THE KINGBIRD, published four times a year (January, May, July and October), is a
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PJL

y.KINGBIRD

PUBLICATION OF THf FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC

Vol. XX No. 2

May, 1970

Pages 55-100

CONTENTS

President’s Page..... .Edgar M, Reilly, Jr. 56

Photographs of New York State Rarities
20. Bell’s Vireo.....P. A. Buckley and P. W. Post 57

Notes on a Salt Marsh Virginia Rail
Population...William Post and Frank Enders 61

Reed Road Sanctuary.... .John W. Brown 68

Field Notes

Great Cormorant at Cornwall-on-Hudson .. Edward D. Treacy 70

A Response to Mobbing Crows by an Immature

Red-taiZed Hawk.. .A. R. Weisbrod 70

1969-1970 Common Murre records from Long Island

.. Thomas H. Davis and P. A. Buckley 71

Winter Roosting of Cedar Waxwings . . .... . Sally Hoyt Spofford 72

Magnolia Warbler caught in burrs.Christopher Burnett 73

Additional Comment on Evening Grosbeak in

Unusual Plumage .W. M. Groes'beck 73

McCown’s Longspur in Chemung County ..Wilifred I. Howard 74

Highlights of the Winter Season

December 1-March 31...Joseph W. Taylor 75

Regional Reports.•.. 76

Editor — Joseph W. Taylor
Associate Editors

Field Notes — Sally Hoyt Spofford
Regional Reports — Joseph W. Taylor

Editorial Board

Allen H. Benton Eugene Eisenmann

Stephen W. Eaton David B. Peakall

Dorothy W. MgIlroy Fritz Scheider

Cover Design — Douglas L. Howland

PRESIDENTS PAGE

Max Wheat is no longer chairman of the Federations Conservation
Committee. This is not the same as saying he is no longer connected
with conservation because to Federation members “Max Wheat” and
“conservation” are synonyms. Although he is very busy, he uncomplain¬
ingly carried on as chairman until Gerry Leubner, newly appointed,
could begin working on the task. This is openly a testimonial to Max,
and others like him, who not only work hard at such necessary jobs but
do so with patience and rare good humor, and do things. We are sorry to
lose such a fine chairman, but are happier in knowing he is still working
with us, and for us, in conservation and education. We are sure the mem¬
bers of the Federation will just as willingly support Dr. Gerhard Leubner
as the new Conservation Committee Chairman as we know Max will. It
is always gratifying to the officers of any organization to know there are
many willing and able workers to carry on the necessary duties.

We are looking forward eagerly to the fall meeting at Watertown
where we hope to greet many of you in person. Meanwhile this is an
appropriate time for you to consider items you’d like brought to the atten¬
tion of the committees, and officers of the Federation. Let us know in ad¬
vance if possible so we may give them a place on the agenda. — We hope
you’ll all attend as this bids fair to be a fine meeting.

Edgar M. Reilly, Jr.

56

PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEW YORK STATE RARITIES.

20. Belts Vireo.

Photograph hy LeRoy Wilcox

Tiana Beach (Shinnecock Bay), Suffolk Co., N.Y. Sept. 25, 1959

According to the 5th edition of the A.O.U. Check-list (1957), this wide¬
spread North American species breeds as close to New York State as
northeastern Illinois, yet to the best of our knowledge its recorded status
east of Illinois/Indiana, except in the New York City region, is only as
follows:

New Hampshire: specimen collected 19 November 1897 (see Cruick-
shank. Birds around New York City, 1942 : 364);
present whereabouts unknown-

57

Massachusetts:

Connecticut:

New Jersey:

Pennsylvania:

typically dismissed by Griscom & Snyder ( Birds of
Massachusetts, 1955 : 260): "Sight records of so
critical a species, difficult to identify in life, require
a specimen for confirmation;”

A.O.U. Check-list records a specimen from Red¬
ding; no details are available;

one banded at Swell, Gloucester Co., on 10 Au¬
gust 1940, has been questioned by Fables ( Anno¬
tated List of New Jersey Birds, 1955 : 75): female
collected at Island Beach State Park, Ocean Co.,
15 September 1959 (J. R. Jehl, pers. comm.);

sight record in Poole {Pennsylvania Birds, 1964:
69) on 14 July 1957 from Erie, Erie Co.

In the New York City region, the situation is quite different, due in
no small measure to both the quantity and (especially) the quality of ob¬
servers in such proven migration meccas as Central and Prospect Parks.
Yet even here the species’ “recognized” status has fluctuated. Cruickshank
(op. cit.) listed two records, without really any details. Bull ( Birds of
the New York Area, 1964 : 355-56) despite an increase in detailed sight
records since 1942, chose to dismiss all except the one banded and photo¬
graphed by Wilcox (see Figure 1 and details below). We feel the actual
situation has been distorted by ignoring the pattern that the New York
City region reports present. In an effort to rectify the situation, we have
gathered as much of the original descriptions and interviewed as many
of the observers as we could. We feel that these sight records of Bell’s
Vireo, by experienced observers aware of what they were seeing, must
be accepted, at face value, until contrary evidence dictates otherwise.
Documented New York City area records we feel acceptable are the
following:

Spring 1939 (probably May, date apparently lost): singing adult pre¬
sent for a week, with a White-eyed, in East-
hampton, Suffolk County, L.I., (Helmuth) — see
Proc. Linn. Soc. N.Y., 49-62: 68 for original refer¬
ence;

27 August 1939: Woodmere, Nassau County, L.I., reported in

Cruickshank (p. 364) as seen and heard, but
Berliner (pers. comm.) states it was not heard;
since Helmuth’s 1939 bird was heard but Cruick¬
shank does not so state, we must assume he
juxtaposed this aspect of these two sightings;

3 May 1947: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Jacobson and

58

9 May 1950:

11 May 1950:

11-14 May 1950:

9 May 1952:

14 April 1954:

25 September 1959:

Sedwitz) — see Carleton, Birds of Central and
Prospect Parks, 1958, for other details;

Watsessing Park, Bloomfield, Essex Co., N.J.
( Soil and Whelen); vocalizing, with “scolding
notes” and what may have been the typical bellii
song: “the sound was more jumbled and quicker
than is the quite deliberate [song] of the White-
eye” (Soil, pers. comm.); published here for the
first time;

Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. (Sedwitz);
(Carleton, op. cit.)

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Jacobson, Alper-
in, Sedwitz, et al .) ibid.;

Central Park (Sedwitz), ibid.;

Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx Co. (Buckley and
Scully); with 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglets for 1/2
hour; published here for the first time;

Tiana Beach (Shinnecock Bay), Suffolk Co.,
L.I., N.Y. — mist-netted by Wilcox, the photo¬
graph here reproduced for the first time; meas¬
urements (wing; 56 mm. tail; 44 mm.) indicate
probably a male; race unknown; Note that it
was captured 10 days after the N.J. specimen
was collected.

Despite intensive searching since then by many observers, there are
no additional reports for this species from the New York City area for
which any documentation exists. The three May 1950 records suggest a
slight invasion that year, which might recur.

Anyone who has had extensive field experience and who has seen
Bell’s Vireo in life will acknowledge that it is a difficult but hardly im¬
possible species to identify. Seen well, it is probably no more difficult to
identify than a Clay-colored Sparrow — a species which was accorded
the same skepticism when its first Atlantic Coast sight records began to
come in the late 1930s. However, it is well to call attention here to some
of the field marks of Bell’s Vireo, and to some of the comments — the
little comments that often tell so much about the validity of an observa¬
tion — that most New York City finders of Bell’s Vireo were almost unan¬
imous in noting in their descriptions.

Size: a very small vireo, hardly bigger than a kinglet, with much

the same effect in the field; it is more like a warbler or
kinglet in its actions than any other North American vireo,
and the kinglet-like coloration enhances the similarity;

59

pale olive-grey above, usually with a greyish wash on the
head; whitish below, with strong yellow sides; usually two
pale but distinct wing-bars, and a definite but usually
broken eye-ring, totally unlike the strong, complete eye-
rings of both White-eyed and Solitary Vireos; eye small
and dark; definite white lores, but not prominent: more
like a Warbling Vireo in this respect; bill light orange-
yellow, although this may not always be visible or exten¬
sive enough to be the qualitative character some think it is
(but see Figure 1, above):

very kinglet or warbler like, most local observers com¬
menting on this impression, enhanced by the kinglet-like
wing-flipping and harsh chattering (call) notes;

absolutely diagnostic if heard, and practically impossible to
phoneticize (listen to it on the Peterson records); it is a
short explosive jumble of harsh notes only hinted at by
Peterson’s “cheedle-cheedle-cheedle-chee;” it is certainly
instantly recognizable by anyone with a good ear, if heard
at all well.

Many guides compare Bell’s to White-eyed; the resemblance is really
misleading. Many local observers, while noting its very small size and
kinglet-like actions, were impressed by how much the color patterning
resembled a Solitary Vireo, despite the bird’s utterly different size and
actions. Everyone we have spoken to or corresponded with was at pains
to point out how very different was Bell’s eye-ring from either White¬
eyed or Solitary, but to be objective, we must state that to the best or
our knowledge, no local observation mentioned the bill color. However,
it remains to be seen if this is a universal, qualitative character separating
Bell’s from all other North American vireos. We call it to observers’ atten¬
tion here, but stress that even without bill color and song, the species is
readily identifiable. Nonetheless, a detailed description should be sub¬
mitted for every observation.

On geographical proximity grounds, Bell’s Vireo undoubtedly occurs
more often than even the above records suggest. We must consider its
present New York State status as that of a very rare or occasional spring
(and possibly also fall) migrant.

P. A. Buckley, Dept, of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead,
LI., N.Y. 11550 and P. W. Post, 575 W. 183rd Street, New York, N.Y.
10033.

Color:

Actions:

Song:

60

NOTES ON A SALT MARSH VIRGINIA RAIL POPULATION

William Post and Frank Enders

During 1968, in a salt marsh bordering Great South Bay at Oak Beach,
Suffolk County, New York, we found a number of breeding Virginia
Rails ( Rallus limicola). Several references speak of Virginia Rails nesting
in brackish or salt marshes; e.g. Bull (1964), Cruickshank (1942), Stone
(1937), but no localities are listed. Since in our experience the Virginia
Rail is absent from most New York salt marshes, the following notes on
salt marsh breeding are of interest.

STUDY AREA AND METHODS

The Oak Beach marsh has a salinity of 26-30 parts per thousand. The
only source of fresh water is run-off from a highway 75 m south. This
marsh has not been ditched. Maps dated 1954 show the area as "mud”
(U.S. Dept, of the Interior, Geol. Surv., 1954). Carleton, who did field
work in the area up to the early 1950’s, described the study area as being
comprised of mudflats, known to ornithologists for their shorebird con¬
centrations (G. Carleton, personal communication). These flats are now
covered with cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora ).

The standing vegetation of the marsh, excluding the Phragmites edge,
is entirely S. alterniflora. This grass grows up to 160 cm along the bay,
but over most of the marsh it averages 50-100 cm, denser and taller
patches being interspersed with sparser and shorter. There are numerous
shallow pools that empty at low tide, and deeper pools with a rich
growth of widgeon grass ( Ruppia maritima). The marsh vegetation,
areas of mud, and water form a complex mosaic. The marsh varies from
125 to 200 m in width. On the south side, it is bordered by a dense stand
of Phragmites communis. Within some open areas on the landward side
of the Phragmites there is a little Spartina patens.

The water level in the marsh is fairly constant. In the inner marsh,
where the Virginia Rails were nesting, the water level normally fluctu¬
ates no more than 10 cm. However, during spring tides the water may
rise more than 20 cm.

We captured rails with two Seth Low shorebird traps, modified to
capture rails (Low, 1935; Adams and Quay, 1958). Leads 25 m long and

Paper number 3101 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina State University
Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, North Carolina.

61

1 m high were run from either side of each trap. One trap plus leads was
made from chicken wire, the other from half-inch hardware cloth. The
traps were placed in the dense edge of Phragmites that bordered the
marsh. One of the leads of one trap extended 15 m into the marsh from
the Phragmites. Several rails were captured in mist nets placed for spar¬
rows.

In our 10 ha study area, we made extensive searches for all bird nests.
Nest localities and positions of calling rails were mapped. The study
area was divided into 1/16 ha plots by markers placed every 25 m.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

POPULATION DENSITY — Based on maps of birds calling and of
nests used, we estimated that 11 pairs of Virginia Rails were breeding
in the study area. Omitting the area of a large Ruppia pool (1 ha), the
density was 1.2 pairs per ha or 48.4 pairs per 100 acres. The pairs were
well spaced, and the closest occupied nests were 150 m apart. In contrast,
in Iowa fresh-water marshes, breeding density was 0.83 nests per ha of
cover (33.3 pairs per 100 acres) in a 10.5 ha marsh (Tanner and Hen¬
drickson, 1954).

NESTING HABITAT — Nesting and feeding occurred in S. alterniflora ,
but several pairs used Phragmites for cover. Although the marsh was
125-200m wide, the Virginia Rail territories were oriented along the edge
of the marsh: nests were located only as far as 75 m from the Phragmites.
In spite of intensive search, no nests were found in Phragmites, and in
every case a bird calling from the Phragmites could be associated with a
nest in the S. alterniflora. The rails were often seen scurrying from their
nests to the Phragmites for shelter.

The nesting area used by the Virginia Rails was medium height (50-
75 cm) S. alterniflora with a patchy growth form, and a persistence of
last years stems and leaves (Figure 1).

- Clapper Rails (Rallus longirostris ) nested farther out in the marsh, in
taller S. alterniflora closer to the bay. The three Clapper Rail nests found
were 50-100 m from the bay, while all Virginia Rail nests were more than
130 m from the bay.

SPRING ARRIVAL — During the winter, despite intensive work, we
found no signs of Virginia Rails in the marsh. The first evidence of a
Virginia Rail was one calling on the evening of 27 March 1968.

Transient rails were probably moving through Oak Beach during the
first two weeks of April. Our rail traps were not put into operation until
20 April. The earliest recorded arrival of a resident bird was on 26 April
(a bird captured on that date was recaptured 5 June).

BREEDING — We found eight nests with eggs or young. The first eggs

62

and young were found on 29 May (4 eggs plus 4 young in the same
nest); therefore, copulation for that pair began at least by 5-9 May. The
last nest found was one containing 7 eggs on 15 July. Four nests with
supposed full clutches contained 6, 7, 8, and 9 eggs.

The nests were platforms, almost flat, 11.5 — 12 cm thick, with rims no
higher than 2 cm. All nests were suspended from S. alternifiora, and six
of the nests had a loose canopy over them, formed from the green leaves
of adjacent plants. Nests were made from dead stems of S. alternifiora ,
and had loosely formed ramps of the same material (Figure 2). Pospichal
and Marshall (1954) also noted canopies and ramps on nests in Minne¬
sota.

The eggs in three nests were 12.8, 16.6, 21.1 cm above the mud. These
heights are low for a bird nesting in a tidal area, and a number of nests
were flooded by extreme tides. On 29-30 May, heavy rains caused ab¬
normally high water. We found a nest with 4 dead young and 4 pipped
eggs, clearly destroyed by the water. In contrast, a Clapper Rail nest
even nearer the bay had its eggs 13 cm above the highest water. Of 8
Virginia Rail nests found, 6 were flooded during May and June.

BANDING AND WEIGHTS - Twenty-four birds were banded, and
a total of 37 captures was made. Five birds were recaptured once, one
bird twice, and one bird four times. We found that the most effective
time to trap rails was at night or on foggy days.

The mean weight of 15 adult Virginia Rails captured in May and June
was 87.0 gm, standard deviation 9.64. Because we sometimes left a trap
open all night, and could not check it until the next morning, the varia¬
tion in weights may be abnormal. Trapped rails seemed to move about
constantly in the trap. One bird that was trapped by accident may have
been in the trap 2 days, and it weighed 59.7 gm on release. Nine days
later it was recaptured, and the weight was 72.2 gm, a gain of 21 per cent
(for this bird, only the higher weight was used in calculating the mean
weight given above). One 1-day old bird weighed 6.3 gm; one juvenile
bird weighed 73.8 gm.

BEHAVIOR — Black Rails (Laterallus jamaicensis) were found in the
same part of the marsh as Virginia Rails, and they were even trapped
together (Post and Enders, 1969). Clapper Rails occupied a different
zone of the marsh.

The most common Virginia Rail call heard was the “kik-kik-kik-kik
queeah,” fully described by Reynard and Harty (1968). This vocalization
is also discussed by Callin (1968), and Keith (1967), It is the call on the
Kellogg-Peterson record (1959) described as a Yellow Rail call. It was
usually given late at night, but was also heard after dawn. Eight to nine
calls were given per minute, as determined from tape recordings.

Using this song, recorded from the Kellogg-Peterson record (“Yellow
Rail” call), we were able to lure calling birds to within 2 m at night.

63

Each call from the tape recorder would elicit a response from the terri¬
torial bird. Reynard and Harty (1968) used a tape recorder to play back
a bird's own song, and the singing rail responded “with great excite¬
ment.” The latest date on which they heard this call was 27 May, while
we heard it as late as 5 June.

Since this call is reported with such regularity, and is so readily an¬
swered by nesting birds, it is probably one of the main breeding calls.

VIRGINIA RAILS IN SALT MARSHES - Virginia Rails today are
absent from most salt marshes in New York. Almost all salt marshes in
New York are now ditched for mosquito control purposes. Our unex¬
pected discovery of Virginia Rails breeding in an unditched salt marsh
suggests that the occurrence of this species in coastal marshes may have
been more common in the past, when unditched salt marshes were still
plentiful.

The following factors probably determine the coastal distribution of
Virginia Rails: (1) Availability of food: the Oak Beach marsh is un¬
ditched, and compared to neighboring marshes ditched for mosquito con¬
trol, there is a much richer fauna. Other studies have shown similar re¬
duction in animal life concomitant with ditching (Bourn and Cottam,
1950; Bradbury, 1938), (2) Cover may be an important factor in Vir¬
ginia Rail distribution. From our observations at Oak Beach, Virginia
Rails need medium height S. alterniflora for nesting, and none were found
nesting in S. patens. Ditched marshes have an extensive thick growth
of Spartina patens along the Phragmites edge, but normal S. alterniflora
is confined to the immediate edge of the bay. (3) If Virginia Rails did
nest in ditched marshes, they would be forced to occupy a narrow zone
along the ditches. However, Clapper Rails occupy the entire S. alterniflora
area in ditched marshes (Enders, 1966 and 1967), and the larger species
may exclude the smaller. (4) All salt marshes may represent a marginal
habitat for Virginia Rails because of the destruction of their nests by
extreme high tides.

Summary

A salt marsh breeding population of Virginia Rails was studied. A
population estimate was made by spot-mapping birds and nests. Popula¬
tion density was 1.2 pairs per hectare. Twenty-four birds were banded.
Nesting was in Spartina alterniflora. Nests were suspended above the
mud, but were not immune to flooding. A territorial call is discussed, Vir¬
ginia Rails may have been more common in salt marshes in the past,
before the advent of mosquito control ditching.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-We would like to thank Dr. Joshua A.
Lee for his critical reading of the manuscript.

Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University,
Raleigh, North Carolina

64

LITERATURE CITED

Adams, D. A. and T. L. Quay. 1958. Ecology of the Clapper Rail in Southeastern
North Carolina. J. of Wildl. Mgmt., 22: 149-156.

Bourn, W. S. and C. Cottam. 1950. Some Biological Effects of Ditching Tidewater
Marshes. U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv. Res. Rept. No. 19: 1-30.

Bradbury, H. M. 1938. Mosquito Control Operations on Tide Marshes in Mass, and
their Effect on Shorebirds and Waterfowl. J. Wildl. Mgmt., 2: 49-52.

Bull, J. 1964, Birds of the New York Area. Harper and Row, New York.

Callin, E. M. 1968. Vocalization of the Virginia Rail: a mystery solved. Blue Jay,
26: 75-77.

Cruickshank, A. D. 1942. Birds Around New York City. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., New
York.

Enders, F. 1966. Breeding Bird Census No. 70: ditched salt marsh. Audubon Field
Notes, 20: 660-661.

- 1967. Breeding Bird Census No. 81: ditched salt marsh. Audubon Field Notes,

21:665.

Keith, S. 1967. How' to See a Yellow Rail. Linnaean News-Letter, 20 (8 and 9).

Kellogg, P. P., A. A. Allen, and R. T. Peterson. 1959. A Field Guide to Bird Songs.
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

Low, S. H. 1935, Methods of Trapping Shore Birds. Bird-Banding, 6: 16-22.

Pospichal, L. B., and W. H, Marshall. 1954. A Field Study of Sora Rail and Virginia
Rail in Central Minnesota. Flicker, 26: 2-32.

Post, W. and F. Enders. 1969. Reappearance of the Black Rail on Long Island.
Kingbird 19: 189-191.

Reynard, G. B., and S. T. Harty. 1968. Ornithological ‘Mystery’ Song Given by Male
Virginia Rail. Cassinia No. 50, 3-8.

Stone, W. 1937. Bird Studies at Old 'Cape May. Delaware Valley Omith. Club.

Tanner, W. D., and G. O. Hendrickson. 1954. The Ecology of the Virginia Rail in
Clay County, Iowa. Iowa Bird Life, 24: 65-70.

U.S. Dept, of the Interior, Geol. Surv. 1954. Bay Shore West Quadrangle.

65

Figure 1. Vir ginia Rail breeding habitat in Spartina alternifiora. Stake is 1.5 m high.
The edge of the study area is the dense stand of Phragmites communis in the back¬
ground.

66

Figure 2. Virginia Rail nest in Spartina alterniflom. The nest was suspended, so
that the 9 eggs were 17 cm above the mud. Note the canopy over the nest.

REPORT ON ELDORADO BEACH PROJECT

One of the more important conservation projects in western New York
is the purchase of Eldorado Beach on the eastern end of Lake Ontario
south of Watertown. Under the sponsorship of The Nature Conservancy
about $40,000 has been raised toward the $56,000 (now $58,000 because
of legal fees, etc.) purchase price.

With such a fine beginning it is hoped that this project can be brought
to a speedy conclusion, and Federation members are urged to make new
or additional contributions to this fine cause. The Chairman of the project
is Professor Frank L. Eldridge, Box 175, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850.

THE KINGBIRD for May, 1969, contains an article by F. G. Scheider
giving a complete account of this unique area, its geography and its bird
life.

67

REED ROAD SANCTUARY

John W. Brown

In his “President’s Page” in the January, 1970 KINGBIRD Dr. Reilly suggested
a series of articles on the sanctuaries managed by the Federation clubs in various
parts of the State. We hope that this will be the first of such series.

Reed Road Sanctuary is situated on both sides of Reed Road, between
Ballantyne Road and Morgan Road in the southeast section of the Town
of Chili, Monroe County (Region 2). It consists of approximately one
hundred acres of moist, second and third growth, largely deciduous
woods with heavy undergrowth. Toward the back of the west side on
slightly higher ground there is a small stand of cedars and white pines.
Today, due to the dying out of the elms, the upper story is gone over a
considerable area, which will doubtless result in a change in the charac¬
ter of the plant growth in the future and in the bird population. The lat¬
ter is already evident in the newly created openings.

Reed Road's original eighty-four acres were secured in 1949 by a has¬
tily-organized corporation, Bird Refuges, Inc. in order to save it as a bird
habitat from threatened purchase for relumbering to supply a basket
factory. Some acreage has been added since that time, and all continues
to be held by Bird Refuges, Inc., directors of which are members of the
Genesee Ornithological Society. Recently Burroughs-Audubon Nature
Club has been given about twenty acres adjoining the northeast corner.

Since the woods usually contain large pools of water until well into the
summer, boots should be worn for invading the “swamp.” There is a well-
maintained path from the road on the west side which penetrates the
more remote sections and is well worth following, although it also is quite
wet particularly near the road. The woods does have a plentiful supply
of mosquitos and poison ivy, but the path is wide enough so that the ivy
should be no problem unless one is especially allergic to it. It is about a
half hour walk in and out. Many birds, however, may be identified from
the road and along the drier edges. It is an excellent area for the novice
bird watcher and is used by a number of schools during the winter. The
Sanctuary on the east side of the road has deep water in many areas
and should not be attempted without a local birder and, even then,
probably only in the winter when the ground is frozen.

Thanks to interested volunteers, feeding stations are maintained along
the road. Chickadees and wintering birds may become extremely tame.
Such wintering birds include the following:

Ring-necked Pheasant Screech Owl

Ruffed Grouse Great Horned Owl

68

Pileated Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Common Crow
Blue Jay

White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Cardinal

Slate-colored Junco
Tree Sparrow

Numbers of winter finches are often seen from November through
March, and even a rare-in-the-winter Myrtle Warbler may stay during
the cold weather*

In the spring Reed Road can be one of the best places in the county
for migrating passerines, particularly warblers. All of the regularly iden¬
tified species have been recorded there, and even the rare Worm-eating
Warbler has been reported. This area is notable for the wide variety of
nesting species. Breeding specialties here include:

American Woodcock
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Screech Owl
Great Homed Owl
Yellow-shafted Flicker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Traill’s Flycatcher
Wood Pewee
Common Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Winter Wren
Wood Thrush

Veery

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Mourning Warbler
Northern Yellowthroat
Canada Warbler
American Redstart
Baltimore Oriole
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow

It is also probable that Pileated Woodpeckers breed somewhere in the
area, and there is even a possibility that the Brown Creeper might be
found nesting here.

On warm spring evenings the Woodcock may be observed along the
edge of the woods in their courtship flight song and “dance.” Their nests
are most often found on hummocks in the woods on the east side of
Reed Road.

This then is an invitation to all members of the Federation to visit
Reed Road Sanctuary, a fascinating place at any time of the year.

Oatka Farm , Scottsville, New Y ork 14546

69

FIELD NOTES

Great Cormorant at Cornwall-on-Hudson: On October 25, 1969, Mrs. Barbara
Merritt of Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, reported that on October 19 she observed
a Cormorant on the Hudson River near her home. She said that she was impressed by
the unusually white belly and dark neck of the bird, and believed it to be an imma¬
ture Great or European Cormorant. Upon report of the bird, Mr. and Mrs. Merritt,
Mr. Paul Jeheber and I went to the river and found it on the low pilings where it
had first been discovered. All of us are relatively unfamiliar with the species, seeing
it only once or twice a year on occasional trips to the New England or Long Island
shore. We could tell nothing from the size, but the bird did indeed have a very light
belly and dark neck. It was an exact copy of Arthur Singers illustration in Birds of
North America by Robbins, et al. (p. 35). It Was injured, its right wing drooping in
the water. It was unable to fly, but could dive and apparently was successful in
capturing food.

The bird disappeared on October 26 and reappeared November 2. While Mr. and
Mrs. Merritt were observing it, a gunner in a boat nearby started shooting at it and
eventually killed it. The bird was confiscated by the local game warden and even¬
tually sent to the New York State Museum where it was confirmed as an immature
male Great Cormorant by Dr. Edgar M. Reilly, Associated Curator of Zoology.

Deed in his Birds of Rockland County (1959) mentions several records south of
Piermont Pier more than ten years previously and all between October 25 and No¬
vember 8. Bull in his Birds of the New York Area (p. 88) considers these records un¬
satisfactory. This record is the first inland specimen for the state.

Edward D. Treacy, Pellwood Lake, Highland Falls, New York 10928

A Response to Mobbing Crows by an Immature Red-tailed Hawk: Most ornitholo¬
gists have observed Common Crows ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ) mobbing Red-tailed
Haw'ks ( Buteo jamaicensis) , but few have provided detailed accounts of the interac¬
tion, particularly when a hawk attacks the mobbing crows; for example A. C. Bent
(1937. USNM Bull. 'No. 167, p. 160 ) provides a single sentence of the situation. Thus,
the following description is of interest.

The morning of Saturday, 28 September 1968, was cool, clear and bright. At
10:45 while feeding quail in my care at the Poultry Science Farm of Cornell Uni¬
versity on Turkey Hill Road, Tompkins County, New York, I noticed an immature
Red-tailed Hawk circle slowly over the fields at the edge of a wood-lot about 150
meters west of the pigeon loft. As I watched, two Common Crows flew east from the
wood-lot towards the circling hawk. Both crows were giving mobbing vocalizations.
The two crow's alternately circled above the young red-tail and dived at it. The first
crow to dive struck the hawk; the second crow dived, but the hawk dodged to one
side, permitting the crow to drop beneath it. Both crows continued their mobbing
vocalizations. Each crow again dived at the hawk while its companion circled above
it, calling vociferously, and each time one of the crows dived, the hawk managed to
avoid being struck by dodging and twisting at the last instant. A third crow appeared
over the wood-lot and headed east in the direction of its fellow antagonists. As one
of the original crows began its fourth dive oil the hawk, the young bird dodged to its
left, allowing the attacking crow' to pass without contact. The diving crow continued
to drop 3-4 meters below the young red-tail as it began to recover from its attempted

70

strike. The Red-tailed Hawk immediately closed its wings and stooped on the crftw
beneath it, striking it hard enough to loosen several black feathers. All crows imme¬
diately became silent. The crow appeared uninjured from the attack and began
flying away from the hawk. The hawk recovered from its strike and began to climb
above the attacking crows. The two original crows turned west towards the oncoming
third crow, and the three crows met, circled briefly, and flew upwards towards the
climbing hawk that was not 10 meters or so above them. Before they were able to
reach the hawk’s altitude, the hawk began to rock (pitch) left and right by alterna¬
tively closing and opening the left and right wings and thereby rapidly descending
towards the crows. The three crows turned away from the hawk and flew directly
west into the wood-lot’s tree canopy. The young hawk did not pursue the fleeing
. crows, but began circling slowly over the field, moving in a south-easterly direction.
This entire sequence of action took place in 4.5 minutes, and the hawk was lost to
sight at 11:00.

A. R. Weisbrod, Division of Biological Sciences, Cornell University Ithaca, New
York 14850

1969-1970 Common Murre records from Long Island, New York: On 24 January
1969, an oiled Common Murre (Uria aalge ) was captured on the beach at Fire
Island National Seashore, 'Suffolk County, by John Aho, Park Naturalist. Robert
Budliger verified the identification later that day, and it was released several days
later. Aho later informed us (pers. comm.) that he recorded two other Common
Murres during late January 1969 at Fire Island. One badly oiled bird was washed
ashore dead and the other, also oiled, was sitting on the beach but escaped back into
the water before it could be captured.

On 3 January 1970, an oiled Common Murre was found dead, washed ashore,
at Hither Hills State Park, Suffolk Co. (Montauk area) by Harold and Charles
Wellander. The specimen is now in the American Museum of Natural History collec¬
tion. This is the second New York State specimen; one picked up dead at Fisher’s
Island, Suffolk Co. on 12 February 1951 is in the Ferguson collection there (fide
John Bull).

On 8 February 1970 a lightly oiled Common Murre was found sitting on the sand
beach near 'Montauk Point Lighthouse, Suffolk Co. (see Fig. 1), The finders, P. A.
and F. G, Buckley and members of his ornithology class, easily captured it. It was
kept indoors overnight, cleaned, and force-fed some sardines. On the following
morning, it was shown to T. H. Davis, who also photographed it. It was then released
by the jetty at the entrance to Montauk Harbor.

P. W. Post (Photographs of N. Y. S. Rarities. 7. Common Murre. Kingbird, 16 (4):
190-191, 1966) summarized the previous N.Y.S. Common Murre records. Ten re¬
ports range from 23 December to 4 April; all but a few involve oiled individuals. It
is interesting that since 1965 there have been six winter occurrences of Common
Murre on Long Island, but only five winter reports of Thick-billed Murres (Uria
lomvia), supposedly the commoner species despite vernacular names. Almost all
records of Common Murre for Long Island are concentrated in late January and
February, indicating possible seasonal movement at this time, probably well offshore.

Thomas H. Davis, 8613 85th 'Street, Woodhaven, New York 11421, and P. A.
Buckley, Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, Long Island, New
York 11550.

71

Common Murre at Montauk Point, February S, 1970. Photograph by P. A. Buckley.

Winter Roosting of Cedar Waxwings: Cedar Waxwings ( Bombycilla cedrorum)
are found in flocks, large to small, in winter in Central New York State, living on
berries and other lingering fruits. Little has been noted about their roosting habits;
nothing is given in Bent’s Life Histories or in L. S. Putnam’s life history study of the
species as reported in The Wilson Bulletin in 1949.

72

On 3 February, 1970, my husband called my attention to an arbor-vitae tree
(Thuja occidentalis) which is about 20 feet high, six feet across and located about
40 feet from our dining-room window. Although not visible to the naked eye, our
binoculars revealed Cedar Waxwings perched deep inside the cedar, and we
counted eight of them, in groups of three, three and two. There could have been more
on the other side of the dense shrub. (It was of interest that one of them had the
occasionally-seen orange tail tip instead of yellow.) This was at 3:30 P.M. and the
birds remained there, without changing position, until it was too dark to see them.
(Sunset that day was at 5:23 P.M.) In the evening, when we put a spot-light on the
shrub, they were still there. At 7:05 the next morning they were gone.

It was snowing steadily that afternoon, and several of the birds had taken posi¬
tions which shielded them completely from falling snow, but others had snow on
their backs and heads. At no time did we see them put their heads under the
scapulars.

We speculate whether this species normally goes to roost so early, or whether the
inclement weather influenced them this time. The temperature was 15°F when we
first noted them, and dropped below zero in late evening.

Sally Hoyt Spofford, Aviana, Etna, New York 13062

Magnolia Warbler caught in burrs: On September 20, 1969, on the Syracuse Uni¬
versity campus, my attention was attracted by the racket of squawking Blue Jays.
Investigating the confusion, I discovered a Magnolia Warbler ( Dendroica magnolia )
in handsome fall plumage, entangled in the seed pods of a common burdock
(Arctium minus). By its struggling the bird was only becoming more helplessly en¬
snared. With some difficulty I was able to free the bird and it flew off.

Later I began to wonder if this was just an isolated case or a common occurrence.
After a little research I found an article in the April 1953 issue of Nature magazine
(vol, 46, no.4 ) by Dr. Leroy C. Stegeman of the Syracuse University College of
Forestry, documenting two Similar cases, one involving a chickadee and the other a
warbler, both on the S. U. campus. It would be most interesting to have records of
other such instances.

Could it be that since burdock is an alien species, the behavior of native song
birds has not evolved a pattern of avoidance for this treacherous plant?

Christopher Burnett, Southfield, Mass. 01259
Editors Note : A similar incident involving an American Goldfinch is described in
The Conservationist for April-May, 1970.

Additional Comment on Evening Grosbeak in Unusual Plumage: In The Kingbird,
Vol. XIX (2): 96, I described the occurrence of a pale plumaged Evening Grosbeak
and gave the date of its last appearance as February 21, 1969. The bird reappeared,
as reported in The Kingbird Vol. XIX (No. 3): 155 and was seen at our feeder April
21 and 29. It is now interesting to note that a bird of very similar description was
seen by Peter B. Smith of the Department of Zoology, University of Vermont on May
10 near Belmont, Vermont. That was the only sighting in that area.

The two observations were noted by Dr, James Tate of the Cornell University
Laboratory of Ornithology, who suggested that Mr. Smith and I might correspond
concerning this bird. One can only conjecture upon the route followed by the Hor-
nell bird when it departed from here on April 29 or later.

W. M* Groesbeck, 376 Seneca Road, Homell, N.Y. 14843.

Ed. Note: In The Passenger Pigeon Spring Issue in i960, Mary S. Shaub published
an article entitled “Unusual Plumage Variations of the Eastern Evening Grosbeak”
and Mrs. Shaub tells me that she is still receiving reports of other variations, to
which Mr. Groesbeck’s note will be added.

73

McCown’s Longspur in Chemung County: On February 21, 1970 I found what I
believe to have been a McCown’s Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii ) in a
freshly-manured field on the iRidge Road, Chemung County, about a mile from the
Schuyler County line. The fifteen-foot fertilized strip paralleled the road for some
distance before it turned and encircled the sloping field. A chin-high snow bank
separated the strip from the road and helped shield observers from the strong, bitter
north wind that we faced. For this reason birds on the strip seemed unaware of our
presence, though many of them were closer than fifty feet and were easy to observe
with our 7 X 50 binoculars,

I had already found three Lapland Longspurs as I studied the flock of 100 or
more Horned Larks and about 25 Snow Buntings, when I noted a strange Longspur.
It was feeding in a deep furrow about fifty feet away, near the end of the field, with
only four or five Larks nearby. The bird was much lighter in general coloration than
any Lapland I have ever seen, its back stripes buffy and brown with no black or
dark brown. The face pattern was also much softer and its breast more delicately
streaked, ending in a creamish-white belly. I noted also a distinct reddish-brown or
rufous patch at the bend of the wing, very noticeable when his side was toward us.
I have often noted a rufous band on the wing-coverts of the Lapland Longspur, but
this was not what I saw on this bird. I called this patch to the attention of Mrs.
Wingert, an active member of the Chemung Valley Audubon Society, who was with
me. Both of us studied the bird for some time with a 20-power scope before going to
the car to try to identify it. I was aware of the fact that Peterson emphasizes the tail
pattern as means of identifying the various kinds of Longspurs, but this I could not
see on this bird. I did not wish to flush it before contacting other club members who
might want to see it.

After consulting Birds of North America (Robbins, Bruin and Zim) I concluded
that the light coloration and the rufous bend of the wing might well identify the
bird as a McCown’s Longspur.

Skies were overcast, it was mid-day, there was an icy wind, but visibility was good
at this close range.

Wilifred I. Howard, 610 Coburn Street, Elmira, New York
Ed. Note: Without -a specimen or photograph, this report, convincing as it may be,
cannot officially be accepted as a state record. But it points out the necessity for
careful scanning of such flocks in the future.

