W 1 H I f M ii f n !■— H ■1^» H — i> 1 1—1 J,

10 WA FURL LIFE

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE

IOWA 0IRNIITIN0IL00IISTS* UNII0M

VOL. VI

DECEMBER, 1936

NO. 4 i
I

OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
President — Myrle L. Jones, Pomeroy, Iowa
Vice-President— -Miss Winifred Gilbert, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Sec'y-Treas. — Miss Kate E. LaMar, Des Moines, Iowa
Editor — -Fred J« Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa

Executive Council:

Mrs. Mary L. Bailey, Sioux City, Iowa
Paul S. Junkin. Fairfield, Iowa
Mrs. Billy Williams, Atlantic, Iowa

Ex-officio Council Members (Past Presidents) :

Walter M. Rosene Walter W. Bennett

Arthur J. Palas Dr. F. L. R. Roberts

Dr. George O. Hendrickson

The Iowa Ornithologists’ Union was organized at Ames, Iowa. February 23,
1923. for the study and protection of native birds and to promote fraternal re-
lations among Iowa bird students.

The central design of the Union’s official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, designated
State Bird of Iowa in 1933.

Publications of the Union: Mimeographed letters. 1923-102S : ‘The Bulletin’

1929-1930 I ‘Iowa Bird Life/ beginning 1931.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Iowa, $1.00 a year. Outside of
Iowa, 50c a year. Special rate for all libraries, public or college,
50c a year. Single copies 15c each. (Keep the Editor informed
of your correct address.)

EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE
WINTHROP. IOWA

Entered as second-clasi matter February 9. 1932. at the post office at Winthrop. Iowa
under the Act of March 3, 1379.

46

IOWA BIRD LIFE— VI, 1936

WHEN AUDUBON VISITED IOWA

By FRED J. PIERCE

Almost a century ago John James Audubon made his memorable trip
up the Missouri River, an expedition which had for its objective the
acquisition of material for the work on the ‘Quadrupeds ot North
America,' on which Audubon and his sons, John and Victor, were at
that time engaged. It was a very successful trip, viewed from any
angle, and the day-by-day journal in which Audubon recorded the
happenings in full detail is a document of historical and ornithological
importance. The account of the slow navigation of the Missouri is an
interesting narrative, especially in the present day of rapid travel.
Hunting experiences of all kinds are well described. References to
the Indians and the early history of the Plains, as well as abundant
description of the wild life found there, make the journal of absorbing
interest to the naturalist, the student of pioneer life, and the general
reader

In his voyage up the Missouri Rivet Audubon touched the shores of
what was later to become the state of Iowa. In the limited space avail-
able here it is our desire to show what bird life he encountered while
passing Iowa territory. The Missouri River Journal is given m its
entirety in ‘Audubon and His Journals', by Maria R. Audubon with
zoological and other notes by Elliott Coues, 1897 (see Vol. I, pp. 44 j-
532 ; Vol. II, pp. 1-195). From the two volumes of this work we have
drawn the material for this article. T

Audubon with four companions, Edward Harris, John G. Bell, Isaac
Sprague, and Lewis Squires (the names of the first three were per-
petuated by Audubon in naming new birds discovered on this journey

Harris’s Finch, Bell's Vireo and Sprague’s Lark), left St Louis as

passengers on the steamboat ‘Omega’ on April 25, 1843. The steamer
was a primitive wood-burner, said to be one of the slowest in operation
on the river, yet the trip to the Yellowstone River was the fastest on
record at that time. Fort Union was reached on June 12, 48 days after
the start. The fort stood near the mouth of the Yellowstone River
and was the base of Audubon’s hunting trips and short expeditions
for many weeks after their arrival. The party left Fort Union on
August i6, floating downstream on a flatboat without power, and ar-
rived at St. Louis on October 19, 1843.

On the voyage upstream the 'Omega' passed the northwestern tip ot
Missouri and entered the Iowa-Nebraska section of the river on May 8.
On this date Audubon's journal mentions that “Harris shot another
specimen of the new Finch" (which was named in his honor later),
and "we saw Parrakeets and many small birds, but nothing new or
very rare."

On May 9, Audubon records- "Another fine day. After running
until eleven o'clock we stopped to cut wood, and two Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks were shot, a common Blue- bird, and a common Northern
Titmouse. We saw White Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, etc. . . . After

passing "Belle Vue." or Bellevue as it is written now, in what is b<y’py
County, Nebraska, he saw, presumably on both sides of the river. Fish
Hawk,' Savannah Finch, Green-backed Swallows, Rough-winged Swal-
lows Martins, Parrakeets, Black-headed Gulls, Blackbirds, Cowbirds,
Hou^e Wrens. Blue Herons, Clay-colored Bunting, Henslow's Bunting,
and Crow Blackbirds. Somewhat above the present site of Council
Bluffs the first Yellow-headed Troupial was seen by the pilot of the

The boat was stopped for military inspection on May 10. This neces-
sitated a delay of several hours which was welcomed by Audubon and
his companions as an opportunity to explore the shore country north
of where Omaha and Council Bluffs now stand, Audubon visited an
encampment of soldiers and while seated in front of the captain’s tent,

