lav/s.

PROGRAM FOR JFC0ND YLAR

An educational program enlisting among others the State Board of
Education and the N. C. educational Association, (2) a series of week-
end camp outs to familiarize our members with the birds along the
coast and also those in our mountains, (3) the establishment of an en-
dowment fund to help maintain the work of the club, (4) increase the
membership to 2,000^, and (5) the employment of an executive secretary
to care for the increase in office work entailed by such a program.

APRIL 1940

THIS CHAT

PAGIS 39

PROGRAM FOR THIRD AND FOURTH Y.IARS

Good records on birds from every county and the gathering of data to
supplement gaps in our knowledge, (2) an increase in the number of local)
clubs and in the number of municipal sanctuaries, (3) the executive
secretary to furnish articles on bird life to each weekly newspaper as
well as to Sunday editions, (4) the broadening of our educational pro-
gram, and (5) increasing the membership by 1,000 new members each year.

PROGRAM FOR FIFTH YLAR

By this time the club should be able to undertake the support of a small
refuge, (2) publish a volume on the birds to be found in our mountains
or along the seashore or some other volume to emphasize the distinctive
phases of our bird life, or the unusual opportunities afforded tourists
to see the concentration of Canada Geese, Thistlin 0 Swan, Greater Snow
Geese, shore birds or heron rookeries at such places as Lake Mattamuskee
Currituck Sound, Pea Island, Beaufort, Orton Planatation or Southport,
(3) enlarge the endowment fund, (4) establish in each of the 100
counties at least one local club and one municipal sanctuary, and (5)
increase the membership of the club to 5,000.

A. general summary of the program for the five years convinces us that
after all it is not an unusual program: (1) sufficient field trips
and camp outs to acquaint our members with the bird life of our Stati
(3) accurate records from every county resulting from these trips an
local work, (3) a printed, enlarged, and enriched Chat , (4) publicatic ,
of the revised Birds of North Carolina , and some other ornithological
study, (5) at least one club and one municipal sanctuary in every
county, (6) support of a small refuge. To accomplish these objectives
it seems necessary that we should have our membership increased to
5,000, two full-time executives, extensive program of publicity, a
thorough educational progfam ana an endowment fund.

The result should be in part a citizenship far on the way to knowing,
appreciating, and urotecting .its birds, people who will not be ashamed
when they meet the" visitor at their gate inquiring about North Carolina
birds, asking questions that only those with first hand knowledge can
answer .

If this program is bold, let us remember the story ox Harriet Berry,
North Carolina pioneer good roads advocate, who has just gone on to
other adventures in eternity, and the v 150,000,000 worth of good North
Carolina roads she lived to see come true.

PAGS 40

APRIL 1940

TIC CHAT

FOURTH ANNUAL MSBTING NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
HUND.3R30N , APRIL 26 and 27, 1940.

The meeting was called to order in the ’Vest Bnd Country Club at 2-00 P.M
by President Claudia Hunter. Mayor H. T. Powell welcomed the club to
Henderson and commended its pioneer work as a city sanctuary. The
Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. C. H. Bostian, reported that at the last
annual meeting the club had 136 members and that we now have 294; that
the treasury had carried over from last year a balance of ^53.00 and
had received ^301.00 from dues; the expenses of the club for the year
have been £216.00, leaving a balance on hand of £138.00. The Treasurer’
report was received and referred to the Auditing Committee of J. j. sit
wald and Bdwin 0. Clarkson.

The proposed amendments to the constitution were discussed and the
following action taken: "that a committee consisting of John II. Grey, Jr.
Miss Grace Anderson, Dr. Francis H. Craighill, A. D. Shaft sbury and
C. S. Brimley , be appointed to go through the Constitution and report
their recommendations to an adjourned session of this meeting to be
called in the fall not less than 30 days after their report is sub-
mitted to the President of the club”.

Reports were given from the following local clubs: Durham Bird Club,
Henderson Bird Club, Piedmont Bird club of Greensboro, Rosscraggen
Wood of Arden, Salisbury Bird Club, Southern Pines Bird Club,

Statesville Audubon Society, and the Bughouse Laboratory of Washington-
There was no report from the Pine Bluff City Sanctuary, Raleigh Bird
..dub, Siler City Municipal Sanctuary or the Winston Salem Bird Club.

■’he talks and papers included (1) ’’Domestication of a Bluebird'", in
which Mrs. Bdwin 0. Clarkson of Charlotte gave us a humorous account
of her four years experience with Tommy whom she raised from a fledling,
(2) "Bird Houses” were discussed by Dr. Wesley Taylor of Greensboro and
illustrated by houses built by Henry W. Johnston, 831 Bellview St.,
Greensboro, (3) "Field Glasses'" were illustrated and discussed by
J'T. . Mvchael W. Johnston of Duke,(4)Mrs. Charlotte Hilton Green, of
Raleigh, described "Aids in Teaching Nature Study”, (5) the relation
'1 Girl Scouts and the N. C. Bird Club’ 1 was discussed by Mrs. A. J.
JVraale of Raleigh and her talk was followed by (6) "Boy Scouts and the
I*- C. Bird Club' 1 by Scout Executive John J. Sigwald of Wilson, (7)

Miss Grace Anderson gave an account of the ’’Statesville Bird Sanctuary”,
’8) "Birds of Prey” were discussed by H. H. Brimley of Raleigh, (9)

The Rev. Francis H. Craighill of Rocky Mount described some "Unusual
records of 1939-40" , (10) Dr. C. S. Brimley of Raleigh discussed the
relation of”Birds and the Man” and (11) Thomas L. Quay of Raleigh ex-
plained his intensive piece of research under the title "Birds
Succession". Time did not permit Frank Williams, of State College, to
give his paper on "The Buropean Starling in America" which will appear

THIS CHAT

APRIL 1940

FAG-3 41

In a later edition of the Chat . The Bditor had a similar experience
with his ’‘Birding in Brunswick County’’.

The meeting then took recess to visit the garden sanctuary of
Mrs. A. J. "Davis and to drive along some of the streets planted by the
two garden clubs of Henderson in cooperation with the Henderson Bird
Club 7

The annual banquet was held at 6:00 o'clock at the ’’est fnd County Club
with the editor acting as toastmaster. Over 100 guests were present.
Guests were asked to introduce themselves by local clubs; Statesville
had three present, Charlotte had four, Greensboro eleven, Raleigh
twenty- two , Henderson twenty-four, Washington three, and Durham four.

communities where no local club had
extended a cordial welcome to the
Greensboro responded. Miss Mariel
over for the field trip Saturday
in her home. Mrs. H. B. Kendall

In addition many guests were from
been organized. Mrs. A. J. Davis
club to which Mrs. N. D. Tyner of
Gary invited the guests to remain
morning and to breakfast at 10:30
of Greensboro spoke on the work of "Bird Conservation of the North
Carolina Garden Club ! . Dr. Maynard 3 . Johnson extended the club a

invitation to visit the wild life refuge at Lake Mattamuskeet .
reported that the Auditing Committee found _ the books of
the Secretary-Treasurer to be correct and commended his integrity and
financial soundness. Dr. C. S. Brimley, as Chairman of the Nominating
Committee, reported that the Rev • i • H. Craigliill and Mrs. zdwin 0.
Clarkson joined him in unanimously recommending; the re-election of the
/resent officers and the addition of Mrs. 1. G. Flannagan, of Henderson
s gecretary . His report was adopted and the following declared elec t- .

cordial
J. J. Sigwald

President - Miss Claudia Batkins Hunter, Henderson.
1st Vice-Pres. - Dr. A. D. Shaft sbury, Greensboro.
2nd Vice-Pres. - John J. Sigwald, 1 ilson.

3rd Vice-Pres. - Mrs. Dodette \7. Grinnell, Arden.
Secretary - Mrs. B. G. Flannagan, Henderson.
Treasurer - Dr. C. H. Bostian, Raleigh,
editor - The Rev. John H. Grey, Jr., Raleigh.

sidential addre

Miss Claudia Hunter delivered her Pres
lowed by a discussion among the club members of the
the work. Dr. Joseph Hyde Pratt, Chapel Hill, spoke
of the publication of the new volume on the
some of the difficulties which he, as State Geologi
1919 in getting the first book published.

abate birds,

s which was fol-
various phases of
enthusiastically
and related
t 1 ’ encountered in

The public meeting, of the club was held at 8:30 Friday evening in the
auditorium of the Henderson High School. Miss Hunter presented

APRIL 1940

TH2 CHAT

PAG 0 42

Thomas L. Quay, who had been instrumental in securin': the speaker of
the evening. Mr. Quay introduced Harold S. Peters, of Charleston, 3.C.,
who is Atlantic Flyway Biologist for the U. 3. Biological Survey. He
explained that Flyway was merely a migration route of water fowl and
shore birds and that Peters’ area extended from the Artie Circle to the
northern part of South America and westward to the Mississippi valley.

A synopsis of the address by Mr. Peters is presented later in this issue

Saturday morning some thirty people assembled at 7:00 o'clock at the
Vance Hotel, divided up into small parties and visited various parts
of Vance County to see what birds could be seen. At 10:30 the group
reassembled at the homo of Miss Mariel Gary and her sister
Mrs. S. R. Harris, Jr., for a delightful breakfast. Following this a
machine was rigged up and Mr. Peters showed his movies which he had bee:
unable to show the evening before due to a breakdown of the projector.
Miss Grace Anderson extended an invitation to the club to hold its
next annual meeting in Statesville, and the club unanimously and en-
thusiastically accepted the invitation. A check of the birds seen
during the morning revealed 73 species as compared to 89 species
observed at the annual meeting in Raleigh a year ago.

Birds Observed Field Trip April 27, 1940.

Pied-billed Grebe, Lesser Scaup Duck,
Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s
winged Hawk, Pigeon Hawk, Bob-white,
riper

Ruddy Duck, Turkey Vulture, Black
Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-

Greater Yellow-legs, Lesser

potted
Yellow-lef

andpiper, Solitary Sand-

Mourning Dove,

, Chimney

Swift | Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Flicker, Red-bail «
Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Phoebe, Tree
.-swallow, Rough -winged Swallow, Barn swallow, Blue Jay, Crow, Carol in*
Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, House Wren, Carol .m
Wren, Mockingbird, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Robin, Wood Thrush, Olivo
backed Thrush, Bluebird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher , Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Cedar Waxwing, Loggerhead Shrike, Starling, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-
throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Parula Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Myrtle
Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler,
Oven-bird, Louisiana Water-thrush, Yellow-throat
Redstart, English Sparrow,
nal, Goldfinch, Towheo,

Sparrow, Field Sparrow,

Hooded Warbler,

Meadowlark , Red-wing, ’ Summer Tanager, Cardi-
javannah Sparrow, Slate-colored Junco, Chipping
White -throated Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow.

SYNOPSIS OF Till ADDRBSS BY HAROLD 3. FSTTR3

Mr. Peters said that in 1900 there were an estimated one hundred fifty
million ducks and geese in the United States but that in 1934 the watei
fowl census showed only about thirty million birds. This decrease was
due in part to the encroachment of agriculture and drainage of areas
used as breeding and feeding grounds, ana in part to the increase in

APRIL 1940

Till GHAT

PAGE 43

the number of hunters equipped with more effective guns and ammunition
who hunted over wider areas due to the development of the auto and c ood
roods .

In 1934 the Biological Survey began an intensive study of what could be
done to preserve the supply of waterfowl. From the return on banded
ducks and geese it was discovered that there were regular migration
routes followed by these birds between their breeding and wintering
grounds. These routes are known as Flyways: Pacific, Central,
Mississipi, and Atlantic Flyway. In 1929 some 134,000 birds were band-
ed in the United States, but in ten years later 436,000 were banded.

Of the 325 million birds which have been banded returns have been re-
ceived on 200,000 or 6% of the total. Mr. Peters called attention to
the fact that while there were 2,200 banders in the U. G . , that few
were in the South: North Carolina having IS, South Carolina an equal
number, and Virginia 23.

In 1935 and 1936 the Survey sent men north to Nova Scotia and Newfound-
land to explore the breeding areas. Peters made his first trip in 1937,
going to the above places to make estimates of breeding birds to work
out trends in population, and then to Labrador, Baffin Island and on to
the Artie Circle. In 1938 he revisited parts of this area and then in
1939 pushed north through Hudson’s Straight , Baffin Island, and to Craifc
Harbor on Elsmere Island the most farthest northern point in the Britisi
Lip ire and within 800 miles of the North Pole. In parts of this area
he visited breeding areas of Snow Geese, Blue Geese, and Brant.

-he explorations carried out had revealed the principal breeding areas
j- p our waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway to be the maritime provinces
such as Novia Scotia. It was also discovered that the Atlantic Flyway
has many wintering birds which breed in the Mississippi and the Centre
Flyways. For instance, the geese which winter at Back Bay, Currituck
Sound, Pea Island and Lake Mattamuskeet often have one of Jack Miner's
bands, showing that they have not come south along the Atlantic Coast
out have passed eastward through Kingsville, Ontario, and were produced
in the western central part of Canada.. It was also discovered that
these same L -eese, produced in western Canada, do not continue down our
uoest to the Florida refuges, leading to the discovery that birds pro-
diced in a certain area are more likely to winter together, and in
definite areas.

Plans for 1940 are somewhat uncertain due
now a belligerent nation and will have no
year. New Brunswick
population trend. G
is an area of
Geese. There is an open season there on these
protected list in the States.

to the war. Newfoundland is
co-operating agency there this
and Nova Scotia are to be revisited for check on

_ept ember is to be spent in lower Hudson’s Bay which

concentration for migrating Blue Geese and Greater Snow

species which are on the

TIE CHAT

FA GW 44

APRIL 1940

Other plans are for work on the Federal Refuges of which there are 266,
covering thirteen and one half million acres.” Of these refuges only
178 are for waterfowl and cover three and one half million acres, and
there is need to double this acreage to provide resting and wintering
ground. The Atlantic Flyway has 55 refuges with 21 for waterfowl:

North Carolina having three of the 55, namely, Lake Mattamuskeot , Gwan-
quarter, and Pea Island, with Back Bay, near Norfolk, Virginia, and
Bulls Island, near Charleston, south Carolina. The three refuges in
the State cover 131,000 acres, and care for the largest concentration
of Canada Geese and Whistling Swan of any state.

The Survey taken an annual waterfowl census in January in which all
agents co-operate in the survey by plan, boat, a-foot, and even by rail
one man being stationed in the cab of a locomotive for a particular
area. The 1940 census revealed from 60 to 70 million waterfowl, and
indicates that the population has doubled since 1934.

NS./ M3MBUR3 OF TIE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

Mrs. Paul Allen, 2100 Roswell Ave., Charlotte, N. C.

Major William L. Allison, 318 Davie Ave., Statesville, N. C.

Mrs. William L. Allison, 318 Davie Ave., Statesville, N. C.
jJ’-s. Mildred G. Aycock, Fremont, N. C.

Bean Alice M. Baldwin, Women’s College, Duke University^ Durham, N. C
Mrs. F. J. Boling, Siler City, N. C.

Miss Mildred Brown, 128 3. Fulton St., Salisbury, N. C.

Dr. Roy M. Brown, Chapel Hill, N. C.

Bob Bunch, N. Center St., Statesville, N. C.

J. M. Burden, Aulander, N. C.

Mrs. C. A. Cannon, Box 416, Concord, N. C.

Mrs. George Watts Carr, 15 Oak Drive, Forest Hills, Durham, N. C.

Mr. James W. Cheshire, Hillsboro, N. C.

:i, L. Church, 1626 Queens Road West, Charlotte, N. C.

•M's. G. Lotta Clement, Biltmore Station, Charlotte, N. C.

Biward T. Cone, Proximity Mfg. Co., Greensboro, N. C.

J. C. Cooper, Henderson, N. C.

T . D. Cooper, Henderson, N. C,

Henry Cooper, Wake Forest, N. C.

Georgia Cox, 2314 Hillsboro St., Raleigh, N. C.

Mrs. Thos. 3. Creighton, 10 Greenwood Rd., Biltmore Forest, Biltmore, N.
Mrs. Carlton C. Curtis, Tryon, N. C.

Mcs . V. H. Dameron, Warrant on, N. C.

Tames W. Davis, Race Gt., Statesville, N. C.

Miss Azile Davidson, Race St., Statesville, N. C.

APRIL 1940

THJ GEAT

PAGJ 45

Miss Francos Dees, 2506 Clark Are., RaleL h, N. C.
Tabitha M. Devisconti, 213 G . Main Jt., Farmville, N. C.

Mr

F.

Dodd, ’"ales Forest, IT. C.

G .

N. C.

Dr. Harold H. Fries, 92 Reade St., New York City

Miss Sleanor 3. Las ley , Wake Forest, N.

Mrs. 1. B. Lari, Siler City, N. C.

Mr. Lacy M. Larly, Windsor, N. C.

Dr. N. Thomas Lnnett , Greenville, N. C.

Mrs. G. H. Jmery, Davie Are., Statesville,

T. G. Imp i e , Box 772, Wilmington , N. C.

Miss Nan Jrwin, Montreat, N. C.

Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Lvans, Brownsburg, Ind.

Mr . II. Grady Farthing;, Dist. Game & Fish Protector, Boone, N. C.
Saul Feit, 1709 Hillsboro St., Raleigh, N. C.

Gddie Folk, Lake Forest, N. C.

Dr. B. B. Fulton, State College station, Raleigh, N. C.

Mrs. L. G. Gaither, 255 N. Center St., Statesville, N. C.

Judge Henry A. Grady, Now Bern, N. C.

Mrs. R. D. Grier, 421 Walnut .^t . , Statesville, N. C.

Miss Lmma s. Harris, Me bane , N. C.

Mrs. R. R. Harris, Arden, N. C.

Miss Marion Hanckel, Crab Creek Rt . , Hendersonville, N. C.

Col. J. W. Harrelson, State College Station, Raleigh, N. C.

Dr. iugone DeF. Heald, Hickory, N. 0.

LIrs. J. L. Heinzerlin- , 113 Trade St., Statesville, N. C.

Dr. Wallace Hoffman, 526 ,T est Lnd Are., Statesville, M. C.

Mr. J. L. Horne, Jr., Rocky Mount, il. C.

ID. . Wilkins P. Horton, Sir Walter Hotel, Raleigh, N. C.
i-jrt Hughey, 803 IT. Center St., Statesville, N. C.

Hiss Annie M. Hunter, 1014 Monmouth Are., Durham, N. C.

Hr. and Mrs. H. J. Jensen, Duke Station, Durham, IT. C.

Mrs. W. H. Jones, Siler City, IT. C.

Mr. W. P. Kemp, Goldsboro, IT. 0.

Miss Mary Kimberly, 221 Kimberly Are., Asheville, IT. C.

"tones Kistler, N. C. Dept. Con. & Dev., Raleigh, N. C.

Mrs. W. K. Lashley, Box 7188, Asheville, N. C.
irs. J. L. Latham, Hood Place, Greensboro, N. C.

-H P. Lewis, Durham, N. C.

Mrs. Geo. VI. Little, Route 1, Lilesville, N. C.

Mil Long, Country Club Road, Winston Salem, N. C.

'•Mss Mary Lowder, 719 Roanoke Are., Roanoke Rapids, N. C.

Mrs. L. H. Lyon, 911 Boulevard, otatesville, N. C.

John R. McLaughlin, 249 Race St., Statesville, IT. C.

Mrs. Hubert G. McLean, Rt. 2, Box 5, Raeford, N. C.

Jas. L. McNair, Lsq. , Laur inburg, IT. C.

Miss Maggie Montgomery , Jim St. , Statesville, N. C.

Thomas A. Morgan, Sperry Corp., 30 Rockefeller Plaza,

John M. Morrison, Box 127, Beaufort, N. 0.

New York City.

APRIL 1940

TIC CHAT

PACT 46

Mrs. A. Murray, Mebane, IT. C.

Myers, 2137 Radcliff Avo. , Charlotte, N. C

Mrs . Richard

Miss Lily Norket, Davis Hospital, Statesville, IT. C
Mrs. F. II. Page, Box 5051, Bi^tmore, N. C. '

Miss 41 lie Parrish, Oxford Orphanage, Oxford, IT. C.

Geo. K. Patterson, Box 49, Weaverville , N. C.

A. S. Pearse, Duke University, Durham , N. C.

J. G. Perry, County Game & Pish Protector, identon, N.
H. Leslie Perry, Chestnut 3t., Henderson, N. C.

Ilelson R. Perry, The Manor, Albemarle Park, Asheville

Mrs.
Dr.

Mr

lL Ti

n
'■j •

Mrs. N. A. Pomeroy, Carolina Hotel, Pinehurst, N. C.
Dr. Joseph Hyde Pratt, Chapel Hill, H. C.

J. S. Pruitt, Long Shoals Road, Skyland, N. C.
Ann Rainey, 609 Holly Ave., Winston-Salem, N. C.

N. C,

Mrs .

Miss
a r

Mrs .

Mrs .

MI a •
Coleman
Mr. M. R

Reid, Jr., "Make Forest, N. C.
David A. Ricks, Hanes, N. C.

I. J. Reitzel, Siler City, N. C.

J. B.

Rogers, 110 N. Race St.,

. Roberts, 437 S. Tryon St
Robbins, Rocky Mount, N.

otatesville, N. C
. , Charlotte , N. C .

n

a. Robinson, Durham City schools, Durham, N. C.
Herbert Sherrill, Brookdale, Statesville, N. C.

Mrs. J. J. Sigwald, Oettinger Apt., D-3, Wilson, N. C.

Miss Betty Ann Skaalo, Rt. 4, Raleigh, N. C.

Burton II. Smith, 702 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, N. C.

Jr. Minnie J. Smith, Box 34, Salem Station, Winston-Salem, N.
Mrs. R. P. Spell, Clinton Garden Club, Clinton, U. C.
h. L. Sronce, Brookdale, Statesville, IT. C.

. titesville High School Library, Statesville, N. C.

trtosville Public Library, Statesville, N. C.

Miss Clara Barnett Staton, Q,ueens College,
mrs. Sit on Stout, Siler City, N. C.

'. S. Sullivan, Box 3553, State College Station, Raleigh, N.
Miss Jaunita Taylor, Box 60, Roanoke Rapids, N. C.

Miss Kate Urquart, Woodville, N. C.

C.

Charlotte, IT. C.

Mrs. C.

varren, Lenoir,

I. C.

K. Weaver, 836 N. S. 82nd St., Miami, Fla.

. Weldon Wolf ling, Duke University, Durham, N.
; ess Whitehead, Lewiston, N. C.

C. Whitehead, State College Station, Raleigh ,
S. Wilson, Box 5001, State College Station, Sa

C.

N. C.

lei, h,

IT.

Mrs. C. F. Carroll, Jr., 1108 Johnson St., High Point
Mrs. Arthur Marsh, 301 ISdgedale Drive, High Point, i

N.C.

