W.KINGBIRD THE KINGBIRD, published four times a year (January, May, July and October), is a publi¬ cation of The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc., which has been organized to further the study of bird life and to disseminate knowledge thereof, to educate the public in the need of conserving natural resources and to encourage the establishment and main¬ tenance of sanctuaries and protected areas. Individual member's dues are $5.00 annually, of which $2.7-5 is for a subscription to The Kingbird. A member wishing to make an addi¬ tional contribution may become a Sustaining Member ($7.50), a Supporting Member ($10), or a Life Member ($100 — "payable over a four-year period in equal installments/' if member so desires). Single copies: $1.50. Student membership $3.00. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP should be sent to the chairman of the membership committee, James J. Doherty, 913 Winton Road North, Rochester, N. Y. 14609. Send CHANGES OF ADDRESS to the Treasurer, Dort A. Cameron, 5423 Palmyra Rd„ Pittsford, N.Y. 14534. Order SINGLE COPIES, BACK NUMBERS, and REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED COPIES from Dorothy W. Mcllroy, 419 Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. Publication office is 419 Triphammer Road, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. Second class postage paid at Ithaca, N.Y. WKINGBIRD CAUCN OF THE FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS. INC. Vol. XVII No. 3 July, 1967 Pages 125-188 CONTENTS Photographs of New York State Rarities 10. Lapwing.Thomas H. Davis and Benjamin Trimble 126 President’s Page .Allen H. Benton 128 Fall Hawk Watch at Mt. Peter.Stephen F. Bailey 129 Recent Tower Kills in Upstate New York.Stephen W. Eaton 142 Sandhill Crane Winters at Whitehall, N.Y.Joseph A. Munoff 147 Conserpation News — “Forever Habitable” .Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr. 149 Field Notes House Finch Influx at Schenectady.Robert P. Yunick 150 Highlights of the Spring Season April 1 - May 31.David B. Peakall 151 Regional Reports. 153 Editor — Dorothy W. McIlroy Associate Editors Field Notes — Sally Hoyt Spofford Regional Reports — David B. Peakall Photographic — David G. Allen Editorial Board John B. Belknap Stephen W. Eaton At.t.fn H. Benton Eugene Eisenmann Fritz Scheider Business Manager — Walter L. Gillespie Cover Design — Douglas L. Howland PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEW YORK STATE RARITIES 10, Lapwing Photograph by Joanne Trimble Montauk, Suffolk Co., 7 Dec. 1966 The normal range of the Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus ) extends across northern Europe and Asia from Norway to eastern Siberia, south in winter to north Africa, north India, and west to Iceland. Occurrences in North America are extremely rare and are for the most part in eastern Canada, especially Newfoundland. From the Canadian border south to the island of Barbados there have been only eleven recorded occurrences. Two of these, the only records for New York State prior to 1966, are given in Birds of the New York City Area by John Bull (Harper and Bow, New York, 1964:184). They are as follows: an in¬ dividual collected after a snow storm at Merrick, Nassau Co., L.I., 27 January 1883 (C. Lott); a specimen taken at Mecox Bay, Suffolk Co., L.I., late fall, 1905 (fide Beebe). A third record of a specimen supposedly taken at Bridgehampton, fall of 1910 (Reiman, Auk, 56:332, 126 1939) is evidently an incorrect duplication of the 1905 record and should be deleted (oral communication from John Bull). On Saturday, 3 December 1966, a Lapwing was discovered and iden¬ tified by Laura Bottone and Vida Blauvelt along the Montauk Highway, about 1.5 miles east of the town of Montauk. The bird was standing on the grassy shoulder of the road and could be approached to within twenty feet. By 6 December, the bird had moved about 100 yards to a large pasture on the property of the Deep Hollow Dude Ranch where it fed actively, often in the company of Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus). It became quite wary, and occasionally the hordes of birders who came to view the bird frightened it, causing it to take wing and fly to a nearby pebble beach on the oceanfront one-half mile away. The manager of the dude ranch, who knew the bird well, is certain that the Lapwing disappeared before the severe snow storm of 24 December. The last reliable observation was on 18 December. Certain plumage charac¬ teristics, notably the underdeveloped rufous under-tail coverts, seem to indicate that it was a first winter bird. Correspondence with Aaron Bagg has revealed two other North American Lapwing records during the fall of 1966. One was shot on 25 October in the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, just off the southern coast of Newfoundland ( fide L. Tuck), and another was seen on 26 December at Kindley Air Force Base in Bermuda (D. Wingate). A paper to be published in The Living Bird by Mr. Bagg will discuss the factors influencing the occurrence of the Lapwing in North America. Thomas H. Davis , 86-13 85th Street, Woodhaven, N.Y. 11421 and Benjamin Trimble, 47 Delancey Street, New York, N.Y. 10002. Corrigendum and Addendum: The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (num¬ ber 6 of this series; Kingbird, 16(3): 130-131, July 1966) listed as seen near Schenectady was actually seen at Tomhannock Reservoir, Rensse¬ laer Co. (Meritt, Kingbird, 7(1): 14, May 1957). An additional upstate record of this species seen at Rigney’s Bluff, along the Lake Ontario Shore, 18 May 1952 by B. Kemnitzer and R. McKinney ( Kingbird, 2(2): 50, July 1952; Keminitzer, in. litt. ) was inadvertently omitted. P. W. Post. 127 THE PRESIDENTS PAGE Another Annual Meeting has come and gone since you last heard from me. It was a fine meeting, and all present agreed that our host clubs, the Naturalist’s Club of Binghamton Inc. and the Tioga Bird Club, and the committees, headed by Harriet Marsi, did a tremendous job. Although I am now a “lame duck” president, there are a few things I would like to accomplish before my term of office ends. Perhaps most important, I want to see if we can implement the proposed “Hawk Eccouragement Program”, by means of which we would pay a bounty to any property owner who could demonstrate a successful nesting of Red-tailed or Red-shouldered Hawks on his land. We have an offer of $1,000 for a trial run of this program in 1968. I can see only one ad¬ ministrative problem: the clubs would have to be responsible for check¬ ing the authenticity and identity of the nestings. Upon receipt of a written statement from a club representative, indicating that the nesting was authentic, the treasurer would pay the bounty ($5.00 is suggested). If we start now to publicize this program throughout the state, we should be able to put it into full operation in the spring of 1968. I would like to receive, from each member club , assurance that they will co¬ operate in this venture to the extent of checking alleged nests within- their area. I do not think that there will be enough claims in any area to represent an intolerable burden. Indeed, one bird club, the Sullivan County Audubon Society, has gone ahead with their own program and is having no serious problem with it. You will be hearing from me again on this. In the meantime, please write and let me know what you think of its possibilities. If the clubs approve, I will start our new publicity chairman, Ed Somers, to work¬ ing on state-wide publicity. How about it? Will you cooperate? Allen H. Benton 128 FALL HAWK WATCH AT . MT. PETER Stephen F. Bailey Mt. Peter is probably the best lookout in southeastern New York State from which the annual fall hawk migration may be observed. When one considers its advantages, it is amazing that Mt. Peter was not discovered or utilized earlier. The observer drives to the top of the mountain on a good road, parks in the parking lot for a restaurant and bar, and walks less than a hundred yards to the lookout. There is no sheer drop to terrify the timid, yet there is an adequate to good view in all directions and an excellent one to the west. Mt. Peters discovery is obscure, but the Fyke Nature Association of Ramsey, New Jersey was assigned to cover it for the Across-The-State (New Jersey)-Hawk-Watch in 1958. This is the first watching of which we have any record. Mt. Peter emerged as an excellent site for hawk study. Members of the Fyke Nature Association were so impressed that we undertook a continuous watch of eight days in September the fol¬ lowing year and coverage has expanded almost every year since, in¬ cluding some days in August, October and November. Mt. Peter lookout is located on Bellvale Mountain (A, see map) just off Route 17A north of Greenwood Lake, N.Y, The parking lot is on the north side of the road, on the western edge of the crest. From here the little wooden “Summer House” on the crest itself is clearly visible. This is crowned by a wind vane, and during the hawk season we leave a thermometer and information about the watch (particularly a daily hawk list to date) in this shelter. Bellvale Mountain is a continuous razorback ridge running northeast to southwest, rising abruptly from the valleys on either side. There are actually four lookouts on this ridge. Mt. Peter itself has been described above. At Falcon Ridge, % mile up the ridge where a gas pipeline cut Crosses the thickly wooded ridge, the hawks are usually very low and closer than at Mt. Peter, but because of trees one can see only overhead, east and west, not up or down the ridge. A tower at this point would be ideal. Osprey Rocks, across 17A about M mile down the ridge, is a row of rock outcroppings with a better view east than Mt. Peter but a very poor view west. It is practical only when the hawks are ridge flying on the east side or on a Broad-wing day. Osprey Rocks and Falcon Ridge are just off the Appalachian Trail. The fourth lookout, on the east side several miles farther up the Appalachian Trail near the origin of the ridge, is practical only on a Broad-wing day because of limited view. A study of a contour map reveals some interesting possibilities con¬ cerning the geography of inland hawk migration through southeastern New York, northern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. The follow- 129 O Non-directional Mountains A, B, C, D, E, F, & G — text references 1 inch = about 33 miles Ridges ing pattern of hawk migration is not all proven fact, but is part of my personal explanation of the flight lines hawks use through this area. The map shows a number of mountain groups, some favorable for mi¬ gration, others not. East of the Hudson River are the Berkshires and other ranges in southwestern New England, and a belt of mountains through Putnam County, New York (B). West of the Hudson are the Catskills, the Poconos, Kittatinny-Shawangunk (Blue Ridge) Range, and a belt of mountains running from Rockland and eastern Orange Coun¬ ties, N.Y., southwest through central northern New Jersey (D, E, F, A, G, C). Hawks migrating west of the Hudson encounter the Catskills and Poconos, both jumbled mountain areas with no ridges favorable for migration. Thus these birds “funnel in” to the Kittatinny Ridge, or Shawangunks as the New York section is called. This is the most im¬ portant flight line, being the ridge Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is on. 130 The hawks are concentrated on this ridge because in Pennsylvania most of the other fold-type ridges, so favorable to migration, are west of the Poconos; thus, they do not drain hawks off the Kittatinnies until west of Hawk Mountain. Hawks moving south and west through New Eng¬ land funnel in through Putnam and Westchester counties. The moun¬ tains in Putnam County (B) conduct the hawks to two main points for crossing the Hudson. Hawks crossing over the northern point at Storm King (D) and Whitehorse Mountains head west to Schunemunk Mountain (E), and then fly down Schunemunk and Bellvale Mountain (A) which are the western edge of the mountain belt in Orange Coun¬ ty. Those which cross at Bear Mountain (F) move west to Mt. Peter or south into New Jersey. The latter and those which cross the Hudson further south either fly down the Watchung Range or to the west. South and southwest of Mt. Peter the ranges spread out, becoming broader and more numerous; thus the hawks which continue down these ranges move on a broad front. Many of our hawks, however, have been ob¬ served to "cut out” over the broad valley separating Mt. Peter from the Kittatinnies. Many, if not most of our Buteos and Accipiters end up on the Kittatinnies. Very few of our Falcons and Ospreys do, however. The Kittatinny, Bellvale Mountain and Watchung Ranges are thus favored, being pronounced ridges at the edges of the mountain belts. The status, weather preferences, and flight habits of the hawk species at Mt. Peter are discussed below. Turkey Vulture : Although Turkey Vultures migrate past Mt. Peter and are seen almost every day, we do not count them for several reasons. Until recently our count was almost exclusively during September when this species does not normally migrate. The large resident population in the area would make the count huge and meaningless because, al¬ though we can tell migrant hawks from residents, with Turkey Vultures it is sometimes impossible to tell. Since we cannot be sure whether an individual is migrating and we have not noticed any obvious movement, we have learned little about its status as a migrant or about how to tell migrants from residents. We do know, however, that our local pop¬ ulation tends to decrease during October and has usually departed by early November. Most of the apparent migrants are observed in the second half of October. Accipiters : Although we have only one unquestionable record for the Goshawk (an adult Oct. 2, 1966) there are several hypothetical and I have little doubt that complete coverage would reveal a few each year in October and November. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is one of the major migrants at Mt. Peter. Its migration begins in early September and ends in the middle of November. Most are observed between September 20 and October 20, with only scattered individuals recorded before and after this period. 131 Our highest count is 82 on Oct. 17, 1959. Our coverage has not been enough to determine a population trend. Sharp-shins pass Mt. Peter on any wind, and small flights have occurred even on a south wind. Westerly and southwesterly winds are their preference, however. Al¬ though most Sharp-shins ridge-fly rather low on the windward side with the updraft (usually the west) in their typical “flap-sail” manner, in mid-day some soar and sail high like Buteos. Some also seem to ignore the wind-created updraft, darting through the tree-tops down the mid¬ dle or either side of the crest. On westerly winds, especially if they are light, many are seen out over the valley to the west. These have two destinations. Some head right across the valley and join the Kittatinny flight-line, while others are merely taking a shortcut to the ridge (War¬ wick Mountain, G) which begins southwest of Mt. Peter. The above comments concerning migration period, wind preference and flight habits also apply to the Cooper s Hawk. This species is much less numerous, however, the maximum being 9, Oct. 11, 1965, The ratio of Sharp-shins to Cooper’s Hawks varies but averages 9:1, com¬ paring well with the often quoted 10:1. Cooper’s Hawks seem to fly higher and soar more than the Sharp-shinned Hawks. Accipiters seem to be less gregarious than other hawks. They fly up to three together, usually singles and pairs, but often a small number (2 to 6) will fly within sight of each other, follow-the-leader style with a short interval separating them. When in the vicinity of another hawk or crow, an Accipiter will often harrass the other bird. Buteos: Our Buteos are mostly adults. Red-tailed Hawks (up to 4) are resident at Mt. Peter throughout the fall season and often add spice to dull days as they pass nearby on their daily patrols. Migrants begin moving, a few per day, in mid-September and numbers increase rapidly into early October. The majority come in the last half of October through the third week of November, with small numbers later. The high count is 67 on Oct. 30, 1966. However, on at least one other good Red-tail day many hawks went unidentified and undoubtedly this count has been surpassed many times. Most Red-tails migrate on northwest, west, or west-southwest winds, although some are seen on any wind direction. One excellent flight (52 in less than 3 hours on Oct. 27, 1960) occurred on a northeast wind, but these winds are rather rare at this season. When a flight is in progress on a westerly wind, a switch to north or south-southwest almost always stops it. Although some “Tails” ridge-fly low on the west side, most fly at a moderate-to-high altitude. They use two methods for gaining altitude: 1. The bird circles on the updraft or a thermal and then “peels off” in a long sustained glide. 2. Red-tailed Hawks in the updraft are commonly observed to spread their tails, set their wings flat above the level of their bodies, droop their heads and necks straight down, and hang motionless. This be¬ havior is known as “going on the hook” or “hooking”. On a strong wind, 132 Red-tails “go on the hook” on the updraft and soar upwards while remaining nearly motionless, then they peel off. They can move in any direction in this position by adjusting their wings. The Red-tailed hawk is the only hawk that goes on the hook and it is their best field mark. Our “Tails” often play with each other, at times making spectacular performances as they swoop and tumble nearby. This species and the next sometimes fly west across the valley toward the Kittatinnies. The Red-shouldered Hawk is seen during October and November, a few earlier. They occur with Red-tails, but in lesser numbers; our maximum count is 46 on Oct. 18, 1958. The easiest way to separate “Tails” and “Shoulders” at a distance is by behavior, although only hooking is infallible. The Red-shoulder soars and circles less than the Red-tail. “Shoulders” fly rapidly and more directly, using a “flap-sail” technique like that of Accipiters but with more flaps and a longer sail. These flaps are deep and vigorous, while the Red-tails usually use only weak, shallow, unsustained flaps. These two species often migrate in small groups, sometimes mixed. The Rough-legged Hawk has never been reliably recorded at Mt. Peter. Nevertheless, I suspect that a few pass each November. The Broad-winged Hawk is the most numerous migrant hawk at Mt. Peter. A few head south as early as the middle of August and small flights are seen during the first ten days of September. The large flights come between September 11 and 25. Smaller numbers continue through the first few days of October and the last two years stragglers have been seen as late as the 14th, our latest record. Our best movement was 2404 on Sept. 13, 1964 (1047 between 2:30 and 3:00 PM, EDT). We have occasionally observed Broad-wings capturing and eating flying insects while migrating. The Broad-winged Hawk is one of the least aggressive hawks, this partially explaining their tendency to migrate in flocks (“kettles”) of up to several hundred birds each. There are two basic types of Broad-wing flights, each with its own characteristic behavior: the ridge flight and the kettle flight. A ridge flight occurs with a crosswind, usually westerly and stronger than 12 to 15 miles per hour. It is the principal type of flight (for all hawks, not only Broad-wings) after the shift from summer weather to cool, windy fall weather — often about September 23rd. The hawks sail on the cross¬ wind-created updraft, parallel to the ridge at a moderate altitude. At times they circle on a strong part of the updraft to gain altitude, then peel off again. There is usually a fairly steady stream of hawks with no large concentrations, and usually no more than 250 Broad-wings per day. Broad-wings which are riding an updraft or have peeled off from a thermal fold their tails and trim their wings, resembling stubby-tailed Accipiters. Kettle flights occur on warmer, less windy days, mostly before the weather shift mentioned above. All our largest Broad-wing days are kettle days. The birds gain altitude in a thermal, circling with wings and 133 tail fully spread (the way they are usually pictured) and then peel off and glide, sometimes on a tail-wind. A Broad-wing which has found a strong thermal is soon joined by many more, thus forming a kettle, ap¬ proximately equal numbers moving clockwise and counter-clockwise. A Broad-wing circling in a thermal commonly twists, swings laterally, raises, and depresses its tail for steering. This I call “tail twisting”, a characteristic of the Broad-winged Hawk but also performed by other soaring hawks, notably Red-tails. The top hawks in the kettle peel off in the direction of migration when they reach the proper altitude and are followed by the lower hawks when they, too, reach the same altitude. Thus a kettle becomes a level sheet or line of Broad-wings in an effort¬ less, direct glide until altitude is lost and a new thermal is found. At other times, for example if a thermal breaks down or is too weak, the hawks straggle out in a moving mass until more favorable conditions are found, sometimes even resorting to flapping flight. Since a kettle flight depends on thermals and/or tailwind, the flight direction is often across ridges rather than parallel to them. On a kettle day at Mt. Peter one must look in all directions or risk missing many hawks. Many area hawk watchers have thought that Broad-wing kettle flights at Mt. Peter and similar lookouts followed no definite pattern with respect to the weather, except that they often occurred with a weather change or disturbance; any wind direction could produce a flight, and they came about equally with clear or overcast skies. My analysis of Mt. Peter kettle flights, however, reveals two distinctly different types of kettle flight, not just one. They are the thermal-predominating flight (thermal flight) and the tailwind-predominating flight (tailwind flight). Weather conditions for a thermal flight are light or sometimes moderate winds from the northwest, west, southwest, south or southeast (occasion¬ ally other directions) with clear to 50% cloudy skies — clouds usually cumulus. The sun, essential to this type of flight, produces thermals which the hawks use to gain altitude, gliding between thermals as described above. Wind direction is relatively unimportant, but if it is too strong it destroys a thermal flight and forces a ridge flight. Weather conditions for a tailwind flight are usually gentle to moderate (7-20 mph) winds from the north, northeast or east with overcast or mostly overcast skies. The overcast screens the sun so thermals are few or weak. The tailwind, however, helps the hawks gain ground between thermals, and thus the flight direction is the same as the wind direction (northeast to southwest, east to west, etc.). The loose, horizontally moving kettles mentioned above occur mostly on tailwind days. One good tailwind flight in 1962 was on a northwest wind. Because of this the Broad-wings moved southeast, an unusual occurrence at Mt. Peter. Kettle flights of both kinds are characterized by large numbers separated by lulls of various duration. Both can bring large numbers, but our best day (above) was a tailwind flight. Articles I have read concerning hawk 134 flights at other lookouts seem to indicate that the same three types of flight (ridge, thermal and tailwind) discussed above occur at most or all ridge lookouts. I urge hawk watchers to check their records to con¬ firm or deny this for their lookout, and would welcome comments on this subject. Eagles : No Golden Eagle has been recorded during the Fyke Hawk Watch at Mt. Peter, as far as I know. Some must occur, however, during October and November when our coverage is inadequate; perhaps it is regular at this time. Of our 9 Bald Eagles (all adults but one), 7 were seen in September and one each in late August and mid-October (the immature). Although Bald Eagles use our flyway much less than the Kittatinnies, they are a possibility at any time, especially in August and September. One reason we see so few is that the majority head south during August and the first week of September before our continuous count begins. Only once have we seen two in one day. Marsh Hawk: The fall migration of the Marsh Hawk at Mt. Peter is of longer duration than that of any other species, lasting at least four months. Single birds begin passing at least as early as August 15. Most days in September, October and November have a few Marsh Hawks (1 to 5, occasionally more); they are relatively consistent. Although we have not watched during December, we have happened to see, on a neighboring ridge, migrants as late as December 15, and once on a Christmas Count Dec. 26, 1966! Some must migrate when inland wet¬ lands freeze. The maximum is 15 on Oct. 30, 1965. An interesting phe¬ nomenon published elsewhere and verified for Mt. Peter is the migra¬ tion “schedule” for the ages and sexes of Marsh Hawks. Immatures migrate mainly during August and September, adult females mid- September to late October, and adult males from mid-October to the end of November. Of course, some exceptions are scattered through the fall. Our Marsh Hawks do not seem to have a marked weather prefer¬ ence, but very few come on a north or northeast wind. They fly at all levels and seldom