BIRD LID E PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION i VOL. VIII JUNE, I93S NO* 2 OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION President — O. S. Thomas, Rock Rapids, Iowa Vice-President — Miss Lillian Serbousek, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Sec’y-T teas,— Miss Kate E. LaMar, 1231 39th St., Des Moines, Iowa Editor — Fred J. Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa Executive Council: J* Wilbur Dole, Fairfield, Iowa Ethan A. Hemsley, Dubuque, Iowa B. 0, Wolden, Estherville, Iowa Ex-officio Council Members (Past Presidents) : Walter M. Rosen Dr. F. L R. Roberts Arthur J. Palas Dr. G. 0. Hendrickson Walter W. Bennett M. L. Jones EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE WINTHROP, 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 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. 1023-1928: 'The Bulletin.* 1029-1930: ‘Iowa Bird Life.' beginning 1031. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Iowa, $1.00 a year (includes j membership dues). Outside of Iowa, 50c a year. Special rate j for all libraries, 50e a year. Single copies 15c each. (Keep the j Editor informed of your correct address.) I + — *■ — - — ■ — ■ — — ■■ — ■< — « — ■ — * — - — *■ — — Entered as second-class matter February 9. 1032. at the pout office at Winthrop. Iowa, under the Act of March 3, 1879. 18 IOWA BIRD LIFE — VIII. 193b THE EUROPEAN PARTRIDGE IN NORTH-CENTRAL IOWA By WILLIAM E. GREEN and GEORGE 0. HENDRICKSON 1 frconomie Zoology unu ItrOomolouy Section, Agricultural Experiment Station, anil the Division uf Industrial Science. Iowa State Collepe. Ames, Iowa The European Partridge. PerJix fwniix pcrJix (Linnaeus), is more com- monly known as the Hungarian Partridge, and often is called Gray Partridge. This bird, native game in central and southeastern Europe, has recently been imported to the United States to supplement the supply of native upland birds. It was first introduced into Iowa in 1910 (Leopold, 1951), although it is not known how many were re- leased at that time. These plantings were made in north-central Iowa, and from them birds drifted into the southern part of Minnesota. As no detailed records were kept on these plantings, information concern- ing the early history is necessarily fragmentary, Gordon (1935) says that in 1914, Iowa bought 0,000 Huns, but that they did not appear to do well and soon nearly disappeared; but he adds that they have come back in some places and today are doing well, especially in the north-central part of the state. Farm people in northern Iowa often speak of the European lait- ridge as a “quail”. Such confusion is easily accounted for because the partridge and quail are both in the same family, Perdicidae. The obvious relationship in structure and habits further explains the mis- taking of the European Partridge for the native Bob-white Quail, Cfi'b/ns i-irginia mis which is not numerous in northern counties. The partridge is intermediate in size between the Bob-white and the Greater Prairie Chicken, Tynititinucbni cHpitln airt^rtcititus. Like the Piaine Chicken it lives more in open fields, and is almost exclusively a ground dweller. This partridge is a strong flier but a single flight seldom exceeds a quarter of a mile. In flight, the Hungarians appear much like the Bob-whites, The entire covey flushes at once, usually with a loud whirring of wings. As a rule, after the strong, noisv take-off, a bud ,> wings are spread and the birds sail for some distance. The senioi writer “clocked” a few covovs that flew in such a way that their speed could be determined from the speedometer of the car, and found that the Huns sailed at a speed of about 35 miles per hour. This rapid flight is not sustained for any length of time, however. The color pattern of the European Partridge shows a reticulate in- termixture of black, white, rusty, and cream on the back, neck and breast. That, together with a nearly clear black and white on the breast, gives it a grayish appearance. The throat, face, and super- ciliary' lines are tawny chestnut, and there is a conspicuous horse-shoe of rich chestnut on the upper abdomen. The outer tail feathers are reddish brown, and form a distinct and very conspicuous mark when the birds are flushed. , . . The sexes are difficult to distinguish in the field. 11 is generally stated that the best way of differentiating between the sexes is by the markings on - the wing-covert leathers. At all ages tie wing-coveits have buff cross-bars in the female whereas in the male there is only a longitudinal stripe, characters not readily discerned at even a short distance in the open. . . For several years in northern Iowa, mostly in the north-central counties, the partridge population has maintained itself in lanly con- stant numbeis, but the population has never been very high. Ob^oivi- tions made on the Experimental Game Management Area in Winne- bago County, Iowa, (an area primarily established for the studv of the Ring-necked Pheasant, I'fj.isiutttts t'oii 'bicus htrtftttttm, Gmelin) have shown 1 .Journal Pnncr No. J PrOlCt Nu, 107. luwii Ci ,Vio ‘ r ihitOii ..