M&O Serials QL 671 -G84

THE

M O N T H L Y

Volume 18

SAN FRANCISCO, FEBRUARY, 1936

Number 2

December, 1935, Field Trip

December field trip was taken on Sunday, the 15th, on the campus of the University of California, up Strawberry Canyon and through the botanical gardens which belong to the University. Seventeen members and nine guests were present.

There was a heavy frost in the early morning followed by a calm day with bright sunshine.

The most interesting observation of the day was two Townsend Warblers and a Plain Titmouse feeding on the ground with Juncos and Nuttall Sparrows. A Mockingbird in the botanical gardens added a new species to the Association’s list for this region. Species represented by the greatest numbers of individuals were Pipits, Pine Siskins and Coast Jays.

A total of thirty-three species was noted as follows: Red-tailed and Sparrow Hawks; Quail; Anna Hummingbird; Red-shafted Flicker; Black and Say Phoebes; Coast and California Jays; Plain Titmouse; Bush-tit; Slender-billed and Red- breasted Nuthatches; Ruddy Wren-tit; Vigors Wren; Mockingbird; Western Robin; Varied and Hermit Thrushes; Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Pipit; Hutton Vireo; Audubon and Townsend Warblers; English Sparrow; Pine Siskin; San Francisco Towhee; San Francisco Brown Towhee; Junco; Nuttall, Golden- crowned, Fox and Song Sparrows.

Members attending: Mr. and Mrs. Stephens; Mesdames Kelly, Ruby H. Thomas; Misses Berg, Cockefair, Cohen, Danz, McConnell, Werner; Messrs. Bryant. Chase, Davis, Myer, Power; Masters Kirker, Lippmann. Guests: Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell; Mesdames Jamison, Rocca, Underhill; Dr. Mills; Miss Rocca; Masters Mitchell, White.

Chas. A. Bryant, Leader and Historian.

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Annual Christmas Bird Census in Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California (Mirror Lake, 4,000 feet elevation, to El Portal, 2,000 feet elevation), distance sixteen miles, Decem- ber 20, 1935, S a. m. to 5 p. m. Clear; snow and ice, shady areas; wind none; min- imum temperature 39°, maximum 60°. Fifteen observers working in pairs. Total 38 species, 711 individuals. Red-tailed Hawk 1; Coot 1; Pygmy Owl 1; Belted Kingfisher 2; Red-shafted Flicker 10; Pileated Woodpecker 3; California Wood- pecker 22; Modoc Woodpecker 8; Willow Woodpecker 3; White-headed Wood- pecker 9; Blue-fronted Jay 59 + ; California Jay 2; Chickadee 87+ ; Plain Tit- mouse 3; California Bush-tit 60 + ; Slender-billed Nuthatch 2; Red-breasted Nut- hatch 7; Sierra Creeper 29; Pallid Wren-tit 2; Dipper 9; Winter Wren 3; Canyon Wren 3; Rock Wren 1; Western Robin 18; Varied Thrush 1; Hermit Thrush 4; Western Bluebird 58 + ; Townsend Solitaire 1; Golden-crowned Kinglet 170+ ; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8; Audubon Warbler 1; Cassin Purple Finch 8; Pine Siskin 24; Sacramento Towhee 6; Brown Towhee 18; Thurber Junco 55 + ; Gambel Sparrow 6; Golden-crowned Sparrow 6.

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Observers: Mesdames Mary Tresidder, Della Hoss, Grace Ewing, Ruth Knowles and W. Fitzpatrick; Miss Lou Foster; Messrs. Herbert Ewing, Everett Harwell, Lowell Adams, Herbert Williams, W. Fitzpatrick, Granville Ashcraft (Ranger-Naturalist), J. E. Cole (Junior Park Naturalist), M. E. Beatty (Assistant Park Naturalist) and C. A. Harwell (Park Naturalist).

