Maryland birdlife

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MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Su[[s.tui of tfis. ezA'laxytand iDtniifioCo^icat cSocizty, Una.

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Volume 15

DECEMBER 1959

N umber

4

THE MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

Cylburn Mansion, 4915 Greenspring Ave. , Baltimore 9, Maryland

State President: Dr.

State Secretary: Mrs

State Treasurer: Cdr

State Membership Sec.
Local Chapters
Allegany County

Anne Arundel Co.

Charles J. Stine, 1232 Providence Rd., Towson 4, Md.
. Frances Stine, 1232 Providence Rd., Towson 4, Md.
. Edward P. Wilson, 119 Archwood Ave., Annapolis, Md.
: Mrs. Shirley Geddes, 503 Overbrook Rd. , Balto., Md.

State Vice Presidents’ 11
Mr. Edgar Reynolds
615 La. Ave., Cumberland

Mr. Harvey Hall
Edgewater, Annapolis

State Trustees
Mr. John Workmeister
Mr. Richard M. Douglass
Mr. Douglas F. Miner
Cdr. Edward P. Wilson

Baltimore

Caroline County
Frederick County
Harford County
Kent County
Takoma Park
Talbot County

Mr. Seth H. Low
R.D. 2, Gaithersburg

Mr. Marvin W. Hewitt
Acting First Vice Pres.
Greensboro

Mr. Charles Mullican
503 Lee Place, Frederick
Mr. Barclay E. Tucker, Jr.

R. F. D., Bel Air
Mrs. Mary Paschall
R. D., Sock Hall

Miss Hilda E. Smith
9912 CherryTree, Silv. Spr.

Mr. Richard L. KLeen
Box 122, St. Michaels

Mr. Carl Lubbert
Dr. Charles J. Stine
Dr. Elmer G. Wort hi ey
Mr. A. J. Fletcher
Mrs. A. J. Fletcher
Mrs. Louise Anders
Mr. Sterling W. Edwards
Miss Sstella Everett
Mrs. Basil M. Gregory
Mr. Thomas 3. Carswell
Mrs. Thomas S. Carswell

Mrs. C. N. Thomsen
Mrs. Elsie Hovey
Miss Edith D. Adkins
Dr. J. T. B. Ambler

* State Vice Presidents are Presidents of their respective chapters.

Active membership (adults) $ 2.00
Junior " (under 10 yrs.j .50
Sustaining membership 5.00
Life membership 100.00
Out-of-state membership 2.00

plus local chapter dues
plus local chapter dues
plus local chapter dues
(payable in 4 annual installments)
(MARYLAND BIRDLIFE only)

CONTENTS, DECEMBER 1959

Maryland Nest Summary for 1959 David Bridge 89

Baltimore Chapter Junior Program Mrs. Norwood K. Schaffer 97

The Season — April, May, June 1959 Chandler S. Robbins 99

Cooperative Blackbird Roost Survey Brooke Meanley 105

The Season — July, August, September 1959 Chandler S. Robbins 106

Seminars in Conservation Hans Krimm 110

Report on Trip to Blackwater Refuge Helen Fessenden 111

New Members 113

Coming Events 11 3

Announcement — Helen B. Miller Scholardiip llii

COVER: Killdeer Nest. Photograph by David Bridge

HEADINGS: By Irving E. Hampe, Art Editor

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc.
to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Maiyland
Editor: Chandler S. Robbins, Patuxent Research Center, Laurel

Editorial Board: Mrs. Roberta Fletcher, Mrs. Mabel Hoyler, Richard
L. Kleen, Gordon Knight, Mrs. Martina Luff,

Charles J. Stine, W. Eryant Tyrrell

Jr. Editorial Board: Wilbur Rittenhouse, Gordon Knight, James Voshell

Production: Gladys Cole, Mildred Cole, Elizabeth Fisher, Dorothy

Krimm, Hans Krimm, Shirley Geddes

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

^Pu/jfufUJ ^uaztzxiij (jij tfi£
<zyfy\a r iij[anA (£) f init(io[ocjLc.a[ ^oais.tij, line.

Cylburn Mansion , 4915 Greenspring Ave.. Baltimore 9, Md.

Volume 15 DECEMBER 1959 Number 4

MARYLAND NEST SUMMARY FOR 1959
David Bridge

The total of lid species of birds reported nesting in Maryland in
1959 is exceeded only by last year's high of 119 (three of which were first
records for the State)#

The coverage was generally good, although such common species as the
Sparrow Hawk and the Least Tern were missed. Of the 109 observers report-
ing nests, those tallying the 20 species represented by only one record
certainly contributed their part in making 1959 a successful year.

Some of the less frequently reported nesting species which were found
this year were* Chuck-will <s -widow, Red-headed Woodpecker, White-breasted
and Brown-headed Nuthatches, Parula, Magnolia, and Canada Warblers,

Some species had unusually large numbers of nests reported this year.
Examples are: American Woodcock— 4; Yellow-billed Cuckoo— 6; Chimney
Swift— 8; Hairy Woodpecker — 4; Prairie Horned Lark — 10; Robin — 215; Blue-
gray Gnat cat cher— 16; Hooded Warbler— 6; Bald Eagle— 4. It is encourag-
ing to note that only one of the Bald Eagle nests was reported as unsuc-
cessful*

Twenty-one counties reported nests this year with Somerset and Carroll
the only counties not represented. Caroline County led, as usual, with 73
species* Prince Georges was second with 61 species*

With the large number of nests found, it is a great disappointment to
find such statements as "could not see into nest," "too high," etc,, in
the spaces marked "Contents" on the nest card. Since the primary purpose
of this project is to amass information an the nesting cycle of birds, a
few cards with detailed data on incubation and fledging dates are more
valuable than are many cards for nests visited only once*

Since nests often are built in protected places, it is sometimes
very difficult to see their contents. This problem may be solved by the
use of a mirror mounted at the end of an eight foot pole. The reflecting
surface of the mirror forms an angle of 120 degrees with the pole. This
versatile arrangement was a constant companion of the author during this
past year*

90

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. lP t No. 4

Contributors who found ten or more nests this year are: Elsie Bil-

brough, David Bridge, Margarets Butenachoen, Dan Campbell, Sterling Edwards,
Ronald R. Feller, Helen Fessenden, Betty Fisher, Roberta B«, A. J., and
Robert Fletcher, Katherine Goodpasture, C. Douglas Hackman, Marvin Hewitt,
Harry Hubbard, Vernon Kleen, Erana and Carl Lubbert, Brooke Meanley, Burnie
Miller, Terry Moore, Sarah Quinn, Wilbur Rittenhouse, Chandler S, Robbins,
Bill Scudder, C. Scudder, Jean Scudder, Lucille V. Smith, Salome G. Somers,
Robert E. Stewart, Ted Stiles, John Webb, John Weske, Donald Widman and
Rickie Willetts*

The number of nests reported for each species is given by counties in
Table 1. The county abbreviations are the same as the ones used last year
and are arranged vertically over the table: All(egany), Ann(e Arundel),

Bal(timore), Car(oline), Cal(vert), Cec(ll), Cha(rles), Dor (cheater), Fre-
derick), Gar(rett), Har(ford), How(ard), Ken(t), Mon(tgomery), Pri(nce
Georges), Que(en Annes), St. M(arys), Tal(bot), Was(hington), Wic(omico),
and Wor(cester)* An asterisk (*) for certain colonial species Indicates
that a large proportion of the reports concerned young birds out of the
nest, so no accurate nest count could be reported. Excluding these, 2,132
nest records were received in 1959. Brief notes on each species have been
selected for inclusion in the annotated list; record-breaking dates are
underscored.

PIED-BILLED GREBE— Two broods, one of 3 and one of 4 or 5 were found at
Patuxent Refuge on May 28 by Robert E. Stewart*

GREAT BLUE HERON — Terry Moore and Robert Fletcher saw a Caroline County
bird carrying sticks on March 26*

COMMON EGRET— Donald Widman observed young in nests at Mills Island,
Worcester County, on June 29.

SNOWY EGRET— Young in nest on Mil Lb Island on June 29 (DW); 10 young
banded on the south island off South Point and 17 on the middle
island on July 5 by John Weske and H. N. Kluijver.

GRE£N HERON— 4 eggs in Queen Annes County nest on May 26 (Brooke Meanley,
John Webb); 3 eggs and young out of nest at Sinepuxent Bay on July
5 (Weske, HNK). Young out of nest on July 11 in Prince Georges Coun-
ty by Ronald R* Feller.

CATTLE EGRET— Young in nest at Mills Island on June 29 (DW).

LOUISIANA HERON— 7 young banded off South Point, July 5 by Weske.

LITTLE BUIE HERON— 4 young banded off South Point, July 5 (Weske, HNK) .
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON— 4 young banded on south island off South Point
on July 5 Weske) .

LEAST BITTERN — Dan Campbell and Robert Mitchell found a nest with 1 egg at
Patuxent Refuge on May 26; this is the third record for the interior
of Maryland

GLOSSY IBIS— Young at Mills Island on June 29 (DW), One young banded on
south island off South Point on July 5 (Weske, HNK).

MALLARD—Nest with eggs on Patuxent Refuge an April 26 (Baltimore Chapter)*
Caroline County had a brood of 10 on July 14 (C. Scudder).

BLACK DUCK— First egg in Prince Georges County nest on April 9 (David
Bridge). 8 young in Queen Annes County on May 26 (BK, J. Webb).
BLUE-WINGED TEAL— Nest with 5 eggs on April 25 at Elliott Island marsh,
Dorchester County (RES); 9 young'. May 28, Dorchester County (BM)*

December 1959 MARYLAND BIRD LIFE —

WOOD DUCK — Adult flushed from old Pileated Woodpecker hole on April 26 at
Patuxent Refuse (RES); 8 young on April 28 at Greenbelt, Prince Geor-
ges County (RRF) .

TURKEY VULTURE— Two nests from Caroline County: Marvin Hewitt found a nest

with 1 egg on May 2; on May 25 there was 1 young in this nest; David
K. Hanawalt found the other nest, which had 2 eggs on May 20*

RED-TAILED HAWK— 3 half -grown young banded in nest 65 feet high at Patux-
ent Refuge on May 17 (RES); nest with 1 young in Montgomery County
on May 30 found by Helen Fessenden.

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK— Average height of 9 nests was 41 feet.

OSPREY— 3 eggs in duck blind nest on May 26 in Queen Annes Co. (BM,Webb).

BALD EAGLE — 1 young banded in Charles County nest on April 18 (Fred Schmid).

BQBWHITE— first young,- May 2, in Caroline County (T. Bowman and H. Baker).
Two large clutches— 18 eggs in Caroline County by R* B. Fletcher and
14 eggs in Queen Annes County (TM).

RlNG-NECKED PHEASANT— Betty Fisher saw a female with her brood on May 28
at Pretty Boy Reservoir, Baltimore County.

OYSTERCATCHER — Two nests, 3 and 4 eggs, on Sinepuxent Bay islands on May
9 — M.O.S. boat trips.

KING RAIL — Brooke Meanley and John Webb found two nests both with eggs, on
May 26 in Queen Annes County.

KILLDEER — First eggs in Prince Georges County, nest on April 14 — Vernon

Kleen; first young in Prince Georges County on April 26 (CSR). Last
eggs, Caroline Co., June 17; hatched next day — Billy Scudder.

