Maryland birdlife

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

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Volume 18

MARCH 196 2

Number 1

THE MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

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

STATE OFFICERS

President: Mr. Seth H. Low, R. 2 (Unity), Gaithersburg SP4-3065

First V.P: Mrs. Edward Mendinhall, R. D. 2, Chestertown 533-R-l

Second V.P.: Mr. Richard M. Douglass, 511 Talbot St., Cumberland PA®*7748
Treasurer: Mr. Thomas S. Carswell, R.D., Chestertown U87-R

Rec. See’y: Capt. J. E. M. Wood, 101 Old Crossing Lane, Annapolis C03-3229

Exec. Sec’y: Mrs. Raymond Geddes, 503 Overbrook Rd. , Baltimore 12 DR7-6583

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Mrs. Gladys Cole 625 Valley Lane, Towson 4 VA3-2650
Miss Estella Everett Bel Air TE8-5835
Mr. Melvin H. KLeen 339 Talbot Ave., Laurel PA5-6867
Mrs. Edward Mendinhall "Damsite," R. D. 2 f Chestertown 533-R-l
Mr. Douglas F. Miner 514 Littlejohn Hill, Sherwood Forest VI9-4334
Mrs. Edgar Poe Academy Ave., Owings Mills TE3-2585

Allegany Co.:

Anne Arun-
del Co.:
Baltimore:

Caroline Co.:
Frederick Co:

STATE TRUSTEES

*Mrs. C. Gordon Taylor Harford Co.:
Mr. John Workmeister
*Mr. Douglas F. Miner Kent County:

Cdr . Edward P. Wilson
*Mr. Seth H. Low Patuxent:

Mrs. Gladys H. Cole
Mr. Chandler S. Robbins Soldier’s
Dr. Rowland Taylor Delight:

*Mrs. A. Jerome Fletcher Takoma Park:
Mr. Marvin W. Hewitt
*Dr . Bertram Haines Talbot Co.:

Mr. Sterling W. Edwards

* Chapter President

Hiss Estella Everett

* Mr. Barclay Tucker
Mr. T. S. Carswell

* Mr. G. L. Gardner
*Mr. Melvin H. KLeen

Mr. David Bridge
*Mrs. Edgar Poe
Mr. Frederick Roelecke
Mrs. Elsie Hovey
Miss Hilda E. Smith
*Mr. Robert Sharp II
Miss Edith Adkins

Active membership (adults)
Junior " (under 18 years)
Family membership
Sustaining membership
Life membership
Out-of-state membership

$ 2.00 plus local chapter dues
.50 plus local chapter dues

3.00 plus local chapter dues

5.00 plus local chapter dues

100.00 (payable in 4 annual installments)

2.00 (MARYLAND BIRD LIFE only)

COIJTiNTS, MARCH 1962

Clay-colored Sparrow Added to Maryland List Joseph R. Jehl, Jr. 3

Synoecy or the Titmouse and the Tabby Dorothy Vernon Smith 3

My Week at the Audubon Camp of Connecticut Billie Taylor 5

The Cardinal Called the "Baltimore” Hervey Brackbill 7

A Case of Inquilinism Richard L. KLeen 8

The Season — October, November, December 1961 Chandler S. Robbins 9

Conservation News Mrs* O.J. Theobald 16

Thanks and Thankful 17

Allegany County Christmas Count 17

Bird Banding at Rock Run Sanctuary Mel Garland 18

Coming Events 19

COVER; Barred 0wl3 near Priest Bridge, April 1936 Brooke Meanley
HEADINGS; By Irving E. Hampe, Art Editor.

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

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<zA/{a%ij[anA (DxnctfiofoyicaC <SocUty, iJtic,

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

Volume 18

KaRCH 1962

Humber 1

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW ADDED TO MARYLAND LIST
Joseph R. Jehl, Jr.

On 11 November 1961 an immature male Clay-colored Sparrow ( Spizella
pallida) was collected from a flock of Field Sparrows ( Spizella pusilla )
in a pasture near Liberty town, Frederick County. The specimen has been
deposited in the U.S. National Museum.

