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Florida  Field  Naturalist 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  FLORIDA  ORNITHOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VOL.  25,  NO.  4 


November  1997 


Pages  117-160 


FLORIDA  ORNITHOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 

Founded  1972 
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33942. 


Directors,  Terms  Expiring  in  1998 

BOBBIE  Kittleson,  5334  Woodhaven  Lane,  Lakeland,  Florida  33813. 
eric  D.  Stolen,  2612  Adela  Avenue,  Orlando,  Florida  32826. 

Directors,  Terms  Expiring  in  1999 

LYNN  ATHERTON,  1100  Pinellas  Bayway  1-3,  Tierra  Verde,  Florida  33715. 

Eugene  Stoccardo,  2458  Econ  Cir.  Apt.  132,  Orlando,  Florida  32817-2653. 

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Samuel  A.  Grimes  1979,  Helen  G.  Cruickshank  1980;  Oliver  L.  Austin,  Jr.  1982; 
Pierce  Brodkorb  1982;  William  B.  Robertson,  Jr.  1992;  Glen  E.  Woolfenden,  1994. 


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THIS  PUBLICATION  IS  PRINTED  ON  NEUTRAL  PH  PAPER 


Florida  Field  Naturalist 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  FLORIDA  ORNITHOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


Vol.  25,  No.  4 November  1997  Pages  117-160 


Florida  Field  Nat.  25(4):117-127,  1997. 

STATUS  OF  THE  WHITE -TAILED  KITE  IN  NORTHERN  AND 
CENTRAL  FLORIDA 

Bill  Pranty1  and  Michael  A.  McMillian2 
:8515  Village  Mill  Row,  Bayonet  Point,  Florida  34667-2662 
2MacArthur  Agro-Ecology  Research  Center 
300  Buck  Island  Ranch  Road,  Lake  Placid,  Florida  33852 

Abstract. — The  White-tailed  Kite  ( Elanus  leucurus ) historically  was  a rare  breeding 
resident  of  central  Florida,  but  it  nearly  became  extirpated  by  the  mid-20th  century.  Kite 
reports  in  the  state  have  been  increasing  since  the  1960s.  Most  reports  from  1961  to  1972 
occurred  in  the  central  peninsula.  From  1973  to  1990,  however,  most  kite  sightings  and 
all  13  nests  were  found  in  the  eastern  Everglades  in  south  Florida.  Since  1991,  reports  of 
White-tailed  Kites,  mostly  from  central  Florida,  have  increased  further.  In  1996  kites  re- 
sumed nesting  in  the  region  after  a 66-year  absence.  The  possibility  of  kites  expanding 
their  nesting  range  into  northern  Florida  is  discussed. 

Eisenmann  (1971),  Pruett- Jones  et  al.  (1980),  Gatz  et  al.  (1988), 
and  Dunk  (1995)  documented  the  dramatic  decline  and  subsequent  re- 
covery of  the  White-tailed  Kite  ( Elanus  leucurus ) throughout  its  range. 
Titian  Peale  added  the  species  to  the  Florida  list  when  he  collected  a 
specimen  near  St.  Augustine  in  1824  or  1825  (Curnutt  and  Hoffman 
1992).  Howell  (1932:163)  called  the  kite  “a  rare  and  local  resident”  that 
seemed  “on  the  verge  of  extinction”  in  the  state.  Kites  continued  to  be 
reported  sporadically  through  the  1950s  (Sprunt  1954,  1963),  but  the 
last  nesting  record  until  recently  was  in  1930  (Stevenson  and  Anderson 
1994).  Kale  (1974)  summarized  most  Florida  reports  of  White-tailed 
Kites  up  through  1972  and  documented  their  increase  since  1961. 

In  September  and  October  1984,  at  least  one  adult  White-tailed 
Kite  was  observed  on  Weston  Road  in  eastern  Broward  County 
(Atherton  and  Atherton  1985).  On  30  September  1984,  a juvenile  was 
seen  along  the  same  road  (D.  Goodwin,  L.  Snyder,  and  B.  Pranty  in 
Powell  1986),  so  breeding  may  have  occurred  in  the  area  that  year 
(Pranty  1992).  In  1986,  King  (1987)  documented  the  kite’s  return  as  a 
breeding  species  when  he  found  three  nests  in  the  Everglades  in  Bro- 


117 


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FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


ward  County.  Curnutt  (1989)  described  a kite  nest  found  in  Ever- 
glades National  Park  in  Dade  Comity  in  1988.  Curnutt  and  Hoffman 
(1992)  noted  an  increase  in  White-tailed  Kite  sightings  in  south  Flor- 
ida from  1973  to  1990,  especially  during  1989-1990.  In  October  and 
November  1990,  a communal  roost  of  14  kites  was  found  west  of 
Homestead  in  Dade  County  (Cox  1991).  In  this  paper,  we  document  a 
continued  increase  in  kite  sightings  from  1991  to  1996,  mostly  in  cen- 
tral Florida. 


Methods 

We  reviewed  the  seasonal  bird  reports  in  the  Florida  Field  Naturalist  and  American 
Birds  / National  Audubon  Society  Field  Notes  from  January  1991  through  December 
1996  for  published  White-tailed  Kite  sightings.  We  sought  information  on  unpublished 
reports  by  posting  a request  for  assistance  in  the  Summer  1996  Florida  Ornithological 
Society  Newsletter,  but  we  received  only  one  notice  of  a single  kite  sighting  from  south 
Florida.  Personal  contact  with  a number  of  observers  resulted  in  seven  additional  kite  re- 
ports in  central  Florida.  In  Figure  1 and  Appendix  1,  we  have  added  five  kite  sightings  in 
1997,  but  these  are  excluded  from  other  tabulations.  Following  Robertson  and  Wool- 
fenden  (1992),  we  define  central  Florida  as  the  area  from  Citrus,  Sumter,  Lake,  and  Vo- 
lusia counties  south  through  Sarasota,  DeSoto,  Highlands,  Okeechobee,  and  St.  Lucie 
counties. 

Results 

Kale  (1974)  listed  a rate  of  0.26  White-tailed  Kite  reports  in  Florida 
from  1900  to  1949,  and  0.91  reports  per  year  from  1961  to  1972.  He 
listed  8 reports  prior  to  1900, 10  from  1900  to  1949, 2 from  1950  to  1960 
(both  in  1954),  and  11  from  1961  to  1972.  Kale  (1974)  apparently  ex- 
cluded the  two  1954  reports  from  his  ratios,  and  obtained  an  incorrect 
figure  for  the  ratio  of  kites  observed  from  1900  to  1949.  The  correct  rate 
is  0.20.  With  additions  of  other  pre-1973  reports  published  in  Curnutt 
(1989)  and  Stevenson  and  Anderson  (1994),  we  compiled  13  White- 
tailed Kite  reports  in  Florida  prior  to  1900,  19  from  1900  to  1960,  and 
14  from  1961  to  1972.  Thus,  Kale's  (1974)  data  can  be  amended  to  0.31 
reports  per  year  from  1900  to  1960,  and  1.16  reports  per  year  from 
1961  to  1972.  Curnutt  and  Hoffman  (1992)  compiled  38  kite  sightings 
from  1973  to  1990,  a rate  of  2.11  reports  per  year.  For  this  paper,  we 
compiled  67  sightings  from  1991  to  1996,  which  results  in  a rate  of 
11.16  reports  per  year.  This  rate  is  greater  than  a five-fold  increase 
from  the  period  from  1973  to  1990,  and  the  total  number  of  sightings 
from  1991  to  1996  (67)  approaches  the  total  number  of  kite  reports 
from  the  previous  165  years  (84). 

On  the  1991  Lake  Placid  Christmas  Bird  Count  (22  Dec.),  B. 
Pranty  and  three  others  found  a White-tailed  Kite  at  Scarborough 
Ranch  in  southern  Highlands  County.  This  observation  was  the  first  in 
the  county  since  1964  (Stevenson  and  Anderson  1994),  but  numerous 


Status  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  in  Northern  and  Central  Florida  119 


others  followed  quickly.  We  compiled  17  reports  of  one  or  two  White- 
tailed  Kites  in  Highlands  County  from  1991  to  1996. 

We  compiled  21  additional  reports  of  White-tailed  Kites  in  other 
counties  in  central  Florida  from  1991  to  1996:  seven  in  Brevard,  one  in 
BeSoto,  one  in  Okeechobee,  seven  in  Osceola,  three  in  Polk,  and  two  in 
Sarasota  (Figure  1 and  Appendix  1).  None  of  the  reports  in  central  Flor- 
ida in  1991  and  1992  were  during  the  breeding  season,  but  in  1993 
birds  were  reported  in  spring  and  summer  in  Brevard,  Highlands,  and 
Osceola  counties.  The  trend  of  increasing  number  of  reports  during  the 
breeding  season  continued  through  1996.  In  “late  spring55 1994,  a pair  of 
adult  kites  and  one  juvenile  were  observed  in  southern  Brevard  County 
(B.  Wetmore  in  McMillian  and  Pranty  1997),  the  first  indication  of 
breeding  in  the  region  since  1930.  White-tailed  Kites  built  a nest  in 
southern  Highlands  County  in  1996  (McMillian  and  Pranty  1997). 

Curnutt  and  Hoffman  (1992)  pointed  out  that  prior  to  1973,  61%  (n 
= 19)  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  reports  in  Florida  were  from  the  middle 
third  of  the  peninsula,  while  only  22%  (n  = 7)  were  from  the  southern 
third.  From  1973  to  1990,  only  23%  (n  = 9)  of  the  kite  sightings  were  in 
central  Florida,  while  69%  (n  = 27)  were  in  south  Florida.  The  south 
Florida  reports  included  13  nesting  attempts,  while  all  reports  in  cen- 
tral Florida  were  outside  the  breeding  season.  From  1991  to  1996,  how- 
ever, 56%  (n  - 38)  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  reports  in  the  state  occurred 
in  central  Florida,  while  only  35%  (n  = 24)  were  in  south  Florida. 

Discussion 

There  are  a number  of  biases  and  problems  when  attempting  to 
calculate  the  number  of  kite  reports  in  Florida  over  a period  of  more 
than  100  years  (e.g.,  differences  in  observation  and  reporting  methods, 
and  multiple  sightings  of  the  same  bird  or  birds  in  recent  years).  Al- 
though the  number  of  observers  in  Florida  certainly  has  increased  in 
recent  decades,  this  alone  probably  does  not  explain  the  increase  of 
over  500%  in  kite  reports  between  the  periods  1973  to  1990  and  1991  to 
1996. 

Furthermore,  the  increase  of  White-tailed  Kite  reports  in  Florida 
beginning  in  the  1960s  corresponds  with  a great  increase  in  range  and 
numbers  of  the  species  throughout  its  North  and  Central  American 
range  during  the  same  period  (Eisenmann  1971,  Pruett- Jones  et  al. 
1980,  Gatz  et  al.  1988).  Bunk  (1995:3)  describes  White-tailed  Kite 
breeding  habitats  as  “low  elevation  grassland,  agricultural,  wetland, 
oak- woodland,  or  savannah  habitats.  Riparian  areas  adjacent  to  open 
areas  also  [are]  used.”  Kite  reoccupation  of  formerly  occupied  areas, 
and  recent  expansion  into  previously  unoccupied  areas,  may  relate  to 
the  creation  or  improvement  of  rangeland  and  cropland  habitats  as  hu- 
mans cleared  forests  and  irrigated  arid  lands  (Eisenmann  1971,  Pm- 


120 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


o 2 kites  seen  once 

* 2 kites  seen  repeatedly 

* 2 adults  and  1 juvenile 

* 1996  nest-site 

* 1997  observations 

Figure  1.  Distribution  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  in  central  Florida,  1991  to  1996. 


ett-Jones  et  al.  1980,  Gatz  et  al.  1988).  In  Florida,  the  amount  of 
rangeland  and  cropland  habitats  increased  from  2.5  million  ha  (17%) 
in  1936  to  4.2  million  ha  (30%)  in  1987  (Kautz  1993).  The  majority  of 
the  increase  since  1959  was  due  to  widespread  conversion  of  forested 
lands  in  central  and  south  Florida  to  cattle  pastures  (Kautz  1993). 

Curnutt  and  Hoffman  (1992:5)  documented  a “major  increase”  in 
White-tailed  Kite  reports  in  the  eastern  Everglades  from  1987  to  1990, 


Status  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  in  Northern  and  Central  Florida  121 


the  latter  two  years  occurring  during  a severe  drought  in  the  region. 
They  wrote  that  shorter  hydroperiods  might  benefit  this  species,  and 
suggested  that  water  management  practices  designed  to  aid  the  recov- 
ery of  the  Snail  Kite  (. Uostrhamus  sociabilis ) might  adversely  affect 
White-tailed  Kites  in  that  region. 

It  is  not  clear  whether  migration,  nomadism,  vagrancy,  or  a combi- 
nation of  these  factors  is  responsible  for  the  recent  increase  in  White- 
tailed Kite  sightings  in  Florida.  (We  consider  it  unlikely  that  a breed- 
ing population  could  have  been  overlooked  in  the  southern  half  of  the 
peninsula  for  80+  years).  In  an  attempt  to  determine  the  source  of  the 
birds  that  have  reoccupied  Florida  in  recent  years,  we  compiled  all  kite 
reports  in  the  state  outside  their  current  breeding  range  (Figure  2 and 
Appendix  2).  Of  20  reports  that  have  been  published  from  northern 
Florida  from  1824  to  1996,  one  report  lacks  a date,  eight  reports  oc- 
curred in  fall  (August,  October-November),  seven  in  winter  (December- 
February),  four  in  spring  (March-April),  and  none  in  late  spring  and 
summer  (May- July).  Dunk  (1995:3)  states  that  there  is  “no  informa- 
tion” that  White-tailed  Kites  migrate  anywhere  in  their  extensive 
range.  Based  on  the  summary  of  observations  in  north  Florida  (Figure 
2),  we  agree  with  Curnutt  and  Hoffman  (1992)  that  small  numbers  of 
White-tailed  Kites  from  western  North  America  move  eastward  in  fall 
along  the  Gulf  coast  to  winter  in  central  and  south  Florida,  and  possi- 
bly return  to  the  West  in  spring. 

Movement  of  some  western-breeding  birds  to  Florida  has  been 
noted  for  over  100  years  (Ridgway  1874,  McAtee  et  al.  1944,  Curnutt 
and  Hoffman  1992).  Over  a dozen  species  that  breed  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  western  plains,  or  southwestern  deserts  regularly  move 
eastward  or  southeastward  to  winter  in  Florida.  These  birds  include 
Swainson’s  Hawk  ( Buteo  swainsoni ),  Franklin’s  Gull  ( Larus  pipixcan ), 
White-winged  Dove  ( Zenaida  asiatica ),  Groove-billed  Ani  ( Crotophaga 
ani ),  Buff-bellied  Hummingbird  ( Amazilia  yucatanensis ),  Rufous 
Hummingbird  ( Selasphorus  rufus ),  Vermillion  Flycatcher  ( Pyroceph - 
alus  rubinus ),  Ash-throated  Flycatcher  ( Myiarchus  cinerascens ),  Scis- 
sor-tailed  Flycatcher  ( Tyrannus  forficatus ),  Sprague’s  Pipit  (. Anthus 
spragueii ),  and  Bronzed  Cowbird  ( Molothrus  aeneus)  (McAtee  et  ah 
1944,  Curnutt  and  Hoffman  1992).  To  this  list  we  add  Black-chinned 
Hummingbird  ( Archilochus  alexandri). 

Based  on  recent  nesting  attempts  in  Louisiana  and  Mississippi  (in 
Dunk  1995),  expansion  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  as  a breeding  species 
into  northern  Florida  seems  plausible.  In  June  1997,  Brian  Millsap 
(pers.  comm.)  observed  an  adult  kite  in  suitable  nesting  and  foraging 
habitats  8 km  west  of  Live  Oak  in  Suwannee  County.  This  is  the  first 
observation  of  a White-tailed  Kite  during  the  summer  months  in  north- 
ern Florida. 


122 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


Figure  2,  Distribution  of  the  White- tailed  Kite  in  the  Florida  Panhandle  and 
north  Florida,  1824  to  1997*  The  symbols  in  Lafayette  and  Marion  counties  have 
been  placed  randomly  because  specific  locations  of  the  kites  in  these  counties 
were  not  indicated  in  the  literature* 


Rangeland  and  cropland  habitats  in  Florida  decreased  10%  from 
1980  to  1987,  as  these  lands  were  converted  to  urban  and  suburban  ar- 
eas (Kautz  1993).  Additional  areas  of  “open  space5’  undoubtedly  will 
continue  to  be  lost  to  development  in  the  next  25  to  30  years.  Neverthe- 
less. we  expect  that  the  White-tailed  Kite  will  continue  to  increase  its 
range  and  numbers  in  Florida,  especially  in  the  central  peninsula. 

Acknowledgments 

We  thank  Curt  Adkisson,  Dave  Barber,  Tylan  Dean,  Paul  Gray,  Artie  Fleischer,  Nath- 
alie Hamel,  Shirley  Hills,  Dave  Leonard,  Allison  Mains,  Karl  Miller,  Brian  Millsap,  Dick 
Novier,  Larry  Riopelle,  Ron  Smith,  Peter  Vickery,  Brace  Wetmore,  and  Glen  Woolfenden 
for  supplying  information  on  unpublished  kite  reports.  Fred  Lohrer  of  Archbold  Biologi- 
cal Station  assisted  with  references.  We  thank  Todd  Engstrom,  Dave  Leonard,  Ken 
Meyer,  and  Brian  Millsap  for  their  numerous  comments  that  greatly  improved  the  origi- 
nal manuscript.  We  thank  the  Scarborough  family  for  allowing  access  onto  their  ranch 
during  the  Lake  Placid  Christmas  Bird  Counts.  This  is  contribution  No.  29  of  the  Mac- 
Arthur  Agro-Ecology  Research  Center  of  Archbold  Biological  Station. 

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Pranty,  B.  (comp.)  1993.  Florida  Ornithological  Society  Field  Observations  Committee 
Spring  Report:  March-May  1993.  Florida  Field  Nat.  21:122-128. 

PRANTY,  B.  (comp.)  1994.  Florida  Ornithological  Society  Field  Observations  Committee 
Fall  Report:  August-November  1993.  Florida  Field  Nat.  22:57-68. 

PRANTY,  B.  (comp.)  1995a.  Florida  Ornithological  Society  Field  Observations  Committee 
Fall  Report:  August-November  1994.  Florida  Field  Nat.  23:44-56. 

PRANTY,  B.  (comp.)  1995b.  Florida  Ornithological  Society  Field  Observations  Committee 
Winter  Report:  December  1994-February  1995.  Florida  Field  Nat.  23:77-86. 

PRANTY,  B.  (comp.)  1996.  Florida  Ornithological  Society  Field  Observations  Committee 
Fall  Report:  August-November  1995.  Florida  Field  Nat.  24:48-59. 

Pruett-Jones,  S.  G.,  M.  A.  Pruett-jones,  and  R.  L.  Knight.  1980.  The  White-tailed 
Kite  in  North  and  Middle  America:  Current  status  and  recent  population  changes. 
Am.  Birds  36:682-688. 

Robertson,  W.  R.,  Jr.,  and  G.  E.  WOOLFENDEN.  1992.  Florida  Bird  Species:  An  Anno- 
tated List.  Florida  Ornithological  Society.  Special  Publ.  No.  6.  Gainesville. 

SPRUNT,  A.,  Jr  1954.  Florida  Bird  Life.  Coward-McCann.  New  York. 

SPRUNT,  A.,  Jr  1963.  Addendum  to  Florida  Bird  Life.  Published  privately. 