AMERICAN WOODCOCK — Two eggs in Allegany County nest on May 2 (Gene Blank).
Samuel H. Dyke observed 4 young with an adult in Dorchester County cm
April 14*

WILLET — Four nests with eggs, found between May 9 at Sinepuxent Bay (Mrs.

H. W. Newell) and May 13 at Elliot Island (BM).

LAUGHING GULL— 40 young banded off South Point on July 5 (Weske).

COMMON TERN— Two nests with single eggs found on M.O.S. trip. May 10. on
a Sinepuxent Bay island; 5 young banded there later by John Weske.

ROYAL TERN — 159 banded off South Point on July 5 (Weske, HNK).

BLACK SKIMMER — Eggs in Worcester County on July 5 (Weske, HNK). '

MOURNING DOVE — Egg dates, March 20 in Prince Georges County (Jack Line-
han) to September 12 in Worcester County (Fletchers, G. Cole).

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO— First young out of Caroline County nest on July 16

(cs).

BARN OWL— Two young in lookout tower at Blackwater Refuge on October 24
found by Bill Scudder and Bob Pepper. Two adults and a young shot
by a policeman in Caroline County; there had been a complaint about
the noise the owls were making.

SCREECH OWL— Wilbur Rittenhouse saw 2 gray young out of nest with a red
and a gray adult on June 7 in Caroline County.

GREAT HORNED OWL — D. D. Gibson banded 2 young in Kent Co. on March 20.

BARRED OWL — Adult flushed from old Pileated Woodpecker hole on April 26
at Patuxent Refuge (RES).

CHUC K- WILL* S- WIDOW — One egg in Dorchester County nest on May 17 (Mrs. Ray
Teele); same nest had 2 eggs on June 9 (BM).

COMMON NIGHT HAWK — Two young on June 10 and 2 eggs on July 13— both at
Denton, Caroline County (Tom Robbins, C. Scudder).

92

MARYLAMD BIRDLIFE

Vol. 15, NO. 4

SUMMABY OF ALL 1959 MARYLAND NESTS REPORTED

Species

A A B C
1 n a a
1 n 1 r

n c c d

a e h ©
1 c a r

F G H H
r a a o
e r r w

X M P Q
e o r u
n n i e

S T W W W
t a a i o
M 1 3 c p

Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret

2

1 1

Common Egret
Snowy Egret
Louisiana Heron
Black-cr. Nt. Heron
Least Bittern

Am. Bittern
Glossy Ibis
Mallard
Black Duck
Blue-winged Teal

1

1 2

3

10

Wood Duck
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Osprey

1

1

6 1

e

2

2

10

u

Bald Eagle
Bobwhite

Ring-neck Pheasant
Am. Oystercatcher
King Rail

1 13
1

4

17

1

2

2

TS

4

u

Kill deer
American Woodcock
Willet

Laughing Gull
Common Tern

4

1

Royal Tern
Black Skimmer
Mourning Dove
Yellow- bill Cuckoo
Barn Owl

5 3
5

1

4 1

3 9

2 &

6

2

Screech Owl
Great Homed Owl
Barred Owl
Chuck-will* s-widow
Common Nighthawk

Chimney Swift
Ruby-t Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-sh. Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker

1 3

1 2

3 15 3

1

3 3

2 2 1

1 1

9

4
2

23

_2_

8

1

5

16

12

8

33

15

10

10

2

10

8

Red-bel. Woodpecker
Red-head Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Kingbird

1 2
12 2
12

2

1

2

1 10
1-1-

Great Crested Fly.
Eastern Phoebe
Acadian Phycatcher
Eastern Wood Pewee
Homed Lark

1

6

1

4 1

1
11

6 2

1

8

Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Rourti-wing Swallow

December 1959

MARYLAND BIRDLIFN

93

A

A B

C

c

C

C

D

F

G

H

H

K M

p

Q

S

T W

w

W

T

1

n a

a

a

e

h

•

r

a

a

o

e o

r

u

t

a a

i

0

0

1

n 1

r

1

c

a

r

e

r

r

w

n n

i

e

M

1 s

c

r

t

Barn Swallow

3

27

2

1

2

2

1

8

51 3C

24 4

L55

Cliff Swallow

1

5

6

Parple Martin

122

2

40 1

13

179

Blue Jay

6

13 1

20

o tia.uon Crow

1

3

10

2

1

18

Carolina Chickadee

6

1

9

2

18

Tufted Titmouse

4

5

3

12

White-br. Nuthatch

1

1

Brown-head Nuthatch

1

1

House Wren

?

?

4

4

9

1?

46

Carolina Wren

1

2 1

5

3

4

lt>

Long-bill M. Wren

2

1

3

Short -bill M. Wren

1

1

Mockingbird

1 3

15

1

4

8

1

1

34

Catbird

2

3

10

1

4

1

2

14

1

2?

Brown Thrasher

6

17

1

8

15

47

Robin

31

14

33

1

8

5

19

86

8

£05

Wood Thrush

3

5

2

2

15

27

Eastern Bluebird

1

12

3

2

2

2

22

B-g. Qnatcatcher

1

2

?

2

3

4

1?

Cedar Waxwing

1

1

Starling

<r\

CM

6

12

1

18

2

1

47

White-eyed Vireo

1

1

Yellow-thrtd Vireo

1

1

Red-eyed Vireo

2

2

4

1

4

1?

Black-&-white Warblei

l

1

Froth cnot ary Warb.

4

4

Parula Warbler

i

1

Yellow Warbler

l

1

2

Magnolia Warbler

l

1

Chestnut-sided W.

l

1

Prairie Warbler

2

2

Ovenbird

l

1

1

1

2

6

La. Waterthrush

1

2

2

5

Kentucky Warbler

1

4

2

7

Tellowthroat

5

2

7

Yellow-br. Chat

1

2

1

4

Hooded Warbler

1

5

6

Canada Warbler

l

1

American Redstart

1

2

4

8

House Sparrow

1

7

1

3

33

1

46

Eastern Meadowlark

4

l

1

1

7

Redwinged Blackbird

2

1

48

42

1

1 116 1<

0

18

419

Orchard Oriole

8

1

3

1

13

Baltimore Oriole

JL

6

1

2

1

13

Boat-tail Crackle

8

8

Common Grackle

2 13

4

6

16

32

16

89

Br. -headed Cowbird

1

12

1

5

8

27

Scarlet Tanager

4

4

Summer Tanager

4

1

5

Cardinal

3

22

1

i r

11 1

I

51

Blue Grosbeak

3

3

Indigo Bunting

1

4

i

6

American Goldfinch

1

1

2

Rufous— 8 . Towhee

l

1

1

5

13

Grasshopper Spar.

4

4

Seaside Sparrow

2

2

Chipping Sparrow

5

23

2

i

5

1

37

Field Sparrow

2

2

9

3

3

2

1

22

Song Sparrow

4

1

7

1

6

94

I.bi-RYLA>!D BIRDLIFE

Yol.-ir-, Mo. 4

CHIMNEY SWIFT— Building on May 5 in Caroline County (CS); 2 nests with
young fell down Helen Fessenden's chimney in Montgomery County*

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD — Building in Baltimore County on May 9 — (C* D.
Hackman). Adult on Garrett County nest on June 15— Oumie Miller*

BELTED KINGFISHER— Sarah E* Quinn saw 2 young out of their burrow on
June 24 in St. Marys County.

YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER — Nestling dates from April 18 in Prince Georges
County (VK) to June 18 in Garrett County (Carolyn Drew).

PILEATED WOODPECKER — Young on May 10 (RES), also on May 21 (BM, FS); both
nests on Patuxent Refuge.

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER— Nestlings July 20 in Caroline County (BS).

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER — Adult seen entering a hole on May 9 in Prince

Georges County; later, young out of the nest on June 16 (DB, RRF).

HAIRY WOODPECKER — Excavation started on April 8 in Prince Georges Co.;
Starlings threw out fresh egg on April 22 (RRF, DB); young in four
other nests. May 17 to May 31 in Caroline County (CS).

DOWNY WOODPECKER — Nine nestling dates between May 19 and July 7. both
extremes in Prince Georges County (DB, RRF). First young out of
nest on June 18 in Caroline County (CS).

EASTERN KINGBIRD — Building on May 9 in Prince Georges County (RRF). Four
eggs on June 8 in Caroline County (Jean Scudder); young out of nest
on June 18 (CS).

GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER — Baltimore County nest with 6 eggs on May 30} 4
nestlings banded there, June 18, by Betty Fisher and Gladys Cole.

EASTERN PHOEBE— Thirteen egg dates from April 20 in Prince Georges County
(VK) to June 19 in Howard County (HF).

ACADIAN FLYCATCHER— One egg on May 24 (BS), and 3 eggs on May 25 (MH),
both in Caroline County. Two nests on June 8 with 3 young each in
Prince Georges County (DB).

EASTERN WOOD PEWEE— Nest with young on June 12 m Wicomico Co. (DDG).

PRAIRIE HORNED LARK— Three eggs in Prince Georges County nest on March 3 a
same nest had young on March 10 (DB, RRF).

TREE SWALLOW — Bumie Miller found a nest with young in Garrett County on
June 14.

BANK SWALLOW— Nine pairs nested in a sand pit in Talbot County (TM).

ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW — Five pairs nested in the same sand pit with the
above Bank Swallows (TM).

BARN SWALLOW— Building on April 16 at Seneca, Montgcmbery County (Kath-
erine Goodpasture). First eggs. May 8, first young on June 5# both
in Prince Georges County (DB, RRF).

CLIFF SWALLOW— Five pairs on Rocky Gorge Dam show marked increase from 1
pair last year; young left nest on August 24 (Ted Stiles).

PURPLE MARTIN— On May 22 Harry Hubbard reported to Marvin Hewitt 42 nests
with 1 to 7 eggs each.

BLUE JAY— One egg laid each day April 29 to May 3 in Prince Georges County
nest (VK).

COMMON CROW — Young in Frederick County nest on June 16 (5. W. Edwards);
average height of 9 nests, 21 feet.

CAROLINA CHICKADEE— Six eggs in Prince Georges Co. on April 22 (DB, RRF).

TUFTED TITMOUSE — Young in Caroline County nest on May 18 (MH).

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH — A young bird caught in company of -local adult on
June 16 at Patuxent Refuge (CSR).

Decemb&r 1959

LiARYLANP BIRD LIFE

. - 95-

BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH— Worcester County neat by David A. Cutler*

HOUSE WREN— Egg dates from May 7 in Prince Georges County . (DB) to July 10
in Montgomery County (HP); Young between May 31 and July 19 in Bal-
timore County (BF)«

CAROLINA WREN— Egg dates from May 1 in Frederick County (SWE) to August
11 in Caroline County (RBF).

LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN — Five eggs on July 22 at Choptank in Caroline Coun-
ty (MH); first record far county*

SHORT -BILLED MARSH WREN— Brooke Meanley found, a nest with 6 young and an
egg on June 30 in Elliott marsh, Dorchester Comity.