The occurrence of this Midwestern species in the State is not
recorded In Birds of Maryland, and Mr. Chandler S. Robbins informs me
that he knows of no previous sight record of this species in Maryland.
This absence is surprising since the Clay-color has occurred with
increasing frequency in New Jersey since about 1953. As many as five
birds (two banded) were recorded there in 1958*

New Jersey dates range from September 2 to October 9; ell are from
coastal localities. Most records are frcm early September, before the
main period of sparrow migration. All five specimens and one bird
banded and released represented, without exception, birds of the year.

Probably the absence of the Clay-color in Maryland is more
apparent than real. Early September field work, especially in brushy
lots along the barrier beach, should reveal that this species
occurs regularly.

lli D. Brookside Drive, Clifton, N.J.

3YN0ECY UR THE TITKjUSE *ND THE TABBY
Dorothy Vernon Etaith

In late May of i960, at its annual picnic, the Talbot County Bird
Club was witness to a crime - a theft committed in full view and a theft
in which the thief was puny in comparison with his victim. The thief was
the cockiest little Tufted Titmouse (Paros bicolor ) on the walk; the vic-
tim, Flower, the family cat; and the loot, a dozen or more silvery gray
hairs, choice bits for feathering the family nest. In court the lawyer
for the defense could have pled that the crime arose from instinct, deep-
rooted and beneficial, and that it was committed in the interest of better
family living. Gentlemen and ladies of the jury, he would ask your clem-
ency on historical and personal grounds.

MARYLAND BIRDLIFu.

Vol. No*

Over the ages birds, like men, hare used their fellow creatures as a
source for feathering their nests. In "Pirates and Predators (1. ! 59JP*
198) Colonel Meinertzhagen suranarizes studies of the birds use "“P® 1
for nesting materials. He cites a study by Harris (M 63 , 590. 19U6)
which tells of the American Crow plucking hair from catUe - Each
had a beak full of white hairs... from the cow's back , while the cow r
mained her nonchalant and undisturbed self. Records hare been soda of
tits taking hair from a bushbuck and wool from sheep . Colonel Memer-
hagen quotes one paper by Riney ( Condor 53: 178-185, WSl)
bird-deer relationships and listing ll species of American birds m whose

nests the hair of the deer has appeared*

The lordly male himself is not exempt from these predators. Davad
Lack, as quoted in Rachel Carson's "The Sea Around Us", visited the Gala-
pagos Islands a century after Darwin and found that the native nycatchers
tried to remove hair from the heads of the men, to use for nesting ma-

Always the Greeks have a word for it- but this time the Greeks have
failed. Words there are - tongue-twisters like symbiosis, synoecy, syn-
echthry, and the Latin-derived commensalism. But none fits the titmouse’s
activities to the "T". Webster's New International Dictionary of the Eng-
lish Language, 2nd ed. Unabridged (19U7) gives as its secondary definition
of "Synoecy" the following: "association between two species benefiting

the one without harm to the other". Whether Flower, the cat, would yield
the point "WITHOUT HARM TO THE OTHER" is something only Flower can tell
us. And perhaps f tis as well we cannot understand her language.

So our attorney-at-law could plead that his client, the titmouse,
practiced Synoecy or its ilk in the way of his forebears. And then he
might conclude the case with a personal plea deacribing the verve and
sjyle of the performance before the assembled Talbot County Bird Club, to
say nothing of its perfect publicity timing.

He would tell how, at the aforesaid picnic in Mrs. Offut's garden.
Flower had curled herself up for a nap on the kitchen roof, gently slop-
toward the garden. From a nearby shrub the titmouse flew onto the roof
behind Flower. Off the roof, on again, fluttering, dancing, head on one
side then on the other, on he came toward the sleeping cat. From the
bush the lady in the case ventured out to look over the situation and re-
treated, leaving the field to her better half. Then beak forward, the
titmouse charged and as quickly made recovery in triumph, bearing off to
the shrub bits of gray fluff. Roused by the theft of good cat fur. Flow-
er turned her head, cast a malevolent look to the rear, and bo redly re-
settled herself for more pleasant slumber.

