\ \ PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE fOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION VOL. XIV SEPTEMBER, 1944 NO. 3 [ OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS 1 UNION President — -Dr. J. Harold Ennis, ML Vernon, Iowa Vice-President — Charles C. Ayres, Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa Sec’y-Treas. — Miss Lillian Serbousek, 1226 Second St. S.W., I Cedar Rapids, Iowa Librarian- — Dr. Warren N. Keck, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Editor — Fred J. Pierce, WinLhrop, Iowa Executive Council; i Miss R. Lucile Loban, Waterloo, Iowa » Mrs. Myrle L. Jones, Boone, Iowa ! Miss Marietta Eighme, Ottumwa, Iowa The Town Ornithologists’ Union was organized at Ames, Iowa, February 28, f 1 far (lie study and protection of native birds and to promole fraternal re' bilious among Iowa bird students. The central design of the In ion’s official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, designated Stale End of Iowa in 1933. I’u hi I cat ions of the Union: Mimeographed letters, 1923-1928; The Bulletin 7 1 929-1930 : 'Iowa Bird Life, 1 beginning 1931. SUBSCRIPTION RATES; $1.00 a year (includes membership j dues). Single copies 25c each. Claims for missing or defective j copies of the magazine should be made within six months of date = of issue. Keep the Editor informed of your correct address. EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE WINTHROP, IOWA j tmod up second class matter February 9, 1932, at the post office at Winthrop, Iowa, under the Act of March 3, 1879. IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIV 1944 SAW- WHET OWL. in a hawthorn thicket along Reaver Creek, near Camp Hodge, Polk County. Town. Photographed by Hr. II. R. Beasley, January 10, 1037 : reprinted from Wilson Bulletin', December, ]93£, page 24 1. THE SAW-WHET OWL 43 THE SAW- WHET OWL IN POLK COUNTY, IOWA By MRS. HAROLD R. PEASLEY L)ES MOINES, IOWA DuMont’s ‘Revised List of the Birds of Iowa’ (1934) describes the Saw-whet Owl (Cryptoglaux acadica acadica) an uncommon and irregu- lar visitor. Anderson in ‘The Birds of Iowa’ (1907) has this to say: “The little Saw-whet Owl is generally distributed throughout the state, being most frequently observed in winter, ” Bent lists the winter range of the Saw-whet Owl as extending to southern Illinois, Missouri and Kansas but does not mention Iowa. Roberts, in ‘Birds of Minnesota’, says it. is found as far south as Nebraska and Maryland and in the mountains of Mexico and is a per- manent resident throughout its range except that a few individuals may wander south of the breeding range in the United States. This is the smallest of the owls of eastern North America and Roberts states that its body is not much larger than that of a plump House Sparrow, The winter habitat of the Saw-whet Owl is found along Beaver Creek, which runs through Camp Dodge and empties into the Des Moines River somewhat more than a mile north of the city limits of Des Moines. Its valley immediately adjacent to the stream is well wooded along its entire course. The woods vary in width from a dozen yards to as much as a half mile, and they are skirted on the higher ground by meadow and farm land. The timber is primarily soft-wood with thickets of hawthorn, crab and plum and groups of hackberry, locust and coffee bean trees, while oaks are common on the higher ground. Contained within the boundaries of Camp Dodge is an area that is isolated and has reverted to natural conditions. To the north and east is open grass lands with occasional clumps of crabs, hawthorn and coral-berry. To the west and south is the higher soft-wood timber of the cteek bottom. On the east side of a bend in the stream is a dense thicket of about an acre composed almost entirely of hawthorn averaging 15 feet in height with an occasional honey locust of con- siderably larger dimensions. It was while taking the Christmas census on December 24 1936 that I looked through this dense thicket and found an owl’s winter perch. On the ground were the smallest pellets I had ever seen. I searched the territory but was unable to find any owls. I collected several pellets, and my interest was increased when one of our well known ornithologists was unable to identify them. On December 28 I again visited the area and found a Saw-whet Owl. It was sitting in the tree under which I had found the pellets. Hidden in a grapevine tangle near by was another. Their number increased to three the first winter and they were last seen that year on February 28 The following winter, 1937-38, the owls were not present, but on December 3, 1938, I found two in the same thicket. On January 7 1939, there were five, and on March 2, following a 14.2-inch snow, there were seven. On March 11, 1939, nine owls were seen. This was the largest number found during my eight years of observation. J During the winters of 1939-40 and 1940-41 three owls were present each winter. v The owls were again absent during the winter of 1941 and 1942 During the fall of 1942 they did not return in November, hut on December 26 two were seen. On January 26, 1943, I visited the area after dark, but the owls were not on their perch. On February 7, I arrived before dark to watch them leave and found four. The owls seemed very sleepy when I first arrived but as dusk fell they became active, They fluffed out 44 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIV, 1944 their feathers and turned their heads rapidly from side to side. At 5 -io p,m. * thev began dropping to lower branches. Next they new from one tree to another and then silently winged their way very low through the thicket One stayed until 5:35 p.m. They all lett in the same general direction, which was toward the meadow-like area to the north and east. . ... On December 2, 1943, I found two Owls. The number did not in- crease during the winter. . . During January of 1944, I made eight early morning trips to the area between the hours of 1:00 and 7:00 a.m. to find the tune the owls returned to their perches. This I found difficult to do owing to their irregularity in the choice of roosting sites. On my first trip I arrived at 7:10 a.m. and found one of the owls already on a favorite^ perch. I waited until daylight but the owl failed to arrive. It had perched in another tree about 10 feet distant. It was moonlight, and I had been watching very intently, but had failed to see it arrive. The second owl changed its perch each morning and, although I searched the area with my flash-light several times during each trip, I never found the second owl until daylight. Often it would be no more than 8 feet from me. On my 1:00 a.m. trip I did not see any owls. During these trips the temperature ranged between 6 and 18 degrees above zero. For the most part they occupied one of several well -used q-uarters made evident by the white excrement on the trees and pellets on the ground. The perches varied in height from 2 to 9 feet and the owls invariably sat motionless next to the trunk of the tree. Their color blends so well with the surroundings that they are hard to detect. They are unafraid and allow one to approach within arm’s length. I touched * Hours are given in Central Standard war time. COMPARISON OP SIZES OF PELLETS OF LONG-EARED AND SAW-WI-IET OWLS THE SAW-WHET OWL 45 one with a small twig and, instead of flying, it grasped the twig in its bill. On one occasion I found