-,(111 , t i In* Luwn Agricultural Exucrtmo^t Slat on, Ame^, Iowa. S ato Culler, in C n,| nation with the town Stn <- Cun oivatiuti Si ato; CinLt.'p'iu:.l Sii'voy ;i,-,il L li ’ Britain Wi hi life last: lute. THE EUROPEAN PARTRIDGE IN IOWA 19 that in the past few years the partridges have increased to a consider- able extent In the fall of 11)35, when the pheasant studies were initiated by the senior writer, at that time under the direction of Logan J. Bennett, U. S, Biological Survey, and of the junior author, there were only 3l> partridges on the 4900-acre tract under observation. At the present time (May, 1938) there are 140 partridges on the same area. The Huns are very winter-hardy, as evidenced by the fact that dur- ing the severe winter of 1935-'3G, only one was known to have suc- cumbed. (During the same winter 48.2 per cent of the pheasants on the area were lost). The single dead partridge was found on February 23, 193G. As the breast profile was 80 per cent normal, that bird had not starved to death. No cause for its death was revealed during the examination of the carcass by the writers and several co-workers. Perhaps one of the reasons why the partridges are so winter-hardy is that they huddle together so closely to conserve warmth. On several occasions the senior writer flushed a covey of nine to observe that the depression left in the snow where they had roosted was smaller than that made by one pheasant. During severe weather Hungarians are frequently found roosting in open fields apparently away from all shelter, and they do not seem to suffer from the exposure. Leopold (1931) states, “Hungarians come nearer being able to get along without cover than pheasants or quail. Apparently they need neither brush nor woodland, but during snow they do require some heavy grass, weeds, or standing corn.” The partridges on the area seemed to prefer wild plum to all other protective cover. In each case where there was a plum thicket near the range of the Huns, such a thicket was used as cover. As a rule, partridges and pheasants do not utilize the same coverts. But during the winter of 1938, in one instance under observation the two species did use a willow thicket together. In this thicket were found daily about 4G pheasants and 40 Huns. The Huns were in two coveys of 33 and 7, respectively. However, the two species did not use the same part of the cover; the pheasants used one end of the willows while the Huns were found at the other end. There was a marked tendency for each covey to remain intact and separate from other coveys. In the case of the two coveys mentioned above, the partridges were often found to mix while feeding, but when they flushed, the birds invariably split into two coveys, always con- sisting of 33 and 7 birds, respectively. When these coveys went to the willows to roost at night they frequently were found in close prox- imity to each other, but there was always at least a short distance be- tween the coveys. In the winter of 1935-'3fi, partridges and pheasants were not ob- served to feed together. However, during the winter of 1937-’38 mixed feeding of the two species was observed in the vicinity of the willow row already mentioned. There was no fighting between the species while they fed. The Huns are nearly always found in the vicinity of small knolls and less in low ground. Their range is somewhat restricted and the coveys seldom range over a quarter of a mile. When the birds are flushed the first time, they fly straight ahead for a short distance be- fore settling. If the same covey is followed and flushed again, it veers off a little in flight, and if they are flushed a third time, the birds circle and tend to return to the same locality from which they first flushed. Ycatter (193 1) found that the mobility of the species in winter ap- pears to depend both on the habits formed by the covey and on the location of the feeding grounds. He further states that the winter mobility of the Huns in Michigan varied in magnitude, but that 20 per cent of the coveys had a range or “cruising radius'’ of not over one-cighth of a mile. 20 IOWA BIRD LIFE— VIII, 1938 Mating of the Huns occurs rather early in the year. On the area under observation in Winnebago County, mating was observed in the latter part of February, 10-38. Since it is difficult to tell the sexes apart in the held, it is assumed that they have mated when they segre- gate out in pairs. On the Winnebago area during the summers of 193b and 1 vit notes were taken on 21 nests. Of these nests 5 were found along the fence line or very near the edges of the fields, 11 were found in the tenth mower swath, 3 were found in the space between the tenth and twenti- eth swath and 2 were found in the twentieth mower swath. The nest is made on the ground in a shallow' depression smoothed out by the birds. It is made up apparently of two layers, with a coarse layer on the outside and a finer layer inside. The coarse layer is composed of coarse grass, dead weed stems, or straw. Sometimes body feathers may be found in this layer. The inner layer is composed of line grass stems such as bluegrass or alfalfa, and often the nests are more or less lined with down. In older nests the downy lining is more notice- able than in new nests. As the clutch nears completion and betore incubation begins, there is usually a rather thick lining of feathers in the nest. THE EUROPEAN PARTRIDGE IN IOWA 21 The partridges as a rule have large clutches. Many of them have 20 or more eggs per nest One nest was found with 22 eggs in it, but the nest was destroyed in mowing. Another with 20 eggs was exposed by mowing, but the