. C.

he L>ha

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH, N. C.

John H. Grey, jr.. Editor

STATE COLLEGE STATION

VOL. IV

MAY - JUNE 1940

NOS. 5 & 6

WHAT ABOUT THE STARLINGS!

Frank D. Williams, Rooky Mount,

The two most abundant specios of birds in North Carolina, tho Jjng-
lish Sparrow and the Starling, are introduced species. From time
’immemorial the Starling has been common in Europe, but only in the
latter part of the nineteenth century. has it been >in America. The
cities in which attempts were made to introduce the species from
jjnrland are Cincinnati, Ohio (1872) ; Quebec, oanada (1075) j ,-/oi~
Chester, Mass. (1384); Tentafly, New Jersey (1884); and New York
City (1890). Of the various attempts, the importations of 1890 and
1891 into Central Park, New York City, by Eugene Scheifflin appear
to be the ones from which the birds now present originated.
Scheifflin liberated eighty birds on March 16, 1890, and forty more
on April 25, 1891. Some of the birds remained in the park and others
scattered out over the city.

Bv 1900 its spread had extended only to New York, Connecticut and
New Jersey. While the species was still confined to this area a
Federal Act prohibited its importation from one btate to another,
but the Starling had already gained a sufficient foothold to in-
sure its spread.

1923.

Page 47

MAY - JUNE 1940 THE CHAT PAGE 48

Today the species is present in 41 States and has advanced to Mon-
tana, Wyoming and New Mexico. If the bird continues its present
rate of increase it will be in every state by 1945.

Since the species is introduced, it has no natural enemies to re-
duce its numbers. Shrikes and hawks take a small toll on the
Starlings, but they protect themselves byflying in zig-zag fashion
in compact flocks.

By the middle of April the Starlings have begun nesting operations.
'They build in natural cavitios in trees, woodpecker and Flicker
holes, slanting pipes, and eaves and window shutters of houses. The
nest is constructed of dry grasses, straw, string, cloth, paper and
feathers. The pale blue eggs number from five to seven in a set.

The male bird does most of the incubating. After hatching, the
young are ready to fly in three weeks. The birth rate of the Star-
ling^is higher than any of the native American birds. One pair of
Starlings have been known to have three broods in one year. Late
in August the birds. gather in flocks numbering into the thousands
to feed and roost together. By November most of the Starlings have
left New England for the coastal regions of New York, New Jersey
and south to Florida and Texas.

- The opinions of the European ornithologists and foresters generally
favor the Starling. Its undesireable qualities a;rise from choice
of nesting sites, relations with native birds end the flocking habit.
Bluebirds, Martins, Flickers and some of the woodpeckers are _of ten
deprived of their homes by the aggressiveness of the Starling. One
way to keep the species from boxes is to make is to make the hole
one and five-eights of an inch in diameter which is too small for
the Starling to enter. The situation is not as bad as it may ap-
pear at first glance, for Bluebirds can use a hole too small for a
Starling to enter, and the same is true of wrens. The Flicker nests
in a more varied habitat than the Starling and may be driven to
nest in dense woods which have not yet been adopted by the Starling.

Kalmbach and Gabrielson, of the United States Biological Survey,
after an investigation of over ten years, assert that most of uhe
Starling’s habits have been proved to be either beneficial to man
or of neutral character. The survey of the total contents of
2 626 stomachs of Starlings shows that 1.6 per cent was cereals,
34.67 per cent was insects, and 23.86 per cent was wild fruits and
seeds. The animal matter that a Starlin^ eats includes insects,
millipeds, spiders, mollusks, a few crustaceans, and bits of suet
and carrion/ The Starling helps the farmer by eating clover leaf
weevils , Japanese beetles, potato oeetles, grasshoTJpers , locusts,
caterpillars, European corn borers, and livestock flies. Taken as
whole, the damage done by the Starling on apples, cherries, corn,

PAGE 49

MAY - JUNE 1940

THE CHAT

small grains, grapes and garden truck is more than repaid by its at-
tacks on plant and animal pests.

If the Starlings keep on increasing their numbers could be reduced
by recommending their use as food. The bird is easily captured in
its roosts at night with the aid of a flashlight. When the breasts
have been properly prepared they may be used in a meat pie that is
very appetizing.

OCEAN BIRDS IN WINTER
Richard H. Rough,

National Association of Audubon Societies,
New York City.

On a recent trip to Florida and back on the ' Clyde-Mallory Line, I
had a chance to observe the distribution of those species of birds
that winter off our coast. The outstanding day of the trip was
February 5, 1940, when we passed the Diamond Shoal Lightship off
Ilatteras at 10:00 A. M. We were in North Carolina waters until about
2:30 P. M. , when we reached Virginia.

We were in the gulf stream and saw only a few Audubon Shearwaters
until we came to the Lightship, which was actually on the line of
contact between the blue water of the gulf stream end the green
water of the Atlantic. Along this line of contact was an abundance
of bird life; large flocks of Bonaparte Gulls, herring Gulls, Ring-
billed Gulls, an immature Kittywake, many Red-throated Loons and a
few Common. I presume the reason for this great concentration of
birds is that the warm water .fish and other organisms of the gulf
stream are being killed by the colder waters and float to the sur-
face. If one of the men stationed on the Lightship were only an
ornithologist, what records he could get.

Once in the cold waters north of Hatteras the Gannets began' to appear
and about 30 miles north we started encountering Dovekies. At the
rate we scared them up along the route traversed by the steamer,
there must have been hundreds of them to the square mile of ocean
in this area. Here, too, we encountered a few Northern Phalaropes
sitting on the water, and just a short distance after I figured we
had passed into Virginia waters a Northern Skua came into sight and
harried the gulls in the wake of the boat for a few minutes.

MAY - JUNE 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 50

A NATIONAL PARK OF ARGENTINA

T. Gilbert Pearson,
New York.

These notes refer chiefly to my personal observations and impres-
sions gathered during visits to Iguazu and Nahuel-IIuapi, which are
the only National Park areas in Argentina as yet available for the
use of the general public. I was greatly aided in seeing these
interesting regions by the gracious assistance of the National Park
authorities - especially helpful were Dr. Ezequiel Bustillo, Presi-
dent, and Sr. L. Ortiz Basualdo, a director.

The Iguazu National Park, which includes the falls or "cataracts’ 7
of the Iguazu River, contains about 290 square miles of tropical
forests with the river was the western part of its northern boundary.
It was set aside as a National Park, October 9, 1934. It contains
extremely few roads, and is virtually inaccessible to the usual
traveler except in the immediate neighborhood of uhe falls. Tnc
falls are composed of about 275 distinct cataracts, the number de-
pending on the flow of the water at the season when the count is
taken. They are grouped in such a way as to form roughly a double
horseshoe whose combined width is said to be 8,860 feet, about two-
thirds of which is on the Argentine side of the river. The drop of
theee various cascades ranges from 60 to some 250 feet.

A visit to the Iguazu Falls from Rio de Janeiro can be made by a
series of rail and steamboat journeys, but I found this route was
not highly recommended by the American Express Company , and some
other travel agencies. I chose, therefore, to make the trip by
"vapors" from Buenos Aires up the Rio de la Plata and the Parana.^
During such a journey one changes boats at two points by the simple
process of stepping from the deck of one to another. These vessels
are clean and comfortable, and the food is good and aoundant. Stops
are made at various river towns and settlements, and six days are
required for the up-stream run of 1,217 miles.

Turning Into the Iguazu, a landing was effected within a fewhun-
dred yards and over a gang-plank we walked ashore to a sloping bank
of mud and’ grass. On a hill two hundred yards above the river stand
a two-story concrete building erected to serve as headquarters for
the nark’s administrative force. A f ew other small houses have oeon
built near-by. This place is called Puerto Aguirre.

A bus-ride of twelve miles over a somewhat rough road containing
many mud puddles brought us to the long, one-storied hotel
"Cataratas del Iguazu' 7 , the one and only place m all that wilder-

th:s chat

PACrH 51

MAY - JUN3 1940

ness where a tourist may find accommodations. The hotel has a front
veranda for its entire length, and has rooms sufficient to accommo-
date 75 guests. During my stay, December 1-4, 1959, there were
eight guests present. Around the hotel a considerable space has
been cleared in the jungle with only a few trees left standing. Be-
tween the hotel and the falls an observation tower has been erected.
From the hotel only the upper edge of a portion of the falls can be
seen perhaps a mile away. A view of the lower portion of the falls
is impossible from here because of the presence of trees, and the
walls on the near side of the gorge.

I was met upon the arrival of the steamer by Don Balbino Brauas,

Park Superintendent, who later with two attendants accompanied me on
a trip of inspection of the falls. We went along part of the rim
on the Argentine side of tho lower gorge and were able to secure a
series of views covering perhaps one-half of the cataracts. Workmen
were engaged in extending, the narrow trail which rose and fell with
the contour of the ground. It was necessary to walk with consider-
able care over most of this trail, in the meantime holding to a rail-
ing of bamboo poles. In some places steps had been made of cement.
What I sa w of the falls was impressive.

Perhaps half or three-quarters of a mile from the hotel a landing
field" for aeroplanes is under construction. Cuttings in the jungle
indicated that the road to Puerto Aguirre is to be straightened.

This work I was told would be completed, and a good road built, in
about two years.

Fauna and Flora. One hundred and twenty kinds of trees have 'been
found within the park area; and 300 kinds of butterflies have been
identified by a Swiss naturalist, Dr. A. deWinkelreid Bertoni, now
residing in Asuncion, Paraguay. All the jungle mammals and snakes
of this section of the country are said to inhabit tho forest. I
saw none of these, but recorded a number of birds including two
species of Parrots, various Doves, Pigeons and Flycatchers. Toucans
were common. "Sociable Marsh Hawks" , resembling the Sverglade Kite
of Florida, caught snails in a little marsh within fifty yards of
the hotel; and perhaps 2,000 Swifts circled about over the gorge
every evening between 6:30 and 7:30 o’clock. These birds roost and
nest under the various falls. A White-headed Woodpecker had its
nest in a dead tree in front of the hotel; ad 24 hanging nests of
Yacu-caraguata decorated the long leaves of a palm tree. Insects,
"bichos" ,"were present, especially swarms of gnats that stung the
hands, wrists and necks of tourists, producing swollen inflamed spots
with black centers which did not entirely disappear from my skin for
about two weeks .

MAY - JQNj] 1940

TH1 CHAT

PACT 52

TH3 SPRING ROUNDUP

Thomas L. Quay - Raleigh.

The various regional field trips appear to have created a great deal
of interest in bird study, as the reports are most enthusiastic.
Chapel Hill led the way with 116 species the most recorded on any
one day in the State. Below we give a tabulated record of the trips
by localities, and append the names of observers following the list.

Rocky Mount

May 1

Raleigh

May 7

o

P*

P

ty b-j

P CD
<<; (— ■

w-

H

H

P

4

CD

r cd
p. p

'<i CO

o'
(Ji O
4
O

Davidson

May 12

Statesville

May 13

rO

o

w

S W

P o
<<; 4
p

HCT:

com?

CD

P

O

O

P'

Species 147

92

97

116

59

71

61

42

Observers 76

4

23

11

2

9

8

19

Heron, Great Blue

2

1

1 1

Bgret, American

-

I-Ieron, Little Blue

-

Heron, Green

-

3

1

2

Heron, Yellow-cr'd Night

-

Bittern, American

—

4

1

•

Duck, Black

1

Pintail

-

Teal, Blue-winged

-

2

3

\

Duck, Hood

/

1

/

Redhead

•

2

Duck, Lesser Scaup

10

3

Merganser, American

1

Vulture, Turkey

-

4

29

8

10

o

Cj

Vulture, Black

-

4

14

O

Hawk , S ha r p - s h i nn e d

-

1

Hawk, Red -tailed

-

1

2

Hawk, Red- shouldered

-

1

Hawk , Broad winged

2

Hawk, Marsh

1

Osprey

-

1

1

Ilawk, Sparrow

1

Grouse, Ruffed

1 jit&e

Bob-white

-

13

28

4

5

MAY

JTJ172 .1940

TIES CHAT

PAG 2 53

w

o

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P

S'

o

H

p

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L_J.

1

K p

P

P Oh

P H

P

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IV

t<i

W

W 8

8

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c+

ut

8

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k: o

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pj at

P 8

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^ <!

tcj IB

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8

H-

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8

H

H H

HUP

o

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W 1— 1

to P

(0

8

o

o

p*

Turkey
Hail, King
Coot

Killdeer

Snipe, Wilson’s

Sandpiper, Spotted

Sandpiper, Solitary

Yellow-legs, Greater

Yellow-legs, Lesser

Sandpiper, Pectoral

Sandpiper, Least

Dove, Rock

Dove , Mourning

Cuckoo, Yellow-billed

Owl, Screech

Owl , Great Horned

Owl , Barred

Chuck-will's widow

Wh ip - p o o r - w i 1 1

Night hawk

Swift , Chimney

Hummingbird , Ruby-throated

Kingfisher, Belted

Flicker

Woodpecker, Pileated
Woodpecker, Rod-bellied
Woodpecker, Red-headed
Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied
Woodpecker, Hairy
Woodpecker, Downy
Kingbird, Eastern
Flycatcher, Crested
Phoebe

Flycatcher, Acadian
Pewee, Wood
Swallow, Tree
Swallow, Bank
Swa 1 low , Rough-v/inged

1

1

2 2 4 1

2

16 32 2 1 2

9 30

1

1

1

8 30

8

80 28 14 15 3

'2

1 1

1
4

1

3 1
1

125 109 8

8 2 3

2 2

4 11 6

1

2

30 5

2 1

8 3

8 5

4 9

1

4 5

8 6

14 5

60 6

3 4

3 1

23 9

5 90

4 13

4 37

1

2

1 2
1 4

10

3 8 1

1 2 4

1

5 12 3

4

my - JUNE 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 54

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(0

0)

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W' P

i£, P>

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ft

P (ft

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P CO

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CD

Swallow, Barn
Swallow, Cliff
Martin, Purple
Jay, Blue
Crow

Chickadee, Carolina

Titmouse, Tufted

Nuthatch, White-breasted

Nuthatch, Brown-headed

Wren, House

Wren, Carolina

Wren, Long-billed Marsh

Wren, Short-billed Marsh

Mockingbird

Catbird

Thrasher, Brown
Robin

Thrush, Wood
Thrush-0 live-backed
Thrush, Gray-cheeked
Veery
Bluebird

Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray
Kinglet, Golden-crowned
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
Y/axwing, Cedar
Shrike, Migrant
Starling

Yireo, White-eyed
Vireo, Yellow- throated
Vireo, Blue-headed
Vireo, Red-eyed
Warbler, Black and White
Warbler, Prothonotary
Warbler, Worm- eating
Warbler , G.olden-winged
Warbler, Blue-winged
Warbler, Parula

5

42

4

13

2

17

37

30

12

10

-

18

12

6

8

6

-

19

18

25

10

3

-

12

18

8

3

2

-

5

11

2

1

2

3

2

1

1

25

16

7

4

3

-

1

9

10

5

12

'1

30

17

8 ”*

6

5

-

9

30

6

12

8

-

35

54

15

10

5

-

15

56

4

15

10

-

5

2

2

2

1

12

19

1

25

2

-

6

14

4

6

3

-

1

2

19

2

2

40

13

24

8

7

7

18

2

12

5

11

9

4

3

2

-

5

1

15

38

4

25

4

-

4

17

1

1

5

-

2

4

14 4 2

Rosscraggen Wood

MAY - TONE 1940

THY CHAT

PAGE 55

w

w

o

Q

u

cq

w

o

p

p‘

4

p

c+

o

o

H

p

CD

<

p

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rV

©

*d
g ©

©

p-

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g p'

s ©

g o

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P oa

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po a

P w

P in

P H

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<<

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H
. H

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«

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CD

sn Wood
9

Warbler, Yellow

-

24

3

3

3

4

Warbler, Magnolia

1

1

Warbler, Cape May

1

-

Warbler , Black-th. Blue

-

4

13

-

Warbler, Myrtle

-

25

36

4

1

-

-

Warbler , Black-th. Green

-

3

Warbler, Blackburnian

1

Warbler , Yellow-throated

5

10

Warbler, Chestnut-sided

6

3

-

-

Warbler, Black-poll

-

30

6

15

-

-

Warbler, Pine

-

12

9

5

6

-

-

Warbler, Prairie

17

20

4

1

Warbler, Palm

1

1

Oven-bird

12

9

3

'2

-

Water-Thrush, Louisiana

2

3

■>

2

-

Warbler, Kentucky

2

* 2

-

Yellow-throat

-

27

26

2

30

•*

-

Chat, Yellow-breasted

-

9

5

1

15

6

Warbler, Hooded

-

70

4

2

-

-

Warbler, Canada

3

-

Redstart

-

8

25

6

3

4

Sparrow, English

-

20

31

12

12

4

-

Bobolink

-

100

23

150

Meadowlark

, -

9

8

8

25

-

Red-wing

_

70

44

30

30

Oriole , Orchard

-

2

6

Grackle, Purple

-

2

3

Cowbird

22

Tanager, Scarlet

-

3

6

1

1

-

-

Tanager, Summer

-

24

20

4

4

-

Cardinal

-

21

49

10

18

8

-

Grosbeak, Rose-breasted

1

1

1

Grosbeak, Blue

-

2

1

-

Bunting, Indigo

4

6

20

9

-

Finch, Purple

12

Goldfinch

-

250

181

20

10

11

-

Towhee

-

5

13

10

7

-

Sparrow, Savannah

-

15

1

THIS CHAT

MAY - JUNE 1940

w

w

o

O

p

U

03

W

o

p

p -

P

c+

o

O

H

p

CD

P

w

tef W

K p

g CD

K H-

g c+

FI w

p «<j

P H*

P ro

P P

p P*
«<i W

p CD

P o

<<J

ScJ (jo

^ h

«<: w

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^ P

fe'

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o J

O

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H &

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-c

TTTH

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hi

O

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03

H H-
03 h J

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ffi

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so os

CD

P

6'

O

P*

Sparrow, Grasshopper

-

10

1

1

Sparrow, Henslow's

1

2

Sparrow, Vesper

Junco, Slate-colored

2

Sparrow, Chipping

-

30

61

50

30

Sparrow, Field

-

40

50

4

2 5

Sparrow, White-throated

—

26
o rr

71

8

2

o

Sparrow, Swamp

5

o

Sparrow, Song

Cj

ROCKY MOUNT: Observers; Richmond Corinth, Randolph Butler,
F, H. Craighill . At night Albert Corinth replaced Butler.

RALEIGH: Observers; William Alston, C. H. Bostian, C. 3. Brimley,

Wm. Bragaw, G. A. Cox, P. H. Davis, J. C. Dorsie, Frances Dees,

L. M. C-arren. W. L. Hamnett, Margaret Habel, Dan Martin, Mr. and iv'n. s
T. L. Q,uay, Robert Rabb, Mrs. A. J. Skaale, C. S. Sullivan, Mark
Taylor, H. M. ’Villis, Myrtle Wilson, E. W. Winkler, C. B. /oodhousu ,
D. L. Wray.

CHAPEL HILL: Observers; Bill Thomas, Omer Foster, II. Thomas Odum,
Thomas Pritchard, Fremont Shephard, Howard Turnage, Joe Jones,
Glover Campbell, Nancy Eliason, Arnold Brekenridge, Lindsay Oliver

GREENSBORO: Observers; Earl H. Hall and L. L. McAlister.

DAVIDSON - Observers; Mr. and Mrs. Edwin 0. Clarkson, Sarah Nooe,
Clara B.’ Slaton, Mrs. G. C. Potter, Charles Sellers, T. B. Daniel,
J. F. Wilson, E. S. Brown.

MAY - JUNE 1940

THE GHAT

PAG-

57

STATESVILLE : Observers

W. E. Nattress , • Mrs . H.

Mrs. Don Cochran, Mrs. J.
G. Gaither, Mrs. Earl Davis

Maurice Stimson, Grace Anderson.

M. Holland, Mrs.
Carrie Mae Watts

ROSSCRAGGSN WOOD: Observers; Grace Anderson, Mrs. W. B. Knox, Mrs.
W. A. Thomas, Sarah Nooe, Mrs. Geo. Patterson, Geo. Patterson,

E. E. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Holmes, Mrs. J. S. Pruitt, Susan
Sheppard, Major and Mrs. V. M. Shell, Barbara Vaughan, Mrs. E. B.
Wentworth, Rose Chapman, Mrs. D. W. Grinnell.

AHOSKIE BECOMES A BIRD SANCTUARY

W. H. Bryan, Ahoskie oil distributor interested in scouting, pre-
sented to the board of aldermen a request that the town become a
sanctuary for song birds. The request came through the local Boy
Scout Troop which had been sponsoring a bird house building contest.
The aldermen officially declared Ahoskie to be a Bird Sanctuary.

In his request Bryan pointed out that the sanctuary was designed to
protect the birds already nesting and wintering in the town, and
that since the boys were already interested in this work they would
help protect the birds.

Ahoskie thus takes its place with Henderson, Pine Bluff, Statesville,
Rosscraggen Wood-Arden, and Siler City as official sanctuaries.

SALISBURY ORGANISES A BIRD CLUB
Mrs. J. T. Ketner, Secretary.

The initial meeting of the- Salisbury • Bird Club was held in St.
Luke’s parish house Monday, April 15, 1940. The meeting was open-
ed with greetings from Frazier Poole, Botany professor of Catawba
College, who was unanimously elected President. Edward McKenzie
was chosen vice-president, and I secretary-treasurer.

After discussion the first Saturday in each month was selected for
the regular meeting day, with additional meetings to be called from
time to time.

MAY - JUNE 1940

TIES CHAT

PAGE 58

Everyone at the meeting, besides many prominent businessmen, seemed
to be enthusiastic about making Salisbury a bird sanctuary.

TRAINING COURSE FOR NATURE LEADERS

The Virginia Natural History Institute is now conducting a training
camp for those interested in nature study. The purpose of the camp
is to train leaders and those interested in becoming leaders in
nature study.

The dates for this year are June £4 - July 20. Though it is too
late to enter this year it would be a _ood idea to write for a
bulletin of this year’s camp and make plans for next year. A letter
to Mr. R. C. Robinson, 906 Grace Securities Building, Richmond, Va .

The camp is held near Richmond in the Swift Creek Recreational
Demonstration Area. The total cost for the four weeks is $60.00.
Families may be taken along at $10.00 per person which covers board
and lodging in the modern cabins.

