W.KINGBIRD

VOLUME VII, No. 4 _ JANUARY » 1958

FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC.

( 2 /KINGBIRD

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

Vol. 7 No. 4

January; 1958

Pages 105 - 140

CONTENTS

Sparrow Associations_John T. Nichols

Clark Beardslee_Harold D. Mitchell

The'Verifying Account of Ornithology_Clark S. Beardslee

Call for Papers_

A Report to Readers_

Notes:

Purple Martin Colonies in Central New York State .

The Western Meadowlark in Monroe County_

Little Gull at Jamaica Bay Sanctuary, Long Island
Mating Display of the Vesper Sparrow_

Regional Reports for the Fall Migration, 1957 _

Summary of Tree and Shrub Crops_

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Editor — Gerald R. Rising

Editorial

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

Board

John J. Elliott
Sally Hoyt
Fritz Scheider
Minnie B. Scotland

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, Gerald R. Rising, 72 Allen's Creek Road, Rochester 18, N. Y.

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SPARROW ASSOCIATIONS
John T. Nichols

From their behavior at my feeding and banding station in the village of
Garden City, I have recently become interested in sparrow associations, and
herewith present certain observations of them and conclusions drawn there¬
from, with special reference to our three species of Spizella.

Changes I have noticed over a period of years in the numbers of resident
birds, permanent, summer or winter, in a given Long Island locality, most
often have been attributable to changes in the habitat. It is not necessarily
che immediate habitat. If there is a sufficiently favorable area to act as a
base for a species within an accessible distance, its elimination will be felt
over the surrounding region, and the numbers of that species therein decrease,
if the bird does not disappear. For such a base to be effective at a given
locality, its area, size of its bird population, and its nearness depend on the
species in question. That is one reason why every acre or less of ground left
wild and undeveloped, is of so much importance to birds and to bird-lovers .

Between the World Wars, no more than a half mile east of Franklin
Avenue, which runs north and south a little east of us and is the main
thoroughfare of Garden City Village, there was still a considerable area of
vacant land grown to grass, bushes and small trees, where the edge of the
ILempstead Plains had earlier been. It was a base for flocking Tree Sparrows
in winter and singing Field Sparrows in summer, but has now been almost
completely swept away by the mounting tide of small houses.

In winter flocks of Tree Sparrows were found irregularly but not in¬
frequently in the formalized yards about the houses west of Franklin Avenue,
such as ours, which are still little changed. But the last time I remember
them there in any number was in the winter of 1944-45. That season the
Keith Henneys banded one on Fifth Street, January 30, 1945 (No. 4335472).
There were fewer the following winter, but this same individual came back
to Garden City and was trapped by the Heathcote Kimballs (also bird-
banders) on Fourth Street, around a quarter mile west-southwest, December
29, 1945.

In recent years there have been apt to be a few winter Tree Sparrows
wherever a bit of favorable cover, however small, remained east of Franklin
Avenue. I dare say (and hope) others have been more fortunate, but the
winter and spring of 1956 to 1957 are the first I can remember that I have
neither seen a Tree Sparrow or heard a Field Sparrow sing in Garden City.

The common ground-feeding sparrows associate in mixed flocks, wherein
the individuals take their behavior pattern from one another irrespective of
species. They tend to fly up into adjacent trees or bushes or drop down to
feed together. This is so familiar that I had not realized here was a useful
form of intercommunication, which cut across species lines, until the fact
was pointed up to me by an out of season Baltimore Oriole that dropped
down on my trap December 3, 1953, interested in the bait it contained.
The trap was surrounded by a group of sparrows, not afraid of it, and picking
up what they could take safely, but so conditioned to the trap and its danger
line, that one was very rarely caught. The Oriole may have been attracted
by seeing them feeding, but it was definitely not one of the group, an out-

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sider to which the behavior of sparrows meant comparatively little. It went
about the trap trying to get at the bait, and when it came to the entrance
and that problem was solved, immediately and deliberately went inside, was
taken out, banded and released.

Seven species commonly found in mixed groups are the Fox, White-
throated, Song, Tree, Field, Chipping Sparrows, and Junco. Which are most
frequently in company seems to be a good deal a matter of light and shade
preferences, though size and closeness of relationship also play a part. The
Fox Sparrow is mostly a bird of shaded woods and thickets, Tree and Field
Sparrows of the sunlit open areas. The White-throated Sparrow ranges from
shaded to partially shaded, Junco from open to partially shaded ground.
Both being plentiful winter residents, they are often found together, though
there is little cohesion between them, they tend to mix for a while and then
drift apart. The Song Sparrow is the most catholic in the matter of light
and shade, frequently found with the Fox Sparrow at one end of the line,
and any considerable flock of Tree Sparrows at the other usually has a few
Song Sparrows with it. The Song Sparrow is relatively independent, in-
tolerent, aggressive, and does not like to be crowded. It will sometimes drive
individual House Sparrows out of its way, and take its own departure when
there are too many to be gotten rid of. By contrast Juncos are playful. Much
of the pleasure they seem to find in one another's society is chasing one
another about.

It is interesting to note that Field Sparrows in summer and Tree Sparrows
in winter replace one another in the same habitat. It follows that in fall
when both are present, the less numerous of the two are often found in
groups of the more numerous. Migrant Field and Chipping Sparrows are
also sometimes found together, and presumably from being of the same size,
make a homogeneous group that acts more in unison. There is little indica¬
tion that its members notice the species difference, and one has to look at
each one carefully to be sure which it is.

I was interested in the behavior of a few Chipping Sparrows in a group
of White-throated Sparrows, Juncos, or both, flying up into nearby trees
and shrubbery, and down to feed with them. But the larger birds scattered
over the grass, and the Chipping Sparrows assembled at the edge of a
bordering road, where they probably found a fare more to their liking.

A less expected association than that between Field and Tree Sparrows,
but rather comparable therewith, is that between the Chipping Sparrow
and the Junco. Delayed migrants of the former species in the fall are more
often than not found in flocks of the latter. On September 18, 1921, my
first two or three Juncos of the fall at Garden City, dull-colored individuals,
were in a flack of Chipping Sparrows. The behavior and temperament of
the two is not unlike, both are “dooryard birds” at home in suburban areas,
the one in summer the other in winter, before these became unsuitable for
nesting Chippys.

Comparatively few Field and almost no Chipping Sparrows actually
overwinter on Long Island, and when they do so, they seem to go into winter
quarters, their association with other species casual.

In the winter of 1919 to 1920, a vacant lot at the end of our block in
Garden City was grown with a tall dry grass QAndrofOgon virginicus). On

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Christmas morning, 1919, after blizzard conditions the night before, there
were a half dozen Field Sparrows feeding there, and with them at least one
Tree Sparrow. No great amount of snowfall was badly drifted, and the
sparrows were clinging to the grass or reaching it from the snow under which
it was partially buried. I frequently found several Field Sparrows (usually
less, and never more than six or eight) in this lot later in the winter, the
last time on Washingtons Birthday, 1920. Sometimes there were other
species in larger numbers, if less regularly; on January 18 a flock of 15 or 20
birds, Tree Sparrows and Juncos in about equal number; January 22, about
4 Field Sparrows with 2 or 3 Tree Sparrows feeding on the grass which pro¬
jected above the snow; February 8, about 40 Tree Sparrows — three or four
Juncos and two or three Field Sparrows noticed among them. On February
23, 1920, I came upon three Field Sparrows together at Amityville, Long
Island, and these also were feeding on Andropogon virginicus .

In the season of 1954-55 an unusually dull-plumaged Chipping Sparrow
overwintered among a line of small thick bushes along the platform of the
Garden City railroad station where I took the train for town. It doubtless
partook of feed that had been thrown out there as did a number of House
Sparrows and Starlings, was cognizent of and correlated its movements with
theirs to some extent within this limited area, but seemed to pay them little
attention. I saw it first on December 24, 1954, definitely identified it three
times in February and twice in March 1955, the last time March 8. On
January 10 a Chipping Sparrow in company with Juncos visited my yard
over a quarter mile away. It did not look like and probably was not this
same individual, and likely had not yet gone into winter quarters. The very
occasional Chipping Sparrow I remember coming across in previous winters
had been rather solitary, and not associated with other species.

Before the 1920’s, the Chipping Sparrow was an omnipresent summer
resident on Long Island. At Garden City the first singing males were a
season marker which I looked for in the end of March, though they may
have appeared more often in early April. They were as common in the
suburbs as Robins still are, and probably bred there in larger numbers per
acre than in more rural areas. In early fall one saw them feeding on lawns
in considerable flocks, prior to the arrival of White-throats and Juncos to
join them. Now but a small fraction of their then number remains any¬
where on Long Island. They are not.uncommon, and a few paifs still nest
about the two country places with which I am most familiar, one at the
North ,the other at the South Shore. But their suburban habitat is changed,
its population reservoir of this sparrow is gone, its roads are crowded with
automobile traffic. And where is the plentiful horse-hair there with which
they used to line their nests?

American Museum of Natural History, New York 24

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The Kingbird

CLARK S. BEARDSLEE

The Niagara Frontier Region suffered an irreparable loss in the death of
Clark Beardslee on September 26, 1957. He served with distinction as
regional editor from our area for five successive years, and had also acted
as local chairman of the midwinter waterfowl survey. Though a very busy
man, Clark always felt that his bird study activities should be given prime
attention, and therefore, he was usually very prompt in completing these
painstaking assignments.

A native of Connecticut and a graduate of Yale University, Clark had
come to Buffalo in 1921 and lived here ever since. He was one of the
founders of the Buffalo Ornithological Society in 1929, and served as its
president on three separate occasions. He was one of the Society’s statis¬
ticians for over twenty years. Clark Beardslee conducted a number of courses
in bird study at the Buffalo Museum of Science. He also served on the
board of managers of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences since 1948.

In observing birds, Clark kept careful notes which are of considerable
scientific value and he often aided others to become more proficient in orni¬
thology. He was an expert on bird songs and I was often amazed at his
wonderful powers of hearing. I recall that on Goat Island in the Niagara
River, in spite of the noise from the cataracts and the rapids, he pointed in
the direction of a Brown Creeper which he had heard calling. We walked
over 100 yards, on this and several similar occasions, before finding the bird.
I look back with pleasure on the many field trips which Clark and I had
together. On these I was always impressed by his knowldege of all the
factors that enter into field identification.

Clark Beardslee and I have been working for years on an annotated
check list of the birds of the Niagara Frontier Region and were awaiting
the publication of the new A O 0 check list in order to finish our own
check list so as to use the proper bird names. I am working hard to finish
this, following the same style as we decided on in completing the bulk of the
work which has already been finished.

No problem seemed too difficult for Clark to proffer his aid in solution,
and he gave freely of his time to help others. His ready wit and keen sense
of humor, plus the fact that he was loved by all, made his presence at our
meetings an inspiration. It will indeed be hard to carry on without him.
—Harold D. Mitchell

THE VERIFYING ACCOUNT IN ORNITHOLOGY
Clark S. Beardslee

Editor’s Note: The Federation has lost one of its finest members. Clark
Beardslee, regional editor for The Kingbird since 1952, died this 'past fall.
Although 1 can speak of Clark only from my short association with him on
this magazine , it was with a great sense of personal loss that I learned of his
death from Harold Mitchell. As readers will agree after reading his summary
of the verification problem, Clark represents care and thoughtfulness. Con¬
servative by nature, but consistent and thorough, he has been a mainstay
of this publication ,

Departing from a rule against reprinting articles published in other

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109

journals , as a tribute to Clark Beardslee the following article is taken from
The Prothonotary for May 1957 (XXIII (5): 25-27. J

The following are the thoughts of one who was for twenty-one consecu¬
tive years one of the two censors of records for the Buffalo Ornithological
Society; who after a rest of six years finds himself back in the same office,
after the adoption by the Society of a new concept in the submission of
significant records.

Historically, I think it would be true to say that up until the turn of the
century the sight record, as we use the term today, was accorded little atten¬
tion and no respect. Unquestionably the ornithologists of those days had
good reasons ,and we can assume that these were:

1. Very few "observers” were equipped with binoculars, even of
inferior quality. Since the unaided eye is not capable of forming
accurate impressions of small objects at distances at which birds may
ordinarily be approached, this was a very serious weakness.

2. Almost all men had guns, and there were few laws limiting
their use. Most identifications were therefore made by examination
of freshly killed specimens.

3. The few bird books of the time were poorly illustrated, and the
word descriptions were based upon the assumption that the bird was
in the hand. Such phrases as "second primary shorter than first” and
"tarsus longer than hind toe” filled the "Description” section, and
one looked in vain for "Field Marks”.

There were a few observers who studied birds without guns back in
the nineteenth century; I came uncomfortably close to being one myself. But
consider the changes which have come to field observation since 1900. The
number of bird watchers has grown amazingly; superb books, designed to help
the amateur, are available; automobiles and good roads have greatly enlarged
the scope of an individual's birding; and bird clubs welcome the beginner
with helpful programs, both in-door and out-of-door.

Today there are two schools of thought in respect to the sight record.
One school, which includes, I think, most professional ornithologists, still
clings to the old belief that sight records are of no value. The other school
is the one which I wish to discuss.

Axtell has recently written four most significant papers: What
Constitutes Adequate Verification 1 ? (Prothonotary, April, 1954). Can
a Sight Record be Scientific? (Prothonotary, Feb., 1955). An
Analysis of the Reasons for Writing Detailed Verifying Accounts of
Unusual Sight Records, (Prothonotary, March, 1955). How to Write
Verifying Accounts of Unusual Sight Records (Prothonotary, April,
1955).

Wrapped up in all these papers, and part and parcel of the program of
the Buffalo Ornithological Society, is the serious belief that SIGHT
RECORDS CAN BE OF REAL VALUE. It is of importance that orni¬
thologists who study Axtell’s papers should appreciate that he is suggesting
only that all observers should make certain that their records are of scientific
value. If the study of birds is worth anything, it must be worth that. I use
the term "scientific.” That is a word used by other people and other units.

110

The Kingbird

We should recognize that if we are going to be scientific we must meet
at least the minimum requirements of the term as it is used by others who
are scientific.

If a really valid sight record is to carry conviction, it certainly must have
a tag of some sort attached to it. I remember a visit I made many years ago
to a meeting of a long-established bird club. A portion of the meeting was
given over to reports of recent observations, and one member rose to tell
of a trip she and a friend had taken about ten days earlier. The date of
the outing must have been about April 20, yet among the birds these two
observers were sure they saw were Red-eyed Vireo and Wood Pewee. No
comment was made by any other member during the meeting. Later I asked
their foremost authority whether records of such obvious invalidity did hot
have to face censorship; he replied with much embarrasment that they had
never adopted a program of censorship and feared, to initiate one. Must we
not agree that a good record from that hird club, surrounded by obviously
bad records which carry the same stamp of acceptance, must unfortunately
be considered to be worthless? Yes, it lacks a tag of some kind to set it
apart from invalid records.

The Buffalo Ornithological Society has given a great deal of attention: to
this important subject of a tag. At our first meeting on November 13,-; 1929
it was decided to keep "scientific records", and to elect two "statisticians", of
officer status, whose duties would include the absolute power of censorship.
Thus it might be said that every observation which found its way (and many
did not) into our permanent records carried a tag saying, "This record was
submitted by a person whose qualifications are well known to us. We have
examined the record in all phases, and we feel certain of its validity".

So far as we know, we were as careful as any bird club in existence in
our examination of member records. Our files contain many reams of
correspondence with out out-of-town observers, and I think the acceptance
of every significant record was based upon either such correspondence or
upon oral examination of the observer by both statisticians. This represented
our policy throughout the first twenty years of the society's existence, when
Harold Mitchell and I were statisticians. When we finally resigned, we
were requested to name one of us to continue for another year in order to
"break in" another incumbent. Thus the twenty-first year saw Harold Axtell
and myself acting as statisticians, and we followed the policy outlined above.
For the next six years Axtell and Nathan were statisticians. It was during
this period that Axtell began to formulate his theory of written verifications
for all significant records. ; ;V

Why the necessity for a change? It is not a reflection on the care which
we have taken in the past; briefly, it is that in the future a written record
should be available for any student to examine, no matter how remote that
future may be. Let me cite an example of one kind of tag. I quote two
passages from Bergtold's "Birds of Buffalo and Vicinity":

1. "The names of no species have been submitted when the least
shade of doubt existed as to the authenticity of their occurrence 1 ; In
order to be authentic a bird must either have been taken and identified
by competent persons, or if seen alive and not taken, must have been

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of such easy recognition as to exclude the slightest uncertainty re¬
garding its determination.” (from the introduction)

2. “Parus carolinensis, R. 42 ,C. 47. Carolina Chickadee. Rare,
Straggler, Lancaster, N. Y. — E. P. Van Duzee.” (one of species
listed.)