74

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WINTER SEASON
DECEMBER 1 — MARCH 31

Joseph W. Taylor

Without question the major feature of the winter season was the
weather, except for the Long Island area. A great snow storm struck all
other parts of the State with at least two feet of snow just after Christmas
and was followed by one of the coldest Januarys on record. In most areas
the temperature did not get above freezing for as much as three weeks
at a time. As a result the heavy snow cover persisted until well into
March, and no real northward migration was noted until almost the end
of the month.

With much of their food supply covered by snow, the regular winter¬
ing birds were scarce in open areas. However, where they were able to
get to well-maintained feeders, their numbers appear to have been 'close
to normal. Specially noted at many feeders were the increased numbers
of Rufous-sided Towhees. Christmas Counts were curtailed by the
weather in some Regions, but where observers were able to get afield,
the totals appear to have been about average. Captree Christmas Count
on Long Island set a new State record of 135, and together the eight
Long Island Counts recorded the amazing total of 16 species of shore-
birds, the most notable of which were White-rumped, Baird’s and West¬
ern Sandpipers.

The highlight of the season in all upstate areas was the tremendous
number of Common Redpolls. They seemed to thrive on the cold and
were reported everywhere until March in the hundreds and thousands.
Many of them came regularly to feeders, but flocks of them remained in
the open. Large counts of Evening Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills were
also reported, the latter staying through the entire period where there
was a sufficient cone crop. They were gone from Long Island by early
January. Boreal Chickadees fulfilled the promise of last fall’s incursion
with up to as many as twelve reported from all Regions except 10.

The extreme cold closed most of the lakes and ponds so that the
waterfowl count was generally down. Except for Goshawks, which con¬
tinue to show an increase, the numbers of hawks and owls were disap¬
pointingly low, partly, of course, because of the lack of mice caused by
the deep snow cover.

In addition to those mentioned above, rarities included: Common Teal

75

It is regretable that no reports were received from Region 4 and, for
the second successive issue, from Region 1. Such omissions make this
summary less meaningful and must be disappointing not only to Federa¬
tion members in those Regions but to members throughout the State.

20 Parish Road, Honeoye Falls, N. Y. 14472

REGION 2 —GENESEE

Richard T. O’Hara

It was along, cold winter. Snowfall at the end of March had reached over 117
inches at the Rochester Airport, most of it recorded before the middle of February.
This is about 50 per cent above average for this region. March was a month of almost
unbroken cold weather but very little snowfall. There was only one brief thaw after
late December, this one coming in late January, and the heavy cover of ice and
snow was almost undisturbed all winter.

On the other hand, precipitation from January 1 to March 31 was somewhat below
normal. This was mainly because the snow was always of low water content, again
reflecting the low temperatures which prevailed. Ice locked all the ponds and streams
tightly and frequently extended so far offshore into Lake Ontario that waterfowl had
few places to concentrate.

Nevertheless, it was not an uninteresting season for hardy birders. The two local
Christmas Counts produced good lists and a wide variety of species was reported,
including some of the more erratic wanderers as well as many half-hardy hangers-on.
Migration was virtually unnoticeable until the last few days of March. Especially on
the 28th, in spite of rather cool weather, a southwest wind brought a heavy flight of
Canada Geese, a fair hawk flight and rather small numbers of other waterfowl and
early passerines.

Rarities noted include: Kittiwake, Boreal Chickadee and a Varied Thrush. The
latter bird is a first record for the region.

Abbreviations: BB—Braddocks Bay; MP—Mendon Ponds; SB—Sodus Bay.

Observers Cited: GD—Gertrude Davis; JF—John Foster; JH—Jean Haller; AK—Al
Kemnitzer; BK—Bea Kemnitzer; WL—Walter Listman; RM—Robert McKinney LM—
Laura Moon; NM-Neil Moon; RO—Richard O’Hara; BO—Bernard Olin; GOS—
Genesee Ornithological Society (field trip); JT—Joe Taylor; TT—Tom TetloW.

LOON'S—DUCKS: No Loons were reported after Dec 14. A single Red-necked
Grebe was at Manitou on Feb 7 (WL). At least '2 Great Blue Herons remained into
mid-January (TT) (RM). The first returning birds were noted on March 28 (WL)
Braddocks Bay (6 birds). There were 28 Whistling Swans at BB on the 28th (WL
et al). The first one had appeared several days earlier. A single Snow Goose re¬
mained at Mendon Ponds into early January (Perrigos).

Both Canada Geese and the early puddle ducks, i.e. Pintail and American Widgeon
were slow to move in large numbers. At the end of March, the Geese were finally
coming in strongly, but the ducks were still not present in force. A few of nearly all
expected species were noted, but many newly-opened ponds and bays were strangely
empty. A few stragglers of several species were noted on the Christmas Census lists,
including 2 Gadwall, 2 American Widgeon, 8 Wood Duck, the latter species mostly
on the unfrozen sections of the lower Genesee River.

The diving ducks were present in normal numbers during the winter where open
water was available, which was not too easily located. Canvasbacks were an excep¬
tion, being quite scarce, after the smaller inland lakes froze over, until March 28

76

when 350 were seen at SB (JF, TT). Oldsquaws stayed far out on the lake most of
the time and were easy to miss unless visibility was very good. A good count of
White-winged Scoters, 600, was noted on Feb. 21 (AK,RO), flying west well out
over Lake 'Ontario; whether this represented only local movement or migration is
difficult to say. Other scoters were unreported this winter. Bufflehead were common
again when weather conditions and ice formation made observation possible; the
308 counted on the Census was 50 per cent above the best previous count.

The annual January waterfowl count produced rather low totals of both individ¬
uals and species. Only Scaup (Greater), Goldeneye and Bufflehead showed up well,
the former concentrated largely in the mouth of the Genesee River. Mergansers, both
Common and Red-breasted were less common than was true a few years back,
especially the latter species.

Ring-necked Ducks were, well-represented in the flight of late March, but only a
few Redheads were noted and no Lesser Scaup. This is the usual picture in this re¬
gion for the first spring duck movement.

HAWKS—OWLS: With snow cover quite heavy all winter, it is probably not
surprising that hawks were not too common except at a local dump where one
observer counted 13 Red-tails one day (JT). Other Red-tails were also present but
scattered, and Sparrow' Hawks were at least normal in abundance too. Two
Goshawks remained in a section of MP for several weeks (Perrigos) and both
Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks were occasionally observed. Rough-legs were
very scarce, although at least 2 were present in the Avon section (Orwen); another
was observed Feb 22 on a GOS field trip. An adult Bald Eagle was noted in late
March not far from this region’s only known active nest (WL); both adults were still
present in this vicinity on the Little Lakes Christmas Census. The 32 Redtails ob¬
served on that same count was unusually high, while 12 Sparrow Hawks on the
Rochester count was also better than most recent years.

A few Hawks drifted along the migration route of the Lake Ontario shoreline
during late March, but most days were not favorable. The main exception was March
28 when, although cold, the wind was out of the southwest and for about 3 hours
there was a fair movement until rain cut it short about 2 p.m. This movement in¬
cluded 2 Turkey Vultures, 75 Red-tails, 75 Red-shoulders (est.) 1 or 2 Goshawks, a
few each of Cooper’s, Sharp-shins, Marsh and Sparrow Hawks, Hawk Lookout at
Braddocks Bay (WL et al).

7 Ruffed Grouse were noted on the Little Lakes Census which is conducted in
the hilly region to the south of Rochester. The 242 Pheasants on the Rochester count
which is on the flat lake plain was very good.lt will be interesting to see how this
popular and common game bird holds up under the new 1 state policy which curtails
re-stocking this species. 84 Coot were still on the Little Lakes—Conesus, Hemlock,
Honeoye and Canadice—in late December.

2 Common Snipe attempted to winter in a small marsh in suburban Greece, and
1 was still there on Feb 17 (WL). A Killdeer was noted at MP on Jan 31 (TT) and
a Dunlin was still present at IB as late as Dec 13 (WL). On the same day the same
observer noted another of this species at BB. The first Woodcock reported was on
March 18 (R. Hartranft). 'Other than Killdeer, this was the only shorebird species
reported in March.

The rare gulls noted in late fall remained into early Dec when Irondequoit Bay
was still partly open. On Dec 7, 3,500 Bonaparte Gulls were present together with
thousands of Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, some Black-backs and no less than 8
Little Gulls and at least one of the 2 Kittiwakes seen the previous day (AK,WL), 2
Glaucous Gulls were also present there on Dec 6 (AK) and another was there again
on March 9 (RO). Iceland Gulls were reported occasionally through the winter in
flocks of Herring Gulls at various gathering places. The 3 Glaucous and 5 Iceland on
the Christmas count in late Dec was quite good for this region.

77

Mourning Doves continue to increase as a wintering species here, no doubt because
of increased feeding. The 301 counted on Dec 28 Census was almost double the
previous high.

Owls were not often reported. No reports were received for either Short-eared or
Long-eared Owls, Snowy Owls were almost absent with one or two birds south of
Rochester our only records (Fosters). Great Horned Owls were noted in several
usual locations, but only 3 were seen or heard on the Christmas Census. One Saw-
Whet Owl was in Webster on Dec 26 (McNetts). A few Screech Owls were noted,
but the Christmas counts yielded only 2 each.

GOATSUCKERS—STARLINGS: Kingfishers were noted into January in two
places but none in February, Pileated Woodpeckers still seem to be slowly increasing
and improving in ability to survive in suburban environments. Kemnitzers and others
have recorded them in their yards while others who live near county parks also re¬
port them quite regularly, i.e., Moon’s and G. Davis. Red-bellied Woodpeckers,
which seem to be increasing also, were well represented on both Christmas counts,
and Red-headed Woodpeckers remained in several places besides the Avon area
where they are most common. One was in Bloomfield on Feb 10 (Dittrich) and an¬
other in Parma on Dec 28 and 29 (Wadsworth). The Sapsucker which was previ¬
ously noted in late Nov in Irondequoit remained at least until Dec 27 (Moons).
Both Flickers and Downy Woodpeckers reached new high counts on our Christmas
Census with 21 and 128 seen respectively. Hairy Woodpeckers were also well repre¬
sented with 32 on the Rochester count. It is interesting to note the ratio of 1 to 4
between the Hairy and Downy.

Horned Larks were slower than usual to return to our fields in numbers, although
some were noted with large wintering flocks of buntings and longspurs. Singles and
pairs along the road only began to appear about the 20th of February. Some years
they are evident 2 or 3 weeks earlier.

The Crow roost near Rochester held some 2,000 birds in late Dec—only a fraction
of counts of a few years ago. While Red-breasted Nuthatches were scarce after Dec
in spite of a good fall flight, most of the regular allied specied were common. Black-
capped Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse surpassed previous Christmas count totals,
the latter reaching a peak of 32 individuals. Blue Jays, Mockingbirds and Robins
were also reported in unprecedented numbers on the same date (Dec 28). Cedar
Waxwings on the other hand were scarce most of the time, especially after Jan 1,

A single Water Pipit was only the second Census report and the first since 19*51.
Carolina Wren has not been reported since Dec, and again we await the spring to
see if any managed to survive a hard winter. The fifth Census record of Ruby-
crowned Kinglet also was noted this year. While a Hermit Thrush in Durand Park
was still present on Jan 10 and 11 (Weld), a Catbird in the same place was not
noted after Dec 6 (GOS). No Winter Wrens were reported since Dec. At least 2
Brown Thrashers tried to winter here and one of these was still present all through
March in Webster, where it regularly visited a feeder.

One of the highlights of early winter here were the Boreal Chickadees at least
2 of which were in Durand Park on Dec 6 (GOS) and an unprecedented 3 at
Mendon Ponds on March 24 (GD). 2 Bluebirds were in Groveland in Dec all month
(Tanner). Northern Shrikes seemed fairly widespread, up to 6 on one Christmas count.

The outstanding bird of the season was a Varied Thrush which irregularly visited a
feeder at Hemlock Lake, some 30 miles south of Rochester. It was well observed by
several local birders as it fed nearby and was well described by them. The last
known date it was present was Feb 21 (Koons).

A new high count of Starlings was 26,000 birds roosting in dowiitown Rochester
on Dec 28. This probably represents a more accurate census than previous lower
counts rather than a sudden tremendous increase in birds present.

78

VIRE'OS—WARBLERS: The only bird of this group reported was Myrtle Warbler.
One of these was at West Rush on Dec 28 (JH). A group of up to 12 was in Mendon
Ponds Park all winter (Perrigos) and at least 11 were still there at the end of
March.

BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: 25 Meadowlarks recorded on the Little Lakes Cen¬
sus was unusually high, especially since none were noted on the Rochester count a
few days later. All the blackbirds, e.i., Red-wing, Grackle, Rusty and Cowbird were
present all winter in one or more places. Cowbirds, however, were less common than
usual and only one or two Crackles wintered (GD). A Baltimore Oriole was present
in Penfield on Dec 4 (BK).

Cardinals reached another new high (311) on the Christmas count, up almost 50
per cent. Even in the hill country south of Rochester 85 were listed, making it one
of the dozen most common passerine species. It was a good finch year except for
Pine Grosbeak and White-winged Crossbill, both of which were reported only once
officially, although others were mentioned informally. Dakin’s had the Pine Grosbeaks
(8) on Dec 17 in Bushnell’s Basin. Moon’s had both Cross-bills at their home near
Durand Park, and they were still present late in March.

Red Crossbills were widespread and stayed more consistently than they often do.
The largest flock was 30 in Webster Park on March 14 (TT). Redpolls were
abundant and flocks ranged into the hundreds. Some came to feeders regularly.
The 635 on the Christmas count proved to be another record high. No Hoary Redpoll
was surely identified, although a possible single was with about 200 Common Red¬
polls in Feb (AK) (RO). Siskins were scarce after early Jan.

4 Towhees were recorded on the Little Lakes Census and 2 more on the Roches¬
ter count. At least 2 stayed through the winter, one at Sunderlin’s feeder in
Webster and another in Mendon (Perrigos). It was a good Tree Sparrow winter
especially compared to last year. One or more Field Sparrows visited a feeder in Fair-
port (BO) after 4 were noted on one Christmas Census. A few White-crowned
Sparrows were reported including 2 at Lima (Foster’s). White-throated Sparrows
were wintering at Mendon Ponds (Perrigos) and Hemlock (Koons) among other
places. Swamp Sparrows were again scarce, perhaps due to heavy snow cover, and
Song Sparrows, while not rare, were also much less common than in some years,
aw'ay from feeders.

Snow Buntings did not seem especially widespread, but there were some large
concentrations including 800 on the east Lakeshore on Jan 18 (WL). Another flock
of 200 accompanied about 50 Lapland Longspurs and another 50 Horned Larks,
with both Prairie and Northern sub-species represented Feb 17 Hamlin (AK) (RO).
By the end of March, these flocks seem to have left the area, although Kemnitzer
noted singing Longspurs in changing plumage late in the month.

265 Carling Road, Rochester, New York 14610

REGION 3 —FINGER LAKES

David B. Peakall

The outstanding weather features of the winter were the record December snow
fall and the prolonged cold spell from mid-December to late January when the
temperature did not rise above freezing. Snow cover started on 1st December, the
23-irich snow fall on December 26-27 was a near record for a 24 hour period. The
total December snowfall was a record for the month and snow cover remained
despite a February thaw. Total snow fall in Ithaca was 96 inches, some 30 inches
above normal. Also it was the coldest winter(average 6 degrees below’ normal) for
over fifty years.

79

Despite lack of coverage of part of Seneca Lake due to snow drifts the waterfowl
count on January 11 (16,199) was slightly above last years total. Twenty-two
species were recorded including two European Widgeon. No major fluctuations of
numbers were noted.

Rough-legged Hawks and Snowy Owls were scarce. However it was a good winter
for accipiters; the last two winters suggest a slight increase from the low of previous
years.

The invasion of Red-breasted Nuthatches, Boreal Chickadees, Redpolls and Red
Crossbills was a feature of the winter.

Two species considered rare in eastern North American, the Barrow’s Goldeneye
and Lesser Black-backed Gull made their now expected appearance in Ithaca for the
seventh and sixth year respectively.

Abbreviations; Cay—Cayuga; ECC—Elmira Christmas Count; ICC—Ithaca Christ¬
mas Count; JWC—January waterfowl census, January 11; M'NWR—Montezuma Na¬
tional Wildlife Refuge; SCC—Schuyler County Christmas Count; SWS—Sapsucker
Woods Sanctuary.

Area Compilers: Jack Brubaker (JB), William Groesbeck (WMG), Frank Guthrie
(FKG) Clayton Hardy (CH), Jayson Walker (JAW), Catherine Walsh (CW),
Mary Welles (MW).

Other observers: WEB—Walter Benning; GCBSG (Campus Club Bird Study
Group, fide M.Comar), WH—Wilifred Howard, DM—Dorothy Mcllroy, DBP—David
B. Peakall, SHS—Sally Hoyt Spofford, JT—Jim Tate.

LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: immature found Jan 6 in Munnsville, released
on Cay L Jan £3, is the only record. Red-necked Grebe: 1 Mar 22 near Watkins
Glen (JB); 1 Mar 26 Aurora (SB); and 1 Mar 29 Sheldrake (Ruth Williams).
Horned Grebe: 104 JWC, mainly Cay L, is a low count. Pied-billed Grebe: re¬
corded on Cay L, Sen L, Keuka L and Canandaigua L total 14 JWC; up to 17 nr
Watkins Glen during winter (JB) is high count. Double-crested Cormorant: the in¬
dividual present at Watkins Glen at the end of Nov stayed until Dec 13 (JB). Great
Blue Heron: arr Mar 23 SWS (M.L.Peakall). 'Whistling Swan: 1 Jan 24 Canoga
(CH); 1 Feb 1 Cay L (WEB); 2 Feb 26 (DM,SHS); 35 MNWF Mar 28 (WEB);
singles late March Branchport and Penn Yan (FKG). Mute Swan: 1 Feb 22 Cay L
(WEB), Feb 26 (DM,SHS). Canada Goose: main flight somewhat later and less
clearly defined than usual; 20,000 MNWR by the end of the period. Blue Goose: arr
MNWR Mar 18 (CH), 220 present Mar 31 (CH). Snow Goose: arr MNWR Mar
18 (CH), 76 present Mar 28 (WEB).