•s

AN IMPORTANT RECORD

A Mourning Warbler (Oporornis Philadelphia) was observed by the
Rev. Wm. B. Mcllwaine, Jr., at Montreat on July 31, 1931. He writes
5, A warbler seen distinctly at close range for a few seconds. It sat
low in a tree, before dropping down into the thick underbrush. I
studied it carefully through 8x30 glasses. My notes say - ’Sooty
head and throat, no orbital ring, yellow undorparts. No black
throat. Then it was gone. But here was a Mourning Warbler. Since
the throat was not black I suppose it was a female or immature male’

This bird was included in Birds of North Carolina on the strength
of Mrs. Donald Wilson, of Andrews, Cherokee County, reporting seeing
full-plumaged specimens of this species at Andrews, (p. 303). This
is a bird whose territory just touches North Carolina according to
the Fourth A . 0 . U, Checklist (1931): which lists it breeding in
West Virginia and Pennsylvania and migrating mainly west of the
Alleganies to its wintering grounds in Central America.

This is the first definitely dated record for the State.

MY - JUNE 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 59

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF CHARLOTTE

Mrs. Elizabeth Barnhill Clarkson

In the Chat for February 1940 Dr. Wm. B. Mcllwaine, Jr.,
of Alexandria, Va., gives data on twelve birds for Charlotte for
the period 1929-1931. My notes begin with the spring of 1933 and
indicate some changes in -the status of the birds he mentioned.

HOUSE WREN. Common in my garden, with from one to three pair
raising from one to three broods in our boxes. Mcllwaine listed
these as a rare migrant.

BROWN THRASHER. In contrast to his earliest date of March 11th, I
find them spending the winter almost every year.

PURPLE GRACKLE. Seen all through the summer, though I have not
found a nest. Dr. Mcllwaine had no record of these birds breeding
in this area. Dr. Grey also has records of May and June for David-
son, Mooresville arid Statesville.

RED-EYED TOWHEE. Is now quite common- all summer. We watched one
build a nest at the foot of our hedge, but the nest was never used.
They come to my feeding tray all summer. Dr. Mcllwaine found they
disappeared after the first week in May.

My other records agree with his except that I have'no data for
Pipits, Scarlet Tanager, or Fox Sparrow. He mentioned the CATBIRDS
as" being absent in winter and early spring, and I have found theym
returning on five successive years on April 19th, and two other
years on the 17th and 18th.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. Common nester. I discourage their coming to
my garden and - ' cut’ down a beautiful white locust because shrikes used
its thorns to spear their prey. Its thorns would . constantly have
grasshoppers and other prey wriggling on them until they died. We
watched" a shrike spear a Vesper Sparrow before we could stop the
murder. He did this by cornering the sparrow and thrusting him
powerfully on a thorn, which went under the neck and came out the
mouth. The head was immediately jerked from the body as quick as
a flash and left on the thorn. He dropped the body only on our
excited and close approach, and every time we walked away he came
immediately back to it fearlessly. He is an exceedingly interest-
ing bird but unwelcome in my garden.

‘'Tommy Clarkson” our tame Bluebird has been assisting throughout
the writing of this data, by alterately pecking at the pen as it
waves along and by pulling my hair. His motive; he is in a play-
ful mood and wants attention. (7 Tommy Bluebird Clarkson” will feature
a later issue; copy already at hand. Ed.)

MY - JUNE 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 60

MORE ABOUT THOSE ''MILLIONS OF SWALLOWS"

In the February 1940 Chat we carried some information about the
large flocks of swallows seen near Asheville in the late fall.

Numerous observers reported seeing them, and one person identified
them as Cliff Swallows. Wm. B. Mcllwaine also reported seeing Cliff
Swallows at Swannanoa in 1936.

Earl H. Hall, of the Woman's College, Greensboro, fills in our gaps
with data for 1938. "I too saw swallows at Junaluska, September 8,
1938. The electric wires were so full of birds that no room was
left for another bird unless dislodged. Trees were covered; roof
ridges were packed. The whole place was over run with Cliff Swallows.
I am sure there was not a million. There were many thousand. I am
sure there must have been at least 10 thousand birds".

IMPORTANT I Watch for these birds this fall - the Cliff Swallow
has the broad band across the rump. This is a decided band, clear-
ly visible and is of a light chestnut color. Some mistake the Tree
Swallow for the Cliff, but the Tree has no such band, although the
white underparts often are visible below the wing tips when the bird
is sitting, giving an impression of a white band part -way across
the back. The Tree Swallow does not have the band, and the back is
plainly dark green, or even bluish, and the dark coloration extends
all the way down the back. Buncombe County has no record of Tree
Swallows, so watch for these also. 5

SOUTHERN PINES BIRD CLUB

Mary Keller Wintyen - President.

The Club meets every Tuesday morning 9:00 a. m. , rain or shine, at
the New England House. The -first hour is spent in the Millen Bird
Sanctuary where members separating into smaller groups follow the
various trails. The next hour the groups assemble at the New
England House, which is just a stone’s throw from the Sanctuary,
where the business meeting and bird discussions are held. This year
the season started about January 23rd, and will continue through
the 15th of May. Out of the 13 meetings held so lar this season
there has been only three clear Tuesdays. Due to this fact, the
list of species seen to date also membership have suffered. Never-
theless our membership is nearly forty and our species identified
range around 80, and we have until the 15th of May to go. We
participated in the Christmas Census of 1939. Seven members of the
Club braves the elements of the day before Christmas and listed
about 33 species, 664 individuals.

MAY - JUNE 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 61

Sparrows seemed to be the birds puzzling many members so articles
on the Song, Field, White-throat, Fox, and a few others were prepared
and read by doubting members during the past meetings. A most de-
lightful talk on the Phoebe and Wood P ewee was given by Miss Fanny
Bemis, a member of the Allen Bird Club, Springfield, Mass. The Club-
was fortunate this year in having as a member Miss Caroline Hamilton,
of Massacheusetts , an authority on birds of the Connecticut Valley
Flyway. Her talk on Hawks was most instructive; and very interesting
was the one on the three Nuthatches, since the Red-breasted was seen
here during and after the ice storm. During the weeks of February
6th and February 20th, a flock of Snow Buntings and 22 Ring-necked
Ducks were listed.

On Tuesday, April 16th, an all morning field trip to Olive's Dairy
took the place of our regular meeting. About thirty species were
identified, the Yellow Palm Warbler, Prothonotary, and Pipit putting
on a wonderful performance.

While many have seen a covey of Quail, others museum specimens or
those from a hunter’s sack, very few have seen a domesticated Bob-
white the likes of "Petunia", owned by Mrs. Rassie Wicker of Pine-
hurst. Petunia was the center of attraction at one of our meetings
while her mistress gave her history pro and con. She is not kept in
a cage but has the run of the house and grounds. She mates, builds
herself a nest anywhere from on the mantel to the fireplace and
deposits her eggs anywhere in the house she has aunind to. Though
as free as the air to answer the 'call of the wild'-, Petunia prefers
the comforts of domesticity.

This year the Club conducted a Bird House Building contest among the
Boy Scouts of Moore County. While not many house were submitted,
yet I feel a goodly amount of bird conservation was put over. As
the prizes were awarded and presented at the Court of Honor , April
12, at Carthage, when six Boy Scouts were made Eagle Scouts, I was
able at that time to talk to those eight Scout troops of Moore
County on Bird Conservation and how it affected each Scout. An op-
portunity I had looked forward to for a long time.

Dr. C. B. Worth of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research,
Princeton, N. J., has been very helpful in diagnosing the dead birds
sent him by the Club. Many thanks to the Chat for introducing
Dr. Worth.

MAY - JUN.il 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 62

DURHAM BIRD CLUB

Mrs. Weldon Wilfling - Secretary

The first meeting of the Durham Bird Cluh was held November 22 in
the Biology Building at Duke University. Dr. Paul Kramer of the
Duke Botany Department called the meeting together and presided at
the meeting. Dr. M. W. Johnson of the Zoology Department was
elected leader of the group, and I was appointed secretary.

Regular monthly meetings have been held since that time, and a series
of very interesting programs planned by the Program Committee com-
posed of Miss May Hunter, Miss Bert Hopkins and Mr. Johnson. The
talks have been given mainly by the club members. Subjects dis-
cussed include "Respiration in Birds" , t: Coloration in Birds'",

"Origins of Migration", "Mechanics of Migration", and "Structural
Adaptations of Birds". In addition Mr. C. R. Wood, Superintendent
of Recreation in Durham, told of the origin and development of the
Durham Bird Sanctuary, and Mr. Arthur Lucas of the Recreation De-
partment displayed various types of bird houses and feeding stations.

Weekly field trips are a part of the club's activities. These are
held every Sunday morning, weather permitting. To date since Novem-
ber 75 different kinds of birds have been seen in Durham and vicinity
A record of all birds and the dates when seen are being kept on a
large migration chart. The attendance has ranged 5 from 12 to 23 at
the monthly meetings and small groups have gone quite regularly on
the field trips.

BUG HOUSE LABORATORY - WASHINGTON

Sally Bogart, Sec. Washington Field Museum

During the past year the Bug House has made splendid progress in
its museum work which is carried on by High School students. The
members are full of their usual interest and cooperation. They have
put over a number of worth-while projects. This past spring at a
meeting of the North Carolina science teachers at Wake Forest College
an exhibit and short lecture was made by several Bug House members.
During the Christmas season they put on an outdoor pageant which was
considered one of the outstanding presentations of the season. Re-
cently two Bug House members were the guests of the members of the
new Greenville Museum at East Carolina Teacher’s College. The Bug
House members spoke on the history of the Bug House Laboratory and
gave suggestions on the starting of a museum.

Lately the museum has received letters from many parts of the country
asking for information on various subjects. One particular letter

MAY - JUNE 1940

THE CHAT

RAGS 63

from Texas asked aid in identifying a humming bird caught in a
warehouse. The correspondent also wanted aid in preparing a diet
for the small bird.

The N. Y. A. is planning to place a taxidermy project in the Museum.
The Bug House members will take advantage of this course. There has
been much interest among them in taxidermy. The mounted birds in
the Museum range from a three inch hummingbird to an eagle with a
wing spread of six feet. At the present, the aim of the Bug House
is to collect and mount as many different species of birds as pos-
sible. Through this collection, we hope to interest and educate
the public in- the different species of birds. And we trust, that
some day soon, we shall turn Washington into a bird sanctuary.

HENDERSON BIRD CLUB

The Henderson club has held regular meetings except during the
summer months. Among them two have been special meetings with in-
vited guests. In May the meeting was held before the open fire in
the Davis garden sanctuary after a field trip and supper in the gar-
den. At this time the club was pleased to have among its guests 5
members of the Raleigh Bird Club. The March meeting was held at the
West-end Country Club with Mrs. Goodrich, Ray Goodrich, Miss Hunter,
Miss Carter, and Miss Myers as hostesses. About fifteen guests were
present, and the chief attraction were the motion pictures of the
Bird of Mattamuskeet and Whistling Swans.

The club for the first time, though in a very small way, participated
in the national annual Christmas Census. Its chief project this
year has been some field trips for school children in the fall.

The finding of a Rod^eyed Towhee’s nest about two miles east of
Henderson last May 7, by Miss Ruth Carter, is the club’s most in-
teresting record for the past year. The active membership is about
30.

BIRD BANDERS NEEDED IN NORTH CAROLINA

There are only sixteen bird banders in the State ! We are missing
a genuine opportunity to gain information about the movements about
our birds through banding.

Take just one item we would like to know.

Why do the White -throated

THE CHAT

MAY - JUNE 1940

PAGE 64

Sparrows we see in the spring have much brighter colors than the
majority of those we see in winter? This sparrow does not moult
till later in the spring, so that the brilliancy is not a result of
moulting. Can it be that the birds we see at that time are bir s
wliich have come to us from farther south; that is are they adults
which migrated farther than the birds we have with us which may
mainly first-year birds. If we had people making a study of th.^se
birds through banding we could gain a lot of valuable knowledge.

Banders known to the Editor are:

S. A. Walker - Manteo

Dr. Maynard S. Johnson - Lake Mattamuskeet
Jesse G. Primrose - Raleigh
Mrs. Charlotte Hilton Green - Raleigh
Harry T. Davis - Raleigh
C. G. Connell - Henderson

We would like to know the ten others for the State.

Tn become a bird bander one must apply to the Biological Survey,

Jr n r asking for a Federal permit to band birds. Many

renuests are turned down because the Survey is now limiting permits

to 'those who have some kind of study in mind - such t^tbink" up a"
throated Sparrow study above. Sot it will be well to t . P c
rrrr> iect before YOU apply. The Chat , will be glad to help you work
out^a project, and then send a letter about the project with your

letter of application. ___ __

NEST RECORD CARDS

The enclosed cards are for immediate use. Record each nest iden-
tified on a separate card. By the co-operation of all members we
may build up an enviable mass of nesting data on the breeding birds
ofdhe State. No nest should be recorded unless identification is
positive- for a faulty record is worse than none at all. Mail
c°?ds lo’ the Chat by September 1st. Additional cards may be had
by a self-addressed envelope to the Chat.

ifimpr R-pown-

Dp. Tri H q nn Hnl 1 ft ft

PEA. ISLAND FIELD TRIP IN AUGUST

TTnT 1 details of the trip will be mailed out later. Tentative date
Is L?ween August 5-10th, at the height of the shore bird migra-
tion. Refuge Manager 3. A. Walker of Manteo will again play host.
Ask those thirty who went last year J

It

• i

, l

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH. N. C.

John H. Grey. jr.. Editor
STATE COLLEGE STATION

VOL. IV.

JULY 1940

NO. 7

BIRDS OF TEE BEAUFORT REGION

Mrs. Roxie Collie Simpson,

N. C. State Museum, Raleigh, N. C.

i

The territory included under Beaufort Region is most of Carteret
County and Craven County from New Bern down to Carteret. Within this
territory are found fresh water lake, ponds, marshes, and woodlands;
brackish and sale waters, and marshes, as well as open beaches:
thereby, affording a wide range of habitats.

Dr. Elliott Coues, as army physician, was station at Ft. Macon in
1869-70, and made the first systematic observations of the birds of
this area. Since this time the status of many species has changed;
some becoming more rare, while others have become more common. From
the records, "some species appear to be less common than they un-
doubtedly are. There is need for more observations inland, particu-
larly during the winter and early spring.

This list includes all the species of which there is any available
record for this region. My observations for the past six summers
and last fall and winter are greatly supplemented by the card cata-
logue of the Entomology Division kept by C. S. Brimley. I also had
access to Francis Harper’s "List of Birds Observed in Carteret Co.,

N. C. from June 20-3ept. 16, 1915.” and "A List of Mid-Summer Birds of
the Beaufort Region Observed from June 12 -Aug. 12 ,1929" by E.E. Brown.

1. Gavia i. immer, Common Loon. Winter visitor. A few are seen
occ: LlonalTy around Beaufort and Morehead during the summer months,
always in non-breeding plumage.

Page 65

JULY 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 68

2. Gavia stellata, Red-throated Loon. On July 3, 191c, a dead oir
washed ashore at Beaufort. H. H. Brimley reported them not uncommon
on the Neuse below New Bern in 1S84 and 1835. T. L. Adickes recorded
them as being common at Capo Lookout Feb. 1909. I saw one m Beau-
fort Harbor March 2, 1940.

3. Colymbus grisegena holboolli , Holboell^s Grebe
ported them as occasional m winter, specimens in
exhibited at the New Bern Fair in 189c -93.

, In 1871
the flesh

Coues

were

rc

4. Colymbus auritus , Horned GreDe. Winter visitor; abundant eept.
May. -

5. Podilymbus p. podicops , Pied-billed Grebe. Coues, in 1871, r ^~

corded them as being i.i _ in winter at Ft. Macon. R. _L. Barney

reported them common at Beaufort winter 1919-20. H. H. Brimley found
them nesting at Lake Ellis June 1909 and saw one in late Jan. 1911.

I found them on Mullet Pond Oct. 29, 1939.

0. Puffinus griseus, Sooty Shearwater. Coues saw one at Ft ; Macon
May 21, 1870. At Cape Lookout, May 26 , 1924, two were seen by R. J.
Coles. Burleigh in the Auk Oct. 1937 reported finding an injured biro

-- ~ Brimley

May

O

unable to fly at the fort
off Bogue Banks, June 8, 189c
Arthur picked one up dead on

28,

1932

H.

collected one

, J. 3.

mile 8

Gut sell and Captain i; ,

. of Shackleford Banks Juno 3,193C

Puff inus 1 . lh
1910 at'

jrminieri, Audobon’s Sir

July 28,

dying on beach of Bogu
saw a flock of 100 at Cap
by Coker 8c Hildebrand on
On Aug. 11, 1936, I saw one

jarwater. One picked up doac
Beaufort b\ S. C. Bruner. July 26, 1925, one found
of Bogus Banks by J. S. Gutsell and A. H. Luce. Coles
Lookout on July 24, 1924. One collected

two or three miles off

e Banks- July' 6, i925. (Pearson in MSS) .
off Cape Lookout. Francis Harper saw one,
Shakleford Banks July 13, 1913.

8. Puffinus dio medea borealis , Cory's Shearwater
tie's a wing picked, up near Beaufort as this spec
killed a Shearwater in 1884 which he took to be
but which was probably this. (C.B.B.)

. Atkinson identi-
ios. H. E. Brimley
a Manx Shearwater

9. Ocoanitos oceanicus, Wilson’s Petrol. At_Beaulort T. C. Pearson
r '/ported thousands washed ashore Aug. 28, 1893, along the shore lino
from Beaufort Harbor to Cape Lookout. I found thorn common off shore
laid Aug. 1936. One seen in Beauiort Inlet July , 19eo, oy P^aison
and H. H. Brimley.

10. Phaeton leptu rus catesbyi , Yellow-billed Tropic-bird.

Dr. H. F. Prytherch and Senator J. W. Bailey saw one while fishing
at Whistle Buoy off Cape Lookout Aug. 12, 1936.

JULY 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 67

11. Pelecanus o. ocoidentalis , Eastern Brown Pelican. Irregular sum-
mer visitor. Seen at Beaufort Oct. 29, 1939 and r/Ic.rch * , 1940.

J. H. Grey and C. S. Brimley saw two at Pt . Macon May 11, 19 o6.^.l ear-
son and H. H. Brimley observed one near Barker's Is., June 14, i91-.

12. Moris bassana, Cannet. At Ft. Macon Coues observed several in
Feb oncT" March of 1869 and 1870. An adult male taken at Cape nookout
Fab 12 1924 was received at State Museum from John E. Lewis ol More-
head City. On Jan. 17, 1932, Royal saw about 200 fly from Core Sound
to the ocean. (Pearson MSS.) About the first of Feb. 1940 Cannets weie
reported as common on the Outer Ba.nks by fishermen.

13 £. .Phalacrocorax a. auritus , Double-crested Cormorant. Coues report-
ed them very common in winter. I found them common m Beaufort Harbor
winter 1939-40. Most of the birds seen were buff or whitish on the
breast indicating immature birds.

13b .Phalac rocorax auritus f i.oridanus , Florida Cor;. .or .nt. Summer resi-
dent; breeds on Groat Lake.

14 Anhinga anhinga, Water-Turkey. One received at State Museum from
Atla ntic J une 37 #4. Dr. Ben F. Royal of Mo rehead said that some 6
or 7 oairs nested in company with the cormorants at Great ^ake m 193*.

15. Fregata magnificent, Man-o ' -war-bird. R. J. Coles captured and
released an exhausted bird on July 10, 1917, at Capo Lookout.

16. Ardea h. horodias , Great Blue Heron. Resident; breeds at Great
Lake. Common on the marshes and shoals. On Dec. 11, 1939, I counted
9 on Shark Shoal standing together in a line.

17. Casmerodius albus ogrotta , American Egret. Summer visitor^ ..

hr. dr n r B - ufoit.

10 .

fgrett

. thula, snowy Egret. Summer visitor. I found several

at L nuorvj.ll II 'y 19, 1030.
s D-fC • 11 around Beaufort.

pairs n -star/ ’ 1 ... th • rook x

rb

19. Hydranassa tric olor ruf icollis , Louisiana Heron. Summer visitor,
rather co mm on May through Nov. Breeds at Beaufort.

20. Florida c. caerulea, Little Blue Heron. Summer visitor, common.
Colony’ at" Great Lake and Beaufort .

21. Butorides v. vi rascens , Little Green Heron. Summer visitor;
abundant through Sept .

22. Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli , Black-crowned Night Heron. Su mm er
visitor; uncommon. Nests at Great Lake, Brown’s Island and Beaufort.
An immature bird was observed almost every night on the U.S.Fishei les
Dock during the first two weeks in Dec. 1939.

JULY 1940 THU CHAT

PAGE 63

23 Nvc tanas sa v. violacoa, Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Summer visi-
tor; uncommonT - Dr. Bon F. Royal reported about half dozen pairs nest-
ing at Great Lake in 1932.

24. Botaurus lontiginosus , American Bittern. Coues observed Bituerns
from Sept, to May. Ii. H. Brimley saw several at Lake Lllis m May
1906 and one Jan. 21, 1911.

25 . Ixobrychus e . exilis , Least Bittern. Summer visitor; breeds on
Lake Ellis.

cured an im-
ic

26. Plegadis f. falcinollus , Glossy Ibis. Clyde Mason^ secure
mature specimen for the State Museum on the beach near At.lc.nti

Feb. 9, 1940.

27. Guara alba. White Ibis. One taken by Pearson on North Riv^r,

N. S. of Beaufort July 26, 1898.

28 Branta c. canadensis, Canada Goose, Coues iound it plentiful at
Ft*. Macon from Nov. to March some earlier and later. E. H. Brimley
reported them common at Lake Ellis in winter 19Cb l-’l-.

29. Branta be rnicla hrota , American Brant. Coues stated, that this
soecies was common in winter and seen until April 6.

30. Chen hyperborea atlantica , Greater Snow Goose. Two taken on
Trent R. near Now Bern in 1884. One killed at Davis Nov. o0, 19o3.

31. Chen caeru lesoens , Blue Goose. One taken and kept alive in
spring of 1884 on Bogus Beach.

32. Anas p. platyrhynclios , Mallard. Common in winter . on the pond.
Philipp reported seeing one June 18, 1909, at Lake Ellis.

33 4nas rubripes tristis, Black Duck. One of the regular winter
ducks 1 ~at~ Lake there in June 1906. 3. S. Brown saw 5

July 23, 1929, on Slocums Creek near Havelock; he also said 1 or 2
pairs have been known to breed on Hog Island.

34. Chaulelasmus stroporus , Gadwall. Winter visitor.

35. Mareca americana, Baldpate. Coues recorded this^duck^as^being^ ^
common at Ft. Macon. II. H. Brimley saw one Nov. 1, 19il at Lake Ellis

36. Dafila acuta tz ltzihoa , American Pintail. H. H. Brimley said the
wore not uncommon in winter at Lake Ellis. H. F. rrythorch xeporte
seeing 32 Pintail near Piver's Island Sept. 18, 1930.