Here is a record with a tag. The tag states, in effect, “This record has
been carefully examined by W. H. Bergtold, and carries his stamp of un¬
qualified approval”. Up until our present program was inaugurated, our
own tag might similarly be taken to indicate, “This record has been carefully
examined by (insert names of statisticians), and carries their stamp of un¬
qualified approval.” Just what will that mean when our record, like Berg-
told’s, is seventy years old? In many cases it will be capable of substantiation
by the correspondence upon which its acceptance was based, but in those
instances where the examination was oral, the researcher of the future will be
forced to guess that equal care was taken, — and no good scientist will be
satisfied to guess.

Axtell’s conclusion is, let’s furnish written vertfications for all unusual
records, and let’s set standards for such write-ups which shall satisfy our de¬
sire for certainty. Then our ideal tag will contain such incontrovertible
evidence, for researcher after researcher to examine in detail, that it will be
as convincing as a tag attached to the leg of a specimen!

Here is a new concept, and I think it may be the beginning of a new era
in field observing. As such it should command the attention of all groups
of amateur bird students. As a matter of fact, a good many eyes have already
turned in admiration toward the Buffalo Ornithological Society and its
program.

Our program is not easy. It requires a modest contribution of time and
effort to write up a careful and complete verifying description of all phases
of an observation. It is true that we have lightened the burden by spelling
out, in our Date Guide, those dates which will be considered by the statis¬
ticians as not requiring a write-up. But several times per year an active
observer will find himself faced with the requirement that he furnish written
substantiation for a record. He may feel at first that the task is a burden,
and recall that formerly it was not required; but further thought brings to
him the realization that he was fortunate enough to make a very important
observation, and that his written account of it, if conscientiously made, will
insure its validity and its recognition for all time. It then becomes a real
satisfaction to write it, submit it, and note its acceptance.

' A serious program of this nature may well be too great a challenge for
some bird clubs. But careful study will, I think, convince anyone that in this
direction lies success for amateur ornithology. After all, is it not worth
while to place observation of living birds on a higher plane, — a scientific
plane, — on a plane where the efforts of bird observers are circumscribed
by universal-standards of excellence?

CALL FOR PAPERS

The eleventh annual meeting of the Federation of New York State Bird
Clubs will be held at Rochester on May 2 - 4, 1958. Federation members
are invited to participate in the Saturday program of short papers.

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The Kingbird

Papers should be concerned with New York State ornithology or should
consider problems closely related to those of New York State. Although
most papers in past years have dealt with field activities and ecological
studies, it is appropriate to include talks on club activities which could be
copied in other regions. Of particular interest are papers illustrated with
slides, motion pictures or tape recordings.

Members willing to present a paper at this meeting should contact as
soon as possible the chairman of the paper committee. This communication
should include the subject of the proposed talk, its approximate length, and
whether or not there will be pictures. Arrangements can be made for black¬
boards and projection equipment.

In the past a few clubs and a few individual members have borne the
“burden” of presenting these programs. It is sincerely hoped that other
members especially from new clubs in the Federation will describe their
activities.

Gp’ aid R. Rising, Chairman, Papers Committee,

72 Allen’s Creek Road, Rochester 18

A REPORT TO READERS

This issue marks my completion of two volumes. Although I will edit the
next issue also, volume eight really belongs to the new editor, Dr. Minnie
Scotland of the Schenectady Bird Club. It seems appropriate at this time
then to report to Federation members on my tenure in office.

One thing is certain: editing this magazine is a demanding task. I can
really appreciate the fine work of Allan Klonick and Steve Eaton after having
tried to cope with the many problems of publication. Much of the work is
tedious, painstaking, and most of all lonely. There is a great deal of worry
for despite hundreds of pages of correspondence each issue brings with it a
crying need for more material. No one of us who has served as editor has
ever had enough material for two issues at any one time.

On the other hand, serving as editor has been one of my most rewarding
experiences. It has been pleasant to receive exchange copies of ornithological
publications and to correspond with ornithologists interested in our publica¬
tion and Federation from all over the world. But most of all it has been a
pleasure associating with those who have contributed to the magazine. Many
readers have no idea how much time and effort some of our contributors have
put into their work; none of you realize how willing to cooperate they have
been. It was wonderful to be able to print McAtee's lengthy paper on folk
names of birds, a paper representing many years of research. It was won¬
derful too to be able to print a note by Randolph Little, a keen observer just
now going into high school. J

Special note should be taken here of two most important groups, the re¬
gional editors (who provide material for half or more of each issue) and
the members of the editorial board (whose supply of material has kept the
magazine going). An examination of the staff will show that several are
serving in both capacities. From these, all of whom have made major con¬
tributions to the magazine, I should like to single out three. Sally Hoyt has
not only done fine work in accumulating notes for the magazine, but she

The Kingbird

113

has also been encouraging when encouragement was most needed. John
Elliott and Fritz Scheider each represents to me the finest combination to be
found in amateur or professional ornithology: splendid field observers, they
are also willing and able to do the necessary research and to organize their
material in interesting form for publication. To these people should go credit
for the stature of this journal.

Much was undertaken during the last two years: the studies in New
York State ornithological history by Allen Benton and John Belknap, the
systematic descriptions of areas in the state which provide excellent birding
by Fritz Scheider, the short notes on bird behavior by Sally Hoyt, all have
been made a part of the magazine. But much is still to be done. Several
projects which I hoped to take up were deferred and are now still not done:
among these are systematic indexing of the journal and a reworking of the
introductory material about the journal and the Federation, Failure to
accomplish these goals is solely the responsibility of the editor because at
least in the case of the indexing Mrs. William English volunteered to
do the work.

Where do we go from here? There is no question in my mind but that
this magazine is as always in critical condition. This can only be improved
by the cooperation of many members of the Federation. Much more material
must be delivered to the editor by many more people. It was with this idea
in mind that the "Notes” section was introduced. This section was designed
not only to give observers a chance to record their experiences, but also to
give writers a place to break in with none of the anguish of the longer paper.
Virtually every birder in the state could search his experience for an inter¬
esting record which would make a good note. Writing such a note is not
tedious and the author would receive every assistance in preparation from
friends, local regional editors or the editor himself. If each person who reads
this article would write a note and send it to me or to Dr. Scotland, it would
make her job much more satisfying.

One final comment seems appropriate at this time. To my family and
especially to my wife, Muriel, must go much credit, for without their co¬
operation and their willingness to overlook the many jobs around the house
I have left undone, there would have been no journal for these two years.

GRR

NOTES

Purple Martin colonies in central New York State. — Believing that it may be of

interest at some date in the future to know the numbers and approximate location
of colonies of Purple Martins in past years for comparative studies, I have attempted
to collect such information for the central New York area for the years 1956 and
1957. When possible I have also indicated the length of time the colony has existed
at the particular location. It is emphasized that this is only a partial list, but it is
hoped that its publication will elicit additional data and that other areas of the
state will compile similar material.

The area included is roughly bounded on the west by a north-south line through
Canandaigua, on the east by a similar line through Oneida, on the north by Lake
Ontario and Pulaski, on the south by the state line.

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The Kingbird

It would take too much space to list all of those who have cooperated by sending
me information on colonies. I hereby express to them my sincere appreciation.

BINGHAMTON: Willow Point, small colony; across from Vestal, small colony;
three or four miles north of city, 6-10 pairs. BRANCHPORT: Earl Benjamin resi¬
dence; Miss I la Cook's residence, five miles south of Branchport', CANANDAIGUA:
Roseland Park several houses full. CAYUGA LAKE: At cottage near Wire's Point,
north of Sheldrake, several pairs; on route 89, a few miles south of Canoga. CEN¬
TRAL SQUARE: East Street, 50 adults in two houses; Main Street. CORTLAND:
Little York Lake, north of city near route 281, two houses. DRESDEN: two established
colonies. ELMIRA: Riverside Avenue, about 20 pairs for the last ten years; Mag¬
nolia Street, eight pairs; Janowski residence, Estey Street, 12 pairs, new in 1957;
Koski residence near Big Flats, five birds observed on house. ITHACA: Stewart
Park, two houses for more than 20 years. NEWARK: two colonies. ONEIDA
LAKE: Eagle Park. OSWEGO: Smith residence, Ontario Street, three houses full;
"a block away," two houses full. OWASCO LAKE: Osborne residence, Buck Point,
three houses full, one since 1928. PENN YAN: Scherer residence. Town Line Road;
Orcutt residence, R. D. 5, 15-20 pairs; Newcomb residence R. D. 4, up to 75 birds,
1956 was first year; "neighbor 3/4 mile from Newcomb's." PULASKI: Selkirk
Pond, 24 apartments full, active 15 years; across street, one house. RED CREEK:
West residence, 16 pairs; Taber residence; Crowell residence. SENECA FALLS:
Barben residence, Cayuga Street, 12 pairs; Weart residence, Clinton Street, eight
pairs; Wayne residence, Bayard Street, 20 pairs; Paine residence, Cayuga Lake Road,
52 pairs; Gibbs residence, Cayuga Lake Road/ 8 pairs; Anderson residence, Cayuga
Lake Road, 25 pairs. Withers residence, Cayuga Lake Road, 5 pairs; Wayne resi¬
dence, Cayuga Lake Road, 72 pairs. SENECA LAKE: Sampson, 25 pairs; Riggs
residence, south of Sampson, ten pairs. SKANEATELES: Park on lake front, colony
for many years, missing in 1956. SYRACUSE: Erie Boulevard, 15 pairs since before
1890. TULLY: Dorothey residence, about 15 pairs, six or seven years. TULLY
VALLEY: Smith residence, 12 birds, first time in 1956. — Sally F. Hoyt, Laboratory
of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca.

The Western Meadowlark in Monroe County. — A Western Meadowlark was
collected near Braddock Bay in 1948. After this an occasional single singing in¬
dividual would appear in the spring, remain for a short time and then disappear.
In the spring of 1956, however, a singing male appeared late in April and remained
for over a month, at which time it was lost sight of. This bird was seen and heard
by the members of the ill-fated and almost drowned Wilson Ornithological Club field
trip that was taken to this area in the vain hope of witnessing a hawk flight.

This spring (1957) the local observers were on the lookout for this bird and on
April 19 the flute-like notes were heard again. The rest of this note is a summary
of observations during this year.

Just to the west of Braddock Bay and just south of the new parkway, the bird
first observed in April established his territory. Another bird was seen frequently
in his company which gave only the typical calls of the western species. No nest
of this pair was found because of the desire not to disturb the birds, but on August
25 a Meadowlark, giving only the calls of the Western, was observed in this same
territory feeding young out of the nest.

Also west of Braddock and just north of the parkway another Meadowlark ap¬
peared and established his territory. While this second bird usually sang a somewhat
short and imperfect Western song, he was occasionally heard to give both song and
call notes which were those of the eastern species. A nest was found in this bird's
territory containing small young, but it was disturbed by some prowler, possibly an
opossum, and it is doubtful if any young were reared at this time by this pair.
Whether the male of this second pair was a hybrid or a young bird which had picked
up some of the call and song notes of the alternate species is unknown.

At no time was any song or call note heard from the first pair of birds which we
could regard as anything but typical of the Western Meadowlark. No attempt was
made to collect any of the birds because of the desire not to disturb apparently
nesting birds, one pair at least being typical of the Western Meadowlark.

We are eagerly awaiting next year's developments. — Howard S. Miller, 61
Richland Street, Rochester.

The Kingbird

115

Little Gull at Jamaica Bay Sanctuary, Long Island. — Being one of those bird¬
watchers who has traversed the New York, harbor many times by ferry in search of
the Little Gull (Larus minutis), I was delighted to find a sub-adult Little Gull sitting
on the shore of the West Pond of the Jamaica Bay Wild Life Sanctuary. The date
was July 27. I observed it again on the 28th, Aug. 3, and Aug. 10.

When first observed, the winter plumage exhibited a confusing combination of
immature and adult characteristics. The mantle showed the remnant of the in¬
verted V pattern of the immature, while the under wing linings were shot through
with the white which is characteristic of the immature bird. The tail showed an
incomplete black band, with only half the tail feathers being tipped with black,
the central portion showing the white of the adult.

The following week, there was no longer any suggestion of the mantle pattern,
and the under wings were completely dark. However, the outer tail feathers were
still tipped with black. The week after that the black had gone completely from
the tail. The bird was now in its new plumage. At all times during the period ob¬
served, the tiny bill was black.

Due to the transition which took place in this individual some observers assumed
that two birds had been present, an immature and an adult. However, having been
fortunate to observe this bird at close range and in excellent light over a period of
two weeks, I believe it can be safely stated that only one bird was present.

I did not observe the bird feeding at the West Pond. When flushed, it would
simply fly further down the shore and alight again. Evidently the West Pond was
merely the resting area for this Little Gull. — Emanuel Levine, 585 Mead Terrace,
South Hempstead, Long Island.

Mating Display of Hie Vesper Sparrow — While I was listening to late evening
(9:10 P. M., E. D. T.) singing of Grasshopper Sparrows along Hoyt Road, Skaneateles
on June 27, 1957, two Vesper Sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus) appeared in the dirt
road, neither of them singing. Suddenly one bird, in the middle of the road, lowered
his head and the wrists of his half spread wings nearly to the ground, and with his
tail and wing-tips almost vertically above his head ran mouse-like across the road
and hopped for a fraction of a second upon the back of the crouched second bird.
Then he ran, in the nearly vertical display position, in a small circle about the
second bird and mounted again, repeating this performance four times in quick
succession, each time circling in the vertical display posilion. After this the birds
separated and disappeared in the gathering dusk. I have found no account of such
behavior display in a limited search of available literature, so fee! it worth reporting.
— Walter R. Spofford, 766 Irving Ave., Syracuse 10.

REGIONAL REPORTS

THE FALL MIGRATION — August 16 - November 30

Weatherwise the fall was pleasant, too pleasant. In the Rochester area
precipitation for the year was almost a half foot below normal. Shorebirding
was excellent in many areas due to the low water levels. Food crops as indi¬
cated in the summaries are generally poor, but Fritz Scheider reports an ex¬
cellent crop of weed seeds.

Briefly some points of interest: The flight of buteos appeared heavy,
but few Snowy Owls appeared. Egrets showed a marked decline possibly
corresponding to their troubles in breeding colonies in the south. The influx

116

Tk« Kingbird

of southern species continues with Titmice increasing in several regions.
Watertown had Cardinals and a Mockingbird. On Long Island and along
Ontario the flight of Red-breasted Nuthatches was heavy, and late fall
brought back winter finches for the first time in two years. GRR

SUMMARY OF TREE AND SHRUB CROPS

Region

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Red Pine

___

F

_

P

P

F

P

F

P

White Pine

P

F

_

P

P

F

F

F

P

F

Pitch Pine

_

F

F

_

P

_

F

F

P

F

Larch

—

G

—

--

G

G

P

P

P

_

White Spruce

—

—

—

P4

F

P

P

P

P

—

Black Spruce

_

__

_

P

F

P

P

F

P

•

Red Spruce

—.

—

_-

P

F

—

P

F

P

—

Balsam

—

--

—

P

F

F

P

F

P

_

Hemlock

P

P

F

F

G

G

P

P

P

_-

Arbor-vitae

—

FI

P

F

P

P

F

P

P

—

Red Cedar

_

FI

F

P

F

P

F

P

_

F

Bayberry

—

G1

P

—

—

G -

—

PI 4

Ironwood (Ostrya)

P

F

F

—-

P

G

G

P

_

. -

Blue beech (Carpenus)

P

F

P

P

P

F

P

P

—

_

Yellow Birch

F

F

—

P5

F

G

F

F

- ;

15

White Birch

_

F

_

P

P

G1 1

G

F

F

_

American Beech

P

P

P

P6

P

P

P13

P

F

_

White Oak

FI 7

F

P

P

P

G

F

P

F

G

Red Oak

P

G

P

P

P

G

F

F

F

G

Cucumber Tree

P

—

—

—

—

P -

F

—

Mountain Ash

_

G1

P

P

P

G

_

G

P

_

Thornapple

—

F

P2

P

G

F

G

F

P

_

Wild Black Cherry

G

G

F

F7

G

G

G

P

P

G

Box Elder

—

G

FP

G

G9

G

G

G

P

_

Sugar Maple

P

F

P

P

F

F

G

P

P

—

Grey Dogwood

_

G

P3

F

F

_

F -

_

F

Red-osier Dogwood

—

F

P

F

F

—

F

F

-• '

_-

White Ash

P

G

—

P

G

G

F

P

--

__

Black-berried Elder

F

G

—

G

G

G

F

G

—

—

Geenral Crop Estimate

F

P

P8

FI 0

G12

F

P

P

16

Notes: 1—mostly cultivated forms; 2—'

worst in years; 3—

■no dogwoods did well;

4—good at Deposit;

5—good

at Endwell;

5—very poor everywhere;

7—varied;

8——others in Region 4: apples,

bittersweet,

wild grape

poor,

staghorn sumac

fair,

nannyberry, barberry, multiflora

rose good; 9-

—very.

very

abundant; 1 0—

ornamental

evergreens, especially spruces appear

to have a fair

cone crop,

; wild apple and wild

grape very good; wild

seeds very abundant

; 11 —

■heavy; 12-

—except pines;

most

information from Art

Walrath;

13-

-no beechnuts

; at

all, wild apples

poor.

dry

season; 14—barberry

one of

worst

recent

years;

15-

—Long Island

1 birch good;

1 6—some other Long

Island crops affecting

winter

birds: Japanese black pine:

FG,

Russian olive or silverthorn: very good

, favorites with fall thrushes and

in

some years

Western Tanagers; 17-

—Cattaraugus Co. only by Steve Eaton.