Back dashed Mr. Ti, full of bravado, to repeat his feat; forward
came the Bird Club to applaud. Another moment of shadow-boxing; another
successful sally literally onto the flanks of the enemy; then the tit-
mouse retired with his beak filled with good nesting material, and the
show was over l

Let us admit that, robber or not, few can equal the Talbot tit in
audience sense and dramatic timing for his victorious foray. The Talbot
County Bird Club was deeply appreciative of his fine entertainment, and
with pleasure awards to Mrs. Offut's titmouse its "Audubon Oscar" of i960.

13 North Aurora St. -Easton Md (

Uarch 1962

BIRDLIFS

5

MT WEEK AT THE AUDUBON CAMP OP CONNECTICUT
Billie Taylor

The week of June 18-21* went much too fast. I could have stayed all
summer and never have felt for a minute that I was missing anything in the
world outside Audubon Center. In fact, I doubt if there would have been
time to miss the outside world. Just the 127-acre Audubon Wildflower
Sanctuary would require more than one summer vacation to really explore.

"Who is going with you?” had been asked many times before I left. J$r
answer was, **I*m going alone and I doubt if 1*11 know anyone at the camp."
But I was wrong. When the Audubon station wagons arrived with us (the camp-
ers) from the Greenwich Railroad Station, the first person I saw looked
familiar. Mr. Duryea Morton, Director of Audubon Center and Audubon Camp
of Connecticut, had been a student assistant at the Audubon Camp of Maine
in 19l*7 while I was there for two weeks. It was a pleasure to work with
him and to meet his charming wife, who was the camp hostess.

It was interesting to meet the other campers. Of the 3U who compris-
ed the first session of the 1961 season, held especially for camp coun-
selors, 15 were students, 7 were youth organisation leaders, U were teach-
ers, and the other 8 had miscellaneous interests. Eleven states were rep-
resented: Connecticut 7, New York 7, Maryland U, New Jersey 1*, Pennsyl-
vania U, Massachusetts 2, Texas 2, Illinois 1, Indiana 1, Ohio 1 and
Rhode Island 1.

Busy days followed. Days of exploring, learning, and sharing in the
out of doors. I especially liked the variety of observation and activ-
ities. They included insects, birds, plants, mammals, soil, water, rocks
and weather.

The camper* were divided into two equal groups for the majority of the
field trips, spending equal amounts of time with the different leaders.
Regardless of which member of the teaching staff accompanied the group—

Mr. Morton, Director j Mr* Leonard J . Bradley resident naturalist of Aud-
ubon Center and in charge of Audubon Wildflower Sanctuary; or Mr, Richard
L. Cunningham, who is presently serving as Research Biologist for National
Audubon Society in Florida, doing extensive study on the Bald Eagle— each
showed, in addition to being a well-informed all-around naturalist, an
enthusiasm for stressing the interrelationships of our natural resources
and man*s dependence upon all of them. Add this to a keen sense of humor
and untiring patience and you have a picture of our, interesting, exciting
and very worthwhile field trips.

Those who we^e interested in furthering their understanding of the
many facets of nature observed could find books in the library to answer
their questions or increase their information. Quite a busy place during

free periods!

Laboratory sessions followed our trips collecting rocks, insects, and
pond life, to give a closer inspection to each specimen and to verify our
listings before labeling.

The Trailslde Museum gave many examples of teaching techniques. Tech-
niques to study and learn so well that one could adapt them to the situa-
tions 'back home!' Work-it yourself exhibits were popular, especially the
electric games. (Popular, that is, until it was time to get on the train.

We each made an electric game you see. That box, along with newly pur-

6

MARYLAND BIRDLIFS

Vol. 18. No, 1

chased books, charts, and folders, caused me no end of trouble before I
arrived home* I was tempted to leave them in each of four railroad stat-
ions. How glad I was the next week that I had perseveredi The girls at
camp stood in line waiting to 'play the game.* The redcaps had worries,
too# large case caused no coranents. But my train case caused every pa*-
porter to say,"wy, this is heavy!" I did not want to be left standing
alone with those two bags so I refrained from saying, "That rose quartz
was too beautiful to leave at camp, so I brought my garnet, biotite, tour-
maline, apatite, albite, and gneiss, tool")