in a straight line. They zigzag and circle while seek¬ ing updrafts, thermals, etc., frequently crossing the ridge in so doing. Marsh Hawks alternate gliding in their familiar dihedral with a short series of deep, Red-shoulderlike flaps, but their dihedral and non-direct flight easily identify them. Osprey : Ospreys pass Mt. Peter from late August to the end of Ocrober. Most pass during September, with the peak usually in the third week. Smaller numbers come in the first half of October, few later. They seem to be relatively indifferent to the weather, except that the majority of our “flights” (8 to 20 individuals) have been on westerly winds. On our best day, however, (46 on Sept. 19, 1964) the wind was east-to-south- east. Ospreys flap little at Mt. Peter, using their typical gull-wing glide, usually at a constant altitude although they sometimes circle on rising 135 air. The Osprey flies parallel to the ridge more than any other hawk. Its tendency to continue down-ridge across Osprey Rocks gives this lookout its name. Hawks of other species leave the ridge more often than the Osprey. At times, Ospreys fly with one or more satellite hawks of an¬ other species. Falcons: I have records of 16 Peregrine Falcons (11 in September, 5 in October) and 19 Pigeon Hawks (12 in September, 7 in October) at Mt. Peter. Fewer have been seen in October because of less watching in that month. Most of them come on days with northwest, west or moderate to strong southwest winds. Almost all, perhaps all of our Peregrines were seen on such days, usually with a flight of Sparrow Hawks. The same is true for the Pigeon Hawks, except that a few of them were seen on days with a southeast wind. These two falcons migrate swiftly and directly, usually low, and flap more than the Spar¬ row Hawk. We have experienced, especially in the last two years, a “population boom” in Sparrow Hawks which is clearly shown in the tables. This is the only increase indicated by our nine-year study, with the possible exception of the Osprey. I feel safe in stating that Mt. Peter probably has more migrant Sparrow Hawks than any other inland lookout in northeastern North America. They begin migrating early in August and by the end of the month are passing through in numbers. Peak flights occur in September and early October, but in 1966 two days in mid- October had 41 and 47. Numbers taper off toward the end of the month and they are very scarce after the third week. Since our coverage is incomplete to say the least, we probably miss many excellent flights of these delightful little hawks. Our Sparrow Hawk single day record is 210 on Sept. 11, 1965 (116 between 10:30 and 12:00 noon, EDT). I know of no higher count from any other inland location in this section. It is a very rare day, before late October, when we do not see a Sparrow Hawk. Sparrow Hawks breed in the valley to the west, thus observers must be careful not to count them as migrants. All of our Sparrow Hawk flights have occurred on gently to strong northwest or west, occasionally moderate to strong southwest winds. It is our most predictable hawk; the above conditions mean Sparrow Hawks whereas other winds produce only small numbers. Sparrow Hawks often fly in pairs or small groups (somewhat separated) of up to six individuals. Most ridge fly, at any altitude, alternating periods of rapid flapping with a glide, sometimes sustained, with the wingtips bowed downwards — sometimes useful as a field mark. Others flap con¬ tinually, but less so than Pigeon Hawks or Peregrines. Some, usually in mid-day, soar high and glide like a Buteo. On mild days we see hawks of this species catching dragonflies and other large insects and eating them out of their talons on the wing. One even attempted to catch a hummingbird! When a Sparrow Hawk flight is in progress, a lone hawk 136 watcher must not study each one as it passes or he will miss many others. Check each one for the distinctive face pattern and then look for others. This is the quickest and most reliable way to check for Pigeon Hawks and even Peregrines. Occasionally, if the bird is high overhead, one must use tail pattern and other field marks. Ridge Flight Weather: Most ridge flights are generated by northwest, west, or moderate to strong west-southwest winds. These always bring falcon flights until late October. Lesser ridge flights may occur when the wind is east, southeast or occasionally northeast, but not north, south or south-southwest. Although our best flights come on westerly winds, they are usually on the first or second day of these winds; if westerly winds persist, numbers taper off. This dependence of hawk flights on weather changes is the rule after the departure of the Broad-wings. Sometimes the wind can be too strong; in November this usually limits the flight to Red-tails. After September, a mild day with winds light and variable, or absent, (“Bluebird weather”) means few hawks (10- 35). This brings up one of Mt. Peters advantages: although our good days are not as good as other lookouts' best days, our worst are usually better than theirs. If an observer spends a day at Mt. Peter and the day is not rainy or foggy, he will almost always see 10 to 30 hawks, even on the worst of days. I have been informed by many sources that almost all other lookouts have days, other than rainouts, with fewer than six hawks or even completely hawkless. A weather change during the day often changes the flight type or even halts the flight. For example, on our record-setting Sparrow Hawk day (Sept. 11, 1965), a northwest wind until 3:30 PM, EDT, brought a ridge flight of 273 hawks of 9 species. Of these, 205 were Sparrow Hawks and only 34 were Broad-wings. In the next 1 % hours, a north and then east wind produced a tailwind flight of 265 hawks of which all but 9 were Broad-wings. The Broad-wings moved south and then west as the wind shifted. If a westerly wind is creating a ridge flight, a shift to north or south-southwest usually kills it. Similarly, rain showers force the hawks to perch, thus stalling the flight. It takes about an hour for the flight to resume. On rainy or misty days we do not even watch, since we have seen only a handful of hawks ever fly in the rain. Non-raptors: Hawks are not the only avian features of Mt. Peter in the fall. Permanent residents include Ruffed Grouse and Pileated Wood¬ pecker; the latter often fly past the lookout. Loons and waterfowl are commonly observed, especially Canada Geese but also ducks and, rarely, Brant and Snow Geese. Shorebirds sometimes dart overhead, but often too fast for identification. Diurnal migrants include: Chimney Swift, Common Crow, Tree Swallow (in numbers in August and September), Robin (October and November), blackbirds of all species. Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Evening Grosbeak, and sometimes Red and White-winged 137 Crossbills and Pine Grosbeak. At the peak of Blue Jay migration during early October, on some days perhaps over a thousand pass, the bulk be¬ fore 10:30 EDT. A Common Raven passed the lookout very close on Oct. 2, 1966 and there are several older records which may be correct. A few Red-headed Woodpeckers have been a feature of practically every season, but 1966 was a banner year with about a dozen in only 29 days of observation. These occurred in September and early October and were mostly adults. Mockingbirds and Bluebirds as well as fly¬ catchers in September perch on the telephone wires. Sparrows frequent the brush by the parking area and, early in the morning until mid- October, the woods on the crest contain many migrant Passerines, mainly warblers and vireos, later kinglets. Red-breasted Nuthatches may be seen singly or in small groups beginning in late August. During September hummingbirds streak past, hugging the ridge. Fyke Hawk Watch Operation : During the summer our hawk watch committee, chairmanned by Stiles Thomas, 111 Allendale Avenue, Al¬ lendale, N.J. 07401, meets to make up the schedule for the coming season. We decide which days are most important and which we are likely to find leaders for, and then we try to find them. A leader is a reliable observer who promises to watch for a full day (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EDT) or a half day (9:00 to 1:00 or 1:00 to 5:00). If a flight is in progress at 5:00 PM, the leader should be certain that someone watches to its conclusion. We arrange dates with past leaders and new prospects, first filling in all the holes in our continuous watches in September and October, then adding any other days we can get cov¬ ered. Although weekend days usually have from ten to twenty full or part time observers, most weekday leaders are lucky if they have four helpers, and sometimes spend the whole day alone. A typed list of leaders is distributed to interested persons. Each leader has a daily report form on which he records the date, start and stop times, sky con¬ dition, wind direction and speed, temperature and observers. There is a column for each species and a row for each half hour and the total. This is mailed, at the end of the day, to Stiles Thomas and the daily total is recorded on a master sheet which is left in the Summer House at the lookout. After the close of the season, the figures are compiled and distributed to the participants and the Fish and Wildlife Service at Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, Maryland. We need many more leaders and helpers for our hawk watch. Mt. Peter's flight line is important enough to warrant extended coverage. With complete coverage our results would be more informative. It never ceases to distress me how many birders have never been on a hawk watch, especially now when the hawks need every ally they can get. Mt. Peter is an ideal place to learn the art of hawk watching. Recommended equipment includes: warm clothing (you can take it off but you can’t put it on if it’s not there), gloves, tennis shoes or some- 138 thing comparable, a cushion or lawn chair, and lunch. Binoculars are a necessity and if they are above 9 power, it is recommended that the observers bring a 6 or 7 power pair for scanning. A single-lens reflex camera with a telephoto lens and gunstock can be used to obtain good pictures. A spotting scope may be useful if it is mounted on a sturdy tripod or gunstock and the observer is skilled in its use. My Balscope Zoom 60 has been invaluable for settling arguments over the identity of distant hawks and for obtaining close-ups of nearer ones. 194 W. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood , N.J. 07450 Acknowledgments Thanks are due the many participants, especially leaders, who have been re¬ sponsible for these observations, more especially those who have supported our count from its inception. These are primarily from the Fyke Nature Association whose project the count has been. Other nature organizations which have aided us and are thus deserving of thanks are the Ridgewood Audubon Society, Hackensack Audubon Society, and Morris Nature Club in New Jersey and the E. A. Meams Bird Club in New York. I must single out Stiles Thomas, however, as under his chair¬ manship our hawk watch has continued, expanded, and improved. I also wish to thank Stiles for his help in preparing this paper; without his encouragement I would not have begun. TABLE I MT. PETER HAWK TOTALS BY MONTH 1958 THROUGH 1964 The number of days and hours of observation are listed for each month and year. The hawk totals are meaningless if these are not considered by the reader. The number of scheduled days which were rained out, thus not covered, is listed in parentheses, unless zero. Abbreviations: Gos - Goshawk, SSH - Sharp-shinned Hawk, CH-Cooper’s Hawk, RTH - Red-tailed Hawk, RSH - Red-shouldered Hawk, BWH - Broad-winged Hawk, BE - Bald Eagle, MH - Marsh Hawk, Os - Osprey, Per - Peregrine Falcon, Pig - Pigeon Hawk, SpH - Sparrow Hawk, Uni - Unidentified Hawk, ST - Season Total, Hrs. - Hours, Obs. - Number of Observers. 1958 1959 Sept. Oct. ST Sept.* Oct. ST Days 2 1 3 Days 8 3 11 Hrs. 17 8 25 Hrs. 55 17 72 SSH 6 33 39 SSH 18 103 121 CH — 6 6 CH 5 4 9 RTH 1 52 53 RTH 13 77 90 RSH - 46 46 RSH 6 17 23 BWH 90 - 90 BWH 1605 - 1605 BE 1 -- 1 BE 1 — 1 MH 7 12 19 MH 20 7 27 Os 15 _ 15 Os 28 3 31 Per — 2 2 Per 4 — 4 Pig - 1 1 Pig 4 2 6 SpH ~ 25 25 SpH 23 6 29 Uni 4 50 54 Uni 47 15 62 Total 124 227 351 Total 1774 234 2008 139 TABLE I — Continued 1960 Sept. * Oct. ST 1961 Sept. * Oct. ST Days (3) 9 3 (3) 12 Days (3) 13 2 (3) 15 Hrs. 56 11 67 Hrs. 79 12 91 SSH 61 13 74 SSH 5.1 16 67 CH 2 2 4 CH 5 5 10 RTH 9 66 75 RTH 31 17 48 RSH 5 11 16 RSH 13 9 22 BWH 1293 - 1293 BWH 1136 - 1136 BE 1 — 1 BE 1 - 1 MH 8 4 12 MH 24 - 24 Os 24 1 25 Os 16 1 17 Per — - - Per 1 1 2 Pig - - - Pig 3 - 3 SpH 55 6 61 SpH 71 11 82 Uni 72 25 97 Uni 50 10 60 Total 1530 128 1658 Total 1402 70 1472 1962 1963 Sept. Nov. ST Sept. Oct. ST Days 12 1 13 Days (4) 18 2 (4) 20 Hrs. 75 5* 80* Hrs. 129* 10 139* SSH 44 1 45 SSH 62 9 71 CH 8 1 9 CH 7 1 8 RTH 8 66 74 RTH 19 — 19 RSH 2 3 5 RSH 1 - 1 BWH 3701 - 3701 BWH 1428 - 1428 BE - - - BE - — - MH 16 2 18 MH 29 4 33 Os 58 - 58 Os 31 1 32 Per 3 - 3 Per - - - Pig 1 - 1 Pig 2 - 2 SpH 157 - 157 SpH 199 2 201 Uni 32 1 33 Uni 74 - 74 Total 4030 74 4104 Total 1852 17 1869 1964 Sept. Oct. ST Days (1) 20 2 (1) 22 Hrs. 135 7i 142* SSH 116 7 123 CH 12 1 13 RTH 19 11 30 RSH — 2 2 BWH 3489 - 3489 BE 4 - 4 MH 16 1 17 Os 86 2 88 * Includes one day in August. Per - - - Pig - - ■ - SpH 101 15 116 Uni 48 5 53 Total 3891 44 3935 140 TABLE II MT. PETER DAILY HAWK COUNTS IN 1965 AND 1966 The number of hours of observation is listed for each day, as is the number of observers. Totals are given for August - September, October - November, and the year. These are the first two years with extended non-September coverage; both were poor Broad¬ wing years. 1965 Date Gos SSH CH RTH RSH BWH BE MH Os Per Pig SpH Uni Total Hrs. Obs. 8/29 August and September 5 - 2 - 9 16 5 5 9/4 — 1 _ _ _ 4 _ 2 7 8 1 9/5 — — — - — 7 1 5 — — 7 3 23 7 2 9/6 - - 1 - - 4 - - 2 - - 6 - 13 7 2 9/7 9/8 9/9 2 2 31 Not Covered Rain 1 4 3 1 44 8 5 9/10 — 2 1 - — 40 _ — 1 1 — 5 22 72 8 1? 9/11 - 10 3 5 1 290 4 13 — 1 210 1 538 9 2 9/12 - 3 - - - 296 2 4 - - 3 1 309 7 4 9/13 9/14 1 1 84 Rain 1 _ 3 90 5 ? 9/15 9/16 11 8 2 205 Rain and Mist - 11 1 46 6 290 8 5 9/17 — 6 1 1 2 79 — _ 6 _ — 1 — 96 9 6 9/18 - 36 3 9 4 124 4 23 2 - 49 2 256 8 9 9/19 - 12 - 1 - 28 1 2 — - ' 2 1 47 8 3 9/20 — — 1 — — 5 2 — — — — 8 4 •5 9/21 - 3 1 - - 27 1 11 - - 3 5 51 8 1 9/22 - 5 4 2 - 8 8 6 - - 16 - 49 44 1 9/23 — 8 1 1 — 17 5 14 — - 11 4 61 7 3 9/24 - 12 3 1 _ 6 - - 12 - - 3 8 45 4 1 9/25 - 41 1 2 - 245 _ - 7 - - 12 15 323 7 ? 9/26 - 9 - 5 - 7 1 - - - 10 - 32 6 5? Total 0 162 21 37 9 1508 0 30 128 3 2 401 69 2370 1371 10/2 6 1 13 3 October and November - 3 5 1 31 7 70 44 2 10/9 — 14 1 3 — 8 — — 1 — — 2 4 33 6* 3 10/10 - 28 - 3 3 10 - - - - - 5 14 63 8 3 10/11 — 57 9 10 5 1 — — 3 — — 3 6 94 7? ? 10/12 - 16 - 4 - - 10 - - - 11 3 44 34 2 10/13 - 8 3 19 1 4 - - 1 - - 6 - 42 7| 3 10/14 — 36 1 8 1 1 2 2 - - 12 3 66 8 3 10/15 - 9 9 54 1 10/16 — 20 3 43 9 - 1 5 — — 2 17 100 8 14 10/17 - 3 - 12 5 - 1 (i) 3 1 - - 3 28 7 23 10/30 - 6 - 17 7 - 15 - “ 1 - 3 49 44 18 11/6 _ 3 _ 14 19 _ 2 - - - - 6 44 7 1 11/7 _ - 4 - - - - - - - - 4 4 1 11/13 11/14 _ _ 11 _ - Rain _ - - - - 11 6§ 2 Total 0 206 18 161 53 24 1 36 18 1 1 72 66 657 88 S/Total 0 368 39 198 62 1532 1 66 146 4 3 473 135 3027 2254 141 TABLE II — Continued 1966 Date Gos SSH CH RTH RSH BWH BE MH Os Per Pig SpH Uni Total Hrs. Obs. 8/24 _ - - _ August and September 1 1 - - - 13 _ 15 1 2 9/5 _ _ _ _ — 15 - 5 __ _ 2 _ 22 4 3 9/9 - - - - - 21 - - - - - 22 - 43 8 2 9/10 - - - - - 28 - 1 - - - 25 - 54 8 16 9/11 — - - - - 197 — 3 2 ' — — 10 3 215 10 17 9/12 - - - - - 265 - 3 9 - - 7 1 285 8 4 9/13 - 1 - - — 12 — 2 3 -- - 1 2 21 8 2 9/14 9/15 5 _ _ 30 _ Rain 2 4 6 3 50 7 8 9/16 - - - 3 - 37 - - - - - 16 - 56 8 3 9/17 1 - - - 389 - - 1 - - 16 — 407 8 16 9/18 - - 2 - 1 194 - - 5 - - 12 2 216 8 19 9/19 - - - - - 8 - - - - - 3 - 11 7 1 9/20 9/21 9/22 2 Rain Rain 1 3 6 2 9/23 — 11 - 2 - 13 — 3 4 - — 32 — 65 7 8 9/24 - 2 2 1 - 51 - 2 9 - - 66 - 133 8 3 9/25 - 7 3 12 - 60 - 1 4 - - 49 11 147 8 15 Total 0 29 7 18 1 1321 0 18 47 0 0 280 22 1743 114 10/2 1 19 3 18 1 October and November 56 2 4 - 108 2 214 5| 11 10/8 - 27 - 6 - 3 - 1 - - - 15 1 53 8 6 10/9 — 10 - 5 - 2 - 1 3 — - 11 — 32 8 14 10/10 10/11 12 2 8 1 1 Rain 1 3 2 14 4 48 7 8 10/12 - 22 3 17 1 1 - 4 2 - - . 41 4 95 8 9 10/13 - 3 2 1 1 — - — — — — 5 — 12 3 3 10/14 - 14 5 13 1 9 - 1 1 - 1 4 - 49 7 1 10/15 - 9 - 15 1 - - 4 1 - - 11 5 46 7 5 10/16 - 11 1 10 3 - - 2 - 1 - 47 1 76 6 3 10/23 - 5 1 6 5 1 10/30 - 1 1 67 14 - - 4 - - - 1 8 96 8 5 11/5 _ 2 17 7 _ __ __ _ _ _ 1 _ 27 4 2 11/6 - - - 18 13 - - 1 - - - - 1 33 6 2 Total 1 135 18 195 43 72 0 21 14 1 3 258 26 787 82 i S/Total 1 164 25 213 44 1393 0 39 61 1 3 538 48 2530 196| RECENT TOWER KILLS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK Stephen W. Eaton Reprinted from Research Report No. 1, Cattaraugus Bird Study Group . . . 1967 During two months in the fall, from mid-August to mid-October, about 10,000 song birds a year are killed at night by flying into com¬ munication towers on the Allegheny Plateau, This is a conservative estimate based on tower kills at Golden in southern Erie Co., at various towers in Cattaraugus, Allegany and Steuben Counties, and at towers checked near Elmira and Syracuse. This is developing into a conservation problem of the magnitude of the sandpiper slaughter in spring during the 19th century, the heron plume hunters of the early 1900’s, the duck plight of the 1930’s and the current hawk-prey-pesticide problem. A report of the A.O.U. committee on bird protection published in the Auk (83:465-467, July 1966) sum- 142 marized the situation on a broader scale. They say, “... unfortunately the hazard of towers is growing. In 1952 of the 100 television stations in the United States, 50 had transmitter towers 500 feet or more in height, and fewer than a dozen reached 1000 feet. By 1964, according to the Broadcasting Yearbook, the number of stations had climbed to about 650.... In addition, there are many towers less than 500 feet tall which are set on high terrain. ... As of 1965, the Federal Communications Commission has allocated assignments for about 1,800 television stations (three times the present number).” The Alleghany Plateau forms an elevation south of Lakes Ontario and Erie stretching up into the sky 1000 to 2500 feet above sea level. This front, marked on the north by the Portage Escarpment, is the high¬ est elevation many birds from the northwoods have encountered on their southward migration, from the mouth of the MacKenzie River in the west to Newfoundland in the east. The towers poke 200 to over 1000 feet above the plateau and are serious hazards. In 1965 we “tower-watched” a communications tower about 300 feet tall atop the plateau at 2140 feet near Ellicottville in Cattaraugus Co. Although there was only a small cleared area 200 ft. by 200 ft. about the base of the tower and tall hay and weeds covered much of the rest, we picked up over 141 dead birds from Sept. 12 to Oct. 15, after which the great flights of night migrants had passed to the south. Five other towers in Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties were checked after kill nights one or two times and the dead birds found indicated similar kills were taking place at most of these. The tower at Colden, over 1000 ft. tall and at an elevation of about 1710 ft. above sea level, has been checked since the fall of 1962. The highest kill there was in that year, over 1400 birds (Able, Kingbird 13:192-195, October 1963). Lesser kills have been reported in subsequent years, but this source of food has become better known among the local scavengers such as cats, weasels, foxes and dogs. On the plateau from Chautauqua Co. in the west to the New England border in the east there were in 1966, by conservative estimate, 50 towers causing kills (we know of 10 towers causing kills in Erie, Cat¬ taraugus and Steuben Counties). Probably the number of such towers is closer to 100. If the kills at these 50 towers averaged 200 birds a year, this would amount to 10,000 night migrants killed a year. What causes the kills? They usually occur during nights with fog or drizzly rain. It is believed the birds are forced down from the 4000 to 5000 ft. level at which they normally fly to about 2000 ft. (at least over the plateau) as cold fronts ride under warmer air coming from the south. They then strike the tower, or perhaps are attracted to the blinker lights of the tower, start orbiting and strike the guys or superstructure. Few of the birds we have skeletonized have broken bones, but most seem to have suffered some sort of cerebral hemorrhage. Little is 143 known about this type of killing, in contrast to the cielometer kills of the 1950’s. By using some sort of blue filters killing at cielometers has been reduced, and when a kill begins the operators have in the main been instructed to turn off the fights. The towers we have been check¬ ing, which are the most common type, are the unattended towers which automatically turn on blinker fights at low light intensities. Much work needs to be done to help reduce the kills at these towers. It seems to me that a team consisting of a biologist, a physicist and an engineer would be most productive in working out a solution. What species are involved in the kills on the Allegheny Plateau? From Audubon Field Notes and the Kingbird from 1956 to 1966 fifty- two species were tabulated (Table 1). These include 6 non-passerine birds, 2 flycatchers, Catbird, 5 species of thrushes, 2 species of kin glets, Starling, 4 species of vireos, 26 species of warblers, Bobolink, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager and 6 species of finches. It is only a question of time before herons, ducks, rails, wrens and other species of the families fisted in Table 1 will be added to this fist if we can apply what Stod¬ dard (Tall Timbers Research Station Bull. I, 1962) and Tordoff and Mengel (Univ. of Kansas Publ. Mus. Zool. 10:1-44, 1956) observed in Florida and Kansas. TABLE 1 List of night migrants found dead under towers on the Allegheny Plateau (from Aud. Field Notes, Kingbird, author’s field notes 1956-1966) Pied-billed Grebe Solitary Sandpiper Black-billed Cuckoo Yellow-billed Cuckoo Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Yellow-shafted Flicker Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Eastern Wood Pewee Catbird Wood Thrush Swainson’s Thrush Gray-cheeked Thrush Veery Robin Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Brown Creeper Starling Red-eyed Yireo Philadelphia Vireo Warbling Vireo Solitary Vireo Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Parula Warbler Yellow Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Myrtle Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Palm Warbler Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Connecticut Warbler Mourning Warbler Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Hooded Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Canada Warbler Redstart Bobolink Baltimore Oriole Scarlet Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak Savannah Sparrow Slate-colored Junco White-throated Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Song Sparrow 57 species 144 Limited studies in the fall of 1965 and 1966 indicate that the greatest kills can be expected between Sept. 12 and Sept. 26, and involve for the most part Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Red-eyed Vireos, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warblers, Oven- birds and Yellowthroats. Kills will follow or proceed passage of cold fronts through the lower Great Lakes (Fig. 1). So far, the species which has yielded the most data from our salvage attempts is the Ovenbird. Table 3 gives a fair profile of the passage of this species over Western New York. These data are about as accurate as can be obtained, for the birds were snatched from the skies on migra¬ tion. One always wonders when observing an Ovenbird on the ground in Western New York whether it is from a locally breeding population or one from further north. Not only do tower kills represent an accurate picture of the passage of a species, but by thorough processing of the birds we know that in the Ovenbird adults and immatures migrate at the same time, not immatures earlier or later. The amount of fat, the sex and other data can be observed and added to the total understanding of the species' migration. By organizing volunteers to check as many towers as possible and to properly preserve and handle the specimens until they can get to a common processing point, we could learn much more. 145 To get the most valuable data from the kills one should: 1. From Sept. 1 to Oct. 1 check towers daily (preferrably in early AM), if this is not possible, at least every other day. 2. Take Kodachrome slide of the kill, weigh each bird and place weight (to nearest tenth of a gram), date, locality and collectors name on a label attached to foot of each specimen. 3. Deep freeze the specimens in plastic bags — separate as to place and date of collection. 4. After collection period, drop a card to the person in charge of processing so that specimens can be transported to collection point. We are much indebted to those people who helped collect data dur¬ ing 1965 and 1966, especially Andrew Klemer, David C. Krieg, Eric Saylor, Clarence Klingensmith and family, John and Mary Forness, Mrs. W. Carlton Baker, Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Prosser and F. G. Meyer. If you are interested in helping carry on this cooperative study, please contact the author at the Department of Biology, St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, N.Y. 14778. TABLE 3 Ovenbird kills in 1965 and 1966, Cattaraugus and Allegany Cos. September October 8 12-18 19-23 24-28 2-6 8-12 14 Totals Imm. 1 3 6 4 2 1 0 17 Adult. . 