two sitting side by side, and at another time one held the headless body of a mouse in its talons all day. Bird life in the surrounding area is quite diversified and abundant. Found roosting in this thicket when visited at 1:00 a.m. were Blue Jays, Cardinals, and a Fox Sparrow. About 150 yards to the southeast is the perch of the Long-eared Owl. Short-eared Owls were seen in early morning and evening in the open area and Barred and Great Horned Owls were heard repeatedly within a distance of 300 or 400 feet. Many small birds including Juncos, Tree, Harris's, and White- crowned Sparrows roost in the immediate vicinity. American Rough- legged, Marsh, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed Hawks frequent this area. CONCLUSIONS (1) My observations lead me to believe that these owls are entirely nocturnal in their habits and do not leave their perch during the day unless disturbed. (2) In the immediate vicinity of their roost they live in harmony with other small birds. (3) This roosting area of the Saw-whet Owl is adjacent to or over- laps the range of the Long and Short-eared, Great Horned and Barred Owls. (4) The owls are very tame and unafraid of people while on their perch, (5) They are very selective in their winter habitat. Although several thickets similar to the one described occur along the stream they have never been found except in this limited area. LITERATURE CITED Anderson, Rudolph M, 1907. The Birds of Iowa, Proc. Davenport Acad. Sci,, 11: page 262. Bent, Arthur Cleveland 1938. Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey, Bull. 170, Part 2: page 240. DuMont, Philip A. 1934. A Revised List of the Birds of Iowa, Univ. Ia. Studies in Nat, Hist., 15 (5) : page 87. Roberts, Thomas S. 1932. The Birds of Minnesota. Vol. 1: page 633. THE SAW- WHET OWL IN WOODBURY COUNTY, IOWA By T. C. STEPHENS Morning's] do College SIOUX CITY. IOWA Before reporting our recent (1943) observation of a Saw-whet Owl I will review our existing knowledge of this species in the northwestern Iowa region. The writer has possession of a “data tag” used by D. H. Talbot for his specimens; this tag reports the collection of a Saw-whet Owl by J. L. Lynn for Mr. Talbot on January 1, 1885, “up Perry Creek, 5 miles from Sioux City. Found in hole in bank along creek.” While in Iowa City some years ago the writer saw in the cases of the University Museum a mounted specimen of the Saw-whet Owl marked, "Sioux City, Iowa, D. H. Talbot, Oct. 23, 1885.” For some years a mounted specimen of the Saw-whet Owl reposed in the Museum of the Sioux City Academy of Science. It was a male and was shot for Dr. G. C. Rich by N. W. White on Prospect Hill (on the Iowa side near the Combination Bridge crossing the Missouri River), 46 IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIV, 1944 on March 24, 1898. In 1920 this specimen was returned to Dr. Rich in California. , , . The Brown brothers’ collection of bird skins included a Saw-whet Owl taken in the Sioux City environs on October 14, but the year was not recorded. However, their collection was made between the years of 1899 and 1903. J ^ Mr. A. J. Anderson, taxidermist, had a field record of a Saw-whet Owl near the old starch works of Sioux City (in the Floyd River Valley) on January 9, 1904. He also mounted another specimen taken out on Court Street in Sioux City on November 17, 1904. Dv. Guy C. Rich reported to the U. S. Biological Survey in his migra- tion reports for the respective years Saw-whet Owls in the Sioux City area on March 26, 1906, and February 26, 1910. On January 21, 1907, A. J. Anderson collected a Saw-whet Owl m a hollow near St. Joseph’s Hospital. And on November 23, 1907, he collected another one in Bacon’s Hollow in Greenville, Sioux City, i also saw in Mr. Anderson's collection a pair (male and female) of Saw-whets, both collected near Leeds, Sioux City, on January 21, 1907. Mr. Anderson mounted for Dr. Rich a Saw-whet Owl on December 22, 1909, presumably taken near that date in the Sioux City area. A. W. Lindsey told me of a field record of a Saw-whet Owl flushed from a hollow stump in Bacon’s Hollow, Sioux City, sometime in 1910 bv Walter W. Bennett, Rev. M, B. Townsend, and himself. ‘On January 22, 1911, A. J. Anderson mounted a Saw-whet Owl col- SAW-WHET OWL Photographed by T. C. Stephen-S November 21, 1913. THE SAW-WHET OWL 47 lected near Cole's Addition in Sioux City. He also mounted one col- lected in the ravines near Leeds, .Sioux City, on October 29, 1914. On March 13, 14, and 18, 1919, Weir R. Mills, of Pierson, Woodbury County, Iowa, observed a Saw- whet Owl in one of the pine trees in his yard. He wrote that he was “positively sure of my identification in this instance. And Johns saw the bird and declared there was no ques- tion about it." This record was reported by the writer in the Proceed- ings of the Iowa Academy of Science, XXVII, 1920, page 401. William Youngworth (Proc. Ia. Acad. Sci., XXXVIII, 1931, page 281) reported a Saw-whet Owl taken in Woodbury County, Iowa, on November 19, 1927, and mounted by H. S. Linn. On November 21, 1943, the writer, with a party of bird students, was exploring the woods at the “Sioux Point" near the mouth of the Big Sioux River. As we were about to leave the woods, Miss Zell C, Lee descried a small, brownish ball of feathers at the side of our path. Closer observation immediately revealed it to be a Saw-whet Owl. We were within about 10 feet of the bird when it was first seen. It was perched near the axis of a small box-elder tree, about 7 feet from the ground. The bird was fairly well protected with tangled vines and branches, at least from above and from the north. A few dead leaves helped in the partial concealment. The bird was a little drowsy at first, even when the party gathered within 6 or 7 feet. The bird appeared to have a length of 6 or 7 inches as it was bunched up in a sitting posture. Of course, there were no ear tufts. The broad rufous streaks on the under surface were very distinct in the bright light. The bill was black; the crown of the head was clearly marked with delicate white streaks— not spots — in the dark background. The black border of the facial disk, characteristic of Richardson’s Owl, was lacking. These observations are given in order to convince a skeptical reader of the correctness of our field identification. We watched the bird for a full 30 minutes, during which time we made 7 film exposures, beginning with the lens about 5 feet distant, and finally moving up to 3 feet. For the latter exposures several twigs and segments of vine within a few inches of the bird were cut away in order to get a clear camera shot. During these clearance operations the bird perked up a little, opening its eyes and following the movements of the hands. The writer has often admired the beautiful picture of the Saw-whet Owl taken in Polk County, Iowa, by Dr. H. R. Peasley, and published in the ‘Wilson Bulletin' for December, 1938. Now we can understand that even with so docile a subject as the Saw-whet Owl there is plenty of opportunity for the exercise of skill in manipulating the camera to get a good close-up picture with ordinary equipment. For the expos- ures on this occasion the writer used a Voigtlander Rangefinder Bessa with Skopar lens. The rangefinder on this camera is marked down to 3.5 feet. The writer must have been a little closer than this for the resulting pictures were slightly out of focus. The pictures taken at 5 feet, though smaller, were sharper. Before leaving, the writer touched the bird's tail just to see if it could be done. One member of the party thought the bird might be captured by hand. But for being so fearless and accommodating we allowed him to remain on his perch without further disturbance, even in spite of a desire to see him take off in flight. Mr. Peterson calls this bird a “ridiculously tame little Owl," And how true we found this to bef LIBRARIAN SERVICE. Under a new plan complete copies of papers presented by our members on the annual convention programs are filed with the Union’s Librarian, Dr. Warren Keck, Coe College, Cedar Rapids. The papers are available to any members interested in consulting them. Dr. Keck will be glad to furnish information relative to this material. 