senior writer took the eggs and incubated them under a domestic hen. Apparently only the female incubates the eggs. She seldom leaves the nest during the day, but may leave it for a short time in early morning or late evening. The incubation period is 24 days. The newly hatched young are quite small, about of the same size as a newly hatched quail. They are streaked with browns of varying shades, giving them a striped appearance. The stripes start at the eyes, diverge and continue along the body. Observations made on those hatched by a domestic hen showed that the young started to feed soon after hatching. They would not eat prepared chick mash at first, but preferred tender grass shoots. Later, they did eat the mash. No observations were made on the rate of development of the young. The chicks follow the hen around for some time after hatch- ing. Even in late fall, old birds may be seen with large young ones still with them. The largest family of young seen with a single hen numbered 3fi, Possibly this brood was the result of two hens laying in the same nest, or perhaps one hen was caring for the young from two separate clutches. The young are able to fly soon after hatching, and at the age of a few weeks they are fairly adept at it, although they soon tire and do not make long flights. Should the old bird leave the young when flushed, the young hide, usually more or less scattered. They seem to group together again soon after the danger is past and wait for the old bird to return. No attempts were made to ascertain the feeding habits of the Huns on the area. No crops or stomachs were examined, and the only thing ascertained about the feeding habits is that learned by observation. It is believed that the partridges do no damage to crops, at least by the farmers on the area. Most of the farmers feel that the birds are harmless and want them on their farms. Many of the farmers feed the Huns in the hog lots during the winter, either intentionally or otherwise. Without exception, the farmers want the partridges on their farms. It has been noticed that since the pheasant population has been so decimated by hard winters and poor nesting seasons, the Huns on the area have increased. Whether or not there is any correlation is not known. Possibly there is such a thing as maximum carrying capa- city of the land for all species, and when one species is too prominent, the others are restricted. Leopold (1931) states, “The best Hungarian range is never the best pheasant range The best pheasant range is never the best Hungarian range On range inhabited by pheas- ants, Hungarians, and quail, not more than one species seems to reach its saturation point Low population of pheasants, Hungarians, and quail ..... may coexist on the same farm,” In an attempt to ascertain, if possible, how far the Huns move from their winter range, trapping was tried with the ultimate intention of banding. It was thought that perhaps some ideas could be gathered to explain why the population has not been built up much highett It is believed by some that the excess of birds that are obviously pro- duced on the area migrate away from the range from which they are raised, and it was hoped that if some could be banded, sufficient re- turns could be obtained to give some indication of just what happens. However, these efforts failed because in every case where the part- ridges were taken in the trap, jackrabbits were also taken, and the latter animals gnawed their way out, thus creating holes through which the Huns also escaped. oo IOWA BIRD LIFE— VIII, 1938 The seasonal variations in the partridge populations from the time the studies were initiated are shown in the following summary: Winter, 1935-’3G 36 Spring, 1936 35 Fall, 1936 32 Spring, 1937 16 Winter, 1937-’38 140 Thus it is apparent that the population has fluctuated markedly dur- ing the period in which the observations were made. These fluctua- tions, so far, have not been satisfactorily explained. VV ith some in- tensive banding work, perhaps some ideas may be obtained to explain what happens to the birds. At any rate, in the past year there has been a marked increase in the population. Now it will be ot inteiest to see if this population will maintain itself or whether the excess will disperse or disappear until the level which has been maintained dur- ing past years is reached. Possibly when and if the pheasant popula- tion is built up to the same level it held before the disastrous winter of 1935-’36, the European Partridge will lose the little advantage it has gained in the last year, and the old situation of low, faniy con- stant densities will result. LITERATURE CITED Gordon, Seth. ■ I 1935. The Hungarian Partridge. A complete record of this great bird in America. Field and Stream, May. 1935. Green, William E. , , ^ _ . , , 1938. The Food and Cover Relationships m the Winter Survival of the Ring-necked Pheasant, Pbasianus cal chic us torquatns, Gmehn, in Noith Iowa. Iowa State Jour, of Science. 12 (3) : 285-314. Leopold. Aldo. ^ 1931. Report on a Game Survey of the North-central States pp., 21 maps (part col.), 15 charts, 4 photos. Obtainable American Game Association, Washington, D. C. Yeatter, Ralph E. _ . 0 . 1934. The Hungarian Partridge in the Great Lakes Region, of Mich. School of For. and Conserv. Bui. 5. Umv. of Mich. December, 1934. 