0 8 7 6 3 1 1 26 Ovewtifi tolls 146 SANDHILL CRANE WINTERS AT WHITEHALL, N. Y. Joseph A. Munoff On March 25, 1987, following directions received from Mrs. Dora Bullock of Glens Falls, Harry Goldman and I went to see a Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) reported at Mountain View Farm near Whitehall, N.Y. ( Kingbird 17(2): 113, May 1967). We were pleasantly greeted by Mrs. Kenneth Woodruff who, with her husband, runs the 130-acre dairy farm owned by her father, Robert Hatch. She pointed to a gray shape on stilt-like legs standing at the far edge of a four acre patch of corn—my first Sandhill Crane. To see one of these birds in New York State is indeed a rarity! According to Reilly and Parkes ( Preliminary An¬ notated Checklist of New York State Birds , New York State Museum and Science Service, 1959), except for one recent sight record in 1948, no Sandhill C'ranes had been reported since the 1880’s. However, in Nov. 1966 one was reported at Delhi, N.Y. (Kingbird 17(1):36, Jan. 1967). The crane’s robust, grayish body rested on long legs. Its long neck functioned as a periscope among the tan cornstalks. In silhouette it reminded me of the Great Blue Heron. However, the Great Blue Heron is less robust of body and in flight carries its neck in a loop with the head drawn back, while the crane flies with its neck extended forward and legs backward. The crane’s bald, reddish forehead and the tufted rear feathers which curved downward served to substantiate the identification. We watched the crane through field glasses for approximately 15 minutes. All during that time, the bird “tip-toed” its way back and forth along the far border of the cornfield that it had claimed as its own. Eventually the crane walked in among the cornstalks and disappeared from view. It did not reappear, so we headed for home. On April 4 I decided to check the crane. This time I had an opportunity to talk with Mrs. Woodruff, who had been “keeping an eye” on the bird since some¬ time in February, and find out about the activities of this rare visitor. Due to unusually muddy conditions on the Hatch farm last autumn, the Wood¬ ruffs were unable to use their tractor and so were forced to leave standing a four- acre area of corn. Once or twice in January, Mrs. Woodruff noticed “something” down in the cornfield which can easily be viewed from her house. It was not until one day in February, however, that she was able to positively identify the silhouette of the large crane-like bird walking among the cornstalks. Eventually the news of the discovery attracted many birdwatching enthusiasts, some of whom accurately identified the large bird as a Sandhill Crane. Probably the first person to identify this bird was John Brooks, Conservation Officer from Whitehall. As the days passed and Mrs. Woodruff’s interest in the crane grew, she noticed that the bird lived according to a daily routine. The cornfield is bordered on all sides by open meadows containing absolutely no cover. Early each dawn, Mrs. Woodruff could easily locate the crane because it would always be in the same spot (as proved by the trampled down snow) in the center of the open meadow to the west of the cornfield. This was where the bird evidently spent each night. After the full arrival of dawn, the bird began each day with the ritual of flying around the edges of the cornfield two or three times. After convincing itself that “all was safe” the crane would land in the meadow, 147 but nearer to the corn stalks. It would then proceed to walk in among the corn stalks. It always entered the corn in this manner and was never seen to fly and land in the cornfield. As the days began to lengthen, the crane’s routine continued to coincide exactly with the rising sun. The morning feeding usually lasted about two hours and corn was no doubt its mainstay. The bird’s appetite seemed to vary with the weather, for on cold' days it spent most of its time eating among the cornstalks. On warmer or sunny days, the crane would spend more time in the “night spot” in the open meadow. Regardless of the variation in its daytime activities, in the late afternoon of each day the crane repeated the aerial survey of the cornfield exactly as it had in the morning. Once again convinced that all was well, it would then retire to the “night spot” in the open meadow. According to Forbush and May (A Natural History of American Birds ) the Sandhill, like other cranes, will eat such morsels as the roots of plants, tubers (including potatoes), corn and other grains and seeds. The menu is often rounded out with whatever mice and insects the crane can catch. Insofar as Mrs. Woodruff was able to observe, the Sandhill on her farm ate mostly corn and might have supplemented its diet with mice which frequent the cornfield. The dairy barn on the Hatch farm is located about three hundred yards from the cornfield, on the opposite side of the highway. The area behind this barn is a low meadow which becomes temporarily flooded each spring. Also, behind the barn is a farm pond. On the night of March 31, the ice “broke” in both the meadow and the pond. The very next day (April 1) it was noticed that the crane had al¬ tered its daily pattern. Now, instead of spending all of its time divided between the cornfield and the meadow, the bird included in its routine daily trips to the open water areas behind the barn. The crane’s new activity consisted of much probing with its bill along the water s margin with a subsequent reduction of time spent in the cornfield. However, corn still continued to be its mainstay and the “night spot” in the meadow continued to be used. One day, early this spring, a large, robust hawk (perhaps a Red-tailed Hawk) perched in a large tree overlooking the cornfield where the crane was feeding. The crane immediately walked out into the open meadow where it began to pace nervously back and forth to the tune of its own cries of protest. Periodically, the Sandhill Crane would smartly jerk its wings together above the body level. This display went on for at least one hour! Finally, the hawk got the message and left the area. Similar displays of protest with Crows and, more recently, Redwinged Blackbirds have been observed and the result has been the same as in the hawk episode. In her frequent walks down the highway with her pet dog, Mrs. Woodruff has often been observed by the crane. It would seem that the bird has come to recognize her for she has been able to approach the crane more closely than any other person. Most strangers cannot approach within a hundred yards of the crane. How¬ ever, a few exceptional “bird stalkers” have cautiously sneaked to within almost 100 feet of the bird. Mrs. Woodruff’s closest approach, however, was perhaps an accident. Once, she had not been able to see the bird for three days. Fearing for its well-being, she and the dog went down to look among the cornstalks. When well within the corn¬ field, suddently, without warning, up came the periscope-like, small head and long neck — distance, twenty feet! What did the crane do? It turned and calmly walked away, quite unruffled. Biology Instructor and Chairman of the Science Dept., South Glens Falls Senior High School, South Glens Falls, N. Y. Home Address: 66 Hudson St., South Glens Falls, N.Y. 12801. 148 CONSERVATION NEWS — "FOREVER HABITABLE" Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr. Each individual in this state has the right to an environment of air, water and land that is “forever natural” to assure his or her life, health and pursuit of peace, quiet and happiness. (Suggested assertion for the new state constitution) “Forever wild” may be having an influence far deeper, greater and more significant than even the Article 14 in the New York State Con¬ stitution in which the phrase is found — “shall be forever kept as wild forest lands.” Today “forever wild,” “forever natural,” “forever pure,” are increasingly being heard crackling from imploring orators’ tongues or being seen in bold type newspaper headlines. These phrases are on the way to becoming part of our personal and social language. When this happens we are talking about words that have power. The ancients would have called it magic. They used certain words to exhort the gods — to bring rain on parched lands, to assure peace and happiness and to preserve life itself. Now, in this scientific age we are invoking the words “forever wild ... natural... pure” for the same rea¬ sons. We now know what the ancient peoples did not know — that trees transpire and evaporate quantities of water back into the atmosphere. According to John Stewart CoIIis in The Triumph of the Tree (Viking Press, New York) on a summer day the stomata or “breathing tubes” of a full grown willow tree can transpire up to 5,000 gallons of water. This can be returned as precipitation. The writer refers to forests as “oceans of the continent” because “The amount of water... thrown off by the forests into the air is so enormous.” In pleading for the forests, man in effect is appealing for a natural rainfall. The exhortations to delegates at a Constitutional Convention in Albany or to the voters have really the same urgency as the ritualistic pleas of antiquity. Today, man has the power to save or destroy his very environment. Man is the god. The delegates at the Convention have this power. After them the voters will have the power. The entreaties to continue the Tor ever wild’ protection of the Forest Preserve in the Adirondacks and Catskills have poured in from through¬ out the state. The New York Times of May 8 said that the Blaine Amendment and the Forest Preserve were “the two topics that have sparked the most mail to the delegates.” But increasingly people have been asking for even more than the Forest Preserve. They have been asking for the preservation of the very water and air we need for life. Delegate J. Miff red Hull, Box 623, Smithtown introduced a measure for constitutional safeguards for air, 149 water and other natural resources. The Long Island Press headlined this story, “FOREVER PURE.” This came at the same time that three scientists were reporting in Science , the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, that a study in a Long Island salt marsh “suggests that DDT residues are currently reducing certain animal populations within the estuary.” Dr. Charles F. Wurster, Jr., assistant professor of biology at the State University at Stony Brook, one of the three scientists, warned that “I don’t look on the picture optimistically. We have introduced into our environment a molecule that has never been there. It is completely foreign and organisms have never handled it before, and their physio¬ logical systems are poorly equipped to deal with its toxic properties. This is a very poor situation.” Such a dire warning charges a phrase or plea for “forever wild” — or “pure” — or “natural” — with emotion. Think of what we are spewing into the air. Sulfur dioxide pours out of chimneys of coal-burning furnaces. It irritates nose and throat. Ni¬ trogen dioxide emanates from cylinders of high powered automobiles and can be poisonous. There is now 4.85 percent more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there was around 1900 because of the burning of coal, oil and gasoline. Air pollution can and has killed man. We are talking about the first resource of life — the natural air around us. We can survive without food or water for several days, but less than five minutes without air. The man in the city requires the natural air no less than the man in the country. We are now talking about “forever natural” on 42nd and Broadway! This has generated the urgency in the words “forever wild” or “forever natural.” These words invoke now the thought of life itself. Our plea to man to keep our environment “forever habitable” is really a prayer to man himself. 333 Bedell Street , Freeport > N.Y. 11520 FIELD NOTES House Finch Influx at Schenectady: The first House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) recorded in the Schenectady area was a male seen with Purple Finches (Carpodacus purpureus ) on April 29, 1964, and later banded and photographed on May 5, 1964 at my feeder ( Kingbird , 14(3): 153, 1964). During the late winter and early spring of 1965, Purple Finches were common at the feeder, but no House Finch was seen. No Purple Finches were seen at the feeder during the winter of 1966 and when migrants arrived in mid-April to mid-May, no House Finch was noted among them. In 1967 migrant Purple Finches again arrived in about mid-April after being absent all winter. On May 5th, there was a marked influx of Purple Finches, and with them came a pair of House Finches. Both were captured at about 6:20 pm., the male banded and the female found to be already banded. The male was fat 150 class zero and weighed 23.05 g., while the female was fat class one and weighed 26.10 g. The wing chords of both birds measured 78 mm. On May 6th, another female was captured and banded, and on May 12th an unhanded male appeared at the feeder and went uncaptured. This second female was also fat class one, weighed 21.90' g. at 10:30 am. and her wing chord measured 76 mm. None of these birds was seen again. By May 15-20, all but a very few Purple Finches had departed from the feeder. It appears that when northward movements of House Finches do occur into this area, they coincide with, or are possibly influenced by, the northward movement of Purple Finches. Concurrent to this appearance of four House Finches, Gustave Angst nearby on Rosendale Road reported the sighting of at least one male and possibly a female at his feeder the week of May 7th. The banded female of May 5th was traced to Mrs. William Babcock of Gordons- ville, Virginia, who had banded the bird on December 26, 1966 at her feeder. Ac¬ cording to Mrs. Babcock, whom I thank for the use of her banding data and other information on the species, House Finches appeared at her feeder for the first time on December 24, 1965. During the winter of 1966-67, they arrived on November 17th and up to 200 were present during snow storms. The last House Finch departed April 1st, Gordonsville represents the furthest southern penetration of the species in numbers. It is most interesting that an individual from the species’ southernmost population should be one of the northern vanguard. Robert P. Yunick, 1527 Myron St., Schenectady, N.Y. 12309 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPRING SEASON April 1 — May 31 David B. Peakall April was fairly normal weatherwise although cold in some areas. May, however, was one of the coldest on record. In general early migrants arrived on time but later migrants were delayed. Wickham sums up the situation "the low numbers of many species — even by mid-May — were unprecedented in my experience,” Waves of migra¬ tion were poor, the largest and most wide-spread being May 18-20, but this movement was considered good only compared to the previous poor showing. Despite reports of tanagers and warblers feeding on or near the ground the actual reports of casualties were few. Some Purple Martin kills were noted, but these were small compared to last year. However, low numbers of Martins were reported, perhaps due to a combination of the cold May and last year’s heavy kill. Five regional editors commented on the decrease of the Grasshopper Sparrow and four of these editors also mentioned decreases of Henslow’s Sparrow. In at least two areas this decline was a continuation of one previously noted. It would be worth-while investigating this situation to see if the factors involved, such as changes in agriculture practice, could be evaluated. Cuckoos, particularly the Yellow-billed, continued to be scarce. On the other hand, the flight of kinglets was excellent in the central and western portions of the state. A House Finch was noted in Region 1 (2nd regional record) and several in Region 8, all at feeders. These included one previously 151 banded in Virginia five months earlier. A few southern herons were reported, Yellow-crowned Night Herons in Regions 1 and 3 and Cattle Egrets in Regions 2 and 6. No major flight of Cattle Egrets like that which occurred in 1962 has happened again and it appears that the explosive stage of the expansion of this species in eastern North America is over. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported, with commendable caution, from Long Island. The possibility that New World records of this species are actually referable to dark-mantled races of the Herring Gull has now been increased by the collection of such a bird in Ontario. It was thought to be a Lesser Black-backed Gull but was found on exami¬ nation in the hand to be a dark-mantled Herring Gull. There are two major groups of races of the Herring Gull. The first stretches right round the northern hemisphere with various sub-species occurring in North America, northern Europe, and Siberia. The mantle color varies from the very pale thayeri of northern Canada to the dark vegea of Siberia. The second group of sub-species stretches from central Mongolia to the Atlantic. The western-most race, atlantis, is the darkest. It would be possible to confuse either vegea or atlantis with a Lesser Black- backed Gull. The situation is further confused by the highly variable leg color of the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in winter (Barnes, British Birds 45:3-17, 1952). This author points out that only half of winter adults have yellow legs. As there are only two specimens of Lesser Black-backed Gull for the state this appears to be a situation where additional collecting would be of value. The report of two attempts of breeding by the Golden Eagle in the Adirondacks will probably come as a pleasant surprise to many readers. Despite the rather unpleasant spring weather the list of rarities reported is at least as long as usual. It includes Eared Grebe (Region 1, first specimen for the state of a species for which there are numerous sight records), Eurasian Teal (Regions 2, 5 and 10), Sandhill Crane (Region 8), Ruff (different adult males in breeding plumage in Regions 5 & 6), Parastic Jaeger (Region 3), Little Gull (Region 1 & 3), Brewers Black¬ bird (Region 1), Boat-tailed Grackle (Region 10), Lark Bunting (Re¬ gion 3), and Harris’s Sparrow (Regions 1, 3, & 9). As a personal note both Dr. Sally Hoyt Spofford and I would like to hear if anyone has a Harris’s Sparrow that appears to be staying around, since neither of us has seen one. This issue of The Kingbird incidentally contains Sally Hoyt Spofford’s 60th regional report. It is regretted that the report from Region 4 was not available for the writing of this summary. Upstate Medical Center, 766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, N.Y. 13210 Abbreviations used in regional reports: arr—arrival, arrived; Co—County; imm— immature; L—Lake; max—maximum one—day count; mob—many observers; Pk— Park; Pt—Point; R—River; Rd—Road. 152 REGION 1 — NIAGARA FRONTIER Robert A. Sundell April and May were cold and wet months with temperatures averaging several degrees below normal. Accenting this weather was snowfall during mid-May. Responding to these conditions, development of vegetation was generally retarded from two to three weeks. This provided exciting birding by greatly enhancing the observation of many land birds. Unfortunately, migration was generally spotty and many observers considered it poor to mediocre (for some notable exceptions, see below). The third week in May, however, brought a considerable influx and the annual Buffalo Ornithological Society May count on May 21 resulted in the maxi¬ mum numbers ever recorded for many species of land birds. It must be emphasized that these large numbers in many cases reflect (1) the generally retarded spring migration (high counts of Golden-crowned Kinglet and Fox Sparrow), (2) the severely retarded development of vegetation in the hill country south and southeast of Buffalo, and (3) better regional coverage by more observers. The B.O.S. territory covered on these counts includes adjacent southeastern Ontario varying from about twenty-five to nearly fifty miles west of the Niagara River. Several dramatic occurrences emphasized the effects weather conditions may have on birds and their movements. On April 15 and 30 with clear to partly cloudy skies and southwest winds between five and twenty m.p.h., excellent hawk migra¬ tions occurred along the south shore of Lake Erie. On April 23, a blizzard forced migrating waterfowl onto rivers, lakes, and reservoirs across much of the Southern Tier. During mid-May, a week of cold weather including snow with record low temperatures greatly restricted insect availability. As happened last year, many in¬ dividuals of the already reduced Purple Martin population starved (Kingbird 16:153). The Brant, Barnacle Goose, Purple Sandpiper, Pine Warbler, Western Meadow¬ lark, and Lark Bunting observed during the previous period remained into the spring. Different individuals than those listed in the last report of the Eared Grebe, Brant, Little Gull, and Western Meadowlark also were noted. Additional records of interest include Cattle Egret, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Laughing Gull, Forster’s Tern, Lawrence’s Warbler, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Dickcissel, House Finch, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Harris’ Sparrow. Abbreviations: ABC—April Bird Count; Alleg—Allegany; Bflo—Buffalo; BOS— Buffalo Ornithological Society; Catt—Cattaraugus; Chaut—Chautauqua; Han—Han¬ over Township, Chautauqua County; INWR—Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge; MBC—May Bird Count; Ont—Ontario; OOGMA—Oak Orchard Game Management Area; TGMA—Tonawanda Game Management Area. Contributors: RFA—Robert F. Andrle; PB—Paul Benham; TLB—Thomas L. Bourne; RB—Richard Brownstein; LB—Lois Buck; JB—Joanna Burger; LDB—Lou and Doris Burton; AC—Arthur Clark; WC—Wilma Csont; RC—Robert Curry; FE— Flora Elderkin; JF—John Filor; JG—Joseph Grzybowski; RJ—Ramon Jordan; LFK— Lewis F. Kibler; JK—Joseph Kikta; WHK—Walter and Harriette Klabunde; ECP— Elizabeth C. Pillsbury; FMR—Francis M. Rew; AR—Archie Richardson; RAS—Robert A. Sundell; RR—Robert Rybczynski; KOS—Ken and Ora Swanson; JT—Joseph Thill. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: well scattered but low numbers—max 15 May 7 Wilson to Shadigee (JB, RB); 14 Apr 24 Cuba L (LDB). Red-throated Loon: few Catt Co records—one Apr 29 Allegheny Reservior approx one mile north of Onoville (RAS, AR). Red-necked Grebe: one May 8 Hamburg Town Pk (TLB). Horned Grebe: poor spring flight-max 150 Apr 25 Cuba L (LDB); widely scattered Apr 2 including 65 Riverside Marsh (FE). Eared Grebe: one collected 153 Apr 30 Olean (S W Eaton, JG)— first specimen for N.Y. State. Double-crested Cormorant: Apr 20-27 Dunkirk Harbor (mob), max 4 Apr 23 (RFA, FE); two May 17 (Burgeson), one May 21 Allegheny Reservoir (RAS, RJ). Great Blue Heron: small numbers migrating along L Erie shoreline Apr and May. Green Heron: arr, one Apr 15 Cheektowaga (RR, JK); some individuals did not arrive on territory until late May. Cattle Egret: one Apr 16 INWR (WHK). Common Egret: one May 3 Falconer (RAS). Black-crowned Night Heron: uncommon on south shore of L Erie—one imm May 14 Dunkirk (RAS, AR). Yellow-crowned Night Heron: one Apr 30-May 15 Five Corners, Alleg Co (LDB et al). Least Bittern: one May 21 BOSMBC Alleg or Catt Co. Whistling Swan: last report—two May 30 INWR (PB). Canada Goose: data incomplete. Brant: wintering bird Jan 21-Apr 22 Dunkirk Harbor (mob); three Apr 16 Sturgeon Pt (FMR, Rathbun). Barnacle Goose: one Apr 1 Somerset (JG, PB et al). Snow Goose: ten Apr 1 Oak Orchard (WHK); max 16 Apr 16 OOGMA; rare except in Oak Orchard area—six May 9 North Collins (TLB). Blue Goose: max 50 Apr 1 OOGMA (JG et al). Gadwall; max 27 Apr 23 Dunkirk (FMR, Rathbun); one May 22 Allegany (JG). European Widgeon: one Apr 29 OOGMA (PB et al). Oldsquaw: wide¬ spread in small flocks (max 20) on Southern Tier lakes after Apr 23 blizzard. Scoters: excellent spring flight Southern Tier lakes arr, with Oldsquaws—max White¬ winged 100 Apr 24 Cuba L (LDB); Surf three Apr 24 Cuba L (LDB); Common nine males Apr 24 Allegheny Reservoir (FE, ECP). Ruddy Duck: max for spring 16 Apr 24 Amity L (LDB). Hooded Merganser: max 26 Apr 30 Mayville (FMR, KOS). HAWKS—OWLS: Notable hawk flights along south shore L Erie—Apr 15 over Han Turkey Vulture 37, Sharp-shin 89, Cooper’s 20, Red-tail 78, Red-shoulder 4, Broad-wing 1214, Rough-leg 2, Bald Eagle 1 imm, Marsh 3, Osprey 3, Peregrine 1, Sparrow 11 (Lunardini et al); Apr 29 Hamburg to Han Broadwing 860 (AC); Apr 30 over Dunkirk and Pompfret Township Turkey Vulture 12, Sharp-shin 45, Red-tail 8, Broad-wing 1100. Osprey 7 (RFA et al); additional records of interest —Bald Eagle: one Apr 1 Oak Orchard (WHK); one imm Apr 1 Brocton (RAS, AR); one imm Eden Apr 20' (TLB). Pigeon Hawk: one Apr 15 three miles south of Ellery Center (KOS); one Apr 30 Barcelona (RAS). Rails arr late—Virginia Rail: one Apr 23 OOGMA (RC). Sora: one Apr 18 East Eden Pond (TLB). Common Gallinule: one Apr 19 South Pk, Bflo (JK). Am. Coot: poor spring flight—max 60 Apr 24 Cuba L (LDB). Shorebirds: poor spring flight inland and on south shore L Erie as usual—Am. Golden Plover: one May 20 Amherst (Inskip, Zehr et al). Spotted Sandpiper: arr one Apr 16 TGMA (PB). Solitary Sandpiper: earliest arr for Region—two Apr 8 Riverside Marsh (AR). Purple Sandpiper: wintering bird at Dunkirk last seen and photographed Apr 22, 23. Pectoral Sandpiper: two large counts—243 Apr 15 Cherry Creek (FMR, LB); 330 Apr 23 TGMA (Freitag). White-rumped Sand¬ piper: three May 21 Alleg Co (MBC). Least Sandpiper: arr two May 6 Belvidere (LDB). Dunlin: arr one Apr 26 Riverside Marsh (FE). Short-billed Dowitcher: nine May 21 Clymer (ECP, AR). Gulls: Glaucous: one Apr 24 Hamburg Town Pk (TLB). Iceland: one Apr 5 Hamburg Town Pk (TLB). Laughing Gull: extraordinary during spring; with large flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls—one Apr 20 Dunkirk Harbor (PB), first Chaut Co record. Bonaparte’s: exceptionally large spring flight early Apr through mid-May concentrating in Dunkirk Harbor—max 5000 Apr 23 (late p.m.); also notable 1500 Apr 27, 28. Little Gull: singles Dunkirk Harbor Apr 14, 23; imm May 14 (RAS, AR). Forster’s Tern: rare (perhaps overlooked?) in spring—four May 19 Dunkirk Harbor (JB, RB). Caspian Tern: excellent spring flight—early—one Apr 10 Cuba L (LDB); max eight May 19 Dunkirk Harbor (JB, RB). 