Stevenson,  H.  M.,  and  B.  H.  Anderson.  1994.  The  Birdlife  of  Florida.  Univ.  Press  of 
Florida.  Gainesville. 


Appendix  1.  White-tailed  Kite  reports  in  central  Florida,  1991  to  1996,  grouped  by  location.  Unless  noted  otherwise,  all  reports 
were  published  originally  in  the  Field  Observations  Committee  reports  in  the  Florida  Field  Naturalist  (Cox  1992,  Pranty  1992- 
1997). 


124 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


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Status  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  in  Northern  and  Central  Florida  125 


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Appendix  2.  White-tailed  Kite  reports  from  the  Florida  Panhandle  and  north  Florida,  1824-1996. 


Status  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  in  Northern  and  Central  Florida  127 


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Florida  Field  Nat.  25(4):  128-137, 1997. 


AMERICAN  KESTREL  DISTRIBUTION  AND  USE  OF  NEST 
BOXES  IN  THE  COASTAL  PLAINS  OF  GEORGIA 

Timothy  F.  Breen  and  John  W.  Parrish,  Jr. 

Department  of  Biology,  Georgia  Southern  University 
Statesboro,  Georgia  30460-8042 

Abstract. — Four  hundred  and  two  nest  boxes  were  erected  on  the  coastal  plain  in 
Georgia  to  establish  baseline  data  concerning  the  breeding  biology  of  the  American 
Kestrel  ( Falco  sparverius ) in  Georgia  during  1994  and  1995.  Nest  box  occupancy  aver- 
aged 3%,  although  occupancy  was  15%  at  Fort  Gordon  military  base.  Clutch  size  aver- 
aged 4.9,  and  nesting  success  (at  least  one  kestrel  fledged)  was  62%.  Overall, 
productivity  averaged  2.7  young  fledged  per  nest  attempt,  although  an  average  of  four 
young  fledged  from  each  successful  nest.  Fifty-two  of  56  kestrels  fledged  from  boxes 
within  Fort  Gordon.  Small  body  size  of  the  kestrels  in  our  study  suggests  that  the  Amer- 
ican Kestrel  breeding  throughout  the  coastal  plains  in  Georgia  could  be  the  subspecies, 
Falco  sparverius  paulus . 


Only  2 of  17  subspecies  of  American  Kestrels  {Falco  sparverius ) oc- 
cur in  the  southeastern  United  States  (White  1994).  F.  s.  paulus  is  a 
non-migratory  resident  that  breeds  from  Florida,  north  to  the  coastal 
plains  of  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  Alabama,  and  west  to  Louisiana  and 
Texas  (Chapman  1928;  Griffin  1939,  1940;  Norris  1941;  Tomkins  1942, 
1948;  Brown  and  Amadon  1968;  McFarlane  1973;  Hoffman  and  Collopy 
1987,  1988;  Johnsgard  1990;  Layne  and  Smith  1992).  The  northern 
subspecies  (F  s.  sparverius)  only  occurs  in  the  coastal  plains  of  the 
southeastern  states  as  a common  migrant  and  winter  resident.  Its 
breeding  range  extends  from  western  Mexico  to  central  Alaska  in  the 
west,  and  through  central  Canada  in  the  east  (Johnsgard  1990).  F s. 
paulus  adults  in  Florida  have  a 24%  smaller  body  weight  than  sparver- 
ius (Layne  and  Smith  1992),  and  some  differences  in  plumage  also 
have  been  noted  (Baird  et  al.  1874,  Wilson  and  Bonaparte  1878,  Chap- 
man 1928,  Brown  and  Amadon  1968,  McFarlane  1973). 

A precipitous  decline  in  populations  of  the  Southeastern  American 
Kestrel  resulted  in  the  classification  of  F s.  paulus  as  threatened  in 
Florida  in  1978  (Stys  1993).  Most  studies  identified  the  loss  of  suitable 
nesting  habitat  as  a major  factor  in  causing  this  decline  (Hoffman 
1983,  Bohall  1984,  Hoffman  and  Collopy  1988).  Burleigh  (1958)  listed 
the  “Little  American  Kestrel”  (F.  s.  paulus)  as  resident  within  the 
Coastal  Plains,  but  local  in  its  distribution.  Neither  baseline  popula- 
tion figures  nor  any  published  accounts  of  kestrel  densities  in  Georgia 
exist,  but  the  Breeding  Bird  Survey  (BBS)  data  imply  that  populations 
have  been  consistently  low  for  about  the  past  three  decades  (Fuller  et 


128 


American  Kestrel  in  the  Coastal  Plains  of  Georgia  129 

al.  1987,  Price  et  al.  1995,  B.  Peterjohn  pers.  comm.).  To  survey  state- 
wide kestrel  populations  and  promote  the  stabilization,  and  the  even- 
tual increase  of  the  American  Kestrel  (F  sparverius)  in  Georgia,  we 
erected  nest  boxes  in  Georgia’s  coastal  plains,  in  areas  of  suitable  hab- 
itat. Based  on  previous  nest  box  studies  (Hamerstrom  et  al.  1973,  Cely 
and  Sorrow  1988,  Loftin  1992,  Wheeler  1992,  Jacobs  1995,  J.  Small- 
wood pers.  comm.),  we  assumed  that  if  we  put  up  boxes  across  the  state 
and,  resident  kestrels  would  begin  using  the  boxes. 

Study  Area  and  Methods 

Four  hundred  and  two  nest  boxes  were  constructed  from  untreated,  rough-cut  cy- 
press, pine,  or  cedar  boards  1.3  to  2.5  cm  thick  (Varland  and  Loughin  1993,  J.  Smallwood, 
pers.  comm.).  The  general  dimensions  of  the  boxes  were  23  x 23  x 37.5  cm  (1  x w x h), 
with  a 7.6  cm  hole  25  cm  from  the  bottom  of  the  front  panel.  A few  boxes  were  arranged 
horizontally  with  the  opening  to  the  nest  box  located  on  the  bottom  rear  corner  of  the 
box,  in  an  attempt  to  dissuade  European  Starlings  ( Sturnus  vulgaris ) use  of  the  boxes. 


Figure  1.  Southeastern  American  Kestrel  nest-box  placement  and  nesting  loca- 
tions within  the  coastal  plain  of  Georgia  during  1994  and  1995. 


130 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


Nest  boxes  were  erected  between  January  and  March  in  both  years  of  the  study.  In 
1994,  29  nest  boxes  were  placed  on  Fort  Gordon  military  base  (Richmond  County),  south- 
west of  Augusta.  Also,  201  nest  boxes  were  placed  along  transects  extending  from  Girard 
(Burke  County)  south  to  Jesup  (Wayne  County),  and  across  southern  Georgia  to  Thomas 
County  in  southwestern  Georgia  (Figure  1).  In  1995,  42  additional  boxes  were  placed  at 
Fort  Gordon,  and  130  other  boxes  were  spread  across  other  areas  of  the  coastal  plains  as 
follows:  on  Interstate  16  highway  signs  from  Statesboro  to  GA  96,  then  west  to  Columbus 
(Chatahoochee  County)  at  Fort  Benning  military  base;  along  U.S.  25  from  Statesboro 
(Bulloch  County)  north  to  Hepzibah  (Richmond  County);  at  Joseph  Kennedy  Farm  Cor- 
rectional Institute  (Toombs  County);  at  Rogers  Correctional  Institute  (Tattnall  County); 
and  on  Fort  Stewart  military  base  (Bryan,  Liberty,  Long,  Tattnall,  and  Evans  Counties) 
(Figure  1).  Most  nest  boxes  were  spaced  about  0.8  km  apart,  except  on  military  bases 
where  some  were  placed  closer  together.  Boxes  were  mounted  on  utility  poles,  or  trees  4 
to  5m  above  ground,  along  roadways  adjacent  to  pastures,  fallow  fields,  agricultural  ar- 
eas, and  hayfields.  Approximately  3 cm  of  pine  or  cedar  shavings  were  placed  in  the  bot- 
tom of  each  box  (wood  shavings  were  not  used  in  nest  boxes  at  Fort  Gordon  in  1994).  Nest 
boxes  were  checked  at  least  once  a month  from  March  through  the  end  of  July  for  eggs  or 
young.  Ages  of  young  were  estimated  after  Griggs  and  Steenhof  (1993). 

Fifteen  adult  kestrels  were  captured  in  the  summer  for  banding  and  measurements 
using  a bal-chatri  trap.  Mass  was  obtained  with  an  electronic  balance  accurate  to  O.lg, 
and  measurements  of  the  middle  toe,  middle  talon,  beak,  and  beak  and  cere  lengths  were 
made  using  digital  calipers  accurate  to  0.01mm.  Not  all  measurements  were  made  on  all 
birds  handled.  Permanent  residency  was  assessed  by  re-trapping  the  summer-banded 
kestrels  during  the  subsequent  winter. 

Statistical  analyses  were  done  with  JMP  3.0  (SAS  Institute  Inc.  1994).  A 0-test  of  the 
difference  between  two  independent  proportions  was  used  to  analyze  differences  in  nest 
box  occupancy  and  nesting  success  between  Fort  Gordon  and  all  other  nest  boxes  be- 
tween and  within  years  (Kachigan  1986).  The  difference  in  measurements  between  adult 
female  and  male  kestrels  were  analyzed  by  a one-tailed  Student’s  t-test.  Comparisons 
were  made  between  reproduction  at  Fort  Gordon  and  all  other  nestbox  sites,  because  of 
the  higher  population  levels  at  Fort  Gordon.  All  results  were  considered  significant  if  a 
probability  (P)  value  of  0.05  or  less  was  obtained. 

Results 

Overall,  kestrel  nest  box  occupancy  did  not  differ  significantly  be- 
tween 1994  (2%)  and  1995  (4%)  (z  = 1.76,  P > 0.05).  Kestrels  nested  in 
10%  of  29  nest  boxes  inside  Fort  Gordon,  which  was  significantly 
greater  than  nest-box  use  in  the  remainder  of  the  state  in  1994  (1%  of 
195)  ( z = 3.17,  P < 0.05).  In  1995,  they  nested  in  21%  of  71  nest  boxes  at 
Ft.  Gordon  and  0.3%  of  331  other  boxes  monitored  in  1995,  also  a sig- 
nificant difference  (z  = 7.05,  P < 0.05). 

Kestrels  laid  at  least  one  egg  in  boxes  21  times  during  the  two-year 
study  Thirteen  (62%)  of  the  nesting  attempts  were  successful  (fledged 
at  least  one  kestrel).  Nesting  success  (percentage  of  boxes  in  which  at 
least  one  young  fledged)  was  significantly  higher  in  1995  (75%  of  16 
boxes)  than  1994  (20%  of  5 boxes)  (z  = 2.30,  P < 0.05).  In  1994,  one  of 
three  boxes  used  by  kestrels  in  Fort  Gordon  was  successful,  whereas 
neither  of  the  two  boxes  used  by  the  same  pair  of  kestrels  in  another 
area  of  the  state  was  successful.  During  breeding  in  1995  kestrels  were 


American  Kestrel  in  the  Coastal  Plains  of  Georgia 


131 


Table  1.  Hatching  success  and  sex  of  American  Kestrel  young  fledged  from 
nest  boxes  with  complete  clutches  (at  least  4 eggs)  in  the  coastal  plains  of 
Georgia. 


No.  nest 

No. 

No.  eggs 

No.  young 

No.  males 

No.  females 

Location 

Year 

boxes 

nests 

laid 

fledged 

fledged 

fledged 

Fort  Gordon 

1994 

29 

3 

13 

3 

3 

0 

1995 

71 

13 

67 

49a 

23 

17 

Other  sites 

1994 

201 

1 

5 

0 

0 

0 

1995 

331 

1 

4 

4 

1 

3 

Totals 

18 

89 

56 

27 

20 

aNumber  is  greater  than  the  total  number  of  males  and  females  fledged  because  sex  was 
not  determined  before  young  fledged  in  two  nest  boxes. 


successful  in  11  of  15  (73%)  nest  boxes  used  in  Fort  Gordon,  and  one 
other  nest  box  about  165  km  south  of  Fort  Gordon. 

Eighty-nine  eggs  were  laid  in  the  18  complete-clutch  nests  (mini- 
mum of  4 eggs  per  nest)  during  the  two-year  study,  with  a mean  of  4.94 
eggs  per  clutch  (range  = 4 to  6)  (Table  1).  An  average  of  four  young 
(range  = 3 to  6)  per  box  fledged  from  the  14  successful  nest  boxes.  There 
were  slightly  more  males  than  females  fledged  during  the  two-years  of 
the  study  (Table  1).  Two  single-sex  clutches  were  observed,  one  of  three 
males  in  1994,  and  one  of  five  males  in  1995. 

Nests  in  other  artificial  structures  also  were  documented  during 
the  study.  In  1994  two  pairs  nested  in  buildings  on  Fort  Gordon  and 
fledged  three  and  four  young.  A pair  that  nested  in  a house  near 
Bellville  (about  40  km  southwest  of  Statesboro)  fledged  at  least  one 
young.  A nest  in  a metal  cross  beam  at  a power  substation  in  States- 
boro was  unsuccessful.  Two  pairs  nested  in  buildings  at  Fort  Gordon  in 
1995  and  fledged  at  least  one  young  each.  Based  on  extensive  field  ob- 
servations, no  other  pairs  of  kestrels  nested  at  Fort  Gordon  or  the  vi- 
cinity in  either  1994  or  1995.  Only  one  other  pair  of  kestrels  (near 
Ludowici)  was  observed  during  numerous  trips  covering  nearly  10,000 
km  throughout  the  coastal  plains  of  Georgia  during  the  study;  how- 
ever, we  received  reports  of  birds  breeding  in  Tifton,  and  Fort  Benning, 
near  Columbus  (Figure  1). 

The  earliest  date  of  nest  initiation  was  10  April  and  the  latest  was 
18  May  in  the  known  nests  that  fledged  at  least  one  kestrel  in  1994.  Of 
the  14  successful  nests  in  1995  the  earliest  date  of  nest  initiation  was 
22  March  and  the  latest  was  15  May. 

Eight  kestrels  were  banded  as  nestlings  at  Fort  Gordon  military 
base  and  15  adults  (one  in  Evans  County  and  14  at  Fort  Gordon)  were 
captured  and  banded  in  1994.  Four  kestrels  (one  juvenile  and  three 


132 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


adults)  banded  at  Fort  Gordon  in  the  summer  of  1994  were  re-trapped 
there  between  January  and  February  1995,  two  within  100  m of  their 
original  capture-sites. 

Adult  females  were  significantly  heavier  (t  = 1.77,  P < 0.05;  Table 
2)  and  also  had  significantly  larger  combined  beak  and  cere  lengths 
than  males  (t  = 1.92,  P < 0.05;  Table  2).  Females  also  had  slightly 
longer  beaks,  middle  toes,  and  middle  claws,  but  the  differences  were 
not  significant  (Table  2).  Nestling  kestrels  were  divided  into  five  age 
groups.  The  mass  of  the  females  was  significantly  greater  than  the 
males  at  all  five  stages  between  two  and  four  weeks  of  age  (two-tailed 
£-test,  P < 0.05;  Table  3). 

In  addition  to  the  American  Kestrel,  10  other  species  of  cavity- 
nesting birds  used  the  nest  boxes  during  the  two-year  study  (Breen 
1995).  Starlings  nested  in  all  of  the  boxes  with  the  entrance  hole  on  the 
bottom  rear  of  the  box. 


Discussion 

Availability  of  suitable  nest  cavities  in  trees  or  other  structures, 
the  presence  of  adequate  prey,  and  open  habitat  seem  to  be  the  most 
important  factors  for  successful  breeding  of  American  Kestrels  in  the 
United  States  (Balgooyen  1976,  Johnsgard  1990).  In  the  southern 
coastal  plains,  particularly  in  Florida,  nest  sites  seem  to  be  the  major 
limiting  factor  for  Southeastern  American  Kestrels  (F.  s.  paulus ) (Bo- 
hall-Wood  and  Collopy  1986,  Loftin  1992). 

Compared  to  other  kestrel  nest-box  programs  in  the  United  States 
(Stahlecker  and  Griese  1979,  Wilmers  1982,  Varland  and  Loughin 
1993),  nest  box  occupancy  by  kestrels  in  our  study  area  was  exception- 
ally low  in  both  years  of  the  study  (2  to  4%).  Low  occupancy  was  ex- 
pected, because  only  50  American  Kestrels  had  been  reported  on  more 
than  1100  BBS  routes  run  in  Georgia  during  the  past  28  years  (B.  Pe- 
terjohn  pers.  comm.),  and  recent  surveys  by  wildlife  biologists  at  the 
Georgia  Department  of  Natural  Resources  had  indicated  exceptionally 
low  numbers  of  kestrels  in  the  state  (B.  Winn  pers.  comm.). 

The  nesting  success  (62%)  of  kestrels  over  the  two  years  of  our 
study  was  within  the  range  found  in  other  nest  box  studies  in  North 
America  (20  to  83%)  (Hamerstrom  et  al.  1973,  Stahlecker  and  Griese 
1979,  Toland  and  Elder  1987,  Varland  and  Loughin  1993,  Jacobs  1995). 
The  absence  of  wood  chips  in  the  1994  nest  boxes  at  Fort  Gordon  likely 
accounts  for  the  fact  that  all  of  the  eggs  cracked  in  the  two  unsuccess- 
ful boxes.  The  eggs  were  laid  on  top  of  a partially-built  starling  nest  in 
the  one  successful  nest  on  the  base  that  year.  The  earliest  and  latest 
egg  laying  date  for  the  kestrels  nesting  in  our  study  are  similar  to 
those  reported  for  F.  s.  paulus  in  Florida  (Loftin  1992,  J.  Smallwood 
pers.  comm.)  and  South  Carolina  (Cely  and  Sorrow  1988),  and  the  av- 


American  Kestrel  in  the  Coastal  Plains  of  Georgia 


133 


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134 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


Table  3.  Mass  of  male  and  female  nestling  American  Kestrels  banded  in  south 
Georgia.  Females  were  significantly  larger  than  males  (P  < 0.05,  two-tailed  t- 
test)  at  all  age  intervals. 


Age  interval 
(days) 

Male 

Female 

n 

Mean 

SE 

n 

Mean 

SE 

14-16 

3 

85.2 

0.5 

2 

103.7 

7.7 

17-19 

7 

105.0 

3.5 

5 

115.8 

2.2 

20-22 

10 

114.1 

0.9 

4 

124.5 

0.9 

23-25 

5 

108.7 

2.8 

9 

118.7 

1.7 

20-23 

2 

103.7 

2.8 

3 

110.2 

3.3 

erage  clutch  size  was  similar  to  other  nest-box  studies  (Loftin  1992, 
Varland  and  Loughin  1993). 

It  became  apparent  after  the  first  year’s  observations  that  there 
were  more  kestrels  nesting  at  Fort  Gordon  military  base  than  there 
were  throughout  the  rest  of  the  state.  Small  numbers  of  kestrels  have 
apparently  nested  in  old  barracks  and  other  buildings  at  Fort  Gordon 
for  over  20  years  (Denton  1975).  Unfortunately,  most  of  those  struc- 
tures were  removed  at  the  end  of  1995.  We  believe  that  11  pairs  of 
kestrels  that  bred  at  Fort  Gordon  in  1995  were  probably  derived  from 
the  1994  stock  and  not  from  immigrating  birds,  because  we  extensively 
surveyed  the  base  and  surrounding  areas  for  nesting  activity  in  1994. 
Jacobs  (1995)  reported  7 of  10  kestrels  returned  to  breed  within  35  km 
of  their  hatching  site  even  in  migratory  kestrels  (F  s.  sparverius ). 
Three  other  reports  of  kestrels  nesting  in  Georgia  (Figure  1)  were  far 
south  of  Fort  Gordon. 

