WvkH:, THE MIGRANT A Quarterly Journal Devoted to BIRDS OF TENNESSEE Volumes 9, 10, and 11- 1938-1939-1940 Edited by BEN B. COFFEY, JR. 9 Published at Memphis, Tennessee by the TENNESSEE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY ^arch 1938 BIRD BOO&S We have in our store, or can obtain for you on short" notice, books on Bird Life. Pocket Nature Guides These are the accepted pocket guides for use on field trips. Size 3i/^x5^ inches, profusely illustrated in colors. Each $1.25. Land Birds East of the Rockies. By Chester A. Reed. Water and Game Birds. By Chester A. Reed. Wild Flowers East of the Rockies. By Chester A. Reed Butterfly Guide. By Dr. W. J. Holland Tree Guide. By Julia Ellen Rogers. AUDUBON’S BIRDS OF AMERICA. A very handsome volume con- taining large reproductions of all of Audubon’s 500 famous plates, lithographed in full colors with descriptions of each plate . .... $12.50 AUDUBON. By Constance Rourke. A new biography of the fam- ous ornithologist, with 12 Audubon plates reproduced in colors. 342 pages. $3.00 A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS. By Roger Tory Peterson. Your library is not complete without this new book. Copiously illus- trated in wash and color. The greatest aid for identification. $2.75 BIRDS OF AiMERIOA, Edited by T. Gilbert Pearson, 834 pages fully illustrated with 106 color plates, many photos and drawings, one volume. Original 3 vol. edition sold for $16.00, now ^...$3.95 WILD BIRDS AT HOME, By F. H. Herrick. 350 pages, 137 illus- trations. Complete treatise on everyday habits of our birds. __ $4.00 HANDBOOK Of' BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. By F. M. Chapman. Well illustrated in colors. 580 pages. The standard handbook $5.00 THE BOOK OF BIRD LIFE. By A. A. Allen, Ph.D., Cornell Univer- sity. A wealth of information, profusely illustrated $3.75 TRAVELING WITH THE BIRDS. By Rudyard Boulton. A book on bird migration. Beautiful color plates by W. A. Weber $1.00 OUR LAND BIRDS. By Alice R. Ball. Histories of 156 species, illus- trated with 47 color plates by Horsfall. 291 pages $1.69 BIRD NEIGHBORS. By Neltje Blanchan. All about those birds that are most worth knowing. Illustrated $1.00 NATURE’S SECRETS. Edited by G. Clyde Fisher. A popular Ameri- can natural history including the birds, 840 pages, fully illus- trated - $1.89 BIRDS OF TENNESSEE. By A. F. Ganier. 64 pa. A distributional list showing how, when and where all species are to be found __.__...$0.50 All bird lovers are cordially invited to visit our store, or write to us for information on books about birds, nature, gardening and out-of-doors. METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE 810 Broadway Nashville, Tenn. Tel. 6-2641 Br ■■ ■ B THE MIGRilNT VOL. IX. MIA.RCH, 1938 NO. 1 Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society, to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Tennessee. Issued in March, June, September and December. NOTES ON BIRDS OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK Bt Frank Belledse T was a far cry from seeing Wood Ibises, Purple Gallinules, and Least Terns on August 28, in western Tennessee, to seeing Caro- lina Juneos, Winter Wrens, and Red-breasted Nuthatches on September 1, in eastern Tennessee. In 1937, the writer and George Fell, after spending two days at Reelfoot Lake, traveled east across Tennessee to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Establishing camp at camp ground No. 1, at an elevation of 1,500 feet, we visited the surrounding area from August 31 to September 7. We found this region to be of great interest to the botanist and zoologist. Salamanders abounded in the mountain brooks and springs, and blue-tailed skinks were constantly seen about the camp ground. Mammals, too, were quite plentiful; this was evinced by seeing many fox, gray, and red squirrels and black bear signs at higher altitudes. The lower ridges and slopes of these mountains were covered with a variety of hickories, red oak, white oak, scarlet oak, basket oak, pin oak, chinquapin, and, in many places, the result of chestnut blight, thousands of gaunt, dead chestnuts. Rhododendrons grew in moist habitats from the lowest to the highest elevations, being replaced by mountain laurel on drier sites. A zone of red spruce and Fraser fir extended from about 4,500 feet to 6,500 feet. In the higher portion of this zone, the fir formed practically a pure stand, while in the lower portion red spruce predominated. In this coniferous belt, there was a scattering of mountain ash, alder-leaved viburnum and other deciduous shrubs, while the forest floor was carpeted with tree mosses. Certain northern hardwoods, such as basswood and yellow birch, form a transition be- tween the oak-chinquapin zone and the coniferous forest. Because of the many varied habitats, due to elevational climatic conditions in this region, such species as Hooded Warblers and Red Crossbills may be met with in the same morning. Indeed, in traveling from 1,000 to 6,000 feet one passes from the Upper Austral life zone to the Canadian life zone. At the season of our stay, many migratory species were doubtless on the move and the local birds were augmented to some extent by individuals from a distance. 2 The Migrant March Green Heron — One was observed along Little Pigeon River at 1,500 feet. Sept. 7. Turkey Vulture — One individual was observed soaring near Kephart Mountain at an elevation of 4,800 feet, Sept. 4. Sharp-shinned Hawk— Two immature birds were observed doing aerial gymnastics over Mt. Le Conte, 6,582 feet. Sept. 6. Red-tailed Hawk — Five adult individuals were seen at elevations of 2,500 feet to 5,500 feet. Osprey — ^This bird is regarded as a rare migrant in the park, so it was with considerable surprise that one was noticed perched along Little River, at 2,000 feet. Sept. 6. Duck Hawk — One was observed Sept. 1, flying near the summit of Mt. Le Conte. , Ruffed Grouse — Two were heard calling in the coniferous forest on Mt. Le Conte at 5,800 feet, Sept. 4. Bob-white — Several were heard daily in the many small forest clearings, grown up to composites and grasses, at elevations of 1,200 to 1,500 feet. Near Greenbrier Cove several were observed feeding on fallen apples. Wilson’s Snipe — It is a mystery what this bird was doing on Mt. Le Conte at an elevation of 4,250 feet, but nevertheless one was positively identified there on Sept. 6. Screech Owl — >Heard nightly about the camp at 1,500 feet. Niqhthawk — On Sept. 7, twenty were seen flying over the fields near the park. Chimney Swift — On Sept. 1, and again on the fourth, several individuals were observed flying over Mt. Le Conte. Ruby-throated Hummingbird— tSeveral were observed feeding on the blos- soms of touch-me-nots, Aug. 31, atj an elevation of 1,700 feet. Belted Kingfisher — ^One was seen along Little River at 1,900 feet on Aug. 31. Flicker — Quite common at lower altitudes, particularly on slopes covered with basket oak, pin oak, and dead chestnut. Downy Woodpecker — Infrequently seen, at 1,700 to 5,000 feet. Hairy Woodpecker — ^A regular but not abundant species from 2,500 feet to 5,800 feet. Kingbird — Four were observed along the highway, near camp ground No. 1, on Sept. 2, at 1,550 feet. Phoebe — ^Several were heard and seen daily about the camp. Wood Pewee — One was observed daily near the camp ground, several in the basket oak-chinquapin zone, and one in the spruce forest at 4,200 feet. Least Ph.YCATciiER — An adult was observed feeding several young on Sept. 2, at an elevation of 2,500 feet. Barn Swallow — A large number of these swallows were seen flying over the fields near Gatlinburg, Aug. 30. Cliff Swallow — A number of these birds were noticed in among the Barn Swallows. Blue Jay — ^Very few noted. Those heard and seen were at altitudes of 3,400 to 4,500 feet. Northern Raven — On Sept. 1, a Raven was heard giving its raucous, croak- ing call in the red spruce forest covering Mt. Le Conte at 4,800 feet. Later 1938 The Migrant 3 it was observed gliding across a valley and parachuting down to a ridge. One was also seen, Sept. 4, at 5,500 feet on Mt. Kephart. Black-capped Chickadee — These birds were fairly numerous at elevations of 3,800 to 6,500 feet. On one occasion a small band congregated in the trees a few feet above our heads and scolded us vigorously. Carolina Chickadee — Only one Chickadee was heard and seen which could be assigned to this species; it was observed on Sept. 2, at 2,200 feet. Tufted Titmouse — Fairly abundant in the white oak, basket oak, chinqu- apin zone at elevations of 1,600 to 2,800 feet. Red-breasted Nuthatch — The peculiar nasal calls of these birds were heard frequently throughout the coniferous forest at elevations of 3,500 to 6.500 feet. Brown Creeper — Only two were seen — both in the coniferous forest at 4.500 feet and 5,240 feet. Winter Wren — Of regular occurrence in the spruce-fir zone from 4,200 to 6.500 feet. Two were observed in the deciduous forest at 2,800 feet. Bewick’s Wren — Two seen near Elkmont, Sept. 3, at 2,250 feet. Carolina Wren — Several were observed, Aug. 31, at an elevation of 1,600 feet. They were found to be particularly abundant about abandoned human habitations. Catbird — One was noticed. Sept. 2, feeding on elderberries at an elevation of 2,050 feet. Wood Thrush — Several were observed in clumps of rhododendron about the base of Mt. Le Conte at 4,000 feet. Sept. 1. GrOLDEN-cRowNED KiNGLET — This was one of the most abundant birds at the higher altitudes. Small flocks were met with daily between 4,000 and 6,500 feet in the spruce-fir zone. Cedar Waxwing — Several were observed at 1,500 feet, Sept. 2, and a small flock at 4,250 feet. Sept. 7. White-eyed Vireo — Quite abundant in the small creek valleys at elevations of 1,500 to 2,200 feet. On Aug. 31, an adult was observed feeding several near- ly fully grown young. Mountain Vireo — ^Several of these birds were heard and seen in the coni- ferous forest at 4,900 feet on Mt. Le Conte, Sept. 3. Red-eyed Vireo — Not as abundant as the previous two species. One was observed Aug. 31, at 1,600 feet. Black and White Warbler — Found largely in the deciduous forest zone at elevations of 1,700 to 2,500 feet. Several, however, were seen on Sept. 4, at 5,250 feet. Tennessee Warbler — Observed frequently in deciduous second-growth be- tween 2,000 and 2,900 feet; also seen at 5,250 feet. Magnolia Warbler — Observed in small, evidently migrating, bands of war- blers, at 2,600 feet and at 5,250 feet. Cairns’s Warbler — Found singly but regularly from 3,500 to 4,500 feet in the spruce forest zone. A. number of males were heard singing on Sept. 7, at an elevation of 4,250 feet. Black-throated Green Warbler — This warbler was observed largely at the higher elevations in the coniferous forest. Several were noted. Sept. 4, at 5,500 feet. 4 The Migrant Marcli Blackburnian Warbler — Observed from 1,500' to 4,000 feet. Most abundant in second-growth basket oak, white oak, and chinquapin. Chestnut-sided Warbler — Found only in cut-over land at 2,000 to 2,500 feet. Louisiana Water-thrush — One was observed along a mountain brook at 3,800 feet on Mt. Le Conte, Sept. 1. Hooded Warbler — Only one was observed; that on Aug. 31, at 1,600 feet, in among young hemlocks and rhododendrons. Redstart — Observed from 1,200 to 5,400 feet, seemingly an abundant migrant throughout the region. Summer Tanager — A female was identified in the basket oak-chinquapin zone at 3,200 feet on Sept. 2, 1937. Cardinal — On Sept. 1, several young were observed being fed by the adults near the camp ground, 1,500 feet. Indigo Bunting — One nearly fully grown young was observed being fed by adults on Sept. 3, at 1,400 feet. Goldfinch — Quite numerous in abandoned fields at tb© lower elevations. Observed flying Sept. 1, at 4,600 feet. Red Crossbill — Approximately one hundred individuals were observed in the red spruce trees along Tennessee State Highway No. 7, near New-found Gap, 5,000 feet. Several were observed drinking at little pools on the side of the rocky cliff. Towhee — A few heard and seen on Sept. 3 in second-growth hardwoods be- tween 2,000 and 2,750 feet. Bachman’s Sparrow — Two seen at close range near Greenbrier Cove at 2,200 feet on Sept. 5, 1937. Carolina Junco — Very abundant and observed daily at 4,000 to 6,500 feet. There were particularly large numbers in and about rhododendron clumps. Field Sparrow — Very common in the weedy forest openings between 1,200 feet and 2,000 feet. University of Illinois, Champaign, III. BLUEBIRD ‘BETTER HOUSING’ PROJECT By E. D. Schbeiber During the past two years Mrs. A. R. Laskey, Dr. Harry S. Vaughn and E. D. Schreiber of the Nashville Chapter, Tennessee Ornithological Society, have conducted a Bluebird nesting project at Percy Warner Park, a few miles southwest of Nashville. In the winter of 1935-36 a group of government relief workers constructed the nest boxes, using plans furnished by Dr. Vaughn. Twenty-six of these boxes were erected with the aid of Boy Scouts of the Ten- nessee Industrial School in March, 1936. They were placed along Park drives mainly in the southeastern section of the Park, adjacent to Natchez Trace, consisting largely of meadow land, a terrain well suited for Bluebird nesting sites. Each box was numbered and had a removable roof for inspection pur- poses. Throughout the succeeding nesting seasons weekly inspections were made and the data recorded by E. D. Schreiber as part of a problem in gradu- ate work in biology with Dr. Jesse Shaver at Peabody College. After each nest was used the box was cleaned out. 1938 The Migrant 5 Most of the nest boxes sheltered two or three families of Bluebirds each season and in one case in 1937 four sets of young were successfully raised in a single nest house. The female laying the first set of five eggs wore a band at the time of brooding but was not retrapped. The female brooding the sec- ond set of eggs was trapped without a band. To her right tarsus a band was affixed. Similar evidence at other boxes show us that each box may be used by more than one female. Whenever possible, brooding females were trapped on the nest momen- tarily for the purpose of applying on the right tarsus the Biological Survey band. This phase of the project was directed by Mrs. A. R. Laskey who is most active as a bird bander in the Nashville region. All nestlings attain- ing an age of about ten days were banded on the left tarsus and the sex of each determined when possible. Results of the study to date may be briefly summarized as follows: 1936 1937 TOTALS Number of boxes available 26 27 53 Number of nests built 39 70 109 Number of nest containing eggs 30 67 103 Number of eggs laid 164 304 468 Number of eggs hatched 90 206 296 Number of young banded 74 183 257 Number of adult females banded 3 13 16 Number of birds re-trapped 2 7 9 A sixteen-apartment Purple Martin house in the Park was unused by mar- tins but served as the home of a Bluebird family, four young being successfully raised in the house. These nestlings were banded. A Bluebird nest consisting largely of rope fibers, in a hole of a post supporting the wagon shed on Park headquarters property, was observed and the four young banded in the 1937 season. Data from these two nests are included in this study. A blacksnake was seen to take two young birds from one nest box, and a report from the Wilson boys at the Park indicated that a chicken snake had devoured at least three other Bluebirds, taken as nestlings. The blacksnake gained access to the nesting box, located on a fence post, by using horizontal wires of the fence for support in climbing. This condition was remedied by removing the box from the fence post to a point close by where it has a post of its own. Cooperation was given by several members of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, Park officials and workmen. Dr. Shaver of Peabody College, and Boy Scouts of the Tennessee Industrial School. Boxes were placed in clearings not too far removed from trees or thickets. Usually they were placed on black locust posts with entrance hole about five feet above ground. Workmen and children of workmen at the Park were informed of the project and their good will was sought. Explanation of the procedure of bird banding was given to those who manifested special interest. 6 Tpie Migrant March The satisfactory progress attending our efforts thus far has aroused in many individuals and in a few groups the desire to extend the project to other sections. At the request of Mrs. Rufus Fort, Dr. Vaughn addressed a recent meeting of the Nashville Horticultural Society, telling of the Warner Park Bluebird Project. Members of this organization urged that Bluebird houses be erected in Shelby Park also. Accordingly, Dr. Vaughn and Scouts placed ten nesting boxes in Shelby Park, Nashville, in the early spring of 1938. These, with newly placed boxes in Warner Park, bring our total in the two city parks to fifty Bluebird houses. As an educational venture this one has well repaid the efforts put forth. Citizens see that Bluebirds really inhabit properly built houses in suitable locations. Bluebirds, thought to be getting fewer about Nashville, are here in in- creasing numbers. We commend this worthy project to others of our members who may be interested and shall be glad to communicate with any who care to undertake a similar experiment. Nashville, Tenn., March 7, 1938. ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CENSUS By Oub Members Our ninth annual state-wide mid-winter or Christmas census of bird life is tabulated below. A list from North Mississippi is also included. The high- est list of 69 species (from Nashville) is one short of the record but the com- posite list for all Tennessee reports is 93, — 3 more than ever compiled before. The total for each of the three preceding years was 88. (This includes Ruffed Grouse recorded on the 1936 Spence Field Bald census which was published in Bird-Lore (1937, p. 56) but inadvertently omitted from The Migrant.) This year the third and most thorough Great Smokies Park census was made and can be credited for most of the increase in the total of the composite list. Included in our Tennessee tabulations for the first time are: Eastern Turkey, Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Pine Siskin and Red Crossbill, — all from the Park — and Black-crowned Night Heron, Old Squaw, and Broad-winged Hawk. Compared with 1936, the 1937 (-1938) censuses dropped 10 species and added 15. Some interesting comparisons will no doubt be noted not only when checked against previous years but one locality with another. To mention only one, We cite 25 Red-headed Woodpeckers at Nashville where they are often absent, and 12 at Memphis where, though sometimes uncommon, as many as 103 were listed last year. Thorough coverage of territories by our larger chapters make their lists very representative, although all may have ‘A-W-O-L’ species on the day of recording. Census lists from Covington, Pulaski, and Johnson City will be found in The Round Table. The Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Greeneville, and Great Smokies lists were published in Bird-Lore (1938, pp. 52-54). Members of the Memphis chapter also made censuses in North Mississippi: at Tupelo — 57 species. Hickory Flat — 48, and Moon Lake at Lula — 76. All may be found in Bird-Lore (1938, pp. 54-55). See also The Round Table. 1938 The Migrant 7 * t- £!o8 c o § s 3 CO o >> Ebenezer to Bearden. C. O. Baird, Jr., Dr. Earl Henry, H. P. Ijams, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Meyer, Miss Mary L. Ogden, S. A. Ogden, W. M. Walker. NORRIS: Dec. 24, 7:45 a.m. to 12:35 P.M,; intermittent showers and mist, light wind, temp. 55. To Caryville Lake and return; 12 miles in car, 4 miles on foot. George Foster, Sr. and Jr., Jim Trent, Jr., W. M. Walker. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK: Dec. 19, 6 A.M. to 4 p.m. In lowlands (1200-3000 ft. elevation) Misty rain in a.m. followed by fog and overcast sky, muddy ground, temp. 40-46. In mountains (3000-6600 ft.) clear, ground frozen, and temp. 28-40. Light wind. Seven groups of observers in cars and on foot, 160 miles. Area of 15 miles diameter, centered on Bull Head and including Mt. LeConte, Greenbriar Cove, Elkmont, and the state divide from Siler’s Bald to Mt. Kephart, including Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, outside park boundaries. C. O. Baird, Jr., E. R. Burch, jMary R. Chiles, Brockway Crouch, John J. Hay, Dr. Earl Henry, Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Ijams, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. M. Johnson, Mrs. Frank Leonhard, Miss Mary O. McGriff, Henry Meyer, S. A. Ogden, Miss Kathryn Picklesimer, James Trent, Jr., and W. ;M. Walker Jr. (Knoxville Chapter); Carlos C. Campbell, R. F. Col- grove, and Miss E. Dorothy Williams (Knoxville); Willis King, Wildlife Techni- cian, and John B. Quinn (Gatlinburg) ; and Arthur Stupka, Park Naturalist. GREENEVILLE: Dec. 21, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; clear, light wind, temp. 35-40. Reed and Ross farms along Roaring Fork Creek; Bay’s Mountain; 4 miles on foot, 12 miles in car. Miss Willie Ruth Reed. ROiSEDALE, MISS.: Dec. 19, 7 A.M. to 6:40 p.m.; clear, temp. 36-46-39. Rosedale to Legion Lake to Lake Bolivar (22 miles S.) and return; 4 miles on foot, 48 miles in car. Gordon Vaiden and Scouts Bobby Linnell and Sammy Ray. 46: 10 The Migrant March BIRD BANDING BREVITIES— NO. 12 By Amelia R. Laskey This past autumn season was quite successful for Mockingbird trapping at the home station; 54 were banded in September. As is usual here by early October, territories were being defended and transient Mockingbirds were no longer permitted to stop in the garden. Again our lot was divided between four birds. Only one was a newcomer. YAR and AYB, males that had ar- rived in the autumn of 1936 and remained for nesting, defended their respec- tive territories of last year. The fourth section was occupied once more by the usual winter resident ABA who nests at a neighbors’s about 75 yards north- west but has now spent three winters at the station. At the present writing he has already returned to his summer home. Stimulated by the unusually mild weather of late December, January, and February, all Mockingbirds sang throughout the winter. AYB and YAR won mates by mid-February which was about three weeks ahead of the usual date. AYB’s mate had been banded last September, returning February 11. Both females doubtless wintered in the Nashville area, as their plumage was darkened from exposure to city smoke. No nesting activities have been observed. An interesting account of Mocking- bird No. 34-200174 is worth recording here. This bird appeared in early spring of 1934 at the window sill feeding shelf of Mrs. K. P. Wright who lives on© block from Ward Belmont College. Although she enjoyed his songs, his mo- nopoly of the shelf seemed to frighten the smaller birds so Mrs. Wright asked that he be removed. He was caught in a banding trap, transported in a covered cage and brought by automobile to the banding station about three miles away. He was banded with both colored and numbered bands and released on the evening of March 10, 1934. On the morning of the 12th Mrs. Wright recognized him by his bands as he again fed on her window shelf. He soon acquired a mate but did not remain there for nesting. On January 26, 1938, there was a sudden drop in temperature and snow flurries. That morning Miss Ann Ganier found No. 34-200174 lying on the driveway of Ward-Belmont College. She took him home where he recovered and was released. This bird is now at least five years old. He has been fortunate to survive the dangers of cats and automobiles in that closely built section of Nashville for which he shows such marked preference. Chipping Sparrows appeared in rather large flocks at the station last autumn; 54 individuals were banded between Sept. 22 and Nov. 2. On Oct. 14 and 28 respectively. White Crowned Sparrows C186922 and C186943 were returns — 4. Gambel’s Sparrows 34-107632 was a return — 3 on Nov. 25. During the first week of November, three immature Gambel’s Spar- rows were banded. Two had typical yellowish bills but the other was reddish. White-throated Sparrow H51352 banded Nov. 30, 1932 was a return — 2 on Dec. 6, 1937 (more than five years old). — This winter all native sparrows were conspicuously absent from the station and substations. Only a few Field Spar- rows and an occasional Song Sparrow came to the traps. Even the previously mentioned White-crowned Sparrow C186922 that had spent four consecutive winters here, left on Dec. 7. Probably the mild weather and early growth of vegetation is at least partially accountable for the scarcity of birds around the banding traps. Two Field Sparrows that are about five years old were re- taken this winter (L38967 and L57941). Slate Colored Junco L38984 banded 1938 The Migrant 11 Feb. 1, 1934 was a return — 3 on Nov. 21, 1937 and H32742 was a return — 4 on Nov. 3, 1937, at least 5 1-2 years old. A pair of Carolina Wrens banded in 1934 are still together. The male H73145 known to be approaching at least his fifth year of age, has been mated with H73200 two years or longer. ^Win- ter and spring Robins are very aggravating to a zealous bander. There seems to be no bait that will lure them into traps at this season in Nashville, where large flocks are migrating now. tMr. M. L. Carter, state president of the T. O. S., is establishing a substation at his home near Glendale Park. He has already trapped six Chickadees and seven Titmice, a& well as a few other species, at a window feeding shelf. Nashville, Tenn., February 28, 1938. a day with a loon By Benj. R. Warriner I spent the day* of December 17, 1937, at Liddon’s Lake, three miles from Corinth. A cold misty rain fell and a high wind swept the lake all day. Counting two lakes, separated only by a ten foot levee, there is an area of some forty acres of water at Liddon’s. The spot, though close to town, is fairly wild in its setting. While fishing from the bank, I discovered a large dark gray water bird at a point about midway of the lake. The fog and mist were so heavy I could not identify the bird even with the aid of my glasses. I could tell, however,, that it was not a specimen with which I was familiar. Soon I procured a boat and moved close enough to verify my hopes. — it was a Loon, the second one on my list of birds. The first was on a winter's day at Waukomis Lake near Corinth some five years ago. In their winter dress Loons are not glossy black on the upperparts but are gray. The Loon at Liddon’s soon became accustomed to my presence, and allowed me to approach within one hundred yards of him a number of times during the day. I have never seen another bird in such high feather; for hours he played in the rain and cold. Despite the fact that there was only dim light, nothing but gray skies and gray water, the Loon’s snow-white breast fiashed and glistened like a great gem. The bird dived almost continuously, and remained under for interminable minutes. Always he reappeared short distances from the points where he went down. The Waukomis Loon had regaled me with one shrill, ghost-like call. I remained at Liddon’s until nearly dark, wishing I might hear the weird sound again. Then, at last my patience was rewarded. As I gathered up my fishing tackle, ready to depart the scene, the friendly Loon laughed once, not as loud as a Loon is supposed to laugh, but yet loud enough to express all the wild and weird spirit so symbolic of this visitor from the Far North. Corinth, Miss., February, 1938. 12 The Migrant March THE ROUND TABLE THE SEASON AT MEMPHIS: The Memphis Xmas Census, made Dec. 24, listed only a few species of water birds as we were unable to cover Mound City Chute and Mud Island. The number of Swamp Sparrows, 29, was back to normal, compared with the record high of 502, made last year. Only 30 Pipits and 12 Towhees were seen. Black Vultures were not recorded (seen the next day). Warriner in his ‘Notes’ reports the absence of Brown- headed Nuthatches at their regular haunts near Corinth. Mrs. Coffey did not locate the usual resident pair near Hickory Flat, Miss., December 25, nor did we find any of this species in the pines of Tombigbeo State Park near Tupelo that same day. Though far from common, one or two pairs have usually been observed at various localities in past years. Only one Pine Warbler was recorded, — in Tombigbee Park. Mrs. Coffey’s list of 48 species included a pair of L. Scaup and Ring-necked Ducks on Springdale Lakes. At Tupelo, Miss., we listed 57 species. Not being familiar with the area, our party of five were together most of the time. Two artificial lakes near a coun- try club and in a state park, yielded no records but Gum Pond, lapping right at the edge of the poorer section of town, had attracted a Hooded Mer- ganser, a Canvas-back, a Gadwall, a Ring-necked Duck, and 2 Coots. We returned at dusk and watched 15 Lesser Scaups come in. Usually, more ducks are present, according to residents. A heavy fine for shooting on the lake, protects the duckls. — — ^Wilson’s Snipe liked the draiined ponds at the fish hatchery and amused me by apparently trying to hide be- hind the small piles of moss in the pond. 30 were recorded at this place, com- pared with only 1 for the complete Memphis list, and none elsewhere, including Moon Lake. 24 Pipits flew over the grounds At Moon Lake, near Lula, Miss., the weather was threatening but better than last year. A fair land bird list was secured in the bottomlands near the levee to give a total of 76 species. No Bob-whites were recorded. Only 2 Savannah Sparrows and 2 American Pipits, plus 27 Pipits hurrying over, were recorded on the burnt-over levee (usually frequented by large flocks of Pipits) and near-by fields. On the lake, Loon 1; Horned Grebe, 27; Pied-billed Grebe, 8; Baldpate, 2; Pin- tail, 6; Canvas-back, 75; Golden-eye, 2; Bufflehead, 3; Ruddy Duck, 1150; Hooded Merganser, 8; American Merganser, 500; Red-breasted Merganser, 2000; 5 common species of ducks, 417; unidentified ducks, 600; Herring Gull, 350; Ring-billed Gull, 2; Buster Thompson did not make his Paris, Tenn. census this year. Located at Greenwood, Miss., now, Buster and two Scouts made an interesting list in a canoe trip there, Dec. 25. ^Nothing of consequence was recorded Jan. 30, on a trip to Piney Woods and to Mud Lake (Ganier, Wallace, Coffey). Recorded at the latter — 2 Mallards, 1 Pintail, 20 Ring-necked Ducks, 6 L. Scaups, 2 Pipits, and a pair of Marsh Hawks. At Horseshoe Lake, Ark., Feb. 6, Simpson observed 2,000 Cormorants, 325 L. Scaups, 2 male Golden-eyes, 30 Coots and an adult Bald Eagle, — On Feb. 26, Simpson and Whittemore saw nothing unusual in 2 hours at Mud Lake; the only ducks were 20 L. Scaups and 50 Ring-neckeds. ^A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen 1938 The Migrant 13 Dec. 30, west of Germantown. Feb. 20, During a cold spell, I visited likely spots for Tree Sparrows, without success; we have no records of this species. Jan. 9 about 6 Herring Gulls were observed walking along the shore by J. C. Lamon and the writer. Ring-billed Gulls have been unusually common on the river front all fall and winter; from 20 to 75 were often noted in one section. At their favored locality, off the lower sewer, from 10 to 75 L. Scaups were also seen until about Dec. 31. They could be studied at 20 yards from a car on Riverside drive. A Canvas-back was seen at the water’s edge in early December and another with Scaups in mid-stream, Dec. 24. A flock of about 80 L. Scaups have been present most of the winter in Wolf River at the N. 2nd. St. bridge site and on Feb. 20, about 25 Ring- necked Ducks were also there. The first migrants recorded were 2 Purple Martins on Mar. 4 (Fiedler) and 1 on ;Mar. 7 at Whitehaven (Guth). Ben B. Coffey, Jr. Memphis. NOTES FROM MEMBERS OF THE CLARKSVILLE CHAPTER: A Ves- per Sparrow was seen, Dec. 16 on our local golf course. Recognizing it as an unusual bird for our area, I followed and flushed it a number of times and care- fully checked my identification. — ^ — ^On jan. 16 an adult Bald Eagle was seen on the Cumberland River. He was recognized instantly as he flew by within 100 yards of me. Going downstream, he lit for several minutes on a large dead branch of a tree. Since that time we have heard from several sources, reports of an Eagle’s nest farther down the river. We will investigate these reports as soon as possible. During the last two weeks in February there have been very large flocks of Robins in different parts of the city. On the 25th a friend telephoned me about an albino Robin present among an immense flock in his back-yard. As soon as I could get my bird glasses, I went over to in- vestigate. Hundreds of Robins were there and many Cedar Waxings were also present. After about 30 minutes I discovered the ‘curiosity.’ The bird was of an’ ivory color throughout, with the single exception of his breast which had the typical Robin-color. ~Chas. F. Pickering, M. D. In the last issue I mentioned a late fall occurence of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, the date being Oct. 25. Additional information may be of interest. This bird rose out of a patch of grass near an old lespedeza field, but flew only with difficulty to a wild cherry tree near-by. It could be seen that several of his tail feathers were missing. In order to' learn more about his queer be- havour and anything that might possibly cause his late presence, I collected the bird and examined him carefully. His stomach stuck out so much that a sharp fold appeared between it and the breast. This made the bird look thin other- wise, but his weight was full, (about two ounces) and much hard fat lined his body. This was due, I later found, to the fact he had just packed into his stomach, a grasshopper that measured two and a half inches, body and wings. In addition there were two other grasshoppers of like size, crushed for digestion, and four small ones, three quarter-inches long, besides a quantity of parts of still others. It was thus easy to see why the stomach was bulging. The sea- son was already too late for caterpillars, but nevertheless, the Cuckoo had found ample food, even if he had to go to the ground to get it. The absence of some of the tail-feathers was due to moulting. In connection with recent articles in The Migrant on the playfulness of birds, we offer an incident of a playful Marsh Hawk. On February 27, when 14 The Migrant March steady winds were blowing, we saw a Red-tailed H,awk come over, flying low, then started to circle over a sun-bathed slope. A lone Crow made a few passes at him, but withdrew when a Marsh Hawk came on the scene. The latter promptly took over the teasing of the Red-tailed, the while circling and rising together with him. The game seemed to be taken lightly by the clumsier Buteo who continued his circles and budged but little, even when the Harrier fell bodily on him. We watched their maneuvers until the birds reached such heights that our glasses showed only two fading dots. ^Persons living on the river front reported what was to them an unusually large gather- ing of Herring Gulls, Nov. 14. Just below the L. & N. R. R. bridge, where the Cumberland is about 400 feet wide, about 200 Gulls were assembled. The greater part were sitting on the water while others flew about, going upstream as far as the bridge. Birds in white plumage outnumbered those in dark plumage. Hater, they moved downstream in two loosely-composed groups, some spreading out over the cornfleld to And a short cut to the river below. — I — On Dec. 13, 1937 a single Lesser Snow Goose was seen swimming on the river and was flushed twice by an approaching barge. The plumage indicated that it was an immature bird. Great Blue Herons have been seen repeatedly this winter along the Cumberland. During a rise of the river one was noticed riding a piece of drift wood in the middle of the stream. Crows and Crackles are quite fond of this mode of transportation and use it to hunt food ia the form of snails, water-insects and the like. At the time, some of these smaller birds shared the log with the Great Blue Since mid-winter records of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet in this section are rare, we report positive identification of single individuals at different localities on Jan. 8 and 23. An early and unexpected messenger of Spring was a Tree Swallow which we saw on Feb. 20, as he was industriously flying over the lake at Dunbar’s Cave. He was without companions and was not found again on later visits. On the date mentioned we also found the first Wood Ducks back on Red River. — Alfred Clebsch, Clarksville. NOTES FROM NASHVILLE: The month of February was unusually v'arm; in fact, its average temperature of 50 degrees has only been exceeded 3 times in 70 years. As a result, vegetation by March 1st had advanced at least three weeks beyond normal. The male Cardinal at my feeding shelf began feeding his mate on Jan. 29, a sure sign of an early spring and weeks ahead of schedule. On Feb. 27, a Killdeer was found incubating four fresh eggs, this being unusually early though in several other years it has been found nesting as early as this date. A day or two before. Dr. H. S. Vaughan reported a Red-tailed Hawk’s nest containing two eggs and that a Bluebird’s nest held eggs on March 5. Additional Bluebird boxes are being erected ini Warner Park this spring and the numbers of these attractive birds are being steadily increased. Chipping Sparrows were reported on March 5 by B. H. Abernathy, this being 4 days ahead of their average first date. Robins have been very abundant during late January and February, an immense roost being in daily use west of Nashville. Starlings, too, have been more abundant during these months than since February, 1934 — ^the year that they darkened the suburban lawns and stripped all the hackberry trees of their berries. Red-wings were reported on Feb. 10, by Miss Mary Lee, as having returned to their summer homes on Radnor Lake. Dr. G. R. Mayfield reports that 1938 The Migrant 15 Starlings are so perfectly mimicking the expected spring migrants that he can no longer be sure of what he hears until he has identified it by sight,. A. F. Ganier, Nashville. THE SEASON AT KNOXVILLE: Personal observations plus reliable information from other observers show a change in the status of water birds on Norris Lake when compared with the 1936-1937 season. The species re- presented were probably about the same but the number of individuals that remained on the lake was not as large, and the flocks were smaller. Lake Andrew Jackson froze over the middle of December and except for some Mai lards the ducks didn’t return until about Feb. 13. A flock of Mallards began wintering there in mid-October but the birds disappeared one or two at a time until on Jan. 23 one wary drake remained. It hasn’t been recorded since Feb. 6, which leads me to believe that some hunter finally killed it too. — ■ — The Hermit Thrush was more common around Knoxville this winter and the Cedar Waxwing, altho erratic in its movements, has been a rather consistent visitor thruout the areas visited. — — A small group of Savannah Sparrows was located in the early fall and has remained in the one restricted area practically all winter. This is the first time in three years the writer has been able to find definite evidence of a wintering flock. While on the subject of winter residents we have three Shrikes located this winter as compared to one last year. Also, a Brown Thrasher has been a consistent visitor at Mr. Crouch’s place since January 10. Early spring arrivals worthy of mention are two Rusty Black- birds on Feb. 13. Quoting from my notes, — i'Today Charles Baird, Mrs. Walker, and I found two Rusty Blackbirds feeding in the shallow water at Lake Andrew Jackson. The light eye-ring, the greenish cast of the black feathers, the tinge of yellow on the throat and the faint yellow line over the eye were all plainly seen with binoculars at 15 to 30 feet. We observed the birds for about 20 minutes and twice during this interval we heard their creaky yet musical notes which made up a short song.” — ' — The Red-wing was seen at Lake Andrew Jackson on Feb. 12 (iMeyer) when 3 were observed in a cat-tail bordered pond. The next day about 300 were found in a small elongated marsh near Karns High School in Knox county. In this flock the females outnumbered the males by 4 or 5 to 1. A Pine Warbler, hungry from the long flight north, had Sunday morning breakfast (Feb. 27) at the I jam’s feeding station. After 15 or 20 minutes of intermittent eating the warbler flew off into the wood. Often we hear the phrase, “Help the birds.” It was Mr. and Mrs. William Johnson who stepped in and helped a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers. About Feb. 8 Mrs. Johnson noticed these birds excavating a cavity in a dead limb of a black gum tree. After working for about 10 days the birds had their home large enough to suit their needs, only to lose it to a pair of Starlings. Then the Woodpeckers moved up the limb and began another hole on the opposite side of the limb from the first cavity. However, before this excavation was half completed, other Starlings were sitting around waiting for a chance to take it. It was here that Mr. Johnson came to the rescue and, temporarily, at least, the Red-bellied Woodpeckers are quietly enjoying their new home. — ^Wi. M. Walker, Knoxville. WINTER NOTES FROM CORINTH: Pied-billed Grebes feeding on the bottom at Liddon’s Lake. Ehch bird came up with a bill full of moss. On the surface, each bird had to run from the others to keep them from robbing 16 The Migrant March him of his find. 