IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

YOL. XIII DECEMBER, 1943 NO. 4 ]

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OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS 1 UNION

President — Dr. Martin L. Grant, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Vice-President — Ethan A. Hemsley, Dubuque, Iowa
Sec’y-Treas. — Miss Lillian Serbousek, 1226 Second St. S.W.,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Librarian — Dr. Warren N. Keck, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
j Editor — Fred J. Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa

Executive Council:

Mrs. Mary L. Bailey, Sioux City, Iowa
Miss R. Lucile Loban, Waterloo, Iowa
Mrs. Myrle L. Jones, Hamburg, Iowa

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| Thu Iowa Ornithologists' Uni tin was organized at Ames, Iowa, February 28,
= 1 92:.!, for the study a ml protertian of native birds and to promote fraternal re-

I hii ions among Iowa bird students,

I The central design of the Union's official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, designated
| Slate Bird of Iowa in 1933,

Publications of the Union: Mimeographed letters, 1923-1928; 'The Bulletin, 1 ’

1929-] 930; Iowa Bird Life,' beginning 1931.

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| SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $1.00 a year (includes membership
j dues) . Single copies 25c each. Claims for missing or defective
I copies of the magazine should be made within six months of date
j of issue. Keep the Editor informed of your correct address.

EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE

WINTHROP, IOWA

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E n t erect as second -class matter February 9, 1932, at the post office at Wintlnop, Iowa,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.

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IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIII, 1943

THE AMERICAN EGRET IN JACKSON COUNTY, IOWA

From a painting by E. W. Steffen, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

NESTING OF AMERICAN EGRET

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AN IOWA NESTING COLONY OF THE AMERICAN

EGRET

By JAMES R, HARLAN

Superintendent of Public Relations
Iowa State Conservation Commission
DES MOINES, IOWA

For at least the second successive year American Egrets (Casmerodius
alb us egretta) are known to have made their summer home and success-
fully raised their young in an Iowa rookery. The colony is located
in the Mississippi River bottoms in Jackson County, Iowa, about three
miles above the town of Sabula and a mile west of the river channel
proper.

For a number of years egrets have become increasingly common,
after having been almost entirely absent from the state for nearly
20 years. Undoubtedly these egrets were first-year young that had
come into the state from southern rookeries to fish, and were not from
Iowa nesting birds.

The fact that egrets were nesting on Iowa's Mississippi bottoms was
brought to the attention of the writer in a casual conversation in the
latter part of July, 1942, with Conservation Officer Willys J. Morf,
who in the company of Don Edlen had found the colony earlier in the
year. At that time they estimated the birds as numbering 1,500 in-
dividuals, including Great Blue Herons. Insomuch as the birds were
no longer in the colony, it was impossible to verify the report or visit
the nests that year. However, the nesting observation of Morf and
Edlen for 1942 cannot be questioned.

In late June, 1943, in company with Garfield Harker of Maquoketa,
the conservation officer in charge of Jackson County, the author
searched the river bottoms for the colony. The river was about five
feet above normal stage, and many of the landmarks needed to guide
a party into the almost impenetrable bottoms were missing. Although
numerous American Egrets were observed in flight in the area, the
nests could not be found. Harker later found the colony and directed
Mrs. H. R. Peasley, E. B. Speaker, and Bruce Stiles to the site.

The author visited the rookery on July 30, 1943, in company with
Conservation Officer Morf, Register and Tribune feature writer George
Shane, and Register photographer Herb Schwartz. The trip was made
by motor boat from Sabula.

To visualize this unusual rookery, it is necessary to have a mental
picture of these bottoms. The flat, timbered flood plain through which
flows the Father of Waters Is some five miles wide at this point. Prior
to the establishment of the nine-foot channel, the bottom was inter-
sected by numerous “chutes", small streams of running water which
break away from the parent river upstream and wind through the low-
lands, occasionally flattening out into “lakes", then winding across
the flood plain as fancy dictates to rejoin the Mississippi farther down-
stream.

With the building of the dams and the resultant water-level rise,
this interwining system of “chutes” and “lakes” was greatly compli-
cated and deepened. As a consequence of the deeper water, thousands
of great trees were drowned, and their naked skeletons now give the
area a ghostliness rivaling the famous cypress swamps and everglades.

To add to the distressfulness of the bottom, the most common living
vegetation, other than trees growing on the wet emergent land patches
between “chutes”, is poison ivy, both vining and as a low-growing
bush. The latter is in such profusion as to appear as a luxuriant
cultivated crop among the trees. It is In this eerie vastness that the
egrets chose their housekeeping sites and built their rookery. The

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIII

1943

60

IN THE AMERICAN EGRET ROOKERY

Nearly one-fifth of the 2u0 nests in the rookery are to be seen in this picture. One American Egret is in the air and others stand
beside their nests. The inset shows the young egret, almost fully grown, that fell from the nest when the colony was visited. Photo-
graph of iH'sls by James R. Harlan; inset by Herb Schwartz.

NESTING OF AMERICAN EGRET

61

nests are built in a cluster of giant dead cottonwood trees, for the
most part standing in the shallow waters of one of the new "lakes”.

As our party stepped out of the boat onto a narrow strip of wet
ground that separated us from the edge of the rookery by about 200
feet, the hollow, discordant clamor of the young birds added to the
impression that we were about to enter Inferno. Pushing on through
the screen of poison ivy and low-growing trees to the margin of the
tree-filled "lake”, the panorama of the nest-loaded dead cottonwoods
against the deep blue above appeared with a startlingness compared
to a slide flashed on the screen. High overhead hundreds of the abys-
mal inhabitants were silhouetted against the sky. The fetid stench
of decaying fish hung heavily on the air* As the birds noticed us, their
weird clamor briefly increased in intensity and pitch. Many of the
adult birds, like ghosts, left on unhurried wings.