MOCKINGBIRD— Twelve egg dates from April 18 in Anne Arundel County (VH> E*
Tappan) to July 10 in Montgomery County (HF)*

GATBIRD-Two eggs on August '19 ; thought to be third successful nesting for
this Frederick County pair (SQ),

BROWN THRASHER— Eighteen egg dates from April 22 in Prince Georges County
(VK) to June 17 in Garrett County (Robert Storer). Young on May 3 in
Prince Georges County (CSR)*

ROBIN— 78 egg dates from April 7 to July 1; 68 nestling dates from April
21 in Prince Georges County (VK) to August 19; average height of 176
nests was 11 1/2 feet.

WOOD THRUSH — Four eggs and one cowbird egg on May 7 in Prince Georges
County; all hatched by May 20 (DB, RRF). One egg and young in Car-
oline County nest on August 5*

EASTERN BLUEBIRD— Eight egg dates from April 25 in Talbot County (Erana
and Carl Lubbert) to June 19 in Frederick County (SWE)*

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER— Building on April 16 in Montgomery County (KG)*
CEDAR WAXWING— Incubating on June 17 in Pleasant Valley near Bittinger,
Garrett County (RS).

STARLING — Eight eggs in a Prince Georges County nest on April 26; very
unusual number (DB, RRF)*

WHITE-EYED VIRED— Young out of Caroline County nest on July 5 (CS)*
YELLOW-THROATED VIREQ— Young in nest on June 13, Worcester Co. (DDG)«
RED-EYED VIREQ— Mary Perkins found a nest with 2 eggs on May ft in All-
egany County.

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLES — Young out of the nest on June 20 in Prince
Georges County (DB)*

PRQTHONOTARY WARBLER— Young in a Caroline County nest on May 25 (RBF).
PARULA WARBLER— Building on April 26 at Patuxent Refuge (CSR).

YELLOW WARBLER— Four eggs, Allegany County June 8 (Julia Hendricks)*
MAGNOLIA WARBLER— Five eggs at Pleasant Valley near Bittinger in Garrett
. County on June 17 (Gary Downton)*

CHESTNUT-SIDED WaRBLEH — Three young in a nest at Pleasant Valley on June
14 (Burnie Miller).

PRAIRIE WARBLER— The two nests found this year were later deserted be-
cause of cowbird eggs (CS, M. Butenschoen).

OVENBIRD — Four eggs on July 16 in Montgomery County; later young on July
18 (HF).

LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH— Young out of nest in Caroline County on May 18;
very early (MH).

KENTUCKY WARBLER— Young in Caroline County nest on July 7 (CS).
YELLQWTHROAT — Caroline County eg& on May 13 and July 11 (MH, CS).

96

MARYLAND- -BIRDLIFE -

-Vol-. 15. -No .-4

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT — Eggs on May 23 in Caroline County (MH) and on June
9 in Montgomery County (HF).

HOODED WiUlBLER — Three egg dates, 4 eggs on IJay 21 to June 6 both in Prince
Georges County (DB, Eleanor C. Robbins).

CANADA WARBLER — Debbie Smith found the fourth nest for the State on June
16 at Pleasant Valley, Garrett County; it contained 2 eggs.

AMERICAN REDSTART— Four eggs on June 17 at Pleasant Valley (B. Miller).
Average height of six nests was 14 feet.

HOUSE SPARROW — Earliest building on March 31 in Prince Georges County

(ERF); an egg and a young in a Caroline County nest on April 23 (MB).

EASTERN MEADOWLARK— Five eggs in Garrett County nest on June 17 (Harley
Weiner). Four young in nest on July 20 in Montgomery County (HF).

REDWINGED BLACKBIRD— Young on May 7 in Dorchester County and 2 eggs on

August 14 in Queen Annes County, both by (BH), J. Webb and B. Mean-
ley studied 232 nests; they found that 59$ were successful.

ORCHARD ORIOLE — A nest on May 28 held 3 eggs in Caroline County (MH) .

BALTIMORE ORIOLE — A nest at the height of five feet contained 2 eggs on
May 20 in Allegany County (Diana Klink).

BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE — Nests with eggs and one with young on May 9 in Wor-
cester County (CSR); John Weske found a nest with 3 eggs on July 5.
also in Worcester County.

COMMON GRACKLE— Building at Gibson Island on March 20 (VH, ET), four eggs
on April 11 in Baltimore County (E. Lubbert).

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD — 14 egg dates from April 21 (Phoebe) in Prince Geor-
ges Co. (VK) to July 13 (Yellowthroat) in Caroline Co. (CS). Six-
teen parasitised species included: 4 Yellowthroat s, 3 each for Wood

Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Chipping Sparrow; also 1 Thrasher.

SCARLET TANAGER— Earliest young out of nest July 6, Caroline Co. (MH).

SUMMER TANAGER — Eggs. in Caroline County nest on May 26 (RHF, MB); young
on June 21 in Kent County (DDG).

CARDINAL— Building in Prince Georges County on April 16 (DB); Sterling
Edwards found a nest in Frederick County that contained 6 eggs.
Average height of 37 nests was 5.3 feet.

BLUE GROSBEAK — Four eggs in Caroline County nest on June 6 (CS).

INDIGO BUNTING — Two bunting eggs and 2 cowbird eggs on May 30 in Balti-
more County nest (BF, GC).

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH — Sarah Quinn found a nest containing 5 eggs on August
15 in Frederick County.

RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE — One egg and 3 newly hatched young in Baltimore County
nest on May 23 (HF); 4 eggs on June 10 in Allegany County nest (Mrs.
Jos. A. Minke).

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW — An adult feeding young out of the nest on July 9 in
Caroline County (CS).

SEASIDE SPARROW — Two nests at Elliott Island on May 26, one containing 3
eggs and the other, 3 newly hatched young (BM).

CHIPPING SPARROW— Fourteen egg dates from April 26 in Baltimore County
(CDH) to July 17 in Caroline County (CS).

FIELD SPARROW — Earliest eggs on May 1 in Allegany County (Bobby Howard).

SONG SPARROW— First eggB on April 17 in Prince Georges County nest (RRF,
DB); last eggs on August 1 in Caroline County (RBF).

8-A Ridge Road, Greenbelt

December 1959

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

97

BALTIMORE CHAPTER JUNIOR PROGRAM
Mrs. Norwood K. Schaffer

The Baltimore Chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society has
long felt the need of a program of activities especially for juniors.

This year an attempt is being made to meet this need with a series of
children's walks at Cylburn Wildflower Preserve and Garden Center. These
are planned for alternate Saturday mornings throughout the school year.

We are indeed fortunate to have our M.O.S. headquarters located in
Cylburn Park, a Baltimore city park, part of which has been set aside as
a wildflower preserve and garden center. Cylburn, the former Cotten
estate, was purchased by the city in 1942 and includes a large nineteenth
century mansion, which has been beautifully restored, a stone carriage
house to be used as a Trailside Museum and over 180 acres of lawns and
woodland. The Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks in coopera-
tion with a group of interested citizens brought together by Miss Eliza-
beth Clarke of the Bureau of Recreation and Mrs. James Hunley of the
Federated Garden Clubs j*f Maryland have workBd to develop this park on
a twofold plan, (1) As a Wildflower Preserve. Under the enthusiastic
guidance of Dr. G. R, Fessenden many people have given their time and
effort to transplant native plants to the park, with the ultimate aim
of collecting in that one area specimens of all the native and natural-
ized flora of Maryland. (2) As a Garden Center. Cylburn provides a
place where people who are interested in horticulture can find informa-
tion about this subject. Meeting rooms in the mansion are available to
garden clubs and other groups working in natural history and conserva-
tion. A horticultural library has been started. A large formal garden
and small specialized gardens are planned. The first of these, a very
complete herb garden, has been planted by one of the garden clubs. An
instructional greenhouse with practice garden plots adjoining it will
be located on the grounds.

Trails have been laid out in the wildflower preserve through the
woods and along the borders of the lawns. Some of these are the Spring
Flower Trail, the Azalea Trail, the Field Flower Trail, the Bog Area
and the Educational Trail. The latter serves as an introduction to
plant study. Specimens are labeled not only with their names but with
interesting facts about each, and mimeographed guide books for teachers
are being prepared to aid in the use of the trail by school classes,
scout groups and the like.

One of the trails, the Bird Walk, is maintained by a committee of
the M.O.S. under the chairmanship of Mrs. Elmer Worthley. A platform
feeder made by Mr. Leslie Schaum has been erected at the entrance to
this bird walk, and suet log feeders made by Mr. Carl Lubber t have been
hung along the trail. A bird bath has been set up near the platform
feeder. This and another bath soon to be added were made possible by
donations in memory of Miss Isabelle Miller of Baltimore by a group of
her friends. The Bird Walk Committee hopes to plant berried shrubs and
other plants along the trail to provide a demonstration of planting to
attract birds, such as could he copied by anyone in his own hack yard.

98

MARYLAND BIRBLIFE

Vol. 15, No. 4

This is an ideal setting to stimulate a child's interest in natural
history. The Baltimore Chapter should take advantage of the fine oppor-
tunities offered by Cylburn for work with young people.

The M.O.S. children's programs begin with a brief get-together in
the mansion to look at pictures of birds likely to be seen that day.

This is also a chance to say a word to the beginners about "bird watching
technique. Then, if weather permits, the children go fbr a bird walk.

If possible they are divided into groups of not more than 12 children
with a leader for each group. «-t the feeder they can usually get close
views of Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees and White-breasted Nut-
hatches. Purple Finches have visited the feeder this fall, and nearby
White-throats, Juncos and Rufous-sided Towhees can often be seen. In the
early fall the dogwoods near the carriage house were full of birds. A
Scarlet Tanager in its yellow and black fall plumage was a highlight of
the first trip. After the birds had taken the last of the dogwood ber-
ries, interest centered in a large crabapple tree on the lawn. As many
as 50 Robins were seen in and under this tree at one time, and Cedar
Waxwings, Catbirds, Mockingbirds and others were attracted to the yellow
fruit. There was still a good supply left at Thanksgiving. A survey of
the birds of Cylburn has been made by Mrs. Robert Kaestner. At present
this' list stands at 103 species..

The walks start at 8 A.M. in the winter and early spring and at 7
during the height of the spring migration. They last for one or two
hours depending on the weather and the interest of the group. Afterward
refreshments are served in the mansion. In bad weather an indoor pro-
gram is provided. The chapter has a collection of slides which has been
augmented recently by some excellent new ones taken by Mr. Stephen Simon.
Bird nests and other nature collections are studied on these rainy days.

If any members of the Society have specimens which they would be willing
to loan for this purpose, the youth committee would be most grateful, for
at the winter meetings more of the time will have to be spent Indoors.

For example, does anyone have bird nests, mounted birds or skins, insect
collections or mammal specimens? Does anyone have a woodpecker's skull?

There has been a good response to the program with an average atten-
dance of 27 children on the first 5 trips, two of which were in the rain.
Boy and girl scouts and other youth organizations have been told about
the walks, and publicity has been secured through the cooperation of news-
papers and radio stations In Baltimore. The Chapter members have been
most helpful, serving as leaders, generously providing the refreshments
and helping in many other ways. Special thanks are due Mr, Irving E. .
Hampe for the children's check lists with a picture of a baby Blue Jay on
the cover, which he so kindly donated for these walks.

We hope that all the members will take an interest in making this
worthwhile project a success. There are three ways in which you can help:
(1) You can give us your suggestions for improving the programs. (2) You
can tell the children of your acquaintance and their parents about these
activities, and (3) You can volunteer to come along on a trip as a leader
or helper. There is a job for everyone.

