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Birds Florida Field Naturalist

Pl’BLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VOL. 6 SPRING 1978 NO. I

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Founded 1972

Officers for 1977-1979

President: David W. Johnston, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville,
Florida 32611.

Vice-President: John C. Ogden, National Audubon Society, Research Department,
115 Indian Mound Trail, Tavernier, Florida 33070.

Secretary: Barbara Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803.
Treasurer: Caroline Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid,
Florida 33852.

Directors 1976-1978

Frank M. Dunstan, National Audubon Society, P. O. Box 4181, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

17111.

John B. Edscorn, Rt. 14, Box 350, Lakeland, Florida 33801.

Peggy Powell, 2965 Forest Circle, Jacksonville, Florida 32217.

Directors 1977-1979

W. Wilson Baker, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida
32303.

John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Herbert W. Kale, II, Ornithological Research Division, 35- 1st Court SW, Vero Beach,
Florida 32960.

All persons interested in Florida natural history, particularly its abundant bird life, are
invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by writing the Treasurer. Membership dues
are $5.00 per year for regular members (those who are members of the Florida Audubon
Society) and $6.00 per year for associate members. All members receive the Florida Field
Naturalist. Subscription price for institutions and non-members is $6.00 per year. Single issues
are $2.50 per copy for regular members, $3.00 per copy for associate members and subscribers.

Manuscripts submitted for publication and books intended for review should be sent to the
Editor (see inside back cover). Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or defective
copies of this journal, and requests for information about advertising, subscriptions, and back
numbers should be sent to the Assistant Treasurer, Mrs. Betty Valkenburg, Florida Or-
nithological Society, P. O. Drawer 7, Maitland, Florida 32751.

Published semi-annually by the Florida Ornithological Society, Maitland, Florida 32751.
Printed by Sharp Offset Printing Inc., Rutland, Vermont 05701.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Semi-Annual Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 6, No. 1 Spring 1978 Pages 1-22

ROOF-NESTING TERNS, SKIMMERS, AND PLOVERS IN FLORIDA

Erma J. Fisk

With increasing development and human use of beaches, roof-nesting
may provide the means of survival of some beach-nesting birds. Despite
problems, some of which could be alleviated, roof-nesting birds are less sub-
ject to disturbance and predation. In 1974, Louise L. Greene alerted the
author to the fact that Least Terns {Sterna albifrons) had been nesting on
roofs in Fort Lauderdale since the 1960’s. A 1975 survey of all nesting Least
Terns on Florida’s Atlantic Coast estimated 2500 pairs in 52 colonies, 21% of
these (614 pairs) were in 16 roof colonies. Since then, 43 roof-nesting sites
have been documented in Florida for Least Terns, three for Black Skimmers
{Rynchops nigra), two for Wilson’s Plover {Charadrius wilsonia), and one
enigmatic record (see comments below) for either Common {S. hirundo) or
Roseate (S’, dougallii) tern. Killdeers {Charadrius vociferus) also nest on
roofs in Florida, but site details for this species have not been tabulated for
this report.

Results

Listed below are such site details as are available for Least Terns (Table
1) and for Wilson’s Plover, Black Skimmer, and the Common/Roseate tern
(Table 2). In the tables, active denotes incubated eggs or brooded chicks, and
a parapet is any sort of raised edge to a roof that prevents chicks from falling
off the roof. Initials of observers are listed after each site entry and names
appear in the acknowledgments. For each roof-nesting site, I have given as
complete a description and history of use as the available data permit.

Table 1. Roof-nesting sites of Least Terns in Florida.

Atlantic coast, north to south.

DUVAL COUNTY. JACKSONVILLE. — Nears Roebuck & Co.. Warehouse,
isolated rural area 13 mi inland. Roof, elevation 6 stories, 18 acres gravelled with ex-
cellent drainage, IVi ft parapet. Adults feed in artificial pond 1 mi away and probably the
St. John’s River IVi mi away. 1975: 25 June, 140 adults, 17 + nests, 2 chicks, 100
fledglings; 23 July, 2 nests, 69 chicks, 15 fledglings; 19 August, all birds gone, no
predators observed. 1976: 1 June, 364 adults, 51 nests, 80 eggs, 170 chicks; 9 July, 2 eggs,
21 chicks; despite some failures due to heavy rain and Fish Crows, and possible grackles

1

2

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. I, Spring 1978

and a Loggerhead Shrike, this was a successful-colony. Florida Junior College, inland, 4
mi from Intracoastal Waterway. Roof elevation 3 stories. Some adults fed in artificial
pond, others flew in direction of ICW. 1975; 29 May, 6 adults, 8 eggs; 25 June, 2 adults, 2
downy chicks washed alive to 2nd story roof, one chick found dead on ground; 30 July, 5
fledglings still being fed by adults. 1976, one pair fledged young. Lamb’s Yatch Basin, on
Ortega River, 19 mi inland, just S of city limits. Roof, gravel, single boat dock. 1975: 20
July, 68 adults, 10 chicks, 34 fledglings; reports of many chicks washed into river during
earlier storms. 1976, no nesting. A closed motel at 195 and SR20. 1976, about 50 adults
(BSO).

BREVARD COUNTY. COCOA. — A motel at 195 and SR520. 1976, about 50 adults
(RDB). MERRITT ISLAND. Cooks, SR 520 W of Sykes Creek. 1975, birds
predated by crows (LE). TITUSVILLE. ■— A closed motel at 195 and SR50, S of
Titusville. 1976, about 50 adults (HWK). Titusville Post Office, adjacent to Intracoastal
Waterway. Rural-suburban. Roof, elevation one story, high parapets. 1974-1976, several
birds seen flying in and out, grackles on parapet, success doubtful. Reported by janitor.
Probably an extension of an adjacent colony (ca. 30 pairs 1974-1975) in vegetated field
used by fishermen and cars (EJF).

ST. LUCIE COUNTY. FORT PIERCE. -- K-Mart, 211 S. Federal Hwy., about 500
ft from Sears (see below). Roof, flat, gravelled, parapet, no shade. Nearest salt water 2
mi, adults feed in ditch 300 ft distant. 1976, 28 June, 100 adults, 46 chicks banded (WED,
HWK). Sears Roebuck & Co., urban area near Rt. 1. Roof, elevation one story, part flat,
part sloping with majority of birds on slope, parapet minimal. 1976: 28 June, 160 nests,
170 young, 1 10 banded, some with orange tags, chicks found on ground, the 4 live chicks
restored on the roof; 24 August, 14 abandoned eggs, 1 chick, 6 flying young, 9 chick car-
casses (WED, HWK).

MARTIN COUNTY. STUART. — Green Turtle Condominium. 1975, “large

numbers,” successful (Stuart News). East Ocean Mall, 1976, June, many adults and/or
young present (RLD).

PALM BEACH COUNTY. BOCA RATON. — /5M Complex, suburban, many
acres of flat roof. 1973-1974, ca 12 adults flying from roof to feed in decorative pond.
1975, crows wiped out early nesting, a “few pairs” renested (RW, EJF).
DEERFIELD. — First Federal Savings Bank. Urban. Roof elevation IVi stories. 1974-
1975, a few pairs seen flying in and out (RW, EJF). TEQUESTA. — Lighthouse Shop-
ping Plaza, Grant’s and adjacent store. Rural-urban. Roof, elevation 2 and 1 stories
respectively, flat, tar and gravel-shell with high parapet on 2 sides (Grant’s), parapet en-
tire on other roof, ample shade. Chicks found undamaged on a lower roof of Grant’s and
some in the parking lot. 1973, birds present. 1974: early May, 100 pairs; mid-June, max-
imum of 97 nests, 75 young. 1975: Grant’s only, 26 May, 150 nests with 135 young, 101
chicks banded, some with orange tags; 21 June, 41 young. 1976, 26 May, heavy rain,
water on roof, 12 nests, 4 young, no eggs, no known renesting (RER, HWK, EJF).

BROWARD COUNTY. FORT LADDERD ALE. — Jefferson’s, 2400 N. Federal
Highway. Building constructed in 1960 on former nesting site of Leasts, Killdeers, and
Common Nighthawks. Formerly suburban, now urban with heavy traffic. Roof, elevation
3 stories, area 187,000 fP, tar and gravel-shell, partial parapet, shade, small grassy patch
by air conditioner seepage. 1961-1962, birds present. 1963-1964, numbers increasing.
1965: active April-June; 5 May, 40 nests, 64 eggs; 12 May, 7 nestlings; 25 June, 119
young, 1 adult banded; chick mortality from starvation, drowning in clogged drain

FISK. Roof-nesting Birds

3

spouts, Fish Crows, domestic cats preying on those that fell off building, and probably,
lack of shade. 1966, colony failed, human disturbance. 1967, colony returned. 1974, 18
May, 20 adults, 2 nests (ADI, LLG, EJF). Kwik Chek (formerly Winn-Dixie), 2600
Federal Hwy. Urban. Roof elevation one story. 1961-1976, birds present, 1974, 10 adults.
1976, 10 adults (ADI, EJF, LLG). Cora! Ridge Shopping Plaza and a Used Furniture
Store. 1961-1975, birds irregularly observed (ADI). Port Everglades Authority
Warehouses I, 2, 3, along Intracoastal Waterway, industrial. Two roofs, 22,700 ft^ each
with a slight pitch, one 150 X 22 ft portion with 10% pitch, elevation 40 ft, tar and pea-
rock, incomplete parapet. 1974: active 27 April-31 July, 200 adults; 28 May, 57 eggs, 107
chicks, highest count; 13 July, 14 broken eggs, 3 eggs being incubated; 20 July, 10 chicks,
31 July, 2 chicks, 4 eggs (LLG, RAM). 1975: active 19 May-2 August; high count on 30
May of 177 nests, 179 eggs, 183 chicks, down nearly 50% the next day after storm; 25
June, 44 chicks banded (21 color marked, orange wing tag). 1976: observations 8-27 May
only, to avoid disturbing nesting Black Skimmers (see Table 2); max. of 121 nests, 162
eggs, 107 live chicks, 45 dead fresh hatched chicks, predation by Fish Crows probable
(LLG). Southport Marina, 135 SE 16 Street, near Patterson Causeway. Uban. Roof,
elevation 3 stories, area 300 ft^ tar and gravel with slight pitch, main section with
parapet, 5 drainage openings each side. Perimeter roofs on E and W 2 and 3 ft lower,
some shade. 1975, 31 May, 28 nests, 18 eggs, 31 chicks. Fish Crow predation. 1976, no
birds (JP). Oakland Post Office, 1900 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Roof, area 22,700 ft^
center section 4 ft higher, allowing drainage, no parapet. 1976: active 12 May-28 June; 19
May, 42 nests, 69 chicks; 2 June, 65 chicks banded; adult mortality 30, with high of 7 plus
2 sick on 9 June; feeding grounds apparently in lakes and canals near houses (JW).
POMPANO BEACH (Lighthouse Point). — Zayre’s, 3772 N. Federal Hwy. Roof,
elevation 1 Vi stories, tar and gravel-shell, uneven, little shade, no parapets, deep gutters
trapping chicks. 1969, 1 June, “many incubating and well grown young” (AFMcG).
1970-1973, birds present. 1974, late May, 80 nests, chicks from 1-7 days old, later 50
fledged young used roof as a roost for several weeks (EJF, TH). 1975, 21 May, 48 adults
with chicks 1-7 days old, 1 1 banded, but disturbance caused young to run off roof (EJF).
Pompano Beach Fashion Square, large mall. Unconfirmed reports of prior presence.
1975, 23 May, 8-10 adults. 1976, “about 30 adults present” (LLG).

DADE COUNTY. MIAMI. — Planet Ocean, 3979 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia
Key, building on a former nesting site. Roof, elevation 60 ft, 1.6 acres, flat, tar and gravel,
parapets. Access by cherry picker or extension ladder only. 1975, 21 June, 12 nests, 20
eggs, flying young, construction work in progress. 1976, 11 May, 35 nests, heavy losses
from flooding but some success, some adult mortality (MT). MIAMI
BEACH. — Miami Beach Yacht Corp., 1928 Purdy Ave., just N of Venetian Causeway.
Urban. No access, building torn down in 1975. 1951 or 1952, birds observed on roof
(JKH). NORTH MIAMI. — Congress Bowling Alley, 125 St. NE & 16 Ave. Urban.
Roof elevation 22 ft. 1976: active, 20 April-20 July when all but 4 young killed in a storm;
4 May, 35 nests (TP). Diplomat Mall, Hallandale Blvd. Urban. 1975, 100 adults, at least
50 fledglings. 1976, none present, probably moved to Yatch Harbor Apts., see below (TP,
EL). Warehouse, 18955 NE 3 Court. Urban. 1976: active 10 ApriI-20 July; 7 June, 175
adults, 20 nests under incubation, 100 young; 135 fledged; temp. 90-92° F (TP). Westland
Shopping Ct., Palmetto Expressway & 103 St. NW. Urban. Nesting suspected but not
confirmed. (TP). Yacht Harbor Apts., Inc., 2200 Diane Drive. Urban. Roof, elevation 4
stories, flat, gravel, 3 sides with metal parapet, drains not screened, shade. Adults
evidently feed in nearby lagoon. 1976, “hundreds of birds” (TP, EL). SOUTH
MIAMI. — Burdine’s, Dadeland Shopping Mall, Kendall Ave. Urban. Roof, elevation 4

4

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. I, Spring 1978

stories (parking garage), 1.9 acres, tar and crushed coal aggregate, parapets, shade. 1972,
active, possibly earlier. 1974, 100-120 adults, estimated fledging success on first nesting,
30% renesting subjected to flooding. 1975: active 3 May-4 July; 3 May, 14 nests, 2 eggs;
25 May, 12 nests with eggs, chicks; total adult mortality 20. 1976: active mid-April, a few
nesters remaining to 25 June; 27 May, 24 nests, 36 eggs, 5 chicks; 5 June, 5 nests, 7 eggs, 5
chicks; storm on 28 May caused much mortality, including adults (MT).

Gulf Coast, north to south.

PINELLAS COUNTY. ST. PETERSBURG. — Roy Co., 5000 Park St.

1969, colony established. 1976, colony still present, no details (DP).

SARASOTA COUNTY. SARASOTA. — Longboat Key Apartment Building, on
Gulf and pass to Bay. Roof, elevation 3 stories, area 65,000 ft^ Bat, tar and gravel, drains
covered. 1974, previous beach colony moved to roof. 1975, birds present. 1976: total of
350 active nests calculated from 7-10 nests in a 1250 fC area; sucessful; dead chicks found
in parking lot, predation by crows and gulls (FCP). Kane’s Furniture Store, along Hwy
41, S edge of city. Urban. Roof, parapet, drains screened, shade. Waterway and pond ad-
jacent. Predation by Fish Crows and Laughing Gulls. 1975, 90-100 adults. 1976, 12 June,
12 nests, 18 eggs. (FCP, MMS). Darby Buick Agency, flat roof, Vi mi from bay, fresh-
water pond near by. 1975, “very active colony” (FCP). Warehouse Roof, E of Sarasota.
1976, birds present (FCP). Stinnett Pontiac, Rt 41. 1976, birds present (SS).
Panhandle.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY. PENSACOLA. — Municipal Auditorium, on the end of pier
extending into the bay. Roof, 50 ft elevation, wide, slightly sloping, tar and asphalt. 1957:
8 July, 10 nests, 1 1 dead chicks, 3 live chicks; 16 July, 6 nests, some dead chicks, 2 live
ones. (Goodnight 1957). 1963, colony still active (Sprunt 1963). 1974-1976, reports of
colony still active. Sears Roebuck & Co. 1976, birds present (RD).

Inland.

ORANGE COUNTY. MAITLAND. — Rose's Dept. Store, Market Square Shop-
ping Ctr., Rt 436. Birds feed in Lakes Howell and Ann. 1975, 17 July, colony present, no
access. 1976, colony present, young birds seen in area (RJD). ORLANDO. — Pepsi Cola
Bldg., 1700 Director’s Row, Rt. 441, S of city. Roof, elevation 30 ft, area 6000 ft^ Bat,
tar and gravel. 1976, late May, 10-12 adults carrying food (RJD).

Table 2. Roof-nesting sites of Wilson’s Plover, Common/Roseate tern, and Black

Skimmer. See Table 1 for locality details.

Wilson’s Plover.

DADE COUNTY. ^ hh H AKmCR. — Beau Rivage Hotel. 1961-1962 to 1964-1965,
“in the shadow of a ventilator. Eggs were usually under incubation by April 10th. The
latest I remember seeing them was May 10th.” (McGowan 1969). MIAMI. ^ — Planet
Ocean. 1976, wing-dragging display photographed (MT).

Common/ Roseate tern.

BROWARD COUNTY. POMPANO REACH. ^ Zayre’s. 1969, 12 adults with
feathered young (McGowan 1969). These nesting terns might have been Roseates, as
Common Terns are not known to breed on this portion of the Atlantic Coast, while
Roseates regularly nest about 100 miles to the southwest in Key West.

Black Skimmer.

BROWARD COUNTY. FORT LAUDERDALE. — For/ Everglades Authority

FISK. Roof-nesting Birds

5

Warehouses. 1974, seen briefly at roof. 1975: 12 July, 45 adults, 8 nests, 12 eggs; all eggs
subsequently vanished, Fish Crow predation suspected. 1976: nesting unsuccessful,
monitored at a distance to avoid disturbance; 21 July, 47 adults, about 12 incubating; 27
July, eggs seen scattered about roof; 10 August, one small chick which had vanished by 14
August (LLG).

DADE COUNTY. NORTH MIAMI. — Warehouse. 1976: 7 June, 16 adults; 30 June,
35 adults, 5 nests, little shade; 26 July, 4 adults, 2 young; eventually 4 young were seen
leaving and returning to the roof (TP). SOUTH MIAMI. — Burdines. 1975, 8 July, 7
adults circled over roof and landed, not seen again. 1976: 27 May, 17 adults, 4 nests with
single eggs, 3 eggs lying outside active scrapes had large ragged holes in top or end, con-
tents fresh but not consumed; 25 June, roof flooded, 2 groupings about 150 ft apart, one
with 5 nests (4 with 1 egg, 1 with 3), the other 7 nests with single eggs in water, 3 ad-
ditional eggs freshly broken, unconsumed; through 17 July, 30-75 adults seen on roof; 17
July, 10 nests, 11 eggs (one nest with 3 eggs, previous 3-egg clutch gone), several fresh
damaged eggs scattered away from active nests, one small chick, adults dive on observer;
23 July, after severe storm, flock absent but one pair still feeding chick until 24 July when
flooding and repairmen on roof evidently caused abandonment (MT).

ST. LUCIE COUNTY. FORT PIERCE. — K-Mart. 1976: 23 June, a few present; 22
July, 30 adults, no nesting observed, birds left, probably due to human disturbance, but 3
eggs found abandoned in August (WED, HWK).

Skimmer behavior. Unlike other roof-nesters that lay their eggs on the gravel, skimmers
scrape away the gravel and lay on a circle of black tar that is easily visible. Green and
Kale (1976) report at least one egg stuck in tar which may cause breakage when an in-
cubating bird tries to turn the egg. Another cause of breakage might be the weight of the
bird on the flat surface, lacking the considerable nest hollow used in the sand. Trafton’s
(So. Miami) broken eggs were outside their scrapes, uneaten, with neighboring Least
Tern eggs undamaged. Grant and Hogg (1976) found and photographed three damaged
eggs outside skimmer scrapes, “evidently punctured by their knifelike bills,” and
Chamberlain (1959) noted eggs displaced from nests of late-nesting skimmers. When dis-
turbed, skimmers fly off for a longer period of time than Least Terns and leave eggs and
chicks exposed to sun and predation, which may explain egg disappearance at Fort
Lauderdale in 1975.

Discussion

The locations and status of 43 documented roof-nesting sites for the Least
Tern, Black Skimmer, Wilson’s Plover, and Common/Roseate tern were
reported by 21 amateur naturalists and 4 professional biologists, and includes
information received to 1 April 1977. Thirty-three of the sites are from
Florida’s east coast (one was 13 miles inland), eight are from the Gulf coast,
and two are from central Florida. The majority (ca 35) were described as ur-
ban and in areas of heavy vehicular traffic. Feeding areas, both fresh and salt
water, were up to IVi miles distant. Roofs varied in size up to many acres in
extent and were from one to six stories high. Composition of the rooftop sur-
face was pea-rock (riverstone and limerock) or shell gravel on tar. Colony
size ranged from “a few” pairs to 180 pairs. Incubation dates ranged from 3
May into August.

6

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol, 6, No. I, Spring 1978

Nesting success of Least Terns is difficult to estimate whether on roofs or
on beaches. In Florida, Leasts move often and are unpredictable in their
choice of nesting sites. When disturbed they renest, either on their first site of
the season or elsewhere, confusing any estimate of total numbers. While food
supply, flooding, or disturbance certainly affect them, their comings and
goings often remain inexplicable. On roofs of some buildings often built on
former natural colony sites, they may show strong site tenacity. At Pensacola
they have used the same location for 20 years. At Fort Lauderdale a few still
appear on favored buildings after 12 years in spite of deterioration of the
neighborhood. However, they may move across a, city street, as in North
Miami, or abandon a site entirely, as in South Miami. A 1975 study of Leasts
in northeast Florida estimated fledging success on roofs at 77% vs. 9% in
natural colony sites (B. S. Obst, pers. comm.). A recent study of roof-nesting
Common Terns in Finland gave production as 2.8 young per pair (in spite of
crow predation), double the usual 1.4 young per pair for natural colony sites
(Hakala and Jokinen 1971).

The advantages of roofs to nesting Least Terns include the absence of dis-
turbance, of mammalian predators, and of the dense vegetative growth that
renders many spoil islands and beaches unsuitable. Temperature appears not
to be a problem. At Fort Lauderdale, Greene measured the midday air
temperature at the roof surface of the Port Authority warehouse to be 98° F
(37° C), and at the sand surface of a nearby beach it was 106° F (41° C).

Disadvantages of roofs to nesting Least Terns include flooding by heavy
rains and the frequent lack of parapets and shade for chicks (for remedies see
below). Storms may deposit several inches of rain on a flat roof, washing eggs
and chicks from nests into drains and gutters. Goodnight (1957) and Inwood
(1975) both report seeing chicks washed into downspouts and emerging un-
harmed below, but most young are not so lucky. All observers report chicks
huddling in the sparse shade of ventilators, lumber, or trash. Chicks may run
off roofs or become trapped in gutters, either on their own or more com-
monly in response to human disturbance. Chicks are sometimes found on
pavements at the mercy of traffic, heedless shoppers, or animals. Roof repair
during the breeding season usually causes a colony to desert, and exposed tar
areas can trap adults and chicks. Fledglings may land on streets or parking
lots, especially if nearby natural areas are lacking.

Roofs also have disadvantages for researchers. Few of them are easily
accessible, because of construction, insurance regulations, or the natural
reluctance of busy building managers to let strangers prowl about. Even un-
der the best conditions access is limited to two to four brief visits a season.
The careful studies done at Fort Lauderdale warehouses necessitated climb-
ing a two story vertical outside ladder. One dedicated observer reached a roof

FISK. Roof-nesting Birds

1

first by cherry picker, and later only by a 60-foot extension ladder steadied by
workmen. The author was admitted to two rooftops only by showing a letter
from the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Interior. A researcher needs
to be a missionary, diplomat, and salesman to convince some building owners
of the value of their buildings to the birds, and of the promotional value to the
owners that stories in the media can give. Managers of chain stores must
often refer requests to monitor and protect roof colonies to their home office,
so if groundwork is not done in the winter the colony may be gone before ap-
proval is granted. Both the Port Authority of Fort Lauderdale and Sears
Roebuck and Co. have been most helpful in granting access to roofs.

Protection Of Colonies

While it is important to continue documentation of colonies, the advan-
tages to ornithology of detailed studies should be carefully weighed against
the advantages to the birds of being left undisturbed. The Least Tern is of-
ficially endangered in California, under consideration for this category in
New Jersey (Galli, pers. comm.) and the Mississippi race appears rare or ab-
sent (Downing, pers. comm.). In Massachusetts where all colonies are posted
and patrolled, compression into fewer and fewer natural areas have made
them annually more vulnerable to predators and natural disasters. While the
species appears abundant in Florida, 1975 estimates of the total Atlantic
coast population of the United States showed an 80% decline since the mid-
1940’s (Nisbet, pers. comm.). Therefore, careful consideration should be
given to the goals and methods of any study. Even under the best of con-
ditions the appearance of man on a roof causes disturbance. The chicks
scatter and take shelter and fall in gutters or off the roof, and adults flying up
risk exposure of eggs and young. Data on incubation and nestling periods,
renesting efforts, and effects of wind, flooding, and repairmen are already
well documented. Ambient temperature can be taken on adjacent buildings.
Information about location, size, and feeding areas of roof-nesting colonies is
needed, but much can be learned from ground observation or neighboring
buildings. Banding studies and photography are occasionally desirable and
should only be conducted by or under the close supervision of experienced
workers.

Liasion with property owners and architectural firms and public tolerance
of roof colonies can be stimulated by articles and photographs in the press, as
well as by citizen concern. Fisk’s (1975) article on roof-nesting Least Terns
resulted in inquiries from California and Europe, and in an ongoing cor-
respondence with the Department of Architecture at Notre Dame University.

Roof construction that meets requirements of sand-nesting birds is
relatively simple, including a slight pitch to provide drainage, a parapet at

8

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring 1978

least three or four inches high, screened drains, and structures of some sort
that provide drainage. As an environmental service, the Port Authority of
Fort Lauderdale has been working with Louise L. Greene to incorporate
these needs in their plans for a new building.

Future Reports

The frequency of roof-nesting in Least Terns appears to be increasing,
and is no longer restricted to Florida. Three records exist in Charleston,
South Carolina (LeGrand 1976) and four in Louisiana (Stewart 1976). Un-
doubtedly many more such colonies exist in Florida. The author urges
observers to be alert for roof colonies, especially at shopping malls and
similar areas with vast gravel roofs. She would appreciate learning of sites
with such data as the type of building and roof, size of colony, and proximity
to feeding areas, and insofar as it is possible without disturbing the colony,
any information on dates, stage of breeding cycle and estimated success.

Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to William B. Robertson, Jr., and Herbert W. Kale, II, for en-
couragement during the course of this study, and to H. Kale and Fred E. Lohrer for review and
suggestions on this article. The following people submitted observations for this report; R. J.
Demmer, W. E. Dowling, R. L. Downing, R. Duncan, L. Ellis, J. Galli, L. L. Greene, T. Her-
man, J. K. Howard, A. D. Inwood, H. W. Kale, II, E. Lowis, R. A. Martz, A. F. McGowan, 1.
C. T. Nisbet, B. S. Obst, O. T. Owre, T. Pafford, J. Patterson, R. Payne, F. C. Porter, D.
Powell, R. E. Roberts, M. M. Simons, S. Stedman, M. Trafton, Jr., J. Willis, and R. Willocks.

Literature Cited

Chamberlain, J. L. 1959. A nesting colony of Forster’s Terns and Black Skimmers in

southwestern Louisiana. Wilson Bull. 71: 283-284.

Fisk, E. J. 1975. Least Tern: Beleagured, opportunistic and roof-nesting. Amer. Birds

29: 15-16.

Grant, G. S., and N. Hogg. 1976. Behavior of late-nesting skimmers at Salton Sea,
California. Western Birds 7: 76-79.

Greene, L. L., and H. W. Kale, II. 1976. Roof-nesting by Black Skimmers. Fla. Field
Nat. 4: 15-17.

Greene, L. 1975. Topside with terns. The Warbler (Broward Co. Aud. Soc.) 19 (March): 1-2.
Goodnight, L. E. 1957. Least Tern. Fla. Nat. 30: 123.

Hakala, T., and M. Jokinen. 1971. A population of Common Terns nesting on the roof of

a factory. Ornis Fennica 48: 136.

Inwood, A. D. 1975. They refuse to be dispossessed. The Warbler (Broward Co. Aud.

Soc.) 19 (April): 1.

LeGrand, H. E., Jr. 1976. Southern Atlantic coast. Amer. Birds 30: 942-945.

McGowan, A. F. 1969. Wilson’s Plover nesting on roof. Fla. Nat. 42: 171.

McGowan, A. F. 1969. Common Tern, Sterna hirundo, nesting on roof in Pompano.
Fla. Nat. 42: 172.

Stewart, J. R., Jr. 1976. Central southern region. Amer. Birds 30: 965-969.

Sprunt, a., Jr. 1963. Florida bird life, addendum. New York, Coward-McCann.

17101 Southwest 284 St., Homestead, Florida 33030.

METEOROLOGICAL BIASES IN CENSUSES OF ROOSTING
BROWN PELICANS IN FLORIDA

Theodore H. Below and Ralph W, Schreiber

As part of a continuing long-term study of Brown Pelicans {Peiecanus oc-
cidentalis) on the southwest coast of Florida, T. Below has censused pelicans
in the Naples region frequently during the past four years. Much of this infor-
mation will be presented elsewhere but in this paper we examine the possible
biases caused by meteorological factors to the counts of pelicans
roosting/loafing on pilings on Naples Beach.

Naples Beach is affected by moderate weather patterns with few dramatic
changes. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the effects of most of these
changes on bird populations. Only wind, and the attendant water-wave con-
ditions, had discernable effects and in this paper we detail those effects.

Methods and Study Area

Naples is located at 26° 9’ N, 81° 47’ W in Collier County, Florida. The
study area considered here consists of the Gulf of Mexico beach from Doc-
tors Pass (on the north) to Gordon Pass, a 10.5 km distance that includes the
following features: 4 groins, located at 3rd, 24th, 27th, and 31st Avenues
South, a span of 3.5 km, each composed of approximately 350 wooden
pilings, extending 122 m from the beach into the Gulf and standing 1.5 m
above the highest marine growth, constructed in the early 1950’s by one con-
tractor using the same design; and numerous rock and small wooden groins
projecting from a few meters to 50 m into the Gulf. The latter groins are oc-
casionally awash at high tide or during strong west winds.

We have 113 censuses for which Below counted the pelicans present at
1700 on one day and at 0700 the next morning. During each census he es-
timated the state of the tide, surf condition, cloud cover, temperature, and
wind direction and velocity. These estimates were later compared to local
weather reports. Only wind direction and velocity could be related to
differences in the number of birds present between afternoon and morning
censuses and these factors are analyzed more fully.

Below determined the total number of pelicans involved in each census
pair (afternoon plus morning) and computed a percent difference as either
plus or minus to indicate that either more or fewer pelicans were present dur-
ing the morning census. For example: afternoon census = 100 birds; morning
census = 50 birds; total = 100 + 50 = 150. The afternoon census composed
67% of the total and the morning census composed 33% of the total, or 0.67 —
0.33 = 0.34: a difference of -“.34 in the morning.

In Table 1 we present the percent differences for all 113 census pairs, by
appropriate wind direction, wind velocity, and as either a plus or minus
change. q

TABLE 1

Percent Differences Between Censuses of Brown Pelicans on Successive Days, Late Afternoon and Early Morning. Censuses in Which A.M.
Counts Were Higher Than P.M. Counts are Listed Under Plus Sign (+) and Censuses in Which A.M. Counts Were Lower Than P.M. Counts
are Listed Under Minus Sign ( — ). See Methods for Further Explanation.

10

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. I, Spring 1978

+

+

S +

Q

I I
5 w

+

+

*o

l£

>5 6

-o ^
e

o

os

^2^2^88

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00 1 fN OS

O O Q O O

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QOOOQOOQ

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UD T-l fN(

O O Q O
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20%

90%

O O O O i-i
oo oo m m

90

110

220

420

+

340

340

80%

10%

10%

, o o o o

1 eN 0© i-i

220

fN CN

2 2

1 OS o

-r fN «N

1 fn

1 in

OOOQPOOO^^O

,0000
<N 1© O'!
(N m ^

708

2%

40%

10%

+

440

42

O

492

20%

20%

90%

. Q ® ^

i 2 ^

230

40%

10%

o o

in in

. o

-}- (N in

8

ILZ

4%

20%

30%

140

24

2

194

+ 1

l§

10%

190

10

200

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+1

009

200

200

+ 2
' (N

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. . _ 00 >o

o o\

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6vi

BELOW AND SCHREIBER. Brown Pelican Censuses 1 1

Results and Discussion

Naples Beach is oriented in a NNW to SSE direction, 6° West of North
with the land on the East. The predominating wind patterns are off the Gulf
of Mexico as indicated by the fact that of the 113 census pairs, 76 (67%) occur
in the NW to S sectors; these are the sectors in which the wind comes from
across the water. In the SW sector 27 (24%) of the census pairs occur, this is
the highest number of pairs in any one wind sector.

We interpret the difference as an index to the activity of the birds by
showing the amount of change between afternoon and morning census: a
minus difference indicates that birds have left the study area and a plus
difference indicates that birds have moved into the area. Fifty-five percent of
the differences occur in the three westerly wind sectors, indicating that more
bird activity occurs when winds blow from across the water.

Distinct differences exist between the plus and minus pairs at lower wind
velocities (0-5, 6-10, 11-15 mph). The total percent difference for the plus
pairs are 30% higher than the minus pairs at 0-5 mph. At 6-10 mph, the
percentage is reversed with the minus pairs 72% higher. This trend of higher
total percent differences for the minus pairs continues at 11-15 mph with the
minus pairs 92% higher than the plus pairs. At 16-20 mph, few data exist and
interpretation becomes difficult (see below).

At wind speeds of 0-5 mph, 74 (65%) differences occur. Of the 8 compass
sectors, none show a decrease and 7 show an increse in the number of pelicans
present in the morning. We interpret this to mean that winds under 5 mph are
favorable for Brown Pelicans to roost in this area and that birds move into
the area and roost during the night on the groins during calm winds.

At wind speeds of 6-10 mph, 14 (70%) of the pairs are minus. Ten (71%) of
the 14 pairs occur in the westerly wind sectors. Thus, as winds increase and
shift to a westerly direction, conditions become less favorable for pelicans
roosting on the groins.

At wind speeds of 1 1-15 mph, 1 1 (85%) of the pairs are minus. Nine of the
1 1 pairs occur in the westerly sectors, 4 (35%) in the SW and 4 (36%) in the
NW sector. As wind speeds continue to increase, conditions for roosting
deteriorate. The equal distribution of pairs in the two westerly sectors (NW
and SW) indicate that at Naples Beach as wind velocity increases and blows
from either the NW or SW the roosting pelicans are affected equally. As
wind strongly increases the percent differences do not increase, thus it
appears that at any wind velocity above a certain rather low threshold con-
ditions are less favorable for roosting than during calm nights.

When winds reach 15 mph and higher, few Brown Pelicans remain on the
groins, their movements become erratic and analysis is difficult, pro|3ably
because of the small sample size as the birds leave the area.

12

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6. No. 1. Spring 1978

Conclusions

This study clearly indicates that wind velocity and direction affect the
number of Brown Pelicans roosting for the night on the groins in the Gulf of
Mexico in Naples, Florida. Our data from elsewhere in Florida indicate that
winds may also affect the number of birds present at one specific location. On
calm nights, the number of birds spending the night increases in an exposed
situation. However, as the wind velocity increases and becomes more directly
from across the water (and thereby increasing wave size and amount of flying
spray), the number of pelicans decreases. If the wind velocity continues to in-
crease or continues to blow for some period of time, the pelicans leave the ex-
posed roosts to spend the night elsewhere. We will present our data on pop-
ulation utilization of the whole Naples region elsewhere. However, these data
clearly indicate the need for careful consideration of the effects of weather on
ecological monitoring (i.e., Christmas Bird Count data), the need for cen-
susing large geographic areas, and the need for long-term, frequent censusing
for accurate population studies.

P. O. Box 554, Naples, Florida 33940, and Natural History Museum, 900
Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90007.

Request for assitance. — • Nestling Turkey and Black vultures are being used as surrogates to
perfect techniques that may be used as part of the recovery program for the endangered Califor-
nia Condor. If you know of active vulture nests from which nestlings can be obtained, please
contact Michael Wallace, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid. Florida
33852. Call .ollect 813/465-2571.

THE BREEDING STATUS OF THE GRAY CATBIRD IN FLORIDA
Henry M. Stevenson and Gail E. Menk

Although Howell (1932) stated that the Gray Catbird (Dumetella
carolinensis) “breeds sparingly in northern and central Florida,” some recent
field workers in this state have viewed his statement skeptically. Of Howell's
seven references to Florida breeding, four were made by Oscar Baynard,
some of whose records of other species still lack confirmation. Three of
Baynard’s reports of nesting catbirds — those at Clearwater, on the
Blackwater River (Hillsborough Co.), and in Alachua County — are com-
pletely undocumented, but he “found a pair. . .nesting in a clump of myrtle
bushes” near Dade City (Pasco Co.) on 13 April 1930 (Howell 1932). Arthur
Wayne (1895:365) considered the species a breeder at Waukeenah (Jefferson
Co.), but presented no evidence, and H. L. Ferguson (Howell 1932) claimed
to have “found a nest. . .on the Chassahowitzka River.” Worthington and
Todd (1926:227), working near Choctawhatchee Bay in 1903, stated merely
that “a nest was found on May 9.” Although Howell mentioned seeing “3
pairs that seemed to be located for the season” at Sebring (Highlands Co.),
25 April 1923, he further quoted Henry Nehrling as stating that the species
rarely left Gotha (Orange Co.) before 9 May. More recent observations have
been made of catbirds that seemed to be “located for the season” only to dis-
appear later in spring. Thus, Howell’s account presents a few definite
statements of Gray Catbird nestings in Florida, but little or no documenta-
tion and no proof of these. We do not know the basis for the statement in the
A.O.U. Check-list (1957) that the catbird has nested as far south as Cape
Sable (Monroe Co.).

More recently, there have been several summer records of probably non-
breeding catbirds from widely scattered Florida localities: Pensacola (Escam-
bia Co.), 23 June to mid-August 1962 (Weston 1965), and 14 June 1975
(Stewart 1975); near West Palm Beach (Palm Beach Co.), 23 July 1956
(Stevenson 1976); Lake Alfred (Polk Co.), 13 August 1970 (Ogden 1970);
WCTV television tower (Leon Co.), 22 July 1971 (Ogden 1971); Homestead
(Dade Co.), 21 July into August 1971 (Ogden 1971), and 30 June-8 July 1972
(Ogden 1972); Jacksonville (Duval Co.), late June and early July 1972
(Ogden 1972); St. George Island (Franklin Co.), 16 June 1975 (W. Wilson
Baker, pers. comm.). Although several of these summer birds were in song,
no evidence of nesting was found.

The southernmost breeding records of Gray Catbirds in Alabama and
Georgia suggest the likelihood of nesting in north Florida. In Alabama a
breeding record at Greenville is 100 km from the Florida line, but summer
sight records at Andalusia and in southern Henry County (Imhof 1962) are
within 45 km of Florida. In Georgia the catbird’s breeding range has ex-

13

14

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Voi. 6, No. 1, Spring 1978

tended closer to Florida in recent years. Burleigh (1958) gave no indication of
its breeding farther south than Fitzgerald, but by 1975 the species began
nesting at Thomasville, only 22 km from the Florida line (Crawford and Neel
1976).

Until the summer of 1977, the only recent record of Florida nesting was in
“late May or early June 1973,” when a nest with three naked young was
found in Jacksonville by Alan Ashley, near the site of the Jacksonville
summer record cited above. Two days later the young were dead in the nest
and covered with ants (S. A. Grimes, in litt., 20 Aug. 1977).

No credible early-summer record of the Gray Catbird was known near
Tallahassee (Leon Co.) until Menk saw two near the old airport, at the
southwestern edge of the city, on 2 June 1977. This low, wet area with black
willows {Salix nigra), wax myrtle {Myrica cerifera), elderberry {Sambucus
canadensis), groundsel {Baccharis halimifolia), blackberry {Rubus sp,), and
various forbs, apeared to be ideal breeding habitat. On 5 June we found at
least two adults and one full-grown fledgling with a yellow rictus. These birds
remained near a stand of large myrtles (7 to 8 m high) where Stevenson
returned on 6 June and found a nest containing two well-feathered nestlings
in a wax myrtle about 4 m above the ground (specimens and nest to Tall
Timbers Research Station, No. 3551 and 3552). Other nearby call notes
similar to those of the two nestlings, along with the presence of at least three
concerned adults, suggested either a second nest or a fledgling.

On 4 July we found that all shrubs and trees around the stand of large
myrtles had been cut down, leaving only 0.65 ha (1.6 a) of suitable, though
isolated, habitat. However, some catbirds remained, and we found a second
nest containing two eggs 2 m up in a myrtle. The eggs had hatched by 13 July,
and the young apparently had fledged by 26 July (Menk).

On 10 July we found a third nest containing three eggs and attached to
overlapping limbs of two myrtle bushes about 5 m above the ground. On that
day we also located three empty nests of similar construction, two of which
were also in wax myrtles. These appeared to be of recent construction, but
one or more may have been used in 1976.

Returning on 30 July, we found that nest No. 3 held one young almost
ready to fledge, suggesting the possibility that one or two others had already
fledged. Furthermore, one of the formerly empty nests (No. 4), 3.1 m high in
overlapping branches of two swamp cyrillas {Cyrilla racemiflora), now con-
tained two half-grown young catbirds (photo, 3 Aug., to Tall Timbers). Thus
three different catbird nests contained three eggs or young simultaneously
during much of July — an almost certain indication of three adult pairs.

Two other catbirds were recorded in north Florida during the summer of
1977. One was seen in NE Bay County by Mary Gray (pers. comm.) and

STEVENSON AND MENK. Gray Catbird Breeding Status

15

others on 4 June and 4 July, and Stevenson heard a catbird singing on 1 1 July
in a wax myrtle thicket at Lake Seminole (Jackson Co.). At the latter locality
much suitable habitat is present, and nesting there seems likely.

The available evidence suggests that the Gray Catbird nested in northern
and central Florida prior to 1932, later withdrew from that part of its range,
and is now beginning to reoccupy it. Regarding the Tallahassee site, two
points might be made: (1) The species probably has nested there for more
than one season, as one or both of the empty nests in the dense myrtle thicket
may have survived in good condition since 1976. Also a catbird seen by Menk
about 1 km east of the site on 2 August 1975 seems much too early for a fall
arrival. Furthermore, it is unlikely that three pairs would nest there in the
species’ first appearance. (2) This breeding station is in jeopardy. The area is
zoned for commercial development, some of which has already occurred im-
mediately east of the nesting thicket, and we know of no equally good habitat
within a few km of the site.

Literature Cited

American Ornithologists’ Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds. Baltimore,
Lord Baltimore Press, Inc.

Burleigh, T. D. 1958. Georgia birds. Norman, Univ. Oklahoma Press.

Crawford, R. L., and L. Neel. 1976. Further notes on the birds of Thomas County,
Georgia. Oriole 41: 1-7.

Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life. Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game Fresh Water Fish.
Imhof, T. a. 1962. Alabama birds. University, Ala., Univ. Ala. Press.

Ogden, J. C. 1970. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 24: 673-677.

Ogden, J. C. 1971. Florida region. Amer. Birds 25: 846-851.

Ogden, J. C. 1972. Florida region. Amer. Birds 26: 847-852.

Stevenson, H. M. 1956. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 10: 379-381.

Stewart, J. R. 1975. Central southern region. Amer. Birds 20: 983-984, 993-994.

Wayne, A. T. 1895. Notes on the birds of the Wacissa and Aucilla River regions of Florida.
Auk 12: 362-367.

Weston, F. M. 1965. A survey of the birdlife of northwestern Florida. Tall Timbers Res.
Sta., Bull. No. 5.

Worthington, W. W., and W. E. C. Todd. 1926. The birds of the Choctawhatchee Bay
region of Florida. Wilson Bull. 38: 204-229.

Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. I, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida
32303, and 1128 Ocala Road, Apt. G-5, Tallahassee, Florida 32304.

16 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring 1978

General Notes

White Pelican numbers in Everglades National Park. — The winter range of the White
Pelican {Pelecanus erythrorhychos) includes the coasts of Florida through Mexico (Palmer
1962). The substantial numbers found in some areas of south Florida have long been known
(May 1935). White Pelicans are locally common in and near Everglades National Park where
airplane surveys, conducted as part of the Coot Bay Christmas Bird Count, have found from
1000 to 4600 birds over the past decade. Although this survey provides a nearly complete census
of pelicans in the count area, year to year differences do not necessarily reflect trends in pelican
numbers because of the small area covered and because weather and the extent of the seasonal
dry period determine whether pelicans happen to be feeding or loafing in the count area on the
day of the count.

To evaluate the importance of estuaries in and near Everglades National Park to White
Pelicans, I undertook three aerial censuses during the spring (9 April), summer (22 July), and
winter (13 December) of 1976. The censuses covered all marine and brackish water habitats
from Everglades City on the Gulf of Mexico to Cutler on Biscayne Bay, including south
Biscayne Bay, Card Sound, Barnes Sound and Florida Bay south to the Lower Arsnicker Keys.
Most of the habitat covered is in Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Monument.

Although White Pelicans are most numerous in winter, some remain in south Florida during
spring and summer. I found 46 pelicans in April and 43 in July 1976. Apparently the number of
summering birds varies from year to year with several hundred being reported in some summers
(Robertson 1962).

The arrival of wintering pelicans in October coincides with the beginning of the dry season.
They first frequent the Gulf Coast and when this region becomes too dry for feeding, they move
to Cape Sable and Florida Bay. In spring many feed inland in streams and ponds of the
Everglades where fish become concentrated as the marshes dry.

In December 1976, I found 5240 White Pelicans in and near Everglades National Park. Most
(70%) were on Cape Sable and 27% were in Florida Bay. The rest were scattered along the Gulf
Coast and Biscayne Bay. This population can be compared to that of 20 years before, when
William B. Robertson, Jr. estimated that 5000 or more pelicans wintered in Everglades
National Park (Stevenson 1957). This comparison suggests that there may have been no
marked change in the wintering population over the past 20 years.

Analysis of pelican band recoveries, provided by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bird
Banding Laboratory, indicates that pelicans wintering in Florida include those from Sas-
katchewan, Montana, Ontario, North Dakota and South Dakota. It has been suggested that
pelicans wintering in south Florida may represent a significant proportion of those breeding
east of the continental divide (Robertson and Kushlan 1974). Current estimates put the
White Pelican nesting population of Montana, and South and North Dakota at about 17,000
(Sloan 1973). Thus it is possible that the bays, estuaries and marshes of extreme southern
Florida in and near Everglades National Park may be important to the survival of some
segments of the American White Pelican population.

I thank W. B. Robertson, Jr., R. W. Schreiber, and F. E. Lohrer for their comments.

Literature Cited

May, J. B. 1935. White Pelicans in Florida. Auk 52: 180.

Palmer, R. S. 1962. Handbook of North American birds. Vol. 1. New Haven, Conn.,
Yale Univ. Press.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1962. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 16: 468-473.

Robertson, W. B. Jr., and J. A. Kushlan. 1974. The south Florida avifauna. Miami
Geol. Soc. Mem. 2: 414-452.

General Notes

17

Sloan, N. F. 1973. Status of breeding colonies of White Pelicans in the United States
through 1972. Inland Bird Banding News 45; 83-96.

Stevenson, H. M. 1957. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 11: 257-263.

James A. Kushlan, U. S. National Park Service, Everglades National Park, Homestead,
Florida 33030.

Green Heron Nest site tenacity. — On 22 May 1977, in Gulf Breeze, Santa Rosa County,
Florida, we found three newly hatched Green Heron chicks {Butorides striatus) in a nest about
3 m high in a 6 m laurel oak {Quercus laurifolia). The immediate area had been overgrown with
live oaks {Quercus virginiana) and laurel oaks 1.75-8 m tall and so dense that it was impossible
to walk through, but clearing began during incubation and eventually the nest tree was com-
pletely exposed, with only scattered small trees left in the immediate area. When we discovered
the nest, workmen were continually cutting trees using chain saws and passing by the nest
dragging brush. Human activity was confined to a few hours in the late afternoon during 23-27
May, but increased on 28 and 29 May when the parents were seen in the vicinity but not at the
nest. Despite a large brush fire started about 9 m from the nest on 28 and 30 May, nestlings
remained in the nest. Human activity diminished after that time and three young Green Herons
were observed away from the nest on 17 June, having fledged successfully.

Feeding habits of the Green Heron and their young as described in Bent (1963, Life histories
of North American marsh birds. New York, Dover, p. 188), indicate that they are fed only in
early morning and late afternoon. Kushlan (1976, Wilson Bull. 88: 656-658), has found that in
another ciconiiform, the White Ibis {Eudocimus albus), nestlings exhibit an internal hunger
rhythm coinciding with the peak of parental feeding activities at 0900 and 2100. At our Green
Heron nest disturbance occurred between 0800 and 2000, and weekdays between 1700 and
2000. These periods of human disturbance apparently did not coincide with peak feeding
periods of the nestlings, thus allowing the parents to approach the nest undisturbed. — Robert
A. Duncan and Lucy R. Duncan, 614 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561.

Sandhill Cranes in Florida flying with their legs drawn up. — During cold weather, Sandhill
Cranes {Grus canadensis) have been observed in Saskatchewan and Indiana flying with their
legs folded up under their bellies (Walkinshaw 1953, Auk 70: 204-205; Bard and Lohrman 1965,
Blue Jay 23: 121; Skinner 1966, Blue Jay 24: 47). The same posture has been reported for
Whooping Cranes {G. americana) (Epp 1970, Canad. Field Nat. 84; 307-308), Common Cranes
(G. grus) and Japanese Cranes {G. japanensis) (Walkinshaw 1973, Cranes of the World, New
York, Winchester Press, p. 6).

Fig. 1. Sandhill Cranes flying with their legs drawn up.

18

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring 1978

At sunrise on 22 December 1976, I saw two Sandhill Cranes (probably G. c. tabida), flying
from roost to a bait site on Paynes Prairie, Alachua County, Florida, with their legs drawn up
into their belly feathers (Figure 1). The temperatuare was near — 6°C, On 17 January 1977,
another bitterly cold morning, most individuals in a flock of about 40 cranes were observed fly-
ing from roost on the prairie with their legs drawn up. These observations are my first en-
counter with this behavior in seven winters of qbserving cranes in Florida. While this may con-
tribute little to our understanding of the ecology of the Sandhill Crane in Florida, it does
suggest that cranes wintering in Florida can find weather conditions as uncomfortable as any
they are likely to encounter in the northern parts of their range. Stephen A. Nesbitt,
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 4005 S Main
Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Dust-bathing by Common Flickers. — The note on dusting activity by a Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus, (Woolfenden 1975, Fla. Field Nat. 3: 51) and the rarity of
records of dust-bathing by woodpeckers in general (Kilham 1975, Bird-Banding 46: 251-252)
prompts me to report my observations of dusting by Common Flickers {Colaptes auratus) in
my back yard in suburban Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida.

During early May 1976 I observed two short bouts of dusting by a female flicker that had
been occupying a nearby nestbox. Both bouts lasted about 30 seconds and occurred at a shallow
depression of sandy soil about one foot in diameter; the first occurred when the soil was dry and
the second occurred a few days after a rain when the soil was still slightly moist. The third in-
stance of dusting occurred on 18 May 1977 when I saw a female flicker on the ground moving
some pine needles to get to the thin dusty top layer of the dry hard ground. She then dusted for
about 12-18 seconds. This female had a partially feathered young in a nearby nest box that was
heavily infested with mites (H. W. Kale, pers, comm.).

In these three instances I observed the dusting birds at 6-15 m from a gazebo in my yard and
the dusting area was free of unusual material and insects. The dusting behavior of the flickers
was similar to that of House Sparrows {Passer domesticus) I have observed. In the 1977 obser-
vation of flicker dusting, the bird hunched forward with wings slightly spread and with breast to
the ground. It then rubbed its body against the ground and later shook its body with feathers
ruffled. After several such sequences the bird flew to a bird bath where it drank water and
regurgitated food. — O. V. Olsen, 5302 Ft. Pierce Blvd., Ft. Pierce, Florida 33450.

Fall foraging of Plicated Woodpeckers on Magnolia grandiflora seeds. — Accounts on the

Pileated Woodpecker {Dryocopus pileatus) by Bent (1939, U. S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 174), Hoyt

(1957, Ecology, 38: 246-256), and Kilham (1959, Condor, 61: 377-387; 1976, Auk, 93: 15-24)
report the Pileated’s main reliance upon large ants and wood-boring beetles for food and some
list wild fruits and berries as a minor dietary component. Howell (1932, Florida bird life,
Tallahassee, Fla. Dept. Game Fresh Water Fish), reported that the fruits eaten in Florida in-
clude sour gum, tupelo gum, dogwood, persimmon, wild grape, holly, poison ivy, sumac, and
hackberry.

For more than two weeks in September and October 1977, an adult pair of Pileated
Woodpeckers foraged near the University of South Florida campus, Hillsborough County,
Florida and returned repeatedly to feed on the^ ripening seed cones of a yard planted southern
magnolia {Magnolia grandiflora). Initially, I believed the large woodpeckers were after insect
larvae or ants as they pecked the seed cones, but closer observation revealed they were con-
suming the numerous red, bean-like seeds from the opening cones. The pair usually spent 15 to
30 minutes in mid-morning and late afternoon visits to the magnolia tree. They continued this
behavior for several consecutive days until the seed supply of the tree was virtually depleted. In
addition, they foraged extensively for insects along the trunks and limbs of live {Quercus

General Notes 19

virginiana), laurel {Q. laurifolia), and turkey oaks {Q. laevis) and longleaf pines {Pinus
palustris) growing in the same yard and throughout the adjacent residential area.

Elsewhere in central Florida, Fred Lohrer (pers. comm.) has observed a Pileated
Woodpecker feeding on the berries of greenbrier {Smilax sp.) at the Archbold Biological Sta-
tion. As in the present case, the bird returned repeatedly during a sequence of days until the
supply of berries was depleted.

Although Pileated Woodpeckers have not been recorded previously as feeding on magnolia
seeds, Beal (1911, U. S. Dept. Agr. Biol. Survey Bull. 37) reported that stomachs of Ivory-
billed Woodpecker {Campephilus principalis) examined in eastern Texas contained 61.5%
magnolia fruit and 38.5% beetle larvae. These data suggest that both the Pileated and Ivory-
billed woodpeckers are rather opportunistic and can feed extensively on certain wild seeds and
fruits which are available seasonably. — Larry N. Brown, Department of Biology, Univer-
sity of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Yellow-throated Vireo nests found in Orange County, Florida. — On 7 May 1977 Steve
Valdespino showed several birders, including the author, a Yellow-throated Vireo {Vireo
flavifrons) nest which he and Mike Mattina had found about a week earlier. The lichen-covered
nest was suspended about 12 m above ground in the outer reaches of a lower limb of a tall
longleaf pine {Pinus palustris) growing about 15 m from a dirt road near the campground of
Kelly Park in northwest Orange County, Florida. The habitat was composed of longleaf pine
with an understory of live oak {Quercus virginiana) and a ground cover of wire grass {Aristida
stricta). The adult Yellow-throated Vireo that was seen on the nest eventually flew away with a
fecal sac in its bill. Shortly thereafter an adult returned to the nest.

On the morning of 11 June 1977 Ted and Chad Robinson saw a pair of Yellow-throated
Vireos building a nest in Wekiwa Springs State Park (Orange Co.) adjacent to Kelly Park. This
nest, which was similar to the Kelly Park one in appearance, height and placement in the tree,
was in a turkey oak {Quercus laevis) growing about 20 m from a newly built meeting hall. The
habitat was composed of turkey oak and longleaf pine. The surrounding area was devoid of un-
derstory and ground cover due to recent construction activities. Later that day Sam Cole and
the author saw two calling Yellow-throated Vireos less than a meter from this nest. And during
1977, singing birds were heard regularly at several locations within Wekiwa Springs State Park
from 26 March-27 August (pers. observ.).

The Yellow-throated Vireo is a common breeder in north Florida and as far south as
Brooksville (Hernando Co.); it has been reported during the breeding season at New Smyrna
Beach (Volusia Co.) and Silver Springs (Marion Co.) (Sprunt 1954). More recently, the species
apparently extended its breeding range into the Peace River Valley with records from Fort
Meade (Polk Co.) 3 June 1960 (Stevenson 1960), and along the Peace River 18 June 1966
(Stevenson 1966), 15 June 1968 (J. B. Edscorn, pers. comm.) and 23 June 1968 (Stevenson
1968).

In east-central Florida, summering Yellow-throated Vireos were first detected near Sanlando
Springs (Seminole Co., 9 km SE of Wekiwa Springs S. P.) when Nicholson (1952) found two
singing males in June 1946. Thereafter through 1951 males were heard singing in Orlando
(Orange Co.) during April and May. However, Nicholson found no nests. The region’s first nest
was found near Lockhart (Orange Co.) on 23 May 1951 when a pair of birds built one in a
turkey oak near a house (Mason 1952). Although this nest was abandoned prior to completion,
successful nesting in the area was implied on 8 August 1951 when Mason saw an adult feeding
young.

The Wekiwa Springs State Park and Kelly Park nesting activities represent the second and
third breeding records for the region. Coupled with the above records, these recent observations

20

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. 1. Spring 1978

suggest that the Yellow-throated Vireo has extended its breeding range southeastward in penin-
sular Florida. The species is probably a regular breeder in the relatively undisturbed habitats of
Kelly and Wekiwa Springs parks.

The assistance of Mary H. Keim, Fred E. Lohrer, Henry M. Stevenson and Walter K.
Taylor in preparing this field note is greatly appreciated.

Literature Cited

Mason, R. F. 1952. Yellow-throated Vireo breeding near Lockhart. Fla. Nat. 25:83.
Nicholson, D. J. 1952. The Yellow-throated Vireo as a recent breeder in Orlando. Fla.

Nat. 25: 83.

Sprunt, a., Jr, 1954. Florida bird life. New York, Coward-McCann, Inc.

Stevenson, H. M. 1960. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 14: 446.

Stevenson, H. M. 1966. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 20: 564.

Stevenson, H. M. 1968. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 22: 601.

Dorothy W. Freeman, 4515 Montclair Road, Orlando. Florida 32806.

Foraging of Boat-tailed Crackles at car radiators. — On the afternoon of 2 July 1977, we
observed two adult female and one adult male Boat-tailed Crackles {Quiscalus major) foraging
at car radiators in the parking lot of the Cape Kennedy visitor center near Titusville, Brevard
County, Florida. Incoming vehicles received special attention, but in the absence of arriving
vehicles, the birds moved randomly from vehicle to vehicle inspecting each radiator and car
front for dead insects. One female visited both the front and rear of the cars, apparently unable
to distinguish between them. She spent less time at the back of the cars than at the front. The
other female was followed by a juvenile to which she occasionally fed the insects she obtained.
This could provide a mechanism for passing this learned behavior from one generation to the
next.

House Sparrows {Passer domesticus) (Hurst 1975, Mississippi Ornithol. Soc. Newsletter 20
(3): 18; D. Werschkul, pers. comm.) and gray squirrels {Sciurus carolinensis) (Layne and
Woblfenden 1957, J. Mammal. 39: 595-596) have also been reported gathering food items from
the grills, radiators, and bumpers of parked cars. Both the House Sparrow and the Boat-tailed
Crackle are highly adaptable species that are frequently found in the vicinity of man. It is
therefore not surprising that they should take advantage of the smorgasbord man has for-
tuitously provided. — Bette J. Schardien and Jerome A. Jackson, Department of Zoology.
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762.

First Florida record of the Lazuli Bunting. On 7 March 1977, at Sharpes, Brevard County,
Florida, Dr. Mary Man noted an unusual bird at her feeder. Her description by telephone was
so graphic that I thought the bird must be a Lazuli Bunting {Passerina amoena), and at my
suggestion she checked a field guide and identified the strange bird as a male Lazuli Bunting ap-
proaching full breeding plumage. The next day Robert Barber confirmed the identification.

After the report was announced to the Florida Rare Bird Alert, birders from all parts of the
state and beyond converged on the Man home and had the satisfaction of observing the bunting
as it made its daily visits. Edward H. Man, R. Barber (photo, to Tall Timbers Research Sta-
tion) and others photographed the bird.

Numerous Painted Buntings {P. ciris) and Indigo Buntings {P. cyane) frequent this feeder
each winter, and once the Lazuli Bunting was observed feeding a female Painted Bunting. Bun-
ting feeding ceased on 3 April when Mr. and Mrs. Man left for Arizona. Apparently the last
observation of the Lazuli Bunting occurred 3 days later on 6 April when it was seen by Bill and
Helen Dowling and Ollie Olsen,

General Notes

21

Cook (1977, Auk 94: 172) lists 5 sightings of the Lazuli Bunting east of the Mississippi River,
all between 1950 an'd 1975. Thus, this first Florida record becomes only the sixth for the species
in eastern North America. — Helen G. Cruickshank, 1925 Indian River Road. Rockledge,
Florida 32955.

A Florida specimen of the Black-throated Sparrow. — - On 4 February 1976 Menk discovered
a Black-throated Sparrow {Amphispiza bilineata) at an abandoned airport in Tallahassee, Leon
County, Florida. The next day the authors and four other observers searched in vain, but Menk
found it again on the 8th. When informed of the rediscovery, the second author went with him
to the spot and collected the bird, a female (No. 3468, Tall Timbers Research Station), iden-
tified as b. bilineata by M. Ralph Browning, (Natl. Mus. Nat. Hist.). This is the easternmost
race, and it breeds from west-central Texas to northeastern Mexico.

During the period of observation this sparrow inhabited the edge of the airport, loosely
associating with Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) in an area of short grass in-
terspersed with clumps of higher grass or weeds. A flock of Vesper Sparrows {Pooecetes
graminem) was present nearby.

Although the A.O.U. Check-list (1957) cited no records of the Black-throated Sparrow ap-
preciably east of its breeding range, the species has been recorded in Audubon Field
Notes/American Birds eleven times during 1959-1976. It has occurred twice each in
Massachusetts (Nichols 1960, Carleton 1963), New Jersey (Carleton 1962, Buckley and Kane
1975), and Virginia (Buckley and Buckley 1968, Scott and Cutler 1971). Single records were
made in Minnesota (Maley 1975), Nebraska (Williams 1974), Wisconsin (Janssen 1976),
Illinois (Mumford 1961), and Louisiana (Purrington 1976). Thus, prior to the Florida record,
only one bird had been recorded farther south than Virginia — an indication of an eastward
rather than a southeastward movement. Another coincidence is that those states closest to the
species’ breeding range had no more records than those bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

Literature Cited

American Ornithologists’ Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds. Baltimore,

Lord Baltimore Press, Inc.

Buckley, P. A., and F. G. Buckley. 1968. The current status of certain birds in the Virginia
Capes area. 1 1. April 1967-July 1968 observations. Raven 39: 39.

Buckley, P. A., and R. Kane. 1975. The winter season. Amer. Birds 29: 667-672.
Carleton, G. 1962. The fall migration. Aud. Field Notes 16: 12-15.

Carleton, G. 1963. The winter season. Aud. Field Notes 17: 392-394.

Janssen, R. A. 1976. The winter season. Amer. Birds 30: 721-723.

Maley, A. L. 1975. The fall migration. Amer. Birds 29: 62-64.

Mumford, R. E. 1961. The spring migration. Aud. Field Notes 15: 413-416.

Nichols, C. K. 1960. The fall migration. Aud. Field Notes 14: 17-23.

Purrington, R. D. 1976. The fall migration. Amer. Birds 30: 82-86.

Scott, F. R., and D. A. Cutler. 1971. The spring migration. Amer. Birds 25: 558-562.
Williams, F. 1974. The winter season. Amer. Birds 28: 656-660.

Gail E. Menk, 1128 Ocala Road, Apt. G-5, Tallahassee, Florida 32304, and Henry M.
Stevenson, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32303.

Report on the 1977 fall meeting. — The FOS fall meeting was held on 30 September-2 Oc-
tober at the Red Carpet Inn, Altamonte Springs, with approximately 125 members attending.
On Friday afternoon, the Directors unanimously passed a motion opposing collecting live birds

22

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. I, Spring 1978

on organized birdwatching trips, and authorized the Editorial Board to publish Margaret Bow-
man’s “Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon Field Notes and American
Birds. . . ” . The evening’s activites included Steve Fickett’s program on the Bald Eagle Nesting
Survey and a Photographers Roundup led by Bob Barber.

On Saturday, Dr. Llewellyn Ehrhart introduced the afternoon’s papers including “A study of
Moore Creek Woodstork colony” by E. Scott Clark, “Bird migration as revealed by tower kills
at Tall Timbers Research Station” by Robert L. Crawford, and “Merritt Island National
Wildlife Refuge” by James Baker. The bird skin quize, organized by Dr. Walter K. Taylor, was
won by Dan Heathcote. “The Everglade Kite-An endangered species” was the subject of Paul
Skyes’ program at the evening’s banquet.

The field trips, organized by Dottie Freeman and Becky Payne, went to Wekiwa State Park,
Disney World’s wilderness area, and the Oveido Bald Eagle’s nest.

The efforts of Doris Mager, Chairman, and Mrs. Ronald Harris, President, Orange County
Audubon Society, local host, and Florence Austin, Evelyn Brabsen, Fred Harden, Pat Harden,
Betty King, Helen Morton, Ruth O’Donnel, and Betty Valkenburg, in addition to those men-
tioned above, resulted in a well-organized, extrementy pleasant weekend for which we thank
them all. — - Barbara C. Kittleson, Secretary.

Notes and News

Florida Ornithological Society Archives. — The Florida Ornithological Society has
designated the Florida State Museum of the University of Florida as the official archive for
materials and specimens relating to birds. In Florida, this is the only state funded natural
history museum organized as a permanent institution to preserve and curate for scientific use
such materials and specimens. Although certain materials and specimens may best be given to
workers or permanent collections at other institutions because of special interest, in general,
where no such special circumstances exist, FOS members are urged to give full consideration to
arranging deposition at the Florida State Museum. In addition to specimens such as skins,
skeletons, eggs or nests, other ornithological materials that deserve preservation as a record of
our heritage include photographs of birds, habitats and naturalists, tape recordings, field notes,
nest record cards, banding records and correspondence and historical letters.

FOS members interested in arranging possible deposition or use of materials in the Museum
should write to the Chairman, Department of Natural Sciences, Florida State Museum,
University of Florida, Gainesville 32611. A copy of the acquisition and collections policies may
be so obtained and a qualified member of the staff will be happy to discuss a gift to the museum.

Acknowledgment. — With this spring issue of volume six, the Florida Field Naturalist has
fledged. This relatively short development period, when compared to many other regional
natural history journals, is due to several factors including the support of the FOS membership,
the quality contributions of authors and referees alike, the considerable efforts of our first
editor, Henry M. Stevenson, and of the present and former members of our editorial advisory
board, Allan D. Cruickshank, David W. Johnston, Herbert W. Kale II, Oscar T. Owre,
William B. Robertson Jr., and Glen E. Woolfenden, and the professional skills of our two
managing editors, Betty McDonnell and Karen Harrod, Florida Audubon Society staff
members.

The new cover illustration of a male Everglade Kite was drawn especially for the FFN by
Joey Sacco of Sebring, Florida, and Paul W. Sykes Jr. kindly supplied photographs of
Everglade Kites and critiqued the preliminary sketches for scientific accuracy.

The five-year index in the fall 1977 issue of the FFN was typed by D. Jane Thomason.

Thanks are due to ail for their contributions to the continuing development and improvement
of the FFN.

BE A PART OF THE ACTION

JOIN NOW

Florida Ornithological Society membership is for those
who want to know and take part in information about Floridans
Naturol History. Members will have an opportunity to exchange
information with others through the semi-annual meetings and
through our journal^ The Florida Field Naturalist, which is
issued in the Spring and Fall.

Regular membership $5.00

Associate membership $6.00

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

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Address

Regular Associate

Make checks payable to FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL
SOCIETY, P.O. Drawer 7, Maitland, Florida 32751

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,T

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A semi-annual publication of The Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid,
Florida 33852.

Editorial Advisory Board:

David W. Johnston, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
3261L

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Cora! Gables, Florida
33124.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa,
Florida 33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing nem' information on the
biology of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Submit manuscripts in triplicate to the Editor. They should be typed, double-spaced,
on one side of numbered sheets of standard (KVi x 11 in.) bond paper, with at least one inch
margins all around. Type tables on separate sheets and use space efficiently. Submit black-
and-white photographs as unmounted glossy prints no larger than 8*72 x 1! inches. They must
be sharp and have good contrast with no heavy writing on the back. Diagrams and line drawings
should be in black ink with lettering large enough to permit reduction. For advice on preparing
illustrations, consult Steps Toward Better Scientific Illustrations by A. Allen, Allen Press,
Lawrence, Kansas.

Titles should be short and descriptive and the body of the article concise. Follow the form
and style of a recent issue of the Florida Field Naturalist. Use the Council of Biology Editors
Style Manual, Third Edition (AIBS 1972) in preparing manuscripts. All references should be
cited in the body of the text and listed at the end under “Literature Cited.” Text citations should
indicate author and year of publication, e. g. (Bond 1961). If there are more than two. authors
list the first followed by “et al.” (e.g. Blair et al 1968). Indicate specific pages of longer works,
e. g. (Bond 1961; 44). If there are five or fewer references they should be cited only in the text,
e. g. (Sprunt 1954, Florida bird life, New York, Coward McCann, Inc.) or (Cruickshank 1974,
Fla. Field Nat. 2: 1-3).

Capitalize the English name of bird species, and follow the first mention of a species in
text by the scientific name, underlined, in parentheses. Scientific names should follow a widely
accepted authority for the group of animals or plants involved. For North American birds
use the A.O.U. Checklist, fifth ed. (1957) and its Supplements, the 32nd (1973, Auk 90:
411-419) and the 33rd (1976, Auk 94: 875-979).

Use abbreviations sparingly in the text except parenthetically e.g, “Lake Placid (12 km S).”
The metric system is preferred for all measurements. Use the 24-hour time system (0700 or
1645) and the military date system (4 July 1976).

FLORIDA AUDUBON SOCIETY
P. O. DRAWER 7
MAITLAND, FLORIDA 32751

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Orlando, Florida
Permit §22A

ROOF-NESTING TERNS, SKIMMERS, AND PLOVERS

IN FLORIDA Erma J. Fisk 1

METEOROLOGICAL BIASES IN CENSUSES OF ROOSTING
BROWN PELICANS IN FLORIDA

Theodore H. Below and Ralph W. Schreiber 9
THE BREEDING STATUS OF THE GRAY CATBIRD IN
FLORIDA Henry M. Stevenson and Gail E. Menk 13

GENERAL NOTES

White Pelican numbers in Everglades National Park James A. Kushlan 16

Green Heron nest site tenacity Robert A. Duncan and Lucy R. Duncan 17

Sandhill Cranes in Florida flying with their legs drawn up .Stephen A. Nesbitt 17

Dust-Bathing by Common Flickers O. V. Olsen 18

Fall foraging of Pileated Woodpeckers on Magnolia grandiflora seeds

Larry N. Brown 18

Yellow-Throated Vireo nests found in Orange County, VXondaDorothy W. Freeman 19
Foraging of Boat-Tailed Crackles at car radiators

Bette J. Schardin and Jerome A . Jackson 20

First Florida record of the Lazuli Bunting Helen G. Cruickshank 20

A Florida specimen of the Black-Throated Sparrow

Gail E. Menk and Henry M. Stevenson 21

REPORT ON THE 1977 FALL MEETING .Barbara C. Kittleson
NEWS AND NOTES . . . .

21

22

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VOL. 6 FALL 1978 NO. 2

FLORIDA ORJNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972

Officers for 1977-1979

President: David W. Johnston, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville,
Florida 32611.

Vice-President: John C. Ogden, National Audubon Society, Research Department,
115 Indian Mound Trail, Tavernier, Florida 33070.

Secretary: Barbara Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803.

Treasurer: Caroline Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid,
Florida 33852.

Assistant Treasurer: John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Assistant Treasurer: Betty Valkenburg, Florida Ornithological Society, P. O. Drawer 7,
Maitland, Florida 32751.

Directors 1977-1979

W. Wilson Baker, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida
32303.

John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Bo%38H, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Herbert W. Kale, II, Ornithological Research Division, 35-lst Court SW, Vero Beach,
Florida 32960.

Directors 1978-1980

Theodore H. Below, P. O. Box 554, Naples, Florida 33940.

Robert A. Duncan, 614 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561.

Virginia M. Markgraf, 3415 Ponce deLeon Ave., Jacksonville, Florida 32217.

All persons interested in Florida natural history, particularly its abundant bird life, are
invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by writing the Treasurer. Membership dues
are $5.00 per year for regular members (those who are members of the Florida Audubon
Society), $6.00 per year for associate members, and $2.00 per year for student members.
All members receive the Florida Field Naturalist. Subscription price for institutions and non-
m.ernbers is $6.00 per year. Single issues are $2.50 per copy for regular members, $3.00 per
copy for associate members and subscribers and $1.00 per copy for student members.

Manuscripts submitted for publication and books intended for review should be sent to the
Editor (see inside back cover). Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or defective
copies of this journal, and requests for information about advertising, subscriptions, and back
numbers should be sent to the Treasurer, Caroline Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville,
Florida 32601.

Published semi-annually by the Florida Ornithological Society, Maitland, Florida 32751.
Printed by Sharp Offset Printing Inc., Rutland, Vermont 05701.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Semi-Annual Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 6, No. 2 Fall 1978 Pages 23-56

RECORDS OF THE RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD IN FLORIDA

Erma J. Fisk, Henry M. Stevenson, and Herbert W. Kale H

On 19 October 1974, the senior author netted a Rufous Hummingbird
{Selasphorus rufm) at her banding station in Homestead, Dade County,
Florida. It was being pursued by a pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
{Archilochus colubris) defending a territory of Cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria
bignonia capensis) and Turk’s cap {Malvaviscus arboreus). The bird was
judged to be (1) 5*. rufus rather than S. sasin (Allen’s Hummingbird) because
the feathers of the lower back and the central pair of rectrices lacked the
rufous color characteristic of S. sasin; (2) a female, from a comparison with
illustrations (Pough 1946; Robbins, et al. 1966) and plumage descriptions
(Bent 1940); and (3) an immature, because the crown and back were brown
with only a scattering of green feathers. Species determination was cor-
roborated by Roxie Laybourne, National Museum of Natural History, from
photographs deposited with Everglades National Park.

At -least 45 records of the Rufous Hummingbird exist for Florida (see
Table 1 below) with at least 15 records in the Panhandle (29 Oct. -27 Mar.), 1
in the Tallahassee Division and 23 in the Northern Peninsula (7 Aug. -2 Apr,),
and 6 in the Southern Peninsula (including 2 probables) (19 Sept.- 16 Jan,).
There is one record from the Bahama Islands (Grand Bahama, 22 Oct. 1966,
Kale et al., 1969) but none from the Florida Keys, The number of Panhandle
records is probably greater than 15. After occurrences were cited for 11 of 20
years in Audubon Field Notes, the species was not mentioned for two years
(1954-55 and 1955-56), then in the following winter was said to be “present as
usual ... at Pensacola” (Newman 1957), and listed for 1959, 1963, and 1965.
At Pensacola, Weston (1965) called it “a regular but rare late fall migrant.”
At least 13 records occurred in the Panhandle (at Pensacola) before the
species was recorded in the Peninsula (1958, Brevard Coi). William B.
Robertson, Jr. (pers. comm.) suggests that the species may occur frequently
but be overlooked where the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a regular winter
resident.

23

24

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vo!. 6, No. 2, Fall 1978

Table 1. Records of Rufous Hummingbirds from Florida.
PANHANDLE. ESCAMBIA CO. — All from Pensacola area. First Florida record,
1 or 2, 26 Nov. -13 Dec. 1934, specimen, 29 Nov. (McClanahan 1935); 1935-1965,
about 20 records in 13 different winters, regular in Nov. -Dec., but seldom spends the
entire winter (James 1960, 1964, 1965; Lowery and Newman 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953,
1954; McClanahan 1936; Newman 1957; Weston 1939, 1940, 1942, 1947, 1965).
GULF CO. Panama City, 29 Oct. 1954 (Sprunt 1963).TALLAHASEE DIVISION.
LEON CO. --- Tallahassee, 22 Mar.-l Apr. 1974 (Stevenson 1974). NORTHERN
PENINSULA. DUVAL CO. -- Jacksonville, 29 Nov. 1971 (Robertson 1972)
and 18-19 Sept. 1975 (Edscora 1976). ALACHUA CO. Gainesville, 29 Oct.
1975 and 6 Nov. 1976 (Edscorn 1976, 1977) and High Springs, 23 Nov. 1975 (specimen,
Florida State Mus., Edscorn 1975), ORANGE CO. ■— Maitland, 5 Nov. J969 and
Altamonte Springs, early Nov. 1969 (Robertson 1970). HERNANDO CO. —
Brooksville, winter 1973 (Alline Kelly, pers. comm.), 7 Dec. 1974, 3 Jan. -2 Apr,
1975 (A. Kelly, S. Fickett, pers. comm.). BREVARD CO. — • Merritt Island, 2 Nov.
1958, first state record east of Panama City (Stevenson 1959. The published statement
“east of Pensacola” is erroneous [Stevenson, pers. comm.]); Cocoa-Rockledge area,
1959-1974, about 15 records in nine winters, ranging from 28 Aug. -24 Feb. The record
of 28 Aug. ”3 Sept. 1966 at Rockledge (notes of A. D. Cruickshank, R. Barber) is
second earliest date for Florida (Cunningham 1964, Edscorn 1974, 1975, Robertson 1968,
1972, Robertson and Ogden 1969, Stevenson 1959, 1973). PINELLAS CO. --- St.
Petersburg, 7 Aug. 1975 (Edscorn 1976). This record of an adult male seen by Dave
Goodwin, is the earliest for the state. SOUTHERN PENINSULA. ST. LUCIE CO. —
Ft. Pierce, 11-12 Jan. 1960 (“presumed to be a Rufous,” Stevenson 1960) and 13 Oct.
1962 (“a probable Rufous,” Stevenson 1963). PALM BEACH CO. — Lantana, 16
Jan. 1965 (Stevenson 1965). BROWARD CO. Ft. Lauderdale, 19 Sept. 1965,
photo by W. Bolte (Tall Timbers Res. Sta. No. 23). DADE CO. — Kendall, 7 Feb.
1964 (Stevenson 1964); Homestead, 19 Oct. 1974 (Edscorn 1975) — the southernmost
record in the state.

Although observers rarely indicated the sex and age of the bird seen, we
have presumed al! of these observations to be of S. rufus. Nevertheless, the
reader should remember Phillips' (1975) caveat that sight records, except of
adult male S. rufus, are considered useless in those areas where S. rufus and
S. sasin are sympatric (sasin occurs east to Arizona, Phillips 1975). For ad-
ditional discussion of this problem see DeBenedictis (1976).

When the senior author initiated this paper we did not realize that so many
records of the Rufous Hummingbird existed in Florida. The species should be
considered an irregular winter visitor. Fall and wintering hummingbirds
should be studied carefully for this species; and observers should consult
Stiles (1972) for plumage description and age and sex determination of
Rufous Hummingbirds.

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to William B. Robertson, Jr., for his encouragement and helpful suggestions
in the preparation of this manuscript.

25

FISK, STEVENSON, KALE. Rufous Hummingbird Records
Literature Cited

Bent, A. C. 1940. Life histories of cuckoos, goatsuckers and hummingbirds and their allies.
Part 2. U. S. Natl Mus. Bull No. 176: 244-506.

Cunningham, R. L, 1964. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 18: 24-28.

DeBENEDiCTis, P. 1976. Gleanings from the technical literature. Birding 7: 243-245.

Edscorn, J. B. 1974. Florida region. Amer. Birds 28: 40-44.

Edscorn, J. B. 1975. Florida region. Amer. Birds 29: 44-48.

Edscorn, J. B. 1976. Florida region. Amer. Birds 30: 54-58,

Edscorn, J. B. 1977. Flordia region. Amer. Birds 31: 166-169.

Kale, H. W. O, M. H. Hundley, and J. A. Tucker. 1969. Tower-killed specimens and
observations of migrant birds from Grand Bahama Island. Wilson Bull. 81: 258-263.

James, F. C. 1960. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes 14: 314-318.

James, F. C. 1964. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes 18: 361-364.

James, F. C. 1965. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes 19: 385-388.

Lowery, G. H., Jr., and R. J. Newman. 1950. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes

4: 19-21.

Lowery, G. H., Jr., and R. J. Newman. 1951. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes
5: 22-24.

Lowery, G. H., Jr., and R. J. Newman. 1952. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes
6: 20-23.

Lowery, G. H., Jr., and R. J. Newman, 1953, Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes
7: 20-23.

Lowery, G, H., Jr,, and R. J. Newman. 1954. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes
8: 256-258. ■

McClanahan, R. C. 1935. Rufous Hummingbird {Seiasphorus rufus) in Florida. Auk
52: 187.

McClanahan, R. C. 1936. Second appearance of the Rufous Hummingbird at Pensacola,
Florida. Auk 53: 217-218.

Newman, R. J. 1957. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes 11: 270-274.

Phillips, A. R. 1975. The migration of Allen’s and other hummingbirds. Condor 77: 196-205.

PouGH, R. H. 1946. Audubon bird guide, eastern land birds. New York, Doubleday & Co.,
Inc., Plate 17.

Robbins, C. S., B. Bruun, and H. S. Zim. 1966. Birds of North America. New York,
Golden Press, Pg. 175.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1968. Flordia region. Aud. Field Notes 22: 25-31.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1970. Flordia region. Aud. Field Notes 24: 33-38.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1972. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 26: 50-54.

Robertson, W. B., Jr., and J. C. Ogden. 1969. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 23: 35-41.

Sprunt, A. Jr. 1963. Addendum to Florida bird life. Maitland, Florida Audubon Society.

Stevenson, H. M. 1959. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 13: 21-25.

Stevenson, H. M. I960. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 14: 301-305.

Stevenson, H. M. 1963. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 17: 24-28.

26

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6. No. 2, Fall 1978

Stevenson, H. M. 1964. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 18: 349.

Stevenson, H. M. 1965. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 19: 370-374.

Stevenson, H. M. 1973. Florida region. Amer. Birds 27: 45-49.

Stevenson, H. M. 1974. Flordia region. Amer. Birds 28: 628-632.

Stiles, F. G. 1972. Age and sex determination in Rufous and Allen’s hummingbirds. Condor
74: 25-32.

Weston, F. M. 1939. Pensacola region. Bird-Lore 41: 55-56.

Weston, F. M. 1940. Pensacola region. Bird-Lore 41: 216-217.

Weston, F. M. 1942. Pensacola region. Aud. Mag. 44: 6-7.

Weston, F. M. 1947. Pensacola region. Aud. Field Notes 1: 6-7.

Weston, F. M. 1965. A survey of the birdlife of northwestern Florida. Bull. Tall Timbers
Res. Sta. 5: 1-147.

I7I0I SW 284th St., Homestead, Florida 33030 (EJF), Tall Timbers
Research Station, Rt. 1 , Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32303 (HMS), and
Florida Audubon Society, 35-1 st Court SW, Vero Beach, Florida 32960
(HWK).

BARN SWALLOWS NESTING IN THE INTERIOR OF THE FLORIDA

PANHANDLE

Henry M. Stevenson

On 2 July 1977 in a road culvert at Lake Seminole (Woodruff Reservoir),
Jackson County, Florida (9.6 km N of Sneads), I found a Barn Swallow
{Hirundo rustica) nest containing three small nestlings. The nest, on a vertical
wall 2.1 m above the water, was attached on each side to, and partly sup-
ported by, colonial nests of the organ-pipe wasp {Trypoxylon politum). No
horizontal or oblique surface was available. Nearby rudiments of two other
swallow nests were in contact with other nests of these “dirt daubers” and in-
dicated either that Barn Swallows had nested there in one or two previous
years or that their earlier attempts at nest-building in 1977 were unsuccessful.
The latter interpretation might explain the rather late date of an occupied
nest. The three young were still in the nest when I photographed it on 11 July
(Fig. 1). This nesting record is the first for the interior of the Florida Panhan-
dle and is of interest because of the recent range extension of two populations
of Barn Swallows in the Southeast as outlined below.

Nesting Barn Swallows first invaded Florida by moving eastward along the
Gulf Coast. This southern population is presumed to be the one that had
begun nesting on the Alabama coast by 1940 (Burleigh 1,941) and near Pen-
sacola, Florida, by 1946 (Weston 1965). Not until 1970, however, did Barn
Swallows begin nesting near Apalachicola — about 250 km farther east
(Ogden 1970), Only two years later the vanguard had jumped another 250 km
southeastward to nest at Paynes Prairie, near Gainesville (Alachua Co.)
(Ogden 1972), and two pairs nested near the AtlanticCoast of St. Johns
County in 1976 (Ogden 1976).

Fig. 1. Barn Swallow nest partly supported by nests of the organ-pipe wasp, Jackson
County, Florida, 11 July 1977.

27

28

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6. No. 2, Fail 1978

Over the same period of years a northern population of Barn Swallows was
expanding its breeding range southward. At the time the coastal population
first nested in Florida (1946), the northern birds bred only in the northwestern
corner of Alabama. By the early 1960’s this population had spread eastward
across the northern tier of counties (Imhof 1962). By 1966 it had reached Bir-
mingham, and individuals were seen in June much farther south (Stewart
1966). By 1973 these northern birds were nesting in northern Washington
County, 100 km N of Mobile, and by 1974 they nested at that latitude as far
east as Georgiana (Kennedy 1974, Reid 1975) — a southward expansion of
210 km.

In the summer of 1977 (Imhof, pers. comm.). Barn Swallow nests were
found as far south in Alabama as Escambia and northern Baldwin counties,
the latter sites being within 40 km of the nearest nesting sites of the coastal
population at Cochrane Causeway over Mobile Bay. Thus the breeding range
of the species in that state now includes all but four counties in the
southeastern corner (Imhof, in litt.).

A similar southward invasion of northern Barn Swallows has taken place
in Georgia. In the 1950’s Burleigh (1958) considered the species a rare
breeder in the northern portions and mentioned a much earlier nesting record
on the coast. Nesting in north Georgia was not confirmed, however, until a
nest was found in a barn on Lookout Mountain in 1957 (Stevenson 1957).
Recently the species has expanded southward to the Upper Coastal Plain of
Georgia (Patterson 1976), the Georgia coast (Schreck 1977), and close to the
Florida line at the east end of the Jim Woodruff Dam, Decatur County, in
1975 and 1976 (Knight 1977) — less than 15 km from the site of the nest I
found. It nested near Thomasville in May 1977 (Watt and Crawford, in
press). Thus, my nesting record of the Barn Swallow in the interior of the
Florida Panhandle may be the first nesting record of northern Barn Swallows
in Florida.

Observers agree that Barn Swallows in the Deep South nest more fre-
quently in culverts or under concrete bridges — usually over water (see
Jackson and Burchfield 1975) — - than in barns. And in some areas of the
Deep South I have found Barn Swallows nesting near wooden buildings but
never in them. One possible advantage to nesting in culverts or under bridges
might be avoidance of the critically high egg temperatures that could occur in
southern barns. The critical maximum temperature for eggs of the domestic
fowl {Gallus) is about 40° to 41° C (104°-106° F) (Drent 1975: 352). As the
normal internal egg temperature of the Barn Swallow (35.3° C) is lower than
that of the domestic fowl (37°-38° C) (Drent 1975: 338), it seems likely that
the swallow would also have a lower critical maximum egg temperature. It
was suggested (Knight 1977) that the failure of this species to raise young in

STEVENSON. Nesting Barn Swallows

29

two nests placed just below the metal roof of a boat slip at the Lake Seminole
dam in 1976 “might be [due to] extreme heat.” In his study of bats in a barn
near Thomasville, Georgia, Wilson Baker obtained one air temperature

reading of about 38° (100° F).

At the site of the culvert nest in Jackson County, Florida, I obtained
temperature readings in the shade of a bush just outside the culvert on 1 1
July, both just before entering the culvert and just after exiting about 30
minutes later. The two readings were 33.3° C (92° F) and, with an increased
cloud cover, 32.3° C (90° F). Between the times of these readings the same
thermometer was hung on the culvert wall near the swallows’ nest, where it
soon registered 30.5° C (86.5° F). I believe that this temperature factor has
been important in the nesting success of the Barn Swallow in the southern
part of its range.

I am grateful to Michael Hubbard, of Florida A. & M. University, for
identifying the species of wasp.

Literature Cited

Burleigh, T. D. 1941. Barn Swallow breeding in southern Alabama. Auk 58; 26I-262.
Burleigh, T. D. 1958. Georgia birds. Norman, Univ. Oklahoma Press.

Drent, R. 1975. Incubation. Pp. 333-420 in Avian biology, Vol. 5 (D. S. Farner and J. R.
King, Ed.). New York, Academic Press.

Imhof, T. a. 1962. Alabama birds. Univ., Ala., Univ. Ala. Press.

Jackson, J. A., and P. G. Burchfield. 1975. Nest-site selection of Barn Swallows in east
central Mississippi. Amer. Midi. Nat. 94: 503-509.

Kennedy, R. S. 1974. Central southern region. Amer. Birds 28: 911-915.

Knight, J. 1977. Osprey and Barn Swallow nesting at Lake Seminole. Oriole 42: 32-34.
Ogden, J. C. 1970. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 24: 673-677.

Ogden, J. C. 1972. Florida region. Amer. Birds 26: 847-852.

Ogden, J. C. 1976. Florida region. Amer. Birds 30: 945-948.

Patterson, T. K. 1976. Barn Swallow nesting extends from Piedmont Region into Upper
Coastal Plain. Oriole 41: 39-40.

Reid, R. R., Jr. 1975. Range expansion and habits of the Barn Swallow in Alabama. Ala.
Birdlife 23; 3-11.

ScHRECK, P. R., Jr. 1977. American Barn Swallows nesting in Chatham County. Oriole
42: 14-15.

Stevenson, H. M. 1957. Additions to the summer birds of Lookout Mountain. Oriole
22: 25-28.

Stewart, J. R., Jr. 1966. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes 20: 575-577.

Watt, C. H., Jr., and R. L. Crawford. Barn Swallows nesting in Thomas County, Georgia.

Oriole, in press.

Weston, F. M. 1965. A survey of the birdlife of northwestern Florida. Tall Timbers Research
Station Bull., No. 5.

Ta// Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1 , Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32303.

ELEVEN PELAGIC TRIPS INTO THE
EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO

Charles B. Buhrman and Larry A. Hopkins

A quarter of a century has passed since Lowery and Newman (1954,
U. S. Fish Wild. Serv., Fish. Bull. 89: 521) concluded that “ ... so little is
known about the real distribution of sea birds over the Gulf that in many
cases their very presence is merely inferred from their occurrence in coastal
situations after storms.” This condition remains much the same today as
when those words were written. Woolfenden and Schreiber (1973, pp. IIIJ-1-
22 in A summary of knowledge of the eastern Gulf of Mexico 1973, St.
Petersburg, State Univ. System of Fla., Inst, of Oceanography) constantly
underscored the lack of knowledge about the pelagic birds from these waters.
This background supplied the initiative and encouraged the authors to under-
take a series of trips into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

A canvass was made of the local fishing boats which make regular trips and
one seemed especially suitable because it typically travels 90 nautical miles
due west of Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida. This boat, the “Double
Eagle n,” leaves Clearwater Marina at 0600 and returns at 1700, allowing
three hours of fishing at its destination 90 nautical miles out in the Gulf.

Results

The account below includes all sightings of all species observed except for
non-migratory and non-pelagic birds seen within 10 miles from shore. In the
winter months, the first hour is traveled in darkness.

For each species we include the total seen for all trips, the dates of sighting,
the number seen and the distance(s) from shore in nautical miles. Mileage
was estimated by comparing the time of sighting with the average speed of the
boat (22 knots). On three dates we entered the waters off Pasco County
beyond sixty nautical miles. They are indicated here (only) with a dagger(t).

In 1976 trips were made on 15 August, 25 September and 7 November!; in
1977, on 5 February, 8 May, 31 Julyf, 27 August, 17 September and 10 Oc-
tober; in 1978, on 19 February and 9 Aprilf.

Common Loon {Gavia immer). — \94. 19 Feb 78, 1/55, 1/44, 1/18; 9 Apr 78,

191/8-87-10.

Cory’s Shearwater {Puffinis diomedea). — 9. 25 Sept 76, 1/35; 31 July 77, 1/8,

1/25, 1/28, 1/37; 27 Aug 77, 1/27, 1/60, 1/15; 17 Sept 77, 1/35.

Greater Shearwater {Puffinis gravis). — 11. 25 Sept 76, 5/35; 17 Sept 77, 2/19;

10 Oct 77, 1/36, 3/49.

Audubon’s Shearwater {Puffinus Iherminieri). — 2. 9 Apr 78, 1/9, 1/83.

Shearwater sp. {Puffinus sp.). — 2. 15 Aug 76, 1/80; 31 July 77, 1/25.

Leach’s Storm-Petrel {Oceanodroma leucorhoa). — 1. 15 Aug 76, 1/80 (see Fla.

Field Nat. 6: 44.

30

BUHRMAN AND HOPKINS. Gulf Pelagic Trips 31

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel {Oceanites oceanicus). — 6. 8 May 77, 3/87; 31 July 77,
3/70.

Storm-Petrel sp. (hydrobatidae sp.) — 2. 31 July 77, 2/75.

Blue-Faced Booby (Sula dactylaira), — 2. 27 Aug 77, 1/80; 17 Sept 77, 1/43.
Gannet {Morus bassanus). — 58. 5 Feb 77, I /20; 19 Feb 78, 1 /30, 1 /42, 1 /89, 6/89-90,
2/77, 1/56, 1/47, 1/27, 1/4; 9 Apr 78, 42/7-85-12.

Double-crested Cormorant {Phalacrocorax auritus), — 4. 19 Feb 78, 1/23, 1/46,
2/51.

Magnificent Frigatebird {Fregata magnificens). 4. 1 Nov 76, 1/25; 10 Oct 77,

1/81, 2/40.

Cattle Egret {Bubulcus /to). — 48. 8 May 77, 12/50-90; 9 Apr 78, 11/85, 12/87,
13/79.

Little Blue FIeron (Florida caerulea). — 1. 9 Apr 78, 1/79.

Louisiana Heron (Hydranassa tricolor). — 2. 9 Apr 78, 2/79.

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors). — 18. 8 May 77, 5/60; 17 Sept 77, 6/43; 10 Oct 77,

5/44, i/73; 9 Apr 78, 1/43.

Duck sp. (Anas sp.). — 21. 25 Sept 76, 20/70; 10 Oct 77, 1/37.

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator). — 21. 9 Apr 78, 4/6, 7/41, 10/63.
American Coot (Fulica americana). — 2. 9 Apr 78, 1/85, 1/81.

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria). — 1. 8 May 77, 1/90.

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). — 2. 17 Sept 77, 2/83.

Phalarope sp. (Lobipes or Phalaropus sp.). — 9. 25 Sept 76, 8/25; 17 Sept 77, 1/10.
Sandpiper sp. (Scolopacidae sp.). — 1. 27 Aug 77, 1/50.

Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus). — 2. 25 Sept 76, 1/35; 31 July 77, 1/18.
Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus). ~~\. 9 Apr 78, 1/83.

Jaeger sp. (Stercorarius sp.). — 6. 2 May 77, 1/15; 5 Aug 77, 1/10, 1/60; 9 Apr 78,
2/26, 1/83.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). — 90. 19 Feb 78. 65/10-90-10; 9 Apr 78, 25/22-87-10.
Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla). — 61. 7 Nov 76, 12/80; 10 Oct 77, 1/80; 19 Feb 78,
1/50, 1/85; 9 Apr 78, 46/55-85-49.

Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus Philadelphia). — 6. 19 Feb 78, 1/40, 2/35, 3/36.
Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri). — 1. 19 Feb 78, 1/29.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). — 1000 +. 25 Sept 76, 1000 +/25; 7 Nov 76, 60/80;

19 Feb 78, 1/85.

Bridled Tern (Sterna anaethetus). — 13. 25 Sept 76, 1/60, 2/10; 8 May 77, 3/65;
31 July 77, 1/75; 10 Oct 77, 4/49, 2/78.

Least Tern (Sterna aibifrons). — 6. 31 July 77, 4/65; 9 Apr 78, 2/32.

Bridled or Sooty tern (Sterna anaethetus or S. fuscata). — 3. 15 Aug 76, 1/40;
17 Sept 77, 2/47.

Royal Tern (Sterna maximus). — 4. 19 Feb 78, 2/80-90; 9 Apr 78, 2/83.

Tern sp. (Sterna sp.). — 7. 19 Feb 78, 5/37, 2/21.

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger). — 1000 +. 25 Sept 76, 1000-j-/25; 8 May 77, 3/87;
31 July 77, 1/48; 27 Aug 77, 4/80; 17 Sept 77, 4/50; 10 Oct 77, 14/45, 3/43, 30/42,
12/41, 1/20.

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus). — 1. 10 Oct 77, 1/50.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica). — 36. 25 Sept 76, 4/80; 8 May 77, 26/35-90;
31 July 77, 2/80; 27 Aug 77, 4/50-80.

Swallow sp. (Hirundinidae sp.). — 1. 19 Feb 78, 1/38.

32

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. 2. Fall 1978

Purple Martin (Progne subis). — 4. 27 Aug 77, 1/30; 19 Feb 78, 1/36, 2/22.

Starling {Sturnus vulgaris). — 1. 19 Feb 78, 1/29.

Yellow Warbler {Dendroica petechia). -—3. 15 Aug 76, 3/35.

Cape May Warbler {Dendroica tigrina). — 2. 8 May 77, 1/20, 1/9.

Yellow-rumped Warbler {Dendroica coronata). — 2. 5 Feb 77, 2/40.

Warbler sp. {Parulidae sp.). — 15. 15 Aug 76, 15/10-80.

Summary

Both authors made all trips with one exception. Ten others participated so
that no fewer than four observers made each trip. In all, 36 species were well-
seen, 10 of which were pelagic. One is so irregular (Leach's Storm-Petrel)
that it is the subject of a separate paper.

Realizing that these data are insufficient to promote conclusions, the
authors were surprised by the numerous sightings of Cory's and Greater
shearwaters and Bridled Terns in view of the few previous accounts of these
species. Also surprising were the number of species seen and that so many
sightings were made well out at sea.

Acknowledgements

Appreciation is due the following for their help in the gathering of these data; Lyn Atherton,
Wes Biggs, Deborah Case, Judy Fisher, Chuck Geanangel, David Goodwin, Marie Hughes,
Jim Lane, Simon Perkins, Alice Smith, and Karl Thompson.

3926 34th Terr. S. Apt. L, St. Petersburg, Florida 33711 and 538 Garland
St., St. Petersburg, Florida 33703.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE TURKEY IN FLORIDA ^ 1973 - 1977'

Lovett E. Williams, Jr,

Florida is the type locality for the endemic “Florida Turkey” {Meleagris
gallopavo osceola). The subspecies intergrades with the “Eastern Turkey”
(M. g, silvestris) in northern Florida and adjoining states (Aldrich and Duvall
1955). The Turkey occurred in all wooded habitat in Florida in pioneer times.
While it was disappearing from most of the eastern United States, it survived
throughout Florida probably because of a sparse human population during
the early 1900's and the refuge afforded by the state’s many large swamps.
Perhaps the all time low for Turkeys in Florida was in 1948 when Newman
and Griffin (1950) estimated the population to be 26,000.

In 1950 the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission identifed
several large blocks of vacant Turkey habitat and undertook a large scale
restoration program with wild trapped birds (Powell 1965). Restoration
methods are discussed by Austin et al. (1972). Restoration was accomplished
by 1968 at which time Turkeys were in every Florida county. The population
was estimated to be'’ approximately 100,000 in the fall of 1970 (Game and
Fresh Water Fish Comm., unpubl. data).

Subsequently, two surveys were conducted to obtain information on pre-
sent Turkey distribution and to detect changes that may have occurred. In
1973 approximately 120 biologists, game managers, and wildlife officers were
contacted for information about Turkey populations in their locales,
generally following the method described by Mosby and Flandley (1943).
Eighty-six responded with useful information, and from this a map was
drawn and recirculated to the respondents for further refinements. In 1977,
the survey was repeated.

The maps prepared in 1973 and in 1977 were very similar and I consider
the small differences to be insignificant and probably due to errors In the
method rather than to changes in Turkey distribution. Accordingly, a com-
posite map was drawn to show the approximate distribution of the Turkey in
Florida during the period 1973-77 (Fig.l).

I did not attempt to indicate population densities on the map as no ac-
curate method exists to censes Turkeys and the margin of error in a density
estimate would be so great as to render the figures useless. Furthermore,
Turkey numbers in a given population fluctuate greatly from month to
month — early summer populations are several fold higher than late winter
numbers, even in unhunted populations. Hunted populations sometimes ex-

This is a contribution of the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Program, Florida
Pittnian- Robertson Project W-41.

33

34

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. 2, Fall 1978

Figure 1. Distribution of the Turkey in Florida, 1973-1977. Resolution of the data is 10
miles (16 km).

WILLIAMS. Florida Turkey Distribution

35

perience over 50% mortality from legal hunting during the two-month hun-
ting season. Therefore, I view the continuous occurrence of the species over a
period of years as more meaningful from the zoological and management
standpoints than the inexplicable ups and downs of the populations that are
reflected in any estimate of population numbers at any given time.

In the 1977 survey, 30 of the management oriented respondents were asked
to identify any block of unstocked Turkey habitat that was suitable for
restocking. Although a few very small blocks of land were mentioned,
restocking was not indicated because either they had at least a few Turkeys
already or they were too small

In Florida the range of the Turkey will probably shrink slowly and steadily
because of the loss and drastic modification of its habitat by encroachment of
civilization during the next few years. I doubt that any other factor will have
as significant an effect on the distribution of the species in Florida in the
future.

Literature Cited

Aldrich, J. W., and A. J. Duvall. 1955, Distribution of American gallinaceous birds.
U. S. Fish Wildlife Serv. Circ. 34.

Austin, D. H., T. E. Peoples, and L. E. Williams, Jr. 1972. Procedures for capturing and
handling live wild Turkeys. Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast Assoc. Game and Fish Comm.
21: 189493.

Mosby, H. S., and C. O. Handley. 1943. The wild Turkey in Virginia. Richmond, Va.
Comm. Game Inland Fish.

Newman, C. C., and E. Griffin. 1950. Deer and Turkey habitats and populations of Florida.

Fla. Game Fresh Water Fish Comm. Tech. Bull. 1.

Powell, J. A. 1965. The Florida wild Turkey. Fla. Game and Fresh Water Fish Comm.
Tech. Bull 8.

Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory,
4005 S. Main Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

BIRD USE OF FLOODED AGRICULTURAL FIELDS DURING
SUMMER AND EARLY FALL AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR MANAGEMENT
Paul W. Sykes, Jr. and Gloria S. Hunter

Intertidal mud and sand flats are now very limited on the southeast- coast of
Florida (Martin, Palm Beach and Broward counties) because much of this
type of habitat has been destroyed by dredge and fill projects to proYide
waterfront property for development and deep water to accommodate com-
mercial and recreational boat traffic. The remaining tidal flat acreage
receives increasing recreational activity, which limits bird use. Thus,, it was of
interest to find waders, waterfowl, shorebirds, and other birds that require
shallow-flooded flats utilizing inundated agricultural fields in western Palm
Beach County. Although heavy use by birds of another Florida agricultural
area situated on a drained marsh (Zellwood, Lake Apopka, Lake and Orange
cos.) is well known (Robertson and Ogden 1968, 1969; Stevenson 1968, 1972;
Ogden 1970, 1971; Robertson 1970, 1972; etc.), this situation inland from the
Gold Coast has only recently been noted. We report here some preliminary
findings of bird utilization on temporarily flooded agricultural lands of Palm
Beach County and suggest some management goals for fallow agricultural
lands, government lands, and other land holdings.

Description of Area and Methods

To the south and east of Lake Okeechobee and between the lake and the
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and Everglades Conservation Areas 2
and 3 lies the Everglades Agricultural Area. This region of about 405,000 ha
(1,000,000 acres) was the northern part of the Everglades marsh prior to
drainage. Drainage was begun between 1900 and 1910, and has continued to
the present (Parker et al. 1955, Tebeau 1971, Johnson 1974). Now most of
the land is planted in sugarcane {Saccharum officimrum) and winter
vegetable crops, with some used for pasture and sod farming. Approximately
90% of this large agricultural complex lies within western Palm Beach Coun-
ty. The region’s pure organic peat soils overlie a porous limestone formation
(Davis 1946). Surface and ground water levels are manipulated through an
extensive system of canals and pumps.

During late spring and summer, when no crops are being grown, some
fields are flooded to retard unwanted plant growth, to control nematodes that
damage roots of crops, and to reduce the loss of soil from subsidence
(Stephens 1956, 1974). Only a small percentage of the region is flooded in any
one year. Mositure conditions in the fields we studied ranged from damp to
flooding up to 30 cm. The surrounding fields are planted in sugarcane, which

36

SYKES AND HUNTER. Birds of Flooded Fields

37

requires a year to mature, being harvested in late fall and winter.

In 1976 observations were made in fields along the east side of the
Hillsboro Canal 9.7 km (6 mi.) south of U. S. Highway 441; and in 1977 on
A. Duda and Sons Farm 8 km (5 mi.) southeast of Belle Glade. Ap-
proximately 122 ha (300 acres) were censused in 1976, and 810 ha (2000
acres) in 1977. Most of the fields are about 130 ha (320 acres) rectangles. In
1977 fields were flooded in early and mid May (J. M. Kirby pers. comm.) and
most were drained by late August or early September. The flooding is
scheduled to correspond to vegetable crop production with no consideration
given to wildlife use. It is coincidental that inundation occurs at a time when
it provides attractive feeding and resting areas during a large part of the fall
migration of many shorebirds. Also the shallow flooding is suitable for
nesting of certain species and presents good conditions for feeding by waders
when much of their natural foraging areas are deeply flooded from summer
rains.

Fields were systematically checked on each visit. Counts and estimates
were recorded for each field. Three to five hours were required to census the
area, more time being required when larger numbers of birds were present.
One of us made the counts while the other recorded the data. The common
and scientific names of non-breeding birds mentioned in this paper are listed
in the Appendix.

Results and Discussion

The census results for 1976 and 1977 are summarized in Table 1. Fifty-nine
species were recorded, representing 16 families (1 Podicipedidae, 1
Pelecanidae, 1 Phalacrocoracidae, 1 Anhingidae, 10 Ardeidae, 1 Ciconiidae,
3 Threskiornithidae, 6 Anatidae, 1 Pandionidae, 4 Rallidae, 4 Charadriidae,
15 Scolopacidae, 2 Recurvirostridae, 1 Phalaropodidae, 7 Laridae, and 1
Rynchopidae), and breeding evidence was found for 10 species of 6 families.
Several species that also utilized the flooded fields are not treated in this
paper; they include: Belted Kingfisher, Tree, Bank, and Barn swallows, Red-
winged Blackbird, and Boat-tailed Grackle. The difference in species diver-
sity between 1976 and 1977 is attributed to the difference in size of the two
areas studied.

The large numbers of Great and Snowy egrets, both night herons, Wood
Storks, Fulvous Whistling- and Mottled ducks, American Coots, Lesser
Yellowlegs, Pectoral, Least, Stilt, and Semipalmated sandpipers, and Black-
necked Stilts are of particular interest. The cummulative totals (Table 1)
probably represent little duplication of individuals for most species of
shorebirds (except Killdeer and Black-necked Stilt), since they were in migra-
tion and censuses were spaced seven or more days apart. Among the

38

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. VoL 6. No. 2, Fall 1978

TABIE 1

Birds Utilizing Flooded Agricultural Fields in I^te Sraaner and Early Fall, Palm Beach
County, Florida,

1976

1977

lugusi

August

sept.

Total

1$

28

Total

2U

7

13

20

27

10

P.-bi, Qrebe*

15

15

53

75

15

86

51

21

307

WMte PeUcaB

hk

85

5

k2

i*i*

32

252

D,-cr, Comorant

1

1

2

Antainga

7

7

25

11*

1

25

3

6

Ik

Qr,Bl.(\ftjlte) Heron

1

1

1

1

h

Or, Blue Heron

U6

36

16

25

U7

61

231

Green Heron

2

2

21

5

U*

9

7

13

75

L. Blue Heron

5

5

138

15U

35

12

27

120

1*86

Cattle Egret

135

103

238

125

121*

80

115

135

66

6U5

Great Egret

15

150

165

280

11*00

125

228

1360

1900

5293

Snowy Egret

3

97

100

18

370

25

165

31*0

770

1688

La. Heron

2

2

U

214

23

15

29

59

30

180

Bk,-cr. N, Heron

1

1

132

56

1

11*2

2

27

362

Ie,-cr, N. Heron

252

250

8

133

2

13

658

Least Bittern

Ih

k

2

6

2

28

Wood Stork

10

10

1

2kOO

75

7U6

1500

21*60

7203

Glossy Ibis

2

150

152

302

1*55

100

37

136

121

U51

White Ibis

1

1

371

325

300

301*

6U2

1*95

21*37

Roseate Spoonbill

1

1

2

12

3h

22

70

Fulvous Wtu Duck'*

86

000

806

327

335

85

2U6

96

82

U71

Mottled Duck*

128

6$

193

291

165

30

183

57

128

851*

Green-w, Teal

1

1

Blue-w, Teal

19

12

31

U

31

1

26

136

567

765

H, Shoveler

2

3

5

Ruddy Duck

1

1

1*

6

12

Osprey

1

1

2

King Rail*

1

1

k

2

8

2

16

Purple Gallinule*

10

8

2

8

15

6

U9

Co», Gallinule*

223

175

398

300

361

125

270

277

169

1502

Aa, Coot*

159

350

509

1800

3300

300

2570

3610

1*1*00

15,780

SYKES AND HUNTER. Birds of Flooded Fields

39

Tabl* !• conUnned-

11

26

Total

2it

7

13

20

2?

10

Total

Semi pal, PloTer

7

10

1?

8

10

5

2

21,

h9

Killdeer*

38

51

89

11*9

190

150

38

81

68

676

Black-be, Plover

11

15

26

3

7

1

312

323

Ruddy Turnstone

2

2

k

2

17

18

27

9

8

81

Upland Samdpiper

9

9

Spotted Sandpiper

2

2

2

3

7

k

16

SoUtery Saodidper

3

3

^Uet

9

9

1

1

Tellowlege

m

310

16

300

5

7

63

820

1211

Lr. Tellowlegs 2600

7600

30,1100

81 15,500

1000

8

10*6 22,500

39,535

Pectoral Sandpiper 180

26

206

125

820

100

26

H*

7

1092

lAiite-r. Sandpiper

1

1

Least Sandpiper 1200

Uooo

5200

1835

5500

1500

210

256 12,1*50

21,751

Sh.^iJ)oiri.tcher

U8

276

321*

21

680

60

18

60

kBOO

5639

L.-M. Doidteber

3

2

5

Stilt Sandpiper

h3

29

7U

15

355

25

1

61

111*5

1602

Sendpal. Saa^per

28

laoo

1*128

8

1*250

800

127

176

liOOO

9361

¥. Sandpiper

220

220

1

275

1

3

2

780

1062

pern spp. 1000

Uooo

5000

7100 16,000

275

150 10,900

31*,1*25

Ruff

1

1

An« Avocet

5

Ii

9

15

28

1*3

Black-n. Stilt*

237

125

362

1*31

1330

250

132

283

860

3286

Wilson's Phalarqpe

8

1

1

10

Ring-bi. Qull

1

1

5

5

5

Ii

39

58

Laughing Qull

17

17

15

8

8

5

70

Gull»M. Tern*

9k

9k

5

18

21

11

27

36

122

Forster's Tsm

2

1

3

Least Tem

2

2

Caspian Ten

3

1

2

6

28

Uo

Black Ten

200

97

197

10

80

30

U3

8?

261

511

Black Sld.mer

7

98

105

Total Species

30

Ul*

1*6

U3

50

1*9

50

-»

Total IndiiddBals 6593 22,799 29,392 Hi ,1*21 55,lii3 5368 6392 10,356 70,?lli l62,39li

♦ Breedbs ia the area

40

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. VoL 6. No. 2, Fall 1978

shorebirds the Lesser Yellowlegs was the most abundant (comprising 46% of
all shorebirds identified to species), followed by the Least Sandpiper (25%).
Large numbers of “peep” sandpipers were not identified to species because of
distance from observation stations.

In the flooded fields during 1977 (24 July - 10 September) there were two
peaks in the shorebird migration (Fig. 1); one on 7 August when 43,716 in-
dividuals of 13 species were recorded and one on 10 September when we had
57,778 birds of 16 species. The mean number of individuals for all bird
species per hectare on 10 September was 87.3 (35.4 per acre), and for the
shorebirds 72.5 (29.4 per acre) or 83% of all species. As the birds were often
concentrated in tight feeding flocks in certain areas, the density of bird life in
small parts of the fields was estimated to have ranged up to lOOX the above
figures for brief periods.

Although all species recorded were observed feeding in the fields and adja-
cent ditches and canals, no effort was made to determine what the birds were
eating.

The Ruddy Turnstone and Willet are generally associated with coastal
saltwater habitats in Florida, but both were observed inland on freshwater,
the former on a regular basis (Table 1).

A male Ruff still showing much of its alternate plumage was found on 24
July 1977, in a recently drained field feeding in association with Lesser

Fig. 1. Distribution of migration for 20 species of shorebirds for the 1977 observation
period, excluding 2 breeding species (Killdeer and Black-necked Stilt).

SYKES AND HUNTER. Birds of Flooded Fields

41

Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpipers. The head and neck of this individual
were white while the remainder of the plumage was brown. This is the second
record of this species for Palm Beach County.

The 10 species found breeding in the flooded fields and on access roads
were: Pied-billed Grebe, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Mottled Duck, King Rail,
Purple Gallinule, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-
necked Stilt, and Gull-billed Tern. The birds have apparently adjusted their
breeding to correspond to the period of inundation. All breeding observations
were from the access roads; no search was made in the fields themselves.
Some of the fields were partly vegetated and others had vegetation around the
perimeter. Thus, the number of nests and broods found does not represent a
complete nesting survey.

Breeding evidence is as follows:

Pied-billed Grebe {Podilymbus podiceps). — Five nests with incubating birds were found on
15 August 1976, and one nest with incubating bird and a brood of five small young were
observed on 24 July 1977.

Fulvous Whistling-Duck {Dendrocygna bicolor). — Many young birds were noted among
the large flock recorded on 28 August 1976 (Table 1). Nine broods, totalling 72 young, ranging
from '/4 to Vi grown, were seen on 24 July 1977. Three broods totalling 20 young were observed
on 13 August 1977.

Mottled Duck {Anas fulvigula). — A brood of seven young was found on 24 July 1977. On

subsequent visits in August 1977, many large young were seen.

King Rail {Rallus elegans). ~ A lone young bird was seen on 24 July 1977, and a brood of
four half-grown young was flushed on 13 August 1977.

Purple Gallinule {Porphyrula martinica). — Several young, not fully grown, were seen in
canals clogged with water hyacinth {Eichhornia crassipes) on 24 July and in the first half of
August 1977.

Common Gallinule {Gallinula chloropus). — Twenty-four broods, totalling 71 young, most
of which were still downy, were counted on 24 July 1977, and at the same time, many almost
full grown young were also noted,

American Coot {Fulica americana). — A pair with three young about a week old, and another
pair with three newly hatched chicks were found on 15 August 1976. Seven young in four
broods were seen on 24 July 1977.

Killdeer {Charadrius vociferus). — Several young were seen in July and August 1977 along
the access roads.

Black-necked Stilt {Himantopus mexicanus). Numerous young just off nests were seen
on 15 August 1976. Four nests with eggs, and 3 broods totalling 10 young, were found on 24
July 1977.

Gull-billed Tern {Gelochelidon «//oHca). — Three fledged young were being fed by two
adults on 13 August 1977.

Summary and Recommendations

The results of limited census work at two localities in western Palm Beach
County in 1976 and 1977 demonstrate that fallow agricultural fields during
periods of flooding, drawdown, and drying receive heavy bird use, especially

42

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. VoL 6, No. 2, Fail 1978

by shorebirds. Such areas replace much of the mud flat habitat that has been
lost along the southeastern coast of Florida and greatly supplement that still

extant.

More extensive studies of bird populations in this type of man-made
habitat are needed. Research should determine optimum water levels, the
duration of flooding required by each species, and the best time to initiate and
terminate flooding and make a qualitative and quantitive analysis of prey
species utilized by the birds.

Because the mud-flat type habitat is important to many bird species,
perhaps agricultural interests in the Everglades Region and elsewhere in
Florida could implement a management plan that is designed to increase the
amount of habitat for birds requiring shallow flooded flats (in this case fallow
fields) as well as to prolong the life of the pure organic soils. Such a project
would greatly benefit a sizeable population of both resident and migratory
birds.

We further suggest that the development of additional “flooded field

habitat,” simulating the rapidly disappearing bare mud flats that are impor-
tant habitat for feeding and resting by resident, migratory, and wintering
shorebirds in Florida (and elsewhere in the United States), is a management
goal worthy of consideration by various agencies and groups such as the U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service on the National Wildlife Refuges, by the U. S.
Army Corps of Engineers on flood control and navigation projects, by state
agencies on certain wildlife managed lands, and by private conservation
organizations, corporations, and individuals. The availability of mud flat
habitat is now very limited or absent altogether in many areas where it
formerly existed. Most impoundments on federal and state wildlife refuges
are designed and managed for waterfowl with excellent results. However, in
most waterfowl impoundments, the depth of flooding is too great or the
drawdown is at the wrong time or the impoundment has too much vegetation
to be of much use by shorebirds. The shorebird habitat found in such im-
poundments is usually small areas along the margins. If management areas
can be created and maintained for waterfowl, why not for shorebirds?

