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Kingbird

PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS

VoL 4 No. 3

October 1954

Pages 61-88

CONTENTS

Allen Breakfast_David Allen

Arctic Three-Toed Woodpecker_Alice E. Ulrich

Birds and Power Lines_Allan H. Benton

An Unusual Killdeer Nesting_Harold D. Mitchell

Federation News___

Your President Says____

Regional Reports____:_

Editorial__

New Members___

62

63

65

66
69

74

75

87

88

Editor— Stephen W. Eaton

Associates— Allan S. Klonick
Eugene Eisenmann
Fredrick G. Meyer

Business and Circulation Manager—H. Everest Clements
Cover Desigri— Douglas L. Howland

NOTICE

THE KINGBIRD is published four times a year (May, July, October and January)
by the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs. Publication office is Biology Dept.,
St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, N. Y. Publication is sent free to all
individual members of the Federation. Membership in the Federation is $2.00 per
year. Single copies: Sixty cents.

APPLICATION for membership should be sent to the chairman of the member¬
ship committee, Miss Audrey Louise Wrede, 3109 Beverley Road, Brooklyn 26, N. Y.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS, EXCHANGES AND BACK COPIES are handled by the
Treasurer, H. Everest Clements, 1116 Sibley Tower Bldg., Rochester 4, N. Y.

61

The Kingbird

ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER IN WESTERN NEW YORK

Alice E. Ulrich

The Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) inhabits the
northern coniferous forests in northern United States and Canada. It prefers
the dense woods but occasionally forsakes this habitat during late fall and
winter and is found in areas south of its normal home.

The birds occurrence in western New York is erratic, not following any
predictable pattern. The first definite record of its presence in this area
was on Dec. 29, 1884 in Chautauqua Co. (Eaton, E. H., Birds of New York,
Vol. 1, Edson’s county list); the next definite date one on Nov. 26, 1901 from
Erie Co. (Eaton ibid., Erie Co. list). Two birds were seen (one collected)
near Rochester on Oct. 20 and 24, 1923 (Auk Vol. XLI, p. 351). One female
was observed and collected by Mr. Clark S. Beardslee at Java Lake, Wyoming
Co. on Jan. 24, 1932. He observed another female on Nov. 11, 1932 at
Medina, Orleans Co. To my knowledge there were no records in succeeding
years until last winter when six apparently different individuals were
observed.

The first bird was observed on Oct. 3, 1953 at Olcott, Niagara Co., near
the shore of Lake Ontario. Here Mr. Walter Klabunde, his wife and
friends observed a male in a small stand of mature pines. On Oct. 10, 1953
Mr. Maxwell Wheeler saw a bird on his property at Protection, Erie Co.
(the most southern record). This was a male and was working on the
branches of a fallen evergreen tree in the middle of a partially cleared
swampy woods.

On Oct. 27, 1953 Mrs. Stickney observed a male in an old orchard which
had recently been developed into a residential section of Orchard Park,
Erie Co.

Mr. W. L. Edson reporting the records of the Burrough^s Audubon
Society of Rochester, Monroe Co. for Christmas week of 1953 states,
“William Muchmore found a male Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker in Roch¬
ester's Genesee Valley Park in the vicinity of the Elmwood Avenue underpass.
This bird was observed off and on for several weeks in this same locality."

On Feb. 7, 1954 while on a field trip with the Buffalo Audubon Society
Miss Annabell Hiller of Jamestown, N. Y. discovered a male bird in the
Youngstown Cemetery, Niagara Co. This bird was observed by all of the
people in the group while he worked on the branches of a fallen oak tree.
This station was one half mile inland from Lake Ontario and about ten
miles west of Olcott where the species was first seen. A week later when
looking for this bird I found markings on several piles of brush in the ceme¬
tery woodlot and also on brush in an orchard one half mile to the east of
the cemetery but I failed to see this bird.

Allen Breakfast, Gienside, Ithaca, N. Y., August 29, 1954

Photo by David G. Allen

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63

My own observation of this woodpecker came on the afternoon of Dec.
7, 1953, the day of the annual Buffalo Audubon Society Christmas Count.
We were riding through the hilly section between Chestnut Ridge and
Emery Park. About an hour before sundown Mr. Ulrich, Mr. Francis Tilley
and I entered a woodlot with some mature hemlocks and hardwoods where
considerable wood had been cut. Soon we came upon a large pile of brush
which was marked by the work of the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. Our
hunting instincts were sharpened and we began to search more diligently.
Soon we heard what we thought might be a downy's tapping but working
in that direction we traced the sound to a tree at a wire fence near the edge
of the woods. We found it to be a female Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker.

The bird fed on this tree girdled by the wires of the fence and confined
its activities to the space around the old wire. It would alternately pound
on opposite sides of the work area, flaking pieces off each side, ultimately
exposing a four by five inch area of the old tinner bark. The flexibility of
the three-toed feet was apparent as the bird moved from side to side. The
flakes which fell to the ground were about one quarter inch thick, one half to
one inch in width and about two and one half inches long. To reach the
larvae the bird pierced the work area with small round holes.

The rhythm of its poundings lacked the length and rolling quality of the
Hairy or Downy Woodpeckers. Its action resolved into one long tap, two
shorts, a pause and a repetition of this every few seconds. For half an hour
the bird dug continuously while we watched from a distance of thirty feet.
Soon an accipiter hawk flew over the adjoining field. The bird stopped
digging and immediately left the reddish working area freezing to the darker
trunk about four feet higher on the tree. This immobility lasted fully five
minutes and was broken only after a White-breasted Nuthatch gave his
musical call note from deeper in the woods. This signaled a return of
activity at the feeding place. After satisfying its appetite the woodpecker
inched its way up the tree, pecked about a bit, fluffed its feathers and left
for taller hemlocks not far away.

As there are no definite reasons known for the sporadic occurrence of
this bird in western New York I can only offer the following opinions.
Forbush (Birds of Massachusetts and other New England States') said that
its erratic migration is not due to, 1. inclement weather, for at least one has
come in a mild winter and 2. not scarcity of food alone because the species
has occurred in numbers when the northern food supply was abundant.
Dr. Josselyn Van Tyne (Auk Vol. 43, p. 469-474) expressed the opinion
that it might be due to increased fecundity brought on by abundance of food.
The greater fecundity resulting in a larger northern population and the
resulting influx into peripheral areas.

All but one of the 1953-54 individuals were males. In each of the six
cases only one bird was observed in the immediate vicinity. Only the Roch¬
ester and Youngstown birds were observed more than once. From past ex¬
perience it would seem that we must wait ten or twenty years before seeing
this bird again in the Niagara Frontier region.

193 LaSalle Av., Buffalo 14, N. Y.

64

The Kingbird

RELATIONSHIPS OF BIRDS TO POWER AND
COMMUNICATION LINES

Allen H. Benton

The eminent ornithologist, Dr. Elliott Cones (1876) was much con¬
cerned with the numbers of birds killed by flying into telegraph wires. On
a trip between Denver, Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyoming, he counted a
hundred dead birds in about three miles. He was convinced that ‘many
hundred thousand’' birds died in like manner annually. He concluded that
“since we cannot conveniently abolish the telegraph, we must be content
with fewer birds”.

Coues apparently entertained little hope that birds could learn to avoid
this newly-introduced hazard; yet such appears to be the case. It appears to
this observer that the balance has shifted, and that power and communication
lines now represent a valuable asset to bird life.

An important use made of such structures by birds is the use of the
poles for nesls. Hole-nesting birds are aften hard-pressed to find suitable
nesting sites in the present defrosted condition of much of our country,
especially in areas where large trees are scarce or where tree sanitation is
practiced. The thousands of poles offer a ready-made substitute. Such
behavior, though applauded by bird-lovers, does not meet with the approval
of the utility companies and pole manufacturers. The July-August, 1954,
issue of Audubon Magazine carries an offer of $100, made by the Osmose
Wood Preserving Company of Buffalo, for the “best commercially practicable
idea to prevent woodpeckers from impairing standing pole strength”.

In New York, I have observed nests of the yellow-shafted flicker, house
wren, eastern bluebird and starling in utility line poles. Many other species
have been reported from such sites. The importance of these poles in areas
where large trees are few is indicated by the fact that Simmons (1925) lists
eight species as using poles for nesting holes around Austin, Texas.

Cross-bars and transformer boxes also present desirable nesting sites for
many birds. The adaptable robin has taken to utilizing these structures
extensively. On Long Island and in coastal New Jersey, ospreys regularly
nest on the tops of poles. The New York Times of August 16, 1951, re¬
ported the plight of power company officials whose Long Island power lines
were continually short-circuited by wet seaweed which the ospreys dragged
over the wires on the way to their pole-top nests. Eventually, extra poles
with platforms were placed along the regular lines. Baited with sticks, the
platforms proved more attractive to the ospreys than did the poles. The
New York Telephone Company is reported as having erected similar nest
poles. In the southwest, the scissor-tailed flycatcher frequently nests on
cross-bars and transformer boxes, and several other species have been re¬
ported from such locations.

Birds which depend for their livelihood on observation perches have found
poles and wires much to their liking. Sparrow hawks and shrikes are
among the most consistent users of this method of hunting. The list of
insectivorous birds which use the wires as a base from which to sally forth
is extensive.

The Kingbird

The value of poles and wires also includes their use as song-perches, as
sites for mating activities, and as places on which to stand guard while the
mate is on the nest. Cowbirds regularly perform their courtship on wires.
Upland plovers habitually perch on the top of a pole or on a wire during
the nesting period. Robins, red-wings, mourning doves, and many others
are characteristically seen on wires, either singing or standing guard.

The hordes of swallows which line the wires during migration may cause
one to wonder what these birds used for perches before the wires were
available. Possibly bank swallows, tree swallows and rough-winged swal¬
lows have increased in number in recent years, or perhaps they formerly
roosted in marshes. If so, it seems fortuitous that wires replaced the marshes,
which have been largely destroyed for agricultural use.

