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BULLETIN
Volume 29 San Francisco, California, July, 1947 Number 7
Migration ol Eastern Warblers
No literary pilgrim or amateur historian would think of passing the gates of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, without turning in to read the stones marking the remains of many generations of celebrated New Englanders. In a more modest sense, few local bird lovers will absent them- selves from these extensive rolling lawns, woodland paths, lakes and green meadows during the hectic but splendid days cf the spring warbler migration.
Looking into Mt. Auburn on the 9th of May, 1946, I found the winter birds still in the majority. Slate-colored Juncos scratched along the path with White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows; Yellow-shafted Flickers and Phoebes accounted for most of the singing. Already ahead of me however, were slick Black and White Warblers, feeding along the tree trunks and the elegant Parula, chasing in and out of the new green of the elms among large flocks of Myrtle Warblers.
The 10th of May was clear and warm. A day which made one know that nowhere is the spring so tender, so fragile and alas, so brief as in New England. By this date several new heads could be counted among the visiting warblers at Mt. Auburn: dainty little Black-throated Blues looking like desert gnatcatchers; yellow-faced Black-throated Green Warblers seen and lost again and again amid the bronze foliage of the beeches; handsome Chestnut-sided Warblers visiting high among the elms and the Redstarts, an incessant flutter of black and red about the branches of the firs. But still the list was small and there was even time to watch the Mockingbirds and Thrashers hunting around the granite headstones.
For almost a week the bad weather continued and the warbler population remained static and scarce. Then early on the morning of the 17th of May, I awakened to a vast chorus of song and found the great elms in the quadrangle below alive with warblers. The sky that afternoon at Mt. Auburn was literally filled with warbler wings; the air vibrant with warbler calls. They surged among the trees in wave after wave; not in formation of a single species, but all kinds and colors in a sort of wild jubilee of feathered strength and posses-
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sion. Settling down before a screen of evergreens, I awaited their attack. There were all the old acquaintances: the Parula, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blues and Greens. Then in a burst of orange, a wave of Black burnians came through my defenses, supported by the beautifully marked Magnolia Warblers. Beyond the little hill came the Canada Warbler and the plain little Black Polls; the Redstarts and Black and Whites mingling through them all. There were hundreds, no, thousands! And as they crossed and recrossed the glasses, forgotten was the grey sky and the dripping leaves, for here was a whirr of wings and a flash of color that repeated itself until I came to know every feather and beak, each little eye and wing.
And there were more than warblers to gladden my eye that day. On one occasion I looked up into a dark pine and saw the scarlet of the tanager, brilliant against the blackness cf the sky. And beside a little pool where the Magnolia Warblers flashed among the flowering cherry, I watched those shy woodland creatures, the Catbird and Veery, the Hermit Thrush and Oven- bird, nervous, quiet little fellows that seem to lead such sober and endearing lives beneath the brush. As the early evening came on I found the Northern Water Thrush feeding among the Yellow-throats on the margin of the pool. But with the darkness came no end of the warbler calls. Far into the night I heard them going overhead, reminding me how small a part of the warbler world was my little area in Mt. Auburn.
October 2 5, 1946. — Harold Kirker, Hochst, Germany.
June Field Trip
Sunday, June 12, was a beautiful clear day with gentle breezes, which made the trip to Dimond Canyon, Oakland, a perfect birding day. The group was led by the president, Dr. T. Eric Reynolds, substituting for Miss Plymell. Anna and Allen hummingbirds flashed their brilliant gorgets as they darted over the scarlet cannas; Russet-backed Thrushes sang to us; warblers and vireos kept our ears alert to their scngs, in a setting of many trees, bending over a trickling stream and bubbling spring, enlivening a few colorful wild flowers. Surely a bird’s paradise! A Hutton Vireo was busy feeding a young Cowbird, which undoubtedly had been forced upon her in the egg stage, and she had raised it with her own brood. It was considerably larger than herself.