The Kingbird

117

REGION 1 —NIAGARA FRONTIER
Robert F. Andrle

The latter half of August was warm and excessively dry while September’s
temperature and rainfall, being near normal, did not do much to alleviate the
dryness in the area. Water levels remained low into October as this month’s
temperatures were near the mean and precipitation was considerably below
the average. Aside from a paucity of rainfall, no unusual weather conditions
occurred up to November but this month, although having a normal average
temperature, showed a marked change as severe storms on the 8th and 9th
and the 21st and 22nd brought high winds and locally heavy snow (three
feet) to the area. Tufted Titmice and Carolina Wrens continued to be
reported more frequently in widespread areas. Pronounced movements of
Red-breasted Nuthatches, Purple Finches and Pine Siskins have been noted
during the period. Northern Shrikes appeared earlier than expected and in
late October and November good flights of northern finches were observed,
perhaps indicating a major incursion for the winter. The diving ducks
began to come in October and by mid-November were observed in good
numbers. The Niagara River in late November was the scene of an un¬
precedented congregation of gulls, a conservative estimate being over 25,000
individuals between Niagara Falls and the river mouth.

Loons — Ducks: Although Common Loons and especially Horned Grebes were
plentiful after late September, no Red-necked Grebes were noted throughout the
period. Two Eared Grebes Nov 24 and one on Nov 28, (Axtells, et al) on the
Niagara River for the second year indicate more care should be taken in watching for
this species. American Egrets were not reported for the area in late summer.
The first flock of Canada Geese was noted at Wellsville on Sept 23 (McMurtry) and
700 were seen at Oak Orchard Swamp and on Lake Ontario on Nov 3 (Mitchell, et al).
On Oct 13 good numbers of pond ducks were at Oak Orchard Swamp — American
Widgeon 1250, Mallard 736, Blue-winged Teal 156 (Ulrichs, Lovelace). 700 Can-
vasbacks on Nov 17 on the Niagara River (Mitchell) marked the first influx of this
species. Two adult male Harlequin Ducks Nov 30 were at Niagara Falls (Axtells,
Andrles). This rare species is quite partial to the swift water of the rapids. Ruddy
Ducks seemed to be fewer in number than usual while Scoters appeared in normal
abundance except for the Surf Scoter of which only a few were noted.

Hawks — Owls: Rough-legged Hawks were observed in fair numbers after the
first noted at Batavia Oct 13 (Pixley, et al). There were few reports of Ospreys or
Eagles during the period. Turkeys appear to be increasing and extending their
range to the east and west in the southern part of the region. Mrs. McMurtry
reports flocks of five at Shongo and 20 at York's Corners on Oct 7 and on Oct 8
Elderkin saw seven between Frewsburg and Onoville. On Nov 3 Eaton at Olean
reports Turkeys beginning to feed on wild black cherries, their principal food during
November. Golden Plovers were not seen in normal abundance in the area this
fall; two on Grand Island Sept 7 (Norths) are the only ones reported in an excellent
locality for them. Shorebirds were not very much in evidence in the region, partly
due perhaps to little coverage and because flooded areas were at a minimum. A
late Ringed Plover occurred at East Eden Nov 5 (Bourne). 43 Snipe were noted at
various scattered points on the census of Oct 13. Mrs. Pixley reported 25 Lesser
Yellowlegs in the Batavia vicinity Oct 13, a good number for an inland station.
Mitchell observed a Franklin's Gull at Bird Island in Niagara River Nov 23 and
another was noted on the 28th and 30th at Niagara Falls (Axtells, Andrles). A
Little Gull Nov 9 at Niagara Gorge (Axtells) marked the first record of a species
which usually first occurs in September. Also interesting was a Laughing Gull,
accidental in our area, at Lewiston on the Niagara River Nov 28 (Klabundes). The
expected Snowy Owl invasion did not materialize, only three being noted in November.
A Barred Owl at Chestnut Ridge Park Nov 12 (Bourne) is noteworthy as few are
reported near Buffalo. Of interest is a Saw-whet Owl at Fredonia Oct 18 (Stanley).

118

The Kingbird

Goatsuckers — Shrikes: A late Nighthawk was noted at Buffalo Oct 14
(Andrle). 200 Horned Larks were observed by Axtells on Oct 13 moving westward
along the south shore of Lake Ontario near Point Breeze, an excellent migration
route for a number of water and land birds. At Jamestown on Sept 1, Beal reported
a great roost of 15,000 Purple Martins and several other species, which was re¬
duced to 1000 Martins on Sept 15. Blue Jays seem to be more numerous than usual
in the region this fall. A Catbird on Nov 17 at Ellery Center (Mealy, Robinson,
Randell) is a late occurrence. Several Mockingbirds were still present at Westfield
on Oct 4 (Mrs. Bentley), after a successful breeding cycle there.

Vireos — Warblers: A Solitary Vireo on Nov 5 at Lewiston (Klabundes) is
considerably later than normal. Warblers began to arrive as usual in late August
but apparently their migration through September was fairly regular with no unusual
waves reported. They remained fairly late into October, six species being recorded
on the 13th and several , later in the month. Mrs. Smith reported a Brewster's
Warbler at Gainesville on Oct 10 and 1 1, an important record of a hybrid which
nests in our region but has been little noted in migration.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: 1000 Rusty Blackbirds at Jamestown on Sept 27 (Beal)
is an exceptional number for that date. Evening Grosbeaks first were noted near
Vandalia on Oct 1 (Eaton) and numerous scattered flocks were reported throughout
the period after that date. Redpolls, Pine Grosbeaks, White-winged Crossbills and
Snow Buntings appeared in late October and early November and were seen in many
localities. Outstanding was the report of a Harris' Sparrow at a feeder in Jamestown
through November (Brolins, Mealy, Parker, Beal). Three exceptionally late White-
crowned Sparrows were observed, one at Hamburg Nov 23 and 24 (Avery) and two
at Buffalo Nov 27-30 (Fisk). A fine record was the immature Dickcissel at Mrs.
Avery's feeder at Hamburg on Nov 23 and 24, Eight Lapland Longspurs near Point
Breeze on the south shore of Lake Ontario (Axtells) was the only report of this species
during the period.

193 Woodxvard Ave., Buffalo

REGION 2 — GENESEE
Howard S. Miller

The first month of this period continued the very dry weather which had
persisted since about the tenth of July. Mid-September brought general
moderate rains which lessened but did not break the drought. October was
dry, so dry in fact that there was talk of again closing the woods. November
brought more than the normal amount of snow, but even so there is a de¬
ficiency of well over five inches in precipitation since early July. This has
resulted in low water levels which made for good shore birding but reduced
the areas available for the dabbling ducks. Temperatures were close to
average throughout the period except for a hot spell about the middle of
September and a very cool spell the last part of the same month.

The greatest difference birdwise from last year has been in the relative
number of winter finches present. Last year there were exactly none, while
this year all six species have been reported. There was a very heavy migration
of Red-breasted Nuthatches and the fall migration of warblers was much
better than a year ago.

Loons —- Ducks: The loon flight this fall seemed about normal with the
maximum count of Common Loons being 50 on Oct 20 along the west lakeshore
(Haller, Listman). A Holboell's Grebe was seen Oct 5 at Webster Park (Kemnitzer)
and a high count of 14 was made there Nov 30. The high count of Horned Grebes
was 150 birds along the west lakeshore Oct 5 (Kemnitzer). The number of Double-
crested Cormorants seemed somewhat less than usual. Three of these birds were
seen migrating over Durand-Eastman Park Oct 26 and one bird was seen the same
day at Manitou (Listman). A rather late Green Heron was seen at Braddock Bay Oct
5. There were no reports of any of the southern herons including the American Egret

The Kingbird

119

in our area this year. The Whistling Swan which has been spending most of the
summer at Braddock Bay was seen again on both Sept 29 and Oct 5. There was a
good flight of Brant along the lakeshore with 2500 being reported Oct 19 at Hamlin
Park (Kemnitzer) and 1000 at Manitou Oct 25 (Listman). A single late straggler
was at Braddock on Nov 30. There were no reports of Gadwalls this fall and most
of the other puddle ducks seemed down in numbers. A flock of 15 Wood Ducks
were seen Sept 15 at Mendon Ponds (Whites).

A flock of 100 Canvanbacks was seen Nov 3 off Durand (Tanghe, Mitchell).
The flock of Scaup usually present in the same area had built up to an estimated
2500 birds on Nov 1 1. This flock moves into the Genesee River later in the season
and is composed mostly of Greater Scaup, although some other species such as Bald-
pates, Redheads, Ring-necks and Buffleheads are found in it. An estimated 3000
Old Squaws were seen Nov 30 well off the Irondequoit Bay outlet (Kemnitzer). An
immature Harlequin Duck was seen Nov 9 at Webster Park by Kemnitzer but was
not observed subsequently. No Eiders have been reported for the period. There
was a good Scoter flight this fall, with the peak numbers being 1 000 White-winged,
10 Surf and five American off Lighthouse Beach Oct 19 (Listman). One Surf Scoter
was seen east of Summerville Nov 23. Hooded Mergansers seemed rather common.

Hawks — Owls: No Goshawks were reported this fall. An immature Red¬
shouldered Hawk was seen Oct 15 in Genesee Valley Park (Schmanke) and an adult
Broad-winged Hawk was seen Sept 29 over Durand (Miller), Both of these species
are seldom reported in the fall here, although the former is fairly common and the
latter very common during the spring hawk flights. The Red-tailed Hawk has seemed
less common than usual this fall, while the opposite is true of the Rough-legged
Hawk; six or more of the latter birds were seen on many trips west of Rochester
during November. An immature Bald Eagle which had been frequenting the park¬
way west of Rochester was shot and seriously wounded by a hunter. The bird is now
in the Seneca Park Zoo, probably crippled for life. A migrating Peregrine Falcon
was seen over Shore Acres on Oct 12.

A single Piping Plover was seen Sept 16-17 at Manitou (Listman) and the same
or another bird was again present Sept 23 in the same place. The first Golden
Plover was seen Aug 25 at Shore Acres and a fair number were present there until
well into October. A very late straggler was seen at Salmon Creek on Nov 30
(Listman et. al.) The Black-bellied Plover occurred in fairly good numbers all fall
both at Braddock and Shore Acres and two birds were still present at Braddock
Nov 23. Up to 15 Knots were observed in one day along the west lakeshore during
September. Fairly good numbers of both White-rumped and Baird's Sandpipers
were present from late August to mid-October, 10 of the latter being recorded
Sept 1 along the west lakeshore by Listman. An apparently partly crippled Lesser
Yellowlegs was seen Nov 30 at Salmon Creek. 500 Red-backed Sandpipers were
seen Nov 5 along the west lakeshore (Listman). Dowitchers and Stilt Sandpipers
were also more common than usual. A Long-billed DoWitcher was carefully identified
by appearance and call notes in direct comparison with Eastern Dowitchers on Sept 1
at Manitou (Miller, Rising). A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen at Braddock Sept 1
(Listman) and two more birds of this species were seen Sept 5 along the parkway by
the same observer. This is our first record in four years of this species. A Hud-
sonian Godwit appeared at Salmon Creek Oct 26 (Listman). This bird shortly
moved to the mud flats at Long Pond where it remained until Nov 4, being seen
by several observers. This is also our first record in four years. A Northern
Phalarope was seen at Shore Acres Sept 1 (Miller, Rising) and another bird of the
same sp fcies was observed at Charlotte Pier Nov 19 (Schmanke).

The Parasitic Jaeger was recorded eight times this 1 fall at Manitou (Listman): the
extreme dates being Sept 14 and Nov 24, a single bird being seen on each occasion.
The first fall report of the Glaucous Gull was of one bird at Summerville Nov 29
(Listman). One of the most noteworthy records here in a ; long time was that of an
adult Block-headed Gull, first seen under favorable conditions on the east spit of
Braddock Bay Sept 25 by Listman. This bird was again seen under excellent con¬
ditions Oct 5 in the same place and another observation was Oct 20 at Webster
Park (both Kemnitzer). We are indeed fortunate to have had two such ex¬
perienced observers record this bird independently and each time under very fav¬
orable conditions. (The writer missed the bird — cuss the luck!) A Franklin's Gull
was seen Sept 1 at Braddock Bay (Listman) and another was seen Aug 26 at Ironde¬
quoit Bay (Kemnitzer). A Little Gull was seen at Charlotte Oct 12 (Starling, O'Hara,

120

The .Kingbird

Miller) and another was seen at Braddock by Listman Oct 31, and again at the
Irondequoit Bay outlet Nov 23 by Kemnitzer. Forster's Terns have been more num¬
erous here this fall than in most years, four being seen on Braddock Bay Sept 16
(Listman). 500 Common Terns were present the same day on Braddock (Listman).
A Snowy Owl was seen Nov 27 at Braddock (Listman) and was again seen Nov 29-30.
A Long-eared Owl was seen near the Rochester airport Oct 27 by Listman.

Swifts — Shrikes: A flock of about 20 Chimney Swifts was seen at Durand
Sept 29 (Miller). An Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker was seen at Durand Nov 7
(L. Moon) and has been seen two or three times since, but up to now at least the
wide-spread invasion of last fall has not been repeated. As last fall, this bird is
feeding almost entirely in recently killed elms. Another interesting sidelight on this
elm disease is the change in the relative numbers of the Hairy and Downy Wood¬
peckers. Before this disease became widespread the Downy was much the commoner
of the two birds in the city during the winter. Now the reverse is true, there
apparently being some factor involved which makes the dead elms more attractive
to the Hairy.

Three Eastern Kingbirds along the lakeshore Sept 29 constitute a rather late
date for these birds. A very late Rough-winged Swallow was reported at Shore Acres
Oct 20 (Listman). Four Tufted Titmice were seen Nov 30 at Durand, and this species
seems to be slowly establishing itself in our area, especially along the east lakeshore.
The first fall Red-breasted Nuthatch was reported at Manitou Aug 17 (Listman) and
for a while in early September the bird fairly swarmed through this area in contrast
to its relative scarcity a year ago. By the end of the period the numbers had been
reduced to the usual wintering individuals present in the coniferous growths. Reports
of Carolina Wrens have increased this fall, and single birds have been reported from
several new localities. The Mockingbird nested at Webster this year and the three
young birds raised were present for some time in the general area (Kemnitzer). A
single bird was seen Nov 28 at Sea Breeze (Miller).

A very late Wood Thrush was carefully observed at Mendon Oct 27 (Whites)
and a still later Ruby-crowned Kinglet was at Manitou Nov 24 (Listman). Two
Bohemian Waxwings were seen Nov 17 at Durand (Starling) and three birds were
recorded in the same place the next day (Listman). At least one bird was still
present Nov 28 (Miller). There has been a good flight of Northern Shrikes again
this fail, three or four being recorded in one day west of Rochester.

Vireos — Sparrows: The Philadelphia Vireo which strangely was not recorded
during the whole spring migration finally was recorded Sept 7 near Manitou when
two birds were seen by Listman. The fall warbler flight was much better than a
year ago, when it was very poor. On some days this fall warblers were abundant
but most of the time these days did not come on weekends. An Orange-crowned
Warbler was reported Oct 5 in Irondequoit (Miller). About 15 Myrtle Warblers
were still present in Durand Nov 28 (Miiler). A very late Ovenbird was seen Oct
26 in Durand (Miller). A dead Yellow-breasted Chat was found Nov 1 1 in Fair-
port (Zeitler).

The Western Meadowlark was last seen and heard at Manitou Sept 7 (Listman).
The first Evening Grosbeaks reported this year were a flock of about eight birds
seen Oct 13 at Durand (Miller). Scattered reports have come in since that time,
the largest flock reported consisting of 28. birds on Nov 16 at Webster (Kemnitzer).
Pine Grosbeaks first appeared in late October and were well distributed by the end of
the period; 100 being present on Nov 11 in Durand alone (Haller, Listman). Four
Redpolls were reported Oct 20 and flocks of about 50 birds were seen Nov 10 and 16
in Durand. Smaller groups have been observed during the last month in scattered
localities. Pine Siskins were first reported Sept 14 (Listman) and were fairly well
distributed in small numbers for about a month. They became very scarce toward
the end of the period. A single Red Crossbill was seen at Durand Nov 18 by List-
man and one White-winged Crossbill was seen in the same place on Nov 5 and 11
by the same observer. The rather poor cone crop makes the stay of these two
species uncertain.