299 from Univ. Press. THE SECOND CEDAR RAPIDS CONVENTION By KATE E. LA MAR Sco’y-Tr^asureiv Iowa Ornithologists Union The sixteenth annual meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union was called to order by the President, Myrle Jones, in the French Room of the Montrose Hotel, Cedar Rapids, on Friday morning, May b, 1938- The room was crowded with members and friends and several sat in the adjoining room during the morning session. Dr. H. M. Gage, piesi- dent of Coe College, welcomed the group to Cedar Rapids, He read excerpts from the book, 'Bird Notes from the Journal of a Bird Lover , by the late Wm. G. Ross of Fairfield. Dr. Gage felt that bird study met the needs of the people for outdoor play. A response was made by A. J. Pal as of Postville. Mr. Palas stated that children should be taught if conservation is to succeed. The late Drs. Shimek and Pam me l were two of the greatest teachers in Iowa and laid much ot the founda- tion for the future study of both plants and birds. . W. E. Green of Iowa State College spoke on the Hungarian l art- ridge an exotic bird in Iowa that is hardy, lays large clutches of egsrs, and thrives on insect pests. Dr. G. 0. Hendrickson spoke ot the held research now being done by Iowa State College, not only on game birds and water fowl but on song birds, too. The State Conservation Commission, U. S. Biological Survey and the Extension Division ot THE CEDAR RAPIDS CONVENTION the College work in close harmony in compiling material on the birds of Iowa; a number of bulletins are in use and are available to stu- dents. Dr. Hendrickson introduced Ellis A. Hicks. Through the work of the College Mr. Hicks contacts farmers on conservation problems such as the burning of fence rows which provide cover for the birds and native animals. . . . "Bird Clubs for Children/* with suggestions for both indoor and outdoor work, was adequately covered by Mrs. Ray Dix of Cedar Fall's and Mrs. M. L. Jones of Pomeroy. Mrs. Dix recommended the Audubon leaflets, feeding trays, clay work, and food for raising unfortunate young birds, Mrs, Jones suggested response to roll call with a story or a name of a bird, work in coloring pictures, keeping notebooks, etc., and studying old nests in fall and winter. "A Report of the Dubuque Bird Club/’ by E, A. Hemsley, was interesting. He spoke of cat pests, various bird records, and of governmental projects, one of which is the cutting of 13,000 acres of virgin timber along the Mississippi River. The changes in bird life in the region are keeping the mem- bers of the club busy. Before the noon adjournment there was a roll call of the Charter Members of the Union. Of the 19 Charter Members still continuing their membership, it was found that the following nine were present; Mrs Mary Bailey, Walter W. Bennett, Arthur J. Palas, Fred J. Pierce, Walter M: Rosen, Dr. T. C. Stephens, Mrs. C. B. Trcwin, Mrs. Toni Wendelburg, and B. 0. Wolden. It would be a fine record if this group of 19 could all be present at the meeting next year. The afternoon session opened with Mrs. W. G. MacMartin of Tama showing two reels of colored moving pictures, "Birds an'd Nature in Iowa/" which were very interesting. Mrs. C. C. Flodin of Cedar Rapids followed by a talk on "Spreading the Gospel of Bird-lore." She ex- plained the methods and results of window displays in prominent build- ings, the Cedar Rapids Bird Club and Coe College having sponsored six such windows showing the study of birds by a museum arrange- ment. "Factors Controlling Sexual Activity in Female Sparrows,” was given by Dr. R. M. Riley of the University of Iowa. His experiment has shown that the light day is the important factor. Dr. M. L. Grant of Iowa State Teachers College told of the birds found on the South Sea islands. He stated that many birds, such as gees£. grebes, cranes, flycatchers and others, were not seen in Polynesia. The 1 kingfisher there catches insects, while the starling was imported from India to destroy the wasps on the island. “Bird Study for the Family”* was presented by Dr. Mary Price Roberts of Spirit Lake, She concluded that in the family there should be play and not too much work in bird study, and success or failure may be due to the factors of field glasses or stay- ing too long for the child to keep interested. The afternoon program closed with “The Forum,” conducted by Dr. F. L. R. Roberts and with the subject, "Locations in Iowa of Special Interest to Ornithologists,” given a prominent place. Many persons responded with short talks, and the following birds and their occurrence over the state were among those described: Cliff Swallow, Black-crowned and Great Blue Herons, Blue and Snow Geese, Mockingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Red Cross- bill and Evening Grosbeak, The business meeting was brief and closed the afternoon session. It was voted to accept the invitation to hold the annual convention at Spirit Lake in 1939. A second invitation had come from the Dubuque Bird Club, but the prior invitation from Spirit Lake was accepted for 1939, with Dubuque as a probable first choice in 1940. The Nominat- ing Committee, composed of Drs. Roberts and Stephens and Walter Bennett, made its report. The officers elected are as given on the title page of this issue. The Auditing Committee, Nichols and Pierce, reported that the Treasurer’s books were found in order and satis- factory. 