Acknowledgements

We extend our appreciation to A. Duda and Sons for permission to visit their Belle Glade
property and to Gene H. Jackson, J. Michael Kirby, and Don McAllister for making the
necessary arrangements for access and accommodations. We wish to thank Ann Ayers, Frank
and Marge Eaton, Cecil Kilmer, Howard Langridge, AI and Barbara Liberman, Tom
McElroy, Ray Plockelman, and Barry Vorse of the Audubon Society of the Everglades for
their assistance with the field work.

Literature Cited

Davis, J. H., Jr. 1946. The peat deposits of Florida. Fla. Dept. Conservation [Dept. Nat.

Resour.], Geol. Bull. No. 30.

SYKES AND HUNTER. Birds of Flooded Fields

43

Johnson, L. 1974. Beyond the fourth generation. Gainesville, Univ. Presses of Florida,
Ogden, J. C. 1970. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 24: 673-677.

Ogden, J. C. 1971. Florida region. Amer. Birds 25: 846-851.

Parker, G. G., G. E. Ferguson, S. K. Love, et al. 1955. Water resources of southeastern
Florida. U. S. Geol. Surv., Water-supply Pap. 1255.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1970. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 24: 33-38.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1972. Florida region. Amer. Birds 26: 50-54.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. and J. C. Ogden. 1968. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 22: 25-31.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. and J. C. Ogden. 1969. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 23: 35-41.

Stephens, J. C. 1956. Subsidence of organic soils in the Florida Everglades. Proc. Soil
Sci. Soc. of America 20: 77-80.

Stephens, J. C. 1974. Subsidence of organic soils in the Florida Everglades. a review and
update. Pp. 352-36! in P. J, Gleason, ed. and compl. Environments of south Florida:
present and past. Miami Geol. Soc. Memoir 2.

Stevenson, H. M. 1968. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 22: 599-602.

Stevenson, H. M. 1972. Florida region. Amer. Birds 26: 848-852.

Stevenson, H. M. 1973. Florida region. Amer. Birds 27: 45-49.

Tebeau, C. W. 1971. A history of Florida. Coral Gables, Univ. Miami Press.

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Field
Station, P. O. Box 2077, Delray Beach, Florida 33444 and 1716 Thirteenth
Avenue, North, Lake Worth, Florida 33460.

Appendix. ~ Common and scientific names of non-breeding birds referred to in this paper.
WTiite Pelican (Pelecanm erythrorhynchos). Double-crested Cormorant {Phalacrocorax
auritm), Aohinga {Anhinga anhinga). Great Blue Heron {Ardea herodim), Green Heron
{Butorides striatus). Little Blue Heron (Florida caeruka). Cattle Egret (Bubukm ibis),
Great Egret (Cmmerodius aibus). Snowy Egret {Egretta thuia), Louisiana Heron {Hydranassa
tricolor). Black-crowned Night Heron {Nycticorax nycticorax). Yellow-crowned Night
Heron {Nyctamssa violacea). Least Bittern (Ixobrychm exiiis), Wood Stork (Mycteria
americana), Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellm), White Ibis (Eudocimus aibus). Roseate Spoon-
bill (Ajaia ajaja). Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca), Blue-winged Tea! (A. discors), Northern
Shoveler (A. clypeata), Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicemis), Osprey (Pandion haliaeius),
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrim semipalmatus), Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola),
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), Spotted
Sandpiper (Actitis macuiaria). Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria), Willet (Catoptrophorm
semipalmatus). Greater Yellowlegs {T. melanoleuca). Lesser Yellowiegs (T. flavipes),
Pectoral Sandpiper (Caiidris melanotos), White-rumped Sandpiper (C. fuscicollis), Least
Sandpiper (C. minuiUia), Short-billed Dowitcher {Limnodromus griseus), Long-billed
Dowitcher (L. scolopaceus). Stilt Sandpiper (Micropalama himantopus), Semipalmated
Sandpiper (C. pusilius). Western Sandpiper (C. mauri), Ruff (Philomachm pugnax), American
Avocet (Recurvirostra americana), Wilson’s Phalarope (Stegampus tricolor), Ring-billed
Gull (Larm deiawaremis). Laughing Gull (L. airiciila), Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri).
Least Tern (S. albifrons), Caspian Tern (S. caspia). Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), Black
Skimm,er (Rynchops niger), Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle akyon). Tree Swallow (Iridoprocne
bicolor). Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia). Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Red-winged
Blackbird (Agelaim phoenicem). Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major).

44 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. VoL 6, No. 2, Fall 1978

General Notes

Leach’s Storm-Petrel sighted in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. — On 15 August 1976 a Leach’s
Storm-Petrel {Oceanodroma leucorhoa) was sighted in the Gulf of Mexico eighty nautical miles
west of Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida. While our boat was lying at anchor, a storm-
petrel was sighted at some distance, whereupon it turned and flew toward us. As the bird ap-
proached to within 10-13 m of the stern, a prominently forked tail was observed, quickly
separating this species from a more expected Wilson’s Storm-Petrel {Oceanites oceanicus) with
which we are familiar. Feeding several times before flying away, this petrel dipped into the
water holding its slender wings very high. It did not dance or “patter” off the water with its feet
and its flight was more erratic and less graceful than that of a Wilson’s. Although the gray
feathers that partially divide the white rump in most populations of Leach’s were not detected,
the white appeared to be confined to the rump without extending to the flanks or undertail
coverts.

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel is regular in the Gulf of Mexico during the summer, albeit in small
number. However, only three specimens of Leach’s Storm-Petrel from the Gulf are known to
us. The first two were discussed by Rohwer and Woolfenden (1968, Auk 85: 319); one was from
Florida and the other from Louisiana. More recently a third specimen was taken near
Tallahassee (Ogden 1976, Amer. Birds 30: 945-948). — Charles B. Buhrman, 3926 34th
Terrace S. Apt. L, St. Petersburg, Florida 3371 1, and Larry A. Hopkins, 538 Garland St., St.
Petersburg, Florida 33703.

Feeding association between Brown Pelicans and Wood Storks. — In interspecific -feeding

assembleges between ciconiiforms and other waterbirds, one species serves as a “beater,” thus
stirring up prey items that become available to the associate species. Ciconiiforms are the op-
portunistic species in most reported commensal foraging relationships (Emlen and Ambrose
1970, Leek 1971, Mueller et al. 1972, Courser and Dinsmore 1975, and references therein);
there are few observations of interspecific feeding associations where other waterbirds derive
benefit from foraging with ciconiiforms (Meyerriecks 1967, Clancey 1976).

On 15 September 1977 I observed 21 yearling and 2 adult Brown Pelicans {Pelecanus oc-
cidentalis) feeding with 53 Wood Storks {Mycteria americana) along the western shoreline of
Terra Ceia Bay, Manatee County, Florida. The concentrated, rapid moving flock of storks
were grope feeding (Rechnitzer 1956) in 25-35 cm of water about 10 m from the mangrove
shoreline. The pelicans were predominantly swimming and scoop feeding (Dinsmore 1974)
among and around the storks. However, when left 10-12 m behind the moving storks, the
pelicans repeatedly leap frogged forward and dove among the storks and began scoop feeding
again. After 45 minutes the storks became dispersed, probably resulting in lower efficiency at
stirring up prey, and the pelicans ceased feeding.

Literature Cited

Clancey, P. A. 1976. Interesting feeding behaviour in the Little Egret and Brownhooded
Kingfisher. Ostrich 47: 131.

Courser, W. D., and J. J. Dinsmore. 1975. Foraging associates of White Ibis. Auk 92:
599-601.

Dinsmore, J. J. 1974. White and Brown pelicans feeding together. Fla. Field Nat. 2: 11.
Emlen, S. T., and H. W. Ambrose III. 1970. Feeding interactions of Snowy Egrets and

Red-breasted Mergansers. Auk 87: 164-165.

Leck, C. F. 1971. Cooperative feeding in Leucophoyx thula and Podilymbus podiceps (Aves).
Amer. Midi. Nat. 86: 241-242.

Genera! Notes 45

Meyerriecks, a. J, 1967. Egrets serving as “beaters” for Belted Kingfishers. Wilson Bull.
79: 236-237.

Mueller, H. C., M. G. Biben, and H. F. Sears. 1972. Feeding interactions between Pied-
billed Grebes and herons. Auk 89: 190.

Rechnitzer, a. B. 1956. Foraging habits and local movements of the Wood Ibis in San
Diego County, California. Condor 58: 427-432.

James A. Rodgers Jr., Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa,
Florida 33620.

Wood Storks using White Pelicans as beaters. — The Wood Stork {Mycteria americana)
is frequently observed foraging amidst aggregations of various wading birds. Generally the
storks wander through the assemblages as individuals or in small groups without utilizing a
beater, although the birds in the assemblage may be mutually benefited by the disturbance
which renders prey easier to capture.

On 6 November 1977 I observed a large feeding assemblage of wading birds in a mosquito
control impoundment on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Brevard County,
Florida. The shallow brackish water impoundment (approximately 300 by 1200 m) was ringed
by cordgrass {Spartina bakeri). In the open area, about 50 White Pelicans {Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos) were scoop feeding in a compact flock which was moving the length of the im-
poundment. About 15 Wood Storks were grope feeding and walking rapidly in a row, 1-2 m
parallel to each side of the “raft” and moving constantly except when they paused to swallow
fish. As the line of storks moved more slowly than the pelicans, the storks at the rear would rise,
fly to the front of the line, and resume feeding. This “leapfrogging” was repeated numerous
times as the pelicans dispersed and the storks formed several small groups which then began
feeding among other wading birds in the cordgrass.

Heatwole (1965) and Dinsmore (1973) found the feeding efficiency of Cattle Egrets
{Bubulcus ibis) increased several fold when foraging in close proximity to cows or tractors.
Consequently, I assume the storks captured prey more efficiently when using the flock of
pelicans as beaters. The relationship appeared to be commensal since the pelicans determined
the direction of movement and did not directly interact with the storks. Thus, I assume the
storks were exploiting the feeding habits of the pelicans. I have observed over 200 groups of
foraging storks and this was the first time a single species was used as a beater and the second
time “leapfrogging” was observed.

The several reports of ciconiiforms using another animal as a beater (Parks and Bressler
1963, Emlen and Ambrose 1970, Leek 1971, Courser and Dinsmore 1975) or “leapfrogging”
(Meyerriecks I960, Wiese and Crawford 1974, Gladstone 1977) have all been restricted to the
family Ardeidae. The use of an interspecific beater and “leapfrogging” are, to my knowledge,
unreported for the Wood Stork.

I thank James A. Rodgers, Jr. for his comments on this note. This research supported by
contract NAS 10-8986, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, John F. Kennedy
Space Center, Florida.

Literature Cited

Courser, W. D., and J. J. Dinsmore. 1975. Foraging associates of the White Ibis. Auk
92: 599-601.

Dinsmore, J. J. 1973. Foraging success of Cattle Egrets, Bubulcus ibis. Amer. Midi. Nat.
89: 242-246.

Emlen, S. T., and H. W. Ambrose, III. 1970. Feeding interactions of Snowy Egrets and
Red-breasted Mergansers. Auk 87: 164-165,

46

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. 2, Fall 1978

Gladstone, D. 1977. Leapfrog feeding in the Great Egret. Auk 94: 596-598.

Heatwole, H. 1965. Some aspects of the association of Cattle Egrets with cattle. Anim.
Behav, 13: 79-83.

Leck, C. F. 1971. Cooperative feeding in Leucophoyx thula and Podilymbus podiceps (Aves).
Amer. Midi. Nat. 86: 241-242.

Meyerriecks, a. J. 1960. Success story of a pioneering bird. Nat. Hist. 69(7): 46-57.
Parks, J. M., and S. L. Bressler. 1963. Observation of joint feeding activities of certain
fish-eating birds. Auk 80: 198-199.

Wiese, J. H., and R. L. Crawford. 1974. Joint “leapfrog” feeding by ardeids. Auk 91:
836-837.

E. Scott Clark, Department of Biological Sciences. Florida Technological University.

Box 25000, Orlando. Florida 32816.

Wading bird use of the east Everglades. Because of drainage, water management and
development, the Florida Everglades is now divided into several distinct areas. Former
Everglades land immediately south of Lake Okeechobee is now used for farming. North of U.
S. Hwy. 41, the remaining Everglades is divided by levees and canals into three Water Conser-
vation Areas. Most of the Everglades south of Hwy. 41, called Shark River Slough, is included
within the boundaries of Everglades National Park. However a wedge of Everglades habitat
that formerly was part of the upland water source for the park is not presently under public
management (Fig. 1). This area, called the east Everglades or eastern Shark River Slough
(Dade Co.), covers about 215 km^. It is isolated by levees from the Water Conservation Areas
to the north and from Everglades National Park to the west and is bounded by State Road 27
on the east and by a higher rock ridge near Chekika State Park on the south.

Figure 1

Map of south Florida showing the east Everglades.

General Notes

47

Table 1

Numbers of Wading Birds Feeding in the East Everglades, Florida, 1974-1975

Species Oct.

Nov,

Dec.

Jan,

Feb.

Mar.

White Ibis 0

300

7,425

10,851

11,027

448

Glossy Ibis 0

40

15

21

678

12

Roseate Spoonbill 0

0

0

0

60

0

Wood Stork 0

0

2

0

167

38

Great Blue Heron 7'

0

45

93

37

25

Great Egret 213

0

766

695

1,180

351

Snowy Egret 10

0

540

24

694

242

Louisiana Heron 0

0

50

92

10

10

Little Blue Heron 135

0

467

648

787

92

Black Cr, Night Heron

P

P

P

P

P

Green Heron P

P

P

P

P

P

American Bittern 0

P

P

P

0

0

Total (rounded) 370

340

9,130

12,420

14,640

1,220

1) Including one Great White Heron.

2) P = Present but not adequately censused.

During the winter and spring of 1974-1975, aerial censuses were conducted over the east
Everglades marsh to determine its importance as feeding habitat for wading birds
(Ciconiiformes). One morning census was flown each month from October through March.
Aerial coverage was exhaustive and, except for some ibis flocks, all birds including cryptic ones
were individually counted from a low altitude. As a result the census data appear to be
reasonably complete.

Twelve species of wading birds were found in the area (Table 1), including relatively rare
birds such as Roseate Spoonbills {Ajaia ajaja) and a Great White Heron {Ardea herodias oc-
cidentalis). The White Ibis {Eudocimus albus) was the most abundant species in the area. The
east Everglades appeared to be an important feeding area for yearling Wood Storks {Mycteria
americana). Wading bird use of the area was decidely seasonal. Numbers there increased from
several hundred birds in October to over 14,000 birds in February. Because of the seasonal dry
period the area was nearly without standing water by April, and most foraging birds had moved
to other parts of the Everglades, or had returned north to nest.

Wading birds use of the east Everglades depends on its hydrologic characteristics which are
strongly influenced by the roads and levees now delimiting the area. Before construction of the
levees surrounding Water Conservation Area 3, the east Everglades and subsequently the more
southerly marshes of Everglades National Park were supplied by surface water flow from the
slightly higher Everglades marshes to the north. Construction of the east-west levee along U. S.
41 in 1962 eliminated surface discharge and restricted recharge to subsurface seepage beneath
the levees (Leach, Kline and Hampton 1972, Fla. Bur. Geol. Rep. Invest. No. 60). Construction
of Levee 67 along the eastern boundary of Everglades National Park bisected the southern
Everglades and further altered surface water relations in the area. However, seepage, rainfall
and surface water flow from the Park around the south end of Levee 67 maintain surface water
in the east Everglades for much of the wet season, allowing the production of aquatic prey
organisms. Subsequent drying during the spring permits wading birds to use the area for
feeding.

These data suggest that the east Everglades is heavily used by feeding wading birds for
several months during the year, particularly in late winter (January-February). These are
critical months when resident birds are building reserves for nesting and wintering birds are
preparing for northward migration. The continued preservation of this area as wildlife habitat
may be quite important to some wintering and resident wading birds in southern Florida.

I thank James A, Rodgers, Jr., and John C. Ogden for comments. — James A. Kushlan, U.
S. National Park Service, South Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park,
Homestead, Florida 33030.

48

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. VoL 6, No. 2, Fall 1978

Egg removal by Little Blue Heron. — ■ On 15 April 1977 at a large mixed heronry on Sunken
Island, Hillsborough Bay, Hillsborough County, Florida, I observed an incubating Little Blue
Heron (Florida caeruka) remove four eggs from its nest in four trips during a period of 35
minutes. Carrying each egg crosswise in its mandibles, the heron flew out of view into the
heronry. As the heron returned for the complete clutch, I assumed it was depositing the eggs in'
another nest. During this stage of the breeding cycle, there are numerous abandoned nests in the
heronry for the heron to utilize.

I was using an observation blind within 4 m of this abandoned nest, and I tried to avoid dis-
turbing the birds under study, but the herons at this nest were disturbed twice a day, two days a
week, for the two weeks the pair occupied the nest. This is the first instance of egg removal I
observed during three breeding seasons. I believe my presence contributed to the heron
relocating the clutch. Considering the amount of time and energy the heron had invested in pair
formation, nest construction, and incubation, it would be more advantageous (i.e., greater
behavioral fitness) for the Little Blue to relocate nesting rather than abandon nest and
eggs. — ■ James A. Rodgers, Jr., Department of Biology , University of South Florida, Tampa,
Florida 33620.

Hooded Merganser breeding in a north Florida phosphate mine. On 19 April 1977 we saw a
female Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) with nine downy young in an inactive settl-
ing pond at the Occidental Chemical Company's Suwannee River Mine, Hamilton County,
Florida. This 75 acre diked settling pond has a soft mud bottom and is surrounded by willow
thickets. The hen, with all nine young, was observed again on 22 April 1977, but by 27 May
only two young were found (J, H. W., G. E. Menk, H. M. Stevenson).

The previous history of this species’ breeding in Florida consists of three records. Brewster
(1878, Bull. Nuttall Ornithol. Club 3: 40) saw a hen with flightless young on the St. Johns
River, Volusia County, on 28 March 1877 and mentioned that this species nested on the Wekiva
River though he found no nests or young. Sprunt (1954, Florida bird life, New York, Coward-
McCann, Inc.) reports that on 3 March 1929, R, C. Hallman and a friend collected a female
Hooded Merganser and unsuccessfully attempted to collect her flightless young in a cypress
swamp near St. Augustine, St. Johns County. In June 1963, Richard G. Naegeli (Stevenson
1963, Aud. Field Notes 17: 454-457) observed a female with young on Cypress Creek in
Hillsborough County.

In Georgia, Burleigh (1958 Georgia birds, Norman, Univ. Okla. Press) reports that this
species may breed in Chatham County where pairs were encountered on 4 June 1918 and 20
May 1925 and single birds were found in the summer from 1926 to 1935. Odom (1971, Proc.
24th Ann. Conf. SE Game Fish Comm., pp. 108-117) reports that a Hooded Merganser bred in
a Wood Duck nest box on the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge in Jones County.

In Alabama, (Imhof 1976, Alabama birds, University, Ala., Univ. Ala. Press) most breeding
records of the Hooded Merganser are from the Tennessee River valley in the extreme northern
portion of the state where three to five pairs breed at the Wheeler Refuge. Other breeding
records are from Antanga County in central Alabama and Clarke County in southwestern
Alabama.

As the above records indicate, the Hooded Merganser is a rare breeder in this
area. — Robert W. Repenning, National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory, 412 N. E. 16th Ave.,
Room 250, Gainesville. Florida 32601, and John H. Wester, Occidental Chemical Company,
P. O. Box 300, White Springs, Florida 32096.

General Notes

49

Med”taiiei Hawk preys on jufenile gopher tortoise. — Information on predators of the gopher
tortoise (Gopherm poiyphemm) is scanty, with only snakes, dogs, and man reported (Douglass
and Winegarner 1977, J. Herpetol 11: 236-238). Therefore the following evidence of apparent
predation on this species by the Red-tailed Hawk (Buieo jamakemis) seems worthy of note.

On 20 April 1977 we found a fresh, empty shell of a juvenile gopher tortoise beneath an active
Red-tailed Hawk nest that was 15 m up in an isolated, dead slash pine {Pinm diiottii) in scrub-
by flatwoods immediately west of the Archbold Biological Station in Highlands County,
Florida. When found on 14 April, the nest contained two downy young; both eventually fledged.
Based on the length (70 mm) and width (57 mm) of the slightly shrivelled, but otherwise intact,
plastron, and the presence of umbilical scars, the tortoise was a yearling. The posterior end of
the carapace and a strip along the spine extending into the nuchal region had been torn away.
The type ot damage, nature of the shrivelling, and the fact that the scutes were torn rather than
flaked off suggest that the shell had been ripped open while fresh. The remains of the shell gave
no indication of injury prior to capture by the hawk. Therefore we suspect the tortoise was
taken alive by the hawk.

Bent (1937, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus. 167) lists turtles among the miscellaneous food items of
the Red-tailed Hawk, and Woodbury and Hardy (1948, EcoL Monogr. 18: 145-200) and Ernst
ind Barbour (1972, Turtles of the United States, Lexington, Univ. Presses of Kentucky)
suspect that hawks prey on Gopherm agasfizii of southwestern North America. We thank John
F Douglass for his assistance in preparing this note. John W. Fitzpatrick, Division of
Birds, Field Mmmm of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois 60605 and Glen E. Woolfenden,
Department of Biology, University oj South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Aggression between an American Kestrel and Cattle Egret. — - On 3 January 1976 a wintering
male American Kestrel {Falco sparverius) was observed perched on a power line near Pepper
State Recreation Area on Highway A-l-A north of Ft. Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida. On
the road shoulder below, several Cattle Egrets (Bubukus ibis) were feeding on insects, chiefly
grasshoppers. Suddenly, the kestrel descended from his perch and struck one of the egrets on
the head and then returned to the powerliee several hundred feet down the road.

Although this is the first time we have observed aggressive behdvior of a kestrel against a
Cattle Egret, it is not totally unexpected because we have seen the kestrel chase other food com-
petitors, eg., Loggerhead Shrike {Lanius ludovicianus) and other kestrels, from its winter
territory (Mills 1975, Wilson Bull. 87: 241-247), and it does not hesitate to harry larger birds of
prey such as Red-tailed {Buteo jamakemis) and Red-shoiiidered (B. lineatm) hawks (Bent
1938, U. S. Natl Mus Bull 170 115; Brown and Amadon 1968, Eagles, hawks and falcons of
the World, New York, McGraw Hill, p. 774). — Richard E. Roberts, Division of Recreation
and Parkf, Florida Department of Natural Resources, P. O. Box 8, Hobe Sound, Florida
33455, and Herbert W. Kale II, Florida Audubon Society, 35-Ist Court A'lT, Vero Beach,
Florida 32960.

Smniiier status of the Common Snipe in Florida. — In Florida the Common Snipe {Capelia
gallinago) has been considered a common to abundant resident from September to April, with
rare occurrences in May and August (Sprunt 1954). However, during the last decade, there
have been infrequent records of mdividuak, as cited below, which suggest a reassessment of the
summer status of the species: 18 June 1968, Lake Kissimmee (Osceola Co,), (Stevenson 1968);
9 July 1971), Lake Lafayette (Leon Co.), (Ogden 1970); 6 June 1972, Lake Alice (Alachua Co.),
(Ogden 1972); 2 June 1974, Paynes Prairie (Alachua Co.), (Ogden 1974); 20 July 1974, Crest-
view (Okaloosa Co.), (Kennedy 1974). Also, there are additional unpublished Juee/July
records from Paynes Prairie (Stephen A. Nesbitt pers. comm.).

50

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. 2, Fall 1978

A more recent and noteworthy record of the Common Snipe in Florida is one I flushed twice
from a drainage ditch west of Tallahassee (Leon Co.) on 15 June 1977. At the same place dur-
ing 25-28 June and once on 6 July, a snipe, probably the same bird, was flushed seven more
times, including once by John R. Patterson (pers. comm.). The bird was wary and surprisingly
silent; it flushed at about 30 m and only once gave its typical alarm note. The presence of a
snipe for such an extended period (22 days) in June and July is unprecedented for Florida.

North of Florida the southernmost June-July records are more than 300 miles away in the
Tennessee Valley of Alabama (Imhof 1976). The lack of any summer records in southern
Alabama and Georgia may be partly attributed to the lack of field observers in those areas as
compared to Florida.

The above records indicate that in Florida the Common Snipe is probably extremely rare in

summer, and perhaps to be encountered more frequently in the northern part of the state.

Literature Cited

Imhof, T. A. 1976. Alabama birds. Second ed. University, Ala., Univ. Ala. Press.
Kennedy, R. S. 1974. Central southern region. Amer. Birds 28: 913.

Ogden, J. C. 1970. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 24: 675.

Ogden, J. C. 1972. Florida region. Amer. Birds 26: 850.

Ogden, J. C. 1974. Florida region. Amer. Birds 28: 894.

Sprunt, a., Jr. 1954. Florida bird life. New York, Coward-McCann Inc.

Stevenson, H. M. 1968. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 22: 600.

Gail E. Menk, 2725 Peachtree Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32304.

First Florida specimen of the Lesser Nighthawk. — - On the afternoon of 19 May 1976, while
observing migrants on St. George Island, Franklin County, Florida, I discovered a Lesser
Nighthawk {Chordeiles acutipennis) perched lengthwise on a pine limb in a dense hammock
near Rattlesnake Cove. The bird appeared smaller and browner that the Common Nighthawks
(C. minor) that were abundant on the island. When the bird flew, the white wing bars seemed
unusually close to the wing tips, and I collected it (specimen no. 3482, Tall Timbers Research
Station). The bird was a male, with total length 220 mm, wing chord 176 mm and weight 47.0 g,
and was not fat. Eugene Eisenmann (American Museum of Natural History) identified the
specimen as C. a. texensis.

The only previous record of the Lesser Nighthawk in Florida is from the Dry Tortugas where
3-10 individuals were seen daily from 8-17 May 1966 (Cunningham 1966, Aud. Field Notes 20:
497-499). In Louisiana, this species has been recorded from the Gulf coast as a spring (7 April-
23 May) and fall (8 Sept. -9 Jan.) migrant occurring in flocks or as single individuals (Lowery
1974, Louisiana birds. Baton Rouge, Louisiana State Univ. Press). One record for this species
exists from Bermuda (Wingate 1973, Check list and guide to the birds of Bermuda, Hamilton,
Bermuda, Island Press), a female found dying on 3 December 1965 (D. Wingate, in litt.).

More recently in Florida, another Lesser Nighthawk was seen well on 5 November 1977 by
Bonnie Carter and the author at almost the exact location of the 19 May 1976 in-
dividual. — James M. Stevenson, 1409 Branch Street, Tallahassee. Florida 32303.

Genera! Notes

51

A Gray Catbird nest in Dufai County, Florida. — Florida nesting records of the Gray Catbird
{Dumetella caroUnemis) have been reviewed recently (Stevenson 1978, Fla, Field Nat. 6: IS-
IS). I would like to add this note.

On the morning of 16 June 1977 I saw an adult Gray Catbird with a berry in its bill fly into a
hedge at the San Jose Country Club in south Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. No nest was
found in the hedge.

On 20 June I searched the entire area and about 0830 found an adult catbird feeding a fledgl-
ing which was barely able to flutter from branch-to branch. I returned later in the morning with
Virge Markgraf, and although we saw two adult catbirds, we did not see the fledgling.

On 21 June, Sam Grimes and I found an empty nest about 15 m from the thicket in which the
fledgling had been seen. The area borders a small lake and is thickly wooded with bald cypress
(Taxodium distkhum), wax myrtle {Myrica cerifera), black willow {Saiix nigra), and black
cherry {Prmus serotina). The nest, which I collected (Jacksonville Univ. Mus.), was about 1.5
m above the ground in a tangle of Virginia creeper (Parthenodssus sp.), blackberry (Rubm sp.),
and Japanese honeysuckle {Lonicera japonica). Mr. Grimes said the nest was typical of catbird
construction . An adult catbird was last seen in the area on 24 June 1911. — Margaret C.
Powell, 2965 Forest Circie, Jacksonville, Florida 32217.

First sighting of Varied Thrush in Florida. — On 23 October 1977, at approximately 0930, 1
observed an adult male Varied Thrash (Ixoreus naevius) at Lantana, on Hypoluxo Island, Palm
Beach County, Florida. The bird’s eyebrows, wingbars, throat-and breast were rust-colored and
it had a black breast band. The undertai! coverts and belly were white, and the legs were
yellowish. The upper parts were dark gray, with the crown and forehead darker than the back.
The bird closely resembled the illustration of the male in “Birds of North America” (Robbins
et al. 1966, page 231).

The bird was discovered in a wooded lot of strangler fig {Ficus aured), Australian pine
{Casuarim sp.), and Brazilian pepper {Schinus terebinthifoUm), with a heavy growth of pepper
around the edge. The bird was first seen on the ground but later moved up into the vegetation
and disappeared. In about 15 minutes, the author and Ruth Trunipower found the bird again
about one m, off the ground perched on a limb. It later dropped to the ground where we con-
tinued to observe it for about 10 minutes. During its stay in the area it was also seen feeding or
lawns of nearby residences.

Later that morning Howard P. Langridge and Paul W. Sykes, Jr. observed the bird and con-
firmed the identification. It was subsequently seen by many observers and was last reported on
26 October 1977. Robert D. Barber photographed the bird on 24 October (copy to Tall Timbers
Research Station).

This appears to be the first report of the Varied Thrush for Florida. It has not been recorded
in Alabama (Imhof 1976, Alabama birds, University, Ala., Univ. Alabama Press) or in
Georgia (Burleigh 1958, Georgia birds, Norman, Univ. Oklahoma Press; R. L. Crawford, pers.
comm.). During autumn the species occurs regularly in the northeastern United States and
southeastern Canada, but records in the southeast (south of Virginia) are lacking (Keith 1968,
Bird-Banding 39: 245-276). The A. O. U. check-list (5th Ed., 1957) gives meruloides (the
easternmost population) as the race occurring casually in eastern North America. However, the
subspecies of the individual that visited Hypoluxo Island for four days remains undetermined.

A dry cold front passed through southern Florida on 19 October with no precipitation
recorded in Palm Beach County. Fairly heavy rain fell during the night of 22 October and early
morning of the 23rd. The rain may have been responsible for temporarily grounding this
western thrash on the southeast coast of Florida. Cecil M. Kilmer, Lot 155, 2738 North
Military Trail, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409.

52 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6, No. 2, Fall 1978

Book Reviews

Watching Birds: An Introduction to Ornithology. — Roger F. Pasquier, illustrated by
Margaret La Farge. 1977. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, xiii + 301 pp. $10.00. — This well-
written book may become the standard introduction to ornithology for amateur naturalists. ,
The text, illustrations, and lay-out are all of high quality. In 15 chapters Pasquier covers evolu-
tion, morphology, behavior, breeding cycle, migration, distribution, conservation, attracting
birds, and ornithology today. Unfortunately, treatment of environmental physiology is lacking.
There is a generally well-rounded list of further readings, to which Andrew Berger’s “Bird
study” should be added, and an appendix listing ornithological and conservation organizations.

As there is so much information available about birds, it is inevitable that a reviewer will find
favorite topics slighted or occasional lapses of accuracy. On the drawing of a chicken skeleton
(p. 88) labels for fibula and tibiotarsus are reversed and the carpometacarpus, coracoid, femur,
and pubis are not labelled. Including a drawing showing how flight feathers are attached to the
wing bones would have been useful. In Florida, Limpkins are not restricted to eating snails (p.
226); they also eat fresh-water bivalves. And only in Florida do Scrub Jays have helpers at the
nest (p. 182).

However, these quibbles should not dissuade you from purchasing this book; it is probably
the best of its genre. Its well rounded coverage of ornithology makes it a must for the novice
who wants to learn more about birds, and I hope it soon appears in an inexpensive paperback
edition so that it might better reach the audience that provided the original inspiration, secon-
dary school students. — Fred E. Lohrer.

Vertebrates of Florida. Identification and Distribution. — Henry M. Stevenson. 1976.
Gainesville, University Presses of Florida. 607 pp., 11 plates, 15 figures, and 68 maps.
$35.00. — As the subtitle indicates, this volume includes both an identification guide and dis-
tributional information for some 880 vertebrate species known from the state. Dichotomous
keys provide means for identification of Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, Amphibia,
Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia. Because most readers of Florida Field Naturalist have a
primary interest in birds, this review will be limited to the sections dealing with birds.

The keys are intended primarily for the identification of museum specimens (“study skins”)
but should be useful on freshly killed birds occurring in Florida; they are not intended for field
identification. For birds, keys are provided for orders and families and species within the
families. (Further into the book, for each species one finds information on Identification and
Distribution and Variation [subspecific].) The goal of anyone designing keys is to identify cor-
rectly 100 percent of all specimens; to achieve this goal is often exceedingly difficult. Most of
the characters used in the keys are standard, easily understood, and defined early in the book.
Over the past year I have had my students in ornithology practice identifying unknowns by us-
ing these keys; their identifications were approximately 90 percent correct, some of the
problems being indicated below.

The major problem areas involve measurements — use of total length and measuring the
wing. The author states (p. 6): “Probably the most reliable index of size in museum skins is total
length . . . wing length is equally variable.” (All measurements are variable, but wing length is
probably the least variable in my opinion.) “In such cases the total length of a museum skin
may be assumed to be within 10 percent of the original in most species. ...” I join other avian
systematists in remaining skeptical of this measurement, and the keys in “Vertebrates of
Florida” substantiate this skepticism. For example, in the key to orders and families (p. 82),
total length of the Tytonidae (barn owls) is “about 45 cm,” but in the species’ description for
Tyto alba the length is given as “38 to 53 cm.” Furthermore, a specimen I measured was only

Book Reviews

53

36.5 cm. Total length of a Marsh Hawk that I measured was 39.5 cm, not within the range (or
even 10% thereof) of total length 45 to 61 cm given on p, 333= I have no quarrel with the use of
total length as a general indication of body size, especially in living birds, but there are simply
too many variations in the ways that individuals prepare museum skins to use total length of
skins as an exact measure.

Quite unfortunately, the author fails to clarify the method of taking a wing measurement,
whether by flattened wing or its chord. This is a significant omission. Three Bridled Terns that I
measured, for example, had wing lengths of 242, 245, and 252 mm (chord), and 247, 252, and
254 mm (flat), none of them ('‘about 265 mm”) as given in the key. The Goshawk has a “wing
length at least 300 mm” (p. 101), yet I have seen a specimen with a wing of 285.

One must exercise other cautions in using the keys. The author does not state that the key to
the Stercorariidae is for adults only; most records of this family in Florida are of immatures.
Imprecise words are frequent — “about,” “usually,” and “normal.” What is meant, for exam-
ple, by “tail coverts usually white,” a primary being “of normal width,” a “tarsus about 100
mm?” Without qualifiers, these terms are at best confusing. In the ordinal key to Gruiformes
and Charadriiformes, it is assumed that the user already knows what Limpkins and Jacanas
look like. The male House Sparrow does possess a black breast patch, but only in the full
breeding plumage.

Distribution maps, especially intrastate, can be useful, but why waste an entire page with a
map showing the distribution of the Blue-gray Tanager in the whole New World when it
appears only as a tiny dot on the southeast coast of Florida? Similar comments apply to maps
of the Worm-eating Warbler and the House Wren (which does not even breed in Florida!).
These maps and others are a real waste of space and money.

This review is not intended to be nit-picking, but rather to point out certain problem areas for
potential users. Even so, this is an extremely valuable and useful book because of its coverage.
Everyone interested in Florida vertebrates, whether student, professional, or amateur, should
have this important book for ready reference. Dr. Stevenson is to be commended for assembl-
ing all these data into a single volume. — David W. Johnston.

Florida Birds in the Periodical Literature, 1977.

All articles were published in 1977 unless otherwise noted. Authors are requested to send
reprints of their articles to the Editor for inclusion in this annual feature.

Brown, M. M. Status of Snow Buntings wintering in the southeast. Chat 41: 59-66. — Includes
the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.

Crawford, R. L. 1976. Some old records of TV tower kills from southwest Georgia.

Oriole 41: 45-51. — Compared with Tall Timbers TV tower kills, Leon Co.

Cruz, A. Ecology and behavior of the Jamaican Woodpecker. Bull Fla. State Mus. 22:
149-204. ™ Includes comparison of density and foraging behavior with woodpeckers
near Gainesville.

Douglass, J. F. Prairie Warbler feeds from spider web. Wilson Bull, 89: 158-159, — Ever-
glades Nat. Park, Monroe Co.

Grubb, T. C., Jr. Discrimination of aerial predators by American Coot in nature. Anim.

Behav. 25: 1065-1066. — Lake George, Lake Co.

Grubb, T. C., Jr. Weather-dependent foraging in Ospreys. Auk 94: 146-149. — Lake
George, Lake Co.

Grubb, T. C., Jr. Why Ospreys hover, Wfilson Bull. 89: 149-150. — Lake George, Lake Co.

54 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. Vol. 6. No. 2, Fall 1978

Grubb, T. C. Jr., and W. M. Shields. Bald Eagle interferes with an active Osprey nest.
Auk 94: 140. — Lake George, Lake Co.

Howe, M. A., R. C. Laybourne, and F. L. James. Morphological variation in breeding
Red-winged Blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus, in Florida. Fla. Sci. 40: 273-280. Mean
wing length, tail length, and weight decrease clinally from northwest to southeast,
except for birds from the Keys. With the possible exception of birds from the Everglades,

recognition of more than one subspecies of the Red-winged Blackbird in Florida is not

warrented.

Imhof, T. a. The Greater Shearwater in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Auk 94: 163-164. —
Summary of records in Amer. Birds for La., Ala., and Florida’s Panhandle.

Kilham, L. Early breeding season behavior of Red-headed Woodpeckers. Auk 94: 231-239. —
Includes observations made at Archbold Biological Station, Highlands Co.

Kushlan, J. a. Differential growth of body parts in the White Ibis. Auk 94: 164-167. — based
on south Florida captives.

Kushlan, J. A. Foraging behavior of the White Ibis. Wilson Bull. 89: 342-345. — In Florida.
Kushlan, J. A. Growth energetics of the White Ibis. Condor 79: 31-36, — Captives and
wild nestlings from south Florida,

Kushlan, J. A. Sexual dimorphism in the White Ibis. Wilson Bull. 89: 92-98. — Based on
specimens from the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp.

Kushlan, J. A. The significance of plumage colour in the formation of feeding aggregations
of ciconiiforms. Ibis 119: 361-364. — Studied in the freshwater marshes of the Everglades.
Kushlan, J. A., and D. A. White. Nesting wading bird populations in southern Florida.
Fla. Sci. 40: 65-72. — Lake Okeechobee south, excluding the lower Florida Keys,
Sept. 1974-Aug 1975.

Maxwell, G. R., II, and H. W. Kale II. Breeding biology of five species of herons in
coastal Florida. Auk 94: 689-700. — Indian River Co.

Maxwell, G. R., II, and H. W. Kale II. Maintenance and anti-insect behavior of six species
of ciconiiform birds in south Florida. Condor 79: 51-58. Indian River Co.
McKinley, D. Eggs of the Carolina Parakeet: A preliminary review. Bird-Banding 48:
25-37. — It is “doubtful” that four eggs in the Fla. State Mus. collected by C. E. Doe
on 30 April 1927 at Lake Okeechobee are Carolina Parakeet eggs.

Means, D. B. Aspects of the significance to terrestrial vertebrates of the Apalachicola
River drainage basin, Florida. Pp 37-67 in R. J. Livingston and E. A. Joyce, Jr., eds.
Proceedings of the conference on the Apalachicola Drainage System, 23-24 April
1976, Gainesville, Florida. Fla. Mar. Res. Publ. No. 26. — Includes a checklist of
vertebrates of the region.

Mengel, R. M., and j. a. Jackson. Geographic variation of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
Condor 79: 349-355. In Florida, wing and tail length increases gradually from south to
north except in the Panhandle where birds appear to have longer wings than those from
adjacent areas.

Nesbitt, S. A. 1976. A new patagial wing streamer button. Wild. Soc. Bull. 4(4): 188. — Limp-
kins, Sandhill Cranes, and Canada Geese in Florida.

Nesbitt, S. A., M. J. Fogarty, and L. E. Williams, Jr. Status of Florida nesting
Brown Pelicans, 1971-1976. Bird-Banding 48: 138-144,

PouGH, F. H., AND L. P. Brower. Predation by birds on great southern white butterflies

Periodica! Literature, 1977

55

as a function of palatibility, sex, and habitat. Amer. Midi. Nat. 98: 50-58. — Twenty-five
percent of all butterflies collected in Everglades Nat. Park in January 1970 had beak-
marks on the wings (evidence of attempted predation).

Rohwer, S., and J. Butler. Ground foraging and rapid molt in the Chuck-wilFs-widow.
Wilson Bull. 89: 165-166. — Butler’s observations of a Chuck capturing tree frogs from
the road under a street light in Ft. Myers, Lee Co., shows that ground feeding is possible
for Chucks during the stages of molt when their flying ability may be hampered.
Stevenson, H. M. A comparison of the Apalachicola River avifauna above and below Jim
Woodruff Dam. Pp, 34-36 in R. J. Livingston and E. A. Joyce, Jr., eds. Proceedings of
the conference on the Apalacicola Drainage System, 23-24 April 1976, Gainesville,
Florida. Fla. Mar. Res. Publ. No. 26.

Stewart, P. A. Migratory movements and mortality rate of Turkey Vultures. Bird-Banding
48: 122-124. — Of 130 recoveries in eastern North America, three concern Florida birds.
Stewart, P. A. Radial dispersal and southward migration of Wood Ducks banded in
Vermont. Bird-Banding 48: 333-336. — Of 1403 recoveries, 2.85% are from Florida.
Tabb, E. Winter returns of American Kestrels in southern Florida. N. Am. Bird Bander
2: 163. — Seventeen Kestrels have been recaptured, one to six years from their banding
dates and all at approximately the site of original capture.

Williams, T. C., P. Berkeley, and V. Harris. Autumnal bird migration over Miami
studied by radar: A possible test of the wind drift hypothesis. Bird-Banding 48: 1-10.
Williams, T. C., J, M. Williams, L. C. Ireland, and J. M. Teal. Autumnal bird migration
over the western North Atlantic Ocean. Amer. Birds 31: 251-267. — Includes observa-
tions made from Miami in 1973.

WooLFENDEN, G. E., AND J. H. FITZPATRICK. Dominance in the Florida Scrub Jay. Condor
79: 1-12. — At Archbold Biological Station, Highlands Co.

Report on the 1978 spring meeting. — The Tampa Audubon Society hosted 186 FOS
registrants at the Causeway Inn, Tampa, on 21-23 April 1978. Susan Bird, in charge of
arrangements, William D. Courser, James A. Rodgers, Jr., Ronald L. Mumme, Anita Sharf,
and others were meticulous in their planning — even to the full moon which arrived punctually
for the 153 luau participants. We are grateful to all those who made the weekend so pleasant.
Friday evening’s Photographers’ Roundup, led by Brooks and Lyn Atherton, was augmented
by a discussion of “Identification of gulls in Florida” by Wayne Hoffman. The field trips to
Fort Desoto Park, McKay Bay, the lower Hillsborough River, and Courtney-Campbel!
Causeway on Saturday and Sunday mornings were well attended and many birds of interest
were enjoyed. The skin quiz, created by W. Hoffman and G. Thomas Bancroft, was won
AGAIN by Dan Heathcote. At the scientific paper session, J. A. Rodgers, Jr., introduced the
following papers: “Courtship behavior of subadult Little Blue Herons” by Rodgers; “Burrow-
ing Owl rectric numbers” by W. D. Courser; “Notes on the Reddish Egret in Florida” by Rich
Paul; “Avian utilization of dredge-deposit islands” by Roy R. Lewis; “Courtship behavior of
the Black Skimmer” by Fred H. Groves; and “Nest-site selection of colonial herons and egrets
on Seahorse Key” by Kim Riddell.

At the business meeting, Theodore H. Below, Robert A. Duncan and Virginia Markgraf
were elected to the Board of Directors. Treasurer Caroline Coleman, with help from assistant
treasurers John H. Hintermister (newly appointed) and Betty Valkenburg (current), now will
handle financial matters as welt as maintain the membership records, A resolution of thanks
will be sent to FAS for all their help during our initial years. Two committees were established:
by-laws revision, and finance and investments. Student memberships in the FOS were created

56

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST. VoL 6, No. 2, Fall 1978

at $2.00 annually, and members are urged to notify students of this change. Contributions to
the FFN are requested, and interesting obser¥ation.s on the distribution and status of Florida
birds made after 1 June 1978 should be reported to John H. Hintermister, compiler of a new
FFN feature. — Barbara C Kittkson, Secretary.

Notes and News

Noteworthy obseri'ations on the distribution and status of Florida birds, — Noteworthy field
records made after 1 June 1978 should be sent to John H. Hintermister for a regular column in
the Florida Field Naturalist. This column will include brief mention of interesting breeding
records, of unusual counts or dates of occurrence, as well as of strays and rarities. Pertinent
details would include accurate locality, inclusive dates, full name(s) of observer(s), observation
conditions, and disposition of any tangible proof (i.e. skin, nest, photograph, tape recording,
etc.). It should be emphasized that this column will NOT signal the end of acceptance by the
FFN of manuscripts about significant observations. Instead, this column will be the place to
record observations that might not warrant a general note in the FFN but that are still
noteworthy. Thus, this column will expand the coverage of Florida’s bird life by the FFN.

Although such a column might duplicate information published in American Birds and The
Florida Naturalist, this column should become THE place to check for the full account of
noteworthy field observations. The success of this new column depends in part on your par-
ticipation; John cannot cover the state singlehandedly. It is expected that this column will grow
and evolve to suit the needs of the FOS membership and reflect the quality of information sub-
mitted.

Send your records and any suggestions about format or organization to the compiler, John
H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38 H, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Acknowledgement. — The following 23 people refereed manuscripts published in volume 6 of
the FFN; W. W. Baker, G. T. Bancroft, R. L. Crawford, J. B. Edscorn, S. A. Grimes, W. Hoff-
man, J. A. Jackson, J. Johnson, D. W. Johnston, H. W. Kale II, L. Kilham, J. A. Kushlan, J.
N. Layne, J. C. Ogden, O. T. Owre, W. B. Robertson, Jr., J. A. Rodgers, Jr., R. W. Schreiber,
H. M. Stevenson, P. W. Sykes, Jr., L. A. Walkinshaw, J. H. Weise, and G. E. Woolfendeii. It is
a pleasure to acknowledge their assistance.

Resident White-winged Doves in Florida. — In the early 1960’s, several White- winged Doves
escaped from an aviculturist near Homestead when a hurricane crushed one of the pens holding
the captive stock. Birders in south Florida have watched this population expand for about 15
years and now take White-winged Dove more or less for granted in the Homestead to Ft.
Lauderdale area. This notice is to alert birders in the rest of the peninsula that they may begin
to see White-winged Doves as a result of a small scale relocation program by the Game and
Fresh Water Fish Commission. Small numbers of trapped white-wings from the Homestead
population have been released at nine localities between Highlands County and northern
Marion County to establish the species as a resident breeder in citrus groves, one of their
favorite nesting habitats. Persons observing White-winged Doves in Florida north of the Ft.
Lauderdale-Miami area are encouraged to report the sightings to the Wildlife Research
Laboratory, Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 4005 S Main Street, Gainesville,
Florida 32601 .

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FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A semi-annual publication of The Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid,
Florida 33852.

Editorial Advisory Board:'

David W. Johnston, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
32611.

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
33124.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa,
Florida 33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new information on the
biology of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Submit manuscripts in triplicate to the Editor. They should be typed, double-spaced,
on one side of numbered sheets of standard (8 ’/a x 11 in.) bond paper, with at least one inch
margins all around. Type tables on separate sheets and use space efficiently. Submit black-
and-white photographs as unmounted glossy prints no larger than 8‘/2 x 11 inches. They must
be sharp and have good contrast with no heavy writing on the back. Diagrams and line drawings
should be in black ink with lettering large enough to permit reduction. For advice on preparing
illustrations, consult Steps Toward Better Scientific Illustrations by A. Allen, Allen Press,
Lawrence, Kansas.

Titles should be short and descriptive and the body of the article concise. Follow the form
and style of a recent issue of the Florida Field Naturalist. Use the Council of Biology Editors
Style Manual, Third Edition (AIBS 1972) in preparing manuscripts. All references should be
cited in the body of the text and listed at the end under “Literature Cited.” Text citations should
indicate author and year of publication, e. g. (Bond 1961). If there are more than two authors
list the first followed by “et al.” (e.g. Blair et al. 1968). Indicate specific pages of longer works,
e. g. (Bond 1961: 44). If there are five or fewer references they should be cited only in the text,
e. g. (Sprunt 1954, Florida bird life. New York, Coward McCann, Inc.) or (Cruickshank 1974,
Fla. Field Nat. 2: 1-3).

Capitalize the English name of bird species, and follow the first mention of a species in
text by the scientific name, underlined, in parentheses. Scientific names should follow a widely
accepted authority for the group of animals or plants involved. For North American birds
use the A.O.U. Check-list, fifth ed. (1957) and its Supplements, the 32nd (1973, Auk 90;
411-419) and the 33rd (1976, Auk 94: 875-979).

Use abbreviations sparingly in the text except parenthetically e.g. “Lake Placid (12 km S).”
The metric system is preferred for all measurements. Use the 24-hour time system (0700 or
1645) and the military date system (4 July 1976).

FLORIDA AUDUBON SOCIETY
P. O. DRAWER 7
MAITLAND, FLORIDA 32751

NAT'L MUS OF NAT HIST
SMITHSONIAN INST

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U. S. POSTAGE
PAID

Orlando, Florida
Permit #224

WASHINGTON,

DC 20560

CONTENTS

RECORDS OF THE RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD IN FLORIDA
ErmaJ. Fisk, Henry M. Stevenson and Herbert W. Kale II
BARN SWALLOWS NESTING IN THE INTERIOR OF THE

FLORIDA PANHANDLE Henry M. Stevenson

ELEVEN PELAGIC TRIPS INTO THE EASTERN GULF
OF MEXICO ........ Charles B. Buhrman and Larry A. Hopkins

DISTRIBUTION OF THE TURKEY IN FLORIDA — 19734977

Lovett E. Williams, Jr.

BIRD USE OF FLOODED AGRICULTURAL FIELDS DUR-
ING SUMMER AND EARLY FALL AND SOME RECOM-
MENDATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT

Paul W. Sykes, Jr. and Gloria S. Hunter

23

27

30

33

36

GENERAL NOTES

Leach’s Storm-Petrel sighted in the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Charles B. Buhrman and Larry A . Hopkins 44

Feeding association between Brown Pelicans andWood SioxksJ ames A .Rodgers . Jr. 44

Wood Storks using White Pelicans as beaters .................... E. Scott Clark 45

Wading bird use of the east Everglades James A. Kushlan 46

Egg removal by Little Blue Heron James A. Rodgers, Jr. 48

Hooded Merganser breeding in a north Florida phosphate mine

Robert A. Repenning and John H. Wester 48

Red-tailed Hawk preys on juvenile gopher tortoise

John W. Fitzpatrick and Glen E. Woolfenden 49

Aggression between an American Kestrel and Cattle Egret

Richard E. Roberts and Herbert W. Kale II 49

Summer status of the Common Snipe in Florida .Gail E. Menk 49

First Florida specimen of the Lesser Nighthawk ........... .James M. Stevenson 50

A Gray Catbird nest in Duval County, Florida Margaret C. Powell 51

First sighting of Varied Thrush in Florida . Cecil M. Kilmer 51

BOOK REVIEWS 52

FLORIDA BIRDS IN THE PERIODICAL LITERATURE, 1977 53

REPORT ON THE 1978 SPRING MEETING Barbara C. Kittleson 55
NOTES AND NEWS 56

Fi, p(ii '3

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VOL. 7 SPRING 1979 NO. 1

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972

Officers for 1977-1979

President: David W. Johnston, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Flor-
ida 32611.

Vice-President: John C. Ogden, National Audubon Society, Research Department, 115 Indian
Mound Trail, Tavernier, Florida 33070.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803.

Treasurer: Caroline Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.
Assistant Treasurer: John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Assistant Treasurer: Patricia Lanzillotti, 2135 NW 28th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605.

Directors 1977-1979

W. Wilson Baker, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32303.
John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Herbert W. Kale, II, Ornithological Research Division, 35- 1st Court SW, Vero Beach, Florida
32960.

Directors 1978-1980

Theodore H. Below, P. O. Box 554, Naples, Florida 33940.

Robert A. Duncan, 614 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561.

Virginia M. Markgraf, 3415 Ponce deLeon Ave., Jacksonville, Florida 32217.

All persons interested in Florida natural history, particularly its abundant bird life, are in-
vited to loin the Florida Ornithological Society by writing the Treasurer. Membership dues are
$5.00 per year for regular members (those who are members of the Florida Audubon Society),
$6.00 per year for associate members, and $2.00 per year for student members. All members re-
ceive the Florida Field Naturalist. Subscription price for institutions and non-members is $6.00
per year. Single issues are $3.00 per copy.

Manuscripts submitted for publication and books intended for review should be .sent to the
Editor (see inside back cover). Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or defective
copies of this iournal, and requests for information about advertising, subscriptions, and back
numbers should be sent to the Treasurer, Caroline Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville,
Florida 32601.

Published semi-annually by the Florida Ornithological Society, Gainesville, Florida 32601.
Printed by Storter Printing Co., Inc., P.O. Box 1409, Gainesville, Florida 32602.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Semi-Annual Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 7, No. 1 Spring 1979 Pages 1-12

BREEDING IN THE WILD BY A HAND-RAISED SCREECH OWL

Barbara C. Kittleson

On 2 May 1975 I received a five to six week-old grey phase Screech Owl
(Otus asio) which was found in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, and
placed it in my large screened porch with a perch provided in the corner
farthest from human traffic. The porch overlooks a thickly wooded yard where
numerous native trees and shrubs grow to within a meter of the house. In
preparation for its release we avoided taming the owl and approached it only
for feeding. It was hand fed until it was old enough to take food left for it.

On 1 August the owl, which had not been banded, was put in a nest box
designed for Screech Owls and given a dead mouse. The box was 4 m high
in a tree 6 m from the porch and only 10 m from the corner of the porch where
the owl’s perch was. The owl disappeared the same day and was not seen again
in 1975.

On 15 March 1976 I saw a red phase Screech Owl in a tree near the nest
box, and on 25 March a grey phase Screech Owl was in a small tree less than
2 m from the porch and only 3 m from the corner where the captive owl’s
perch had been. The grey owl returned to this tree each morning at dawn and
remained there until dark. It appeared undisturbed by the normal household
noises and activities, and, when we went to look at it, often showed no aware-
ness of our presence. The red owl stayed in the nest box during the day and
was seen elsewhere only once. About noon on 31 March, a hot day, it joined
the grey owl in the tree. It appeared nervous— tensing and preparing for
flight— at sounds from the house and finally returned to the nest box at 1500
hours. It was not seen in the tree again.

I did not visit the nest box during this time because it might have caused
desertion (Van Camp and Henny 1975, N. Amer. Fauna, No. 71, p. 7). On 16
April, after incubation was underway, there were three eggs in the nest box.

During the incubation and nestling period the grey owl (now assumed to
be a male) continued to spend the days in the tree and the incubating red owl
(now assumed to be its mate) remained in the nest box. I checked the box
every two or three days during incubation and after hatching. Contrary to the
findings of Van Camp and Henny (1975) these visits caused no distress, even

1

2 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 7, No, 1, Spring 1979

though I occasionally handled the incubating female. The male owl watched
but never seemed alarmed. The female usually was in a sluggish state. Even
when she and the young were removed for banding, she was not fully alert.
Only two eggs hatched. The contents of the third seemed solidified and the
egg was removed on 30 April. The nest was empty on 25 May. Fledging
probably occurred on 24 May. At dusk on 27 May the adults were seen feed-
ing the two young in the trees. When I approached one of the young closely an
adult repeatedly gave a harsh three-note whistle and finally flew at my head.
I left to avoid driving them from the safety of our yard.

Although the Screech Owl frequently nests close to residences (Bent 1938,
U. S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 170:246) this nesting seems to be unusually close. The
yard contained other nest boxes farther from the house, as well as some natural
cavities. This nest box was the one from which we released the owl we raised.
Furthermore, there were numerous trees offering shade and shelter in which
the male owl could have spent the day, but he chose the tree closest to the
porch corner that had held the owFs perch. These two site selections as well
as the male owFs seemingly relaxed behavior in close proximity to human
activity and noise, suggest that this male owl was the same bird that had been
raised on the porch, and that it had returned with its mate to nest.

5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803,

UNUSUAL OBSERVATIONS OF NESTING
BALD EAGLES IN SOUTH FLORIDA

David S. Shea, Ruth E. Shea and William B. Robertson, Jr.

Bald Eagles {Haliaeetus leucocephalus) rarely nest on the ground and almost
all such records are from areas where no suitable nest trees exist (Bent 1937,
USNM Bull. 167:323-325, 335-336). Although they sometimes lay a second
clutch after losing the first (Bent 1937, 325), renesting after loss of young must
be most unusual in Bald Eagles as we found no record of it in the literature.
In a study of Bald Eagles in Everglades National Park we observed one in-
stance each of nesting on the ground and of probable renesting after loss of
young. Both observations were made on islands in Florida Bay, Monroe
County, Florida, where about 25 pairs of Bald Eagles nest, most nests being
placed in mangroves (Avicennia germinans, Rhizophora mangle) 2 to 8 m
above ground level.

On 19 March 1974 we noted from an airplane that the active eagle nest
on Barnes Key, extreme southern Florida Bay, had collapsed and that the
youngfcird, then about 10 weeks old, was on the ground at the foot of the nest
tree. This eaglet fledged from the ground and we saw it flying or perched on
several dates to 9 May 1974. A pair of Bald Eagles is known to have occupied
the Barnes Key territory every season from 1959-60 through 1977-78 and
eagles nested there at least as early as 1924 (Holt and Sutton 1926, Ann. Car-
negie Mus. 16:428-429). The nest, about 3m high in a dead Avicennia, had
been built in the 1966-67 season and was in its eighth year of regular use when
it fell.

In 1974-75 the Barnes Key eagles nested on the ground at the base of their
former nest tree. Our observations from aerial surveys were: 8 and 20 January,
adult on the ground in incubating posture; 12 February, two downy young;
27 February, two partly feathered young; 19 March, two young almost fully
feathered; and, 25 April, two young that flew strongly. We visited the nest on
27 March when the young were six to seven weeks old. The site was about
75 m from the shore in open vegetation that consisted of a dense mat of salt-
wort {Batis maritima) with widely scattered Avicennia. The nest (Fig. 1) was
a pad of dead sticks and dry turtle grass {Thalassia testudinum) about 2.5 m in
diameter and 10 to 15 cm deep partly enclosing the base of the former nest
tree. It appeared that the eagles had added little or no new material to the
remnants of the fallen nest. The following season, 1975-76, a pair of adult
eagles frequented Barnes Key but did not nest. In 1976-77 eagles raised two
young in a new nest in a dead Avicennia about 150 m from the location of
the ground nest.

3

4 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol. 7, No. 1, Spring 1979

Fig. 1. Two eaglets six to seven weeks old on a ground nest, Barnes Key, Florida Bay, Ever-
glades National Park, 27 March 1975. The dead snag shown, a black mangrove killed by the
1935 “Labor Day” hurricane, had held the nest of the previous year.

The Barnes Key incident shows that Bald Eagles may nest on the ground
even where sites in trees are available nearby. Although this is the only in-
stance of ground-nesting in some 425 nest records in Florida Bay from 1959 to
date, the local environment of eagles would appear to favor ground-nesting,
or at least does not select strongly against it. Most of the islands in the Bay
have no predators of concern to eagles and frequent hurricane devastation has
left only low trees. About 60% of the nests in Florida Bay are in derelict snags
of large Avicennia killed by the 1935 hurricane and these sites are prone to
collapse in high winds or as the weight of the nest increases. Eaglets as young
as three to four weeks often survive collapse of these low nests and are reared
on the ground. In 1973-74 and 1974-75 we recorded four such occurrences in
addition to those on Barnes Key and, in all, 9 young eagles out of a total Flor-
ida Bay production of 33 fledged from the ground in the two seasons. Given
the instability of many of the nest sites in trees and the fact that a number of
pairs are experienced at rearing young on the ground, ground-nesting might
be expected to occur more frequently in the Florida Bay population. It may
become more common as the presently preferred sites in long-dead Avicennia
snags become scarcer.

SHEA, SHEA, ROBERTSON • Nesting Bald Eagles

5

Renesting after the apparent loss of small young was noted in 1974-75 at
a nest about 250 m off the north shore of Florida Bay near Flamingo. The nest
site was an islet of live Rhizophora about 10 m in greatest diameter on a tidal
mudflat with the nest placed on top of the mangrove clump about 8 m above
the water. During aerial surveys we saw an adult on the nest in incubating
posture on 22 November and 27 December, but on 8, 20 and 27 January both
adults were perched beside the empty nest. Then, on 12 February, an adult
was on the nest apparently incubating, and on 27 February we saw two eggs
in the nest. Two young from this attempt hatched around 20 March and
fledged about 15 June. Because we saw no eggs nor young from the presumed
first attempt and because Bald Eagles at times exhibit long periods of persist-
ent mock-incubating on empty nests, our observations do not show conclu-
sively that two nesting attempts occurred. In February, 1975, however, we
examined half a dozen color slides of the nest taken during the first week of
January by a Park visitor. The photographer had evidently taken advantage of
a high tide to approach the site in a small boat and climbed an adjacent man-
grove to obtain pictures of the nest bowl. Several of the photographs included
details that^ could pertain only to this nest site and several showed two young
eagles in white down that we estimated were a week to 10 days old. We do
not know whether the young were lost because of disturbance by the photog-
rapher or as a result of some other accident. It seems reasonably clear, how-
ever, that two young hatched in the nest in late December, that these hatch-
lings disappeared when they were less than two weeks old, and that the female
laid a second set of two eggs about five weeks later from which two young
ultimately were reared.

We thank R. E. Miele and A. H. Fussier for the expert piloting on aerial
surveys that made these observations possible.

Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana 59936; Yellowstone National
Park, Mammoth, Wyoming 82190; South Florida Research Center, Everglades
National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

6 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 7, No. I, Spring 1979

General Notes

An albinistic Brown Pelican.— Albinism has not been reported in the literature for the Brown
Pelican {Pelecanus Occident alis). In Florida, Balph W. Schreiber (pers. comm.) has seen a nestling
and an adult Brown Pelican with white feathers, but this could have been the result of physio-
logical, not genetic, abnormalities. Thus, the presence of an almost pure albino individual (Fig.
1) in Volusia County, Florida is noteworthy. The bird was seen by Nesbitt on 24 June and on
15 and 28 July 1978 on the intraeoasta! waterway near the AlA bridge in New Smyrna Beach.
This is surely the same individual seen by Barber, Margaret C. Bowman and Daniel Heatheote
at Ponce de Leon Inlet 4 December 1977 and 22 January 1978.

Fig. 1. Albino Brown Pelican at New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, 28 July 1978.

The bird appeared entirely white, but from close range a few tawny feathers were scattered
in the wings and back. This coloring could have been soiling of otherwise white feathers. The
legs and feet were a medium yellow, the bill was similarly yellow grading to a pale gray at the
base. The light cream irides were distinctly different from the dark brown colored irides of
other pelicans present in the area at this time of the year. This bird was impossible to age using
plumage characteristics, but since it was in the area in late 1977 it was at least one year old when
these photographs were taken.

The bird was apparently in good health and was observed diving successfully on several oc-
casions. Norma! pliimaged pelicans showed no unusual reaction to this aberrant individual.—
Stephen A. Nesbitt, Wildlife Research Laboratory, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Com-
mission, Gainesville, Florida 32601 and Robert D. Barber, 2027 Rockledge Drive, Rockledge,
Florida 32955.

Two unusual nest sites for Canada Geese in Leon County, Florida.—On 24 April 1978, I was
shown a nest of a Giant Canada Goose (Branta canadensis maxima) by Curtis Russell of Talla-
hassee. The nest was in the middle of a shortgrass pasture at the base of a mature longleaf pine
[Pinus paiustris) well over 0.3 km from the nearest permanent body of water. It is highly unusual
for a Canada Goose nest to be located that far from water, especially with an abundance of seem-
ingly more suitable nesting cover closer to the water.

The nest, containing three eggs, was composed of pine needles (F. paiustris) and bermuda
grass {Cynodon dactylon) and was lined with down in typical Canada Goose fashion. Canada
Geese generally utilize whatever nesting materials are at hand rather than selecting for a par-

General Notes

7

ticular vegetation (Hanson 1965, The Giant Canada Goose, Carbondale, So. 111. Univ. Press). No
gander was present at the nest with the brooding female, and the goose immediately returned
to incubate as I left the area.

A second nest was approximately 6 m above the ground in the crotch of a large live oak {Quer-
cus vir^niana) where several large limbs emerged. The nest was constructed of Spanish moss
{Tillandsia usneoides). I was unable to determine the size of the clutch; however, four goslings
are known to have been hatched from this nest as they were sighted with a pair of adult geese on
2 May 1978 (about eight days after discovery of the nest). The nest tree was located approxi-
mately 60 m from a large pond where nesting tubs and platforms are provided for the geese. These
were the only geese using this pond during the 1978 nesting season.

Both nests were at South wood Farms near Tallahassee (3,5 km SE), Leon County, Florida.

Occasional tree-nesting by Canada Geese has been known since the time of Audubon and the
early explorers of the northwest (Coues 1874, Birds of the northwest, Washington, D. C,, U. S.
Govt. Printing Office). It has been most frequently reported for the race B. c. moffitti, but the
giant Canada Goose frequently nested in trees in northwestern North Dakota (Audubon 1969,
Audubon and his journals. The Missouri River journals, New York, Dover); in the Reelfoot Lake
area of Tennessee, and in the “bootheel” area of Missouri (McKinley 1961, Bluebird 28(3):2-8).
A tree nest of B. c. interior in the muskeg country of northern Ontario was reported to Hanson
(1965) by an Indian. The old nests of Ospreys, hawks, herons, or ravens usually serve as the plat-
forms for such nests (Hanson 1965). Thus, although occasional tree-nesting has been observed in
other areas, this is the first record of tree-nesting by Canada Geese in Florida so far as the
author could determine.

These nesting geese are part of a large group of birds introduced into the Tallahassee area by
the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission over the past 10 years in an effort to establish a non-
migratory flock of Canada Geese.— Thomas M. Goodwin, Wildlife Research Laboratory, Florida
Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Osprey nest relocation at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida.— Because of Corps
of Engineers dredging activities in the Banana River at the Merritt Island National (NWR),
Brevard County, Florida, an Osprey {Pandion haliaetus) nest resting on barge canal pilings had
to be relocated. This Osprey nesting site had been active and successful annually since April

1973, when two young were raised.

The relocation activity was undertaken on 24 March 1978 by personnel of the Merritt Island
NWR. At 0730, the nest was inspected and removed intact from the piling. The pair of Ospreys
exhibited little anxiety or hostility at the removal even though the nest contained one egg. The
nest was installed at a pre-erected artificial Osprey nest structure in the Banana River approxi-
mately one km south of and visible from the original nest site. Both sites were over and approxi-
mately 20 feet above the water. The old site, on five mooring pilings fastened -together, had a
base of solid wood 3 feet in diameter. The new site, elevated by a single “telephone pole type”
support, had a base of 1 X 2 inch welded fencing material 3 feet square. Although erected in

1974, the artificial nest structure was never used as a nesting site. After relocation the nest was
arranged as similar to its original configuration as possible, except the egg, originally found
covered by nest material, was exposed. The total operation took three hours..

During the relocation operation, the Osprey pair remained in the area, and they were ob-
served loafing on the artificial nest site before nest relocation. The Osprey pair was not observed
(one hour of observation time) at the new nest following relocation. However, the next day two
Ospreys were seen at the new site, and on a number of occasions following relocation, an adult
Osprey was seen bringing nest material to the new site, repairing the nest and/or incubating
the egg. On 19 May 1978, the nest was inspected and found to be empty and undisturbed. Despite

8 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 7, No. i. Spring 1979

this loss. Ospreys remained in the vicinity of the nest throughout May. Whether the birds at the
new site were the original pair or a different pair is unknown because the original pair was not
marked and had no distinguishing characteristics. The Merritt Island NWR has a resident breed-
ing population of approximately 6-10 pairs of Ospreys and a total peak population of approxi-
mately 50 birds, therefore, it is possible the original pair followed the nest but this is only specu-
lation.

The relocation nest site will be watched during the next nesting season to see if it is used by
Ospreys.— Willard P. Leenhouts, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, P. O. Box 6504,
Titusville, Florida 32780.

First nesting of the Caspian Tern in the Florida Panhandle.-- The Caspian Tern {Sterna caspia)
is one of the more recent additions to the list of breeding birds in Florida, first found nesting in
Pinellas County in 1962 (Woolfenden and Meyerriecks 1963, Auk 80:365-366). By 1974 (Dunstan,
et al. 1975, Fla. Field Nat. 3:16-17), five additional nesting sites had been discovered in peninsular
Florida, four on the gulf coast (Charlotte Co., Hillsborough Co., Pinellas Co.~2) and one on
the east coast (Brevard Co.).

In 1978, Caspian Terns nested on a spoil island about 50 m off Eastpoint, Franklin County,
Florida. Annual checks of this island over a period of 30 years had indicated no previous nesting
of the species, but much additional fill was added to the island in the early spring of 1978. On the
highest part of the new portion, I found four Caspian Tern nests on 10 June, three of which con-
tained two eggs each and the other only one. A few empty scrapes of similar size were also noted.
On that date I estimated the number of adults at 15. Estimates of adults of other species nesting
there were 100 Black Skimmers {Rynchops niger) and 200 Least Terns {Sterna albifrons).

I did not return to this island until 11 July, when I found several Caspian Tern nests containing
eggs and/or young, as well as two downy young on the beach and a few empty scrapes. Two
downies were taken for specimens (No. 3600, Tall Timbers Research Station; No. 3375c, Florida
State University). As nesting was not entirely synchronous, it was difficult to determine the num-
ber of occupied nests. There may have been as many as 10, although I was never certain that as
many as 20 adults were present.— Henry M. Stevenson, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1,
Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32312.

Cliff Swallows continue to nest in Florida.— Cliff Swallows {Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) were
first discovered nesting in Florida in June 1975, on the east side of Lake Okeechobee under the
U. S. Highway 441 bridge across the St. Lucie Canal at Port Mayaca, Martin County (Sykes 1976,
Wilson Bull. 88:671-672). Of the nine nests at the site, two were found to be active. The location
of the nests on the concrete structure was described. A male (NMNH 567576) of the nominate
race and shell fragments of two fresh eggs were collected and sent to the U. S. National Museum.
This small colony was inactive 1976-78, and the bridge is to be demolished and replaced.

In 1978, I discovered two occupied Cliff Swallow nests on 17 June, among a group of five be-
neath a low concrete bridge on U. S. Highway 441 4.5 km (2.8 mi.) north of the original colony.
At least five adults were present on 17 and 26 June. On the latter date two young extended their
heads out of one nest and a sixth nest was under construction. Contents of the other nests were
never determined. This bridge is considerably lower and smaller than the one used in 1975 (Fig. 1),
with a span of 18.3 m, a width of 9.9 m, and the underside of the roadbed 1.5 m above the water.
The typical gourd-shaped mud-pellet nests were built against the vertical surfaces of the middle
of three transverse beams and the underside of the roadbed. The beams, oriented east-west, are
mounted on concrete pilings. Three nests were on the north side of the beam and three on the
south, and all were about 1.4 m above the water.

General Notes

9

Fig. 1. The two nesting sites of the Cliff Swallow in Florida: (A) 1975— bridge across the St.
Lucie Canal at Port Mayaca, and (B) 1978— low highway bridge over drainage canal 4.5 km north
of the 1975 locality.

The swallows may have nested at this new site in 1976 and 1977. The three empty nests are
probably from previous years as the mud structures will persist for several years in a sheltered
place when not disturbed.

There is a good chance that Cliff Swallows may begin nesting elsewhere in Florida within the
next few years. The species is expanding its range into the coastal plain in the southeastern
United States (Tedards 1965, Chat 29:95-97; Grant and Quay 1977, Wilson Boll. 89:286-290;
Schuler 1978, Chat 42:34-35). Generally this spread has been along major rivers and concrete
structures such as dams and bridges appear to offer the best nesting sites in newly occupied areas.
Observers in north Florida should be alert to this possibility,— Paul W. Sykes, Jr., 4195 Maurice
Drive, Delray Beach, Florida 33445.

10 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 7, No. I, Spring 1979

Sight record of Gray-breasted Martin on the lower Florida Keys.— On 7 May 1977, Sykes tenta-
tively identified a Gray-breasted Martin {Progne chalybea) during mid-day just north of Watson
Hammock on Big Pine Key, Monroe County, Florida. The writers saw what apparently was the
same individual on 14 May 1977 (Kale 1977, Amer. Birds 31:988-992) during late morning and
early afternoon at the Blue Hole (a flooded borrow pit) on the Key Deer National Wildlife
Refuge, Big Pine Key, approximately 1.4 km (0.9 miles) from the first sighting. Both observations
were in rather broken-canopy stands of slash pine {Pinus elliottii = caribaea) with a low saw
palmetto {Serenoa repens) and thatch palm {Thrinax microcarpa, T. parviflora and Coccothrinax
argentata) understory on oolitic limestone.

On 14 May the bird was first observed skimming the surface of the Blue Hole, hawking in-
sects in the vicinity and perching nearby on utility lines along Key Deer Boulevard. Once it
perched on a utility wire in direct sunlight for 10-15 minutes allowing leisurely observations
from 18 m with binoculars and two 30 X balscopes. The crown, forked tail, wings and back were
blue black and glossy. The forehead, sides of the head and nape were a dark glossy brown, while
the chin and throat were a lighter golden brown. The breast and flanks were brownish gray. The
dark band of the breast contrasted with the white of the belly. The throat was much lighter in
color than the breast, and the belly and undertail coverts were immaculate white. The eye was
dark, the bill black and the feet brownish-red. We did not have size-comparison with any other
swallows at the time of this observation. A thorough search was made the next day but the bird
was not seen again.

We examined specimens of the Purple (F. subis), Cuban (F. cryptoleuca) and Gray-breasted
martin at the University of Miami on 25 May 1977, and the martin we saw on Big Pine Key was
virtually identical to an adult female F. chalybea (UMVC 6047) collected in August-September
1967 in Guyana by B. Singh. However, we cannot be certain of the sex of the martin we saw as
the immature second year male Gray-breasted Martin is identical in coloration to the adult female
(Ridgway 1904, The birds of North and Middle America, U. S. Natl. Mus. Bull. No. 5, Part 3).

The Gray-breasted Martin occurs from central Mexico to central Argentina, including the is-
lands off the northern coast of South America (1957, Check-list of North American birds, Fifth
ed., Baltimore, Amer. Ornithol. Union). The species is migratory, at least in the northern and
southern parts of its range, and occupies a wide range of habitats (de Schauensee 1970, A guide
to the birds of South America, Philadelphia Acad. Nat. Sci.; Oberholser 1974, The bird life of
Texas, Vol. 2, Austin, Univ. Texas Press). There are two records in the United States from south-
ern Texas: a male collected on 25 April 1880, Rio Grande City, Starr County, and a female taken
on 18 May 1889, Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, as well as numerous unconfirmed sightings for various
parts of Texas during the 20th Century (Oberholser 1974). Our sighting is the first report of the
Gray-breasted Martin for Florida.

We wish to thank Oscar T. Owre for making specimen material available.— Paul W. Sykes,
Jr., 4195 Maurice Drive, Delray Beach, Florida 33445; Howard P. Langridge, 1421 W. Ocean
Avenue, Lantana, Florida 33462; and William D. Matthews, Sr. and William D. Matthews,
Jr., 2565 Meadow Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33406.

Southward extension of Orchard Oriole breeding range in Florida.—In the course of field
work in northern Citrus County, Florida, on 6 June 1978, I was surprised to hear the song of an
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) near route 488, about a mile south of Lake Rousseau. The area
was grassy, with scattered shrubs and small to medium-sized trees, including mostly wax myrtle
(Myrica cerifera), willow (Salix sp.) and turkey oak (Quercus laevis). Exploring this area of about
25 ha., I found four singing male orioles, at least one of which was mated. In the vicinity of the
mated pair, I collected a fledgling (No. 3499, Tall Timbers Research Station). These orioles were
46 mi. (76 km) SSW of Gainesville, Alachua County, the former southernmost breeding station
for the species (Sprunt 1954:437).

General Notes

11

On 9 June 1970 (Ogden 1970) at Perry, Taylor County, I found six Orchard Orioles barely
south of the breeding range depicted by Howell (1932:429), but single singing males in Marion
County on 3 July 1974 (west of Fellowship; at south edge of Orange Lake) were 20-30 mi, (33-50
km) south of Gainesville (Ogden 1974). Although this species begins to migrate southward by
late June, the fact that these latter two males were in full song led me to believe that they were
breeding birds. On 18 June 1977 (Ogden 1977), at a latitude similar to that of the. breeding birds
of 1978, I found another male in full song at the Marion-Sumter County line north of Oxford,
and Gail Menk (pers. comm.) counted six in northern Levy County on 10 June 1977.

Two of my previous early-summer records of single male Orcliard Orioles were much farther
south—Moore Haven, Glades County, 20 June 1960 (Stevenson 1960), and Fort Lauderdale,
Broward County, 8 July 1966 (Stevenson 1966)--but I now believe these birds were early fall
migrants.

Literature Cited

Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life. Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game and Fresh Water

Fish.

Sprunt, a., Jr. 1954. Florida bird life. New York, Coward-McCann, Inc.

Ogden, J. C. 1970. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 24: 673-677.

Ogden, J. C. 1974. Florida region. Amer. Birds 28: 892-896.

Ogden, J. C. 1977. Florida region. Amer. Birds 31: 1128-1130.

Stevenson, H. M. 1960. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 14: 444-446.

Stevenson, H. M. 1960. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 20: 561-565.

Henry M. Stevenson, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida
32303.

Evening Grosbeaks in Citrus County, Florida.— On the morning of 5 January 1978, 2.5 miles
southeast of Rutland in Citrus County, Florida, John and Kenneth Backen sighted nine Evening
Grosbeaks {Hesperiphona vespertina) feeding on the unfallen cones of the bald cypress (Taxodium
distichum). After feeding for approximately one hour the birds flew to a nearby cypress without
cones where they perched and preened. After 10 minutes they departed east across the Withla-
coochee River.

My wife, Phyllis, and I observed almost the identical behavior at the same location on the
morning of 9 January. We determined that there were two males and seven females present.

John and Kenneth Backen reported that over the next ten days the flock increased until 30-40
Evening Grosbeaks could be sighted in the vicinity daily, following the same pattern of behavior.
Early in March the number of birds began to drop. By 16 March the number was down again to
eight or nine and they were not seen in the area after this date.

This Citrus County flock may well be the southernmost record of Evening Grosbeaks in Flor-
ida. In other winter invasions of this species, Gainesville, Alachua County (Stevenson 1969, Aud.
Field Notes 23:761-765; Woolfenden 1973, Amer. Birds 27: 603-607; Kale 1973, Amer. Birds
27: 761-765; Stevenson 1978, Amer. Birds 32: 339-342), 80 km (50 mi.) to the north, has been the
southern limit of their recorded penetration into Florida.— Henry Robertson, 206 Forest Park
Ave., Temple Terrace, Florida 33617.

12 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol. 7, No. 1, Spring 1979

Report on the 1978 fall meeting.-- Registration tallied 119 people for the FOS fall meeting,
6"8 October 1978, held at the Ramada Inn, Vanderbilt Beach, Florida. At Friday’s special meet-
ing, the Directors voted to have immediate past presidents liecome voting memliers of the board
for a two-year term, and appointed a study group to draw up rules for an official Florida liird
records committee. We were all proud to have Maggy Bowman’s “Species Index to Florida Bird
Records in Audubon Field Notes/Ameriean Birds Volumes 1-30 1947-1976” go on sale as the first
FOS Special Publication. Friday evening’s program included “Bird rehaliilitatioii” by Dr. Gary
Schmelz and a photographer’s roundup.

On Saturday, field trips went to the Corkscrew Swamp boardwalk led liy Sanctuary staff mem-
bers, to Bonita Beach Causeway led hy Theodore H. Below, or for a beach walk led by Cimiy
Below. The afternoon paper session, “Fish farming for Wood Storks” liy Rick Bantz and “Artifi-
cial nest structures for Least Terns” by Leslie Thompson and Robert W. Loftin, was followed
by a demonstration of bird study-skin preparation by Robert W. Crawford, David W. Johnston,
Herbert W. Kale, II, Henry M. Stevenson, Chester E. Winegarner and Glen E. Woolfenden.
The skin quiz, prepared by Johnston, was won by Kale. A beautiful sunset was the signal to begin
the delicious beachfront liiaii and afterwards Bernard Yokel spoke on “Water, wetlands, and
birds”.

Sunday morning field trips went to the !>ack-eoiintry of Corkscrew Swamp and to Saniliel
Island led by Malcolm Simons. We thank Ted and Ciiiny Below for making the arrangements—
especially the beautiful weather including the sunset and the cold front.— Barbara C. Kittleson,
Secretary.

NOTES AND NEWS

Spring 1979 Meeting.—Joint meeting of the FOS and the Alabama Ornithological Society,
27-29 April 1979, at Daiiphine Island, Alabama. For information write Robert A. Duncan, 614
Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561.

Fall 1979 Meeting.— Fort Pierce, Florida, 5-7 October 1979. For informatioe write William
E. Dowling, 3114 Memory Lane, Ft. Pierce, Florida 33450.

Checklist Committee.— The Committee and others interested in preparing an authoritative
Florida Ornithological Society Checklist of the bird species presently known from Florida met
7 October 1978, during the fall FOS meeting at Vanderbilt Beach (Naples). Many details are
still to be resolved but the group agreed as to the general form of the Checklist. Following what-
ever introductory materia! is deemed to be appropriate, the body of the Checklist will consist
of the common and scientific names of the bird species that have occurred naturally in Florida
and of those non-native species fudged to have self-maintaining wild populations in the state.
Species known to have nested in Florida and those represented in the state by two or more sub-
species will be indicated in the list by symbols. The Checklist will emphasize verifiable evidence
of occurrence, authentic specimens or photographs taken in Florida. Only species for which
such evidence can be located will be accorded full status in the Checklist (reported species lack-
ing such evidence may be included in parentheses) and data for specimens or photographs of
the less common species will be cited. The number of reported occurrences in Florida will be
given for the species that are represented by 25 or fewer records.

The group elected to cover records up to 1 January 1979. It is hoped that work can be com-
pleted reasonably soon after that date and that the Checklist will appear as an FOS Special Pub-
lication. FOS members who have knowledge of bird records, particularly of less common species,
which may not be generally known are urged to bring the information to the attention of the
Committee. We are especially interested to examine photographs documenting the occurrence
of rare birds in Florida and to learn of private or local collections of birds or bird eggs that may
have escaped our notice.— Checklist Committee, /. B. Edscorn, O. T. Otvre, H. M. Stevenson, G. E.
Woolfenden and W. B. Robertson, Jr., Chairperson.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A semi-annual publication of The Florida Ornithological Society

Editor; Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Editorial Advisory Board:

David W. Johnston, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.
Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124.
William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new information on the biology
of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOE CONTRIBUTOES

Submit manuscripts in triplicate to the Editor. They should be typed, double-spaced, on one
side of numbered sheets of standard (8V2 X 11 in.) bond paper, with at least one inch margins all
around. Type tables on separate sheets and use space efficiently. Photographs should be glossy
prints of good contrast and sharpness, and should be approximately the same size as they will
appear in print. Diagrams and line drawings should be in black ink with lettering large enough
to permit reduction. For advice on preparing illustrations, consult Steps Toward Better Scientific
Illustrations by A. Allen, Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas.

Titles should be short and descriptive and the body of the article concise. Follow the form
and style of a recent issue of the Florida Field Naturalist. Use the Council of Biology Editors (CBE)
Style Manual, Fourth Edition (AIBS 1978) in preparing manuscripts. All references should be
cited in the body of the text and listed at the end under “Literature Cited.” Text citations
should indicate author and year of publication, e.g. (Bond 1961). If there are more than two
authors list the first followed by “et al.” (e.g. Blair et al. 1968). Indicate specific pages of longer
works, e.g. (Bond 1961: 44). If there are five or fewer references they should be cited only in the
text, e.g. (Sprunt 1954, Florida bird life. New York, Coward McCann, Inc.) or (Cruickshank 1974,
Fla. Field Nat. 2: 1-3).

Capitalize the English name of bird species, and follow the first mention of a species in text
by the scientific name, underlined, in parentheses. Scientific names should follow a widely ac-
cepted authority for the group of animals or plants involved. For North American birds use the
A.O.U. Check-list, fifth ed. (1957) and its Supplements, the 32nd (1973, Auk 90: 411-419) and
the 33rd (1976, Auk 94: 875-979).

Use abbreviations sparingly in the text except parenthetically e.g. “Lake Placid (12 km S).”
The metric system is preferred for all measurements. Use the 24-hour time system (0700 or 1645)

and the military date system (4 July 1976).

OTHER FOS PUBLICATIONS

Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon Field Notes and American Birds Volumes
1-30 1947-1976, by Margaret C. Bowman, xii + 42 pp. 1978. FOS Spec. Publ. No. 1. Price $3.75
prepaid, order from Treasurer (see inside front cover).

CONTENTS

BREEDING IN THE WILD BY A HAND^RAISED SCREECH

OWL............. Barbara C. Kittleson

UNUSUAL OBSERVATIONS OF NESTING BALD EAGLES IN
SOUTH FLORIDA

David S. Shea, 'Ruth E. Shea and William B. Robertson, Jr.

GENERAL NOTES

An albinistic Brown Pelican Stephen A. Nesbitt and Robert D. Barber

Two unusual nest sites for Canada Geese in Leon County, Florida

Thomas M. Goodwin

Osprey nest relocation at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Willard P. Leenhouts

First nesting of the Caspian Tern in the Florida Panhandle .....Henry M. Stevenson

Cliff Swallows continue to nest in Florida Paul W. Sykes, Jr.

Sight record of the Gray-breasted Martin on the lower Florida Keys

Paul W. Sykes, Jr., Howard P. Langridge, William D. Matthews, Sr.

and William D. Matthews, Jr.

Southward extension of Orchard Oriole breeding range in Florida

Henry M. Stevenson

Evening Grosbeaks in Citrus County, Florida Henry Robertson

REPORT ON THE 1978 FALL MEETING ........ Barbara C Kittleson

NOTES AND NEWS................................................................................

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VOL. 7

FALL 1979

NO. 2

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972

Officers for 1979-1981

President: William D. Courser, 885 North Pinehurst, Spring Hill, Florida 33512.

Vice-President: Brooks H. Atherton, 4619 Woodmere Drive, Tampa, Florida 33609.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803.

Treasurer: Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605.

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FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Semi-Annual Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 7, No. 2 Fall 1979 Pages 13-40

PEOPLE AND “PAN-HANDLING’’ PELICANS

Jeffrey L. Linger, Daniel Krivit
and

Jon E. Shaw

As the populations of humans and certain wildlife increase and decrease,
respectively, one can not help but wonder about relationships between the
two groups. Literature on the effects of human behavior on the behavior of
the Brown Pelican {Pelecanus occidentalis) is limited. Besides the work done
on organochlorines and eggshell-thinning in this endangered species (Gress
1971, Anderson and Hickey 1972, Anderson et al. 1975, Blus et al. 1974, 1975,
Schreiber and Risebrough 1972), little research has dealt with direct human/
pelican interrelationships. Rapid urbanization and other changes in landuse
have increased the contact between Man and pelican, yet only casual mention
has been made of the potential impact of these interactions. Some of the re-
sulting perturbations include entanglement of pelicans in monofilament
fishing lines, disturbance at the rookery and other habitats and pollution
effects on the pelican’s food chain (Williams and Martin 1970, Mote Marine
Laboratory 1976).

Herbert and Schreiber (1975) characterized the diurnal changes in the
Brown Pelican population at one marina on Boca Ciega Bay (Pinellas Co.,
Florida), Their data indicated a mid-day increase in the number of pelicans.
One obvious human activity that may affect pelican behavior is the common
practice of fishermen feeding scraps of game fish to the pelicans while clean-
ing their catch. We studied the Brown Pelican’s diurnal pattern near Sara-
sota in an effort to compare it with that described by Herbert and Schreiber
(1975) and to characterize the relationship between fishermen and pelican
behavior.

Methods

A total of 880 counts were made, approximately twice daily, 5 days a week for a period of 18
months (February 1975 to July 1976), at a quarter mile long, 60-90 m wide dock/marina located
on a dead-end lagoon called “Blind Pass” (south end of Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida; NOAA
chart # 11425, formerly 857-SC). The surroundings include a public beach and boat ramp, with
docks and pilings lining both sides of the waterway for motel /apartment access. Three age
groups of pelicans were distinguished: adults, sub-adults/immatures and hatching year birds

13

14 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST * VoL 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

(Schreiber, pers. comm.). Weather conditions and any observed feeding by fishermen were also
recorded. An observed “feeding” was defined as fishermen cleaning or about to clean their
catch at any of the three fish cleaning tables along Blind Pass.

In tabulating the population data by hour, observations for all months were combined to
determine the mean number of pelicans (Fig. 1). That is, mean number of pelicans (for any
hour) = total number of pelicans (for that hour) total number of observations (for that hour
over the course of the study). Each hour represents all observations within a 60-minute time
period on a 24-hour clock {example: 0900 = 0831 through 0930). To determine frequency or the
“percent occurrence of feeding by fishermen,” the total number of feedings during each hour
period was divided by the total number of observations for the same hour X 100 (Fig. 2). To
characterize the correlation between mean number of pelicans and percent occurrence of feeding
by fishermen within the same hour, correlation coefficients were calculated for nine meaning-
ful intervals (Table 1). Monthly pelican population and fishermen feeding data were calculated
by combining all hours within each month (Fig. 3).

Results and Discussion

The total number of pelicans observed at the marina complex peaks in the
early afternoon (1300 - 1500 hours; see Fig. I). However, this peak is not
significantly different (p > 05) from adjacent points on the graph (i.e. at 1200,
1400 or 1600 hours). The population then sharply decreases with a slight
rise at 1800 hours. This general trend for the total number of pelicans is fol-
lowed closely by the pattern of adult birds but not by the pattern of the
younger birds.

Similar work done approximately 64 km to the north, at another marina
(Herbert and Schreiber 1975), shows a comparable diurnal pattern over a six-
month period from October 1973 through March 1974. Despite the distance
and difference in physical structures (i.e. pelicans utilize large, metal roof
structures for resting, as well as waterway pilings), similar results strengthen
our ability to characterize what is probably a widespread and distinct diurnal
pattern.

“Feeding” was observed on 122 of 880 observations (13.9%). Figure 2 and
Table I indicate different aspects of the relationship between fishermen
feeding the pelicans and the number of pelicans at Blind Pass. The resulting
two patterns in Figure 2 are strikingly parallel. The high correlation through-
out the day, except for the 1600 to 1900 interval, suggests that the pelicans
alter their daily routines in an effort to receive these “handouts” (see Table I).
An analysis of the same two diurnal patterns (i.e. mean number of pelicans
and percent occurrence of feeding by fishermen) when compared on a
monthly basis does not result in as high a correlation (see Fig. 3). The low
correlation for the entire 18-month study period (r — .25; p<0.3) suggests
that the seasonal pelican population pattern is less affected by fishermen
activity than is the daily pattern of pelicans. The exception to the rule is
the similarity in the two graph lines for October through March. This is the
“tourist season” in Sarasota, when more people are fishing, and a period
during which one would expect the influence of humans to be the greatest.

LINGER, KRIVIT, SHAW • People and Pelicans

15

Figure 1. DAILY POPULATION PATTERNS OF PELICANS, BY
AGE CLASS, AT BLIND PASS (February, 1975 through July, 1976)

Figure 2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUMBER OF PELICANS
AND INCIDENCE OF “FEEDING”, BY HOUR, AT BLIND PASS
(February, 1975 through July, 1976).

16 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • VoL 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

Table 1. CORRELATION BETWEEN MEAN NUMBER OF
PELICANS AND INCIDENCE OF “FEEDING”, BY FISHERMEN
FOR SELECTED TIME INTERVALS (February, 1975 through
July, 1976).

CORRELATION

COEFFICENT

.9025 (P<0.001)
.9677 (P<0.001)
.9810 (P<0.001)
.9787 (P<0.001)
.9849 (P<0.001)
.8531 (P<0.002)
.8533 (P<0.05)
.8418 (P<0.05)
.6072 {P<0.04)

HOUR

8*8 8

ggOT-ojco'^uicorv.Qo

1 .... J 1. 1 _J

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ HOURS (N)

0800-1900 (12)

0800-1200 (5)
0800-1300 (6)
0800-1400 (7)
0800-1500 (8)
1300-1900 (7)
1400-1900 (6)
1500-1900 (5)
1600-1900 (4)

Figure 3. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUMBER OF PELICANS
AND INCIDENCE OF “FEEDING” BY FISHERMEN, BY
MONTH, AT BLIND PASS (February, 1975 through July, 1976).

LINGER, KRIVIT, SHAW • People and Pelicans

17

It is also the non-breeding period, when the pelican’s attention is not domi-
nated by raising young and other nesting-related activities.

Although the overall diurnal patterns may be similar for each month
(Herbert and Schreiber 1975), the mean number of pelicans varies with the
month being considered for both studies. It is important to recognize how-
ever, that the month-to-month population pattern may also vary considerably
when comparing two different years (see February through July for 1975 and
1976, respectively, in Figure 3). This variation is particularly interesting since
the number of pelicans at marinas often reflect, very closely, the seasonal
trends for the larger local population at least in the Sarasota area (pers. obs.,
J. Lincer).

These data from Blind Pass indicate that at least a portion of the Sarasota
area pelican population responds to fish-cleaning activities at marinas. This
is based primarily on the correlative relationship between higher numbers of
pelicans being present during those hours of most frequent feeding. The mean
number of pelicans (i.e. 17.3 individuals) observed at Blind Pass in July 1975,
for instance, represents only approximately 9 percent of the Sarasota area
population (i.e. 198 individuals) for that month (unpub. data). However, this
is a conservative estimate of percentage, since this feeding area at Blind Pass
represents only one of many feeding areas in the Sarasota area. Accordingly,
the impact of the pelican-fisherman relationship is likely to be far more wide-
spread.

Several other facets of this relationship are being investigated. For in-
stance, the fish pelicans receive from the fishermen usually represent a higher
trophic level than do the fish pelicans usually catch. Initial data indicate that
the pesticide levels in this unnatural diet may be an order of magnitude
higher than those in the plankton-feeding fishes, which represent the more
normal prey species (Lincer and Heyl, in prep.). It would be interesting to
investigate the effects of this “unnatural” diet on pelican physiology and
behavior. A number of basic questions should also be answered. For instance,
what proportion of the population is the “pier bum” contingency? Is energy
unnecessarily expended by the pelicans while chasing potential, yet ultimately
unproductive, sources of these handouts? Are pelicans kept from learning
to feed on their own by the availability of this artificial source? Without de-
tailed studies to provide the above information, it will be impossible to deter-
mine whether “pan-handling” by pelicans actually results in a net benefit or
loss to the population of this species.

Conclusions

It would seem likely that these Brown Pelicans acquire this behavior over
time and adjust their daily habits to capitalize on human handouts as a source
of food. The diurnal population pattern for pelicans at Blind Pass, Sarasota
County, strongly resembles a diurnal pattern at another Florida marina

18 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • VoL 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

(Herbert and Schreiber 1975). The daily population pattern at Blind Pass is
highly correlated with the frequency of feeding by fishermen but the seasonal
patterns for pelicans and fishermen (on a month-to-month basis) do not
correspond as well. The monthly variation of the whole population, however,
is a very important aspect of the Brown Pelican’s biology and this is reflected
by the variation observed at the marina.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Audubon Society and the Mote Marine Lab-
oratory. Special thanks go to Dr. Ralph Schreiber for inspiring this study, and to Ms. Donna
Johnson and Mrs. Ginger Manning for manuscript preparation and to the Mote Marine Labora-
tory and the County of Sarasota for helping make this story reach the publication stage. The
authors appreciate and wish to acknowledge the helpful comments made on the manuscript
by Ms. Nancy Herbert and Drs. Ralph Schreiber, Herbert Kale and Daniel Anderson. Our
sincere appreciation goes to Mr. Je Faulkner for preparing the illustrations.

Literature Cited

Anderson, D. W., and J. J. Hickey. 1972. Eggshell changes in certain North American birds.

Proc. XV Int. Ornithol. Congr., the Hague. Leiden, E. }. Brill, pp. 514-540.

Anderson, D. W., J. R. Jehl, Jr., R. W. Risebrough, L. A. Woods, Jr., L. R. Deweese, and
W. G. Edgecomb. 1975. Brown Pelicans: Improved reproduction off the Southern California
Coast. Science 190: 806-808.

Blus, L. j., a. a. Belisle, and R. M. Prouty. 1974. Relations of the Brown Pelican to certain
environmental pollutants. Pestic. Monit. J. 7: 181-194.

Blus, L. J., T. Joanin, A. A. Belisle, and R. M. Prouty. 1975. The Brown Pelican and certain
environmental pollutants in Louisiana. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 13: 646-655.

Cress, F. 1971, Reproductive status of the California Brown Pelican in 1970, with notes on
breeding biology and natural history. Wild. Manage. Branch Admin. Rep. No. 70-6. Calif.
Dept. Fish Game.

Herbert, N. G., and R. W. Schreiber. 1975. Diurnal activity of Brown Pelicans at a marina,
Fla. Field. Nat. 3: 11-12.

Lincer, j. L., and M. G. Heyl. (in prep.) Pesticide residues in “hand-outs” vs. natural prey
fishes of Florida Brown Pelicans {Pelecanus occidentalis).

Mote Marine Laboratory. 1976. Help save the Brown Pelican. Public information brochure.
Sarasota, Florida.

Schreiber, R. W., and R. W. Risebrough. 1972. Studies of the Brown Pelican. Wilson Bull.
84: 119-135.

Williams, L. E. Jr., and L. L. Martin. 1970. Nesting population of the Brown Pelicans in
Florida. Proc. 24th Ann. Conf. Southeast Assoc. Game Fish Comm.

County of Sarasota, P.O. Box 8, Sarasota, Florida 33578; 1252 Ingerson
Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55112; SFWMD, 3301 Gun Club Rd., W. Palm

Beach, Florida 33402.

NOTES ON MEASUREMENTS, MORTALITY, MOLT, AND GONAD
CONDITION IN FLORIDA WEST COAST LAUGHING GULLS

Ralph W. Schreiber and Elizabeth Anne Schreiber

The Laughing Gull {Lams atricilla) is the common small gull of the South-
eastern sea coast of the United States, yet few published data on its measure-
ments, molt and gonad cycle exist. Between 1974 and 1976 we obtained 390
individuals that died at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, Pinellas County
(hospital sample), most coming from Pinellas County, Florida west coast. We
also captured 39 adults in a breeding colony on the Bayway of Pinellas County
(healthy sample) (Dinsmore and Schreiber 1974; Schreiber, Schreiber, and
Dinsmore 1979). These gulls provide a reasonable sample for morphological
data.

Measurements. On as many of these specimens as feasible we measured the
exposed culmen and external tarsus to the nearest 1 mm with a dial calipers,
the wing chord (unflattened) and tail with a meter stick, and weight with a
Pesola spring balance accurate to 1 g. Many individuals had only one wing,
the other having been amputated, in an attempt to save the birds’ life, and
thus weight could not be determined accurately. We also have no data on the
length of time individuals were in captivity before they died. We received no
birds in November through January but in our sample of 11 to 25 individuals
per month from April 1974 to June 1976 no significant (P < 0.05) seasonal
changes in measurements were apparent in culmen length (2.2 mm range be-
tween months), wing chord (31 mm range), tarsus (3.2 mm range), or weight
(45 g range). Thus we summarize all measurement data in Table 1. Adult
males averaged slightly larger than adult females in all measurements taken,
but none of the differences are statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Simi-
larly, birds less than one year old (by plumage) were somewhat smaller than
adults of the same sex, with wing length and weight being most different, but
still not statistically so.

Our small unsexed sample of “healthy” adults captured on nests with three
eggs showed culmen and tarsus lengths very similar to those found for the
“hospital” sample but they had longer wings, apparently because the pri-
maries were less worn. These individuals were also significantly heavier than
the birds from the hospital (t test, P < 0.001). Our measurements did not allow
us to sex the Laughing Gulls based on external measurements but perhaps a
more extensive series of measurements (including bill depth and width, skull
length, etc.) would have (Shugart 1977). It is obvious from these data that
weight must be taken from “healthy” birds but the culmen and tarsus measure-
ments from the “hospital” birds are an accurate measure of the size of this
species. Since feathers are liable to wear excessively in captivity, the tail and
wing length measurements on specimens from animal hospitals should not be
used for comparative purposes.

Comparisons made between our data and those of Dwight (1925), repeated

19

20 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • VoL 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

Table 1. Measurements (in mm S g) of Laughing Gulls
from the Florida West Coast,

Adult

Ma 1 es

Adult

Fema 1 es

X

n

range

+ 2 SE

X

n

range

+ 2 SE

Cu 1 men

40.5

184

34-46

0.33

38.4

130

35-44

0.57

W! ng

322.8

177

250-352

2.56

312.2

124

263-340

1.18

Tarsus
(externa 1 )

59.7

184

52-66

0.34

56.7

130

48-63

0.40

Tail

122,6

31

100-140

2.98

114.9

20

94-130

3.35

Weight

249

125

150-345

5.51

224

74

150-300

12.75

Ma 1 es

1 ess

than 1 year

Females less

than 1 year

Cu 1 men

39.5

54

34-42

0.59

37.9

22

31-43

1 .08

Wi ng

306.5

53

248-334

4.36

306.8

22

270-325

5.76

Tarsus
(externa 1 )

58.9

54

53-64

0.78

56.6

22

53-63

0.55

Weight

204

26

137-300

15.84

178

22

140-272

7.38

From live adults captured on 3 egg

cl utches

on the

Bayway ,

Pinellas

County

X

n

range

+

2 SE

Cu 1 men

40.2

39

36-44

0.76

Wi ng

337

5

315-360

9.03

Tarsus
(externa 1 )

58.4

39

53-65

0.89

Weight

325

39

270-400

5.09

in Murphy (1936), and Ridgway (1919), repeated in Blake (1977), give remark-
ably similar results except for the longer wings and tail in those museum speci-
mens. The collection site of those specimens presumably was mainland North
America. Voous (1957) followed Parkes (1952) in recognizing the smaller size
of the West Indian Laughing Gulls and those measurements of wing and tail
are shorter than our sample. Oberholser (1974) presented additional informa-
tion on the size of gulls, presumably from Texas, and from the West Indies,
but did not give his sample size. His measurements for the Texas birds are
similar to those presented here, with males from the West Indies somewhat
smaller. The racial separation of this species is not recognized by the A.O.U.
Check-list (1957).

SCHREIBER AND SCHREIBER • Lau^hin^ Gulls 21

Table 2. Causes of mortality in Laughing Gulls.

Adult

Juvenile

Male

Female

Mai e

Female

Wing broken or amputated

64

45

9

8

(percent of total )

(55%)

(66%)

(42%)

(57%)

No external damage

7

4

2

0

Dead on arrival

3

2

0

0

Sick

34

13

10

6

Hit by car

4

2

0

0

Monofilament line

4

1

0

0

Oiled

1

1

0

0

(percent of total )

(45%)

(34%)

(58%)

(43%)

Total

117

68

21

14

Aspergillosis sp. present

27

18

9

10

(percent of total )

(23%)

(26%)

(43%)

(71%)

Clearly, additional data on comparable measurements from throughout
the range of this species are needed for further consideration, especially from
the northern portion and in the apparent region of overlap between the north-
ern and southern forms, in the Caribbean and along the western and southern
Gulf of Mexico.

Mortality. Our data on mortality are summarized in Table 2. The causes

of death, or at least the reason the birds were brought to the sanctuary, were
determined from data supplied with the specimens and were not available
for all birds. The majority of the birds that died had broken wings. Propor-
tionately more females suffered from wing damage than males and in both
sexes of adults wing damage was the major injury. Most wings probably are
broken through collision with telephone or electricity wires. This form of mor-
tality would be significantly decreased if all such wires were underground.
The effect of such apparent high mortality on the gull population should be
investigated before suggesting such expensive (yet esthetically pleasing) alter-
ations. A high proportion of the juveniles were noted as being “sick” on the
specimen label, which generally meant that they were weak and could not
fly. It may be that these young birds were ones that never learned to feed ef-
ficiently and were merely starving. There was a high incidence of Aspergillo-
sis in young birds (54%) compared with the adults (24%). We do not know if
the birds contracted this disease after being taken into captivity or while in
the wild and unfortunately it is impossible to separate starvation from disease
in wild populations. Death due to entanglement in monofilament line or oil-
ing did not seem to be important in Laughing Gulls in this sample and this
was borne out by our observations of birds in the nesting colony. A high per-
centage of birds (37%) died from unknown causes (found sick, DO A, or no ex-
ternal damage).

The fungal genus Aspergillosis contains some 300 species which are among
the most common fungi in all environments, especially in decaying organic

22 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 7, No, 2, Fall 1979

Table 3- Primary molt score for one wing of Adult
Laugh i ng Gull.

Ma 1 es

Fema

les

X

n

range

X

n

range

Februa ry

0

8

0

9

Ma rch

0

k

0

5-

April

0

h

0

7

May

7

6

1-15

0

3

June

3

3

1- 7

-

0

July

10

8

14-21

8

6

1*-12

August

25

18

8-1*1

25

13

6-37

September

3^4

]k

21-1*5

3^1

1 1

30-50

October

39

1 1

33-50

1*1*

6

h0-k7

Total

76

60

debris, A. fumigatus accounts for most avian fungal disease. It is transmitted
by spores and is manifested in birds through granulomatoses (gray-green nod-
ules) in the lungs and mesentaries. Treatment with antibiotics reduces the abil-
ity of the host’s immunologic response to resist the fungi (Rippon 1974). The
high level of infection in these birds gives warning about the prevalence of
this disease in captive conditions and cause for concern about sanitary mea-
sures in captivity. This must be considered when attempts are made to re-
lease birds back into the wild which have been thus exposed.

Molt. We recorded molt on many of the specimens examined and while
we do not have a full year’s sample, the data available do show the molt pat-
tern of the adult birds in this region. We used the Ashmole (1962) molt score
method to quantify primary molt (Table 3), with a score of 50 indicating all
new feathers in one wing and a 0, all old feathers. In 22 birds in which we ex-
amined both wings for molt, the pattern was the same in both wings. Molt is
regular from the inner primaries outward, it may begin somewhat earlier in
males than in females and both sexes molt the primaries mainly in August
through October. This timing is similar to the pattern determined from
feathers found shed in the colony (Dinsmore and Schreiber 1974). Thus molt
begins as the breeding season ends and requires approximately three months,
although study of individual birds is needed. Clearly, in this species in Flor-
ida, molt and breeding are non-overlapping. We recorded insufficient data
on secondary and rectrix molt to analyze but it appears that molt of those
feathers begins somewhat later and proceeds later into the fall than does the
primary molt. All adults were molting the black -head feathers by August in
this sample.

Gonads. Our sample of gonad measurements does not include any birds
from November through April and thus we are unable to determine the annual
cycle. However, the means of our sample of 10 to 16 males for each month
from July through October varied from 8x4 mm, 7x3 mm, 6x2 mm
and 5x3 mm with none larger than 12 X 6 mm, showing a slight decrease
in volume through the summer. The samples of 8 to 15 females for each month

SCHREIBER AND SCHREIBER • Laughing Gulls

23

from June through October varied between 10 X 5 mm, 11X6 mm, 12 X 5
mm, 10 X 5 mm and 14 X 5 mm, with the largest ova present 5 mm. The
ovary seems to increase in size in October compared to August and Septem-
ber, perhaps indicating gonadal recovery in the fall. However, the effects of
captivity on our gonad data are unknown and additional data on the gonadal
cycle in this species are needed.

Conclusions and Suggestions. We believe that important biological data
can be gathered from studies of dead birds available from the various bird
hospitals in Florida and other states. We urge interested individuals to avail
themselves of this opportunity to study a readily available source of wild
birds, realizing the possible biases in the samples. This source of birds is es-
pecially valuable in light of the difficulties of collecting specimens imposed
by the various permit regulations in effect today.

Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary for providing these specimens and
Glen E. Woolfenden and the University of South Florida for providing laboratory space for their
dissection. Barbara C. Kittleson collated the data and Seabird Research Inc. and its contributors
helped support this work. Myma Patrick typed the final manuscript. William B. Robertson,
Jr., and Gary Shugart improved our presentation.

Literature Cited

American Ornithologist’s Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds. Fifth edition,
Baltimore, Amer. Ornithol. Union.

Ashmole, N. P. 1962. The Black Noddy Anous tenirostris on Ascension Island. Part 1. General
biology. Ibis 103b: 235-273.

Blake, E. R. 1977. Manual of Neotropical birds. Volume 1. Chicago, Univ. Chicago Press.
Dinsmore, J. J., and R. W. Schreiber, 1974. Breeding and annual cycle of Laughing Gulls in
Tampa Bay, Florida. Wilson Bull. 86: 419-427.

Dwight, J. 1925. The gulls (Laridae) of the World. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 50:63-401.
Murphy, R. C. 1936. Oceanic birds of South America. Volume 2. New York, Amer. Mus. Nat.
Hist.

Oberholser, H. C. 1974. The Bird life of Texas. Austin, Univ. Texas Press.

Parkes, K. C. 1952. Taxonomic notes on the Laughing Gull. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 65:193-196.
Ridgway, R. 1919. The birds of North and Middle America. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. No. 50. Part
VIII: 636-641.

Rippon, j. W. 1974. Medical mycology. The pathogenic Fungi and Actinomycetes. Philadelphia,
W. B. Saunders Co.

Schreiber, E. A., R. W. Schreiber, and J. J. Dinsmore. 1979. Breeding biology of Laughing
Gulls in Tampa Bay, Florida. Part 1. Nesting, egg, and incubation parameters. Bird-Band-
ing in press.

Shugart, G. W. 1977. A method for externally sexing gulls. Bird-Banding 48: 118-121.

Voous, K. H. 1957. The birds of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire. Stud. Fauna Curacao other

Caribb. Isl., No. 29. 1-260.

Section of Ornithology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County,
900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007.

GENERAL NOTES

Reddish Egrets nesting on Florida’s east coast.- In the last decade the Reddish Egret
(Pichnmianassa rufescens) has recolonized three areas along the southwest coast of Florida (Ban-
croft 1971; Paul et al. 1975; T. H. Below, pers. comm.). The same has not happened along the
Atlantic coast, where despite the occasional sighting of individuals near Vero Beach with the
brilliantly colored soft parts characteristic of breeding condition (Kale 1974), no nests have been
found north of the Arsenicker Keys in Biscayne Bay (Kale 1976). Here we report the discovery
of two nests which considerably extend the known Atlantic coast nesting distribution of Reddish
Egrets.

The first nest was discovered on 1 1 April 1978 by Henri Ouellet, Chief, Vertebrate Zoology
Division, National Museums of Canada, on Riomar Island, a spoil island in the Indian River at
Vero Beach, Indian River County (Maxwell and Kale 1974). A pair of dark phase Reddish Egrets
were seen on an empty nest located in mangroves. One of the birds displayed continuouslv and
was very aggressive towards any bird of another species landing near it. Photographs of these
Reddish Egrets are deposited in the Everglades National Park collection.

On 25 May, Kale, June Kregh and Maxine Mallion saw two adults in the colony, but were
unable to find the nest. On 14 July, Kale and John Edman observed two large dark-phase young
Reddish Egrets walking on the exposed mud flat along the north edge of the colony. Both birds
flew into the main colony, although one immediately returned to the flat. Neither bird en-
gaged in any feeding behavior, nor were any adult Reddish Egrets seen nearby.

Numbers of pairs of other species nesting on Riomar estimated during an aerial survey on
18 April 1978 were as follows: Brown Pelican, 500; Double-crested Cormorant, 20; Cattle/
Snowy egrets, 500 + ; Louisiana Heron, 200 +; Creat Egret, 100; Great Blue Heron, 5; Yellow-
crowned Night Heron, 5; Little Blue Heron, +; Black-crowned Night Heron, +. By 25 May,
Cattle Egrets had increased to about 2500 pairs, and 500 pairs of White Ibis were also nesting
on the Island.

During a colony census on 20 June 1978, Nelson discovered the second nest on a spoil island
300 m south of Haulover Canal in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Brevard
County. The heronry is commonly called the Haulover Colony, and is island no. 11-62 of Schreiber
and Schreiber (1978). The nest, containing two dark-phase nestlings, was in a white mangrove
{LagtincAilaria racemosa), abo\it 3 m above the ground and 3 m from the water’s edge. Both
young fledged. A photograph of one nestling is on file at the Merritt Island NWR headquarters.

The colony included at least eight other nestling species, in the following numbers (pairs):
Great Blue Heron, 10; Green Heron, 1; Cattle Egret, 900; Great Egret, 10; Snowy Egret, 200;
Louisiana Heron, 300; Glossy Ibis, 30; White Ibis, 450. (Data are combined from surveys on 23
April by Paul and 20 June by Nelson.)

Howell (1932:104) mapped four east coast nesting sites of Reddish Egrets, all from the 19th
century. Close examination suggests that three of these records are inadequately documented.
(1) The former breeding site at the mouth of the St. Johns River is based on a specimen at the U.S.
National Museum (# 105320), collected 27 June 1884 at Pilot Town (S. A. Grimes, pers. comm.).
The specimen is a fledged, dark-phase juvenile, lacking any down on the head and with billy de-
veloped primaries, clearly capable of sustained flight. It probably originated from a colony farther
south. (2) A white-phase adult (MCZ #203968) collected at Dummitts on 1? April 1872 by C. J.
Maynard is apparently the basis for the nesting locality at Merritt Island mapped by Howell.
This is within 3 km of the Haulover Colony nest site reported here. But though Maynard ob-
served morning and evening flight lines of white-phase Reddish Egrets, he never found them
nesting in that area (Maynard 1889:159). (3) A dark-phase adult (MCZ #249399) collected at
Sebastian River in March or April 1890 is the apparent basis for a third breeding locality. No
birther details are available though the site is within 10 km of Pelican Island (see following).
(4) The fourth locality noted by Howell is Pelican Island in the Indian River. Bryant (1859) noted
Reddish Egrets of both color phases breeding there. Data accompanying Bryant’s specimens are

24

General Notes

25

scanty, but one (MCZ #42535) is a white-phase, downy nestling collected in the Indian River
on 15 April (year not specified on label). This is the only adequately documented nesting report
of the four.

The nests reported here extend the Atlantic coast nesting range of Reddish Egrets 380 km
north of previously known sites in this century, and 110 km north of Pelican Island, the previous
northernmost known locality.

We are indebted to Henri Ouellet for word and photographs of the nesting pair at Riomar
Island, and to Samuel A. Grimes for drawing attention to the Pilot Town specimen. Richard L.
Zusi of the U.S. National Museum and Raymond A. Paynter, Jr., of the Museum of Comparative
Zoology kindly allowed RTP to examine specimens in their care. Chandler S. Robbins gener-
ously made available the bird files of the former Bureau of Biological Survey, including many of
A. H. Howell’s notes for his book Florida bird life. Alexander Sprunt, IV, made helpful sugges-
tions on the manuscript.

Literature Cited

Bancroft, G. 1971. Northern breeding record for Reddish Egret. Auk 88: 429.

Bryant, H. 1859. On some birds observed in East Florida. Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 7: 5-21.
Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life. Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game Fresh Water Fish.

Kale, H. W., II. 1974. Florida region., Amer. Birds 28: 790-794.

Kale, H. W. II. 1976. Florida region., Amer. Birds 30: 828-832.

Maynard, C. J. 1889. The birds of eastern North America (revised ed.). Newtonville, Mass., C. J.
Maynard.

Paul, R. T., A. J. Meyerriecks and F. M. Dunstan. 1975. Return of Reddish Egrets as breeding
birds in Tampa Bay, Florida. Fla. Field Nat. 3: 9-10.

ScHREiRER, R. W., AND E. A. ScHREiBER. 1978. Colonial bird use and plant succession on
dredged material islands in Florida, vol. 1: sea and wading bird colonies. U.S. Army Engineer
Waterways Experiment Station, Technical Report D-78-14.

Richard T. Paul, Research Department, National Audubon Society, 115 Indian Mound Trail,
Tavernier, Florida 33070, Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon Society, 35-lst Court SW,
Vero Beach, Florida 32960, and David A. Nelson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Merritt Is-
land National Wildlife Refuse, Box 6504, Titusville, Florida 32780.