We were immediately aware of splashes in the water under the nest
trees. We assumed that these were droppings from the young birds;
however, the writer investigated and found heavy masses of regurgi-
tated, partially digested fish. In one particular instance the pellet
consisted of three partially digested carp about 3Vz inches long and
one green sunfish somewhat smaller. In all the pellets subsequently
examined carp was the principal component.

There were more than 50 nests on the ground or in the water under
the trees. Some appeared to have been blown from the trees, but the
majority were still attached to the dead limbs in which they were
originally placed many feet above, and had come down almost intact.
There were no egg fragments or remains of young in the vicinity, pos-
sibly because of the numerous raccoon that frequent the area.

It was estimated that the colony contained some 250 intact egret
nests. This figure was arrived at by counting the nests in about one-
third of the area. The nesting area itself was made up of some 40
trees covering approximately two acres. The nests were placed, for
the most part, in exceedingly tall trees, with the lowest nests being
approximately 50 feet from the ground, and some being in the tiptops
more than 80 feet.

Although the young were about ready to leave the nests, more than
50 percent were still occupied with from two to four young. It is the
author’s observation that more than 60 percent of the live nests were
occupied by American Egrets, and the remainder by Great Blue Herons.
No other nesting birds were observed; however, Speaker identified two
nests of the Black-crowned Night Heron the week before.

The author estimates that the probable number of American Egrets
in this group is from TOO to 900 individuals.

While our party was taking photographs, the birds were greatly
agitated and continued to regurgitate fish remains, the later pellets
being more nearly digested than the ones first expelled. One almost
* fully grown young egret, with slapstick grotesque ness, lost its balance
and with a few timid wing flaps sailed downward, catching a branch
of a low tree, from which it hung suspended, head downward, for
several seconds before dropping to the mud below. The bird was cap-
tured without much effort and required to pose for closeup photographs.
It made several vicious strikes with its beak; but after a short period
of captivity it was released. It ran a distance along shore, then waded
out into the lake and sat quietly on a floating log.

A most interesting feature was the presence of large numbers of
shed plumes. The author picked up more than 100 plumes in a small
area, many of which had fallen on the water when the river was high
and had drifted with the slow current to the lower edge of the lake,
where they hung suspended on the branches and bark of young trees
and poison ivy bushes. Hundreds more could have been collected.

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IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIII, 1943

Hornaday, in ‘Our Vanishing Wildlife’, quotes T. J. Ashe of Key
West, Florida: “I have seen many molted and dropped feathers from
wild plume birds, and I have never seen a molted or dropped feather
that was fit for anything.”

Hornaday also quotes Arthur T. Wayne of Mount Pleasant, South
Carolina: “It is utterly impossible to get 50 egret plumes from any
colony of breeding birds without shooting the birds. Last spring I
went twice a week to a breeding colony of American and Snowy Egrets
from early in April until June 8. In spite of the fact that I covered
miles of territory in a boat, I picked up but two American Egret
plumes ...”

In the same book it is stated that the accounts of feather collectors
picking up large numbers of plumes were preposterous and that such
shed feathers were of very minor value. It is undoubtedly true that
in feather-trade times the birds were killed for commercial plumes;
however, of the more than 100 the writer picked up, perhaps a third
of them could not be distinguished from plumes that had been taken
from an adult bird in full breeding plumage that had been seized by
conservation authorities.

Plumes that had been dropped on the muddy ground soon disinte-
grated, Of a number that were found, even the quill was of a con-
sistency of w r et chalk or soap and could not be picked up.

Although local observers believe that the Snowy Egret nests in this
area, no nests were found and no observations were made of this bird.
With careful search not a single plume identifiable as the Snowy was
found. It is the author’s belief that these observations are erroneous,
although probably several sight records have been made of immature
Little Blue Herons.

It is the writer’s opinion that it would be unwise to encourage visitors
to this colony. Occasional visitors might not be harmful, but constant
interruption of the normal routine probably would be. Nesting birds
are nervous. This fact, plus the nervous regurgitation of food by the
young, especially during a period of food shortage, might be of suffi-
cient importance to the birds to cause abandonment of the nesting site.

BIRRING WITH AN EXPERT

By MRS. M. L. JONES

Watib'onsie State Park
HAMBURG, IOWA

How many times I have heard a newcomer to the ranks of budding
ornithologists exclaim: “If I could only go on a bird trip with an

expert, he could help me so much to get started!”

I beg your pardon, but I disagree with you. Bird experts, even
though they have the patience of Job, know too much and are too far
advanced for the average beginner.

Never shall I forget my first trip with a noted ornithologist, or
rather ornithologists. It was a state convention of bird enthusiasts
and the main speaker on Friday was a man from New York — from
the Audubon Society. He was to remain and lead the field trip on
Saturday morning. For months I had looked forward to May seventh,
and always this thought was uppermost in my mind — -I'll really learn
something about birds if I go on that trip.

Every day I warned myself: “Don’t be too anxious. It will prob-
ably rain.” But it didn’t! It was a beautiful morning, sunny and
warm, a perfect birding day. We gathered in front of the hotel after
a hasty five-o’clock breakfast, and went by car to the woods along the
river. The long-awaited day had begun and I stayed, like a faithful

BIRDING WITH AN EXPERT

63

dog, at the heels of the “expert” for he was to show me great things.

“Hear that?” He held up his hand for silence. “A Cerulean Warb-
ler.” {Oh, hotv I had wanted to see a Cerulean Warbler. I had seen
his picture many times.) “His song is somewhat like a burst of
laughter,” he continued. (No doubt the bird was laughing. He was
in the very top of a 40-foot tree already dense with foliage.)