Mallard: 2640 on JWC, about normal. This species has increased considerably
compared to a decade ago while numbers of Black Duck have remained more con¬
stant. Black Duck; 1166 on JWC (1651 in 1969). Pintail: 1 JWC, 3 Cay L Feb 8
(WEB); spring arr Mar 18; 2,000 Mar 29 mucklands nr MNWR (DBP). Gadwall:
9 JWC is high; spring arrival Mar 25 M'NWR, max 75 there by end of period.
Green-winged Teal: no winter records; last Dec 5 Sen L; arr Mar 25. EUROPEAN
WIDGEON: 2 Sen L WFC; this European vagrant is regular in spring at MNWR
but otherwise very scarce. American Widgeon: 26 Cay L WFC is exceptional;
spring arr Mar 22 Sen L (JAW). Shoveler: first Mar 6 Cay L (CCBSG). Wood
Duck: 4 SWS, JWC. Redhead: 8504 JWC (6722 in 1969) is a good count Ring¬
necked Duck: 3 JWC; spring arr Mar 25 M'NWR; 300 nr MNWR Mar 29 (DBP).
Canvasback: 1271 JWC (783 in 1969) Scaup: 1065 JWC (1897 in 1969), low
compared to a decade ago. Common Goldeneye: 489 JWC (573 iri 1969). BAR-
ROW'S GOLDENEYE: female at Sheldrake as previous years; first seen Jan 22
(Stephen Taylor), present thru Feb. Bufflehead: 131 WFC (116 in 1969). Old-
squaw: 1 Dec 31 Elmira; 2 WFC on Keuka L; 1 Jan 7 Sen L; 14 Mar 29 Elmira.
White-winged Scoter: 1 Cay L WFC; and 1 Jan 28 (GCBSG) are only records.
Ruddy Duck: no reports. Hooded Merganser: 7 WFC; 30 Mar 31 MNWR (CH).

80

Common Merganser: 47 WFC (84 in 1969). Red-breasted Merganser: 1 Cay L
WFC; 2 Feb 22 Cay L (WEB); 2 Mar 26.Cay L. (CCBSG).

HAWKS-OWLS; Turkey Vulture: arr Mar 26 (SWS (Stan Temple), an unusual
place for this species. Goshawk: several reports; wintered at Lansing, Mount Pleasant
area, Geneva, Horseheads; also reported near SWS (mid Jan) and Etna (late
March). Sharp-shinned Hawk: appeared to be the scarcest of the accipiters this
winter; reported from Horseheads, Ithaca and McLean. Cooper’s Hawk: 5 ICC is
record high; also, 2 SCC, 1 Jan 2 Elmira suggest normal to good wintering numbers.
Red-tailed Hawk several observers consider that numbers were low due to heavy
snow but 25 ICC was a record high. Red-shouldered Hawk: I Mar 23-27 nr Ithaca
Airport (DBP). Broad-winged Hawk: 1 Mar 26 SWS (John Haugh) is extremely
early; this observer has spent the last five years studying hawk migration. Rough¬
legged Hawk.: scarce; missed for second time in seven years in ICC; 1 Jan 19 Ithaca
(CCBSG), 1 Feb 22 MNWR (Charles Leek). Bald Eagle: adult Mar 26 Branchport
(Mable Thompson); adult Mar 30 Six Mile Creek (Norman Patterson). PERE¬
GRINE FALCON: 1 for several days in early February Elmira (Mrs. Lewis Van-
Duzer), an area where there have been many winter sightings. Sparrow Hawk: 17
ICC is all time high, perhaps helped by local nest box project. Turkey: 33 Sprague
Hill Rd; also reported from Mt. Pleasant, Irish Settlement Rd and Pine City. Virginia
Rail: 1 Dec 3 dead on Cornell Campus (Prof. Asdell). Coot: 557 on JWC (457 in
1969). Killdeer: 7 EEC; arr Mar 1 Ithaca (Noel Cutright). Common Snipe: arr Mar
27 Ithaca (Stephen Taylor). Woodcock: arr Mar 21 Keuka (FKG); Mar 21 Ithaca
(J. Patterson), Greater Yellowlegs: 1 Mar 26 Ithaca Airport (DBP).

Glaucous Gull: 1 Jan 1 Ithaca (DBP) is only record. Lesser Black-backed Gull:
present for 7th winter from late Dec to early Feb (mob). Great Black-backed Gull:
1 Jan 1 Big Flats, Elmira; despite recent expansion of range of this species it is still
scarce away from the Finger Lakes. Herring Gull: 421 ICC, about normal. Ring¬
billed Gull: 44 IOC, low. Mourning Dove: 96 ECC; 63 ICC few reports Watkins
Glen (JB). Screech Owl: 1 regularly Etna (SHS); 1 dead, Feb 2 Richford (Mrs.
R. Latta); 1 in Jan at feeder in Dryden (Paul Kelsey); 1 Jan 1 Watkins Glen (JB).
Great Horned Owl: on nest Feb 7 Ithaca (P. Allan). Snowy Owl: 2 reports from
Keuka are only records. Short-eared Owl: 1 Jan 7 northern Seneca Co (WEB) is
only report.

GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Belted Kingfisher: a few wintered. Yellow-shafted
Flicker: 3 ECC; 2 ICC; and numerous other winter records. Pileated Woodpecker:
4 ICC, and scattered other reports. Red-bellied Woodpecker: 1 Elmira to Jan 1;
then only on Jan 28 (Walter Wood); 2 regularly at feeder in Clyde (WEB); also
wintered at SWS, Romulus, East Lansing, Enfield and Ithaca. Red-headed Wood¬
pecker: 1 in Feb Perry City Rd. (Mrs. Swenson). Phoebe: arr Mar 30 SWS (Robert
Parsonson); Dryden (DBP). Horned Lark: general comments were that numbers
were low “seemed fewer” (Elmira); down in numbers, only sizable flock was one of
125 Feb 21 nr Waterloo (WEB); only occasional reports (Hornell, EMG); although
good flocks nr Ithaca in Feb (SHS); and “many” Geneva (Catherine Walsh). Tree
Swallow: arr Mar 23 Ithaca (CCBSG). Blue Jay: numbers back to normal or above
after last year’s low: 375 ICC (61 in 1969), 327 ECC (21 in 1969), 41 GCC (25 in
1969). Crow: also seemed commoner than usual; record high count of 1051 ICC was,
however, partially due to observations on a roost. BOREAL CHICKADEE: Elmira
bird (Klimko feeder) seen occasional through winter, 1 last week in Dec Geneva
(CMW); 1 Feb 2 Etna to end of period (mob), photographed by SHS; 1 Feb 8
Trumansburg (WEB). Red-breasted Nuthatch: “more numerous than ever before”
with 15 on CC in Elmira; “more plentiful than usual” (Keuka); “many scattered re¬
ports” Watkins Glen; many reports from Ithaca area, 4-5 at one feeder in Etna
(SHS). Carolina Wren: 7 in several localities Watkins Glen (JB); 2 ECC; 1 Jan 1
onwards Hewitt feeder, Ithaca; 1 Stewart Park all winter; 2 wintered at feeder at

81

Romulus (Mrs. Van Ripper). Mockingbird: few scattered reports. Brown Thrasher: 2
feeder reports from Elmira (WH): 1 Mt. Zoar mid Dec to early Jan, other 24-26
Dec. Robin: 10 Jan 5 Taughannock Blvd (Mrs. Malkowsky) was largest winter con¬
centration; main arrival Mar 24 Ithaca. Bluebird: 3 Turkey Hill—Ellis Hollow area;
Varna mid-Jan to early Feb; 1 Mar 9 Elmira (WH); 1 Mar 24 Geneva (JAW).
BOHEMIAN WAXWING: 1 Jan 3 Snyder Hill Rd (Dick Fischer). Northern Shrike:
1 in'Dec west of Watkins Glen (JB); 2 records from Keuka, Dec 8 and'Feb (FKG);
1 Dec 12 Clyde; 1 Mar 7 MNWR (WEB); 1 Feb 1 Ithaca airport (SHS); 2 Feb 8
Etna (IT); 1 Feb 24 Interlaken '(Mrs. Donald Bell); 1 Mar 7 Ithaca airport (Charles
Leek). Migrant Shrike: 1 Mar 30 n. of Ithaca (Noel Outright).

VIREOS—SPARROWS: Few reports of wintering icterids; first big influx of male
Redwings, Grackles, and Meadowlarks Mar 20-22, rather late; female Redwings not
numerous by end of period. Baltimore Oriole: 1, possibly 2, imm Dec and Jan at
feeder in Ithaca. Rusty Blackbird: 1 first week Dec Etna (SHS); 1 Jan 28 Enfield,
Davis feeder; 1 Feb at feeder Keuka area (Francis Orcutt). Brown-headed C'ow-
bird: 15-20 at feeders Hornell (WMG); 8 on ICC is record low. Cardinal: 119
ECC; 90 Jan 1 Schuyler CC. DICKCISSEL: 1 Jan 26, 28 & 29 SWS (JT). Evening
Grosbeak: fairly common Elmira with 39 on CC 1 ; 290 ICC is highest since 1963,
114 SCC. Purple Finch: “very few” Hornell (WMG). Pine Grosbeak: 3 Feb 14
Horseheads (WH) is only report. Redpoll: A major flight; “Biggest year for a long
time” with 348 on SCC (JB); “Very common” Geneva (JMW); best flight in years,
flocks up to 100 Clyde; 200 MNWR Jan l(WEB); numerous, Elmira, Ithaca,
Keuka; largest single flocks, 850 Mar 15 n of Watkins Glen (Stephen Taylor) and
350 Feb 26 Interlaken (DBP). Goldfinch: 60 IOC is record low; “Good numbers”
Watkins Glen (JB); 5 GGC (11 in 1968). Red Crossbill: “Many reports” Watkins
Glen, max 30 Mar 27 (JB); small groups at feeders Elmira, Geneva, Horseheads,
Hornell and Ithaca. White-winged Crossbill: less numerous than Red; 2 reported
several times from W. Elmira; 1 March report Watkins Glen; few feeder reports
Ithaca, max 15 Mar 16 (Mrs. Herber Gips). Towhee: 4 ECC; 3 wintering at feeders
Watkins Glen. ’Savannah Sparrow: arr Mar 30 Game Farm (Doug Auer, Pete
Brown). Field Sparrow: 4 Dec 6 & 7 Clyde (WEB). White-throated Sparrow: 17
ICC is record high; 76 SCC is five times previous high count, mainly at feeders;
more than usual wintered Elmira with 16 on ECC (2 in 1969). Fox Sparrow: arr
Mar 29 Jacksonville (Mrs. A. T. Graham). Swamp Sparrow: few wintered Watkins-
Montour marsh (JB). Song Sparrow: wintered in normal numbers or above; 40 ECC
is three times normal. Lapland Longspur: scattered individuals with Horned Larks.
Snow Bunting: 200 ICC is normal, but only 1/8 of last year’s record high; largest
flock 400 nr Ithaca (JT).

Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

REGION 5 —ONEIDA LAKE BASIN

M. S. Rusk and F. G. Scheider

December remained deceptively mild, snow cover prior to the Syracuse Christmas
Count December 20 being light and unsustained. Numerous half hardies were
tabulated on that count, but the remainder of December was a steady meteorologic
disaster with heavy persistent snow and severe sustained cold.

January maintained the persistent cold and deep snow (36 days with no reading
above freezing), half hardies were literally wiped out and most of such species that
survived did so only at generous feeders. Deep snow (28+ inches of ground snow)
completely covered weed seeds, such that open-country sparrows, Snow Bunting,
Homed Lark, and finches except for the very adaptable Common Redpoll, evacuated
the area.

82

February had a brief thaw period in the first week, creating crusted snow and
magnificent icicles, but the subsequent cold and ground snow seemed very nearly as
severe as January’s.

Aside from Goshawk, 'Ring-billed Gull, and Common Grow, early March had no
migrants. The first brave wave were Canada Goose and Robin on March 17 to 19,
and the only spring wave of any abundance was March 26 to 29.

Mouse shortage and heavy snow in early Jan, ergo few raptors and almost no
mouse owls. Weed seeds covered in early January, ergo few sparrows, finches, and
Snow Buntings thereafter. Cone crop exhausted by early February, ergo few cross¬
bills remaining. Berry crops decimated by mid-February, ergo few Cedar Waxwing
flocks.

The many parallels betw'een reduction and/or loss of food supply and subsequent
drastic drop in species numbers demonstrates the overriding winter requirement of
sufficient food; conversely, the survival of certain half hardies (Mockingbird, Rufous¬
sided Towhee, Field Sparrow) in feeder situations shows that sustained food supply
will permit such species to survive even in the face of severe snow and cold.

Positives for the period include: 1) presence of King Eiders at Oswego Harbor;
2) a moderate Goshawk flight; 3) high counts of Yellow-shafted Flicker; 4) a Boreal
Chickadee invasion; 5) good numbers of 'Northern Shrike; 6) many half hardies;
7) irruption of certain finches—Evening Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, Red Crossbill.

Negatives are: 1) low numbers of diving ducks, especially Oldsquaw; 2) very
poor numbers of the two smaller accipiters; 3) low counts of Rough-legged Hawk;
4) poor showing of owls; 5) low Purple Finch numbers.

Rarities for the season are Common Egret, Barrow’s Goldeneye, House Finch, and
Oregon Junco.

Abbreviations: Places — DH—Derby Hill near Texas; HIGMA—Howland Island
Game Management Area near Port Byron; Onon—Onondaga; SP—Sandy Pond; Syr—
Syracuse. Others — BBFS—Dr. B. P. Burtt’s feeder survey, conducted the first week
of each winter month, with all numbers given per 100 surveys; CC— Christmas Count,
Syr Dec 20, Oswego Dec 21, Old Forge Dec 30, Oneida Jan 1, HIGMA (NE quad¬
rant of the CC circle) Jan 1; WFC—Waterfowl Census Jan 10-18; mob—multiple
observers.

Observers:-DWA-D. W. Ackley; BB-B. Barnum; DC-D. Crumb; FLF-F.
LaFrance; GRM-G. R. Maxwell; B&iSP-B. & S. Peebles; GP—G. Perrigo III; JWP-
J. W. Propst; MSR-M. S. Rusk; FGS-F. G. Scheider; GS-G. Smith; CGS-C. G.
Spies; RJS-R. J. Sutliff; J & EVD-J. & E. VanDresar.

Corrigenda for Kingbird v. 20, no. 1, Jan. 1970 Region 5 report: p. 28 read
“White-winged Scoter ... no 1000 plus days” and “Red-breasted Merganser ... only
1 day with 1000 plus — 1300 SP-to-Oswego . . p. 30 Laughing Gull Oct. 16;
p. 33 Wilson’s Warbler and Redstart departure dates Oct 8 and Oct 20 respectively; p.
34 “Slate-colored Junco . . . 200 Oct 26 Delta L”; p. 34 “White-throated Sparrow . . .
Oct counts 20-93 per day . . .”.

The editors wish to thank the many observers for their data, and compilers D.
Crumb,F. LaFrance, J. W. Propst, C. G. Spies, and R. J. Sutliff for their help.

LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 grounded in mid-Jan near Oneida (fide
DWA); no others reported. No wintering Red-necked or Homed Grebes. Pied-billed
Grebe: 6 on WFC, above average. COMMON EGRET : 1 in nuptial plumage Mar
30, record arr, Scott Swamp near Phoenix (D. Janes). American Bittern: 1 with ice
anklets Dec 24 Clay Swamp retained indoors until late Mar (D. Janes). Mute
Swan: singles Mar 14-16 Onon L (FLF) and early Apr Jamesville Reservoir (JWP).
Whistling Swan: 7 Mar 29 Seneca R flats (FGS) is only report. Canada Goose: late
arr—first noted Mar 5 with 9 Tully L(JWP); massive flight in late Mar with max
11,000 Mar 29 Seneca R flats; counts of 1000 at Lakeport and Willow Grove on
Oneida L (B&SP) and 3770 Mar 31 N Madison Co (MSR) attest to widespread

83

flight. Blue Goose: max 20 Mar 28 Beaver L (F. Dittrich); other reports of singles
only. Mallard and Black Duck: ratio for past 2 years approximately 4:1—999 Mal¬
lards to 276 Blacks in 1969, 1210 Mallards to 365 Blacks in 1970, a striking reversal
from 1:2 Mallard: Black ratio of the early sixties. Despite the severe winter with
maximal ice conditions, a variety of wintering dabblers appeared—Gadwall: max 16
Jan 25 Oswego Harbor (OGS). Pintail: max 7 Feb 1 Oswego R (COS). American
Widgeon: max 8 Jan 15 Oswego Harbor (FGS). Shoveler: a female Jan 11-15
Baldwinsville (FGS,DC, M. Clough). Wood Duck: surprisingly, none after Jan 1.

Diving ducks were very scarce, probably because of both severe icing and actual
population decline—Redhead: winter max 43 WFC. Canvasback: winter max 83
WFC and spring max only 65 Mar 31 Bridgeport. Greater Scaup: winter max 2525
WFC and spring max only 800 Mar 29 ’SP inlet (GP) and 800 Mar 31 Bridgeport.
Common Goldeneye: winter max 1002 WFC; spring max 300-400 per day at open
areas of Oneida L (MSR, J&EVD). BARROW’S GOLDENEYE : adult male Mar 29-
SI Little Sodus Bay ( FGS et al) is 8th record in 10 years. Bufflhead: max 215 Jan
25 Oswego Harbor (MSR) but counts 140-150 per day late Feb-early Marat Oswego
(FLF,RJS). Oldsquaw: despite good fall flight, fantastically poor wintering popula¬
tion—WFC 34 total and all Feb and Mar counts below 10 per day. King Eider: max
for winter 4 imm males and 1 female Feb 7 and Mar 1 Oswego Harbor (mob).
White-winged Scoter: 75 on WFC is aWFC record; lesser numbers, 1-15 per day,
thru remainder of winter. Hooded Merganser: 4 individuals, all females, wintered at
Baldwinsville, Bridgeport, Oswego, and Minetto respectively. Common Merganser:
269 on WFC, down 90% from 1955-1965 tallies; winter max only 460 Feb 28 Os¬
wego Harbor (FLF,RJS). Red-baeasted Merganser: winter max 80 Mar 1 Oswego
Harbor (FGS).

HAWKS—OWLS: Goshawk: distinct tho small irruption—from 20 observers, 10
individuals in Dec, 19 in Jan, 6 in Feb, and 5 in Mar (including none from DH).
Sharp-shinned Hawk: very scarce—1 in Dec, 2 in Jan, and 1 in Feb, from 20 ob¬
servers. Coopers Hawk: very very scarce—6 in Dec, 6 in Jan, and 2 in Feb, also from
20 observers. Red-tailed Hawk: CC tallies are Syr 28, Oswego, 3, Oneida 19, and
HIGMA quadrant 23. No wintering Red-shouldered Hawk detected. Rough-legged
Hawk: max only 2-4 per day; CCs reveal singles only at Syr, Oswego, and Oneida,
with none at HIGMA; 1 Feb 22 at Thendara (JWP) is unusual, especially in view of
the very deep snow there. No wintering Marsh Hawk; last were 3 Syr CC. No win¬
tering Bald Eagle. Sparrow Hawk: CC tallies 21 Syr, 5 Oswego, 11 Oneida, 4
HIGMA quadrant; numbers down Jan thru early Mar with max 5-6 per day, prob¬
ably attributable to both persistent heavy snows and severe cold. Hawk migration
to be discussed in spring report.