WHEN AUDUBON VISITED IOWA

47

he heard the note of a bird new to him. u .... As it proceeded
from a tree above our heads, I looked up and saw the first Yellow-
headed Troupial alive that ever came across my own migrations. The
captain thought me probably crazy, as I thought Rafinesque when he
was at Henderson; for I suddenly started, shot at the bird, and killed
it. Afterwards I shot three more at one shot, but only one female
amid hundreds of these Yellow-headed Blackbirds. They are quite
abundant here, feeding on the surplus grain that drops from the horses'
troughs; they walked under, and around the horses, with as much con-
fidence as if anywhere else. When they rose, they generally flew to
the very tops of the tallest trees, and there, swelling their throats,
partially spreading their wings and tail, they issue their croaking note,
which is a compound, not to be mistaken, between that of the Crow
Blackbird and that of the Red-winged Starling. After I had fired at
them twice they became auite shy, and all of them flew off to the
prairies, I then saw two Magpies in a cage, that had been caught in
nooses, by the legs; and their actions, voice, and general looks, assured
me as much as ever, that they are the very same species as that found
in Europe.” On his way to “the high Bluffs back of the prairie,”
Audubon saw many Yellow-headed Blackbirds, a pair of geese, two
Yellow-crowned Herons, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cowbirds, Crow Black-
birds, a great number of Baltimore Orioles, a Swallow-tailed Hawk,
Yellow Red poll Warbler, Field Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow. He
mentions that Robins were very scarce, and Parrakeets and Wild Tur-
keys plentiful, while “Sprague killed another of the beautiful Finch.”
Their boat resumed its journey in due time, and that night it was tied
up at a point three miles above the hills known as Council Bluffs, which
bluffs are well above the city of the same name. He says that all
hands went on shore to cut wood for the boat; Harris and Bell on
shore saw several bats and three Wild Turkeys,

The next day's journal entry is rather brief, but he mentions seeing
Turkey Buzzards on a sand-bar. a large Raven which passed at 100
yards, White Pelicans, Geese. Black-headed Culls and Green-backed
Swallows. Harris shot a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

On May 12, he refers to Wild Turkeys, Yellow-headed Blackbirds,
Wild Geese, Mallards. Wood Ducks and Bank Swallows. A Black-
burnian Warbler, a Yellow-winged Warbler, and a few finches were
collected as specimens. That night the boat tied up at the shore op-
posite a promontory known as Blaiekbird Hill, the burial place of an
Indian chief of that name. The next morning, May 13, while the wood-
cutting was in progress, Bell walked to the top of the hills and shot

two male Lark Buntings and a Lincoln’s Finch. Later, after the boat

started, they passed under some cedar-covered bluffs which contained
^clusters of nests which they believed belonged to Cliff Swallows,
though no birds were seen there. Many ducks and geese were seen,
and at a wooding-place Harris shot a Wild Turkey hen which weighed
nearly twelve pounds. That evening they passed the burial bluff of
Sergeant Floyd, one of the members of Lewis and Clark's famous ex-
pedition who did not live to complete it. A few minutes later, before
coming to Floyd's Creek, several Turkey-cocks were flushed from their
roost. Audubon commented that if they had been on shore they “could
have accounted for more than one of them.” “This evening is dark
and rainy, with lightning and some distant thunder, and we have en-
tered the mouth of the Big Sioux River, where we are fastened for the
night. . . . Had the weather been clear, and the moon, which is

full, shining, it was our intention to go ashore, to try to shoot Wild

Turkeys; but as it is pouring down rain, and as dark as Ditch, we have

thrown our lines overboard and perhaps may catch a fish.”

At this point Audubon left Iowa territory and went on to experience
thrilling adventures on the upper Missouri River frontier. It was a
land in which deer, elk, antelope, wolves, buffaloes and other wild life

48

IOWA BIRD LIFE—' VI, 1936

abounded. His experiences with the Indians and trappers are of in-
terest. The journal is well worth reading in its entirety.

On his return journey, the mouth of the Big Sioux River was reached
on October 1, and Iowa was entered again. From his journal: "Passed
the Sioux River at twenty minutes past eleven. Heard a Pileated
Woodpecker, and saw Fish Crows. Geese very abundant. Landed be-
low the Sioux River to shoot Turkeys, having seen a large male on the
bluffs. Bell killed a hen, and Harris two young birds; these will keep
us going some days. Stopped again by the wind opposite Floyd's grave;
started again and ran about four miles, when we were obliged to land
in a rascally place at twelve o’clock. Had rain and hail at intervals.
Camped at the mouth of the Omaha River, six miles from the village.
The Wild Geese are innumerable. The wind has ceased and stars are
shining.”

