KINGBIRD VOL. XXIII, NO. 1 JANUARY «M973 FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC. THE KINGBIRD, published four times a year (January, May, July and October), is a publication of The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc., which has been organized to further the study of bird life and to disseminate knowledge thereof, to educate the public in the need of conserving natural resources and to encourage the establishment and main¬ tenance of sanctuaries and protected areas. Individual member’s dues are $5,00 annually, of which $4.00 is for a subscription to The Kingbird. A member wishing to make an addi¬ tional contribution may become a Sustaining Member ($7.50), a Supporting Member ($10), or a Life Member ($100 — "payable over a four-year period in equal installments," if member so desires). Student membership $3.00. KINGBIRD subscription for non-members $5.00 per year on calendar year basis only. Single copies: $1.50. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP should be sent to the chairman of the membership committee, Mrs. Ruth Williams, P.O. Box 382, Owego, N.Y. 13827. Send CHANGES OF ADDRESS to the Treasurer, Mr. Stephen B. Dempsey, 533 Chestnut St., West Hempstead, N.Y. 11552. Order SINGLE COPIES, BACK NUMBERS, and REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED COPIES from Dr. Frederick C. Dittrich, c/o Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. Publication office is 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. Second class postage paid at Ithaca, N.Y. ( 2 /KINGBIRD PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS. INC. Vol. XXIII No. 1 January, 1973 1-71 CONTENTS President’s Page..Kenneth D. Niven 2 Habitat Selection in Birds with Consideration of the Potential Estab¬ lishment of the Monk Parakeet in North America .... .....James N. Briggs and John R. Haugh 3 The 1972 Spring Migration at Derby Hill with Remarks on the Period 1962-1971 .. Gerald A. Smith 13 Proceedings of 25th Annual Council Meeting. 28 Field Notes Raven Sightings in the Adirondack^.Francis J. Singer 35 Eldorado Shorebird Slaughter... Mildred C. Comar 36 Wheatear at Lake Oneida, N. Y.Paul A. DeBenedictis 38 Sage Thrasher at Jones Beach State Park, Nassau County, N. Y.Paul Lehman 39 Highlights of the Fall Season..Fritz Scheider 40 Regional Reports. 42 1973 Annual Meeting .. 71 Editor — Joseph W. Taylor Associate Editors Field Notes ~ Sally Hoyt Spofford Regional Reports — Fritz Scheider Assistant Editor — Douglas Kibbe Editorial Board Allen H. Benton Eugene Eisenmann Stephen W. Eaton David B. Peakall Dorothy W. McIlroy Fritz Scheider Circulation Manager — Frederick C. Dittrich Cover Design — Douglas L. Howland PRESIDENTS PAGE 1973 is here and as is usual with the advent of a new year we always assess our situation and sometimes come up with a number of resolu¬ tions. So far as individuals are concerned, I dare say that very few of these goals are ever attained. However, that should not deter us from setting them. Organizations too, set goals and they should continue to do so if they want to progress and to achieve any degree of success. But we don’t have to wait for a New Year to do this. In setting goals, it is first essen¬ tial that we assess our present status. What is it? How about our prin¬ cipal objectives, membership strength, dedication and cooperation of all officers, appointees and volunteers? I am not going to even suggest what our weaknesses or faults have been. Those of us who have tried to be active or worked in any way, know what these shortcomings are. Faced with these facts, let us all resolve to try to correct these mistakes, live up to our obligations and strive for new heights in 1973. As we look to the future, all conservationists and Federation members in particular are greatly encouraged in the light of the overwhelming passage of he Environmental Quality Bond Act of 1972. And there are a few bright spots on the national scene. Let us hope and pray that these highlights are but the beginning of a trend in conservation legislation throughout the country. Equally important is the need to follow this up with positive action and implementation. In New York State, it is to be hoped that the Legislature will act without delay in purchasing and safeguarding the remaining wetlands. (One third of the tidal wetlands are already lost and upstate they are disappearing at the rate of 5% a year.) I singled out the wetlands issue because those of us in the South¬ ern New York region are vitally and selfishly interested in the preserva¬ tion of the Basherkill area, a real gem of Nature. Other equally it not more important problems to be solved, are those concerning all types of pollution, sewage treatment facilities and disposal or recycling of solid wastes. As we continue to look to the future and especially as our environment is concerned, let us not be merely protestors or advocates, but more importantly, let us become leaders and men of action. Let us put an end to our passive objection or resistance to the destruction of our environ¬ ment and become personally involved in the fight to live. If we follow Bob Arbib’s recommendations, in his award winning book, there will be fewer disasters such as befell “The Lord’s Woods,” For some really fascinating reading, I recommend this book very highly. Kenneth D. Niven 2 HABITAT SELECTION IN BIRDS WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE POTENTIAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PARAKEET (MYJOPSITTA MONACHUS) IN NORTH AMERICA James N. Briggs and John R. Haugh Animals depend upon their habitat for all essentials of life, including food and a place to reproduce. Those species able to move from one habitat to another must evolve certain processes whereby they select areas suitable to their biological requirements. Orians (1971) points out that birds seeking a place to breed must usually make rapid habitat selections because time is often short, par¬ ticularly at northern latitudes. He also indicates that intraspecific com¬ petition may complicate the process. Habitats do not exist in homogeneous blocs but rather in complex mosaics each having a different intrinsic value to potential inhabitants. It would then follow that natural selection accounts for members of a given species tending to settle in habitats most suitable to themselves (Orians 1971). HABITAT SELECTION MECHANISMS Lack (1971) describes how he first came to consider the mechanism of habitat selection. He was impressed with the rapidity with which populations of birds changed as a plantation of Scots pine (Pinus sylves- tris) grew into mature trees. He reasoned that these birds must relate to some obvious feature of the environment in order to increase and decrease their numbers so rapidly, and termed this the use of psycho¬ logical factors in habitat selection. The terms “Proximate Factor” and “Ultimate Factor,” as used by Baker (1938), aid us considerably in understanding habitat selection mecha¬ nisms. Ultimate factors are those actually having selective or survival value. These include, among other things, availability of food, quality of nesting material and freedom from predators. Proximate factors are environmental cues that evoke the initial settling response in birds searching for habitat. The latter are Lack’s psychological factors. Hilden (1965) suggests that such features as landscape, terrain, presence of a nest hole and temperature might be proximate factors. Although, in most instances, the precise nature of proximate and ul¬ timate factors has not been intensively studied, Bongiorno (1970) pro¬ vides an excellent example in his study of a laughing gull (Larus atri- cilla) colony in New Jersey. He believes the most important ultimate survival factor to be the chance of the gulls’ nests being washed out dur- 3 ing storms. Laughing gulls traditionally nest on the highest areas of the island which are delineated by taller grasses. They apparently select nesting habitat on the basis of grass length (proximate factor) without consideration of possible flooding. The fact that floods occur two to four years apart reduces the possibility of the birds learning from experience that higher ground is less likely to be flooded. Bongiorno tested his hypothesis by cutting the grass in one nesting area and thereby effec¬ tively prevented nesting. Here is a good example of an easily recog¬ nizable proximate factor (grass length) serving as a release mechanism for habitat settling, although the comparatively unrecognizable flooding potential is the real limiting factor (ultimate factor). Like Borgiorno, Lack (1971) also believes that proximate factors are simple environ¬ mental features. Another example, where various environmental factors act as proxi¬ mate factors in habitat selection, is presented by the prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) and sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioecetes phasianel- lus), two related species of the North American prairie. Here, the pres¬ ence or absence of trees is the important factor in determining whether sharp-tailed grouse or prairie chickens will be present in a grassland. The sharp-tails choose the area with trees and bush (Hammerstrom 1963) while the prairie chickens prefer extensive grassland (Briggs 1968). The number or kind of trees present appears to be of lesser im¬ portance than the fact that trees are present or absent (Briggs, unpub¬ lished observation). The idea that physiognomy, rather than species diversity plays the more important role in habitat selection is also sup¬ ported by the finding of MacArthur and MacArthur (1961) that the magnitude of plant species diversity has no effect on bird species diver¬ sity, but foliage height diversity, a simpler feature, does have a positive correlation with bird species diversity. Hilden (1965) believes that habitat selection through proximate fac¬ tors works on the principle of summation of stimuli, an ethological theory developed through studies of animal behavior. According to Hilden’s theory, an innate force guides birds to the area of their breeding (or feeding or resting) habitat, then perception of certain environmental stimuli accumulate until a threshold is exceeded and a settling response is evoked. The more the stimuli exceed the threshold level, the stronger the response. Not every habitat considered suitable need possess all the characteristics of an optimal environment. It is enough that the combined effect of the individual stimuli exceeds the threshold of the settling response. One would expect, of course, much variation among different species of birds. In some species one key stimulus might outweigh sev¬ eral lesser stimuli, and this key stimulus might be necessary for the threshold to be reached. In some situations this “super-stimulus” might be enough alone to evoke settling. An example might be the presence or absence of a suitable hole for hole-nesting birds. 4 Hilden also points out that not all birds nest at the first suitable site encountered, but many appear to explore several sites before actually nesting. This may be due to a two-parted settling reaction with certain proximate factors releasing the settling response and other factors re¬ leasing the actual nesting response. He also postulates that such ‘ ‘ex¬ ploratory behavior” could represent a conflict between settling and mi¬ gratory instincts. In a habitat which barely exceeds the settling threshold, the still strong migratory drive may override the initial settling response with the bird moving on until the settling threshold is further exceeded. This would result in the choice of a better habitat — one which releases a stronger settling response than that encountered initially. Orians (1971) makes the point that a co-evolution should exist be¬ tween fitness in different environments (ultimate factors) and the capa¬ city of these environments to evoke the proximate settling behavior. This would imply that the proximate factors used to select habitat should be in some way related to the quality of the habitat. This, in fact, is the case with Bongiorno’s (1970) laughing gulls where the tall grass used to select breeding habitat is related to the degree of safety from nest flooding. As mentioned earlier, food is sometimes used as a proximate factor. Lack (1954) discusses two species of birds which nest alongside locust swarms. Probably, however, food is more often an ultimate factor and another stimulus is the proximate one. For instance, some desert birds nest only after a rain (proximate factor), presumably to insure avail¬ ability of food (ultimate factor) for broods. Hilden (1965) believes that as an ultimate factor, food puts only loose limits on the habitat for most species, but he points out that the positive correlations between bird density and food supply show that the most productive habitats usually constitute optimal environments for birds. The presence or absence of other birds of the same species can also have a proximate effect on habitat selection. Displaying males usually have a positive effect on females and may have a negative effect on other males. Lack (1971) indicates that juveniles of flock-feeding birds are influenced by the presence of other members of the species which are in the preferred habitat of the species. Such a response may be of considerable importance among colonial nesters. Lack stresses, however, that there must also be other influences, since sometimes new breeding colonies are started by birds breeding for the first time. EFFECT OF COMPETITION ON HABITAT SELECTION Hilden (1965) believes that intraspecific competition determines the width of the range of a species within its habitat. When the population is low, only optimal habitats are exploited, but with population increase less favorable areas are also settled. Orians (1971) presents an equation developed by Fretwell and Lucas (1969) to show the effect of popula- 5 tion density on habitat suitability. First, it must be assumed that birds have a perfect ability to assess habitats. If Si represents the goodness of the “ith” habitat for a given species and S iq is the average success of the “qth” individual in the “ith” habitat of the same species. Then: Si = -i- 2 S iq or n } the goodness of habitat for a given species equals the sum of the aver¬ age successes of the individuals of that species in that habitat divided by the number of individuals present. This means, ignoring possible un¬ favorable effects of low densities, that the intrinsic quality of the habitat decreases as population increases. If birds are permanently removed from a suitable habitat, others will quickly re-invade from neighboring, possibly less favorable, areas as Bump et. al. (1947) found with ruffed grouse. Interspecific competition, according to Hilden (1965) tends to produce specialization to given niches. This implies that where their ranges over¬ lap, ecologically closely related species are more closely bound to their species-specific habitat than if they were geographically isolated. In the latter case, a species has a greater opportunity to expand its range, par¬ ticularly if it has a wide amplitude of habitat preferences. MacArthur and MacArthur (1961) state that in order to avoid competition, species in a common area can either eat different foods in the same habitat or eat the same foods in different habitats. These are the extreme adapta¬ tions. There are numerous gradations between. LEARNING IN HABITAT SELECTION Hilden 1965) indicates that instincts or innate factors play a much greater role in habitat selection than learning. Welty (1962) points out that the corpus striatum, the seat of instinctive behavior, is highly de¬ veloped in the bird’s brain, while the cerebral cortex, an area more im¬ portant in learning, is relatively small, especially when compared to mammals. Learning can, however, modify the innate habitat selection patterns. In a classic demonstration, Klopfer (1963) took ten newly hatched chip¬ ping sparrows (Spizella passerina) from their pine forest nests and raised them in the laboratory. They were later given a choice between pine or oak branches in an aviary. The majority clearly spent most of their time in the pine, for which they evidently had a hereditary pref¬ erence. Klopfer then took other newly hatched young and raised them in an aviary containing only oak branches. They were then given a choice between oak and pine. While they still preferred pine, these sparrows utilized the oak to a much greater extent than birds with no natal exposure. 6 Learning as described above, is commonly attributed to imprinting on the natal environment, and Hilden (1965) cities much supporting evi¬ dence. Lack (1971) cites an interesting study on reed buntings (Em- beriza schoenichus ). Although reed buntings generally prefer to nest in marshes, they will (perhaps in response to intraspecific competition) also nest on dry ground. Six out of seven females that were hatched in marshes returned to marhses to nest, but only nine out of 22 females hatched on dry ground switched to the more preferred marsh habitat to breed. While these figures are probably too low to be statistically sig¬ nificant, they give some indication that natal habitat can alter innate habitat selection patterns. In addition to natal habitat imprinting, Hilden (1965) lists site tena¬ city as a learned response in habitat selection. For example, older individuals of Sterna hirundo and S. paradisaea will faithfully return year after year to their original breeding areas even when plant succes¬ sion has advanced to a stage that repels younger members of the same species. Hilden (1965) also indicates that learning may influence habitat selec¬ tion. He cites the example of a pair of carrion crows (Corvus car one) nesting in a garden, an atypical habitat for this species, after being fed there all winter. It is generally agreed that corvids are among the most intelligent of all birds. In general, species depending more on intelligence depend less on instinct. Since instinct can be changed only slowly, through na¬ tural selection over many generations, abandonment of instinctive at¬ tachments to old habitats and occupation of new (foreign) habitats would be expected to be a slow process where learning ability is limited. In contrast, animals depending more on intelligence are at a distinct advantage, for they can override instinct and are capable of learning new ways. Therefore, successful adaptations to new habitats are more likely. SIGNIFICANCE OF HABITAT SELECTION IN ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW POPULATION The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus ) has recently been intro¬ duced into the New York City region of the United States. A native of South America, the bird occurs throughout Uruguay, most of Paraguay, southern Bolivia, southern Brazil, and Argentina (Schmidt, 1948), For several years they have been imported into New York as pets, but the origin of the wild population is not entirely clear. There is reason to be¬ lieve an unknown number escaped when a crate broke open while be¬ ing unloaded (Bull, 1971). A second source for the breeding nucleus may have been from liberated birds. Owners are frequently disap- 7 pointed in this parakeet because of its raucity and failure to develop expected mimicry. The Monk Parakeet has been regularly sighted in the New York City region for the last four or five years (Bull, 1971). More recently, birds have appeared at numerous other locations, in¬ cluding Watertown, Waterloo, Owego and Binghamton, New York, and Seaford, Virginia (Bump, 1971), as well as Bradford Co., Pennsylvania (Rockwell, 1971). In its native South America, the Monk Parakeet inhabits a wide range of vegetative types. These include Patagonian semi-desert scrub, desert grass savanna, pampas, thorn, forest, broad-leaved tree savanna and tropical semi-evergreen forest (Eyre, 1963). Since it is evident that the Monk Parakeet tolerates a wide range of habitats, it is likely, as far as habitat is concerned, that North America can provide many of the proxi¬ mate factors required for settling and breeding, and probably many or all of the ultimate factors necessary for survival. Moreover, since it is generally agreed that the Psittacidae (parrot family) are among the more intelligent of the birds, learned behavioral adaptations may also enhance the Monk Parakeet’s chance of success in North America. The remarkable adaptability of the parakeet to new feeding and nesting situations in the New York City region has already been established (See below). It is perhaps desirable at this point to consider some of the physical and biological factors which might influence the abundance and dis¬ tribution of the Monk Parakeet in its new found home. Climate as well as general nature of habitat can impart serious limitations to the ultimate survival of a species in a new region. Welty (1962) states that climate is the greatest determining physical factor for species survival in a given region. In order to compare the climate of the bird’s native home with areas in North America where it is a potential resident, we have con¬ structed climographs (fig. I) showing the general monthly temperature and rainfall patterns for Buenos Aires, Argentina; Brooklyn, New York, and Binghamton, New York. The winter in Binghamton averages about 30 degrees colder than the Buenos Aires winter, and the Brooklyn winter is approximately 20 de¬ grees less. Rainfall patterns are rather similar for Buenos Aires and Bing¬ hamton, although Brooklyn is slightly wetter. Further examination of the climograph will show the breeding season temperatures for Buenos Aires and Brooklyn to be similar, while May in Binghamton is only about ten degrees F. colder than the Buenos Aires equivalent breeding month of November. Although the climograph does not show the whole picture, it does in¬ dicate that if the Monk Parakeet can tolerate the colder winter tem¬ peratures and if nonclimatic factors are suitable, this parrot has a chance to survive in North America. It should be emphasized, however, that 8 80 60 50 DC Z> UJ 30 20 10 2 3 PRE Cl PITATiON 4 5 IN INCHES Figure 1. Superimposed climographs showing mean monthly temperature and pre¬ cipitation for Buenos Aires, Argentina and Brooklyn and Binghamton, New York. The data for constructing this figure was obtained from Wernstedt, 1972. the Monk Parakeet is not restricted to the Buenos Aires area and there¬ fore experiences a greater variety of climatic conditions in South Ameri¬ ca than is indicated by the climograph for Buenos Aires. It was pointed out in the first part of this paper that food can be both a proximate and ultimate factor in habitat selection. When acting as an ultimate factor food does not put strict limits on initial habitat selection. With the Monk Parakeet, however, food may be acting as an important proximate factor. In many areas these parakeets have settled 9 Figure 2. Photograph of a nest constructed by a Monk Parakeet at Binghamton, New York. The bird was still working on the nest when this photograph was taken in November 1972. and built nests at or near feeding stations, and this is true with the bird we presently have under observation at Binghamton, New York. If a species is an unspecialized feeder and adaptable to new food sources, exploitation of food resources in a new habitat would be expected to be a fairly simple process. Bull (1971) provides evidence that the Monk Parakeet in the New York City region CAN effectively utilize the avail¬ able food resources. He has found that they eat fruit, pine seeds, acorns, grain and will take a variety of offerings from bird feeders. We, there¬ fore, think it unlikely that food will be a factor limiting the spread of the parakeet in the area under consideration, but we would expect birds to be more common (and large colonies to be formed) where food is more readily available, such as in agricultural areas and near well-main¬ tained feeding stations. Another possible factor discussed in the first part of this paper was the availability of suitable nesting sites. As a proximate factor this does not seem to pose a problem for the Monk Parakeet. Traditionally the birds nest in trees in South America, and since proximate factors are simple, trees in North America should be sufficient to elicit a nesting response. Moreover, Bull has found that the parakeets in New York will nest on man-made structures if suitable trees are absent, and the Monk Parakeet 10 in Binghamton is presently constructing a nest on an outdoor aluminum clothes tree (fig. 2). The ultimate effects of nest site selection on the production of the bird will require further study. The protection pro¬ vided by the enclosed nest, however, combined with the bird’s aggres¬ sive nature, suggest that the Monk Parakeet may be able to fledge young successfully in a variety of nesting situations. Another habitat selection factor we considered was competition, both interspecific and intraspecific. The interspecific problems this parrot could encounter will not be known until more research is done on the bird in its new habitat. Because of its diverse food preferences, we ex¬ pect it to compete with several endemic species, but how detrimental this will be to native birds remains to be seen. The aggressive nature of the parakeet may also lead to competition and exclusion of some native species from nesting areas, but again further observations are needed. On the other hand, perhaps the stick nests will provide additional nesting sites for native birds as they do in South America (Conway, 1965). The possibility of competition with native species limiting the spread of the Monk Parakeet, itself, is another problem about which we cannot specu¬ late with confidence at this time. The Monk Parakeet is a gregarious bird (Conway, 1965), so intraspe¬ cific competition may not put serious limits on the settling density in a given area. As in many colonial birds, the fact that they are gregarious may necessitate the presence of other members of the species before habitat settling and subsequent reproduction are successfully under¬ taken. Darling (1938) has noted that gregarious birds often fail to re¬ produce successfully when colony size is small. While the psychological effects of gregariousness go beyond the scope of this paper, this may be a factor of major importance in determining whether or not the parakeet becomes successfully established in some areas where individuals, or small isolated populations, are presently found. SUMMARY 1. Birds have the ability to search for good habitat. 