The  re-trapping  of  four  summer-banded  kestrels  at  Fort  Gordon 
the  following  winter  is  indicative  of  a year-round  resident  population. 
Also,  recorded  masses,  middle  toe  and  claw  lengths  (Table  2)  are  essen- 
tially the  same  as  the  size-ranges  of  F s.  paulus  in  Florida  (Layne  and 
Smith  1992,  J Smallwood  pers.  comm.).  Resident  status  and  small  size 
indicate  that  the  kestrels  breeding  in  our  areas  are  F s.  paulus.  This  is 
further  supported  by  the  fact  that  we  have  counted  more  than  200 
kestrels  in  Bulloch  County  during  the  winter  (Halas  and  Parrish,  un- 
published), but  have  had  only  a single  pair  present  during  the  summer.. 
Presumably,  the  winter  birds  were  mostly  F s.  sparverius , since  sum- 
mer paulus  kestrels  appeared  to  disperse  no  more  than  about  40  km 
from  their  breeding  areas  in  the  early  fall  after  reproduction  was  com- 
plete (Breen  1995). 

All  28  confirmed  kestrel  nest  sites  in  nest  boxes  and  other  artificial 
structures  were  located  in  sandhill  habitats  that  dominate  the  coastal 
plains.  Fort  Gordon,  where  most  of  the  kestrels  nested,  lies  on  the  up- 
per edge  of  the  fall  line  of  the  coastal  plains  and  is  dominated  by  sand- 


American  Kestrel  in  the  Coastal  Plains  of  Georgia 


135 


hill  communities  made  up  of  scrub  oaks  and  various  pines.  This  pro- 
pensity for  sandhill  nest  sites  is  identical  to  F.  s.  paulus  breeding  pref- 
erences in  Florida,  where  kestrels  nest  in  longleaf  pine  {Pinus 
palustris ) - turkey  oak  ( Quercus  lacevis ) sandhill  communities  (Bohalb 
Wood  and  Collopy  1987,  Loftin  1992).  Kestrels  breeding  in  the  coastal 
plains  of  South  Carolina  also  have  been  reported  to  prefer  sandhill 
communities  (Cely  and  Sorrow  1988).  All  but  a few  of  the  nest  sites  at 
Fort  Gordon  are  associated  with  the  contonement  area  that  is  domi- 
nated by  buildings,  parade  grounds  and  other  open  areas.  The  more  re- 
mote nest  boxes  are  situated  near  open  small-firearm  ranges.  Several 
firearm  ranges  were  closed  by  the  base  biologist  to  reduce  interference 
with  reproducing  kestrels  when  boxes  near  those  areas  were  used  dur- 
ing the  study. 

Burleigh  (1958)  listed  11  counties  in  the  coastal  plains  (Appling, 
Baker,  Ben  Hill,  Burke,  Camden,  Charlton,  Chatham,  Long,  Screven, 
Thomas,  and  Washington)  where  kestrels  had  been  found  in  the  sum- 
mer in  Georgia.  Denton  (1975)  first  reported  breeding  kestrels  at  Fort 
Gordon  (Richmond  County).  We  observed  kestrels  during  the  summer 
in  only  one  of  those  counties  (Long  County),  and  four  others  not  listed 
by  Burleigh  (1958)  during  the  two  years  of  our  study  (Breen  et  al. 
1995).  Through  the  1997  nesting  season,  we  have  personally  observed 
kestrels  nesting  in  the  following  coastal  plains  counties:  Appling,  Bul- 
loch, Columbia,  Evans,  Long,  Richmond,  and  Tatnall  (Breen  et  al.  1995, 
Shuford  and  Parrish  unpubl.).  We  have  received  reports  of  single, 
kestrel  nests  also  in  Bryan,  Clarke,  Chatahoochee,  Floyd,  Fulton, 
Glynn,  Tift,  and  Turner  counties  to  date  (Shuford  and  Parrish  unpubl.). 
No  further  reports  are  available  from  the  Georgia  Breeding  Bird  Atlas 
studies  (T.  Schneider  pers.  comm.).  It  is  apparent  from  our  studies  that 
the  exceptionally  low  populations  of  the  American  Kestrel  on  the 
coastal  plains  appear  to  warrant  its  listing  as  threatened  in  Georgia. 

Acknowledgments 

We  thank  B.  Winn,  S.  Hein,  K.  Boyd,  J.  Littleton,  W.  Mills  and  numerous  students  for 
their  assistance  with  this  project.  Funding  for  the  project  was  provided  by  the  Arcadia 
Wildlife  Preserve,  Inc.,  the  Georgia  Department  of  Natural  Resources,  and  Georgia 
Southern  University  Wood  for  the  boxes  was  donated  by  Barnes  Lumber  Co.  and  Mac- 
Millan-Bloodell  Co.  We  thank  C.  R.  Chandler,  E.  A.  Jacobs,  M.  W.  Collopy  and  P.  B.  Wood 
for  critical  reviews  of  the  manuscript. 

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The  Florida  Ornithological  Society 
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138 


NOTES 


Florida  Field  Nat.  25(4):138-140,  1997. 

FIRST  REPORT  OF  FUERTES’  RED-TAILED  HAWK  FROM  FLORIDA 

Robert  L.  Norton1  and  Jeff  Ripple2 
department  of  Natural  Sciences,  Santa  Fe  Community  College 
3000  NW  83rd  Street  Gainesville,  Florida  32609 

2Rt.  1,  Box  1932,  Williston,  Florida  32696 

The  Red-tailed  Hawk  ( Buteo  jamaicensis ) exhibits  much  variation  in  plumage  colora- 
tion among  age  classes,  color  morphs,  and  geographical  races.  Over  its  wide  range  from 
Alaska  to  Panama  to  the  Virgin  Islands,  14  to  16  subspecies  of  Red-tailed  Hawks  have 
been  recognized  (Preston  and  Beane  1993);  subspecies  of  the  Great  Plains  tend  to  be  the 
palest.  In  North  America,  five  races  are  recognized:  Eastern  (B.  j.  borealis ),  Western  (B. 
j.  calurus ),  Harlan’s  ( B . j.  harlani ),  Fuertes  ( B . j.  fuertesi ) and  Florida  (B.  j.  umbrinus ). 
Although  plumage  coloration  intergrades  occur  among  these  races,  the  races  exhibit  rec- 
ognizable coloration,  and  generally  occupy  geographically  discrete  ranges  (Wheeler  and 
Clark  1995). 

Several  sightings  and  specimens  of  color  morphs  or  races  of  geographic  variations 
have  been  reported  from  Florida  (Table  1).  Therefore,  we  recognize  that  geographic  vari- 
ation observed  in  Red-tailed  Hawks  is  not  easily  assigned  to  diagnostic  races.  However, 
we  observed  a Red-tailed  Hawk  in  Levy  County,  Florida,  that  displayed  the  “immaculate 
underparts”  (Van  Tyne  and  Sutton  1937)  usually  associated  with  Red-tailed  Hawks  from 
the  region  of  Oklahoma,  southwest  Texas,  and  northeast  Mexico  (hereinafter  referred  to 
as  B.  j.  fuertesi). 

On  14  February  1996  at  approximately  1615  along  Route  24  in  Levy  County  en  route 
from  Bronson  to  Gainesville,  Florida,  we  observed  a large,  unusually  pale  hawk  perched 
on  a dead  snag  on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  The  hawk  was  buteo-shaped  with  a gleam- 
ing white  breast;  there  was  no  band  across  the  lower  breast  or  upper  belly  as  is  usually 
seen  in  migrant  or  Florida  Red-tailed  Hawks  (Howell  1932).  The  bird  was  perched  about 
45  m from  the  road  and  was  facing  west  so  that  there  was  excellent  afternoon  light  on  its 
ventral  surface.  R.  Norton  studied  the  bird  for  nearly  seven  minutes  using  8x  Zeiss  bin- 
oculars. (Weather  conditions  on  that  day  were  mild  following  an  earlier  period  of  cold 
weather  from  the  west.)  R.  Norton  observed  the  following  field  marks:  upper  belly  lack- 
ing a band,  flank  streaks  reduced  to  fine  shaft  lines  (“a  mere  hair  line  along  the  shaft 
feather”;  Van  Tyne  and  Sutton  1937),  thighs  uniformly  white,  barring  on  tail  much  re- 
duced, and  the  throat  white.  The  plumage  color  of  the  bird’s  ventral  surface  was  paler 
than  any  resident  Florida  Red-tailed  Hawks  either  of  us  had  seen.  The  head  was  a warm 
tawny-brown  with  white  edges  to  the  feathers.  The  face  was  brownish  gray  around  the 
base  of  the  bill  and  the  eyes.  The  cere  was  yellow,  and  the  bill  appeared  a little  smaller 
than  expected.  The  eyes  were  dark,  the  throat  to  breast  was  pure  white,  and  the  upper 
belly  was  without  any  streaks  typical  of  birds  of  the  southern  Great  Plains  (Oklahoma 
and  Texas;  Wheeler  and  Clark  1995),  thus  eliminating  other  Buteo  species  such  as  the 
Ferruginous  Hawk  (B.  regalis).  The  sides  of  the  upper  belly  had  warm  brown  or  tawny 
shafts  on  three  or  four  feathers  close  to  the  wing — a character  which  could  not  be  seen 
with  the  naked  eye.  The  underside  of  the  tail  was  a light  rufous-pink  with  a hint  of  a sub- 
terminal band. 

As  R.  Norton  exited  the  vehicle  to  see  more  of  the  back  and  tail,  the  hawk  lifted  off  the 
snag,  flew  west,  and  dipped  to  show  the  typical  red  tail  of  an  adult  Red-tailed  Hawk  with 


Notes 


139 


Table  1.  Locations  and  dates  of  observations  of  out-of-range,  non-breeding 
Red-tailed  Hawks  (B.  jamaicensis)  in  Florida. 


Race 

Location 

Date 

Source1 

borealis  “krideri” 

Jefferson  Co. 

26  Dec.  1980 

1,9 

(whitish  morph) 

Leon  Co. 

2 Dec.  1994 

2 

Leon  Co. 

2 Feb.  1995 

2 

Leon  Co. 

29  No.  1995-Feb.  1996 

3,4 

Jefferson  Co. 

4 Jan.-20  Feb.  1996 

4 

borealis  x calurus  (intergrade) 

Leon  Co. 

23  Dec.  1980 

5,  10 

abieticola 

Brevard  Co. 

11  Mar.  1962 

1,5,  11 

harlani 

St.  Lucie  Co. 

1 Jan.  1988 

6 

St.  Lucie  Co. 

16  Jan. -18  Mar.  1989 

6 

Gulf  Co. 

14  No.  1991 

3 

jamaicensis 

Dixie  Co. 

17  Mar.  1990 

7 

(dark  morph) 

Dade  Co. 

29  Dec.  1991 

8 

Sources:  1 = Robertson  and  Woolfenden  (1992);  2 = West  and  Pranty  (1995);  3 = Pranty 
(1996a);  4 = Pranty  (1996b);  5 = Stevenson  and  Anderson  (1994);  6 = Blackshaw  and 
Polisse  (1990);  7 = Cox  (1990);  8 = Cox  (1992);  9 = specimen  (TTRS  3680);  10  = specimen 
(TTRS  3681);  11  = specimen  (WFVZ  20580). 


little  dark  barring  other  than  a darker  band  near  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  color  of  the  dor- 
sal surface  of  the  tail  was  a brilliant  reddish-pink.  We  watched  the  bird  fly  west  across 
Route  24  until  out  of  sight  in  pine  trees.  J.  Ripple  revisited  the  location  within  the  week 
for  additional  observation  and  photographs,  but  was  not  successful. 

Compared  to  other  possible  light  morphs  of  B.  jamaicensis  illustrated  in  a recent  pho- 
tographic guide  (Wheeler  and  Clark  1995)  and  described  in  Preston  and  Beane  (1993), 
the  palest  race  is  B.  j.  fuertesi  of  Oklahoma,  Texas,  and  northeast  Mexico.  Of  all  the  light 
forms  B.j.  fuertesi,  breeds  closest  to  Florida.  The  hawk  we  observed  most  closely  resem- 
bles photograph  RT30  in  Wheeler  and  Clark’s  (1995)  guide,  but  had  even  finer  streaks 
with  no  suggestion  of  barring.  We  believe  we  observed  a bird  of  the  B.  j.  fuertesi  popula- 
tion and  the  first  to  be  reported  from  Florida. 

Recognizing  that  some  of  the  coldest  weather  on  record  for  many  midwestern  and 
southern  states  occurred  in  January  1996,  it  seems  likely  that  B.  j.  fuertesi  would  leave 
its  normal  wintering  range.  If  our  identification  is  correct,  this  occurrence  of  B.  j.  fuertesi 
in  Levy  County,  Florida,  would  fit  an  apparent  pattern  of  dispersal  to  the  Gulf  coast  by 
species  that  normally  winter  inland  (McAtee  et  al.  1944,  V.  Remsen  pers.  comm.).  A num- 
ber of  western  bird  species  [e.g.,  Lesser  Nighthawk  ( Chordeiles  acutipennis ),  Vaux’s 
Swift  ( Chaetura  vauxi ),  Black-chinned  (. Archilochus  alexandri)  and  Rufous  ( Selasphorus 
rufus ) hummingbirds,  Western  Kingbird  ( Tyrannus  verticalis),  Scissor-tailed  (7!  forfica- 
tus)  and  Vermillion  ( Pyrocephalus  rubinus ) flycatchers,  and  Gambel’s  White-crowned 
Sparrow  ( Zonotrichia  leucophrys  gambeliij]  appear  in  the  Florida  panhandle,  north-cen- 
tral, and  sometimes  southern  Florida.  These  occurrences  of  western  bird  species  in  Flor- 
ida represent  a taxonomically  broad  migration  from  the  western  United  States  to  Florida 
(McAtee  et  al.  1945). 

We  thank  P.  William  Smith  and  Fred  Lorer  for  their  very  helpful  critical  review  and 
comments;  J.  V.  Remsen,  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Louisiana  State  University,  and 
Tom  Webber,  Florida  Museum  of  Natural  History,  University  of  Florida,  for  their  com- 
ments and  assistance;  and  Renee  Ripple  for  editorial  assistance. 


140 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


Literature  Cited 

Blackshaw,  S.  R.,  AND  P.  POLISSE.  1990.  Harlan's  Hawk  over-winters  in  St.  Lucie 
County,  Florida.  Florida  Field  Nat.  18:10-12. 

COX,  J.  (comp.)  1990.  Field  observations,  spring  report:  March-May,  1990.  Florida  Field 
Nat.  18:91-96. 

COX,  J.  (comp.)  1992.  Field  observations,  fall  report:  September-November,  1991.  Florida 
Field  Nat.  20:50-56. 

HOWELL,  A.  H.  1932.  Florida  Bird  Life.  Coward-McCann,  Inc.,  New  York. 

Me  at  el,  W.  L , T.  D.  Burleigh,  G.  H.  Lowery,  Jr.,  and  H.  L.  Stoddard.  1944.  East- 
ward migration  through  the  Gulf  States.  Wilson  Bull.  56:152-160. 

PRANTY,  W.  (comp.)  1996a.  Fall  report:  August-November,  1995.  Florida  Field  Nat. 
24:48-59. 

PRANTY,  W.  (comp.)  1996b.  Winter  report:  December-February,  1996.  Florida  Field  Nat. 
24:83-92. 

PRESTON,  C.  R.,  AND  R.  D.  Beane.  1993.  Red-tailed  Hawk.  In  The  Birds  of  North  Amer- 
ica, No.  52.  A.  Poole,  P.  Stettenheim,  and  F.  Gill  (eds.).  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences, 
Philadelphia  and  American  Ornithologists5  Union,  Washington,  D.C. 

Robertson,  W.  B,  Jr.,  and  G.  Woolfenden.  1993.  Florida  Bird  Species:  An  Annotated 
List.  Florida  Ornithol.  Soc.  Special  Publ.  No.  6,  Gainesville. 

Stevenson,  H.  M.,  and  B.  N.  Anderson.  1994.  Florida  Birdlife.  Univ.  Press  Florida, 
Gainesville. 

VAN  Tyne,  J.,  AND  G.  M.  Sutton.  1937.  The  birds  of  Brewster  County,  Texas.  Misc.  Publ. 
No.  37.  Museum  Zoology,  Univ.  Michigan  Press,  Ann  Arbor. 

WEST,  R.  L.,  AND  B.  PRANTY.  1995.  Florida  region,  the  winter  season.  National  Audubon 
Society  Field  Notes  49:139-142. 

WHEELER,  B.  R.,  AND  W.  S.  Clark.  1995.  A Photographic  Guide  to  North  American  Rap- 
tors. Academic  Press.  San  Diego. 


Notes 


141 


Florida  Field  Nat.  25(4): 141-142, 1997. 

WHITE-CROWNED  PIGEON  NORTH  OF  ITS  KNOWN  RANGE 


Donald  M.  Waee 

662  Fairway  Avenue,  Ft.  Walton  Beach,  Florida  32547-1752 


The  White-crowned  Pigeon  ( Columba  leucocephala)  is  a sought-after  Florida  spe- 
cialty that  nests  in  colonies  in  the  extreme  southern  peninsula  and  the  Keys  of  Florida. 
The  White-crowned  Pigeon  usually  inhabits  dense  coastal  forests  where  they  feed  on  a 
variety  of  fruits  and  seeds,  but  they  sometimes  are  found  in  residential  areas.  J.  On- 
drejko  (in  Paul  1988)  reported  several  White-crowned  Pigeons  eating  white  millet  from  a 
feeder  in  Key  West  on  19  June  1988.  Although  a few  overwinter  in  Florida,  this  species 
typically  winters  in  the  Bahamas,  Cuba,  Hispanola,  and  western  Panama  (Ehrlich  et.  ah 
1988)  and  returns  to  Florida  in  April  or  May.  There  is  one  sight  report  of  the  White- 
crowned  Pigeon  outside  Florida  on  24  June  and  2 July  1989  at  Laguna  Atascosa,  Cam- 
eron County  in  extreme  southern  Texas  (Lasley  and  Sexton  1989). 

At  0700  on  16  April  1997,  T.  and  B.  Fleck  saw  a White-crowned  Pigeon  on  a platform 
feeder  in  their  back  yard  in  Ft.  Walton  Beach,  Okaloosa  County,  Florida.  It  was  also  seen 
for  about  10  minutes  that  evening,  and  again  at  0700  the  next  morning.  At  0700  of  18 
April  I had  a 10-minute  unrestricted  study  of  the  bird  with  Zeiss  10  x 40B  binoculars  as 
it  fed  within  7 m of  me.  It  appeared  to  be  an  adult  male,  all  dark  gray  with  a bright  white 
crown  and  rows  of  greenish  spots  on  the  hind  neck.  It  had  a light  iris,  and  the  base  of  the 
bill  was  dull  red,  and  the  tip  was  white.  The  bird  was  apparently  eating  white  millet  from 
the  mixed  seed.  Although  wary  of  people,  it  aggressively  chased  away  Common  Grackles 
( Quiscalus  quiscula ),  Blue  Jays  ( Cyanocitta  cristata ),  and  Mourning  Doves  ( Zenaida 
macroura ).  It  was  also  seen  sitting  in  large  magnolia  and  pine  trees  near  the  back  yard. 
Two  other  birders  observed  it  at  that  feeder.  The  bird  was  later  observed  by  C.  and  H. 
King  at  their  feeder  three  blocks  west.  B.  Fleck  took  a photograph  of  the  bird  on  22  April 
1997  (TTRS  p.591).  It  was  last  seen  on  11  May  at  the  King’s  feeder.  By  that  time  it  had 
become  far  more  tolerant  of  other  birds  at  the  feeder.  This  sighting  was  290  km  north  of 
the  northernmost  sighting  in  St.  Lucie  County,  Florida  (Robertson  and  Woolfenden 
1992). 