48 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIV, 1944 A REPORT ON OUR DES MOINES CONVENTION By LILLIAN SERBOUSEK Sec'y-Treas., Iowa Ornithologists' Union The 22nd annual meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union was held Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, 1944, at Des Moines. The Satur- day sessions were held in the Pioneer Room of Hotel Kirkwood, and the program opened at 1 p. m. with an address of welcome by John MacVicar, mayor of the city. Bruce F. Stiles, of the State Conserva- tion Commission, gave a response. He called on Dr. Warren N. Keck, who had been acting as President since the absence of Dr, Martin L. Grant on a mission to South America for the United States Government. Dr. Keck appointed the following committees: Nominating, Mrs, Harold R. Peasley (Chairman), Miss Esther Copp, Dr. George Hendrickson. Auditing, Chas. C. Ayres, Jr, (Chairman), Dr. Harold Ennis, Arthur Palas. Resolutions, Myrle L. Jones (Chairman), Miss R. Lucile Loban, Philip A. DuMont. Dr. Keck then turned the meeting back to Mr. Stiles, who presided for the remaining Saturday sessions. The first speaker was Jack Musgrove, museum director of the State Historical Department, Des Moines, who spoke on “Our Less Common Shore Birds”. He stated that during the latter part of the last century shore birds in this area were found in immense flocks, They were shot for the market by wagon loads for 25c a dozen, and as a larger market was built and prices rose, more men became market hunters. Fortun- ately, the shore bird season is now closed on every species. Although the Hudsonian Godwit is by no means common, the speaker witnessed a large flight of these birds in Dickinson County in May, 1942, in a small area which contained a large concentration; several hundred in- dividuals were seen in a period of three days. In Mr. Musgrove s opinion the Marbled Godwit is a rarer bird, and the Greater Yellow-legs is becoming very scarce in Iowa, but this may be a local condition. Other shore birds discussed included the Stilt Sandpiper, Upland Plover, Woodcock, Ruddy Turnstone, Northern Phalarope, Sanderling and Dowitcher. Mr. Musgrove urged all members to record in permanent form occurrences of our less common shore birds. Philip A. DuMont, of the U. S, Fish & Wildlife Service, added at the dose of this talk that the Hudsonian Godwit is considered one of the rarest birds of North America, and classed as the fifth rarest bird in the United States. He said that all notes of its migrations should be recorded. “The Value of Birds in the War Effort” was discussed by Walter W. Aitken, biologist for the State Conservation Commission. He said that birds as part of our country’s natural resources are of vital importance in the war effort, mainly by contributing to the food supply. Wild ducks, geese and upland game birds have a share and a definite value in the supply of food. But greater benefit is derived indirectly from birds, in their work of controlling the insects that would otherwise destroy our food crops. Mr, Aitken listed the species of birds that feed on several kinds of the most harmful insects and gave other examples of birds’ usefulness in agricultural states. He suggested about 15 ways to increase good bird environment and thereby increase bird population. He urged all members to interest young people in birds and to gain the attention of at least one person every four months and prevail upon him to study birds. Dr J Harold Ennis read the paper, “Birds and Plant Cover”, pre- pared by Dr. W, A. Anderson, Dept, of Botany of the University of Iowa, who was unable to be present. Dr. Ennis read that birds use plants for food and as shelter, particularly for nesting. Most song birds are known to be insect-eaters with only indirect relation to plants. Those that are plant-eaters use a variety of kinds depending on region and season. Since among our native birds there is no specialization as exists between many parasitic insects and plant hosts, the question THE DES MOINES CONVENTION 49 arises: what is then the basis for distribution of bird species? Because some ornithologists regard zones of vegetation, as explained by Mer- riam, as unsatisfactory, the present tendency is to relate bird distribu- tion to Biomes, These are natural communities of plants and animals corresponding somewhat to associations of the plant ecologist. Dr. Anderson concluded that no bird in temperate North America is wholly dependent on any one species of plant; that certain species of birds are related to their respective biome, a plant and animal association with characteristic vegetational life form; that many birds modify their habits under changed ecological conditions. The next speaker was Dr. George 0. Hendrickson, of the Dept, of Zoology and Entomology of Iowa State College. He spoke on "Bird Censusing and Its Values.” This paper has been accepted for early publication in ‘Iowa Bird! Life’, and a summary of its contents is there- fore omitted in this report. Continuing the program, Dr. Warren N. Keck of Coe College spoke on "Redmen and Birds”. He stated that if the problems of bird con- servation and the factors that have contributed to the extinction of Iowa birds are to be understood, the past must be explored and con- ditions compared with the present. One of the avenues not yet studied is the part played by birds in the life of the American Indian. Examin- ation and study of materials uncovered in village sites and burial mounds reveal that the Redman used birds for various purposes. Birds were an important source of food. The Wild Turkey and grouse were used by woodland dwellers, and the Prairie Chicken and Whooping Crane served the open prairie tribes. Certain items of clothing were made from and decorated with feathers, especially those from hawks and eagles. Symbols in ceremonies and religious activities indicate admiration and reverence for birds. Many birds were used as models for the pipes commonly found in burial mounds, and pottery utensils often reveal the influence of birds. Dr. Keek illustrated his talk with kodachrome lantern slides of extinct birds of Iowa, such as Whooping Crane, Trumpeter Swan, Eskimo Curlew, Carolina Paroquet, and Pas- senger Pigeon. He also showed slides of Indian art using the bird motif. The last speaker of the afternoon, Charles C. Ayres, Jr., told about "The Organization and Development of Bird Clubs”. He said the organization of a bird club is simple, requiring two things: 1) a group of persons interested in birds who desire to learn more about them: 2) some one who will