2. The intrinsic quality of a given habitat decreases as the population increases. 3. Birds use various features of the habitat as stimuli for settling (proximate). These may have co-evolved with the factors having actual survival value (ultimate). 4. Proximate factors are generally considered to be simple and to work on the principle of summation of stimuli. 5. Food may be both a proximate and ultimate factor. 6. Intraspecific competition influences settling density and determines the limits or range within suitable habitat. 11 7. Interspecific competition can force greater habitat specialization. 8. The innate habitat selection mechanisms can be altered slightly by learning. This is mainly by imprinting on natal habitat, but experi¬ ence and conditioning also can have an effect. 9. Some species are versatile in their habitat requirements, while others are rather narrow. 10. The Monk Parakeet has been introduced into North America at locations climatologically similar to parts of the species native range. Its food and nesting habits are quite diverse, and the fact that the species has lived in North America for an undetermined number of years suggests that it might have a chance of becoming established as a permanent resident. Factors, other than habitat, will need to be examined, however, before a reasonable survival assess¬ ment can be made. LITERATURE CITED Baker, J. R. 1938. The evolution of breeding seasons — in C. R. DeBeer: Evolution. Essays an Aspects of Evolutionary Biology. Oxford, 161-177. Bongiorno, S. F. 1970. Nest site selection by adult laughing gulls ( Lams atricilla). Animal Behavior 18: 434-444. Briggs, J. N. 1968. Vegetation and Occurrence of Greater Praire Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) on three range sites in Geary County, Kansas. M. S. thesis, Kansas State University, Manhattan. 58 pp. Bull, John 1971. Monk Parakeets in the New York City region. Linnaean Newsletter. Vol. 25, No. 1. 2p. Bump, G., R. W. Darrow, F. C. Edminster and W. F. Crissey. 1947. The Ruffed Grouse: Life History, Propagation and Management. New York Conservation De¬ partment, Albany. 915p. Bump, G. 1971. The South American Monk, Quaker, or Grayheaded Parakeet. Wildlife Leaflet 496. USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. 4p. Conway, W. G. 1965. Apartment building and cliff dwelling parrots. Animal King¬ dom, 68:40-46. Darling, F, F. 1938. Bird flocks and the breeding cycle. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England. Eyre, S. R. 1963. Vegetation and Soils: A World Picture. London. 324p. Fretwell, S. D. and H, L. Lucas 1969. On territorial behavior and other factors. Acta Biother. 19:16-36. Hammerstrom, F. N., Jr. 1963. Sharptail brood habitat in Wisconsin’s northern pine barrens. J. Wildlife Management 27(4):793-802. Hilden, O. 1965. Habitat selection in birds. Ann. Zool. Fenn. 2:53-75. Klopfer, P. H. 1963. Behavioral aspects of habitat selection: the role of experience. Wilson Bull. 75:15-22. Lack, David 1954. The Natural Regulation of Animal Numbers. Oxford University Press. 343 p. -1971. Ecological Isolation in Birds. Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 404 p. MacArthur, R. H. and J. W. MacArthur 1961. On bird species diversity. Ecology 42:594-598. 12 Orians, G. H. 1971. In Farner, D. S. and J. R. King. Avian Biology. Academic Press, New York. 586 p. Rockwell, A. D. 1971. Field Notes. Pennsylvania Game News 42-8:35. Schmidt, Hans. 1948. Die Vogel S udamerikas. San Andres, Argentina. 382 p. Welty, J. C. 1962. The Life of Birds. W. B. Saunders. Philadelphia. 546 p. Wemstedt, F. L. 1972. World Climatic Data. Climatic Data Press. Lamont, Pennsyl¬ vania. Broome Co. Coop. Ext. Assoc. Binghamton, New York 13905 State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13901 THE 1972 SPRING MIGRATION AT DERBY HILL WITH REMARKS ON THE PERIOD 1963-1971 Gerald A. Smith I. INTRODUCTION During the last ten years a considerable amount of data on the spring migration occurring at the Derby Hill hawk lookout on the southeastern corner of Lake Ontario has been assembled. Beginning with the observa¬ tions of ]. R. Haugh and T. J. Cede during the early and mid-nineteen sixties, observations have been made on a regular basis. Some new data, particularly regarding the length of the period of migration of some hawks and seasonal counts of some species, have been obtained. It is the purpose of this paper to review the 1972 spring migration at Derby hill with special emphasis upon the hawk movements. Also, where per¬ tinent, comments regarding new data obtained since 1965 will be in¬ cluded. II. THE 1972 HAWK MIGRATION A. GENERAL COMMENTS The 1972 hawking season was one of distinct contrasts. The opinion of any observer on how good a year it was depended mainly upon how lucky or persistent he was. There were many days when observers would leave Syracuse, only forty miles to the south, with southerly winds pre¬ vailing, only to reach Derby and find the winds coming from the north. Consequently, they saw only a poor flight when these conditions pre¬ vailed. On the other hand, when the correct conditions occurred, the flights were often quite spectacular. This combination of events pro¬ duced several interesting occurrences. Among these were record single day totals for four species, and record late departure dates for five spe¬ cies. 13 The season began in late February and continued through most of the month of March with very few major movements. The first two- thirds of March saw no one-hundred-plus days. There was also very little variety during this period, as Red-tailed Hawks made up most of the flight. March 20-21 saw the first large flight, consisting mainly of Red¬ tailed Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks. The final day of the month brought the best movement to date, 520 birds, including two Golden Eagles. Following the continuation of the March 31 movement on April 1, the dismal weather returned. The next ten days of April brought snow, cold and north winds, weather so adverse that it greatly retarded migration. These conditions were in turn probably responsible for set¬ ting the stage for the massive movements of the period April 12-18. This damming effect finally gave way on April 12 and provided a spectacular flight of Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks and Turkey Vultures, with lesser numbers of other species. This flight was followed in quick succession by another huge movement on the fifteenth, in which Sharp- shinned Hawks, Marsh Hawks and Sparrow Hawks were the star per¬ formers. April 18 produced all fifteen species of hawks that normally occur at Derby, including the best Broad-winged Hawk flight of the year and three eagles. Thus, in the course of this one remarkable week, 7762 hawks of fifteen species, more than fifty percent of the season total, passed the lookout. The remainder of April was disappointing in the number of hawks seen. In a normal year this is the period when large flocks of Broad-winged Hawks pass the lookout. This year, however, there was no huge “big day.” Instead the birds drifted through on several days of 200-700 a day. In part this was due to unfavorable wind condi¬ tions along the lakeshore. On several of these days southerly winds prevailed as far north as Mexico, New York about five miles south of Derby. North of the village, however, northerly winds prevailed so the flight that was occurring was greatly dispersed and many birds were missed. The first half of May was in large measure a continuation of April. The flights began to diminish gradually as they usually do at this time, but several large movements were noted somewhat later than usual. In particular the movement of May 14 was very large for so late, in numbers and in variety. The overall tardiness of the migration was in part reflected by several record late dates this year. Late May and early June brought the season gradually to a close as the flights di¬ minished to 5-50 birds a day. As has been noted during the past three years, due mainly to increased observations, the hawk migration extends well into June. It now seems that flights of one-hundred-plus hawks, mainly immature Broad-winged Hawks, can occur as late as mid-June. This year observations were made on three dates in June and 143 hawks of seven species were noted. A large late flight of 121 individuals, mostly immature Broad-winged Hawks, with a scattering of other hawks, on June 14 brought the season to a close. 14 Perhaps the most striking facet of the 1972 hawk migration at Derby hill was the extreme concentration of a large portion of the hawks that migrate early into a one-week period in mid-April. This concentration must be regarded as in large part responsible for the record high daily counts that occurred during this period. Also it is likely that this effect is in part responsible for the record high seasonal counts of some species. These birds probably passed in a mass movement when observers were present instead of a portion of them slipping through on days when observers were not present. Likewise, the lack of favorable conditions for concentrating hawks during the migration period of the Broad-winged Hawks is most likely the reason for the low counts of that species. Thus the 1972 season clearly illustrates just how greatly such factors as weather conditions and observer availability affect the totals from a hawk lookout such as Derby hill. B. HAWK BREAKDOWN BY SPECIES Turkey Vulture This species has been increasing rather steadily as a migrant at Derby since the first regular counts. This is not unexpected in view of its gen¬ eral increase throughout the northeast. The record high of 1969 is almost nine times the 1963 count. 1972 was a better than average year for Turkey Vultures, with the majority of the birds occurring in April. Turkey Vultures are often observed passing the lookout in groups of 4-30 birds, although the lower numbers are more frequent. It has become progressively more difficult in the last three years to determine a true departure date for this species due to the presence of summering or breeding birds in the Lake Ontario plain from Oswego to Pulaski. Re¬ ports of migrant Turkey Vultures after the end of May may be somewhat questionable. Goshawk 1972 was the second lowest year for this species during the ten year period. The individuals noted were in large measure adults with very few immatures. The few young birds noted passed mainly in April. In recent years this species has been noted returning very early as a mi¬ grant. In fact it is the earliest of migrant hawks and it is possible any time after mid-February, given south winds, to have a flight of these birds. During the record high year of 1970 many returning birds were noted prior to March 1. Sharp-shinned Hawk The numbers of these small accipiters seem to fluctuate considerably from year to year. This may be in part due to coverage factors. On al¬ most any April day, as long as it is not raining, between 3-150 of these 15 birds can be noted. Even on those days of northerly winds many have been noted passing. Since the lookout is not always manned on such days, many may escape detection. This points out the importance of establishing daily coverage at all major hawk lookouts. The count of 1002 on April 15 is the second highest total ever recorded for a single day. Sharp-shinned Hawks have been noted passing the lookout well into June of recent years. Almost invariably these late birds are immatures. Coopers Hawk 1972 was an average year for this species. Cooper’s Hawks on the av¬ erage migrate earlier than Sharp-shinned Hawks and pass in much smaller numbers. The heaviest movement this year occurred between March 20 and April 18. The Sharp-shinned Hawk to Cooper’s Hawk ratio is about 15:1. This species also departs much sooner than Sharp- shinned Hawks, a migrant Cooper’s Hawk being rare after the tenth of May. Red-tailed Hawk These large handsome buteos were recorded in very high numbers this year. The total of 803 recorded on April 12 was fifty to sixty percent higher than the previous high for a single day. The seasonal total of 3,354 was almost 800 higher than the previous best year. The damming effect of the poor weather of March and early April was undoubtedly in large part responsible for these counts. Instead of a steady movement of a few every day, they were concentrated so that, when favorable conditions prevailed, a mass movement occurred. Probably instead of drifting through on days when observers were not present, they all came on days of favorable conditions when observers were present. This spe¬ cies has the most extended migratory period of any hawk at Derby. Red-tailed Hawks were noted on all but three of the fifty-two days of observation. Due mainly to increased coverage during June, Red-tailed Hawks have been noted passing well into that month. Of particular interest is the fact that, unlike most other species that are noted mi¬ grating in June, many of these birds are adults. Where are they going at that date? Are they sterile birds, or perhaps unsuccessful breeders from farther south, or simply wandering individuals? Whatever the rea¬ son, these individuals behave in all ways like the migrants of earlier in the season. Red-shouldered Hawk The flight of Red-shouldered Hawks was about average for the ten year period. This species is one of the most unlikely hawks to be recorded at Derby after the end of April, and this year was no exception. The 16 departure date of April 29 is slightly early. The majority pass from March 15 to April 15 each year. Perhaps the finest sight of all those associated with the Derby hill hawk flights is that of dozens of adult Red-should¬ ered Hawks swooping low past the bluff in late March. At that time the ground is usually still snow-covered and the deep red breasts of these birds literally glow with snow-reflected sunlight. Broad-winged Hawk This species is the showpiece item of Derby. A warm day with strong southerly winds in late April is the fervent desire of every fanatic hawk watcher. When these conditions occur, the results are often spectacular. The sight of hundreds of these birds passing in swirling masses is well worth any effort to see. During 1972 there was no really massive flight. With the exception of April 18 there were no strong southerly wind days during the migration peak of these birds. Instead, they drifted through a few hundred per day. The record low count of Broad-winged Hawks this year is indicative of how important a role weather plays in the number of hawks seen each year at Derby. Rough-legged Hawk The 1972 movement of this species was the largest on record for Derby. On three different dates the previous high count for a single day was surpassed. The maximum of 55 on April 18 was 20 birds above the previous high. A light-phase individual observed on May 20 was a week later than the previous record late. Golden Eagle Six of these magnificent birds were recorded at Derby this year. Most interesting is the fact that, of the six, five were immatures. Contrast this situation with that of the following species. The immature seen on May 13 was a record late date by a week. It is interesting to note that over the years the numbers of the two eagles recorded at Derby are almost identical. Away from Derby in the area, however, the situation is quite different. Bald Eagles are seen with some regularity at other locations while Golden Eagles are comparatively rare. Bald Eagle Six individuals of this species were noted, of which only one was an immature. If this situation continues to prevail it may not be too long before the Golden Eagle is the “common” eagle at Derby. One possible reason why Bald Eagles are so scarce at Derby as compared with places like Hawk Mountain Pennsylvania, is coverage. Very few observers go to the lookout after the early part of May. If the hill were manned with 17 greater regularity during late May and early June, many of the Bald Eagles that travel north from Florida to Canada might be seen. Our knowledge of the late May and early June movements of this and other species could be substantially increased if better coverage were main¬ tained during this period. Marsh Haiok 1972 was a record year for Marsh Hawks, with both daily and sea¬ sonal highs set. The 146 seen on April 15 is thirty percent higher than the previous high. The increased counts of this species are also due in large measure to the damming effect. During the last three years this species has been noted passing as late as mid-June. These individuals are always immatures. The numbers of this species recorded at Derby fluctuate markedly from year to year. Even the record high year is only about one-third of the total recorded each year from Hawk Mountain. Although birds of the year would account for a portion of this difference, they certainly would not explain it all. The reason is probably the same as noted under Bald Eagle. On the days I have spent on the lookout during late May in the last four years, this species and the Broad-winged Hawk have been the main constituents of the hawk movements. Another possibility may be that these birds pass even under adverse weather conditions such as rain. For example, on one day in early May 1971 I observed a hawk movement of 36 birds of three species flying in a steady rain. They included 19 Ospreys, 11 Sharp-shinned Hawks, and 6 Sparrow Hawks. Peregrine Falcon The rarest hawk at Derby with the exception of the accidental Gyrfal- con. Each eagle is three times as frequent in occurrence as the Peregrine Falcon. I have noted this species almost as often at Derby on unfavorable wind days as on favorable days. Thus, some of these birds may slip through undetected. To ascertain their true frequency, daily coverage is needed. Pigeon Hawk The season’s count of 7 for this species was average. The movement was unusually compacted — all the individuals occurred within an eight-day period. 18 Sparrow Hawk This small falcon was recorded in very high numbers this year. The spectacular flight of 296 on April 15 was three times the previous high daily count. These birds have been noted passing well into June; how¬ ever, there is some question regarding the status of June Sparrow Hawks as true migrants. III. NON-FALCONIFORMES The seasonal totals of non-hawks for 1972 are included for information purposes. These counts are less representative of actual numbers passing than the hawk counts, due to several factors. These include the difficulty in identifying small passerines flying past without stopping. Also many of these species migrate more or less regardless of the wind direction. In addition there is the fact that when a large hawk is in view several thousand small birds could pass unnoticed by all observers present. IV. SUMMARY During the last ten years regular observations of migrant hawks and other birds have been carried on at Derby hill near Texas, Oswego County New York. The information collected has been published in several places. Of recent years, information regarding numbers, dates of occurrence, and fluctuations in migrant hawks occurring there has been gathered. These observations suggest some interesting trends that, with increased observer coverage, might provide more insight into the status of hawks in eastern North America. Caution is required, however, in the use of raw data for drawing conclusions regarding the status of the hawk populations. Recent years have seen an increase in the number of observers manning the lookout. Despite this, the lookout is manned on only fifty- to sixty-five percent of the period March 1-May 31 and is manned very little in June. More coverage by competent observers is needed on unfavorable wind days and later in the season. Due to the factors of fluctuating coverage and variable weather conditions, generali¬ zations based only upon raw data from one hawk migration point such as Derby Hill may be unreliable. Data on the migration of non-hawks at Derby hill in the spring is limited in extent. V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the following persons for use of their data from their records and for aid in making the observations: B. Brosseau, D. W. Crumb, P. DeBenedictis, F. C. Dittrich, C. and E. Farnham, E. M. Free¬ born, F. LaFrance, D. Muir, J. W. Propst, M. S. Rusk, F. G. Scheider, K. Slotnick, C. G. Spies, R. J. Sutliff, Pepper Trail. Also I would like to thank M. S. Rusk and C. G. Spies for their critical reading of this paper. 19 Chart I Species Feb. 27 Mar. 1 Mar. 2 Mar. 5 Mar. 7 Mar. 11 Mar. 12 Mar. 18 Mar. 19 T.V. .. . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Goshawk 1 1 2 1 2 2 5 0 0 S.s.H. .. ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C.H. . . . .. . 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 R.t.H. .. ... 0 0 2 1 27 7 39 28 22 R.s.H. .. ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 B.w.H. . . . .. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 R.l.H. .. ... 0 0 1 0 3 2 2 6 1 G.E. ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B.E. ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M.H. ... ... 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Osprey . .. . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 P.F. ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 P.H. ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S.H. ... 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 TOTAL . ... 1 1 7 2 33 11 51 34 27 Species Mar. 20 Mar. 21 Mar. 22 Mar. 25 Mar. 26 Mar. 28 Mar. 29 Mar. 30 Mar. 31 T.V . ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Goshawk ... 1 5 0 1 2 1 0 1 6 S.s.H. .. . .. 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 3 8 C.H. ... ... 8 26 1 6 0 0 0 1 12 R.t.H. .. ... 217 220 4 137 3 3 2 4 342 R.s.H. .. ... 35 131 8 47 2 2 2 3 115 B.w.H. . ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 R.l.H. .. 1 8 1 0 0 0 2 5 10 G.E. ... ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21mm. B.E. ... 0 0 0 11mm. 0 0 0 0 0 M.H. ... ... 5 4 3 0 1 0 0 14 10 Osprey . ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 P.F. . .. .. . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 P.H. ... ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S.H. . .. .. . 11 15 6 2 0 1 4 40 13 UID ... ... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 TOTAL ... 278 414 23 195 8 7 10 71 520 Species Apr. 1 Apr. 4 Apr. 5 T.V. . 3 0 1 Goshawk . . . . 6 0 0 S.s.H. . 72 0 3 C.H. . 23 0 0 R.t.H. .367 2 8 R.s.H. . 81 0 4 B.w.H. . 0 0 0 R.l.H. . 36 1 1 G.E. . 0 0 0 B.E. . 0 0 0 M.H. ..... 44 2 3 Osprey .... . 0 0 0 P.F. . 0 0 0 P.H. ..... 0 0 0 S.H. . 46 2 2 UID .. ..... 0 0 0 TOTAL .... .678 7 22 Species Apr. 16 Apr. 18 Apr. 19 T.V. . 12 29 0 Goshawk . . . 0 2 0 S.s.H. . 170 255 142 C.H. . 2 21 1 R.t.H. . 34 494 2 R.s.H. . 27 19 0 B.w.H. .. . . 0 3337 0 R.l.H. .... . 10 55 0 G.E. . 0 1 Ad 0 B.E. . 0 2 Ad 0 M.H. . 12 35 13 Osprey . . . . 0 16 5 P.F. . 0 1 Ad 0 P.H. . 0 3 0 S.H. . 16 68 5 UID . . 0 73 0 TOTAL . .. . 283 4411 168 Apr. 10 Apr. 11 Apr. 12 Apr. 13 Apr. 15 2 9 57 0 8 0 0 3 0 3 1 3 121 1 1002 0 0 29 1 6 6 1 803 1 212 0 0 20 1 23 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 48 3 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 62 42 146 0 0 2 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 4 52 26 296 5 0 20 0 14 17 17 1217 80 1749 Apr. 22 Apr. 23 Apr. 24 Apr. 27 Apr. 28 1 12 0 2 7 0 1 0 0 0 154 80 14 13 31 2 4 1 0 1 12 43 3 9 55 0 4 0 0 0 23 320 452 30 232 2 20 1 0 8 0 0 0 0 11mm, 0 1 Ad 0 0 1 Ad 10 14 1 3 8 2 12 1 8 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 1 1 2 0 75 5 0 0 212 587 479 66 375 Apr. 6 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 Apr. 21 1 1 73 1 15 1 142 0 0 0 3 2 0 1 3 14 257 Species Apr. 29 Apr. 30 May 1 May 2 T.V. ... . 4 5 0 2 Goshawk .... 0 1 0 0 S.s.H. .... 87 56 16 11 C.H. ....... .... 5 1 0 1 R.t.H. .... 89 41 6 2 R.s.H. 1 0 0 0 B.w.H. .... 472 234 14 5 R.l.H. . .. . 3 1 2 1 G.E. .... 1 Imm 0 0 0 B.E. . . . . 0 0 0 0 M.H. .... 11 1 4 1 Osprey. .... 28 11 1 6 P.F. . . . . 0 0 0 0 P.H. . .. . 0 0 0 0 S.H. ....... .... 5 3 2 0 UID . . .. . 0 0 2 0 TOTAL . ... 706 354 47 29 Species May 16 May 20 May 29 T.V. .... 0 0 l Goshawk .... .... 0 0 0 S.s.H. .. .. 0 2 1 C.H. .. .. 0 0 0 R.t.H. .... 1 5 i l R.s.H. . ... 0 0 0 B.w.H. .. .. 0 27 18 R.l.H. .... 0 1 0 G.E. .... 0 0 0 B.E. .. .. 0 0 0 M.H. .... 0 0 3 Osprey . .... 1 2 6 P.F. .... 0 0 0 P.H. .... 0 0 0 S.H. .. .. 0 0 0 UID . .... 0 5 0 TOTAL . .. .. 2 42 32 May 3 May 6 May 12 May 13 May 14 2 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 26 164 0 5 24 0 1 0 0 0 1 50 0 17 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 317 104 104 184 0 5 0 2 4 0 0 0 11mm 0 0 0 0 0 1 Ad 1 5 0 6 7 1 13 1 3 6 0 0 0 0 11mm 0 0 0 0 0 7 4 0 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 39 568 . 105 140 235 May 30 June 2 June 4 June 14 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 14 0 114 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 21 1 121 Chart II — Species Season Common Loon. Horned Grebe . Pied-billed Grebe. Great Blue Heron. Green Heron . American Bittern. Canada Goose. Snow Goose.. Mallard . Black Duck.. Gadwall .. Pintail . Green-winged Teal . Blue-winged Teal. American Widgeon . Shoveler . Wood Duck . Redhead . Ring-necked Duck. Canvasback. Greater Scaup. Lesser Scaup . Common Goldeneye . Barrow’s Goldeneye ......... Bufflehead. Oldsquaw . White-winged Scoter. Hooded Merganser. Common Merganser . Red-breasted Merganser. Common Gallinule. American Coot. Killdeer . American Woodcock. Common Snipe. Upland Plover . Spotted Sandpiper. Solitary Sandpiper. Greater Yellowlegs. Lesser Yellowlegs . Dunlin. Great Black-backed Gull. Herring Gull. Ring-billed Gull. Bonaparte’s Gull . Common Tern . Caspian Tern. Black Tern. Non-Falconiformes Comments Maximum 77 passing April 19 Maximum 32 April 11 Flock of 100 March 31 is very high Male March 30 very rare A very large flight of 248 on April 13 1972 Total 158 13 6 101 26 8 4627 101 287 232 18 217 23 22 13 7 70 31 14 8 5413 55 809 1 67 2 114 57 83 232 8 1 577 1 3 5 6 5 1 10 11 6 141 1978 4 46 2 50 23 Species Total Rock Dove. 241 Mourning Dove. 113 Great Horned Owl . .. 1 Short-eared Owl . 1 Common Nighthawk. 1 Chimney Swift. 223 Ruby-throated Hummingbird . 20 Belted Kingfisher. 32 Yellow-shafted Flicker. 754 Pileated Woodpecker. 1 Red-headed Woodpecker. 32 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker . 1 Hairy Woodpecker . 12 Downy Woodpecker . 4 Eastern Kingbird. 101 Great Crested Flycatcher. 1 Eastern Phoebe . 48 Horned Lark . 748 Tree Swallow. 