IOWA BIRD LIFE PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION VOL. XX JUNE. 1 9 n 0 NO. 2 OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION \ President— Ralph W. Johnson, Ames, Iowa \ Vice-President — John Paul Moore, Newton, Iowa \ Sec’y-Treas. — Miss Lillian Serbousek, 1226 Second St. S.W„ Cedar Rapids, Iowa 'i Librarian— Dr. J. Harold Ennis, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa -- Editor — Fred J. Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa j Executive Council; ? Fred T. Hall. Davenport, Iowa 3 George E, Crossley, Farley, Iowa ; Mrs, Myrie L. Jones, Boone, Iowa The Iowa Ornithologists’ Union was organized at Ames, Iowa. February 28, 1923. for the study and protection of native birds and to promote fraternal re- lations am ng Iowa bird students. The central design of the Union's official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, desig- nated State Bird of Iowa in 1933 Publications of the Union: Mimeographed letters, 1923-1928: ‘The Bulletin.' 1929 19311 : 'Iowa Bird Life.’ beginning 1931, SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $100 a year. Single copies 25c each. \ Subscription to the magazine is included in all paid memberships, {■ of which there are four classes, as follows: Contributing Mem- =; ber, $10.00 a year; Supporting Member, $3.00 a year; Regular Mem- \ ber, $1.00 a year; Junior Member (under 16 years of age), 50c a year. EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE WINTHROP, IOWA Entered as second-class matter February 9, 1932, at the post office at Winthrop, Iowa, under the Act of March 3, 1879. IOWA BIRD LIFE— XX, 1950 34 NESTING DOVES IN IOWA 1 By WALTER ROSENE, JR. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, GADSDE^, ALABAMA The Mourning Dove ( Xenaidura mat roura) is an important game bird of the Southeastern states. The increasing interest in its ecology and manage- ment has revealed problems peculiar to this species. In large measure, doves are produced in the North and harvested in the South. Nesting habits of this species have been investigated by several people, in different parts of the United States. McClure <1942, 1943, 1944 1 made an exhaustive study in southwestern Iowa, where the topography is rolling with much of the bottomland in hardwood timber, and another in central Nebraska 0946) on river bottoms. Monk (1949) made his observations around Nashville, Tennessee. Pearson and Moore 0939) and Moore and Pearson 0941) carried out their field work in Alabama where approximately half the land is in cultivation and the woodland consists of pines and hardwoods. Nice <1922, 1923) conducted her studies in Oklahoma, where dominate trees were elms and locusts. Other published material consists of brief notes.ob- servations on only a few nests, and abstracts of previous publications. The work here reported was done in the vicinity of Ogden and Ames, in central Iowa. The topography of the region is level, broken only by streams along which are found a few native hardwoods. The object of the investigation was to gather information on nesting habits of the dove and to determine preferred nesting sites. Data were gath- ered in 1936 in a manner similar to other nesting investigations, which should make the results comparable to previously published records. However, in this area tree species available as nesting sites were different from any as- sociation previously reported on, and for this reason the observations are being published even though field work was done 13 years ago. Nest-hunting was confined to a portion of the campus of low'a State College, the city of Ogden, and level agricultural lands in the immediate vicinity of each. In these locations trees grow only in towns, around farm- houses and along streams. This portion of Iowa has small towns dotted over the landscape 8-10 miles apart. Rural land is divided into farms and a high percentage is under cultivation. Native trees on this glaciated plain are deciduous. Introduced species mixed with native stock, have been planted around houses for shade and windbreaks The most common trees are silver maple (Acer saccharinum) , boxelderC.4, A 'ey undo}, white elm (t 'Units americana)* red elm (£/. fulva) and apple (Pyrus malus), The only conifers found in any numbers are those growing around dwellings. Observations were made from January to June and 40 nests were found. All types of agricultural and urban habitat were traversed. Eight nests were found in the country and 32 were built in town in the vicinity of build- ings. The first was located April 10 and the last May 27. Conifers held 33 ( 82.5 percent). Thirteen were in red cedars (Juniperus virginiana), 14 in Austrian pines iPinigra austriaca), 5 in Scotch pines (Pinus sylvestris), and 1 in a white pine (Pinus sirobus ). One each was found in apple, white elm, boxelder, and white oak ( Ouercus alba). Two nests were on the ground and one was in a wisteria vine (Wisteria sp.) on the side of a house. Doves were gregarious in two locations, both in town. Two vacant lots separated by an alley and situated between two houses held one colony. One of the two lots contained 9 trees: 4 Austrain pines, 2 Scotch pines, 2 apples, 1 The field worlc for this paper was dine in 1936 as a graduate student nt Iowa State College under the direction of Dr. Geo. O. Hendrickson, Associate Professor, Department of Zoology and Entomology. NESTING DOVES IN IOWA and 1 mulberry {Morns sp.U This lot was l2Q feet wide and 132 feet deep. A family dwelling joined it to the south. One of the Scotch pines had 3 nests and the other 2 nests, A single Austrian pine held 10 nests. On the other lot, across the alley and north. 4 nests were found: 1 in a red cedar and 3 in an Austrian pine. The other house joined this lot to the north, The pine that held 10 nests was 100 feet from the residence. The lowest nest in this tree was 10 feet from the ground and the highest 22 feet 8 inches. Nests seemed to be placed at random throughout the tree. Three nests were on one limb with its branches and spaced 7, and 8 feet apart, For 5 consecutive days beginning May 20 there were 8 active nests in this tree. A tree in the adjoining lot had 2 active nests during this same interval. On May 24 there were 14 active nests in this colony. The other colony was found on the campus of Iowa State College in a clump of 51 red cedars southeast of the Agricultural Annex building. This clump covered a quarter-acre and trees averaged 9 feet in height. Eleven nests w'ere found here but in no instance did a single tree contain more than one nest. In this colony the peak of the nesting activity occurred in a 4-day period from May 12-16 when there were 9 active nests. Based on the number of tree species, McClure (1943) found a preference for elms and conifers as nesting sites. He also found single trees that contained several nests. Nice <1922. 1923) reported more nests in elms and locusts than other tree species but did not list numbers of trees available. Each observer studied nesting colonies of doves. Nests which occurred singly varied in altitude from ground level to 20 feet 6 inches above the ground, The average height of all nests ob- served was 12 feet. They were found from 3 feet 6 inches to 29 feet 9 inches, or an average of 15 feet 4 inches from the tops of the trees On the limbs they were located from the trunk out to 15 feet with the average distance 5 feet 3 inches. Grackles nested in the immediate vicinity. Dove nests were 4, 6. 