s

VOLUME vn. No. 2 __ JULY * 1957

FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC.

KINGBIRD

PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC.

Vol. 7 No. 2

. July, 1957

Pages 37-72

CONTENTS

Louis Agassiz Fuertes and his Connections

with New York State-Mary Fuertes Boynton 38

Louis Agassiz Fuertes_Arthur A. Allen 40

Folk Names of New York Birds: IV_W. L. McAtee 42

A Summary of the 57th Christmas Bird Count

in New York State_-George E. L. Lippert 46

Excerpts from the Minutes of the

Federation Council Meeting___Alice E. Ulrich 48

Notes:

Young Evening Grosbeaks (Hesperiphona vespertina)

- in Franklin County, New York, 1946 _ 50

Regional Reports for the Spring Migration, 1957 _ 52

Editor — Gerald R. Rising
Editorial Board

Sally Hoyt
Allan S. Klonick
Fritz Scheider
Minnie B. Scotland

John J. Elliott

Business and Circulation Manager — Allan S. Klonick
Cover Design — Douglas L. Howland

THE KINGBIRD is published four times a year (May, July, October and January)
by the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc. Publication office is 72 Allen's
Creek Road, Rochester 18, New York. Publication is sent free to all individual
members of the Federation. Membership in the Federation is $2.50 per year.
Single copies: Seventy-five 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, Allan S. Klonick, 901 Sibley Tower Bldg., Rochester 4, N. Y.

The Kingbird

John B. Belknap
Leslie E. Bemont
Allen H. Benton
Eugene Eisenmann

37

LOUIS AGASSIZ FUERTES AND HIS CONNECTIONS
WITH NEW YORK STATE

Mary Fuertes Boynton

Even the younger readers of The Kingbird have probably seen the odd
name Louis Agassiz Fuertes: printed, as the title of a bird-preserve, a mem¬
orial room, a Boy Scout council; signed in the corner of illustrations of
birds, in fat volumes of the Birds of New York or Birds of Massachusetts
or Birds of America , in the Burgess bird or animal books, in old National
Geographic Magazines (1914-1920) or Bird-Lores, and, if you are a serious
student of ornithology, in one of many technical books, as for example Coues’
Key (editions of 1903 and later.) I will suppose that you are curious about
the name or that you have found in the pictures some ‘speaking’ likeness
to the birds you yourself have seen. Perhaps you would like to know where
you can find, for instance, the original, fresh—not printed—pictures. Well,
if you are in New York City, go to the administration building of the Bronx
Zoo; ask to see the large collection of life studies at the American Museum
of Natural History. In Albany the State Museum displays the originals
of the Birds of New York plates. Come to Ithaca and find the collection
in the new Laboratory of Ornithology at Sapsucker Woods, and best of
all, right now this summer, you may see a special exhibit of his studies,
drawings and paintings gathered from many sources and displayed at the
White Art Museum on the Cornell campus.

What were his qualifications to paint the birds of the state 1 ? Louis Fuertes
was born in Ithaca in 1874 and lived here all his life. From the beginning
he was close to the landscape. The herbarium specimens in his high school
botany note-book (1892) are marked as from Six-mile Creek where students
still go to collect wild flowers. His letters refer to boyhood tramping in the
fields near Etna and among the Caroline hills after hawks’ nests and ches-
nuts; he made later a detailed map of all the swimming holes in the many
streams and gorges you could walk to from his house on the campus. He
and his high school friends made skis to use on Buffalo Street for trips down¬
town and to Turkey Hill to the east. A paragraph in an 1894 sophomore
English essay describes Indian summer above Cayuga Lake in terms that
show his appreciation for this kind of New York State scenery. He is
describing a drive taken by three students in a horse-drawn trap. As they
passed “between the sombre brown fields and marsh lands, enlivened here
and there by a vine of red bittersweet berries, or the crimson twigs of the
swamp-alder, a soft blue-grey haze lay over the water, and the gently sloping
points looked like long grey tongues.” No birds got into this particular
essay, but they were being looked at, listed, drawn and painted from his
fourteenth year on.

The Hudson Valley at Scarborough was perhaps the second area of
New York that Louis learned to know intimately. He picked hepaticas
in the wet woods there in May of 1897 with the children of Abbott Thayer,
with whom he later lived as a student of painting for several periods of
many months each — some in the winter, when they had experiences with
Redpolls and Crossbills, some in summer and fall, some in “May when the

38

The Kingbird

wondrous warblers came" as Gerald Thayer wrote. They were keen after
hawks and owls, and specialized in attracting owls by imitating their sounds.

In February 1901 Louis went alone into the Cornell Reserve in Frank¬
lin County in the Adirondacks to look at and collect the winter birds. Here
his tramping was done on snow-shoes. His (unpublished) journal gives
the feeling of the place:

Snow was very soft . , . and deep — with lots of buried spruce
tops which invariably let you down and trip you ... I heard a
tapping that sounded three toey, and soon saw the author, a beauty
black-back three toe, and after a short stalk he became mine . . .

Had a fine snowshoe climb up rocky hill and got a good view from
the top. Mt. Seward and Moose Mt. were splendid all day, and
went out soft cold blue after having become from silvery white,
towards evening, to first creamy, then bright golden orange, and
finally soft rosy pink. Big cloud shadows kept the composition of
the landscape continually changing by shifting the great blue and
purple masses of dark.

Late in May of 1905 with William Maxon of the National Museum he
combed Stockbridge West Hill south of Oneida for spring birds — saw
eighty species, exclusive of water birds, and revelled in an unprecedented
abundance of Cerulean Warblers. During this year he began painting
for the State bird books. The shorebirds of the lakes and fresh-water marshes
he learned from a canoe, a duck-blind, of a beach cottage on Cayuga Lake.
He was the duck-hunting and studying companion during this time of E.
FI. Eaton of Geneva, author of Birds of New York , and the two ornitholo¬
gists treasured the friendship of Foster Parker, a farmer who made his
living near Cayuga on a cash crop of wild flag and wild ducks that he raised
because he liked to see them around.

Louis’ letters from a hunting visit with Senator Henry W. Sage at Long
Point on Lake Erie show his enthusiasm for this kind of activity and place
— which, though technically in Canada, is just over the line, and whose
birds might very well be New Yorkers. In the early twenties he was a
happy guest of Mr. Harry L. Ferguson each September for pheasant shoot¬
ing and hawk-watching on Fishers Island beyond Montauk.

He always had some contacts with the city too. There were friends at
the Bronx Zoo, and an exchange of services and kindnesses, and important
business at the American Museum where Frank Chapman was curator
of the department of birds. Louis went with him on many of his expedi¬
tions to collect materials for the habitat groups that form the Hall of North
American birds and painted birds into the backgrounds of those exhibits.
A.O.U. meetings were held in the city every few years; he never missed
these if he could help it, and enjoyed besides special Museum occasions
and Explorers’ Club parties. '

At one time or another he lectured or exhibited his paintings in most of
the fair-to-large cities of the state, and had experience with the earth, the
water, the wood, the air of many particular corners of it. About the birds
that pass through on their way to breeding grounds or winter quarters, he

The Kingbird

39

had this to say in an article on Spring Birds in the Cornell Era for April, 1912:

With the possible exception of the lower Hudson valley, there
is not in the entire middle states a more advantageous station from
which to study the spring migration than this Lake region, and
Ithaca is the best point, being in an exceedingly diversified country
and within easy reach of all possible conditions. Since the reces¬
sion of the glaciers an additional feature has been added to the
numerous attractions this region offers to birds, in the form of
transverse ravines of varying depth. The fact that most of them
are east and west in their course is of great importance, as their
south banks never get the sun, and their north slopes are bathed
in it and get all the shelter and radiation there is, with the result
that they offer shelter and comfort to the early comers, while the
cool, shaded south banks, where the ice hangs late, develop truly
Canadian conditions, and attract the northern species, even inducing
many to stay and breed well to the south of their normal nesting
grounds. One needs only to stand on the foot-bridge over Fall
Creek and compare the two sides of the ravine, noticing the pre¬
ponderance of conifers and soft woods on the campus side and the
oaks, ashes, chestnuts, elms and hickories on the north, to under¬
stand what havens these gorges are to the wandering birds of all
classes. . . . Early in May begins the last and far most thrilling of
the three waves [of migrating birds], when we may hope to see
all the rare and unusual things. Now is the time to wake up.

The bird to start things is the oriole. His loud, rich, plurp!' in
the shade trees along South Avenue, a gay dash of orange and
black; this is the sign to get out for a morning walk with a note¬
book, for Lord Baltimore is the official herald of the great pageant.

Any May you might have found Louis Fuertes looking into the gorge
upon the backs of migrating warblers, hearing the plurp!' of the first oriole,
crossing Thurston Avenue to put his glass on a scarlet tanager for one of
the children to see. It was a lifetime of living in the Ithaca area — the
center of central New York — that mainly qualified him as artist of its birds.

205 Elmwood Avenue , Ithaca

LOUIS AGASSIZ FUERTES
Arthur A. Allen

Nearly thirty years have passed since Louis Agassiz Fuertes painted his
last picture. The last one, so far as known, was of two Abyssinian Turacos
done for Miss Mary Young of Williamsport, Pa. on August 14, 1927. It
now hangs in the Fuertes gallery of the new Research Center of Cornell's
Laboratory of Ornithology. On the opposite wall hangs one of a Passenger
Pigeon which he painted from a fresh specimen in 1889 when he was a
high school boy of 15.

Fuertes' first published pictures appeared in Florence Merriam Bailey's
Birding On A Bronco in 1896 and for the next thirty years his brush was

40

The Kingbird

rarely idle. Scarcely a bird book of note appeared without some of his
pictures and those like Birds of New York and Birds of Massachusetts are
as much monuments to Fuertes as to the authors. The generation of bird
observers that grew up between 1896 and 1927 were so accustomed to
having his pictures used in the various bird books that appeared that to
find any other artist was considered a distinct criticism for the book. One
often heard, for example, of Beebe’s Monograph of the Pheasants (1922) or
Phillips’ Monograph of the Waterfowl (1926): ’The plates are beautiful,
but too bad Fuertes didn’t do them all.” The careful bird student had
come to realize that there was something in Fuertes pictures that one did
not find in those of the less gifted.

There is little question but that Fuertes set a standard of accuracy as
well as charm that could be imitated but never attained. Other artists
recognized this and gladly accepted Fuertes as the leader of the school that
combined scientific accuracy with artistic skill in composition and in use
of pigments.

Prior to Fuertes, bird plates had been largely conventionalized diagrams
or feather charts done as from taxidermists’ models with little thought as
to how the birds really appeared in life. Some were almost cartoons of
the subjects, portrayed with the artist’s interpretation of how he thought
the bird ought to use its various structures in some dramatic pose. Audubon
was past master of the latter school and skillfully produced birds in imagin¬
ative poses that still hypnotize ignorant or careless observers but which shock
followers of the Fuertes’ school.

In the historical preface to his great work on North American birds,
Elliott Coues divides the history of American Ornithology into a series of
‘ Periods” such as the Catesbian Period, the Wilsonian Period, the Au-
dubonian Period, etc., according to the outstanding name of that particular
time bracket. His history does not continue into the 20th century and so we
are left free to make our own choice for the period in which we live. The
number of outstanding ornithologists in the 20th century is far greater than
in all the preceding years together but it is my firm belief that when time
has mellowed the ornithological progress of the 20th century, the first
twenty-five years will bear the name of Louis Fuertes, the outstanding bird
artist of all time.

Louis Fuertes’ greatest contribution to New York State ornithology is
naturally his illustrations for Eaton’s Birds of New York (1909-1914) al¬
though his inspiration to other bird artists like Sutton and Peterson and
Dilger and to countless other students is difficult to measure. His only ad¬
dition to the New York State list of birds, so far as I know, was a specimen
of Leconte’s Sparrow which he collected at Ithaca and painted October 11,
1897, but his collection of some 6000 beautifully prepared skins, many of
them from New York State, formed most of the initial framework about
which the modem 25,000 skin collection of Cornell University has been
assembled.

Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca

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41

FOLK NAMES OF NEW YORK BIRDS: IV
W. L. McAtee

Purple Martin. Black martin, blue martin (the feathers are tipped with steel-
blue, overlying black and sooty-gray; martin, martin swallow.

Canada Jay. Camp-robber (from its pilfering food about woodland camps);
caribou bird (it consorts with members of the deer family for the sake of ticks and
insects it can glean from them); grease bird (from its pilfering food of that descrip¬
tion about woodland camps); Hudson Bay bird (as of northern affinities); meat bird,
meat hawk (same note as for grease bird); moose bird (the moose permits these
birds to alight on it to remove ticks. Charles C. Ward in Mayer, 1883. It is also
believed that this jay directs hunters to the moose); venison hawk (same note as
for meat hawk); whiskey jack (phonetic rendering of an Indian name wisk-i-djak, a
spiritual being for which the moose bird speaks, directing the hunter to a moose.
E. T. Adney in letter).

Blue Jay. Jay, jay bird (sound names).

Common Raven. Raven.

Common Crow. Bald Hill parrot (residents of Patchogue, Long Island, sarcas¬
tically couple the name of a nearby village with an epithet for the despised crow.
Francis Harper, orally); Coram duck (similar note but a different village involved);
crow; Jim crow (a familiar or "pet" name).

Black-capped Chickadee. Chickadee (sonic); snow bird (as being noticed in
winter).

White-breasted Nuthatch. Devil-down-head (in clambering about trees, it seems
as much at home head-downward as in any other position); runaround (from its
clambering about tree trunks); sapsucker (misnomer, through confusion with wood¬
peckers, most of which, themselves, do not deserve this name); tree-peck (probably
from confusion with woodpeckers); upside-down bird (see first note).

Red-breasted Nuthatch. It probably shares all of the names of the preceding
species, but I have record only of tree-peck from New York.

House Wren. Jenny wren (a familiar or "pet" name); wren.

Winter Wren. Elephant bird (facetious for one of our smallest birds).

Mockingbird Mock bird, mocking bird (it imitates the notes of various birds
and even other types of sounds); thrush (as a superlative songster).

Catbird. That universal name alludes to a cry of the bird that resembles the
meouw of a cat; mockingbird (as a mimic, though in that respect the catbird falls
far short of the preceding species).

Brown Thrasher. Brown thrush (color cinnamon-rufous above; "thrush" as a
notable songster); euchre bird (first term possibly sonic); ground mockingbird (a
ground lover, this species is an occasional, though expert, imitator of the notes of
other birds); ground thrasher (see note on thrasher); mavis (a British name for the
European song thrush, traceable to Chaucer 1366 [mavys] OED); red thrush (the
general color above is cinnamon-rufous; "thrush" as an expert songster); Saranac
nightingale (first term from that locality in New York State; "nightingale" in
allusion to the famed European bird melodist, is intended to compliment the
thrasher's song); thrasher (thresher is an English name for the European song thrush,
so the name of our bird may be a transfer. Suggestions are made that the term
alludes to the bird's "rooting" among fallen (eaves, or its beating insects prepara¬
tory to swallowing them, but the derivation through thrush, thrusher, thresher, seems
preferable).

American Robin. Fieldfare (the European fieldfare is a close relative of our
bird; the name meaning field-goer is in British use and is traced to 1100 A.D. by
OED [feldeware]); robin, robin redbreast (these names for our most familiar bird
are transfers from a similarly confiding but smaller European species of the same
family, which is dusky above and reddish-orange below).

Wood Thrush. Chaweet (sonic); flute bird (from its whistling notes); ground
robin (although of different coloration, it is rather closely related to the robin);
little brown thrasher (superficially a miniature); swamp angel (as a "heavenly-

42

The Kingbird

voiced" inhabitant of swamps); swamp robin (see note on ground robin); wood thrush.

Hermit Thrush. Partridge bird (a ducking note is similar to one of the par¬
tridge or ruffed grouse); swamp angel, swamp robin (see under the preceding species);
swamp thrush; wood robin (see note on ground robin under the preceding species).

Veery. Nightingale (likening it to Europe's most noted bird, songster is in¬
tended as a tribute to its singing ability; it resembles that bird also in singing at
night); veery (sonic).