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37. Nett ion carolinense , Green-winged Teal. At Ft. Macon, Coues re-
ported it very common and amonC the first to arrive and the last to
leave. H. H. Brimley found one at Lake Ellis Nov. 1, 1911. One was
killed on Mullet Pond Oct. 29, 1939.

38. Q.uerquedula discors . Blue-winged Teal. Coues reported the Blue-
wing common also. S. E. Brown saw a flock of eight Sept. 16, 1931, at
Lake Ellis.

39. Spatula clypeata , Shoveller. Dec. 17-23, 1909, H. H. Brimley on
several occasions saw a small flock at Lake Ellis. On Jan. 20, 1940
I saw a pair near the Causeway to river* s Island.

40. Aix sponsa , Wood Duck. Coues recorded the Wood Duck as resident;
abundant; and breeding at Ft. Macon. Breeds at Lake Ellis.

41. Nyroca americana, Redhead. Coues listed the Redhead as abundant
at Ft. Macon. H. H. Brimley saw one Nove. 1, 1911, at Lake Ellis.

42. Nyroca collari s , Ring-necked Duck. H. H. Brimley saw 3 females
at Lake Ellis Nov. 1, 1911.

43. Nyroca marila , Greater Scaup. Coues in 1871 listed it as abundant

44. Nyroca af finis , Lesser Scaup. Abundant winter visitor. H.H. Brim-
ley saw two at Lake Ellis in June 1906.

45. Glaucionetta clangula americana, American Golden-eye. Winter
visitor.

46. Charitonetta alboola , Buffle-head. Winter visitor.

47 . Melanitta deglandi , White-winged Scoter. Specimens exhibited at
the New Bern fair in’ 1892 , 1893. Two taken near Beaufort Jan. 25, 1893

48. Melanitta perspicillata , Surf Scoter. Coues recorded this scoter
as very common. The commonest duck in the New Bern Market in Feb.

1893. H. H. Brimley saw a young male as Slocum's CrL«k Nov. 9, 1913.

He found them common at Now Bern late Dec. 1915.

49. Oidemia americana , American Scoter. Coues found the American
Scoter common at Ft. Macon.

50. Erismatura .jama icons is rub i da , Ruddy Duck. Common in winter on
Neuse R. at New Bern, 1884-85. H. H. Brimley saw onu Nov. 1, 1911 at
Lake Ellis. I observed one at Morehead draw Jan. 20, 1940.

LI. Lophodytss cuoullatus , Hooded Merganser. Fairly common winter
visitor.

JULY 1940

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52. Ivlergus merganser americanus t American merganser. Two collected
by H. H. Brimley at New Bern in Jan. 1885.

53. Mergus serrator, Red-breasted Merganser. Recorded by Coues as
very abundant Oct-April. Injured female caught in marshes near Fiver’
Island, July 12, 1929 and recorded by E. E. Brown. June 17, 1929,
Brown saw 15 birds on Bird Shoal, Beaufort, and on the 25th he saw two
more. On Jan. 18, 1940 I saw 25 in Beaufort Harbor, after then they
were common until March.

54. Oathartes aura septentrionalis , Turkey Vulture. Resident; common.

55. Coragyps a. atratus, Black Vulture. Resident; appeared to be
more common than the Turkey Vulture around Beaufort.

56. Elanoides f. forficatus, Swallow-tailed Kite. At Lake Ellis two
seen in June 1905; one in May 1906, four in May 1907 (C .S. Brimley) .

On June 16, 1910 H. II. Brimley saw one flying over Great Lake and
three flying near Camp Bryan. On May 2, 1911 he saw two flying near-
Camp Bryan.

57. Acclpiter v. velox, Sharp-shinned Hawk. Coues recorded one taken
at Ft. Macon in Sept.

58. Accipiter cooperi, Cooper’s Hawk. Coues in 1871 listed it as
being, frequent; apparently resident. S. E. Brown recorded one from
New Bern Aug. 12,^1929. I saw one on Fiver’s Island Feb. 13, 1940.

59. Buteo 1. lineatus . Northern Red-shouldered Hawk. Resident; fair-
ly common.

60 . Haliaeetus 1, leucocephalus , Bald Eagle. Resident; not uncommon
for an eagle.

61 • Circus hudsonius , Marsh Hawk. Resident; common.

62. Fandion haliaetus carol inens is , Osprey. Resident, breeds on
Great Lake. The Osprey is probably the most commonly seen hawk around
this region.

63. Falco c . columbarius , Figeon Hawk . I saw one chasing a Boat-tail
Grackle on Town Shoal Sept. 19, 1939.

64. Falco s. sparverius , Sparrow Hawk. Resident.

65. Colinus v, virginianus , Bob-white. Resident. Brown recorded the
Bob-white as rather common on the mainland through the region.

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66. Meloagris gallopavo silvestris, Eastern Turkey. In 1930 H. II.
Brimley reported the wild turkey still found in the Lake Ellis region
in considerable numbers.

67. Rallus slogans , King Rail.
Juno 1909.

Philipp found it common at Lake Ellis

68. Rallus longirostris crepitans ,
co mm on in the marshes. According to
in this region are crepitans. Wayne
S. Carolina.

Northern Clapper Rail. Resident;
Oberholser all the rails occurring
»s being more southern in range. —

69. Rallus 1. lim icola , Virginia Rail. H. H. Brimley saw one on
May 16, 1906, and another Dec. 7, 1908 at Lake Ellis. Brown saw one
in marsh along road on Bogue Banks just north of Atlantic Beach,

July 31, 1929 and two on Aug. 5, 1929.

70. Porzana. Carolina, Sora. Coues recorded the sora in April and May
and part of Aug. to Oct., then common. H. H. Brimley saw one at Lake
Ellis May 17, 1906, Oct. 5, 1909, and May 13, 1911.

71. Coturnicops noveboracensls , Yellow Rail. Coues reported one
April 12, 1891.

72. Creciscus jamaic ensis stoddardi, Black Rail. One seen at Lake
Ellis by H. H. Brimley Oct. 1909.

73. Ionornis mart ini ca , Purple Gallinule. S. F. Hildebrand found one
dead on roof” of shed May 13, 1917.

74. Gallinula chlor opus cachinnana , Florida Gallinule. One taken in^
1084 in New Bern.' Found breeding at Lake Ellis by Philipp and Bowdish
June 21, 1909.

75. Fulica a. americana, American Coot. H. H. Brimley found them ver
abundanT'Tn fall of 1906 at Lake Ellis. There 'were about a dozen on
Mullet Fond at Shackleford Oct. 29, 1939.

76. Haematopus p. palliatus, American Oyster-catcher. One seen at
Cap v Lookout March 7, 1893. Observed at Atlantic March 1-May 24,1898.
H, h. Brimley found a nest on an exposed part of dredge dump nearly
opposite Morehead Villa.

77. Charadrius melodus, Piping Plover. Common migrant, (Coues, 1871 )
I found them common on Fiver’s Island during latter part of 3e£t.,193o

78. Charadrius semip almatus , Semipalmated Plover. Common migrant,
(Coues 1871). C. S. Brimley found them common at Ft. Macon, May 11,
1936. E. E. Brown observed them at Beaufort July 22-Aug. 12, 19^9.

On Sept. 17, 1935 I saw them on Piver’s Island.

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79 pacrolla w. wilsonia, Wilson’s Flover. Summer resident
abundantly, - ( Couife ) . Seen April 15-Sept. 17. I found them
on Fiver’s Island June 21, 1936.

breeding

breeding

80. Oxvechus v. vociferus, Killdeer. Probably resident ^and ^ observed
at all seasons at Ft. Macon, Coues 1871. H. H. Brimley found them
common at Lake Fills Dec. 17-23, 1909. Killdeer was seen around Pivoi
Island during Nov., Dec., 1939, and Jan. and Fee. 1940.

8! . piuvialis d. dominica , Golden Plover. Coues recorded them common
during the migrat ions particularly in OcL. and Nov.

82. Squatarola sq uatarola , Black-bellied_ Plover . Abundant d.uring^the
migrations, particularly in Oct. (Coues, 1871 . C . S. Brimley lound
them common I, y 11, 1936 at Ft. Macon. Brown’s Island May *9 , 1938,
seen around Beaufot Sept, and Oct. 1939.

83. Arenaris interpres morinella, Ruddy Turnstone. Very common daring
the migrations, March 24-June 16. Fall migration, Aug. --Sept. 17.

84. Philo’.. 'la minor, American Woodcock. E. 3. Brown sa w one at Lake
Ellis Dec. 29, 1928.

85. Capella dellcata , Wilson’s Snipe. Common during the migrations
and often in winter” (Coues). Seen at Beaufort Oct. ^9, 1.959. h. H.
Brimley found them comraon at Lake Ellis May 8, 9, 1906; late J^n. 191 .

86. Numenius a. americanus, Long-billed Curlew. Coues in. 1871 re-
corded this bird at Ft. Macon as resident and abundant during the mi-
grations. One specimen collected on Shackleford Banks in swnmer of
1385. Coles observed it at Cape Lookout in July 190o-0S. Today the
bird is rare on our coast.

87. Phaeopus hudsonicus, Hudsonian Curlew. J. J. Murray saw several
at Ft. Macon May 11,1936 . Coles found this curlew common at Cape
Lookout in July 1903-1908. Seen around Beaufort July <06 , Aug. 7, 19*9,
and Sept. 1, 1936.

88. Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpiper. Summer resident, arriving
lato — Itoh7-TcHS3T. May 11, 1936 o. S. Brimley saw a lew at It.
Macon. I have seen immature feeding on the isopoas on the breakwater.,
around Beaufort Harbor from July to Sept. 24.

89. Tringa s. s olltatia , Solitary Sandpiper.
May, Sept, and Oct. and not abundant, (Coues).
Ellis May 8, 10, 1906.

Only observed in April,
A few seen at Lake

JULY 1940

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90. Catoptrophorus s» semipalmatus , Eastern 'Billet. Resident, but
jgss common during' the c o ldo r months ; very abundant at other ^ times,
breeds regularly. (Coues). Seen around Beaufort Apr. 15-oept. IS.

91. Totanus melanoleucus , Greater Yellow-logs. Not uncommon at Lake
Ellis May" ' 5 -18 , 1906; May 15, 1911. Common at Ft. Macon during mi-
grations (Coues). Beaufort Feb. 8 , 1887; Sept. -i-9 , 1939.

92. Totanus flavipes, Lesser Yellow-logs. At Ft. Macon common during
the nnuTratTons , ( Coues , 1871). Lake Ellis May .10, 1906. Harper saw
two flocks at Cape Lookout July 11 & 13, 1913. Two over Mullet Pond
Aug. 3, 1913.

93. Calidris canutus rufus , American Knot. A few seen May 12, 1936
by J. J. Murray at Ft. Macon.

94. Pisobia melanotos, Pectoral Sandpiper. E. E. Brown observed
this bird on July 22, July 31, common on beach of Bogue Bank, Aug. 6
on Carrot Island. Fiver’s Island Sept. 17, 1935.

95. Pisobia fusciollis, White-rumped Sandpiper. Common during^ the
migrations at Ft. Macon, Coues. Two females killed out oi llock oj.
about 20 in mid June 1910 at Lake Ellis by H. H. Brimley. Seen at
Beaufort Sept. 17, 1936.

96. Pisobia minutilla. Least Sandpiper. Common around Beaufort during
spring and fall migrations, April-May; July 26-Sept. 27.

97. Pelidna alpina sakhalina, Bed-backed Sandpiper. Very abundant
April-May & Sept . -Nov . , Coues, 1871. Mullet Pong on Shackleford Banks
Oct. 29/ 1939. Shark Shoal, Sept. 3, 1938.

98. Limnodromus g. griseus, Dowitcher. Very abundant during the mi-
grations and some stay until Dec. (Coues 1871). Harper observed this
bird at Guthrie Shoal, Aug. 25, 31, and Sept. 24, 1939.

99 . Li mnodromus scolopaceus , Long-billed Dowitcher. One specimen
from Beaufort ("Atkinson) . Two taken by S. C. Bruner Aug. 16, 20, 1910.

100. Ereunetes pusillus, Semipalmated Sandpiper. Extremely abundant
at Ft. Macon during migrations, chiefly from early April till June,
and from Aug. through Oct. (Coues). Recorded from July 11 at Cape
Lookout to Sept. 13, 1913, at Guthrie Shoals by Francis Harper.

1

JULY 1940

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PAGE 74

101. Ereunetes maurii , Western Sandpiper. Four specimen*: taken by
S. C. Bruner Aug. 28, 30, 1909. Male and female taken at Ft. Macon
Oct. 7, 1938 by J. H. Grey.

102 . Limosa fedoa , Marbled Godwit. At Ft. Macon Coues reported this
bird abundant during the migrations, particularly in the fall; some
appear in Aug. many more in Sept, and they continue plentiful until
Dec. Rare now.

103. Crocethia alba , Sanderling. Very abundant at all times at Ft.
Macon, except during the three summer months- ( Coues 1871). I found
them common on the shoals about Beaufort Harbor from Aug. to Oct.

104. Recurvlrostra americana , Avocet. A flock of six seen Sept. 12,
1869 by Coues at Ft. Macon. Rare on the Atlantic coast.

105. Phalaropus fulicarius , Red Phalarope. The keeper of the Cape
Lookout light house showed 6. H. Thayer a dozen dead birds that had
been killed by striking the light. One sent to the Museum Feb. 23,
1909 by Leslie Davis.

106. Stercorarius parasiticus , Parasitic Jaeger. One taken by R.
Piver in fall of 1897 at Cape Lookout. Mounted specimen now in State
Museum.

107. Larus hyperboreus , Glaucous Gull. Coues reported one taken at
Cape Lookout April 3, 1887.

108. Larus marinus, Great Black-backed Gull. One seen by Z. P. Met-
calf on Reuse R. near New Bern March 1911.

109. Larus argentatus smithsonianus , Herring Gull. Winter visitor.
Observed at Beaufort from Sept. 8 to May 29. Most plentiful from Nov.
to March.

110 . Larus delawarensis , Ring-billed Cull. Winter visitor.

111. Larus atricilla , Laughing Gull. Plentiful around Beaufort from
latter part of March to June, thinning out during June and July, re-
joining in August, becoming very plentiful in Sept, to begin thinning
out again in Dec.

ItL, Larus Philadelphia , Bonaparte’s Gull. Extremely abundant at Ft.
Macon but only in spring and fall being strictly migrants, April-May,
Sept, -Nov. (Coues 1871).

113. Gelochelidon nilotica aranea , Gull-gilled Tern. Francis Harper
saw three birds at Guthrie Shoal, Sept. 6, 1913.

JULY 1940

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PAGE 75

114. Sterna forsteri , Forster’s Tern. At Ft. Macon Coues found this
tern to be chiefly a migrant but also a winter resident; one of the
most plentiful in the harbor in Oct. and Nov.

115. Sterna h. hirundo , Common Tern. Very common, but only during the
migrations, April and May, then abundant ■ again in Sept, and Oct. (Coues
1871). This Tern breeds on Pamlico Sound, and not until last summer
waw it found breeding at Beaufort. Pearson found two nests with eggs
on an island in Beaufort Harbor June 14, 1939. Francis Harper recorded
seeing this bird in small numbers throughout the summer of 1913.

116 . Sterna d. dougalli , Roseate Tern. Two observed on Town Shoal and
flying about Beaufort Harbor Sept. 19, 1939.

117. Sterna f . fuscata , Sooty Tern. At Ft. Macon Coues saw a flock
March 16, 1869 during a southwest gale.

118. Sterna a . antillarum , Least Tern. At Ft. Macon Coues listed this
little tern as a summer resident, from early April until Oct., and the
most abundant tern of all. The Least Tern has been found nesting on
the Shoals and Islands about Morehead and Beaufort Harbors. K. H. Brim-
ley and Pearson found 500 or more pairs nesting on the flats, west of
Morehead City Terminal June 15, 1939.

119. Thalasseus m. maximus , Royal Tern. Coues recorded the Royal Tern
as arriving in early April, becoming more numerous through this month
and May; then increasing again in Sept, until end of Nov. He thought
this tern to breed somewhere in the vicinity. This bird breeds in
large numbers on various sandy islands and shoals in Pamlico Sound.

120. Thalasseus sandvicensis acuflavidus , Cabot’s Tern. Coues report-
ed it at Ft. Macon as being chiefly a migrant, but also sparingly a
winter resident. Numerous, early in April and remains through part of
May, returns in Sept, and remains to Dec.

121. Hydroprogno caspia imp orator , Caspian Tern. One taken at Harker't
Island May 14, 1925; one at Morehead Nov. 3, 1926.

122. Chlidonias nigra surinamensis , Black Torn. Coues recorded the
Black Tern at Ft. Macon as migrant only and very abundant; in 1070 from
May 15 for a week or 10 days; in the fall from 2nd week in Aug. to Oct.
The Black Terns are more common in September, then they equal any of
the others in numbers. Fifteen adults seen near N. end of Burden’s
Inlet by Pearson and H. H. Brimley on June 14, 1939.

123. Rynchops n. nigra , Black Skimmer. Only noticed late in summer
ard autumn plentiful from Sept, till latter part of Nov. (Coues).

Since the summer of 1935 the Black Skimmer has been breeding on some
of the shoals around Beaufort Harbor. Shark Shoal seem to have

JULY 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 76

become a favorite breeding, ground for them. In Sept, the Black
Skimmers begin to congregate around Beaufort until by Oct. and Nov.
there are thousands in one flock.

124. Alca torda, Razor-billed Auk. One taken by Lieut. Foley, U.3.N.
Feb. 15, 1890, at Cai>e Lookout. Two more were secured by A. Fiver a
taxidermist at Morehead, sometime after Christmas 1889.

125. Uria 1. lomvia , Brunnich’s Murre. Pearson procured a specimen at
New Bern Dec. 27, 1890, which had been killed on the Neuse R. Dec. 22
or 23.

126. Alle alle , Dovekie. Plentiful at Cape Lookout and on Core
Sound in Jan. Feb., 1909. One sent to State Museum from Atlantic
Dec. 27, 1926; another received from Beaufort Dec. 12, 1932. Latter
part of Nov. 1939, a flight of doveki.es occurred off the coast. The
birds came into the sounds and were seen by the thousands.

127. Zenaidura macroura c arolinensis , Mourning Dove. Resident, common

128. Columbigallina p. passerine , Eastern Ground Dove. Two in State
Museum from New Bern.

129 . Coccyzus a. americanus , Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Summer resident.

130. Coccyzus erythropthalmus , Black-billed Cuckoo. Coues recorded
the Black-billed at Ft. Macon as frequent during the migrations. At
Lake Ellis late May 1907 several taken and more seen.

131. Tyto alba prat incola, Barn Owl. In 1871 Coues reported an
occasional specimen taken at Ft. Macon in the marsh in daylight.

Taken at New Bern March 13, 1912. One taken at Newport Nov. 7, 1889;
another at Atlantic Dec. 27, 1926.

332. Qtus a. asio , Southern Screech Owl. Phillip reported hearing
this owl quite common at Lake Ellis June 1909.

133. Bubo v. virginia._nu.s_, Great Horned Owl. In the summer of 1929
E. 1. Brown saw one in captivity at Havelock that had been taken from
its nest in the spring of 1927. He considered this species more

•abundant than the records indicate.

134. Strix v. varia , Barred Owl. Common at Lake Ellis.

135. Asio f. f lammeus , Short-eared Owl. Coues reported it frequent
about the marsh at Ft. Macon. II. H. Brimley killed one at Lake Ellis
Nov. 12, 1910.

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PAGE 77

136. Cryptoglaux a. acadia, Saw-whet Owl. A specimen now in State
Museum was exhibited at the New Bern Fair in Feb. 1892.

137. Antrostomus carolinensis , Chuck-will's widow. Summer visitor.

138. Antrostomus v, vociferus , Whip-poor-will. One killed Dec. 20,
1934, at New Bern.

139a Chordeiles m. minor , Eastern Nighthawk. Transient.

139b Chordeiles minor chapm an! , Florida Nighthawk. Summer visitor,
breeds.

140. Chaetura pelagica , Chimney Swift. Summer visitor.

141. Archilochus colubris , Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Summer visitor.

142. Megaceryle a. alcyon , Belted Kingfisher. Resident, fairly common.

143. Colaptes a. auratus , Southern Flicker. Resident.

144. Ceophloeus £_. pileatus , Pileated Woodpecker. Resident. A few
in the heavily wooded swamps.

145. Centurus carolinus , Red-bellied Woodpecker. Resident, not un-
common.

143 . Melanerpes erythrocephalus , Red-headed Woodpecker. Resident,
rot common.

147. Sphyrapicus v. varius , Yellow bellied Sapsucker. Winter visitor.
143. Dryobates villosus auduboni . Southern Hairy Woodpecker. Resident

149 . Dryobates p. pubescens , Southern Downy Woodpecker. Resident,
common.

150. Dryobates borealis , Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Resident; not
common.

151 . Tryannus tryannus , Eastern Kingbird. Common summer resident.

152. Myiarchus c. crinitus . Southern Crested Flycatcher. Summer
resident .

153. Empidonax virescens, Acadian Flycatcher. At Lake Ellis in June
1905; May 1906, 07 and 08, C. S. Brimley reported this bird common.

THE CHAT

JULY 1940

PAGE 78

154. Myiochanes virgns , Wood Pewee. Summer resident.

1.55. Iridoprocne bicolor , Tree Swallow. Transient. Common on the
Neuse R. below New Bern in late Jan. 1885, C. S. B. At Ft. Macon
Coues reported the tree Swallow abundant during the migration. Seen
in numbers Jan. 11, 1870, again on the 20th., and were occasionally
seen from then until the regular migration in April. Nov. 6-13, 1910,
E. H. Brimley found them common at Lake Ellis.

156. Riparia r . riparia , Bank Swallow. Coues in 1871 reported this
bird at Pt. Macon during the migrations. Rather common at Lake Ellis
Aug. 8, 1920.

157. Hi r undo erythrogaster , Barn Swallow. Coues recorded the Barn
Swallow during the migration on; then abundant. May 8-June 11;

July 13-Sept. 17.

158. Petrochelidon a. albifrons . Cliff Swallow, C. S. Brimley re-
ported seeing one at Lake Ellis May 8, 1906.

159. Progne s. subis , Purple Martin. Summer visitor. Coues recorded
this bird common - at Ft. Macon March-April.

160. Cyanocitta c . cristata , Blue Jay. Recorded at Lake Ellis
May- June, 1905-1908.

161. Corvus corax principalis , Northern Raven. Specimen killed below
New Bern in 1885. H. H. Brimley saw one at Beaufort June 4, 8, 1892.