154 Owls: Barn: one Apr 9, May 21 Hamburg area (ABC, MBC); one May 7 Youngstown Cemetery (JB). Snowy: last—one Apr 8 Youngstown (WHK). Long¬ eared: one Apr 21 Chestnut Ridge Pk (TLB). Short-eared: one Apr 10 Lakeview (TLB). Saw-whet: one dead on road Apr 22 Dunkirk (JG et al). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Whip-poor-will: arr late, one May 4 Franklinville (JR»-Wieklands). Chimney Swift: one Apr 23 Evangola State Pk (RFA). Yellow- shalfcd Flicker: unusually large numbers on BOS spring counts 908 Apr 9, 612 May 21, Pileated Woodpecker: highest number ever recorded on BOS counts 29 May 21. Eastern Kingbird: greatest number recorded on BOS counts (May 21, 714). Flycatchers: Great Crested: one Apr 30 Pt Gratiot (AC). Eastern Phoebe: excellent showing with highest ABC and MBC numbers 275 Apr 9 and 330 May 21. Least: one Apr 30 Sheridan. Eastern Wood Pewee: one May 6 Grand Is (WHK,). Olive-sided: one May 12 Forest Lawn Cemetery, Bflo (JF); four BOS count May 21 scattered localities. Swallows: except for Tree, mostly retarded from two to three weeks with bulk moving through during later half of May. Exceptionally high numbers on MBC May 21—Tree: 2273, Rough-wing: 617, Barn: 6409 (largest Regional count ever). Cliff 162 (undoubtedly due to better coverage of Southern Tier counties). Purple Martin: 1034 (surprising total considering second consecutive year of marked starva¬ tion during May; figure may partially represent greater survival rate of birds in nearby Ont). Blue Jay: usual substantial flight along south shore of L Erie but few counts of over 500 (in contrast with many years). Tufted Titmouse: large number 14 May 21 MBC. Red-breasted Nuthatch: mediocre spring flight 24 May 21 MBC. Brown Creeper: largest number on ABC 126 Apr 9. Wrens: House: earliest arr date ever—one Apr 9 Hamburg ABC, large spring count—402 May 21 MBC; Winter: unusually large spring count—30 Apr 9 ABC; Carolina: light spring flight—singles Apr 13 Allegany (JG), Apr 21 Belmont (Olmstead), Apr 26, 28 Eden (TLB), Apr 29 Evans (McKales), May 19 Belmont (LDB). Short-billed Marsh: very scarce, arr late—three May 27 Bear L (FMR, LB). Mockingbird: wintering bird at feeder in Jamestown last seen mid-May (RJ); pair Jamestown General Hospital grounds late May (Ruth Olson); one Apr 9, 10 Lewiston (WHK); one May 11 Bayview Rd, Bemus Pt (AR); one May 15 Athol Springs (TLB). Catbird: arr early—one Apr 18 Bflo (RR), largest BOS count —1142 May 21. Brown Thrasher; surprising number on ABC—five Apr 9. Robin: exceptionally large numbers on counts 10,809 Apr 9 (highest BOS count ever), 6986 May 21. Hermit Thrush: five Apr 9 ABC. Veery: highest number recorded on BOS counts—222 May 21. Eastern Bluebird: 116 MBC May 21; 35 nesting pairs in five square mile study area east of Frewsburg (LFK). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: early record—one Apr 16 Evans (FMR et al); six Apr 29 Onoville (RAS, AR); highest BOS count—21 May 21. Golden-crowned Kinglet: highest spring count—648 May 21. Water Pipit: poor flight—33 Apr 9 ABC. Loggerhead Shrike: singles from six scattered localities. Starling: small flocks still migrating along L Erie May 27— 150 Dunkirk (RAS, AR). VIREOS—WARBLERS: Vireos: Red-eyed: arr late—one May 16 Hamburg (TLB); MCB total well below what might reasonably be expected—107 May 21. Philadelphia: arr late—two May 18 Delaware Pk, Bflo (JF). Warblers: Black-and-white: lowest MBC total since 1962—13 May 21. Prothono- tary: usual locality—three May 21 Oak Orchard MBC. Blue-winged: continues to increase—66 May 21 MBC. “Lawrence’s”: one May 27, 29 Elma (JK, RR). Orange-crowned: two May 13 Fluvanna (RAS, AR), one May 13 Bflo (AC, Wade), one May 14 Delaware Pk, Bflo (JT), three BOS count May 21. Parula: singles May 13 Fluvanna (RAS), May 19 Pt Gratiot (JB, RB), May 20 Dunkirk 155 (RAS, AR), five MBC May 21. Yellow: arr one Apr 25 Eden (TLB), highest BOS count—2201 May 21. Magnolia: one Apr 30 Pt Gratiot (AC). Cape May: arr late—one May 15 Hamburg (TLB). Myrtle: light movement during early Apr— arr two Apr 8 Belmont (LDB), 11 Apr 9 ABC', small numbers during May. Cerulean: singles May 4 Bflo (FMR), May 14 Pt Gratiot (RAS, AR), May 19 Athol Springs (TLB). Pine: wintering bird at Dunkirk feeder last observed Apr 13 (McNallys); arr one Apr 23 Water Valley (TLB), one Apr 30 Mayville (RAS, AR). Prairie: one May 16 Allegany (JG); one May 23 five miles east of Frewsburg in Sq&tch pine plantation (LFK), same location three May 24 (RAS), one through end of month (AR). Ovenbird: arr one May 1 Bflo (Hess). Mourning: early arr one May 6 Riverside Marsh (AR). Yellowthroat: 413 MBC May 21. Yellow-breasted Chat: arr one May 10 Orchard Pk (TLB), high count 11 MBC May 21. Wilson’s: arr one May 11 Athol Springs (TLB, WC), 127 May 21 MBC (more than twice previous high). Canada: arr late—11 May 16 scattered locations (mob). Redstart: arr one Apr 30 Pt Gratiot (AC), highest BOS count since 1955—416 May 21. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: arr two Apr 30 Pt Gratiot (AC); not in numbers until mid-May. Western Meadowlark: two birds on territory—one Cen¬ ter Rd, Sheridan Township, Chaut Co throughout period (mob) (Kingbird 17:92), one in field across from Vineyard Motel, Dunkirk Apr 15 (RAS, AR, JG) through end of period; also one May 10 Orchard Pk (TLB). Yellow-headed Blackbird: one female at feeder May 8-17 Tonawanda (RFA et al). Orchard Oriole; one May 18 Forest Lawn Cemetery, Bflo (Seeber). Baltimore Oriole; highest BOS count—1132 May 21. Rusty Blackbird: high Spring count 779 Apr 9 ABC. Brewer’s Blackbird: adult male Apr 23 Somerset (RC)—full details submitted to BOS records commit¬ tee. Common Grackle; substantial increase in breeding population in last two years —highest ABC and MBC totals 33,531 Apr 9 and 10, 967 May 21. Brown-headed Cowbird: highest MBC figure 2810 May 21. Cardinal: continuing to increase—highest ABC' and MBC figures 471 Apr 9 and 456 May 21. Dickcissel: first Chaut Co record—female at feeder May 12—17 Fre- donia (Udells), also (same bird ?) Oct 20, 1966. Evening Grosbeak: last—singles May 21 Hamburg and Allegany areas MBC. Purple Finch: high May count 133 May 21. House Finch: second Regional report—one at feeder Apr 29 to May 23 Athol Springs (WC, RFA et al). Pine Siskin: small numbers sporadically during Apr at Water Valley, Hamburg, Jamestown: surprising surge May 21 465 MBC. Am. Goldfinch: tremendous numbers last two weeks of May—highest MBC total 4425 May 21. Red Crossbill—max 14 May 22 Hamburg (RFA et al), 7 May 29 Jamestown (Clarence Beal) ;five other reports of from one to four, total 9 birds, L Erie State Pk, Hamburg area, Water Valley, Evans, Bflo. White-winged Cross¬ bill—one May 21 MBC southwestern Alleg Co. Rufous-sided Towhee: largest num¬ ber for MBC 580 May 21. Lark Bunting: wintering bird at Belmont last noted May 13 (LDB). Sparrows: Grasshopper: arr one Apr 21 Orchard Pk (TLB); many had not arrived on territory by end of period. Henslow’s: arr one Apr 22 Alfred (Klingen- smith); comment for Grasshopper applies. Slate-colored Junco: second largest number recorded for ABC 3297 Apr 9. Tree: last—one at feeder Apr 30 Belmont (Olmstead). Chipping: arr one Apr 3 Amity Lk (LDB), second highest total MBC 1293 May 21. Clay-colored Sparrow: one Apr 16 Allegany (JG). Field: high count 417 May 21 MBC. Harris’ Sparrow: one May 20, 21 Newfane (Lehrers). White-throated: poor flight. Fox: good number for ABC 49 Apr 9; largest number ever recorded so late 15 May 21 MBC indicative of retarded migration; one May 24 Casenovia Pk, Bflo (RR). Lincoln’s: arr one May 6 Belmont (LDB); one May 8 Hamburg (TLB); also six reports from Southern Tier counties May 12 to 21. Swamp: largest number BOS spring counts 91 Apr 9 and 305 May 21. Song: large number for Apr count 4103 Apr 9; second highest total for MBC 2886 May 21. 19 Chestnut Street, Jamestown N.Y. 14701 156 REGION 2 —GENESEE Howard S. Miller Temperatures for April were about average, but rainfall was almost an inch below normal. Precipitation for May was almost average, but temperatures for the month were the coldest for fifty years. Snow fell on May 7 and was still present the next day. May 21 (the day of the Spring Census) showed a reading of 31°. The spring flight of Common Loons was average, but Red-throated Loons were rather scarce. There was a very good flight of Red-necked Grebes. Geese and ducks seemed about average. The spring hawk flight did not appear as spectacular as some years. The peak of the spring migration occurred May 19'. Northern Finches were scarce or absent. Among the more outstanding records were Cattle Egret, Common Teal, European Widgeon, King Eider, Goshawk, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Golden Plover, Whimbrel, Purple Sandpiper, Franklin’s Gull and Western Meadow¬ lark. ' - Observers cited: JJD—James Doherty; JF—John Foster; WH—William Hartranft; AEK—Allen Kemnitzer; WCL—Walter Listman; WL—Warren Lloyd; CM—Catherine Mack; TM—Ted Mack; RM—Robert McKinney; JM—Joseph McNett; TM—Thelma McNett; HSM—Howard Miller; MO—Michael O’Hara; RTO—Richard O’Hara; ES— Ester Stiles; MS—Maryann Sunderlin; TET—Thomas Tetlow; RW—Robert White. Abbreviations: BB—Braddocks Bay; ELS—East Lake Shore; HL—Hawk Lookout; SA—Shore Acres; WSP—Webster State Park; WLS—West Lake Shore. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: max 250 Apr 23 along ELS (JM, TM). Red- throated Loon: max 16 Apr 16 at ELS (AEK). Red-necked Grebe: peak count on the heavy flight 152 WLS (AEK). Horned Grebe: 130 Apr 12 in Sodus area (ES). Cattle Egret: two seen May 20 perched on a muskrat house on Buck Pond (CM, TM). Common Egret: one May 21 at BB (JF, WCL, TET). Glossy Ibis: one May 6 BB (GOS hike); one at Rose’s Marsh, May 21 (WCL). Whistling Swan: four still at BB May 21 (JF et al). Canada Goose: 10,000 Apr 29 WLS (WL), an average count for our area as we do not get the concentra¬ tions such as are recorded at Oak Orchard and Montezuma. Brant: a very light flight with max five May 29 BB (WCL). Gadwall: six May 19 along WLS (WCL). Shoveler: 14 May 21 SA (WCL et al). Common Teal: one male in a flock of puddle ducks in a flooded field on Chase Rd Apr 16 (AEK); this bird, the area’s second record, remained until Apr 23 and was carefully studied by numerous ob¬ servers who all noticed the horizontal stripe above the wing through scopes. Eu¬ ropean Widgeon: one male at SA Apr 22 (GOS Hike). King Eider: one at BB Apr 9 (AEK). Surf Scoter: one at Holland’s Cove Apr 8 (AEK); a pair near Irondequoit Bay May 7 (HSM, RTO). Common Scoter: one at Oklahoma Beach Apr 30 (JM, TM). HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: max 64 at HL Apr 15 (TET et al). Gos¬ hawk: a late one was at HL Apr 22 (TET). Broad-winged Hawk: max only 786 at HL Apr 15 (TET et al). Golden Eagle: one over Webster Apr 20 (AEK, WL), carefully observed with a ’scope and binoculars for some time—AEK has had ex¬ perience several times with this species in the West. Bald Eagle: three went past the HL Apr 1 (WCL) and one passed there May 1 (TET); one at the WSP Apr 20 (WL). Peregrine Falcon: only one for the spring went past the HL Apr 30 ( WL, MS). Pigeon Hawk: one seen in Hamlin Apr 22 (WCL et al) ,one at Hamlin State Pk Apr 30 (WL), and one at Buck Pond May 21 (JJD). Golden Plover: one appeared in Hamlin Apr 16 (AEK, WCL), and remained three days—rare here in the spring but rather common in the fall. Whimbrel: twenty-five flew west past BB May 28 (AEK, WCL, WL)—uncommon here in late May. Spotted Sandpiper: very high count of 300 migrating at BB May 19 (WCL) — 157 this was the peak day generally for the whole spring. Purple Sandpiper: one at BB May 21 (HSM, M & RTO et al)—was observed with a “zoom scope” and binoculars as close as 15 feet; the dull orange legs and base of the bill, general shape and streaked breast were noted by all observers. This is the first spring record for our area. Least Sandpiper: 1000 were seen in wet fields in Hamlin May 21 (JF, WCL, TET). While common in spring, this was a very high count. Most of the shorebirds have been observed in wet fields this spring as the lake is so high there is little shore line exposed. Dunlin: three Apr 17 Hamlin (WCL); max 300 along the WLS May 21 (JF et al). Short-billed Dowitcher: two early ones in Hamlin Apr 2 (WCL); max 25 at BB May 19 (WCL). Northern Phalarope: one near SA May 21 (WCL et al)—while not too uncommon in the fall here, it is very rare in the spring. Iceland Gull: a late one was at BB May 19 (WCL). Franklin’s Gull: one adult at BB May 14-21 (AEK, JM, TM and MS). Forster’s Tern: one at BB May 26 (WCL). Long-eared Owl: one at Manitou May 21 (HSM, M & RTO). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Red-headed Woodpeckers were rather common. Olive-sided Flycatcher: one seen in Bergen Swamp May 21 (RM), and one in Rochester May 23 (JF). Eastern Bluebird: max eight in WSP May 29 (AEK). VIREOS—WARBLERS: Twenty-two species of warblers were netted May 19 at Manitou by Robert McKinney; included were one Orange-crowned Warbler and one Pine Warbler. Parula Warblers seemed quite numerous, with six in Durand- Eastman Pk on May 21 (RTO et al). While the number of species of warblers present at one time was frequently good, it seems that the overall number of individual birds present was below average. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Western Meadowlark: at least three were singing on apparent territories in Parma and Hamlin. Not only the songs but the call notes were carefully cheeked and found to be typical of the western bird. Also, the face pattern and paler upperparts seemed to well match the color pattern of the rarer bird. Evening Grosbeak: eight frequented a feeder in Sea Breeze during Apr and four were still present May 21 (JM, TM, MS & RW). Red Crossbill: one in Seneca Pk Apr 22 (GOS hike); two at Cobbs Hill Apr 29 (Frank Phelps). Lincoln’s Sparrow: ten seen at BB May 19 (WCL). The unusual thing about this is not that ten birds of this species were present but that it was possible to identify this many of such a secretive species. 2080 East Main Street, Rochester, N.Y. 14609 REGION 3 —FINGER LAKES Sally Hoyt Spofford This period continued the recent topsy-turviness of the seasons. April started out fairly mild and some migrants arrived early or at least on time. Then came snow near the end of April, followed by an early May of freezing temperatures, rarely getting above 45 during the day, and cold, wet rain, day after day. Migra¬ tion was at a stand-still. Birds didn’t arrive or remained stranded if they had arrived. There was a slight wanning trend May 13—21 which brought in a few birds, but then it again turned cold, and delayed the late migrants until the end of the month. In Ithaca it was the coldest May in 92 years, and one of the wettest. These conditions brought more waterfowl than usual to Elmira, on the Chemung River, especially during the wet snow of April 24, and also to the former Almond Dam area at Hornell (now KPRA) and at the reservoir. High water reduced the shorebird count. Most clubs had their spring census the weekend of the 14th, with resulting low counts. 158 Observers cited: WEB—Walter E. Benning; JBr—Jack Brubaker; EBC—Eaton Bird Club; CF—Charles Farnham; HF—Helen Fessenden; FG—Frank Guthrie ;WG— William Groesbeck; CH—Clayton Hardy; FH—Foster Helmer; VH—Vincent Hannan; WH—Wilifred Howard; BJ—Brad Jacobs; EJ—Eric Juterbock; CK—Cameron Kepler; RK—Roberta Knapp; PMK—Paul M. Kelsey; PPK—Peter Paul Kellogg; DM—Dorothy Mcllroy; GM—Gordon Maclean; RTP—Roger Tory Peterson; BBS—Betty and Barrie Strath; FGS—Fritz G. Scheider; HS—H. Sautter; MS—Mary Smith; RS—Robert Smith; PT-Paris Trail; MPW-Mary P. Welles; SW-Strickland Wheelock. Area compilers: Jamesine Bardeen, Walter E. Benning, William Groesbeck, Frank Guthrie, Clayton Hardy, Jayson Walker, Mary Welles. Localities: Cay L—Cayuga Lake; Conn Hill—Connecticut Hill; KPRA—Kanakadea Park Recreation Area; MNWR—Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge; Schuy Co- Schuyler County; Sen L—Seneca Lake; SWS—Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary; Tomp Co—Tompkins County. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: reasonably good numbers (10-30 day) on Cay L in Apr, early May; one last week May, late, Dresden, Sen L (FG). Red-necked Grebe: one, Apr 2-5, main pool MNWR (WEB). Horned Grebe: many on Chemung R at Elmira in Apr, up to 100 some days; unusually high counts. Cay L at same time had fewer than normal. Double-crested Cormorant: one Apr 23 MNWR (JBr); often missed. Great Blue Heron: 40 max Apr 30 MNWR. Common Egret: one Apr 1 Montour Falls marsh (BS); extremely early for Region. Black-crowned Night Heron: few at Ithaca, none at Elmira, three May 30 MNWR (WEB). Yellow-crowned Night Heron: one, May 20 and for several days thereafter, Stewart Pk. Ithaca (Douglas Welch, PPK and mob). Least and American Bitterns: scarce. Glossy Ibis: seven May 15 Chemung River, Elmira in heavy rain (WH). Mute Swan: three continue to be seen n. end Cay L; one, and sometimes two, Dryden L, end May (PMK). Whistling Swan: max seven May 16—19 MNWR. Canada Goose: as mentioned in May issue, tremendous migration through Finger Lakes. Peak, 35,000 MNWR week Apr 22 (CH), most migrants left May 10. An attempted nesting on Chemung River, Elmira, was flooded out—rare there as breeder. Snow Goose: peak 250 and Blue Goose peak 650 MNWR end April, early May. MNWR peak counts and dates for ducks as follows (CH) (other pertinent reports will follow): Mallard 1480, May 1; Black 1795, Apr 15; Gadwall 2007, end of Apr; Baldpate 3046, end of Apr; Pintail 2410, Apr 15; Green-winged Teal 515, end of Apr; Blue-winged Teal 1124, Apr. 22; Shoveler 879, end of Apr; Wood 155, Apr 22; Redhead 355, Apr 22; Ring-necked 35, end of Apr; Canvasback 1, Apr 8; Scaup 323,, Apr 22; Goldeneye 35, Apr 15; Bufflehead 65, Apr 15; Ruddy 20, May 21; Hooded Merganser 109, Apr 22. 12,900 peak no. all species ducks, compared with 2400 in 1966. Pintail: 14 Apr 22, Chases’s Pond at Breesport, unusual there; a few stayed until May 13. European Widgeon: one MNWR storage pond Apr 8 (FGS, CF); one May 9 MNWR. Redhead: May 23 is late date for this species on Keuka L. Bufflehead; 62 (high) Apr 22 Chemung R, Elmira; species noted last week May, head Keuka L, unusually late for there. Old-squaw: more reports than usual Cay L. but small numbers; 200'+ (high) KPRA Apr 10 (WG); 177 (high count) Apr 24 Chemung R, Elmira. White-winged Scoter: one Apr 6 MNWR (FGS); 47 during snow storm Apr 24 Chemung R, Elmira (MPW), “possibly two Commons also.” Surf Scoter: (rare in spring) one Apr 11 Fall Creek near Etna (GM); one Apr 23 Sen L (JW); one May 13 Elmira gravel pit pond (MS, WH). HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture; one, first, Apr 1 MNWR (WEB); up to four later. Goshawk: three nesting pairs in Ithaca area (two at new sites this year, one at obviously old location, though not previously found), only one successful, how¬ ever. Sharp-shinned Hawk: no nesting pairs located, almost no sightings during period. Cooper’s Hawk: absent most areas; single bird seen several times at area 159 of last year’s nesting near Ithaca. Red-tailed Hawk: continue in good numbers with apparent nesting success. Red-shoulders: decreasing or becoming more quiet; one or two pairs at SWS. Broad-winged Hawks: reported from Apr 14 in migration; 28 over Harris Hill, Elmira Apr 15, high count for this area; pair remaining in Connecticut Hill area, s.w. of Ithaca, another at Arnot Forest. Rough-legged Hawk: usually gone by early April, late bird seen MNWR first week May (WRS). Golden Eagle: one (rare) for several days in late April, Arnot Forest, s.w. Ithaca, carefully observed and noted by A1 Fontana. Bald Eagle: 4 records, one, Logan Rd, Schuy Co May 3 (AK); one May 11 7-Acre Pond Elmira (HS); one imm May 10 MNWR (CH); one over Cornell campus Ithaca May 31 (BJ). Marsh Hawk: two females Apr 8 and later Montour Falls airport (JBr); three individuals over MNWR late May (WRS); otherwise generally absent. Osprey: scattered reports for periods in Apr—Dryden L, SWS, Cay L, MNWR for example. Peregrine Falcon: two reports: one May 5 MNWR (SW)— no details; one May 21 MNWR (Foster, Listman, Tetlow). Pigeon Hawk: one male Apr 23 Cay L inlet (CL). Sparrow Hawk: around Ithaca seem slightly more common than last two years. Bobwhite: scattered reports of a few birds, left from various releases. Turkey: 10-12 hatched in nest on Star Stanton Hill, near Dryden, May 25 (PMK); another successful nesting noted in Conn. Hill. Rails: both Sora and Virginia are scarce; none heard or seen on all day trip May 21. Common Gallinule: one, first, Apr 13 MNWR (FGS). Otherwise scarce; reported as missing at most former locations at Elmira; “very scarce” at MNWR. American Coot: in normal numbers everywhere. Semipalmated Plover: first May 16 MNWR (WEB). Killdeer: several very early nestings, e.g., newly hatched young May 6 at MNWR (CL). Golden Plover: no reports. Black-bellied Plover: max 22 May 30 MNWR (WEB). Ruddy Turn¬ stone: eight (unusual) Horseheads dump May 15. American Woodcock: in good numbers everywhere, although fewer north of Tompkins Co airport because of habitat change. Common Snipe: in good numbers; first nesting record in many years, swampy area on edge of Etna, 4 eggs June 14, young hatched June 1 (GM); another nest near Tompkins Co airport, 4 eggs pipped June 4. Whimbrel: very rare esp. in spring ;two, May 20 n. of Horseheads (Mr. and Mrs. Lewis VanDuzer) —supporting description filed. Upland Plover: first Apr 30 Hanshaw Rd near Etna (HF); increase in Ithaca area continues. Knot: often missed in spring; one, first, May 14 MNWR; peak 29 May 28 (WEB). Dunlin: 250 peak May 28 MNWR (WEB). Short-billed Dowitcher: one May 21 MNWR (WEB). Other shorebirds in usual numbers at Montezuma during the season: Spotted Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral, Least, Semipalmated Sandpiper. Parasitic Jaeger: extremely rare, especially in spring, one Apr 30 storage pond at MNWR (BBS, Mr. and Mrs. J. Holman). Full verification report, and sketches, on file. Great Black-backed Gull: a late date for Sen L is an imm. May 22 (JBr). Bonaparte’s Gull: first Apr 8 Cay L (CF); 17 Apr 24 Elmira, 200 on Sen L Apr 23 (EBC); 60 peak MNWR May 14 (WEB). Up to 300 on Cay L at end of April (mob); more than usual this year. Little Gull: a good description has been received of what could only be an adult, winter-plumaged bird of this species, seen May 5 at n. end Seneca L by a group including S. Wheelock and Jayson Walker, in company with Bonaparte’s, so comparison easily made. This seems to be only the third published record of this species for the Region. Common Terns: first reports Apr 23. Caspian Tern: first Apr 19 MNWR; 8 on Apr 24 in snowstorm at Elmira was all-time early record there. Black Tern: 80, first. May 3 MNWR (WEB); 25 May 16 Sen L at Watkins Glen (JBr); normal numbers. Both species Cuckoo late arriving (last few days of May) and scarce. Screech Owl: scarce; nest destroyed in downtown Ithaca when tree cut, 5 young rescued. Nesting Long-eared Owl and Saw-whet Owl both reported n.e. of Ithaca, but no supporting details (HF). 160 GOATSUCKER-STARLING: Whip-poor-will: one calling, May 9, 7-Acre pond, Elmira (HS); one perched in low shrub following heavy rain May 12 Etna (GM). Common Nighthawk: seems scarce. Chimney Swift: 20 Apr 19 over Ithaca (CD), a little early. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: first reports everywhere May 16-18, about a week late. Red-headed Woodpecker: about four locations at Ithaca, one at Dryden, three at MNWR, reported missing from usual places at Elmira. Yellow- bellied Sapsucker; pair nesting SWS along main trail, nest hole started Apr 13, four days after bird first seen, but not completed for three weeks. Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers: general reports indicate lower numbers than usual. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: often missed in spring, always rare, seven reported from six locations in Region this year. Most species of Swallows arrived by mid-April, in small numbers, but the terrible weather delayed the main migration. However, on May 9 Cay L was blanketed with Swallows (mostly Tree) from one end to the other (S. Spofford); an estimate of numbers was impossible as the swallows were milling around, not passing by. Purple Martins were late in occupying houses, probably suffering less of a loss than last year as they had not yet reached this area when the bad weather of early May struck. The Cliff Swallow colony at Sweetland’s farm, south of Dryden on Route 38 numbers approximately 120 pairs. The Bank Swallow colony at Myers Point has been destroyed, while the one on Johnson Road just off Rte 13 near Dryden has greatly increased this year. Crows: slightly more abundant this year. Fish Crow: a bird giving call of Fish Crow, seemingly small, was watched for some time Apr 26 (too early for young Common Crow, whose voice it might resemble) Elmira (WH). In absence of specimen, record must remain hypothetical. Red-breasted Nuthatch: pair still present end May SWS (A. C. Lane). Marsh Wrens: both species scarce. Mockingbird: scattered reports in Region. Robins: abundant again. Other Thrushes except Wood scarce. Perhaps in cold weather they were not singing—but Hermits and Veeries were very hard to locate. E. Bluebird: noticeable only in locations of “Bluebird trails/' Kinglets; excellent migration of both species third week April, with Ruby-crowns predominating. Water Pipit: high counts 60—70 Apr 8 Ledyard Rd between Locke and Genoa (CF), “hundreds” near Corning Apr 24 (Stasches). Loggerhead Shrike; almost completely missing in Region. VIREOS — WARBLERS: most species 5-7 days late in arriving. Philadel¬ phia Vireo: four reports from May 21 to June *L—often missed. Warblers: Prothonotary: one May 13 Fall Creek, Ithaca (Hilary Jones); one May 17 near Waterloo (JW); not found at MNWR. Golden-winged: almost no records; Blue-winged Warblers have greatly increased, and it is possible they have replaced the Golden-winged. Blue-wings at all usual stations around Ithaca; six record (high) at Keuka where Malcolm Lerch banded four on May 28. Have increased at Watkins Glen. Brewster’s: this hybrid was reported from Ellis Rd, Tompkins Co, from Horse- heads, and from near Potter, Yates Co. Orange-crowned: one May 5 Cornell campus (BJ, EJ); one May 13-14 Texas Hollow (Odessa) (JBr); one May 18 Elmira (MS). Yellow: in normal numbers. Cape May: several observers indicated this species hard to find this season. Myrtle: noteworthy is report of several hundred May 4, Montour Falls marina (JBr). Cerulean: this marginal species has decreased and is absent from several former locations. Yellow-throated: one May 21 Geneva (PT), no supporting details. Bay-breasted: good migration Ithaca area May 19-21. Blackpoll: except for one unusually early record, this species arrived later than usual (May 30); still around in numbers in early June. Prairie: small colony again on Connecticut Hill, s.w. of Ithaca; single bird, May 8 Brooktondale (CK). Kentucky Warbler: one seen and heard May 20, Stewart Park, Ithaca (RS); heard in same area May 21 (RTP). Connecticut Warbler; almost never recorded in 161 spring; one May 28 Kiser Rd, Horseheads (RK and WH)—all supporting details supplied. Mourning: few reports anywhere. Wilsons: more reports than usual, late May. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Red-winged Blackbird: extremely abundant every¬ where. Orchard Oriole: one May 9, feeding on suet, Elmira (HS); pair May 20 on, Campbell Ave., Ithaca (VH), Common Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbird: very abundant. Scarlet Tanager: late in arriving—after mid-May most areas. Indigo Bunting: almost none until end of May, then scarcer than usual. Evening Grosbeak: after practically none all winter, three reports in May in Odessa-Watkins Glen area; four on Spofford feeder Apr 21 Etna. Purple Finches: at end of April and early May, area flooded with them, after few all winter. Red Crossbill: one female May 2, Cornell campus (BJ). Lark Bunting: first for Region, May 19, feeder at L. M. Wright home, Hanshaw Rd, Ithaca (DM, RS); unverified report that one had been on N. Cayuga St, Ithaca for several weeks, description seems satisfactory. Grasshopper Sparrow: missing from several usual locations, Elmira. Henslow’s Sparrow: down in numbers this year. Vesper Sparrow: first Apr 1 Zeman Rd, Ithaca (DM). Slate-colored Junco; heavy influx migrants Apr 3. Chipping Sparrow: 100 (peak) May 7 Cornell compus alumni field (BJ, EJ). Harris Sparrow: two May 5 Ruggles residence Elmira, with White-crowns—full supporting details; one was in full adult plumage, other not. Two other unverified reports. White-crowned Sparrow: abundant May 6-18, apparently held here longer than usual by bad weather. Lincoln’s Sparrow: one May 12 Etna (GM); two May 6, May 13, Elmira (Norma Hood). Laboratory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 REGION 4 —SUSQUEHANNA Although the temperature almost reached 80 degrees in Binghamton April 1 most of the rest of the month was on the cold side with the result that the monthly average was a little below normal. The temperature did reach 80 on May 1 but unseasonable cold brought the monthly average down much below normal making this the coldest May on record here. Precipitation was about 75 per cent of normal in April and 130 per cent of normal in May. The only appreciable snowfall of the period came April 24 but the small amount of wet snow that fell May 8 was probably more significant to bird populations because of the late date. Some cold weather casualties were reported, mostly among nesting swallows, and land migrants that normally arrive during the first half of May were generally a little late. The large number of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks noticed by the general public was probably a result of a cold weather induced reduction of the food supply in the tree tops forcing them to forage at lower levels and even visit feeders more than usual. Higher than normal numbers of two other species, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and White-crowned Sparrows, unless the result of a damming effect, seemed unrelated to the weather. The White-crowned Sparrows were also much noticed by the general public. The late warblers, Tennessee, Bay-breasted and Blackpoll, all seemed scarce, Tennessees drastically so. Mockingbirds seem to have made a sudden large gain in numbers in the Region. Tufted Titmice, too, although not so obviously. Prairie Warblers remaining until at least the end of May at a site not visited by observers before suggests that they have been overlooked in the past. A surprising assortment of rarities for this Region includes a White-eyed Vireo, Cerulean and Hooded Warblers, Painted Buntings, a House Finch, and a Sharp¬ tailed Sparrow. 162 Abbreviations: Bing—Binghamton; Chen—Chenango; CVSP—Chenango Valley State Park; Pep Res—Pepacton Reservoir; WP—Whitney Point. Observers: LB-L. Bemont; LC-Mrs. L. Clark; MC-M. Cubberly; C, JD- C. & J. Davis; M, AD—M. & A. Davis; RD—R. Dirig; CG—'C. Gerould; JAG—J. A. Gustafson; J, MH—J. & M. Harris; VH—V. Hudson; CH—C. Howard; JN— J. New; FQ-F. Quick MS-M. Sheffield; RS-R. Short; AS-A. Stratton; WS-W. Sutliff; E, NW-E. & N. Washburn; MW-M. White; R, SW-R. & S. White; RW-R. Williams; SW—S. Wilson. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: Apr 7 Owego (RW) to May 21 Pep Res (MC); all told eight reports, none of notable numbers. Red-necked Grebe: one May 14-31, Owego (RW); infrequent in Region. Horned Grebe: Apr 3 to May 30, Owego (RW); max 50 Apr 15 at WP (MS); also at Sherburne, Oneonta and Freetown in Cortland Co. Pied-billed Grebe: Apr 8 WP (MS) to May 3 Owego (RW); max three Apr 15 WP. Great Blue Heron: a small previously unreported colony near Greene visited May 28; seven nests, one thought to contain young—four or five adults the most seen at one time (Mr. & Mrs. S. Hayes); 15 in one group at Hancock Apr 16 (RD). Green Heron: Apr 18 Oneonta (JN); Apr 23 Deposit (SW); no others until Apr 30, Common Egret; May 19 Newark Valley (D. Martin); one May 20 Cortlandville (JAG, et al); no others. Black-crowned Night Heron: only report, two May 21 End well (LB). Least Bittern: two May 23 Bing (RS); seldom reported in Region. American Bittern: one Apr 20 Bing (RS). Whistling Swan: four May 21 WP (MS), the only report and surprisingly late. Canada Goose: migrating flocks reported regularly through May 17; more and larger flocks, numbering several hundred each, reported Apr 1 and 2 and Apr 27 thru May 1 as compared to flock sizes mostly less than one hundred the rest of the time. Brant: eight Apr 4, Smithboro Flats in Tioga Co (RW), the only report. Blue and Snow Goose: eight Blues and one Snow, May 13 Oxford (AS), flying low. Pintail: one May 13 WP (MS); last date and only the second report after Apr 1. Green¬ winged Teal: three Apr 1 and seven Apr 15, WP (MS); two Apr 30 Choconut Center (MS); also reported Apr 3, Smithboro Flats (RW). Blue-winged Teal: Apr 15 Oneonta (JN); two still at WP May 27 (MS); also reported at Cortland. Ameri¬ can Widgeon: two pairs at Homer May 13 (JAG), the only ones after Apr 21. Shoveller: two May 13 WP (MS), no others. Wood Duck: Apr 1 CVSP (M, AD); “many” more this year at Cortland (JAG); at Deposit a female on nest May 17 (SW). Redhead: Apr 8 Owego (RW). Ring-necked Duck: first Apr 1, max 30 Apr 15, last Apr 22, all at WP (MS); also reported from Owego, Oneonta and CVSP. Canvasback: none. Greater Scaup: Apr 7-25 Owego (RW); also at Oneonta (JN). Lesser Scaup: six Apr 15 and one May 13, WP (MS). Common Goldeneye: last, seven Apr 8 CVSP (M, AD). Bufflehead: max 15, Apr 15 WP (MS); last, Apr 24 Owego (MW, CG). Oldsquaw: max ten Apr 15 Norwich (R, SW); last, Apr 24 Owego (MW, CG). Ruddy Duck: Apr 22—24 Owego (MW, RW), Hooded Merganser: last Apr 8, at Owego (MW, CG) and eight at WP (MS). Common Merganser: over 100 Apr 8 WP (MS); last, ten Apr 28, the highest count of the spring for Pep Res (MC). Red-breasted Merganser: about half a dozen at WP from beginning of period to at least May 27 (MS); also reported at Oneonta. HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: reported frequently at Deposit (SW) and Hancock (RD) as usual; max 25, May 17 Hancock (C. Williams); also at Cannons- ville Apr 9 (LC), Oneonta Apr 22 (JN), Owego Apr 4 (RW), Cortland May 20 (JAG) and Bing May 30 (J, MH). Goshawk: a nest near Solon, in Cortland Co (W. R. Spofford, P. M. Kelsey); also reported at S. Owego Apr 8 (CG) and Sky¬ line, near Owego, Apr 20 (RW), Sharp-shinned Hawk: three reports. Coopers Hawk: eight scattered reports. Red-shouldered Hawk: at least thirteen observed. Broad-winged Hawk: Apr 15 Owego (RW, CG); Apr 22 WP (MS); Apr 28 163 Deposit (SW); several May reports but no notable concentrations. Bald Eagle: an imm Apr 12 Pep Kes (MC), being harrassed by crows—light streakings on wing linings plainly visible; May 6 Deposit; May 23 Owego (CG). Marsh Hawk: Apr 8 Chen Forks (M, AD); May 22 Chen Forks (M, AD); 6 other reports between, two at Chen Forks, one each at Owego, Hancock, Vestal Center and Bing. Osprey: 23 reported, the last one May 15, Chen Forks (M, AD); 11 of those reported were at Deposit (SW). Ruffed Grouse: a nest with nine eggs Apr 30' and twelve eggs four days later, at Delhi (LC). Bobwhite: May 6 Owego (MW). Common Gallinule: May 21 Apalachin (LB); May 28 Chen Bridge (MS). Black-bellied Plover: one May 16 Owego (MW, RW). Common Snipe: Apr 1 WP (MS); also reported at Norwich, Tioga Center and Endicott; presumably breeding. Upland Plover: Apr 20 Owego (MW, RW); May 20 Cortlandville (W. Breidinger). Spotted Sandpiper: Apr 22 Homer (JAG) and WP (MS). Solitary Sandpiper: Apr 29 Homer (JAG), early; next at Norwich May 6 (R, SW); in Triple Cities area later. Greater Yellowlegs: Apr 12 Owego (RW), very early; Homer Apr 29 (JAG); Norwich May 6 (R, SW). Lesser Yellowlegs: Apr 29 Homer (JAG); two at Castle Creek, Broome Co, May 21 (LB). Least Sandpiper; eight May 13 WP (MS); also at Homer and Triple Cities area May 20 and 21. Dunlin; May 21 and six May 27, WP (MS); no others. Dowitcher (Sp?); fifteen May 27 WP (MS), eye-line, solid crown, barred tail and white rump, resting on an island in a closely bunched group, between plumages— quite a bit of “chestnut” on upper breast, but not on lower; seldom reported in the Region. Bonaparte’s Gull: Apr 1 WP (MS); Apr 11-20 Owego (MW, CG); four or five May 13 WP (MS). Common Tern: May 8 Owego (CG); uncommon in Region. Black Tern: May 8 Owego (MW, CG); May 9 Oneonta (JN); still present at Owego May 31; also reported at Norwich, Homer, WP and Greene; all apparently single birds. Yellow-billed Cuckoo: May 21 Bing (CH); a total of three reports. Black-billed Cuckoo: May 21, Owego (MW) and Apalachin (LB); no other reports. Screech Owl: one at Endicott May 21, the only one. Barred Owl: heard Apr 29 and May 1 Hancock (RD). GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Whip-poor-will: one May 19 Bing (RS), the only report. Nighthawk: May 11, Endicott (RW); next report, May 21 Bing (J, MH); still scarce at end of period. Chimney Swift; Apr 30, Owego (RW); from May 3-13 several thousand seen coming from a chimney in Bing as reported last year (M, AD); an estimated 400 seen over Bing May 29 (MS). Ruby-throated Hummingbird: May 13, Bing (LB, WS) and Homer (JAG); quite numerous reports in Triple Cities area. Red-bellied Woodpecker; one May 28 Bing (J, MH). Red¬ headed Woodpecker: May 20 Homer (JAG); one May 21 Bing (J, MH); May 22 Owego (MW); one May 28 Sherburne (R, SW). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Apr 1, Deposit (SW) and Nichols in s. Tioga Co (VH); quite numerous most of Apr; still present in smaller numbers at Nichols and in Triple Cities area at end of May. Eastern Kingbird: Apr 24 Owego (Louise Cole), early, but not without precedents; next reports. May 2 Delhi (LC) and May 5 Oneonta (JN); not common until about May 20. Great Crested Flycatcher: May 12 Oneonta (JN). Yellow-bellied Fly¬ catcher: May 20 Chen Forks (M, AD); four other reports, all in Triple Cities area. Traill’s Flycatcher: May 14 South Owego (MW, CG); next at Cortland May 20 (W. Duffy); also in Triple Cities area. Least Flycatcher: two May 1 Deposit (SW); next at WP and Chen Forks May 13. Eastern Wood Pewee: May 13, Chen Forks (M, AD) and Delhi (LC). Olive-sided Flycatcher: one May 20 Bing (J, MH); only one other report. Bank Swallow: Apr 23 WP (B. Bozdos). Rough-winged Swallow: Apr 22 Deposit (SW). Barn Swallow: Apr 9 Greene (MS). Cliff Swallow: Apr 15 Owego (RW); first date at a regular nesting site, Apr 27 Greene (C, JD). Purple Martin: Apr 1 Owego (M. Hills); no more reported until May; at Cortland “about 40 per cent of population at houses found dead during May cold”; very few reports from Triple Cities area and none elsewhere. 164 Tufted Titmouse: during Apr at two localities in Endwell, at Castle Creek and Greene; during May reported only from one of the Endwell localities, but regularly there (F. Linaberry). Red-breasted Nuthatch: regularly at Endwell to May 5 (F. Linaberry) and once more at Endwell May 15 (M. Rutbell); May 20 Bing (J, MH); May 21 Ingraham Hill (CH) where they are regular summer residents. Brown Creeper: still at Freetown, Cortland Co May 20 (JAG) and in Triple Cities area May 21. House Wren: Apr 27 Owego (E, Williams); common from Apr 29. Winter Wren: seventeen reports during period from Deposit, Hancock, Owego, Bing, Chen Forks and WP; last, May 27 Chen Forks (M, AD). Carolina Wren: May 14 Owew (RW); the only report. Mockingbird: reported at Candor (R. Pantle) and Owego (RW) in Tioga Co, at Hillcrest (F. Fargo), Triangle (D. Sterling) and several areas around Bing (J, MH, H. Marsi, C 1 . Gottschall) in Broome Co, at Oxford (AS) in Chen Co, and Andes (MC) in Delaware Co. Catbird: Apr 29 Owego (MW). Brown Thrasher: Apr 15 Choconut Center, just north of Johnson City (R. Sheffield). Wood Thrush: Apr 30 French Tract, s. of Bing (G. & W. Corderman). Hermit Thrush: Apr 16 Greene (C, JD). Swains on’s Thrush: May 14 Owego; not very numerous. Gray-cheeked Thrush: May 7 Sidney (F. Quick), early; May 22 Nichols (VH); the only reports. Veery: May 6 Cortland (JAG). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: Apr 26 Owego (RW, MW); also at Deposit and in Triple Cities area. Golden-crowned Kinglet: May 21, still at Ingraham Hill (CH). Ruby- crowned Kinglet: May 31 Delhi (LC); at Triple Cities present by the tree-full the last two weeks of Apr and first two weeks of May; small numbers still at Owego May 31. Water Pipit: Apr 24 Virgil, Cortland Co (Mrs. Rochat, fide JAG); Apr 24 Owego (MW, CG). Loggerhead Shrike: Apr 25 Deposit (SW). VIREOS-WARBLERS: White-eyed Vireo: May 22, Chen Forks (M, AD), at a distance of ten feet “up over my head” through 7 X 35 binoculars, sun shining, slightly before 8:00 a.m.—white eye, yellow spectacles, yellow sides and two wing bars; first known record in Region in 15 years. Yellow-throated Vireo: May 14 at Deposit (SW), Homer (A. Morey) and Owego. Solitary Vireo: one Apr 20 Norwich (AS). Red-eyed Vireo: May 4 Tioga Center (RW); no others until May 18. Philadelphia Vireo: two May 20 Bing (J, MH); seven or more May 21 in Triple Cities area; May 29 Newark Valley (L. Dean); unprecedented numbers for Region. Warbling Vireo: May 1 Deposit (SW). Warblers: Black-and-white: May 1, Delhi (LC) and Owego (RW). Worm-eating: one May 19 Oneonta (JN), the only report. Golden-winged: May 3 Bing (LB, WS); reported only in Triple Cities area; fairly common but locally distributed. Brew¬ ster’s: May 3, 5 and 16, Bing (LB, WS); May 20 Owego (D. Bendle). Blue¬ winged: May 11 Sidney (FQ); May 19 Oneonta (JN); the only reports. Tennessee: May 19 Oneonta (JN); the only report of this frequently very common species. Orange-crowned: May 21 Vestal Center (E, NW); the only report of a usually missed species. Nashville: May 2, Deposit (SW) and Owego (MW, RW). Parula: May 8 Deposit (SW); four other reports, about normal for the species; the last one May 21. Yellow: May 1, Tioga Center (RW) and two at Deposit (SW) and soon common. Magnolia: May 3 Bing (LB, WS); reasonably common only from May 17-27. Cape May: May 13 Hancock (RD); one report each from Bing, Owego, Oneonta and Norwich, the last May 19. Black-throated Blue: Apr 22 Bing (RS); next report May 3; fairly numerous thru May 27. Myrtle: first migrants Apr 16 Delhi (LC); uneven distribution, some observers commenting on large numbers and others on small numbers; last date May 27 Chen Forks (M, AD). Black-throated Green: May 2 at Delhi (LC), Owego (MW, RW) and Bing (WS, LB); late. Cerulean Warbler; two May 21, Ingraham Hill (CH); only the fourth or fifth report in Region during last 15 years. Blackburnian: May 2 Bing (LB, WS); about a week late. Chestnut-sided: May 2 Deposit (SW). Bay-breasted: May 14 Owego (RW), early; May 17 Delhi (LC); May 20 several other localities; not particularly common. 165 Blackpoll: May 14 Owego (RW), early, even for a warm spring; next date, May 20 Sherburne (R, SW); rather scarce. Pine: May 14 Owego (RW); May 15 Bing (S. Nichols). Prairie: three May 21 Vestal Center (E, NW, et al), up to three singing at the same location daily to end of period. Palm: Apr 16, Delhi (LC) and Chen Forks (M, AD); May 6 Deposit (SW); May 14 Owego (RW); May 16 Chen Forks (M, AD). Ovenbird: May 2 Bing (LB, WS). Northern Waterthrush: May 2 Owego (RW). Louisiana Waterthrush: Apr 7 Kattellville, a few miles n. of Bing (H. Thomas), early; also reported at Norwich, Endwell and Oneonta. Mourning: May 14 S. Owego (E. Williams); also at Delhi, Norwich, Apalachin, Oneonta and Choconut Center. Yellowthroat: May 3 Chen Forks (M, AD). Yellow-breasted Chat: May 21 Endwell (LB); the only report. Hooded Warbler: one May 17 Chen Forks (H. Marsi, E. Washburn); one May 20 Bing (H. Marsi), netted, banded and photo¬ graphed; very seldom reported in Region. Wilson’s; May 11 Owego (RW); numbers remain at the same relatively high level first reached about ten years ago. Canada: May 6 Chen Forks (M, AD). American Redstart: May 12 Oneonta (JN), and al¬ most all other parts of Region within the next two days; May 28 Owego (S. Turner), “eating suet at a feeder.” BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS: Bobolink: May 6 Norwich (R, SW). Baltimore Oriole: one Apr 4 Owego (MW), coming to suet feeder—probably a bird that win¬ tered in the north, if not in the immediate vicinity; Apr 30 Bing (R. Gilfillen), apparently the first migrant; at many different localities May 2. Rusty Blackbird: May 20 Freetown, Cortland Co (JAG), the only report after Apr 20. Scarlet Tanager: May 10 Delhi (LC); late. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: May 2, Deposit (SW) and Owego (RW, MW); attracted a lot of attention from the general public visiting feeders in larger than normal numbers during bad weather in early May. Indigo Bunting: May 17, Oxford (AS) and Owego (MW). Painted Bunting: a pair May 26-28, Sidney (Mr. & Mrs. S. Provenzon), identification confirmed May 28 by until then skeptical Miss D. Sawyer—feeding on dandelion seeds in the lawn, in full view with good sunlight. Evening Grosbeak; several Apr 1-15 WP (MS); one at a feeder in Deposit Apr 28 (SW); the only ones reported in their respective localities all winter and the only ones reported in Region during period. Purple Finch: “returned in force mid Apr” Deposit (SW); also true in Triple Cities area and at Oxford; “Many” at Cortland, House Finch: Apr 27-29, Endwell (R. & F. Linaberry), a fully adult male whose color was compared directly with that of adult male purple finches at the feeder at the same time. Rufous-sided Towhee: Apr 1 Bing (RS); other localities Apr 15 or 16. Sparrows: Savannah: Mar 31 Delhi (LC); generally distributed from Apr 15 on. Grasshopper: Apr 15 Cortlandville (C. Wilkins); next report, Apr. 28 Ingraham Hill (CH;) not very numerous. Henslow’s: Apr 5 Ingraham Hill (CH), early; only two other reports. Sharp-tailed Sparrow: one Apr 20 thru May 14, Greene (C, JD), came into the barn several times and was captured for close examination. Slate-colored Junco: last of migrants about May 15; small summer population remaining, as usual. Tree: at Sidney (FQ), Oxford (AS) and Chen Forks (M, AD) until Apr 30 but had left most areas by Apr 25. Chipping: Apr 6 Delhi (LC); common from Apr 20. Field: Mar 31 Delhi (LC). Harris’ Sparrow: May 15 Virgil Cortland Co. (Mrs. M. Trapp, fide JAG), first for Region. White-crowned: Apr 17 Bing (RS); an unprecedented number of reports May 1-19, with some counts as high as 20 to 25; still present in small numbers in Triple Cities area May 31. White-throated: already present in small numbers Apr 1; here in force from about Apr 15 to May 16; small numbers remained to May 31. Fox: appreciable numbers until Apr 16; May 7 banded at Endwell (LB), and May 20 Freetown (JAG) both much later than normal. Lin¬ coln’s: May 6 Nichols (VH); May 7 banded at Endwell (C. Gottschall); May 14 Endwell (LB); May 19 Oneonta (JN); May 21 Bing, the last. Swamp: Apr 15, Oneonta (JN) and WP (MS). 710 University Ave., Endwell, N.Y., 13763 166 REGION 5 —ONEIDA LAKE BASIN M. S. Rusk and F. G. Scheider Spring 1967 probably was one of the coldest on record and certainly one of the latest. Day after day in April cold NW winds chilled the area and what few migrants braved the cold seemed to trickle thru; exceptional flights Apr 9 and 22 underscored the paucity and tardiness. A burst of migrating hawks Apr 29-May 2 raised hopes of spring, but May was more of the same—cold NW winds, buckets of rain, more and more non-birding. Few waves were noted—minor ones May 2, 10, and 14; major waves May 19—21 and again May 28-30—and many observers missed normally common migrants. Notable thru the spring was a marked reduction in song by migrants; this was even more noticeable on the few wave days, when one could hear 20 species but see 50 in a few hours. Positive features for the spring include 1) a scattering of Whistling Swans; 2) high Canada Goose numbers with a sprinkling of Blues and Snows; 3) wide¬ spread Shovelers and an “inland” Oldsquaw flight; 4) fine early hawk migration days which produced some record species tallies q.v,; 5) early flycatcher arrivals; 6) rising numbers of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; 7) a heavy and protracted Ruby- crowned Kinglet flight; 8) heavy but late swallow and icterid flight. Negatives include 1) the paucity of certain waterbirds—Black-crowned Night Heron, some dabbling ducks. Redhead, Canvasback, and Scaup; 2) distressingly low counts of Osprey, Peregrine, and Pigeon Hawk; 3) very poor shorebird flight, both early and late; 4) a regionwide scarcity of cuckoos, caprimulgids, and Ruby- throated Hummingbird; 5) a Martin kill for the second year, plus possible weather- caused Barn Swallow disaster; 6) extreme scarcity of Winter Wren, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, and later warblers; 7) virtually no winter finch return flight; and 8) low numbers of all four “meadow sparrows” q.v. Rarities: include Common Teal, Peregrine, Ruff, Wilson’s Phalarope, Laughing Gull, Worm-eating and Prairie Warblers, Western Meadowlark, Dickcissel, and Oregon Junco. Abbreviations: CV—Camillus Valley; DH—Derby Hill near Texas; FHBSP—Fair Haven Beach State Pk; HIGMA—Howland’s Island near Port Byron; SP—Sandy Pond; SSSP—Selkirk Shores State Pk near Pulaski; Syr—Syracuse; TRGMA—Three Rivers Game Management Area near Bald wins ville. Observers: DWA- D. W. Ackley; VB-V. Billings; GLC-G. L. Church; MLE— M. L. Estoff ;C&EF—C. & E. Farnham; FLF-F. LaFrance; KGH-K. G. Hanson; JRH-J. R. Haugh; SEH-S. E. Hosier, Jr.; DBP-D. B. Peakall; B&SP-B. & S. Peebles; JWP-J. W. Propst; MSR—M. S. Rusk; FGS-F. G. Scheider; SS-S. Schultz; CGS-C. G. Spies, Jr.; WT-W. Thurber; J&EVD-J. & E. VanDresar. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: arr Apr 1 DH (MSR); spring max 150 Apr 30 DH. Red-necked Grebe: singles Apr 8 and 9 Beaver and Oneida L respec¬ tively; two Apr 20 Carpenter’s Pond, Pompey (FLF); very scarce. Horned Grebe: max 45 Muskrat Bay, Oneida L Apr 23; numerous lesser counts thru first three weeks of Apr on Oneida L, but scarce on L Ontario. Double-crested Cormorant: first on Apr 8 (early) DH (JRH); two Woodman’s Pond near Hamilton May 28 (GLC), a most unusual inland locality. No Cattle Egret nor Glossy Ibis. Common Egret: max four HIGMA May 18-22; unreported elsewhere. Black-crowned Night Heron: single at Woodman’s Pond May 3-7 (GLC)—the only report. Mute Swan: individuals reported from Onondaga L (M. L. Peakall); Bernhard’s Bay, Oneida L (Mrs. Butler); and Beaver L (SEH). Whistling Swan: one-five/day from Brewerton, Sylvan Beach, Scott Swamp near Phoenix, and Columbia Center in Flerkimer Co (mob); more than the usual spring few and surprising in view of their absence in Mar. Canada Goose: 4000-5000/day in Cross L-Beaver L area; numerous 1000+ tallies from other areas and 400+ plus on small farm ponds; exo- 167 dus last two days of Apr and first week of May, late. Blue and Snow Geese; five and nine respectively throughout Apr at Beaver L (mob). Mallard: first broods May 11 HIGMA; this species, Black Duck, Gadwall, Com¬ mon Snipe, and other early marsh nesters were wiped out along the western reaches of Seneca R by disastrous flooding in late Apr and early May; pond-nesting ducks seemed to fare better. Despite the delay in the Mar flight of dabblers, no large Apr numbers were forthcoming. Common Teal; a male Apr 13-14 near Phoenix (WT, FGS, DBP), the second Regional record. Shoveler: eight and five respec¬ tively, Oneida L Apr 15 (DWA) and Woodman’s Pond May 7 (GLC), unusually high numbers for the eastern part of the Region. Apr max for divers include 18 Redhead, 530' Canvasback, 1000+ Greater Scaup Apr 4 Oneida L (all very low). Bufllehead: 40-80/day thru first two weeks of Apr; numerous reports of one-five/ day thru mid-May. Oldsquaw: excellent “inland”, i.e. away from L Ontario, flight —22 Otisco L Apr 8 (E. M. Starr); 49 Woodman’s Pond Apr 15 (GLC); numerous reports of one-four/day along Oneida and Onondaga Lakes (mob). Ruddy Duck: widespread but numbers low, one-four/day—DeRuyter Reservoir (FLF), Fox Ridge near Port Byron (FGS), Oneida L (mob), Beaver L. HAWKS—OWLS; Data on DH hawk migration from daily observations of JRH with the assistance of Dr. Tom Cade, MLE, C'&EF, JWP, MSR, FGS, CGS, WT. Bold face figures are record high counts. Date range of No. on peak Species Date range Total 90% of birds Peak day(s) day(s) T. Vulture Apr 1-May 1 Mar 2-Apr 30 162 Apr 1-Apr 30 Mar 8-Apr 15 Apr 15 48 Goshawk 103 Mar 29, Apr 1 11 each Sharp-shin Mar 23-May 2 1783 Mar 31-May 2 Mar 31 247 May 1 272 May 2 240 Cooper’s Mar 9-Apr 27 196 Mar 23-Apr 15 Mar 31 48 Red-tail Mar 8-May 2 2224 Mar 22-Apr 22 Mar 31 749 Red-shoul. Mar 10-May 1 977 Mar 23-Apr 1 Mar 31 420 Broad-wing Mar 29-May 6 13,573 Apr 15-May 1 Apr 30 4364 May 1 3783 Rough-leg Mar 9-May 2 193 Mar 13-Apr 26 Mar 31 28 Golden E. Mar 30-Apr 30 10 Apr 21 & 26 3 each Bald Eagle Mar 23-Apr 30 11 Apr 2 Mar 30 4 Marsh Hawk Mar 8-May 2 405 Mar 26-Apr 28 65 Mar 31 71 Osprey Apr 2-May 12 108 Apr 20-May 2 Apr 30 31 May 1 44 Peregrine Mar 30 & Apr 15 2 Merlin Mar 22-Mar 31 5 Sparrow H. Mar 2-May 1 502 Mar 26-Apr 21 Mar 31 166 Total hawks 19,580, over 20% fewer than last year, but this probably reflects, in part, the lack of strong SW winds which concentrate migrants so that high numbers are readily counted, rather than an actual drop in hawk population. There were no 5000+ days, and one of the better days. Mar 31 with 1740, was prior to the Broad-winged Hawk migration period but at the peak for Red-shouldered Hawk. Consequently, the total for the former is about three-fourths of last year’s whereas that for the latter is half again as great as in 1966. There were record tallies for Turkey Vulture, Goshawk, Cooper’s, Red-tailed, Red-shouldered and Marsh Hawks. Rough-legged Hawk and Bald Eagle tied previous all-time high counts. Peregrine and Pigeon Hawk were disturbingly low. Ospreys only 50% of last year, and Sharp- shinned Hawks less than 40% of the record tally of 1966. Osprey: widely reported elsewhere in Region with one-two/day at Oneida, Holland Patent, Eaton, Camillus from late Apr to mid-May (mob), a distinct contrast to the fall 1966 paucity; 168 creek-fishing Ospreys noted at CV (FGS), Wampsville (B&SP) and Carpenter’s Pond (FLF). Hawk breeding data will be included in the summer report. Fall-introduced Bobwhite survived thru to spring at Pompey (FLF). Migrant shorebirds were extremely scarce all spring—no Greater nor Lesser Yellowlegs tallies exceeded 12/day, “peep” sandpipers were astonishingly scarce (e.g. Semipalmated Sandpiper max six May 24, no White-rumped), and the total Sanderling count was four. Bright notes were a breeding-plumaged male Ruff (black ruff, steel gray “helmet”) Apr 20 HIGMA (FGS), a breeding-plumaged female Wilson’s Phalarope May 21 near Scriba, Oswego Co (FGS, CGS, M. Pastel) and 21 Short¬ billed Dowitcher May 18 at Fox Ridge. Great Black-backed Gull: last, FHBSP May 14—early departure (MSR). Laughing Gull: an adult approaching breeding plumage Apr 15, Jamesville Reservoir (FLF), our first spring record, Bonaparte’s Gull: scarce thru Apr (two-seven/day); max 30 May 21 SP (CGS). Tern arr dates all late—Common May 2, Caspian Apr 30, Black Apr 27. Yellow-billed Cuckoo: only two individuals, both near Oneida, reported for entire Region. Black-billed Cuckoo: fairly common, one-seven/day from May 16 (late) on. Horned Owl: a pair successfully raised one young thru the hazards of cemetery caretakers and university students at Syr. Snowy Owl: last, first week of Apr at Onondaga L. Barred Owl: singles at Canastota (SS) and Pulaski (E. Evans) besides the usual ones at Eaton (GLC) and HIGMA (mob). GOATSUCKERS—STARLINGS: Whip-poor-will: first, Apr 30 SSSP (C. Hep- ner); next report May 18, and reports for the last third of May were of only one- two/night. Nighthawk: arr May 13 Syr (MLE); extremely scarce thru remainder of May with one-two/day only in last week of May. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: first, May 1 Morrisville (A. Carter); scarce thereafter—max five May 20 CV, all feeding in low bushes over the canals and streams. Yellow-shafted Flicker: at DH, first migrants Mar 30, max 358 Apr 15, still passing in numbers in late Apr (138 Apr 30) and early May. Pileated Woodpecker: reported regularly from N Camillus, Pulaski, DH, New Haven, Maple View, Pompey, Tully, Otisco, Wamps¬ ville, and s shore of Oneida L near Brewerton, the last a new location. Red-bellied Woodpecker: two new pairs located at CV thru May. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: first migrants Apr 2 New Haven; desultory flight to Apr 14-15 with scattered birds into mid-May. Arr dates for flycatchers surprisingly early but the majority of the population outrageously tardy; arr—E. Kingbird May 7, Crested Flycatcher Apr 15, Yellow- bellied May 14, Traill’s and Least May 1, E. Wood Pewee May 1, Olive-sided May 20; Crested, Traill’s, and Pewee were outstandingly early. Swallows for the second year running appeared to be badly handled by the extreme cold of early May. At least one Purple Martin kill was reported (Stultz at Lafayette), Barn Swallows too weak to fly were noted May 11 at CV (FGS). A huge swallow flight May 1 at DH included 10,000+ Tree, 5000+ Bank, 1000+ Rough-winged, 1000 + Barn; many Bank and Barn Swallows still migrating in late May at SP. Blue Jay: flight past DH began Apr 30 with 24; unfortunately no late May counts were taken but many Blue Jays noted passing thru SSSP May 25. Tufted Titmouse: reported regularly at Sherrill and Pulaski; newly noted at CV and Verona Beach (Oneida Bird Club). Red-breasted Nuthatch: no flight noted. Winter Wren: extremely scarce—max migrants two Apr 9 New Hartford (VB); however, known nesting areas seem well populated. Long-billed Marsh Wren: arr very late —first May 14 FHBSP; max 12 (very low) May 25 Scott Swamp (MLE). Short¬ billed Marsh Wren: three known sites now active—Toad Harbor, SSSP, SP, all in Oswego Co; unreported from HIGMA. Mockingbird: regular at Skaneateles, DeWitt, and N Syr; also noted near Holland Patent May 11 and 16 (JVD) and at NY Mills (Dempsey). Robin: almost 1000 Apr 9 DH; still migrating Apr 30, 150 DH, a surprising number for so late but in keeping with the cold tardy spring. Individual thrushes came early—Veery Apr 15 169 arr—but the majority were late—e.g. the major Hermit Thrush wave was May 5 (Syr and Pleasant L near Phoenix) and some observers missed Wood Thrush on the Region-wide Big Run May 14. Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrushes arr May 14 and May 12 respectively; the Swainsons flight fair (max 26 on May 21), but the Gray-cheeked flight abysmal (one/day only). Eastern Bluebird: max migrants 13 on Apr 9 DH; unreported as a breeder in Onondaga Co. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: max 15 ( a record high) May 11 CV; reported at Tully L, Otisco hill, Whiskey Hollow near Baldwinsville (JWP); a pair TRGMA May 18 (SEH). Golden-crowned Kinglet: max 45 Apr 13 Pleasant L; noted in smaller numbers into early May. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: a veritable flood; first, Apr 13 Syr; reported by dozens in every brush patch and woodlot around Syr; one observer felt it was “the most common day-to-day migrant” thru late Apr and early May; in small numbers (four-six) as late as May 21; last, May 23 Syr (MSR). Water Pipit: max 125 Apr 29 Eaton (GLC); last May 21, five Pleasant L (FGS). Northern Shrike: last Apr 4, one DH (JRH). Loggerhead Shrike: 11 migrants Apr 1-5 DH; unreported thereafter. VIREOS—WARBLERS: Solitary Vireo: arr tardy, May 2; max five May 19 Syr (JWP, MLE); last May 29 CV (JWP) very late. Red-eyed Vireo: first May 13; very scarce as migrant with max 12 on May 21. Warbling Vireo: record early arr Apr 15 SSSP (C&EF)—this along with Crested Flycatcher and Veery are probably inland equivalents of the east coast Apr erratics commented on by several Regional editors in Audubon Field Notes, August 1964; careful Ontario lakeshore observations in Apr following passage of cyclones (lows”) will almost certainly reveal more such freak dates. Spring warbler data is best summarized in chart fashion. Note the uniformly late arr dates, the extremely low numbers especially of the later migrants (Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Tennessee), and the rapidity of departure with warm weather in late May and early Jun. It was not until May 28 that one could hear Tennessees and Blackpolls in the elms of Syr this year—normally this occurs May 20-25. Note also the extremely abbreviated Cape May Warbler migration. Species Arrival Date, No. Peak Count, Date Departure Date, No. Black-and-white Golden-winged Blue-winged Tennessee Nashville Parula Yellow Magnolia Cape May Black-throated Blue Myrtle Black-throated Green Cerulean Blackburnian Chestnut-sided Bay-breasted Blackpoll May 2, 3, Syr May 12, 1, Tully May 16, 1, CV May 8, 1, Ilion May 2, 2, Pleasant L May 6, 1, CV Apr 21, 1, Tully Apr 30, 1, DH May 18, Ilion, CV, Oneida L May 2, 1, Liverpool Apr 7, 1, Oneida Apr 30, 1, DH May 14, 1, Tully May 2, 1, Chittenango May 14, 1, Carpenter’s Pond May 18, 6, Oneida L May 20, 3, Syr 6, May 11, CV 5, May 18, CV singles only 8, May 29, CV 10, May 6, CV 2, May 2, NCV 250, May 21, HIGMA 30, May 20, CV 4, May 19, Syr 5, May 18, Holland Patent 200. May 20, CV 20, May 21, CV- Pleasant L May 30, 2, CV May 26, 1, Syr May 29, 1, CV May 25, 2, SP May 21, 3, CV-SSSP May 21, 3, CV May 25, 2, SP May 30, 1, Syr 20, May 18, CV-HIGMA- 14, May 18, CV-HIGMA May 29, 6, CV 5, May 18, CV May 26, 1, Syr 8, May 27, near Tully 5, May 30, CV-TRGMA May 31, 1, Labrador Pond Jun 2, 12, Clay Swamp-Muskrat Bay 170 Species Arrival Date, No. Peak Count, Date Departure Date, No. Palm Ovenbird N. Waterthrush Mourning Yellowthroat Wilson’s Canada Redstart Apr 26, 1, Sherrill May 10, 1, Pompey May 1, 1, Chittenango May 19, 1, Syr May 1; 1, Chittenango May 16, 1. Chittenango May 16, 1, Syr May 4, 1, Tully 2, May 4, CV-HIGMA, May 25, 1, SP 2, May 19, Sherrill 25, May 18, CV-HIGMA- 12, May 13, Eaton May 25, 1, SP 7, May 21, CV - 40, May 21, CV-HIGMA- 14, May 21, CV 25, May 20, CV 45, May 21, CV-SSSP Jun 1, 2, Tully May 27, 1, Syr Worm-eating Warbler: one May 29-Jun 3 CV (JWP, mob)—the twelfth spring record in 15 years. Orange-crowned: four singles reported, May 5—13, about average. Pine: three Apr 29 RSP, first report in this former breeding location in four years. Prairie: one May 21 SSSP (FGS, CGS), first spring record in four years. BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS: Bobolink: first May 4 (late) DH (JRH); good numbers along L Ontario but appear down in the Phoenix-Cicero area. Western Meadowlark: bird in abundant song Apr 14-May 25 Tully (JWP, mob). Red¬ winged Blackbird: heavy flight along L Ontario thru Apr with 45,200 streaming by DH Apr 22 (JRH); that same day 60,000+ Common Grackles also passed DH, indicating how late large populations of quite common birds were held up by the protracted cold weather of Apr; on Apr 9 at DH, 45,000' Red-wings, 52,000 Grackles, and 8000 Cowbirds made a dawn migration spectacular (JRH, mob). Rusty Blackbird: singles at three different sites May 21 (latest ever!) Scarlet Tanager; arr May 8 (late) Sherrill (SS); max seven (very low) May 21 CV; many observers commented on both their tardiness and scarcity. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: arr May 2 N Syr; numbers not noted until May 14. Dickcissel: a male, Apr 16-19 near Oriskany (EVD, fide DWA)—first Regional spring record. Purple Finch: few migrants noted at Syr and DH, but numerous pairs thru May at Tully, N Syr, Eaton, DeWitt, Syr, Brewerton, and Ilion (mob). “Winter finches” remained extremely scarce thru spring-totals are 15 Evening Grosbeaks, 13 Pine Siskins, and two Red Crossbills; no Pine Grosbeak, Redpoll, or White-winged Crossbill. Rufous-sided Towhee: singles seen from Apr 15 on, but majority not in until mid- May, e.g. 35 Boonville May 14 (KGH). Sparrows: Vesper and Savannah: arr on time Mar 28 and Apr 2 respectively, but spring numbers very low—max 20 and 25 respectively, Apr 15 Pleasant L (FGS). Grasshopper; first Apr 28 New London (J&EVD); scarce thru remainder of May, many observers saw none in the period. Henslow’s: first Apr 29 Cicero Center; only two reports thru May (extremely scarce). Slate-colored Junco: 40-200/day Apr 11-17; scarce in remainder of Apr; last migrant May 21 (late) Oakwood Cemetery, Syr. Oregon Junco: singles Apr 17 SSSP (JWP) and Boliver Apr 23 (MSR). White-crowned: arr May 3 New Hartford (VB); numbers very low, two-four/day, max 15 on May 11-16 Syr (MSR, DBP); last May 31 (record late) four Sherrill (SS). White-throated: no heavy Apr flight noted; 50-100/day thru middle two weeks of May; in numbers thru last week of May, max 100 (probably includes a few breeders) May 28 Boonville (KGH). Fox: max 12 on Apr 2 Panther L (B&SP); last Apr 27 Sherrill (SS). Lincoln’s: first two May 12 N Syr; two-three/day in heavy flight May 19—21; none noted in delayed flights of late May. Song: 267 on B. Burtt’s Apr feeder survey (per 100 reports); usual counts in early Apr 50—70/day; no major flight day detected. Lapland Longspur: flock of 12 in full breeding plumage with some individuals indulging in flight singing, Apr 21-22 Syr Airport (FGS). Thanks are due the compilers Mrs. J. W. Propst and C. G. Spies, Jr. 427 S. Main St., North Syracuse 13212. 171 REGION 6 —ST. LAWRENCE David C. Gordon April 1-2 and April 29-30' were warm in Watertown but most of the weather on dates between was cool to cold with much wind and 15 days of rain totaling 3.62 inches—above normal. It was the coldest May in 50 years with an unofficial high in the low 80’s May 1 and an unofficial low of 28 on May 6 with frost on the ground. The average daily temperature was 48.9 degrees, 6.6 degrees below normal. A wet snowstorm whitened the ground on the night of May 7. Cold weather prevailed until May 13. A lull of milder temperatures ended May 28 and May finished with cool weather. The wettest May in three years was recorded with 3.71 inches on eleven days. There was still much snow in the woods on THP May 13. Cold, wet weather at crucial times during spring migration slowed the move¬ ment of most species so the arrival dates were much later than normal but in some cases made better observations possible. A few early dates are misleading where they were apparently ahead of schedule, because cold temperatures settled in after the first arrivals and the main body of migrants came much later. Unless there are other comments, dates given below are arrival dates. Rarer species for the Region include: Cattle Egret, Brant, Snow and Blue Goose, Bald Eagle, Ruff, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Golden-winged Warbler and Lincoln’s Sparrow. Scarcer than usual were the Marsh Hawk, Red-headed Woodpecker, Long¬ billed Marsh Wren and Bluebird. Missed entirely were the rails, some shorebirds, some warblers and Rusty Blackbird. Several warblers and shorebirds were recorded later than at any time in more than a decade. Localities: BCW—Brookside Cemetery, Watertown; ED—El Dorado; Jeff-Jefferson County; PRGMA—Perch River Game Management Area; SL—St. Lawrence County; SB—Sherwin’s Bay; THP—Tug Hill Plateau; Wat—Watertown; WC—Watertown Center. Observers: AA—Arthur Allen; JB—John Belknap; FC—Frank Clinch; DG—David Gordon; RW—Robert Walker. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: Pillar Pt Apr 14; ED Apr 22. Horned Grebe: Adams Cove Apr 24. Double-crested Cormorant: 15-20 occupied nests Gull Is. May 27. Green Heron: May 12. Cattle Egret: first reported Pillar Pt. May 14; one imm seen SB May 23 (FC, RW). Black-crowned Night Heron: over 50' nests on Gull and Bass Is. May 27. Least Bittern: PRGMA May 23 (RW). Amer. Bittern: Apr 29. Canada Goose: over 400 PRGMA May 6; over 40 in flight Mich. Mills, THP May 13; two PRGMA May 27. Brant: nine PRGMA Apr 23 (AA), Snow Goose: one Apr 15-20 PRGMA; 15 imm May 6—10 ED (DG, AA). Blue Goose: one PRGMA Apr 2 (Gaskin); one PRGMA Apr 15 (DG). Pintail: last Apr 29. Blue-winged Teal: Apr 15. Green-winged Teal: last Apr 29—seemed scarce. Amer. Widgeon: May 6. Shoveler: Apr 19—23. Ring-necked Duckdast Apr 29. Greater Scaup: last Apr 22. Common Golden-eye: last Apr 22. Bufflehead: last Apr 22. Oldsquaw: last Apr 22. Hooded Merganser: last May 6. Red-breasted Merganser: several ED Apr 22. HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: one May 24 near Oxbow (AA). Red¬ shouldered Hawk and Broad-winged Hawk: both May 7 near S. Edwards, SL Co (AA). Rough-legged Hawk: last Apr 14. Bald Eagle: two adults near Jeff—SL Co 172 line Apr 11 reported to JB; two adults ED May 7 fide Brown; one adult ED May 10 (AA). Osprey: pair at nest Yellow L May 24—30 (AA, JB). Common Gallinule: Apr 14. Amer. Coot: May 21. Amer. Woodcock: Apr 4 (AA). Common Snipe: May 6. Upland Plover: May 7, 14, 21. Spotted Sandpiper: May 6. Solitary Sand¬ piper: Apr 21. Greater Yellowlegs: Apr 29. Lesser Yellowlegs: May 6. Pectoral Sandpiper: May 10. Dunlin: May 6. Short-billed Dowitcher. 34 ED May 27 (DG). Semipalmated Sandpiper: May 27. RUFF: first known Regional record near Castorland, Lewis Co May 22, a male (JB) breast and upper belly black; lower belly white; back of head, back of neck and upper back solid buify orange; remainder of underparts mottled. Sanderling: May 20. Great Black-backed Gull: May 27 Gull Is. Common Tern: May 6. Caspian Tern: Apr 22. Black Tern: May 6. Black-billed Cuckoo: May 21. Snowy Owl: one Chaumont Apr 8; two near Pillar Pt Apr 14, last one Pillar Pt Apr 24 (JB). Short-eared Owl: two Pillar Pt Apr 14 (JB). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Common Nighthawk: May 29. Chimney Swift: Apr 26—early. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: May 20. Flicker: Apr 2—not common until much later. Red-headed Woodpecker: one May 27 (FC) only report—seem rare this spring. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Apr 15. Eastern Kingbird: May 6. Crested Flycatcher: May 19. Traill's Flycatcher: May 28. Least Flycatcher: May 15. Eastern Wood Pewee: May 23. Olive-sided Flycatcher: May 27 PRGMA (DG). Swallows: Tree Apr 2, Bank Apr 29, Rough-winged May 13, Barn Apr 15, Cliff May 14. Purple Martin: Apr 29. Red-breasted Nuthatch: May 1. House Wren: May 10. Winter Wren: May 6. Long-billed Marsh Wren: May 27. Catbird: May 14. Brown Thrasher: Apr 23. Wood Thrush: May 12. Hermit Thrush: May 14. Swainson’s Thrush: May 19. Gray-cheeked Thrush: May 23 near Wat (AA). Veery: May 14. Eastern Bluebird: one Apr 5, three Apr 16 (RW); five May 7 (AA). Golden-crowned Kinglet: Apr 14-29 WC (DG). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Apr 14-29 WC. Water Pipit: May 14 (FC). Cedar Waxwing: Apr 16. Loggerhead Shrike: May 12. VIREOS-WARBLERS: Vireos: Yellow-throated May 21, Solitary May 7, Red¬ eyed May 14, Warbling May 15. Warblers: Black-and-white: May 3. Golden-winged:pair May 21 (AA). Ten¬ nessee: May 19. Nashville: May 7. Yellow: May 3. Magnolia: May 20, Cape May: May 13 (JB). Black-throated Blue: May 7. Myrtle: May 7. Black-throated Green: May 7. Cerulean: May 21 three locations. Blackburnian: May 14. Chestnut-sided: May 14. Bay-breasted: May 27-28. Blackpoll: May 27-28. Ovenbird: May 14. Northern Waterthrush: May 7. Mourning: May 19; new station near Wat May 21-30. Yellowthroat: May 14. Wilson’s: May 21-28. Canada: May 20. Amer. Redstart: May 14. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: May 16. Baltimore Oriole: May 14. Scarlet Tanager: May 18. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: May 12. Indigo Bunting: May 21. Evening Grosbeak: pair at feeder Apr 7 (AA); flock S. Edwards May 7 (AA). Purple Finch: first report Apr 5, next report not until May 7. Pine Siskin: Apr 23 BCW (AA). Amer. Goldfinch: summer plumage May 1. Rufous-sided Towhee: May 3. Savannah Sparrow: Apr 29, Vesper Sparrow: Apr 22. Slate-colored Junco: Apr 14-29 WC. Tree Sparrow: last May 3 (JB). Chipping Sparrow: Apr 21—early (AA). Field Sparrow: Apr 16. White-crowned Sparrow: May 4-24. White-throated Sparrow: Apr 15. Fox Sparrow: Apr 14-May 9, Lincoln’s Sparrow: one banded May 27-28 (FC). Swamp Sparrow: May 6. Please have summer reports in by August 21. 1347 Sherman St., Watertown, N.Y. 13601 173 REGION 7 —ADIRONDACK-CHAMPLAIN Harriet L. Delafield April 1967 was not a dramatic one. It was cloudy, wet and windy with tem¬ peratures averaging a fraction above normal. The thermometer reached a record- breaking 79 degrees on the second. Wind velocities were below normal, snowfall was about eight inches and precipitation levels were about normal. May was very dramatic indeed. Dramatically cold, dramatically late snowfall (May 23), dramatically late foliage growth and, on the good side, dramatic dis¬ plays of Aurora Borealis. Bob Kampf, of Ray Brook, in his May weather summary, suggests that these unusual conditions could have been caused by “heavy solar storm activity.” As might be expected, this weather had strong effects on bird migrants. Some observers saw very few warblers and then only one or two at a time; others found frozen or starving birds; the lucky people had the experience of seeing many species which had come down from the higher cold air to get some food and rest in the sun-warmed air near the ground. One non-birder friend was quite impressed by having, “My woods full of those bright-colored birds. I don’t know what you call them.” Greenleaf Chase informs us that there have been at least two attempts at nesting by Golden Eagles in the Adirondacks this Spring. A bird is known to have been on the nest at the site in the Eastern Adirondacks from April 26 to May 25. Un¬ fortunately the nest was deserted by June 12. At the second site, in the Central Adirondacks, the birds had nested for many years on cliff ledges. This year, for the second time, they tried a tree nest—perhaps because the cliff nests had been molested by humans. They appeared in March to work on a nest started last fall. The female was seen for about five weeks before deserting the nest during the third week in May. Let us say then,that Goldens are still trying the Adirondacks. Let us hope that with the help of ornithologists and conservationists, they may soon succeed. Observers: EA—Elizabeth Anderson; EB—Elisabeth Bamet; MB—Marion Brogan; CC—Creta Chase; GTC—Greenleaf T Chase; ED—Ethel Dyer; HD—Harriet Dela¬ field; BF—Bill Frenette; JH—Joseph Hart; GK—Grace Kains; JK—Joseph Keji; MK— Marguerite Kingsbury; RM—Ruth Meier; IW—Isabel Williams; FW—Fred Warden- burg; DY—David Young. Abbreviations: Aus M—Ausable Marsh; B—brook; P—pond; RB—Ray Brook; SL— Saranac Lake; TL—Tupper Lake. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: one L Durant May 29 (MK); pair May 1 Square P, pair May 2 Duck P and McKenzie P, pair May 7 St Regis P (JH); Essex Apr 30-May 5 (FW); L Clear May (MOB). Horned Grebe: Essex Apr 30- May 5 (FW). Pied-billed Grebe: one Apr 19 Aus M (JH). Great Blue Heron: five Apr 5, five May 5, three May 22 Aus M; three nests, two active birds Apr 18 Oseetah, one Apr 14 Jones P, two Apr 19 Kings Bay (JH). American Bittern: one Apr 14 Barnum P Outlet (JH); two May 6 Turtle P (MB); one May 23 Saranac R (EA). Canada Goose: one ADK Loj Apr 1, 500 near Chazy Apr 4 (JH); 49 Apr 2, five large flocks Apr 21 TL (RM); three flocks in night Apr 26 SL (GTC); 40 Apr 19, 75 Apr 27 SL, eight May 19 Lewey L Campsite (EA&HD); 35 SL Apr 30 (LR Kains). Snow Goose: one immature LP Apr 21, 30 Cooperville Apr 27 (JH); five RB May 22 (B Brune). Mallard: four Apr 7 Aus M, two Apr 14 Jones P, two Apr 14 Barnum P Outlet (JH). Black Duck: normal reports of small numbers from all areas. Pintail: pair Apr 4 Aus M, Apr 19 Kings Bay (JH). Green-winged Teal: two Apr 19 Aus M, 174 two May 4 Twin Ponds (JH); pair May 8 “in snowstorm like last year” RB (JK). Wood Duck: four Apr 7 Aus M, ten May 22 Aus M (JH); two first week in May Turtle P (MB). Ring-necked Duck: seven Apr 7, 16 males two females “probably not nesting”, Apr 19, seven May 8 all Aus M, 25 males Apr 19 Catfish Bay (JH); pair Long P May 13, two TL marshes May 19 (EA&HD), Common Goldeneye: five Apr 7 Aus M, pair Apr 19 Catfish Bay (JH); Essex Apr 30-May 5 (FW); two males Apr 29 TL (MK). Bufflehead: Essex Apr 30-May 5 (FW); five Apr 29 TL (MK). Hooded Merganser: pair Apr 14 Barnum P Outlet, one Apr 19 Aus M (JH). Common Merganser: three Apr 7 Franklins Falls, pair Grass P May 22 (JH); Essex Apr 30-May 5 (FW). Red-breasted Merganser: Essex Apr 30-May 5 (FW). HAWKS—OWLS: Goshawk: one Apr 30 Vermontville (ED). Red-tailed Hawk: one Apr 4 Aus M, one Apr 20 Loon Mt (JH). Broad-winged Hawk: one Apr 19 near Chazy, one May 16 Deer P (JH); two Apr 19, one Apr 20 thru May 30 RB (JK); one Apr 28, 30 and May 31 SL (HD). Golden Eagle: one Cat P TL Apr 17 (GTC)—see introductory remarks. Bald Eagle: Apr 1 vicinity L Titus (Carl Pru, NY Conservation Dept fide BF); one Apr 18 Meecham L (GTC), Marsh Hawk: one Apr 19 RB (JK); male Apr 13 thru May 4 SL (HD). Osprey: one Apr 20 RB (JK); one Moira Apr 16, pair Quebec B May 3, one May 4 Twin P, one nest active May 18 Oseetah (JH); one Kiwassa Outlet May 13 (ED); one May 20 Little Long P (GTC). Sparrow Hawk: one Apr 4 Kings Bay, two Apr 9 Kings Bay (JH); one Apr 3 thru Apr 25 SL (HD). Ruffed Grouse: very few reports, no egg dates. Common Gallinule; one May 22 Aus M (JH). Ring-necked Pheasant: same female as all winter seen thru Apr 28 SL (EA&HD). Kill deer: early Apr Gabriels (DY); thru May 21 SL (GK); May 27 TL (MK). American Woodcock: U.S. Fish & Wildlife survey shows normal num¬ bers all areas. Common Snipe; two Apr 19 Aus M (JH); two May 4 TL (MK); heard May 5 SL (EA&HD). Spotted Sandpiper: Essex Apr 30-May 5 (FW). Solitary Sandpiper: one between Fork L Campsite & Blue Mt L Club (EA&HD). Herring Gull: small numbers SL, TL and Essex. Black Tern: four TL May 2 (MK). Mourning Dove: one Apr 13 and May 4 SL (HD); one Gabriels Apr 7 DY); two Vermontville Apr 29 (ED); one Apr 20 Loon Mt (JH). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Chimney Swift: first May 1 RB (JK); ten May 19 SL (HD). Ruby-throated Hummingbird: one May 17 SL (CC); one May 21 & 28 RB (JK). Belted Kingfisher: one Apr 4 Wickham M (JH); one Apr 9, three May 20 RB (JK); pair Saranac R May 16, one Lewey L Campsite May 19, one Chubb R May 25 (HD). Yellow-shafted Flicker; Essex Apr 30-May 5 (FW); early one Apr 1 SL (GK); Apr 14 RB (JK); Apr 27 TL (RM). Pileated Wood¬ pecker: one Apr 7 Aus M (JH); one Little Long P May 20 1 (GTC), Red-headed Woodpecker: studied within a few yards Lewey L Campsite May 22 (EA&HD). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: one Apr 11 RB (JK); one Apr 24 SL (HD). Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, small numbers all areas. Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: one May 7 Green P (JH). Eastern Kingbird: two Long L May 22 (EA&HD); four May 30 RB (JK). Eastern Phoebe: one Apr 1 SL (GK); several nesting pairs reported in SL area. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: one Mt Pisgah May 1 (EA&HD). Least Flycatcher: one May 6 RB (JK); two Rt 30 Hamilton Co May 19 (EA&HD). Eastern Wood Pewee: one Kiwassa Outlet May 13 (ED); one May 29 & 30 RB (JK). Olive-sided Flycatcher: one May 29 RB (JK). Horned Lark: one SL golf course (fide HD). Tree Swallow: back all areas mid-Apr. Bank Swallow: one May 6 RB (JK); back May 18 TL (MK). Rough-winged Swallow; May 13 RB (JK). Barn Swallow: back late Apr to early May all areas. Cliff Swallow: one May 1 RB (JK); seven Saranac Inn May 13 (HD). Blue Jay: good numbers still around but not as obvious as in winter. Common 175 Crow: thru period all areas. Black-capped Chickadee: normal. Boreal Chickadee: one Donnelly’s Corners Apr 20 (GTC); one May 18 RB (JK); two to three thru May 24 SL (EB). White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches: normal. Brown Creeper: Apr 13 thru May 31 RB (JK); Apr 1 thru May 20 SL (GK). Winter Wren: one Apr 5 RB (JK); one Forest Home Rd May 5 (HD). Catbird: one RB May 17 (JK); nesting pair after May 23 SL (EA). Brown Thrasher: Apr 26 thru period SL (HD); one May 23 RB (JK); one May 31 Bloomingdale (IW). Robin: 28 Apr 22 vicinity SL (HD); 25 Apr 26 RB (JK); big flock Vermontville Apr 29 (ED). Wood Thrush: two Apr 30 Franklin Falls (EA&HD); one Apr 30 TL (RM); good reports from then on. Hermit Thrush: four May 8 RB (JK). Swainson’s Thrush: May 23 RB (JK). Veery: many reports from first week in May thru period. Eastern Bluebird: Apr 30 RB (JK); May 29 TL (RM); arrived Vermontville May 18, nest built May 21, egg May 25 (Tyler). Golden-crowned Kinglet: two Apr 18 RB (JK); two May 13 and 14 SL (HD). Ruby-crowned Kinglet; one Apr 26, three May 16 RB (JK); one May 1 SL (HD). Starling: 20 to 50 thru Apr all areas; 200 May 8 SL (ED). VIREOS-WARBLERS: Solitary Vireo: one May 30 RB (JK). Warblers: Black-and-white: one May 16 Turtle P (MB); May 17 RB (JK); May 20 Little Long P (GTC); four SL May 30 (EA&HD). Nashville: May 17 RB (JK). Parula: May 23 RB (JK); two Forest Home Rd, SL May 31 (HD). Yellow: May 19 and 29 RB (JK); May 20 Little Long P (GTC); four May 22 Aus M (JH). Magnolia; May 16 RB (JK); Chubb R May 25 (HD). Black-throated Blue: May 17 and 20 RB (JK); May 20 Little Long P (GTC); May 31 Forest Home Rd (HD). Myrtle: many reports from all areas except TL. Black-throated Green: often numerous from the middle of May on, this year only two reports, May 20 Little Long P (GTC); May 23 RB (JK). Blackburnian: May 16 RB (JK); May 30 SL (EA&HD). Chestnut-sided: May 18 RB (JK); May 20 Little Long P (GTC); May 31 SL (HD). Blackpoll: two May 26 SL (ED). Ovenbird: May 15 RB (JK); May 17 Paul Smiths (HD); four Buttermilk Falls and Route 30 Ham. Co. May 19 (EA&HD); May 29 SL (GK). Northern Waterthrush: May 13 Forest Home Rd (HD). Yellowthroat: from mid-May on all areas. Canada: May 20 Little Long P (GTC); May 23 SL (HD); May 29 RB (JK). American Redstart: May 20 RB (JK) and Little Long P (GTC); pair L Clear May 21 (EB). BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: House Sparrow: many everywhere but RB as usual. Bobolink; May 6 L Colby (fide EB); four May 30 RB (JK). Eastern Meadowlark: Apr 3 SL (HD); three North Hudson Apr 8 (EA); Vermontville Apr 29 (ED); RB Apr 30 (JK). Red-winged Blackbird: few large numbers reported; 50 Apr 20 SL (GK); four females plus 20' males Apr 23 SL, males seemed to be singing special welcome song (EA). Baltimore Oriole: May 17 SL (CC); May 18 and 29 RB (JK). Common Grackle: thru period. Brown-headed C'owbird: thru period. Scarlet Tanager: May 23 RB (JK). Cardinal: heard and seen Ticonderoga Apr 24 (MK); male Turtle P May 6 and 9 (MB); pair thru May 31 Bloomingdale (IW). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: good numbers from mid-May thru period. Indigo Bunting: one May 27 SL (GK). Evening Grosbeak: 50 Apr 4 “dwindling” to eight May 18 RB (JK); six to eight pair thru period TL (RM); 18 Apr 3 to two pair May 22 SL (EB). Purple Finch: 75 Apr 18 TL (RM)—only large number reported though there are reports of a few from other areas. Pine Siskin: few Apr 14 thru May 31 RB (JK). American Goldfinch: this little finch does its best to console us for the lack of other finches. Red Crossbill: a few to May 26 RB (JK). Rufous-sided Towhee: one May 8 SL (EB); one May 8 RB (JK); one for a few days around May 27 TL (RM). Sparrows: Savannah: first Apr 11, max 11 Apr 19, RB (JK); pair May 1 SL 176 (HD). Vesper: Apr 13 thru period RB (JK). Slate-colored Junco:no large flocks reported, small numbers all areas. Tree: last seen Apr 15 TL (RM), Apr 30 RB (JK), May 8 SL (GK). Chipping; Apr 16 XL (RM); four Apr 22 RB (JK); two Apr 22 SL (ED). Clay-colored: one May 20 thru 23 carefully studied at feeder, Gabriels (DY). Field: back by Apr 7 SL (HD), Apr 29 TL (MK), May 6 RB (JK). White-crowned: May 2 thru May 24, eight May 14 SL (HD); “fewer” May 18 TL (MK); six May 19 RB (JK); six May 14 Moira (Orcutt). White- throated: good numbers all areas. Lincoln’s: one May 28 Hart L Rd near SL (MK). Swamp: one Apr 30 SL (HD). Song: first Apr 6 TL (RM); good numbers all other areas. Trudeau Road, Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983 REGION 8 — MOHAWK - HUDSON Peter P. Wickham Once again April and May were cold months. Apr was the more “normal” of the two, with temperatures averaging (all weather data taken at Albany) 43.5°, 2.7° below average. The high temperature of 71° occurred on Apr 1. The only other days the temperature reached even 65° were Apr 2 and Apr 30. Precipitation totaled 3.69 inches, 0.92 in, above normal. May was extremely cold, averaging 50.4°, 7.5° below average, It was consistently cold as well; only three days (May 1, 2 and 19) were not below the normal average temperature for that date. The high temperature was a mere 81° on May 19, and on only five other days did the temperature reach 70°! Precipitation totaled 3.36 in., 0.11 in. below normal. The cool weather during Apr did not appear to hinder the appearance of most early Apr species (e.g., the sparrows) but those species of landbirds expected in very late Apr or early May were generally delayed. The low numbers of many species—even by mid-May—were unprededented in my experience. “Waves” of some importance occurred on May 1, May 5 and 6, and May 13 and 14, but these were dwarfed by that on May 18, when a real flood of warblers and vireos finally appeared. After May 20, when another impressive wave occurred, the latter part of the month was not distinguished by waves so much as a continuous flow of birds into and through all areas. Upon reflection, the lateness of appearance and especially abundance of many small passerines was almost certainly tied to the lack of the usual foliage and (consequently) insects expected at their usual arrival dates. This lag seemed generally about two weeks through almost all May. Incredibly enough, more than half the deciduous trees in the Taborton area in eastern Rensselaer County were not yet in leaf on May 27. The acute food shortage for the insectivores was also noted in numerous reports of warblers feeding on or next to the ground and in at least two reports of birds eating fruit-tree blossoms. Unlike the previous few years, the shorebird movement was disappointing. Very little was observed during the last two weeks of May, at what should have been the peak of migration. This seemed primarily because there was little suitable shorebird habitat discovered in Region 8 this year. Those shorebirds which were seen-mainly in the first half of May—suggested that their migration was not no¬ ticeably slowed by the cold weather. Other points of interest for the period were: (1) a continued increase in records of rails and gallinules; (2) a continuing very low population of cuckoos (both species); (3) a marked influx of Purple Finches including several House Finches. Other rare or unusual species recorded included Snowy Egret, Mute Swan, Snow Goose, Goshawk, Bald Eagle, Sandhill Crane, Dowitcher, White-rumped Sandpiper, Red-headed Woodpecker, Orange-crowned Warbler, and a probable Yellow- throated Warbler, 177 Abbreviations used: AR—Alcove Reservoir; BCM—Black Creek Marshes; BR— Basic Reservoir; CM—Castleton marshes; IL—Indian Ladder; NWW-Niskayuna Wide Waters; SCR—Stony Creek Reservoir; SL—Saratoga Lake; TR—Tomhannock Reservoir; VFG—Vischer Ferry Game Management Area. Observers: SBC—Schenectady Bird Club; GA—Gus Angst; GB—Guy Bartlett; HFB—Hazel Bundy; JHB, BB—James and Barbara Bush; PC—Paul Connor; JC— Juanita Cook; PE, GE—Paul and Georgia Erlenbach; MF—Marjorie Foote; MWF— Mabel French; WG—William Gorman; MDG—Monte Gruett; EH—Esly Hallenbeck; DH—David Harrison; VH—Vernon Haskins; MK—Marcia Kent; CK—Clarissa Ket- cham; SM—Samuel Madison; PM—Peggy McGuirk; WBS—Walton Sabin; BRS— Benton Seguin; HHS—Harvey Spivak; PPW—Peter Wickham; RPY—Robert Yunick. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: observed through period to May 13, several areas (SBC). Red-necked Grebe: single individuals SL Apr 15 (SBC); AR Apr 22 (SBC); BR May 13-14 (PPW, PC, WG, MDG, WBS). Horned Grebe: observed through period to May 13, SL (SBC). Pied-billed Grebe: many reports in both Apr and May. Double-crested Cormorant: singles—SL Apr 15 (SBC); Lock 7, Mohawk R, May 13 (GA, EH); AR May 14 (WBS). Great Blue Heron: rather few noted, but reports widespread; first Apr 10, Palenville (Jean Hervey). Snowy Egret: one feeding. Mohawk R just below Lock 7, May 20 (EH, Ruth Fox, Ethel Young). No other egrets reported. Green Heron: only about 15 reports, first Apr 26, Ghent (PE, GE) and NWW Apr 30 (HHS). American Bittern: reported at VFG, NWW, Vosburgh Marsh and BCM during period. No Least Bitterns reported. Mute Swan: one Apr 1-2 NWW (RPY, PM, EH); one seen flying south over Rensselaer Apr 13 (John Alexander, PPW). Canada Goose: flocks observed during Apr and early May, last large flock 210 May 12, CM (PC), last one May 20, BR (fide PPW). Snow Goose: a good spring flight with five Apr and one May report, max 175-200 Apr 9 over SL (MK); a flock of 13- all imm- arr BR May 19 (WBS et al) and remained there into June. Black Ducks, Mallards, Blue-winged Teal and Wood Ducks commonly reported. American Widgeon: reported into May, last May 19-20, BR (WBS, PC, PPW). Pintail: most gone by end of Apr, last May 13, AR (Helen Budlong). Green¬ winged Teal: rapidly disappeared after Apr, last May 21, BCM (PPW, WBS, MDG). Shoveler: two to three Apr 22-29 NWW (HHS, HFB), five Apr 15 Collins L (EH), one Apr 16 TR (SBC), one at the Vly Apr 29 (SBC), one May 20 NWW (WBS et al .)— more reports than usual. Redhead: only report- one Apr 16 TR (SBC). Ring-necked Duck: many Apr reports, last May 13* (GA, EH). Canvas- back: several Apr reports, max 40 Apr 8 Embought (JHB, BB), last May 13 SL (GB, BRS). Scaup: both species observed, last May 20 NWW (HHS). Common Goldeneye: reported through Apr, last Apr 26 SL (HFB). Bufflehead: many reports in Apr and well into May, last May 20 BR (PC, PPW). Oldsquaw: five reports, Apr 3 Collins L (EH) to May 13 SL (BRS, GB), max 28 Apr 15 SL (SBC). White-winged Scoter: only scoter reported- May 13 SL (GB, BRS) and May 17 Sikuli Swamp near Medusa (MK). Ruddy Duck: one Apr. 1-16 SCR (SBC) and five BR May 14 (WBS), the only reports. Hooded Merganser: reported through most of Apr; only May record- two May 20, NWW (HHS). Common Merganser: many reports through Apr, last May 13, BR and SL (SBC). The last May records of each species were of a group of females convoyed by a single adult male. j HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: several reports, max 25 Apr 15, Kiskatom (VH). Goshawk: only report- immature May 23 near Greenville (CK). Sharp- shinned Hawk: five reported during period, four of these Apr 16 from three scattered localities. Cooper's Hawk: Apr 29 near Catskill (SBC), May 12 BCM (WBS), May 13 Burnt Hills (MF). Red-tailed Hawk: seen fairly commonly throughout period. Red-shouldered Hawk: five reports Apr 3-29 and one May 178 report- May 29 near Scotia (RPY). Broad-winged Hawk: Apr 12 SCR (EH) to end of period, more reports than has recently been the case. Rough-legged Hawk: Apr 4 Ghent (PE, GE), Apr 23 CM (PC) and May 13 West Glenville (HFB, MF, PM). Bald Eagle: an imm in very shabby-looking plumage was apparently feeding on a dead fish at NWW May 23 (PPW, WG). Marsh Hawk: only four reports, last May 13 (SBC). Osprey: many observed, Apr 11 Catskill (BB) to May 28 Greenville (CI<). Bobwhite: reported from Athens, BCM and East Green- bush. No Wild Turkeys reported. Virginia Rail: first Apr 22, CM (PC) with other reports from NWW, BCM, Vly and Vosburgh Marshes. Sora: several reports May 6-13. Common Gallinule: first, Apr 16 CM (PC) with other reports from NWW, BCM, Vly, VFG and Vosburgh. At least 29 estimated at Vosburgh May 20 (PC, PPW). Am. Coot: only reports- one May 13 SL (PPW, PC, MDG, WG), one NWW May 28 (HHS). Sandhill Crane: The bird reported last period near White¬ hall remained in the same locality through Apr 26. After this date, it was not seen again. Common Snipe: reported from the usual localities; one also performed regularly at CM (PC). Upland Plover: first Apr 22 Colonie (HHS)—few reports. Spotted Sandpiper: first Apr 23 NWW (HHS)—few reports before May 13. Solitary Sand¬ piper: first May 6 with rapid influx thereafter. Greater Yellowlegs: arr, one Apr 3 SCR (EH); several other reports in Apr and the first half of May, last May 18 (EH). Lesser Yellowlegs: notable movement May 13—14, several areas, when up to 15 were seen at once. Pectoral Sandpiper: only records- one NWW Apr 27-28 (HHS), one May 13 near Selkirk (Helen Budlong), three BCM May 20 (WBS, SM, PM). Least Sandpiper: reported May 13-29, max 12 May 19, Glenville (RPY). Dunlin: only reports- one May 6 BCM (SBC), two May 13 BR (PPW, PC, MDG, WG). Dowitcher: one May 20 SCR (WBS, SM, PM). White-rumped Sandpiper: only report- May 13 BR (David Ellers, Dawne Spaulding). Semi- palmated Sandpiper: only one, May 14 NWW (EH). Great Black-backed Gull: a few reports through Apr, last May 6 Embought (JHB) and May 20 Mohawk R (EH). Herring and Ring-billed Gulls seen throughout the period. Bonaparte’s Gull: only reports- one Apr 5, Collins L (EH), one Vly Creek Reservoir May 13 (Betty Hicks et al),May 13 SL (GB, BRS). Common Tern: very late arrival, observed May 13-20, many areas. Black Tern: May 13-28, many areas. Yellow-billed Cuckoo: only reports- May 13 AR (David Ellers, Dawne Spaulding), May 21 BCM (WBS). Black-billed Cuckoo: somewhat more common; six reports- first May 7 Slingerlands (WBS). Screech Owl: reported only from Scotia (DH) and Niskayuna (HHS). Great Horned Owl: reported from several scattered localities; a family of two adults and three young observed at Karner during May (WBS et al). Barred Owl: reported only from the Jenny L area (GB, BRS). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Whip-poor-will: arr (or at least first heard) very late, first May 13 near SCR (PPW et al). Common Nighthawk: first Apr 26 Castle- ton (JC) and May 4 Berne (MK); other reports May 19 on. Chimney Swift; first Apr 21 Vly (BB) and Apr 29 Schenectady (WBS); most arr May 1-7. Ruby- throated Hummingbird: first May 6 Catskill (JHB); major influx May 14-20. Pileated Woodpecker: many records from entire Region. Red-headed Woodpecker: two reports- one near Delmar May 16—17 (Dirck Benson), one (possibly the same) at BCM May 21 (Ken Gruett, MDG, PPW). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Apr 12 Scotia (DH) to May 6 Scotia (DH), with many migrants observed. Flycatchers: all seemed late, especially in numbers (see table). Swallows: Tree: arr widely Apr 1 on. Bank: first Apr 22 BCM (PPW), widely by the end of Apr. Rough¬ winged: marked influx Apr 21-23, many areas. Barn: first, Apr 13 Durham (VH); few records until Apr 21-22. Cliff: first Apr 21 Catskill (JHB, BB) and widely during next few days. Purple Martin: no Apr reports; most nesting stations reported very poor numbers, with birds returning quite late. Tufted Titmouse: reported from many localities. Red-breasted Nuthatch: reported from the usual nesting areas; only one migrant noted- May 6 Scotia (DH). House Wren: first, Apr 16 Greenville (CK), appeared widely first week in May. Winter Wren; a few reports, first Apr 13 Ghent (PE, GE). Long-billed Marsh-wren: arr May 6 BCM (SBC) and other areas about the same time. Mockingbird: reports continue to come in from new localities in addition to previously known ones, suggesting a further increase in population. Catbird: wide¬ spread wave May 4-5 in many areas. Brown Thrasher: very scarce in Apr; first Apr 15 Greenville (CK); a large number of thrashers appeared with the Catbirds on May 4—5. Hermit Thrush: migrants Apr 12 SCR (HFB) to May 10 Schenectady (HFB) with later reports from usual nesting localities. E. Bluebird: occasionally seen, Apr and May, but appeared somewhat less common. Golden-crowned Kinglet: good numbers during Apr, last Apr 29 Catskill (SBC). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: many reports, arr Apr 15-16 in a marked influx; commonly observed until May 20-22; last May 28 Niskayuna (HHS) and May 30 Galway L (DH). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: fewer than last year; first Apr 29 Kiskatom (SBC); others at Catskill (two pairs, building nests- JHB), Indian Ladder (one) (WBS et al .) and one Schodack Island (PPW). Water Pipit: Apr 7-8 Ghent (PE, GE), Apr 9 East Greenbush (PPW), May 6 Coxsackie (JHB)- only reports. Cedar Waxwing: erratic appearances, usually in small groups throughout period, max 50 May 8, East Green- bush (MDG). Shrikes reported from Chatham Center Apr 11 (Murray and Alice Giddings), Catskill Apr 21 (JHB) and Ghent May 13 (PE, GE). VIREOS—WARBLERS: See table for most species. Orange-crowned Warbler: individuals reported on Apr 30, Rensselaerville (Robert C. Dalgleish) and May 21, Niskayuna (HHS)- in both instances the birds were actively flitting about in brushy thickets near water. Cerulean Warbler: one male May 18 in the Schodack Island area where it has summered the last two years (PPW, PC). Yellow-throated Warbler: a warbler described as having a “gray back, yellow throat, black streaks along sides, white underparts, white in wing, no white in the tail” observed May 19 in Greenville (C'K) almost certainly this species. Prairie Warbler: first May 7 Vly (PPW), later reports scattered through month. Mourning Warbler: five reports, more than usual, of migrants; May 21 Loudonville (MWF) to May 30 Loudonville (MWF). Yellow-breasted Chat: only two reports- May 13 Catskill (PPW et al) and Guilderland (John Fuller, Betty Hicks, Mary Linch et al). BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Orchard Oriole: only reports- May 13 Catskill (JHB, BB) May 15 Ghent (PE, GE). Rusty Blackbird: many reports through Apr into early May, last May 13 several areas (SBC). Evening Grosbeak: only reports from northern sections except two at a feeder in Slingerlands (Grace Liebich) into mid-May; pair near North R Apr 30 (DH); Jenny L area May 13 (BRS, GB). Purple Finch: heavy influx, late Apr and early May, in all sections. House Finch: at least four (two males, two females) visited one feeder /banding station in Niskayuna May 5-9 during the height of the Purple Finch influx. Two of these were banded and another had previously been banded (Dec. 26, 1966 in Gordons- ville, Va.) (RPY)— see Field Note. A pair were also coming regularly to another Niskayuna feeder May 8-29 (GA). Sparrows: Savannah: widely reported Apr 9 on. Grasshopper: only reports from BCM, May 13 and 21 (SBC). Henslow’s: only report, BC'M May 13; this species has been getting scarcer for several successive years. Vesper: first Apr 2 Greenville (CK), several reports over next week. Tree': most left last week in Apr, last reports May 13 (SBC). Chipping: first Apr 12, Catskill (JHB, BB); several reports on Apr 15. White-crowned: again surprisingly common, Apr 1 Castleton (JC) to May 27 VFG (RPY). White-throated: few reports early Apr, widespread Apr 14-May 22, last May 28 VFG (RPY) aside from usual nesting areas. Fox: several late Apr reports, last Apr 30 Haines Falls (JHB, BB). Lincoln’s: two reports- Apr 21 Altamont (WBS), Apr 27 VFG (banded) (RPY). Swamp: first arr, Apr 9 Meadowdale (EH). 