Information  from  the  National  Oceanic  and  Atmospheric  Administration  Climate  Di- 
agnostic Center  indicates  that  during  the  six  days  prior  to  16  April,  strong  (10-12  knots) 
low-level  winds  blew  from  the  southeast  between  Cuba  and  the  Keys.  It  is  possible  this 
bird  was  headed  to  the  Keys  from  Cuba,  missed  its  landfall,  and  had  a longer- than-usual 
flight. 

I suggest  this  sighting  represents  an  accidental  occurrence  of  a wild  White-crowned 
Pigeon  rather  than  an  escaped  bird.  This  sighting  should  be  cause  for  birders  all  along 
the  Gulf  coast  to  look  for  this  species  in  April  or  May. 

I thank  Robert  A.  Duncan  for  his  comments  on  this  note. 

Literature  Cited 

Ehrlich,  P.  R.,  D.  S.  Dobkin,  and  D.  Wheye.  1988.  The  Birder’s  Handbook.  Simon  & 

Schuster,  Inc.,  New  York. 

KALE,  H.  W.,  II,  AND  D.  S.  Maehr  1990.  Florida’s  Birds:  A Handbook  and  Reference. 

Pineapple  Press,  Sarasota. 

Lasley,  G.  W.,  and  C.  Sexton.  1989.  The  nesting  season,  Texas  Region,  Amer.  Birds  43: 
* 1339-1340. 

PAUL,  R.  T.  1988.  The  nesting  season:  Florida  region.  Am.  Birds  42:1278-81. 


142 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


Robertson,  W.  B.,  Jr.,  AND  G.  E.  Woolfenden.  1992.  Florida  Bird  Species:  An  Anno- 
tated List.  Florida  Ornithol.  Soc.  Spec.  Publ.  No.  6,  Gainesville 
Stevenson,  H.  M.,  and  B.  H.  Anderson.  1994.  The  Birdlife  of  Florida.  Univ.  Presses  of 
Florida,  Gainesville. 


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Notes 


143 


Florida  Field  Nat.  25(4):143-145,  1997. 

RECENT  NESTING  OF  THE  WHITE-TAILED  KITE  IN  CENTRAL  FLORIDA 


Michael  A.  McMillian1  and  Bill  Pranty2 
‘MacArthur  Agro-Ecology  Research  Center,  300  Buck  Island  Ranch  Road 
Lake  Placid,  Florida  33852 


2 85 15  Village  Mill  Row,  Bayonet  Point,  Florida  34667-2662 

The  White-tailed  Kite  ( Elanus  leucurus ) is  an  elegant  raptor  of  grasslands  and  open 
woodlands  of  the  Americas  (Dunk  1995).  In  Florida,  the  last  nesting  record  until  the  mid- 
1980s  occurred  in  1930  (Stevenson  and  Anderson  1994),  but  birds  continued  to  be  re- 
ported sporadically  through  the  1950s  (Sprunt  1954,  1963).  By  the  late  1980s  and  early 
1990s,  the  number  of  kite  reports  had  increased  considerably,  and  birds  were  again  nest- 
ing in  Florida  (King  1987,  Curnutt  1989,  Curnutt  and  Hoffman  1992).  The  number  of 
kites  reported  in  central  Florida  increased  substantially  in  1991  to  1996,  and  many  kites 
were  reported  during  the  nesting  season  (Pranty  and  McMillian  1997).  This  note  docu- 
ments a White-tailed  Kite  nest  in  Highlands  County  in  1996:  the  first  central  Florida 
nesting  record  in  66  years.  We  also  discuss  a previously  unpublished  1994  report  of  prob- 
able breeding  in  Brevard  County,  Florida,  and  summarize  characteristics  of  White-tailed 
Kite  nesting  records  from  1872  to  present. 

On  21  March  1996,  S.  Christman  (pers.  comm.)  discovered  a pair  ofWhite-tailed  Kites 
copulating  and  building  a nest  at  MacArthur  Agro-Ecology  Research  Center  (i.e.,  Buck 
Island  Ranch),  which  is  located  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  Highlands  County.  White- 
tailed Kites  had  been  observed  frequently  at  the  Center  since  16  October  1995.  The 
ranch  contains  a mix  of  wet  prairie  and  bahiagrass  ( Paspalum  notatum ) pastures,  hard- 
wood hammocks  composed  predominantly  of  live  oaks  ( Quercus  virginianus ) and  cab- 
bage palms  ( Sabal  palmetto ),  and  scattered  small  wetlands.  The  area  is  part  of  the 
Indian  Prairie  Basin,  an  extensive  watershed  between  Lake  Istokpoga  and  Lake 
Okeechobee  (Auman  1995).  Since  the  area  was  converted  to  a cattle  ranch,  numerous 
small,  shallow  (<1  m deep)  ditches  grown  to  rushes  ( Juncus  spp.),  and  larger,  deeper 
ditches  grown  to  water  hyacinth  (. Eichhomia  crassipes),  water  lettuce  ( Pistia  stratiotes), 
pickerelweed  {Pontedaria  cordata ),  yellow  pondlily  ( Nuphar  luteum ),  and  arrowhead 
(. Sagittaria  spp.)  have  drained  the  prairie.  Elevation  of  the  area  is  approximately  8.5  m 
above  mean  sea  level. 

M.  McMillian  monitored  the  nest  from  a distance  during  its  construction.  The  nest 
was  built  9.9  m above  the  ground  in  an  11-rn  black  gum  ( Nyssa  sylvatica)  with  a diameter 
at  breast  height  (DBH)  of  48.1  cm.  The  nest  tree  was  part  of  an  open  copse  of  black  gums 
surrounded  by  mixed  wet  prairie/bahiagrass  pastures  and  small,  scattered  cabbage  palm 
hammocks.  The  nest  tree,  somewhat  isolated  from  other  trees,  was  separated  from  its 
nearest  neighbor  by  19  m.  The  nest  was  composed  of  small  diameter  (2  to  5 mm)  black 
gum  twigs  that  were  10  to  30  cm  in  length,  and  was  lined  with  dried  grass. 

The  pasture  containing  the  nest  tree  was  burned  in  a prescribed  fire  on  10  April  1996. 
Although  the  nest  tree  was  scorched  to  within  2 m of  the  nest,  the  nest  was  not  aban- 
doned. Subtracting  an  incubation  period  of  30  to  32  days  (Hawbecker  1942  in  Dunk  1995) 
from  the  hatching  date  of  11  May,  egg  laying  must  have  been  in  progress  the  day  of  the 
burn. 

After  incubation  appeared  to  be  initiated  by  the  female,  we  checked  the  nest  weekly 
’using  an  extendable  mirror  pole  to  determine  clutch  and  brood  sizes.  When  checked  on 
13  April,  20  April,  28  April,  and  5 May,  the  nest  contained  four  eggs.  On  the  three  April 
dates,  the  female  was  on  the  nest  incubating,  but  on  5 May  the  female  was  perched  above 


144 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


the  nest.  On  11  May  the  nest  contained  two  recently  hatched  nestlings  and  one  egg.  A 
third  hatchling  was  found  dead  on  the  ground  underneath  the  nest  (specimen  to  Arch- 
bold Biological  Station,  catalogue  number  GEW  5926,  G.  Woolfenden  pers.  comm.).  The 
nest  contained  three  nestlings  on  19  May,  and  on  26  May  the  nest  was  empty  and  the 
adults  were  not  present.  We  suspect  the  nest  had  been  depredated  2 to  3 days  earlier, 
possibly  by  American  Crows  ( Corvus  hrachyrhynchos),  raccoons  ( Procyon  lotor),  or  Red- 
shouldered Hawks  ( Buteo  lineatus).  No  White-tailed  Kites  were  observed  on  the  ranch 
again  until  16  December  1996,  when  M.  McMillian  saw  an  adult  near  the  nest  site. 

In  June  1993,  a White-tailed  Kite  was  observed  in  southern  Brevard  County  (B.  Wet- 
more  in  Pranty  1995),  on  the  north  side  of  the  Sottille  Canal,  4.8  km  west  of  State  Road 
507  (Babcock  Street).  The  locale  of  the  sighting  is  about  2.5  km  south  of  Palm  Bay,  Flor- 
ida, and  7.2  km  north  of  the  Indian  River  County  line.  Land  use  in  the  area  is  citrus 
groves  and  cattle  pastures  with  scattered  trees.  Two  kites  were  seen  intermittently  from 
30  December  1993  to  16  January  1994  (B.  and  S.  Hills  in  Pranty  1994).  In  “late  spring” 
1994,  Bruce  Wetmore  (pers.  comm.  May  1997)  observed  two  adult  and  one  juvenile 
White-tailed  Kites  in  this  area,  and  kites  were  reported  from  the  site  through  12  Febru- 
ary 1995  (B.  and  S.  Hills  in  Pranty  1995).  The  observation  of  the  two  adults  and  juvenile 
was  not  published  previously  as  a potential  breeding  report,  but  three  factors  lead  us  to 
conclude  that  this  observation  suggests  breeding  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  in  Brevard 
County  in  1994.  First,  the  juvenile  was  observed  with  two  adults  during  the  nesting  sea- 
son. Second,  the  adults  had  been  present  for  the  previous  10  to  12  months.  Third,  juve- 
nile kites  are  indistinguishable  from  adults  on  the  basis  of  plumage  by  their  first  winter 
(Bammann  1975  in  Dunk  1995),  so  the  juvenile  had  to  be  a bird  that  fledged  in  1994. 

The  fates  of  17  of  the  22  White-tailed  Kite  nests  observed  in  Florida  have  been  re- 
ported. Excluding  one  nest  that  failed  because  an  oologist  collected  the  eggs  (Stevenson 
and  Anderson  1994),  eight  nests  (50%)  were  successful,  and  produced  a total  of  22  fledg- 
lings (2  to  4 fledglings  per  nest).  The  remaining  eight  nests  failed  to  fledge  any  young. 
The  fledgling  rate  for  these  16  nests  is  1.25  ± 1.34  fledglings  for  all  nests,  and  2.50  ± 0.53 
fledglings  per  successful  nest.  Single  nests  in  Broward  County  in  1986  (King  1987)  and 
Dade  County  in  1991  (P.  W.  and  S.  A.  Smith  in  Langridge  1991)  successfully  fledged 
young,  but  still  contained  one  nestling  each  when  checked  last.  We  excluded  these  nest- 
lings from  our  summary  of  fledgling  production.  Two  studies  in  California  recorded  aver- 
age numbers  of  fledglings  for  all  nests  with  known  fates  of  1.63  ± 1.15  and  1.60  (no  SD), 
and  average  numbers  of  fledglings  per  successful  nests  of  2.93  ± 1.51  and  3.20  ± 0.80 
(Dunk  1995). 

Nest  shrub  or  tree  species  were  reported  for  nine  of  the  22  kite  nests  found  in  Florida. 
One  nest  was  built  in  a pine  ( Pinus  spp.)  (Stevenson  and  Anderson  1994),  one  in  a bald 
cypress  ( Taxodium  distichum ) (Cumutt  1989),  one  in  a citrus  ( Citrus  spp.)  (J.  Baker  in 
Pranty  1993a),  one  in  a black  gum  (this  note),  two  in  oaks  ( Quercus  spp.)  (Stevenson  and 
Anderson  1994),  and  three  in  wax  myrtles  ( Myrica  cerifera ) (King  1987).  Heights  of  eight 
of  these  nests  ranged  from  3.0  to  9.9  m and  averaged  5.5  m (5.53  ± 2.69  m).  To  date,  the 
Highlands  County  nest  is  the  highest  nest  reported  in  Florida. 

All  nests  in  Florida  were  built  in  open  or  semi-open  habitats.  The  four  initial  White- 
tailed Kite  nests  in  Florida  were  built  in  native  prairie  habitats  in  central  Florida,  and 
17  nests  were  built  in  the  eastern  Everglades,  where  hydrology  and  fire  frequency  have 
been  altered  significantly  by  human  activities.  The  tendency  for  kites  to  nest  in  native  or 
semi-native  habitats  with  low  levels  of  human  activity  has  been  reported  elsewhere 
(Erichsen  et  al.  1996). 

Despite  the  great  increase  in  White-tailed  Kite  reports  in  Florida  since  1991  (Pranty 
and  McMillian  1997),  most  of  the  recent  nesting  attempts  occurred  prior  to  this  period. 
Four  nests  were  found  in  central  Florida  from  1872  to  1930  (Stevenson  and  Anderson 
1994)  and  13  nests  in  Broward  and  Dade  counties  from  1986  to  1990  (Curnutt  and  Hoff- 
man 1992).  Since  then,  only  five  additional  nesting  attempts  have  been  reported:  single 


Notes 


145 


nests  in  Broward  and  Dade  counties  in  1991  (Langridge  1991)  and  again  in  1993  (Pranty 
1993a,  b),  and  the  Highlands  County  nest  in  1996.  We  believe  that  repeated  observations 
of  adult  kites  in  spring  and  summer  elsewhere  in  Brevard  and  Highlands  counties,  as 
well  as  in  Osceola  and  Polk  counties  (Pranty  and  McMillian  1997)  suggest  that  White- 
tailed Kites  may  be  more  widespread  as  a nesting  species  in  central  Florida  than  is 
known  currently.  Unlike  kite  habitat  in  south  Florida,  which  is  mostly  publicly  owned, 
much  kite  habitat  in  the  prairie  region  of  central  Florida  is  located  on  large,  private  cat- 
tle ranches.  Inaccessibility  of  these  ranches  prevents  accurate  assessment  of  kite  num- 
bers, distribution,  and  breeding  status. 

We  thank  MacArthur  Agro-Ecology  Research  Center  for  the  loan  of  equipment,  and 
Archbold  Biological  Station  for  its  library  facilities.  We  especially  thank  Bruce  Wetmore 
for  informing  us  of  the  Brevard  County  potential  breeding  report.  We  thank  Katie  Dug- 
ger, Todd  Engstrom,  Dave  Leonard,  Steve  McGehee,  Ken  Meyer,  and  Brian  Millsap  for 
their  numerous  helpful  comments  that  improved  the  note  considerably.  This  is  contribu- 
tion No.  30  of  the  MacArthur  Agro-Ecology  Research  Center  of  Archbold  Biological  Sta- 
tion. 


Literature  Cited 

AUMEN,  N.  G.  1995.  The  history  of  human  impacts,  lake  management,  and  limnological 
research  on  Lake  Okeechobee,  Florida  (USA).  Arch.  Hydrobiol.  Spec.  Issues  Advanc. 
Limnol.  45:1-16. 

CURNUTT,  J.  L.  1989.  Nesting  of  Black-shouldered  Kite  ( Elanus  caeruleus ) in  Everglades 
National  Park,  Florida.  Florida  Field  Nat.  17:77-79. 

CURNUTT,  J.  L.,  AND  W.  R.  HOFFMAN.  1992.  The  recent  distribution  of  Black-shouldered 
Kites  in  Florida.  Florida  Field  Nat.  20:1-7. 

DUNK,  J.  R.  1995.  White-tailed  Kite  (. Elanus  leucurus).  In  The  Birds  of  North  America, 
No.  178  (A.  Poole  and  F.  Gill,  eds.).  The  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia, 
and  The  American  Ornithologists’  Union,  Washington,  D.C. 

Erichsen,  A.  L.,  S.  K.  Smallwood,  A.  M.  Commandatore,  B.  W.  Wilson,  and  M.  D. 
Fry.  1996.  White-tailed  Kite  movement  and  nesting  patterns  in  an  agricultural  land- 
scape. Pages  165-176  in  Raptors  in  Human  Landscapes  (D.  Bird,  D.  Varland,  and  J. 
Negro,  eds.).  Academic  Press.  London,  UK. 

King,  R.  L.  1987.  Successful  nesting  of  Black-shouldered  Kites  in  the  Everglades  of  Bro- 
ward County,  Florida.  Florida  Field  Nat.  15:  106-107. 

LANGRIDGE,  H.  P.  (comp.)  1991.  Florida  Region  [Spring  1991  report].  Am.  Birds  45:436- 
438. 

PRANTY,  B.  (comp.)  1993a.  Florida  Ornithological  Society  Field  Observations  Committee 
Winter  Report:  December  1992-February  1993.  Florida  Field  Nat.  21:92-100. 

PRANTY,  B.  (comp.)  1993b.  Florida  Ornithological  Society  Field  Observations  Committee 
Spring  Report:  March-May  1993.  Florida  Field  Nat.  21:121-128. 

PRANTY,  B.  (comp.)  1994.  Florida  Ornithological  Society  Field  Observations  Committee 
Winter  Report:  December  1993-February  1994.  Florida  Field  Nat.  22:87-96. 

PRANTY,  B.  (comp.)  1995.  Florida  Ornithological  Society  Field  Observations  Committee 
Winter  Report:  December  1994-February  1995.  Florida  Field  Nat.  23:77-86. 

PRANTY,  B.,  AND  M.  A.  MCMILLIAN.  1997.  Status  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  in  Northern 
and  Central  Florida.  Florida  Field  Nat.  25:117-127. 

SPRUNT,  A.,  Jr  1954.  Florida  Bird  Life.  Coward-McCann.  New  York. 

SPRUNT,  A.,  Jr  1963.  Addendum  to  Florida  Bird  Life.  Published  privately. 

Stevenson,  H.  M.,  AND  B.  H.  Anderson.  1994.  The  Birdlife  of  Florida.  Univ.  Press  of 
Florida.  Gainesville. 


146 


REVIEW 


Florida  Field  Nat.  25(4):146-147,  1997. 

The  Prairie  Falcon. — Stanley  H.  Anderson  and  John  R.  Squires.  1997.  University  of 
Texas  Press,  Austin.  ISBN  0-292-70474-7.  $16.95  paper,  $29.95  cloth.  168  pp.,  19  color 
photographs,  8 line  drawings,  1 map,  2 figs.  Both  authors  live  in  Laramie,  Wyoming, 
where  they  have  had  a long  association  with  Prairie  Falcons,  the  North  American  “desert 
falcon”.  Other  desert  falcons  are  the  arctic  Gyrfalcon  and  the  Old  World  Saker,  Lanner, 
and  Laggar.  Desert  falcons  are  powerful,  fast  fliers,  usually  catching  mammals,  birds, 
and  reptiles  by  low,  rapid  flights,  in  contrast  to  the  stoops  from  high  elevation  typical  of 
Peregrine  Falcons. 

The  book  is  written  for  a general  audience.  The  authors  hope  to  stimulate  interest  in 
Prairie  Falcons  and  to  promote  conservation  of  this  magnificent  bird.  Although  the  au- 
thors clearly  aim  for  scientific  accuracy,  citing  the  substantial  pertinent  literature,  their 
book  is  a compilation  of  research  by  others  plus  their  own  general  observations  on  Prai- 
rie Falcons.  It  is  not  a monograph  reporting  original  research. 

The  book  has  four  main  sections.  The  first  describes  Prairie  Falcons,  discusses  distri- 
bution and  nest  sites,  hunting  and  food  habits,  and  ecological  interactions.  Then  comes  a 
section  on  seasonal  activities,  a brief  section  on  other  raptors,  and  finally  a discussion  of 
Prairie  Falcons  and  people,  including  falconry,  pesticides,  and  captive  breeding. 