The Cerulean Warbler was checked on the list for the day (our
leader knew it by its song), and the group moved on. I lingered,
hoping that I might catch a fleeting glance of that singing bird, but
I didn't. I had to hurry to catch up with the group and regain that
coveted position directly behind
the leader.

“Look!” came the command.

Twelve binoculars focused on a
flash of yellow. Eleven pencils
checked “Yellow Warbler” on the
lists. I was still trying to find
what made the yellow flash, but
it was gone.

A Bluebird twittered and flew
from a dead branch to the ground
and back to the branch. I had
plenty of time to focus my glass
and get a good look at him. He
was a beauty, but I had seen Blue-
birds. 1 wanted to see something
I had never before seen.

Just beyond the bluebird in a
small hajwthorne tree I spied a
tiny grayish bird and managed to
get my glass focused on him. He
was accommodating and moved
slowly enough so that I could fol-
low him. I casually mentioned
my find. The leader raised his
glass for an instant, then checked
his list with the comment, “Warb-
ling Vireo.” Ah, here was a new
one to me and I could really see
him, I noticed his olive-green
back and light breast. (At least
that was the way the description
read, but he looked more gray
than green.) I knew I would re-
member him.

We came into a clearing oppo-
site a bank where birds were
swarming like bees. I knew they were swallows so I quickly checked
“Bank Swallow”.

“There's a Rough-winged Swallow,” someone observed.

“That one that just flew close to the water is a Tree Swallow,” said
someone else.

1 was bewildered. I looked at the check-list. Yes, there they were
- — five swallows were listed, Heretofore I had known two; Barn Swal-
low and Bank Swallow. I would have called all of these Bank Swallows.

“How can you tell the difference?” I asked timidly.

“The Bank Swallow has a dark band across the breast and the
Rough- winged has a clear white breast. The Tree Swallow is the
bright blue-green one,” the leader patiently explained*

MARGARET (MRS. M. L.) JONES
In addition to being cook and house-
keeper for husband Myrle, who is cus-
todian of Waubonsie State Park, Mrs.
Jones is a very good ornithologist, a koda-
chrome photographer, and an efficient
bird-banding assistant.

64

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIII, 1943

I tried to follow one long enough to see if he had a band across
his breast, but they were too swift for me and the group was moving on.

A little grayish bird eaught my attention. I glanced at it and said,
“Another Warbling Vireo.”

“Tennessee Warbler/ 5 pronounced the expert. I was ready to argue,
but after all he should know, so I merely questioned, “How can you
tell one from the other? They look just alike. ”

“Why, one is a warbler and the other is a vireo,” He answered my
questions in such a kindly manner, but he could not conceal his surprise
at my stupidity.

The man just behind me offered a suggestion: “Warblei'S are very
active and vireos are more sluggish.” That sounded reasonable, so 1
made a note of it on the margin of my check list.

After that 1 did not name any birds aloud. When I saw old familiar
friends such as Robins, Flickers and Crows I silently checked them.

When we met with the other groups at noon, a list was compiled of
all the birds seen by the separate groups. The total was 149 species.
Our group had listed 82, but if 3 had checked only the ones I had
actually seen and identified, my total would have been about 12. That
meant there were 149 birds around me; I had seen 11 familiar ones
and had learned one new one.

As I walked wearily back to the hotel a little jingle formed itself
and kept running through my mind:

Oh, abirding we will go,

Abirding we will go.

We'll catch a fleeting glance
Of a birdie on a branch,

And then away he’ll go.

I repeat, if you want to learn something about birds, don't wait to
go out with an ornithologist. Find someone who knows as much or a
little more than you do, and go out together, often. Then, when you
think you know all there is to know about birds, go out with an expert
and you will really enjoy the trip. He will show you birds you have
never seen, and when he points out an elusive little shadow and says,
“There is an Orange-crowned Warbler,” you will know that it is an
Orange-crowned Warbler just because it acts like one, not because
you saw it plainly enough to know it had a streaked breast.

GENERAL NOTES

Hudsonian Curlew in Winne&hiek County. On May 16, 1943, we

saw a lone Hudsonian Curlew at close range about four miles north of
Spiliville, Iowa (to be more exact, one-quarter of a mile north of the
“Bily Brothers Clocks Museum”). The curlew lit on a plowed field
about 40 feet from the road, at which distance identification was posi-
tive. The huge, strongly down-curved bill and the dark line through
the eye region were plainly visible. It was relatively tame, for when
japproached on foot, it would fly about 30 feet, drop to the ground
and wait until approached again before repeating the short flight. The
only Iowa record of the Hudsonian Curlew reported by DuMont in his
‘Revised List of the Birds of Iowa 1 (1933) is the statement of Ander-
son that he had a specimen taken in Hancock County in 1895, but
sometime after 1907 dermestes ate away some of the feathers and the
bird was probably discarded. — NICHOLAS L. and MABEL E. CUTH-
BERT, Mount Pleasant, Iowa,

Golden Eagle in Northwest Iowa. — In December, 1942, a young man
by the name of Seifert, living about 16 miles northwest of Algona,
Iowa, brought a large bird to Paul R. Wille, custodian of Call State
Park, for identification. It proved to be an adult Golden Eagle. It
bad one wing injured and was unable to fly. The farmer had found

GENERAL NOTES

65

it in a grove unable to fly and in a very emaciated condition. Evi-
dently it had been injured quite some time previously, probably by a
shot from a small caliber rifle. Both the Bald and Golden Eagles are
protected, and Mr. Wille took custody of the bird and placed it in a
cage. It took about one rabbit a day to feed the eagle, which was
larger than a turkey. Rabbits were shot by Mr. Wille for this purpose.
A photograph of this Golden Eagle was published in the Algona ‘Ad-
vance' on December 10, 1942. A letter from Mr. Wille in February
described the condition of the eagle as very good and said the wing
was healing satisfactorily. The practice of many unthinking people
of shooting any large bird of prey is a very unwise one. Wherever
circumstances warrant, prosecutions follow the shooting of eagles, as
they are protected by law. — ZELL C. LEE, Sioux City, Iowa.