Inland records of Oldsquaws and Surf Scoter from north Florida.— During the winter of
1977-78, two male Oldsquaws {Clan^ula hyemalis) and a female Surf Scoter {Melanitta per-
spicillata) were observed and/or shot by hunters on a pond at the Occidental Chemical Company,
8 miles southeast of Jasper, Hamilton County, Florida. On 7 January 1978 an Oldsquaw and the
scoter were taken and preserved by Virlyn Willis and Leon Alexander (both of Lake City).
Another male Oldsquaw was observed by the author at the same locality on 23 December 1977.
This was not the Oldsquaw that was later shot as its molt was more advanced than the second
bird. The Oldsquaws and the Surf Scoter were using a 4(X) acre mine settling pond, 6-8 feet
deep with a clay-soil substrate, with shoreline vegetation composed primarily of black willow
{Salix niQra) and primrose willow {Jus.siaea sp.).

Inland records of both species in Florida are rare. Sprunt (1954) lists two Oldsquaw records
from north Florida at Lake lamona and Lake Jackson (Leon Co.). There are five additional
published winter records from north Florida, 22 January 1962, Lake Jackson, Leon Co. (Stevenson
1963); 29 January 1967, seven on Windham Pond, Jefferson Co. (Ripley 1967); 17 January 1970,
road-kill, Hamilton Co. (Stevenson 1970); 14 March 1971, Wakulla Springs, Wakulla Co.

26 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

(Stevenson 1971); 19 January 1976, Lake lamona, Leon Co. (Stevenson 1976); and one from
peninsular Florida at Lake Jackson, Highlands Co., 27 January and 1 February 1976 (Stevenson

1976).

Sprunt (1954) lists no inland records for Surf Scoters. A recent sighting of a Surf Scoter on the
St. Johns River near Mandarin, 10 November 1971 (Robertson 1971), prompted the suggestion
that there might be an overland migration between wintering concentrations on the northeast
Atlantic coast and the northern Gulf coast of Florida. This second inland record of a scoter from
north Florida adds credence to the possible existence of a migration route between these
two wintering areas.

Literature Cited

Ripley, S. D. 1967. Old Squaws [sic] {Clan^ula hyemalis) in northern Florida. Fla. Nat. 40:101-

102.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1971. Florida region. Amer. Birds 25: 44-49.

Sprunt, A., Jr. 1954. Florida bird life. New York, Coward-McCann, Inc.

Stevenson, H. M. 1963. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 17: 319-323.

Stevenson, H. M. 1970. Florida region. Amer. Birds 24: 493-497.

Stevenson, H. M. 1971. Florida region. Amer. Birds 25: 567-570.

Stevenson, H. M. 1976. Florida region. Amer. Birds 30: 708-711.

Steven K. Stap'ford, Florida Game and Fresh W ater Fish Commission. Lake
32055.

Winter breeding by the American Coot at Tampa, Florida.— The American
americana) is abundant in winter and generally scarce in summer throughout
Ogden 1977, Amer. Birds 31: 1129 for a recent exception to summer scarcity.) In
County, the Tampa Christmas Bird Count, 1972-1978, has recorded from 1030 to 3890 coots
(Amer. Birds 26-32). The Tampa Summer Bird Count, conducted in June and under the same
rules, 1972-1978, has recorded only 2 to 32 coots (unpublished data). Coots have been recorded
as occasional breeders in Florida, with about 10 records from scattered localities on the penin-
sula, but heretofore only in May through July (Sprunt 1954, Florida bird life. New York, Coward-
McCann Inc., Aud. Field Notes vols. 1-24, Amer. Birds vols. 25-31).

On 7 February 1978 I watched two adult American Coots feeding three tiny downies and
defending a segn)ent of one end of a freshwater borrow pit from numerous other coots wintering
on the pond. The yourig were only a few days old, which indicates nesting began in early
or mid-January. The borrow pit, dug recently for construction of the adjacent University Square
Mall lies about one mile west of the University of South Florida in Hillsborough County. It has
extensive open water and a thick border of cattails {Typha sp.). In 1975-1977 only from one to
eight coots were seen on this and a nearby pond during the Summer Bird Counts.

On 10 February the family of five again was seen, and on 22 Febmary G. Thomas Bancroft
saw one large chick. The breeding was not followed further.

Winter breeding in Florida by any rail appears to be unusual, although I have seen downy
young Common Gallinules {GalUnula chlorcyms) in Tampa as late as mid-December, and Steven-
son (1960, Aud. Field Notes 14: 302) reports Ogden’s sighting of a King Rail {Rallus ele^ans)
with downy young on 26 February in Everglades National Park at the southern end of the Flor-
ida peninsula. Unfortunately it was not determined whether the winter-breeding coots were
migrants from the north ne.sting (again) on their wintering grounds, or local permanent resi-
dents nesting aseasonally.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge use of M. C. Bowman’s recent publication (1978, Species index
to Florida bird records in Audubon Field Notes and American Birds Volumes 1-30 1947-1976,
Spec. Publ. No. 1, Fla. Ornithol. Soc.) in preparing this note.— Glen E. Woolfenden, Depart-
ment of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Cittf, Florida

Coot {FidicM
Florida. {See
Hillsborough

General Notes

27

Feeding association between Bonaparte’s GuHs and Red-breasted Mergansers.— On 3 Feb-
ruary 1979 at Blackburn Bay, Sarasota County, Florida, we watched an interspecific feeding as-
sociation between 30 Red-breasted Mergansers {Mer^us senator) and approximately 40 Bona-
parte’s Gulls (Larus Philadelphia). Two mergansers were adult males and the others were females
or birds in non-adult plumage. The mergansers swam in a concentrated flock and seemed to
dive simultaneously. The gulls hovered over the flock dipping into the water continuously,
almost before the mergansers emerged from their dive, and then alighted on the water and
swam along with the mergansers. On 6 February 1979 we saw the same feeding behavior (with
only about half as many participants) at close range from our doorstep, using 7 X 35 binoculars
and 20 X telescope. We watched the gulls feed directly on small items (probably fish) stirred up
by the submerged mergansers. No instance of “robbing” was observed.

On 10 February 1979 we watched a one-to-one interspecific feeding between a Bonaparte’s
and a merganser. It was an unhurried action; the merganser submerged and the gull would
follow, swimming slowly on the water, usually rising up out of the water and flying to where
the merganser was emerging. The gull was not always successful in obtaining food but when it
was the food appeared to be snapped up from the surface of the bay.

On several occasions we watched large flocks of Bonaparte’s feeding on a freshwater pond
a few miles away but there was no obvious interspecific feeding with the Lesser Scaup {Aythya
affinis) that were also on the pond.

Herons {Casmerodius alhus, Egretta thula, Hydranassa tricolor) have been noted in feeding
associations with wintering flocks of Red-breasted Mergansers (Emlen and Ambrose 1970, Auk 87:
164-165; Parks and Bressler 1963, Auk 80: 198-199) but we can find no records of gulls
associating with Red-breasted Merganser flocks.— Stanley Stedman and Annette Stedman,
1156 Casey Key Road, Nokomis, Florida 33555.

Another offshore sighting of Sabine’s Gull for Florida.— On 23 September 1978 at 1005, Allan
King and Gary King and I sighted an adult Sabine’s Gull (Xema sahini) in basic plumage approxi-
mately 5 km E of Palm Beach Inlet, Palm Beach Gounty, Florida. The bird was observed under
good light conditions for five minutes during which it flew directly over the boat at an estimated
10-15 m for a minute or so. The sea at the time was 1.5-2 m and the wind E 10-15 km. The out-
standing feature of this small gull was the conspicuous white secondaries that were readily seen
from a distance. The outer primaries were black; the top of the head, back and upper wing
coverts were dark gray; and the forked tail, forehead and underparts were white. The bill was
small and dark. We did not note yellow on the tip of the bill.

This is the fourth and southernmost record (third sight record) for the species in Florida. All
reports have been along the Atlantic Goast of the peninsula. Ruth T. Rogers found an oiled
specimen at Daytona Beach, Volusia Gounty, on 1 November 1952, that was sent to the U.S.
National Museum (Sprunt 1954, Florida bird life. New York, Goward McGann, Inc.). On 24
September 1963, A. E. Ellis and J. B. Johnson saw two off Playlinda Beach, Brevard Gounty
(Gunningham 1964, Aud. Field Notes 18:25). Then on 4 November 1975, Robert D. Barber and
James B. Johnson saw an immature 29 km (18 mi.) E of Gocoa Beach, Brevard Go. (Barber and
Johnson 1976, Fla. Field Nat. 4: 14). These few reports have an interesting grouping during
the fall migration; two were in late September within one day of each other, and the remaining
two were in early November three days apart. The two reports from Brevard Gounty were
associated with NE winds, but the Palm Beach Gounty occurrence did not appear to be associated
with any significant weather pattern.— H. P. Langridge, 1421 W. Ocean Ave., Lantana, Florida
33462. '

28 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

A Sabine’s Gull at the Dry Tortugas, Florida.— On 8 August 1978 at 1630 I was photograph-
ing terns on the north coaling dock at Fort Jefferson, Garden Key, Dry Tortugas, Florida, when
I watched a summer-plumaged adult Sabine’s Gull {Xenia sahini) alight on the dock among the
Noddy {Anous stolidus) and Royal {Sterna nuiximus) terns (Fig. 1). I was able to confirm my
identification of the gull by consulting the field guides I had with me. I watched the bird for 15
minutes until it flew towards nearby Bush Key. While on the coaling dock, the gull was pecked at
by the nearby terns and even after the gull flew to a piling it was soon displaced by two Noddy
Terns, and then flew off.

Fig. 1. Sabine’s Gull at Garden Key, Dry Tortugas, Florida, 8 August 1978.

I notified other park service personnel at the Fort but no one else observed the gull. There
are four other Florida records of Sabine’s Gull (23 Sept. -4 Nov., Langridge 1979, Fla. Field
Nat. 7: 27) all from the Atlantic coa.st. This is the first sight record of the Sabine’s Gull from
the Dry Tortugas and six weeks earlier than the earliest previous record for Florida.— Mark
R. Collie, 1920 E. Columbia St., Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103.

A Band-tailed Pigeon recovery in Florida.— While reviewing computer printouts of all birds
banded or recovered in Florida, I discovered the record of a Band-tailed Pigeon {Columba
fasciata). Subsequent investigation of records from the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL), Laurel,
Maryland, revealed that it was banded in northwest Oregon (lat. 45°20' long. 122°40') on 15
May 1966. It was shot near Bonifay, Holmes County, Florida, in December 1967 by a hunter
who mailed the band (#066528422) to the BBL with an accompanying letter.

The evidence accumulated indicates that this was a wild bird and the species should be added
to the state list. The following information supports the validity of the record. 1. The bander,
James Cromwell, employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, banded at least 2363 Band-
tailed Pigeons during the years 1965-1968 (Otis Swisher, President, Western Bird Banding As.so-
ciation, pers. comm.). The bird in question was an adult male at the time of banding. Therefore,
it is highly unlikely that it was misidentified by such an experienced bander. 2. The hunter
who shot the bird wrote that it was a ‘pigeon,’ and included the actual band in his letter to the
BBL. The band is in excellent condition with the numbers clearly legible even on a xerox copy.
3. A letter from the Director, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, states “Oregon has
not traded any Band-tailed Pigeons to any other state,’’ and a letter from the Chief, Bureau of
Wildlife Resources, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, states that “there has
been no attempt to introduce Band-tailed Pigeons into Florida.” 4. There are occurrences of
this species in other southeastern states. Imhof (1976, Alabama birds, 2nd ed.. University, Ala.,
Univ. Ala. Press) places the bird on Alabama’s hypothetical list because the sole record, based
on one lengthy observation, lacks a photograph or specimen. Lowery (1974, Louisiana birds,
3rd rev. ed.. Baton Rouge, La., La. State Univ. Press) states that “at least five have been
recorded in the state.” Four of these were specimens.

General Notes

29

The states of the Band-tailed Pigeon in Florida rests on two occurrences. There is a record and
photograph of two at Sarasota (Letson 1968, Fla. Nat. 41: 126). However, Stevenson (1976,
Vertebrates of Florida, Gainesville, Univ. Presses Fla.) considered these ‘‘more likely to have
escaped from captivity than to have wandered so far from their usual range.” Except for one outer
rectrix on one of the Sarasota birds, the tail feathers were not ragged as is often the case with
captive birds. The second reference (Edscorn 1974, Fla. Nat. 47: 31) cites no details other than one
reported from Sugarloaf Key.

The hunter who shot the Bonifay pigeon did so “about a week before Christmas (1967)” within
the same week -the Sarasota birds were first seen (17 December 1967), This recovery along with
the photographed Sarasota birds should be sufficient evidence to establish the Band-tailed
Pigeon on the Florida State list.

I thank Otis Swisher, Hal A. Beecher, Harry Nehls, Henry M. Stevenson and Lovett E.
Williams for information I received, and Robert A. Duncan for comments on this note. Copies
of letters mentioned above and a xerox of the band have been deposited with the Florida
Ornithological Society Archives at the Florida State Museum, Gainesville.— -Lucy R. Duncan, 614
Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561.

Great Homed Owl suspected of preying upon Snowy Egret.— On 8 September 1977 at 1435
at the Cross Bar Ranch, 5.5 km south of Masaryktown, Pasco County, Florida, we saw a Great
Homed Owl {Bubo virginianus) flying across a marsh with a white bird in its talons. The owl
landed in an improved pasture about 400 m away. We flushed the owl and it flew to a slash pine
50 m away leaving the white bird behind. We saw no manipulation of the prey by the owl before
it flushed.

The white bird was a Snowy Egret {Egretta thula). The warm, limp carcass had a lacerated,
broken neck -and some feather loss at the wound. We left the egret on the ground and the owl
remained in the pine tree. We returned several hours later; the egret had not been moved and
the owl was not visible.

Snowy Egrets are common at the marsh. The area is devoid of paved access roads and
powerlines, thus eliminating some obvious alternative causes of the egret’s death. Bent (1938, Bull.
U=S. Natl. Mus. 170) Lists “small herons” (species unspecified) among the many species of birds
eaten by the Great Horned Owl— Richard Callahan and William Carey, Biological Research
Associates, 504 S. Brevard Ave., Tampa, Florida 33606.

Short-eared Owl on Bush Key, Dry Tortugas, Florida.— The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
occurs widely in the Holaractic region, in South America and in the West Indies. In eastern
North America it breeds south to Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey and Virginia (AOU Check-
list, 1957) and is an uncommon but regular winter visitor to Florida (Spmnt 1954, Florida bird
life, New York, Coward McCann, Inc.). In recent years 3-6 per year total have appeared on
Florida Christmas Bird Counts. Short-eared Owls are notorious wanderers, having established
breeding populations on a number of oceanic island groups, including Hawaii, the Galapagos
Islands, the Falkland Islands and the Juan Fernandez Islands, and appearing as vagrants on many
other islands (Burton 1973, Owls of the World, New York, Dutton and Co.).

On the afternoon of 20 June 1978, a Short-eared Owl was flushed from bare ground on the
east spit of Bush Key, Dry Tortugas, Monroe County, Florida. The bird flew fairly strongly,
but when relocated the next morning it was unable or unwilling to fly and was captured. It was
thin and its plumage was somewhat waterlogged, but otherwise the bird appeared healthy (Fig. 1).
We identified it by plumage and wing measurement as the widespread holarctic race, A. f.
flammeus, rather than one of the resident West Indian (Puerto Rico or Hispaniola) races. This
is only the second summer record of A.sio flammeus in Florida (on 14 June 1963 Henry M.

30 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • VoL 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

Fig. 1. Short-eared Owl photographed inside Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortngas, Florida, on 21
June 1978 by Barbara C. Kittleson.

Stevenson (pers. comm.) sighted an individual near Lakeport, Glades Co.) and the first record for
the Dry Tortugas.

A few hours after capture the owl cast a pellet containing the remains of a Sooty Tern
{Sterna fuscata) chick. We suspect that our bird had been present on Bush Key for some time,
subsisting on the abundant tern chicks. Short-eared Owls in their normal breeding range have
been reported to specialize occasionally on tern colonies (Bent 1938, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 170,
p. 175). We transported the owl back to the mainland and on 5 July released it unbanded at
the South Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park.— Wayne Hoffman, Biology De-
partment, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, William B. Robertson, Jr., South
Florida Research Center, EveroJades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030, and Paige C.
Patty, South Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Wintering of the Northern Waterthrush in north Florida.— On 21 December 1978, Gail Menk
reported that a Northern Waterthrush {Seiurus novehoracensis) he saw in early November at a
sewage effluent southwest of Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, near the junction of state roads
263 and 373, was still at that location. He and I went to the spot on 27 December and collected
the bird (TTRS No. 3631), a female weighing 15.9g, with no fat and an unos.sified skull. Contents
of its stomach included a small terrestrial snail {Zonitoides arhoreus. Family Zonitidae), an un-
identified leech and numerous unidentified insect remains. The only previous north Florida
winter record of this waterthrush is one at a Florida State University dairy pond on 10 De-
cember 1948 and 11 February 1949 (Stevenson 1949), a site only 3.5 km northeast of the loca-
tion of the collected specimen.

The A. O. U. Check-list (1957: 507) referred to the wintering of the Northern Waterthmsh
in the United States as “casual,” citing winter locations for Texas, Pennsylvania and South
Carolina. Howell (1932: 413), however, cited specimens collected at Punta Rassa (Lee Co.) on
7 February 1886, and Key West (Monroe Co.) on 5, 6 and 11 March 1890. The birds collected
in March, however, may have been early migrants, as 1 collected one, 6 March 1971, on St.
George Island (Franklin Co.) where it had not wintered. The most northerly winter sight record

General Notes

31

was at Clearwater (Pinellas Co.) in February 1880 (Howell 1932), but recently the species
has been reported on Christmas Bird Counts north to Sanford (Seminole Co.) and Titusville
(Brevard Co.). Just outside Florida there are sight records of wintering Northern Waterthrushes
at Savannah, Georgia, 26 December 1931 (Burleigh 1958: 550) and Fort Morgan, Alabama,
12 February 1973 (Imhof 1976: 360).

Ail previously collected specimens cited above (Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania)
have been referred to S. n. notahilis, the mid-continental race with a more grayish back and
whiter underparts than the nominate race. Our specimen matches those of S. n. notahilis in
the Tali Timbers collection, but Mengel (1965: 423) casts doubt on the validity of these two

races.

Manuel Pescador, of Florida A. & M. University, and William Heard, of Florida State Uni-
versity, kindly examined the stomach contents of the bird I collected, and Robert L. Crawford
prepared the study skin.

Literature Cited

American Ornithologists’ Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds. Baltimore, Lord
Baltimore Press, Inc.

Burleich, T. D. 1958. Georgia birds. Norman, Univ. Oklahoma Press.

Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life. Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game and Fresh Water
Fish.

Imhof, T. A. 1976. Alabama birds (2nd ed.), Univ., Ala., Univ. Ala. Press.

Mencel, R. M. 1965. The birds of Kentucky. Omithol. Monog. No. 3, Amer. Omitho. Union.
Stevenson, H. M. 1949. Seasonal notes in the Tallahassee region. Fla. Nat. 22: 62-63.

Henry M. Stevenson, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32312.

A Cardinal at the Dry Tortugas, Florida.—Cardinals {Cardinalis cardinalis) are widespread
in North America (Gmson 1976, Checklist of the World’s birds, London, William Collins Sons and
Co., p. 155) and are considered nonmigratory (Bent 1968, U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 237, p. 15). Howell
(1932, Florida bird life, Tallahassee, Fla. Dept. Game Fresh Water Fish, p. 437) gives its
southern range as extending through the Florida Keys to the Marquesas Keys but indicates
that the species is rare in Key West and states, “A Cardinal struck Sombrero Key Light, Sep-
tember 10, 1884— an unusual occurrence for a nonmigratory bird (Merriam 1885, p. 61)”. Sprunt
(1954, Florida bird life, New York, Coward-McCann Inc. p. 450) states, “It has since been re-
corded even from Tortugas; Gabrielson saw one there, March 29, 1948.” This is the only pub-
lished record of a Cardinal at the Dry Tortugas (W. B. Robertson, Jr., pers. comm.).

On 6 April 1978 at 0700, in the parade ground of Fort Jefferson, Garden Key, Dry Tortugas,
Florida, I observed a female Cardinal working through the trees. The bird was also observed
on the 6th and 8th by members of the tern-banding party (W. B. Robertson, Jr., et al.). The bird
was not reported again and was not seen in June by the tern-banding party. I thank William
B. Robertson, Jr., for his comments on this note.— Theodore H. Below, 3697 North Road, Naples,
Florida 33942.

Pine Siskins in the Florida Keys.— The Pine Siskin {Carduelis pimis) winters irregularly to north
Florida, and rarely to south Florida (Sprunt 1954, Florida bird life, New York, Coward-McCann,
Inc.). The last irruption of siskins reaching peninsular Florida occurred during the winter of
1969-70. In that season Stevenson (1970, Amer. Birds 24:497) noted large numbers seen near
St. Petersburg (Pinellas Co.) and West Palm Beach (Palm Beach Co.), and listed several other
reports from peninsular Florida. Southernmost reports were two sightings from Everglades Na-

32 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

tional Park and one from Big Pine Key (Monroe Co.). I can find no prior record of a Pine Siskin
in the Florida Keys.

During the winter of 1977-78 there were unprecedented numbers of siskins in south Florida,
including the Florida Keys (Monroe Co.). The Keys records are here summarized.

The first observation was by Alexander Sprunt, IV, on Big Pine Key during the Lower Keys
Christmas Bird Count on 20 December 1977. Perhaps alerted by this report, ob.servers recorded
siskins five times in the next week, both in Key West and in the Upper Keys. In all, I have learned
of 24 reports of siskins by at least 14 observers, totalling about 192 birds. Five sightings were of
20 or more individuals (maximum of .30), Si.skins were reported from Tavernier, Plantation Key,
Islamorada, Big Pine Key, Sugarloaf Key and Key West over a 4-month period extending from
20 December to 24 April. Nearly all the siskins reported were found with American Goldfinches
{Carduelis tristis). U.sually they were seen feeding on the cones of Australian pines {Casuurina
eqiiisetifolia), but a few birds were seen in Spanish lime {Melicoccus hiju^atus).

Three olxservations are .so late as to deserve special description. On 9 April Thurlow Weed
.saw a flock of about 25 siskins in Key West, 16 day.s after his last sighting of goldfinches. The
siskins were .seen at a maximum distance of 20 m with 17 X 50 binoculars. All critical field marks
were seen as the birds perched in Spani.sh lime trees: heavy streaking, small goldfinch-shaped
body, notched tail, yellow flashes in wings and tail, short conical bill (T. Weed, pers. comm.).
One week later, about 12 .siskins were found on Sugarloaf Key by Margaret Brown, Page Brown
and Barbara Dripps. They were feeding in characteristic fa.shion high in Australian pines, hanging
from branch tips. The observers noted the notched tail, characteristic undulating flight and
heavily streaked brea.st, but did not see the shape of the bill or the yellow fla.sh in wings and tail.
On 24 April, Weed saw two Pine Si.skins with about 15 Cape May Warblers (Dendroica ti^rina)
on Stock Island. Though he failed to see yellow flashes in wings and tail. Weed did see the
heavily streaked body and .sharp conical bill typical of si.skins and noted that the facial pattern
typical of female Cape Mays was lacking. The birds appeared exhausted. Noting that a strong
front had crossed Key West the night before. Weed speculated that the birds were migrants from
farther south. Bond (1956, Check-list of birds of the West Indies, Philadelphia, Phila. Acad. Nat.
Sci. and Supplements 1-21) lists no record of Pine Si.skins in the West Indies.

I am grateful to H. W. Kale II, ]. C. Ogden, W. B. Robertson, Jr., and Thurlow Weed for their
comments on the manuscript.— Rich.vrd T. P.^ul, National Audubon Society Research Depart-
ment, 115 Indian Mound Trail, Tavernier, Florida 33070.

LeConte’s Sparrow at Flamingo, Everglades National Park.— While birding with my family
on 22 January 1979 at Flamingo, Everglades National Park (Dade Co.), Florida, I flushed a spar-
row into tall weeds just west of the westernmost motel unit. Minutes later, the bird returned to the
short grass where I watched it feed. Soon afterward, with two other birders, I watched the
sparrow fly a short distance to another brushy edge where it was observed as close as 10 feet
for a long time, either feeding on the ground or perched in a dead bush.

The following field marks enabled me to identify the bird as a LeConte’s Sparrow {Ammospiza
leconteii). It had a small bill, moderately conspicuous buffy eye stripe, noticeable white eye ring,
conspicuous white crown stripe, finely dark-streaked sides, noticeable demarcation between the
buffy breast and white belly, short narrow tail and a well marked back.

This sighting, my fifth and southernmost for Florida, is the second record for Everglades
National Park. Howell (1932, Florida bird life, Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game Fresh Water
Fish), who considered this elusive bird to be a rare winter resident in Florida, collected a speci-
men from short grass on the coastal prairie of Cape Sable on 13 February 1918.— P.vul J. Fellers,
1 010 Ave. XN.W., Winter Haven, Florida 33880.

Genera! Notes

33

Territory size and density of Bachman’s Sparrow in south central Florida.— Bachman’s
Sparrow {Aimophila aestivalis) breeds in a variety of grassy habitats in the southeastern United
States. In West Virginia, Brooks (1938) found the species nesting in fields of beard grass (Andro-
pogon sp.) containing various composites and shrubs. Wolf (1977) reports that in the southern
part of its range, Bachman’s Sparrow breeds “in open pine stands with a grassy substrate
and scattered shrubs, oaks, and other hardwoods.” Howell (1932) found the species common in
Florida in treeless areas dense with saw palmetto (Serenoa repens).

Between 25 May and 15 July 1978 I estimated territory sizes of several male Bachman’s
Sparrows within a 267 ha (660 acre) tract of the Archbold Biological Station, 12 km south of
Lake Placid, Highlands County, Florida. The tract consists of recently burned scrubby flatwoods
interspersed with seasonal ponck. Scrubby oaks {Quercus inopina, Q. virginiana, Q. chapmanii)
dominate the ^ndy ridges between ponds. Stands of saw and scrub palmettos {Serenoa repens,
Saha! etonia) interspersed with wiregrass {Aristida sp.) form the margins of the ponds, which in
1978 were dry and densely covered by beard grass (see Abrahamson 1977; Woolfenden 1969).
As indicated in Fig. 1, Bachman’s Sparrow territories were centered about these pond margins.
The birds were seldom seen in the higher oak -ridges.

Fig. 1. Territories of Bachman’s Sparrows at Archbold Biological Station. Known boundaries
are designated by solid lines. Dotted lines delineate boundaries estimated from peripheral
singing posts. Bold “X” ’s indicate the location of singing males noted on several occasions but
not under regular observation.

34 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • VoL 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

Territory sizes were estimated by plotting locations of singing males on an aerial photograph
and measuring the area with a grid overlay. In Fig. 1, solid lines designate known territory
boundaries and dotted lines show boundaries estimated only from peripheral singing posts. The
average territory size of six males was 5.1 ha (12.5 acres), with a range of 4 to 6.7 ha (SD“ 1.2 ha).
Density of singing males throughout the 267 ha tract was one male per 33 ha (1.2/100 acres).
This is a higher density than that estimated by Woolfenden (in Layne et al. 1977) for a similar
tract at the Archbold Biological Station (1 male/ 86 ha).

In West Virginia, Brooks (1938) estimated the density of Bachman’s Sparrows at one male per
3 acres (1.2 ha). Wolf (1977) found that four territories in southeastern Texas averaged 180 X 45 m
(.84 ha or 2.1 acres), and Hicks (in Brooks 1938) stated that the average territory of this species
in Ohio was 300' ft in diameter ( = .67 ha or 1.7 acres). Territories of Bachro.an’s Sparrows at
Archbold Biological Station in 1978 were apparently much larger than those estimated by the
above authors. Small sample sizes prohibit any tests for statistical significance in these differences.
A relationship seems to exist, however, between vegetational contours and territorial boundaries
as shown in Fig. 1. This suggests that variations in habitat composition may cause differences
in territory size in Bachman’s Sparrows. This factor must be taken into account before any
meaningful regional comparisons can be made.

The facilities of the Archbold Biological Station were generously made available to me by
James N. Layne, Executive Director. Financial support was provided by Archbold Expeditions.
I thank J. N. Layne, J. W. Fitzpatrick, G. E. Woolfenden, J. F. Douglass, R. J. Breitwisch and
R. W. Storer for their useful suggestions and comments in preparing this note.

Literature Cited

Abrahamson, W. G. 1977. Effects of fire on Lake Wales Ridge vegetation. Archbold Biological
Station Research Report.

Brooks, M. 1938. Bachman’s Sparrow in the northcentral portion of its range. Wilson Bull.
50:86-109.

Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life. Tallahassee, Fla. Dept. Game Freshwater Fish.

Layne, J. N., J. A. Stallcup, G. E. Woolfenden, M. N. McCauley, and D. J. Worley. 1977.
Fish and wildlife inventory of the seven-county region included in the central Florida
phosphate industry areawide environmental impact study. Volume 2. Washington, D.C.
Fish Wild. Serv.

Wolf, L. L. 1977. Species relationships in the genus Aimophila. Omith. Monogr. No. 23.
Woolfenden, G. E. 1969. Breeding-bird censuses of five habitats at Archbold Biological
Station. Aud. Field Notes 23: 732-738.

Mary C. McKitrick, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.
Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721.

BOOK REVIEWS

Transactions of the North American Osprey Research Conference.— John C. Ogden, editor.
1977= U. S= National Park Service, Transactions and Proceedings Series Number 2. xii + 258 pp.
available from Publications Program, Office of the Chief Scientist, Natl. Park Serv., Washington,
D.C. 20240.— For vertebrate zoology this is the era of specialty conferences. It is not unusual
to a»emHe 1(X), 200 or more biologists to discuss research centered around a group, a family or
even one species. Organizing such a conference is only half the pb; rapid publication of the pro-
ceedings is equally important as these conferences usually are organized around a subjeet of great
current interest. Therefore it is unfortunate that these papers presented in Williamsburg, Vir-
ginia, on 10-12 February 1972 had to wait more than five years for publication.

The 32 papers include information on the status of local or regional populations of Osprey.s
from virtually every segment of the breeding range in North America except Alaska and west-
ern Canada, as well as information on migration,, management techniques, eggshell thinning, and
calculation of reproductive success.

John C. ObeYheii’s article on the status of Ospreys in National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) reveals
the importance of Florida’s refuges for Ospreys in the NWR system. Of 193 active nests in 31
NWH during 1971, 52% or 101 nests were Iwated in seven Florida NWH with the majority (83
nrats) in three refuges, St. Marks, Lake Woodruff and Key Deer.

Of special interest to Florida readers is John Ogden’s article on the status and dynamics of a
stable population of Ospreys in western Florida Bay. Florida Bay Ospreys differ in several respects
from the more northern populations that have been studied. The five-year average of 0.84 young
per nest in Florida Bay is less than the 0.95-1.30 rate required for population stability in more
northern populations. Ogden suggests that the smaller clutch size and lack of mortality associ-
ated with long-distance migration of Florida Bay Ospreys may account for the apparent popu-
lation stability despite lower productivity. Other differences include increased whiteness of the
breast and head of Florida Bay Ospreys and low chemical residues in the eggs. Ogden also pre-
sents some interesting information on age-related aspects of molt and of recruitment into the
breeding population. This is a preliminary analysis of data from an on-going study. We all look
forward to the final analysis of the completed study.

lliis publication, and especially Serej Postapalsky’s critical review of problems in calculating
Osprey reproductive success, is required reading for those responsible for protection and manage-
ment of the nation’s Ospreys. Hopefully this publication will stimulate an interest in the status of
all of Florida’s Ospreys.—pRED E. Lohrer,

Birds of Grady County, Georgia.— Herbert L. Stoddard, Sr. Edited, with additional material,
by Boy Komarek and Robert L. Crawford. 1978, Tall Timbers Research Station, Bulletin No. 21.
Tallahassee, Tall Timbers Res. Sta. iv+175 pp.—No Florida ornithologist can afford to ignore
this important publication just because it concerns an area outside the state. Stoddard was an
indefatigable and perceptive naturalist and this publication covers more than 40 years (1924-
1960’s.) of extensive field ’vork around his home in southwest Georgia along the Florida border.

Included aie aecoimls of 223 species ranging from several lines to several pages in length. In
addition to iiiforiiiation on status and dates of occurrence, there are frequently notes on nesting,
feeding, roosting, migration and intra- and interspecific behavior. One can learn of Red-tailed
Hawks gathering at woods fires or following a tractor to feed on flushed prey, Fish Crow preda-
tion on a Blue Jay nest, a remarkable Eastern Kingbird roost, the never-ending battle of wits
between Bobwhites and Cooper’s Hawks and lots more. Furthermore, Stoddard never misses an
opportunity to remind us of the long term changes in bird populations due to changes in land

use.

35

36 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • VoL 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

Three appendices enhance the value of this publication. The first lists scientific names of non-
avian organisms, the second lists Grady County voucher specimens, museum catalog numbers, and
date of collection and the third includes results of Christmas Bird Counts conducted by Stoddard
at Sherwood Plantation for 29 consecutive years (1937-1965).

This is a publication you will want to keep close at hand to dip into whenever you have the
chance. Open it anywhere and start reading; you will (juickly find something of interest. Orni-
thologists in the .southeast are indebted to the editors and to Tall Timbers for publishing the
work.— Fhed E. Lohker.

Papers of the symposium on the eastern population of the Greater Sandhill Crane,— Robert
D. Feldt, compiler. 1977 (1978). Indianapolis, Indiana, Indiana Chapter of the Wildlife Society.
123 pp. $5.(X) c/o Duane L. Shroufe, Division of Fish & Wildlife, 607 State Office Bldg., Indi-
anapolis, IN 46204.— The eastern population of the Greater Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis
tabula, breeds in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario and Manitoba, and so far as i.s known
all or most of these birds winter in Florida and southern Georgia. Oeater Sandhills reached a
low ebb in 1944 when W'alkin.shaw (1949, The Sandhill Crane, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Cran-
brook Inst. Sci. Bull. 29) estimated that the total population in the Lake states was less than 260
birds. Today the Lake states population is more than 15 X that number.

This recent increase has been matched by a renewed interest in the study of this migratory
population, as the 18 papers in this symposium (held 24-26 October 1977) indicate. Half of the
papers are concerned with the status of (Greater Sandhills in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Indiana and Florida. Other subjects include migration, ecology, parasites and di.seases, growth
and development, behavior, management and future outlook. Unfortunately, little information
exists on Eastern Greater Sandhills in Canada where about 70% of the population summers. Hope-
fully, future conferences on Eastern Greater Sandhills will include information about (Canadian
populations.

Of special interest to Floridians is Stephen A. Nesbitt’s article on the current status and future
of the birds in Florida. The current wintering population of (Greater Sandhills in Florida is esti-
mated at probably between I2,()(K) and 15,(KK), and cranes color-marked in Florida have been
reported summering in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and xManitoba. Nesbitt suggests that if
wintering cranes continue to increase their reliance on agricultural areas corn depredation prob-
lems may increase.

Lawrence H. Walkinshaw addresses an important problem, namely what should naturalists
eventually do with their unpublished data? Deposit them in a regional institution where they
will be protected and still be accessible is his solution.

For those interested in cranes this is an important publication. Much can be learned about
these birds, and the papers in this symposium point the way. Florida birders can make an impor-
tant contribution to our knowledge of Greater Sandhill Cranes in Florida by noting areas of
winter concentrations and by being alert for color-marked birds. Finally, share your records with
Stephen A. Ne.sbitt.— Fred E. Lohrer.

Florida frog calls,— Richard A. Bradley, producer. 1978. Gainesville, Florida State Museum
.Associates, Inc. one phonograph di.sc. $4.50, (Fla. residents include sales tax.).— A good birder
can identify many .species of birds by their vocalizations alone, even down to the barely audible
“t.suck” of the winter-time Brown Thra.sher. Once tuned in to natural sounds, the field naturalist
may wish to master identification of frog calls.

This record is “a guide to the commonly heard frogs and toads” of Florida. Although 20 species
are included, some important omi.ssions exist that will force the Florida field naturali.st to consult
other sources. Some species mis.sing from the record, the endangered Pine Barrens treefrog {Hyla
andersoni) and the river frog {Rana heckscheri) of north Florida and the exotic Cuban treefrog
{Osteopilus (Hyla) septentrionalis) of .south Florida, are perhaps hardly more local in Florida

Book Reviews

37

than some north Florida species included on the record. Including the calls of these rare and
local species would help naturalists detect any possible range extension. Two conspicuous omis-
sions are the Eastern spadefoot {Scaphiopus holhrooki) and the greenhouse frog {Eleutherodacty-
!m planiwstris). The latter is probably as common a frog call in central Florida as any other on
the record. In the narrative, brief description of a species range and the .scientific names would
have been helpful.

The individual species segments are of adequate length for identification, the narration is brief
and informative, and a portion of the second' side is devoted to winter, spring and summer
chomses with usually four or more species calling together— a typical field .situation and a de-
sirable feature that enhances the identification value of the record.

Recommend this record to your local Public Library, buy one for a budding naturalist or try
it out yourself if you want to increase your knowledge of Florida’s natural world. I look forward
to other phonograph records devoted to Florida’s natural sounds from the Bioacoustics Archive
of the Florida State Mu.seum.— Fred E. Lohrer.

Colonial bird use and plant succession on dredged material islands in Florida. Vol. Is Sea and
wading bird colonies.— Ralph W. Schreiber and Elizabeth A. Schreiber. 1978. Technical Report
D 78-14, Dredged Material Research Program, U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experimental
Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 63 pp., 2 appendices.— The first part of this volume is a 26 page,
very simplified summary based on two surveys of 255 spoil islands along Corps maintained
waterways including the Indian River from Oak Hill to Wabasso (Florida East Coast), Tampa
Bay, mouth of the Cross Florida Barge Canal, the Pithlacasotee River and the Caloosahatchee
River at Ft. Myers (Florida West Coast). In 1977, these areas were .surveyed by two visits to each
island (late April-early May, late May-early June) by the Schreibers in accordance with contract
.stipulations. Aerial surveys (also performed) proved useless in locating tern, skimmer and Laugh-
ing Gull nest sites and for determining species composition of heronries. The summary was ac-
tually written by Mary Landin of the W.E.S. program and is a drastic shortening of the original
submitted by the Schreibers. The bulk of the volume is appendices containing a thorough litera-
ture review (why are these required by all government contracts when the data are not inte-
grated into the report itself?) and species accounts documenting use of the islands by birds. Good
information on the nesting sea.sons, nesting a.ssociates, specific island use and vegetational suc-
cessional stages used as nest sites are included. Tables 3 and 6-10 seem especially useful. The data
on wintering and roosting /loafing use of the islands by birds are intriguing and further studies of
this use in Florida should have been carried out.

It is incredible in this time of high printing cost that 22 pages of figures and much of the vege-
tational data should be duplicated in Volume 2 of this report, which contains only the vegeta-
tional studies of the islands, with scattered reference to bird use. To have had the whole report
under one cover would have been much more valuable scientifically and would have cost con-
siderably less. Volume 1 of this report should prove useful in future years as the baseline infor-
mation of bird use of dredged material islands in these portions of Florida.— Fred E. Lohrer.

Fish and Wildlife Inventory of the Seven-county Region Included in the Central Florida
Phosphate Industry Areawide Environmental Impact Study.— James N. Layne, Jerre A. Stallcup,
Glen E. Woolfenden, Melinda N. McCauley and David J. Worley. 1977. National Technical
Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161, X + 1279 pp 4- appendices A-G. $40.00, order
No. PB-278 455 set.— Environmental impact studies are a mixed bag and frequently the biological
inventory portion is given low priority. Fortunately for central Florida, this inventory is a note-
worthy exception. Although the contract included almost no provision for fieldwork, virtually
no other sources of information about the animals of central Florida were left untapped, in-
cluding published records, museum specimens and unpublished data of naturalists and pro-
fessional biologists from all specialities.

38 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 7, No, 2, Fall 1979

The principal objectives of the study were to compile available information on the animals
of the seven Florida counties (Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee and
Sarasota) where the phosphate industry presently is concentrated and where future expansion
will occur, and to assess the potential effects of mining on these animals, to make recommenda-
tions related to mining methods that would minimize adverse effects and to identify information
gaps and needs for additional studies.

The introductory chapters include a physical description of the area, an inventory of the
important natural areas and a detailed description of the major habitats.

The bulk of the study is the faunal inventory. For each vertebrate group and selected
invertebrate groups there is an introduction and a list of all species recorded from the seven-
county area, and for each species a tabular summary of county records, habitat distribution
and relative abundance. For “priority species”, individual accounts include detailed information
on distribution, habitat, population status, basis for priority status, potential impacts of mining,
selected references and a map of all distributional records. A “priority species” is one that may
appear on rare and endangered species lists, be of commercial or sport value or be of par-
ticular interest because of its scientific importance or usefulness as an indicator of environmental
conditions. Thus, of the 370 native and exotic species of birds recorded from the seven-county
area, 147 (37%) are given priority status, including most ducks, raptors, wading birds, gruiforms
and terns but excluding many passerines, especially migrants. Also, all available quantitative
data for the area such as Christmas Bird Counts, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Breeding Birds Surveys,
Archbold Biological Station Roadside Bird Censuses and Tampa Summer Bird Counts are ana-
lysed for the priority species.

At $40.00, this report may be too expensive for most personal libraries. However, it is prob-
ably the single most important source of wildlife information, not only for the seven Florida
counties, but for the rest of central Florida, and therefore belongs in every library in the region
worth its salt. It is up to the readers of this journal to bring this publication to the attention
of their own local librarian.— Fred E. Lohrer.

Also Received

Everglades National Park Project. Wildlife Reconnaissance.— Daniel B. Beard. 1976. Wash-
ington, D.C., U.S. National Park Service. 106 pp., illus., base map.— A 1976 facimile reprint of a
1938 report available from The Chief Naturalist, Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL
33030. This report is based on field work in south Florida from November 1937 to September 1938
and includes a history of the Everglades Park idea, climate and physiographic regions, effects of
human use, status of bird rookeries and feeding grounds, status of rare flora and fauna and
recommendations for the park plan.

NOTES AND NEWS

Spring 1980 Meeting.— St. Petersburg, Florida, April. For information write Brooks and Lyn
Atherton, 4619 Woodmere Drive, Tampa, Florida 33609.

Florida Ornithological Society, Membership List, April 1979, compiled by Caroline H. Cole-
man. 11 pp, mimeo. Price $1.00 prepaid, order from Treasurer {see inside front cover).

Acknowledgement.— I am grateful to the following 25 people for their help in refereeing
manuscripts that appeared in volume 7 of the FFN; W. W. Baker, G. T. Bancroft, W. D.
Counser, R. L. Crawford, J. B. Edscorn, J. W. Fitzpatrick, F. T. Hames, J. W. Hardy, D. W.
Johnston, H. W. Kale, II, J. A. Kushlan, J. N. Layne, M. C. McKitrick, A. J. Meyerriecks, J. C.
Ogden, W. B. Robertson, Jr., J. A. Rogers, Jr., R. W. Schreiber, G. Shugart, A. Sprunt, IV, H. M.
Stevemson, P. W. Sykes, Jr., T. A. Webber, S. C. White-Schuler, G. E. Woolfenden.

Florida Birds in the Periodical Literature, 1978.

All articles were published in 1978 unless otherwise noted. Authors are requested to send

reprints of their articles to the Editor for inclusion in this annual feature.

Cox, C. R., AND R. Silver. 1977. Feral doves (S. risoria) in Florida (abstract). Proc. XV Int.
Ethology Congress, Bielefeld, W. Germany, p. 152.

Crawford, R. L. Autumn bird casualties at a northwestern Florida TV tower: 1973-1975.
Wilson Bull. 90; 335-345.— Comparison of Levy Co. tower kills with those from Orange
Co. suggests that adults and immatures of some species follow different migration routes.

Dexter, R. W. Recoveries of Herring Gulls banded at Cape Ann, Massachusetts. N. Amer. Bird
Bander 3: 52-54.— Of 1384 nestlings banded, there were 126 recovery records including one
from Ft. Myers, Fla., 10 months after banding (1307 miles distance).

Emlen, J. T. Density anomalies and regulatory mechanisms in land bird populations on the
Florida peninsula. Amer. Nat. 112:265”286.— This important paper discusses some of the
reasons for the decreasing density of land birds in pine forests from north to south in
peninsular Florida.

Fisk, E. J. The growing use of roofs by nesting birds. Bird-Banding 49:134-141.— Includes
Florida information.

Fisk, E. J. Site tenacity in wintering migrants in Florida. N. Amer. Bird Bander 3: 145.— In-
formation on 16 spp. at a Homestead (Dade Co.) banding station. Some Painted Buntings
recaptured up to 10 years after banding and some Indigo Buntings up to 8 years after
banding.

Humphrey, S. R., C. H. Courtney, and D. J. Forrester. Community ecology of the helminth
parasites of the Brown Pelican. Wilson Bull. 90: 587-598.— Sample includes pelicans found
dead in Louisiana (formerly transplanted from Florida) as well as birds from both coasts
of Florida.

Jackson, J. A., I. D. Prather, R. N. Conner, and S. P. Gaby. Fishing behavior of Black and
Turkey vultures. Wilson Bull. 90: 141-143.— Includes observation of a Turkey Vulture
wading into Fisheating Creek, Glades Co., and catching a 10 cm fish.

King, B. 1976. Communal feeding of Ospreys. Bristol Ornithology, No. 9, p. 158.— Bristol
Omithol. Club, England. 29 Ospreys feeding in a loose flock over the Atlantic at New
Smyrna Beach, 24 December 1973.

King, B. 1976. Feeding behaviour of Buffleheads. Brit. Birds 69: 105.— Simultaneous communal
diving in the Gulf, wading in muddy water at Zellwood and “dabbling” in the Indian
River.

Krohn, W. B., and E. R. Clark. 1977. Band-recovery distribution of eastern Maine woodcock.
Wildlife Soc. Bull. 5: 118-122.— Of 620 American Woodcocks banded in eastern Maine, a
map shows five Florida recoveries, four from the Panhandle and one from just east of Tampa
Bay.

Kushlan, j. a. Commensalism in the Little Blue Heron. Auk 95: 677-681.— As studied in the

Everglades of Southern Florida.

Kushlan, J. A. Nonrigorous foraging by robbing egrets. Ecology 59; 649-653.— Great Egrets
robbing other wading birds in the Everglades.

Landin, M. C. National perspective of colonial waterbirds nesting on dredged materials islands.
Trans. N.A. Wild. Conf. 43: 89-99.— Florida information based on report by Schreiber
& Schreiber, 1978 (see p. 37, this issue).

Moskovits, D. Winter territorial and foraging behavior of Red-headed Woodpeckers in Florida.
Wilson Bull. 90: 521-535.— At and near the Archbold Biological Station, Highlands Co.

McKinley, D. Clutch size, laying date, and incubation period in the Carolina Parakeet, Bird-
Banding 49: 223-233.— Includes information from Florida.

39

40 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST ^ Vol. 7, No. 2, Fall 1979

Nesbitt, S. A., D. T. Gilbert, and D. B. Barbqub. Red~c?ockaded Woodpecker fall movements
in a Florida flatwoods community. Auk 95: 145-151. —Marion Co.

Nesbitt, S, A., L. E. Williams, Jr., L. McNease, and T. Joanen. Brown Pelican restocking
efforts to Louisiana. Wilson Bull. 90: 443-445.— Reproductive success of pelicans transported
as nestlings from Florida east coast colonies to Louisiana.

Ogden, J. C. 1977. An evaluation of interspecific information exchange by waders on feeding
flights from colonies. Pp. 155-162 in Proceedings 1977 Conference of the Colonial Water-
bird Group (W.E. Southern, Ed.), DeKalb, N. 111. Univ.— Snowy Egrets and Louisiana Herons
at three south Florida colonies, '

Ohlendohf, H. M., E. E. Klaas, and T. E. Kaiseb. Organochlorine residues and eggshell thinning
in Wood Storks and Anhingas. Wilson Bull. 90: 608-618.-- Analysis of stork eggs from Merritt
Island and Aehinga eggs from La., Miss., Ga., and Florida (Sanibel Island, Paynes Prairie,
Merritt Island).

Paul, R. T. 1977. History and current status of Reddish Egrets in the United States. Pp. 179-184
in Proceedings 1977 Conference of the Colonial Waterbird Group (W. E, Southern, Ed.),
DeKalb, N. 111. Univ.— Including Florida.

Ricklefs, R. E., and S, C. White-Schuleb. Growth rate of the Brown Noddy on the Dry
Tortugas, Bird-Banding 49: 301-312.

ScHNELL, G. D., AND 1. 1. Hellack. Flight speeds of Brown Pelicans, Chimney Swifts, and other
birds. Bird-Banding 49: 108-112.— As measured with Doppler radar at the Dry Tortugas,
Flamingo, St. Petersburg Beach and elsewhere in the U.S.

Stallcup, J. A„ and G. E. Woolfenden. Family status and contributions to breeding by
Florida Scrab Jays, Anim. Behav. 26: 1144-1156,— At Archbold Biological Station, High-
lands Co.

Stevenson, H. M. A probable first North American record of the Greater Antillean race of
Black-whiskered Vireo. Auk 95: 595.— V. a. altiloquus from St. George Island, Franklin Co.

SzAHO, R. C. Reproductive success and foraging behavior of the Osprey at Seahorse Key,
Florida. Wilson Bull. 90: 112-118.— Levy Co.

WiLBUH, S. R. Turkey Vulture eggshell thinning in California, Florida, and Texas. Wilson Bull.
90: 642-643.— The 11-12% thinning in Florida (from “near Orlando”) sample not of the mag-
nitude associated with declines in productivity.

Williams, L. E., Jr., D. H. Austin, and T. E. Peoples. The breeding potential of the wild
Turkey hen. Proc. Ann. Conf. Southeast Assoc. Fish. Wild. Agencies 30: 371-378.— As
studied at Fisheating Creek, Glades Co.

Woolfenden, G. E. Growth and survival of young Florida Scrub Jays. Wilson Bull. 90: 1-18.—
At Archbold Biological Station, Highlands Co.

Woolfenden, G, E., and J. W. Fitzpatrick. The Inheritance of territory in group-breeding
birds. Bioscience 28: 104-108.— Florida Scrab Jays at Archbold Biological Station, Highlands
Co,

WuNDEBLE, J. M., Jr. Territorial defense of a nectar source by a Palm Warbler. Wilson Bull.
90: 297-299.— At Bayside Park, Miami, Dade Co.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A semi-annual publication of The Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.
Editorial Advisory Board:

David W. Johnston, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.
Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124.
William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new information on the biology
of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Submit manuscripts in triplicate to the Editor. They should be typed, double-spaced, on one
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Fla. Field Nat. 2: L3).

Capitalize the English name of bird species, and follow the first mention of a species in text
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cepted authority for the group of animals or plants involved. For North American birds use the
A.O.U. Check-list, fifth ed. (1957) and its Supplements, the 32nd (1973, Auk 90: 411-419) and
the 33rd (1976, Auk 94: 875-979).

Use abbreviations sparingly in the text except parenthetically e.g. “Lake Placid (12 km S).”
The metric system is preferred for all measurements. Use the 24-hour time system (0700 or 1645)
and the military date system (4 July 1976).

OTHER FOS PUBLICATIONS

Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon Field Notes and American Birds Volumes
1-30 1947-1976, by Margaret C. Bowman, xii + 42 pp. 1978. FOS Spec. Publ. No. 1. Price $3.75

prepaid, order from Treasurer (see inside front cover).

PEOPLE AND ‘ PAN HANDLING ” PELICANS

Jeffrey L. Lincer, Daniel Krivit and Jon E. Shan'

NOTES ON MEASUREMENTS, MORTALITY, MOLT, AND
GONAD CONDITION IN ELORIDA WEST COAST LAUGHING
GULLS Ralph W. Schreiber and Elizabeth Anne Schreiber

GENERAL NOTES

Reddish Egret nesting on Florida’s east coast

Richard T. Paul, Herbert W. Kale, II, and David A. Nelson
Inland records of Oldsquaws and Surf Scoter from north Florida

Steven K. Stafford

Winter breeding by the American Coot at Tampa, Florida Glen E. Woolf enden

Feeding association between Bonaparte’s Gulls and Red-breasted Mergansers

Stanley Stedman and Annette Stedman

Another offshore sighting of Sabine’s Gull for Florida H. P. Langridge

A Sabine’s Gull at the Dry Tortugas, Florida Mark R. Collie

A Band-tailed Pigeon recovery in Florida Lucy R. Duncan

Great-Homed Owl suspected of preying upon Snowy Egret

Richard Callahan and William Carey
Short-eared Owl on Bush Key, Dry Tortugas, Florida

Wayne Hoffman, William B. Robertson, Jr., and Paige C. Patty

Wintering of the Northern Waterthmsh in north Florida Henry M. Stevenson

A Cardinal at the Dry Tortugas, Florida Theodore H. Below

Pine Siskins in the Florida Keys Richard T. Paul

LeConte’s Sparrow at Flamingo, Everglades National Park Paul J. Fellers

Territory size and density of Bachman’s Sparrow in south central Florida

Mary C. McKitrick

BOOK REVIEWS

NOTES AND NEWS

FLORIDA BIRDS IN THE PERIODICAL LITERATURE, 1978

QL

Fi, F^ 3

^ Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VOL. 8

SPRING 1980

NO. 1

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Published semi-annually by the Florida Ornithological Society, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

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FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Semi-Annual Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 8, No, 1 Spring 1980 Pages 1-36

TRENDS IN NUMBERS OF AMERICAN KESTRELS ON ROADSIDE
COUNTS IN SOUTHCENTRAL FLORIDA FROM 1968 TO 1976

James N. Layne

Two subspecies of the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) regularly
occur in Florida: F. s, paulus, the resident race, and F. s. sparverius, a
migrant and winter resident. Although paulm is declining (Wiley 1978)
and the general abundance of kestrels in Florida in winter is attributed to
the presence of northern birds, little quantitative information is available
on seasonal and yearly trends in abundance of this species in the state. I
made roadside counts of kestrels in the Lake Wales Ridge section of
Highlands County over the eight-year period 1968-1976 to determine the
extent of seasonal and year-to-year variation in population levels in this
region. Comparable data prcoaded by Peter and Margo Cone from the
Florida Keys for the fall to spring period in 1974-75, 1976-77, and
1977-78 are also included in this report.

Descmption of Study Areas and Methods

The census route was a 7.1 km section of State Route 17 extending from U.S. 27 on the
north to State Route 70 on the south. This narrow, iightly-travt]<=-i uojcI traverses gently roll-
ing sand hills largely planted with citrus groves. The road has gi’assy shoulders 3-4 m wide.
Along most of its length (6.3 km) the route is bordered by citrus groves on one side and a dry,
brushy railroad right-of-way on the other. Several large commei«.iai buildings and paved
parking areas are located along the northern 0.2 km of the route, and the southernmost 0.6
km stretch goes through an area of bayhead and swamp thicket vegetation. The northern half
of the road was widened and repaved during the winter and spring of 1975-76. The construc-
tion did not cause any major habitat alteration or apparent disruption of the kestrel popula-
tion along the route. In June 1976 most of the utility poles along the road were removed.
Counts were discontinued at this time on the assumption that since the poles had been favorite
kestrel perching sites and alternate sites were relatively scarce data from further censuses
would not be comparable to the period when the poles were present. Casual observations dur-
ing the following several years indicated that kestrel utilization of this stretch of road was in-
deed altered by the absence of the poles.

The area traversed by the survey route is generally representative of the habitats and land-
use pattern of the southern portion of the Lake Wales Ridge, which is characterized by
predominantly xeric scrub or woodland vegetation, citrus groves, and scattered development.

1 Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 1-10, 1980

2 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

In contrast, the habitats off the ridge, a few miles to the east and west of the survey route,
consist of extensive grasslands, pine flatwoods, and scattered marshes, swamps, and ham-
mocks.

Kestrels perched or in flight within 0.4 km of the road were counted from a vehicle travel-
ing 32-48 kph. A total of 675 counts was made during 286 weeks in the period 8 August 1968
through 13 June 1976. Censuses were made at least once a month except for August 1969 and
June 1971 and 1972. In 69 of the total of 93 months in which censuses were conducted, one or
more counts were made in at least 3 weeks of the month. The number of counts per week
ranged from one to seven, with a mean of 2.5. Often two counts were made at different times
on the same day. More counts were made from September to April, when kestrels were usu-
ally present, than from May to August, when k«trels were seldom observed. Thirty-eight per-
cent of the censuses were made between 0700 and 1100, 21% between 1100 and 1500, and
41% between 1500 and 1900 E.S.T.

Peter and Margo Cone’s roadside counts were made in the same manner as mine along a
13.2 km stretch of U.S. 1 from Bahia Honda to Big Pine Key, Monroe County, during the
periods 11 October 1974 — 16 April 1975 (46 counts), 16 October 1976 — 20 April 1977 (12
counts) and 24 September 1977 — 21 April 1978 (25 counts). Most of the route was along nar-
row strips of land extending about 15 to 60 m on each side of the road. Vegetation was
predominantly mangroves and thickets of Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolim) and but-
tonwood {Conocarpus erectus). This section of road had only a few scattered houses and was
bordered by a utility line.

Results and Discussion

The number of kestrels recorded per census on the Highlands County
route ranged from 0 to 12. Most individuals were observed in the stretch
bordered by citrus groves and the brushy railroad right-of-way. Although
locations of individuals were not specifically recorded, kestrels tended to
occur in the same stretch of road from census to census within a given year
and from one year to another. Tabb (1977) noted a tendency for kestrels
retrapped from one to six years after banding to be in the same areas in
which they were originally captured. Mean number of individuals re-
corded per census at various times of day were as follows: 1.9 between
0700 and 1100, 2.9 between 1100 and 1500; and 2.4 between 1500 and
1900. These differences are significant at the F< .001 level test).

Although sex was not routinely determined, an attempt was made to
record the sex of all kestrels observed on 27 censuses between March 1975
and April 1976. Of a total of 59 individuals for which sex was noted, 52
(88%) were males and 7 (12%), females. This difference is highly signifi-
cant {P> .001, test). Males comprised 82% of 27 individuals of known
sex in October, November, and January, compared with 94% of 31 sexed
individuals in March and April. Although not statistically significant
(F< .05, test), the seasonal difference in sex ratio suggests that males
may be more prevalent in spring than during fall and winter. The single
individual of known sex recorded in summer (June- August) was a male
observed 8 June 1973. Comparative data on sex ratios in other parts of
Florida are scarce. Peacock (1972) recorded a sex ratio of 15% males to

LAYNE • Kestrel Roadside Counts

3

85% females along the Gulf Coast in Pinellas County from October to
March 1971-72. Of 17 recaptured banded wintering kestrels in southern
Florida, 3 (18%) were males and 14 (82%), females (Tabb 1977). Studies
of kestrels in other parts of the range (e.g. Koplin 1973, Mills 1976) have
revealed marked variation in sex ratios in different habitats in winter, and
a similar phenomenon may occur in Florida.

Weekly maximum numbers of individuals recorded from June of one
year through July of the next from 1968-69 to 1975-76 are shown in Figure
1. Kestrels were scarce on the census route from mid- April to mid-
September. Only twice (8 June 1973, 17 August 1970) in 50 counts during
June, July, and August were birds observed (single individuals each time).
In contrast, kestrels were regularly present on the route from late
September or early October to early April. The beginning of the fall
build-up of numbers ranged from 30 August in 1968 to 14 October in 1975
and from 19 September to 6 October in other years. Latest spring dates,
ignoring occasional isolated later sightings of single individuals, extended
from 31 March in 1970 to 27 April in 1968 and from 5 to 16 April in re-
maining years.

The marked difference between summer and winter numbers suggests
that the paulus population in the southern Lake Wales Ridge region is
very low and that the abundance of kestrels in winter reflects an influx of
the subspecies sparverius. One factor complicating this interpretation is
the possibility of seasonal habitat shifts in paulus that may result in in-
dividuals of this race being less frequent in open habitats along roads at
some seasons than at others. Observations on marked paulus individuals
at the Archbold Biological Station located about one mile from the census
route have revealed a tendency for the birds to be in fairly heavily wooded
pinelands during the breeding season and to shift to more open areas
along roads and citrus groves during the winter months (Layne, un-
published data). Thus, the population of paulus actually may not have
been as low as suggested by the rare presence of kestrels on the census
route in summer, and the birds in winter may have included both local
and northern individuals. However, my observations of suitable kestrel
nesting habitats in Highlands County during the breeding season support
the conclusion that paulus is in fact scarce in this region of Florida and
that the birds present in the winter are predominantly the subspecies
sparverius. Probably all kestrels seen on the route from May through
August were paulus, although the possibility that some were late-
departing or early- arriving northern birds cannot be dismissed. Further
evidence of the scarcity of kestrels in summer in southcentral Florida was
presented by Layne et al. (1977).

In addition to the striking difference in summer and winter popula-
tions on the census route, the data for most years also indicate distinct

1968-691 I I I I I I I I '^3 1972-73

4 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol. 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

Fig. 1. Maximum numbers of American Kestrels recorded for a given week from August 1968 through June 1976 on roadside surveys in
Highlands County, Florida. Weeks in which censuses were made but no American Kestrels recorded are indicated by dots on the horizontal axis.

LAYNE • Kestrel Roadside Counts

5

changes in numbers through the fall to spring period when northern birds
were present. In all years except 1975-76, numbers of kestrels reached a
peak in fall, then declined during the winter months. In some years a sec-
ond peak of abundance occurred in spring. This bimodal pattern is most
evident in 1969-70, 1971-72, 1972-73, and 1974-75, with the spring peak
being as pronounced as the fall peak in 1969-70 and 1971-72. Dates of the
fall peaks extended from about 20 October to 19 November and of spring
peaks from about 28 February to 22 March. No fall or spring peaks were
evident in 1975-76. The fall and spring peaks probably represent “waves”
of migrants moving through the region in addition to the resident winter
population. This interpretation suggests that kestrels should tend to ap-
pear somewhat later in fall and depart earlier in spring in extreme south
Florida. Comparing the data from the Keys (Table 1) with that from
Highlands County in 1974-75, the maximum number in fall occurred the
first week of December in the Keys and the second week of October in
Highlands County. No birds were recorded on the Keys after the last week
in March of that year, whereas on the Highlands County census route the
last bird did not leave until the second week of April. It is also interesting
to note the hint of a bimodal pattern, with late fall-early winter and
spring peaks, in the counts from the Keys in 1974-75. The less complete
data for 1976-77 and 1977-78 also suggest a major peak of abundance in
late October but give no clear indication of a spring peak. The Cone’s
notes on their surveys in the Keys state that the highest counts of kestrels
in fall were associated with passage of cold fronts with N or NNE winds
and that at such times many birds were observed over water in the vicin-
ity of bridges instead of hunting from utility wires along the road, as was
usually the case when fewer kestrels were present. Fall and spring peaks
in extreme southern Florida may be produced by waves of overseas
migrants leaving from and returning to the state. In this connection, Peter
Cone (pers. comm.) informed me that a friend of his observed several
hundred dead kestrels on the Marquesas Keys about 30 km W of Key West
in November or December 1975 or 1976 after passage of a cold front.

The highest number of kestrels observed on a single census each year
on the Highlands County survey route ranged from 5 (0.70/km) in
1973-74 to 12 (1.69/km) in 1968-69, with a mean of 8.8 (1.24/km) for all
years. Because of the apparent augmentation of the local population by
transients moving through the region in fall and spring discussed above, I
believe the best index of the local wintering population level is given by
the mean of counts from mid-November through February, when
numbers were most stable. Thus calculated, the average winter popula-
tion for all years was 3.4 (0.48/km), with a range of 1.8 (0.25/km) to 5.0
(0.71/km).

Comparative quantitative data on winter kestrel populations in other

6 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

TABLE 1

Numbers (means in parentheses) of kestrels observed along a 13.2 km section
of U.S. 1 between Bahia Honda and Big Pine Key, Monroe County, from fall to
spring in 1974-75, 1976-77, and 1977-78 by Peter and Margo Cone.

Month and

week

1974-75

1976-77

1977-78

September IV

1

October

II

5,7,7 (6.3)

40

III

7,9 (8.0)

6,11,22 (13.0)

17,51 (34.0)

IV

7,12 (9.5)

16

November

I

11

II

9,10 (9.5)

8

III

6

8

December

I

9,12,16 (12.3)

II

7

10,12 (11.0)

January

II

8

7

III

5,6 (5.5)

IV

5,6 (5.5)

12

5,5,6 (5.3)

February

I

2, 3, 4, 5 (3.5)

8

6,6 (6.0)

II

5,6,9,12 (8.0)

1

III

3,6,7 (5.3

7

IV

4, 6, 8, 9 (6.2)

March

I

3,5,5,7,10 (6.0)

5

II

4,4,7 (5.0)

5

III

3

4

3

IV

1,3 (2.0)

3,5 (4.0)

3

April

I

2,5 (3.5)

II

0,0

2

III

0

0

0

LAYNE • Kestrel Roadside Counts

7

parts of the state are scarce. Layne et al. (1977) reported 0.19, 0.37, and
0.12/km in winter (late December-January) roadside counts from 1974 to
1976 in Charlotte, DeSoto, and Hardee counties, respectively. Sprunt
(1954) noted up to 13 birds/mile (8.01/km) in the Keys. The maximum
and average winter numbers, respectively, recorded in the Keys by Peter
and Margo Cone were 1.21/km and 0.52/km in 1974-75, 1.67/km and
0.71/km in 1976-77, and 3.86/km and 0.49/km in 1977-78. These data
suggest that average winter populations in that section of the Keys are not
appreciably different from those of the Highlands County census route.
However, Bystrak (1974), using Christmas Bird Count (CBC) data,
showed the central Florida area, which includes the Highlands County
census route, as having the lowest density (1-5 birds/ 10 party hours) of
any region in Florida, with the Upper Keys and Lower Keys having
populations of more than 20 and 5-20 birds/ 10 party hours, respectively.
These conflicting figures illustrate the difficulty of making broad
generalizations on regional kestrel winter populations based on relatively
few sampling sites and different census methods.

Average winter populations on the Highlands County census route
each year were as follows: 1968-69, 3.7 (0.53/km); 1969-70, 4.4
(0.62/km); 1970-71, 4,1 (0.58/km); 1971-72, 4.3 (0.61/km); 1972-73, 2.4
(0.34/km); 1973-74, 1.8 (0.25/km); 1974-75, 2.4 (0.33/km); 1975-76, 5.0
(0.71/km). These figures indicate a marked reduction in kestrel numbers
during three consecutive winters, 1972-73 to 1974-75, with recovery in
1975-76. Analysis of CBC data for Florida from 1968 through 1975
(American Birds, vols. 23-30, 1969-1976) suggests that this decline was
part of a general state- wide trend. Table 2 gives the number of kestrels
per 10 party hours from 27 localities throughout the state for which CBCs
are available for at least 7 out of the 8 years covered by my study. The
lowest values recorded at each locality on seven or eight CBCs are
strongly concentrated (74%) in the three winter periods 1972-73 to
1974-75. The percentage of lowest values recorded for each of these years
is 11.1, 44,4, and 18.5, respectively, compared with a range of 3.7 to 11.1
in the remaining years. The difference in frequencies of minimum values
between years is highly significant (P<.001, test). Unlike the results
from the Highlands County roadside census, the CBCs point to a con-
tinuation of low populations in 1975-76 at a number of localities in other
parts of the state. At about half the sites in Table 2, CBCs in 1975-76 were
distinctly lower than the general level of counts prior to 1972-73.

As the CBCs from 1972-73 to 1975-76 do not show a pattern of
unusually low numbers in some areas with unusually high numbers in
others, a shift in the distribution of wintering kestrels within the state can-
not account for the general trend of low populations during this interval.
This leaves an actual reduction in the population of northern birds and/or

8 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No, 1, Spring 1980

a change in migratory patterns resulting in fewer individuals wintering in
Florida as possible explanations of the decline in numbers. Although a
decrease in the F. s. sparverim population that is the source of wintering
kestrels in Florida cannot be excluded, circumstantial evidence suggests
that variation in the number of kestrels migrating to Florida in response to
winter weather conditions farther north is the major cause of the observed
population trends. During the period of this study, winters in north-
eastern North America, as reported in The Changing Seasons and
Regional Reports sections of American Birds, were generally cold from
1968-69 to 1970-71 and more open and mild from 1971-72 to 1973-74. In
1975-76 warm weather extended into December, and mild conditions
prevailed during most of February and March. Thus the winter kestrel
population in the Highlands County study area was high in years of cold
northern winters and low in years of mild winters, and the same general
pattern is reflected in the CBCs, suggesting that in the warmer winters

TABLE 2

Number of kestrels per 10 party hours recorded on Chris toas Bird Counts at 27
Florida localities from 1968-69 to 1975-76. Lowest indices for the period at
each locality are underlined.

Local ity

1968-

1969

1969-

1970

1970-

1971

1971-

1972

1972-

1973

1973-

1974

1974-

1975

1975-

1976

Bay County

2.90

2.27

2.50

2.00

1.77

1.54

2.38

1.65

Bradenton

9.80

8.66

10.17

3.90

5.82

3.35

5.49

4.44

Cocoa

13.21

10.38

9.38

6.12

6.95

10,65

9.12

11.15

Coot Bay -
Everglades

5.73

5.15

3.57

2.23

2.41

0.72

1.48

i.n

Dade County

11.51

9.88

6.80

8.61

6.50

5.50

5.94

Ft. Lauderdale

15.75

16.69

19.07

14.62

15.19

10.31

14.26

12.26

Ft, Myers

9.29

7.50

8.84

13.19

6.20

7.12

8,52

14.69

Ft. Pierce

10.93

11.11

20.00

13.91

14.07

20.43

12.27

Gainesville

5.93

3.33

6.74

11.35

5.92

5.00

4.50

5.58

Jacksonville

4.41

4.21

4.35

4.27

2.95

2.93

2.75

Key Largo -
Plantation Key

17.95

16.09

14.04

17.44

12.13

9.87

10.67

10.00

Kissimmee Valley 19.58

8.96

11.33

11.60

16.45

9.17

13.73

8.90

LAYNE • Kestrel Roadside Counts

9

fewer kestrels migrated to Florida. Additional support for this hypothesis
is given by Finch's (1974) compilation of CBCs of hawks and eagles in the
Northeastern Maritime Region from 1968 to 1973, in which numbers of
kestrels showed a distinct upward trend from 1971 to 1973, possibly as a
result of greater numbers of local birds remaining over winter. The
tendency for birds to stay farther north was apparently a general
phenomenon during the years of warm winters. For example, Robertson
(1975) noted that the generally mild early winter of 1974-75 led to an
unusually high number (over 200 species) of birds that lingered or
wintered north of their “normal" seasonal range.

As noted above, the 1975-76 population trend on ,the Highlands
County survey route differed from other years in showing ilo indication of
fall or spring peaks. In that year the kestrels also tended to arrive later
than in other years. These differences may reflect the long mild fall period
of that year, with kestrels staying longer in the north and perhaps not

TABLE 2. continued

Lakeland

7.43

8.85

8.82

Lake Wales

5.35

4.44

Lower Keys

19.26

19.13

15.00

Mt. Dora

6.88

7.21

4.79

Myakka River
State Park

4.51

5.00

3.50

Naples

2.91

6.47

10.43

Orlando

7.92

2.98

10.62

Pensacola

2.34

2.94

3.67

St. Marks

3.03

0.97

1.08

St. Petersburg

3.95

3.29

2.17

Sanibel -Captiva

5.23

4.23

Sarasota

7.21

4.74

4.89

So. Brevard

County

22.00

12.57

20.79

Stuart

11.06

10.14

14.66

West Palm Beach

9.71

5.76

8.08

5.20

2.50

2.83

2.43

3.71

5.35

4.20

2.38

4.12

3.72

17.10

13.15

21.71

18,26

12.32

7.67

10.50

5.15

3.86

6.67

3.60

3.89

3.16

5.26

7.30

5.95

8.74

3.24

2.19

4.01

3.44

4.32

2.04

3.48

4.41

2.80

3.24

0.96

1 .19

1.96

2.24

1.84

0.80

1.01

1.11

4.14

3.51

4.09

3.64

3.33

3.57

3.33

7.56

6.05

5.23

5.63

4.44

2.00

2.60

7.68

17.35

15.90

12.85

9.19

11.08

11.65

2.24

5.91

13.55

7.07

6.31

6.32

5.52

9.75

9.81

10 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

moving as far south. DeSante (1976) noted that an unusual number of
late-lingering species occurred throughout North America in 1975-76.
Stevenson (1976) also commented on the tendency for cold-sensitive
species to stay farther north in Florida that year.

Acknowledgments

I thank Peter and Margo Cone for their generous cooperation in conducting the roadside
counts of kestrels in the Keys; John Bengtson, Linda Layne Farnsworth, and William
Sheehan for help in compiling the Christmas Bird Count data; and James W. Wiley and Glen
E. Woolfenden for helpful comments and suggestions on the manuscript.

\ Literature Cited

Bystrak, D. 1974?^^tntering areas of bird species potentially hazardous to aircraft. Nat.

Aud. Soc. and U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv.

DeSante, D. 1976. The changing seasons. Amer. Birds 30; 677-689.

Finch, D. W. 1974. Northeastern maritime region. Amer. Birds 28: 610-615.

Koplin, J. R. 1973. Differential habitat use by sexes of American Kestrels wintering in
northern California. Raptor Res. 7: 39-42.

Layne, J. N., J. A. Stallcup, G. E. Woolfenden, M. N. McCauley, and D. J. Worley.
1977. Fish and wildlife inventory of the seven-county region included in the central
Florida phosphate industry areawide environmental impact study. U.S. Dept. Comm.
Nat. Tech. Inf. Serv. PB-278 455 set.

Mills, G. S. 1976. American Kestrel sex ratios and habitat separation. Auk 93: 740-748.
Peacock, S. 1972. Falco sparverius: a winter population study and annotated bibliography.
Unpubl. MS.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1975. The changing seasons. Amer. Birds 29: 660-666.

Sprunt, a., Jr. 1954. Florida bird life. Goward McCann, Inc., N.Y.

Stevenson, H. M. 1976. Florida region. Amer. Birds 30: 708-711.

Tabb, E. 1977. Winter returns of American Kestrels in southern Florida. No. Amer. Bird
Bander 2: 163.

Wiley, J. W. 1978. Southeastern American Kestrel. Pp. 32-34 in Rare and endangered biota
of Florida, vol. 1 birds (H. W. Kale, II, ed.). Univ. Presses of Florida, Gainesville.

Archbold Biological Station, Route 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida
33852.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON
THE GRAY-THROATED FORM OF
ANOLIS CAROLINENSIS (REPTILIA: IGUANIDAE)

Steven P. Christman

The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is usually characterized by a
throat fan (dewlap) that is colored pink or red. However, in southwestern
Florida anoles have dewlaps ranging from pale gray to magenta.
Duellman and Schwartz (1958, Bull. Fla. St. Mus., Biol. Sci. 3: 101-324)
first reported this unique morphotype, and Thomas Krakauer in an un-
published study, delineated part of the southeastern boundary of the
distribution. Conant (1975, A field guide to reptiles and amphibians of
Eastern and Central North America, Boston, Houghton Mifflin Co.)
subsequently noted its existence in southern Florida. Beyond the fact that
it exists, however, very little appears to be known about the gray-throated
anole. In this paper I present a preliminary geographic distribution of the
gray-throated form of Anolis carolinensis and relate some qualitative
observations made during the last several years.

Methods

Anoles were collected from localities throughout southern Florida by noosing, shooting
with rubber bands and by hand. Most specimens were released after examination of dewlap
color, but approximately 50 were deposited in the Florida State Museum, Gainesville.

After acquiring a familiarity with the variation in dewlap colors, I constructed a reference
chart consisting of eight color chips ranging from pale gray to bright red. The color chips were
numbered one to eight, given arbitrary English names and related to the standard color ter-
minology of Maerz and Paul (1950, A dictionary of color, 2nd Ed., New York, McGraw-Hill
Book Co., Inc.) (Table 1). Under natural light in the field, I compared the dewlap color of
adult male anoles with the reference chart and assigned a number corresponding to the ap-
propriate color chip to each specimen. Intermediate values were used when necessary.

In addition to conducting the general survey of dewlap phenotypes throughout southern
Florida, I examined in detail one area of intergradation between the gray-throated form and
the typical red-throated form. In 1966 Krakauer (unpublished data) had determined the
eastern limit of the gray-throated form, the western limit of the red-throated form and the
width of the intergrade zone along the east-west oriented Loop Road (SR 94) in the Big
Cypress National Preserve. I repeated his survey in 1972 and again in 1978 to determine if any
changes in the distribution of the two forms had occurred. Three to eight adult males were
collected (except in the 1978 survey — see below) at 0.8 km intervals along the Loop Road.
The lizards were scored for dewlap color and released.

To determine if there were any obvious behavioral differences between the two forms, I
kept several adults of each sex in the laboratory. Individual anoles were allowed to acclimate
to the cages (0.9x0.9x 1.2 m) and then other individuals were introduced, one at a time.

Results and Discussion

Other workers (e.g., Duellman and Schwartz, 1958; Krakauer, un-
published) familiar with the unique anoles in southwestern Florida have

11

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 11-16, 1980.

12 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol. 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

Table 1, Correspondence between Maerz and Paul (1950) color designators and the eight
arbitrary dewlap colors used to classify individuals of Anolis caroUnensis in southern
Florida.

Reference chart color

Maerz and Paul

Population

1, pale gray

Plate 35; A-5

Gray-throated

2, darker gray

Plate 37; F-7

Gray-throated

3, dark magenta

Plate 46; G-5

Intermediate

4, reddish magenta

Plate 46; K-3

Intermediate

5, pink

Plate 1; 1-7

Red-throated

6, red

Plate 4; K-10

Red-throated

7, dark red

Plate 5; L-8

Red-throated

8, bright red

Plate 3; L-12

Red-throated

usually referred to them as “green-throated.” Actually, the skin between
the dewlap scales in pure populations is some shade of gray. Typical A.
caroUnensis from the remainder of the range are characterized by red
dewlap skin. Intermediate populations contain individuals with red,
gray, purplish and magenta inter-scalar dewlap skin. In all specimens
that I examined, the scales of the dewlap are green, regardless of the color
of the interscalar area. When the skin is red the entire dewlap appears
red, but when the skin is gray, the dewlap (under casual examination),
appears to be some shade of green.

The geographic distribution of the gray-throated form of Anolis
caroUnensis as currently understood is shown in Figure I. The minimal
area where anoles consistently have gray dewlaps and the minimal area
where red dewlaps occur exclusively are delineated. The unshaded area is
inhabited by intermediate populations or populations of unknown status.
Anoles from intermediate populations may have red, gray, magenta or
purplish dewlaps, and all of these colors are sometimes represented at a
single locality.

Anoles from Cape Sable and the Florida Keys have pink or red
dewlaps. From Marco Island northward approximately 180 km along
Florida’s West Coast, anoles have gray dewlaps. Anoles from Everglades
City in Collier County appear to be pure gray-throats, but specimens ex-
amined from nearby Chokoloskee Island included individuals with gray,
magenta and even yellow dewlaps. Thus the situation in this region is not
at all clear. A population of red- throated anoles occurs on Longboat Key
in Sarasota County, and intermediate populations are known from south
of there on the Englewood Peninsula. Since preparation of the range map,
I have learned of an apparently pure population of gray-throated anoles
from western Glades County (Steve Godley, pers. comm.). This locality
falls within my unknown area and suggests a more extensive distribution
of the gray-throated form than is indicated in Figure 1 . As additional data

CHRISTMAN • Gray-throated Anoles 13

Fig. L Distribution of the gray-throated form of Anolis carolinemk. Hatching represents
the minimal distribution of the gray-throated form and stippling the typical red-throated
form. The unshaded area includes the zone of intergradation, the exact boundaries of which
are not pro^isely known. Sampling localities are indicated by squares for red-throated popula-
tions, triangles l-'ii' guiy-throated populations and circles for populations with intermediate
dewlap colors and/or both gray and red dewlaps. The numbers within the symbols refer to
modal scores of dewlap colors based on samples ranging from three to 18 specimens.

14 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • VoL 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

become available, the unshaded ( = unknown) area on Figure 1 will be
reduced.

The zone of intergradation between the two morphs has not been
defined clearly. The positions of the southwestern edge of the red-
throated population and the eastern edge of the gray-throated population
are approximate in some areas (Figure 1). Within the areas delineated for
each morph, however, no exceptions are known. Although the boundaries
of the intergrade zone are poorly understood, it is clear that its width is
not uniform. In the De Soto-Manatee-Sarasota county area the intergrade
zone is very narrow; near Horse Creek in De Soto County, populations of
pure red-throated anoles occur within 5 km of populations exhibiting only
gray dewlaps. To the south, however, the intergrade zone is apparently
much wider (over 50 km).

Krakauer (unpublished) reported that the intergrade zone along Loop
Road (SR 94, Monroe and Collier cos.) was approximately 5.6 km wide
and that pure red-throated populations occurred as far west as Pinecrest,
approximately 12.8 km west of the eastern intersection with US 41. I
repeated Krakauer's survey in 1972 and found that red-throated anoles
occurred only as far west as 8.8 km west of the eastern intersection with

EVERGLADES MIAMI

KM WEST OF MIAMI

Fig. 2. Variation in dewlap color of Anolis carolinensk along an east- west transect from
Miami to Everglades City, Florida in 1972. Dewlap color numbers as in Table 1; vertical
lines - range; left-facing triangles = mean; horizontal bars and numbers - frequency of
phenotype; bracketed numbers = sample size.

15

CHRISTMAN • Gray -throated Anoles

US 41 and that the intergrade zone was actually much wider. Populations
of anoles with mixed dewlap colors and/or with purplish and magenta
dewlaps occur from 8.8 km west of the Loop Road-US 41 eastern inter-
section to Monroe Station, some 60 km to the west. The discrepancies
between the two studies are probably due to sampling errors, although
possibly the intergrade zone has been widening at the expense of both
morphotypes. The data now indicate that, except for the extreme eastern
part, all of Loop Road lies within the zone of intergradation. Figure 2
summarizes the variation in dewlap colors of A. carolinensis along an
east-west transect from Miami to Everglades City (including Loop Road)
in 1972.

I attempted to repeat the Loop Road investigation in the spring of
1978. Although not mentioned by Krakauer and not noticed by me in
1972, Anolis sagrei now occurs along Loop Road. In fact, A. sagrei seems
to have largely replaced A. carolinensis in this area, to the extent that I
was unable to obtain sufficient samples of carolinensis in 1978. Although
some carolinensis are still present, sagrei is now the dominant species.

The relationship between the red and gray-throated forms of A.
carolinensis may vary geographically as evidenced by the shape of the in-
tergrade zone: narrow in some areas and wide in others (Fig. 1). Nothing
is known about possible isolating mechanisms between red- and gray-
throated anoles, but such a pattern may indicate (1) geographic variation
in reproductive compatibility between the two forms, (2) geographic
variation in the strength of whatever environmental pressure selects for
gray dewlaps, or (3) geographic variation in some aspect of the habitat
which would lead to local variation in vagility and hence genetic mixing.

In the laboratory, interactions between individuals of A. carolinensis
are not affected by dewlap color. Adult male gray-throated anoles ac-
climated in solitaire responded to introduced males with red dewlaps in
the same way they responded to males with gray dewlaps (i.e., display
followed by attack) . Male gray-throated anoles displayed to and mounted
females whether they were members of gray-throated or red-throated
populations.

Although I have not quantified field observations, it appears that the
two forms have different habitat preferences. Gray-throated anoles are
most abundant on grasses, reeds and other vertical perches of small
diameter. They usually perch facing downward and when disturbed, run
down the perch to the ground. Red-throated anoles typically perch on
larger sticks or tree trunks and often run up when alarmed.

Other differences between the two forms are suggested but have not
been quantified. For instance, Sam R. Telford (pers. comm.) reported
finding differences in morphology of Plasmodium (malaria) infections
between the two forms. William Ingram (pers. comm.) analyzed some

16 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

morphological data which suggested differences in head shape, relative
tail length and relative hind leg length between the two forms.

In a study of variation in 15 species of Florida snakes I recognized
seven major patterns of geographic variation that accounted for over 60%
of the combined variation in 100 characters (Christman 1975, Patterns of
geographic variation in Florida snakes. Ph.D. Diss., Univ. Florida,
Gainesville) . The pattern of geographic variation exhibited by the gray-
throated morph of Anolis carolinensis however, is unlike any pattern with
which I am familiar, and is not correlated with any obvious ecological or
historical factor. Furthermore, I know of no other taxon or phenotype
with a similar distribution.

The gray-throated form of Anolis carolinensis probably deserves
subspecific recognition. However, additional variational data should not
be difficult to gather and it seems appropriate to await a more detailed
study before formally describing this distinctive population.

National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory, 412 N.E. 16th Ave., Room
250, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

RECORD REVIEW

The Vocally Versatile Mockingbird. — Recorded and narrated by Samual A. Grimes,
1979. DY-23 of Droll Yankes, Inc., Foster, Rhode Island 02825. One 33 RPM record in jacket,
monophonic. $7.00 plus $1.00 shipping. — All of us are familiar with the amazing vocal feats
of the Mockingbird {Mimus polyglottos) which are characteristic of hot days and warm nights
in the South. Sam Grimes has attempted to put onto one record the nature of Mockingbird
song and to a large extent, he has succeeded. Side A begins a sequence of the songs and calls of
86 species of birds (mostly from the southeastern United States) as rendered by Mockingbirds
and recorded by Grimes. Side B continues this list (beginning with Red-eyed Vireo; the break
is not indicated on the record or jacket) and then presents some miscellaneous oddities
(crickets, frogs, and a siren that was not distinct to me). The side ends with a selection of song
repertoires from individuals in various parts of the species’ range.

The album has several minor production flaws: the Mockingbird in the cover photograph
is a catbird-gray; the species list on the jacket is inconsistent with regard to English names of
the mimicked species (most follow the AOU Check-list and Supplements but listed are such
things as Crested Flycatcher, Parula Warbler, and Trail’s [sic] Flycatcher); and, most annoy-
ing, the record is not divided into bands which would allow a listener to find a particular sec-
tion easily.

The heart of the album is the species list and there Grimes has done well. Most of the songs
and calls are excellently performed and recorded. Background noise, which mars many field
recordings, has been avoided or eliminated. The array of species is impressive (e. g.. Black
Rail, Ruby-throated Hummingbird) and most are mimicked with an accuracy that has to be
heard to be believed (e. g.. Chuck- will’s- widow) . The Downy Woodpecker is better
represented by Grimes’ Mockingbird than on the Peterson Field Guide album (eastern). I
wish that Grimes had dealt with some of the natural-history aspects of Mockingbird song such
as repertoire development and night singing, but that is a lot for one album. As it is, listeners
will find that Grimes has provided plenty for their enjoyment, — Robert L. Crawford.

GENERAL NOTES

A Green Heron gleaning honeybees.'— Although the Green Heron {Butorides striatus) feeds
primarily on fish, its diet is quite variable. An analysis of 255 stomachs by the U. S. Fish and Wild-
life Service found 44.5% of the prey were fish, 20.6% were crustaceans, 23.7% were aquatic in-
sects and the remainder were other invertebrates such as spiders and snails (Palmer 1962, Hand-
book of North American birds, Vol. 1, New Haven, Yale Univ. Press). Bent (1926, Life histories
of North American marsh birds, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 135) mentions the Green Heron taking
terrestrial prey such as earthworms, crickets and grasshoppers.

On 15 July 1977 I was making observations from a blind at the Moore Creek Heronry on
the Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County, Florida, when I noted a Green Heron standing
on a branch about 3 m above the ground and striking at a cluster of white mangrove {Laguncu-
laria racemosa) flowers (Fig. 1). Closer observation revealed that the bird, which was standing
in a crouched position, was gleaning honeybees {Apis mellifera) that were walking from flower
to flower. With a short thrust of its bill the heron captured a bee and held it at the tip of its
mandibles for several seconds, during which time it appeared the bee was crushed and killed.
The prey was then manipulated to the base of the bill and swallowed. No unusual behavior was
noted after the bee was ingested. Although other duties kept me from obtaining any quantified
data, the heron was successful in most attempts observed. This is the first record of gleaning
by the Green Heron (Kushlan 1978, Pp 249-297 in Wading birds, (A. S. Sprunt, IV, et aL,
Eds.) New York, Natl. Audubon Soc.).

Fig. 1, Green Heron preparing to strike at a honey bee on a cluster of white mangrove
flowers. Location of the bee is shown by the arrow.

This observation was made while working on NASA Contract NASlO-8986, L. M.
Ehrhart, principal investigator. — E. Scott Clark, Department of Biology, University of
Central Florida, Box 25000, Orlando, Florida 32816.

' Contribution # 15 of the Merritt Island Ecosvstems Studies.

17

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 17, 1980

18 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol. 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 18, 1980

Ring-necked Ducks breeding in a north-central Florida lake. — On the night of 13 June
1979, Scott Sanders and I observed a pair of Ring-necked Ducks {Aythya collaris) with a
brood of four large young on the northern end of Orange Lake, Alachua County, Florida.
This area of the lake, near the mouth of the River Styx, is fringed by a shallow marsh
characterized by emergent or floating patches of maidencane {Panicum hemitomon), pickerel
weed {Pontederia cordata), spatterdock {Nuphar luteum), cattail (Typha sp.), lotus {Ne~
lumbo lutea) and sawgrass {Cladium jamaicense). The dominant submerged vegetation is
hydrilla {Hydrilla verticillata) .

As we approached the brood with our airboat, the hen commenced a feigning act in an at-
tempt to lure us away from the ducklings but flew when we got closer, while the ducklings,
not yet capable of flight, dove into the hydrilla. We turned, spot-lighted the remaining birds,
and managed to capture the drake and a duckling. The drake had all of his primaries and did
not appear to be in molt, but because his breast muscles were atrophied we assumed that he
was a flightless cripple from the previous hunting season.

In their usual breeding range Ring-necks show a preference for nesting on “floating
islands” (Mendall 1958, Univ. Maine Bull. 50(16): 1-313). Orange Lake has many floating
islands thus offering ideal nesting areas for these birds.

Ring-necks are occasionally seen throughout the summer months in Florida, however
these sight records are generally assumed to be cripples that were unable to migrate (Sprunt
1954, Florida bird life. New York, Coward McCann). There is one published breeding record
for the Ring-necked Duck in Florida. On 8 June 1964, in an area of the St. Johns River near
Cocoa, Dennis Hammond noted a pair of Ring-necks and their young (Stevenson 1968, Aud.
Field Notes 18: 503), and during the summer of 1967, biologist Tommy Hines (pers. comm.)
observed a brood of Ring-necks in the Everglades Recreation Area (Conservation Area II),
Broward County.

Ring-necked Ducks probably do not voluntarily summer in Florida as breeders, thus this
breeding record seems due to a strong pair-bond between a flightless drake and a hen capable
of flight. The pair-bond in the Ring-necked Duck is considered much stronger than in many
other species of ducks (Mendall 1958). A strong pair-bond with one member a flightless crip-
ple probably accounts for the extralimital nesting in Florida of this and perhaps other
migratory duck species. — Thomas M. Goodwin, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Com-
mission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 4005 S. Main Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 18-19, 1980

Osprey nest concentrations in northwest Florida. — On 5 March and 10 April 1979, aerial
surveys were conducted by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to evaluate
nesting activity by Ospreys {Pandion haliaetus) and Bald Eagles {Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
along the lower Apalachicola River area.

A concentration of at least 45 active Osprey nests was observed in a remote area of Gulf
County, Florida, about 12 miles west of the town of Apalachicola, consisting of about 4000
acres of marsh and swamp forests adjacent to the south edge of Lake Wimico in Township 8
South, Range 9 West. Our observations indicated that nesting began in late February and was
reaching a peak around mid- April. Most nests were over standing water in tall, old growth
cypress {Taxodium sp.) and slash pines {Pinus elliottii) growing in or adjacent to freshwater
marshes along Depot Creek, Columbus Bayou and Deadman’s Slough. No nests were found
in the swamps surrounding these drainages, where adjacent habitats were similar, but
generally lacked the abundance of tall mature trees occurring in a marsh area.

This concentration of nesting Ospreys is believed to be the largest in northwest Florida
(Stephen A. Nesbitt, Henry M. Stevenson, pers. comm.) and the nesting area represents some
of the most pristine habitat remaining in Florida. Drainage patterns are relatively undis-
turbed and access by vehicle or boat is almost impossible at the present time due to the
absence of roads or boat trails. Nearby Lake Wimico and Apalachicola Bay with its estuarine
marshes serve as foraging areas for the nesting birds.

General Notes

19

This important nesting habitat has been proposed for inclusion in the boundaries of the
Apalachicola Bay National Estuarine Sanctuary, but as of this writing there has been no in-
dication that the land will be purchased. At the present time, large acreages of adjacent
swamps are being drained and converted to pine timber production. This Osprey nesting area
is an invaluable asset to Florida’s wildlife heritage and should be preserved. — Neal F.
Eichholz, Office of Environmental Services, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commis-
sion, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 19-20, 1980

Dusting by Sandhill Cranes in Florida. — The following observations on Sandhill Cranes
(Grus canadensis) were made in an improved pasture on the Hendrie Ranch, 24 km S of Lake
Placid, Highlands County, Florida. The morning of 28 February 1979 was warm and sunny
when my wife and I watched the cranes from a car 80 m away using 8x30 binoculars. Five
cranes were on a spoil bank along a ditch, jabbing at the ground and then pushing their bills
among feathers of the back and under the wings. One crane (Crane A) did this in concen-
trated fashion, not moving about and always jabbing at one spot. The other four cranes ap-
plied soil to their plumages only part of the time. At 0920 the five cranes left to join six more,
but four returned in 10 min to apply soil to their plumages again.

The spoil bank was covered with grass cropped by cattle. The cranes had worked in 3
places; one a basin-shaped depression of loose sand, seemingly made by cattle and measuring
2 m across, and another a series of three jab holes, 6-8 cm apart made under sparse grass. This
area was covered by cement-hard mirl, the jab holes going through it to loose soil beneath. A
third place, where Crane A had worked in concentrated fashion, was at the side of a mound
occupied by red imported fire ants {Solenopsis invicta). Perhaps Crane A had found the loose
soil worked up by the ants favorable for dusting rather than this being passive anting.

The behavior we observed on 28 February was similar to that described by Nesbitt (1975)
for Florida Sandhill Cranes (G. c, pratensis). He noted that the soil was dark, reddish brown
and contained 3.2 times as much iron as soil from surrounding high ground. His label for the
activity was “feather staining” and, in summarizing theories on the feather staining found in
Sandhill Cranes, he stresses this interpretation, although mentioning feather maintenance as
an alternate interpretation. The soil used by the cranes we observed had no reddish or other
unusual color and our interpretation is that they were “dusting” as defined by Simmons
(1964).

Short-legged birds such as Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) (Stoddard 1931) dust by squat-
ting flat and kicking loose soil into their feathers. These maneuvers being impossible for long-
legged land birds. Sandhill Cranes, like the Common Rhea (Rhea americana) (Simmons
1964), achieve the same ends by picking up soil and placing it on their backs. What these ends
are are controversial. Simmons (1964) believes that ectoparasites are thereby discouraged and
dislodged. This may be particularly important in the breeding season when mallophagan
parasites have life cycles synchronized with those of their hosts, as described by Foster (1969)
and discussed by Kilham (1975) in relation to dirt-bathing of a Pileated Woodpecker
(Dryocopus pileatus). Other explanations for dusting include removal of oil and dandruff
(Healey and Thomas 1973).

The way feathers of Sandhill Cranes become stained is little understood. It is a complex
subject that needs study by observation and experiment. One hypothesis is that feather stain-
ing is caused by the iron that is widely prevalent in bogs and marshes due to the action of iron-
fixing bacteria (Wetzel 1975) and is the same as that seen in Trumpeter Swans (Olor buc-
cinator), well illustrated in photographs by Truslow (1960), and described for a variety of
other waterfowl by Kennard (1918) and recently by Krogman (1978) for White-fronted Geese
(Anser albifrons). None of these birds dust.

An objection to this hypothesis is that the white cranes, including the Whooping Crane
(Grus americana) that also feed and nest in bogs, do not become stained. Staining, how-
ever, is a chemical process, probably between iron in a reduced or active form and some
constituent in feathers. The selective pressures that lead some species of cranes to become
white, could also have led to a feather chemistry that would insure that they would stay white

20 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

and not become stained. This is only an hypothesis. Further and other ideas on feather stain-
ing are given by Walkinshaw (1964) and Nesbitt (1975).

We thank James H. Hendrie for permitting us to study cranes on his ranch, Lawrence A.
Walkinshaw and Stephen A. Nesbitt for comments on the manuscript, David de Jong for
identifying the ants and James N. Layne for showing us places where cranes could be found in
the vicinity of the Archboid Biological Station.

Litematube Cited

Foster, M. S. 1969. Synchronized life cycles in the Orange-crowned Warbler and its mal-
lophagan parasites. Ecology 50: 315-323.

Healey, W. M., and J. W. Thomas. 1973. Effect of dusting on plumage of Japanese Quail.
Wilson Bull. 85: 442-448.

Kennard, F. H. 1918. Ferruginous stains on waterfowl. Auk 35: 123-132.

Kilham, L. 1975. Dirt bathing by a Pileated Woodpecker. Bird-Banding 46; 251-252.
Kbogman, B. 1978. The Tule goose mystery—a problem in taxonomy. Amer. Birds 32: 164-
166.

Nesbitt, S. A. 1975. Feather staining in Florida Sandhill Cranes. Fla. Field Nat. 3: 28-30.
Simmons, K. E. L. 1964. Feather maintenance. In A New Dictionary of birds, A. L. Thom-
son, ed. New York, McGraw-Hill.

Stoddard, H, L. 1931. The Bobwhite quail. New York, Charles Scribners Sons.

Truslow, F. K. 1960. Return of the Trumpeter Swan. Nafl Geographic 118: 134-150.
Wetzel, R. G. 1975. Limnology. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders.

Lawrence Kilham, Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover,
New Hampshire 03755.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 20-21, 1980

A rare gathering of Red Knots on Ca^y Key, Florida.— -Casey Key is a barrier island
about 7 miles long, located in Sarasota County, Florida, 27°10'N-82°30'W, with the Gulf of
Mexico on the west and the Intracoastal Waterway on the east. On 23 January 1979, after
several days of extremely high winds from the north w«t, we observed large flocks of Red
Knots {Calidris canutus) along the Gulf beach as far as we could see in both directions. The
birds were in tight flocks numbering from 200-500, moving in unison, as is their habit, mak-
ing it fairly easy to estimate their numbers. These were feeding flocks and with the aid of a
spotting-scope we were able to census most of the beach. We estimated the total number of
knots for 6 miles of beach was in excess of 6500. The knots foraged in the wash of the waves
and not among the great quantities of marine invertebrates and debris cast up by the storm.
Here they rested instead.

The next day, the strong northw«t winds and seas continued. We stood in one spot and
watched a huge flock, numbering in the thousands and much larger than any single flock seen
on the previous day, pass by and settle on the beach. We could see other flocfa at the same
time, though smaller, on the beach to the north. From this, we judged there were as many, if
not more, than we estimated on the 23rd. On the 26th we again made a survey from our
beach area where we could scan some 2 miles of shoreline and in 20 minutes estimated we had
seen more than 2000 knots.

We find it difficult to assign a reason for the large concentration of Red Knots but our con-
jecture is that it is storm related. If food related, probably other species of shorebirds would
have been present in increased numbers, but there was no indication of any significant in-
crease in any other shorebird species during this same period.

In the course of participating in the International Shorebird Survey (ISS) (Manomet Bird
Observatory, Manomet, Mass.) for the past 2 years, we have monitored the Gulf beach on

General Notes

21

Casey Key and 2 miles of the Venice beach and never encountered such a gathering of knote
before. The largest number of knots ever seen by us previously was a flock of 300 on 4
November 1977 at the north end of Casey Key.

We checked 28 Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) around the Gulf coast of the United States
for 1973-1977 including 14 in Florida. About half of these Counts do not usually record Red
Knots, and only in Florida from St. Petersburg south are knots recorded consistently. The
greatest concentrations occur from St. Petersburg to Sanibel-Captiva with a maximum of
1221 in 1976 for the six CBCs of this area. Previous high counts of Red Knots for Florida Gulf
Coast CBCs include 3000 at Sarasota on 1 January 1964 and 4245 at St. Petersburg on 20
December 1969. Thus, our estimate of 6500 + Red Knots for 6 miles of beach on Casey Key is
far greater than any previous CBC record in Florida or the rest of the United States, and is
similar to the maximum counts gathered by the ISS in 1976. Aerial surveys in July 1976 of
James and FJudsnn bays, a major gathering place for Red Knots, tallied over 7300, and the
sum of maximum counts of Red Knots along the Atlantic coast during the 1976 fall migration
from the Gulf of Si. Lawrence to south Florida was 7641 (Morrison, R. L G., and B. A. Har-
rington 1979, Trans. N. Amer. Wild. Nat. Resc. Gonf. 44t 498-507)

Most Red Knots appear to winter in the southern part of South America (Argentina,
Tieira del Fuego) (Morrison and Harrington 1979) and in winter they are casual on the Atlan-
tic coast of the United States and uncommon on the Pacific coast (Forbush 1925, Birds of
Massachusetts and other New England states).— Stanley Stedman and Annette F. Sted-
MAN, Seagmpe Point, 1156 Casey Key Road, Nokomis, Florida 33555.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 2L23, 1980

An early record of the Band-tailed Gull in Florida.— In early September 1968 two teen-
aged boys found a bird that proved to be a Pacific South American Band-tailed Gull {Larus
belcheri) in extremely weakened condition in Escambia County, Florida, near the intersec-
tion of U.S. 29 and alternate U.S. 90, about 8 miles north of Pensacola. Thinking the bird
might have escaped from a nearby zoo, the Swamparium, they took it to the owner, Edward
Nowak, Jr., of Cantonment. The bird, which had not escaped from there, responded well to
treatment and soon recovered. It is still on display at the Swamparium at this writing (August
1979).

Early attempts to identify the bird were made difficult by the similarity between its
breeding (alternate) plumage and the subaduit plumage of the Lesser Black-backed Gull
(harm f metis) , and it remained in that plumage until September 1970, at which time Good-
night noted patches of dark feathers on the head. Since that year it has developed the dark
hood of the non-breeding (basic) plumage each fall (Nowak pers. comm.), losing the red spot
on the bill. Kingsbery has seen the bird with the pure white head of the breeding plumage as
early as 5 February 1977. In 1979, at least 50% of the head was dark by 18 August, but the
red bill-spot was still present. Thus the seasonal occurrence of each plumage seems to have
been essentially adjusted to the conditions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Until recently, available photographs of this gull showed only its breeding
plumage— superficially similar, except for the tail band and bill pattern, to that of L.
fmem—hut in October 1977 Stephen Stedman obtained monochromes (Fig, 1) that were
identified by Eugene Eisenmann, American Museum of Natural History, as those of a Band-
tailed Gull, Larm b. belcheri. The Atlantic form, L, b. atlanticm (Olrog 1967), probably a
distinct species (Olrog’s Gull, L. atlanticm; Devillers 1977), has a streaked rather than
hooded head in basic plumage. Eisenmann suggested that appropriate measurements also be
made in case some population intermediate between these two is found later. These
measurements were made by Robert and Lucy Duncan, with the help of Nowak, The Dun-
cans made the following notations: wing arc, 375 mm; exposed culmen, 49.5 mm. These
measurements are within the known dimensions for L. b. belcheri, but too low for the larger
atlanticm; the respective minima for females of atlanticm are 416 and 49=3 mm (Devillers
1977). The brownish black mantle, light gray underwing coverts, and more extensive black
tail band, as well as the hood in non-breeding dress, also indicate nominate belcheri.

22 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • VoL 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

Fig. 1. Captive Band-tailed Gull, Larus b. belcheri, photographed in October 1977 at a
zoo near Pensacola, Florida, by Stephen Stedman.

At least three subsequent records of the Band-tailed Gull in Florida have been published,
not necessarily pertaining to three different individuals. Clark S. Olson (1976) and Brian J.
Catley photographed an unfamiliar gull at Marco Island, Collier County, on 6 June 1970, the
photograph later identified by George Watson and Richard L. Zusi as the species L, belcheri,
with the white head of breeding plumage. A Band-tailed Gull photographed by Theodore
Below on 11 November 1974 south of Naples at Cape Romano, about 15 miles north of Marco
Island, retained the dark hood typical of non-breeding nominate belcheri (fide Eisenmann).
Judging from photographs, the hood was lost by at least 16 January 1975, and the bird was
seen in breeding plumage through at least 29 January by Below and Phillip Kahl and
photographed by Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Stout on 28 January (Stevenson 1975). A Band-tailed
Gull in breeding plumage reappeared near Naples in January 1976, was photographed by
Mrs. Stout, and remained until at least 11 February (Stevenson 1976). At least one observer,
Paul Sykes, suspected that two birds of this species were present during that period. No
evidence has been presented indicating that any of these individuals may have escaped or
been released, and no tropical depression can be associated with any of their first known
observations. However, the species has been known to wander northward from its Peruvian
breeding grounds as far as the Pacific Coast of Panama at least three times (Ridgely 1976),
suggesting that Florida occurrences of wild birds are not entirely unlikely, although for
nominate belcheri to make that journey would require crossing the isthmus, perhaps follow-
ing the Panama Canal waterway.

We are gratefuTto Edward Nowak, Jr., for his cooperation throughout this study, to
Stephen Stedman for his photographs, to Robert and Lucy Duncan for their measurements
and notations of color and to Eugene Eisenmann and Paul DeBenedictis for suggestions about
the manuscript.

Literature Cited

Devillers, P. 1977. Observations at a breeding colony of Larm (belcheri) atlanticm. Le
Gerfaut 67; 22-43.

General Notes 23

Olkog, C. C. 1967. Breeding of the Band-tailed Gull (harm helcheri) on the Atlantic coast
of Argentina. Condor 69: 42-48.

Olson, C. S. 1976. Band-tailed Gull photographed in Florida. Auk 93: 176-177.

Ridgely, R. S. 1976. A guide to the birds of Panama. Princeton, Princeton Univ. Press.
Stevenson, H. M. 1975. Florida region. Amer. Birds 29: 680-683.

Stevenson, H. M. 1976. Florida region. Amer. Birds 30: 708-711.

Henry M. Stevenson, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee,
Florida 32312, Lyman E. Goodnight (deceased), and Curtis L. Kingsbery, 2900 iV.
Magnolia Am., Pensacola, Florida 32503.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 23-24, 1980

Ruddy Quail Dove again at Dry Tortugas.— -About noon on 15 December 1977, a cold
day with severe northwesterly squalls, Given found and photographed a large, reddish dove
on the second tier of Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Monroe County, Florida. She sav/ the bird
make a short flight to a more sheltered location but failed to find it in a thorough search the
following day. The photographs readily identify the bird as a male Ruddy Quail Dove
{Geotrygon montana), the dull color of the crown (brownish shading to gray on the
forehead) suggesting that it had not attained full adult plumage. We thank Albert Schwartz
of Miami for permitting Robertson to compare the photos with specimens in the Albert
Schwartz Collection of West Indian birds. Copies of the set of two color prints have been
deposited in bird record photo files at the South Florida Research Center and the Tall
Timbers Research Station.

This record is the fifth report of the species from Florida and the second from Dry Tor-
tugas. The previous occurrences were: Key W«t, 8 December 1888, specimen (Scott 1889);
Key West, May 1923, captured alive (Hollister 1925); Tavernier, Key Largo, 13 February
1952, sight record (Sprunt 1954:238); and, Garden Key, Dry Tortugas, 13 May 1962, partial
remains collected (Robertson and Mason 1965:135). Because the species exhibits strong sexual
dimorphism of plumage (males rufous, females olive-brown), one can determine from
published accounts that at least four of the five individuals so far found in Florida were males.
(The brief description of the 1923 Key West record includes no information on this point.) As
seems usual for Florida records of West Indian birds (Robertson and Kushlan 1974), none of
the occurrences of the Ruddy Quail Dove can be attributed definitely to hurricane transport.
All records followed hurricane seasons in which no tropical storms moved across the species’
usual range and thence to Florida. Assuming that the present bird is most likely to have
originated in western Cuba (100 mi S), one can spreulate that the intense flow of air from the
south which commonly precedes the arrival of strong cold fronts may account for its presence
at Dry Tortugas.

For all Florida records of vagrant West Indian birds it is necessary to consider the
possibility of escaped captives or accidental transport on boats. This is especially true for
largely terrestrial, forest birds such as the Ruddy Quail Dove. Referring to the 1962 record at
Dry Tortugas, Paulson commented (Paulson and Stevenson 1962:401), “The fact that there
are now four records of this species in Florida is puzzling to those who know it as a non-
migratory bird of dense tropical forest. Can these records all be attributed to human in-
fluence?” Complete assurance that a particular record represents natural vagrancy doubtless
can never be achieved, but several lines of argument suggest that the Ruddy Quail Dove may
not be as sedentary as is generally thought, ffrench (1973:195) writes, . . some migration or
dispersal evidently occurs, since I trapped a male on Soldado Rock on 1 October.” Soldado
Rock is a barren islet lying about 15 miles off the southwestern cape of Trinidad. It is also rele-
vant that the Ruddy Quail Dove shows little geographical variation over an enormous range
embracing the West Indies and humid areas virtually throughout the continental Neotropics.
Griscom (1932:119) stated that its wide range without subspecific variation must indicate an
unusual degree of genetic stability in an “ancient stock”. It is equally arguable, however, that
movement of birds between populations effectively cancels local variation. Much the same

24 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

argument applies for another recent Antillean vagrant to Florida, the Key West Quail Dove
{Geotrygon chrysia), v^^hich occurs widely in the Bahamas and Greater Antilles without
geographical variation. Audubon (in Howell 1932:282), in addition, reported seeing Key
Wttt Quail Doves in the Straits of Florida supposedly migrating from Cuba to the Florida
Keys. From their present ranges and lack of variation it seems possible that both of the widely
distributed species of quail doves in the West Indies disperse fairly readily between islands. If
so, it is not surprising that they occasionally reach southern Florida.

Literature Cited

FFRENCH, R. 1973. A guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago. Wynnewood, Pa., Living-
ston Publ. Co.

Gmscom, L. 1932. The distribution of bird-life in Guatemala. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.

64: 1-439.

Hollister, N. 1925. Another record of the Ruddy Quail-Dove at Key W^t. Auk 42: 130.
Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life. Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game Fresh Water Fish.
Paulson, D. R., and H. M. Stevenson. 1962. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 16; 398-404.
Robertson, W. B., Jr., and J. A. Kushlan. 1974. The south Florida avifauna. Miami Geol.

Soc, Mem. 2: 414-452.

Robertson, W. B., Jr., and C. R. Mason. 1965. Additional bird records from the Dry Tor-
tugas. Fla. Nat. 38: 131-138.

Scott, W. E. D. 1889. Records of rare birds at Key West, Florida, and vicinity, with a note

on the capture of a dove {Geotrygon montana) new to North America. Auk 6: 160-161.
Sprunt, a., Jr. 1954. Florida bird life. New York, Coward-McCann, Inc.

William B. Robertson, Jr., National Park Service, South Florida Research Center,
Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida, 33030, and Beryl Given, National Park
Service, Fort Jefferson National Monument, c/o U. S. Coast Guard Base, Key West, Florida,
33040.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 24-25, 1980

Notes on the food habits of the Burrowing Owl in Duval County, Florida.— The Florida

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridana) has recently been expanding its range in
northern Florida, apparently invading and occupying newly cleared land (Ligon 1963, Auk
80: 367-368; Courser 1979, Amer. Birds 13: 143-144). The recently established and appar-
ently successful owl colony at Imeson Industrial Park (formerly Imeson Airport) in North
Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, roughly 33 km south of the Georgia border, may repre-
sent the current northernmost breeding limit of the subspecies. Burrowing Owls have been
established at Imeson since at least 1976 when two burrows (and at least two owls) were pres-
ent. This small owl population has continued to increase with at least three pairs of adults
fledging a total of 12 young in 1979 (S. Grimes, pers. comm.).

The burrows at Imeson are located in an open prairie-like habitat consisting of a sparse
cover of short grasses with widely scattered pine trees (1-2 m in height) in sandy soil. Pellets
and scattered prey remains collected at the burrows during May 1977 were examined and
analyzed to determine food habits, as little such data is available on Florida Burrowing Owls.

All intact pellets contained sand, ranging from 3% to 60% of the total contents by
volume. Eighty percent of the pellets at burrow B contained plant material. All of these con-
tained grass stems and one contained a 10 cm by 3 cm piece of Nostoc, a fresh water blue-
green alga. None of the pellets at burrow A contained any noticeable plant material. The
presence of sand and plant matter in burrowing owl pellets has been related to nest excavation
and accidental ingestion with prey (Thomsen 1971, Condor 73: 177-192).

General Notes

25

Although insect remains occurred in all pellets, only one contained any vertebrate
material. That pellet (20% of the sample for burrow A) contained four fragments of anuran
skeleton. Other vertebrate remains collected at an entrance to burrow A included a partially
decapitated southern toad (Bufo terrestris) and five pairs of B. terrmtm ilia, one skull of the
eastern spadefoot (Scaphiopm holbrooki)^ two vertebrae from a perciform fish (probably a
centrachid), two lower mandibles from immature cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidm) and one
tarsometatarsus from an icterid (probably Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorm) . No vertebrate
remains were found at burrow B. These data agree with those of Lewis (1973, Fla. Field Nat.
L 12-14) who found that Burrowing Owls in central Florida take a general assortment of
vertebrate prey, with amphibians being the most frequent. Although no tern remains were
found, thrae Duval County owls did prey on Least Tern (Sterna albifrom) chicks later in 1977
(S. Griro.es pers. comm.).

Insect remains present in the pellets or scattered about the entrance of burrow A included
lepidopterans, dipterans and coleopterans. Coleopterans identified to family included one
staphylinid, one curculionid and one hydrophilid or dytiscid. An unidentified gastropod shell
also was found at burrow A.

Insect remains in the pellets at burrow B included coleopterans (especially scarabs), one
collembolan, one hemipteran, one dipteran and one lepidopteran (family Sphingidae). One
scarab was further identified as a nocturnal june bug of the genus Phyllophaga. The
staphylinid and many of the scarabs found in these samples are ground dwellers. Again, these
data correspond well with the findings of Lewis (1973) who described a wide range of in-
vertebrate prey items with coleopterans being the most common (suggesting a high degree of
opportunism) .

The presence of items such as Scaphiopm holbrooki, Bufo terrestris, Phyllophaga and the
sphingid moth as prey indicates nocturnal or crepuscular feeding in these owls. As Dice (1949
Amer. Nat. 79: 385-416) found that individuals of the ivestern subspecies (Athene cunicularia
hypugaea) were poorly adapted to finding dead prey under simulated nocturnal conditions,
perhaps movement and/or sound is required for prey detection in these situations. Other prey
items such as some of the beetles and the hemipteran, however, are likely to have been taken
during the day. Thus, the Florida Burrowing Owl seems highly flexible m both prey selection
and activity period.

I thank Dr. Pierce Brodkorb, Peter Meylan and especially Jackie Belwood for assisting me
in identifying prey remains and Mark Wygoda for reviewing this manuscript. —Willard W.
Hennemann, III, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(l):25,-26, 1980

Two more records of the Tropical Kingbird for Florida. —On 12 May 1979 at 0800, we
observed a Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicm) at 15-20 m in good light perched in a
mastic tree (Mastichodendron foetidmimum) at the south loop of West Atlantic Drive on
Hypoluxo Island, Palm Beach County, Florida. A short time later it was seen perched on util-
ity wires. A Gray Kingbird (T. dominicemis) and a Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchm
crinitm) were nearby affording comparison of size and color intensity. The bird had a brown
tail (both ^'estern (T. verticalu) and Cassin’s kingbirds (T. vociferans) have square-tipped
black tails) with a distinct deep notch. There was no white in any of the rectrices. The tail
feathers, upon careful study with a scope, showed no signs of wear indicating fresh plumage.
The breast, belly and undertail coverts were bright yellow. The throat was white and the
head was light gray with a small black mask. There was a faint line of gray between the
throat and upper breast and the back was olive. The bird was later seen by many observers
and was last reported on 15 May (Gloria Hunter pers. comm.). Brooks Atheron photographed
this bird in laic afftrnoon of 12 May (Fig. 1). This black and white photograph was made
from a 35 mm color slide which is now on file at Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee.
This appears to be the first photograph of the Tropical Kingbird for Florida.

Another Tropical Kingbird was carefully studied twice during the morning of 20 May
1979, on Garden Key, Dry Tortugas, Monroe County, Florida, by Brian Hope, A1 and Bar-
bara Liberman and Paul Sykes. All field marks were carefully checked. It was studied at 10 m
in company of a Gray Kingbird.

26 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol. 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

Fig. 1. Tropical Kingbird on Hypoluxo Island, Florida, 12 May 1979. Photo by Brooks
Atherton.

Prior to the above sightings, there were five records for T. melancholicus for Florida; one
from the Panhandle and the rest from the southern part of the State (Stedman and Lohrer
1976, Florida Field Nat. 4; 40-41). Of the seven records, four are in the spring, two in the fall
and one in the winter.

Just recently, Traylor (1979, Auk 96: 221-233) presented evidence that the Couch’s
Kingbird (T. couchii), usually considered a subspecies of T. melancholicus, is a distinct
species (Note: we were unaware of Traylor’s paper prior to arrival of the April issue of The
Auk in early June 1979). The distribution of couchii is from southern Texas south to Yucatan
Peninsula, northejn Guatemala and Belize and melancholicus is from southern Arizona south
into South America. The two are sympatric from east central Mexico to Belize. The two
species can be safely identified under field conditions only by call, thus silent extralimital
birds, such as occur in Florida, are a problem. In the hand the two can be distinguished by the
wing tip index and bill/wing ratio (Traylor 1979). Specimens are needed from Florida, as
both species are likely to occur. Also, visible means of separating couchii from melancholicus
in the field is urgently needed for silent birds occurring out of their usual range. Thus, all the
records of the Tropical Kingbird in Florida are in a state of limbo until a voucher specimen is
obtained.