1168 Bank Swallow . 418 Rough-winged swallow ....... 45 Bam Swallow .. 740 Cliff Swallow. 134 Purple Martin . 131 Blue Jay . 7964 Common Crow. 27,278 Blacked-capped Chickadee .... 89 White-breasted Nuthatch. 43 Red-breasted Nuthatch. 5 House Wren. 15 Catbird . 8 Brown Thrasher. 5 Robin . 5402 Wood Thrush. 5 Hermit Thrush. 1 Veery . 1 Eastern Bluebird . 64 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet. 40 Ruby-crowned Kinglet.. 21 Cedar Waxwing. 2362 Northern Shrike. 2 Loggerhead Shrike . 20 Starling . 16,867 Warbling Vireo . 1 Comments Non-migrant One April 15 Very Rare 6 still passing June 14 Departure date 1 June 14 Maximum 340 April 29 Departure June 2 late Non-migratory Maximum 12 May 13 1 still passing June 14 Maximum 39 May 14 still passing on June 14 Maximum 375 April 15 Very late for so large a number 4 still passing June 14 Maximum 3653 May 13 17 still passing on June 14 Maximum 7855 March 2 Maximum 3041 April 13 Maximum 38 April 15 2 still passing on June 2 Maximum 800 June 14 Maximum 5 April 18 Comments Species Nashville Warbler. Parula Warbler . Yellow Warbler . Magnolia Warbler . Cape May Warbler. Black-throated Blue Warbler .. Myrtle Warbler . Black-throated Green Warbler . Blackburnian Warbler. Chestnut-sided Warbler . Bay-breasted Warbler. Blackpoll Warbler. Pine Warbler. Palm Warbler . Ovenbird. Northern Waterthrush . Yellowthroat . Wilson’s Warbler . Canada Warbler . American Redstart .. House Sparrow .. Eastern Meadowlark . Redwinged Blackbird . Baltimore Oriole. Rusty Blackbird. Common Grackle. Brown-headed Cowbird . Scarlet Tanager .. Cardinal . Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Indigo Bunting. Evening Grosbeak. Purple Finch . Pine Grosbeak . Common Redpoll . Pine Siskin. American Goldfinch . Red Crossbill. White-winged Crossbill . Rufous-sided Towhee . Savannah Sparrow .. Vesper Sparrow.. Slate-colored Junco . Tree Sparrow. Chipping Sparrow. Field Sparrow. White-crowned Sparrow. White-throated Sparrow. Song Sparrow. Snow Bunting . Maximum 18 May 14 Maximum 310 May 13 Last migrant 1 male June 14 Maximum 930 May 14 Maximum 1250 April 15 Total 3 1 91 9 29 3 614 20 4 4 4 4 1 7 1 2 11 5 2 88 30 248 146,570 736 1310 29,662 15,112 21 2 49 6 2349 56 2 4442 313 2804 4 15 4 4 11 3 2 263 5 10 2 26 124 25 Table I 1972 Hawk Summary No. Days Species Arr. date Dep. date Total Max. Max. date seen T.V. Mar 31 June 14* 171 57 Apr 12 25 Goshawk Feb 27 Apr 30 48 6 each Mar 31, Apr 1 21 S.s.H. Mar 21 June 2 2547 1002 Apr 15 32 C.H. Mar 12 May 6 156 29 Apr 12 24 R.t.H. Mar 2 June 14 3354 803 Apr 12 49 R.s.H. Mar 12 Apr 29 528 131 Mar 21 21 B.w.H. Apr 15 June 14 6148 3337 Apr 18 22 R.I.H. Mar 2 May 20 274 55 Apr 18 33 G.E. Mar 31 May 13 6 2 Mar 31 5 B.E. Mar 25 May 14 6 2 Apr 18 5 M.H. Mar 2 June 14 479 146 Apr 15 37 Osprey Apr 12 June 14 150 28 Apr 29 25 P.F. Apr 18 May 14 2 1 each Apr 18, May 14 2 P.H. Apr 13 Apr 21 7 3 Apr 18 4 S.H. Mar 2 June 2* 654 296 Apr 15 37 TOTAL HAWKS 14,530 Table II Ten-Year Hawk Summary Species Earliest arr. Latest dep. Highest Year, No. Lowest Year, No. T.V. Mar 25, 1970 June 14, 1972 1969-278 1963-30 Goshawk Feb 18, 1970 May 10, 1970 1970-156 1965-42 S.s.H. Mar 3, 1966 June 20, 1970 1966-5138 1963-1335 C.H. Mar 7, 1964 May 16, 1971 1967-196 1965-70 R.t.H. Feb 22, 1970 June 20, 1971 1972-3354 1965-789 R.s.H. Mar 3, 1964 May 18, 1971 1967-977 1965-309 B.w.H. Mar 29, 1967 June 20, 1971 1963-21,542 1972-6148 R.l.H. Feb 26, 1971 May 20, 1972 1972-274 1965-116 G.E. Mar 4, 1964 May 13, 1972 1966-13 1963-2 B.E. Mar 7, 1964 June 2, 1970 1964, 1967-11 each 1963, 1968 M.H. Feb 26, 1971 June 14, 1972 1972-479 2 each 1965-191 Osprey Mar 29, 1963 June 15, 1970 1970-233 1963-53 P.F. Mar 30, 1967, 1968 May 14, 1972 1964, 1965, P.H. Mar 15, 1968 May 16, 1970 1969, 1970-4 1966-22 1963-0 1963-3 S.H. Mar 2, 1967, 1972 June 20, 1971 1972-654 1965-165 Species Table III Ten-Year Hawk Totals and Highest Day Cumulative 1963-1972 Highest single day No. Total T.V. Apr 10, 1969 66 1230 Goshawk Apr 4, 1971 26 870 S.s.H. Apr 21, 1966 2787 22,199 C.H. Apr 3, 1971 55 1385 R.t.H. Apr 12, 1972 803 17,596 R.s.H. Apr 3, 1971 277 5662 26 Table III— (cont.) B.w.H. Apr 21, 1966 10,287 123,526 R.I.H. Apr 18, 1972 55 1790 G.E. Apr 12 and 26, 1967-Mar 31, 1972 2 64 B.E. 6 different dates 4 67 M.H. Apr 15, 1972 146 3358 Osprey May 1, 1970 81 1407 P.F. Apr 25, 1964—Apr 25, 1965 2 19 P.H. Apr 19, 1966 4 108 S.H. Apr 15, 1972 296 4084 TOTAL IDENTIFIED HAWKS-183,586 Abbreviations used Feb = February Mar=March Apr = April * —see text under the given species arr=arrival dep = departure max=maximum No. = number T.V. = Turkey Vulture S.s.H. = Sharp-shinned Hawk C.H. = Cooper’s Hawk R.t.H. = Red-tailed Hawk R.s.H. = Red-shouldered Hawk B.w.H. = Broad-winged Hawk R. 1.H. = Rough-legged Hawk G.E. = Golden Eagle B.E. = Bald Eagle M.H. = Marsh Hawk P.F.= Peregrine Falcon P.H. = Pigeon Hawk S. H. = Sparrow Hawk UID = Unidentified hawk VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY Haugh, J. R. and T. J. Cade 1966 The Spring Hawk Migration Around The Southeastern Shore of Lake Ontario. The Wilson Bulletin. 78:1:88-110. Haugh, J. R. 1966 Some Observations on the Hawk Migration at Derby Hill Kingbird. 16:1:5- 16. Rusk, M. S. and F. G. Scheider Region 5 Kingbird report. 17:3:167-171. Region 5 Kingbird report. 18:3:158-163. Region 5 Kingbird report. 19 :3:160-167. Region 5 Kingbird report. 20:3:135-142. Rusk, M. S. and C. G. Spies Region 5 Report Kingbird 21:3:159-167. Scheider, Fritz Region 5 Report Kingbird. 16:3:166-171. 4173 Makyes Road, Syracuse, New York 13215 27 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 25TH ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC. ITHACA, N.Y. SEPTEMBER 22-24, 1972 The 25th. Annual Meeting of the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc. was held at the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. with the Schuyler County Bird Club, the Bird Study Group of the Campus Club and the Cornell Conservation Club as hosts. The meeting was called to order at 2 P.M. on September 22, 1972 by the president, Mr. Kenneth D. Niven. A quorum was de¬ clared with delegates from 17 clubs answering the roll call. The delegates unanimously approved a vote to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the 1971 Council Meeting and accept them as published in the July 1971 issue of the Kingbird. The treasurer, Mr. Stephen B. Dempsey, presented his report for the calendar year 1971 as follows: FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC. TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF 12/31/71 AND FOR THE THEN ENDED YEAR Cash on hand 12/31/70 Checking Account . $1,286.75 Savings Account . 7,527.48 Net gain in 1971 . 1,028.31 Adjustment* . 15.00 $9,857.54 Cash on hand 12/31/71 Checking Account . $1,944.86 Savings Account . 7,912.68 $9,857.54 * Represents checks drawn in 1971 but not cleared until 1972. Income 1971 Dues, Individual Annual . $1,925.00 Sustaining ... 142.50 Supporting .. 260.00 Life . 75.00 Student . 27.00 $2,429.50 Dues, Clubs . 900.20 Subscriptions . 165.00 Hawk Fund . 148.33 Miscellaneous . 30.35 Interest on Savings Account (accrued) . 385.20 $4,058.58 28 Expenses, 1971 Kingbird Conservation Annual Meeting Membership Hawk Program Dues . Miscellaneous Bank Charges . $2,525.17 32.64 125.42 190.84 75.00 75.00 1.94 4.26 $3,030.27 Net Gain $1,028.31 Mr. Dempsey commented that last year only 3 issues of the Kingbird were paid for and this year 5 issues will be paid for. Mr. Dempsey then reported on the Hawk Nesting Fund as follows: HAWK NESTING FUND TREASURER’S REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1971 Balance on Hand 1/1/71 . $1,054.23 Interest Earned — Year 1971 . 43.24 Disbursements 1969-1971 . 148.33* Balance on Hand 12/31/71 . $ 949.14 * Treasurer’s Report Ended 12/31/69 . $ 20.00 Treasurer’s Report Ended 12/31/70 ... 68.33 Disbursements from Regular Account 1/1/71—5/10/71. 60.00 $ 148.33 NOTE: The regular account is due an additional $15.00 for further disbursements made in 1971. The report was accepted as presented. The report of the auditing Committee was given by Mr. Dempsey. It had been audited and signed by Mr. Ralph Cioffi and Mr. William Reeves. This was also accepted as presented. Mrs. Dorothy Mcllroy, chairman of the Finance Committee presented her report and the budget for 1973 as follows: The budget for 1973 is a deficit budget based on both 1971 figures and actual income and expenditures for 1972 to date: Income Individual Dues Club Dues Subscriptions Interest on savings acct. Miscellaneous Expenditures $2,290.00 KINGBIRD $3,800.00 1,060.00 Conservation 40.00 210.00 Membership maintenance 200.00 400.00 Annual meeting 200.00 25.00 Affiliation dues 50.00 $3,985.00 Miscellaneous 40.00 N.Y. State Birders 250.00 $4,580.00 DEFICIT $595.00 NOTE: Spendable income listed only, life membership payments excluded. 29 The Finance Committee was asked to update the 1970 report of the committee on KINGBIRD costs. 1971 income figures are presented in the Treasurer’s report. Note that the $75.00 received as life membership payments should be considered an addition to savings, only the interest thereon available toward expenses. Non- KINGBIRD expenses totaled $430.10. KINGBIRD expenses for 1971 were: Prompt Mailing Service (addressographing) .. $ 48.81 KINGBIRD mailing envelopes . $ 113.08 Cayuga Press bills: Jan. issue (675 copies) . $ 661.94 May issue (675 copies) . 1,048.77 July issue (650 copies) . 985.60 Oct. issue (625 copies) . 1,014.42 3,710.73 Circulation manager’s expenses: Post Office deposits . t . $ 20.00 Other postage (returned KINGBIRDS, corresp.) .... 15.61 Supplies (string, stationery, etc.) . 4.19 Telephone (long distance) .. .89 40.69 $3,913.31 Dividing total KINGBIRD costs ($3,913.31) by total number of copies ordered (2625), the cost per single copy equals $1.49, about $6.00,/year. Printing costs included $170 for extra time on linotype because of poor copy, difficult to read. This could be eliminated by more care on the part of authors and Regional Editors in submitting copy that follows the Editor’s format instructions exactly and is carefully typed. Perhaps a volunteer could be found to retype copy when necessary. The 1973 budget assumes no extra time charges by the printer. Some saving could be made by limiting the Regional Reports to a maximum of 4 1/2 printed pages per report except in most unusual circumstances and with advance approval from the Editor. Other journals will print copy beyond the specified maxi¬ mum length if the author is willing to pay the cost of the extra pages. KINGBIRD could do this, or have it understood that copy beyond the 4 1/2 printed pages would not be set up in type, but discarded. The Editor should not be expected to prune or condense Regional reports; that is the job of the Regional Editor. The report of the Finance Committee was then accepted unanimously. Mrs. Mcllroy left the budget open for discussion. Total expenses now amount to about $6.00 each member and the $5.00 dues does not cover this, nor does the interest from the life membership accounts. There were numerous suggestions from the floor. Dr. Neil Moon thought it would be a good idea to limit the Regional Reports to 4 pages as the cost per page is $11.00, and poor copy should either be sent back to the Regional Editors or charged to the region. Mr. Robert Arbib suggested paid advertising. It was pointed out that we had had advertising in the past, but it is difficult to get customers be¬ cause oF our small circulation. Mr. Arbib offered his file on potential customers to whomever would be advertising manager. Mr. Arbib felt an increase in dues would lose members, and that our only salvation was to increase memberships and sub¬ scriptions. He also suggested a decrease in dues and getting 2 to 3 times as many members as we now have because costs then go down. Mr. Niven pointed out that the consensus of opinion at the meeting last year was that we would lose members if we increased dues. 30 Mr. Joseph Taylor, Editor of the Kingbird commented on Kingbird costs and how the latest issue of the Kingbird cost very little because there were no articles in it! Mr. Taylor stated that there have been no articles coming into the Kingbird. The need for an assistant Editor to solicit articles was pointed out. Mr. Taylor also commented on the replies to the questionnaire sent out with the last issue of “New York Birders.” 350 were sent out and 90 replies received. He was surprised that everyone liked the magazine the way it is. Among the results of the question¬ naire was the need for more articles on places to go birding, agreement on a drive for new members, no objections to advertising, a desire for more general rather than technical articles and 74 said they did not object to a dues increase. Mr. Taylor asked the Council to approve an exchange list for bulletins. Approval was unani¬ mous. It was then suggested that exchange bulletins might be a source of material for the Kingbird. The motion to accept the Editor’s report was then passed unani¬ mously. There was no report from the chairman of the Waterfowl Count and it was pointed out that there has been no report since 1968. Mr. Niven presented the report of Miss Elizabeth Feldhusen, the Corresponding Secretary in her absence. Correspondence has been mostly from people wanting to know about birding areas. Mr. Richard Sloss, Chairman of the By-Laws Committee asked the delegates if they were aware of a proposed amendment to the by-laws. The proposed amend¬ ment would raise the individual annual dues from $5.00 to $6.00 and create a family membership of $7.50 in lieu of a sustaining membership, and student mem¬ bership would be $3.00. A hand count showed that most of the delegates were aware of the proposal and had been instructed how to vote. During the discussion which followed Dr. Dittrich noted that the membership was now receiving the new “New York Birders” free and thus might not mind an increase of dues. He also pointed out that if there were more than 4 issues a year it could be sent out cheaper. The question arose as to whether or not the changing of the Sustaining class of mem¬ bership was a change in name only. Mr. Sloss explained that we would be creating a class where husband and wife could join at a cheaper rate but would receive only one Kingbird. He also felt we could not continue at $5.00 an annual membership when the Kingbird costs $6.00 yearly. Dr. Moon questioned how much yearly inter¬ est we’re receiving on the account from the life memberships. Mr. Dempsey replied that it is roughly 5%, but that we could possibly get more. Mr. Niven felt the money could even be put into a five year account and receive at least 6 % interest, and that we should try to accomplish this this year. Mr. Arbib again stated he felt it was self- defeating to raise the dues and that an effort should be made to have a membership campaign. Dr. James Tate felt that expenses and ways to raise money revolved around the Kingbird and the Editor and pointed up the need for the Editor to have a staff to work with him. The question of obtaining volunteers to help and developing a workable plan arose and it was decided to table the discussion until Saturday morning in the hope we would have more delegates present. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee, Mr. Walter Benning presented the proposed slate of officers for 1973. Mr. Harold Mitchell moved the nominations be closed and it was seconded by Mrs. Alice Jones. The Secretary was instructed to cast one vote for the entire slate: President: Mr. Kenneth D. Niven Vice-President: Mrs. Mary Ann Sunderlin Corresponding Secretary: Miss Elizabeth Feldhusen Recording Secretary: Mrs. Myrna Hemmerich Treasurer: Mr. Stephen B. Dempsey 31 The following Nominating Committee for 1973 was elected: Mr. Robert Arbib, Chairman, Mrs. Alice Ulrich and Dr. Neil Moon. The Auditing Committee was re-elected without opposition as follows: Mr. Ralph Cioffi and Mr. William Reeves. Mr. Niven read the report of the Hawk Nesting Program as received from Mr. Herb Saltford. Mr. Saltford wondered how valuable the program is and whether we should forget it and donate the balance of the fund to the Peregrine Falcon pro¬ gram as only $15.00 was paid out in the past year. Mrs. Sunderlin felt there had been no publicity given the program this year and that the problem was getting the individual clubs to publize it. Mr. Mitchell felt notices should come out early while the birds are still nesting. Future use of the Kingbird and New York Birders for publicity was suggested. The report of the Hawk Nesting Program was then accepted unanimously. There was no report from the Bulletin Exchange Committee. A new club, The Long Island Field Naturalists’ Society was nominated for mem¬ bership, accepted and welcomed into the Federation. The meeting was then adjourned until Saturday morning, Sept. 23 ,1972. At 9:00 A.M. Saturday morning the meeting was again called to order, with dele¬ gates from 22 clubs answering the roll call. Mr. Niven read the report sent by Dr. Sally Spofford, Chairman of the Bibliog¬ raphy Committee. They will continue to publish an annual bibliography in the Kingbird and urge people to send in any omissions. Mr. Robert Arbib, Chairman, gave the report of the Publications and Research Committee. The committee had discussed ways of getting more material for the Kingbird as there has been a dearth of good articles and short notes. They will try to find an assistant editor to recruit material for the Kingbird. They feel the magazine should emphasize general ornithology and where to find birds. The problem of low circulation means a stringent budget. Ways to boost circulation were discussed, perhaps by strengthening the membership committee or possibly having an advertis¬ ing manager. Research will basically be two programs; 1. The annual waterfowl count 2. Hawk Nest Protection Program. They talked of strengthening the personnel involved. Other research programs proposed if the interest and leadership could be found: 1. Great Blue Heronry Survey 2. Monitoring the spread and population of the Monk Parakeet. Mr. Niven asked the delegates to return to their clubs and call to the attention of the local secretaries that according to the by-laws of the Federation they are to file with the Federation’s recording secretary two copies of the names and ad¬ dresses of their officers each year, and biennially in even years two copies of their membership list with addresses. The following committee was appointed to draw up a resolution thanking the host clubs: Dr. Neil Moon, Chairman, Mrs. Alice Jones, Mr. Albert Fudge, and Dr. Allen Benton. Dr. Frederick C. Dittrich, circulation manager of the Kingbird compared 1972 memberships with the previous two years: 1972 1971 1970 Indiv. Members ... ... . 450 482 525 Clubs . . 37 36 40 Subscriptions . .... 24 28 31 Exchanges . . 16 14 12 Complimentary . . 11 9 8 32 Dr. Dittrich asked for permission to classify an individual under subscription cate¬ gory, and official permission to cash the checks which arrive in his name. This was granted. He also suggested that the delegates take back issues of the Kingbird to their clubs to help get prospective members for the Federation. The report of the circulation manager was accepted unanimously. Mr. Richard Sloss read a letter he had written to Mr. Niven which re-iterated problems and suggestions discussed at the Claryville meeting of officers and Com¬ mittee Chairmen. One of these was the need for better liaison between the Clubs and the President of the Federation. The President could appoint area representa¬ tives (which would serve the need for a pool for future presidents) who would keep each club informed, visit each member club at least once a year, and solicit individual members. It was felt that having only 3 area representatives would be impractical, that 7 would be necessary to make the plan workable. An area repre¬ sentative would be a member of one of the clubs in the area he would serve. Other points made in Mr. Sloss’s letter were: the need for a discussion on the role of the Federation in conservation and the need to clarify the purposes of the Federation; that the question of dues is correlated with the question of membership; that we should keep the $5.00 dues but ask members to jump to the next dues category and perhaps have a fund raising drive to see how many supporting mem¬ bers we can get. Dr. Gordon Meade felt the organization has lost enthusiasm and personally sup¬ ported the idea of area representatives while opposing a dues increase. He felt we must make improvements in the Kingbird to make it a great journal. Dr. Reilly made a motion to divide the State into 7 sections and have the Presi¬ dent with the help of the board appoint an area representative for each. The motion was seconded and there was some discussion on whether or not we shouldn’t have 10 representatives using the ten reporting regions in the Kingbird. It was pointed out that the 10 reporting regions were done geographically and that the 7 regions were laid out according to workability of area and number of clubs in each area. The motion was then passed unanimously. The following volunteered to serve: Area 1 The name of Marie Wendling was suggested Area 2 Dr. Gordon Meade Area 3 Dr. Bruno DeSimone Area 4 Dr. James Tate Area 5 Dr. Ed Reilly Area 6 Representative needed At this point Mr. Arbib stated he felt that' Area 7 (metropolitan New York, Westchester and Long Island) which includes 10 clubs was too much for one per¬ son to handle and that if the area could be divided into two he would serve as a representative. The motion was then made and passed to create eight areas with eight regional representatives. Area 7 Mr. Robert Arbib will serve Area 8 (Long Island & Staten Island) Representative needed Mr. Niven announced plans for the 26th Annual Council Meeting. Sullivan County Audubon will be the host club and the meeting will be held May 18-20, 1973 at the Forstmann Conference Center, Frost Valley, Claryville, New York. The site was chosen because of the outstanding scenery and the low cost for the weekend. Miss Elizabeth Feldhusen sent notice that a formal invitation has been received from Jamestown for the 27th Annual Meeting in 1974. Mr. Niven presented the membership report in lieu of the chairman. There are 39 new members, 3 supporting, 3 sustaining, 1 life, 2 student, and 2 new clubs. Dr. Allen Benton moved and it was passed that we accept the new members and the clubs subject to names submitted. (The Long Island Field Naturalists’ Society was accepted at the Friday meeting and it was subsequently announced that the second new club is the Moraine Audubon Society from Long Island.) Mr. Arbib presented the Conservation resolution as follows: Whereas the Monk, or Quaker Parakeet, Myiopsittus monachus, a South American parrot which has escaped from captivity in the eastern United States, and is now rapidly increasing in numbers and distribution, being considered an undesirable introduction into the North American avifauna and of potential detriment to orchard and fruit crops, *be it resolved that the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc. in meeting assembled recommends that immediate steps be taken by the ap¬ propriate governmental agencies to eliminate or effectively control by humane means this species in the United States, and to ban permanently its further inmportation, and further that this resolution be transmitted to the appropriate authorities. The resolution was passed without opposition. Dr. Reilly made a motion which was passed unanimously that extra copies of the Kingbird be made available to the eight area representatives for use in promoting new memberships. The vote was unanimous to table until 1973 any decision on the proposal to raise dues. Mr. Sloss suggested that the area representatives find out from the clubs under their jurisdiction how the Federation can be more meaningful to member clubs. He also stated that there are some members who feel the Federation is not performing a good job in conservation, and that there are other members who feel conservation matters should be handled by other organizations set up to handle them. The Feder¬ ation is not equippped for quick action. He suggested we redefine our purposes. Mr. Niven asked the delegates to go back home and have their clubs check the by-laws and use the Kingbird. Mr. Mitchell concurred with Mr. Sloss, stating Audubon is set up to act country¬ wide and that we are a N.Y. State organization and should continue to act on things that effect us in N.Y. State. Dr. Peakall remarked that by continuing the annual waterfowl census and the Heronry Count we would have data available to function effectively as conservation problems arose. Mr. Brockner suggested we step up the activity of the newsletter, “The New York Birders.” He felt the greatest step forward was having a Friday afternoon meeting of the Council and urged that we continue this format. Other opinions from the floor were: the need of an organization like the Fed¬ eration with a primary interest in birds to be active in conservation matters pertain¬ ing to birds, that the Federation cannot ignore conservation matters but that we need a good Conservation Chairman with time and drive. Dr. James Tate presented the following conservation resolution: Whereas, the possession of birds as pets is a common practice in the United States of America and, whereas, the greatest portion of the pet trade deals in wild birds taken from native populations of other countries and, whereas, there exists a lack of control over this trade, and intolerable inhumane conditions exist during the impor¬ tation of these birds, be it resolved that the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc. supports strong and meaningful legislation intended to restrict the trade in wild bird species taken from native populations in other lands, and to encourage the use of captive-reared birds as the major source of pet birds. The resolution was adopted unanimously with the urging it be sent to the proper government authorities, local fish & wildlife services and the press. 34 THE PAPER SESSION Annual Meeting — September 23, 1972 1. Beaver Meadow Nature Center. Harold Mitchell 2. Plum Island, New York, A Little Known Sanctuary.Paul Spitzer 3. The Current Status of the N.Y. State Bird Book.John Bull 4. The Monk Parakeet Invades Staten Island.. . Howard H. Cleaves 5. Use of Birds in Literature — Emily Dickinson.Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr. The Resolution which was prepared by the Resolutions Committee and presented at the Annual Banquet was as follows: Whereas: The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the Bird Study Group of the Cornell Campus Club and the Cornell Conservation Club and the Schuyler County Bird Club have so ably provided for the comfort and entertainment of the Federa¬ tion of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc., and have served as hosts at this the 25th Annual Meeting of said Federation; and Whereas: The preparations for and consummation of this meeting have been carried out with outstanding care, diligence and dispatch, befitting the Silver Anniversary meeting of the Federation, therefore Be It Resolved: that we, the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc. here assembled, do express to said hosts our gratitude and appreciation for the aforemen¬ tioned amenities and commend said hosts for their kindness and hospitality. Resolutions Committee, Neil S. Moon Albert Fudge Alice D. Jones Allen Benton Respectfully Submitted, Myrna Memmerich FIELD NOTES Raven sightings in the Adirondack Mountains. While participating in a large raptor survey for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in northern New York, I have on several occasions observed Common Ravens, Corvus corax. The species was described as a “a common resident throughout the Adiron- dacks” by Merriam ( Nuttall Ornithological Club Bulletin , 1880, 6:192) but by the 1900s New York records were very rare. (See ed. note Kingbird 18(4): 199, Octo¬ ber 1968). The single report of a recent nesting by Delafield ( Kingbird 18(4): 198-199) and the implied paucity of speciments (Belknap, Kingbird 20(1): 14-15) led me to believe that the following sightings would be of interest. I have grouped the sightings into distinct areas, which I feel may represent occupied nesting territories. Area 1. This area is located in the high peak country of the eastern Adirondacks, Essex County. Greenleaf Chase first observed a pair of ravens here in March, 1960. Delafield ( op. cit. ) reported on the fledging of two young from a high cliff nest in 1968. On May 16, 1971, at 8:47 A.M. I observed a pair of ravens for 23 minutes at this same cliff, although no nest was visible. The birds were significantly larger than Common Crows, with exceptionally large beaks and head, scraggly throat re¬ gion, and a long, wedge-shaped tail. They uttered harsh gutteral croaks at intervals as they alternately landed on ledges and soared out from the cliff. On June 2, 1971, I saw one raven in flight near the same cliff, and what was probably the same bird searching along a road later the same day. Greenleaf Chase has seen single ravens about two miles from this cliff on two occasions in May and June of 1972. Area 1 contains a narrow pass with precipitous cliffs on either side leading out to two wide 35 valleys. The sides of the mountains are heavily forested hut are capped with bald knob tops open except for occasional short yellow birch, Betula alleghanensis and wind-swept balsam fir, Abies balsamea. Area 2, This is located between Clemons and Whitehall in Washington County. I have observed single ravens here on May 26 and July 9, 1970, and on April 1 and June 2, 1971. It is interesting that Dr. Walter Spofford found a cliff nest of the raven sixteen miles away in Vermont (different territory) and only three miles from the New York State border. At a visit to that nest June 2, 1971, I saw two large young on the nest and two adults perched nearby. At my only visit in 1972, on July 9, Lawrence Brown and I saw one raven and a lot of white-wash on the side of the stick nest and on the cliff below the nest and nearby perches. Area 2 and the Vermont site are at low elevations, 100-1,000 feet, with a number of nearby pastures and dairy farms. The limestone and shale cliffs are numerous and only the hillsides are heavily forested. Area 3. The reports of ravens from this wild and remote region of eastern Hamil¬ ton County come from William Frennette. On May 10, 1971 Frennette watched a raven land on a long abandoned eagle nest built high on a cliff ledge. Campers nearby also saw raven activity at the nest. During the last week of April, 1972, Frennette once again saw a raven circling above the same awesome cliff. I have observed ravens and heard of isolated raven sightings at various other points in the Adirondacks. May 30, 1971 in the company of James Spencer, along the West Branch of the Sacandaga River, I watched a single raven pass over our car. On March 28, 1971 south of Mineville, Larry Tune and I followed a raven with our lOx glasses as it passed our mountaintop lookout and disappeared from our vision about three miles to the north, still flying hard. Terry Perkins re¬ ported a raven “spent some time near the Stillwater ” in late April, 1972 and John Ogden reported one four miles west of Speculator in mid-May, 1972. Mr. Chase also reported a raven “spending two months near Coreys” (Franklin County) in March- May, 1972, and the most recent report is of a pair seen and heard calling by Geoffrey Carleton (pers. comm, to W. Spofford) in Essex County on September 23, 1972. It is not known if these observations reflect an increase in the Adirondack popula¬ tion or if they are the result of the intensive D.E.C. study and more trained ob¬ servers in the field. Francis J. Singer, Apt. 1, 407 N. Jefferson Street, Moscow, Idaho 83843 Eldorado Shorebird Slaughter. Sunday, October 15, 1972 was a sunny 40 degree day with a strong chilling wind off Lake Ontario which was tolerated in the hope that I would see a phalarope or spot a jaeger offshore while walking the beach at Eldorado Shores Nature Conservancy. I was in no way prepared by any past experience for what lay ahead on this spectacularly beautiful fall morning. As I rounded the first point heading south I picked up two shorebirds in my binoculars; they were on their backs, legs upright, and closer inspection showed they had been shot. Then I saw the large driftwood blind further south, and the sad story was revealed. Empty 12 gauge shot-gun shells and dead shorebirds were strewn among the rocks the length of the beach. Numb with cold and disbelief, I collected 23 freshly killed shorebirds and even more shells. No one was to be seen on the property, I made notes, took photographs, and returned to Ithaca with the birds, and left them with the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology for verification of identification of the species, and in the hope that students or the Cornell Museum could use the skins. All the birds were adults, and included 14 Dunlin, 3 White-rumped Sand¬ pipers, 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 2 Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Ruddy Turnstone, and 1 Sanderling. 36 A letter was sent the next day to the Department of Environmental Conservation in Watertown and an investigation of. the incident is under way. A “Letter to the Editor” was sent to the Watertown Daily Times and good coverage of the incident appeared in the October 19th edition of the paper. Other interested organizations were also immediately informed. Mildred C. Comar, 8 Highland Park Lane, Ithaca, New York 14850 37 Wlheatear at Lake Oneida, New York. On the afternoon of 26 Sept. 1972, Mr. Paul Laible of Bridgeport,N.Y., noticed a strange, strikingly white-rumped bird flush from the side of Smith Ridge Road, approximately 2 miles east of Bridgeport, Madison Co. He stopped to investigate and was able tentatively to identify the bird as a Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe. He contacted Crumb, who notified several local observers including De Benedictis. Attempts by the authors to locate the bird that evening were thwarted by inclement weather and nightfall. The following morning F.G. Scheider located the bird in the same location and it was seen by many other observers, including the authors, during the day. It vanished that night. Photographs, one of which is reproduced opposite, taken by Crumb provide substantial evidence that the identification is correct. Other significant details of the observation are: a small thrush-shaped bird of very upright posture; warm cinnamon buff ventrally, darker brown above and on the face, except for a conspicuous pale superciliary, which was the color of the underparts; rump and basal half of retrices, except the innermost pair, white; rest of tail very dark brown, narrowly tipped with buff; tertials and remiges dark brown, these and the greater secondary coverts broadly and conspicuously bordered with buff. The buff edgings to the flight feath¬ ers, especially the retrices, are indicative of the bird’s immaturity. The bird confined its activities to two small roadside lawns, feeding actively on exposed ground along the roadside and in driveways, flying to perches when frightened. It associated with no other birds, and was not heard to call by any observer we have contacted. This is the first record from Region 5 and is evidently the sixth for upstate New York. We know of only the following additional verified upstate reports: 1) Junius, Seneca Co., 9 Sept 1872. Specimen, now in Hobart College, collected by C. J. Hamilton (Eaton, E. H. N.Y. State Mus., Mem. 12, Vol. 11:535-536, 1914). 2) Rochester, Monroe Co., 1 (? and 2) October 1934. One seen by Howard Miller, Clarence Barg and Dewey Rommell (fide R. T. O’Hare, letter, 14 Nov. 1972). Although this report precedes use of any verification system, the ob¬ servers are known to have been both competent and confident of their iden¬ tification. 3) Piseco, Hamilton Co., 25 Sept. 1963. One seen by D. W. Mcllroy, who had seen the species that summer in Europe (details supplied by D. W. Mcllroy, pers, com.) 4) Beaver Island State Park, Erie Co., 25 Sept. 1965. One seen by R. Brownstein, H. D. Mitchell and E. A. Ulrich. Photographs taken by Mitchell are not presently available nor on file with the Buffalo Ornithological Society (fide R. F. Andrle, letter, 9 Nov. 1972). 5) Two miles west of Hamburg, Erie Co. 27 Sept. 1967. Two seen by T. L. Bourne (details supplied by Andrle, op. cit.) We know of two other probable, but unverified reports. At least 9 occurrences in the New York City area are available (W. A. Farren, Kingbird 27:26, 1968; subse¬ quent Region 10 reports). Although usually considered a “vagrant,” Wheatears are clearly very rare fall migrants in extreme eastern North America, with records con¬ centrated in the last 10 days of September and the first 10 days of October; one to four are reported annually in Audubon Field Notes/American Birds at least since 1966. The geographic density of Wheatear records is closely correlated with the density of birdwatchers, as would be expected of a species showing the regular dis¬ tributional pattern here postulated. We thank R. F. Andrle, J. L. Bull, D. W. Mcllroy, and R. T. O’Hara for supply¬ ing us with details of other New York Wheatear records, Paul A. DeBenedictis, Dept, of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y. 13210, and Dorothy W. Crumb, 3983 Gates Road, Jamesville, N.Y. 13078 38 Photo by D. \V. Crumb. Wheatear in flight, Bridgeport, Madison Co., N.Y., 27 September 1972. Sage Thrasher at Jones Beach State Park, Nassau Co., New York: On 22 October, 1972 a Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) was observed between the Coast Guard Station and the Police Barracks at Jones Beach. I was among a group of ten birders from the Scarsdale Audubon Society to see the bird, four of whom re¬ mained to study the bird at length: Breck Carrow, Alan Steinburg, Douglas May¬ nard, and myself. We watched the bird for 15 minutes as it flew among a number of scrub pines. The bird usually would perch at the top of a pine, but for a few minutes it was on the ground. We noted the following field marks (all without reference to a field guide): The bird’s back was brown-gray in color as was its nape and crown. Its underparts were heavily streaked with brown-black streaks all the way to the belly. These streaks did not cover the chin (and middle of upper throat). There was a rather strong orange-buff wash on the flanks. There also seemed to be a very small spot of this wash on the cheeks. The wings were brown-gray and there were two nar¬ row white wingbars present (upper one very small). The tail was identical in color to the wings and back and it showed white corners. These corners could be seen both at rest and in flight but they were easier to see when the bird was flying. At one time the bird perched very close to a Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos ). The thrasher was about one inch smaller in size and its tail was also shorter pro¬ portionately to that of the Mockingbird. The thrasher also held its tail less horizon¬ tally (that is, the thrasher’s tail was more a continuation of its back while the Mockingbird’s was held more at an angle). The bill length of the thrasher appeared to be the same as that of the Mockingbird. The thrasher also jerked its tail a number of times (about three or four times per minute when perched). The bird was an immature, judging from its dark eyes. 39 The picture in Petersons Field Guide to Western Birds is identical to the bird we saw (except for the eyes) although our bird had more of the orange-buff wash on the flanks. This is apparently the fourth record of the Sage Thrasher for New York State. Paul Lehman, 8 Cambridge Ct., Larchmont, N.Y. 10538 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FALL SEASON Fritz Scheiber Fall weather promised some respite from the protracted precipitation of the summer. However, fall reneged and the promise was cancelled with moderate rainfall in September, increasing in early October, and heavy precipitation, both rain and snow, thru November. Similarly the latter months of the period were very cold, in some areas achieving record average minimal temperatures. Lakes and rivers in late Novem¬ ber were at flood or near flood levels, inundating many choice birding areas. There seemed to be no major movements of Iandbirds across the state but an early and impressive Canada Goose flight occurred October 7-8 with thousands moving south over Lake Ontario and lesser numbers inland. Apparently this was the exodus from the northern breeding grounds for the majority of the species because no large concentrations were reported thereafter, although small flocks were noted thru Novem¬ ber. Unlike Canada Geese, the Brant movement was reduced along Lake Ontario (3,5) and the waterfowl flight in general can only be described as varying from dismal to disastrous with markedly lowered numbers of dabbling ducks in 2,3,5,8, and a reduction in dividing ducks that in¬ cluded, not only Redhead and Canvasback (2,3,5,8,9), but the formerly abundant Scaup and Ring-necked Duck. The reduced numbers of Com¬ mon Golden-eye and Bufflehead may be a function of the lack of freeze- up further north and the only abundant species on Lake Ontario waters were Oldsquaw and Red-breasted Merganser 2,5), both Arctic tundra nesters. Hooded Mergansers like Ring-necked Ducks seemed very low (3,5). Goshawk numbers increased in 2,5,9, and 10 and reflected the impres¬ sive irruption noted at various eastern and central fall fly ways. Rough¬ legged Hawks on the other hand seemed very scarce (2,5,6,8) but scat¬ tered birds were reported from open hill country areas to the south (3,4, and 9). Bald Eagles appeared only as scattered singles (2,3,5,6,8,9) and Peregrine Falcons and Pigeon Hawks seemed even scarcer. American Coot counts seemed particularly low in the central New York marshes (3,5) and no compensatory concentrations were noted in other areas. Shorebird migration contained interesting variety with good numbers of Golden Plover (3), Purple, Baird’s, and White-rumped Sand- 40 pipers (5,6), and Hudsonian Godwit (3,5) upstate but high water in most areas, a sequel to the heavy summer and fall rains, wiped out most standard shorebird areas. However, flooded plowed fields and pastures provided occasional — but almost always transient — shorebirding. White-winged gulls seemed non-existent — the only report this fall for the entire state is one Iceland Gull (6). It will be interesting to see if the winter numbers continue in this abysmal vein. Similarly Snowy Owls were very scarce with singles only in 2,3, and 10 with the usual some¬ what better numbers in 6. Short-eared Owls reports were scattered sin¬ gles and I suspect this winter will see very few of all three of the irrup- tive Arctic raptors, i.e., Snowy and Short-eared Owls and Rough-legged Hawk. Red-bellied Woodpeckers have expanded and established in the Lake Ontario woodlots of Region 5 and expansion in the lower Hudson River Valley is current (9). There appeared to be only minimal local numbers and virtually no movement of either Hairy or Downy Woodpeckers and numbers from migratory concentration areas (Lake Ontario littoral, south shore of Long Island) were not increased. The high woodpeckers counts of the post — Dutch elm blight period are plainly waning, at least in upstate New York. Flycatcher numbers seemed low except for a few spurts of confusing Empidonax and early departure was the rule, al¬ though more Olive-sided Flycatchers were reported (2,3,4,5,7,8,9). Both Horned Larks (3,5) and Water Pipit (5,8,9) were reported as reduced and no major collections were indicated in other sectors. Swallow num¬ bers, particularly Bank and Tree Swallows, and in some sectors Purple Martin, appeared drastically reduced, apparently both adults and young having been decimated by the heavy rains and extended cold weather of June 1972. Though Black-capped Chickadees did not irrupt, a mini¬ irruption of non-Adirondack Boreal Chickadees (5,6,9) and a heavy flight of Red-breasted Nuthatches (3,4,5,9,10) have occurred. The thrush picture was marked by both low numbers and early departures but several regions (3,5,6,8,9) indicated increased numbers of Eastern Bluebirds, the first increase in the past four or five years. Cedar Wax- wings upstate and in the Catskills (3,4,5,9) were heavy and a few Bohemian Waxwings (2,3) were noted with same. Northern Shrike ar¬ rived very early (2,4,5,6,9,10) and numbers are definitely up with adults in the majority of those reported as to age. Warbler migration seemed heavier in the southern and eastern por¬ tions of the state but no major waves were indicated. Tennessee, Mag¬ nolia, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Bay-breasted Warblers (3,4,5,7,8) seemed increased and Yellow, Blackburnian, Black- poll, and Wilson’s Warblers and American Redstart (3,4,5,7,8) seemed decreased; especially disturbing are reports of decline in the previously 41 ubiquitous Myrtle Warbler for the second fall in a row. Several record late dates for warblers (and a few vireos) were obtained in 2,3,4,5,6,8, 9,10, especially remarkable in view of the cold, wet fall weather. Winter finches invaded again with all regions indicating heavy flights of Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins and lesser numbers of Pine Gros¬ beak and Red Crossbills, the last appearing in some areas in late sum¬ mer. White-winged Crossbills seemed much scarcer and the Common Redpoll was occasional enough this fall to be a frank rarity (3,4,8). House Finch continued to spread (3,4,5,8) but Purple Finch numbers seemed much lower, quite in contrast to most other winter finches. Tree Sparrow numbers were noted as decreased in 3 and this may be true but unconfirmed (until the Christmas count tallies ensue) in other sec¬ tors of the state. Fall migration regularly produces a harvest of rarities, especially those off-beat migratory strays that lure birders into dune-stomping forays, boat trips, and interminable throat-parching spishes to get that “funny warbler — or thrush — or sparrow” out of migrant-cluttered thickets. This fall engendered many rarities but no particular pattern of direction emerged; certainly no great spurt of western waifs was evident and northern species, though present, were not uniform in species spread. Thus, an excellent potpourri of unusual species from literally all points of the compass — Manx Shearwater (10), Gannet (2), Snowy Egret (5), Little Blue Heron (8,9), Barrow’s Golden-eye (5), Common Eider (2- but see Region 10 report also). Buff-breasted Sandpiper (9), American Avocet (10), Black-headed Gull (5), Black-legged Kittiwake (5), Razor bill (3), Monk Parakeet (3,8,9 — soon to be a pest!) Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker (3,6,8 — ? a mini-flight ?), Sage Thrasher (10), Wheatear (5), Yellow-throated Warbler (9), Prairie Warbler (4), Yel¬ low-headed Blackbird (8, 10), and Boat-tailed Crackle (10). My thanks to Regional Editors 2 thru 10 for the numerical data for this summary. Continued emphasis on actual numbers would be espe¬ cially valuable in seasonal summations and organized, regularly run sur¬ veys, particularly if conducted over a span of years, deserve full, de¬ tailed publication, if not in the regional reports because of problems of space, then in articles or field notes in subsequent issues of the Kingbird. 417 South Main Street, North Syracuse, N.Y. 13212 REGION 2 —GENESEE Thomas E. Tetlow The weather remained mild during the first half of the period, with the first kill¬ ing frost coming in mid-October. The first appreciable snow arrived on the 14th and 15 of November when we received 8.3 inches. The amount of snow, like the rains during the earlier part of the period, has remained above average; but the 42 intermittent rain has prevented any accumulation. We had eight consecutive week¬ ends of rain during the months of September and October; most of these were ac¬ companied by southerly winds. The lake level remained high. Rarities include: Gannet, Common Eider, Peregrine Falcon, Little Gull, Bohe¬ mian Waxwing, Oregon Junco. Abbreviations: BB—Braddock’s Bay; HB—Hamlin Beach State Park; MP—Mendon Ponds; SB—Sodus Bay; WLS—West Lake Shore. Observers: JC—Jerry Czech; RD—Robert Dobson; AK—Allen Kemnitzer WCL— Walter C. Listman; WL-Warren Lloyd; RO’H—Richard O’Hara; FP—Frank Phelps; NP—Neil Prosser; GOS—Genesee Ornithological Society; MAS—Mary Ann Sunderlin; D&EV—Dave and Edna Vollmer; TT—Thomas Tetlow. Corrigenda: Kingbird XII:4, October 1972, Region 2 report —p. 170, Clay-colored Sparrow: While no actual nest was found, the bird was observed feeding 2 or 3 young. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: No large flights noted — max 20 Oct 22 WLS (GOS). Red-throated Loon: max 2 Nov 5 WLS (RD); only two other single re¬ ports on Nov 5 and 25 WLS. Horned Grebes were reported in fair numbers. On Oct 7 a single imm GANNET was seen flying east along the lakeshore at SB; approx five minutes later another or the same bird flew directly south overland at an elevation not exceeding 75 ft (TT). Double-crested Cormorant: 2 Sept 29 BB (WCL); there were four reports of single birds in Oct and a max of 3 Oct 8 HB (NP). For the second year in a row Whistling Swans were reported from MP 4 Nov 12 (F Enos fide J Taylor), and 3 were still present on Nov 23 BB(WCL). Canada Goose appeared in good numbers and left abruptly on Oct 7, max 5000 (GOS) HB; counts for this day from several observers and locations totaled over 13,000; flight started well out in lake at approv 11:30 AM and continued well into the evening. Brant: no flights were observed and only 7 birds were reported, 2 reports of 3 birds each Nov 12 WLS (FP, RO’H, D&EV), 1 Nov 16 Nine Mile Point (AK). Ducks as a whole made a poor showing; there were a few exceptions, but even these did not exceed what could be called average numbers, Gadwall: 9 Nov 12 SB (TT); only 8 Redheads and 14 Canvasbacks were reported during the period; the max count was 6 and 9 respectively WLS Oct 22 (GOS). Common Goldeneye: max 1000 Nov 5 WLS (RD), Bufflehead: max 114 Nov 21 HBP (GOS). A COMMON EIDER was present at BB Nov 24 thru 26 (WCL et al). Hooded Merganser: 27 Nov 26 WLS (TT). Red-breasted Merganser: 4450 Nov 5 WLS (NP). HAWKS—OWLS: 5 Goshawks were reported during this, period; 1 Aug 29 Web¬ ster (JC), 1 Sept 27 Durand Eastman (Paul Weld), 2 Oct 7 HBP (B. Perrigo), 1 Nov 12 SB (TT). Sharp-shinned Hawk: only two reports of single birds Aug 20 Letchworth State Park (TT), and Nov 5 WLS (NP), A single Cooper’s Hawk was reported Nov 14 from Chili (JC). Red-tailed and Sparrow Hawks were in good numbers throughout the period. Three migrant Rough-legged Hawks were seen the week of Oct 18; no reports have been made since. An adult Bald Eagle was still present at Hemlock Lake Sept 16 and an Osprey at the same location Sept 9, the only reports during the period (TT). Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen along the lakeshore on Oct 7; an adult at HPB (WCL), and an imm at SB (TT). High water level is undoubtedly the reason for the poor showing of shore birds. Although all the common species were reported, most reports were of 1 — 3 birds. Highest count for any one species went to the Dunlin with a max of 65 Nov 5 BB (NP). A late White-rumped Sandpiper was still present at BB Nov 24 (WCL). No Phalaropes were reported during the period. Glaucous and Iceland Gulls were unreported. Great Black-backed is above aver- 43 age in numbers with a max 34 Nov 26 WLS (TT). Bonaparte’s Gull has been reported in small numbers since mid-Sept; and the first LITTLE GULLS (2) were seen at Irondequoit Bay Nov 16-19 (AK et al). A single Snowy Owl was reported from Carlton Oct 28 (WCL) and another was reported in downtown Rochester, (Times-Union fide John Brown). GOATSUCKERS—STARLINGS: Nighthawks were in low numbers for the second year; no flights were reported and only a single bird was reported during the period. Kingfishers were reported throughout the entire period and the numbers and locations would indicate that the bird prospered well this past year. Pileated Wood¬ pecker is another bird that seems to be doing quite well; reports from new locations seem to be coming more frequently. The high count on Tree Swallows occurred on Oct 1 when 5000 were seen on the Ontario Lakeshore 3000 WLS (NP) and 2000 SB (TT). 