American Coot: winter max 20 Mar 28 Oswego (GP) must include migrants as
Jan-Feb max only 5 per day. Wintering shorebirds—Killdeer: max 8 Syr CC; persist¬
ent single birds thru severe weather of both Jan and Feb at DeWitt and Fayetteville
(mob). Common Snipe: singles attempted to winter at Fayetteville and DeWitt, and
the latter bird persisted at least to Feb (mob). Red Phalarope: 2 Oswego CC
(GRM) is the 3rd Regional Dec record, not unexpected in view of the outstanding
fall flight of this species. Migrant shorebirds—Killdeer: max 45 Mar 26 DH (JWP)
and 100 Mar 28 N Oswego Co plus N Onon Co (mob). American Woodcock: arr
Mar 21 both Oswego (GRM) and E Syr(MSR). Common Snipe: arr Mar 15, 6 SW
Onon Co (CQS,MSR); usually woodcock appear before snipe. Lesser Yellowlegs: 1
Mar 31 Pennellville flats (DC) is early but not a record arr.

Glaucous Gull: poor flight in Dec but numbers up in Jan to winter max 10 Jan 18
(CGS,M‘SR). Iceland Gull: max 5-6 per day along Oswego R and Harbor but, like
Glaucous, not until Jan. Great Black-backed Gull: numbers definitley down through¬
out winter—max only 1 80 Mar 1 Oswego R and Harbor whereas previous winter
tallies have been in die hundreds. Herring Gull: winter max 7717 Oswego CC; daily

84

tallies at Oswego 1000—4000 with lowest in Feb as expected. Ring-billed Gull: counts
definitely up with 8895 on Oswego CC and Jan tallies 1000-2000 per day; Mar max
is an ice-coating mass of 15,000 Mar 29 at Little Sodus Bay (FGS). Bonaparte’s
Gull: 72 on Oswego CC, first time for this species in 13 years of this count.

Mourning Dove: flocks of 20-140 at various Lake plain localities (B&SP,mob); in
Onon Co hill country much scarcer—max only 3 per day (FLF), Screech Owl: re¬
ports of at least 4 caught in various buildings near Oneida emphasizes the change in
food seeking because of the mouse shortage and deep snow. Snowy Owl: single at
Syr Airport (C. & E. Famham) and 1 or possibly 2 birds near Manlius and Pompey
(fide M. E. Estoff and FLF); most notable is their complete absence along L On¬
tario. Barred Owl: at Labrador Pond in Fabius Twp (JWP,DC) and singles at Rem-
sen (J&EVD), Shackleton Pt on Oneida L (GS), and Oneida (S. & C. Schultz).

GOATSUCKERS—SHRIKES: Yellow-shafted Flicker: large wintering population
with max 33 Syr CC and 22 HIGMA CC quadrant. Pileated Woodpecker: new loca¬
tions at Oneida and Merrillsville (B&SP), Pleasant Pt on L Ontario (Mrs. F. Kidney),
Tully L (JWP), Hinmansville (Przewlocki), and SP (GP). Red-bellied Wood¬
pecker: newly located at Marcellus (T. M. Riley) and reported again at Sherrill (P.
Paquette). Red-headed Woodpecker: 4 singles wintered—at - Fairmount W of Syr
(Vrooman), Fayetteville (E. Becker), Baldwinsville (A. Walter), and Eaton (G.
Church), undoubtedly all feeder sustained. Hairy and Downy Woodpecker: large
counts from dying elm woods of HIGMA with 49 Hairy and 142 Downy in CC
quadrant.

Eastern Phoebe: arr Mar 28, 1 DH (MSR) and Mar 30-31 SP (GP). Horned
Lark: like 1969 fall flight, extremely poor spring flight—arr not noted until Feb 17—18
in Pompey area (DC,FLF); max 400 Mar 7 Camden (J&EVD) and 108 Feb 26
Pompey (FLF); all other counts below 100 per day. Tree Swallow: arr Mar 26, a
bit late, 38 DH (FGS). Gray Jay: single adult Feb 8 Big Moose dump (P. & S.
Paquette, DWA) is only report. Blue Jay; excellent winter tallies with 30-50 per day
reported; particularly good counts of 30-60 per day in Old Forge-Big Moose area,
even more impressive when the deep food-covering snow is considered. Common
Crow: spring max 13,000 Mar 7 DH (GS); Mar total for DH migration approximately
36,000 (GS et al).

Black-capped Chickadee: counts of 40-160 per day with highest tallies regularly
from Adirondacks sector of Herkimer Co. Boreal Chickadee: some dozen birds in 6
localities of Onon and Oswego Co (mob); most strange that none were reported in
highland forest or elsewhere in § Onon Co (FLF); still present in most of regular
Adirondack locations. Tufted Titmouse: another irruption winter but not as large as
last year; new locations at Fulton, Syr, N Syr, Solvay, and multiple locations at
Baldwinsville and Camillus (BBFS). Red-breasted Nuthatch: 9-20 per day at Old
Forge and Big Moose (BB); 1—6 per day in spruce groves and pine plantations of
Onon and OsWego Co; reported on all CCs. Winter Wren: 3-4 per day in Dec at
DeWitt but none known to survive thru the deep snow and severe cold of early Jan.
Carolina Wren: 2 at Oneida until deep snow in mid-Jan (Hodges fide DWA); 1
found dead in early Dec at Big Moose (fide BB) had an injured bill but probably
would not have survived the extensive snow there in any case.

Mockingbird: small “colony” at DeWitt and Fayetteville definitely expanding;
many new locations—Chittenango, Vernon, Manlius, N Syr, Liverpool, and Holland
Patent (BBFS). Catbird and Brown Thrasher: 1 of each on Syr CC (C. & E. Farn-
ham); none after Jan 1 and no Hermit Thrush throughout period. Robin: above
average numbers wintered; flocks of 4-28 with max 115 Mar 5 near Fair Haven
(FGS); first migrants Mar 17, very late, DH (GS). Eastern Bluebird: arr Mar 26
5 DH (W. & S. Spofford) —very, very late!

Bohemian Waxwing: single repeatedly near Jamesville in Dec (DC); none there¬
after. Cedar Waxwing: high tallies of 45-200 per day thru Dec but a sharp fall-off in

85

mid-Jan and only occasional flocks noted thru Feb and Mar. Northern Shrike: 20 in
Dec from 20 observers, and 36 in Jan and 13 in Feb from 21 observers, the drop-off
in Feb probably secondary to deep snow; 36 in Mar from 21 observers almost cer¬
tainly represent mainly migrant birds as many of them were noted along L Ontario,
particularly at DH and Selkirk Shores State Park. Migrant Shrike arr Mar 1 near
Fulton (JWP) a record early arrival; also a single Mar 5 and 7 near DH (FLF, E.
Sibley) is also amazingly early and could represent 2 birds.

V1REOS—WARBLERS: Myrte Warbler: 1 N Syr in Dec (K. Slotnick) and 1 on
Syr C C (W. Spofford, MSR) and 2 HIGMA GC (FGS); none thereafter.

BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Eastern Meadowlark: small numbers thru Dec and
early Jan with last Jan 4-11 Holland Patent (J&EVD); none appeared to survive
the deep snow of mid-Jan. Redwinged Blackbird: small numbers, 1-8 per day /win¬
tered with most surviving on food at feeders and dumps; arr Mar 4 OH (GS); heavy
flood of migrants Mar 26 with 38,000 DH and 10,000 Oswego feeder (F. Vanghel) is
per day thereafter. Baltimore Oriole: 1 Dec 3 at an Oswego feeder (F. Vanghel) is
only report. Common Grackle: arr Mar 1 Jamesville (DC) and 5 Mar 3 Morrisville
(A. Carter); max 16,000 at DH and 4000 at Oswego, both Mar 26. Brown-headed
Cowbird: max for winter 260 Jan 31 in an icterid-Starling roost at Syr (CGS); most
surprising were 25-31 per day Jan-Mar at Old Forge (CGS), all feeder dependent.

Cardinal: increasingly common and numbers impressive in long-inhabited sectors,
e.g. 48 Feb 19 in N Camillus and Fairmount; a pair in Dec at Thendara (Marion
Holme) where a pair is reported to have produced 2 young in summer 1969. Evening
Grosbeak: very heavy flight but after Jan 1 invariably at feeders—100-200 per day
commonly at the beleaguered feeding trays; BBFS 373 Dec, 1307 Jan, 1100 Feb,
1330 Mar. Purple Finch: extraordinarily scarce!—max 12 Jan 13 Eaton (G. Church)
and all other tallies were 1—5 per day; most observers had none .HOUSE FINCH:
female at D. Dawley’s feeder Dec 9 and 14 at 'Syr; unreported thru winter until pair
reported again Mar 31 (D. Dawley, subsequently photographed by DC). Pine Gros¬
beak: small numbers, 1—12 per day, in various sectors, with most in Adirondacks and
Tug Hill Plateau; a burst, 10-30 per day, Mar 10-30 near Holland Patent (J&EVD).
Common Redpoll: the winter finch—virtually everywhere with flocks of 60-100 per
day and some larger shifting flocks of 200 at Oswego and S of Syr; return flight at
DH began last week of Mar; highest numbers ever on BBFS. Pine Siskin: very few,
1-4 per day; the one exception a flock of 100 Dee 20 Holland Patent (J&EVD). Red
Crossbill: scattered flocks of 4-70 thru winter with most high counts in Dec and Jan;
100 Dec 9 Big Moose (BB) is the max; sharp drop in late Feb and Mar, but more
reports of 2-4 per day as pairs could be located by the vigorously singing males.
White-winged Crossbill: very scarce, especially in view of the many Red Crossbills,
but small groups present here and there—4 Dec 7 SP (RJS,FLF), 4 Feb 12 Big
Moose (BB), 4 Jan 5 and 16 Pratts Falls in Pompey Twp (DC); 1-3 per day Jan
27-Feb 19 near Oswego (GRM, C. Wernick); most observers saw none.

Rufous-sided Towhee: 7 individuals in period; at least 2 known to have survived
to Mar. Slate-colored Junco: numbers on CCs rather low—Syr 33, Oswego a mere 5,
none at Old Forge, 25 at Oneida, and 18 in HIGMA quadrant; even these poor
numbers dropped with the deep snow of Jan and Feb; in Mar no count exceeded 10
per day and no evidence of return migrants was forthcoming until the very end of
the month. OREGON JUNCO: a superb male (photographed Mar 15 by DC) at
S. Hosier feeder Jan 18-Mar 29. Tree Sparrow: very poor counts thru winter with
field tallies, 10-90 per day, down strikingly in Feb; no return flight detected by any
observer. Field 'Sparrow: small groups of 5-8 lingered in Dec but only singles which
were utilizing feeders survived beyond then (DWA,FGS).

White-crowned Sparrow: multiple singles in Dec but, like Field Sparrow, only
feeder-frequenting individuals survived beyond then. White-throated Sparrow: max
55 (all-time high) Syr CC; reported on all CCs and numerous feeders had them;

86

few of these persisted thru the deep snow and severe cold of Jan, and no return
migrants were detected in Mar. Fox Sparrow: 1 wintered Dec 15-Mar 4 at a feeder
S of Cazenovia (J. Morrison); 1st migrant Mar 16 Jamesville (DC). Song Sparrow:
Syr CC a high 77 but HIGMA GC quadrant a mere 7; numbers very low in latter
two-thirds of winter and almost none survived on native food. Snow Bunting: counts
of hundreds in Dec and early Jan—like Horned Lark and many sparrows, apparently
driven out by the deep persistent snows of Jan, Feb, and early Mar; Jan max 475
Jan 11 N Cayuga Co, Feb max 200 Feb 26 'Otisco L (JWP); no Mar peak of migrants
detected although lesser flocks, 60-100 per day, were noted passing DH.

417 S. Main St., North Syracuse 13212

REGION 6 —ST. LAWRENCE

Frank A. Clinch

The first half of the winter was more severe than the latter part. A major storm
that covered a large area hit all parts of the region December 26, and there was cold
and more snow in the month that followed. A second snow storm occurred in Jeffer¬
son and Lewis Counties January 8-9, but it barely reached St. Lawrence County. It
was the coldest January in the history of Watertown. The temperature was zero or
below a total of 21 days during January. It warmed up only briefly on January 17
and 29 so that the average temperature for the month was only 7.4 degrees which is
11.7 degrees below normal. February weather was a little milder without excessive
snow. March brought little snow and no very cold weather. Spring migration seemed
to be only a little late.

Observers: JB—John Belknap; FC—Frank Clinch; DC—David Gordon w'ho made
many of the observations; RW—Robert Walker.

Abbreviations: CS—Christmas Census in Watertown December 20; FRGMA—Percn
River Game Management Area north of Watertown.

LOONS—DUCKS: Great Blue Heron: Mar 30; only two nests can be seen from a
distance at the PRGMA heronry where the trees are dead and hardly enough of
them left to support nests. Canada Goose: first reported Mar 19 at PRGMA, 6 there
Mar 21; hundreds Mar 28 at Sulphur Springs and over 2,000 same day at PRGMA.
Mallard: 18 Dec 20 and a few all winter; numbers began to increase after Mar 19.
Black Duck: 9 (CS) and a few all winter, more after Mar 19. Pintail: many Mar 28
at Sulphur Springs. Green-winged Teal: Mar 28 Dexter Marsh. American Widgeon:
Mar 30 PRGMA. Wood Duck: Mar 29. Redhead: Jan 1 Tibbets Pt. (DG). Ringed¬
necked Duck: Mar 30 PRGMA. Canvasback: 3 Dec 13 Cape Vincent. Greater Scaup
and Common Goldeneye: all winter. Bufflehead: Mar 28 Dexter Marsh. Oldsquaw:
all winter. White-winged Scoter: one or two in Dec. Hooded Merganser: Dec 20 and
Mar 28.

HAWKS—OWLS: Goshawk: Dec 5 Evans Mills and Dec 20 Stony Pt. Red-tailed
Hawk: more numerous than Rough-legged Hawk this winter; seen each month in

various places. Rough-legged Hawk: scarce, max 4 Feb 14 Pt Peninsula. Bald Eagle:

adult arid immature Jan 18 near St Lawrence River at Hammond; 2 immature Feb 14
at Fineview (RW). Marsh Hawk: last Dec 20; 3 Mar 14 PRGMA. Sparrow Hawk: a
few during winter, more after the middle of Mar. Gray Partridge: 36 (CS); seen
only in much smaller numbers than in recent years; max 20 Jan 1 at Pt Peninsula
(DG). Turkey: Wellesley Is. Coot: Dec 14. Killdeer: first Mar 22, common
thereafter. Woodcock: 1 Mar 25. Common Snipe: 2 Dec 20 (CS) in place where
ground was not yet frozen; not seen after Dec 21 (Wolfe, Leone). Great Black-

backed Gull: only one Dec 14 Pt Peninsula. Herring Gull: immature found dead

at Eldorado Nov 8 had been banded near Lyal Is in Lake Huron, Ont June 15,

87

1969. Ring-billed Gull: Mar 28. Screech Owl; Feb 24 Gouverneur. Great Homed
Owl: Jan 18 Wellesley Is. Snowy Owl: scarce; JB saw 1 in Dec, 2 in Jan; RW saw 1
Dec 14 Pt Peninsula; DG saw none. Barred Owl: 1 found dead Feb 20 near Black
River Village (JB); 1 in Thompson Park, Watertown with freshly killed crow
(Wolfe, Leone); on finding the remains of the crow later one would have to say that
this owl ate crow. Short-eared Owl: DG failed to find any after looking diligently.

GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Yellow-shafted Flicker: (CS); a male seen three
or four times each month by several persons, at first seemed to be getting food from
the bark of trees, later taking suet at various feeders; this is the first flicker known to
have spent the winter here. Pileated Woodpecker: seen several times Dec and Jan in
Thompson Park. Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: female Jan 1 Fishers Land¬
ing (DG); he has also seen their work on several trees this winter. Northern Three¬
toed Woodpecker: 1 (OS) (Grant). Horned Lark: Jan 1; more common late Feb
and early Mar; DG noted both prairie and northern subspecies. Tree Swallow: 14
Mar 28 at PRGMA; many at PRGMA after two very cold nights (DG). Blue Jay:
all winter, but very common on Tug Hill and at Wanakena, St Lawrence Co. Com¬
mon Crow: a few all winter with more seen after the middle of Feb. Boreal Chicka¬
dee: 1 Feb 13 Town of Montauge, Lewis Co where 3 were seen in Nov. White-
breasted Nuthatch: at feeders during winter. Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1 at feeders in
Watertown; also Tug Hill, Town of Rodman.

Mockingbird: Dec 12 Depauville (RW). Brown Thrasher: Dec 27 (Brouse.)
Robin: 4 (C'S); 1 Jan 1 Thompson Park; 1 Eldorado Jan 24; 5 Mar 12, 50 Mar 14.
Bluebird: 2 (CS) (Brouse) seen several minutes under ideal conditions. Bohemian
Waxwing: Jan 28 Thompson Park (Wolfe, Leone). Cedar Waxwing: in Thompson
Park; max 100 in Mar. Northern Shrike: about the average number seen.

BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS:.Meadowlark: Dec 20; Dec 24; Mar 28. Redwinged
Blackbird: Dec 26; Jan 31; and in migration Mar 12. Common Grackle: first Mar 10.
Cowbird: several Feb 21 Watertown. Cardinal: 24 (CS), at least as many as last
winter. Evening Grosbeak: common all winter; 351 (CS). Pine Grosbeak: 8 Pitcairn,
St Lawrence Co., none in Jefferson Co. Common Redpoll: seen all winter; no, doubt
the biggest invasion in ten years; 200 in one flock and at least 350 in another Jan 1,
and over 1,000 seen in one day (DG); about the middle of Feb they began to ap¬
pear at feeders and were seen at many feeders in many places over a large area and
attracted much attention; over 300 banded in back yard banding only part time,
only 20 usually seen at once with a max of nearly 40 at a time (FC); 1 female
looked large so it was placed in a cell with another female where the larger size
was very evident. Red Crossbill: seen a few times in small numbers at some feeders;
7 Jan 30 at a feeder in Watertown. White-winged Crossbill: 8 Jan 3 near Fargo
(DG). Tree Sparrow': all the period. White-throated Sparrow: 5 (CS); 4 at a
feeder at least into Feb. Song Sparrow: 2 (CS); one Jan 1; all winter at a feeder in
Sackets Harbor. Lapland Longspur: 2 Jan 1 Clayton; 1 Jan 24 Smithville (DG).
Snow Bunting; seen in varying numbers until Mar, last Mar 20.

173 Haley St., Watertown 13601

REGION 7 —ADIRONDACK —CHAMPLAIN

Harriet L. Delafield

This winter of 1969-70 was a tough one in the Adirondacks and not one that will
be soon forgotten. Bob Kampf, of the Hilltop Meteorological Observatory, Ray Brook,
tells us that December was “uneventful” until snow began falling on Christmas
morning. It fell for 3/2 days and amounted to 31/2 inches. This was a new high for
the twelve-year records at the observatory.

88

Headlines in the papers read, “Hundreds Snowbound in Upstate Area” on Decem¬
ber 29; and, “The Great N.Y. Snow o£ 1969” on December 30. No significant thaw
came to relieve us of this condition and snow stayed on the ground right through the
period. The official measurement was still '23 inches on the ground at Ray Brook on
March 31. Temperatures were about average, with the coldest reading minus 20 de¬
grees on December 25 and the warmest plus 49 degrees on December 12.