Eastern Bluebird. Bluebird (the male is blue above); blue robin (it is related to
the robin and like that bird, has a cinnamon breast); peter bird (a common call note
may be interpreted os "peter").

Cedar Waxwing. Cedar bird; cherry bird; English robin (a market name when
the bird was sold for food); ringtail (the tip of the tail is yellow); sealing-wax bird
(the shafts of the secondary wing-feathers look as if tipped with red sealing-wax);
spider bird (from feeding on those creatures); topknot (both sexes are crested);
wax bird; yellow-tail.

Northern Shrike. Butcher bird (because it hangs its prey on thorns or other
sharp objects and in crotches, preparatory to rending it. This name is also in
British vernacular use).

Southern Shrike. Butcher bird (first sentence of the preceding note applies);
French mockingbird (as a distinctive kind of '(mocker"; it has great similarity in
general appearance to the true mockingbird; arid also has some power of mimicry).

Red-eyed Vireo. Preacher ("So constant may his voice be heard. He's sometimes
called the Preacher Bird." Craig 1939).

Parula Warbler. Brassback (there is a yellowish olive-green patch between the
shoulders).

Yellow Warbler. Summer yellow bird; swamp bird; wild canary (from the largely
yellow coloration of the male); yellow bird; yellow wren (a small bird of largely
yellow coloration).

Myrtle Warbler. Myrtle bird (from feeding on the fruit of the wax-myrtle,
Myrica).

Black-poll Warbler. Sailor (Pennant 1785).

Oven-bird. That name, in rather general use, refers to the arched-over nest;
it is not, however, made of clay).

Maryland Yellowthroaf. Yellowthroat.

House Sparrow. English sparrow (much of the original stock was imported from
England); sparrow (as if it were the only one — a British name traced to about
725 A.D. [spearua] OED. The bird is no sparrow at all, but a weaver-bird).

Bobolink. That name, in general use, is in imitation of some of its notes);
ground blackbird (it is of the blackbird alliance and nests on or near the ground);
meadow bird; seventy-six poll-tax (sonic); skunk blackbird (from the black and
white coloration of the male).

Eastern Meadowlark. Field lark (as a denizen of grasslands; it is, however,
no lark); marsh quail (the bird was formerly hunted in much the same way as are
quail); meadowlark; meadow starling (various birds of this family are miscalled
"starlings").

Red-winged Blackbird. Corn thief (it is destructive to Indian corn); marsh
blackbird; redwing, redwinged blackbird (there is a large red and buff patch on
the bend of the wing of the male); red-wing starling (various birds of this family
are miscalled "starlings"); swamp blackbird.

Orchard Oriole. Orchard bird; small swinger (its nest is sometimes suspended).

Baltimore Oriole. Fire bird (about half of the plumage of the adult male varies
from "cadmium yellow to intense orange or almost flame scarlet". Ridgway 1902);
fire hangbird (the nest is suspended); golden oriole (in allusion to the yellow to
orange coloration of about half of the plumage of the adult male); golden robin (as
a familiar bird of the color just noted); goldfinch (from the coloration as here noted;
however, the bird is not a finch nor does it resemble the birds of that family which
are known as goldfinches); hangbird, hangnest, swinger (the nest is suspended);
whistling swinger (in quality, its song is much like human whistling).

Purple Grockle. Crow blackbird (from its large size among blackbirds); jackdaw
(by transfer from a European member of the crow family, with which our bird has

The Kingbird

43

little in common, either in color, size, or habits); starling (various birds of this
family are miscalled “starlings").

Common Gowbird. Cowbird, cow bunting, cow blackbird, cow robin (from its
associating with cattle; "bunting" if more often applied to a group of finches;
"robin" has the significance of a familiar bird); flycatcher (from its catching flies
about cattle).

Scarlet Tanager. Black-winged redbird (descriptive of the male); fire bird (the
plumage of the adult male is chiefly scarlet); redbird, woods redbird.

Cardinal. Cardinal, cardinal redbird (from the vermilion-red coloration of the
male; a distinctive part of the vestiture of a Cardinal or member of the Pope's
council, is red); redbird.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Cut-throat sparrow (the breast and sometimes the
throat of the male are rose-to poppy-red, as if from bleeding).

Indigo Bunting. Indigo bird (this name, in general use, refers to the cerulean-
blue plumage of the male).

Purple Finch. English robin (as a familiar ruddy bird, distinct from the common
robin); linnet (this term usually indicates a good songster).

Pine Grosbeak. Bullfinch (as reminding observers of the European bull finch,
Pyrrhula); pine finch (it lives among pines and feeds on their seeds).

Common Redpoll. Red-breasted snowbird (the fore underparts of the male are
more or less suffused with pink); snow bird (as being seen in winter).

Common Goldfinch. Goldfinch (by transfer from a yellow, and otherwise bright¬
ly colored European finch; lettuce bird (as feeding on the seeds of that plant); shiner
(from the bright coloration of the breeding male); thistle bird (it feeds on thistle
seeds and lines its” nest with thistle down);, thistle yellowbird, wild canary (from the
largely yellow coloration of the breeding male); yellow bird.

Red Crossbill. Crossbill (the mandibles are "falcate, deflected to opposite sides,
their points crossed (unique among birds)". Coues 1903).

Eastern Towhee. Chaweet, chewink (sonic); fox bird (the sides and flanks are
cinnamon-rufous); ground robin, marsh robin (its black and cinnamon coloration
suggests that of the robin); seebing (sonic); swamp robin; towhee (sonic); wood
thrush ( a brushland bird, but not very thrush-like).

Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Quail-head (the markings on the head deemed similar
to those of the bobwhite quail).

Vesper Sparrow. Grass bird, grass finch, gray grass bird (as living among
grasses); ground sparrow.

Slate-colored Junco. Black chipping bird (its general coior is slaty; a char¬
acteristic call has been described as "smacking" or "snapping"); black snowbird
("black" as before; "snowbird" from being seen in winter); rain bird (as being
especially active before rains); snowbird; white-tailed sparrow (two or three feathers
on each side of the tail are white).

Tree Sparrow. Ground Sparrow; snowbird (from being seen in winter); winter
chippy (a bird similar to the chipping sparrow that is seen in winter); wood spar¬
row.

Chipping Sparrow. Chip bird, chipper sparrow, chipping bird, chippy, chippy
bird, chippy sparrow (its call is a "chip" and its song a succession of similar notes);
hair bird, hairy (it uses animal hair to line its nest); house sparrow (from living
about the habitations of man).

Field Sparrow. Bush sparrow; chippy's cousin (as a near relative of the chipping
sparrow); sweet singer; wood sparrow.

White-throated Sparrow. Cherry bird (it sometimes attacks cherry blossoms);
Peabody bird (a name spreading from New England where a popular rendering of
the song is "Sow wheat, Peabody, Peabody, Peabody"); white-throat.

Fox Sparrow. Shepherd (Pennant 1785).

Swamp Sparrow. Red grass-bird (the species has considerable chestnut color¬
ation, and is an inhabitant of low vegetation.

Song Sparrow. Brown canary (The general effect of the coloration is a streaky
reddish-brown; it is a persistent singer); brown ground-bird; ground bird; song
■sparrow.

Lapland Longspur. Snow bird (from being seen in winter).

44

The Kingbird

Snow Bunting. Ortolan (name of a European finch prized by epicures; the present
species was formerly sent to northeastern markets in great numbers); snow bird (as
being seen in winter); white bird, white snowbird (the plumage is largely white);
winter bunting.

LITERATURE CITED

Bent, Arthur C. 1927. Life Histories of North American Shore Birds. Bui. 142,
U.S. Nat. Museum, ix - 410 pp., jHus.

Brewster, William 1924, 1925. The Birds of the Lake Umbagog Region of Maine.
Bui. Mus. Comp. Zool. 66 (pts. 1-3).

Catesby, Mark 1731. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama
Islands. Vol. I, xii - 100 pp., 100 col. pis.

Coues, Elliott 1903. Key to North American Bteds. 5th edition, 2 vols. Boston.

Craig, John L. 1939. Bird of Tennessee in Verse and Story. State Dept, of Conser¬
vation (Nashville), 76 pp., illus.

Kalm, Peter 1937. Peter Kalm's Travels in North America. 2 vols. New York.
Translation by Adolph B. Benson.

Kalm, Pieter 1772. Reis door Noord Amerika, gedaen door den Heer Pieter
Kalm. 2 vols. Utrecht, Holland,

Latham, John 1781-1801. A General Synopsis of Birds. London, 3 vols. and
Supp!., each of 2 parts.

Lowell, James R. 1871. My Study Windows. Boston 3 - 433 pp.

Mackay, George H. 1892. Habits of Eskimo Curlew ... in New England. Auk,
8:16-21.

Mactaggart, John 1829. Three Years in Canada . . . 1826-7-8, etc. London.
2 vols

McAtee, W. L. 1935. Food Habits of Common Hawks. U.S. Dept of Agriculture
Circ. No. 370, 36 pp., illus.

Merrett, Christopher 1667. Pinax rerum naturalium brittanicarum, etc. London,
255 pp. Birds, pp. 170-184.

New International Dictionary (NID) 7950. Webster's New International Dictionary
of the English Language. Springfield, Mass.

Oxford English Dictionary (OED) 1933. The Oxford English Dictionary . . . Oxford,
England. 13 vols.

Pennant, Thomas 1785. Arctic Zoology. Vol 2, Class 2. Birds. London. 187-
586 - 7pp., illus.

Read, William A. 1931. Louisiana-French. Louisiana State Univ. Studies, 5, xxiv
253 pp.

Ridgway, Robert 1902. The Birds of North and Middle America, etc. Part II,
Washington, D. C. xx 834 pp., 22 pis.

Smellie, William 1792-1793. Natural History of Birds. Translated from the
French of G. L. Buffon. London. 9 vols., illus.

Swann, H. Kirke 1913. A Dictionary of English and Folk-Names of British Birds
. . . London, xii 266 pp.

Trumbull, Gurdon 1888. Names and Portraits of Birds which interest Gunners, etc.
New York, viii 221 pp., illus.

Turner, William 1544. Turner on Birds . . . first published . . . 1544. Edited
by A. H. Evans. Cambridge, England. 1903. xviii 223 pp.

Van der Donck, Adriaen 1841. Description of the New Netherlands, etc., 1656.
Translation by Jeremiah Johnson. Coll. N. Y. Hist, Soc., Ser 2(1), pp. 125-242.

Ward, Charles C. 1883. In Mayer, Alfred M., Editor. Sport with Gun and Rod in
American Woods and Waters. New York. 888 pp., illus.

Wilson Alexander 1808-1814. American Ornithology, etc. Philadelphia, 9 vols., illus.

^ Davie Circle , Chapel Hill , North Carolina

The Kingbird

45

A SUMMARY OF THE 57TH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
IN NEW YORK STATE
George E. L. Lippert

This paper summarizes the Christmas Bird Counts in New York State
conducted from December 24, 1956 to January 2, 1957 (see 1957, Audubon
Field Notes 11 (2): 88-99). The 55th and 56th Count was summarized
in this magazine (6 (1): 13-15 and 6 (2): 46-48) and future summaries
will be provided yearly. In the species tabulations two numbers are given:
first, the number of counts on which it was reported; second, the total
number of birds seen.

Long Island ■— Temperature on the 8 counts varied from 25° to 46°F. 134

individuals cooperated, varying from one to 55 observers per count group. 522.5
hours were spent in the field, 386 afoot, 131,5 in cars and 5 by boat. 1629 miles
were travelled; 439 afoot, 1169 by car and 21' in boats. Total species: 156; total
birds 195,891.

Common Loon 7, 103; Red-throated Loon 8, 67; Red-necked Grebe 2, 2;
Horned Grebe 7, 1042; Pied-billed Grebe 7, 112; Gannet 6, 272; European Cormor¬
ant 4, 39; Doub!e-crested Cormorant 1 , 1 (Brooklyn); Great Blue Heron 8, 149;
American Egret 1 , 2 (Brooklyn); Black-crowned Night Hefon 5, 150; Yellow-
crowned Night Heron 1, 1 (S. Nassau Co.); American Bittern 5, 7; Mute Swan 6,
272; Canada Goose 7, 157; Brant 2, 13195; Snow Goose 1, 2 (Montauk); Mallard
8, 1817; Black Duck 7, 12087; Gadwall 3, 20; European Widgeon 2, 2; American
Widgeon, 5, 2783; Pintail 6, 445; Green-winged Teal 6, 101; Shoveller 4, 62;
Wood Duck 1, 2 (Smithtown); Redhead 5, 106; Ring-necked Duck 5, 182; CanVas-
back 4, 1502; Greater Scaup Duck 8, 14542; Lesser Scaup Duck, 5, 316; American
Goldeneye 8, 1275; Bufflehead 8, 250; Old-squaw 7, 755; Harlequin Duck 1, 5
(Montauk); Common Eider 2, 2; King Eider 1, 1 (Brooklyn); White-winged Scoter 8,
4153; Surf Scoter 6, 816; American Scoter 7, 249; Ruddy Duck 5, 249; Hooded
Merganser 6, 107; American Merganser 3, 91; Red-breasted Merganser 8, 844;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2, 2; Red-tailed Hawk 2, 4; Red-shouldered Hawk 3, 4; Broad-
winged Hawk 1, 1; Rough-legged Hawk 3, 3; Bald Eagle 1, 1; Marsh Hawk 6, 31;
Sparrow Hawk 7, 64; Ruffed Grouse 1, 1; Bob-white 3, 53; Ring-necked Pheasant
6, 74; Clapper Rail 6, 12; Virginia Rail 1, 1 (Cen. Suffolk Co.); Florida Gallinule 1,
1; American Coot 7, 856; Killdeer 4, 77; Black-bellied Plover 5, 13; Ruddy Turn¬
stone 1, 9 (Montauk); Woodcock 1, 1; Wilson's Snipe 5, 20; Red Knot 2, 19
(Brooklyn and Quoque to Watermill); Purple Sandpiper 4, 135; Red-backed Sand¬
piper 4, 505; Western Sandpiper 1, 1 (N. Nassau Co.); Sanderling 6, 486; Iceland
Gull 1, 2; Great Black-backed Gull 8, 2192; Herring Gull 8, 31632; Ring-billed Gull
8, 1726; Black-headed Gull 1, 1 (Brooklyn); Laughing Gull 4, 86; Bonaparte's Gull

5, 1320; Black-legged Kittiwake 3, 1653.

Mourning Dove 6, 247; Barn Owl 4, 5; Screech Owl 7, 14; Horned Owl 2, 2;
Snowy Owl 1, 2; Long-eared Owl 3, 5; Short-eared Owl 1, 16; Belted Kingfisher 6,
28; Yellow-shafted Flicker 8, 100; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2, 2; Hairy Woodpecker

6, 23; Downy Woodpecker 7, 170; Western Kingbird 2, 3 (Brooklyn, Montauk);
Eastern Phoebe 1, 1; Horned Lark 7, 763; Blue Jay 7, 771; American Magpie 2, 2
(Cen. Suffolk Co.); American Crow 8, 1 868; Fish Crow 3, 24; Black-capped Chicka¬
dee 8, 464; White-breasted Nuthatch 5, 88; Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, 4; Brown
Creeper 5, 18; Winter Wren 7, 18; Carolina Wren 6, 29; Long-billed Marsh Wren
3, 8; Short-billed Marsh Wren 1, 1 (Cen. Suffolk Co.); Mockingbird 2, 2; Catbird 5,
19; Brown Thrasher 1, 2; American Robin 8, 110; Hermit Thrush 4, 6; Eastern
Bluebird 3, 14; Golden-crowned Kinglet 4, 55; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5, 10; Ameri¬
can Pipit 2, 5; Cedar Waxwing 3, 19; Gray Shrike 2, 8; Loggerhead Shrike 4, 4;
Common Starling 8, 46929; Orange-crowned Warbler 1, 2 (S. Nassau Co.); Cape
May Warbler 1, 1 (S. Nassau Co.); Myrtle Warbler 8, 2635; Pine Warbler 1, 1;
Palm Warbler 3, 4; Common Yellow-throat 2, 2; Yellow-breasted Chat 1, 4 (S.
Nassau Co ); House Sparrow 8, 8909; Eastern Meadowlark 8, 196; Red-winged

46

The Kingbird

Blackbird 5, 204; Baltimore Oriole 1, 1 (Quoque to Watermill); Rusty Blackbird 4,
16; Purple Grackle 3, 8; Brown-headed Cowbird 6, 1860; Western Tanger 1, 2
(S. Nassau Co.); Cardinal 4, 59; Purple Finch A, 25; House Finch 1, 76; Pine
Siskin 2, 7; American Goldfinch 8, 215; Eastern Towhee A, 50; Spotted Towhee

1, 1 (S. Nassau Co.); Ipswich Sparrow 4, 6; Savannah Sparrow 6, 166; Sharp-tailed
Sparrow A, 7; Seaside Sparrow 1, 1; Vesper Sparrow 1, 2; Slate-colored Junco 7,
1774; Tree Sparrow 8, 1420; Chipping Sparrow 1, 2; Field Sparrow 8, 169; White-
crowned Sparrow 1, 1; White-throated Sparrow 8, 1718; Fox Sparrow 5, 36; Lin¬
coln's Sparrow 1, 1 (Montauk); Swamp Sparrow 7, 50; Song Sparrow 8, 1057; Lap-
land Longspur 3, 29; Snow Bunting 7, 612. (Also during count period: Golden Plover,
Willet, Dowitcher and Cinnamon Teal).