call a meeting to organize the club. Mr. Ayres mentioned various phases of the subject including the reactions and experiences of the Ottumwa Bird Club. He discussed the Club’s con- stitution, committees, dues, meeting places, and memberships, both adult and junior. Bird club development is dependent upon three fac- tors: 1) the quality of the programs — the better the program, the larger the attendance; 2) the activities of the members, which might include field trips, bird identification, records played to acquaint mem- bers with bird songs and calls; 3) projects undertaken, such as feeding birds in winter, providing nesting quarters, sponsoring a bird refuge, securing outside lecturers. He ended his talk by calling attention to the wealth of opportunities and materials available in making present- day bird study enjoyable. The annual Iowa Ornithologists’ Union dinner was held at 6:30 p, in., Saturday, in the Pioneer Room, Hotel Kirkwood. Miss Irene M. Smith, president of the Des Moines Audubon Society, extended greetings to those present. Mr. Stiles as toastmaster introduced Charter Members and other members. Philip A. DuMont read a paper entitled "A Re- view of Ornithology in Iowa: Accomplishments and Objectives”. An outline of this paper is not given here because we hope to publish it in an early issue of 'Iowa Bird Life', In the absence of W. F. Kubichek, of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, his wife presented three reels of kodachrome moving pictures taken by him, showing Woody Island, 50 IOWA BIRD LIFE- — XIV, 1944 “Haunts of the Hunted”, and scenes at the annual convention held at Atlantic in 1941. Three field trips were scheduled for Sunday morning at 5:30, AIL terminated at the Walnut Woods State Park for one o'clock luncheon. Out-of-town members were guests of the Des Moines Audubon Society. A complete list of the species observed by the combined groups totaled 123. After luncheon a business meeting was held. The minutes of the 1943 meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer's report showed a balance of' $250.10. An expression of approval to Mrs. Frankel for preparation of the luncheon and table decorations was made. Potted specimens of wild flowers centering the tables were later distributed to the members. Dr. Keck called on the chairmen of special committees for reports, which were heard and approved. Dr. Hendrickson of the Nominating Committee submitted the list of new officers (as given on the title page of this issue), and these were elected by a unanimous ballot cast by the Secretary upon motion of the voting members. Greet- ings to the Union by telegram were sent by Drs. Frank and Mary Roberts, who were unable to attend the meeting. Since regular meet- ings are again being held, the matter of continuing the spring bird census was discussed. A favorable response for continuation was ex- pressed. Several other questions in regard to the census were referred to the Executive Committee for solution. A motion was made for ad- journment, and thus ended our second wartime convention. Resolutions, — BE IT RESOLVED by the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union, in our 22nd annual convention assembled at Des Moines, Iowa, May 13 and 14, 1944, that we hereby convey our sincere thanks to the Des Moines Audubon Society for the invitation to meet, and for the many kindnesses which have made our stay so enjoyable, and not alone for arranging all the details, but providing excellent weather as well. Be it further resolved that we commend Mr. Pierce for the continu- ation of his excellent editorship of ‘Iowa Bird Life’ and that we wish to assure him of our continued cooperation in the issuance of this magazine. Be it also resolved that we commend the State Conservation Com- mission and Jack and Mary Musgrove for their respective contributions in the newest publication on Iowa birds entitled ‘Waterfowl in Iowa’, which has been so well received, not alone by bird students here, but sportsmen and conservationists throughout the middle west. Be it finally resolved that the sympathy of our membership be ex- tended to Mr. Blosser upon the loss of his wife, Kate LaMar Blosser, who served for eight years as secretary of this Union. (Signed) The Resolutions Committee: M. L. Jones, Chairman, Miss R. Lucile Loban Philip A. DuMont Attendance Register. — AMES, Dr. Ada Hayden, Dr, and Mrs. G. 0. Hendrickson, Elizabeth Hoyt, Margaret Murley; ATLANTIC, Don C. Bice, Jr., Mrs. D. C. Bice; CEDAR RAPIDS, C. Esther Copp, Mrs. C. C. Flodin, Dr. W. N. Keck, Lillian Serbousek, Emily Steffen; CHARLES CITY, Mrs. E, J, Austin, Mrs. R. C, McCartney; DAYTON, Clarence O. Peel; DES MOINES, Jo Baumgartner, Mrs. A. J. Binsfeld, A. C. Berko- witz, Mrs. J, N. Chamberlain, Mrs. Janet DuMont, Mrs. Henry Frankel, Mrs. E. G. Gessell, Olivia McCabe, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Musgrove, Dr. and Mrs. H. R. Peasley, E. Estella Reynolds, Dwight Smith, Irene M. Smith, B. F, Stiles, Mrs. Toni Wendelburg; HAMBURG, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Jones; LAKE WAPELLO, W. W. Aitken; MT. VERNON, Dr. J. H. Ennis; OTTUMWA, Chas. C. Ayres, Jr., Marietta Eighme, Maude Norris, Pearle C. Walker; POSTVILLE, Arthur J. Palas; SIOUX CITY, Zell C. Lee; WATERLOO, Myra E. Loban, R. Lucile Loban, Hilda E. IOWA SPRING BIRD CENSUS 51 Miller, Margaret Nagel, Leta Solar; WEST DES MOINES, Mr* and Mrs* W. A. Kinnaird; EVANSTON, ILL., Philip DuMont, Mrs. W. F. Kubi- chek. Total registered, 51* THE SECOND ANNUAL IOWA SPRING BIRD CENSUS Compiled by MYRLE and MARGARET JONES The second annual Iowa spring bird census was taken at nine stations on one of three days — May 5, 6, or 7, 1944. The results are given in the following table. A description of the stations and the names of the observers follow. 1. AMES. Story Co. Iowa State College Campus and woods along Squaw Creek. May 6; 8 to 10 a.m. Mostly cloudy, cool, 10 mi. N.W. wind. 6 observers. Dr. G. 0. Hendrickson, leader; Eleanor J. Larson, Ruth McNeilly, Eleanor R. Neff, Marion J, Slater, Phyllis M. Stone. 2. ATLANTIC. Cass Co. Northeast of Atlantic adjoining the Nishnabotna River including Lamb's Lake area; Atlantic Cemetery; and Cold Springs State Park; wooded areas with brushy undergrowth and adjoining river; small shallow lake and marsh; cemetery with ever- green growth. May 7; 6 to 10:30 a.m., 4:30 to 6 p.m. Quiet and clear at dawn to cloudy and raining in p.m, Earlier conditions very favor- able. 20 observers, Atlantic Bird Club. 3. CEDAR FALLS. Black Hawk Co. Goose Lake and area of Washington Union bridge; lake area low, flat and swampy, treeless; bridge area low wooded areas on banks of Cedar River. May 5. Over- cast, snow flurries. Wind velocity about 5 m. p. h. 7 observers. Cedar Falls Audubon Society. 4. CEDAR RAPIDS. Linn Co. Ellis, Shaver, Beaver and Van Vechten Parks; Prairie Creek and south along river; Cedar Lake and Mound Farm area. May 7; 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Partly cloudy; calm to light S.W. and shifting wind. 14 observers. Hazel Cook, Esther Copp, Lavina Dragoo, Isabelle Hoyman, Dr. Warren Keck, Harry Kelley, Mr, and Mrs. Ross Lund, Tillie Prestegard, Lillian Serbousek, Emily Steffen, Virginia Slauson, lola Tillapaugh, Myra Willis (Cedar Rapids Bird Club). 5. CLARION. Wright Co, Along Boone River near Goldfield; Lake Cornelia and Elm Lakes; Clarion Evergreen Cemetery. May 7; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cloudy all day. Southwest wind, Mr. and Mrs. W, C. De- Long, Richard DeLong. 