January, again according to the above observatory, was “one of the coldest in re¬
cent memory.” The average temperature for the month was 5.8 degrees. February
was also oold and very windy, Gusts reached 60 m.p.h. on the 2nd and many days
reached 28 m.p.h. or over. Precipitation was not abnormally high but helped main¬
tain the coverage on the ground.

March, apparently, was rather typical, but there was no thaw until near the end
of the month. For this reason the snow stayed as reported above and we found birds
late in arriving. March, 1970, is the first in eleven years that We have recorded no
Robin or Song Sparrow.

It is interesting to note that Pine Grosbeaks were common and, as we reported in
the main body of the summary, Red and White-winged Crossbills stayed until the
hemlock seed crop began to fail. Our invasion of Common Redpolls was something
to keep us on the lookout as were the Evening Grosbeaks at feeders. Getting about
to observe birds in the wild was a hazardous and unrewarding occupation at almost
all times. Driving conditions were difficult to say the least and snow lay deep in the
woods.

Of interest were the Cooper’s Hawk seen the last week in March and the American
Coot which not only stayed all winter but remained in a river, out in the open. The
marshes, which this species normally prefers, were frozen so there would have been
no hiding places there even if this had not been a most unusually friendly individual.

Francis Singer was here from March 27 to April 2. We were most gratified at the
number of large raptors which he reported. Their exact locality must, of course, be
kept confidential as there are still those who will scare off large, easily spotted birds
either from natural curiosity or, unfortunately, from a desire to collect them or their
e gg s -

Observers: EA—Elizabeth Anderson; EB—Elisabeth Barnet; GCT—Greenleaf T.
Chase; TC—Thomas Clough; ED—Ethel Dyer; HD—Harriet Delafield; JK—Joseph
Keji; mob—many observers; RM—Ruth Meier; HMR—Howard and Margaret Read;
FS—Francis Singer.

Abbreviations: B—Bay; LP—Lake Placid; L—Lake; P—Pond; R—River RB—Ray
Brook; rd—road; SL—Saranac Lake; TL—Tupper Lake.

LOONS—DUCKS: Horned Grebe: 3 Jan 8 Whalion B, L Champlain, Essex Co
(TC). Red-throated Loon: 1 Jan 12 L Alice Outlet, Chazy (GTC). Canada Goose:
1 Jan 8 Whalion B (TC). Mallard: 3 Jan 8 Whalion B (TC); 1 Jan 12 L Alice
(GTC). Black Duck: 7 Jan 8 Whalion B (TC); 3 Jan 12 L Alice (GTC); 1 Dec 30
L Champlain near Peru (HMR). Scaup: 12 Dec 30 L Champlain, Plattsburgh ferry
dock (HMR). Common Goldeneye: 15 Jan 8 Whalion B (TC); 6 Dec 30 L
Champlain, Plattsburgh ferry dock (HMR). Red-breasted Merganser: 5 Jan 8 Whal-
lonB(TC).

HAWKS-OWLS: Goshawk: 1 Jan 6 SL; 1 Jan 10 Loon L (GTC); 1 Dec 11 &
Mar 21 SL (JK); 1 Feb 18 Peru, tearing feathers from captured chickadee (HMR);
1 crossing rd near Keene Valley (FS). Cooper’s Hawk: last week in March taking
Blue Jay at feeder, close range SL (GTC). Red-tailed Hawk: 1 Mar 27 Peru
(HMR); 1 screaming near nest Clinton Co (FS). Rough-legged Hawk: 1 Feb 13
Whallonsburg; 1 Feb 21 Crown Point (GTC); 1 Essex (FS). Golden Eagle: 6 pairs,
3 singles-location confidential (FS). Sparrow Hawk: 1 Mar 31 Peru (HMR); 1 Mar
26 Beekmantown (GTC). Ruffed Grouse: occasional in woods TL (RM); 1 Feb 16

89

Peasleeville (HMR). AMERICAN COOT: first sighted Feb 12 in Saranac R at SL
by JK, later noted by mob through period. Killdeer: 1 Mar 20 & 25 SL (JK).
Mourning Dove: 2 Mar 28-31 TL (RM); 4 at feeder thru winter until Mar 1 Peru
(HMR). Great Horned Owl: 1 Feb 16 RB (GTC). 1 Clinton Co (PS). Barred Owl: 1
Mar 7 Peru, harassed by crows (HMR).

GOATSUCKERS-STARLING Pileated Woodpecker: 1 Feb 26 Osgood R Frank¬
lin Co (GTC) Hair.y Woodpecker: 2 to 4 observed all areas. Downy Woodpecker
same as Hairy. Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: 1 Dec 10 SL (GTC). Homed
Lark: 20 Feb 13 Whallonsburg (GTC); 3 Mar 28 LP (JK); about 500 Peru mid-
Mar, small numbers rest of season (HMR). Gray Jay: 2 Mar 31 near Lake Clear
(H'D). Blue Jay: 15 to 25 in a day all areas. Common Crow: first Feb 4 TL (RM);
first Mar 4, 15 Mar 22 SL (EA,HD); beginning to flock Jan 13, numerous then Peru
(HMR). Black-capped Chickadee: “amazing” nos at feeders (GTC,RM); not so
many in woods. White-breasted Nuthatch: 1 to 2 all areas. Red-breasted Nuthatch:
few all areas except Peru. Brown Creeper: 1 Dec 26-Feb 24 SL (JK). Robin: 1 Dec
23 SL (EB); 5 Feb 1 Willsboro (GTC ); late returning all areas. Eastern Bluebird:
very early return, pictures taken Mar 19 RB (fide GTC). Cedar Waxwing: 12 Feb
20, 20 Mar 28 Peru (HMR). Northern Shrike: 1 Feb 13 Whallonsburg (GTC).
Migrant Shrike: 1 Mar 28 LP (HMR). Starling: 1 to 7 thru period SL (JK);
numerous thru period Peru (HMR); occasionally since Mar 19 TL (RM); first Feb
25, numerous after Mar 23 Trudeau Rd (EA,HD).

VIREOS—SPARROWS: House Sparrow: 1 to 8 thru period SL (JK); numerous
Pern thru period (HMR). Redwinged Blackbird: 1 Dec 2 & 14, back for spring
Mar 23 SL (EA,HD); 1 Mar 20, numerous after that Peru (HMR); back Mar 25
TL (RM). Common Grackle: back Mar 22 TL (RM); 23 Mar 28 SL (JK). Brown¬
headed Cowbird: 1 injured Jan 22 & Feb 4 'SL (EA); back Mar 28 TL (RM); 5
Feb 8 SL village (JK). Evening Grosbeak: numerous all areas (mob) except Peru
where only 20 noted thru Feb (HMR). Pine Grosbeak: common, 30 Mar 26 Beek-
mantown, most GTC had ever seen together. Common Redpoll: this was the com¬
mon finch this winter, HD received many calls from people who had never seen them
before, those who knew them were amazed to see so many, stayed until Mar 29 SL
(HD). Pine Siskin: 3 flocks Feb 21 Port Henry to Crown Point (GTC); up to 8 Dec
5 to 14 SL (JK). Red Crossbill: notably abundant Jan & Feb, tapered off to a few in
late Feb after hemlock seed was exhausted; highest count Wawbeek to Saranac Inn
Jan 11 when 18 flocks averaging 40 birds mostly this species were noted (GTC); 1 to
8 Dec 4 to Mar 23 'SL (JK). White-winged Crossbill: same as Red but not as many
(GTC); 1 on Christmas wreath picking at cones SL door Jan 30 (Alford fide JK).
Slate-colored Junco: 3 Dec to Feb 15 SL (GTC); 6 all winter SL (ED). Tree Spar¬
row: 3 to 6 thru period SL (HD,GTC). White-throated Sparrow: 2 before Christ¬
mas thru period SL (EB). Fox Sparrow: 1 before Christmas thru period SL (EB).
Song Sparrow: 1 Feb 1 Willsboro; 1 Feb 21 Crown Point (GTC); 1 Dec 6 SL
(ED);, late returning in spring (HD). Snow Bunting: 120 Feb 13 Whallonsburg
(GTC); 2 Jan 10 TL; large flock Jan 11 Little Wolf P, Town of Altamont (RM);
4 Feb 25 Normans Ridge, Vermontville, “on the snow ‘dunes’ and flying with the
flying snow” (JK); flocks to 200 thru mid-Mar Peru (HMR).

Trudeau Road, Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983

REGION 8 — HUDSON-MOHAWK

Marion J. Ford

Undoubtedly the most significant weather factor for the winter was the record-
breaking snowfall which began Dec 25 and continued until Dec 27 piling up to 36
inches on the ground on the 28th. There was only a total of four days the entire

90

month of Dec that there was no snow on the ground. The average temperature for
Dec was 21.6° with a minimum of -22°. The cold weather of January did little to
melt the snow cover with the average temperature for the month of 9.7. Additional
snowfall, however, was very slight. Temperatures and snowfall in Feb and Mar
were more nearly normal. Most bodies of water were frozen over by mid Dec. Few
lakes were open before almost the end of the period. On Mar 21 the Lower Hudson
channel was open. Because of the heavy snowfall some Christmas counts were
markedly affected; some were only token counts with few observers, few hours spent,
and small area covered. One did not report.

The northern birds were in very plentiful supply all during the period. Red Cross¬
bills, some White-winged Crossbills, Evening Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, Pine
Grosbeaks, Purple Finches, and Boreal Chickadees were regularly reported.

Highlights of the period were Mute Swan, several Dickcissels, Iceland Gull,
Yellow'throat, Wood Thrush, Common Teal, and Black-backed Three-toed Wood¬
pecker.

Observers cited more than once: DA—Douglas Allen; W&KA—W. & K. Applegate;
bhs—Guy Bartlett, Barrington Havens, Benton Seguin; B [ S—Guy Bartlett, Benton
Seguin; T&EB—T. & E, Brown; HFB—Hazel F. Bundy; L&VB—L. & V. Burland;
JB—James Bush; MJF—Marion J. Ford; MG—Monte Gruett; EH—Esly Hallenbeck;
BH—Barrington Havens; HS—Barrington Havens, Benton Seguin; CK—Clarissa
Ketcham; ML&MJ—Mary Linch & Mary Johnston; MM—M. Mickle; PM—P. Mickle;
BRS—Benton R. Segiin; RPY—Robert P. Yunick.

Area compilers: Rena Dodd, Betty Laros, Clarissa Ketcham.

Abbreviations: Emb—Embought; FC—Fish Creek; Gl—Glenville; Gr—Greenville;
Hoos—Hoosic River; KL7—Lock 7 Mohawk River; LH—Lower Hudson River; Mville—
Mariaville; Mdale—Meadowdale; Nisk—Niskayuna; NWW—Niskayuna Widewaters;
SL—Saratoga Lake; SS—Stockport Station; TR—Tomhannock Reservoir; UH—Upper
Hudson River; srcc—Southern Rensselaer Christmas count Dec 21; tcc—Troy Christ¬
mas count Jan 1; see—Schenectady Christmas count Dec 20; gee—Greene county
Christmas count Dec 28; hmbe—Hudson Mohawk Bird Club record.

LOONS—DUCKS: Red-necked Grebe: 1 Dec 6 SL (BS). Horned Grebe: 6 Dec 6
SL (BS); 2 Mar 27 Emb (JB); 1 Mar 25, 28 LH (MM,PM,T&EB). Pied-billed
Grebe: first Mar 8 FC (BS). Great Blue Heron: only report 4 Mar 29 Nott Rd.
Sch’dy (HS). MUTE SWAN: first seen Mar 20 LK 7 (EH); again Mar 21 & 22
(EH et al). Canada Goose: 150 Dec 1 Berne (Marcia Kent); first spring arrivals
Mar 8 LH (W&KA); max 300 Mar 25 Emb (JB). Snow' Goose: two reports 18 Mar
28 LH (T&EB); 1 Mar 28 Mdale (BS). Mallard: present thru period; 307 tcc; 100
in Feb Cohoes Bridge (DA), Black Duck: present thru period with Mallards; 546
tcc; migrants 499 Mar 14 SS (DA). Pintail: 1 all winter Cohoes Bridge (DA); max
25 Mar 21‘ (hmbe); first arr Mar 18 LH (MM,PM,T&EB). COMMON TEAL :
1 Mar 21 LH (hmbe). Green-winged Teal: first arr Mar 18 LH (several observers);
15 Mar 21 LH (hmbe). American Widgeon: 15 Mar 21 LH (hmbe). Shoveler: one
report 1 Mar 22 UH (BS). Wood Duck: 1 see “listed only once previously in 1954”;
first arr 3 Mar 14 Athens (DA); Ring-necked Duck: 8 Dec 6 SL (BS); first arr Mar
14 ISS (DA). Canvasback: 10 Dec 6-14 (bhs); 1 Feb 28 Stillwater (bhs); 15 Mar
14 Athens (DA). Scaup: Dec 6-14 (bhs); 1 female Feb 21 UH (BS); Mar 8-29
(bhs); max 50 Mar 29 LK7 (HFB). Common Goldeneye: 250 Dec 6-14 SL (bhs);
first migrants 3 Mar 14 ISS (DA); 100 Mar 21 LH (hmbe). Bufflhead: 2 Dec 6, 14
(bhs); first arr Mar 8 LH (MM,PM,T&EB). Oldsquaw: last date Dec 6-14 (bhs).
White-winged Scoter: 2 Dec 6-14 U'H (BS). Hooded Merganser: 1 wintered FC
(bhs); first arr 2 Mar 14 SS (DA); 10 Mar 21 LH (hmbe). Common Merganser: 20
Dec 6-14 FC (bhs); earliest 1 Jan 18 Cohoes Bridge (DA); other reports beg innin g

91

Mar 14 max 60 Mar 25 LK7 (EH). Red-breasted Merganser: last report 12 Dec 14
(bhs); 1 Feb 28 Hoos (bhs); several Mar 25 LK7 (EH).

HAWKS-OWL'S: Turkey Vulture: 2 Mar 22 Kiskatom (J-B). Goshawk: 4 Jan 1
Riverview Rd. Sch’dy (BRS); 1 Feb 7 SL (HS). ISharp-shinned Hawk: 1 srcc; 1
Dec 30 Gr (C'K); 1 Jan 5 Gr (C'K). Coopers Hawk : 2 srcc; 1 Jan 10 Scotia (EH);
1 Jan 14 Gr (CK); 1 Mar 12 Gr (CK).; 1 Mar 15 G1 (EH). Red-tailed Hawk: fairly
commonly reported over area from Dec 6-Mar 28; max 27 Dec 7 (BS); albino re¬
ported Feb 14 New Lebanon (M&A Giddings). Red-shouldered Hawk: four reports
of 1 each; srcc; Mar 21 Kamer (BS); Mar 21 LK7 (EH); Mar 28 Mville (DA).
Rough-legged Hawk: seen thru period & on all Christmas counts max 6 Mar 22
Schodack (L&VB). Marsh Hawk: 1 Dec 13 Duanesburg (DA); 2 on Christmas
count 1 each srcc & see; several in Mar, Sparrow Hawk: numerous reports 1 Dec 10
at feeder “evidently after birds” (BH); max 18 srcc. Ruffed Grouse: few reports,
several observers reported as uncommon thru period, max 8 tcc. Bob-white: total of
four reports 1 each on srcc & tcc; 1 wintered near feeder from Dec 30 thru period
East Greenbush (MG); 1 Jan 3 Middleline Rd Glenville (Francis Bundy). Ring¬
necked Pheasant: several observers reported as scarce this winter perhaps because of
decreased stocking by the Conservation Dep’t, max 47 tcc. American Coot: 7 Dec 6
SL (BS). Killdeer: 1 Dec 19 Rotterdam (DA); first arr 1 Mar 13 Catskill (JB).
American Woodcock: scattered reports from mid Mar on. ICELAND GULL: 1 re¬
ported srcc in first-winter plumage Dunn Memorial Bridge. Great Black-backed Gull:
1 Dec 14 UH (BS); 1 srcc; first migrants 5 Mar 21 LH (hmbe). Herring Gull: 62
srcc; 4 Feb 25 LH “at Albany when ice has just gone out” (DA); migrants arrived
from Mar 12 on. Ring-billed Gull: 13 srcc; 10 Feb 25 LH at Albany (DA) max 100
Mar 21 LH (hmbe). Mourning'Dove: common thru area. Bam Owl: 1 downy nest¬
ling rescued by a conservation officer in Adamsville when nest in church belfry was
destroyed on Sept 21, cared for, banded, and released in large barn in Dormansville
by Marcia Kent in Berne in March (Walton Sabin). Screech Owl; 1 srcc. Great
Horned Owl: 4 srcc, lscc; 1 heard Feb 13 Alplaus (fide HFB). Snowy Owl: 1 Jan 3
Jenny Lake (BH). Barred Owl: 1 srcc; 1 Jan 31 Altamont (Beverly Waite); 1 Feb 28
TR (hmbe).

GOATSUCKERS—STARLINGS: Belted Kingfisher: several wintered in area; 1
srcc; 2 see. Yellow-shafted Flicker: scattered reports thru area, max 5 srcc. Pileated
Woodpecker: 1-5 reported on all Christmas counts; 2 reported daily Dec & Feb at
suet feeder Gr (Gladys Wissisky). Red-headed Woodpecker: 1 Mar 22 & 26 Cat-
skill (JB). Yellow-bellied iSapsucker: 1 Dec 20 & 25 (BH); 1 Dec 25 & Jan 1 Nisk
at feeder for 6th or 7th consecutive year (RPY). Hairy Woodpecker: reported as
fairly common by most observers, max 60 tcc. Downy Woodpecker: reported as com¬
mon by most observers, max 81 tcc. BLACK-BACKED THREE-TOED WOOD¬
PECKER: 1 male Jan 31 and again Feb 13 Delmar in two dead pine trees (Virginia
Puddicombe). Eastern Phoebe: two winter reports 1 Jan 5, 9, 21, 22 Gr (CK); 1
Jan 10 LK7 Rd. (RPY); first spring migrants Mar 28 Chatham (E. Powell); Mar 31
Ghent (P. & G. Erlenbach). Homed Lark: several reports of fairly large flocks, 343
srcc; c. 500 including Lapland Longspurs and Snow Buntings Dec (L&VB). Blue
Jay: apparently regaining numbers over last year, total on four Christmas counts
1058 compared to total 713 for five counts last year. Common Crow: regular numbers
reported, max 507 srcc. Boreal Chickadee: eleven reports, wintered thru period at one
location Nisk (DA); 2 srcc; 1 see; 1 tcc. Tufted Titmouse: regularly reported by
most observers, max 26 srcc. White-breasted Nuthatch: regularly reported by most
observers, max 77 srcc. Red-breasted Nuthatch: numerous reports, one observer
cited “common-good year for them” (DA); max 25 see. Brown Creeper: occasional
reports, max 16 see. Winter Wren: two reports, 1 Dec 13 & Jan 24 (bhs); 1 gee.
Mockingbird: observed over area, some regularly in same place, max 3 see. Robin: a
few wintered, migrants returned in numbers from Mar 28 on. WOOD THRUSH : 1

92

srcc. Hermit Thrush: 3 individual reported in three different locations. Eastern Blue¬
bird: first seen 1 Mar 23 South Sch’dy (DA); X Mar 28 Mdale (bhs). Golden-
crowned Kinklet: reported from seven or more areas, max 10 see. Ruby-crowned
Kinglet: 2 srcc; 2 see. Cedar Waxwing: few reports most in Dec, max 50 see.
Northern Shrike: scattered reports, only 1 on Christmas counts. Starlinga; apparently
regained numbers over last years Christmas counts, the total for four counts was
13,139 and the highest max total of 5,262 for one year in counts for forty years for
see.