December 1959

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

99

APRIL, MAY, JUNE, 1959
Chandler S. Robbins

There was nothing unusual about Maryland's weather conditions
during the months of April, May, and June. Tenqperatures above average
continued to be the rule, and the migration as a whole was shifted
perhaps a couple of days ahead of normal. There were more exceptionally
early arrivals than record-breaking departures ; but most of the early
arrivals can be traced to specific meteorological conditions that
existed early in April. They were not a result of high average
temperatures as such.

Observers who complained of a poor migration period are to be
reminded that most weekends at the height of the spring movement made
a poor showing because of weather conditions that were unfavorable for
migration. On May 9j for example, when most of the more active field
observers were attending the Annual Convention and field trips in the
Ocean City area, the combined efforts of 140 people located only three
species of transient warblers (l Black-throated Blue, 1 Northern
Waterthrush, and 8 Blackpolls ) .

Migration tables . The earliest and latest spring migration reports
for selected species are listed by counties in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.
A "0" indicates that the species went unrecorded during the entire
migration period in the county in question; a dash shows that the species
was recorded, but not on a significant migration date. In Table 1,
the first three columns of dates are the median arrivals based on the
present table and on those for the two preceding years. Note how
closely these averages agree from year to year. Tables 1 and 2 summarize
the contributions of scores of members. Nearly eveiyone who submitted
■notes will find at least one of his dates listed. As space prohibits
specific acknowledgment of individual items in the table, we shall
list here only those observers whose dates were used for three or more
species: Alle gany County — Pan Mihke, Mrs. Joseph Minke; Frede rick —

Sterling W. Edwards, John W. Richards; Balt imore City and County— Dr.
and Mrs. Philip F. Wagley, Alice Kaestner, Hank Kaestner, C. Douglas
Hackman, Erana Lubbert, Mrs. James Oliver, Haven Kolb, Compton Crook;
Montg omery — John H. Fales, Seth H. Low, Walter M. Booth, Lucille V.

Smith, Katherine A. Goodpasture; ^Prince Georges — David Bridge, Ronald
Feller, Chandler S. Robbins, Robert E. Stewart, John H. Fales, Brooke
Meanley, Donald D. Stamm; Anne Arundel — Vera Henderson, Elise Tappan,

100

MARYLAND BIRD LIFE

Yol. 15, No. 4

Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1959

Median

Species

1957

1958

1959

Alle

Fred

Balt

Mont

Pr G

Anne

Kent

Caro

Talb

LES

Spotted Sandpiper

5/ 2

4/26

4/29

4/26

4/18

4/22

4/13

4/18

5/ 2

__

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/26

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/29

5/ 2

5/ 7

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

Black-billed Cuckoo

--

5/ 4

5/ 6

—

5/ 2

5/ 6

5/ 9

5/ 9

5/ 2

0

0

0

Chuck -wi 11 ' s -widow

0

0

6/10

0

5/15

0

4/24

4/24

Whip-poor-will

4/21

on

0J

4/l8

4/19

4/l8

4/20

—

4/iB

4/ 7

__

4/15

__

Common Nighthawk

-ihr

5/ 2

5/2

--

5/ 9

4/16

5/ 9

—

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

Chimney Swift

4/2°

4/!0

4/10

4/26

4/13

4/10

4/ 6

4/ 5

4/ 10

--

4/ 9

4/ 6

4/10

Ruby-thr. Hummingbird

4/23

4/30

5/ 2

5/2

5/ 7

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/30

4/ 7

5/ 1

5/ 1

4/15

5/ 9

Eastern Kingbird

4/23

4/24

4/24

5/ 2

4/23

5/ 2

4/19

4/23

4/24

4/16

4/30

Gt. Crested Flycatcher

4/28

4/30

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/30

5/ 1

4/30

5/ 2

5/ 1

5/ 2

4/30

5/ 2

Acadian Flycatcher

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 3

—

5/10

5/ 2

5/10

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 9

Eastern Wood Pewee

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 9

5/ 7

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 4

Rough-winged Swallow

4/18

4/13

4/14

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/15

3/29

4/ 4

4/15

4/i4

4/ 4

4/ 9

Barn Swallow

4/ 7

4/10

4/15

4/2 6

5/ 2

4/15

4/21

4/ 4

4/ 4

5/ 2

4/ 8

4/15

4/ 4

House Wren

4/i6

4/22

4/l6

4/25

4/15

y i8

4/21

4/ 9

4/15

4/17

4/16

4/16

Catbird

4/25

T/29"

4/24

5/ 2

4/26

T72T

T/2T

Vl9

4/15

—

4/24

5/ 2

TA9

Wood Thrush

4/22

4/26

4/26

4/19

4/29

4/24

4/26

4/20

4/26

4/30

4/25

4/26

4/16

Swainson's Thrush

5/ 4

5/ 7

5/ 4

—

5/ 4

5/ 2

5/ 9

5/ 5

0

0

5/ 2

0

Gray- cheeked Thrush

—

0

0

0

5/ 9

5/ 2

0

0

0

0

Veery

5/ 4

5/ 8

5/ 2

—

0

4/29

5/ 1

5/ 2

5/ 2

0

5/ 1

5/ 2

0

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

4/13

-Rnr

V 9

TT

T7IT

V 5

4/13

4/ 6

5/ 3

4/ 4

4/18

4/ 4

Ruby -crowned Kinglet

4/l6

4/ 7

--

—

V 3

4/19

4/ 5

4/ 9

4/13

4/ 4

Cedar Waxwing

3/28

4/26

—

3/11

3/30

3/17

4/15

3/25

White-eyed Vireo

4/27

4/26

4/26

--

4/29

4/29

5/ 2

4/26

4/14

4/30

4/ 9

4/19

4/16

Yellow-thrtd. Vireo

4/28

5/1

5/ 1

5/ 2

5/ 2

yis

5/ 2

4/25

5/ 2

4/30

4/20

4/26

5/ 9

Solitary Vireo

5/2

4/19

T/ir

0

5/ 5

5/ 2

0

0

5/ 2

0

Red-eyed Vireo

4/27

4/29

4/26

5/ 2

4/29

4/26

4/30

4/25

4/25

—

4/27

4/26

4/18

Warbling Vireo

5/ 2

—

5/ 2

5/ 2 .

—

0

5/ 1

0

5/ 2

5/ 2

—

Black-Sc-white Warbler

4/22

4/20

4/l8

5/ 2

4/29

4/18

5/ 2

4/13

4/18

5/ 3

4/15

4/18

4/ 5

Worm-eating Warbler

4/28

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 5

4/25

5/ 2

4/27

5/ 2

0

0

0

5/ 2

Golden-winged Warbler

T/2T

5/2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/30

5/ 2

5/ 3

TT

0

0

Blue -winged Warbler

4/28

4/30

5/ 2

0

5/ 2

5/ 1

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

0

4/28

4/26

5/ 1

Nashville Warbler

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

0

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

0

0

5/ 2

0

Parula Warbler

4/21

4/25

4/l8

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/18

4/12

4/16

4/16

5/ 1

5/ 1

4/19

4/ 9

Yellow Warbler

4/24

4/24

4/26

5/ 2

4/26

4/25

4/26

5/ 1

4/17

5/ 7

4/27

5/ 2

4/24

Magnolia Warbler

57 4

5/4

5/ 5

5/ 7

5/ 9

5/ 2

5/ 2

0

—

5/ 2

0

Cape May Warbler

4/27

5/ 4

5/ 3

0

5/ 2

4/26

5/ 1

5/ 4

5/ H

0

5/ 5

0

0

Black-tlir. Blue Warb.

4/28

5/ 4

5/ 2

__

5/ 2

4/30

5/ 2

4/26

5/ 2

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 9

Black- thr. Green Warb.

5/ 4

5/ 4

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/ll

5/ 2

4/26

4/6

0

5/ 2

5/ 2

0

Blackburnian Warbler

5/ 4

5/ 2

5/ 2

0

4/29

5/ 2

0

5/ 2

5/ 7

0

Yellow-throated Warb.

0

0

0

0

0

4/ 6

0

—

4/18

4/ 3

Chestnut- sided Warb.

5/ 2

5/ 4

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/23

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

0

5/8

0

Bay-breasted Warbler

0

0

5/l6

5/ 9

5/17

0

0

5/15

0

0

Blackpoll Warbler

5/ 4

5/ 4

5/ 6

0

5/U

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/U

0

5/ 5

5/ 6

5/ 9

Prairie Warbler

4/26

4/25

—

V 26

5/ 2

4A9

4/24

5/3

5/ 2

fA?

4/17

Ovenbird

4/25

5/ 1

4/26

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/26

5/ 2

T/rT

4/26

0

v^r

4/26

4/10

Northern Waterthrush

5/ 2

5/ 4

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 1

5/ 2

4/27

5/ 7

5 / 2

5/ 2

5/ 9

Louisiana Waterthrush

4/13

4/l4

4/ 3

4/ 7

4/ 1

4/ l

3/29

0

4/ 4

4/ 4

4/ 3

Kentucky Warbler

5/ 4

5/ 2

4/30

0

5/ 2

4/30

4/30

5/ 2

0

4/30

4/26

5/ 1

Yellovthroat

4/21

4/20

4/15

—

4/29

4/22

—

4/12

4/9

4/!9

4/ 9

4/18

V 9

Yellow-breasted Chat

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/15

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

T/ST

5/ B

5/ 1

5/ 2

V30

Hooded Warbler

4/30

4/30

4/29

5/ 2

4/30

4/29

4/25

4/26

5/ 2

4/24

Canada Warbler

5/ 4

5/ 8

5/ 2

—

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 9

5/ 2

0

5/ 5

5/12

0

American Redstart

5/ 4

4/28

4/26

4/26

4/29

4/2 6

4/25

4/19

4/18

—

5/ 2

5/ 2'

4/16

Bobolink

5/ 4

.pZJL

5/9

—

5/17

—

5/9

5/ 9

—

0

5/ 5

5/ 2

Orchard Oriole

4/28

4/30

5/ 2

—

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

-TfW

5/ 2

—

FT

5/ 2

—

Baltimore Oriole

4/27

5/ 3

4/29

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/29

4/15

4/2 9

4/27

5/ 3

4/26

4/26

5/ 3

Scarlet Tanager

4/28

4/30

4/27

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/30

4/26

4/26

4/ 4

5/ 7

4/26

4/26

4/28

Summer Tanager

5/ 7

5/ 3

5/ 2

0

0

0

5/ 2

—

5/ 2

0

4/16

5/ 2

5/ 2

Rose-breast Grosbeak

5/ 4

5/ 3

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

0

5/ 5

5/ 3

&9

Blue Grosbeak

T/2T

5/ 2

0

0

5/ 2

5/ 9

5/19

5/ 3

5/ 2

4/26

5/ 1

Indigo Bunting

4/27

5/ 3

5/ 2

4/26

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/30

5/ 2

5/ 7

4/17

5/ 2

5/ 2

White -crown Sparrow

5/ 4

5/ 2

4/23

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/26

5/ 5

0

—

5/ 2

0

December 1959

MARYLAND. BIRDLIFE

101

Table 2. Spring Departure Dates , 1959

Species

Fred

Balt

Mont

Pr G

Anne

Caro

LES

Canada Goose

V 4

0

3/31

3/14

3/23

5/ 2

5/ 3

Common Snipe

5/2

0

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 9

Brown Creeper

V28

3/30

5/ 2

5/ 1

4/ 4

Winter Wren

--

V 3

3/30

V 3

__

__

Hermit Thrush

5/ 2

5/ 2

4/16

_yi5

5/ 2

4/24

--

Swainson's Thrush

5/12

_-

5/20

5/17

0

0

Veery

0

5/22

—

5/21

5/17

--

0

Golden- crowned Kinglet

—

V 3

—

V 9

--

3/20

V 4

Ruby- crowned Kinglet

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 9

5/ 2

5/ 2

__

__

Solitary Vireo

5/ 2

5/ 2.