A brief journal entry on October 2 mentions that a supper was made
from excellent young geese. On October 3, Audubon states that "plenty
of Sandhill Cranes were seen as we passed the Little Sioux River,”
and "saw three more Deer, another Wolf, two Swans, several Pelicans,
and abundance of Geese and Ducks.” Two Mallards were killed that
day. On October 6, he mentions killing two Pelicans after passing the
mouth of the Platte River. He records that “Bell skinned the young
of Fringilla harrisi,” on October 7, but the locality where the bird
was secured is not named.

At this point the barge passed out of the Iowa section of the Missouri
River, and Audubon looked upon low'a for the last time in his life.
The Missouri River Expedition was a fascinating one for all those
who participated. It marked an epoch in the life of the great natural-
ist, for Audubon was nearly 70 years old and did not take another
long journey after returning to his home in New York. He died in 1851.

BIRD NOTES IX THE MIMEOGRAPHED LETTERS OF
THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION
101 ^ 6-1928

Believing that the occasional bird notes in the mimeographed letters
of the Union have reference value, sve feel justified in mCtmg them
into permanent form through publication in ‘Iowa Bird Life.' While
we are presenting them in somewhat abbreviated form, no essential
details are omitted. The first bird rotes appeared in the fifteenth letter
of the series, and the full collection of notes is here given in chrono-
logical order — as transcribed and edited by the Editor of ‘Iowa Bird
Life.'

LETTER NO. 15, APRIL 1, 1926

T. H, Whitney, of Atlantic, reports the Northern Shrike there during
the past winter.

Miss Kathleen Hempcl, of Elkader, one of our enthusiastic bird-
banders, had the unusual experience of banding a White-breasted Nut-
hatch which had three legs.

Mrs. F, May Tuttle, of Osage, reports observing a fiock of 30 or
40 Cedar Waxwings feeding on frozen apples, a favorite winter food.

Chas. J. Spiker, of Morningside College, Sioux City, in a walk of
55 mile^ on February 12-13-14, observed a Kingfisher. Harlan's Hawk,
and Bohemian Waxwing.

E. D. Nauman, of Sigourney, reported a male Towhee on January
31. and an Evening Grosbeak on January 1; the latter remained for
several days,

Dr. LeRoy T. Weeks, of Tabor, reports that: "While out east along
the Nishnabotna River, I heard a gang of Crows swearing about some-
thing and thought I would sneak around as close as I could and see.

MIMEOGRAPHED LETTERS

49

When I was within about 75 yards of them, a Great Horned Owl flew
laboriously away and I thought my game was up, but not so, I noticed
that most of the Crows still remained, still keieping up their profanity,
so I pussy-footed along until within about 50 yards, when I could make
out an unusually large Goshawk, When it flew I still thought it a
Goshawk; but it happened to fly across a patch of sky that was free
from intervening limbs, and I saw that it was a Bald Eagle.”

W. M. Rosene reports that two Bald Eagles were shot near Ogden
during the past winter.

LETTER NO. 16, JUNE 15, 1926
Mrs. Lee, of Atlantic, had the following species at her winter feeding
tables: Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy and Hairy Wood-
peckers, Flicker, Cardinal, Slate-colored Junco, Brown Creeper, Blue
Jay, Goldfinch, and Tree Sparrow. At one feeding-shelf, near the
kitchen window, Mrs. Lee found that she could discourage the English
Sparrows by tapping on the glass, and this did not drive away the
native winter birds. Two Russian olive trees planted by Mrs. Lee in
the spring attracted Cedar Waxwings.

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird, seen moving against a background
of wild crabapple blossoms, is described; this bird was seen on May
15, during the Union’s field trip at Atlantic.

On Sunday, May 16, 20 members of the Atlantic Bird Club left At-
lantic at 5:30 A. M. on a trip to the Fontanelle Forest Reserve, south
of Omaha. The morning hours were spent in this forest, which con-
sists of about 2,000 acres along the' blutfs on the west side of the
Missouri River. The woods were filled with Redstarts and other warb-
lers, and in the ravines Cardinals, Oven-birds, Wood Thrushes and
vireos filled the air with song. The Arkansas Kingbird was noted, and
several other species not found before.

LETTER NO. 17, OCTOBER, 1926
A scheduled field trip was held by the Des Moines Audubon Society
through Birdland Drive on September 12, the fall migration of warb-
lers being the topic of the day. Warblers observed were: Mourning,
Connecticut, Redstart, Nashville, Louisiana Water-thrush, Oven-bird,
Black and White, Blackburnian, and Wilson’s. All were observed in
a space 200 by 300 yards of thick underbrush, heavy tree growth, and
bordered by Union Park Lake,

A field trip at Ogden, by Pres. Walter Rosene, Walter Rosene, Jr,,
Russell Clark, and Secy, Kenneth Nelson, revealed a large list of birds,
including among the warblers Redstart, Blackburnian, Black and White,
and Black-throated Green. It was a good hawk day, with the follow-
ing species observed: Marsh, Broad-winged, Sharp-shinned, Red-

shouldered, and Red-tailed. Kingfishers enjoyed Iowa's September
high water, traveling at times far from the rivers and tributaries to
stand watch over the flooded lowlands.