Mainland New York *— Temperature on the 27 counts varied from -10° to 50°F.
442 individuals cooperated, varying from one to 53 observers per count group. 1 192
hours were spent in the field, 625 on foot, 552 in cars and 19 in boats. 5845
miles were travelled: 801 by foot, 4969 by car and 75 in boats. Total species:
148; total birds 332,731.

Common Loon 5, 13; Red-throated Loon 2, 12; Red-necked Grebe 1, 1; Horned
Grebe 13, 395; Pied-billed Grebe 13, 45; European Cormorant 1, 21; Double-
crested Cormorant 2, 4; Great Blue Heron 6, 62; Black-crowned Night Heron 5,
56; American Bittern 1, 1; Mute Swan 2, 18; Whistling Swan 1, 4; Canada Goose
6, 211; Snow Goose 1, 1; Blue Goose 1, 7 (Staten Island); Mailard 15, 1594; Black
Duck 21, 5614; Gadwall 3, 13; European Widgeon 1, 1; American Widgeon 2, 94;
Pintail 4, 80; Green-winged Teal 3, 54; Wood Duck 2, 3 (Syracuse and Bronx-
Westchester); Redhead 8, 388; Ring-necked Duck 6, 140; Canvasback 13, 4997;
Greater Scaup Duck 14, 29597; Lesser Scuap Duck 5, 62; American Goldeneye
20, 3928; Bufflehead 8, 931; Old-squaw 6, 1131; King Eider 2, 3 (Bronx- Westches¬
ter Region, Buffalo); White-winged Scoter 6, 210; Surf Scoter 4, 10; American
Scoter 4, 16; Ruddy Duck 7, 684; Hooded Merganser 9, 168; American Merganser
18, 5487; Red-breasted Merganser 7, 1601; Goshawk 1, 1; Sharp-shinned Hawk
5, 6; Cooper's Hawk 5, 7; Red-tailed Hawk 19, 88; Red-shouldered Hawk 5, 11;
Rough-legged Hawk 9, 24; Bald Eagle 1, 3; Marsh Hawk 11, 45; Peregrine Falcon

2, 2; Sparrow Hawk 18, 166; Ruffed Grouse 17, 74; Ring-necked Pheasant 22, 599;
Wild Turkey 2, 37; Clapper Rail 2, 2; Virginia Rail 1, 2; American Coot 8, 410;
Killdeer 6, 90; Woodcock 1, 1; Wilson's Snipe 2, 22; Greater Yellowlegs 1, 1 (Bronx
Westchester); Purple Sandpiper 2, 164; Sanderling 1, 119; Glaucous Gull 4, 8; Ice¬
land Gull 6, 17; Great Black-backed Gull 12, 1842; Herring Gull 22, 69843; Ring¬
billed Gull 15, 4820; Black-headed Gull 2, 3 (Manhattan, Staten Island); Laughing
Gull 4, 266; Bonaparte's Gull 6, 6150; Black-legged Kittiwake 1, 3 (Bronx-West-
chester); Mourning Dove 14, 425; Barn Owl 2, 4; Screech Owl 7, 37; Horned Owl
13, 37; Snowy Owl 1, 1; Barred Owl 3, 4; Long-eared Owl 3, 7; Short-eared Owl

3, 17; Saw-whet Owl 3, 3; Belted Kingfisher 16, 55; Yellow-shafted Flicker 14,
65; Pileated Woodpecker 14, 20; Red-headed Woodpecker 3, 4; Hairy Woodpecker
28, 241; Downy Woodpecker 28, 668; Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker A, 8 (Buffalo,
Rochester (5), Schenectady, Syracuse); American Three-toed Woodpecker 1, 1 (Ro¬
chester); Crested Flycatcher 1, 1 (Staten Island); Eastern Phoebe 1, 1; Horned Lark
10, 308; Tree Swallow 2, 3; Blue Jay 27, 2234; American Crow 27, 8864; Fish
Crow 2, 39; Black-capped Chickadee 27, 3017; Tufted Titimouse 7, 161; White¬
breasted Nuthatch 26, 443; Red-breasted Nuthatch 3, 3; Brown Creeper 17, 130;
House Wren 1, 1 (Bronx-Westchester); Winter Wren 7, 19; Carolina Wren 5,
13; Long-billed Marsh Wren 1, 1; Mockingbird 1, 1 (Rockland Co.); Catbird 5,
15; Brown Thrasher 1, 1; American Robin 17, 158; Hermit Thrush 2, 2; Eastern
Bluebird 7, 66; Golden-crowned Kinglet 19, 214; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 11, 24;
American Pipit 1, 2; Cedar Waxwing 14, 399; Gray Shrike 12, 35; Loggerhead
Shrike 2, 2; Common Starling 28, 142, 364; Orange-crowned Warbler 1, 1 (Staten
Island); Myrtle Warbler 9, 200; Palm Warbler 1, 1; Common Yellowthroat 1,
1; Yellow-breasted Chat 1, 1; House Sparrow 28, 12227; Eastern Meadowlark 10,
239; Red-winged Blackbird 10, 493; Rusty Blackbird 4, 32; Purple Grackle 9,
75; Brown-headed Cowbird 11, 632; Cardinal 22, 509; Evening Grosbeak 3, 3;
Purple Finch 4, 29; House Finch 1, 101; Common Redpoll 1, 50; Pine Siskin 3,

The Kingbird

47

27; American Goldfinch 20, 932; White-winged Crossbill 1, 1; Eastern Towhee 5,
50; Savannah Sparrow 3, 81; Vesper Sparrow 2, 4; Slate-colored Junco 22, 4143;
Tree Sparrow 26, 6922; Field Sparrow 6, 192; White-crowned Sparrow 3, 8; White-
throated Sparrow 12, 1 186; Fox Sparrow 4, 41; Swamp Sparrow 1 1, 64; Song Spar¬
row 21, 1080; Lapland Longspur 1, 2; Snow Bunting 7, 225. (Also during Count
period: Brown-capped Chickadee, Florida Gallinule, Baltimore Oriole, Kentucky
Warbler (Kingston-Mohonk Lake-Ashokan Resevoir.)

Totals for entire state: 176 species; 521,344 individuals. The Rockland Audu¬
bon Society's Christmas Count which is compiled by Mr. Robert F. Deed is in¬
cluded. This count is not reported to Audubon Field Notes, but was conducted
under their rules. Any other such counts which may be conducted under those rules
will be gladly accepted for future summaries.

HD No. 1 , Brown Road, Albion

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE
FEDERATION COUNCIL MEETING

Schenectady, May 25, 1957

President Albert W, Fudge called the tenth annual meeting to order,
26 delegates representing 16 clubs present.

Mr. Fudge announced the appointment of Mrs. Dayton Stoner as vice-
president until Dec. 31, 1957, to fill the unexpired term of Robert Arbib.
A motion commending Mr. Arbib for his work for the Federation was
unanimously approved.

The Allen Devoe Bird Club of Chatam was presented for membership
in the Federation and was accepted.

Financial

The treasurer's report was given for 1956 by Allan S. Klonick:

Cash on hand (January 1, 1956)-$ 756.92

Receipts ____ 1,058.25

Expenditures _$1,104.96

Cash on hand (January 1, 1957)-$ 706.21

In addition the permanent fund contained $756.88. The auditing com¬
mittee approved this report.

The budget was announced and approved. It called for: president,
$25.00; vice-president, $10.00; corr. sec., $40.00; record, sec., $40.00; treas.,
$80.00; conservation comm., $80.00; membership comm., $10.00; publications
and research comm., $930.00 (Kingbird, $800.00; bibliography, $35.00; state
book, $75.00; waterfowl census, $10.00; publications and research, $10.00);
postage, $75.00; misc., $10.00. Total $1300.00

Committees

Winston Brockner reported for the conservation committee. The coun¬
cil recorded opposition to two amendments which would affect the forest
preserve (the so-called detached parcel and highway realignment bills)
because they might establish a dangerous precedent. The committee would
work actively in support of the model hawk and owl law during 1957. The
council recorded a vote of commendation for the work of Federation mem¬
ber H. Everest Clements in support of the hawk and owl legislation na-

48

The Kingbird

tionally. A motion by Mrs. Stoner that the Federation support Dr. Robert
Cushman Murphy in his court battle against use of sprays on Long Island
was approved. Clubs were asked to have their delegates contact Mr. Brock-
ner so that conservation bulletins could again be issued.

Harold Mitchell reported for the publications and research committee.
Fie reiterated the fact that the state book, bibliography and waterfowl census
committees are sub-committtees of the publications and research committee.
He announced the appointment of Dr. Minnie Scotland of Schenectady
as editor of The Kingbird , her tenure to commence with the June issue,
1958. Allan Klonick as business manager and the present editorial board
will continue.

Mr. Mitchell then reported for the state book committee. Projects which
are still incomplete are: (1) the sample species write-ups, and (2) establish¬
ment of a final mailing list. Individuals interested in receiving question¬
naires were asked to contact Mr. Mitchell. These questionnaires are filed
in the Buffalo Museum of Science. Mr. Mitchell again asked for help for
Dr. Webb on the ecology project and asked that all clubs establish breeding
bird surveys. A proposal by Mrs. Stoner that the Federation hold state wide
bird walks in mid-May was discussed and it was suggested that members
contact their local clubs for opinions.

Dr. Allen Benton’s bibliography report recounting further progress of
this committee was accepted as were the waterfowl census and Kingbird re¬
ports by Gerald Rising.

The constitution and by-laws committee announced completion of the
incorporation procedures. The committee having terminated its work was
dissolved.

Audrey Wrede proposed the names of 23 persons for individual member¬
ship. They were accepted, making a total of 360 individual members. Miss
Wrede also offered a plan for getting new members by presenting a form
with space for five new members. Individual representatives were asked to
take these back to their own clubs.

1958 Officers

Alvin G. Whitney, chairman of the nominating committee, presented
the proposed slate for 1958:

President: Allan S. Klonick, Rochester
Vice-president: Mrs. William G. Irving, West Nyack
Recording Secretary: Mrs. Edward C. Ulrich, Buffalo
Corresponding Secretary: Elizabeth A. Feldhusen, Saranac Lake
Treasurer: Gerald R. Rising, Rochester

These officers were elected.

Elected to the 1958 nomniating committee were: Dr. Gerhard Leubner,
Rochester, chairman; Nellie Van Vorst, Schenectady; and Robert Hammer-
slag, Bedford. Elected to the 1958 auditing committee were: Guy Bartlett,
Schenectady, chairman; and Dorothy Niles, Amsterdam.

The following invitations for future Federation meetings were accepted:
1958, Rochester; 1959, Watertown; 1960, Buffalo. Schenectady informally
announced its invitation for 1962.

The Kingbird

49

John Elliott proposed a vote of thanks be extended to the Schenectady
Bird Club for its hospitality at the 1957 meeting. This was carried unan¬
imously,

Alice E. Ulrich, Buffalo

NOTES

Young Evening Grosbeaks (Hesperiphona vespertina) in Franklin County, New
York, 1946 — Several notes have described the southward and eastern penetration
of the Evening Grosbeak into eastern United States during the winter of 1945-46
(Monroe and Mengel, 1946, Wilson Bull., 58: 1 16, Stevenson, 1946, Auk 63: 444;
Middledauff, 1946, Auk, 63: 444; Lunk, 1946, Auk, 63; 45; Jones, 1947, Auk,
64: 142; Teale, 1947, Auk, 64: 142; Ross, 1947, Auk, 64: 318).

It is interesting to note that during the following summer of 1946 the first
record of a young bird for the state of Maine was obtained. Palmer (1949, Maine
Birds, 526) and C. E. Hope (1947, Auk, 64: 463-4) reported two nests of this
species were found in Algonquin Park, Ontario.

In New York State, F. B. Barrick (1946, Auk, 63: 444-5) feels it is logical to
assume that a pair observed in the Adirondacks at Cranberry Lake during late June,
1 946, nested there.

During this same summer a group of biologists were doing extensive field work
on birds in the Adirondacks in connection with the possible effects of DDT on
birds. (See George and Mitchell, 1947, Jour, of Econ. Entom., 40:782-789). In
view of this general southward penetration of the bird, it is of interest that we ob¬
served a group of four Evening Grosbeaks feeding at Lake Clea'- Villa on the south
shore of Lake Clear at Lake Clear Junction, Franklin County, N. Y. on July 20, 1946.
This location is approximately 28 miles northwest of the Cranberry Lake record
by Barrick cited above. Of these four birds two were adults, one male, the other
female. Apparently this was a mated pair as the remaining two birds were imma-
tures that were being fed by the adults. The immatures were fully grown. The
birds had been heard calling for at least three days prior to actual observation and
this group was observed daily during the remainder of July. The birds appeared
to stay within a quarter mile radius of Lake Clear Villa during this time and were
generally observed to be feeding on fruit, especially the fruit of Amelanchier. During
this period they were at times joined by additional Evening Grosbeaks ranging in
numbers from one to four. This group was regularly observed by R. T. Mitchell,
D. L. Kemp and myself, and, on July 25, by A. L. Nelson.

On August 3, 1946 on the Rockefeller Estate five miles west of Paul Smiths,
Franklin County, N. Y., a second pair of adult Evening Grosbeaks were observed
in an Amelanchier tree with an immature begging to be fed. As at Lake Clear the
immature was fully grown. They were under observation only a few minutes before
they departed and were not observed actually to feed the young bird. This pair
was approximately eight miles northwest of the pair at Lake Clear Junction. Field
observations were discontinued in the Adirondacks on August 5.

In general, sporadic movements of this nature are exceptional and have seldom
resulted in any permanent extension of a bird's breeding range. Therefore it is
of interest that the Evening Grosbeak has apparently successfully nested in new
areas during the summer of 1946 following a general southward and eastward pene¬
tration during the previous winter. Young Evening Grosbeaks were seen in this
same general area, at Saranac Lake about five miles to the east, during the sum¬
mers of 1947, 1948 and 1949 (Schaub, 1951, Auk, 68: 517-519), Both Algon¬
quin Park and the Adirondacks were afflicted with an outbreak of the spruce bud-
worm (Archips f umiferana) so an abundant insect food supply was assured in these
areas for the duration of the outbreak. Interestingly enough, the first (and except
for one 1937 record, the only) record of young Evening Grosbeaks in Eastern

50

The Kingbird

UniTed States was in 1926 (1926, Auk, 43:549), which was during the last spruce
budworm outbreak prior to the outbreak following World War II. These budworm
outbreaks are correlated with an overabundance of mature balsam fir (George and
Mitchell, 1948, Jour, of Forestry, 46:454-455), which may influence the bird's
distribution. If the bird can establish itself as a regular breeding species in these
new areas it will prove an exception to the usual means of range extension —
gradual centrifugal spread. This latter process seems to have been the mechanism
in the eastern extension of the Evening Grosbeak's range during the last forty-five
years (Chapman, 1932, Handbook of Birds, 510; Baillie, 1940, Can. Field Nat.,
54:15-25).