'Cooper’s Hawk chased a Brown Thrasher into a pile of brush in new ground. The Thrasher gained sanctuary only inches ahead of his enemy. The brush pile proved a life-saver. A Hermit Thrush fed on berries of a dogwood tree; Mockingbird ate holly berries; Purple Finches lunched on the blue berries of a privet hedge; Robins feasted on holly berries, starting at the top of the tree and working downward; Flickers and Downies ate hack- berries, with many Myrtle Warblers in the same tree. A Red-tailed Hawk battled with the high swift wind; he could make no progress at all at the level where I first saw him, so he soared up and up until I lost him in space. A fine bird, emblematic of wild, free life, whose domain is limited only by the sweep of untiring wings. Sapsuckers, usually common in winter in Tuscumbia bottoms, are rare this year. Bluebirds seem to increase in numbers. Brown- headed Nuthatches not found this winter in their usual haunts here. Likely they will return early in March. Looked all winter for Horned Larks, but with- out success. Vesper Sparrows flew up by roadside on two occasions in late January; saw them well enough to know them from Juncos, which, of course, are common everywhere. On Feb. 20 many Pine Warblers were found 8 miles west of town. An unusual sight, Feb. 27, — a flock of at least 500 jMourning Doves, evidently migrating — iBenj. R. Warkinek, Corinth, Miss. ANNUAL MID^WiINTER BIRD CENSUSEiS OF THE MONTGOMERY BELL PROJECT: The third census of this area near White Bluff, Tennessee, was made on Sunday, January 8, 1938, by the same groups that made the first and second censuses, — namely, Messrs. Ganier, Monk, Shaver, Vaughn, and Woodring — accompanied by Mr. W. P. 'Morrison and grandson of Dickson, Mr. G. M. Yarbrough, and Mr. E. O. Page. As nearly as possible, the same route was taken by each group as in 1936 and 1937 {Jour, Tenn. Acad. Sci. 1936, pp. 95-97). Since the beginning of this study in 1936, the greatest change has been in the old fields. Young trees and shrubs have invaded these from the forest and from streams and gullies so that most of the fields are well dotted with blackberry briars, tall weeds, shrubs of many kinds, and young trees. The houses that were occupied a year ago are now empty but the C.C.C. Camp is still occupied and work has gone forward on the dirt dam. Just above the dam where the lake will be, much shrubbery has been cleared away. A brief summary of the birds for the past three censuses might be of interest and is given below. (The complete 1938 list is included in the tabulated lists in this issue.) Birds seen on all three of the trips were: Black Vulture, Mourn- ing Dove, Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Wood- pecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Tit- mouse, Bewick’s Wren, Carolina V/ren, Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, Bluebird, Myrtle Warbler, English Sparrow, Cardinal, Purple Finch, Goldfinch, Towhee, Slate-colored Junco, Field Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Song Sparrow; total, 27. Birds seen on two of three trips: Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Bob-white, Killdeer, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow- bellied Sapsucker, Praire Horned Lark, White-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Robin, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Meadowlark, Fox Sparrow; total 14,. Species recorded only one year were:. Cooper’s Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Screech Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing, Starling, Rusty Blackbird, Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow; total 10. The total number of species seen in the area during the studies was 51. — Jesse M. Shaver, Nashville. 1938 The Migrant 17 BIRD CENSUS AT COVINGTON:— Dec. 25, 1937; 9:30 a-m. to 5 p.m. except 2 to 3 p. m. Cloudy, with fog to noon, part sunny in p. m., temp. 48^54. In car on Highway 51 to five miles north of town; five miles on foot near Liber- ty, southwest of town. Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk,l; Killdeer, 28; Mourning Dove, 2; Flicker, 2; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 8r Downy Woodpecker, 1; Blue Jay, 30; Crow, 80; Carolina Chickadee, 3; Carolina Wrenl2; Mocking- bird, 10; Brown Thrasher, 1; Robin, 3; Hermit Thrush, 3; Bluebird, 15; Golden- crowned Kinglet, 1; Cedar Waxwing, 6; Migrant Shrike, 1; Myrtle Warbler, 4; English Sparrow, 10; Meadowlark, 9; Cardinal, 25; Goldfinch, 7; Slate-colored Junco, 400; Field Sparrow, 35; White-throated Sparrow, 175; Swamp Sparrow, 1; Song Sparrow, 30. Total, 29 species, 904 individuals — Alice Smith, Memphis. BIRD CENSUS AT PULASKI :— Jan. 6, 1938; 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Steady rain all day, temp 40-50. About 300 acres covered. iMarsh Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 1; Killdeer, 10; Mourning Dove, 4; Flicker, 6; Pileated Woodpecker, 2; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 3; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Praired Horned Lark, 100; Blue Jay, 15; Crow, 100; Carolina Chickadee, 35; Tufted Titmouse, 12; Carolina Wren, 5; Mockingbird, 14; Robin, 15; Bluebird, 9; Starling, 500; Myrtle Warbler, 35; Meadowlark, 30; Bronzed Grackle, 405; Cowbird, 20; Cardinal, 60; Goldfinch, 1; Towhee, 3; Slate-colored Junco, 100 plus; Field Sparrow, 100; White-crowned Sparrow, 5; White^throated Sparrow, 60; Fox Sparrow, 7; Son^ Sparrow, 9. Total, 33 species; 1672 individuals.. — Mrs. F. C. Laskey and Mrs. Sam H. Rogers. BIRD CENSUS AT JOHNSON CITY:— Dec. 28, 1937. Temp. 40. Boone’s Creek. Turkey Vulture, 2; Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 4; Mourning Dove, 9; Screech Owl, 1; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Flicker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Prairie Horned Lark, 100; Blue Jay, 4; Crow, 19; Carolina Chickadee, 3; Tufted Titmouse, 16; Carolina Wren, 5; Mockingbird, 5; Bluebird, 8; Starling, 50 plus; English Sparrow, 50 plus; Meadowlark, 2; Cardinal, 17; Goldfinch, 2; Slate-colored Junco, 10; Field Sparrow, 4; White-crowned Sparrow, 1; Song Sparrow, 15. Total, 25 species; 333 individuals. — Robt. B. Lyle and Bruce P. Tyler. A FEMALE CARDINAL FIGHTS HER REFLECTION :— An uncommonly pugnacious Cardinal has been fighting her reflection in a window. This ap- pears the more unusual because it occured in January rather than during the nesting season. On Jan. 20, 1938, when my neighbor told me of it, the duel had been in progress for ten days. During this time Mr. Reed has observed the Cardinal’s actions carefully. He says she was at the window almost every hour of every day during this time; one morning he found her at the window before sunrise. She attacked her reflection by leaping forward and upward at the window, hitting it smartly with her beak and out-stretched wings. The sound thus made audible at the farther end of the room. The Cardinal ap- peared puzzled one afternoon when the window was raised and left open. She came several times and looked about — ^never, however, entering the building. Two or three times the female was accompanied by a male Cardinal which behaved as a bystander and never became sufficiently interested to join the attack on the persistent intruder. — • — The effort of the ten days com- bat was beginning to tell on the Cardinal when I first saw her. Mr. Reed said that the time between attacks was noticeably increasing. She remained at the window but perched quietly for longer periods between bursts of fight- 18 The Migrant March ing. On the following day a shade was hung close to the window. By shut- ting off the light between the windows and a cabinet the shade seemed to eliminate the reflection. For two days the bird returned half a dozen times to her post, leaving soon when she found the situation changed. During the days following she did not return. Is it usual for a female Cardinal to defend thus persistently a territory, even if merely against her own reflection? — Willie Ruth Reed, Greeneville. BLUE GOOSE IN HAWKINS COUNTY:— On Nov. 8, 1937, a local hunter observed two strange birds on the Holston River below Church Hill and shot at them because they were of a kind unknown to him. He killed one but be- ing unable to recognize it, he brought the specimen to Johnson City where Mr. R. B. Lyle identified it as a Blue Goose {Chen caerulescens) , This is the first record I have of this species in this locality. — Bruce P. Tyler, Johnson City. Editor’s Note: — IThis is apparently our third published record of the Blue Goose in East Tennessee. In past issues, W. M. Walker reports the first record from a specimen taken in Cocke County in the fall, about 1927 or 1929 (1935, p. 49) and later mentions one killed, Nov. 21, 1936 on the Tennessee River near Knoxville (1936, p. 103). RED-HEADED WOODPECKER CATCHING WASPS; On January 15, 1938, I was sitting in a chair on the south side of our large three story building. The day was warm and wasps were attracted to the warm bricks above me. I was busily writing when I heard such a “swish” at my head that I instinctively ducked. The cause of my alarm was a Red-headed Woodpecker. He perched in a nearby white oak and then swooped at me again. I then saw he was catching wasps on the fly, alongside the wall, and apparently eating them. I can only conjecture what he did about the stings. — Cameron McR. Plummer, St. Catherine’s, Bolivar. THE STARLING AS A MIMIC: For the past several years I have been observing the songs of certain Starlings on the Vanderbilt campus, particularly during the fall and winter. My attention has been directed, especially during three recent months, to one Starling which frequently sits in a sugar maple near a nesting hole. He has perhaps the best repertory of any Starling to which I have ever listened and his imitations are quite deceiving; in fact, he imitates some campus birds so well that I now have to check with my eyes to be sure what bird it really is. There may be. two or three other Starlings among the dozen on the campus, which also imitate other birds, but I am in- clined to the opinion that this bird leads the field in his power of varied song. His best imitations are those of the Meadowlark, the Bronzed Grackle, female Bob-white, and Wood Pewee. He also imitates the songs of the Bluebird, the Cardinal, the Flicker, the Blue Jay, the Robin, the White-throated Sparrow, the English Sparrow, the Red-eyed Vireo, the Summer Tanager, the Red- headed and the Hairy Woodpeckers. — *G. R. 'Mayfield, Nashville. BIRDS UNAFFECTED BY NOISE: What small attention that some of our land birds at times pay to man-made noises was noticed by Dr. Pickering one day last July when he visited the skeet-field near Clarksville. From the hours of 1 to 6:30 P.M. between 600 and 700 shots were fired, and during that time he counted 15 species of birds within 100 yards of the shooting stand. Only a few steps away he found a Bewick’s Wren sitting quietly on the nest. 1938 The Migrant 19 Other species listed were: Bob-white, Mourning Dove, Nighthawk, Phoebe, Wood Pewee, Purple Martin, Tufted Titmouse, Mockingbird, Robin, Prairie Warbler, Maryland Yellow-throat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Meadowlark and Field Sparrow. An instance of similar nature is reported by Mrs. Pickering. On the rocks that form the background to the dance floor at Dunbar’s Cave a pair of Phoebes was found nesting during June. In the weeks following the old birds were repeatedly seen late at night gathering insects around the strong electric lights and feeding their young, unmindful of the large and noisy crowd a short distance below them. — Alfred Clebsch, Clarksville, Tenn. NATIONAL WilLDLIFEi RESTORATION WEEK— MARCH 20-26 “For uniting the efforts of all) friends of Outdoor America to the end that future generations shall have their rightful heritage of Wildlifef* T. O. S. Presi- dent M. S. Carter urges the fullest co-operation with the Tennessee Wildlife F e d e r a- tion. It is hoped to focus attention on conserving our wildlife and to stimulate organiza- tion of conserva- n— E Place One of Your Wildlife Stamps Here □ — □ tionists. An appro- piate and beautiful series of stamps can be bought in your county or from the Federa- tion. Proceeds will be used nationally and locally. In ad- dition many active projects can be de- veloped. MEETING DATES Notifications of the following meeting dates have been received. CLARKS- VILLE: Meetings are held every two weeks at the homes of members and are scheduled for the following Tuesdays: April 5, 19; May 2, 16, 30; June 13, 27. Dr. C. F. Pickering is pres, and Alfred Clebsch is secy. KNOXVILLE: April 6, May 4, and June 1 at ‘Flowercraft’, 415 W. Church Ave. Field trips planned for the third Sunday in each month. Mr. S. A. Ogden is pres, and Miss Mary Ruth Chiles, 1817 Highland Ave., is secy. MEMPHIS: At the ‘Pink Palace’ Museum the following Monday nights: April 4, 18; May 2, 16, 30. Tom Simpson is pres, and Mrs. T. I. Klyoe, Raleigh, Tenn., is secy. NASHVILLE: Monday evenings, March 28; April 11, 25; May 8; June 13. The BLUEGRASS CHAP- TER plans a spring outing in April. Dan R. Gray, Mt. Pleasant, is pres, and Mrs. Sam H. Rogers, Pulaski, is secy. The spring field days held by our various chapters, usually the first part of May, are among our most enjoyable activities. There is a standing invita- tion from each chapter for other fellow bird students to join them on these outings. For full information write the respective secretary. The annual election and field day will be held. May 15, with the Nashville chapter as hosts. President Carter hopes to see as many as possible present. This will be an important meeting and, as usual, most enjoyable from a standpoint of outing and fellowship. 20 The Migrant Marcli THE MIGRANT A Quarterly Journal, Devoted to the Study of Tennessee Birds. Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society. Editor, Ben B. Coffey, Jr., 672 N. Belvedere, .Memphis. Secretary-Treasurer, Alfred Clebsch, 838 Gracey Ave.. Clarksville. Regional Editors: Albert F. Ganier, Nashville; Harry P. I jams, Knoxville; Bruce P. Tyler, Johnson City; Alfred Clebsch, Clarksville. Business Manager, Vernon Sharp, Jr., 225 Capitol Blvd., Nashville. Dues for Active and Corresponding Members, $1 per year, should be sent to the Sec.-Treas. Subscription price, 75 cents per year, free to mem- bers. Sustaining members, at $5 per year, receive four extra copies mailed to addresses designated. Items for publication should be sent to the Editor. “T^e simple truth about birds is interesting enough^ it is not necessary to go beyond it'’ A glance through the eight volumes of The Migrant issued to date by our Society, forcibly illustrates, as we pass from one volume to the next, the growth of the Tennessee Ornithological Society in numbers and in interest. Most of this splendid progress can be credited to The Migrant under the able hands of Messrs. Albert F. Ganier and George Woodring, and with the co-operation of all members. An example of the part played by The Migrant in the growth of our accomplishments is seen in the annually published Christmas censuses. For 1937, eleven lists crowdel the tabulation to the limit and other lists had to be published separately. The 1937-38 composite total for the state is 93 species or 3 more than ever before. , — ^ In the June issue we plan to publish a list of T. 0. S. members, with ad- dresses and dates of admission. It will be the first since 1931 and will not be repeated for at least three years. Each June a list of officers and of new mem- bers will be given. Please check your name and address as it has been appear- ing on mail from the Society. Chapters should contact prospective members and delinquent members who desire to continue their memberships. The list will be closed for publication May 15. The unaccustomed task of preparing our journal for publication was con- siderably lightened by the fact that it had already been developed to its present standard by Mr. Ganier and a ‘work-routine’ evolved. His trip to Memphis to explain the complete steps and additional suggestions are gratefully acknowl- edged. The ready response of our members to my letter of February 17 was appreciated. While we are holding several good articles for future publication, we need more of them, as well as shorter items. For the June issue, seasonal and current notes should reach us by June 20 or before. If possible we would like to receive other ‘copy’ by early .May. This is because of our heron banding expeditions, set tentatively for May 22 and June 6. The heronries are 200 miles south of Memphis and we hope to exceed last year’s 3800 in number banded. This, of course, necessitates much preparation before and much work on records afterwards. Tennessee Conservation In Every Form is Covered by TENNESSEE WILDLIFE Official Organ of the Tennessee W’^ildlife Federation and the State Dept, of Conservation Published Monthly at One Dollar per Year Address Tennessee Wildlife Federation Noel Hotel NASHVILLE, TENN. ■I— I ' I , Perfect Box for "Birds and Banders REMOVABLE NEST SECTION FOR BANDING, OBSERVATION&CLE/^NING. ONEQUARTERTURN TRAPS PARENT BIRD (OR ENGLISH SPARROWS, ETC) CORRECT DIMENSIONS BYTHOROUGH TESTS. SELF VENTILATING, DURABLE, ATTRACTIVE. WEATHER AND RAIN 'PROOF CONSTRUCTION. FASmS MO OPEMTFS FfiOM THE BOTTOM-^ CANB£W»mFB0/17H£ C/tOmO. AOMS LENGTH ABOVE THE HEAD $lo?EACH 2F0R$1Z§ 6F0R$522 POSTAGE PfiEPA/O H.P.IJAMS R.D.9. KNOXVILLE, TCNN. V5)ii — — ' ' ■ aev MTFEB.I930 Nei74854»* Complete Modern Taxidermy Service If you want to learn Taxidermy If you want supplies we carry GLASS EYES— ALL SUPPLIES Complete catalogue FREE If you want Professional ARTISTIC LIFELIKE Bird, Animal, Fish MOUNTINGS Send in your specimen Alfred C. Schmidt’s Taxidermy Studio MEMIPHIS, TENNESSEE The MIGRANT is printed by the DAVIS PRINTING CO., Memphis. 7 Great Books Covering Every Branch GLENHAVEN Bird Banding Traps Sparrow Traps Cat Traps Martin Houses Bird Banders Equipment of All Kinds Write for Folder GLENHAVEN BIRD SANCTUARY RUSSELL S. DAVIS Clayton, 111. DURY’S Are Headquarters for FIELD GLASSES STEREO PRISM BINOCULARS GRAFLEX CAMERAS KODAKS CINE KODAKS Bell & Howell MOT ON PICTURE EQUIPMENT A ^TS’ SUPPLIES WING MATERIALS LANT^ SLIDES MADE TO ORDER EX DEVELOPING, PRINTING, V ENLARGING ! GEO. C. DURY CO. 420 Union Street Nashville, Tenn. PI n Patronize our a^ive se ana mention THE MIGRANT mm. ■A QU^RlTER-LY journal DEVOTED^^O TENNESSEE^RDS sssii i t 3*> iv-** : . l^tlislied ^ %%/v, I^THETEHNESSEE I ORNITHOLOGICAL^^ ^ SOCIETY une i938 BIRD BOOKS We have in our store, or can obtain for you on short notice, these books on Bird Life. Pocket Nature Guides These are the accepted pocket guides for use on field trips. Size 3i/^x5^ inches, profusely illustrated in colors. Each $1.25. Land Birds East of the Rockies. By Chester A. Reed. Water and Game Birds. By Chester A. Reed. Wild Flowers East of the Rockies. By Chester A. Reed Butterfly Guide. By Dr. W. J. Holland Tree Guide. By Julia Ellen Rogers. AUDUBON’S BIRDS OF AMERICA. A very handsome volume con- taining large reproductions of all of Audubon’s 500 famous plates, lithographed in full colors with descriptions of each plate $12.50 AUDUBON. By Constance Rourke. A new biography of the fam- ous ornithologist, with 12 Audubon plates reproduced in colors. 342 pages. $3.00 A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS. By Roger Tory Peterson. Your library is not complete without this new book. Copiously illus- trated in wash and color. The greatest aid for identification. $2.75 BIRDS OF AiMERIOA, Edited by T. Gilbert Pearson, 834 pages fully illustrated with 106 color plates, many photos and drawings, one volume. Original 3 vol. edition sold for $16.00, now , $3.95 WILD BIRDS AT HOME, By F. H. Herrick. 350 pages, 137 illus- trations. Complete treatise on everyday habits of our birds. ___$4.00 HANDBOOK OF BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. By F. M. Chapman. Well illustrated in colors. 580 pages. The standard handbook $5.00 THE BOOK OF BIRD LIFE. By A. A. Allen, Ph.D., Cornell Univer- sity. A wealth of information, profusely illustrated $3.75 TRAVELING WITH THE BIRDS. By Rudyard Boulton. A book on bird migration. Beautiful color plates by W. A. Weber $1.00 OUR LAND BIRDS. By Alice R, Ball. Histories of 156 species, illus- trated with 47 color plates by Horsfall. 291 pages $1.69 BIRD NEIGHBORS. By Neltje Blanchan. All about those birds that are most worth knowing. Illustrated $1.00 NATURE’S SECRETS. Edited by G. Clyde Fisher. A popular Ameri- can natural history including the birds, 840 pages, fully illus- trated $1.89 BIRDS OF TENNESSEE. By A. F. Ganier. 64 pa. A distributional list showing how, when and where all species are to be found $0.50 All bird lovers are cordially invited to visit our store, or write to us for information on books about birds, nature, gardening and out-of-doors. METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE 810 Broadway Nashville, Tenn. Tel. 6-2641 THE MIGRANT VOL. IX. JUNE, 1938 NO. 2. Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society, to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Tennessee. Issued in March, June, September and December. PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS MAKE NEWS Dr. Louis Leroy, one of our Memphis members, and a pair of Prothono- tary Warblers were given over a half a column of newspaper space May 25. Dr. Leroy’s picture was given but since Mr. and Mrs. P. Warbler were out when the newspaper photographer called, only their nesting site was pictured. The latter is reproduced herewith thru the courtesy of Mr. Eldon Roark and the Memphis Press-Scimitar. We quote below from Mr. Roark’s ‘STROLLING’, a very popular and widely read column of interesting local happenings. “The other Man of the Week is Dr. Louis Leroy, physician and surgeon, river sportsman. “For the next few weeks Dr. Leroy will forego the pleasures of his cabin cruiser, the Gobbler Um, in order that some old friends of his may raise a family undisturbed. “Last year, about this time, STROLLING printed an article about a pair of wild canaries — or prothonotary warblers, if you want to go ornithological — that had slipped aboard Dr. Leroy’s boat and built a nest in a granite pitcher up on a shelf behind the engine — a pitcher that the doctor used in priming his motor. “Well, when their presence was discovered, that just about put an end to the Gobble Urn’s cruising for the time being. Those canaries coudn’t be dis- turbed. And they hatched out four fine youngesters. They grew up and three of them got away to most successful solo flights. One little fellow, however, developed rudder trouble — or sump’n — and made a forced landing on Wolf River. For a few minutes it looked like the end for him, but some boys put out to the rescue in a skiff. After he dried out, he tried to solo again. That time he headed toward land instead of water — and had better luck. “Anyway, you can guess what has happened, can’t you? Yep, Mr. and Mrs. Wild Canary are back — and have built a nest in the same pitcher! It must be the same couple, for it isn’t likely that two other canaries would pick out such a place for a nest. It’s amazing that even one couple would make such a selection one time. “The bird commonly called a wild canary is the goldfinch. But, as I say, these are prothonotary warblers, not goldfinches. They are found only along lakes and streams, and fishermen call them wild canaries. Their natural nest- ing place is in a hollow limb over water. 22 The Migrant June “The warblers go to Central America — or below — for the winter, and re- turn in the spring. So this couple came thousands of miles — flying without a radio beam or even a compass — and went right back to a pitcher on a shelf behind the engine in a small boat, tied up in Wolf River, Memphis, Tenn., U.S.A. And if that isn’t navigating, what is it? Heck, when an aviator hops across the ocean, and, with aid of radio and all kinds of instruments, lands in the city he’s aiming at, we say he is sho some flyer. Yet, I don’t suppose these little prothonotary warblers think they’re doing anything worthy of note. “But getting back to Dr. Leroy: I say he is a good Man of the Week be- cause he is going to let the Gobbler Um stay right where it is till those birds raise their family. To move the boat right now while Mrs. Warbler is laying, might frighten her away for good. After the young hatch, she won’t be so easily frightened. “If Dr. Leroy wants to breeze around in the river any soon, he’ll do it in the outboard motor.” Editor’s Note: — The birds entered thru a back window, crossing a large room and passing thru a doorway into the engine room. The pitcher was located on a high shelf just under the ceiling, as shown in the picture above. The engine room has windows on two sides but the windows are normally kept closed. — The male was generally heard singing from the willows bordering Mud Island, across Wolf River from the cruiser and a long line of boat houses moored along the Memphis wharf. The river was full and at that point about 60 yards wide. The female was often seen flying back and forth. I did not have the opportunity to attempt banding the adult or the young warblers. Visits were as follows: May 23, nest completed; May 30, two eggs; June 4, 4 eggs; June 25, gone but reported to have left that morning. — For a bird so associated with our lakes and rivers it seems strange that it should, as often reported, nest in so many unusual places and near man. Several instances have been reported in our pages. This species will occupy bird houses and tin cans nailed up for its use. 1938 The Migrant 23 THE BLACK VULTURE IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY By H. O. Todd, JR. During fifteen years of field work in Tennessee I have found the Black Vul- ture (Coragyps atratus atratus) to be my favorite study. This bird is quite common in Rutherford County. Near my home there are three of their roosts, with as many as one hundred and fifty birds using one roost. The latter part of April, 1937, while looking for Vulture nests, I counted fifty-two in one small elm tree. Here the nesting site of this Vulture is almost always a rocky crevice or a pocket under a large, shelving rock; for there are few hollow trees or logs left in this section. In the past three years, I have located forty nests and have found only three in trees. One of these three was in a tall beech in an opening twenty-five feet from the ground. Great Horned Owls used this nesting site in 1937. The second nest I found in a tree was in a leaning oak large enough for a man to go down into its hollow trunk; inside it the eggs were laid on the level with the ground. The third tree-nest was built in an oak about fifteen feet from the ground in a hole having a spongy mat of dead leaves for the eggs to rest on. The earliest set of eggs I have noted was one of March 22; the latest set was of May 21. The last date was probably due to the first set being destroyed by some enemy. I shall try to describe a few nests. The first was one in a large crevice twenty feet long, fifteen feet wide, and twelve feet deep. At one end the rocks formed a shelter for the eggs. On April 6, 1935 I found a set of two eggs in this hole. In this same hole on July 7, 1935 I found another set; one egg was in the process of hatching, the other was addled. I watched this nest very care- fully, wishing to band the one bird; I banded it in August, 1935. Due to the depth of this crevice, though, the bird had to be full grown before he could leave it; hence it was eighty-one days after I had banded him before he quit the nest. On March 27, 1936 I again looked into this nest site and observed one eggs* I returned on March 30 and found two eggs where there had been only one. Trying an experiment, I collected these eggs to see how the nesting birds would react. Being in this neighborhood on April 24, I found another set of two eggs and collected them. I returned again on May 19 and I found two more eggs, both fresh, in the same nest. By this time the old bird would not leave but would remain nearby and watch me while I looked at her eggs. With this I ceased trying the patience of the Vultures; I decided to watch the newly laid eggs to learn the time of incubation. I saw one open in thirty-five days and the other in thirty-seven. I have a picture of one of the eggs after it had pipped and another of both birds three days old. 24 The Migrant June Another nest was on a rocky slope called Wolf Hill. The site was an un- usual crevice seventy-five feet long, four feet wide, and six feet deep, broken in the middle by a pocket fifteen feet deep. I discovered a set of two eggs at each end of the crevice. One set was in the open except for a large, fiat rock ex- tending across the crevice about three and one-half feet above the eggs. On June 24 I found two Vultures four days old in this crevice. I made another trip on August 4 and took their pictures. They were at that time very hard to hold, and tried to bite me. When I returned August 23, I found both young perched on a large rock close to the nesting hole. When they saw me, they jumped for the nest; but I caught and banded them. Murfreesboro, Tenn. A BACK YARD THEATRE By Jamie Ross Tippens Perhaps the chief attractions in our back yard are the bird baths. On the brow of a gentle slope in the side yard is a large umbrella-shaped plum tree under which our chairs are placed.. From this ‘private box’ we look down upon a wide grassy plot with a background of many tall hackberry trees form- ing vistas of Gothic arches against the sky. Within this grassy space three bird baths are invitingly located, while further back in the rear a spring makes; a pool under a willow. Water seems to attract birds, particularly running water. Often, in the afternoon on hot days I have fixed a spray and before I could get away from it the birds appeared. Cardinals, Robins, and Crested Flycatchers enjoy it. Once a Yellow-billed Cuckoo lay in a puddle and stretched his wings to the de- scending mist. A little White-eyed Vireo would come to the spray and after prolonged showers, would hop into the bath and take a real ducking, then jump out smartly and fluff up like a yellow ball. One bath is'' an up-ended old whisky barrel, the warped bottom of which forms a perfect basin. This place is preferred by Robins, Crackles, Tow- hees, and Blue Jays. Squirrels also visit it. I have watched many Robins, perched around the edge, several looking fiercely across at each other and snapping their beaks. Meanwhile another plopped down in the middle of the basin, and, with a look of utter satisfaction, had a regular orgy of bathing. Presently the others would start fiuttering and dipping with occasional passes at each other. They seemed to have as much fun as a bunch of small boys in a swimming pool. When a Grackle or two appeared on the scene all the Robins left. I liked the way these lordly sleek black rascals walked with unhurried, stately tread around the edge of the bath, carrying their beaks pointed sky- ward, before they entered. They took very thorough baths, usually getting so‘ wet they could hardly fly. There is something very satisfying about watch- ing a Grackle bathe. 1938 The Migrant 25 The Towliees, seemed to be modest and in a great hurry, took a few quick dips and were gone before I ever had a chance to study their technique. The Blue Jays had a lot to say before they came down from the trees to drink and bathe. This they did with such gusto and abandon, they frequently spattered out so much water that I had to refill the bath after them. A Blue Jay bath- ing always reminds me of a glorified cornflower in the rain. A concrete basin about two feet in diameter and on an 18-inch pedestal is located in the edge of a rock garden, under a little plum tree with another small tree partially screening it. There in this secluded spot the Maryland Yellow-throat, Yellow Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Brown Thrasher, Mocking- bird and Tufted Titmouse came to refresh themselves. This bath seemed to attract the shyer birds. A Catbird came here to drink and bathe at about two o’clock every afternoon in the summer. I have never been able to see a Tit- mouse bathe, — apparently this species is more shy than the others. A third bath is another concrete basin only twelve inches across and placed flat on the ground. Each afternoon a family of Mourning' Doves would come here to drink. I never saw them bathe. They would fly to a tree nearby and sit quietly for some time, then making up their minds that it was safe, they would fly down, walk around, look at the bath and surroundings carefully, — all preliminary to just taking a drink. This place attracted a Wood Pewee, but he would only sit on a dead limb high above the bath with his shoulders hunched up and look on. The English Sparrows are the dirtiest, noisiest and most self-assertive things on the place. After dusting themselves in anything from dust to ashes they would congregate in one of the larger bird baths, splash out all of the water and leave such a mess that is was necessary to take a broom and clean up after them. The Mockingbird on the other hand is a dainty bather. He pre- fers a dripping faucet and a shallow pan and will wait around for some one to fix just the right sort of bath; meanwhile refusing to mix in with the tough sparrows or Ihe other birds, but just let one of them approach his drip! The best place to watch for migrants was at the willow-shaded spring. From under a rocky bank a trickle of water made a natural pool surrounded by mint and bergamot and somewhat encroached upon by water cress. Here was a seclusiveness that the wildest ones approached with confidence. Wax- wings, Indigo Buntings (my husband called them “Blue Pops”), Warblers of all kinds, and Sparrows would come here in the evening about dusk. No other place would attract such a variety. It was here one afternoon that I was at- tracted by a bird indignation meeting. Jays, Grackles, some Redstarts and other little fellows were seated in the tree while the Mockers were darting down toward the spring. Examining the premises thru binoculars I finally made out a big grey cat hidden in the dry grass and bushes near the little pool. His color so blended and he was so still that only his eyes could be seen at first. My heart stood still, — the foolish birds were flying just above him and I felt sure that he would get one before I could get him. I ran to the house and got the little rifle. Laying it alongside a tree I centered it on his head and saw him give a quivering jerky lurch as the little ball took the in- terloper out of my bird theatre. Nashville, Tenn. 26 The Migratvtt June BIRDS IN FLIGHT By Benj R. WIarrineb Amateur bird students should not overlook the opportunities afforded them for better identification of the birds when the birds are on the wing. All of the various species exhibit certain peculiarities of flight. No two kinds react in exactly the same manner to the task of fiying. These differences in some cases are very slight, and in other cases widely divergent. No doubt there are many factors that combined, result in a fixed type or style of fiying for the members that compose a species. Length of tail as well as its shape, formation of wings, the, bird’s weight and size, length of neck, size of head, feet — all have a direct bearing on the matter of motion in the air. When a bird is in flight his wings and tail are outspread and the general contour of his body is easily observed. Folded up, on the ground or in a bush or tree, a bird is one thing; in the air, unfolded, he is a creature of different shape, and he brings into play movements never seen by the observer at any other time. So, when the birds are fiying the student may use to advantage these two identification aids: first, the peculiar motion of the bird; and sec- ond, the length and breadth of the bird’s Vt^ings and tail and the general out- line of the whole outstretched body. Frequently it is only necessary for an ornithologist to get the merest pass- ing glimpse of a bird high in the air in order to make sure identification. Color counts for nothing, for color at the time cannot be seen. He depends solely on some idiosyncrasy of motion, and of course on the bird’s general size. For instance, the Blue Jay flies slowly and most laboriously. The air taxes his strength and forces him to make a display of his awkwardness. At the other extreme, the cooing Dove is the personification of grace. He flies high, wide, and fast. Approaching his resting place, frequently he swings in slow, easy beats through the last few yards; again, he comes into a tree under full speed and stops almost instantaneously. The Shrike is another bird that makes a poor showing in the air. He is swift enough when darting down upon his prey, but he flies as though he were afraid he might fall. His whole body seems to be in a nervous kind of jerky motion. Most of the Woodpeckers, too, are awkward on the wing. Smooth and easy effort is lacking; they labor too much to qualify for an award for grace. The Goldfinch, however, has a flight all his own. He dips up and down in long curve-like motions; and he calls in high-pitched voice all of the time he flies. I have strained my neck many a time looking skyward for an illu- sive Goldfinch that I could hear but could not see. The bird is a mere sprite and by fiying high almost erases himself from view. Meadowlarks have a habit of sailing through the air, especially when they are near the earth. They have learned how to set their wings and to coast effortless through space. Robins are things of exquisite beauty when high against a background of azure, early on a frosty morning when they are in flight from their roosting grounds to their feeding grounds for the day. Rays from the sun coming up beneath the birds fall upon their red breasts and turn them into splotches of flame. They whistle as they fly and beat their wings hurriedly, though rythmically. 