If local records were available over long periods of time for some of the
relatively treeless areas of the west, it is possible that range extensions of
certain birds, at least locally, could be traced to the addition of poles for-
nesting sites. The attraction of such sites is graphically illustrated by the
following letter by H. P. Attwater, who wrote to Bendire (1895) con¬
cerning the golden-fronted woodpecker:

“A telegraph line running out of San Antonio to a ranch nine miles
distance was almost destroyed by these birds; they came from all
sides, from far and near, and made fresh holes every year, some¬
times as many as five or six in a single pole”.

Eugene Eisenmann has informed me that certain hawks in Panama,
once considered rare in that locality, have increased in numbers as trans¬
mission lines have provided nesting sites, and are now common in some of
the more settled areas.

What seemed to Coues to be a necessary evil seems to have proved to be
a blessing in disguise. Though a certain number of birds will continue to
be killed in various ways by utility lines, a vastly greater number will find
such lines useful adjuncts in the business of breeding, feeding, and resting.

Literature cited

Bendire, Charles E. 1895. Life histories of North American birds. U. S.
Nat. Mus. Spec. Bull. 8.

Coues, Elliott. 1876. The destruction of birds by telegraph wires. Amer.
Nat. X(12): 734-736.

Simmons, George F. 1925. Birds of the Austin Region. Univ. of Texas,
Austin; pp. 1-387.

Dept, of Biology, New York State College for Teachers, Albany, N. Y.

AN UNUSUAL KILLDEER NESTING
Harold D. Mitchell

During the last week of May, 1953, Mr. Ralph H. Shone, who works in
an office near my own on Wilkeson Street in downtown Buffalo, called me
to look at some young birds on the roof of the building. I found the birds to
be young Killdeers, about a week old. I took a short series of motion pictures
of the young on June 2, and asked that the birds be watched to see if they
grew to maturity. One adult was especially solicitous of the young, and

66

The Kingbird

attempted to attract my attention by drooping its wing in a presentation of
the injury feigning act. I was away a great deal during June, and no one
else was sure that the young survived to leave the roof. However, no dead
young were found on the roof in 1953.

Mr. George Gallagher reported that Killdeers had nested on the same
roof in 1952, but no dates nor other data were available.

In the spring of 1954, Mr. Shone again called me on June 3, and stated
that he believed that the Killdeers were again nesting on the roof. I soon
located the nest with four eggs. The body of a very young Killdeer, which
had been dead for some time, was found on the roof, indicating an earlier
unsuccessful nesting during the cold damp days of May.

The nest was watched carefully and on June 29, the four eggs had
hatched. The four young were banded by Mrs. Bradley Fisk. On July 6,
I took movies of the 8-day old young. I found four young, all of which ran
into corners and hid as soon as the adults called, and stayed ^‘frozen’' unless
prodded. Three adults flew about, calling loudly, but no injury feigning
was indulged in by the three adults during my several visits to the roof in
1954. There appeared to be plenty of sandflies (Tricoptera) on the roof
at this time.

On July 10 only three of the 12-day-old young were found on the roof.
During the day preceding this, and on this occasion, at least one adult called
loudly from the ground and acted as though a young bird might be on the
ground nearby. I never could find a young bird on the ground in that
vicinity, but wondered if the missing young bird might have been trans¬
ferred to the ground, as no dead young bird was found on the roof at this time.

On July 13, only one 15-day-old bird was found alive. Two were found
dead. The next day, the last surviving young was seen in the morning, but
on July 15, this bird was found dead, and the adults had disappeared. During
this period the weather was hot, and the wind had changed from west or
southwest to southeast, coming from over downtown Buffalo. Few sand
flies or other insects were observed — very noticeably fewer than were present
on my earlier visits.

It appeared to me that these flies which we often call ‘'Canadian Flies”
(as they seem to be more plentiful along the Canadian shore of Lake Erie
and the Niagara River than elsewhere in our area) are most numerous when
we have a west or southwest wind, which wafts them in from the lake shore
areas. The young birds seemed in good shape as long as the moderately cool
weather and the southwest to west winds prevailed.

Dr. Harold Axtell examined the bodies of the three young birds, with
these results:

1) Very lean, stomach contained partially digested remains of dozens of
tiny insects, mostly very small beetles and ants.

2) Very lean, stomach contained remains of 12 to 15 small insects such
as small beetles and ants,

3) Very lean, stomach contents as in 1) and 2). Skull neatly broken,
while skin did not appear broken.

The Kingbird

67

Dr. Axtell states “Even the fullest of the three stomachs contained scarcely
half of what I should judge to be capacity. The food items were of insects
having large amounts of indigestible parts and little nourishment, considering
the bulk. Very little flesh was present on the carcasss of the birds, an
amount no greater in proportion than on the carcasses of adult birds which I
have known died of starvation.” In no case was a parent seen to feed the
young or to place any food on the ground near the young. The young were
virtually prisoners within the fire walls projecting above the roof. The
adults often perched on these walls and called to the young when danger
threatened.

We had a long dry spell during July, which may have contributed to the
fate of the young birds. There seemed to be few succulent insects present
to provide the necessary water for the diet of the young birds. It will be
interesting to see if the birds again attempt to nest on the roof in 1955
or in later years.

We found one previous reference to a roof nesting of a Killdeer (Bent’s,
Life History of N. A. Shorehirds, 1929, Part 2, p. 206). In 1925 Gayle
Pickwell found a nest near Lincoln, Nebraska, on the gently sloping tarred
and gravelled roof of a race-track grandstand, 50 feet above the ground. The
young were found on the ground near the building while yet but feeble
walkers.

Recently I received the August-September 1954 copy of Nature Magazine,
which has an article on page 328 entitled “Killdeers on the Roof”, by Lloyd
P. Parratt. A nest with four eggs was found on the pebble granite roof of
Chaffey’s Boys’ Gymnasium in Ontario, California, on March 30. The eggs
hatched on April 22, and the young birds disappeared from the roof during
the first night. There was some speculation that the adults may have carried
the young to the ground, perhaps as the Woodcock sometimes carries its
young clasped between its legs. Young birds were observed on the ground
at the Chaffey farm nearby shortly after the young disappeared from the roof.
In early June, young Killdeers were found on the roof of South Hall. The
young crowded in the corners, just as I found to be the case, and would
freeze at a call note and not relax until an entirely different call was offered
by the adults. This roof was raised at the sides (as was the case with our
location) and the young were confined to the roof. All the young died on
the hot roof and either dehydration or lack of food was found to be the
cause of death.

Mr. Parratt also mentioned that Kenneth E. Stagen, Curator of Orni¬
thology at the Los Angeles County museum, told him that Killdeers had
nested on the gravel roof of their museum for many years. The young
usually perished, but he had been able to transfer a number of broods to the
ground, where the parents took over their care.

378 Crescent Ave., Buffalo 14, N. Y.

68

The Kingbird

FEDERATION NEWS

TREASURER'S REPORT
of the

GENERAL FUND

from January 1, 1954 thru July 31, 1954
Cash and Checks on Hand and in Checking Account'^'—IT-54 $867.17

Receipts

Membership Dues

New

Clubs __$ -

Individuals—Annual (34) - 68.00'^'^

Sustaining _

Suporting--

Life (1)_

-— $ 68.00

Clubs

1954 Renewal Dues (22)- 232.50

Individuals

Dues in Arrears (3)-$ 6.00

1954 Renewal Dues—Annual (186) 372.00

Sustaining (16) 80.00

Supporting (3) 30.00

Dues in Advance (4)- 8.00

-- 496.00

Organizations

New Kingbird Subscriptions (1)-$ 2.00

1954 renewal Kingbird

subscriptions (4)_ 8.00

- 10.00

Other

From Sale of Kingbirds- 9.20

- 815.70

Expenses

Supplies -$ L63

Rubber Stamps- 5.00

Electrotypes - 8.59

Telephone - L25

Bond on Treasurer -- 12.50

250 “Montezuma" Reprints- 6.00

Postage-1953 - $2.14; 1954 - $27.95 _ 30.09

Checks _ 4.50

Membership Bills_ 8,05

Membership Cards - 27.92

Envelopes - 38.25

Letterheads and Copy Paper- 54.16

Conservation Committee

Supplies (1953)-$ 2.00

500 “Cormorant" Reprints- 10.00

Postage-1953 - $3.96; 1954 - $5.90__ 9.86

Envelopes _ L74

$1,682.87

$197.94

23.60

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69

$ 12.00
35.00
156.00

- 203.00

$ 39.29
.72
125.00
156.00
1.18
140.00
17.10
1.18

- 480.47

- $905.01

777.86

From Closing of Kingbird Checking Account- 2.31

Cash and Checks on Hand and in Checking Account"^ 7-31-54 _—$780.17

* Lincoln Rochester Trust Company
** Includes the reinstatement of three former members
*** See Statement of the Permanent Fund

Permanent Fund (up to and including July 31, 1954)

Received

1952 Date Amount

From H. Everest Clements — Life Membership 5-27-52 $100.00
Rochester, New York

From Miss Mabel L. Peck — Life Membership 11-10-52 100.00

Clayton, New York

Interest from Amsterdam Savings Bank 12-31-52 1.45

Receipts for the Year 1952 $201.45

1953

From Mrs. Dayton Stoner—Life Membership 2-27-53 $100.00
Albany, New York

From Harold D. Mitchell—Life Membership 5- 2-53 100.00

Buffalo, New York

Interest from Amsterdam Savings Bank 12-29-53 8.59

Receipts for the Year 1953 $208.59

1954

Interest from The Community Savings Bank 6- 1-54 $ 3.08
of Rochester

From Mrs. Henry F. Whitmore—Life Member 7- 1-54 100.00

Tarrytwon. New York

Accrued Bank Interest at '1\% 7-31-54 L74

Receipts thru July 31, 1954 $104.82

H. Everest Clements, Treasurer
1116 Sibley Tower Building
Rochester 4, New York
Telephone — Hamilton 6494

The Kingbird

Bolonce

$100.00

200.00

201.45

$301.45

401.45
410.04

$413.12

513.12

514.86

Kingbird Account

1953

Postage _

2,000 Mailing Envelopes
October Issue (450 copies)

1954

Postage _

Rubber Stamp_

January Issue (450 copies)
May Issue (450 copies)

Freight _

July Issue (450 copies)
Etching and Halftone
Ereight _

70

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
Ithaca, N. Y. — August 28, 1954

The seventh annual meeting of the Federation of Nev^^ York State Bird
Clubs was called to order by President Harold D. Mitchell at 9:40 a. m.
Twenty-nine delegates representing 19 clubs answered roll call.

