MED LIF

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE

CIRWIiTIhOILOGIISTS*

— [

NO. 1 i

:

I

VOL. IX

MARCH, 1930

THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
S. Thomas, Rock Rapids, Iowa

OFFICERS 01
President — 0
Vice-President — Miss Lillian Serbousek
Sec’y-Treas.—Miss Kate E, LaMar, 12J
Dos Moines, Iowa

Editor- — Fred J. Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
39th St,

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. Pal as Dr. G. 0. Hendrickson

Walter W. Bennett M. L. Jones

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, 1923-1928; 'The Bulletin,’

1929-1 930 ; ‘Iowa Bird Life,’ beginning 1931.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Iowa, $1,00 a year ( includes

membership dues). Outside of Iowa, 50c a year. Special rate
for all libraries, 50c a year. Single copies 15c each. (Keep the
Editor informed of your correct address.)

EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE

WINTHROP, IOWA

Entered as second -cjas$ matter February 9, 1932. at the post office at Winthrop, Iowa,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.

IOWA BIRD LIFE — IX, 1930

It is ill this interesting region Hint our 1939 eunvenliun and fin'd ti'i 1> hit lo he In hi
The shaded areas on the mop hnu ponds anil hikes over leu to res m siae Ihnt have
keen drained si me if-Ou Published through courtesy of ihe CoUesifite 1 rt'ss, Jne.,
Ames, Iowa,

THE SPIRIT LAKE CONVENTION

SPIRIT LAKE, THE SCENE OP OUR
1939 CONVENTION

By F. L. R. ROBERTS, M.D.

Geologically, the Iowa Great
Lakes region is one of the most
interesting parts of the state.
Spirit Lake is near the edge of
the area covered by the Dcs
Moines lobe of the last or Wis-
consin glacier. A few miles to
the west one may find country
in which the topography is
typical Kansan glacial till.
Around the lakes the country is
knobby and rolling; kames,
eskers and other features of re*
cent glaciation are made out
with ease. The fields were once
strewn with glacial boulders,
but most of these have been
cleared away and used for
buildings or left in piles along
the edges of the fields. When
the glacier retreated, hills were
left in seemingly indiscriminate fashion, with depressions between
which formed lakes, ponds, and sloughs.

In Dickinson County there are more than a dozen lakes. Spirit
Lake, the largest in Iowa, is about three and one-half miles across at
the widest place and about four miles long. West Okoboji is narrower
but is about five miles long. Its waters are unusually blue and clear.
Only a few lakes in America are as deep as West Okoboji. Besides
these, there are East Okoboji, Upper and lower Gar, Minncwashta,
Hottes, Marble, Sunken, Welsh, Center, Silver, Diamond, Lilly, Prairie,
Swan, Rush, and Little Spirit Lakes (see accompanying map). Each
of these has its own characteristics, offering a variety of bird habitats.
There are also many permanent ponds and sloughs, and in wet years
there are literally hundreds of small ponds, many of which dry up dur-
ing the summer. Last year the water was higher than it has been for
a number of years. Unless we have heavy rains, some of the shore
that was under water last year will be exposed this spring, making
ideal feeding grounds for shore birds.

This territory is not only farther north but is also higher than the
rest of the state. Consequently, the season is a little later. The Iowa
Ornithologists' Union convention has been set for Friday and Satur-
day, May 12 and 13, hoping to catch the peak of the warbler migra-
tion and an abundance of shore birds and water birds as well. Some of
our members who made a census for the U. S. Biological Survey re-
ported this region to be the best in the state for water birds and
shore birds. Ducks, geese, grebes, gulls, terns and shore birds are here
in abundance. Three or four hundred White Pelicans are usually here
until about the first of June. Double-crested Cormorants are fairly
common migrants. For several years a large colony of Black-crowned
Night Herons has nested just north of Spirit Lake, and these should he
on hand for the convention.

Practically all our Meadowlarks are the western species. We have
fewer hawks and owls than the eastern part of the state, the Marsh
Hawk being the most abundant hawk, Arkansas Kingbirds are almost
as common as the eastern form. Orchard Orioles are more common

4

IOWA BIRD LIFE— IX, 1039

than farther east. Quail arc rather scarce; there are some Prairie
Chickens; Ring-necked Pheasants and Hugarian Partridges are
abundant. No complete list of the birds of this region has been pub-
lished, but one could be compiled by consulting DuMont’s *A Revised
List of the Birds of Iowa' (Univ. of la. Studies in Nat. Hist., XV, 1933,
pp. 1-171 ) and Stephens’ ‘The Summer Birds of the^ Lake Gkoboji
Region of Iowa’ (Univ. of la. Studies in Nat. Hist., XVII, 1938, pp*
277-340), . . .

The region is admirably suited to all types ot outdoor activities.
The fishing season opens on May 15. Schools and stores usually

close, for nearly
everyone goes
fishing on “Fish
Day/’ But if you
to stay for
fishing, be
to engage
boat early,
boat-house

plan

the

sure

your

Every

on the lakes has
all its boats re-
served weeks be-
fore the eventful
day. The middle
of May is early
for swimming,
but a few are al-
ways in before
that time.