But to get back to the Audubon Campl

With ninety species of birds nesting in the U30-acre area, we had a
busy week trying to see all of them. Ity disappointment in not getting any
birds for my life list was completely forgotten the evening a pair of
American Woodcocks put on a "really good show" for us. Someone spotted thmn
in the field near the woods and the word spread like wildfire. Just as I
arrived by way of a clearing, both birds flew by almost close enough for
me to touch* In a few minutes they flew back. I had an excellant view of
their heavy bodies, long bills, short tails, barred crowns, rounded wings,
and their warm brown color with a "dead leaf pattern". I learned that the
favorite food of the woodcock is earthworms. The woodcock sticks its long
sensitivs bill into the ground to search for them. When a worm is located
the bird has only to open the tip of its flexible bill to grasp it. The
woodcock is unusual in that it cares for its young for a year. What am-
azes me is how it can carry its young in flight. That I want to see.

A single Barn Swallow nest built over the entrance to the lodge,
which served as a dormitory and a meeting place for campers, was a first
for me. I have observed many of them but they were always in groups.

Our evening programs were varied. Lectures, films, and slides pre-
sented information on natural history. One film, "George Washington's
River", gave a vivid portrayal of pollution of the Potomac River* It
shows methods by which cities and industries can clean up their wastes
and their streams. Our Chapter used the film at our monthly meeting in
February.

Social activities also were featured. Square and folk dancing on
the last evening ended the week with a jovial air.

I have shared such a small part of what really happened. To under-
stand what I mean, you must attend camp at Audubon Center, Walk through
the hemlock, maple, beech, and oak forest. Observe all "the flora and
the fauna" Listen carefully to your leaders and before you know it
ecology unfolds before you. It is not a case of learning many unrel-
ated names, but the "relationship of living things to their environ-
ment and to each other."

In closing I want to paraphrase a statement of Audubon philosophy.
Since I teach the young - I dedicate myself to the pleasant task of
opening the eyes of the young that all may come to enjoy the beauty of
the outdoor world, and to share in conserving its wonders forever.

Also, I want to express my sincere appreciation to the anonymous
donor of the Helen B. Miller Audubon Camp Scholarship for a wonderful
week.

75 Broadway, Frostburg

March 1962

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

7

THE CARDINAL CALLED THE "BALTIMORE"

Hervey Brackbill

In 1^6 the Pennsylvania German Society published, as Volume 52 of
its Proceedings, a 337-page volume entitled "Bird Names and Bird Lore
Among the Pennsylvania Germans," written by William J. Rupp, of Spin-
nerstown, Pa. In the account of the Cardinal ( Richmondena cardinalis )
there appears on Page 221 this footnote:

"The following is a translation of an advertisement in Per Bauern
Freund , Sumneytown, Pa., May 20, 1829: 'Wanted. A number of young gray

Mocking Birds and also a number of Red Birds (called Baltimore), for
which 50 cents apiece will be paid if brought to printing office of
Bauern Freund.' This appeared in 'The Perkiomen Region,' Dec. 1, 1921,
Vol. 1, No, 1, and the editor, Thomas R. Brendle, then of Green Lane,
Pa., added the note that 'the Cardinal is still called Baltimore by
people around Sumneytown. ' "

That the Cardinal should be called "Baltimore" so surprised and
interested me that on September 27, 19U8— which was soon after I came
across this — I wrote to the Rev. Mr. Brendle, who at that time was liv-
ing at Egypt, Pa., and asked if he had ever heard any reason given for
the use of that name. Under date of September 29 he replied:

"From the year 1913 to 1926 I lived in Sumneytown and the adjacent
town of Green Lane. I heard the names 'Baltimore' and 'Lady Baltimore'
given to the Cardinal one winter when a number of the birds came from
the woodlands north of Sumneytown to feed around the homes in the town.
The ground was covered with snow, and the birds were quite conspicuous.

"At that time I was interested primarily in Pennsylvania German
names of birds and paid little attention to the English names. Later
when I came across the advertisement for the birds in the German news-
paper 'Bauern Freund' I sensed an interesting question, namely, how the
name came to be used in a wholly German community. Surely, it did not
originate there.

"I shall be in Sumneytown in November and I shall endeavor to dis-
cover, if possible, the 'folk' reason for the name."