24 IOWA BIRD LIFE— VIII, 1938 The annual banquet was served in the Terrace Room of the hotel with 100 or more persons in attendance. E. J. Fetranek acted as toastmaster. He called on Walter Bennett, Walter Rosen, Dr. Hen- drickson and a few others for brief talks, and there was singing in which the entire company took part. The speaker of the evening was George Tonkin, Regional Director of the U. S. Biological Survey, Des Moines. Mr. Tonkin told of the Survey's work in the field and re- quested all present to help when possible. Many people sell land to the government for refuge purposes, then through a legislator try to recover it for grazing. Grazing destroys the cover needed next year for nesting birds. And hunting clubs besiege the Bureau to obtain rights to hunt on the refuge. Drainage ditches ruin many good refuges for game. Three reels of interesting moving pictures taken by Mr. Tonkm were shown. These included migrating geese at Sioux City g an, sen. and birds and mammals in Minnesota, The field trip on Saturday morning was a success in spite of rather unfavorable weather. Those who saw the caravan of about 20 autos lined up on the highway and nearly 80 people in the field, over 50 in one group, could understand what is meant by “the army of bird students.” Noon luncheon, at which we were guests of the Cedar Rapids Bird Club, was served to 82 persons, at the Amana Colony Inn near Amana Lake. After a fine lunch, short speeches were made, songs were sung, the bird list was compiled, goodbyes were said, and another very successful convention became history. Attendance Register. — —AMES, Wm. E, Green, Ellis A. Hicks, Dt. and Mrs. G. O. Hendrickson, Theodore Swem, Chas, Yocom; ARNOLDS PARK, W. W. Bennett; BAXTER, Rev. and Mrs. D. E. Bosma; CEDAR FALLS, Rhea Disney, Mrs. R. S. Dix, Myrtle GalTin, Dr. Winifred Gib bert. Dr. Martin Grant; CEDAR RAPIDS, Jean Bice, Geo. R. Boune, Miriam Confare, Esther Copp, Mary J. Davis, Glen Daugherty,^ Mar- garet Dickey, Lavina Dragoo, Mrs, Ralph Dresher, Mrs. Ida Elliott, Wallace Emmons, Mrs. C. C. Flodin, Marvil Foster, Virgil Fouskce, Dr H M. Gage, Glen M. Hathorn, Mrs. Ben Hazen, Helen Henry, Isabel Hovman. Helen Kidd, Hattie Klahn, Lois Klinifelter, Edyth Lo- Everett Lowry, Mrs. L. J. Maresh, Scotty McLeod, Ingeborg Niel- Mrs. A. Nilsson, Lavinia K. North, Ethel Qrr, Helen Pattec, Mr. and Mrs. Emil Pazdera, Mr. and Mrs. E. J, Petranek, Wilma Poldevboer, Mrs. J, E. Powers, Rev. Henry Scherer, Lillian Serbousek, Jerry Stand- ard, Evelyn Stoakes, Robt. Stodola, Iola Tillapaugh, Wilma Van 0 re- do L Jean Williamson, Myra Willis; CENTRAL CITY, Ruth Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pike; COGGON, Esther Henderson, Irene Montgom- ery, Marian Savage; DAVENPORT, Elizabeth Ann Coe, Dorothy Jones; DES MOINES, Helen Hovde, Kate LaMar, Olivia McCabe, Jack Mus- grove, Mrs. R. J, Thornburg, Geo. Tonkin, Mrs. Toni Wendelburg; DUBUQUE, Ethan Hemsley, Margaret Kohlman, Woodrow Radle, Mrs. C. B. Trewin, Edna Walter, Mary Young; ESTHER VI LLE. B. O, Wol- den; GRUNDY CENTER. Mrs. Helen G. King, Mrs. Jennie Meyers; IOWA CITY Edna Flesner, Malcolm McDonald, R. M, Riley, Mary Elaine Roberts; MT. VERNON. J. W. Strickland, Jr,; NEVADA, Henry Birkeland; OELWEIN, Delma Stoekwell; OGDEN, W. M. Rosen; POM- EROY Mr and Mrs. M. L. Jones; POSTVILLE, A. J, Pa las; SAC CITY, Laura Putbrese; SHELBY, Ivan Boyd; SIOUX CITY, Mrs. Mary Bailey Wilfred Crabb, Dr. and Mrs. T. C. Stephens; SPIRIT LAKE. Dr. and Mrs. F. L. R, Roberts, Velma Roberts; SUMNER, Jean Heyer, Margaret Muvley ■ TAMA. Mrs. J. G. Ennis. Mrs. W. G. MacMartin, Mrs. H. F. Storm Mrs C J. Wonser; WATERLOO, John Blicse, Lucile and Myra Loban, Lillian Maxwell, Harvey Nichols, Wanda Wilharm; WEST BRANCH Irene Carran; WINTHROP, F. J. Pierce; CLARKS GROVE. MINN.. Mrs. A. R. Jenson; MOLINE, ILL., Ruth Beitel. Total regis- tered, 120. GENERAL NOTES 25 Birds Seen on the Field Trip. — Wood and ponds south of Cedar Rapids, and Amana Lake, Linn and Iowa Counties; May 7, about 6:30 a. m. to 12. Light rain until 8:30, then cloudy and cold. Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Green Heron, Least Eittern, Blue-winged Teal, Shoveller, Ring-necked. Canvas-back and Scaup Ducks, Ruddy Duck (Nichols), Sharp-shinned, Red-tailed, Marsh and Sparrow Hawks, Bob-white, Ring-necked Pheasant. King, Virginia and Sara Rails, Am. Coot, Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe, Spotted, Solitary, Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellow- legs, Wilson's Phalarope, Forster’s and Black Terns, Common Tern (Musgrove), Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Nighthawk, Chim- ney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Flicker, Red-bellied, Red-headed, Hairy and Downv Woodpeckers, Kingbird, Crested and Least Flycatchers, Phoebe, Wood Pewec, Prairie Horned Lark, Tree, Bank, Rough-winged, Earn and Cliff Swallows, Purple Martin, Blue Jay, Crow, Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White -breasted Nuthatch, House and Prairie Marsh Wrens, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Robin, Wood, Olive-backed and Gray- cheeked Thrushes, Bluebird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Migrant Shrike, Starling, Blue-headed, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos, Philadelphia Vireo (McDonald), Black and White. Blue-winged, Tenn., Nashville, Parula, Yellow, Magnolia, Myrtle, Palm and Connecticut Warblers, Oven-bird, GrinnelPs and Louisiana Water-thrushes, North- ern Yellow-throat, Redstart, Bobolink, Eastern and Western Meadow- laiks. Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Bronzed Crackle, Cow- bird, Scarlet Tanager, Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunt- ing, Dickcissel. Goldfinch, Towhee, English. Savannah, Grasshopper, Vesper, Lark, Chipping, Field, White-throated, Swamp and Song Spar- rows. Total, 115 species. GENERAL NOTES A Late Fall Reco rd of the Great Blue Heron. On the morning of November 21, 1937, when the mercury stood at 9.4 below zero, the writer was agreeably surprised to see a Great Blue Heron feeding in a small opening of swift water in the Floyd River within the limits of Sioux City. The bird when flushed flew down the river a short distance and then headed west in the direction of the Missouri River, Great gobs of frozen mud clung to its feet, but regardless of this added weight the great bird lifted itself easily and flew out of sight. — WM. YOUNGWORTH, Sioux City, Iowa. Bluebirds in Winter at McGregor. — November 22 was the latest 1 had ever seen Bluebirds here, but during the past winter l saw them after everything was covered with snow and sleet. I recorded from two to ten on December 8, 11, 1.1 and 24, 1937. They came to my bird feeder on which I had placed branches of bittersweet. They ate the berries but would not touch the other food. I did not see them again until January 14, 1938, when two came with a flock of Slate- colored Juncos. They were here almost every day during that week, and I saw them often during February.- — M. ELLEN THORNBURGH. McGregor, Iowa. Winter Notes from Sioux City.- — A lone Meadowlark was seen al- most daily during December, January and February as it fed along the railroad tracks near the coal-yard, Waste grain is scattered along these tracks and is a good source of food for pigeons and English Sparrows, as well as the Meadowlark. Sparrow Hawks were seen sev- eral times during ihe warm weather of early February, 1938. Small flocks of Canada Geese were also noted going north during this same period. Prairie Falcons were to be found in about normal numbers, with one or more being noticed every few davs during January and February.— WM. YOUNGWORTH, Sioux City, Iowa. 26 IOWA BIRD LIFE— VIII, 1038 Red-wings at a Carn-crib. — About three miles north of Harpers Ferry, in the southeast corner of Lafayette Township in Allamakee County, the valley of a considerable tributary creek opens into the canyon valley of the Mississippi, On the bottomland at its mouth there was, last summer, a cornfield, the crop from which was stored in a ciib be- side the unfrequented road up the river. Passing there early in March, 190S, we saw a Hock of 75 male Red-winged Blackbirds in the trees and cornfield and in the crib. Most of the accessible ears of corn on top, and those that could bo reached through the clicks in the crib, had been stripped of their kernels. The owner of the corn told us that the blackbirds had been there all winter and had lived on his corn. — ELLISON ORR, Waukon, Iowa. Bewick's Wren . and other BircL at Vinton. — —On, April 15, 1937, I noted my first pair of Bewick's Wrens in this locality. I next sa\v them on April ] 0, when they started a nest on a shelf beside a small porch door. They worked faithfully the greater part of three days, then for eight days they were just in and out, but the male sang his beautiful song constantly. On May 3 I noted two eggs. Two days later I found the nest scattered over the porch floor. I didn’t see the, female again, but the male returned later with a female House Wren and began building in a wren house on the same porch. They were finally driven out by another House Wren. On the afternoon of August ‘28, 1930, I heard jays, robins, grackles and sparrows which were greatly excited in some large trees at the roar of our place. I could not determine the cause, but later I picked up a dead Starling, still warm, beneath the trees. It is possible there had been a battle among the birds. An Indigo Bunting reared a brood of young in our raspberry patch in the summer of 1937. I was unable to find the nest until July 8, a number of days after the young had left it. The male was unusually tame. From my observation this bird usually nests in thickets near water in my region. My home is near the river, with plenty of trees and shrubs and not much to disturb the birds that nest there, I have noticed a scarcity of Cardinals during the past two years, and have not seen a Tufted Titmouse during that time. — WALTER L. BURK, Vinton, Iowa. Notes from Emmet County.