We wish to thank Brooks Atherton for permission to use his photograph. — Ann Y. Ayers,
2944 Creek Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33406, and Paul W. Sykes, Jr. and Wesley J.
Sykes, 4195 Maurice Drive, Delray Beach, Florida 33445.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 26-28, 1980

Assemblages of Tree Swallows as information centers. — Tree Swallows (Iridoprocne
bicolor) are known to have dramatic aerial displays (Jones 1910, Stone 1965). Stone (1965)
regarded them as among the most striking avian performances that he witnessed at Cape
May, New Jersey. But his descriptions, for the most part, do not include the time of day, the
weather, nor any interpretation. It is the aim of this report to describe assemblages that my
wife and I observed in Florida and Georgia in 1979, then to suggest that their selective advan-
tage stems from being pre-roosting displays of a type Ward and Zahavi (1973) describe for a

General Notes 27

variety of avian species. This is in relation to social foraging, a phenomenon recently discused
for Bank Swallows (Riparia riparia) by Emlen (1975).

I stopped my car at 1450 on 4 March 1979 on seeing several thousand Tree Swallows
clustered and beating their wings in three wax myrtle {Myrica cerifera) bushes 7 m from the
road at Venus, Highlands County, Florida. This was while my wife and I were staying at the
Archbold Biological Station at Lake Placid. It was easy to see with 8 x 30 binoculars that the
birds were not feeding. They streamed from the bushes within a minute and were soon widely
dispersed. The sky was overcast and there were sounds of thunder. We drove on 200 m, then
stopped on finding that the swallows had aggregated in another clump of myrtles, where they
remained only a minute. After dispersing the swallows assembled in a vortex, gliding around
on outstretched wings. The vortex appeared to act as a magnet, drawing swallows from all
directions for nearly 20 min. At times there were thousands not far above my head. As rain
began to fall the swallows mounted high against the clouds, then swooped in a dense mass
above the tops of low trees and bushes and disappeared.

We made further observations a month later on Sapelo Island, Mcintosh County,
Georgia, while staying as guests of the Marine Institute of the University of Georgia. Here we
saw assemblages at the south end of the island in intermittent light rain on the mornings of 5
April (3-4000 swallows) and 14 April 1979 (an estimated 10,000). Features of these
assemblages, watched from 45 to 90 min, were that in addition to alighting in clumps of wax
myrtles (2 occasions) they alighted briefly along 300-400 m of beach and sand dune on sk oc~
colons. At no time did they appear to be feeding. When skies got lighter they dispersed.

We visited the south end of Sapelo Island daily. On most mornings we saw single Tree
Swallows, and later Barn Swallows (Hirundo rmtica), seemingly feeding as they migrated
northward. On three mornings of spnshine (8, 17 and 24 April) there were sudden small
assemblages of from 30-150 Tree Swallows, all between 0800 and 0900. These dispersed
within 15 min. In the interim the swallows swirled about the end of the island, alighting on
the beach repeatedly only to take off again. None of them appeared to be feeding.

Ward and Zahavi (1973) point out that a variety of birds having communal roosts perform
pre-roosting displays. These birds, including Starlings (Sturnm vulgaris) and Red-billed
Queleas (Queiea quelea) appear to exploit food that is patchily distributed over wide areas. If
individuals fail to find good foraging one day, they may, by flying to the communal roost,
join some group that has been successful and knows where to go the next day. The lengthy
displays involving thousands of Tree Swallows that we witnessed in Florida and Georgia were
apparently triggered by the darkness of approaching storms making the swallows feel that
night was coming on. Jones (1910) speaks of Tree Swallows forming “the characteristic funnel
group before- settling into the vegetation for the night.” Queleas assemble at mid-day at lesser
distances, forming what Ward and Zahavi term secondary information centers. The small
assemblages of Tree Swallows we saw on the beach on sunny days may have been of this
nature.

Two papers on hirundines are pertinent. One by Rudebeck (1955), describes the pre-
roosting displays of the European swallow H. rustica, in South Africa, giving two descriptions
of their feeding on well isolated patches of highly concentrated insects. Another paper, by
Emlen (1975) applies the idea of the “information center” to the synchronized colonial
breeding of Bank Swallows. His descriptions of the various factors that can lead to a patchy
distribution of aerial insects may hold also for Tree Swallows. These birds, wintering farther
north than other hirundines, may be particularly subject to resource patchiness because of
cold and winds. While they do feed on wax myrtle berries, the berries may come to have an ir-
regular abundance as a winter progresses. The attraction to myrtle bushes when the swallows
are in dense aggregates is probably caused by the dense branching that can accommodate
thousands of birds in a small space. Stone (1965) noted that the swallows may come to bushes
with few or no berries or, in one case, bushes lacking leaves. The problem of the assemblages
is a broad one, obviously open to further study.

Literature Cited

Emlen, S. 1975. Adaptive significance of synchronized breeding in a colonial bird: a new
hypothesis. Science 188: 1029-1031.

28 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

Jones, L. 1910. The birds of Cedar Point and vicinity. Wilson Bull. 22: 97-115.

Rudebeck, G. 1955. Some observations at a roost of European swallows and other birds in
the south-eastern Transvaal. Ibis 97: 572-580.

Stone, W. 1965. Bird studies at Old Cape May. New York, Dover Publications, Inc.
Ward, P., and A. Zahavi. 1973. The importance of certain assemblages of birds as '‘infor-
mation centers” for food-finding. Ibis 115: 517-534.

Lawrence Kilham, Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover
New Hampshire 03755.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 28-29, 1980

Eastern coachwhip predation on nestling Blue Jays. — Snakes are considered major
predators of birds’ eggs and young (Skutch 1976) but the act of predation is so brief that it
usually is not witnessed and the identity of the predator remains unknown. Thus this record of
eastern coachwhip {Masticophis f. flagellum) predation on nestling Blue Jays {Cyanocitta
cristata) at a nest 5 km south of Lake Placid, Highlands County, Florida, seems worthy of
note.

At 1600 on 24 June 1979, a hot sunny day. Blue Jay alarm calls in my back yard led me to
discover a 2 m eastern coachwhip at a nest 4 m high in a 8 m heavily-branched sand pine
{Pinus clausa). A bulge in the snake’s body about 0.3 m from the head indicated that probably
at least one nestling had been eaten before I arrived. I watched the snake remove two well-
feathered n^tlings (primaries ca. 2-3 in. long), one by one, keeping its head concealed within
the densely-needled branch as it swallowed between visits to the nest. The four adult Blue
Jays and four Scrub Jays {Aphelocoma coerulescens) scolding in the tree repeatedly struck the
snake’s body with their bills and occasionally pulled at its tail. However, these attacks did not
appear to bother the snake. After emptying the nest, the snake dropped from branch to
branch almost straight down to the ground, where it crawled a short distance to coil under a
dense saw palmetto {Serenoa repens). When the snake was thus concealed only two Blue Jays
continued to scold it; the other jays departed. Two Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), a
House Sparrow {Parser domesticus), a male Boat-tailed Crackle {Quiscalus major), and a
male Rufous-sided Towhee {Pipilo erythrophthalmus) were attracted to the tree by the scold-
ing jays but did not attack the snake and left the tree when the snake left.

Nicholson (1936) commented that many fledgling Blue Jays in Florida “fall easy prey to
cats and various snakes” perhaps based in part on his (1929) record of black racer {Coluber
constrictor) predation on a fledgling Blue Jay.

The diurnal coachwhip, active and agile, is considered an excellent climber (Ditmars
1946). Prey includes mammals, lizards and snakes, as well as “birds and (their) eggs” (Dit-
mars 1946, Wright and Wright 1957, Collins 1974, Mount 1975). Birds recorded as prey of
this species include “a young dove” (Van Denburg 1922), nestling (Westcott 1970) and
juvenile (Webber 1980) Scrub Jays, nestling Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater,
(Carpenter 1958), nestling House Finches, Carpodacus mexicanus, (Miller and Stebbins 1964)
and Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis, (Hamilton and Pollack 1957).

I thank Thomas A. Webber and Larry David Wilson for their helpful comments on this
manuscript.

Literature Cited

Carpenter, C. C. 1958. Reproduction, young, eggs and food of Oklahoma snakes. Herpe-
tologica 14: 113-115.

Collins, J. T. 1974. Amphibians and reptiles in Kansas. Univ. Kansas, Mus. Nat. Hist.,
Publ. Education Ser. No. 1: 1-283,

Ditmars, R. L. 1947. The reptiles of North America. Garden City, New York, Double-
day & Co., Inc.

General Notes 29

Hamilton, W. J., Jr., and J. A. Pollack, 1956. The food of some colubrid snakes from
Fort Beening, Georgia, Ecology 37^ 519-526.

Miller, A. H., and R. C. Stebbins, 1964. The lives of desert animals in Joshua Tree Na-
tional Monument, Berkeley, Univ. California Press.

Mount, R. H. 1975. The reptiles and amphibians of Alabama. Auburn, Agri. Exp. Sta.,
Auburn U.

Nicholson, D. J. 1929. Black snakes as bird killers. Wilson Bull. 4T 190.

Nicholson, D. J, 1936. Observations on the Florida Blue Jay. Wilson Bull. 48: 26-33.

Skutch, a. 1976. Parent birds and their young. Austin, Univ. Texas Press.

Van Denburg, J. 1922. The reptiles of western North America. Volume 2. Snakes and turtles,
Calif. Acad. Sci., Occ. Pap., 10: 617-1028.

Webber, T. A. 1980. Eastern coachwhip predation on juvenile Scrub Jays. Fla. Field Nat.
8: 29-30.

Westcott, P. 1970. Ecology and behavior of the Florida Scrub Jay. Ph.D. Diss,, Univ. Flor-
ida. v

Wright, A. H., and A. A. Wright. 1957. Handbook of snakes of the United States and
Canada. Volume 1. Ithaca, N.Y,, Comstock Publ. Assoc.

Fred E. Lohrer, Archhold Biological Station, Rt, 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 29-30, 1980

Eastern coachwhip predation on juvenile Scrub Jays. -—On two successive days in mid-
June 1979 I saw eastern coachwhips {Mmticophis f. flagellum) attack juvenile Florida Scrub
Jays {Aphelocoma c. coerulescem) at the Archbold Biological Station, 13 km south of Lake
Placid, Highlands County, Florida.

Both victims were members of a family group that occupies a territory composed chiefly
of sparse scrubby oaks {Quercus spp.) 1-2 m high, palmettos {Serenoa repens, Sabal etonia),
and scattered slash pines {Pinus elliottii). At the time of the predation this group consisted of:
a breeding pair; a male and a female yearling helper; the two juveniles (J1 and J2), about two
months out of the nest and strong fliers with fuil-len^h tails; and two non-flying fledglings
about one week out of the nest. See Woolfenden (1973) and Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick
(1978) for details of Florida Scrub Jay habitat and family structure.

The first attack occurred on 17 June. At 1733, as I watched the unattended fledglings,
vigorous scolding came from other members of the family 50 m away in a dry grassy pond.
Upon arrival about 20 sec. later I found J1 on the ground in the grip of a 2 m coachwhip
(snake |1). The snake had its mouth around the bird’s chest. J1 lay on its side with its bill open
and its tongue moving in and out as if gasping for breath. In the next 12 min J1 tried unsuc-
cessfully to break away several times, by jerking its body and flapping its wings. Occasionally
it uttered some muffled distress screams. Twice in this time, though not in direct response to
the jay’s struggles, the snake released its grip on the bird and then immediately struck sharply
at it, seizing it as before. The snake never coiled around the bird.

When I arrived, the male breeder and male yearling were scolding the snake from about
70 cm away, while J2 watched silently from a distance of 1.5 m. No other members of the
family were present during the entire incident. At 1736 the male breeder suddenly flew
directly to the fledglings and perched within 15 cm of them, inspecting them, as though to
check their condition and be prepared to defend them. One minute later the male yearling
stopped scolding and joined the male breeder near the fledglings, while J2 flew 20 m away to
perch quietly in a tree.

At 1745 J1 relaxed and closed its eyes, presumably dead. During the next 15 min the
snake worked at swallowing the bird head first. Several times the snake draped part of its
body over the bird to assist in pushing it into its mouth. During this period the male breeder
and male yearling returned to scold the snake for about one min, again remaining about 70
cm from it. They then flew more than 70 m away, not to return. At no time did the snake
make any apparent response to the jays’ mobbing, or to my presence, 1.5 m away. By 1800
the snake had swallowed J1 as far as the base of the wings. I then captured the snake for

30 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

marking, and to salvage the bird as a specimen. When I seized the snake it immediately
released the bird.

The second attack occurred the next day. I was again watching the unattended fledglings
when at 1118 muffled distress screams came from about 25 m away in an area of small oaks,
palmettos, and open sandy patches. Here I found J2 being held by a coach whip at least 2.3m
long (snake §2). All of J2’s tail feathers lay in a clump on the ground 2 m away. The behavior
of the snake and captive bird was virtually identical to that of the previous day.

The breeders and the male yearling arrived at the same time I did, and all three im-
mediately scolded the snake vigorously from about 30 cm away. After about 30 sec. of
scolding the male breeder suddenly burst away to inspect the fledglings as he had done the
day before. The female breeder and the male yearling continued to scold. Again the snake
seemed to pay no attention to the mobbing jays. Based on my experience of the previous day, I
approached the snake to within about 1.5 m, assuming I would not disturb it, but after about
one minute the snake suddenly eyed me, released J2, and dashed 7 m away to hide in a gopher
tortoise {Gopherus polyphemus) burrow.

J2 remained on its side about one min., then slowly righted itself and began to preen. Its
left flank was heavily smeared with blood, which collected on J2’s bill in such quantity that it
dripped off freely in large drops. J2 then hopped slowly, with its left wing drooping to the
ground, to the shade of a palmetto thicket, where it perched silently with its eyes closed. After
about 10 min. it hopped out and began foraging. Within a week it began to fly again, and as
of mid-October 1979 is still alive. I think it reasonable to assume that the snake would have
killed J2 if I had not interrupted it; it was much larger than snake #1 and had a correspond-
ingly larger “bite” of its victim.

My detailed observations in this Scrub Jay territory suggest to me that these same two
snakes stalked this family, especially the fledglings, for many days and over long distances. In
the week prior to the attacks the adults mobbed a large coachwhip (probably #2) almost
daily, usually within 15 m of the fledglings. Two days after the attack on J2, this snake was
again intercepted by the adults as it moved toward the fledglings at a distance of about 7 m. I
released snake §1 at 1700 on 23 June, more than 250 m from the fledglings’ usual perch. The
next day at 1000 the scolding adults alerted me to what I think was the same snake only 7 m
from the fledglings. Best (1974) and Allan (1979) report similar cases of snakes returning
repeatedly to the vicinity of potential prey.

Though predation is probably the single most important cause of mortality in Florida
Scrub Jays (Woolf^nden 1978, Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick ms.), the predators responsible
have been positively identified in only two instances prior to this report. Westcott (1970)
found two nestlings in the stomach of a road-killed coachwhip, and G. E. Woolfenden (pers.
comm.) saw a Marsh Hawk {Circus cyaneus) take a young fledgling.

I thank Fred E. Lohrer and Glen E. Woolfenden for comments on the manuscript. I am
grateful for a Frank M. Chapman Memorial Grant from the American Museum of Natural
History and a Grant-in- Aid from Archbold Biological Station.

Literature Cited

Allan, T. A. 1979. Eastern garter snake predation on Dark-eyed Junco nests. Jack-Pine
Warbler 57: 168-169.

Best, L. B. 1974. Blue racers prey on Field Sparrow nests. Auk 91: 168-169.

Westcott, P. W. 1970. Ecology and behavior of the Florida Scrub Jay. Ph.D. Diss., Univ.
Florida.

Woolfenden, G. E. 1973. Nesting and survival in a population of Florida Scrub Jays.
Living Bird 12: 25-49.

Woolfenden, G. E. 1978. Growth and survival of young Florida Scrub Jays. Wilson Bull.
90: 1-18.

Woolfenden, G. E., and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1978. The inheritance of territory in group-
breeding birds. Bioscience 28: 104-108.

Thomas A. Webber, Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
32611.

General Notes

31

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 31-32, 1980

Bahama Mockingbird sighting on Elliott Key, Florida. —At 1430 on 22 April 1979, Russell
tentatively identified a Bahama Mockingbird {Mimus gundlachii) in the vicinity of the ranger
station on Elliott Key, Key Biscayne National Monument, Dade County, Florida. On 24
April 1979, Bass and Sykes found the bird in the same locality at 1040 and again at 1300. The
habitat was West Indian forest (hammock) edge near a disturbed area of mowed lawn, cabins
and a small electrical generating plant. The weather for several weeks previous featured
easterly to southeasterly winds and nearly complete absence of storm activity and frontal pat-
terns.

Russell was first attracted to the bird by a song reminiscent of a Yellow-breasted Chat
{Icteria virens) but softer, more languid, and without the dramatic changes in volume. The
song resembled a whisper-type song and was audible for about 10 m as the bird sang from the
interior of a shrub. At no time did the mockingbird mimic other birds’ songs as is typical of the
Mockingbird {Mimus polyglottos) . Phrase patterns in the song were generally repeated four or
five times.

Russell’s first impression was of a bird larger than a Mockingbird and more thrasher-like
in appearance and behavior. He saw no white wing patches even when the wings were open
as the bird jumped from branch to branch, but did note rather faint, narrow white wing bars.
The bird appeared gray to gray-brown with brownish tones on the back and neck and
streaked with brown on the flanks. No white was seen on the tail but the tail was never
fanned. A small light area was noticeable on the undertail coverts. The bird was somewhat
retiring and deliberate in its movements. Russell watched it for about five minutes until it
disappeared into the vegetation, but never obtained a satisfactory view of it. The weather at
the time of observation was sunny, 28 °C, winds east at 23 km per hour, freshening to 30 km
per hour by afternoon.

On 24 April, Bass and Sykes studied the bird for three to five minutes on two occasions. It
was seen feeding on the ground, and perched from just above ground to the lower part of the
canopy (about 8-10 m). The bird tended to stay within the cover of the hammock forest. This
is in sharp contrast with the usual conspicuousness of the Mockingbird in southeast Florida.
The following notes were taken at the time: “Song soft and of Brown Thrasher quality. Upper
parts were gray washed with brownish. Brownish cast quite apparent. Faint brown streaking
on the crown, hind neck, and upper back. A light mark was faintly visible on the posterior of
the auricular region. Faint superciliary streak. Distinct medium-dark streaking on the sides.
Very faint whitish wing bars. No white in wings when bird flew. Fanned its tail when taking
flight and on long hops. White seen in the tip of the outer two or three rectrices only. Under -
parts grayish. Iris yellow-orange. Bill and legs black. Appeared slightly larger than Mock-
ingbird. Behaved like a thrasher while on the ground. Fed on fruits of the potato tree,
Solanum erianthum.”

The bird was not found during an intensive search by 10 observers for most of the day on
27 April at the same locality on Elliott Key where it had been found on 22 and 24 April (H. P.
Langridge pers. comm.).

The Bahama Mockingbird is a fairly common, often abundant, resident throughout most
of the Bahamas, except Great Abaco where apparently absent, (Brudenell-Bruce 1975, The
birds of the Bahamas, New York, Taplinger Publ. Co.) and on some of the northern Cuban
cays. Brudenell-Bruce (1975) describes the song as “more melodious and less strident’’ than the
Mockingbird but also mentions a soft subsong often heard in winter. It is this latter type of
song that we apparently heard. Brudenell-Bruce (1975) describes its Bahamas habitat as
“Coppice and scrub of all sorts, including very arid places and small cays.” This is quite
similar to the habitat on Elliott Key.

This is the third and northernmost report of the Bahama Mockingbird for Florida. The
first report was a bird seen 3 May 1973 at East Key, Dry Tortugas, by Fran and Paul Buckley
(Kale 1973, Amer. Birds 27; 763), and the second report was a bird on Garden Key, Dry Tor-
tugas, 17 May 1976, seen and photographed by Scott Robinson and Kenn Kaufmann (Kale
1976, Amer. Birds 30: 830-831). Of added interest is a specimen collected on 23 April 1968 on
Cay Sal (165 km SSW of Elliott Key) in the Cay Sal Banks where the species is not known to
breed (Buden and Schwartz 1968, Quart. J. Florida Acad. Sci. 31: 290-320). With four

32 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

records now of the Bahama Mockingbird in the region of the Florida Straits in the period
from 22 April to 17 May, Paterson’s (1972, Birds of the Bahamas, Brattleboro, Vermont,
Stephen Green Press) suggestion that the species may be partially migratory seems likely.

We wish to thank William B. Robertson, Jr., for helpful suggestions in the drafting of this
note.— Robekt P. Russell, Jr. and Oron L. Bass, Jr., South Florida Research Center,
Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030, and Paul W. Sykes, Jr., 4195 Maurice
Drive, Delray Beach, Florida 33445.

NOTES AND NEWS

Samuel A. Grimes, first Honorary Member of the Florida Ornithological Society. — Sam

Grimes is an outstanding ornithologist. For more than 60 years he has contributed to the study

of birds with perceptive note and articles, superb photographs, excellent recordings of songs,
and patient guiding of younger naturalists. Sam’s work in Florida began when he moved to
Jacksonville as a boy in 1917. His earliest article in the Florida Naturalist was in 1928, and he
started the Jacksonville Christmas Bird Count in 1929 as the sole observer— on bicycle. Sam
was a pioneer bird photographer. His photographs are scattered throughout the Bent Life
Histories series and they have graced the Encyclopedia Britannica, World Book En-
cyclopedia, National Geographic Magazine, most North American bird journals, and many
state bird books. He published Bird Lores first color photograph of a bird, a Roseate Spoon-
bill with young, in the Sept. -Oct., 1937 issue, and produced his own book in 1958: An Album
of Southern Birds. For more than a decade Sam’s bird photos provided most of the Florida
Naturalist covers until the magazine changed its format in the early 1960’s. Field work con-
nected with his photographic interests resulted in many important records listed in Sprunt’s
Florida Bird Life. With Glen Chandler he found the first known Cattle Egret nest in I^orth
America at Kings Bar Rookery, Lake Okeechobee, on 5 May 1953. Because of his contribu-
tions to ornithology, he was voted an Elective Member of the American Ornithologists’ Union
in 1951. He has belonged to that organization since 1925, and he joined the Wilson Or-
nithological Society in 1924. He has long been associated with the National Audubon Society
and its Florida chapter, and is a Charter Member of the Florida Ornithological Society. Sam
is not a professional ornithologist: his business is engraving and printing and his expertise in
that field is lent to many for the preparation of photographs and maps for papers and books
on birds. Also, for years most of the naturalists in the Southeast have found out what day it
was by consulting a Sam Grimes bird-photo calendar. Recently, his interest in Mockingbird
song has resulted in his phonograph album The Vocally Versatile Mockingbird. Hours of
painstaking field work and careful editing are represented in that instructive work. In 1958,
Sam became a charter member of the Board of Directors of Tall Timbers Research Station
and he was recently elected president of the Board. He always has time for those who need his
help or advice. He is a real friend and a true gentleman. His enjoyment and fascination with
birds benefits us all. — Robert L. Crawford.

Report on the 1979 spring and June meetings. — Bushes at the shell mound, Dauphine
Island, Alabama, were decorated like Christmas trees for the joint FOS/AOS meeting on
27-29 April 1979. The migrants timed their arrival to coincide with ours and the birding was
better than any we have had for years. We did manage to drag ourselves indoors long enough
to elect William D. Courser, President; Brooks H. Atherton, Vice-President; Caroline H.
Coleman, Treasurer; and Barbara C. Kittleson, Secretary. Rebecca Payne, Wally George
and Stephen A. Nesbitt were elected to the Board of Directors for 1979-1981.

At a special meeting in Gainesville, 7 June 1979, the by-laws were amended to comply
with the Internal Revenue Service code for non-profit organizations.

Other items of busine^ included further recognition for Florida Audubon Society in ap-
preciation of all the help they have given us by voting them a gratis subscription to the FFN; a
resolution of thanks to David W. Johnston for his services as president of the FOS; a resolution
of thanks to the AOS for hosting our meeting; and the unanimous election of Samuel A.
Grimes as Honorary Member of the FOS.

The skin quiz, prepared by W. Wilson Baker, was won by Lucy A. Duncan. — Barbara C.
Kittleson, Secretary.

BOOK REVIEW

Fla. Field Nat. 8(1): 33=36, 1980

Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida.— Peter C. H. Pritchard (Series Editor). Volume
One. Mammals.— James N. Layne (Ed.), xx + 52pp., 11 figures, 37 maps. 1978(1979). $5.00.
Volume Two, Birds.— Herbert W. Kale, II (Ed.).xix + 121 pp., 36 figures, 67 maps.
1978(1979). $7.00. Volume Three. Amphibians & Reptiles.— Roy W. McDiarmid (Ed.).
xxii + 74 pp., 42 figures, 44 maps. 1978(1979). $5.50. Volume Four. Fishes. — Carter R.
Gilbert (Ed.), xviii + 58 pp., 33 figures, 43 maps. 1978(1979). $5.00. All volumes available
from University Presses of Florida, Gainesville. — The publication of the first four of the pro-
posed seven- volume series of books on the rare and endangered biota of Florida is a significant
advance in the development of natural history, ecology, and conservation in the state.
Private, state, and federal funds have all been used to support this project for the Florida
Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (FGFWFC). But the major credit goes to a
dedicated and knowledgeable committee of biologists led by their chairman, James N. Layne,
Director of the Archbold Biological Station near Lake Placid, Florida. This committee real-
ized that after the passage of the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1973, states were docu-
menting lists of their endangered animals and plants. Once established, these lists could be
used as a basis for management decisions, land acquisition, and research priorities. The
results of the labors of the Florida Committee on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals
(FCREPA) with regard to vertebrates are published in these four volumes.

The Florida legislature, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the FGFWFC
could do a lot more toward taking responsibility for the preservation of native animals and
plants, and in public education about the natural environment. But the cooperation and sup-
port that produced this series, sppnsored by the Florida Audubon Society and the Florida
Defenders of the Environment, is a solid step forward toward this goal. The books are an at-
tractive and readable summary of our present understanding of those animals that are known
to be rare and may be threatened with extinction if present trends continue. Although states
such as Alabama, Georgia, North Garolina, Missouri, New Mexico, and California have pro-
duced publications of a similar nature, none excel the professional quality and thoroughness
of Florida’s contribution. But this is just one step. The level of environmental awareness of the
average citizen of Florida is much lower than in many other states; many of Florida’s delicate
natural habitats are being degraded rapidly; there is no state-supported biological survey; and
with certain restrictions it is still legal to kill black bear {Ursus americanus). The taxa listed in
the Rules of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (Ch. 39-27, Supp. No. 105, August
1979) as endangered, threatened, or of special concern, have legal protection. The FCREPA
list served as a basis for compiling the official state list, but there are 15 fishes, 23 birds, and 1
mammal that occur in these categories in the FCREPA list but not in the FGFWFC list. The
educational and scientific value of the FCREPA volumes is high, but the practical value will
depend on the commitment of the legislature, the FGFWFC, and the DNR to increase their
program for endangered species. The FGFWFC is presently adding seven new staff members
for this purpose (D. Wood, pers. comm.).

Following a thorough introduction by the editor of each volume, the text is devoted to an
illustrated inventory of animals that are in trouble. In all four volumes the term “endangered”
is applied to taxa that are in danger of extinction if present trends continue. The term
“threatened” is applied to forms that are threatened nationally or are in particular trouble in
Florida; the term “rare” is for species that are sparsely or locally distributed, but not
necessarily in trouble. In addition to the FCREPA Committee, other specialists contributed to
the preparation of some of the species accounts. These have sections for descriptions of exter-
nal morphology, geographic range, habitat, life history and ecology, special characteristics,
basis for classification, recommendations, and references.

Of the 19 endangered and threatened mammals that have federal and/or state protection,
some are more amenable to help by management than others. The gray bat {Myotis
grisescens) needs additional protection immediately. This colonial species migrates to Jackson
County, Florida, where it hibernates in the few caves that are still undisturbed. The account
should have been more explicit on this point. One form of the fox squirrel {Sciurus niger
avicennia) remains only in the Big Cypress Swamp and the Everglades. Another form (S. n.
shermani), inhabiting most of central Florida, was common in the pine-turkey oak association

33

34 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. J, Spring 1980

but that association along with the squirrel is greatly reduced. Although populations
designated as “of special concern” in the Wildlife Code (FGFWFC, 1979) are supposed to be
protected from hunting, there is an open season on fox squirrels lasting from November 1979
to March 1980 except in the seven southernmost counties, the range of S. n. avicennia. Some
of the other endangered rodents, such as the Goff s pocket gopher {Geomys pinetis goffi), the
Key Largo cotton mouse {Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola) , and the Key Largo woodrat
{Neotoma floridana smalli) are so rare and local that preservation may already be hopeless.
The protection and wise management of the smallest form of the white-tailed deer, the Key
deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium), within the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge is a
good example of what can be done to prevent extinction of a population. Procurement of ad-
ditional habitat on Big Pine Key would assure a more substantial and stable population for
deer and for several other endemic forms mentioned below.

One listed mammal occurs exclusively in Florida, the Florida mouse (Peromyscus flori-
danus), and a second, the round-tailed muskrat (Neofiber alleni), is confined to Florida ex-
cept for the population in the Okefenokee Swamp of southeastern Georgia. The latter spe-
cies is of special concern because, although it is locally common in the Everglades, its status
elsewhere is poorly known.

For most species the problem is one of providing adequate habitat. We need research on
the habitat requirements of each species and then we need a way to provide the necessary
habitat in sufficiently large areas to support stable populations. Thus for the Florida mouse
we need additional protection for interior sand dunes; for the Key Vaca raccoon (Procyon
lotor auspicatus), red mangroves; for the Florida form of the mink (Mustela vison lutensis),
salt marshes; for the beach populations of the oldfield mouse (Peromyscus polionotus) , dunes.

Volume 2, edited by Herbert Kale, is a thorough treatment of 68 species of birds native to
Florida, plus six additional races that have distinctive isolated populations. There is also an
account for the Great White Heron, a special color phase of the Great Blue Heron (Ardea
herodias) that nests in mangrove islands in the Florida Keys. This is an interesting example of
a localized genetic variant that is apparently being maintained within a balanced polymor-
phic population. Of the eleven taxa of birds listed as endangered, eight are also on the U.S.
Department of Interior list (Federal Register, Vol. 42, No. 135, July 1977). Two forms of the
Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima) are on both lists. The Dusky Seaside Sparrow (A. m.
nigrescens), common in Brevard Gounty before mosquito control, has declined until by the
summer of 1979 only 13 birds could be found (W. Post, pers. comm.). In spite of the protec-
tion offered by the Merritt Island and the St. Johns National Wildlife Refuges, and a major
research effort on the biology of Seaside Sparrows by the FGFWFG, this population seems
doomed. The South Florida form, the Gape Sable Sparrow (A. m. mirabilis), is now confined
to a restricted area of the interior marshes of the Everglades National Park. It has been
decimated by habitat alteration, but several thousand birds remain. When there were 1000
Dusky Seaside Sparrows 10 years ago, the population was judged to be secure. Four species on
the endangered list that could certainly be helped by habitat protection are the Wood Stork
(Mycteria americana) that breeds in south Florida swamps and mangroves, the Everglade
Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) of open freshwater marshes, the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alex-
andrinus) that nests on isolated sandy beaches of the Gulf Goast, and the Red-cockaded
Woodpecker of mature open southern pinelands. Recent Florida records of the Ivory-billed
Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) (Agey and Heinzmann 1971, Fla. Nat. 44: 46-47, 64),
Bachman’s Warbler (Vermivora bachmanii), Kirtland’s Warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii) and
the isolated Florida race of the Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus)
are so few that governmental protection is impractical.

The accounts of birds that are threatened, rare, of special concern, or of undetermined
status include many specific recommendations that could be implemented rather easily. Pro-
tection for the unique set of species associated with the Florida Keys seems particularly
urgent. The only Florida breeding colonies of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougalii) are in this area.
Major breeding populations in Florida for the Reddish Egret (Dichromanassa rufescens) and
Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja), and in the United States for the Mangrove Guckoo (Coccyzus
minor), the Antillean form of the Gommon Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor vicinus). Black-
whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus) and the Guban form of the Yellow Warbler (Dendroica
petechia gundlachi) are all on the Keys.

Book Review

35

The presently remaining interior prairies and scrublands of peninsular Florida are rem-
nants of habitats that were once continuous across the continent to the Rocky Mountains. So
our isolated populations of the Audubon’s Caracara {Camcara cheriway), the Burrowing
Owl (Athene cunicularia) , and the Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma c. coerulescens) are relics
of great scientific interest. They are part of a former community of species adapted to open
prairie and scrub habitats. To the birds should be added the Florida mouse, and the Florida
scrub lizard (Sceloperm woodi), and other forms discussed below.

Some of Florida’s waterbirds are of special concern. Species accounts for herons, egrets,
ibises, the limpkin, rails, and marsh wrens, all call for increasing protection for marshes. Ac-
counts for the terns and shorebirds document the need for additional protection for open
beachra. The long-term benefits of preserving natural areas are very evident from the refug«
and parks that have already been established. Such foresight is of much greater value to
Florida’s future than the short-term economic benefits of the development of these habitats
for agriculture or real estate.

In the introduction to Volume 3, Roy McDiarmid gives an excellent summary of the broad
distributional patterns of Florida’s amphibians and reptiles by geographic provinces and by
specific habitats. After I read these specie accounts, in addition to those in the other volum«,
I realized more than ever that the entire question of endangered biota hinges on understand-
ing the relationship between the animal in question and the speci«-specific resources it re-
quires. The destruction of habitats that characterized Florida’s landscape in the past has
reduced entire sets of species to the remnants of their former habitat that are now held in
public ownership or have not been altered in critical ways. Thus the remaining sand pine
(Pinus clausa) scrub association that once dominated the xeric central ridge of Florida is now
a living museum of relic populations. Preservation of a substantial area of the remaining scrub
association, say in Highlands County near Sebring, would protect the rare Florida scrub
lizard, the endemic sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) and short-tailed snake (Stilosoma ex-
tenuatum), the threatened blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregim Uvidm), plus the
threatened gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemm) and the Florida gopher frog (Rana
areloata aesopm). Protection for additional sites in the Lower Florida Keys is also urgent. The
Keys’ rare and endangered fauna include fewer than six threatened or rare snakes, turtles, and
lizards, the Key deer, the unique avifauna of the Lower Keys, and two rare fish nearby, the
Key silverside (Menidia conchorum) and the Key blenny (Starksia starcki) . The tables in the
first three volumes for the distribution of species by habitat are helpful, but a major effort to
reorganize the species treated in all four volumes into one system of quantitative information
on habitats would be very useful for setting priorities for the preservation of our endangered
biota.

As the least mobile vertebrate class, the amphibiam have a striking nuinbci oi disjunct
distributions and endemic forms. The endangered Pine Barrens tree frog (Hula andersoni),
that occurs in seepage bogs in the Panhandle, is a prime example. The threatrDfd seal
salamander (Desmognathm monticola) in Escambia County and the four-toed salamander
(Hemidactylum scutatum) in Walton County are disjunct populations as well; the one-toed
amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter) and the Georgia blind salamander (Haideotriton wallacei)
are endemic to northern Florida and a few localities in southern Georgia. Of the six en-
dangered reptiles, three are sea turtle. Beaches where the green turtles (Chelonia mydm) and
the threatened Atlantic loggerhead (Caretta caretta) n«t, such as on Jupiter and Hutchinson
islands on Florida’s east coast, n^d protection from disturbance from May through Augmt.

In volume 4, edited by Carter Gilbert, the terms “threatened” and “rare” are also used for
forms that have stable populations outside Florida and the periphery of whose geographic
ranges extend into Florida. The terminolo©^ for the Key silverside, proposed for the federal
list, may need reconsideration after the completion of taxonomic studies by Charte Duggins,
a graduate student at Florida State University. He has evidence that this form is a race or a
distinctive population of a silverside widely distributed in the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The
endangered Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) n^ds particular attention in Okaloosa
and Walton counties where intense competition with another darter occurs. A striking exam-
ple of the insufficiency of our information is the blackmouth shiner (Notropis sp), which after
its initial discovery in 1937 in Santa Rosa County was not relocated until 1976.

A particularly interesting feature of Florida’s vertebrate fauna is the great extent of

36 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 1, Spring 1980

geographic variation in the size, shape, and color within species. This is recognized in the of-
ficial taxonomy by the designation of subspecific trinomial names. But in cases of continuous
distributions, many subspecific categories are artificial and the geographic variation is actu-
ally clinal (Barlow 1961, Syst. Zool. 10: 105-118 for fishes; Christman 1975, Ph.D. Diss.
Univ. Fla., Gainesville for snakes; James 1970, Ecology 51: 365-390, and Howe, Layborne
and James 1977, Fla. Sci. 40: 273-280 for birds). The subspecific categories have more valid-
ity in cases of discontinuous distributions, but the designation of endangered forms in all
federal and state publications relies too heavily on subspecies that were described many years
ago and might not survive scrutiny with larger samples and statistical analysis. It is important
to protect isolated populations, but it is also important to distinguish between isolated popula-
tions and endangered species.

I think lists of endangered species should be organized by species and should give the com-
mon name of the species as well as the subspecies. For instance, for the Key deer you would
have: white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, in the Florida Keys (Key deer, O. v.
clavium); for the blue-tailed mole skink: mole skink, Eumeces egregius, in Polk and
Highlands counties (Blue-tailed mole skink, E. e. Uvidus) and for the gray bat: gray bat,
Myotis grisescens, entire range including winter sites in Jackson County. This would
distinguish between endangered species and endangered local populations, and would avoid
problems with multiple common names and emphasis on subspecies that may turn out to be
invalid.

Overall these four volumes form a marvelous summary of Florida’s rare and endangered
biota. They can be used as a stimulus for further investigation. When a revision is prepared
there should be more synthesis among the volumes, with a unified system of habitat categories
that apply to all groups. An index would have been useful, and there should have been more
attention to the clarity and accuracy of the range maps.

The proposed final volume, after plants and invertebrates, is to be on recommendations.
Some are already stated in the species accounts and by the editors. Clearly we need a vigorous
state-supported program to: 1) increase public ownership of critical habitat; 2) initiate a state
supported biological survey; 3) enforce regulations to prevent exploitation of the fauna; and 4)
publicize information so that the citizens of Florida will appreciate their nongame wildlife. I
am grateful to Ralph Yerger for comments on Volume 4, and to Noel O. Warner, William B.
Robertson, Jr., Don Wood, and Henry M. Stevenson for comments on the
manuscript. — Frances C. James.

Also Received

Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida. — Peter C. H. Pritchard (Series Editor). Volume 5.
Plants. — Daniel B. Ward (Ed.). Gainesville, University Presses of Florida, xxix -t- 175 pp., 90
figures, 170 maps. (1979). $10.50 — Same format and style as Volumes 1-4 reviewed in this
issue.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A semi-annual publication of The Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, ArchboM Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.
Editorial Advisory Board:

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124.
William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new information on the biology

of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Submit manuscripts in triplicate to the Editor. They should be typed, double-spaced, on one
side of numbered sheets of standard (8V^ X 11 in.) bond paper, with at least one inch margins all
around. Type tables on separate sheets and use space efficiently. Photographs should be glossy
prints of good contrast and sharpness, and should be approximately the same size as they will
appear in print. Diagrams and line drawings should be in black ink with lettering large enough
to permit reduction. For advice on preparing illustrations, consult Steps Toward Better Scientific
Illustrations by A. Allen, Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas.

Titles should be short and descriptive and the body of the article concise. Follow the form
and style of a recent issue of the Florida Field Naturalist. Use the Council of Biology Editors (CBE)
Style Manual, Fourth Edition (AIBS 1978) in preparing manuscripts. All references should be
cited in the body of the text and listed at the end under “Literature Cited.” Text citations
should indicate author and year of publication, e.g. (Bond 1961). If there are more than two
authors list the first followed by “et al.” (e.g. Blair et al. 1968). Indicate specific pages of longer
works, e.g. (Bond 1961: 44). If there are five or fewer references they should be cited only in the
text, e.g, (Spmnt 1954, Florida bird life, New York, Coward McCann, Inc.) or (Cruickshank 1974,
Fla. Field Nat. 2: 1-3).

Capitalize the English name of bird species, and follow the first mention of a species in text
by the scientific name, underlined, in parentheses. Scientific names should follow a widely ac-
cepted authority for the group of animals or plants involved. For North American birds use the
A.O.U. Check-list, fifth ed. (1957) and its Supplements, the 32nd (1973, Auk 90: 411-419) and
the 33rd (1976, Auk 94: 875-979).

Use abbreviations sparingly in the text except parenthetically e.g. “Lake Placid (12 km S).”
The metric system is preferred for all measurements. Use the 24-hour time system (0700 or 1645)

and the military date system (4 July 1976).

OTHER FOS PUBLICATIONS

Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon Field Notes and American Birds Volumes
1-30 1947-1976, by Margaret C. Bowman. xiH-42 pp. 1978. FOS Spec. Publ. No. 1. Price $3.75
prepaid, order from Treasurer (see inside front cover).

CONTENTS

TRENDS IN NUMBERS OF AMERICAN KESTRELS ON
ROADSIDE COUNTS IN SOUTHCENTRAL FLORIDA

FROM 1968 TO 1976 . James N. Layne 1

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE GRAY-
THROATED FORM OF ANOLIS CAROLINENSIS
(REPTILIA: IGUANIDAE) ............ Steven P. Christman 11

GENERAL NOTES

A Green Heron gleaning honeybees £. Scott Clark 17

Ringneck Ducks breeding in a north-central Florida lake

Thomas M. Goodwin 18

Osprey nest concentrations in northwest Florida Neal F. Eichholz 18

Dusting by Saridhill Cranes in Florida Lawrence Kilham 19

A rare gathering of Red Knots on Casey Key, Florida

Stanley Stedman and Annette F. Stedman 20

An early record of the Band-tailed Gull in Florida

Henry M. Stevenson, Lyman E. Goodnight and Curtis L, Kingsbery 21
Ruddy Quail Dove again at Dry Tortugas

William B. Robertson, Jr., and Beryl Given 23
Notes on the food habits of the Burrowing Owl in Duval County, Florida

Willard W. Hennemann, III 24

Two more records of the Tropical Kingbird for Florida

Ann Y. Ayers, Paul W. Sykes, Jr., and Wesley J. Sykes 25

Assemblages of Tree Swallows as information centers Lawrence Kilham 26

Eastern coachwhip predation on nestling Blue Jays ........... Fred E. Lohrer 28

Eastern coachwhip predation on juvenile Scrub Jays ...... Thomas A. Webber 29

Bahama Mockingbird sighting on Elliot Key, Florida

Robert P. Russell, Jr., Oron L. Bass, Jr., and Paul W. Sykes, Jr. 31

NOTES AND NEWS 32

REPORT ON THE 1979 SPRING

AND JUNE MEETINGS Barbara C. Kittleson 32

BOOK REVIEW . . 33

RECORD REVIEW 16

ALSO RECEIVED . 36

fgfgs

Birds Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VOL. 8 FALL 1980 NO. 2

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972

Officers for 1979=1981

President: William D. Courser, 885 North Pinehurst, Spring Hill, Florida 33512.

Vice-President: Brooks H. Atherton, 4619 Woodmere Drive, Tampa, Florida 33609.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803.

Treasurer: Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605.

Assistant Treasurer: John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Assistant Treasurer: Patricia J. Lanzillotti, 2135 NW 28th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605.
Editor o/^ Florida Field Naturalist: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180,
Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Editor of Ornithological Newsletter: Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon Society, 35=lst
Court SW, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

Editor of Special Publications: John William Hardy, The Florida State Museum, Univer-
sity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Directors 1978-1980

Theodore H. Below, P. O. Box 554, Naples, Florida 33940.

Robert A. Duncan, 614 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561.

Virginia M. Markgraf, 3415 Ponce de Leon Ave., Jacksonville, Florida 32217.

Directors 1979-1981

Wally George, 2625 North Andrews— No. 102, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311.

Stephen A. Nesbitt, 4005 South Main Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Rebecca Payne, Rt. 1, Box 77, Maitland, Florida 32751.

All persons interested in Florida natural history, particularly its abundant bird life, are in-
vited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by writing the Treasurer. Membership dues are
$5.00 per year for regular members (those who are members of the Florida Audubon Society),
$6.00 per year for associate members, and $2.00 per year for student members. All members re-
ceive the Florida Field Naturalist. Subscription price for institutions and non-members is $6.00
per year. Single issues are $3.00 per copy.

Manuscripts submitted for publication and books intended for review should be sent to the
Editor (see inside back cover). Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or defective
copies of this journal, and requests for information about advertising, subscriptions, and back
numbers should be sent to the Treasurer, Caroline Coleman, 1 701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville,
Florida 32601.

Published semi-annually by the Florida Ornithological Society, Gainesville, Florida 32601.
Printed by Storter Printing Co., Inc., P.O. Box 1409, Gainesville, Florida 32602.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Semi-Annual Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 8, No. 2 Fall 1980 Pages 37-56

REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF THREE HERON SPECIES
ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA

James A. Rodgers, Jr.

Most species of herons in Florida are listed as “species of special con-
cern” because they have experienced decreases in their range and
numbers (Kale 1978). The primary reason for their decline in the recent
past is the overdrainage of wetlands in Florida. How this has affected
ardeids may be learned from their breeding success and ecological re-
quirements. However, few data exist on the reproductive success of
herons in Florida (e.g. Jeoni 1969, Maxwell and Kale 1977); less so for the
west coast of Florida (Rodgers, in press). This paper provides data on the
reproductive success of the Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), Louisiana Heron
{Hydranassa tricolor) and Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax
■violacea) in the Tampa Bay region.

Methods and Study Area

Data were collected during 1976 and 1977 on Sunken Island (27 °5' N, 82 W), Hills-
borough Bay, Hillsborough County, Florida, where large numbers of heroes and White
{Eudocimus alhus) and Glossy ibis {Plegadis falcinellm) nest. The dominant canopy and
nesting vegetation on this spoil island is Brazilian pepper {Schinus terebinthifolim), black
mangrove {Avicennia germinam), white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) and cabbage
palm {Sabal palmetto). See Lewis and Lewis (1978) for a detailed description of the vegeta-
tion, Nests were checked once or twice weekly. Because of the small sample size, data for 1976
and 1977 were combined.

Results and Discussion

The clutch size, percent of eggs hatching and nestling survivorship to 2
weeks of age are in Table 1. The mean clutch sizes for Snowy Egrets and
Louisiana Herons on Sunken Island are relatively low when compared to

37 Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 37-40, 1980

38 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 2, Fall 1980

data from other studies. Reported mean clutches for the Snowy Egret are

2.9 (Maxwell and Kale 1977), 3.2 (Teal 1965), 3.0-3.5 (Wiese 1978) and

3.9 (Jenni 1969). Reported mean clutches for the Louisiana Heron are
2. 2-2. 7 (Gaston and Johnston 1977), 3.0 (Rodgers 1978), 3.1 (Teal 1965,
Maxwell and Kale 1977), 3.2 (Wiese 1978) and 4.1 (Jenni 1969). A general
trend in these two species is for larger clutches in more northern latitudes
(Teal 1965, Wiese 1978) and freshwater habitats (Jenni 1969). No com-
parative data exist for the Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

Table 1. Clutch size and nestling survival rate of three heron species on Sunken Island,
Tampa Bay, Florida during 1976 and 1977.

Louisiana

Heron

Snowy

Egret

Y ellow-crowned
Night Heron

Clutch size

X±S.E.

2.79±0.10^

3.15±0.15^

2.94 ±0.17°

mode

3

3

3

range

2-4

2-4

2-5

No. eggs hatching/nest

X±S.E.

2.66±0.10^

2.82±0.23‘

2.55±0.25P

mode

3

3

3

range

2-4

2-4

1-4

% eggs hatched

96.6%

91.2%

90.3%

No. 1-week old young/nest
X±S.E.

2.51±0.10^

2.54 ±0.22^

2.36±0.23‘5

mode

3

3

2

range

1-4

1-4

1-4

No. 2- week old young/ nest

X±S.E.

1.89±0.17^

2.00±0.39*'

2.25±0.3T

mode

2

2

2

range

0-3

0-4

1-4

Survival rates

egg-1 week

89.9%^

80.5 %^

83.9%^

egg- 2 weeks

64.7%^

62.5%^

81.8%"

hatched to 1 week

97.6%®

93.5%^

100%"

hatched to 2 weeks

70.5%^

70.8%"™

94.7 %‘

1 week to 2 weeks

73.3%^

76.9%"

94.7%^

® N = 109 eggs, 39 nests. ^ N = 41 eggs, 13 nests. ° N = 53 eggs, 18 nests.

= 88 eggs, 32 nests. ‘ N = 34 eggs, 11 nests. PN = 31 eggs, 11 nests.

N = 109 eggs, 98 young, 39 nests. ^ N = 41 eggs, 33 young, 13 nests. = 31 eggs, 26 young, 11 nests.

N = 102 eggs, 66 young, 35 nests. N = 32 eggs, 20 young, 10 nests. '' N = 22 eggs, 18 young, 8 nests.

® N = 85 young, 32 nests. ’ N = 31 young, 11 nests. * N = 22 young, 9 nests.

^ N = 78 young, 30 nests. "’N = 24 young, 8 nests. * N = 19 young, 8 nests.

^ N = 90 young, 35 nests. " N = 26 young, 10 nests.

RODGERS, JR. • Heron Reproductive Success

39

I observed no egg loss from nest collapse or predation. The percent of
Snowy Egret and Louisiana Heron eggs hatching on Sunken Island is high
in relation to other studies. Maxwell and Kale (1977) reported 82% and
87% hatching success for Snowy Egrets and Louisiana Herons respec-
tively. Wiese (1978) found 90.9-92.1% for Snowy Egret and 84.6% for
Louisiana Heron hatching success.

The greatest mortality on Sunken Island occurs when the nestlings are
1-2 weeks of age (Table 1). Nestling survival rates to 2 weeks of age on
Sunken Island tend to be low when compared to other studies. Reported
survival rates to similar ages are 57.5% (Jenni 1969) and 71.2% (Maxwell
and Kale 1977) for Snowy Egrets and 64.2% (Jenni 1969), 79.5% (Max-
well and Kale 1977) and 87.5% (Rodgers 1978) for Louisiana Herons. I
suspect most of the nestling mortality on Sunken Island is due to starva-
tion since deaths were most often among the youngest nestlings (Snowy
Egret 71 % , Louisiana Heron 66%). Perhaps the reduced amount of rain-
fall experienced by the west-central Florida region during the past 10-12
years (data from the National Weather Service, Climatic Center,
Ashfield, NC) has resulted in less foraging habitat on the mainland;
hence, less food is available to the nestlings. Cattle Egrets {Bubulcus ibis)
(Siegfried 1972) and Little Blue Herons {Florida caerulea) (Rodgers in
press) also exhibit higher nestling mortality during the second week and
among the youTigest siblings.

The success of a nest (egg to 2-week old young) in relation to the brood
size varied among the herons on Sunken Island and may reflect low sam-
ple size. Louisiana Heron 2-egg clutches (N = 8) had a mean of 1.4 chicks
(68.8% survival rate), 3-egg clutches (N = 22) had a mean of 1.9 chicks
(63.6% survival rate) and 4-egg clutches (N = 5) had a mean of 2.6 chicks
(65.0% survival rate). Yellow-crowned Night Heron 2-egg clutches
(N =3) had a mean of 1.2 chicks (83.3% survival rate), 3-egg clutches
(N = 4) had a mean of 1.3 chicks (75.0% survival rate) and 4-egg clutches
(N = 1) had a mean of 4.0 chicks (100% survival rate). Snowy Egret 2-egg
clutches (N = 1) had a mean of 1.0 chick (50.0% survival rate), 3-egg
clutches (N = 6) had a mean of 1.7 chicks (55.6% survival rate) and 4-egg
clutches (N = 3) had a mean of 3.0 chicks (75.0% survival rate). St. Clair
Raye and Burger (1979) found little difference in survival rates to 13 days
among different size Snowy Egret broods with a larger sample size.

Acknowledgements

Grants from the National Audubon Society and AOU Josselyn Van Tyne Memorial Fund
helped defray costs of my research while I was a graduate student in the Department of
Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa. F. M. Dunstan, R. E. Campbell and L. B.
Rodgers assisted me in the fieldwork. I thank H. W. Kale, II, and F. E. Lohrer for comments
that improved the quality of this manuscript.

40 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 2, Fall 1980

Literature Cited

Gaston, G. R., and P. G. Johnston. 1977. Nesting success and mortality of nestlings in a
coastal Alabama heron-egret colony. Northeast Gulf Science 1: 14-22.

Jenni, D. a. 1969. A study of the ecology of four species of herons during the breeding
season at Lake Alice, Alachua County, Florida. Ecol. Monogr. 39: 245-270.

Kale, H. W., 11 (Ed.). 1978. Rare and endangered biota of Florida. Vol. 2. Birds. Gaines-
ville, Univ. Presses of Florida.

Lewis, R. R., Ill, and C. S. Lewis. 1978. Colonial bird use and plant succession on dredged
material islands in Florida. Vol. II: pattern of plant succession. Environmental Effects
Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Tech. Rept. D-78-
14, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Maxwell, G. R., II, and H. W. Kale II . 1977. Breeding biology of five species of herons
in coastal Florida. Auk 94: 689-700.

Rodgers, J. A., Jr. 1978. Breeding behavior of the Louisiana Heron. Wilson Bull. 90: 45-59.

Rodgers, J. A., Jr. in press. Breeding ecology of the Little Blue Heron on the west coast of
Florida. Condor.

Siegfried, W. R. 1972. Food requirements and growth of Cattle Egrets in South Africa. Liv-
ing Bird 11: 193-206.

St. Clair Raye, S., and J. Burger. 1979. Behavioral determinants of nestling success of
Snowy Egrets {Leucophoyx thula). Amer. Midi. Nat. 102: 76-85.

Teal, J. M. 1965. Nesting success of egrets and herons in Georgia. Wilson Bull. 77: 257-263.

Wiese, J. H. 1978. A study of the reproductive biology of herons, egrets, and ibis nesting
on Pea Patch Island, Delaware. Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, Massachusetts.

Tampa Bay Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Audubon Society, 1020
82nd St. South, Tampa, Florida 33619.

Report on the 1979 fall meeting. — Helen and Bill Dowling were the hosts for the 5-7 Oc-
tober 1979 FOS meeting at the Ramada Inn Oceanside, Ft. Pierce, Florida, and put on a
well-organized and most pleasant meeting for the 146 people who registered. Land birding
was good with many migrants going through, but the pelagic trip was not as productive. The
field trips led by Bill Dowling, Margaret C. Bowman and Herbert W. Kale, II, yielded
Peregrine Falcons and 24 species of warblers among others. Saturday’s paper session included
“Summer behavior of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in south Florida” by Barbara Brownsmith,
“Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity use and competition” by Robert W. Repenning, “Dusky
Seaside Sparrow research” by William Post, “Status of feral Budgerigars in Florida” by Anne
F. Shapiro, and “Effects of phosphate mining on north Florida bird communities” by David
S. Maehr. The Florida Chapter of the Wildlife Society met jointly with us and held a Satur-
day morning symposium on the restoration of the Kissimmee River, The banquet program
“The best of Brooks Atherton” featured outstanding Florida bird photographs from Pensacola
to the Dry Tortugas, The skin quiz, entirely on sparrows, was won by Jack Dozier. The
Director’s meeting took up the following issues: by-laws revision; dues increase effective in
1981 with regular membership set at $10.00 and with schedule for other membership classes
to be prepared by the finance committee; dealers selling FOS Special Publications will be
allowed a discount of 25%; local committees will make the decision to allow vendors at
meetings and whether to charge them a fee. — Barbara C. Kittleson, Secretary.

THE DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS OF RED-COCKADED
WOODPECKER COLONIES IN FLORIDA: 1969-1978

W. Wilson Baker, Richard L. Thompson and R. Todd Engstrom

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis), which is endemic
to southeastern United States, has been listed as endangered since 1970
(Federal Register 35:16047). The primary cause of its decline is loss of
habitat, namely the fire-controlled, mature pine ecosystem. Current and
accurate inventory of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker is paramount to the
successful restoration and management of this species throughout its
former range. Recent studies (Jackson 1971, 1979, Jackson et al. 1976,
Miller 1978, Nicholson 1977, Wood 1975) report on the distribution and
status of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker in some states and localities. The
senior author has systematically recorded Red-cockaded colonies
throughout its entire range starting in 1967. Early results of this study
were reported by Thompson and Baker (1971). The objective of this
report is to locate all occupied or recently occupied Red-cockaded
Woodpecker habitat during the years 1969-1978, and to list the owner-
ship of the land on which they occur.

The authors are grateful to the many individuals who helped us locate
Red-cockaded colonies. We hope this report will stimulate others to look
for and report Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Records of all known active,
inactive, and destroyed Red-cockaded Woodpecker colonies are kept at
Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, Florida.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker Habitat Requirements and Methods

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is rather habitat specific, which makes an inventory of
colonies and populations easier than for many wildlife species. The Red-cockaded requires
mature pines: longleaf {Pinus palustris), loblolly (F. taeda), shortleaf (F. echinata), pond (F,
serotina), or slash (F. elUottii) (U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. 1979). Typical Red-cockaded habitats
are characterized by older, open pine stands, a low understory usually maintained by periodic
fires, and individual pine trees of large diameter and flattened crowns.

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers use pine trees in a distinctive manner. They select a mature
living pine, usually infected with redheart disease caused by the fungus (PhelUnus pini), in
which they dig a 2-inch diameter cavity by chipping through the living sapwood and
downward into the softened diseased heartwood. Activities of the Red-cockaded that make
the cavity tree distinctive include flaking bark and drilling small wounds (“resin wells”)
around the cavity entrance. The resulting resin flow gives the tree a glazed appearance which
turns whitish with age, and contrasts with the darker surface of the tree bark. Flaking loose
bark from the cavity tree gives it a smooth, almost reddish appearance because of the newly
exposed, unweathered bark. Usually several cavity trees stand in close proximity. Thus, a col-
ony is the area prescribed by an aggregation of cavity trees habitually used by a family group
of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (U.S. Fish. Wild. Serv. 1979). Although these characteristics

41

Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 41-45, 1980

42 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 2, Fall 1980

signal the presence of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, the only valid criteria for listing a colony
as active is proof of a nesting attempt. We generally follow the criteria reported by Jackson
(1977) to determine status of a colony.

The colonies reported here were located by several techniques most of which rely on
observation of trees with characteristics of Red-cockaded Woodpecker activity. Most sites
were located by random search of potential habitats and chance encounters from roadside
observations. Other methods used include systematic transects in potential habitat and chance
observations during forest inventory surveys. Many of the colonies on Eglin Air Force Base
(AFB) were located by systematic transects from helicopters. Verification of these was pro-
vided by ground crews trained to recognize Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity trees. Informa-
tion about other localities of birds or colonies came from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Breeding Bird Surveys and Audubon Christmas Bird Counts. A final technique used com-
parison of old aerial photographs with more recent photographs to identify potential habitats.
These were verified by field inspection for presence or absence of colonies.

Results

A total of 943 Red-cockaded Woodpecker colonies was located in 37 of
Florida’s 67 counties in the lO-year period 1969-1978 (see Fig. I). Not in-
cluded in the total, are II colonies known to have been destroyed by
man’s actions. The authors inspected nearly all of the colonies except
those in the Apalachicola National Forest and Eglin AFB where they in-
spected about half and relied on records from cooperators for the others.
Naturally the status of some colonies may have changed during the
lO-year period of our study. Additionally, records provided by
cooperators may not indicate if a colony was active or inactive. The
records at Tall Timbers list 6.5 % of the known colonies as inactive at date
of last inspection.

The number of active or inactive colonies, by county, are as follows:
Alachua, 7; Baker, 14; Bay, 5; Bradford, I; Brevard, 2; Charlotte, 15;
Citrus, 8; Clay, 28; Collier, 5; Columbia, 38; Duval, 3; Franklin, 37;
Glades, 2; Hernando, 3; Highlands, II; Holmes, I; Indian River, I; Jef-
ferson, I; Lake, 5; Leon, 87; Levy, I; Liberty, 243; Madison, I; Marion,
28; Martin, 2; Nassau, 3; Okaloosa, 190; Orange, 7; Osceola, 10; Palm
Beach, 8; Polk, 13; Putnam, 2; St. Johns, I; Santa Rosa, 66; Volusia, 5;
Wakulla, 63; and Walton, 26. Two additional counties. Gulf and
Sarasota, have sight records of the woodpeckers during the study, but no
cavity trees were found.

Ten counties, including important areas such as Eglin AFB,
Blackwater Forest, Camp Blanding, Apalachicola, Osceola and Ocala
National Forests, account for 85% of the 943 colonies. Ownership of the
land on which these colonies occur is presented in Table 1. Lands owned
privately, while accounting for only 8.8% of the statewide total, have
colonies in 29 of the 37 counties. Red-cockaded colonies on private lands
are the only known locations in many of these counties. A conservative

BAKER, ET AL. • Red-cockaded Woodpecker

43

estimate of the total population of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in
Florida, using an average of 3 birds per active colony, is 2646 individuals.

Conclusion

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 has increased interest in conduct-
ing surveys for endangered species on public lands. Yet many of these
areas have been inadequately surveyed for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.
Also, although many counties in Florida have little or no suitable habitat
for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, either historically or currently, extensive
areas in private ownership still remain mostly unsurveyed.

Fig. 1. Red-cockaded Woodpecker colonies in Florida; 1969-1978.

44 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 2, Fall 1980

The importance of public-owned lands to the future of the Red-
cockaded Woodpecker is made obvious in Table 1. Over 90% of the
known colonies are on land controlled by federal, state or city agencies.
Careful timber management on these lands is of critical importance to the
survival of the species.

Table 1. Land ownership of Red-cockaded Woodpecker colonies in Florida.

Land ownership classification

Number
of colonies^

Percent
of total

Publicly Owned Land

National Forests

486

51.5

Ocala

33

3.5

Osceola

51

5.4

Apalachicola

402

42.6

Military Bases

292

31.0

Camp Blanding

28

3.0

Eglin A.F.B.

243

25.8

Avon Park

21

2.2

National Wildlife Refuges

St. Marks

3

0.3

National Parks

Big Cypress

2

0.2

State Wildlife Management Areas^

27

2.9

Corbett

8

0.9

Webb

14

1.5

3-Lakes Ranch

5

0.5

State Forests

39

4.1

Blackwater

28

3.0

Carey

1

0.1

Withlacoochee

10

1.0

State Parks

6

0.6

Ochlockonee River

1

0.1

J. Dickinson

2

0.2

Collier-Seminole

1

0.1

Tosoh atchee

1

0.1

Prairie Lakes

1

0.1

Other

5

0.5

TOTAL

860

91.2

Privately Owned Land

Timber Companies

16

1.7

Other

67

7.1

TOTAL

83

8.8

Active and inactive.
Vee title areas only.

BAKER, ET AL. • Red-cockaded Woodpecker

45

Literature Cited

Jackson, J. A. 1971. The evolution, taxonomy, distribution, past populations, and current
status of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Pp. 4-29 in R. L. Thompson, (ed.). The ecol-
ogy and management of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. U. S. Dept. Int., Bur. Sport
Fish. Wildl., and Tall Timbers Res. Sta., Tallahassee, Florida.

Jackson, J. A. 1977. Determination of the status of Red-cockaded Woodpecker colonies.
J. Wildl. Manage. 41: 448-452.

Jackson, J. A. 1979. Analysis of the distribution and population status of the Red-cockaded
Woodpecker. Pp. 101-111 in R. R. Odom and L. Landers (eds.) Proceedings of the
rare and endangered wildlife symposium, Ga. Dept. Nat. Res., Game Fish Div., Tech.
Bull. WL-4.

Jackson, J. A., R. Weeks, and P, Shindala. 1976. The present status and future of Red-
cockaded Woodpeckers in Kentucky. Kentucky Warbler 52: 75-80.

Miller, G. L. 1978. The population, habitat, breeding, and behavioral ecology of the Red-
cockaded Woodpecker {Picoides borealis) in southeastern Virginia. Master’s Thesis, The
Gollege of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va.

Nicholson, G. P. 1977. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker in Tennessee. Migrant 48: 53-62.

Thompson, R. L., and W. W. Baker. 1971. A survey of Red-cockaded Woodpecker habitat
requirements. Pp. 170-186 in R. L. Thompson, (ed.). The ecology and management
of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. U. S. Dept, Int., Bur. Sport Fish, Wildl., and Tall
Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, Florida.

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1979. Red-cockaded Woodpecker Plan, prepared by U. S.
Fish and Wildl. Ser. in cooperation with the recovery team.

Wood, D, A. 1975. Status, habitat, home range, and notes on the behavior of the Red-
cockaded Woodpecker in Oklahoma. Master’s Thesis, Oklahoma Univ., Stillwater,
Okla.

Baker and Engstrom, Tall Timbers Research Station, Route 1, Box
160, Tallahassee, Florida 32312, and Thompson, 2639 N. Monroe Street,
B56, Tallahassee, Florida 32303.

NOTES AND NEWS

Fall 1980 meeting.— Daytona Beach, Florida, 9-11 October 1980. Garleton Smith,
Daytona Audubon Society, local committee chairman.

Spring 1981 meeting. — Tallahassee, Florida, 24-26 April 1981. W. Wilson Baker, Tall
Timbers Research Station, local committee chairman. Wilson will try to make this a joint
meeting with the Georgia Ornithological Society and/or the Alabama Ornithological Society.

Acknowledgement.— I am thankful to the following 22 people for their assistance in re-
viewing manuscripts that appeared in volume 8 of the FFN. Individuals who have reviewed
more than one manuscript are indicated by an asterisk. T. H. Below, W. D. Gourser, P. A.
DeBenedictis, *J. W. Fitzpatrick, J. S. Godley, S. A. Grimes, J. A. Jackson, H. W. Kale,
II, J, A. Kushlan, *A. J. Meyerriecks, *S. A. Nesbitt, J. G. Ogden, O. T. Owre, *R. T. Paul,
*W. B. Robertson, Jr., P. W. Sykes, Jr., N. F. Snyder, H. M. Stevenson, L. H. Walkinshaw,
T. A. Webber, J. W. Wiley, *G. E. Woolfenden. — F.E.L.

GENERAL NOTES

Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 46, 1980

A specimen of the Blue-faced Booby in northwest Florida. — On 8 September 1979, as
Brooks and Lyn Atherton and I walked along the beach near Bald Point, Franklin County,
Florida, Brooks noticed a weathered bird skull on the sand well above the high-tide mark. We
agreed that it appeared to be the skull of a Gannet {Mortis bassanus), but a later comparison
with sulid study skins in the Tall Timbers Research Station’s collection indicated that it was
too small for that species.

I sent the specimen to Storrs L. Olson, National Museum of Natural History; he wrote (17
Sept. 1979) that it was the skull of a Blue-faced Booby {Sula dactylatra) and described the dif-
ferences between the skull of that species and those of M. bassanus, S. sula, S. leucogaster,
and S. nebouxii.

Although frequently seen at the Dry Tortugas and collected there by Paul Bartsch (Howell
1932), the Blue-faced Booby is seldom encountered in other parts of Florida. Along the coast
of northwest Florida I note the following published sight records: two at Destin, 14 July 1950
(Lowery and Newman 1951); single birds off Pensacola “considered to be of this species” on
14 May 1933 and 27 July 1952 (Weston 1965); six seen about 9 miles off St. Marks Light, 23
April 1966 (Cunningham 1966; the corrigendum I published for this record [Stevenson 1967:
561] was based on a misunderstanding); one at Santa Rosa Island, 31 March 1976 (Hamilton
1976). However, the only prior specimen from northwest Florida was one picked up alive by
Mary Ann Olson at Panama City Beach on 8 June 1978. Shortly after its demise, Storrs L.
Olson prepared the bird as a study skin for the National Museum of Natural History (Jackson
and Cooley 1978). The skull from Bald Point is number 3657 in the Tall Timbers collection.

Literature Cited

Cunningham, R. 1966. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 20: 496-501.

Hamilton, R. B. 1976. Central southern region. Amer. Birds 30: 728-732.

Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life. Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game Fresh Water Fish.
Jackson, J. A., and C. D. Cooley. Central southern region. Amer. Birds 32: 1171-1175.
Lowery, G. H., Jr., and R. J. Newman. 1951. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes
5: 22-24.

Ogden, J. C. 1972. Florida region. Amer. Birds 26: 847-852.

Stevenson, H. M. 1967. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 21: 558-561.

Weston, F. M. 1965. A survey of the birdlife of northwestern Florida. Tall Timbers Re-
search Station Bull. No. 5.

Henry M. Stevenson, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Rox 160, Tallahassee, Flor-
ida 32312.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 46-47, 1980

Little Blue Heron breeding bare-part coloration and plumage characteristics. — Great
change in bare-part coloration during the breeding season is characteristic of ardeids (Palmer
1962, Handbook of North American birds, vol. 1, New Haven, Yale Univ. Press; Cramp and
Simmons 1977, Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, vol. 1,
Cambridge, Oxford Univ. Press). Information I gathered in Tampa Bay, Hillsborough
County, Florida, on known age Little Blue Herons {Florida caerulea) marked with in-
dividually numbered leg streamers differs from Palmer’s (1962) description of Little Blue
Herons.

46

General Notes

47

By February adult Little Blue Herons assume the definitive alternate plumage (described
in Palmer 1962) and begin acquiring breeding bare-part coloration associated with courtship:
iris grayish-green; orbital skin and base of bill turquoise-cobalt; bill tip, legs and feet black. I
observed no differences between the sexes. By the ninth day after pair formation, beginning
with the orbital region adjacent to the feathers, these colors begin to slowly fade to the non-
courtship coloration: iris yellowish-cream; orbital skin and base of the bill light gray; bill tip
black; legs and feet grayish-green.

Many subadult Little Blue Herons (i.e. calico plumaged) first participate in breeding ac-
tivities at age 10-13 months (Rodgers 1978, Natl. Audubon Soc. Res. Rept. No. 7: 35-39).
Their breeding bare-part colors exhibit variation: iris yellowish to whitish; orbital skin and
base of bill pale turquoise-cobalt; bill tip black; legs and feet grayish-green to light gray. The
nonbreeding colors are similar to those of older juveniles (described by McVaugh 1972, Living
Bird 11: 155-173). By 10 months of age subadults generally exhibit evidence of slate-colored
feathers that give the crest, lower neck and scapular regions a grayish appearance. In addi-
tion, many coverts, some secondaries, primaries and scapular feathers are slate-colored. By
12-14 months of age, the subadult acquires the basic II plumage (described in Palmer 1962).

Grants from the National Audubon Society and AOU Josselyn Van Tyne Memorial Fund
helped defray costs of my research while I was a graduate student in the Department of
Biology, University of South Florida. — James A. Rodgers, Jr., Tampa Bay Wildlife Sanc-
tuaries, National Audubon Society, 1020 82nd St. South, Tampa, Florida 33619.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 47-48, 1980

Swallow-tailed Kite predation on nestling Mockingbird and Loggerhead Shrike. —

Swallow-tailed Kites {Elanoides forficatus) have been observed taking nestlings of the fol-
lowing species: Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura, in Florida (Stevenson 1958); Tropical
Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus, in Costa Rica (Skutch 1965); Mockingbird, Mimus poly-
glottos, in Texas (Pope 1913, Simmons 1925); Clay-colored Thrush, Turdus grayi. Golden-
masked Tanager, Tangara larvata, in Costa Rica (Skutch 1965); Painted Bunting, Passerina
ciris, in Texas (Simmons 1925). However, observers at kite nests often are not able to iden-
tify what bird species the kites are bringing to their nestlings because the prey is either un-
feathered (Snyder 1974 and pers. comm.) or has been plucked (Wright et al. 1970). We here
report two additional cases of Swallow-tailed Kite predation on nestling birds in Florida.

On 14 May 1978, Chester and Marsha Winegarner saw a Swallow-tailed Kite, soaring
over a slash pine {Pinus elliottii) grove in a pasture 12 km south of Lake Placid, Highlands
County, Florida, suddenly drop down onto a low myrtle oak (Quercus myrtifolia). The kite
paused briefly before flying off with an object in its bill and a Mockingbird in hot pursuit. The
oak contained a Mockingbird nest with two small nestlings located one m above ground.

On 3 July 1979, Fred and Edward Lohrer watched two Swallow-tailed Kites circling low
over an isolated 5 m live oak {Q. virginiana) in a pasture 8 km southwest of Sebring,
Highlands County, Florida. The kites were being chased by a Mockingbird and a Loggerhead
Shrike (Lanins ludovicianus) . Suddenly one of the kites flew into the crown of the tree, paused
briefly with flapping wings, and then flew off in level flight holding a large screaming nest-
ling in its feet. Two shrikes persistently chased and dove at the kite for a quarter of a mile until
the kite soared upwards. The other kite flew away without visiting the nest. Although Lohrer
could not inspect the nest or identify the nestling, the behavior of the shrikes and the nest loca-
tion suggests the nestling was probably a shrike.

On 2 July 1979 Lohrer watched a Swallow-tailed Kite flying at an altitude of about 25 m
over patches of scrub and pine flatwoods 5 km south of Lake Placid. As the kite flew over a
sand pine (Pinus clausa) and into Lohrer’s back yard it abruptly changed direction, flew to

48 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 2, Fall 1980

and began circling lower over a 2 m scrub holly {Ilex opaca arenicola) containing an active
Mockingbird n^t with 2 eggs. Although no adult Mockingbird was near to harrass the kite, it
left the area. On 10 July, Charlotte Lohrer, from her kitchen window, observed a kite flying
very low and directly to the same holly tree where it flushed an incubating Mockingbird, flut-
tered momentarily at the nest site and then flew off. This direct flight to the mockingbird
nest-tree and the fact that kites are uncommon in the local area suggests that this could have
been the same bird that was observed inspecting the nest on 2 July. On 12 July the nest was
empty but not disturbed.

These events illustrate the ease with which Swallow-tailed Kites can rob nests of small
birds nesting in bushes and trees. In some areas. Swallow-tailed Kite predation on birds’ nests
may be more frequent than the relatively few records indicate.

We thank Ralph S. Palmer, editor. Handbook of North American birds, who kindly sup-
plied portions of a manuscript on Swallow-tailed Kites by William B. Robertson, Jr., and
Noel F. Snyder and W. B. Robertson, Jr., for their helpful comments.

Literature Cited

Pope, E. F. 1913. The Swallow-tailed Kite. Oologist 30: 64-66.

Simmons, G. F. 1925. Birds of the Austin region. Austin, Univ. Texas Press.

Skutch, a. F. 1965. Life history notes on two tropical American kites. Condor 67: 235-246.
Snyder, N. F. 1974. Breeding biology of Swallow-tailed Kites in Florida. Living Bird 13:
73-97.

Stevenson, H. M. 1958. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 12: 344-348.

Sutton, I. D. 1955. Nesting of the Swallow-tailed Kite. Everglades Nat. Hist. 3: 72-84.
Wright, M. H., Jr., R. O. Green, Jr., and N. D. Reed. (1970) A collection of observations
and field notes on the nesting activities of the Swallow-tailed Kite {Elanoides forficatus)
in the Everglades National Park. Privately published, copies at Archbold Biological
Station and ENP libraries.

Fred E. Lohrer and Chester E. Winegarner, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box
180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 48, 1980

A Forster’s Tern while in flight obtaining insects from the ground. — On 6 April 1974 at
Cape Canaveral, Brevard County, Florida, I watched five Forster’s Terns {Sterna forsteri)
swooping towards a large, shallow pool to take items from the surface. Sometimes, bill-
snapping was faintly heard when the terns captured flying insects above the pool. The wide
sandy perimeter of the pool was smooth and damp and in some places I noticed dense clusters
of very small flies on the surface. One of the Forster’s Terns was attracted to these clusters for
a time. It hovered a short distance above them, with bill pointing well downward and wings
rapidly rotating above its body. The tern was able to obtain some of the insects without
alighting on the sand. This ground-feeding performance was repeated 14 times during the 10
minutes I watched the bird. It then joined its companions and the behavior was not repeated.

Bent (1921, U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 113) mentions Forster’s Terns catching flying insects
and floating insects but not catching insects from a smooth beach. Perhaps this occurs only oc-
casionally as I can find no other account of similar behavior by Forster’s Terns. — Bernard
King, Gull Cry, 9 Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall, England.

General Notes

49

Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 49, 1980

Sight records of the Arctic Tern on the Gulf coast of Florida. — On 19 July 1979 Warner
and Thomas Nobles observed an adult Arctic Tern {Sterna paradiseaea) at the eastern end of
St. George Island, Franklin County, Florida. It was studied with binoculars and a spotting
scope from a distance of about 30 m, as it rested near the edge of a small group of Laughing
Gulls (Larus atricilla) and Royal Terns (Sterna maxima). The bird’s tarsi, toes, and most of
the bill were bright red, but the distal tip of the bill was dusky red. The head appeared white
just below the black cap, and the underparts seemed the same shade of gray as the mantle.
When flushed, it showed the distinctive narrow dark margins on the underside of the
primaries. At least one of the left outer rectrices had been dropped or was growing, as this side
of the tail was noticeably shorter than the right side. This, and the scattering of white feathers
in the black cap, indicated that this bird may have just begun post-alternate molt.

A second Arctic Tern, also an adult in alternate plumage, was found on 14 September
1979 by Cavanagh and Stevenson near the south end of the St. George Island causeway.
Through a 20X telescope at a distance of about 35 m, they noted the bird’s all-red bill, tarsi
noticeably shorter than those of an immature Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) standing beside
it, and the white area under the eye separating the black cap from the grayish throat and
lower side of the face. We believe that two different individuals were involved in the above
records, as the second bird did not show the scattered white feathers on the black cap or the
dusky red bill tip of the first. Two hurricanes may have played a part in the obvious displace-
ment of the second bird — Hurricane David along Florida’s east coast on 3-4 September and
Hurricane Frederic in the western Panhandle on 12-13 September. Unfortunately, the second
bird flew away before it could be collected, and the first was in a state park (St. George Island
S.P.).

The known history of the Arctic Tern in Florida is a very recent one. None were reported
until Hebard (1952, Fla. Nat. 25: 126) and Richard Kuerzi saw one at Fernandina Beach
(Nassau Co,), on 20 April 1952. Perhaps the first convincing record occurred when a freshly
prepared skin was given to the University of Miami in the spring of 1975, but see Kale’s (1977,
Amer. Birds 31: 988-992) discussion of this record. Three more records, including a second
specimen, followed in the spring of 1977. On 5 May William Dowling identified about six at
Dynamite Point (St. Lucie Co.), on 8 May members of the American Birding Association saw
one off Islamorado (Monroe Co.), and on 21 May Paul Sykes collected one of three seen east of
Ponce de Leon Inlet (Volusia Co.) (Kale 1977). Thus all prior Florida records had been in
spring along the east coast.

Although our records in the eastern Gulf of Mexico may be unique, Arctic Terns have
been recorded on five occasions on the Texas coast. Oberholser (1974, The bird life of Texas,
Austin, U. Texas Press, p. 397) cited records at La Porte (Harris Co.), 13 September 1969, just
after the passage of Hurricane Carla, and at Port Aransas (Nueces Co.), 19 August 1968. In
the spring of 1975, three were seen at Port Aransas on 20 April, four or five on the Bolivar
Flats (Chambers Co.) on 12 April, and six at the latter place on 26 April (Webster 1975,
Amer. Birds 29: 875-878).

As the normal fall migration route of the Atlantic Arctic Terns is on the eastern side of the
Atlantic Ocean, the fall records from the Gulf of Mexico are perplexing. It is interesting to
conjecture whether these birds may have been strays from the Pacific population, which in
the fall move south along the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean. — Noel O, Wamer, Florida
Dept, of Natural Resources, 3540 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, Florida 32303; Henry M.
Stevenson, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32312; and
James E. Cavanagh, Jr., 3211 E. Lakeshore Dr., Tallahassee, Florida 32312.

50 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 2, Fall 1980

Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 50, 1980

Second Florida specimen of the Razorbill. —There are three previous records of the Razor-
bill {Alca torde) for Florida. The species was first recorded for the state when an immature
bird was picked up alive on South Melbourne Beach, Brevard County, on 1 January 1967
(Croickshank 1967, Fla. Nat. 40: 48-49); the bird was banded and released on 7 January and
remained near the release point at least until 22 January. The second record, the first for the
Gulf coast, was an immature sighted at St. George Island, Franklin County, on 11 April 1976
(Patterson and Meek 1977, Fla. Field Nat. 5: 18-19); the bird was seen only for the one day.
The third r^ord and first Florida specimen is a bird found “dying” at Fort Lauderdale Beach,
Broward County, on 2 November 1978 (Edscom 1979, Amer. Birds, 33: 169-171). The
specimen, also an immature, is No. 3360 in the collections of the Tall Timbers Research Sta-
tion.

On 18 May 1979 Marianne Garrigues and J. D. Scott discovered a dead immature Razor-
bill on Santa Rosa Island, near Gulf Breeze, Santa Rosa County, Florida. Ms. Garrigues
brought the bird to Texas where it was prepared at Texas A&M University at Galveston, then
sent to me. This Razorbill, a male, has now been deposited at Tall Timbers Research Station
(No. 3658). The bird is the second specimen and spring record for Florida, and the first
specimen for the Gulf of Mexico coast. It is interesting that ail four Florida records are of im-
matures.

I express my appreciation to Garrigues and, Scott for recognizing the value of the bird, to
S. Ray for preparing the specimen, and to H. M. Stevenson for providing information on the
three previous Florida records. — Keith A. Arnold, Texas Wildlife Cooperative Collections,
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas AirM University, College Station,
Texas 77843.

Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 50, 1980

The origin of White-winged Doves breeding in south Florida, — There has been some con-
fusion over the origin of the initial stock of White-winged Doves (Zenaida asiatica) breeding
in southern Florida. The recent increases in number and distribution in the region, and the
capture, transportation and release of numbers of these birds into central Florida by the
Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission (FGFWFC) prompt me to present the facts
surrounding the introduction of breeding stock in Florida before misstatements become in-
grained in the literature.

Notes on the releases of aviary stock by Frank M. Williams near Homestead, Dade
County, Florida, in 1959 by Fisk (1968), Ogden (1970), and Owre (1973) indicate that
Williams’ original stock of Whitewings included birds from Venezuela and Mexico. However,
Zenaida asiatica does not occur in the wild in Venezuela, and Stevenson (1976), in discussing
these references, said . importation ‘from Venezuela’ seems in error.” The range of this
species in South America is restricted to arid coastal areas of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile (Meyer
de Schauensee 1970).

I asked Williams for a description of his larger Venezuelan “whitewings”, and his reply
fitted that of the Bare-eyed Pigeon {Columba corensis) that ranges in arid coastal areas of
Venezuela and Colombia (Meyer de Schauensee 1970). Its native Spanish name is paloma ala
blanca, or white- winged dove, and this similarity of common name has been the source of the
confusion. Spanish-speaking people in Mexico and other Latin American countries where the
races of Z, asiatica are native, also call these birds paloma ala blanca. The larger and more
tropical Bare-eyed Pigeon did not breed successfully in Williams’ aviary and they were not
released.

General Notes

51

loformation I received from Williams in letters and by telephone (1967-1978) was that all
of the Zenaida miatica stock released by him in his avocado grove near Princeton, Dade
County, Florida, was derived from 4 pairs of birds obtained by him in Tampico, Tamaulipas,
Mexico, in 1956, and bred in his aviary in Florida. Williams’ letter of 12 July 1967 to me
stated “After 3 years we had bred sufficient number, total flock 30 birds, that we released 10
pairs at the proper time— March — so that they would immediately begin to mate and nest
rather than consider migration to another area.”

A recent FGFWFC notice published in the Florida Audubon Society-FIorida Ornitho-
logical Society, Ornithological Newsletter (No. 9, August 1978) and the Florida Field Nat-
uralist (6: 56, 1978) mistakenly noted that these birds escaped from captivity when a hurri-
cane crushed their pee in the early 1960s.

The race of White-winged Doves breeding near Tampico, Mexico, is Z. a. miatica, the
same as is found in southern Texas. This race has occurred in Florida for many years, chiefly
in autumn and winter when wanderers from breeding grounds in southern Texas, and pos-
sibly northwestern Mexico, followed a route around the Gulf coast (Cottam and Trefethen
1968). There is no evidence that any of these migrants remained and bred in Florida. The
first breeding record for Z. miatica in the wild in Florida is of members of the 10 pairs that
nested in Williams’ avocado grove in 1959. To my knowledge there have been no introduc-
tions of any other breeding populations of this species in Florida.

Fourteen Whitewings collected in Dade County in autumn 1978, and summer 1979, were
sent to the Smithsonian Institution for identification as to subspecies. Those in breeding
plumage (6) were especially valuable for taxonomic study (Saunders 1968). The report on
them, prepared by John W. Aldrich, who compared them with series from southern Texas,
eastern Mexico, and the West Indies, is that they are referable to Z. a. miatica. He says the
southern Florida Whitewings are darker than those from breeding grounds west and north of
Tampico, and from southern Texas, but the degrees of difference from the other popula-
tions are not sufficient to Justify their being designated a separate race.

As most of the White-winged Doves breeding in the Tampico sector are in woodlands
west, southwest, and northwest of that city, it was believed earlier that Williams’ stock came
from one of those areas. It now seems more likely that his birds came from a locality south of
Tampico in the State of Veracruz, and were taken to that city for sale. Breeding specimens
from Veracruz and those of southern Florida have similar darker plumage.

I am indebted to John W. Aldrich, National Museum of Natural History, for information
on his taxonomic review of the White-winged Doves breeding in southern Florida and to
Herbert W. Kale, II, for suggestions concerning the manuscript. My thanks also to Frank M.
Williams for the details on his introduction of the breeding stock from which this resident
White-winged Dove population came.

Lithiatuhe Cited

Cottam, C., and J. B. Trefethen, Eds. 1968. Whitewings, The life history, status, and
management of the White-winged Dove. Princeton, N.J., D. Van Nostraed Co., lec.
Fisk, E. |. 1968. White-winged Doves breeding in Florida. Fla. Nat. 41: 126.

Meyhi de Schauensee, R. 1970. A guide to the birds of South America. Wynnewood, Pa.,
Livingston Publ. Co.

Ogden, J. 1970. Florida region. Amer. Birds 24: 674,

OwHE, O. T. 1973. A consideration of the exotic avifauna of southeastern Florida. Wilson
Bull. 85: 495.

Saunde^, G. B. 1968. Seven new White-winged Doves from Mexico, Central America, and
southwestern United States. N. Amer. Fauna 65: 1-30.

Stevenson, H. M, 1970. Vertebrates of Florida. Gainesville, Univ. Pressra of Florida.

George B. Saunders, 2706 Tropical Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

52 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • VoL 8, No. 2, Fall 1980

Florida Birds in the Periodical Literature, 1979.

All articles were published in 1979 unless otherwise noted. Authors are requested to send

reprints of their articles to the Editor for inclusion in this annual feature.

Baker, J. L., and R. L. Thompson. Shot ingestion by waterfowl on National Wildlife
Refuges in Florida. Proc. Annu. Conf. SE Assoc. Fish Wild. Agen. 32: 256-262. —
Merritt Island, Loxahatchee, Chassahowitzka and Ding Darling NWRs.

Baker, M. C. Morphological correlates of habitat selection in a community of shore birds
(Gharadriiformes) . Oikos 33: 121-126.— Six spp. of shorebirds studied at Churchill,
Manitoba and near Flamingo, Dade Co.

Below, T. H. First reports of pellet ejection in 11 species. Wilson Bull. 91: 626-628. — As
observed in the vicinity of Naples, Collier Co.

Bigler, W. J., et al, 1976. Endemic eastern equine encephalomyelitis in Florida: A twenty-
year analysis. Amer. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 25: 884-890.

Blus, L. j., T. G. Lamont, and B. S. Neely, Jr. Effect of organochlorine residues on egg
shell thickness, reproduction, and population status of Brown Pelicans {Pelecanus occi-
dentalis) in South Carolina and Florida, 1969-76. Pesticides Monit. J. 12: 172-184.

Conway, A. E., and S. R. Drennan. Rufous Hummingbirds in eastern North America.
Amer. Birds 33: 130-132.— Includes Florida records.

Goodwin, T. M. Waterfowl management practices employed in Florida and their effec-
tiveness on native and migratory waterfowl populations. Fla. Sci. 42: 123-129.— As
practiced on 15 waterfowl wintering areas that are Natl. Wild. Refuges, Wild. Mgmt.
Areas or a Natl. Park.

Courser, W. D. Continued breeding range expansion of the Burrowing Owl in Florida.
Amer. Birds 33: 143-144.

Cruz, A., and D. W. Johnston. Occurrence and feeding ecology of the Common Flicker
on Grand Cayman Island. Condor 81: 370-375. — Includes comparisons with flickers
and other woodpeckers in Alachua Co.

Dolbeer, R. a., and R. a. Stehn. Population trends of blackbirds and Starlings in North
America, 1966-76. US Fish Wild. Serv., Spec. Sci. Rept.-Wild. No. 214. — Based on
analysis of N. Amer. Breeding Bird Survey results and includes Florida.

Duncan, L. R. A Band-tailed Pigeon recovered in Florida. N. Amer. Bird Bander 4: 168.—
Reprinted from Fla. Field Nat. 7: 28-29.

Duncan, L. R. Atlantic flyway review: Region V. Gulf Breeze, Santa Rosa County, FL
320-0871. N. Amer. Bird Bander 4: 43. — Summary of banding, 6 Aug. -13 Nov. 1978.

Fisk, E. J. Winter bird-population study. 33. Pineland, scrub, residential, plant nursery.
Amer. Birds 33: 27.— Homestead- 1 mi, N, Dade Co.

Fisk, E. J. Fall and winter birds near Homestead, Florida. Bird-Banding 50; 224-243, 297-
303.— Dade Co. Detailed summary of fall banding operations and winter bird distri-
bution at author’s home from 1968-1974.

Gasaway, R. D., S Hardin, and J. Howard. Factors influencing wintering waterfowl abun-
dance in Lake Wales, Florida. Proc. Annu. Conf. SE Assoc. Fish Wild, Agen. 31: 77-
83. — At Lake Wales, Polk Co.

Girard, G. T., and W. K. Taylor, Reproductive parameters for nine avian species at Moore
Creek, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Fla. Sci. 42: 94-101. — Cor-
morants, anhingas, herons (4 spp.), storks and ibises (2 spp.) in Brevard Co.

Hirth, D. H., and W. R. Marion. Bird communities of a south Florida flatwoods. Fla. Sci.
42: 142-151. — Manatee Co.

Hamann, P. H. Wintering bird returns in north Florida. N. Amer. Bird Bander 4; 154-
157. — At Tallahassee (Leon Co.) banding station, 1966-1972.

Periodical Literature^ 1979

53

Hon, T., R. R. Odom, and D. P. Belcher. Results of Georgia’s Clapper Rail banding pro-
gram. Proc. Annu. Conf. SE Assoc. Fish Wild. Agen. 31: 72-76. — Includes one Florida
recovery (Merritt Island, 290 km distance) of a rail banded near Brunswick, Ga.

Johnston, D. W. 1978. Organochlorine pesticide residues in Florida birds of prey, 1969-76.
Pesticide Monit. J. 12: 8-15. — From 1973-76 no significant change in pesticide burdens
was detected.

Johnston, D. W. The uropygial gland of the Sooty Tern. Condor 81: 430-432. — The Sooty
and Noddy terns were from the Dry Tortugas.

Kushlan, J. a. Design and management of continental wildlife reserves: lessons from the
Everglades. Biol. Conserv. 15: 281-290. — Based on data from wading bird populations
in Everglades Natl. Park.

Kushlan, J. A. Feeding ecology and prey selection in the White Ibis. Condor 81:
376-389. -—In southern Florida.

Kushlan, J. A. Effects of helicopter censuses on wading bird colonies. J. Wild. Mgmt. 43:
756-760. — In southern Florida, April-June 1977.

Leberman, R. C. Atlantic Flyway review. Region IV. Powdermill Nature Preserve, Rector,
Pa. N. Amer. Bird Bander 4: 181-182. — 1978 Fall migration report. An American Robin
banded at Powdermill on 16 September 1975 was found dead at Daytona Beach, Flor-
ida on 25 January 1978.

Lewis, J. C. Molt of the remiges of Grus canadensis. Proc. 1978 Crane Workshop, pp 255-
259.— Some date on Florida cranes but mostly on other races.

Martin, E. M. Hunting and harvest trends for migratory game birds other than waterfowl:
1964-76. US Fish Wild. Serv., Spec. Sci. Rept.-Wild. No. 218.— Includes Florida.

McElveen, j. D. The edge effect on a forest bird community in north Florida. Proc. Annu.
Conf. SE Assoc. Fish Wild. Agen. 31: 212-215.— Bradford Co.

Mcewan, L. C., and D. H. Hirth. Southern Bald Eagle productivity and nest site selection.
J. Wild. Mgmt. 43: 585-594. — In north-central Florida, 1973-76.

Montalbano, F., W. M. Hetrick, and T. C. Hines. 1978. Duck foods in central Florida
phosphate settling ponds. Pp 247-255 in Samuel, D. E. et al. eds. Proceedings/ Sym-
posium on surface mining and fish/wildlife needs in the eastern United States. US Fish
Wildlife Service. — Seven spp. from Polk Co.

Mortoson, M. L. Loggerhead Shrike egg shell thickness in California and Florida. Wilson
Bull. 91: 468-469.— No change for Florida between pre- and post-1947 eggs.

Moismann, j. E., and F. C. James. New statistical methods for allometry with application
to Florida Red- winged Blackbirds. Evolution 33: 444-459.

Nesbitt, S. A. Notes on suitability of captive-reared Sandhill Cranes for release into the
wild. Proc. 1978 Crane Workshop, pp 85-88. — Pen-reared Florida Sandhill Cranes re-
leased at Paynes Prairie (Alachua Co.) and near Palmdale (Glades Co.).

Nesbitt, S. A., and L. E. Williams, Jr. Summer range and migratory routes of Florida
wintering Greater Sandhill Cranes. Wilson Bull. 91: 137-141. — Cranes were banded
in Alachua and Highlands cos.

Ogden, J, C., J. A. Kushlan, and J. T. Tilmant. 1978. The food habits and nesting success
of Wood Storks in Everglades National Park 1974. Natl. Park Serv., Nat. Resc. Rept.
No. 16.

Ogden, J. C., and S. A. Nesbitt. Recent Wood Stork population trends in the United States.
Wilson Bull. 91: 512-523.

Ohlendorf, H. M., E. M. Klaas, and T. E. Kaiser. Environmental pollutants and egg-
shell thickness: Anhingas and wading birds in the eastern United States. US Fish Wild.
Serv., Spec. Sci. Rept-Wild., No. 216. — Florida samples of Anhingas and 13 spp of
Ciconiiforms from 14 coastal and inland sites.

54 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No, 2, Fall 1980

Parker, J. W., and J. C= Ogden. The recent history and status of the Mississippi Kite. Amer.
Birds 33; 119-129.— Includes Florida records.

PiNKOwsKi, B. C. Time budget and incubation rhythm of the Eastern Bluebird. Amer. Mid.
Nat. 101: 427-433.— Winter observations (Jan. -Feb.) conducted in Leon Co.

Poole, A. Sibling aggression among nesting Ospreys in Florida Bay. Auk 96: 415-417. —
Frank Key, S of Flamingo.

Reid, V. H., and P. D. Goodman. Winter feeding habits of quail in longleaf-slash pine habi-
tat. US Fish Wild. Serv., Spec. Sci. Kept. -Wild. No. 220. — Includes Florida Bobwhites
from Eglin Air Force Base.

ScHNELL, G. D., AND J. J. Hellack. Bird flight speeds in nature: optimized or a compro-
mise? Amer. Nat. 113: 53-66. — Compromise. Based in part on data for gulls, terns and
skimmers in Florida.

ScHREiBER, E. A., R. W. ScHREiBER, AND J. J. DiNSMORE. Breeding biology of Laughing Gulls
in Florida. Part I: Nesting, eggs, and incubation parameters. Bird-Banding 50: 314-321.
—Boca Ciega Bay, Pinellas Co.

Stendell, R. C., R. L Smith, K. P. Burnham, and R. E. Christensen. Exposure of water-
fowl to lead: A nationwide survey of residues in wing bones of seven species 1972-73.
US Fish Wild. Serv., Spec. Sci. Kept. -Wild. No. 223.— Includes Mottled Ducks from
Florida,

Stevenson, H. M. Identification of Semipalmated and Western sandpipers. Birding 11:
84-88.— Reprinted from Fla. Field Nat. 3: 39-44.

SoRRiE, B. A. A history of the Key West Quail-Dove in the United States. Amer. Birds 33:
728-731.— Eight records, all from Florida.

Swenson, J. E. The relationship between prey species ecology and dive success in Ospreys.
Auk 96: 408-412.— Florida data analyzed is from Neweans Lake, Alachua Co. (Nes-
bitt 1974) and Lake George, Lake Co. (Grubb 1977).

Sykes, P. W., Jr. Status of the Everglade Kite in Florida-1968~1978. Wilson Bull. 91: 495-
511.

Tabb, E. C. Winter recoveries in Guatemala and southern Mexico of Broad- winged Hawks
banded in south Florida. N. Amer. Bird Bander 4: 60.— Dade and Monroe cos.

Thompson, N. P., P. W. Rankin, P. E. Cowan, L. E. Williams, Jr., and S. A, Nesbitt.
1977, Chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in the diet and eggs of the Florida Brown Peli-
can. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 18: 331-339.— Food samples and eggs collected
from 14 pelican colonies and 3 pelican colonies respectively on Gulf and Atlantic coasts,

Toepler, |. E., and R. A. Crete. Migration of radio-tagged Greater Sandhill Cranes from
Minnesota and Wisconsin. Proc. 1978 Crane Workshop, pp 159-173.— Birds followed
during migration from breeding areas to wintering areas in Florida. Thirteen of 14
radio-tagged cranes were located on 7 areas in Fla. Several maps and tables.

White, F. H., and D. J. Forrester. Antimicrobial resistant Salmonella spp. isolated from
Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritm) and Common Loons {Gavia immer)
in Florida. J. Wild. Dis. 15: 235-237.

Williams, L. E., Jr., D. H. Austin, and T. E. Peoples. Turkey harvest patterns on a heav-
ily hunted area. Proc. Aneu. Conf. SE Assoc. Fish Wild. Agen. 32: 303-308. — Glades
Co,

Wilson, J. L., and R. W. Loftin. Winter bird-population study. 100. Barrier beach and
salt water estuary. Amer. Birds 33: 47-48.— St. John’s River inlet-N side, Duval Co.

BOOK REVIEW

Fla. Field Nat. 8(2): 55, 1980

Land bird communities of Grand Bahama Island: the structure and dynamics of an avi-
fauna.— John T. Emlen. 1977. Ornithological Monographs No. 24. xi + 129 pp. $9.00. — Ab-
solute density and biomass data are given for the land birds (excluding raptors) in all major
habitats on Grand Bahama Island. Several conclusions drawn from analyses of these data
fail to support current ecological theory.

Bird species diversity correlates best with total vegetation volume. However, total bird
community density correlated only weakly with vegetation volume. The latter suggests cau-
tion in accepting widely held assumptions concerning consumer-resource relations.

Pine forest, which is the most extensive and complex community on the island, was
studied in greatest detail. The wintering bird community was nearly twice as large in
numbers of species, individuals and biomass as the breeding-season community, although no
obvious change in habitat complexity or food resources was found. Thus food supply seems
less critical as a limiting factor than commonly supposed.

Invertebrate food resources were sampled in nine pine forest compartments. Their den-
sities failed to show the positive correlation predicted by traditional carrying capacity theory.
Also contrary to predictions of competition theory no general compensatory shift in province
distribution by permanent residents was detected following departure of the wintering birds.
Additional analyses pertain to habitat, spacial and guild distributions.

This careful study is an important source for all population biologists. It is important for
investigators working in Florida not only because of the proximity of the Bahamas, but also
because certain of the results (e.g. winter vs. breeding densities) parallel those known for the
peninsula.

Because Emlen's philosophy regarding much recent work in ecology closely parallels my
own I end this review with a quote from his preface, “. . . the imaginative creations of
theoretical ecologists rarely survive long in this modern era of scientific ferment unless they
are built on solid empirical data. Most of the speculations and interpretations in this
monograph will doubtless be ephemeral as our science progresses; I only hope that the
materials on which they are based will prove to be solid and clearly presented.” I predict they
will.— Glen E. Woolfenden.

Also Received

Herons and their allies: Atlas of Atlantic coast colonies, 1975 and 1976.— Ronald G.
Osborn and Thomas W. Guster, 1978. Biological Services Program, U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, FWS/OBS-77/08. XV-+-211 pp., 324 maps. $6.50. order from Supt. Doc., U.S. Govt.
Printing Office, Wash., D. C. 20402. — This atlas contains data on 291 colonies of egrets,
herons, ibises and Wood Storks along the entire U.S. Atlantic coast, with 73 in Florida start-
ing in the Jacksonville area and continuing south to Key West including Florida and
Whitewater bays. The northern Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Great Lakes are scheduled for forth-
coming volumes. Data on individual colonies include location, coordinates, status, descrip-
tion, ownership, nesting substrate, use by man and bird census results. Most of the individual
colony maps are based on U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 min quadrangle maps.

This atlas represents an outstanding cooperative effort among federal, state, university
and Audubon society biologists (Florida team leaders were James A. Kushlan, Stephen A.
Nesbitt and William B. Robertson, Jr.) and it is a valuable foundation for future efforts.

55

56 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST • Vol 8, No. 2, Fall 1980

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
TREASURER'S REPORT

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Treasurer

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A semi-annual publication of The Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.
Editorial Advisory Board:

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124.
William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Glen E. Wooleenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new information on the biology
of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Submit manuscripts in triplicate to the Editor. They should be typed, double-spaced, on one

side of numbered sheets of standard (814 X 11 in.) bond paper, with at least one inch margins all
around. Type tables on separate sheets and use space efficiently. Photographs should be glossy
prints of good contrast and sharpness, and should be approximately the same size as they will
appear in print. Diagrams and line drawings should be in black ink with lettering large enough
to permit reduction. For advice on preparing illustrations, consult Steps Toward Better Scientific
Illustrations by A. Allen, Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas.

Titles should be short and descriptive and the body of the article concise. Follow the form
and style of a recent issue of the Florida Field Naturalist. Use the Council of Biology Editors (CBE)
Style Manual, Fourth Edition (AIBS 1978) in preparing manuscripts. All references should be
cited in the body of the text and listed at the end under “Literature Cited.” Text citations
should indicate author and year of publication, e.g. (Bond 1961). If there are more than two
authors list the first followed by “et al.” (e.g. Blair et al. 1968). Indicate specific pages of longer
works, e.g. (Bond 1961: 44). If there are five or fewer references they should be cited only in the
text, e.g. (Sprunt 1954, Florida bird life. New York, Coward McCann, Inc.) or (Cruickshank 1974,
Fla. Field Nat. 2: 1-3).

Capitalize the English name of bird species, and follow the first mention of a species in text
by the scientific name, underlined, in parentheses. Scientific names should follow a widely ac-
cepted authority for the group of animals or plants involved. For North American birds use the
A.O.U. Check-list, fifth ed. (1957) and its Supplements, the 32nd (1973, Auk 90: 411-419) and
the 33rd (1976, Auk 94: 875-979).

Use abbreviations sparingly in the text except parenthetically e.g. “Lake Placid (12 km S).”
The metric system is preferred for all measurements. Use the 24-hour time system (0700 or 1645)
and the military date system (4 July 1976).

OTHER FOS PUBLICATIONS

Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon Field Notes and American Birds Volumes
1-30 1947-1976, by Margaret C. Bowman, xii + 42 pp. 1978. FOS Spec. Publ. No. 1. Price $3.75
prepaid, order from Treasurer (see inside front cover).

CONTENTS

REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF THREE HERON SPECIES ON
THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA .... James A. Rodgers, Jr.
THE DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS OF RED-COCKADED
WOODPECKER COLONIES IN FLORIDA: 1969-1978

W. Wilson Baker, Richard L. Thompson
and R. Todd Engstrom

GENERAL NOTES

A specimen of the Blue-faced Booby in northwest Florida

Henry M. Stevenson

Little Blue Heron breeding bare-part coloration and plumage characteristics

James A. Rodgers, Jr.

Swallow-tailed Kite predation on nestling Mockingbird and Loggerhead Shrike

Fred E. Lohrer and Chester E. Winegarner
A Forster’s Tern while in flight obtaining insects from the ground

Bernard King

Sight record of the Arctic Tern on the Gulf coast of Florida

Noel O. Warner, Henry M. Stevenson and James A. Cavanagh, Jr.

Second Florida specimen of the Razorbill Keith A. Arnold

The origin of White-winged Doves breeding in south Florida

George B. Saunders

FLORIDA BIRDS IN THE PERIODICAL LITERATURE,

1979

BOOK REVIEW

ALSO RECEIVED

TREASURER’S REPORT Caroline H. Coleman

REPORT ON THE 1979 FALL MEETING

Barbara C. Kittleson

NOTES AND NEWS

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F6F63

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VOL. 9 FEBRUARY 1981 NO. 1

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972

Officers for 1979-1981

President: William D. Courser, 885 North Pinehurst, Spring Hill, Florida 33512.

Vice-President: Brooks H. Atherton, 4619 Woodmere Drive, Tampa, Florida 33609.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803.

Treasurer: Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605.

Assistant Treasurer: John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Assistant Treasurer: Patricia J. Lanzillotti, 2135 NW 28th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605.
Editor of Florida Field Naturalist: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180,
Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Editor of Ornithological Newsletter: Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon Society, 35-lst
Court SW, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

FOS Archives and Editor of Special Publications: John William Hardy, The Florida State
Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 3261L

Directors 1979-1981

Wally George, 2625 North Andrews—No. 102, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311.

Stephen A. Nesbitt, 4005 South Main Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Rebecca Payne, Rt. 1, Box 77, Maitland, Florida 32751.

Directors 1980-1982

Robert D. Barber, 2027 Rockledge Drive, Rockledge, Florida 32955.

Frances C. James, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee,
Florida 32306.

Marsha S. Winegarner, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979, Helen G. Cruickshank 1980.

All persons interested in Florida’s natural history, particularly its abundant bird life, are
invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by writing the Treasurer. Annual member-
ship dues are $10 for individual members (overseas $13), $15 for a family membership, $5 for
students, and $25 for contributing members. All members receive the Florida Field Naturalist
and the Newsletter. Subscription price for institutions and non-members is $10 per year. Back
issues (vol. 1-8, $3.00 per issue) available, prepaid, from the Editor.

Manuscripts submitted for publication and books intended for review should be sent to the
Editor (see inside back cover). Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or defective
copies of this journal and requests for information about advertising and subscriptions should
be sent to the Treasurer, Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605. The permanent address of the Florida Ornithological Society is; Department of Or-
nithology, Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Published quarterly (February, May, August, and November) by the Florida Or-
nithological Society, Gainesville, Florida 32605. Printed by Storter Printing Co., Inc., P. O.
Box 1409, Gainesville, Florida 32602.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 9, No. 1 February 1981

Pages 1-20

NESTING DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATION

OF GLOSSY IBIS IN FLORIDA

John C. Ogden

This paper presents the recent nesting distribution of Glossy Ibis
(Plegadis falcinellus) in Florida, describes temporal and quantitative as-
pects of migration by Glossies in the peninsula, and makes some attempt
to place these data in the context of their distribution and movements

along the Atlantic coast.

Glossy Ibis occur in peninsular Florida during all months and have
bred in colonies scattered throughout much of the peninsula (Howell
1932, Sprunt 1954). The number of Glossy Ibis nesting in Florida ap-
parently has slowly increased during this century, although the bird con-
tinues to be absent or one of the less common species in most Florida col-
onies (Sprunt 1954, Ogden 1978a). Robertson and Kushlan (1974)
estimated the total Florida breeding population at about 3500 birds.
Although the year-around occurrence of Glossy Ibis in Florida suggests
that the birds that breed here may be resident, no studies of marked
Glossies from Florida colonies have been undertaken and their seasonal
movements remain unknown.

In much of the remainder of the Glossy Ibis’ Atlantic coast nesting
range (Georgia to Maine), this species has experienced considerable range
expansion and increase in number during the past 20 years (Beckett 1965,
Messersmith 1968, Murray 1957, Post 1962, Sciple 1963, Sprunt 1957,
etc.). About 16,000 Glossy Ibis bred in the main portion of the breeding
range between the central South Carolina coast and Long Island, New
York during the mid 1970s (Ogden 1978a). Recoveries of Glossy Ibis
banded as nestlings along the mid- Atlantic coast (primarily Virginia)
reveal both a post-breeding dispersal that carries some birds north and a
regular migration of birds south into the Greater Antilles (Byrd 1978).

1 Fla. Field Nat. 9(1): 1-6, 1981

2

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST- VoZ. 9, No. 1, February 1981

Most winter recoveries are from Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican
Republic and Colombia. Byrd reports that banded and color-marked
Glossies from mid-Atlantic colonies have appeared in Florida and that
southern Florida may be an important migration route for birds headed
towards the Caribbean. Byrd also reports that some non-breeding, sub-
adult Glossy Ibis may stay on the wintering grounds through the first full
year.

Nesting in FLoraoA

Figure 1 shows locations where Glossy Ibis were detected in nesting
colonies between 1976 and 1978 during cooperative aerial surveys of
peninsular Florida by Stephen A. Nesbitt, Herbert W. Kale, II, and
myself. Also in Fig. 1 are locations of other Florida colonies where Glossy
Ibis nested during the 1970s (Kushlan and Schortemeyer 1974, Ogden
1972, 1976, pers. obs.).

Fig. 1. Location of wading bird colonies that contained Glossy Ibis between 1976 and
1978 (circles) and other 1970s colonies where Glossies were reported (stars).

OGDEN»Glossi/ Ibk Distribution

3

Relatively few nesting colonies have ever been located in northern
Florida, Georgia or South Carolina south of Charleston (for the few ex-
ceptions see Hebard 1950, Howell 1932, Shanholtzer 1970, Sprunt 1954),
From 1975 to 1978 no Glossies were located in either coastal or inland col-
onies between Brevard County, Florida, and Charleston County, South
Carolina, except for a maximum of approximately 12 to 15 pairs in three
Georgia colonies (Osborn and Custer 1978, R. Odom pers. comm.,
Nesbitt-Kaie-Ogden survey). The breeding distribution on the Atlantic
coastal plain seems to include a hiatus between the migratory Glossy Ibis
to the north and birds with unknown seasonal movements that nest in
central and southern Florida.

Glossy Ibis along the mid- Atlantic coast have relatively synchronized
nesting, with the peak in laying occurring during May (Byrd pers.
comm., Palmer 1962), Glossies in Florida have a more prolonged nesting
season, perhaps indicative of a non-migratory population, Howell (1932)
reports that Glossies nesting in Florida ma>' begin as early as the last week
in March, but eggs are usually laid early in May. Glossies in the An-
dytown colony (Broward Co.) in 1973 had fledged young by 25 May
(Kushlan and Schortemeyer 1974), and in the same colony in 1977_were
laying eggs during mid-April (Ogden, pers. obs.). Glossy Ibis in the
Taylor Slough colony (Dade Go.) in 1976 laid eggs during early June
(Ogden and O. Bass, pers. obs.). At the Moore Creek colony (Brevard
Co.) on 8 June 1977, a cursory examination showed several Glossy nests
contained feathered young, but one nest held eggs and another had
downy young (Ogden and M. Biggar, pers. obs.). Most nests contained
eggs and a few had downy young on 8 August 1974 in a colony of about 20
pairs of Glossies in Conservation Area 3A (T. Regan, pers. comm.). Thus
the timing of nesting in Florida broadly overlaps Glossy Ibis nesting along
the mid- Atlantic coast, and whatever pre- and post-breeding movements
that occur in the two regions may occur concurrently.

Migration in Flomda

Documentation of the quantitative and temporal characteristics of a
Glossy migration through Florida by means of field observations is dif-
ficult due to the presence, in most regions, of local breeding birds with
unknown seasonal movements and the possible presence of non-breeding
sub-adults from more northern colonies. Perhaps the best measure of a
Glossy migration in Florida has been the occasional sightings of
overflights of Glossies in Florida Bay and on the upper Florida Keys,
Monroe County, in a region where no Glossy Ibis nesting has been
reported and where favorable feeding habitats for this species appear to
be almost nonexistent (Table 1). Most of these data are previously un-

4

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST* VoL 9, No. 1, February 1981

published observations collected during the course of other field work and

are more accurate as a measure of the timing of the migration rather than
the quantitative aspects. As the table shows, migration by Glossies in the
Upper Keys characteristically is composed of small flocks headed in a
southerly direction between late June and early September.

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OGDEN»Glossy Ibis Distribution

5

Table 2. Early recoveries of Glossy Ibis banded as nestlings on the mid-Atlantic coast

(data from M. Byrd, pers. comm.).

Date Banded

Where Banded

Date Recovered

Where Recovered

22 May 1965

South Carolina

20 July 1965

Florida

15 May 1965

South Carolina

18 September 1965

Colombia

22 May 1965

South Carolina

12 September 1965

Dominican Republic

30 May 1970

Virginia

26 September 1970

Cuba

30 May 1970

Virginia

6 September 1970

Dominican Republic

High counts of Glossy Ibis on the Florida mainland have also occurred
during late summer. A count of 150 Glossies was made by John Edscorn at
Zellwood (Orange Go.) during late July 1971 (Ogden 1971). At the Duda
Ranch, Palm Beach County, Paul Sykes has produced annual high counts
of 455 Glossies on 7 August 1977, 530 on 23 July 1978 and 1218 on 15 July
1979 (Sykes and Hunter 1977, Ogden 1978b, P. Sykes pers. comm.).

The peak of the southbound Glossy Ibis migration appears to occur
during July and August, a fact that agrees with Byrd’s (1978) statement
that juvenile Glossies may rapidly migrate south from Virginia colonies.
Band recovery data (Byrd, pers. comm.) includes examples of this rapid
flight (Table 2).

No northbound flights by Glossies in the spring have been reported
from the Florida Keys, and large concentrations on the mainland in
spring comparable to those seen during late summer have not been
reported. A possible exception was a roost that included 1300 Glossy Ibis
in western Dade County on 3 April 1973 (Kale 1973). Some or most of
these birds, however, could have been the same Glossies reported to be
nesting at the Andytown colony later that spring (Kushlan and
Schortemeyer 1974). Other possible spring migrants were single Glossies
in the lower Florida Keys, 10 March and 18 March 1978 (Kale 1978).

It appears certain that a fairly strong flight of Glossy Ibis moves south
into Florida, primarily during July and August. The magnitude of the
flight as seen in the Florida Keys is not proportional to the expected flight
based on the size of the migratory Atlantic coast population of Glossy Ibis,
indicating that some of these birds may winter in Florida or that many of
the birds depart the coast in route to the Caribbean before reaching south
Florida. Other species of waders, including Cattle Egrets and Reddish
Egrets, have been seen in apparent migration off the Atlantic coast of
Florida during late summer (Ogden 1974, 1975, 1978b).

Acknowledgements

I thank Herbert W. Kale II, Stephen A. Nesbitt and Ron R. Odom for providing informa-
tion on locations of Glossy Ibis nesting sites. Observations of migrating flocks of Glossies in the
Florida Keys were provided by several people listed in Table 1. Barbara Patty and Karen
Sunderland assisted in preparation of the manuscript.

6

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST* Vo/. 9, No. 1, February 1981

Literature Cited

Beckettt, T. a. hi. 1965. Drum Island 1964. Chat 29: 43-46.

Byrd, M. A. 1978. Dispersal and movements of six North American Ciconiiforms. In A.
Sprunt, IV, J. C. Ogden, and S. Winkler (eds.). Wading birds. Natl. Audubon Soc.

Res. Rep. 7: 161-185.

Edscorn, J. B. 1974. Florida region. Amer. Birds 28: 40-44.

Edscorn, j. B. 1977. Florida region, Amer. Birds 31: 166-169.

Hebard, F. V. 1950. Glossy Ibis breeding in Georgia. Oriole 15: 9-10.

Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life, Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game Fresh Water Fish.
Kale, H. W., Jr. 1973. Florida region. Amer. Birds 27:761-765.

Kale, H. W., Jr. 1978. Florida region. Amer. Birds 32: 994-997.

Kushlan, j. a., and j. L. Schortemeyer. 1974. Glossy Ibis nesting in southern Florida.
Fla. Field Nat. 2: 13-14.

Messersmith, D. H. 1968. Birds of the season. Atlantic Nat. 23: 154-157.

Murray, J. J. 1957. Major recent changes in the Virginia avifauna. Raven 28: 48-51.
Ogden, J. C. 1970. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 24: 673-677.

Ogden, J. C. 1971. Florida region. Amer. Birds 25; 846-851.

Ogden, J. C. 1972. Florida region. Amer. Birds 26: 847-852.

Ogden, J. C. 1974. Florida region. Amer. Birds 28: 892-896.

Ogden, J. C. 1975. Florida region. Amer. Birds 29: 960-963.