VIREOS—WARBLERS: Y ELLOWTHROAT: 2 see, seen in separate areas; pre¬
vious record 2 in 1959.

BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Eastern Meadowlark: Scattered sighting thru pe¬
riod, 12 srcc; migrants from Mar 14 on (DA). Redwinged Blackbird: scattered
reports thru period, migrants arr 150 Mar 21 LH (hmbe). Rusty Blackbird: 1 Mar 1
Crounse’s Swamp (ML&MJ). Common Grackle: a few' winter residents; migrants
arr Mar 15 Mville (DA). Brown-headed Cowbird: total four Christmas counts 158;
first migrants Mar 12 Mville (DA); “abundant Albany downtown roost” (DA).
Cardinal: generally reported in good numbers. DICKCISSEL: four separate reports;
1 srcc; 1 tcc; 1 TR (hmbe); female Mar 6 Alplaus (HFB). Evening Grosbeak: re¬
ported in good numbers from all areas, max 497 srcc; 1 all yellow (no black) was
seen at feeder for third consecutive year on Dec 10 & regularly thru Jan Gr (CK).
Purple Finch: scattered reports, max 22 srcc; daily Feb 17-Mar 31 Altamont (ML&
MJ). House Finch: 3 Mar 18 Catskill (JB). Pine Grosbeak: scattered reports of
small flocks, max 57 Mar 26 Mville (DA); “females outnumbered males at all times
by 10-1” (DA). Hoary Redpoll: 1 Mar 11 identified at close range described as
generally li gh t overall with pure white rump (BH). Common Redpoll: generally,
reported over area, max 280 see; flocks up to 75 all Feb in Troy (E. & H. Long).
Pine Siskin: max 12 Jan 17 (bhs). American Goldfinch: reports from most observers,

212 srcc. Red Crossbill: larger numbers & reported from all areas especially during
Jan & Feb, max 175 Feb 7 Malta (HS); 100 Mar 29 Malta (HS). White-winged
Crossbill: several scattered reports, max 8 Jan 25 Mdale (BS); 1 female daily at
feeder Jan 30-Feb 28 G1 (MJF). Rufous-sided Towhee: several sighting over area,
3 see “widely separated areas,” previous records 1 in 1958, 2 in 1967 ,2 tcc ;1 gcc;
1 at feeder Jan 12 for 2-3 weeks Gr (fide CK); “may be a trend toward a wintering
bird” (Walton Sabin). Vesper Sparrow: 1 tcc. Slate-colored Junco: generally re¬
ported, Tree Sparrow: present in usual numbers, total 2288 on four Christmas
counts; 97 Feb 1 Berne (Marcia Kent). Field Sparrow: a few scattered reports; 8
tcc; 2-6 Mar 1-31 Chatham & Ghent (MM, M&A Giddings). White-crowned Spar¬
row: four reports; 1 see “became #104 on the composite list” previously listed on
near dates only. White-throated Sparrow: thru area, some reported as “few,” max 62
see. Fox Sparrow: a few scattered reports, 1 daily at feeder thru period G1 (MJF).
Swamp Sparrow: 1 srcc; 1 see. Song Sparrow: several reports seen daily thru period,
total four Christmas counts of 121. Lapland Longspur: 2 srcc; with flock of c. 500
Homed Larks & Snow Buntings Dec Columbia County (L&VB). Snow Bunting:
flocks reported thru area over period, max 248 GCC; 92 Dec 1 Berne (Marcia Kent);

213 Dec 15 Berne (Marcia Kent).

155 Van Buren Rd., Scotia, N.Y. 12302

REGION 9 —DELAWARE-HUDSON

Edward D. Treacy

Temperatures averaged well below normal for most of the winter. March was the
only month that was normal, caused not by extremes, but by consistent cold

93

weather. Temperatures remained below freezing for most of the period, but only
occasionally went below zero. Snow fall in the higher regions in December averaged
about 45 inches. There was much less in January and February. The December
snows lasted thru the season due to the persistent cold. Lower elevations experienced
very damaging ice storms just before Christmas. Lakes froze early and remained so
thru the end of the season in higher elevations.

For the second year in a row northern finches were abundant. Pine Grosbeaks
were low in number, but Evening Grosbeaks reached unparallelled highs,. If any one
event stands out it is the incursion of Red Crossbills and Boreal Chickadees which
were reported from all areas. Most resident species showed little change in numbers.
Waterfowl were good as much as ice conditions would allow. Hawks were generally
excellent. ! Mimid populations were better than usual, but most birders spent their
time looking at northern finches. There was a better than usual population of those
birds that should have moved farther south, but stayed the winter. Especially note¬
worthy were the thrushes and migratory sparrows. The Carolina Wrens which had
been increasing over the past several years might well have met with disaster this
season. Spring counts will tell the tale.

Observers cited; MB—Martin Borko; EB—Elsie Brown; RD—Robert Deed; JD—
James Demes; DF—Davis Finch; FG—Florence Germond; JG—Maj John Getgood;
TG—Tom Gilbert; SG—Stanley Grierson; T,PH—Thelma & Paul Haight; FH—Fred
Hough AJ—Alice Jones; J,MK—Jim & Mary Key; ML—Mabel Little; HM—Helen
Manson; A,BM—A1 & Barbara Merritt; JO—John Orth; VP—Vivian Parkhurst; EP—
Eleanor Pink; F,RS—Frank and Ruth Steffens; W,TS—William & Trixie Strauss;
EDT—Edward D. Treacy MV—Marion VanWagner; OW—Otis Waterman.

Area Compilers: Robert F. Deed, Martin Borko, Mrs. William Grierson, Fred
Hough, Al Merritt, Eleanor Pink, Otis Waterman.

Abbreviations: BCC—John Burroughs Natural History Society Christmas Count
December 28, 1969; BMCC—Bear Mountain Christmas Count January 3, 1970;
FWC—Federation of NYS Bird Clubs Waterfowl Count January 11, 1970'; MBC—
Edgar A. Mearns Bird Club; MCC—Edgar A. Mearns Bird Club Christmas Count,
Jan 3, 1970; RAS—Rockland Audubon Society; RCC—Rockland Audubon Society
Christmas Count December 27, 1969, USMA—United States Military Academy at
West Point, N.Y.; WBC—Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club of Dutchess Co. N.Y.;
WCC—Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Christmas Count December 28, 1969; Dutch—
Dutchess Co; Oran—Orange Co; Putn—Putnam Co; Rock—Rockland Co; Sull—Sulli¬
van Co; Ulst—Ulster Co; West—Westchester o.

LOONS-DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 Mar 25 Rhinecliff (WBC). Homed Grebe:
first Mar 15 Cornwall Bay (JG); another Mar 25 New Hamburgh; and 2 Mar 28
Vanderburgh Cove (WBC). Pied-billed Grebe: first, 6, Mar 25 New Hamburgh
and Barrytown (WBC); 4 more on Dutch ponds same date; 1 Mar 27 at Bashakill
(M'B); a high number of 11 on FWC. Great Blue Heron: more winter reports than
usual; 1 RCC makes the third time in 23 years; 3 Mar 4 Tamarack Swamp, Dutch
(FG); 2 Mar 30: 1 L DeForest, Rock (RS); the other Tri-Loba Hill Sanct Katonah
(SG). Mute Swan: usual large numbers in Rock, more than usual in northern part
of region; 2 from March 22 to end of period in vicinity of Iona Is: 3 thru most of
period Tompkins Cove; a total of 23 on FWC, and 1 on Cornwall Bay Mar 23.
Canada Goose: 'by the end of die period most lakes had resident pairs established;
as many as three or four hundred at the usual places in Rockland; from 600—300 re¬
ported from Dutch thru Dec 22; no reports Jan and Feb; many flocks reported the
last 2 weeks of Mar. Black Duck: Hundreds in the vicinity of Crugers Is Mar 21 thru
end of period. Pintail: all records Mar; 4 Mar 14 Dennings Pt; 4 Mar 15 Cornwall
Bay; 2 Mar 21 Vanderburgh Cove; 10 Mar 28 Vanderburgh Cove and Crugers Is.
Green-winged Teal: 3 FWC; 2 Mar 15 Iona Is; 2 Mar 25 Vanderburgh Cove

94

(AJ); 20 Mar 28 Crugers Is (WBC); in general, late arr. Blue-winged Teal: num¬
bers good and earlier than usual; 3 Mar 18 East Park (TG); 2 Mar 21 Vanderburgh
Cove (WBC); 7 Mar 25 Vanderburgh Cove (AJ). American,Widgeon: 1 Jan 25
Lithgow (OW); 6 Mar 21 New Hamburgh; 1 Mar 25 Rhinecliff; 5 Mar 28 Crugers
Is, Shoveler: From Dec 2 thru rest of month at Lederle Labs, Pearl River (FS); 1
Mar 18 New Hamburgh (WBC). Wood Duck: 1 RCC Lederle Labs, Pearl River;
residents arr within a few days of each other in late Mar; first 4 birds Mar 15 Iona
Is. (JO) Ring-necked Duck: first 12 Mar 14 Dennings Pt; numbers good by end of
period. Canvasback fairly good Mar flight; first 9 Mar 13; max 225 Mar 25 New
Hamburgh to Barrytown (WBC). Greater Scaup: fewer than usual; 6 Mar 24 New
Hamburgh; 12 Mar 28 Vanderburgh Cove; 8 same place Mar 29 (AJ). Lesser
Scaup: 1 pr Dec 12 S. Salem (SG); 4 Mar 25 Vanderbughr Cove; 3 Mar 29 same
place (AJ). Common Goldeneye: numbers fair; peak Mar 21—25; reduced by end of
period. Bufflehead: numbers better than usual thru end of period; max 15 Mar 21
New Hamburgh. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER: 1 Hunns L Dutch thru Nov, found
dead Dec 10 (MV); 2 Hudson R at Stony Pt on RCC (JD); first time on RCC in
23 years. Ruddy Duck: 1 Mar 15 on small pond near L Tappan (JD); 2 Mar 18
Dennings Pt; 2 Mar 23—25 New Hamburgh. Hooded Merganser: many reports thru
Mar, WBC reports best flight in years; max 45 Mar 21 New Hamburgh. Common
Merganser: good movement thru Mar; max 60 or more Mar 21—25 Hudson R in
Dutch. Red-breasted Merganser: first Mar 14 Dennings Pt (WBC); max 7 Mar 29
Rhinecliff (AJ); 4 Apr 4 on Hudson R at Cornwall and 4 more on Browns Pd
Newburgh (MBC).

HAWKS—'OWLS: Turkey Vulture: unusually early arr of Feb 23-24 in both Bear
Mt. Park and Dover Plains; numbers good by mid-Mar. Goshawk: more reports than
usual; 1 West Nyack on RCC; 1 Dec 28 Stissing, Dutch (T,PH); 2 Jan 13 Mt. Kisco
(Anthony Buzzanco); 1 Feb 12 Hopewell Jet (DF); 1 Carmel, Putn no date given
(ML). Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 Mar 27 Katonah (SG). Cooper’s Hawk: 1 Carmel no
date given (ML); another Mar 15 Skidmore Valley Dutch (J,MK). Red-tailed
Hawk: unusually good numbers thru season; from 20-30 observed regularly in both
Dutch and Oran; breeding pairs established and observed setting by mid-Mar at
Campbell Hall and USMA. Red-shouldered Hawk: still hope for this rapidly disap¬
pearing species; up from former years with several reports; 1 Apr 4 at Blauvelt
seemed to be on territory (RD); 1 Jan 21 Hopewell Jet. (DF); another Mar 21 New
Hamburgh (WBC); 1 regularly in New Paltz area during mid-Jan (Heinz Meng);
1 Dec 7 USMA (JG). Rough-legged Hawk: usual winter reports anywhere from 3-5
from Dec thru Feb. GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 imm Dec 20 at Briarcliff Farms, Pine
Plains (Dick Guthrie); observed regularly thru Apr 4 (mob). Bald Eagle: 2 thru
Nov and Dec Hudson Highlands at USMA; last observed Dec 22 (Al Schaut); usu¬
ally winters but not observed after that date; 4 Mar 27 in vicinity of Rondout Res,
Sull (Bill Desmond). Marsh Hawk: 1 Mar 24 South Salem (SG); 1 Mar 26 Thomp¬
son Pd, Dutch (VP). Osprey: first 1 Mar 5 (Bob Bard) at Crugers Is about one
month early; 3 Mar 27 Rondout Res (Bill Desmond). Sparrow Hawk: scarce in
Dutch but normal elsewhere; a pr. in copulation Mar 8 at Blooming Grove (EDT,
JG). Ruffed Grouse: numbers normal to less; only 5 reported on WCC, but 18 on
BMCC. Bobwhite: 12 Dec 20 Amenia (W.TS); 7 Mar 23 Poughkeepsie (AJ); ap¬
peared for the second time in 23 yrs on RCC, 1 at Suffem. (John LeMaire). Ring¬
necked Pheasant: down from 109 last year to 30 on WCC. JAPANESE GREEN
PHEASANT: being released in Dutch by N.Y.S. Conservation Dept; 1 Mar 21 on the
Shunpike, Dutch (FG). Virginia Rail: l Jan 29 and Feb 14 Stissing (T,PH). Kill-
deer: usual winter reports; 3 in Jan in Dutch, and 6 in Mar; 8 Mar 15 Cornwall Bay
(JG). Woodcock: first observed in courtship dance Mar 18 at South Salem (SG).
Common Snipe: 1 WCC 4th winter record since 1922 (J,MK); 1 Feb 8-9 Sheko-
meko, Dutch (VP); 1 Mar 25-27 Bashakill (MB); 1 Mar 28 East Park, Dutch (TG).

95

Great Black-backed Gull: becoming nearly as common as Herring, especially 1st and
2nd year birds on the Hudson. Herring Gull: normal. Ring-billed Gull: very large
numbers by end of period. LAUGHING GULL : 28 reported on Hudson R in RCC;
16 in the Haverstraw J Stony Point area (JD); 12 off Rockland L Landing, Hudson R
same day. (Eugene Brown), Bonaparte’s Gull: 2 Mar 29 Vanderburgh Cove (AJ),
a little earlier than usual. Mourning Dove: normal to better. Screech Owl; very few
reports; 1 Jan 21 Somers (Mrs. Schofield); another Mar 21 Rockland L Nature Cen¬
ter (JO). Great Homed Owl: a few more reported than usual; WBC' had Bin Mar; 1
heard calling at South Salem (David C utler); a pair at Cornwall-on-Hudson thru
most of the season are probably nesting (A,BM), Snpwy Owl: definitely not a flight
year; WBC reports 1 on Dec 19 and 29 at Vassar College, and another at East Park
dur Dec (Tony Adamp)-only reports for the entire region. Barred Owl: 1 Mar 30
Poughkeepsie (AJ); only report. Short-eared Owl: only a few were observed this
year at the Galesville Airport, Ulst where last year between 30-40 were observed.
(Heinz Meng, Robert Pyle); 1 Dec 7 Amenia (W,TS); another Apr 4 flying parallel
to Rt 9W near Popolopen Bridge (F,RS). Saw-whet Owl: 1 Jan 7 near New Paltz
(June Polatsek); 1 heard calling in late Feb at Kripplebush (FH).

GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Belted Kingfisher: very few reports, probably due
to icing; most reported in late Mar, but had not returned to many areas by the close
of the season. Yellow-shafted Flicker: 5 on WCC; 18 reports from Dutch Jan and
Feb; numbers slightly increased in Mar; 1 bird prevented a complete miss of this
species in the RCC—has never been missed in 23 years. Pileated Woodpecker: ex¬
tremely scarce thru entire season; virtually unseen and almost unheard. Red-bellied
Woodpecker: 1 from Dec 5 on and off thru Mar 2 East Park, Dutch (TG); 1 Dec
27-Jan 30 Pleasant Valley (Edith Gerhardt); 1 Jan 1 Katonah (Robert Swartz).
Red-headed Woodpecker: in usual places, numbers lower than usual but not ab¬
normally so; appeared on BC'C. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: all reports Dutch; 1 thru
Dec Pleasant Valley (EP); another thru Dec Millbrook (EB); 1 Jan 25 Lithgow; 1
Mar 24 Poughkeepsie (AJ); 1 Mar 25 Red Oaks Mill (J,MK). Eastern Phoebe:
more winter reports than usual in spite of extreme cold; 1 thru Jan to Feb 4 at Vassar
Coll; 1 on RCC is fourth record for that count; migrants generally late, did not ap¬
pear till last week of Mar in most areas. Horned Lark: 2 Rockland L Nature Center
most of Dec (Philip Meisner); most Christmas counts reported them in good num¬
bers; low by end of period. Tree Swallow: on time some areas, but lateo ver much
of the region; not reported in substantial number still very last days of Mar. Rough¬
winged Swallow': first Mar 15 Washington Hollow (HM); none reported elsewhere
thru end of season. GRAY JAY : 1 from late Nov thru end of season at the feeder of
Dorothy Schaefer in Mt. Kisco. Blue Jay: up from lows of last year, but still below
average. Common Crow: lower in Ulster, but normal elsewhere. Fish Crow: from 2
to 5 from Dec thru Feb in Poughkeepsie area; 4 at Vassar Coll thru Mar (OW); 1
Mar 14 at Wappingers Falls; and 8 Mar 28 Vanderburgh Cove (AJ). BOREAL
CHICKADEE; best year in memory; reported thru region with from 2 to 3 birds in
each location; persisted thru end of period. Red-breasted Nuthatch: more reports
than usual; 2 on WCC—first reports since 1963 for that count; BMCC had phenome¬
nal count of 15; numbers persisted thru end of period. Brown Creeper: more than
usual; BMCC had 7; WBC had 12 reports thru Mar. Winter Wren: numbers good in
Dec and tapering off to very few by end of period. Carolina Wren: excellent num¬
bers of last fall appear to be reduced by severe winter; especially true in the low
land region where ice storms prevailed, upper elevations relatively free of ice storms
and birds seem to have survived. Mockingbird: WBC in northern part of region had
18 on WCC, while Rockland to the south had 17 on their RCC; WBC started with
their first bird in I960. Catbird: WBC reports 5 in Jan but none in Feb; several were
comi n g to feeders in West. Brown Thrasher: more winter reports than usual; Yearly
in the season at New Paltz; 2 dur Dec in Dutch; 1 Dec 26-28 Cornwall. Robin:

96

BCG reports unusual number of 30; excellent Mar flight; thousands during last week
of Mar caught by snow storm. WOOD THRUSH : 1 Dec 7 Red Oaks Mill (M,JK).
Hermit Thrush: 1 at Kripplebush all winter (FH); 1 Feb 8 'Clausland Mt, Blauvelt
(Tom John). Bluebird: most reports Dutch; about 10—12 birds dur Mar. Golden-
crowned Kinglet: numbers not high, but reported from most parts thru season. Ruby-
crowned Kinglet: Bob Deed reports a ratio of about 3 Golden to 1 Ruby-crowned
in the Rock area. Water Pipit: only report 1 Mar 22 East Park (TG). Cedar Wax¬
wing: a few reported each month in Dutch; none elsewhere. Northern Shrike: WBC
reports '3 in Dec; 1 Mar 25 at Bashakill (Valerie Freer). Migrant Shrike: 1 Gale-
ville Airport (Robert Pyle); another Jan 14 Hopewell Jet (DF).