8. and 27 feet from grackle nests. However, during these observations this species did not molest the doves. THE MOURNING DOVE IS ONE OF IOWA'S TAMEST I1IRDS Photograph taken May 15, 1924, by W. M. Rosene near a residence in Ojfrlen, Iowa. 36 IOWA BIRD LIFE — XX, 1950 When a nest was found under construction, or with only one egg and the second was laid the morning of the following day, it was possible to check the incubation period. Of 11 nests in this category the incubation period was 15 days. When both eggs were fertile, they always hatched on successive days and usually in the morning. The young remained in the nest, attended by the adults, from 12 to 15 days. In 5 nests a second brood was attempted. Of these, one was known to be successful for both broods. Two were successful for one brood but the other was destroyed- Two additional nests were successful for the first brood, but data were not complete on the second. The time the nest was vacant varied from 3 to 7 days. Very little or no construction work was done on the nest for the second brood. As adult doves were not marked, it was not known whether the second attempt in the same nest was made by the first breeding pair. More than the normal 2 eggs were found in 6 nests. Two of the nests contained 4 eggs at one time and in 2 other nests 3 eggs were present. Two nests were found, each with 2 eggs that hatched, with the third egg de- posited the third and fourth day after the young appeared. Of these 6 nests, none hatched more than 2 young. Nests with more than the normal number of eggs, or eggs and young, were found in locations where doves were gregarious. The dove prefers to perch on a wire or in a tree having exposed limbs, and in both of these colonies either telephone or electric lines ran close to the clumps of trees. Other places appeared to be suitable for such a colony but there were no wires nearby. Developing perches around a clump of conifers might be an effective means of improving a breeding site. Thirty-seven of the 40 nests contained eggs. In three of them females failed to lay. As a second brood was attempted in 5 nests, there were 42 clutches of eggs. Six nests had more than the normal number of eggs. In all, 88 eggs were laid, 43 hatched, and 33 young left the nests (37 percent of the eggs laid). Of the 45 nesting attempts, 17 (38 percent) were successful, 22 (49 per- cent) were failures and 6 (13 percent) were not checked to completion. SUMMARY Nesting of the Mourning Dove was studied in the vicinity of Ogden and Ames, Iowa, from January to June, 1936. The first nest was found April 10. Conifers with horizontal branches were a preferred nesting site. Trees of medium size, in clumps, were favored. The average height of all nests observed was 12 feet. The average distance from the trunk was 5 feet 3 inches, The incubation period for 11 nests was 15 days. More than the normal two eggs were found in six nests. However, none of these hatched more than two young. Doves were gregarious in two loca- tions, In one colony, an Austrian pine held 10 nests, 8 of which were active at one time. This colony had a total of 19 nests. The other colony in a cedar grove had 11 nests in separate trees. Some nests were used for a second clutch of eggs. A total of 40 nests was found with 42 clutches of eggs. In all. 88 eggs were laid, 43 hatched and 33 young left the nests. Forty-five nesting attempts were made. Seventeen (38 percent) were successful, LITERATURE CITED Knappen, Pheobe. 1938. Preliminary report on some of the important foods of the Mourning Dove in the southeastern U.S. Trans, Third N r A. Wildl. Conf. 3:776-781. Lincoln, Frederick C, 1945, The Mourning Dove as a game bird. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cir, 10:1-8, ANOTHER LOOK AT SUESPEC1ES Of McClure, H. Elliott. 1939. Cooing activity and censusing of the Mourning Dove, Journ. Wildl. Mgt. 3:323-328, — , 1942, Mourning Dove production in southwestern Iowa. Auk, 59:64-75. — . 1943, Ecology and management of the Mourning Dove in Cass County, Iowa. Iowa Agr, Exp, Sta. Res. Bui. 310:356-413, — . 1S44, The effect of tree removal on a Mourning Dove population. Auk, 61:560-563, — . 1946, Mourning Doves in Nebraska and the West. Auk, 63:24-42. Monk, Harry C. 1949. Nesting of the Mourning Dove at Nashville. The Mi- grant, 20:1-9. Moore, George C, and Allen M, Pearson. 1941, The Mourning Dove in Ala- bama, Alabama Dept, Cons. Bui. 36 pages. Nice, Margaret Morse. 1921. Nests of Mourning Doves with three young. The Condor, 23:145-147. — . 1922-23. A study of the nesting of Mourning Doves. Auk. 39:457-474; con- tinued in 40:37-58, Pearson. Allen M. and George C, Moore. 1939. Nesting habits of the Mourning Dove in Alabama. Trans. Fourth N. A. Wildl. Conf. 4:468-473. — . 1939. Mourning Dove nesting habits in Alabama, Alabama Game and Fish News. Dec. 1939, Pearson, Allen M. and Walter Rosene, Jr. 1938. Observations on the breeding season of the Mourning Dove in the South. Trans. Third N.A, Wildl, Conf. 3:865-868, Rosene, Walter, Jr. 1939, A preliminary investigation of the food habits of the Mourning Dove in Alabama. Fish and Wildlife Service, Res. and Manag. Leaflet BS-133 (mimeo.) 9 pages. Snyder. L, L. 1923. The Mourning Dove at Panora, Iowa. Auk, 40:240-244. ANOTHER LOOK AT SUBSPECIES By WILLIAM A. LUNK University of Michigan ANN ARUOR. ^ICH. I enjoyed reading William Youngworth’s well- written article in the De- cember (1949) issue of “Iowa Bird Life,” entitled “The Matter of Subspecies: A Protest by a Field Student of Birds,” It will have meaning for many a confused bird-watcher — as it calls to mind numerous frustrating moments of my own experience. But I could not read this paper thoughtfully without feeling that there is more to be said, that it has failed somehow to come quite to the point. It is apparent that the author does not write as a beginner, but as a man with years of field experience, including some collecting and some serious study of speciation problems. Yet it is far from clear what he is suggesting, against whom his “protest” is directed, and what remedy he proposes for the unfortunate situation described. As another field student with a few less years of experience (considering himself as somewhere be- tween the bird-watcher and the professional ornithologist in status, and as a nature lover in either case), let me ask: Is this a matter to be corrected in the writings of “experts, taxonomists, scientists, and what have you”, or one that might better be rectified in the minds and notebooks of the field stu- dents and bird-watchers themselves? Before starting to revise our whole modern system of taxonomy and nomenclature, let us look a little further into the matter. The example of the Blue Jay in the Missouri River valley, if I may bor- row it, will serve as well as any. Our tyro has gone out, very probably with Petersons admirable “Field Guide” or another handbook, and identified this 38 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XX. 1950 bird as such. All right, let him list it as a Blue Jay; it is Quite proper that he do so. Who, after all. is really suggesting that he do anything else. Cer- tainly Peterson (especially in the arrangement of his most recent edition) does not encourage it; I am sure Griscom would not recommend that he try. We are told that the taxonomist who split up the species could not identify this bird subspecifically either. Of course he couldn't, in or near a zone of intergradation! Nor can we imagine why he would attempt to, except possibly for his own enjoyment at the moment. The recording of the sight observation of the species, with accurate date and locality, is sufficient; and given these data a taxonomist 50 years later and 1000 miles away can make just as good (and perhaps far better) guesses as to the subspecific identity of the bird seen. The beginner should carry the record in his note book or card-file simply under the heading “Blue Jay", or " Cyanodtta cristate” if he prefers, and be quite satisfied. The knowledge that either of two races might be involved need not confuse or disturb him in the least. Now let us again suppose the same jay to have been carried in by our observers cat, or killed by flying into his windshield. With the specimen in hand he can learn a great deal more about its plumage and structure, per- haps he will want to take notes on pattern details or measurements, or even to try his hand at putting up the skin. Now, if he has at his finger tips a little information on the Western and the Northern Blue Jay, he may at- tempt to make this distinction if he chooses— or at Least see that two such races have been described, and draw his own conclusions as to their impor- tance for his purpose. Should the bird, after all. prove