Arnolds Park
is so well knowm
as an amusement
park that it
needs no descrip-
tion. Dance halls,
skating rinks,
roller coasters,
shooting galler-
ies, and all the
other usual at-
tr actions are
f o u n d at the
Park. Saddle
horses a n d bi-
cycles m ay be
rented at several
places on the
lake. Three roll-
ing golf courses
a r e available.
There arc ap-
proximately 3,-
500 cottages
around the lakes,
ranging fro m
overnight cabins
to palatial man-
sions. The Indian

massacre of 18 57 had its beginning near the site of Arnolds Park; a
monument at this place commemorates the historical event. Templar

THE SPIRIT LAKE CONVENTION

Park has the Knights Templar Home and is the scene of many meet-
ings of the Masonic Lodge.

There are five state parks on the lakes, three of them with beautiful
stone shelter houses. The one at Gull Point is unusually attractive and
well equipped. Many motor and sail boats are on the lakes and one
steamer still plies the waters of West Okoboji.

The Lakeside Laboratory, a branch of the State University of Iowa is
housed in a dozen or so lovely stone buildings on the shore of West
Okoboji. This is one of the best equipped and most famous of the
held stations for biological research in the world. It was placed here
because of the abundance of wild life of the type that lives in and
about fresh water; but the flowers and animals of the surrounding
prairie are studied as well.

One of the state fish hatcheries is located at Orleans, between Spirit
and East Okoboji lakes. The young pike will be batching by the
hundreds at convention time — a worthwhile sight.

The Antlers Hotel, our convention headquarters, compares favorably
with hotels in much larger places and is far above the average for
towns the size of Spirit Lake. The food in its dining room is reason-
ably priced and not to be excelled in quality. The management will
probably be able to care for all who come to the convention; but if
you plan to stay for Fish Day, be sure to engage a room early.

Plans for our convention program on May 12-13 are not fully com-
pleted. As usual, Friday will be taken up with lectures and bird
papers. At least two illustrated talks of exceptional interest are tenta-
tively planned. Several speakers will give general-interest talks on local
birds, and there will be reports of interesting research studies. The pro-
gram committee will provide a clock, and speakers will be notified
when their allotted time is up, Friday evening there will be a banquet
and motion pictures. We are glad to announce that the speaker will be
Walter W. Bennett, of Los Angeles, California, who will return to Iowa
for the convention. Mr. Bennett’s subject will be “Mountain Bird Life/'
and those who have heard our former President on other occasions,
know that in him we shall have a speaker of unquestioned ability.

Saturday forenoon will be devoted to field trips. There is so much
good territory, there will probably be more than the usual number of
divisions. Various trips will be suited to different degrees of ability
to hike.

ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION

( Attend an re

( Rirrl list

(1

>i-e*i

dent

registered) i

uf field trii

-)

elec!

ed )

1 .

1923 —

Ames,

Feb. 28*

' about 50"

No trip

Waller

M.

Rosen

2.

1 924 —

■Ames,

March 8

■'about 50"

No trip

Waller

M

Rosen

3.

1925 —

■Ames,

Feb, 20-21

well attended"

1 No trip

Walter

M,

Rosen

4.

] 926 —

A tin in

ic. May 14-15

' about 40"

88

Walter

M.

Rosen

5.

1927 —

l>es Mi

>i ii es, Apr. 30-ilov

1 No record

79

Arthur

3. 1

>alas

6.

1929 —

Ames,

Mav 11-12

No record

94

Art Inn*

j

l’alas

i .

1 929 —

Sioux

Citv. May 10-1 1

92

1 09

Waller

W.

Bennett

8.

1 930 —

O Til ill HI

i. Nehr., May 10-:

1 7 92

106

Waller

w,

lien Tie! t

fj

1931 —

Oil :i r

Rapids, May 8 9

3 li * *

65

Dr. F.

L. 1

K, Holier

Is

10.

1 932 —

■lies M

dines, M in' 13 14

100

101

J >r. 1«\

R.

IF Robe

rts

1 1.

1933 —

Fair fie

Id. May 5-6

7-1

120

hr. G

0,

II end l ie

'kson

12.

1934—

■Ames.

Mav 18-19

62

127

Dr. (i,

o.

H emir ii

kson

13.

1935—

■Sioux

Cily, May 10-11-1

2 135

10]

Dv. ti,

(1,

Hendrit

'ksiiJi

J 4 .

19315 —

■Fair fie

■Id, May 8-9

94

136

Mvrlo

L. 9

ones

15.

1937—

■Ceil a r

Fulls, May 7-8

80

150

M vile

L. J

ones

10.

1938—

-Cedar

Rapids, Mav 0-7

120

115

0, K, '

I’hni

HUS

17

1939—

-ftpi rit

Lake, May J2-13

Organization meeting.
* + Incomplete.