162. Corvus b . brachyrhynchos , Eastern Crow. Resident.

163. Corvus ossifragus , Fish Crow. Resident, very common; much more
abundant than the Eastern Crow in the immediate vicinity of salt water

164. Penthestes c , carolinensis , Carolina Chicadee. Resident, fairly
common.

135. Baeolophus bicolor . Tufted Titmouse. Resident.

166. Sitta c . carolinensis , White-breasted Nuthatch. Observed at
Lake Ellis May-June 1905-08 and July 18, 1929.

167 . Sitta p. pusilla , Brown-headed Nuthatch. Resident; not uncommon

168. Certhia familiaris americana , Brown Creeper. Though there are
no definite records of this bird occurring in this region, it should
be found here in winter.

JULY 1940

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PAGE 79

169. Troglodytes aedon baldwini, Ohio House Wren. Burleigh recorded
this bird nesting at Beaufort May £8, 1932. Male taken.

170. Thryothorus 1 , ludovicianus , Carolina Wren. Common resident.

171a Telmatodytes p . palustris , Long-billed Marsh Wren. Coues in
1871 recorded this bird as abundant, particularly during the migrations
I collected one on Town Shoal Sept. 28, 1939.

171b Telmatodytes palustris wayne i , Wayne’s Marsh Wren. C. S. Brimley
identified one picked up dead by E. E. Brown at Beaufort July 17, 1929,
as belonging to this subspecies. On May 11, 1936, at Ft. Macon one
was heard and seen by J. J. Murray.

172. Cistothorus stellarls , Short-billed Marsh Wren. Coues saw one
at Ft. Macon Oct.' 11, 1869.

173. Mimus p. polyglottos , Eastern Mockingbird. Resident; one of tho
most commonly observed birds.

174. Dumetella carolinensis , Catbird. Summer visitor; a few spend
the winter.

175. Toxo stoma rufum , Brown Thrasher. Resident.

176. Turdus m. migratorius . Eastern Robin. Winter visitor; Jan. 1940
particularly common.

177. Hylocichla mustelina , Wood Thrush. Summer visitor; not common.

178. Hylocichla guttata faxoni , Hermit Thrush. Winter visitor; very
common at Lake Ellis.

179. Hylocichla minima aliciae , Gray-cheeked Thrush. Coues in 1871
recorded this species at Ft. Macon in April and May.

180. Sialia s . sialis , Bluebird. Resident.

181. Polioptila c . caerulea , Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Summer visitor
fairly common. May 28-Sept . 10 .

*182. Anthus spinoletta rubescens , American Pipit. Winter visitor,
Coues in 1871 reported the pipit abundant, at Ft. Macon, early Nov.

,to April.

183. Bombycilla cedrorum , Cedar Waxwing. Present all year, but very
irregular in occurrence.

JULY 1940

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PAGE 80

184. Lanius 1. ludovicianus , Loggerhead Shrike. Seen at New Bern
March, 1911, June 27, 1923, Sept. 2, 1938; At Beaufort July and Aug.
1929; Sept., Oct. and Nov. 1939.

185. S turnus v. vulgaris. Starling. Resident; very abundant.

186. Vireo g. griseus, White-eyed Vireo. Summer resident. April-Oct.

187. Vireo olivaceus , Red-eyed Vireo. Summer resident. Not as common
as the* White-eye .

188. Mniotilta varia , Black and White Warbler. Summer visitor.

189 . Protonotaria citrea , Prothonotary Warbler. Summer visitor; not
uncommon.

190. Limnothlypis swainsoni , Swainson's Warbler. Summer visitor ; rare .

191. Compsothlypis a. americana , Southern Parula Warbler. Summer
visitor.

192. Dendroica c, caerulescens , Black-throated Blue Warbler. Trans-
ient. C. 8. Brimley reported this species at Lake Ellis May 8,10,1906.

193. Dendroica coronata , Myrtle Warbler. Winter visitor; very
abundant from late Bctober-April.

194. Dendroica v irens waynei , Wayne’s Warbler . Summer visitor.
Recorded breeding at Lake Ellis.

195. Dendroica d. dominica , Yellow-throated Warbler. Summer visitor;
fairly common.

196. Dendroica striata , Black-poll Warbler. Coues in 1871 recorded
this species as occasional during the migrations. I observed one on
River’s Island Oct. 29, 1939.

197 . Dendroica p, pinus , Pine Warbler. Resident.

198 . Dendroica d. discolor, Prairie Warbler. Summer visitor; common.

199. Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea, Yellow Palm Warbler. At Ft.
Macon Coues reported this warbler as rather frequent, particularly
late in the fall. I sa w one at Fiver's Island Oct. 26, 1929.

\

200. Seiurus aurocapillus , Oven-bird. At Lake Ellis May 14, 1906,
H. Brimley flushed a bird from its nest.

TJ
Xl •

JULY 1940

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PAGE 81

201a Geothlypis t . trichas , Maryland Yellow-throat. Transients
probably belonging to this form.

201b Geothlypis trichas typhicola , Athens Yellow-throat. Resident,
scarce in winter. Burleigh collected seven males at Beaufort, May
28, 1932. C. S. Brimley found this subspecies at Ft. Macon May 11,1936

202. Icteria v. virens , Yellow-breasted Chat. Burleigh saw a male at
Beaufort May 28, 1932. Brown saw one on Bogue Banks between Atlantic
Beach and Ft. Macon June 29, 1929, and one at Beaufort July 1, 1929.

C. 3. Brimley found the Chat common on the Banks at Ft. Macon May 11,
1936.

203. Wilsonia citrina. , Hooded Warbler. Summer visitor. Common
around Lake Ellis and Great Lake.

204. Setophaga ruticilla , Redstart. Transient. Francis Harper ob-
served" four at 3eaufort Sept. 10, 1913.

205. Passer d. domesticus, English Sparrow. Resident, very common.

206. Dolichonyx oryzivorus , Bobolink. Coues reported the Bobolink
at Ft. Macon during the migrations only; in spring, not abundant,
mostly in early May; in fall, very common, arriving in late August
and continuing through Oct. Harper reported the Bobolink at Beaufort
from Aug. 24-Sept. 8, 1913. Fairly common at Lake Ellis May 7-15,1906.

207a Sturnella m. magna , Eastern Meadowlark. Coues found the Meadow-
lark very abundant at Ft. Macon from Oct-April.

207b Sturnella magna argutula, Southern Meadowlark. E. E. Brown
found them commonly between Lake Ellis and Havelock during June and
July, 1929.

208. Agelaius p. phoeniceus , Eastern Red-wing. Resident; abundant.

209. Icterus spurius , Orchard Oriole. Summer visitor. April-Sept.

210. Euphagus carolinus , Rusty Blackbird. One observed at New Bern
in early Jan. 1885, by H. H. Brimley.

211 . Cassidix mexicanus major , Boat-tailed Crackle. Resident; very
abundant except Dec. and Jan.

212. Q.uiscalus q. quiscula, Florida Crackle. A colony bred below
New Bern in 1885. Common at Lake Ellis May 8-18, 1906; a few seen in
late May 1907 by G . 3. Brimley; apparently breeding in the neighbor-
hood .

JULY 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 82

2,13, Molothrus a. ater, Eastern Cowbird. Occurs irregularly during
'tiie migrations. A female taken Oct. 1, 1935, on Fiver’s Island.

214. Piranga erythromelas , Scarlet Tanager. One seen at Havelock
* May 9, 1934, by D. L. Wray. This bird is a very rare migrant in the
coastal region.

215. Piranga r^ rubra , Summer Tanager. Summer visitor; fairly common.

216 . Richmondena c. cardinalis , Cardinal. Resident; Common.

2.17. Guiraca c . caerulea , Blue Grosbeak. Summer visitor.

218. Passerine cyanea , Indigo Bunting. Summer visitor.

219. Passerina ciris , Painted Bunting. Summer visitor; observed in
regions around Beaufort and Morehead and at Marshallburg.

220. Acanthis 1. linaria, Common Redpoll. -R. L. Barney reported
several seen and fed March £3-25, 1920, at Beaufort.

221 .

222a

Spinus t_;_ tristis, Eastern Goldfinch. Winter visitor; Nov. -April
Pipilo e. erythrophthalmus , Red-eyed Towhee.

Resident .
year on the

20. 1931;

222b Pipilo erythro phthalmus canaster , Alabama Towhee.

Burleigh foxmd this subspecies plentiful throughout the
coast. Ho secured specimens at Ft. Macon Jan. 19 and
Beaufort, May 27, 1931, common at Lake Ellis. An adult male
at Beaufort July 18, 1912, with white iris, which probably _ was alien!
White -eyed Towhee. The Red-eyed also probably occurs in winter.

at

was taken

223. Passerculus princeps, Ipswich Sparrow. At Ft. Macon Jan. 20, _
1931, Burleigh saw one. I observed one on Shark Shoal Dec. 11, 1939.

224. Passorculus sand wichensis savanna , Eastern Savannah Sparrow.
Winter" visitor ; very abundant outside the marshes. Sept. -May.

P 25 . Passerherbulus henslowi susurrans , Eastern Henslow’s Sparrow .
g # 3 . Brown heard notes of Hcnslow's Sparrow at Beaufort July 31,1929.

226a Ammospiza caudacuta , Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Winter visitor;
i common late Sept -May in the salt marshes.

B 26 T 3 Ammospiza caudacuta nelsoni , Nelson's Sparrow. Ablate migrant,
a female, was taken by Burleigh at Beaufort May 27, 193<-^.

227a ' Ammospiza m. maritima , Northern Seaside Sparrow. Winter visitor.

L

4

JULY 1940

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PAGE 83

t

1

327b Ammospiza maritime macgillivraii , Macgillivray
Summer resident common in the salt marsh.

s Seaside Sparrow.

228. Aimophila aestivalis bachmani, Bachman’s Sparrow. Two seen at
Lake El 1 i s May~10 , 1 90~ E. E. Brown found this sparrow rather common
between Havelock and Lake Ellis, June-Au£. 1929; he also saw a few near
West Beaufort the same summer.

229. Junco h. hyemalis, Slate-colored Junco. Though there are no
records for this bird, it should occur in this region in winter, es-
pecially around Lake Ellis.

230. spieella p . passerina , Chipping Sparrow. Summer resident ; common.

231. Spizella p. pusilla, Field Sparrow. Resident; common.

232. Zonotrichia albicolli3 , White-throated Sparrow. Winter visitor,
abundant .

233. Passerella i_. iliaca , Fox Sparrow. Winter visitor.

234. Melospiza georgiana , Swamp Sparrow. Winter visitor.

235a Me lospiza m. melodia , Eastern Song Sparrow. Winter visitor.

235b Melospiza melodia atlantica , Atlantic _3ong Sparrow. ^Coues
corded the Song Sparrow as resident at Ft. Macon 1870; these
doubt edly are the Atlantic form: not recorded since Coues’ day.

re-

un-

236. Plectrophenax n. nivalis ,
on Fiver’s Island Jan. 15, 1931.
Shark Shoal Dec. 11, 1939.

Snow Bunting. J. S. Outsell saw one
I saw a flock of at least 75 on

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Burleigh, T. D. , Auk, Oct. 1937, P. 452-69.

Coues Dr. J EillSt; Notes 1 on 5 the‘Natu^al‘History - of Fort Itocon, N.C.and
Vicinity. (No.l) Pro, of the Academy of Nat^ Sci^ Phila. May ^ _
Philinp P. B. Birds Observed in the Carolmas. Auk_, 1910, P.31<~-«^
Pearson*, Brimiiy, 1- S., and Brimley, H. H., Birds of North Carolina,

Pearson, T. Gilbert, Auk, July 1940, P. 423-24.

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH. N. C.

John H. Grey, jr . Eoitor
STATE COLLEGE STATION

VOL. IV

AUGU 3T - SEPTEMBER , 1940 NOS. 8 & 9

’''Tommy Bluebird” Clarkson

Mrs. Edwin Clarkson,

Charlotte, N. C.

On April 25, 1940, Tommy celebrated his fourth birthday. The day after
he was born, we took him and his brothers and sister in to raise. A
little boy killed the mother bird and we had to take the day old babies,
no bigger" than the end of my thumb, just as white, and about the con-
sistency of a nice fat grub worm. We waited for the father to feed them,
but he lost his head completely in the emergency and would take a worm
to the box, look at them, then come back to a perch and eat it himself,
mien we took them in, about 10 o'clock in the morning, the little things
were cold and seemed perfectly lifeless, so we lifted the neat entirely
out of the box and brought it in to warm with an electric heater. Mr.
Clarkson dug earth worms and I cut them into quarter inch pieces with
the scissors and fed them with tweezers which had smooth round ends so
they could not hurt tlie delicate throats. Very young; birds like that
only lift their heads for a second or two and then it falls limply down
again, so your fingers have to be ready to put it in quickly and far

down their throats, as the mother does, and yet very delicately so as

not to injure the membranes. I washed the worms , cut them up, and had
a medicine dropper full of water all ready before I started each time,
so I could feed them fast. After a few days I used prepared Mocking

bird food mashed into hard boiled egg and made into tiny pellets that

I could handle with the tweezers and fed .them a little of this along
with the earth worms . Every fifteen minutes, from daylight until dark,
they wore fed for the first two or three weeks, and wo continued to
feed them until they had boon out of the nest for several weeks. To
keep them warm wo put the nest into a waste basket and put a hot water
bottle in the basket and a towel over the nest, leaving a small opening
for air. Wo took turns filling the hot water bottle in the night.

Page 84

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 85

When thoy loft the nost wo lot thorn do as they pleased, but wg cut

maple branches and tied to the four bed posts and to the backs of the

chairs, etc., but the babies weren’t at all interested. They used the
bed, the chairs, the dresser and the curtain poles, anything but the
tree 'branches . We even put them on the branches to show them how nice

they were, but they had their own ideas so we finally gave up and took

the branches out and gave them the run of the house. We made a screen
box three feet square to fit in the lower sash of an upstairs hall win-
dow. It was open on the inside but enclosed on the other five sides
with screen. We put a perch in it so they could go in whenever they
wanted to, as wo wanted them to watch the birds outside and know what
wont on in the outside world before we turned them out to fend for
themselves. We also banded them with Biological Survey bands, as we
had no idea of seeing them again. After they were banded three of
them died with what the chicken doctor thought Avian Diptheria.

The first summer Tommy was out all the birds fought him, but the sec-
ond summer he mated with a little wild female and they raised babies
in the same box in which Tommy was born. He never in all his life has
spent a night out of doors and ho always came in every few minutes all
day long to ask mo for something, first to feed his wife when she was
sitting, and then to food his babies when thoy hatched. He continued
to feed them, of course, for several weeks after they left the nest
but could never coax them inside, no matter how he tried, because the
wild little mother would always coax them the other way. They would
get so far away that Tommy could not hoar me when I would call, so I
made a meganhone from the card board that comes from the laundry in a
man’s shirt, and then I’d call him through it and I’d hoar a far away
little answering call and soon I’d see a little speck coming over tho
tops of tho pines and then he’d fly in to me.

Tommy always loved rubber bands and he couldn't digest them, but
finally he got one he could neither digest nor throw up. About two
years ago, on a Friday afternoon, he swallowed one and immediately be-
came very ill and couldn’t eat. None of tho veterinarians knew what
to do and the chicken doctor told us to give a few drops of liquid
albolene, but that didn't help. Saturday wo telephoned a woman in
Washington, D. C., who knows a great deal about birds. She told us to
give him two drops of castor oil and then two drops of a mixture of
half whiskey and - half water, which wo did to no avail. Sunday, Mr.
Clarkson went to see our throat specialist, who does the most delicate
operations, and found that ho had just sailed for the West Indies.

Then ho went to an aunt and borrowed a smooth celluloid crochet hook,
and he held Tommy while I fished for the band and I held Tommy while
he tried, but it was impossible. Monday morning he ssid he was going
to the Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital and see if one of
the doctors would try for it as Tommy was starving to death and was
just a little fluff of feathers. When he went in the nurse asked him

AUGUST- SEPTEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 36

all the routine questions which expertly evaded. Finally, she gave up
and lot him see the doctor, and he told the doctor he hard a strange re-
quest to make of him and told him his story. The doctor very gracious-
ly said he would be delighted to try to help, as he had road all about

Tommy and hoard his friends talk about him, so he gave To mm y an appoint-

ment for four o’clock that afternoon. He knew nothing of a bird’s
anatomy, however, so I went over to Queens College and Miss Nooo, one
of Tommy’s best friends, looked up a picture of his insides and we drew
it off for the doctor, then I went home to wait. At noon he was beside

me on the table and all of a sudden he got sicker and sicker and began

to shake his head and then I saw the rubber band come partially up and
I grabbed it before it could go back down again. Within twenty minutes
he was eating again and soon was entirely all right, although it took
him some time to regain his weight.

I haven’t space to tell you all his habits, but he has the most amusing
sense of play and a wide and extremely entertaining line of small talk.’
Tommy has always slept on the books in the living room book shelves and
picks out his own books. For eighteen months he slept on "Roget's
Thesaurus’’, and for about the last eighteen months he has been sleeping
on ’’Music Appreciation for Children” and he laps over on ’’Great Pianists
on Piano Playing”. Tommy is in excellent health, happy as a lark, and
asks to be remembered to all his friends.

Annual Pilgrimage to Pea Island
C. S. Brimluy, Raleigh

The second annual trip of the North Carolina Bird Club to Pea Island
to give the members a chance to see shore and sea birds came off on
Thursday, August 8, with about half as many present as last year, most
of the heavy 'weights of the Club having been prevented by one reason or
another from coming. Those who made the trip arrived in Manteo Wednes-
day night in a steady rain and waited anxiously for the morning.

Thursday, however, though looking doubtful turned out to be almost
ideal for the trip. Most of the day was cool and cloudy with a fresh
breeze from the ocean, and largely in consequence of this not a single
mosquito was noted, in place of the thousands that worried us last year.

At eight o'clock we all met in front of the house of Mr. Sam Walker,
Superintendent of the Pea Island Wild Life Refuge, and packed ourselves
in his big truck which took us across Bodie Island to Oregon Inlet

AUGUST -SEPTEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 87

whore we just caught the nine o’clock ferry and wore shortly deposited,
truck and all, on Pea Island. Here we proceeded by truck to the fresh-
water ponds where numerous gulls, terns, shorebirds of many kinds,
herons, young broods of three kinds of ducks, and thirty summering
Canada Geese were seen as well as some other kinds of birds.

From here we we nt on down the island, stopping and getting out at
various places to s^o whatever was in view, and so on across New Inlot
where though still on the Refuge there was some argument as our still
being on Pea Island or on Chicamicomico .

Passing out of the Refuge we took a brief lunch at Rodanthe and then
back-tracked to Oregon Inlet, running into the only shower of the day
which did not, however, last long. After taking the ferry across the
inlet, wo went down the sea beach of Bodie Island to whoro the hard
surface road turns off the beach to Roanoke Island, observing more
birds as we wont, and then back to Manteo again, some of us to leave
for home that night, while others stayed over to see the very interest-
ing pageant of the Lost Colony.

Those who went on the trip were Mrs. Byron Newsome , Mrs. A. M. Thomas,
and Miss Betty Thomas of Statesville, Miss Allie Nooc of Charlotte,

Mr. and Mrs. I. H. Armfiold and I. H. Armfiold, Jr. of Greensboro,
Edmund Taylor of Chapel Hill, Henry Rankin, Jr. of Fayetteville, Mrs.
Charlotto Hilton Green, Mrs. Frank Smethurst and small son Wood, George
Maddry and Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Brimioy of Raleigh, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. ■
McClure and Mrs. Goo. P. Gatling of Tarboro, and Sam Walker of Manteo,
the last of whom led the trip and told us what each kind of bird was
for while some of us know some of the birds down there 3am was on his
home grounds and know what each one was at a glance.

The kinds notes were as follows: American and Snowy Egrets, Groat Blue,
Louisiana, Little, and Black-crowned Night Herons, Least Bittern, Black
Duck, Bluowinged Teal, and Gadwall, Canada Goose; Bald Eagle, Marsh
Hawk and Osprey; Florida Gallinule; Semipalmated , Piping, Wilsons and
Black-bellied Plovers, Turnstone; Spotted, Least, Pectoral, Somipal-
mated and Stilt Sandpipers; Greater and Lessor Yellowlogs; Hudsonian
Curlew; Know, Dowitchor, Willet and Sander ling; Herring, Ringbillod,
Laughing and Greater Black-backed Gulls, (a single immature individual
only of the last); Common, Royal, Least and Black Terns, Black Skimmer,
Mourning Dove; Swift, Nighthawk, Barn and Tree Swallows, Purple Martin;
Fish Crow, Waynes Marsh Wren, Starling, Redwing , Meadow Lark, Boat-
tailed Grackle, English Sparrow, and Seaside Sparrow, 55 in all.

The most enthusiastic among the visitors were Mrs. Green among the •
ladies, and Messrs. Taylor and Rankin among the men folks. However,
those who came from Statesville and Charlotte, and had to get up at
four o’clock in the morning and then drive all day to arrive at Manteo

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE G8

at nine at night probably deserve the most credit for coming.

A thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all, the credit for this being
due to Sam Walker's kindness in furnishing transportation, telling us
all about the birds, and about how the Wild Life Service is re-establish
ing vegetation on the Refuge, and for many other courtesies.

NOTES ON THE CHARLOTTE MEETING, OCTOBER 25, 1940
H. H. Brimley, Raleigh

The attendance at this meeting was the largest in the history of the
Club, some fifteen or twenty of those at the dinner having to be accom-
odated in an adjoining room. But that didn't phase anybody, as, after
the tables had been cleared, plenty of room was found to accomodate ever
body for the talks and pictures. President Claudia Hunter presided in
her usual efficient manner, with Dr. C. H. Bostian acting as toastmaster

The addresses of the various speakers were very good, all being both in-
teresting and informative. And, among the screen pictures shown, were
some of the best and most interesting illustrations of various phases
of bird-life that I have ever seen. I never before realized how uncon-
sciously comical some young birds can be, nor how the youngster nearest
to the food-bringing mother-bird gets the bulk of the food she provides.
With three young Parula Warblers perched in single line on a tree limb
the one nearest the mother's line of approach grabbed about nine tenths
of the food brought in. And she never varied her line of approach
while the picture was being taken. However, one must suppose that the
order of precedence on the limb would vary from time to time: otherwise,
some of the brood would die of starvation.

The close-up colored movies of Roseate Spoonbill and American Egret
were also exceptionally fine, particularly the balancing of the Egret
on the slender top twigs that constitute the peaks of the bushes and
stunted trees in which their nests are so often situated. I have
frequently watched the birds go through those balancing movoments in
various heron colonies and wondered why they did not select more sub-
stantial support when alighting.