The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and approved as read.

Stanley Grierson, chairman of the Conservation Committee, reported
that on the accomplished side of the picture was the passing of the Cor¬
morant bill. And so far the Echo Park Dam bill has not been passed. (See
also Conservation News p. 73)

Miss Audrey Wrede, chairman of the Membership Committee, proposed
54 individual members and one club (Saw Mill River Audubon Society) for
membership. The Council voted to accept these as members of the Fed¬
eration. This brings the total membership to: 27 clubs; 289 annual members,
16 sustaining, 3 supporting, 5 life and 7 subscriptions or a total of 313
individual members.

The council voted to call libraries and other groups which are not clubs
or individual members, subscribers to THE KINGBIRD, rather than indi¬
vidual members.

H. Everest Clements, Treasurer, reported a balance on hand in the
general fund (as of July 31, 1954) of $780.17 and $514.86 in the permanent
fund - a total of $1295.03.

The Council voted to accept the budget for 1955 as presented by the
Finance Committee which is as follows: State Bird Book $25.00, Kingbird
$680.00, Conservation Committee $150.00, Membership Committee $20.00,
President $10.00, Vice-President $3.00, Recording Secretary $10.00, Cor¬
responding Secretary $5.00, Treasurer $75.00, Annual Meeting $30.00, Pub¬
lications and Research Committee $25.00, Unallocated $25.00 — a total of
$1058.00.

Fred Hall reported for the Publications and Research Committee. This
committee feels that its most important work is that of the sub-committee
of the State Bird Book Committee. This committee has prepared mimeo¬
graphed proposed standards which are available to all regions and should
be placed in use locally at once. This was done to standardize the work of
the statisticians. It is also planned to prepare statistical record forms for
State Bird Book use.

This committee requests all member clubs to send in a copy of each local
publication for state bird book use.

The committee also proposed that a sub-committee, with Gerald Rising
of Rochester as chairman, work with regional clubs in making a state water-
fowl survey at the same time as the annual survey of the State Conservation
Department is made. This project would act as a check and supplement
the State and Federal aerial surveys, form a group project for all regions and
accumulate data in a needed area of ornithology. It is planned to cover as
much of the state as possible and to spot-check some areas now covered by
the aerial survey to determine the value of this new census to the State and
Federal Agencies.

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71

The Publications and Research Committee reported that Dr. Stephen
Eaton needs more papers for publication in THE KINGBIRD and especially
reports of extensive data accumulated by a few years study of any interesting
local area. It is an obligation of all members to support THE KINGBIRD
in this manner.

President Mitchell proposed that everyone work on a coordinated record
of the winter census for New York State.

The council voted to incorporate the Federation under the Board of
Regents of the State of New York, and President Mitchell appointed a com¬
mittee consisting of Samuel Madison (chairman), Mrs. Dayton G. Stoner
and Guy Bartlett to take the necessary legal steps to have this accomplished.
Such an incorporation would make dues and contributions tax exempt.

It was announced that the member clubs had ratified the following change
in the'Federation constitution:

Chafter V: Committees:

“All committees, except the Nominating and Auditing, shall consist
of at least five members, but the exact number will be left to the
discretion of the President, who shall bear in mind the type of activi¬
ties carried out by each committee, and also select the members,
insofar as possible, from different parts of the state.”

In order to bring in necessary funds to meet budget expenditures Mrs.
Dayton G. Stoner presented a plan whereby member clubs could sell Barton-
Gotton notepaper and other wildlife illustrated items at a profit to their local
club of $19.00 per 50 items sold. By having an officer of the local club
sign the club’s orders to Barton-Cotton and state on the Order that the order
is to be credited to the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs the Fed¬
eration will receive $4.00 for every 50 items sold by a local club. The Council
approved this plan for raising very much needed funds for Federation ex¬
penses.

Clubs are urged to write to Barton-Cotton, Inc., c/o Miss Ruth Boarman,
1102-28 N. Chester St., Baltimore 13, Maryland, for information and listing
of items for sale.

The following officers were elected for the calendar year 1955: President
— Harold D. Mitchell, Buffalo; Vice-President — Guy Bartlett, Schenectady;
Recording Secretary — Miss Elizabeth A. Feldhusen, Saratoga Spring; Gor-
responding Secretary — Miss Elizabeth Manning, New York; Treasurer —
H. Everest Glements, Rochester.

Robert McKinney of Rochester, Edward Seeber of Ithaca and Stanley
Grierson of Katonah were elected as the 1955 Nominating Committee.

The Council elected Neil Moon and Gertrude Davis of Rochester as
the Auditing Gommittee for 1955.

The Ghemung Valley Audubon Society of Elmira invited the Federation
to hold its eighth annual meeting at Elmira. The Federation was very happy
to accept this invitation.

Because the morning meeting had to adjourn at 12:10 due to a scheduled
luncheon hour, two items of business were carried over to the afternoon
session. The following items of business are reported from the 1:30 p. m.
session.

It was voted to accept the proposal of the Finance Gommittee to raise
individual dues from $2.00 to $2.50 and to submit this proposal to member
clubs for ratification.

. 72

The Kingbird

A contribution o£ $25.00 was voted to the Nature Conservancy to aid
in the purchase of Dome Island. This is a small island in Lake George
covered by virgin timber.

Respectfully submitted,

Francis H. Irving
Recording Secretary

CONSERVATION NEWS

At the annual convention of the Federation of New York State Bird
Clubs held at Ithaca, N. Y., the Conservation Committee recommended at its
meeting on Friday evening, August 27th, that the Forever Wild clause of
the New York State Constitution as applied to the New York State Forest
Preserve be retained.

Within the State, there are groups including the New York State Con¬
servation Department, who are advocating changes in the laws applicable
to the forest preserve. The Conservation Committee of the Federation
decided that every effort should be made to oppose certain of these changes.
At the Council meeting on the following day, August 28 th, this resolution
was adopted:

RESOLVED that the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs
favors the retention of Article XIV, Section I, of the New York State
Constitution which protects the forest preserve by requiring it to be
forever kept as wild forest lands, without modification or amendment,
and that the Conservation Committee be authorized to take such
action as it deems necessary to achieve this result.

The Committee also unanimously decided to carefully study the impact
of the domestic dog on wildlife. The State of Connecticut within the past
year has passed restrictive legislation putting the burden of responsibility for
a dog^s actions on the owner. The Conservation Committee chairman would
appreciate hearing from individuals and clubs about any cases involving
damage to any type of wildlife caused by dogs in the State. All dogs in the
field or woods should be regarded with suspicion as to their activities, and
case reports should be reported.

The use of B-B guns was also discussed along with pole traps. It was
decided that since New York State Law prohibits hunting by anyone under
fourteen years of age, that we already have a most effective law to curb
small boys from damaging wildlife with B-B guns. Violations should be
immediately reported to the nearest New York State Conservation officer.

The Committee wishes to further study the pole trap situation and would
like to hear from members and clubs regarding areas where pole traps are
used.

Stanley Oliver Grierson,

Chairman Conservation Committee

WATERFOWL COUNT

At the August meeting of the Federation the Publications and Research
Committee decided to organize a statewide census of waterfowl. This census,
to be taken January 15 through 23, 1955, will be supervised by a working
committee in Rochester.

The Kingbird

73

The census is to be taken at the same time as The New York State Con¬
servation Department’s aerial duck count so that we can supplement their
count and at the same time evaluate many of the results of the Federation
count.

Choice of the date for the census was difficult because several groups in
the state already take censuses at other times. The Buffalo group counts
waterfowl in the Niagara Frontier Region in spring and fall; Long Island
has been covered in the past usually on a date earlier than the committee’s
selection; The Cornell Field Ornithology Club has covered the Finger Lakes
Basin in February. Since none of these dates fall at the same time it was
decided to select the same date as the Conservation Department’s Count.
This date coincides with the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Atlantic Seaboard
Count. It falls during the period in New York State in which (1) the
population of ducks is fairly static and (2) many smaller water areas are
frozen forcing ducks to congregate in areas more accessible to observers.

Although not finally set at this time the procedure for the census will
probably be as follows: Special forms for tabulating results of the count will
be sent in quantity to Regional Editors of The Kingbird who will in turn
forward them to certain observers in their regions. The results of the census
should be forwarded to the Regional Editors who in turn will forward them
to the committee in Rochester. The observations will then be organized for
summarization in The Kingbird.

The committee in charge of the Census requests that clubs publicise the
census and that both club and individual members of the Federation co¬
operate with the Regional Editors to see that their area is adequately covered.

Gerald Rising, Rochester, N. Y.

YOUR PRESIDENT SAYS . .

The turn-out of over two hundred members and guests at our annual
meeting at Ithaca was very gratifying to your officers. Many of those who
attended indicated that they had a most enjoyable week-end. The high¬
lights of the meeting were Dr. Allen’s outstanding pictures of the bird life
near Churchill on Hudson Bay and the sound recordings by Dr. Kellogg.
We wish to again thank the Laboratory of Ornithology of Cornell University,
the Cayuga Bird Club, the Cornell Field Ornithology Club, and the Local
Committee for their very efficient handling of the many details of the
meeting and for their wonderful hospitality.