Early Bird Life in Clay County, Iowa.— Some interesting informa-
tion on the early bird life of northern Iowa is contained in a letter
to the writer (dated, August 30, 1917) from Franklin W. Calkins.
These comments on various bird species by Mr. Calkins apply to Clay
County, Iowa, between the years 1865 and 1885.

Snow Goose. Small flocks were occasionally seen from 1865 to 1880.

Baldpate, or Widgeon, Great numbers passed through in the spring
and fall migrations.

Pintail. Flocks of thousands passed northward in the spring at
least up to 1884; but never in autumn.

Canvas-back. They were occasionally seen from 1866 to 1880.

Ruffed Grouse. They were never seen in Clay County,

Wild Turkey. Only a single turkev was heard of in Clay County,
and that was in Gillett Grove in 1867.

Whooping Crane (“White Crane"). Not known to nest, but thou-
sands in annual flight, April and November.

Sandhill Crane. Great numbers passed through in autumn; many
nested in Clay County from 1865 to 1880.

Golden Plover. Thousands of them in migration from the last of
August to the first of October.

Black-bellied Plover. Never observed in Clay County.

W’oodeock. A few in the larger groves along the Little Sioux River.

Long-billed Curlew. Nested in Clay County from 1865 to 1875,
but was never numerous.

Upland Plover. Very numerous all summer up to 1876; literally
shot out after the coming of the railroad.

Wild Pigeon. One flock of 27 was seen in 1866.

Little Green Paroquet. Was never seen in Clay County. — T. C.
STEPHENS, Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa.

Nesting of the Chimney Swift in an Abandoned Farm House. The

Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) is recorded in Iowa as a common
summer resident, nesting in all parts of the state. Because of the
inaccessibility of nesting sites it is seldom that the bird student is
treated to the opportunity of easy observation of its nesting activities.
Most Iowa bird students know of Althea R. Sherman’s Chimney Swift
tower 1 and have read accounts of the swifts’ nesting. Arthur Cleveland
Bent- records a number of instances of the Chimney Swift nesting in
such unusual places as outbuildings and old wells, but it is a treat for
the casual observer to happen upon this most interesting bird when
nesting under such circumstances.

During the first world war, the Army in expanding the area of old

llovra Bird Life, 13 (2), 1043: 23 24.

2Bent, Arthur Cleveland. Life Histories of North American Cuckoos. Goatsuckers,
Hum tii in (.'birds and Their Allies. 1940 (with chapter on the Chimney Swift bv Winsor
Marrett Tyler, pp. 271*223).

IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIII, 1943

06

Camp Dodge to accommodate the yet unpredictable numbers of in-
coming recruits, purchased several hundred additional acres of ad-
jacent farm land that was never used. The buildings were left where
they stood, and as the years passed they gradually took on the semb-
lance of our old familiar abandoned farm house known so well to bird
students as an ideal location for Phoebes. On July 4, 1943, while
looking for a picnic spot with friends, I decided to explore one of
these buildings. On the second floor, in the back of a small closet,
a Chimney Swift had built its nest and was incubating five clear, white,
elliptical-ovate eggs. The closet had a small window which opened
on the side of the house. The glass pane was broken out and the
swifts entered the house through this window. The nest, located about
18 inches below the ceiling, was made of dead twigs fastened together
and securely glued to the wall by the glutinous saliva of the bird. It
was a symmetrical, semi-saucer-shaped structure measuring three inches
across the greatest inside dimension, and slightly more in its average
outside width. The room was small and dark, and, while the adult
bird seemed somewhat concerned about my presence, it was neverthe-
less reluctant to leave. Although I touched it, it did not immediately
fly.

On July 23 there were five young, On July 31 the adult was there
clinging to the wall beside the nest. It did not fly and again allowed
me to touch it. By August 1 the young were nearly adult in size and
it seemed impossible that so small a nest could hold them. Two of the
young crawled out for a time and clung to the wall, braced by well-
developed, sharp spines on the end of the rectrices. As if by a pre-
arranged signal, they all set up a most unusual noise when approached,
and then as suddenly stopped. The noise resembled that which might
come from a den of rattlesnakes, stopping and starting at intervals.
I visited the nest on the afternoon of August 10 and it was empty.
Three well-developed young clung to the wall near by. The accom-
panying photograph was taken with a flash bulb on August 1, 1943, by
Dr. Harold R. Peasley.— MRS. HAROLD R. PEASLEY, Dcs Moines,
Iowa,

YOUNG CHIMNEY SWIFTS AT THE NEST
'‘Two of the young crawled out for a time and clung to the wall , .

GENERAL NOTES

67

Red Crossbills at Iowa State College Arboretum. — On January 16,
1943, Ray C. Erickson observed 30 Red Crossbills among the red pine
trees in a coniferous grove at the southwest corner of the Arboretum.
The birds were feeding on the seeds between the open bracts of the
numerous pine cones. The sexes were of approximately equal num-
bers. The observer approached within six feet of the crossbills before
,they flew. Red Crossbills were seen again at that site on February
21 by Wilbur H. Engstrom, a second advanced wildlife management
student. For utilization of the red pine and other conifers in wind-
breaks, soil erosion control and woodlands obtain free, Extension Cir-
culars 217, 222, and 223 from your County Extension Director or
Extension Service, Iowa State College, Ames.- — G. 0. HENDRICKSON,
Ames, Iowa.