—John L. George, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie

SPECIAL NOTICE
TO ALL FEDERATION MEMBERS:

A directory of the individual members of
the Federation of New York State Bird
Clubs will-be published early in 1958 as
part of or a supplement to The Kingbird .
This listing will include all individual
members as of January 1, 1958, In order
to insure that this listing is truly repre¬
sentative of New York State ornithology,
members are urged to encourage others to
join the State organization. Local club offi¬
cers may wish to circulate list for group
membership applications. All applications
should be forwarded to Miss Audrey Louise
Wrede, 3109 Beverley Road, Brooklyn 26,
New York.

The Kingbird

51

REGIONAL REPORTS

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPRING MIGRATION: APRIL-MAY, 1957

One of my first years of field birding, a year when outstanding Rochester
birders pointed out dozens of “lifers” to me, was quite like 1956. The cha¬
grin and frustration of the following year when a less spectacular migration
failed to produce the expected numbers of rarities came close to terminating
my ornithological interest. Although there are a few similar reactions this
year, the scarcity of these complaints after the spectacular 1956 migration
would seem to indicate that this year’s migration was above average. Surely
birding was more difficult in 1957 than in 1956: trees were well leafed out
far in advance of peak waves, and the rain the State so badly needed seemed
to come all at once at Census time. A possible result of observation diffiulty
was the scarcity of Blue-headed and Philadelphia Vireo reports in some
western regions.

This report period completes the cycle without any Winter Finches.
We can only wait until the end of the year to see how long this phenominon
will last. A couple of Three-toed Woodpeckers remained in Region 2,
as if to prolong as long as possible the notoriety that region gained from
Christmas Census results. Schenectady in Region 8 found the spotlight,
however, when it produced for the annual Federation meeting on May 25
a Cattle Egret. This is the third known state record, the first on mainland
New York.

The “new” hawk flight station at the SE corner of Lake Ontario contin¬
ues to provide interesting records, this year a Golden Eagle. This is another
example of the result of more intensive field work. Syracuse birders are
to be congratulated for this extension of our knowledge of New York bird
flights.

Also of interest is a Black Rail in Region 5, turned up during field trials
for dogs. A scattering of central New York Glossy Ibis reports (several also
from Region 10) and a Region 9 Gannet are also of interest. —GRR

REGION 1 — NIAGARA FRONTIER
Clark S. Beardslee

The first half of April was wintry. Mrs. McMurtry reported that on
the eighth a ten-inch fall of snow, accompanied by a strong wind, brought
many ducks down in the Wellsville area, Old-Squaw and White-winged
Scoters in particular being unusually common for that inland area. The
early April land bird migrants were exceptionally hard to find during this
period. Starting with the 17th, however, an excessively warm spell oc-

52

The Kingbird

curred, bringing not only waves of tbe tardy sparrows, phoebes, Tree Swal¬
lows, and Flickers, but, as the heat continued, all the late April and some of
the May migrants as well. It is difficult to understand why certain birds
came early and some did not; for example, why should our first Kingbirds
be seen April 27 and Bobolinks May 5; why did a Cerulean Warbler arrive
April 28 and the first Black-throated Blue May 11? May was rather disap¬
pointing, both because it brought few strong bird movements and because
foliation, after a late start in early April, was so advanced’by May 1 that
it interfered seriously with the location and identification of birds thereafter.

Loons — Ducks: Loons and grebes were present in normal numbers on usual
dates. First Green Heron arrived Apr 22 (2 at E. Eden, Bourne), first Least Bittern
May 2 at Wellsville (McMurtry). The last Whistling Swan was seen at Grand
Island Apr 28 by the Norths. The Brockners reported 16,000 Canada Geese at
Oak Orchard Apr 28 and 5,000 plus still there May 5; it was surprising that the
warm weather did not impel them to leave earlier. Mrs. McMurtry found the Snow
Goose at Oak Orchard Apr 22; it was not seen later. Ruddy Ducks were reported
in improved numbers.

Hawks — Owls: The only hawk flight of any consequence reported was on
Apr 21 when Braunberns et al, counted 107 Broad-winged along the lake shore
south of Buffalo. Mrs. McMurtry saw 14 Turkeys on both Apr 10 and Apr 11 at
Wellsville. She also had the first Virginia Rail record (Apr 26, Wellsville). Sora
was reported Apr 24 at Farmersville by Bourne, and Gallinule Apr 28 at Oak
Orchard by the Brockners. A Black-bellied Plover was found at Oakfield May 19
(Buckland). Mrs. McMurtry reported good numbers of shore birds at Wellsville
with first dates for Least (May 15), and Red-backed (May 12) Sandpipers, and
Sanderling (5, May 13). Other first records reported were Upland Sandpiper Apr
21 (6, Angola, Brockners), Spotted Sandpiper Apr 25 (Buffalo, R. Axtell) and
Semipalmated Sandpiper May 18 (3, Gainesville, Smith). A late record (well
described.) of Iceland Gull was reported from Mt. Vernon (just south of Buffalo)
May 7 by Bourne. An early Caspian Tern was seen in Dunkirk harbor Apr 21
(Braunberns et al.); Black Terns were also in good season (2 at Frewsburg, May
5, Elderkin). Wolfling reports Barn Owls nesting (2 eggs May 13) at Alden.

Swifts — Shrikes: A Whip-poor-will was seen Apr 29 in Buffalo (Convery).
First record of Nighthawk was from Kenmore May 13 (Bear.dslee). An extremely
early Hummingbird was reported from Forest Lawn, Buffalo Apr 27 (Thorpe et al.)
Last record of Arctic Woodpecker was from Armor Apr 10 (Bacons, Milligan). Two
parties reported Kingbirds Apr 27, and Andrle had a Crested Flycatcher at Irving
that day. Alder (May 19), Least (May 11), and Wood Pewee (May 18) were more
normal, even a bit tardy. Four Northern Horned Larks at East Eden Apr 13 (Bacon,
Rew) gave us a late record. Tree Swallows and Purple Martins were late in ar¬
riving due to the cold weather throughout the first half of April; the later swal¬
lows arrived near their normal dates. Two Ravens, an extreme rarity, were care¬
fully observed and recorded by the Axtells at Olcott Apr 21. Red-breasted Nut¬
hatches, notoriously erratic, had one of their poorest seasons. House Wren was
early (Apr 24, Hamburg, Bourne). The Axtells reported a very interesting flood
of thrushes in Forest Lawn, Buffalo, May 19, 20 and 21; a careful count showed
175 Olive-backed, 25 Veery, 5 Wood Thrushes (no Gray-cheeked). Bluebirds
were pitifully scarce. An extremely late Gray Shrike seen Apr 14 at Wolcottsville
by Andrle and Grampp was doubtless influenced to stay by the wintry weather.

Vireas ■— Warblers: A Solitary Vireo was reported .Apr 25 from Delaware
Park by R. Axtell. Bourne found an early Warbling Vireo at Eden Valley Apr 28.
Among the warblers, Black and White (Apr 26), Nashville (Apr 27), Yellow (Apr
23, 24) Cape May (May 1), Black-throated Green (Apr 26), Cerulean (Apr 28),
Blackburnian (Apr 27), Bay-breasted (May 9), Northern Waterthrush (Apr 25), and
Redstart (Apr 28) were noticeably early but all were well authenticated.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Knott reported the first Bobolinks (5, May 5, James¬
town). Andrle found a very early Baltimore Oriole in Forest Lawn, Buffalo, Apr
25, and an early Scarlet Tanager was seen at Wellsville Apr 30 by Mrs. McMurtry,

The Kingbird

53

who reported a Rose-breasted Grosbeak there the following day. Indigo Buntings
were not reported until May 12 (Onoville, Elderkin). Buckland reported two Grass¬
hopper Sparrows from Batavia on the good date of Apr 21, and McMurtry found
a Henslow's Sparrow at Wellsville Apr 26. The Axtells found an exceptionally
early (unprecedented) Lincoln's Sparrow in Forest Lawn Apr 25. It was carefully
studied and written up. Other sparrows were rather late in arriving, particularly
the Savanna, Vesper, Field, and Swamp, all of which preferred comfort to punctuality.

132 McKinley Ave., Kenmore

REGION 2 GENESEE
Howard S. Miller

The first two weeks of the period were cold and rather wet. The weather
changed abruptly at the end of this period and the next two weeks were
dry and warm with S or SW winds prevailing most of the time. These
produced good hawk flights hut did not seem to start any very large move¬
ment of small land birds. The last few days of April and the first ten days
of May were cool and very dry, so dry in fact that the woods were closed
to public use. May 11-12 brought some rain and a good wave of small land
birds. Heavy rains on May 19-29 drowned all fire hazards (and almost
everything else including bird watchers on the spring census!) The weather
the last ten days of the month was rather routine, possibly a little cooler than
average. The spectacular waves of last season seemed to be absent, the birds
moving through in rather steady but small numbers during prolonged per¬
iods of both favorable and unfavorable weather, except in the first two
weeks of the period when birds whose peak abundance normally occurs at
that time were unusually scarce.

Loons — Ducks: The loon flight reached its peak May 5 when 600 Common
Loons and 350 Red-throated Loons were observed at Webster Park by Kemnitzer.
Three Holboell's Grebes were recorded Apr 19 and a maximum count of 104
Horned Grebes was made Apr 18 by the same observer along the east lake shore.
Only one Double-crested Cormorant was seen. May 26 (Listman). Three American
Egrets were recorded at Montezuma May 19. The Green Heron seemed to arrive
rather early and the Black-crowned Night Heron seemed rather late in appearing.

A flock of nine Brant appeared at Braddock Bay May 24 and some were still
present at the end of the period. One Blue Goose was observed at Hamlin Beach
Apr 13 by Listman. The European Widgeon appeared at Braddock Bay on May

24 (Listman). This was the first local record of this bird in two years. Three
King Eiders were still present at Manitou Apr 27, and one bird was recorded at
the same place May 12 (Listman). There was a heavy flight of White-winged
Scoters on Lake Ontario this spring. One male Surf Scoter was observed Apr
18 off Rigney's Bluff (Allen) and two birds were seen May 12 at Manitou (Listman).

25 Ruddy Ducks were seen on Conesus Lake Apr 13,

Hawks — Owls: 24 Turkey Vultures were reported in a large hawk flight Apr
20 at Braddock by Listman and Bieber as well as 2000 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 200
Red-tailed Hawks, and one each Duck Hawk and Pigeon Hawk. Maximum numbers
of Broad-winged Hawks reported were 5000 at Webster Park Apr 25 (Kemnitzer).
14 Rough-legged Hawks and nine Ospreys were seen Apr 20 at Port Bay by
Kemnitzer. One Pigeon Hawk was also seen at Lima on Apr 13. Six Ruffed Grouse
were found near Sodus Bay on Apr 13 by Jones. One Black-bellied Plover was at
Montezuma May 19 and one was seen May 24 at Manitou (Listman). A flock
of eleven Ruddy Turnstones were at Mar.fiou May 30 (Brummer and Miller). Three
Upland Plover were seen migrating at Braddock Apr 21. Solitary Sandpipers ap¬
peared rather early, being reported Apr 27 at Ling Road and Hamlin Beach. The
White-rumped Sandpiper was reported from Ling Road May 18 by Listman. 1 1

54

The Kingbird

Red-backed Sandpipers at Ling Road May 25. Two Dowitchers were seen there
May 19 and a flock of several dozen was at Montezuma the same day. The
Sanderling was reported at Manitou May 24 and 30, both reports of single birds.
The Glaucous Gull was reported May 4 and 19 at Braddock. An Iceland Gull was
seen at Summerville Apr 27 and large numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls were present
around Braddock Bay during early May. Two Little Gulls, an adult bird and an
immature, were observed with this flock. A Forster's Tern was at Braddock May
19 in company with Common Terns (Taylor, Klonick). The Barred Owl was seen
and heard at Montezuma Apr 16 (Schmanke). The only report of the Saw-whet
Owl this spring was from Island Cottage woods Apr 27 (O'Hara, Miller).

Swifts — Shrikes: Red-headed Woodpeckers seemed slightly more numerous
around Rochester this spring while Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers seemed very scarce.
The last record of the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker was Apr 27 when a female
was observed in a swamp white oak in Long Pond woods (O'Hara, Miller). A
female American Three-toed Woodpecker was observed south of Rochester May 1 1
(Brummer. Starling). Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were well distributed in late May,
six or more being seen in a morning. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen near
LeRoy May 25 (O'Hara, Miller).

All six swallows were seen on the wires at Long Pond May 11. The Carolina
Wren was reported Apr 7 and 14 at Irondequoit Bay (Miller). The Short-billed
Marsh Wren seems to be more common and more widely distributed this spring
than for several years previous to last year. A Mockingbird was seen and heard
in full song May 25 at LeRoy (O'Hara, Miller). Both Hermit and Olive-backed
Thrushes seemed somewhat scarcer than usual this spring. Gray-cheeked Thrush
May 25 west of Manitou. 60 Pipits were seen at Webster Apr 20 (Kemnitzer).
Migrant Shrikes seemed rather scarce around Rochester this spring.

Vireos ■—- Warblers: For the first time in several years no reports of Philadelphia
Vireos were received. The Blue-headed Vireo also seemed rather scarce. By Apr
27 stragglers of several species of the earlier warblers were present in addition, of
course, to large numbers of Myrtles. A week of cold, clear weather resulted in
less warblers being present on the weekend of May 4-5 than were present Apr 27-28.
The best wave of the year seemed to occur the weekend of May 11-12 when all of
the early and mid-season warblers were present in fairly good numbers in addition
to the first arrivals of some of the later arriving warblers such as the Tennessee
and Bay-breasted. Good numbers of warblers were present May 18 but May 19,
an extremely inclement day saw few species and small numbers of those species
that were present. A good number of the late arriving warblers were present May
25-26 and after this date the migration rapidly petered out.

The Orange-crowned Warbler was reported Apr 27, a very early date, on the
east shore of Braddock Bay. A Pine Warbler was present in Durand-Eastman
Park the weekend of May 4-5 and may have remained longer. A Prairie Warbler
was reported south of Rochester May 1 1 (Brummer, Starling). A Connecticut
Warbler was observed near Irondequoit Bay on May 26 by Miller. Several re¬
ports of Yellow-breasted Chats have been received this spring and four were ob¬
served May 18 near LeRoy by Listman.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: The Western Meadowlark again appeared near Brad¬
dock Bay on Apr 19 and was seen and heard repeatedly to the end of the period.
It would appear that this bird may have nested as it was seen in close association
with another Meadowlark which gave the calls of the Western. No attempt was
made to find a possible nest because of the desire not to disturb the birds. An
adult male Orchard Oriole was observed at Conesus Lake May 19 (Taylor). The
northern finches continued completely absent, not one accepted report of any of
this group having been received for an entire year. Grasshopper Sparrows seemed
more generally distributed than usual this spring. No reports of the Sharp-tailed
Sparrow were received during the period. The Lincoln's Sparrow seemed rather
scarce, the only reports reecived being of single birds May 14-16 at Webster
(Kemnitzer) and at Tryon Park May 26 (Miller).

61 Richland Street, Rochester 9

The Kingbird

55

REGION 3 — FINGER LAKES
Sally F. Hoyt

Each spring in the Finger Lakes Region seems to bring something unique
in weather conditions. Like 1956, early April was cold and wet — up to
10 inches of wet snow fell on the 9th — and as the cool weather persisted,
we anticipated conditions like last year: a slow steady migration, with foliage
retarded, improving visibility. But no: a heat wave the third week in
April rushed the migration along, bringing in a few species early, such as
Baltimore Orioles by the 25th-28th. Then came a cold wave (in low 20s
the first week in May) with drought, which dried things so much that
the woods were closed by order of the governor the weekend of May 11th.
As soon as the thermometer climbed, early in May, the leaves all came out,
and the few birds that trickled through from then on were difficult to see.

Throughout the Region, correspondents report: “No warbler waves.”
“Poorest warbler season ever.” “Never saw so few migrating birds — al¬
most no warblers.”

The rains finally came, and most of the clubs found they had picked
the worst day of the month for their spring census: the 19th. It poured
in torrents almost all day, and counts were the lowest in history: for ex¬
ample 116 at Ithaca, as opposed to a high of over 190.