1938 The Migrant 27 The Yellow-breasted Chat is the clown of the air. He flies with wings and feet flopping and dragging as though they were broken. He runs, skips, and jumps apparently all in one motion. His flight is short, and direct to a perch he returns before he gets fairly started. Cedar Waxwings nearly al- ways go in droves ; they fly in a compact body and light in the tree in the same formation. An individual sallies forth a few feet for a gnat; but when one bird leaves the perch for a distant goal, all the others go with him. The Fly- catchers are easily identifled by their habit of sailing out from a dead limb to snap-up a passing victim. They feed, it seems, almost exclusively from the air and rest on their perches between morsels. Yes, all of the birds have their own peculiar manner of flying. Their outstretched wings, their grace, their clumsiness, their speed, their labor, all are the greatest of helps to the student who would know the birds better. Corinth, Miss. THE NEW CONSTITUTION By Dr. George R. Mayfield For more than twenty years the Tennessee Ornithological Society has transacted business under the provisions of the constitution originally drafted by A. F. Ganier in 1915. In 1921 this constitution was revised to some extent but the changes were inconsequential. The expansion of the Society to a really state-wide status and the gift of $500 to the old affiliated Tennessee Audubon Society gave rise to the hopes that Tennessee might some day have an organization like that of Massachusetts where the funds and the member- ship are sufficient to flnance educational and sanctuary work and to realize worthwhile objectives. With this view in mind President Carter appointed a committee to revise our constitution early last fall and they have held several meetings in Nashville and corresponded with all the chapters with regard to proposed changes. The adoption of this constitution at the Spring Field Day, May 15, now paves the way for the incorporation of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. Directors were chosen from the various chapters and from the State at large in the proportion of one director for each ten members and part thereof. No chapter, however large, may have more than five Directors, and this insures the right of the smaller Chapters to have a voice in the management of all affairs of said Society, A most important meeting of the new directors was held at the field day with the usual good will and harmony prevailing. Judge Thomas H. Malone is now arranging for the proper incorporation of the Society under the laws of Tennessee governing such bodies. Memberships are now classed as Active, Sustaining, Life, Honorary, Cor- responding and Junior. This provision makes possible additional types of membership and encourages more generous contributions from those members able to do so and desirous of more adequately promoting bird study and bird conservation. Nashville, Tenn. 28 The Migrant June THE ROUND TABLE THE SEASON AT MEMPHIS: — Dr. C. L, Baker reported a Purple Martin at his box on Mar. 3, a day earlier than earliest date given in last issue. Mr. Guth banded two Martins at a T. O. S. meeting and the writer took them home for the night. Next morning pink celluloid bands were added and the birds were liberated at 7 o’clock. They circled about for two minutes with other Martins that appeared out of nowhere, then all vanished. The two were at Guth’s box, 8V2 miles south, in 25 minutes — Blue and Snow Geese were heard going over home at 11 and 11:15 P.M., March 12, and heard at 4:30 A.M., March 13, by the Allisons; all three flocks were small. — On May 29 a visit was made to Shelby Forest. A Broad-winged Hawk was seen in the vicinity of the old gravel pit. A few American Egrets were seen, flying singly over the wooded bottomlands towards the river. Northeast of the Forest a Grasshopper Spar- row was heard in a fleld of oats, — the same location as last June. Towards a nearby wood our first Mississippi Kite of the season passed over. On June 2, two Grasshopper Sparrows were heard near the Penal Farm but about V2 mile from the field where they were heard last July. There are similar likely places in the county but except for our one record inside the city, these two areas are the only places where we have found this species in the summer. It is a com- mon transient near the Lakeview levee. — The highway ‘bar-pit’ contained water one to three feet deep and Pied-billed Grebes nested there for the first time in three years. Six floating nests were located. On the field day. May 1, one set had hatched a few days previously. Another set was temporarily un- covered for all to see, the nest being about ten feet from dry land and easily visible thru the sparse cover of old weed stalks. A Least Bittern’s nest with four eggs was also a special exhibit for those willing to wade a short distance. A King Rail’s nest was found there May 8 but on the 14th the young were found to have left the nest about two days before. — Young Rails crossing a highway near Millington, behind an adult bird, were reported during the last of April. — Least Terns, and up to four Black Terns, appeared on Wolf River, downtown, in mid-May. The Leasts became very common the first week in June and up to 120 were estimated there in a half-mile stretch. — Shorebirds were really scarce this spring, — only a few of the common species being seen. Lesser Yellowlegs were first seen about a month after the usual early arrival date. Suitable muddy margins were almost entirely lacking. The migration of Swallows also appeared light. — Our first June record of a Towhee within 80 miles of Memphis was at Ellendale, almost 8 miles east of town, on June 5. At that time the bird sang at length but we were unable to locate it June 11 or June 26. The usual last date of departure is about May 8. — Ben B. Coffey, Jr., Memphis. 1938 The Migrant 29 THE SEASON AT CLARKSVILLE: — ^Witli the passing of Spring we look back on a season of rather irregular bird migration. The early travellers, probably led on by mild weather, came sooner than expected, but the later migrants did not follow their wing-beat. Purple Martins, early for the third consecutive year, came on March 12. They were seen that day flying to their boxes at two points 5 miles apart. — Some of the shore and water birds remained with us unusually late. On May 2 a Snow Goose stayed again a day or two with tame Geese, apparently friends made in April of the previous year; at least we like to think that it was the same bird, once more northward bound. Since two more birds of this species were seen April 10 on the Cumberland River, we feel that the occurrence of Snow Geese in spring as well as fall is not as rare as we formerly thought. Various species of Sandpipers (Spotted, Soli- tary, Least and Semi-palmated) were seen till May 19, as were also Semi- palmated Plover and Coot. On the 18th Dr. Pickering, following up the report that a Coot had been seen on Big Beech Pond near town, visited this pond which has an unusually good shore line for ‘peeps’. He found the Coot gone but encountered a Black-bellied Plover that was searching in the edge of the water for food. He studied the bird at length with 7-power glasses and compared it on the spot with illustrations. Although lame in one foot the bird otherwise proved in flne shape as it took off in fast flight when Anally flushed inten- tionally. Another new species for our list was the Gambel’s Sparrow, one of which was taken April 5 at a local banding station. Two weeks later the bird was again recorded. — Early in April W. M. Noland found a case of melanism in a Cardinal. With the exception of red beak and some red on the shoulders the bird was so dark that it had to be called black. A contrast to this “black Redbird” was a “white Blackbird” or albino Bronzed Grackle that appeared near one of our banding stations on June 16. It walked into a trap two days later and was banded and released. Albinism in this case was complete, all feathers being pure white and the feet, claws, and bill showing pink. The pupils were the typical dark pink while the iris showed the gray of that of the young bird. — ^Alfred Clebsch, Clarksville NOTES FROM THE NASHVILLE AREA: — Cedar Waxwings were more abundant this spring than in many years, large flocks being present during April and May, feasting on the hackberries which in some other years have been stripped by Starlings and Robins. — During a trip on the Tennessee River on March 20, the writer observed a Bald Eagle perched on a snag at a point 14 miles north-west of Guntersville; this date would indicate it as nesting nearby. The “pools” created by the new T. V. A. dams on this river, together with the heavily wooded mountain slopes adjacent, will doubtless cause a num- ber of pairs of these flne birds to become permanent residents — A Duck Hawk’s nest was reported in Falls Creek State Park in Van Buren Co., by G. R. May- fleld who with a group of T. O. S. members visited this area on June 13. The eyrie was on a ledge of Yellow Bluff, where one of these falcons had been ob- served at nesting time in a previous year. From across the canyon, three large young could be seen on the ledge where they were being fed by one of the parents. Henry 0. Todd informs me that he visited a Duck Hawk’s eyrie north of Chattanooga, — one not heretofore reported; the birds were present. This brings the number of Duck Hawks known by the writer to be nesting in Ten- nessee, up to 15 pair. — A pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks took heavy toll of a 30 The Migrant June flock of Bob-whites that were being fed by B. H. Abernathy on his premises south of the city and he finally succeeded in killing both of the culprits with a rifle. One of them when examined by me was found to have had its thigh bone broken by an earlier shot but the member had healed! straight tho encum- bered by a large knot about the bone. — new nesting locality of the Sharp- shinned Hawk was discovered in a pine wood not far from Ashland City and on May 22 the nest of the pair was found containing 5 eggs, incubated about one week. — The King Rail has often been seen in previous years during May, in the river bottom marsh in North Nashville and believed to be nesting there. In this marsh, on May 21, I found a pair tending their week old young ones. One of them, black and the size of a baby chick, dived in the shallow water and held on to the grass roots until it was poked out after at least a minute’s submergence. — Prothonotary Warblers often nest in queer places; at Sycamore, on May 15, the T. O. S. Field Day Group found a nest in an angle of the steel bridge, containing 4 eggs, hatching. — Blue Jays, which normally nest in a crotch against the trunk of a tree, had departed far from their custom in a nest found on May 22. They had chosen the rafter-plate at the corner of a high open hay shed and their four young were ready to fly. There were plenty of suitable trees all about. — Cliff Swallows were reported by S. A. Weakley as having arrived at Lock B and D, on the Cumberland, on April 13 and that they had at once started the construction of their nests under the lock wall. — Shore- birds are rarely recorded in numbers in spring near Nashville, due to the fact that most pond levels are up into the grassy borders so that no bare shoreline is exposed. A leak in the 2 acre Donelson pond however on May 15 had left a bare and muddy shore and here the writer and others recorded the following water birds: Green Heron 1, Semi-palmated Plover 1, Killdeer 3, Spotted Sand- piper 4, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Greater Yellowlegs 4, Lesser Yellowlegs 8, Pec- toral Sandpiper 1, Least Sandpiper 6, Semi-palmated Sandpiper 4, and Black Tern 8. Of especial interest also, was a pair of Bobolinks, prospecting in the marsh grass at the pond-head. — The Annual Spring Field Day, held at the old Sycamore Powder Mills near Nashville on May 15 ,produced a record list of 118 species, seen there and enroute. — ^Warblers were unusually scarce during migration this year, there being nothing approaching a “wave” at any time. — The writer’s third “expedition” to the Tennessee mountains, worked the Great Smokies from June 12 to 19 and with good weather, the 15 members of the party gathered considerable new information. Some of the results will be published in a future issue. — Albert F. Ganieb, Nashville, Tenn. THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER:— Alighting after a short, low flight, it first stands still, to look about, then making a deep bow to the spectator, you might feel complimented by the obeisance, did not the elevation of the rear extremity turned toward you the next minute imply a withering contempt. Bowing first toward you, then from you, the sandpiper resumes his own affairs, only ask- ing that you go right on with yours,. He rarely walks, but runs so fast his long little legs seem to stick out in front and behind him. When his interests bring him nearer you than he really wanted to get, he draws his head back down close between his shoulders, — RUNS past, — and without turning his head a fraction of an inch he gives you a look from the corner of his eye which plainly says, “I never met you, and hope I never shall”. — Mrs, M. L. Hughes» Clarksville. 1938 The Migrant 31 MIXED FLOCKS: — In our issue of Sept, 1937, appeared an article on this subject by Dr. Mayfield and in the October, 1937, issue of The Auk we find a review of an article pertaining to similar flocking habits of birds in Australia. The article appeared in The Emu V. 37 pp. 254-261, April, 1937, and the review is as follows: “These notes are interesting for comparison with similar habits in small insectivorous species from other lands. Just as in our northern woods, where Chickadees form the activating basis of miscellaneous flocks of warblers, nuthatches, small woodpeckers and kinglets in the autumn, so in Australia the Sittellas (nuthatches) provide leadership, and a mixed flock of various species of small birds troop from tree to tree, always with more or less calling which serves to keep the group together as well perhaps as to space the birds. The cause of such an association is not only the common desire for food at the given time, but no doubt a strong desire for a certain sociability is a chief factor in the cohesion of the group.” The same article reviewed in Bird Banding, brings out the fact that “The feeding habits of the species showed no overlap, but there probably was disturbance of insects and hence help to each species by the rest. As the author quotes John Burroughs ‘Together they made a pretty thorough search, — fine, finer, finest’.” — A. F. G. CORINTH CHAT:-— March 12 brought the season’s first Purple Martin. Wood Thrush sang in creek bottom March 31, my earliest record of this minstrel. About April 1, American Goldfinches came to town in literal thou- sands. For two weeks they remained to arouse almost universal interest among citizens ; they were the essence of happiness as they played in yards, along streets, on housetops, perched on electric wires, in trees everywhere. One woman went into her yard to dig up a bountiful crop of dandelions that had bloomed overnight. To her amazement the dandelions flew away, singing deri- sively but mischievously. — April 3, I saw a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers building a nest 40 feet from ground in crotch of slender ironwood tree. Usually this species builds on a horizontal limb. Prairie Warbler in pine woods west of town ; found this Warbler nesting last summer in north Georgia near Look- out Mountain. Audubon saw only one Chestnut-sided Warbler during all of his career. I added the fifth one to my list this spring. — April 24 found nest of Brown Thrashers in low thick shrub in farmyard, with four babies. More Kentucky Warblers this season than usual. One sang near me in woods and I detected notes very similar to certain parts of the song of Carolina Wren. Dickcissels plentiful in Cane Creek meadows 4 miles west. — May 6, I found 500 Bobolinks in blooming vetch field on edge of town. Again on May 8 found flock in another vetch patch. Males predominated No more beautiful sight than a flock of male Bobolinks sailing low over a lush meadow. As they fly they drop their legs straight down, as though too indolent to tuck them up. — Every now and then some bird not supposed to show up in a crowded town area drops down in my tiny backyard. A few days ago an Indigo Bunting came, a female Summer Tanager, a Yellow-breasted Chat and a Maryland Yellow-throat. Earlier in the season a Ruby-crowned Kinglet sang in a bush near my window, and a strange thrush, similar to a Veery, sang timidly in the rain while in thick foliage. — Benj. R. Wareiner, Corinth, Miss. 32 The Migrant June A SCREECH OWL FISHERMAN:— On the night of April 27, 1938, while frog hunting on the Poorlands Valley section of Norris Lake, the boat was moving slowly along a rather bluff-like bank when I was startled by a splash at the lake margin about 20 feet away. Instantly spotting the source of the splash with my flashlight I saw a moving object on a rock some 3 feet above the recently disturbed surface of the lake. My paddler immediately asked me what the object was, but I was unable to answer for a few seconds until I Anally saw that it was a Screech Owl (in the red phase) holding in its bill a struggling minnow. It gave the little Owl at first the appearance of having a long shiny bill and made it look most unusual. I cannot claim that I saw the Owl Ashing, but I did hear a splash just under the rock on which the bird was perched and the Owl certainly did have a small flsh in its bill. The rock was almost over the water, but was much too far above the water for even a large flsh to have jumped onto it. The Owl must certainly have taken the flsh from the water. — Jim Trent, Jr., Knoxville A STARLING ROOST: — The cedar thickets on the hills about 7 miles north of Murfreesboro, have been a favorite roosting place for Grackles, Crows, Cowbirds, Starlings and Robins for a number of years. In winters gone by, these roosts were raided by the natives with sticks, torches, and bags and many of the birds were taken to make ‘pot-pie.’ Mr. H. O. Todd of Murfrees- boro reported on his Xmas census that the roosts were being used by thou- sands of Starlings; so on the evening of last Jan. 8. Mr. A. F. Ganier and the writer called by for him and made a visit to the roost. Our purpose was to catch and band as many of the birds as we could, for the cedars were low and the birds could be reached by hand. Unfortunately for our purpose, however, we found that raids for Starlings had been made a few nights before, with guns and sticks, and the flocks of birds which appeared, passed on to the west. By dusk, however, a flock of about 4000 had assembled and covered the limbs of a large bare tree like so many leaves. From here they made sorties for a roosting place, flying in rapid, compact flight, like a well drilled regiment of soldiers and making a very beautiful exhibition for us. They Anally, at nearly dark, selected a large cedar tree that stood alone in a meadow and as they entered this tree it seemed impossible to us that such a cloud of birds could all And a place to perch upon its branches. When they had all settled, and it had become nearly dark, we walked about under the tree, listening to their mutterings and chatterings overhead but they did not elect to fly out even tho we could be plainly seen below. — Arthur McMurray, Nashville. I 1938 The Migrant 33 BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR 1937: — Papers and notes on Tennessee birds which have appeared in other journals during the past calendar year are briefly listed as follows: In The Wilson Bulletin: March, Vol. 49, pp. 15-16, “Further Notes On A Very Old Cardinal” by A, F. Ganier — A male Cardinal banded at the author’s home, Feb. 12, 1924 and under observation from 1933 to date of writing, shows sign of age after the nesting season of 1936. A note added Feb. 15, 1937, states this bird was last seen Nov. 20, 1936. — In Inland Bird Banding News: December, Vol. 9, p. 9, “Report of Amelia R. Laskey, Councilor for Tennessee,” includes some recovery records. — In J ournal of the Tennessee Academy of Science: January, Vol. 12, pp. 114-128, “Summer Birds of Reelfoot Lake” by Wendell Whittemore. A list of 116 species, with notes, observed during twelve weeks of the summer of 1936. Miscellaneous items and an arti- cle by A. F. Ganier also appeared in Tennessee Wildlife. MEETINGS Notification of the following meeting dates have been received. CLARKS- VILLE: July 5, 19; Aug. 2, 16, 30; call or write to Alfred Clebsch who is secre- tary. MEMPHIS: Meetings will resume the third Monday in Sept, and are held at two week intervals except for holidays or in case of special programs. Sun- day afternoon trips to Mud Lake are being planned for Mid-August and Mid- September. Mrs. T. I. Klyce, Raleigh, Tenn., is secretary. ANNUAL T. O. S. MEETING: — Once again the picturesque setting of the old Powder Mill on Sycamore Creek near Ashland City became the scene of the annual meeting and spring field day of the T. O. S. On May 15 the Nashville chapter, following its custom, acted as host to the representatives that came from other parts of the state. Knoxville, Memphis, Columbia, Pulaski, Murfrees- boro, and Clarksville were well accounted for. Out-of-state visitors included Mr. and Mrs. John Bamberg from Scottsboro, Ala., Dr. Gordon Wilson of Bowl- ing Green, Ky. and Mr. Starr from Glasgow, Ky. A total of 77 attended. The new officers and directors (listed elsewhere) were elected and plans were laid for another year of growth and progress for our organization. The feeling of companionship was of the finest and the field work brought good results as listed in ‘Nashville notes’. — Alfred Clebsch, Secty.-Treas. OTHER FIELD DAYS: — The first spring field day of the Clarksville Chap- ter was held April 24 along Spring Creek near the state line. Messrs. Ganier, Vaughn, Robins, Rippey and McMurray from Nashville joined 11 members of the local chapter. 64 species of birds, including a number of first spring ar- rivals, were listed at the site. A Winter Wren and two Lincoln Sparrows, all identified by Mr. Ganier, were among the best finds. The annual spring field day of the Memphis Chapter was held May 1 and, as usual, at Lakeview on the Miss, state line. The wooded bottomlands were flooded but a good list was secured on higher ground. Practically no shore- birds were recorded (nor at any time this season) and the list total was about 100. Over 80 attended and we were glad to have with us Mr. Carter, T. O S. president, and three of his young proteges from Nashville; from Arkansas — Dr. W. H. Deaderick of Hot Springs, Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Oldham of Crawfords- ville, and Mr. C. M. Owens of Monticello; and from Rosedale, Miss., Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Vaiden, Sammy Ray, Bobby Linnell and two guests. 34 The Migrant June THE MIGRANT A Quarterly Journal, Devoted to the Study of Tennessee Birds. Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society. Editor, Ben B. Coffey, Jr., 672 N. Belvedere, .Memphis. Secretary-Treasurer, Alfred Clebsch, 838 Gracey Ave.. Clarksville. Regional Editors: Albert F. Ganier, Nashville; Harry P. I jams, Knoxville; Bruce P. Tyler, Johnson City; Alfred Clebsch, Clarksville. Business Manager, Vernon Sharp, Jr., 225 Capitol Blvd., Nashville. Dues for Active and Corresponding Members, $1 per year, should be sent to the Sec.-Treas. Subscription price, 75 cents per year, free to mem- bers. Sustaining members, at $5 per year, receive four extra copies mailed to addresses designated. Items for publication should be sent to the Editor. “TTie simple truth ahout birds is interesting enough, it is not necessary to go beyond it.’* In the September issue we plan to tabulate for different points throughout Tennessee, lists of the most common summer residents. From the city chap- ters and older and more experienced observers we are asking for a list of the ten most common species in relative order. A brief statement as to the area for which the list applies (preferably an entire county or a large section of one) and the general type of country, should accompany the list. To our other members throughout the state I am personally requesting that you notice particularly the most common birds this summer in your community and send me such a list. If you desire, limit the list to five species. We should all “do it ourselves” if we expect results from any projects of the Society. Here is a chance to test our co-operative ability and also increase our list of contribu- tors to The Migrant It is suggested that you prepare such a list now. You’ll change it several times before you send it in. Even than you’ll not be sure of some of the rank- ings but do not let that deter you. Following the example of the Nashville Chapter about six years ago I prepared a list of 15 summer residents in order of abundance for Shelby County. Today I believe, any list I would prepare would probably differ at many points. But it’s best to think it over and put it down for a starting point anyway. Please send in these lists not later than Aug. 25. Receipt by Aug. 15 will save me writing you. All other copy should reach me not later than Sept. 10, — except for seasonal notes, the earlier the better. At present our ‘copy’ file is practically exhausted. We hope to have 28 pages in September. So please send in feature articles and miscellaneous notes. The field of bird study is inexhaustible. There’s time this summer for the preparation of much ‘copy’. Perhaps there are some notes or data you may have put off preparing. It’s your Migrant, Don’t let that membership list frighten you. Remember we have a responsi- bility “to record and encourage the study of birds in our section.” 1938 The Migrant 35 MEMBERSHIP ROLL OFFICERS, 1938-39 President Merrill S. Carter, 1102 Glenwood Ave., Nashville Vice-President, East Tenn._Wm. M. Johnson, Riverside Road, R.F.D. 4, Knoxville Vice-President, Middle Tenn. Mrs. F. C. Laskey, Graybar Lane Nashville Vice-Pres., West Tenn. Dr. Cynthia C. Counce Lynnhurst Sanitorium, Oakville Secretary-Treasurer jAlfred Clebsch 838 Gracey Ave., Clarksville Curator Albert F. Ganier, 2507 Ashwood Ave., Nashville Editor Ben B. Coffey, Jr., 672 N. Belvedere, Memphis BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1938-40 NASHVILLE B. H. Abernathy Albert F. Ganier Dr. Geo. R. Mayfield Dr. Harry S. Vanghn Geo, B. Woodring MEMPHIS Mrs. Ben B. Coffey, Jr. Dr. Cynthia C. Counce Miss Mary Davant Dr. Clarence E. Moore KNOXVILLE John J. Hay Dr. Earl O, Henry Wm. M. Wlalker Jr. BLUE GRASS Dr. O. J. Porter Mrs. Sam H. Rogers CLARKSVILLE Alfred Clebsch Dr. Chas. F. Pickering EAST TENNESSEE MIDDLE TENNESSEE WEST TENNESSEE Wm. M. Johnson Mrs. F. C. Laskey Miss Alice Smith NASHVILLE CHAPTER Tirrill, Willard O., 3609 Richland Ave., SUSTAINING MEMBER 1935 Allen, Mrs. Armstrong, Lone Oak Road 1935 Abernathy, Mrs. B. H., Hobbs Road, Route No. 5 1935 Allen, Mrs. Armstrong, Lone Oak Road 1935 Bailey, James, State Dep’t. of Conservation 1938 Bateman, Miss Sallie, 2212 Highland Ave 1935 Bottum, Miss Frances, c/o Peabody College 1933 Bransford, Mrs. Robert H., 2901 Belmont Blvd 1936 Bryan, Dr. O. N., Tallwood, Iroquois Place 1934 Bryan, Mrs. O. N., Tallwood, Iroquois Place 1934 Caldwell, John, State Dept, of Conservation 1935 Carter, Merrill S., 1102 Glenwood Ave 1934 Chatham, Miss Sallie Lee, 1007 West Eastland Ave 1931 Cheek, Mrs. Leslie, Cheekwood, Belle Meade 1933 Crabb, Mrs. A. L., 1701 18th Ave. S 1931 Craig, John, Brentwood, Tenn 1934 Dozier, Rush, 2012 Broad St 1937 Draughon, J. B., Belle Meade Fire Dept., Harding Road 1937 Duncan, Mrs. Sanford, 207 Union Street 1921 Estes, James A., Telephone Bldg 1935 Fentress, George, 2314 Blakemore Street 1936 French, Mrs. H. A., Jr., 1715 Eastland Ave 1936 French, Miss Jessie, 1715 Eastland Ave 1929 Ganier, Albert F., 2507 Ashwood Ave., FOUNDER 1915 Ganier, Mrs. Albert F., 2507 Ashwood Ave 1935 Glenn, Dr. L. C., c/o Vanderbilt University 1931 Goodpasture, Mrs. Henry, Hood’s Hill Road 1938 Goodpasture, Ken, Hood’s Hill Road 1938 Harris, Mrs. Rosa R., 1620 Villa Place 1936 36 The Migrant June Hayes, Dr. Wayland J., c/o Vanderbilt University 1930 Hind, Carswell, 1405 Ashwood Ave 1936 Hollinger, Miss Alma, c/o Ward-Belmont College 1922 Howard, Stephen H. H., 810 Broad Street 1933 Ingersoll, Mrs. A. W., 2121 Garland Ave 1934 Jacobs, Mrs. Louise Burr, 1918 19th Ave. S 1938 Jamison, Conrad, 1407 Ashwood Ave 1937 Laskey, Mrs. F. C., Graybar Lane 1928 Lawrence, Steven, 2609 Woodlawn Drive 1937 Lawrence, Francis, 2609 Woodlawn Drive 1937 Lee, Miss Mary L., c/o East Nashville High School 1936 Loveman, Mrs. A. L., 200 24th Ave. S 1920 Lyne, Lewis, Ridgetop, Tenn 1932 McIntyre, Miss Margaret A., 1806 18th Ave. S 1931 McMullan, Miss Lois, 2105 Dixie Place 1934 McMurray, Arthur, 2110 Jones Ave 1936 Malone, Judge Thomas, Belle Meade 1935 Mayfield, Dr. Geo. R., c/o Vanderbilt University, FOUNDER 1915 Mayfield, Mrs. Geo. R., c/o Vanderbilt University 1918 Milliken, Miss Margaret, 925 Douglas Ave 1937 Monk, Harry C., Avoca Apt, 3108 Long Blvd 1919 Newman, Miss Lela Carr, Box No. 3, Peabody College 1935 Orr, Mrs. Robert, Jr., Route No. 1, Madison, Tenn 1933 Pearson, C. E., 1507 Stratton Ave 1937 Peebles, Mrs. M. C., 1814 Cephas Ave 1938 Phillips, Dr. Jno. H., 2117 Blair Blvd 1921 Pond, Mrs. Walter F., 332 Chesterfield Ave 1938 Pond, Franklin, 332 Chesterfield Ave 1937 Pruette, Mrs. Olah, State Museum, Memorial Bldg 1937 Ramsdell, Dr. E. T., School of Religion, Vanderbilt University 1937 Rich, Miss Amy, 1922 Convent Place 1935 Rippy, Leo, Jr., 515 Orient Circle 1935 Robins, Prof. James, c/o Vanderbilt University 1921 Ruef, Miss Frances, 306 22nd Ave., N 1937 Schreiber, E. D., c/o Tenn. Industrial School 1931 Sharp, Vernon, Jr., 225 Capitol Blvd 1921 Shaver, Dr. Jesse M., c/o Peabody College 1916 Simpson, William, Hobbs Road 1936 Talley, Mrs. N. W., 1605 Villa Place 1937 Tanksley, Mrs. Laura Hayes, Franklin Road 1936 Thompson, S. B., Memorial Bldg 1938 Tippens, Mrs. C. B., 2010 15th Ave. S 1933 Tompkins, Mrs. E. C., Shepard Place, Belle Meade 1935 Tompkins, Miss Cynthia, Shepard Place, Belle Meade 1932 Trabue, Chas. C., Route No. 2, Harding Road 1934 Trabue, Mrs. Chas. C., Route No. 2, Harding Road 1934 Underwood, Mrs. Newton, 198 Kenner Ave 1937 Vaughn, Dr. Harry S., 2525 Hillsboro Road 1916 Warden, Miss Margaret L., 1806 East Belmont Circle 1930 Weakley, S. A., 2901 Westmoreland Drive 1933 Weakley, Mrs. S. A., 2901 Westmoreland Drive 1933 Webb, A. C., 908 Meridian Street, FOUNDER 1915 Wilson, R. A., 1515 McGavock Street 1917 Williams, Miss Clara, 1311 Ordway Place 1937 Witt, Arthur A., 2405 Elliott Ave 1938 Wolfe, Miss Martha Ellen, 2417 Garland Ave 1937 Womack, W. C., c/o University Club 1936 Woodring, Geo. B., 1705 Cedar Lane 1927 Yarbrough, G. McTyeire, 1511 Eastland Ave 1933 Calhoun, John B., c/o U. S. Hayes, Cabell Ave., University, Va 1932 1938 The Migrant 37 MEMPHIS CHAPTER Allison, Mr. and Mrs. A. D., 756 Baltic 1936 Baker, Dr. C. L., 767 West Drive 1937 Baker, Prof. Clinton L., 1685 Tutwiler Ave 1938 Burdick, Austin, Jr., Yates Avenue 1938 Carney, Fred W., 2052 Linden Ave 1934 Carney, Miss Marjorie, 3995 Summer Ave 1938 Coffey, Ben B., Jr., 672 North Belvedere 1926 Coffey, Mrs. Ben B., Jr., 672 North Belvedere 1931 Counce, Dr. Cynthia C., Lynnhurst Sanitarium, Oakville 1934 Counce, E. W., Oakville, Tenn 1938 Crump, Dabney H., P. O. Box 213 1933 Crump, Mrs. Dabney H., P. O. Box 213 1933 Cummins, Mrs. Lee, Director, Memphis Museum 1937 Davant, Miss Mary, 694 Landis 1929 Davidson, John, Y.M.C.A. 1938 Ellis, Emmett, 1667 South Parkway, East 1938 Elphingstone, Harold, 3735 Southern Ave 1935 Embury, Jack, Route 2, Box 73, Germantown (1929) 1935 Epperson, Mrs. T. C., 3304 Powell 1937 Fiedler, Fred, Jr., 822 St. Charles .1938 First Memphis Rovers, Troop 1„ BSA, Care Ben Coffey 1931 Govert, Mrs. George W., 3528 Midland 1935 Guth, Mr. and Mrs. L. G., (Whitehaven) Route 1, Box 545 1936 Hale, Miss Katherine, 1125 Minna PI 1938 Hall, Miss Jacqueline, 1126 Poplar Ave. (1929) 1938 Humphreys, Miss Margaret, 1957 Court Ave 1938 Jameson, Miss Julia, 1915 Union Ave 1938 Jolly, J. E., 2465 Yale Ave 1938 Keith, Miss Wilma, 1229 Carr Ave 1938 Kent, Lawrence, 1895 Cowden Ave 1937 Klyce, Mrs. T. I., James Road 1936 LaCour, Joe, 1947 Snowden Ave 1938 Leroy, Dr. Louis, 1168 Poplar Ave 1933 Maury, Mrs. John M. Sr., 567 East Parkway, South 1932 Moore, Dr. C. E., 439 Patterson St 1933 Peete, Russell, 1827 South Parkway, East 1937 Pond, John, 1776 North Parkway 1935 Porter, Mrs. Arthur R., Jr., 2121 Poplar Ave 1938 Rucker, Dr. S. T., Lynnhurst Sanitarium, Oakville 1936 Seffens, Miss Virginia, 2400 Autumn Ave 1938 Shaffer, Jack, 2059 Cowden Ave 1937 Simpson, Tom, 81 Stonewall PI 1937 Smith, Miss Alice, 672 North Belvedere .....1933 Spain, John, Yates Avenue 1938 Taylor, Richard, Jr., 1891 Autumn Ave 1937 Vardaman, James, 640 Anderson 1938 Walker, Billy, 1966 Snowden Ave 1938 Welch, Ben, 1946 Snowden Ave 1938 Whittemore, Wendell, 1276 Linden Ave 1935 Wilson, Dr. and Mrs. L. P., 41 East Mallory Ave 1937 Hovis, Robt. L., Jr., Box 2177 Yale Sta. New Haven, Conn 1934 McCamey, Franklin, Box 1684 Yale Sta., New Plaven, Conn 1934 Powell, Albert, U. S. S. S21, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 1935 Wallace, Eugene, Box 1656, University, La. 1938 KNOXVILLE CHAPTER Baird, Charles, 1631 Laurel Ave 1936 Beard, Miss Mary, 406 E. 5th Ave 1931 Bond, Miss Lora, 3476 Alta Vista Way 1935 Chiles, Miss Mary Ruth, 1817 Highland Ave 1932 Crouch, Brockway, Brooks Road 1923 Foster, Geo. W., Jr., 15 West Circle Drive, Norris ,Tenn 1934 38 The Migbant June Hay, John J., Island Home Pike 1927 Henry, Dr. Earl O., 206 W. Glenwood 1929 Ijams, H. P., Island Home Pike 1923 Ijams, Mrs. H. P., Island Home Pike 1923 Johnson, Wm. M., Riverside Road, R. No. 4 1927 Johnson, Mrs. Wm. M., Riverside Road, R. No. 4 1927 Leonhard, Mrs. Frank, 203 Elmwood 1934 McGriff, Miss Mary O., 1631 Laurel Ave 1938 Meyer, Prof. Henry, Alsie Drive 1938 Meyer, Mrs. Henry, Alsie Drive 1938 Ogden, S. A., 201 E. 5th Ave 1923 Picklesimer, Mrs. W. H., Highland Drive 1937 Powers, Dr. E. B., 133 E. Hillvale 1923 Ressler, Prof. B. C. V., Forest Heights 1923 Trent, James A. Jr., 2104 Magnolia 1926 Tuell, A. R., 1985 Branson Ave 1938 Walker, W. M., Jr., Apt. 10, 1825 W. Clinch Ave 1922 Walker, Mrs. W. M., Jr., Apt. 10, 1825 W. Clinch Ave 1935 Williams, Miss Dorothy E., Apt. 1, Kingston Manor ,1938 Wing, Dr. Leonard Wm., 131 Orchard Road, Norris Tenn 1938 Wing, Mrs. Leonard Wm., 131 Orchard Road, Norris, Tenn 1938 BLUE GRASS CHAPTER Brown, John, Flintville 1937 Claggett, Alfred E., Wales, Giles Co 1936 Cooper, Mrs. R. B., Mt. Pleasant 1938 Elam, Miss Mittie, Columbia 1937 Gartner, Mrs. Bessie, Columbia 1938 Gray, Dan R., Box 235, Mt. Pleasant 1916 Gray, Dan R., Jr., Box 235, Mt. Pleasant 1937 Harlan, Mrs. Alan B., Box 34, Route 3, Columbia 1937 McKinney, R. L., Columbia 1938 Morgan, Mrs. Wm. P., “Oaklee”, Columbia 1916 Murrey, Ogilvie, Cornersville Pike, Lewisburg 1938 Murrey, Miss Waverly, Cornersville Pike, Lewisburg 1938 Ridley, W. P., Clifton Place, Jackson Highway, Columbia 1938 Porter, Dr. O. J., Columbia 1936 Rogers, Mrs. Sam H., 315 Flower Street, Pulaski 1935 Scott, Leland, Box 163, Mt. Pleasant 1936 Sowell, Miss lone, Columbia 1938 Staples, Mrs. Cleve J., 120 Second Street, Pulaski 1936 Stewart, W. A., R. F. D., No. 3, Fayetteville 1935 Stone, Porter, Pulaski 1938 Wagstaff, Miss Etta, Lynnville 1931 Williamson, Dr. George C., Columbia 1935 Yeatman, Harry, Route 1, Columbia 1934 Zumbro, Mrs. J. W., 304 Haynes Street, Lewisburg 1938 CLARKSVILLE CHAPTER Armstrong, Lamar, 619 Madison Street 1936 Clebsch, Alfred, 838 Gracey Ave 1936 Clebsch, Alfred, Jr., 838 Gracey Ave 1936 Clebsch, William A., 838 Gracey Ave 1936 Clebsch, Edward, 838 Gracey Ave 1937 Collier, Clarence, Jr., Greenwood Ave 1936 Foust, Tom, Jr., 319 Home Avenue 1937 Hughes, Mrs. M. L., 503 Madison Street 1937 Hutchison, Mrs. John Y., Cumberland Terrace 1936 McBride, Miss Wanda, Cumberland Terrace 1937 Marshall, Miss Adine, 1232 Madison Street 1937 Moore, Mrs. C. H., Greenwood Ave 1936 Noland, Wm. M., 717 Madison Street 1936 Peay, Mrs. Austin, 619 Madison Street 1936 Pickering, Dr. Chas. F., 324 Greenwood Ave 1936 1938 The Migrant 39 Pickering, Mrs. Chas. F., 324 Greenwood Ave 1936 Sharpe, Mrs. J. R., 426 Cumberland Drive 1937 Stainbrook, Chas I937 TENNESSEE AT LARGE Adams, Rev. A. C., Scoutmaster, Troop 103, B.S.A., Tracy City 1938 Arnold, Walter, 507 Pearl Street, Bristol, Va 1934 Black, Dr. James B., c/o Health Unit, Murfreesboro 1935 Burelbach, Major M. J., 510 West Fourth Street, Chattanooga 1935 Butts, Dr. Wilbur K., University of Chattanooga, Chattanooga 1933 Cahn, Dr. Alvin R., c/o T. V. A., Norris 1936 Counce, Howard, Counce, Hardin Co. 1937 Crosswy, Paul, Paris 1937 Davis, Prof. George, Sta. A, State Teachers College, Murfreesboro 1931 Dorsey, Mrs. A. L., 308 N. Main Street, Springfield 1936 Driver, Russell B., 1706 Windsor Ave., Bristol 1933 Durand, Forrest V., c/o U. S. Soil Conservation Service, Springfield 1938 Dyer, Mrs. Minnie M., Byington 1931 Eagle, Mrs. John H., Sparta 1932 Endsley, Prof. J. R., Freed-Hardeman College, Henderson 1938 Fowler, E. P., Celina 1935 Fuller, Mrs. C. E., Fuller’s Ridge, Route 6, Chattanooga 1936 Hyder, A. E., 908 West Maple Street, Johnson City 1938 Knox, Miss Mamie, Milan 1937 Lyle, Robert B., W. Unaka Avenue, Johnson City 1931 Marsh, Albert J., c/o Soil Conservation Service, Humboldt 1937 Merritt, Dixon c/o Lebanon Democrat, Lebanon, FOUNDER 1915 Moorman, Miss Anne Armstrong, Somerville 1935 Morrison, W. P., Dickson 1935 Neal, Billy, Head Street, Paris 1937 Plummer, Cameron McR., c/o St. Catherine’s, Bolivar 1936 Reed, Miss Willie Ruth, R. F. D., No. 1, Greeneville 1937 Smith, W. Fulton, c/o First National Bank, Bristol 1934 Stupka, Arthur, Great Smoky Mts. Nat. Park, Gatlinburg 1935 Tyler, Bruce P., 215 Unaka Ave. Johnson City 1932 Todd, Henry O., Woodbury Pike, Murfreesboro 1935 Upperman, Harry L., Baxter Institute, Baxter 1934 Williams, Samuel M., Eagleville 1937 Woods, Dr. M. C., Paris 1937 CORRESPONDING MEMBERS Goetz, Christian J., SUSTAINING MEMBER (1938), 3503 Middleton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 1933 Acomb, Gordon, 5702 Ridge Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 1937 Allen, Dr. Arthur A., Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y 1937 Austin, Dr. Oliver L., Hill Rest, Tuckahoe, N. Y 1933 Bacon, Brasher C., Madisonville, Ky 1934 Ball, Robert E., 2622 Tuscarawas St. W., Canton, Ohio .1938 Bamberg, John, Box 329, Scottsboro, Ala 1928 Bent, A. C., 140 High Street, Taunton, Mass 1933 Bishop, Dr. Louis B., 450 Bradford St, Pasadena, Cal 1933 Carpenter, Floyd S., 2402 Longest Ave., Louisville, Ky 1935 Chapman, Dr. Frank M., American Mus. Nat. History, New York, N. Y 1932 Charles, Mrs. G. E., R. No. 1, Box 7A, New Brookland, S. C 1937 Cook, Miss Fannye A., Miss. Game & Fish Com., Box 451, Jackson, Miss 1935 Crook, Compton, Matthew Whaley School, Williamsburg, Va 1927 Curtis, George M., Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1915 Deaderick, Dr. William H., 36 Circle Drive, Hot Springs, Ark 1936 Deane, Miss Amy, 2313 Hale Street, Louisville, Ky 1937 Ellis, Ralph, 2420 Ridge Road, Berkeley, Calif 1933 Eyles, Don, 664 Linwood Ave. N. E., Atlanta, Ga 1937 Floyd, Judge Joseph L., Canton, Ohio 1933 Fitz-Gerald, Mrs. Chas. A., R. No. 5, N. Geyer Road, Webster Groves, Mo 1935 Frazer, Dr. T. Atchison, Marion, Ky 1932 40 The Migrant June Grayson, Miss Marie, Moselle, Miss 1936 Guion, Geo. Seth, 2035 Octavia Street, New Orleans, La., 1933 Harris, Mrs. Hugh Henry, Emory University, Ga 1931 Hickey, J. J., 2952 Marion Ave., New York, N. Y 1937 Hobson, Mrs. L. G., 404 Wallace Ave., Louisville, Ky 1935 Hoyt, J. Southgate Y., No. 5 Lewis Street, Lexington, Va 1937 Ingersoll, Mrs. Raymond V., 380 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y 1937 Johnson, Miss Arlene, 7929 Lafayette St., Chicago, 111 1934 Kalter, Louis B., 535 Belmont Park, Dayton, Ohio 1935 Kennedy, E. J., Southeast National Bank Bldg., Chicago, 111 1937 Komarek, Roy, 133 V2 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, N. C 1934 Lamon, J. C., Hiwassee Dam, N. C 1936 Lowery, George H., Jr., La. State University, Baton Rouge, La 1938 Mcllhenny, Edward A., Avery Island, La 1935 Maslowski, Karl, 950 Glenwood Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 1934 Mellor, Mrs. Marshall, 3112 Oriole Drive, Louisville, Ky 1936 Mengel, Robert, Commodore Apts., Louisville, Ky 1937 Miller, Rev. Percy, Christ Church, Collinsville, 111 1936 Monroe, Burt, 110 South Fifth Street, Louisville, Ky 1934 Oldham, M. H., Crawfordsville, Ark 1937 Owens, C. M., Route 2, Monticello, Ark 1934 Pattie, Dr. Frank A., Jr., Rice Institute, Houston, Texas 1935 Perkins, Samuel E., 3rd, 709 Inland Bldg., Indianapolis, Ind 1938 Pitelka, Frank A., 7337 Ogden Ave. Lyons, 111 1937 Pollard, Ewell L., Box 483, Florence, Ala 1936 Reed, Miss Georgia, 4114 W. Monroe Street, Seattle, Wash 1934 Rice, Mrs. Bird W., Cynthiana, Ky 1937 Richards, Edward C. M., Nur Mahal, R. D. 4, West Chester, Pa 1935 Riley, J. H., U. S. National Museum, Washintgon, D. C 1934 Roberts, Dr. Thos. S., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn 1935 Saunders, W. E., 352 Clarence St, London, Ontario, Canada 1931 Schneider, Miss Evelyn J., 2207 Alta Ave., Louisville, Ky 1935 Schuler, Mrs. Bertha, 1703 Arch Ave., Seattle, Wash 1936 Slack, Miss Mabel, 1004 Everett Ave., Louisville, Ky 1934 Steagall, Dr. Mary M., 808 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, 111 1935 Stoddard, Herbert L., Sherwood Plantation, Thomasville, Ga 1934 Thompson, Buster, Box 926, Greenwood, Miss 1932 Tomkins, Ivan R., U. S. Dredge “Welatka” Savannah, Ga 1938 Tucker, Mrs. Carll, 733 Park Ave., New York, N. Y 1933 Vaiden, M. Gordon, Box 248, Rosedale, Miss 1936 Walker, Mrs. Emily B., E. Texas State Teachers College, Commerce, Tex., 1931 Warriner, Benjamin, c/o H. N. Young & Co., Corinth Miss 1933 Wetmore, Dr. Alexander, U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C 1937 White, J. S., 2207 Lincolnwood Road, Highland Park, 111 1935 Wiles, Dr. H. O., 6054 Ingleside Ave. So., Chicago, 111 1934 Wilkerson, Mrs. Herman R., 612 9th Ave., Huntingdon, W. Va 1936 Wilson, Dr. Gordon, 1434 Chestnut Street, Bowling Green, Ky 1931 Wilson, Miss Gypsy, Pineville, Ky 1937 Young, James Boswell, 614 Louisville Trust Bldg., Louisville, Ky 1938 Yunker, Miss Emilie, 1140 Everett Ave., Louisville, Ky 1931 The Migrant also goes to a number of subscribers who are not members and to a number of museums and libraries including those at the University of California and McGill Univtrsity, Montreal, Canada. It should be in every library and every high school of consequence in our own state and members are asked to call the attention of the proper authorities to The Migrant. The members listed above are divided as follows: Nashville, 89; Memphis, 54- Knoxville, 27; Blue Grass, 24; Clarksville, 18; Tennessee At Large, 33; and Corresponding Members, 72. Total, 337. Secretary Clebsch is due a vote of thanks from your Editor for preparing the list, we both hope it is correct. Please call Mr. Clebsch’s attention to any errors so that his present records may be corrected. New members added during the year will be published next June. Let’s plan a good, steady growth! Tennessee Conservation In Every Form is Covered by TENNESSEE WILDLIFE Official Organ of the Tennessee W’^ildlife Federation and the state Dept, of Conservation Published Monthly at One Dollar per Year Address Tennessee W ildlife Federation Noel Hotel NASHVILLE, TENN. *7ke *PerfectBox for 'Birds and Banders REMOVABLE NEST SEaiONFORBANDING, OBSERVATION&CLE^NiHG. ONEQUARTERTURN TRAPS PARENT BIRD (OR ENGLISH SPARR0W5,ErC) CORRECT DIMENSIONS BYTHOROUGH TESTS. SELF VENTILATING, DURABLE, ATTRACTIVE. WEATHER AND RAIN ’PROOF CONSTRUCTION. FASrUfSANO CfiEAATfS FAOM THE BOTTOM^ CANBEWOJfmFBOMWE Cfianm. AAMSIEHGTH ABOVE THE HEAD ~ $1R£EACH 2F0R$IZS 6F0R$5SS POSTAGE PPEPA/O H.P.IJAMS R.D.9. KNOXVILLE, TCNN.. PATFEB.1M0 Nei748349- □ □ : GLENHAVEN Bird Banding Traps Sparrow Traps Compliments of Cat Traps Martin Houses Alfred C. Schmidt Bird Banders Creator of Equipment of All Kinds Artistic Lifelike Write for Folder Taxidermy GLENHAVEN BIRD MEMPHIS SANCTUARY RUSSELL S. DAVIS Clayton, 111. i ^ The MIGRANT is printed by the DAVIS PRINTING CO., Memphis. DURY’S Are Headquarters for FIELD GLASSES STEREO PRISM BINOCULARS GRAPLEX CAMERAS KODAKS CINE KODAKS Bell & Howell MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT ARTISTS’ SUPPLIES DRAWING MATERIALS LANTERN SLIDES MADE TO ORDER EXPERT DEVELOPING, PRINTING, ENLARGING GEO. C. DURY CO. 420 Union Street Nashville, Tenn, Patronize our advertisers and mention THE MIGRANT •A QU/IRTER-LY OQURNAL DvTO TENNESSEK BIRC E- B BIRD BOOKS We have in our store, or can obtain for you on short notice, these books on Bird Life. Pocket Nature Guides These are the accepted pocket guides for use on field trips. Size 3t4x5^ inches, profusely illustrated in colors. Each $1.25. Land Birds East of the Rockies. By Chester A. Reed. Water and Game Birds. By Chester A. Reed. Wild Flowers East of the Rockies. By Chester A. Reed Butterfly Guide. By Dr. W. J. Holland Tree Guide. By Julia Ellen Rogers. AUDUBON’S BIRDS OP AMERICA. A very handsome volume con- taining large reproductions of all of Audubon’s 500 famous plates, lithographed in full colors with descriptions of each plate $12.50 AUDUBON. By Constance Rourke. A new biography of the fam- ous ornithologist, with 12 Audubon plates reproduced in colors. 