— There were large numbers of White Pelicans on Mud Lake during the spring of 1937. Within my memory no large numbers of these birds have remained on any of the local lakes for more than a few days; but this year they began to arrive about April 13 and on the 18th the number on the lake was variously estimated at 200 or more. As they were constantly flying and moving about, it was difficult to make an accurate estimate. A considerable number of pelicans remained on the lake during May, and a few were reported to be staying on East Okoboji Lake during the summer. As- sociated with the ' pelicans on Mud Lake were many Double-crested Cormorants, which, sitting on a sand bar or in tall trees on the lake bank, made an interesting sight. In May, 1937, a Barn Owl was taken near Wallingford and brought to the caretaker of Fort Defiance State Park, but it died shortly after- ward It was the first one I have seen in this vicinity. For a few days, from May 15 to 20. the warbler migration was in- teresting, Of the warblers not common in this vicinity the following species were observed: a Golden-winged on May 15; a pair of Bay- breasted on May IS; a Black-throated Green on May 19. There were several observations of Chestnut-sided and Mourning Warblers, In September, 1937, a Plicated Woodpecker was seen at various times in the woods at High Lake. It was seen several times by Christie Anderson near his home, and was also observed and identified by C. GENERAL NOTES F. Wolden. Although I visited the woods on several occasions, T did not see the bird. It has not been seen since October 9. On November 4, 1937, a Snow Bunting was seen dying along a road- side and was observed as it sat on a fence-post. I have never seen these birds here except in the cold weather of midwinter; this lone bird seemed out of place so early in the season. There was much more brown in its plumage than I have seen on the birds in winter. A Woodcock stayed at Mud Lake in August, 1935, and one was re- ported from a ravine near Esthervillc in the summer of 1937. — R. 0. WO L DEN, Estherville, Iowa. Publications on Iowa Ornithology during 1937. Baker, Maurice F.. and Hendrickson, George O. The Wintering of a Northern Flicker in Central Iowa; Bird-Banding, VIII, pp. 114-117, Bennett, Logan J. Canvas-back Breeding in Iowa; Auk. LIV, p. 534; Eio logical Survey (U. S.) Bird Migration Memorandum No. 2; March 1, 1937. pp.' 1-44. ' Bird-Lore. * Christmas bird censuses from Iowa, XXXIX, pp. Gl-G his own extensive observations, and drawing freely from the records of others. Dr. Roberts has compiled a very complete history of Minne- sota ornithology from 1917 to 1937. The reports for the 20 years are well worth putting into book form. They will be more accessible and of greater value to all who will have occasion to consult the Minnesota data. The seasonal reports were often abbreviated to fit ‘Bird-Lore’s’ pages. In this book they are published in their full, original form, while much additional material is published for the first time. The index which is provided is a model of thoroughness with detailed refer- ences to birds, trees, flowers, insects, and with the names of all con- Iributoi's given. Thp book is very nicely put up, with excellent binding, paper and printing. There are 21 line drawings, mostly of birds, and a frontis- piece by W. J. Breckenridge. Only 500 copies of the book were printed. As a gesture of appreciation Dr. Roberts presented about 100 of these to i-he persons who furnished their notes for his use. The remaining iOO copies will soon be sold, and a second printing is not planned. Covering our neighboring state, the book contains much of value for To wa bird students, who should secure a copy before the supply is sold out. — F, J. P. * * # * * BIRD NOTES FROM THE JOURNAL OF A NATURE LOVER, by Will ir m Graham Ross; arranged by Elda Illick Armknecht, edited by Ella Lam son Clark (published privately, 1938; cloth, pp. i-xiv -j- 1-169, man of region on end sheets) . Of the varied interests which occupied the life of William Graham Ross (1859-1927), Fairfield, Iowa, lawyer, the study of nature in all 30 IOWA BIRD LIFE— VIII, 1938 its seasonal aspects seems to have been a predominant one. The birds came in for a large share of his attention. His rambles over the countryside near Fairfield took up much of his leisure time and ex- tended all through the year. Sometimes he went alone, but usually his wife or children accompanied him. They walked, or old Dolly was hitched to the phaeton for longer trips. Some of the names that they gave to favorite haunts still endure— Esther's Knoll, Pebbly Brook, Picnic Point, the Thicket, Squirrel Wocds, etc. For somc^ 30 years Mr. Ross recorded his observations in journal form. His field notes were expanded to considerable length at home in the evenings or on rainy Sundays. It is from his journal during his most active years of 1898 to 1910 that the present book is made up. The material is ar- ranged according to months of the year, so that the reader gets the effect of a journal running through one entire year. From the quality of the writing it would seem that the author planned eventual publica- tion; yet the existence of the journals was never mentioned to out- siders rnd they were not discovered until after his death. Mr. Ross admired nature from the aesthetic side, and he was in- clined to be literary and philosophical. He was a reader of Thoreau, Bui roughs and Torrey, and perhaps he came under their influence to a certain extent— in the trend of thought and literary quality of his writing there is a certain resemblance. His observations of birds are accurate and, working up from an amateur, he learned his ornithology well. There is a list of 197 species which he listed in a 10-year period ending in 1907. It is a pleasant little book— the kind to dip into at odd times for relaxation. It has a great deal of interest for Iowa people, and we are glad that this poition of the journals has been made available by the Ross descendants. — F. J. P. * * * * * NESTING BIRDS OF IOWA, by Thomas G, Scott and George 0. Hendrickson (Ext. Oirc. 2 17, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, March, 