Pileated Woodpecker in Clinton and Linn Counties. — On January
28, 1943, I was riding with Dr. Glenn Cunningham and two Cornell
students. We had been noting signs of winter bird life as we rojje
along; I had pointed out a Cooper's Hawk and one or two Red-tails.
Near the bridge across the Wapsipinicon River two and one-half miles
west of Calamus, Clinton County, Iowa, we had a real experience. 1
had been watching idly a small flock of Crows when I suddenly became
conscious that one bird at some distance to one side of the flock had
an undulating flight. At my shout Dr. Cunningham put on the brakes
and stopped at the side of the pavement. Fortunately for us, the bird
was flying toward the highway. It crossed the road about 25 feet
ahead of our parked car and about the same distance from the ground.
It was a Pileated Woodpecker, and we had an excellent view of its
long beak, slender neck, and its black and white coloring, in spite of
the fact that it was four in the afternoon and cloudy. There is a con-
siderable tract of timber along the river at this spot.

One other record of the Pileated Woodpecker in this region is known
to me. In late November, 1938, a schoolboy brought to the local high
school a recently killed bird of this species that he had picked up near
the Ivanhoe Bridge across the Cedar River south of Mount Vernon.
It was brought to the Cornell Biology Department for identification,
was mounted by one of Dr. Brooks’ students, and now has place in
the Cornell College Museum. This is, to my knowledge, the only Linn
County record. Dr. Charles R. Keyes informs me that he has never
seen a Pileated Woodpecker in this area,— J. HAROLD ENNIS, Cornell
College, Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Publications on Iowa Ornithology during 1942 .

‘Audubon Magazine'. Christmas bird censuses from Iowa; 44 (1),
1942: supplement 53-55,

Baskett, Thomas S. Production of the Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasi-
anus colchicus torquatus Gmelin) in North-central Iowa; Iowa State
Coll. Jour. Sci., 17 (1), 1942: 30-33.

Blake, Emmet R. An Iowa Record of the Pallid Horned Lark; Auk,
59 (3): 433.

Clinton Herald. Wood Duck Mother Parades Young Through Town;
Iowa Conservationist, 1 (6), July 15, 1942: 2, 4.

Cooke, May Thacher. Returns from Banded Birds: Some Longevity
Records of Wild Birds; Bird-Banding, 13 (2 & 3), 1942: 70-74, 110-
119 (Iowa records on pp. 73-74, 116).

Huston, Taylor W. Old Mr, Crow is Always with Us in Iowa; Iowa
Conservationist, 1 (4), May 15, 1942: 6-7.

Towa Bird Life'. 40 articles referring to Iowa birds in Vol. 12.

Jones, M. L. Banding Hobby Teaches Habits of Many Birds; Iowa
Conservationist, 1 (4), May 15, 1942: 1 T 3-4. We're from Iowa;
Nature Mag., 35 (2), 1942: 106.

68

IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIII, 1943

Jones, Mrs. M. L. Trials of a Bird Bander’s Wife; Nature Notes,

9 (1), 1942: 6-8. „ i

McClure, H. Elliott. Mourning Dove Production m Southwestern
Iowa; Auk, 59 (1), 1942: 64-75. Effects of Storm on Wildlife; Nature
Notes, 9 (3-4), 1942: 43-45.

Mori, W. J. The Wood Duck Has Come Back to Stay Along Iowa s
Wooded Waters; Iowa Conservationist, 1 (6), July 15, 1942: 1-2.

Moser, R. Allyn. Should the Belted Piping Plover Be Recognized
as a Valid Race? Nebr. Bird Review, 10 (2), 1942; 31-37.

Musselman, T. E, Eagles of Western Illinois; Auk, 59 (1), 1942:
105-107 (contains records for Keokuk, Iowa).

North Iowa Times. Wood Duck Family Plans Moving Day; Iowa
Conservationist, 1 (6), July 15, 1942: 2.

Polderboer, Emmett B. Seasonal Food Preference Trends of Eastern
Grouse in Iowa as Shown by Dropping Analysis; Iowa State Coll. Jour,
Sci., 16 (3), 1942: 331-335\

Roberts, F. L. R. Color Counts; Nature Mag., 35 (2), 1942: 69-72.

Roudabush, Robert L. Parasites of the American Coot (Fuhca
americana) in Central Iow T a ; Iowa State Coll, Jour. Sci., 16 (4), 1942:
437-441.

Sooter, Clarence A, Ecology and Management of the American
Coot; Iowa State Coll. Jour. Sci., 17 (1), 1942: 126-128.

Soper, J. Dewey, Life History of the Blue Goose; Proe. Boston Soc,
Nat, Hist., 42 (2), 1942: 121-225, pis. 15-26. (Iowa records, pp.
171-173, 182).

Spawn, Gerald Bishop. Food Habits of Shorebirds (Charadrnformes)
in Northwestern Iowa; Iowa State Coll. Jour. Sci., 17 (1), 1942: 133-
135.

Stiles, Bruce F. “Kungovick”, Migrant of the Midwest; Iowa Con-
servationist, 1 (2), March 15, 1942: 1, 3-4, 6-7.

— F. J. P,

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

WATERFOWL IN IOWA, by Jack W. and Mary R. Musgrove (Iowa
Conservation Commission, Des Moines, 1943; cloth, pp. i-ix + 1-122,
with 8 colored pis, and numerous line drawings; price, $1).

The primary purpose behind this book is the education of the hunter
— to help him to identify and to know the ducks that he sees down
his gun barrel. There are plenty of good books that cover the water-
fowl, but they are mostly in the hands of ornithologists. A waterfowl
book for the use of the hunter is a pioneer project, and we think our
Iowa Conservation Commission is entitled to a great deal of credit
for undertaking it. It has been suggested that the time is not pro-
pitious for bringing out such a book, because so many of the boys
are hunting bigger game overseas. But there is a large army of older
hunters still active in the held, and quite likelv before the entire
edition of 5,000 copies is finally distributed, it will reach a very wide
audience of hunters and do much good in an educational way. It is
fortunate that it can be sold for so low a price.