LETTER NO. 18, CHRISTMAS, X926
McCook Lake lies less than a dozen miles beyond the Big Sioux
River in South Dakota. This lake and several other small bodies of
water, all within a quarter or half mile of one another, are cut-offs
left by the shifting channel of the Missouri River. The Sioux City
Bird Club made a trip to McCook Lake on October 3, 1926, with the
following birds recorded: Towhee, Rusty, Red-winged and Yellow-
headed Blackbirds, Geese, Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch, Crow,
Harris’s, White-throated and Tree Sparrows, Chickadee, Slate-colored
Junco, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Downy Woodpecker and Robin. Miss
Anna Erskine reports on a second trip to McCook Lake on October
10, 1926, with the following birds recorded: Upon or bordering the
lakes were Great Blue Herons, Pied-billed Grebes, Wood Ducks, and
Coots; in dogwood or sumach thickets or in the woods were White-
throated Sparrow, Myrtle Warbler, Robin, Bluebird, Cardinal, Downy,
Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Flicker, Rusty, Red-winged and

50

IOWA BIRD LIFE — VI, 1936

Yellow-headed Blackbirds, White-breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee, and
Slate-colored Junco; during 1 the morning 1 a Sharp-shinned and a Cooper’s
Hawk were seen; the total list of this trip was between 25 and 30
genera of birds.

A trip by the Sioux City Bird Club to a ravine north of Stone Park,
Sioux City, in November, 1926, added a Magpie and a Red-tailed Hawk
to a list of other more or less common birds.

T, M. Murdoch, on a trip to Oto, Iowa, on October 25, 1926, reports
having seen a Tufted Titmouse, four coveys of Quail, two pairs of
Cardinals, Ring-necked Pheasants and Slate-colored Juncos. Mr. Mur-
doch’s plan of mixing nuts and crushed sunflower seeds to attract birds
resulted in his keeping three Chickadees with him last winter, and so
far this year he has ten.

The bird-banding station of Mrs. J. A. Dales in Sioux City, at which
she has banded 749 birds of 30 species, is described at some length
with the different kinds of traps listed. These species are mentioned
in connection with the trapping: Harris’s Sparrow, Slate-colored Junco,
Chickadee, Oriole, Kingbird, Goldfinch, Yellow Warbler, Downy Wood-
pecker, Robin, Catbird. Brown Thrasher, Purple Martin, and Bluebird.

On the evening of November 23, 1926, a business man of Sioux City
shot a Double-crested Cormorant. The bird was identified by Walter
W. Bennett.

* * * * *

The Mourning Dove frequently nests late in western Iowa. I be-
lieve I have three records of September nesting in which eggs were
hatching or about to hatch, one of which was this fall. I have noticed
a tendency for the bird to build less of a nest as summer goes on,
although these September records were of well built ones in trees.
There is also a tendency to build no nest at all but to lay eggs among
the leaves on the ground during August. Other birds nest in the fall
occasionally. A few years ago, A. J, Anderson, Sioux City taxider-
mist, reported a nest of fresh Kingbird eggs in September. This year
there was a Robin's nest that hatched eggs in September in our front
yard. It is believed that most cases of fall nests are ones in which
the birds have been disturbed in raising their young, perhaps having
one or two nests destroyed before their final attempt. The American
Golden Plover has been reported among the small lakes along the Mis-
souri River during recent years at rather irregular intervals. Ander-
son once reported it from Badger Lake. But it was found last spring
in greater numbers than at any time during the past 15 years. May
17, 1926. a beautiful male was observed at Brower's Lake south of
Sergeant’s Bluff. He was only a short distance away and was ob-
served for a long time. The bird wa s in a flock of yellow-legs, sand-
pipers, godwits and Semipalmated Plover. During the two weeks prior
to this there were several that seemed to stay at this lake and were
observed several times. To see a Golden Plover gives a bird lover
one of his greatest thrills, for the time will soon come when they may
be seen no more.— Walter W, Bennett, Sioux City.

Walter Bennett was with me both times when I saw the Golden
Plover in Io%va, first in our Bobolink field on May 16, 1926, and later
a single individual down at Long Pond near Perry. I have a fairly
good record of the nesting of the Whip-poor-will for this year, as I
worked with the old bird while she was brooding the two eggs and I
watched the chicks until they left the nest. I first saw the eggs on
June 5, 1926; they hatched on either the 13th or 14th and left the
nest on June 22, at the age of about eight days. Although they were
not fully feathered out, they were bouncing around in the underbrush
and I never saw them again. My latest record of the Whip-poor-will
is September 11, 1923, which was the same date of my finding a young
Mourning Dove. My warbler records for the fall of 1926 are as fol-
lows: Black and White, Sept. 19; Nashville, Sept. 14 and 19; Tennessee,

MIMEOGRAPHED LETTERS

51

Sept. 9; Myrtle, Sept. 26 and Oct. 10; Black-throated Green, Sept. 19;
Connecticut, Sept. 9; Redstart, Sept. 19.— Walter M, Rosene, Ogden.