Our only record this year of the Sharp-tailed Sparrow was of one bird seen at
Manitou Sept 23 (Starling, Miller). Three very late Field Sparrows were seen in
Durand Nov 18 (Listman). The. Lapland Longspur first appeared Ott 12 when eight
birds were seen at Shore Acres (Listman). Good numbers were seen for about a
month with the maximum count being 55 birds Oct 26 at Webster (Kemnitzer). They

The Kingbird

121

had decreased very sharply by the end of the period. Snow Buntings also first
appeared Oct 12 when three birds were seen around Braddock. They were present
in rather small numbers for the rest of the period, no large flocks being reported.
61 Richland Street, Rochester 9

REGION 3 — FINGER LAKES
Sally F. FIoyt

Although November brought some rain and snow, in general the Region
shows the effects of the long drought. Many small ponds have been dried
up, and mud flats exposed in other places, yet in the Keuka area, for example,
shore-bird populations did not seem to increase any.

Everyone has remarked to me that natural food is extremely scarce.
“What are the birds going to do later in the winter, when: they are already
eating 'emergency foods* such as barberryE' is the frequenffy-asked question.
Even sumac is scarce. Weed seeds are abundant, but will soon be covered
or gone.

The most striking feature of the season has been this early arrival, in
numbers, of Evening and Pine Grosbeaks. Other winter finches are slow
in showing up. Rough-legged Hawks are having their second big season
locally, in succession.

Loons — Ducks: Common Loons have been scarce, or perhaps just slow in
showing up. Keuka Lake has more Horned Grebes than usucjl this fall (Guthrie),
and they are in good numbers on Cayuga. An immature Double-crested Cormorant
spent two weeks in October in the Branchport Basin (C. SpikerL Great Blue Herons
were in usual numbers at Montezuma Refuge, and 1 1 were seen flying over
Elmira on Oct 16 (K. Fudge). The final early fall count of American Egrets at
Montezuma showed approximately 100, somewhat below last year's number. One
appeared at Stewart Park and on the south shore of Cayuga Lake on Nov 7 and
stayed for almost a week. It had a broken'upper mandible.: Four Black-crowned
Night Herons remained in Elmira on Oct 19 (Harvey), and one Sept 16. Numbers
of Green Herons were seen at the Brick Pond (K. Fudge). American Bitterns and
Green Herons were in better than usual numbers at Montezuma Refuge (J. Morse).

Canada Geese passed through the area somewhat early and in lower numbers.
The last ones left Montezuma on Dec 4, where the count had been much lower
this year than in the past (see below). American Brant continue to increase in
this area in the fall migration. Flocks of up to 200 were reported passing over
Ithaca, with smaller groups stopping briefly on the lake. Three were killed at the
north end of Cayuga on Oct 23 (Walker). Five appeared at Lakeside Park at the
south end of Seneca on Oct 30 (H. Mitchell, L. Heifer). Orie individual has joined
the tame Mallards at Stewart Park, Ithaca, again this year. Six Blue Geese,
which kept to themselves (3 ad., 3 imm.) were at Montezuma from Oct 2 into
December.

Baldpates and Canvasbacks were in fair numbers at the north end of Cayuga
in November (Walker). Six Blue-winged Teal appeared on the Rhodes Pond at
Elmira on Sept 15 (M. Welles) and five Green-winged Teal at the Horseheads Dump
on Oct 9 (K. Fudge). Four Ring-necked Ducks were on the Chemung River on
Oct 27 (K. Fudge). A female King Eider was shot on Oct 24 on the north end of
Cayuga, taken to Montezuma, and then turned over to the Cornell collection. Few
Scoters of any species have been reported this fall.

John Morse, Assistant Manager of Montezuma Refuge, has been making careful
counts of the waterfowl there this fall, and his report seems worthy of lengthy
quotation or excerpting.

From a count of 11 geese and 3810 ducks on Aug 17, the numbers increased

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122

to 7725 ducks on Sept 13, which included 2500 Mallards, 1500 Biack Ducks, 600
Pintail, 900 Blue-winged Teal, 800 American Widgeon and 500 Shovellers. By
Sept 28, the Mallards had increased to 2600, the Pintails to 1200, the Green¬
winged Teal to 400 and the American Widgeon to 4000, while the Blue-winged Teal
had dropped to 100. (All of the latter left shortly, although one pair was seen
on Oct 26).

The peak number of waterfowl on the Refuge was reached on Nov 7, with 1 1 6
Geese and 10675 ducks present. By that date, the Mallards had reached 3500
and the Black Ducks 2800. At the end of November there were still 1500 Mal¬
lards, 2000 Blacks, 25 Gadwalls, 100 Green-winged Teal, 25 American Widgeon,
25 Shovellers, 150 Ring-necked Ducks, 10 Canvasbacks, 100 Hooded Mergansers, and
300 American Mergansers. The peak number compares very unfavorably with the
last two years. In the fall of 1955 there were 3000 Geese and over 100,000 ducks.
A contributing factor was undoubtdly the lack of water, for the storage pool had
been drained for carp control, and did not fill up because of the dry fall. But the
numbers of geese should not have been affected by this.

The pond at Sapsucker Woods was used again this fall by small groups of
Dabblers which dropped in to feed with the captive waterfowl each afternoon at
dusk. The appearance of Wood Ducks in numbers was particularly gratifying. On
the afternoon of Oct 17, 87 Wood Ducks, only 15 of which were captive, filed
slowly out of the woods to feed on the corn under the office windows. It was a
stirring sight.

A late November afternoon brought an unusual sight to observers on the Inlet
at the south end' of Cayuga, where 300 Hooded Mergansers gathered to rest awhile.
A. A. Allen repotted it to be by far the largest flock he'd ever seen, and some Super-
anscochromes he, took are evidence of the numbers.

-Hawks — Owls: A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen by K. Fudge on Harris Hill
on Oct 22 in the act of picking a Red-breasted Nuthatch off a pine cone on which
it had just landed. Cooper's Hawks have been more in evidence than usual in the
Elmira area (Welles), and several individuals of the species have heckled the birds
in the outside aviary at the Research Center at Sapsucker Woods. It has been
a good fall for Buteos, ever since Aug 18 when Mrs. York watched a small flock of
Red-tailed, Red-shouldered and Broad-wings pass over her hill. Other good hawk days
were Oct 29 when numbers of Rough-legs and Red-tails were seen by a group I
took to Montezuma, and Nov 17, when Dr. Spofford drove from Montezuma to Ithaca
and saw 16 Red-tails, 12 Rough-legs and 3 Harriers. It's the second winter in suc¬
cession that Rough-legs have been abundant in the fall and early winter in the
Finger Lakes. The first one at Montezuma Refuge was seen Oct 4, the first one near
Sapsucker Woods was Oct 8 and they are reported as abundant near Keuka and
Seneca Lakes. Mrs. Bardeen reports one attempted to take one of their fancy
pigeons at Bufdett, which is certainly unusual for a Rough-leg. Marsh Hawks were
abundant at Montezuma Refuge all fall. An Osprey appeared over the Chemung
River on Sept 15 (1<» Fudge, M. Smith). The two adult Bald Eagles were a common
sight at Montezuma through the reporting period. Sparrow Hawks were scarce
around Avoca.

Sora Rails remained at Montezuma Refuge until Sept 20, Virginias until Oct 5.
The Florida Gallinuies also left Oct 5. Coots are abundant at the south end of
Cayuga Lake, and also on Keuka.

There were five Golden Plovers at Montezuma Refuge on Sept 23 (Morse), one
Black-bellied On Sept 8. A Wilson's Snipe spent two weeks in September at Rhodes
Pond in Elmira, and A. A. Allen saw them at several locations near Ithaca. Both
Yellowlegs were seen in usual numbers throughout the Region. Pectoral Sand¬
pipers seemed slightly scarcer, while there were more reports than usual of White-
rumped. There were the usual flocks of Red-backed Sandpipers at Montezuma Refuge,
and small flocks were on the exposed mud flats of Keuka Lake and along the
Watkins inlet. Dowitchers occurred in good numbers at Montezuma from Aug 27
to Oct 18 (Morse) and some were still present there on Oct 29 (Hoyt). Three
Western Sandpipers, not always noted, were seen on the beach at Stewart Park,
Ithaca, on Oct 22 (N. Case).

Prof. Guthrie saw a Northern Phalarope in the Branchport Basin on Sept 27.
A Parasitic Jaeger was seen briefly at the south end of Cayuga on Nov 10 (I. Nisbet).

Great Black-backed Gulls continue to appear early in the Finger Lakes. One

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123

was seen at the north end of Cayuga on Sept 21 (Walker). The first one at the
south end of Cayuga appeared on Oct 10 (Case) and one was seen on Seneca on
Nov 15 (Bardeen).

Mourning Doves are scarcer than last year at Keuka, Geneva and in the Ithaca
area. Snowy Owls have been spotted at different locations: at the Branchport
Basin on Nov 18 (Spiker), in downtown Geneva on Nov 30, on Snyder Hill near
Ithaca Dec 1 and a picture of one in Auburn appeared in the newspaper there on
Nov 23. I have probably overlooked other reports. A Short-eared Owl was caught
Oct 30 at the Cornell Turkey Farm, and is under observation at the Laboratory of
Ornithology Research Center.

Swifts — Shrikes; There were several reports of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
remaining until mid-October in the Finger Lakes (Ness, Shepherd).

A migrating flock of over 100 Flickers was seen at Breeseport from Sept 13 to 19
(Brimmer). The Pileated Woodpecker has been found at two new stations near
Geneva (Ward). Although three nesting pairs of Red-headed Woodpeckers were
known in the vicinity of Elmira, no juveniles were seen, and in September four adults
were seen on the Welles farm. All Flycatchers, except Phoebe and Pewee, were
scarce at Geneva. Blue Jays and White-breasted Nuthatches are up in numbers
around Geneva, Blue Jays and Black-capped Chickadees are abundant around Keuka,
and Chickadees also are in good numbers at Geneva. Three Tufted Titmice have
put in an appearance on the Keuka College campus (Guthrie) and at least one other
station near there. Spiker reports that his only previous records around Keuka
were of single birds Aug 1936 and May 1947. While this species has been resident
for some years at Ithaca, it rarely appears in the higher elevations of the area.
K. Fudge saw 2 adults and 3 juveniles in her yard in Elmira on Sept 30. While there
have been very few reports of Red-breasted Nuthatches at Ithaca, and none at
Watkins, many were seen around Elmira after Oct 4, on the higher elevations where
pitch-pines have seeds. One has been at the Carter feeder in Avoca since Nov 1 8,
and one at Walker feeder in Romulus from Sept 9 on. Several pairs of Carolina
Wrens seem established at Keuka now. A Carolina was seen Sept 9 by Mrs. Munford
at Clifton Springs, and on Sept 29 at Geneva (Gambrell). Six Short-billed Marsh
Wrens were seen on Sept 18 near Horseheads (Raabe). The Mockingbird reported
last year near Ludlowville at the Shepherd home put in its appearance again on Nov
16. Catbirds seemed to leave Geneva early, but remained in Etna through the first
week of October.

J. Walker reported good numbers of Bluebirds in migration, and the same
seemed true around 1 Ithaca. During a heavy rain on Sept 16, 100 Bluebirds came
down in Horseheads and were still there the next morning (rep. Welles).

Northern Shrikes have been reported from several areas, and one heckled the
English Sparrows at the Research Center feeder on Nov 18.

Vireos — Sparrows: Following a heavy rain on Oct 1, the yard of K. Fudge
in Elmira was filled with migrating Vireos, Red-eyed, Blue-headed and Yellow-
throated, as well as Nashville, Magnolia, and Cape May Warblers. The birds re¬
mained for about three hours. Black-throated Green Warblers were seen in numbers
the previous day in Elmira by Smith, and Bay-breasted Warblers were seen on Harris
Hill in numbers on Oct 9 (K. Fudge). No other areas reported migrating Warblers.
Malcolm Lerch trapped a Connecticut and a Mourning Warbler on Sept 14, near
Penn Yan, and another Connecticut the next day. These often slip by us without
being observed.

Jayson Walker reports that the largest flock of Redwings and Grackles he ever
saw passing over the village of Cayuga on Oct 26. It took an hour to pass, and
was three levels high, ( the top level being larger than the other two combined.
Grackles have been unusually abundant around Elmira and stayed late (Welles).
Rusty Blackbirds, in all plumages, have been daily visitors at the feeder at the
Research Center at Cornell since Sept 27, remaining into December. Large flocks
of Cowbirds gathered around Elmira in late September and early October.

There were two Dickcisse! reports. Lerch banded one on Oct 5 at Penn Yan,
and W. Spofford saw one in a flock with English Sparrows near Aurora on Nov 17.

Evening Grosbeaks made an early arrival, being seen first at Hornell on Sept 29
(Groesbeck) and at Ithaca on Sept 30 (DGAIIen). Small flocks have been reported
from most towns in the Region, in most cases still feeding on box Elder, but they

124

The Kingbird

found my feeders in Etna in midOctober and I'm feeding up to sixty daily, and had
banded 100 by Dec 1. This early arrival at stations has made it possible to do
some studies of first-year plumages, as bill color gave clues to age. Much remains
to be learned. Purple Finches have been abundant at Elmira this fall.

Reports of Pine Grosbeaks have poured in, especially during the hunting season
when flocks, small and large, were spotted in woodlots. Others have been feeding
on frozen apples, but the sumac crop is so poor that search of sumac thickets has
not produced these birds. The earliest report was from Harris Hill where four were
seen on Oct 9 (K. Fudge). On Dec 4, a female Pine Grosbeak was seen at Monte¬
zuma, making a new species for the Refuge. There have been a few scattered re¬
ports of Siskins and Redpolls, but none of Crossbills in this Region.

Two Lark Sparrows were reported from a field just north of Ithaca on October
22 by Neil Case, who has just come to Ithaca from the mid-west, where he was
familiar with the species. This may be a first record for the Cayuga Basin. Slate-
colored Juncos are not very abundant. Tree Sparrows are certainly scarce so far
and were late in arriving. Chipping Sparrows migrated in numbers the third week
of September in Horseheads (Welles). Apparently White-throated and White-
crowned Sparrows were in local concentrations, since reports from part of my Region
said "Never had so many," whiie others sa : d they were etremely scarce. I banded
more White-throats and fewer White-crowns than usual at Etna. Song Sparrows do
not seem to be wintering here this year. Scattered reports of Lapland Longspurs,
the first coming from Big Flats on Oct 2. Snow Buntings appeared at Geneva on
Oct 3, two weeks early (Ward).

Correction: In the July, 1957 issue, page 58, 4th line from top, redd "25 years"

instead of "2 years".

Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca

REGION 4 — SUSQUEHANNA
Leslie E. Bemont

The whole period, from August 16 to November SO, has been fairly dry.
Precipitation averaged 75 to 80 per cent of normal for the period. In no
month was the precipitation total as high as normal, although November,
as dry as it was, was the wettest in three years. The heaviest rains were re¬
corded Sep 22 and Oct 8 with other appreciable rains coming Aug 25-26,
Oct 24 and Nov 18-19. The first appreciable snowfall came Oct 27, with
the next Nov 27 and another Nov 30,. but at no time was there a significant
amount of snow on the ground for more than a few hours.

The latter part of August was cool, September was about normal, October
the coldest in five years and November the warmest in four years. The

first period with frost or near frost at night came during the last four days

of September.

Loons — Ducks: Our latest Green Heron report was from Sherburne Sep 15
(Whites). A late Black-crowned Night Heron was at Sherburne Nov 10 where one

or two have been seen several times during the period (Whites). An American

Bittern was at Boland's Marsh north of Binghamton Aug 18 (Bemont) and another
at Sherburne Sep 2 (Whites). This species is reported rather infrequently in the
region. A number of flocks of Canada Geese have been reported, usually with
rather indefinite dates. The earliest, a flock of 34 at Deposit, were seen Sep 6
(Wilson). The latest, so far, were in the Unadilla area about Nov 15 (Wisner). The
pair of Egyptian Geese reported from the Whitney Point area in the last issue sud¬
denly disappeared before the hunting season but no one has been found who admits
knowing what happened to them. A farm where they are raised has been found
near Deposit and it seems likely that this is where the two "wild" ones came from
(Loomis). There are few reports of migrating ducks, perhaps because observers
are reluctant to be around marshes and ponds where hunters are apt to be.

The Kingbird

125

Another contributing factor may be the drying up of a number of the smaller and
shallower ponds and marshes. A Bufflehead was on the Susquehanna River at the
Binghamton-Vestal line Oct 24 (Hannan). 12 Hooded Mergansers were at Norwich
Nov 10 and six American Mergansers were at Chenango Valley State Park north
of Binghamton Nov 28 (Sheffields).