6. DES MOINES, Polk Co. Dove Woods and Rrenton Slough, along Beaver Creek, Walnut Creek, Brown’s Woods, Walnut Woods State Park, Elbert’s Farm, Charles Sing Denam Woods, Gray's Lake, Wau- konsa Park, Crocker Woods along Des Moines River. May 6; 6:00 a.m, to 8:00 p.m. Clear, no wind. Mrs. Harold R. Peasley, Field Trip Chairman; Dwight T. Smith, Mrs. Toni Wendelburg, Woodward Brown, Irene Smith, E. Estella Reynolds, Leta Reynolds, Louis Tomer, Mrs. Mable Good, Mrs, Lucy Woolery, Mrs, F. E, Lightfoot, Albert Berko- witz, Mrs. W. G. DuMont, Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain, Mrs. E. C. Gessell, Elizabeth Peck, Mrs. L. W. Haskell. (Credit for identification of Duck Hawk goes to Helen Peasley; Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Smith and Wendelburg; Acadian Flycatcher and Alder Flycatcher, Berkowitz; Black-throated Blue Warbler, Wendelburg.) 7. OTTUMWA, Wapello Co. Hamilton Park, Memorial Park, Loch Burn, Community Gardens, Rock Bluff. May 7; 6:30 a.m. to 12:30; 3 to 8:30 p.m. C. C. Ayres, leader; Maude Norris, Marietta Eighme, Pearle Walker, Mrs. J, Heffelfinger, Mrs. Glen Blome, Mrs. C. E. Burns, Geraldine Stewart, Mrs. Arthur Carlson, Mrs. Marion Crone. (Continue! on page 54) IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIV, 1944 52 A. Station Data Total Aver. 00 s < 2. Atlantic &r' fc ej Q VJ Pi R . . 0 1 0 . ,12 Teal, Blue-winged ... .8 . . .388 . .26 . . 40 . .11 . .36 . , 19 . . .1 . , ii .250 rtt 1 1 . . . 15 o 1 1 ... 4 Canvas-back 1 .1 11 . . .1 147 30 . 3 .10 ... 4 , 1 00 1 0 ♦ . .7 . 1 . , 1 Merganser, Red -breasted ... 8 . . 1 Hawk. Red-tailed ... ,4 ■ ■ .is . ... . . .1 + 2 .... . . .2 .... ... 1 j. Bob-white ... .4. ... .51 . . . 1 . .33 ... 7 . ,10 Pheasant. Ring- necked . .... 8 82 . ..i . . .4 . . .4 . . .9 , ,33 . .20 ... 7 . . .4 .... 7 .... 34 . . 17 . . .9 . . . 1 .4 . . , 1 .1 . . .1 Coot. American , . . .7 . . ,750 . 235 ... 6 .150 . 1 76 .... .... . . . . . . .1 .... 9 .... 19 , , . i 1 . . .3 | , . . 6 . . .3 . , .1 - 1 . . .2 . . . 1 . . .1 1 . . . 1 . . .2 1 • . ... 3 . , 3 , .13 ,11 1:;;: . , .1 7 . . . .1 . . . 1 - . . .1 2 1 4 1 1 . . ,3 Gull, Herring 2 ....11 o , . ,9 j. . . . i . , . i i . . . . . . , 5 . , 3 1 .... 34 j . . .1 ... 8 t , . 25 1 | . . .2 ! . . , . ... .4 1 .... 00 ... 3 1 . ,26 i , , . 30 . . 1 Dove, Mourning 8 1. . ,513 |, ,25 .100 | . .28 . .36 | .130 , .50 . .94 l - .50 IOWA SPRING BIRD CENSUS 53 B, List of Species | Total | Total 1 No. [ No. ] Stat. j Indiv. i 2 3 4 i 5 6 7 8 9 Owl, E_ Screech Owl, Great Horned . . , , ... .4 . , . . 12 . . . . . , ,3 . . .4 Owl, X. Barred . , , ,3 ... 3 ... 1 ... 4 .... 1 ... 7 . .2 . 8 , 2 Swift, Chimney 8 . ! .279 . .50 . .17 ... 8 ::ia . .12 . .85 . . 75 - * . 7 1 , , ] . 1 Kingfisher, E, Belted . , ... .8 33 — . . .3 ... 1 , . .3 . .6 ..13 ... 5 ... i . . 1 9 . 205 10 24 10 27 . . 10 68 23 31 9, Woodpecker, Red-bellied ... .8 ■ - - .31 . . 1 ... 7 .1 ... 7 Woodpecker, Redheaded u ... 113 . . .2 . ,10 . .26 ... 1 . .29 . . 12 . .25 . . . i Sapsucker, Yellow-b'd . 4 Woodpecker, E, Hairy . . . . 7 ... .30 . . .2 9 .11 ... 1 . . .5 . . 2 . . , , 8 . . . 174 7 . .40 . . .4 no . . 48 25 .13 ] 1 . , 1 0 0 . 4 9 .... 1 1 . i . .37 c ... 1 .3 T 2 . i ... .8 .... 53 ... 2 -3 . 2 10 . . ,i 1 3 9 . .13 .... 1 , , , , . 6 , , ♦ 6 .... 1 ..... 3 ... 3 Flycatcher, Alder ..... ... .1 4 ... 4 F 1 vc a tch er , Least ... .4 .... 10 .... . . .4 . . ,4 ... 1 . . 1 .... 4 15 . 5 . 4 4 Lark, Prairie Horned . 4 . ... 11 ... 4 . . .3 , . -3 . , - 1 Swallow, Tree ... 24 1 . . 6 .4 , . 4 67 .154 . 1 . . . 161 , 1 . 9 126 25 Swallow, Rough-winged .... 8 . . .233 . .10 ... 1 . .35 . . ,3 . . . 1 . . . 194 ... 6 ... 4 , . , 1 . . 11 .161 ... 8 . . .3 Swallow, X. Cliff ..... 4 . . .2 ... 1 . . r .... , , ,3 Martin, Purple ....... ... .8 . . . 250 , .20 . , .6 , .40 . 12 .152 .11 . . .7 , 2 Jay, X. Blue ......... 9 . . .387 ■10 . . 70 .16 , ,45 . . .6 . ,83 . .41 . ,84 . .32 . , , ,9 . . .217 RO . 14 45 C" 3 2 6 1 3 Chi cka d ee, B1 nek-capped .... 9 . . .384 , , .3 .90 ... 4 . ,50 . . iS .111 . .39 . . 58 . .24 . . 34 , .22 . .10 Xu thatch, White-br’ted 9 . .,117 . . .2 . , 10 . . -6 . ,24 . . .6 . .42 . . 16 . , .8 . . .3 .... 3 ..... 4 . 1 ' 1 2 ... .3 ... 6 1 4 ... .9 . . . 320 30 .4 1 7 4 152 47 47 4 .... 1 0 . . .2 Wren, Prairie Marsh . . 2 2 ... .2 .... .4 ... j ... 3 ... .2 ... 3 a .... 6 80 ... 3 ao 30 1 8 o Thrasher, Brown . . . .0 . . . 401 . ..8 , .60 . . .3 . .63 77To ; i34 . .58 . . 57 . . .8 Robin, E .... 8 . . . 727 , .50 1 15 , 108 . .22 . 203 . .96 .114 . 19 Thrush, Wood 3 .... .9 ... 1 ... 7 Thrush, Olive-backed . . ... .8 ... 1 79 ... 1 . . .2 . , .6 , .24 . . - i .112 . .24 . . .3 Thrush, Grav -cheeked . . ... .9 . , .100 ... 1 . . 15 . . ,6 . .21 _ 2 . .43 . . .8 . . .3 ... 1 Thrush. Willow ....... ... .3 .... 1 3 Bluebird, E ... .9 . . .202 ... 3 . .31 . .12 . .41 . . .3 . .73 . .17 . 11 . , .6 £ K i n glut , G ol d en ■ cro w n e d 2 8 . . . 1 , , .7 Kinglet, Ruby-crowned . ... .9 ... 1 32 15 . 15 ... 1 . .17 . .12 . .62 . , .7 . . .2 . . .1 Waxwing, Cedar , , , , 1 .... 18 ..18 Shrike, Migrant ... .3 Starling . . .... 8 ... 193 . 8 16 43 16 - , .8 - , .8 Viren, Yellow -throated . ... .2 4 .1 . . .3 Vireo, Blue-headed .... ... .4 11 ... 2 ... 6 , . 1 Vi re-o, Tied-eved ... .3 9 ? Vireo, Philadelphia .... 3 10 9 , . .3 ... 5 Vireo, Warbling ...... ... .4 7 Warbler, Black & White ... .8 ... .42 . . .2 ..it . , .2 . . .5 . .16 . . .1 . . .4 . , . 1 Warbler, Prothonotarv , .... Warbler, Bine-winged . - ... .1 6 .... Warbler, Tennessee ... .... 4 20 . . .1 . . 12 . . ,4 ... 3 W a r hi er, 0 r a n g e-c r 1 n ed . . , . 5 . . .6 .... 32 ... 1 ... 1 .9 6 i a Warbler. E. Yellow , . . ... .7 . . . 132 ... 1 ' " 68 . .24 ' ' i 8 1 Warbler, Magnolia .... ... .1 5 Warbler, Bl'k-th'd Bine .1 1 9 . . R68 ] 5 , , 51 200 110 , .12 -311 . .19 80 70 Warbler, Bl'k-ih’d Green ... .2 0 ... 1 W arbl er , B1 a ckbu r n i a n .. . 1 ..... 1 a 3 Warbler, Black-poll . . . ... , 4 a Warbler, W. Palm .... 6 ... 94 .... .... , , ,6 . .41 ... 7 . -26 . .12 . . .2 54 IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIV, 1944 B. List of Species Total 1 ] Stat. Total 1 N T 0- | Indiv. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 7 8 9 4 17] . . .1 . . 10 Yellow-throat. Northern . . . .8 ... .43 . . -I O . . .3 . . ,1 . .36 . 2 , , .2 2 1 . . . 8 . ,11 . . .2 Sparrow, English. . . . .9 . .1183 . .20 .ISO . . 15 .175 . .49 .549 . .50 . .91 . .84 Meadowlark, E . . . .7 . . . 10 1 , 10 . . . s . . 15 . .45 . . 11 . 14 . . .1 Meadowlark. W 8 83 . .10 ... 5 . .15 . . ,6 . . 19 . , ,8 . , 17 , , .3 Blackbird, Yellow-head r . . . .3 . . . ,21 . ,15 . . „ 5 . . .1 Blackbird, Red-winged ... .9 . . 1076 . . .3 . ioo .200 . 108 .300 . 156 . .68 . .21 .120 Oriole, Baltimore 5 ... .41 . . .4 . . .1 . .it . .23 . . .2 Blackbird. Rusty ... 1 .... ,4 . .4 Grackle, Bronzed ... .9 ...GU . . .4 . .50 . .20 . 125 . 102 . 154 . .48 . .4i . . 67 . so . .40 , . 15 . .37 . . .3 .103 . .47 . . 67 , .23 9 Cardinal E. , 8 . . .264 . . .8 . .15 . . ,8 : . ,33 , 122 . .25 . .36 . .17 n . . . 126 l 32 . .26 3 37 ... 7 , . 14 . . 16 9. a 4 g bo . .20 ’ r . 290 . .35 . .25 . .16 .147 . . 30 . . 15 . ,22 Towhee, Red-eved ... .7 .... 71 . . .3 , . , 1 . .15 - - 19 . . 11 . . 10 . . .6 3 i n 9. o. ft . . .3 Sparrow, E. Lark .... ... .4 . , , .24 ... 