G

IOWA BIRD LIFE— IX, 1939

THE 1938 CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUS IN IOWA

We present the 1938 Christmas bird census in the tabulated form
which was adopted in our magazine last year. We thank those mem-
bers who sent in their lists for this purpose. Four censuses were taken
from the supplement (pp.41-42) in the February, 1939, issue of ‘Bird-
Lore.’ A careful study of the census table will reveal some interesting
facts. There are various species of summer residents or transients.
Their presence here at this season is no doubt to be accounted for by
the very mild winter in Iowa and lack of deep snows. Meadowlarks
and Mourning Doves, though not conspicuous on the census lists, have
apparently remained in Iowa in quite large numbers, according to re-
ports in newspapers during the winter of 1938-39, The Magpie oc-
curs on only one list. The variety of hawks this year is an interesting
feature. The Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rusty
Blackbird and Bronzed Crackle were seen only in northeastern Iowa.
The Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Wilson’s Snipe, Bluebird and Red
Crossbill were very good “finds” for a census list.

Data on place, time, weather and the observers who reported are
given below,

BACKBONE STATE PARK (Delaware Co.): Dec. 23; 9:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. Cloudy until 1 p.m., then clear; 5 in. snow, which fell during
the preceding day; light wind, south changing to northwest; temp. 35°
at start 28° at return; total foot mileage in the park, 12, and an auto
ride from Winthrop to the park. Mr. and Mrs, Myrle L, Jones, F. J,
Pierce. (‘ Bird-Lore’)

COUNCIL BLUFFS (Lake Manawa and Carr Lake Wildlife Refuge
in Pottawattamie County): Dec. 27; 9 a.m. to 12 m. Clear and bright
with little wind; no snow; temp. 4* at start, 10° at return; about 3
miles covered, Bruce F, Stiles.

DES MOINES (Brenton’s Slough, Fischer’s Lake, Morningstar Farm,
Beaver Creek, Charles Sing Denman Woods, Walnut Wood State Park
and Waukonsa Woods): Dec. 22; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cloudy; IVs in.
snow on ground; snow and mist during day, becoming dark; cold south-
east wind; temp. 26° at start, 28° at return; combined mileage, 102 by
auto, 22 on foot; 14 observers in 4 groups. Frieda Troeger, Ben Fer-
rier, Olivia McCabe, Elizabeth Peck, Mrs. R. J. Thornburg, Mrs. H. R.
Peasley, Mrs. A. J. Binsfeld, Dwight Smith, Mrs. Toni Wendelburg,
Jessie Morrison, Edna Rounds, Ethel Badgley, Edna Petterson, Kate
LaMar. (‘Bird-Lore’)

DUBUQUE (City, Eagle Point Park, Gen. Pike Lock and Dam, Lin-
wood Cemetery, high school grounds, etc.) : Dec. 26; 3 hrs. a.m., 3 hrs.
p.m. Cloudy in a.m.; 6 in. snow; light southwest wind in a.m., rain chang-
ing to snow before noon, blizzard by mid-afternoon and wind changing
to northwest; temp. 34 1 at start, 19° at return; total mileage, 4 afoot, 12
by auto; because of slippery roads it was impossible to get far from
city; 7 observers in morning group, 3 in afternoon. Mr, and Mrs. R.
W , Johnson, Miss Margaret Kohl man. Miss Fiances Osthoff, Miss Ival
Schuster, Paul Kort, David Reed, Ethan Hemsley (Dubuque Bird Club
members).

HARPER’S FERRY (to Dam No. 9, Hart Forest Reserve, Wexford,
Waterville, Paint Creek, Waukon Junction): Dec. 24; 7:30 a.m. to 12
m. p 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Partly cloudy in a.m., cloudy in p.m.; 5 in.
snow; light southwest wind; temp, 15° at start, 28° at noon, 22° at re-
turn; total mileage, 11 afoot, 60 by auto. Robert Burling, Arthur J.
Palas. (‘Bird-Lore’)

KEOSAUQUA (and vicinity, including Laccy-Keosauqua State
Park) ; Dec. 23; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cloudy but mild; snow of previous
day melting; some ice in river; light southeast wind; temp, 34° at start,
32° at return. Warren N. Keck.

I

CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUS 7

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1 1 ‘ j fl J1 J | " | T ‘ \\* |i"

1 ' ' ^ ■ ] 1 L *

Red -tailed Hawk

2 1

. . . .4

. . . . i

. . . .i

.....

|

|, } | ^ 1 1 1 i

O

.... 1 i

[

i^y ■ | *

: :: ::

.... 1 1

... i

3

. ....

Flicker

. , . , i

... .3

:::::

. ... i

.... i

. . . ,4

.....

. . , ,ii

O

•0 1

Hairy Woodpecker

4

* ’ i

... 24
44

■*:i7

.... 8

. . . 1 i

. . . . ]

1

Horned Lark (Prairie)

...39

r

. . . 32

. . .60

i

American Magpie

.12

.... 1
. . "00

. . . 59

- - 13

. . .24

54

! ! ! 2tj

. . .15

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

. . .23

.... 5
. . . 10

22

9

... m

....5

... .4

. . .20

200

. 2685

. . .50

. .26(1

. .100

. . .4]

... ,4

.... 1

9 7

Red-winged Blackbird , , , ,

. . 500

.... 3

.... 1

<*

. . 147

. . .4

. . 168
... 7 6

1 9

... 13

9

. . ,20

. . 10H

O

. . . . ,

... 34

. . . .3
, . . . H

. . 762
.1113

... 35
.12

. .174
. . 226

. . . . ,

. .100
. . 100

... 68
. .116

j. . .40
I...25

... 18

... 35

1 - 5

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Lapland Longs pur

Number of Species ......