To my disappointment, I never heard from the Rev. Mr. Brendle
again. And a letter to Mr. Rupp at Quakertown, Pa., also brought the
response, under date of October 19, 19U8, that: "We do not know why
this name was used and no one has been able to say why. I have since
found out that sometimes it was 'Lady Baltimore. '.. .One can only guess
on the matter."

One of the guesses Mr. Rupp then made was: "Had somebody travelled

to Baltimore in those early days, found the Cardinal a popular cage bird
in your city, and then come home to call the Sumneytown Cardinal 'so en
Baltimore Voggel ' ('such a Baltimore bird') for want of a better nameT"*

8

MARYLAND BIHDLIF-S

Yol. 18. Ho., 1

Possibly that guess struck somewhere in the area of the truth, for
during further efforts to track the name down I found that in "The Birds
of East Pennsylvania and New Jersey," by William P. Turnbull, published
in 1869, one of the names given for the Cardinal was "Virginia Nightin-
gale." This at least makes it clear that in eastern Pennsylvania the
Cardinal was associated with the South.

But even though the name "Baltimore" remains unexplained, the fact
that it was used is in itself interesting.

2620 Poplar Drive, Baltimore 7

A CASE OF INQUILINISM 7
Richard L. Kleen

On the afternoon of February 5, 1961, while hiking on Church Neck
near St. Michaels, Talbot County, I noted a Brown-headed Nuthatch
( Sitta pusilla ) in the act of cleaning out a nesting cavity in a small
loblolly stump. The stump was about seven feet high and the nesting
hole was about four feet from the ground*

The bird was under observation for a period of ten minutes and
during that period it removed wood scrapings with almost metronomic
regularity* About twenty-four times a minute the nuthatch would pro-
ject his head from the hole. The bill would contain wood chips which
were protruding from either side of the bill. The bird would then
give a furious jerk to the head, the mandibles would open, the wood
chips would fly over an area of twelve or fifteen square feet, the
mandibles would shut with a snap easily audible at a distance of
twenty feet, and the head would disappear into the nesting hole only
to reappear two or three seconds later*

Two aspects of this observation were of interest to me. One was
the regularity of the actions; there appeared to be a rbythn to them
which was interrupted very few times. Even upon turning my back to the
tree stump, I could anticipate to the fraction of a second the snap of
the mandibles for periods lasting over thirty seconds. The other
aspect of interest was the fact that nesting activity was being carried
out at all* Though the temperature was an almost springlike U8° that
afternoon, there was three inches of snow on the ground. Since the
earliest egg date for the Brown-headed Nuthatch in Maryland is April
15 , this nesting hole should be worth additional observation*

Two days later I revisited the site at night and shined a light
down the hole in an attempt to discover if the nuthatch were using the
cavity as a bedroom. I noted a bird in the hole, but it was not what
I expected. This bird had spined retrices so I knew it was a wood-
pecker - doubtless a Downy because of its small sise. A Downy Woodpecker
( Dendrocopus pubescens ), probably the same bird, was seen on two
subsequent night visits to the nesting hole. On no further occasion
was the nuthatch observed* St* Michaels

March 1962

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

9

OCTOBER , NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, 1961

Chandler S. Robbins

Our warm, dry September was followed by a change to more nearly nor-
mal conditions in October and November. Cold fronts, which had been few
and far between in September, passed through Maryland at frequent inter-
vals in October, bringing the late fall migrants in well-defined waves.

The U. S. Weather Bureau, in its Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin of Dec.
4 , boldly published a map of predicted temperature departures for the
month of December; unfortunately, there is little resemblance between
this map and the map of observed temperature departures in the Jan. 1
issue. Maryland temperatures, instead of averaging above normal in De-
cember, were 2 ° below normal, much of the cold coming in the last ten
days of the month.

Dates or counts that are unusual for any section of the State are
underscored for the benefit of observers who wish to keep their copies of
Birds of Maryland up to date .