0

5/ 9

5/17

0

0

Magnolia Warbler

5/ 9

5/20

5/ 9

5/14

5/17

5/rr

“5710

Cape May Warbler

6/ 3

5/ 9

5/17

5/11

0

Black-thr. Blue Warb .

--

—

5/ 9

5/16

__

5/ 9

Myrtle Warbler

5/io

5/ 3

5/10

5/13

5/19

5/ 2

5/ 9

Black-thr. Green Warb.

5/10

5/22

5/ 9

5/17

5/ 2

5/ 9

Chestnut-sided Warbler

--

5/22

5/ 9

5/16

5/17

5/ 9

"1/10

Bay -breasted Warbler

0

5/16

—

5/17

0

5/15

0

Blackpoll Warbler

—

5/16

5/27

6/ 3

5/18

5/17

Palm Warbler

--

V 8

--

4/21

5/ 9

__

Northern Waterthrush

—

6 / 3

—

5/17

5/28

--

5/ 9

Canada Warbler

--

5/20

--

6/9

' 5A7

0

0

American Redstart

--

5/16

5/27

5/20

5/17

__

Bobolink

—

5/18

5/16

5/16

--

5/15

5/17

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

5/28

5/ 9

6/ 2

..

5/ 9

Evening Grosbeak

5/ 5

0

V f

0

3/15

0

Purple Finch

5/ 2

5/ 9

5/ 2

5/ 6

5/ 2

0

0

Savannah Sparrow

5/16

5/ 2

5/ 9

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 2

Slate- colored Junco

4/1 6

5/16

5/ 2

4/25

4/24

4/24

5/ 9

White -crowned Sparrow

5/U

--

5/ 9

__

5/17

5/19

0

White -throated Sparrow

5/10

5/22

5/ 3

5/ 9

5/10

5/ 8

5/ 9

Fox Sparrow

—

V 9

3/29

--

5/ 2

Swamp Sparrow

5/ 2

6/10

5/ 2

5/ 4

5/ 2

5/ 2

5/ 9

Prof, and Mrs. -David Howard, Robert E. Stewart; Kent — Daniel D. Gibson,

Dr. Daniel Z. Gibson, Mrs. Edmund Mendinhall, Clark G. Webster;

Caro line— Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Fletcher, Marvin W. Hewitt, Alicia Knotts;
Talbot — Erana K. Lubbert, Richard L. Kleen, Harry Armistead; Lower
Eastern Shore (Dorchester, Wicomico and Worcester Counties) — Samuel H.
Dyke, Brooke Meanley, Seth H. Low, Sterling W. Edwards, Margaret E. Haile,
Richard L. KILeen, Chandler S. Robbins.

Storm Petrels . The Wilson's Petrel, which nests only within and
near the Antarctic Circle and "winters" during our summer months in the
North Atlantic, has not previously been noticed in Maryland waters
earlier than June 21. Samuel H. Ityke pealed five weeks off the arrival
date for this species when he found 3 individuals offshore from Ocean
City inlet on May 14.

102

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 15, No. 4

Herons . The flurry of early heron arrivals reported in the previous
SEASON report continued Into the month of April. Robert E. Stewart
saw a Common Egret at Patuxent Refuge on Apr. 4, and Roberta Fletcher
found a Little Blue Heron in immature plumage at Denton on the 24th.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lubbert discovered a Cattle Egret near Romancoke on
Kent Island on May 2 — the first observation of this species in Queen
Annes County, and the northernmost record along Chesapeake Bay. This
Old World egret, which was introduced into British Guiana, is continuing
to spread northward and westward in the United States and to nest in
increasing numbers in mixed heron colonies in this country. As many
as 20 were counted by M.O.S. members who visited Assateague and Mills
Islands during the Annual Convention on May 9* Thirty Glossy Ibises
were sighted at Mills Island on the same day. The Glossy Ibis also
is expanding its breeding range northward along the Atlantic coast and
should be watched for in tidal marshes. G. E. Wales made the first
Talbot County sighting when he noted 4- at Oxford on Apr . 13 .

Hawks . Few hawk flights were reported. The largest count came
from Cedarcroft in Baltimore on Apr. 25, when Hank Kaestner counted
159 Broad-wings. All migration reports of this species came during the
short period of Apr. 18-29 . Counts of 11 Ospreys were obtained on
Apr. 8 at Triadelphia Reservoir (Walter Booth) and on Apr. 25 at
Cedarcroft (Hank Kaestner).

Rails . Black Rails were strangely absent from their usual haunts
this spring and summer.

Shorehirds, Terns . The shorebird migration was quite routine.

The only high count of even local interest was 21 Solitary Sandpipers
at Patuxent Refuge on May 9 (Stewart). The American Qystercatchers
that were first reported in the Ocean City area on the very early date
of Mar. l4 (Gibsons) were seen again on two April dates, and may have
been some of the local nesting individuals. Two Royal Terns at Ocean
City on Apr. 17 broke the earliest Maryland arrival record (Harry
Armi stead )T on the following day 4o were present (Dyke). Oliver H.

Hewitt and Brooke Meanley found Willets "common" on their nesting
territory at Elliott Island on Apr. 11, four days ahead of the earliest
State arrival date.

Cuckoos . In June 1958, migrating Black-billed Cuckoos were heard
calling while flying over Elliott marsh at night on June 7-8 nnd June
17-18 ( Maryland Birdlife l4: 78 ). Similarly, one was heard over
Patuxent Refuge at 3 a.m. on June 9 , 1959 (Stewart).

Goatsuckers . Since 1954 the Chuck-will' s- widow has summered regularly
in southern Caroline County. In 1959 it arrived at its usual location
in Federalsburg on the early date of Apr. 24 (Virgil Wright); it also
appeared for the first time at two other places in the county:

Hillsboro (May 6 , Robert and Roberta Fletcher) and Camp Mardela (Wilbur
Rittenhouse ) . Stray birds were heard at two inland localities west of
the Bay: Patuxent Refuge (May 15, Meanley), and Perry Hall (June 10,

December 1959

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

103

Hackman). A Whip-poor-will heard at Frostburg on Apr. 19 by Billie
Taylor was early for that elevation,, and 2 Common Nighthawks seen at
Darnestown in Montgomery County by Lucille V. Smith on Apr . 16 were
three days in advance of the earliest previous State record. Apr. 2k
was an early date for the latter species in Cumberland (Nan Livingston).

Hummingbirds . Probably the most unusual migration date of the
spring season was the Apr . 7 observation of 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
at Gibson Island (Vera Henderson and Elise Tappan). It is likely that
these birds arrived in the Chesapeake Bay area in a southerly airflow
preceding the passage of a cold front early on the preceding day. In
this connection it is interesting to note that a Nashville, Tennessee,
hummingbird arrival record of more than 25 years’ standing was tied on
Apr. 8 ( Audubon Field Notes 13: 379 )- No more hummingbirds were
encountered . in Maryland until Apr. 30.

Woodpeckers . Pileated Woodpeckers are definitely on the increase
in Talbot County; four males were noted at diverse areas during the
spring (Kleen). In the same county, Red-headed Woodpeckers were found
at two areas five miles apart — the first observation in recent years
of more than a single bird at a time (Kleen).

Nuthatches , Creepers , Wrens . Red-breasted Nuthatches were reported
only from Greenbelt (to Apr . 15, David Bridge and Ronald Feller) and
Gibson Island (to Apr. 14 , Vera Henderson and Elise Tappan). The first
summer record for the White-breasted Nuthatch in Caroline County was
reported by Marvin Hewitt, who saw one at Ingleside on June 30; as
this species begins a limited late summer wandering at about that time,
there is no assurance that it either nested or attempted to do so in
Caroline County. At Patuxent Refuge, however, where the species
occasionally breeds in very small numbers, more summer residents than
ever before were detected; 3 pairs maintained territories either
entirely within or partly within a 90-acre study area, and at least -
one of the pairs is known to have raised young (Robbins). Although
most Brown Creepers had departed by the first week in April, single
stragglers remained at Patuxent Refuge until May 2 (Stewart) and Gibson
Island until May 1 (Mesdames Henderson and Tappan). The Bewick's Wren
is seldom seen on the Maryland Coastal Plain, but one was found at
Patuxent Refuge in April (Meanley), the second Refuge record.

Thrushes , Waxwing s . After a marked scarcity in March, Hermit
Thrushes were seen in small numbers by most reporters in April; the
highest count obtained in one day was 12 along the Patuxent River on
the Patuxent Refuge, Apr. 15 (Stewart); this is about the normal number
expected at the peak of migration. Cedar Waxwings were erratic, as
demonstrated by their arrival dates in Table 1. They moved from place
to place, subsisting on berries until the supplies gave out. The,
usual northward movement of this species in the month of May was
poorly defined this year. The largest flock, observed at Patuxent
Refuge on. Mar . 17 by Leonard Llewellyn, contained an estimated 300
birds. An albino, entirely white except for a golden tinge on the
crest, was studied at Greenbelt on Apr. 8 (Feller and Bridge).

104

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 15. No. 4

Vlreos . On Apr . 9 a stationary front accompanied "by light rain
and overcast skies stretched across Maryland just south of the Mason-
Dixon line, serving as a barrier to migrating birds and grounding
some of those that had been flying northward in favorable southerly
winds. It was under these conditions that Marvin Hewitt broke two
State arrival records at Greensboro: White-eyed Vireo (by 3 days)

and Yellowthroat (see below). Another early White-eye appeared at
Gibson Island on Apr. l4 (Mesdsmes Henderson and Tappan).

Warblers . The spring migration frequently is judged on the basis
of the number and variety of warblers found in an observer's favorite
haunts. This in turn may depend upon whether the reporter is able to
make daily observations, or whether his field activity is limited to
weekends. Maryland seldom experiences a spring devoid of warbler "waves"
but in a season when cool northerly winds prevail on most weekends, the
weekend observer can get the definite impression that the season was a
poor one. This year, one Baltimore County reporter missed ten species
of warblers that he held expected to see, and almost without exception the
warblers he did see were single birds . Another active observer was im-
pressed by the large numbers of warblers in Caroline County on May 18
and inquired whether 'other members had noted concentrations that day.