to be intermediate, nothing has been lost. If. however, it is unquestionably referable to one or the other subspecies, our novice is still on safe ground: he may yet call it a Blue Jay (wiser and just as happy as before, I should think); or he may want to make an additional notation on his life list or elsewhere. Then, when he acquires another specimen, or travels to another region well away from the zone of intergradation, he may feel justified in swelling his list by including the other race. I certainly do not suggest that this should be- come his sole purpose; we must even confess that he might live a longer and happier life if his jay had never met such an untimely end. For my part, however, I fail to see how the possibility of such an excursion into sys- tematics, left open to the intelligent and curious novice, can be disastrous to his pleasure in field observation. Perhaps we may inquire into one other case. From the little I have looked into the matter, I should judge that in the area Mr. Youngworth con- siders. the Black-capped and Long-tailed Chickadees would grade impercept- ibly into one another and perhaps for all practical purposes be, as he says, “one and the same bird." Both can be designated as Panis atricapillus, or as “Black-capped Chickadees” in the broader sense which I think should be clear to everyone. Standard usage in such cases admittedly needs some clarification, and steps are being taken even by the maligned “experts." But again I ask why anyone, least of all a beginner, should think of trying to differentiate the two in the field, In West Virginia, where much of my field work has been done, there are also two chickadees, one a race of the Carolina and one a race of the Black- capped. Their different songs and call-notes, in fresh plumage their dif- ferent wing and tail markings, and in most cases their measurements, pro- claim them distinct species— and assuredly NOT one and the same bird. Yet there are worn and soiled spring specimens I would hesitate to identify with certainty in the hand; and competent field students are often at a loss to make a decision in the field. In this instance an observer must if neces- sary go a step further (as many are doing) and list simply “Chickadee sp.?” Now I doubt if we would be asked to throw out even the species in this IOWA EIRD MEMORIES 39 case, as just a nuisance to the bird-watcher. But I am sure that, as seen through the binocular of a novice, these birds are about as much alike as ty picul examples of the two races of Black-cap previously mentioned. They resemble each other more than either resembles the big pale-looking chickadee of Idaho, or the tiny dull one of Florida — each of which is con- specific with one of these West Virginia birds and, so we are told, not even worthy of being distinguished from it by a name. The amateur may as well know that there may be more apparent varia- tion within a species than between related ones. In some such complexes we could scarcely know what constitutes a species (let alone form any ideas about the possible interrelations of species), without the work of taxono- mists who study geographic variations, and who assign names for the con- venience of those who have occasion to use them. I do not believe I am a “splitter". As yet I have not described a single subspecies and heartily agree that the description of some has seemed un- necessary. But I cannot see the wisdom of the field student's simply throw- ing up his hands in despair, of branding the whole field of modern systema- tics as nonsense, or of asking for a return to some outmoded and inadequate system, simply because some concepts are beyond the scope of the average beginner's studies. I do not believe Mr. Youngworth means to suggest any- thing so drastic. But let me ask once more whether it will not be better for all con- cerned if we modify our protests against some vague and unnamed higher authority, into sane advice to the beginning field student himself. Let us explain to him what a subspecies is, in terms of genetics and evolution. Let us admit the importance of subspecies in advanced studies. Let us even name some of them in his books, and briefly outline their ranges. And then with a sound basis, let us point out the folly of trying to differentiate most of them in the field. Let us show the beginner how to bracket in his field guides, in his notebooks, or in his mind, those races (or even species) which in his region he will probably not be able to separate except under special conditions. If we all in short, accept these man-made categories for what they are, I say that the amateur can go on enjoying his bird-watching with a broader outlook and with new confidence, though the taxonomists de- scribe subspecies ad infinitum , IOWA BIRD MEMORIES By GLENN R. DOWNING Assistant Director Kin 'man Museum of Natural History BATTLE CREEK. MICHIGAN Northeastern Iowa is a region of rolling uplands and wooded hills rich in varied bird life. One does not have to go far to see birds in this region. I recall that little Green Herons made regular visits to our backyard trees as excursions from a small pond lying in a nearby field. This pond was a natural attraction for teal and Blue-bill Ducks which dropped in regu- larly during migrations, and for terns, coots, sandpipers and other water and shore birds. Our backporch made a good observation point from which to scan the skies for migrating waterfowl in spring and fall, and our feeders there in winter were invariably lined with the general run of small winter birds including the inevitable flocks of Starlings and English Sparrows. It was interesting to note that Purple Martins arrived in spring either on the 12th or 13th of April, and these dates were rarely missed for several years. Iowans will recall the dust storms of the middle thirties which all but obliterated the arrival of spring at times. The birds came back, though, regardless of the dust. I recall such days when the Ruby-crowned Kinglets’ 40 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XX, 1950 simple trills could invariably be heard in April to remind us that spring had surely come even though the landscape did not appear to proclaim it. Winter birds have always held a particular interest for me, especially the woodpeckers at that time of year. Of course, the Red-bellied. Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers came to our suet holders at the window, and Sapsuckers visited our backyard during their northward movements. In the woods not far from home Red-headed Woodpeckers were often seen storing acorns in the autumn if the crop was especially heavy. Cracks and crevices of trees and fenceposts would be lined with them, and the birds always split them into several pieces before storing them. If the acorn crop was not heavy, the birds moved on to better hunting grounds, perhaps in a southerly di- rection. Aside from these pleasant experiences with the more common forms, certain birds stand more vividly in my mind. There were, for instance, the Pileated Woodpeckers which inhabited for a long time a tract of timber just northeast of town (Monona, Clayton County, Iowa). A pair made their year-around home there, and their presence lent a distinction to the woods. A small stream coursed through these woods, and there I often found Great Blue Herons fishing. One of these big fellows once stood in the middle of the stream unmindful of my approach to within 25 feet of him. During a jaunt one summer day in the same vicinity, I stopped to rest and was attracted by a Chickadee on a nearby partially decayed stump. The bird entered a hole in the stump and emerged with a beak full of small chips and sawdust. The bird worked at this for some time, and then was joined at the task by the mate. Presumably they were clearing the site for a nest. The first bird made 74 trips into the cavity while the other bird made 16, both in the course of an hour. In order to get to the woods we had to cross a considerable distance of rolling meadows. Many bird memories are connected with these meadows — the Vesper Sparrows' sweet strains on spring