Fall departure dates for 1961 are summarized by counties in Table 1 .
To facilitate future reference, this table includes dates for species
that left Maryland in September as well as those with departure dates in
the three months covered by the rest of this report. The table includes
only those species for which departure dates were received from four or
more counties. A "W" indicates that the final departure date for migrants
was obscured by the presence of wintering individuals. In some counties
daily operation of banding stations made it possible to distinguish tran-
sient individuals from winter residents; whenever late transients could
be identified as such they are included In the table. The principal
contributors to this table by counties were: Western Md. (Allegany,

Washington and Frederick Counties) — Pan Minke, Alice Mallonee, Fritz
Scheider; Balt imore City and County — C. Douglas Hackman, Betsy Schaffer;
Harf ord County (Rock Run Wildlife Sanctuary) — C. Douglas Hackman, Mslvin
Garland; Prince Georges — David Bridge, Vernon Kleen, Chandler Robbins,

John Fales; Anne Arundel County — Mrs. W. L. Henderson, Mr 6 . Gall Tappan,
Harold and Hal Wierenga; Cecil - -Vernon C. Rossman; Kent - -Mrs. Edward
Mendinhall, G. L. Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Webster; Caro line — Mr. and
Mrs. A. J. Fletcher, Marvin Hewitt, Mrs. Carol Scudder, Edwin V. Unger,
Mrs. Alicia Knotts, Marguerite Butenschoen; Queen Annes and Talbot —

Terry Moore, Jan Reese, Richard Kleen; Worce ster- -Mrs . Richard D. Cole,
Douglas Hackman, Mel Garland, Pan Minke, Samuel H. Dyke, Chandler Robbins.