Hawks — Owls: There were a number of Red-tailed Hawks reported from
various parts of the region, but no Red-shouldered or Broad-winged Hawks at ail.
At Oxford a Rough-legged Hawk was seen repeatedly during October, but no more
until one appeared Nov 29 (Stratton). Another was at Unadilla Oct 28 (Wisner)
and still another was at Kinney Gulf, in Cortland Co., Nov 16 (Mulholland). An
Osprey was at Johnson City Sep 9 (Bemont, H. Marsi) and two were at Unadilla
Sep 19 (Wisner). Ruffed Grouse have been plentiful in the Binghamton and Deposit
areas, but there is cause to wonder what they will eat in late winter and early
spring, because they were already eating food normally left until then in mid
November (Van Kuren).

A Sora, another infrequently reported species, was found at Sherburne Aug 16,
(Whites). Killdeer were seen frequently in the Binghamton area until near the end
of October but the last one so far was at Unadilla Oct 31 (Wisner). A Common
Snipe was at Sherburne Aug 22 and five were at the same place Sep 1 and Sep 2
(Whites). Our last Solitary Sandpiper was at Sherburne Sep 1 (Whites) and our
last two Greater Yellowlegs at Campville, west of Endicott, Oct 27 (Bemont). A
Lesser Yellowlegs was at Sherburne Aug 18 (Whites). Two Least Sandpipers at
Norwich Aug 22 (Whites) were the last of the "peeps" reported. The first Herring
Gull of the season was at Endicott Oct 3 (N. Washburn). The highest count so far
is 17. No Ring-billed Gulls have been reported yet. A flock of over 50 Mourning
Doves was seen lined up on the utility wires Sep 7 at Choconut Center, north of
Johnson City (Sheffields). Screech Owls and Horned Owls have both been reported
more than usual this fall. A Barred Owl was at Ludlow, in Chenango Co., Sep 1
(Stratton) and the usual reports were received from the Deposit area (Wilson).

Goatsuckers — Shrikes: The large flock of Nighthawks usually seen over
Binghamton in iate August was not reported this year. The last one reported was
at Deposit Sep 11. Hummingbirds seemed more common during September than
earlier in the summer. The last one was at Binghamton Oct 1 (Greene, H. Marsi).
A Red-headed Woodpecker was near Willet, in Cortland Co., Aug 24 (Sheffields,
Washburns) and a family of four, two adults and two young, were seen feeding on
blackberries near Sherburne Sep 7 (Carter). No Kingbirds were reported after Aug
25 and the last Crested Flycatcher was near Binghamton Sep 1 (Bemont, H. Marsi).
There were several late Phoebe reports, the last one coming Oct 27 near Binghamton
(Bemont). Three Boreal Chickadees were found at Chenango Valley State Park
Nov 3 (Whites). Two Red-breasted Nuthatches were at Sherburne Aug 22 (Whites),
another was at Binghamton Sep 1 (Bemont, H. Marsi) and another was at Choconut
Center Sep 15 (Sheffields), but that's all. A Brown Creeper at Skylake, east of
Windsor in Broome Co., on Sep 1 (H. Marsi, Sheerer) was quite early. There were
several Winter Wren reports, the first one Sep 21 at Choconut Center (Sheffields).
Carolina Wrens seem to be making a strong come back in the Binghamton area.
There have been quite a number of reports, all from an area several miles long south
of the Susquehanna River (Triple Cities Naturalists' Club). A Carolina Wren was
also found at Oquaga Lake in eastern Broome Co. Aug 27 (Wilson) only the second
in that area in a number of years.

A Mockingbird came to a feeder in Endwell Nov 26 (N. Washburn). The last
time Robins were seen in numbers was Oct 28 in the Binghamton area (H. Marsi).
At Oxford Robins found food so scarce they turned to eating "woolly bear" cater¬
pillars and were seen handling them gingerly (Stratton). Golden-crowned Kinglets
Were first seen at Choconut Center Sep 27 (Sheffields) and at Deposit were reported
to be much more plentiful than last year (Wilson). Ruby-crowned Kinglets appeared
Sep 28 and a few were still here Nov 24 and even singing a little on the latter date
(Sheffields). There were several Water Pipit reports, the first Sep 15 of two at
Norwich (Whites) and the last Nov 1 5 of a flock of 25 at Oxford (Stratton). There
have been several reports of Northern Shrikes from the Binghamton area starting
Oct 25 (Sheffields) and one was seen at Oxford Nov 27 (Stratton).

Vireos — Warblers: The last Blue-headed Vireo was at Skylake Oct 6 (H. Marsi,
Saunders) and the last Red-eye was near Vestal Oct 5 (Marsis). The warbler

126

The Kingbird

migration was very poor. Many species were not seen at all and those that were
were in small numbers. The last Nashvilles were seen Sep 28 at Choconut Center
(Sheffields) and the last Magnolias Sep 24 at Ely Park in Binghamton (Bemont).
Cape Mays were reported twice, Sep 8 and Sep 21, both times at Choconut Center
(Sheffields). Myrtles were the only species seen in any numbers and only until
Oct 27 at Norwich (Whites) and Choconut Center (Sheffields). A Palm Warbler
was at Choconut Center Oct 5 and 6 (Sheffields). A Yellow Palm was at Norwich
Oct 5 (Whites) and another was at Choconut Center Oct 12 (Sheffields). A
Mourning Warbler was found near Binghamton Sep 17 (H. Marsi).

Blackbirds — Sparrows: On Oct 24 a flight of Redwinged Blackbirds about a
mile long and numbering "probably millions" was seen flying south against a strong
headwind over Oxford (Stratton). Not many were seen after Oct 27 but a male
came to a feeder at Unadilla Nov 11 and returned regularly to the end of the
month (Wisner). A flock of six to ten Baltimore Orioles spent a week, starting Aug
20, at Oxford living on blackberries (Stratton). A Scarlet Tanager, in full color,
was at Norwich Aug 22 (Whites).

After their absence last year Evening Grosbeaks appeared early this year. Two
at Hillcrest, north of Binghamton, Sep 30 (Hubbard) were the first. There have
been a number of scattered reports from all parts of the region since, but only at

Homer (Gustafson) and Deposit (Wilson) do reports indicate they have settled down

and been seen in the same area regularly. At Deposit they appeared Nov 8 and
by Nov 30, 41 had been banded and two foreign retraps taken. On Oct 26 a
banded female Evening Grosbeak killed itself bumping into a picture window. The
Banding Office reports the bird was banded 18 months earlier at State College, Penna.
On Nov 3 a single Pine Grosbeak was found near Binghamton (Saunders, E. Wash¬
burn). Since then there have been scattered reports from all over the region. Most

reports of this normally flocking bird are of one, two or three individuals. Pine

Siskins were at Choconut Center Nov 10 (Sheffields). A Red-eyed Towhee was still
near Binghamton Nov 1 7 (Bemont). A flock of over 1 00 Vesper Sparrows was found
in the Binghamton area Oct 27 (Bemont). Tree Sparrows arrived in the Triple
Cities area Oct 27 and several times during November have been heard singing a
song not usually heard until spring (Sheffields). White-crowned Sparrows were
first seen at Oxford Oct 9 (Stratton) and most were gone after Oct 15, but an
immature was still coming to a feeder in Choconut Center Nov 17 (Sheffields).
White-throated Sparrows arrived Sep 16 (Carter, Marsi) and haven't been reported
since Nov 1 1. Fox Sparrows were first seen Oct 8 at Oxford (Stratton).

710 University Ave., Undwell

REGION 5 — ONEIDA LAKE BASIN

Fritz Scheider

Late August and windy September produced a mediocre flight of
warblers, thrushes, and vireos, but this was more than compensated for by
a superb shorebird flight. The warbler-vireo migration terminated abruptly
with the severe frosts of 26-29 Sep. However, shorebird numbers and variety
held up well thru this frosty period. Late September and October saw a
heavy waterfowl migration (literally all over), poor only in Canada Geese,
Scaup, Buffleheads, and Red-breasted Mergansers, Most notable in October,
however, were the many early-arriving “northerners”, very marked in the
winter finches; this despite the fact that Oct was not a harsh month weather-
wise in central New York. November easily made up the cold and wet that
October lacked, but this only intensified the southward movement of the
“northerners” and the waterfowl. On 25-26 Nov a cold snap quickly sealed
off many marshes and small lakes, and Sandy Pond was two-thirds frozen
over in one night. Aside from this severe spell, the approaching winter has
been open and relatively snowless.

Across the Region weed seeds are enormously abundant, but the tree

The Kingbird

127

seed crops and winter berries are only fair. A 'mouse count” at the Cornell
Biol. Station, Shackleton Point, Oneida Lake showed 125 mice/acre; this
finding probably explains the recent large number of hawks and owls along
Oneida Lake’s south shore. (Ed.: But contrast with 10,000/acre plague in
western U. S. now).

Though in fall one almost expects the unexpected, this season has pro-
duced an unusual flurry of rarities, e. g. Pacific Loon, all three Phalaropes,
Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Parasitic Jaeger.

Loons — Ducks: Common Loon: fail arrival date is Sep 5, one, Sandy Pond;
numbers very low (5-8/trip) with a fall high of 25 on Oct 26. Red-throated Loon:
one to four seen from Sep 28 (early) to Nov 28, all from Lake Ontario (Evans, Rusk,
Scheider). Pacific Loon: a winter-plumage bird of this species was carefully studied
in comparison with a Common Loon at Sandy Pond, Nov 24; the size, straight bill,
even color of upper parts with slightly lighter head, head shape, and back markings
were carefully noted (Nisbet, Spofford, Scheider, et al). Horned Grebe: arrival date
is Sep 15 (very early), two, Selkirk Shores St. Pk. (Evans); heavy flight (1 00-200/day)
on Lake Ontario and Oneida Lake with a high of 275 on Nov 16.

American Egret: last report is Oct 21, ten, Howland's Is. GMA (Ernst). Green
Heron: high of 45 on Sep 5; departure date is Oct 15, one, Clay Swamp. Black-
crowned Night Heron and American Bittern: both very scarce this fall; last Bittern
seen Nov 16, one, Sandy Pond.

Canada Goose: a late, low-count flight; first birds on Oct 1, high of 280 on
Nov 10 with departure date Dec 7, 15, Beaver Lake; a Canada Goose X Snow Goose
hybrid stayed at Howland's Is. GMA thru Oct and early Nov. Brant: fall arrivals
noted Oct 13, 60, Selkirk Shores St. Pk. (Evans); the peak count is 2000, Oct 26,
Derby Hill, east of Texas; one Nov 24, Sandy Pond, is the last; reported in flocks
of 300-500 at Oneida Lake (Laible) and Howland's Is. GMA (Ernst) in late Oct and
early Nov; five on Nov 9 at Sylvan Beach (Whites).

Mallard, Black Duck, Baldpate: very heavy, widespread flight with highs of
3000, 3200, and 3500 respectively on Oct 27, Howland's Is. GMA (Rusk, Scheider).
Gadwall: high of 25, Oct 27, Howland's Is. GMA; unrecorded from other areas.
Pintail: arrival date is Sep 5; in contrast to the other dabblers, fall counts were low
(high of 550); two still present, Dec 15, Oswego. Green-winged Teal: date range
Aug 2 to Nov 24, with an all-time high of 415, Oct 13, Clay Swamp. Blue-winged
Teal: last is Nov 28, two, near Oswego (Weeks). Shoveler: scattered reports, the
most unusual, Sep 15-24, from eastern Onondaga Co. where previously unrecorded;
high of 31, Oct 27, Howland's Is. GMA. Wood Duck: fall high count is 257, Oct
13, Clay Swamp; six appear to be wintering with the breeding stock at Howland's
Island GMA.

Redhead, Canvasback, & Scaup: arrival dates are Sep 15, Oct 12, and Oct 12
respectively; a mixed flock of 50,000 — mostly Canvasbacks and Scaup — spent
the last week of Oct off Shackleton Point, but in, mid-Nov either shifted on the lake
or left entirely; late Nov counts there were very low (a few 100/day). Golden-eye
and Old-squaw: first fall migrants noted on Oct 12; a flight of 350 Old-squaw were
noted moving west past Derby Hill near Texas, Dec 1. Bufflehead: fall high count
is 40, Oct 26, in a very large merganser-golden-eye-scoter flight at Sandy Pond;
all other reports less than 15/day. Harlequin Duck: one female seen Nov 23, off
Sandy Pond (Spofford, Nisbet) is an eciting fall find. Eider (spP): a flock of six
noted flying low over Sandy Pond, Nov 23 (Spofford, Nisbet). White-winged Scoter:
first noted Sep 21; heavy flight along Sandy Pond with peak of 270 on Oct 12;
this and Surf Scoter were present until Dec 1. American Scoter: present along Lake
Ontario from Oct 12 to Nov 16 with four/day as the best count. Red-breasted
Merganser: greatly reduced flight — peak was 2000 (1/5 of normal), Nov 28 —
along Sandy Pond and Selkirk Shores St. Pk. Hooded Merganser: encouraging
numbers on many ponds this fall; a count of 330 , Nov 17, at Howland's Is. GMA
and Beaver Lake is a record high.

Hawks — Owls: Turkey Vulture: last noted Nov 22 (very late), two, near Cato
(Ernst). Goshawk: singles, mostly immatures, reported Oct 14 and Nov 24, Sandy
Pond, Oct 25, Euclid, Nov 10, Port Byron. Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper's Hawk:
sharp rise in reports (8-10 total/week) in last two weeks'of Nov. Red-tailed Hawk,

128

The Kingbird

Rough-legged Hawk, and Harrier: wintering numbers very high (20, 20+, 15+/day
respectively in late Nov) most concentrated about Bridgeport and Baldwinsville.
Rough-legged Hawk: one seen Oct 4 Howland's Is. GMA is a record early arrival
date (Bauer); small numbers (1-5/day) through Oct with a sharp increase in early
Nov. Osprey: one, Oct 27, Howland's Is. GMA is the latest ever recorded here
(R&S). Peregrine: an adult and an immature, Oct 6, Sandy Pond, are the only
ones noted this fall. Merlin and Kestrel: two and 3, respectively, seen in an
hour migrating south on brisk northwest winds along the Sandy Pond dunes, Sep 8.

Virginia Rail and Sora: both reported regularly from muddy pools near East
Syracuse and Skaneateles; at SkaneateJes a high of 17 Rails (9 Virginia and 8
Sora) in view at once on Sep 8 (Spofford); departure dates are Sep 28, Skaneateles,
and Oct 9, East Syracuse, respectively. Coot: one Aug 18 E. Syracuse is a very
early migrant; fall numbers consistently low.

From mid-Aug on, the shorebird flight proved progressively more and more ex¬
citing. Sandy Pond and Sylvan Beach enjoyed unremitting lowering of water levels
and consequent high numbers of shorebirds. Drying marshes and receding farm
ponds suited many migrants; a small (10 acre) muddy pool near E. Syracuse attracted
flocks of shorebirds (20 species from 15 Aug to 30 Sep) — and birders! Delta
Lake near Rome and Onondaga Lake, however, had extremely poor shorebirding be¬
cause of high water and poor food, respectively. Evidence of the flight's volume are
the high counts and last dates, many record-breaking (see below),

Piping Plover: last date is Aug 21, one, Sandy Pond Inlet (Goodwin). Ringed
Plover: high count is 38, 9/8, Sandy Pond; last date Oct 26, one, Sylvan Beach,
(Whites). Killdeer: high of 270 on Sep 14; last noted Nov 30, three, Oneida Lake.
Turnstone: fall numbers up considerably (peak at 15, Sep 8, Sandy Pond) but a sharp
drop in late Sep with a last date, Oct 3 (early), one, Sylvan Beach. Black-bellied
Plover: fall arrival date is Aug 14 (late), but departure date of Nov 30, four, Oneida
Lake, is latest ever; high is 23, Oct 26, Sandy Pond. Golden Plover: date range is
Aug 29 to Oct 29 (Evans); however, numbers quite low with high counts of 3 on
Sep 21 and Oct 12.

Snipe: largest number reported is 21 on Aug 22; however, reports are so wide¬
spread —practically every damp spot from Rome to Port Byron — that the total
number moving through the area must have been very great; last date is Nov 12,
one. Clay Swamp. Upland Sandpiper: departure date is Sep 7 (late) one, E. Syracuse
(R&S). Solitary Sandpiper: late Aug numbers very good; last date is Sep 28, one,
Skaneateles. Willet: singles reported on Aug 5 and 27, Sandy Pond (Goodwin) are
firsts for the new Region. Greater Yellowlegs: greatest number is 24, Howland's Is.
GMA, on Oct 27; the departure date of Nov 22, one, is a trifle early considering the
other late-staying shorebirds. Lesser Yellowlegs: 40 on Aug 21 is the peak count;
last reported on Oct 27 (late), Howland's Is. GMA. Knot: reported from Aug 21,
Sandy Pond (Goodwin), to Oct 26, Sylvan Beach (the Whites); peak number is 9,
Sep 21, at Sandy Pond. Pectoral Sanpiper: almost as widespread as the Snipe and
seen on a number of occasions in dry fields with Killdeers; high of 50, Sep 13, E.
Syr.; last date is Nov 7, nine, Howland's Is. GMA. White-rumped Sandpiper: this
bird, usually seen singly or at the most in twos or threes, was present in unusual
numbers at Sandy Pond this fall; 30 on Sep 8, 24 on Sep 21, with three, Oct 26,
as the last; also reported from Sylvan Beach (Whites) and E. Syracuse (Evans) in Sep.