Number of Observers . , . ,

... 3

... 14
.... 1

’ . ^ 39
... 14

1 * - -is

.... 8

... 27
b 2

! . 19

1

’ . 26

. 4000

... 12
... 2

! ! isu 1

, , , .31

Total Iowa, List . . 5 8

OGDEN (Des Moines River bottoms 3 miles northeast of Ogden, open
country surrounding Ogden, then to Beaver Creek Bayou, 6 miles
southwest): Dec. 23; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1:30 to 5 p.m, Weather quite
clear; 2 in. snow; southwest wind; river open; temp. 26° at start, 30°
at 1 p.m.. 22° at return; 38 miles by auto, 8 miles on foot. Robert
Walker, Sam Hyde. ('Bird-Lore')

SIOUX CITY (Horniek Bottoms, below the city) : Dec. 25. Bright

8

IOWA BIRD LIFE— IX, 1939

and clear; light south wind; temp. 30° to 50° during trip. Mr. and
Mrs. Wm. Youngworth.

TAMA (Lake Cherry, Govt, forest area in Indian camps, 10 miles on
highway No. 63 north, and 6 miles on highway No. 30 west) : Dec. 25,
Mr. and Mrs. W. G, MacMartin, Miss Bay Brice.

- — F. J. P.

GENERAL NOTES

A Record of the Ferruginous Rou^h-leg, — On January 2, 1939, my
family and I saw three Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawks, near Iowa
City. They were seen a mile or two apart, a single individual each
time. One arose from a fencepost unexpectedly when we were very
near, and we had opportunity to see the legs feathered to the toes. We
observed the light under parts and dark back with prominent rusty
markings. — MRS. R. W. JOHNSON, Dubuque, Iowa.

Winter Birds near Cedar Falls.— On January 22, 1939, I observed
a male Belted Kingfisher out on Island Park near the junction of Snag
Creek with che Cedar River. There was a good deal of open water
and he was having a grand time. On February 5, I again observed a
Kingfisher up the Cedar about a mile. A little later we had quite a
cold snap, and I hoped there was enough open water left for him to
catch a hearty meal or two. I noticed Bronzed Crackles around Cedar
Falls all winter. I also saw Meadowlarks and none seemed to be on
relief.— WINIFRED GILBERT, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Winter Birds in the Spirit Lake Region. We did not get OUt for a

Christmas census. We made a short list late in the afternoon of Janu-
ary 2, 1939. This included Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown
Creeper, Downy Woodpecker, Ring-necked Pheasant, Crow, Tree and
House Sparrows, Starling and Goldfinch. On December 17, a live
Golden-crowned Kinglet was brought into our office. It had flown
against a store window and was stunned, but it soon recovered from
its bump. Dr. Roberts took it to the edge of town and released it near
a patch of trees containing some conifers. On December 25, Lawrence
Messinger saw a Kingfisher five miles west of Spencer, Clay County,
and a flock of 10 Mourning Doves one and one-half miles farther
north. Howard Graesing saw a Kingfisher at the State fish hatchery at
Orleans on December 15, 1938.— MARY PRICE ROBERTS, Spirit
Lake, Iowa.

Banding Returns at Ames.— I have had reports from Bronzed
Crackles and Robins banded during the years, but although I have
banded hundreds of Slate-colored Juncos, I had not until recently heard
from any of them. So there was mild excitement on the day after
Christmas (1938) when junco “C-45443” turned up and we discovered
that he had been banded here on November 5, 1937. The next day
another junco went into the trap, and his band bore the number
“.38-59610/’ This band had been clamped on here in 1937, November
20. This shows that at least one flock of juncos came south along the
same path used previously.

A Black-capped Chickadee has been feeding here since September —
recognized because he has but one leg. He is affectionately called
“Stumpy.” On December 24, 1988, he showed up in the trap and we
learned that his band was “C-45419.” We had to turn back to Novem-
ber 3, 1936, to find when he was banded, and then we found a return,
November 19, 1937. It is now January and he is still here. An April
banded Bronzed Crackle was killed in downtown Ames in November or
December.- — HARRIET C, BATTELL, Ames, Iowa.

GENERAL NOTES

9

Winter Brevities. — On January 9, 1939, Meadowlarks, Mourning
Doves, Robins and two flocks of ducks were seen near Fairfield. — PAUL
S. JUNKIN.

During the winter the birds were decidedly on the increase at feed-
ing places — on my own bird preserve, in Wapsipinicon State Park, and
in many private yards in Anamosa. Hundreds of white pines planted
in Wapsipinicon Park ten or more years ago are proving an inviting
shelter for birds. — HARRIET A. CUNNINGHAM.