10

MARYLAND BIRD LIFE

Vol. 18, No. 1

Table

1. Fall departure dates , 1961

Species

W.Md

Balt

Harf

Mont

Pr.G

Anne

Cecil

Kent

Caro

QA&T

Wore

Green Heron

W~9

IO 7 I 5

10755

97i 0

10720

Little Blue

9/10

8/21

9/10

9/30

Common Egret

8/29

10 / 7

12/10

10/19

9/30

Snowy Egret

10 / 7

9/11

9/ 5

10/20

Canada Goose

10/21

10/15

10/22

10/22

11/ 9

11/ 8

ll/ll

Broad-winged Hawk

9/16

10/25

9/30

9/17

10/10

Common Gallinule

9/22

10 / 7

9/19

10/20

Osprey

10/14

10/22

10/12

9/29

10 / 1

9/ 9

Killdeer

9/22

10/12

9/21

11/18

10/19

11/19

11/12

W

Greater Yellovlegs

10/ 1

10/28

10/31

10/22

11/11

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

10/24

10/ 7

10/ 8

9/30

10/ 1

10 / 4

10/ 1

11/ 4

10/20

Black-billed Cuckoo

9/1 6

10/30

8/25

9/ 3

10 / 9

10/ 1

Common Nighthawk

10/ 1

9/23

9/10

9/22

9/26

Chimney Swift

10/14

10/ 7

10/14

10/19

10/17

10/15

10/10

9/26

Ruby-tbr. Hummingbird

9/16

9/17

9/16

10/ 8

9/13

9/19

9/26

9/13

Red-headed Woodpecker

9/17

10/24

10/25

10/22

11/19

9/29

Eastern Kingbird

8/l4

9/13

9/23

9/ 9

9/14

Gr. Crested Flycatcher

9/23

9/ 1

9/11

10 / 7

9/17

9/11

9/23

Eastern Phoebe

10/21

12/ 3

9/22

10/22

10/12

10/19

10/ 8

10/22

Yellow-bell. Flycatcher

9/19

9/17

9/ 7

9/22

Acadian Flycatcher

9/16

9/17

9/ 7

9/ 9

9/ 9

Least Flycatcher

9/16

9/29

8/31

9/ 5

9 / 2

9/29

E. Wood Pewee

9/19

10/12

9/22

9/30

9/29

9/20

9/29

10/ 1

Tree Swallow

9/17

10 / 7

9/16

10/17

9 / 4

9/ 8

11/ 4

10/22

10/20

Barn Swallow

8/17

9/17

9/29

9/20

10/21

9/ 6

10/29

Purple Martin

9/ 2

8/19

B /28

”W

9/30

House Wren

10/ 2

9/17

9/29

10 / 7

10 / 8

9/21

9/16

9/30

10/22

10/ 1

Catbird

10/ 8

10/ 7

10/15

10/ 8

10/28

10/29

10/ 8

10/ 1

10/22

10/ 1

Brown Thrasher

9/16

10/ 7

10 / 9

10/25

11/26

10/28

10/ 6

9/30

10/22

10/20

Wood Thrush

10/ 7

10/11

10/ 9

10/ 9

10/10

10/ 1

10/26

9/29

Hermit Thrush

11/ 2

10/28

10/29

w

V

10/26

W

w

Swainson ' s Thrush

10/26

10/11

10 / 3

10/10

10 / 8

10 / 9

10/ 1

10/ 7

10/ 1

Gray-cheeked Thrush

10/ 7

10/12

9/30

10/13

10/ 4

10/ 1

10 / 9

10 / 1

Veery

9/1 9

9/16

10/ 8

9/23

9/ 9

9/16

9/23

9/30

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

10/ 2

10/27

12 / 3

11/21

ll/l?