Ogden, J. C. 1976. Florida region. Amer. Birds 30: 945-948.

Ogden, J. C. 1978a. Recent population trends of colonial wading birds on the Atlantic and
Gulf coastal plains. In A. Sprunt, IV, J. G. Ogden and S. Winkler (eds.), Wading birds.
Natl. Audubon Soc. Res. Rep. 7: 137-153.

Ogden, J. C. 1978b. Florida region. Amer. Birds 32: 1150-1152.

Osborn, R. G., and T. W. Custer. 1978. Herons and their allies: atlas of Atlantic coast
colonies, 1975 and 1976. Biological Services Program, U. S. Fish Wild. Serv. FWS/
OBS-77/08. 211 pp. _ _

Palmer, R. S. (ed.). 1962. Handbook of North American birds, vol. 1. New Haven, Yale
University Press,

Post, P. W. 1962. Glossy Ibis breeding in New York. Auk 79: 120-121.

Robertson, W. B., Jr., and J. A. Kushlan. 1974. The southern Florida avifauna. Miami
Geol. Soc. Mem. 2: 415-452.

SciPLE, G. W. 1963. Changing status of occurrence of Glossy Ibis. Oriole 28: 23-25.
Schanholtzer, G. F. 1970. Breeding records and distribution of the Glossy Ibis on the Geor-
gia coast. Oriole 35: 37-39.

Sprunt, A., Jr. 1954. Florida bird life. New York, Goward McCann, Inc.

Sprunt, A,, Jr, 1957. Extensive nesting of the Glossy Ibis in South Carolina. Chat 21: 67-68.
Sykes, P. W., Jr,, and G. S. Hunter. 1978. Bird use of flooded agricultural fields during
summer and early fall and some recommendations for management. Fla. Field Nat.
6: 36-43.

National Audubon Society Research Department, 115 Indian Mound

Trail, Tavernier, Florida 33070.

GENERAL NOTES

Fla. Field Nat. 9(1) :7, 1981

Unwary behavior of captured and released Sandhill Cranes. — While capturing and
handling Florida and Greater Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis and G. c. tabida)
our laboratory personnel have regularly observed a striking example of unwary behavior of
these birds.

When being liberated several hours after their capture, cranes frequently decline to fly
from the release site. They usually walk slowly away, registering vocal sounds of displeasure
until finally taking wing or walking out of sight. Those behaving that way were not injured or
confused by their surroundings as far as we could tell. In many instances, a released crane
would turn and attack us and could be engaged in mock combat (Fig. 1) for several minutes.
This is in striking contrast to the usually wary behavior of Sandhill Cranes.

Fig. 1. After being released from a burlap bag, this Sandhill Crane maintained an ag-
gressive posture and attacked the biologist when approached within about 8 feet.

Our experience indicates that this behavior is normal. After many years of handling
several other species of wild birds, I find it puzzling that Sandhill Cranes do not depart as
rapidly after being released as other birds do. This may be of interest to scientists who are in-
volved in studies of wariness in birds. — Lovett E. Williams, Jr., Wildlife Research
Laboratory, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 4005 S. Main Street,
Gainesville, Florida 32601.

7

8

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST- Fol. 9, No. 1, February 1981

Fla. Field Nat. 9(1) :8, 1981

All unusual female Ruddy Duck in central Florida,— From late December 1973 to early
February 197-1 I i'‘:si.netimes visited Lake Davis, a small lake in the urban area of Orlando,
Orange County, Florida. Peak counts of Ruddy Ducks {Oxyura jamaicensis) on the lake rose
to well over 300 ducks with males predominating. A conspicuous member of the flock was a
female Ruddy Duck with head and nrek clear white, but otherwise with normally colored
plumage and dark bill and eyes. On inquiry of local observers, I was informed that this duck
had been on Lake Davis during previous winters “for many years”, but it had not been
recorded on any other nearby lakes.

Frank C. Bellrose, Jr=, (in litt.) has informed me he knows of no personal records of
unusually plumaged Ruddy Ducks. However, Palmer (1976, Handbook of North American
birds, voL 3, New Haven, Yale IJniv. Press, p. 503) mentions only one, “a mostly black
(meknistic) female was collected in Utah in early June"’. I would be interrated to learn of
other records of unusually plumaged Ruddy Ducks.— Bernard King, Gull Cry, 9 Park Road,
Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall, England.

Fk. Field Nat. 9(1):8^9, 1981

Winter breeding of the Common Gallinule in the Florida Panfiandle.—The Common
Gallinule {Gallinula cMoropus) is an abundant permanent scddcat at the Wakulla Springs
Wildlife Sanctuary, Wakulla County, Florida. On 12 January 1980, while on the “Jungle
Cruise” approximately one km downstream from the Wakulla River springhead, I observed
an adult gallinule feeding a downy chick about 9-10 cm long. The adult was foraging near
others on a mat of the floating ends of eel grass {Vallisneria americana). The observation was
made with binoculars from a distance of 6-7 m in clear weather.

Wilburt Gavin, a tour guide for the Wakulla Springs Wild. Sane., subsequently reported
observing 2 chicle at the same location 2 days earlier, and remembered nest-building activity
several weeks earlier. Careful searching on subsequent boat tours on that and following days
revealed only adults, so I conclude that no chicks survived.

I estimate the age of the chick I observed to be one week or less, which when considered
with a 19-22 day incubation period (Harrison 1978), places the start of incubation near the
second week of December. An unusually warm 10-day period (5-14 December), with after-
noon temperature maxima ranging from 19-26 °C, may have contributed to this unusual
winter breeding.

Previous accounts of downy young Common Gallinule include a record on 13 December
1976 in Broward County (Stevenson 1977) and in mid-December in Tampa (Hillsborough
Co.) (Woolfendee 1979) and, also from this winter, two St. Petersburg (Pinellas Co.) ac-
counts on 10 December 1979 and 29 February 1980 (Stevenson 1980). These locations are
substantially south of the Florida Panhandle, where brreding records occur only as late as
September (Stevenson 1958, Robertson 1970, Stevenson 1973). Consequently, this observation
of downy young in January represents an unusual winter breeding of the Common Gallinule
in Florida and is especially noteworthy for its occurrence in the Panhandle.

M. C. Bowman’s invaluable index (1978) was especially helpful in the preparation of this
note. I also thank Todd Engstrom for his comments.

Literature Cited

Bowman, M. C. 1978. Species index to Florida bird rwords in Audubon Field Notes and
American Birds Vols. 1-30 1947-1976. Fla. Ornithol. Soc,, Spec. PubL No. 1.

General Notes

9

HARrasoN, C. 1978. Field guide to n^ts, eggs and nestlings of North American birds.
Glasgow, Collins.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1970. Florida region. Amer. Birds 24: 33-38.

Stevenson, H. M. 1958. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 12: 21-26.

Stevenson, H. M. 1973. Florida region. Amer. Birds 27: 45-49.

Stevenson, H. M. 1977. Florida region. Amer. Birds 31: 322-325.

Stevenson, H. M. 1980. Florida region. Amer. Birds 34: 265-267.

Woolfenden, G. E. 1979. Winter breeding by the American Coot at Tampa, Florida.
Fla. Field Nat. 7: 26.

Dana C. Bryan, Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32312.

Fla. Field Nat. 9(1): 9, 1981

The absent of hematozoa in Burrowing Owls of the Tampa Bay area, Florida. — The
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) has been given very little attention in surveys of blood
parasites of birds. This may be due in part to the difficulty in capturing these ground-dwelling
birds. Previous studies of Burrowing Owls (Stabler and Holt 1965 J. Parasitol. 51:927-928;
Greiner et al. 1975 Can. J. Zool. 53:1762-1787) revealed no hematozoa in the few birds
checked.

The effects of hematozoa on birds differ with the species of parasite and the species of bird
infected. Pigeons (Columba livia) infected with Haemoproteus columbae seldom show any
signs of disease, yet Leucocytozoon simondi is highly pathogenic to ducks and geese with the
fatality rate approaching 85% in ducklings.

We examined blood smears from 1 adult and 29 young Burrowing Owls over the 6-year
period 1975-1980, but no hematozoa were observed. Twenty nine of the birds were captured
in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, by plugging and carefully excavating the burrow.
One bird, found injured and being held captive until recovery, was from Homosassa Springs,
Citrus County, Florida.

Thin smears were prepared from blood obtained by venipuncture in the tarsometatarsus
region. The smears were fixed in methanol and stained with giemsa. A minimum of 50 oil im-
mersion fields were carefully examined by two of the authors (GMD, PMD). — George M.
Dooris, Division of Natural Science and Mathematics, Saint Leo College, Saint Leo, Florida
33574, and Patricia M. Dooms and William D. Courser, Environmental Section,
Southwest Florida Water Management District, Brooksville, Florida 33512.

Fla. Field Nat. 9(1):9-10, 1981

American Robins and Cedar Waxwings rain-bathing under lawn sprinklers.— At Merritt
Island, Brevard County, Florida, on 17 January 1974, a day of high humidity and
temperature (max. 87° F), I watched a group of about 35 American Robins (Turdus
migratorius) and 35 Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) rain-bathing in the spray of
rotary water sprinklers operating in two adjacent residential lawns. For the 20 min I watched
the two species, there was no aggression between them.

The two species used different methods of bathing. For example, some robins just squat-
ted in the wet grass for 2-3 min at a time, with their heads and necks extended horizontally
and with bills slightly open and pointing upward. Often their wings and tails were spread
over the grass. Some robins lolled on one side with the upper wing partially extended over the
ground, or more often stretched at an upward angle. Then, after a while, they turned onto
the other side of their bodies and repeated the performance. Intermixed with this bathing was

10

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST- VoL 9, No. 1, February 1981

some body and wing shaking with tail swishing. Bent (1949, U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 196: 29)
describes these postures in the robin as sunbathing and comments on robins frequently sun-
bathing “even on the hottest days”. Simmons (p. 279 in Thomson, A. L. (ed.). 1964, New dic-
tionary of birds, New York, McGraw Hill) mentions that some birds (“pigeons”) may use
similar postures when bathing in the rain or when sunning.

The bathing behavior of the Cedar Waxwings was less complex. The waxwings hopped in
and out of the sprinkler zone with fluffed body feathers and brief wing flapping. Occasionally
both species perched on the rotating arms of the sprinklers when they preened, or just rested
while being rotated around. Some of these returned to bathing as described, while a few left
the locality. Eventually all the birds departed when disturbed by passing vehicles.

I have searched a fairly extensive literature, especially on the American Robin, but have
not located records of rain-bathing for either species. — Bernard King, Gull Cry, 9 Park
Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall, England,

Fla. Field Nat. 9(1): 10, 1981

Yellow-throated Vireo nests in west-central Florida. — The Yellow-throated Vireo {Vireo
flavifrom) is known to breed in Florida south to Brooksville on the west coast (Sprunt 1954,
Florida bird life, New York, Coward McCann, Inc.). Recent evidence indicates the species
has extended its breeding range in east-central Florida to Orange County and apparently to
southern Polk County (Freeman 1978, Fla. Field Nat. 6: 19-20 and references therein). There
are no records of Yellow-throated Vireos breeding south of Hernando County in west-central
Florida. However, Mason (1952, Fla. Nat. 25: 83) “observed a pair near Plant City as late as
June 1, 1948” and Ogden (Stevenson 1964, Aud. Field Notes 18: 504) found the species 16 km
south of Plant City (Hillsborough Co.) on 16 June 1964.

In Pasco County, Florida, several sightings of Yellow-throated Vireos from the J. B.
Starkey Wilderness Park, 8 km east of New Port Richey, were made by Schupp and Courser.
Three observations from 15 April through 6 May 1975 were of individual, singing adults in
habitat composed primarily of sand pine {Pinus clausa) with sparse understory. Courser and
many others also saw the species in the area on 24 April 1976 and 21 April and 19 May 1979.

Nesting of Yellow-throated Vireos in the J. B. Starkey Wilderness Park was confirmed on
12 April 1979 when Lopez observed two adults and their nest. One bird was on the nest while
the other perched nearby. The nest was checked on 19 May, but no evidence of successful
breeding was found, neither were the birds present. The characteristic lichen-covered nest
was suspended about 3 m above ground in the outer periphery of a 10 m live oak (Quercus
virginiana). The habitat was typical of Florida’s sandhills, with turkey oak {Q. laevk) and
live oak as dominant tree species. A variety of herbaceous plants such as wire grass {Arktida
sp.), beggar-ticks (Bidens pilosa), milk pea {Galactia sp.) and other plants provided nearly
complete ground cover. The nest was collected on 4 October 1979 and sent to the Florida
State Museum, Gainesville .

These nesting activities represent the first breeding record for the region. J. B. Starkey
Wilderness Park is about halfway in latitude between the Orange and Polk county records.
Freeman (1978) and our recent observations suggest that the Yellow-throated Vireo has ex-
tended its breediRg range south in Florida.

We appreciate the assistance of Patricia M. Dooris, Frances Butler and Becky Hatten in
preparation of this note. — Manuel L6p¥z and William D. Courser, Southwest Florida
Water Management District, 5060 U.S. 41 South, Brooksville, Florida 33512 and Eugene W.
Schupp, Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

General Notes

11

Fla. Field Nat. 9(1): 11, 1981

Xanthochromism in the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.— Xanthochromism, considered very
rare in wild birds (Van Tyne and Berger 1976, Fundamentals of ornithology, s^ond ed.. New
York, Wiley & Sons), is an abnormal coloring of a bird’s plumage in which yellow replaces the
normal coloring and it has been recorded in an Eastern Bluebird {Sialia sialis), a female Car-
dinal {Cardinalis cardinalis), 2 Evening Grosbeaks {Hesperiphona vespertina), and a Purple
Finch {Carpodacus purpureus) (Gross 1965, Bird-Banding 36: 240-242).

On 26 April 1980 at 1600, 7.2 km E of Gulf Breeze, Escambia County, Florida, in a
wooded area 500 m N of Santa Rosa Sound, I observed a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus
ludovicianus) with xanthochromic portions of its plumage. The bird, an adult male, was in a
flock (10-15) of normally colored Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. The bird’s plumage was normally
colored in all the white and black areas but the triangular area on the breast was yellow (color
chart in Palmer 1962, Handbook of North American birds, vol. 1, New Haven, Yale Univ.
Press) where it normally would be rose-colored. Unfortunately, I did not note the color of the
underside of the wings. — Donald G. Richardson, 7830 Folkstone Drive, Pensacola, Florida
32504.

Fla. Field Nat. 9(1):11-12, 1981

An increase of Boat-tailed Grackles in Leon County, Florida. — Until recently there have
been only a few sporadic records of the Boat-tailed Crackle {Quiscalus major) in the interior
of north Florida and most have occurred in Leon County, the northwesternmost inland
breeding locality of the species in Florida (Stevenson 1978: 40). Early Leon County records
are from Lake Jackson and include an adult pair and three young on 2 June 1959 and single
birds on 22 July 1959 (Stevenson 1959) and 19 May 1960 (Stevenson 1960). After 1960 there
are no records until 10 March 1972 when a male was recorded at the same lake (Stevenson
1972).

Except for 1977, Boat-tails have been recorded annually from 1974 to 1979 for several
parts of the county. Records for 1974 include single males on 28 April, Lake Miccosukee
(James Stevenson, pers. comm.) and on 8 June, Buck Lake Road (Henry M. Stevenson, pers.
comm.), and two males on 25 October, Lake Miccosukee (H. M. Stevenson, pers. comm.),
the first post-breeding record for the county. On 9 July 1975, five individuals, suspected to be
a family group from a local nesting, possibly in nearby Jefferson County, were at Lake Mic-
cosukee (Ogden 1975). Other post-breeding records are of four males on 26 September 1976,
Tallahassee Sewage Plant (G.E.M.), two males on 15 November 1978, Lake Jackson (H. M.
Stevenson, pers. comm.) and a male on 19 November 1978, Lake Miccosukee (G.E.M.).

At several lakes in Leon County during the spring and summer of 1979 Boat-tails were
numerous totalling at least 19 individuals, including three females and several fledglings.
Early single males were on 21 February, lakes lamonia and Lafayette (Stevenson 1979), 16
March, Lake Miccosukee and 2 April, Lake lamonia (G.E.M.) . Numbers soon increased; I
recorded five males and the first female on 5 April, Buck Lake Road and Roger Shea (pers.
comm.) saw a male and two females in late April at Lake Jackson. Nesting probably occurred
at Lake Jackson within one km of the intersection of Interstate 27 and State Road 157 where I
found two females carrying nesting materials on 13 May and 27 May (G.E.M., R. Carter).
On 9 June I found six individuals, including two fledglings, two females and a male, and on
16 June with H. M. Stevenson I saw about ten individuals including fledglings that were
probably from two broods. The vegetation at this site consisted mostly of wax myrtle {Myrica
cerifera), blackberry {Ruhus sp.), various grasses and much American lotus {Nelumbo lutea)
in the lake shallows. I estimate that eggs were laid in late April or early May and that
nestlings fledged by 1 June. The Boat-tails were last seen at this site on Lake Jackson on 29
June where I found one female with two fledglings, but elsewhere on the lake two males were

12

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST* Vo/. 9, No. 1, February 1981

seen on 13 June and a molting male on 29 August (G.E.M., H.M.S.). Late male Boat-tails I
recorded were two on II October, Lake Jackson, and one on 13 October, Lake Miccosukee. I
suspect that Boat-tails might have also nested at lakes lamonia and Lafayette during 1979.
Although Boat-tails are yet unrecorded in December and January from Leon County, just a
short distance north they have been recorded on 14 December 1964 and 26 December 1971 in
Thomas County, Georgia (Crawford and Dozier 1973).

In Florida, Boat-tailed Crackles nest almost throughout the peninsula (Stevenson 1976)
but not in the interior west of Tallahassee (Stevenson 1978; 40). The only inland records for
Jefferson County are of four individuals, probably near Monticello, on 29 June 1966 (Steven-
son 1966) and a female east of Monticello on 30 May 1975 (R. L. Crawford, N. O. Warner,
pers. comm.). To the east, the only inland record is of an adult and several fledglings 12 miles
east of Live Oak (Suwannee Co.) on 9 July 1971, which represents the northern breeding limit
of the species in peninsular Florida (Ogden 1971). Most of the inland counties of north Florida
probably have fewer field naturalists than Leon County which could account for the relative
scarcity of records. A more important factor, however, could be the smaller number of
natural lakes with abundant aquatic plants that are prerequisite to nesting and typical of the
lak^ and ponds in northern Leon County. The man-made impoundments in adjacent coun-
tira, i.e, lak^ Seminole (Gadsden and Jackson cos.) and Talquin (Gadsden and Leon cos.) are
mostly devoid of such habitat.

Most of the increasing inland records of the Boat-tailed Grackle in north Florida remain
limited to Leon County, where the species may become a regular (but rare) breeding summer

resident and where it also occurs during most of the year with the possible exception of mid-
winter.

Literature Cited

Crawford, R. L., and D. J. Dozier. 1973. The birds of Thomas County, Georgia. Oriole
38: 13-27.

Ogden, J. 1975. Amer. Birds 29: 960-963.

Stevenson, H. M. 1959. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 13: 426-429.

Stevenson, H. M. 1960. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 14: 371-373.

Stevenson, H. M. 1966. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 20; 562-565.

Stevenson, H. M. 1972. Florida region, Amer. Birds 26: 596.

Stevenson, H. M. 1976. Vertebrates of Florida. Gainesville, Univ. Presses of Florida.
Stevenson, H. M. 1978. The populations of Boat-tailed Grackles in the southeastern United
States. Pro. Biol. Soc. Wash. 91; 27-51.

Stevenson, H. M. 1979. Florida region. Amer. Birds 33: 274-276.

Gail E. Menk, 2725 Peachtree Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32304.

NOTES AND NEWS

Helen Gere Cruickshank (Mrs. Allan D. Cruickshank), elected Honorary Member of the
Florida Ornithological Society.— Helen Cruickshank, author and photographer, was elected
the second honorary member of the society at the 1980 Spring meeting. She is the author of 12
books, including Bird Islands Down East (1941), Flight Into Sunshine (1948), Wonders of
the Bird World (1956), Wonders of the Reptile World (1959), Water Birds (1955), John and
William Bartram’s America (1957), 1001 Questions Answered About Birds (with Allan
Cruickshank) (1958), Thoreau on Birds (1964), A Paradise of Birds (1968), Cruickshank’s
Photographs of Birds of America (edited) (1977), The Nesting Season (1979), and The Birds of
Brevard County, Florida (edited from records by A. Cruickshank) (1980).

In addition, Helen has done two full length motion pictures, Pastures of the Sea and Bird
Islands Down East, and her still photographs have appeared in numerous publications and
educational film strips. Flight Into Sunshine won the annual John Burroughs Award for the
best outdoor book, presented by the John Burroughs Memorial Association of the American
Museum of Natural History. Bird Islands Down East won the medal of the Societe Provan-
cher d’Histoire Naturelle du Canada, and A Paradise of Birds won the annual Oppenheimer
Award for the b^t outdoor book about Texas.

Helen’s career as a field ornithologist is perhaps best illustrated by her intimate association
with the Cocoa Christmas Bird Count (CBC). On the first count (“Audubon, Florida”),
December 27, 1951, Helen and Allan and Joseph Howell, in 2 parties, tallied 128 species: the
second highest CBC in Florida that year. The next year the Cruickshanks counted alone in
one party. By 1955, the Cocoa CBC was the highest in Florida and second in the nation; in
1956 it was first in the nation with 184 species; and in 1960 it first reached 2(X) species. The
1973 total of 210 species is the high for Florida, and many think that mark will never be sur-
passed. Few of those who took part in that great socio-scientific ritual will ever forget it, for it
set the national standards for accuracy, thorough organization, and good birding fun. Helen
has participated in every Cocoa CBC. She has been a party leader on all except the very early
on^, and she continue in that capacity today.

Helen, a charter member of FOS, has been a faithful and supportive participant in the ac-
tivities of the society. She is a deeply committed conservationist, working through many
organizations, especially the Garden Club. She was Bird Chairman for the Federated Garden
Clubs of Florida from 1959 to 1961, and she has received the Blanche Covington Award for
Conservation, the highest award of the Federation. Her articles about birds and natural
history have appeared in many national periodicals including Colliers, Womans Day,
Audubon, and Natural History, and she is a popular lecturer and tour leader, having led tours
to 3 continents.

Helen is not only a great naturalist, but a great lady. She is both rich and beautiful— rich
in the only things that really count and beautiful in the only ways that really matter. She has
been and continues to be an inspiration to us all. — Robert W. Loftin.

Spring 1981 meeting.— Tallahassee, Florida, 24-26 April 1981; Meeting headquarters.
Holiday Inn, 1302 Apalachee Pkwy.; Robert L. Crawford, Tall Timbers Res. Sta., local com-
mittee chairman. This will be a joint meeting with the Alabama and Georgia ornithological

societies.

13

14

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST* Fo/. 9, No. 1, February 1981

Report on the 1980 spring meeting.— The annual meeting of the FOS was held in the St.
Petersburg Inn, St. Petersburg, Florida, on 18-20 April, Items of business included the elec-
tion of Helen G. Cruickshank to honorary membership; changing the schedule of the FFN to
4 issues per year; the adoption of revised by-laws; election of Frances C. James, Marsha S.
Winegarner and Robert D. Barber to the board of directors; and changing the dues schedule
for 1981 to: student-$5, individual-$10 (overseas-$13), family-$15, contributing- $25. Dona-
tions were received for the Florida Game Commission’s Dusky Seaside Sparrow project (over
$200) with the FOS contribution bringing the amount to $350. FOS members are asked to
participate in the Scrub Jay distribution survey organized by Jeff Cox. The FOS will support
the mailing expenses of this project.

Henry M. Stevenson, upon winning the bird skin quiz for the third time, retired himself

from future competition. Saturday afternoon’s paper session included “avian habitat creation
in Tampa Bay by dredged materials’’ by Roy R. Lewis and James A. Rodgers, Jr., “The Great
Black-backed Gull in the Jacksonville area” by Joe Wilson, and “Color polymorphism in
jaegers- another hypothesis” by Wayne Hoffman.

Lyn and Brooks Atherton, co-chairmen of the local committee, kept their promise to pro-
vide good birding at Mullet Key where more than 100 species were recorded. We thank them
and the members of the St. Petersburg Audubon Society for their hospitality. — Barbara C.
Kittleson, Secretary.

ALSO RECEIVED

The Brown Pelican {Pelecanus occidentalis): A bibliography. — Ralph W. Schreiber and
Elizabeth Anne Schreiber. 1980. 20 pp. Available from the authors. Natural History
Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90007, for $3.00, prepaid
only. — Contains over 900 citations, including the 36 “Selected Titles” that provide a com-
prehensive overview of the Brown Pelican, and citations for all Brown Pelican records ap-
pearing in Audubon Field Notes /American Birds.

Penguins. — Roger Tory Peterson. 1979. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company, x + 238 pp.,
73 color photos, 137 drawings. $25.00.— If you are interested in learning about penguins and
the animals that share their world, this may well be the book for you. The text is lively and
straightforward, the illustrations are good, and the book is a pleasure to hold and read. The
references between C and J under “Further readings about penguins” were omitted. This is a
minor flaw that does not detract from the overall high quality of this book.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

It is important for any organization to periodically step back from the
sometimes slow pace of routine activities and reflect on the growth and pro-
gress that occurs over the long run. As the Florida Ornithological Society
(FOS) enters its tenth year, a brief reflection on our growth, our current
status, and our future directions is in order.

The FOS is a young and vigorous organization. Many people contributed time
and energy in the throes of nest building and incubation to hatch a viable
organization. Those who have been with FOS from the beginning can probably
still recall those hectic first meetings. Others helped in the nestling
stage to allow the Society to grow. We appreciate Florida Audubon Society
for nurturing us through our formative years. We were also fortunate to
have dedicated workers who moved us through the fledgling stage and into the
maturity and stability of adulthood,

FOS stands today as an independent and proud organization. We have grown
to approximately 400 members. We are on a sO'Und financial footing. We have
completed 16 issues in eight volumes of our journal, the Floridf^ riyl'i
Naturalist. We have published the first 1n what will be i^vFruibTFTiri es
oT~SpecTaT Publications. We have published (in cooperation with the Florida
Audubon SocietyTTcTssues of the Ornithological Ne¥/s letter. We have held
two meetings per year across the State and one fn”lTiEiiFTw1 th AOS) to
facilitate conmuni cation and to encourage field research on Florida birds.

This issue of the FI on’ da Field Naturalist marks the continuing growth of
our Society. Wi th~voTiji¥ 9, we have moved to a quarterly publication
scheduled and settled into a regular schedule for our activities (see last
page of this issue). Also included in this issue 1s our new By-laws adopted
on 19 April 1980.

The year 1981 will see work progress towards the publication of the checklist
of Florida birds as a FOS Special Publication. Our first special field pro-
ject, the Florida Scrub JayTTstribution survey, is scheduled for completion
in 1981 and draws upon the extensive field observational capabilities of our
membership. An updated, revised membership brochure will be published by
early 1981. Finally, 1981 will see the Society operating on a planned budget.

Looking toward the future, we hope to sponsor additional special field pro-
jects that will tap the abilities of our membership and improve our under-
standing of Florida's abundant bird life. The Society's Articles of Incorpor-
ation will be revised to reflect our independent status and current organi-
zation, and membership recruitoent will continue to be an important concern.

An active, participating membership is the key to the success of any organi-
zation. FOS can continue to grow and expand its programs and benefits only
if each one of us actively participates in and contributes to all phases of
the Society's activities, including membership recruitment. Attend the
spring and fall meetings. Contribute manuscripts to the Florida Field
Naturalist. Volunteer to help on one of the working commTttiis”! n an area
that interests you. Share any thoughts or suggestions about improving the
Society with your Board of Directors. Spread your interest and enthusiasm
for ornithology and birding to others and invite them to join us.

The past has seen much progress. Let us not rest on our laurels but let us
move ahead, strong and confident, towards a future of continuing progress
and accomplishments in our knowledge, understanding and conservation of
Florida's avIfauna.—WilHam D. Courser.

15

BY-LAWS OF THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY*

Section 1 .

Article I. NAME and OBJECTIVES

Name - The organization shall be known as the Florida
Ornithological Society.

Section 2.

Objectives - The objectives shall be to advance Florida
ornithology by uniting interested persons to facilitate
communication and research and to provide for the publication
of a journal and other reports.

Section 1 .

Article II. MEMBERSHIP

Members - The members of this Society shall consist of five (5)

classes; individual members, family members, contributing
members, student members, and honorary members.

Section 2.

Dues - Dues for the various memberships and institutional sub-
scriptions shall be determined and changed by the Board of
Directors as deemed necessary.

Section 3.

Honorary Members - Honorary membership may be proposed to the
Executive Committee by any three (3) members in recognition of
some extraordinary contribution to Florida ornithology and
awarded upon unanimous vote of the Board of Directors at any
annual meeting. Honorary members are exempt from payment of
dues.

Section 4.

Privileges - All members shall be entitled to vote and hold
of f i ce .

Section 5.

Dues in Arrears - All annual dues are due January 1, Members
whose dues are unpaid by the time of the distribution of the
second issue of the Florida Field Naturalist in a fiscal year
shall be dropped automatically from membership. Such members
may be reinstated by payment of the current dues.

Section 1 ,

Article III. MEETINGS

Annual Meeting - There shall be an annual meeting, which will
be the 7irst meeting of the year, held at a time and location
designated by the Board of Directors. The membership shall be

notified not less than forty-five (45) days in advance of the

meeting.

Section 2,

Quorum - Fifteen (15) members shall constitute a quorum for the

transaction of business at any regular or called meeting of the
membership

*Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Florida on 24 October 1974,

16

By-Laws

17

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 1

Other Meetings « There may be other meetings which shall be
determined by the Board of Directors or by a majority of the
membership present at any meeting provided notice is given not
less than thirty (30) days in advance. Voting on immediate
issues may be by mail ballot, providing they are mailed 30 days
prior to the decision. Fifty (50) mail ballots shall constitute
a quorum.

Planning - A program committee and a local arrangements
committee for a meeting shall be appointed by the President at
least six (6) months in advance of the meeting. The Vice-
President shall function as liaison with the local comnittee for
each meeting.

Board of Directors - Regular, semi-annual meetings of the Board
of Di rectors shaTT be held in conjunction with and at the site
of the semi-annual meetings of the Society. Special meetings
of the Board may be called by the President by delivery of ten
(10) days notice of such meeting to each director, either
personally, or by mail or telegram stating the date, time, place,
and purpose of such meeting.

Article IV. OFFICERS

Officers - The officers of this Society shall be a President, a
VTce-Wesident, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and the Editor of the
Florida Field Naturalist. The duties of these officers shall be
tRoiFTsuaTTy pertaining to these offices as specified in Robert*
Rules of Order.

Election - All officers and elected members-at-large of the
Board of Directors, except the Editor, shall be elected as their
terms expire at the annual meeting by ballot or by acclamation
of a majority of the members present.

Editor - The Editor of the Florida Field Naturalist shall be
appointed annually by the Board~of Direc tors* and~lT eligible for
appointment indefinitely.

Terns of Offi ce - The President and Vice-President shall hold
offi ce”Tor two (2) years, or until their successors are elected,
and shall be eligible for re-election for a second term. The
immediate Past-President shall serve one term as a member of the
Board of Directors.

The Secretary and Treasurer are elected for a two (2) year term
and are eligible for re-election indefinitely. Terms of office
shall begin at the close of the meeting at which the officers
were elected.

Article V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Di rectors - The officers of the Society, the immediate Past-
President and six (6) additional members, elected by the member-
ship, shall constitute a Board of Directors. The term of office
for the six elected members of the Board of Directors shall be

18

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST* VoZ. 9, No. 1, February 1981

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5,

Section 6

Section 7,

Section 8,

Section 1.

Section 2-

Section 3

two (2) years with terms staggered so that three (3) directors,
who are not officers, shall be elected at each annual meeting.

• Numbers - The number of the elected members of the Board of
Directors may be changed according to the Articles of Incorpora-
tion of this Society to no less than three (3) by the Board of
Di rectors .

• Authority - The Board of Directors shall have general charge
anJ"control of the business, funds, and property of the Society.

• Assistants and Editors - The Board of Directors may appoint
assistant? and s^l^T editors for any needed activity of the
Board. These assistants may not vote on the Board of Directors.
They may serve a two (2) year term and are eligible for re-
appointment.

Quorum - A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute
a quorum at any meeting.

Vacancies - Vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled
by the Board of Directors until the next annual membership
meeting. At this time the nominating committee shall present
candidates for election to fill the unexpired term of office.

Removal - Any officer, director, or appointed person may be
removed by the Board of Directors, when it is deemed to be in
the best interest of the Society, by a vote of the majority of
the remaining directors.

Election - The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of
c¥nd1 dates for election at the annual meeting. The President
shall then call for nominations from the floor, to be made by
any member In good standing. Officers and directors shall be
elected by a majority of votes of the members present.

Article VI, COMMITTEES

Executive Commi ttee - There shall be an Executive Committee

composed of the officers which shall be empowered to act for the
Board of Directors in necessary business between meetings of the
Board, These actions shall be submitted to the Board of
Directors for approval and ratification at the next Board meeting.

Nominating Commi ttee - The Nominating Committee shall consist of

three (3Tmembers^ which the President shall appoint the Chair-
man and the Board of Directors shall elect the two (2) members.

The term of the committee shall be two (2) years.

Finance Commi ttee - The Finance Committee shall consist of the
Treasurer, who shall serve as Chairman, and at least two (2)
other members, appointed by the President. The members shall
serve one or more terms of two (2) years. It shall be the duty
of this committee to serve as a financial fact-finding committee
and advise the Board and the Treasurer on all matters relating
to the finances of the Society.

By-Laws

19

Section 4

Section 5

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 1 .

Section 2.

Section 3.

Section 4.

Section 5.

» Editorial Advisory Board - The Editorial Advisory Board,

appointed' byThiPresident, shall consist of no less than three
(3) members who serve for five (5) year terms. The Editorial Advisory
Board advises the President, Board of Directors, and Editors
regarding Florida Ornithological Society publications and is the
search committee for candidates for the office of Editor and any
Assistant Editors.

• Special Committees - The President may appoint special committees
to handl¥ s^cTfTc matters when deemed necessary by the Board of
Directors, These committees are terminated when their particular
tasks are completed unless a term is otherwise stated.

Article VII. PUBLICATIONS

• Florida Field Naturalist - The official publication of the
Society shall Be the Florida Field Naturalist. It shall be
sent to all members not 1‘n^r rear s”of dues,

• Editorial Policies - Editorial policies shall be established
through consul taTTon between the Edi tor of the Florida Field
Naturalist, the Board of Directors, and the Editorial AHvi sory

BoirST™””"

• Newsletter - A newsletter, separately edited from the Florida
FTiTcTNaUrralist, to inform members about Society business,
meitTngs, fie1B~trips, membership, ornithological activities,
etc., shall be issued periodically and mailed to all members not

in arrears of dues.

• Special Publications - The Society may issue and sell separate

publ i catTons~to be known as Special Publications (numbered) upon
a majority vote of the Board ofnDfrectors .

Article VIII. ACCOUNTS and RECORDS

Audi t - The Finance Committee, excluding the Treasurer, shall
audit annually the accounts of the Treasurer. Their audit re-
port shall be incorporated in the records of the Society.

Annual Statement - The Treasurer or the Finance Committee shall
present an annual written financial statement on the monetary
affairs and transactions of the Society to be incorporated in
the records at the time of the annual meeting.

Membership List - A list of the members in good standing shall
be f urnTsKe^ at" the annual meeting by the Finance Committee.

Records - The Secretary shall keep minutes of the membership.
Board of Directors, and Executive Committee meetings and the
various financial and other reports. Copies of the minutes of
the meetings of the Board of Directors shall be sent to members
of the Board following each meeting.

Accounts - All drafts and checks of the Society shall be signed

20

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST* Vol. 9, No. 1, February 1981

by the Treasurer and any other of the elected officers or the

Assistant Treasurer.

Article IX. GENERAL MATTERS

Section 1. Fiscal Year - The fiscal year of this Society shall be the
calend~ar year.

Section 2. Rules of Order - Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be

the parlimentary iutHoFi ty~Tor~aTT matters not specifically pro-
vided for in the By-laws or the Articles of Incorporation of this
Society.

Section 3. Amendments - According to the Articles of Incorporation of the
Florida Ornithological Society* the By-laws of this Society may
be amended by a two- thirds (2/3) majority vote of the quorum of
the Board of Directors present at any regular or special meeting.
Amendments shall be written into the official copy of the By-laws
held by the Secretary of the Society.

Adopted on 19 April 1980 by the Board of Directors. Members of the By-laws
Committee include Virginia M, Markgraf, Chairman, Theodore H, Below, Herbert
W. Kale, II, Barbara C. Kittleson, and John C. Ogden.

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ANNUAL CALENDAR

January 1. Beginning of fiscal year, all annual memberships renewable;
printer's deadline for May issue of FFN.

February 15. Mail announcements of annual meeting, February issue of
FFN, Newsletter, and renewal notices to delinquent
memberships.

April 1. Printer's deadline for August issue of FFN.

April. Annual meeting, exact dates set by the local committee.

May 14. Purge mailing list of delinquent memberships.

May 15. Mail May issue of FFN.

July 1, Printer's deadline for November issue of FFN.

August 15, Mail announcement of fall meeting, August issue of FFN, and
Newsletter.

October 1. Printer's deadline for February issue of FFN.

October. Fall meeting, exact dates set by local committee.

November 15. Mail annual membership renewal notices, November issue

RfN, and Newsletter.

December 31. End of fiscal year, all annual memberships terminate.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A quarterly publication of The Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, ArchboM Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.
Editorial Advisory Board:

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 33124.
William B. Robertson, Jh., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Henry M. Stevenson, 905 Briarcliffe Rd., Tallahassee, Florida 32308.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biolo©^, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new information on the biology
of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Submit manuscripts in triplicate to the Editor. They should be typed, double-spaced, on one
side of numbered sheets of standard (8% X 11 in.) bond paper, with at least one inch margins all
around. Type tables on separate sheets and use space efficiently. Photographs should be glossy
prints of good contrast and sharpness, and should be approximately the same size as they will
appear in print. Diagrams and line drawings should be in black ink with lettering large enough
to permit reduction. For advice on preparing illustrations, consult Steps Toward Better Scientific
Illustrations by A. Allen, Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas.

Titles should be short and descriptive and the body of the article concise. Follow the form
and style of a recent issue of the Florida Field Naturalist. Use the Council of Biology Editors (CBE)
Style Manual, Fourth Edition (AIBS 1978) in preparing manuscripts. All references should be
cited in the body of the text and listed at the end under “Literature Cited.” Text citations
should indicate author and year of publication, e.g. {Bond 1961). If there are more than two
authors list the first follow^i by “et al,” (e.g. Blair et al. 1968). Indicate specific pages of longer
works, e.g. {Bond 1%1: 44). If there are five or fewer references they should be cited only in the
text, e.g. (Spmnt 1954, Florida bird life, New York, Coward McCann, Inc.) or (Craickshank 1974,
Fla. Field Nat. 2: 1-3).

Capitalize the English name of bird species, and follow the first mention of a species in text
by the scientific name, underlined, in parentheses. Scientific names should follow a widely ac-
cepted authority for the group of animals or plants involved. For North American birds use the
A.O.U. Check-list, fifth ed. (1957) and its Supplements, the 32nd (1973, Auk TO: 411-419) and
the 33rd (1976, Auk 94: 875-979).

Use abbreviations sparingly in the text except parenthetically e.g. “Lake Placid (12 km S).”
The metric system is preferred for all measurements. Use the 24-hour time system (0700 or 1645)
and the military date system (4 July 1976).

OTHER FOS PUBLICATIONS

Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon Field Notes and American Birds Volumes
1-30 1947-1976, by Margaret C. Bowman, xii + 42 pp. 1978. FOS Spec. Publ. No. 1. Price $3.75
prepaid, order from Treasurer (see inside front cover).

CONTENTS

NESTING DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATION OF GLOSSY

IBIS IN FLORIDA John C. Ogden

GENERAL NOTES

Unwary behavior of captured and released Sandhill Cranes

Lovett E. Williams, Jr.

An unusual female Ruddy Duck in central Florida Bernard King

Winter breeding of the Common Gallinule in the Florida Panhandle

Dana C. Bryan

The absence of hematozoa in Burrowing Owls of the Tampa Bay area,
Florida

George M. Doork, Patricia M. Doork, and William D. Courser
American Robins and Cedar Waxwings rain-bathing under lawn sprinklers

Bernard King

Yellow-throated Vireo nests in west-central Florida

Manuel Lopez and William D, Courser

Xanthochromism in the Rose-breasted Grosbeak Donald G. Richardson

An increase of Boat-tailed Crackles in Leon County, Florida .... Gail E. Menk

NOTES AND NEWS

REPORT ON THE 1980 SPRING MEETING

Barbara C. Kittleson

ALSO RECEIVED

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE William D. Courser

BY LAWS OF THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY .
FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, ANNUAL
CALENDAR

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VOL. 9 MAY 1981 NO. 2

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Founded 1972

Officers for 1979-1981

President: William D. Courser, 885 North Pinehurst, Spring Hill, Florida 33512.

Vice-President: Brooks H. Atherton, 4619 Woodmere Drive, Tampa, Florida 33609.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803.

Treasurer: Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605.

Assistant Treasurer: John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Assistant Treasurer: Patricia J. Lanzillotti, 2135 NW 28th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605.
Editor of Florida Field Naturalist: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180,
Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Editor of Ornithological Newsletter: Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon Society, 35-lst

Gourt SW, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

FOS Archives and Editor of Special Publications: John William Hardy, The Florida State

Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Directors 1979-1981

Wally George, 2625 North Andrews— No. 102, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311.

Stephen A. Nesbitt, 4005 South Main Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Rebecca Payne, Rt. 1, Box 77, Maitland, Florida 32751.

Directors 1980-1982

Frances C. James, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee,
Florida 32306.

Lenore McCullagh, 2735 Holly Point Road E, Orange Park, Florida 32073.

Marsha S. Winegarner, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979, Helen G. Gruickshank 1980.

All persons interested in Florida’s natural history, particularly its abundant bird life, are
invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by writing the Treasurer. Annual member-
ship dues are $10 for individual members (overseas $13), $15 for a family membership, $5 for
students, and $25 for contributing members. All members receive the Florida Field Naturalist
and the Newsletter. Subscription price for institutions and non-members is $10 per year. Back
issues (vol. 1-8, $3.00 per issue) available, prepaid, from the Editor.

Manuscripts submitted for publication and books intended for review should be sent to the
Editor (see inside back cover) . Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or defective
copies of this journal and requests for information about advertising and subscriptions should
be sent to the Treasurer, Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605. The permanent address of the Florida Ornithological Society is: Department of Or-
nithology, Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Published quarterly (February, May, August, and November) by the Florida Or-
nithological Society, Gainesville, Florida 32605. Printed by Storter Printing Co., Inc., P. O.
Box 1409, Gainesville, Florida 32602.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

QuARTiMLY PUBLICATION OF THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIKTY

VoL. 9, No. 2 May 1981 Pages 21=33

SOME NOTEWORTHY CHANGES IN THE BIRDLIFE OF
NORTHWESTERN FEORIDA (1965-1979)

Rob^t a. Duncan

France M, Weston*s invaluable work, A Survey of the Birdlife of North-
western Florida (1965, BulL Tall Timbers Research Station 5: 1-147) covered
48 years (1916-1964) of detailed record keeping and established a firm basis
for future ornithological work in northwestern Florida. Fifteen years have
elapsed since its publication and some substantial changes in the Region’s avi-
fauna have occurred. This review was undertaken because of a lack of con-
cisely published material covering this period. It include only those spwi^
whose status has undergone a significant change. A more comprehensive ac-
count covering all species should be undertaken after a longer period of time
has elapsed.

Methods, and Abbreviations

This review covers the westernmost three counties in extreme northwestern Florida
— Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa — as described by Weston (1965). Published data
were obtain^ by reviewing the Regional Reports and CBCs in Audubon Field Notes/American
Birds (AFN/AB) and the FloridM Field Naturalist. Unpublishrf material came from summari« of
field trips conduct^ by the Francis M. W«ton Audubon Society, USF&WS Eroding Bird Surveys
and icxjai obrervers. In addition, data from Gulf Brrero, a migrant trap where the author and Lucy
Duncan rraide, are drawn upon. I rojorded the composition and relative abundance of migrants
pr«ent sinre 1.974 and I have extensive note dating back to 1969. Lucy Duncan has operated a
bird-bandiEg station in spring and fall since 1977. Gulf Br^ze is also a hawk lookout station
mannrf during fall migration for the Hawk Migration Asociation of North America. All
reference are of published sight rm)rds appearing in Re^onal Reports/ Central-Southem Re^on of
AFN/AB unl^ otherwfe statai. Specie with 12 rm)rds or l«s for the 15-year period are
documented as to date, place and observer.

Gazetteer of localities appearing in the Species Accounts. ESCAMBIA COUNTY-— Bron-
son Field, Ft. Pickens (GINS), Gonzalez, Inerarity Point, Little Sabine (Santa Rosa Is.), Pen-
sacola, Pensacola Bay, Pensacola Bay Pass, Pensacola Beach, Pensacola CBC, Perdido Bay,
Perdido Key, Santa Rosa Is. (west section); OKALOOSA COUNTY— Choctawhatchee,
Choctawhatchee Bay, Choctawhatchee CBC, Crestview, Destin, Eglin Air Force Base, Ft.
Walton Beach, Jack’s Lake (EAFB), Prairie Ponds (EAFB), Santa Rosa Island (east section),
Santa Rosa Sound (east section), Weekley Pond (EAFB); SANTA ROSA COUNTY — Air
Products Sanctuary, Garcon Point, Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Santa Rosa Island (middle section),
Santa Rosa Sound (west section).

21

Fla. Field Nat. 9(2):21-27, 1981

22

Florida Field Naturalist • Vol. 9, No. 2, May 1981

List of abbreviations that appear in the Species Accounts. Air Prod. Sane. -Air Products
Sanctuary; AMNH-American Museum of Natural History; CBC-Christmas Bird Count;
EAFB-Eglin Air Force Base; FMWAS-Francis M. Weston Audubon Society; GINS-Gulf
Islands National Seashore; imm. -immature; m. ob.-many observers; Pt. -point; spec. -speci-
mens; TTRS-Tall Timbers Research Station; unpubl. -unpublished; USFWS-U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service.

List of observers’ initiak whose names frequently appear in the Species Accounts. DB-
Dick Ballman; JTB-Joyce T. Baxter; LC-Lloyd Clayton; LD-Lucy Duncan; RAD-Robert A.
Duncan; SD-Scot Duncan; OEF-Owen E. Fang; AF-Amy Furnans; TF-Ted Furnans; AG-
Agnes Gaither; HG-Harold Gaither; LEG-Lyman E, Goodnight; CJK-Charles J. Kahn;
CLK-Curtis L. Kingsbery; EL-Eric Lefstad; SL-Sandra Lefstad; MLM-Mary Lou Mattis;
CWM-C. William Milmore; TM-Tudy Milmore; DR-Don Richardson; BJS-Barbara Johnson
Stedman; SJS-Stephen J. Stedman; DT-Dave Turpin; WHV-Wayne H. Valentine; AFW-A.
Fred Wicke, Jr.; FMW-Francis M. Weston.

Species Accounts

This review treats 57 species. In the following accounts “WESTON”
refers to Weston 1965, Bull. Tall Timbers Res. Sta. 5: 1-147, and
“1965-79” refers to the period of the present summary. Photographs,
unless otherwise indicated, are in the possession of the photographer.
County designations for localities are listed and abbreviations are ex-
plained in the Methods section (see above) .

Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata). — WESTON, “casual in winter in the coastal area,*’
four records. — 1965-79, two records: 20 Jan. 76, Pensacola Bay, BJS; 5 Dec. 79, Santa Rosa
Sound, RAD & LD.

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena). — WESTON, no records. — 1965-79, two records:
6-11 April 67, Pensacola area, FMW & CJK, first record for area; 13 March 79, Perdido Key,
OEF & Roberta Ross.

Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) . — WESTON, “accidental in the coastal area in
winter.” Four records. — 1965-79, two records: 10 Dec. 66, Pensacola area, FMW; 28 Dec.
76, Choctawhatchee Bay, RAD.

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis). — WESTON, “accidental,” one
record. — 1965-79, one record: 15 May 72, Perdido Bay, Fla. -Ala., two birds, Barbara Bod-
man, Ralph Bodman & Bill Clark.

Cory’s Shearwater (Puffinus diomedea). — WESTON, no records. — 1965-79, one
record, 24 July 77, Pensacola Beach, 5 birds, Charles W. Saunders, Jr., Charles Duncan.

Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis). — WESTON, no records, — 1965-79, three
records: 7 May 70, off Santa Rosa Is., two birds, James M. Stevenson; 17 July 77, 2 mi. S of
Pensacola Bay Pass, John DeLorge; 30 Sept. 78, 40-55 mi. SW of Destin, 6-15 birds, CLK.

Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus). — WESTON, “casual in the coastal area,” five
records. — 1965-79, one record, 30 Sept. 78, 40-55 mi. SW of Destin, CLK.

Harcourt’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma castro). — WESTON, no records. — 1965-79,
one record, 20 Aug. 69, Pensacola Beach, JTB, found dead after Hurricane Camille. Spec.
(No. 67960) to Louisiana State U. Museum of Zoology.

Blue-Faced Booby (Sula dactylatra). — WESTON, “accidental on the coast; one depen-
dable sight record.” — 1965-79, four records: 23 Nov. 74, Destin, SL, EL, Richard Crittenden
& Judy Crittenden, unpubl; 31 Mar. 76, off Santa Rosa Is., BJS; 30 Sept. 78, 40-55 mi. SW of
Destin, 4-8 birds, CLK; 28 July 79, off Santa Rosa Is., CLK et al.

DUNCAN • Birdlife of NW Florida

23

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). — WESTON, no records. — 1965-79, two
records: 29 Oct. 72, Pensacola Bay, imm., RAD, LD, AF & TF; 18 Jan. 75, Gulf Breeze,
imm., RAD.

Reddish Egret (Dichromanassa rufescens). — WESTON, “casual in summer on the coast;
does not breed. Extreme dates of occurrence: 28 Feb. 64 & 10 Oct. 62.” — 1965-79, rare visitor
May-Nov. Has occurred 12 of the past 15 years and has been recorded every month except
Dec., Jan. & June. The majority of sightings are of dark-phase birds involving 1-4 in-
dividuals.

Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor).— WESTON, “accidental.” Placed on
Hypothetical List based on unreliable sight record. — 1965-79, one record, 9 May 71, Destin,

HG & AG.

Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis).— WESTON, “casual in winter in salt water.” — 1965-79,
rare winter visitor. Has occurred in 11 of the past 15 years. Max. number 26, Dec. 77, Choc-
tawhatchee GBC. First freshwater record, 26 Nov. 79, Air Prod. Sane., GWM, TM & m. ob.,
present to 31 Dec. 79.

King Eider (Somateria spectabilis). —WEST ON, no records. — 1965-79, one record, 14
Dec. 74-14 March 75, Gulf Breeze, TF & AF, m. ob., imm. or female, photos. Found
emaciated on 9 May 75 and died 13 May 75. Spec. TTRS. No. 3317, a female.

Gommon Merganser (Mergus merganser). — WESTON, no records.— 1965-79, four
records: 4 Dec. 66 & 8 Jan. 67, Pensacola, Michael Gochfeld; 28 Nov. 75, Gulf Breeze,
female, RAD & LD, unpubl.; 4 Feb. 78, Gulf Breeze, female, RAD.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus),— WESTON, “resident throughout the Region.”
Formerly considered fairly common but much reduced in nos. in recent years. Over 100 birds
counted in a single day during fall hawk movements on at least four occasions. — 1965-79, no
longer migrates through the Region in large nos. (Duncan & Duncan 1975, Fla. Field Nat.
3:2-4). Max. recorded in a single day, 6 birds, 27 Sept. 75, Gulf Breeze, RAD, unpubl.

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus). — WESTON, Hypothetical List, two
records. — 1965-79, two records: 5 Nov. 70, Gulf Breeze, light phase, RAD, unpubl.; 3 Nov.
79, Gulf Breeze, light phase, LD.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). — WESTON, “casual in winter,” two records. — 1965-
79, one record, 4 Nov. 79, Gulf Breeze, imm., OEF, LD, SD & RAD.

Sandhill Crane (Grm canadensis). — WESTON, “casual in winter,” three records. —
1965-79, one record, 26 Dec. 79, Ft. Walton Beach, SL, unpubl.

King Rail (Rallus WESTON, “resident throughout the region; rare; probably

breeds.” — 1965-79, positive evidence of breeding; adult with 5 downy young seen near Bron-
son Field, 21 May 79, OEF, unpubl.

Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) . — WESTON, “casual in fall and winter, so
far only in the coastal area.” Eight records. — 1965-79, one record, 22 March 74, Prairie Ponds
(EAFB), SL & Fred Bartleson, unpubl.

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica). — WESTON, “summer resident... breeding
sparingly,” irregular spring visitor. One positive confirmation of breeding.— 1965-79, addi-
tional evidence of breeding: summer of 1977 & 1978, Jack’s Lake (EAFB), adults with downy
young, SL & RAD, unpubl.; summer resident at Air Prod. Sane., breeds (1978 & 1979),
CWM, TM et ah, unpubl. First winter record; 27 Dec. 75, Garcon Pt., DT.

Common Gallinule (Gallinula chloropus). — WESTON, rare visitor all seasons, no
evidence of breeding. — 1965-79, positive evidence of breeding: adults with young seen late
June & early July and with black downy young 7 Sept. 78, Air Prod. Sane., CWM, TM et ah,
unpubl; adults with downy young present summer 1977 & 1978, Jack’s Lake (EAFB), SL &
RAD, unpubl; breeding at Weekley Pond (EAFB), summer 1979, SL, unpubl.

SuRFBiRD (Aphriza virgata). — WESTON, Hypothetical List, one record. — 1965-79,
one record; 16-24 March 68, Little Sabine, two birds, FMW, CJK et ah, photos (TTRS P93).

24

Florida Field Naturalist • Vol. 9, No. 2, May 1981

Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima). — WESTON, no records.— -1965-79, five records,
all at Destin jetties: 6-13 Jan. 77, RAD & SJS; 26 Dec. 77, Choctawhatchee CBC; 20 Nov. 78,
RAD, unpubl; 9 Dec. 79, DR; 28 Dec. 79, LD & SD.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) . — WESTON, rare in fall, no spring
records. — 1965-79, first spring record, 4 May 78, EAFB, 4 birds, SL.

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana). — WESTON, “accidental,” three
records. — 1965-79, rare & irregular visitor; 24 records. Recorded in 12 of the past 15 years
and every month except Feb. & Dec. 13 of 24 records Sept. -Nov. Max. 17 birds, 8 Sept. 73,
Destin, SJS; flock of 25 flying west, 25 April 76, Ft. Pickens, RAD & LD, unpubl.

Wilson’s Phalarope (Steganopus tricolor).— WESTON, “casual in the coastal area in
migration,” three records. — 1965-79, twelve additional records. Has occurred in 8 of the past
15 years in spring and/or fall migration.

Northhin Phalarope (Lobipes lohatm). — WESTON, no records. — ^1965-79, 13 May 72,

Navarre, CLK et al., first record for the Region.

Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus). — WESTON, accidental, three records. —
1965-79, one additional record, 30 Sept. 78, 40-55 miles SW of Destin, CLK.

Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus).-— WESTON, “casual, may occur regularly in
spring off the coast,” six records. — 1965-79, one record, 19 Feb. 79, Ft. Pickens, RAD, first
winter record (incorrectly reported in Amer. Birds as 19 Dec. 78).

Band-tailed Gull (Larus belcheri). — WESTON, no records.— -1965-79, one record. In
Sept. 1968 a sick gull was brought to the Swamparium, a private zoo north of Pensacola,
where it remains. It was photographed, subsequently measured and identified as L. b.
belcheri (Stevenson et al. 1980, Fla. Field Nat. 8:21-23).

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus). — WESTON, no records.-— 1965-79, rare
winter visitor, accidental in other seasons. There have been 17 separate occurrences, usually
involving single adult birds. One adult has wintered at Destin every year since 1974. Sixteen
of the 17 occurrences involve adults seen since 1974. First recorded 27 Aug. 66, at Santa Rosa
Is. near Pensacola, a partially disabled imm. bird seen by B. P. Brown and J. R. Sanders. Ex-
treme dates of occurrence, 12 Nov. 75 and 12 March 77. One late spring record, 21 May 79,
Pensacola Beach, RAD. Two summer records: 27 Aug. 66 and 22 Aug. 79, Ft. Pickens, M.
Magley, unpubl. Max. 2 birds: 15 Feb. 75, Pensacola Bay, AF & TF; 28 Jan. 78, Pensacola
Bay, E. Barbig & MLM; 19 Jan. 79, Ft. Pickens, WHV, unpubl.

Black-Legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). — WESTON, “accidental,” two
records. — 1965-79, two records: 27 Aug. 66, Santa Rosa Is. near Pensacola, B. P. Brown & J.
R. Sanders; 25 May 68, Destin, FMW et al.

Razorbill (Alca torda). — WESTON, no records. — 1965-79, one record, 18 May 79,
Santa Rosa Is. near Gulf Breeze, Marianne Garrigues & J. D. Scott (Arnold 1980, Fla. Field
Nat. 8: 50), spec. TTRS No. 3658.

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica). — WESTON, “winter visitant in the coastal area;
rare & irregular,” one spring record. — 1965-79, fifteen additional records occurring in 7 of
the past 15 years. Five additional spring records and one summer record: 6 March & 1 April
76, Gulf Breeze, RAD & LD; 12 May 74, Gulf Breeze, RAD; 15 May 77, Pensacola, William
Holmberg & Terry Holmberg; 23 May 77, Gulf Breeze, LD; 8 June 67, Pensacola, CJK.

Ground Dove (Columbina passerina). — WESTON, “probably breeds,” no definite
data. — 1965-79, positive evidence of breeding: adult with “2 imms.,” 13 May 67, Destin, AG
& HG.

Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) . — WESTON, “accidental,” one

record. — 1965-79, rare fall and winter visitor. Has occurred every year since 1973. Eighteen
records. Extreme dates of occurrence, 6 Oct. 1973 - 28 March 1976. Max. seen 3 birds. Most
frequently seen in Nov.

DUNCAN • Birdlife of NW Florida

25

Bahn Owl (Tyto alfoaj.— WESTON, no positive evidence of breeding. — 1965-79, con-
firmed breeding in summer of 1979 near Gonzalez, nest, 3 young hatched, two fledged, Ed
Nowak, CLK, DR, AFW.

Buhhowing Owl (Athene cunicularia). — WESTON, “accidental,” two
records.— 1965-79, seven records: 8 Jan. 66, Pensacola, FMW; 25 Nov. 67, Pensacola, FMW
et al.; 6 April 68, Pensacola, FMW; 1 March 69, Ft. Pickens, CLK, LC, AFW; 18 Jan. 70, Ft.
Pickens, RAD et al.; 15 Oct. 78, Santa Rosa Is., WHV, G. Boyce, found dead and discarded;
7 Dec. 79, Ft. Pickens, Nick Delassandro.

Tbopical Kingbibd (Tymnnus melancholicus),—W¥ST01d, no records. — 1965-79, one
record, 7 Sept. 75, Gulf Breeze, SJS & BJS (Stedman & Lohrer 1976, Fla. Field Nat. 4:
40-41). The difficulty of separating this species from Couch’s Kingbird (T. couchii) (Traylor
1979, Auk 96:221-233) clouds the status of this species in Florida. (Ayers et al. 1980, Fla.
Field Nat. 8:25-26).

Ash-thboated Flycatchik (Myiarchm cinermcem).-— WESTON, “accidental,” two
records.— 1965-79, one record, 20 Oct. 75, Gulf Breeze, RAD.

Olive-sided Flycatcher (Nuttallornis borealis). —WEST ON, “casual in fall migration,”
four records. ”1965-79, ten records: 23 Aug. 66, Pensacola, 2 birds, FMW & JTB; 26 Aug.
69, Gulf Breeze, RAD, unpubl; 25 Aug. 71, Gulf Breeze, 2 birds, RAD & LD; 29 Aug. 76,
Gulf Breeze, 2 birds, RAD, LD, Steven E. Liston & Susan Liston, photos; 14 & 16 Oct. 76,
Pensacola, CWM & TM, unpubl; 21 Aug. 77, Gulf Breeze, RAD, LD, SJS & BJS, unpubl; 8
Sept. 77, Gulf Breeze, RAD, unpubl; and 15 Aug. 79, Gulf Breeze, SD, LD & RAD. Five of
the nine fall records involve 1 to 2 birds seen in different years during the latter half of Aug, on
exposed perches within a 500 yd. area. First spring record: 14 March 71, Gulf Breeze, DB &
LD.

Vebmilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalm rtifotniisj. —WESTON, “casual in fall migration,”
four records.- — 1965-79, one record, 7 Oct. 72, Santa Rosa County, LEG, Goldwyn Gary,
Nell Broughton & Charles Broughton.

Sage Thbasher (Oreoscoptes montanm). — -WESTON, no records.— 1965-79, one record.
A single bird found at Ft. Pickens by LD, 28 March 76, constituted the state’s second record.
Seen by many. Photos (TTRS P225, 226) by Brooks Atherton, LD and Steven E. Liston. Last
reported 3 May 76 by WHV.

Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus).— WESTON, “accidental,” two
rojords. -1965-79, rare but regular spring transient & summer visitor; possibly breeds. Four-
teen occurrences since 1965, 13 of these since 1972. Extreme dates of occurrence, 6 April
1977-6 Oct. 1951, Most records occur April-Juee. No Aug. or Sept, sightings. Evidence of
probable breeding occurred at Gulf Breeze on 14 June 74 when a bird was observed “fluffing
up” and singing in the presence of another & feeding the latter. On 15 June RAD, LD and SJS
watched a bird singing, and RAD later observed two birds exchange what appeared to be a
cottony material (Duncan 1976, Amer. Birds 30:658). Brownish colored birds with indistinct
malar streaks believed to be V. a. altiloquus have been seen at Gulf Breeze on two occasions
(Stevenson 1978, Auk 95:595).

Black-thhoated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens).— WESTON, “accidental,” two
records.— 1965-79, one record, 1 & 3 Oct. 76, Gulf Breeze, Steven E. Liston & RAD.

Connecticut Warblhi (Oporornis agilwj.— WESTON, no records. -1965-79, two
rreords: Sept. 72, Gulf Breeze, LD, unpubl; 22 Sept. 78, Ft. Pickens, RAD, unpubl.

Mourning Wabblek (Oporornis Philadelphia).— WESTON, Hypothetical List, one
record.— 1965-79, fail transient; accidental in spring. Eleven additional records: 8 Oct. 67,
Destin, HG & AG; 24 Sept. 75, Gulf Breeze, LD; 24 Sept. 77, LD banded, imm. female,
photo (TTRS P277); 4 Oct, 77, Gulf Breeze, LD, banded imm. female; 15 Oct. 77, Santa.
Rosa Co,, CWM, TM, et al; 15 Oct. 77, Gulf Breeze, LD, unpubl; 5 Sept. 79, Gulf Breeze,
RAD, imm.; 14 Oct. 79, Gulf Breeze, LD, Lynn Gould, imm,; 8 Sept. 79, Ft. Pickens, OEF;

26

Florida Field Naturalist • Vol. 9, No. 2, May 1981

9 Sept. 79, Ft. Pickens, OFF, Mary Gray, Katy Willis. First spring record: 18 May 77, Pen-
sacola, DR, unpubl. Extreme dates of occurrence, 5 Sept. 1979-15 Oct. 1977.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) . — WESTON,
“accidental,” two records.— 1965-79, casual spring and rare but irregular fall and early
winter visitor. Fourteen additional records. Has occurred in 9 out of the past 15 years and in
every month except Jan., Feb., March & July. Extreme dates of occurrence, 15 April 1977-12
June 1975 and 24 Aug. 1978-23 Dec. 1972.

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) . — WESTON, “accidental,” three
records. — 1965-79, two records at Inerarity Ft.: 7 Dec. 72-4 Jan. 73, female joined by imm.
male at feeder on 21 Dec., Sherlie Gade, unpubl,, photo by Steven E. Liston (TTRS P267);
15-22 Dec. 74, female at feeder, S. Gade, unpubl.

Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina). — WESTON, no records. — 1965-79, five
records: 16 April 69, Gulf Breeze, Ralph Miller; 16 Dec. 72 Pensacola CBC; 17 Dec. 73, Pen-
sacola, CWM & TM; 25 & 26 Nov. 75, Pensacola, fide BD; spring 1978, Crestview, Gene
Estes, photo.

Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) . — WESTON, no records. — 1965-79, one
record, 31 Aug. -30 Sept. 67, Destin, HG & AG, imm. female, photo (TTRS P33, see Fla.
Nat. 41:83, 1968).

Glay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida).— WESTON, “accidental,” two records. ^ —
1965-79, one record, 15 Oct. 76, Gulf Breeze, RAD & Steven E. Liston.

Harris’ Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula). —WEST ON, “accidental,” one
record. — 1965-79, one record, 31 Dec. 66, Pensacola CBC, Michael Gochfeld, a striking
adult.

Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus).— WESTON, “accidental,” one
record. — 1965-79, one record, 17 Dec. 78-6 Jan. 79, Destin, LD & RAD, m. ob., 3 birds.

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis). — WESTON, no records. — 1965-79, one record,

22 Dec. 77, Destin, Charles & James Saunders, m. ob. Photos by EL.

Discussion

This compilation of published and unpublished records for the period
1965-1979 adds 18 new species to the original (Weston 1965) Regional List
of 336 (Red-necked Grebe, Cory’s Shearwater, Greater Shearwater, Har-
court’s Storm-Petrel, Great Cormorant, King Eider, Common
Merganser, Purple Sandpiper, Northern Phalarope, Band-tailed Gull,
Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Tropical Kingbird, Sage Thrasher,
Connecticut Warbler, Evening Grosbeak, Lark Bunting, Snow Bunting).
In addition, 3 species have been removed from the Hypothetical List
(Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Surfbird, Mourning Warbler); 6 considered ac-
cidental or rare are now of frequent occurrence (Reddish Egret, Old-
squaw, American Avocet, Groove-billed Ani, Black- whiskered Vireo,
Yellow-headed Blackbird); and positive evidence of breeding has been
established for 4 (King Rail, Common Gallinule, Ground Dove, Barn
Owl).

Rampant urbanization and intensive use of beaches has no doubt had
an adverse effect on certain species. However, some habitat alterations
such as establishment of sewerage holding ponds and spray fields, and in-
dustrial waste-water holding ponds and spoil areas has had beneficial ef-
fects on birdlife and can partly account for some records noted above.

DUNCAN • Birdlije oj NW Florida

27

Establishment of Gulf Islands National Seashore in 1971 has given a
degree of protection to species within its borders. A 1200 acre private
sanctuary established in 1973 and operated by Air Products and
Chemicals at Pace has provided additional fresh-water habitat and pro-
tection for waterfowl and new information on the status of some ducks. In
addition, the past 15 years has seen a dramatic surge in birdwatching as
documented by participation in the Pensacola CBG. In 1944, 7 observers
in 2 parties counted 85 species and 2124 individuals. In 1964, it had in-
creased to 12 observers in 4 parties, and by 1974 it had burgeoned to 44
observers in 10 parties who counted 119 species and 13,835 individuals.
Greater accessibility to outer beaches and migrant traps such as Ft.
Pickens has no doubt also accounted for some of the records noted above.
However, regular observations of such easily identified species such as
Reddish Egret, American Avocet, Groove-billed Ani and Great Black-
backed Gull indicate a real increase in occurrence as these species could
hardly have been overlooked in the past.

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank C. William Milmore, Wayne H. Valentine, Stephen J. Stedman, Barbara
Johnson Stedman, Dick Ballman, Eric Lefstad, Sandra Lefstad, Charles Duncan, Sherlie
Gade, Don Richardson and Owen E. Fang for furnishing me with their unpublished records
and all members of the Francis M. Weston Audubon Society of Pensacola, whose field trips
and efforts to preserve our birdlife helped expand our knowledge of it. Thanks also to Robert
L. Crawford of TTRS for providing photograph numbers and J. Van Remsen of LSUMZ for
specimen verification. Henry M. Stevenson provided unpublished records and made many
helpful suggrations on the manuscript. Special appreciation is due my wife Lucy whose week-
day observations of migrants and banding efforts added much to our knowledge of recent
changes.

614 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561.

Report on the 1980 fall meeting.-— Scenic white beaches, balmy weather, a luau under the
stars— it sounds like a travel poster but the Halifax Audubon Society gave us all that at the
FOS meeting they hosted in Daytona Beach on 10-12 October 1980. We thank Carlton Smith
and all who helped him for a fine weekend and for their generosity in assuming all local ex-
penses. The field trips were adequately supplied with migrants and the pelagic trip highlight
was a Black-capped Petrel. Papers presented Saturday afternoon included “Nursery nest
behavior of the Limpkin” by David Stock and Michael Brothers, “Plot size as a factor in avian
community studies” by Todd Engstrom, “A Florida kestrel nest box project” by Robert W.
Loftin, and “The behavior and ecology of the Limpkin” by Dana C. Biyan. The skin quiz, en-
tirely on warblers, was provided by Walter K. Taylor, and produced a three-way tie between
Lyn Atherton, J. William Hardy, and Gery Niemi. Lee Snyder provided copies of a crossword
puzzle he composed. Saturday’s evening luau was followed by Doris Mager and her tw o adult
Bald Eagles. It was an informative and memorable talk.

Lenore McCullagh was elected to the board to fill the vacancy created by Robert Barber’s
move to New Jersey. In April 1981, a records committee will be appointed to deal with
reports of unusual birds in Florida. A FOS research fund, supported by contributions, has
been established to award research grants eventually. A letter will be sent to the State Cabinet
opposing the opening of Tosahatchee preserve to hunting. — Barbara C. Kittleson, Secre-
tary.

BIRD USE OF A NORTH-CENTRAL
FLORIDA PHOSPHATE MINE

David S. Maehr

Phosphate mining is one of the most significant land-use practices af-
fecting wildlife in Florida. Historically, surface mining has been
associated with a general degradation of wildlife habitat (Agricolae
1556), Nevertheless, after clearcutting and overburden inversion, many
organisms soon colonize the disturbed land. These disturbed lands include
large tracts of flooded mine pits, spoil islands, and extensive waste-clay
retention ponds as well as lesser areas of sand tailings dunes and reclaimed
“land and lakes.” In Florida, the combined surface area of these “new”
landscapes associated with phosphate mining is estimated at over 74,000
ha (Hendry 1978).

In northern Florida, large phosphate waste-clay retention ponds con-
taining open water and willow swamps (Salix carotiniana) contrast sharp-
ly with the surrounding natural, undisturbed forest communities of pine
flatwoods, bald cypress (Taxodium dktichum) and mixed-hardwood
swamps (Davis 1967). For many species of birds, these new, phosphate-
associated wetlands provide habitats unavailable in the region prior to
mining. This study reports on the unusual occurrences of birds associated
with the Occidental Chemical Company's Suwanee River mine,
Hamilton County, Florida, located approximately 100 km from the Gulf
and Atlantic coasts and within 7 km of the Suwanee River (Fig. 1).

Methods

Total counts in open water habitate and variable circular plot counts (Ramsey and Scott
1979) in dense vegetation were conducted 5 times each season from Va hour before to 3 hours
after sunrise. The four count stations within each habitat type were rotated over time each
season to minimize the effect of time of day on bird census results.

Results

Observations of birds at a north-central Florida phosphate mine dur-
ing the 17-month period December 1978-June 1980, revealed 118 species
on mined lands and 54 species in surrounding flatwoods (Maehr 1980).
The latter group closely matches species lists obtained in similar habitats
in northern Florida and southern Georgia (Norris 1951, Nelson 1952,
Sprunt 1954, Weston 1965, Stoddard 1978, H. M. Stevenson, pers.
comm.). Many species I observed in lands created by phosphate mining
were usually rare or absent in Florida flatwoods. Several of these species

Fla. Field Nat. 9(2):28-32, 1981 28

MAEHR • Birds in a Phosphate Mine

29

Fig. 1. Location of the Occidental Chemical Company Suwannee River Mine, Hamilton
County, Florida.

were apparently casual migrants, whereas others were winter or summer
residents. The following birds, unusual in their presence or abundance in
north-central Florida, were apparently attracted to new aquatic habitats
created by phosphate mining.

Gaviiformes. Common Loons (Gavia immer) were seen singly during the winter in large,
open water impoundments.

PoDiciPEDiFORMES. Homed Grebes (Podiceps auritm) were regular winter r^idents, and
remained until late spring (5 May 1979). All were in small groups on open water.

Pelecaniformes. Fifteen White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) were seen in late
fall, loafing on sand bars in large open water impoundments. Double-cr«ted Cormorants
(Phalacrocorax auritm) were common residents at the mine, with peak numbers occurring
during the noting season (May-July) when 1500 + birds nested in flooded tree sna^ in a
shallow settling pond.

CicoNiiFORMEs. No unusual species were observed, but egrets and herons were abundant
in mined areas. Nesting herons included 75 Great Egrets (Casmerodim albm) in the cormor-
ant colony and 30 Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax), 20 Snowy Egrets
(Egretta thula), 10 Louisiana Herons (Hydranassa tricolor), 1500 Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus
ibis), and 2 White Ibises (Eudocimm albm) nested together in a single willow thicket colony.

Feeding concentrations of egrets and herons, dominated principally by Great Egrets, were
observed in densities of up to 150 birds per ha in areas with an abundance of water hyacinth.
Great Egrets often fed by diving from flight into open water for the abundant fish in th^

30

Florida Field Naturalist • Vol. 9, No. 2, May 1981

areas. Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) in flocks of up to 30, used inundated areas for loaf-
ing and feeding from late summer to early winter.

Anshriformes, Notable observations in this group included 8 Whistling Swans (Olor col-
umbianus) in February 1980, occasional Blue and Snow geese (Chen caerulescens) throughout
the winter, a flock of 7 White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) on 10 October 1979, Canada
Geese (Branta canadensis), a Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata, Stafford 1979) and a female
Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis) on 20 December 1979. These species were typically found on
open water or in scattered patches of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Ducks nesting in
mined areas included Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) , Blue-winged Teal (A, discors). Wood
Ducks (Aix sponsa), and Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis, see also Menk and Stevenson
1977).

Falconiformes. Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus),

and Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) were found in mined areas throughout the year.
Migratory Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) have been observed at various locations, and
may have been attracted to the mine because of the abundance of waterfowl and shorebirds in
wetland areas. Marsh Hawks (Circus cyaneus) and American Kestrels (F. sparverius) were
abundant winter residents in the entire area. An albinistic Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis)
was seen perched over a willow swamp on 6 February 1980.

Gruiformes. Soras (Poranza Carolina) were abundant in cattail (Typha sp.) - willow
swamps from fall to early spring. King Rails (Rallus elegans) and Virginia Rails (R. limicola)
were regularly heard in willow swamps. American Coots (Fulica americana) were the most
abundant water bird during winter months. A single Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) was
seen in early June 1980 using an upland, reclaimed “land and lakes” area.

Charadriiformes. Small flocks of dowitchers (Limnodromus sp.) were periodically com-
mon from fall through spring. Five American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana) were
observed in October 1979 feeding in shallow settling ponds. Most notable among breeding
shorebirds were 12 pairs of Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) that nested on
floating debris in a shallow settling pond. Wintering Laridae included Laughing Gulls (Earns
atricilla), Bonaparte’s Gulls (L. Philadelphia), Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia), and Gull-billed
Terns (Gelochelidon nilotica). In 1979, Black Terns (Chlidonias niger) were observed be-
tween 12 May and 23 July, and were associated with open water habitats. Least Terns (S.
albifrons) established three successful nesting colonies on processed sand tailings (which
closely resemble natural nesting substrate) in the summer of 1979. Adult birds caught fish in
adjacent settling ponds. At its peak in July, the Least Tern breeding population was about 200
birds.

Strigiformes. No owls were seen or heard on active mine areas, although several species
are resident in surrounding flatwoods. A Short-eared Owl (Asia flammeus) was observed on
reclaimed land on 15 October 1979.

Piciformes. Few species in this group were seen within mined areas, but a pair of Downy
Woodpeckers (Picoides pubescens) nested in a hollow snag over a water hyacinth-covered set-
tling pond. The nearest flatwoods were over 500 m away.

Passeriformes. Passerines were generally less abundant in mined areas than species in
most other taxa. The low passerine abundance was probably a result of the dominance of
open water and other wet habitats associated with phosphate mining. Migratory swallows
were very common over open water in spring and fall. Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius
phoeniceus) were the most numerous year-round residents and migrants, with peak numbers
in late fall. During spring and fall, migrating warblers were periodically abundant in willow
marshes and brush covered spoil piles. Short-billed Marsh Wrens (Cistothorus plantensis)
were abundant winter residents and several Louisiana Waterthrushes (Seiurus motacilla) sang
in willow swamps in May 1979.

MAEHR • Birds in a Phosphate Mine

31

Conclusions and Recommendations

There has been much recent concern in the United States and Florida
regarding the disappearance of wetland resources and the subsequent ef-
fects on wildlife (Craighead 1971, Darnell 1977, Landin 1978, Patrick
1978, Stransky and Hall 1967, Weston 1965). Unlike wetland disap-
pearance due to many industrial practices, phosphate mining can create
habitats capable of supporting diverse bird communities. The potential
and immediate importance of wetlands created by phosphate mining is
clearly demonstrated by the numbers of individuals and species of birds
presently utilizing these areas for all or part of their life cycles. Unfor-
tunately, settling ponds provide only temporary replacements for the
region’s disappearing wetlands. With age, slime ponds succeed from open
water and willow swamps to relatively unproductive, monotypic wax
myrtle (Myrica cerifera) uplands (Schnoes and Humphrey 1980). An
unavoidable trade-off exists between the elimination of “natural” pre-
mining flatwoods and the creation of significantly altered wetland com-
munities. Short term increases in bird abundance may be followed by
rapid and permanent decreases, which amplify the loss of traditional
habitats in which many species evolved.

Current reclamation regulations in Florida (Florida Administrative
Code, Chapter 16C-16) do not recognize wildlife needs or the opportunity
to maintain valuable wildlife communities on phosphate mined lands.
The lack of incentives for development of wildlife habitat following min-
ing has encouraged the establishment of relatively unproductive bahia
grass (Paspalum notatum) uplands, and sterile wetlands. With ap-
propriate water-level management to control succession, phosphate set-
tling ponds could retain healthy, if not natural, wildlife communities.
The continued productivity of wildlife habitat on phosphate-mined lands
depends on changes in industry guidelines and reclamation laws. The
recommendations of current and future researchers are essential in realiz-
ing this goal.

Acknowledgments

I am indebted to Herbert W. Kale, II, Ronald F. Labisky and Wayne R. Marion for in-
valuable suggestions on the manuscript, and to Henry M. Stevenson for the use of his un-
published count data from Hamilton County. Funding of this project was made possible by a
grant from the Occidental Chemical Company, White Springs, Florida.

Literature Cited

Agricolae, G. 1556. De re metaliica. Translated from the first Latin edition by H. C. Hoover
and L. H. Hoover. 1950. New York, Dover Publications, Inc.

Craighead, F. S., Sr. 1971. The trees of south Florida. Volume 1, Coral Gables, Univ.
Miami Press.

32

Florida Field Naturalist • Vol. 9, No. 2, May 1981

Darnell, R. M. 1977. Overview of major development impacts on wetlands. Pp. 19-28
in Proceedings of the National Wetland Protection Symposium. U.S. Dept. Interior.
Davis, J. H. 1967. General map of natural vegetation of Florida. Univ. Florida, Inst.

Food Agric. Sci., Agric. Exp. Sta., Circular S-178.

Hendry, C. W. 1978. Phosphate land reclamation study. Commission report on phosphate
mining and reclamation, report to the Governor, Tallahassee, Fla.

Landin, M. C. 1978. Wading birds and wetland management. Pp. 135-141 in R. M.
DeGraaf (ed.). Proceedings of the workshop management of southern forests for non-
game birds. U.S. For. Serv,, Gen. Tech. Rep. SE-14.

Maehr, D. S. 1980. Avian abundance and habitat preferences on new habitats created
by phosphate mining. M.S. Thesis, Univ. Florida.

Menk, G. E., and H. M. Stevenson. 1977. Second Florida breeding record of the Ruddy
Duck. Fla. Field Nat. 5: 12-13.

Nelson, G. E,, Jr. 1952. The birds of Welaka. Quart. J. Fla. Acad. Sci. 15: 21-39.

Norris, R. A. 1951. Distribution and populations of summer birds in southwestern Georgia.
Ga. Ornithol. Soc., Occ. Publ. No. 3.

Patrick, R. 1978. Some impacts of channelization of riverine systems. Pp. 15-28 in Environ-
mental quality through wetlands utilization. The Coordinating Council on the
Restoration of the Kissimmee River Valley and Taylor Creek-Nubbin Slough Basin,
Tallahassee, Fla.

Ramsey, F. L., and J. M. Scott. 1979. Estimating population density from variable
circular plot surveys. Pp. 155-181 in R. M. Cormack, G. P. Patil, and D. S. Robson
(eds.). Sampling biological populations. Fairland, Md., Internatl. Co-op. Publ. House.
Schnoes, R. S., and S. R. Humphrey. 1980. Terrestrial plant and wildlife communities
on phosphate-mined lands in central Florida. Fla. State Mus., Spec. Sci. Rep. No. 3.
Sprunt, a. 1954. Florida bird life. New York, Coward-McCann, Inc.

Stafford, S. K. 1979. Inland records of Oldsquaws and Surf Scoter from north Florida.
Fla. Field Nat. 7: 25-26.

Stoddard, H. L. 1978. Birds of Grady County, Georgia. Bull. Tall Timbers Res. Sta., 21:
1-175.

Stransky, j. j., and L. K. Halls. 1967. Woodland management trends that affect game
in coastal plain forest types. Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast Assoc. Game Fish Comm.
21: 104-108.

Weston, F. M. 1965. A survey of the birdlife of north-western Florida. Bull. Tall Timbers
Res. Sta., 5:1-147.

School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida 32611. Present address: Wildlife Research Labora-
tory, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Gainesville,
Florida 32601

GENERAL NOTES

Fla. Field Nat. 9(2):33, 1981

A Lesser Nighthawk in northwestern Florida.— On 14 April 1980, we observed a Lesser
Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) along the Blackbird Marsh Nature Trail at Fort Pickens,
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Escambia County Florida. Each time we flushed the bird
during the 15-min observation, it flew low (often at eye level) among the shrubbery and flut-
tered through branches of live oaks (Quercus virginiana) and once landed in the branches of a
pine tree (Pinus sp.) 5-6 m above ground. Lucy Duncan photographed the bird at rest and fly-
ing, and the color transparencies (copies to Tall Timbers Res. Sta.) clearly show the position
of the white patches near the end of the wing and the overall coloration of rusty to buffy
brown. The bird also appeared smaller than the Common Nighthawk (C. minor). It was seen
the following morning by Wayne Valentine, Interpretative Naturalist for the park.

This observation was associated with westerly winds that were up to gale force the
previous day and fresh to strong the day of the sighting. Other birds that normally occur to
the west of northwestern Florida in spring migration were also seen within 3 days of the
sighting including 3 separate observations of Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xan-
thocephalus), a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Muscivora forficata) on St. Joseph Peninsula, and 2
Lincoln’s Sparrows (Melospiza lincolnii) banded at Gulf Breeze. Thus strong west winds
probably blew these birds east of their usual migration route. Furthermore, a review of daily
weather records kept by R. A. Duncan (at Gulf Breeze) reveals that strong westerly winds
were also associated with 2 of the 3 other spring records of Lesser Nighthawks for the Panhan-
dle.

There are 5 previous records of the Lesser Nighthawk in Florida: 8-17 May 1966, Dry Tor-
tugas, 3-10 individuals; St. George Island, 19 May 1976, 5 November 1977 (Stevenson 1978,
Fla. Field Nat. 6: 50); 4 May 1978, St. Marks Refuge (Kale 1978, Amer. Birds 32: 993-997);
28 April 1979, St. George Island (Kale 1979, Amer. Birds 33: 762-765). This sighting is the
sixth record of the Lesser Nighthawk for Florida and the first for extreme northwestern
Florida. Five of the 6 records have occurred along Florida’s northern Gulf coast with 3 at St.
George Island. — Robert A. Duncan and Lucy Duncan, 614 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze,
Florida 32561.

Fla. Field Nat. 9(2) :33, 1981

Nesting of the Summer Tanager near Oviedo, Florida.— Although the Summer Tanager
(Piranga rubra) is a common summer resident and migrant throughout much of Florida
(Stevenson 1977, Vertebrates of Florida: identification and distribution, Gainesville, Univ.
Presses of Florida), few breeding records are reported in the literature (Sprunt 1954, Florida
bird life. New York, Goward-McGann, Inc.). On 2 June 1980 a pair and their nest were
located 2 mi S of Oviedo, Seminole Gounty, Florida, in an area dominated by pine and oak
trees. The nest was about 5 m above the ground and near the outer end of a horizontal branch
of a longleaf pine (Pinus pahistris) (color photos of adults and nest to Vertebrate Museum,
Univ. Central Fla.). On 7 June we saw two nestlings being fed by adults, but on 9 June
the nest was destroyed by a severe windstorm. The male stayed in the area for a short time
thereafter, but the female was never observed again. Florida breeding records of this tanager,
other than those reported by Sprunt (1954), include: 15 May 1934 — nest with 4 eggs, Duval
Co. (Shannon); 5 June 1971 — nest with 2 half-grown young (one collected. Tall Timbers Res.
Sta. No. 3206), Sopchoppy, Franklin Co. (Stevenson); and 26 July 1950 — nest with 2 eggs,
Jacksonville (Grimes),

We thank Henry M. Stevenson for providing the above unpublished nest-records. —
Walter Kingsley Taylor and Robert J. Laird, Department of Biological Seiences, Univer-
sity of Central Florida, Orlando. Florida 32816.

33

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 9, No. 2 May 1981 Pages 2F33

CONTENTS

SOME NOTEWORTHY CHANGES IN THE BIRDLIFE OF
NORTHWESTERN FLORIDA (1965-1979)

Robert A. Duncan 21

BIRD USE OF A NORTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA PHOSPHATE

MINE David S. Maehr 28

GENERAL NOTES

A Lesser Nighthawk in northwestern Florida

Robert A. Duncan and Lucy Duncan 33

Nesting of the Summer Tanager near Oviedo, Florida

Walter Kingsley Taylor and Robert /. Laird 33

REPORT ON THE 1980 FALL MEETING

Barbara C. Kittleson 27

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.
Editorial Advisory Board:

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124.
William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Henry M. Stevenson, 905 Briarcliffe Rd., Tallahassee, Florida 32308.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new information on the biology
of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS
See Vol. 9, No. 1, or an earlier issue.

Bipffe Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VOL. 9 AUGUST 1981 NO. 3

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972

Officers for 1981-1983

President: Theodore H, Below, 3697 North Rd., Naples, Florida 33942,

Vice-President: Glen E. Woolfenden, Dept, of Biology, University of South
Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida
33803.

Treasurer : Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605.

Assistant Treasurer: John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville,
Florida 32601.

Assistant Treasurer : Patricia J. Lanzillotti, 2135 NW 28th Street, Gaines-
ville, Florida 32605.

Editor of Florida Field Naturalist: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological
Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Editor of Ornithological Newsletter: Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon
Society, 35-lst Court SW, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

FOS Archives and Editor of Special Publications: John William Hardy, The
Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Directors 1980-1982

Frances C. James, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University,
Tallahassee, Florida 32306.

Lenore McCullagh, 2735 Holly Point Road, E. Orange Park, Florida 32073.

Marsha S. Winegarner, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Directors 1981-1983

Oran L. Bass, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Helen G. Cruickshank, 1925 S. Indian River Dr., Rockledge, Florida 32955.

Marion R. Henriquez, 1510 Dewey Dr., Hollywood, Florida 33020.

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979, Helen G. Cruickshank 1980.

All persons interested in Floridans natural history, particularly its
abundant bird life, are invited to join the Florida Ornothological Society by
writing the Treasurer. Annual membership dues are $10 for individual
members (overseas $13), $15 for a family membership, $5 for students, and
$25 for contributing members. All members receive the Florida Field Naturalist
and the Newsletter. Subscription price for institutions and non-members is $10
per year. Back issues (vol. 1-8, $3.00 per issue) available, prepaid, from the
Assistant to the Treasurer, Fred E. Lohrer, Archhold Biological Station, Rt.
2, Box 180, Lake Placid, FL 33852.

Manuscripts submitted for publication and books intended for review
should be sent to the Editor (see inside back cover). Notice of change of
address, claims for undelivered or defective copies of this journal and requests
for information about advertising and subscriptions should be sent to the
Treasurer, Carolina H. Coleman, 1701 ATF 24-th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605. The permanent address of the Florida Ornithological Society is: De-
partment of Ornithology, Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gaines-
ville, Florida 32611.

Published quarterly (February, May, August, and November) by the
Florida Ornithological Society, Gainesville, Florida 32605. Printed by E. O.
Painter Printing Co., P.O. Box 877, DeLeon Springs, Florida 32028.

Florida Field Naturalist

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 9, No. 3 August 1981 Pages 34-50

STATUS OF THE BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE
IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE

Henry M. Stevenson

The Boat-tailed Crackle {Quiscalus major) has long been known
as a common permanent resident nesting over much of Florida, but
published references are generally vague or imprecise regarding its
occurrence on the Keys and in extreme northern Florida, especially
northwestward. Howell (1932) considered the species to be “less
numerous in northwestern Florida and there restricted to the coast
region’' and found on “most of the Keys as far south as Key West,”
and he made no specific reference to the occurrence of Boat-tailed
Crackles in the northernmost parts of the Florida Peninsula. No
change of range was indicated by Sprunt (1954), but the AOU
Check-list (1957) implied that the northwestern limit of this grackle
in Florida was in Bay County. Recently (Stevenson 1978) I pointed
out that the occurrence of Q, major on the Keys had never been
demonstrated and could be no more than casual ; cited extensions of
its breeding range in the extreme northern Peninsula ; and cited a
few records from the northwestern portion of the state. Menk
(1981) details the increase of the species in Leon County, Florida,
within the last few years. My purpose here is to clarify the status
of the Boat-tailed Crackle in that portion of Florida lying west of
the Apalachicola River, which I refer to as the Panhandle.

The only resident, breeding populations of Boat-tailed Crackles
known to me in the Florida Panhandle occur just west of the Apa-
lachicola River. One is on St, Vincent Island (Franklin Co.) and
probably just across the narrow span of water at its western end
known as Indian Pass (Culf Co.) and the other is around the town
of Apalachicola (Franklin Co.) . Over the years two other breeding
sites have been reported. Weston (1965:122) , on an unspecified date
prior to 1930, reported a “flight line (back and forth) of a few birds

34

Fla. Field Nat. 9(3) : 34-37, 1981

35 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 9, No. 3, August 1981

carrying food to an inaccessible spot far out in the marsh'' of upper
Escambia Bay, and Roy Hallman (journal) saw ''several adults
feeding young" at Botheration Bayou (near Panama City, Bay Co.)
on 22 June 1940. Thus there has been no report of the species'
breeding in the Panhandle within the last 40 years except very near
the mouth of the Apalachicola River, although Hallman (journal)
cited a record of "several" in summer near Panama City as
recently as 28 August 1955.

Other records (most unpublished) near Pensacola (Weston,
journal) and Panama City (Hallman, journal) have been inter-
mittent and usually involved small numbers. Weston mentioned at
least 11 specific records (1926-61) totaling about 70-75 indi-
viduals. Hallman listed eight dates of occurrence (1937-57), the
numbers small except for estimates of 150 on two winter dates— 9
February 1941 and 14 November 1941. The species has also been
reported occasionally in other parts of the Panhandle. Worthington
and Todd (1926) encountered a flock of "about twenty birds, mostly
females," from which they collected two males, on the south side of
Choctawhatchee Bay (Walton Co.) on 4 May 1903. Harold and
Agnes Gaither saw two females at Destin (Okaloosa Co.) on 4
October 1969 (Purrington 1970), and Stephen and Barbara Stedman
saw six females in "Escambia Marsh" (= upper Escambia Bay?),
6 March 1977 (Imhof 1977). S. Stedman (pers. comm.) also had
the following records near Panama City: 3 on 27 May 1974, 2 the
next day, and one on 31 July 1975. My records in the Panhandle
consist of several birds of each sex on Hurricane Island (Bay Co.)
on 23 September 1932 ; four or five females in upper Escambia Bay
(Santa Rosa Co.) on 22 March 1975; a female at the Chocta-
whatchee Bay bridge, U. S, 331, on 12 May 1956, and a male there
on 26 March 1980.

The Boat-tailed Crackle is migratory to some extent, as most
of the records in the Panhandle, and the only large flocks there,
have occurred outside the breeding season. The extent of this migra-
tion along the Gulf coast appears to be greater than had been pre-
viously realized. All records in the Panhandle to date have been near
tidewater.

My recognition (Stevenson 1978) of three subspecies of these
grackles along the Gulf coast led me to wonder what subspecies
might occur in the Florida Panhandle. The best way to determine
this is to examine collected specimens, especially if iris color is noted
on the label. Adjacent subspecies can even be distinguished in the

ST'EYENSO'N •Boat-tailed Grackle Status

36

field when the iris color is clearly seen, with light-eyed birds pre-
sumably from the coast of Alabama or southeastern Mississippi
{Q. m. alabamensis) y and dark-eyed birds from either the Florida
Peninsula west to about Apalachicola (Q. m, westoni) or south-
western Mississippi, Louisiana, or the upper Texas coast {Q. m.
major) . Unfortunately, no record was made of iris color for the two
specimens from Choctawhatchee Bay in 1903, Hallman^s notes
indicated that he collected three specimens from the large flock he
encountered in February 1941, but I have been unable to locate
these specimens. Some of his other specimens were destroyed by
insects, and the same fate may have befallen these grackles.
Furthermore, Hallman's comments regarding iris color are am-
biguous. In three instances he wrote (journal) ''male(s) with light
eyes," but there is no population of this bird known to me in which
the iris color appears light in one sex and dark in the other. In
upper Escambia Bay, I was unable to determine the iris color of
the females I saw (March 1975) due to light fog, and I did not
record the eye color of the female seen at Choctawhatchee Bay
(1956). Apparently no specimen has been taken in the Pensacola
area, thus the only recent specimen available is an adult male I
collected at Choctawhatchee Bay, 26 March 1980 (TTRS 3365), Its
completely dark gray irides ruled out the possibility that it repre-
sented Q. m. alabamensis and probably Q. m. major as well. In all
specimens of the latter race I have handled, a narrow periphery
of light color surrounds the darker part of the iris, a feature that
can sometimes be seen in the field. The specimen from Chocta-
whatchee Bay had the following measurements (mm) : bill length
from nostril 29.6, bill depth at nostril 12.0, wing length 168, tail
length 152 ; it weighed 183 g. The tail was shorter than any of the
55 adult males of Q. m. major I had previously examined, but other
measurements approximated those for both major and alabamensis.
Weights were excluded from my paper (1978) because too few
were then available for torreyi, but the specimen under discussion
was lighter than any of the 12 adult males of alabamensis I
handled. Thus, on the bases of iris color, measurements, weight, and
geographic proximity, I consider this specimen an example of Q. m.
ivestoni.

The identity of the Boat-tailed Grackles in the Pensacola area
was not settled until I learned the whereabouts of Francis Weston's
journal. When I received a copy of the Boat-tailed Grackle account
from the Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State University, I learned

37

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 9, No, S, August 1981

that Alexander Sprunt, Jr., had requested Weston to keep notes on
the iris color of Boat-tails on the Alabama coast and that Weston
also kept notes of those seen around Pensacola. In both areas all
birds seen during April and May 1934 had ‘‘yellow'’ irides, although
Weston did not mention eye color in his account of five subsequent
records. In view of the extremely unlikely event that Q, m. torreyi
would wander there from the Atlantic coast, it may be assumed
that alahomensis is the bird found there in winter and is probably
the form that once nested in upper Escambia Bay. Naturalists in
northwestern Florida should continue to keep careful records on
eye-color of any Boat-tailed Crackles they see.

Acknowledgements

Data from Roy Hallman’s journal were provided by Gladys Todd and Mary
Ann Olson. J. V. Remsen provided a copy of Weston’s account of the Boat-
tailed Grackle. Robert L, Crawford prepared the museum skin of the Chocta-
whatchee Bay specimen. H. Douglas Pratt suggested improvements in the
manuscript.

Literature Cited

American Ornithologists’ Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds.
Baltimore, Lord Baltimore Press, Inc.

Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life. Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game Fresh
Water Fish.

Imhof, T, a. 1977. Central southern region, Amer. Birds 31: 1010-1013.
Menk, G. E. 1981. Increase of Boat-tailed Grackles in Leon County, Florida.
Fla, Field Nat. 9: 11-12.

PuRRiNGTON, R. D. 1970, Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes 24: 55-61.
Stevenson, H. M. 1978. The populations of Boat-tailed Grackles in the south-
eastern United States. Proc. Biol. Soc, Wash. 91: 27-51,

Weston, F. M. 1965. A survey of the birdlife of northwestern Florida. Bull.
Tall Timbers Res. Sta. 5:1-147.

Worthington, W, W., and W. E, C. Todd, 1926, The birds of the Chocta-
whatchee Bay region of Florida. Wilson Bull. 38 : 204-229,

Tall Timbers Research Station, Rt, 1, Box 160, Tallahassee,
Florida 32312,

GENERAL NOTES

Fla. Field. Nat. 9(3) : 38-40, 1981

Diet of nestling Brown Pelicans in Florida. — Fish species that form the diet
of Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) have been characterized as “not
important for human consumption’’ (Shorger 1962, p. 280, in Handbook of
North American birds, Vol. 1 (R. S. Palmer, ed.) New Haven, Yale Univ.
Press). Examination of 3428 fish from Florida pelicans revealed only 27 food
fish (Pearson 1919 in Shorger 1962) and contents of 32 pelican stomachs from
Florida’s Gulf coast contained 95.8% menhaden {Brevoortia sp.), 3.1% silver-
sides (Menidia bermellina) , 0.8% dolphin {Coryphaena hippurus), and 0.3%
prawns {Penaeus sp.) (Shorger 1962). In Louisiana, Bailey and Wright
(1931, Wilson Bull. 43: 114-142) found the diet of nesting pelicans to consist
of menhaden and a few mullet {Mugil sp,). Nestling pelicans in Florida were
fed menhaden and “grass minnows” (Longstreet 1924, Wilson Bull. 36: 65-68).
Twenty nestlings in Texas examined by Pearson (1921, Auk 38: 513-523) had
been fed menhaden and mullet. In South Carolina the diet of nestling pelicans
was 95% menhaden and 5% mullet and other species (Baldwin 1946, Auk
63: 103-104). The statement by Shorger (1962) that menhaden form 90-95%
of the diet of the Eastern Brown Pelican (P. o. carolinensis) agrees with
these previous findings. However, a recent assessment of the nestling pelican
diet in Florida suggests a different conclusion.

Three hundred and four regurgitated food boluses were collected at 13
colonies from Florida’s east and west coasts during 1970-1972 (Sites number
3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 21, 27, 31 and 33 from Fig. 1 Nesbitt et al. 1977,
Bird-Banding 48: 138-144). Component species were identified, but weights
were determined only for the contents of the 113 boluses collected during 1972
(Table 1). During the 3 seasons of study, menhaden accounted for only 21%
of the diet by frequency and in 1972 14% by weight. Other major components
of the diet included mullet, Atlantic threadfin, sea trout, spot, pinfish, sardines
and bay anchovy (see Table 1 for scientific names). The percentage of each
species in the diet remained relatively consistent for each of the 3 seasons.
Diets of east and west coast nestlings were similar except that west coast birds
were fed a wider variety of prey. Possibly previous investigators lumped several
species of herring together as menhaden; but even when all herring (Table 1)
were lumped the total contribution to the nestling diet was only 29% by fre-
quency and 19% by weight.

Historically the season of nest initiation for Brown Pelicans in Florida has
vacillated (Schreiber 1980, Auk 97: 491-508). For example, the pelicans nest-
ing at Pelican Island, Indian River County, reportedly shifted from a fall to
a spring nesting cycle (Behle pp. 276-278 in R. S. Palmer 1962) sometime
between 1900 and 1935. An abundance of food is important to the initiation of
nesting in other colonial nesting species (Kushlan, et al, 1975, U.S. Dept, Int.,
Geological Survey, Open-File Report 75-434), and is a factor in Brown Pelican
nesting as well (Schreiber 1980). We were unable to find evidence of a past
decline in Florida’s menhaden population or indication of a change in seasonal
availability to account for changes in the diet or a shift in nesting season.
Nevertheless, there may have been a shift in food supply correlated with a
change in nesting season that the sketchy historical data available to us did
not illuminate.

38

39

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 9, No. S, August 1981

Table 1. Prey species and their relative importance in the diet of nestling
Florida Brown Pelicans.

304 Regurgitates

113 Regurgitates

Average
weight
(g) per

Fre- Per-

Weight Per- regurgi-

Species

quency centage

(g) centage tate (N)

Elopidae — tarpons

4

0.9

1,135

4.0

283.8(4)

Flops saurus — ladyfish

4

0.9

1,135

4.0

238.8(4)

Clupeidae — herrings

129

28.9

5,232

18.6

209.3(25)

Brevortia sp. — menhaden
Harengula pensacolae —

94

21.1

3,844

13.6

226.1(17)

scaled sardine

Sardinella anchovia —

12

2.7

65

0.2

65.0(1)

Spanish sardine

18

4.0

1,314

4.7

262.8(5)

Unidentified herring

5

1.1

9

0.1

4.5(2)

Engraulidae — anchovies

Anchoa mitchilli —

27

G.l

352

1.2

44.0(8)

bay anchovy

27

6.1

352

1.2

44.0(8)

Batrachoididae — toadfishes

3

0.7

—

—

—

Opsanus sp. — toadfish
Exocoetidae — flyingfishes and

3

0.7

—

—

—

halfbeaks

Hyporhamphus unifascastus —

1

0.2

95

0.3

95.0(1)

halfbeak

1

0.2

95

0.3

95.0(1)

Cyprinodontidae — killfishes
Cyprinodon variegatus —

8

1.8

71

0.3

11.8(6)

sheephead minnow

4

0.9

51

0.2

17.0(3)

Fundulus sp. — killifish

4

0.9

20

0.1

6.7(3)

Poeciliidae — livebearers

Gambusia af finis —

5

1.1

51 +

0.2 +

25.5(2)

mosquitofish

Poecillia latipinna —

1

0.2

—

—

—

sailfin molly

4

0.9

51

0.2

25.5(2)

Atherinidae — silversides

Membras martinica —

2

0.4

294

1.0

147.0(2)

rough silverside

2

0.4

294

1.0

147.0(2)

Serranidae — sea basses
Diplectrum formosum —

2

0.4

—

—

—

sandperch

Carangidae — jacks and

2

0.4

—

—

—

pompanos

5

0.8

238

0.8

79.3(3)

Caranx sp. — jacks
Chloroscombrus chrysurus —

1

0.2

136

0.5

136.0(1)

Atlantic bumper

3

0.4

60

0.2

60.0(1)

General Notes

40

Table 1 (continued)

304 Regurgitates

113 Regurgitates

Average

weight

(g) per

Species

Fre- Per-

Weight Per- regurgi-

quency centage

(g) centage tate (N)

Oligoplites saurus—-

leather jacket

1

0.2

42

0.1

42.0(1)

Ger ridae— mo j arras

1

0.2

—

—

—

Eucinostomas sp. — mo j arras

1

0.2

■ —

—

—

Pomadasyidae— grunts

9

2.0

131

0.4

60,5(2)

Haemulon sp — grunt
Orthopristis chrysoptera —

2

0.4

—

—

— —

pigfish

7

1.6

121

0.4

60.5(2)

Sparidae — porgies

Lagodon rhomboides —

43

9.7

2,373

8.4

139.6(17)

pinfish

43

9.7

2,373

8.4

139.6(17)

Sciaenidae — drums

Bairdiella chrysura —

95

21.3

5,470

19.4

156.3(35)

silver perch

3

0.7

119

0,4

119.0(1)

Cynoscion sp. — sea-trout
Larimus fasciatus —

43

9.7

1,591

5.6

169.1(10)

banded drum

5

1.1

225

0.8

56.3(4)

Leiostomus xanthurus — spot

28

6.3

3,124

11,1

223.1(14)

Menticirrhus sp.— kingfish
Micropogon undulatus —

1

0.2

—

—

—

Atlantic croaker

Stellifer lanceolatus —

14

3.1

321

1.1

80.3(4)

star drum

1

0.2

90

0.3

90.0(1)

Mugilidae — mullets

52

11.7

4,801

17.0

282.4(17)

Mugil sp. — mullet

52

11.7

4,801

17.0

282.4(17)

Polynemidae — threadfins
Polydactylus octonemus —

57

12.8

7,821

27,7

244.4(32)

Atlantic threadfin
Scombridae — mackerels and

57

12.8

7,821

27.7

244.4(32)

tunas

Scomberomorus maculatus —

1

0.2

85

0.3

85.0(1)

Spanish mackerel

1

0.2

85

0.3

85.0(1)

Stromateidae — butterfishes

Peprilus alepidotus —

1

0.2

57

0.2

57.0(1)

harvestfish

Totals

1

445

0.2

57

28,206

0.2

57.0(1)

— Michael J. Fogarty, Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, U005 S. Main
Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601 (present address 1101 30th Street, Palm
City, Florida 334-90), Stephen A. Nesbitt, Game and Fresh Water Fish Com’-
mission, 4005 S. Main Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601, and Carter R. Gilbert,
Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

41

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 9, No. 3, August 1981

Fla. Field Nat. 9(3) : 41, 1981

Pileated Woodpecker takes Red-bellied Woodpecker nestling. — The Pileated

Woodpecker {Dryocopus pileatus) eats primarily large ants, termites, and
wood-boring beetles and occasionally wild seeds and fruits (Bent 1939, U. S.
Natl. Mus. Bull. 174; Brown 1978, Fla. Field Nat. 6: 18-19). Therefore, this
record of a Pileated eating a nestling Red-bellied Woodpecker {Melanerpes
carolinus) seems noteworthy.

On 15 May 1980 at about 1000 Leeds heard adult Red-bellied Woodpeckers
scolding near a nest that he had been observing for several weeks. The nest
was located in a dead pine in his backyard at 8041 Hillsdale Rd., Jacksonville,
Florida. As Leeds approached the nest he saw a Pileated Woodpecker in the
act of robbing it. The bird was perched with its head inside the hole. The
Pileated removed a naked young Red-bellied Woodpecker from the nest, and
began swallowing the struggling young bird which was peeping loudly.

One adult Red-bellied Woodpecker was perched on a dead limb about 20 cm
from the Pileated, scolding intensively. Leeds watched the other parent fly
at, but not actually strike the Pileated. At this point, Leeds hurled a missile at
the predator in a futile attempt to save the young bird. The Pileated flew
away, carrying the young Red-bellied and pursued by the adults.

On the next day, adult Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen in the area, but
not at the nest. Thus it seems likely that the Red-bellied nest failed due to
this predation.

Both Red-bellied and Red-headed woodpeckers are known to prey occasion-
ally on the eggs and young of other birds (Conner 1974, Auk 91: 836; Watt
1980, Wilson Bull. 92: 249; Bent 1939). This is the first report of nest preda-
tion by a Pileated Woodpecker. — Robert W. Loftin, University of North
Florida^ Box 1707 A, Jacksonville, Florida 32216 and Jerry Leeds, 80U Hills-
dale Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32216.

Fla, Field Nat. 9(3) : 41-42, 1981

Traill’s Flycatcher on Florida’s southwestern coast. — In March 1978 we

established a banding station on Casey Key, a barrier island in Sarasota
County, Florida. The station, about 0.5 h, is on the bay side of the island and
is adjacent to our residential property. The area is half covered with trees
and shrubs {Avicennia germinans, Casuarina equiseti folia, Coccoloha uvifera,
Myrica sp., Rhizophora mangle, Schinus terehinthifolius, Sabal palmetto) and
half with grass. Paths are mowed beneath the nets but otherwise plant growth
is unrestricted.

At our banding station we netted Traill’s Flycatchers {Empidonax traillii,
E. alnorum\ Eisenmann 1973) as follows: one in 1979 on 9 September and
seven in 1980; one on 6, 15, and 23 September and 2 October, and three on 13
September. All were judged immatures, based on the width and color of the
wing bars (Bordner 1970). Other Empidonax flycatchers netted in 1980 include:
Yellow bellied {E. flaviventris) , two on 2 October, one on 3 October; Acadian
{E. virescens) , one on 30 September and 2 October, two on 3 October; Least
{E. minimus), one on 8 September.

The flycatchers were identified using criteria in Woods (1969) and Bordner
(1970) and based on our 20-years residence in Ohio where each year from 1-3

General Notes

42

pairs of Traill’s nested on our property and including 5 years of operating a
banding station for 9 months of the year during which time more than 500
Empidonax flycatchers were banded. For all the Florida Empidonax we
netted we recorded the length of wing chord and culmen, wing tip distance
from longest secondary tip to longest primary tip, and the emargination of the
sixth primary. Color of unfeathered parts was also noted.

These appear to be the only records of Traill’s Flycatcher from south-
western Florida. Stevenson (1976) considered Traill’s Flycatcher a rare (or
uncommon) fall migrant in Florida with records clustered either in the Talla-
hassee region, 20 August-17 October (23 records, 22 being immatures, Crawford
1976) or in southeastern Florida around Homestead, Dade County, where Fisk
netted 2 adults and one immature on 1 and 2 October 1969 (Ogden and Fisk
1970) and 27 (14 adults, 11 immatures, 2 unknown) from 24 September-19
October 1970 (Fisk 1971). As in the Tallahassee region, our Sarasota County
records span September and extend into October while the Homestead records
range from late September to mid-October. Because Willow, Alder, and Least
flycatchers cannot safely be separated in the field except by voice (Stevenson
1976), further netting can contribute to our knowledge of Empidonax spp. mi-
gration in Florida.

We are indebted to Fred E. Lohrer for his invaluable assistance in research-
ing the literature on the Empidonax complex in Florida.

Literature Cited

Bordner, D. L. 1970. Key to eastern Empidonax flycatchers. EBBA News 34:
143-145.

Eisenmann, E. 1973. Thirty-second supplement to the A.O.U. check-list of
North American birds. Auk 90: 411-419.

Crawford, R. L. 1976. Willow and Alder flycatcher records at a north Florida
TV tower. Fla. Field Nat. 4: 1-4.

Fisk, E, J. 1971. Increase of fall Traill’s Flycatchers in southern Florida. Bird-
Banding 42: 121.

Ogden, J. C., and E, J. Fisk. 1970. Traill’s Flycatcher, a transient in peninsular
Florida. Bird-Banding 41: 40.

Stevenson, H. M. 1976. Vertebrates of Florida. Gainesville, Univ. Presses of
Florida.

Woods, M. 1969. A bird-bander’s guide to determination of age and sex of
selected species. University Park, Pa., The Pennsylvania State Univ.
Stanley Stedman and Annette F, Stedman, 1156 Casey Key Rd., Nokomis,
Florida 33555.

ERRATUM

In the note on White-winged Doves (Zenaida asiatica) , FFN 8(2) : 51, third
paragraph, line 4, northwestern should read northeastern.

SPECIAL REVIEW

A field guide to the birds of eastern and central North America, fourth
edition, completely revised and enlarged. — Roger Tory Peterson. 1980. Boston,
Houghton Mifflin Co., 384 pp., 124 full color plates, 12 monochrome plates, 390
range maps. $15.00 cloth, $9.95 paper. — Roger Tory Peterson’s “Field guide to
the birds,” first published in 1934, served as a model for a successful series of
field guides, and it is generally accepted that this series, with its quick-recogni-
tion system, helped to pave the way for the environmental movement of the
1960s. These field guides helped people to identify many of the organisms
with which we share this earth. This new knowledge led to love and respect
and eventually to a deep concern for the welfare and continued existence of
these organisms. Therefore Peterson’s “Field guide to the birds,” in its
several editions, must rank as one of the most influential and noteworthy
books of the century. Now, published in a fourth, “completely revised edition,”
it is the subject of this special review by several of Florida’s outstanding
students of the field identification of birds.

First some details of the contents. “Completely new!” is the banner on the
cover, but that is not completely accurate. Although the major part of this
edition is different from previous editions, you will And familiar things. Re-
tained unchanged from early editions are the “roadside” and “flight silhou-
ettes.” Segments retained but redrawn or rewritten include, “topography of a
bird, bird songs, conservation note, life (systematic check list) list,” and
“further readings.” Seven plates depicting 111 species replace “Appendix I
Accidentals” listing 85 species. Missing in this newest edition are “shore sil-
houettes,” the detailed treatment of subspecies in “Appendix II,” and black and
white drawings in the text. New items discussed briefly are “bird nests” and
“birding hotspots.” An excellent new section “how to identify birds” is from
an earlier (1947) Peterson book, “How to know the birds.”

The two major changes from earlier editions are the 390 (6 per page)
detailed range maps and the new color plates. Having the plates face the text
leaves less space for text and therefore the species’ descriptions are brief and
the “similar species” portions of earlier editions are omitted. The color plates
illustrate usually 4 or 5 species per plate (range 3-7) except for “confusing
fall warblers” with 12 or 14 per plate and “accidentals and exotics” with 7-23
species per plate. The images on the new color plates are larger, brighter, and
more detailed than those in earlier editions. Certainly, color plate technology
now gives excellent fidelity to the artist’s work, and it would be useful to
students of Peterson’s art to see some of the earlier field guide illustrations
reproduced with today’s technology. Comparing this fourth edition with earlier
ones (and with Peterson’s other bird guides) was a revelation. One can only
marvel at Peterson’s creative energies expressed by the continual evolution and
change in his pictures of birds.

The reviewers for this special review include Lyn Atherton, one of Florida’s
keenest birders and the southeast’s leading student of the field identification
of gulls; C. Wesley Biggs, member of the FOS check-list committee, bird-tour
leader, and a leading Florida birder; and Malcolm M. Simons, Jr,, Director of
the Beached Bird Survey and teacher of an adult education course in bird
identification at Port Charlotte Cultural Center for 6 years. — Fred E. Lohrer.

43

Special Review

44

Although this fourth edition is a significant improvement over previous
editions, it is, nonetheless, a disappointment in terms of format, accuracy of
illustrations and use of pertinent knowledge gained since the original edition
was published. Apparently none of the many outstanding professional and
amateur field ornithologists in North America and Europe were given drafts
of the guide to review. If they were, then apparently their advice was not
taken. Otherwise, never would so many errors occur in one book.

Why did Peterson not arrange the species in the widely accepted A.O.U,
check-list order? Locating a particular species in this guide becomes very
frustrating. Even the beginning birdwatcher should understand and attempt to
learn the taxonomic arrangement of species. Such knowledge may eliminate some
errors in identification as closely related orders, families or species of birds,
though sometimes not similar in plumage, many times have similar behavior
and/or vocalizations which often aid in correct identification, Peterson has
orders completely out of sequence, families of one order separated by families
from other orders, and in some instances, shorebirds and warblers, species in
a family arranged by color! Peterson apparently chose to ignore the resound-
ing criticisims of the recently published “Audubon Society field guide to North
American birds.’’

I anxiously awaited the new edition expecting that most of the mistakes
in the previous edition would be corrected because of the significant advance-
ments made in field identification by amateur and professional ornithologists.
As I first glanced through the book, my high expectations rapidly turned to
extreme disillusionment. Errors in the illustrations abound thus creating more
confusion with the already “confusing species.” In the illustrations of loons
(p. 33), the side of the neck of the winter-plumaged Arctic Loon has a distinct
dark “patch” at the base whereas the same area on the winter-plumaged
Common Loon is ill-defined. In fact, the opposite is true. In Florida, where
extremely small Common Loons occasionally occur, misidentifications are made
because these field marks were not illustrated in the earlier editions.

Numerous errors exist in the immature gull illustrations, yet it is in these
plumages that most errors in identification have been made and now. I’m sure,
will continue to be made. For example, the color of the bill of the Glaucous
Gull in both first and second year is pink with a sharply defined blackish tip.
Yet, Peterson has failed to depict this correctly in the head illustration (p, 91),
where the bill is the key character. The Iceland Gull’s bill is never like that
of the Glaucous Gull, yet small Glaucous Gulls have been misidentified as Ice-
land Gulls because of incorrect illustrations in the field guides. To have il-
lustrated only the head of the California Gull was unfortunate as first winter
Herring Gulls often have similar “bi-colored” bills. Probably many immature
Franklin’s Gulls have been overlooked because of their similarity to immature
Laughing Gulls, yet they actually can be identified very easily in the field when
the diagnostic characteristics are known. The first-winter Laughing Gull
plumages illustrated (p. 93), are actually juvenal plumages and the second-
winter Laughing Gull should have white rectrices. Furthermore, Peterson in-
correctly states (p. 92) that “first-year Laughing Gull, however, is readily
separated from Franklin’s by its brown breast, brown forehead,” He has
actually described the juvenal plumage of the Laughing Gull. This is replaced
usually in October or November by the first-winter plumage in which the
species does have a white forehead and a grayish breast, Peterson also failed

45

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 9, No. 3, August 1981

to point out the 3 white outer rectrices (the “clincher^’ if one needs it) on the
first-winter Franklin’s Gull. The immature plumages of Thayer’s Gull and
Lesser Black-backed Gull were omitted altogether, yet these birds in most
instances can be distinguished in the field.