342 pages. $3.00 A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS. By Roger Tory Peterson. Your library is not complete without this new book. Copiously illus- trated in wash and color. The greatest aid for identification. $2.75 BIRDS OF AMERIOA, Edited by T. Gilbert Pearson, 834 pages fully illustrated with 106 color plates, many photos and drawings. one volume. Original 3 vol. edition sold for $16.00, now _._.$3.95 WILD BIRDS AT HOME, By F. H. Herrick. 350 pages, 137 illus- trations. Complete treatise on everyday habits of our birds. $4.00 HANDBOOK OP BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. By F. ;M. Chapman. Well illustrated in colors. 580 pages. The standard handbook $5.00 THE BOOK OP BIRD LIFE. By A. A. Allen, Ph.D., Cornell Univer- sity. A wealth of information, profusely illustrated $3.75 TRAVELING WITH THE BIRDS. By Rudyard Boulton. A book on bird migration. Beautiful color plates by W. A. Weber $1.00 OUR LAND BIRDS. By Alice R. Ball. Histories of 156 species, illus- trated with 47 color plates by Horsfall. 291 pages $1.69 BIRD NEIGHBORS. By Neltje Blanchan. All about those birds that are most worth knowing. Illustrated $1.00 NATURE’S SECRETS. Edited by G. Clyde Fisher. A popular Ameri- can natural history including the birds, 840 pages, fully illus- trated $1.89 BIRDS OP TENNESSEE. By A. P. Ganier. 64 pa. A distributional list showing how, when and where all species are to be found $0.50 All bird lovers are cordially invited to visit our store, or write to us for information on books about birds, nature, gardening and out-of-doors. METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE 810 Broadway Nashville, Tenn. Tel. 6-2641 O: THE MIGRilNT VOL. IX SEPTEMBER, 1938 NO. 3 Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society, to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Tennessee. Issued in March, June, September and December. H ; ^ ^ h : SOME JUNE BIRDS OF THE GRlfe^T SMOKIES By Albert F. Ganieb and .Alfred Clebsch . - Experiences with birds that are rare in one’s own State or which can only be found there in very limited areas, must always bring a thrill to the bird student. It was the good fortune of a group of T.O.S. members* to enjoy such experiences when from June 13 to 20, 1938, they spent the time observing and listing birds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, chiefly at the higher altitudes. Our group made headquarters at Gatlinburg, being comfortably housed there in tourist cottages, for which arrangements and other favors, we were indebted to our fellow member, Mr. Arthur Stupka, Park Naturalist. Early each morning our party motored to “the tops,” usually to Newfound Gap, and from there worked the State-line ridge which forms a lengthy backbone, extending for many miles. On these trips we covered Mt. Le Conte — 6593 feet above sea level, Alum Cave and Peregrine Cliff — 4700, The Jump-off and Mt. Kephart — 6200, Newfound Gap — 5045, Indian Gap — 5265, Mt. Collins — 6125, Andrews’ Bald — 5860, Clingman’s Dome — 6642 and the State-line ridge to Siler’s Bald — 5620 feet. June 16 was spent in and about Cade’s Cove and from there a part of our group hiked to the nearby tops where, on Spence Field Bald — 4886, they had the pleasure of flushing two Golden Eagles from the ground, the spot being marked by the bones and fur of a fox. The eagles arose, when surprised at close range, and majestically soared away. We were told later, by Miss Agnes Milger of Cleveland, who with her lather had been on this ‘bald’ on June 12, that on that day they had found the torn body of a fox lying on the ground and that a large bird was seen circling overhead — doubtless the same scene that our party was to come upon four days later. Several of these birds, which had been trapped near Nashville a few years ago, were ‘exiled’ to the Park and it is hoped that the pair seen on Spence Field were of those that had been released. The Duck Hawk, or Peregrine Falcon, is one of those rare and spec- tacular birds which all ornithologists who visit the Park hope to see and ♦Those who oomposed the party were Alfred Clebsch and his son Alfred, Jr., Ben. B. and Mrs. Coffey, George Davis, Albert P. Ganier, Robert Mengel, Chas. P. Pickering, Misses Willie Ruth Reed, Evelyn Schneider, Mabel Slack and Emille Yunker, Arthur Stupka, Eugene Wallace, W. M. and Mrs. Walker, Mrs. C. A. Barefleld and son, Leroy. A series of photo reproductions to Illustrate this article will be found oh another page. 42 The Migrant September our group was not disappointed. On June 13, we were on the observa- tion tower on top of Clingman’s, looking over the pointed tops of the fir trees and into the ragged gorges to the northwest, when suddenly we caught sight of one of the falcons sweeping across the landscape with the speed of an arrow. As we looked, it was joined by another and then a third one. For twenty minutes they gave us a demonstration of meteoric aerial prowess, at times diving downward from far above, then rapidly soaring across or wheeling about the mountain spurs with the aid of the stiff breeze. On the 18th, at Alum Cave, we saw another pair; they soared for a few minutes about the great cliff and over the cove where they breed each year, then disappeared. Ravens, too, are always among the hoped for rarities and we were treated to a sight of three of these birds late one afternoon, on the Sky- line Drive near Indian Gap. They were leisurely flying northward, on their way to roost, and passed us only a few hundred yards distant, croaking as they flew. One or two were recorded here on two other occasions and once at Collins Gap. What a relief it must be to these rare birds to realize that the Smokies are now a safe haven where they are no longer menaced by shotgun and rifle. The Skyline Drive also yielded us a flock of ten Red Crossbills, a species which was new to most of our party. They were with- in fifty feet of the road feeding upon spruce cones as we sat and watched them. Some Northern Pine Siskins were observed at close range on the summit of Clingman’s Dome picking about in the granite gravel under the Hr trees. Siskins were also seen at other locations. Twenty species of the warbler family were recorded during the week at various altitudes. Several Golden-winged Warblers at above 5000 feet were a surprise to us; a pair of these were at Indian Gap and the male was heard singing every day but the day we visited Cade’s Cove. Perhaps the most interesting of our v/arbler flnds was a nest of the Canada Warbler, containing three nearly fresh eggs, on June 15. It was found by Miss Slack, just off the trail to Andrew’s Bald from Clingman’s. This species is not uncommon but to find the nest, tucked back in the moss on the ground amid a jungle of undergrowth, is a very difficult matter. It was found by patiently watching the female as she returned to the nest after feeding. The nest, built of soft, fibrous materials on the foundation of green moss and leaves, was tucked into a steep, dry slope, under dense shade. The Carolina Juncos or “Snowbirds” furnished us continuous enter- tainment for they were easily the most common birds of the high altitudes and were abundant on the sunny, grassy tops as well as in the sunless, virgin forests lower down. Looking for their nests, built in the “cuts” alongside the trails, proved to be an irresistible pastime and many were found. They were also found built into the roots of upturned trees and in the little fir trees that had sprung up in burned-over areas. Many nests held fresh eggs while most of the others had been vacated by the young of the year which were abroad and being fed by their parents. Among the other species peculiar to these high altitudes and which were therefore of particular interest to us, were the Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1938 The Migrant 43 Black-capped Chickadee, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Veery, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Mountain Vireo, Winter Wren, Blackburnian, Cairns’s and Chestnut-sided Warblers, a just-completed nest of the last men- tioned being found in a briar on Clingman’s. Olive-sided Flycatchers were seen and heard on eight occasions, most often along the Skyline Drive where the habitat is quite different from the coniferous swamps in which they are found breeding in Canada. Possibly the highlight of our trip was that of discovering three nests of the Southern Brown Creeper, the nest of this new sub-species not having heretofore been recorded. The first of these nests was found on June 14, watching one of these birds among the conifers until it suddenly dis- appeared under the loose bark of a large dead spruce. It was built eight feet above the ground and ten feet from The Jump-off trail. A quantity of fresh nest material protruded from under the bark and it was quickly realized that we had found a nest. The bird remained within only briefly, but returned in a few minutes with more nesting material. Our group watched the pair for some time as they busily engaged themselves with nest building. One of our party then advanced, hopeful of photographing one of the Creepers at the nest while standing against a nearby tree, but they would not venture so close, although remaining near and making some protest. Several photos were made of the nest in situ, one of which is reproduced on another page. The body of this nest was made almost en- tirely of the light, corky sapwood of dead spruce, which had been torn off in strips the length of a match. We presumed this nest would have been ready for eggs within a few days. The second nest was also in process of construction and was similarly located, in a ravine near Newfound Gap. The third nest was along the Skyline Drive, in a large dead spruce on which the bark was still completely intact. At one point, however, about forty feet from the ground, the bark had buckled out so as to provide a space within, about two inches across. The birds were entering thru a crack to one side and there was no external evidence of a nest. It’s presence was discovered by watching one of the birds fly to the tree and enter the crack. It did not leave so it was assumed to be incubating. Upon securing a permit from Park authorities to examine the nest in de- tail, the senior author (A F. G.) climbed to it on June 19 and found it to contain five eggs, nearly fresh. The nest, unlike the one described above, was composed externally of the tips of dead spruce branches from which the leaves had fallen, then a half inch layer of the dead sapwood strips and finally, a thick lining of the soft, silky, silver-colored inner bark shreds from the spruce trees. The eggs were white, flecked with small dots of reddish brown, chiefly about the larger end but not in the form of a wreath.. The appended list will show the distribution and relative abundance of the 87 species of birds found within the Park by our party. The names conform to those given in the A. O. U. Check-list, 1931 edition. The com- pilation and tabulation of the various lists was done each night by the junior author and upon the completion of our stay, he made up the summary which follows below. 44 The Migrant September A — 1500 ft. to 2500 ft. elevation: To top Siler’s Bald; Little River Gorge; Laurel Falls trail; Road to Cade’s Cove; in Cade’s Cove. B — 2500 ft. to 3500 ft.: Foot of the Chimneys; Anthony Creek trail. C — 3500 ft. to 4500 ft.: Prom Grassy Patch to Alum Cave; Bote Mt. trail. D — 4500 ft. to 5000 ft.: Highway at head of valley, third tunnel, and Newfound Gap; Spence Field Bald. E — 500 ft. to 6000 ft.: Newfound Gap to the Jump-off; Alum Cave to Le Conte; Newfound Gap to Indian Gap to Forney’s Ridge, Andrew’s Bald, Siler’s Bald. F — 6000 ft. to 6000 ft.: Top of Mt. LeConte; Clingman’s Dome. A B C D Turkey Vulture E. Red-tailed Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk Golden Eagle Duck Hawk E. Ruffed Grouse 1 E. Bob-white Amercian Woodcock 2 E. Mourning Dove 3 N. Barred Owl E. Whip-poor-will 1 Chimney Swift 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 8 E. Belted Kingfisher 3 N. Flicker 6 N. Pileated Woodpecker 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker E. Hairy Woodpecker N. Downy Woodpecker 1 N. Crested Flycatcher 1 E. Phoebe 19 Acadian Flycatcher 10 E. Wood Pewee 6 Olive-sided Flycatcher Rough-winged Swallow 11 Purple Martin 4 S. Blue Jay 4 N. Raven Crow 15 Black-capped Chickadee Carolina Chickadee 7 Tufted Titmouse 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper 1 E. Winter Wren Carolina Wren 8 Catbird 4 Brown Thrasher 1 Robin (subsp?) 10 Wood Thrush 12 Veery E. Bluebird 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet Cedar Waxwing 2 Starling 2 1 2 1 1 2 3 4 1 1 1 3 2 2 1 2 3 1 2* 1 3 4 1 2 5 1 3 7 9 3 3 1 2 1 1 3 1 1* 1 2 2 1 4 2 2 3 2 5 8 1 4 17 2 3 £ 2 1 2 2 2 11* 2 8 4 1 4 2 2 1 4 11 3 20 22 29 17 5 10 50 16 8 F 3 1 4 2 1 3 5 2 1938 The Migrant 45 A White-eyed Vireo 8 Yellow-throated Vireo 3 Mountain Vireo Red-eyed Vireo 17 Black and White Warbler 3 Worm-eating Warbler Golden-winged Warbler E. Yellow Warbler 3 Cairns’s Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler 5 Cerulean Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler 1 Sycamore Warbler 2* Chestnut-sided Warbler N. Pine Warbler 2 N. Prairie Warbler 4 Oven-bird La. Water-thrush 5 Kentucky Warbler 8 N. Yellow-throat 3 Yellow-breasted Chat 16 Hooded Warbler 11 Canada Warbler American Redstart 4 S. Meadowlark 2 E. Red-wing 2 Scarlet Tanager 3 Summer Tanager 1 E. Cardinal 11 Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting 28 N. Pine Siskin E. Goldfinch 26 Red Crossbill Red-eyed Towhee 9 E. Grasshopper Sparrow 3 Carolina Junco E. Chipping Sparrow 7 E. Field Sparrow 5 E. Song Sparrow B C 1 1* 3 15 1 1 3* 2 11 2 9 (D? 2 4 3 2 8 3 3 1 2 1 1 5 1* 9 1 D E F 6 15 2 4 1 2 25 2 9 2 7 39 5 3 4 3 18 3 3 1 4 4 8* 5 10* 2 16 2 19 116 18 Nashviu^e, Tenn. (A.F.G.) and Clarksville, Tenn. (A.C.) ♦E. Ruffed Grouse — includes 8 young. N. Flicker^ — on Spence Field Bald. Carolina Chickadee — these 2 may have been Black-capped Chickadees. Mt. Vireo — to 2600 feet. Worm-eating Warbler — plus immature birds being fed. Sycamore Warbler — with young. Carolina Junco — at 2600 feet. 46 The Migrant September SUMMER RESIDENT LISTS By Our Members In our June issue we suggested that lists of our most common sum- mer residents be compiled for our respective localities so that a cross- section of our summer bird life could be presented in these pages. Another objective was to secure some new contributors to our publication and to encourage our members to notice some of their bird neighbors from this standpoint. For this reason a list of only five species thought to be the most common summer residents in one's area was set as a minimum. The suggested list was one that included the ten most common species in rela- tive order for the contributor’s home county or some part thereof. From representatives of our larger and older chapters whose home territory had been worked more by a larger number of observers and over a longer period of time, we were glad to receive larger lists. These were accompanied by notes and other comment which we felt should be included. Thus we aban- doned our idea of a comparative tabulation even before we attempted to work out a possible way to publish the data in that form. Instead, we leave the reader to make the comparison and to note the variation in the summer birdlife of our state. Speaking for the Shelby County list and possibly many others, the data presented should be considered as only pre- liminary due to natural liniitations. We desire to express our sincere thanks to those members who co-operated with The Migrant In making the necessary observations and notes and preparing such lists. Reelfoot Lake — Lake proper and wooded fringes. Am. Egret, Double- crested Cormorant, Coot, Least Bittern, Little Blue Heron, Wood Duck, Red- wing, Prothonotary Warbler, Wood Pewee, Bronzed Crackle. After mid- July the Least Bittern should possibly be replaced by the Pied-billed Grebe. — Tom Simpson, Southwestern, Memphis. Shelby Connty: — In order, but to be considered only as preliminary: Mockingbird, Meadowlark, Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Blue Jay, Orchard Ori- ole, English Sparrow, Wood Thrush, Bronzed Crackle, Chimney Swift, Brown Thrasher, Maryland Yellow-throat, Mourning Dove, Red-eyed Vireo, White- eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Robin, Red-wing, Bluebird, Killdeer, Summer Tanager, Wood Pewee, Flicker, Carolina Chickadee, Bob-white; also Night- hawk, Purple Martin, Tufted Titmouse, Loggerhead Shrike, and Hooded War- bler.— Ben B. Coffey, Jr., Memphis Humboldt. — Cardinal, Mockingbird, Indigo Bunting, Brown Thrasher, Robin, Bluebird, Bronzed Crackle, Chimney Swift, Red-wing, Killdeer. — Albert J. Marsh, Humboldt. Decaturville : — Area south of town. Carolina Wren, Indigo Bunting, Mourning Dove, Bob-white, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Carolina Chickadee, Cardinal. — iBen Welch, Jr., Memphis. Hardin County — Pickwick Dam Park and vicinity of Counce. — In order: Pine Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Bluebird, Mockingbird, Purple Martin, Orchard Oriole, Chipping Sparrow, Meadowlark, Wood Thrush, Brown Thrash- or — 'Howard Counce, Hardin County. 1938 The Migrant 47 Mt. Pleasant. — Dan R. Gray farm, — 200 acres with fields interspersed with cover; small stream and a half-acre pond. In order: Robin (nests all over the place), Meadowlark, Blue Jay, Brown Thrasher, Cardinal, Cat- bird, Carolina Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Mourning Dove, Indigo Bunting. Ad- ditional notes follow in the ‘Round Table’. — Dan R. GBay, Mt. Pleasant. Pnlaski and Environs. — Crow, Field Sparrow, Robin, Cardinal, Bronzed Crackle, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, Catbird, Mockingbird, Bluebird. — Mrs. Sarah Rogers, Pulaski. Rutherford County. — In order: English Sparrow, Starling, Field Sparrow, Bewick’s Wren, Meadowlark, Mockingbird, Robin, Chipping Sparrow, Blue- bird and Brown Thrasher. — George Davis, Dr. James B. Black, and H. O. Todd, Jr., Murfreesboro. Nashville Area. In compiling such a list as this, some limits must be set and many factors considered. In the first place, I have eliminated ‘city area’ by excluding all territory within 4 miles of the court house and this tends to cut down the ranking of such birds as the Robin, Mocking- bird, Wood Thrush and English Sparrow. The extreme limit set is 15 miles from the court house, thereby embracing large tracts of woodland as well as cut-over land, thickets, wooded pastures, meadows, cultivated and aban- doned fields. The hilly and often rocky nature of much of this area has been the cause of a very large percentage of it being covered by thickets or else uncultivated. ‘Clean cultivation’ has been the exception rather than the rule because much of the tilled land is occupied by tenant farmers. For these reasons, the most abundant breeding birds of the area are those which prefer thickets, and next are those which prefer wooded pastures and cut-over lands. When one considers how many such habitats are available and that each has its quota of birds that prefer such conditions, he will realize that perhaps the birds most often seen are not necessarily the most common. The Mockingbird, for instance, is conspicuous in flight, might be given higher rank than they deserve; these include the Carolina Wren, Chimney Swift, Blue Jay, Crow, Bronzed Grackle, etc. The writer has specialized upon the nesting habits of birds for many years and the ranking given below comes largely from the general ‘impressions’ of rela- tive abundance rather than from a tabulation of census lists. A final check upon the ranking given comes from observations made upon the number of old nests found during the winter months for they may be readily identified by an experienced observer. The list is given below but it may frankly be stated that almost any species might be moved up or down one position, and possibly more toward the end of the list. In order, I would place them as follows: No. 1. — Field Sparrow, 2 — Cardinal, 3 — Northern (Maryland) Yellow-throat, 4 — Indigo Bunt- ing, 5 — White-eyed Vireo, 6 — Yellow-breasted Chat, 7 — Towhee, 8 — Mocking- bird, 9 — Brown Thrasher, 10 — Carolina Wren, 11 — Prairie Warbler, 12 — Blue- bird, 13 — Red-eyed Vireo, 14 — Blue Jay, 15 — Carolina Chickadee, 16 — Downy Woodpecker, 17 — Orchard Oriole, 18 — Flicker, 19 — Catbird, 20 — Bob-White, 21 — English Sparrow, 22 — Robin, 23 — Tufted Titmouse, 24 — Mourning Dove, and 25 — Wood Pewee. — Albert F. Ganier, Nashville. 48 The Migrant September Paris. — Blue Jay, Cardinal, Mockingbird, Chimney Swift, Carolina Wren, Towhee, Crow, Robin, Catbird, Carolina Chickadee. — Paul CRosswy, Paris. Clarksville — The task of listing the commonest summer residents among the birds of our county seems simple, but it has shown to us members of the Clarksville Chapter that our studies have not yet brought us to the point where we can give a dependable answer. Montgomery County, in which we live, is principally a farming area, but changes from flat and gently rolling terrain in its north central section to hilly territory in the southern, eastern and western parts, where wooded slopes outnumber the tilled acres. To strike a proper balance for these different bird habitats in our county has been another difficulty. We are unanimous that the Indigo Bunting is the most abundant of our native summer residents, closely followed by the Cardinal and Field Sparrow. On each farm there is such a horde of the English Sparrow that we must place him in a group with these three members of the Sparrow family. Next in order we rank the Catbird, the Robin and the Towhee, and in the third group we place the Carolina Wren and the Maryland Yellow-throat. As fourth in the scale of abundance during the summer we would name the White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireos and the Chipping Sparrow. This is a total of 12 species that seem to us outstanding in the number of individuals by which they are represented. — Alfred Clebsch, Clarksville. Springfield. — Cardinal, Field Sparrow, Crow, Indigo Bunting, Mourn- ing Dove, Bob-white, Meadowlark, Bronzed Crackle, Catbird, and Tufted Titmouse. — Forrest V. Durand, Springfield. Bon Air. — Camp grounds only. Very common — Chipping Sparrow, Gold- finch, Field Sparrow, Pine Warbler. Common — Cardinal, Bluebird, Towhee, Wood Pewee, Carolina Chickadee, Ruby-throated Hummingbird. — Sarah O. Rogers, Pulaski. Knox County. — In order: Field Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Chimney Swift, Starling, Titmouse, English Sparrow, Carolina Chickadee, Crow, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Towhee, Wood Thrush, Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Bluebird, Song Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Meadowlark, Red- bellied Woodpecker, Black and White Warbler, Summer Tanager, Redstart, Phoebe and (25.) Mockingbird. We have followed the suggestions as set forth by Mr. Ganier and readily admit that any species could be rerated either way by one or more positions. — ^W. M. Walker, William M. Johnson, Knoxville. Knox County — Island Home Pike section. — In order: Purple Martin, Robin, Carolina Wren, Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Thrasher, Red-eyed Towhee. These have been more common this year than usual. The following less common species have nested this year in about the usual numbers: Phoebe, Field and Chipping Sparrows, Blue Jay, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Bob-white, Mockingbird, Prothonotary Warbler, Screech Owl, Wood Pewee, Crested Flycatcher, Sum- mer Tanager, Mourning Dove. There has been a definite shortage of the more uncommon species which are listed herewith: Black and White War- bler, Kentucky Warbler, Maryland Yellow-throat, La. Water-thrush, Oven- bird, White-eyed, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Blue-gray Gnat- catcher, Cowbird, Indigo Bunting and Song Sparrow. — H. P. I jams, Knoxville. 1938 The Migrant 49 Lake Andrew Jackson (Knox Connty). It has been my plan for sev- eral years to follow the bird life of some particular locality; and since Lake Andrew Jackson has received the major part of my “bird-time,” this present project called for little extra work on the part of Charles Baird, Mrs. Walker, and myself. Once each week from July 16 to August 21, inclusive, we spent the early morning at the lake and vicinity. Our area included approximately 150 acres roughly divided into 40 acres in water, 10 in pasture, 52 in thickets and woodland, and the remainder in land subject to cultivation. The route over this territory covered the best habitats available and was selected with the idea of visiting the most densely populated areas in such a manner that duplication in counting was at a minimum. Trips were made on July 16, 24, 30, Aug. 8, 13, and 21. Species listed numbered 47, 53, 37, 32, 37, and 26 respectively, and a grand total of 65 for the period. After each trip the ten most numerous species were listed, — with surprising results. Twenty species were included one or more times in the six lists with only the Song Sparrow and English Sparrow in every “high- ten” list. Originally we planned to submit only our final list with a few comments, but because of some unusual results we wish to develop our results a little more fully. Red-wings were very numerous in mid-July but were all gone by Aug. 7. Starlings were abundant when in flocks but scarce as individuals yet the flocks were not consistent in appearance. On July 24 we found a flock of Chickadees, Titmice, Black and White Warblers, and White-breasted Nut- hatch in our area where the Yellow-throated Vireo stayed. These birds behaved very similar to the winter feeding flocks in that they were altern- ately active and quiet. The Purple Martin which was reported in flocks on July 30 were found in flocks by us on Aug. 13 and 21. The Martins roosted in the dead trees in and around the lake. One flock of Crows on Aug. 21 was sufficiently large to make this bird rank sixth for the entire period. Trip Ranking: July 7. — Starling, Red-wing, Mourning Dove, Carolina Chickadee, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Kingbird, English Sparrow, and Bluebird. July 24. — English Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Chickadee, Goldfinch, Titmouse, Red-wing, Black and White Warb- ler, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Kingbird. July 30. — Starling, Song Spar- row, Dove, Bluebird, Blue Jay, Field Sparrow, English Sparrow, Purple Martin, Kingbird, and Chimney Swift. Aug 7 — Song Sparrow, Starling, Dove, Bluebird, Blue Jay, Robin, Field Sparrow, Cardinal, Green Heron, and Eng- lish Sparrow. Aug. 13 — Purple Martin, Starling, Song Sparrow, English Sparrow, Chimney Swift, Bluebird, Dove, Green Heron, Field Sparrow, and Kingbird. Aug 21 — Purple Martin, Crow, Dove, Song Sparrow, English Spar- row, Bluebird, Blue Jay, Kingbird, Cardinal, and Starling. Final rating — Purple Martin, Starling, Song Sparrow, Mourning Dove, English Sparrow, Crow, Bluebird, Chickadee, Red-wing, and Field Sparrow. The weak point in this rating is that the territory was not sufficiently large to give the gregarious birds a true status but this is counter-balanced by the fact that the smaller area can be studied more thoroughly. — ^Wm. Walker, Knoxville. 50 The Migrant September =#= Johnson City Area. — So much depends on circumstances and locations that it is very difficult to name the most common of our birds. I have seen 500 Crows in a single flock most common for that day’s observation; also 100 or more Prairie Horned Larks in one day but the average I should list somewhat as follows: Starling — resident, breeding throughout up to about 5000 ft. elevation but more numerous in the lowlands as low as 1100 ft. (our floor). English Sparrow — resident in Upper Austral and Transition Zones. Conditions in our Canadian Zone are not conducive to its propagation. E. Robin — summer resident, breeds abundantly throughout N. E. Tenn. in all zones. 1100 to 6300 ft. elevation (our ceiling). Mockingbird — resi- dent, breeds freely in Upper Austral and Transition Zones observed as high as 3000 ft. Catbird — summer resident throughout this region. Wood Thrush — very common summer resident in woodlands of the Upper Austral and Transition Zones. Meadowlark — Resident, breeds freely in Upper Aus- tral and Transition Zones. Song Sparrow — Resident, breeds abundantly throughout this region. The subspecies breeding is the Mississippi race, but in winter it is replaced to considerable extent by the Eastern type. It is my opinion that the former migrates to a great degree. Bluebird — Resident, breeds throughout. Carolina Junco — Breeds in the Canadian Zone and winters in the lowlands of the Upper Austral and Transition Zones. This is the most common bird on its breeding ground in summer. The Flicker is a close contestant for any of the last four positions. — Bruce P. Tyler and Robert B. Lyle, Johnson City. Greeneville: — An area of two square miles, north of town, consisting of open woods and thickets broken by rolling upland pastures and extending down to Lick Creek. English Sparrow, Mockingbird, Cardinal, Brown Thras- her, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, Song Sparrow, Catbird, Carolina Wren, Field Sparrow.— Willie Ruth Reed, Greeneville. Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Camp Margaret Townsend. — About 20 acres; a small open field slopes upward from Little River into the forested slopes of Rattlesnake Ridge below Tremont. Heavy logging near camp. In order: Chipping Sparrow, Catbird, Phoebe, Goldfinch, Aca- dian Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Wood Thrush, Carolina Wren, Black and White Warbler, Sycamore Warbler. — Willie Ruth Reed, Greeneville. Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Gatlinburg (1200-2000 feet eleva- tion).— Cardinal, Field Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Wood Thrush, Goldfinch, Phoebe, Catbird, Carolina Wren, Robin, Bluebird. — Arthur Stupka, Park Na- turalist. Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Spruce-fir region (4,000-6,600 feet elevation). — Carolina Junco, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mtn. Vireo, Cairns’s Warbler, C h e s t n u t-sided Warbler, Black- throated Green Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, Winter Wren. — Arthur Stupka, Park Naturalist, Gatlinburg. 1938 The Migrant 51 BIRD BANDING BREVITIES— NO. 13 By Amelia R. Laskey In seven years systematic trapping, during which more that twelve thousand birds of 110 species have been banded, there has been only one of these birds trapped and released by a bird bander in another state. On April 14, 1938, Dr. K. Christofferson trapped Junco No. 37-84478 at his sta- tion in Blaney Park, Michigan. This bird had been banded at Blossomdell substation on November 29, 1937. — During the past year I have been experi- menting with ‘plume’ marking, — that is, fastening colored feathers in the tails of resident birds with Duco cement. This method has been found satis- factory as a means of field identification by bird students at Cornell but here it did not work so well for the plumes that were not lost became so sooty and bedraggled that many of the colors were indistinguishable. One objective was to mark all the Chickadees and Tufted Titmice that came to the feeding shelves in order to determine whether the twosomes that fly together in winter are mates or merely chance companions. Two colors did survive sun bleaching and soot darkening and two Carolina Chickadees marked with red and orange came together all winter. The red-plumed one occasionally chased others from the sunflower seeds. In April their courtship behavior proved they were mates. On a limb above the feeding shelf, the orange-plumed individual was seen posturing like a begging ju- venile with quivering wings while the red-plumed male fed her. Later in the season the male was trapped, minus his plume, when he brought some youngsters to the station. Although this pair happened to be of the same size, the male averaged a few grams heavier throughout the non-breeding season. — Dr, Cynthia Counce of Memphis used some of the plumes at her feeding station and found that a pair of Carolina Wrens remained together during the winter and mating seasons.