evenings, the calls of Bobo- links and Meadowlarks, and Shrikes in fence-corner hedgerows. Crossing these meadows in a warm spring rain was always a delightful experience. We sometimes see unusual birds in the winter season if wc are out- doors often. Such a bird was the Wilson’s Snipe which I flushed along a small stream just the day before Christmas several years ago, Kingfishers, too, were seen at various times during several winters. On one winter trip in January I flushed two hen Pheasants from a field of standing corn stalks. These birds were by no means uncommon to the winter season, but the circumstances under which I found them were in- teresting. The wind was blowing strongly and the snow was drifting. The pheasants had scratched through the snow to open clods of earth and to ears of corn on the ground. At the base of some fallen cornstalks one of the birds had made a depression about a foot deep and 2 feel square. Another similiar depression lay 100 feet from the first down the slope. Both were quite well protected from the wind even though they were found in the middle of a field with no cover other than the thin stalks of corn. Even without protective cover these birds apparently seemed to have been faring quite well in the severe weather. The McGregor region is one with which many Iowa bird lovers are acquainted, and one which is unique in bird life. Indigo Buntings and Red- starts in May in this region were unusually plentiful and many times were the most common birds we found on our trips around there. The ringing notes of Wood Thrushes were frequently heard and attracted the attention of many persons who. on the streets of town, could hear the notes emanating from nearby wooded ravines. Whip-poor-wills’ calls in the evening from these ravines held a similiar interest. GOOSE FLIGHT ON THE MISSOURI 41 Of course, the river with its wooded islands was a paradise for various types of birds— Cormorants, Herring Gulls, Ospreys, American Egrets, herons, bitterns, and the various species of waterfowl. We seldom failed to see, or at least hear, Pileated Woodpeckers in the deep woods, as well as Rufled Grouse which often nested in the nearby park woods. These and many more bird memories are associated with McGregor and its environs, The whole region of northeastern Iowa remains a mecca for the naturalist. THE GOOSE FLIGHT ON THE MISSOURI By FRED J. PIERCE Most eastern Iowa bird students have the desire to go to western Iowa to witness the spring migration of Blue and Snow Geese up the Missouri River valiev Until recent years this great spectacle received little or no publicity and few knew about it. Then with the appearance of news- paper and magazine articles, people began to go to the Missouri to see the geese. They brought back glowing accounts and fine camera studies. Soon hundreds of nature lovers were each spring going to see the great migration flight. . , . . This is one of the grandest and most awe-inspiring sights in nature, and no one will be disappointed in making even a long trip to see the goose flight. Four companions and I made a trip to see the flight in March, 1950. For all but one of us this was the first time we had witnessed it and it was the fulfillment of a long-cherished ambition. Earl Freeman and I left Winthrop on the afternoon of March 16. We drove to Vinton where we were joined by John Talbot and Paul Pierce of the Iowa Conservation Commission. We proceeded to Boone and arrived in the early evening. It was a pleasant drive, beginning in snow-covered country at Winthrop and changing into bare fields and greening grass in central Iowa. We stayed that night in the home of Myrle L. Jones, custo- dian of Ledges State Park. At 3:45 next morning, March 17, we left the Ledges accompanied by Myrle. Our destination was Forney Lake, near Thurman in Fremont County, Iowa. Darkness changed to semi -darkness, followed at length by sunrise and a fine, though cold, day. We had breakfast on the outskirts of Red Oak, and arrived at Forney Lake at about 8:30 a.m. The first persons we saw at the lake were John Paul Moore and Konnie Yoshinaga, of Newton, fellow bird students who were taking colored movies of the geese. They had slept on the spot the preceding night. Long strings of geese going north, which we had been seeing for an hour before we reached Thurman, assured us that the geese were in the region and the flight was on. We were hardly prepared for the sight of thousands and thousands of geese as we reached Forney Lake. The air was filled with them as they took off from the lake and headed for feeding grounds or dropped into it on the return flight. They were coming and going in immense flocks con- tinually, while their combined voices made an indescribable bedlam. Long, wavering streamers of thousands of geese spread out in a mile area of sky was a never-to-be-forgotten sight. We were thrilled and fascinated. We realized that such a sight, with numbers multiplied a hundred times, was what the pioneers witnessed each spring in early Iowa. We drove to several areas within a few miles of Forney Lake. The geese were feeding in the cornfields, on waste grain left the previous fall 42 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XX, 1950 by mechanical corn-pickers. They concentrated in closely-packed Hocks. We frequently saw 20 acres or more completely covered with geese. They went over the fields with a systematic rolling motion, those in the rear rising into the air and landing just in front of the outer edge of the flock. The other geese, as soon as the corn was picked up, would re- peat the performance, rising and dropping down in front again. Progress across a field was steady and thorough. When the geese were thus occupied, we could drive along the side roads which cut through the cornfields, and approach within 5 rods before they took wing. That was a thrill — the close proximity of thousands of clamoring geese as they rose in a dense cloud. At other points we found them resting on the plowed fields or on the still firm ice of some of the settling basins which are part of the soil con- servation projects in that area. We saw acres and acres of geese resting in in compact flocks, sitting very close together. We never grew tired of watching them side-slipping to the lake as they came in. Their precipitous flight would be checked completly as they tum- bled, almost somersaulted, to the lake from considerable height. We estimated that we saw somewhere between 100.000 and 500.000 geese that day Perhaps one-fourth of the number were Snow Geese and three- fourths were Blues. Although our trip was timed perfectly to catch the peak of the migration, the concentration in Fremont County was not the only one in western Iowa on that date. William Youngworth reported that there was a large concentration 15 miles south of Sioux City the next day, March 18. We saw small numbers of Pintails and Mallards at Forney, as well as a few Coots. Two Bald Eagles perched on dead trees on the lake added to the interest. Leaving the area at about 2 p.m.. we made the entire trip back to Vinton that night, We traveled nearly 550 miles that day but decided that our observations of so many geese under very favorable conditions were well worth the effort and the long drive. A REPORT ON THE DAVENPORT CONVENTION By LILLIAN SERBOUSEK Secy.-Treas., Iowa Ornithologists' Union The 25th annual May Dawn Bird Concert of the Davenport Public Museum opened the 28th annual meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union at Davenport, Iowa, Saturday, May 13. 