The illustrations of “peeps” (p. 135) do not help to alleviate the difficulties
of identifying species in this confusing group. The summer plumages as il-
lustrated are not significantly different from the winter plumages. However,
the breeding plumaged Semipalmated Sandpiper is heavily marked on the upper
breast and the breeding plumaged Western Sandpiper has much rust color on
the head and mantle. In summer plumage, the White-rumped Sandpiper’s belly
is very white rather than the buff tone illustrated. In each species, the bills
are illustrated differently in the summer and winter plumages. Even the bills
of two of the “peeps” shown at the bottom of the page are incorrect. The bill
of the Least Sandpiper should droop slightly toward the tip and the Semi-
palmated Sandpiper’s bill should be slightly bulbous on the tip. It is also im-
portant to understand that on some Western Sandpipers it is difficult to detect
the droop in the bill. Because the range in bill lengths of Western Sandpipers
can overlap that of Semipalmated Sandpipers, it is important when observing
winter-plumaged birds of these two species to know the bill shapes of both.

In Florida, misidentifications have been made when distinguishing between
the similar immature Broad-winged and Red-shouldered hawks. In the im-
mature Broad-wing, the ventral surface of the tail has dark bars narrower
than the pale areas; this being the most reliable field mark if the bird in
question is silent. However, Peterson failed to illustrate correctly the barring
on the rectrices of the immature Red-shouldered (p. 157). As in the illustration
of the adult “pale S Florida form,” the immature also has dark bars as wide
or wider than the pale areas. And do not expect that red shoulder patch on
the immature Red-shoulder as illustrated.

In Florida, the breeding season of nesting species often extends beyond that
of other states, therefore an observer is likely to see some juvenal-plumaged
birds in August and September. As we also get migrants during these months
some misidentifications have been made of juvenal-plumaged White-eyed Vireos
as Bell’s Vireos. Perhaps this error has been made in other states also. Before
the immature White-eyed Vireo acquires any yellow in the plumage, it is very
buffy with pale, almost white, lores and has dark irides. Therefore, one un-
familiar with Bell’s Vireo could understandably make the wrong identification.
Peterson should have included an illustration of the juvenal-plumaged White-
eyed Vireo and should have pointed out its bolder wing bars in contrast to the
faint wing bars of Bell’s Vireo.

Often one only sees a warbler from below before it disappears. The ventral
side of the tail is an important diagnostic feature. Yet Peterson failed to
show this aspect on any of the warbler illustrations. Also, he incorrectly
illustrated some of the warblers and in other instances failed to point out
the most important diagnostic characteristics that he did illustrate! The bill
on the Swainson’s Warbler (p. 241) should be longer and very straight and
the crown rufous, contrasting with the back. Concerning the waterthrushes
(p. 247), Peterson should have shown in the illustrations and explained in the
text that the width of the supercillium behind the eye is the most important
criterion for distinguishing between the Louisiana Waterthrush and the whiter
form of Northern Waterthrush. The supercillium widens behind the eye of the

Special Review

46

Louisiana Waterthrush but it remains uniform on the Northern Waterthrush.
In the text (p. 246), Peterson states “Some Northern Waterthrushes in fall . . .
have whitish eyebrow stripes.’’ This is very misleading for in Florida it is
much more likely to encounter this “whiter” Northern Waterthrush in the
spring. As a matter of fact, 6 of the 8 northward-bound Northern Water-
thrushes that I have observed by this writing (mid- April) have been this
“whiter” form. In Florida, some warblers (Yellow-rumped, Blackpoll, and Cape
May) retain the fall plumage into spring thereby creating confusion for the
novice. It is fine to have a section for quick reference for fall plumages, but I
think that the various plumages of a species should be placed together opposite
the text. For on the female Yellow Warbler (p. 239), the faint yellow wing
bars and pale edgings on the remiges are diagnostic marks, even when the
tail-spots cannot be seen, and allow this species to be quickly distinguished
from the similar female Wilson’s Warbler. The female Common Yellowthroat
(p, 251) has a buffy, indistinct eye-ring, not yellow “spectacles” as shown.
And the very diagnostic “whisker” on the female Dickcissel (p. 263) is lacking.
This mark is especially important when dealing with fall and winter birds
that lack noticeable yellow in the plumage. Although Peterson’s philosophy is
to accentuate the main diagnostic features, he should at least illustrate the
other parts of the bird correctly

Peterson did make the range maps larger than those in other guides, but
he failed to capitalize on the purpose of doing so — to make them more useful
to the reader. No pattern of migration is shown on the maps. This could be
confusing especially for Florida, where many migrants that are common in
spring are uncommon or even rare in the fall and vice-versa. These are helpful
facts, yet they cannot be derived from the range maps.

A field guide is used mainly by novices. One of its main purposes should
be to help the observer to differentiate between similar species. This book fails
in many instances to achieve that goal. Peterson had the potential to produce
the near perfect guide, but he failed to use his greatest resource — the out-
standing field ornithologists throughout this country. I have to believe that he
was pressured into getting this publication out as soon as possible regardless
of the consequences, thereby allowing a great injustice to be done to one who
has done so much to promote conservation and the study of plant and animal
life throughout the world. — Lyn Atherton.

When I was 8 years old Roger Tory Peterson joined the illustrious company
of Hank Aaron, Roy Chapman Andrews, Frank Buck, and Teddy Roosevelt on
my all time hero list. The fact that he will always be there makes it hard,
if not impossible to review one of his works on an impartial basis, I am not
apologizing for this, only stating a fact.

In 1943 Peterson’s good friend Joe Hickey wrote the following: “Bird
watching embraces individual enterprise on the one hand, collective effort on
the other. Above all else, it is marked by a ready exchange of experience, by a
high regard for truth, and by a conviction that wild birds express the most
spectacular development of nature.” As the work of a self-professed bird
watcher, Peterson’s revised field guide also qualifies for this definition. The
individual enterprise is reflected most notably in the hundreds of beautiful
illustrations. The long list of contributors attests to the collective effort. A

47

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 9, No. 3, August 1981

concise, informative text imparts effectively the experiences and truth that the
author wanted to convey, and a glance anywhere in the book will reveal
Peterson's conviction that birds are indeed the most spectacular development
of nature.

I have purposely refrained from reading other reviews of this book al-
though IVe been told that at least one or two others have enumerated mistakes
mostly involving technical aspects of some of the illustrations. I must admit
that I too found a number of rather inexplicable errors, but my major
criticism lies not with individual birds, but with the formation of the flock.

The arrangement of the species in eight main visual categories instead of
in a taxonomic sequence is more of a hindrance than a help. For the ex-
perienced field observer accustomed to the AOU taxonomic sequence it is a
frustrating waste of time to refer to the index to find things. Sections such as
“How to identify birds” indicate that the book is designed in large part for
the beginning birder, but for the novice trying to learn taxonomic sequence
this new arrangement will create unnecessary difficulties. I would have been
satisfied with the use of the 1957 AOU check-list order and its amendments
or the proposed order for the 1983 AOU check-list.

For the sake of continuity, all accidentals from Eurasia and the tropics and
all exotic species should have been included in the respective labeled plates, or
those plates should have been eliminated and all species included in the main
text. Granted, Curlew Sandpipers and Ruff’s are more common than most
other accidentals from Eurasia but they should be included with the others.
Since the book is not in taxonomic order and all the extant parrots are exotics
I feel that the Psittacidae should have been placed at the rear of the book
after the exotics instead of in the middle.

The following are a few unrelated things that particularly annoyed me:
Accidentals and established introductions -were left off of the systematic check-
list; King Vulture was included in the main text; a number of accidentals
from the tropics were not illustrated, most notably Tropical and Loggerhead
kingbirds and Thick-billed Vireo, If any one of a number of qualified Florida
ornithologists had been asked to review the manuscript before publication
quite a few mistakes could have been eliminated.

In the fieldguide illustrating game, Roger Tory Peterson and Guy Tudor sit
at the head of the table. Peterson’s revised guide is without question the most
beautifully done North American guide to date. His birds are truly alive. I
particularly like the text-facing-illustration format and the introduction of
range maps accompanied by range related data. Insets of extinct species are a
welcome addition, and the small number of species per plate is visually very
pleasing. The beauty and worthwhile aspects of this book far outweigh the few
drawbacks. — C, Wesley Biggs,

Peterson’s new edition is a vast improvement over the previous ones, al-
though from the standpoint of use as a teaching aid it has a few shortcomings.

One of the first comments of two students who had just returned from a
trip to Texas was that many of the birds which they saw in south Texas were
not shown in this book. I see no reason why Peterson’s line of demarcation
should not have extended straight south through Texas to take in the lower
Gulf coast and the lower Rio Grande Valley, and the birds of those regions,

Special Review

48

other than perhaps to maintain sales of the separate field guide (already in
print) to that area.

I am glad that Peterson has included a systematic check list in correct
phylogenetic order, but am less happy with his tinkering with this arrange-
ment in the main text of the book. I can see some merit, for example, in showing
the American Coot with the ducks, since most beginners see it as essentially a
“duck.” But what is gained by moving the alcids into the place usually
occupied by the tubenoses, and placing the tubenoses after the ducks? Perhaps
the hawks will do well next to the owls, and the swifts with the swallows, but
in general I decry any deviation from the standard taxonomic sequence. I
think that it is especially unfortunate that each of the three major field guides
now has a different arrangement of the species.

The new section on “How to identify birds” (pp. 23-30), is a welcome ex-
position of the Peterson system, and has already proved useful in the classroom,

I am pleased that he has used up-to-date common names for all species, but
has retained reference to former names, as many beginners who have been
using older field guides or texts find the proliferation of names confusing.

Probably the single greatest improvement is the placing of the color plates
opposite the species descriptions, although this has resulted in the use of
less descriptive text than in former editions. The larger, clearer illustrations
are, with a few exceptions, excellent. The subtle browns of the sparrows are
especially well done. An example of an exception to the generally good
artistry is the Wilson's Plover (p, 120). While the text correctly describes the
leg color as “flesh gray,” the illustration shows it as distinctly yellowish. It
was much better in the previous edition. I was especially glad to find that he
has retained the page on sorting out the Empidonax flycatchers. It is much the
best guide to this difficult genus of anything readily available to the beginner.
Also, his “confusing fall warblers” are considerably improved.

Peterson spells out bird songs in syllables much the way that I hear them,
so of course I like this feature, I have yet to find a student who can make
much practical use of a sonogram, even if he understands what it means, and
must confess that to me it has little predictive value as to what an unfamiliar
species is apt to sound like in the field.

The addition of 137 new species greatly enhances the usefulness of the
guide in keeping track of introductions and range expansions. Especially wel-
come to Florida birders are the sections on parrots and other exotics and
escapees. Beginners seem to have a prediliction for seeing these birds and
wondering why they are not in the books, so at last we have most of them
in a field guide.

The new, large maps of wintering and breeding ranges are superb. Dis-
persals and wanderings are included, as well as areas of casual occurrence for
some species. But, alas, only passing reference is made to migration routes.
Certainly, inclusion of migratory paths and at least approximate times of
passage would have been a worthwhile addition to the maps.

When I asked Mr. Peterson whether there were any things that he wished
he had done differently now that the book is open to public scrutiny, he said
that indeed there were some things that he wished he could have done
differently even while he was working on the book. But he was limited by re-
quirements of space and cost. Truly these factors do constrain us all, even the
mighty, — Malcolm M. Simons, Jr.

ALSO RECEIVED

A bird census of Lake Kissimmee State Park [Florida], March 1979 to
February 1980. — Charles L. Geanangel, compiler. 1980. The Lake Region Audu-
bon Society, Special Publication No. 1:1-4. Available from the compiler, 105
Lowell Rd., Winter Haven, FL 33880, for $1.00, prepaid. — The meat of this
report is a 3~page table listing the 164 species of birds recorded and the
number of individuals counted by 53 observers on 12 monthly trips to this
new state park in eastern Polk County.

All predictions are that Florida will grow to become one of the most
populous states in the country, and all too soon state parks, nature preserves,
wildlife refuges, and national parks may be the only places we can observe a
reasonably intact, natural ecosystem. Therefore, local organizations can do a
great service by systematically studying the birds and other wildlife of a
nearby protected area to establish baseline data on distribution, abundance,
and seasonal occurrence, and by publishing the results. This year the Lake
Region Audubon Society is continuing its contribution to Florida ornithology
by conducting a year-long census at Tiger Creek Nature Conservancy Pre-
serve and has plans for similar studies at other state parks in the region.

The Red"Cockaded Woodpecker: Notes on life history and management.—
Robert G. Hooper, Andrew F. Robinson, Jr. and Jerome A. Jackson. 1980. U. S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Report SA-GR 9, 8 pp.
Available from U.S. Forest Serv., 1720 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA
30309. — This pamphlet is an outstanding effort at public education about this
endangered bird, and includes information on life history, habitat require-
ments, and management suggestions, and a map of the historical distribution.
The 17 color illustrations ‘‘A guide to Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity trees”
are invaluable, and show cavities under construction, active cavities, abandoned
trees, and tree features mistaken for Red-cockaded activity. If you have ever
wondered what was meant by scaling, resin icicle, resin wells, and plates then
write for this publication. Individuals or organizations concerned about the
future of Red-cockadeds in their area should distribute these pamphlets widely
and especially to private landowners, as in some Florida counties Red-cockadeds
in the area exist only on private lands.

Resource inventory and analysis of the Big Cypress National Preserve.—
Michael J. Duever, John E. Carlson, John F. Meeder, Linda C. Duever,
Lance H, Gunderson, Lawrence A, Riopelle, Taylor R. Alexander, Ronald F.
Myers, and Daniel P. Spangler. 1979. Center for Wetlands, Univ. of Florida,
Gainesville 32611, and Ecosystem Research Unit, National Audubon Society,
Box 1877, Rt. 6, Naples, 33999, 2 vol., 1225 pp., many tables, figures, and maps.
— This is an excellent summary of the climate, geology, hydrology, plant com-
munities, animals, fire history, and land use of this 570,000 acre (230,000 ha)
area in Collier, Dade, and Monroe counties adjacent to the northwestern
portions of Everglades National Park in southwestern Florida. The discussion
on land use and management is particularly good and with the references
comprises all of volume 2. For plants and animals the emphasis is on rare,
endangered, and exotic species. This work belongs in every library in the
region, and every active field naturalist in southwestern Florida will want a
copy.

49

Treasurer's Report

50

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
TREASURERS REPORT FOR 1980

BALANCE

SHEET

TOTAL FUND BALANCE, cash in banks at year-end

1979

1980

Checking account __ .

$ 380.24

.. $ 806,77

Passbook savings account

3,309.00

.. 2,978,41

Certificate of deposit

2,261,55

2,437.67

$5,950.79

$6,222.85

1980 CASH RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS

TOTAL FUND BALANCE,

1 January 1980

.. $5,950.79

Cash Receipts

Cash Disbursements

Membership dues

.. $3,262.00

Membership

.. $ 326,33

Meetings

.. 3,808,88

Meetings

.. 3,677.12

FFN, back issues

100.80

FFN, volume 8

.. 2,574.67

Special Publications

37.50

Special Publications

66.98

Special projects —

232,75

Special projects

427,50

(Dusky Seaside Sparrow

(Dusky Seaside $350., Scrub

collection $230.50)

Jay $23.20, oiled-bird

Research fund

75.00

wkshp. $54.30)

(gifts from; B.H. & L.S.

Operating

208.00

Atherton $50., St. Peters-

Newsletter

269.80

burg Aud. Soc. $25.)
Interest earned

345,53

Postage

40,00

$7,862.46

$7,590,40

TOTAL FUND BALANCE, 31 December 1980 $6,222.85

ACTUAL INCOME AVAILABLE FOR USE DURING 1980
TOTAL CASH RECEIPTS, 1980 $7,862.46

add 1980 DUES received before 1 January 1980 $1,297.50

less 1981 & 1982 DUES received before 1 January 1981 2,352.00

less 1980 Research FUND receipts 75.00

($1,129.50)

ACTUAL INCOME, 1980 6,732.96

CASH DISBURSEMENTS, 1980 $7,590.40

EXCESS OF DISBURSEMENTS OVER INCOME, 1980 ($857.44)

January 19, 1981 Caroline H. Coleman

Treasurer

Florida Field Naturalist

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 9, No. 3 August 1981 Pages 34-50

CONTENTS

STATUS OF THE BOAT-TAILED CRACKLE IN THE

FLORIDA PANHANDLE Henry M. Stevenson 34

CENERAL NOTES

Diet of nestling Brown Pelicans in Florida

Michael J. Fogarty, Stephen A. Nesbitt, and Carter R. Gilbert 38

Pileated Woodpecker takes Red-bellied Woodpecker nestling

Robert W. Loftin and Jerry Leeds 41

Traill’s Flycatcher on Florida’s southwestern coast

Stanley Stedman and Annette F. Stedman 41

SPECIAL REVIEW 43

ALSO RECEIVED 49

TREASURER'S REPORT Caroline H. Coleman 50

ERRATUM 42

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake
Placid, Florida 33852.

Editorial Advisory Board:

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables,
Florida 33124.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead,

Florida 33030.

Henry M. Stevenson, 905 Briarcliffe Rd., Tallahassee, Florida 32308.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida,
Tampa, Florida 33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new informa-
tion on the biology of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS
See Vol. 9, No. 1, or an earlier issue.

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VOL. 9 NOVEMBER 1981 NO. 4

eii

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972
Officers for 1981-1983

President: Theodore H. Below, 3697 North Rd., Naples, Florida 33942.

Vice-President: Glen E. Woolfenden, Dept, of Biology, University of South
Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida
33803.

Treasurer: Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605.

Assistant Treasurer : John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville,
Florida 32601.

Assistant Treasurer : Patricia J. Lanzillotti, 2135 NW 28th Street, Gaines-
ville, Florida 32605.

Editor of Florida Field Naturalist: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological
Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Editor of Ornithological Newsletter: Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon
Society, 35-lst Court SW, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

FOS Archives and Editor of Special Publications: John William Hardy, The
Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 82611.

Directors 1980-1982

Frances C. James, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University,
Tallahassee, Florida 32306.

Lenore McCullagh, 2735 Holly Point Road, E. Orange Park, Florida 32073.

Marsha S. Winegarner, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Directors 1981-1983

Oron L. Bass, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Helen G. Cruickshank, 1925 S. Indian River Dr., Rockledge, Florida 32955.

Marion R. Henriquez, 1510 Dewey Dr., Hollywood, Florida 33020.

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979, Helen G. Cruickshank 1980.

All persons interested in Florida’s natural history, particularly its
abundant bird life, are invited to join the Florida Ornothological Society by
writing the Treasurer. Annual membership dues are $10 for individual
members (overseas $13), $15 for a family membership, $5 for students, and
$25 for contributing members. All members receive the Florida Field Naturalist
and the Newsletter. Subscription price for institutions and non-members is $10
per year. Back issues (vol. 1-8, $3.00 per issue) available, prepaid, from the
Assistant to the Treasurer, Fred E. Lohrer, Archhold Biological Station, Rt.
2, Box 180, Lake Placid, FL 33852.

Manuscripts submitted for publication and books intended for review
should be sent to the Editor (see inside back cover). Notice of change of
address, claims for undelivered or defective copies of this journal and requests
for information about advertising and subscriptions should be sent to the
Treasurer, Carolina H. Coleman, 1701 NW 2Ifth Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605. The permanent address of the Florida Ornithological Society is: De-
partment of Ornithology, Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gaines-
ville, Florida 32611.

Published quarterly (February, May, August, and November) by the
Florida Ornithological Society, Gainesville, Florida 32605, Printed by E. 0.
Painter Printing Co., P.O. Box 877, DeLeon Springs, Florida 32028.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 9, No. 4 November 1981 Pages 51-75

NESTING, DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG, AND
PARENTAL BEHAVIOR OF A PAIR OF FLORIDA
SANDHILL CRANES

James N. Layne

Although the major features of the biology of the Florida
Sandhill Crane {Grus canadensis pratensis) are known (Bent
1926, Thompson 1970, Walkinshaw 1949, 1973a, 1976), informa-
tion is lacking on many details of the behavior, life history, and
ecology of this non-migratory subspecies. This paper describes some
aspects of nesting activity, growth and development of the young,
and parental behavior of a pair of Florida Sandhills observed over
a 12-month period in an area 8 km southeast of the town of Lake
Placid, Highlands County, Florida.

Study Area and Methods

The habitat of the territory consisted of improved pasture with scattered
cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) -live oak {Quercus virginiana) hammocks and
small bayheads comprised of loblolly (Gordonia lasianthus), red {Persea
borbonia), and white bays {Magnolia virginiana). The nest was located
within 30 m of a well-traveled paved road. Neither the adults during incuba-
tion nor the family group after hatching paid much attention to vehicles
passing by or stopped on the shoulder nearby. This situation provided an
excellent opportunity for observations.

The nest containing 2 eggs was discovered on 21 February 1976, and 2
young were first seen on 14 March, On the previous day an adult was still on
the nest and assumed to be incubating, although it may have been brooding.
The size and appearance of the chicks when first observed indicated that, if
not just hatched, they could not have been more than 1 or 2 days old. For
purposes of the following account, the young are assumed to have hatched
between 13 and 14 March (day 0). One of the young disappeared between
19 and 22 March. I observed the family daily from 14 to 20 March, at 1 to 5-
day intervals from 20 March to 1 May, from 2 to 5 times a month from May
through August, and 6 times between October 1976 and February 1977. Ob-
servation periods during, each visit ranged from 15 min to 3 h; total observa-
tion time was approximately 40 h.

51 Fla. Field Nat. 9(4) : 61-59, 1981.

52 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 9, No. 4, November 1981

Nesting Activity

The nest was located in the middle of a 0.5-ha flooded area in
an improved pasture in full view from the road. When discovered,
the nest did not have a distinct zone of open water around it. How-
ever, by 4 March a zone about 0.3 m wide had been cleared by the
adults gathering vegetation to build up the nest in response to rising
water levels following heavy rain. They either stood in the water
facing away from the nest and pulled up rooted vegetation and
deposited it behind them in the water near the edge of the nest or
directly on the platform or stood on the nest and pulled up pieces of
vegetation from around the edge. The entire head and neck and
sometimes the upper breast were submerged for 2 or 3 sec as the
birds rooted for material. Once while standing on the nest, the
male gently rolled an egg with his beak then moved small pieces of
vegetation around in the center of the nest.

The incubating adult sat low on the nest with the head back on
the shoulder or tucked under the wing or with head and neck
extended flat on the nest. The latter position may have been a re-
sponse to the vehicle parked on the nearby road shoulder. On only
one occasion between 21 February and 14 March, when the chicks
appeared, was the other member of the pair seen in the vicinity
(60 m away) of the nest while one was incubating.

The cranes were not observed using the original nest after the
chicks hatched, but accessory nests constructed of dry grass were
used as rest sites by the young during the day and for brooding the
young at night. One such nest was used the day the young hatched
and was apparently built close to the time of hatching. It was
located about 23 m from the original nest at the base of a tussock of
broom sedge {Andropogon sp.) near the edge of the flooded area
in about 7-10 cm of water. It was about 30 cm in diameter. One
adult was observed pulling up grass and adding it to the edge of the
platform on the day of hatching, and the female was seen adding
material to the nest the following day. Another, smaller, platform
of dry grass was used by the young for resting during the second
day after hatching, but at dusk they were back on the first accessory
nest being brooded by the female. Although the young were not
seen using accessory nests after the third day, a new platform
(2/3 size of original nest) was constructed about 9 m from the
original nest between 4 and 7 April. On 8 April another new plat-
form appeared to have been started about 45 m from the original
nest. No evidence of fresh construction of accessory nests was noted
after 8 April.

LAYNE»F^0rida. Sandhill Cranes

53

The presence of extra nests in Florida Sandhill crane nesting
territories has been previously documented by Bent (1926),
Thompson (1970) , and Walkinshaw (1973a) . However, their use as
rest and brooding sites for the young apparently has not been
noted earlier. The literature suggests the occurrence of accessory
nests in other Sandhill Crane populations is variable. Valentine and
Noble (1970) noted that inactive nests usually were found around
occupied nests of Mississippi Sandhill Cranes (G. c. pulla) . How-
ever, no mention is made of accessory nests in the relatively
numerous reports on nesting in the Greater Sandhill (G. e, tabida)
and Lesser Sandhill (G. c, canadensis) (Bent 1926, Bieniasz 1979,
Boise 1976, Drewien 1973, Howard 1977, Littlefield and Ryder
1968, Walkinshaw 1949, 1973a, 1973b). It thus appears that ac-
cessory nests are a more frequent, if not exclusive, phenomenon in
the two southern, non-migratory sandhill subspecies. This difference
may be related to more aquatic nest site preferences in the southern
populations which result in the young having to spend more time in
water during early life than in the case of the northern races
(Walkinshaw 1965), In addition to their function as resting and
brooding sites for chicks, accessory or “dummy’' nests also may have
adaptive value by serving to confuse predators.

A flock of about 30 wintering Greater Sandhills was seen within
400 m of the nest on one occasion and 8 others foraged within 90 m
of the nest on another date, both times in view of the incubating
adult. On neither occasion did the incubating crane show any
concern over the proximity of the northern birds nor did its mate
put in an appearance. Following the departure of the Greater
Sandhills in early March, no other cranes were observed in the nest
area until 20 August, when another pair appeared 0,3 km north of
the nest site. On 27 August, this pair was observed closer to the
nest site. On neither occasion was the family in the vicinity. How-
ever, on 3 October, the neighboring pair and the family group were
foraging about 300 m apart on opposite sides of a small hammock.
Two days later, the pair was foraging in close proximity to the
former nest site while the family group was absent from the area.
On 29 December, the family and another pair, probably a different
one than that mentioned above, were feeding close together about
0.8 km from the nest site.

These observations indicate that, under some conditions at least,
nesting Florida Sandhills are relatively tolerant of wintering
Greater Sandhills in the vicinity of the nest and that in late summer
territorial boundaries between resident pairs tend to break down.

54 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 9, No. U, November 1981

Walkinshaw (1976) also noted that families with young over 3
months old sometimes foraged in close proximity or roosted to-
gether. I also have frequently observed loose aggregations of
Florida Sandhills in south-central Florida in late summer and fall
prior to the arrival of the migrant flocks. These aggregations
appear to differ from Greater Sandhill flocks in being more loosely
organized, with the individual pairs and family groups tending to
keep somewhat apart. Florida Sandhill aggregations also seem to
be less vocal than the wintering flocks of Greater Sandhills.

Growth and Development of Young

There was no discernible difference in size of the chicks during
the period from hatching until the disappearance of one at 5 days of
age. Observations on growth and development of the surviving in-
dividual to about a year of age are as follows :

1J^ March (day 0) — Estimated height at shoulder 10 cm; color bright
golden-tawny; gait somewhat awkward when chicks tried to move
rapidly.

27 March (day 13) — Estimated height 20-25 cm; movements better co-
ordinated than earlier.

2 April (day 19) — Estimated height 25-28 cm; no distinct feather tracts
visible, but feathers possibly coming in in scapular region; still golden-
brown on back, head, and nape; sides of neck and area around eyes gray
in contrast to brown of adjacent areas.

7 April (day 2U) — Coloration duller and paler than earlier.

25 April (day 42) — Wing coverts appear to be coming in.

10 May (day 57) — About 2/3 adult size; well-feathered.

14 May (day 61) — Down no longer apparent; crown and face gray; nape
tan, in contrast to gray of adult; bill light-colored and still relatively
short compared to adult.

9 June (day 87) — Still noticeably smaller than either adult; bill becoming
darker but still lighter-colored and relatively shorter than adult; crown,
occiput, and nape pale buffy tan; face paler than adult, less distinct
separation of whitish and darker areas than in adult; general body
plumage paler and grayer than adult; greater and median coverts
with pale buff margins; tertials not down-curved as in adult.

30 June (day 108) — Obviously smaller than either adult; crown now
reddish brown, but light area on side of head below crown not as clearly
defined as in adult; eye still brown; bill noticeably paler than adult;
wing coverts uniform color, no intermixed browner feathers as in adult
at this time; tertials down-curved but shorter than adult; first observed
flight,

1 August (day I40) — Slightly smaller than adult female; grayer than
adults; no red on crown, although forehead appears somewhat brighter
reddish-brown than earlier; eye pale straw color; bill color of adult’s,
but appears duller, shorter, and less down-curved at tip; tertials similar

LAYNE •Florida Sandhill Cranes

55

to adult; neck pale gray^ feathers with pale buff margins; wing coverts
a mixture of grayish and brownish feathers indicating post-juvenal molt.

18 August (day 157)- — Same size as adult female^ but more lightly built;
distinct reddish coloration on forehead^ but not as bright as adult,

29 December (day 290) — Plumage indistinguishable from adults, although
red on crown appears slightly duller,

19 February (day Plumage predominantly gray, in contrast to

adults which are stained rusty at this time,

Sutton (1946) and Walkinshaw (1973a) described the color of
recently-hatched Florida Sandhill chicks, and Walkinshaw (1973a,
1976) gave weights and measurements of young 1 or 2 days old.
Baldwin (1977) compared growth in weight and various body
dimensions of four subspecies of Sandhill Cranes, including
pratensis, under captive conditions. Plumage development of
Florida Sandhills has apparently not been previously described.
Development of the Florida young observed in this study appeared
to be generally similar to that of a captive-reared Greater Sandhill
from Michigan described by Walkinshaw (1949), although perhaps
somewhat slower, Baldwin (1977) noted that growth of pratensis
was relatively slow compared to northern populations with shorter
breeding seasons and that young from higher latitudes were able
to fly at earlier ages. I first observed the pratensis young in flight
when it was 108 days of age, although it may have been capable
of flying earlier. Walkinshaw (1976) stated that Florida Sandhills
are able to fly at 3 months of age. In contrast, Drewien (1973) re-
ported that young Greater Sandhills begin flying at 65-76 days of
age.

Parental Behavior

When the young were first discovered on 14 March, they were
with the female on the first accessory nest. The male was nearby.
The chicks moved around actively or rested sitting erect on their
tarsi or laying down on the platform. The next day the family was
observed foraging about 10 m from the nest in water 15-20 cm
deep. The adults stayed in a restricted area 'and moved slowly so
that the young could keep up. The young remained close to the
parents, struggling through dense grass and readily swimming in
open water. If the adults got too far ahead, the young would hasten
to catch up, running after them with wings outspread. After about
2 hr of foraging the adults led the young to an accessory nest. The
female added vegetation to the platform for several minutes, then
laid down with the young but did not actually brood them. The male

56 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^VoL 9, No. J^, November 1981

moved off a few meters, then returned to stand and preen beside
the platform. During the next several days, the family remained
in the flooded area near the nest, the adults occasionally foraging
without the young. Walkinshaw (1976) recorded young only 2 days
of age accompanying the parents as far as 0.4 km from the nest.

By 20 March, the family had ranged up to 0.4 km from the nest
site into drier pasture habitat. The adults now tended to move more
rapidly, and the chicks had no trouble keeping up. The family was
seen on each of 9 visits I made to the area between 2 April and
1 May, Once (7 April) they were 0.5 km from the nest site, but the
other times were within 23 to 120 m (x^56 m) of it. After 1 May,
the family tended to forage at greater distances from the nest site
and was seen in the field less frequently. However, the cranes
occasionally returned to the vicinity of the nest. On 10 of 13 visits
I made to the nest area between 10 May and 18 August, the family
was located within 0.3 to 0.8 km (x^O.54 km) of the nest site. They
were found on 3 out of 7 visits from 3 October 1976 to 19 February
1977 within 45 m to 0.8 km (x = 0.42 km) of the nest site.

Feeding behavior was first observed (15 March) on the day
after the chicks appeared. The adults and chicks moved slowly in
water 15 to 20 cm deep mostly pecking at objects on vegetation at
heights of about 5 to 8 cm above the water line, although the adults
occasionally picked up items at or just beneath the water surface.
The young would extend 8 to 10 cm to peck at an object on vegeta-
tion, and on one occasion a chick watched as an adult pecked at
something at the surface of the water then pecked at the same spot.
I could not determine whether the chicks actually caught anything
during their feeding attempts. The adults would frequently pause
with the head down and food item held in the tip of the bill, where-
upon a chick would quickly pick it out from the side, sometimes
striking at the food item several times before succeeding in getting
it. I could not identify any of the prey items, but, judging from
the feeding behavior, assume they were insects and/or spiders.

On 2 April, while the family foraged in a wet area of the pasture,
the chick remained continually within 0.5-1 m of an adult and was
often closer. When the adults waded through deeper water, the
young readily swam along with them. Both adults fed the chick,
but during the approximately 20-min period I observed it received
food more often from the female. Occasionally the young pecked at
the grass, but I could not tell if it obtained any food items. When
an adult would begin pecking in the grass, the young would quickly
move up and stand near its head. Once the female picked up an

LAYNE«F^orida- Sandhill Cranes

57

item and waited with head down until the chick came up and took
the food item from her bill. During this period the young also was
seen pecking at the ground, usually where an adult had been

working.

On 25 April (day 42), the young was observed picking up food
items itself as well as obtaining food from the adults. On 9 June
(day 87) , the young was still being fed by both parents. As earlier,
the adults would pause with food in the bill and the young would
take it. Once it appeared that the adult laid the food item on the
ground, and the chick picked it up. The young also remained close
to the adults and probed in the same areas. Adults were not seen
feeding the chick after 30 June (day 108) . On 18 August, the family
was busily engaged in feeding on insects on vegetation several cm
above ground, and the young seemed as adept as the adults in
capturing prey. The juvenile was still closely associated with the
pair when they were observed on 23 January and 19 February. As
earlier, it would frequently walk to the place where an adult was
vigorously probing and begin to probe in the same spot.

Adult defensive behavior was observed on several occasions. On
15 March, when the chicks were about a day old, a flock of White
Ibis {Eudocimus alba) flew into the marsh where the family was
foraging. As the ibis approached to land near the cranes, the adults
quickly moved close together, stretching their necks upward, and
emitted guard calls simultaneously. The 2 young immediately ran
to them from about 1 m away and stood upright between them. A
few minutes later a Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) landed near the
family, and the adults instantly gave low, gutteral rattles and guard
calls and moved between the heron and chicks.

On 22 March a Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) flew over
the family at a height of about 15 m. Although the hawk showed
no interest in the cranes, the adults immediately moved close to-
gether, with the young between them, assumed an erect posture
with beak pointed up, and gave brief guard calls. As the hawk
passed directly overhead, one adult spread its wings slightly in a
shielding or defensive gesture.

When the chick was 19 days old, the family was approached by
a cow as they foraged in a pasture. When the cow was about 10 m
away, the adults gave brief guard calls. The chick moved slightly
closer to the female but otherwise paid little attention to the cow.
When the cow came within 3 m, both adults uttered guard calls and
positioned themselves between the chick and cow. The chick then
moved close beside the female. As the cow continued to advance.

58 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 9, No. A, November 1981

both adults turned to face it, the male slightly in front. Then the
male, standing with trunk and neck almost vertical and beak angled
down, partly opened his wings and, holding them out to the side
and nearly vertical, advanced quickly towards the cow, which
promptly retreated. This display (‘'Spread Wing Display” of Voss
1977, “Distraction Display” of Walkinshaw 1965) is also used by
other sandhill subspecies as well as other crane species (Walkin-
shaw 1965).

When faced with a possibly dangerous situation, an adult would
give low, gutteral rattle notes as it walked away. This vocalization
elicited an immediate following response by the young. On one
occasion just before the family took flight at my close approach,
the juvenile (then about 108 days old) appeared to utter the same
vocalization.

When disturbed, adults tended to spread the tertials vertically.
This was more often observed in the male than female. He was also
more alert to possible danger and showed a greater tendency to
“stand guard” and remain nearer the source of a disturbance than
his mate.

Acknowledgements

I thank Lawrence H. Walkinshaw and Fred E. Lohrer for their helpful
comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this manuscript.

Literature Cited

Baldwin, J. H. 1977. A comparative study of the Sandhill Crane subspecies.

Eastern Greater Sandhill Crane Symp, Indiana Chpt, Wildl, Soc. ; 54-62.
Bent, A. C. 1926. Life histories of North American marsh birds. U. S. Natl.
Mus. Bull. 135.

Bieniasz, K. a. 1979. The Greater Sandhill Crane in Routt County, Colorado.

Proc. 1978 Crane Workshop, Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins: 197-203.
Boise, C. 1976. Breeding biology of the Lesser Sandhill Crane — a preliminary
report. Proc. Int. Crane Workshop, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater
1: 126-129.

Drewien, R. C. 1973. Ecology of Rocky Mountain Greater Sandhill Cranes.
Ph.D, Thesis, Univ. Idaho.

Howard, T. J. 1977. The ecology of the Greater Sandhill Crane in central
Wisconsin. Eastern Greater Sandhill Crane Symp., Indiana Chpt. Wildl.
Soc.: 39-47.

Littlefield, C. D., and R. A. Ryder. 1968. Breeding biology of the Greater
Sandhill Crane on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon. Trans.
North Am. Wildl. Nat. Resour. Conf. 33 : 444-454,

Sutton, G. M. 1946. A baby Florida Sandhill Crane, Auk 63:100-101.
Thompson, R. L. 1970. Florida Sandhill Crane nesting on the Loxahatchee
National Wildlife Refuge. Auk 87: 492-502,

hAYNE^Florida Sandhill Cranes

59

Valentine, J. M., Jr., and R. E. Noble. 1970. A colony of Sandhill Cranes in
Mississippi. J. Wildl. Manage. 34: 761-768,

Voss, K. S. 1977. Agonistic behavior of the Greater Sandhill Crane. Eastern
Greater Sandhill Crane Symp. Indiana Chpt. Wildl. Soc, : 63-85,
Walkinshaw, L, H. 1949. The Sandhill Cranes. Cranbrook Inst, Sci, Bull. 29..
Walkinshaw, L. H. 1965. Territories of cranes. Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts, Letters
50: 75-88,

Walkinshaw, L. H. 1973a. Cranes of the World. Winchester Press, N.Y.
Walkinshaw, L. H. 1973b. A history of Sandhill Cranes on the Haehnle
Sanctuary, Michigan. Jack Pine Warbler 51: 54-74.

Walkinshaw, L. H. 1976. Sandhill Crane on and near the Kissimmee Prairie,
Florida. Proc. Int. Crane Workshop, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater
1: 1-18.

Archbold Biological Station, Route 2, Box 180, Lake Placid,

Florida 33852,

ALSO RECEIVED

A bibliography of south Florida wading birds. — James A. Kushlan, M.
Christine Baumann, and Linda C. McEwan. 1978. South Florida Research
Center Report T-514, 27 pp. Available from the authors, SFRC, Everglades
National Park, P. O. Box 279, Homestead, FL 33030. — This useful publication
contains about 400 references (with brief annotations) for Ciconiiform birds
occurring from Lake Okeechobee to the lower Florida Keys.

Selected vertebrate endangered species of the seacoast of the United States.
— National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory. 1980. Biological Services Program,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FWS/OBS-80/01. 58 pamphlets. Available from
National Coastal Ecosystems Team, USFWS, NASA-Slidell Complex, 1010
Cause Blvd., Slidell, LA 70458. — These 5-16 page pamphlets come in a 3-ring
binder stout enough to hold the original 58 as well as the future species
accounts and revisions of the original 58. Each pamphlet is designed as an
independent document with its own black and white cover photograph and
title page. The standard format for the text includes legal status, reasons for
current status, description, range (including map), habitat, diet, nesting,
population, reproduction, authorities, management, and selected references.

The species included are those occurring along or within 100 km of the
seacoast of the U.S., thus covering essentially all of Florida. The 23 Florida
vertebrates covered include 1 fish, 1 frog, 4 sea turtles, 2 crocodilians, 6
mammals, and Brown Pelican, Everglade Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Ivory-billed
Woodpecker, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman^s Warbler, Cape Sable
Sparrow and Dusky Seaside Sparrow.

The pamphlets are well done, authoritative and up-to-date. Readers of the
journal who are concerned about environmental education should write for a
set of the Florida pamphlets (or even the entire set) and donate them to the
key person in the local area who is active in environmental education.

GENERAL NOTES

Fla. Field Nat. 9(4) : 60-61, 1981,

Observations on wing molt of Florida Sandhill Cranes. — On the basis of
examination of museum skins, observations on captives, and review of the
literature, Lewis (1979) concluded that molt of the remiges in the Sandhill
Crane (Grus canadensis) is highly variable. Some individuals molt only a
portion of the primaries or secondaries each year, while others replace all of
the primaries or secondaries in a single season. These variations in pattern
of remigial molt occur in both captives and wild birds and do not appear to be
related to sex or breeding status. Sandhills and other crane species may also
lose the primaries and sometimes part of the secondaries simultaneously and
become flightless for a period of time (Blaauw 1897 quoted by Walkinshaw
1949, Littlefield 1970, Drewien 1973).

Present knowledge of remigial molt in Sandhill Cranes is almost entirely
restricted to the northern migratory subspecies G. c. canadensis, G. c. rowani,
and G. c. tabida. Except for notes on two captives given by Lewis (1978),
nothing appears to be known about wing molt in the nonmigratory Florida
Sandhill Crane {G. c. pratensis). In the course of observations on several
hundred individuals of this subspecies at various localities in south-central
Florida during the period 1973-1979, I recorded the following 6 cases of
remigial molt. All were from Highlands County except one in 1977 from
Glades County.

26 March 1976 — The smaller member (presumably the female) of an ap-
parently non-breeding pair feeding in an improved pasture had 2 loose
adjacent secondaries dangling from one wing.

21 May 197 A — One of a pair in flight had a number of remiges missing.

12 June 1977 — A single adult in flight had heavy molt in the primary and
secondary regions of both wings.

30 June 1976 — Two adults flying with a young approximately 108 days old
had prominent gaps, apparently representing several missing feathers,
in the outer primary region of both wings.

14. October 1975 — One of a family group of 3 in flight had prominent gaps,
apparently representing loss of 2 or more feathers, in the outer part of
the secondary region of both wings.

3 November 1979 — One of a pair in flight had missing feathers in the
outer primary region of both wings.

Although these observations permit no inferences regarding the length of
the remigial molt cycle (whether 1 season or 2-3 years) in wild Florida Sand-
hills, they do show that at least some members of this subspecies do not undergo
simultaneous wing molt and become flightless. The occurrence of molting in-
dividuals over a 9-month period (March-November) appears to indicate con-
siderable individual variability in the timing of remigial molt and also suggests
that the molt may be prolonged. One of the 2 Florida Sandhill captives re-
ported on by Lewis (1979) had primaries of 1 age and secondaries of 2 ages,
while the other had primaries of 3 ages and secondaries of 2 ages. Both were
breeders.

Bent (1926) stated that G. c. canadensis molted the flight feathers in
August. Walkinshaw (1949) noted that the flight feathers were probably lost

60

General Notes

61

in early summer. Littlefield (1970) observed flightless Greater Sandhills (G. c.
tabida) in Oregon in late May and early June, and Drewien (1973) recorded
flightless adults during June and July in Idaho. Aldrich (cited by Lewis 1979)
examined specimens of 3 Greater Sandhills collected on the breeding grounds
in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and concluded that the molt was completed
by late August. These sources indicate that wing molt in northern Sandhill
populations is restricted to a 3- to 4-month period in late spring and summer.
In contrast, remigial molt appears to be less synchronized in Florida Sandhills
and also possibly more prolonged than in northern cranes. This suggests that
there has been greater selection for a more rapid and precisely-timed wing molt
in northern crane populations as a consequence of the more severe climatic
restriction on length of the breeding season and demands of migration. In this
connection, there is an indication in Lewis’ (1979) data for the 3 northern
Sandhill subspecies that the frequency of individuals molting all secondaries
or primaries in the same season increases with latitude of the breeding
grounds. The proportions of specimens of each race with same-age secondaries
or primaries were, in order of latitude of breeding grounds from south to
north: tabida — 30%, rowani — 39%, and canadensis — 48%. Although the
differences are not statistically significant, they suggest that the farther north
a population breeds the more rapid its molt cycle. The young of more northerly
breeding Sandhills also develop faster and begin flying at an earlier age
(Baldwin 1977). In addition to climatic conditions per se, other environmental
factors such as habitat characteristics, food resources, and predation intensity
may have been involved in selection for different remigial molt patterns in
crane populations in different geographic regions.

Although the limited data suggest a distinct difference in the remigial molt
patterns of the sedentary Florida Sandhill and northern, migratory subspecies,
a more detailed study of wing molt of Florida cranes is obviously needed
before a definitive conclusion as to the existence of such a geographic trend
can be reached. In this connection, data on remigial molt in the two other
southern, nonmigratory Sandhill Crane subspecies — the Mississippi Sandhill
{G. c. pulla) and Cuban Sandhill (G. c. nesiotes)- — also would be of particular
interest.

Literature Cited

Baldwin, J. H, 1977. A comparative study of Sandhill Crane subspecies.

Eastern Greater Sandhill Crane Symp., Indiana Chpt. WML Soc.: 54-62.
Bent, A, C. 1926. Life histories of North American marsh birds. U.S. Natl.
Mus. Bull. 135.

Blaauw, F. E. 1897. A monograph of the cranes. Leiden, E, J. Brill, (cited by
Walkinshaw 1949).

Drewien, R. C. 1973. Ecology of Rocky Mountain Greater Sandhill Cranes.
Ph.D. Thesis, Univ, Idaho.

Lewis, J. C. 1979. Molt of the remiges of Grus canadensis. Proc. 1978 Crane
Workshop, Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins: 255-259.

Littlefield, C. D. 1970. Flightlessness in Sandhill Cranes. Auk 87: 157.
Walkinshaw, L. H. 1949. The Sandhill Cranes, Cranbrook Inst. Sci. Bull. 29.

James N. Layne, Archbold Biological Station, Route 2, Box 180, Lake
Placid, Florida 38852.

62 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 9, No. November 1981

Fla. Field Nat. 9(4) : 62-63, 1981.

Brown Pelican found dead with adult Double-crested Cormorant in pouch.—

On Friday afternoon, 5 December 1980, park rangers working at St. Andrews
State Recreation Area, Bay County, Florida, noticed a dead pelican floating
in the ship channel, a man-made inlet connecting St. Andrews Bay and the
Gulf of Mexico. Lt. Perry Smith, Assistant Superintendent of the recreation
area, collected the bird when it washed ashore and brought it to my office. We
found that the gular pouch of the immature Brown Pelican (Pelecanus
occidentalis) was greatly distended with an adult Double-crested Cormorant
(Phacacrocorax auritus) in it (Fig. 1). The cormorant was completely en-
closed and it appeared that the cormorant had torn a hole in the pouch
struggling to escape. Apparently both birds had drowned, possibly the same
day as found. Lt. Smith and I concluded that this was a natural event probably
occurring during a feeding frenzy, rather than someone forcing the cormorant
into the pelican’s pouch as a sadistic act, partly because seas were too rough
that day even for commercial fishing boats, and thus few people would have
been out and in possible contact with the birds. The birds were taken to the
National Marine Fisheries Laboratory, Panama City Beach, and placed in a
freezer in the same position as found.

Fig. 1. Thomas L. Francis (1) and Horace Loftin examining Brown Pelican
found dead on 5 December 1980 at St. Andrews State Recreation Area, Bay
County, Florida, with adult Double-crested Cormorant in its pouch.

General Notes

63

The pelican carried a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service leg-band No. 559-03057,
It was banded as a Hatching Year bird on 17 July 1980 at Isle Aux Petre, St.
Bernard, Louisiana by personnel of the Louisiana Game and Fish Commission.
Ronald Reynolds of the Bird-Banding Laboratory kindly supplied the in-
formation on this banded bird. — Thomas L. Francis, Division of Recreation
and Parks, Department of Natural Resources, Thomas Drive, Panama

City, Florida S2U07.

Fla. Field Nat. 9(4) : 63, 1981.

First Florida record of the Black-tailed Godwit. — On 15 February 1981, we
saw a Black-tailed Godwit {Limosa limosa) in an impoundment at Merritt
Island National Wildlife Refuge, Brevard County, Florida. From a distance
of 46 m and through a 15x spotting scope we noted the following field marks:
the long, straight bill with orange base; the unmarked, light grey back; the
light grey wings with some scalloping; the light buff of the head, neck, and
breast; the wide, white wing stripe; the white underwings with white axillars.
The last two characteristics were evident when the bird fiew and are the im-
portant field marks that distinguish the Black-tailed from the Hudsonian
Godwit (L. haemastica) (Baird 1968, Auk 85: 500-501; Tove and Hughes 1981,
Chat 45: 13-14). Subsequently, many observers saw the bird and on 17 Febru-
ary Paul W. Sykes, Jr., and C. Wesley Biggs photographed it (Fig. 1).

Fig, 1. Black-tailed Godwit at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge,
Brevard Co., Florida, 17 February 1981. Photo by Paul W. Sykes, Jr.

This sighting is the first for Florida (Bowman 1978, FOS Spec. Publ. No.
1; Stevenson 1976, Vertebrates of Florida, Gainesville, Univ. Presses of
Florida). The five previous United States records of this Eurasian species are
from the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to North Carolina (Tove and
Hughes 1981). — Howard P. Langridge, 1421 W. Ocean Ave., Lantana, Florida
33462 AND Tadziu Trotsky, 1782 18th Ave., N., Lake Worth, Florida
33460.

64 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 9, No. U, November 1981

Fla. Field Nat, 9(4) : 64, 1981.

Everglade Kite predation on a soft-shelled turtle. — In Florida, the Everglade
Kite {Rostrhamus sociabilis) is considered (Stieglitz and Thompson 1967, U.S.
Fish. Wild. Serv., Spec. Sci. Rep.-Wildl. 109: 1-109) to feed solely on one species
of snail (Pomacea paludosa) , although reports of nonsnail prey items (a small
turtle, a small mammal) have been noted (Sykes and Kale 1974, Auk 91: 818-
820). On 4 January 1979, at 1000, we saw an Everglade Kite perched in a
tree along the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Highway 41), Dade County, approximately
35 km west of Miami, Florida, The kite, in juvenal or female plumage, was
holding a small soft-shelled turtle {Trionyx ferox) in its bill. The kite dis-
patched the still struggling turtle while clutching it in its talons and striking
it repeatedly with the beak. We watched the bird for 10 minutes, but the kite
(probably disturbed by the observers) departed with the turtle still clutched
in its talons. A photograph of this event, too poor for publication, has been
deposited at the Florida Ornithological Society Archives, Florida State Mu-
seum. Improved understanding of the circumstances in which Everglade Kites
demonstrate selection of nonsnail prey will further our knowledge of Everglade
Kite feeding ecology. — Marc C. Woodin and Crystal D. Woodin, Department
of Entomology, Fisheries, and Wildlife, University of Minnesota, St. Paul,
Minnesota 55108.

Fla. Field Nat. 9(4) : 64-67, 1981.

The 1980 Dusky Seaside Sparrow survey.^ — The Dusky Seaside Sparrow
(Ammospiza maritima nigrescens) was known only from areas of cordgrass
(Spartina bakerii) in northern Brevard County, Florida, along the eastern
drainage of the St. Johns River and in the tidal marshes of Merritt Island
(Sharp 1970, Wilson Bull. 80: 158-166). Because of its declining numbers, the
Dusky Seaside Sparrow was regarded as threatened with extinction by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1966 (USFWS, Resour. Publ.
No. 34) and officially classified as an endangered population under the 1973
Endangered Species Act. In 1968 an estimated 894 Dusky Seaside Sparrows
were in the St. Johns marsh and 34 were on Merritt Island where the original
population may have been 2,000 pairs (Sharp 1970). Since 1968, annual Dusky
Seaside Sparrow surveys indicated a steadily declining population. On Merritt
Island, the last Dusky Seaside Sparrows seen were 2 birds in 1977 (Sykes
1980, Amer. Birds 34: 728-737), The St. Johns marsh population persisted a
little longer. In 1977 and 1978 only 28 and 24 singing males, respectively,
were found and during the 1979 survey, only 13 male Dusky Seaside Sparrows
were left (11 on the St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)). The last
nest on the St. Johns marsh was seen in 1975 (James L. Baker, pers. comm.).
Habitat loss was a major factor in the decline of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow.
On Merritt Island the salt marshes were impounded for mosquitoe control
(Sykes 1980). On the St. Johns marsh, drainage, housing developments, and
highway construction all contributed to habitat loss. Extensive wildfires during
the dry season (December-April 1973-1976) also contributed to the population
decline (James L, Baker, pers. comm.).

^Dedicated to the memory of Beau Sauselein who died on 9 June 1981 from burns received
while fighting a wildfire on Merritt Island NWR.

General Notes

65

In 1980 (14 April-14 June), biologists of the USFWS, Florida Game and
Fresh Water Fish Commission (FGFWFC), and Florida Audubon Society at-
tempted to determine the size and distribution of the remaining Dusky Sea-
side Sparrow population. A special effort was made to locate a female for a
captive propagation program.

Search areas within Brevard County were selected after aerial surveys
were made of the Merritt Island NWR and the St. Johns River basin. Site
selection was based on evaluation of potential habitat (Baker 1973, Proc. Annu.
Conf, Southeast Assoc. Game Fish Comm. 27: 207-214), recent burning, and
historical distribution of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow (Bent 1968, Bull. U.S.
Nat. Mus. 237: 849-859).

Four to 8 people walked transects 25 m apart through each survey area
stopping frequently to make both visual and auditory observations. Each
searcher had binoculars and 2-4 searchers had, in addition, a tape recording
of the territorial vocalization of the male Dusky Seaside Sparrow used to
stimulate a response from any males in the area. On 16 May, a 2-man heli-
copter rented from the Brevard County Mosquito Control District was used
to scout several remote areas and on 3 additional days in May, a larger 5-man
Bell Jet Ranger helicopter was used to reach these areas. This helicopter
dropped searchers off on one side of an area, then picked them up on the
opposite side. All morning surveys were conducted between sunrise and 0930.
Evening searches were from 1700 until sunset. The census method was de-
signed to search an entire area thoroughly and was similar to surveys
conducted in 1978 and 1979.

After aerial survey of the St. Johns valley from south of S.R. 520 to S.R.
46 in March 1980, 23 areas were selected as potential habitat and searched by
the methods described above (Fig. 1). Between 14 April-14 June, 471 morning
and 100 evening man-hours were spent searching these areas and 11 hours of
helicopter time were used. The search effort was usually expanded to include
any marginal habitat adjacent to a selected search area. Most areas were
searched twice during the season and areas where sparrows were found in
1979 were searched several times.

The search located 4 male Dusky Seaside Sparrows (Fig. 1). Two un-
handed birds were found on 22 April near Titusville on private property south
of State Road 60 (T23S, R34E, Sec. 1) about one mile west of the site
occupied by 2 unbanded birds located in the 1979 survey (this area burned in
January 1980). On 12 May a third bird, originally marked on 25 July 1978
with a USFWS aluminum band and an orange band, was located on the St,
Johns unit of the St. Johns NWR (T22S, R34E, Sec. 22) north of S.R. 50, near
where he was first captured and banded. This bird was last seen there on 26
May. Another male marked with a USFWS aluminum band and green band
(banded 25 July 1978) was found 14 May on the Beeline unit of the Refuge
(T23S, R34E, Sec. 29). This bird was probably also present on 7 May when
Kale thought he heard a single Dusky Seaside Sparrow song, failed to hear it
again, and concluded it was a distant Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoe-
niceus) song.

On 16 May, Leenhouts and Sauselein found this bird singing on a territory
north of S.R. 407 approximately 2 miles NW of his original location. He was
observed back on his original territory on the Beeline unit on 29 May and
was last seen there on 23 July,

66 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-VoL 9, No. U, November 1981

Fig. 1. Brevard County, Florida, areas searched for Dusky Seaside Sparrows
in 1980.

Sixty-four hours were spent observing these 4 male birds to determine
whether a female Dusky Seaside Sparrow was in the area. No female was seen
and there were no indications of male breeding behavior other than repeated
singing on their territories. Because female Seaside Sparrows are not secretive

General Notes

67

during the nesting season^ and if present, should have been seen and heard,
we conclude that none existed.

These same 4 males had been counted in the 1979 survey when the
known population of Dusky Seaside Sparrows was 13 males. Three of these
birds were captured in the fall of 1979 and maintained in outdoor aviaries at
the FGFWFC’s Wildlife Research Laboratory in Gainesville, Florida. At the
time of the 1980 survey, 2 males were still being held in captivity. In July
1980, 3 of the 4 remaining wild male Dusky Seaside Sparrows were captured
and transported to Gainesville, Surprisingly, the sparrow with the orange
band that had been last observed on the St, Johns unit of the Refuge on 26
May was netted 22 July on the Beeline unit, over 8 miles to the south and
adjacent to the territory of the green banded male. Recent search efforts
(23-25 July, 14-15 August, and 21-22 October) have failed to locate the latter
sparrow. The 2 unbanded birds on private property were captured on 29 July
and are now in Gainesville.

In 1981 (29 April - 19 June), 75 man-hours were spent searching for the
green banded male and any previously undetected Dusky Seaside Sparrows,
The search effort was concentrated in areas where birds were located in 1980
and survey methods were similar. No Dusky Seaside Sparrows were found in
the 1981 survey.

We are grateful to the following who participated one or more times in
the survey: James L. Baker, Parker Bauer, Lori Breen, Greg Bretz, Neal
Eichholz, Allen Flock, Dorothy W, Freeman, Ward Fuert, Gregory L, Holder,
Stephen A. Nesbitt, Kathy Post, Will Post, Larry Salada, Stephen T, Schwikert,
Anne Shapiro, Macklin Smith, Paul W, Sykes, Jr., Rachel Wientraub and Lois
Wood. We thank Lovett E, Williams, Jr,, Pamela Skoog, and Paul W, Sykes,
Jr,, for comments on the manuscript.

This research was supported by the Federal Aid to Endangered Species
Program, Florida Endangered Species Project E-1 and by funds donated to
the FGFWFC by Florida Audubon Society and several of its local chapters,
Tall Timbers Research Station, U.S. Section of the International Council for
Bird Preservation, and several private individuals, — Michael F, Delany,
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Wildlife Research Labora-
tory, IfOOS S. Main Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601; Willard P. Leenhouts
AND Beau Sauselein, Merritt Island National WHldlife Refuge, P.0, Box 6504-,
Titusville, Florida 32780 and Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon Society,
35 1st Court ;81K, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

Fla, Field Nat. 9(4) : 67-68, 1981,

First sight record of Vaox’s Swift in Florida. — The Vaux’s Swift
(Chaetura vauxi) breeds in the Pacific northwest from southeastern Alaska
south to central California, In migration they occur regularly east to Mon-
tana, Nevada, and Arizona and have been reliably reported (October-March)
as far east as southern Louisiana (A.O.U, 1957, Lowery 1974). The possibility
that this species has occurred in Georgia and Florida has been suspected but
identification of “late” or “early” swifts has been equivocal.

At 1750 on 4 December 1980, James Cox, Cathleen NeSmith and I observed
six Chaetura swifts on the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee,
Leon County, Florida. I recognized their characteristic weak, “wheezy” twitters
as identical to calls of Vaux’s Swifts IVe heard on previous occasions in the

68 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-VoL 9, No. 4, November 1981

western United States and Mexico. However, light conditions were poor and
no field marks were observed. On subsequent afternoons the diagnostic whitish
underparts from throat to lower belly, small size, square tail, and flickering
wing beats were clearly visible at distances as close as 15 m (many observers).
A maximum of 22 (one flock) was seen on 7 December 1980 (G.R.G., Sidney
Graves) and after this date up to 13 were present daily until the 13 January
1981 cold snap (down to 8°F.), after which the maximum number seen was
only 4 or 5. Vaux’s Swifts were last observed during the “first few days” of
March 1981 (C. NeSmith). The first locally arriving Chimney Swifts (C.
pelagica) were observed on 19 March 1981 (G.R.G.). Attempts to discover the
night roosts of C. vauxi or to obtain voucher specimens or diagnostic photo-
graphs were unsuccessful. These sight observations, 4 December 1980-early
March 1981, represent the first record of Vaux’s Swift in the southeastern
United States. Lowery’s (1974, p. 398) statement, “any swift seen in Louisi-
ana after the first week of November and before the second week of March
is almost certainly of this species [C. vauxi], since there is no unequivocal
evidence that the Chimney Swift is ever present anywhere in the United
States in this period”, is probably applicable to the entire Gulf coast (e.g.
Howell 1932; Stevenson 1969, 1960, 1973; Imhof 1962; Edscorn 1978).

I thank H. M. Stevenson and J. M. Stevenson for their efforts to procure a
voucher specimen and T. Engstrom for compiling local records.

Literature Cited

American Ornithologists’ Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds.

Baltimore, Lord Baltimore Press, Inc.

Edscorn, J. B. 1978. Florida region. Amer. Birds 32: 193-197.

Howell, A. H. 1932. Florida bird life. Tallahassee, Florida Dept. Game Fresh
Water Fish.

Imhof, T. A. 1962. Central southern region. Aud. Field Notes 16: 43-47.
Lowery, G. H., Jr. 1974. Louisiana birds. Baton Rouge, La. State Univ. Press.
Stevenson, H. M. 1959. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 13: 21-26.

Stevenson, H. M. 1960. Florida region. Aud. Field Notes 14: 25-29.

Stevenson, H. M. 1973. Florida region. Amer. Birds 27 : 45-49.

Gary R. Graves, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University,
Tallahassee, Florida 32306.

Twenty-nine year synopsis of the Coot Bay Christmas Bird Count. — William

Bolte and Oron L. Bass, Jr. 1980. South Florida Research Center Report T-605,
19 pp. Available from the second author, SFRC, Everglades National Park,
P. O. Box 279, Homestead, FL 33030, — This CBC has been conducted since
1950, although the first count was conducted with the center 2 miles NE of
the center of all subsequent counts and therefore not included in this report.
This report includes a brief introduction on the history, location, and habitat
coverage of the count and a map. The bulk of the report is a 16 p table detailing
the results of each count. A total of 241 species, 2 forms, and 1 hybrid has
been recorded for the 29 counts, with 81 species observed on each of the 29
counts.

BOOK REVIEWS

The birds of Brevard County. — Allan D. Cruickshank, With added records
(1974-1978) by Robert D. Barber. Helen G. Cruickshank, ed, August 1980
(hand-written publ. date) . Orlando, Florida, Florida Press, Inc, XVI + 208 pp.
Hard cover, 6% X 9%, in. $12.00.— On a filming expedition to Florida in 1950
the author was impressed by the wealth of bird life in this east coast county
and began to record his observations. His attention to the matter expanded
greatly in 1953 when the Cruickshanks moved to a new home in Brevard
County, on the west bank of the Indian River. By 1974 the records filled three
notebooks and included not only his own but those of other trusted observers.
Allan Cruickshank died on October 11, 1974, in Gainesville, Florida. This book,
edited and published posthumously by his wife, is a significant addition to the
literature on distribution and dynamics of bird species and populations in the
state. The arrangement of the text is as follows: after a frontispiece photo
of Allan there follow title and dedication pages, a list of contents, a map of
the county, acknowledgements, an introduction written by Helen, a list of
contributors of records, the main text, a biographical sketch of the author,
and finally, four blank pages for notes.

A typical account begins with the English and scientific names followed by
a general statement of status and history. For migrant species there is next a
section termed “southbound occurrence,” including dates and observers by
initials for critical records. Then under a heading “Maxima” is given the
most individuals known to have been seen on one day in the county, some-
times with the occasion (such as Christmas count) and/or locality. After that
similar information is given for northbound occurrence, breeding, and egg dates.
Where specimens exist for rare species, the collectors and whereabouts are
indicated.

I am not an expert on Brevard County birds, nor do I feel it my duty as
reviewer to check in detail the accuracy of the information set forth in this
book. On that subject, I shall say only that the author and editor seem to have
done a good job, providing specific dates, documentation where possible, and a
summary of older records where pertinent. I note one misspelling of a bird^s
name (Kestrel) and only one of any other word (“occurrence”).

The taxonomy is up to date, following the recent A.O.U. revisions, but
there is one instance of confusion deserving comment. Both U.S. forms of
the Northern Oriole, Bullock^s and Baltimore, occur in Florida in migration.
In their separate accounts here, the former is referred to as “Northern
(Bullock^s) Oriole {Icterus galbula bullockii)^’ and the latter simply as
“Northern Oriole {Icterus galbula)” rather than as Icterus galbula galbula.
This gives the erroneous impression that the Baltimore form is “the species”
while the BuIlock^s is “the subspecies,” though in fact, of course, both are sub-
species of the species. It is curious that much of the older general information
works on North American birds actually seem to have supported this practice.
Thus the Song Sparrow was Melospiza melodia, while all those out west were
subspecies! There is nothing wrong with still referring to the eastern Yellow-
rumped Warbler as the Myrtle Warbler, but if one does so then the scientific
name should be given as a trinomial, D, c. coronata. Only the name Yellow-
rumped Warbler equates with the binomium.

69

70 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 9, No. U, November 1981

To me, the most important and impressive documentation this book pro-
vides is not of the rich avifauna or the simple evidence of change in popula-
tion and distribution over time, but rather of the terrible destruction of the
environment and the birds that has occurred in Brevard County since World
War 11. For dozens of species something like the following is said: “Until the
early 1950’s a common breeding bird and migrant. Now a rare migrant or acci-
dental. No longer breeds in the county.” Thus the suburbanization and other
development of Brevard County has taken a heavy toll, a toll marked last
year by the apparent extinction of an entire form, the Dusky Seaside Sparrow,
and by, in the two decades before, the loss within Brevard of many species
still fortunate enough to have sustaining populations elsewhere. Though it is
not their fundamental purpose, books such as this one tell us of the most
serious of all problems for future ornithologists and birdwatchers — the loss of
the very things we enjoy studying and seeing.

This book should be used by concerned citizens as a tool to convince de-
velopers and legislators alike that something must be done to stem the tide. —
John William Hardy.

A birder’s guide to Florida. — James A, Lane, 1981, L, & P. Press, P.O.
Box 21604, Denver Colorado 80221, 160 pp., 57 maps, $7.00. — Jim Lane’s
guide is useful to visiting birders as well as to Florida’s resident birders. Many
of the areas to which he carefully and accurately guides the reader are places
with which Florida birders are familiar but have difficulty finding. The book is
a tremendous asset to the out-of-state birder unfamiliar with our good birding
areas and is especially useful for finding these locations efficiently. Lane has
almost eliminated the need for a roadmap!

To write this almost flawless guide. Lane spent at least 3 years in Florida
traveling throughout the state and talking with local birders. The accuracy of
his book is due not only to extensive research but also to the fact that he sent
the manuscript to many of the state’s knowledgeable birders and had them
proof-read it — a procedure that too many field guide authors fail to follow!

In addition to information about birds. Lane also includes interesting facts
about the other wildlife, vegetation and the historical significance of the par-
ticular location. Though somewhat less than in his previous guides, he injects
his great sense of humor throughout the book, thereby making it enjoyable to
read even if not really needed as a guide. When reading the book while
traveling a particular route, one has the feeling that the author is accompany-
ing the reader on a personal tour. As his friends and many others who have
actually been on a tour with him know, a trip with Jim Lane is a delightful
experience ! — Lyn Atherton.

FLORIDA BIRDS IN THE PERIODICAL LITERATURE, 1980

All articles were published in 1980 unless otherwise noted. Authors are re-
quested to send reprints of their articles to the Editor for inclusion in this

annual feature.

Atherton, L. Thayer’s Gull, a cover photograph. Birding 12(6), December. —
Shows a first-winter bird photographed in color at Toytown Dump, St.
Petersburg, Pinellas Co.

Barber, D. W., and J. G. Morris. Florida Scrub Jays foraging from feral hogs.
Auk 97 : 202. — On Merritt Island NWR, Brevard Co. ; for ectoparasites.

Baicich, P. a. 1979. Florida, Dry Tortugas. Birding 11: 288 (u.) — A birding-
site supplement.

Boucher, N, Whose eye is on the sparrow? New York Times Magazine, April
13, 1980, pp. 53, 56, 68, 60. — The Dusky Seaside Sparrow.

Bradley, R. A. Vocal and territorial behavior in the White-eyed Vireo. Wilson
Bull. 92: 302-311. — at Gainesville, Alachua Co.

Brown, C. R., and E. J. Bitterbaum. Implications of juvenile harassment in
Purple Martins. Wilson Bull. 92 : 452-457. — As studied in Texas and Gaines-
ville, Alachua Co.

Browning, M, R. 1978. An evaluation of the new species and subspecies pro-
posed in Oberholser’s Bird Life of Texas. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 91: 85-122. —
Comments on the validity of Parus bicolor floridanus (Bangs, 1898) (p. 98)
and Vireo flavifrons stoddardi Sutton, 1951 (pp. 103-106).

Burton, R. M., R. C. Harrison, M, Tripp, and D. Taylor. 1979. The influence
of bird rookeries on nutrient cycling and organic matter production in the
Shark River, Florida Everglades. U.S. For. Serv., Genl. Tech. Rept. WO-12:
73-79.

Campbell, K. E., Jr. A review of the Rancholabrean Avifauna of the Itchuck-
nee River, Florida. Nat, Hist. Mus., Los Ang, Cty., Contrib, Sci. 330: 119-
129, — Describes 56 species from a collection of 1363 fossil bird bones from
this late Pleistocene deposit. Includes first North American record for
Milvago (Falconidae),

Carter, R. M. 1979, Florida, Apalachicola National Forest, Birding 11: 288(a),

— A birding-site supplement.

Carter, R. M. Burrowing Owl (Mayo, Florida). Birding 12: 140(c). — Lafayette
Co, ; A birding-site supplement.

Clark, E. S. 1978. Factors affecting the initial initiation and success of nesting
in an east-central Florida Wood Stork colony. Proc. Colonial Waterbird
Group 2: 178-188. — At Moore Creek, Merritt Island, Brevard Co.

Clark, E. S, 1979. The attentiveness and time budget of a pair of nesting
Wood Storks. Proc. Colonial Waterbird Group 3: 204-215. — see above.

Clark, E. S. Louisiana Heron gleaning dragonflies. Auk 97: 399-400. — At
Merritt Island NWR, Brevard Co.

Crawford, R. L. Wind direction and the species composition of autumn TV
tower kills in northwest Florida. Auk 97 : 892-895. — Compares data from
Tall Timbers Res. Sta., Leon Co., and Bithlo, Orange Co.

Custer, T. W,, R. G. Osborne, and W. F. Stout. Distribution, species abund-
ance, and nesting-site use of Atlantic coast colonies of herons and their
allies. Auk 97: 591-600. — Includes Florida; based on data from colonies
listed in an atlas of Atlantic coast colonies (see Fla. Field. Nat. 8: 65, 1980).

71

72 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 9, No. A, November 1981

Dennis, J. V. 1979. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker Campephilus principalis.
Avicultural Mag. 85: 76-84.— General account of 20th Century attempts to
see this bird as well as details of the author’s successful quest in Cuba
(1948), Florida, Chipola River (1951), and Texas, the Big Thicket (1966).

Duncan, L. R, Atlantic flyway review: Region V. Gulf Breeze, Santa Rosa
County, FL 302-0871. N. Amer. Bird Bander 5: 36. — Summary of banding,
3 August-19 November 1978.

Duncan, L. R. Atlantic flyway review: Region V. Gulf Breeze, Santa Rosa
County, FL 302-0871. N. Amer. Bird Bander 5: 168.— For 1979. Includes a
brief report of the effects of Hurricane Frederick on the fall migration and
report of the verification of Willow and Alder flycatcher specimens collected
on 17 September 1978.

Duncan, C. D., and R. W. Havard. Pelagic birds of the northern Gulf of
Mexico. Amer. Birds 34: 122-132. — -Includes Florida records north of the
26th parallel (Marco Island).

Eckenwalder, J. E. Dispersal of the West Indian cycad Zamia pumila L. Bio-
tropica 12: 79-80.— Mockingbirds, at Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Dade Co.,
were observed feeding on the seeds of several species of cycads including
the native Z. pumila. The birds would obtain seeds from the ground, fly
to a nearby perch, remove the flesh from around the seed, and then drop
the seed undamaged far beyond the limits of physical dispersal agents for
the ground level cones of these plants.

Ellis, T. M. Caiman crocodilusi An established exotic in south Florida. Copeia
1980: 152-154. — The stomach of a large male caiman collected on Home-
stead Air Force Base, Dade Co., contained a cormorant, Phalacrocorax
auritus.

Emlen, j. T. Interactions of migrant and resident land birds in Florida and
Bahama pinelands. Pp. 133-143 in Keast, A., and E. S. Morton, (eds.).
Migrant birds in the Neotropics, Washington, D. C., Smithsonian Inst.
Press.

Erwin, R. M., and J. C. Ogden. 1979. Multiple-factor influences upon flight
rates at wading bird colonies, (Alias: are flight-line counts useful?). Proc*
Conf. Colonial Waterbird Group 3: 225-234. — Bubulcus ibis, Egretta thula,
Florida caerulea, Hydranassa tricolor in Virginia, North Carolina, and
Haulover Canal colony, Brevard Co.

Forrester, D. J. Hematozoa and mallophaga from the White Ibis, Eudocimus
albus L., in Florida. J. Parasitol. 66: 58.

Forrester, D. J., J. K. Nayar, and G. W. Foster. Culex nigripalpus: A
natural vector of Wild Turkey malaria {Plasmodium hermani) in Florida.
J. Wild. Dis. 16: 391-394. — Meleagris gallopavo.

Forrester, D. J., et al. An epizootic of avian botulism in a phosphate mine
settling pond in northern Florida, J, Wild. Dis. 16: 323-327. — Anas clypeata,
Aix sponsa, Gallinula chloropus, Fulica americana.

Fradkin, a. Bird remains from two south Florida prehistoric sites. Fla. Sci.
43: 111-115. — Fort Center, Glades Co., and Boca Weir, Palm Beach Co, A
Great Auk ulna identified from Boca Weir midden deposit dated A.D. 800-
1200.

Gaddis, P. Mixed flocks, accipiters, and antipredator behavior. Condor 82:

. 348-349. — At San Felasco Hammock State Preserve, Alachua Co.

Greiner, E. C., and D, J. Forrester. Haemoproteus meleagridis Levin 1961:

Periodicals Literature 1 980

73

Redescription and developmental morphology of the gametocytes in Turkeys.
J. ParasitoL 66: 652"658.-“Florida and Georgia.

Holder, G. L., M, K. Johnson, and J. L. Baker, Cattle grazing and manage-
ment of Dusky Seaside Sparrow habitat. Wild. Soc, Bull, 8 : 105-109.

Hon, L. T., D. J. Forrester, and L. E, Williams, Jr. 1978. Helminth acquisi-
tion by wild Turkeys {Meleagris gallopavo osceola) in Florida. Proc, Hel-
minthol. Soc. Wash, 45: 211-218.— From birds collected in Glades Co.

Kramer, N, L. Vulture vibes. N. Amer, Bird Bander 5: 22"23.~Reports
Pennsylvania (Oct. 1979) sightings of 3 Turkey Vultures wing-tagged in
Florida by Shiela Gaby of Univ, of Miami.

Kushlan, j. A, 1979. Prey choice by tactile-feeding wading birds. Proc.
Colonial Waterbird Group 3: 133-142.- — White Ibis and Wood Storks in
southern Florida.

Laerm, j., B. j. Freeman, L, J. Vitt, J. M, Meyers, and L. Logan. Vertebrates
of the Okefenokee Swamp, Brimleyana 4: 47-73.— Includes status and
habitat for 232 bird species recorded from the Georgia and Florida portions
of the swamp, and lists 33 Georgia Coastal Plain breeding birds that are
absent or unknown as breeders in the swamp.

Lewis, R. R,, III, C. S. Lewis, W. K. Fehring, and J, A. Rodgers, Jr. 1979.
Coastal habitat mitigation in Tampa Bay, Florida, U. S, For, Serv,, GenL
Tech. Rept, RM-65: 136-140.— Brief discussion of larids nesting on a new
extension of Sunken Island Natl. Aud. Refuge at Alafia River,

McRae, W, A., J. L, Landers, J. L. Buckner, and R. C. Simson, Importance
of habitat diversity in Bobwhite management, Proc. Annu, Conf, Southeast
Assoc, Fish Wild, Agencies 33: 127-135,— In SW Georgia and at Tall
Timbers Res, Sta., Leon Co.

Merritt, P, G. Group foraging by Mockingbirds in a Florida strangler fig. Auk
97 : 869-872.— On the Univ, Miami Campus, Coral Gables, Dade Co,

Montalbano, F,, III, S. Hardin, and W, M. Hetrick, Utilization of hydrilla
by ducks and coots in central Florida. Proc. Annu. Conf, SE Assoc. Wild.
Agencies 33 : 36-42.— Analysis of gut contents for coots and 7 spp, of ducks
at a phosphate settling pond in Polk Co., and Lake Conway, Orange Co,

Nesbitt, S. A., B. A, Harris, S. A, Fenelon, and D. M, King, Reproduction
of Brown Pelicans in captivity. Wild, Soc, Bull. 8: 259-262,

Nichols, J. D., G. L, Hensler, and P. W. Sykes, Jr. Demography of the Ever-
glade Kite: Implications for population management, EcoL Modelling 9:
215-232,

Patterson, G. A., W. B. Robertson, Jr., D. E. Minsky. Breeding bird survey.
No. 65. Slash pine-cypress mosaic, Amer. Birds. 34: 61-62.— Big Cypress
Natl. Preserve, Collier Co.

Poole, A. 1978, Brood size reduction in Long Island Sound and Florida Bay
Ospreys (abstract), Proc. Colonial Waterbird Group 2: 137.

Poole, A. 1978. Brood reduction in Long Island Sound and Florida Bay Ospreys.
Bird-Banding 50 : 263-264,

Pruett-Jones, S. G., M. A. Pruett- Jones, and R. L. Knight. The White-tailed
Kite in North America and Middle America: Current status and recent
population changes. Amer, Birds 34 : 682-688.— Includes summary of Florida
records since 1972,

Rand, A. C. Factors responsible for the successful establishment of exotic
avian species in southeastern Florida. Proc. Vertebr. Pest Conf, 9 : 49-52.

74 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoZ. 9, No. U, November 1981

Robertson, W. B., Jr., and D. L. Stoneburner. 1979. Radio-tracking Sooty
Terns {Sterna fuscata) (abstract). Proc. Colonial Waterbird Group 3;
260. — At Dry Tortugas. Adults, trapped on eggs, usually foraged within
50 km of the colony, but in 1977 with high winds and rough seas, some
ranged as far as 130 km from the colony.

Rodgers, J. A., Jr., and S. A. Nesbitt. 1979. Feeding energetics of herons and
ibises at breeding colonies. Proc. Colonial Waterbird Group 3: 128-133. —
Most information is from Sunken Island, Alafia Banks, Hillsborough Co.

Rodgers, J. A., Jr. Breeding ecology of the Little Blue Heron on the west
coast of Florida. Condor 82: 164-169. — Alafia Banks, Hillsborough Co.

Rodgers, J. A., Jr. Little Blue Heron breeding behavior. Auk 97 : 371-384.

Rosahn, j. W. Bobwhite population— a 10-year study. Amer. Birds 34: 695-
697. — Included Florida CBC data.

SCHREIBER, E. A., AND R. W. ScHREiBER, Breeding biology of Laughing Gulls
in Florida. Part II. Nesting parameters. J. Field Ornithol. 51: 340-356. —
Boca Ciega Bay, Pinellas Co.

Skowron, C., and M. Kern. The insulation in nests of selected North American
song birds. Auk 97 : 816-824. — The Loggerhead Shrike nests were from
Tampa, Hillsborough Co.

• Sykes, P. W., Jr. The eightieth Audubon Christmas Bird count. North Caro-
lina, Georgia, Florida. Amer. Birds. 34 : 338-341. — The highlights of Florida
CBC for 1979-80 with 2 tables: One a summary of diurnal raptors reported
in the southern Atlantic coastal states and the other total numbers of
Parulidae (23 spp.) reported in Florida.

SoucY, Leonard J., Jr. Three long distance recoveries of banded New Jersey
Barn Owls. N. Amer. Bird Bander. 3: 97.— Two Barn Owls, banded as
nestlings were found dead in Sanibel (10 April 1977, age 22 months) and
Merritt Island (26 March 1977, age 11 months).

Stewart, P. A. Population trends of Barns Owls in North America. Amer.
Birds 34: 698-700. — Compares Christmas Bird Count data from early
1950s with mid-1970s including Florida.

Walkinshaw, L. H. Some records of birds banded in Michigan. Jack-Pine
Warbler 58: 131. — -A Turkey Vulture banded in Michigan, AHY, on 20
September 1931 recovered in Plant City, Hillsborough Co., on 23 December
1932. A nestling Mourning Dove banded in Michigan on 9 June 1970 was
shot at Mayo on 18 November 1970.

Wallace, M. P., P. G. Parker, and S. A. Temple. An evaluation of patagial
markers for cathartid vultures. J. Field Ornithol. 51: 309-314. — Technique
perfected on birds from Highlands Co., at Archbold Biological Station.

WiHLER, M. 1979. Key West Quail-Dove Geotrygon chrysia on Snake Bight
Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida. Continental Birdlife 1: 82. — ^A
good color photograph taken 5 May 1979.

Wilcox, J. R. 1979. Florida Power and Light Company and endangered
species: examples of coexistence. U.S. Forest Serv., Genl. Tech. Rept. RM-
65: 451-458. — Brief history of FPL’s efforts to preserve a nearby Bald
Eagle’s nest and construct a reservoir near Lake Okeechobee.

Wilson, J. L., and L. Thompson. Winter bird population study. No. 48. Barrier
beach and salt-marsh salt-water estuary. Amer. Birds 34: 36-37. — Duval
Co., mouth of St. John’s River, 1 mi. N of Mayport Naval Base.

75

NOTES AND NEWS

Acknowledgement. — The following 32 people refereed manuscripts received
or published in the FFN during 1981, and I am grateful for their help. In-
dividuals who have refereed more than one manuscript are indicated by an
asterisk. G. T. Bancroft, C. W. Biggs*, E. J. Bitterbaum*, B. J. Black, D. C,
Bryant, J. A. Cox, R. L. Crawford*, L. Duncan, R. L. Duncan, R. Drewien, D.
Forrester, D. W. Freeman, C. L. Geanangel, J. W. Hardy, J. H. Hintermister,
J. A. Jackson, F. C. James, H. W. Kale*, L. Kilham*, J. A, Kushlan*, J. N.
Layne, J. C. Lewis, M. V. McDonald, O. T. Owre, R, T. Paul, H. D. Pratt,
R. W. Schreiber*, H. M, Stevenson*, P. W. Sykes*, J. A. Wiley, L. E. Williams*,
G. E. Woolfenden*.— F.E.L.

Summary of the 1981 spring meeting. — In Tallahassee, the following
officers and directors were elected for 1981-1983 at the FOS annual meeting,
24-26 April: Theodore H. Below, President; Glen E. Woolfenden, Vice-Presi-
dent; Caroline H. Coleman, Treasurer; Barbara C. Kittleson, Secretary; Oron
L. Bass, Helen G, Cruickshank, Marion R. Henriquez, directors. Helen and Bill
Dowling were appointed co-chairmen of the membership committee. Fred
Lohrer resigned as editor of the FFN effective at the end of vol. 9 ; the editorial
advisory board is seeking a replacement. Lohrer has been appointed assistant
to the Treasurer to handle sale of back issues of the FFN and Newsletter,
Spec. PiibL, and the new FOS arm patch. The patches will sell for $4.00. The
$350 collected from the membership at the 1980 FOS spring meeting as a
donation to the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Comm, for the Dusky
Seaside Sparrow research project was returned because the project was
terminated and has been placed in the newly-created Ornithological Research
Fund.

The Saturday afternoon paper session at FSU, organized by Frances C.
James, included “Bald Eagle breeding behavior — a comparison with other
North American raptors” by Melinda Welton, “Raptor mitigation — an alterna-
tive to preservation” by Charles M. Courtney and James Hatcher, “Bird
populations in cypress domes and pineland” by Larry D. Harris, “Scrubfowl
of the volcanos” by David Bishop, and “Feeding by Black Skimmers wintering
on the Florida Gulf coast” by Barbara Black. The skin quiz, organized by Gary
R. Graves and Henry M. Stevenson was won by John Hintermister. A delightful
evening at Tall Timbers Research Station consisted of the traditional barbe-
cue, a display of outstanding bird photographs by FOS Honorary Member
Samuel A. Grimes, and a talk about the TTRS Research Program by Director,
D, Bruce Means.

Robert L. Crawford, Robin Carter, and W. Wilson Baker ably coordinated
the efforts of TTRS and the Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State
University, in hosting this joint meeting of the Alabama, Florida and Georgia
ornithological societies. In addition to being an unusually large and complicated
meeting, the arrangements were made more difficult because the building
originally chosen as a meeting place burned down. — Barbara C. Kittleson,
Secretary.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 9, No. 4 November 1981 Pages 51-75

CONTENTS

NESTING, DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG, AND
PARENTAL CARE OF A PAIR OF FLORIDA
SANDHILL CRANES James N. Layne 51

GENERAL NOTES

Observations on wing molt of Florida Sandhill Cranes

James N. Layne 60

Brown Pelican found dead with adult

Double-crested Cormorant in pouch Thomas L. Francis 62

First Florida record of the Black-tailed Godwit

Howard P, Langridge and Tadziu Trotsky 63

Everglade Kite predation on a soft-shelled turtle

Marc C. Woodin and Crystal D. Woodin 64

The 1980 Dusky Seaside Sparrow survey

Michael F. Delany, Willard P. Leenhouts,

Beau Sauselein, and Herbert W. Kale, II 64

First sight record of Vaux’s Swift in Florida Gary R. Graves 67

BOOK REVIEWS 69

FLORIDA BIRDS IN THE PERIODICAL

LITERATURE, 1980 71

SUMMARY OF THE 1981

SPRING MEETING Barbara C. Kittleson 75

ALSO RECEIVED 59, 68

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake
Placid, Florida 33852.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new informa-
tion on the biology of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS

See VoL 9, No. 1, or an earlier issue.

w:s

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VOL. 10 FEBRUARY 1982

NO. 1

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972

Officers for 1981-1983

President: Theodore H. Below, 3697 North Ed., Naples, Florida 33942.

Vice-President: Glen E, Woolfenden, Dept, of Biology, University of South
Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida
33803.

Treasurer: Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605.

Assistant Treasurer: John H. Hintermister, Et. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville,
Florida 32601,

Assistant Treasurer: Patricia J. Lanzillotti, 2135 NW 28th Street, Gaines-
ville, Florida 32605.

Editor of Florida Field Naturalist: Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological
Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Editor of Ornithological Newsletter: Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon
Society, 35-lst Court SW, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

FOS Archives and Editor of Special Publications: John William Hardy, The
Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Directors 1980-1982

Frances C, James, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University,
Tallahassee, Florida 32306.

Lenore McCullagh, 2735 Holly Point Road, E. Orange Park, Florida 32073,

Marsha S. Winegarner, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Directors 1981-1983

Oron L. Bass, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

William D. Courser, 885 N, Pinehurst, Spring Hill, Florida 33512.

Helen G. Cruickshank, 1925 S. Indian River Dr., Rockledge, Florida 32955,

Marion R. Henriquez, 1510 Dewey Dr., Hollywood, Florida 33020.

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979, Helen G. Cruickshank 1980.

All persons interested in Floridans natural history, particularly its
abundant bird life, are invited to join the Florida Ornothological Society by
writing the Treasurer. Annual membership dues are $10 for individual
members (overseas $13), $15 for a family membership, $5 for students, and
$25 for contributing members. All members receive the Florida Field Naturalist
and the Newsletter, Subscription price for institutions and non-members is $10
per year. Back issues ($3.00 per issue) available, prepaid, from the Assistant
to the Treasurer, Fred E, Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2 Box 180^
Lake Placid, FL 33852.

Manuscripts submitted for publication and books intended for review
should be sent to the Editor (see inside back cover). Notice of change of
address, claims for undelivered or defective copies of this journal and requests
for information about advertising and subscriptions should be sent to the
Treasurer, Carolina H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24-th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605. The permanent address of the Florida Ornithological Society is: De-
partment of Ornithology, Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gaines-
ville, Florida 32611.

Published quarterly (February, May, August, and November) by the
Florida Ornithological Society, Gainesville, Florida 32605. Printed by E. 0.
Painter Printing Co., P.O. Box 877, DeLeon Springs, Florida 32028.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 10, No. 1 February 1982 Pages 1-24

GREATER SANDHILL CRANES WINTERING
IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

Lawrence H. Walkinshaw

During the 1800s when the pioneers settled the north-central
United States, wild game yielded much of the necessary meat for
many families. This hunting pressure and the drainage of many
small and some larger marshes (both good nesting habitats) for
agriculture probably accounted for the disappearance of the Greater
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis tahida) as a breeding species east
of the Rocky Mountains except for a few surviving pairs in
northern Minnesota, central Wisconsin, and the eastern portion of
the Upper Peninsula and the south-central part of the Lower
Peninsula on Michigan (Walkinshaw 1949). Although the A.O.U.
Check-list (1957) did not include Florida in the winter range of the
Greater Sandhill (where the presence of a resident population,
G. c. pratensis, may have caused some confusion) , there were clues
that some Greater Sandhills probably wintered in Florida. In late
October 1942, a flock of 50 Sandhill Cranes fed for several days
near Knoxville, Tennessee. The land owner shot one of these cranes
(Ijams 1942, spec. Great Smoky Mtn. Natl. Park collection) and
it is referrable to tahida (Walkinshaw 1949) . With a definite in-
crease in the population of tahida, other reports came each spring
and fall from Georgia (Walkinshaw 1953) and elsewhere east of
the Mississippi River (Walkinshaw 1960). The evidence indicated
that tahida migrated to Florida and southeastern Georgia along a
line drawn between northeastern Indiana and Gainesville, Florida.
Williams and Phelps (1972) were the first to color-mark wintering
cranes in Florida. These marked birds were found in migration in
Georgia, eastern Tennessee and Kentucky, and Indiana and during
the nesting season in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and one in
southern Manitoba (Williams and Phelps 1972, Nesbitt 1975,

1 Fla. Field Nat. 10(1) : 1-8, 1982.

2

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST •FoL 10, No. 1, February 1982

Nesbitt and Williams 1979) . More recent studies of nesting tabida
fitted with color markers and/or radio transmitters provide more
detailed information on the duration of migration and the location
of wintering areas (Melvin 1977, Toepfer and Crete 1978). I
present here my records of locations for wintering Greater Sandhill
Cranes and my observations of their migration to establish a better
understanding of their distribution in Florida.

Methods

In central Florida (Glades, Highlands, Indian River, Okeechobee, Osceola,
Polk CO.), I studied Sandhill Cranes in 1938, 1945, 1960, and 1966-81 from
October to late April (Walkinshaw 1976). During this time many ranchers
have generously allowed me free access to their land. Often I remained over-
night on a ranch so that I could be afield at daybreak. Many observations
were made from vehicles, and twice I have used a helicopter (one trip donated
by Florida Audubon Soc.), But I have also tramped many miles annually
searching for crane nests which were my primary objective.

Results

Wintering Areas

Greater Sandhill Cranes arrive in Florida in flocks or small
groups during late October or November. At this time pratensis
usually occurs in pairs or small family groups of 3 or 4, although
they may occur in flocks in summer or early fall. Nesting by
pratensis can begin as early as January, with the peak of egg-laying
in central Florida occurring from 15 February-11 March (Walkin-
shaw 1976) . Thus, all large flocks of cranes I saw in Florida during
October to April were assumed to be tabida.

The records listed below include all of my sightings, and those
of my contacts and field companions, of presumed tabida flocks in
central Florida, including color-marked birds. Almost all of these
are unpublished records. Fig. 1 shows these localities in relation to
the other published localities of wintering concentrations of tabida.

Abbreviations of observers' names are as follows; WCB-W. Clay Babcock,
LB-LeRoy Bass, GB-George Bent, CB-Cecille Bruner, DB-Dan Bruner, WAD-
William A. Dyer, CLG-Charles L. Geanangel, WPH~W, Paul Hayman, RH-
Ronald Hoffman, EJ-Earle Johnson, SM-Scott Melvin, MP-Miles Peelle, HM-
Harold Moore, MR-Mildred Rulison, RR-Robert Rulison, DS-Don Stone, LHW-
Lawrence H. Walkinshaw, MW-Mark Weldon.

DESOTO COUNTY.— ARCADIA-12 mi SE, Hall Ranch. 20 March 1971, 65

cranes.

HIGHLANDS COUNTY.— AVON PARK-4.5 mi NE, SR 64, Dressel
Dairy Farm, R 29E, T32S, Sec. 3&4, During 12-30 January 1979, 19-23 cranes
fed in pastures with dairy cattle and in harvested sorghum field (LHW, MR).

WALKINSHAW^TFm^enns^ Sandhill Cranes

3

Fig. 1. Recent wintering areas in Florida for Greater Sandhill Cranes.
Symbols as follows: circles, winter 1976-1977 (Melvin 1977); squares, winter
1977-1978 (Toepfer and Crete 1978), triangles, this study.

4

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 1, February 1982

These cranes remained until 1 March 1979 (MR). Six cranes first appeared
on 18 October 1979 and their numbers increased to 222 by 12 Janu-
ary 1980. A small remnant was seen on 6 March 1980 (MR and RR). In
August and September 1980, prior to the arrival of tabida, 40-50 cranes were
seen here (CLG). In mid- January 1981, 400 cranes were reported. — -LAKE
ISTOKPOGA-E and SE, Lykes Brothers Wild Island Ranch and neighboring
ranches, R30-31E, T36-37S. On 27 March 1960, I saw 172 cranes in Sec. 15&16.
In Sec. 31 or nearby, crane numbers were as follows: winter of 1969-70, 15 No-
vember-57, 9 February-247, 9 March-46, 20 March-30, 25 March-7; winter of
1970-71, 7 December-124, 4 January-140; and on 21 January 1973-7. During

1969- 73, the cranes roosted in a shallow pond (Type 4, Shaw and Fredine
1956) in Sec 31 and fiew one mi or less to feed in pastures. In 1973 the
pastures were converted to vegetable fields and exploding devices were used
to scare the birds away. — LAKE ISTOKOPOGA-5.5 mi S, Parker Island,
R30E, T37S, Sec. 26. On 21 February 1976, a flock of 142 cranes fed in a
pasture, formerly a bay-tree swamp, where a pair of tabida were nesting
close to SR 29 in a flooded portion of the pasture.

OSCEOLA COUNTY.— KENANSVILLE-3 mi S, Hayman Ranch. In 1974, a
flock of 25 cranes first appeared 26-27 October and remained until 1 March

1975. On 1 March 1976 a flock of 35 cranes was still present and at 1720-1723
1 1 watched them fly from the sod fields where they fed during the day, E
across US 441 to a large pond (Type 4, Shaw and Fredine 1956) on the
Crosby Ranch. The flock disappeared 6 days later (WPH). On 26 December

1976, 125 cranes fed in sod fields (LHW, SM). Three were banded; one with
a white neck-collar was banded in the fall of 1973 at the Necedah Natl. Wild.
Refuge, Juneau County, Wisconsin (Melvin 1977). This flock diminished over
the years; only 14 cranes were found during the 1979-80 winter and none on
3 November 1980. — KENANSVILLE-3-6 mi SW, LeRoy Bass Ranch. During
the winters of 1970-71 and 1971-72, flocks of cranes were on the NW portion
of the ranch (LB). I observed cranes in pastures as follows: 17 November
1970, 41; 26 February-7 March 1972, 25-32; 3 January-31 March 1974, 21-60;
26-27 October 1974, just N of here, 25 fed in newly-planted sod fields (WPH).
The March dates in 1972 and 1974 represent the last sightings for that winter
and likely indicate spring departure dates. — KISSIMMEE-1 mi E, Judge Dairy
Farm, R29E, T25S, Sec. 23. During the 1978-79 winter, a flock of cranes fed
daily where cattle were fed (MW, CB, DB). I counted 38 cranes on 27 Febru-
ary 1978. These cranes were last seen in early March and cranes first arrived
the following fall in late September (CB). On 22 January 1979 35 cranes
fed near here in a harvested sorghum field (LHW). On 3 November 1980, 9
cranes fed in a pasture (LHW). In February 1978, one color-banded crane
I found here was banded as a nestling in Waterloo Township, Jackson County,
'Michigan, on 13 June 1973 by Ronald Hoffman and seen in Michigan during
the summers of 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980 (RH).— ST. CLOUD. During
the winter of 1979-80, a large flock (133) of cranes located east of the town
was reported to me.

POLK COUNTY.— LAKE WALES AIRPORT, vicinity of, W. R. Crews
Ranch, R27E, T30S, Sec. 4,5,8,9. I observed cranes as follows: 27 December

1970- 31, 2 January 1971-13, 25 February 1972-18, 16 December 1972-11, 6
February 1973-18, 20 February 1973-16. Flocks at this locality were gone in
April. A little west of here (R26E, T30S, Sec. 2,3,5), there were 25 cranes on

WALKINSHAW* Sandhill Cranes

5

20-30 October 1979 (LHW, WCB).— -LAKE WALES-20 mi SE, River Ranch
Acres, R31E, T31S, Sec. 5-8. I observed cranes feeding on closely-cropped
pastures as follows; 19 February 1966-42, 20 November 1966-36, 27 March
1967-24, 9 November 1969-34, 10 March 1970-15, 17 November 1970-74, 19
February 1971-10, 26 January 1978-14.— LAKE WALES-10 mi E, Lake
Kissimmee State Park (LKSP), R29E, T29S, Sec. 10-14. Cranes were observed
as follows: wintering flocks last seen in early March 1978, 29 December
1979-10, mid-January 1980-45 (DS), 16 February 1980-147, wintering flocks
last seen about 6 March 1980, 1 November 1980-10 (LKSP personnel), 3 No-
vember 1980-81 (LHW, EJ). During February-March 1980 there were two
color-banded birds present. One with a green wing-streamer (no. 124) was
banded at Comstock, Wisconsis, on 21 August 1977 by Scott Melvin (Walkin-
shaw 1980). These birds roosted in a marsh in LKSP.

Spring Migration

In central Florida during late winter, flocks of high-flying
cranes headed in a northerly direction were often located by the
sound of their trumpeting calls (WCB, GB, WAD, MP, LHW). In-
formation on these flocks is listed below.

OSCEOLA COUNTY.—ST. CLOUD-4.5 mi ESE, over Alligator Lake. On
15 March 1967 at 1000, 6 cranes were flying in a flock just W of N at 366 m.
The day was clear with moderate S winds.

POLK COUNTY. — LAKE WALES-5 mi NE, near Lake Pierce at Timberlane,
On 7 March 1975 at 1115 a flock of 38 cranes in V-formation was seen flying
NNW at 610 m. The day was clear with moderate S winds and temperature
18° C, On 1 March 1979 at 1300, 25 cranes were flying N so high they were
visible only with binoculars. The day was clear with few cumulus clouds,
moderate S winds and temperature 24.4 °C. On 28 February 1981 on 1205 (also
see below Bok Tower), two flocks of about 25-30 each in V-formation were
headed N at 475 m. On 4 March 1981 at 1200 a northward bound flock was
heard passing over. — LAKE WALES-3 mi SE, Highlands Park. On 6 March
1980 at 1105, 35 cranes flew N in V-formation at 150 m. The day was clear
with strong SSE winds and temperature 25° C. — LAKE WALES-1.5 mi N,
over Bok Tower. On 1 March 1979 at 1200, a flock of 10 cranes flew N high
overhead. On 28 February 1981 at 1200 3 flocks of 75-80 each flew N in V-
formation.

Other wintering flocks were last seen in early March in Osceola
County at Hayman Ranch-197Q and Judge Dairy Farm-1978, and in
Polk County, Lake Kissimmee State Parh-19%9. See above, ‘‘Winter-
ing Areas,'' for details.

Fall Migration

I have only one record of fall migration in central Florida, as
follows :

POLK county. — LAKE WALES-6 mi NE, Timberlane, R28E, T29S, Sec. 8,

On ,28 November 1980, a cloudy, mild day, 3 flocks of cranes flew overhead at an

0 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 1, February 1982

altitude of 200-250 m going south at 1100-1130. Two flocks of 17 and 20 birds
were in V-formation, while a small flock of 5 was in irregular formation
(LHW, HM).

Interactions Between Greater and Florida Sandhill Cranes

When tahida is in Florida, pratensis is usually preparing to nest
or is/ nesting, and therefore on territory. Normally a pair of
pratensis range over an area of about 2 square miles which includes
their nesting marsh. Occasionally more than one pair of pratensis
will use a field, and flocks of tahida may feed in the same field with
pratensis. However, nesting pratensis will drive out any other
cranes (tahida or pratensis) that land in their nest-marsh.

Roosting and Feeding Areas

In central Florida the preferred nighttime roost site of tahida
is a shallow marsh (Type 3 or 4, Shaw and Fredine 1956) . They
feed from early morning to dusk arriving in small groups around
dawn and returning occasionally to the roost site for a drink. Most
of their feeding is on open, closely cropped pastures or sod fields.
Some flocks feed in fields among cattle that are given supplementary
food (Kissimmee flock 1978-80, Lake Kissimmee State Park 1980,
Avon Park flock 1978-80) . Others feed on row-crop (corn, sorghum)
fields after harvest. The only time tahida may do a great deal of
damage to agriculture is when they feed in produce .fields or on
row-crop fields just after sowing. Although I have not heard any
reports of damage by tahida, they evidently did create a problem
in Highlands County at Lake Istokpoga in 1973 where noise-makers
were used to frighten feeding flocks of cranes.

In central Florida, tahida flocks usually shift areas of useage
every few years. Whether this is due to changes in food distribution
or in water levels in marshes, or disturbance by humans, I do not
know, but it probably has survival value for cranes.

Discussion

The population of Greater Sandhill Cranes in eastern North
America has increased tremendously during the past 50 years.
Beneficial factors on the nesting range including cessation of hunt-
ing and protection of nesting marshes, have undoubtedly con-
tributed to this increase. But in Florida, little is known of how
land-use changes may have affected crane populations. When
ranches were fenced and the open range abandoned after the 1949

WALKINSHAW^PTmterm^^ Sandhill Cranes

7

Florida fence law finally closed the open range (Ackerman 1976) ,
access for hunters became more difficult and this no doubt was
beneficial to both tabida and pratensis. Also, during the past 25
years, many areas that were not prime crane habitat (pine fiat-
woods, shrubby marshes, swamps) were either cleared or drained
for pastures, sod farms, or row crops. Use of fertilizers and irriga-
tion has also increased. All this has opened up new feeding areas
for cranes. The drainage, alas, has eliminated nesting areas for
pratensis. The recent establishment of state parks and refuges
in parts of Florida where tabida winters is bound to aid both popu-
lations of cranes so long as suitable crane habitat remains in these
protected areas.

Recent records (Fig. 1) indicate three major areas in Florida
important for wintering Greater Sandhill Cranes. One is in north-
ern Florida in Alachua, Marion, Putnam, and northern Lake
counties. The other two are central Florida in the Kissimmee River
valley (Highlands, Osceola, and Polk co.) and in the upper St. Johns
River valley (Brevard, Indian River co.) . Surprisingly, there are
no records from Okeechobee County in the Kissimmee River valley
and only one from the DeSoto Prairie (Charlotte, DeSoto, Glades,
western Highlands co.) where conditions seem favorable for
wintering cranes and where pratensis is abundant.

Although annual censuses at migration staging areas in north-
western Indiana estimate the population of tabida at 15-20,000
(Lovvorn 1979), recent winter census efforts in Florida have only
found slightly less than 5,000 of these birds (Melvin 1977, Toepfer
and Crete 1978) . We have learned a great deal about tabida in the
last 10 years, but there is still much more to learn about how and
where they spend their winters in Florida.

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank the many landowners and others who have helped me in
making these studies for without their aid I would never have been able to
complete what I have done. The following have let me roam over their ranches
or property: Alto Adams, Jr., Archbold Biological Station, LeRoy Bass, W. R.
Crews, Sr., W. R. Crews, Jr., Dressel Dairy Farm, Pete Fite, Florida Game
and Fresh Water Fish Commission at Fisheating Creek, Florida Department
of Natural Resources at Lake Kissimmee State Park and Paynes Prairie,
Louis Hall, Harris Ranch (Mr. Stewart, manager), W. Paul Hayman, Barney
Keen, Paul Keen, Roy Keen, Sam Keen, Lykes Brothers Wild Island Ranch,
Latt Maxcy, Edward Rohde, River Ranch Acres, and Pat Wilson. I wish to
thank others who aided me including Florida Audubon Society, James N.
Layne, Fred E. Lohrer, Major Realty Company (who flew us by helicopter
for 3 hours one day), Stephen A, Nesbitt, Mark Weldon, and Lovett E.

8

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^yoL iO, No. 1, February 1982

Williams, Jr. I am grateful to Layne and Nesbitt for their helpful comments

on an earlier draft of this manuscript.

Literature Cited

Ackerman, J. A., Jr. 1976. Florida cowman, A history of Florida cattle
raising. Kissimmee, Florida, Fla. Cattleman^s Assoc.

American Ornithologists’ Union. 1957. Checkdist of North American birds.
Baltimore, Lord Baltimore Press, Inc.

Ijams, H. P. 1942. Sandhill Cranes near Knoxville. Migrant 13: 56.

Lovvorn, J. 1979. Census of eastern Greater Sandhill Cranes. The Unison
Call 2(2) : 10-15.

Melvin, S. M. 1977. Greater Sandhill Cranes wintering in Florida and
Georgia. Fla. Field Nat. 5: 8-11.

Nesbitt, S. A. 1975. Spring migration of Sandhill Cranes from Florida.
Wilson Bull. 87: 424-426.

Nesbitt, S. A., and L. E. Williams, Jr. 1979. Summer range and migration
routes of Florida wintering Greater Sandhill Cranes. Wilson Bull. 91: 137-
141.

Shaw, S. P., and C. G. Fredine. 1956. Wetlands of the United States. U.S.
Fish Wild. Serv. Circ. 39: 1-67.

Toepfer, j. E., and R. a. Crete, 1978. Migration of radio-tagged Greater
Sandhill Cranes from Minnesota and Wisconsin. Proc. 1978 Crane Work-
shop, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins: 159-173.

Walkinshaw, L. H. 1949. The Sandhill Cranes. Cranbrook Inst. Sci. Bull. 29.

Walkinshaw, L. H. 1953. The Greater Sandhill Crane in Georgia. Oriole
18: 13-15.

Walkinshaw, L. H. 1960. The migration of the Sandhill Crane east of the
Mississippi River. Wilson Bull. 72: 358-384.

Walkinshaw, L. H. 1976. The Sandhill Crane on and near the Kissimmee
Prairie, Florida. Proc. Int. Crane Workshop, Baraboo, Wisconsin 1: 1-18.

Walkinshaw, L. H. 1980. Florida report. The Unison Call 3(1) : 5.

Williams, L. E., Jr., and R. W. Phillips. 1972. North Florida Sandhill Crane
populations. Auk 89: 541-548.

5230 Timherlane Road, Lake Wales, Florida 33853.

ESSENTIAL HABITAT OF THE BROWN PELICAN
IN FLORIDA

Ralph W. Schreiber and Elizabeth Anne Schreiber

Endangered species’ ''Critical Habitat” has been defined as
"The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the
species ... on which are found those physical or biological features
. . . essential to the conservation of the species . . .” (The En-
dangered Species Act Amendments of 1978). The Recovery Team
for the Eastern Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis)
(1980) chose not to so designate any habitat area other than
nesting colonies. As part of an 8-year study (Schreiber 1980) we
gathered data on the Brown Pelican’s use of various islands and
areas. These data allow us to identify aspects of the total habitat
that are essential to the survival of the Brown Pelican in Florida.

Methods

Between 1971 and 1976 we made essentially weekly surveys of Boca Ciega
Bay (Fig. 1), Pinellas County, Florida west coast. Using plumage classifica-
tions determined as part of this study (Schreiber and Schreiber, in prep.) we
determined the age of all pelicans seen and recorded their location (Schreiber
and Schreiber, in press).

Results and Discussion

Habitat Use by the Total Population

Seasonal variation occurs in the use of the various islands by
the pelican population in Boca Ciega Bay (Table 1, Fig. 2). The
majority of birds used Tarpon (including Whale) Key, especially
during the nesting season, when adults spent all their non-foraging
time on the island. Adults leave nestlings alone at the nest after
they are 3-5 weeks old and spend their time away from the actual
nesting areas but on the same island. All birds abandoned the
actual nesting locations on the island after nestlings fledged and
spent time roosting (night) and loafing (day) in other areas of the
island. Annual differences in timing of nesting (Schreiber 1980)
are apparent (Table 1). In 1972, 1975, and 1976, nesting on
Tarpon Key began earlier (in January-February) than in 1969-
1971, and 1973-1974 (in March).

Nearly all Brown Pelicans used specific sites but use of these
sites varied seasonally. Pelicans used Bird Key, a small (0.4 hectare)
island, for roosting and loafing in all months, but primarily in fall

9 Fla. Field Nat. 10(1) : 9-17, 1982.

10 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No, 1, February 1982

Fig. 1. Boca Ciega Bay, Pinellas County, Florida west coast, study region
for the Brown Pelican population 1969-1976.

and winter, with few present during the height of the nesting
season. In 1973 and 1975, two pairs nested on this island as well.

A few pelicans used Indian Key, a larger (10 h) island
with a sand spit on the west tip that is exposed at low tides, from
late summer through early winter. After young fledged, adults first
were seen away from the nesting colony on Cow and Calf keys, tiny
(50 m^) mangrove islets about 500 m north of Tarpon Key.

Sand bars exposed to the Gulf of Mexico were the most im-
portant non-nesting habitat within this region. They were used for
roosting and loafing throughout the year, but especially during
the non-nesting season, when up to 61% of the area population used
them.

SCHREIBER AND SCHREIBER«Rroww Pelican habitat

11

Feeding areas are undoubtedly ‘‘critical habitat'’ but during
this study we were unable to obtain good data on where the large
pelican population fed. Little natural feeding occurred within our
whole study area. Few birds were seen feeding and then generally
not more than 5-10 widely scattered individuals. We have observed
large feeding flocks of pelicans (50-100 birds) on fewer than 15
occasions over 8 years, usually in the channel of Buncos Pass south
of Tarpon Key or in the Pass-a-grille Channel. Humans feed
pelicans at the marinas of the region. Hubbard's Pier on Pass-a-
grille and O'Neills Marina on U. S. Highway 19 were used through-
out the year by pelicans, somewhat more in the fall through early
spring (Herbert and Schreiber 1975). The location of feeding
areas by the pelicans remains to be determined. Relevant data will
only be obtained through use of radio transmitters.

Habitat Use by Age Class

Adults and subadults.— Adults concentrated on Tarpon Key
from February through September, and on sand bars and non-
colony mangrove islands in October-December. Subadults showed
a similar pattern but concentrated less on Tarpon Key in the spring
and more on the sand bars in the fall and winter than did adults.
Subadults moved onto Tarpon Key later than adults and used the
edges of the nesting areas without flrst spending time on the out-
side edge of the island as adults did. Subadult use of the sand
bars was more consistent throughout the year. More subadults
used the marinas than adults and their large increase in use in
June is unexplained.

Immatures. — Following fledging, immatures abandoned the
colony itself but stayed in the immediate vicinity later into the
fall and winter than adults. Sand bars and non-colony mangrove
islands were used consistently throughout the year. Marinas re-
ceived heavy use by these young birds, especially during winter
and spring. Immatures did not show up at fishing piers, marinas
or non-colony mangrove areas immediately post-fledging. A lag of
a few weeks occurred while these young birds learned that
food is available at piers, and became coordinated sufficiently to
land and perch on branches.

Critical Habitat

The recovery plan for the Eastern Brown Pelican (1980; see
A.O.U. 1977) only specifies current nesting sites as “critical

Table 1. Percent locality use by month during 1971-1976 for the total population of Brown Pelicans within Boca Ciega Bay
study area, Florida west coast.

12 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST •FoL 10, No. 1, Fehrua/ry 1982

•H O 00 (M O O
CO

o o lo o 05

O LO O lO 00

oa CO CO

O O 00 CO o

iH rH iH iO

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(M lO

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05

tH O tH iH O t>*

05

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05

lO O tH

o o

05

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05

lO O O

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lO

m

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§ S

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11

m M o

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rH (M CO 03

03 LO LO tH CO
iH 03 03 CO

tH O LO LO 00 tH

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00

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00

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05

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00

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I I

aH CO CO tH 00 tH
tH C-

03 CO 03 00
03 CO

tH 03 O LO

o ^

LO

03 O ^ O O

tH 00

03 O 03 03 O Tit

05

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05 00

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Table 1. (Continued)

SCHREIBER AND SCHREIBER#Rrow?i Pelican habitat

13

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14 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST •FoL 10, No. 1, February 1982

1“ — I Tarpon and Whale
Keys

Fig. 2. Percentage use of specific locations by the total Brown Pelican
population of Boca Ciega Bay study region in 1971-1976.

habitat.'’ The plan states that no detriment to the species can be
shown from degradation of or disturbance to roosting /loafing sites.
We believe this is a serious misconception.

We watched the formation of three colonies on the west coast
of Florida between 1969 and 1979 (at Placida, in North Charlotte
Harbor, and at John’s Pass). In each case the use of the island
progressed from a loafing area during the non-nesting season, to
roosting and loafing throughout the year, to colony formation.
Through this process the birds learn where they can rest un-
disturbed and then gradually “feel comfortable” enough to begin
nesting. At times nesting sites are destroyed by tidal and wave
action or the birds’ nesting activities degrade the mangrove to
such an extent that it cannot support nests. Thus, the population
must find other islands for nesting. Additionally, during the past

SCHREIBER AND SCHREIBER«Rrow7i Pelican habitat

15

11 years we know of two colonies that were made unusable for
the birds by human disturbance (at John's Pass and Robert's Bay,
Sarasota) . Pelicans also move abruptly, for unknown reasons, as in
Florida Bay (R. T. Paul, pers. comm.) . Without the availability of
undisturbed mangrove sites, presently unused by birds, new
colonies will never form.

Adults do not spend appreciable time away from the nesting
islands during the breeding season except to feed. At the end of
the season they leave the immediate vicinity of the colony (in most
cases) and spread out through the region. It is probably more
efficient energetically to loaf and roost near a location where food
is readily found, especially if no reason exists to return to the
nesting island. In some locations (Pelican Island on the east coast,
and in Charlotte Harbor, for instance) the birds do use the colony
islands throughout the year. The differences between islands in
this use pattern needs to be examined, especially in relation to
vegetation growth on the islands and in feeding areas and patterns.
The Brown Pelican would be an excellent species in which to docu-
ment the ''sphere of influence" of colony sites on the population
distribution (Nelson 1978) and the "information center hypothesis"
in relation to feeding and roosting (Zahavi 1971).

Although many roosting/loafing sites do not become colonies,
these sites remain important as the pelicans must have undisturbed,
dry sites to rest, to sleep, and to perform maintenance activities.
Sand bars are especially important to immature birds just after
fledging since they are not sufficiently coordinated to land in trees.
Marinas are used as loaflng areas by birds during the day but not
at night. Pelicans are unable to remain on the water for more
than an hour without becoming waterlogged (Schreiber, unpubl.
data) . Therefore dry roosts are essential.

In recent years, human visitation, building construction, and
pleasure boat traffic have increased greatly and changed pelican
use of islands and sand bars in our study area. Bird Key, a man-
grove island that was an important roosting/loafing area in 1969-
1975, began to be abandoned in 1976 and through 1981 has received
little use by birds as boat traffic increased nearby. In response to
harbor dredging during 1976 in Egmont Channel, 5 km south of
our study area, a new sand bar, inaccessible to boats, emerged on
the north side of Pass-a-grille. Pelicans immediately began using
this bar in large numbers. Such bars along the Gulf of Mexico are
preferred roosting /loafing sites for non-breeders and during the
non-nesting season. Primary use is before and after feeding and the

16 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST •FoL 10, No. 1, February 1982

bars used are those with a clear view out into the Gulf. When the
pelicans must roost and loaf inland, they may be forced to travel
farther to find fish and cannot use sightings of other feeding birds
as guides to fish availability. In recent years we commonly counted
as many as 50-60 boats, and no pelicans, on previously used sand
bars. We noted that when all sand bars in the region had humans
on them the birds were found inland in larger than ''usuaF' numbers
on mangrove islands and at marinas. Weekends appeared to be
especially ''bad’’ for the birds because of the increased use of the
bars for recreation by humans.

Thus, critical habitat necessary for pelicans to maintain a
healthy population in a region includes not only mangrove nesting
colony sites, but also sand bars and islets where the birds can roost
and loaf without being disturbed by human activity. We believe that
roosting and loafing areas should be protected from disturbance as
vigorously as are nesting colony sites in order to insure the
continued survival of the Brown Pelican in Florida, and elsewhere
in its range.

Age at First Breeding

Brown Pelicans have bred in “subadulP' plumages, although
less successfully than adults, in South Carolina (Blus and Keahey
1978), Louisiana (Williams and Joanen 1974), and in captivity
(Nesbitt et ah, in press). Few ''subadults'’ nest in established
colonies in our study areas. However, the colonies we have watched
becoming established were all started by "subadult" plumaged in-
dividuals, and in fact, juveniles first used these islands as loafing
and roosting sites. In South Carolina, the total population was ap-
parently low in years when "subadults" nested and thus perhaps
fewer adults were present. In Louisiana, adults were totally absent
(Blus et al. 1979) and nestlings transported from Florida and re-
leased in Louisiana began nesting as "subadults." Perhaps deferred
maturity in this species is in some manner related to the presence
of and interaction with adult pelicans, rather than just to the time
to learn to feed efficiently (Orians 1969, Schreiber, unpubl. data).