The  cover  has  a handsome  photo  of  a Prairie  Falcon.  The  general  layout  of  the  book  is 
attractive,  and  the  writing  is  mostly  clear.  The  19  colored  photos  of  falcons  and  falcon 
habitat  and  their  captions  are  printed  tipped  to  the  left  about  10  degrees.  The  book’s  de- 
signer must  regard  this  odd  presentation  as  attractive;  by  my  old-fashioned  standards,  it 
is  annoying  and  distracting — each  new  photo  encountered  looks  accidentally  askew.  The 
line  drawings  are  mostly  re-drawn  from  other  sources.  But  the  re-drawings  are  crude 
and  sometimes  misrepresent  the  source  drawing.  For  example,  the  cartoonish  Fig.  3 on 
page  58,  is  labeled  “Feeding  display  during  Prairie  Falcon  courtship.  After  Cade  1982.” 
But  the  original  drawing  on  page  42  of  Cade’s  “The  Falcons  of  the  World”  (1982,  Cornell 
Univ.  Press)  is  actually  a beautiful  drawing  of  peregrine  courtship-feeding.  Although  the 
Anderson-Squires  version  is  “credited”  to  Cade  in  a sense,  it  is  wrong  for  them  to  imply 
without  comment  that  Prairie  Falcon  courtship  is  identical  with  that  of  the  Peregrine 
Falcon  and  that  their  shapes  and  body  proportions  are  identical.  In  the  Cade  drawing  the 
food  being  presented  is  part  of  a small  bird;  in  the  Prairie  Falcon  sketch  it  has  been 
transformed  into  a ground  squirrel.  Drawings  on  pages  56,  60  and  61,  showing  head-low 
display,  hitched-wing  display,  and  copulation,  are  also  re-drawn  from  Cade’s  book.  Again, 
elegantly  rendered  Peregrine  Falcons  are  transformed  crudely  into  caricatures  of  Prairie 
Falcons.  Any  reader  would  be  excused  for  concluding  that  Cade’s  book  actually  had  draw- 
ings or  photos  of  these  displays  of  the  Prairie  Falcon.  It  does  not. 

Having  a single-volume  popular  treatment  of  this  splendid  bird  is  welcome.  Unfortu- 
nately, the  deficiencies  of  the  re-drawn  figures  are  repeated  in  the  text.  Once  more,  the 
authors  list  their  sources  at  the  end  of  each  chapter  and  in  the  literature  cited  section  at 
the  end  of  the  book.  But  there  are  no  references  to  sources  within  the  text  (probably  to 
prevent  reader  distraction),  nor  are  quotations  acknowledged  for  some  material  lifted 
verbatim  or  nearly  so  from  other  works. 

Here  is  one  example: 

— Anderson  and  Squires,  p.  103:  “The  Saker  is  another  favorite  hunting  bird  of  Arab 
falconers.  It  is  a smaller,  rough-and-tumble  version  of  the  Gyrfalcon.” 

— Cade,  p.  80:  “Favorite  hunting  bird  of  Arab  falconers,  the  saker  is  a rough-and-tum- 
ble version  of  the  gyrfalcon.” 

The  chapter  titled  “Prairie  Falcons  and  Other  Raptors”  begins  with  a strange  listing 
(pp.  87-90)  of  categories  that  suggests  that  eagles  are  the  only  members  of  the  Family  Ac- 


Review 


147 


cipitridae;  harriers,  accipiters,  buteos,  and  falcons  are  listed  confusingly  below  Osprey 
(Pandionidae),  with  no  indication  of  what  families  they  belong  in.  The  authors  know  bet- 
ter; they  straighten  this  out  several  pages  later  (pp.  100-101).  A section  on  evolution  at- 
tempts to  sketch  avian  history  from  reptilian  ancestors.  Again,  the  treatment  is  so  brief 
that  it  is  not  helpful  and  might  better  have  been  omitted.  Hesperornis,  for  example,  is  de- 
scribed as  resembling  modern  cormorants,  with  teeth,  a long  flexible  neck,  and  a rela- 
tively short  tail;  the  fact  that  it  was  essentially  wingless  is  not  mentioned.  A surprising 
conclusion  of  the  evolution  section  is:  “In  all  likelihood,  the  grassland  [=  desert]  falcons 
did  not  have  an  immediate  common  ancestor  but  evolved  from  forest-type  falcons  near 
the  open  areas  they  now  inhabit.”  I doubt  if  this  opinion  is  shared  by  any  thoughtful  stu- 
dent of  raptor  phylogeny.  In  the  section  “Other  Desert  Falcons,”  Anderson  and  Squires 
state  that  “Sakers  often  build  stick  nests  in  trees.”  This  will  come  as  a surprise  to  Tom 
Cade,  whose  treatment  of  alleged  stick  nest  building  in  his  monograph  clearly  indicates 
that  he  does  not  think  any  falcon  does  this,  or  at  least  that  proof  by  direct  observation 
has  yet  to  be  reported. 

Despite  these  weak  points,  the  book  does  its  main  job  effectively.  It  portrays  the  Prai- 
rie Falcon  as  a magnificent  raptor,  uniquely  adapted  to  its  harsh,  dry  environment.  The 
authors’  respect  for  the  bird  and  their  love  of  the  fine  country  it  lives  in  shines  through 
the  text.  Even  though  Prairie  Falcons  do  not  occur  in  Florida,  the  book  provides  a good 
summary  for  a general  audience  of  Prairie  Falcon  biology  in  a single  attractive  volume.  It 
would  be  a useful  addition  to  school  and  community  libraries. — Harrison  B.  Tordoff, 
Bell  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  Department  of  Ecology,  Evolution,  and  Behavior, 
University  of  Minnesota,  100  Ecology,  1987  Upper  Buford  Circle,  St.  Paul,  Minnesota, 
55108. 


148 


FIELD  OBSERVATIONS 


Fla.  Field  Nat.  25(4):  148-158,  1997. 

Spring  Reports  March-May  1997. — The  observations  listed  here  are  based  on  rare 
or  unusual  species  or  significant  numbers  of  birds  reported  to  the  Florida  Ornithological 
Society  (FOS)  Field  Observations  Committee  (FOC).  These  reports  have  not  been  re- 
viewed formally,  thus  they  should  be  considered  tentative. 

Significant  reports  are  welcomed  for  inclusion  in  future  issues  of  this  section.  Reports 
should  include  the  following  information:  species,  number  of  individuals,  age  and  sex  of 
the  bird(s),  color  morph  if  applicable,  location  (including  county),  date,  observer(s),  and 
significance  of  the  report.  Reporting  periods  are  winter  (December-February),  spring 
(March-May),  summer  (June-July),  and  fall  (August-November).  Submit  reports  to  re- 
gional compilers  within  two  weeks  after  the  close  of  each  period,  or  to  the  state  compiler 
within  one  month.  Reports  may  be  emailed  to  the  state  compiler  at  billpranty@hot- 
mail.com. 

Following  the  examples  set  by  Florida  Bird  Species:  An  Annotated  List  (Robertson 
and  Woolfenden  1992,  FOS  Spec.  Publ.  No.  6)  and  The  Birdlife  of  Florida  (Stevenson  and 
Anderson  1994,  Univ.  Press  of  Florida),  sight-only  observations  are  considered  “reports,” 
while  only  those  supported  by  verifiable  evidence  (photographs,  video  or  audio  tapes,  or 
specimens)  are  called  “records.” 

The  FOS  Records  Committee  (FOSRC)  revised  the  list  of  birds  for  which  they  require 
documentation  in  1996  ( FFN  24(4):132-133).  These  species  are  marked  in  this  report 
with  an  asterisk  (*)  to  alert  the  observers  of  their  need  to  supply  the  FOSRC  with  details 
of  their  sightings.  (Some  reports  that  lack  documentation  may  have  been  omitted  from 

this  report). 

A county  designation  (in  italics)  accompanies  the  first-time  listing  of  each  site  in  this 
report;  further  listings  of  the  same  site  lack  the  county  name.  Abbreviations  used  are  as 
follows:  ABS  = Archbold  Biological  Station  ( Highlands ),  APAFR  = Avon  Park  Air  Force 
Range,  BCCP  = Brooker  Creek  County  Preserve  {Pinellas),  CP  - county  park,  DTNP  = 
Dry  Tortugas  NP  {Monroe),  ENP  - Everglades  NP,  FBR  = Florida  Birding  Report  {fide 
Dotty  Hull),  FDCP  = Fort  DeSoto  CP  {Pinellas),  FWBSTF  = Fort  Walton  Beach  STF 
0 Okaloosa ),  HISRA  = Honeymoon  Island  SRA  {Pinellas),  NP  = national  park,  NWR  = na- 
tional wildlife  refuge,  PPSP  = Paynes  Prairie  State  Preserve  {Alachua),  R&W  1992  = 
Robertson  and  Woolfenden  1992,  S&A  1994  = Stevenson  and  Anderson  1994,  SMNWR  = 
St.  Marks  NWR  {Wakulla),  SP  = state  park,  SRA  = state  recreation  area,  SRSTF  = Sprin- 
ghill  Road  STF  {Leon),  STF  = sewage  treatment  facility,  WICP  = Weedon  Island  County 
Preserve  {Pinellas),  WMA  = wildlife  management  area,  WSSP  = Wekiwa  Springs  SP  {Or- 
ange), and  N,  S,  E,  W,  etc.  for  compass  directions.  Bold-faced  species,  if  any,  denote  birds 
newly  reported  or  verified  in  Florida. 

R&W  1992  and  S&A  1994  were  used  to  determine  the  regional  and  seasonal  status  of 
many  species.  Todd  Engstrom  assisted  with  the  editing  of  the  manuscript.  With  this  re- 
port, the  FOC  welcomes  Bob  Duncan  of  Gulf  Breeze  as  its  third  new  recent  member. 

Summary  of  the  Spring  Season 

Weather  conditions  this  spring  created  fall  outs  in  most  parts  of  the  state.  Numerous 
fronts  associated  with  fall  outs  were  noted,  but  by  far  the  most  important  occurred  in  the 
latter  half  of  April.  On  23  April,  Wilfred  Yusek  noted  a huge  fallout  at  Honeymoon  Island 
SRA  just  ahead  of  a mid-morning  front.  Amazing  numbers  of  many  migrants  were 
counted  after  the  rain  ended.  At  Fort  DeSoto  CP  on  26  April,  21  species  of  warblers,  in- 
cluding Blue-winged,  Golden-winged,  Black-throated  Green,  and  Kentucky,  were  ob- 


Field  Observations 


149 


served  by  Paul  Fellers  et  al.  Unprecedented  occurrences  of  Dickcissels  along  the  Gulf 
Coast  included  the  5 highest  Florida  counts,  the  latest  spring  report,  and  two  new  county 
reports,  Wilson’s  Phalaropes  were  likewise  reported  widely  and  in  record  numbers. 

On  12  April,  Naples  was  hit  by  a storm  from  the  SSW  that  contained  gusts  up  to  64 
kph.  The  next  day,  Ted  Below  and  others  found  75  carcasses  of  12  birds  (Great  Egret, 
Snowy  Egret,  Green  Heron,  Sora,  Purple  Gallinule,  Common  Moorhen,  Western  Sand- 
piper, Short-billed  Dowitcher,  Ring-billed  Gull,  Black  Skimmer,  Chuck-will’s— widow, 
and  Gray  Catbird.  Analysis  of  some  of  the  birds  indicated  they  died  from  “what  appeared 
to  be  collision,”  causing  T.  Below  to  suspect  they  were  caught  in  a wind-shear. 

FOSRC  rarities  reported  this  spring  were  the  Red-billed  Tropicbird  west  of  Key  West, 
the  White-faced  Ibis  at  St.  Marks  N WE,  the  BicknelFs  Thrush  at  Dry  Tortugas  NP,  and 
Warbling  Vireos  at  4 sites.  Other  rarities  included  2 Pacific  Loons  at  Pensacola,  the 
White-crowned  Pigeon  at  Fort  Walton  Beach,  single  Lesser  Nighthawks  at  2 sites  in  the 
W Panhandle,  the  Key  West  Quail-Dove  at  Elliott  Key,  2 La  Sagra’s  Flycatchers  each  at 
Key  Largo  and  Hugh  Taylor  Birch  SRA,  the  Black-headed  Grosbeak  at  Gulf  Breeze,  and 
the  Snow  Bunting  that  wintered  at  Canaveral  National  Seashore. 


Species  Accounts 

PACIFIC  Loon:  2 that  wintered  in  Pensacola  Bay  ( Escambia  and  Santa  Rosa ) were  seen 
last  on  22  Apr  (B.  and  L.  Duncan  et  al.);  1 at  St.  George  Island  {Franklin)  23  Apr  (J. 
Cavanagh,  details  and  photos  to  FOS  Archives). 

COMMON  Loon:  1 in  breeding  plumage  at  Newnans  Lake  {Alachua)  21  May  (R.  Rowan). 
HORNED  Grebe:  2 in  breeding  plumage  at  Lake  Talquin  {Leon)  2-8  May  (H.  Bolte). 
Eared  Grebe:  1 at  Black  Point  CP,  Homestead  {Dade)  23  Mar  (R.  Halpin). 

CORY’S  Shearwater:  1 from  shore  at  St.  Augustine  {St  Johns)  20  Mar  (T.  Taylor,  D. 
Whitehead). 

SOOTY  Shearwater:  1 from  shore  at  St.  Augustine  20  Mar  (T.  Taylor,  D.  Whitehead). 
WILSON’S  Storm-Petrel:  2 birds  35  km  off  Port  Canaveral  {Brevard)  18  May  (Alachua 
Aud.  Soc.). 

LEACH’S  Storm-Petrel:  1 bird  35  km  off  Port  Canaveral  18  May  (Alachua  Aud.  Soc.). 

* RED-BILLED  Tropicbird:  1 midway  between  DTNP  and  Key  West  {Monroe)  19  Apr  (H. 
Langridge  et  al.). 

Brown  Booby:  36  at  DTNP  23  Apr  (S.  Mlodinow,  C.  Hood,  P.  Lehman). 

NORTHERN  GANNET:  1 between  DTNP  and  Key  West  5 May  (W.  Biggs  et  al.). 

AMERICAN  White  PELICAN:  200+  migrating  W at  Niceville  {Okaloosa)  2 Mar  (R.  Reilly), 
and  100  there  3 Mar  (D.  Ware);  1300  at  PPM  17  Mar  (R  Fellers);  135  in  4 flocks  mi- 
grating W along  the  Dixie  coast  27  Mar  (P.  Sykes,  C.  Kepler). 

BROWN  PELICAN:  1 immature  at  Orange  Lake  {Alachua)  19  Mar  (J.  Krummrich);  3 at 
Lake  Kissimmee  {Osceola)  5 Apr  (T.  Palmer);  1 immature  at  Lake  Istokpoga  {High- 
lands) 20  Apr  (M.  McMillian,  S.  McGehee  et  al.);  1 adult  at  Newnans  Lake  26  Apr  (A. 
Farkash);  1 at  Saddle  Creek  CP  {Polk)  27  Apr  (P.  Fellers);  3 N of  Mulberry  {Polk)  30 
Apr  (J.  Jackson). 

Double-crested  Cormorant:  6 nests  at  Orange  Lake  2 Apr  (M.  Meisenburg,  T. 

Doonan)  were  the  first  for  Alachua  since  1974  {fide  R.  Rowan). 

MAGNIFICENT  Frigatebird:  2 immatures  at  St.  Andrew  SRA  {Bay)  6 Apr  (B.  Straub). 
GREAT  Blue  Heron:  3 active  nests  in  S Dixie  27  Mar  (P.  Sykes,  C.  Kepler)  were  the  first 
breeding  report  for  the  county  (!)  (S&A  1994:55). 

GREEN  Heron:  8 dead  on  sandbars  off  Marco  Island  {Collier)  28  Mar- 12  Apr  (T.  Below). 
WHITE  Spoonbill:  1 at  McKay  Bay  {Hillsborough)  18  May  (S.  Backes). 

Roseate  Spoonbill:  6 at  Polk  phosphate  mines  14  May  (P.  Fellers). 

*White-FACED  IBIS:  1 photographed  at  SMNWR  10  May  {fide  R.  West). 


150 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


GLOSSY  Ibis:  1 in  breeding  plumage  at  FWBSTF  30  Apr-5  May  (E.  Case,  C.  Henning,  B. 
Duncan). 

Presumed  White  x Scarlet  Ibis  hybrid:  1 pink  bird  at  Eco  Pond,  ENP  (Monroe)  5 Apr 
(B.  Pranty,  Martin  Co.  Aud.  Soc.). 

BLACK-BELLIED  Whistling— Duck:  1 standing  in  the  median  of  Gandy  Boulevard  ca.  250 
m W of  Tampa  Bay  ( Pinellas ) 29  Apr  was  the  second  county  report  (J.  and  L.  Hopkins 
et  ak);  7 at  Gainesville  13  May  (D.  and  L.  O’Neill  et  al.)  were  the  first  for  Alachua 
(S&A  1994:96);  10  at  Myakka  River  SP  ( Sarasota ) 25  May  (D.  and  H.  Hull  et  ak). 

BLACK  Swan:  1 at  Shell  Key  ( Pinellas ) 17  Mar  (B.  Isaacson)  may  be  the  same  bird  seen 
at  FDCP  on  6 Feb  1995. 

CANADA  GOOSE:  26  at  Lake  Denton,  Avon  Park  (. Highlands ) 1 Apr  (C.  Ford),  and  11 
nearby  11  Apr  (fide  D.  Ford)  were  thought  to  be  wild,  and  were  the  first  county  reports 
(S&A  1994:102);  1 pair  with  3 young  at  Air  Products  Sanctuary,  Pace  (Santa  Rosa)  20 
May  (B.  Milmore). 

CINNAMON  Teal:  1 in  central  Brevard  9 Feb-8  Mar  (R.  Halpin). 

Northern  Shoveler:  1 at  Marco  Island  12  Apr  (J.  and  L.  Douglas). 

REDHEAD:  1 at  BCCP  17  May  (A.  and  R.  Smith)  was  late  (S&A  1994:124). 

RING— NECKED  Duck:  1 at  Tierra  Verde  (Pinellas)  10  May  (R.  Smith)  was  late  (S&A 
1994:125). 

GREATER  SCAUP:  1 male  at  Tram  Road  STF  (Leon)  5 Apr  (B.  Bergstrom,  K.  Avera,  J.  Bax- 
ter). 

LESSER  Scaup:  1 female  at  SMNWR  19  May  (J.  Dozier);  2 at  St.  Petersburg  (Pinellas)  25 
May  (A.  and  R.  Smith);  1 at  Hernando  Beach  (Hernando)  31  May  (C.  Black). 

Old  SQUAW:  1 female  at  FWBSTF  3 Mar-7  May  (D.  Ware,  B.  Duncan  et  ak);  1 at  Bear 
Lake  (Santa  Rosa)  4 Mar  (R.  Bonwit,  P.  Tetlow  et  ak);  1 at  HISRA  18  Apr  (W.  Yusek). 

White-winged  Scoter:  5 at  St.  George  Island  SP  (Franklin)  21  Apr  (R.  Christen  et  ak); 
40  others  in  Franklin  21  Apr  (T.  Engstrom);  10  E of  Fort  Walton  Beach  11  May  (D. 
Ware,  L.  Fennimore). 

Ruddy  Duck:  1 at  SRSTF  3 May  (D.  Harder,  G.  Menk). 

SWALLOW-TAILED  Kite:  18  at  Pensacola  (Escambia)  19  Mar  (P.  Parrish). 