1 1 , , .5 Sparrow, E. Chipping: . . . . . 0 . . , .89 . .10 . .10 . . 12 . .14 ... 8 . . 19 . . 15 . . .1 3 2 3 . . 1 <5 I . . . 3 ... 4 , . . 146 , .29 , . 16 . .48 . ,36 . .10 ... 5 4 . .70 . .20 . .43 R 1 ■ 3 9 . . 14 ,. 3 . . .4 . 2 2 i . . . . . . . . . . .3 Spa r r o w , Wh i t e- 1 h r oa ted r . , , 8 . . .246 1 . .20 . 27 . . 50 . .04 .13 . .44 . .16 . .13 9 . . . 1 L . . . . ,0 ' . . .3 . . .9 . .12 . . .8 •y . . .4 ..11 Sparrow, Song ....... . \ . .9 | ... .86 . .10 L-5 . . .3 . . 19 | . , .3 . .34 . , .9 , . . 1 ... 2 8. SIOUX CITY. Woodbury Co. Brower's Lake, War Eagle's Monument Park, along confluence of Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers, lower Riverside, upper Riverside to Stone Park, Plum Creek territory, Logan Park. Topography; hill woodland, deciduous virgin timber land, 50%; lake and river country, 25%; open hill and lowland, 25%. May 7; 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mr. and Mrs, W. J. Armour, Edna Brower, Don Bushar, Esther Freiert, Carl Fritzsche, R. D. Hissong, Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Lambert, H. B. Lloyd, Monte Lloyd, Charlotte Osborne, Ruth Sampson, Gertrude Weaver, Carl Wellhausen, Zell C. Lee. 9. WAUBONSIE STATE PARK. Fremont Co. Loess bluffs, Mis- souri bottomlands and along Nishnabotna River. May 6; 8:30 a.m. to 12:30; 1 to 7 p.m. Clear all day; chill wind, Mr. and Mrs. M, L. Jones. GENERAL NOTES Notes from Marble Rock. — Looking over my list of 127 birds seen between the first day of January and the last day of May, 1944, I find several that have been of special interest to me. I saw my first Wood Thrush on May 3. On the evening of May 1 we were thrilled by the song of a Whip-poor-will. The Lapland Longspurs were here this spring as usual. On February 25 I saw nine Bluebirds. I enjoyed a pair of Purple Finches on April 24, Among many interesting birds seen, I recorded 15 species of warblers and 16 of sparrows. — PEARL KNOOP, Marble Rock, Iowa, GENERAL NOTES 55 Cinnamon Teal at Black Hawk Lake. — Conservation Officer C, C. Lille reported a Cinnamon Teal feeding on Black Hawk Lake, Sac County, Iowa, during the latter part of March and first part of April, 1943. The Cinnamon Teal, as its name suggests, is a beautiful reddish brown color and is rarely reported in Iowa. The bird was in company with a male Blue-winged Teal and was exceptionally tame. It was approached very closely by several observers, including Everett Speaker, Supt, of Fisheries for the State Conservation Commission, and L. D. Wright, Fisheries Supervisor at Lake View. — JAMES R. HARLAN, State Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. Fall Records of the Golden Plover, — On October 16 and 17, 1943, I observed a flock of about 20 Golden Plovers feeding in a plowed field near Walford, about 12 miles southwest of Cedar Rapids. It was in this same field that a larger flock of the same species stopped on April 22, 1943. Fall records of the Golden Plover are very rare in the Cedar Rapids area. According to Roberts, in ‘Birds of Minnesota’, since about 1919 there has been an evident increase in the numbers of spring and fall migrants of this bird. Fall records through the Mississippi Valley prove that not all Golden Plovers follow the well-known fall migration route which is eastward to Labrador and Newfoundland and then to South America over the Atlantic Ocean. Some ornithologists contend that the young birds come south through the interior, and the eastern course followed by the old birds is a newer development. Probably most of the birds passing through Alberta and Minnesota are young Golden Plovers. I am much interested in this problem and 1 wish that other observers would send me their fall records of the Golden Plover in the Mississippi Valley. — LILLIAN SERBOUSEK, 1226 Second St., S. W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. GOLDEN 1 PLOVER (FALL PLUMAGE) From a drawing by E. W. Steffen. IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIV, 1944 50 Unusually Heavy 1944 Spring Duck Flight. — State conservation offi- cers reported that one of the heaviest spring duck flights in recent years occurred in 1944, and the estimated 150,000,000 waterfowl that migrated south the previous fall returned in the spring in apparently undiminished numbers. Heaviest spring flights were up the Mississippi and Missouri River valleys. However, practically all inland streams played host to the travelers, and hundreds of thousands of ducks in brilliant spring plumage rested on the major lakes. Observers reported an unusual abundance of Pintails in the Missouri River valley, and al- though the Blue and Snow Goose flight was heavy, from a spectators' standpoint it was not as good as during past seasons. The geese that normally concentrated in tremendous numbers on the Missouri flats for three and even four weeks feeding on waste grain were constantly dispersed by practicing four-motor bomber planes, of which they showed great fear. The passage of bombers even three miles distant was enough to send the concentrations of geese into wild milling and confused flight. JAMES R- HARLAN, State Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa, Summer Tanager and Other Birds at Ottumwa. On April 30, 1944, while on a bird hike through a wooded section in Ottumwa, our party of five saw a Summer Tanager. It was studied at length with binoculars and there was no question as to identification. The color, shape and size would have identified the bird, while the lack of pink bill, crest, black face and long tail would have prevented anyone from calling it a Cardinal; besides that, the color was different. I had seen the Summer Tanager in Illinois and was familiar with the bird, but it was certainly a pleasant surprise to find it here. The Scarlet Tanager has been seen in this locality. Return visits to the locality did not reveal the Summer Tanager, so perhaps it was a lone straggler. Last year a teacher who is a member of our bird club reported that one of her students had seen an all-red bird which did not have a crest or black face; the student was familiar with the Cardinal and insisted it was not that bird. On the same day, April 30, while hiking along in the mud resulting from the overflow of the Des Moines River, we located a Prothonotary Warbler. This was the first I had seen in the Ottumwa area, and made a nice addition to our list. We also found the Carolina Wren, and the Mockingbird was back in its usual haunts approximately a mile south 0 f town.