Summary

We have determined what types of habitats and what areas are
important to pelicans in Boca Ciega Bay, Florida. Our less detailed

SCHREIBER AND SCHREIBER#Rroww Pelican habitat

17

observations elsewhere indicate the importance of similar habitat
throughout the species range. We have monitored the human en-
croachment into these habitats that have caused pelicans to abandon
many islands and sand bars. This disturbance, we predict, will
eventually result in decreased nesting by pelicans in this region,
unless other areas, in addition to nesting islands, are protected.

Acknowledgments

The Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund, the International Council for
Bird Preservation, the Boston Whaler Company, the Outboard Marine Corpo-
ration, Arthur Connelly, Alexander Sprunt IV and the National Audubon
Society, the National Geographic Society, and the contributors to Seabird
Research, Inc., made this study financially possible. Joe Jehl, Fred Lohrer, and
Rich Paul provided editorial expertise. Our sincere appreciation is extended
to all.

Literature Cited

American Ornithologists’ Union. 1977. Report of the American Orni-
thologists’ Union Committee on Conservation 1976-1977. Auk 84 (Suppl. 4) :
1DD-19DD.

Blus, L. J., and J. a. Keahey. 1978. Variation in reproductivity with age in
the Brown Pelican. Auk 95: 128-134.

Blus, L. J., E. Cromartie, L. McNease, and T. Joanen. 1979. Brown Pelican:
population status, reproductive success, and organocholorine residues in
Louisiana, 1971-1976. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxic. 22: 128-135.

Herbert, N. G., and R. W. Schreiber. 1975. Diurnal activity of Brown
Pelicans at a marina. Fla. Field Nat. 3: 11-12.

Nelson, J. B. 1978. The Sulidae gannets and boobies. New York, Oxford
University Press.

Orians, G. H. 1969. Age and hunting success in the Brown Pelican {Pelecanus
occidentalis) . Anim. Behav. 17: 316-319.

Recovery Team for the Eastern Brown Pelican. 1980. Recovery plan
for the Eastern Brown Pelican. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Dept. Interior,
Wash., D.C.

Schreiber, R. W. 1980. Nesting chronology of the eastern Brown Pelican
Auk 97: 491-508.

The Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1978. Public Law 95-632. No-
vember 10, 1978. Washington, D.C.

Williams, L. E., Jr., and T. Joanen. 1974. Age of first breeding in the
Brown Pelican. Wilson Bull. 86: 279-280.

Zahavi, a. 1971. The function of pre-roost gatherings and communal roosts.
Ibis 113: 106-109.

Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles,
California 90007,

GENERAL NOTES

Fla. Field Nat. 10(1) : 18, 1982.

Roseate Spoonbills feed on vegetable material. — On 29 April 1979 from
1630-1645, at the Long Pine Key campground, Everglades National Park,
Dade County, Florida, I watched 2 recently fledged Roseate Spoonbills {Ajaia
ajaja) (aged at 6-8 weeks by the following characteristics; sooty yellow bills,
yellow irises, mostly white feathering with small suffusion of pink on tail and
under wings, some dusky in outer primaries, see Palmer 1962, Handbook of
North American birds, vol. 1, New Haven, Yale Univ. Press) as they wandered
through the occupied campgrounds. The birds were not present at dawn the
following day.

The spoonbills restricted themselves to the mowed lawns and roads and
did not enter the dense understory of the adjacent slash pine {Pinus elliottii)
forest. The spoonbills used their usual head-swinging feeding movement while
walking on the mowed grass, but also picked at objects from a stationary
position in the manner of herons. Almost any object attracted the attention
of the spoonbills. They examined chunks of bark, pine cones, pieces of cut
grass and other vegetative debris from lawn mowing, pine needles, and even
a blowing leaf which resulted in a 3 m “pursuit and capture.” All such objects
were picked up, examined with the bill, and then either swallowed or dropped.
I noted that at least a few objects were actually ingested including a small
chunk of bark, some pieces of dried grass, and a few insects, possibly small
beetles and ants. One bird picked up a small stone approximately 2 cm long,
examined it within the distal third of the bill, then dropped it and did not
further investigate other stones or pebbles. Allen (1942, Nat. Aud. Soc., Res.
Rep. No. 2) noted that vegetable material made up 3% by volume of the
aggregate total contents of 5 stomachs in United States Roseate Spoonbills
and a Florida specimen had swallowed a pine cone fragment, fibers, wood
pulp, and vegetable debris, constituting 2% by volume of the stomach contents.
Although Allen (1942) did not observe any Roseate Spoonbills feeding on
vegetable material, James A. Kushlan (pers. comm. 1979) has often seen young
spoonbills picking at vegetation in the vicinity of nesting colonies.

Feeding on vegetative material has also been recorded for the European
Spoonbill {Platalea leucorodia) and the Black-faced Spoonbill (P. minor),
Witherby et al. (1939, The handbook of British birds 3: 118-121) mentions
that “the European Spoonbill seems to eat a good deal of vegetation and
grasses.” Delacour and Jabouille (1931, Les Oiseaux ITndochine Francaise
1: 79) mention plant fibers and various marsh grasses being ingested by
P. minor.

The ingestion of vegetable material I witnessed may have been in part a
: response to poor feeding conditions brought about by unseasonably heavy
rainfall (23.21 cm, 22 April 1979 at Royal Palm Hammock). The storm struck
when many young spoonbills had fledged. The unusual behavior of the juvenile
spoonbills was probably due to poor feeding conditions in the wetlands and
was an experiment in finding alternative food sources. The birds appeared to
have little success with their campground foraging. — Robert P. Russell, Jr.,
108 N. Lakeshore Drive, Apt. 4-38, North Palm Beach, Florida 83^08.

18

General Notes

19

Fla. Field Nat. 10(1) : 19, 1982.

Adult and immature Bald Eagles talon-clasping while in flight. — On 10

March 1978 at Osteen Bridge, 4 mi E of Sanford on Hwy 415, Seminole
County, Florida, I observed an adult Bald Eagle {Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
soaring at considerable height. Soon after, at much lower altitude, an immature
Bald Eagle flew into the area no more than 200 m from where I stood on the
bridge and began soaring in the direction of the adult. I noted that the im-
mature was entirely dark brown. The adult then rapidly descended to meet
this bird. When the birds were very close together, they turned on their sides
and extended their feet towards one another and briefly clasped talons. The
engagement was almost immediately broken off only for the eagles to soar
around again and then meet each other when the talon-clasping was repeated
briefly a second time. The birds disengaged with the immature quickly return-
ing in the direction from whence it had come, while the adult resumed its
soaring.

Talon-clasping in eagles is either associated with behavioral dominance
when the event is brief or with courtship when the event is prolonged and
accompanied by the 2 birds falling through the air in a series of somersaults
(Brown and Amadon 1968, Eagles, hawks and falcons of the World, New York,
McGraw-Hill Book Co.). Because the immature was all brown and the event
was so brief, it is unlikely that the talon-clasping I observed was associated
with courtship. In a study of wintering Bald Eagles in north-central Missouri,
Griffin (1981, Wilson Bull. 93: 259-264) noted that intraspeciflc talon-clasping
encounters between immatures and adults were relatively uncommon (11%
of 27 encounters) whereas immature-immature encounters predominated
(85%). — Bernard King, Gull Cry, 9 Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall,
England.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(1) : 19-20, 1982.

Diet of Black Skimmers and Royal Terns in northeastern Florida. — Re-
gurgitated prey can provide information on the food habits of some birds
without the necessity of sacrificing them. During banding operations on Little
Bird Island, Nassau Sound, Duval County, Florida, 270 Black Skimmer
(Rynchops niger) chicks were confined in a wire corral for banding on 31
July 1977 from 0700-0900. The chicks ranged in age from about 7 days to
about 20 days. After the banded chicks were released, the area was searched
and all regurgitated items were collected and identified to the lowest possible
taxon.

A total of 67 items of 6 species was collected, of which 73.1% represented
a single species. In order of abundance they were: striped mullet (Mugil
cephalus) 49; mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) 9; Atlantic menhaden
{Brevoortia tyrannus) 5; a flounder (Paralichthys sp.) 2; ladyfish (Flops
saurus) 1; and sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates) 1.

Of the regurgitated fish, some were intact enough to weigh and measure.
Twelve mullet averaged 89.3 mm in length (SD 10.7, 69-110) and 8.37 g in
weight (SD 2.8, 3.48-14.16) ; adults are 30-45 cm long or more (Ursian 1977,
A guide to the fishes of the temperate Atlantic coast. New York, E. P.
Dutton). Seven mummichog averaged 76.6 mm in length (SD 9.8, 64-95) and
7.29 g in weight (SD 3.6, 3.81-14.45) ; adults are about 9 cm long (Ursin
1977).

20 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^VoZ. 10, No. 1, February 1982

At this same island on 29 July 1978, I secured a food sample from 262
Royal Tern {Sterna maxima) chicks and one Laughing Gull {Larus atricilla)
chick in the same manner. The exact contribution, if any, of the Laughing
Gull to the sample is unknown. A total of 47 items of 13 species was recovered.
In order of abundance they were: Atlantic menhaden 13; Atlantic croaker
{Micropogonias undulatus) 12; banded drum {Larimus fasciatus) 8; white
or brown shrimp (Penaeus setiferus or P. aztecus) 2; Atlantic thread herring
(Opisthonema oglinum) 2; spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) 2; spot
(Leiostomus xanthurus) 2; a squid {Illex illecebrosus ?) 1; Spanish sardine
{Sardinella aurita) 1; striped anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus) 1; bay anchovy
(A, mitchilli) 1; silver perch (Bairdiella chrysoura) 1; and southern kingfish
{Menticirrhus americanus) 1. All prey items were in a partially digested
condition which precluded weighing and measuring.

A comparison of these two samples reveals that the Black Skimmer has
a more restricted diet, because the skimmer sample of 67 items includes only
6 species, while the Royal Tern sample of only 47 items includes 13 species.

A sample taken from 1699 Royal Terns and about 20 Sandwich Terns
{Sterna sandvicensis) at this colony in the same manner on 25 July 1976
(Loftin 1977, Fla. Field Nat. 5: 47), consisted of 92.2% Atlantic croaker.
However, the 1978 Royal Tern sample, taken at the same time of the year,
showed only 25.5% Atlantic croaker. Furthermore, Atlantic menhaden, which
constituted 27.7% of the 1978 sample, was only 2% of the 1976 sample. This
indicates that Royal Terns are opportunistic feeders, preying on whatever is
abundant at the time. Skimmers also may feed opportunistically. However,
their restricted habitat use as compared to terns (Erwin 1977, Ecology 58:
389-397) may restrict the number of prey species they encounter and capture.

A comparison of the skimmer sample with the two Royal Tern samples
from this colony shows very little overlap. Only one species, the Atlantic
menhaden, occurs in all three samples. This indicates that the two species
do not compete with each other for food. It is surprising that neither of the
Royal Tern samples includes any mullet.

Comparison of the measurements of the mullet in the skimmer sample
with the croaker intact enough to weigh and measure in the 1976 tern
sample shows no overlap in size. This indicates that the two birds take different
size prey, but it is important to remember that all three of the samples
contained many items in a partially digested condition which did not allow
accurate size determination.

Erwin (1977), in a comprehensive study of foraging by three species of
seabirds in Virginia, found that the mean prey size range, weight range, and
prey species number were greater for the Royal Tern than for the Black
Skimmer. He collected 20 prey species from Royal Terns and only 6 from
skimmers. This compares with 17 species for Royal Terns (1976 and 1978
samples) and 6 species for skimmers at Nassau Sound, Florida.^ — -Robert W.
Loftin, University of North Florida, Box 1707 A, Jacksonville, Florida 32216.

General Notes

21

Fla. Field Nat. 10(1) : 21, 1982.

Extra-hole roosting and changes in hole use by two juvenile Red-cockaded

Woodpeckers.— Red-cockaded Woodpeckers {Picoides borealis) typically roost
in cavities excavated in living pines, but are known to roost elsewhere (Ligon
1970, Auk 87: 255-278; Baker 1971, pp. 44-59 in R. L. Thompson, (ed.). The
ecology and management of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, U.S. Dept. Int.,
Bur. Sport Fish. Wildl. and Tall Timbers Res. Sta., Tallahassee, FL; Hooper
et al. 1979, U.S. Forest Serv., Genl. Rept. SA-GR 9, 8 pp.). During a study
of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers conducted in summer, 1979, near the southern
limit of the species' range on the C. M. Webb Wildlife Management Area,
Charlotte County, Florida, we observed 2 juvenile woodpeckers, members of
the same 4-bird clan, changing roost cavities or roosting outside their usual
cavities on 9 separate occasions (20 July-14 August) as suitable cavities went
unused. Both birds had been captured and individually color marked at least
2 weeks prior to these observations. Three, possibly more, clans of Red-
cockaded Woodpeckers occupied adjoining territories.

Between 20 July and 7 August, a juvenile male (A) of the clan was
observed 5 times roosting in a crotch near the top of a large slash pine
(Pinus elliottii) approximately 350 m NW of his usual cavity tree. His body
was inclined vertically, close to the trunk with the head held forward. Roost-
ing behavior on days between the 5 observations is not known. During 4 of the
5 observations, this roost cavity was unoccupied, as best we could determine.
However, during the fifth observation (7 August), an unmarked “intruder’^
Red-cockaded Woodpecker was found roosting in the cavity. At sunrise, 14
August, the intruder was still using the cavity, but that evening, the second
juvenile male (B) of the clan roosted in the cavity, apparently without en-
countering the intruder. On 13 and 14 August, juvenile male (A) used
neither the usual cavity nor the exposed roost site and was not seen until
the following morning when he was discovered working at juvenile (B)'s
original roost cavity. On 16 August he began roosting in that hole.

Juvenile (B)’s roost cavity had been taken over by a Red-bellied Wood-
pecker {Melanerpes carolinus) on 2 August, and juvenile (B) roosted that
evening at an unknown site. The following day the Red-bellied was captured
and moved 10 km to the NE. That evening juvenile (B) inspected his cavity,
but again roosted at an unknown site. Our next observation, 4 days later,
found juvenile (B) roosting in the crotch of a bifurcated trunk near the top
of another large slash pine. His posture was the same as described for (A).
One week later juvenile (B) usurped the cavity of juvenile (A) (as described
above).

Both extra-hole roosting sites were very similar and resembled the site
described by Baker (1971). There is apparently a degree of tenacity associ-
ated with such sites. Though cavity roosting is, no doubt, important for
avoiding nocturnal predators, changes of roost cavities and temporary use of
extra-hole sites suggests that Red-cockadeds are not dependent on a specific
cavity as a roosting site and changes in sites, at least among juveniles, may
be a common occurrence. This study is the result of funds provided to the
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission by the Florida Department
of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.— -Barbara A.
Harris and Ann E. Jerauld, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commis-
sion, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 4005 South Main Street, Gainesville,
Florida 32601.

22 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST •FoL 10, No. 1, February 1982

Fla. Field Nat. 10(1) : 22, 1982.

A Thick-billed Vireo sighting for Everglades National Park.— On 28 De«
cember 1980, during the Coot Bay Christmas Bird Count in Everglades
National Park, Monroe County, Florida, William Matthews, Jr., and I briefly
saw at 15 m a bird with White-eyed Vireo {Vireo griseus) features but with
a yellow throat, breast, and belly. We identified it as a Thick-billed Vireo
{Vireo crassirostris) , the fourth sighting for the species in Florida. This bird
was found in a buttonwood {Conocarpus erecta) strand about 400 m north
of the intersection of the old Homestead Canal, Rowdy Bend Trail, and the
main park road. The reporting of this bird started a stampede of observers
that created a well worn path through the coastal prairie of Salicornia border-
ing the strand to the east.

Dut to the presence of some bright-colored immature White-eyed Vireos in

the area and because of an absence of a specimen or photograph for this
species in Florida, comments of some other observers seem warranted. After
seeing this bird, Charles Geanangel wrote (in litt), “I have seen at least 18
Thick-billed Vireos in the Cayman Islands and this bird fits.” On 4 January
1981, Oron L. Bass, Jr., and C. Wesley Biggs studied the bird on two occasions
in good light at a distance of 5 m. The vireo bill, dark eye, white wing bars,
and completely yellow underparts were well seen by both observers. Their
attempts to secure a photograph failed. On 6 January 1981, Larry Peavler,
Paul W. Sykes, Jr., and Phil Weinrich studied this bird carefully on three
occasions in bright sunlight. Sykes reports (in litt),

The bird, judged to be an adult, was a relatively large vireo with a dark
eye and two narrow wing bars. The underparts were completely yellow
from the base of the bill to the tail, including the undertail coverts. The
upperparts were olive. The yellow throat had a grayish wash. At the
U. S. National Museum some years ago, I examined a large series of the
races of the White-eyed Vireo occurring in Florida and the Thick-billed
Vireo to determine how the two species might best be accurately separated
in the field. Of the two species only the Thick-billed Vireo has the yellow
throat and complete yellow underparts. The White-eyed Vireo has differing
amounts of yellow on the flanks that varies in intensity, but the yellow
does not generally meet across the breast and is never on the throat and
undertail coverts. In comparison to the White-eyed Vireo, the foraging
movements of the Thick-billed Vireo observed in the park were much
slower. We double checked these features of plumage and behavior with
White-eyed Vireos in the southern part of the park on 6 January.

The three previous sight records of the Thick-billed Vireo in the United
States are all from southern Florida: Palm Beach County, Hypoluxo Island,
4 February 1961, first U. S. record (Abramson 1974, Amer. Birds 28: 881-882) ;
Monroe County, Dry Tortugas, Garden Key, 25 April-10 May 1964 (Robertson
and Mason 1965, Fla. Nat. 38: 131-138); Palm Beach County, West Palm
Beach Christmas Bird Count, 27 December 1968 (Cruickshank 1969, Audubon
Field Notes 23: 252-253). Thus three of the four records occurred during the
winter, 27 December-4 February, with two from Christmas Bird Counts, The
Thick-billed Vireo has an interesting range in the West Indies, occurring
in the Bahama Islands south to He Tortue and on the Cayman Islands and
Old Providence (Bond 1971, Birds of the West Indies, Boston, Houghton
Mifflin Co.). — Howard P. Langridge, 1j^21 W, Ocean Ave., Lantana, Florida
3Sh62^

General Notes

23

Fla. Field Nat. 10(1) : 23, 1982.

Common Crows and a Florida Red-shouldered Hawk mobbing feathers on
the ground. — On 28 January 1981, at 0900 at the Hendrie Ranch, 24 km S of
Lake Placid, Highlands County, Florida, I heard cawing as 6-8 Common Crows
(Corvus brachyrhynchos) suddenly gathered in a small grove of bay trees
{Magnolia virginiana, Persea spp.). The grove was small (about 16 m in
breadth) and open, due to the passage of cattle, and the crows were
relatively tame. At distances of 15 or more m I saw them perched on open
limbs; most were looking at the ground, and some were cawing or giving
harsh grrs. I saw nothing that might be causing the mobbing.

Two days later, at the same time and place, I witnessed another sudden
gathering of crows. This time their caws were mingled with the screams of a
Florida Red-shouldered Hawk {Buteo lineatus alleni) which, like the crows,
was relatively tame. The crows were looking at the same area of ground as on
28 January. I noted that the hawk, perched 3 m up, was doing so likewise.
Again I saw no cause of the mobbing and the crows and hawk left after about
5 min. When I reached the spot, I found three large piles of feathers, from
body, wings and tail, where some predator had plucked a Turkey {Meleagris
gallopavo). With an absence of the usual iridescence, the feathers looked a
dull, dark brown.

Similar situations have been described for other corvids. Verbeek (1972,
J. Ornithol. 113: 297-314) once found Yellow-billed Magpies (Pica nuttalli)
mobbing a mummified magpie and, on three occasions, three black tail
feathers on the ground. He noted that the mobbing was as intense as to a
predator, such as a bobcat (Lynx rufus). In fact he believed that a group of
feathers is mobbed as if it were a predator, the selective advantage being
‘‘that it reinforces the members of the colony to take communal action.”
Whereas Verbeek found that at least three feathers were needed and that
magpies would not react to a single feather, Lorenz (1970, Contributions to
the study of the ethology of social Corvidae. Pp. 1-56 in Studies in animal and
human behavior I, Cambridge, Harvard Univ. Press) found that his Jackdaws
(C. monedula) reacted to a single large black feather with angry rattling
cries. The subject is one that could stand more study. The large piles of
Turkey feathers at the ranch may have provided a supernormal stimulus
to the crows. Earlier (Kilham 1964, Condor 66: 247-248) I described a
number of instances of joint mobbing of owls by Common Crows and Red-
shouldered Hawks in Maryland and New Hampshire. — Lawrence Kilham,
Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New
Hampshire 03755.

BOOK REVIEW

Bird casualties at a Leon County, Florida TV tower: A 25 -year migration
study. — Robert L. Crawford. 1981. Bull. Tall Timbers Res. Sta. 22: 1-30.
Available from Tall Timbers Res. Sta., Rt 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, FL 32312
for $1.25 + .75 postage. — The letters WCTV are as familiar to students of
bird migration as are the letters ATP to cell-biologists. Every day since
October 1955 biologists at Tall Timbers Research Station have conducted a
dawn search for migrant birds killed by nocturnal collision with the 308 m
(204 m before 1960) WCTV tower 24 km N of Tallahassee near the Georgia
border. The carcasses are identified, tabulated, and frozen for later use. Many

24 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 1, February 1982

museums have specimens made from these tower kills and many biologists have
investigated the physiology and demography of migration using these tower
kills.

This publication summarizes 25 years of records and corrects errors in
three summaries published earlier. Information for each of the 189 species
lists the number of individuals found dead by 10-day periods with monthly,
seasonal, and grand totals and extreme dates. The 42,384 birds killed by the
tower represent primarily nocturnal migrants with 69% from the fall and
22% from the spring. Bird-banders and field observers in the region will want
to compare their own data or the records in Audubon Field N otes j American
Birds with this sample of migration in terms of temporal occurrence, relative
abundance, and routes of migration. I was interested to learn that some pre-
sumed sedentary species such as the White-eyed Vireo, House Sparrow, and
Cardinal are killed by the tower but not the Carolina Chickadee or Tufted
Titmouse. Also, there are no Bachman’s Warbler records for the tower which
is consistent with the general view that this endangered species is in decline.

This is a valuable publication for students of distribution and occurrence
of birds in southeastern United States because of the extensive data it contains.
Although there is no discussion of the factors causing birds to collide with
the tower, the introduction lists some scientific publications based on WCTV
tower data including those on the infiuence of weather on bird migration
and tower kills (see also: Avise and Crawford 1981, Natural History 90(9) :
6-14).

It is difficult to imagine a continuing, long-term study like this being
conducted at any place other than a field station with a permanent, dedicated
staff. Ornithologists are indebted to the vision of Herbert L. Stoddard, Sr.,
for initiating this study, and to Tall Timbers Research Station for continuing
it. Remember, each morning at dawn, Robert L. Crawford (or another biologist)
will be stalking across the lawn at the foot of the WCTV tower looking for
the previous night’s kill. What will be find? — Fred E. Lohrer.

Editor’s swan song. — For nearly 6 years my on-the-job training as editor
of the FFN has been generously supported by the membership of the FOS and
to them I am grateful. Editing the FFN has been a cooperative effort. The
members of the editorial advisory board; David W. Johnston, Oscar T. Owre,
William B. Robertson, Jr., Henry M. Stevenson, and Glen E. Woolfenden,
have given me thoughtful advice on various matters relating to the FFN,
and they and at least 60 other people (listed at the end of each volume) have
refereed the more than 170 manuscripts submitted to the FFN during my
term as editor. The authors, essential to the existence our journal, have
patiently endured my chronic case of new-editor syndrome. We have been
well-served by managing editor, Karen G. Harrod, and Florida Audubon
Society, in the early days, and by three printers; Sharp Offset Co., Storter
Printing Co., and E. 0. Painter Printing Co. The Archbold Biological Station
provided a well-equipped office and a well-stocked library. Two Archbold
secretaries, D. Jane Thomason and Dorothy Carter, did pinch-hit typing.
Thomason, and Joey Sacco, who did our cover illustration, provided artistic
help. My wife, Charlotte, offered much helpful advice, usually after a long
day with two small children. To all I offer my sincere thanks. — Fred E. Lohrer.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A quarterly publication of The Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: Fred E. Lohrer,* Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake

Placid, Florida 33852.

Editorial Advisory Board:

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables,
Florida 33124.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida
33030.

Henry M. Stevenson, 905 Briarcliife Rd., Tallahassee, Florida 32308.

Glen E. Woolenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida,
Tampa, Florida 33620.

The Florida Field Naturalist welcomes manuscripts containing new in-
formation on the biology of vertebrates in or near Florida, with an emphasis
on birds.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Submit manuscripts in triplicate to the Editor. They should be typed,
double-spaced, on one side of numbered sheets of standard (81/2 x 11 in.) bond
paper, with at least one inch margins all around. Type tables on separate
sheets and use space efficiently. Photographs should be glossy prints of good
contrast and sharpness, and should be approximately the same size as they
will appear in print. Diagrams and line drawings should be in black ink with
lettering large enough to permit reduction. For advice on preparing illustra-
tions, consult Steps Toward Better Scientific Illustrations by A. Allen, Allen
Press, Lawrence, Kansas.

Titles should be short and descriptive and the body of the article concise.
Follow the form and style of a recent issue of the Florida Field Naturalist. Use
the Council of Biology Editors (CBE) Style Manual, Fourth Edition (AIBS
1978) in preparing manuscripts. All references should be cited in the body
of the text and listed at the end under “Literature Cited. Text citations
should indicate author and year of publication, e.g. (Bond 1961). If there are
more than two authors list the first followed by “et al.” (e.g. Blair et al. 1968).
Indicate specific pages of longer works, e.g. (Bond 1961: 44). If there are five
or fewer references they should be cited only in the text, e.g. (Sprunt 1954,
Florida bird life. New York, Coward McCann, Inc.) or (Cruickshank 1974, Fla.
Field Nat. 2: 1-3).

Capitalize the English name of bird species, and follow the first mention
of a species in text by the scientific name, underlined, in parentheses. Scientific
names should follow a widely accepted authority for the group of animals or
plants involved. For North American birds use the A.O.U. Check-list, fifth ed.
(1957) and its Supplements, the 32nd (1973, Auk 90: 411-419) and the 33rd
(1976, Auk 94: 875-979).

Use abbreviations sparingly in the text except parenthetically e.g. “Lake
Placid (12 km S).” The metric system is preferred for all measurements. Use
the 24-hour time system (0700 or 1645) and the military date system (4 July
1976).

OTHER FOS PUBLICATIONS

Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon Field Notes and American
Birds Volumes 1-30 1947-1976, by Margaret C. Bowman, xii + 42 pp. 1978.
FOS Spec. Publ. No. 1. Price $3.75 prepaid, order from the Assistant to the

Treasurer (see inside front cover).

*see important Notice to Contributors on outside back cover.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 10, No. 1 February 1982 Pages 1-24

CONTENTS

GREATER SANDHILL CRANES WINTERING IN

CENTRAL FLORIDA Lawrence H. WalMnshaw 1

ESSENTIAL HABITAT OF THE BROWN PELICAN
IN FLORIDA

Ralph W. Schreiher and Elizabeth Anne Schreiber 9
GENERAL NOTES

Roseate Spoonbills feed on vegetable material Robert P. Russell, Jr. 18

Adult and immature Bald Eagles talon-clasping while

in flight - Bernard King 19

Diet of Black Skimmers and Royal Terns in northeastern Florida

Robert W. Loftin 19

Extra-hole roosting and changes in hole use by two juvenile Red-

cockaded Woodpeckers Barbara A. Harris and Ann E. Jerauld 21

A Thick-billed Vireo sighting for Everglades National Park

Howard P. Lang ridge 22

Common Crows and a Florida Red-shouldered Hawk mobbing

feathers on the ground Lawrence Kilham 23

BOOK REVIEW 23

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

Effective immediately, new manuscripts to be considered
for publication in the Florida Field Naturalist should be sent
to editor-elect Dr. James A. Kushlan, South Florida Research
Center, Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida 33030.

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VOL. 10 MAY 1982 NO. 2

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972

Officers for 1981-1983

President: Theodore H. Below, 3697 North Rd., Naples, Florida 33942.

Vice-President : Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of
South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Secretary : Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida
33803.

Treasurer : Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605.

Assistant Treasurer: John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville,
Florida 32601.

Assistant Treasurer: Patricia J. Lanzillotti, 2135 NW 28th Street, Gaines-
ville, Florida 32605.

Editor of Florida Field Naturalist; James A. Kushlan, 19650 SW 264 Street,
Homestead, Florida 33031.

Editor of Ornithological Newsletter: Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon
Society, 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland, Florida 32751.

EOS Archives and Editor of Special Publications: John William Hardy, The
Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Directors 1980-1982

Frances C. James, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University,
Tallahassee, Florida 32306.

Lenore McCullagh, 2735 Holly Point Road, E. Orange Park, Florida 32073.

Marsha S. Winegarner, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.

Directors 1981-1983

Oron L, Bass, Jr., Everglades National Park, P.O. Box 279, Homestead,
Florida 33030.

William D. Courser, 885 N. Pinehurst, Spring Hill, Florida 33512.

Helen G. Cruickshank, 1925 S. Indian River Dr., Rockledge, Florida 32955.

Marion R. Henriquez, 1510 Dewey Dr., Hollywood, Florida 33020.

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979, Helen G. Cruickshank 1980.

All persons interested in Florida’s natural history, particularly its
abundant bird life, are invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by
writing the Treasurer. Annual membership dues are $10 for individual
members (overseas $13), $15 for a family membership, $5 for students, and
$25 for contributing members. All members receive the Florida Field Naturalist
and the Newsletter. Subscription price for institutions and non-members is $10
per year. Back issues ($3.00 per issue) available, prepaid, from the Assistant
to the Treasurer, Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2 Box 180,
Lake Placid, FL 33852.

Manuscripts submitted for publication should be sent to the Editor (see
inside back cover). Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or
defective copies of this journal and requests for information about advertising
and subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer, Caroline H. Coleman, 1701
NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605. The permanent address of the
Florida Ornithological Society is: Department of Ornithology, Florida State
Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Published quarterly (February, May, August, and November) by the
Florida Ornithological Society, Gainesville, Florida 32605. Printed by E. 0.
Painter Printing Co., P.O. Box 877, DeLeon Springs, Florida 32028.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 10, No. 2 May 1982 Pages 25-44

FOOD OF NESTLING LITTLE BLUE HERONS ON THE
WEST COAST OF FLORIDA

James A. Rodgers, Jr.

The food habits of the Little Blue Heron {Florida caerulea) are
becoming: well known (Meanley 1955, Domby and McFarlane 1978,
Telfair 1981), but few studies have been conducted in Florida
(Baynard 1912, Jenni 1969). Furthermore, no data are available
from coastal sites. This paper reports on the prey of Little Blue
Herons nesting in the Tampa Bay region.

Methods

The food samples reported in this paper are based on 120 regurgitated
boluses collected from Little Blue Heron nestlings on the Alafia Banks (Bird
and Sunken Islands), Hillsborough Bay, Hillsborough County, Florida, during
1976-1979. Samples were segregated to species if possible, then weighed on an
Ohaus dial-o-gram balance (model 310). Results are reported as the percent
of prey material in the bolus. The scientific names of prey species referred
to in the text are given in Table 1. Sources for prey identification and nomen-
clature were Pennak (1953), Stevenson (1976), Hoese and Moore (1977), and
Lee et al, (1980) .

Results

Of the 50 identified taxa, 24 species (48.0% ) were invertebrates,
24 species (48.0%) were fish, and 2 species (4.0%) were frogs
(Table 1) . Crustaceans represented the greatest number of indi-
vidual invertebrates. The fish included 17 native species (70.8%)
and 7 non-native species (29.2%).

25 Fla. Field Nat. 10(2): 25-30, 1982.

26 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 2, May 1982

Table 1. Food items recovered from 120 boluses regurgitated by Little Blue
Heron nestlings at Hillsborough Bay, Florida.

Species

No.

Individuals

Total
% Wt.

% Boluses

Invertebrates

Polychaete sp.

29

0.2

1.7

Arachnida sp.

6

Ti

4.2

Isopod (Ligia exotica)

271

4.7

15.0

Prawn (Palaemonetes pahtdosus)

376

6.0

21.7

Crayfish (Procambarus alleni)

178

19.7

29.2

Wood crab {Sesarma cinereum)

1C6

7.8

15.0

Mangrove crab (Aratus pisonii)

28

0.5

1.7

Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus)

1

2.0

2.5

Stone crab (Menippe mercenaria)

23

5.6

6.7

Crab sp.

3

0.4

2.5

Dragonfly nymph {Anax sp.)

1

0.4

0.8

Dragonfly nymph (Miathyria sp.^

43

1.4

9.2

Mole cricket ( Gryllotalpa sp. j

10

0.4

3.3

Field cricket ( Gryllus sp. j

11

0.4

5.0

Grasshopper sp.

31

0.2

1.7

Water scorpion (Nepa sp.j

5

0.4

2.5

Water bug (Belostoma sp.^

6

T

5.0

Giant water bug ( Lethocerus sp.^

12

0.9

2.5

Dytiscinae larvae

29

0.4

6.7

Coleoptera sp.

1

T

0.8

Lepidoptera larvae

9

0.5

4.2

Soldier fly larvae {Odontomyia sp.)

4

T

1.7

Diptera sp.

1

T

0.8

Hymenoptera sp.

1

T

0.8

Unidentified insects

2

T

1.7

Fish

Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense)

4

1.2

1.7

Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli)

43

1.7

2.5

Black tetra ( Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)^

19

3.0

0.8

Atlantic needlefish ( Strongylura marina)

1

T

0.8

Seminole killifish (Fundulus seminolis)

5

0.6

0.8

Golden topminnow (F. chrysotus)

10

0.7

1.7

Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

51

2.0

8.3

Least killifish (Heterandria formosa)

4

0.1

0.8

Sailfin molly (Poecillia latipinna)

33

3.0

5.0

Black molly (P. latipinna)^

52

2.6

5.0

Red swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri)^

9

0.6

0.8

Black swordtail (Xiphophorus sp.)^

16

2.5

2.5

RODGERS»Little Blue Heron Food

27

(Table 1 Continued)

Species

No.

Individuals

Total
% Wt.

% Boluses

Southern platyfish (X> maculatus)^

30

1.6

1.7

Pearl gourami (Trichogaster leerip

3

0.7

0.8

Swamp darter (Etheostoma fusiforme)
Spotfin mojarra

60

2.9

5.8

( Eucinostomus argenteus)

12

1.3

1.7

Pinfish ( Lag odon rhomb oides)

Blackchin tilapia

2

1.3

1.7

(Tilapia melanotheron)-

51

2.5

3.3

Code goby (Gobiosoma robustum)

17

1.0

4.2

Clown goby (Microgobius gulosus)

2

0.3

0.8

Bay whiff (Citharichthys spilopterus)

1

T

0.8

Hogchoker {Trinectes maculatus)

11

2.2

3.3

Unidentified flounder

1

0.1

0.8

Toadfish ( Opsanus sp.j

2

0.9

1.7

Unidentified fish

31

2.4

11.6

Amphibians

Pig frog (Rana grylio)

19

9.3

7.5

Leopard frog (R. utricularia)

2

2.8

1.7

Unidentified Rana sp.

27

2.4

10.0

Unidentified tadpoles

4

0.6

2.5

IT = Represented by less, than 0.1 percent of the total weight.
2Non-native fish.

When the taxa are considered by weight consumed, invertebrates
represented 51.1%, fish 34.7%, and amphibians 15.2% of the total
diet. Crayfish made up 39.3% of the invertebrate contribution to
the diet or 19.7% of the total weight. Crustaceans constituted
84.2% of the invertebrates or 42.2% of the total weight of the food
items. Insects made up only 15.6% of the invertebrate contribution
or 7.8% of the total weight.

The food boluses contained an average of 12.2 prey items (range
1-83) . In addition, each bolus averaged 3.2 species (range 1-8) . Of
the 120 boluses, 31 (25.8%) contained only vertebrates, 45 (37.5%)
contained only invertebrates, while 44 (36.7%) contained both in-
vertebrates and vertebrates.

28

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 2, May 1982

Discussion

The prey items found in Little Blue Heron food boluses from the
Tampa Bay region were relatively small in size and represent a
varied diet, though possibly one specializing on crayfish. That the
blue crab was represented by soft-shelled claws suggests that this
species was taken most successfully during the soft-body stage.

The Little Blue Heron forages in a relatively inactive manner,
primarily using the wade-and-walk hunting method (Willard 1977,
Kushlan 1978). The prey species identified in Table 1 are mostly
substrate-crawling invertebrates (e.g., isopods, crayfish, prawns,
crabs, insects) or slow swimming fish (e.g,, sailfin molly, mosquito-
fish, gobies). I frequently have seen Little Blue Herons seek out
rocks and emergent vegetation on shorelines then peck and capture
prey, the peering-closely-and-peck foraging method of Willard
(1977). This foraging strategy was especially successful in captur-
ing isopods and wood crabs from docks and shorelines.

The source of the non-native fish is uncertain. Several species
(e.g., red swordtail, southern platyfish, black molly, blackchin
tilapia) have escaped from fish farms and have become established
as breeders in the central-west coast region of Florida (Lee et al.
1980). However, the highly prized black tetra and pearl gourami
reportedly are not known to have escaped from cultivation and
probably were obtained at the fish farm ponds on the mainland
around Hillsborough Bay. Feeding at fish farms also may have
contributed to illegal killing of adult Little Blue Herons and resulted
in nestling mortality (Rodgers 1980) .

My data differ slightly from other reported studies of the prey
of Little Blue Herons (Table 2) . Little Blue Herons from the Alafia
Banks mostly fed on invertebrates and fish, with crayfish and fresh-
water fish making up the greatest biomass within each group.
Studies by Jenni (1969) and Domby and McFarlane (1978) found
that Little Blue Herons breeding at inland freshwater sites ate
amphibians. However, Telfair (1981) reported the heron preyed
mostly on crayfish in freshwater streams in Texas.

Even though breeding on the Alafia Banks in a marine-estuarine
situation, most Little Blue Herons flew inland to feed, predominantly
in freshwater habitats. Thirty-three species of prey (64.7%) were
primarily freshwater or terrestrial forms, whereas only 11 species
(21.6%) were primarily marine species.

UODGEUS* Little Blue Heron Food

29

Table 2. Comparison of prey appearing in Little Blue Heron food samples.

Invertebrates

Fish

Amphibians

Reptiles

Baynard (1912)

98.01

0

1.7

0.3

Jenni (1969)

35.11

49.7

14.8

0.5

44.12

26.5

23.5

5.9

12.33

32.7

54.1

0.9

Domby and McFarlane (1978)

24.81

48.7

26,5

0

16.62

41.7

41.7

0

5.8^

49.3

44.9

0

Telfair (1981)

82.11

13.1

4.7

0.1

This study

71.61

25.3

3.1

0

48.02

48.0

4.0

0

51.14

34.7

15.2

0

^Percent total number of individual prey items.
2Percent total number of identified species.
^Percent total volume,

^Percent total weight.

I commonly observed Little Blue Herons foraging- along the
shorelines in the Tampa Bay region. However, the prey species
typical of this habitat were under-represented in the diet of Little
Blue Herons breeding at a marine-estuarine site. Possibly the highly
visible, slow moving prey that these herons are more apt to capture
with their slower methods of foraging are mostly found in fresh-
water or terrestial habitats. Also, marine sites (with tidal,
current, and wave effects) of the Tampa Bay region may be usable
only for part of the day (hence, lower representation in food
boluses), whereas, the freshwater sites are available for the entire
day.

Acknowledgments

I am indebted to the National Audubon Society for allowing me to work
on the Tampa Bay Wildlife Sanctuaries. I thank David S. Maehr, Stephen A.
Nesbitt, and James A, Kushlan for reviewing drafts of the manuscript. This
research was funded in part by grants from the A.O.U. Josselyn Van Tyne
Memorial Fund and the National Audubon Society,

30

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 2, May 1982

Literature Cited

Baynard, O. E. 1912. Foods of herons and ibises. Wilson Bull. 24: 167-169.

‘Domby, a. J., and R. W. McFarlane. 1978. Feeding ecology of Little Blue
Herons at a radionuclide-contaminated reservoir. Pp. 361-364 in Wading
birds (A. Sprunt, IV, J. C. Ogden, and S. W. Winckler, Eds.). Research
Report No. 7, Natl. Audubon Soc., New York.

Hoese, H. D., and R, H. Moore. 1977. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Texas,
Louisiana, and adjacent waters. Texas A & M Univ, Press, College Station.

Jenni, D. a. 1969. A study of the breeding ecology of four species of heron
during the breeding season at Lake Alice, Alachua County, Florida. Ecol.
Monogr. 39: 245-270.

Kushlan, j. a. 1978. Feeding ecology of wading birds. Pp. 249-297 in Wading
birds (A. Sprunt, IV, J. C. Ogden, and S. W. Winckler, Eds.). Research
Report No. 7, Natl. Audubon Soc., New York.

Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and
J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North
Carolina Biol. Survey, North Carolina State Mus. Nat. Hist. Publ. No.
1980-12.

Mbanley, B. 1955. A nesting study of the Little Blue Heron in eastern
Arkansas. Wilson Bull. 67 : 84-99.

Pennak, R. W. 1953. Fresh-water invertebrates of the United States. Ronald
Press Co., New York.

Rodgers, J. A., Jr. 1980. Breeding ecology of the Little Blue Heron on the west
coast of Florida. Condor 82: 162-169.

Stevenson, H. M. 1976. Vertebrates of Florida. University Presses of Florida,
Gainesville.

Telfair, R. C., II. 1981. Cattle Egrets, inland heronries, and the availability of
crayfish. Southwestern Nat. 26: 37-41.

Willard, D. E. 1977. The feeding ecology and behavior of five species of herons
in southeastern New Jersey. Condor 79: 462-470.

Wildlife Research Laboratory , Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish
Commission, ^005 S. Main St., Gainesville, Florida 32601.

PREDATION AND DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR OF THE
STRIPED SWAMP SNAKE (REGINA ALLENI)

J. Steve Godley

Birds and other predators are known to influence many aspects
of the ecology of their prey, such as the prey’s distribution, habitat
use, behavior, food, and even reproductive output (e.g., Wilbur
et al. 1974, Sterns 1976), Reptiles often are common vertebrates
in many environments and as such provide an important food re-
source to many predators, including birds. However for many
species of reptiles we lack even anecdotal information about their
predators or the effects of predation on reptilian populations
(Greene et aL 1978) .

In this paper I summarize information on predation, tail loss,
and defensive behavior of the striped swamp snake (Regina alleni
(Garman)). This small (to 530 mm snout- vent length), secretive,
highly aquatic snake inhabits many of the marshes, streams, and
ponds of Florida where it feeds primarily on crayfish. In some
Florida water hyacinth communities this snake may be very
abundant, reaching densities of 1287 individuals per hectare
(Godley 1980). Previously, the only known predator of striped
swamp snakes was the cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
(Loennberg 1894) .

Study Area and Methods

Most of my observations of striped swamp snakes and their predators
were made from 1974-1978 during a study of the herpetofauna of a 2,71 ha
water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) community at Rainey Slough, Glades
Co., Florida. This site consisted of two hyacinth-choked canals on either side
of an elevated road-bed. Each canal was 1.1 km long and adjoined a seasonally
flooded (June-September) wet prairie-marsh. The canals were connected
under a bridge near the center of Rainey Slough. I (Godley 1980) provided
a detailed description of the study area, collection methods, and foraging
ecology of striped swamp snakes at this site elsewhere. Additional observations
of predation on R. alleni were recorded from other localities and in the labora-
tory. In this paper all snake body sizes are given as snout-vent lengths.

Results and Discussion

Predation

Observations of predation on striped swamp snakes are given
in this section.

31 Fla. Field Nat. 10(2) : 31-36, 1982.

32

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 2, May 1982

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) . — -On 12 February 1977 at
1105, F. Ackerman and I observed a Great Blue Heron with an
adult (ca. 300 mm) striped swamp snake thrashing in its beak.
The heron stood in shallow water repeatedly dropping, pecking,
and picking up the snake. After watching the bird through binocu-
lars for about 3 minutes I waded across the canal to attempt to rob
it, but the heron flew with the snake in its beak and landed 150 m
away. C. E. Winegarner saw a Great Blue Heron catch and swallow
a striped swamp snake of unrecorded size on 13 March 1977 at
Myakka River State Park, Sarasota Co., Florida. It foraged by
walking slowly along the bank, striking in hyacinths that floated
near the riverbank.

Great Egret (Casmerodius albus) . — At 1430 on 24 February
1978, B. Jayne, R, Jennings, M. Martin and I saw a Great Egret
fly up from a mixed flock of foraging wading birds in the Rainey
Slough marsh with a ca. 300 mm striped swamp snake in its beak.
A Great Blue Heron chased the egret for about a minute (ca,
0.7 km) before returning to the flock. The egret flew another 0.5
km before landing out of view in the marsh. C. E. Winegarner (pers.
comm.) also observed a Great Egret catch and eat a juvenile (ca.
200 mm) R\ alleni on 2 February 1978 in a marsh 3.8 km W of
Fisheating Creek along SR 70 in Highlands Co., Florida. He noted
that the snake twisted and struck weakly at the bird.

River Otter (Lutra canadensis) . — At 1342, on 17 December
1974, D. Worley and I observed with binoculars an adult and two
3/4 grown river otters moving eastward across the dry prairie
toward the Rainey Slough bridge. The otters entered the west
canal and dived beneath a low growth of hyacinths about 40 m
from us. Within 10 sec the adult otter surfaced 5 m from shore
holding an adult (ca. 400 mm) R. alleni mid-body in its jaws. The
snake thrashed wildly, with its mouth open and head and neck
swaying laterally. The otter bit the snake several times, then turned
and swam toward shore. After reaching the bank the otter briefly
manipulated the then limp snake with its forepaws and devoured it
tail-first within 7 min.

Raccoon {Procyon lotor). — Circumstantial evidence suggests
that raccoons may be potentially important sources of mortality
for striped swamp snakes. Two adult snakes, each probably killed
the previous night, were found eviscerated and partially eaten in
different marshes (25 August 1977 in Alachua Co., Florida, D.
Jackson, pers. comm.; 1 December 1979 in Orange Co., Florida,
pers. obs,). Both snakes appeared to have been in good health

G0DLEY»5^%aA:e Predators

33

before death. No tracks were observed as the substratum was un-
suitable in both cases. I suspect that both snakes were killed by
raccoons because the sites looked similar to those I had seen pre-
viously which did contain numerous raccoon tracks.

Kingsnake {Lam.'propeltis getulus) .-—I studied kingsnakes at
Rainey Slough from November 1975 through August 1978 (J.
Godley unpub.). Four of 58 captured individuals contained prey,
all of which were snakes. One adult kingsnake (960 mm) found
crawling along a canal bank at 1230 hr on 16 November 1975, re-
gurgitated two partially digested striped swamp snakes. I judged
that both prey were captured in the water, (water hyacinth root-
lets regurgitated with prey) , were eaten in rapid succession (similar
stages of digestion), and were swallowed head-first (only tail
portions undigested) . Tail lengths and sexes of the two R. alleni
were 134 mm (male) and 123 mm (female) . Based on regression
analyses of this population of R, alleni (Godley 1980 and unpub.),
’the male was 422 mm and the female was 468 mm. These two
snakes represented meals of about 14.0% and 19.4% respectively
of the kingsnake’s body mass. A second adult kingsnake collected
11 March 1977 defecated the remains of 1 adult R. alleni, a juvenile
Thamnophis sp. or Nerodia sp., and hyacinth rootlets.

Greater Siren {Siren lacertina) .—Following a night of funnel
trapping in a marsh at Lake Conway, Orange Co., Florida, D. Gross
and D. Sutphen (pers. comm.) found on 20 December 1979, an adult
Siren lacertina (435 mm) in a trap with a dead male striped swamp
snake. Only the rear portion of the snake's body remained, the rest
apparently eaten by the greater siren. The tail of the snake was
105 mm, indicating a body length of about 334 mm.

Crayfish (Procamharus spp.) .—A gravid striped swamp snake
and a gravid black swamp snake (Seminatrix pygaea) , both
captured in July 1976 in Fisheating Creek, Highlands Co., Florida,
were placed in an aquarium (52 X 26 X 30 cm) stocked with 10 liters
of water, water hyacinths, and a dry hide box for cover. One or
two crayfish were provided weekly as food for the R. alleni. During
the night of 4 August the S, pygaea gave birth to six young. One
newborn apparently was killed and the posterior half of its body
eaten by the only crayfish in the tank (an adult male Procamharus
alleni, carapace length 31 mm), three were alive but had freshly
bobbed tails, and two were alive with no obvious injuries. Both
adult snakes were uninjured. On 6 August 1979 a 325 mm female
striped swamp snake from Orange Co., Florida, gave birth to seven
young in the same tank under similar circumstances except that

34

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST.RoL 10, No. 2, May 1982

three adult crayfish {Procambarus fallax) were present. The follow-
ing morning five of the young were found dead : three of these still
had portions of their yolk sac attached, and all five showed signs of
crayfish predation (i.e. bobbed tails, chaelae scars on body, parts
of tail and head eaten) . Branson and Baker (1974) noted that adult
crayfish, probably Orconectes juvenalis, killed and ate juvenile
queen snakes (Regina septemvittata) in the laboratory.

These laboratory observations suggest that crayfish may be im-
portant predators of juvenile aquatic snakes, especially in the
snake’s first few hours of life. In the laboratory four different fe-
male R. alleni gave birth in the water, even though terrestrial hide
boxes were available and extensively used before and after parturi-
tion, suggesting that in the wild R. alleni (and S. pygaea) probably
give birth in the water. During the reproductive season of striped
swamp snakes (July-September) , the density of two species of
crayfish (Procambarus alleni and P. fallax) in hyacinths averaged
10/m- (Godley 1980) . Adults of these crayfish species attain a mass
of > 15 g and thus weigh six times as much as the newborn snakes.
At such high densities encounters between young snakes and large
crayfish should be common, and newborn snakes with yolk sacs
still attached may be especially vulnerable to attack. Laboratory
observations suggest that crayfish may be responsible for many of
the bobbed tails reported in aquatic snakes.

Tail Loss

The loss of portions of the tail has been used as an index of the
intensity, or efficiency, of predation on a number of species of
snakes (e.g. Greene 1973) . In 88 striped swamp snakes from Rainey
Slough, 10.2% had lost part of their tail (12.0% of 50 males, 7.9%
of 38 females) . Combining my data with the 141 specimens in the
Florida State Museum analyzed by Spears (1977) and 149 collected
by R. Franz (pers. comm.) at Payne’s Prairie, Alachua Co., Florida,
the mean frequency of abbreviated tails is 12.17%. This value is
lower than that reported for 3 of 4 other aquatic snake species
from Florida (Spears 1977) . Within the sample of R. alleni, no sig-
nificant differences were detected among the 3 sampling '‘locations”
(x^ tests, P>.05), suggesting that predation intensities, or preda-
tory efficiencies, were similar, or possibly that any real between-
site variation was masked by unknown differences in survivorship
(cf. Schooner 1979). No significant sexual differences in tail ab-
breviations were detected (either within or between samples) .

GODLEYs^wa/^e Predators

35

Defensive Behavior

During my studies of R. alleni I collected about 120 specimens
and maintained and observed a number of these in the laboratory,
but I have never been bitten by one. However, eight individuals
displayed an unusual “gape and sway” behavior when handled.
When grasped firmly near mid-body, these individuals rigidly
arched their back, open their mouth nearly 180 degrees exposing
the white interior, and swayed their heads and necks laterally.
Usually the mouth was closed after 1 to 3 lateral oscillations of the
head. One adult striped swamp snake maintained in the laboratory
repeatedly displayed this behavior and on several occasions made
contact with my hand but never chewed or drew blood. A similar
behavior apparently occurred during two predatory encounters in
the field. Wright and Wright (1957 :422) probably referred to this
same response by a freshly captured R, alleni from Okefenokee
Swamp when they wrote, “In the boat it opened its mouth, and we
thought it was about to bite. We noticed the same tendency when
we handled it or photoed it.”

Other species of Regina are noted for their mild temperament
(Wood 1949, Nakamura and Smith 1960, Smith and Huheey 1960,
Hall 1969, Barbour 1971, Martof et al. 1980) . The teeth of R. alleni
have rounded, chisel-like tips (Rossman, 1963), which penetrate
neither the hard exoskeletons of their odonate and crayfish prey
(Godley 1980 and pers. obs.) nor the skin of a human finger. Pre-
sumably biting would not deter the attacks of most predators. The
gape and sway behavior described above may be a “flash display”
used to startle predators or mimic more noxious (e.g., water snakes,
Nerodia spp.), or venomous (e.g., cottonmouth) sympatric snakes
that do bite. A defensive and protective function of this behavior
is suggested because it apparently is elicited only by a sudden tactile
stimulus by a potential predator.

Other presumed defensive behaviors occasionally used by striped
swamp snakes include coiling the body into a ball, concealing the
head beneath a coil, and laterally flattening the body. Like most
natricines, R. alleni typically discharges its cloacal contents or anal
gland secretions upon capture.

Acknowledgments

W. Hoffman, D. R. Jackson, J. A. Kushlan, H. R. Mushinsky, and R. W.
McDairmid commented on various drafts of the manuscript. D. T. Gross,
D. R. Jackson, D. E. Sutphen, and C. E. Winegarner kindly provided me with
personal observations of predation, and R. Franz provided the tail loss data

36

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-VoL 10, No. 2, May 1982

for R. alleni from Payne’s Prairie. The Department of Biology, University of
South Florida, Tampa, and the Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid,
Florida, provided partial support.

Literature Cited

Barbour, R. W. 1971. The amphibians and reptiles of Kentucky. Univ. Press
of Kentucky, Lexington.

Branson, B. A., and E. C. Baker. 1974. An ecological study of the queen
snake Regina septenivittata (Say) in Kentucky. Tulane Studies Zool. Bot.
18: 153-171.

Godley, J. S. 1980, Foraging ecology of the striped swamp snake, Regina
alleni, in southern Florida. EcoL Monogr, 50: 411-436.

Greene, H. W. 1973, Defensive tail display by snakes and amphisbaenians. J.
Herp. 7: 143-161.

Greene, H. W., G. M. Burgardt, B. A, Dugan, and A. S. Rand. Predation and
defensive behavior of green iguanas (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Iguanidae). J.
Herp. 12: 169-176.

Hall, R. J. 1969. Ecological observations on Graham’s water snake, Regina
grahami (Baird and Girard). Amer. Midi. Natur. 18: 156-163.
Loennberg, E. 1894. Notes on reptiles and batrachians collected in Florida in
1892 and 1893. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 17: 317-339.

Martof, B. S., W. M. Palmer, J. R. Bailey, and J. R. Harrison III. 1980.
Amphibians and reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. Univ. North
Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.

Nakamura, E. L,, and H. Smith. 1960. A comparative study of selected
characters in certain American species of water snakes. Trans. Kansas
Acad, Sci. 63: 102-113.

Rossman, D. a. 1963. Relationships and taxonomic status of the North
American natricine snake genera Liodytes, Regina, and Clonophis. Occ.
Pap. Mus. ZooL, Louisiana State Univ. 29: 1-29.

Schoener, T. W. 1979. Inferring the properties of predation and other injury-
producing agents from injury frequencies. Ecology 60: 1110-1115.

Smith, H. M., and J. E. Huheey. 1960. The watersnake genus Regina. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci. 63: 156-164.

Spears, G. 1977. Predation on colubrid snakes. Masters Thesis, Univ. Florida,
Gainesville.

Stearns, S. C. 1976. Life-history tactics: A review of the ideas. Quart. Rev.
Biol. 51: 3-47.

Wilbur, H. M., D. W. Tinkle, and J. P. Collins. 1974. Environmental
certainty, trophic level and resource availability in life history evolution.
Amer. Natur, 108: 805-817.

Wood, J. T. 1949. Observations on Natrix septemvittata (Say) in southwestern
Ohio. Amer. Midi. Natur. 42: 744-750.

Wright, A. ,H., and A. A. Wright. 1957. Handbook of snakes of the United
States and Canada. Vol. I. Comstock Publ. Assoc., Ithaca, New York.
Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa,
Florida 33620 and National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory, National
Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20560,

GENERAL NOTES

Comments on the identification of Stoddard’s Yellow-throated Warbler. —
When George M. Sutton (1951, Auk 68: 27-29) described a new subspecies
of the Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica stoddardi) from the
coast of northwest Florida, he emphasized that it differed from other popu-
lations of the species known to him in its ‘'exceptionally long, slender” bill. He
also examined three long-billed specimens of this warbler from the coast of
Maryland and one from Miami, Florida, but these birds were “not nearly
slender-billed enough for stoddardV^ Of the 24 specimens of stoddardi Sutton
examined, 23 were collected in Walton County, Florida, and one at Pensacola,
Escambia County, Florida. Specimens collected later in coastal Alabama showed
Baldwin County to be the western limit of the race, as specimens from Mobile
County were referred to H. d. dominica (Imhof 1976, Alabama birds. Uni-
versity, Alabama, Univ, Alabama Press). The known eastern limit is now indi-
cated by typical specimens collected at McAllister Landing, Bay County,
Florida, on 20 June 1964 ( Tall Timbers Research Station 3407) and Pinelog
Creek, Washington County, Florida, on 4 April 1952 (TTRS 1303), All of these
specimens of stoddardi were collected during the breeding season; thus no in-
formation exists regarding the winter home of this form.

Sutton’s published measurements gave only the length of the exposed culmen
of the four above-mentioned specimens from Maryland and Miami, referred to
as “H. dominica'’, and of 24 specimens of D. d. stoddardi, but the “slender-
billed” character was quantified nowhere in the paper. In their study of compe-
tition between the Yellow-throated Warbler and the Pine Warbler {D. pinus) ,
Ficken et al. (1968, Evolution 22: 307-314) worked chiefly on the Delmarva
Peninsula with representatives of the population of Maryland birds measured
by Sutton. They pointed out the similarity between that population and
stoddardi, adding that they “would be considered as members of this sub-
species [stoddardi] if they were collected in the Florida panhandle.” Although
they presented bill lengths of various populations of D. dominica, no data
were given for bill depth or width.

Hoping to clarify this taxonomic quandry, I borrowed from the National
Museum of Natural History 37 specimens of D. dominica from the Delmarva
Peninsula and took the following measurements (mm) : tail length, wing length,
length of bill from nostril, length of culmen from true base, and depth and
width of bill (both at mid-nostril). The same measurements were then made
on nine specimens in the Tall Timbers Research Station Collection that were
taken in the range of D. d. stoddardi in spring and early summer. Plumage
coloration was also noted in both groups. Respective bill measurements appear
in Table 1, Differences in wing and tail length between the two populations
were of the same order of magnitude as were bill measurements. That is both
averaged somewhat longer in the Delmarva birds than in stoddardi, but with
much overlap between the two populations. None of these differences is sta-
tistically significant. In coloration D. d. stoddardi tended to be slightly darker
gray on the back and a few specimens had more black pigment anteriad, but
most specimens probably could not be referred to a particular population on
the basis of either coloration or measurements.

37

38 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoZ. 10, No. 2, May 1982

Table 1, Range and mean of bill measurements in two forms of Dendroica
dominica.

Delmarva Peninsula

D. d. sioddardi

Number of specimens

37

9

Bill from nostril

9.8-11.8 (10.93)

9.9-11.4 (10.68)

Culmen from base

15.7-18.1 (16.94)

14.1-17.1 (16.19)

Bill width

2.8-3.7 (3.28)

2.8-3.5 (3.16)

Bill depth

3.2-3.9 (3.64)

3.1-3.7 (3.40)

Although a more extensive taxonomic study in the future may show re-
liable differences in these two populations at the subspecific level, the point I
wish to make is that no individuals can be referred to a given population in
the field and very few can be identified in the hand. The winter home of
D. d. sioddardi is unknown, and it appears unlikely that a January specimen
collected in South Carolina (Dingle 1961, Auk 78: 640), northeast of the breed-
ing range of this form, would be a representative of that race. Its exposed
culmen of 15 mm is equally representative of the Delmarva population. The
same comment would seem to apply to specimens labeled sioddardi in the
Florida State Museum (FSM) and taken in Alachua County (FSM 9381),
Levy County (FSM 3653), and Leon County (FSM 7827), Florida.

I extend my thanks to Robert L, Crawford for assisting me with the color
comparisons and Wes Biggs for information regarding the specimens in the
Florida State Museum. — Henry M. Stevenson, Tall Timbers Research Station,
Rt. 1, Box 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32312.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(2) : 37-38, 1982.

Northernmost record of the Mangrove Cuckoo on the Gulf coast. — On 11
November 1981 we observed an adult Mangrove Cuckoo {Coccyzus minor) at
St. George Island State Park, Franklin County, Florida. The cuckoo was
flushed initially from oak scrub (3-5 m tall) about 150 m inland from St.
George Sound and flew only 10 m to a ‘'head high” perch on the edge of an
oak. The late-morning light conditions (1100-1115) were ideal. We observed
the bird with binoculars and spotting scope at distances down to 4 m during a
leisurely 15-min. study and noted and sketched the following field marks:
maxilla entirely dark brownish-black; lower mandible yellow with dark tip;
black mask through eye; iris dark; orbital ring yellow upperparts neutral
grayish brown, secondary edges and upper tail coverts lightly buff ; underparts
buffy cinnamon from chin to undertail coverts, slightly deeper on belly and
vent; underside of tail black with broad white tips; no “rufous” flash in wings
during flight.

The cuckoo perched upright and was alert but unusually tame, allowing
our close approach from various angles. The third and fourth primaries of the
right wing (left not seen) were pale and worn (unmolted) ; otherwise the
plumage was unblemished. The possibility of the bird being a Gray-capped
Cuckoo {Coccyzus lansbergi), an intra-South American migrant, or an ery-
thristic Yellow-billed Cuckoo {Coccyzus americanus) was considered during
the observation period, thus prompting our cautious and detailed notes.

General Notes

39

The Mangrove Cuckoo breeds as far north as the Anclote Keys^ Pasco
County, Florida, some 250 km southeast of St. George Island and along the
western Gulf north to Tamaulipas, Mexico (A. 0. U. 1957, Check-list of North
American birds, fifth ed., Baltimore, Amer. Ornithol. Union; Robertson 1978,
Mangrove Cuckoo pp. 57-58 in H. W. Kale, II, (ed.) Rare and endangered biota
of Florida, voL 2 birds, Univ. Presses of Florida, Gainesville). Our observation
represents the northernmost record for the species (29°42'N, 84°52'W) and
only the second record for the upper Gulf coast (cf. Webster 1965, Aud. Field
Notes 19: 398-401). The origin of vagrant Mangrove Cuckoos on the northern
and western Gulf coast (Webster 1976, Amer. Birds 30: 95-97) is unknown,
but it is possible that they are individuals from Mexico rather than Florida or
the West Indies, as is the case with some other species, e.g. White-winged
Dove (Zenaida asiatica). Our detailed descriptions were critically compared
(by Graves) with specimens of ten recognized races of C. minor in the
American Museum of Natural History. The buffy cinnamon underparts of
the individual we observed resembled those of C. minor continentalis of the Gulf
slope of Mexico, rather than the whitish or pale buffy underparts of C. minor
maynardi, the breeding form of Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas. The distance
from St. George Island to the nearest Mexican breeding populations (measured
around the arc of the Gulf) is ca. 1700 km; the trans-Gulf distance to the
Yucatan Peninsula is ca. 940 km. The weather conditions during the week
preceding our observation offer no evidence bearing on this matter. Specimens
are needed to determine the origin of these birds.

Comparison of specimens was made possible by a grant from the Frank M.
Chapman Memorial Fund. — Gary R. Graves, Department of Biological Science,
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306; Robin Carter, 1912
Dahlia Drive, Tallahassee, Florida, and Steve N. G. Howell, ^0 Cae Glas
Road, Rumney, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(2) : 38-39, 1982.

Common Crows pulling the tail and stealing food from a river otter. — On

15 January 1981, my wife and I saw Common Crows {Corvus brachyrhynchos)
stealing prey from a river otter {Lutra canadensis) at the Hendrie Ranch,
24 km south of Lake Placid, Florida. As far as I am aware, there have been
no previous reports of Common Crows stealing food from mammals, nor,
indeed, of any corvid from river otters. We watched an otter catching walking
catfish (Clarias batrachus) and resting by a water hole where the fish had
concentrated in a winter of drought (Kilham, unpubL),

The otter was lying partly in and partly out of the water eating a fish.
Four crows were watching within 30-50 cm of its head when a fifth crow
alighted by its tail, giving it a hard tweak. The otter dropped the fish to whirl
around. A crow near the otter’s head then seized the head end of the fish and
flew off with it. Bent (1946, U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 191) described similar
kleptoparasitism of a dog gnawing a bone by three Common Ravens {Corvus
corax), one of which pulled the dog’s tail.

In 12 hours of watching the otter in the course of 11 mornings, we saw
crows peck the otter’s tail 26 other times, while the otter was either resting
on the sand or walking to the water. Although the attacks often looked like
simple pecking, we noted twice that the blows were delivered with the bill
slightly open. It seemed possible, therefore, that the crows may have been

40

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 10, No. 2, May 1982

pinching and pulling. Tail pulling was described by Goodwin (1976, Crows of
the world, Ithaca, New York, Comstock Publishing Assoc.) for a number of
corvids. Kleptoparasitism, the main subject of this report, was reviewed by
Brockmann and Barnard (1979, Anim. Behav. 27: 487-514). Our studies were
made while staying at the Archbold Biological Station. — Lawrence Kilham,
Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hamp-
shire 03755.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(2) : 39-40, 1982.

Summary of the 1981 fall meeting. — Bob and Margie Sokol, ably assisted
by hospitable members of the Sarasota Audubon Society, hosted a fine, well
organized meeting of the FOS on 16-18 October at the Holiday Inn-North in
Sarasota. Field trips to Myakka River State Park led by Ken Alvarez and
Ruth Hollister and to City Island and Beer Can Island led by Jack and Lou
Newton were pleasant and productive. The papers given were: “A raptor
roadside census in SW Florida” by Jeffrey L. Lincer; “Seasonal expectations
in Myakka River State Park” by Capt. Robert Dye; “Banding birds on Casey
Key” by Annette Stedman; “Little Tern fledglings — Comparison of beach nest-
ing vs. roof top nesting'” by Lisa Miller; “Laughing Gulls in the Tampa Bay
Area — Then and now” by Lise Hanners and Steve Patton; and “Red Knot
study” by Brian Harrington. Our delightful dinner speaker, Malcolm M.
Simons recounted the many values and facets of birding and the enjoyment
of birds and proved his appreciation of them all in his talk entitled “DonT call
me a bird watcher.” The skin quiz, prepared by Glen Woolfenden, was won by
Bob Loftin.

A nominating committee has been appointed of Bob Loftin (Chairman)
Jerry Cutlip, and Herb Kale. Wes Biggs will have a table promoting FOS at
the meeting of the American Birding Association in Miami in the spring of 1982.
The board decided to delay publication of the “Checklist of Florida birds” until
1983 so that we can follow the revised AOU checklist, which is nearing com-
pletion. Rare bird sightings may be reported to the newly appointed Records
Committee of Maggy Bowman (Secretary), Lyn Atherton, Lucy Duncan, Henry
;M. Stevenson, and Wally George. Discussion at the board meeting led to a
decision that we should not get involved in tours. Therefore, we will not
sponsor a birding trip to Cuba. Committees are working on a handbook for
local hosts of FOS meetings. This should be very helpful to those in charge
of meetings, and we are looking for places to have meetings. The arm patches
are now available for $4.00 each. Fred Lohrer has them for sale now and at
FOS meetings. The Alabama Ornithological Society is planning a Bird-A-Thon
at Dauphin Island in April 1982. Contact Ted Below for details and phone
numbers. A resolution of appreciation for Bill Courser’s services as president
was voted by the board. The spring 1982 meeting will be held at Flamingo,
Everglades National Park, with Jim Kushlan as host. Fred Lohrer, outgoing
editor of FFN, was commended for his diligence and sustained hard work
on behalf of FOS. — Barbara C. Kittleson.

FLORIDA BIRDS IN THE PERIODICAL LITERATURE, 1981

Fred E. Lohrer

All articles were published in 1981 unless otherwise noted. Authors are re-
quested to send reprints of their articles to the Associate Editor for inclusion

in this annual feature,

Avise, J, C., and R. L. Crawford. A matter of lights and death, Nat. Hist,
90(9): 6, 8, 12, 14. — Based primarily on data from bird casualties at the
WCTV tower, Tall Timbers Res. Sta., Leon Co.

Avise, J. C., J. C. Patton, and C. F. Aquadro. 1980. Evolutionary genetics
of birds. I. Relationships among North American thrushes and allies. Auk
97: 135-147. — Most of the specimens analyzed were WCTV tower kills,
Tall Timbers Res. Sta., Leon Co.

Avise, J. C., J. C. Patton, and C. F. Aquadro. 1980. Evolutionary genetics of
birds, IL Conservative protein evolution in North American sparrows and
relatives. Syst, Zool. 29: 323-334. — Most of the specimens analyzed were
WCTV tower kills, Tall Timbers Res. Sta., Leon Co.

Belwood, j. J, Wagner ^s mastiff bat, Eumops glaucinus floridanus, (Molossi-
dae) in southwestern Florida. J, Mammal. 62: 411-413. — One male and 7
females of this rare Florida bat were found (7 Sept. 1979) in a former
Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity in a longleaf pine cut from the path of
1-75 near Punta Gorda, Charlotte Co. The one m accumulation of bat guano
indicated long use by the bats.

Bolte, W., and O. L. Bass, Jr. 1980, Twenty-nine year synopsis of the Coot
Bay Christmas Bird Count Everglades National Park. South Florida Re-
search Center Report T-605, 19 pp. — Monroe and Dade Cos.

Borror, D. j. The songs and singing behavior of the Red-eyed Vireo. Condor
83: 217-228. — Includes analysis of one vireo from Waukulla Springs,
Waukulla Co., 23 April 1978.

Bradley, R. A. Song variation within a population of White-eyed Vireos
{Vireo griseus) . Auk 98: 80-87. — At Gainesville, Alachua Co.

Clark, E. S. Juvenile Peregrine Falcon swoops on Roseate Spoonbills. Wilson
Bull. 93: 548, — Merritt Island NWR, Brevard Co.

CUTRIGHT, N. J. Bird populations in five major west-central Florida vegeta-
tional types. Fla. Sci. 44: 1-12. — DeSoto Co.

Crawford, R. L. Bird casualties at a Leon County, Florida TV tower: A 25-
year migration study. Bull. Tall Timbers Res. Sta. 22: 1-30. — At Tall
Timbers Res. Sta., Leon Co.

Crawford, R. L. Bird kills at a lighted man-made structure: Often on nights
close to a full moon. Amer. Birds 35 : 913-914. — Based on Tall Timbers tower
kills, Leon Co.

Crawford, R. L. Weather, migration, and autumn bird kills at a north Florida
TV tower. Wilson Bull. 93: 189-195. — At Tall Timbers Res. Sta., Leon
Co.

Davidson, W. R,, F. E. Kellogg, and G. L. Doster. 1980. Seasonal trends of
helminth parasites of Bobwhite quail. J. Wild, Dis. 16: 367-375. — Leon Co.

Doster, G. L., N. Wilson, and F. E. Kellogg. 1980, Ectoparasites collected
from Bobwhite Quail in the southeastern United States. J. Wild. Dis. 16:
515-520. — Florida ( ?) , reference not seen.

41

42

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 2, May 1982

Duncan, R. A. The Great Black-backed Gull: A Gulf coast status review.

Amer. Birds 35 : 233-234. — Includes Florida records.

Engstrom, T. Breeding bird census. No. 32. Mature beech-magnolia forest.

Amer. Birds 35: 58. — Tall Timbers Res. Sta., Leon Co.

Ellis, H. L 1980. Metabolism and solar radiation in dark and white herons
in hot climates. Physiol. Zool. 53: 358-372. — Study skins provided by D. W.
Johnston and experimental animals provided by H. W. Kale, II. Both data
sources presumably include Florida birds.

Francis, A. M. 1981. Wing- and tail-flapping in Anhingas: A possible method
for drying in the absence of sun. Auk 98: 834. — As observed at Wakulla
Springs, Wakulla Co., 12 March 1980, just at sunset on an inclement day.
Gish, S. L., and E. S. Morton. 1981. Structural adaptations to local acoustics
in Carolina Wren songs. Z. Tierpsychol. 56: 74-84. — At Myakka River State
Park, Sarasota Co., and Maryland.

Holder, G. L., M. K. Johnson, and J. L. Baker. 1980. Cattle grazing and
management of Dusky Seaside Sparrow habitat. Wild, Soc. Bull. 8: 105-
109. — Brevard Co.

Jackson, D. R., and R. Franz. Ecology of the eastern coral snake (Micrurus
fulvius) in northern peninsular Florida. Herpetologica 37 : 213-228, — In-
cludes mention of unsuccessful attacks on coral snakes by an American
Kestrel and a Red-shouldered Hawk in Palm Beach Co. and by a Logger-
head Shrike in Highlands Co.

King, B. Caspian Terns sun-bathing with Ring-billed Gulls. Brit. Birds 74:

181. — At Lake Martha, Orange Co., Feb.-March 1978.

King, B. Caspian Terns dropping and retrieving objects. Brit. Birds 74: 228.

— At Lake Martha, Orange Co., Feb.-March 1978.

King, B. Feeding behaviour of wintering Sanderlings. Brit. Birds 74: 521-522.

— At New Smyrna, Volusia Co., 24 December 1973.

King, B., and R. Payne. Behaviour of Bobwhites during tropical rainstorms
in Florida, U.S.A. Bristol Ornithology 14: 132. — Orange Co., March 1978.
Kilham, L. Red-shouldered Hawks whirling with talons locked in conflict.

Raptor Res. 15: 123-124. — Highlands Co.

Kushlan, J. a. Resource use strategies of wading birds. Wilson Bull. 93:

145-163. — Based in part on author’s studies in Florida.

Kushlan, J, A., M, C. Bauman, and L. C. McEwan, 1978. A bibliography
of south Florida wading birds. South Florida Research Center Report T-
514, 27 pp. — Ciconiiformes.

Lee, D, S., D. B. Wingate, and H. W, Kale, II, Records of tropicbirds in the
North Atlantic and upper Gulf of Mexico with comments on field identifica-
tion. Amer, Birds 35: 887-890. — Includes discussion of Florida records.
Little, C, D. Breeding bird census. No. 68. Slash pine-turkey oak forest. Amer.

Birds 35 : 66. — Tallahassee-10 mi SW, Leon Co.

Marion, W. R., T. E. O’Meara, and L. D. Harris. Characteristics of the
Mourning Dove harvest in Florida. J. Wild. Mgmt. 45: 1062-1066.
Maynard, W. R., D. L. Taylor, and R. Rochefort. Breeding bird census. No.
83. Virgin subtropical slash pine forest. Amer. Birds 35: 70. — Big Cypress
Natl. Preserve, Collier Co.

Morrison, M. L. Population trends of the Loggerhead Shrike in the United
States. Amer. Birds 35: 754-757. — Based on Audubon CBC records including
Florida.

Periodical Literature, 1981

43

Nesbitt, S. A., and G. W. Archibald. The agonistic repertoire of Sandhill
Cranes. Wilson Bull. 93: 99-103. — Studies in Wisconsin and Payne’s
Prairie, Alachua Co.; G. c. tabida and pratensis.

Niemi, G. J. Breeding bird census. No. 81. Longleaf pine forest. Amer. Birds
35: 69. — Leon Co., Tallahassee-5 mi SW.

Patterson, G. A., and W. B. Robertson, Jr. Winter bird-population study.
No. 34. South Florida slash pine. Amer. Birds 35: 30. — Big Cypress Natl.
Preserve, Monroe Co.

Patterson, G. A., and W. B. Robertson, Jr. Winter bird-population study.
No. 35. Slash pine-cypress mosaic. Amer. Birds 35: 30-31. — Big Cypress
Natl. Preserve, Collier Co.

Patterson, G. A., and W. B. Robertson, Jr. Distribution and habitat of the
Red-cockaded Woodpecker in Big Cypress National Preserve. South Florida
Research Center. Report T-613, 137 pp. — Collier and Monroe Co.

Portnoy, J. W., R. M. Erwin, and T. W. Custer. Atlas of gull and tern
colonies: North Carolina to Key West, Florida (including pelicans,
cormorants and skimmers). U. S. Fish Wild. Serv., FWS/OBS-80/05, 121
pp.— available from Natl. Tech. Info. Serv., U. S. Dept. Comm., 5285 Port
Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, PB82 116 054.

Post, W. The infiuence of rice rats Oryzomys palustris on the habitat use of
the Seaside Sparrow Ammospiza maritima. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 9: 35-
40. — At Gulf Hammock, Levy Co.

Rakestraw, j. L., and J. L. Baker. Dusky Seaside Sparrow feeds Red-winged
Blackbird fiedglings. Wilson Bull. 93: 540. — On 9 August 1976 at St.
Johns NWR.

Ricklefs, R. E., and S. C. White. Growth and energetics of chicks of the
Sooty Tern {Sterna fuscata) and Common Tern {S. hirundo). Auk 98:
361-378. — As studied at the Dry Tortugas, Monroe Co., and Great Gull Is.,
N. Y., respectively.

Ritchie, T. L. 1980. Two mid-Pleistocene avifaunas from Coleman, Florida.
Bull. Fla. State Mus., Biol. Sci. 26: 1-36. — Avifaunas from two sites near
Coleman are Irvingtonian in age and contain a total of 38 spp. Disregarding
extinct species, the avifauna is very similar to the present central Florida
avifauna.

Robbins, M. B., and D. A. Easterla. Range expansion of the Bronzed Cowbird
with the first Missouri record. Condor 83: 270-272. — Includes discussion of
Florida records.

Robinson, S. R. Head-scratching and yawning in Black Skimmers. J. Field
Ornithol. 52: 59-60. — At Lake Okeechobee on 20 March 1978.

Simpson, C. F., J. C. Woodard, and D. J. Forrester. 1977. An epizootic among
knots {Calidris canutus) in Florida. II. Ultrastructure of the causitive
agent, a Besnoita-like organism. Vet. Pathol. 14: 351-360. — Along the Gulf
coast.

Stedman, a. F. Scaly-leg (knemidokoptiasis) infected Red-winged Blackbirds
banded at Casey Key, Florida. Inland Bird Banding 53: 28-29. — Sarasota
Co.

Stoneburner, D. L., P. C. Patty, and W. B. Robertson, Jr. 1980. Evidence
of heavy metal accumulations in Sooty Terns. Sci. Total Environ. 14: 147-
152. — Dry Tortugas.

44

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 10, No. 2, May 1982

Stoneburner, D. L., and C. S. Harrison. Heavy metal residues in Sooty Tern
tissue from the Gulf of Mexico and North Central Pacific Ocean. Sci. Total
Environ. 19: 51-58.

Sykes, P. W., Jr. 1980. Decline and disappearance of the Dusky Seaside
Sparrow from Merritt Island, Florida. Amer, Birds 34: 728-737. — A sad
story of too little too late.

Sykes, P. W., Jr. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida. Amer.
Birds 35: 364-367, — Summary of 81st Audubon CBC; includes summaries
of diurnal raptor counts for the region and parulids reported for 1979-80
and 1980-81 CBCs in Florida.

Vernick, K., and D. L. Taylor, Breeding bird census. No. 82. Cutover sub-
tropical slash pine forest. Amer. Birds 35 : 69-70. — Everglades National
Park, Dade Co.

Wenner, K. C., and W, R. Marion. Wood Duck production on a northern
Florida phosphate mine. J. Wild, Mgmt: 45: 1037-1042.

White, F. H., D. J. Forrester, and L. E. Williams, Jr. Isolation of Salmonella
from wild Turkeys in Florida. J. Wild. Dis. 17 : 327-330. — Glades Co.
Wiemeyer, S. N, Captive propagation of Bald Eagles at Patuxent Wildlife
Research Center and introduction into the wild, 1976-80. Raptor Res. 15:
68-82. — Three of 10 captive breeding Bald Eagles were obtained in Florida.
Williams, L. E., Jr. Capturing and marking Sandhill Cranes. Pp. 175-179 in
J. C. Lewis and H. Masatomi (eds.) Crane research around the world,
Intntl. Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI. — Techniques perfected at Payne’s
Prairie, Alachua Co,

Williams, L. E., Jr., D, H. Austin, and T. E. Peoples. 1980. Turkey nesting
success on a Florida study area. Pp. 102-107 in J. M. Sweeny (ed.) Fourth
natl. wild Turkey symposium, Arkansas Chapter Wild. Soc., Little Rock. —
Glades Co.

Wilson, J., and R. W. Loftin. Winter bird-population study. No, 66. Barrier
beach and salt water estuary. Amer. Birds 35: 36. — Duval Co., N side of
St. Johns River,

Woodard, J. C., D. J. Forrester, F. H. White, J. M, Gaskin, and N. P.
Thompson. 1977. An epizootic disease among knots {Caladris canutus) in
Florida. I. Disease syndrome, histology and transmission studies. Vet. Pathol.
14 : 338-350, — See Simpson 1977 above.

REVIEW

An annotated bibliography of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. — Jerome A.

Jackson. 1981. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. 290 pp. (SREL, P.O.
Drawer E, Aiken, S. C. 29801). — This unusually complete bibliography in-
cludes National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Counts and Winter and
Breeding Censuses among its 1790 references. It took me a long time to come
up with an omission, Sprunt’s “Florida bird life.” Each reference is categorized
in one of three quality categories: primary sources containing original data;
secondary sources containing original interpretations of Red-cockaded Wood-
pecker data ; and tertiary sources containing no original data or interpretation,
as well as in 19 subject categories and by state. There are 319 references
listed under Florida. More than 60 journals were searched systematically
through 1980 and a few references from early 1981 are included in an ad-
dendum.— Fred E. Lohrer.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A quarterly publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: James A. Kushlan, 19650 S.W^ 264th Street, Homestead, Florida 33031.

Associate Editors:

Oron L. Bass, Jr., Everglades National Park, P.O. Box 279, Homestead,
Florida 33030.

Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid,
Florida 33852.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, P. O. Box 279, Home-
stead, Florida 33030.

Editorial Advisory Board:

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables,
Florida 33124.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, P. O. Box 279, Home-
stead, Florida 33030.

Henry M. Stevenson, 905 Briarcliff Rd., Tallahassee, Florida 32308.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida,
Tampa, Florida 33620.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS

The Florida Field Naturalist is a refereed journal emphasizing biological
field studies or observations of vertebrates, especially birds, in and near Florida,
the Bahamas, and Caribbean Basin. It welcomes submission of manuscripts
containing new information from these areas. Please consult recent issues for
style and Vol. 10, No. 1 for detailed instructions. Submit manuscripts for publi-
cation to the Editor in triplicate. Send books and other materials for review
to Associate Editor, Fred E. Lohrer. For information and assistance regarding
submission of reports on bird distribution and rarities contact Associate Editor,
Oron L. Bass, Jr.

OTHER FOS PUBLICATIONS

Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon Field Notes and American
Birds Volumes 1-30 1947-1976, by Margaret C. Bowman, xii + 42 pp. 1978.

FOS Spec, Publ. No. 1. Price $3.75 prepaid. Order from the Assistant to the
Treasurer (see inside front cover).

Gil

Fi'H.j

>-i>FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 10, No. 2 May 1982 Pages 25-44

CONTENTS

FOOD OF NESTLING LITTLE BLUE HERONS ON THE

WEST COAST OF FLORIDA James A. Rodgers, Jr, 25

PREDATION AND DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR OF THE
STRIPED SWAMP SNAKE {REGINA ALLENI)

J, Steve Godley 31

GENERAL NOTES

Comments on the identification of Stoddard’s

Yellow-throated Warbler Henry M. Stevenson 37

Northernmost record of the Mangrove Cuckoo on the Gulf Coast

Gary R. Graves, Robin Carter, and Steve N. G. Howell 38

Common Crows pulling the tail and stealing food from

a river otter Lawrence Kilham 39

Summary of the 1981 fall meeting Barbara C. Kittleson 40

FLORIDA BIRDS IN THE PERIODICAL LITERATURE

Fred E. Lohrer 41
Fred E. Lohrer 44

REVIEW

m

fCFC3

gifttl^Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VOL. 10 ~ AUGUST 1982 NO. 3

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972
Officers for 1981-1983

President: Theodore H. Below, 3697 North Rd., Naples, Florida 33942,
Vice-President: Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of

South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida
33803.

Treasurer: Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605.

Assistant Treasurers : John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville,
Florida 32601; Patricia J. Lanzillotti, 2135 NW 28th Street, Gainesville,,

Florida 32605.

Editor of Florida Field Naturalist: James A. Kushlan, 19650 SW 264 Street,
Homestead, Florida 33031.

Editor of Ornithological Newsletter: Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon
Society, 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland, Florida 32751.

FOS Archives and Editor of Special Publications: John William Hardy, The
Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.
Directors 1981-1983

Oron L. Bass, Jr., Everglades National Park, P.O. Box 279, Homestead,
Florida 33030.

William D. Courser, 885 N. Pinehurst, Spring Hill, Florida 33512.

Helen G. Cruickshank, 1925 S. Indian River Dr., Rockledge, Florida 32955.
Marion R. Henriquez, 1510 Dewey Dr., Hollywood, Florida 33020.

Directors 1982-1984

Mary H. Clench, 2239 NW 21st Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32605.

Malcolm M. Simons, Jr., 1701 East Harbor View Road, Box 52, Charlotte
Harbor, Florida 33950.

Brooks Atherton, 1226 Alhambra Dr., Fort Myers, Florida 33901.

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979; Helen G. Cruickshank 1980; Oliver L, Austin,

Jr., 1982; Pierce Brodkorb 1982.

All persons interested in Florida’s natural history, particularly its

abundant bird life, are invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by
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FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 10, No. 3 August 1982 Pages 45-64

OBSERVATIONS ON LIMPKIN NESTING
Lawrence H. Walkinshaw

Little has been published on the nesting of the Limpkin (Aramus
guarauna) (Bent 1926), although additional unpublished studies
have recently been completed by Ingalls (1972) and Bryan (pers.
comm.). I have long been interested in Limpkins, from the time I
first heard one in 1938. In this paper I present observations on
nesting that I have made since 1966, especially on Lake Pierce, Polk
County, Florida. Limpkins are common in shallow water along the
lake shore and along the edges of man-made lagoons and waterways
nearby. The number of Limpkins has varied with water levels and
food conditions. At times nearly all birds leave the lake. On 12-15
December 1969, for example, practically all Limpkins disappeared
from Lake Pierce, and 23 showed up at the same time at Nalcrest,
14.4 km east of Lake Wales and 19.2 km south of Lake Pierce, an
area where previously none had been present. In spring the birds
reappeared along the shores of Lake Pierce.

The Limpkin in the United States is primarily a Florida bird.
It has been found north to South Carolina, in the Okefenokee
Swamp, southern Georgia, and over much of peninsular Florida,
west in the Florida panhandle rarely to Holmes, Jackson and Bay
counties (Fig. 1). The region of greatest abundance is the central
portion of the state (Sprunt 1954), north of the southern border of
Lake Okeechobee. At Lake Pierce, where I made my observations,
the Limpkin is fairly abundant.

45 Fla. Field Nat. 10(3); 45-54, 1982.

46

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 10, No. 3, August 1982

Fig, 1. Average number of Limpkins observed on Christmas bird counts,
1971-1980 (Amer. Birds Vol. 26-35). Closed circles indicate where Limpkins
were observed, open circles where none was reported. Most counts were made
every year. Highest totals (for the period of record) were: W. Palm Beach,
Palm Beach Co., 421; St. Marks, Wakulla Co., 384; Lakeland, Polk Co., 150;
Lake Wales, Polk Co., 139; Orlando, Orange Co., 87.

Territories

Six pairs of Limpkins occupied 3.2 km of the western shoreline
of Lake Pierce (Fig*. 2) over several years. The male territorial
owner normally approached an intruder by flying toward it, at
times screaming loudly the entire distance. The intruder generally
flew in the opposite direction with the owner following closely be-
hind. Female Limpkins also challenge female neighbors and chase
juveniles if the male is incubating (Dana Bryan pers. comm.).
Juvenile birds disappeared at about three months old.

Territories were linear, along the shores of the lake and neigh-
boring channels, some of which were man-made. I never found the
birds nesting further than 21-25 m inland from the shoreline. The

WALKmSllAW»Limpkin Nesting

47

Fig. 2. Limpkin territories along the west side of Lake Pierce, Polk County,
Florida, 1980-1982. Closed symbols indicate a nest site.

six Lake Pierce territories averaged 561 (329=1,390) m long. Ter-
ritories I observed at Lake Wales v^ere similar. At Harris Ranch,
Okeechobee County, territories consisted of marshes 3 to 4 ha in
size covered with maiden cane {Panicum hemitomum) and patches
of pickerel weed (Pontedaria lanceolata) with occasional pools of
open water.

48

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 10, No. 3, August 1982

Vocalizations

Normally Limpkins were fairly quiet, seldom if ever calling at
night, and only periodically during the day. Prior to the nesting
season, males became very noisy, uttering their shrill pathetic cry
kreeow repeatedly, day and night. At this time of year another call,
a sharp kow, was recorded by Dana Bryan (pers. comm.) . In
Okeechobee County, on the night of 18 March 1972, a male was
heard calling kreea-ka while flying over the marsh. Periodically he
also called a repeated kik-kik-kik when flying. On 18 to 20 January,
1982, as the weather became warmer at Lake Pierce, three males
began their screaming. They continued this activity until mid-
February when nest building began, and they then became much
quieter. Females also gave the common call. Both birds uttered at
times a guttural krark or an even more guttural call if their eggs
or chicks were disturbed. When warning the chicks they uttered a
low grunting call similar to the grunt of a pig, but when they moved
or called the chicks they gave a low clucking, kakaduck or kakluck.
Obediently the chicks followed them. The chicks' common call was
wheeteeoo (Dana Bryan pers. comm.) . At times it was a shrill peep-
ing similar to that of a Sandhill Crane (Grits canadensis) chick.

Nesting Period

At Lake Pierce, Limpkins nested throughout the year. One pair,
the male of which had a crippled left wing, nested twice in a year.
They had five eggs 20-25 April 1981 (LHW) , four of which hatched
in May (Dick Kessler pers. comm.). They reared two young (Mil-
dred Comstock pers. comm.) . Then they nested a second time 150 m
north of their first nest in late July rearing two more young (Mil-
dred Comstock pers. comm.). Other laying dates have been (E =
laying date estimated, allowing a 27 day incubation period where
hatching date was known; K= laying date known) : 16-21 March
1971 (E) ; 25-29 January 1972 (E) ; 9-12 February 1972 (E) ;
13-17 March 1972 (E) ; 14-17 March 1974 (K) ; 26-29 February
1976 (E) ; mid-October 1979 (E) ; 7-10 February 1980 (E) ; 18-21
March 1980 (E) ; 3-7 March 1981 (K) ; 20-25 April 1981 (K) ; 30
January-3 February 1982 (E) ; 5-11 February 1982 (K) ; 13-18
February 1982 (K) ; 23-27 February 1982 (K) ; and 1-5 March 1982
(K). Most eggs were laid in late January, February, or March,
coinciding with the laying period of the Florida Sandhill Crane
(G. c. pratensis) at the same Florida latitude.

WALKINSHAW*Ltmpfcm Nesting

49

Hatching dates have been: 17 April 1971 (3 young) ; 10 March
1972 (3 young) ; 13 April 1972 (no. ?) ; 27 March 1976 (4 young) ;
8 March 1980 (4 young) ; 17 April 1980 (4 young) ; 2 April 1981 (5
young) ; 21-22 May 1981 (4 young, estimated) ; 9-10 March 1982
(6 young) ; 16-17 March 1982 (6 young) ; and 21-22 March 1982 (6
young) .

Nests

Limpkin nests have been described by several authors (Bent
1927, Nicholson 1928, Howell 1932, Sprunt 1954, Ingalls 1972, and
Bryan pers. comm.) . I have seen two types, those built in emergent
vegetation over shallow water, and those placed in bushes or trees
adjacent to water.

I found both types of nests at Lake Pierce. In all cases they were
built where snails were abundant. Of the marsh nests, three were
built in cattails {Typha doming ensis) and three under dead dog
fennel (Eupatorium capilli folium) , which grew on a damp mat out
from shore covered by pennywort (Hydrocotyle umhellata) , An-
other nest was placed in torpedo grass {Panicum repens) . A nest in
Okeechobee County was in pickerel weed. All of these nests were
fairly well hidden. In some, the birds had pulled vegetation down
partially hiding the nest from above as is done by rails and gal-
linules. All of these nests were built of the dominant vegetation in
the vicinity, and the Lake Pierce nests were located within 2 m of
an opening so that access was made easy. The nests averaged 36.4
(26-48) m out from the lake shore. They were 18.2 (3-39) cm above
water level, while the water beside them averaged 61.2 (41-122) cm
deep. They measured 51.7 (28-82) x 62.5 (28-94) cm in diameter
and were rather circular. The top center was depressed about 7.5
(3 to 28) cm for the eggs.

I found eight nests in trees. Two were built in live oaks {Quercus
virginiana) , two in cypress trees {Taxodium distichum) , and four
in cabbage palms {Sabal palmetto) . In the oak and cypress trees,
nests were built of Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) and twigs
from the surrounding location. Six of the tree nests averaged 3.1
(1-4) m from the trunk. Two of the palm nests were placed in the
center of the crown where the leaves radiate out, and two were lo-
cated on the top of several closely situated palm fronds. One of these
nests failed during a severe windstorm ; the second was eventually
deserted. The palm nests were built of portions of nearby palm
flower stalks and some dead grasses carried, one or two at a time,
from the lake.

50 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST®T/oL 10, No. 3\ August 1982

The eight tree nests averaged 6.36 (3.5-11.6) m above ground..
Of the oak tree nests, one measured 45 by 61 cm across, 15 cm deep
while the second measured 94 by 128 cm across and 36 cm deep.
Both consisted chiefly of Spanish moss. Palm tree nests were
smaller, about 35 cm across and 20 cm deep. They averaged 14.6
(7-31) m from the lake shore and were generally above mowed
lawns.

Both male and female helped build the nest. In a future nest site,
I watched the wing-crippled male carry Spanish moss and twigs for
over an hour onto a horizontal ash (Fraxinus sp.) branch over the
channel. When the flnrl decision was made, the female built a cattail
nest some 180 m away along the lake shore.

The Eggs

At most nests eggs were laid daily until the clutch was com-
pleted, Limpkin eggs resemble Sandhill Crane eggs but are much
smaller. However their clutch size is much larger. I have seen four
clutches of four eggs, four of five eggs, and three of six eggs. The
mean for 11 completed clutches was 4.9 eggs. Bent (1926) remarked
that clutch sizes ranged between four and eight eggs. Roderick
Chandler (pers. comm.) noted a clutch of nine eggs once in Okee-
chobee County. Sprunt (1954) wrote that clutches commonly were
six or seven. The normal egg shape is somewhat more elliptical than
the ovate crane eggs, but the ground color as described by Bent
(1926) was 'deep olive buff,’ ‘cream buff,’ or ‘cartridge buff,’ with
longitudinal striations of some shade of drab-gray, or brown. Bent
also gave measurements of 40 eggs as 59.4 x 43.8 mm. I have meas-
ured 27 eggs. The mean was 61.29 (SD 1.92, 58.8-66.1) mm by 44.01
(SD 0.968, 42-45,4) mm. The mean weight of 13 eggs was 57.4 (SD
2.84) grams. The mean elongation ratio (length divided by width)
was 1.393.

Incubation and Fledging

Both birds incubated the eggs. I have found Limpkins incubating
two or three eggs before the clutch was completed. Even then they
often refused to leave a nest when I touched them with my hand or
canoe paddle. During the incubation period, immediately after day-
light males fed more rapidly than usual. Between 0630 and 0715,
they flew to their nest and began incubating while the females went
away to feed. Nest changes have been observed at 0630, 0631, 0645,

WALKINSHAW«LimpA;m Nesting

51

0648, 0715, then later during the day at 0930, 1130, 1150, 1300, and
several times between 1915 and 2000, the latter changes occurred
before dark when the female took over. Dana Bryan (pers. comm.)
noted that the female incubated at night.

The incubation period (the time between the laying and hatching
of the last egg) was noted four times: William A. Dyer (pers.
comm.) noted a period in May 1967 as 28 days; at 1981 Nest 1, the
last egg was laid 7 March and hatched 2 April, 26 days later; at
1982 Nest 1, the sixth egg was laid 11 February and hatched 10
March, 27 days later; at 1982 nest 2, the sixth egg was laid 18
February and hatched 17 March, 27 days later. All the eggs hatched
during a period of 18 to 24 hours. Florida Sandhill Crane eggs
hatch 29 to 30 days after laying. Chicks often left lower Limpkin
nests prior to the hatching of the last two to four eggs. At a few
hours after hatching, chicks were capable of swimming, walking,
clambering over debris, and hiding. Apparently all of the chicks
that hatch in tree nests fledge from the nests at once.

In all cases at fledging the parents built a platform or settled
into vegetation so dense it made a natural nest just above water level
and there took part or all of the chicks. From lower nests they had
little trouble joining the nearby male. From tree nests, they tumbled
out when the female flew below, then uttered her ‘chick-calF — a low
somewhat vibrating clucking note. Sandhill cranes call their chicks
with a vibrating purrr call.

On 17 April 1971 at 0600 Marjorie Marshall (pers. comm.) ob-
served such an incident in Lake Pierce. A female Limpkin was
swimming in the channel adjacent to their house. The nest was in
a live oak above the channel. Responding to the clucking of the
mother, three downy chicks, one at a time, tumbled the 6 m out of
the nest into the channel then swam behind their mother some 61 m
out into the emergent vegetation. On 8 March 1980 about 1600, four
chicks tumbled similarily out of a cabbage palm tree nest onto the
lawn grass 11 m below then followed their mother first to the lake
shore then 3 m out into the lake into some heavy torpedo grass
where she quickly trampled down a temporary nest. Here she began
brooding the shivering chicks and continued this in the spot for the
next two days. In both cases the male rushed up and down the lake
front hunting for snails and bringing his catches back to both
mother and chicks. In both cases I sat or stood within 2 m of the
family as the male fed them.

52 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST«yoZ, 10, No. 3, August 1982

On the third day this second pair, the male in front the fe-
male behind and the four chicks between, swam 120 m to a cattail
patch where there w^as excellent cover. Here the family remained for
the next month and made occasional daily forays for food. When
night arrived they always returned to the cattail patch. In 1982 a
pair nested in this patch. The eggs hatched on 16-17 March, and
the adults kept the chicks in the region until 5 April when at 1600
one parent with two chicks swam back 120 m to a Timberlane shore.
These changes were made apparently to move to regions where
snails were more plentiful. As the chicks grew older, around a
month, parents often left them standing in a group in good cover
while they dashed around the lake shore procuring food, often
flying or running between the food supply and the chicks.

The Chicks

One newly hatched chick measured : wing chord, 32 mm ; tarsus,
28 mm; exposed culmen, 18 mm. He was covered with long very
dark down, and resembled a rail chick more than a crane chick in
color, but was much larger. Yet they did resmble crane chicks in
shape and behavior. The down on the baby Limpkin, described by
Bent (1926), was “cinnamon brown” to “snuff brown” paler on the
sides of the head and almost white under the chin. Sprunt (1954)
described this down as “black.” Regardless, it was very dark at first
and slowly became a lighter brown but still much darker than the
down on baby Sandhill Cranes. When chicks were 28 days old they
resembled adults except for down remaining on the top of the head,
neck, and rump. When 45 days old they were better than three-
fourths grown and showed no down. Four chicks hatched on 8 March
1980 could fly about 5 m on 22 April, 45 days later. At that age they
often found their own snails, but one parent often accompanied
them and procured their food. When they were fed, even at this age,
they often vibrated their wings as they anticipated the new food
morsel. Shortly thereafter they were on their own. What happened
to them thereafter I never knew for none had been banded.

Losses

During the early 1970s, one nest was lost to a raccoon (Procyon
lotor) . Two other nests were lost to predators, either raccoons or
Fish Crows {Corvus ossifragus) , The eggs in another nest were
destroyed by a severe windstorm. Of 16 nests, outcome known, 12
had eggs hatch (75%). Of a probable 71 eggs (56 observed), 48

WALKINSHAW*L2mp/cm Nesting

53

hatched and 43 fledged (62.53%) . Of 51 eggs that hatched and final
outcome was known, 25 produced flying birds (49.01%), but there
could have been more eggs in three nests. Of 26 eggs (where clutches
were completed), 11 Limpkins reached flying stage (42.3%).

I have seen several birds with fractured wings. One of these
happened the day the hunting season opened in 1980. The crippled
male was flightless through January. He slowly became able to fly,
by April acquired a mate, and had eggs in late April. He maintained
his territory even when he could not fly, swimming toward his op-
ponent then running in that direction. He maintained the same ter-
ritory for both nests during 1981, and nested there again in 1982.

Another bird during the nesting season, March 1982, after eggs
had hatched, showed up with a crippled leg. This bird left its family
in the charge of the mate and worked back into more remote chan-
nels in its search for food. Although it could fly expertly, it had
severe difficulty searching for food.

Other Behaviors

Feeding behavior, well described by Snyder and Snyder (1969),
consisted of four methods : visual searching on land ; visual search-
ing in clear water ; tactile searching of surface vegetation with head
above water ; and tactile searching of the bottom with head above or
under water. At Lake Pierce the water was often quite muddy, and
the birds fed by the fourth method generally. Once I watched a
Limpkin with head submerged holding out one spread wing to ap-
parently give it better visual contact. Their main food in the Lake
Pierce vicinity was the apple snail {Pomacea paludosa) , but they
also ate many mussels.

I have watched Limpkins bathe on several occasions. On 5 De-
cember 1980 when a female finished bathing, she walked out onto
the adjacent mat, shook herself three times then began to jump like
a dancing crane. She uttered four guttural ‘krarks\ jumped 25 to
30 cm up, then continued until she had completed a circle when she
resumed preening. The male paid no attention to her dancing, unlike
the behavior of cranes in which a pair often dances for some time
together. I have seen one-third grown Limpkins do a similar jumping
up and down after being fed.

I have watched copulation on different occasions, the female as-
sumes a precopulatory pose, lying almost flat on the ground with
spread wings. The male hops onto her back and copulates. It re-
quires only a few seconds.

54

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-Fol. 10, No. 3, August 1982

Summary

At Lake Pierce, Polk County, Florida, Limpkins have been rather
common during the past 16 years. The birds, seldom disturbed by
local residents, have become very tame, feeding nearby and often
nesting in the trees in yards. Six pairs normally nested along the
northwest side of the lake each year. Most nests were found during
February, March and April, but nests were found during the entire
year, and at least one pair nested twice in one year. Egg clutches
varied between four and six eggs ; incubation required between 26
and 28 days vdth the average 27 days for four clutches. Young and
eggs were cared for by both parents. An equal number of nests were
in trees and in emergent vegetation along the lake front. Young
were capable of flying 5 m when 45 days old. Around 42 per cent
of eggs laid produced flying Limpkins.

Dancing by one adult resembled crane dances as did hopping up
and down by chicks. Once a Limpkin used a spread wing to aid his
vision under water in his search for snails and mussels, the chief
food of Limpkins at Lake Pierce.

Literature Cited

Bent, A. C. 1926. Life histories of North American marsh birds, U.S. Nat.
Mus. Bull. 135.

Howell, A, H. 1932. Florida bird life, Coward-McCann, New York.

Ingalls, E. A, 1972. Aspects of the ethology of Limpkins {Aramus guarauna) .

M.S. Thesis, Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.

Nicholson, D. J. 1928. Habits of the Limpkin in Florida. Auk 45: 305-309.
Snyder, N. F. R. and H. A. Snyder, 1969. A comparative study of mollusc
predation by Limpkins, Everglade Kites, and Boat-tailed Crackles. Living
Bird 8 : 177-223.

Sprunt, Jr., a. 1954. Florida bird life. Coward-McCann, New York.

5230 Timberlane Road, Lake Wales, Florida 33853.

GENERAL NOTES

Dry ground nests of Florida Sandhill Cranes.— Although Florida Sandhill
Cranes {Grus canadensis pratensis) occasionally build nests in areas of stand-
ing water that later dry, they apparently rarely nest in an already dry site. The
only published record of such a nest appears to be that of Sprunt (1963, Ad-
dendum to Florida bird life, Coward-McCann, New York), who observed a nest
with one egg on “perfectly dry” ground in April 1956 near Basinger, Okeechobee
County. The nest consisted of only a few bits of reed. This was the first such
nest he or Audubon warden Glenn Chandler had seen in their many years of
experience on the Kissimmee Prairie.

On 25 March 1975 a crane nest that had been built on dry ground was dis-
covered by C. E. Winegarner on the Archbold Biological Station, Highlands
County, Florida. The nest, briefly mentioned by Walkinshaw (1976a, Proc. Int.
Crane Workshop 1:1-18, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK), was in an
extensive grassy swale with widely scattered low shrubs and occasional small
slash pines (Finns elliottii). The dense grass cover, averaging about 0.3 m
high, was composed predominantly of cutthroat grass (Panicum abscissum) ,
The muck soil was moist at the time the nest was discovered. Although the soil
had been wetter during the preceding summer and fall, there had been no
standing water in the area for over a year. The nest consisted of a thin,
slightly concave pad of dry grass (Fig. 1). The grass for a distance of about
0.5 m around the nest had been trampled by the adults. No accessory nests
such as are frequently found in the vicinity of typical nests in aquatic sites
(Layne 1981, Fla, Field Nat. 9:51-59) were observed. The maximum diameter
of the nest was 56 cm. In comparison, the average maximum diameter of 75
typical nests in standing water was 120 cm (Walkinshaw 1976a).

The nest contained one egg on 25 March, Adults were observed in at-
tendance at the nest until 9 April. On 15 April the adults were gone. The egg,
apparently infertile, had a hole in it, probably made by the adults (Drewien
1973, Ecology of Rocky Mountain Sandhill Cranes, Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Idaho),

An additional report of dry land crane nests was given to me by Mr. Z. A,
Browning. He observed nests in dry native prairie on the Bright Hour Ranch,
DeSoto County, Florida, in springs of 1974 and 1975. He described these nests
as being very thin and small, quite unlike the large, bulky nests in water with
which he was familiar. He had never encountered such nests before in the many
years he had lived and worked in the region, although he had seen numerous
typical crane nests.

In contrast to the apparent rarity of dry ground nesting in the Florida
Sandhill Crane, Cuban Sandhills (G. c. nesiotes) typically nest in dry sites
(Walkinshaw 1976b, Cranes of the world, Winchester Press, New York). Dry
land nests are also relatively frequent in northern populations of the species.
For example, 44% of Greater Sandhill Crane (G. c. tahida) nests observed by
Drewien (1973) at Gray’s Lake, Idaho, were in dry sites, including upland
meadows. These nests were smaller and more simply constructed than those in
wet sites, as in the Florida cases.

55

56

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 3, August 1982

Fig. 1. Dry ground nest of Florida Sandhill Crane on Archbold Biological
Station, Highlands County, Florida, 27 March 1975.

Dry land nesting by Florida Sandhill Cranes may be a response to dry
conditions. The nest recorded by Sprunt was found during a period of severe
drought. Winter (December-February) rainfall in the region in which dry
ground nests were observed in 1974 and 1975 was 29% below normal in 1974
and 21% below normal in 1975. With the continuing loss of typical wetland
nesting habitats of cranes in Florida, the incidence of dry land nesting may
increase. Efforts should be made to thoroughly document such a trend if it
should occur, both because of its potential effect on productivity and because
of the unusual opportunity it would afford to gain further insight into
mechanisms of selection on life history parameters in natural populations. —
James N. Layne, Archhold Biological Station, Route 2, Box 180, Lake Placid,
Florida 33852.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(3) : 55-56, 1982.

Zenaida Dove sighting in Palm Beach County, Florida. — We found a Zenaida
Dove {Zenaida aurita) at approximately 0900 on 10 October 1981 at Hypoluxo
Island, Palm Beach County, Florida. The bird flushed from near a pigeon plum
(Coccoloha diversifolia) 26 m from us and flew at a height of 1.5 to 3 m south-
ward for 14 m before swerving off the tree- and shrub-lined road and dis-
appearing from view. Because thick foliage presented a dark background, the
white stripe on the trailing edge of the secondaries could be seen clearly.

General Notes

57

We rushed to the spot where the dove had disappeared and found it perched
on a utility wire 7 m off the ground. The bird was facing south with its back
toward us and its head turned. The dove was studied at 35 m for 20 to 30
seconds in direct sunlight. We noted that the perched bird was similar in size,
plumage coloration, and shape to a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) , includ-
ing the black spots on the wings. It differed by having a small white rectangular
patch on both wings approximately 0.6x2. 5 cm on the rear edge of the sec-
ondaries. On the folded wing above this white patch, there was a black line
with a light gray bar above it. The primaries appeared black. The short square
tail was grayish brown with a blackish subterminal “smudge”. We did not see
any light color on the edges of the tail. No black supra-auricular spot was ob-
served, indicating that the bird was either an adult female or an immature.
The bill and eyes were black and the feet were dark pink. From its perch on
the wire the dove dropped out of sight very quickly, and we were unable to see
any markings. The bird was not seen again despite days of searching by many
observers.

On 11 October 1981 we had the occasion to examine a color slide, taken by
Alexander Sprunt, IV, of a Zenaida Dove at Plantation Key, Monroe County,
on 19 December 1962, The plumage of the dove we saw at Hypoluxo Island
looked exactly like the bird in SprunPs slide, which is No. 229 TTP on file at
Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee.

The range of the Zenaida Dove includes the Bahamas, Greater Antilles and
the Cayman Islands, the Virgin Islands south to Grenada in the Lesser An-
tilles, Holbox, Mujures and Cozumel Islands, the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula
(Mexican States of Yucatan and Quintana Roo) , and formerly the Florida
Keys (Blake 1953, Bond 1956, A.OU 1957). Brudenell-Bruce (1975) stated that
it is found throughout the Bahamas and is common on most islands. Grand
Bahama Island, 103 km east of Palm Beach County, is probably the origin of
the bird at Hypoluxo Island. The bird’s occurrence in October corresponds to
the season of east and northeast winds, which generally commence along the
southeast coast of Florida in September and continue into spring.

The northern race, Z. u. zenaida, was described by Bonaparte (1825) from
a specimen that T. R. Peale obtained in 1824 from “the southern part of
Florida”. This locality has been interpreted to mean the Florida Keys. An
old unpublished specimen (No. 24289 ANSP) at the Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia, with the only data on the label being “Florida (Don. —
Dr. Wilson) Coll. — Dr. McEwen”, was probably added to the academy collec-
tion in the 1870’s and, considering the catalog number, is probably not the
Peale specimen (C. Wesley Biggs pers. comm,), Audubon (1834) in 1832
found the species breeding on grassy islands near Indian Key (in what is now
Monroe County) and noted it also occurred on a small key between Key West
and the Dry Tortugas. He further stated that it was migratory, occurring
in the Keys from mid April to October. After Audubon, the species was not
recorded in Florida again until the 1900’s.

Sight records for the present century include the following: near Coot Bay,
Everglades National Park, 13 November 1948 (Brookfield 1949, Allen 1950) ;
Plantation Key, 30 September 1961 (Stevenson 1962); Plantation Key (photo-
graphed by Sprunt) , 18 December 1962 to 3 March 1963, with two birds present
on 23 February (Stevenson 1963) ; Marathon, 20 December 1962 to February

58

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No, 3, August 1982

1963 (Stevenson 1963) ; and Kissimmee, 26-27 December 1966 (Robertson 1967,
Steffee and Mason 1967.

We examined a number of other records and found them to be questionable.
Bent (1932) saw several small doves on Indian Key on 24 April 1903, that fit
the description of the Zenaida Dove, but stated (p. 417), ‘The vegetation was
too thick to shoot them or even get a good look at them, but I have always
suspected that they were Zenaida Doves . . Thus, the identification was not
positive. The AOU (1957) listed a sight record for Chassahowitska National
Wildlife Refuge on 21 October 1954, but no details were given, Pangburn (1919)
reported two Zenaida Doves at Pass-a-Grille Beach on 11 February 1918 but
later retracted the record (Pangburn 1937). After the circumstances were re-
vealed, we considered the sighting at Marathon, 23 December 1964, to be doubt-
ful (Crane 1965). Two sets of eggs (unpubl.) at the Western Foundation (WF)
of Vertebrate Zoology, Los Angeles, while probably correctly identified, were
no doubt from captive birds. Data for these sets are as follows: 2 eggs (Set
No. 12846 WF), Coral Gables, Dade Co., 12 July 1933, H. H. Bailey; 2 eggs
(Set No. 46671 WF), Dade Co., 14 May 1941, Wray Nicholson. Both sets of
eggs probably originated from H. H. Bailey’s private collection of captive New
World Columbiformes in Coral Gables (C. Wesley Biggs pers, comm.). Because
of the lack of data on the specimen at the Academy of Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia, Sprunt’s slide appears to be the only verifiable documentation
for the occurrence of the Zenaida Dove in Florida and the United States.

Literature Cited

Allen, R. P. 1950. Record of Zenaida Dove on Florida mainland. Auk 67 : 237.

American Ornithologists’ Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds,
5th ed. Lord Baltimore Press, Inc., Baltimore.

Audubon, J. J. 1834. Ornithological biography or an account of the habits of
birds of the United States of America, Vol. 2,

Bent, A. C. 1932. Life histories of North American gallinaceous birds. U. C.
Natl. Mus. Bull. 162.

Blake, E, R. 1953. Birds of Mexico. Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago.

Bonaparte, C. L. 1825. Additions to the ornithology of the United States. J.
Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 5: 30.

Bond, J. 1956. Check-list of birds of the West Indies. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadel-
phia.

Brookfield, C. 1949, Florida region. Audubon Field Notes 3: 13,

Brudnell-Bruce, P. G. C. 1975. The birds of the Bahamas. Taplinger Pubi. Co.,
New York.

Crane, F. 1965. Marathon-Grassy Key, Florida, Christmas bird count. Audubon
Field Notes 19: 188-189.

Pangburn, C. H. 1919. A three months’ list of the birds of Pinellas County,
Florida. Auk 36: 393-405.

Pangburn, C, H. 1937. Correction concerning Zenaida Dove record from Flor-
ida. Auk 54: 574,

Robertson, Jr., W. B. 1967. Florida region. Audubon Field Notes 21: 407-413.

Steffee, N. D. and C, R. Mason, 1967, Zenaida Dove {Zenaida aurita) reported
from Osceola County. Fla. Nat. 40: 103.

General Notes

59

Stevenson, H. M. 1962. Florida region. Audubon Field Notes 16: 21-25.
Stevenson, H. M. 1963. Florida region, Audubon Field Notes 17 : 319-323,

H, P. Langridge, lJf21 W. Ocean Ave., Lantana, Florida S3462; Paul W.
Sykes, Jr., 4-195 Maurice Drive, Delray Beach, Florida 33445; Ann Y. Ayers,
421 North F St,, Lake Worth, Florida 33460; Gloria S. Hunter, 1716
13th Ave. N., Lake Worth, Florida 13460; and Philip S. Weinrich, 345 Pil-
grim Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33405.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(3): 56-59, 1982.

Yellow-collared Macaw in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. — ^On 18 February 1981, I
saw two Yellow-collared Macaws {Ara auricollis) in Fort Lauderdale, Broward
County, Florida. They were feeding on the “cones” of a Casuarina and roosting
on a dead Melaleuca stub in the garden of “Bonnet House” immediately ad-
jacent to Route AlA, just south of Sunrise Boulevard. The birds have a char-
acteristically high-pitched parrot-like call, making their presence noticeable. I
observed them from the sidewalk and beach of AlA as they flew back and
forth among Casuarinas and perched in the open on the dead stub of the
Melaleuca. The two birds appeared to be paired, as they preened each other’s
head and neck feathers and perched closely together. They had been seen in
this area by the occupants of the house for more than a month, A single in-
dividual of this macaw was also reported to be present at the same locality
during February 1982.

The Yellow-collared Macaw is described and figured in Forshaw (1973,
Parrots of the world. New York). It is a handsome, small-sized macaw, ap-
proximately 30 cm long, with the long pointed tail characteristic of the group.
The head is dark-crowned, somewhat blackish brown, with a large bare patch
of yellow skin around the eye, and a palish, not blackish, bill in life. When the
head is turned or tilted forward a noticeable streak of yellow at the nape of
the neck is revealed, the yellow collar. The collar is not always visible, unless
the head is tilted or turned. The plumage of the bird is basically green, but the
wings are noticeably shaded with blue along the primary and secondary edges.
The rump is green, but the upper basal area of the tail feathers where they
meet the upper tail coverts shows a rusty tone. The underparts are slightly
paler green than the back, and there is a noticeably paler olive area on the
lower under tail coverts and base of the retrices,

Robert Ridgely informs me (pers. comm.) that the Yellow-collared Macaw
is little known in its limited range in the Matto Grosso of Brazil, nearby
Bolivia, adjacent Paraguay, and northern Argentina, It has recently come into
the bird trade in very considerable numbers. It is a common bird apparently
in a previously somewhat inaccessible area of South America, now becoming
more accessible, Oscar Owre (pers. comm.) informs me that he is not aware of
any record of these birds in a free-flying state in Florida. Thus this observa-
tion is, apparently, the first sighting of the species at liberty in the State. —
S. Dillon Ripley, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. 20560.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(3) ; 59, 1882,

60 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 3, August 1982

Bald Eagle preys on Cattle Egret. — There are few reports of Cattle Egrets
(Bubulcus ibis) being preyed upon by native birds. Courser and Dinsmore
(1971, Auk 88: 669) observed an adult Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
capture an adult Cattle Egret in Gilchrist County, Florida. Knight (1976,
Fla. Field Nat. 4: 14) and Layne et al. (1977, Fla. Field Nat. 5: 1-4) reported
several observations of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leueocephalus) capturing
Cattle Egrets in the air in central Florida.