In opening the book one is impressed by the beauty of the eight

colored plates, which depict in accurate form the various ducks, geese

and swans that are found in Iowa, both in normal and eclipse plumages.
The artist, Maynard F. Reece, is a newcomer among bird painters.
He is now in military service, but we shall expect to see much more
of his work when he returns to civilian life.

. The written text is exactly what is needed in a book of this sort.

It covers in a concise, uniform way the 37 species and subspecies of
waterfowl found in Iowa, past and present. There is a brief but
, understandable description of the plumage of each, with reference
to variations in male, female and juvenile forms in spring and autumn

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

69

plumages. Call notes are given and distinguishing field marks are
pointed out. Notes on life history in abbreviated form cover migration
dates and routes, breeding and winter ranges, nesting habits, and food.
A final paragraph gives the Iowa status of each species — whether it
is common or rare, and when and where it may be looked for. Special
chapters take up the variations in plumage of waterfowl, the migration
ftyways, waterfowl enemies, and effects of lead poisoning. A key to
duck plumages and an index complete the book- It is an authoritative
little volume, admirably suited for the purpose intended. Paper, print-
ing and binding are very good. Jowa bird students, as well as hunters,
will find it well worth owning. — F. J. P.

* * * * *

LIFE HISTORY OF THE BLUE GOOSE, by J. Dewey Soper (Pro-
ceedings of Boston Society of Natural History, Boston, Mass., Vol, 42,
No. 2, 1942; wrappers, pp. 121-225, pis. 15-20; price, $1).

The Blue Goose is well known to Iowa bird students, especially
those living in the western part of the state. This monograph is a
very useful one. It covers in a thorough manner the geographical
distribution and breeding range of the bird, and traces the spring
and fall migrations to and from its Louisiana wintering grounds. The
account of the spring migration through western Iowa is very inter-
esting reading; it cites the observations of Dr. T. C. Stephens, Bruce
Stiles and others who have studied the vast flocks of migrating Blue
and Lesser Snow Geese along the Missouri River. The description of
its nesting on Baffin Island in the far Arctic is given considerable
space. The plates, mostly from photographs, add much to the book.

— F. J. P.

* 4r 4: * *

ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE MOURNING DOVE,
Zenairhn-a macro ura (Linn.), IN CASS COUNTY, IOWA, by H. Elliott
McClure (Research Bulk 310, Iowa State College, Ames, Feb., 1943;
wrappers, pp. 353-415, with 36 tables).

A decrease in the numbers of Mourning Doves in the eastern and
southern states has been noticed in recent years. In Iowa, however,
the dove is one of the commonest summer residents and many of the
birds remain in winter if food is available. This very complete report
is the result of researches sponsored by Iowa State College and several
wildlife conservation agencies. The observations were made in Cass
County during 30 months of 1938, 1939 and 1940.

It was estimated that 73,000 adult Mourning Doves in Cass County
produced 200,000 joung each year. Nearly 4,000 nests were under
observation; an average of 55 percent of the eggs was hatched, 82
percent of the young left the nests yearly, and 2 percent of the summer
resident doves wintered in the county. Many young doves were
banded and the returns are tabulated. The Mourning Dove’s diet
consists very largely of weed seeds, and so it is considered beneficial
to agricultural interests. At the dose of the report there is a list
of suggestions for increasing the dove population — planting orchards
and windbreaks, reducing the English Sparrow, and so forth. No
doubt these are offered w-ith a view to increasing the bird as a valuable
ally of the farmer, and not with the thoiight that a shooting season
can be opened as soon as it is plentiful enough. The Mourning Dove
is classed as a game bird in a number of other states, and probably
many hunters would like to have it available in Iowa.— F. J. P.
*****

R. M. Anderson’s ‘Birds of Iowa’ (1907) contains much information
on the distribution and migration of birds within the state and is still
a valuable reference work. The Editor of ‘Iowa Bird Life' has several
copies of the book for disposal. Inquiries should be sent to Winthrop
Iowa,

70

IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIII, 1943

MEMBERSHIP ROLL OF THE
IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS ’ UNION*

CHARTER MEMBERS 1923)

Bailey, Mrs. Mary L., Sioux City
Banning, R. H., Cresco
Battel), Mrs. F. L., Ames
Bennett, Walter W., Los Angeles,
Calif.

Kinnaird, Mrs. W, A., West Des
Moines

Mills, Wier R, f Pierson

Palas, Arthur J., Postville
Pierce, Fred J., Winthrop
Spiker, Chas. J., Branchpoint, N. Y.
Stephens, Dr. T. C., Sioux City
Wendelburg, Mrs. Toni R., Des
Moines

Wolden, B. 0., Estherville

MEMBERS

AHert, Oscar P., McGregor, 1929
Anderson, Dr. Rudolph M., Ot-
tawa, Canada, 1942
Austin, Dr, 0. L., Tuckahoe, N. Y.,

1931

Austin, Mrs. E. J., Charles City,
1942

Ayres, Charles C., Jr., Ottumwa,
'1941

Barlow, Mrs. John, Waterloo, *42
Bartlett, Wesley H., Eagle Grove,
1935

Baumgartner, Miss Jo, Des Moines,

1942

Becker, Miss Hilda, Davenport, T 26
Beckwith, Miss Alma, Atlantic, '39
Berkowitz, Albert C,, Des Moines,