— CHARLES C. AYRES, JR., Ottumwa, Iowa. Bird Notes from the Upper Missouri Valley in 1939. The Upland Plover is being found less frequently on each succeeding trip through this area, and during 1939 and on one trip of 2100 miles by car, we saw this species only a few times. The breaking-up of the virgin prairie is the primary factor in the decrease of this fine bird. Prairie fires, drought and over-pasturing have about completed the job of decimi- nation. Say’s Phoebe was reported by Norman Wood as m the western part of North Dakota, but during migration the species seems to come as far east as the Missouri River in Nebraska. During July of 1939, I found it in Burleigh, Sheridan and McHenry Counties in the middle of the state of North Dakota, and near Cando, Towner County, which is to- ward the northeast part of the state. Say’s Phoebe is another species which is definitely moving its range eastward. Because of its nesting habits, it is not dying out as are Sprague's Pipit and Baird’s Sparrow, These latter two were found in Towner County on this 1939 trip. The Red-shafted Flicker was found near Granville. McHenry County, which Tio doubt indicates breeding in north central North Dakota, as Russell Reid has found it nesting at Bismark. The surprise record was the finding of a family of Red-bellied Woodpeckers near Mandan. Morton County, North Dakota. This species is not rare along the Missouri River in Nebraska, Iowa, or South Dakota, and stragglers evidently GENERAL NOTES Of followed the river up into North Dakota. Only one Prairie Falcon was seen on the trip and that was near the town of Webster, Day County, South Dakota. A few Ruffed Grouse were seen in the Turtle Mountains, but the markings of these birds were more brownish than gray. In Minnesota we were especially interested in the eastward spread of the Arkansas Kingbird, which we found near Greenbush and Roseau, Roseau County, and near Raudette, Lake of the Woods County. — -WM. YOUNGWORTH, Sioux City, Iowa. Observations in Western Iowa. — I had a most pleasant experience last summer with Omaha, Nebraska, bird students. Through the cour- tesy of Mr. L. 0. Horsky of the Omaha Nature Study Club and Dr, Charles Stewart of the Fontenelle Forest Association, an impromptu gathering of some of the members of the Club took place on June 17, 1943. A trip was made across the Missouri River to the sand flats on the Iowa shore near Council Bluffs where a colony of Piping Plovers had been under observation. A goodly number of these birds was seen flying over the sand. Of special interest was the distinctive call, a reed-like “piping", from Avhich this species derives its name. A careful search of the sand flats finally revealed five nests of this plover. The nest consisted solely of a slight depression in the sand with three or four eggs. One newly-hatched nest of Killdeers was also found. The party was joined by Dr. R, Allyn Moser, whose article in the July- December, 1942, issue of ‘Nebraska Bird Review’ submits evidence that this particular colony represents an unrecognized subspecies of the Piping Plover. PIPING PLOVER From a drawing by E. "VY. Steffen. No other unusual species of birds were observed on this trip, al- though on the previous day I saw both the Kentucky Warbler and the Carolina Wren south of Omaha in the Fontenelle Forest. Late in the night of June 17, Dr. Stewart escorted me deep into the Fontenelle Forest where an elaborate chorus of Whip-poor-wills with bass accom- paniment by Barred Owls was heard. — J. HAROLD ENNIS, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 58 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XIV, 1944 Prairie Chicken’s Nest Found in Wayne County. Robert Henderson, a farmer living three miles southwest of Seymour, discovered a Prairie Chicken’s nest on May 25, 1944, while plowing. The conservation- minded farmer called Game Warden J. C. Graham in the hope that the nest could be salvaged and the young released to the wild. When the officer arrived, part of the young chickens had already hatched, and within a few minutes 14 of ~ the young birds were investigating their new world. The young Prairie Chickens almost immediately left the nest and presumably were found by their mother. ^JAMES R. HAR- LAN, State Conservation Commission, Dos Moines, Iowa. GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT Members and Friends: It is a happy privilege to have this opportunity to send a few words of appreciation to the officers, members and friends of the Iowa Ornith- ologists’ Union. First, I am grateful for your confidence in electing me as one of your officers. Every effort will be made to merit that confidence. _ . . In the second place, it is hoped that we may all become better ac- quainted with one another through our organization. My interest in bird study through 20 years has convinced me that ornithologists, by and large, are a mighty fine group of folks. The good fellow- ship developed through this com- mon interest is sufficient reason, if a reason is needed, for our State society. The Iowa Ornithologists' Union, however, is more than a group of people with the same focus of in- terest. The Union has the oppor- tunity to make some contribution, small though it may be, both to scientific knowledge and to con- servation of our native birds. The extent of that contribution, more- over, depends quite directly on our members- — on you! In keep- ing with this opportunity, you are urged to send any significant ob- servations on bird life to Fred Pierce. Our Editor has quietly and faithfully built up a quarterly journal of which we are justly proud. Let us cooperate with him in order that Towa Bird Life’ may continue to be an interesting and valuable publication. It is urged, too, that you give some consideration to the expan- sion of our membership. Are there not several of your friends who would enjoy belonging to this Iowa organization? Your president is concerned that the Iowa Ornithologists' Union may develop as well balanced a program as is possible, bearing in mind that bird study is a leisure-time activity with most of us. What, then, should we promote as a program? The following proposed objectives listed by Philip A. DuMont of the Fish and Wild Life Service in his splendid address before our last annual PR. J. H. ENNIS President of Iowa Ornithologists* Union; professor of sociology at Cornell College, 111. Vernon ; mediator for the War Labor Board ; popular lecturer : good ornitholo- gist ; worker with boys’ groups and engaged in various other activities. RECENT BIRD BOOKS 59 meeting well merit our consideration. Will you read these over care- fully and write me your opinion regarding the ones that you think we should promote? Sincerely, J, HAROLD ENNIS DuMont's Proposed Objectives for the Iowa Ornithologists* Union: 1. Publication of a bibliography on Iowa ornithology. 2. Inaugurate Breeding Bird Censuses on a state-wide basis. 3. Continue and expand the Christmas Bird Counts and continue their publication in tabular form in ‘Iowa Bird Life’, 4. Continue and expand the Iowa Spring Bird Count. 5. Encourage the publication of local lists in all possible ways. G. Enlist more cooperators in furnishing migration data for the Fish and Wildlife Service distribution files. 7, Begin now to prepare as a bird-banding co operator. 8. Expand the library project (Iowa Bird Life, 12, p. 24) to serve as a depository for gifts of books, pamphlets, reprints, letters, bird notes, and photographs of Iowa bird students, ii. Consider the establishment of a photograph salon with the prize- winning photos to be added each year. The collection, as it accumu- lates, might be loaned for showings over the slate. 10. Encourage the establishment of local bird clubs, with an affili- ation arrangement whereby the clubs’ reports might be published in ‘Iowa Bird Life’, as is done now. Benefits to the clubs should be through the supplying of lists of recommended books, films, speakers, infor- mation on good birding areas, bird collections, and local bird lists. En- couragement might be given by supplying sample programs for the year’s meetings, field trips, and a constitution. 11. Preparation of an ornithological history of Iowa. The one written by Prof, Swenk for Nebraska is a good model. 