Following a delicious early breakfast at Dr. Allen’s home on Sunday
morning, we started our trip to Montezuma Refuge with some misgivings,
as it rained rather hard for nearly an hour. However, it soon cleared up
and we were rewarded by a sight of many species, including approximately
seventy American Egrets, a Whistling Swan, Bald Eagle, Osprey, and a
variety of woodpeckers. Among the latter were Pileated, Red-headed and
Red-bellied, the last named feeding young at a nesting hole.

We were pleased to receive the invitation of the Chemung Valley Audu¬
bon Society to hold the 1955 meeting at Elmira. The date has tentatively
been set for the week-end of May 28 to 30. Please mark your calendars now
and plan to attend this meeting.

HAROLD D. MITCHELL

74

The Kingbird

REGIONAL REPORTS

HIGHLIGHTS JUNE AND JULY

It is encouraging to see the increased interest in the study of our breeding
birds such as were carried out on Slide Mountain and the Tug Hill Plateau,
Projected work by other clubs indicates that in the future much more inter¬
esting data on our breeding birds will be collected.

The Monthly Weather Review (Vol. 82, No. 6 - June 1954) said, ‘Tor
the third consecutive June heat and drought dominated the weather over
the eastern two-thirds of the United States except for the northern tier of
States . . . On the other hand, temperature and precipitation anomalies of
this June were nearly opposite to those of the preceding month (May).^'

The second generation of Army Worms QCir'phis unipuncta') became
quite a menace in Tompkins, Ghemung and Allegany Gounties in July
where control measures were necessary to save some crops. Mrs. Hoyt's
report includes an interesting account of how birds helped in this control
program. Tent Gaterpillars were abundant in central and western areas
and both the Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos seemed more plentiful.
A party from the Onondaga Audubon Society observed extensive Tent Cater¬
pillar damage on the southern edge of the Tug Hill Plateau.

Certain southern species appeared to be continuing to expand their
breeding ranges. The Carolina Wren was found nesting in Chenango Co.
Chats appeared more plentiful in most areas and one was again reported
from Tupper Lake. The Cardinal now occupies a greater area on eastern
Long Island, being plentiful at North Sea and is now at Kripplebush (Ulster
Co.) and Avoca (Steuben Co.).

Evening Grosbeaks were observed breeding more numerously at Paul
Smiths, Saranac and Tupper Lakes. Adults and young were observed at
Warrensburg (Warren Co.). An adult male was seen at Barneveld (eastern
Oneida Co.) in July, and one was found dead June 26 at Childwold (south¬
eastern St. Lawrence Co.).

One hundred pairs of Herring Gulls nested on Cap tree Island (near
Jones Beach, L, 1.) and the Ring-billed Gull was found nesting on an island
in Oneida Lake. A Double-crested Cormorant colony on an island in Lake
Ontario provided the State with 11 young — seven were banded. Upland
Plovers, Mourning Doves and Henslow’s Sparrows were reported increasing
or having good nesting success.

Rarities were a Purple Sandpiper in Buffalo Harbour in June, Red-
breasted Nuthatches and Golden-crowned Kinglets nesting near Buffalo, a
male Parula Warbler at Great River (L. 1.) thru the summer, and 200 Cory
and 4 Sooty Shearwaters off the south shore of Long Island,

REGION 1—NIAGARA FRONTIER

Clark S. Beardslee

This year the weather of June and July had little effect on either summer
residents or transients. Western New York escaped the extreme heat which
enveloped most of the country most of the summer, and drought conditions.

The Kingbird

75

while severe, affected few birds in our area. For observers who have been
birding here over a long period there was more of interest than usual.

LOONS — DUCKS: A single Common Loon was observed at Allegany State
Park throughout the period. Only two American Egrets were reported. Seven Lesser
Scaups were still on Rndley Lake on June 13, and Hooded Mergansers were seen at
Buffalo Audubon Society's Beaver Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary throughout both
months.

HAWKS — OWLS: Eaton provides us with a good record of a Broad-winged
Hawk's nest at Vandalia; the banded young left the nest July 4. Possibly the species
nested also near Findley Lake, for one individual was seen there on June 13. Wild
Turkeys are reported quite regularly now, and six young were seen near Wellsville
the first week of June. Very unusual indeed was the Purple Sandpiper, in dull and
mottled plumage, which was discovered by Brockner at Buckhorn Island State Park
(Grand Island) on June 6. It was seen by many observers, and was collected on the
8th. Short-eared Owls nested as usual on Grand Island, but were unreported
elsewhere.

SWIFTS — SHRIKES: Sapsuckers were found nesting at Vandalia by Eaton,
and were also reported from Allegany State Park, Zoar Valley, and Findley Lake.
Brown Creepers were found at Allegany State Park and Clarence. These are always
good finds, but even better were two records from the Hambury cemetery, whose large
spruces attracted a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches and a pair of Golden-crowned
Kinglets, providing two very rare nesting records.

VIREOS — WARBLERS: Eaton found a Blue-headed Vireo's nest with three
eggs near Vandalia on July 4. A nest of male Blue-wing and female Golden-wing
was located at Bone Run. Prothonotories nested again at Oak Orchard, and single
individuals were seen in both months at Findley Lake. We received five Chat
records in June and one in July.

BLACKBIRDS — SPARROWS: An Orchard Oriole was observed along the Lower
Lake Road, Niagara County, on June 19 (Nathan et al.) This is more unusual than
it sounds. We have two routes by which Orchard Orioles reach our area. One is
northeastward along the south shore of Lake Erie. The other is along the north
shore of Lake Erie. Normally the former route brings an occasional Oriole as far
as Silver Creek, but very seldom as far as Buffalo; the latter route provides many
Orioles up to a point within fifty miles of Buffalo, after which they thin out so
rapidly that only a few reach the Niagara River and almost none cross. It would
be interesting to know which route produced the Niagara County bird. Grasshopper
Sparrows seem less common than forrherly, while Henslow's Sparrows increase in
numbers.

132 ^\cKinley Ave., Kenmore 17, N. Y.

REGION 2 ^GENESEE

Harry Van Beurden

In general the summers weather was cool and dry, according to the
records of the Rochester Weather Bureau. June averaged 1.5 degrees* above
normal and July 1.3 degrees below normal. Rainfall in both months was
below normal and this combined with a dry spring led to a drought in the
counties of the region.

Little attention has been paid to the status of breeding birds of our
region in the past few years but long-range plans for next year indicate more
data will be collected.

LOONS — DUCKS: Last Common Loon 6/6; on American Egret at Salmon
Creek (Wayne Co.) on 6/10; a few reports of Least Bitterns. A group of 13 Brant
remained at Braddock's Bay (Monroe Co.) until 6/10, as did an immature Blue

76

The Kingbird

REPORTING REGIONS

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

Goose. One Gadwall at Ling Road on 7/27; last Lesser Scaup on 6/8; last American
Golden-eye 6/10; last Ruddy Duck 6/5 and last Red-breasted Merganser 6/5.

HAWKS — OWLS: Ruffed Grouse reported from Bergen Swamp 6/27; Wilson's
Snipe seen on 6/29; Least Sandpiper 7/1; Solitary Sandpiper seen in early July;
Pectoral Sandpiper seen in late July; Stilt Sandpiper 7/24; Sanderling 7/17 and
Dowitcher 7/15; nine Hudsonian Curlews 7/25 Braddock's Bay (Simons). Last June
records of shorebirds were White-rumped Sandpiper 6/5; Greater Yellow-legs 6/5;
Pectoral, Sandpiper 6/5; Red-backed Sandpiper 6/10; Semipalmated Sandpiper mid-
June; Turnstone 6/5; Ringed Plover 6/10. One Great Black-backed Gull seen on
6/10 and 7/5. A pair of Barn Owls with 5 young were reported from Victor in July.

SWIFTS — SHRIKES: Last Yellow-bellied Flycatcher seen 6/10; Olive-backed
Thrush 6/5. Several reports of summering Hermit Thrushes and Blue-grey Gnat-
catchers in our region.

VIREOS — WARBLERS: Last Philadelphia Vireo seen on 6/10; Blue-headed
Vireo found during summer in the southern part of our area; three Yellow-breasted
Chats reported during June and July.

BLACKBIRDS — SPARROWS: Four Red Crossbills seen on 6/5; Slate-colored
Junco found summering in several places. A very unusual record is that of a singing
adult White-throated Sparrow on 7/10 in Bergen Swamp (McKinney).

246 Tremont Street, Rochester 8, New York.

The Kingbird

77

REGION 3 —FINGER LAKES

Mrs. Southgate Y. Hoyt

June and July were exceptionally dry throughout the -Finger Lakes
Region but reports varied from Very hot and dry’ in the Geneva and
Waterloo areas, to cool and dry’ around !\voca. Mrs. Carter reports that at
Avoca a few severe storms toppled nests, and Robins, Chipping Sparrows
and Red-eyed Vireos lost broods.

Late July was marked by an invasion of army worms, which was par¬
ticularly severe in Tompkins and Chemung Counties. A few reports have
been gathered on observations of birds eating the army worms. Helen
Samson, of Horseheads, reported '‘Ovenbirds, Waxwings, Robins, Cardinals
and several species of Sparrows and Warblers” feeding on the worms. Early
one morning she saw the worms stopped by a pond, where they collected
in masses, and Song and Chipping Sparrows were gorging themselves. In
Yates County, between Coles Corners and Dundee, Mrs. Marie Darling re¬
ported the “largest flocks of Starlings ever seen there came into a field to
feed on the worms/' I was told by D. B. Harrington, of Ithaca, R. D. 1, that
great flocks of Starlings came to his corn fields and 'did a better job on the
worms than any spraying or dusting.’

LOONS — DUCKS: A lingering Horned Grebe was observed at Montezuma
6/6 by Walker. American Egrets were seen all summer in good numbers there, and
two were also observed on 7/23 at a marsh north of Horseheads (K. Fudge and H.
Quilliam).