Loons — Ducks: Loons were scare on Cayuga, about as usual at Elmira, and
Ward reports a good migration of this species during April and early May on Seneca.
Horned Grebes were scarce at Elmira (Welles). By May, Smith reported the presence
of 150 Great Blue Herons at Montezuma, and one American Egret appeared on
May 5 (Walker). A number of observers had the opportunity to see an .adult Little
Blue Heron at 7 acre pond near Millport the week of Apr 27. Probably one of
the most photographed and stared-at birds in recent years was the Glossy Ibis which
spent the period from Apr 25 to May 4 close to the Thruway, north of the Main
Pool dike at Montezuma. A week later, one spent four days at a pond just north
of Sapsucker Woods at Ithaca,

Ward, at Geneva, reported a Whistling Swan on May 26 and again June 1.
Canada Geese numbered 15,000 at Montezuma Refuge the first week in April,
and 23,000 by mid-April. With them were five Snow Geese and 15 Blue Geese.
Possibly some of these same Snow and Blue Geese spent time on Cayuga Lake, or
these latter may have been different individuals. Brant reports increase, each year.
Two flocks, one of 80 birds, passed over Montezuma Refuge after the Canada Geese
had left (Smith), a flock of 85 was seen by Eaton Bird Club on Seneca on May
19, on May 4 a small flock was seen at the south end of Cayuga (AAAIIen) and
a lone bird was there on May 22 (Kelsey). At Keuka more flocks of Canada Geese
were seen than most years (Guthrie). Waterfowl concentrations were reported
as below normal in some parts of the Finger Lakes, but normal or above in
other parts. At Elmira where counts were high, it was suggested that heavy rains
had produced more ponds, but in other wet springs there had not been an in¬
crease. At Hornel! where ice remained late in the Basin, only Ringnecks and Buffie-
heads were present in any numbers. Black Ducks were scarce at Keuka this
year. More Green-winged Teal were reported from Elmira than in any previous
year of record keeping. Although not many ducks stopped off at Sapsucker Woods
pond this spring, most species were represented, and on Apr 5, 1 1 Wood Ducks
fed in view of the observatory windows. Some of them stayed to nest in the
woods. More Ring-necks were seen than usual in most parts of the Region, fewer
Scaup at Elmira. There seemed to be fewer Old-squaws on Cayuga. 16 White¬
winged Scoters were counted on Seneca by Ward.

The following were the peak numbers in April at Montezuma Refuge, as re-

56

The Kingbird

ported by Manager Smith: Mallards 1000, Blacks 800, Gadwalls, 200, Baldpates
1000, Pintails 5000, Green-winged Teal 100, Blue-winged Teal 250, Shoveller 300,
Ring-necks 200, Canvasbacks 50, Scaup 1 00, Buffleheads 1 00, American Mergansers
200, and 1 European Widgeon.

Hawks — Owls: Turkey Vultures appeared on schedule at Montezuma, and
were also seen on Apr 22 and May 28 in the Elmira area (K. Fudge, Welles).
Hawks, except for Red-tails, were scarce at Avoca (Carter), but elsewhere were
in normal numbers, although fewer Red-shoulders are in the vicinity of Sap-
sucker Woods this year, and fewer Sparrow Hawks at Elmira.

One Pigeon Hawk was reported on the Eaton Bird Club census, at Geneva
May 19 (Ward). Rough-legged Hawks lingered into May in the Region. A Bald
Eagle was seen over Elmira on May 16 (M. Smith). The nest at Montezuma is
not visible from anywhere on the storage pond dike, but the adults are seen over¬
head frequently. Ospreys reported from Elmira on Apr 12, near Tyrone on Apr
24 (A. Robinson), Avoca on Apr 29 (Carter), and at the Refuge the last of April.
One caught goldfish for several days at Sapsucker Woods pond in early May.

Again there is some hope that Bob-whites may be getting established. One
was reported from Erin on May 6, one south of Elmira on May 26, one near Water¬
loo on May 12, one just north of Geneva on May 18 (Walker). The birds released in
late April near Sapsucker Woods may be heard calling regularly and a pair visits
the Laboratory feeder daily. From the Elmira area come two reports of Wild
Turkeys: 2 birds seen near Catlin on May 18 (Andrus) and two on Ridge Road
early in May.

Smith reported Golden Plovers as 'abundant' at the Refuge in May. Two Ruddy
Turnstones were seen on May 26 on a pond at East Corning (K. Fudge et al.), a
first record for the Elmira area. In fact, all shore bird records from Elmira were
increased by the presence of a new, shallow pond along the Rte. 17 construction
west of the city which so far lacks growth of vegetation. White-rumped, Pectoral
and Red-backed Sandpipers were seen there in mid-May. Lerch reported Upland
Plover in Italy Hills (Keuka area) on May 19, and on the same day, P. Kelsey
saw six near Dryden, at the usual station. At the Refuge the third week in May,
there were 400 Least Sandpipers and 1000 Red-backed. A Western Sandpiper
was photographed there by Walker on May 30, and two Baird's Sandpipers were
found on the Eaton Bird Club census on May 19. There were 50 Dowitchers at
Montezuma in May, and six were seen on the afore-mentioned East Corning pond
on May 14 and 15 (Welles et al.).

Ring-billed Gulls occurred at Elmira in unprecendented numbers during migra¬
tion and were still coming through on June 1. They were seen along roads, in
puddles in fields, and even came down at midnight in a parking area of the
shopping center at Horseheads. There were fewer Bonaparte's Gulls at Elmira;
however, 54 of these were in the Hornell basin Apr 18. The first Common Tern
at Ithaca was seen in the Inlet on Apr 16 (K. Thorp), Black Terns appeared
over Dryden Lake on May 19; were more plentiful at Elmira.

Cuckoos are scarce, with almost no records of Yellow-billed throughout the
Region. The Great Horned Owl nested again at the sanctuary at Stewart Park,
Ithaca. A Short-eared Owl was seen by Paul Kelsey on Warren Road, Ithaca, in
April, the only record of the season at Ithaca. Whip-poor-will at Brooktondale Apr
26 (Mrs. Albertson).

Swifts — Shrikes: Chimney Swifts arrived earlier than usual at Avoca (Carter).
Red-headed Woodpeckers have been seen for the first time in 20 years at Avoca
(Carter), the first time in N. Hornell in 5 years (Groesbeck). Elmira reports more
of them this year than for some time, but around Ithaca they continue very scarce.
A Montezuma nest was spotted the end of May, near the storage pool dike (Mc-
llroy). The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker appeared at Sapsucker Woods on Apr 3 (Lane)
but otherwise there have been fewer reported than usual. Kingbirds are scarce,
Alder Flycatchers more common at Geneva than in past years (Walker). Few
Least Flycatchers in the Watkins-Montour area (Bardeen). The young of a nest
of Horned Larks under observation at Big Flats were killed by the ten inch wet
snow on Apr 4.

The Kingbird

57

Tree Swallows are occupying most of the boxes on the pond at Sapsucker Woods,
and also boxes in the vicinity erected by J. Hartshorne to encourage Bluebirds.
Purple Martins are reported nesting again in Arkport, and in Hornell for the first
time in 2 years (Groesbeck). Red-breasted Nuthatch reports were almost non-existant
this spring throughout the Region. The yearly increase in Carolina Wrens seems
to have slowed down. There were three reports of Mockingbirds: one was present
in Avoca from Apr 20 to May 27, singing much at night (Carter); one was seen
on the Eaton Bird Club census May 19 at Geneva, and Hartshorne saw one at
Bull Pasture Pond near Ithaca on Apr 30. The thrush migration was spotty: few
reports of Olive-backed and Gray-cheeked, but Veeries are in good numbers around
Ithaca. Bluebirds seem somewhat more numerous in the Ithaca area this year,
but have been having poor nesting success (Hartshorn).

Blue-gray Gnatatchers were not found at Elmira this year (Welles). Watkins
Glen area had a good migration of Ruby-crowned Kinglets (Bardeen). Pipits were
much in evidence with shore-birds at Montezuma early in May near the Thruway,
and a good flock was seen at Elmira on Apr 6 (Welles). A late Northern Shrike
visited the Hoyt banding station at Etna on Apr 9, It was trapped, found to be
extremely emaciated, and died shortly. Starlings are down slightly in numbers
at Ithaca.

Vireos — Warblers: It was the poorest vireo migration in years. Only Warb¬
ling and Red-eyed were heard at Avoca and at Watkins Glen, Blue-headed and
Yellow-throated Vireos were very scarce and there were no reports of Philadelphias
except at Elmira and one at Ithaca.

The Warbler migration started out very well in late April and then fizzled out.
There were no waves, many species were missed entirely in certain areas. Prof.
Guthrie, however, at Keuka said the species all appared but in low numbrs. Water-
thrushes, usually abundant around Hornell seemed to be entirely absent (Groes¬
beck). All species scarce at Watkins Glen except Ye I low-throats. Yellow, Redstarts
and Black-throated Green. Redstarts are scarce at Ithaca.

A Blue-winged Warbler was reported near Branchport on May 1 1 by Spiker,
and a Yellow Palm near Geneva by Lerch, Walker, et al. The Mourning Warbler,
which is erratic at Avoca, was reported on May 30.

Mrs. York reported numbers of Warblers on her hill early in May, then a com¬
plete absence. The Worm-eating Warbler has not been found there this year, al¬
though Mrs. York thought once she heard it singing in the distance.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Redwings seemed unusually abundant at Watkins this
year, and all Blackbirds except Rusties were in good numbers at Geneva. The
first Rusty Blackbird appeared at the feeder at the Laboratory of Ornithology's Re¬
search Building in the heavy snow of Apr 4, and a rather late flock was seen
near Millport May 18 (Welles). The late April hot spell brought Baltimore Orioles
in rather early in several areas. An Orchard Oriole was seen on May 19 at Ithaca
(M. Leighton). I have heard more complaints than ever about Grackles monopilizing
feeders and killing young of other species, but the numbers of Grackles are some¬
what down this year around Etna and Ithaca,

Walker reported a good wave of Indigo Buntings the week of May 26 around
Geneva. A Dickcissel was heard singing close to the Spiker home in Branchport on
Apr 4. There were no reports of Pine Siskins again this spring. Purple Finches
seemed abundant around the Hornell area (Groesbeck); and Goldfinches were un¬
usually abundant at Elmira (Welles). Vesper Sparrows were locally scarce as were
Savannahs. A late Tree Sparrow was reported on May 18 at Park Station in
Elmira Region, and one remained at the Laboratory of Ornithology feeder until
May 10.

Both White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows were scarce at Elmira,
White-throats more abundant than White-crowns in the Watkins-Montour region,
but at Ithaca and Keuka, White-crowns were unusually abundant and greatly ex¬
ceeded the White-throats in numbers. Fox Sparrows were scarce throughout the
Region.

Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca

58

The Kingbird

REGION 4 — SUSQUEHANNA
Leslie E. Bemont

The weather this spring has gone from one extreme to the other, each
extreme lasting for about three weeks and then giving way to the
other. The first three weeks of April were cold and wet. Both snow and
rain fell frequently. The next three weeks brought pleasant warm weather
with no rain at all. Just as the dryness started to become serious and Gov.
Harriman s ban on going into the woods went into effect it started to rain
again. The wet weather then continued a couple of weeks but the last
week in May was again warm and dry. Judging by first dates alone one
might think that the migration was quite normal, but if dates of peak num¬
bers are used it becomes apparent that the migration was a week or in some
cases two weeks late.

Loons-Ducks: A Common Loon was at Norwich from Apr 1 7 to Apr 1 9 (Whites)
and another was seen flying over near Oxford May 5 (Stratton). The latest
Horned Grebe record was from Norwich Apr 25 (Whites) but there were several
earlier reports from Binghamton, Cortland and Deposit. Green Herons were at
Scott in Cortland Co. (Gustafson) and at Unadilla (Wisner) on Apr 24. Two Black-
crowned Night Herons at Binghamton Apr 17 (Saunders) were the earliest reported.
14 were at Willow Point May 7 so that there is some hope that they will continue
nesting in that area In spite of the fact that their previous site has been appropriated
for the new Harpur College campus which is now under construction. An early
Bittern was at Deposit Apr 22 (Wilson) and another at Sherburne Apr 28 (Whites).
A Binghamton Press story reported an injured Least Bittern, identified by unknown
Conservation Dept, people, was found in Binghamton May 21.

Canada Geese were reported as late as May 5 from Oxford (Stratton) and
Sherburne (Whites), At Oxford over 1000 went over during the day and night of
Apr 29. Ten Mallard ducklings were seen at Little York in Cortland Co. Apr 24
(Pratt). Seven Green-winged Teal at Boland's Marsh near Binghamton Apr 15
(H. Marsi) were our last. A Wood Duck had occupied one of Mr. Wilson's nesting
boxes at Deposit Apr 3. Ring-necked Ducks were around until Apr 13 at Deposit
(Wilson) and Canvas-backs were at Norwich until the same date (Whites). Three

late American Goldeneyes were at Norwich Apr 8 (Whites). The high count of

Buffleheads was 12 at Little York Apr 17 (Gustafson) and the latest were at
Sherburne Apr 28 (Whites). They were also reported from Norwich. Seven Old-

squaws at Deposit Apr 19 (Wilson) was the high count and three at Norwich Apr

25 (Whites) were the latest. A Hooded Merganser had twelve eggs in one of
Mr. Wilson's nesting boxes at Deposit May 19. Two American Mergansers were
still at Norwich, where they are transients, Apr 12 (Whites). At Deposit where they
are breeders a pair was in the vicinity throughout the period (Wilson). There were
three Red-breasted Merganser reports; two at St. John's Pond near Binghamton Apr
6 (Sheffields), six at Norwich Apr 8 (Whites) and two at Deposit Apr 20 (Wilson).

Hawks — Owls: Turkey Vultures were seen in ones and twos throughout the
period in the Deposit area, but on May 13 ten were seen at one time (Wilson).
Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks continued to be much more common than
usual during April, but there was a decided decrease in May (Triple Cities Natural¬
ists' Club), but Broad-winged Hawks were down in numbers. From Deposit where
Broad-wings sometimes nest Mr. Wilson writes that he knows of no nesting pairs
this year. Dr. Burtt, of Syracuse, banded two young Red-tails in a nest 2 mi.
south of Binghamton Apr 17 and found them much further advanced than would
be usual for that date in the Syracuse area. Two Rough-legged Hawks were at
Oxford Apr 14 (Stratton). Three Bald Eagles were at Cortland May 16 (B. A.
Hall). Marsh Hawks were also more common during April than in previous years
but they too decreased in May. Our earliest Osprey was at Unadilla Apr 12 (Wis¬
ner) and a late one was at Little York May 21 (Thurber). A Duck Hawk was

The Kingbird

59

REPORTING REGIONS

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

reported from Oxford Apr 1 (Stratton). The Broome Co. Board of Supervisors
earlier this year appropriated $1000 to be used by the Broome Co. Federation of
Sportmen's Clubs in a conservation project. The money was used for the purchase
of 500 Bob-white of a "northern breed" and these birds were released in a few
carefully chosen areas this spring.

Florida Gallinules, a few years ago considered to be very common in appropriate
habitats, have gone undetected so far this spring. Semi-pa I mated Plovers were
seen by several observers in the Binghamton area May 19 (TCNC), but were re¬
corded on no other day. There have been a number of reports of Woodcock and
Wilson's Snipe from various parts of the region, the latter as late as May 26 at
Sherburne (Whites). Two Upland Plover were at Homer May 1 (Gustafson).
Spotted Sandpipers were first seen at Norwich (Whites) and at Willow Point (Be-
mont, E. Washburn) Apr 29. Solitary Sandpipers in small numbers were reported
from Deposit May 11 (Wilson) and from Binghamton May 19 and 26 (TCNC),
Greater Yellowlegs, Least and Semi-paimated Sandpipers in the Binghamton area,
also May 19, rounded out one of the best spring waves of shorebirds on record
here (TCNC).