12. Preparation of a report on the Iowa Cooperative Wildlife Re- search Unit and a bibliography on publications resulting from its work, 13. Endeavor to establish a depository for record specimens as was outlined in my article 'The Role of tho Accidental or Straggling Species of Birds in Iowa', which appeared in Iowa Bird Life, 5, pp. 8-9. 14. Continue the close cooperation with the State Conservation Commission, know your local conservation officer, enlist him as a speaker, or assist him with local meetings, and voice an opinion with respect to the season’s regulations. RECENT BIRD BOOKS STUDIES IN THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE SONG SPARROW II, by Margaret Morse Nice (Vol. VI, Trans. Linnaean Society of New York, Sept., 1943; wrappers, pp. i-viii -f 1-328, with 1 pi. '& 7 figs.; price, $2). Our space for book reviews in this issue is very limited, but we wish to call attention to the second volume of Mrs. Nice’s study of the Song Sparrow, the first volume of which was published in 1937. The begin- ner in bird study may shy from this book because of its technical, for- bidding appearance; but it is probably the most important treatise on bird behavior of the present generation and should not he overlooked. The book represents years of intense work in field and laboratory, with no detail of scientific fact intentionally overlooked — a very elaborate work on the behavior of passerine birds with the Song Sparrow as the most-studied example. The plan of the book is a very broad one in which the fledgling Song Sparrow begins life and moves along through the various stages until complete maturity. The behavior of the bird at all periods is stressed and the author writes interestingly of her experiences and field studies, taking up in turn innate and learned behavior in the young bird, the course of development in passerine birds, and the habits of ’the young IOWA BIRD LIFE — XIV, 1944 GO bird after independence. Three chapters devoted to song - are among the best in the book, and demonstrate what may be done by intensive field observation. Twenty-one different vocalizations, from song to call notes, are listed for the Song Sparrow. A foremost investigator in the field of “territory" in bird life, Mrs, Nice goes into this subject thor- oughly. This is interesting reading but it must be taken slowly. The studies in the behavior of young birds will be attractive to many readers. Mrs. Nice raised numerous young birds by band, and by keep- ing them for careful observation she arrived at many of her conclusions concerning bird behavior. Although the Song Sparrow is the central character, the activities of several other passerines where they have bearing are included. There are five sections in the appendix, a bibli- ography and an index. We believe this exhaustive treatise will be the base from which students of bird behavior will necessarily begin their work in the future. The Linnaean Society advises us that Vol. I is still available from their office at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, at 75c a copy.— F, J. P. MEMBERSHIP NEWS E. W. Steffen of Cedar Rapids, lectured March 28 at Cornell College before a group of students, faculty, and townspeople on the subject, 11 A Bird’s-eye View of Bird Art in America." After describing in a very interesting fashion the development of the work of bird artists from Audubon to the present day, he displayed a number of his own fine paintings. After the program 50 of Mr. Steffen’s paintings were left for a seven-day exhibit in Exhibition Hall in the Fine Arts Build- ing. Considerable* interest was shown in the splendid work of this Iowa artist. Our Vice-President, Charles Ayres, made a business trip to Denver, Colorado, in July. While there he had time for three bird trips with Alfred Bailey and Robert Neidrach. One of the interesting experiences on these mountain trips was the finding of the nest of the American Pipit with one young in the nest. The nest was located on the top of the Continental Divide, 12,000 feet altitude. They photographed the Black-eared Nuthatch, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rocky Mountain Bluebird and Batehelder’s Woodpecker. Mr. Ayres added over 50 new birds to his Life List. Dr. Martin L. Grant, our President last year, is now on a mission for the United States Government in Colombia, South America. As a pro- fessional botanist, part of his work is searching for cinchona trees. He arrived at Bogota on April 9, and Mrs. Grant and the two children made a trip by airliner and joined him in June. They established their home in the city and expect to remain there for some time. In a letter to the Editor, Dr. Grant says, in part; “My work has certainly kept me busy. With headquarters at Bogota, I go out in the mountains by pack train for one or two weeks at a time. The life is rugged, and I’m studying and collecting plants most of the time. I do get a little time to look at the birds. So far, I’ve collected only one, a toucan, A number of familiar birds are here; Sparrow Hawk, Swallow-tailed Kite (very common), Meadowlark, Mockingbird, House Wren, etc. (no English Sparrows). And I’ve seen some I’d met before, such as the Man-o’-War Bird. Many new birds are very puzzling. For instance, there are in this country about 160 forms each of tana- gers and hummingbirds, and almost as many flycatcher’s. We have seen some beautiful trogans, parrots, etc." Our present issue is crowded, but we hope to include the renorts of our local Iowa bird clubs in the next issue. The Editor would like to remind these local clubs to send him their reports on the year’s activi- ties, about November 1st, in time for inclusion in the December number. j AMONG THE FINEST The backbone of every good ornithological library is its \ State bird books. We have obtained a number of important regional bird books for our stock. Every one of these is an i j exceptional work and well worth owning. All are new, un- j ! opened copies, bound in library buckram. P. M. Bailey: BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO, 1928. 831 pages, | 79 pis., 136 figs., 60 maps. $ 5.20 j Thos. S. Roberts: LOGBOOK OF MINNESOTA BIRD LIFE, | 1917 - 1937. Detailed records of 20 years* observations. 367 pages, illus. Autographed by the author. $2.10 j Witmer Stone: BIRD STUDIES AT OLD CAPE MAY, 1937. ) j 2 vols. 955 pages, 119 pis. & text figs, unnumbered. Only i j 1400 sets of this magnificent work were printed. $ 7.15 I W. E. C. Todd: BIRDS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, 1940. 725 pages, 22 col. pis. by Sutton. $5.30 | OTHER BIRD BOOKS OF QUALITY - - - i MaA. Commons: THE LOG OF TANAGER HILL, 1938. 260, 13 pis, A full-length book on bird banding. $ 1.85 F.& J. Craighead: HAWKS IN THE HAND, 1939. 302 pages, 57 photos. A book of adventures in photography and falconry. (Pub. at $3.50) $2.10 Herbert Friedmann: THE COWBIRDS, A Study in the Biol- ogy of Social Parasitism, 1929. 438 pages, 29 pis., 13 figs. (Pub. at $ 6) $ 2.60 ! M. M. Nice: THE WATCHER AT THE NEST, 1939. 167 pages, illus. $ 1.60 Prices include postage. In Iowa add 2% for sales tax. <*3oliitay (Sifts Books on Natural History subjects make excellent \ holiday gifts. Let us help you select suitable books j for the occasion, A long experience and good stock are at your service. FRED J, PIERCE DEALER IN NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS WINTHROP, IOWA Supplement to Towa Bird Life,' September, 1944