1950. Members of the Tri-City Bird Club, the Iowa Ornithologists' Union and friends met at Credit Island in Davenport at 4 am. Here many had the novel experience of identifying birds by songs and calls only. It was indeed a chorus — of familiar and new songs. But with the coming of daylight, bird identifications were made by sight also. Breakfast was served at 6:30 a,m, at Credit Island Inn. Due to the ab- sence of Thomas Morrissey, chairman of the hike committee, Fred T. Hall welcomed the participants and announced the additional bird trips which followed breakfast: these were to McCausland Ponds. Lock 14, Nahanf Marshes, Arsenal Island and Credit Island- Leaders on the trips were Nor- wood Hazard. Dick Schaefer, James Hodges and Harry Carl. Registration for the convention was at 12:30 p,m., at the Davenport Public Museum, where the afternoon meeting was held. Host organizations were the Tri-City Bird Club and the Davenport Public Museum, On ex- hibit here were some original paintings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes the photo- graphs entered in our contest, museum displays, and books on natural history. CONVENTION SIDELIGHTS- Fred W. Kent was busy with his camera at the Davenport meeting, and these candid shots were the result. Upper row, left to right: Fred Hall at the office telephone ; Fred Hall, Tom Kent and Dr. Alfred Bailey on the Sunday field trip. Lower row; Tom Kent, Fred J. Pierce, the Rt, Rev, Msgr. Thos. J. Feeney, James Hodges. 44 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XX, 1950 At 2 p.m. the afternoon session, held in the Museum auditorium, was opened by a welcome speech by President Johnson. Several announcements were made, and the minutes of the 1949 May and September meetings were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report, which showed a balance of $412,77, was read and accepted. Dr P. P. Laude, chairman of the Audit- ing Committee, reported that his committee, which included Myra Willis and Earnest Steffen, had examined the Treasurer’s books and found them to be correct. Librarian Ennis reported on a number of books and other materials received at his office, which report will probably be printed in itemized form later. He said that the Union's file of 1931-1940 "Iowa Bird Life" had been bound, and the 1941-1950 issues would be bound at the close of the 1950 volume. Editor Pierce spoke briefly and asked mem- bers to send articles and notes suitable for printing in “Iowa Bird Life”. Dr Martin Grant, chairman of the special committee to formulate rules for compiling lists of birds observed on convention field trips, gave a brief report. Mr. Ayres, also serving on the committee with Dr. F. L. R. Roberts (absent), asked that the committee be held over and allowed to set up rules at a later date. Dr. Charles A. Stewart, chairman of a committee to revise the list of birds of Iowa, read the report of his committee. Other members of this committee are E. L. Kozicky, Mrs, M. L. Jones, George Crossley and John Paul Moore, with Jack Musgrove and Fred Hall as consultants. Dr. Stewart outlined their plan to prepare an accurate check-list of Iowa birds. Ques- tionaires will be sent to each member to complete the residence status and occurrence frequency for each bird found in the nine localities into which the state is to be divided. When completed, the work will be designated as “Check-List of the Birds of Iowa by the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union.” The committee on the conservation of birds stated that it would re- port later. It is headed by Mrs. Harold Peasley whth Zell C Lee, Esther Copp, Jack Musgrove, Dr. Harold Ennis and M. L. Jones assisting. President Johnson read a letter from the Grinneli Bird Club telling of the sudden death of E. A. Kurth, who was a member of our Executive Council at the time of his death. Fred T. Hall announced that the Wilson Ornithological Club would meet at Davenport April 27-28. 1951. After some discussion, it was moved and seconded that the Union join with the Tri-City Bird Club and the Davenport Public Museum in acting as hosts at the Wilson Club meeting. This closed the business meeting and the afternoon program was begun. The first speaker on the program was John Bliese of Ames, who talked on "Roosting Locale of the Bronzed Crackle,” He gave an in- teresting account of his studies of grackle roosting areas which were also used by Cowbirds. Red-winged Blackbirds, Starlings, Robins and English Sparrows. Beginning last August Mr. Bliese tabulated all trees in an area of 44 blocks in Ames. He learned that about 19 percent of all trees more than 9 inches in diameter were used as roosting trees. The grackles were the first to arrive at the roosting sites and Robins were last, but the Robins were the first to leave in the morning. Dr. Emil Witschi of the University of Iowa next spoke on “Repro- ductive Physiology of Songbirds". He used slides in explaining the ef- fects on the bills and plumages of birds injected with hormones. A number of foreign birds had been used in the experiments. Continuing the program. Dr. Alfred M. Bailey of the Denver Museum of Natural History told of his “Memories of Louis Agassiz Fuertes" — an account of a field trip to Abyssinia with Fuertes and Dr. Wilfred Osgood. The trip, which proved to be the last for Fuertes, was sponsored by the ORNITHOLOGISTS BANQUET AT DAVENPORT, MAY 13 This photograph, by Fred W. Kent, shows the speakers’ table. Seated at the table, left to right, are; Jra, Mary Bailey, Fred -I- Pierce, Mrs. Marian Hawes, Dr. Robt. Vane, Dr. Warren Keck, Fred T. Hall standing). Miss Lillian Serlmusek, R. W. Johnson, Mrs. Robt. Vane. Miss Rose Goite, Richard Schaefer, )r, Harold Ennis, Mrs. R. W. Johnson, Mrs. Harold Ennis, Mrs. Harry Carl. In the foreground, backs to camera, left to right: Rev. Thos. J. Feeney, Rev. Edward Greer. Dr. and Irs. Martin Grant, Pam) Leaverton. Chicago Daily News and the (then) Field Museum of Natural History. The experiences of the three men in this African country proved to be most interesting to the audience. Dr. Bailey exhibited some pictures painted by Fuertes on this expedition. Concluding the afternoon program was a kodachrome movie, ‘ Swan Lake Field Trips’’ by Dr, Robert Vane of Cedar Rapids. Most of the scenes were filmed at the small lake through the four seasons of the year, and included several species of ducks, geese, coots, grebes, shorebirds, as well as muskrats, turtles, and the life history of the leopard frog. The seasonal changes of the vegetation added much to the film. Of particular in- terest were pictures of the nesting of the Least Bittern and the feeding of the young. At 6:30 p.m. Saturday the annual banquet was served in the Gold Room of the Blackhawk Hotel to about 175 persons. Fred T. Hall in- troduced those seated at the speaker's table after the dinner. Rev. Reuben Redo], of Calamus, accompanied by Mrs. Loyal Weise, sang several num- bers. The guest speaker of the evening was Dr. Alfred M, Bailey, who gave an illustrated lecture entitled “Stepping Stones Across the Pacific/' This new, full-color movie is an absorbing one of scenery and bird life on Oahu, Midway, Wake and other Pacific islands. Among the birds in- habiting these islands are Albatrosses, Sooty Terns, Fairy Terns, Shear- waters and Boobies, Camera studies of their nests, eggs and young, as well as the courtship dance of the Albatross were much enjoyed. THE DAVENPORT CONVENTION I 46 IOWA BIRD LIFE- — XX, 1950 Sunday breakfast was served at 5 a.m. at the Palmer School cafe- teria to those participating in the field trips which followed. The bird- ing areas included Credit Island. McCausland Ponds, Princeton Marsh and Lock 14, The trips terminated at Duck Creek Park for a one-o'clock box lunch, after which the complete bird list was compiled. The Satur- day trip total was 153; Sunday’s was 147. A short business meeting followed the Sunday luncheon. The Nom- inating Committee gave the list of new officers (as listed on the cover page of this issue u They were elected by a unanimous ballot for the nominees cast by the Secretary-Treasurer upon motion of the voting mem- bers, Dr Meyers read the Resolutions prepared by his committee. Since no invitation had been received for the 1951 convention, there was some discussion as to the meeting place. The decision was left for the Executive Council at a later date. Announcement was made that the fall meeting would be held at the Ledges State Park, Boone, with Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Jones as hosts. As the last item of business President Johnson announced the winners in the photographic contest, as follows; First, Tom Kent of Iowa