Here are some data regarding late nesting of the Mourning Dove.
On about September 14, I was told that a Mourning Dove had two
young in a nest. On September 19, I went out to see them and found
two young about five days old, both dead. The parents had been dis-
turbed a great deal the day before, and as the weather was cold, I
suppose they died because of exposure,- — Dr. F. L. Roberts, Spirit Lake.

A bird resembling one of the larger sandpipers was found this fall
in an injured condition in a field northeast of Ogden. Due to faded
fall coloration, it was not identified at once. it was displayed to
various bird students in Des Moines and died the following day. It
was sent to Professor Dill at Iowa City, and he identified it as the
American Golden Plover. It is a coincidence that we found her in
the same field where we saw that flock of six last spring (three miles
northeast of Ogden), Do you suppose that one of the flock was crippled
last spring and she had lived out there all summer without my seeing
her? The break in her wing was not a new break, and I can hardly
make myself believe that this bird was taking this route for the fall
migration when they are supposed to go by way of the Atlantic coast,
— Walter M. Rosene, Ogden.

LETTER NO. 19, APRIL, 1927

Secretary Nelson and Mr. Dawson recorded the following species on
a huge marsh at East 14th and Euclid, Des Moines: American Coot,
7 pairs; Scaup Duck, 5 pairs; Ring-necked Duck, 5 pairs; Killdeer, 4
pairs; and the Shoveller Duck, 1 male.

LETTER NO. 20, JUNE 14, 1927

In this letter is an account of the fifth annual meeting of the Union,
held at Des Moines, April 30-May 1. The complete bird list of the
field trip is included. At 5:30 A. M. on May 1, the various groups
left the Savery Hotel and visited many districts about Des Moines
before returning to McRae Park for the May morning breakfast. Here
the full bird list was compiled, as follows: Horned and Pied-billed
Grebes, Baldpate, Blue-winged Teal, Shoveller. Ring-necked and Scaup
Ducks, Coot, Great Blue Heron, Sova Rail, Wilson's Snipe, Pectoral
Sandpiper, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Bob-white, Cooper's, Broad-winged
and Sparrow Hawks, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Belted Kingfisher, Downy
and Red-headed Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Chimney Swift, King-
bird, Crested Flycatcher, Phoebe, Prairie Horned Lark, Blue Jay, Crow,
Cowbird, Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, Eastern and West-
ern Meadowlarks, Orchard Oriole, Bronzed Crackle, Goldfinch, Lark,
White-crowned, Chipping, Tree, White-throated, Field, Lincoln's and
Swamp Sparrows, Towhee, Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Purple
Martin, Barn. Bank, Rough-winged and Tree Swallows, Migrant Shrike,
Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, Black and White, Tenn., Yellow,
Myrtle, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Palm and Prairie Warblers, Louisiana
Water-thrush, Maryland Yellow-throat, Redstart, Catbird, Brown
Thrasher, House and Prairie Marsh Wrens, White-breasted Nuthatch,
Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Wood Thrush, Robin, Bluebird.

LETTER NO. 21, FALL OF 1927

A. T. Watson and Mr. Nelson of Des Moines have observed the fol-
lowing warblers {during about the last week of September); Black and
White, common; Nashville, common; Tennessee: Magnolia; Black-

throated Green; Oven-bird, common; Redstart; Myrtle; Palm; Can-
adian; Connecticut, several.

* * * * *

The nest and young of the Blue-winged Warbler were found and
photographed by Secy. Nelson at the Boy Scout camp near “The
Ledges'" on June 20. The adult birds were elusive, and although the

52

IOWA BIRD LIRE— VI, 1936

approximate (within 12 feet) location of the nest was known, it could
not be located for some time. The adults were most persistent about
remaining with the young during the presence of intruders so that
with the young ones, the trim buzzing mature songsters were included
in several of the pictures. After searching the entire field for two
days, with the help of a group of 30 scouts from the camp, the nest
of a Bobolink (with eggs and young) was found. Although four pairs
of Bobolinks seemed to be nesting in the field, only the one nest was
found. Good pictures of the nest, eggs and young were obtained.
The behavior of the adult Bobolinks was much different from the Blue-
winged Warblers, as they were never to be found near the nest and
did not attempt to protect the young while their pictures were taken;
they remained at a distance of at least 40 feet, with their mouths filled
with worms and insects for the nestlings.— Kenneth Nelson.