It is unfortunate that so small a proportion of the out-of-town
visitors attending the night meeting were able to stay over and enjoy
the next mornings garden-breakfast to which all such were invited by
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin 0. Clarkson. While on a tour of the wooded area
back of the garden itself, fruit juices were served around a large
open fire, of which, more later. Arriving at the terrace directly
back of the house, other parts of the breakfast developed and we fin-
ished up the meal inside. Following that, and a general indoor confab,
with Tommie, the Bluebird, much in evidence, a further tour of the
grounds was made.

AUGUST- SEPTEMBER 1940

THE GHAT

PAGE 89

Tommie, by the way, is quite a bird. When other Bluebirds come
around in the Spring with the idea of perpetuating the race, Tommie
is turned loose out of doors. During the past nosting period he be-
came the fond paternal parent of four broods of young Bluebirds
though I did not ascertain whether the same mother laid all the eggs,
or if polygamy was practiced. Anyway, there would seem to be no birth-
control idea in Tommie’s pretty blue-capped head. During the nesting
period Tommie would even come into the house to get food for her
children.

A more or less formal garden - though I hate to use the word ' formal 1 '
in any connection with those lovely home surroundings, is directly
back of the house, with fish pond, feeding and bathing places for the
birds and a most attractive reading and resting nook under the shade
of a wide-spreading Willow Oak. A tall and exceptionally dense privet
hedge surrounds the garden and, back of that comes the wooded area be-
fore mentioned with an entrance gate provided to keep the house dogs
from entering. Here, Nature is at her best. The trees - oaks, hickor-
ies, gums and other hardwoods - have boon left intact, just sufficient
clearing of low undargrowth having been done to provide some narrow
vistas, but not enough to destroy the effect of the natural woodland
that it is. The whole place is surrounded by a high brick wall, with
space between every other brick to allow free ingress and egress of
any small birds desiring to cross the barrier. The area in front of
the big open fireplace provides a good feeding ground for the birds
in snowy weather, the fireplace and chimney built into the wall: and
numerous shrines have been provided for the reception of figurines
of the various saints of the woodland and its inhabitants. A part
of the wall is to be prepared with the lower tiers of brick in a
vertical position so that the spaces between the brick will allow the
passage of quail at the ground level.

A part of the landscape that must not be missed was a very beautiful
Russian Wolf-hound, named "Lady”, I think. She was a splendid crea-
ture and, of course, of dignified manner. Another pet, whoso ancestry
I did not investigate, was a natural performer, sitting around on its
hind logs, with forepaws in an attitude of supplication, without being
c lied upon to act.

All told, the Edwin Clarksons gave their guests a wonderful treat,
their private bird sanctuary being the real thing, Mother Nature
having boon only slightly guided into doing its very best, both for
the birds and for those observing them.

It was learned from other sources that the Clarksons, along with Miss ^
Sarah Nooe, were largely responsible for the success of the meeting in
general .

THE CHAT

PAGE 90

A^GU ST - SEPTEMBER 1940

A HEW BREEDING SUB-oPECIES FOR FORTH CAROLINA
J. J. Murray, Lexington, Virginia

In one of the early issues of The Chat Mr. C. 3. Brimley listed the
Northern Yellow-throat (Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla ) as a new
sub-species for the North Carolina list". ("Additions , Corrections to
North Carolina birds'", The Chat , 1937, April, p. 5). Apparently the
only records were those of birds migrating through Raleigh in early
Many. This summer I collected a few birds at Blowing Rock, North Car-
olina. Among these was a Yellow- throat , collected on August 8. The
bird was singing, and on dissection the sex organs were highly devel-
oped. It was, therefore, almost certainly a breeding bird. Dr.
Alexander Wetmore has identified the species as brachidactyla . This
represents a new breeding bird for the state list"! Probably the
Yellow- throats of all the higher North Carolina mountains belong to
this form.

In a former report on some of the breeding birds of Blowing Rock I
was not able to give the sub-specific status of the Robin. A female,
collected at Blowing Rock on August 7, has been identified by Dr. Wet-
more as Turdus migratorius achrusturus .

•AS TO LOCAL LISTS
C. S. Brimley, Raleigh

A friend recently wrote me that he had shown the last issue of The
Chat to fourteen other persons who were interested in birds, and the
whole fifteen agreed that it was not worth the paper it was written
on. Their criticism raises the question of the usefulness of local
lists, for this number consisted exclusively of a list of the Birds
of Beaufort, N. C.

It may be noted however, in this particular instance, that the list
criticised was from a sea-coast town, and that the critic was far in*
inland. It is possible that if the list had been of some locality in
his ovm neighborhood his reaction might have been different, for about
half of the Beaufort list consists of birds not commonly found inland.

What are the uses of local lists anyway? The answer is that a good
local list should bo a great prevenatative of too absurd identificat-
ions. It should list all the known birds of the locality; giving their
seasonal status, the earliest and last dates of those that are not
residents, dates of nesting, and the abundance or rarity of each species.
Then a bird enthusiast with his guide in hand, can look up in it the
birds he thinks he has identified and find out whether they are in the
list or not, and also whether they are listed as occurring at the
season when he thought he saw them. A Wood Thrush in winter, for

AUGUST- SEPTEMBER 1940

THU CHAT

PAGE 91

instance, is as much out of the question in our State, as a Hermit
Thrush in summer. If ho does not find the bird he thinks he saw, he
has either made a new record for the locality or a mistake; with
amateurs usually the latter.

Also the local list helps to excite emulation, its records are not
static, they may be improved upon. Observers may, and no doubt will,
from time to time find earlier and later dates for arrivals and depart-
ures and nesting of some species, and then birds do change their
status from time to time in the same locality. We called the Towhee
a winter bird at Raleigh from 1884 to 1938 and then detected it nest-
ing in 1939. So a local list, for any particular locality is a
standard to check records by, not an infallible one of course, but
sufficiently trustworthy to keep one from committing a good many errors.

INFORMATION PLEASE

On passing over Edonton Bridge Wednesday August 28, I came upon a
very interesting bird situation. I hope you can give me the answer
to the problem.

After entering the bridge on the Mackeys side I saw that both sides
of the drive of the bridge was strewn with thousands of dead Purple
Martins. The extent of these birds were well over one half mile in
distance. The remains of the birds were quite dry indication that
they had died several days previous to our passage. No one about the
place was able to give any information about the happening or when it
happened.

Earl H. Hall, Womans College, Greensboro.

OUR GROWING MEMBERSHIP

The total membership in the North Carolina Bird Club on November 3,

1940 was 400 members. At the third annual meeting in Raleigh, April
1939 there were a total of 113 members in good standing, and there
were 23 whose status was doubtful. In 1940 at the Henderson meeting
there were 294 members. This growth is due largely to the work of
Br. Shaftsbury, Miss Grace Anderson of Statesville, Mr. Ketner of
Salisbury, Mrs. Grinnell of Arden, Tom Quay of Raleigh, Miss Hunter d
and several others.

The Charlotte meeting amended the constitution to provide for four
classes of members, the classes being solely on the basis of dues paid.
Membership remains at one dollar per year; Sustain ng Members pay dues
of five dollars a year; Contributing Members pay twentyfive dollars a
year; and Life Members one sum of one hundred dollars. In addition to

AUGUST- SEPTEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 92

the Sustaining and Contributing members lusted below, we have received
special contributions of tenndollars oach from the Statesville Audubon
Club, and the Statesville Community Club.

CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS

Thurmond Chatham Elkin

Richard T. Chatham, Jr. Winston-Salem

SUSTAINING MEMBERS

Miss Grace Ara^rson
H. H. Brimley
C. S. Brimley
Elmer Brown
Edward T. Cons
Mrs. Laura W. Cone
Francis Craighill
T. G. Smpie
R. H. Lewis
Mi s s Sa rah Nooe
Henry Rankin, Jr.

A. D. Shaftesbury

Mr. and Mrs. John J. Sigwald

Waters Thompson

Statesville

Raleigh

Raleigh

Davidson College

New York, N. Y.

Greensboro

Rocky Mount ,

Wilmington

Oxford

Charlotte

Fayetteville

Greensboro

Wilson

Southport

W MEMBERS

Mrs. J. J. Akers

Mrs. Paul Allen

Alan R. Anderson

Mrs. Cecil M. Appleberry

Mrs. Herbert Bluethenthal

Bill Boardman

Mrs. W . K. Boardman, Jr.

Arnold Brockenridge

Mrs. Addison Brenizer

Frank P. Buck

R. Clyde Cabell

Mrs. John E. Calfee

Miss Hazel Campbell

Gabriel Cannon

J. H. Carson

Mr. J. Weston Clinard

W. P. Cline

Mrs. Julius W. Cone

R. D. W . Connor

Georgia Cox

Charles Crosby

Miss Mildred Cunningham

W. C. Current

Mrs. Carlton C. Curtis

Mrs. Earl Davis

Ernst Derindinger

Box 1471

2100 Roswell Ave,

249 W. Merrick Road
1105 Grace St.

Market St .

2221 Hopedale Ave.
2221 Hopedale Avenue

2218 Hopedale Ave.
Wiley Avenue
810 Swann St.

Route 1

1205 Biltmoro Drive

1820 Chestnut St.

Archivist Building
2314 Hillsboro St.

114 Fisher Park Circle
£21 North Oak St.

619 Davie Avenue
Catawba College

Charlotte

Charlotte

Freeport, N. Y.

Wilmington

Wilmington

Charlotte

Charlotte

Chaplil Hill

Charlotte

Salisbury

Parkersburg, W. Va
Arden

West Jefferson

Spartanburg, S. C.

Charlotte

Hickory

Wilmington

Greensboro,

Washington, D. C.

Raleigh

Catawba, S. C.

Greensboro

Statesville

Tryon

Statesville

Salisbury

AUGU3T-3EPTHMBSR 1940

THE ■ CHAT

PAGE 93

H. M. Edwards

905 North Main St.

Salisbury

R. H. Ellington

Salisbury

Miss Nan Erwin

Montreat

Mr. and Mrs, W. F. Evans

Brownsburg, Ind

Miss Alice M. Fechtig

1810 Princess 3t.

Wilmington

Miss Bessie Foy

Oriental

Frank Fuller

Box 826

Salisbury

Mr. and Mrs. K. Ginter

260 Ridgewood Ave.

Charlotte

Mrs. John D. Gold

Wilson

Mrs. Leon Guffey

Ro ute 2

Cleveland

Miss Enina 3. Harris

Mebane

Mrs. S. R. Harris, Jr.

Raleigh Road

Henderson

E. H. Harrison

603| Market 3t.

Salisbury

Paul Hollabaugh

Parkersburg, W.

Mrs. Frazer Hood

Davidson

Bert Hughey

803 N. Center St.

Statesville,

J. F. Hurley

Salisbury

Mrs. George S. Jenks

Tryon

Mr. and Mrs. Latta Johnson

Drawer 591

Statesville, N.

Miss Mary Kimberly

221 Kimberly Ave,

Asheville

Mrs. H. F. Kincey

301 Eastover Road

Charlotte

James Kistler

N. C. Dept. Con & Dev.

Raleigh

R. G. Kuerzi

Box 66

Myrtle Beach, S

A. 3. Law

Tryon

Billy Leonard

322 Mocksville Ave.

Salisbury

Bishop Leonard

Box 463

Salisbury

Miss Mary Anne Linn

121 South Ellis St.

Salisbury

Stahle Linn Jr.

121 South Ellis St.

Salisbury

John W. Lippels

Little Gate Garden Club

202 Fairmont Terrace

Salisbury

Miss Inez B. Adamson

115 N. Park Dr.

Greesboro

J. H. Longshore

Arden

Don B. Lowe

3ox 173

Parkersburg, W.

3. C. Lyon

Davidson

C. D. Maffitt

219 3. Fifth St.

Wilmington

W. T. Martin

1821 St. Mary’s St.

Raleigh

Mrs. !?. R. Marvin

305 S. Third St.

Wilmington

J. P. Mattox

Box 250

Salisbury

Shannon Meriwether

Tryon

Mrs. A. R. Morrow

North Bost St.

Statesville

Mrs. J. H. Northey

1255 Queens Road Most

Charlotte

Irvin Oestreicher

228 South Fulton St.

Salisbury

Miss Ellie Parrish

Oxford Orphanage

Oxford

Mrs. George K. Patterson

Box 49

Woaverville

Tommy Pearsall

Box 1099

Rocky Mount

Mrs. C. C. Potter

211 Malvord Road

Charlotte

Mrs. J. L. Pressly

Route 3

Statesville

Reginald L. Price

249 Ridgewood Avenue

Charlotte

Mrs. J. S. Pruitt

Long Shoals Road

Skyland

J. C. Rabb

Box 39

Elizabeth City

Miss Ann Rainey

609 Holly Ave.

Winston-Salem

Mrs. Calhoun Ramsey

609 Davie Ave.

Statesville

Mrs. Fred Ray

Black Bear Inn

Baldwin

J. W, Raynor

Ahoskie

Vo

Va.

AUGUST- SEPTEMBER 1940

TITS CHAT

PAGE 94

M. R. Robbins

Mrs. Edna T. Robertson

Mrs. Cecil Robinson

Box 1195

Rocky Mount
West Jefferson
Southern Pines

Miss Rosalie Rosser

Presbyterian Hospital

Charlotte

Miss Kitty Sandifer

2126 Dilworth Road E.

Charlotte

Charlos Sailors, Jr.

611 Clement Ave.

Charlotte

Herbert Sherrill

Brookdale

Statesville

Frank Smith

Radcliffe Ave.

Charlotte

Mrs. J. C. Steele, 3t.

222 Brevard St .

Stat esville

C. S. Sullivan

State College Station

Raleigh

Mrs. L. T. Sutherland

Box 3553

23 Connecticut Ave.

Southern Pines

Mrs. W. A. Thomas

119 East Sharpe St.

Statesville ,

Mrs. Frank Tiddy

59 Annandale Ave.

Asheville

Mrs. George P. Wadsworth

228 Cottage Place

Charlotte

Mrs. C. S. Warren

L. C. Whitehead

State College Station

Lenoir

Raleigh

Nelson Woodson Salisbury

STATE BIND BOOK TO BE PUBLISHED

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture has agreed to publish
The Birds of North Carolina, by T. Gilbert Pearson, Herbert H. Brimley
and Clement S.' Brimley'.' This book was first issued in 1919 when
three thousand copies wore printed, and today one can not but a copy
in the State for less that *$5.00, and it is offered for sale by second-
hand dealers for #10.00.

The book has been completely re-written by Pearson on the basis of data
gathered and compiled by C. S. Brimley, who has been aided by H. H.
Brimley with information about the larger birds. Printing is being
help up only on two things: first, accurate information on certain
species which has been gathered by the National Museum and is being
compiled by Alexander Wotmoro; second, uncertainty as to how many copie
of the book can be sold immediately. Dr. Wotmoro has completed his
work, and allowed us to use the information, so that the copy will be
r^ady for press shortly.

The book will contain over 400 pages, end giv-

en

accurate, and up-

to-date information on the 375 forms of bird life found in North Car-
olina. There will be 24 full-page colored plates by Robert Bruce Hor-
sfall, and 275 black-and-white drawings of species, in additUti to var-
ious pictures of birds and areas in the State. Also included will be
a history of ornithology in North Carolina from the day in 1584 when
Captain Barlowo brough over the Lost Colony, down to the present; this
with maps of faunal zones, and other information to give a completer
picture of our bird life. It will be a book every bird student will
noet and enjoy.

The Club has undertaken the getting of one thousand pre-publication
orders at #8.25 each. The book will sell for #3.00, so that one will
make quite a saving by subscribing beforehand. Almost a hundred copies

AUGU3T-SEPT3MBER 1940

THE chat

PAGE 95

wore subscribed at the Charlotte meeting, which is a splendid start.
Enclosed with this issue of The Chat is an order blank on which you
may enter your subscription, or several for a friend. Please hand
the extra blanks to someone interested in our birds, or bettor than
that, ask them to order a copy and you mail it in to Harry T. Davis,
North Carolina State Museum, Raleigh.

It is planned to issue the book early in 1941.

This telegram cameto the Charlotte meeting:

MRS. EDWIN 0. CLARKSON

248 RIDGEWOOD AVENUE, CHARLOTTE, N. C.

COMES

INDIVIDUALS.

HEARTILY COMMEND PLAN OF BIRD CLUB TO SECURE ADVANCED
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA. SUGGEST
COMMITTEE WITH MEMBERS IN MANY COMMUNITIES MIGHT OBTAIN
SIGNATURES FROM TOWN AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND
IT HAS BEEN DONE ELSEWHERE . SUCCESS
VERY HARD AND PROLONGED EFFORT. RINGING

PERSONAL

BY MAIL. WORKERS MUST PROFOUNDLY BELIEVE IN
OF THE EFFORT IN ORDER TO PRESENT GOOD SALES
MIGHT WELL APPEAL TO WOMEN’S AND CIVIC CLUBS

WITH BEST WISHES TO ALL.

ONLY WITH
DOORBELLS AND
VISITS ARE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE THAN CIRCULARIZING

' IMPORTANCE
TALK. CLUB
TO ENGAGE

IN THE

-EjIjIj Airi.sxM.

CAMPAIGN.

T. GILBERT PEARSON ( NSW YORK)

CHRISTMAS CENSUS: Bird-Lore sponsors its 41st Christmas census
December 22-29, 1940.

CHAT to be printed beginning with the January number of 1941

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH. N. C.

John H. Grky, jn„ Editor
STATE COLLEGE STATION

VOL. IV.

0 CTO Vi Zi 1940

NO. 10

BIRDS OF ELLIN , NORTH CAROLINA
Earl M. Eodel

All birds mentioned in this paper were observed in an area within
twenty miles of Elkin, which takes in the western part of Surry County
and eastern part of Wilkes County. Terrain is typical rolling western
North Carolina country, elevation nine hundred to eleven hundred feet
and covered with mixed pine and hardwood. The Yadkin flows through
these two counties and its valley provides the little truly flat
country.

Most of the observations were made at Mr. Thurmond Chatham’s estate
at Ronda, located in the eastern edge of Wilkes County, about five
miles from Elkin. This seven hundred acre tract situated in a bend
of the Yadkin River, is covered with a great amount of hardwood timber.
The cultivated areas have been given to the planting of seed-bearing
plants and berry-producing bushes, attracting many birds which would
otherwise be absent. A number of ponds have been creatdd by damming
small draws and pumping water from the Yadkin, and these attract a
fair number of water birds.

With all the efforts made to attract, geod and protect bird life on
this estate, the abundance of birds found here probably does not
represent a true picture of what would bo found elsewhere in this
vicinity.

96

OCTOBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 97

1. Common Loon Gavia i_. immer . Uncommon spring and fall transient on
several small lakes.

2. Pied Billed Grebe Podilymbus p . podiceps . One seen Nov. 12, 1939.

3. Great Blue Heron Ardea h. herodias . Rare spring migrant. One seen
Aug. 28th, after flood on Yadkin River.

4. Little Blue Heron Florida c . caorulea . Five seen in white plumage
in summer of 1937.

5. Eastern Green Heron But or id os v. vlroscens . Fairly common spring
transient .

6. American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus . Rare spring transient un-
til this year when one was seen on Sept .“3rd.

7. Eastern Least Bittern Ixobr ychns e. oxilis . Seen once, April 13,
1939.

®. Common Canada Goose Brant a c . canadensis . Flocks as large as 25
seen in spring and fall.

9. Common Mallard Anas p . p latyrhynchos . Seen fall and spring on
small ponds and lakes at Ronda and Klondike farm.

10. Common Black Duck Ana s rubipes tristls . Same as for Mallard.

11. Baldpate Mareca amoricana. Four seen at Roaring Gap Lake May 9,
1938.

12. American Pintail Daf ila scuta tzltzihoa . Same as for Mallard.

13. Blue-winged Teal Q,uerquedula dlscors . Some as for Mallard.

14. Wood Duck Aix Sponsa . Nests in small numbers along Yadkin and on
lake on Klondike Farm.

15. Greater Scaup Duck Nyroca marll a . Same as for Mallard.

16. Lesser Scau|.) Duck Nyroca af finis. Same as for Mallard.

17. Ruddy Duck Srlsmatur a .jama Icons is rubida . One seen at Klondike
Farm March 17, 1940 ."

18. American Merganser Morgus merganser americanus . Throe seen at
Klondike Farm Nov. 12, 1939.

19. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura septentrionalis . Common rosidentl

20. Black Vulture Coragyps eu atratus . At -all seasons but not common.

21. Coopers Hawk Accipitor Cooperi . Common at all seasons.

OCTOBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 98

22. Eastern Red-tailed Hawk Buteo b . borealis . Fairly common resident.

23. Northern Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo 1 . lineatu s . Occasionally seen
at all seasons.

24. Broad-winged Hawk Buteo p . platypterus . One seen April 18, 1939.

25. Marsh Hawk Circus hudsonius . Winter visitor.

26. Eastern Sparrow Hawk Falco s . sparverius . Scarce in summer, very
common in fall.

27. Eastern Quail (Bob-white) Colinus v. virginianus . Common resident.

28. Ring-neck Pheasant Phasianus colchicus torquatus . A few seen at
all seasons.

29. American Coot Fulica a . americana. Fairly common spring and fall
transient .

30. Killdeer Oxyechus v. vocif erus . A flock of 30 seen Nov. 21, 1937,
also 6 on Mar. 10, 1940.

31. American Woodcock Philohcla mino r. Local sportsmen claim a few
nest along the Yadkin River. I have never seen it.

32. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia . Common spring and fall
transient .

33. jlS'g iru ' Solitary Ja ...'. j. , r Tr:....'p . •qlitaria. Uncommon spring

transient

34. Lesser Yellow-legs Totanu s flavipes . Common spring transient.

35. Least Sandpiper Pisobia minutil la. Common spring and fall transient.

36. Eastern Mourning Dove Zenaibura macroura carolinensis . Common
resident, increasing in numbers.

37. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus a . americanus . Fairly common summer
visitor.

38. Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus . One seen Sent. 12.
1940.

39. Barn Owl Tyto alba prat incola . Most common owl caught in pole
traps .

40. Southern Screech Owl Otus a . asio . Common resident.

41. Great Horned Owl Bubo v. virginianus . Fairly common resident.

42. Barred Owl Strix varia (subspecies undetermined). Fairly common
resident .

OCTOBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 99

43. Long-earned Owl Aslo wllsonianu s . One seen in Jan. 1938.

44. Eastern Whip-poor-will Ant rest onus v . voclf or us . Fairly common
summer visitor average arrival April 15.

45. Nighthawk Chordeites minor (subspecies undetermined) Very common
summer visitor-very common summer 1938, scarce in 1939, and common in
1940.

46. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica . Fairly common summor visitor,
April to Sept. 24th7

47. • Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris . Very common
summer visitor April 20, Sept, 17th.

43. Eastern Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle a. a lcyon . At least one
pair on Roaring Gap Lake at all" seasons.