Few had, probably because this was a Monday. Actually, except for a lack

of high counts of individuals, the warbler migration as viewed over the

State as a whole was close to normal. Average arrival dates, as shown

in Table 1, were quite normal. And as usual, there were a few record-

breaking arrival and departure dates. The only expected species that was
unreported was the Mourning Warbler. Two Golden-wing X Blue-wing hybrids
were identified: a Lawrence's on May 2, first record for Caroline County

(Marvin Hewitt), and a Brewster's on May .17 at White Marsh (Douglas
Hackman). In addition to the very early Yellowthroat mentioned in the
preceding paragraph, two others were seen on the same record-breaking
date: 1 at Gibson Island (Mesdames Henderson and Tappan), the other on

the Lower Eastern Shore (Samuel H. Dyke). Also ahead of the previous
State arrival dates were single Black-throated Green Warblers at Gibson
Island on Apr. 6 (Vera Henderson and Elise Tappan) end at the Shepard
Pratt grounds in Baltimore County on Apr . 11 (Hank Kaestner and Webster
Brower). Except for a Yellow-breasted Chat in Frederick County on
Apr . 15 all the other early arrivals were from the same period: Parula

Warbler at Willards on Apr. 9 and an Ovenbird at Vienna on Apr. 10
(both by Dyke). Hank Kaestner reported that 10 male Cerulean Warblers
were still present on May 29 along a half mile of the Gunpowder River
near Perry Hall, where he counted 15 on May 2. Dr. Ralph Stauffer
stated that Prothonotary, Cerulean and Kentucky Warblers had arrived '
at Fort Trederick in Washington County as early as Apr. 26, an especially
notable date for the latter species at the very limit of its breeding
range. In the late departure category only one record was superceded:

A Canada Warbler singing at Patuxent Refuge on June 9 (Robbins) was
five days past the latest spring migration date for Maryland. About
one Yellow-throated Warbler per year is found outside of its breeding
habitat; this year's bird appeared in the closely scrutinized yard of
the David Howards in Annapolis on Apr. 6, the same day the species was
first noted on nesting territory at Gibson Island, 8 miles away.

December 1959

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

105

Tanagers . Although bulk arrivals of our two species of tanagers
were right on schedule, a single individual of each species was checked
in well in advance of the earliest previous Maryland date. A Scarlet
Tanager was sighted on Apr . J* at Gibson Island, a veritable trap for
spring vagrants (Mes&ames Henderson and Tappan) . A Summer Tanager
visited Denton on Agr. 16 (Mrs. C. Crouse, Mrs. Nina Miller). See
Table 1 for subsequent arrivals of these two species.

Finches and Sparrows . A late Rose-breasted Grosbeak was still
present at Patuxent Refuge on June 2 (Stewart), tying the Maryland
spring departure date for transient individuals. Mrs. Henderson noted
a heavy flight of Indigo Buntings (24 birds) at Gibson Island on May 20,
but had not found any prior to that late date. Pan Minke and others had
seen one near Oldtown in Allegany County as early as Apr. 26, but the
only other report prior to Apr. 30 was from Caroline County on Apr. 17
(Alicia Knotts). Evening Grosbeaks were mighty scarce during the late
spring, and no northward migration was detected through the Maryland
ridges. Departure dates were: Apr. l8 in Allegany County ( fide Miss

Minke), May 5 at Ifyersville (l by Sterling Edwards), and Apr. 6 at
Patuxent Refuge ( 7 , Brooke Meanley). Maryland migration dates for
the Seaside Sparrow are still very poorly known, but this species was
common in its Elliott marsh nesting area on Apr . 11 (Meanley and 0. H.
Hewitt). There was better distribution of White -crowned Sparrow
observations than in any previous spring season. There may have been
some migratory movement of this species as early as Apr. 1, when 5 birds
were discovered by Mr. and Mrs. J. Kidd at Gibson Island — the fifth
record for the island. At Flint stone (Allegany County), where they had
not wintered, migration started on Apr. 23 (Mrs. Perry). One was noted
by Martha. Dubois at Grasonville on May 2, on which date the species
also was found In Talbot and Caroline Counties . At Ethel Poore's
feeding station at Greensboro, one lingered as late as May 19, the
latest date on file from the Eastern Shore.

* * *

COOPERATIVE BLACKBIRD ROOST SURVEY

pie blackbird project of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center is
inviting bird club members to participate in a cooperative blackbird
roost survey. The objective is to locate all blaokbird roosts, particu-
larly those containing Redwings and Purple Grackles, in the Atlantic
Coast states between Dec. 15, 1969, and Jan. 31, 1960.

If possible, estimates should be made of the size of the roosting
population by species. Information of this kind will contribute greatly
to our ourrent research program on blackbirds, specifically, (1) the
distribution of winter concentrations and (2) an estimate of the total
eastern United States blackbird population. In roosts that we will be
able to study, age and sex ratios can be obtained, a large sample of
birds may be banded, and studies of bird diseases also may be conducted.

We will appreciate it if M.O.S. members who locate or learn of a
sizable roost this winter will notify the undersigned. In previous
seasons Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Fletcher, Richard L. Kleen, Edwin Willis,

David Bridge, Ronald Feller, Friel Sanders, and Mr. and Mrs. Eicterd
Dubois have supplied valuable information on Maryland blaokbird concen-
trations .--Brooke Meanley, Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, Laurel, Md.

106

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. 15, No. 4

THE SEASON — JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, 1959
Chandler S. Robbins

Except for July, which was close to normal, the period could be
characterized as hot and dry. Between July 6 and the close of September
there were only three cold fronts strong enough to drop our . temperature
as much as 10 degrees. These fronts passed on Aug. 1, Sept. 11, and
Sept. 1 6. The first one was too early to have much effect on fall
migrants* The two September fronts, on the other hand, triggered sub-
stantial flights on Sept. 11-12 and Sept. 18. The September portion
of the fall landbird migration was best documented at Ocean City, where
Gladys Cole and her many able assistants ran an "Operation Recovery"
banding station for three full weeks. The number of net -hours per day
was kept nearly constant, so the number of birds handled is considered
a good measure of migratory activity from day to day. The number of
birds banded totaled 1,848 of 79 species, and the large number of "repeat"
records pushed the total number of birds handled over 3,000. Peak days
were Sept. 5, H, 12, 18, 25, and 26, with 178, 123, 109, 160, 262, and
119 new banded birds on these dates.

Table 1 summarizes fall arrival dates for those counties that were
best represented in the reports. Observers who contributed 3 or more
entries to the table were as follows: Balt imore City and County — C.

Douglas Hackman, Haven Kolb, Hank Kaestner, Compton Crook; Montg omery
County — John H. Pales; Prince Georges County — David Bridge, Ronald Feller,
John H. Pales, Chandler S. Robbins; Anne Arundel County — Vera Henderson,
Elise Tappan, Friel Sanders, Elizabeth Slater, Prof, and Mrs. David
Howard; Carol ^ np County — Marvin W. Hewitt, C. E. Scudder; Talbo t County —
Erana Lubbert, W..M. Davidson, Richard Kleen; Lower Eastern Shore — C. S.
Robbins, G. H. Cole, D. Bridge, R. Feller, Jim'MeadeJ S. H. Dyke.

Grebes , Herons. Mrs. Vera Henderson and Mrs. Elise Tappan tied their
own State arrival record for the Horned Grebe at Gibson Island on Sept.

21. No counts were made in Maryland's heron colonies this year, but we
do know that the Mills Island colony .was well populated with the usual
species, and that the colonies on two Chincoteague Bay Islands off South
Point are increasing. On the latter islands John Weske and Dr. H. N.
Kluijver banded the following young herons on July 5: 1 Green, 4 Little

Blues, 27 Snowies, 7 Louisianas, 4 Black-crowns, and 1 Glossy Ibis.

The Little Blues, Black-crowns and Glossy Ibis had not nested there
in previous years. Also nesting there for the first time were an
undetermined number of Cattle Egrets. One pair of Common Egrets nest-
ed there successfully for the second year. In late August, Douglas
Hackman counted 78 Great Blue Herons and 23 Black- crowned Night Herons
(mostly immature sj in the Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam. A
wandering Snowy Egret arrived at Burrsville in Caroline County on
July 16 (Marvin Hewitt), one day ahead of the first Common Egrets in
Talbot and Harford Counties. .

Waterfowl . Summer strays, giving the appearance of being healthy
birds, were as follows: 2 drake Greater Scaup Ducks at Gibson Island on

December 1959'

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

107

Table 1. Fall Arrival Dates, 1959

Species

Balt

Mont

Pr G

Anne

Caro

Talb

LES

Common Egret

9/ h

8/11

8/15

8 / 11 *

7/21

Canada Goose

10/ 2

10/ Ik

10/ 4

--

--

10/31

--

Spotted Sandpiper

--

--

8/10

7 / 3

7/13

--

8 / 9

Solitary Sandpiper

—

--

■9/10

.. 8/lf

--

--

Forster's Tern

—

8/12

"5/16

7/4

8/ 3

--

--

Common Night hawk

8/18

—

--

9/ 8

--

--

9/11

Yellow-bellied Sapsuck,

. 9/21

9/ 8

--

--

--

10/25

9/18

Yellow-bellied Fly.

--

--

8/13

--

--

9/ 6 ■

9/ 5

Olive-sided Flycatcher

-- .

—

8/19

9/ 11

--

--

9/12

Red-breasted Nuthatch

9/26

9/20

10/13

--

--

9/26

9/12

Brown Creeper

9/20

--

9/18

9/28

--

9/26

9/12

Swains on ' s Thrush

9/X2

9/29

9/12

--

--

9/13

9/ 5

Gray- cheeked Thrush

--

--

9/25 ‘

--

9/30

9/26

9f9

Veery

9/12

—

9/15

9/21

__

9/26

9/ 5

Ruby -crowned Kinglet

9/20

10/ 14

10/12

9/21

9/22

9/24

9/18

Magnolia Warbler

9/ 1

__

9/16

9/17

9/22

9/12

9/ 4

Cape May Warbler

9/20

9/22

--

--

--

9/12

9/ 5

Black -t hr . Blue Warb .

9/20

--

9/18

9/21

■ 9/14

9/ 9

9 / 4

Myrtle Warbler

9/27

9/23

10/13

10 / 1

9/17

9/26

9/22

Black-thr . Green Warb .

8/28

--

9/13

--

—

--

9/ 6

Blackburnian Warbler

9/ 9

--

--

--

9/22

--

^/lT

Chestnut -sided Warbler

9/14

9/13

9/11

Palm Warbler

9/26

—

10/23

--

--

9/15

9/12

Northern Waterthrush

--

—

--

7/29

7/27

e/ }

9/ 5

Connecticut Warbler

9/20“

9/26

9/11

Wilson's Warbler

8/29

--

--

--

9/24

--

9/11

Canada Warbler

8/28

--

8/ 4

__

--

--

9/' 4

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

9/19

9/23

--

9/28

--

--

9/12

Purple Finch

9/28

IO 724

9T5

Slate -colored Junco

9/20

11/ 7

9/28

10/ 4

9/23

9/19

9/12

White -throated Sparrow

9/20

9/29

10/ 2

10/l6

--

9/19

9/19

Lincoln's Sparrow

9/20

--

10/18

--

--

10/ll

—

Swamp Sparrow

9/20

10/24

8/20

--

10/25

9/26

June 21 only (Mesdames Henderson & Tappan), 4- Lesser Scaup Ducks on July
27 and a drake Redhead on July 29 at Gunpowder Neck (Thomas A. Imhof ),
and a Red-breasted Merganser in Chincoteague Bay on July 5 (Weske and
Kluijver). A flock of 18 Whistling Swans flew over Loch Raven from the
northwest on Sept. 26, tying the State record (Haven Kolb).