City, who submitted a photograph of “Blue-winged Warbler”; second, John Paul Moore of Newton, for a photograph entitled "Trumpeter Rare"; honorable mention to E. R. Sage of Ames for “Red-breasted Nuthatch”, and to M. L. Jones of Boone for a series entitled “Nature's Feeding Shelf." Contest judges were Dr, Warren Keck, Dr. Harold Ennis and F. J. Pierce. The meeting then adjourned and our first and very enjoyable meeting at Davenport came to a close. Resolutions — BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the members of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union assembled at Davenport. May 13 and 14, 1950, that a message be sent to Mrs. E. A, Kurth of Grinoell, Iowa, expressing our deep sympathy at the o'eath of Mr. Kurth and our appreciation of the fine service he rendered to our organization. Be it further resolved that a copy of this message be inscribed in the minutes and kept in the permanent record of the Union. Be it further resolved that we express our appreciation to the Tri- City Bird Club and the Davenport Public Museum for their gracious hospitality and for their efficient planning and execution of the convention activities. Be it further resolved that we commend the Davenport Chamber of Commerce for their generous assistance. Be it further resolved that we express our thanks to the speakers who contributed to our excellent program. Be it further resolved that we thank our officers for their splendid work during the past year. Be it further resolved that each of us make a special effort to attend the Wilson Club annual meeting at Davenport next spring. Respectfully submitted by the Resolutions Committee Alfred W. Meyer. Chairman Irene M. Smith Harry G. Carl Attendence Register, — AMES, John Bliese, Mr. and Mrs. R. W, Johnson, Edward Kozicky; BOONE, Mr, and Mrs. M. L. Jones, Barbara, Charles and Loren Jones; CALAMUS. Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Muellen, Rev, Reuben R^dal; CEDAR FALLS, Dr, and Mrs. M. L. Grant, Lois Grant; CEDAR P.APIDS. Esther Copp, Emma Doornink, Margaret Lahr, Dr. and Mrs, Alfred Meyer, Mr, and Mrs. E. J Petranek, Ruth Purdy. Rose Richards, Lillian Serbousek, Mr. and Mrs E. W. Steffen, Dr, and Mrs. Robt. Vane, Pauline Wershofen. Myra Willis; DAVENPORT. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Adler. THE DAVENPORT CONVENTION 47 Mr. and Mrs, E. Backer, Gary Benshoff, Wilfred Blaser. Judge J. W. Bol- linger, Mr and Mrs, Harry G. Carl, Mr, and Mrs. John S, Crissey, Norman Dean, Dr, Dunn, Clara Eckerman. Rev. Thos. J. Feeney, Mr. and Mrs, Graham, Jeanette Graham, Rev. E, C. Greer. Rose Aimee Guile. Mr, and Mrs. Fred Hall, Rodney Hart, Varna Hass, Rev, U. A. Hauber, Mr, and Mrs C C. Hazard, Norwood Hazard. James Hodges. Carl Jabobs, Alma Johnson, Ruth Lairsen. Dr. J. P. Leonard., Larry Neonard. Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Lindsay, Mrs, Anna Mizener, Jon Mizener. Thos. Morrissey, Mrs P Nickless Rev. and Mrs. Alfred Nickless. Mr, and Mrs. Pete Peterson, Peter Peterson, Mrs. E. W. Putman, Mrs. Morris Richardson. Mrs Alice Schaefer, Richard Schaefer, W H. Shorey, Mr. and Mrs. E Stoltenberg W. E Whittlesey. Olive Whittlesey, Derwood Whittlesey. Mrs. A. J. Winsfield, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Yeaton, S. Zimmer; DECORAH; Mrs. Alden Bouden, Mrs. Tom Henning, Mrs, Burt Henning, Mrs. A, C. Lynch; DES MOINES, Dorothy Anderson, A, C. Berkowitz, Mrs. Jos. Chamberlain, Mrs, Harold Peasley, Estella Reynolds, Irene M. Smith, Bruce D Stiles; DeWITT, David Lucksfead. Arlen W, Peahl, Mrs. Esther Weise; DUBUQUE, Henry Herrmann, David Reed, Mrs. R. S. Ruegnitz, Ival Schuster. Mary Young; FARLEY. Mr. and Mrs. George Crossley; INDIAN OLA. Paul Leaverton IOWA CITY, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kent, Tom Kent. Dr, and Mrs Peter Laude Dr. Emil Witschi; MT VERNON, Dr. and Mrs Harold Ennis David Ennis; NEW ALBIN, Dr. Chas. A. Stewart; NEWTON, Paul Casper. Lucille McMurray, Mr, and Mrs. John Paul Moore: OTTUMWA. Marietta Eighme, Bill Hoskins, Chas Ayres, Jr.. Chas. Ayres. Sr.. PRINCE- TON. James R. Clemons, Norval Clemons; POSTVILLE. Arthur J. Palas, Fritz Palar SIOUX CITY, Mrs. Mary Bailey. Zell C. Lee; WATERLOO. Helen Hawkins. Russell Hays. Pearl Rader, Katherine Young; WINTHROP, Mr, and Mrs. F. J, Pierce; DENVER. COLO., Dr. Alfred M. Bailey; EAST MOLINE 111 Elton Fawks; MOLINE, ILL. Mr, and Mrs. P, Andei. Mi. and Mrs.' B. Taylor Drake; NAPERVILLE, ILL., Dr. Warren N. Keck; ROCK ISLAND, ILL.. Rev. and Mrs. C. Bergendoff, Malvina Caloine, Mr. and Mrs, Leo J. Doering, Mrs. F. Fryxell, Mrs. Marian Hawes. Total registered. 156. Birds Seen on the Field Trip.— Credit Island, McCausland Ponds, Prince- ton Marsh, Lock 14, Duck Creek Park in Davenport, etc.; May 14, I9a0. Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Comorant. Am. Egret. Great Blue, Green and Black-crowned Night Herons, Am. Bittern, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal Shoveller. Wood Duck, Lesser Scaup. Am, Golden-eye, Red-breasted Merganser, Cooper's. Red-tailed. Red-shouldered and Sparrow Hawks, Bob-while. Ring-necked Pheasant, King, Virginia and Sora Rails. Am. Coot, Semipalmated and Am. Golden Plovers, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Spotted. Solitary Pectoral. Least and Stilt Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellow- legs. Dowitcher. Wilsons Phalarope. Ring-billed Gull. Forsters, Common and Black Terns, Mourning .Dove. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Barred Owl Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Ruby-thr. Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher. Flicker, Red-bellied, Red-headed, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Eastern Kingbird, Phoebe, Crested, Yellow-bellied. Alder and Least Flycatchers Wood Pewec Prairie Horned Lark, Tree, Rough-winged, Barn and Cliff Swallows, Purple Martin, Blue Jay. Crow, Chickadee. Tufted Tit™u* White-breasted Nuthatch, House, Prairie Marsh and Short-bil ed^ Marsh Wrens Catbird, Brown Thrasher. Robin, Wood, Hermit, Olive-backed Gray- cheeked and Willow Thrushes, Bluebird, Ann Pipit Migrant Shrike Starling Yellow-throated. Blue-headed, Red-eyed. Philadelphia and Warbling Vireos Black and White, Prothonotary, Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Term., Orange-crowned. Nashville, Farula. Yellow, Magnolia, Cape May, Black- IOWA BIRD LIFE— XX, 1950 48 throated Blue, Myrtle, Black-throated Green. Blackburnian. Chestnut- sided, Bay-breasted, Black-poll, Palm. Kentucky, Connecticut, Mourning, Wilson’s ana Canada Warblers, Oven-bird, Grinnell's and Louisiana Water- thrushes, Northern Yellow-throat, Redstart, Bobolink, Eastern and Western Meadowlarks, Red-winged Blackbird. Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Bronzea Grackle, Cowbird, Scarlet Tanager. Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Dickcissel. Purple Finch, Goldfinch. Red-eyed Towhee, English, Savannah. Grasshopper, Nelsons (Rodney Hartk Lark, Chipping, Clay-colored, Field, White-throated, Swamp and Song Sparrows, Total, 147 species. NECROLOGY Ernest A, Kurth, member of the Iowa Ornithologists 1 Union since 1946, and serving on the Executive Council during the past year, died at his home at Grinnell, Iowa, on May 10. 1950, He was stricken by a heart at- tack while on the golf links with the high school golf team. Later in the day he suffered a second, fatal attack. Funeral services were held Saturday. May 13, on the same day as the Davenport convention which Mr. Kurth would have attended had not fate intervened. Burial was at Earlville, Iowa. Mr, Kurth was born at Hopkinton, Iowa, November 19, 1905 He graduated from high school at Delhi, attended Len- nox Junior College at Hopkinton, and re- ceived his A.B. degree from the Univer- sity of Iowa, where he won Phi Beta Kappa honors. He was studying for a Master’s degree at the time of his death. Hz is survived by his wife. Very successful as a teacher, Mr, Kurth took an active interest in extra- curricular activities at the high school, and was very much interested in outdoor sports and nature studies It was through his efforts that the Grinnell Bird Club was organized in December, 1948, With his wife he took an extended trip through the western states in the summer of 1947. This trip, on which he listed 151 species of birds, is described in "Iowa Bird Life.” Vol. XVII, pp. 44-45. He attended our spring conventions in 1947. 