Be Sure of Your Winter Shrikes. — There are few r , if any, records of
the Migrant Shrike in Iowa during the winter months of December,
January and February. The Migrant Shrike ordinarily migrates in
September or early October, but it has been seen in Iowa as late as
November 13 (Marshall County, by Gabrielson) . It may be unwise
to put down as the Northern Shrike any shrike that is seen during win-
ter, especially during a mild winter such as we have just had. There
are Iowa records of the Northern Shrike as early as October 22
(Chickasaw County, by Spiker), and as late as March 30 (MarshalL
County, by Gabrielson). Shrikes seen in the late fall or early spring
should be studied carefully to make sure whether they are the Migrant
or the Northern Shrike. The lower mandible of the Northern is a light
horn color, instead of black as in the Migrant Shrike. Roberts (‘Birds
of Minnesota', 1932) says: “The greater size of the Northern but espe-
cially the lighter under mandible are about the only available dis-
tinguishing field marks. If near enough to see the barring of the under
parts, that will identify the Northern ..." The Northwestern Shrike
is a subspecies of the Northern which occurs in Iowa. As in the case
of many other subspecies, identification must be made from specimens
in the hand and not in the field. The Migrant Shrike is the summer
shrike in Iowa. While it is probable that the shrike seen in December,
January or February is the Northern Shrike, it is well to make sure
of the distinguishing marks when the bird is seen. — F. J. P.

Northwest Iowa Notes. — Each year until last year we have had one
or more Flickers feeding at our feeding-station all winter. Last winter
none was seen, The past winter a Flicker visited the yard regularly
but did not find the feeding-station. One room of a martin house has
a large opening, and the Flicker stayed there part of the time. A
Robin also remained for a part of the winter. It fed in a chicken-yard
across the alley from our place.

We had a number of interesting records during the summer of 1938.
I saw an Indigo Bunting in Lyon County for the first time. It was
near the south line of the county. One Canada Goose stayed on our
farm three miles from Rock Rapids during the summer. The neigh-
bors all knew of the bird and I do not believe it was disturbed. A pair
of Green-winged Teal raised a brood of young on a small water hole
on the same farm. No other ducks were known to have nested in this
vicinity.

Louis Kohl, who is a biology teacher at the Rock Rapids high school,
reports that a flock of six White Pelicans remained on the Rock River
two miles below Rock Rapids during the summer of 1937.

While returning from Fort Dodge on February 3, 1939, I observed
a Mourning Dove on the pavement in the east part of Cherokee. It
was nearly dark and the bird did not fly. As other cars were follow-
ing closely behind me, I did not stop to see whether the bird was in-
jured.

Two years ago Starlings were seen only as occasional pairs, but dur-
ing the past winter there were large flocks in all parts of the county.
One farmer near Rock Rapids had a flock of about 100 around his
yard, — 0. S. THOMAS, Rock Rapids, Iowa.

I

IOWA BIRD LIFE— IX, 19

Notes from Cherokee County. — —Starlings have become very numci-
ous in Cherokee County. Although first seen in 1934, there are now
large flocks about the barns on farms. One boy killed 147 Starlings
in one barn recently. The Magpie was unknown in Cherokee County
until the drought years, and then was seen only rarely. The year 1938
was a fairly wet year and none was seen by the observer until fall,
when 15 Magpies were seen in one flock the last week of November.
One was seen near the same spot on December 7. Because of the late
fall and open water on the streams, as well as the abundance of food,
migratory birds remained longer than usual. Many more than the
usual number of Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings were seen during the
fall, and they remained longer than usual. This was probably because
of the heavy crop of juniper seeds. On our farm along the river we
had two flocks of American Crossbills for a month during October and
November, 1938. A flock of 10 Cardinals was seen on December 1.
Two Red-bellied Woodpeckers stayed on the river farm most of the
winter. They and the other woodpeckers busily attacked the borers
which infested trees injured by the drought. Among these the hickory
trees were especially prominent. With the falling of the leaves in the
fall, a nest count showed a remarkable increase in warbler population
in the unpastured parts of the timber, where the underbrush was heavy.
— N. L. STILES, Cherokee, Iowa.

Further Notes on the American Magpie in Bremer County, Iowa —

On January 10, 1939, my wife and I visited the John Jennings farm
east of Janesville, Bremer County, where the pair of Magpies have
been living since the winter of 1936-1937 {see the two previous articles
on this pair of Magpies in 'Iowa Bird Life’: September, 1937, issue, p.
34; December, 1938, issue, p. 56). We were there at noon, and al-
though one Magpie had been observed by the owner of the farm that
morning, we were unable to find it, even after a thorough search of
that farm and a short visit to two adjoining farms. We saw' the very
large nest used by the pair of Magpies during the two years that they
nested on this farm, and Mr. Jennings told us much about them.