— A late migrant White-Crowned Sparrow was banded May 18. — Bronzed Crackle B394136, on adult male banded March 28, 1934, at the Belle Meade substation was retaken there March 22, 1938, with no intervening recapture records. — Mockingbird B270752, banded September 15, 1933, was trapped a quarter of a mile from the band- ing station by Miss Ann Hamilton on May 27, 1938. It had not been retaken in the five year interval. — Blue Jay B353963 banded at Belle Meade April 25, 1933, was found shot to death there on June 3, 1938, at least six years old. — Some very interesting Indigo Bunting returns were obtained this spring although this species was very scarce at the station, only five new ones being banded. No. H73036, a male, banded August 30, 1933 was a return — 4 on May 19, 1938, aged 5 years. No. 34 — 8180, a female banded August 21, 1934, spent July and August of 1936 at the station, repeating frequently. She reappeared May 16, 1938 and again had the trap habit, sometimes re- peating several times a day and dropping an egg while entrapped on the 24th. A few days later she died apparently from strangulation caused by a millet seed in the trachea. The plumage of this old bird was unusual as her head and breast were heavily marked with blue. Mr. Ganier now has the skin in the collection. The other males. No. 34 — 87190 and No. 34 — 87213, were returns-3 in May, 1938. The former is three yearfs old and 52 The Migrant September the latter four years or more. — Goldfinches have been difficult to trap. Of the ten banded, two were taken in 1933 and eight in 1935. Therefore it was a rare treat to get two this summer; one was an adult male in brilliant summer plumage on August 31, the other, a female trapped September 3rd which had been banded August 7, 1935. Both were trapped between 5 and 6 P.M. the male weighing 11 grams and the old female 13.8 grams. An unusual record for the Canada Warbler was obtained when one flew through an open window of a Nashville hotel in the central business section, about 7:30 P.M. July 31, after a heavy rain. It was brought to the banding sta- tion on the next day, in good condition except for the loss of its tail inci- dental to catching it. After banding it was weighed, given a drink of water and released. From plumage markings, size, and weight, it was identified as an adult male. A few recovery records of special interest have been received from the Biological Survey. Golden Eagle No. 36 — 802822 caught in a steel trap at Watertown, Tenn. and released February 26, 1936 at Gat- linburg by Mr. Stupka, Smoky Mountains Park naturalist, was killed at Head Waters, Virginia on March 10, 1938. Red-shouldered Hawk No. 34 — 661450 banded January 14, 1937 (mentioned in the March, 1937 Brevities) was caught (and probably killed) at Lansing, Michigan on March 20, 1938. Screech Owl No. 34 — 509922, banded March 30, 1934, at the home station, was deported at the time to woods about 2 1-2 miles out. On March 6, 1936, it was again captured at the home station and once more deported, being released at Chapel Hill, Tennessee, about 40 miles north. On December 8, 1937, it was caught in a hollow tree at Eagleville, Tenn. about ten miles north of Chapel Hill. Unfortunately there can be no further record of the travels of this bird because the misinformed finder removed the band, send- ing it to Washington instead of reading the number. He held the bird some- time awaiting a new band from the Biological Survey, and finally released the owl unbanded. Nashville, Tenn., September 7, 1938. RAMBLING WITH THE BIRDS Dr. Cynthia C. Counce The period of June 7 to 21, 1938, was spent at Pickwick, which is located on the Tennessee River southeast of Shiloh National Park. Birds were plentiful and Howard Counce and I were able to list 64 species during our stay. Many of the warblers found here earlier in the spring had al- ready moved on to their favorite nesting grounds farther north. We enioyed our breakfasts about 5:30 A.M. each morning in a pavilion on the reservation about forty feet from the lake. Often this meal was interrupted when some new water bird would splash into the water near us. After breakfast it was our custom to follow the trails made by the C.C.C. boys around the lake and make an annotated list of our land birds. On some occasions when we wanted glimpses of the Pileated Woodpecker or Barred Owl, we would take to the deep woods. One morning we were exploring the high bank of Chambers Creek, when suddenly a “ball of fire” came flying through the heavy foliage just over our heads — “Redstart!” we acclaimed. This beautiful warbler was quite a treat to the eyes. We then 1938 The Migrant 5: turned towards the Tennessee River which was only a few paces away. From beneath the cool willows, we could watch the Kingfisher skim the waves for food, or scan the sky for the Osprey searching for his tasty repast. He seems to haunt this region since the erection of the dam. Pickwick Lake formed by the Tennessee River at this point, should be- come a very attractive locality for waterbirds of all kinds as well as the Bald Eagle and the Osprey which feed on rough fish. The “Turkey Knob” in the vicinity of Pickwick Dam, towers higher than any of the surrounding hills. Its lofty peak has always beckoned to me, since its area was about the only territory in that region that I had not explored. One morning Howard suggested that we explore this knob in hopes of finding the Scarlet Tanager or something unusual to give us another thrill, so we began our long climb to the top. All was quiet on the summit much to our disappointment, so we ambled down the farther side. Suddenly we came upon a house in a clearing. There on the back fence was erected a rugged box, made for Purple Martins. Ae We paused to rest on the back porch we observed to our utter surprise that a pair of Crested Flycathers were nesting in the box. This box was about twelve feet high and was almost inaccessible, but with the aid of boxes and tubs we finally, with much difficulty, managed to climb to the nest and bring out two fledglings. We placed them on the porch and attempted to photo- graph them. The nest consisted of a few pine needles, dried sticks and fragments of snake skin. Both parent birds made frequent calls to this single room bird house, bringing grasshoppers and other insects. Later, at Natural Bridge, near Waynesboro, we found the Louisiana Water-thrush wading thru the rippling shallows of a small hill branch, teetering his tail continuously. We were fortunate enough to hear him give his wild ringing song which thrilled all who came within its sound. This was also an ideal place to observe the Thrushes and Phoebes which .were then so busily engaged in their struggle for existence with the ap- pGtities of their young ever crying for more and more. Memphis, Tehn. BIRD BANDING STARTED AT CLARKSVILLE By Mrs. John Y. Hutchinson Under a Biological Survey permit issued to the writer, this interesting phase of bird study was initiated in Clarksville on March 11, 1938. This fol- lowed much preliminary work as a result of visits to Mrs. Laskey’s banding station at Nashville by some of our local members and of the many valued suggestions made by her. In addition to the home station and Mr. Clebsch’s substation. Dr. Pickering began trapping two months later; the delay being due to a shortage of traps and bands, — the latter resulting from the full suc- cess of our initial efforts. His station adjoins the premises of Mr. Clebsch. All stations now have about five traps each and are getting good results. During the winter we found millet to be ideal bait but have used chiefly bread this summer, with pokeberries, canary seed, and sunflower seed for variety. In our first six months about 600 birds of 33 species have been banded. 54 The Migrant September More Bronzed Grackles, — namely, 88 — have been banded than any other species; 65 were by Mr. Clebsch and 20 by Dr. Pickering. Runners-up were the Catbird, 74, and the Brown Thrasher, 67. 56 Field Sparows were banded, all at the home station. Next in order were: Cardinal, 44; Towhee, 42; White-crowned Sparrow, 32; Bewick’s Wren, 28. The only warblers were: Md. Yellow-throat, 1; Yellow Warbler, 1; and Chat, 5. Only 8 White-throats and 7 Juncos were banded. A single Gambel’s Sparrow was of special in- terest and during spring migration a Gray-cheeked Thrush was banded by Mr. Clebsch. Our most consistent repeaters were Brown Thrashers (highest for one individual — 21 times, next — 17), Catbirds (15 and 12), Tufted Titmice (19 and 12 times). Cardinals, Towhees, Bewick’s Wrens, Carolina Wrens, and the champions themselves, — the Field Sparrows. Out of 56 of this species banded about 50% have repeated from 1 to 10 times and some as high as 18, 20, 24, and 30 times each, — all within the period of Mar. 17 to Apr. 15, 1938. I am now beginning to trap a few immature Field Sparrows but not a single adult has been near the traps since that period altho there seemed to be many in the vicinity all summer. An unusual incident on Sept. 12, proved that at least one of my banded adults had been near the station. A Black Snake, about 4V2 feet long, was found in my ‘tunnel’ trap located near the tall weeds in adjacent vacant lots. A .22 rifle ended his career and he was tossed far into the weeds. I’m sure there had been no birds in the trap when the snake en- tered but as I went about my housework I couldn’t forget that big reptile. Earlier in the morning I had banded and released nearby a very wet and bed- raggled immature Catbird and the thought now struck me that perhaps my Catbird had been a victim of this snake. So I looked nearly an hour to find the snake, which to my relief, did not contain the Catbird. But the tears came to my eyes at the sight of a nearly digested but still recognizable small mass of wet feathers and two tiny legs. The band 38-72399 around one tarsus identified the bird as my own special little Field Sparrow that had repeated 30 times from Mar. 25 to Apr. 16, this spring. In all, six banded birds have been found dead and reported, — all near the stations. From our traps we have 7 records classed as ‘returns’ under the standard arbitrary definition that lists as such all records with a lapse of at least three months since previous trapping. In our limited period of operation we have not, of course, had time to have any ‘recoveries’ or interesting ‘re- turns’. We look forward to the advent of our winter birds again, awaiting as all bird banders have at one time or another, the thrill of first re-trapping those of ‘our own’ birds which may return after a season’s sojourn in far places, — perhaps the farther portions of our continent. Clarksville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 1938. OUR ILLUSTRATIONS; — The 20 photos on the next four pages, illustrate the article on the birds of the Great Smokies. Numbers 1 and 2 show members of the party on Andrew’s Bald and on Clingman’s Dome lookout tower. No. 3, a little Red Squirrel at lunch. No. 4, how the squirrel was photographed (Schneider, Davis and Slack.) No. 5, group under Alum Cave cliff, watching- Duck Hav/ks. No. 6, group in Cades Cove. No. 7 and 8, nest of Brown Creeper, protruding from under dead bark. No. 10, in- specting a Brown Creeper’s nest, forty feet up. No. 11, nest of Cairns Warbler in rhododendron. No. 12, nest of Carolina Junco, tucked in fern moss. No. 13, nest and eggs of Ruffed Grouse, at foot of beech, (continued on page 59) :t.-fA'n:’d ”^J 1938 The Migrant 59 BLACKBIRD BANDING IN THE MID-SOUTH— I By Ben B. Coffey, Jr. This is a tabulation of recoveries of blackbirds banded at Nashville, Pu- laski, Memphis and Water Valey, Miss., and Monticello, Ark. With data on Bronzed Crackles, Cowbirds, Red-wings, and Rusty Blackbirds, we include that on Starlings because the latter, altho not scientifically classified with the blackbirds, are for convenience commonly grouped with them because of various similarities and frequent mutual association. Because of lack of time and space, local repeats and returns for Bronzed Crackles and Starlings, trap behaviour and analyses of the data in the tables, are not included at present but will follow in later issues. We are indebted to fellow-banders for their data so kindly furnished. These are: Mrs. Amelia R. Laskey of Nashville, Mrs. Sarah O. Rogers of Pulaski, Mr. C. M. Owens of Monticello, Ark., and Mr. E. Earl Bell of Water Valley, Miss. Migrating flocks of Crackles and Starlings in late winter and early spring furnish the bulk of the trappings and the bulk of the recoveries. Winter flocks of Starlings also appear at times and start a run on a banding station. Because these species are generally without legal protection, and also are killed because of ignorance and because their flocking habits make them attractive targets to many gunners, the proportion of recoveries secured and reported is higher than for most other passerine species. The tables be- low are to some extent self-explanatory. Since the sub-stations at Memphis handled ‘loads’ equal to or greater than the home stations, the name of the operator is also tabulated. In fact, some of these stations were operated for and during blackbird migration periods only. Terms such as ‘Coffey-1’ refer to a separate location, as differentiated from ‘-2’ or ‘-3’. We tried to list the recoveries systematically but succeeded perhaps, only with the Cowbirds. We might call attention at this point to an unusual coincidence, — the recov- ery of separate Crackles at Altheimer, Ark. from Water Valley, Miss, and Monticello, Ark., respectively. We are indebted to Messrs Hugh McCain and Tom Simpson for the re- production of the maps of recoveries which are attached at the end of the issue. Places not listed are: Table I — McKim, Sask, not located on atlas; Table III — Newell, Ont., unable to locate on atlas or thru correspondence. Table Ilb — None shown. BRONZED CRACKLES Number banded 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 Total Nashville 1 — 1931 59 22 30 11 55 80 51 309 Pulaski 77 111 192 380 Memphis 4 — 1929 5 173 184 950 32 1348 Water Valley 24 20 44 Monticello 113 113 Note: Pulaski— includes preceding winter months. Nashville — adults only. Memphis — migrating adults only (differentiated as far as possible). OUR ILLUSTRATIONS (continued) — No. 14, view from the trail on Mt. LeConte. No. 15, road near Newfound Gap. No. 16, 17, 18, some peaks and valleys of the Smokies. No. 19, Chimney Tops, most beautiful peak. No. 20, nest of Carolina Junco in tree roots. Photos No. 16, 17, and 18, were taken by Mr. Coffey; No 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 19 and 20, by Mr. Ganier; No. 1, 2, and 15, by Dr. Pickering; No. 3, 8 and 10, by Miss Schneider, and No. 7, 9 and 12, by Miss Slack. 60 The Migrant September TABLE I. BRONZED GRACKLES— DATES OF BANDING AT MEMPHIS DATES AND PLACES OP RECOVERIES ELSEWHERE Recoveries Showing Migration and Summer Range A314137 Coffey Feb. 24, 1929 Oct. 27, 1929 Highland, 111. 34-340821 Coffey-1 Jan. 22, 1935 Apr. 1, 1935 Charleston, 111. 34-340887 McCamey Jan. 24, 1935 May 17, 1935 Cooter, Mo. 34-353426 Coffey-2 Feb. 27, 1935 July 7, 1935 Webberville, Mich. 34-353428 Coffey-1 Feb. 27, 1935 May 5, 1935 Rock Co., Wis. 34-354401 Coffey-2 Mar. 11, 1935 Apr. 16, 1935 Paulding, Ohio 34-354422 Coffey-1 Apr. 9, 1935 May 18, 1935 Pleasantville, Iowa 34-354507 McCamey Mar. 19, 1935 June 1, 1935 Carp Lake, Mich. 34-354516 McCamey Mar. 28, 1935 May 15, 1935 Killarney, Man.* 34-354406 Coffey-2 Mar. 21, 1935 Oct. 30, 1935 Kansas City, Mo. 34-354423 Coffey-1 Apr. 9, 1935 May 5, 1936 Staceyrille, Iowa 34-354501 McCamey Mar. 15, 1935 Mar. 13, 1938 LaCenter, Ky. 35-333519 McCamey Feb. 19, 1936 Apr. 5, 1936 Nashua, Iowa 34-367752 Roost Mar. 15, 1936 July 26, 1936 Brownton, Minn. 37-312022 Wallace Feb. 26, 1937 March, 1937 Toledo, Ohio. 37-312156 Coffey-2 Mar. 9, 1937 Apr. 22, 1937 Treloar, Mo. 36-333435 Wallace Feb. 21. 1937 May 12, 1937 Indianapolis, Ind. 37-312730 Shaffer Mar. 12, 1937 May 29, 1937 Springfield, S. D. 37-312071 Wallace Mar. 8, 1937 June 1, 1937 McClure, Ohio 37-312076 Wallace Mar. 9, 1937 June 17, 1937 Oxford, Ind. 34-367389 McCamey Feb. 26, 1937 Last week of July, 1937 Dubuc, Sask. 37-312110 Wallace Mar. 1937 Aug. 3, 1937 Laird, Sask. 37-312776 Coffey-2 Mar. 2r«/, 1937 Aug. 20, 1937 Shelbyville, Ind. 34-367359 McCamey Feb. 19, 1937 Sep. 8, 1937 Galena, 111. A395213 Wallace Feb. 14, 1937 Sep. 29, 1937 Goldfield, Iowa 37-312546 Coffey-2 Mar. 16, 1937 Nov, 7, 1937 Farmland, Ind. A395176 Wallace Feb. 4, 1937 Mar. 27, 1938 Mequon, Wis. A395221 Wallace Feb. 14, 1937 Apr. 13, 1938 Huntington C. Ind. 37-312091 Wallace Mar. 13, 1937 Apr. 23, 1938 Beach Grove, Ind. 34-367856 Vardaman Feb. 2, 1937 May 21, 1938 Easton, 111. 37-312610 Wallace Mar. 21, 1937 May 28, 1938 Rockport, Ky. 37-312798 Coffey-2 Mar. 30, 1937 June 1, 1938 Modesto, 111. 36-333486 Coffey-2 Feb. 24, 1937 June 13, 1938 Pana, 111. 37-310942 Coffey-2 May 1938 June 25, 1938 McKim, Sask. ♦This bird had a nest with 6 young therein; released alive. Recoveries Showing Return To Winter and Early Spring Migration Range 34-340875 McCamey Jan. 22, 1935 Feb. 15, 1936 Waterford, Miss. 34-340893 McCamey Feb. 18, 1935 Mar. 27, 1937 Lepanto, Ark. 34-354505 McCamey Mar. 17, 1935 Dec. 29, 1935 Helena, Ark. 35-319089 McCamey Jan. 29, 1936 Mar. 6, 1938 Ashport, Tenn. 35-333583 McCamey Feb. 20, 1936 Feb. 9, 1938 Parchman, Miss. 37-312183 Park Feb. 25, 1937 Mar. 6, 1937 Osceola, Ark. 37-312059 Wallace Mar. 5. 1937 Mar. 29, 1938 Tyronza, Ark. 37-312836 Shaffer Apr. 10, 1937 Apr. 10, 1938 Dimple, Texas 1938 The Migrant 61 TABLE II BRONZED GRACKLES— DATES OF BANDING— DATES AND PLACES OP RECOVERIES Monticello (Ark.) 37-305309 37-305362 37-305392 37-305373 Water Valley (Miss.) B307991 Pulaski 35-328453 35-335111 Nashville B331828 B331825 B394176 Feb. 26, 1937 May 20, Mar. 9, 1937 May 25, Mar. 16, 1937 Sep. 2, Mar. 11, 1937 Mar. 30, Apr. 5, 1933 Apr. 1, Jan. 16, 1936 Apr. 20, Feb. 18, 1937 Aug. 19, Apr. 2, 1932 Feb. 9, Apr. 1, 1932 Nov. 27, Oct. 3, 1934 Jan. 25, 1937 Laura, Sask. 1937 Elkhorn, Neb. 1937 Altheimer, Ark. 1938 Superior, Iowa 1934 Altheimer, Ark. 1936 Gladesville, Tenn. 1937 Lakeside, Ohio 1933 Savannah, Tenn. 1933 Centerville, Ala. 1935 Rienzi, Miss. lib RECOVERIES OF ‘FOREIGN’ CRACKLES AT STATIONS A253311 Madison, Wis. Pall of 1930 Mar. 15, 1931 Water Valley A281883 Kansas, 111. May 25, 1934 Mar. 15, 1936 Lakeview,Miss. 4-300373 Cincinnati, 0. May 24, 1935 Feb. 21, 1937 Pulaski STARLIJ^GS Number banded 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 Total Nashville 207 86 5 5 303 Pulaski 142 11 153 Memphis 415 30 2 447 Note: Pulaski — includes preceding winter months; likewise Memphis, ’37. TABLE m STARLINGS— DATES OF BANDING— DATES AND PLACES OF RECOVERIES Memphis 35-333684 Powell Jan. 29, 1936 Mar. 19, 1936 Athens Co., Ohio 35-336555 Wallace Feb. 7, 1936 Apr. 6, 1936 Fairbanks, Pa. 35-333591 McCamey-3 Feb. 24, 1936 May 20, 1936 Newell, Ont. 35-333667 Powell Jan. 24, 1936 Jun. 1, 1936 Ripley, Ohio 35-319069 McCamey Jan. 27, 1936 Jun. 28, 1936 Kalkaska, Mich. 35-333590 McCamey-2 Feb. 23, 1936 Aug. 13, 1936 Chatham, Ont. 35-212791 McCamey Feb. 21, 1936 Mar. 1, 1937 Clarksdale, Miss. 35-213111 Wallace Feb. 21, 1936 Nov. 11, 1937 Russelville, Ohio 35-319035 Powell Jan. 20. 1936 Jun. 1, 1937 Bay City, Mich. 35-333664 Powell Jan. 23, 1936 Jul. 10, 1937 Acton, Ont. 35-336546 Wallace Feb. 20. 1936 May 8, 1938 Harlem, Ont. Pulaski 35-217705 Dec. 28, 1935 May 5, 1937 Canton, Ohio 35-208213 Jan. 26, 1936 Feb. 20, 1936 Fayetteville, Tenn. 35-217750 Jan. 10, 1936 May 8, 1936 Coshocton, Ohio 35-217744 Jan. 7, 1936 Nov. 16, 1936 Vienna, Ohio 36-208218 Jan. 30, 1936 Apr. 26, 1937 Wilbur, W. Va. Nashville B394006 Feb. 24, 1934 Apr. 27, 1934 Dunkirk, N. Y. B394020 Feb. 24 & 26 ’34 May 20, 1934 Wilson Co., Tenn. 34-200139 Feb. 24, 1934 Feb. 7, 1936 Norton, Va. 34-200119 Feb. 22, 1934 Jul. 29, 1936 Marathon, Ohio B394012 Feb. 24, 1934 Aug. 27, 1936 Swan ton, Ohio 34-200090 Feb. 11, 1934 Oct. 15, 1936 Clifton Spr. N. Y. 36-200437 Feb. 18. 1936 Feb. 4, 1937 Pleas. Unity, Pa. 62 The Migrant September Cowbirds are common transients in the Mississippi Valley and parti- cularly, it appears to the writer, in the eastern Arkansas delta section. In late winter large flocks appear along highways, feeding where rice has been spilled from moving trucks. In past years large numbers have been banded at Mount Belvieu, Texas, by Dr. A. R. Shearer, and it was natural that Mr. C. M. Owens at Monticello, Ark. should be our leading Cowbird trapper. Devoting considerable time to his trapping, — in fact, most of the daylight hours during a period of six weeks in 1937, he found his only limit was his number of traps which was remedied before the migrating wave was over. In 1937 he banded 1,349 Cowbirds, in 1936 — 43, A large num- ber of repeats were obtained but it was impossible to record them due to the large number of birds handled in such a short period. Cowbirds banded at Memphis were all caught at night in the Lakeview, Miss, blackbird roost as follows: Mar. 22, 1936 — 19; Mar. 13 & 27, 1937 — 39. No repeats, returns or recoveries recorded. The birds banded were evidently all transients. No Cowbirds were reported for Pulaski. At Nashville 13 have been banded since Jan. 22, 1935. A female repeated the same day (Jan. 22) and the next day. An immature bird banded June 24 repeated 9 times from June 28 to July 8, inclusive. No return or recovery records. TABLE IV COWBIRDS— DATES OP BANDING AT MONTICELLO, ARK. DATES AND PLACES OF RECOVERIES ELSEWHERE. 35-328528 Peb. 11, 1936 Jan. 16, 1937 Centerville, Tex. 37-224022 Mar. 8, 1937 Mar. 15, 1937 Arp, Tenn. 37-128930 Feb. 10, 1937 Mar. 22, 1937 Sikeston, Mo. 37-220012 Feb. 12, 1937 Mar. 23, 1937 Gould, Ark. 37-224058 Mar. 9, 1937 Mar. 23, 1937 Gould, Ark. 37-139484 Feb. 25, 1937 Apr. 5, 1937 Baldwin, 111. 37-139483 Peb. 25, 1937 Apr. 27, 1937 Momence, 111. 37-224044 Mar. 9, 1937 May 9, 1937 Ottumwa, Iowa 37-210271 Feb. 6, 1937 May 22, 1937 Timbo, Ark. 37-129995 Feb. 25, 1937 Sep. 23, 1937 Savanna, Mo. (SEE IVb Nov. 19, 1937 Monticello) 37-224067 Mar. 9, 1937 Nov. 26, 1937 Sulphur, La. 37-139762 Mar. 4, 1937 Dec. 1, 1937 Corpus Christi, Tex. 37-139453 Feb. 25, 1937 Dec. 19, 1937 Orange, Tex. 37-224027 Mar. 8, 1937 Jan. 7, 1938 Lacassine, La. 37-210235 Peb. 2, 1937 Jan. 13, 1938 Gilmer, Tex. 37-139713 Mar. 2, 1937 Jan. 15, 1938 Houston, Tex. 37-210295 Feb. 17, 1937 Jan. 24, 1938 Otey, Tex. IVb RETURNS AT MONTICELLO 37-220110 Feb. 19, 1937 Retrapped Nov. 19, 1937 IVc RECOVERIES OF BIRDS BANDED AT THE OTHER POINTS— NONE IVd RECOVERIES AT MID-SOUTH STATIONS OP OTHER BANDED COW- BIRDS—NONE 1938 The MiGRAisiT 63 RED-WEVGS None banded except near Memphis and no repeat, return, or recovery records. With one exception all wre banded at Lakeview, Miss. A few juveniles were banded in the so-called ‘highway bar-pit’ while all others, juvenile and adults, were banded at or near the large ‘bar-pit’ used as a roost. Juveniles banded in or just off the nest numbered: 1933 — 2, 1934 — 24, 1935—33, 1936 — 10. Adults caught by hand in the roost at night numbered: 1934—13, 1936—69, 1937—58. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS Monticello, Ark. 4 banded in 1937. No further records. Memphis All banded at the Lakeview, Miss, roost: 1934 — 4, 1936 — 6, 1937 — 52. One recovery record as follows (the band was removed but no further details available) : 36—225169 Mar. 13, 1937 Apr. 12, 1937, Lake City, Ark. Nashville and Pulaski None banded. Memphis, Tenn., September, 1938. THE SEASON MEMPHIS AREA: — The Painted Buntings seem to be holding their own, without any noticeable increase in the last two years. A pair evi- dently nested along the railroad in the next block from our yard as at intervals we could faintly hear the male singing. On July 14 this flam- ing bit of color appeared nearby and could be heard singing all thru the day. He moved into our yard and on the 18th we discovered the reason for his continuous presence when we saw the female feeding two young birds. They were 10 or 12 days old and escaped our efforts to catch and band them. After the 19th we did not see them. Wallace noted Red- eyed Vireos feeding young in Overton Park on July 9. On Aug. 15, he found a Blue-winged Warbler and a Black-throated Green Warbler there. Walker and Welch found Black and White Warblers and Parula Warblers com- mon in the Park thruout the last half of July. On the 22nd they listed 4 of the former and 37 of the latter, including young. The Municipal Air- port was practically devoid of bird life on July 17, since the turf is kept closely cut. However, among the few Meadowlarks there the slim, trim lines of an Upland Plover were noted and afforded some of the Scouts their first view of this species. A few were heard occasionally, passing over at night during late July and early August. An albino swallow in company with Rough-winged Swallows and thought to be one of them, was seen Aug. 16, just south of Lakeview, by Bob Shaffer and Robt. Hunt. It had pure white wings, head, tail and upperparts and light pinkish-brown underparts. Several trips were made in July in an unsuccessful hunt for Short- billed Marsh Wrens and Grasshopper Sparrows in the open portions of the Ensley-Darwin bottoms, southwest of town, and across the state line 64 The Migrant September along the Lakeview Levee. The former is the traditional breeding ground of the Mississippi Kite and on July 17, we saw one at close range, just as we turned back from our search. One wren was found near the levee by Wallace on Aug. 19, but none on Sept. 5 and 25th. Two Cliff Swallows were seen there July 17 as well as the first of the Bank Swallows. A single Coot and a L. Scaup were recorded July 7 at Lakeview; also Am. .Wgret, 14. Due to the Mississippi River being slightly higher than usual, the water level at Mud Lake remained unsuitable for herons or shorebirds, while the ‘bar-pits’ inside the levee dried up from lack of rain locally. As a result, few trips were made and still less recorded. A trip across the river into Arkansas was made on Aug. 14 and in the ‘bar-pits’ along Hara- han viaduct 25 Wood Ibis were noted with an equal number of Am. Egrets and a lone Snowy Egret. A single Wood Ibis was seen there Sept. 3. On the 11th we pushed on to Mound City Chute but saw little besides about 20 Little Blue Herons going to roost in the willows. Meanwhile, Wallace recorded 20 at Mud Lake on Aug. 19 the highest number for the period. On Sept. 5 we ranged the levee south to Norfolk Landing near which large number of shorebirds bordered two large ‘pits’ but closer examination dis- closed about 250 to be Killdeers with 2 Semi-palmated Sandpipers, and 15 unidentified ‘peeps’ (Least, Semi-palmated, or Western Sandpipers). At Mud Lake 15 Am. Egrets, 3 Little Blues, and 5 Great Blues were seen. By Sept. 25 conditions were more favorable and on that date Whittemore and Pond, et al, noted 19 Great Blues, 32 Little Blues (including 2 adults), 350 Am. Egrets, 95 Wood Ibises, 1 Black-bellied Plover, 6 Semi-palmated Plovers, 400 Semi-palmated and 100 Least Sandpipers, one or more Western Sandpipers, 15 Pectoral Sandpipers, 10 Blue-winged Teals, 2 Wood Ducks, 400 Tree, 15 Bank, 1 or more Cliff and 60 Rough-winged Swallows, 1 Osprey and 1 Duck Hawk. Wallace listed 20 Least Terns and 8 Black Terns along Riverside Drive on Aug. 17, a few more than was seen Aug. 14 On Sept. 29 three Broad-winged Hawks were seen over town just north of the business dis- trict. The same afternoon 14 were seen over the Southwestern campus by Walker and Welch. — Ben Coffey, Jr., Memphis. CORINTH AREA:— On May 25, Elgin Wright and I found a Barn Swallow nest in a dairy barn near town. The nest was typical to the last detail and contained four young birds. According to the owner of the place, who had been watching the swallows, the nest was formed of dirt and small bits of cinders, rolled into pellets that had been moistened by the birds at a small pool in the barn lot. The nest was attached to a rafter some 8 feet from ground, and lined with feathers. Two Green Herons nested and reared three babies in June at Waukomis Lake. The little flock of five had worlds of fun playing in the button-willows and reeds. Sometimes they would all fly down upon one another in a close huddle on the ground, evidently a brief family pow-wow. 1 found a female Towhee at Pickwick Dam, July 7. Young birds were near, as I could hear their chirps but could not see them in the thick underbrush. The mother bird was excited when I was near. A Hooded Warbler appeared at the same spot where I saw the Towhee Six immature Little Blue Herons appeared at Waukomis July 28. I got very close to them and easily distinguished them from pos- 1938 The Migkant 65 sible Snowy Egret. The birds were pure white with olive legs and feet. The Egrets have blackish legs, yellow feet and yellow bill. Amateur bird students sometimes lump all the big snowy birds into one class and call them white cranes — a careless misnomer. One evening at dark, about tht first of August, I heard a strange song in field near roadside. All the adjectives I know would not adequately describe its melody. I went back each evening and heard the song repeated, each time from the same spot. It was too dark to see. At last I got there early enough to find and identify the bird. It turned out to be, greatly to my surprise, a Field Sparrow. I know the Field Sparrow’s song well, as I have heard it a thousand times; but never before had I heard the particular combination of notes. There were four or five grown birds and a dozen young ones in the grass. Check- ing up on the subject, I have found that sometimes an individual Field .Sparrow will have a wide repertoire. — Benj. R. Wabriner, Corinth. NASHVILLE AREA: — A summer of normal and well distributed rain- fall produced an abundant food supply for the birds and more than the average number of young were brought forth as a result. We are appar- ently entering a cycle of wet years, having just passed thru a series of dry ones, and a general increase in birdlife will probably result. Insect life was and a general increase in birdlife will probably result. Insect life was noticeably abundant the past summer but there were birds enough to keep it in check. Shorebirds have been unusually scarce this fall, be- lieved to be due to sufficient rainfall in the Northwest to fill the prairie sloughs and making it unnecessary for the waders to move southward. Crackles, Starlings, Robins, etc., have been roosting along the city streets, in the maples, in their usual large numbers. They come in from the coun- try before sundown, having learned that they are less apt to be shot at in the city. People who live near them, however, complain bitterly about being awakened /too early by their noise. Swifts, too, have been present in great numbers and many thousands have been banded by local bird banders. Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Abernathy have raised a flock of Bob-whites, hatching a nestful of abandoned eggs under a bantam, The birds, now about grown, range the neighborhood but still come home to be fed and will eat from their hands. Mr. H. O. Todd, of Murfreesboro, reports the taking of a Pigeon Hawk there the last week in September and he prepared the speci- men for his collection; we have very few records for this transient visitor. The Golden Eagle which has been kept at a filling station near Mur- freesboro, and retained by some legal process, was released from its cage recently by an interested citizen. A pair of Bald Eagles are again re- ported to be making headquarters at Indian Lake near Hendersonville. Two nests of the Barn Swallow were found by Mrs. Laskey on June 25, in a small culvert under a road in Warner Park. One nest held young just hatched and the other had just been completed. There was a foot of water in the culvert. With one exception [Migrant, IV, p. 22) all nests previously found here have been in barns. Hundreds of Purple Martins formerly nested about the cornices of the old Fayetteville courthouse be- fore it burned. In its reconstructon, no provision was made for the Martins and so this picturesque and animated feature has been lost to the 66 The Migrant September square. At nearby Wartrace, a feature of the town is the large Martin house at its center, in the railway depot grounds. — A. F. Ganier, Nashville. CLARKSVILLE AREA: — During the last quarter our list of birds oc- curring in Montgomery County has been increased by two species and now stands at 195. The additions are: Double-crested Cormorant, one observed on the Cumberland River near Palmyra on May 28 and an immature bird shown to us Sept. 29 after it had been killed on Dunbar’s Cave lake; and Caspian Tern, one seen as it flew over town on Sept. 10, — white bird of large size with black wing-tips and moderately notched tail. As the fledgling Purple Martins were leaving the nests, about the middle of July, they were seen late in the day lined up on the ridge of a bungalow roof that seemed to serve them for walking exercises. A few birds would come down the slope and then hasten back to their place in the line whereupon others would follow their examples. After a few evenings of this they all joined the roost of their elders on the telephone wires. Dr. Pickering was given a young Martin that had fallen out of the nest in a colony in another part of town. The youngster was raised by feeding him for about a week on hamburger meat, giving him water and providing exercise by setting him on the clothesline. When the bird finally took to his wings he was immediately met and apparently also fed, by one of the old birds from Dr. Pickering’s flock. — Hummingbirds attracted our attention as they v/ere gleaning insects from the branches and twigs of a dead honey locust. We also saw a number of these dauntless mites one rainy day fly about during hard showers that had driven all other birds to shelter. This was while the trumpet vines were in bloom and young probably had to be fed. Strange behavior was noticed in a Great Blue Heron in that we found him several hundred yards away from water although there were suitable ponds in the neighborhood. Neither did he go there after we flushed him, — instead we found him in the shade of a tree row at the opening of the lane that leads to the farm we had visited. About the middle of August Cliff Swallows were seen many miles inland from their nesting sites on the Cumberland River. Aug. 27 the first nightly migration of Warblers was heard, however a stray Magnolia Warbler had already been found a month earlier. Oven-birds and Blackburnian Warblers seem more abundant this fall than in other years. One of our members was fortunate in seeing a Nighthawk flight on Sept. 1 in which probably 300 birds took part. They came at dusk from the northwest and flew rather low and in straight lines, but were widely separated. While there was only few of them in sight at any one time, there seemed to be no end to the procession and it made a spectacle that would thrill any bird-student. On the same day, another member reported a group of 40 Nighthawks An even stranger happen- ing, probably, was an enormous gathering of Chimney Swifts observed by Dr. Pickering on July 19. Not risking an estimate of their number he states that the sky was black with them as he watched them mill around for about 15 minutes and that he has never seen a similar mass of Swifts. They did not concentrate at their roosts here until about Sept. 1, six weeks later. — Alfred Clebsch, Clarksville. 1938 The Migrant 67 KNOXVILLE AREA: — There are a few items of interest which should be mentioned in the summer notes from this area. Black Terns were more plentiful on Norris Lake than any other water-birds if observations from three areas are indicative. These localities were: Doak’s Creek Landing, the junction of the Powell and Clinch Rivers, and at the Andersonville boat dock. The Little Blue, Great Blue and Green Heron and in addition, one Herring Gull, were the other water-birds seen on Norris Lake since mid- June. — Lake Andrew Jackson, a small lake about twelve miles west of Knox- ville was the only other locality that yielded anything of interest. On July 24, Charles Baird, Mrs. Walker, and I spent some 30 to 40 minutes chasing a duck in and out of the willow thickets and marsh grasses at one end of the lake. Finally it took off in ‘Coot-fashion’ and flew to another patch of willows. On Aug. 7 we found the duck again but this time it was molting and could not fly. From its size, color, greenish bill, and red legs we deci- ded it was a Red-legged Black Duck. — The Pied-billed Grebe and Least Bittern were found on July 24 and the Least Bittern again on the 30th. A Black Tern was present at the lake on July 30. The Green Herons were last seen on Aug. 13. Shorebirds were rare or else late in arriving because only the Spotted Sandpiper was reported this summer. — Hawks were very rare. In fact two pairs of Sparrow Hawks were the only ones seen during the sum- mer. A young Sparrow Hawk was caught in Science Hall, University of Ten- nessee campus on June 10 and another brood was learning to fly on Aug. 26. These hawks have nested in Science Hall tower for the past four years. — Wm. Walker, Knoxville. JOHNSON CITY AREA: — The breeding season was very late getting under way this spring. The Robins did not arrive until Jan. 20 while in the winter of 1936-1937 they arrived during Christmas week in large numbers, harbingers of the beautifully mild January of 1937 which was to follow. I ^ am convinced that in addition to a homing and directional instinct the birds can sense the nature of the weather and temperature of the approaching weeks, and govern their migration in accordance therewith. Breeding was abundant in the latter part of the season, — young Robins were being fed on my lawn as late as Aug. 8 and at the same time the Song Sparrows were were also feeding nestlings. — The Prairie Horned Lark was observed in Shady Valley, Johnson County, on June first. I had spent the day in the Valley with my colleague, Robert B. Lyle, and was turning homeward about four o’clock, traveling on a byroad, when we flushed a fine specimen. We stopped at once and by the aid of our field glasses soon located the bird which, being very accommodating, gave us abundant opportunity to observe and study his markings. This species breeds regularly, tho sparingly, in this area, having been found from the lower portion of the Transition zone at 1500 feet elevation to the Canadian zone on Little Roan Mountain at an elevation of 5300 feet. During the winter it occurs in large flocks, as many as 100 birds having been observed in one day. Occasionally the more severe winter weather brings us the northern race. — The beautiful and rare Wil- son’s Warbler was observed on Roane Creek in Johnson County, May 7. The patches of lowland along the creek supply the conditions that it loves. At the point of observation the altitude was 2500 feet. This beautiful warb- 68 The Migrant September ler might well have been called the ‘Black-capped Warbler.’ As much as one might wish to laud the name of Wilson, it always seems to the writer that names descriptive of the bird itself are much to be preferred. — Bruce P. Tyler, Johnson City. THE ROUND TABLE LAUGHING GULL AT REELFOOT LAKE:— An immature Laughing Gull {Larus atricilla) was collected at Reelfoot Lake on August 9, 1938, and is the first record of this species in West Tennessee and the third for the state. It was observed swimming in the stump-dotted area east of Upper Blue Basin, at the northen end of the lake. A close approach was possible, but a sight record of this accidental species was felt to be insufficient and it was col- lected by the writer. — The Laughing Gull in this plumage is ashy-gray above, with a white rump and clear underparts. The white tips of the dark prim- aries and secondaries form a prominent border on the hind edge of the wing — a good field characteristic. A narrow white line terminates the broad black band of the tail. The measurements of the specimen, a female of this year, are slightly less than the typical measurements as given in Chap- man’s “Handbook of Birds’’. The identification was verified by Dr. Alex- ander Wetmore, of the U. S. National Museum. The specimen is now in possession of the writer. — A single bird of this species was collected from a flock of six near Knoxville, Sept. 18, 1932 {The Migrant, 1933, pp. 8-9 and p. 47). A single bird (with head black) was taken about 1915 on the French Broad River near Del Rio (The Migrant, 1935, p. 50). — ^Thomas W. Simpson, Reelfoot Lake Biological Station. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER AT MUD LAKE:— On Sept. 25, 1938, the writer spent the late afternoon observing the variety of waterbirds which had been attracted to Mud Lake — a very shallow body of water mile long situated on the Tenn. — Miss, state line south of Memphis. The shorebirds were given the most attention and the number observed was approximately 650, most of which were ‘peeps’. However, one large shorebird was flushed and observed as it flew along the margin of the lake. While in flight the bird continually gave a two-syllabled, more or less plaintive whistle. Evi- dently it was quite shy as it remained in flight several minutes, finally landing on the north side of the lake. By gradually moving closer thru knee-deep water and mud the writer was finally able to approach to within 50 feet of the bird before it flushed again. It was slightly larger and stockier than the nearby Killdeers. Its bill was stout, typically plover-like, and its gen- eral appearance was uniformly grayish. No distinctive markings were made out in the limited time in which the writer had to make his observations until the bird flew; then black patches showed up prominently on the under surfaces of the wings and axillars. Identifications as a Black-bellied Plover 1938 The Migrant 69 was made on the basis of its size, plover-like appearance, and black axil- lary feathers under the wing which according to Peterson are determinative in any plumage. — ^Wendell L. Whittemore, University of Tennessee Medical School, Memphis. Editor’s Note: This is the first record for the Memphis area. EARLY MARSH HAWK RECORD: — Although there are early Septem- ber records of the Marsh Hawk I was surprised to see a hawk of this species. Sept. 5, just east of Brownsville, while driving from Memphis to Nashville. It was circling at a low elevation directly over the highway and I saw it clearly in the bright sunlight, checking the rump patch, broad tail bars, general size and shape, to my full satisfaction, as the car travelled towards the bird. — HaRry C. Monk, Nashville. NOTES FROM PARIS: — Last winter the White-throated Sparrows and the Slate-colored Juncos appeared often in flocks and were our most com- mon winter birds. Occasionally a Hermit Thrush was seen in a deep wood, and perhaps the small but pert Winter Wren. The Golden-crowned King- lets preferred a cedar wood. Later the Chipping Sparrow appeared on our lawn followed by other sparrows. And in May large flocks of Goldfinches were seen about town while Cedar Waxings seemed partial to the plantings at a local cemetry. A Black and White Warbler creeping up a tree trunk on the lawn, proved an interesting sight. Other common summer resi- dents than those listed elsewhere are: Bronzed Grackle, Indigo Bunting, Maryland Yellow-throat, Brown Thrasher, Wood Thrush, Meadowlark, Pur- ple Martin, Tufted Titmouse, Flicker, Bob-white, Mourning Dove, Wood Pewee. American Egrets were seen at Sulphur Well this summer. —Paul Crosswy, Paris. NOTES FROM MURFREESBORO: — On August 1, after two or three days of rain, about fifty Black Terns appeared on a swollen branch about tour or five miles east of Murfreesboro. A specimen was taken and the skin is now in the possession of Mr. H. O. Todd, Jr. — Upland Plovers have been seen and heard fiying over since July 13. — A late Mourning Dove nest with young birds in it was found on August 28. We estimated that they would be able to leave the nest not sooner than a week or ten days later. — George Davis, Murfreesboro. SUMMER BIRD-LIFE OF A MT. PLEASANT FARM: — Observations made this summer have been less than usual but I will, however, try to make some estimate of the more common breeding birds on my farm of 200 acres. It is bounded on one side by the East fork of Bigby Creek, and there is about 25 acres of bottom land next to the creek, which is bordered with timber. I have one field of about 15 acres in which are scattered about 50 old trees, many with dead tops. The rest of the farm is slightly rolling, and divided into fields of from 5 to 25 acres, with trees or bushes growing in practically all of the fence rows, as I do not keep my fence rows clean. There is a small stream which bisects the farm, and which is bordered with young timber, from 20 to 40 feet high. Close 70 The Migrant September by this stream is a pond of about a half acre where grow a few cat-tails in which a few pairs of Red-wings nest every year. About 60 acres of row crops are grown each year, about 25 acres of small grain, and I usually nave about 75 to 85 acres of lespedeza or grass, the balance being in thickets and timber bordering the little stream and fences. I think the commonest Dreeding birds would be about as follows: Robin, Meadowlark, Blue Jay, Brown Thrasher, Cardinal, Catbird, Carolina Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Mourn- ing Dove, Indigo Bunting. There are a number of other birds, including Bob-whites, (have seen 4 young coveys recently). Chickadees, Tufted Tit- mice, one pair each of Sparrow Hawks and Barn Owls, Screech Owls, Red- wings, Bronzed Crackles, Starlings (a few pairs in the old trees), Downy, Hairy, Red-headed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Flickers, White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireos, Maryland Yellow-throats, Yellow Warblers, etc., that are present on the place in summer, most or all of which I feel sure breed here. Some of these may be somewhat commoner than some of the ten mentioned above. There seem to be very few sparrows of any kind on the farm in summer, except, of course, the “English,” which I did not in- clude in my list. Crackles do not seem to breed here the last few years, although large flocks of them appear towards the end of summer, and this applies also to Starlings and Red-wings. I am only mentioning birds which I see on my farm. If you would take this whole vicinity, the Crackles, Red- wings and Starlings would probably be quite high in the list. I believe the list as a whole would be typical of the farming country between Mt. Pleas- ant and Columbia. I think we had more Doves this year, up to about July 1, than we have had for many years, but they seem to have disappeared some time between July and Sept. 1, as the shooting has been very poor. Nearly every farmer around here now plants lespedeza with his wheat. After the wheat is cut, this forms a very dense cover, and the Doves, according to my theory, no longer feed in the wheat stubble as they used to when the wheat was fol- lowed by crab grass and foxtail, but hunt some place where they can get to the ground to feed. — Dan R. Cray, Mt. Pleasant. SOME UNUSUALLY LARCE BROODS; SCARCITY OF LATE NESTS: — .My banding records of nestlings this year excell past seasons in numbers of apparently successful large broods. Francis Lawrence, Arthur McMur- ray, and William Simpson assisted in locating and banding some of these broods on the following dates: April 22, 4 Cardinal fleldgings ready to leave; April 23, in nest box at Warner Park, brood of 7 Bluebirds; April 23, a Robin with 5 nestlings; April 30, a Bewick’s Wren with 7 fledglings ready to leave their nest in a drain pipe on a terrace at Warner Park; May 4 and May 17, Mockingbirds with 5 nestlings each; April 25, May 14 and May 18, Brown Thrashers with 5 nestlings each. The April 25th group nested at the home banding station and all remained here for at least a month, — the entire group of five going into the banding traps repeatedly until the last of May. A resident pair of Mockingbirds (color banded) had four success- ful nests built within an area of 9 by 36 yards. Two fledglings left the first nest April 21, four from the second nest on May 22, three left the third nest June 25, and four left the fourth nest by July 30. — This year there were no 1938 The Migrant 71 August or September nests in the garden and only a few were observed elsewhere. In August one Bluebird, one Catbird, and one Dove nest were seen. Possibly the abundant rainfall and luxuriant vegetation was conduc- ive to a successful normal breeding period with no urge for late attempts — Amelia R. Laskey, Nashville. NOTES FROM KNOXVILLE : — Early in March great flocks of Robins, hundreds in numbers, appeared at my place on the top of a ridge seven miles north of Knoxville. They remained in the neighborhood for several days, running over the lawn and garden during the day, roosting in the woods nearby at night. These, I suppose, were Northern Robins returning from the South. We have Southern Robins with us the year around. How- ever, it is impossible to distinguish these two races in the field. — About the same time that the Robins came, Phoebes began to be vocal. A few of these flycatchers often winter in this region. Less often is this also true of Brown Thrashers which were in evidence early in April. — Both the Slate- colored Junco and White-throated Sparrow were unusually abundant at my place during the past winter. By April 15 the Juncos had left while the White-throats lingered until May 12. I have, on one occasion, thought I heard the song of the latter here in June. Every year I hope that they may nest here but their habit is to be abundant one day and suddenly vanish during the night. That birds do change their habitat is attested by the well-established fact that Robins did not nest in the Knoxville area fifty years ago but are now common. — Before the Juncos and White-throats left, numbers of Chipping Sparrows had appeared. These were unusually abun- dant this year, beginning to leave by Aug. 31. Other birds that were especially numerous during the past season were Summer Tanagers and Carolina Wrens. Hairy and Downy Wood- peckers and Flickers or ‘Golden-winged Woodpeckers’ have been plenti- ful. Fewer in numbers were Chimney Swifts, Catbirds, and warblers of all sorts. A bird that ordinarily nests just outside my windows every year, the White-eyed Vireo, was absent this year. Two Bob-whites appeared at my feeding station for the first time during this summer and Bluebirds have eaten there every day. — The most unusual visitor was a Pileated Wood- pecker, not to the feeding station but to a pokeberry bush left growing for the benefit of the birds, in a flower border about twenty feet away from the house. The Red-headed Woodpecker is never seen on my place although it is extremely numerous in a village about a mile away. — Among the larger birds, Crows and Hawks of all kinds were noticeably fewer in numbers throughout this region than they were five years ago. — Lucy Templeton, Knoxville. CLARKSVILLE : — Meetings are scheduled for Oct. 11, 25; Nov. 8, 22; and Dec. 6, 20. The mid-winter bird census of the chapter will be made on Sun- day, December 18. Alfred Clebsch, 838 Gracey, is secretary. MEMPHIS: — The Fall Field Day will be held Oct. 30, and, for the third year, in the Shelby Forest. Bi-weekly meetings at the Pink Palace Museum will resume shortly. Mrs. T. I. Klyce, Raleigh, Tenn., is secretary. 72 The Migrant September THE MIGRANT A Quarterly Journal, Devoted to the Study of Tennessee Birds. Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society. Editor, Ben B. Coffey, Jr., 672 N. Belvedere, Memphis. Secretary-Treasurer, Alfred Clebsch, 838 Gracey Ave.. Clarksville. Regional Editors; Albert P. Ganier, Nashville; Harry P. I jams, Knoxville; Bruce P. Tyler, Johnson City; Alfred Clebsch, Clarksville. Business Manager, Vernon Sharp, Jr., 225 Capitol Blvd., Nashville. Dues for Active and Corresponding Members, $1 per year, should be sent to the Sec.-Treas. Subscription price, 75 cents per year, free to mem- bers. Sustaining members, at $5 per year, receive four extra copies mailed to addresses designated. Items for publication should be sent to the Editor. “TTie simple truth about birds is interesting enough, it is not necessary to go beyond it.’' We want to thank our contributors for the promptness in which most copy was sent in for publication in this issue and hope that the good practice will continue despite the present delay in the finished product. We regret the lateness of issue and hope to do much better with the December number. Our copy basket is practically empty so please send in material now and all seasonal notes by December 5. The sooner the better as after the flocks of Chimney Swifts leave here (about October 20) we plan to start work on the next issue in order to have it out of the way before time for Xmas Census lists. Spare time work can easily be disrupted by illness or other unavoidable causes and in addition we were faced with the choice of seriously curtail- ing our local Chimney Swift banding or further delay. We felt the band- ing was more important this season than ever before due to the record- breaking banding being done at Nashville, Clarksville, and below us, at Baton Rouge, La. We hope to have some interesting information to pass on later. We are greatly indebted to Mr. Ganier for handling all work (including printing contacts) done in connection with the pictures which appear herein. In addition to relieving us of that much additional work, we feel that he was much better qualified to look after that feature. In the June issue we omitted, thru a typographical oversight, the list- ing of our good friend. Prof. George Davis, as a director in the T. O. S. from the Murfreesboro Chapter. This chapter, organized in 1935, is composed of some of our most interested and capable members. We are also glad to list Mr. Alfred E. Claggett of Wales as a director from the Blue Grass Chapter. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the T. O. S. has been called for Oct. 16 at Warner Park, Nashville, in connection with the Fall Field Day of the Nashville Chapter. I ONr/\ffiQ ^jscovefies of COW6»ROS 0Qnd ^Wo+«r Valleij k s.* THe MIGRANT t9a9 ^ , — • ---E Tennessee Conservation In Every Form is Covered by TENNESSEE WILDLIFE Official Organ of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and the State Dept, of Conservation Published Monthly at One Dollar per Year Address Tennessee Wildlife Federation Noel Hotel NASHVILLE, TENN. 3- VerfectBox for “Birds and Banders REMOVABLE NEST SECTION FOR BANDING, OBSERVATtON&CLE&NING. ONEQUARTERTURN TRAPS PARENT BIRD (OR ENGLISH SPARROWS,ETC) CORRECT DIMENSIONS BYTHOROUGH TESTS. SELF VENTILATING, DURABLE, ATTRACTIVE. WEATHER AND RAIN 'PROOF CONSTRUCTION. F/fSrmMD OPEDATFS FPOM THE BOTTOM--^ CAffBEWffJfEDfPOMmE C/tOm APMS LENGTH ABOFE THE HEAD $1S£EACH 2F0R$IZ§ 6F0R$5S2 POSTAGE PPEPA/D H.P.IJAMS R.D.9. KNOXVILLE, TENN. PAT.FEB.I930 N9 1748399- GLENHAVEN Bird Banding Traps Sparrow Traps Cat Traps Martin Houses Bird Banders Equipment of All Kinds Write for Folder GLENHAVEN BIRD SANCTUARY RUSSELL S. DAVIS Clayton, 111. Compliments of Alfred C. Schmidt Creator of Artistic Lifelike Taxidermy MEMPHIS S asv I The MIGRANT is printed by the DAVIS PRINTING CO., Memphis. D URY’ S Are Headquarters for FIELD GLASSES STEREO PRISM BINOCULARS GRAFLEX CAMERAS KODAKS CINE KODAKS Bell & Howell MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT ARTISTS’ SUPPLIES DRAWING MATERIALS LANTERN SLIDES MADE TO ORDER EXPERT DEVELOPING, PRINTING, ENLARGING GEO. C. DURY CO. 420 Union Street Nashville, Tenn. — — ■■ ' ' ■ B Patronize our advertisers and mention THE MIGRANT ' - I' \ ‘ ^ ' t '^/‘ ' ^'j - i,' 'f ‘SPKv -'*^’-1' /'V' '■f' ■■e-|if'»^^J>:4sr ,j' ;: ^o<>ks , 'V iv-,: •:?&.■: Nature I4i«d%i3r# 'CK.et ■ .ti4.ted;S'|'’’''ei t& Uo* ’ WaUT By Ches.'ter" lt|ltnver»'.|j^ of tlbtv'Rockiea.:wBy , *' t^fiy J. HollaW^ • 0 Tree ^4tTDTJBON’^'''Slpl^'^^ ^^"eiy hands«me,voliS| tainliig large vfi^oductions of Audub6ii*f||0() faiaoua / platea, lithogih^lied ia full colors with deacriptUMis of each - _.„gi^--_-^:.$i2.5p RourkOi' y^.;i)'ew;!-bji@^^ oiShe fam* with X2 Audubott plates repi^du^ lu plots. 342 'A TPIE birds. ,By :R9^#^'Tory,;F library i» cbiapl^ without .thUIiiej^^ M trated in wash and color. The grea^^vaM 'l^ BIRDS OF AMERI0.4h Edited by T, Gilbert Peiraoitt,.^ illustratedVrwftii: 10€ color plate^ many ph^p^&pF,BlRl^ A.^:Ae Cornell • profusely ilRystrated i: TOAwXpiT'W^' THE. S|ps. By Rudy^irif iBftultoa. A book'^«:m'®Wc ‘migraft^^rBefiit^Pcodf^ plateA’lS^r^-'^J^A:'', % I BHtiiS. By AtoT R. Ball. ''•>;;|?S ' 1 raxed ' ‘v«'''tlh .47, nelor*. plates bj;^ HorStarB; 231 if^SS’^pecies, illuit:^ -B, '■ 1^ , :a. /. ■y. N^ie. ^lanchatt. ^.Alk abodS,#^^f^;|*ds 'thal^;'^yv^ . ^^ra|,ed , a" 4/-^-^ - ■^^'^*^dewFhsher. i'pbpt^r- A-iSier iy - ;fes^.J40 pagefcftiily- y_A.j^Fy1^n-ieT. 64 p^.'^-distribrntional BSrt f peei&.^ii^Ato be found onr ^toe, -or write abo~at‘|^^Hj|P|re,, .gardening.' and-; *■>*79 il t: T«l . 6 ^641 C'* ' ■ ^ THE MIGRANT VOL. IX DECEMBER, 1938 NO. 4 Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society, to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Tennessee. Issued in March, June, September and December. 1938 SWIFT BANDING AT NASHVILLE AND CLARKSVILLE By John B. Calhoun The first attempts at Chimney Swift banding in Nashville were made in 1937 when Mrs. Amelia R. Laskey, with the aid of Arthur McMurray, trapped two very small flocks. They banded 47 on Aug. 28, 1937, at the Southland Body Works, and 148 on October 2, 1937, at the Meridian Street Methodist Church. The trap used at that time was too bulky to be conveniently handled with the result that quite a few Swifts escaped. A bird banded at Kingston, Ontario, on May 16, 1936, was taken in the first group. This work was resumed in 1938, being carried on by myself from August 23 to September 7, and by Mrs. Laskey from September 10 to 27, inclusive. The trap used this year was of the pentahedral type developed by J. C. Dick- inson, Jr. and myself at the University of Virginia. It was of the general type used and described elsewhere by Green, Coffey, and Peters. The metal funnel was flattened on the outside so as to reduce size and weight and to place the weight as near to the chimney as possible. The top sloped grad- ually to the back so that there was no back side. We will be glad to give further details of the trap, cage, and trapping technique to anyone interested. Valuable assistance was given by Arthur and Carl McMurray, Leo Rippy, William Simpson, Conrad Jamison, John Pritchett, Harry Monk, and several others. To these and to the people who allowed the work on the various buildings, appreciation is here expressed. Swift banding at Clarksville, Tenn. was carried out as a project of the Clarksville chapter of the T. O. S., under the permit of Mrs. John Y. Hutchi- son. The trap used was also of the pentahedral type. Dr. Pickering, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Alfred Clebsch, and Alfred Clebsch, Jr. are mainly responsi- ble for the success of this project which, however, could not have been car- ried out without the cooperation of the whole chapter. 4265 Swifts were banded in Clarksville. If other chapters of the T. O. S., where Swift band- ing is not already being done, would conduct similiar projects, a proportion- ately greater amount of facts concerning the movement of Chimney Swifts would result than is now the case. The first indication of colony formation in 1938 in Nashville was noticed on August 16, when 300 Swifts were seen at the Blakemore Methodist Church. Mr. H. C. Monk reported 800 there on August 20 and 500 at the Centennial Park chimney on August 21. On the evening of August 22 Monk and I made a smudge fire in the Park chimney, which was about 40 feet high, and forced the birds there to go elsewhere. It was completely dark before we could 78 The Migrant December, force all the Swifts to leave. Despite the heavy smoke several kept dropping into the chimney, only to be forced out in a few moments by the smoke. Most of the birds from this roost must have gone to the nearby Blakemore chimney since Leo Rippy and Alfred Clebsch, Jr. reported many stragglers arrived there after the main body had already entered. Most of the chimneys at which banding was carried on were twenty feet or less in height above the roof, so that the usual method of piping the Swifts down into the gathering cage could be employed. On three chimneys which extended over thirty feet above the roof another technique was used which made the trapping of Swifts in high chimneys relatively simple. After placing an extension ladder against the chimney the trap was pulled up with a rope and set in place. Then the gathering cage was like- wise raised until the funnel of the trap extended into the top of the gather- ing cage. As soon as the gathering cage was full the flow of Swifts was cut off and the cage lowered to the roof where banding operations could be carried out with relative ease. In all our operations we forced the birds out of the chimneys by lower^ ing a large tin can containing rocks into the chimney, and rattling it vigor- ously just below the birds. In this way we had little difficulty in scaring them out, even when we had to stop the flow of birds several times during the banding operations. Two distinct methods of entering a chimney to roost were noticed. The hrst of these was the normal method of circling clockwise or counter- clockwise until the entire flock had assembled, after which time the whole flock would pour into the chimney. On the evening of August 30 another method was observed. At 6:20 p-m. while it was quite light, I arrived at Father Ryan High School where a flock of 300 or 400 had already gathered and were flying erratically about the chimney; some birds going in all the time. The number of birds outside the chimney nevertheless remained con- stant, due to new recruits coming in continuously from all directions, in flocks of 12 to 100 flying low and fast. This went on for fifteen minutes, during which time at least 2500 Swifts entered the chimney. This process must have been going on for some time before my arrival since we removed 4467 birds from the chimney the next day. This same method of entering was also observed once at Warner School. FOREIGN SWIFTS From Tables 3 and 4 it may be seen that 37 foreign birds were captured in Nashville and 7 in Clarksville, excluding in each case those flying be- tween the two cities. With the exception of the three Swifts banded by J. C. Dickinson, Jr. and myself at Charlottesville, Virginia, all foreign re- coveries were from west of the Appalachian Mountains. Ten of the Swifts which were banded north of Tennessee were caught in the same season that they were banded. Of these. No. 39-111991, banded by Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Frei at Glasgow, Ky., is of particular interest because it was recovered by Mrs. Laskey the morning after it was banded. This indicated it had flown the 85 miles from Glasgow to Nashville in one day as it had been released at 5:30 a.m., September 22, and had entered the Nashville chimney 1938 The Migrant 79 to roost by 6:30 p.m. the same day, the time at which the chimney was cov- ered. Another class of foreign captures that were of particular interest were those that had been banded this same season south of our stations, in- dicating a definite northward movement. Three Swifts banded at Memphis on Sept. 5 were trapped, two at Clarksville and one at Nashville. Outstand- ing, though, was a bird banded Sept. 27 at Baton Rouge, La. by Mr. George H. Lowery, Jr., which was caught five days afterwards at Clarksville, 460 miles north-northeast. This is an average of about 100 miles a day. The most unusual of these five records was perhaps that of a Swift banded at Clarksville on Sept. 11 which wandered east-northeast 480 miles and was re- covered by us at Charlottesville, Va. on Oct. 1. Thus for the first time we have records (infrequent but indicative) that show how extensive the random flying of this species during its leisurely fall migration can be. This might be expected of birds with the power of flight that the Swifts have. RETURNS Of the 195 Swifts banded by Mrs. Laskey in 1937 fifteen individuals were retaken this year, two of which repeated. Five were of the 47 banded Aug. 28, 1937, and ten of the 148 banded Oct. 2, 1937; seven of the latter were taken during August of this year. One of the first mentioned five was taken Aug. 27, 1938, in the same chimney from which it was banded. REPEATS AND INTER-CITY RECORDS Of prime importance in the banding at Nashville and Clarksville is the great number of ‘repeats’ which showed local movement and the large num- ber of inter-city recoveries. An even 50 Swifts banded in Nashville were trapped later in Clarksville and 13 Clarksville Swifts were taken in Nash- ville. We might say 14 of the latter, technically, as 39-65781, banded origin- ally in Nashville on Aug. 27, was recovered in Clarksville on Sept. 11, and again in Nashville on Sept. 15. At Clarksville there were 183 ‘repeat’ records for 182 Swifts repeating, — that is, one bird repeated twice. At Nashville 1396 Swifts repeated, 63 of them two times and 8 of them three times, for a total of 1475 repeat records. This includes 5 foreign Swifts, three of which repeated twice and 2 of our local returns from 1937 which repeated. All repeats but two were recorded from different stations than that at which they were originally trapped. In Tables 1 and 2* we have listed complete data on inter-station and inter-city movements; the relative location of all Nashville stations is shown on an insert. From this tabulation it is evident that there is no flock unity. In the evenings the Swifts evidently stop at the first convenient roosting place, depending on where their wanderings in search of food have taken them. Thus in any flock the number may remain fairly constant, but its composition may change daily due to local movement rather than to an influx of Swifts from some northern point. It is notice- able that the farther apart two dates of banding are the less likelihood there is of re-trapping any birds from the first flock; nevertheless, a month after our first two banding dates, Aug. 23 and Aug. 27 there were 30 repeats from those flocks among the 896 Swifts caught on Sept. 27 at Ward-Belmont. We sec then that although there were a considerable number of Swifts leaving Nashville during August and September, presumably for the most part going •These Tables are shown on a chart on a later pa&e. so The Migrant December, southward, there was evidently quite a ‘rear-guard’ consisting of Swifts which had spread out locally and to neighboring cities. For a more com- plete account of the movement of Chimney Swifts between cities in a given region see Dr. H. S. Peters’ account of his banding in Alabama and Georgia in 1936 (Bird Banding, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 16-24). As we banded more birds the percentage of repeats in each succeeding flock increased gradually until we trapped our largest flock (4467) on Aug. 31. Then the percentage jumped to a maximum of 21.2% in a flock of 1336 taken the next day two miles away (52% of these ‘repeats’ were from and constituted 3.44% of the big flock of the day before). The percentage was 18.3% on Sept. 5 but afterwards averaged about 12%. The first large flock banded will normally have the largest proportion of Swifts which ‘turn-up’ again but Table I shows it (in this case the Aug. 23 flock) to be second with 15.4% of its members repeating. The flock with the highest percentage of all birds repeating later (21%) was a small one of 344 banded Aug. 28, the last flock trapped before the big flock of Aug. 31. Thirty-nine or 11.3% of its Swifts were found in the latter as was 7.1% of the large Southland Body Works flock of Aug. 27. I am indebted to Mrs. Laskey and to Mr. Clebsch for the complete data of their banding in their respective cities, and to Mr. Monk and Mr. Coffey for the preparation of Tables 1 and 2. TABLE 3 — ^Swifts Banded Elsewhere (Foreign), Recoveries at Nashville- Place Band Number Date Banded Date Recovered Charlottesville, Va. 38-123561 May 13, 1938 Sept 5, 1938 (Dickinson and Calhoun) 38-174541 May 15, 1938 Sept 7, 1938 38-172959 May 15, 1938 Sept 10, 1938 Ithaca, N. Y. 38-162508 May 9, 1938 Aug. 31, 1938 (W. W. Middlekauf). Kingston, Ont 34-45351 May 16, 1936 Aug. 28, 1938 (Miss Ida Merriman) 34-45942 May 24, 1936 Aug. 23 & 31, & Sept. 5 36-73156 May 16, 1937 Aug. 31, Sept. 1 36-73951 May 16, 1937 Sept 1, 1938 36-73690 May 16, 1937 «ept 17, 1938 37-90214 May 15, 1938 Aug. 31, 1938 37-90572 May 22, 1938 Sept 5, 1938 37-90971 May 29, 1938 Aug. 23, 1938 Blind River, Ont 88-145591 July 23, 1938 Aug. 27, 1938 (Irvin S. Sturgis) 38-145944 July 23, 1938 Aug. 28 & 31, Sept. 1 38-145385 July 23, 1938 Aug. 31, 1938 38-145476 July 23, 1938 Aug. 31, 1938 38-146234 July 23, 1938 Sept 15, 1938 Charleston, W. Va. 34-58192 Sept 23, 1937 Aug. 31, 1938 (I. H. Johnston) 34-61098 Not yet recorded Sept 5, 1938 Newark, Ohio 38-52486 Sept 20, 1938 Sept. 27. 1938 (L. E. Hicks) Wheeling, 111. 37-146296 May 16. 1937 Aug. 31, 1938 (L. G. Flentge) Beloit, Wis. 38-120763 May 17, 1937 Aug. 27, 1938 (Carl Welty) 38-120314 May 17, 1937 Aug. 31, 1938 1938 The M1GJIA.NT 81 TABLE %—Cont. Band Number Date Banded Date Recovered Fairfield, Iowa L17136 May 13, 1933 Aug. 27, 1938 (Carl Welty) 34-126829 May 23, 1934 Aug. 31. 1938 35-119609 Oct 2, 1936 Aug. 23, 1938 Lexington, Mo., (Sturgis) 36-66285 May 26, 1936 Sept 6, 1938 Glasgow, Ky. 39-111991 Sept 22, 1938 Sept 23, 1938 (Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Frei) Memphis, Tenn. 34-93120 Oct 9, 1935 Sept 7, 1938 (Ben B. Coffey. Jr.) 36-86991 Oct 8, 1936 Sept 17, 1938 36-88259 Sept 16, 1937 Aug. 31, 1938 38-21128 Sept 21, 1937 Aug. 31 & Sept 1 38-21816 Oct 4, 1937 Aug. 23, 1938 38-85154 Sept 6, 1938 Sept 17, 1938 Baton Rouge, La. 38-114718 Oct 15, 1937 Aug. 27 & 28, (Geo. H. Lowery, Jr.) 38-115722 Oct 15, 1937 & Sept 17 Sept 6, 1938 38-115836 Oct 15, 1937 Sept 5, 1938 TABLE 4 — Foreign Recoveries at CParksvillb. Place Band Number Date Banded Date Recovered Beloit, Wis. 36-118798 May 16, 1935 Sept 11, 1938 (Carl Welty) Quincy, 111. 36-149170 Sept 16, 1936 Sept 11, 1938 (Musselman) Memphis, Tenn. 38-85253 Sept 6, 1938 Sept 11, 1938 (Ben B. Coffey, Jr.) 38-85077 Sept. 5 1938 Sept 24, 1938 Baton Rouge, La. 38-115643 Oct 16, 1937 Sept 24, 1938 (Geo. H. Lowery, Jr.) 39-36560 Sept. 27, 1938 Oct 2, 19S8 Data for one other swift has not yet been ascertained TABLE 5 — Nashville-Olaeksville Swifts Trapped Elsewhere This Fall, 1938 Nashville Clarksville Band Date Date Place of Number Banded Recovered Recovery 38-175721 Aug. 23 Sept 27 Baton Rouge, La. 38-176006 Aug. 23 Sept 18 Glasgow, Ky. 39-66001 Aug. 27 Oct. 8 Baton Rouge, La. 39-67114 Aug. 27 Oct 1 Baton Rouge, La. 39-67177 Aug. 27 Oct 1 Baton Rouge, La. 39-68405 Aug. 31 Sept 27 Baton Rouge, La. 39-68788 Aug. 31 Sept. 18 Glasgow, Ky. 39-68866 Aug. 31 Sept 27 Baton Rouge, La. 39-69028 Aug. 31 Sept 21 Memphis, Tenn. 39-69861 Aug. 31 Sept. 21 Memphis, Tenn. 39-70152 Aug. 31 Sept 21 Memphis, Tenn. 39-71932 Sept. 1 Sept 27 Baton Rouge, La. 39-72751 Sept 1 Sept. 18 Glasgow, Ky, 39-74383 Sept. 7 Sept 21 Memphis, Tenn. 39-83313 Sept 7 Oct. 1 Baton Rouge, La. 39 32268 Sept 10 Oct 1 Baton Rouge, La. 39-32423 Sept 10 Oct 1 Baton Rouge, La. 39-32712 Sept 17 Oct 8. Baton Rouge, La. 39-33834 Sept 17 9/20 to 10/6Madisonville, Ky. 39-75633 Sept 11 Sept 21 Memphis, Tenn. 39-76104 Sept 11 Oct. 8 Baton Rouge, La. 39-76771 Sept 11 Sept 18 Glasgow, Ky. 39-77737 Sept 11 Between Madisonville, Ky. 39-77822 Sept 24 Sept. 20 Madisonville, Ky. 39-77864 Sept 24 & Oct. 5 Madisonville, Ky. Miller School of Biology, Unr^ersity of Va-, Charlottesville, Va. Dec. 5, 1938. 82 The Migrant December, SWIFT BANDING IN THE SOUTH Ben B. Coffey, Jr. Bird banding stations in the South are all too few, not only from the standpoint of proper regional representation but from that of their greater potential value. Many species of birds which spend the summer in the North where a preponderance of banding stations are located, spend the winter in the South. In encouraging the banding of Chimney Swifts here we have an additional reason in the increased opportunity afforded us each fall to handle larger number of Swifts than possible in the North. The migrating or wan- dering flocks increase in numbers as they move southward and a few flocks may be found which number 5,000 to 6,000 birds. The largest flock that has been banded (as far as we can ascertain) was one of 6,025 at Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 11, 1936, by Dr. Harold S. Peters. Prof. Wyman R. Green trapped one of 7.000 birds at Chattanooga on Sept. 21, 1929, of which 1500 were banded and the others examined for old bands. In the fall of 1925 and of 1926, Mr. H. L. Stoddard banded a total of about 6.000 Swifts at Thomasville, Ga., Cairo, Ga-, and Tallahassee, Fla. This num- ber includes some banded in 1924 and in the spring of 1926. At Chattanooga Prof. Green trapped once in the fall of 1928 and again in 1929 and 1930. Due to a shortage of bands the first two years, about 9,000 birds were released un- banded, but in 1930 about 14,000 were banded for an approximate total of 17,500 Swifts. The writer trapped a large flock at Memphis in 1932 and in 1933 but only had 500 bands each time; the 1933 flock numbered about 5,000. Since then we have tried to band as many as we could but without outstand- ing success. This year, however, we banded our largest flock, one of 3585. Meanwhile in 1936, Dr. Harold S. Peters of the Biological Survey banded 15,478 Swifts in the Auburn, Ala. area and 6,025 at Atlanta, Ga., for a total of 21,503 — the record for one group of workers. At Auburn 6500 other Swifts were released unbanded due to a shortage of bands. In 1937 Dr. Peters re- turned and banded one flock of 1950 at Opelika, Ala. We hope that others will continue in that area. That fall also, Mr. George H. Lowery, Jr. began trapping Swifts at Baton Rouge, La., a very strategic location in relation to nearly all other banders. He banded 4500 in 1937; altho absent from the city several weeks in 1938, he banded 11,499 in four trappings (including 4,699 on Sept. 27). In Tennessee this last season 27,429 Swifts were banded. Nashville set the pace with 15,876, Mrs. Laskey’s enterprising group of assistants being led by our aggressive and enthusiastic fellow member, John B. Calhoun, who must have been half fireman and half monkey to trap on the chimneys that he did. 13,033 Swifts were banded before John left for University, Va. and the good work was kept going by Mrs. Laskey until the Swifts disappeared. 4,2l9 was the largest flock banded. Our chapter in nearby Clarksville banded 4,265 in their first season which is more than for any of our six previous years here in Memphis. Their work in connection with Mrs. Laskey’s was further valuable in that some determination could be made of the movements of Swifts between Nashville and Clarksville. The Nashville total alone is a few more than was banded in the Auburn area in 1936. An area of compar- able size would include both Nashville and Clarksville and the total for same would be 20,141. At Memphis we banded 7,288 Swifts, our best record. 1938 The Migrant 83 Swift banding was also undertaken at two nearby points in Kentucky this fall and pertinent data has been kindly supplied by the banders. Mr. and Mrs. F. Everett Frei banded a total of 888 Swifts at Glasgow on Sept. 18 and Sept. 22 and Mr. Raymond J. Fleetwood banded 2212 at Madisonville and adjacent Morton’s Gap, Sept. 20 to Oct. 5, inclusive. Glasgow is 85 miles northeast of Nashville and Madisonville is 60 miles north of Clarksville. Several of the Nashville and Clarksville Swifts were picked up at each place and we have taken the liberty of adding Table 5 to Mr. Calhoun’s article in order to show these and other recoveries of the Middle Tennessee birds. Attention should be called here to the extended northeastward wander- ings of some Swifts in the fall as described in Mr. Calhoun’s article. A second unaccountable phenomena, to the writer, is the scarcity of records between Memphis and Baton Rouge. In 1937 Mr. Lowery took 6 Memphis Swifts (including 3 out of 2373 banded that year) from about 4500 birds. In 1938 he took only 2 (also from those 2373) altho he handled about 11,600 Swifts. Yet 7488 Memphis birds were banded or recorded here this fall — 5600 before any trapping was done at Baton Rouge. And at Memphis we only recovered two of his 1937 birds. Evidently only Swift banding stations southwest of Memphis can complete the picture. In seven years only two of our Swifts have been reported elsewhere southwest or south of Memphis. Map of Station to Station Movements We have attempted to show graphically the number of Swifts recovered between the Tennessee stations and all other stations which have trapped our birds and whose birds have been picked up here. Recovery records for the two nearby Kentucky points were also plotted. So that some idea of the number banded at each station could be taken into consideration, that was also shown graphically for stations for which data had been kindly supplied us by the banding cooperators. The number used is the total for 1935 to 1938, inclusive, as we thought the residue of older banded birds in- sufficient to have an appreciable bearing. Exceptions are: Fairfield, Iowa, 1933-34, after which Prof. Welty removed to Beloit, Wis.; Clayton, 111., 1928 to 1934, designation arbitrary; Chattanooga, Tenn., merely indicated because of the one recovery made at Memphis (1934), — Prof. Green removed after banding about 17,500 Swifts in 1928-30. This recovery, the taking of a Mem- phis bird at Opelika, Ala. (1936), and that of an Atlanta bird at Glasgow, Ky. this fall, are apparently the exceptions to the generally indicated move- ments. Columbus, Ohio, Ashland, Ky., and Milledgeville, Ga., are shown but no movements between these points and the five ‘home’ stations have yet been recorded. Charlottesville, Va., is designated more briefly as Uni- versity. Some consideration was given to expressing recoveries as a mathemati- cal ratio or per cent based on the number of recoveries, the number of birds banded at one point and the number examined at the other point. However there were so many variable factors involved and modifications necessary for every case, affecting each ratio, that we not only abandoned the idea but eliminated from this article an elementary discussion of these factors as too complicated. Consequently the simple method was used and the actual total number of recoveries indicated. Where there is more than 84 The Migrant December, one recovery, the number is given. An example of figuring the total is given: 6 Memphis birds at Baton Rouge in 1937, 2 in 1938, 2 Baton Rouge birds at Memphis in 1938; total, Baton Rouge-Memphis, 10. Memphis re- coveries as shown date back to the first few in 1933 and 1934; those for the other four points are shown in Calhoun’s Tables 3 to 5 inclusive, augmented by a Kingston, Ontario recovery at Nashville in 1937. BIBLIOGRAPHY Coffey, Ben B. Jr. 1936. Chimney Swift Migration at Memphis. The Migrant, Vol. VII, December. Pp. 79-82, 96-98. 1937. Swift Banding at Memphis — ^Sixth Season. The Migrant, Vol. VIII, December. Pp. 70-72. Green, Wyman R. 1930a. Chimney Swift Banding Operations at Chattanooga. Wilson Bulletin, Vol. XLII. June. Pp. 110-118. 