1948 and 1949, as well as the Winthrop meeting, fall of 1949. An ardent golfer, he took particular interest in the team which was being revived this year. He w T as an active Rotarian. and was a member of the board of directors of the Country Club corporation of Grinnell. One member of the Grinnell Bird Club said: “He has been as a big brother to me and to rest of the youth who went on bird hikes. It was he who inspired us so much in the field of ornithology. His passing is a great loss to all who knew him. To me. this is going to be a challenge to help some one to know birds as he helped me to know them.”— F.J.P, GENERAL NOTES Birds at a Feeding Station.— Our main feeding station and a suet basket are suspended just outside a window and visitors are easily observed. Two of the Chickadees that were feeding there last winter were cripples. They GENERAL NOTES 49 started in the fall and continued through the winter. One of them had no toes on one foot, which left only a knob lor a foot. The leg was ol some use for support and balancing. The other cripple had the right leg entirely missing. It was as lively and active as any Chickadee but had some dif- ficulty clinging to the suet basket and feeding at the same time. Neither was it easy for it to hold a seed or large particle of food with its toes on a perch while picking it to pieces. This one-legged bird was seen at the sta- tion many times every day. Two years ago a Chickadee with one lame and useless leg, which was held up against its body, was a constant visitor, and continued until late in the spring; it was not seen the following year.— B. O. WOLDEN, Estherville. Iowa. Whistling Swans.— On March 25, 1950, 12 Whistling Swans were obser- ved at the Conesville marsh, by Fred and Tommy Kent, Dr, and Mrs. Max Pepernik and Dr. and Mrs. Peter P. Laude. Next day the swans were still there and Dr, and Mrs. Robert Vane and Dr, and Mrs. Alfred Meyer weie additional observers in our group,— P. P. LAUDE, Iowa City, Iowa. Evening Grosbeaks at DeWitt— On the afternoon of April 29, 1950, within the city limits of DeWitt, David Luckstead and I saw eight Evening Gros- beaks. We saw them at very close range and identified them easily. We very much enjoyed the sight of these northern visitors. ARLEN W. PEAHL, DeWitt, Iowa Evening Grosbeaks at Oelwein, — On March 12, 1950, I saw one male and two female Evening Grosbeaks in Oelwein. They did not come to my win- dow feeding station, but fed on the sunflower seeds on the ground under it. I first saw them at 10 a.m„ and they stayed around the remainder of the day. Apparently they left the following morning, I had never before seen this species.— RICHARD O. SHIRK, Oelwein, Iowa. Evening Grosbeak and other Birds at Ledges State Park,— On April 28, 1950 I was startled as a plump bird showing considerable white darted across the road in the Ledges wood yard. It lit in a tree about 30 feet from me. then dropped to the ground where 1 could easily see the green beak without a glass. This female Evening Grosbeak was observed for three days by the writer, Mrs. Jones and daughter Barbara, On April 30 Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Guthrie and son, Richard, of Woodward, watched the bird for nearly an hour. During that afternoon the bird was observed feeding high in black locust trees, where it ate the seeds still retained in the old seed pods. While we were observing it. Dr. George Hendrickson of Ames also dropped in to observe it as it sat almost motionless for nearly an hour. It also spent much time in boxelder trees eating those seeds. Though we had many bird visitors to our feeding shelf, the grosbeak ignored it completely. While looking for the Evening Grosbeak April 31, we hiked in the Lower Ledges, hoping to find it in the cedars. The pond at the Lower Ledges netted us nothing but a grebe and a Coot, but on the return trip over the hills and through the valley of tall, big blue stem, we routed an American Bittern, a Nelson’s Sparrow and a Short-billed Marsh Wren, The Nelson s Sparrow has never been reported from the Ledges so far as I can learn. I have found it only once before on any birding trip— that was near Jewell, Iowa. At the feeding shelf— with the cupboard somewhat bare after the wal- nuts were gone (we fed six bushels during the winter)— we continued to supply suet, hickory nuts and ground “cow feed". This attracted a Red- breasted Nuthatch, for the first time in six years. We were quite surprised to see the Swamp Sparrow as well as the White-throated Sparrow come to feeding shelves placed on trees 5 feet above the ground. — MYRLE L. JONES, Boone, Iowa. 50 IOWA BIRD LIFE— XX, 1950 Notes from Sibley.— During the year 1949 I had the pleasure of adding two new birds to my list. On March 25, 1949, an extremely cold Sunday with plenty of ice and snow on the ground, I h^ard the sound of singing Goldfinches and another song that was new to me. On a nearer approach I found that the strange calls came from Redpolls. Thirty of these birds were counted, as well as about the same number of Goldfinches. I visited the spot later in the day and the flock was still there. On November 10, three strange birds visited our feeding station. After a thorough study of them, I identified them as Pine Siskins. They seemed to be wild and stayed only a few minutes. Our observations suggest that the Horned Lark population may be in- creasing. During the past three winters they have visited us in large flocks. About Februray 18, 1948, I recorded seeing possibly 1000 of these birds along gravel roads. On January 20, 1949, there were many of them around even though the snow cover was rather deep and extremely cold weather had been common. On February 26, i960, they were unusually numerous. Along one gravel road, over a stretch of about 5 miles. I made an estimate of 500 and on other roads for many miles they rose up before the car in flocks of from five to 50. Last fall. 1949. in early October the Harris’s Sparrow was also observed in greater numbers than l had ever before seen them. — C. S. FITZSIMMONS, Sibley, Iowa. What to Call our Black-headed Junccs. — The writer is not competent to enter into any discussion of the western or hybrid Juncos that come into Iowa except to ask what we shall call them. Since they are definitely not Slate-colored, and if they are not Shufeldt's Junco, how shall we designate them? This question is not concerned with birds that are obviously off- colored Slate-colored Juncos. Though such may have more or less brown about them, they still have the well-known patterns of the Slate-colored, with the dark slate of the head and nape extending down the back or merg- ing with the brown of the back, and underneath extending down the breast to the white underparts. The birds that I have in mind do have a brownish back and pinkish- brown sides but the distinguishing character is the restricted area of the black of the head, nape, and throat. This black is definitely restricted to the nape and the throat, and does not extend down the back nor down the breast as does the dark of the Slate-colored. It is sharply and distinctly delineated all around, not only from the white breast but also from the more or less brownish of the back. During the past winter one of these black-headed juncos was frequent- ing a feeding station at the residence of C. F. Wolden at High Lake, in Em- met County and was seen almost daily. On March 9, the writer spent about two hours watching three such juncos at that station, which is located a few feet from a window. There was additional feed on the ground, 3 or 4 feet from the window, Avhere the juncos and sparrows preferred to feed. At that close range every detail could be seen as distinctly, almost, as if the bird had been in the hand. The slightly larger Slate-colored Juncos also came to feed, and