1943

Bice, Mrs, Don C., Atlantic, 1942
Binsfeld, Mrs. A. J., Des Moines,
1939

Birkeland, Henry, Roland, 1933
Bishop, Dr. Louis B., Pasadena,
Calif., 1934

Bliese, John, Lincoln, Nebr., 1935
Blosser, Mrs. Noah J., Patterson,
1927

Bordner, Mrs. Frances, Iowa City,
1929

Boyd, Mr. and Mrs. Ivan L., Bald-
win, Kans., 1937

Buchanan, Borden C., Sioux City,
1941

Burk, Walter L., Vinton, 1931
Buzbv, Mr. and Mrs. Wm., Boone,

1932 and 1929

Chadbourne, Dr. T. L,, Vinton, ’38
Clark, Mrs. Ella L., Burlington, '25

Confare, Miss Miriam, Cedar
Rapids, 1942

Copp, Miss C. Esther, Cedar
Rapids, 1933

Cordray, Miss Joyce, Waterloo,
1943 ( J.M. )

Currier, Ed. S., Portland, Ore., '34
Cuthbert, N. L,, Mt. Pleasant, '42
Dales, Mrs. Marie, Sioux City, ’29
DeLong, Mrs. W. C., Clarion, ’39
Dix, Mrs. Ray S., Cedar Falls, ’35
Dole, J. Wilbur, Fairfield, 1929
Downing, Glenn R., Elkader, 1938
Dragoo, Lavina, Cedar Rapids, '29
Dubuque Bird Club, Dubuque, ’33
Dulany, Geo. W., Jr., Clinton, '43
DuMont, Mrs. Janet, Des Moines,
1927

DuMont, Philip A., Chicago, III.,
1924

Eastman, Mrs. E. P., Burlington,
1929

Edgar, Mrs, G. P., Burlington, ’39
Edge, Mrs. C. N., New York, N. Y.,
1931

Eifert, Eleanor, Cedar Falls, 1943
Eighme, Miss Marietta, Ottumwa,
1943

Ellis, Ralph, Jr., Berkeley, Calif.,
1933

Emigh, A. A., Atlantic, 1941
Ennis, Dr. J. H., Mt. Vernon, f 41
Errington, Dr. Paul L., Ames, *32
Ewing, H. E., Washington, D. C.,
1943

Faulkner, Geo. 0., Waterloo, 1931
Ficke, Mrs. C. A., Davenport, 1929
Flodin, Mrs. C. C., Cedar Rapids,
1931

’Complete to October 15, 1943. Year of joining the Union follows the name of ench
member. All cities are within inwa unless otherwise noted. Junior Members are in-
itialed .1, II,' Cot rect ions in tlie list will be appreciated.

Iowa total, 104
Outside of Iowa, 34
In Military Service, 18
Grand total, 216

MEMBERSHIP ROLL

71

Frankel, Mrs. Henry, Des Moines,
1925

Funk, Miss Ruth F., Independence,

1940

Gessel, Mrs. E. C., Des Moines, ’43
Grant, Dr. Martin L., Cedar Falls,
1937

Gross, Dr. Alfred O., Brunswick,
Maine, 1942

Grumman n, Mrs. Herbert R., St.

Louis, Mo., 1943
Guion, Geo. Seth, New Orleans,
La., 1933

Hallowell, Miss Loraine, Waterloo,
1932

Hanson, Mrs. Ernest W., Burling-
ton, 1936

Hantelmann, Salina, Waterloo, ’40
Harlan, James R., Des Moines, ’42
Hathorn, Glen M., Cedar Rapids,
1934

Ha ette. Miss Verona, Cedar
Rapids, 1943

Hemsley, Ethan A., Dubuque, ’36
Hendrickson, Dr. Geo. O., Ames,
1931

Heuser, E. P., Dubuque, 1940
Hicks, Dr. Lawrence E., Columbus,
Ohio, 1938

Hoskinson, Mrs. Helen H., Clar-
inda, 1940

Hoynian, Miss Isabelle, Cedar
Rapids, 1942

Jahn, Mrs. Theodore L., Iowa City,
1943

Johnson, Mrs. Martin A., Kelley,

1941

Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. R. W., Du-
buque, 1939 and 1927
Jones, Mr, and Mrs. Myrle L.,
Hamburg, 1931 and 1941
Keck, Dr. Warren N., Cedar
Rapids, 1936

Kent, Mrs. Wm., Cedar Rapids, '32
King, Mrs. Helen G., Grundy
Center. 1933

Klinker, Mrs. P. J., Denison, 1937
Knapp, George R., Vinton, 1940
Knoop, Miss Pearl, Marble Rock,
1937

Kubichek, Wesley F., Evanston,
111., 1941

Lahr, Mrs. H. W., Storm Lake, ’43
Lahr, Miss Margaret, Cedar
Rapids, 1942

Lambert, Mrs. Adaline T., Sioux
City, 1940

Laude, Dr. P. P., Iowa City, 1942
Lee, Miss Zell C., Sioux City, 1943

Lloyd, Monte, Sioux City, 1942
(J.M.)

Loban, Miss Myra E., Waterloo, ’38
Loban, Miss R. Lucile, Waterloo,

1938

MacMartin, Mrs. W. G. f Tama, '32
Mathis, Miss Grace, Elkhart, ’42
McCabe, Miss Olivia, Des Moines,
1932

McCartney, Mrs. R. C., Charles
City, 1942

Melcher, Rev. M. C., Central City,

1939

Meltvedt, Burton W., Paullina. ’31
Meyer, Dr. Alfred W., Cedar
Rapids, 1942

Michael, Maude, Waterloo, 1942
Miller, Hilda E., Waterloo, 1940
Moeran, E. H., Yonkers, N. Y., ’40
Morrissey, Thos. J., Davenport, ’40
Morton, Miss Thelma, Cedar
Rapids, 1943

Moser, Dr. R. Allyn, Omaha, Nebr.,

1941

Mote, Mr. and Mrs. G. A., Mar-
shalltown, 1929

Hurley, Miss Margaret, Ames, ’37
Musgrove, Mr. and Mrs. Jack W.,
Des Moines, 1938 and 1943
Myers, Mrs. Len, Waterloo, 1939
Niemann, Miss Jane, Waterloo
1943 (J.M.)