1930b. The Banding of Chimney Swifts at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Bird-Banding, Vol. I. July. Pp. 104-112. Laskey, Amelia R. 1937. Bird Banding Brevities No. 11. The Migrant, Vol. VIII. September. P. 52. Peters, Harold S. 1937. Chimney Swift Banding in Alabama During the Fall of 1936. Bird-Banding, Vol. VIII. January. Pp. 16-24. Stoddard, Herbert L., 1926. Methods of Banding Chimney Swifts in the South. Wilson Bulletin, Vol. XXXVIII. June. Pp. 122-123. Memphis, Tennessee. December, 1938 THE THIRD YEAR OF THE BLUEBIRD PROJECT By Amelia R. Laskey During the 1938 season, with the excellent help of William Simpson, it has been my privilege to continue with the Bluebird nestbox project in Percy Warner Park, described by Mr. E. D. Schreiber in The Migrant of March, 1938. Beginning February 23rd, forty-five trips were made to ex- amine the boxes, twenty of them alone and the remainder with William and a few other bird students, including Mr. Schreiber. Three or four hours were spent in the field on most of the trips because this year extraordinary efforts were made to capture the brooding females in the boxes in each of the nesting periods. With the exercise of much patience and strategy, in- cluding many trips during hard rains, which experience taught us was the only time certain individuals could be trapped, a large percentage was banded or trapped with bands for identification. No desertions, broken eggs, or ill effects of any kind were caused by the brief handling given the birds. The total number of fledglings that left the nest successfully this year, from the 37 boxes now placed in the park, exceeded the number fledged from the 27 original boxes during 1936 and 1937 combined. From the total of 460 eggs laid in 1938, an average of 4.42 for the 104 sets, 264 nestlings or 58.1 percent were successfully fledged. The early nests were most suc- cessful with 72.3 percent of the eggs laid developing to the fledgling stage. Results for the second period flgured 55.2 percent and for the third period, still lower, 42.6 percent. Two nesting attempts were made in a fourth period but both failed. SWIFT RECOVERIES BETWEEN BANDING STATIONS Number oj Records Shown to Scole Ijmber Bonded 1S3S-38 ^ hewn to 5cole 1,000 to 17,000 • /e-SS tboT (,0O0 m No Data Sfafian^ not named on map C= ClarksviU e , Tenn. M = Motd i sonvi He, V^. (S' Glasgow, B.C. i A 1938 The Migrant 87 From the 71 captures of brooding females in the 37 boxes, ample data was obtained to prove these birds have a strong attachment to their chosen nest boxes and that faithfulness to these nest sites is predominant. Dur- ing 1936 and 1937, only 18 brooding females were banded. In 1938, it was gratifying to recapture eight of those birds in nest boxes and six of them in the same boxes they used last year! In addition there were three brood- ing females trapped on the nest that had been banded as nestlings in the previous years. This year we trapped 27 unbanded brooding females. Num- bered aluminum bands were attached to the right tarsus of each so that at subsequent nesting periods it would be possible to learn whether there had been any shifting among the breeding Bluebird population. Thus, with the previously mentioned returns from other years, we had a total of 38 brood- ing birds tagged for identification. In the 33 repeat records of these fe- males can be found ample proof that faithfulness to the chosen box was the rule throughout the three nesting periods of the season. Although we were not successful in capturing each female in every nesting period, there are 19 records of females rearing two and three broods in the same box this season. In a few cases different females were found for the later nests. However, in the five boxes in which this situa- tion occurred, the history of four showed that fatalities or interferences by enemies were responsible. In one case the previous occupant had been killed by a cat, in another she was found injured and died, in a third case there were depredations by a chicken snake, and in a fourth, the nest was repeatedly robbed by unknown predators. The bird using Box 17 furnished a remarkable example of constancy, for in spite of continuous raids by a Starling, she occupied the box from early March to mid-July, making five unsuccessful attempts to raise a brood. The Starling was able to enter the box and even laid an egg among those of the Bluebird. No data is available to show the relative constancy of the males of this group because no male was ever found brooding and it was not pos- sible to trap them as they went into the box to feed the young, without specially equipped boxes. However, with binoculars it was possible oc- casionally, to see one with a band on his left tarsus, which indicated he had been banded previously as a nestling. Although this study has yielded considerable more interesting data, this summary also gives some idea of the eagerness of Bluebirds to use boxes placed for them. It is distressing to find that almost every tin news- paper box and mail box along our suburban and country roads has been used by Bluebirds in a futile attempt at nesting. Almost any type of box placed for them has been immediately taken by these lovely bits of blue that need only a sheltered cavity in an open situation for a nest site. As our wood fence posts are gradually replaced with steel and trees with hollow stubs fall victim to the axe, bird lovers thruout the state should make every effort to provide the proper substitute nesting and roosting facilities for the Bluebirds. An actual increase in their numbers will result. Nashville. Tenn., December, 1938. The Migrant December, BUILD A BLUEBIRD HOUSE By Merrill S. Carter When we consider how successful the Bluebird project in Percy Warner Park has been we would like to encourage other groups throughout the State to come to the aid of this most useful bird and conduct similar projects. When the average citizen puts up a bird house on his property he may be doing more harm than good, hence this article. Likewise, this mid-winter season is the best time to place houses, so that they may weather and lose all human odors, and also so that the birds may find them early and become acquainted with their future nesting sites. All bird houses might well be made of cypress, for this wood is easy to work, does not need to be painted, will weather and season without warping and splitting, and will last indefinitely. Other woods may be used but it is advisable never to use tin, clay or other substances that conduct heat. Rus- tic houses are of great value, as no doubt some birds consider the home made of a hollow limb as a natural nesting site, but the Bluebird seems to be in such great need of a suitable place to lay its eggs, that it will build in mail boxes and tin cans. The design need not be elaborate. Use wood that is % of an inch thick and you can construct your box without cutting a single mitre, angle or diffi- cult joint. Make the box about 5 or 6 inches square on the inside, and about twelve inches high. Place the entrance about ten inches above the floor. Let this opening be 2 inches in diameter. An expansion bit will save time here. Smaller entrances are recommended by some, but we have found this size as satisfactory. The English Sparrow will enter any box that the Blue- bird can, so here you must use some other way of discouraging this thief. The top of the box must be removable, even though you expect to keep no data, for then you can remove the inevitable Sparrow nest that is built in most boxes placed near homes. By catching the Sparrow hen, destroying the nest and eggs, you can usually persuade this pest that your box is not a suitable place for it. A removable top will permit observations, banding and cleaning. The nest may be taken out and the cavity cleaned on the very day that the first brood leaves. The mother bird will usually return for a second nesting within a week. The top may be secured with hooks and screw eyes, with hinges made of metal or leather, or with pins made of bent nails. First, you must bore a hole with a gimlet slightly larger than the shank of the nail. A portion of the top needs to extend down into the cavity when this “key” is used to permit the nail to go through the side into it. We have found that the top can even be horizontal as this will save the difficult angle saw cut. Let it extend over the sides and cover with tarpaper to turn the water. The location of a Bluebird box is very important. By all means place it in the open away from tree limbs and bushes and at a height of from three to ten feet, preferably three to five feet. The lower the height the more accessible it will be for observations inside and for cleaning. If a fence post is not available, a pole should be used. In locating it near a public thoroughfare remember that thoughtless persons and harmful animals might 1938 The Migrant 89 molest the box and thus cause the Bluebirds to desert their eggs. In open country boxes may be placed one to each acre of land and nearly all will J)e used. Do not put too close together as only one pair of birds wiB occupy a given territory. We hope that Bluebird house building and placing projects or contests can be arranged by our chapters and members, working through school classes, science groups, Boy Scouts, 4-H Clubs and othe**s. Nashville, Tennessee, December 15, 1938. THE RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF WINTER BIRDS AT NASHVILLE By Albert F. Ganieb For more than thirty-five years now, the magazine Bird-Lore has been publishing annually the results of the nation-wide Christmas bird census. This census was inaugurated to sustain interest in work afield at a season when the weather was not inviting, and, to gather information on the where- abouts and distribution of our birds during mid-winter. It was popular from the very start and its cooperators have carried on year after year or else passed the work on to younger observers. A good natured spirit of rivalry has prevailed and has spurred individuals and groups to do far more com- prehensive search than prevailed in the earlier years. As years go on, a considerable mass of such information accumulates and becomes available for study. A study of these lists, whether for a locality, a region or for the nation, represents a field as yet but lightly tapped but one which can yield many interesting results. A problem of primary interest, for any given locality, is the determination of the most abundant winter birds and the order of their abundance. Due to annual fluctuations, reasonably accurate results can only be deduced by taking the averages, thru a number of years. It is the purpose of this paper to present some methods of tabulating these averages and to encourage others to similarly work out the results for their localities. Christmas census lists have been made at Nashville since 1914— for 24 years — and by observers who respond year after year and thus make the work reasonably uniform. Of our first seven census lists, five were made by the writer without assistance. Since that time, however, fellow observers have increased in number until during the past seven years, there has been an average of fifteen afield. Field glasses of the binocular type are used and care is taken to correctly estimate the numbers where species are in flocks. As many of us as possible put in the entire day and a few work their localities beforehand so as to locate birds not regularly found. Be- tween 40 and 45 species will represent a good day’s record for one party of from two to four observers but when six to eight parties gather at the end of the day to compile results, the composite list usually runs between 62 and 66 species. The number of individuals of each species are set down upon printed listing cards, ail thru the day as the birds are seen, and the 90 The Migrant December, totals, finally set down upon the composite list, give the totals seen on the day’s census. Prom these composite lists the averages presented on the two charts on other pages are compiled. The areas covered lie chiefly southeast, south, and southwest of Nash- ville and from the city limits to about ten miles farther out. Only a small proportion of this area, of course, can be covered during the day of the census. Nashville lies in the northwest part of what geologists term the ‘Basin of Middle Tennessee’ and the altitudes range from 400 to 500 feet above sea level except on the hilltops. The soil, of limestone origin, is rich and produces a large variety of vegetation which in turn yields winter food for an avian population somewhat more abundant in winter than in less fertile areas. Dominant trees are the hackberry and red cedar, both of which bear berries upon which many species are largely dependent in cold weather. Chart No. 1, shows graphically the relative abundance of the nine most common birds for the last ten census lists as well as the average of these over the ten year period in the last column. In determining this average, however, the two extremes (maximum and minimum numbers recorded) have been omitted because such a result presents a truer picture than if all ten were taken. It will be noted that the Slate-colored Junco leads the list while the Cardinal is second and the White-throated Sparrow ranks third. It will also be noted that in Chart No. 1, the highly gregarious species — Starlings, Crackles, Cowbirds and Robins — are not shown. This is because their appearance at the time of the Christmas census is too erratic to make them properly comparable to the species which live the entire winter in one locality. Some years, the four gregarious species are absent or nearly so while in other years they are present in large numbers. The Horned Larks are gregarious also, but are far less inclined to drift about than those mentioned. Some idea of the thoroughness of coverage may be gained by comparing the figures shown in the first two lines, giving the number of observers and number of species listed during each census. Chart No. 2, presents five columns of averages for twenty-two species of birds. It is particularly interesting to note that in each case, the Junco holds first place among the non -gregarious species. The most acceptable result to be obtained from these several sets of averages are those given in the fourth column, the average of the past ten years with the two extremes omitted. Even this, however, does not present an entirely accurate picture for the reason that certain small species are obscure or else have the ability to slink awmy in the thickets without revealing their true numbers. Others, such as the Mockingbird, Flicker, Crow, and the like, are readily seen and counted to their full numbers. The fifth column therefore has been added in order to give the writer’s opinion of what would be the probable rating if it were possible to actually find and count every bird within this area. In the case of game birds, and doubtlessly of other species as well, there are definite indications that their abundance or scarcity fluctuates in cycles covering a period of years. This has also been found true of small mam- R£l,qt/l/£ /Peu/ypR/^ce Or Mfvrrfi 8/rps or /Prsmo/lle GRRPH/C PR£5E/yTPT/0/y. - chrrt ^ /. /n^jca/-es fha Z £'xf>^e/r?es o/n/tfee/ /n com/3u/-/n^ f/je a\/sri!tjge /n /asf co/cz/nr). MOST COMMON M/P-mNT£R 3/RP5 M30UT NM5Ml//U£ T£NN. ^5 PfTSRMINE'P BY C/^/ST/^T?S CBM5UB L/3TS. 24‘^ear a/era^e JOM -/937 ^yr ai/eraye /B33 -/B3 7 /O year aueragf ej /928 -/93 7 Th/s order is proha/i/^ more reary correoh £7// /en 2ay/remes om/Fed a‘dnOraM-17300 b "Sl^ar//h^ r 7200 C “C£}fvb/rak=23O0 c:/- Rob /n ‘ /3d O SAaM/np /904- Rob/h /C 7 (SracA/e /S Cot^b/bi:^ 8 SAar//np 8738 ^racA/c S30 Robm /S € C/otyb/rF /3 S/arZ/np /S/8 ^racA/e 3^/ Rob/r /38 Coyyb/rF /O 'j 8/gh/p 1 greparious ,• / too erra/ic \ /cA//7pJ(3/ ra/ SO /0-Ppu'e. P-O J > F/e/c/ Spar. /4J /FoeA/apbirF /20 /¥/?-//} Spar //S MeaFaty/arA /08 10‘C.ShickaFee 87 / F/‘e/F Spar 38 MacA/npb/rF 8 3 AfeaFfity/arA 73 C.Cb/'cAaFee Sb ‘Sana Soar S 5 A/ocA/rpb/'rF 3 7 F/e/F Spar ' 34 MeaFoiy/arA 70 C. Cb/cAaFee S b /0-3/ueb/rF 65 Jokybee Tl/moose Soap ^orrofy Croyy /\^bee 8 3 l5-Sar?o Spar SO J r 3/c/eb/rF S2 Toiybee SZ Pa\re So /Vatxyy/rry 48 iS-F//cker 4£> So np Spar' S3 Po^e 4 7 Tory/iee 4S F^//cAer 44 S-Ki/Feer 34 zr ForneF bar A Frp. Sparroyy Carobha /Frer? B/a eb/rF i^-MeaFoiv/arA So/c/T^ncb 2P- 1 C^axw/n^ 22 Car.h/rer? 22 ! T /moose 2/ ^.0~Be>6-ivA}/e 20 J / A7pr//d /\bfrb S4 F//cAer So / 5S000 " « , n 8.5 F- Rob/r? ; (• K 3 , " 4/ 000 " " , « >• 88./ b-5/ofr//nas tvere f/rs/ recorded /n /0Z3; auerage ys compu/ed /S sabseq^uen/ years. ^4 e-F/7g//eh Sparroid coc/n/s Fre no/ ac/a//aO/e pr/or fo /03/. s . 0T. a. ■s 1938 The Migrant 93 mals. The theory is that disease, predators, and adverse weather condi- tions, step in and thin out a species when it threatens to become too num- erous, thus preserving the natural faunal balance. Chart No. 1 would seem to show a well defined cycle over 10 years in the case of the Song Sparrow. After another term of years, if the local Christmas census lists are kept up as actively as they have been in the past, it will again be in order to summarize the results to ascertain what change if any has occurred in the relative abundance of the species listed on the accompansring charts. Nashville, Tenn., December, 1938. additional notes on pine siskins in the GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK By Arthur Stupka, Park Naturalist In The Migrant for December, 1937, (Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 69-70), the writer, in his article entitled “Pine Siskins in the Great Smokies,” reported the first record of these birds from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area .March, 1937) and discussed their status to and including December 3 of that year. In the present article this discussion is extended to cover such observations as were made on Pine Siskins in the following 12-months period. December, 1937 — ^March, 1938, (inclusive) : Siskins were observed on more than 50 days during this four-month period, and there is little question that the birds would have been noted daily had the writer made trips into the spruce-fir zone at more frequent intervals. However, this statement should not imply that these birds were restricted to the higher altitudes, for although their greatest concentrations were usually noted in the higher coniferous forests, yet the species invaded lowland areas rather frequently, and occasionally in considerable numbers. The birds were active under a variety of weather conditions, and at times when the mountains were blanketed in heavy fog, their peculiar notes alone would reveal their presence. A few came to a bird-feeding station on rare occas- ions during the winter, although there was no scarcity of their natural food. On oiir Christmas bird census the number of Siskins was estimated at 1000, and at other times during this period I regarded that number as being very conservative. It is possible that within the area of the Great Smoky Moun- tains National Park the population of Pine Siskins was between 3000 and 5000 throughout most or all of this period. April, 1938: The last of the big Siskin flocks was observed on April 19 when well over 1000 birds were noted feeding in trees and on the ground at Newfound Gap, on the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. In their for- aging as well as in their flights the birds maintained an unusually compact group. May, 1938: Only twice during this month were Siskins observed, and in both instances the birds were very few in number and were noted only in the spruce-fir regions. The disappearance of the big flocks had come about rather suddenly, and it was believed that they had either disbanded for their nesting period or else had left the Park. Their food supply appeared to be plentiful. 94 The Migrant December, Jnne, 1938; On June 1 a flock of about 30 Siskins was observed in the fir forest which covers the summit of Mt. LeConte — our third highest moun- tain in the Park (6,593 ft.) One of these birds appeared to be a juvenal as its notes were unlike those which I had ever heard uttered by this species. There appeared to be little or no difference in its appearance, but the light conditions were such in this dark forest that I could not be certain on this point. On June 13 the last Pine Siskins which I was to see for a period of four months were observed at Indian Gap, on the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. As the record proved to be of some significance, I wish to be somewhat more specific than heretofore: Upon alighting from my car at Indian Gap (where I had arranged to meet those members of the Tennessee Ornithologi- cal Society who were beginning a week’s field work on the birds of the Park), I noticed three Siskins fly into the top of a small fir which grew nearby. For two or three minutes the birds were occupied with feeding on the new lighter-colored terminal growth of this tree. One individual then made its way close beside one of the other two birds and commenced fluttering its wings after the fashion of a juvenal. The bird toward whom this display was apparently intended stopped its feeding, and, after pausing for a few seconds, extended its bill to where it appeared merely to touch the bill of the second bird. I could detect no actual food-offering, however. Soon after, all three birds flew away, but several minutes later I came upon two others in the dense forest near at hand. These Siskins spent some time preening their feathers while perched low in the spruce and fir trees, and while so engaged I was able to approach them closely. The notes which they uttered on occasions were unlike those of the adult birds and in their streaked plumage was the pale yellowish wash which characterizes the im- mature birds. Members of the Tennessee Ornithological Society who were studying the birds of the Park area during the period June 13-20, 1938, listed a total of 16 Pine Siskins from altitudes of 4500 feet or higher, the largest number observed in any one region being eight. Jnly — December 5, 1938; After the episode of June 13, already decribed, the writer observed no Pine Siskins until October 15 when four birds were noted feeding on weed seeds near the headquarters area of the Park, two miles south of Gatlinburg. One or two of these birds were again observed in this vicinity on three of the remaining days of October. From October 26 to date (December 5) no Pine Siskins have come to my notice. It is not known as to how many Pine Siskins nested in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the year 1938, but the discovery of Juvenals in June indicates that a certain proportion if not the great majority of the big wintering flocks bred in this area. Gatlinburg, Tenn., December 5, 1938. Start the New Year right by adding to your equipment for enjoying the sport of bird-watching — a new bird book, camera, or the like. Our advertis- ers have many timely suggestions. You may also consult your local officers or write the nearest regional editor. 1938 The Migrant 95 THE SEASON MEMPHIS AREA: — Since June there have been only a very few scat- tered rains with the result that the ‘barrow-pits’ in the Lakeview area be- came dry early. The ‘big pit/ site of the former blackbird roost, became much reduced in size. As reported last time the Mississippi River was higher than usual at this season, — just enough to maintain Mud Lake too deep for herons and shorebirds. After the run-off the lake dried up fast and on Oct. 30 only a few shallow pools were left. But during five weeks of favorable water level our field trips were replete with interest. (See the Round Table for notes on rare shorebirds.) Herons became common Sept. 25, as noted in the last issue, and the American Egret remained 10 to 14 days longer than usual. We recorded 130 Egrets on Oct. 9 and 74 on Oct. 16. The Little Blue Herons were more uncommon in this immediate area than for several years. This may have been a local condition. They were reported common last spring in one large heronry 200 miles south of here but a second heronry held only a scattering of nests, altho the birds may have moved. A White Pelican, either in winter plumage or first winter plumage, was seen on Oct. 9 and again on Oct. 16 and was not at all shy. After disappearing over the trees towards Horn Lake, in company with ‘flushed’ Egrets, it would soon return and soar back and forth near us and finally alight. It would allow us to approach to within 60 yards. A lone Wood Ibis was also there on the 16th. Four Caspian Terns were seen Oct. 9 (our third record). One was evidently an immature judging from its plumage and actions; it apparently was begging food from the adult that hovered in the vicinity attempting to induce it to take flight at our ap- proach. Unidentified ‘peeps’ numbered 400 on Oct. 9 and 210 on Oct. 16; those we approached close enough to identify included 4 Western and 10 or more Semipalmated Sandpipers; the Least were probably common. Pec- toral Sandpipers and L. Yellowlegs were uncommon except for 70 of the latter on the 9th. It was unusual not to find ‘Solitaries’ or an occasional ‘Spotted’. Pond and Simpson on Oct. 6 found 500 Mallards and 50 L. Scaup Ducks on North Lake and 250 Least Sandpipers on Mud Lake. A few Black Ducks, Mallards, Pintails, and Blue-winged Teals were seen at Mud Lake on Oct. 9 and still less on Oct. 16 when the water was about gone. One of our most unusual experiences was watching Wood Ducks come over, about sundown, from northwest of Mud Lake to the large ‘barrow-pit’ where they dropped in among the willows or into the small patches of open water. In strings of 2 to 20 they passed 10 to 20 feet over our heads as we stood in the tall weeds or willows along the ‘pit’. On Oct. 23, even after we returned to the auto parked at the levee they passed over us in hurried flight. The total count was 380. The next Sunday Mr. Gan- ier accompanied us here and we saw over 100. The writer waded out into the water and in the dusk several came down nearby, some only touched the water before taking off again but a few remained for several minutes before they saw the immobile enemy. Due to the mild weather gulls were not seen on the river in front of town until Nov. 23 when Mrs. Coffey noted 96 The Migeant December, 12 Ring-billed Gulls at their favorite spot, the sewer mouth at Talbot Street. 20 L. Scaup were also seen. On the 26th, 20 Ring-billeds were seen and 96 L. Scaup. Since then only a few gulls, if any, have been seen. — Ben B. Coffey, Jr., Memphis. CORINTH AREA: — The afternoon of Nov. 13 was cloudy, cool, and still. Misty rain fell intermittenly. Birds were plentiful and active in Tuscumbia bottom. A strange, sweet song came from a thicket. Investi- gation proved it to be that of a Fox Sparrow. I got close enough to the bird to see the muscles in his little throat at work. The song of this bird is said to be the finest of all of the songs of the Sparrows; and one bird book says that many a bird student has never had an opportunity to hear It. It was indeed surprising to me to hear it at this particular time of the year. ^An owl flushed at my feet, a large Barred one. He lit close by in a small tree; when I tried to flush him again he refused to leave the place. Then a swamp rabbit jumped from almost the identical spot and ran into the underbrush. The owl flew a few feet farther and stopped again. It was quite evident the bird had been stalking the rabbit. ^A year ago in this same woods {Migrant, Dec. 1937) I witnessed a riotous, but harmless, out- break among several Ruby-crowned Kinglets. On the present hike I had a somewhat similar experience. This time the actors were a male Golden- crowned and a female Ruby-crowned. The former flashed his brilliant orange-colored crest in apparent anger as he tried to drive off the ‘Ruby’. The whole top of his head was aflame. The crest appeared fan-shaped, being broad at the back end and narrow in front. This was the first time I ever saw a ‘Golden’ raise his top feathers in anger or excitement, al- though of course I have seen the Ruby-crowned do it many times. The ruction was soon ended when the Ruby flew away. Added to my list for the afternoon there were also many other Fox Sparrows, 3 Brown Creepers, 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 2 Hermit Thrushes, with Towhees, ‘White- throats’, Flickers, Titmice, Chickadees, Kinglets, and Blue Jays too num- erous to count. My companion, Elgin Wright, in an excited moment said, “1 wish Ben Coffey were here, we’d show him some birds!” — Benj. R. Waerinee, Corinth, Miss. CLARKSVILLE AREA: — Here, as elsewhere, prolonged dry weather marked the fall season. We had no rainfall from Sept. 11 till Oct. 19 (and then only small amounts), so that during the height of the migration we missed those turns in the weather from which we expect shifts in the bird population. But we found such changes taking place just the same and our migration records show dates much in keeping with those of former years. As an example of migrants moving during stable weather, Mrs. Hutchison found on the morning of Sept. 23 a weed field near her banding station swarming with Warblers, Vireos, and Flycatchers that must have come to rest there during the night. At last real migration weather ar- rived and the blustery and rainy night of Oct. 19 was dotted from dusk till dawn with the small calls of countless feathered travellers. They flew so low that we caught ourselves looking for some nearby hedge or tree whence they might issue from some slumbering birds. Soon after dark the strong notes of Blue Geese were heard. Around this date a number of 1938 The Migrant 97 our observations are grouped. Prom Oct. 15 to 19 immature Chipping Sparrows were abundant in the shade trees in town. The big Blackbird roost in the city broke up on the 18th, the henceforth diminishing frag- ments taking other sections for their nightly quarters. On Oct. 17 an Osprey was killed at Dunbar’s Cave by a keeper who saw in the bird only a threat to the fishermen’s sport. On the Cumberland River a Double- crested Cormorant was seen from Oct. 19 to 22, and 7 Ruddy Ducks on the 20th. Although Ducks seemed to arrive slowly at first, they now show a decided increase in numbers over past years. New species recorded are Bufflehead and Hooded Merganser. An enjoyable sight were 7 Pintails on Dunbar Cave Lake, Dec. 4. Wood Ducks were reported to us as com- mon on the Cumberland River, Nov. 24 and 27. We found a Pectoral Sand- piper among a group of Killdeer and Wilson Snipe on the shore of the P. A. Meriwether pond, Oct. 22, but in general there were not many shore birds here this fall. Our Chimney Swifts left earlier than last year, the latest observations being Oct. 11 at Clarksville and Oct. 13 at Erin, Tenn. Hum- mingbirds also seem to have left sooner than usual, as none were seen after Sept. 27. On the other hand the Yellow-billed Cuckoo was listed regularly until Oct. 27. A Vesper Sparrow, — a species that is rare with us in fall and winter, was found by Dr. Pickering on Oct. 3 and the first fall record of the Palm Warbler was on Oct. 9. Following the wet summer season we were surprised that Short-billed Marsh Wrens did not come to the few marshy sections that sometime attract them here, — we only found a single individual at the rush-lined edge of a pond on Oct. 22. — AnFEEn Clebsch, Clarksville. THE SEASON AT NASHVILLE: — Migrating Chimney Swifts had “thinned out” at an earlier date than usual this year, for by Oct. 15, most roosting chimneys were deserted in spite of the fact that mild weather had prevailed. The chimney at 928 Broad St., where no banding had been done, was harboring about 7000 on Oct. 6, but their numbers rapidly diminished and on the last date observed by the writer, Oct. 20, only 2 went to roost there. H. C. Monk, however, watched this chimney the following evening and saw four enter. During the night the temperature dropped to 41 degrees and no more were seen after this date. Philadelphia Vireos are always rare enough to be watched with interest. On Oct. 8, two were seen at Columbia during the course of the Bluegrass Chapter’s field day there. One of these birds was busily engaged in eating berries of the Virginia creeper vine which seemed odd for a bird which is purely insectivorous during the warm months. The Biological Survey’s examination of stomach contents, however, shows that many vireos turn from “bugs” to berries as the cool autumn days come on. ^An immature Whistling Swan was shot on Nov. 19, by a hunter who claimed to have mistaken it for a goose. At my request it was given to the State Museum. The bird had alighted, by itself, on the surface of a small lake near Russellville, Ky., about 50 miles north of Nashville. This is one of the very few recent records we have for this general area and its killing was a regrettable instance of ignorance. G. R. Mayfield reported a Blue-headed Vireo, in song, on Oct. 24, also late dates for: Wood Pewee, 1 on Oct. 20; Tennessee Warbler, 3 on Oct. 20; 98 The Migrant December, Black-throated Green Warbler, 1 on Oct. 23; and Magnolia Warbler, 1 on Nov. 6. The last was also seen by H. G. Monk and is a very late record. From his records, Mr. Monk reports an early Song Sparrow and a Sap- sucker, both on Oct. 3, a late Brown Thrasher on Oct. 13, a Wood Thrush on Oct. 5, and a Black-billed Cuckoo on Oct. 9. The writer saw one of the last mentioned species at Columbia on Oct. 8, and also a Blackburnian Warbler. Cedar Waxwings were unusually common all thru September. A record of the Snowy Egret was reported by Mrs. C. B. Tippens who saw one on Sept. 1 near the Hard Scuffle Road. — ^;A. F. Ganier, Nashville. JOHNSON CITY AREA: — This fall brought about only a few marked variations in the seasonal behavior of the birds. Notably among such was the early departure of the Robins which breed here. Generally the Robins leave about Sept. 24 but this year they left early in September and while the young were still being fed by the parent birds. Following the departure of our breeding Robins there were some still observed; however, they were presumably migrants from farther north. I had imagined that this early departure indicated an early fall but in that I was pleasantly disappointed and have not yet been able to discern the reason for this unusual early migration activity. The Catbirds remained until the last days of Sep- tember,— possibly a few days later than the date of their usual departure. Why they should have remained longer than the Robins awakens other questions in my mind as their departure is usually simultaneous. The arrival of the Rusty Blackbirds was also earlier than usual, and proceeded more leisurely, — the flocks being smaller and the time spent here more extended than usual. Many of the birds visited my garden and gave op- portunity for close observation of their rusty plumage. The Migrant Shrike was first observed here on Oct. 30 and was seen again on Nov. 2, being about the usual time for its arrival. It spends the winter here, a very interesting and useful member of our winter avifauna. The fall migration gave evidence of abundant bird life, — even the hawks, now very rare in this section, were seen in unusual numbers. It would be a won- derful step forward if something could be done to stop the indiscriminate slaughter of our hawks and prevent their gradual extinction. — Bruce P. Tyler and Robt. B. Dyle, Johnson City. CHAPTER NEWS We are glad to welcome a chapter of eleven members at Dickson to our roster and we want to congratulate its president, Mr. W. P. Morrison, for developing and organizing it. A delegation of Nashville members drove down for the organization meeting. KNOXVILLE: New officers are: Prof. Henry Meyer, pres.; Miss Dorothy E. Williams, vice-pres.; Miss Ruth Chiles, sec-treas.; Mr. Wm. Walker, Jr., curator. Meetings are held the first Wed- nesday night of each month at Flowercraft with Sunday field trips scheduled for each third Sunday. MEMPHIS: New officers are: Mrs. L. G. Guth, pres.; Mr. Fred Carney, vice-pres.; Mrs. T. I. Klyce, sec.; Miss Katherine Hale, ireas. Meetings are scheduled at the Pink Palace Museum every other Mon- day at 8 P.M., resuming on Jan. 9. 1938 The Migrant 99 THE MIGRilNT A Quarterly Journal Devoted to the Study of Tennessee Birds. Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society. Editor, Ben B. Coffey, Jr., 672 N. Belvedere, Memphis. Secretary-Treasurer, Alfred Clebsch, 838 Oracey Ave.. Clarksville. Regional Editors: Albert F. Ganier, Nashville; Harry P. Ijams, Knoxville; Bruce P. Tyler, Johnson City; Alfred Clebsch, Clarksville. Business Manager, Vernon Sharp, Jr., 225 Capitol Blvd., Nashville. Dues for Active and Corresponding Members $1 per year, should be sent to the Sec.-Treas. Subscription price, 75 cents per year, free to mem- bers. Sustaining members, at $5 per year, receive four extra copies mailed to addresses designated. Items for publication should be sent to the Editor. “The simple truth about birds is interesting enough, it is not necessary to go beyond it'' The Migrant extends the Season’s greetings to its friends coupled with sincere thanks to all who have assisted in making each issue possible. We especially want to thank Mr. Ganier, Mr. Clebsch, and Mrs. Coffey. Because of the large amount of work connected with editing our journal and having it published, we have not had the opportunity on many occasions to write and acknowledge contributions and other correspondence as we would have liked to have done. As it is, our correspondence has increased many times and represents an appreciable part of the time necessary for the Migrant. So we will appreciate unsolicited copy and the earlier each time the better, to enable us to spread out the work. We would especially like short notes from as many members as possible. Is your area represented in this issue? The annual Christmas bird census will be under way as this issue goes into the mails and we hope that most of our members will have been able to take part in this, one of our most important cooperative projects. There’s an extra zest in being out at Christmas time looking for and finding many different kinds of birds when most people think “the birds have gone south.” In our region we are favored with a plentiful winter bird-life. If you haven’t already been out, go New Year’s Day. Mr. Clebsch reports a gift of $10 from our Knoxville members. For this we are indeed grateful as it helped us on this issue. They have also sent in 1939 due for 15 members. Let us all cooperate and save our secretary time and postage by remitting 1939 dues before January 10. ‘RARE SHOREBIRDS AT MUD LAKE’ was carried over to the next issue due to the receipt of another article after going to press. PLEASE SEND IN CHRISTMAS CENSUS LISTS BY JANUARY 10. 100 The Migrant December, INDEX TO THE MIGRANT For 1938 — Volume 9 March Page 1. ‘Notes on Birds of the Great Smoky Mts. Nat’l Park’, by Frank Bellrose..!! ‘Bluebird “Better Housing” Project’, by E. D. Schreiber 4 ’Annual Christmas Census’ (from 11 localities, 1937), by Members 6 ‘Bird Banding Brevities — No. 12’ by Amelia R. Laskey 10 ‘A Day With a Loon’, by Benj. R. Warriner 11 The Round Table: The season at Memphis; Notes from members of the Clarksville Chapter; Notes from Nashville; The season at Knoxville; Winter notes from Corinth; Annual mid-winter bird censuses of the Montgromery Bell Project; Bird census at Cov- ingrton. — at Pulaski; — at Johnson City; A female Cardinal fig:hts her reflection; Blue Goose in Hawkins County; Red-headed Woodpecker catching: wasps; The Starling as a mimic; Birds unaffected by noise; National Wildlife Week; Meeting dates., 12-20 June 2. ‘Prothonotary Warblers Make News,’ by Eldon Roark 21 ‘The Black Vulture in Rutherford County,’ by H. 0. Todd, Jr 23 ‘A Back Yard Theatre,’ by Jamie Ross Tippens 24 ‘Birds in Flight,’ by Benj. R. Warriner 26 ‘The New Constitution’ (of the T. O. S.), by Geo. R. Mayfield 27 The Round Table: The season at Memphis; The season at Clarksville; Notes from the NashviUe area; The Spotted Sandpiper; Mixed flocks; Corinth chat; A Screech Owl fisherman; a Starling roost; Bibliography for 1937; Meetings and field days. 28-34 Membership Roll 35-40 September 3. ‘Some June Birds of the Greal: Smokies’ by Albert F. Ganier and Alfred Clebsch 42 “Summer Resident Lists’ (21 lists, from all sections), by Members 46 ‘Rambling with the Birds’, by Cynthia C. Counce 52 ‘Bird Banding Started at Clarksville,’ by Mrs. John Y. Hutchison 53 Illustrations from the T. O. S. Great Smokies Trip 55-58 ‘Blackbird Banding in the Mid-South — I’, by Ben B. Coffey, Jr 59 The Season: Memphis, Corinth, Nashville, Clarksville, Knoxville, and Johnson City. The Round Table: Laughing Gull at Reelf oot Lake; Black-bellied Plover at Mud Lake (Memphis); Early Marsh Hawk record; Notes from Paris; Notes from Murfrees- boro; Summer bird-life of a Mt. Pleasant farm; Some unusually large broods and scarcity of late nests; Notes from Knoxville; Meeting. — ^Editorial page. 68-72 Recoveries of Banded Blackbirds, mimeographed maps 73-76 December 4. ‘1938 Swift Banding at Nashville and Clarksville’, by John B. Calhoun ....77 ‘Swift Banding in the South’, by Ben B. Coffey, Jr 82 ‘The Third Year of the Bluebird Project’, by Amelia R. Laskey 84 ‘Build a Bluebird House’, by Merrill S. Carter 88 ‘The Relative Abundance of Winter Birds at Nashville’, by A F. Ganier ....89 ‘Additional Notes on Pine Siskins in the Great Smoky Mountains Na- tional Park’, by Arthur Stupka 93 The Season: Memphis, Corinth, Clarksville, Nashville, Johnson City 95 Index to Volume 9, Year 1938 100 , 'rr.4 ‘f ".iH’ ^ ^'\ ' ■'"' ^ /I* '//■. i 1 ■ ■ ■ *' v#vii;'---.o ■ ■■'.. .. Are Headquarters fdr I :'Mk FIELD GLASSES %i 'l«, 'h ' ■ n: 8Tmiiiu Isl^ GRAFLEX CAMERAS ^ KODAKS - ' CINE KODAKS Bell & Howell MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT ARTISTS’ SUPPLIES ' ' DRAWING MATERIALS^:' ' LANTERN SLIDEI MADE TO ORDER EXPERT DEVELOPING, PRINTING, • ENLARGING ' r ipf; 420 'Ufiioiiv Street *’ . ' ■■- i. ' ' ' - ■ •L Nashville, Tenn. 55K5p, zBi ■ ^dvertleoris THE MIGRANT .