49. Flicker Colaptes auratus (subspecies undetermined) Common at all
seasons .

50. Pileated Woodpecker Ceuphloeus piloatus (subspecies undetermined)
Rare, seen once, Sopt. 26, 1938.

51. Red -bellied Woodpecker Ce nturus carolinensis . Fairly common
resident .

52. Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocepha lus . Occasional in
spring and fall.

53. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus v_._ varius . Not common -
Sept, to April.

54. Southern Hairy Woodpecker Dryobatos villosus e.uduboni . Common at
all seasons.

55. Southern Downy Woodpecker Dryob atos p.. p ubes cons . Common all
seasons .

56. Eastern Kingbird Tryannus tryannus . Summer visitor, not common.
April 23, Sppt. 5th.

57. Northern Crested Flycatcher Myiarchu s crlnitus voreus . Summer
visitor, not common, March 26th to Sept.’ 3rd.’

58. Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe. Common summer visitor. March 5th
to Oct. 15th. One seen Jan. 1940.

59. Acadian Flycatcher Empidonas virescons . Very common summer
visitor, May 2nd to Sept. 24th.

60. Least Flycatcher Empidonas minimus . Spring transient --May 2, 1938.

OCTOBER 1940

TER CHAT

PAGE 100

ol. Eastern Wood Pewee Myochanss virsns. Common summer visitor Mav 8th
to Oct. 15th.

62. Prairie Horned Lark Octocoris alpestris praticola. About 50 of
these birds seen Jan. 26, 1940.

63. Tree Swallow Iridoeroone bicolo r. Common spring transient April
5th to May 1st.

64. Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis seripennis. Co mm on
spring transient April 8th to May 20th.

65. Barn Swallow Hirundo erythro g aster . Spring transient-Apr . 16 , 1940 .

66. Purple Martin Progn e s . suvis. Not common, a few breed. Scarcity
due probably to few martin houses built here. April 23rd to Sept. 6th.

67. Northern Blue Jay Cyanocitta c. cr istata . Common resident, more
plentiful in winter.

68a Eastern Crow Carvus b. braohyrhymchox . 'inter visitor, more

common than the next form".

68b Southern Crow Carvu s bra ohyrhymcho x paulus ♦ Sumner visitor, but
not breeding; in greqt numbers" as this is not a corn country.

69. Carolina Chickadee Penthestes carolinensis (subspecies undeter-
mined) Common resident.

70. Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor . Common resident.

71. White-breasted Huthatch Sitta c . carolinensis . Common resident.

72. Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis . Fairly common winter
visitor October to April.

73. Brown Creeper Certhla farailiar is. (subspecies undetermined) Common
winter visitor - Oct. 15th to April 2snd.

74. Winter Wren Nannu s troglodytes . ( subspecies undetermined) Uncommon
winter visitor.

75. Bewicks Wren Thryomanes b. bewiokii . Uncommon winter visitor.

76. Carolina ’Wren Thryothorus 1 . ludovicianus . Common resident.

77. Eastern Mockingbird Minus poly, loteos . Fairly common resident.
More common in summer and winter, almost 'entirely absent in August and
September.

78. Catbird Dumetella carolinens is . Common summer visitor, April 17th
to October 8th. Once seen in winter Jan. 1, 1939.

79. Eastern Brown Thrasher Toxostoma r. rufum . Common summer visitor,
March 27th to Sept. 17th.

OCTOBER 1940

THIS CHAT

PACT 101

80a Eastern Robin Terdus m. migratorius . Winter visitor, particularly
common as transient in February. Visited Ronda in a great bend in the
Yadkin River in February 1938-39.

80b Southern Robin Terdus migratorius achrusterus . This is the breed-
ing form and is a little more comrnpn than a few years ago.

81. Wood Thrush Kylocichla mustelina . Fairly common summer visitor
April 23rd to Sept. 26th.

82. Eastern Hermit Thrush Kylocichla guttata faxonl ♦ Common winter
visitor, Oct. 15th to April’lSW. Not common winter of 1939.

83. Eastern Bluebird Gialia s . s jail s . Common resident.

84. Blue-gray G-natcatcher Poliopei la c . caorulea. Common summer visi-
tor April 9th to Sept. 15th.

85. Eastern Cold .n-crovu jG Kinglet Regul is _s. satr apa . Winter visitor
October &0th to April a3rd. Not presentfTn all winter months.

86. Eastern Ruby-crownod Kinglet C orp h ylio o . ca lend ula. Winter visi-
tor, October 30th to April 28th. " Not present ITT all months of winter.

87. Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla oedrorum . Every month except May to Sept.
Erratic in its movements. Usually not less than flocks of ten.

88. Migrant Shrike Lanius ludov i cian us mi grans . Nov. 15th and Dec. 4th
1939.

89. Starling Sternus v. vulgaris . Common resident.

90. White-eyed Vireo Vlreo £_. grls eus . Common summer visitor, March
27th to Sept. 26th.

91. Yellow-throated Vireo V ireo flavlf ron s . Common summer visitor
April 18th to Sept. 24th.

92. Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius . Fairly common spring and
fall transient. Average dates of arrival, in spring April 3rd - in
fall Sept. 18th.

93. - Red-eyed Vireo V ireo olivaceous . Common summer visitor, May 1st
to Sept. 24th.

94. Black and White Warbler Mni otllta varia . Common summer visitor
April 2nd to Sept. 26th.

95. Brewsters Warbler V : rin lvora lou co bronchlalis . One seen April 23,
1939. White wing bars' in place of yellow. '

95a Lawrences Warbler Verm Ivor a lawrenc ei . Two seen May 8, 1938.

96. Eastern Yellow Warbler Dendroica a. aostiva . Summer visitor,
common April 9th to Aug. 7th.

OCTOBER 1940

THD CHAT

PAGS 102

97. Magnolia Warbler Dend r olca magnolia . Common fall transient.

Sept. 24th to Oct. 15th. Spring record May 12, 1940.

98. Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica c_._ caerulescens . Fairly
common spring and fall transient. April and *8ept.

99. Myrtle Warbler Dendroica coronata . spring and fall transient,
common Oct. 15th to Nov. 25th. and March 10th to May 5th.

100. Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica v. virens . Fairly common
spring and fall transient April and Sept.

101. Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica d . dominjca . Common summer
visitor, April 2nd to Sept. 10th.

102. Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensvlvanica . Rare, only one
record May 9, 1939.

103. Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata . May 5th and Oct. 20th, 1939.
May 12th, 1940.

104. Northern Pine Warbler Dendroic a p . pinus . Fairly common resident.
Many came to feeding station in winter 1959.

105. Northern Prairie ’Warbler Dendroica d . discol fer ♦ Common summer
visitor May 1st to Sepb. 5th.

106. Yellaw Palm Warbler Den&roica palmar urn hyp oc hrysea . Common spring
transient April 17th to May 5th. ‘ No fall records”.

107. Oven 3ird Seiurus aurocapillus . Summer visitor. First seen
April 28, 1940. Later seen at intervals during same summer.

108. Nothern Water Thrush Seiurus n. novebora c ensis . Fall transient.
Sept. 12 and Sept. 21, 1940.

109. Kentucky Warbler O pororn is formosus . Seen Sept. 24, 1939, May 12,
1940.

110. Yellowthroat Geoth'lypis trichas (subspecies undetermined) Common
summer visitor April 6tli to Sept. 25th.

111. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria v. v irons .Common spring transient and
uncommon summer visitor. Avorc. , e arrival" "May 1st.

112. Hooded Warbler Wilso nia citrina . Not common, spring transient
only.

113. Wilson Warbler Wilsonia p . pu.-ill a . One seen Sept. 24, 1937.

114. Canada Warbler ’Wilsonia canadensis . May 12, 1940.

115. American Redstart Setophaga ruticill a. Common summer visitor
April 15th to Sept. 18th.'

OCTOBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 103

116. English Sparrow Passer d. domesticus . Common resident.

117. Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella m. magna . . Present at all seasons,
but erratic in distribution. Breeds to a limited extent.

118. Eastern Red-wing Agelaius p . phoeniceus . Spring transient.

April 18, 1939.

119. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius . May 12, 1940.

120. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galoula . Sept. 24, 1938.

121. Purple Grackle Q,uiscalus quiscula stonei . Observed in November.

122. Eastern Cowbird Molothrus eu ater . First seen here May 8, 1940.

123. Scarlet Tanager Piranga erythromelas . Bred in 1939 and again in
1940.

124. Summer Tanager Piranga r. rubra . Not common summer visitor. Breed
April 18th to Sept, l'&th.

125. Eastern Cardinal Riotimondona c. cardinalls . Common resident.

126. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Hedymoles ludocioianus . April 23, 1938,
only record.

127. Eastern Blue Grosbeak Guiraca c . caerulea . Summer visitor, not
common May 4th to Sept. 15th.

128. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanoa . Only a spring transient, May 1st

129. Eastern Purple Finch Carpodacus p. purpureus . Fall, winter and
spring visitor. Common at times, at others entirely absent. Oct. 29th
to May 1st. Very common in lato Feb.

130. Eastern Goldfinch Spinus t . tristis . Common resident, one of the
commonest birds in winter.

131. Towhee Pipilo e. erythrophalmus . Common resident. More common in
winter.

132. Eastern Henslow’s Sparrow Passerherbulus liens lows! susurrans . Two
seen March 17, 1940.

133. Eastern Vesper Sparrow Pooecotes g. gramlne us . Uncommon transient
April 23rd and Sept. 11th, average dates.”"

134. Bachman’s Sparrow’ Aimophila aestivalis bachmani . Uncommon summer
visitor April 28th to Sept. 15th.

135a Slate Colored Junco Junco h. hyomalis . Common winter visitor
October 29, to April 28.

135b Carolina Junco Junco Hyemalis carolinensis . Common winter visitor.
Dates as above.

OCTOBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 104

136. Eastern Chipping Sparrow Spizolla p . passerina . Common summer
visitor. M: rch 2?t’.T to October 29th.

137. Eastern Field Sparrow Spizella p, pusilla . Common resident.

138. White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia 1 . leucophrys . Flock of twenty
seen on March 25tli and March 26th, 1939 . A flock of eighteen on
October 22nd of same year.

139. White-throated Sparrow Zonitrichia albicollis . Tho commonest
winter sparrow. October 15th to May 1st.

140. Eastern Fox Sparrow Passerella i . iliaca . Winter visitor, not
common, erratic in movement 5 . Several stayed at feeding station until
April 4th.

141a Eastern Song Sparrow Melospiza m. melodia . Winter visitor.

141b Mississippi Song.Sparrow Melospiza m.elodia euphonia . Take the
breeding form to be this newly-described - race , which is probably
resident; fairly common.

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
PUBLISHED AT RALEIGH, N. C.

John H. Grey. jr.. Editor
STATE COLLEGE STATION

VOL. IV.

N0V2MBER-D3CHMBSR 1940 Nos. 11 & 12

THE SOOTY SHEARWATER IN NORTH CAROLINA
H. K. Brimley, Raleigh.

This species is one of those rare stragglers from the south that
occasionally pay our coastline a visit. They seldom come in any num-
bers at one time, and only about a dozen specimens have been recorded
from our waters since Dr. Elliott Coues first reported the species
1870. Shearwaters are brown-colored sea birds that resemble guj-ls
The Sooty Shearwater can be told at a distance from the Audubon’s,

Shearwater by solid color which appears black.

has a clear-cut division between

black unper parts and the white underpants. The Greater . ohearwatsi .

"edition of the Audubons. Cory’s Shearwater is similar m size
but the dark upper parts blend into the white under
meet in a clear cut pattern. It one can see the
shearwater they are fairly easy to distinguish by the colors

Greater, and Cory

T a

Audubon's Shearwater is small and has

m

the
The
the
? is

a large

to the Greater,
parts rather than
head of

shading into one

another, or by tho clear dividing line

Dn September 15, 1940, when Mrs. Brimley and I were going from one
fishing olace to another just inside Ocracoke Inlet, a specimen was
observed on the water, our boat passing it at about forty. yards dis-
tance without disturbing it enough for the bird to take wing.

while aboard a gas boat
s Inlet, Onslow County, one was

1935,

As we
led me

approached the
to believe it

going from the Shell landing
seen swimming almost directly
bird, the absence of any sign

was injured in some way, so I

On June 8,
to Brown’

ahead of the boat.

of fear in the bird -- -- - , « .. , „ oll ,

told the boatman to slow down and head directly for it, and called. to
a young boy in the forward part of the boat to lean over ^ne pick l
up as we oassed. The bow of the boat must have been within five or six
feet of it before it arose - and flew directly over our heads only a fev
feet out of reach.

Page 105

NOVEMBER- DEC EMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 106

The first Sooty Shearwater I ever saw, however, I collected. I was
strolling along the ocean beach a mile or two west of Fort Macon, on
June 8, 1892, when this specimen came along, flying well out over the
surf and parallel with the shore. When shot, it fell in the outer edge
of the surf and, contrary to my expectations, it began to drift farther
out to sea and not inshore. .There was only one thing to do and that
was to secure the rare specimen, that I could not then . identify , so I
laid down my gun, stripped to the buff and went after it, towing it
shore with its bill between my teeth. I once retrieved a specimen I
needed by swimming through floating ice cakes, but that is another
story. In collecting Museum specimens one is sometimes faced with sit-
uations that are not exactly made to order.

On the trip to Ocracoke, mentioned above, September 14 to 17, of this
year, Least Terns were not observed and but a few Common Terns seen.
Some Royal Terns were in evidence but the most abundant of the gull
family was the Laughing Gull, k good many Herring Gulls in _ immature
plumage were ween in Pamlico Sound, but all those observed in Core
Sound were adult birds. Quite a number of Cormorants were observed
and some thirty or forty Brown Pelicans were still cruising around
Ocracoke Inlet, some of them behaving rather queerly. On the way
back, our boat passed about a dozen in a scattered flock, the individ-
ual birds flying a few yards and then splashing down into the water.
This action was continued by all the individuals in the flock as long
as we could see them distinctly. They were not diving, but may have
been doing some Surface fishing.

Several flocks of Black Skimmers passed close by our boat the night
Mrs. Brimley and I were fishing the Six Mile Hammock for Channel Bass
under the rays of the full moon, their wiord cries and ghostly forms
adding appreciable to our enjoyment.

THE CHRISTMAS CENSUS

Hundreds of people all over the United States will help make a census
of birds in their community. This will be the forty-first . such census
which is sponsored by Bird Lore . Last year twelve localities in North
Carolina took a census and listed one hundred twenty-seven different
species.

RuLes: (1) Take it as near Christmas as possible, not before December
22nd or later than the 29th. Take it in one day only, and time spent
in the field should be at least six hours; all day is bettor. (2) List
the species in the order of the A. 0. U. check list, which is the order
followed in most recent books, beginning with Loons and closing with
Sparrow and Snow^ Bunting. Give the total number of birds seen of each
species. Give data about any unusual birds seen as is done in the
specimen samnlo given below. Punctuation is: Common Loon, 2; Red-
throated Loon, 1;. (3) Territory must not be more than that included

in a seven-end-one-half -mile radius. The same territory covered each
year gives a. better basis of comparison, (4) Give time of starting,
ending, weather conditions, number of observers, miles traveled by car

NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 107

and on foot, and names of observers, (5) Enclose a dime with your
copy to Bird Lore to cover the increasing cost of printing.

Sample: "Raleigh, N. C. (Triangular area: 5 mile base cast and west,

3 miles north, including City Limits, Bonoyard Lake, Lake Raleigh,

Lake Johnson, Lead Mines). Dec. 21: 7:30 a. ml to 5:00 p. m. Clear,
10-14 m. p. h. southwest wind, temperature 33°-45°. Four parties in
morning on foot, two parties in afternoon on foot and in car: 27 hrs.

14 mi. on foot, 46 mi. by car. Common Loon, 1; Pied-billed Grebe, 6;

Great Blue Heron, 3; Mallard, 10; Black Duck, 8; .Field

Sparrow, 173; White-throated Sparrow, 144; Fox Sparrow, 9; Swamp Spar-
row, 5; Song Sparrow, 138. Total, 73 species, 3,371 individuals.

Loon and Green-winged. Teal not recorded before on census from central
part of State. Ring-billed Gull observed by Quays at Lake Raleigh,
noting greenish-yellow legs, under tips of wings black as above, and
size; both birds adults. Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Green, Mr. and Mrs. T. L.
Quay, Mrs. Roxie Simpson, D. L. Wray, 0. H. Bostian, and John Grey;
members Raleigh Bird Club. Two other species were noted earlier in the
month, Pectoral Sandpiper on Doc. 4 and 10, and Blueheaded Vireo on the
12 ."

BANDING ROYAL TERNS

John Grey, Raleigh.

"Why don't you band some birds in North Carolina that nest in large
colonies?" Harold S. Peters asked at the last annual meeting of the
Club. He went on to point out that we have thousands of terns and
gulls nesting along the outer banks, colonial-nesting birds, and that
not many of such birds are banded, simply because there are not many
bird banders in the southern states. Returns from such banding would
help us determine the migration routes, and the wintering grounds of
those species. "You might contribute much to ornithology," he con-
tinued.

So five of us descended on Roanoke Island last July 15th, armed with
two thousand bands, a.nd an equal supply of scientific ardor. 3am
Walker put us all up at his homo, and promised to take us down to the
Pea Island Refuge, just across Oregon Inlet, on tho first ferry next
morning. Harry Davis and Walker were the only ones in the party who
had ever banded birds. They tried to explain to us the use of pliers
in opening the aluminum band, the proper way to hold the log of an un-
willing bird so the band could be slipped on, and the technique of
closing the band so that it fit snugly and left no open joint to catch
in the grass.

C. S. Brimley wearied of such lessons and explained that he was by
trade an entomologist, and by avocation a herpatologist (check spell-
ing.') and a mammalian, and so would leave banding to younger dogs who
could learn such tricks. Harris suggested he was also an entomologist,
and Parson Craighill thought he would be better with binoculars and
field records; which left me to be water boy for the expedition, I

NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 108

balked, however, when Walker brough out some bands that looked like
aluminum horse collars, which he hinted would look well on some eagle's
leg. I made it plain that I hankered not to climb telephone polos and
lift an eagle; it would bo too easy for the eagle to band my leg.

Early morning found us poling a boat out into the sound some five miles
below Oregon Inlet, headed for Green Island about a quarter mile off
shore. As we approached this nesting site of the Royal Terns the adult
birds took to the air and wheeled overhead venting their wrath on human
intruders who would kidnap their young. Laughing Gulls and Common Terns
joined the screaming flock until the air was literally filled with birds
Then the Black Skimmers joined the chorus and we knew we were headed
for a bird paradise. The island was about one hundred yards long and
wide, and covered with deep grass and myrtle bushes.

Landing on a tiny beach we made a corra.1 of the chicken wire Davis had
brought along, propping it up with some driftwood and small sticks. At
last we were ready to advance the science of ornithology, and began the
drive for Royal Terns. Starting on the far side of the island we herd-
ed the young birds before us, prodding under the bushes, and searching
the matted grass for any stragglers who were too wise to run. _ The
young were much like frying-size chickens, but were covered with white
down. They fled before us so that it took all six of us to shepherd
them into the wire fold. With a sigh of relief we closed the wire
behind them and admired these ornithological guinea pigs.

Then the trouble began.’ All the little terns rushed to one side of the
pen, trampling one another in fright, and the weak supports to the
fence gave way and the fence was trampled in their flight. One lament-
ed the lack of time to use a camera as Harris pitched over a bush in
the chase and standing on his head waved a pair of legs in a distress
signal; or as Craighill retrieved a straw hat full of chicks who had
started out to sea rather than submit to such outrages. In the end,
half ofus supported the fence and shooed the chicks out of their
huddles while the rest contributed to the advance of ornithology. My
contribution was rather humbling to editorial dignity. It was to
open the bands, catch the chicks, and keep us with the numbers on the
bands. Opening the bands was simple at first, one simply inserted a
thin-nosed pair of pliers and reversed the motion of milking a cow;
but then it began to do things to your hand till your wrist felt numb
and your hand would not close enough to grasp the pliers. Then, too,
the numbers wore a. mess. Each bo.nd had a year number and a serial
number: 40/367,209, and the like. The real difficulty came later in
the day as we banded other birds, and someone would ask, "Did you put
36/123,456 on a Black Skimmer or on a Laughing Gull?" My records
proved that that very number had gone on the leg of a Gull-billed Tern
on Green Island — only we had banded no such tern there. And what was
that number I dropped in the mud, or had I dropped more than one. I
finally decided to" hold up the fente and let others advance science.

Of the 323 Royal Terns that we banded 180 had black legs, and 143 had
legs which were either yellow or mottled black and yellow. Since the
legs of the adult bird is black we were at a loss to account for the
variation in the young; the difference in color was not due to age,

NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 109

for birds of the same size differed in leg color.

Banding the Laughing Gulls was another matter for they would not drive
like the terns, but hid under the grass and in the bushes. We finally
resorted to a careful search of each clump of grass, and turned over
each pile of trash, and even in the taller grass pulled it apart and
searched the depths for runs which often led to a bird nestled secure-
ly back under the grass. Two hundred eighty two gulls were banded in
the tv/o days work. As we had planned the trip mainly for the loyal
Terns it is probable that many of the gulls had already hatched and
were on the wing by mid July. This was true of the Common Terns of which
we banded only 134, although many hundreds of young birds were noticed
flying about .

Walker suggested that we might as well band some of the Black Skimmers
that nested on the lower part of the refuge, and drove the truck right
up to the edge of the nesting grounds. Young skimmers were to be seen
running in all directions while the old birds screamed overhead and
swooped down in our general direction. No chance hero to set up the
wire, it was going to be a case of running them down and bringing them
in. The first few wore easy to catch, and then wo noticed that no
skimmers were to be seen. They had "frozen" on the ground, lying in
the sand, and were so much like the sand and shells in color that one
looked carefully before stepping. Each bird when picked up was inclined
to peck savagely at your hand, which led Harris to suggest we were using
the "hunt and pack" system in banding. The 192 birds were all banded
on. the right leg so that next summer there will be some chance pf know-
ing which birds are returns. Other years we may use a colored band

above the aluminum one to be positive that a bird is a return.

The surprise banding of the trip came on the morning of the second
day as Walker and I drove around an inlet ho moot the others. Two
large gray birds, about the size of a chicken, darted out of the grass
and ran across the road; following them were four little black birds
running for their lives. We cut the motor and fell out the truck on
each side, for they wore Clo.pper Rails, or "Mud Hens," and only a few
have been banded. Walker scooped, up a chick with each hand, and began

a game of tag with the one I had missed. He and the biddy darted and

twisted, rushed this clump of grass, and trampled that one, till
finally leaning forward he missed the chick only to cover it behind
him with his hat. We called the rest to ooh and ahh with us over the
four prizes, and explained that it was an open question whether or _ not
Clapper Rails were migratory. That it some one shot one of these in
Charleston next year we could definitely sat that they migrated, or if
one wore taken near Oregon Inlet we would bo sure that not all were
migrants. In fact, the game laws were bases on the idea that rails
wore non-migretory birds. We might discover data that would change
tho open season for "mud-hens". My vision of advancing science began
to brighten.