12 Columbia Drive, East Greenbush, N.Y. 12061 180 MIGRANT PASSERINES - REGION 8 - 1967 SPECIES FIRST DATES* SECOND DATE 1967 # PARTIES OBSERVED 1 1967 1966 1965 (max 12) (max 11) Eastern Kingbird May 5 Apr 29 May 2 May 6 6 10 Crested Flycatcher Yellow-b. Flycatcher May 5 May 6 May 2 May 6 3 2 May 13 - ■— May 15 May 20 1 0 Traill’s Flycatcher May 20 May 14 May 15 — 0 2 Least Flycatcher Apr 26 May 5 Apr 25 May 5 5 7 Wood Pewee May 10 May 14 May 8 May 13 2 3 Olive-sided Flycatcher May 21 May 24 — — 0 0 Swainson’s Thrush May 6 May 10 May 8 May 13 2 4 Wood Thrush May 1 Apr 22 Apr 24 May 4 10 9 Gray-cheeked Thrush May 13 May 14 May 2 May 20 2 1 Yeery May 6 May 5 May 5 May 11 9 11 Yellow-thr. Vireo May 6 May 5 May 4 May 12 3 2 Solitary Vireo May 13 May 6 Apr 27 — 4 3 Red-eyed Vireo May 13 May 14 May 4 May 18 2 1 Warbling Vireo May 8 Apr 28 Apr 29 May 11 4 6 Black and White W. Apr 27 Apr 23 Apr 25 May 5 May 1 7 10 Worm-eating Warbler May 13 May 14 May 21 1 2 Golden-winged Warbler May 6 May 14 May 6 May 7 0 2 Blue-winged Warbler May 5 May 6 May 4 May 13 1 1 Tennessee Warbler May 18 May 7 May 10 May 20 0 1 Nashville Warbler May 2 May 6 Apr 27 May 6 5 7 Parula Warbler May 14 May 7 May 3 May 18 0 2 Yellow Warbler Apr 30 Apr 30 Apr 28 May 10 May 1 11 11 Magnolia Warbler May 5 May 6 May 7 1 2 Cape May Warbler May 6 May 7 May 1 May 7 3 1 Black-thr. Blue Warbler May 6 May 6 May 2 May 7 5 8 Mvrtle Warbler Apr 22 Apr 22 May 1 Apr 10 May 2 Apr 26 May 7 12 9 Black-thr. Green Warbler May 6 9 5 Blackburnian Warbler May 3 May 6 May 2 May 5 3 7 Chestnut-sided Warbler May 6 May 6 May 3 May 7 5 4 Bay-breasted Warbler May 18 May 16 May 8 May 20 0 0 Blackpoll Warbler May 10 May 14 May 13 May 18 0 0 Palm Warbler Apr 15 Apr 17 Apr 18 Apr 16 2 3 REMARKS 6 reps., May 25-30 widespread May 20 only one May 21, IL (SCB) five reps., May 13-22 uncommon all spring max 5, IL May 21 (SBC) scarce, total 5 reports also scarce present into June present into June widespread by May 5 many reps, May 20-31 max 20, May 20, early last Apr 25 (late), Chatham (PM) 182 MIGRANT PASSERINES - REGION 8 - 1967 SPECIES FIRST DATES b SECOND DATE 1967 # PARTIES OB SERVED a 5/13/67 5/14/66 (max 12) (max 11) REMARKS 1967 1966 1965 Ovenbird May 6 May 6 May 2 May 7 9 9 Northern Water-thrush May 6 May 1 May 2 May 13 5 5 Louisiana Water-thrush Apr 30 Apr 27 Apr 25 May 13 3 3 late, low numbers Yellow-throat May 6 May 6 May 2 May 9 8 10 still uncommon May 13 Wilson’s Warbler May 5 May 6 May 13 May 17 0 0 max 15, May 20 Canada Warbler May 8 May 7 May 2 May 13 2 1 Redstart May 12 May 7 May 5 May 13 4 5 not widespread until M Bobolink May 9 May 6 May 4 May 11 4 7 Baltimore Oriole May 1 May 6 Apr 25 May 2 12 11 Scarlet Tanager May 12 May 6 May 8 May 13 2 5 widespread May 18 Rose-br. Grosbeak May 5 May 6 “late Apr” May 6 9 10 generally late Indigo Bunting' May 14 May 14 May 10 May 19 0 0 several waves, 5/19 on. a “# Parties Observed” refers to the results from the SBC “Century Run” in 1966 and 1967; these are included to show how scarce most small landbirds were even by mid-May. b Note overall similarities between 1966 and 1967- both involving a cold first half of May- and differences from 1965. REGION 9 — DELAWARE - HUDSON Edward D. Treacy The spring season was progressing normally and portended to be one of the better ones of recent years. April saw an ever milder temperature spreading across the land, and the birds were responding with most early species coming in as expected. Then came May. The season did an “about face” and with a few exceptional days “marched” back into winter. Many observers told of watching the few warblers that were about on May 8 & 9 through a mixture of falling rain, sleet and snow. Foliage was almost completely arrested for many species of plants, and mid-May saw leaf conditions at least two weeks behind in development. The cold weather held through the last week of May with temperature highs reaching only the mid¬ fifties. Precipitation held close to, or slightly above, normal with an inordinate amount of it snow. Some snow could still be found in the higher Catskills as late as June 1. The migration was also delayed by about two or three weeks with only a few species proving the exception. It was very likely the temperature which caused no noticeably large waves. Movements were broad in time and numbers, with the best birding coming from May 20-30 instead of from the 6-15. A record number of late dates were reported with many migrants still present at the end of the period. Abbreviations: Dutch—Dutchess Co; Oran-Orange Co; Ulst—Ulster Co; West— Westchester Co.; Rock—Rockland C'o; RAS—Rockland Audubon Society; WBC— Waterman Bird Club. Contributors: ERB—Eugene R. Brown: EB—Enid Butler; CC—Carrie Carnright; RFD—Robert F. Deed; JD—James Demes; ME—Martha Earl; EG—Ed Gamble; FG—Florence Germond; SG—Stanley Grierson; TH—Thelma Haight; FH—Fred Hough; PJ—Paul Jeheber; AJ—Alice Jones; MK—Mary Key; ML—Mabel Little; JM—John Marsh; A, BM—Al & Barbara Merritt VP—Vivian Parkhurst; EP—Eleanor Pink; DS—Dan Smiley; F, RS—Frank & Ruth Steffens; EDT—Edward D. Treacy; MV—Marion VanWagner; OW—Otis Waterman. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: usual April reports; sev birds in May, but no sizeable overflights as reported most years. Red-throated Loon: one Apr 23 Cornwall-on-Hudson (EDT), Horned Grebe; more than usual; scattered Apr records in Dutch; max 12 Glenmere L. near Chester (PJ; A, BM) and 46 Cornwall- on-Hudson, same date, (EDT). Double-crested Cormorant: very unusual in spring- one Apr 16 Tamarack Swamp, Millbrook, Dutch (JM, OW, FG). Herons and Allies, continue desperately low for some species. Great Blue Heron: somewhat better than low of last year; 16 Apr and 12 May records in Dutch (WBC); several in Tomahawk L area thru season; two Mar 19 West Nyack; from one to several observed regularly in N. West. Cattle Egret: one L DeForest May 13-14 (F, RS); one Hamptonburgh, Oran May 21 (A, BM). Common Egret; rarely re¬ ported in spring; one Blooming Grove, Oran, Apr 9-10' (ME); one Cruger’s Is. Dutch, Apr 30 (JM) and May 11 (WBC), Snowy Egret: also rare in spring, five May 17 Pine Plains (WBC); one May 26 Cornwall-on-Hudson (EDT). Black- crowned Night Heron: one West Point Apr 17 (PJ); one May 6 Cruger’s Is. Dutch; one May 13, south of Poughkeepsie (WBC). American Bittern: fairly good year compared to most; six Apr reports and four in May in Dutch; single Apr birds in West, Rock, and Oran. Mute Swan: nine, Stillwell L., West Point, May 22 (PJ). Canada Goose: exceptionally fine flight in Apr, over 1,800 Dutch alone; each county in Region reports at least a dozen nesting pairs, with many young by end of season. Brant: many reports from May 13 on; max about 4,500 May 22 Highland Falls (EDT). 183 Snow Goose: 500 Apr 9 Stissing, Dutch (TH); 150 same date West Point (EDT); 125 Nyack, late date of May 27. (RFD) Mallard: breeders reported low, especially in Putnam Co (ML). Pintail: all reports Apr, max 20 Apr 8 Cruger’s Is. (WBC 1 ). Green-winged Teal: few reports other than Dutch, where there were 23 in Apr and nine in May; one pair remained thru end of season. European Widgeon: one Apr 1 Crugers Is. (OW, JM), observed at 500 yds with 30x scope. American Widgeon: very scarce this spring. Wood Duck: numbers down; first residents arr Tri-Loba Hill Res., Katonah Mar 30 (SG), Redhead: only report, single bird at Cruger’s Is. Apr 1 (OW, JM). Ring-necked Duck: five at Nauraushaun Res, Rock, May 1—tied late date for RAS; two in Dutch on May 10 were very late. Canvasback: numbers improved this spring; one to end of season on Hudson at Cornwall. Common Goldeneye: max 17 Apr 23 Cornwall-on-Hudson (EDT). Bufflehead: one May 13 Brown’s Pd, Newburgh (A, BM) —very late. Olds qua w: only report, one pair Tomahawk L. Oran Apr 10 (ME). White-winged Scoter: unusual anytime; 14 Crugers Is. May 13 (EP, MV, PG). Ruddy Duck: one female with aforementioned Scoters. Hooded Merganser: one female, Todd Sanct., Ka¬ tonah, May 7 (SG). Common Merganser: numbers better this spring than recently; three females May 20 Cruger’s Is, and pair continued thru end of season at Cornwall-on-Hudson. Red-breasted Merganser: three at Piermont Pier, Mar 12- latest date by 10 days for RAS; one male Apr 8 Cruger’s Is. (EP, OW, MV), must be the latest date for Dutch. HAWKS—OWLS: Red-shouldered Hawk: five reports for season from various parts of Dutch. Broad-winged Hawk; large movement Apr 16—more than 1000 over Pleasant Valley Dutch (MV), 100 over Millbrook Village, 158 at Tamarack Swamp (OW), 600 Kripplebush, Ulst (FH). A most unusual spectacle for spring. The flights continued until Apr 28 when 10 were observed in the Maybrook area and 15 at Hamptonburgh, Oran (ME). Rough-legged Hawk: one late bird Apr 8 (late) Bangall, Dutch (JM, TH). Bald Eagle: one adult found dead in a tree in Sloatsburgh May 19 (EG). Osprey: very good migration reports from most areas. Apr 16 hawk flight produced eight at Tamarack Swamp, Dutch (OW), and 16 at Kripplebush, Ulst (FH). Peregrine Falcon: only two reports- one at Kripplebush Apr 16 (FH) and one May 3 at E. Park (AJ et al). Bobwhite: very scarce—only two reported, one from West and one from Rock. Common Gallinule: usual dates, numbers, and places. Coot: more scarce than high of last winter would suggest. Semipalmated Plover: two May 28; four May 29, Millbrook (VP, TH). Common Snipe: six Tri-Loba Hill Sanct., Katonah, Apr 2 (SG); 20T at Campbell Hall Apr 14 (ME). Upland Plover: returned to Hamptonburgh, Oran, Apr 25. (ME) Solitary Sandpiper: unusually late arr, and numbers low. Greater Yellowlegs: Apr 14 (early) five at Campbell Hall, Oran; one Apr 15, Vanderverg Cove, Dutch. White-rumped Sandpiper: three at Nauraushaun Res. May 4 (JD). Least Sand¬ piper: fewer than usual. Dunlin: one Nauraushaun Res. May 3 & 4 (JD); one May 16 Middletown (Barbara Peters); one May 16 Pine Plains (TH). Short¬ billed Dowitcher: one May 20 Hamptonburgh (EDT, ME, PJ, A & BM); nine May 27 East Pk, Dutch, (TG, OW, et al); 62 May 27 Pine Plains (VP, TH). Laughing Gull: two Apr 22, on Hudson R at Cornwall (EDT). Bonaparte’s Gull: one Apr 22, Hudson R at Cornwall (EDT), number increased to four and these remained until May 21 (A, BM), one May 20 Cruger’s Is., Dutch (EP, OW, et al). Common Tern: 23 May 16 Hudson R at Cornwall, four remained till May 20 (A, BM), one May 16 Pine Plains, Dutch—unusual inland from river. Black Tern: several reported from Dutch, from May 10 thru May 20; several more at Hampton¬ burgh, Oran, May 20 (EDT, et al) Cuckoo: both species reported very late in most areas, and unreported in Rock; numbers very low. Screech Owl: none from most areas; one nesting in a box at Tri-Loba Hill Sanct, Katonah Apr 11 (SG). Great Horned Owl: nested for second year at Stony Point, one full fledged young still on nest Apr 28; three on WBC census May 13. 184 GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Whip-poor-will: very few reports, one Oran and two Dutch. Common Nighthawk: good flight from May 20 on in Dutch, max 15 May 28 Green Haven (EB). Chimney Swift: late by 10 days in Dutch arr May 12; early in Ulst, at High Falls, Apr 19; normal elsewhere. Ruby-throated Humming¬ bird: unusual number—more than 15 in one flowering cherry tree Dutch, May 21 (EB). Yellow-shafted Flicker: numerous by Apr 1. Red-bellied Woodpecker: one male of last winter remained at Standfordville thru May 17 (FG); one noted near New Paltz May 13. Red-headed Woodpecker: increasingly reported away from known breeding areas during May. Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: one female Apr 8 Rhinecliff—probably wintered from the condition of the Hemlocks in its vicinity. Eastern Kingbird: first, two May 4—late by seven to ten days. Great Crested Flycatcher: appeared to be quite late although could have been reluctance to call during cold weather; not in numbers until May 20. E. Phoebe: numbers lower than last year. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: unusually heavy flight, many reported from most areas; fourteen reports in Dutch thru May, last May 30. Trail’s Flycatcher: one, Thompson Pd. May 17, and one Millbrook Boys’ School May 28- only reports. Least Flycatcher: scarce till May 20, and tended to be silent. E. Wood Pewee: few thru end of period. Olive-sided Flycatcher: usual few reports received. Most species of swallows were normal, except Purple Martin which failed to arr at many breeding areas, and few were reported. Fish Crow: usual Dutch reports; one in Apr, Vassar College one May Dover Plains. Red-breasted Nuthatch: none reported. House Wren: apparently completely recovered from low of several years ago. Winter Wren: one Apr 29 Millbrook; one May 8 Red Oaks Mill. Carolina Wren: unreported from most areas; three Apr records in Dutch; two May 13 Cruger’s Is. (WBC). Mockingbird: numbers good thru Region; appears to be nesting heavily. Brown Thrasher: first, Apr 14; numbers normal after May 3. Robin: normal heavy migration in mid-Apr; nested early, young off nest as early as May 15 in Stone Ridge (FH). Wood Thrush: late most areas, not many till May 6, then numbers lower than usual. Hermit Thrush: came thru in good numbers, and stayed on in cold weather, last May 18 Dutch. Swainson’s Thrush: fewer than usual. Gray¬ cheeked Thrush: scarce, as usual. Eastern Bluebird: migration normal; nesting success very poor. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: reported from usual areas, but numbers lower this year; first report for Mohonk region of Ulst this year, May 17 (DS). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: unusually heavy flight, starting Apr 9 in Kripplebush area, and continuing thru May 17. Water Pipit: all reports second week of May, very few observed. Cedar Waxwing: all areas report numbers low. Loggerhead Shrike: only report- one Apr 29 Dover (AJ et al). VIREOS-WARBLERS: White-eyed Vireo: one May 13 Wingdale, Dutch (FG) first record for county since 1963. Yellow-throated Vireo: late arr and then scarce for such a common nester. Solitary Vireo: arr on time Apr 16, but remained quite late; last May 17 Rock, May 18 Dutch, May 21 Oran. Red-eyed Vireo: arr very late as last year first about May 16; very uncommon thru end of period. Warbling Vireo: late; numbers good by May 25. Warblers: usual Palms and Myrtles during Apr. No large waves, small numbers appeared May 17, 23, 27, 28. Best from May 20-30. Prothonotary Warbler: one May 13 at Innisfree, near Millbrook, Dutch. (Thomas Logan); one May 14 at Centenary, Rock (F, RS). Worm-eating: scarce as usual; seems to be resident on Hudson face of Dunderberg Mt., Rock, with several singing there thru late May (EDT). Golden-winged: scarce thru May. Blue-winged: numbers low early, better last half of May. Brewster’s: two reports; one May 3-17 Pleasant Valley (MV); one Basha Kill, RAS field trip May 21. Lawrence’s: only report, one May 18 Pine 185 Plains (Bessie Klink). Tennessee: more common than usual in early May in Rock (RFD); appeared late in Dutch; numbers low thru rest of Region. Orange-crowned: one May 12 Red Oaks Mill (MK). Nashville: fewer in Putnam but normal else¬ where; remained late, May 30 last in Rock. Parula: not many, last also May 30, Rock. Yellow: normal. Magnolia: numbers good, also late date of May 30, Rock. Cape May: scarce all season. Black-throated Blue: much less than last year, latest May 20, Dutch, record late date of May 30, Rock. Myrtle: plentiful thru entire season. Black-throated Green: scarce thru much of Region, but normal in some areas. Cerulean: residents late by two weeks in Dutch; only reports elsewhere—one at Nauraushaun May 5 (JD), one at South Nyack May 11 (RFD), two at Turkey Hill Pond, Bear Mt. Pk May 13 (ERB). Chestnut-sided: not common until after May 22. Bay-breasted: all reports between May 20 and 30; normal numbers. Blackpoll: quite scarce compared to most years; arr late; last May 30. Pine: often unreported- two Apr 18-29 Red Oaks Mill. (MK); one Apr 6 Poughkeepsie (AJ). Prairie: late arr by 10 days in Dutch; best movement near May 27-30. Palm: normal Apr movement from 16-30. Waterthrushes: less than normal for both species. Mourning: best year in memory, many reports from most areas; first May 13, Millbrook, Dutch; max two May 21 Basha Kill, RAS field trip, and two Thomp¬ son Pd. Dutch (EP, MV). Yellowthroat: normal most areas after May 17. Yellow¬ breasted Chat: absent from most areas; only report, one Kripplebush May 21 (FH). Hooded: very few reports, absent from many breeding spots. Wilson’s: normal to unusually common from May 12-17. Canada: extremely scarce till May 18; then abundant thru May 30. American Redstart: same as Canada, but not nearly as plentiful; numbers continued low thru end of period. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: as widespread as usual, but numbers off this year. Western Meadowlark: discovered at Hamptonburgh May 20 (EDT, ME, PJ, A, BM), continued thru end of period singing continuously each day. Orchard Oriole: more reports than usual, but still uncommon; first May 5 New City (Robert Connor). Baltimore Oriole: wintering bird of last report remained at Millbrook thru Apr; most arr on time, but were quiet thru cool May weather. Rusty Blackbird: unusually scarce this spring. Scarlet Tanager: arr late in many areas; unusual cold weather last week of May weakened many which were found killed or wandering on area highways. Suspect disaster is widespread, although unreported by several correspondents. Cardinal: unusual early nest record reported-two young several days old ob¬ served in nest when snow parted branches on Apr 24 Cornwall, confirmed Apr 26 (A, BM), found dead May 1. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: arr on time but numbers lower than usual-half as many as usual reported on WBC census May 13. Indigo Bunting: unusual early date of May 5 Cornwall (CC); almost no others till May 19, scarce thru end of period. Purple Finch: a poor spring following a poor winter. House Finch: numbers good thru season; heavy nesting indicated; well established in Dutch; one pair established at New Paltz. Pine Siskin: no reports. Rufous-sided Towhee: arr on time, numbers normal, but unusually quiet. Sparrows: Savannah: plentiful thru last week of Apr. Grasshopper: fewer in areas where resident. Vesper: few; most Apr 15-16. Slate-colored Junco; two resident Dover Plains thru end of period. Tree: last, one Apr 29 Dutch (WBC). Chipping: arr Mohonk Apr 15, generally late elsewhere and numbers low till after May 7. Harris’ Sparrow: bird of winter report last seen at Kripplebush, Ulst May 18 (FH). White-crowned: first Apr 9 Ridgebury, Oran (Mildred Arfman); max 71, May 13 Dutch (WBC); 35 mist netted at Millbrook May 13; last May 21. Fox: good March flight continued with last, two, Apr 15. Lincoln’s: very rare; one May 14-16 Standfordville (FG); two May 18 Cruger’s Is. (EP). Swamp and Song: normal. Summer reports due Sept. 1. Pellwood Lake, Highland Falls, New York 10928 186 REGION 10 —MARINE Thomas H. Davis and Fred Heath Peter Post summed up this spring (and the term is used loosely) by saying, “It was the worst spring I’ve seen in 17 years of hireling.” He’s been saying this for years but this year most observers tended to agree with him. Many Big Days weren’t. They were more like Christmas Counts. Temperatures ranged far below normal for the months of April and May. The rain for these two months removed all traces, and memories, of the five-year drought. Vegetation was almost two weeks behind that of a normal spring. The only waves of any importance were on May 18 and 28. These days were only considered good because other days had been so poor. The early records (see Brown Thrasher, House Wren, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler) were even more amazing than they would be in a normal year. The rarities did not seem to be particularly lacking. They included Cattle Egret, Snipe sp?, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Carolina Chickadee, Boat-tailed Grackle. Contributors frequently cited: AB—Albert Bell; JB—John Bull; IC—Irving Cantor; RC—Richard Cohen; BC—Barbara Conolly; AD—Aline Dove; OD—Orville Dunning; RL—Roy Latham; WN-William Norse; RP—Richard Plunkett; PP—Peter Post; BT— Benjamin Trimble; JT—Joanne Trimble. Abbreviations used: JBWR—Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge; AMNH—American Museum of Natural History; LTP—Linnaean Pelagic Trip. Only the first word is used for Central Park, Hempstead State Park, Inwood Hill Park, Jones Beach State Park and Riis Park. LOONS—DUCKS: Sooty Shearwater: between ten and 20' May 28 (LPT). Cattle Egret: May 26 thru end of period JBWR (WN). Glossy Ibis: three May 3 Van Cortlandt Pk (WN)—unusual inland, third record for the park. Whistling Swan: Mar 3 Orient (RL); Apr 2 JBWR (WN). Snow Goose: May 30 JBWR (WN, IC)—except for summering birds, latest date for Region. European Teal: drake May 14 JBWR (R. Arbib, JB et al). Canvasback: a pair thru end of period JBWR (WN, IC)—extremely late. Lesser Scaup: to May 14 Central (PP). HAWKS-OWLS: Turkey Vulture: Apr 28 Hempstead (BC); May 3 Alley Pond Pk (AB, BC, AD, OD). King Rail: Apr 29-May 14 JBWR (mob). Virginia Rail: one May 9-18 Central (mob)-feeding on worms in exposed situation. Unidentified Snipe: Apr 30 Riis (WN)—“Flushed a snipe from a dry grassy field. It flew up silently and with a direct low flight. It appeared heavier in build than a Common Snipe and I thought it had more white in the tail. It gained altitude rapidly and left in a northerly direction, never to return, so the observation was incomplete”— italics by regional editor. These details closely fit the description of the Great Snipe (Capella media), a European species which has been recorded only twice on this side of the Atlantic: one seen and photographed at Cape May, N.J. on Sept 7, 1963, and a much older Canadian record mentioned in the A.O.U. checklist. Upland Plover: arr Apr 23 (three) at Mitchell Field (AB). Red Phalarope: May 7 JBWR (H. Johnson). Wilson’s Phalarope: female May 7-13 JBWR (mob). Northern Phalarope: eight May 28 (LPT). Parasitic Jaeger: one May 28 (LPT). Jaeger sp?: Apr 23, probably Parasitics, off Riis Pk (IC). Glaucous Gull: Apr 25, Pilgrim State Hospital (BT, JT ). Iceland Gull: at least six individuals Apr 22-30 Central (PP); Apr 30' JBWR (WN); three remained at Pilgrim State Hospital until May 7 (JT, BT). “White-winged” Gull: variously identified as a Glaucous or Iceland Gull was more likely an albino Herring Gull, May 28 Captree (LPT). Lesser Black-backed Gull: Apr 16 JBWR (WN)- 187 “a changing sub-adult gull, probably a Lesser Black-backed . . . size of Herring Gull, but slenderer. Head and underparts very white, upper back with scaly effect, mantle dark brown with black or dark slate feathers coming in. Bill slenderer than Herring Gull’s, legs flesh color. Slightly faster wingbeat than Herring Gull. In all it resembled a Great Black-backed Gull of the same stage but much smaller.” Great Horned Owl: pairs nested at both Pelham Bay Pk and Glen Cove (O. Heck et al) —two young were fledged at Glen Cove. GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Ruby-throated Hummingbird: building nest May 28 Mill Neck (AB). Red-bellied Woodpecker: Apr 16 Roosevelt (C. Ward, E. Levine); Apr 23 Jones (A. Cruz, L Mills); May 4 Atlantic Beach (RC); May 15-20 Forest Pk (A. Cruz et al); May 20' Hempstead (A. Cruz). Acadian Fly¬ catcher: May 24 In wood (WN)- singing. Carolina Chickadee: chickadee seen singing Carolina’s song Apr 26 Inwood (WN)- if correctly identified this would constitute the first Regional record. Tufted Titmouse: pair Apr 10-17 Northport (E Mudge). Brown Creeper: singing bird May 20 Matinecock (AB)- very late, at¬ tempting to breed? House Wren: Apr 20 Central (RP)- very early. Short-billed Marsh Wren: May 26 JBWR (WN). Brown Thrasher: nest found as early as May 10 Central (PP). Eastern Bluebird: May 24 Inwood (WN) - late transient. VIREOS-WARBLERS: Solitary Vireo: three May 28 Inwood (WN)- very late. Philadelphia Vireo: May 23, 24, 28 Inwood (WN)- rare in spring. Warblers: Black-and-white: male Apr 3 Orient (RL)- earliest Regional record. Prothonotary: female May 20 Kalbfleisch Research Station, Huntington (W. Lanyon) -collected, specimen at AMNH. Worm-eating: netted May 6 and 21 Atlantic Beach (RC)- rare coastal migrant. “Brewster’s”: May 22-27 Port Wash¬ ington (Mrs. E. Forquer, AD, RC, AB). “Lawrence’s”; May 21-27 Matinecock (AB et al). Orange-crowned: May 15 Inwood (WN); May 11—13 Central (RP, M. Kleinbaum), Cerulean: May 29 Inwood (WN). Chestnut-sided: Apr 16 Central (H. & B. Dresher)- earliest Regional record by 9 days. Kentucky: May 1 Central (mob); May 16 Inwood (WN, R. Zaboly). Mourning: male May 30-31 Northport (E. Mudge). Hooded: May 13 Matinecock (AB); three May 14 Alley Pond Pk (AB et al). Canada: female May 1 Central (mob)- extremely early. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: up to 100 May 14-19 Lattingtown (AB et al). Orchard Oriole: sub-adult male May 3 Alley Pond Pk (AD, BC, AB, OD); two sub-adult males May 14 Far Rockaway (JB); male May 28 Inwood (WN). Rusty Blackbird: May 17 Central (WN)- very late. Boat-tailed Grackle: male early Apr thru end of period, Far Rockaway (Mrs. Robert Berman, Mrs. Jean Sorman, JB et al)- second state record. Summer Tanager: female May 28 Inwood (WN)- seen in comparison to female Scarlets. Dickcissel: singing male May 13-14 Far Rockaway (JB et al). Red Crossbill: young male May 16 Central (PP). Oregon Junco: Apr 2 Riis (WN)- “male oreganus.” White-crowned Sparrow: always a number present from Apr 28 to late May, max 18, Central (PP, RP); at least six May 28 JBWR (F. Heath, S. Anes)- extremely late. Lincoln’s Sparrow: May 28 Inwood (WN)- late. ADDENDUM: Two records were inadvertently omitted from the Winter Season report- Red Phalarope: Jan 28 Montauk (P. Baicich, Queens Co Bird Club)- excellent photographs examined by the editor leave no doubt as to its identity- first Regional winter record. Least Tern: Mar 11 JBWR (H. Mortensen) observed flying, sitting and even calling, earliest Regional record by six weeks. Note: Summer season ends Aug 15, reports should follow closely. T. Davis, 8613-85 Street, Woodhaven, N.Y. 11421 F. Heath, 11-15 F.D.R. Drive, New York, N.Y. 10009 188 REPORTING REGIONS For descriptions of Regions see Kingbird VoL IV, Nos. 1 and 2 FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC 1967 Officers President Dr. Allen H. Benton .State University of New York, Fredonia 14063 Vice-President Mr. Watson B. Hastings .18 Appleton Place, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522 Corresponding Secretary Mrs. Frederick Marsi.Friendsviile Stage, Binghamton 13903 Recording Secretary Mrs. R. Barrie Strath .Box 111, Odessa, N.Y. 14689 Treasurer Mr. Dort Cameron .....5423 Palmyra Rd., Pittsford, N.Y. 14534 Editor of THE KINGBIRD Dorothy W. Mcllroy 419 Triphammer Rd„ Ithaca, New York 14850 Appointed Committees Bulletin Exchange: Miss Elizabeth Manning, 1130 Fifth Avenue, New York 28 Conservation: Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr., 333 Bedell Strpet, Freeport 11520 Finance: Kenneth D. Niven, 61 Broadway, Monticello, N.Y. 12701 Kingbird Finance: To be announced Membership: James J. Doherty, 913 Win'ton Road North, Rochester 14309 State Bird Book: Robert S. Arbib, Jr., 226 Guion Drive, Mamaroneck, N.Y. 10543 Publications and Research: Dr. Edgar M. Reilly, Jr., State Museum, Albany Bibliography: Dr. Sally Hoyt Spofford, Box 428, Etna 13062 By-laws: Richard Sloss, 1300 Seawave Drive, Hewlett Harbor 11557 Waterfowl Count: John L. Mitchell, 435 Conrad Drive, Rochester 14616 John J. Elliott Memorial Committee: Cornelius J. Ward, 804 South Ocean Avenue, Freeport 11520 Elected Committees Auditing: Allen E. Kemnitzer, 969 Five Mile Line Road, Webster, N.Y. 14580 John Foster, 14 Utica Place, Rochester, N.Y. 14608 Nominating: Dr. Neil Moon, Rochester, Ch.{ Robert S. Arbib, Jr,, Mamaroneck; Dr. Edgar M. Reilly, Jr., Albany