We have all read about the dances of some of the water and shore
birds. When first reading that the Killdeer at times performed a dance,

I was much interested, for here was a bird so common that a person
should be privileged to see its dance. This treat came to Mrs. Palas
and me last June. On June 23, we were on the road about ten miles
southeast of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and when crossing a small
bridge, we heard the familiar song or call of the Killdeer. About 50
yards from us were five birds hopping, bobbing, running and calling.
Four of them were usually in a line side by side, but all were in motion.
They hopped and ran out of line but would soon be back in formation.
Repeatedly a bird -would turn one-fourth around, face the side of his
neighbor and then jump over the neighbor’s back, again assuming his
position in the line, facing the same direction as the others. While
they seemed quite unconcerned about us, they were facing us all the
time when in line. This was also about the direction of the sun. The
fifth member was also hopping, bobbing, running and calling, always
quite apart from the formation of the quartette. We were unable to
determine whether he was a necessary adjunct to the whole perform-
ance or a non-conformist. The dance was held on a sand-bar along
a small clear- water creek. We watched them for about ten minutes
and left with the feeling that we had been favored with a real treat.
— A. J. Palas,

LETTER NO. 22, JANUARY I, 1928

The 1927 Christmas bird census lists of the Des Moines Audubon
Society at Des Moines, and Walter Rosene and Robert Walker at
Ogden, are given. These were published in ‘Bird-Lore’, XXX, 1928,
pp. 58-59, and are omitted here.

Fall warbler records submitted by Mrs. F. May Tuttle, of Osage,
are for birds seen in her yard, August 28 to October 9, 1927 : Redstart,
Maryland Yellow-throat, Oven-bird, Yellow, Wilson’s, Black and White,
Tennessee, Nashville, Mourning and Black-throated Green Warblers.

Fall warbler records from George E. Bentley, of Boone (October 1
to 16, 1927) : Black and White, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, Bay-
breasted, Tennessee, Nashville, Myrtle, Blackburnian, Connecticut, Red-
start and Oven-bird.

Fall warbler records from Walter Rosene, of Ogden (October 11 to
18, 1927) : Black-poll, Myrtle and Tennessee Warblers.

A. T. Watson and Kenneth Nelson, of Des Moines, recorded the
Black-poll and Mourning Warblers in addition to those given under
their names in Letter No. 21.

LETTER NO. 23, APRIL 7, 1928

Dr. F. L. R. Roberts, of Spirit Lake, banded and set free a Bronzed
Crackle on June 8, 1927. He was notified by the Biological Survey
that the bird had been caught in a bird trap at Beaumont, Texas, on
February 7, 1928, by R. E. Harder.

On March lu, 7,000 geese in migration were observed — Blue, Can-
adian, Snow and White-fronted Geese in flocks of from 25 to 800.

GENERAL NOTES

53

They were northward bound and had no doubt followed the Missouri
River during the full migration trip. (The locality is riot mentioned,
although it is evidently Sioux City.)

On April 1, a party of Des Moines Audubon Society members
journeyed to “Long Pond,’ 1 12 miles southwest of Perry, for a day
of waterfowl observation. Conditions were excellent and the following
species were observed: Shoveller, Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, Baldpate,
Green-winged Teal. Pintail, Redhead, Canvas-back, Lesser Scaup, Ring-
necked Duck, Buffle-head, Old Squaw. Ruddy Duck, American Mergan-
ser, Blue Goose and White-fronted Goose, Shovellers, Mallards, Bald-
pates, teal and Scaups were among the most common for the day.
Three flocks of Blue Geese of from 7 to 15 each, and two flocks of
White-fronted Geese of about 25 each, visited the lake during the day
then continued north, Coot, Lesser Yellow-legs, Great Blue Heron
and Wilson's Snipe were also recorded.

Various birds seen by Kenneth Nelson on a trip to the Pacific coast
are listed in this letter. Since these have no relation to Iowa, they
are omitted here.

LETTER NO. 24, SEPTEMBER 19, 1923

Mr. Palas mentions a visit to the home of Fred J. Pierce, near Win-
throp, on May 17, and reports seeing a pair of Great Horned Owls.
*****

On May 15, last, I had the pleasure to see the American Golden
Plover in large numbers in Fayette County. I had not seen these birds
in migration since 1 was a youth on the farm in Clayton County. 1
also enjoyed hearing and seeing Prairie Chickens on this trip.— A. J.
Palas.

GENERAL NOTES

Magpies in Western Iowa, — Some of my friends among the boys were
south of Pierson among the hills on Sunday afternoon, October 11,
1936, and they reported a large flock of birds which were strange to
them, but when they described them I knew they had seen Magpies.
On October 13, I saw a flock of about 50. six miles east of Pierson,
and on the same day one of our business men saw a very large flock
southeast of town. The birds seem to be here in large numbers. It
will be interesting to know how far east in Iowa they are observed. —
WIER R. MILLS, Pierson, Iowa,

The Great Blue Heron as a Winter Bird.- — On December 23, 1935,
while taking the Christmas bird census with Fred Pierce and Harry
Telles in the Backbone Stare Park. Delaware County. Iowa, a Great
Blue Heron was seen. When "birding" along the Maquoketa River
near the custodian’s residence, we were very much surprised to hear
a Great Blue utter its characteristic “squawk” as the startled bird
arose from the spring-fed stream and flew away, almost over our heads,
to other feeding grounds. The first snow of the winter had come the
previous day and four inches lay upon the level. During the preceding
week it had been as cold as ten below zero. We can understand how
the bird might feed in such sheltered open water, but how could it
endure the sub-zero nights? We had hoped to visit the park later,
to learn, if possible, whether or not the heron stayed on through the
winter, but due to weather conditions the return visit was not made.
It does not seem prohable that the bird would be able to survive the
severe weather of the month of February, 1936. There seem to be
few, if any, records cf the Great Blue Heron in Iowa at this time of
year. Tn ‘Bird-Lore 1 for the years 1926 to 1935 I find no mention of
it in the published bird censuses. In Roberts 1 ‘Birds of Minnesota',
the “latest” migration record is “Dec, 21, 1922. . . , exceptional,”

— MYRLE L. JONES, Pomeroy, Iowa.