After several hours of birding, we gathered at the heme of Dr. and Mrs. T. Eric Reynolds. Here was a delightful landscaped setting for both birders and birds. On the lawn to greet us was "Joe”, a six-weeks old, half-grown Raven, a foundling bi ought from San Luis Obispo. Joe ’ appears very happy and friendly and consented to eat bits of apple, but really prefers meat. Among
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the many enticements for birds, was a snowball bearing red ripe cherries.
tree which apparently was
social lunch hour in the garden was followed by a most interesting talk V ert aiwell, one of our own members and now representing the National Audubon Society, who has just returned from a speaking tour across the continent. o testify to the perfect whistling of bird songs by Mr. Harwell Horn the nearby trees came an answer by the Black-headed Grosbeak.
Forty members and guests enjoyed the gracious hospitality of Dr. and Mrs. Reynolds.
The following 39 species were observed:
Cooper Hawk California Quail Killdeer
Anna Hummingbird Allen Hummingbird Red-shafted Flicker Hairy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Western Flycatcher Wood Pewee Olive-sided Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Steller Jay California Jay
Plain Titmouse Bush-tit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Wren-tit
Robin
Swainson Thrush (Russet-backed) Hutton Vireo Cassin Vireo Warbling Vireo Orange-crowned Warbler (Lutescent)
Yellow Warbler Pileolated Warbler
English Sparrow Brewer Blackbird Brown-headed Cow bird Black -headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Purple Finch House Finch Arkansas Goldfinch (Green-backed)
Spotted Towhee Brown Towhee Oregon Junco White -crowned Sparrow Song Sparrow
Young, Historian i
— Minnie H.
May Meeting
The 3 56th meeting of the Audubon Association of the Pacific was held Thursday evening, May 8, 1947 in the Assembly Room, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, California. President, Dr. T. Eric Reynolds presided.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Miss Ivander Mac Iver reported a new member, Eugene Worthington, Jr.
Miss Watkins discussed the nature camp to be organized at Tilden Regional Park. She suggested that the camp would provide a way for Audubon members to aid in a constructive junior Audubon program.
Mrs. T. Eric Reynolds reported on her National Audubon Screen Tour in
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the east and emphasized the importance of providing leadership for junior members.
Dr. Reynolds introduced the speaker of the evening, Mr. Joseph T. Mars- hall. Mr. Marshall discussed the relationship of bird distribution to specific vegetation areas.
Thirty-four members and guests were present.
The meeting was adjourned by Dr. Reynolds at 9:45 p. m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan E. Kirk, Recording Secretary
The editor wishes to thank Miss Cleiia A. Paroni for editing the June issue of The Gull.
July Meeting
The 3 5 8th meeting of the Audubon Association of the Pacific will be held on Thursday, July 10, at 8:00 p. m., in the Assembly Room of the San Francisco Public Library at Larkin and McAllister Streets.
Mrs. Otis H. Smith, who is an experienced bird-bander, will talk about "Marin County Bird Trails.”
July Field Trip
The July field trip will be held Sunday, July 13. For a summer change the party will meet at Pt. Lcbos Avenue and Camino Del Mar, San Francisco at 7:00 o’clock. Ter- ritory to be explored will be the Veteran’s Facility, Lincoln Park, Land’s End, Sutro Heights and Seal Rocks. Take #2 car. Bring your breakfast, friends and binoculars. Leader, Arthur H. Myer.
Audubon Association oi the Pacific
Organized January 25, 1917
For the Study and the Protection of Bird*
President Dr. T. Eric Reynolds 140 Estates Drive, Piedmont 11
Corresponding Secretary Mr. Joseph J. Webb 519 California St., San Francisco 4
Treasurer Miss Ivander Maclver 2414 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley 4
Editor Miss Grace Irene Crowe 1420 Henry St., Berkeley 7
Monthly meetings second Thursday, 8:00 p. m.
Assembly Room, San Francisco Public Library, Larkin and McAllister Sts., San Francisco Membership dues, payable January 1st, $3.00 per year
Student memberships, $1.50 per year Life memberships, $50.00
Subscription, $1.00 per year
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