‘;u . BIRD BOOKS We have in our store, or can obtain for you on short notice, these books on Bird Life. Pocket Nature Guides These are the accepted pocket guides for use on field trips. Size 3i/^x5^ inches, profusely illustrated in colors. Each $1.25. Land Birds East of the Rockies. By Chester A. Reed. Water and Game Birds. By Chester A. Reed. Wild Flowers East of the Rockies. By Chester A. Reed Butterfly Guide. By Dr. W. J. Holland Tree Guide. By Julia Ellen Rogers. AUDUBON’S BIRDS OP AMERICA. A very handsome volume con- taining large reproductions of all of Audubon’s 500 famous plates, lithographed in full colors with descriptions of each plate $12.50 AUDUBON. By Constance Rourke. A new biography of the fam- ous ornithologist, with 12 Audubon plates reproduced in colors. 342 pages. $3.00 A FIEDD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS. By Roger Tory Peterson. Your library is not complete without this new book. Copiously illus- trated in wash and color. The greatest aid for identification. $2.75 BIRDS OF AMERICA, Edited by T. Gilbert Pearson, 834 pages fully illustrated with 106 color plates, many photos and drawings, one volume. Original 3 vol. edition sold for $16.00, now $3.95 WILD BIRDS AT HOME, By F. H. Herrick. 350 pages, 137 illus- trations. Complete treatise on everyday habits of our birds. ... $4.00 HANDBOOK OF BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AJMERICA. By F. ,M. Chapman. Well illustrated in colors. 580 pages. The standard handbook $5.00 THE BOOK OP BIRD LIFE. By A. A. Allen, Ph.D., Cornell Univer- sity. A wealth of information, profusely illustrated $3.75 TRAVELING WITH THE BIRDS. By Rudyard Boulton. A book on bird migration. Beautiful color plates by W. A. Weber $1.00 OUR LAND BIRDS. By Alice R. Ball. Histories of 156 species, illus- trated with 47 color plates by Horsfall. 291 pages $1.69 BIRD NEIGHBORS. By Neltje Blanchan. All about those birds that are most worth knowing. Illustrated $1.00 NATURE’S SECRETS. Edited by G. Clyde Fisher. A popular Ameri- can natural history including the birds, 840 pages, fully illus- trated ^ $1.89 BIRDS OF TENNESSEE, By A. F. Ganier. 64 pa. A distributional list showing how, when and where all species are to be found $0.50 All bird lovers are cordially invited to visit our store, or write to us for information on books about birds, nature, gardening and out-of-doors. METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE 810 Broadway Nashville, Tenn. Tel. 6-2641 □ THE MIGRANT VOL. X. MARCH, 1939 NO, 1 Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society, to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Tennessee. Issued in March, June, September and December. IN MEMORIAM: ALONZO C. WEBB TEACHER AND ARTIST February 2, 1939 By G. R. Mayfield The news of Mr. A. C. Webb’s death has brought sadness to his many friends throughout the South. He will be especially missed by the Tennessee Ornithological Society of which he was Founder and First President. At the suggestion of our editor, this sketch of his life has been written so that the younger members of our Society may know more of him personally and of his varied activities as Artist, Teacher, and Nature Lover. Most Tennesseans will be surprised to learn that he was not a native son but that he was born in Chariton, Iowa. Tennessee was the state of his adop- tion, due to the fact that his grandmother had often described the Volunteer State to him as a place of beauty and opportunity for a young artist and edu- cator. Consequently, he turned south instead of west after finishing his course at Western College, Bushnell, Illinois. Soon after locating in Nashville in the year 1885, he opened up a busi- ness college and carried on this school about seven years, when he became supervisor of art for the Nashville Public Schools. For nearly forty years he went from school to school inspiring thousands of students to get a new vision of form, of color, and of beauty, through his teachings in the realm of art. At least once a year during this time, he would take along his bird skins and use them for illustrating the principles of drawing. His unusual power of describing birds and their habits, soon had a far wider appeal than in the classroom exercises. Tens of thousands of children became bird stu- dents, nature lovers, and conservationists as a result of his talks. This interest in birds led him to write the first book on Tennessee birds by a Tennessean. This volume, &ome Birds and Their Ways, appeared in the year 1898 and was revised and enlarged for school use in 1917 as Our Bird Book. He continued his activities in conservation by drawing up the first bill for bird protection ever passed by the State Legislature. Other orni- thologists joined him in field studies and in 1915 the Tennessee Ornithological Society was founded with Mr. Webb as first President. The other founders were: Judge H. Y. Hughes, who died in 1921, and Messrs. Dixon Merritt, Albert Ganier, and G. R. Mayfield. His love of nature caused him to be interested not only in birds, but in flowers, in forests, in fossils, in fish, in Indian relics, and, later in life in APR 2 4 1939 2 The Migrant March archery. He went on several expeditions with different groups to various parts of the state, and those who accompanied him will remember all their lives the delightful experiences in thus associating with him personally. Mr. Webb is survived by his wife and four children. The children are all noted for their work in art and in education. A. C. Webb, Jr., of London, England, is well known in Europe and America for his sketches and pictures. Miss Suzanne Webb has likewise done some fine sketches at home and abroad and teaches art in Nashville. Dr. H. A. Webb is Professor of Chemistry at Peabody College and is known throughout the country for his interest in popular science. The youngest daughter, Ellenna, is married to a splendid physician. Dr. Roy Douglass, of Huntingdon, Tennessee. The most striking trait in Mr. Webb’s character was the spirit of the pioneer and discoverer. This led him to seek adventure and his life work in Tennessee rather than in his native state. Here he was the founder of the first business college in Nashville, the first supervisor of art in the Nashville Public Schools, the founder and first president of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, the author of the first book on Tennessee birds by a Tennessean, the promoter of the first legislation in this State for bird pro- tection, and also a pioneer in renev/ing an interest in archery in Nashville, even though he was more than seventy years of age when he became in- terested in the sport. Remarkable, too, was his love of form, of color, of movement, and of beauty generally. Few people have ever surpassed him in his power of re- vealing the character of a bird in its pose and expression, and his interest in birds was doubtless due to the fact that they alone of all creatures could challenge him to his finest efforts and satisfy his artistic soul. Combined with this love of nature was a soul of simplicity, of sincerity, and of devotion to his work that won him so many friends in all walks of life. It made no difference whether his hearers were little children or mem- bers of the Tennessee Academy of Science, whether they were the social elite at the Centennial Club or a group of country people in a rural Church. They all heard him with great enthusiasm and went away determined to carry on the work of bird study and of conservation. Hundreds of friends attended his funeral in the open, — with birds to sing his requiem, with the blessed sunlight shining through the clouds, and with a simple tribute from a fellow bird-lover. But Mr. Webb is not dead. Thou- sands of children now mostly grown to maturity, who loved nature and life all the more because of his teaching and influence, tens of thousands of birds which live and sing today because he was their friend, the many wise laws that are now on the Statute Books of Tennessee as a result of his ef- forts, and the many other influences for conservation that are now spread- ing in every widening circle all testify that his memory will abide so long as the granite monument in Spring Hill Cemetery on which is carved a sim- ple epitaph composed before his death: A. C. WEBB Teacher Artist 1859-1939 Nashveluc, March ,1939. 1939 The Migrant 3 SEVENTEEN YEARS AT ISLAND HOME By W>. M. Walker, Jr. On April 27, 1922 a small group of bird lovers met at the home of Mr. H. P. Ijams to study birds and exchange ornithological experiences. They thought the day a great success and agreed that it should be repeated the following year. Thus began the Island Home Spring Census, — the eighteenth consecutive census will be taken this year on April 30. Since 1929 the date has been the Sunday nearest May 1. The summary which follows under- takes to list the species observed, together with the number of years each species was present on the census date. Thus, Woodcock, 6; means this species was recorded 6 of the 17 Spring Census dates. In the earlier years of this census-series the day’s total was approximately 60 species, but lately with more observers afield, the total list has been near or above 100 species. Common Loon, 2; Horned Grebe, 1; Pied-billed Grebe, 1; Great Blue Heron, 1; Little Blue Heron, 1; Green Heron, 10; Black-crowned Night Heron, 2; Mallard, 2; Pintail, 1; Green-winged Teal, 1; Lesser Scaup Duck, 3; Hooded Merganser, 1; Turkey Vulture, 12; Black Vulture, 5; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3; Cooper’s Hawk, 8; Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Osprey, 2; Sparrow Hawk, 12; BoU-white, 17; Mexican Bob-white, 2; (released in vicinity in 1931, recorded in 1931 and 1932); King Rail, 1; Coot, 4; Killdeer, 16; Woodcock, 6; Wilson’s Snipe, 5; Spotted Sandpiper, 17; Solitary Sandpiper, 17; Lesser Yellow-legs, 4; Least Sandpiper, 1; Herring Gull, 1; Forster’s Tern, 1 (1933, specimen collected); Mourning Dove, 17; Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 11; Black- billed Cuckoo, 6; Barn Owl, 12; Screech Owl, 12; Great Horned Owl, 1; Chuck- will’s-widow, 4; Whip-poor-will, 9; Nighthawk, 16; Chimney Swift, 17; Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 16; Belted Kingfisher, 17; Flicker, 16; Pileated Woodpecker, 10; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 14; Red-headed Wood- pecker, 17; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 8; Hairy Woodpecker, 10; Downy Woodpecker, 17; Kingbird, 14; Crested Flycatcher, 16; Phoebe, 17; Acadian Flycatcher, 15; Wood Pewee, 16; Tree Swallow, 5; Bank Swallow, 7; Rough- winged Swallow, 16; Barn Swallow, 11; Cliff Swallow, 2; Purple Martin, 17; Blue Jay, 17; Crow, 17; Carolina Chickadee, 17; Tufted Titmouse, 17; White- breasted Nuthatch, 6; Brown Creeper, 4; Winter Wren, 3; Bewick’s Wren, 13; Carolina Wren, 17; Short-billed Marsh Wren, 1; Mockingbird, 15; Cat- bird, 17; Brown Thrasher, 17; Robin, 17; Wood Thrush, 17; Hermit Thrush, 5; Olive-backed Thrush, 11; Gray-cheeked Thrush, 7; Veery, 14; Bluebird, 17; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 17; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 4; Ruby-crowned King- let. 4; Cedar Waxwing, 14; Migrant Shrike, 2; Starling, 12; White-eyed Vir- eo, 17; Yellow-throated Vireo, 15; Blue-headed and or Mountain Vireo, 2; Red-eyed Vireo, 17; Philadelphia Vireo, 1; Warbling Vireo, 7. The following warblers: Black and White, 17; Prothonotary, 8; Worm-eating, 11; Golden- winged, 3; Blue-winged, 1; Tennessee, 6; Orange-crowned, 1; Nashville, 2; Parula, 8; Yellow, 16; Magnolia, 13; Cape May, 4; Black-throated Blue, 8; Myrtle, 16; Black-throated Green, 11; Cerulean, 11; Blackburnian, 12; Yellow- throated, 2; Sycamore, 6; Chestnut-sided, 13; Bay-breasted, 8; Black-poll, 11; Pine, 12; Prairie, 9; Palm, 2; Oven-bird, 17; Northern Water-thrush, 2; Louisiana Water-thrush, 17; Kentucky, 16; Connecticut, 2; Mourning, 3; Maryland Yellow-throat, 17; Yellow-breasted Chat, 17; Hooded, 16; Wilson’s, 4 The Migeant March 1; Canada, 8; and American Redstart, 17; English Sparrow, 17; Bobolink, 4; Meadowlark, 17; Red-wing, 16; Orchard Oriole, 13; Baltimore Oriole, 9; Rusty Blackbird, 2; Purple Grackle, 17; Cowbird, 13; Scarlet Tanager, 17; Summer Tanager, 17; Cardinal, 17; Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 11; Indigo Bunting, 16; Purple Finch, 8; Goldfinch, 16; Towhee, 17. The following sparrows: Savannah, 15; Grasshopper, 8; Vesper, 8; Slate-colored Junco, 7; Chipping, 16; Field, 17; White-crowned, 5; White-throated, 16; Fox, 6; Lin- coln’s, 3; Swamp, 13; and Song Sparrow, 17. Of the 160 species recorded over the 17 year period 38 were found every census date while 15 were recorded every year except one; 13 species were recorded only twice and 21 were seen only once. We might suggest that “times recorded" is a very good index of the relative abundance of each species for this section of the state during the months of April and May. To illustrate, the following species were recorded 6 of the 17 years; Woodcock, Black-billed Cuckoo, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tennessee Warbler and Sycamore Warbler. These birds are not rare but neither are they as common as the Catbird, Wood Thrush, White-eyed Vireo, Oven-bird, Summer Tanager, Indigo Bunting and others. Naturally there are exceptions to be noted, but we think this is true generally. The data used was kindly furnished by Mr. Paul Adams of Crab Orchard, Tennessee, and Mr. H. P. Ijams of Knoxville. Mr. Ijams’ place is The Island Home Bird Sanctuary which is the territory covered by these census trips. Knoxville, March, 1939. ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CENSUS By Our Meimbees Our tenth annual state-wide mid-winter or Christmas census of bird life is tabulated below. The number of lists submitted (17 from the state) was larger than heretofore and necessitated two sets of tabulations. Lists from Corinth and Rosedale, Miss, were again included and since the space allowed it, we took the liberty of including an interesting and valuable list from Moselle in South Miss, and two lists made by your editor and party in Northeast Miss., at Rara Avis and Tupelo, respectively. These five lists are not published elsewhere. Memphis chapter members also made censuses at Moon Lake (Lula) and Hickory Plat, Miss, which were included in Bird-Lore (1939, Supplement to Vol. XLI, No. 1, p. 37) along with the lists from the Great Smokies, Greeneville, Memphis, and Nashville (pp. 35-36). We meet the Nashville census-list again in The Kentucky Warbler (1939, p. 4) in com- pany with several interesting Kentucky lists and a few others from out of that state. The highest single list of 70 species (from Nashville) ties the record (Memphis, 1935 and 1936) while the composite list for all Tennessee reports embraces 92 species, one less than the record which was set last year. The Pine Siskin and Red Crossbill were absent from the Great Smokies list and Black-crowned Night Heron (accidental), Canada Goose, Canvas-back, Ameri- can Merganser, Broad-winged Hawk, and Herring Gull failed to be recorded elsewhere. Species added this year included Loon, BaWpate, Golden Eagle, Woodcock, Barn Owl, and Yellow Palm Warbler. The Eagle, Owl, and War- bler appear in a Christmas census in The Migrant for the first time. 1939 Thb Migrant 5 TABLE I White Bluff Jan. g, 193f Covington Dec. 26, 1938 Humboldt Dec. 25 1 3 P 00 n 1 « ® ti ►3 <-» Pulaski Jan. 6 1 Murfreesboro j Dec. 25 1 Johnson City Dec. 29 m "> <=> § . 22 OQ Rugby Jan. 8 |i Rara Avis. Miss. || Dec. 25 m a • . 00 0 0 ® SQ Number of species 43 31 29 38 30 47 31 38 31 45 42 Number of individuals --- 1118 650 551 610 1418 2343 2512 995 467 1198 1685 Number of observers 6 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 6 3 2 Pied-billed Grebe .... .... 2 .... .... Ring-necked Duck 3 .... .... .... Turkey Vulture 9 1*80 .... 2'9 6 23 Black Vulture 2 3 16 .... .... Cooper’s Hawk 1 2 .... 1 1 1 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 2 3 3 1 .... 1 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Marsh Hawk 3 1 1 Sparrow Hawk ?i 1 6 2 "'9 5 i 1 1 Bob-white 62 2 18 .... Killdeer 4 3 6 2 1 2 6 ■3 6 Mourning Dove 6 7 10 1 30 12 4 150 25 86 E8 Screech Owl 1 1 2 .... Great Horned Owl i 1 1 Barred Owl 1 .... .... .... Belted Kingfisher i 2 1 .... .... 1 Flicker 8 2 2 7 3 1 8 "i i 34 82 Pileated Woodpecker 4 2 1 1 1 1 8 .... Red-bellied Woodpecker .. 7 12 3 7 1 6 "2 5 1 11 T Red-headed Woodpecker.... 1 2 .... 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.. 2 1 1 8 1 1 i 1 2 Hairy Woodpecker 3 2 2 2 4 2 .... 5 Do'wny Woodpecker 9 1 6 6 6 2 ii 8 Phoebe .... .... .... 1 1 1 % •— ii Horned Larks* .... .... 100 50 40 .... .... Blue Jay 16 30 15 3 1 12 11 11 12 2*8 37 Crow 43 50 12 26 50 500 482 400 5 22 Chickadees* 11 3 5 37 15 7 8 12 34 14 i'6 Tufted Titmouse 17 6 9 6 4 34 10 21 It 16 White-breasted Nuthatch.. 1 .... .... 3 7 1 .... Red-breasted Nuthatch .... 10 .... Brown Creeper .... 1 .... 1 .... 1 Winter Wren . .. 2 1 2 4 2 Bewick's Wren T 1 2 8 *2 1 Carolina Wren 10 18 4 27 15 7 16 19 '5 2 "5 Mockingbird 12 25 9 13 6 22 9 13 1 9 47 Brown Thrasher 15 Robin 73 '60 li'o 10 6 5 "'2 .... 3 219 Hermit Thrush 19 2 S .... 2 6 3 Bluebird 64 6 "s 6 '7 14 8 6 "7 26 60 Golden-crowned Kinglet.... 7 .... 7 3 4 4 7 7 8 10 30 Ruby-crowned Kinglet .... .... .... .... .... .... 1 k-.« American Pipit .... 69 .... Cedar Waxwing .... 5 .... .... 9 18 Shrikes* .... 2 4 .... 1 1 4 Starling .... 30 24 700 1000 1655 '25 'e'e 15 .... Myrtle Warbler 1 6 .... 4 4 16 14 1 5 English Sparrow 2 8 65 C. C. 25 100 85 35 30 Meadowlark 27 12 10 48 45 25 3 45 7 75 ■35 Red-wing .... .... 50 .... Rusty Blackbird .... 45 53 Bronzed Grackle .... • 3 100 3 200 Cowbird .... 300 40 i Cardinal 33 10 63 42 35 '29 19 ■ 3 ii *84 Purple Finch 12 1 .... 60 9 .... Goldfinch 26 8 1 2 '20 6 14 i Towhee 30 2 8 25 5 5 9 28 Savannah Sparrow .... 13 47 Slate-colored Junco 257 300 'so 66 50 75 42 130 166 226 Tree Sparrow 1 .... .... Chipping Sparrow .... 2 .... l*9"l Field Sparrow 102 40 57 23 100 4 14 32 183 55 White-crowned Sparrow .. 8 15 100 1 14 .... White-throated Sparrow .. 92 30 95 75 15 5 1 108 56 Fox Sparrow 3 1 1 It 3 21 Swamp Sparrow 66 1 51 Song Sparrow 97 14 .... IS 3 16 17 8 3 55 •2 6 The Migrant March TABLE n •JIM XI . SS ZQ 09 a b w rt ® 6q ^2 r, d A » .M C rH 50 . o' 4J 0} OQ d o w ^ ■o . d u V « wo £ d b o ct O .“5 o « e , a o 3 ® hO •S’# -d M rt a« ^ So a; . 03 O O €> WO Number of species 70 59 46 34 36 61 30 49 26 64 69 Number of Individuals ..10,316 3020 731 649 1138 1904 686 892 319 7169 14,201 Number of observers SI 14 4 9 4 20 2 2 3 SO 3 Loon 1 Pled-billed Grebe 1 1 1 8 2 26 Double-crested Cormorant .... 6 230 Great Blue Heron 1 1 3 2 Canada Goose .... Common Mallard 18 2 fe 10 2 2600 Black Duck 8 3 176 37 Gadwall 3 260 Baldpate 3 2 3 5 Oreen-winsred Teal .... 23 Blue-winged Teal .... 6 1 Shoveller 16 06 Wood Duck 4 19 Ring-necked Duck 76 9 .... 3 200 Canvas-back .... 2 Lesser Scaup 73 1 44 20 10 150 '20 3000 American Golden-eye 3 2 Buffle-head 2 Old-squaw 1 1 Ruddy Duck 18 Hooded Merganser 2 2 31 Red-breasted Merganser .. .. 2 .... Turkey Vulture 7 1 1 16 12 4 8 9 Black Vulture 7 7 2 7 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper’s Hawk 4 1 "1 i 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 2 3 1 3 3 1 2 4 Red-shouldered Hawk .... 2 3 2 7 5 Golden Eagle 1 Marsh Hawk 2 1 1 3 Duck Hawk .... 1 Sparrow Hawk 24 3 5 1 2 1 2 12 6 Ruffed Grouse 23 Bob-white 78 "i 6 20 4 62 14 Eastern Turkey i .... .... .... Coot 3 6 3 2 4 2000 Killdeer 41 30 2 4 25 4 23 2*54 135 American Woodcock 1 Wilson’s Snipe 6 1 16 13 6 Ring-billed Gull 60 Mourning Dove 103 13 4 3 23 2 2 250 1 26 6 Screech Owl 2 1 1 Great Horned Owl 3 1 .... Barred Owl 2 1 1 1 2 Barn Owl 1 — . Belted Kingfisher 8 1 1 1 6 6 4 5 2 Flicker 33 26 9 7 8 4 6 *1 131 116 Pileated Woodpecker 7 6 2 5 4 1 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker .. 28 10 6 1 1 2 6 .... 67 6 Red-headed Woodpecker .. 2 1 4 1 •1 11 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker .. 3 6 1 "7 19 5 Hairy Woodpecker 7 4 1 1 7 13 3 Downy Woodpecker 29 7 6 4 "e 13 4 4 43 8 Phoebe 7 1 1 .... 2 3 2 Prairie Horned Lark J7 210 73 Blue Jay 19 25 7 12 9 7 30 ^10 416 14 Raven 3 Crow 120 153 30 3 114 480 6 "3 50 1 Chickadees* 94 20 10 30 24 150 8 10 136 31 Tufted Titmouse .61 23 7 16 41 12 40 *6 112 9 White-breasted Nuthatch.. 2 « 3 1 1 2 .... 6 .... 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch .... .... .... 7 6 Brown Creeper 9 2 1 10 1 .... 18 3 Winter Wren 1 9 4 2 11 3 9 6 Bewick’s Wren 7 6 1 2 "2 1 1939 The Mig^nt 7 TABLE II— Cont. Nashville Dec. 86. 1938 Clarksville Dec. IS Springfield Jan. 1. 1939 Norris Dec. 24 Knoxville Dec. 26 Gt. Smoky Park Dec. liS Henderaon Dec. 24 Corinth, Misa. Jan. 1 to n • as . to 0 N "S . ft J 9 9 EhQ Memphis Dec. 24 Rosedale. Miaa. Dec, 19 Carolina Wren ... B3 21 10 11 20 36 1 6 *1 12S 14 House Wren .... .... .... .... 2 Mockingbird ... 112 16 8 2 12 1 4 4 •’id 107 9 Brown Thrasher 1 4 11 .... Robin ... 33 3 1 8 8 6 1C9 93 Hermit Thrush 8 a 4 1 25 2 20 69 3 Bluebird ... 90 37 10 2 4 32 18 15 130 23 Golden-crowned Kinglet .. 16 8 a 30 12 64 20 .... 76 62 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 .... 2 1 17 9 American Pipit .... .... 1 6 53 Cedar Waxwing 10 9 .... 93 Shrikes* ... 2 4 2 1 5 2 37 44 Starling ...6000 a'e'i 52 1 272 10 18 10 66 308 Myrtle Warbler 3 9 3 6 2 .... 92 123 Yellow Palm W^'arbler 3 English Sparrow .... 160 228 30 3 103 24 200 •200 com. li'i Meadowlark ... 67 121 54 3 16 1 20 60 27 374 406 Red-wing 3 .... 28 800 Rusty Blackbird .... 100 .... 130 .... 50 40 .... Bronzed Grackle* ... 425 6 26 25 *20 402 1300 Cowbird 1 400 Cardinal .... 370 60 13 10 56 44 *28 id •12 447 62 Purple Pinch .... 49 26 10 3 .... 25 .... Goldfinch .... 73 52 11 32 11 64 .... 16 .... 64 69 Towhee .... 148 42 16 1 28 2 .... 15 77 7 Savannah Sparrow 9 .... .... 18 id 62 18 Juncos* ... 850 124 124 35 164 400 30 40 1027 173 Tree Sparrow ... 2 .... .... .... .... .... Chipping Sparrow 1 .... 1 Field Sparrow .... 215 45 13 76 *46 81 I'od id *3 364 White-crowned Sparrow .. 158 27 .... 3 11 White-throated Sparrow .. 220 127 15 40 149 131 150 75 •12 1319 29i Pox Sparrow ... 47 8 .... 20 125 19 Swamp Sparrow ... 157 53 20 2 6 15 157 7 Song Sparrow ... 90 53 7 30 14 130 .... 20 2 159 106 Species shown in bold-face type were not recorded in Tennessee. •SPECIALi NOTES: Chickadees, — Carolina Chickadees only at every locality except at the Great Smoky Mts. Park where both species were definitely observed but not listed separately and at Johnson City where 2 Black-capped and 6 Carolina Chickadees were recorded. — Shrikes, — are all Migrant Shrikes except at Rosedale and Moselle, Miss, and probably Memphis where both the Migrant and the Loggerhead Shrikes are found in win- ter. The latter sub-species has been collected at Rosedale. — Bronzed Grackle, — should be Purple Grackle for all East Tenn. censuses. — Juncos, — should be Slate-colored Juncoa at all localities except in the Great Smoky Mts. Park where Carolina Juncos were also recorded. ♦OTHER NOTES ARE INCLUDED IN CENSUS DATA ON FOLLOWING PAGES. ‘The Lakes of Tennessee’, Bulletin No. 11 (July, 1937) of the Tennessee State Planning Commission is obtainable from the Commission at Nashville. The cost is fifty cents. The bulletin is a mimeographed list, by counties, of water bodies of an acre or more in extent and commonly considered as lakes in their respective communities. A key map of the state shows location by county numbers. The list gives the acreage, ownership, specific location, and general use of each lake, and acreage and use of adjacent public land, if any. No descriptive information is given. Appendix C is a bibliography of published matter relating to the lakes and contains numerous references to The Migrant. These latter principally concern birdlife at Reelfoot, Radnor, Mud, Norris and other lakes. 8 The ’Migrant March WHITE BLUFF:— Jan. 8, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p-m. clear until 3 p.m., then part cloudy and light wind; unusually warm for the season. Followed as near as possible the routes of the three preceding annual studies. Same observers and methods. A small lake had been formed by the completion of the dam since last year’s census and the ducks were seen thereon. A falcon was not identified positively. A flock of Black Vultures was seen late in the after- noon not far from the park. — ^A. F. Ganier, Harry Monk, Jesse M. Shaver (chairman), Harry Vaughn, and George Woodring, COVINGTON: — Dec. 26, 8-9 A.M., 11 A.M. — 4:30 P.M.; cloudy and rain; temp. 43. Southwest of town, 5 miles on foot and 8 by car Alice Smith (Memphis.) — ^HUMBOLDT: Dec. 25 — Albert J. Marsh. LEWISBURG: — Jan. 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; fair; temp. 35-65. On foot over about 175 acres of farm land. Bronzed Grackles seen in large numbers en- route to farm but not found there. — ^Mrs. F. C. Laskey and Mrs. Sam H. Rogers — PULASKI:— Jan. 5, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; fair; temp. 40-60. On foot over about 75 acres of farm land, 10 miles north of town. — ^Mrs. Sam !H. Rogers and Mr. and Mrs. Porter Stone. MURFREESBORO: — Dec. 25, 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.; fair; p.m. cloudy; temp. 30-55. Environs and Lillard Woods. 10 miles by auto, 6 on foot. An albino Field Sparrow was seen. — ^Prof. George Davis and Henry Todd, Jr. JOHNSON CITY: — Dec. 29, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m,; part cloudy; calm; temp. 20. Llewellyn Wood, Cox’s Lake, Boone’s Creek, Picken’s Bridge. — ^Robt. B. Lyle and Bruce P. Tyler. iGREENEVILLE:— Dec. 20, 8 A.M. to 5 P..M.; alternating clear and cloudy; light wind; temp. 24- 45. Reed and Ross farms along Roaring Fork Creek, and Bays Mt. 6 miles on foot, 12 in auto. Also, — ^Dec. 18, a Palm Warbler; Dec. 19, a Belted King- fisher.—Willie Ruth Reed. ^RUGBY: — Jan. 8, 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.; clear; light wind; temp. 50. From Rugby Road to Rugby, 7 miles by auto, fre- quent stops for short hikes, and 4 miles on foot around Rugby and in White Oak Creek basin. Elevation of Rugby is about 1500 feet above sea level. The Screech Owl, Bewick’s Wren, and Fox Sparrow are species seen here regularly but could not be found on the census. On the 6th, 11 Towhees were around the Walton feeding station at one time. — Mrs. W. T. Walton (Rugby) and Charles Baird, Misses Mary McGriff and Willie Ruth Reed, and Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Walker (Knoxville Chapter). RARA AVIS, MISS.: — Dec 25, 1 to 5 p.m.; overcast; temp. 52. Old road from Tremont to Rara Avis to Ala. line, 11 miles by auto with short side trips on foot (2 groups), principally into the Bull Mountain Creek bottoms. Large wooded bottoms and fields; moderately rolling country with only scattered pines. — Austin Burdick, Jr. and Ben Coffey (Memphis) and Harwell Dabbs (Tupelo). — - MOSELLE, MISS.: — Dec. 23, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; cloudy; wind, gentle, temp. 58-70. Leaf River swamps, by flat fields, thru pine woods, and over hilly terrain. 7 miles on foot, 27 miles in car. Observers together. Species not tabulated (but included in totals) are: Brown-headed Nuthatch, 5; Blue- headed Vireo, 3; Pine Warbler, 18; Md. Yellow-throat, 1 (thru 8x glasses at 25 feet); and Vesper Sparrow, 52.— Marie Grayson and Arneda Long. NASHVILLE: — Dec. 26, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; .5 inch of rain, steady all day; calm; temp. 40-45. Environs south, west, and east, including Radnor Lake, Overton Knobs, Franklin and Hardscuffle Roads, Hillsboro and Hobbs 1939 The Migrant 9 Roads, Warner Parks, Bellemeade, Westmeade; River Road; Knapp Farm. Observers in 10 groups. Total, 43 group-hours, 26 miles. On Dec. 25 a Ruddy Duck and 2 Ring-necked Ducks were seen on Radnor Lake. The Chipping Sparrow was recorded by Shaver and the Woodcock and Tree Sparrows by Abernathy, Robins, and Simpson. — B. H. Abernathy, J. B. Calhoun, Alfred Clebsch, Jr., A. F. Ganier, Wayland Hayes, Conrad Jamison, Amelia R. Las- key, Arthur McMurray, G. R. Mayfield, H. C. Monk, C. E. Pearson, John Prichard, Leo Rippy, Jr., J. A. Robins, Vernon Sharp, Jr., J. M. Shaver, Wm. Simpson, Val Solyom, Jamie Ross Tippens, H. S. Vaughn, and George B. Woodring — — ^CLARKSVILLE: — Dec. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p;m.; fair; wind, slight; temp. 38-42. Barred Owl at 9 p.m. North central portion of Mont- gomery County and Cumberland River bottom above Cunningham bridge and ‘Elder Woods’. Three groups. See also ‘The Season’.— -Lamar Armstrong, M. S. Carter, Alfred Clebsch, Sr. and Jr., Clarence Collier, Jr., Reams Goodloe, Mrs. J. Y. Hutchison, G. R. Mayfield, Mrs. W. M. Noland, Dr and Mrs. Picker- ing, Leo Rippy, Jr., J. A. Robins, and Wha. Simpson. — — SPRINGFIELD:— Jan. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; fair; wind, fresh; temp. 32-45. Environs, includ- ing Perry Park, small marsh 6 miles north and big marsh. The Yellow Palm Warblers were flitting about in the willows at the small marsh and constitute our first mid-winter record. — ^A. F. Ganier, Leo Rippy, Jr., G. R. Mayfield, and H. C. Monk. ^NORRIS: — ^^Dec. 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m-; fair; wind, brisk; temp. 35-45.Cove Creek Lake, Norris, and respective vicinities; 6 miles on foot.— Charles O. Baird, Jr. and W. M. Walker, Jr. KNOXVILLE: — Dec. 26, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; rain; temp. 40. U, T. Farm, Andrew Jackson Lake, Woodlawn Cemetery and Riverside Drive. Three groups; 3 miles on foot, 23 by auto. Observations chiefly from autos because of rain. — Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Johnson, Mrs. Henry Meyer, and W. M. Walker. Also Jan. l,~fair, temp. 35; Hj. P. I jams, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Johnson, Mrs. Frank Leonhard, Prof, and Mrs. Henry Meyer, and S. A. Ogden. 34 species, 700 individuals. Recorded Jan. 1 but not on Dec. 26, — Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 1; Pileated Woodpecker, 2; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2; Phoebe, 1; Brown Creeper, 1; Purple Finch, 2. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK:— Dec. 18, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; party cloudy; in lowlands, ground bare, temp. 35-50; in mountains, ground covered 1-3 inches of snow, temp. 28-35. Area of 15 miles diameter, same as last year, centered on Bull Head and including Mt. LeConte, Greenbriar Cove, Elkmont, and the state divide from Siler’s Bald to Charlie’s Bunion,^ — also Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, just outside park. Altitude range, 1200 to 6600 feet. Observers in 7 groups. Total, 60 group-hours, 24 miles afoot (3 groups), 177 miles by car and afoot. —The Golden Eagle was observed by Ogden at 75 to 100 yards and about 60 feet in the air. The Eagle, Black Vulture, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Chipping Sparrow were first winter records for these species in the Park. An absence of Pine Siskins and Red Crossbills was anticipated in view of a relatively light crop of conifer seed, while the scarcity of Robins, Purple Pinches, and Red-breasted Nuthatches proved to be of particular interest.. — Charles O. Baird, Jr., Mary Ruth Chiles, Brockway Crouch, John J. Hay, Earl O. Henry, H. P. I jams, Mr. and Mrs. W. M, Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Leonhard, Henry Meyer, S. A. Ogden, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Walker, Jr., and Dorothy Williams (Knoxville Chapter) ; Carlos C. Campbell, Willis 10 The Migrant March King, Bonnie Tom Robinson, R. H. Sloan, Jr., and Arthur Stupka, Park Na- turalist. HENDERSON: — Dec. 24, 7 a.m. to 1. p.m.; heavy fog responsible ifor light list, Clearing after 10 a.m. Town, east to edges of S. Forked Deer River bottom, chiefly around Lake Placid in Chickasaw Forest, 8 miles west. — J. R. Endfeley, assisted by Kermit Nichols. CORINTH, MISS.: — Jan. 1, 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.; clear; light wind; temp. 45. Petty bottom, 6 miles west of town, and Liddon Lake. — Benj. R. Warriner and Elgin Wright. — ^ — TUPELO, MISS.: — 'Dec. 25, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; cloudy; temp. 42-48. Gum Pond and just N. E. of same, and U. S. Fish Hatchery. — Austin Burdick, Jr., Ben Coffey, and Harwell Dabbs. Dec. 27, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p-m., windy and cold. Same area. — Dudley Carr, Harwell Dabbs, and Paul Eason. Additional species seen Dec. 27 indicated thus, Totals for Dec. 25 only and Include 1 Mockingbird and 1 Blue Jay seen that day compared with 10 each on Dec. 27. Limited to areas of special interest, — enroute to Rara Avis, Dec. 25, and poor weather, Dec. 27. MEMPHIS: — Dec. 24, 7 A;.m. to 5 p.m.; heavy fog first 2 hours, fair visibility at 40 feet, overcast all day; temp. 33-52. Territory of 1935 and 1936 well covered, although only a partial count made when fog lifted and birds were most numerous, due to schedule — ^Austin Burdick, Jr., Fred Carney, Ben Coffey, Harold Elphingstone, Fred Fiedler, Jr., Bill Fis- cher, Mrs. George W. Govert, Robt. Hovis, Dr. and Mrs. Louis Leroy, Hugh McCain, Franklin McCamey, Jr., Fordyce Mitchel, C. E. Moore, John Pond, Bob Shaffer, Billy Walker, Ben Welch, Eldon White and Neal Wyatt. ROSEDALE, MISS.: — Dec. 19, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; clear; light wind; temp. 33-51-46. Rosedale to Legion Lake, to Lake Bolivar and return. Observers together, 3 miles afoot, 42 by auto. — ^Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Vaiden and Van B. Chaney. CHAPTER NEWS Notifications of the following meeting dates have been received. KNOX- VILLE:— Field trips — Apr. 16, Hickory Valley; April 30, annual spring census. Island Home; May 21, Cade’s Cove; June 18, Andrews Bald and Clingman’s Dome. A night meeting is scheduled for June 7 and is in charge of Miss Willie Ruth Reed. (A very ambitious and tempting schedule — Editor.) Miss Mary Ruth Chiles, 1817 Highland., is sec.-treas. MEMPHIS: — Meetings are held at the Pink Palace Museum and for April are scheduled for the 10th and 24th. The annual spring field day has been set for May 7 and, as usual, at Lakeview on the Miss. line. Mrs. T. I. Klyce, Raleigh, Tenn. is sec’y. NASH- VILLE:— Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday nights of each month, at the Social-Religious Building on the Peabody campus. Dr. Olin S. Pettingill will be the speaker on April 12. The spring field day has been set for May 14. Leo Rippy, Jr., 515 Orient Circle, is sec’y. BLUE GRASS CHAPTER: — ^All T. 0. S. members in the ‘Blue Grass’ area and adjacent sections are urged to attend the annual spring field day of the chapter. The date has not been set but will probably be Apr. 30. Write the secretary, Mrs. Sam H. Rogers, 315 Flower St., Pulaski, for further details. 1939 The Migbant 11 THE SEASON MEMPHIS AREA:— Xmas Census lists were low this season in species recorded. Possibly this was due to unfavorable weather on census days. At Moon Lake, Miss., one factor may have been that the waterfowl hunting season extended, for the first time recently, a few days past the census date. However, no shooting was noted there that day. Unfortunately most of our Lakeview habitues ceased visiting this locality all at the same time and we have no notes from there. We have some interesting local lists made by Walker and Welch, Burdick, and others but we will have to postpone com- ment to the next issue, due to other duties. Dr. C. L. Baker reported the first Purple Martin at his box on Mar. 1, a day earlier than last year. — Ben Coitey, Memphis. CORINTH CHAT:— In March, 1933 I found a small flock (5 or 6) of Brown-headed Nuthatches in a small pine grove 5 miles southeast of town, I had been on the lookout for the ‘Brown-heads’ for several years, but with- out success. On this particular day I was near the pines and said to my- self that I would go over to the place and find Brown-headed Nuthatches. I went as straight to the tree where the little fellows were feeding as I would have gone if I had known in advance that they were there. After that occasion I found them in the same pine grove a number of times each year until 1938. They remained in the same spot the year round and ap- parently nested there each season. I have never been able to find this species anywhere else in the Corinth area although I have hunted re- peatedly. Last year this group disappeared and none have been seen since then. On Feb. 5 of this year I went there again, determined to make one more search. Again I failed. But there was a pleasant compensation. Three Red-breasted Nuthatches were feeding in the selfsame trees; they were the first of the kind I had ever seen. The Red-breasted is a rarity here, for this species does not often come this far south. A week later they were still there, but in another week were gone. On Feb. 26 a Brown Thrasher sang in the tip-top of a large water oak on Washington Street. I observed two others nearby in a small tree. Soon they joined the one in the water oak and in a short time all three were singing. Then to my utter surprise and delight two others came and in a few minutes five Brown Thrashers were trying to outdo one another in a veritable bird choir. One Brown Thrasher alone is capable of filling a whole neighborhood with song in- comparable. Five singing at one time gave me a thrill I have never experi- enced before in Birddom. This spring I observed in a number of places that quite a variety of birds will flock to a burned-off grass field. Early in March at a particular one of five or six acres of meadow-land I found Sparrows in abundance, — ^White-throats, Chipping, Field, Swamp, Song, and Juncos. In addition, there were many Doves, Robins, Rusty Blackbirds, and Titmice. I passed the spot several times in the following two weeks and the birds were still there. Yesterday (March 20) a dozen Vesper Sparrows had joined the other species. The Vesper is rarely seen here, and I can 12 The Migrant March recall only two other times that I have found it. In March two years ago, three were seen bathing in a little pool in the grass near a roadside; and again three or four flew up from a bare cotton patch near the road. It is said that the Vesper is the best named of all the birds, — because of his sweet song after sunset when all others of the bird tribe have gone to roost. — Benj. R*. Waerineb, Corinth, Miss. CLARKSVILLE AREA: — Our winter has been mild and heavy rainfall In the early part of February brought the Cumberland River to flood stage where it remained most of that month. During a trip on the swollen waters a flight of about 300 ducks broken up in flocks of varying size, gave proof of the increase in the wild fowl population. Wood Ducks extended their stay in this section into late December, records on the Cumberland River being made Dec. 18 and 28. A small group of Canada Geese, about 12 in number, spent the winter here and we have scattered records of the Great Blue Heron. But during the entire season, including the high water stage,