White-tailed  Kite:  1 adult  at  ABS  9 Mar  (A.  and  R.  Smith)  was  the  fourth  Station  re- 
port (fide  B.  Pranty);  1 adult  at  Placid  Lakes  Estates  (Highlands)  15  Mar  (C.  Adkis- 
son);  2 at  Chekika,  ENP  (Dade)  15  Mar  (V.  McGrath);  1 at  APAFR  (Polk)  30  May  (N. 
Hamel,  A.  Mains). 

MISSISSIPPI  Kite:  1 at  Gainesville  25  Mar  (D.  Levey);  200  at  Tram  Road  STF  4 Apr  (K. 
MacVicar),  100  on  19  Apr  (R.  West  et  ak),  and  62  on  1 May  (G.  Menk,  J.  Cavanagh). 

NORTHERN  Harrier:  1 female  at  Kissimmee  Prairie  State  Preserve  (Okeechobee)  18  May 
(T.  Dean). 

Sharp-shinned  Hawk:  1 at  Piney  Z Lake  (Leon)  2 May  (D.  Harder). 

COOPER’S  Hawk:  1 at  Corkscrew  Swamp  Sanctuary  (Collier)  20  Apr  (D.  Weeks). 

Broad-winged  Hawk:  1 at  PPSP  20  Mar  (A.  Farkash,  B.  Muschlitz). 

SHORT-TAILED  Hawk:  1 dark  morph  at  Disney  Wilderness  Preserve  (Osceola  or  Polk)  2 
Mar  (P.  Fellers);  3 dark  morph  adults  had  returned  to  their  nesting  site  near  Lake  Is- 
tokpoga  by  9 Mar  (M.  McMillian,  S.  McGehee);  1 at  Lake  Placid  (Highlands)  16  Mar 
(A.  Fleischer,  K.  Tarvin);  1 pair  near  Suwannee  (Dixie)  26  Mar,  1 pair  and  1 dark 
morph  near  Fowlers  Bluff  (Levy)  27  Mar,  and  1 dark  morph  at  Sanders  Creek  (Dixie) 
27  Mar  (all  P.  Sykes,  C.  Kepler);  1 dark  morph  at  ENP  Visitor  Center  4 May  (W.  Biggs 
et  ak);  1 dark  morph  near  West  Lake,  ENP  (Dade  and/or  Monroe)  4 May  (S.  Rowe  et 
ak);  1 light  morph  at  Marathon  (Monroe)  5 May  (S.  Rowe  et  ak);  1 at  Saddle  Creek  CP 
(Polk)  13  May  (P.  Fellers);  1 over  Cedar  Key  Scrub  State  Reserve  (Levy)  25  May  (T. 
Webber);  1 dark  morph  at  WSSP  25  May  (S.  Belson). 

GOLDEN  Eagle:  1 immature  in  E Bay  7 Apr  (A.  and  R.  Ingram). 

MERLIN:  1 at  FDCP  13  Apr  ate  a Blue  Grosbeak  (L.  Atherton  et  ak). 


Field  Observations 


151 


PEREGRINE  Falcon:  2 over  ABS  13  Mar  (G.  Woolfenden,  R.  .Risen).;  1 adult  flying  N over 
Seahorse  Key  Cedar  Keys  NWR  {Levy)  28  Mar  (P.  Sykes  et  aL);  1 over  Watermelon 
Pond  ( Alachua ) 24  Apr  (B,  Muschlitz);  1 at  SMNWR  1 May  (J„  Dozier);  1 at  SRSTF  3 
May  (D.  Harder,  G.  Menk). 

YELLOW  Rail:  1 at  SMNWR  31  Mar  (B.  Henderson,  D.  Wells)  and  5 Apr  (K.  Avera,  J.  Bax- 
ter, B.  Bergstrom). 

BLACK  Rail:  1 calling  at  Amelia  Island  (Nassau)  12-16  Mar  (C.  Wyatt)  was  the  first 
county  report  (S&A  1994:189);  1 at  Tomoka  Aquatic  Preserve  (Volusia)  22  May  (D. 
Shelley). 

SORA:  1 in  a tree  at  FDCP  26  Apr  (Lake  Region  Aud.  Soc.);  1 at  Hamilton  phosphate  mine 
10  May  (J.  Krummrich). 

PURPLE  Gallinule:  1 arrival  at  Tall  Timbers  Research  Station  (Leon)  20  Mar  (R.  West); 

1 adult  at  HISRA  19  Apr  (W.  Yusek)  may  be  the  first  park  report. 

COMMON  Moorhen:  1 found  dead  at  DTNP  6 Apr  (W.  Biggs  et  aL). 

American  Coot:  1 found  dead  at  DTNP  6 Apr  (W.  Biggs  et  aL). 

WHOOPING  Crane:  2 over  SR-26  Melrose  (Alachua)  9-10  Apr  (B.  Bolte);  1 flying  N over 
US- 19  (Hernando)  near  the  Citrus  border  ca.  late  Apr  (D.  Blewett). 

American  Golden-Plover:  3 at  FDCP  27  Mar-2  Apr  (R.  Webb,  L.  and  R.  Smith). 

SEMIPALMATED  PLOVER:  1 at  Kanapaha  STF  (Alachua)  24  Apr  (J.  Hintermister);  8 at 
SRSTF  3 May  (G.  Menk,  D.  Harder);  2 at  Hamilton  phosphate  mine  10  May  (J.  Krum- 
mrich) were  the  first  county  report  (S&A  1994:216);  1 at  WSSP  10  May  (E.  Egen- 
steiner,  S.  Belson)  was  new  for  the  Wekiva  Basin  (fide  P.  Small). 

AMERICAN  Avocet:  20  at  Pensacola  25-26  Apr  (A.  and  D.  Forster)  were  “very  rare”  (B. 
Duncan);  26  at  HISRA  26  Apr  following  a weather  front  (W.  Yusek);  2 in  breeding 
plumage  at  SMNWR  4-27  May  (B.  and  B.  Scott,  G.  Menk  et  aL);  3 at  Hamilton  phos- 
phate mine  10  May  (J.  Krummrich);  35  at  PPM  14  May  (P.  Fellers);  3 in  breeding 
plumage  at  McKay  Bay  18  May  (S.  Backes). 

Solitary  Sandpiper:  1 at  SRSTF  11  Mar  (G.  Menk);  1 at  FDCP  31  Mar  (L.  and  R.  Smith 
et  aL)  and  40  there  26  Apr  (L.  Atherton) — 10  others  flew  in  from  over  the  Gulf  at  1900 
hrs  (P.  Fellers);  14  at  Hague  Dairy  (Alachua)  23  Apr  (M.  Manetz);  19  at  Kanapaha 
STF  23  Apr  (R.  Rowan);  12  at  WICP  11  May  (A.  and  R.  Smith). 

SPOTTED  SANDPIPER:  15  at  Hague  Dairy  23  Apr  (M.  Manetz);  50  at  Newnans  Lake  12 
May  (A.  Kent). 

UPLAND  Sandpiper:  1 at  FDCP  31  Mar  (V.  Morrison,  M.  Wilkinson  et  aL);  1 at  SRSTF  6 
Apr  (B.  Henderson);  2 at  Fort  Myers  (Lee)  12-13  Apr  (V.  McGrath);  1 at  Hague  Dairy 
23  Apr  (M.  Manetz);  1 in  Wakulla  24  Apr  (J.  Dozier);  1 at  Mashes  Point  CP  ( Wakulla ) 
6 May  (J.  Dozier,  R.  West). 

WHIMBREL:  1 at  the  Wakulla  Airport  1 May  (J.  Dozier);  7 at  SMNWR  11  May,  and  3 there 
27  May  (G.  Menk);  8 at  Air  Products  Sanctuary  15  May  (B.  Milmore). 

MARBLED  Godwin  1 at  Pensacola  25  Apr  (A.  and  D.  Forster)  was  “very  rare”  (B.  Duncan). 

Least  Sandpiper:  2200  at  PPM  2 Mar  (P.  Fellers). 

WHITE-RUMPED  Sandpiper:  1 at  FWBSTF  14  Apr  was  early  in  the  region  by  3 days  (B. 
Duncan);  several  in  Pinellas  23  Apr-29  May  (fide  R.  Smith);  1 at  Okaloosa  holding 
ponds  29  Apr  (D.  Ware);  3 at  PPM  3 May  (C.  Geanangel,  P.  Timmer);  1 at  Hamilton 
phosphate  mine  10  May  (J.  Krummrich);  1 at  the  Brevard  STF  on  Wickham  Road  18 
May  ( fide  FBR). 

BAIRD’S  Sandpiper:  1 at  DTNP  30  Apr-1  May  (T.  Tobkin,  W.  Biggs  et  aL);  4 at  Okaloosa 
holding  ponds  30  Apr,  with  birds  “still  passing  through”  20  May  (D.  Ware);  1 at  SRSTF 

2 May  (J.  Cavanagh). 

PECTORAL  Sandpiper:  14  at  Air  Products  Sanctuary  25  Mar  (B.  Milmore);  6 at  WICP  27 
Apr  (A.  and  R.  Smith  et  aL). 

PURPLE  Sandpiper:  1 at  Big  Pine  Key  (Monroe)  21  Apr  (S.  Mlodinow,  C.  Hood,  P.  Leh- 
man). 


152 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


DUNLIN:  1 at  PPM  3 May  (C.  Geanangel,  P.  Timmer). 

Stilt  Sandpiper:  185  at  PPM  17  Mar  (P.  Fellers);  1 at  SRSTF  19  Mar  (J.  Cavanagh);  1 at 
FDCP  23  Apr  (B.  Atherton)  and  2 others  there  26  Apr  (L.  Atherton);  54  at  Mayport 
{Duval)  23  Apr  (N.  Warner);  35  at  Hamilton  phosphate  mine  10  May  (J.  Krummrich). 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper:  4 at  FDCP  23  Apr  (A.  and  R.  Smith  et  al.);  15-20  at  FWB- 
STF  29  Apr  (L.  Bogaiges,  P.  Blakeburn,  D.  Ware). 

RUFF:  1 Reeve  at  the  Brevard  STF  on  Wickham  Road  6 May  (D.  Severn,  J.  Taylor). 

Short-billed  Dowitcher:  238  at  PPM  17  Mar  (P.  Fellers). 

Common  Snipe:  1 at  APAFR  {Polk)  5 May  (B.  Pranty). 

WILSON’S  Phalarope:  1 at  SRSTF  {Leon)  25  Apr  (J.  Cavanagh)  had  increased  to  4 by  2 
May  (G.  Menk  et  al.);  1 at  Phipps  Point  {Franklin)  28  Apr  (D.  Bryan);  16  at  Okaloosa 
holding  ponds  29  Apr  (D.  Ware);  150-200  at  SMNWR  29  Apr  (J.  Dozier  et  al.);  3 Pinel- 
las reports  were  the  first  in  at  least  10  years:  1 male  at  Palm  Harbor  STF  9-11  May 
(R.  Smith  et  al.),  1 male  at  WICP  11  May  (A.  and  R.  Smith),  and  1 at  St.  Petersburg 
17  May  (A.  and  R.  Smith). 

PARASITIC  JAEGER:  1 at  Garden  Key,  DTNP  23  Apr  (S.  Mlodinow,  C.  Hood). 

FRANKLIN’S  Gull:  1 in  breeding  plumage  at  Newnans  Lake  5-11  May  (R.  Rowan  [photos] 
et  al.).  was  the  first  Alachua  report,  and  the  latest  in  spring  (S&A  1994:272). 

BONAPARTE’S  Gull:  1 first-year  bird  at  Fort  Pierce  Inlet  SRA  {St.  Lucie)  5 Apr  (J. 
Brooks);  1 at  Hamilton  phosphate  mine  10  May  (J.  Krummrich). 

HERRING  Gull:  1 immature  at  Newnans  Lake  21  May  (R.  Rowan). 

Lesser  Black-backed  Gull:  3 at  Fort  Myers  Beach  {Lee)  12  Apr  (N.  Pettis);  2 at  Boca 
Chica  Key  {Monroe)  25  Apr  (S.  Mlodinow,  C.  Hood,  P.  Lehman). 

GULL-BILLED  Tern:  4 at  SMNWR  24  Apr  (J.  Reinman);  1 at  PPM  3 May  (C.  Geanangel, 
P.  Timmer). 

Caspian  Tern:  15  at  Lake  Istokpoga  20  Apr  (M.  McMillian,  S,  McGehee);  “a  good  num- 
ber” of  adults  “giving  fish  to  one  another”  at  M&K  Ranch  {Gulf)  3 May  (E.  Fontaine,  J. 
Richardson,  T.  Menart);  1 at  Hamilton  phosphate  mine  10  May  (J.  Krummrich);  1 at 
Orange  Lake  12  May  (G.  Gottlieb). 

COMMON  Tern:  1 first-year  bird  at  Orange  Lake  2 May  (R.  Rowan). 

ARCTIC  Tern:  1 adult  female  found  injured  in  Fort  Lauderdale  {Broward)  7 May  died 
later  that  day  {fide  W.  George,  specimen  to  Univ.  of  Central  Florida). 

Forster’s  Tern:  2-3  at  Orange  Lake  20  May  (R.  Rowan). 

LEAST  Tern:  1 at  SRSTF  7 Apr  (D.  Harder);  1 at  Key  West  {Monroe)  11  Apr  (J.  Ondrejko). 

Bridled  Tern:  1 found  injured  at  Pass-A-Grille  Beach  {Pinellas)  13  Mar  was  released  in 
Apr  {fide  R.  Smith). 

BLACK  Tern:  1 at  Cedar  Key  23  Apr  (D.  Wenny,  S.  Duncan);  6 at  Canaveral  National  Sea- 
shore {Brevard)  25  Apr  (T.  Palmer);  4 at  SMNWR  30  Apr  (A.  and  D.  Morrow);  1 at 
M&K  Ranch  3 May  (J.  Richardson,  T.  Menart);  1 at  Hamilton  phosphate  mine  10  May 
(J.  Krummrich);  “several”  at  Brevard  STF  on  Wickham  Road  22  May  {fide  FBR). 

BLACK  Noddy:  7 at  DTNP  this  season,  with  5 seen  at  once  (W.  Biggs  et  al.). 

BLACK  Skimmer:  1500  at  Shell  Mound,  Lower  Suwannee  NWR  {Levy)  11  Mar  (P.  Sykes); 
10  at  Lake  Kissimmee  {Osceola)  5 Apr  (T.  Palmer). 

WHITE-CROWNED  Pigeon:  1 at  Fort  Walton  Beach  {Okaloosa)  16  Apr-11  May  (B.  Fleck,  C. 
King,  D.  Ware,  details  to  FOSRC)  See  Florida  Field  Naturalist  this  issue. 

Eurasian  Collared-Dove:  6 near  Oxford  {Sumter)  30  Apr  (C.  Black)  were  the  first 
county  report  (S&A  1994:321);  1 in  Gadsden  30  May  (G.  Menk,  T.  Engstrom). 

WHITE-WINGED  Dove:  1 singing  at  Alligator  Point  {Franklin)  7 May  (J.  Dozier). 

KEY  West  Quail-Dove:  1 at  Elliott  Key,  Biscayne  NP  {Dade)  4 May  (B.  Dusek,  details  to 
FOSRC). 

MONK  Parakeet:  1 pair  nested  at  a Lakeland  {Polk)  golf  course  20  Mar  (T.  Palmer). 

Black-billed  Cuckoo:  2 at  Cedar  Key  28  Apr  (B.  Roberts);  1 at  Tallahassee  {Leon)  1 
May  (G.  Menk). 


Field  Observations 


153 


YELLOW-BILLED  Cuckoo:  singles  at  PPSP  20  Mar  (M.  Landsman)  and  Cedar  Key  23 
Mar  (D.  Steadman)  were  early  (S&A  1994:352);  100s  at  Cedar  Key  28  Apr  (D.  Hend- 
erson). 

SHORT-EARED  OWL:  3 Pinellas  reports:  2 at  Shell  Key  2 Mar  (R  Blair,  W.  Yusek  et  al),  1 
dead  there  16  Mar  (L.  Bielsa,  head  to  ABS),  and  1 at  Sawgrass  Lake  CP  18  Mar  (W. 
Yusek);  1 at  DTNP  6-8  May  (D.  Goodwin  et  al.). 

LESSER  NiGHTHAWK:  1 at  Destin  10  May  (E.  Case,  J.  French,  P Berry);  1 male  at  Gulf 
Breeze  10  May  (B.  and  L.  Duncan). 

Chuck-WILL’S-WIDOW:  1 in  Alachua  1 Mar  (J.  Weimer);  2 singles  in  Highlands  2 Mar  (F. 
Lohrer,  R.  Bowman);  7 dead  on  sandbars  off  Marco  Island  8 Mar-12  Apr  included  2 
with  single  birds  (1  a Palm  Warbler)  in  their  stomachs  (T.  and  V.  Below). 

WHIP-POOR-WILL:  1 singing  at  Key  West  11  Mar  (J.  Ondrejko);  1 dead  on  a sandbar  off 
Marco  Island  13  Mar  (T.  and  V.  Below). 

CHIMNEY  Swift:  1 at  Tallahassee  19  Mar  (F.  Rutkovsky);  1 over  Lower  Suwannee  NWR 
25  Mar  (P.  Sykes). 

Black-chinned  Hummingbird:  1 adult  male  at  Fort  Clinch  SP  ( Nassau ) 3-6  Apr  (R.  Pol- 
lack) was  new  for  the  county  (S&A  1994:388). 

SELASPHORUS  SPECIES:  3 presumed  Rufous  Hummingbirds  remained  at  3 Tallahassee 
feeders  to  5 Mar  (J.  Safold),  8 Mar  (J.  O’Malley),  and  15  Mar  (R.  Leach). 

RUFOUS  Hummingbird:  1 at  Gainesville  through  13  Mar  (B.  Roberts). 

Red-bellied  Woodpecker:  1 at  Cedar  Key  20  Apr  cached  a tree-frog  (Hyla  spp.)  in  a 
pine  and  “hammer[ed]  it  to  death”  (R.  Rowan  et  ah). 

PlLEATED  WOODPECKER:  1 at  HISRA  12  Apr  (W.  Yusek)  was  the  first  park  report  (fide  R. 
Smith);  1 at  FDCP  22  Apr  (D.  and  R Fellers). 

Olive-sided  Flycatcher:  1 at  South  Miami  (Dade)  17  Apr  (D.  Lysinger). 

Eastern  Wood-Pewee:  1 singing  at  Key  West  27-30  Apr  (J.  Ondrejko). 

Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher:  1 at  FDCP  26  Apr  (L.  Atherton  et  al). 

ACADIAN  Flycatcher:  1 at  San  Felasco  Hammock  (Alachua)  13  Apr  (H.  Adams,  G.  Mc- 
Dermott). 

Ash-throated  Flycatcher:  1 at  the  Okaloosa  landfill  5 Dec- 14  Apr  (B.  Duncan,  D. 
Ware  et  ah). 

Great  CRESTED  Flycatcher:  singles  at  Camp  Blanding  Military  Reservation  (Clay)  11 
Mar  (K.  Miller)  and  Gainesville  14  Mar  (G.  McDermott)  were  early  (S&A  1994:425). 

La  Sagra’S  FLYCATCHER:  2 at  Key  Largo  (Monroe)  5-13  Apr  (L.  Manfredi,  W.  Biggs  et  al.); 
1 at  Hugh  Taylor  Birch  SRA  (Broward)  27  Apr,  and  2 there  29-30  Apr  (both  W.  George, 
J.  Baker,  J.  DiPasquale  et  ah). 