An especially late Herring Gull was at Endwell Apr 25 (Bemont), and two more

60 The Kingbird

were at Norwich May 1 (Whites). Five Ring-billed Gulls were at Deposit Apr 17
(Wilson). On Apr 6, 15 Bonaparte's Gulls were at Whitney Point Dam (Whites),
some in winter and some in summer plumage. Two more were at Deposit Apr 17
(Wilson). A Common Tern was at Deposit Apr 21 (Wilson) and was the only one
reported. A Black Tern at Little York May 12 (Thurber) was likewise the only
one reported. Both Yellow and Black-billed Cuckoos were found near Binghamton
May 9 (H. Marsi). The latter has been decidedly more common and was reported
from other parts of the region. The Barred Owl at Deposit was heard Apr 10 and
a few times since (Wilson). One was at Sherburne Apr 28 (Whites).

Goatsuckers — Shrikes: Nighthawks appeared at Binghamton May 9 (Whit¬
son). They have since been found at Cortland (Cecil), Hancock (Wilson), Norwich
(Whites, Stratton) and Oneonta (Wisner). One Chimney Swift seen near Binghamton
Apr 21 (Saunders, Sheffields) was the first. They arrived in force Apr 25. The
first Hummingbird was at Unaditla May 15 (Wisner). Sapsuckers were around
from Apr 2 at Binghamton (Ainslie) to May 6 at Berkshire in Tioga Co. (Bemont).
They seemed common in the Binghamton and Deposit areas but were not reported
elsewhere. A first Kingbird was at Little York Apr 24 (Pratt) but they were un¬
common until about May 12. The first Crested Flycatcher was at Binghamton May
10 (TCNC). A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was at Sherburne May 26 (Whites)
and another was at Choconut Center near Binghamton May 30 (Sheffields). An
Alder Flycatcher in the Binghamton area May 19 (Bemont) was the first one.
More are being found each year in the area. This year they were also found at
Unadilla and at Cheningo in Cortland Co., but not at Deposit. The earliest Wood
Pewee was at Ely Park in Binghamton May 15 (Bemont, E. Washburn). Only
two Olive-sided Flycatchers one at Deposit May 13 (Wilson) and one at McLean
Bog in Cortland Co. May 23 (Gustafson). '~

Although a few Tree Swallows were reported in March no more were found
until Apr 12 at Deposit and Apr 15 elsewhere. Bank Swallows were at Unadilla
Apr 23 (Wisner) but did not appear in Binghamton until May 4. Another colony
was found along Route 17 near Readburn Creek in Delaware Co. (Wilson). Rough¬
winged Swallows arrived at Deposit Apr 25 and Barn Swallows were at the same
place Apr 22 (Wilson). Cliff Swallows were at Deposit Apr 23 (Wilson), but were
not seen at Binghamton or Little York until May 19 or at Unadilla until May 20.
The colony just west of Richford was visited several times during the period but
it appeared to be abandoned. A single Purple Martin was at the, colony on Upper
Front St. north of Binghamton Apr 27 (Sheffields) but there were several more
birds there by May 6. A colony at Little York was occupied May 10 (Gustafson).
Only three Red-breasted Nuthatch reports; one from Unadilla Apr 27 (Wisner), one
from Sherburne May 4 and one from Norwich May 25 (Whites). A late Brown
Creeper was at Sherburne May 26 (Whites).

The first House Wren was at Deposit Apr 24 (Wilson). Only two Winter
Wrens were reported during the period, both Apr 21; one at Deposit (Wilson)
and one just north of Binghamton (Saunders, Sheffields). A Carolina Wren was
at one of the old stations in Binghamton May 19 (Bemont). This is the first
record since January of 1956. Long-billed Marsh Wrens were very late. The
first was at Boland's Marsh May 19 (TCNC), Two Short-billed Marsh Wrens
finally returned to Sherburne May 26 (Whites). Hermit Thrushes have been low
in numbers around Binghamton (TCNC). Olive-backed Thrushes were first found
at Binghamton and Cortland May 19. Bluebird numbers seem to be improving
around Binghamton. Blue-gray Gnafcatchers were very late but two finally ap¬
peared at Ely Park May 30 (M. Sheffield). Ruby-crowned Kinglets seemed fairly
common around Binghamton but numbers were down from the extreme high of
last year (TCNC). Mr. Wilson reports finding them at Deposit Apr 4, the earliest
date in 11 years. A Northern Shrike was at Georgetown in Chenango Co. Apr 7
and one was at Oxford Apr 13 (Whites). A Migrant Shrike was at Whitney Point
Dam Apr 6 (Whites) and one was at Unadilla June 1 (Wisner).

Vireos — Warblers: A Yellow-throated Vireo was at Oxford Apr 25 (Stratton)
and Blue-headed Vireos were at Deposit Apr 21 (Wilson). The first Red-eyed
Vireo was at Unadilla May 5 Wisner). A Philadelphia Vireo was found near Bing-

The Kingbird

61

hamton May 19 (Saunders )and the first Warbfing Vireo at Oxford Apr 25 (Stratton).

The first Black and White Warblers were found at Binghamton and Deposit
Apr 25. Around May 10 this species reached an unusually high peak in the Bing¬
hamton area. A Worm-eating Warbler was found on South Mountain in Bingham¬
ton May 9 (H. Marsi) and another was found at Ely Park May 30 (M. Sheffield).
Golden-winged Warblers arrived at Binghamton May 9 (M. Sheffield, E. Washburn).
A Blue-winged Warbler was found at Deposit May 10, the first one seen there
since 1950 (Wilson). Another was found near Binghamton May 11 (H. Marsi)
where it later established a territory adjacent to at least one Golden-winged. A
Blue-winged was also found at Cheningo May 23 (Thurber). For the fifth year
running a Brewster's Warbler was found in the Binghamton area, this time in a
new location, on May 19 (H. Marsi) An early Tennessee Warbler was found Apr
29 at Endicott (Carter). From May 9 to May 23 they were common in the Bing¬
hamton area. They were also rather numerous at Cortland and Unadilla. An
Orange-crowned Warbler was found near Castle Creek north of Binghamton May
5 (TCNC). Only three Parulas; one at Deposit May 10 (Wilson), one at Bingham¬
ton May 12 (TCNC) and another at Binghamton May 13 (Bemont). Only two Pine
Warblers, both at Hartwick, Apr 14 and 15, one of which was banded (Chamber-
laine). One Yellow Palm at Deposit Apr 21 (Wilson), and two Palm records; one
at Binghamton May 4 (M. Sheffield) and four just north of Binghamton May 5
(TCNC). Three Mourning Warblers; one at Cortland May 12 (Thurber), one near
Peakville in Delaware Co. May 12 and again May 25, in the same spot as last
year (Wilson) and at Norwich May 30 (Whites). Two Wilson's Warblers: one ot
Binghamton May 11 (M. Sheffield) and one at Little York May 21 (Thurber).
Other Warblers: Nashville, Apr 29 (Wilson), fairly common after May 5; Yellow,
Apr 27 (Wilson), very common after May 4; Magnolia, May 8 (Wilson), uncommon;
Cape May, Apr 28 at Virgil (C. Wilcox), fairly common around May 12; Black-
throated Blue, May 3 (Wilson), uncommon; Myrtle, Apr 21 (Wilson), very com¬
mon after May 5; Black-throated Green, Apr 27 (Wisner, M. Sheffield), fairly
common around May 10; Blackburnian Apr 26 (Wilson, Wisner), uncommon; Ches-
nut-sided, Apr 27 (Bemont), common; Bay-breasted, May 9 (H: Marsi), uncommon;
Black-poll, May 13 (M. Sheffield), common around May 30; Oven-bird, Apr 27
(M. Sheffield), very common; Northern Water-thrush, May 1 1 (Bemont, Hevey),
rare; Louisiana Water-thrush, Apr 20 (M. Sheffield, Wilson), rare; Yellow Throat,
May 3 (Bemont, E. Washburn), very common; Chat, May 9 (M. Sheffield, E.
Washburn), rare; Canada, May 8 (Wilson), rare; Redstart, Apr 29 (Wilson), common.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Our first Bobolink was at Unadilla May 8 (Wisner)
and our first Baltimore Oriole at Endwell May 1 (LaSheir). A last Rusty Black¬
bird was at Willow Point Apr 30 (Bemont, E. Washburn). Scarlet Tanagers ar¬
rived at both Binghamton and Deposit May 8. A very early immature male Rose-
breasted Grosbeak appeared in a back yard in Binghamton Apr 6 (Gillespies, fide H.
Marsi). The first "normcil" migrant was at Deposit May 1 (Wilson). Indigo
Buntings were first seen at Binghamton May 9 CM. Sheffield). Mr. Wilson reports
they are much more common at Deposit this year than last. The first Red-eyed
Towhee was at Binghamton Apr 14 (Marsis) about two weeks earlier than last year.
Most other parts of the region were almost as early. Savannah Sparrows arrived
at Deposit Apr 9 (Wilson); Grasshopper Sparrows at Binghamton Apr 28 (M.
Sheffield, Pucek); Henslow's Sparrows at Binghamton Apr 22 (Sheffields); and
Vesper Sparrows at Chenango Bridge Apr 5 (Jennings). The last Tree Sparrow
was near Binghamton Apr 16 (Marsi) and almost all the Juncos had left by Apr
28, White-crowned Sparrows were first seen at Binghamton May 2 (Linaberry)
and were last seen at Deposit May 2 (Wilson). White-throats arrived at Binghamton
Apr 12 (H. Marsi) and one was still singing at Deposit May 29 (Wilson). No more
Fox Sparrows were seen after Apr 15 near Vestal (H. Marsi). A Lincoln's Sparrow
was reported near Binghamton Apr 21 (Gillespie).

710 University Ave., Endwell

62

The Kingbird

REGION 5 — ONEIDA LAKE BASIN
Fritz Scheider

The first two weeks of April came, wet and cold, with frequent snow
squalls; migrant landbirds with the exception of the Icterids were correspond'
ingly scarce. The last two weeks of April brought an abundance of warm,
dry weather and a number of days — Apr 23, 25, 27 — of strong southwest
winds; these latter conditions produced a series of marvelous hawk flights
at Derby Hill (between Texas and Selkirk Shores State Park) on Lake
Ontario. However, there was too much of a good thing; a hot spell Apr
26-30 induced rapid leafing-out, and by mid-May, warbler-watching had
become a green hell. The initial ten days of May continued warm and dry;
few waves were noted and most small landbirds were on time or early.
Moreover, the very dry woodlands became a growing fire hazard. May 13-25
had frequent showers, several frosty nights, and conspicuous waves of mi¬
grants (May 13, 17, 19, 25). The last week of May noted a sudden drop
of landbird migrants, especially the late warblers and flycatchers, and an
uninteresting shorebird flight along Sandy Pond.

Notable features of the spring flight include: (1) the number and
variety of late-staying ducks and geese, (2) the poor numbers of swallows,

(3) the many “on-time''* and “earlier-than-ever” arrival and peak dates, and

(4) the marked scarcity of certain normally common migrants, e.g. Winter
Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, The variety of warblers, thrushes and spar¬
rows was excellent and counts of these birds, though less than the remark¬
able spring of 1.956, averaged better than usual,

A severe outbreak of tent caterpillars in mid-May seems to have been
aborted by the several frosty nights that occurred later in the month.

Good spring records include Glossy Ibis, Golden Eagle, Black Rail,
and two Connecticut Warblers.

Loons — Ducks: Common Loon: arrival date is Apr 6 (late) with a peak of
100, May 8, Selkirk Shores St. Park. Red-necked Grebe: two Oneida Lake records,
Apr 14 and 17; none from Lake Ontario. Pied-billed Grebe: seen unusually fre¬
quently this spring with a high of 20 on one lake at Tully, Apr 28. American
Egret: first report is a single, May 5, Selkirk Shores St. Pk.; three records (Oneida
Lake, Howland's Island GMA) since. Least Bittern: first noted, May 5, Clay
Swamp, Onon. Co. Glossy Ibis: an adult seen May 14 near Sherrill (Mr. and Mrs.
P. Paquette, R. Wayland-Smith) is the first regional report of this "southerner/'

Whistling Swan: late April saw singles of this species at Widewaters and
Clay Swamp near Syracuse; however, more startling is the presence of four imma-
tures and one adult on a small farm pond near Skaneateles from May 26 to
'Hie end of the period. Canada Goose: high of 4000, Apr 17, Beaver Lake Refuge
(formerly Mud Lake) west of Baldwinsville; surprising were the large numbers of
these birds that stayed into the first week of May, as they usually leave en masse
by Apr 26. Mallard & Black Duck: numerically the Mallard is rapidly overtaking
the Black Duck both in migrating flocks and in breeding pairs; numbers of both
reached 300 per day in early April, Brewer's Duck: an Audubon-perfect example
of this Mallard X Gadwall hybrid was seen at Howland's Island GMA, Cayuga
Co., Apr 14 and May 19; it is still indeterminate whether this particular bird is
a reared or wild specimen. Pintail: three pairs. May 5, Clay Swamp are late,
but surprisingly late is a female there on Jun 2. Green-winged Teal: late April
numbers were high with as many as 30/small pond, Apr 25; last date. May 31

The Kingbird

63

(late), a male, Sandy Pond. Wood Duck: low numbers of established breeding pairs
throughout the Region, a condition noted by both Audubonites and local N.Y.S.
Conservation Dept, officials. Redhead: the lowest April counts in past six years;
high is a scant 25, Apr 27, Beaver Lake Refuge. Ring-necked Duck: very good
flight to mid-Apr with a sudden drop in the next week; last date. May 19, a
female. Three Rivers Game Management Area, Baldwinsville (very late). Old-
squaw & White-winged Scoter: more records this spring than in past six years
with last dates Apr 28, six, Beaver Lake Refuge and May 19, four, Selkirk Shores
State Pk. respectively (Evans). Hooded Merganser: last date is May 19, two females,
on a farm pond near Euclid; ?? possible breeders. Red-breasted Merganser: the
usual late April "1000s" (a high of 6000, May 8) were present on Lake Ontario.

Hawks — Owls: Hawk flights were noted on strong southwest winds on Apr
20 (900 birds), 23 (200), 25 (5000), and 26 (1000) at Derby Hill,
a mile east of Texas along Lake Ontario. Goshawk: two migrant records; an
adult, Apr 20; an immature, Apr 25. Sharp-shinned Hawk: high count was 1120 ,
Apr 20; Derby Hill. Red-tailed Hawk: interesting is the sharp drop in the num¬
bers of these migrants in the fourth week of Apr, i.e., 120 birds, Apr 20, from
a total of 900, versus ten birds, Apr 25, from a total of 5000. Broad-winged Hawk:
3820 high count, Derby Hill, Apr 25, with as many as 400 birds in sight at once.
Rough-legged Hawk: small numbers, with more dark than light phase birds, were
seen in all the larger hawk flights noted; last date is Apr 25, two, Derby Hill.
Golden Eagle: an immature, about 150 feet up, seen Apr 23, Derby Hill (Estoff,
Propst, Scheider). Osprey: remarkable is the high count of 30 , Apr 25, along
Lake Ontario; last date is Jun 1, one, Sandy Pond (Listman). Merlin: two records
of this uncommon migrant; three, Apr 25; one, Apr 26, all at Derby Hill.

Black Rail: a single individual, forced into the open repeatedly by field dog
trials, seen May 4, Three Rivers GMA (Ernst, Weeks) is the first regional record.
Ruffed Grouse: late May records indicate numerous nests and broods with all signs
of a rapidly coming peak in another year.

Wilson's Snipe: a bird giving a "broken wing" act, May 26, Connors Road
near Baldwinsville (Seaman) is the most positive "probable breeding" evidence
in the current series of record collecting; the only previous evidence was late May
— early June courtship or continued presence. Upland Sandpiper: first report
is three, Apr 25 (late). Lesser Yellow-legs: two. May 19, Sandy Pond, are unusual
for they are uncommon on the sand flats there even in the fall. Knot: scarce
this spring; one, May 19, (Evans); two, Jun 7, both from Sandy Pond. White-
rumped Sandpiper: one. May 19, Sandy Pond, is a rare spring find. Western
Sandpiper: a burst of records from Sandy Pond this spring where it has probably (?)
been overlooked in past springs: one, May 25; five, Jun 1 (both Listman): eight,
Jun 7 (Scheider); two, Jun 16 (Rusk, Scheider).