VIREOS—SPARROWS: Myrtle Warbler: 1 Dec 28 WCC at Salt Point (Czecher
Terhune). Eastern Meadowlark: very few reports thru winter; 17 on WCC. Red¬
winged Blackbird: better than usual; WCC had 26; RCC 56; about 500 reported
Mar 7 in Dutch. BALTIMORE ORIOLE : only 1 Dec 17-24 Pleasant Valley, bird
died (MV); Rusty Blackbird: 1 all winter at Stissing (T,PH); 1 Jan 18 USMA
(JG); 1 Jan 28 and another Mar 29 at Cornw'all-on-Hudson (A,BM). Common
Grackle: low thru winter; WBC reports 15 thru Mar; numbers inc rapidly from Mar
20 on thru rest of region. Cardinal: RCC reports 156; iMCC 140. Rose-breasted
Grosbeak: 1 Mar 26 Hyde Park (M. Brands). Dickcissel: 1 at feeder of Mr. & Mrs.
Richard Mole in Upper Nyack Dec 26 and 28 and into Jan; several reports from
Dutch; 1 Dec 11-14 Amenia, and again on Jan 10 (W,TS); 1 Dec 22-23 Green
Haven (Enid Butler); 1 Dec 8 and 22 Millbrook, and again thru month of Feb.
(Mrs. Boice). Evening Grosbeak: thruout region in excellent numbers; RCC reports
fourth most numerous species with a total of 549; their previous high was 125 in
1959; WCC reports 169, their highest since 1961. Purple Finch: no exceptional
movements; WBC reports 50 thru Mar. House Finch: in good numbers in usual loca¬
tions; WCC first reported species in 1965, this year produced 18; RCC had 45. Pine
Grosbeak: 8 Dec 12-19 Dover (Helen Sweeney); MCC reports 30. Common Red¬
poll: thru region in excellent numbers; BMCC reportsl 30; hundreds Feb 8 at
White Lake, Sull (MB); numbers still high at end of period. Pine Siskin: many re¬
ported thru region; numbers substantial. American Goldfinch: Normal to better; Ma¬
bel Little reports 30 in Dec to more than 75 at end of period in Carmel, Putn. RED
CROSSBILL: in exceptionally large numbers thru entire region; almost every cor¬
respondent reported them, some in exceptional numbers. White-winged Crossbill:
also widely reported but in lesser numbers than the previous species. Rufous-sided
Towhee: more winter reports than usual; MCC reports 13; RCC 17. Savannah
Sparrow: 1 all winter at Standordville (FG); 3 others in Dec by WBC. Vesper
Sparrow: WBC reports 2 in Dec. Slate-colored Junco: numbers generally down in
winter; marked increase Mar 27. OREGON JUNCO: 1 Dec 25 Crickettown Rd,
Town of Haverstraw, an unusually bright male. (Mrs. Dormann). Tree Sparrow:
numbers lower than usual, WCC had 135, lowest count since 1958. Chipping Spar¬
row: 1 carefully studied Jan 23 at home feeder in New City (F,RS); this is the
second year in a row that this species has been reported in the region in mid-winter.
Field Sparrow: unusal few wintering birds reported. White-crowned Sparrow: more
than usual number of winter reports; 1 Dec 26 Stissing (T,PH); 1 Mar 29 Pough¬
keepsie (AJ); 1 RCC at Suffern where it was previously found in 1966 and 1967;
1 Monticello singing in mid-Mar (Ken Niven). White-throated Sparrow: WCC 109;
MCC 86; best winter population in years. Fox Sparrow: usual winter reports; peak
in Sull Mar 27; WBC reports excellent movement from Mar 25-31. LINCOLN’S
SPARROW: first winter record for WBC and Dutch Co; 1 Dec 13-Jan 3 at Clinton
Corners, discovered by Florence Germond, and observed by mob, verification report
filed. Swamp Sparrow: usual few wintering birds. Song Sparrow: more than usual
for season; WCC reports 92, double previous high in 1964. Lapland Longspur: 4
Jan 25 Pine Plains (Dick Guthrie); 1 MCC at Hamptonburgh, Oran Jan 3 (EDT).

97

Snow Bunting: reported less frequently than usual, but several flocks of good size;
one flock at Pine Plains Jan 10-25 contained about 150 birds; another flock at
Stissing in Mar contained more than 100, MCC reports 75 at Hamptonburgh Jan 3
(EDT).

Spring reports due no later than June 5.

Pellwood Lake, Highland Falls, N.Y. 10928

REGION 10 —MARINE

Thomas H. Davis and Lee Morgan

Last fall’s spectacular “winter finch” invasion was all but over by early December
except for fair numbers of migrating Red Crossbills. Flocks were noted through the
end of January along the outer beaches, and many persisted beyond January in
coastal pine habitat. Smaller numbers were noted inland, some even visited backyard
feeders.

The Christmas Counts and the month of December are best remembered for the
amazing total of 16 species of shorebirds, the most notable of which were: White-
rumped, Baird’s, and Western Sandpipers. Captree Christmas Count (abbreviated
CaCC), utilizing 48 observers in 15 parties, “racked up” 135 species on December
20, a new State high, and the second straight year this count established a state
record. Other counts mentioned in this report are: Brooklyn (BkCC—87 species,
Dec 28), Bronx (BxCC), Central Suffolk Co. (CSC C—114 species, Dec 27), Mon-
tauk (MkCC—108 species, Dec 27), Northern Nassau Co. (NNCC—100 species,
Dec 28), Southern Nassau Co. (S'NC'C—125 species, Dec 28), and Queens Co.
(QCC—88 species, Dec 20 ).

An offshore warmfront the night of March 24-25 brought a number of surprises—
along with newly arrived egrets at Oak Beach was an adult White Ibis, a Louisiana
Waterthrush w'as found at Southaven, an exhausted Prothonotary Warbler was picked
up at Manorville, and a male Summer Tanager was seen searching the ground for
food at North Sea.

Other rarities reported this season were: Western Grebe, Tufted Duck, Lesser
Black-backed Gull, Common Murre (2), Varied Thrush, Boat-tailed Grackle, and
Black-headed Grosbeak.

Contributors frequently cited: AB—A1 Bell; NB—Ned Boyagian; PB—Paul Buckley;
RB—Robert Budliger; JB- John Bull; RC-^Robert Claremont; BC—Barbara Conolly;
ED—Ed Daly; TD—Thomas Davis; SD—Steve Dempsey; OD—Orville Dunning; FF—
Frances File; DF—Darrel Ford; FH—Fred Heath; HK—Henry Kemp; CM—Chris
McKeever; RP—Richard Plunkett; DP—Dennis Puleston; GR—Gilbert Raynor; BW—
Bill Ward; CW— 1 Cornelius Ward; CW—Charles Wellander; HW—Harold Wellander;
LW—Leroy Wilcox.

LOQNS-DUCKS: WESTERN GREBE: Jan 3 Shinnecock Inlet (CM)-a sight re¬
port of an accidental species by a single experienced observer. This species has occur¬
red on four previous occasions on our Region. Greater Shearwater: found dead on
beach, Dec 1 Point O’ Woods, Fire Is. (S. Hopkins) —specimen to the American Mu¬
seum, latest Regional record by three weeks. Common Egret: arr Mar 27 (5) at Tobay
(SD). Snowy Egret: Dec 28 (SNCC) 3 at separate localities; arr Mar 27 (16) at
Tobay (SD). White Ibis: adult, Mar 27-29 Oak Beach (W. Graves, R. Cohen)—its
arrival coincided with that of the locally breeding egrets, the only other Long Island
reports are three pre—1850 records ana one seen last fall, also an adult. Whistling
Swan: 4 birds were reported this season, mirroring last fall’s “incursion”—one at Big
Reed Pond, Montauk (mob); a pair on the lower Carmans River which remained to
Mar 22 (DP) and one at E. Moriches on Jan 3 (GR). European Teal: Jan 1

98

Lawrence (E. Levine); Mar 22 JBWR (ED). TUFTED DUCK : male Feb 19—21 Oak¬
dale (RB, BW, G. Bergen, B. Giffin, B. Reeves, H. Greenwalt) —“associated with a
mixed flock of Lesser Scaup, Canvasbacks and Ring-necked Ducks, it acted warily,
staying in the middle of a large pond; a later check of all the local aviaries showed
no missing Tufteds.” (RB). Greater Scaup: max 23800 Dec 20 QCC—over 90%
reported from Jamaica Bay east of Crossbay Blvd. Oldsquaw, Surf and Black Scoter:
single individuals of each species were recorded on the Hudson R. on Dec 21, miles
from the ocean (Manhattan GC).

HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: two migrant reports—Mar 15 Lloyd Neck
(mob); Mar 17 Montauk (BC). Red-tailed Hawk: max 21 Dec 28 (NNCC). Pigeon
Hawk: five reports this winter—Dec 20 Alley Pond Pk (QCC); Dec 28 (BkCC);
Dec 28 Massapequa (R. Sloss); Jan '24 Jones (DP,GR)—photographed; Feb 6 Sea
Cliff (B. Spencer). Sora: Dec 28 Lawrence (JB); Dec 14-Jan 3 Carmans R. (DP).
Semipalmated Plover: 2 Dec 20 Oak Beach (NB,RP), rare at this season. Black-
bellied Plover: max 24 on Dec 20 (CaCC). Lesser Yellowlegs: 2 Dec 20 Oak Beach
(TD, R. Dickerman, et al)—studied at close range, rare at this season. Knot: max 8
on Dec 28 Jones (CW)—this species is quite regular at Jones Inlet in the winter.
Pectoral Sandpiper: Nov 10 Tobay (W. Friton)—very late, excellent color slide sub¬
mitted to editor. White-rumped Sandpiper: Dec 6 JBWR (GR); Dec 21 (BxCC—
I. Cantor et al)—first winter record for our Region. Baird’s Sandpiper: Dec 7-13
JBWR (J. Machado, HK et al)—wing length, soft parts, other field marks noted, the
latest Regional record by nearly a month. Semipalmated Sandpiper: four winter re¬
ports totalling nine individuals^Dec 20 Oak Beach (NB,RP); 2 Dec 28 Jones
(CW); 4 Dec 28 Lawrence (R. Arbib) and 2 Jan 1 JBWR (CW,HW). Western
Sandpiper: one reported from JBWR on Dec 28 (BkCC) remained to Jan 1 (CW,
HW)—seen at close range in direct comparison to the above mentioned Semipal-
mateds, the third Regional winter record.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL: adult Feb 21 Fresh Kills, Staten Is. (R. Kane,
D. Sonneborn). Common Term: Dec 7 Moriches Inlet (GR)—latest Regional record;
12 Mar 1 Plum Beach (E. Kaplan, ficle PB)—a strange date for such a number,
possibly a wintering flock, but more likely the result of a southerly storm. Common
Murre : dead bird in excellent condition found washed ashore Jan 3 Hither Hills
State Pk. (CW,HW)—specimen to American Museum; oiled bird Feb 8 Montauk Pt.
(PB, TD et al)—captured, cleaned, photographed and released the following day, see
Field Note in this issue. Mourning Dove: “two eggs found on ground” Mar 14 Jones
(SD)—the earliest egg date for the Region; max 1174 Dec 28 (SNCC). Barn Owl:
max 6 Dec 28 (SNC'C). Great Horned Owl: nesting pairs were found at Pelham Bay
Pk (mob), Oakdale ( fide RB) and Southaven (DP); a stray migrant was found at
JBWR on Feb 23 (H. Johnson).

GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Red-bellied Woodpecker: at least 13 individuals
were reported this season from Long Is., mainly at feeders. The center of “abun¬
dance” appeared to be northern Nassau Co. in oak woods and suburban areas.
Eastern Phoebe: two reports—Dec 27 Mastic (P. Puleston et al); Dec 28 Lloyd
Neck (J. Ricks). Black-billed Magpie: the individual mentioned in the fall report
remained in the Tobay area to mid January (mob)—photographed by H. Knoch.
Boreal Chickadee: only one report following last fall’s flight—Feb 4r- 16 Port Washing¬
ton (M. Brigg et al)—at feeder. Tufted Titmouse: Dec 27 Brookhaven (CSCC);
Dec 27 Gardiner’s Is. (MkCC)—first ever for both counts. This species is known to
nest on Long Is. east to western Suffolk Co. Mockingbird: max 98 Dec 28 (NNCC)
—by far the highest number ever recorded on a local Christmas Count. VARIED
THRUSH : male, “late Oct-Feb 9 Quogue (LW, GR, TD, PB et al)—at feeder.

The following reports of three Hylocichla thrushes, all seen solely on the day of
a Christmas Count are possible correctly identified. None was photographed, col-

99

lected, or ever seen again. In banding fall migrants “I have infrequently handled
Hermit Thrushes with very little rusty coloring to the rectrices, making them quite
similar in appearance to Swainson's or Gray-cheeked Thrushes.” (TD). Swains on's
Thrush: Dec 21 Bronx Pk. (C. Young et al)—no details received. Gray-cheeked
Thrush: Dec 21 Bronx Pk. (C. Young)—no details received. Veery: Dec 20 Oak
Island (J. Trimble)—“seen briefly at close range, Hermit Thrushes noted nearby.”
Northern Shrike: Feb 25 Oyster Bay (fide BC) —‘shot and killed by someone be¬
cause it was killing birds at a feeder!”

VIREOS—WARBLERS: Prothonotary Warbler: Mar 27 Manorville (GR) —
“picked up exhausted, died during night, specimen saved for American Museum;”
Apr 2 Oakdale (C. Kessler)—earliest previous date was April 19. Ovenbird: three
reports—Dec 20 Fire Is. (R. Kane, CaC'C); Dec 21 Inwood Pk. (fide R. Ryan,
Manhattan CC); Dec 27 (MkCC, fide PB), Louisiana Waterthrush: Mar 25—26
Southaven (DP, C. Tveekrem) —“seen at close range ... unstreaked throat clearly
noted” equals earliest date. Yellow'throat: 2 Dec 20 CaCC; Dec 27 (MkCC), singing
male Mar 21 Bethpage (R. Kuhne)—a wintering bird or an unusually early migrant.

BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Baltimore Oriole: received five reports, all at feed¬
ers; latest was at Greenvale on Feb 8 (Mrs. E. Wetmore). BOAT-TAILED CRACKLE:
arr Feb 24 Far Rockaway (Mrs. R. Berman, fide JB)—third year at this locality. Sum¬
mer Tanager: adult male Mar 25 North Sea (F. Schmid)—earliest Regional record.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK : Dec. 1-10 Northport (H. Knowles, B. Golecke, Mrs.
P. Nixon, A. McKay)—at feeder, probably an immature male. Dickcissel: four reports—
Jan 11 Jones (AB,OD); Jan 27 through period Brookhaven (DP)—at feeder; Dec 27
Quogue (C. Helms); mid-Feb Westbury (M. Schmid). Evening Grosbeak: A feeder
survey in northern Nassau Co. listed 75 individuals in Dec, 11 in Jan, none in Feb.
Common Redpoll: max 30 Feb 8 Montauk (GR). Red Crossbill: counts of migrants
at Fire Is (DF) —Dec 7—100, Dec 13—250, Jan 3-350, Jan 24-250; heaviest concentra¬
tions were found at Jones—908 Dec 28 ('SNCC); 1000 Jan 11 Jones (AB,OD); fairly
numerous along outer beaches to Montauk—125 Dec 27 (MkCC); 192 Jan 18 West-
hampton to Shinnecock (GR); small numbers—up to six—present at many feeding
stations—Islip (J. Gaden), Brookville (BC), Deer Park (FF) et al. White-winged
Crossbill: small numbers recorded throughout season; max 21 Dec 28 (SNCC).
Chipping Sparrow: two reports—Dec 30-31 Deer Pk (FF,BW)—at feeder; an individ¬
ual wintered at a Far Rockaway feeder (J©). White-crowned Sparrow: max 11
Dec 21 (BxCC).

Thomas H. Davis, 8613 85th Street, Woodhaven, New York 11421

Lee Morgan, 4 Windsor Lane, East Northport, New York 11731

100

REPORTING REGIONS

For descriptions of Regions see Kingbird Vol. IV, Nos. 1 and 2

FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC.

1970 Officers

President

Dr. Edgar M. Reilly, Jr.. ...Old Chatham, N.Y. 12136

Vice President

Mrs. Alice E. Ulrich..... 193 LaSalle Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. 14214

Corresponding Secretary

Miss Ada Carter...Morrisville, N.Y. 13408

Recording Secretary

Mrs. Mary Ann Sunderlin.... 505 Bay Road, Webster, N.Y. 14580

Treasurer

Mrs. Edward M. Somers.. . Box 7273, Capitol Station, Albany, N.Y. 12224

Editor of THE KINGBIRD
Joseph W. Taylor

20 Parish Rd., Honeoye Falls, New York 14472

Appointed Committees

Bulletin Exchange: Mrs. Alice E. Ulrich, 193 LaSalle Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. 14214
Conservation: Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr., 333 Bedell Street, Freeport 11520
Finance: Kenneth D. Niven, 61 Broadway, Monticello, N.Y. 12701
Publicity:

Membership: Mrs. Ruth Williams, P.O. Box 382, Owego, N.Y. 13827
Publications and Research: Dr. Edgar M. Reilly, Jr., State Museum, Albany
Bibliography; Dr. Sally Hoyt Spofford, Box 428, Etna 13062
By:law$: Richard Sloss, 1300 Seawave Drive, Hewlett Harbor 11557
Waterfowl Count: John L. Mitchell, 345 Conrad Drive, Rochester 14616

John J. Elliott Memorial Committee: Cornelius J. Ward, 804 South Ocean Avenue, Freeport
11520

Elected Committees

Auditing: Samuel R. Madison, 326 Wellington Road, Delmar, N.Y. 12054
Guy Bartlett, 1053 Parkwood Blvd., Schenectady, N.Y. 12308

Nominating: Mrs. Ruth Williams, Owego, Ch.; John Bull, New York; Kenneth D. Niven, Mon¬
ticello