A Snowy Egret was seen at Montezuma 6/1 (Hewitt). American Bitterns were
somewhat scarcer around Avoca, where some former sites have been drained (Carter).
A Least Bittern, the 2nd record for Chemung Valley area in 5 years, occurred regu¬
larly in June and July near the home of H. Samson, north of Horseheads.

A Whistling Swan observed at Montezuma, was first reported to me by Thurber
(7/3), later by many others. According to Dr. Hewitt it was unable to fly.

Mallards and Wood Ducks were scarcer around Avoca this year (Carter). Black
bucks were plentiful at Montezuma. Ruddy Ducks were seen with young on 6/6 by
Walker, at Montezuma, and Gadwalls also nested successfully. One brood of Can-
vasbacks was seen early by Smith, but later disappeared. No broods of Redheads
were observed this year.

HAWKS — OWLS: Hawks in general did not seem abundant this summer, and
in the Avoca area were scarcer (Carter). Loren Ward felt that Vultures were down
in numbers. Although the Eagles were seen nesting earlier in the season, immature
birds were not in evidence this summer.

In Schuyler County, the Ruffed Grouse seem to be slowly increasing, and Ring¬
necked Pheasants are more plentiful every year (Bardeen).

There were no Rails reported from Montezuma, and in the Elmira area. Coots
seemed scarce (Welles).

A Ruddy Turnstone was observed at Montezuma 6/6 (Walker); 2 Wilson's Snipe
at the Refuge 7/10 (Thurber); 2 Upland Plover at Norcutt's Corner 6/6 and 7/4
(Walker); Upland Plover and Solitary Sandpiper at Montezuma 6/1 (Ward); 2
Solitary Sandpipers were reported from Avoca 7/23 (Carter); Greater Yellowlegs
were seen 6/6 at Montezuma (Walker), and on 7/24 early shorebird migrants there
were represented by 10 Least Sandpipers, 15 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 2 Lesser
Yellowlegs (Ward).

In the Elmira and Ithaca areas. Mourning Doves are increasing and seemed suc¬
cessful in nesting (Welles, Hoyt).

SWIFTS — SHRIKES: Hummingbirds were scarce around the Watkins Glen -
Montour Falls area (Bardeen, Darling).

Chimney Swifts have increased around Avoca (Carter).

A Red-bellied Woodpecker was seen in and out of the nest hold at Montezuma
on 6/1 (Ward).

78

The Kingbird

Red-headed Woodpeckers show a slight increase in Elmira area, and for the first
time are appearing in open areas, away from wooded sections (Welles). Walker
reports this woodpecker "at long last", south of county home near Waterloo. No
Redheads around Avoca this year.

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen and heard drumming at Montezuma 7/10
(Thurber).

Downies, Hairies and Flickers all seemed down in numbers around Avoca
(Carter).

Two Acadian Flycatchers were found 'singing' in the middle of the Glen at
Watkins Glen on 6/24 by Carleton. Alders were found to be plentiful around
Ithaca (Stein), Waterloo (Walker) and Avoca (Carter).

A flock estimated at 5000 Bank Swallows was seen near Canoga 7/10 (Thurber),
while Barn Swallows were gathering in unusually large flocks during July on wires
in the hillside residential sections of Watkins Glen, and seemed to be catching flies
(Van Vranken). Cliff Swallows were scarcer at Avoca (Carter). At a gravel pit
north of Horseheads, it was noted that Starlings were nesting along with Bank
Swallows (Samson).

White-breasted Nuthatches, seemed down in number at Avoca (Carter).

VIREOS — WARBLERS: Vireos seemed present in usual numbers throughout
the Region, although around Avoca, the Yellow-throated Vireos seemed fewer in
numbers, the Warbling is reported as increasing (Carter).

Prothonotary Warblers were heard singing in four locations at Montezuma
(reported by Ward).

The Mourning Warbler seems to be becoming established around Avoca (Carter).

BLACKBIRDS — SPARROWS: Four pairs of Cardinals were observed at Avoca
(Carter) where this bird now seems to be established. Young Cardinals were brought
to the feeder in Geneva 6/1 (Ward).

Goldfinches seemed unusually abundant around Ithaca (Hoyt). Indigo Buntings
and Savannah Sparrows seemed scarce in the Avoca area, while the Henslow was
absent there this year (Carter).

Avtano, Etna, N. Y.

REGION 4 ^SUSQUEHANNA

Leslie E. Bemont

The Susquehanna Region, like so many other areas, was very warm and
dry through most of June and all of July. The dryness seems to have had
little if any effect on the birds.

LOONS — DUCKS: Pied-billed Grebes have been obvious by their absence from
all incoming reports. Whether this is a result of an actual scarcity or merely a
reflection of the decrease in observers after the spring migration is hard to know.

Great Blue Herons have again been absent from the Triple Cities area, but a few
have been seen quite regularly near Deposit (S. Wilson).

Four female Wood Ducks with an aggregate of 25 young and two Blacks with 17
young were seen on one pond near Deposit July 3 (Wilson).

A female American Merganser was seen with 12 downy young on the Beaver-
kill River between Peakville and Horton, Delaware Co. June 8 and presumably the
same birds were seen June 13 at the same place (Wilson).

HAWKS — OWLS: Two Sem'.-palmated Plover were seen near Deposit June
1 (Wilson).

This has been another tent caterpillar and Cuckoo year. Both Cuckoos have
been noticeably more common this year than last in the Triple Cities area (Triple
Cities Naturalists' Club).

A Barred Owl was heard June 21 near Deposit (Wilson).

GOATSUCKERS — SHRIKES: Nighthawks have been common in Binghamton,
as usual, this year (TCNC). Mr. Wilson reports none at Deposit but he did hear
them at Hancock June 9.

Two Alder Flycatchers were found near Deposit June 2 (Wilson), two near
Binghamton June 20 (TCNC) and two more near Binghamton July 18 (Bemont).
The four near Binghamton all gave the "fitz-brew" call, although the first two were in
a dry hillside field and the other two close to a marsh in the Chenango Valley.

The Kingbird

79

The last Olive-sided Flycatchers were seen June 4 at Ely Park in Binghamton
(Sheffield's).

The Bank Swallow colony near Chenango Bridge, Broome Co. showed some en¬
largement over last year, from 350-375 to 400-425 pairs (Bemont).

The Cliff Swallow colony west of Richford, Tioga Co. was noted in passing
several times during the breeding season, and each time showed plenty of healthy
activity, but no counts were made (Bemont).

An immature Carolina Wren was trapped and banded July 10 at Chenango
Bridge and a few days later a nest containing young was found near by indicating
two broods perhaps by the same pair (Bemont). Carolina Wrens were also reported
breeding at Bainbridge, Chenango Co. (E. J. Smith). These are the first definite
breeding records in this area in recent years that have been reported.

VIREOS — WARBLERS: Blue-headed Vireos were noted at Deposit as late as
June 21 but no breeding record was obtained (Wilson).

A Blue-winged Warbler was seen near Binghamton June 6 and again June 13
(L. Hevey). It has not been seen since in spite of a good deal of effort.

Yellow-breasted Chats seem to be on the increase around the Triple Cities.
More have been found this year than ever before (TCNC).

BLACKBIRDS — SPARROWS: All the birds in this group seem to have enjoyed
a good breeding season with no high points seeming to warrant special mention. All
the expected species were present in normal numbers and there were no outsiders
to cause excitement.

R, P 3, Binghamton, N. Y.

REGION 5 —ONEIDA LAKE BASIN

Fritz Scheiber

The first week of June averaged cooler than normal, but the middle two
weeks more than compensated with very warm or hot days, usually punctuated
in the afternoon or evening by short thunder-showers. The last week of
June produced consistently clear, warm weather with no rain, a condition
which existed right up to the close of the period, producing throughout the
area near-drought conditions for farms and fire hazards for woods.

On June 20, several Onondaga Audubon Society members took a trip
into the Redfield-Osceola area on the southern edge of that terra incognita,
the Tug Hill Plateau. Noteworthy was the extensive tent caterpillar
damage, the abundance of warblers, and the dominance of a semi-northern
avifauna, even in areas notably non-coniferous and only 800-900 ft. above
sea level.

LOONS — DUCKS: Brant — 2 still present at Sandy Pond Inlet on 6/6; also 1
female Pintail, 1 female Red-breasted Merganser same place and date. Blue-winged
Tea! — appeared to have a very successful breeding season with many broods of
large numbers. Wood Ducks — appeared to have a poor overall nesting, almost the
exact reverse of the Blue-wings.

HAWKS — OWLS: Cooper's Hawk — must now be accounted as a quite rare
breeding bird, at least in the southern portion of Region 5, as not one nesting was
reported this year. Sparrow Hawk — departure of young from nest on 6/26.
Ruffed Grouse — poor season at Camp Woodland, Constantia; lack of reports from
other places would indicate below normal breeding success. Gallinule — despite the
dry weather, excellent brood hatches and success judging from the numerous young
present; 1 downy young with adult on 7/28 at Syracuse is probably the result of a
late renesting. Upland Sandpiper — definitely increasing as a breeding bird in the
Region; reports, however, concentrated in 3 areas: 1) just south of Oneida Lake;
2) around Pulaski; and 3) around Rome and Oneida (Mrs. Aspinwall, Mr. Pacquette,
Nodecker). Knot — a flock of 30, all in spring plumage, on 6/6 at Sandy Pond
along with 30 Ruddy Turnstone. Ring-billed Gull — on 7/24 Dr. B. P. Burtt banded

80

The Kingbird

6 immatures, capable of flying only 3 or 4 feet, on Grassy Island in Oneida Lake;
this is the first established breeding of the bird on Oneida Lake, although Stoner

suspected breeding much earlier (1929). Common Tern-Burtt banded 195

young and 7 adults from colonies on 4 islands in Oneida Lake; however, the colony
at Sandy Pond has been tremendously reduced from last year; on 6/6 there were 3
egg sets and about 20 scrapes, while on 6/16 only 1 egg and no scrapes were
present. The increasing human and gull populations on the Sandy Pond beaches
may explain this failure. Mourning Doves — had a very successful nesting season.