WESTERN  Kingbird:  1 at  FWBSTF  16  Apr  (P.  Blakeburn);  1 inland  from  Cedar  Key  19- 
23  Apr  (D  Wenny);  2 at  FDCP  29  Apr  and  4 there  1-3  May  (both  M.  Wilkinson  et  al.); 
1 at  SMNWR  29  Apr-5  May  (J.  Dozier);  6 at  Gulf  Breeze  29  Apr  (J.  Peaden,  J.  Stevens) 
and  2 there  30  Apr  (B.  Duncan);  2 at  Okaloosa  holding  ponds  30  Apr  (D.  Ware,  B.  Dun- 
can); 1 at  Destin  10  May  (E.  Case). 

Eastern  Kingbird:  3 at  St.  George  Island  23  Mar  (G.  Menk,  L.  Paugh,  K.  Weusing);  1 at 
Buck  Island  Ranch  23  Mar  (M.  McMillian);  1 SW  of  Cross  City  (Dixie)  27  Mar  (P. 
Sykes). 

GRAY  KINGBIRD:  1 at  ABS  26  Apr  (K.  Tarvin,  H.  Ellis);  2 Alachua  reports:  1 at  Gainesville 
28  Apr  (R.  Rowan)  and  1 at  PPSP  1-4  May  (B.  Roberts). 

SCISSOR— TAILED  Flycatcher:  1 at  Destin  (Okaloosa)  3 Apr  (D.  Ware);  singles  in  Frank- 
lin 17  Apr  (J.  Epler),  26  Apr  (J.  Hintermister,  D.  Morrow),  and  29  Apr  (J.  Cavanagh); 
1 at  Bartow  (Polk)  23  Mar  (B.  Bratlie). 

Tree  Swallow:  1 moving  N over  the  Green  Swamp  (Polk)  29  May  (P.  Fellers,  S.  Riffe). 

Northern  Rough-winged  Swallow:  5-6  at  Zephyrhills  (Pasco)  6 Mar,  included  1 that 
investigated  a spoil  pile,  possibly  as  a nesting  site  (D.  Robinson);  2 at  Panacea 
(Wakulla)  7 Mar  (J.  Dozier). 


154 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


Bank  Swallow:  2 at  Kanapaha  STF  23  Apr  (G.  McDermott,  R.  Rowan);  1 at  SMNWR  17 
May  (J.  Dozier). 

Cliff  Swallow:  1 at  FDCP  24  Apr  (L.  Atherton  et  aL). 

CAVE  Swallow:  1 at  Garden  Key,  DTNP  23  Apr  (S.  Mlodinow,  C.  Hood);  2 at  Key  West  22 
May  (J.  Ondrejko). 

BARN  Swallow:  6 at  Suwannee  26  Mar  (P.  Sykes,  C.  Kepler);  2 birds  35  km  off  Port 
Canaveral  18  May  (Alachua  Aud.  Soc.);  3 at  Kissimmee  Prairie  Sanctuary 
0 Okeechobee ) 27  May  (M.  Scheuerell). 

SEDGE  WREN:  1 at  PPSP  3 May  (M.  Landsman);  1 at  Hamilton  phosphate  mine  10  May 
(J.  Krummrich);  2 singing  in  dry  prairie  at  APAFR  ( Highlands ) 30  May  (B.  Pranty) 
tied  the  latest  spring  reports  (S&A  1994:484). 

RUBY-CROWNED  Kinglet:  1 at  DTNP  9 Apr  (M.  Manetz  et  al.)  was  thought  to  be  the  first 
spring  report  from  the  park  (W.  Biggs). 

BLUE-GRAY  Gnatcatcher:  3 nestlings  in  a nest  in  a pine  at  Disney  Wilderness  Preserve 
29  Mar  (Lake  Region  Aud.  Soc.)  was  the  earliest  breeding  report  in  Florida  (S&A 
1994:491). 

VEERY:  1 [without  details]  at  WSSP  8 Mar  ( fide  P.  Small)  was  the  earliest  spring  report 
by  >3  weeks  (S&A  1994:495);  25  at  HISRA  23  Apr  (W.  Yusek);  16  at  FDCP  26  Apr 
(Lake  Region  Aud.  Soc.);  5 at  San  Felasco  Hammock  27  Apr  (M.  Manetz)  were  only  the 
fourth  Alachua  spring  report  ( fide  R.  Rowan). 

“Gray-cheeked”  Thrush:  250  “Gray-cheeked”  and  Swainson’s  thrushes  at  HISRA  23 
Apr  (W.  Yusek)  probably  included  the  highest  counts  of  “both”  species  (S&A  1994:497- 
498);  an  “unprecedented  fallout”  at  Casey  Key  ( Sarasota ) the  night  of  23-24  Apr,  with 
22  birds  banded  on  24  Apr;  1 bird  was  recaptured  25,  27,  28,  and  30  Apr  (A.  Stedman). 

*BlCKNELL’S  THRUSH:  1 (smaller  size  noted)  in  direct  comparison  with  Gray-cheeked 
Thrushes  at  DTNP  6 May  (W.  Biggs). 

HERMIT  THRUSH:  1 at  WSSP  10  May  (L.  Malo)  was  very  late  (S&A  1994:499). 

Wood  Thrush:  30  at  HISRA  23  Apr  (W.  Yusek). 

AMERICAN  ROBIN:  1 at  DTNP  19  Apr  (W.  Meier,  H.  Langridge  et  al.);  1 at  Lake  Alfred 
(Polk)  3 May  (C.  Geanangel);  1 at  Kelly  Park  ( Orange ) 13  May  (P.  Small). 

GRAY  Catbird:  45  at  Fort  Pierce  Inlet  SRA  24  Apr  (J.  Brooks);  1 at  WSSP  12  May  (S.  Bel- 
son). 

NORTHERN  Mockingbird:  presumably  the  same  (unbanded)  pair  at  APAFR  (Polk)  pro- 
duced 3 successful  clutches,  which  fledged  by  4 Apr,  17  May,  and  9 Jun;  the  distance 
from  the  2 outer  nests  was  ca.  23  m (B.  Pranty). 

Bahama  Mockingbird:  1 at  Birch  SRA  11-12  May  (W.  Wilson,  W.  George,  T.  Hendrick- 
son). 

CEDAR  Waxwing:  225  at  BCCP  9 May  (R.  Smith);  10  over  Gainesville  26  May  (R. 
Rowan). 

LOGGERHEAD  Shrike:  1 at  Cedar  Key  6 Apr  was  the  observer’s  first  sighting  there  in  13 
years  (D.  Henderson). 

COMMON  Myna:  “several”  at  Marathon  (Monroe)  21-25  Apr  (S.  Mlodinow)  were  the  first 
county  reports  (S&A  1994:523);  2 adults  and  2 nestlings  in  the  Food  Lion  sign  at  Fort 
Pierce  (St.  Lucie)  31  May  was  the  first  county  report  (J.  Brooks). 

Bell’S  VlREO:  1 at  SCCP  13  May  (P.  Fellers,  details  to  FOC)  was  the  latest  spring  report 
(S&A  1994:529). 

Blue-headed  Vireo:  1 at  SCCP  27  Apr  (P.  Fellers). 

Yellow-throated  Vireo:  1 singing  at  Gainesville  4 Mar  (B.  Roberts);  9 at  WSSP  8 Mar 
(group  survey  fide  P.  Small). 

*WARBLING  VlREO:  1 singing  at  Gulf  Breeze  (Santa  Rosa)  20  Apr  (L.  Duncan);  1 at  Cedar 
Key  20  Apr  (G.  McDermott,  details  to  FOSRC);  1 at  Lighthouse  Park,  Sanibel  Island 
(Lee)  1 May  (S.  Rowe  et  al.);  1 at  Niceville  10  May  (L.  Mackey,  details  to  FOSRC)  was 
the  latest  in  spring  (S&A  1994:533). 


Field  Observations 


155 


Red-eyed  Vireo:  15  at  SCCP  24  Mar  (R  Fellers). 

BLACK-WHISKERED  Vireo:  1 at  SMNWR  4 May  (B.  and  B.  Scott);  1 at  Gulf  Breeze  7 May 
(B.  Duncan);  2 singing  “on  territory”  at  HISRA  9 May  (R.  Smith);  1 at  Destin  11  May 
(L.  Fennimore.  D.  Ware)  was  the  first  Okaloosa  report  (S&A  1994:537). 

GOLDEN-WINGED  Warbler:  1 at  Cedar  Key  20  Apr  (L.  Santisteban);  2 each  at  FDCP  24 
Apr  and  27  Apr  (both  L.  Atherton  et  al.). 

NASHVILLE  Warbler:  1 at  Birch  SRA  23  Mar  (W.  George);  1 at  Mysterious  Waters 
(Wakulla)  12  Apr  (J.  Epler). 

Northern  Parula:  126  at  WSSP  8 Mar  (group  survey  fide  P.  Small). 

MAGNOLIA  Warbler:  singles  in  Polk  17  Apr  (P.  Fellers),  27  Apr  (T.  Palmer),  and  12  May 
(P.  Fellers). 

CAPE  May  Warbler:  1 at  Newnans  Lake,  Gainesville  28  Mar  (G.  McDermott). 

Yellow-RUMPED  Warbler:  1 male  at  ABS  17  May  (R.  Risch)  was  late  (S&A  1994:556). 

Blackburnian  WARBLER:  1 at  SMNWR  19  Apr  (G.  Sprandel);  3 Pinellas  reports  26  Apr, 
4 May,  12  May  (fide  M.  Wilkinson,  R.  Smith,  J.  Fisher). 

Pine  Warbler:  1 at  DTNP  9 Apr  (M.  Manetz  et  al.). 

Bay-breasted  Warbler:  singles  at  SMNWR  12  Apr  (A.  Gantzhorn,  F.  Leonard)  and  22 
Apr  (D.  Morrow) — the  former  report  is  the  earliest  in  spring  (S&A  1994:571-572);  1 at 
St.  Joseph  Peninsula  SP  (Gulf)  23  Apr  (J.  Richardson,  A.  and  R.  Ingram);  1 at  San 
Felasco  Hammock  27  Apr  (M.  Manetz);  1 male  at  Birch  SRA  27  Apr  (J.  Baker,  J.  Di- 
Pasquale);  2 at  Cedar  Key  28  Apr  (D.  Henderson). 

BLACKPQLL  WARBLER:  2 at  the  Peace  River  (Polk)  16  Mar  (C.  Geanangel,  P.  Timmer)  were 
the  earliest  spring  report  (S&A  1994:573). 

PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER:  1 at  Lower  Suwannee  NWR  27  Mar  (P  Sykes). 

WORM-EATING  WARBLER:  this  spring  was  the  best  season  “in  recent  memory”  for  the  spe- 
cies in  Pinellas,  with  1 at  FDCP  23  Mar  (B.  and  M.  Hoffman),  6 countywide  on  12  Apr 
(fde  R.  Smith),  and  8 at  Bonner  Park  16  Apr  (J.  Fisher);  7 at  Hugh  Birch  SRA  20  Apr 
(S.  Mlodinow,  C.  Hood);  1 in  NE  Leon  29  Apr  (D.  and  K.  MacVicar). 

SWAINSON’S  WARBLER:  1 at  Mysterious  Waters  26  Mar  and  4 there  30  Mar  (both  J. 
Epler);  4 in  Leon  10  Apr  (D.  Harder);  singles  at  Birch  SRA  12,  14,  15,  16,  20,  and  22 
Apr  (W.  George);  12  in  Pinellas  this  season  (fide  R.  Smith),  with  5 at  Bonner  Park  16 
Apr  (J.  Fisher);  1 at  Cedar  Key  5 Apr  (B.  Roberts);  1 at  Big  Shoals  State  Forest 
(Hamilton)  10  May  (J.  Krummrich). 

OVENBIRD:  1 singing  in  SE  Leon  3-4  Apr  (D.  Evered,  L.  Messick). 

Northern  Waterthrush:  2 at  WSSP  8 Mar  (fde  P.  Small). 

Louisiana  Waterthrush:  1 at  WSSP  8 Mar  (fde  P.  Small). 

KENTUCKY  Warbler:  1 at  Mysterious  Waters  26  Mar  (J.  Epler);  5 at  FDCP  13  Apr  (L. 
Atherton,  M.  Wilkinson  et  al.). 

Connecticut  Warbler:  singles  banded  at  Casey  Key  3 and  25  May  (A.  Stedman);  1 at 
DTNP  7 May  (W.  Biggs,  R.  French);  1 at  O’Leno  SP  (Alachua)  10  May  (C.  Parenteau); 
2 at  Elliott  Key  11  May,  and  1 there  25  May  (both  B.  Dusek);  singles  in  Broward  13 
May  at  Birch  SRA  (W.  George)  and  John  U.  Lloyd  SRA  (J.  Baker);  1 at  Fort  Pickens 
(Escambia)  14  May  (E.  Case)  was  the  sixth  regional  report  (fde  B.  Duncan);  2 at  Bon- 
ner Park  17  May  (K.  Nelson,  J.  Fisher). 

COMMON  Yellowthroat:  1 female  at  Key  West  to  28  May  (J.  Ondrejko). 

HOODED  WARBLER:  1 at  Mysterious  Waters  18  Mar  (J.  Epler). 

YELLOW-BREASTED  Chat:  7 singing  at  Cedar  Key  Scrub  State  Reserve  Apr-May  (T.  Web- 
ber); 3-4  singing  at  PPSP  1 May  through  the  period  (R.  Rowan). 

Stripe-headed  Tanager:  1 female  at  Kendall  (Dade)  11-13  Apr  (J.  Rosenfield  et  al.);  1 
male  at  Elliott  Key  11  May  (B.  Dusek). 

SUMMER  TANAGER:  1 at  Al-Bar  Ranch  (Pasco)  4 Mar  (B.  Pranty,  S.  Peacock)  was  the  ear- 
liest spring  report  (S&A  1994:606);  2 at  Lower  Suwannee  NWR  26  Mar  (P.  Sykes,  C. 
Kepler). 


156 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


SCARLET  TANAGER:  50  at  HISRA  23  Apr  (W.  Yusek);  25  at  FDCP  24  Apr  were  all  gone  the 
next  day  (L.  Atherton  et  aL);  1 at  Birch  SRA  29  Apr  (fide  W.  George). 

ROSE -BREASTED  GROSBEAK:  a total  of  17  at  Gainesville  variously  between  16-30  Apr  (fide 
R.  Rowan);  100+  at  HISRA  23  Apr  (W.  Yusek);  40+  at  St.  George  Island  23  Apr  (J.  Ca- 
vanagh, S.  Jue,  K.  NeSmith,  T.  Engstrom);  11  at  a feeder  in  Baypoint  (Bay)  26  Apr  (T 
Menart);!  female  at  Tallahassee  13  May  (F.  Rutkovsky). 

BLACK— HEADED  Grosbeak:  1 adult  male  at  Gulf  Breeze  30  .Apr-4  May  (G.  Boyce,  L. 
Bogaiges,  R Blakeburn)  was  the  first  regional  spring  report. 

Blue  Grosbeak:  1 male  S of  Old  Town  (Dixie)  27  Mar  (R  Sykes);  2 pairs  at  BCCP  9 May 
(R.  Smith). 

Indigo  Bunting:  60  at  FDCP  14  Apr  (A.  and  R Smith,  M.  Wilkinson  et  ah). 

PAINTED  Bunting:  2 males  at  HISRA  12-20  Apr  (W.  Yusek,  R.  Webb);  3 females  at  St. 
George  Island  23  Apr  (J.  Cavanagh,  S.  Jue,  K.  NeSmith);  2 singing  and  apparently  on 
territory  S of  Gainesville  10-16  May  (A.  Kent,  A.  Farkash);  1 female  or  immature  at 
Homestead  (Dade)  18  May  was  ‘'remarkably  late”  (P.  W.  and  S.  Smith). 

DlCKCISSEL:  2 at  Gulf  Breeze  22  Apr  had  increased  to  25  on  30  Apr  (both  B.  and  L.  Dun- 
can); 8 at  SMNWR  22  Apr  (D.  Morrow);  116  (an  exact  count)  at  FDCP  23  Apr  (A.  and 
R.  Smith,  B.  and  M.  Hoffman  [videotape]),  and  75-100  other  birds  flying  overhead 
there  26  Apr  (L.  Atherton);  50-60  at  St.  George  Island  23  Apr  (J.  Cavanagh,  S.  Jue,  K. 
NeSmith,  T.  Engstrom);  12  at  Cedar  Key  23  Apr  (B.  Muschlitz,  M.  Landsman);  8 at 
Garden  Key,  DTNP  24  Apr  (S.  Mlodinow,  C.  Hood,  P.  Lehman);  3 S of  Steinhatchee 
(Dixie)  25  Apr  (J.  Hintermister);  1 at  Lake  City  (Columbia)  28  Apr  (J.  Kmmmrich);  20 
at  FWBSTF  29  Apr  (D.  Ware);  1 at  DTNP  25  May  (B.  Henderson,  D.  Wells). 

BACHMAN’S  Sparrow:  only  5 at  BCCP,  the  last  site  in  Pinellas  that  still  supports  this 
species  (fide  R.  Smith). 

CHIPPING  Sparrow:  1 at  Indigenous  Park,  Key  West  21-25  Apr  (S.  Mlodinow,  C.  Hood,  P. 
Lehman). 

CLAY-COLORED  SPARROW:  1 at  Fort  George  Island  (Duval)  23  Apr  (R.  Clark). 

LARK  Sparrow:  1 at  Pensacola  Beach  (Escambia)  17  Mar  (P.  Tetlow);  1 at  Fort  Pickens 
18-25  Mar  (B.  Duncan,  J.  French,  D.  Russell);  1 at  FDCP  21  Apr  (fide  R.  Smith). 

GRASSHOPPER  Sparrow:  2 at  Soldier’s  Key,  Biscayne  NP  4 Apr  (B.  Dusek);  1 at  Key  West 
16  Apr  (J.  Ondrejko);  1 at  FDCP  22  Apr  (D.  and  P.  Fellers). 

FLORIDA  Grasshopper  Sparrow:  1 singing  at  River  Ranch  Acres  (Polk)  15  May  was  a 
new  site  for  this  race  (T.  Dean). 

Henslow’S  SPARROW:  1 at  Eglin  Air  Force  Base  (Walton)  3 Mar  (D.  Ware,  B.  Reid);  1 at 
APAFR  (Highlands)  9 Apr  (B.  Pranty);  1 singing  at  Kissimmee  Prairie  Sanctuary  9 
May  (M.  Scheuerell)  was  the  latest  spring  report  (S&A  1994:641). 

Le  Conte’s  Sparrow:  1 at  FWBSTF  14  Mar  (E.  Case). 

SONG  SPARROW:  1 at  HISRA  7 Apr  (W.  Yusek). 

SNOW  Bunting:  1 at  Canaveral  National  Seashore  (Brevard)  through  10  Mar  (fide  FBR). 

BOBOLINK:  40  in  central  Collier  16  Apr  (J.  and  L.  Douglas);  75-100  over  FDCP  26  Apr  (L. 
Atherton);  80  at  WICP  27  Apr  (A.  and  R.  Smith);  185  in  Hillsborough  10  May  (D.  Bow- 
man); 924  in  Alachua  10  May  (fide  R.  Rowan);  2500  in  St.  Petersburg  11  May  (A.  and 
R.  Smith,  B.  Hoffman  [videotape]  et  aL);  2 at  Three  Lakes  WMA  (Osceola)  23  May  (M. 
Scheuerell). 

Yellow-headed  Blackbird:  1 at  Ponce  de  Leon  Park,  Punta  Gorda  (Charlotte)  6 Mar 
(fide  FBR);  2 males  and  1 female  at  FWBSTF  29  Apr-1  May  (D.  Ware,  L.  Fennimore  et 
aL);  1 immature  male  at  Piney  Z Lake  10  May  (D.  Harder)  was  the  latest  spring  re- 
port (S&A  1994:670). 