In all, we banded nearly a thousand birds of ten species, including
Wilson’s Plover, Seaside, Sparrow, Long-billed Marsh Wren, Barn Swallow,
and Gull-billed Torn.

NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 110

MATTAMU SHEET FIELD TRIP
E. E. Brown, Davidson.

Members of the North Carolina Bird Club who attended the Charlotte
meeting in October, having heard Dr. Maynard Johnson and seen Dr. John
Grey’s movies, have a good idea what is in store for those who make the
trek down to the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge about February 1.

The Mattamuskeet Refuge probably offers by far the best available op-
portunity for North Carolinians to gain experience in identifying at
close range swans, geese, many species of ducks and some other water
birds. After this experience with thousands of wild fowl, many of us
may be better equipped to return to inland sections and attempt
identifications of the small and scattered flocks to be found on bodies
of water there.

For an enthusiastic account giving further information about the refuge,
members are referred to an article by Thomas Quay in The C hat for
February 1940. Quay remarks: "The unique thing about this refuge is
that there are thousands of large birds which can be closely observed
with only the slightest effort. Every North Carolinian should ex-
perience this great spectacle, whether or not he is already interested
in birds.”

Last winter Dr. Bostian’s carefully planned trip to this point of
great interest had to be cancelled. It is hoped that weather and other
adverse circumstances will not stand in the way this time.

The final date for the trip has not yet been settled, but will be
either January 25 or February 1, in either case a Saturday .rrJSombers
will be expected to arrive Friday night or early Saturday morning.
Comfortable accommodations will bo available at the tourist camp of
Mr. Leslie O’Neal at Now Holland for about $1.00 per head.' More
sumptuous quarters may be had at Mattamuskeet Lodge, Now Holland.

A final notice concerning the trip will reach members in January.

AN IMPORTANT BOOK FOR WESTERN CAROLINA

Birds of Western Carolin a , W. E. Clyde Todd, University of Pittsburgh
Press, 1940, 710 pages, "$5.00. This monumental work representing
fifty years study of birds of this region is important to bird students
in the western part of our State. The status of many birds- is the
same in western Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Therefore, this book
will be valuable to any student of North Carolina Birds.

Todd is Curator of Ornithology for Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, an
ornithologist of international reputation. He writes more from the
popular viewpoint, so that an amateur will find the book helpful in
learning the identify and habits of the various species. Usually books

NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 1940

THE CHAT

PAGE 111

cost one cent a page if tho book has no pictures; yet horo is a book
with twonty-two color plates showing 118 spocios, that sells for less
than tho proportionate cost of a novel.

PEA ISLAND IN EARLY SEPTEMBER

F. H. Craighill, Rocky Mount.

I have recently returned from two weeks at Nag’s Head, where, however,

I saw very little of special interest. Unf ortunabely Mr. ealker s
vacation coincided with mine, and I had only one trip to Pea Ioland.

Vi’e had an engagement for another on the day that I was called homo for
a funeral and had to leave.

The most interesting thing that wo saw was a considerable concentration
of Stilt Sandpipers - this seems to be a Stilt Sandpiper year. We
stood at one place and counted 104 in sight at once, with a good deal
of coming and going. We then moved on further to another place where
they were just about as numerous, and sat down quietly at the foot of
■^ne levee, and they fed almost at our feet. We studied carefully
their plumage phases, which were more various than the books- imply, and
checked carefully on every aspect of their looks and conduct.

In a cursory look over a bunch of Sandpipers the Stilts could easily
bo taken for either Dowitchers or Lesser Yellow Legs, but both were
present, mixed closely with tho Stilt Sandpipers, and wo had perfect
opportunity for comparison. The Stilts like deeper water than either,
but we also saw thorn on sand bars to study the color of their . logs, and
to note how well they deserve their name. Wo even saw two swimming,
which they did quite well.

Mr. Walker said that he had been seeing four Avocets on the Refuge,
the last time two days before my arrival, but they -wore not in evidence
when I was there. Ho also said that ho had seen two more Cory's Shear?
waters, and had a fairly good skin for the Museum.

Ducks were beginning to come down. Blue-winged Teal wore numb rolls $
HiJocn— wings a few, the first Pintails and Shovellers. Gadwalls, Black
Ducks and Blue-winged Teal were there all summer and raised broods of
young. Shore birds were not plentiful, and on Bodie Island they were
distinctly scarce.

Least Terns had about gone - wo saw only one or two; Gull-bills ^ ^nd
Roseate were quite common - also Royals. Common Terns were flying
south over the ocean in greet numbers - small groups passing all
(jav long in bunches of from one to forty. There were some Co-spian
Terns present, and I felt quite positive of the identification. when
I had opportunity to see them, several times, on a. sand bar, mixed with
gulls and other terns, including Royals, at quite close range and With
the light at my back.

Cowbirds and Bobolinks were fairly plentiful, but Swallows wore below

NOVEMBER- DEC EMBER 1940

THU CHAT

PAGE 112

ipar. I saw big flocks of

A

hom on only ono day. I saw scattered Mar-
tins several times, and every day there would be a few Barn and Tree
Swallows. Mr. Walker reported one Duck Hawk (Sept. 12); I thought I
saw a Pigeon Hawk on the wing, but Was not positive. Marsh Hawks were
fairly common. Some Eagles and Osprey’s very abundant. I saw two Ce-
dar Tax wings, a Prothonotarv Vkrbler and a Hater Thrush. Kingbirds
still abundant. Herons were scarce in places where they are usually
numerous at this season.

ROCKY MOUNT FIELD

F . II. Craighill, Rocky Mount.

The big flock of Martins here left on August 9th, which Is about normal
The big flocks of Chimney Swifts ought to stay until the second week
in October. The river floods in the middle of August brought in, as

birds. I saw 5 Black

on August

usual, numbers of sea and shor
16th; Common Tern on the 17th, and Laughing Gull on the 18th. There
were a dozen kinds of shore birds, with Pectoral Sandpipers and Yellow
Legs specially numerous. One nay I counted r> flock of 31 Pectorals
on the' golf course, and more than a hundred on the Airport. Perhaps
they were storm weary, but, for some reason, many of them were extreme-
ly tame and permitted very close approach and prolonged observation.

We added three varieties to our Rocky Mount list: the Stilt Sandpiper
on the 18th, the Black-bellied Plover on the 18th, end the Dowitcher
on the 19th. All were with clear and prolonged views, and very
identification. There were .
as usual most numerous. The

posit iv

ny '’Peep'' Sandpipers, with the Western,
oast and gemi-palmated were also there.

I went to Washington on the 19th. for a
rest of the flood period.

visit, aid missed the

THE CHAT NEEDJ A CHRISTMAS PRESENT: The first printed issue is to
appear in January and is eligible for postage rates as second-class
matter. The saving in postage, plus a little advertising matter,
will enable us to publish the Chat every-other month during the
school year, thus maintaining and increasing interest. Would you
be interested in giving any share of the following:

1- The ■„> 25.00 for a second-class permit.

2- Advertising matter for two cover pages, 9x6 inches, at

v 10.00 a page, or v 2.50 a quarter pa e; e.

THE BIRD, 3 OF NORTH CAROLINA by Pearson, Brimley, and Brimley, is
steadily gaining presubscription orders ar y 2.25. oend in yours
to Harry T. Davis, otate Museum, Raleigh.

Index To "The Chat," Vols. I-IV

The index to the mimeographed volumes is printed instead of being
mimeographed that it may have more permanent form and perhaps wider
distribution. First issues were not page numbered throughout the year,
but by issues, which necessitated the issue number being inserted in paren-
theses.

We have on hand extra copies of all issues if you wish to complete your
files and have them bound. Complete volumes will some day be valuable.
Single issues can be furnished at 20c each, and a full volume for $1.00.

Ahoskie, 4:57

American Ornithologists’ Union,
3:58; 3:76

Anderson, Grace, 1(5-6): 6
Anderson, W. L., Jr., 3:84
Arden, 3(1) : 11 ; 3:70, 76; 3:28,
41; 4:8

Argentina, 4:50

Atlantic Voyage, Birds of, 1(3-4):
1-3

Audubon Prints, 3:35
Auk, Razor-billed, 3(2): 11
“Auk,” The, 3:7 6
Avocet, 4:3

Back Bay Refuge, 3:65
Banding, 1(1) :4; 4:63, 107; Brown-
headed Nuthatch, 1(1): 13; expe-
riences in, 3:47; 3:32; Gulls,

3:26;Hawks and Owls, 1(2) :9
Battery Island, heron colony, 3:41
Beaufort. 1(1) : 12 ; 1(2) : 10 ; birds
of, 4:65

Biggs, Joseph D., 3:48; 3:43
Birds, the Friendly (presidential ad-
dress, 1939), 3:38
Bird Life on a Scottish Royal Sanc-
tuary, 3:60

Bird-Lore adds a Carolina season,
3:78

“Birds of North Carolina, the,” 4:94
Blackbird, Brewer’s, 1(2): 3
Blowing Rock, 1(2): 10; 1:63, 67
Bluebird, “Tommy,” 4:84
Bob-white, Texas, 1(2): 4; late nest-
ing, 1:67

Bogart, Sally, 4:62
Bostian, C. H., 3:85
Bragaw, Churchill, 3:43
Brevard, 3:76

Brimley, C. S., 1(1) :4, 9; 1(2) : 1;
1(5-6) :6; 3:30 (sketch of life);
3:40 (doctorate) ; 3: 49, 72; 3: 36,
65, 73, 85; 4:21, 86, 90
Brimley, H. H„ 1(2) : 6; 3:41;

3:70; 4:88, 105
Brooks, Maurice, 4:16
Brooks, Thornton H., 3:(2):2
Brown, E. E., 4:110
Buncombe County, the birds of,
4:21, 36

Busbee, Louise, 3:78

Cabarrus County, 3:40

Cairns, John S., 4:21

Cape Hatteras, the birds of, 3:1-20

Cape Lookout, 3:27

Caracara, Audubon’s, 3:73

Carolina Beach, 3:27
Carter, T. M., 3:36
Carteret County, 1(3-4) :7
Census, breeding bird, 3(2): 11
Census, Christmas, 3(1) :7, 75; 4:5-
12

Census, Spring, 4:52-57
Chapel Hill, 3(1) :9; 3:37, 68, 77;
4:10, 52

Charlotte, 4:15, 59
Chat, Yellow-breasted, 1(1) :8; 3:24
Chickadee, Northern Carolina, 3:73
Clarkson, Mrs. Edwin, 4:59, 84
Classification of birds, changes in,
3:36-38

Clingman’s Dome, 3(1): 11
Collie, Roxie 1(5-6): 6
Concord, 3:2 7

Conservation, Realism in, 3(2): 3-8
Cottam, Clarence, 3(2): 11
Cowbird, breeding, Roanoke Island,
1(2) :8; 1 (5-6) :10
Craighill, Francis H., 1(1) :5;

1(5-6) :7 ; 3:33, 43; 3:38; 4:111
Creeper, Southern, 3:73
Crow, Fish, 3(1) :9; Southern,
1 ( 2) : 5

Cuckoo, Yellow-hilled, 3:63
Currituck, 3:68

Davidson, 4:52
Davis, Maya, 3:22
Davis, Mrs. A. J., 3:25
Denton, 3:25

Destruction of birds by accidental
poisoning, 3:66
Dickcissel, 1(2) : 3
Dovekie, 4: 4

Dowitcher, Inland, 3:73; Long-
hilled, 3:73
Duck, Black, 1(2): 4
Durham, 3:84; 4:62

Easiest Birding in North Carolina
(Mattamuskeet) , 4:13-14
Eastern North Carolina, notes from,
1(1) :7-8

Elizabethtown, 3:68

Elkin, 3:57; birds of, 4:96-104

Fayetteville, 1(5-6): 12; 3:68
Field Glasses, 3:29
Flamingo, American, in North Caro-
lina, 1:61; 3:72
Flicker, Southern, 1(2) : 5 ; 1:68
Flora, Jerome B., 1(5-6) :3
Florida Audubon Society, 3:89

Foreword, 1(1) :1
Fox, Wade, Jr., 2:39

Gadwall, 4:2

Georgia Ornithological Society,
2:66; 3:89
Godwit, Marbled, 4:3
Golden-eye, Barrow’s, 1(2): 6
Goose, Blue, 2(2) : 13 ; 4:2; Hutch-
in’s Canada, 1(2) :4; White-
fronted, 4:2

Grebe, Pied-billed, 1(5-6): 6
Green, Edwin L., 3:1
Greene, Earle R., 1:45
Greensboro, 1(1) : 10 ; 2(2) :2; 2:29,
39, 46, 75; 3:68; 4:9, 52
Greenville, 2:3 8

Grey, John H., Jr., 1(3-4) :1;

2(1) :2; 2:60, 72; 4:1, 18, 107
Grinnell, Mrs. D. W., 3:69
Grosbeak, Evening, 1(2): 3
Gull, Great Black-backed, 2(2) :13;
Iceland, 1(2) :3

Hagar, Joseph A., 2(2): 3
Hawk, Florida Red-tailed, 4:2;
Swainson’s, 1(2) :6; shooting of,
2:67

Healing Springs, Davidson County,
4:9

Henderson, 1 ( 3-4 ) : 6 ; 1:65; 3:33-
36 (sanctuary), 40; 4:42
Heron, Great White, 1(2) : 2 ; rook-
eries, 1:60; 2:41-43, 65
Hodel, Earl M., 4:96
Hunter, Claudia, 3:33; 4:37

Ibis, Glossy, 1(2) :2; Wood, 2:68
International Committee for Bird
Preservation, 1 ( 5-6 ) : 1
Isle of May, 2(1) :2-5

Jaegar, Pomarine, 1(2) :3
Jay, Blue, 1:68; Florida Blue,
1 ( 2) : 5

Junco, Carolina, 2:51

Kanuga Lake, 2:53
Ketner, Mrs. J. T., 4:57
Kingbird, Arkansas, 1(2): 3
Kinglet, Yellow-crowned — Ruby-
crowned, 1(1) :9; Golden-crown-
ed, 3:25

Lake James, 1:67
Lapwing, 1(2) :3

Lark, Prairie Horned, 1(2): 11;
1(3-4) :6; 1:63

Lawrence, Harley C., 2(2): 10
Lay, George B., 1:60
Learn a bird a week, 1:62
Lenoxville, 1(1): 12
Lewiston, 1(3-4) :6; 2(2) :12
Lexington, 1(2): 11
Local clubs, see Durham, Greens-
boro, Henderson, Raleigh, Salis-
bury, Southern Pines, Statesville,
Winston-Salem.

Local lists, value of, 4:90

McAllister, Lacy L., 1(2) : 7
Mcllwaine, Wm. B., Jr., 4:15
Mammals of North Carolina, 3:67

Martins, Purple, 1(2) : 9 ; 1(5-6) :3;

1:64; 2(2):8; 2:54; 3:22; 4:91
Massachusetts Audubon Society,
2(1) :10; 2(2) :3

Mattamuskeet; annotated list, 170
species, 1:45-58; 2(2):10; 3:85;
4:13

Merganser, Red-breasted, 4:2
Micaville, Yancey County, 4:7
Migration, 1(5-6) :8; 2:33-35
Montreat, 3:67; 4:58
Morganton, 2:3 7

Murray, J. J„ 1(1) :7; 1:63, 67-68;
2:51, 64; 4:90

My Ornithological Education (C. S.
Brimley), 2:30

Nag’s Head, 1(5-6):11; 2(1):12
Native trees and shrubs for bird
food, 3:78

Nature study, courses for, 4:58
North Carolina Bird Club; annual
meeting, 2(2):1; 2:27; 3:30-32;
4:40; executive board meeting,
3:62; fall meeting, 3:81; 4:88;
five-year program for, 4:37-39;
members, 1(1):5; 1(2) : 10 ;

1 ( 3-4) : 4 ; 1 ( 5-6 ) : 7 ; 2:28; 3:24,
90; 4:20, 44, 91; membership
committee, 4:18; organization
meeting, 1(1): 2-3; summary for
1937, 2(1) :1

North Carolina Bird Check-list, ad-
ditions and corrections, 1(1) : 5 ;
1(2): 1-6 ; 1(3):5; 1:64; 2:72-
74; 4:90

North Carolina Birds, gaps in knowl-
edge of, 3:65, 73, 85-89
Nest record cards, 4:64
Nests, 1(2) :6
New Bern, 3:27
New River, 2:37; 3:29
Niagara, 2(1) : 7
Nighthawk, Florida, 1(2): 5
Nuthatch, Brown-headed, 1(1): 13;
2:39

Ocean birds in winter, 4:49
Odum, Eugene P., 2:63
Onslow County, 1(2):9
Orr, Mark Taylor, 3:24
Orton, 1 (2) : 10; 2(2 ) : 12 ; 2:46
Owl, Eastern Screech, 1(2) : 4 ; Flor-
ida Barred, 1(2) :5; Great Horn-
ed, 2:56; Saw-whet, 4:5; Snowy,
flight year, 2:46

Page, Gertrude W., 1(5-6): 5
Pea Island, 1:61,, 65; 2:43, 52, 56,
68, 69; 3:60-62; 4:11, 86-88, 111
Pearson, T. Gilbert, 1(5-6) :1;

2(2) :9; 3:64, 82; 4:50
Peters, Harold S., 4:42-44
Phalarope, Red, 4:3
Pigeon, Passenger, 1(2) : 4 ; 1:62-63
Pinebluff, 1(3-4) :6; 1(5-6) :10;

1:66; 2(1):5, 7
Pittsboro, 2(2) : 13
Primrose, J. G., 2:47; 3:32
Pritchett, H. D., 3:66
Pough, Richard H., 4:49

*

Quail, Valley, 2:73
Quay, Thomas L., 2:64; 3:60; 4:13,
52; Violet Quay, 3:60

Rail, Wayne’s Clapper, 2:74
Raleigh, 1(1): 9 (additions to list);
1(1) :12, 13; 1(3-4) :8 ; 1(5-6):
10; 1:67; 2(1) :8 ; 2(2):14;

2:30, 51, 64, 68, 70, 71, 78;
3:28, 41, 42; 4:8, 52
“Raven, the,” 1(2) : 9 ; 3:29
Redstart, 1(1) : 8
Richmond County, 2:38
Roanoke Island, 1(2): 8; 1(5-6):

10; 1:65

Roanoke Rapids, 2(2): 14
Robeson County, 1(1): 7
Robin, roosts, 2:36; 3:25; South-
ern, 1(1) : 7

Rocky Mount, 1(1): 11; 1(2) : 8 ;

1(3-4) : 7 ; 1(5-6) :11; 1:65;

2(1 ) : 9 ; 2:76; 3:28, 40; 4:7, 52,
112

Rosscraggen Wood, Inc., 3:69; 4:17,
52

Royal Shoal, the Royal Terns of,
3:70

Salisbury, 1(2) :10; 2:38; 4:57
Sanborn, Nellie F., 1(1): 9
Sanctuaries, city, see Ahoskie, Hen-
derson, Pinebluff, Rosscraggen,
Wood-Arden, Siler City, States-
ville

Scouts, bird study, 1(2) : 7
Seasons bring parade of birds
(Statesville), 3:72
Shearwater, Audubon’s, 4:1; Great-
er, 4:1; Sooty, 4:105
Shelburne, Mary, 2:52; 3:43
Sheldrake, Ruddy, 1(2): 2
Shrike, Loggerhead, 1(1) :7; 1(3-
4) :3; 2:49, 50

Sight record, when valid, 1(1) :4
Siler City, 3:22
Simpson, Roxie Collie, 4:65
Skyland, 3:41

Slocumb’s Creek, Craven County,
3:40

Smoky Mountains, 2(1) : 1 2 ; 4:11
Southern Pines, 1(1) : 9 ; 2(1) :7;

2:29, 77; 3:74; 4:10, 60
Sparrow, Atlantic Song, 1(2) : 5 ;
Churchill Savannah, 2:74; Labra-
dor Savannah, 2:74; Mississippi
Song, 1:68; 2:74; Nelson’s

1(2): 6; Sharp-tailed, 1(2): 6
Spoonbill, Roseate, 1(2) :2
Spring roundup, 4:52-57

Starling, 1(1) : 7 ; 1(2):3; 2(2):9;
4:47-49

Statesville, 1(1) : 11; 1(5-6) :9;

2( 1) : 6 ; 4:52
Swallows, 4:18-19, 60
Swan, Trumpeter, 2(1) :10
Swannanoa, 1:67; 4:18

Teal, European, 1(2): 3
Tennessee Ornithological Society,
3:89

Tern, Forster’s, 1(5-6): 7; Gull-
billed, 2:43; Least, breeding hab-
its of, 1(5-6) :5; 2:64; Roseate,
4:3; Royal, 3:70; 4:107
Thrush, Willow, 2:74; 1:64
Towhee, Alabama, 1(2) : 5 ; subsp.,
1 ( 1) : 8

Tropic Bird, Yellow-billed, 1(2) :2;
4:1

Unchecked increase of birds (theo-
retical), 3:36

Unusual records in 1939, 4:1-5

Vireo, Red-eyed, 1(5-6): 6
Virginia Society Ornithology, 1(2):
11; 3:29

Warbler, Brewster’s, 1(2): 4; 2:49;
Kirtland’s, 1(1) : 5 ; 1(2) : 3 ; Law-
rence’s, 1(1):5; 1(2):4; 2:49,
51; Mourning, 4:58; Prothono-
tary, 2:48; Swainson’s, 1(1) : 7 ;
Wayne’s, 1(2) :5; Yellow Palm,
1 ( 1 ) : 8

Washington (N. C.), 1(3-4) :3;

1:65; 2(1) :8; 2:30, 37, 56, 79;
3:28; birds of, 3:43-59; 4:6, 62
Waxwing, Cedar, 2:57
Whiteville, 2(1) :12
Wild life management in N. C.,
2 ( 1) : 6

Wilding, Mrs. Weldon, 3:84
Williams, F. D., 4:47
Williamston, 2:38
Wilmington, 2:57

Wilson Bulletin, 3:89; Wilson Orni-
thological Club, 3:89; 4:16
Windom, 4:10

Winston-Salem, 2:68, 75; 3:84; 4:6
Wintyen, Mary Keller, 3:74; 4:60
Woodpecker, Red-headed, 2:52
Wren, Prairie Marsh, 1(2) :5 South-
ern Winter, 2:74; Wayne’s
Marsh, 1 ( 2 ) : 5

Yellow - throat, Athens, 1(2): 5;
Northern, 1(2) :5; 4:90