Christmas Census, Alameda County, California

Fii’st annual Christmas Bird Census taken in Oakland, California, by the Oak- land Ornithological Club, covering El Cerrito marshes, East Oakland hills, Lake Temescal, San Pablo reservoir, Upper San Leandro reservoir, Lake Merritt to Bay Farm Island. Weather clear; light easterly winds; temperature 34° at start, 56° maximum. Total 107 species, 27,975 individuals. English Sparrows were noted but not counted. Red-throated Loon 3; Horned Grebe 3; Eared Grebe 112; Western Grebe 9; Pied-billed Grebe 54; Farallon Cormorant 16; Great Blue Heron 11; Black-crowned Night Heron 51; Canada Goose 99; Mallard 248; European Widgeon 1; Baldpate 687; American Pintail 1372; Green-winged Teal 126; Red- head 8; Ring-necked Duck 225; Canvas-baclc 1321; Greater Scaup 62; Lesser Scaup 516; American Golden-eye 265; Buffle-head 23; White-winged Scoter 147; Surf Scoter 461; Ruddy Duck 690; American Merganser 19; Sharp-shinned Hawk 2; Red-tailed Hawk 13; Ferruginous Rough-leg 1; Marsh Hawk 6; Prairie Falcon 2; Desert Sparrow Hawk 14; California Quail 477; Ring-necked Pheasant 1; Clapper Rail 11; American Coot 695; Snowy Plover 14; Killdeer 202; Black- bellied Plover 5; Wilson Snipe 1; Western Willet 122; Greater Yellow-leg 2; Least Sandpiper 5652; Red-backed Sandpiper 1915; Long-billed Do witcher 1; Western Sandpiper 3395; Marbled Godwit 71; Sanderling 235; Glaucous-winged Gull 86; Western Gull 351; Herring Gull 1; California Gull 834; Ring-billed Gull 14; Bon- aparte Gull 401; Pacific Horned Owl 12; Burrowing Owl 3; White-throated Swift 4; Anna Hummingbird 12; Red-shafted Flicker 43; California Woodpecker 1; Cabanis Woodpecker 1; Willow Woodpecker 1; Nuttall Woodpecker 1; Black Phoebe 9; Say Phoebe 1; California Horned Lark 61; Tree Swallow 1; Coast Jay 18; California Jay 57; Plain Titmouse 20; Coast Bush-tit 103; Red-breasted Nut- hatch 5; California Creeper 2; Gambel Wren-tit 72; Winter Wren 7; Vigors Wren 38; Marsh Wren 4; Sonoma Thrasher 2; Western Robin 532; Varied Thrush 16; Dwarf Hermit Thrush 28; Western Bluebird 74; Golden-crowned Kinglet 34; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 62; American Pipit 285; Cedar Waxwing 651; California Shrike 6; Hutton Vireo 2; Audubon Warbler 37; Townsend Warbler 6; Western Yellow-throat 1; Western Meadowlark 293; Brewer Blackbird 1400; Purple Finch 24; Common House Finch 10S9; Northern Pine Siskin 86; Willow Goldfinch 1; Green-backed Goldfinch 64; San Francisco Towhee 108; San Francisco Brown Towhee 45; Savannah Sparrow 138; Rufous-crowned Sparrow 12; Junco 307; Nuttall Sparrow 560; Golden-crowned Sparrow 105; Fox Sparrow 6; Lincoln Sparrow 2; Song Sparrow 185.

Observers: Elmer Aldrich, Gordon Bolander, Bob Failing, Cranson Hopkins, Morgan Harris, Edwin McClintock, Robert Taylor.

Lake Merritt, Oakland, California

The January field trip was taken on Sunday, the 12tli, to Lake Merritt, Oak- land. Although the sky was overcast virtually all day, allowing but little sunshine, there was not that cold wind which we have had to contend with on some of our former visits to the lake in January.

On January 17, 1918, our member, Mr. IT. van Straaten of Velp, Holland, made an independent count of the birds on Lake Merritt, reporting some 3,300 individuals, and in March of the same year he found that the number had dimin- ished to 668. It is probable that these reports prompted our Association to make the counting of the waterfowl on Lake Merritt an annual affair, although it was not commenced until two years later, in 1920. The following year it was omitted on

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account of heavy rains, but each year since the count has been made, the present census being our sixteenth.

This yeai the number of species found was about the same as in previous years, but the number of individuals was the largest since 1931. The increase was supplied by the Canvas-back, Scauxi and Ruddy Ducks. The Scaup were in greater numbeis than on any of our former counts. Seven Redheads were present this year, whereas this species was represented by a single individual heretofore.

Shoveller, Green-winged Teal and European Widgeon were missing. One European Widgeon was first noted in 1921 and again in 1922 and 1923. Thereafter it was missing until 1928, but in 1929 two were noted. One was present in 1930 and 1931, but was again missing in 1932, then present each year following until this year. However, one was observed by Mrs. Kelly and the writer on Decem- ber 4.

The outstanding observation of the day was a Barrow Golden-eye, this being the second time this species has been recorded by our Association; the first time was January 11, 1931. This species was observed here first, however, by Leslie Hawkins and Gordon Bolander on October 28, and again on November 28, 1930.

The count of ducks was as follows :

Mallard	12	Canvas-back	.1S72	Buffle-head..
Baldpate	108	Scaup	. 504	Ruddy Duck
Pintail	202	American Golden-eye.	. 109
Redhead	7	Barrow Golden-eye	1	Total

Others, including land birds found in Lakeside Park, making a total of thirty- nine species, follow :

Short-billed Gull Bonaparte Gull Anna Hummingbird Red-shafted Flicker California Woodpecker California Jay Plain Titmouse Coast Bush-tit Western Robin Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Members attending: Messrs, and Mesdames Dunshee, Millard, Stephens; Mesdames Courtright, Kelly, Myer, Nielsen; Misses Berg, Cockefair, Cohen, Dunshee, Griffin, McConnell, Sterne, Uniacke; Messrs. Bickford, Bolander, Bryant, Bunker, Power, Taylor, C. R. Thomas; Master Kirlter. Guests: Misses Mayhew, Markley, Rinehart, Rogie; Messrs. Bickford, Hopkins, Nielson, Sperr; Jean and Barbara Myer. Twenty-six members and eight guests. We were especially pleased to have with us Mr. E. L. Bickford and his son Robert from Napa, and Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen from El Dorado.