Herring and Ring-billed Gulls: J. B. Belknap on May 17 counted 734 Ring¬
billed Gull and five Herring Gull nests, a considerable expansion of the former's
numbers, on Long Island, Oneida Lake. Common Tern & Piping Plover: both nest¬
ing, May 26, Sandy Pond; it is to be hoped that the recent development of a
second channel and the subsequent formation of a small island of dunes will
provide these species the necessary isolation to breed.

Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoo: numbers up considerably from the counts
of 1956; arrival dates, May 13 and Apr 30, respectively. Barn Owl: one seen at
a possible breeding site, Apr 24, near Baldwinsville (Farnham).

Swifts — Shrikes: Whip-poor-will: the report of five singing birds each even¬
ing in late May (Weeks) about the periphery of Cicero Swamp, a black spruce-
sphagnum bog between N. Syracuse and Bridgeport, seems to establish this species
as a resident in the South Shore flat country, a supposed "blank" for them. Night-
hawk: migrants noted moving east along Lake Ontario, June 2; very scarce this
spring and several regular Syracuse locations are unoccupied. Kingfisher: peak
count is eight, Apr 24, along Lake Ontario; has been scarce all spring and sur¬
prising is their complete absence along the Sandy Pond dunes in late May. Pileated
Woodpecker: a nesting hole discovered Apr 27, Three Rivers GMA; young had

64

The Kingbird

left the nest by May 19. Red-headed Woodpecker: reports of at least three pairs
between Texas and Sandy Pond and a new station near Elbridge (Burtt); increas¬
ingly, small clumps of large dying elms appear to be the habitat of choice.

Early flycatcher arrivals are: Kingbird and Crested Flycatcher on Apr 28, Least .
Flycatcher on Apr 27, Wood Pewee on May 13. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: three
reports, May 19 to 27, from Syracuse and Selkirk Shores St. Pk.

All swallows appear to be somewhat reduced in numbers this spring; a huge
collection of swallows, mostly Bank, Barn, and Cliff, were forced to ground-feeding
at Sandy Pond, May 19, by cold, wet weather; how severely the later frosts af¬
fected these birds is not known. Cliff Swallow: seen at nine different non-nesting
localities on May 19, a time when normally it is limited to its fast-decreasing
colonies.

Red-breasted Nuthatch: almost unrecorded this spring; just two reports; two,
May 5; one, May 31 (very late), both at Selkirk Shores St. Pk. (Evans). Brown
Creeper: singing birds present in a flooded dead elm swamp. May 19, Three Rivers
GMA, suggest possible breeders. House Wren: both birders and non-birders noted
a distinct increase in both migrants and residents over 1 956 counts. Mockingbird:
one seen, Apr 27, west of Camillus (Seaman) is our second record. Thrush arrival
dates are: Wood Thrush on Apr 27, Veery on Apr 26, Olive-backed Thrush on Apr
26 (W. Minor), all early. Gray-cheeked Thursh: only reports are two. May 21;
one. May 25, both at Syracuse.

Golden-crowned Kinglet: spring counts low; highest count is 25, Apr 13; de¬
parture date, May 12. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: peak day is 200, Apr 27; last date,
May 19, four at Selkirk Shores St. Pk. Pipit: arrival date is Apr 6 (late); very
late is the departure date. May 26, Sandy Pond. Northern Shrike: last date, Apr
7, near Oswego. Loggerhead Shrike: first reported Apr 1 1 near Bridgeport; a
smattering of records thru May with four stations located in the last week of May.

Vireos-Warblers: Warbling Vireo: first reported, Apr 26 (early). Philadelphia
Vireo: three reports; May 17, 19 and 25 at Syracuse.

May warbler watching was severely hindered by the heavy foliation in late
April; this was partially offset by an abundance of song, but most warbler viewing,
especially of the later females and immatures, remained unsatisfactory. For many
species, the date range and numbers proved interesting; with the following species,
the order of data is: arrival date; peak date (peak number); last migrant and/or
departure date. Black-and-white: Apr 27; May 12 (15); May 19. Tennessee:
May 10; May 17 (100); May 27. Nashville: Apr 27; May 12 (35); May 26. Mag¬
nolia: May 9; May 17 (12); May 30. Cape May: May 8 (late); May 12 (25); May
25. Myrtle: Apr 14; May 12 (100); May 26. Black-throated Green: Apr 27;
May 12 (21); May 27. Blackburnian: Apr 28; May 12 (20 - low); May 27. Bay¬
breasted: May 10; May 13 (15); May 27 (early). Black-polled: May 17; May 26
(25); June 2. Palm: Apr 18; May 19 (12); May 19. Northern Water-thrush:
Apr 23; Apr 27 (15); May 17. Mourning: May 13; May 21 (3); May 31.

Prothonotary: a migrant male seen. May 18, Green Lakes St. Pk. (B. Peterson);
three singing males at the Oneida Lake nesting area. Blue-winged: a male seen,
May 4, near Sherrill (A. and P. Jones); none appeared at Camillus Valley this year.
Brewster's: first seen, Apr 28 (very early), Camillus Valley; noteworthy is a count
of four there. May 12. Orange-crowned: two reports of this rare spring migrant-
one, May 15, Syracuse; one. May 19, Selkirk Shores St. Pk. Pine: first report is
Apr 20, one, Shackleton Point, Oneida Lake. Connecticut: two well-verified reports,
both of adult males; one. May 14, Thornden Park (Evans); one. May 17, Oakwood
Cemetery (Estoff), both in Syracuse. Yellow-breasted Chat: three singing males
found on the brush-covered south slope of Camillus Valley; first noted there May 1 1.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Bobolink: first reported Apr 27; heavy flight (250-
300/day) on May 12-^13 over Syracuse. The late April hawk flights were accom¬
panied by heavy Icterid movements, e.g. Apr 25, 7000 Red-winged Blackbirds,
8000 Grackles, 2000 Cowbirds. Baltimore Oriole: arrival date Apr 27; high count
is 60, May 19.

Scarlet Tanager: excellent flight with up to 20/day, May 12-19. Cardinal:

The Kingbird

65

apparently winter survival was very high; increased numbers of them in known lo¬
cations and three new stations in the flat country (north of Syracuse and south of
Oneida Lake). No winter finches noted; most conspicuous is the absence of a May
Evening Grosbeak flight. Pine Siskin: only one report; eight May 4, Selkirk Shores
St. Park (Evans). Goldfinch: flight of 600 migrated east along Lake Ontario, Apr
25. Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows: arrival dates of Apr 21 and Apr 27
respectively are the "earliest-ever" for both. Tree Sparrow and Slate-colored Junco;
departure dates are Apr 19 (early) and May 21 (very late) respectively. White-
crowned Sparrow: good flight with a high of 45, May 18, Syracuse; date range,
Apr 30 to May 21. White-throated Sparrow: a protracted flight (Apr 13 to May
27) with the peak, 400, Apr 27. Lincoln's Sparrow: two reports; one banded at
Sherrill, May 9 (Nodecker); two seen, May 1, Green Lakes St. Pk. (B. Peterson).

151 Seventh North Street, Syracuse

REGION 6 — ST. LAWRENCE
Fbank A. Clinch

Birds started arriving about on time or a bit early, but in May the tem¬
perature was a little below normal and by that time migration was about
normal or a little late.

Loons — Ducks: Loons were seen in St. Lawrence County Apr 17. Double-
crested Cormorants have been seen near their usual nesting place in Jefferson

County. Canada Geese stayed near Clayton at least as late as May 8. Wood

Ducks have not been seen around Clayton as often as last year.

Hawks — Owls: A Turkey Vulture was seen near West Carthage Apr 13
(Gordon). J. Blake saw a Duck Hawk flying near Clayton May 8. He also reports

that Ruffed Grouse are scarce in that section. An early record for Sora in St.

Lawrence County is May 6 (Nichols). Ruddy Turnstones and Red-backed Sandpipers
were found by Gordon at Perch River Marsh Apr 13. Mourning Doves spent the
winter in this region in places where they found food. Black-billed Cuckoos have
been seen more frequently than last year. Belknap saw a Bonaparte's Gull Apr 17.

Swifts — Warblers: A pair of Sapsuckers was seen near Watertown late in

May and they appear to be nesting. A Brown Thrasher was seen in St. Lawrence
County Apr 23 which is early. It is possible that there is a slight increase in the
number of Bluebirds. A Warbling Vireo appeared in St. Lawrence County Apr
29 (Nichols). Myrtle Warblers appeared in droves starting May 6-7 (J. Blake).
Among the warblers seen at the time of the spring census, May 4-19 were: Myrtle,
Yellow, Black and White, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Redstart, Yellow-throat,
Oven-bird, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Nashville, Black-poll, Canada, Wilson's, Parula
and Yellow-breasted Chat. In general the ones reported most often are given first,
but the order is by no means exact. Perhaps the Magnolia and Bay-breasted
Warblers were noted more often than in other years. A Tennessee Warbler was
found dead in Watertown May 18.

Blackbirds-Sparrows: A Western Tanager was identified by Mrs. Frank

Roda at Joe Indian Lake the week before Memorial Day. On May 6 Rev. Nichols
saw six Evening Grosbeaks feeding high up in a newly-leaved elm tree in Madrid
village. They are reported to be nesting in St. Lawrence County again this year.
Many White-crowned Sparrows stayed around Watertown for several days. The
peak was around May 18-19. They were seen near Madrid May 15, but not
otter May 20th. One was still at the feeder of Louise Blake near Potsdam on Jun 4.

173 Haley St. } Watertown

66

The Kingbird

REGION 8 — MOHAWK-HUDSON

James K. Meritt

-The spring migration in the middle Hudson and Mohawk Valley
region was a far different one from 1956. There were few, if any, marked
waves of migrants. April and May were both warmer than normal, April
considerably so, and consequently most species were recorded earlier this
year than last. The almost uniform above average temperatures undoubt¬
edly accounted for the lack of flights such as we experienced last year. April
was considerably drier than normal and what rain did fall was confined
virtually entirely to the first third of the month. May was a bit wetter
than usual, but there was no rainfall early in the month. Foliage devel¬
opment was considerably ahead of 1956. It was at first feared that the
tent caterpillar infestation would be quite severe, but apparently one bene¬
fit of the late April and early May drought was to eliminate this hazard.

There is little question as to the ornithological highlight of the season.
On May 25 Walt Kaskan located a Cattle Egret at a small pond about five
miles from Schenectady. To my knowledge, this constitutes the first up¬
state New York record for this species. Another exceptionally good record
is that of several Bohemian Waxwings in early April.

Loons — Ducks: The Cattle Egret discovered on May 25 was seen by scores of
observers attending the tenth annual convention of the Federation of New York
State Bird Clubs. Colored photographs of the bird, both perched and in flight, were
successfully taken by Dr. Clifford Tepper. In spite of the possible rumors to the
contrary, the Cattle Egret was not manually transplanted to Schenectady for the
Federation weekend occasion. The bird was not present at the pond on May 26,
and a thorough search of the surrounding area by several parties proved of no avail.

The American Brant is a rare transient locally. However, there were two May
reports. One was on the Mohawk near Niskayuna on May 18, and on May 26 a
flock of almost 1700 was observed there (Schenectady Bird Club). Reports of Canada
Geese were not too numerous. The duck migration was early and light, and con¬
sequently the April flight was not too noticeable. Of interest was a small group
of Red-breasted Mergansers at Saratoga Lake on Apr 7 (Foote, Hollenbeck). Two
male Hooded Merganserswere at Vischer Ponds on Apr 13 (SBC), and on the 25th
a female was seen there (Hollenbeck). A pair of White-winged Scoters was at
Mohawk View on May 26.

Hawks — Owls: The Turkey Vulture continues to become increasingly common.
One was at East Chatham on Apr 1, and on Apr 17 three were there. The species
was reported from that locality on three occasions during May (Radke). On May
26 two of these birds were seen soaring over Indian Ladder, a few miles south
of Schenectady (SBC). A small hawk flight was noted at Delmar on Apr 27
(Madison). Included were some 20 Broad-wings, 13 Red-tails, and three or four
Ospreys. No Bald Eagles were reported. Marsh Hawks seemed scarce. Ruffed
Grouse, too, seemed to be not as common as might be expected, although one
was heard drumming in Schenectady's Central Park on May 5 (SBC). The Florida
Gallinule was first heard on Apr 28. Rails seemed particularly scarce this spring,
with the Virginia being the only representative of its group to be recorded.

A good variety of shorebirds was recorded for this inland area, although none
was present in numbers. Late in April the Woodcock was heard by many ob¬
servers along River Road in Niskayuna. For the last few years this has been a
sure spot at which to record this species. A Woodcock was seen and heard near
Vischer's Ferry on Apr 28 (Hollenbeck, Meritt), and another was present at Burnt
Hills on Apr 15 (Foote), The Wilson's Snipe first appearad at Ballston Lake on

The Kingbird

67

Apr 12 (Hackett), and there were subsequent reports. Spotted Sandpipers arrived
on Apr 28 (SBC). A Greater Yellow-legs was seen at Viscber Ponds on Apr 25
(Hollenbeck). The Ringed Plover and Sanderling were recorded near Schenectady
on May 18. A pair of Upland Sandpipers seen near Hoffmans on May 17 consti¬
tutes the only period report of which I know (Brown, Hollenbeck). A group of about
40 Common Terns was seen over the Mohawk at Niskayuna on May 12 (Yunick).
Both the Common Tern and the Black Tern were recorded in the same locality
on May 1 8 (SBC).

Both species of cuckoos were recorded, but numbers were certainly far from
plentiful. The Black-bHI was especially scarce. At Nassau a Screech Owl nest
was found, and young were successfully reared (Turner). A Horned Owl was heard
at Alplaus on May 17 (Heitkamp).

Goatsuckers — Shrikes: The Whip-poor-will was first heard at Nassau on Apr 28
(Shineman, Turner) and at Delmar on Apr 29 (Madison). Chimney Swifts put in
a rather early appearance on Apr 25. The species was recorded that day both
at Cohoes (Scotland) and at Delmar (Madison). Pileated Woodpeckers continued
to be reported in good numbers. A Red-headed Woodpecker was observed in Colum¬
bia County on May 25 (Carter).

At East Chatham the Least Flycatcher was first recorded on Apr 2 (Radke), and
the first Crested Flycatcher report was from Delmar on Apr 27 (Madison). A Yellow-
bellied Flycatcher was at Loudonville on May 23 (French), and the following day
one was seen at East Chatham (Smilow), Olive-sided Flycatchers seemed extremely
scarce. Purple Martins arrived at their Selkirk colony on Apr 18 (fide Baker).

There were several reports of the Red-breasted Nuthatch, a species almost
completely absent during the past winter. One was present at East Chatham through
Apr 19 (Smilow), and early in April a pair of these birds was present at a Niskayuna
feeder (Sherman). The species was reported from Jenny Lake on and after Apr
20 (Bartiett). At least two Carolina Wrens were present throughout the period at
Collins Lake, Scotia, but there was no definite evidence of nesting (Hollenbeck).
A Winter Wren was seen and heard near Crescent Reservoir on Apr 13. The
House Wren first appeared in the Glenville area on Apr 22, and an early Catbird
was there on Apr 18 (Meritt). At Harlemville a Mockingbird was seen on May
13 (Curtis). The Gray-cheeked Thrush was reported at Loudonville on May 10 and
again on May 13 (French). On May 26 a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, the second re¬
ported locally in six years, was seen at Meadowdale Marsh (SBC).

On Apr 6 four Bohemian Waxwings were seen in the Scotia-Glenville region by
Benton Seguin. The birds were with a flock of some twenty Cedar Waxwings, and
the size difference was immediately noticeable. Other identification marks, such
as the white in the lower part of the wings, were clearly noted. The last local
report for the species was in 1951. Although the Bohemian Waxwing is normally
considered a rare winter visitor, it has been recorded at Schenectady on at least
one occasion in May. There were no reports of shrikes.

Vireos — Warblers: Two very early Warbling Vireos were recorded in Niska¬
yuna on Apr 17 (Arnold), and a late record is that of two Blue-headed Vireos at
Loudonville on May 23 (French).