SHINY  CowbirD:  30  at  Rookery  Bay  Nat.  Est.  Res.  Reserve  (Collier)  through  late  Mar  (J. 
Hammond  et  aL);  1 male  at  Fort  Pickens  12  Apr  (E.  Case,  E.  and  H.  Barbig);  1 male 
at  Cedar  Key  13  Apr  (B.  Roberts)- 18  May  (D.  Henderson);  1 male  singing  in  Escambia 
21  Apr-20  May  (G.  Fleming);  7 (5  males)  at  Garden  Key,  DTNP  23  Apr  (S.  Mlodinow, 


Field  Observations 


157 


C.  Hood,  P.  Lehman);  1 male  at  Gulf  Breeze  28  Apr  (B.  Bremser);  23  at  Key  West  29 
Apr  and  25  there  2 May  (both  J.  Ondrejko);  1 male  displaying  at  ABS  13  May  (G. 
Woolfenden);  1 at  Bald  Point  ( Franklin ) 17  May  (J.  Dozier);  1 at  Carrabelle  (Franklin) 
18  May  (J.  Dozier);  1 “pair”  at  Fort  George  Island  24  May,  and  2 “pairs”  there  by  31 
May  (both  R.  Clark). 

Bronzed  Cowbird:  1 male  at  SMNWR  20  Apr  (G.  Hunter,  R.  West,  J.  Brooks  et  al.). 

Baltimore  Oriole:  1 at  St.  George  Island  10  May  (D.  and  S.  Jue). 

BULLOCK’S  Oriole:  1 female  at  Air  Products  Sanctuary  7 May  (B.  Milmore). 

PURPLE  Finch:  12  at  Tallahassee  17  Mar  (F.  Rutkovsky). 

HOUSE  FINCH:  1 pair  (male  carrying  nesting  material)  in  S Jacksonville  {Duval)  7 Mar 
(R.  Clark). 

PINE  Siskin:  absent  in  winter  at  Gainesville,  but  1 at  a feeder  there  28  Feb-2  Mar  (E. 
Perry);  3 at  Tallahassee  to  5 May  (F.  Rutkovsky). 

AMERICAN  Goldfinch:  1 partially  leucistic  male  at  a Gainesville  feeder  through  31  May 
(B.  Muschlitz). 

EVENING  Grosbeak:  1 at  Gulf  Breeze  22-23  Apr  (P.  Blakeburn,  L.  Bogaiges)  was  very 
rare  in  the  region  {fide  B.  Duncan). 

Nutmeg  Mannikin:  several  have  been  present  in  Homestead  for  “about  2 years,”  and  on 
12  May,  4 adults  and  1 juvenile  “still  being  fed”  were  observed,  suggesting  local  breed- 
ing (P.  W.  and  S.  Smith). 


CONTRIBUTORS:  Howard  Adams,  Curt  Adkisson,  Brooks  Atherton,  Lyn  Atherton, 
Kristi  Avera,  Steve  Backes,  Jocie  Baker,  Evelyn  Barbig,  Howard  Barbig,  Jenny  Baxter, 
Ted  Below,  Virginia  Below,  Shane  Belson,  Phil  Berry,  Brad  Bergstrom,  Lourdes  Bielsa, 
Wes  Biggs,  Clay  Black,  Paul  Blair,  Paul  Blakeburn,  Dick  Blewett,  Linda  Bogaiges,  Bill 
Bolte,  Heather  Bolte,  Roberta  Bonwit,  Dave  Bowman,  Reed  Bowman,  George  Boyce,  By- 
ron Bratlie,  Jane  Brooks,  Ed  Case,  Jim  Cavanagh,  Ron  Christen,  Roger  Clark,  Dick  Cun- 
ningham, Tylan  Dean,  Joe  DiPasquale,  Terry  Doonan,  John  Douglas,  Linda  Douglas, 
Jack  Dozier,  Bob  Duncan,  Lucy  Duncan,  Scot  Duncan,  Bob  Dusek,  Erik  Egensteiner, 
Hugh  Ellis,  Todd  Engstrom,  John  Epler,  Duncan  Evered,  Alice  Farkash,  Judy  Donna 
Fellers,  Paul  Fellers,  Lennie  Fennimore,  Judy  Fisher,  Bonnie  Fleck,  Artie  Fleischer,  Gene 
Fleming,  Eula  Fontaine,  Clarice  Ford,  Don  Ford,  Ann  Forster,  Dan  Forster,  Jere  French, 
Ron  French,  A.  Gantzhorn,  Chuck  Geanangel,  Wally  George,  Dave  Goodwin,  Gordon  Got- 
tlieb, Roy  Halpin,  Nathalie  Hamel,  Joe  Hammond,  David  Harder,  Bob  Henderson,  Dale 
Henderson,  Ted  Hendrickson,  Carolyn  Henning,  John  Hintermister,  Brett  Hoffman, 
Marti  Hoffman,  Judi  Hopkins,  Larry  Hopkins,  Dotty  Hull,  Hank  Hull,  Gloria  Hunter, 
Ann  Ingram,  Richard  Ingram,  Janet  Jackson,  Dean  Jue,  Sally  Jue,  Cam  Kepler,  Connie 
King,  Jerry  Krummrich,  Mary  Landsman,  Howard  Langridge,  Robin  Leach,  Frank  Le- 
onard, Doug  Levey,  Fred  Lohrer,  David  Lysinger,  Dottie  MacVicar,  Keith  MacVicar,  Lau- 
rie Mackey,  Allison  Mains,  Lome  Malo,  Mike  Manetz,  Larry  Manfredi,  Greg  McDermott, 
Steve  McGehee,  Vince  McGrath,  Mike  McMillian,  Wilda  Meier,  Michael  Meisenburg, 
Tony  Menart,  Gail  Menk,  Lyla  Messick,  Karl  Miller,  Bill  Milmore,  Steve  Mlodinow, 
Vaughn  Morrison,  Ann  Morrow,  Don  Morrow,  Barbara  Muschlitz,  Katy  NeSmith,  Kris 
Nelson,  Julie  O’Malley,  David  O’Neill,  Liz  O’Neill,  Joe  Ondrejko,  Tom  Palmer,  Craig 
Parenteau,  Pat  Parrish,  Leslie  Paugh,  Steve  Peacock,  Johnny  Peaden,  Evelyn  Perry,  Neil 
Pettis,  Ross  Pollack,  Bill  Pranty,  Bob  Reid,  Ray  Reilly,  Joe  Reinman,  Jimmy  Richardson, 
Sue  Riffe,  Ralph  Risch,  Bryant  Roberts,  Don  Robinson,  Jill  Rosenfield.  Rex  Rowan,  Sean 
Rowe,  Don  Russell,  Fran  Rutkovsky,  Jill  Safold,  Lenny  Santisteban,  Mark  Scheuerell, 
Bob  Scott,  Brenda  Scott,  David  Severn,  Debra  Shelley,  Parks  Small,  Austin  Smith,  Lori 
Smith,  P.  William  Smith,  Ron  Smith,  Susan  Smith,  Gary  Sprandel,  David  Steadman,  An- 
nette Stedman,  Judy  Stevens,  Bob  Straub,  Keith  Tarvin,  Jack  Taylor,  Terry  Taylor,  Phil 
Tetlow,  Pete  Timmer,  Toby  Tobkin,  Paul  Sykes,  Noel  Warner,  Don  Ware,  Ray  Webb,  Tom 


158 


FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST 


Webber,  Dave  Weeks,  James  Weimer,  Donna  Wells,  Dan  Wenny,  Rick  West,  Karen  Wens- 
mg,  Don  Whitehead,  Margie  Wilkinson,  Walt  Wilson,  Glen  Wooifenden,  Carol  Wyatt,  and 
Wilfred  Yusek. 

Fall  1996  not  published  previously:  Brown-headed  Cowbird:  1700  at  Polk  phosphate 
mines  11  Aug  (Chuck  Geanangel,  Pete  Timmer). 

Winter  1996-1997  report  not  published  previously:  Common  Moorhen:  1 with  all- 
white  plumage  but  a normal-colored  bill  at  Gore’s  Dairy,  Zephyrhiiis  (Pasco)  2 Jan  (Don 
Woodard,  Don  Robinson,  Sharon  Raymond-LaPlante). 

Clarification  and  corrections  to  the  Winter  1996-1997  report  (FFN  25:76-77):  Com- 
mon Loon:  the  report  of  1 at  Mashes  Island  ( Wakulla ) on  22  Sep  should  be  Cape  San  Bias 
(Gulf);  Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck:  reference  is  made  to  2 sites  in  Hamilton , Occiden- 
tal WMA  and  Bienville  Plantation.  However,  both  names  refer  to  the  same  site;  Bienville 
Plantation  is  the  new  name  for  Occidental  WMA.  (Furthermore,  part  of  Bienville  Plan- 
tation was  recently  renamed  PSC  Phosphate.  From  now  on,  this  site  will  be  called 
Hamilton  phosphate  mine).  Black  Rail:  the  winter  report  from  Bienville  Plantation  was 
listed  as  “the  first  Hamilton  report,”  but  I had  overlooked  a report  from  that  site  in  the 
Summer  1995  report  (FFN  24:21) — BP. 

Report  prepared  by  Bill  Pranty,  state  compiler  (8515  Village  Mill  Row,  Bayonet 
Point,  Florida  34667-2662;  phone  813-862-4556).  Other  committee  members  are  Linda 
Cooper  (115  Lameraux  Road,  Winter  Haven,  Florida  33884),  Bob  Duncan  (614  Fair- 
point  Drive,  Gulf  Breeze,  Florida  32561),  Gail  Menk  (2725  Peachtree  Drive,  Tallahas- 
see, Florida  32304),  Peggy  Powell  (2965  Forest  Circle,  Jacksonville,  Florida  32257), 
Rex  Rowan  (2041  NE  15th  Terrace,  Gainesville,  Florida  32609),  and  Ron  Smith  (1767 
Colorado  Avenue  NE,  St.  Petersburg,  Florida  33703). 


159 

FLORIDA  ORNITHOLOGICAL  SOCIETY,  INC. 
TREASURER’S  REPORT  - 1996 


Florida  Field  Nat.  25(4):  159, 1997. 


CASH  IN  BANKS  AT  YEAR-END: 

1995 

1996 

Barnett  NOW  checking  account 

9,638.52 

6,748.33 

MBNA  CD  6.70%,  maturity  12/6/96 

9,090.62 

MBNA  CD  5.85%,  maturity  5/22/97 

10,034.37 

10,638.88 

MBNA  CD  6.80%,  maturity  12/6/97 

9,099.74 

9,740.11 

MBNA  CD  6.95%,  maturity  12/6/98 

9,113.43 

9,769.41 

MBNA  CD  7.40%,  maturity  12/6/99 

9,154.64 

9,660.52 

MBNA  CD  5.95%,  maturity  12/6/00 

9,100.94 

9,857.84 

MBNA  CD  6.31%,  maturity  12/12/01 

9,728.43 

MBNA  Money  Market  account 

5,292.18 

13,766.45 

TOTAL:  $70,524.44  $79,909.97 


1996  CASH  INCOME  AND  EXPENSES: 

Total  Cash  as  of  1/1/96:  $70,524.44 


Income  Expenses 


Dues 

8,895.00 

FFN  Printing 

4,829.12 

Meetings 

9,961.15 

Meetings 

8,692.24 

Spec  publications 

1,284.70 

Operating 

1,159.21 

Interest 

4,355.06 

Postage  & shipping 

1,149.36 

Page  charges 

575.00 

Newsletter  printing 

280.20 

Gifts 

1,520.00 

Research  Award 

1,200.00 

Miscellaneous 

208.35 

Sales  Tax  Paid 

46.60 

Total: 

$26,204.26 

$17,413.73 

TOTAL  CASH  as  of  12/31/96:  $79,909.97 


ANALYSIS  OF  CASH  AS  DISTRIBUTED  TO  FOS  FUNDS: 


Operating  Fund  14,265.84 

Special  Publications  Fund  16,872.83 

Grants  & Awards  Fund  31,578.46 

Endowment  Fund  10,812.84 

Deferred  Items  (See  note)  6,380.00 


TOTAL:  $79,909.97 


Note:  Dues  received  in  1996  for  future  years  are  considered  deferred  income.  These  fig- 
ures will  be  incorporated  into  the  Operating  Fund  income  in  the  1997  year-end  re- 
port. 


Respectfully  submitted, 

Linda  C.  Douglas,  Treasurer  (term  expiring  4/20/97) 


REVIEWERS  FOR  THE  FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST \ 1997 

We  take  this  opportunity  to  thank  those  who  contributed  reviews 
during  the  period  that  Volume  25  was  in  preparation.  Individuals  who 
contributed  two  or  more  reviews  are  noted  with  an  asterisk. 

Sandra  Allan,  W.  Wilson  Baker,  G.  Thomas  Bancroft,  Robert  E. 
Bennetts,  Reed  Bowman*,  David  R.  Breininger,  Jim  Cavanagh, 
Michael  W.  Collopy,  Richard  N.  Conner,  Bobby  Crawford*,  Randy 
Davidson,  R.  Todd  Engstrom,  Dick  Franz,  Jeffrey  A.  Gore,  Jon  S. 
Greenlaw,  Carola  A.  Haas,  Eric  Hellgren,  James  R.  Herkert,  Chuck 
Hess,  Steven  Humphrey,  Danny  J.  Ingold,  Bette  S.  Jackson,  Jerome 
Jackson,  Frances  C.  James,  J.  E.  Keirans,  Mike  Kinsella,  James  A. 
Kushlan,  Michael  Legare,  David  Leonard*,  Fred  Lohrer,  David  Maehr, 
Kevin  J.  McGowan,  Douglas  McNair,  Kenneth  D.  Meyer,  Brian  Millsap, 
Steven  Nesbitt,  Richard  T.  Paul*,  Bill  Pranty,  William  B.  Robertson, 
Jr.*,  James  A.  Rodgers,  Jr.,  Darren  Rumbold,  Henry  T.  Smith,  P.  Will- 
iam Smith*,  Paul  W.  Sykes,  Jr.,  Peter  D.  Vickery,  Tom  Webber,  Rick 
West*,  Larry  D.  Wilson,  Brian  W.  Witz,  Petra  Bohall  Wood,  John  B. 
Wooding,  and  Glen  E.  Woolfenden. 


Florida  Field  Naturalist 

ISSN  0738-999x 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  FLORIDA  ORNITHOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


Editor:  R.  TODD  ENGSTRQM,  Tall  Timbers  Research  Station,  Rt.  1 Box  678,  Tallahassee, 
Florida  32312-9712. 

Associate  Editor  (for  bird  distribution):  BRUCE  H.  ANDERSON,  2917  Scarlet  Road,  Win- 
ter Park,  Florida  32792. 

Associate  Editor  (for  reviews):  Reed  BOWMAN,  Archbold  Biological  Station,  P.O.  Box 
2057,  Lake  Placid,  Florida  33862. 

Associate  Editor  (for  technical  papers):  ROBERT  L.  CRAWFORD,  208  Junius  Street,  Tho- 
masville,  Georgia  31792. 

Associate  Editor:  TRINA  M.  CASSELS,  5827  Louvinia  Drive,  Tallahassee,  Florida  32311. 

Editor  of  Special  Publications:  GLEN  E.  WOOLFENDEN,  Archbold  Biological  Station, 
P.O.  Box  2057,  Lake  Placid,  Florida  33852. 

Editor  of  the  Ornithological  Newsletter:  KATY  NESMITH,  Florida  Natural  Areas 
Inventory,  1018  Thomasville  Road,  Suite  200-C,  Tallahassee,  Florida  32303. 

Archives  Committee:  WALTER  K.  TAYLOR  (Chair),  Department  of  Biological  Sciences, 
University  of  Central  Florida,  Orlando,  Florida  32816. 

Editorial  Advisory  Board:  STEPHEN  A.  NESBITT,  Florida  Game  and  Fresh  Water  Fish 
Commission,  Wildlife  Research  Laboratory,  4005  South  Main  St.,  Gainesville,  Florida 
32601. 

Field  Observations  Committee:  Bill  Pranty  (Compiler),  8515  Village  Mill  Row,  Bay- 
onet Point,  Florida  34667-2662. 

Finance  Committee:  H.  JAMES  SlGSBEE  (Chair),  1408  Brickell  Bay  Drive,  Apt.  903, 
Miami,  Florida  33131. 

Nominating  Committee:  WAYNE  HOFFMAN  (Chair),  National  Audubon  Society,  115 
Indian  Mound  Trail,  Tavernier,  Florida  33070. 

Records  Committee:  BRUCE  H.  ANDERSON  (Secretary),  2917  Scarlet  Road,  Winter 
Park,  Florida  32792. 

Grants  and  Awards  Committee:  DAVID  BREININGER,  Mail  Code:  DYN-2,  Kennedy 
Space  Center,  Florida  32899. 

Conservation  Committee:  ERIC  D.  STOLEN,  Mail  Code:  DYN-2,  Kennedy  Space  Center, 
Florida  32899. 


INFORMATION  FOR  CONTRIBUTORS 

The  Florida  Field  Naturalist  is  a fully  refereed  journal  emphasizing  biological  field 
studies  and  observations  of  vertebrates,  especially  birds,  in  and  near  Florida  and  the 
nearby  West  Indies.  It  welcomes  submission  of  manuscripts  containing  new  information 
from  these  areas.  Please  consult  recent  issues  for  style  and  Vol.  18,  No.  1 for  detailed  infor- 
mation. Submit  manuscripts  for  consideration  to  the  Editor,  R.  Todd  Engstrom.  Mono- 
graph-length  manuscripts  may  be  submitted  for  consideration  to  the  Editor  of  Special 
Publications,  Glen  E.  Woolfenden.  Send  books  and  other  materials  for  review  to  Associate 
Editor,  Reed  Bowman.  For  preliminary  assistance  regarding  submission  of  manuscripts 
dealing  with  bird  distribution  and  rarities  contact  Associate  Editor,  Bruce  H.  Anderson. 
Reports  of  rare  birds  in  Florida  should  also  be  submitted  to  the  FOS  Records  Committee 
Secretary,  Bruce  H.  Anderson. 


THSPN  AN  NSI  TyT.IQN.  UBRABIE 


384 


3 9088  00996 

Florida  Field  Naturalist 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  FLORIDA  ORNITHOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


Vol.  25,  No.  4 November  1997  Pages  117-160 


CONTENTS 


ARTICLES 

Status  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  in  Northern  and  Central  Florida 

Bill  Pranty  and  Michael  A.  McMillian  117-127 

American  Kestrel  Distribution  and  Use  of  Nest  Boxes  in  the  Coastal 
Plains  of  Georgia 

Timothy  F.  Breen  and  John  W.  Parrish,  Jr.  128-137 

NOTES 

First  Report  of  Fuertes’  Red-tailed  Hawk  from  Florida 

Robert  L.  Norton  and  Jeff  Ripple  138-140 

White-crowned  Pigeon  North  of  Its  Known  Range 

Donald  M.  Ware  141-142 

Recent  Breeding  of  the  White-tailed  Kite  in  Central  Florida 

Michael  A.  McMillian  and  Bill  Pranty  143-145 

REVIEWS 

The  Prairie  Falcon,  Stanley  H.  Anderson  and  John  R.  Squires,  1997 

Harrison  B.  Tordoff 146-147 

FIELD  OBSERVATIONS 

Spring  Report:  March  to  May  1997 

Bill  Pranty  148-158 

TREASURER’S  REPORT 

Linda  C.  Douglas  159 


REVIEWERS  FOR  THE 
FLORIDA  FIELD  NATURALIST,  1997 


160