It is little short of amazing that two individuals of a species that was
never before known to nest in the State of Iowa, should come this far
eastward and nest for two successive years. They lived in a state of
semi-domestication. They built their huge nest in a plum tree immedi-
ately behind the hen-house, and spent a great deal of their time eating
with the chickens and livestock in the nearby feeding-yards. Their
calls were heard every day, and they were often seen sitting in trees
beside the kitchen door. It was their egg-stealing proclivities that
brought down condemnation by the owners of the farm. Any hen eggs
lying on the ground about the yards were promptly slit open and the
contents extracted by the Magpies. Mr. Jennings said one hen laid in
a certain outside nest every day. The Magpies as well as he knew of
its location. If he didn’t get the egg as soon as it w r as laid, the Magpie
would get it, and he would find an empty shell in the nest a little later.
The Magpies also hunted eggs in the hen-house itself. If he did not
keep a careful watch, empty shells with telltale slits in them would be
found at egg-gathering time.

Mr. Jennings believed that the Magpies would have increased rapidly
on his farm if he had allowed them to do so, for they were persistent
nesters. Due to their continual depredations, he broke their eggs in
the nest several times and let the young that were hatched be taken
for pets by children, the treatment from whom, as Mrs. Dix wrote,
they did not survive. But the adult birds were not discouraged, and
seemed determined to nest on this farm in spite of difficulties.

Mr. Jennings told us that since late in the fall of 1938 only one
Magpie had been present on his farm, and he suspected that the other
bird of the pail had been shot on some farm within the two-mile circle

I

GENERAL NOTES

11

which inclosed their usual hunting grounds. The disappearance of the
one bird will no doubt write the final chapter of the nesting of the
Magpie in eastern Iowa, It will be interesting to know how Jong the
other Magpie remains at the Jennings farm.

We were disappointed not 10 have seen the Magpie, but the sight of
a flock of 20 wintering Mourning Doves at the Jennings farm was a
compensation. An unusually mild winter up to that date, plenty of
waste grain about the farm feeding-yards, and protecting groves, ac-
counted for this large flock of doves. — FRED J. PIERCE,

Feeding Winter Birds at Vinton. — We have found much pleasure in
feeding the winter birds around our home, A food shelter with one or
more hopper-type detachable shelves is very convenient as the shelves
may be taken in and easily cleaned if they become covered with ice or
snow. A small fork in a tree limb covered with one-inch mesh chicken-
wire to form a pocket makes an ideal suet holder. We also have several
suet feeders made by folding together a piece of one-half -inch wire-
cloth, placed on window ledges and elsewhere. These feeding places

MR. lUTRK'R FETCH IXt'i- STATION

afford us plenty of space and we have noted 2G birds of six species
feeding at one time in harmony. The menu consists of ear corn, pump-
kin seeds cut in two (I had a supply of 125 pounds), suet, and a mix-
ture of small seeds including hemp and flax; but crushed raw peanuts
form the favorite food. The feeder shown in the photo has two remov-
able shelves with hoppers to hold seeds. The shelves are held on with
hooks and screw-eyes and are easily removed.

Regular boarders at our feeding-station include five male and seven
female Downy Woodpeckers, one male and two female Hairy Wood-
peckers, two male and two female Red-bellied Woodpeckers, three
Brown Creepers, a pair of Blue Jays, three Golden-crowned Kinglets,
a pair of Cardinals, many White-breasted Nuthatches and Chickadees,
and occasionally Slate-colored Juncos. One Red-bellied Woodpecker
has decidedly red underparts; the others do not. During the past win-
ter our station had two visits from a Crow and Starlings were there on
several occasions. The Golden-crowned Kinglets began their visits to
the station on January 3, 1939; one of the birds favored me with its

IOWA BIRD LIFE— IX, 1930

T 1 1 K CE PA I L R I Y fAi AT V J NTON

song on February 5. Figures of Blue Jay and Cardinals are faintly
outlined in the photo. These are metal birds which on several occa-
sions have furnished humorous moments when the real birds of these
species were present.

We live near the Cedar River, There is considerable undergrowth
and some timber, which attract abundant bird life, especially during
migrating seasons. There are numerous ponds on the bottom land in
the spring, but these disappear during summer. — WALTER L, BURK,
Vinton, Iowa,

Summer Birds in Stone Park, Sioux City. — -Below I am giving a Com-
plete list of the birds which 1 saw in Stone Park at Sioux City during
the months of July and August, 1938, while I worked for the Iowa Con-
servation Commission as State Park Naturalist.

Stone Park has no lakes or streams within its borders. It is com-
posed of over 900 acres of rugged bluffs and well wooded ravines. It
is bordered on the west by the Big Sioux River and on the other three
sides by rough pasture and farm land. During the two months in
Stone Park I conducted or assisted in conducting 46 separate nature
tours and on one or another visited almost every part of the area.

The list may at first appear to be indicative of the breeding birds of
the area, and while that may be true of the majority of them, yet I am
sure that such species as the Broad-winged Hawk, Eastern Nighthawk,
Killdeer and the two ducks did not breed within its boundaries. Most
of the birds were seen many times, but a few were seen only once or
twice. On July 17, the Sioux City Bird Club assisted in conducting a
tour, and on that occasion many members of the group were privileged
to hear an Ovenbird sing, but it was not seen. The Great Horned
Owl was seen only twice, although I think it was a regular resident.