Hawks . ' The first migrant noted was an adult Bald Eagle over Monu-
ment Knob, South Mt., on Aug. 18 (John Stauffer). Hank Kaestner watched
an early Golden Eagle at Perry Hall on Sept. 27 . Douglas Hackman kept
a daily record of flights over White Marsh, Sept. 3-14. There were
minor movements on Sept. 3, 8 and 9- Results on the 11th were the best
Mr. Hac km an has ever had that early in the season: 154 Broad -wings

and 27 other hawks of 7 species. Chi the following day he counted 60
hawks before 9 a.m., but ended the day with only 240 (202 Broad-wings).

108

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol, 15. No. 4

Elsewhere, the best tally was 7° Broad-wings over Monument Knob on
Sept. 17 by E. G. Baldwin, G. S. Mercereau, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cook
and Mr. and Mrs. Lee Schroeder.

Shoreblrds . The only shoreblrd reports of any note were stray In*-,
land waifs or small numbers of the scarcer species: A Ruddy Turnstone

on Eastern Reck Island., Kent County, Aug. 30--Sept. 7 (Daniel D.

Gibson); an Upland Plover over Gunpowder Neck, Harford County, July
19 (imhof), and a peak of 4 birds over Ocean City, Sept. 4 (Robbins);

7 Western Sandpipers at Remington Farms, Sept. 3 (Gibson), and 4 at
Bladensburg, Sept. 1 (David Bridge and Ronald Feller); a Pectoral
Sandpiper at Sandy Point on July 11 breaking the State record by 4
days (Feller); a White-runted Sandpiper, Aug. 15-25 (2 on the 25th)
at Gibson Island (Vera Henderson, Elise Tappan); a Marbled Godwit at
Ocean City on Sept. 13 (Hank Kaestner); and 2 Sander lings at Eastern
Neck Island, Sept. 5-7/ and 1 on the 13th (Gibson).

Giil ip and Terns . Royal Terns had another good nesting season on
the southernmost of the three islands off South Point; the 159 young were
corralled and banded by Weske and KLuiJver. In the late summer Royal
Terns were twice reported vest of Chesapeake Bay:* 1 at Broadwater
Point, Churchton, on Aug. 22 (Friel Sanders), and 2 flying up the
Patuxent River from Charles to Prince Georges County near Nottingham
on Aug. 1 6 (Bridge and Feller). The latter members reported 12
laughing Gulls that day at the same place. They also identified
Forster's Terns as far up the Potomac as Cabin John in Montgomery
County on Aug. 12 (7 birds) and Aug. 1 6 ( 4 ).

Woodpeckers i Brooke Meanley detected a Pileated Woodpecker along
the tidal Patuxent In southern Anne Arundel County, at Iyons Creek,
on Aug. 28. At Woodslde, Montgomery County, John H, Fales set a new
State arrival date for the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on Sept. 8.

Flycatchers . Harry Arm! stead spotted a Western Kingbird at
Hlghman on Sept. 13, the first fall occurrence for Talbot County. The
least Flycatcher was added to the Caroline County list when one was
banded and measured by Roberta Fletcher on Sept. 29, the second latest
Maryland date. During the month of September, 13 of this species were
banded at Ocean City by Gladys Cole and others. Single Yellow-bellied
Flycatchers were identified at "Bird Haven" near Wye Mills, Talbot
County, on Sept. 6 and Sept. 12 (Erana K. Lubbert ) . The Olive- sided
Flycatcher, rare on the Coastal Plain, was seen there thrice this fall:
Beltsville, Aug. 19 (James Baird, Bert Murray and Robbins); Gibson
Island, second local record, Sept. 11 (Mesdames Henderson and Tappan); .
and Ocean City, first coastal report, 1 banded on Sept. 12 (Mrs. Cole).

Swallows . Imhof found swallows moving in good numbers at Gunpowder
Neck shortly after mid-July as attested by his daily notes: 100 Barns

on July 19, 5 Banks and 4 Rough-wings on the 21st, and 10 Trees, 20 Banks,
40 Rough-wings, 500 Barns and 500 Purple Martins on the 23rd"* Bank
Swallows reached their peak on Aug. 1 6 , when Feller and Bridge estimated
7,000 over the lower Patuxent in Prince Georges and Charles Counties.

December 1959

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

109

An extraordinarily late departure date was set by John Fales at Croom on
the lower Patuxent when he identified 4 Rough-winged Swallows on Sept . 29.

Jays , Nuthatches . A heavy migration. of Blue Jays was witnessed at
Woodside on Sept. 23; 200 birds were estimated in a 30-minute period,
and John Fales believes close to 1,000 birds winged southward over his
home during the day. A wandering White -breasted Nuthatch on Gunpowder
Neck on July 26 (Imhof ) presaged a heavy influx of this partially
migratory species. Their Red-breasted relatives also arrived early
and in good numbers, in marked contrast to a year ago.

Wrens , Catbirds , Thrushes . Northeasterly winds behind a slow-
moving cold front piled up a concentration of 2 J House Wrens at
Tilghman on Sept. 26 (Kleen); this doubles the previous high fall
tally for the State. After a poor showing at the Ocean City banding
station last year, migrating Catbirds were back to normal in 1959*
Thrushes, on the other hand, were less common there this year.

Warblers . Twenty-seven species in this family were banded at the
Ocean City station in September. The Prothonotaiy (Sept. 5, Robbins)
and the Orange-crowned (Sept. l8, Mrs. Cole) were netted there for the
first time. The five commonest warblers banded at Ocean City were: Am.

Redstart, l8l; Black-throated Blue, 79) Yellow -breasted Chat, 6l;

Magnolia, 60; and Cape May, 57- Although l6 Connecticut Warblers were
banded at Ocean City in 1959, no Mourning Warbler was caught; last year
there were 3 Mournings and 3 Connecticuts . The Swainson's, Blue-winged,
Cerulean, and Louisiana Watert brush are the only Maryland warblers that
have not been banded on the barrier beach north of Ocean City in the
past four years. In contrast to Ocean City, where only 7 Black- throated
Greens were banded. Hank Kaestner counted 55 of this species as well as
1 Mourning and 2 Connecticuts at Perry Hall in Baltimore Co. on Sept. 20.

Bobolinks , Orioles . One of the best places to find Bobolinks in
Mary .land in the fall is in the marshes of the tidal section of the
Patuxent River below Upper Marlboro. Here thousands come in to roost
each evening in late August and early September. On Sept. 2 Brooke
Meanley counted 3,050 in the Patuxent marsh at the mouth of Iyons
Creek in southern Anne Arundel County. For the second successive
year the Baltimore Oriole was one of the most conspicuous migrants
at the Ocean City banding station. Although the highest total for a
single day, 43 on Sept. 5, fell 13 short of last year's peak day, the
1959 seasonal total of 154 birds banded placed the Baltimore Oriole
second only to the American Redstart.

Finches and Sparrows . Again contrasting inland migration with
that along the coast, Hank Kaestner tallied 15 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
at Perry Hall in Baltimore County on Sept. 27, the highest one -day
fall total on file for Maryland. The seasonal total for this species
at Ocean City was only 7, and none was present there on the 27th (Mrs.
Cole). As many as 8 Henslow's Sparrows were singing on territory at
Burr s vi lie on July 12 (Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Fletcher); . this is by far the
greatest number ever recorded in Caroline County.

110 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE , , Vol. lR.-No.-4

SEMINARS TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN CONSERVATION

Hans Krimm

In order to stimulate much-needed interest in local and national
conservation issues, the Baltimore Chapter of the M.O.S. sponsored this
fall a series of seminars with outstanding speakers from several leading
national conservation organizations. The speakers were: Mr. Stewart M.

Brandborg, member of The 7/ilderness Society Council; Lir. Elting arnold,
secretary of the Nature Conservancy; Mr. Anthony Wayne Smith, executive
secretary of the National Parks Association; Mr. Charles H. Callison,
conservation director of the National Wildlife Federation; and Mr. Chan-
dler Robbins, research biologist of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The speakers discussed the policies of their organization, basic trends
of the national conservation movement, or special problems with which
they are concerned. Several lectures were Illustrated with slides or
motion pictures.

Even though attendance at the seminar meetings was light, it may be
hoped that the seminars helped to create a nucleus for a conservation
movement within the M.O.S. Maryland is notoriously lacking in conserva-
tion interest, and M.O.S. members have a golden opportunity to help fill
the vacuum, and to cooperate with other out -door groups in the preserva-
tion of our fast-disappearing natural areas and threatened wildlife.

The problems created by rapid, often irresponsible, commercial develop-
ment seriously affecting our natural resources everywhere are especially
drastic in densely populated Maryland. Only through united efforts of.,
all people interested in conservation can we hope to stem the destructive
tide and to pass intelligent legislation safeguarding our remaining
natural heritage.

We are all only too familiar with the sight of woodlands, swamps,
and meadows being converted into drab housing developments or cut into
pieces by super -highways. We also know of the plight of the Canvasbacks
and the Redheads, and of the still continuing senseless slaughter of
birds of prey. However, not all of us may realize that there is hardly
a national wildlife refuge, national park or monument that is not coveted
for dam construction, drainage, oil drilling, mining, or artillery prac-
tice. Nor is everyone fully aware of the potential threat to all forms
of wildlife of the indiscriminate use of pesticides — a menace that in the
long run may prove to be more destructive than all other inroads of civi-
lization combined. These and many other problems of interest to the

December 1959

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

111

whole nation challenge the conservation -minded public. Our first step
is to know the problems.

Only by being well informed can we hope to accomplish improvements.

An intelligent informed public, ready and able to take action if needed,
is the basis «nd safeguard of democracy. When public sentiment is aroused,
as it has been in the recent past on several crucial conservation issues,
even the most powerful self-interests and the most obstinate politicians
have to give ground.

Conservation is everyone’s business, but it is especially the concern
of organizations interested in the out-of-doors or in the observation and
study of wildlife. The M.O.S., as urged by our seminar speakers, should
take a much more active role in conservation. By coordinating the efforts
of the various chapters with one another and with other local and national
organizations, our well-timed, united, activities, such as letter-writing
campaigns, can have a determining influence on the outcome of local con-
servation controversies and be of help to the national movement.

National conservation organizations, most of which have headquarters
in Washington, are ready to assist us with counsel and information. It
is our responsibility to take the challenge and to enter actively the
conservation battle in which Maryland birders have a vital stake. As we
know, in Maryland commercial development is progressing faster and wild-
life habitat and recreational resources are disappearing More rapidly
than in most other states. We have a duty to ourselves and to future
generations to work fbr the preservation of some of the natural areas
and their inhabitant that have given us countless hours of pleasure.

3301 St. Paul St., Baltimore 19

* * *

REPORT ON THE BALTIMORE CHAPTER TRIP TO BLACKWATER R2EUGE, NOVEMBER 8

Helen Fessenden

A rather somber scene presented itself at the entrance to Blackwater
Refuge. A sagging grey sky hung over the flat country, but in spite of
the nearness of the clouds there was a sense of great spaciousness.

Tracts of fields, woods, and water spread over the whole curing earth as
far as our eyes could see. Ducks and geese were rising and landing on
the ponds, while larger flocks traced their uneven way across the chilly
sky. Their wild music was audible all day, but it soon merged into the
other background noises and was hardly noticeable.