Baird's Sandpiper: date range is Sep 3, one, E, Syr, to Sep 21, one, Sandy Pond,
with a high of nine at the latter place on Sep 5 (Listman). Least and Semipalmated
Sandpipers: numbers of both were high, but the normal 3 or 2:1 ratio of Semipalmated
to Least was present; remarkably late dates are Oct 27, two Least, Howland's Is.
GMA (R&S) and Nov 1, ten Semipalmated, Sandy Pond (Evans). Red-backed Sand¬
piper: arrival date is Sep 14 (early), E. Syr; peak number is 190, Oct 26, at Sandy
Pond; last date Dec 1 (late) three, Sandy Pond Inlet. Dowitcher: 12 on Sep 4,
Sandy Pond, is the fall high count; very late are 5 on Oct 19, Selkirk Shores St. Pk.
(Evans). Long-billed Dowitcher: one present from Sep 21-24, E. Syr, the object of
numerous and careful observations (Scheider, Spofford, Evans, etc.). Stilt Sand¬
piper: first date is Aug 2, one, Sandy Pond; high of nine, Sep 7, at E. Syr; two at
the same place on Oct 4 were record late birds (OAS). Western Sandpiper: singles
reported regularly thru Sep at Sandy Pond (R&S) and Sylvan Beach (Whites); last
report is Oct 13, two, Sandy Pond (Spofford et al).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: two at Sandy Pond on Sep 5 (Listman) and Sep 6

The Kingbird

129

(Goodwin) are regional firsts; Sanderling: very scarce in Aug but early Sep showed
good numbers (high of 250 on Sep 5) at Sandy Pond; Sylvan Beach numbers were
lower (80 + ) but well above average; departure date is Nov 28 one, Sandy Pond
Red Phalarope: 2, both in winter plumage, were seen Nov 24 at Sandy Pond
(Spofford, Nisbet, et al); they were seen there again on Dec 1, not ten yards from
where they were found on the 24th (Listman et al). Wilson's Phalarope: one in
fall plumage present Aug 26 and 27 at Sandy Pond (Goodwin) is first Regional
report but is in keeping with increasing fall reports further west (Region I and II).
Northern Phalarope: two reports: one, Aug 30, E. Syr (Seaman); two, Sep 5, Sandy
Pond (Listman).

Parasitic Jaeger: a burst of records this fall from Sandy Pond; one each on Sep 5
(Listman), Sep 20 (Evans), Sep 21 and Oct 12 (R&S); one on Nov 24, east of Texas,
is phenomenally late (Spofford, Nisbet).

Great Black-backed Gull: first fall arrivals are 8, Sep 1, at Sandy Pond; low
counts (5-10/day) thru Oct and Nov with a sharp upswing (60+/day) with the cold
weather of late Nov. Herring and Ring-billed Gulls: consistently low counts (500/day)
at Sandy Pond and Oneida Lake, but marked numbers (8,000 and 15,000 respec¬
tively) on Dec 1 at Oswego following a snowstorm. Bonaparte's Gull: very low
numbers; high count for the entire fall is 24, Sep 21, Sylvan Beach.

Forster's Tern: first reported Sep 8, four, at Sandy Pond; a high of 7 there
Sep 14 and five regularly seen there thru Oct; extremely late (latest ever, in fact!)
is one on Nov 24, Sandy Pond Inlet (Spofford, Nisbet, Scheider et al). Common
Tern: last date is Oct 13, 20, Sandy Pond; late for so iarge a number). Caspian
Tern: high of ten, Aug 17 and 26, Sandy Pond; departure date is Sep 29, four,
Sandy Pond; one seen Sep 21, Sylvan Beach, where it is irregular (Whites); also two,
Aug 10, Howland's Is. GMA, on stumps in a wood-rimmed pond are unusual.

Cuckoos: practically absent thru the fall migration; many observers have not
seen a single individual of either species this season. Screech Owl: reports of
2-4/evening from Clay Swamp and Bridgeport; this increase over the past two years
marked low counts is probably due to the abundant mouse population and more
observers, Snowy Owl: one on Nov. 16, Sandy Pond dunes, is the first report; no
other Nov records. Short-eared Owl: first reported Oct 12, one near Euclid; in the
next three weeks singles or “a few" were seen at Pompey, Howland's Is. GMA, and
Skaneateles high count is six, Nov 17 and 30, over one field near Bridgeport.

Swifts — Shrikes: Red-bellied Woodpecker: up to four/day (Nov 17) reported
from Howland's Is. GMA thru Oct and Nov (Ernst). Red-headed Woodpecker: an
immature present Nov 16-30 near Manlius (Maxwell) is very late. Sapsucker: fall
flight very poor with best count two/day at Sandy Pond. Hairy and Downy Wood¬
pecker: marked flight of both down Sandy Pond dunes in first two weeks of Oct;
this compressed flight period is in contrast to the extended date range there for
Creepers, Nuthatches, and Chickadees (early Sep - M : d-Nov). Arctic Three-toed
Woodpecker: one female seen near Big Moose Lake, Herkimer Co., in the first
week of Nov; a pair of American Three-toed Woodpeckers were seen in the same
area in the third week of Nov (Farnham).

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: date range Aug 17-Sep 21, singles only, Sandy Pond
and Selkirk Shores St. Pk. Empidonax flycatchers were scgrce — and silent — in
the fall flight at Sandy Pond, Oneida, and Rome. Horned Lark: flight of 900+ on
Nov 16, Sandy Pond; fall counts prior to that were low, although beginning migration
was indicated by 60, Sep 8, Sandy Pond Inlet.

Swallows: enormous flights moved south along the Sandy Pond dunes thru Aug
and early Sep; some days the sandflats were black with resting Swallows; high
counts at Sandy Pond are: Tree Swallow—1 1,000, Aug 1 1; Bank Swallow—15,000,
Aug 11; Barn Swallow—9,000, Aug 17; Purple Martin—1,000, Aug 11; last dates
are: Tree—Oct 5, six, Peterboro; Bank—Sep 15, two, Sandy Pond; Barn, Oct 2,
eight, Howland's Is. GMA; Cliff: Sep 21, two Sandy Pond.

Blue Jay: protracted flight (early Aug to Nov 24) along Sandy Pond; comments
indicate widespread numbers from late Sep to early Nov with a sharp drop in the
second week in Nov. Black-capped Chickadee and White-breasted Nuthatch: flights
of dozens of these birds as early as 17 Aug with 100's of Chickadees and 10's of
Nuthatches in Sep and Oct along Lake Ontario; inland numbers of migrating Chick¬
adees appeared to be equally high, but date ranges are less readily determined.
Red-breasted Nuthatch: first date is Aug 17, one, Selkirk Shores St. Pk.; reported

130

The Kingbird

from everywhere thru Sep; numbers dropped off sharply in the first two weeks of
Oct, and reports later than that are exclusively single birds, usually at feeders
(Aspinwall, Evans).

Carolina Wren: two each reported regularly from Stokes-Lee Center area north
of Rome (Aspinwall) and from Oneida (Nodecker) none since mid-Aug along Lake
Ontario. Winter Wren: very high is a count of 15, Oct 6, Sandy Pond. Catbird:
last date is Nov 4 (late), one, Selkirk Shores St. Pk. Robin: heavy flight thru Rome
(Aspinwall) with major numbers gone from there by Oct 13 (early). Large flights
of Olive-backed and Gray-cheeked Thrushes and Veeries were noted passing over
Syracuse (up to 20 call notes/min.) at night, Sep 17 and 18. Bluebird: fall counts
up by 2 and 3 times with flocks of 15-20 birds reported widely (Spofford, Nodecker,
Ackley, Scheider).

Golden-crowned Kinglet: arrival date is Sep 21, one, Sandy Pond; high count
of 125 there Oct 12; very scarce thru Nov. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: arrival date
of Aug 29 (two weeks early), one, Morrisvilie (Bergner); high of 115, Oct 12, Sandy
Pond. Pipit: first reported Sep 8, one, Sandy Pond; reported widely thru late Sep and
Oct with a high of 350, Oct 27, Beaver Lake Area; last reported Nov 16, Sandy
Pond. Northern Shrike: this is the fourth winter running that these birds have
shown up in numbers; first seen Oct 18, Westernvilie (May); seen in small numbers
(one-three/day) since to the end of the period.

Vireos — Warblers: Vireos with the exception of Red-eyed Vireos continued
scarce thru the fail migration. Philadelphia Vireo: one banded Sep 13, Oneida
(Nodecker).

The warbler movement began early with the first unquestionable migrants
(two Bay-breasted) on Aug 1 1. Numbers were quite low but variety was good and
birds widespread (Nodecker's bandincj and daily records, Aspinwall's garden observa¬
tions). Notably scarce were Parula, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided,
and Blackburnian. Numbers of Bay-breasted, Black-polled, Myrtle, and Wilson's
(10 on Sep 15) Warblers were above average. The late Sep frost pushed most
species south hurriedly, but there were a few late departure dates.

Golden-winged: six migrating south along Sandy Pond and Selkirk Shores St. Pk.,
Aug 17, may indicate breeding stations north of these areas. The same day hun¬
dreds of Yellow Warblers were moving south thru the dune woods at Sandy Pond.
Tennessee: date range, Aug 17, Sandy Pond (R&S), to Oct 27, Marcellus (Spofford).
Orange-crowned: one, Sep 15, two, Sep 21, both Sandy Pond, are the only reports.
Myrtle: early are two, an adult and a young bird still begging food, Aug 17, Sandy
Pond; reports of singles in late Nov from Westernvilie (May) and the south side of
Syracuse (Chamberlaine), Connecticut: three records this fall; an adult, Sep 8, and
an immature, Sep 22, both from Sandy Pond; an immature, Sep 21, at Beaver
Lake (R&S).

Late dates are: Palm, Oct 25, one banded, Oneida (Nodecker); Mourning, Oct 6,
one female, Sandy Pond (Scheider et al); Bay-breasted, Oct 4, three, Oneida; Yellow-
throat, one, Nov 16, Clay Swamp.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Clay Swamp held an enormous roost of blackbirds thru
Sep and Oct; high counts are: Red-wing—120,000, Oct 13; Grackle—30,000, Oct.
13; Starling—140,000, Oct 15; Cowbird—12,000, Oct 6. The major blackbird move¬
ment came in the last week of Oct, unusually early in view of the mild weather.
Rusty Blackbird: peak is 400, Oct 12; last seen Nov 16.

The winter finch flight to date has been the landbird counterpart of the ex¬
cellent waterfowl and shorebird migrations. Small numbers of Redpolls, Pine Siskins,
Pine Grosbeaks, and Snow Buntings appeared very early. In approximately two to
three weeks, large numbers of these species flooded the area, and all but the Siskin
have remained in good numbers until the end of the period. In contrast, the Evening
Grosbeaks came south like a "spring-warbler-wave" in reverse and have dropped off
irregularly since.

Cardinal: up to seven reported at Oneida; seen twice in Nov in high (1600 +
foot) elevation near Pompey (Maxwill); two at Rome, Nov 23 (Remmell); two females
at Lakeport, Oneida Lake, Nov 30 (the south shore of Oneida Lake is notoriously
deficient in Cardinals); all of the above would indicate new ground gained in the
spread of this species. Indigo Bunting: one banded Oct 15, Oneida, (Nodecker) is
late. Evening Grosbeak: first report is Sep 29 (earliest ever!), seven, Morrisvilie

The Kingbird

131

(Carter); within one week reported by almost every active birder (flocks of 4 to 60);
the majority of Oct reports mention many immatures and subsequent reports show
an erratic decline thru late Oct and early Nov with many at feeders by Nov 10.

Pine Grosbeak: Nodecker reported the first (four) on Oct 16 (earliest known
date!) at Oneida; late Oct and early Nov saw frequent small flocks (3-12) at Rome,
Oneida, Sylvan Beach, Highmarket, and Sandy Pond; however, they were not re¬
ported around Syracuse until the second week of Nov and small flocks remain the
rule. Redpoll: the first were two, Oct 27, Port Byron; by mid-Nov hundreds were
reported at Sandy Pond, Howland's Is. GMA, and Bridgeport; there are no reports to
date east of Oneida Lake, quite in contrast to the numerous Siskin and Pine and
Evening Grosbeak records there. Pine Siskin: two on Sep 7, Verona Beach, were the
heralds to the heavy flight thru Oct! a noticeable increase at the time of the nrd-Nov
Redpoll flight; numbers have dropped off sharply since Nov 20. Goldfinch: heavy
migration with the early Oct sparrow flight (100+/day) and the late Oct Junco -
Tree Sparrow movement (200+/day). Red Crossbill: two, Aug 18 (very early),
Camp Woodland, Constantia (R&S); one, Oct 6, Sandy Pond (Scheider et al).

Junco: arrival date is Sep 18, Rome, and Sep 28, Cato (Whitman); high numbers
(400+/day) thru Oct but a sharp drop from Nov 14 to Nov 21. Tree Sparrow:
first seen on Oct 22, Skaneateles; fall numbers low (10-90/day) to the end of the
period. Field Sparrow: up to 35+/day, Oct 5-14, at Three Rivers GMA. White-
crowned and White-throated Sparrows: arrival dates of Sep 28 (late) and Sep 1
(early) respectively; flocks of 30-100 of these birds were reported widely; along with
Swamp and Song Sparrows, a profusion of wintering White-throats noted. Last
White-crowns on Oct 27, Howland's Is. GMA and Skaneateles. Fox Sparrow: singles
seen from Oct 12, Sandy Pond, to Nov 22, Westernville (May). Lapland Longspur:
one on Oct 6 near Fernwood, Oswego Co. is early; two in the large Horned Lark
flight, Nov 16, at Sandy Pond. Snow Bunting: ^arrival date is Oct 12 (earliest ever!),
four, Sandy Pond; flocks of 10-85 birds reported widely since then, primarily along
Lake Ontario; not reported "inland" (away from Lake Ontario) until Nov 3.

15! Seventh North Street , Syracuse 8

REGION 6 — ST. LAWRENCE
Frank A. Clinch

There were early indications that this would be a very interesting time for
birders. In September Evening Grosbeaks were seen in St. Lawrence County
and they reached Watertown early in October. Pine Grosbeaks came in
November and there have been a few Snowy Owls. A European Widgeon
was shot at Perch Lake, and a Mockingbird was positively identified in
Watertown. After a lapse of some time a Cardinal appeared in Watertown.
So with birds coming from the north and others from the south November
was a wonderful month to watch birds.

Loons — Ducks: Several Northern Loons were seen in November and a Red-
throated Loon was seen in Black River Nov 29 (Belknap). Horned Grebes were
numerous along Lake Ontario from late October to the end of November, and there
was a Red-necked Grebe at Sherwin's Bay Nov 29. The European Widgeon shot
at Perch Lake late in November was identified by John Wilson, district game man¬
ager. Green-winged Teals were noted near Madrid Oct 8. The duck migration was
described as very good by Wilson. The Conservation Dept, airplane survey along
the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario from Massena to near Oswego placed the
number of ducks at a little over 100,000. There were good numbers of Scaup,
Eiders were observed Nov 27 in Lake Ontario near Henderson (Wilson). Surf Scoters
as well as both the other scoters were present near Morristown Nov 14. Old-squaws
appeared along Lake Ontario late in November. J. Blake found fewer broods of
the Red-breasted Merganser.

Hawks — Owls: There was a good flight of Rough-legged Hawks between Oct
23 and the end of November. A late Marsh Hawk was observed near Ogdensburg
Nov 14. Gordon reports an Osprey at Perch River marsh Sep 28. Hungarian Par-

132

The Kingbird

tridge had a good season. They are found in parts of Jefferson and St. Lawrence
Counties. A late date for Solitary Sandpipers Oct 8 near Madrid. Six Knots ap¬
peared at Stony Point Sept 7 (Gordon et al). Belknap found a Wiliet at El Dorado
Aug 28. On Aug 25 Gordon saw Black-bellied Plovers, Lesser Yellowlegs and
Sanderlings at Stony Point and on Sept 7 an Eastern Dowitcher still in spring plumage.
A very late date for Greater Yellowlegs was Nov 29 at Sherwin's Bay (Belknap).
Great Black-backed Gulls were reported twice, Nov 9 at Adams Cove, Lake Ontario
and Nov 14 near Morristown. A few Snowy Owls have been seen, two reported
from St. Lawrence County the second half of Nevember, one at Chaumont Nov 22
and two north of Watertown very early in December. In Lewis County a Barred
Owl was seen near Natural Bridge Oct 16 (Gordon). J. Blake found a Long-eared
Owl near Clayton on Sept 20, and Hickok and Nichols saw a Short-eared Owl on
Nov 26 near Waddington.