Thirty-one species of warblers, plus the hybrid Lawrence's were recorded during
the period. The Black-and-White first appeared at East Chatham on Apr 27
(Smilow) and at Burnt Hills on Apr 29 (Foote). The Lawrence's Warbler, the first
reported locally in several years, was seen at the Alcove Reservoir on May 18
(SBC). The season's only report of the Cerulean Warbler was from Slingerlands
on or about May 1 1 (Sabin). A Pine Warbler was at Nassau on Apr 10 (Turner).
The last report of the Yellow Palm Warbler was from Niskayuna on Apr 27 (Eddy).

The Yellow Warbler was first noted at Amsterdam on Apr 25 (Fitzgerald), and
a Blackburnian Warbler was at Watervliet Reservoir on Apr 28 (SBBC). A Black-
capped Warbler was at East Chatham on May 16 (Radke), and at Loudonville an
Orange-crowned Warbler was seen and heard on May 1 0 (French). Redstarts seemed
late in arriving. The Worm-eating Warbler was again present in small numbers
at Indian Ladder, and on May 14 a single individual of this species was at Am¬
sterdam (Fitzgerald). A Connecticut Warbler was closely observed in Niskayuna

68

The Kingbird

on May 31 (Brown, Hollenbeck). Mourning Warblers were completely unreported.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: The first Bobolink report was from East Chatham on
May 7 (Radke). A large flock of Rusty Blackbirds was observed at Burnt Hills on
Apr 13 (Foote). Three Baltimore Orioles were in Niskayuna on Apr 28 (Arnold),
and on May 18 on Orchard Oriole was reported in the same area (SBC).

Surprisingly enough, there were two reports of winter finches. A small group
of Redpolls and Pine Siskins was observed in Scotia on Apr 6 (Seguin), and a flock
of about 25 Redpolls was in Niskayuna on Apr 24 (Novak). Purple Finches were
quite commonly reported. The Cardinal was reported throughout the period from
Niskayuna (Eddy). Late in April the species was reported from Delmar (Madison,
Safford). The Cardinal continues to become increasingly common locally.

A Grasshopper Sparrow was reported at Nassau on Apr 24 (Turner). There
was a fairly conspicuous Junco flight in the vicinity of Schenectady in early April.
On Apr 2 a count of about 1 000 was made near the Karner pine barrens (VanVorst).
White-crowned Sparrows were quite widely reported. At Nassau these birds were
present between Apr 28 (Shineman) and May 28 (Turner). They were present at
Lo udonville between May 9 and 21 (French) and at Burnt Hills between May 6
and 20 (Foote).

On May 26 a White-throated Sparrow, apparently a breeder, was seen near
Albany (SBC). This is a bit south of the bird's known normal nesting range. The
Chipping Sparrow first appeared at Amsterdam on Apr 8, and on Apr 22 a late
Fox Sparrow was there (Fitzgerald). A Lincoln's Sparrow was reported in Columbia
County on May 4 (Alan Devoe Bird Club). Another was present at Amsterdam
from May 12 through May 18 (Fitzgerald).

16 Ellen Lam, Scotia

REGION 9 — DELAWARE-HUDSON
Fred N, Hough

Except for the drought period of latter April and early May our spring
weather was quite normal generally. This stable condition, in turn, per¬
mitted the migration flights to flow through rather uninterrupted and in
some cases migrants were actually earlier than usual. Most noticeable was
the abundance of many species arriving in latter April instead of their usual
arrival time of early May. The dry weather affected the May flights hut
little, perhaps even enhancing the normality of things. As is often the case,
irregardless of the weather stability and normal migration trends, some alert
and watchful observer manages to spot the locally rare species that has
wandered in or is drifting through with the rest of the migration. Heading
the list for this period, are the Gannet, Red-backed Sandpiper and the
Caspian Tern.

Loons — Ducks: On May 19 Frank and Ruth Steffens and Ed Treacy saw
two Gannets near Congers in Rockland County, making a first record for our region.
Coastwise in distribution, this large oceanic bird rarely ventures inland. On Apr
17 Dr. Marjorie Hopper discovered a Green Heron in Rockland, which is an early
arrival date. Most observers commented on the numerous flights of Canada Geese
through the Hudson Valley this spring. Martha Earl has discovered an increase
in the number of nesting Mallards in her area around Farmingdafe, Orange County.
As an uncommon nesting duck in this region perhaps the increase may be due
to crossing with the domestic Mallard. A very late Baldpate was still in Rockland
on May 19 (Hopper, Steffens, Treacy). A small number of Redheads was seen
on the Lyonsville Pond, Ulster Co. on Apr 13, (Henry Dunbar, Fred Hough). They
are seldom found on small ponds in this area. Also in Ulster, about 20 Old-squaw
were seen on the Ashokan Reservoir, Apr 4 (Al Feldman).

The Kingbird

69

Hawks —- Owls: Hawk movement and activity was normal. Five Ruddy Turn¬
stones were seen along the shores of the Lake De Forest reservoir in Rockland
(Steffens, Treacy). These were seen on May 19. Thomas Dow identified the Red-
backed Sandpiper found near Piermont Pier on May 18, making Rockland's first
record and probably the region's. Nearly 90 Bonaparte's Gulls were seen near
Cornwall, Orange Co., Apr 7 by Ed Treacy. A Common Tern was seen at the
Ashokan Res., Ulster, on May 1 by Henry and Use Dunbar. Of greater interest were
the two Caspian Terns observed at the Ashokan Reservoir May 1 8 by Al Feldman.
This is Ulster County's only known record, but the species is occasionally seen along

Hudson River. The Owl status seems unchanged.

Swifts — Shrikes: Several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were found about the
Winnesook area on Slide Mountain, Apr 27 & 28 (Fred Hough). Their peculiar
drumming habit was especially enjoyed. Rockland County's first modern nesting
record for the Acadian Flycatcher was made by Robert Deed and Eugene Brown
during May. The site was near Lake De Forest and the nest was completed on
May 24. A small number of Purple Martins appeared at Armonk, Westchester,
May 13 (Thomas Parker). House Wren populations seem to have improved all
through the Region. A Short-billed Marsh Wren was found on May 12 (Henry
& Use Dunbar) near John Burrough's "Slabsides" in Ulster. An early Brown
Thrasher arrived at New City on Apr 17 (Maude Brown). Also early was an Olive-
backed Thrush heard (call note only) on the summit of Slide Mountain, Apr 28
(Fred Hough).

Vireos — Warblers: An early Yellow-throated Vireo appeared at Kripplebush,
Ulster, Apr 27 (Hough). In Ulster many Warblers were noted in latter April ahead
of their normal arrival time. Martha Earl reports more Golden-winged and Blue¬
winged Warblers than usual in Orange County about her area. The Blue-winged
appeared more common in Ulster (Dunbar, Hough, Pyle et al.), A Brewster's
hybrid was seen near West Point, May 11 by E. Treacy and A. Dignan. The Pine
Warbler usually slips through during the spring un-noticed but Bob Deed had one
singing about his home in Nyack, Apr 22 and 23. Very early Ovenbird appeared
in Rockland on Apr 10 (Frances Irving), equalling a previous early date.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: An Orchard Oriole was seen near New Paltz, Ulster,
Apr 28 (Robert Pyle et at.), and was nearly two weeks early. The Orchard Oriole
also returned to its nesting site in Stone Ridge, Ulster on May 14 for the fifth con¬
secutive year (F. Hough). An oriole was seen on Apr 4 by Stan Grierson and students
of the Armonk school in Westchester but the exact identity could not be made.
The Henslow's Sparrow appeared at Kripplebush, Ulster on Apr 21, ahead of normal
arrival date (Fred Hough). The White-crowned Sparrow came in earlier than usual,,
the first seen May 1 at Kripplebush, Ulster (Mrs. Fred Hough). During this normal
season the Lincoln's Sparrow went back to his hidrng ways. Only one report
was received in contrast to several of last year. Ed Treacy saw one Lincoln's near
Highland Falls, May 2.

Accord 1

REGION 10 — MARINE

John J. Elliott

Several warm days in late April and early May brought foliage out
markedly, making land bird observations considerably more difficult than
during the unusually cold spring of last year. May 15 and 23 were fair
flight days on major fly ways on western Long Island and around New York
City. There were rather poor flights of birds off the main flyways and were
so described at Massapequa, Northport and Mastic.

Observers reported a noticeable scarcity of Red-eyed Vireos, Black-poll

70

The Kingbird

Warblers and Redstarts, but recorded a good flight of Tennessee Warblers
with nine counted at Northport, May 17 (E. Mudge), Several early rec¬
ords of land birds were broken: a Scarlet Tanager picked up on Apr 6 at
Amityville died later. Five Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at Hempstead in mid-April
were the maximum sent in for this species.

Among shore birds, scattered reports came in of Eludsonian Curlew.
Hudsonian Godwit, Caspian and Gull-billed Terns. A Wilson’s Phalarope
and Reeve were seen in mid-spring and nine Golden Plovers were maxi¬
mum for a spring flock hereabouts, and perhaps constitutes an all time
high for this species.

Loons — Ducks: The Loon flight continued at least to Jun 1 with four Red-
throated and 15 Common Loons from Mecox to Moriches Inlet on that date (N.
Smith, Brooklyn Bird Club). From 9:00 o.m. to 5:30 p.m., Jun 1, 500 Sooty Shear¬
waters were counted from Mecox to Moriches Inlet and two birds were picked up
dead (Smith, Brooklyn Bird Club). The Cormorant flight progressed into late May
from 20 at Shinnecock, Apr 6 (D. Puleston). Both American and Snowy Egrets were
present at Jamaica Bay Sanctuary from early May; Grossy Ibis was noted at North-
ville (near Riverhead) Apr 14 (Puleston, Raynor, O. Stoutenburgh) and several were
recorded from Bronx Park, May 1 1 (B. Gilbert). Snow Goose: maximum, Jamaica
Bay, 172 in three flocks (Mayer), also a flock of 39 at Jones Beach, Mar 30 (Queens
County Bird Club). An abundance of Brant were still present at Jamaica Bay with
1,000 on May 8 (A. Penberthy).

Other Ducks: late Pintail, May 18 at Mill Neck (Elliott); seven Wood Ducks same
place, Apr 23 (Penberthy); European Widgeon, Hastings-on-Hudson, Mar 2 (W. Has¬
tings) Jamaica Bay Sanctuary, May 8: two Blue-winged Teal, five Shovellers, 60
Scaup, 30 Buffle-head; June 1: two Shovellers, one Scaup, seven Ruddy Ducks.

Hawks — Owls: Several reports of Red-tailed and Red-shouldered; two Bread¬
winged present at Northport, Apr 22 (Mudge); Duck Hawk present at Jamaica Bay
into May; Pigeon Hawk, Babylon, May 8 (Alperin). Bob-white were well distributed
from Massapequa eastward; several records of King Rail, one to May 23 at Jamaica
Bay (Mayer). No reports came in of Yellow or Black Rail, but a Sora was seen at
Lawrence, May 5 (Penberthy, Levine). A good flight of shore birds along Jamaica
Bay in May and early June: maximum Golden Plover, nine, Apr 26 (Mayer); also
one at Spring Creek, Apr 20 (R, Grant). Other shore birds: Solitary Sandpiper,
Northport, May 10 (Mudge); a Reeve at Spring Creek, May 19, and present for
some time previous to this (numerous observers). Wilson's Phalarope, Jamaica
Bay, May 19 (Dignan, Casey, Brooklyn Bird Club). Pomarine Jaeger, one at
Rockaway, May 30 (P. Buckley, P. Post); four, Mecox to Moriches Inlet and two
Parasitic Jaegers, Jun 1 (Brooklyn Bird Club); a Glaucous Gull was present at
Jamaica Bay into May; an estimated 100 Bonaparte's Gulls, May 27 at Jamaica
Bay and 13 on June 1 (Baldwin Bird Club). Forster's Tern at Jamaica Bay, May
23 and two Black Terns (Mayer); Gull-billed Tern, Rockaway, May 30 (G. Carleton).
The cuckoo flight appeared light; few owls were recorded but Great Horned Owl
with two young in nest on eastern Long Island (C. McKeever). Whip-poor-will at
Far Rockaway, Apr 22 (J. Bull) and Nighthawk at Northport, May 15 (E. Mudge) and
one over New Rochelle, Jun 4 (Elliott).

Swifts — Shrikes: Fair numbers of Swifts seen away from the metropolitan
region; reports of the rather rare Red-headed Woodpecker: New Rochelle, Dec 23
to mid-May (Hastings); Jones Beach, May 18 (J. and R. Allison); Northport, same
date (Mudge); Babylon, Jun 2 (Alperin). Olive-sided Flycatcher came through in
mid-May; Alder Flycatcher, picked up, freshly killed, Baldwin Harbor, May 24
(E. W. Teale). Two or three reports of migrating Cliff Swallows on western Long
Island and a half-dozen of Rough-winged and Bank Swallow records came in.
Early Purple Martin, Central Park, Mar 31 (Post). Practically no Red-breasted Nut¬
hatch flight; fairly good report on distribution of Carloina Wren, but very few of
Short-billed Marsh Wren. Brown Thrasher was singing at Garden City Apr 22;

The Kingbird

71

Wood Thrush on Apr 28 and Veery, May 2 (J. T. Nichols). A fair migration of
Ruby-crowned Kinglets was recorded and an April movement of Gnatcatchers was
noted by numerous observers on Long Island as well as an early record at New
Rochelle of Apr 13 for this species (Hastings).

Vireos — Warblers: There was a good flight of Blue-headed Vireos and locally
of White-eyed; Red-eyed Vireos scarce compared to other years; a Philadelphia
Vireo was recorded at Prospect Park, May 18 (N. Smith, Brooklyn Bird Club). Early
Black-and-White Warbler, New Rochelle, Apr 13 (Hasting). Prothonotary Warb¬
ler was present in April in Hempstead and Woodmere (numerous observers); Ceru¬
lean Warbler observed at Woodmere, May 23 (Mayer); Central Park, same date
(Mrs. P. Messing); Yellow-throated Warbler, Babylon, May 8 (Alperin). Orange-
crowned Warbler: two reports from Dobbs Ferry, Feb 22 and Apr 28 (Hastings).
Unusual was a singing Kentucky Warbler in a midtown New York City backyard
during migration (R. Harrison). First report of Mourning Warbler: Central Park,
May 23 (Mrs. Messing) and one at Forest Park, May 25 (Mayer, G. Rose) earliest
record of Hooded Warbler: one at Woodmere, Apr 30 (Elliott).

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Bobolinks were present in late May in Massapequa;
a young male Orchard Oriels, May 19 at Mill Neck, Baltimore Oriole arrived in late
April; there were several records of Rusty Blackbird and one of Summer Tanager
in Central Park. There was a fair flight of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks on Long
Island; fewer Indigo Buntings; one report of Henslow's Sparrow; an abundane of
Sharp-tailed and Seaside Sparrows: Field Sparrows were scarce and there were
far fewer White-crowned Sparrows than turned up last year. Strangely, of a winter
flock of some 25-30 Lapland Longspurs at Spring Creek, Jamaica Bay, six were
present on May 8 (Mayer).

3994 Park Ave., Seaford, Long Island

72

The Kingbird

FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC.

1957 Officers

President

Albert W. Fudge ____ ____.j 326 Lorchmont Read, Elmira

Vice-President

Mrs. Dayton Stoner — -.-- ———__-_399 State Street, Albany

Corresponding Secretary

Elizabeth A. Feldhusen —____Broadway, Saranac Lake

Recording Secretary

Mrs. Edward C. Ulrich___ —__— -193 LaSalle Avenue, Buffalo

Treasurer

Allan S. Klonick----901 Sibley Tower Building, Rochester 4

Editor of THE KINGBIRD
Gerald R. Rising
72 Allen's Creek Road, Rochester 18

Standing Committee Chairmen

Bibliography: Allen H. Benton, NYS College for Teachers, Albany 3
Conservation: Winston W. Brockner, 63 Ardmore Place, Buffalo 13
Membership: Audrey Louise Wrede, 3109 Beverly Road, Brooklyn 26
Publications and Research: Fred T. Hall, Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo 11
State Book: Harold D. Mitchell, 238 West Royal Parkway, Williamsville 21