Lesser Scaup Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Eastern Reel-tailed Hawk,
Broad-winged Hawk, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo,
Black-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl, Eastern
Nighthawk, Eastern Flicker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Downy Woodpecker,
Eastern Kingbird Arkansas Kingbird, Northern Crested Flycatcher,

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

Eastern Wood Pc wee. Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Northern Blue Jay,
Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Western
House Wren, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Robin, Wood Thrush,
Bluebird, Red-eyed Vireo, Tennessee Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-
breasted Chat, English Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Baltimore Oriole,
Bronzed Crackle, Cowbird, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Cardinal, Rose-
breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Goldfinch, Red-eyed Towhee, Eastern Lark
Sparrow, Eastern Field Sparrow. — -WILFRED D. CRABB, Ames, Iowa.

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

THE CALIFORNIA WOODPECKER AND I, by William Emerson
Ritter (University of California Press, Berkeley, Calif., 1938; cloth,
pp, i-xiii-h 1-340, i colored & 8 halftone pis., 16 text figs.; price, $3.50).

This book was written by an eminent zoologist whose desire in a par-
ticular study was to show a comparison between man and some other
creature with a brain. For this comparison he chose a familiar bird in
his state — the California Woodpecker. With so wide a gap existing be-
tween the two creatures compared, the task of building the structure of
evidence was very great. Perhaps the bird student will be more inter-
ested in Professor Ritter’s account of the behavior and life history of
the California Woodpecker than in his analytical and philosophical con-
clusions regarding the cause behind the actions of the bird. Certainly
this species is a very interesting one, while the presentation of its
habits from careful personal studies is a contribution to ornithology.

The life of this bird is communistic. Several pairs of birds take part
in chiseling out the nesting cavity, and in gathering food for arid feed-
ing the young. From one to five adults have been seen feeding one
brood of young. A set of four or five eggs is the usual number, but
as many as 17 have been found in one nest, indicating egg-laying by
several females. The bird lives in “settlements/’ much as humans con-
gregate in towns, each settlement seeming to restrict itself to home
trees and home territory, and each having its own storage tree for
acorns. The location has a distinct correlation with the supply of
acorns in the vicinity. Acorns form the chief article of food, and the
storing of them is a peculiar habit. The woodnecker drills holes to re-
ceive the acorn, many trees being covered with these holes and form-
ing veritable storehouses — one large yellow pine containing an esti-
mated 50,000 holes. The communistic habit prevails here and groups
of birds work diligently to store away a supply of food to last through
the year. This woodpecker has been known to place acorns, year after
year, in places from which they could not possibly be retrieved and
used for food; pebbles and other useless objects resembling acorns in
size are sometimes stored as well. These latter habits suggest rather
limited mental powers.

The author endeavors to draw a clear comparison between wood-
pecker and man, and takes up in detail the structural characteristics
and ancestry of birds, mammals and man. Oviparous and viviparous
reproductions are discussed at length. Mind, brain and conduct are the
matters under consideration in a later section of the book. The rela-
tive efficiencv and construction of the brains and nervous systems of
men and birds are described. The functions of the various organs of
the human body are compared with those in birds and mammals, mem-
bers of each group having been studied with reference to adaptation
to the activities involved. The final chapter reviews what the Cali-
fornia Woodnecker can and cannot do. The author does not see a
possibility of the woodpeckers changing their ways or making much
improvement in centuries to come. Some of the maladantations, such
cs storing pebbles instead of acorns, might be remedied, but he be-
lieves similar performances will continue as long as woodpeckers re-
main birds. — F. J. P.

14

IOWA BIRD LIFE— IX, 1039

FEATHERS AND FUR ON THE TURNPIKE, by James R, Simmons
(Christopher Publishing House, Boston, 1938; cloth, pp, 1-148, 10 pis*
& 3 figs*; price $1.75).

Part One of this little book records the experiences of a man who,
after becoming interested in the problem of wildlife casualties on the
modern highway, decided to maintain a receiving station for specimens
picked up on the roadways of New York and adjacent states. The
project became a cooperative one, with about 25 persons contributing
data or specimens collected on sectors of their respective highways.
The complete study covered a ten-year period, 1927-1937, with a total
of 3,203 specimens of wild birds, mammals, i-eptiles and amphibians re-
corded. The tabulation by species and groups is interesting. The
Robin heads the list of birds with 375 casualties, the English Sparrow
is next with 351. and the Field Sparrow is third with 296. Of the
mammals, the cottontail rabbit was first with 337 dead, and the skunk
was next with 222. The numbers of both autos and wildlife on the
highway at different seasons proved to be the determining factors in
the mortality rate. The peak killing period was between -July 15
and August 15. Reasons why birds and mammals frequent the roads
are given — -a quest for food in the form of insects and grain, or
grit, a desire for dust baths, and so forth. The author believes that
roadside posters and carefully planned educational campaigns would
heln to reduce the destruction of wild creatures on the roads.

Several chapters describe personal experiences with birds of various
kinds. A chapter on the house cat is not very convincing. The author
would have us believe that a cat “trained” by him would not catch
young Robins being fed on the lawn by their parents; but this cat was
allowed to have as many English Sparrows as he could get because the
author considered the sparrow as undesirable. We have vet to see a
cat that could (or would) distinguish between a young Robin and a
sparrow. In this same cat “the killing of mice was a life-long habit
and ho accounted for an average of twelve per year.” (!)