54

IOWA BIRD LIFE — VI, 1936

Bay-breaated Warbler and Prairie Falcon in Western Iowa.— As

there are not many records of the Bay-breasted Warbler for western
Iowa, it may be of interest to record that I had a very good view ol
a female on the morning 1 of May 1 5, 1936. The bird had been bathing
in a spring in the woods, and when I approached it new to a twig
about six feet above the ground where 1 observed it for some time

as it preened its feathers. . , . T , ,

On January 8, 1936, I saw a Prairie Faicon in flight. I had seen it
two days before in the same place but the distance was greater and
I was not certain enough to record it. — B. 0. WQLDEN, Estnerville,

Iowa.

Bird Records in the Waterloo Region. — Most of my field trips in 1936
were Avith Rev. Mark Shockey of Waterloo. My list to November 10
numbered 149 species. Rev. Shockey, having more time for trips,
identified 174 species. A list of the more uncommon birds follows.
Duck Hawk, March 10; Pigeon Hr-wk, March 10; Wilson's Phalarope,
May 4; King Rail, May 13; Hooded Merganser, March 26 ; Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, May 11; Red-breasted Nuthatch, January 10 ; Horned
Grebe in Waterloo near Mullan avenue bridge, April 24; Osprey, near
Elk Run east of Waterloo, April 25; Yellow-crowned Night Heron m
a small pond near Elk Run, May 1. Rev. Shockey and wife saw this
heron first and 'phoned me. I observed it intently for some time within
30 or 40 feet, and it seemed quite tame. The yellow patch on the
head was distinct and there was no doubt about its identity. Next day
it was gone and it was not seen again.

Rev Shockey had these on his list also: Woodcock, three miles north
of Dunkerton; Least Bittern, near Waterloo; American Merganser, at
Fisher’s Lake near Waterloo; Brant, at Casebeer's Heights east of
Waterloo; Dowitcher, near Gilbertville ; Semipalmated Plover, near
Tama; Semipalmated Sandpiper, near Waterloo. George Faulkner saw
p Mockingbird at Gates Park in Waterloo. — HARV EY L. NICHOLS,
Waterloo, Iowa.

Snow Ge^se and other Birds.— In the fall of 1935, five Snow Geese
(four adults and one immature) were seen on a pond about two miles
south of Hudson. We were worried about them, for they were very
tame and it was in the hunting season. The morning after we had
found them a local man was boasting of a wonderful goose he had
*hot. However, the Snow Geese stayed at the pond for a week, and
a little educational effort on the part cf my husband protected them.
The men frightened them away every morning before they began to
shoot. On the same pond on April 19, 1936, we saw 10 White-fronted
Geese at close range. In an adjoining cornfield were feeding a large
flock of Canada Geese, which arose at our approach in the auto, but
the lYhite-f routed Geese remained. On November 11, 1936, we counted
98 Mallards on this pond— the largest flock we had ever seen in this
section. We hoped the hunters wouldn't find them.

On November 3, 1936, a mail carrier brought to me a Great Blue
Heron that had been shot and its wing broken, I didn't have a nlace
for it, so called a farmer on whose ponds the Great Blue had^ been
a welcome resident. He took it home, and in a day or two. finding
the bird in good condition except for the wing, telephoned Conserva-
tion Office?' John C. Jago, who came for it to add to his newly-formed
“zoological gardens” in Byrnes Park, Waterloo- Here he has two
ducks, taken from hunters, and two raccoons.

On November 1, 1936, we saw a beautiful Western Red-tailed Hawk
nt close range, northeast of Independence in Buchanan County. A
few miles farther, about six miles west of Lamont, we saw another.
1 had onlv one record of the bird before this— on October 7, 1930. —
MRS. ROBERT I. BGRDNER, Hudson, Iowa.

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

00

Magpies in Plymouth County- — On October lo, 1036, while liding
on the Illinois Central Railway, the noise of the train flushed two
Magpies from a clump of willows along the right-of-way, about one
mile east of Oyens, Iowa. This is early for these birds to appear in
Iowa and may indicate they will be seen outside the limits of their
usual range. They were also reported as quite numerous just across
the Iowa lire in South Dakota at this time. — ETHAN A. HEMSLEY ,
Dubuque, Iowa.

Magpies and other Bird* in the Estherville Region.— Magpies were
reported from the vicinity of Fort Defiance State Park at Estherville
in October. When visiting- the park on November 15, 1936, I saw
several of the birds. The deep, wooded valley of this park evidently
is to their liking, as this was one of the several localities where they
were seen during their pronounced eastward movement in 1921-22.