193$: wrappers pp. 1-64; price, 10c). This is a communion to the booklet on Iowa winter birds by the same authors. Fifty common summer residents are featured, each with an attractive line drawing by Sid Horn, and a brief but very useful description of its habits, song, food, etc. on the bottom half of the page. Fifteen other species already illustrated in the winter birds booklet are also described. It is recommended that school children color the outline drawings, in this way learning the markings of the birds so that they will be recognized more easily when seen in the Held. The color description is given alongside each drawing. Instruc- tions for building bird houses and baths are given, and a short chapter on the functions of birds' feathers, feet and legs, bill, wings and tails, opens other angles for studv. It is an excellent guidebook for the young bird student. Its publication by Iowa State College, with the accompanying wide distribution that this institution will be able to give it, is an educational project deserving the highest commendation. — F. J. P. # * * * * THE SUMMER BIRDS OF THE LAKE OKOBOJI REGION OF IOWA, bv T. C. Stephens fUniv. la. Studies in Nat. Hist., XVII, 1938; pub. by Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City; wrappers, pp. 277-340; price, 35c.) As an Iowa regional list this is an important contribution. It is b*sed on studies made during ten summers, from 1911 to 1919, and 1921, while the author was engaged in work at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. This is a region of much ornithological interest, combin- ing lake anti marsh with timber and prairie. The annotated list of 116 species is well worked up and gives us much valuable information on the birds of northwest Iowa. — F. J. P. MEMBERSHIP NEWS :;i MEMBERSHIP NEWS Thos. G. Scott, one of our members, published a 54-pagc paper on Mammals of Iowa’ in the October, 1937 (XII, No. 1), issue of ‘Iowa State College Journal of Science’. Upward of 10() species and sub- species are listed, and the distribution of each within the state is well covered. It is an authoritative treatise which will be useful to all serious students of mammal life in the Middle West. The Sioux City Bird Ciub’s mimeographed leaflet. The D’ckcisscT, reached Vol. II, No. S, with (he issue for April 20 , 1938. This, the only mimeographed bird serial in our state, gives bird notes from the Sioux City region and covers the activities of one of our oldest local bird clubs. The Club celebrated its 25th anniversary on May 25, 1938. There was a banquet, followed by an illustrated lecture by Walter Rosen. About 100 persons were in attendance. One of our members, Miss Margaret Murloy, who is an instructor in the Sumner schools, spent her Easter vacation on a trip to New Orleans. Ac a side trip sh > also visited “Bird City,” which is the famous bird refuge owned and operated by E. A. Mcllhenny at Avery Island, Louisiana. We note the death of Rev, P. B, Peabody "n October 8, 1937. He was well known among the older bird men. Most of his residence was outside the state, but ho lived a year or two at Independence, Iowa, about the period of 1917. Ellis E. Wilson, an attorney of Waterloo, Iowa, died there on March 12, 1938, aged 77 years. Although he never joined our organization, he wrote several articles on birds in early Iowa which were published in ‘Iowa Bird Life’, and he took & keen interest in birds and nature throughout his life. — — « — — ■*, THE OOLOGI3T is the only publication on the j American Continent devoted . fo those who are interested • in collecting, preserving, ami J studying birds’ eggs. Fifty . cents per year. THE OOLC2I3T LACON, ILLINOIS THE BULLETIN of IOWA t ORM, UNION | I I'ruiiTi t ■ jr o T [ 1 1 Vi/ A lit! t L> i A 5 u is available at $1.53 r sv'. * A complete set covers 1 } - j 30, o quarterly issues with . M page ; of valuable notes. o:i Icnva birds, f Order from j IOWA BSD I IF S ( W1NTHNCP, IGvVA + — — + j \ A New Edition! ■OWA ORN. UNION’S “field Check-List” \ riiL' i t uiinuii t,>i moo ct jpivs j ; v •.-,!» -t j l l! ‘it within ,i year, An- 1 , vJui.m ,0 mob has been = ! grimed and ready iot dbtribu- I i ; Pi. T!u remain t h e sam .. | 500, 82.15 j 109, 50c 50 or less, YiC each Alt enters sent (tostfidiif Printed on * ' orJ, j;wiJ stock, ! or in ' di 8 . * v .i bird . to be found i ilinui-tii the ' -.jr. Convenient lor \ : ;ir - Hive e supply ready lur j ire o yi re een ;>ut (.very r rip on re: m.nveut record. Send orders to MILS Kate LA MAR, Sec’y 123 i 39th St., Den Moinc 1 ;, Iowa j f I I v i A Book * 1 FOR SALE | of Birds ] BIRD-LORE by l have 23 vols. of BIRD-LORE , ! MARY PRIESTLEY 1 ] — 191 3-1937— for sale. The file is unbound, with original covers, and i! in good condition. Will be sold as The only anthology of its a whole a$ I do not care to break ] kind over printed: excerpts the file. Price, $20,00. ] from writings about birds by i authors from Chaucer to the WILSON BULLETIN ! present date, in verse and j prose, and from all nations. 1 also have the WILSON BUL- LETIN, 1913-1936 inclusive, un- j With 82 exquisite wood bound and complete with all origi- i { engravings by C, F. Tunni- nil covers, as new. Price, $17,30. ] j cliff e. $2.50 ■ ( Shipping chargci not /j repaid ) at all bookstores 1 THE MACMILLAN CO. i i f MRS. H. M. 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