;!e drove through grainfields where many geese were feeding, and Mrs.
Schaffer remarked that they looked like herds of miniature ostriches,
with, heads and necks stretched above the tall grass and all facing the
same way. None took alarm, but they watched our progress with a wary eye.

We stopped at the Refuge headquarters to let our leader, Mrs. Cole,
inquire where we might go on the territory. Next to the buildings was a

112

MARYLAND BIRDL3FE

Vol. 15. No. 4

small lake, and Canada Geese and Mallards were feeding around the edge.
While we watched, a long Turkey Vulture sailed in and joined the geese.

I began to hear what sounded like a barn of chickens cackling in the dis-
tance. The sound grew louder and more distinct, and suddenly people were
ezclaiming and pointing to the northern sky above the woods. Geese by
the hundreds slowly came pouring across the sky. They flew straight over
the fields and lake, and then the flocks on the edge of the wave turned,
set their wings, and went gliding down onto the water. The big birds were
skidding onto the lake for five or ten minutes. It was an awesome sigjit.

Mrs. Cole informed us that we were to walk along one of the dikes
and through the woods a mile to an old watchtower which had Barn Owls
living in it.' The exercise was welcome, but our progress was slowed by
the discovery of birds along the way. We found kinglets, Swamp Sparrows,
a Red-breasted Nuthatch, and a Myrtle Warbler, and as we came in sight of
the tower someone spotted an immature Bald Eagle sitting on a snag.

The tower looked a little rickety but Betsy Schaffer, Hank Kaestner
and I decided to climb. The wind was whistling in the rigging and by the
time we were at the top most of the owls had abandoned ship. Hank man-
aged to catch one terrified bird, a young one, which we brought down for
the group to examine. The owl quieted under Mrs. Cole’s handling but its
eyes remained full of wild terror as we explored Its soft colors and
lovely markings. Its feet were tough and strong. When we had all seen
and photographed the bird Mrs. Cole let it go.

Back at headquarters we ate lunch after counting three or four Great
Blue Herons around the edge of the lake. Mr. Guy Willey of the Refuge
staff then escorted us out to an area of small islands and salt marshes,
where we saw many yellowlegs, and some teal, Mallards, and Black Ducks.
Another immature Bald Eagle and a Red- tailed Hawk were seen, and we
stopped along the way to watch some Brown-headed Nuthatches in the pines.

In almost every dead tree there was a big bulky Osprey nest.

We drove back past headquarters and parked along the road. On one
side of the road was a field where Mr. Willey said we might see Snow and
Blue Geese later on, and on the other was a vast tract of woods. We
followed a trail that had just been cut through the woods. The mud was
deep and It was soggy going in spots, but we saw towhees, a Robin, and
two Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

Back on the road we quickly searched the opposite field far Snow or
Blue Geese. Just as the last members of the party came out of the woods
we spotted a flock of seven geese coming in, which proved to be several
Blue Geese, a Blue -Snow hybrid, and an immature Snow’. Excitement ran
high as we hurriedly set up and focused the ’scopes. And then, lo and
behold, eight more lovely Snow Geese sailed leisurely out of the grey and
settled within easy sight of the road. They shone clearly among the dark
Canadas. We all had a good long look, and then as it was getting late we
parted company and turned toward Baltimore. It had certainly been a day of
of wonder and excitement for all of us.

Oak Grove Farm, Brookeville, Md.

December 1959

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

113

NEW MEMBERS

Bentz, Mr. & Mrs. Edward, 272 Dill Ave., Frederick, Md.

Bremblett, Miss Ella, 316 Garden Hoad, Towson 4, Md.

Clarke, Miss Elizabeth, 506 E. Lake- Ave., Balto. 12, Md.

Collins, Judge & Mrs. Stephen, Chestertown H.D., Md.

Cornell, Mr* Robert, 126 Dewey Drive, Annapolis, Md,

Dean, Mr. Howard, F. 0. Box 121, Westminster, Md.

Deaver, C. Clark, 423 Alabama Rd., Towson 4, Md.

Dickerson, Mrs, Stanley S. f 222 DeVoe Ave., Spotswood, N.J.
Dowling, Mrs. S. J., Box 15, R.F.D, 2, Bel Air, Md.

Origgs, Mrs. Laurence, Box 456, Easton, Md.

Dyson, Miss Ruth L., 1624 Kingsway Rd., Balto. IB, Md.

Fastie, Mrs. William G., Dolfield Rd., Owings Mills, Md.

Fang, Owen E., 48 Bond St., Westminster, Md.

Fessenden, Miss Helen, Oak Grove Farm, Brookeville, Md.

Fessenden, Mr. & Mrs. Russell, Oak Grove Farm, Brookeville, Md.
Garden Club of Brooklyn % Mrs. Luther Banning, 13 W. Second Ave.,
Balto. 25, Md.

Gardner, Mrs. I. C., 9531 E* Stanhope Rd., Kensington, Md.
Galligher, Mrs. Harry, Oxford, Md.

Giles, H. L«, The Cottage, Bozman, Md.

Gustafson, Miss Dorothy R., 906 Beaumont Ave., Balto. 12, Md.
Guastavino, Mr. & Mrs,, R. J. Rock Hall, R.D., Md*

Gump, Mr. & Mrs. Lyndon M., Cartmell Ave., Cumberland, Md.

Hall, George A., Dept, of Chemistry, West Virginia University,
Morgantown, West Virginia

fTo be continued in the next issue.)

COMING EVENTS

Jan. 1 CHRISTMAS COUNT TRIADEtPHlA. Contact- Seth H. Low, SPring 4-3065.
Jan. 2 CHRISTMAS COUNT CA TOC TIM MWNTALN. Contact Dr. John W. Richards,
R.F.D. 1, Snmitsburg.

Jan. 3 CHRISTMAS COUNT ANNAPOLIS. Contact Harvey Hall, Edgewater,
Annapolis, Maryland.

Jan. 6 KENT monthly meeting. Meet Washington College, Chestertown,
speaker: Mr. Clark Webster, "Gunning the Flyway".

Jan. 8 BALTIMORE monthly meeting at Pratt Library, ft P.M. Speaker: Mr.
Chandler S. Robbins, "Weather as a Clue -to When and Where to
Bird" .

Jan. 8 HARFORD dinner meeting. Presbyterian Church, Churchville, Md.

Mrs. Russell Gatchell, "Bird Banding". Mr. Joe Pannill, "Back-
yard Birds". Film, "Birds in Winter".

Jan. 9 BALTIMORE walk at Cylburn Park. Meet Cylburn Mansion, 8 A.M. -
11 A.M. Leader: Mrs. Elmer G. Worihley.

Jan. 11 TAKOMA PARK regular meeting. Contact Mrs. C. N. Thomsen.

ID 5-5258

VA3-4276

TU9-9614
HU 6-7430

114 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 15 1 No. 4

Jan. 12 TALBOT screen tour lecture. "O.utdoor Almanac" at Easton Play-
house, 8 P.M.

Jan. 17 TAKOMA PARK field trip to Kent Island. Contact Mrs. C. N. Thomsen,
Ll9 Elm Ave., Takoma Park 12, Md.

Jan. 17 TALBOT trip to Blackwater Refuge. Meet Easton Library.

Jan. 17 BALTIMORE feeding stations trip.. Covered Dish Supper. Meet at

Cylburn Mansion, 2 P.M. Supper at Dr. & Mrs. Schaffei’'s 8 Beech-
dale Rca£, Balto .

Jan. 17 ANNE ARUNDEL guests of Talbot Chapter, trip to Blackwater Refuge.

Meet north end of Cambridge bridge, 9 A.M.

Jan. 22 TALBOT regular meeting. Easton Library, 8 P.M. "Mexico", Mr.
Richard Kleen.

Jan. 23 BALTIMORE walk, at Cylburn Park, 8 A.M. Leader: Mrs. Philip Wagley,
Jan. 30 ANNE ARUNDEL early birding and business meeting. Meet 137 Monti-
cello Ave., 8 A.M. Dave and Marguerite Howard.

Feb. 3 KENT monthly meeting, Washington College, Chestertown, 8 P.H., Mr.

Chandler S. Robbins "Birds of Midway and Kure Atolls".

Feb. 6 BALTIMORE walk at Cylburn Park, 8 A.M,

Feb. 8 TAKOMA PARK regular meeting.

Feb. 12 BALTIMORE monthly meeting, Pratt Library, 8 P.M.} speaker: Mrs.

J. W. Rowe, "Audubon Camp of Maine".

Feb. 12 ANNE ARUNDEL lecture, "A Place to Put Their Feet: Maryland Wet-
lands Development". Meet new State Office Bldg, auditorium, 8 P.M;
Speaker: Mr. Nelson Bevard,

Feb. 20 BALTIMORE walk at Cylburn Park, 8 A.M.

Feb, 21 BALTIMORE trip to Loch Raven bird census area.

Feb. 21 TALBOT trip to Ocean City. Meet Easton Library, 8:30 A.M.

Feb. 26 TALBOT regular meeting, Easton Library, 8 P.M. "Gooney Birds of
Midway" by Mr, Chandler S. Robbins.

Feb. 27 ANNE ARUNDEL early birding} business meeting. Meet 8 A.M. at 126
Dewey Drive, Admiral Heights, Robert Cornell.

Feb. 27-28 BALTIMORE^ trip to Delmarva, Bombay Hook, Ocean City.

Mar. 2 KENT monthly meeting, Washington College, Chestertown, 8 P.M.

Speaker: Charles D. Evans, "Waterfowl Breeding Ground Survey".

Mar. It HARFORD dinner meeting. Presbyterian Church, Churchville, Md.

Guest speakers: Prof. & Mrs. David G. Howard of Amapolis.

Mar. 5 BAIiTIMOPE walk at Cylburn Park, 8 A.M. - 11 A.M.

Mar. 6 BALTIMORE trip to Susquehanna Flats. Leader: Mr. Rodney Jones
Mar, 12 BALTIMORE trip to Sandy Point. Leader: Mrs. J. E. M. Wood.

Mar. llj TAKOMA PARK regular meeting.

Mar. 18 BALTIMORE monthly meeting. Speaker: Mr. John Aldeman, "Osprey".
Mar. 18 ANNE ARUNDEL lecture, "Bird Migration" by Dr. Vaughn Flyger.

Meet 8 P.M . , new State Office Eldg. auditorium.

Mar. 19 BALTIMORE walk at Qylburn Park 8 A.M. - 11 A.M.

Mar. 20 BALTIMORE trip with Talbot Chapter. Leader: Mr. Richard Kleen.

Mar. 20 TALBOT duck trip. Contact Mr. Richard Kleen. RI5-L821. Reserva-
tion #2.00.

Mar. 2 $ TALBOT regular meeting, Easton Library, 8 P.M. "Easy Bird House
Construction".

Mar. 26 ANNE ARUNDEL early birding, annual elections. Meet 7?L5 A.M.

Hall’s Valley Park Farm, Edgewater. Harvey and Claire Hall,

May 7 STATEWIDE BIRD COUNT. Make count in area of your choice. Turn in
list and coverage details at Statewide Convention next week.

May 1L-15 ANNUAL STATEWIDE CONVENTION, Hastings Hotel, Ocean City.

Applications for Helen B. Miller Audubon Nature Camp Scholarship must be
sent to Mr. Marvin Hevitt by February 29, I960.