Cardinals, which have been observed rarely here for a few years,
have been seen frequently in High Lake woods during this November,
One was also seen out in the open country in a small farm grove a mile
from the Minnesota line and several miles from any natural woods.

An Osprey was seen at High Lake in June and several times later in
the summer. In September there were two on Mud Lake. Although
once common around these lakes, none has been seen for several pre-
vious years, — B. 0. WOLDEN. Estherville, Iowa.

NECROLOGY

Dr. Harry M. Kelley, a charter member of the Iowa Ornithologists'
Union, and professor of Biology at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, since
1894, died April 10, 1936. He had not been well for a number of
years, and a few weeks before his death he became more seriously ill
of a heart ailment, with complications. He was born 68 years ago
in Harrisburg, Penn. He held the degrees of A. B, and A. M. from
Bucknell University, A, B. and A. M. from Harvard, and L. L. D. from
John B. Stetson University. Prior to taking up his work at Cornell
College he had been an instructor at Central Pennsylvania College,
at Harvard and at Northwestern. For a number of years he had
spent his summers as a Naturalist Ranger in Yellowstone National
Park, with Icthyology as his specialty there.

As a biologist his interests covered a wide range, and he held mem-
bership in a number of scientific organizations, including the American
Association for the Advancement of Science, the Iowa Academy of
Science, American Ornithologists' Union, and others. He was inter-
ested in Iowa ornithology and we are glad to remember him as one
of the early supporters of our organization. He was a genial, kindly
individual to meet, and we sincerely regret his passing.— C. J. S.

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

MORE SONGS OF WILD BIRDS, by Albert R. Brand (Thomas
Nelson and Sons, New York, 1936; cloth, pp. M16, illustrated; three
double-faced phonograph records in cover; price. $2,50).

On May 9, 1936, while on the field trip of the Iowa Ornithologists’
Union. Myrle Jones. Ethan Hemsley and the reviewer found a bird
in Keosauqua State Park that we were certain was the Kentucky
Warbler. The most striking thing about the bird was its loud, whistled
gong— “Sweet Burr-Lee. Burr-Lee. Burr-Lee. Burr-Lee,'' with accent
on the word "Lee'' and given in a rising tone of voice. In pitch and
loudness it resembled the Oven-bird's song considerably. The bird
spent much time in the dense ground vegetation in the woods, but
when it sang it mounted to the top branches of a tree and poured
out its notes. It seemed that this bird could be none other than the
Kentucky Warbler, yet not one of us had ever before heard the song
of this species. Search through a shelf-ful of bird books, each with

56

IOWA BIRD LIFE— VI, 1936

the song: of the Kentucky Warbler reduced to semi-suggestive words,
shed but littLe light on the matter and left us uncertain as to what
this bird’s song really was. Several months later the recorded song
on Mr. Brand's phonograph records re-created our Kentucky Warbler
in the Keosauqua woods and left no doubt in our minds as to our
singer. Just one solution of a vexing problem such as ours is wortih
the price of the book!

Mr. Brand’s first book, ‘Songs of Wild Birds’ (1934), was accom-
panied by records reproducing about 35 bird songs. The present book
brings the total up to more than 75 songs, and the author expects to
continue the series until nearly all North American birds with dis-
tinctive songs have been recorded. It is a task of no small proportions,
in a field in which Mr. Brand is the pioneer. As a medium for pro-
viding instruction to bird students in one of the most difficult phases
of bird identification, these reproductions are without an equal, while
Mr. Brand's services in securing them will be of inestimable value to
students for many years to come.

The book opens with chapters on ‘Confessions of a Sound Recorder’
and ‘The Significance of Bird Song.' The rest of the book is devoted
to an extensive account of birds’ songs and singing habits, which, when
combined with the records, gives the student a solid foundation upon

which to work. — F. J. P.

* * * * *

New members are: Miss Frieda Troeger, Des Moines; Miss Ella Pine
Miller, Red Oak; Dr. Warren N. Keck, Cedar Rapids. Dr. Keck began
teaching at Coe College in September. For the past three years he
taught zoology at North Dakota State College. He gave a course in
ornithology there, and this work in bird study will be continued at
Coe. He "is a native of Iowa, with home at Keosauqua. His degrees
of B. A., M, S. and Ph. D. in zoology were received from the University
of Iowa, and he has been an active bird student during his Iowa resi-
dence.

* * + * *

Myrle L. Jones, our enthusiastic bird-banding president, has banded
3,090 birds since 1933. He banded 1,000 of these since May of this
year. At the October meeting of the Des Moines Audubon Society
he gave a talk on his work which was very much enjoyed by the Des
Moines group.

* * * * *

We should be glad if more members would send us their field notes
and articles for publication. It was necessary to dip into the past for
material to fill the present number of ‘Iowa Bird Life.’ We have a
mutual interest in bird work, and the best way to keep track of one
another’s activities is through the columns of your official publication.
Let’s hear from you at regular intervals.

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