when seen together, the two color patterns were strikingly dif- ferent. It must be admitted that the three birds were not exactly alike, which likely suggests that they were .hybrids. One had a black head, with the back distinctly brown, and the sides pinkish-brown. On another the head was more grayish-black with the back and the sides less distinctly colored. On the third the head was almost a shining black but the brown of the back was less conspicuous. GENERAL NOTES 51 If these birds are to be called variants, they should be called variants of the Shufeldt's Junco rather than of the Slate-colored. For why should birds of one color pattern be called variants of a species with an entirely different color pattern when there are species and subspecies with exactly the color pattern of such birds? — B. O. WOLDEN. Estherville. Iowa. (Authorities tell us that the common Slate-colored Junco and the most common western form, the Oregon Junco, which is divided up into many sub- species, nest all the way across western Canada and up into Alaska. This immense nesting area provides abundant opportunity for mixed breeding, with the probable result shown in the numbers of off-colored juncos which are seen down through Minnesota and Iowa during the winter. Few of these birds are clearly enough defined to be given a definite name. Ed.) Notes from Cedar Falls.— On April 16, 1950, Mrs, Eugene Smith, Mrs, Anna Stevens and I saw quite a number of migratory birds. The most in- teresting. perhaps, were three American Golden-eyes. We watched them about a half hour as they dived for food and swam about on a deep pond a few miles northwest of Cedar Falls, Other ducks there on the shallow water were a pair of Baldpates, Shovellers, and a large number of Blue-winged Teal, A few Ring-necks and some Scaup Ducks were also on the pond. Warblers were more abundant than usual this year. On the morning of May 19, Mrs. Smith and I took a walk to a wooded area near the river and witnessed a "warbler wave 1 ' They were there in great numbers. Many of them came so near we could distinguish the markings without the aid of field glasses.— MRS. RAY S. DIX, Cedar Falls, Iowa. Pileated Woodpecker in Buchanan County, — A rainy field trip some- times has its compensations. On May 21, 1950, I was in the woods west of Quasqueton at about 5:30 a.m. and had walked nearly 2 miles before it began to rain. It was dark and threatening from the start, and I found very little activity among the, birds. When the rain came the woods became soggy and the trip rather dismal. After two hours of walking during which there were occasional breaks in the rain, I was nearing the edge of the woods and was about to start home. Suddenly, within 30 feet of me, a Pileated Woodpecker gave its high, rolling cry, and as I watched, it flew out of the tree and crossed an open space. This was in an area on the Wapsipinicon River known as "Boise's Bend 1 ', and is downstream about a mile from the place where my wife and I heard the Pileated call on May 8, 1949 The bird was not seen on that trip. Although the birds were not active on this rainy morning, I saw nine species of warblers and had a fairly good list of other birds. I felt that the rain had not entirely spoiled the trip.— FRED J. PIERCE. Notes on the Birds of Norway.— During the year 1949, I made my first trip to Norway, and spent the months of June, July, and the first half of August in that country. The ocean trip was very enjoyable and interesting, but rather disappointing as far as bird life was concerned. I did see several varieties of gulls and terns. The Atlantic Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis L> was probably the most common species. One species of Storm Petrel was also observed. Once a small bird, apparently a Veery, landed plump on top of a lady passenger’s head. The bird looked worn out and bedraggled. In regard to the birds of Norway, I arrived too late in the season to witness the bulk of the spring migration and the season of bird song. In the city parks, the English Sparrows were abundant and. as a consequence of being fed by visitors, very tame. One almost had to be careful lest he step on them. The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba L.) was quite common and very tame and confiding. i IOWA BIRD LIFE— XX. 1950 'OZ The Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix L) is somewhat similar to our com- mon Crow, but, with the exception ot head, throat, wings, tail and legs which are black, it is otherwise gray. Its voice is also different. The Magpie (Pica pica LJ was accused of sometimes stealing young chickens. The Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus LJ was easily recognized by its black and white wing and long feather-crest. The Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs L> is a forest loving species. I saw a few Skylarks (Aluda arvensis Lj but did not hear their song. The Garden Warbler (Sylvia salicaria Lj is small and drab colored, and the Willow Wren or Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus L.) is one of the best singers. Their Blackbird (Turdus merula LJ, sometimes called the European Robin, is very similar to our Robin in many ways. To quote Burroughs: "It quite startled me to see such a resemblance,— to see, indeed a black Robin. In size, form, flight, manners, note, call, there is hardly an appreciable difference. The bird starts up with the same flirt of the wings, and calls out in the same jocund, salutatory way, as he hastens off." (Winter Sunshine, pp. 165-166.) A pair of Black and White Flycatchers (Muscicapa atricapilla LJ had their nest and young under the roof-tiles of a residence. The Barn Swallow (Chelidon rustica Lj was quite similar to our Barn Swallow. The Martin (Hirundo urbica LJ similar to our Cliff Swallow, builds its nest under eaves of houses. The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus Lj is heard far up in the moun- tains. It is parasitic like our Cowbird. The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus LJ has white on the wings and is conspicious in flight. Their Heron (Ardca cineria LJ is quite similar to our Blue Heron. Among the gulls, I noted the Common or Short-tailed Gull (Larus canus LJ, the Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus LJ, and other unidentified species.—HENRY BIRKE- LAND. Roland, Iowa. MEMBERSHIP NEWS Dr, and Mrs. F. L. R. Roberts, who have been making a leisurely tour of eastern United States after having spent the winter in Florida, were in Pittsburgh, Pa., at the home of their daughter during May. They expected to go to Cape Cod and do a little more sight-seeing in the East before returning to their home at Spirit Lake, Iowa, in late July or August. Reporting in May, their yearly list of birds contained more than 200 species James Hodges, very active member of the Tri-City Bird Club at Daven- port, in January published a check-list called "The Bird Life of the Quad-City Area". The booklet is ZVz by 5V2 inches in size, with a bird list covering 20 pages. It is a useful compilation with most of the species briefly annotated. Copies may be obtained from Mr, Hodges at 25c each (address, 324 W. 31st., Davenport). The 3,465-acre Lee-Van Buren forest area, in Lee and Van Buren Counties, has been named Shimek Forest in honor of the late Dr, Bohumil Shimek of Iowa City. Likewise, the 4,154-acre Lucas-Monroe County forest area has been named Stephens Forest in honor of Dr, T. C, Stephens of Sioux City. Both Drs. Shimek and Stephens were eminent scientists and conservationists who during their lifetime labored diligently for the per- petuation of wild life. Mr. and Mrs, Ross Thornburg, now of Tucson, Ariz., but formerly of Des Moines, had a very attractive article entitled “Some Interesting Visitors" in the March issue of "Arizona Highways," It described their experiences with birds in the Southwest, and was illustrated by 14 of their fine photographs with the color camera and four in black and white. This magazine is noted for the exceptional quality of its color printing. In this article it does full justice to the Thornburgs’ pictures.