Swifts — Shrikes: A late date for Phoebe is Oct 17 at Waddington (Nichols).
Tree Swallows along the St. Lawrence River were estimated at 2,000 near Red Mills
on Aug 16, and Cliff Swallows resting on wires at Cranberry Lake village Aug 17
numbered about 800 (Nichols). Gordon found Winter Wrens near Belfort, Lewis
County on Sept 8, and at Great Bend Oct 14. On Nov 24 a Mockingbird was dis¬
covered in Watertown where it was seen by several persons including some who
know the bird very well, it was also seen Nov 27 and Dec 2 at the same place.
American Pipits were at Stony Point Oct 6. Belknap saw eight Northern Shrikes
Oct 25 to the end of November.

Vireos — Warblers: Rev. Nichols did not see a Yellow-throated Vireo in 1957,
Gordon saw a Blue-headed Vireo at Perch Lake Sept 28. He also reports Wilson's
Warbler Sept 21 and a Black-throated Blue, Sept 22,„ both near Watertown.
Nichols observed the Tennessee Warbler at Cranberry Lake Aug 17, and Myrtle
Warbler at Madrid Nov 22. J. Blake noticed many unidentified warblers Oct 29,
but they probably included Canada and Magnolia Warblers.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Three Rusty Blackbirds were seen Aug 17 in a wild
swamp near Wanakena where they may have nested, and a flock of 200 was seen
at Lafargeville Oct 29. For several months there have been vague reports or rumors
of Cardinals being seen near Watertown, but on Nov 16 Art Allen called my atten¬
tion to a male Cardinal in his back yard. Many small flocks of Evening Grosbeaks
have been reported, and by the end of the period larger groups have been seen.
There were six at Madrid Spt 23 with scattered observations since. They were said
to be plentiful near Potsdam (L. Blake). They first appeared in Watertown Oct 9,
and have been seen many times since. Banded birds have been noticed near Potsdam
and at Watertown. Last year there were no Pine Grosbeaks, but this year they have
been reported often in St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties from Nov 14 to early
December. Redpolls are being seen more often than a year ago. The first record
is Oct 31 near Red Mills. Belknap says they were common the latter part of
November. Allen found Pine Siskins Oct 4 at Felts Mills and Red Crossbills at Camp
Drum Nov 18. One Lapiand Longspur was seen near Philadelphia Oct 27 (Belknap).

173 Haley St ., Watertown

REGION 7 — ADIRONDACK - CHAMPLAIN
Thomas A. Lesperance

Due to the very dry summer and late fall season there were very few
birds locally, and hardly any migratory birds stopped over at all. Many trees
actually shriveled and died, maple trees colored prematurely and streams that
had never before been known to have dried were completely waterless. They
tell us that the water table has dropped 18 feet in the past 57 years. With
the beaches bordering Lake Champlain becoming ever wider with each dry
summer, one wonders why they now want to dredge the Richelieu River
deeper.

Loons —■ Geese: Here in the North Country we now have a new problem, which
has given the local population grave concern. We never realized the additional

The Kingbird

133

pressure that would be applied to the local duck population by the personnel of the
Plattsburg Strategic Air Command Base. Duck shooting here is a thing of the past,
as after the first day of the open season there were no ducks to be seen from Platts¬
burg south to the Willsboro Bay area. Many were probably driven off to other
grounds, but the hunter take was staggering for such a small area.

In their order of abundance: Black, Green-winged Teal, Wood Duck, Pintail,
Mallard, Ring-neck, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Goldeneye, Oldsquaw, Bufflehead,
White-winged Scoter, Shoveler, Canada Goose, Blue Goose. Mergansers are always
plentiful, and Hooded were exceptionally prominent this fall. Large broods of
Blacks were at Wickham's and Ausable Marshes during the late summer, and Amstutz
notes broods of Black, Ringnecks and Mergansers at Sunmount.

Hawks — Owls: Many Goshawks were about this year, a number brought in
by hunters to be mounted. Sparrow Hawks still noted in early December. Great
Horned Owls were heard “booming" along the river, and three Barred Owls were
killed by cars along the upper reaches of Ausable Marsh.

Woodpeckers — Warblers: One Arctic Three-toed seen at Sugarloaf Mountain
Nov 18. Many Pileated, Hairy and Downy, mostly in the heavy timber area. Robins
seen until Nov 8 at Keeseville and at Sunmount by Amstutz until Sept 28. Many
Bluebirds were around until late October and a Hermit Thrush was at Sunmount Oct 6.
Crested and Alder Flycatchers, Wood Pewee and Phoebe were noted in Wickham's
Marsh until the last week of October. At Keeseville there were no interesting
warbler waves, but at Sunmount Miss Amstutz noted good waves.

Finches — Sparrows: Pine and Evening Grosbeaks have been noted in good
numbers in the Plattsburg, Sunmount and Pok-o-Moonshine areas. Goldfinches seem
to be in every wooded area, feeding on white birch seeds. 'Siskins have also been
noted with Go I den-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers. Sparrows seemed to mass
in numbers and move out all at once. Large numbers of Grasshopper, Savannah,
Song, White-crowned and White-throated mixed with Field and Tree Sparrows were
recorded in the Keeseville and Tupper Lake areas until the third week of October.
Miss Amstutz noted a Fox Sparrow also.

Keeseville

REGION 8 — MOHAWK - HUDSON
James K. Meritt

The fall months were relatively warm and dry. Most observers in the
Mohawk-Hudson region thought the fall warbler migration was a good one,
certainly better than that of the spring. Undoubtedly because of the warm
weather, there were many late warbler departure dates. The waterfowl
migration, on the other hand, was not as conspicuous this fall as might be
expected.

The dry weather had a direct effect on the number of shorebird reports.
Normally, there are few spots in this inland area where any shorebirds —
other than the very common ones — can be found with any degree of cer¬
tainty. However, the low water level this fall left flats exposed at many
local lakes and reservoirs, and thirteen varieties of shorebirds were reported.

The influx of certain southern birds continued. There was a continuing
increase in the number of reports of the Cardinal and Carolina Wren, and
no less than six Tufted Titmice were reported. These are the first in this
region in several years. We also had visitors from the north. Following
three late September observations of Evening Grosbeak, there were many
reports thereafter. There were scattered observations also of the Redpoll and
Pine Siskin and more than just a few of the Pine Grosbeak.

|_ oons — Ducks: A Holboell's Grebe was seen at Tomhannock Reservoir on
Nov 3, and on the 17th two were at Saratoga Lake (Schenectady Bird Club). The
high count of Horned Grebes was the 300 or so seen at Saratoga Lake on Nov 23

134

The Kingbird

(Hollenbeck, Meritt). A count of 24 American Egrets was made at Vischer Ponds
on Aug 25 (Angst); the last report of these birds was of a pair there on Sept 21.
Two Least Bitterns, a rare species locally, were along the Mohawk at Niskayuna on
Sept 1 (Yunick).

In general, the waterfowl migration was light, although most of the expected
species were represented. A lone Ruddy Duck was at Red Rock on Sept 1 (Smilow).
Two Hooded Mergansers were at Stockport along the lower Hudson on Sept 29
(Alan Devoe Bird Club). Two Red-breasted Mergansers and a good group of 17
Hooded Mergansers were at Tomhannock Reservoir on Nov 3 (SBC). The two Red¬
heads at Saratoga Lake on Oct 23 were the only ones to be reported (Foote, Hollen¬
beck), An American Scoter was on the Mohawk near Vischer Ponds on Oct 13
(Hollenbeck), and three were at Saratoga Lake on Nov 10. One was still there a
week later.

Hawks — Owls: A Turkey Vulture was at Red Rock on Sept 10, and on the
14th two were there (Smilow). Other reports included one at Livingston on Oct 6
(Munson) and one at Hudson on Oct 13 (Brown). The Cooper's Hawk was reported
at Schenectady on Sept 1 and 22 (Yunick). A flight of Broad-winged Hawks was
observed at East Chatham during the week beginning Sept 17. Almost 150 of
these birds were seen, with the high count for one day being 72 (Radke). On Sept
2 an adult Bald Eagle was seen at Vischer's Ponds, and on the 14th two birds, one
an immature, were there (Hallenbeck, Meritt). Present at the same locality on Sept
21 was a Pigeon Hawk, the first reported locally in several years. A Duck Hawk
was at Loudonville, near Albany, on Sept 6 (French). No Rough-legged Hawks
were observed.

Ruffed Grouse appeared to be present in average numbers, but in the vicinity
of Schenectady Pheasants were definitely scarce. There were two reports of the
Virginia Rail in early September, but none of Soras.

A Semipalmated Plover was at Crescent Reservoir on Aug 25 and again on
Sept 21. The Black-bellied Plover (maximum number was three) was at Saratoga
Lake from Oct 23 until the late date of Nov 17. Wilson's Snipe were reported in
good numbers. Five Red-backed Sandpipers were at Saratoga Lake on Oct 27, and
two were still there on Nov 17. Five Pectoral Sandpipers were at Tomhannock
Reservoir on Nov 3. There were scattered reports throughout the period of the
two Yellow-legs and the two common "peeps". The best shorebird find was the
two White-rumped Sandpipers, the first locally in three years, at Tomhannock
Reservoir on Nov 3 (SBC). Two Bonaparte's Gulls and a Common Tern were at
Saratoga Lake on Oct 27, and three Bonaparte's Gulls were at Tomhannock on Nov 3.

The Saw-whet Owl was reported on several occasions from Jenny Lake during
September and October (Bartlett). At Burnt Hills a Saw-whet Owl, apparently
injured by a cat, was picked up on Oct 15 (Foote); the bird was released a day or
so later. A Long-eared Owl was discovered in downtown Schenectady on Oct 3,
and an excellent photograph of this bird appeared in a local newspaper the following
day. Screech and Horned Owls were reported with relative frequency. No Snowies
were observed.

Goatsuckers — Shrikes: A very late Chimney Swift was seen near Saratoga
on Sept 22 (SBC). A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was at Schenectady on Oct 5
(Yunick), and another was at Amsterdam on Oct 7 (Fitzgerald). Pileated Woodpeckers
were quite frequently reported. On Sept 18 an adult Red-headed Woodpecker was
seen at Brookview (Reilly); this bird is apparently a resident there inasmuch as it
had been seen on several earlier occasions.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch was reported only sporadically. The sudden ap¬
pearance of apparently six Tufted Titmice is certainly a matter of interest. A pair of
these birds appeared at a Niskayuna feeder on Oct 14, and they were still present
on Nov 30 (Simpson). Another appeared in Hillsdale during the latter part of
October and was still present on Nov 30 (Fremd, Green). Another was at Schen¬
ectady feeder from Nov 17 to 21 (Jennings). One was at Troy during the week
of Nov 18, and this bird was photographed on the 22nd (Kaiser); Still another
paid frequent visits to neighboring Alplaus feeders from Nov 15 until at least
month's end (Lundy).

The Carolina Wren was again reported in relatively good numbers. The high
count was the three seen at a Schenectady feeder only on Nov 26 (Mabb). A pair
of these birds was present at Amsterdam during October and November (Fitzgerald).
The species was reported on several dates from Scotia (Hallenbeck). One was at

The Kingbird

135

Gallupvilie on Oct 26 (Zimmer). One was at Troy on several days in mid-November
(Kaiser), and another was at Saratoga Lake on Nov 23 (Hollenbeck, Meritt). Still
another was at Rotterdam on Nov 28 (Stone, Yunick).

The thrush migration was generally poor, and few Golden-crowned Kinglets were
reported. There were three reports of the Northern Shrike. One was at Round
Lake on Nov 1 7 (SBC); one was near New Scotland on Nov 23 and 24 (Grace), and
one was at New Concord on Nov 24 and 27 (Turner).

Vireos — Warblers: A Philadelphia Vireo was seen at Watervliet Reservoir
on Aug 18 (SBC). This species was reported from Loudonville on Sept 1, 3, and 22
(French), and another was seen near Saratoga on Sept 22 (SBC).

The fall warbler migration was generally a good one, and several of the rarer
species were represented. The Bay-breasted Warbler was quite commonly reported
during late August and September. The Tennessee Warbler seemed quite common
until mid-September; it was last reported at Amsterdam on Sept 20 (Fitzgerald). A
Cape May Warbler was at Scotia on Aug 31 (Meritt), and another was at Red Rock
on Sept 1 (Smilow). The species was last reported from Loudonville on Oct 5
(French). The only local report this year of the Mourning Warbler was the one
seen at Amsterdam on Sept 12 (Fitzgerald). Several Nashville Warblers were
observed at Loudonville, the late date being Oct 19 (French). Also very late were
the two Northern Water-thrushes seen near Alcove Reservoir on Oct 15 (Eddy,
Zimmer).

A Connecticut Warbler was at Vischer Ponds on Sept 2 (Hollenbeck, Meritt). On
Aug 20 two Wilson's Warblers were at Amsterdam, and another was there on Sept
23 and 24 (Fitzgerald). This species was also recorded at Loudonville on Sept 1 1
and 24 (French), at East Chatham on Sept 9 and 1 1 (Radke), and at Castleton on
Sept 18 (Cook). A latish Bay-breasted Warbler was at Nassau on Oct 3 (Turner).

An Orange-crowned Warbler was reported from Amsterdam from Sept 23 through
Sept 30 and again on Oct 6 and 7 (Fitzgerald). A rarity was a Brewster's Warbler
clearly seen and closely studied at Loudonville on Sept 5 (French). Also of interest
are two separate reports of the Hooded Warbler from the East Chatham area, the
dates being Sept 13 (Smilow) and Sept 21 (Radke).

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Bobolinks were last observed along the lower Hudson
on Sept 7 (SBC). The first Rusty Blackbirds of the season were the four seen at
Vischer Ponds on Sept 28, and these birds were definitely not common thereafter.
Purple Finches were quite common early in the period, but numbers dwindled con¬
siderably during November.

The first fall report of the Evening Grosbeak was the one seen at East Chatham
on Sept 24 (Radke). One was at Crescent Reservoir on Sept 28 (Meritt), and an
initial vanguard of these birds appeared at Mrs. Grace's New Scotland feeder also
on Sept 28. There were many October and November reports, quite a few of these
from feeders, and I see no point in listing these. Suffice it to say that the general
opinion is that the flight is fully as heavy, and definitely earlier, than those of
1954 and 1955.

Pine Grosbeaks were recorded quite frequently. Between Oct 26 and 28 this
species was reported at three Columbia County localities (Radke, Shineman, Smilow).
Eight were at Middle Grove on Nov 1 (Hennig). On Oct 27 three pairs of Pine
Grosbeaks were seen near Rotterdam (Howard). Four were at Defreestville on Nov
16, and one was at Troy the following day (Kaiser). A group of about eight was in
Thacher Park on Nov 13 (Hollenbeck), and three others were in the Glenville area
on Nov 17 (fide Foote). At Oppenheim, Fulton County, nine Pine Grosbeaks were
seen on Nov 23 (Murphy). This same number was seen at Wolf Hollow on Nov 28
(Stone, Yunick).

Pine Siskins were reported on several occasions, the high count being the 24 at
Loudonville on Oct 7 (French). Redpolls were scarce, the ten at Wolf Hollow on
Nov 23 (Yunick) and the three near Schenectady on Nov 28 (Stone, Yunick) being
the only reports received. Crossbills were unrecorded.

Cardinals were observed in ever-increasing numbers; the number of reports of
female birds indicates how well this species is now established locally. A Rose¬
breasted Grosbeak was at Gallupvilie on Oct 15 (Zimmer), and another was at
Amsterdam as late as Oct 22 (Fitzgerald). Mrs. Fitzgerald had a rare treat on that
day when she saw three species of the Grosbeak family together at her feeder —
the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a female Cardinal, and a male Evening Grosbeak.

At Scotia Chipping Sparrows were last reported on Oct 22 (Hollenbeck). White-

136

The Kingbird

crowned Sparrows were at Livingston until Nov 10 (Munson). Fox Sparrows were
quite commonly reported, the high count being about 30 at New Concord on Nov 1
(Radke). Single Lincoln's Sparrows were at Amsterdam on Sept 23 and Oct 8,
and on Oct 20 no less than six were there (Fitzgerald). A lone Snow Bunting was at
Crescent Reservoir on Oct 20 (SBC). On Oct 17 there were other reports of single
birds from Nassau (Shineman, Turner) and Schodack (Turner). One was at Liv¬
ingston on Nov 23 (Munson).