SWIFTS — SHRIKES: Red-headed Woodpecker — 3 breeding stations in the
Oneida-Sherrill area (Pacquette, Nodecker). Sapsucker — 2 pair present at Western-
ville (Mrs. May); also in several deciduous woods in the hill country (1600-1800)
southeast of Syracuse. Alder Flycatcher — spotty and apparently decreasing,
despite the large quantities of available habitat. Cliff Swallow —- the colonies
along the north shore of Oneida Lake have deteriorated rapidly — 3 colonies de¬
serted, 2 colonies with reduced numbers of pairs. Brown Creeper — singing birds
(3) present in Short Point Swamp, Oneida Lake, on 6/19. Winter Wren — singing
bird present in Camillus Valley, a stronghold for the rarer southern species, through
June. Both Brown Creeper and Winter Wren present at Constantia throughout the
summer. Carolina Wren — 2 June records; 1 on 6/13 at South Onondaga; 1 on
6/18 at Camillus Valley. Short-billed Marsh Wren — not one reported after 6/1;
definitely a scarce bird. Brown Thrasher — surprisingly common in much of the
brushy area around Redfield. Hermit Thrush — reported from several low elevation
areas (New London, near Rome; Centerville, near Pulaski) through the summer.
Noteworthy, and especially noticeable in the breeding thrushes, was the early song
cessation, probably because of the hot, dry weather.

VIREOS — FRINGILLIDS: Golden-winged Warbler — 1 male, vigorously singing,
in an alder bog in the Tug Hill country, less than a mile from several singing
Myrtle and Magnolia Warblers (6/20). Blue-winged Warbler — a careful search of
Camillus Valley on 6/15 found the regularly-present bird carrying food, but attempts
to locate the nest were unsuccessful. Nashville Warbler — feeding young near
Pulaski on 7/16 (E. Evans). Magnolia Warbler — one of the commonest warblers
in the Tug Hill area visited on 6/20. Black-throated Blue Warbler — rather com¬
mon in the Tug Hill area. Myrtle Warbler — 1 pair with young at Selkirk on Lake
Ontario; also present in June in White pine. Gray Birch, Pin Cherry mixtures along
the north shore of Oneida Lake, east of Pulaski, and around Redfield; appears to
be an uncommon but regular breeding bird in these little visited areas. Yellow¬
breasted Chat — 1 on 6/8 at Oneida (Nodecker). Towhee —notably common on the
spruce-brush bog openings in Cicero Swamp, a wet area of northern plant associa¬
tion where one would not expect them. Slate-colored Junco — 3 birds present at
Highland Park (elevation 1800-1900 ft.) on 7/25; also 1 at Selkirk on 7/20. White-
throated Sparrow — a common bird in the Tug Hill area visited 6/20; also breeding
at Constantia and at Verona Beach, despite the atypical habitat in fhe latter area.
On 7/14 one male Evening Grosbeak was seen at Barneveid (eastern Oneida Co.)
by Mrs. Walter Frank, Jr.

151 Seventh North St., Syracuse 8, N. Y.

REGION 6 —ST. LAWRENCE

Frank A. Clinch

June temperature was near normal, but in July it was below normal.
There was less than average rainfall until late July when there was a heavy
rain. However, in part of St. Lawrence County there were frequent and
heavy rains in July.

LOONS — DUCKS: A late American Brant was seen by Harry Van Beurden
at Henderson Harbor on June 20. The colony of Double-Crested Cormorants which
nest on an Island in Lake Ontario produced at least eleven young which were
observed as late as the second of July. Seven of them were banded. We hope
that with the protection given them since the first of July they may increase in
numbers. There were more Cormorants than last year, but less than three or four
years ago when many were shot at their nests, which are in elm trees. Is this their
only breeding place in New York State as has been claimed?

The Kingbird

m

HAWKS — OWLS: The Black-Crowned Night Herons did not nest where they
were seen last year. Many nests of Great Blue Herons were reported on an island
in the St. Lawrence River where they have nested other years, but no estimate was
made of the number as compared with other seasons. John B. Belknap reports
that in banding Herring and Ring-Billed Gulls at Little Galloo Island in Lake On¬
tario they found the young birds much smaller than usual for that time of the year.
Nesting probably was delayed about two weeks due to cold weather in May. Soli¬
tary Sandpiper and Yellowlegs were observed near Lowville July 27. Sora and
Virginia Rails, mostly young birds, were seen at Beaver Meadows near Watertown
in late July. A report of several Upland Plovers comes from Lowville.

SWIFTS — SHRIKES: John B. Belknap says that Migrant Shrikes appear to be
more numerous than in recent years. It is believed that they are increasing as a
breeding bird especially in St. Lawrence County. As usual a few Red-headed Wood¬
peckers have been seen. A Brown Thrasher {not cited as breeding by Eaton) was
seen near Highmarket, Lewis County by Geoffrey Carlton on June 25.

WARBLERS — SPARROWS: Mourning Warblers were seen by Carlton in the
Tug Hill section in late June. He also saw a Nashville Warbler (not listed for
Lewis County by Eaton) in the fields north or northeast of Highmarket on June 25.
The next day he picked up a dead male Evening Grosbeak on Route 3 at Childwold,
St. Lawrence County. Towhees were seen near Watertown and Lowville. More than
the usual number of Purple Finches were noted at Lowville.

183 Park Ave., Watertown, N. Y.

REGION 7 ADIRONDACK

Gordon M. Meade

June in the Adirondack region was the coldest in five years. The average
daily maximum at Saranac Lake was 60.4 degrees. There was considerable
cold, rainy weather the first and last weeks. This period of rain, which
began the last week of June, extended without interruption through July
which was one of the wettest in many years. There were no more than
seven days without some rainfall in contrast to the severe drought condition
further south.

There has been no evidence of a southern egret incursion in this region
this year. Reports continue to become more numerous each year of breeding
of the Evening Grosbeak. Two records of unusual interest are Black Terns
at Tupper Lake marshes on June 20th and Grasshopper Sparrow at Trudeau
on June 24th and July 5 th.

LOONS — DUCKS: Common Loon noted on several ponds this year where
not previously seen the past several years. This may be evidence of increased
breeding in Adirondacks. Pied-billed Grebe — Two families in Tupper Lake marshes
(Agnes Amstutz). No records of Egrets so far this year. Numerous broods of Black
and Wood Ducks along Au Sable River and its marshes (Thomas Lesperance). Ring¬
necked Ducks with family on June 20th near Tupper Lake (A. A. and Marguerite
Kingsbury). Fewer American Mergansers this year than usual in Tupper Lake
area (M. K.).

HAWKS — OWLS: Osprey — Old nest rebuilt on Horseshoe Pond near Fish
Creek Campsite (M. K.) and single bird seen in Lower Saranac Lake about July 25th
(G. M. Meade). No Ruffed Grouse broods at all seen in Keeseville area; wet season
thought possibly to blame (T. L.). Duck Hawks — Nest site on island in Lake
Champlain deserted but nesting at Willsboro Bay (T. L.). Ring-billed Gulls — Young
banded on Four Brothers Island in Lake Champlain (T. L.). White Herring Gulls are
seen throughout summer on many central Adirondack Lakes in small numbers, we
are lacking evidence on the extent to which these do or do not represent breeding
birds. A very interesting report of Black Tern (6) on June 20th in Tupper Lake
marshes (A. A.). It will be interesting to see if they become established in central
Adirondack area. Contrary to the report of the spring migration period, the Black¬
billed Cuckoo was very numerous during June and July in some areas, such as
Tupper Lake (M. K.).

82

The Kingbird

SWIFTS — SHRIKES: Arctic 3-toecl Woodpecker near Topper Lake on July
24th (M. K.). Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is a regular summer resident in localized
areas but is not general through the mountains — seen at Madawaska Pond area,
June 25th (G. M. M.) and July 3rd (M. K.). Winter Wren — more numerous than
usual in Tupper Lake (M. K.) and Saranac Lake (G. M. M. )areas. Wood Thrush —
greater number than usual in Tupper Lake region (M. K.)

VfREOS — WARBLERS: Fewer warblers than most years (Leo Provost). Pine
Warbler, 1 singing at Flague on Lake George (date unknown) (M. K.). Another
report of Yellow-breasted Chat in Central Adirondacks at Tupper Lake on June
4th (P. W. Perron ).

BLACKBIRDS — SPARROWS: Rusty Blackbirds, flocking at Tupper Lake since
mid-July. Cowbird young being fed by Myrtle Warbler (A. A.). Indigo Bunting —
very few in Tupper Lake - Saranac Lake area (M. K. and G. M. M.). Evening Gros¬
beak, reports of breeding more numerous this year than ever — male feeding young
Qt Paul Smith's on July 3rd (M. K.); female feeding juvenal at Saranac Lake, July
5th (G. M. M.); 4 adults and several young at Tupper Lake, July 1st (P. W, P.),
No evidence of breeding along Lake Champlain at Keeseville (T. L.). Pine Siskin,
June 8th at Tupper Lake (A. A.). Both Crossbills all during period at Saranac Lake
(G. M. M.). A notable new record is the Grasshopper Sparrow singing at Saranac
Lake, June 24th and July 5th,

Trudeau, New York.

REGION 8 —MOHAWK-HUDSON

Allen H. Benton

The almost missing summer of 1954 was characterized by near normal
temperature and precipitation in June, with some rainfall on 19 of the 30
days. The ten days from the 17th to the 26th were well above normal tem¬
peratures, with a new record of 95*^ on the 22nd, and constituted about the
only summer weather experienced in this area. July was cool and dry, with
rain on 22 days at Albany, but in such small amounts that the total was only
about one-half of normal quantities. Three new low-temperature records
were set during this month.