Part Two is devoted to conservation in its many aspects. There is
rpecial emphasis on forestry and forest problems, to which wildlife
management is rather closely related. The discussion of present-dav
trends is both instructive and provocative of serious thought. Mr. Sim-
mons shows that he is a true conservationist with a sane outlook upon
the future. His book is an earnest effort to do good — -which should
commend it to many readers. — F. J. P.

*

WILDFOWL FOOD PLANTS. THEIR VALUE, PROPAGATION
AND MANAGEMENT, by W. L. Me A tee (Collegiate Press, Inc., Ames,
Iowa, 1939; cloth, pp. i-ix + 1-141. 21 text cuts; price, $1.50).

Since the North American wild ducks and geese constitute a very
important natural resource, it is obvious that game managers, hunters’
organizations, and conservationists should have a thorough understand-
ing of the food of these birds. The U, S, Biological Survey manv years
ago began studying stomach contents to determine the relative im-
portance of aquatic plants as food for wildfowl. Over a long neriod of
years the Survey has been assembling data on this subject. The pres-
ent book describes in a very adequate manner the food plants which arc
prominent in the ducks’ diet.

The first chapter describes the productivity I crop output) of certain
types of water areas, the food values of various aquatic plants pro-
duced. and the food preferences of a dozen species of the more com-
mon ducks. This is followed by a descriptive list of about 40 groups
or families of food plants utilized bv the ducks. Other chapters take
up the environmental factors affecting aquatic growth, and give sug-
gestions for planting, controlling and generally managing areas on
which duck food plants are being grown. Those concerned with these
matters will find the book a valuable compilation.- — F, J, P.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

15

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Several of our members enjoyed interesting trips during Christmas
vacation or longer trips during the winter.

Miss Esther Copp, of Cedar Rapids, with four others visited ‘Bird
City” at Avery Island, Louisiana, where they saw Anhingas, Snowy and
American Egrets, herons and goose, thousands of ducks, besides watch-
ing Mr. Mcllhenny in his work of banding these birds.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Rosen spent two weeks with their son, Walter,
Jr., and his wife at Dadeville, Alabama, and had a fine trip through the
South. Mr. Rosen and Junior took a bird census at Dadeville on De-
cember 26, but due to certain circumstances (rain), their list was small-
er than that of the bovs “back home” at Ogden, Iowa.

Mrs. Mary Bailey spent a part of the winter at San Diego, California.
Mr. and Mrs. C. B, Trewin visited Phoenix, Arizona.

Bruce F. Stiles, lately of Sioux City, was recently appointed a State
Conservation Officer and given the Council Bluffs territory. Other
members serving as Conservation Officers are: James R, Harlan, Storm
Lake; John A Meyer, Allison; John C. Jago, Waterloo: James J.
Murphy, Independence.

Philip A. DuMont, author of the 1933 list of the ‘Birds oi Iowa and
well known to most of us, was recently chosen South Dakota represen-
tative on the Advisory Board of the National Association of Audubon
Societies. Members of the board serve as consultants in bird matters
and as advisors on general conservation policies as they apply to the
respective states, Mr. DuMont has been interested in birds for 21
years and for the last three years has served as manager of the 21.000-
acre Sand Lake Waterfowl Refuge, near Columbia, South Dakota. Dur-
ing this time a total of 220 species of birds have been observed on the
refuge, and over 23,000 birds have been banded.

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binding your bulletins.

DON L. WALTERS

P. O. Box 24S
Independence, Missouri

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Winthrop, Iowa -

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| FEATHERS AND FUR ON THE TURNPIKE

■ PART I

A Study of Wildlife Casualties
on the Highway

j PART II •

! A Study of the Present Trends

in Wildlife Conservation

PY j

j JAMES R. SIMMONS

: Th is book deals, in non-tee lutical style, with the present trends in wild- 1

| life conservation, and includes, as a specific study, the results of a ten year j

investigation of the birds and mammals we kill with our cars on the highways j
: — how many, when, why and where, =

There are several chapters on personal relations with individual members
of the wildlife family, in which the reader will find new and captivating in- |

formation on native wildlife species, a satisfying liveliness and humor in pre- =

, sentacion, and a great deal of solid food for thought. In Part Two he will
encounter new angles of approach to the study of conservation problems, in-
cluding land planning, forestry, wildlife management, and the correlation of
j scientific practices. The book is attractively illustrated and also contains two
sketch maps and a casualty curve graph,

Mr. Simmons edited "New York Forestry”, the official publication of the
Forestry Association in the Empire State from 191V to 1929. He has been a
contributor both in prose and verse to magazines dealing with nature sub-
jects, and has lectured quite extensively before forestry and wildlife groups, 5,
civic and business groups, and schools.

THE CHRISTOPHER PUBLISHING HOUSE, Boston. Cloth, Price $l.7J

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SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA

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Iowa Ornithologists’ Union
1939 Convention
May 12-13

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