9000 Bank Swallows on the WLS Aug 6 (NP) was the high count. Unlike some other years there were no late reports of any Swallows. A Carolina Wren was present throughout Aug in Brighton (Julie Claffey); and another was seen in Webster Oct 18—30 (J & T McNett). A BOHEMIAN WAXWING was pres¬ ent Oct 16 and 17 in Gates (E Molyneaux & Mr & Mrs E Reid). Loggerhead Shrike was unreported during the period and the first reports of Northern Shrike came on Oct 1 with single birds being reported from SB (TT) and HBP (WL & MAS). VIREOS—WARBLERS: No flights were reported; late reports included Nashville Warbler in Leroy Nov 16 (C Adamson), and a Parula on the WLS Oct 26 (K Doris & C Wilton). Yellow Warblers remained low in numbers. Our only early report was a single Myrtle Warbler at Point Breeze Aug 5 (WCL). BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: With the exception of the Redpoll, all winter finches had been reported by the end of the period. Siskin is by far the most com¬ mon, the first being reported Oct 7 and Pine Grosbeak the least abundant. Evening Grosbeaks first reported on Oct 21; several reports since, most of small groups; the largest flock reported was 200 Nov 6 WLS (J & T McNett). Purple Finch: reports from several areas indicate that this bird had a good year. Pine Grosbeak: a report of 25 Nov 23 HBP (WCL) was the first and only report for the period. Red Cross¬ bill : August 12 was the magic day for this bird; a single bird was seen at BB (WCL) and from the 12 thru 27 a group of from 4 — 40 was seen at Canadice Lake (Con¬ nor’s — Molyneaux’s); the first normal fall report came on Oct 21. The only report of White-winged Crossbill came on Nov 25, when 5 birds were seen in Durand Eastman Park (NP). A Towhee was still present in Irondequoit Nov 29-60 (L & N Moon). A fairly late Savannah Sparrow was seen in Honeoye Falls Nov 5 (J Taylor). A single OREGON JUNCO was reported from Webster Oct 30 (J & T McNett). Tree Sparrows seem down in numbers, and were first reported Oct 22. Two reports of Lapland Longspurs were received, 150 Oct 22 Carlton (J & A Foster & WCL) a good count, and a single bird in Hamlin Nov. 12 (FP & RO’H). Snow Buntings arrived in mid-October and have been reported from several areas in groups of 1-10 max 150 SB Nov 4 (TT). REGION 3 —FINGER LAKES W. E. Benning The period started out cool but late August was warm and dry. September tem¬ peratures were normal and precipitation below average until the last third of the month. It then turned cool and wet. Rainfall in the northern part of the Region 44 was heavier than in the southern part and continued so thru October. Ithaca expe¬ rienced the coldest October since 1925. Temperatures were about normal for the first weelt but then turned sharply colder and plunged to the 10’s and 20’s in some places. Snow fell on October 18 and 19. Cold temperatures persisted thru November with the high at Ithaca being only 55 degrees rather than the usual 65 or 70. Rain¬ fall at Ithaca during November was 6.5 inches or twice the normal. The northern part of the Region had a 7 inch snowfall on November 14 which persisted thru the month. All in all it was a cold, wet fall with little sunshine. There were good flights of Canada Geese but many flocks moved on thru the area without stopping. Dabbling ducks were in good numbers but divers were rela¬ tively scarce. Redheads and Canvasbacks were still down, while Scaup and Ring¬ necked Ducks dropped almost to the vanishing point. In late summer it was difficult to find rails, coots and gallinules at MNWR. Ap¬ parently most of the birds left after nesting was broken up by the complete inunda¬ tion of the Refuge in the wake of hurricane Agnes. Later as migrants came in, numbers increased, particularly of Coots. Water levels at MNWR dropped in late summer so that good shorebird habitat developed. Shorebirding was good until frequent and heavy rains in October raised the water levels. The few remaining shorebirds left when the heavy snow of No¬ vember 14 came. The highlight of the shorebird season at MNWR was the concen¬ tration of 40 Hudsonian Godwits in late August equaling the record set in September 1967. Jack Brubaker reports that flyash dumping in the Watkins Marsh has smothered and killed a portion of the vegatation. These areas provided habitat for Fall shore- birds. All swallows were down reflecting the disastrous nesting season due to cold and wet conditions in May and June. Bank Swallows were probably hit the hardest. The maximum number reported at MNWR was only 100 compared to the usual thou¬ sands. Tree Swallows fared but little better. But not all was discouraging. Migrating Bluebirds seems to be reported a little more frequently. There was a heavy and widespread flight of Red-breasted Nut¬ hatches which are appearing at feeders as the period closed. And a good “winter finch” year appears to be in the making. All species of the northern finches, except the White-winged Crossbill, were reported with the Grosbeaks, Evening and Pine, most frequently seen. A number of Rough-legged Hawks were seen and, contrary to the usual pattern, most of these came from the southern part of the Region. The only hawk flight reported was a small one on September 22 at Horseheads. The Monk Parakeet, a South American exotic now breeding in the New York City area and being reported from several northeastern states, has appeared in the re¬ gion. One bird, first reported on October 14, had apparently been living in the Dutch Hill region southwest of Elmira since the June floods. This bird was captured and now is at the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell. A second bird was reported at Waterloo in October. This bird had also been around for several weeks. It now is appearing regularly at feeders in Waterloo. Jack Brubaker reports a third bird has been at Burdette for the past two months. Another first for the Region was a Razor-billed Auk picked up near MNWR on November 5. The bird died November 10. Details will be published as a Field Note in the Kingbird. Othere rarities include Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Pigeon Hawk, Bohemian Wax¬ wing, Connecticut Warbler, Dickcissel and Oregon Junco. The Tower Kill at WSYE-TV at Elmira totaled 138 birds of 30 species compared with 500 birds last year. This is the lowest number since 1965. The 1972 list is as follows. 45 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1, Empidonax sp. 3, Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, Brown Thrasher 1, Swainson’s Thrush 3, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Red-eyed Vireo 11, Philadelphia Vireo 1, Warbling Vireo 1, Warblers: Black-and- white 4, Tennessee 2, Nashville 2, Parula 2, Magnolia 10, Black-throated Blue 6, Myrtle 1, Black-throated Green 5, Blackburnian 4, Chestnut-sided 4, Bay-breasted 27, Blackpoll 5, Ovenbird 8, Mourning 1, Yellowthroat 1, Wilson 2, Canada 6, Red¬ start 3, Evening Grosbeak 1, Lincoln’s Sparrow 1, unidentified 20. Abbreviations: Cay L—Cayuga Lake; max—maximum; MNWR—Montezuma Na¬ tional Wildlife Refuge; SWS—Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary; Schuy Co—Schuyler County; Sen L—Seneca Lake; WD—Waterloo dump. Area compilers: Jack Brubaker, Frank Guthrie, Robert Gustafson, Dorothy Mcll- roy, James Tate, Jayson Walker, Mary Welles. Observers: HA—Harold Axtell; WEB—Walter E. Benning; JB—Jack Brubaker; MC—Mildred Comar; NC—Noel Cutright; FG—Frank Guthrie; WH—Wilfred How¬ ell; DK—Douglas Kibbe; WL—Warren Lloyd; DM—Dorothy Mcllroy; MRP—Mon¬ tezuma Refuge Personnel; OS—Cornell Ornithology Seminar report; MAS—Mary Ann Sunderlin; JW—Jayson Walker; W—Mary Welles; mob—many observers. LOONS-DUCKS: Common Loon: 57 Oct 18 Cay L (MC, DM); 10 Nov 11 Sen L (JB). Red-throated Loon: 1 Nov 13 Elmira (WH) only report. Horned Grebe: first Oct 18 Sen L (JB). Pied-billed Grebe: 2 Nov 27 Cay L (DK); MNWR max 40 (MRP) down sharply; few immatures; nesting wiped out by Agnes. Great Blue Heron: MNWR max 70 (MRP), last 1 Nov 30 Schuy Co max 9 Aug 21 (JB). Green Heron: MNWR max 80 (MRP); 90 at roost in marsh at Montour Falls in early Sept. Cattle Egret: 2 Nov 5-12 Himrod, Yates Co (FG). Common Egret: MNWR max 17 (MRP), last 2 Oct 10 (NC). Black-crowned Night Heron: MNWR last 4 Oct 16, max 50 (MRP). Least Bittern: max 15 (MRP). American Bittern: MNWR max 30 (MRP); one Sept report Schuy Co. Whistling Swan: few reports; seen on Lake Juanita in Nov (FG); 2 Nov 17 Cayuta Lake (JB). Canada Goose: Flock observed at Horseheads Aug 28 (early) with good flights at Elmira on Sept 19, 20, 25 and 27 (MW); good flights Oct 7 and 8 Ithaca; few heavy flights at Watkins Glen (JB); MNWR first migrants about Sept 24, peak of 12,000 in early Oct compares with 18,000 in 1971, heavy early movement out of the area about Oct 13 coincides with sharp temperature drop. Brant: More reports than usual; 2 Oct 31 Long Point State Park (MC, DM); 15 Nov 3 Stewart Park, Ithaca (DK); 1 Nov 25 MNWR (NC), 1 Nov 12 and 30 WEB; 1 Oct 27 Sen L (JB). Snow Goose: MNWR max 200 (MRP). Blue Goose: MNWR max 12 Oct 21 (NC). The MRP max counts for waterfowl during the period at MNWR are as follows: Mallard: 7,000; Black: 2,100; Gadwall: 600; Pintail: 700; Green-winged Teal: 3,000; Blue-winged Teal: 900; American Widgeon: 7,200; Shoveler: 2; Wood Duck: 10 Redhead: 400; Ring-necked Duck: 1; Canvasbaek: 1; Lesser Scaup: 3; Bufllehead: 3; Ruddy: 4; Hooded Merganser: 2; Red-breasted Merganser 2. Reports on ducks from other parts of the Region are as follows: Green-winged Teal: 5 Oct 31 Cayuta Lake (JB). Blue-winged Teal: Sept 3 Sen L (JB). Redhead: Keuka Lake 1, (FG). Ring-necked Duck: 4 Oct 31 Cayuta Lake (JB). Scaup: “Very rare” on Keuka Lake (FG). Common Goldeneye: Late and scarce. Bufllehead: first Oct 1 Cay L (MC, DM). Old Squaw: 1 male Nov 4 Keuka Lake (F. Orcutt fide FG); 3 Nov 3 and 2 Nov 5 Elmira (WH). White-winged Scoter: Male picked up on Bean Hill Road, Dryden Nov 1 and taken to the Labo¬ ratory of Ornithology where it died; 2 Oct 2 Chemung River (WH). Common Scoter: 2 Oct 27 King Ferry (MC, D Metal); 2 Oct 31 and 1 Nov 11 Chemung River (WH). Ruddy Duck: 3 Oct 31 Sen L (JB). Hooded Merganser: 21 Nov 2 46 Waneta Lake (JB); Nov 2 Cayuta Lake (JB). Common Merganser: Several re¬ ports Schuy Co (JB); MNWR good numbers Nov. Red-breasted Merganser: 1 Oct 31 Sen L (JB). HAWKS-OWLS: Turkey Vulture: MNWR last 1 Oct 16 (NC), max 5 (MRP). Goshawk: Single birds at SWS Oct 4 and Nov 3 (JT). Sharp-shinned Hawk: Schuy Co “several” (JB). Cooper’s Hawk: 1 Oct 6 SWS (JT); 2 Nov reports Schuy Co (JB); 1 Nov 16 Elmira (WH); single bird at Big Flats (MW). Red-tailed Hawk: MNWR max 12 (MRP); 5 on trip around Cay L Nov 19 (NC). Broad-winged Hawk: 1 Sept 16 MNWR (NC). Rough-legged Hawk: 1 Oct 31 Schuy Co ; (JB); 1 Nov 26 Geneva (CW); Nov 18 and 20 Horseheads (MW); 3 Nov 19 along Cay L (NC). GOLDEN EAGLE: juvenile Nov 29 Ellis Hollow east of Ithaca (Stanley Temple). Bald Eagle: immature Aug 25 Ovid (NC); MNWR one adult and one immature bird present during period (mob). Marsh Hawk: MNWR max 5 MRP); 1 Oct 21 Waterloo (JW); 3 reports from Watkins and Waneta marshes (JB); 2 reports from Elmira (MW). Osprey: 1-2 thru Oct MNWR (mob); one bird Cayuta Lake (JB); 1 Aug 28 Chemung River (D. Long). PEREGRINE ; MNWR singles Sept 12 (-C. Farnham) and Nov 5 (NC). PIGEON HAWK: 1 Oct 1 MNWR (Gor¬ don Meade). Sparrow Hawk: 4 Nov 25 Waterloo (JW); MNWR max 5 (MRP). Turkey: One report from Penn Yan in Oct (FG). Virginia Rail: 1 Oct 29 Newfield (Doris Provine); 3 Sept 3 MNWR (DK) and one late chick Sept 11 (WEB); young in Aug Schuy Co (JB). Sora: MNWR max 30 (MRP), last 2 Oct 2 (DK). Common Gallinule: MNWR max 80 (MRP), last 1 Oct 10 (WEB); 6 Sept 14 Wat¬ kins Marsh (JB). American Coot: MNWR max 1,500 (MRP); usual flock south end Cay L Oct-Nov. Shorebird records are all at MNWR and by WEB unless otherwise noted. Semi- palmated Plover; max 20 Aug 26, last 1 Nov 5 (NC). Killdeer: max 201 Sept 21, last 1 Nov 26 (NC). American Golden Plover: First 2 Aug 22 (HA), max 13 Oct 16; plowed field at Evans Corners north of MNWR on Rte 89 supported a flock from early Sept to Oct 16, max 165 Sept 17 (mob). Black-bellied Plover: max 2 Sept 21, last 1 Nov 5 (NC). Ruddy Turnstone: single bird Sept 16 (NC). Baird’s Sand¬ piper: singles Aug 27 (WL, MAS) and Sept 16, max 6 Sept 21, last 2 Sept 26 (NC), Least Sandpiper: max 64 Sept 19, last 8 Oct 2; Schuy Co several daily during early part of period (JB). Dunlin: first 5 Sept 10, max 280 Sept 24 (NC), last 6 Nov 12; WD first 9 Sept 16, max 150 Oct 25, last 20 Nov 6 (JW); Schuy Co first Oct 18, last Nov 1 (JB). Short-billed Dowitcher: 30-35 birds present during Sept, last 22 Nov 1. Long-billed Dowitcher: first 1 Sept 24 Federation of N.Y. State Bird Clubs field trip, last 12 Nov 5 (NC). Stilt Sandpiper: max 14 Aug 27 (WL, MAS), last 2 Sept 28. Semipalmated Sandpiper: max 300 Sept 1, last 2 Sept 28 (NC); Schuy Co max 10 Aug 26 (JB). Western sandpiper: 1-2 Aug 22 (HA) and thru Sept (mob), last 2 Sept 26 (NC). Hudsonian Godwit: exceptionally high counts in late Aug, max 40 Aug 26, last 2 Nov 5 (NC); WD 3 Oct 25 (WEB), last 1 Nov 5 (JW). Sanderling: singles at Ithaca Sept 7 and MNWR Sept 10 (NC); One report from Schuy Co (JB). Wilson’s Phalarope: 1 Sept 27. Northern Phalarope: 1-4 thru Sept 19. Great Black-backed Gull: First Ithaca Sept 7 (NC) and MNWR 4 Nov 4 (WEB). Normal numbers of both Herring and Ring-billed Gulls reported from MNWR, WD and Cay L. Bonaparte’s Gull: singles at Ithaca Nov 10 and MNWR Nov 12 (NC). Common Tern: Cayuga Marsh max 10 Sept 1 (NC); last MNWR 4 Sept 17 (WEB); 4 Sept 7 Ithaca (NC). Caspian Tern: 1 Aug 28 Ithaca and 2 Sept 16 Armitage Rd north of MNWR (NC). Black Tern: MNWR max and last 10 Aug 27 (WL, MAS); last Ithaca 4 Sept 7 (NC). RAZOR-BILLED AUK: Immature picked up near MNWR Nov 5 died Nov 10 (fide NC). Mourning Dove: Up in numbers in Penn Yan area; good numbers in northern part of Region. MONK PARAKEET: Singles 47 reported from Elmira, Burdette and Waterloo; see opening remarks. Black-billed Cuckoo: Reported only from Keuka Lake area; one sighted in Aug and one in Sept. Screech Owl: Schuy Co reports 4 locations (JB). Great Horned Owl: MNWR max 15 (MRP); more reports than normal in Schuy Co (JB). Snowy Owl: only report was a single bird at Elmira (N Pitler et al, fide MW). Barred Owl; one at Texas Hollow. Short-eared Owl: singles east of MNWR Oct 21 (NC) and Keuka Park area in Nov (FG). Saw-whet Owl: singles Aug 18 on Iradell Rd northwest of Ithaca (B. Robinson) and Nov 24 at Spencer Marsh (JT). GOATSUCKERS-STARLINGS: Nighthawk: Ithaca last Sept 22 (WH); Watkins Glen 6 flying south on Sept 2 (JB). Chimney Swift: Migration at the rate of 5 per minute observed for an hour over Marengo Swamp (WEB). Belted Kingfisher: MNWR 1-2 present thru period. Yellow-shafted Flicker: Good migration noted in MNWR area during Sept. Pileated Woodpecker: 4 locations in Schuy Co (JB). Red-bellied Woodpecker; normal numbers at MNWR and vicinity. Red-headed Woodpecker: Ithaca female at feeder for a week in Nov (Edith Edgarton). Yellow- bellied Sapsucker: Female at feeder in Ithaca thru Nov (Brann and King); one at feeder Nov 12 (WEB). Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: One on Niemi Rd, northeast of Ithaca Oct 31 (W Dilger). Eastern Kingbird: 2 Aug 27 MNWR (WL, MAS); last report Sept (OS). Eastern Phoebe: Ithaca last Oct 31 (DK); Schuy Co last Nov 3 (JB). Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: only report one banded by Malcolm Lerch at Penn Yan Sept 16. Traill’s Flycatcher: last Sept 18 (OS). Least Flycatcher: last Sept 25 (OS). Eastern Wood Pewee; Ithaca last Oct 11; MNWR last 1 Sept 16 (WEB). OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER : 1 Sept 18 Myers Point Cay L (DK); 1 Sept 4 Pine City (WH). Horned Lark: 50 Nov 25 Waterloo (WJ); almost no other reports. Tree Swallow: MNWR max 600 (WL, MAS); Waterloo 200 (JW); Marengo Swamp 300 Sept 29 (WEB); last MNWR 1 Nov 19 (NC). Bank Swallow: numbers way down; MNWR 100 Aug 29 (DK). Rough-winged Swallow: date Aug and early Sept migration at MNWR reduced but not as dras¬ tically as that of Tree and Bank Swallows; last date Oct 1 (WEB). Barn Swallow: probably most nearly normal of any of the swallows; last at MNWR Sept 24. Purple Martin: 2 Aug 27 MNWR (WL, MAS) only report. Common Crow: migration noted in MNWR area Oct 21. Blue Jay: good numbers everywhere. Tufted Tit¬ mouse: reports from 2 locations in Schuy Co (JB); 2 Nov 18 Geneva (CW); 2 Nov 18 Phelps (CW). White-breasted Nuthatch: normal numbers everywhere. Red¬ breasted Nuthatch: a good fall flight with birds lingering into early winter; reported from all parts of the Region. House Wren: last dates, MNWR 1 Oct 1 (WEB), Ithaca Oct 8 (DK). Winter Wren: scattered reports; one at feeder in Trumansburg during Nov (Louise Proskine). Carolina Wren: Oct 11 Ithaca (Helen Henderson); 2 locations in Schuy Co (JB). Long-billed Marsh Wren: MNWR max 6 Oct 1, last Oct 31 (DK). Mockingbird: Continues to spread; now on east side of Cay L; 4 locations in Schuy Co and 4 at Penn Yan. Catbird: last reported Oct 23 (OS). Brown Thrasher: last reported Oct 9 (OS). Wood Thrush: Ithaca last Oct 10 (DK). Hermit Thrush: Ithaca last Oct 12 (DK). Swainson’s Thrush: Ithaca last Oct 3 (DK); Schuy Co last 2 Oct 18 (JB). Gray-cheeked Thrush: Ithaca last Oct 10 (DK). Bluebird: for the second year there is an increase in reports of migrants in the Ithaca area. Golden-crowned Kinglet: Ithaca first Sept 2 (DK). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: reports thruout the period. Water Pipit: MNWR first 1 Sept 21 ,max 40 Oct 2 (WEB). BOHEMIAN WAXWING: One with flock of Cedar Waxwings on Cornell Campus Nov 13 (Peter Kaestner). Northern Shrike: 1 Nov 18 Phelps (CW); Schuy Co one report; Nov 24 Freeville. Loggerhead Shrike: 1 Nov 30 Ithaca (DK); 1 Nov 26 Geneva (CW); both late dates; the Ithaca bird had been observed for two weeks feeding on cluster flies on a roof. VIREOS—WARBLERS: Yellow-throated Vireo: 4 Sept 12 Ithaca (DK), Solitary 48 Vireo: 2 Oct 6 Newfield (DK). Red-eyed Vireo: 2 Oct 6 Newfield (DK). Phila¬ delphia Vireo: 1 Sept 19 Ithaca (DM); 1 Sept 16 MNWR (WEB). Warbling Vireo: last date Sept 18 (OS). Warblers: good migration during late Aug and early Sept in the Ithaca area. Ovenbirds, Myrtles and Redstarts going thru Elmira on Sept 27 (WH). The follow¬ ing are the warblers banded by Malcolm Lerch at Penn Yan during the Fall migration. First Last First Last Species No. Date Date Species No. Date Date Black-and-white 1 8-27 9-3 Chestnut-sided 5 9-3 9-16 Tennessee 11 8-6 9-9 Bay-breasted 15 8-27 9-9 Orange-crowned 2 10-11 Blackpoll 4 9-2 9-15 Nashville 7 9-3 10-21 Palm 1 10-10 Parula 1 9-8 Ovenbird 7 8-26 9-23 Yellow 5 8-11 Northern Magnolia 35 8-25 9-23 Waterthrush 6 8-12 9-17 Black-throated CONNECTICUT 1 9-16 Blue 5 9-4 9-15 Yellowthroat 15 9-16 Myrtle 4 9-8 10-15 Wilson’s 5 9-3 9-16 Black-throated Canada 11 7-23 9-3 Green 7 9-8 9-17 Redstart 10 8-12 9-9 Cerulean 1 8-6 Blackburnian 5 8-27 9-10 The following are last dates for warblers; unless otherwise credited all were taken from reports made at the weekly Cornell Ornithology Seminars (OS) : Black-and-white: Oct 16. Parula: Oct 10 Ithaca (DK). Yellow: Oct 9. Magnolia: Oct 23 Cape May: Oct 16. Black-throated Blue: 4 Oct 3 Ithaca (DK). Myrtle: 1 Nov 11 Odessa (JB). Black-throated Green: Oct 9. Blackburnian: Oct 9. Chestnut¬ sided: Sept 18. Bay-breasted: Oct 2. Blackpoll: Oct 23. Palm: Oct 23. Ovenbird: Oct 3 Ithaca (DK). Northern Waterthrush: Sept 25. Yellowthroat: Oct 16 (early). Wilson’s: Oct 16 (late). Redstart: Sept 25. BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS: Eastern Meadowlark; MNWR last Nov 16. Balti¬ more Oriole: last report Sept 25 (OS). Rusty Blackbird: first Aug 23 Ithaca (DK); last 1 Nov 10 WD (WEB); the thousands of blackbirds and Starlings which had been streaming into the cattails at MNWR nightly to roost left about Nov 23. Scarlet Tanager: last dates MNWR 1 Sept 16 (WEB); Newfield Oct 27 (late) (DK). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: last report Sept 25 (OS). Indigo Bunting: last re¬ port Oct (OS). DICKCISSEL: female Nov 9-18 at Warren Rd feeder Ithaca (F. Becker). Evening Grosbeak: widespread reports, mostly small flocks; remained thru to end of period, first dates — Ithaca, Monkey Run Sept 23; Schuy Co Oct 2 (JB); Waterloo Nov 6 (JW). Purple Finch: small numbers reported at Ithaca, MNWR and Schuy Co. House Finch: Ithaca male Oct 1, male and female Oct 15 (Hannan); increasing at Elmira, 10 at feeders (WH). Pine Grosbeak: flock on Pine Woods Rd east of Ithaca Oct 31 (DK); 16 flocks moving along hill north of Spencer Nov 23 and 2 flocks east of Danby Nov 25 (JT); 4 reports from Schuy Co (JB); ob¬ served at Phelps late Nov (CW). Common Redpoll: 20 Oct 31 Interlaken (Knight) only report. Pine Siskin: regular in Schuy Co after Sept 26 (JB) and at Geneva in Nov (CW). American Goldfinch: relatively few after mid-Oct. Red Crossbill: Sept 17 Ithaca (JT); 30 Sept 28 Newfield (DK); Oct 31 Cornell Campus (W. Dilger); Nov 25 Danby (JT). White-winged Crossbill: no reports. Rufous-sided Towhee: last report Nov 6 (OS). Savannah Sparrow: last report Nov 13 (OS). Grasshopper Sparrow: last report Oct 2 (OS). Vesper Sparrow: last report Oct 16 (OS), Slate- 49 colored Junco: first migrants Sept 27 Waterloo (JW). Oregon Junco: One Nov 1 at feeder in Elmira (WH). Tree Sparrow: first dates — Schuy Co Oct 31, Seneca Co 7 Nov 6 (WEB), Ithaca Oct 30 (DK); single birds or small flocks only. Chipping Sparrow: last report Nov 13 (OS). Field Sparrow: last report Nov 6 (OS). White- crowned Sparrow: Ithaca first Sept 30 (DK); good migration; last report Oct 23 (OS). White-throated Sparrow: first Ithaca Sept 2 (DK); last WD Oct 25 (WEB). Fox Sparrow: reported from Oct 2 to end of period (OS); Schuy Co Nov 7 (JB). Lincoln's Sparrow: Newfield 2 Sept 22 and last Oct 8 (DK). Swamp Sparrow: last report Nov 6 (OS). Song Sparrow: abundant everywhere. Lapland Longspur: one report 1 Nov 20 Seneca Co (WEB). Snow Bunting: small numbers regularly at Cornell Golf Course Oct 27 on; 1 Nov 1 MNWR (WEB); 10-15 Oct 31 Elmira (WH). R.D. #2, Clyde, N.Y. 14433 REGION 5 —ONEIDA LAKE BASIN M. S. Rusk and C. G. Spies The period began very warm, and remained so in general until November, when it was cold enough for snow cover to remain longer than usual during the second half of the month. Water levels remained high from early summer and were raised by the abundance of October rain. Southerly winds predominated, with a warm, fair period of SE to SW winds October 2-5 typical of much of the period. October did have some northerly migrant-bearing winds, as on the 8th-9th, and November some rainy easterlies. Many species seemed to have had poor breeding seasons (? due directly or in¬ directly to hurricane “Agnes”) if adult-to-immature ratios can be used as a gauge. Adults of Double-crested Cormorant, Brant, Surf Scoter, Common Scoter, and Gos¬ hawk seemed much more common than usual, but comparable figures from other years are largely wanting. Several Anatidae with low maxima were unreported east of the Lake Ontario basin, e.g, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler, Redhead, Greater Scaup, White-winged Scoter, and Surf Scoter. Blue-winged Teal mortality appeared more severe this year than last. The cause has been diagnosed as “avian cholera or fowl cholera” whereas last year’s was “duck viral enteritis or duck plague.’ ’These investigations were car¬ ried out by N.Y. State Dept, of Environmental Conservation personnel. They have not yet learned what caused the severe White-winged Scoter kill of the past spring. Oldsquaw counts again stand in contrast to the generally discouraging waterfowl picture; perhaps these very northern breeders escape various temperate zone hazards (pesticides, disease, hunters) until migration time. Three were a number of “hunter” or “shooter” problems this fall. Sandpipers were shot at Fair Haven and Sandy Pond, and a Brant at Oswego, the last consid¬ ered by its killer to be “a duck.” Protection of Canvasback because of possible confusion with Redhead was loudly criticized by hunters, but the regulation seems to have been justified. Counts by field birders do not reflect increased numbers of Ruffed Grouse that some local residents report. Most such reports are from areas of intense localized fox trapping or shooting. At least 5 small hawk flights were noticed: Sep 19 and Oct 13 and 30 at Lake Ontario, Oct 9 at Eaton, and Oct 19 east of Oneida Lake. The biggest movement was Oct 13 with 46 birds of 9 species. For the birdwatcher, the season brought both positive and negative features. Among the former: good flights of Purple, White-rumped, and Baird’s Sandpipers, 50 and Hudsonian Godwit in an otherwise mediocre shorebird migration; very high counts of Common Nighthawk and Chimney Swift; heavy flights of Solitary, Red- eyed, and Philadelphia Vireos, the first and last extremely protracted also; high counts of Golden-winged and Tennesse Warblers, and long, though numerically more moderate, migrations of Orange-crowned, Parula, Magnolia, Cape May, and Palm. Some negatives are: very poor counts of Ruddy Turnstone and Upland Plover; mediocre Mourning Dove tallies which suggest their numbers may be drop¬ ping; and zero reports of Long-billed Dowitcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Snowy Owl, and Whip-poor-will. By the end of November, 6 winter finch species had shown pronounced move¬ ments: Evening Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, and Red Crossbill had in¬ vaded both Adirondack and non-Adirondack areas of the Region; Purple Finch had left the Adirondacks and staged a strong incursion into the low country; and White¬ winged Crossbill had appeared in the southern highlands without ever being noted in the Adirondacks. Goldfinch, present in moderate numbers, showed no movement. It will be interesting to find out what patterns develop during the winter. Some deficiencies in the recording for this report should be noted: counts of the most common species (e.g. Rock Dove, Common Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, black icterids) are frequently lacking from otherwise thorough reports; details such as age, sex, color phase, are often omitted when uncommon species and rarities are reported. Such information may greatly increase the value of records to those who look for trends or explanations for these occurrences. Corrigenda: Kingbird XXII: 4, October 1972, Region report, p. 179, Upland Plover: last site should be Happy Valley Game Management Area, not HIGMA. p. 183 before BLACKBIRDS add, House Sparrow: stable on BBSs with highest 133 Clinton. Abbreviations: Adir—Adirondack; FS—feeder survey conducted by B. P. Burtt Nov 5—11; L Ont—L Ontario and vicinity of Cayuga Co and Oswego Co; NPT—NW por¬ tion of Pompey Twp; Onon—Onondaga; Seneca R—Seneca R areas from Montezuma to Howland Is; Syr—Syracuse and adjacent suburbia. Observers: B. Barnum, V. H. Billings, A. Carter, G. & M. Church, D. W. Crumb, P. A. DeBenedictis, F. C. Dittrich, C. & E. Farnham, E. M. Freeborn, G. R. Maxwell, B. & S. Peebles, T. M. Riley, M. S. Rusk, F. G. Scheider, B. Schneckenburger, G. A. Smith, C. G. Spies, A. K. Steinbacher, M. Stooks R. J. Sutliff, J. & E. VanDreasar, R. & J. VanScoy, C. & R. Wernick, R. & S. White. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: arr Sep 19, 1 L Ont; very high max of 116 Oct 28 L Ont; Adir dep Oct 12, 2 Dart L near Big Moose; only reports E of L Ont basin were 2 Hinckley Reservoir and 1 Eaton. Red-throated Loon: 1—2 per day Oct 29-Nov 12 L Ont and 1 Nov 13 Oneida L. Red-necked Grebe: 2 Oct 30 Onon L and 1 Nov 3 and 11 L Ont were only reports. Homed Grebe: arr Oct 3, 1 L Ont; max 249 Oct 28 L Ont is good; unreported E of L Ont basin. Pied-billed Grebe: max 21 Oct 26 L Ont is low; Seneca R max 4 Oct 21 and Oneida L max 4 Nov 13 are very low; E of L Ont basin only 1-4 per day were found. Double-crested Cormorant: 11, including only 2 imm, Oct 8-Nov 3 L Ont; unreported elsewhere. Great Blue Heron: after the leaves fell, the Three Rivers heronry was found to have had 26 nests, all apparently sound, more than the nearby recently abandoned Peter Scott Swamp heronry was known to have had; numbers of birds were low with max 16 Sep 23 Oneida L. Green Heron; very high roost counts of 237 Aug 20 Horseshoe Is near Three Rivers and 172 Aug 27 Seneca R (both GAS); dep Oct 6, 1 L Ont is early. SNOWY EGRET: Oneida L bird last noted Aug 17 (GAS). Black-crowned Night Heron: extremely scarce with 1 Aug 13 near Pennellville and an imm Aug 20 leaving the Horseshoe Is roost. Least Bittern: 1 Sep 3 L Ont was 51 only report. American Bittern: max 3 Aug 27 L Ont, Seneca R; dep Oct 13, 1 L Ont is early. Canada Goose: arr Sep 2, 1 L Ont was early; the flight was good but brief, and focused on L Ont instead of Seneca R or Oneida L areas, with high max 7136 Oct 7 and 6130 Oct 8, Seneca R max was 3128 Oct 21 and E of L Ont basin max was only 620 Oct 13 Eaton. Brant: arr and max 1135 Oct 15 L Ont was low and some¬ what early; dep Nov 12, 18 L Ont. Snow Goose: only report was 12 Nov L Ont. Blue Goose: only report was 1 ad Sep 30 L Ont; as usual, scarcer in fall than Snow Goose. Mallard: max 580 Oct 15 L Ont is better than past 3 low years; max E of L Ont basin 324 Nov 10 Eaton is also good. Black Duck: max 87 Oct 15 L Ont is encouraging after past 3 low years, especially 1971; max E of L Ont basin only 36 Nov 25 Eaton. Gadwall: arr Sep 9, 2 Oneida L; max 48 Nov 13 L Ont is low. Pintail: arr Aug 17, 1 Onon L; max 112 Oct 15 L Ont. Green-winged Teal: arr Aug 12, 2 L Ont; 63 Nov 7 Seneca R; max E of L Ont basin only 6 Aug 22 Floyd. Blue-winged Teal: max 100 Sep 17 Oneida L, L Ont, Onon Co is very low, as last year; known mortality at Oneida L was 211 between Jul 30 and Sep 26; max E of L Ont basin only 5 Aug 30 Holland Patent. American Widgeon: late arr Sep 6, 2 Onon L and 3 Oneida L; max 325 Oct 21 Seneca R; E of L Ont basin max only 15 Oct 9 Eaton. Shoveler: arr and max 6 Aug 1 Oneida L. Wood Ducks: max 939 Sep 17 Seneca R (GAS) appears to be record high; max E of L Ont basin only 12 Oct 9 Eaton. Redhead: arr Sep 2, 1 Seneca R; max 93 Oct 21 L Ont is very low but better than past 4 years. Ring-necked Duck: arr Oct 1, 3 Onon L; max 40 Nov 19 Caze- novia L is extremely low; max E of L Ont basin only 12 Oct 24 and Nov 3 Eaton, Canvasback: arr Oct 21, 3 L Ont; max 12s Nov 9 Beaver L in Lysander Twp, L Ont and Nov 23 Oneida L are very low; only report E of L Ont basin was 3 Nov 19 Eaton. Greater Scaup: arr Sep 9, 4 Oneida L; max 2500 Nov 12 L Ont is ex¬ tremely low. Lessser Scaup: arr Sep 16, 10 L Ont; max 21 Oct 18 Oneida L; max E of L Ont basin only 5 Nov 3 Eaton. Common Golden eye: arr Oct 15, 4 L Ont; low max 39 5 Nov L Ont; max E of L Ont basin 85 Nov 19 Eaton. BARROW’S GOLDENEYEi 2, an ad male with traces of the eclipse plumage and an ad female with bill almost wholly yellow, Nov 3 L Ont (MSR et al) is 1st fall regional record. Bufflehead: early arr Sep 14, 1 L Ont; max 105 Nov 5 L Ont; E of L Ont basin max only 3 Oct 27 Eaton. Oldsquaw: arr Oct 18, 1 Eaton; max 1225 Oct 30 L Ont (DWC) exceeds the good counts of past 2 falls for a regional record high; except for the arr, unreported E of L Ont basin. King Eider: only report was 1 female Nov 3-4 L Ont. White-winged Scoter: arr Sep 14, 1 L Ont; low max 242 Oct 30 L Ont. Surf Scoter; arr Sep 27, 9 L Ont is a little early; max 607 Oct 8 L Ont; dep Nov 19, 2 L Ont is early. Common Scoter: arr Sep 30, 10 L Ont is a little early; max 250 Nov 5 L Ont; max E of L Ont basin 68 Oct 18 Eaton. Ruddy Duck: arr Oct 4, 2 and max 31 Nov 9 Beaver L; max E of L Ont basin 8 Oct 27 Eaton. Hooded Merganser: arr Oct 7, 1 L Ont; low max 40 Nov 9 Beaver L; only report E of L Ont basin was 4 Aug 18 Floyd. Common Merganser: arr Oct 21, 6 L Ont; period max only 14 Nov 5 L Ont; 2 Oct 28 Hinckley Reservoir may have summered there or nearby. Red-breasted Merganser: arr Sep 30, 1 L Ont; good max of 4900 Nov 2 L Ont; E of L Ont basin max only 15 Nov 6 Eaton. HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: max 4s Sep 19 L Ont and Sep 23 Seneca R; dep Oct 19, 1 ad L Ont. Goshawk: arr Sep 4, 1 NPT; a good flight, about twice those of the past 3 years, with at least 22 birds reported including 8 ad and 4 imm, 3 birds in Sep, 8 in Oct, 11 in Nov; max 4 Nov 19 Oswego Co. Sharp-shinned Hawk: ad Aug 20, 1 Holland Patent; a flight with at least 39 birds reported, 4 fcn Aug, 10 in Sep, 22 in Oct, 3 in Nov; max 6 Oct 13 L Ont. Cooper’s Hawk: arr Sep 7, 1 NPT; a light flight of at least 18 birds including 7 ad and 5 imm, 4 birds in Sep, 6 in Oct, 8 in Nov, all singles. Red-tailed Hawk: max 26 Oct 19 L Ont. Red- 52 shouldered Hawk: arr Aug 9, 6 NPT; max 14 Oct 30 L Ont is good for recent years; dep Nov 3, 1 NPT. Broad-winged Hawk: arr Aug 12, 1 L Ont; max 64 Sept 19 L Ont; dep Oct 1, 2 Dart L is late, especially for Adir. Rough-legged Hawk: It phase arr Oct 13, 1 L Ont; dk phase arr Nov 4, 1 L Ont; max 5 Nov 25 Eaton, no major irruption. Bald Eagle: as last year, only 1 imm, Nov 12 L Ont. Marsh Hawk: arr Aug 18, 1 Vernon Twp; max 9 Oct 19 L Ont. Osprey: arr Aug 27, 1 Seneca R; max 2s Sep 2 Seneca R, Sep 16 and Oct 8 L Ont; dep Oct 29, 1 imm Tuscarora L near Erieville. Peregrine Falcon: 4 birds, 1 ad Oct 6 Onon L (PAD), 1 sub-ad 1/2 years old “dark blue-brown wings, back. . . same color, lengthwise heavy-streaked breast & belly..., mustache marks” Oct 6 L Ont (MSR), 1 imm Oct 7 L Ont (GAS), 1 ad “The head was dark — almost black with an obvious black streak on the side of the face ... The back was blue . . .” Oct 30 L Ont (DWC). Pigeon Hawk: only report was 1 ad male Oct 7 Hastings (GAS). Sparrow Hawk: max 8 Sep 19 L Ont indicated no large migration. Ruffed Grouse: max 6 Nov 4 L Ont. Ring-necked Pheasant: max 23 Oct 1 Eaton was better than past two falls max. Virginia Rail: only Is reported with dep Nov 6 Oneida L. Sora: max 2 Nov 6 and late dep Nov 13, 1, both Oneida L. Common Gallinule: max 22 Sep 7 Onon Co was rather low. American Coot: arr Sep 6, 2 Oneida L; max 76 Nov 19 L Ont was low compared with past 2 years; max E of L Ont basin 57 Nov 1 Eaton. Semipalmated Plover: arr Jul 26, 2 Onon Hill was late; max 41 Aug 18 and dep Oct 31, 3 Onon L. Killdeer: max 159 Aug 17 L Ont, Onon L. American Golden Plover: arr Aug 17, 1 near Mexico; max 23 Aug 24 Mexico Twp; dep Oct 19, 1 L Ont. Black-bellied Plover: arr Aug 12, 2 L Ont; max 6 Sep 28 Onon L was quite low; dep Oct 19, 1 L Ont was early. Ruddy Turnstone: arr July 27, 2 L Ont; very low max 3s Sep 6 Oneida L and Sep 23 Oneida L, Onon L; dep Oct 6, 1 Onon L. American Woodcock: max and dep 8 Nov 10 L Ont, Common Snipe: max 44 Oct 18 Oneida was high; early dep Nov 5, 2 L Ont and 1 E Syr on FS. WHIMBREL: 1 Sep 3 Onon L (FGS) was the 1st regional report in 3 years of a species which used to be more regular. Upland Plover: very low max 3 Aug 17 and dep Aug 31, 1 L Ont. Spotted Sandpiper: max 22 Sep 2 in 12 mi of L Ont shore seems low; dep Oct 13, 1 imm Oneida L. Solitary Sandpiper; arr Jul 9, 1, max 9 Jul 20, and record late (by 12 days) dep Oct 28, 1 imm (FGS, PAD) all L Ont. Greater Yellowlegs: record early arr Jul 2, 1 Tully L (J. W. Propst); max 15s Oct 28 and Nov 2 L Ont; dep Nov 5, 2 L Ont and 1 injured Hinckley Reservoir were early. Lesser Yellowlegs: arr Jul 4, 4 L Ont; low max 64 Aug 24 Onon L; dep Oct 17, 1 Oneida L was early. Knot: a short flight from arr Sep 3, 1 L Ont to dep Sep 27, 1 Oneida L with good max 10 Sep 25 Oneida L. Purple Sandpiper: arr and only non-L Ont report 1 Oct 25 Oneida L; max and dep 5 Nov 16 L Ont; total reported L Ont (which may not all be different individuals) 22 Oct 30-Nov 16 is still a heavy flight. Pectoral Sandpiper: arr Jul 13, 1 Seneca R; max 71 Sep 20 Onon L was high; dep Oct 30, 15 L Ont. White-rumped Sandpiper: arr Aug 23, 3 Onon L is late; max 46 Sep 3 Onon L (FGS) was record high; dep Nov 9, 2 L Ont and 1 Oneida L. Baird’s Sandpiper: arr Sep 2,1 Onon L was late; near-record max 12 Sep 29 Onon L; dep Oct 6, 2 Onon L and 1 L Ont. Least Sandpiper: arr Jul 4, 6 L Ont; max 150 Aug 6 Onon was good; dep Oct 14, 1 Oneida L. Dunlin: arr Sep 10, 1 Onon L; max 202 Oct 22 and early dep Nov 19, 1 L Ont. Short-billed Dowitcher: arr Jul 4, 2 L Ont was very early; max 17 Jul 16 Cayuga Co, Oswego Co; dep Oct 6, 1 Onon L. Stilt Sandpiper: arr Jul 15,2 Seneca R; max 16 Sep 2 and dep Oct 6, 1 Onon L. Semipalmated Sandpiper: arr Jul 5, 1 L Ont was very early; high max 389 Aug 25 Onon Co; dep Nov 16, 1 L Ont (FGS, PAD) record late. Western Sandpiper: short flight with arr Sep 2, 1 L Ont and dep Sep 24,1 Onon L; max 2s Sep 3 L Ont and Sep 3 and 5 Onon L. 53 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER: 2 Sep 10 Onon L (FGS et al). HUDSONIAN GODW1T: more than usual with 1 Sep 6-7 Onon L (FGS et al), 1 Oct 8 L Ont (FGS, PAD), and 1 Oct 25-30 Oneida L (R & SW et al) the last latest ever except in big flight fall of 1964. Sanderling: late arr Jul 27, 13, max 56 Sep 17, and early dep Nov 9, 2, all L Ont. Red Phalarope: 5 singles with arr Sep 23 Onon L and others Sep 30-Oct 17 L Ont. Wilson’s Phalarope: 3 singles at Onon L, Aug 10 and 28 and Sep 2—3. Northern Phalarope: arr Aug 13, 1 Jordan; max 3 Sep 24 Onon L; dep Oct 31, 1 L Ont (CGS) record late by 1 day. Jaegers: at least 10 of these extremely difficult to identify birds passed L Ont areas Oct 6-17 with the max 7 Oct 8; only half were satisfactorily identified, as Parasitic Jaeger, 1 Oct 6 and 4 Oct 8. Great Black-backed Gull: arr Sep 5, 1 Oneida L, an unusual location for the arr; max 112 Nov 16 L Ont. Herring Gull: max 2560 Nov 9 L Ont. Ring-billed Gull: max 1589 Oct 17 L Ont was a little low compraed with Herring Gull. BLACK-HEADED GULL : 3 reports, all ads in winter plumage from L Ont areas Sep 7 and Nov 2 (FGS) and Oct 6 CGS, MSR) may represent just 1 bird (only 2 previous reports). FRANKLIN’S GULL: 1 imm “Small gull [slightly] larger than Bonaparte’s in bulk but not in apparent length, small dark bill. . back dark smoke gray with darker wings . . . rump & tail white, tail banded with dark at tip but outer feathers white...” Oct 28 L Ont (FGS, PAD). Bona¬ parte’s Gull: arr Aug 9, 15 and low max 55 Oct 13 Oneida L. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE: 1 imm Nov 12 L Ont (PAD et al) 1st report since 1969. Forster’s Tern: 1 imm Jul 12 Seneca R (DWC et al) 1st regional non L Ont record; 2 Sep 18 L Ont was the only other satisfactory report. Common Tern: max 200s Sep 9 and Oct 6 Oneida L were low; dep Oct 26, 1 L Ont. Caspian Tern: arr and max 23 Aug 19 L Ont is low compared with recent years; dep Oct 20, 1 L Ont. Black Tern: max and dep 7 Sep 9 Oneida L was very low. Mourning Dove: max 108 Sep 12 Seneca R, but no other counts exceeded 40 per day. Black-billed Cuckoo: 4 singles with late dep an imm Oct 17 Syr. Screech Owl: reported at 13 sites, Sandy Pond, Selkirk Shores State Park near Port Ontario, Fair Haven, Three Rivers, N Syr, Onon L, Syr, N Onon Twp, Skaneateles, NPT, Holland Patent, New Hartford, and Eaton. Great Horned Owl: reported at only 12 sites, Eightmile Creek in Sterling Twp, Oswego, 2 sites near Marcellus, N Syr, Onon L, Syr, NPT, Sylvan Beach, Holland Patent, New Hartford, and Eaton. Barred Owl: reported only at 3 sites, Big Moose, Fair Haven, and Mexico Twp. Short-eared Owl: 1 Oct 22 L Ont was only report. Saw-whet Owl: 1 Oct 15 Syr and 2 fresh road kills on I 81 in Oswego Co Nov 4 were only reports. GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Common Nighthawk: max 373 Aug 24 Syr (GAS) nearly double last year’s record count from same area; dep Oct 11, 2 Camillus Twp (C & EF) tied record late. Chimney Swift; max 145 Aug 24 Syr was another good macrochirial count from this migration route over Onon Creek valley; dep Oct 23, 2 Onon Hill (EMF) record late. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: max 11 Aug 27 L Ont was better than past 5 falls; dep Oct 11, 1 Morrisville was late. Belted Kingfisher: max 6 Oct 2 L Ont is low. Yellow-shafted Flicker: max 63 Sep 18 Onon Co, Oswego Co. Pileated Wood¬ pecker: 1-2 per day from 14 sites in all parts of the Region. Red-bellied Wood¬ pecker: 5 reports from Seneca R—Oneida L axis, at Cato, Central Square, Muskrat Bay, Verona Beach, and Canastota; another 5 reports from L Ont areas, at Sterling Twp, Oswego, Shore Oaks, Pleasant Point, and Selkirk Shores State Park may reflect a solidly established population in this area. Red-headed Woodpecker: max 4 Sep 2 L Ont was good for fall; dep Oct 16, 1 Marcy. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: arr Sep 11, 1 NPT; max 9 Sep 24 Oswego Co; dep Oct 14, 1 NPT; reports of 1 each at Skaneateles and Syr on Nov FS were probably attempting to winter. Hairy Wood¬ pecker: no flight indicated with max 6s Aug 27 Five Ponds, Sep 1 Dart L, and Nov 1 L Ont. Downy Woodpecker: apparently a light flight with max 16 Aug 19 54 L Ont. Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: 4 Aug 27 Five Ponds (FGS, PAD) and 1 Oct 26 Big Moose (CF) were only reports. Eastern Kingbird: max 26 Aug 19 L Ont; dep Sep 1 Onon Hill was somewhat early. Great Crested Flycatcher: max 6 Aug 19 L Ont; dep Sep 16, 1 Onon Hill. Eastern Phoebe: good max of 12 Aug 19 L Ont; dep Nov 3, 1 N of Chittenango and 1 Nov FS Manlius were late. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: total of 24; arr Aug 5, 1 N Syr was early; max only 2s Aug 16-Sep 9 at L Ont and 3 Onon Co areas; dep Sept 16, 1 Onon Hill. Traill’s Flycatcher: max 3 Aug 20 Oneida; dep Sep 3, 1 “fitz- bew” song form NPT. Least Flycatcher: max 30 Aug 19 L Ont was good; dep Sep 15, 1 Syr was early. Eastern Wood Pewee: max 27 Aug 19 Oswego Co; dep Oct 18, 1 Syr (FCD) very late. Olive-sided Flycatcher: 4 singles, Aug 20 L Ont to Aug 27 Five Ponds, an unusual location for the last date. Horned Lark; max 15 Aug 19 L Ont was very poor; other areas formerly note¬ worthy for lark numbers had far fewer, e.g. 4 Sep 17 Onon L, 3 Oct 8 NPT, and 2 Oct 1 Holland Patent, the only report E of the L Ont basin. Tree Swallow: max 5300 Sep 18 Oswego Co was encouraging after poor breeding season prognosis; dep Nov 7, 1 L Ont (C&EF) tied record late. Bank Swallow: period max 359 Aug 20 Oneida L and R areas was poor; dep Sep 27, 7 L Ont. Rough-winged Swallow: very poor max 3 Sep 2 Seneca R; dep Oct 1, 2 L Ont (RJS) very late. Barn Swal¬ low: max 1540 Sep 3 L Ont; dep Oct 6, 2 L Ont. Cliff Swallow: max only 4 Aug 19 L Ont; dep Sep 24, 1 Oswego Co (FGS) apparently record late. Purple Martin: low and late max 220 Sep 3 L Ont; dep Sep 24, 30 Oswego Co (FGS) very late and especially notable for such numbers. Gray Jay: 2 Oct 26 Big Moose (CF) only report. Blue Jay: moderate max 43 Sep 15 Onon Co, Cayuga Co. Common Crow: flights along L Ont of over 500 per day were 1163 Oct 13 and 9415 Oct 19 (both GAS). Black-capped Chickadee: no flight indicated with max only 65 Aug 24 Oswego Co. Boreal Chickadee: 3 Aug 27 Five Ponds; the beginnings of an incursion were singles Nov 2 and 5 at different L Ont sites. Tufted Titmouse: reported from standard locations at Chittenango, Oneida, and Sherrill; some range expansion can be assumed from transients noted at Fair Haven and Skaneateles. White-breasted Nuthatch: no flight indicated with max 12 Sep 20 Dart L, 11 Aug 19 Oswego Co, 11 Sep 15 Pompey Twp, Sterling Twp. Red-breasted Nuthatch: early arr Aug 14, 1 L Ont; a good flight shown by max 32 Sep 4 Onon Co. Brown Creeper: no flight indicated, with max 5s Sep 16-Oct 18 at various Oswego Co and Oneida Co locations. House Wren: max 25 Sep 3 L Ont seemed high; dep Oct 27, 1 NPT (DWC) very late. Winter Wren: arr Aug 27, 1 L Ont; max 47 Oct. 8 L. Ont. Carolina Wren: only report was 1 Nov FS, which soon disappeared, W side of Otis co L. Long-billed Marsh Wren: max 5 Sep 10 Peter Scott Swamp was rather low again. Mockingbird: reported at N Syr, Syr, and NPT, but none on Nov FS. Catbird: max 29 Sep 15 Onon Co, Cayuga Co; dep Nov 19, 1 NPT. Brown Thrasher: max 12 Sep 18 Oswego Co; dep Nov 19, 1 L Ont; birds reported later were apparently attempting to winter. Robin: mediocre max 300 Oct 18 NPT. Wood Thrush: max 6 Aug 19 Oswego Co; dep Oct 3, 1 NPT. Hermit Thrush: early, if true migrants, was arr Aug 19, 3 Oswego Co; poor max 8s Oct 15 L Ont and Oct 19 Oneida L. Swainson’s Thrush: early arr Aug 13, 1 Syr; max 10 Sep 15 Sterling Twp; dep Oct 18, 1 Syr. Gray-cheeked Thrush: arr Sep 14, 1 Oswego Co; max 7 Sep 15 Sterling Twp; early dep Oct 2, 3 NPT. Veery: poor max 8 Aug 24 Oswego Co; dep Oct 12, 2 NPT (DWC) very late. Eastern Bluebird; encouraging numbers noted from widespread areas, i.e. 6 or more Oct 3-31 from NPT, Holland Patent, Marcy, W. of Vienna, N Bay, Jewell, N Church near Texas, and near Chedmardo in Richland Twp; max 33 Oct 19 N Bay; dep Nov 1, 3 Cleveland, WHEAT EAR-. 1 Sep 26-27 near Bridge¬ port (P. Laible et al) was 1st regional record. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: arr Aug 12, 1 L Ont; max 2s Sep 2 L Ont and Sep 14 Morrisville, an unusual location; dep Oct 2, 1 Oswego. Golden-crowned Kinglet: 55 late arr Sep 23, 6 Oswego Co; low max 65 Oct 8 L Ont. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: arr Sep 4, 1 L Ont; moderate max 150 Oct 13 L Ont. Water Pipit: arr Sep 9, 2 Oneida L; low max 81 Oct 27 SW Onon Co; dep Nov 18, 1 near Earlville was late. Cedar Waxwing; good max 440 Oct 6 Oswego Co. Northern Shrike: arr Oct 22, 1 ad and 1 imm by 2 separate parties at different L Ont sites was a little early; singles only through period. Loggerhead Shrike: only 3 singles reported; dep Oct 11, 1 L Ont. Starling: only 2 tallies in the thousands, both of L Ont migrants, 11,000 Oct 6 (FGS) and 5770 Oct 13 (GAS). VIREOS-WARBLERS: Yellow-throated Vireo: max 5 Sep 3 L Ont; dep Sep 25, 1 Syr. Solitary Vireo: early arr Aug 19, 1 L Ont; max 25 Aug 31 Oswego Co was over twice last year's record high; record late dep Nov FS, 1 Syr (P.&S. Radway) “It shouldn’t still be around but has been here all week. Wing bars, spectacles, bluish head, white throat and yellowish sides.” Red-eyed Vireo: max 98 Aug 19 L Ont (PAD) was greater than last year’s record high; early dep Oct 1, 1 L Ont and 1 Syr. Philadelphia Vireo: 38 birds reported is a very heavy flight; early arr Aug 16, 1 NPT; max 7 Sep 3 L Ont; dep Nov 2, 1 L Ont (FGS) record late. Warbling Vireo: max 18 Aug 19 L Ont; early dep Sep 20, 1 N Syr. Black-and-white Warbler: arr Aug 12, 5 L Ont; max 14 Aug 19 L Ont was high; dep Oct 5, 1 NPT. Golden-winged Warbler: arr Aug 17, 3 L Ont; max 13 Aug 19 L Ont (PAD) record high (previously 6 in 1957); dep Aug 26, 3 Oswego Co. Blue¬ winged Warbler: 4 singles Aug 12 NPT-Aug 27 L Ont; 1 Aug 21 Holland Patent (J & EV) unusual location. Brewster’s Warbler: 2 singles, Aug 19 L Ont and Aug 24 NPT. Tennessee Warbler: arr Aug 16, 1 NPT; max 37 Sep 3 L Ont (FGS) nearly record high; late dep Oct 18, 1 W of Vienna. Orange-crowned Warbler: protracted flight with record early arr Sep 7, 1 NPT (DWC), max 3 Oct 10 Hannibal Twp, Sterling Twp, and record late dep Nov 2, 1 Oneida (B & SP). Nashville Warbler: max 11 Sep 8 and late dep Oct 20, 1, NPT. Parula Warbler: record early arr Aug 19, 1 L Ont (FGS) and late dep Oct 13, 1 L Ont, for a protracted flight; max 6 Sep 14 Oswego Co. Yellow Warbler: 1st migrants noted Jul 30, 26 L Ont; max 67 Aug 19 Oswego Co; dep Oct 1, 1 L Ont was late. Magnolia Warbler: protracted migration with record early arr Aug 17, 1 L Ont (FGS) and late dep Oct 22, 1 L Ont; good max of 40 Sep 3 L Ont. Cape May Warbler: another long migration period from record early arr Jul 30, 1 L Ont (FGS) to late dep Oct 4, 3 NPT; max 9 Aug 26 NPT. Black-throated Blue Warbler: arr Aug 17, 1 L Ont; max 15 Sep 19 NPT; late dep Oct 22, 1 L Ont. Myrtle Warbler: arr Aug 17, 5 L Ont; max 150 Oct 4 NPT. Black-throated Green Warbler: arr Aug 20, 1 Oswego Co and 1 Onon Co; max 35s Aug 27 Five Ponds and Sep 26 NPT; late dep Oct 23, 1 Onon Hill. Black¬ burnian Warbler: arr Aug 12, 2 NPT and 5 L Ont; max 10s Aug 19 and Sep 3 L Ont; dep Sep 20, 2 NPT was early. Chestnut-sided Warbler: arr Aug 19, 10 Oswego Co; max 12 Sep 3 L Ont; dep 27, 2 Syr. Bay-breasted Warbler: arr Aug 12, 5 L Ont was early; max 46 Aug 24 Oswego Co.; early dep Sep 27, 3 Syr. Blackpoll Warbler: early arr Aug, 19, 2 L Ont; Max 17 Aug 27 L Ont; early dep Oct 4, 1 NPT. Pine Warbler: 7 birds reported, some possibly local breeders; max 3 Aug 17 and dep Oct 21, L Ont. Palm Warbler: early arr Aug 30, 1 NPT; high max 8 Sep 30 NPT; dep Oct 28, I D.p.hypochrysea L Ont was late, Ovenbird: max 7 Sep 15 Sterling Twp; dep Oct 13, 1 L Ont. Northern Water- thrush: record early arr Jul 30, 1 L Ont (FGS); max 4 Sep 3 L Ont; early dep Sep 17, 1 L Ont. CONNECTICUT WARBLER : 2 birds, 1 Aug 28 L Ont (FGS) 1st fall report earlier than Sep 7, and 1 ad female “long yellow undertail coverts ... the hood was brown rather than gray... throat was not streaked... the eye-ring was extremely white all the way around the eye, not buffy...” Sep 26 NPT (DWC). Mourning Warbler: high max 4 Aug 23 N Syr; dep Oct 2, 1 NPT. Yellow- throat: max 22 Aug 26 Oswego Co. Hooded Warbler: only report was the dep Aug 56 17, 1 L Ont. Wilson’s Warbler: early arr Aug 17, 1 L Ont; max 17 Sep 18 L Ont; dep Oct 2, 2 NPT was early. Canada Warbler: arr Aug 15, 6 NPT; max 8s Aug 27 and Sep 3 L Ont; dep Sep 16, 1 L Ont. American Redstart: early arr Jul 30, 1 L Ont; max 20 Aug 19 Oswego Co; dep Oct 2, 1 L Ont. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: max 46 Sep 10 near Pennellville; early dep Sep 21, 8 Seneca R. Eastern Meadowlark: max 50 Sep 30 Holland Patent. Red-winged Blackbird: 10 tallies of 1000 or more Aug 20-Nov 7 from Floyd, various Oneida L basin areas, Seneca R, and L Ont; max 5000 Nov 7 Bridgeport (B & SP); total of nearly 15,000 at L Ont Oct 13—19 (GAS). Baltimore Oriole: max 14 Aug 19 L Ont; dep Sep 16, 1 L Ont; 1 Nov FS Syr may have been attempting to winter but didn’t persist, Rusty Blackbird: arr Sep 10, 3 L Ont; 4 tallies of 100 or more per day, 380 Oct 18 near Oneida Valley (B & SP), and Oct 18-29 L Ont with high max 600 Oct 29 (GAS). Common Grackle: only 4 tallies of 500 or more Oct 13—30 from L Ont and Eaton;max 3000 Oct 30 Eaton (G&MC). Brown-headed Cow- bird: 5 tallies of 200 or more Sep 14-Oct 19 from L Ont and Oswego Co areas; max 1000 Oct 19 L Ont (GAS). Scarlet Tanager: low max 7 Aug 24 Oswego Co; dep Oct 3, 1 L Ont. Cardinal: only 3 counts of 10 or more per day, all from Onon Co and Cayuga Co areas, with max 18 Sep 15. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: max 14 Aug 19 Oswego Co; dep Oct 1, L Ont. Indigo Bunting: low max 3s Aug 19 Oswego Co. Aug 22 and Sep 12 N Syr; dep Oct 10, 1 near Three Rivers. Evening Grosbeak: non-Adir arr Oct 4, 1 L Ont; an incursion indicated by Adir max 500 Nov 20 and 25 Dart L and non-Adir max 300 Nov 3 L Ont. Purple Finch: at Dart L 8 Sep 1 dropped to only 1 by Oct 27 with none recorded there in Nov; very high non-Adir max 60 Nov 7 Floyd shows a marked flight. House Finch: 2 Aug 30 Syr and tallies of 7 and 5 Nov F Sat 2 other Syr sites were the only reports and indicate stability but not expansion of numbers. Pine Grosbeak: early arr Oct 12, 2 Dart L; non-Adir arr Oct 12, 13 Morrisville, but not noted at L Ont before Nov 5; max 500 Nov 20 and 25 Dart L was high. Pine Siskin: arr Sep 18, 1 L Ont; Adir arr Oct 1, 10 Dart L; max 190 Oct 28 L Ont. American Goldfinch: no major winter movement indicated with max 250 Nov 10 NPT. Red Crossbill: Adir max 140 Aug 27 Five Ponds was most unusual since none were noted at Dart L before Oct 30; non-Adir max 85 Nov 10 NPT. White-winged Crossbill: arr Nov 5, 14 and max 34 Nov 10 NPT; none noted in Adir areas. Rufous-sided Towhee: max 11 Oct 5 NPT. Savannah Sparrow: max 52 Sep 10 Schroeppel Twp; dep Nov 19, 1 L Ont was late. Grasshopper Sparrow: only report was dep Oct 10, 1 Lysander Twp. Henslow’s Sparrow: 4 reports of 1-2 per day; dep Oct 28, 1 NPT (DWC) record late. Vesper Sparrow: max 66 Oct 18 W of Vienna was good, especially compared with counts from W part of region where max was only 10 Oct 13 NPT; dep Nov 29, 1 NPT (DWC) record late. Slate-colored Junco: arr Aug 24, 2 L Ont (BS) record early; max 400 and 375 Oct 13 by separate parties at different L Ont areas was high. Tree Sparrow: arr Oct 21, 12 L Ont; low max 45 Nov 12 L Ont. Chipping Sparrow: very high max 160 Oct 18 W of Vienna; dep Nov 12, 1 NPT. Field Sparrow: max 28 Oct 10 Onon Co, Oswego Co, Cayuga Co. White-crowned Sparrow: arr Sep 23, 3 Oswego Co; max 222 Oct 18 W of Vienna was very high. White-throated Sparrow: arr Aug 19, 1 L Ont; max 179 Oct 10 Onon Co, Oswego Co, Cayuga Co. Fox Sparrow: arr Oct 5, 1 NPT; medi¬ ocre flight with max 10 Oct 31 NPT; dep Nov 15, 1 Holland Patent. Lincoln’s Sparrow: arr Sep 11, 1 Onon Co; max 6 Oct 10 and late dep Oct 27, 1 NPT. Swamp Sparrow: max 74 Oct 10 Onon Co, Oswego Co, Cayuga Co was high in comparison with recent years. Song Sparrow: max 234 Oct 10 Onon Co, Oswego Co, Cayuga Co. Lapland Longspur: arr Oct 1, 3 L Ont; max 15 Oct 22 L Ont. Snow Bunting: arr Oct 19, 10 L Ont; max 400 Nov 5 L Ont. 242 West Calthrop Ave., Syracuse 13205 57 REGION 6 —ST. LAWRENCE Frank A. Clinch Precipitation continued above normal, and the high water left less exposed shore areas. At Eldorado there were not as many shorebirds as usual especially early in the period. Rare or uncommon birds include Bald Eagle, Hudsonian Godwit, Whimbrel, Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker and Boreal Chickadee which is rare in most of the region. Abbreviations: ED—Eldorado; PRWMA—Perch River Wildlife Management Area; WHWMA—Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area; PP—Pillar Point and Point Peninsula; RMS—Robert Moses State Park and Power Dam near Massena; STLR— St. Lawrence River; hunt—shot by hunter(s) at PRWMA, reported by LC. Observers: JB—John Belknap; RB—Richard Brouse; LC—Lee Chamberlaine; FC— Frank Clinch; NL—Nick Leone; JV—Joe Van Reit who made the observations at WHWMA, RMSP and STLR; RW—Robert and June Walker. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: Oct 28 STLR. Horned Grebe: max 8 Nov 19 PP. Pied-billed Grebe: max 60 Sep 27 ED. Double-crested Cormorant: 1 found dead Sep 10 WHWMA. Green Heron: last Sep 23 WHWMA. Canada Goose: Sep 27 Gouverneur; flocks seen flying same day at Massena and several flocks same day near Watertown. Brant: 2 Nov 7 ED (RW). Mallard-Black hybrid: 1 hunt Oct 29. Gadwall: Sep 27 to Nov 4 WHWMA; 31 hunt Oct 2-Nov 4; last Nov 4; the number of Gadwalls taken at PRWMA seems to be increasing. Pintail: Sep 27-Oct 6 WHWMA; 48 hunt Oct 2-Nov 15; 4 ED Nov 19. Green-winged Teal: 18 Sep 28 WHWMA; 229 hunt Oct 2-Nov 20; last Nov 20. Blue-winged Teal; 775 hunt Oct 2- Nov 11; last PRWMA Nov 11. American Widgeon: 42 hunt; last PRWMA Nov 2; 1 Nov 24 STLR. Shoveler: 19 hunt Oct 2-Nov 10; last PRWMA Nov 10; over 100 Nov 11 RMSP .Wood Duck: 249 hunt Oct 2-Nov 16. Redhead: Sep 18-Nov 4 WHWMA; hunter’s bag Nov 12 WHWMA. Ringed-necked Duck: 19 hunt Oct 2- Oct 13; abundant Sep 18-Nov 11 northern St Lawrence Co (JV). Canvasback: 1 hunter’s bag Oct 15 WHWMA; 1 Nov 19 PP. Greater Scaup: 3 hunt Oct 7-Oct 21; 4 hunter’s bag Nov 1 WHWMA. Lesser Scaup: 2 hunt Oct 8-Oct 15; 7 hunter’s bag Nov 7 WHWMA. Common Goldeneye: 6 Oct 19 first date on Racket River (JV); 1 hunt Oct 21; 300 Nov 7. Bufflehead: 4 hunt Oct 14-Oct 21; Oct 22-Nov 8 WHWMA. Oldsquaw: Nov 7 ED, White-winged Scoter: 1 hunt Oct 13; 1 Nov 19 Stony Pt. Surf Scoter: female Nov 19 Stony Pt (NL). Ruddy Duck: 2 Sep 27 PRWMA; 3 hunt Oct 17-Nov 5; Oct 28 hunter’s bag WHWMA. Hooded Merganser: 3 hunt. Common Merganser: 200 Oct 22 to app 2000 end Nov RMSP. Red¬ breasted Merganser: Nov 19. HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: 2 adults 3 immatures Aug 25 Henderson; last Oct 13. Sharp-shinned Hawk: Sep 20 Watertown, Cooper’s Hawk :Aug 31 Glen Park. Broad-winged Hawk: 6 Sep 20 Watertown. Rough-legged Hawk: first Nov 10 a few thereafter (JB); 2 Nov 19 PP; not as many seen as some years. Bald Eagle: 2 immatures Nov 19 ED (NL). Marsh Hawk: last Nov 19. Osprey: 2 Aug 25 PRWMA; 2 Sep 17 Crystal Lake. Ruffed Grouse: numbers up over previous 3 years (LC). Gray Partridge: numbers very low; 1 covey Dennison Road; 1 covey RMSP. Common Gallinule: 7 Sep 26 PRWMA. Semipalmated Plover: last Nov 9 STLR. American Woodcock: numbers up over previous year abundant until Nov 10 (LC). Whimbrel: 1 Sep 4 ED (RB). Greater Yellowlegs: Nov 4. Knot: 1 Aug 26 ED; 1 Sep 2 ED. Pectoral Sandpiper: Oct 22 PP. Purple Sandpiper: 2 Oct 24. White-rumped Sandpiper; 2 Nov 5 Sherwin Bay (RW); among birds found shot 58 at ED Oct 15 (Mrs Comar). Dunlin: 40 Oct 26 Sherwin Bay (JB); 12 Nov 5 Sherwin Bay (RW). Hudsonian Godwit: 1 Sep 9 ED (RB et al). Sanderling: Sep 27 to Nov 9 STLR max 8 Oct 28. Iceland Gull: 1 Nov 24 RMSP. Great Black- backed Gull: Oct 28 to Nov 30 RMSP; Nov 7 ED. Bonaparte’s Gull: 3 Sep 2 ED (RB). Caspian Tern: 5 Sep 2 ED. Black Tern: Sep 2 ED. Mourning Dove: 300 in corn fields in Oct in Henderson Area (LC). Black-billed Cuckoo: last Sep* 12 Watertown (RL). Barred Owl: 3 heard Aug 20 Cranberry Lake. Snowy Owl: first late Oct; most were seen second half Nov; max 5 Nov 19 PP; 3 Nov 30 Pillar Pt. GOATSUCKERS-STARLINGS: Common Nighthawk: 6 Sep 2 Massena. Ruby- throated Hummingbird: Oct 5 Watertown. Red-headed Woodpecker: last Oct 4 Henderson. Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: 1 male 1 female Nov 5 Joseph A Blake Jr Wildlife Sanctuary where they have been past 2 winters (NL). Horned Lark: showed up in numbers in mid-Oct (LC); not reported by others. Tree Swal¬ low: last Oct 1 STLR. Bank Swallow: Aug 26. Cliff Swallow: Aug 26. Boreal Chickadee: 1 Oct 15 Thompson Park, Watertown (NL). Winter Wren: 1 Oct 12; 1 Oct 21. Catbird: last Oct 28 WHWMA. Hermit Thrush: last Nov 5. Eastern Bluebird: 2 Sep 9; 2 Oct 15 (NL). Water Pipit: mid-Oct. Northern Shrike: first late Oct. VIREOS—SPARROWS: Solitary Vireo: Oct 15. Myrtle Warbler: last Oct 25. Blackburnian Warbler: Sep 26 Watertown (FC). Palm Warbler: Oct 18. Yellow- throat: Oct 29. Bobolink: heavy migration early Sep (LC). Eastern Meadowlark: present at end of period. Rusty Blackbird: 3 Nov 3 along STLR. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: last Sep 20. Evening Grosbeak: seen at higher elevations eastern Jefferson and Lewis Co in late Sep, sporadic on Lake plain thru period (LC); began to ap¬ pear at feeders in Nov as numbers increased. Pine Grosbeak: 4 Nov 13 Gouverneur only definite report, Swamp Sparrow: Oct 2. Tree Sparrow: Oct 13. Snow Bunting: first 3 Oct 14. 173 Haley St., Watertown, New York 13601 REGION 7 —ADIRONDACK-CHAMPLAIN Theodore D. Mack September was mild; however October was recorded as the coolest in 15 years. The mean temperature was 40 degrees, which is some 12 degrees lower than last year according to Bob Kampf at Ray Brook. November was cool with a 30 degree mean temperature and a 5 below reading on at least one day. Snow for the month totaled 15 inches at Ray Brook. Abbreviations: BP—Bear Pond near Paul Smiths; BL—Bloomingdale; BTP—Browns Tract Ponds area; CR—Cedar River near Indian Lake; E’town—Elizabethtown; FF— Franklin Falls; GP—Green Pond near Saranac Inn: KV—Keene Valley; L—lake; LP—Lake Placid; MP—Moose Pond near Bloomingdale; New—Newcomb; P—pond; PS—Paul Smiths; SL—Saranac Lake; TL—Tupper Lake; UF—Union Flow; WP— Weller Pond; Wstp—Westport; Wilm—Wilmington. Observers: GC—Geoffrey Carleton; DC—Dorothy Crumb; MK—Dr. Marguerite Kingsbury; FL—Ferdinand LaFranoe; M&IL—Malcolm & Izora Lerch; TM—Ted Mack; RMc—Robert McKinney; RM—Ruth Meier; WR—William Rutherford; RJS— Richard J. Sutliff; R&MS—Robert & Mary Sheffield; JT—Joseph Taylor. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 2 Aug GP (TM); 2 Sep 4 Little Clear (TM); 3 Sep 10 Middle SL (R&MS); 3 Sep 13 Elk 59 L including one young raised (R&MS); 2 Sep 14 PS (T). Red-necked Grebe: 1 Oct 18 Wstp (GC); 2 Nov 3 Wstp (GC); these migrants are probably found only on Lake Champlain in our area and are seldom reported. Pied-billed Grebe: 1 Sep 13 Elk L (R&MS); only report. Great Blue Heron: 1 Sep Osgood River (RM) ; 1 Sep WP (R&MS); 1 Sep 13 Elk L (R&MS); 1 Sep 21 Raquette River (RM); 2 Oct 8 FF migrating high (TM). Green Heron: 1 Aug 18 CR (M&IL, RMc); a good bird for this section and only one reported. American Bittern: 1 Sep 6 B1 (TM). WHISTLING SWAN : 1 Nov 18 flying past Scarface Mt near Ray Brook (TM); bird called attention to itself because of the loud noise of each wing beat. Canada Goose: passed over E’town steadily for 12 minutes Oct 7 (Irene Carleton); 5 very late birds Nov 26 (TM). Black Duck: 3 to 7 could usually be found which seems better than most years. Wood Duck: max 7 Sep 10 WP (R&MS). Common Goldeneye: 1 Oct 18 Wstp (GC). Bufflehead: 5 Oct 18 Wstp (GC). Hooded Merganser: widely reported; 9 Aug 17 BP (TM); 11 Aug 27 MP (TM); 18 Oct 31 Seventh L (FL). Common Merganser: large families raised as usual. HAWKS-OWLS: Goshawk: 1 Oct 30 BTP (FL); 2 Nov 1 BTP (FL). Cooper’s Hawk: 1 responded to spishing Nov 14 CR (RMc). Red-tailed Hawk: 1 Sep 4 Little Clear P (TM); 2 Oct 5 Panther P near Corey’s (MK); 5 migrating on a thermal also being used by a glider Oct 7 LP (JT); 1 Oct 30 SL (MK); 1 late bird Nov 1 BTP (FL). Broad-winged Hawk: 1 Aug 20 New (TM); 1 Sep 7 BL (TM). Marsh Hawk: 1 Sep 7 Hurricane Mt (GC); 1 Oct 13 at 4600 feet Whiteface Mt (GC). Osprey: 1 Sep 11 LP (JT); 2 migrating Oct 8 FF (TM); Francis Singer’s 1972 survey showed 73 known nests and 66 were observed; 25 of these were active, but only 4 produced young and these only 1 each. Sparrow Hawk: 1 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). Ruffed Grouse: harder to find this year; max 5 Sep 10 Osgood River (RM). Gray Partridge: 1 Fort Covington (MK). American Woodcock: seemed scarce; 1 Sep 1 TL (RM); 1 Sep 27 Slush (TM). Common Snipe: 1 Sep 8 E’town (GC) • 1 Sep 13 FF (TM); 12 Oct 20 BL (Raymond DeVone). Spotted Sandpiper: 1 Sep 15 Elk L (R&MS). Solitary Sandpiper: 2 Aug 20 BTP (FL, RJS). Greater Yellowlegs: 8 Oct 22 UF (TM). Mourning Dove: 1 Oct 1 Wstp (TM). Great Horned Owl: 1 Aug 24 GP (TM); 1 Aug 24 PS (TM); 1 Aug 27 MP (TM); 1 Sep 2 PS (TM); 1 Oct 29 TL (WR). Barred Owl: 1 Aug 17 Little Long P near PS (TM) ; 1 Aug 28 Rat P (TM); 1 Sep 5 Little Polliwog P (TM); 1 Sep 10 WP (R&MS). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Whip-poor-will: no reports. Ruby-throated Hum¬ mingbird: max 3 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, R Me). Pileated Woodpecker: 1 Sep 13 Elk L (R&MS); 1 Sep 28 PS (TM); 2 BTP (FL); 2 Nov 11 TL (WR); 1 Nov 15 CR (RMc); 1 Nov 26 New (TM). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: max 5 Sep 2 BTP DC, FL). Hairy Woodpecker: max 6 Nov 15 CR (RMc). Black-backed Three¬ toed Woodpecker: 1 Aug 17 BP (TM); 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL); 1 Nov 4 TL (WR). Northern Three-toed Woodpecker: 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Great Crested Fly¬ catcher: 1 Sep 3 Slush P (TM); 1 last bird Sep 7 on Hurricane Mt (GC). Eastern Phoebe: 1 Oct 12 St. Regis Falls (TM); 1 late bird Oct 22 UF (TM). Least Fly¬ catcher; max 8 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). Eastern Wood Pewee: 3 Aug 17 BP (TM); latest 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 2 Aug 20 BTP (FL, RJS); 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Horned Lark: 22 migrants Nov 8 PS (TM). Cliff Swallow: flock Aug 29 at Lewis (GC). Gray Jay: 3 Aug 20 BTP (FL, RJS); 2 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL); 2 Oct 2 BTP (FL); 6 Nov 11 TL (WR). Blue Jay: 20 seemed to be migrating Oct 8 FF (TM). Com¬ mon Raven: 2 Sep 23 KV (GC). Black-capped Chickadee: max 30 Nov 14 CR (RMc). Boreal Chickadee: reported from usual locations. White-breasted Nuthatch: max 20 Nov 14 CR (RMc). Red-breasted Nuthatch: max 15 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Brown Creeper: 1 Sep 5 Little Polliwog P (TM); 1 Oct 31 BTP (FL); 2 Nov 14 CR (RMc). Winter Wren: 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL); 1 half-heartedly singing Sep 12 60 WP (R&MS); 1 Sep 14 Elk L (R&MS). Catbird: 2 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). Brown Thrasher: 1 Oct 9 PS (WR). Wood Thrush: not reported; perhaps just overlooked. Hermit Thrush: last 1 Nov 1 BTP (FL). Swainson’s Thrush: max 6 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). Gray-cheeked Thrush: 1 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). Veery: I Aug 19 Elk L (M&IL, RMc). Eastern Bluebird: 1 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 6 transients Oct 5 E’town (GC). Golden-crowned Kinglet: max 15 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: transients about Sep 10 several localities; last 2 Oct 4 PS (TM). Cedar Waxwing: last report 11 Sep 28 PS (TM). VIREOS-WARBLERS: Solitary Vireo: 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL); 1 singing Sep II WP (R&MS). Red-eyed Vireo: max 6 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). Black-and- white Warbler: 2 Aug 20 BTP (FL, RJS); 1 singing Sep 12 WP (R&MS). Tennessee Warbler: arrived Aug 15 E’town (GC); 4 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). ORANGE- CROWNED WARBLER : 1 adult Oct 13 Wilm (GC). Nashville Warbler: 1 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 2 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Parula Warbler: 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Magnolia Warbler: 3 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). Cape May Warbler: arrived Aug 14 E’town (GC); 1 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Black-throated Blue Warbler: max 10 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 1 late bird Oct 15 E’town (GC). Myrtle Warbler: max 20 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL); last report 1 Oct 13 KV (MK). Black-throated Green Warbler: max 3 Aug 20 BTP (FL, RJS). Blackburnian Warbler: widely reported; max 3 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL); last 1 Sep 26 E’town (GC). Chestnut-sided Warbler: 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Bay-breasted Warbler: arrived Aug 19 E’town (GC); 6 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Blackpoll Warbler: 1 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 1 Aug 25 E’town (GC); 1 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Palm Warbler: 1 Oct 13 Wilm (GC). Ovenbird: 6 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). Yellowthroat: max 7 Aug 20 BTP (FL, RJS); 1 late bird Oct 16 E’town (GC). Canada Warbler: 4 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 2 Aug 20 BTP (FL, RJS). American Redstart: max 8 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS: Bobolink: 3 Aug 25 Whallonsburg (GC). Eastern Meadowlark: 1 late bird Oct 30 Malone (MK). Rusty Blackbird: 1 Sep 10 Middle SL (R&MS); 3 Oct 31 BTP (FL); 2 Sep 2 BTP (DC, FL). Scarlet Tanager: 3 Aug 17 BP (TM); 3 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 1 Sep 10 WP (R&MS). Rose¬ breasted Grosbeak: family groups until Aug 21 TL (RM). Evening Grosbeak: numbers increased significantly after Aug 19 at TL (RM). Purple Finch: numerous until Sep 6 at TL and then rather scarce (RM). Pine Grosbeak: over 100 Oct 28 TL (RM); 20 Oct 28 CR (RMc); 40 Nov 12 CR (RMc); 10 Nov 30 Corey’s (MK). Pine Siskin: scarce; 2 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); several Sep 14 Elk L (R&MS). American Goldfinch: max 20 Oct 30 BTP (FL). Red Crossbill: widely reported thru period, usually in flocks of 15-35. Rufous-sided Towhee: 1 Oct 25 TL (RM). Tree Sparrow: first arrivals Oct 15 TL (RM). Chipping Sparrow: 35 transients Sep 22 PS (TM). Field Sparrow: 1 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc). White-crowned Spar¬ row: 60 Oct 13 Wilm (GC); 12 Oct 13 KV (MK). White-throated Sparrow: 12 Aug 19 CR (M&IL, RMc); 1 with bad wing at feeder Nov 30 TL (RM). Fox Spar¬ row: 1 Oct 3 E’town (GC). Lincoln’s Sparrow: arrived Aug 30 E’town (GC). Snow Bunting: first 2 Nov 4 TL (WR). P.O. Box 125, Paul Smiths, New York 12970 REGION 8 HUDSON-MOHAWK Richard E. Philion The latter half of August was characterized by alternating high and low pressure centers which resulted in predominately cloudy conditions over Region 8, but only a trace of rain fell. A low temperature record of 41° was set on the 16th (Albany 61 Airport weather station). This trend continued into September when a cold front swept the area from the 21st till the 25th. Coincident with this front was a notice¬ able wave of thrushes, vireos and warblers cresting perhaps on the 23rd when a new low temperature record of 35° was set. Precipitation for the month was 1.99 inches compared with a monthly normal of 3.58 inches. Thoughts of an Indian Summer dimmed in October as four new low temperature records fell and four more equalled previous low records. The mean temperature for the month was 45°, 5° below normal, while an early frost arrived on the 2nd and a hard freeze occurred on the 21st (17°). Precipitation for the month was 3.60 inches, 0.83 inches above normal with a grand total of 2.61 inches falling on the 7th. Only a trace of rain fell over the next three weeks which may have accounted for the spate of shorebird activity noted at that time. By November the trend was well established as colder than normal temperatures prevailed and the area was greeted with its first severe winter-like storm on the 15th when a total of 17 inches of snow accumulated at the Albany airport. Along with the winter weather an unprecedented invasion of pine grosbeaks is possibly under¬ way, but nearly absent from the landscape are the redpolls and pine siskins which inundated the region last year. Less commonly reported species for the period include Little Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Turkey, Monk Parakeet, White-eyed Vireo, and the first report in 13 years of a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Observers cited are: DA—Doug Allen; WA—W. Applegate; JC—Juanita Cook; CMPY—refers to banders at VFWM—J. Covert, W. D. Merritt, R. J. Pantle, R. P. Yunick; MF—Mabel French; B&HG-B&H. Gardina; A&MG-A&M. Giddings; WG- William Gorman; EH—Esley Hallenbeck; RM—R. McCullough; MM—M. Mickle; PM—P. Mickle Jr.; RP—R. Philion; S&RS—S&R. Silverman; H&BT—H&B. Tullar; M&WU-M&W. Ulmer. Abbreviations: ADBC—Alan Devoe Bird Club; A&B Res—Alcove & Basic Reser- vior; AP—Averill Park; HGRS—Harold G. Reist Sanctuary; HMBC—Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club; T Res—Tomhannock Reservoir. LOONS-DUCKS: Common Loon: 4 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC); 3 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC); 13 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC); 1 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Red-necked Grebe: 1 Nov 5 T Res (RP); 1 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Horned Grebe: 12 Oct 29 T Res (RP); 6 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC). Pied-billed Grebe: 4 Sept 30 Mariaville (HMBC); 2 Nov 5 Reichard’s Lake (RP); 2 Nov 12 T Res (RP). Great Blue Heron: 1 Oct 21 HH (HMBC); 1 Oct 29 T Res (RP). Green Heron: Sept (ADBC); 1 Oct 16 Chatham (A&MG). LITTLE BLUE HERON ; 1 Oct 10 and 14 seen in immature plummage on Muitzeskill Creek (JC). Black-crowned Night Heron: 1 Sept 30 ADBC Sanctuary (WA). American Bittern: 1 Oct 21 Stuyvesant (RP). Canada Goose: flocks of up to 500 toward end of October (ADBC). Snow Goose: 1 Oct 25 Hillsdale (PM Jr). Pintail: 4 Nov 3 Mariaville (DA). Green¬ winged Teal; 12 Oct 29 T Res (RP). American Widgeon: 1 Oct 2, 5, 15, 21 Hud¬ son R (JC), Wood Duck: 3 Sept 30 Mariaville (HMBC); 1 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC). Redhead: 3 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Ring-necked Duck: 12 Nov A&B Res (HMBC). Canvasback: 1 Nov A&B Res (HMBC). Scaup: Oct 15, 18 Chatham (MM); 20 Nov 24 Lake George (RP). Common Goldeneye: 8 Nov 5 T Res (RP); 1 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Bufflehead: 3 Nov 5 T Res (RP); 1 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Oldsquaw: 5 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC); 1 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Common Scoter: up to 80 Oct 15, 16, 19 Queechy Lake (MM); 3 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Ruddy Duck: 2 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC); 15 1st week of Nov Mariaville (DA); 1 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Hooded Merganser: 10 Oct 29 T Res (RP); 12 Nov 5 Res (RP). Common Merganser: Oct 5 Hudson River (JC); max 35 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Red-breasted Merganser: 12 Oct 29 T Res (RP); 4 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). 62 HAWKS-0WLS: Turkey Vulture: 1 Sept 5, 11, 22 Chatham & Ghent (H&BT) (B&HG); Nov (ADBC). Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 Oct 21 Hudson Highlands (HMBC); Nov (ADBC), Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 Sept 6 & 29 Chatham (H&BT). Broad-winged Hawk: 1 Sept 24 Chatham (H&BT); 1 late report Nov 14 Chatham (H&BT). Rough-legged Hawk: 1 Nov 23 Easton (RP). BALD EAGLE : 2 adult on Hudson River above Warrensburg and an immature on Schroon River near Warrensburg (Browers & Camerons); 1 unidentified eagle flying south on Oct 18 (MM). Marsh Hawk: 1 Oct 9, 29 Chatham & Castleton (A&MG, JC, M&WU). Osprey: Ifm 1 Oct 23 Merwin Pd (M&WU). American Coot: 1 Sept 22 Chatham (H&BT); 5 Nov 16 Ooms Pond (MM). TURKEY : 1 Nov 28 Ghent (B&HG). American Woodcock: max 12 Oct 29 feeding on shores of Galway Lake (RM & EH). Common Snipe: thru period. Spotted Sandpiper: lfm 1 Oct 5 Castleton (JC). Greater Yellowlegs: max 13 Oct 20 Rensselaer (RP); lfm 1 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Lesser Yellowlegs: 1 Oct 19 Mariaville (DA); 3 Oct 21 Stuyvesant (RP). Pectoral Sandpiper: 1 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC). White-rumped Sandpiper: 1 Nov A&B Res (HMBC). Dunlin: 12 Oct 24, 29 T Res (RP); lfm 7 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC). Semipalmated Sandpiper: max 6 Oct 24 and lfm 1 Nov 5 T Res (RP). Black¬ billed Cuckoo: 1 banded Sept 9 VFWM (CMPY); 1 Oct 6 Chatham (M&WR). Barred Owl: 1 Nov (ADBC). Screech Owl: 1 Oct 4 Chatham (M&WR); 1 Oct 22 Ap (RP). Great Horned Owl: 1 lost from banding net on Sept 24 VFWM (CMPY); 1 Nov 12 East Greenbush (WG). Saw-whet Owl: 1 banded Oct 22 VFWM (CMPY). GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Chimney Swift: 2 Aug 26 HGRS (HMBC). Common Nighthawk: 2 Sept 12 Mariaville (DA). Rubythroated Hummingbird: much scarcer at VFWM this year with 32 banded vs 96 last year; lfm 9 Sept 23 banded at VFWM (CMPY). MONK PARAKEET: min 2 from late summer thru Nov Niskayana; description of bird and nest given to RPY. Red-headed Woodpecker: 1 Oct 10 Mariaville (DA). Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: 1 Nov 11 near Rock City Falls (Mildred D. Crory); 1 Nov 12 thru 26 Albany (LT). Eastern Kingbird: lfm 1 Oct 10 East Greenbush (WG). Great Crested Flycatcher: lfm 1 banded Sept 15 VFWM (CMPY). Eastern Phoebe: lfm 1 Nov 12 East Greenbush (WG). Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: lfm 1 Sept 30 ADBC Sanctuary (WA). Traill’s Flycatcher: lfm 1 Sept 9 banded VFWM (CMPY). Least Flycatcher: max 7 banded Sept 9 and lfm 1 Sept 23 VFWM (CMPY). Eastern Wood Pewee: lfm Sept 11 Chatham (B&HT). Olive-sided Flycatcher: lfm 1 Sept 15, 17 Mariaville & Thatcher Pk (DA). Tree Swallow: lfm Oct 10 Ghent (B&HG). Rough-winged Swallow: lfm 1 Sept 11 Chatham (H&BT). Cliff Swallow; lfm 1 Sept 12 Ghent (B&HG). Tufted Titmouse: reported thru period. House Wren: lfm 1 Oct 1 (H&BT). Winter Wren: “Increase noted at VFWM—30 banded vs 13 last year and max of 18 in 1969” (RPY). Brown Creeper: thru period. Long-billed Marsh Wren: 6 Sept 17 BCM (DA). Mockingbird: scattered reports thru period. Catbird: max 49 banded Sept 23 VFWM; lfm 1 banded Oct 15 (CMPY). Brown Thrasher: lfm 1 Oct 15 Chatham (A&MG). Robin: “increase over last year at VFWM” (RPY); 300 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC). Wood Thrush: “New max of 52 banded at VFWM vs 38 last” (RPY); lfm 1 Oct 15 Castleton (H&BT). Hermit Thrush: “scarcer than last year at VFWM—35 vs 60” (RPY); lfm 3 banded Oct 22 VFWM (CMPY). Swainson’s Thrush: “2nd highest at VFWM 109 vs 132 last year” (RPY); lfm 6 banded Sept 30 (CMPY). Gray-cheeked-Thrush: “only 1 at VFWM vs 4 in 1971” (RPY); lfm 1 banded Sept 30 (CMPY). Veery: much reduced—only 10 banded vs 23 last year; lfm 1 Oct 9 Castleton (JC). Eastern Bluebird: best reports in years; 10 Oct 22 Mariaville (DA); max 35 Sept 17 along roadside in Glenville (RM & EH); lfm 1 Oct 30 Ghent (Stephen Scanned). Golden-crowned Kinglet: 6 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC); 8 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: “new max of 45 banded at VFWM” (RPY). Water Pipit: 1 Oct 24 S Schodack (JC); 25 Nov 2 63 Castleton (JC). Cedar Waxwing: “scarce at VFWM only 18 banded vs 149 in 1971” (RPY); max 50 Oct 21 Hudson Highlands (HMBC). Northern Shrike: 1 Nov 26 Ghent (B&HG). VIREOS—WARBLERS: Vireos: WHITE-EYED: 1 Aug 16 Hillsdale (S&RS). Yellow-throated: lfm 1 Sept 17 Altamont (DA). Solitary: lfm 2 banded Oct 15 VFWM (CMPY). Red-eyed: “greatly reduced at VFWM, only 23 banded vs 90 in 1971” (RPY); lfm 2 banded Sept 23 VFWM (CMPY) and 1 ADBC Sanctuary (WA). Philadelphia: “reduced from 15 in 1971 to 7 this year” (RPY); lfm 1 banded Sept 30 VFWM (CMPY). Warbling: 2 banded at VFWM vs 9 last year; lfm 1 Sept 16 banded at VFWM (CMPY). Warblers: Black-and-white: lfm 1 Oct 12 freshly killed West Sand Lake (RP). Tennessee: lfm 1 banded Sept 23 VFWM (CMPY). Nashville: lfm 1 banded Oct 14 VFWM (CMPY), Yellow: an unusually late date 1 Oct 13 Chatham (H&BT). Magnolia: “new max 64 vs 52 last year VFWM” (RPY); lfm 3 Oct 1 Mariaville (DA). Cape May: max 10 Sept 8 Maria- ville (DA); lfm 1 Oct 3 ibid. Black-throated Blue: lfm 1 banded Sept 29 VFWM (CMPY). Myrtle: “scarcer than previous years—14 banded vs 35 1971” (RPY); max 50 Sept 30 Mariaville HMBC (DA); lfm 1 Oct 30 AP (RP). Black-throated Green: max 15 Sept 8 Mariaville (DA); lfm 1 Oct 4 Ghent (B&HG). Black¬ burnian: 5 Aug 26 HGRS (HMBC). Chestnut-sided: lfm 1 Oct 9 Castleton (JC)> Bay-breasted: 6 Sept 8 Mariaville (DA). Blackpoll: “reduced to normal levels at VFWM—8 banded vs 208 last year” (RPY); lfm 15 Sept 8 Mariaville (DA). Pine: lfm 1 Nov 16 seen at suet feeder Castleton (JC). Prairie: reported Sept (M&WU). Palm: lfm 1 Oct 5 Ghent (B&HG). Ovenbird: “new max of 19 vs 15 at VFWM banding” (RPY); lfm 1 Oct 9 Castleton (JC). Northern Waterthrush: “36 banded at VFWM lowest in 5 years” (RPY); lfm 1 Sept 22 VFWM (CMPY). Mourning: lfm 1 Sept 30 Mariaville (HMBC). Yellowthroat: lfm 2 banded Oct 22 VFWM (CMPY). Wilsons: normal at VFWM. Canada: lfm 2 Sept 23 VFWM (CMPY). American Redstart: “scarcest in 4 years—9 banded vs 17 in 1971” (RPY); lfm 1 banded Sept 23. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Eastern Meadowlark: 4 Nov 30 Mariaville (DA). YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD : 1 Nov 27 Loudonville a female seen feeding among a flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds (MF). Baltimore Oriole: lfm 1 Sept 17 Ghent (B&HG). Rusty Blackbird: large flocks Oct 14 Chatham (H&BT). Scarlet Tanager: lfm 2 banded Sept 23 VFWM (CMPY). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 5 banded Sept 23 VFWM (CMPY); lfm 1 Oct 8 Castleton (JC). Indigo Bunting: lfm 1 Sept 26 Ghent (B&HG). Evening Grosbeak: reported from mid-September but heard continuously thru October; early Nov at many feeders. Purple Finch: “late nesting produced abundant crop by late summer — total of 633 banded; mi¬ grants appeared in mid Oct then became scarce' ’(RPY). House Finch: no longer considered a rarity in our region; several at feeder in Scotia Nov (DA); thru Nov Kinderhook (K. Endres). Common Redpoll: very scarce 1 report of 30 Nov 14 Chatham (MM). Pine Grosbeak: ffm 3 Nov 12 AP (RP); small numbers at Jenny Lake Nov 18 becoming more abundant thereafter (RPY). Red Crossbill: “summer’s abundance dispersed by Aug, heard in modest numbers thereafter; very common in flight overhead in Nov” (RPY); ffm Sept 8 Ghent (B&HG). White-winged Cross¬ bill: 1 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC). Rufous-sided Towhee: lfm 1 Oct 7 East Greenbush (WG). Savannah Sparrow: lfm 1 Oct 3 Ghent (B&HG). Vesper Sparrow: lfm 1 Nov 5 A&B Res (HMBC). Slate-colored Junco: early movement noted. Chipping Sparrow: lfm 1 Nov 17 at feeder Albany (LT). Tree Sparrow: ffm 2 Oct 21 HMBC. Field Sparrow: 1 Oct 21 Hudson Highlands (HMBC). White-crowned Sparrow: 1 Sept 23 ADBC Sanctuary (WA); 1 banded Oct 15 & 22 VFWM (CMPY). White-throated Sparrow: “total of 520 this year vs 844 last year but new 1 day max of 221 on Oct 14 between 3 pm and dark.” (RPY). Fox Sparrow: 1 banded Oct 22 VFWM (CMPY); 1 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Lincoln’s Sparrow: 64 lfm 2 banded Sept 30 VFWM (CMPY). Swamp Sparrow: “scarcest in 8 years at VFWM” (CMPY). Snow Bunting: very scarce 1 Nov 18 T Res (HMBC). Edgewood Dr. Averill Park, N.Y. 12018 REGION 9 — DELAWARE-HUDSON Edward D. Treacy August and September were dryer than usual, but by the time October and especially November had passed, all records for the latter month had been broken. In the Ulster area, 11.08 in. were recorded in November. The temperature cooled as expected with killing frosts coming late in September. Precipitation came largely on the weekends keeping many birders at home. For many watchers, however, the conclusion was largely an uneventful season. Some flights were poorer than expected. Hawks were down, and most passerines were lower than usual. Certain exceptions were encountered as the report will show. The increase of House Finches in the Poughkeepsie area has led some Waterman Bird. Club people to suggest a study of competition between them and the House Sparrow which seems to be down in areas common to both. Observers cited: RFD—Robert F. Deed; FG—Florence Germond; CFH—Charles F. Hills; WH—William Howe; AJ—Alice Jones; JK—Jerome Kerner; MJK—Mary & Jim Key; HM-Helen Manson; KDN-Ken & Dan Niven; JCO-John C. Orth; EP- Eleanor Pink; RP—Dr. Robert Pyle; WTS—William & Trixie Strauss; EDT—Edward D. Treacy; MVW—Marion VanWagner. Abbreviations: mob—many observers; Dutch—Dutchess Co.; Oran—Orange Co.; Rock—Rockland Co.; Sull—Sullivan Co.; Ulst—Ulster Co.; West—Westchester Co.; WBC—Waterman Bird Club; Pok—Poughkeepsie. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 Oct 17 L Tiorati; 3 Oct 21 Rondout Res; 3 Sept 24 Bedford; 2 Nov 23 Croton Pt; more than usual. Horned Grebe: more than usual; first Oct 8 Kiamesha L. Double-crested Cormorant: only 1 Nov 20 Croton Pt. (WH). Great Blue Heron: numbers good late Aug; tapered off to end of period. Little Blue Heron: only 1 Sept 11 Hackensack Cr at West Nyack (Dave Hill & Eric Single); Bob Deed reports this the second record in 10 yrs for what was once “the most common of the white herons in Rock.” Snowy Egret: 13 Aug 17 Croton Pt, decreased to 3 Aug 25, remained till Sept 4 (WH). Black-crowned Night Heron: 1 Sept 1 Dutch (MJK). Yellow-crowned Night Heron: 1 Aug 10-16 Pok (MJK). Mute Swan: only report 2 ad and 4 imm at Iona Is; species refuses to spread northward into Oran. Canada Goose: excellent flight starting in late Aug and continuing to mid-Oct. Snow Goose: good movement; 250 Oct 25 Wawarsing (JCO); 300 Oct 28 Millbrook; 5000 Oct 30 Pok (AJ); 95 Nov 4 Verbank; 150 Nov 6 Pok; 1 Nov 26 Millbrook. Blue Goose: an unprecedented 50 Nov 6 Pok (AJ, MJK, MVW). Gadwall: rare, 1 Nov 25 Tarrytown Res (WH). Pintail: un¬ common but regular; 3 Oct 18 Tamarack Sw; 1 Oct 25 Amenia (WTS). Green¬ winged Teal: 1 early date of Aug 23 Croton Pt (WH); normal to better fall move¬ ment. Blue-winged Teal: summers in small numbers; 5 Aug 23 Croton Pt (WH); max 44 Sept 16 Monticello (KDN). American Widgeon: good numbers on L Tiorati from mid-Nov to mid-Dec (JCO); reported most other parts in Nov. Shov- eler: only 1 Oct 1 Rockland L. Wood Duck: down in Palisades Park but normal elsewhere; max 40 Oct 19 at Norrie Pt, Dutch (HM). Redhead: always rare; only report 3 Nov 1-6 Clove Valley, Dutch. Ring-necked Duck: 21 thru Nov in Dutch, all inland from Hudson R. Canvasback: numbers good on Hudson thru Nov; nothing like the thousands of a decade or two ago; ab 100 off Iona Is and Jones Pt and 65 another 100 off Dutch in the Hudson. Greater Scaup: ab 40 thru Nov on the Hudson off Dutch; 20 Nov 20 Croton Pt. Lesser Scaup: 3 Nov 10 Barrytown; 6 Nov 25 Tarrytown Res. Common Goldeneye: very few, all late Nov. Bufflehead: 18 Nov 5 Tarrytown Res; 35 Nov 23 same place; 6 Nov 13 Kiamesha L only 12 reported in Dutch thru Nov. Oldsquaw: 6 Oct 19 flying N up Hudson in Dutch (HM, AJ); 2 Nov 4 Pine Plains (EP, MVW); 1 Nov 10 Barrytown (MJK). White-winged Scoter: only a few; 5 Oct 19 were being hunted on Hudson off Dutch as observers watched (AJ, HM). Surf Scoter: 4 Oct 19 Kiamesha L. Common Scoter: rare, 6 reports from Oct 8-Nov 15; max 65 Oct 19 Kiamesha L (KDN). Ruddy Duck: only reports, all early Nov. Hooded Merganser: arr Oct 10 Rockland L; remained thru end of period. Common Merganser: first Oct 27 Hudson R off Dutch; numbers good on L Tiorati from mid-Nov to mid-Dec. Red-breasted Merganser: only report 2 Nov 20 Croton Pt (WH). HAWKS-OWLS: Hook Mt Hawk Watch Mt Peter Hawk Watch 55 days Sept 4 — Oct 31 37 days Sept 4 — Oct 29 reported by E & L Mills reported by R Rogers Total Max Total Max Goshawk 30 4 Oct 19 & 20 4 3 Oct 10 Sharp-sh 1660 213 Sept 23 469 116 Oct 14 Cooper’s 44 8 Sept 23 31 7 Oct 14 R-tailed 252 44 Oct 23 202 55 Oct 15 R-shouldered 48 9 Oct 16 9 4 Oct 15 B-winged 1127 500 Sept 15 7158 1547 Sept 16 Gold Eagle 2 1 imm Oct 18, ad Sept 28 1 1 Oct 9 Bald Eagle 1 1 ad Sept 10 2 1 Sept 17, Oct 13 Unident Eagle 1 1 Marsh 102 17 Sept 15 33 5 Oct 14 Osprey 120 25 Sept 20 89 13 Sept 19 Peregrine 6 3 Pigeon 7 4 2 Oct 15 316 38 jSept 23 168 25 Oct 13 Unident. 58 66 Total 3774 8241 inc 1 . Rough-legged Turkey Vulture: usual good numbers; lingered late into Nov with 3 Nov 3 Stand- fordville; 1 Nov 6 Fishkill Plains. Goshawk: 1 Oct 21 Sackett L (KDN); 1 killed at Millbrook School in Oct when it flew into cage containing ducks; 1 Oct 31 Hunn’s L (MK et al); 9 Nov 6 Hook Mt; 15 Nov 16 Hook Mt (Ed & Lana Mills). Sharp- shinned Hawk: 40 Sept 23 Mt Aspetong, Bedford; 16 Sept 24 same place (WH). Red-tailed Hawk: max 70 Oct 30 Dutchess Hill near Pok (WBC). Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 Aug 20 over Tappan Zee Bridge toll booths (RFD); WBC reports 3 in Oct and 3 in Nov. Broad-winged Hawk: 3 very late date of Oct 21 New Paltz (CFH). Rough-legged Hawk: more than usual; first Oct 5 & 6 in Dutch; usual widely scattered few thru end of period. Bald Eagle: 3 Oct 17 at Mongaup Res, Sull (KDN), will probably spend the winter; on Sept 10 Alan Heinsohn of Valley Cottage obs 4, (2 ad) over his boat on the Tappan Zee; only 1 bird reported from nearby Hook Mt that date. Marsh Hawk: usual scattered reports thru season. Pere¬ grine Falcon: 1 Sept 4 Croton Pt (WH). Pigeon Hawk: 1 Oct 14 Wawarsing (JCO). Ruffed Grouse: particularly scarce about Mohonk L (Dan Smiley); would appear 66 down elsewhere as well. Pheasant: 3 Ring-necked with 1 Green in Oct near Tama¬ rack, Dutch. CHUKAR: 2 thru Nov at the feeder of Dr. and Mrs James Walton, Middletown (mob); WBC reports 1 Oct 1 and another Oct 27; 9-10 were reported in Nov in Dutch. ST'ANLEY’S CRANE: the bird in last report remained a week and left by mid-Sept. Coot; 60 Oct 17 Neversink Res (JK). Semipalmated Plover: first Aug 15 Croton Pt; inc to 3 by Aug 21; 2 Sept 2—11 Fallkill Pk L; 3 Oct 1 Red Oaks Mill. Solitary Sandpiper: only reports 3 Aug 21-25 Croton Pt. Greater Yellow- legs: a few more than usual; last Nov 6 near Middletown. Lesser Yellowlegs: a few more than usual; last Nov 6 near Middletown. Lesser Yellowlegs: very few; last Oct 21 Cruger’s Is. Pectoral Sandpiper; first Sept 22 Rondout Res; last 8 Oct 20-21 Beaver Dan, Dutch. White-rumped Sandpiper: 2 Oct 20 Kiamesha L (KDN); 1 Oct 20-27 Beaver Dam, Dutch; second record for Dutch; last report 1925. BAIRD’S SANDPIPER : obs almost daily thru Sept at Fallkill, Dutch (AJ). Dunlin: 1 Oct 20-27 Beaver Dam, Dutch (mob); 6 Oct 28 Kiamesha L (KDN). Semipalmated Sandpiper: max 100 Aug 23 Croton Pt; 1 still there Nov 4 (WH) .BUFF¬ BREASTED SANDPIPER : 1 Oct 1-11 Fallkill (AJ, mob), first record for Dutch. Bonaparte’s Gull: first Sept 6 Cornwall Bay; 3 same place Sept 9 (EDT); 1 Oct 9 Swan L, Sull (KDN): 1 Oct 29 Ashokan Res (RP). Black Tern: only report 1 Sept 2 Mud Pd, Dutch (KG, EP). Mourning Dove: continues plentiful. MONK PARA¬ KEET: 1 Jun-end of period at Middletown, obs feeding on pears (John Tramon¬ tane). Black-billed Cuckoo: only report 1 Sept 2 Thompson Pd, Dutch. Great Horned Owl: usual reports from Dutch and Oran; 1 Nov 23 Croton Pt. Barred Owl: 1 Aug 18 Claryville, Sull; 2 Sept reports from Dutch. Longeared Owl: heard night of Nov 12 near Kripplebush (Fred Hough). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Common Nighthawk: less than usual; only 4 small flocks noted in mig from last week of Aug thru first week of Sept. Chimney Swift: last 2 Oct 16 Dutch. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: max 6 Sept 15 at Clinton Corners, Dutch (Homer Germond); last Oct 12 Rondout Res (JK). Red-bellied Woodpecker: several persist now for several years at Ridgebury, Oran; 1 Nov 3 Clove Valley; at least 8 birds reported from Dutch from Oct thru Nov. Red-headed Woodpecker: 1 Sept 22 Palisades Park near Bear Mt.; 1 Nov 19 Millbrook. Sap- sucker: very few; last Nov 22-23 Tarrytown Res. Phoebe: last Nov 1 Wawarsing (JCO). Empidonax Flycatchers: excellent movement into Oct; sev species men¬ tioned by observers but no identifying features to substantiate. Wood Pewee: reg thru Sept in Dutch; last Oct 8 Stormville. Olive-sided Flycatcher: very few; 1 Aug 31 Green Haven; 1 Sept 5 Mine Rd USMA .Horned Lark: good numbers late Oct in Dutch; max 37 Nov 4 Croton Pt. Tree Swallow: heavy movement south Aug 26; 500 Sept 23 Pine Plains. Cliff Swallow: good numbers Aug 25-27 at Wawarsing (JCO). Common Crow: at least 2000 at Hudson R State Hospital by end of Oct. Fish Crow: obs thru Sept at Vassar Coll and Hudson R State Hosp; another Sept 30 at New Paltz. BOREAL CHICKADEE: only report 1 Oct 28 Anthony’s Nose (Sam Yeaton). Red-breasted Nuthatch: more than usual esp in Dutch where they were they appeared to outnumber White-breasteds by 3:2. Winter Wren; better than usual. Carolina Wren: numbers coming back; widely scattered reports. Mock¬ ingbird: continues to increase. Catbird: last Nov 24 Gedney Brook Sanct. Brown Thrasher: last Nov 20 Tarrytown Res. Robin: very large flocks thru mid Oct in Dutch. Hermit Thrush: more Oct reports than usual. Swainson’s Thrush: 1 Oct 1; 2 Oct 2; 1 Oct 9 (JMK). Gray-cheeked Thrush: 1 very early bird Aug 21 Red Oaks Mill (JMK); 1 Sept 13-14 same place (JMK). Bluebird: good fall movement in mid-Oct everywhere except Ulst WBC; Bluebird nesting project had 18 successful nesting out of 42 started, 70 young were realized. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: max 30 Oct 19 Suffem. Pipit: no large flocks reported but found in usual locations in mid- Oct. Cedar Waxwing: excellent numbers thru season; many flocks of considerable size. Northern Shrike: 1 Oct 31 Ponderosa, Dutch (MVW et al). 67 VIREOS—WARBLERS: Solitary Vireo: unusually late with first 3 Sept 28. Phila¬ delphia Vireo: 3 Dutch reports, last Sept 10. Warbling Vireo: resident in Nyack started singing Aug 28 after almost 3 month of silence (RFD). Warblers: numbers not spectacular but several early dates were recorded in the Pok area by MJK. They are: Tennessee: Aug 22,30. Magnolia: Aug 22,23. Cape May: Aug 21. Black- throated Blue: Aug 23,29,31. Blackburnian: Aug 20,30. Bay-breasted: Aug 21,27, 29. Blackpoll: Aug 25. Pine: Aug 14-19. Wilson’s: Aug 27,30. Canada: Aug 24, 25,27,29. Tennessee: 1 very late date of Nov 22 Millbrook (MVW). Chat: 1 Nov 12 Pine Plains (Thelma Haight). YELLOW-THRO AT ED WARBLER: 1 Sept 30 Pok (AJ). Mourning Warbler: 3 Sept reports in Dutch; 1 Sept 7-8; 1 Sept 13; 1 Sept 20. Connecticut Warbler: 1 Sept 19 Basherkill (EDT); another Sept 22 Red Oaks Mill (MJK). Pine Warbler: 2 Sept 23—25 in Dutch. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: usual large flocks and dates for Redwings, Grackles and Rusty Blackbirds, the latter was esp numerous in mid-Oct. Indigo Bunting: 2 ad, 1 imm Sept 5 Mine Rd USMA (EDT). DICKCISSEL : 1 Oct 27 Amenia (JMK); another possibly the same bird Oct 28—30 (WTS). Evening Grosbeak re¬ ported from all parts by end of Oct; first Millbrook Oct 10; very heavy movement from Oct 18 on; max 590 Oct 28 Dutchess Hill near Pok. Purple Finch: better than in recent years; WBC reports some areas where there are twice as many as House Finches. The latter continues to increase. Pine Grosbeak: 8 Oct 30 near Pok (JMK); good numbers most areas by end of period. Pine Siskin: 15 Oct 21 near New Paltz (CFH); Nov brought more scattered reports. Goldfinch: usual numbers. Red Cross¬ bill: 85 Oct 21 New Paltz; 10 Oct 26 over Millbrook School; 10 Oct 28 Dutchess Hill near Pok; 30 Oct 27 Millbrook; 13 Nov 5 Tarrytown Res; more than 70 Nov 20 Pocantico Res, Briarcliff (WH). White-winged Crossbill: 10 Oct 21 New Paltz (CFH). Slate-colored Junco: first 1 Sept 9 killed on Rt 218 Storm King Mt (EDT); normal thru Oct. Tree Sparrow: first Oct 27 Dutch. Chipping Sparrow: remain in good numbers thru Oct in Dutch; last Oct 22 (MVW). White-crowned Sparrow: 6 reports, all mid to late Oct. Lincoln’s Sparrow: first Sept 16; 1 Oct 2; 2 Oct 4 all Dutch; 1 Oct 21 on Cruger’s Is sang 3 times (CFH). Snow Bunting: 1 Oct 30 Dutchess Hill (AJ); 8 Nov 2 Kiamesha L (KDN); a small flock near New Paltz Nov 22 (RP); 30 Nov 18 Freedom Plains, Dutch. Winter Reports due no later than Apr 5 Pellwood Lake, Highland Falls, N.Y. 10928 REGION 10 —MARINE Thomas H. Davis and Lee Morgan Cox’s Ledge, a marine formation lying 40 miles ESE of Montauk Point, remains the prime focus of local birders intent on finding pelagics. To date, 10 trips have yielded a total of 61 species, many of these being wind-drifted migrants. This fall, groups of birders visited the ledge on August 19 and September 23. The “early” trip on August 19 recorded a meager 12 species: 1 Common Loon, 12 Greater Shearwaters, 4 Cory’s Shearwaters, 500+ Wilson’s Petrels, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Sanderling, 1 Northern Phalarope, 1 Pomarine Jaeger, 8 Great Black-backed Gulls, 85 Herring Gulls, 4 Common Terns and a Black Tern (PB, TD et al). One of the petrels was an aberrant, showing an all white rump and tail from above, and a clearly de¬ marcated white breast and belly—a strange bird, but almost certainly a Wilson’s by its size and manner of flight. Falling temperatures and northwest winds preceding the “late” trip on September 23 contributed to an astounding total of 35 species recorded at sea: 115 Greater 68 Shearwaters, 50 Cory’s Shearwaters, 1 MANX SHEARWATER (following the boat with other shearwaters for half an hour, photographed by PA and JT), 17 Wilson’s Petrels (the local late date is September 29), 7 Double-crested Cormorants, 1 Green-winged Teal, 10 Black Scoters, 1 Pigeon Hawk (carrying a dead passerine in its talons), 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 1 Red Phalarope, 2 Northern Phalaropes, 15 Pomarine Jaegers (in every conceivable plumage, harassing shearwaters and gulls in close proximity to the boat), 1 Parasitic Jaeger, 10 Great Black-backed Gulls, 100 + Herring Gulls, 1 Laughing Gull, an adult Black-legged Kittiwake (an extreme¬ ly early record), 2 Common Terns, 2 Mourning Doves, 1 Yellow-shafted Flicker, 1 Tree Swallow, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, (it landed on the boat’s antenna mast), 1 Brown Thrasher, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Philadelphia Vireo, 2 Myrtle War¬ blers, 1 Blackpoll Warbler, 2 American Yellowthroats, 1 American Redstart, 9 War¬ bler sp., 1 Baltimore Oriole, 1 Purple Finch, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 2 Slate-colored Juncos, 1 Chipping Sparrow and a White-throated Sparrow (Peter Alden, TD, GK, MK, Ben and Joanne Trimble et al). During the early morning virtually all the migrants were noted flying non-stop in a NW direction, perhaps towards Block Island. It was midday before a trickle of birds began landing on our vessel. Four of these birds were caught by hand for later release at Montauk—a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a Myrtle Warbler, a Chipping Sparrow, and a White-throated Sparrow. Upon their capture, each bird was visually checked for fat deposits and all appeared to have depleted their reserves. Had they not been able to land on our boat all would probably have perished—one can only guess at the numbers of drifted migrants lost at sea in this process of natural selection. The more notable rarities included in this report are Manx Shearwater, Fulvous Tree-Duck, Sage Thrasher, Yellow-headed Blackbird and Boat-tailed Grackle. New highs were recorded for Common Eider and Red-breasted Nuthatch, while Cliff Swallow, Blackburnian Warbler and Summer Tanager set new departure dates. Contributors frequently cited: HRA—Harold and Rachel Axtell; PB—Paul Buckley; BC—Barbara Conolly; TD—Thomas Davis; GK—Georges Kleinbaum; MK—Michel Kleinbaum; PL—Paul Lehman; EL—Emanuel Levine; RP—Robert Paxton; DP—Den¬ nis Puleston; BS—Barbara Spencer; HT—Helene Tetrault; CW—Cornelius Ward; JY—John Yrizarry. LOONS—DUCKS: Cattle Egret: Oct 10 Tobay (BC). Louisiana Heron: individ¬ uals lingered at both JBWR (mob) and Oak Beach marsh (PB) through the period —further details in next season’s report. FULVOUS TREE-DUCK: 11 Nov 13-19 North Hills (Alex Summers, TD, PB, BS, et al)—seen with semi-wild Mallards on a pond at the Links Golf Course, photographed by Davis Finch this constitutes the 8th Regional record—not noted locally since the fall of 1966. European Widgeon: 5 individuals reported—Oct 7 JBWR (fide BS); 2 Oct 17 through period at South- haven County pk (DP et al); Oct 29 through period at Babylon (TD et al); Nov 24 Hook Pond (PL et al). Tufted Duck: drake Nov 25 through period at Belmont Lake State Pk (M. Gochfeld et al) —probably same bird as present here last winter. Harlequin Duck: female arr Nov 17 at Montauk Pt (PB, RP) —extremely early. Com¬ mon Eider: big explosion in numbers at Montauk Pt this fall—arr there on Oct 16 (6), 200 to 400 on Nov 7 (PB, RP), increasing to 500+ by Nov 24 (PL et al) — previous arrival dates were Nov 2, 4 and 8 to . . ., previous high was 200 on Nov 16, 1969. HAWKS—OWLS: Golden Eagle: Oct 15 Jones (CW). Goshawk: the largest numbers ever were recorded inland this fall, a fact mirrored only in part along the coast; individuals were reported from JBWR to Montauk Pt; about a dozen birds were noted in the intensively birded Jones Beach area, according to C. Ward and others; Ward reported 3 birds at Jones one day in November, “which equals the total number of Goshawks I’ve seen there in the last 20 years.” Buff—breasted 69 Sandpiper: Sep 2 Jones (EL, CW)—the only one reported this fall. American Avocet: Aug 17-30 Tobay Pond (mob). Snowy Owl: Nov 23 JFK Airport (R. Cohen)—the only report. Saw-whet Owl: Fire Island Light banding station totals (D. Ford, PB et al)—11 on Oct 26, 6 on Nov 4, max of 12 on Nov 11, 4 on Nov 17, 5 on Nov 18, 7 on Nov 19. GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Common Nighthawk: max 300-400 between 1930- 2045 hours on Aug 29 at Bronx Pk (E. Maguire). Red-headed Woodpecker: max recorded on Oct 14—an adult at Tobay, and immatures at Jones Beach, Fire Island, and Montauk Pt (mob). Hairy Woodpecker: max 7 on Oct 26 at Fire Island Light (RP)—an extraordinary number for the coast. Western Kingbird: about 11 indi¬ viduals were noted this season, all from Long Island. Least Flycatcher: collected Oct 14 at Fire Island Light (TD) —specimen to AMNH, previous late records are “. .. to Oct 4, Oct 9, 1965, and Nov 8, 1970.” Cliif Swallow: Oct 15 Riis Pk (R. Pasquier)—latest Regional record. Blue Jay: max 1000+ in 45 minutes on Sep 24 at Garvies Pt (Al Bell). Red-breasted Nuthatch: max 300 Sep 23 at Owl’s Head Pk and Riis Pk (R. Claremont et al)—highest Regional count. SAGE THRASHER: Oct 22 Jones Beach State Pk (PL et al). Northern Shrike: imm Oct 27 Fire Island (PB)—extremely early; Nov 23 Jones Beach State Pk (CW); imm Nov 26 through period at JBWR (R. Harrison et al). VIREOS-WARBLERS: Cape May Warbler: 3 Aug 20 JBWR (EL)-early, but this species has been increasing dramatically the last few years, especially along the coast in the fall. Blackburnian Warbler: Nov 3 Lake Ronkonkoma (R. Welch) — well described, the latest Regional record by several days. Kentucky Warbler: banded Oct 1 Manorville (G. Raynor)—extremely late. Hooded Warbler: male Oct 9 Montauk Pt (JY, HT)— extremely late. American Redstart: Nov 7 JBWR (TD); Nov 16 North Hills (F. File et al); imm female banded Nov 19 Brookhaven (DP) —generally rare after October. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Yellow-headed Blackbird: “adult male” Oct 15 Larchmont (PL et al)—“seen in flight.” “Icterus sp.”: an oriole seen as close as 35 feet at Montauk Pt on Nov 29 was termed a Bullock’s (HRA)—at the close of a 2 pp. close-spaced typewritten report the observers state that “there was no tendency toward intermediate or hybrid coloration. Within the report, however, they mention that the “upper tail coverts had a still smaller area of still duller yellowish” (than the under tail coverts); in your editors’ experience with museum specimens, Balti- mores tend to have rumps that are paler than their backs, tinged with yellow or yellow-orange, while Bullock’s Orioles tend to have rumps concolor with their backs or a slightly paler shade of gray-brown; this is not to say that this bird was not a “pure” Bullock’s, but the chance of its being a hybrid cannot be ruled out. BOAT- TAILED GRACKLE : female Oct 14 Montauk Pt (HRA)—other than the bird which repeated for several years at Far Rockaway, this is the only the 3rd State record, both observers are familiar with the species. Summer Tanager: first year male Nov 24-Dec 2 Montauk Pt (mob) —frequented the pine grove near the Point; photographs by M. Aronson were examined at the Dec 12 Linnaean Society meeting by the editors and others, and confirmed as being of this species; this is the latest Regional record by over a month. Blue Grosbeak: 2 reports—Sep 7 Riis Pk (H. Fischer) and Oct 9 Montauk Pt (JY, HT). Dickcissel: arr Aug 19 at Jones (S. Dempsey, EL). Pine Grosbeak: a total of 9 individuals were noted on the coast—Nov 1 Fire Island Light (PB); 2 Nov 4 Fire Island Light (D. Ford); 2 Nov 16 Fire Island Light (PB, RP); Nov 23 Jones (CW); 3 Nov 27 Riis Pk (R, Veit). Pine Siskin: arr Oct 9 at Jones Beach State Pk (TD); max 50 + Nov 16 Fire Island Light (PB, RP). American Goldfinch: max 1000 Nov 16 Fire Island Light (PB, RP). Red Crossbill: max 300 Nov 7 Fire Island Light (fide PB); 60 Nov 4 Riis Pk (H. McGuiness) —the only other reports were of small flocks of 70 10—20 individuals during Nov along the coast. White-winged Crossbill: 8 Nov 16 Fire Island Light (PB, RP)—this seasons only report. Clay-colored Sparrow: netted and banded at Brookhaven on Oct 31 (DP). Snow Bunting: max 1000+ Nov 18 at West End, Jones Beach State Pk (BC)—an extremely high count for so early a date. Note: Please send spring reports by June 8. Thomas H. Davis, 9446 85th Road, Woodhaven, New York 11421 Lee Morgan, 4 Windsor Lane, East Northport, New York 11731 1973 FEDERATION ANNUAL MEETING Small cabins of native wood and lodges with rooms lined with the rarest of veneers sit side by side. The Forstmann Estate, acquired by the YMCA from the Forstmann woolen industry family, is in the heart of the Catskill Forest Preserve. Biscuit Brook’s crystal clear waters begin at over 3,000 feet beneath a moss-carpeted and leaf-littered hardwood forest falling rapidly to 2,000 feet as it cuts through our camp. The N.Y.S. Federation of Bird Clubs will convene at this “Frost Valley YMCA,” May 18-20, for its annual meeting. The YMCA facility, at the base of Doubletop Mountain, often serves as a site for environmental education programs. The Sullivan County Audubon Society, in coopera¬ tion with the YMCA, expect to make this one of your most memorable weekends. Tentatively, only two long (time or distance) field trips are planned; one to Slide Mountain — the highest of the Catskills and the chance to glimpse an elusive thrush; and a second to the Basherkill previously described in the May 1972 Kingbird. All other trips will take place on the many trails in the vicinity of camp. We expect that the weekend’s bird data collected by Federation members and collated by the Sullivan County Audubon Society will add to later programs of this fine environ¬ mental education center. The costs of the weekend should be about $30/person. This includes both room and board. Our greatest difficulty is one of room assignment. We are committed to cabins and lodges with varying degrees of privacy. Many rooms serve from 4 to 8 persons although a few are available which serve 2 or 3. Upon reading this, please contact other club members and consider a group room reservation. It will make our job easier and we would be most appreciative. May 18 will be here soon and the Sullivan County Audubon Society looks forward to meeting and sharing with you the natural wonders of this Catskill paradise. Martin Borko, President , Sullivan County Audubon Society 71 REPORTING REGIONS For descriptions of Regions see Kingbird Vol. IV Nos. 1 and 2 FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC 1973 Officers President Mr. Kenneth D. Niven.P. O. Box 343, Monticello, N.Y. 12701 Vice President Mrs. Mary Ann Sunderlin. 505 Bay Rd., Webster, N.Y. 14580 Corresponding Secretary Miss Elizabeth A. Feldhusen.891 Union St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215 Recording Secretary Mrs. Myrna Hemmerich.P. O. Box 203, Setauket, N.Y. 11733 Treasurer Mr. Stephen B. Dempsey.. 533 Chestnut St., West Hempstead, N.Y. 11552 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: Dr. Gerhard W. Leubner, 151 Upland Dr., Rochester, N.Y. 14617 Finance: Kenneth D. Nivdn, 61 Broadway, Monticello, N.Y. 12701 Publicity: Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr., 333 Bedell St., Freeport, N.Y. 11520 Membership: Mrs. Ruth Williams, P.O. Box 382, Owego, N.Y. 13827 Publications and Research: Robert S. Arbib, Jr., 226 Guion Dr„ Mamaronek, N.Y. 10543 Bibliography: Dr. Sally Hoyt Spofford, Box 428, Etna 13062 Bylaws: Richard Sloss, 1300 Seawave Drive, Hewlett Harbor 11557 Waterfowl Count: Dr. David B. Peakall, 257 Virgil Rd., R.D. #1, Dryden, N.Y. 13053 John J. Elliott Memorial Committee: Cornelius J. Ward, 804 South Ocean Avenue, Freeport 11520 Elected Committees Auditing: Ralph Cioffi, 25 Carpenter St., Glen Cove N.Y. 11542 William B. Reeves, 107 Elberta Dr., Northport, N.Y. 11768