LOONS — DUCKS: A few reports of Great-blue Herons and Black-crowned
Night Herons indicate that local heronries are still in operation. American Egrets
were around most of the summer, with eight reported from Vischer's Ponds on July
18. Mallards and Black Ducks nested successfully at Vischer's Ponds and broods
of both were seen on July 18. American Mergansers were seen near Warrensburg
on July 17 by Esly Hollenbeck,

HAWKS — OWLS: A Peregrine Falcon was seen on June 26 near South Berne
by Sam Madison. A few shore-birds oppeared in July, with reports from Vischer's
Ponds on July 18 including a Ringed Plover, ten Killdeers, two Spotted Sandpipers,
a Greater Yellowlegs, q Lesser Yellowlegs, and seven Least Sandpipers. Both Black¬
billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos have been reported as breeding birds, with the latter
apparently more common.

GOATSUCKERS — SHRIKES: Nighthawks nested in both Albany and Schenec¬
tady, and Whip-poor-wills spent the summer at Albany (A. Benton) and Warrensburg
(E. Hollenbeck). Least Flycatchers appeared to some observers to be unusually
common. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen near Warrensburg in mid-June by
Esly Hollenbeck. They are known to nest along the edge of the Adirondacks in this
vicinity. Local Cliff Swallow colonies were small, but the birds still occupy several
barns near Altamont. Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen near Warrensburg in mid-
June and mid-July by Esly Hollenbeck. Brown Thrashers nested in many localities.
Young out of the nest were seen on July 7 at Loudonville by Mabel French. A single
Mockingbird appeared at Burnt Hills on June 9, and was considerate enough to perch
on the wires in front of the home of a bird student, Mrs. W. R. Foote.

The Kingbird

83

VIREOS — WARBLERS: All four local vireos hove been common this year, with
the Blue-headed Vireo reported only from the Adirondack portion of the region.
Red-eyed, Yellow-throated and Warbling Vireos hove been reported continually. At
least 16 species of Warblers have been reported as breeding birds. Worm-eating
Warblers still nest at Indian Ladder (near Altamont, Albany Co.) but there appears
to be only one pair. Pine Warblers and Prairie Warblers were present in the pine
barren in considerable numbers. A conservative estimate might be a dozen pairs
of the former and at least twice that many of the latter. A pair of Prairie Warblers
were seen attending a large Cowbird on June 28.

BLACKBIRDS — SPARROWS: The Evening Grosbeak population of the Adiron-
dacks seems to increase yearly. Adults and young were seen in early July at the
home of Mrs. Emma Rogers at North River (Warren Co.), Red Crossbills were seen
near Warrensbury (Warren Co.) on July 24 by Esiy Hollenbeck. A Slate-colored
Junco, apparently a breeding bird, was seen at Thacher Park on July 19 by Mabel
French.

New York State College for Teachers, Albany.

REGION 9 HUDSON - DELAWARE

Robert F. Deed

June and July were hot, without approaching any records, and extremely
dry. Water levels were lower than they have been for many years, yet the
number of late-summer reports of Herons, Duck, and Rails would indicate
no disaster for the march nesting birds.

HAWKS — OWLS: Broad-winged Hawks were unusually numerous during the
summer, judging by reports. On May 30, one was seen in the Lomontville area of
Ulster County, where the species nests, it was carrying a partly decapitated young
Screech Owl, which it dropped upon seeing o party of the John Burroughs Natural
History Society. On June 22, a Broad-wing was seen carrying a snake at Bedford
Hills (Jack Romanowicz). And on July 1, John C. Orth of the Bear Mountain Trail-
side Museum found a nest containing three young on the Long Mt. Road. This is
believed to be Orange County's first definite nesting record. Also in the Bear
Mountain area, an American Egret appeared at Iona Island on June 29 (Orth).

Great Black-backed Gulls summered in the Tappan Zee, off Nyack, in un¬
precedented numbers, probably more than 20 birds.

SWIFTS — SHRIKES: The John Burroughs Natural History Society has been
conducting a series of studies in the Slide Mountain area that are worthy of emula¬
tion by other groups. Parties covered specified areas repeatedly during the nesting
season, piecing together a comprehensive picture of local breeding. A trip on
Wittenberg Mountain and in Woodland Valley on June 9-10 (Henry Dunbar, Use
Dunbar, Fred Hough) found a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at 2,600-foot elevation.
Yellow-bellied Flycatchers at the 2,800-3,600-foot levels, and Red-breasted Nut¬
hatch in the same area. Golden-crowned Kiriglets were also found near the summit
(3,792 feet), as well as Bicknell's (Gray-cheeked) Thrush, Purple Finch, Slate-colored
Junco, White-throated Sparrow. Farther down the slopes, the Hermit and Olive-
backed Thrushes prevailed, along with Mourning Warbler.

At Stone Ridge, Fred Hough heard the Alder Flycatcher on June 30 and July 15.
Brown Creepers again nested near Leibhardt, Ulster County (Hough). Bank Swallows
rebuilt their community in sand banks at Naponoch, where excavating operations
forced them out last year (Hough).

A partial albino Flicker attracted attention in Bedford Hills (George Hasseltine).
The Blue-gray Gnatcatchers reported in the July issue from Rockland County were
seen feeding young in the nest on June 14 and were last seen June 18 (Dr. Marjorie
R. Hopper). Hermit Thrushes appear to be nesting in the Bear Mountain Park in
Rockland and Orange Counties. Richard Roche recorded the species eight times
during July at Lake Kanawauke, Island Pond, and Pine Swamp, and John Orth found
it once at Lake Nawahunta.

VIREOS — WARBLERS: Blackburnian Warblers were seen frequently at Lake
Stahahe and Lake Cohasset, Bear Mountain Park, during June and July (Roche,
Orth). The species nests regularly in the higher lands of this area. The Hooded
Warbler is still nesting at Lomontville, Ulster County (Henry and Use Dunbar).

84

The Kingbird

BLACKBIRDS — SPARROWS; Near Stone Ridge, Ulster County, a pair of
Baltimore Orioles, a pair of Orchard Orioles, and a pair of Crackles all nested amicably
in the same elm tree — an interesting community (Hough). Cardinals nested near
Kripplebush for the first known time (Hough).

50 Clinton Ave., Nyack, N. Y.

REGrON 10 —LONG ISLAND

John J, Elliott

The 1954 nesting season was successful through June, July, because
of continued good weather and a lack of early summer rains. A drastic
drought parched the land by late July at which time, however, practically
all first broods were on the wing. As an example Yellow Warblers were in
the fledgling stage June 12. Yellow-crowned Night Herons were reported
nesting at Jones Beach, Oyster Bay and Sands Point; Least Bitterns and
Florida Gallinules at Lawrence; Red-shouldered and Broad-winged Hawks
were recorded from western Long Island and Red-tailed from central Suf¬
folk county. Several species of vagrant ducks were seen in mid-summer;
Gulls, Terns and Skimmers had breeding success on the beach. Both Piping
Plovers and Least Terns, were recorded from the North Shore.

Hairy Woodpeckers were seen breeding in woods north of Babylon and
well distributed over the North Shore, but there were no reports of the Red¬
headed Woodpecker. The Phoebe was found nesting on Shelter Island and
the Least Flycatcher in several locations from Woodbury to Manhasset. A
widespread use of nesting boxes has resulted in a substantial increase of Tree
Swallows with gratifying numbers of this species seen hawking for insects
over eastern Nassau county and parts of Suffolk county to Montauk. Nest¬
ing areas of the Cardinal now include Southampton and a half dozen inter¬
mediate places to the Rockaways. Recent reports indicate that the House
Finch has broadened its range to the extent of scattered pairs or small
colonies being found at East Hampton and in the vicinity of Montauk,
although last year the extreme eastern boundry was at Shinnecock.

LOONS — DUCKS; Turning to the non-breeders, early summer Loons were
very scarce; the White Pelican present at Mill Neck for about a year and a half
left early last winter, but an individual was seen around the end of May at East
Moriches and as records are extremely rare of this species, there is a possibility it
may be the same bird. Some-200 Cory's Shearwaters were noted 10 miles south
of the Rockaways, July 22 and four Sooty Shearwaters were seen close off-shore at
Jones Beach, August 2. There appears to be no record of the Cattle Egret, which
fed daily on earthworms at a turkey farm in East Moriches, May 17-27, after the
latter date. Heron breeding colonies were well attended, but some Crow predation
was noted among Night Herons. Six pairs of Yellow-crowned Night Herons nested
at Sands Point this year (M. J. Wing). Numerous broods of young Black Ducks
were seen during the summer; Gadwall nested at Jones Beach, with 20 reported in
June. A Ring-necked Duck was seen at Babylon, July 4-JuIy 17, and a male Ruddy
Duck on the same pond through July. Eight or nine Ruddy Ducks were also present
at Mecox for a large part of the summer, but there was no evidence of nesting
(G. Raynor).

HAWKS — OWLS: The Broad-winged Hawk nested eastward on the south
shore to Oakdale; Red-tailed Hawk was seen daily at Upton. The Cooper's Hawk's
nesting ground, occupied for about five years in Mqssapequa, has been lost to a
development project. Florida Gallinule bred at Lawrence and nine pairs of Clapper
Rails were seen at Lattingtown; two nests were also found at Baldwin and a calling
bird at New Suffolk. A King Rail was reported daily at Lawrence and in the same
vicinity two Least Bitterns. Upland Plover bred again at Westbury and young Piping
Plover were found at Bayville. On the south shore about 100 pairs of Herring Gulls

The Kingbird

85

nested on Captree island; an estimated 250 Common Terns and 100 Black Skimmers
bred at Jones Beach. Least Tern colonies were noted at Short Beach, Jamaica Bay
and at Bayville. Non-breeding Black Terns were seen along the South Shore on
several occasions in May and again in July and August. The Mourning Dove is
apparently increasing; there was a fair abundance of both Black and Yellow-billed
Cuckoos through the season. Regarding Owls; one favorite territory for the Short¬
eared at Massapequa has been filled; there has been no report of Long-eared Owls,
but a pair of Screech Owls, one gray and one red were found nesting at Massapequa
(H. Dorrow).