I would again like to urge observers, both transient and resident, to send in
records. Two areas in particular — Lake George and the northern Catskills — need
better coverage.

16 Ellen Lane, Scotia 2

REGION 9 —DELAWARE-HUDSON
Fred N. Hough

Summer gave way to the Autumnal equinox with little upset in the
weather stability pattern, with the result that our region had less than
normal rainfall for most of the period and with correspondingly above normal
temperatures.

Migrant birds flowed through in a rather normal fashion exhibiting
wave concentrations along certain areas and dribbling erractic species here
and there about the region in general. The unprecedented early move on
the part of certain of the Northern Finches, especially the Evening Grosbeak,
gave rise to some speculation that wintering populations would run high but
unhappily the chances of this happening is greatly lessened by a season of
rather poor seed crop among many trees and shrubs that would normally
provide winter fare.

The Fall Season produced such rare visitants as: Harlequin Duck; Golden
Plover; Am. Three-toed Woodpecker and others of lesser rarity but just as
interesting.

Loons — Ducks: Some early Green-winged Teal arrived Sept 29 at Iona Island
near Bear Mountain (John Orth). Martha Earl found several Canvasbacks inland
at Tomahawk Lake, Orange Co., Oct 30 & Nov 1. At Mohonk Lake, Ulster County
on Nov 6, an Old Squaw male was discovered and after remaining for several days
the bird was found dead (Nov 12). Dissection by Heinz Meng found no apparent
cause for the death (Dan Smiley). A male Harlequin Duck was seen on the Croton
Falls Reservoir, Putnam County, Nov 17 by Mr. and Mrs. John Kelly and son Edward,
making what is probably the first record of this duck for our region. John Orth
reports both the White-winged and American Scoters in the Bear Mountain area
during the fall migration. A flock of about 75 Ruddy Ducks was seen on Tomahawk
Lake, Orange County, Nov 3 (Martha Earl).

Hawks — Owls: Hawk flights through the region seemed quite normal. A
Goshawk was observed near Carmel, Putnam on Oct 1 9 (Mabel Little). As is often
the case in dry years the extensive mud flats exposed by low water in our various
reservoirs and ponds proved to be an attraction to the migrant Shorebirds. Records
this year have proved varied and interesting. The Semipalmated Plover appeared
at the Piermont area of Rockland on Aug 16 (David Hill). This Plover is seldom
reported by Shorebird observers here. A lone Golden Plover appeared on the mud
flats of Lake Maratanza, Ulster County on Sept 28 and 29 and was carefully studied
by Chandler Young and Henry and Use Dunbar. This is another county first. Also
on Lake Maratanza mud flats with the Golden Plover were Pectoral Sandpipers, an
Upland Plover and two White-rumped Sandpipers. The White-rumps are first
records for Ulster Co. This same species was found earlier in the season (Aug 31)
in the Lake DeForest area of Rockland Countly by Mr and Mrs. Frank Steffens and
Ed Treacy. This is also Rockland's first record. Steffens and Treacy also made

The Kingbird

137

the second Rockland record that day for the Western Sandpiper found also at Lake
Deforest. A small number of Caspian Terns were again seen on the Ashokan
Reservoir, Ulster Co., Aug 20 (At Feldman).

Swifts — Shrikes: A rather late Hummingbird was seen at Mohonk Lake,
Ulster on Oct 2 (Dan Smiley). Martha Earl believes the Red-headed Woodpecker may
be more common in Orange County. One of this species was seen near Lyonsville,
Ulster County, Oct 2 (F. H.). A rare downstate find was a pair of American Three-
toed Woodpeckers discovered in the vicinity of the home of Blanche Edwards, Water-
bury Manor, Peekskill, Westchester. The birds were also seen by Helene Olandt.
Martha Earl records six Barn Swallows on Oct 1 and one on Oct 7 in migration
near Washingtonville, Orange County. In Ulster it was another year of high Blue
Jay migration, the flights occurring chiefly during the last week in Sept and the first
week in Oct. An American Magpie, vagrant visitor from the West, appeared at the
feeding station of Mr. and Mrs. John Madden of Kent, Putnam County on Oct 21.
Large crow flights occurred during latter October. Wandering Tufted Titmice would
indicate that the bird has become increasingly more common in our region. It was
a lesser flight year for the Red-breasted Nuthatch. A Mockingbird was seen near
Stone Ridge, Ulster County, Nov 4 and for a few days thereafter before dis¬
appearing (Fred Hough; Milford Van Demark). The Mockingbirds that nested near
Lake De Forest, Rockland are reported to be still in the area (Bob Deed). A late
Wood Thrush was found on Oct 26 near Stony Point, Rockland (Irving Kennedy). On
Sep* ^ and 15 Fred Hough and Dan Smiley spent the night on Slide Mountain in the
Catskills and were surprised to find Bicknell's Thrush still there and singing! Birds
were heard both in the evening and at dawn. The visit to Slide in August of the
previous year found Bicknell's completely silent, so with the information gathered
so far it seems to indicate that on the eve of its departure south this Thrush renews
its singing following the period of late summer silence. Happily, the Bluebird
flights were in most cases considered good.

Vireos — Warblers: Bob Deed and Mrs. William Grierson report good con¬
centrations of warblers in the lower Hudson area of Rockland and Westchester. Bob
says the wave that occurred in latter September and early October in his county
(Rockland) was a late one and of good numbers. Many reports indicate the Blackpoll
Warbler was one of the most common warbler migrants seen during the Fall migra¬
tion. On the Sept 14 & 15 trip to Slide Mountain the Blackpoll was still to be
heard singing a little (F. H.; D. S.) A Cerulean Warbler was seen Oct 3 at West
Nyack by Frances Irving. A Mourning Warbler was seen at Paponach, Ulster
County on Oct 1 (Chandler Young), A rather late Wilson's Warbler was killed upon
hitting a picture window in the home of John Colgan, Upper Nyack, Rockland, Oct 18.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: The Dickcissel appeared in New City, Rockland, Nov
19 (Frank Steffens). Evening Grosbeaks moved into the region exceptionally early
this year with the earliest date of arrival occurring near High Falls, in Ulster County
on Oct 5 (Henry & Use Dunbar) and a little later, on Qct 10, in Katonah, Westchester
(Stanley Grierson). Purple Finches were abundant throughout the region during
September and October but dropped off in November. Small flights of Pine Gros¬
beaks came in during early November but show little promise of large wintering
flocks. A spectacular find was made by Emily Paulson upon discovering a Common
Redpoll near Pearl River on the early date of Oct 10. This is a first fall record for
Rockland County. The Pine Siskin abounded in numerous small flocks throughout
the Hudson Valley during latter September and October. One solitary Red Crossbill
was spotted near Lomontville, Ulster County, on Oct 13 by Henry Dunbar. Most of
the above Finches show a decided dropping off during latter November and this
may be correlated with the poor seed crop. This may also be an opportunity for
the bird feeders to attract wandering birds to their feeding stations. Lincoln's
Sparrow showed up near Washingtonville, Orange County on Sept 29 and four were
ultimately banded by Martha Earl. A small number of Snowflakes arrived in the
Region at the end of October.

Accord 1

138

The Kingbird

REGION 10 — MARINE

John J. Elliott

By mid-August birds were migrating in force, with the Golden-winged,
both hybrids, Worm-eating, Bay-breasted and Blackburnian Warblers all
noted at Far Rockaway by Aug 11. Also 13 species of warblers were listed
at Idlewild and Jamaica Bay on Aug 17, including Prothonotary, Cape May
and Wilson’s. The Olive-sided Flycatcher was on the move downward at
Massapequa Aug 13, yet a week later this writer saw an adult feeding young
in northern New Flampshire and others came through Long Island in early
September. Likewise Red-breasted Nuthatch appeared Aug 10 and has been
common since, quite unlike the two preceding years.

No spectacular storms brought southern vagrants this fall. No freezing
weather arrived until Nov 11, so late warbler migrants lingered and eight
species of warblers were counted at Jones Beach, Oct 26 (Baldwin Bird
Club). The heron population left early, ducks came in force in October
and November. With increasing cold weather for several days around Nov
10 and 11, land bird migration tapered off sharply. A tremendous October
flight of Goldfinches and Siskins along the barrier beaches caused small
flocks to linger. A good flight of Snow Buntings came through in early
November.

Loons — Ducks: Loons came through regularly with 30 Red-throated at Rock¬
away Nov 9; also present were two Common Loons, 12 Horned Grebes and 18
Gannets. Shearwaters appeared off Montauk in early fall and there were two, too
far off for identification, on Nov 5 at Moriches (Elliott), these were the latest
reported. 14 Wilson's Petrels were seen in. the vicinity of Ambrose Light Ship, Aug 19
(E. Mudge). There was an excellent flight of Cormorants. Great Blue Herons were
seen circling and ready to leave in late October; latest American Egret (two) and
one Snowy Egret, Nov 9, at Jamaica Bay; good fall flight of American bitterns, few
of Least; one or two records of Louisiana Heron on western Long Island. Mid¬
summer reports showed lesser numbers of American Egrets at Moriches (J. T. Nichols)
and slightly fewer elsewhere. Several large flocks of Canada Geese came through;
and by mid-November hundreds of American brant were on our western bays. Several
reports of European Widgeon, none of European Teal. Canvasback showed up at
South Haven, late Oct; eight Redheads at Westhampton, Oct 31 (R. Wilcox); Bald-
pates were very numerous by Nov 1; Ruddy Duck: two, possibly three, broods at
Jamaica Bay Sanctuary, five small young, Aug 25 (Mayer, Rose); 1320 Ruddy Ducks
at Mecox, Oct 31, were reported by Wilson as the largest flock he ever saw.

Hawks — Owls: Fair numbers of Accipiters; no Goshawk records received; poor
Buteo flight; late Ospreys into Nov; good Pigeon Hawk movement into late Oct;
several Duck Hawk records; Sparrow Hawks abundant.

Two Clapper Rails at Moriches; at Jamaica Bay Sanctuary, one Yellow Rail,
Oct 26 (Mayer, Rose) and one Black Rail, Sept 28 (N. Smith). Fewer records this
year of Florida Gallinule. Concerning shorebirds: Oystercatcher nested on south end
of Gardiners Island (Wilcox); several hundred Black-bellied Plover at Shinnecock
in late Sept; and an estimated 70 Golden Plover near Mecox around mid-Sept. Shore-
birds came through regularly. On Sept 14, at Jamaica Bay with commoner species
were: one Golden Plover, Curlew and Baird's Sandpiper (Mayer, Rose). There were
several records of Northern Phalaropes, one at Jamaica Bay, Sept 1 (N. Smith).
Both Godwits continue to migrate regularly with an estimated nine Hudsonian and
two Marbled Godwits, Aug 23 (E. Mudge). Large numbers of Herring Gulls nested
on Gardiner Island. Few white-winged gulls to date. A Little Gull was at Jamaica
Bay for several weeks and seen to mid-August (E. Levine, M. Jacobson). Fair num¬
bers of Laughing Gulls were at Montauk into Sept; one Nov 29 at Cold Spring Harbor
(Nichols). Numerous records of Forster's, Roseate and Black Terns came in; a few
of Royal and Arctic. Only one report to me of southern rarity: Sooty Tern, west

The Kingbird

139

island of Fire Islands in Great South Bay, Aug 23, two (I. Alperin). At both
Moriches and Shinnecock bays there were an estimated 200 Black Skimmers (Elliott).

So far no reports of Alcids; fairly good numbers of Mourning Doves; very poor
cuckoo migration again this year, as it has been since hurricane distortion of fall
flight in 1954. Early Nighthawk, Mastic, Sept 1, one flying west (Nichols); flight of
14 over home of Geo. Rose at Mineola, Sept 15. Owls: no Snowy to date; several
records of Barn Owl young out of nest at Westhampton, Aug 15 (Wilcox). Two
records of Short-eared, one of Long-eared Owls. Five or six Saw-whet Owls seen:
three at Jones Beach in late Oct, early Nov.

Swifts — Shrikes: Swifts left early and were later unreported. Several Red¬
headed Woodpecker reports; fewer than usual Western Kingbird records; there was
a good early Sept flight of small flycatchers; Olive-sided — Aug 13 and Sept 8 at
Massapequa (Elliott). No Crested Flycatcher records after Sept 15. On Sept 24 a
Cliff Swallow, and an estimated 3,000 Tree Swallows, were noted at Jamaica Bay
(Mayer, Rose). A heavy flight of Bluejays passed through western Long Island in
Oct, crossed the city line and presumably left the island. With the early invasion
of Red-breasted Nuthatch in mid-Aug, fair numbers o fthem are still present, es¬
pecially at Jones Beach. Carolina Wren: two at Mastic (Nichols) Sept 7; three at
Moriches, Nov 5 (D. Puleston). There were two Short-billed Marsh Wrens at Speonk,
Nov 2 (Wilcox).

Two summer records of Mockingbird — pair feeding two young at Ft. Tilden,
Rockaway; one reportedly nesting at Southoid (VanCleaf); a fall bird at Riis . Park,
Sept 28 (N. Smith). There was a large late Sept flight of Olive-backed Thrushes on
eastern Long Island; maximum Bluebirds, 15 at Far Rockaway, Oct 27 (Bull). Good
flight of Golden-crowned Kinglets at Brookhaven, 40 between Oct 12 and Oct 16
(Puleston). Practically no fall records of Gnatcatcher; a Pipit appeared at Moriches
Inlet, Oct 26 (Puleston). Cedar Waxwings were plentiful along the shores of Peconic
Bay in late Sept. Several Migrant Shrikes reported at Far Rockaway and eastward.

Vireos — Warblers: Yellow-throated Vireo, Aug 23 one at Brookhaven
(Puleston). Several reports of Blue-headed and Philadelphia early to late Sept.
After the mid-Aug warbler flight numbers tapered off, increased again in early
Sept and again around Sept 28, 29, when there was an excellent movement along
eastern Long Island, especially along the north and south shores. Present in fair
numbers were Tennessee, Parula, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue and
Green, Black-poll, and Palm. Almost the same species were seen as stragglers along
the south shore of western Long Island around Oct 26. First Myrtle Warbler:
Idlewild, Aug 17 (Mayer). There were several reports of Orange-crowned Warblers;
a Kentucky and two Connecticut Warblers were seen at Idlewild Sept 14 (Mayer,
Rose). A definite movement of Northern Water-Thrushes came through in late
Sept; four at Massapequa in damp depressions of a dried up pond Sept 30, and
two or three elsewhere around that date (Elliott) First Northern Water-Thrushes,
generally in Aug, announce the fall migration. Stragglers: Magnolia Warbler, Far
Rockaway, Nov 2 (Bull); Chat, Baldwin, Nov 20 (Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Teale); Hooded
Warbler, Gilgo, Oct 20 (E. Levine, R. Priesick).

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Last Orchard Oriole, Far Rockaway, Aug 18; little of
note came in on Tanagers; the Cardinal has made news by its spread on eastern
Long Island; besides a couple of pairs which have occurred at Noyac and Southampton
in the past few years, Puleston had four at his feeder at Brookhaven in early Dec,
Roy Wilcox one at Speonk, Oct 27, for the first record. He reported a first record
for East Quoque last winter. Another first report, just in, tells of a pair at Oak
Beach (Dr. and Mrs. H. Kimball). Rarities were Blue Grosbeak, Riis Park, Sept 21
(R. Grant, E. Daly); Far Rockaway, Sept 25 (Bull); half dozen reports of Evening
Grosbeak, one or two Pine Grosbeak; Red Crossbill at Jones Beach, Sept 28 (N. Smith);
White-winged Crossbill, Orient, Nov 24 (R. Latham). There were a few Dickcissels
in late Sept; one at Riis Park, Oct 20 and a Lark Sparrow, same day. Maximum of
three Ipswich Sparrows on a short search at Gilgo, Nov 23; good flight of White-
crowned Sparrows; very few records of Clay-colored or Lincoln's. Several flocks of
Snow Buntings and two reports of Lapland Longspur, singles each.

3994 Park Ave., Seaford, Long Island

140

The Kingbird

REPORTING REGIONS

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

ADVERTISING INCOME
HELPS TO DEFRAY PRINTING COSTS
FOR THE KINGBIRD.

Prospective Advertisers Are Invited to
Contact the Treasurer.

FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC.

1958 Officers

President

Allan S. Klonick_901 Sibley Tower Building, Rochester 4

Vice-President

Mrs. William Gary Irving_Van Houten Fields, West Nyack

Corresponding Secretary

Elizabeth A. Feldhusen_1 15 William Street, Catskill

Recording Secretary

Mrs. Edward C. Ulrich__193 LaSalle Avenue, Buffalo 14

Treasurer

Gerald R. Rising_;_72 Allen's Creek Road, Rochester 18

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

^on t Zropffet . . .

THE 1958 FEDERATION CONVENTION

ROCHESTER - MAY 2-4