On 7 March 1982 at approximately 1700, we observed an adult Bald Eagle
capture an adult Cattle Egret. The pursuit lasted nearly 2 minutes and took
place directly over U.S. Highway 441, 7 km north of the junction of U.S. 441
and S.R. 301, in Marion County, Florida. The eagle was first observed pursuing
a small dark unidentifiable bird at a height of 45 m. The small bird flew er-
ratically and avoided capture. After about 20 seconds, the Bald Eagle then
turned toward a lone Cattle Egret that was passing 25-30 meters away. Im-
mediately the egret began turning sharply while rising and falling in flight.
The eagle remained either directly behind or slightly above the egret during the
entire pursuit. It made several attempts to grasp the egret with its outstretched
talons and eventually was successful when the Cattle Egret made a slow turn.
Instead of immediately landing with the prey, the Bald Eagle flew in an easterly
direction until it disappeared from view.

John Hintermister (pers. comm.) also observed a Bald Eagle capture a
Cattle Egret, over Payne’s Prairie State Preserve, Alachua County, Florida, in
July of 1981. Though little is known of the potential importance of adult
Cattle Egrets in the diet of predators, this egret appears to be taken oppor-
tunistically, in small numbers by Bald Eagles and other North American
raptors. — Michael L. Jennings and Dawn P. Jennings, Florida Game and
Fresh Water Fish Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 1^005 South Main
Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(3) : 60, 1982.

Behavior of river otters by a water hole in a drought year. — -Over a period

of 3.5 weeks in January 1981, my wife and I watched river otters (Lutra
canadensis) in a water hole dug for cattle at the Hendrie Ranch, 24 km S of
Lake Placid, Highlands County, Florida. With its surface a meter below the
level of the surrounding pasture, the hole made a pool measuring 8 x 20 m that
was open to observation on all sides. The otter paid little attention to us as we
watched it from distances of 20 m and less.

The only prey taken by the otter was the walking catfish (Clarias
batrachus) , an exotic species that has spread throughout south and central
Florida (Courtenay et al. 1975, Environ. Conserv. 2:145-148). During our first
observations on 4 January, the otter caught and ate eight catfish 15-30 cm
long in one hour. None took more than a few seconds to catch. On 15 January
we saw an otter catch and eat nine catfish in 2 h. It carried one catfish about
30 cm long into a thick bed of reeds, a behavior we also saw on four other
mornings. The otter caught five fish in 58 min on 26 January and four in 154
min on the 27th, but by 3 February it was unable to catch any in 12 min.

When we visited the ranch in 1979, the water hole had been part of a body
of water 2 ha in extent that covered a woodland swamp and adjacent marsh.
It seemed that the drought affecting the area in 1981 had led to a concentration
of catfish in the water hole. The otter and other predators had apparently

General Notes

61

exhausted the supply in the course of about 18 days. Kushlan (1976, Auk 93:
464-476), in a study of seasonally fluctuating ponds, found that fish moved into
them with the drying up of adjacent swamps. He noted that herons of several
species reduced the biomass of fish concentrated in ponds with lowering levels
by 76 percent. My observations suggested that the otters, more efficient than
the waders in being able to move close to the shore as well as being able to dive
into all parts of the pool, may have caught most of the walking catfish in the
pool.

We thank James H. Hendrie for permitting us to study otters on his ranch
and James N. Layne for his comments on the manuscript. Our observations
were made while staying at the Archbold Biological Station. — Lawrence Kil-
HAM, Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New
Hampshire 03755.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(3) : 60-61, 1982.

REPORT

Summary of the 1982 Spring meeting.— It was with great enthusiasm that
FOS members journeyed to Everglades National Park for the meeting of 16-18
April 1982 at the Flamingo Inn, and they were not disappointed. Field trips
yielded Cape Sable Sparrows, eagles, anis, a tropical (?) kingbird, warblers,
and waders. From the roundup to the roast, the programs excelled. Dr. Jack P.
Hailman, University of Wisconsin, spoke on “Watching Bird Behavior’^, a
perfect topic for FOS members; and Dr. John W. Fitzpatrick, Field Museum,
took us from Florida to Peru in a comparison of insular habitats entitled “A
Thousand ‘Floridas’ Members were then able to ask questions on south
Florida birds of a panel of specialists on the subject: Oron Bass, Paula Froh-
ring, Jim Kushlan, Oscar Owre, and Bill Robertson. The skin quiz, courtesy of
Oscar Owre, was won by Paul Sykes. A just for fun feature, the ornithological
“weird quiz”, courtesy of Paula Frohring, was won by Glen Woolfenden. Both
winners were honored with prints of the superb photographs of Caulion
Singletary, whose work was on display at the meeting. Bob Loftin was given a
photograph by Wes Biggs for having the best answer to the final essay question
on the “weird quiz”.

A beautiful sunset cruise preceded the banquet, which was superb, and the
evening culminated in a roast of Bill Robertson. Roasters included Fred Lohrer,
Oscar Owre, Jonnie Fisk, Glen Woolfenden, and Oliver Austin. This singular
tribute was evidence of the esteem and affection in which he is held. Items of
business included the election to Honorary Membership of Oliver L. Austin
and Pierce Brodkorb, two pre-eminent men who we are priviledged to have in
Florida, and the appointment of James A. Kushlan as editor of the FFN, re-
placing Fred E. Lohrer who received a resolution of appreciation. Oron Bass
and Bill Robertson will serve as associate editors. Fred Lohrer will be review
editor. Lenore McCullagh and Phyllis Robertson are co-chairmen of the
membership committee. In honor of the tenth anniversary of FOS, back issues
of the FFN will be sold for $1.50 in 1983. At the annual membership meeting,
Mary Clench, Malcolm Simons, and Brooks Atherton were elected to the board.
Bob Brown will be local chairman of the 22-24 October 1982 meeting in Titus-
ville. We thank Jim Kushlan and his committee for an outstanding meeting. —
Barbara C. Kittleson, Secretary.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Oliver L. Austin, Jr., elected Honorary Member of the Florida Ornithological
Society.

Oliver L. Austin, Jr., at the Florida State Museum, Gainesville, Florida.

Curator Emeritus of Ornithology at the Florida State Museum, Gainesville,
Florida, Oliver Austin is an ornithologist of international stature. Born in
NeAV York, he graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and re-
ceived Harvard University’s first Ph. D. in ornithology in 1931. By the time
Oliver completed his doctorate, he had expanded his interests from the North-
eastern species he grew up with, to the birds of the entire world. While a
student he gained broad early experience through curatorial work at Wesleyan
and Harvard, and through travel and collecting in Mexico, British Guiana, and
Canada. His dissertation, published in 1932, dealt with “The Birds of New-
foundland Labrador.”

After weathering most of the Depression years on Cape Cod as Director of
the Austin Ornithological Research Station, which he and his father had
founded in 1929, Oliver spent the war years as a Navy line officer. His many
ports-of-call in the Pacific yielded several thousand bird and mammal speci-
mens, collected when he was off duty. Austin then served as wildlife expert for
General Douglas McArthur in postwar Japan, By formulating new game regu-
lations and ensuring protection and conservation of Japanese wildlife during
the Occupation years, Oliver established the basis for Japan’s excellent bird
laws that are in effect today. Later, he co-authored with Nagahisa Kuroda “The
Birds of Japan,” published in 1953. From 1953 to 1957, Oliver served as Pro-
fessor of Zoology at the Air University, Montgomery, Alabama, and spent four
months in Antarctica with “Operation Deep Freeze.” In 1957 he moved to
Gainesville to begin his long association with the University of Florida,

Cont. P. 64

62

Announcements

63

Pierce Brodkorb, elected Honorary Member of the Florida Ornithological
Society.

Pierce Brodkorb (left) at Florida Ornithological Society meeting held at Ft.
Pierce, 1979. With him are (left to right) : Glen E. Woolfenden, one of his
students; William B. Robertson, Jr.; and Frances C. James.

Pierce Brodkorb is a name well known among ornithologists and paleontol-
ogists throughout the world. In addition to his monumental five-part Catalogue
of fossil birds, the standard work in paleornithology, he is coauthor of
Vertebrates of the United States and has published over 170 papers in scien-
tific journals. He is presently Professor of Zoology at the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida, where, since 1946, he has taught courses in ornithology,
avian paleontology, evolution, zoogeography, and related subjects. He received
his B.A. in Zoology from the University of Illinois in 1933 and his Ph.D, in
Zoology from the University of Michigan in 1936, As an undergraduate, he
worked for the Field Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Museum
of Natural History. For the first ten years after receiving his doctorate, he was
Assistant Curator of Birds at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology,
where he also worked while a graduate student. These years of museum re-
search and field work, much of the latter in the wildest parts of Mexico, not
only resulted in a series of valuable scientific specimens and papers but are a
storehouse of tales for students who now live in a world that seems too tame
and too well known by comparison. He has served as consultant to the Florida
Geological Survey, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the Government
of Bermuda, where he did field work in 1960. He joined the American Ornithol-
ogists’ Union in 1925, the Cooper Ornithological Society in 1940, and the Wilson
Ornithological Society in 1951, In recognition of his contributions to the field
of ornithology, he was elected a Fellow of the AOU in 1958 and received the
Union’s highest award, the Brewster Medal, in 1978. A classical scholar as
well as a zoologist, his command of Greek and Latin has enabled him to play
an important role in the resolution of many difficult and complex questions of

Cont. P. 64

64

FLOKIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. 3, August 1982

Oliver L, Austin, Jr., Cont.

As Curator of Ornithology at the Florida State Museum, Oliver Austin ex-
panded the study collection of bird specimens and continued his writing and
research. Much of his field time was devoted to banding Sooty Terns on the
Dry Tortugas— a continuation of his long fascination with both banding and
terns that began with Common Terns on Cape Cod and formed the basis for his
w^ork on avian demography. He has written many technical papers and books
but perhaps is best known for his “Birds of the World,” a massive compendium
published by Golden Press in 1961 and now translated into seven languages.
Austin’s general prowess with the English language is legendary, and one of
his greatest contributions has been his rigorous editorial work for technical
and popular publications. Among his long list of credits: he served as Editor of
The Auk for ten years; expanded the “Recent Literature” section of Bird-
Banding to the enormously useful reference source it is today; compiled and
edited the last three volumes of Bent’s “Life Histories”; and even in his re-
tirement (since 1973) has continued his editorial services for the Bulletin of
the Florida State Museum. He also still conducts an active banding program
using the Japanese mist nets he introduced to American banders and re-
searchers after World War IL He has just produced the third edition (this
time with J. W. Hardy, his successor as Curator at the FSM) of his checklist
of “Birds of the Gainesville Region, Florida” and continues to participate in a
weekly call-in radio program for birdwatchers. He was a Charter Member of
the Florida Ornithological Society until his election as Honorary Member in
1982. — Mary H. Clench.

Pierce Brodkorb, Cont.

zoological and anatomical nomenclature. He is a member of the International
Committee on Avian Anatomical Nomenclature, which compiled and authored
the Nomina Anatomica Avium, the world-wide standard anatomical dictionary
of birds. He has himself described and authored at least 187 bird taxa, in-
cluding one order, eleven families, 20 genera, and 78 species of fossil birds, two
genera and 75 species or subspecies of living birds. A measure of the esteem in
which he is held is that no fewer than 16 taxa have been named for him by his
colleagues. His work on fossil birds has spanned the globe and their entire 140-
million-year evolutionary history. He has made an especially important con-
tribution to our knowledge of the fossil birds of Florida from such localities as
Bone Valley, Reddick, Haile, Arredondo, and Thomas Farm. These Florida
fossils have included such notables as Titanis walleri (Family Phorusrhacidae) ,
an enormous flightless “terror crane” from the late Pleistocene deposits of the
Sante Fe River and the first fossil flamingo from eastern North America,
Phoenicopterus floridanus, from the Miocene Bone Valley Formation in Polk
County. He has served as editor and reviewer for countless books and articles
for most of the major scientific journals and publishing houses. Much of the
contemporary literature of avian paleontology passes under his critical eye
while still in manuscript form. Thus he has for decades contributed significantly
to the improvement in quality of the literature for an entire field of scientific
endeavor. Pierce Brodkorb represents the best in the tradition of teacher-
scientist, and with a grin of delight he will boast of being an academic grand-
father, for his students are now themselves producing another generation of
yourg scientists. — Diana G. Matthiesen and Glen E. Woolfenden.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A quarterly publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: James A. Kushlan, 19650 S.W. 264th Street, Homestead, Florida 33031.

Associate Editors:

Okon L. Bass, Jr., Everglades National Park, P.O. Box 279, Homestead,
Florida 33030.

Fred E, Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid,
Florida 33852.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, P. 0, Box 279, Home-
stead, Florida 33030.

Editorial Advisory Board :

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables,
Florida 33124.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, P. 0. Box 279, Home-
stead, Florida 33030.

Henry M, Stevenson, 905 Briarcliff Rd,, Tallahassee, Florida 32308,

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida,
Tampa, Florida 33620,

INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS

The Florida Field Naturalist is a refereed journal emphasizing biological
field studies or observations of vertebrates, especially birds, in and near Florida,
the Bahamas, and Caribbean Basin, It welcomes submission of manuscripts
containing new information from these areas. Please consult recent issues for
style and VoL 10, No. 1 for detailed instructions. Submit manuscripts for publi-
cation to the Editor in triplicate. Send books and other materials for review
to Associate Editor, Fred E. Lohrer, For information and assistance regarding
submission of reports on bird distribution and rarities contact Associate Editor,
Oron L. Bass, Jr.

OTHER FOS PUBLICATIONS

Species index to Florida bird records in Audubon Field Notes and American
Birds Volumes 1-30 1947-1976, by Margaret C, Bowman, xii + 42 pp. 1978.
FOS Spec. Publ. No. 1. Price $3,75 prepaid. Order from the Assistant to the
Treasurer, Fred E, Lohrer,

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 10, No. 3 August 1982 Pages 45-64

CONTENTS

OBSERVATIONS ON LIMPKIN NESTING

Lawrence H . W alkinshaw 45

GENERAL NOTES

Dry ground nests of Florida Sandhill Cranes James N. Layne 55

Zenaida Dove sighting in Palm Beach County, Florida

H, P. Langridge, Paul W. Sykes, Jr., Ann Y. Ayers,

Gloria S. Hunter, and Philip S. Weinrich 56

Yellow-collared Macaw in Fort Lauderdale, Florida .... S. Dillon Ripley 59
Bald Eagle preys on Cattle Egret

Michael L. Jennings and Dawn P. Jennings 60

Behavior of river otters by a water hole in a drought year

Lawrence Kilham 60

REPORT

Summary of the 1982 Spring meeting Barbara C. Kittleson 61

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Oliver L. Austin, Jr., elected Honorary Member of the Florida

Ornithological Society Mary H. Clench 62

Pierce Brodkorb, elected Honorary Member of the Florida
Ornithological Society

Diana G. Matthiesen and Glen E. Woolf enden 63

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VOL. 10 NOVEMBER 1982 NO. 4

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972
Officers for 1981-1983

President: Theodore H. Below^ 3697 North Ed., Naples, Florida 33942.

Vice-President: Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of
South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Secretary: Barbara C. Kittleson, 5334 Woodhaven Drive, Lakeland, Florida
33803.

Treasurer: Caroline H. Coleman, 1701 NW 24th Street, Gainesville, Florida
32605.

Assistant Treasurers ; John H. Hintermister, Rt. 3, Box 38H, Gainesville,
Florida 32601 ; Patricia J. Lanzillotti, 2135 N W 28th Street, Gainesville,
Florida 32605.

Editor of Florida Field Naturalist: James A, Kushlan, 19650 SW 264 Street,
Homestead, Florida 33031.

Editor of Ornithological Newsletter: Herbert W. Kale, II, Florida Audubon
Society, 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland, Florida 32751.

FOS Archives and Editor of Special Publications: John William Hardy, The
Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Directors 1981-1983

Oron L. Bass, Jr., Everglades National Park, P.O. Box 279, Homestead,
Florida 33030.

William D. Courser, 885 N. Pinehurst, Spring Hill, Florida 33512.

Helen G. Cruickshank, 1925 S. Indian River Dr., Rockledge, Florida 32955.

Marion R. Henriquez, 1510 Dewey Dr., Hollywood, Florida 33020.

Directors 1982-1984

Mary H, Clench, 2239 NW 21st Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32605,

Malcolm M, Simons, Jr,, 1701 East Harbor View Road, Box 52, Charlotte
Harbor, Florida 33950.

Brooks Atherton, 1226 Alhambra Dr., Fort Myers, Florida 33901.

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979; Helen G. Cruickshank 1980; Oliver L. Austin,
Jr, 1982; Pierce Brodkorb 1982.

All persons interested in Floridans natural history, particularly its
abundant bird life, are invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by
writing the Treasurer. Annual membership dues are $10 for individual
members (overseas $13), $15 for a family membership, $5 for students, and
$25 for contributing members. The permanent address of the Florida Ornitho-
logical Society is Department of Ornithology, Florida State Museum, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

All members receive the Florida Field Naturalist and the Newsletter. Sub-
scription price for institutions and non-members is $10 per year. Back issues
($3.00 per issue) are available, prepaid, from the Assistant to the Treasurer,
Fred E, Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt, 2 Box 180, Lake Placid, FL
33852. Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or defective copies
of this journal, and requests for information about advertising and sub-
scriptions should be sent to the Treasurer. The Florida Field Naturalist is
published quarterly (February, May, August, and November) by the Florida
Ornithological Society. It is printed by E. 0. Painter Printing Co., P.O. Box
877, DeLeon Springs, Florida 32028,

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VoL. 10, No. 4 November 1982 Pages 65-96

THE BLACK FRANCOLIN IN THE EVERGLADES
AGRICULTURAL AREA

William G. Genung" and Reginald H. Lewis^-^

The Black Francolin ( Francolinus francolinus asiae) was intro-
duced into the United States during the 1960's under the U.S.
Department of Interior Foreign Game Introduction Program. One
successful introduction has been reported at Gum Cove in south-
western Louisiana (Sims 1963, 1965, Sims et al. 1967, Palermo
1968). Stevenson (1976) reported without details a release near
Avon Park, Highlands Co., Florida. Among documented releases in
Florida were 35 pairs liberated on the University of Florida's Agri-
cultural Research and Education Center (AREC), Belle Glade,
Palm Beach County, Florida. In this paper we report on this success-
ful introduction.

The male Black Francolin is approximately twice the size and
slightly more elongate than the Bob white (Colinus virginanus) . Its
black head, neck, and breast, rich chestnut collar, large, white sub-
triangular cheek spot, light-brown, black-streaked upper-parts, and
its barred retrices, primaries and tail are diagnostic field characters.
The bill is blackish to light-brown, and the legs are reddish to dull
orange (Fig. 1). Spurs are often prominent.

The brownish to buffy-hued female has dark triangular mark-
ings on breast and flanks. The chestnut collar present in the male
is reduced to a pale neck patch in the female, and the bill is a
lighter brown. Feathers of the thigh are buffy, and the tibiae are
lighter than in the male. Bump and Bump (1964) provided a more
technical description.

^Deceased April, 1982.

^Deceased April, 1976.

^Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Ronald Cherry, AREC,
Belle Glade, Florida, 33430,

Fla. Field Nat. 10(4) : 65-69, 1982.

65

66 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST-FoL 10, No, A, November 1982

Fig. 1. Black Francolin {Francolinus francolinus) , introduced into Florida
at Belle Glade. Male is on the left; female is on the right.

On 2 February 1962, the 35 pairs of Black Francolin, wild
trapped by Gardiner Bump in India, were released at the Ever-
glades Experiment Station by personnel of the Florida Game and
Fresh Water Fish Commission and the University of Florida. The
release site chosen offered protection being on the Research Center
and contained 16.1 hectares of elderberry (Sambucus simpsonii)
scrub. Adjacent habitat was composed of several agricultural crops
and the area as a whole resembles the bird’s native habitat in India
in climate and general habitat features.

From shortly after the release until May 1963, four quail
feeders provided with poultry scratch-feed were maintained in the
release area. During the months after liberation. Black Francolins
were seen regularly, particularly in the sugarcane, ramie, and elder-
berry areas. The birds on the AREC were kept under close sur-
veillance for the first three years. Some ; predator regulation was
conducted when the birds were considered in jeopardy. Posted
signs were also maintained along the AREC boundaries.

We believe that Black Francolins now occur over 1036 km^ of

GENUNG AND LEWIS»ErancoMw

67

the Everglades agricultural area. In documenting this range, we
have accepted reports of a few people familiar with the birds, but
otherwise we have relied only on our own sightings or call records.
Our data show occurence in Palm Beach County from near US 27 on
the west, almost to the 20 mile bend on US 441 to the east and from
Pelican Lake on the north to within two miles of the Florida Game
and Freshwater Fish Commission Management Area on SR 827
on the south (Brown’s Farm Road). We have heard reports of the
birds beyond these limits but have been unable to verify them.
Within the documented range, birds are found in a patchy distribu-
tion.

Francolins appear to have bred each year since their release.
Based on presence of young birds and calling of males, we believe
the bulk of nesting occurs between May and September. However,
we know of only three Black Francolin nests. A francolin nest with
one broken and one intact egg was found in October, 1965 during a
mowing operation. Another female francolin was observed almost
under foot on a ditch bank in relatively short St. Augustine grass in
1970. Close examination of the area from which the bird flew away
revealed a rather simple nest with several olive-tan eggs. Examina-
tion of the nest the next day showed the eggs had all hatched and
the brood gone. A third nest, found on the AREC in August 1972,
was revealed by a fleeing female francolin from grass near an elder-
berry area.

When approached. Black Francolins may run or fly. They run
somewhat like Bobwhite, but with body, possibly, held a little more
erect. Their flight is usually straight and direct to the nearest cover.
When surprised on margins of a field, roadway, or pasture, they
vanish into fence-row, brush, sugarcane, or weed cover. As Bump
and Bump (1964) have stated, they just seem to ‘‘melt into the
cover”.

The Black Francolin is not a covey bird but has, at times, seemed
mildly gregarious in that six or eight birds may be flushed in ones
and twos from a relatively small patch of cover. At points of con-
centration, in early morning, five or six birds can be observed along
500 meters of field road. They tend to be fairly cautious and alert,
and, in human presence, they usually seek cover. Males engaged in
calling duels with a rival, however, become so engrossed as to
permit close approach. If the bird is calling from a fence post or
other exposed site, only occasionally can a person approach nearer
than 150 meters before the bird drops to the ground and fades back.
Hens are seen much less frequently than males, possibly because the

68 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No, U, November 1982

females are shyer, more cryptic, and do not call in the manner of the
male.

The call of the Black Francolin is distinctive (Bump and Bump
1964), a click followed by a shrill cicada-like sound. The cicada-like
sound can be heard nearly one kilometer away on a calm day. Males
call throughout the day during the breeding season but with greater
frequency from distinct daylight to 1000 and from 1800 to sun-
down. Seasonally, the bulk of the calling is from mid-April through
September.

Only one Black Francolin (dead on road) became available to
us for stomach contents analysis. The one stomach we examined had
percentage- wise and volume- wise much more animal (primarily
arthropods) matter than vegetable matter.

We believe that the Black Francolin is under considerable
predation pressure though we have seen no actual predation. A
wildcat (Lynx rufus) was interrupted apparently stalking a calling
male.

A young francolin brought to Lewis in July 1965 was suffering
from a paralytic-type disease, possibly fowl paralysis or New-
castle’s Disease. This bird lived four days after it was found. The
disease was not authoritatively diagnosed.

The Black Francolin has persisted and spread slowly since its
release in the Everglades Area. Black Francolins have survived
temperature extremes (Bump and Bump 1964) in excess to those
of the Everglades Area. The annual precipitation in Belle Glade
ranges of 102 to 178 cm is well within optimum levels for the birds.
Although populations are now found scattered over 1000 km^ of
the agricultural area, no significant crop damage by these birds has
been observed during their 16 years in the Everglades. Predation,
illegal shooting, and certain farm practices may have adversely
affected the species. However, it is believed that the area is very
suitable for the species from the standpoint of climate, vegetation,
invertebrate fauna, and crops.

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank our colleagues at AREC, Belle Glade and others who
have reported Black Francolin sightings. This paper was revised by Ronald
Cherry, also of AREC, Belle Glade.

Literature Cited

Bump, G., and W. H. Bohl, 1964. Summary of foreign game propogation

and liberation. USDI, BSFW, Special Scientific Rept. No. 80.

MAEHR ET Ah,*Bird Diversity

69

Bump, G,, and J. W. Bump. 1964. A study and review of the Black Francolin
and Gray Francolin, USDI, BSFW, Special Scientific Kept. No. 81.
Emfinger, J. W. 1966. The Black Francolin in Morehouse Parish, Louisi-
ana. Louisiana Wildl. Fisheries Comm., Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Palermo, R. 1968. Louisiana exotic gamebird program. Louisiana Con-
servationist. 20 (Mar.~Apr.) : 20-22.

Sims, J. A. 1963. Gum Cove Black Francolin release area. Louisiana Wildl,
Fisheries Comm. Bien. Rept. 10: 87-88,

Sims, J. A. 1964. Exotic gamebirds in Louisiana. Louisiana Conservationist
16 (Dec.) : 22-24.

Sims, J. A. 1965, Gum Cove Black Francolin release area. Louisiana Wildl.
Fisheries Comm. Bien. Rept. 11: 91-92.

Sims, J. A., H. Bateman, and J. T. Raiford. 1967. Exotic game propagation
unit. Louisiana Wildl. Fisheries Comm. Bien, Rept. 12: 85-86.

Stevenson, H. L. 1976. Vertebrates of Florida. Univ. Presses of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida.

Stoddard, H. L. 1933. The Bobwhite Quail, its propagation, preservation,
and increase on Georgia farms. Georgia State Dept. Game Fish.

ARECy University of Florida, Belle Glade, Florida, 33^30,

BIRD DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN THREE
PLANT COMMUNITIES IN PUTNAM COUNTY, FLORIDA

David S. Maehr, Mark C. Conner, and John Stenberg

Geographically isolated communities exhibit distinct differences
in the composition and diversity of breeding bird species (Abbot
1980) . Species composition and diversity can be used to characterize
the structure of avian communities (Curtis 1978), including
correlates of the successional state of a given area. On a local scale,
such community parameters are useful in demonstrating small-scale
variation within an ecosystem and the niches that are available to
resident birds. The purpose of this study was to differentiate bird
populations for three distinct habitat types in the Welaka Center
for Education and Research, through the determination of species
composition, diversity, and feeding guilds.

Methods

The Welaka Reserve is located on the east bank of the St. Johns River in
southeastern Putnam County, Florida. Birds were censused on 16-17 May
1980 in three plant communities on the 918 ha Reserve. A variation of Emlen^s
(1977) transect method was used to determine bird density. Within each

Fla. Field Nat. 10(4) : 69-73, 1982.

Table 1, Bird species found in three habitats and their guild membership.'

70 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. November 1982

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■Guilds were characterized following Willson (1974) as: A: primary food habits (1) seedeater, (2) insectivore, or (3) omni-
vore; B: stratum most commonly used for foraging (1) bark, (2) ground, (3) low, (4) middle, or (5) high canopy; C:
usual foraging behavior (1) bark drill, (2) bark glean, (3) ground glean, (4) foliage glean, (5) sally. Each species was
labeled with a 3-digit number representing its guild; thus a Great Crested Flycatcher is in guild 2,5,5 — meaning that it
was considered to be an inseetivore, a user of the high canopy level, and a sallyer.

MAEHR ET AL.»Rirc? Diversity

71

community two 300 m by 40 m transects were run before noon each day. All
bird identifications were made by the same observer and recorded by a second
observer. In addition, all birds that could be identified outside the transects
were identified to species and their frequency of occurrence tallied. Only birds
within the transect were used for density determination, while all birds were
used in calculating diversity (H'), evenness (J')» and relative abundance. The
Shannon-Wiener diversity index and evenness component were used as de-
scribed by Tramer (1969) using the natural log base. Birds were categorized
according to feeding habits using Willson’s (1974) feeding guild format.

Transects were located in a longleaf pine — turkey oak sandhill, a longleaf
pine flatwoods, and an oak — cabbage palm hammock. Sandhill vegetation
consisted primarily of longleaf pine {Pinus palustris) , turkey oak (Quercus
laevis) , and wire grass (Aristida stricta). Dominant plant species in the flat-
woods were saw palmetto {Serenoa repens) and gallberry {Ilex glabra). Laurel
oak (Q. laurifolia) , live oak (Q. virginiana) , and water oak {Q. nigra) were
co-dominants with cabbage palm {Sahal palmetto) in the hammock. These
habitats were described in detail by Laessle (1942), Veno (1976), and Schultz
(1979). Scientific names of birds mentioned are given in Table 1.

Results

Fifteen species of birds (Table 1) were identified in the three
habitats. Number of species per habitat was about the same (Table
1). Density was highest in the sandhill and least in the flatwoods
(Table 2) . Diversity was greatest in the hammock followed by the
Sandhill and flatwoods.

Table 2. Comparison of bird community variables.

Community Variable

Sandhill

Flatwoods

Hammock

Density (number/ha)

6.70

1.25

4.15

Diversity (HO*

2.59

2.20

2.64

Evenness (JO**

0.92

0.95

0.88

Number of Species (s)

7

6

7

s

=

= H7H

5 P log Pj, where P = proportion of total.
i=l

72 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^VoL 10, No. U, November 1982

Discussion

MacArthur and MacArthur (1961) demonstrated that increas-
ing bird species diversity can be positively correlated with increas-
ing foliage height diversity. It should be emphasized that diversity
estimates were calculated for each community using on- and off-
transect data. This was done in an effort to maximize the utility of
all observations while recognizing that unavoidable biases may be
introduced. The bias most affecting this analysis was declining de-
tectability with increasing distance from the transect for some
species. Preliminary tests indicated that 40m was an adequate
transect width for all habitats. Outside of this width, however, de-
tectability appeared to drop off more quickly in the hammock than
in the sandhill or flatwoods. Therefore, estimates of hammock
diversity may be much more conservative than the other communi-
ties. Despite this, our value of hammock bird diversity was the
highest of the habitats studied.

We speculate that our measure of diversity was related to strati-
fication of vegetation throughout the vertical profile as formalized
by MacArthur and MacArthur (1961), Based on our qualitative
assessment of foliage height diversity that was supported by de-
scriptions in Veno (1976), bird species diversity appeared to
parallel foliage height diversity in the three communities studied.
Densities did not follow the same pattern. The highest density
occurred in the sandhill. Cavity nesters dominated the species
present in the sandhill (four of seven) and hammock (four of
seven) . Their presence may help to explain higher densities there.
Since more cavity-prone hardwood plant species occurred in these
areas, cavity nesters would be more abundant there. We observed
several cavities in cabbage palm, turkey oak, laurel oak, and
southern magnolia (Magnolia g randi flora) , species not found in
the flatwoods.

Guild grouping indicated distinct differences in feeding habits
among birds in the three communities (Table 1). All bird species
(except the Osprey, which should not be considered a true com-
munity member) occurring in the hammock were insectivores ; five
out of seven were insectivores in the sandhill (two were omnivores) ;
and two of six species in the flatwoods were insectivores (four were
omnivores) . Possibly, containing more deciduous trees and hence
a more palatable plant biomass, the hammock supported a larger
insect community. Omnivory would be an advantage in a resource
limited environment such as the flatwoods or sandhill communities,

MAEHR ET KL*Bird Diversity

73

where most green plant biomass occurs as evergreen leaves or
needles, which may be more resistant to insect herbivory.

Nelson (1952) determined the species composition for the
various habitats of the Welaka Reserve. Our lists were similar to
Nelson's but were lacking in a few characteristic species. We feel
that the short duration of the study prevented a complete censusing
of the areas studied but allowed collection of enough data to reflect
true differences among the communities studied. This paper should
not be viewed as a conclusive study but one that attempts to explain
certain community differences, recognizing the possible effects of
inherent biases, based on a minimum of data.

Acknowledgments

J. A. KusMan, S. A. Nesbitt, and J. A. Rodgers provided valuable sug-
gestions on the manuscript. L. D, Harris was particularly helpful with dis-
cussion and criticism of this material.

Literature Cited

Abbot, I. 1980. Theories dealing with the ecology of landbirds on islands, Pp.
329-371 In A, MacFayden (ed.) Advances in ecological research. VoL 14,
Academic Press, New York, New York.

Curtis, R. L., Jr. 1978. A representative sample of ongoing and planned non-
game bird research in the southeastern region United States. Pp. 166-176 In
R. M. Degraaf (ed.) Proc. Workshop Manage. Southern Forests for Non-
game Birds. Atlanta, Georgia.

Emlen, j. T. 1977. Estimating breeding season bird densities from transect
counts. Auk 94: 455-568.

Laessle, A. M. 1942. The plant communities of the Welaka area. Univ. Florida
Biol. Sci. Ser. 4: 1-143.

MacArthur, R. H., and J. W. MacArthur. 1961. On bird species diversity.
Ecology 42: 594-598.

Nelson, G. E., Jr. 1952, The birds of Welaka. Quart. J. Fla, Acad, Sci. 15: 21-
39.

Schultz, D. 1979. Timber and soil type map of the Research and Education
Center, Welaka, Florida, Inst. Food Agric. Sci., Univ. Florida, Gainesville,
Florida.

Tramer, E, j. 1969. Bird species diversity: components of Shannon’s formula.
Ecology 50: 927-929,

Willson, M. F. 1974. Avian community organization and habitat structure.
Ecology 55: 1017-1029,

Veno, P. a. 1976. Successional relationships of five Florida plant communities.
Ecology 57: 498-508,

D. S, M,, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission^
Wildlife Research Laboratory, JfOOS South Main Street, Gainesville,
Florida 32601; M. C. C, AND J, S,, School of Forest Resources and
Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611,

GENERAL NOTES

The Sandhill Crane in the Everglades^. — The Florida Sandhill Crane
(Grus canadensis pratensis) occurs from southeastern Georgia through
Florida (Walkinshaw 1973, Cranes of the world, Winchester Press) but is
scarce at the southern tip of the peninsula in Monroe and Dade Counties
(Williams 1978, pp. 36-37, in Rare and endangered biota of Florida, Uni-
versity Presses of Florida, Gainesville, Florida). Consequently, little is
known about the status of cranes resident in extreme southern Florida.

From April through July 1981, aerial censuses were conducted by heli-
copter over the wet prairies, shallow marshes, and inland mangrove swamps
of extreme southern Florida, which are primarily in Everglades National
Park and the Big Cypress National Preserve. Because Florida cranes are
cliaracteristically sedentary within their home range (Nesbitt and Williams
1973, Proc. Ann. Conf. S.E. Assoc. Game Fish Comm. 27: 332-335; Williams
1978), birds occurring in summer, usually in pairs, were considered to be
residents. In April through June, cranes were counted during censuses of
Cape Sable Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) that covered transects 1 km
apart. Parts of the census were flown nearly daily. Additional censuses on 1,
14, and 23 July covered the inland edge of the mangrove swamps, marsh
patches, and the interface between mangroves and inland marshes. I also
analyzed 154 observations of cranes reported in and near Everglades
National Park from 1947 through 1981.

The overall distribution of cranes can be estimated best by combining
results from the censuses with various reported observations of cranes. The
last 6 years of such information are summarized in Figure 1. Pairs of birds
have been observed repeatedly in Shark Valley, near Mahogany Hammock, and
in Taylor Slough, all of which are areas heavily visited by people. Cranes were
also reported from the southern Big Cypress Swamp near Ochopee and
along the west coast, inland of the mangrove swamps north of Broad River.
During the aerial censuses of 1981, 24 cranes were found within the census
area (Fig. 1). The aerial censuses located cranes in each of the areas where
they were expected, except near Mahogany Hammock and in Shark Valley.
However, a pair was observed at Shark Valley repeatedly during the census
period but was not seen from the air. Most of the cranes were in two areas,
near Ochopee and north of Broad River. One pair was found east of Taylor
Slough. The concentration of cranes (Fig. 1) near Ochopee appears to recur.
In 1981, it occurred during very dry conditions and extensive fires, which
covered much of the Big Cypress Swamp. Normally, these cranes probably
occupy prairies scattered throughout the southern part of the swamp. Based
on these data, 26 is my best estimate of the minimum number of resident
cranes in extreme southern Florida in 1981.

All cranes found during the aerial censuses were in freshwater marshes
near the interface of inland marshes and coastal mangrove swamp, apparently
the primary habitat for cranes in extreme southern Florida. This conclusion
is substantiated by other reported observations of cranes, 54% being in similar
habitat. Cranes also occur in rocky, high-elevation Everglades habitat (23%
of observations) especially near Shark Valley, in marsh habitat east of the
Everglades in and near Taylor Slough (16% of observations), and in prairies
in the southern Big Cypress Swamp (3% of observations).

^Editorial processing of this manuscript was handled by associate editor William B. Robertson,
Jr.

74

General Notes

75

Fig. 1. Locations of Sandhill Cranes observed in the Everglades.

During the census of 1981 no young were seen. Because the spring and
summer were dry, finding no young supports the observation that nesting in
southern Florida is delayed when traditional territories and nesting ponds are
too dry (Williams 1978). Walkinshaw (pers. comm.) has found this to be the
case in central Florida. In other years nests have been seen in southern
Florida in March, and obviously dependent young have been seen in April and
May. Nesting in central Florida begins in January through April (Walkinshaw
pers. comm.).

Cranes in southern Florida appear to use areas traditionally. Cranes have
been observed over many years in the general area of Taylor Slough and near
Mahogany Hammock where, in the latter case, I have examined 62 reports of
birds spanning 30 years. During the census of 1981, neither of these pairs was
found in its most frequently observed location. However, a pair was seen near
Taylor Slough, which, along with the concentration near Ochopee, suggests
that the birds move around to accommodate seasonal habitat conditions,
especially changing water levels. The Mahogany Hammock pair has been
seen along the roadside, primarily during the high water season (45% of the
observations of cranes there were from October through December). At this
time the elevated road edge probably provides the most suitable foraging area
available.

76 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. U, November 1982

If the resident crane population in Florida is about 3000 breeding birds
(Williams 1978), the population in extreme southern Florida is relatively
miniscule, less than 1%. Additional birds occur in southern Florida in the
northern Big Cypress Swamp and northern Everglades (Thompson 1970, Auk
87 : 492-502) , but by far most cranes reside farther north in the state (Walkin-
shaw 1976, Proc. Int. Crane Workshop 1:1-18). The cranes of southern Florida
may show ecological affinities to the Sandhill Cranes of Cuba and so may
merit comparative study. The Sandhill Crane can be considered a rare resident
of extreme southern Florida, where a minimum of about 2 dozen occur in
Everglades National Park and the southern Big Cypress National Preserve,
hopefully protected there by continued habitat preservation,

I thank Oron L. Bass, Jr., who flew the Cape Sable Sparrow census, and
Paula C. Frohring, who participated in subsequent censuses. I appreciate
the advice of Stephen A. Nesbitt, William B. Robertson, Jr. and Lawrence
Walkinshaw who reviewed and commented on the manuscript. I also thank
Dottie Anderson and Dee Childs for typing. — James A. Kushlan, National
Park Service, South Florida Research Center, P.O. 279, Homestead, Florida
33030.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(4) : 74-76, 1982.

Sandhill Cranes prey on amphiumas. — On Sunday morning 6 December

1981, I stopped along the park drive in Myakka River State Park to obtain
photographic slides of a Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) family group feed-
ing. Two adults and a young sandhill of the previous Spring were actively
foraging in a marsh.

The cranes flipped vegetation aside and rapidly probed the mud. After
watching this behavior for approximately ten minutes I observed one crane
catch a two-toed amphiuma {Amphiuma means) about 0.5 m long. It appeared
to stab the amphibian with its bill several times and shook it vigorously
prior to swallowing it. Intrigued, I continued to watch the cranes feed and in
the next one-half hour observed them catch four more amphiumas and what
appeared to be a striped crayfish snake {Regina alleni).

A cursory search of the literature on Sandhill Cranes did not provide de-
scriptions of similar feeding behavior. Much smaller vertebrates, invertebrates,
and plant materials are generally described as the primary fare of these birds,
Robert L. Dye, Division of Recreation and Parks, Department of Natural
Resources, Myakka River State Park, Rt. 1, Box 72, Sarasota, Florida 33583.

Fla. Field Nat, 10(4) : 76, 1982.

Spin walking by a Wilson’s Phalarope. — On 11 July 1981 at approximately
1000 EDT Helen and William Dowling and I were observing shorebirds at
Duda Farms near Belle Glade, Palm Beach County, Florida. We were in a
draining field that had no vegetation and very little water. The behavior
of a Wilson’s Phalarope (Steganopus tricolor) in winter plumage attracted
our attention. For three minutes this phalarope simulated the whirling motion
that phalaropes make in water during feeding, but with no water nearby. It
whirled around and around in the same direction and in one spot on damp
muck. Propelling itself by using its feet in a stamping motion, this spinning
bird held its body well off the surface of the ground. We noticed no feeding
during or after this whirling action. As no other Wilson’s Phalarope was in
the immediate area, this whirling bird was not interacting with another
I'halarope,

General Notes

77

Hohn (1967) unequivocally stated that spinning is a feeding motion. The
purpose of spinning on water is to concentrate and draw food toward the
bird (J. P. Hailman pers. comm.). So “spin walking”, or whirling on land, has
no feeding function, and it seems to be an inherent behavior pattern (Johns
1969).

Bent (1927), Matthiessen (1967), and Johnsgard (1981) did not report
whirling on land by Wilson’s Phalaropes, but Hohn (1967) described young
birds in captivity spin walking while feeding in a very shallow dish of water
and wrote that Dr. Pfeiffer of Montana State University had seen spin walking
by an adult captive Wilson’s Phalarope. Johns (1969) also observed spin walk-
ing by incubator-reared young beside a dish of shallow water containing food.
Thus although spin walking during feeding has been observed in captive birds
under confined conditions, our viewing appears to be the only observation of a
wild bird spin walking.

I thank Paul Sykes, Gloria Hunter, and Jack Hailman for their help
with this manuscript.

Literature Cited

Bent, A. C. 1927. Life histories of North American shorebirds; Part 1, U.S.
Natl. Mus. Bull. 142.

Hohn, E. 0. 1967. Observations on the breeding biology of Wilson’s Phalarope
(Steganopus tricolor) in central Alberta. Auk 84: 220-244.

Johns, J. E. 1969. Field studies of Wilson’s Phalarope. Auk 86: 660-670.
JoHNSSARD, P, A. 1981. The plovers, sandpipers and snipes of the world. Uni-
versity of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Matthiessen, P. 1967, The shorebirds of North America. Viking Press, New
York.

H. P. Langridge, lJf21 W. Ocean Ave., Lantana, Florida S3UQ2.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(4) : 76-77, 1982.

Scrub Jay in Osceola County, Florida. — The Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma
coerulescens) in Florida is associated closely with scrub habitat. In many areas
of Florida, this habitat is disappearing rapidly because of residential and
commercial developments. Consequently, the Scrub Jay has diminished in
numbers or disappeared from many localities as a result of destruction of
scrub. Sprunt’s (1954, Florida bird life. Coward McCann, Inc., New York) map
of the Scrub Jay’s range shows it absent in the Kissimmee Prairie area and
south to the extreme southern tip of the peninsula. On 4 January 1974 a dead
adult male Scrub Jay was found by Bruce Anderson on U.S. Highway 441,
about 3.2 km S of Yeehaw Junction, Osceola County, Florida. Another jay
perched near the road shoulder gave alarm calls, evidently in response to the
dead male. The specimen is a skin in the bird collection (UCF 1681) in the
Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Central Florida,
Orlando. To my knowledge these individuals are the first recorded for this
locality.

The collection site apparently is not an area stressed by development. One
wonders if the species has always been in this area, omitted from the range
map by Sprunt, and heretofore not looked for. Similar Pleistocene beach areas
may exist elsewhere in Florida, and it may prove worthwhile for such sites to
be thoroughly investigated.

78 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. Jf, November 1982

I thank Bruce Anderson for making a study skin of the jay and to the two*
reviewers whose comments improved this note. — Walter Kingsley Taylor, De-
partment of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(4) : 77-78, 1982.

A possible White Ibis— Scarlet Ibis hybrid in Alachua County, Florida.-—
On 2 June 1981 we observed a light-pink ibis foraging among scattered
American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) with several White Ibises (Eudocimus albus)
in Alachua Lake, Payne’s Prairie State Preserve, Alachua County, Florida.
The bird was observed and photographed during a 10 min period. Maehr’s
color transparencies of the bird are on file at the Florida Game and Fresh
Water Fish Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, Gainesville, Florida.
The pink coloration was entire, although darker on soft parts.

On January 25, 1982 the same or another light pink individual was seen by
Hintermister and F. Percival on the north side of Orange Lake, Alachua
County, Florida. The bird was observed at 1000, feeding on an exposed mudflat
with seven adult White Ibises.

There have been several other reports of ‘‘pink” ibises, apparently White
Ibis — Scarlet Ibis (E. ruber) hybrids, but these have all been restricted to
southern Florida (Robertson 1967, Kale 1971). These hybrid birds were
apparently the result of the introduction in 1961 of 22 Scarlet Ibis eggs from
Trinidad into White Ibis nests at Greynold’s Park, North Miami Beach (Bundy
1962, Zahl 1967, Owre 1973). Scarlet Ibises are no longer breeding in the park,
although 5 hybrid birds of various shades of redness are present in the colony
(G. Hoffman pers. comm.).

The individual seen on Payne’s Prairie appeared paler pink than the FI
hybrid photographed in Zahl (1967). Subsequent breeding of hybrids with
White Ibises may have resulted in a gradual fading of the red pigment past
the FI generation. We believe this sighting represents the northernmost record
for a White Ibis — Scarlet Ibis hybrid for North America. Drought conditions
in southern Florida may have caused the scattering of these birds away from
their known range. The sighting may also represent offspring of locally breed-
ing mixed parents since records exist for Scarlet Ibises from Tampa Bay
(Robertson 1962) to Alabama (Dusi 1965).

Literature Cited

Bundy, C. 1962. The Scarlet Ibis in Florida. Fla. Nat. 35: 87.

Dusi, R. T, 1965. Sight record of the Scarlet Ibis for Alabama. Wilson Bull.
77: 401.

Kale, H. W., II. 1971. Florida region. Amer. Birds. 25: 725.

Owre, 0. T. 1973. A consideration of the exotic avifauna of southeastern
Florida. Wilson Bull. 85: 491-500.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1962. Florida region. Amer. Birds 16: 470.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1967. Florida region. Amer. Birds 21: 409,

Zahl, P. A. 1967. New scarlet bird in Florida skies. Natl. Geogr. 132: 874-882.

David S. Maehr and John Hintermister, Florida Game and Fresh Water
Fish Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, Jf005 South Main Street,
Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Fla. Field Nat, 10(4): 78, 1982

General Notes

79

Alligator predation on round -tailed muskrats. — Although Walker (1964)
and Neill (1971) list the alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) as a predator
on the round-tailed muskrat {Neofiber alleni) neither cited a source for their
information. Birkenholz (1972), in a review of the life history of Neofiber,
did not list the alligator as a predator.

On 31 March 1970, a dead 2 m-long alligator was collected on U.S. Route
441, 5 km south of Gainesville, Alachua Co., Florida by Larry Barwick of the
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and me. When the specimen
was necropsied at the Department of Veterinary Science, University of Florida,
the complete bodies of 6 adult Neofiber were found in the stomach and small
intestine. Little digestion had taken place, suggesting that the muskrats had
been ingested shortly before the alligator was killed.

The highway where the alligator was killed was built on an elevated dike
crossing an extensive marsh, Payne’s Prairie, which was the site of Birken-
holz’s (1963) study. He found that during periods of flooding on Payne’s
Prairie, muskrats congregated in large numbers on elevated areas such as the
highway dikes and that these animals were especially vulnerable to predation
by hawks and owls. The prairie was flooded by unusually heavy rains in
February and March of 1970, and it is possible that the alligator had been
drawn to the highway by a concentration of muskrats.

Mcllhenny (1935) stated that where muskrats (Ondatra) and alligators
occur together in Louisiana, muskrats are the principal food taken. The same
situation may exist in Florida where Neofiber and alligators occur together.
With the exception of 11 alligators examined by Kellogg (1929), no analysis of
the stomach contents of adult alligators has been done in Florida, so the im-
portance of the species as a round-tailed muskrat predator cannot be assessed.

Literature Cited

Birkenholz, D. E. 1963. A study of the life history and ecology of the round-
tailed muskrat (Neo fiber alleni True) in north-central Florida. Ecol.
Monogr. 33: 187-213.

Birkenholz, D. E. 1972. Neofiber alleni. Mammalian species No. 15.

Kellogg, R. 1929. The habits and economic importance of alligators. USDA
Tech. Bull. 147.

McIlhenny, E, A. 1935. The alligator’s life history. Christopher Publ. House,
Boston, Massachusetts.

Neill, W. T. 1971. The last of the ruling reptiles. Columbia Univ. Press, New
York.

Walker, E. P. 1964. Mammals of the world. Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore,
Maryland.

J. M. Kinsella, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2 Box 180, Lake Placid,
Florida 33852. Present address: 2108 Hilda Ave., Missoula, Montana 59801.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(4) : 79, 1982.

80 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^VoL 10, No. h, November 1982

American Coot and Ring-billed Gull feeding under duck droppings.— At

Lake Eola, near Orlando, Orange County, Florida, on 8 April 1981 I observed
American Coots (Fulica americana) and Ring-billed Gulls {Lams dele-
war ensis) . One of the coots attracted my attention late in the day as it
quartered the grassland near the water’s edge, a favorite resting place for
many tame Muscovy Ducks {Carina moschata). The shore in places was
covered by their dried and dark colored droppings, pressed into the grass by
visitors to the lake. The coot pulled the droppings and with some vigor
levered them away and extracted edible items. From where I was watching,
only a few meters away, it seemed they were picking up seeds, which were
quickly swallowed. This food-seeking behavior continued for about 35 minutes
before the coot sought the lake.

An immature Ring-billed Gull followed the feeding American Coot. In
prizing the duck droppings apart, the coot revealed areas of rotting yellowish
grass underneath. The gull, by trailing a little behind the coot, was able to
pick up and swallow small wriggling earthworms as well as beetles and other
insects from the patches. The prey, suddenly being in the sun’s rays, scurried
about but were soon captured. When the coot ceased its feeding activities, the
Ring-billed Gull also departed.

I had not previously encountered such reactions to droppings either by
American Coots nor by Coots {F. atra) in England. That birds are known to
investigate excreta was well illustrated to me in the village of Mousehole,
Cornwall, England on 2 March 1979 when I saw a Turnstone {Arenaria
interpres) feeding on the soft greenish- white excrement of a Lams gull on a
concrete path. By probing at it and by turning its head sideways, the wader
was able to pull away most of the material (King, 1982, British Birds 75:88).
In England I have seen cattle droppings investigated by House Sparrows
{Passer domesticus) , Starlings {Sturnus vulgaris), Magpies {Pica pica),
Jackdaws {Corvus monedula) , Rooks (C. frugilegus) , Carrion Crow {C.
car one) to name but a few, and by insect-feeding passerines, which are com-
monly drawn to such material. — Bernard King, 'Gull Cry\ 9 Park Road,
Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 5DZ, England.

Fla. Field Nat. 10(4) : 80, 1982.

EDITORIAL

Acknowledgments. — I greatly appreciate the generous assistance of the
many people who participated in publishing Volume 10 of the Florida Field
N aturalist. Fred Lohrer edited the first issue. Fred and I especially thank those
who refereed manuscripts, Wes Biggs, Eric Bitterbaum, Maggie Bowman,
Dana Bryant, Paul DeBenedictis, Bob Duncan, Bill Dunson, Jack Hailman, Bill
Hardy, Larry Harris, Tommy Hines, Steve Humphrey, Julian Lee, Fred Lohrer,
Paul Moler, Frank Montalbano, Steve Nesbitt, Oscar Owre, Steve Patton, Bill
Robertson, Mark Robson, Henry Stevenson, Larry Walkinshaw, Lovett Wil-
liams, and Glen Woolf enden. Distribution papers were evaluated by the
Records Committee of Maggie Bowman, Lyn Atherton, Wally George, and
Henry Stevenson. I especially appreciate the advice and counsel of former
Editor and now Associate Editor Fred Lohrer. I thank members of the Editorial
Advisory Board, Oscar Owre, Henry Stevenson, Glen Woolf enden, and es-
pecially Bill Robertson, who also serves as Associate Editor, as well as Jack
Hailman and Eloise Potter for their advice. I also thank Elaine Gentile, typist,
and Caroline Coleman, treasurer, both of whom were extraordinarily patient. —
James A. Kushlan.

Review

81

REVIEWS

The nesting season: the bird photographs of Frederick Kent Truslow.—
Commentary by Helen G. Cruickshank. 1979. New York, Viking Press. 136
pp., 75 color and 29 black and white photos. $25.00. — In 1956 at the age of 53,
Frederick Kent Truslow retired from a demanding business career in New
Jersey and headed south to Florida to revive a boyhood interest in birds. A
fortunate stop at Rockledge, Florida, to see Alan and Helen Cruickshank and
consult about the purchase of camera equipment in Miami, and a subsequent
visit to photograph Roseate Spoonbills at Key Largo led to the founding of
Truslow’s second career as a wildlife photographer specializing in birds. Many
of Truslow’s outstanding photographs were taken in Florida, especially at
Everglades National Park, and published in National Geographic, Audubon,
and the Living Bird. This handsome book has 75 of Truslow’s best color
photographs of birds including 30 taken in southern Florida.

The book is well made, attractive, and thoughtfully designed. The striking
photographs are reproduced well and those published 20 years earlier in
National Geographic look better here. Helen Cruickshank’s commentary on
the stages of the nesting season carries the reader along with its many first-
hand observations. The afterword by Mrs. Truslow is a sensitive portrait of
her dynamic husband and also discusses his camera methods. A noteworthy
and valuable table gives the locality, date, lens focal length and exposure for
each color picture. There are two errors in the photograph captions: The
nestling ‘‘Rough-legged Hawks’’ on pp. 118-119 are Ferruginous Hawks (this
error is repeated from National Geographic 137 : 674, 1970, where the scientific
name is correct), and the “Sooty Terns” on p. 29 are Noddy Terns,

I believe a sincere effort was made to present the photographs in a different
yet meaningful way by organizing the sequence around the events of the
nesting season. This effort failed for me because Cruickshank’s commentary
was not integrated with the photographs, stage-for-stage. As it is the book
seems strangely disjointed with the photographs separated from the com-
mentary, and I wonder how many people will bother to read it. I object to
books with large pictures of birds spread across the gutter so that the center
of the picture is obscured (i.e. Mourning Dove pp. 110-111, Woodcock pp. 88-
89, Bald Eagle pp. 76-77), There are other, more successful ways of presenting
large pictures such as that of the Osprey on page 91. Olin Sewall Pettingill,
Jr., in his foreword, mentions the importance of Truslow’s meticulous field
notes to ornithology, and Helen Cruickshank used them for the photograph
captions, yet nothing is mentioned in this book of their whereabouts. As “an
everlasting memorial ... to Frederick Kent Truslow” this book would have
benefited by the inclusion of : at least one photograph of Truslow in the field,
preferably the famous 1958 one of a Purple Gallinule perched on Truslow’s
camera and removing a peanut from between Truslow’s teeth; a list of articles
written and/or illustrated by Truslow; and a reprint of Truslow’s zestful
autobiographical sketch “Businessman in the bush”, which appeared in
National Geographic 137: 634-674, May 1970.

Anyone interested in birds would be pleased to own this book for its many
memorable images, both pictorial and verbal. I have enjoyed browsing through
it for several months now. However, Truslow fans will probably continue to
do as I do and collect back issues of National Geographic and Audubon
containing Truslow photographs. — Fred E. Lohrer.

82 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. A, November 1982

Crane research around the world: proceedings of the International Crane
Symposium at Sapporo, Japan in 1980 and papers from the World Working
Group on Cranes, International Council for Bird Preservation. James C. Lewis
and Hiroyuki Masatomi (Eds.). 1981. Available from International Crane
Foundation, City View Rd,, Baraboo, WI 53913. 250 pp. $15.00.-— This volume
is a conglomeration of material from several sources, 20 of the papers were
presented at the 1980 International Crane Symposium held in Sapporo, Japan.
The other 28 papers from various authors were written between 1974 and 1981,

After several introductory papers dealing with the status and or general
biology of cranes there follows a group of papers dealing with each of the 13
species of cranes. In some cases (perhaps because of the need to say something
about each species), these papers are rather insignificant, especially to North
American crane enthuiasts, but many are more than worthwhile. The ma-
jority of species papers (9) are devoted to the Red-crowned Crane or Japanese
Crane (Grus japonensis). This is understandable since the meeting from which
about half the volume derived was held in Japan. The papers on Whooping
Cranes and Sandhill Cranes (G. americana and G. canadensis) are from
recognized authorities in the United States and Canada. Probably it is these
papers that are of the most interest to readers of this journal. Not that there
is nothing of value in the other papers, for there is much to be gleaned
throughout the volume. For example, an innocuously titled paper, ‘‘The Hooded
Crane at Yashiro, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan,” by Nobuki Kawamura
contains some very interesting information on roosting behavior that has
pertinence to other crane species.

The section dealing with Sandhill Cranes begins with a paper, presented

by L. H. Walkinshaw at Sapporo, that is a general overview of status,
range, species characteristics, and includes some personal observations for
each of the six subspecies. Dr, Walkinshaw is the elder statesman of crane
biology in North America, and anything he publishes will contain usable data.
There is much reiterated from previous work in this present paper, but its
purpose seems to have been to serve as an overview on the species, and that it
does well. A paper dealing with the Greater Sandhill Crans (G. c. tabida) by
C. D. Littlefield addresses status and future of the several populations within
that subspecies’ range. Also included is a “state-of-the-arts” paper on the sub-
species (G. c. pulla) resident in Jackson County, Mississippi, by J. M, Valentine
who has worked with these birds for several years and has a first-class working
knowledge of this interesting and certainly endangered population. The final
Sandhill paper, “Capturing and marking Sandhill Cranes,” by L. E. Williams
Jr., is based on his years of experience handling cranes. It is a valuable primer
on the techniques that he has found to be most successful in working with
Sandhills but has application to ail species of cranes. Although some of this in-
formation has been published before, it is good to have it published altogether
in a concise and usable format.

The volume contains some superfluity and fluff and there is noticeable vari-
ation in quality, which is understandable as many of the papers are translations
from authors of limited English literary prowess. These reservations aside,
I would recommend this volume to anyone with a serious interest in cranes. The
data per dollar ratio is quite good. — Stephen A. Nesbitt,

Report

83

FLORDIA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.
TREASURER’S REPORT, 1981

TOTAL FUND BALANCE, cash in banks at year-end

1980

1981

Checking account

Passbook savings account

Certificate of deposit

.... $ 806.77

.... 2,978.41

.... 2,437.67

.... $1,212.92
.... 3,399.08
.... 2,627.51

$6,222.85

.... $7,239.51

1981 CASH RECEIPTS AND

DISBURSEMENTS

TOTAL FUND BALANCE, 1 January 1981

... $6,222.85

Cash Receipts Cash Disbursements

Membership dues

. ... $4,050.00

Membership

$ 93.07

Meetings

1,781.35

Meetings

1,448.49

FFN, back issues .....

27.29

FFN, Vol. 9

3,273.92

Special publication .

26.25

Special publication

2.77

Special projects

593.70

Special projects

687.99

Research fund .

Interest earned

429.00

360.51

$7,268.10

Arm patch 681.96

Other 6.03

Operation

Newsletter

318.02

427.18

$6,251.44

TOTAL FUND BALANCE, 31 December 1981 $7,239.51

ACTUAL INCOME AVAILABLE FOR USE DURING 1981

TOTAL CASH RECEIPTS $7,268.10

Add 1981 dues received before 1/1/81 2,352.00

Less 1982 & 1983 dues received before 1/1/82 1,933.00

Less Research Fund receipts, 1981 (annual CD interest) 618.84

Less Bob Brown Fund receipts, 1981 100.00

Less Special Publication Fund (Budgeted item, 1981) 300.00

ACTUAL INCOME, 1981 $6,668.26

CASH DISBURSEMENTS, 1981 6,251.44

EXCESS OF INCOME OVER DISBURSEMENTS $416.82

April 8, 1982 Caroline H. Coleman, Treasurer

I have performed an audit on the FOS financial records and found them to be
in good order. I traced each transaction through the Cash Receipts/ Cash Dis-
bursements Ledger and the General Ledger. The entries and mathematics are
correct and each check is accounted for. The financial statement is a true re-
flection of the transactions that occured from January through December 1981.
April 14, 1982 Karan Owney, Bookkeeper

84 FLORIDA FIELD NATLFRALIST»yoL 10, No. November 1982

FIVE-YEAR INDEX
to the

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

volumes 6-10
1978-1982

compiled by Fred E. Lohrer
PART ONE, AUTHOR INDEX

A

Arnold, Keith A., Second Florida spec-
imen of the Razorbill, 8 : 50.

Ayers, Ann Y., Paul W, Sykes, Jr.,
and Wesley J. Sykes, Two more rec-
ords of the Tropical Kingbird for
Florida, 8: 25-26, see H. P. Lang-
ridge and.

B

Baker, W. Wilson, Richard L. Thom-
son, and R. Todd Engstrom, The dis-
tribution and status of Red-cockaded
Woodpecker colonies in Florida:
1969-1978,8: 41-45.

Barber, Robert D., see Stephen A.
Nesbitt and.

Bass, Oron L., Jr., see Robert P.
Russell, Jr. et al.

Below, Theodore H., A Cardinal at the
Dry Tortugas, Florida, 7: 31.

Below, Theodore H., and Ralph W,
Schreiber, Meteorological biases in
censuses of roosting Brown Pelicans
in Florida, 6: 9-12.

Brown, Larry N., Fall foraging of
Pileated Woodpeckers on Magnolia
grandifiora seeds, 6: 18-19.

Bryan, Dana C., Winter breeding of
the Common Gallinule in the Florida
Panhandle, 9i 8-9,

Buhrman, Charles B., and Larry A.
Hopkins, Eleven pelagic trips into
the eastern Gulf of Mexico, 6: 30-32,
Leach’s Storm-Petrel sighted in the
eastern Gulf of Mexico, 6 : 44.

C

Callahan, Richard, and William Carey,
Great Horned Owl suspected of
preying upon Snowy Egret, 7: 29.

Carey, William, see Richard Callahan

and.

Carter, Robin, see Gary R. Graves and.

Cavanagh, James E., see Noel O.
Warner et al.

Christman, Steven P., Preliminary ob-
servations on the gray-throated
form of Anolis carolinensis (Rep-
tilia: Iguanidae), 8: 11-16.

Clark, E. Scott, Wood Storks using
White Pelicans as beaters, 6: 45-46,
A Green Heron gleaning honeybees,
8: 17.

Clench, Mary H., Oliver L. Austin, Jr.,
elected Honorary Member of the
Florida Ornithological Society, 10:
62, 64.

Coleman, Caroline H., Treasurer’s re-
port for 1979, 8: 56, Treasurer’s re-
port, 1980, 9: 50, Treasurer’s re-
port, 1981, 10: 83.

Collie, Mark R., A Sabine’s Gull at the
Dry Tortugas, Florida, 7: 28.

Conner, Mark C., see David S. Maehr
et al.

Courser, William D., President’s mes-
sage, 9: 15, see George M. Dooris
et al., see Manuel Lopez et al.

Crawford, Robert L., Samuel A.
Grimes, First Honorary Member of
the Florida Ornithological Society,
8: 32.

Cruickshank, Helen G., First Florida
record of the Lazuli Bunting, 6 :
20-21.

D

Delany, Michael F., Willard P. Leen-
houts, Beau Sauselein, and Herbert
W. Kale II, The 1980 Dusky Seaside
Sparrow Survey, 9 : 64-67.

Dooris, George M., Patricia M. Dooris,
and William D. Courser, The ab-
sence of hematozoa in Burrowing
Owls of the Tampa Bay area, Flor-
ida, 9 : 9.

Dooris, Patricia M., see George M.
Dooris et al.

Duncan, Lucy R., A Band-tailed
Pigeon recovery in Florida, 7 : 28-29,
see Robert A. Duncan and.

Duncan, Robert A., Some noteworthy
changes in the bird life of north-
western Florida (1965-1979), 9:
21-27,

Duncan, Robert A., and Lucy R. Dun-
can, Green Heron nest site tenacity,
6: 17, A Lesser Nighthawk in north-
western Florida, 9 : 33.

Dye, Robert L., Sandhill Cranes prey
on amphiumas, 10: 76.

E

Eichholz, Neal F., Osprey nest con-
centrations in northwest Florida, 8:
18-19.

Engstrom, R. Todd, see W. Wilson
Baker et al.

F

Fellers, Paul J., LeConte’s Sparrow
at Flamingo, Everglades National

Five-Year Index

85

Park, 7i 32,

Fisk, Erma J., Roof-nesting terns,
skimmers, and plovers in Florida, 6 :
1-8.

Fisk, Erma J,, Henry M, Stevenson,
and Herbert W. Kale, II, Records of
the Rufous Hummingbird in Flor-
ida, 23-26.

Fitzpatrick, John W., and Glen E.
Woolf enden, Red-tailed Hawk preys
on juvenile gopher tortoise, 6: 49.

Fogarty, Michael J., Stephen A. Nes-
bitt, and Carter R. Gilbert, Diet of
nestling Brown Pelicans in Florida,
9: 38-40.

Francis, Thomas L., Brown Pelican
found dead with adult Double-
crested Cormorant in pouch, 9i 62-
63.

Freeman, Dorothy W., Yellow-throated
Vireo nests found in Orange County,
Florida, 6i 19-20.

G

Genung, William G., and Reginald H,
Lewis, The Black Francolin in the
Everglades agricultural area, 10:
65-69,

Gilbert, Carter R., see Michael J,
Fogarty et ah

Given, Beryl, see William B. Robert-
son, Jr., and,

Godley, J. Steve, Predation and defen-
sive behavior of the striped swamp
snake {Regina alleni) , 10: 31-36.

Goodnight, Lyman E., see Henry M.
Stevenson et al.

Goodwin, Thomas M., Two unusual
nest sites for Canada Geese in Leon
County, Florida, 7: 6-7, Ring-necked
Ducks breeding in a north-central
Florida lake, 8 : 18,

Graves, Gary R., First sight record of
Vaux’s Swift in Florida, 9i 67-68,

Graves, Gary R., Robin Carter, and
Steve N, G. Howell, Northernmost
record of the Mangrove Cuckoo on
the Gulf coast, 10: 38-39,

H

Harris, Barbara A., and Ann E,
Jerauld, Extra-hole roosting and
changes in hole use by two juvenile
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, 10: 21,

Hennemann, Willard W., Ill, Notes
on the food habits of the Burrowing
Owl in Duval County, Florida, 8:
24-25.

Hintermister, John, see David S.
Maehr and.

Hoffman, Wayne, William B. Robert-

son, Jr., and Paige C. Patty, Short-
eared Owl on Bush Key, Dry
Tortugas, Florida, 7: 29-30.

Hopkins, Larry A., see Charles B.
Buhrman and.

Howell, Steve N. G., see Gary R,
Graves and.

Hunter, Gloria S., see H. P. Langridge
and, see Paul W. Sykes, Jr., and.

J

Jackson, Jerome A., see Bette J.
Schardien and,

Jennings, Dawn P., see Michael L.
Jennings and.

Jennings, Michael L., and Dawn P.
Jennings, Bald Eagle preys on Cat-
tle Egret, 10: 60.

Jerauld, Ann E., see Barbara A. Har-
ris and.

K

Kale, Herbert W., II, see Michael F.
Delany et ah, see Erma J. Fisk et ah,
see Richard T. Paul et ah, see Rich-
ard E. Roberts and.

Kilham, Lawrence, Dusting by Sand-
hill Cranes in Florida, 8 : 19-20,
Assemblages of Tree Swallow as
information centers, 8: 26-28, Com-
mon Crows and a Florida Red-
shouldered Hawk mobbing feathers
on the ground, 10: 23, Common
Crows pulling the tail and stealing
food from a river otter, 10: 39-40,
Behavior of river otters by a water
hole in a drought year, 10: 60-61.

Kilmer, Cecil M., First sighting of
Varied Thrush in Florida, 6: 51.

King, Bernard, A Forster’s Tern while
in flight obtaining insects from the
ground, 8: 48, An unusual female
Ruddy Duck in central Florida, 9:
8, American Robins and Cedar Wax-
wings rain-bathing under lawn
sprinklers, 9 : 9-10, Adult and im-
mature Bald Eagles talon-clasping
while in flight, 10: 19, American
Coot and Ring-billed Gull feeding
under duck droppings, 10: 80.

Kingsbery, Curtis L., see Henry M.
Stevenson et al.

Kinsella, J. M., Alligator predation on
the round-tailed muskrat, 10: 79.

Kittleson, Barbara C., Report on the
1977 fall meeting, 6: 21-22, Report
on the 1978 spring meeting, 6: 55-
56, Breeding in the wild by a hand-
raised Screech Owl, 7: 1-2, Report
on the 1978 fall meeting, 7: 12, Re-
port on the 1979 spring and June

86 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. November 1982

meetings, 8: 32, Report on the 1979
fall meeting, 8: 40, Report on the
1980 spring meeting, 9’. 14, Report
on the 1980 fall meeting, 9 : 27, Sum-
mary of the 1981 spring meeting, 9 :
75, Summary of the 1981 fall meet-
ing, 10: 40, Summary of the 1982
Spring meeting, 10: 61.

Krivet, Daniel, see Jeffrey L. Lincer
et al.

Kushlan, James A., White Pelican
numbers in Everglades National
Park, 6: 16-17, Wading bird use of
the east Everglades, 6: 46-47, The
Sandhill Crane in the Everglades,
10: 74-76.

L

Laird, Robert J., see Walter Kingsley
Taylor and.

Langridge, H. P., Another offshore
sighting of Sabine’s Gull for Flor-
ida, 7: 27, A Thick-billed Vireo
sighting for Everglades National
Park, 10: 22, Spin walking by a
Wilson’s Phalarope, 10: 76-77, see
Paul W. Sykes, Jr., et al.

Langridge, H. P., Paul W. Sykes, Jr.,
Ann Y. Ayers, Gloria S. Hunter,
and Philip S. Weinrich, Zenaida
Dove sighting in Palm Beach
County, Florida, 10: 56-59.

Langridge, Howard P., and Tadziu
Trotsky, First Florida record of the
Black-tailed Godwit, 9: 63.

Layne, James N., Trends in numbers
of American Kestrels on roadside
counts in southcentral Florida from
1968 to 1976, 8: 1-10, Nesting, de-
velopment of the young, and paren-
tal care of a pair of Florida Sand-
hill Cranes, 9: 51-59, Observations
on wing molt of Florida Sandhill
Cranes, 9: 60-61, Dry ground nests
of Florida Sandhill Cranes, 10: 55-
56.

Leeds, Jerry, see Robert W. Loftin
and.

Leenhouts, Willard P., Osprey nest re-
location at Merritt Island National
Wildlife Refuge, Florida, 7: 7-8, see
Michael F. Delany et al.

Lewis, Reginald H., see William G.
Genung and.

Lincer, Jeffrey L., Daniel Krivit, and
Jon E. Shaw, People and ^^pan-
handling” pelicans, 7: 13-18.

Loftin, Robert W., Helen Gere Cruick-
shank (Mrs. Allan D, Cruickshank)
elected Honorary Member of the
Florida Ornithological Society, 9:
13, Diet of Black Skimmers and

Royal Terns in northeastern Flor-
ida: 10: 19-20.

Loftin, Robert W., and Jerry Leeds,
Pileated Woodpecker takes Red-
bellied Woodpecker nestling, 9: 41.

Lohrer, Fred E., Florida birds in the
periodical literature, 1977, 6: 53-55,
Florida birds in the periodical lit-
erature, 1978, 7: 39-40, Eastern

coachwhip predation on nestling
Blue Jays, 8: 28-29, Florida birds in
the periodical literature, 1979, 8:
52-54, Florida birds in the periodical
literature, 1980, 9: 71-74, Florida
birds in the periodical literature,
1981, 10: 41-44.

Lohrer, Fred E., and Chester E.
Winegarner, Swallow-tailed kite
predation on nestling Mockingbird
and Loggerhead Shrike, 8 : 47-48.

Lopez, Manuel, William D. Courser,,
and Eugene W. Schupp, Yellow-
throated Vireo nests in west-central
Florida, 9 : 10.

M

Maehr, David S., Bird use of a north-
central Florida phosphate mine, 9:
28-32.

Maehr, David S., Mark C. Conner, and
John Steinberg, Bird diversity and
abundance in three plant communi-
ties in Putnam County, Florida, 10:
69-73.

Maehr, David S., and John Hintermis-
ter, A possible White Ibis- Scarlet
Ibis hybrid in Alachua County, Flor-
ida, 10: 78.

Matthews, William D., Jr., see Paul
W. Sykes, Jr., et al.

Matthews, William D., Sr., see Paul
W. Sykes, Jr., et al.

Matthiesen, Diana G., and Glen E.
Woolf enden, Pierce Brodkorb elected
Honorary Member of the Florida
Ornithological Society, 10: 63-64.

McKitrick, Mary C., Territory size and
density of Bachman’s Sparrow in
south central Florida, 7: 33-34.

Menk, Gail E., Summer status of the
Common Snipe in Florida 6: 49-50,
An increase of Boat-tailed Crackles
in Leon County, Florida, 9: 11-12,
see Henry M. Stevenson and,

Menk, Gail E., and Henry M. Steven-
son, A Florida specimen of the
Black-throated Sparrow, 6: 21.

N

Nelson, David A., see Richard T. Paul
et al.

Five-Year Index

87

Nesbitt, Stephen A., Sandhill Cranes
in Florida flying with their legs
drawn up, 6i 17-18, see Michael J.
Fogarty, et al.

Nesbitt, Stephen A., and Robert D.
Barber, An albinistic Brown Peli-
can, 7: 6.

0

Ogden, John C., Nesting distribution
and migration of Glossy Ibis in Flor-
ida, 9 : 1-6.

Olsen, O. V., Dust-bathing by Common
Flickers, 6: 18.

P

Patty, Paige C., see Wayne Hoffman
et al.

Paul, Richard T., Pine Siskins in the
Florida Keys, 7i 31-32.

Paul, Richard T., Herbert W, Kale, II,
and David A. Nelson, Reddish
Egrets nesting on Florida’s east
coast, 7i 24-25.

Powell, Margaret C., A Gray Catbird
nest in Duval County, Florida, 6:

51.

R

Repenning, Robert W., and John H.
Wester, Hooded Merganser breeding
in a north Florida phosphate mine,
6i 48.

Richardson, Donald G., Xanthochrom-
ism in the Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
9: 11.

Ripley, S. Dillon, Yellow-collared
Macaw in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,

10: 59.

Roberts, Richard E., and Herbert W.
Kale, II, Aggression between an
American Kestrel and Cattle Egret,
6i 49.

Robertson, Henry, Evening Grosbeaks
in Citrus County, Florida, 7i 11.

Robertson, William B., Jr., and Beryl
Given, Ruddy Quail Dove again at
Dry Tortugas, 8 : 23-24.

Robertson, William B., Jr., see Wayne
Hoffman et al., see David S. Shea
et al.

Rodgers, James A., Jr., Feeding asso-
ciation between Brown Pelicans and
Wood Storks, 6: 44-45, Egg removal
by Little Blue Heron, 6: 48, Repro-
ductive success of three heron spe-
cies on the west coast of Florida, 8 1
37-40, Little Blue Heron breeding
bare part coloration and plumage
characteristics, 8i 46-47, Food of
nestling Little Blue Herons on the

west coast of Florida, 10 1 25-30.

Russell, Robert P., Jr., Roseate Spoon-
bills feed on vegetable material, 10:

18.

Russell, Robert P., Jr., Oron L. Bass,
Jr., and Paul W. Sykes, Jr., Bahama
Mockingbird sighting on Elliott Key,
Florida, 8 : 31-32.

S

Saunders, George B., The origin of
White-winged Doves breeding in
south Florida, 8: 50-51, Erratum,
9: 42.

Sauselein, Beau, see Michael F. Delany
et al.

Schardien, Bette J., and Jerome A.
Jackson, Foraging of Boat-tailed
Crackles at car radiators, 6 : 20.

Schreiber, Elizabeth Anne, see Ralph

W. Schreiber and.

Schreiber, Ralph W., see Theodore H.
Below and.

Schreiber, Ralph W., and Elizabeth
Anne Schreiber, Notes on measure-
ments, mortality, molt, and gonad
condition in Florida west coast
Laughing Gulls, 7: 19-23, Essential
habitat of the Brown Pelican in
Florida, 10: 9-17.

Schupp, Eugene W., see Manuel Lopez
et al.

Shaw, Jon E., see Jeffrey L. Lincer

et al.

Shea, David S., Ruth E. Shea, and
William B. Robertson, Jr., Unusual
observations of nesting Bald Eagles
in south Florida, 7: 3-5, see David
S. Shea et al.

Stafford, Steven K., Inland records of
Oldsquaws and Surf Scoter from
north Florida, 7: 25-26.

Stedman, Annette F., see Stanley
Stedman and.

Stedman, Stanley, and Annette Sted-
man, Feeding association between
Bonaparte’s Gulls and Red-breasted
Mergansers, 7: 27, A rare gathering
of Red Knots on Casey Key, Florida,
8 : 20-21, Traill’s Flycatcher on Flor-
ida’s southwestern coast, 9 : 41-42.

Steinberg, John, see David S. Maehr
et al.

Stevenson, Henry M., Barn Swallows
nesting in the interior of the Florida
Pandhandle, 6: 27-29, First nesting
of the Caspian Tern in the Florida
Panhandle, 7: 8, Southward exten-
sion of Orchard Oriole breeding
range in Florida, 7: 10-11, Winter-
ing of the Northern Waterthrush
in north Florida, 7: 30-31, A spec-

88 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. A, November 1982

imen of the Blue-faced Booby in
northwest Florida, 8i 46, Status of
the Boat-tailed Grackle in the Flor-
ida Panhandle, 9 : 34-37, Comments
on the identification of Stoddard’s
Yellow-throated Warbler, 10: 37-38,
see Erma J. Fisk et ah, see Gail E.
Menk and, see Noel O. Warner, et ah

Stevenson, Henry M., Lyman E. Good-
night and Curtis L. Kingsbery, An
early record of the Band-tailed Gull
in Florida, 8: 21-23.

Stevenson, Henry M,, and Gail E.
Menk, The breeding status of the
Gray Catbird in Florida, 6: 13-15.

Stevenson, James M., First Florida
specimen of the Lesser Nighthawk,
6: 50.

Sykes, Paul W., Jr., Cliff Swallows
continue to nest in Florida, 7: 8-9,
see H. P. Langridge and, see Robert
P. Russell, Jr. et al.

Sykes, Paul W., Jr., and Gloria S.
Hunter, Bird use of flooded agricul-
tural fields during summer and early
fall and some recommendations for
management, 6: 36-43.

Sykes, Paul W., Jr., Howard P. Lang-
ridge, William D. Matthews, Sr., and
William D. Matthews, Jr., Sight
record of Gray-breasted Martin on
the Lower Florida Keys, 7 : 10.

Sykes, Wesley J., see Ann Y. Ayers
et al.

T

Taylor, Walter Kingsley, Scrub Jay in
Osceola County, Florida, 10: 77.

Taylor, Walter Kingsley, and Robert
J. Laird, Nesting of the Summer

Tanager near Oviedo, Florida, 9 :

33.

Thomson, Richard L., see W. Wilson
Baker et al.

Trotsky, Tadziu, see Howard P. Lang-
ridge and.

W

Walkinshaw, Lawrence H., Greater
Sandhill Cranes wintering in cen-
tral Florida, 10: 1-8, Observations
on Limpkin nesting, 10: 45-54,

Warner, Noel O., Henry M. Stevenson,
and James E. Cavanagh, Jr., Sight
records of the Arctic Tern on the
Gulf coast of Florida, 8: 49.

Webber, Thomas A., Eastern coach-
whip predation on juvenile Scrub
Jays, 8: 29-30.

Weinrich, Philip S., see H. P. Lang-
ridge and.

Wester, John H., see Robert W.
Repenning and.

Williams, Lovett E., Jr., Distribution
of the Turkey in Florida — 1973-
1977, 6: 33-35, Unwary behavior of
captured and released Sandhill
Cranes, 9 : 7.

Winegarner, Chester E., see Fred E.
Lohrer and.

Woodin, Crystal D., see Marc C.
Woodin and.

Woodin, Marc C., and Crystal D.
Woodin, Everglade kite predation
on a soft-shelled turtle, 9: 64.

Woolfenden, Glen E., Winter breeding
by the American Coot at Tampa,
Florida, 7: 26, see John W. Fitz-
patrick and, see Diana G. Matthie-
sen and.

Five-Year Index

89

PART TWO, LOCALITY INDEX
A

Alachua Co.^ 6: 17-18^ 34, 49; 8: 18,
42-43; 10: 32, 38, 60, 78, 79,
Apalachicola National Forest, 8i 42,
44.

ArchboM Biological Station, 6: 19, 49;
7: 33; 10: 40.

Avon Park Bombing Eange, 8: 44,

B

Baker Co., 6: 34; 8: 42-43.

Bay Go., 6: 14, 34, 5: 42-43; 9: 35, 62;
10: 37.

Big Cypress National Preserve, 5: 44;
10: 74-76.

Blackwater State Forest, 8i 42, 44.
Bradford Co., 6: 34; 8: 42-43,

Brevard Co., 6: 2, 20, 34, 45; 7i 7-8,
2A; 8: 17, 42-43, 48; 9: 2, 3, 9, 63,
64-67.

Broward Co., 6i 2-3, 4, 34; 9: 10:

59.

C

Calhoun Co., 6 : 34.

Camp Blandiiig, 8 : 42, 44,

Carey State Forest, 8 : 44,

Charlotte Co., 6: 34; 8: 42-43; 10: 21,
Citrus Co,, 6: 34; 7: 10, 11, 42-43;

9 : 9.

Clay Co,, 6: 34; 8: 42-43.

Collier Co., 6: 9-12, 34; 42-43,

Collier-Seminole State Park, 8 : 44.
Columbia Co., 6: 34; 8: 42-43,

Corbett Wildlife Management Area,
44,

D

Dade Co., 6i 3-4, 5, 23, 34, 46-47; 7:
5, 32; 3: 31, 50-51; 9: 2, 3, 64; 10:
18, 74-76.

DeSoto Co., 34; id: 2, 3, 7, 55.

Dixie Co., 6: 34.

Dry Tortugas, 7: 28, 29-30, 31; 8:
23-24 25

Duval Co., d: 1-2, 14, 34, 51; 3: 24-25,
42-43; 9: 33, 41; id: 19-20.

E

Eglin Air Force Base, 8: 42, 44; 9: 23.
Escambia Co., 6: 4, 34; 8: 21; 9: 11,
21-26, 33; id: 37.

Everglades National Park, 0: 16; 7:
3-5, 32; id: 18, 22, 74-76,

F

Flagler Co., d: 34.

Franklin Co., d: 13, 34, 50; 7: 8, 30;
8: 42-43, 46, 49; 9: 33, 34; id: 38,

G

Gadsden Co., d: 34,

Georgia, Mcintosh Co., 8 : 27,

Gilchrist Co., d : 34,

Glades Co., d: 34; 3: 42-43; 9: 60, id:
31-33.

Gulf Co., d : 34 ; 3 : 18-19, 42 ; d : 34,
Gulf Islands National Seashore, 9: 33,
Gulf of Mexico, 6: 30-32, 44.

H

Hamilton Co., 6: 34, 48; 7: 25; 9:
28-30.

Hardee Co., 6: 34.

Hendry Co., d : 34.

Hernando Co,, 6: 34; 8: 42-43.
Highlands Co., 6: 19, 34, 49; 7: 33; 8:
1-10, 19-20, 27, 28, 29-30, 42-43, 47-
48; d: 2, 51, 60; id: 2-4, 6-7, 23, 32,
33, 39, 55, 60, 65.

Hillsborough Co., 6: 18-19, 34, 48; 7i
1, 26; 8: 37-40, 46; 9i 2, 9; 10:
25-30.

Holmes Co., d: 34; 7: 28; 8: 42-43,

I

Indian River Co., 6: 34; 7: 24; 8:
42-43.

J

Jackson Co., d: 15, 27, 43.

Jeiferson Co., d: 43; 5: 42-43.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 8: 44,

K

Kennedy Space Center, 8 : 17,

Key Biscayne National Monument, 8:
31.

Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge, 7:

10.

L

Lafayette Co., 6: 34,

Lake Co., 6: M; 8: 42-43.

Lee Co., 6: 34; 9: 2.

Leon Co., 6: 14, 21, 34, 50; 7: 6-7, 30;

42-43; 9: 11-12, 67-68; 10: 38.
Levy Co., d: 34; 7: 11; 42-43; id:

38

Liberty Co., 6: 34 ; 8: 42-43,

M

Madison Co., d: 34; 8: 42-43.

Manatee Co., 6: 34, 44,

Marion Co., d: 34; 8: 42-43; id: 60.
Martin Co., 6: 2, 34; 7: 8-9; 8: 42-43.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Ref-
uge, d: 45; 7: 7-8, 24, 63; 9: 63,
64-67.

90 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. h, November 1982

Monroe Co., 6i 34; 7: 3-5, 10, 28, 32;
8i 1-2, 5-7, 23-24, 25; 9: 3-5; 10:
22, 57, 74-76,

Myakka River State Park, 10 1 76.

N

Nassau Co., 6: 34; 8: 42-43.

0

Ocala National Forest, 8: 42, 44,
Ochlockonee River State Park, 8: 44.
Okaloosa Co., 6: 34; 8: 42-43; 9: 21-
26, 35.

Okeechobee Co., 6: 34; 10 1 47, 48, 50,
55,

Orange Co,, 6: 4, 19-20, M; 8: 42-43;
9:8; 10: E2, 33, 80.

Osceola Co., 6: 34; 8: 42-43; 10: 3-5,
7, 77.

Osceola National Forest, 8: 42, 44.

P

Palm Beach Co., 6: 2, 36-42, 34, 51;
7; 27; 25, 42-43; 10: 56-57, 65-68,

76.

Pasco Co,, 6 : 30, 34 ; 7 : 29 ; 5 : 10.
Paynes Prairie State Preserve, 6: 49;
10: 78, 79,

Pinellas Co,, 6: 4, 30-32, 34, 44; 7:
19-23; 10: 9-17.

Polk Co., 6: 34; 7: 1-2; 42-43; 9: 2;

10: 3-7, 45-54.

Prairie Lakes State Preserve, 8 : 44,
Putnam Co., 6: M, 8: 42-43; 10: 69-73.

S

Santa Rosa Co., 6: 17, 34; 8: 42, 50;

9: 21-26, 35.

Santa Rosa Island, 8 : 50,

Sapelo Island, 8 : 27.

Sarasota Co., 6: 4, 34; 7: 13-18, 27; 8:

20-21, 42; 9: 2,41; 10: 32, 76,
Seminole Co,, 6: 34; 9: 33, id: 19.

St. Andrews State Recreation Area,
9: 62.

St, George Island, 13, 50; 7: 30;

49.

St. Johns Co., 6: 34; 8: 42-43.

St. Lucie Co., d: 2, 5, 18, 34, 49.

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge,
8: 44.

Sumter Co., 6: 34,

Suwanee Co., 6: 34,

T

Tampa Bay, 10: 25-30.

Taylor Co., 6: 34.

Three Lakes Ranch Wildlife Manage-
ment Area, 8 : 44.

Tosohatchee State Preserve, 8: 44.

U

Union Co., 6 : 34.

V

Volusia Co,, d: 34; 7: 6; 42-43.

W

Wakulla Co., 6: 34; 8: 42-43; 9: 8,
Walton Co., 6: 34, 8: 42-43; 9: 35; 10 1
37.

Washington Co., d: 34; id: 37,

Webb Wildlife Management Area, 8:
44,10: 21.

Welaka Center for Education and Re-
search, id: 69.

Withlacoochee State Forest, 8 : 44,

Five-Year Index

91

PART THREE, SPECIES INDEX
A

Actitis macularia, 6i 39.

Aechmophorus occidentalis, 9 : 22.
Agelaius phoeniceus, ^ : 37 ; ^ • 30.
Aimophila aestivalis, 7: 33-34.

Aix sponsa, 9 : 30.

Ajaia ajaja, 6i 38, 47; 10: 18.

Alca torda, 8i 50; 9: 24, 26,
alligator, 10: 79.

Alligator mississippiensis, 10: 79.
Ammospiza leconteii, 7: 3^
maritima, 1 0 : 74.
m. nigrescens, 9 : 64-67.

Amphispiza bilineata, 6: 21,
amphiuma, two-toed, 10: 76.

Amphiuma means, 10: 76.

Anas clypeata, 6: 38.
crecca, 6: 38.
discors, 6: 31, 38; 9: 30.
fulvigula, 6 : 37, 38, 41.
platyrhynchos, 9 : 30.
sp., 6: 31.

Anhinga, 6 : 38.

Anhinga anhinga, 6: 38.

Ani, Groove-billed, 9 : 24, 26.

Anolis carolinensis, 8: 11-16.

sagrei, 8: 15.
anole, brown, 8 : 15.

green, 8 : 11-16.

Anser albifrons, 9 : 30.

Aphelocoma coerulescens, 8 : 28, 29-30 ;
10: 77.

Aphriza virgata, 9 : 23, 26.

Aquila chrysaetos, 9: 23.

Ara auricollis, 10: 59-60.

Aramus guarauna, 10: 45-54.
Archilochus colubris, 6: 23.

Ardea herodius, 6: 38, 47; 7: 24; 10:
32.

{occidentalis) herodius, 6: 38,47.
Arenaria interpres, 6 : 31, 39, 40.

Asio fiammeus, 7: 29-30; 9: 30.

Athene cunicularia, 8: 24-25; 9: 9, 25.
Avocet, American, 6: 39; 9: 24, 26, 27,
30.

Aythya collaris, 8 : 18.

B

Bartramia longicauda, 6 : 39.

Bittern, American, 6 : 47.

Least, 6 : 38.

Blackbird, Red-winged, 6: 37, ^ : 30.

Yellow-headed, 9: 26, 33.

Bombycilla cedrorum, 9 : 9-10.

Booby, Blue-faced, 6: 31; 8: 46; 9: 22.
Botaurus lentiginosus, 6 : 47.

Branta canadensis, 7 : 6-7 ; ^ : 30.

Bubo virginianus, 7 : 29.

Bubulcus ibis, 6: 31, 38, 49; 7: 24; 9:
29; 7(9: 60.

Bunting, Indigo, 6: 20.

Lark, 9 : 26.

Lazuli, 6 : 20-21.

Painted, 6 : 20.

Snow, 9 : 26.

Buteo lagopus, 9 : 23.

lineatus, 9: 23, 30, 57; 23.

jamaicensis, 6: 49; 9: 30.

Butorides striatus, 6: 17, 38, 47; 7:
24; 8: 17.

C

Calamospiza melanocorys, 9 : 26.
Calcarius lapponicus, 9 : 26.

Calidris canutus, 8 : 20-21.
fuscicollis, 6 : 39.
maritima, 9 : 24, 26.
mauri, 6: 39.
melanotos, 6: 37, 39.
minutilla, 6: 37, 39, 40.
pusillus, 6 : 37, 39.
spp., 6: 39.

Capella gallinago, 6 : 49.

Cardinal, 7: 31; 10: 70.

Cardinalis cardinalis, 7: 31; 10: 70.
Carduelis pinus, 7: 31-32.

Carina moschata, 10: 80.

Casmerodius albus, 6: 37, 38, 47; 7:
24; P: 29; 70: 32.

Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, 6: 39,
40.

Catbird, Gray, 6: 13-15, 51.
catfish, walking, 10: 39, 60.

Chaetura pelagica, 9 : 68.
vauxi, 9 : 67-68.

Charadrius semipalmatus, 6 : 39.
vociferus, 6: 37, 39, 41.
wilsonia, 6 : 4.

Chen caerulescens, 9 : 30.

Chlidonias niger, 6: 31, 39; 0 : 30.
Chordeiles acutipennis, 6: 50 ; 9: 33.
Circus cyaneus, 8: 30 ; 9: 30.
Cistothorus platensis, 9 : 30.

Clangula hyemalis, 7 : 25-26 ; 0 : 23, 26,
30.

Clarias batrachus, 10: 39, 60.
coachwhip, eastern, 8 : 28, 29-30.
Coccyzus minor, 10: 38-39.

Colaptes auratus, 6 : 18.

Columba fasciata, 7: 28-29.

Columbina passerina, 9: 24; 10: 70.
Coot, American, 6: 31, 37, 38, 41; 7:
26; 0: 30; 70: 80.

Cormorant, Double-crested, 6: 31, 38;
7: 24; 0: 29, 62.

Great, 9 : 23, 26.

Corvus brachyrhynchos, 10: 39.

ossifragus, 6: 1, 3; 70: 70.
Coturnicops noveboracensis, 9: 23.
Crane, Sandhill, 6: 17-18; 8: 19-20;
9: 7, 23, 30, 51-69, 60-61; 70; 1-8,
55-56, 74-76, 76.

92 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. U, November 1982

crayfish, 10: 33, 34.

Crotophaga sulcirostris, 9 : 24, 26.
Crow, Common, 10: 39,

Fish, 1, 3; iO: 38=39.

Cuckoo, Mangrove, 10 1 39-39.
Cyanocitta cristata, 28; 10: 70.

D

Dendrocygna bicolor, 6: 37, 38, 41;

23, 26.

Dendroica eoronata, 6 : 32.
dominica, 10: 37-38.
nigrescens, 9 : 25,
petechia, 6: 32.
pinus, 10: 70.
tigrina, 6 1 32.

Dichromanassa rufescens, 7 : 24-25 ; 9 :
23, 26, 27.

Dove, Ground, 9: 24,; 10: 70,

Ruddy Quail, 8 : 23-24.

White-winged, 8: 50-51; 9i 24,
Zenaida, 10: 56-58.

Dowitcher, Long-billed, 6 : 39.
Short-billed, 6 : 39.
sp., 9: 30.

Dryocopus pileatus, 6: 18-19; 41;

10: 70.

Duck, Mottled, 6 : 37, 38, 44.

Muscovy, 10: 80.

Ring-necked, 8 : 18.

Ruddy, 38; 8, 30,

Wood, 9 : 30,
sp., 6: 31.

Dumetella carolinensis, 6: 13-15, 51.

E

Eagle, Bald, 7: 3-5; 9: 30; 10: 19, 60,
Golden, 9 : 23.

Egret, Cattle, 6: 31, 38, 49; 7: 24; 9:
29; 10: 60.

Great, 6: 37, 38, 47; 7: 24; 9: 29;
10: 32.

Reddish, 7: 24-25; 9: 23, 26, 27.
Snowy, 6: 37, 38, 47; 7: 24, 29; 8:
37-39; 9: 29, 57,

Egretta thula, 6i 37, 38, 47; 7: 24, 29;

8: 37-39; 9: 29, 57.

Eider, ^King, 9: 23, 26.

Elanoides forficatus, 8 : 47-48.
Empidonax alnorum, 9: 41-43.
flaviventris, 5:41.
minimus, 5 : 41.
traillii, 9 : 41-43.
virescens, 9 : 41.

Eudocimus albus, 6: 38, 47; 7: 24; 8i
37; 5: 29, 57; Id: 78.
ruber, 10: 78.

F

Falco peregrinus, 9 1 30.

sparverius, 6: 49 ; 8 : 1-10 ; 9 : 30,

Falcon, Peregrine, 9 : 30.

Flycatcher, Acadian, 9 : 41,
Ash-throated, 9 : 25.

Great Crested, 10: 70.

Least, 9 : 41.

Olive-sided, 9 : 25.

Scissor-tailed, 9 : 33.

Traill’s, 5: 41-43,

Vermilion, 9 : 25.

Yellow-bellied, 9: 41.

Flicker, Common, 6 : 18.

Florida caerulea, 6: 31, 38, 47, 48; 7r
24; 8: 46-47; 10: 25-29,

Francolin, Black, 10: 65-68,
Francolinus francolinus asiae, 10: 65-
68.

Fregata magnificens, 6 1 31.
Frigatebird, Magnificent, 6 : 31.

Fulica americana, 6: 31, 37, 38, 41; 7:
26; d: 30; id: 80.

G

Gallinule, Common, 6: 38, 41; 7: 26;
d: 8, 23, 26.

Purple, 6: 38, 41; d: 23.

Gallinula chloropus, 6: 38, 41; 7: 26;

d:8, 23, 26.

Gannet, 6 : 31.

Gavia immer, 6: 30 ; 9: 29.
stellata, 9 : 22.

Gelochelidon nilotica, 6: 39, 41; 5: 30,
Geotrygon montana, 8 : 23-24.

Godwit, Black-tailed, 9 1 63.

Goose, Blue, 9 : 30.

Canada, 7: 6-7; 9: 30.

Snow, 9 : 30.

White-fronted, 9 : 30,

Gopherus polyphemus, 6 1 49.

GracMe, Boat-tailed, 6: 20, 37; 9: 11-
12, 34-37,

Grebe, Eared, d: 22.

Horned, 9 : 29.

Pied-billed, 6 : 38, 41.

Red-necked, 9 : 22, 26,

Western, 9 : 22.

Grosbeak, Black-headed, 9 : 26.
Evening, 7: 11; 9: 26.

Rose-breasted, 9 : 11,

Grus canadensis, 6i 17-18; 8: 19-20;
9: 7, 23, 30, 51-59, 60-61; id: 1-8,
55-56, 74-76, 76.

Gull, Band-tailed, 8: 21-23; 9: 24, 26.
Bonaparte’s, 6: 31; 7: 27; 30.

Great Black-backed, 9 : 24, 25, 26.
Herring, 6: 31.

Laughing, 6: 31, 39; 7: 19-23; 9: 30.
Ring-billed, 6: 39; 10: 80.

Sabine’s, 7: 27, 28.

H

Haliaeetus leucoeephalus, 7: 3-5; 9:
30; id: 19, 60.

Five-Year Index

93

Hawk, Marsh, 30; 30.

Red-shouldered, 9i 23, 30, 57; id: 23.
Red-tailed, d: 49; d: 30.
Rough-legged, 9 1 23.

Heron, Great Blue, 6i 38, 47; 7: 24;
10 1 32.

Great White, 6 : 38, 47.

Green, d : 17, 38, 47 ; 7: 24; 5 : 17.
Little Blue, 6: 31, 38, 47, 48; 7: 24;

8: 46-47; 10: 25-29.

Louisiana, 6: 31, 38, 47; 7: 24; 8:
37-39; 9: 29.

Hesperiphona vespertina, 7: 11; 9: 26.
Himantopus mexicanus, 6: 37, 39; 9:
30.

Hirundo rustica, 6: 27-29, 31, 37.

Hummingbird, Ruby-throated, 6: 23.
Rufous, 6: 23-24.

Hydranassa tricolor, 6: 31, 38, 47; 7:
24; 5: 37-39; 9: 29.

Hydrobatidae sp., 6: 31.

I

Ibis, Glossy, 6: 38, 47 ; 7 : 24; 8: 37 ; 9:
1-5.

Scarlet, 10: 78.

White, 6: 38, 47; 7: 24; 8: 37; 9:

29, 57; id: 78.

Icterus spurius, 7: 10-11.

Iridoprocne bicolor, 6: S7; 8: 26-27.
Ixobrychus exilis, 6: 38.

Jxoreus naevius, 6: 51.

J

Jaeger, Parasitic, 6: 31; 9: 24.
Pomarine, 6: 31; 9: 24.
sp., 6 : 31.

Jay, Blue, 8: 28; id: 70.

Scrub, 28, 29-30; id: 77,

K

Kestrel, American, 6: 49; 8: 1-10; 9:

30.

Killdeer, d: 37, 39, 41.

Kingbird, Tropical, 8: 25-26; 9: 25, 26.
Kingfisher, Belted, 6 : 37.

Kite, Everglade, 9 : 64,

Swallow- tailed, 8: 47-48.

Kittiwake, Black-legged, 9 : 24.

Knot, Red, d: 20-21.

L

Lampropeltis getulus, 10: 33.

Lanius ludovicianus, 6: 2; 8 1 47.

Larus argentatus, 6 1 31.

atricilla, 6: 31, 39; 7: 19-23; 9: 30.
belcheri, 8: 21-23; 9: 24, 26,
delawarensis, 6: 39; id: 80.
marinus, 9 : 24, 25, 26.

Philadelphia, d : 31 ; 7 : 27 ; d : 30.

Limnodromus griseus, 6 : 39.
scolopaceus, 6: 39.
sp., 9 : 30.

Limosa limosa, 9 : 63.

Limpkin, id: 45-54.

Lobipes lobatus, 9: 24, 26.

sp., d: 31.

Longspur, Lapland, 9 : 26.

Loon, Common, d : 30 ; d : 29.
Red-throated, 9 : 22.

Lophodytes cucullatus, 6 : 48.

Lutra canadensis, 10: 32, 39, 60-61.

M

Macaw, Yellow-collared, 10: 59-60,
Mallard, 9 : 30.

Martin, Gray-breasted, 7: 10.

Purple, d : 32.

Masticophis flagellum, 8 : 28, 29-30.
Megaceryle alcyon, 6 : 37.

Melanerpes carolinus, 9: 41; 10: 70.

erythrocephalus, 6: 31, id: 70.
Melanitta perspicillatus, 7: 25-26; 9:
30.

Meleagris gallopavo, 6: 33-35; id: 23.
Melospiza lincolnii, 9 : 33.

Merganser, Common, 9 : 23, 26.

Hooded, d: 48.

Red-breasted, d: 31; 7: 27.

Mergus merganser, 9 : 23, 26.

serrator, 6: 31; 7: 27.

Micropalama himantopus, 6 : 37, 39.
Mimus gundlachii, 8 : 31-32.

polyglottos, 8 : 47.

Mockingbird, 8 : 47.

Bahama, d: 31-32.

Morus bass anus, d: 31.

Muscivora forficata, 9 : 33.
muskrat, round-tailed, id: 79.

Mycteria americana, 6: 37, 38, 44, 45,
^47; d: 30.

Myiarchus cinerascens, 9 : 25.
crinitus, 10: 70.

N

Neofiber alleni, 10: 79.

Night Heron, Black-crowned, d: 38,
47; 7: 24; d: 29.

Yellow-crowned, d: 38; 7: 24; 8:
37-39.

Nighthawk, Lesser, d: 50; d: 33.
Nuttallornis borealis, 9 : 25.

Nycticorax nycticorax, 6: 38, 47; 7;
24; d: 29.

violaceae, 6: 38 ; 7 : 24; 8: 37-39.

0

Oceanites oceanicus, 6: 31, 44.
Oceanodroma castro, 9 : 22, 26.

leuGorhoa, 6 : 30, 44.

Oldsquaw, 7: 25-26; d: 23, 26, 30.

94 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. U, November 1982

Olor columhianus, 9 : 30.

OpoTornis agilis, 9 : 25, 26.

Philadelphia, 9 : 25.

Oreoscoptes montanus, 9 : 25, 26.
Oriole, Orchard, 7: 10-11.

Osprey, 6: 38; 7: 7-8; 8: 18-19; 30;

lOi 70.

otter, river, 10: 32, 39, 60-61.

Of us asio, 7i 1-2.

Owl, Barn, 9: 25, 26.

Burrowing, 8 : 24-25 ; 9: 9, 25.

Great Horned, 7: 29.

Screech, 7: 1-2,

Short-eared, 7: 29-30; 9: 30,

Oxyura jamaicensis, ^ : 38 : : 8, 30.

P

Pandion haliaetus, 6: 38; 7: 7-8; 8:

18-19; 9: SO; 10 1 70.

Panda aniericana, 10: 70.

Parus bicolor, 10: 10.

Passercidus sandwichensis, 6 : 21.
Passerina amoena, 6 : 20-21,
ciris, 6: 20.
cyanea, 6 : 20.
peep spp., 6 : 39.

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, 6 : 16, 38,
45 • 5 : 29.

occidenialis, 6: 9-12, 44; 7: 6, 13-18,
24.; 9: 38-40, 62-63; 10: 9-17.
Pelican, Brown, 6: 9-12, 44; 7: 6, 13-
18, 24.; 9: 38-40, 62-63; 10: 9-17,
White, 6: 16, 38,45; 9: 29.
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, 7: 8-9.
Phalarope, Northern, 9: 24, 26.
Wilson’s, 6: S9; 9: 24.; 10: 76-77.
sp., 6: 31,

Phalaropus sp., 6 : 31.

Phalacrocorax auritus, 6: 31, 38; 7:
24.; 9: 29, 62.
carbo, 9 : 23, 26.

Pheucticus ludovicianus, 9: 11,
melanocephalus, 9 : 26.

Philomachus pugnax, 6 : 39, 40.

Picoides borealis, 8: 41-44; 10: 21.

pubescens, 9 : 30.

Pigeon, Band-tailed, 7 : 28-29.

Pipilo erythropthalamus, 10: 70.
Piranga rubra, 9: 33,

Plectrophenax nivalis, 9 : 26.

Plegadis falcinellus, 6: 38, 47; 7: 24;
8' 37 * 9 : 1-5.

Plover, Black-bellied, 6 : 39.
Semipalmated, 6: 39.

Wilson’s, 6 : 4.

Pluvialis squatarola, 6 : 39.

Podiceps auritus, 9 : 29.
grisegena, 9 : 22, 26.
nigricollis, 9 : 22.

Podilymbus podiceps, 6: 38, 41.
Pooecetes gramineus, 6: 21,

Porphyrula martinica, 6 : 38, 41 ; 9 : 23.

Porzana Carolina, 9 : 30.

Procambarus fallax, 10: 34.
spp., 10: 33.

Procyon lotor, 10: 32, 52.

Progne chalybea, 7 : 10.
subis, 6: 32.

Puffinus diomedea, 6: SO; 9:22, 26.
gravis, 6: SO; 9: 22, 26.
griseus, 9: 22.

Iherminieri, 6: 30.
sp., 6: 30.

Pyrocephalus rubinus, 9 : 25.

Q

Quiscalus major, 6: 20, 37; 9: 11-12,
34-37.

R

raccoon, 10: 32, 52,

Rail, King, 6: 38, 41; 9: 23, 26, 30,
Yellow, 9: 23.

Virginia, 9 : 30.

Rallus elegans, 6: 38, 41; 9: 23, 26, 30,
limicola, 9 : 30.

Razorbill, 8: 50 ; 9: 24, 26.
Recurvirostra americana, 6: 39; 9: 24,
26, 27, 30.

Regina alleni, 10: 31-35, 76.

Riparia riparia, 6 : 37.

Rissa tridactyla, 9 : 24.

Robin, American, 9 : 9-10.

Rostrhamus sociabilis, 9: 64.

Ruff, 39, 40.

Rynchops nigra, 6: 4-5, 39; 7: 8; 10:
19-20.

S

Sandpiper, Buff-breasted, 9 : 24.

Least, 6: SI, 39, 40,

Pectoral, 6: 37, 39.

Purple, 9 : 24, 26.

Semipalmated, 6: 37, 39,

Solitary, 6 : 31, 39.

Spotted, 6: 39.

Stilt, 6: SI, 39.

Upland, 6 : 39.

Western, 6 : 39.

White-rumped, 6 : 39,
spp., 6: 39.

Scoter, Surf, 7: 25-26; 9: 30.

Seiurus motacilla, 9 : 30,
noveboracensis, 7130.

Selasphorus rufus, 6 : 23, 24.

Seminatrix pygaea, 1 0 : 33.

Shearwater, Audubon’s, 6: 30.

Cory’s, 6 : SO ; 9 : 22, 26.

Greater, 6: 30; 9: 22, 26,

Sooty, 9 : 22.
sp., 6: 30.

Shoveler, Northern, 6: 38.

Shrike, Loggerhead, ^ : 2 ; ^ : 47.

Five-Year Index

95

siren, greater, 10: 33,

Siren lacertina, 10 1 33.

Siskin, Pine, 7: 31-32.

Skimmer, Black, 6i 4-5, 39; 7: 8; 10:

19-20.

snake, black swamp, 10: 33.
king, S2 : 33.

striped swamp, 10: 31-35, 76.

Snipe, Common, 6: 49.

Somateria spectabilis, 9 : 23, 26.

Sora, 9 : 30.

Sparrow, Bachman’s. 7: 33-34.
Black-throated, 6: 21.

Cape Sable, 10: 74.

Clay-colored, 9 : 26.

Dusky Seaside, 9 : 64-67.

Harris’, 9 : 26.

LeConte’s, 7: 32.

Lincoln’s, 9 : 33.

Savannah, 6 : 21.

Vesper, 6: 21.

Spizella pallida, 9 : 26.

Spoonbill, Roseate, 6: 38, 47; 10: 18.
Starling, 6: 32.

Steganopus tricolor, 6: 39; 9: 24; 10:
76-77.

Stercorarius parasiticus, 6: 31; 9: 24.
pomarinus, 6: 31; 9: 24.
sp., 6: 31.

Sterna albifrons, 6: 1-8, 31, 39; 7: 8;
9: 30.

anaethetus, 6: 31.
caspia, ^ : 39 ; 7 : 8 ; P : 30.
dougallii, 6 : 4.
forsteri, 6: 31, 39; 8: 48.
fuscata, 6: 31.
hirundo, 6: 4, 31.
maxima, 6: 31; 10: 19-20.
paradiseaea, 8 : 49.

Stilt, Black-necked, 6: 37, 39; 9: 30.
Stork, Wood, 6: 37, 38, 44, 45, Al\ 9:
30.

Storm-Petrel, Harcort’s, 9 : 22, 26.
Leach’s, 6: 30, 44.

Wilson’s, 6: 31, 44.
sp., 6: 31.

Sturnus vulgaris, 6: 32.

Sula dactylatra, 6: 31; 8: 46; 9: 22.

Surfbird, 9 : 23, 26.

Swallow, Bank, 6 : 37.

Barn, 6: 27-29, 31, 37.

Cliff, 7: 8-9.

Tree, 6:^1; 8: 26-27.

Swan, Whistling, 9 : 30.

Swift, Chimney, 9 : 68.

Vaux’s, 9 : 67-68.

T

Tanager, Summer, 9 : 33.

Teal, Blue-winged, 6: 31, 38; 9: 30.

Green-winged, 6 : 38.

Tern, Arctic, 8 : 49.

Black, 31, 39; 30.

Bridled, 6 : 31.

Caspian, 6: 39; 7: 8; 9: 30.

Common, 6 : 4, 31.

Forster’s, 6: 31, 39; 8: 48.

Gull-billed, 6: S9, 41; 9: 30.

Least, 6: 1-8, 31, 39; 7: 8; 30.

Roseate, 6 : 4.

Royal, 6: 31; 10: 19-20.

Sooty, 6: 31.

Thrasher, Brown, 10: 70.

Sage, 9 : 25, 26.

Thrush, Varied, 6: 51,

Thryothorus ludovicianus, 10: 70.
Titmouse, Tufted, 10: 70.
tortoise, gopher, 6 : 49.

Towhee, Rufous-sided, 10: 70.
Toxostoma rufum, 10: 70,

Tringa flavipes, 6: 37, 39, 40, 43.
melanoleuca, 6: 39,
solitaria, 6: 31, 39,

Trionyx ferox, 9 : 64.

Tryngites subruficollis, 9 : 24,

Turdus migratorius, 9 : 9-10,

Turkey, 6: 33-35; 10: 23.

Turnstone, Ruddy, 6: 31, 39, 40.
turtle, soft-shelled, 9 : 64.

Tyrannus 7nelancholicus, 8: 25-26; 9;
25, 26.

Tyto alba, 9 : 25, 26.

V

Vireo, Black- whiskered, 9 : 25, 26.
Thick-billed, Id: 22.

White-eyed, id: 22.

Yellow-throated, 6: 19-20; 9: 10.
Vireo altiloquus, 9 : 25, 26.
crassirostris,10: 22.
flavifrons, 6 : 19-20 ; 9: 10,
griseus, 1 0 : 22.

W

Warbler, Black-throated Gray, 9: 25.
Cape May, 6 : 32.

Connecticut, 9 : 25, 26.

Mourning, 9 : 25.

Parula, 10: 70.

Pine, id: 70.

Yellow, 6: 32,

Yellow-rumped, 6: 32.

Yellow- throated, id : 37-38.
Waterthrush, Louisiana, 9: 30.

Northern, 7: 30.

Waxwing, Cedar, 9: 9-10.
Whistling-Duck, Fulvous, 6 : 37, 38,
41; d: 23, 26.

Willet, d: 39,40.

Woodpecker, Downy, 9: 30.

Pileated, 6: 18-19; d: 41; id: 70.
Red-bellied, d: 41; id: 70.
Red-cockaded, 8: 41-44; id: 21.

96 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST^FoL 10, No. November 1982

Red-headed, 6: 31; 10: 70.

Wren, Carolina, 10: 70.

Short-billed Marsh, 9 : 30.

X

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, 9 : 26,
33.

Xema sabini, 7: 27, 28,

Y

Yellowlegs, Greater, 6: 39,

Lesser, 6: 37, 39, 40, 43.

Z

Zenaida asiatica, 8 : 50-51 ; 9 : 24,
aurita, 10: 56-58.

Zonotrichia querula, 9 : 26,

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

A quarterly publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

Editor: James A. Kushlan, 19650 S.W. 264th Street, Homestead, Florida 33031.

Associate Editors:

Oron L, Bass, Jr,, Everglades National Park, P.0, Box 279, Homestead,
Florida 33030.

Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, Rt. 2, Box 180, Lake Placid,
Florida 33852.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, P. 0. Box 279, Home-
stead, Florida 33030.

Editorial Advisory Board:

Oscar T. Owre, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables,
Florida 33124.

William B. Robertson, Jr., Everglades National Park, P. 0. Box 279, Home-
stead, Florida 33030.

Henry M. Stevenson, 905 Briarcliff Rd., Tallahassee, Florida 32308.

Glen E. Woolfenden, Department of Biology, University of South Florida,
Tampa, Florida 33620.

INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS

The Florida Field Naturalist is a refereed journal emphasizing biological
field studies or observations of vertebrates, especially birds, in and near Florida,
the Bahamas, and Caribbean Basin. It welcomes submission of manuscripts
containing new information from these areas. Please consult recent issues for
style and VoL 10, No. 1 for detailed instructions. Submit manuscripts for publi-
cation to the Editor in triplicate. Send books and other materials for review
to Associate Editor, Fred E. Lohrer. For information and assistance regarding
submission of reports on bird distribution and rarities contact Associate Editor,
Oron L. Bass, Jr.

OTHER FOS PUBLICATIONS

Species index to Florida bird records in Audubon Field Notes and American
Birds Volumes 1-30 1947-1976, by Margaret C. Bowman, xii + 42 pp. 1978.

FOS Spec. Publ. No. 1. Price $3.75 prepaid. Order from the Assistant to the
Treasurer, Fred E. Lohrer.

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Quarterly Publication of the Florida Ornithological Society

VOL. 10, No. 4 November 1982 Pages 65=96

CONTENTS

ARTICLES

The Black Francolin in the Everglades Agricultural

Area William G. Geniing and Reginald H. Lewis 65

Bird diversity and abundance in three plant communities
in Putnam County, Florida

David S. Maehr, Mark C. Conner, and John Stenberg 69

GENERAL NOTES

The Sandhill Crane in the Everglades James A. Ktishlan 74

Sandhill Cranes prey on amphiumas Robert L. Dye 76

Spin walking by a ^Vilson’s Phalarope ... . H. P. Langridge 76

Scrub Jay in Osceola County, Florida Walter Kingsley Taylor 77

A possible ’White Ibis-Scarlet Ibis hybrid in Alachua

County, Florida David S. Maehr and John Hintermister 78

Alligator predation on round-tailed muskrats . J. M. Kinsella 79

American Coot and Ring-billed Gull feeding on duck

droppings Bernard King 80

EDITORIAL

Acknowledgments James A. Ktishlan 80

REVIEWS

The nesting season: the bird photographs of Frederick

Kent Truslow Fred E. Lohrer 81

Crane research around the world: proceedings of the
International Crane Symposium at Sapporo, Japan in
1980 and papers from the World Working Group on Cranes,
International Council for Bird Preservation Stephen A. Nesbitt 82

REPORT

Florida Ornithological Society, Inc. Treasurer’s report, 1981

Caroline H. Coleman 83

FIVE=YEAR INDEX

Five-year index to the Florida Field Naturalist, volumes

6-10, 1978-1982 Fred E. Lohrer 84

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