SWIFTS — SHRIKES: Two attractively marked white eggs of a Whip-poor-will
were found on dead oak leaves May 20 at Mastic; no reports of nesting Nighthawks
in the New York region to date. Both Swifts and Swallows appeared in reduced
numbers on western Long Island, but were more abundant around Suffolk farms.
The Purple Martin in recent years has" become wide-spread with gratifying numbers
in eastern Nassau and over parts of Suffolk to Montauk. Practically all the Bank
and Rough-winged Swallow records come from the north shore. The Alder Fly¬
catcher was reported nesting in Van Cortlandt Park. In spite of two mild winters
favoring the Carolina Wren, it has not yet staged a comeback on western Long
Island, but favorable reports come from Southampton and North Sea. The Short¬
billed Marsh Wren's nesting grounds at Massapequa are now built upon and no
other reports have come in of this species, or of its associate the Henslow's Sparrow.
Apparently vagrant Short-billed Marsh Wrens appear in south shore marshes quite
regularly in mid-summer but subsequent investigation has never revealed nesting.

Large numbers of Hermit Thrushes were found colonizing in woods in central
Suffolk county. The Veery was fairly common in damper woodlands westward, but
the Bluebird seems less common in eastern Suffolk than formerly. Cedar Waxwings
were found in increased numbers this year.

VIREOS — WARBLERS: The Yellow-throated and Warbling Vireos were back
in their old haunts along the North Shore from Manhasset to Oyster Bay. A late
Worm-eating Warbler wos seen at Noyack, May 31, but was not reported breeding.
A male Parula Warbler was seen and occupied territory in the magnificent pinetum
of the Bayard Cutting Arboretum at Great River from mid-June to July 4, but a
diligent search revealed no nest. At least two Black-throated Green Warblers were
observed in the Manhasset area for several weeks, although they were strangely
absent from the West Hills where they were listed yearly for a decade. Pine
Warblers were recorded eastward from Babylon, the Louisiana Water-Thrush from
Mill Neck and Mt. Sinai and the Yellow-breasted Chat at Hempstead Lake Park.

BLACKBIRDS — SPARROWS: There were no nesting records of Bobolinks, or
of the Orchard Oriole, although Bobolinks were seen in a daisy field into early June
at Massapequa. The Cardinal occupies a larger tract now on eastern Long Island
being quite plentiful at North Sea (Mrs. W. Walter). A nest with young Rose¬
breasted Grosbeaks was found in Manhasset, June .25; the decline of European
Goldfinch at Massapequa still continues, but two were seen on Welfare Island,
August 2-5 (H. and V. Bauer, P. Buckley). Eight or ten pairs of Grasshopper Spar¬
rows were found at Valley Stream (their western limit on the island) and large
numbers were noted at Montauk. A thorough search of the grasslands at Nepeague,
near Montauk, produced no Henslow's Sparrows. Several favorable areas in eastern
Nassau county harboring Vesper Sparrows last year have been constricted or built
upon leaving this species almost restricted as a breeder to Suffolk county. The
marshes around Baldwin and Oceanside still contain several breeding pairs of both
Seaside and Sharp-tailed Sparrows with eggs and young found there in June, July.

3994 Park Avenue, Seaford, Long Island, New York.

86

The Kingbird

EDITORIAL

The present greatest need of New York State Ornithologists is an up-
to-date bibliography of New York birds.

We must have such a list available for use by The Kingbird editor, the
regional editors, the individual Federation members and clubs if we are to
improve our journal.

For example when Mr. H. L. Kutz wrote in the Auk vol. 63, page 591
that the Ring-billed Gull was found nesting in New York State for the first
time (1949) he overlooked a 1936 nesting record from the Roosevelt Wild¬
life Bulletin 7 (No. 2): 134-135. If a bibliography had been available to
him this omission could have been avoided.

Our present day bird observations cannot be evaluated without reference
to past records, and with no New York bibliography as a ready reference the
task is for all of us a tedious one and too often apt to produce inaccuracies
or omissions.

Perhaps someone living near one of our larger libraries could complete
such a project during the winter months. The bibliography could then be
mimeographed, used, revised and finally published. After publication of
this bibliography The Kingbird with its yearly summary of titles could keep
New YorFs birders informed of the current literature and hence aid in an
even more substantial way the study and preservation of our birds.

KINGBIRD TIMETABLE

Regional Report
Coverage

Deadline to
Kingbird

Approx, Publ.
Date

Issue Number

Dec., Jan.,

Feb., March

April 15

May 15

No.

1—May Issue

April, May

June 15

July 15

No.

2—July Issue

June, July

Sept. 15

Oct. 15

No.

3—Oct. Issue

Aug., Sept.

Oct., Nov.

Dec. 15

Jan. 15

No.

4—Jan. Issue

The Kingbird

87

NEW MEMBERS

We welcome the following twenty-three persons as new individual mem¬
bers of the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs and are happy to have
the increased support from seven Federation members.

APRIL 15, 1954 THRU SEPTEMBER 14, 1954
Life Members — $100.00

*Mrs. Henry F. Whitmore — Tarrytown

Sufforting Members — $10.00

None

Sustaining Members — %5.00
*Ciark S. Beardslee — Buffalo
*Miss Leora M. Dryer — Geneva
*Fred T. Hall — Buffalo
*John T. Ricks — Manhasset
*Fred L. Rosenstiel — New York City
*James Savage — Buffalo

Annual Members — $2.00

Mrs. A. L. Atwood — Avoca
Mrs. Lowell M. Bonnewell — Manhasset
Mrs. Arthur C, Brettle — Hamburg
§J. Warner Brown — Scottsville
Lee Chamberlaine — Syracuse
Miss Glenna M. Coleman -—• Clean
Mrs. Elon H. Eaton — Geneva
Mrs. Orry R, Evans — Syracuse
Prof. Frank K. Guthrie — Keuka Park
Mrs. Bruce C. McGregor •— Ellenburg Depot
George C. Nelms — Chautauqua
H. P. Nodecker — Oneida
Paul E. O'Meara — Newtonville
Mrs. Paul E. O'Meara — Newtonville
Miss Stephanie F. Podrazik — Schenectady
Richard C. Rosche — Buffalo
Ronald C. Simons — Rochester
Dr. Ruby Green Smith — Ithaca
R. Wayland-Smith — Oneida
Lyman K. Stuart, Sr. — Newark
Mrs. Lyman K. Stuart, Sr. — Newark
Dr. Newell R. Washburn — Endicott
Mrs. William W. White — Owego

Club

None

*Transferred from Annual Membership
fTransferred from Sustaining Membership
§Membership Reinstated

Miss Audrey Louise Wrede
Chairman of Membership Committee

88

The Kingbird

THE FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS

1954 Officers

Harold D. Mitchell, 378 Crescent Ave,, Buffalo 14, N. Y.

Guy Bartlett, 1053 Parkwood Boulevard, Schenectady 8, N. Y.
Miss Elizabeth S. Manning, 1130 Fifth Ave.> New York 28, N. Y.
Mrs. William Gary Irving, Van Houten Fields, West Nyack, N. Y.
H. Everest Clements, 1116 Sibley Tower Bldg., Rochester 4, N. Y.

Editor of THE KINGBIRD
Stephen W. Eaton, Biology Dept.,

St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, N. Y.

Standing Committee Chairmen

Conservation: Stanley O. Grierson, Todd Road, R. F. D. #1, Katonah, N. Y.
Membership: Miss Audrey Louise Wrede, 3109 Beverley Rd., Brooklyn 26, N. Y.
Publications and Research: Fred T. Hall, Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo, N. Y.
Program: Dr. Peter Paul Kellogg, Dept, of Conservation, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N. Y.
Finance: Harold D. Mitchell, ex officio

Elected Committees

Nominating:

Winston W. Brockner, 63 Ardmore Place, Buffalo 13, N. Y.

Allan S. Klonick, 828 Grosvenor Road, Rochester 18, N. Y.

Miss Audrey Louise Wrede, 3119 Beverly Rd., Brooklyn 26, N. Y.

Auditing: ,

Samuel R. Madison, 18 Oakwood Place, Delmar, N. Y.

Kenneth D. Niven, 61 Broadway, Monticello, N. Y.

President:
Vice-Pres.:
Cor. Sec.:
Rec. Sec.:
Treasurer:

FRED J. PIERCE has been editor of
Iowa Bird Life for 24 years, and is head
of the Pierce Book Company which
deals in Natural History hooks. He is
author of hundreds of articles on birds,
and editor of Althea Sherman*s hook
**Birds of an Iowa Dooryard*\ He has
been a student of birds for 37 years, and
his contributions to the field have been
honored by his election Cone of 200 in
America} to **Member** of the American
Ornithologists* Union.

‘A bird student is Judged by the binocular he uses

WRITES FRED J. PIERCE: "A field trip is usually an integral part of a bird con¬
vention (and the conventions or meetings are among the most' important activities of
bird societies). When bird students get together and go on field trips, there is
array of various makes of binoculars. The alert Bird student, who wants to see the
most birds and enjoy a sharp, clearly defined picture of the individual bird, chooses
a Bausch & Lomb. It is surprising how many Bausch & Lomb binoculars are present
at every gathering of bird students. The old saying that ^a man is judged by the
company he keeps’ could be paraphrased into *a bird student is judged by die
binocular he usesV’

WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG. 32

pages of useful information you
should know before you buy any
binocular. Tells how to select a glass
for your own use. Bausch & Lomb
Optical Co., 12734 Lomb Park, Roch¬
ester 2, N. Y.

Bausch & Lomb
Zephyr - Light
7X,35min Binocular
Balcoted Optics
$170.50 Fed. Tax Incl.