Nichols, Harvey L., Waterloo, ’29
Oberholser, Dr. Harry C,, Cleve-
land, Ohio, 1932

Ollivier, Roy, Mt. Pleasant, 1943
Orr, Edison, Waukon, 1935
Osher, Mrs. J. B., Estherville, ’39
Ottumwa Bird Club, Ottumwa, ’43
Parsons, Mrs. Robt, O., Dickens

1942

Peasle , Dr. and Mrs. Harold R.,
Des Moines, 1943 and 1934
Peel, Clarence O., Dayton, 1941
Perry. Miss Kathleen, Waterloo,

1943 (J.M.)

Petranek, Mr. and Mrs. E. J.,
Cedar Rapids, 1931
Pettingill, Dr. O. S., Northfield,
Minn., 1937

Purdy, Miss Ruth, Cedar Rapids,
1943

Rector, Harry E., Independence,
1942

Reynolds, Miss E. Estella Des
Moines, 1943

Rich, Dr. Guy C., Hollywood
Calif., 1931

Roberts, Dr. and Mrs. F. L R
Spirit Lake, 1924 and 1926

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIII, 1943

CL

Roberts, Dr. T. S., Minneapolis,
Minn., 1931

Rosene, Walter, Jr., Gadsden, Ala.,

1942

Ross, Hollis T,, Lewisburg, Pa., '40
Ruegnitz, Mr. and Mrs. R. S., Du-
buque, 1943 and 1942
Ruhr, Eugene, Atlantic, 1941
Safourek, Miss Lorene, South
English, 1942

Sage, Evan, Waterloo, 1942
Schoenberg, Miss Helen E.,
Grimes, 1943

Schramm, Frank H., Burlington,
1934

Schuster, Miss Ival M., Dubuque,

1941

Serbousek, Miss Lillian, Cedar
Rapids, 1931

Smith, Dwight, Des Moines, 1943
Smith, Miss Irene M., Des Moines,

1943

Steffen, Miss Emily, Cedar Rapids,

1942

Steffen, E. W., Cedar Rapids, ’42
Stewart, Paul A., Leetonia, 0., '43
Stiles, Bruce F., Des Moines, 1937
Stoner, Dr. Dayton, Albany, N. Y.,
IN MILITAl
Adams, I. C., Jr., U. S. Army, ’41
Crabb, Dayrle N., U. S. Navy, '42
Crabb, Wilfred D., U. S. Navy, '37
Davis, Floyd H., U, S. Navy. '42
Goodman, John, U. S. Army, '41
Graesing, Howard, U. S. Army, '39
Guthrie, Richard A., U. S. Army,
’39

Heuer, Ralph, U. S. Navy, ’40
Johnson, Clifford 0., U. S. Navy,
’41

Laffoon, Jean L., U. S. Navy, ’40

1937

Struck, Dr. K, H,, Davenport, '29
Taylor, Mrs. H. J., Berkeley, Calif.*

1939

Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. O. S,, Rock
Rapids, 1929

Thornburg, Mrs. Ross J., Tucson,
Ariz., 1937

Tillapaugh, Miss lola, Cedar
Rapids, 1942

Tobin, John, Vinton, 1938
Tonkin, George, Boston, Mass., *38
Trump, Richard F., Keokuk, 1941
Turner, Mrs. Stella, Clarinda, ’42
Walker, Pearle C., Ottumwa, 1943
Weber, Alois John, Keokuk, 1929
Weber, R. A., Keokuk, 1943
Weiss, Billy, Waterloo, ’43 (J.M.)
Wilharm, Wanda M., Waverly, '38
Willis, Miss Myra G., Cedar
Rapids, 1940

Witt, Miss Elizabeth, Elkader, '43
Wolden, Mrs. B. O., Estherville, ’39
Young, Miss Beverly, Waterloo,
1943 (J.M. )

Young, Miss Marv H., Waterloo,

1940

Youngworth, Wm., Sioux City, '26
Y SERVICE

Mallette, Robt. D., U. S. Army, '42
McDonald, Malcolm, U. S. Army,
'35

Pierce, Robert A., U. S, Army, '41
Scott, Dr. Thos. G., U. S. Army,
’37

Sherwood, Jack W., U. S. Nav*y, '36
Starr, Frank M., U. S. Navy, ’42
Sutton, Dr. Geo. M., Army Air
Corps, ’41

Vane, Dr. Robt. F., U. S. Navy, '40

LIBRARIES*

Carnegie-Stout Public Library,
Dubuque, 1931

Iowa State Traveling Library, Des
Moines, 1940

Kendall Young Library, Webster
City, 1931

Library, Iowa State Teachers Col-
lege, Cedar Falls, 1939

Library, U. S. Dept, of Agricul-
ture, Washington, D. C., 1931

McGill University Library, Mon-
treal, Que., 1932

Public Library, Cedar Rapids, '31
Public Library, Council Bluffs, ’31
Public Library, Des Moines, 1931
Public Library, Fort Dodge, 1936
Public Library, Sioux City, 1931
University of Illinois Library, Ur-
bana, 111., 1942

*Exehanges are not included in this, list,

THE CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUS

will be taken as usual between December 20 and 30. Study the form
of censuses published in previous March issues. List birds in A. O. U.
order, giving exact number seen, and include data on hours, weather
and ground conditions. Send reports to Editor of ‘Iowa Bird Life'
not later than January 15.