Laura A. Stephens, Historian.

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Horned Grebe, 7 Eared Grebe, 130 Pied-billed Grebe, 10 Farallon Cormorant, 3 Black-cr. Night Heron, 22 American Coot, 258 Glaucous-winged Gull Herring Gull California Gull Ring-billed Gull

Cedar Waxwing Audubon Warbler English Sparrow Brewer Blackbird Purple Finch House Finch Nuttall Sparrow Golden-cr. Sparrow Song Sparrow

Book Notices: “Singing in the Wilderness,” by Donald Culross Peattie, G. P. Putman’s Sons, New York City, $2.50. Six photographic reproductions of Audu- bon’s drawings, one being in color, and a halftone reproduction of Audubon's portrait. Although not belonging to ornithological literature, it seems important to call attention to this recent book. Truly it is a “salute to John James Audubon” and should stimulate many persons to become bird-minded who heretofore have thought the hobby of birding belonged to a few strange individuals. It may focus attention upon Audubon Societies, whose purpose is to preserve our great heritage of native birds.

“The Living Wilderness.” I wish everyone could read the first number of a new magazine called “The Living Wilderness.” It is published by the Wilderness Society, Robert Sterling Yard, Editor. Address of organizing committee is 1S40 Mintwood Place, Washington, D. C. Since President Roosevelt has stated that CCC may become permanent there is a great need of a Wilderness Society so that roads shall not take up all the available woodland area and that pruning shears shall not be used on all our trees. — J. W. K.

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Audubon Notes

February Meeting: The regular meet- ing will be held on Thursday, the 13th, at 8 p. m., room 19, Ferry Building.

The speaker of the evening will he Mr. F. H. Test, whose subject will be “East, West and South, an Ornithologi- cal Contrast.” The lecture will be illus- trated.

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Directors’ Meeting: There will be a meeting of the Directors preceding the regular meeting at 6:30 p. m., in room 714, 245 Market Street.

1936 Dues: The annual dues for the year are now payable. Your prompt at- tention to this matter makes it possible for “The Gull” to come to you regularly every month.

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February Field Trip will be taken on Sunday, the 16th, to Burlingame. Meet at stage depot, Fifth near Mission Street, San Francisco, to take bus at 8: 55 a. m., to Easton Drive, where party will meet at 10 o’clock.

East Bay members should reach Ferry Building not later than 8:30, tak- ing car up Market to Fifth Street. Bring luncheon. Leader, Mrs. Junea W. Kelly.

January Meeting: The 19th annual and the 222nd regular meeting was held on December 9th, room 19, Ferry Build-

ing, with thirty-one members and guests present.

Officers and Directors for 1936 were elected as follows:

Mrs. G. Earle Kelly President

B. K. Dunshee First Vice-President

Mrs. H. P. Bracelin

- Second Vice-President

Mrs. Albert B. Stephens Treasurer

C. B. Lastreto Corresponding Secy.

Miss C. C. Pringle Recording Secy.

Albert B. Stephens ...Director

Frank A. Roberts Director

Mrs. Mary L. Courtright Director

The following new members were elected: Mrs. Orrin D. Miller, Presidio, San Francisco, and Harvey Long, San Anselmo, a junior member.

Observations made by Commander and Mrs. Parmenter: Lake Merced, Holboell Grebe, January 9th; Alvarado marshes, 5 Snowy Herons, 186 Ameri- can Mergansers, 1 Hudsonian Curlew, January 3rd; Bishop Tract, Stockton, 150± Little Brown Cranes, December 20th.

Mrs. Kelly gave a short talk full of interesting information on “The Distri- bution of Birds.”

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“Bird Flight,” by Gordon C. Aymar, Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc., New York, price $4.10. A collection of 200 action photographs, the book being di- vided into four main sections: the evo- lution of flight in birds; their biology, migration, and aerodynamics of flight.

Audubon Association of the Pacific

Organized January 25, 1917

For the Study and the Protection of Birds

President... Mrs. G. Earle Kelly 1311 Grand Ave., Alameda, Calif.

Corresponding Secretary C. B. Lastreto 260 California St., San Francisco

Treasurer Mrs. A. B. Stephens 1695 Filbert St., San Francisco

Monthly meeting second Thursday, 8 P. M., Room 19, Ferry Building.

Address Bulletin correspondence to Mrs. A. B. Stephens, Editor, 1695 Filbert St., San Francisco. Subscription to monthly Bulletin, $1.00 per year. Single copies, 15c.

Membership dues, payable January 1st, $3.00 per year.

Student memberships, $1.50 per year. Life memberships, $50.00.

Members are responsible for dues until written notice of resignation is received by Treasurer.