11/ 2

1 0/25

10/ 1

9/25

11/25

w

White-eyed Vireo

9/ 9

9/16

9/22

10/ 1

9/2

10/20

Solitary Vireo

9/23

10/11

10/22

9/29

10/ 9

9/29

Red-eyed Vireo

9/16

10/ 14

10/ 1

10/ 4

9/17

9/30

10 / 9

9/30

Black- &-wbite Warbler

9/19

9/29

9/30

10/ 8

10/ 1

9/16

9/30

9/30

9/30

Worm-eating Warbler

9/10

8/29

8/19

8/16

8/25

9/10

Tennessee Warbler

9/16

10/10

10 / 8

9/30

9/30

10/ 1

Nashville Warbler

9/16

10/10

10/ 1

10/ 8

9/23

9/ 5

9/25

Parula Warbler

9/19

9/16

10/13

10 / 3

9/24

10 / 9

9/30

9/29

10/20

Yellow Warbler

8/22

9/20

9/16

9/29

Magnolia Warbler

9/21

10/12

10/ 1

10/ 9

9/17

9/30

9/29

9/30

Cape May Warbler

10 / 7

9/30

10/14

9/29

9/23

9/29

10/ 7

10/ 1

Black- tbr. Blue Warbler

10/ 9

9/24

10 / 9

9/19

10/15

10/ 1

10 / 1

10 / 7

10/20

Myrtle Warbler

11 / 4

12/ 2

12/ 4

11/ 8

11/ 6

9/29

Black- thr. Green Warbler

9/22

9/1 6

10/11

9/30

10/28

9/23

9/30

9/29

9/30

Blackburnian Warbler

9/16

9/16

9/26

9/24

9/17

9/29

Chestnut-sided Warbler

9l^~

9/30

9/17

10/ 1

9/18

9/23

Bay-breasted Warbler

9/16

10 / 1

9/27

9/24

9/23

Blackpoll Warbler

10/ 8

10/ 7

10/10

10/14

10/ 1

10/l4

9/30

Pine Warbler

9/16

9/17

9/21

10/ 5

9/16

10/ 1

Palm Warbler

10/14

10/22

10/12

10/22

10/20

Ovenbird

10/ 7

10/11

10/16

11/ 2

10 / 1

9/25

10/22

“5/30

Northern Watertbrush

9/ 9

10 / 7

9/24

9/28

9/11

10 / 1

Connecticut Warbler

9/28

10/ l

10/28

9/17

9/14

9/28

Yellowthroat

9/16

9/25 * 10/15

10/17

lO/ll

9/19

9/30

10/22

10 / 1

Yellow-breasted Chat

9/ 9

10/ 14

10/22

10/25

10 / 1

9/ 9

10 / 1

Canada Warbler

9/16

1o/T~

9/17

9/ 4

9/ 3

9/30

American Redstart

9/23

10 / 7

9/30

10 / 8

9/10

9/30

9/26

10 / 1

Bobolink

9/17

10/10

9/19

9/17

10/ 6

10/22

10 / 1

Baltimore Oriole

9/ 3

12/22

9/26

11/24

9/16

10/25

9/ 9

9/29

Scarlet Tanager

9/16

9/19

10/ 8

10/ 7

10/ 8

10/ 5

9/17

9/30

-§/25._

_iAo

jp/ 1

Summer Tanager

9/10

9/27

9/ ^

^715

Rose-br. Grosbeak

9/23

10/13

9/22

10/ 1

9/23

10/ 1

9/26

9/29

Indigo Bunting

9/ 9

lO/ll

9/22

10 / 7

9/30

10/ 9

10 / 1

Chipping Sparrow

10/12

10/24

11/23

11/ 2

10/15

n/ 5

11/12

10/20

Fox Sparrow

11/19

11/15

11/lS

11/21

11/15

11/ 4

11/27

w

MARYLAND BIRD LIFE

11

March 1962

Loons , Grebes , Shearwaters . On the late afternoon of Nov. 11, Dr.
Fritz Scheider made a 90-minute tally of loons migrating southward off
the Ocean City beach; his results: 130 Common Loons and 1,200 Red-

throated. Four days later he saw a Red-necked Grebe in Sinepuxent Bay--
the only observation of this species in Maryland in 1961. Two Greater
Shearwaters flying 200 yards offshore were carefully studied from the
beach at 94th St., North Ocean City, on the very late date of Nov . 4
( Hac kman and Garland).

Herons . Several late herons were reported this fall. Single Green
Herons were present as late as Oct. 15 at Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center (Baltimore and Patuxent Bird Clubs), Oct. 2 6 in Anne Arundel Coun-
ty (Harold and Hal Wierenga), and Nov. 5 at Blackwater National Wildlife
Refuge (Baltimore and Talbot County Bird Clubs). A Common Egret remained
at Gibson Island through Dec. 10 (Mrs. W. L. Henderson, Mrs. Gail Tappan).
Two Snowy Egrets were still present at Patuxent on Oct. 7 (Scheider) and
6 at Blackwater on Nov. 5* The first November occurrence of the Cattle
Egret in Maryland was reported on Nov . 5, when Sam Dyke and Fritz Scheider
found 2 of this species at Heine's Pond, the site of the first Maryland
record in 1953.

Swans and Geese . The Mute Swan that disappeared from Royal Oak on
Oct. 24 returned on Nov . 20 and remained through the winter. The first
Whistling Swans (9) reached the Bay Hundred district of Talbot County on
Oct. 9 (Jan Reese); they were not seen elsewhere in the State until Oct.
20. Mrs. Henderson reported over 1,000 swans at Gibson Island on Nov.
25-26, and an unusually high proportion of cygnets among them. The peak
movement of Canada Geese took place during Oct. 1 - 15 , when flocks were
seen daily over Rock Run Sanctuary. Douglas Hackman's highest count was
obtained on Oct. l4, when he recorded 36 flocks over the Sanctuary, to-
taling over 3,700 birds. These birds apparently left the vicinity of the
Great Lakes after passage of a cold front, but their foreward movement
was faster than that of the front and they arrived in Maryland amidst
rain squalls below a low cloud ceiling; low-flying birds also were noted
by many observers in other parts of the State. Small Canada Geese (prob-
ably of the race hutchinsii ) were noted at Remington Farms on Oct. 5 (1
bird, Clark Webster) and in Talbot County on Nov. 23 (5 birds, Jan Reese).
Arrival dates of Oct . 5 for Snow Goose and Oct . 8 for Blue Goose at Rem-
ington Farms near Chestertown are the earliest ever recorded for these
species in Maryland (Clark Webster). A Snow Goose stayed several days
on Cash Lake at Patuxent Research Center (seen on Oct. 28, Patuxent and
Anne Arundel Bird Clubs), and 1 was seen in a flock of Canada Geese at
Concord on Oct. 19 (Carol Scudder). On the morning of Nov. 11 Samuel
Dyke estimated over 1,000 Snow Geese migrating southward over Ocean City
during a four-hour period. Snow and Blue Geese continue to increase as
wintering birds along the east side of Chesapeake Bay. On Dec. 30, 147
Snows and 290 Blues were counted in Lower Kent County (Christmas count ) .

Ducks . The Fulvous Tree Duck, that has been seen regularly since
July 19 at the West Ocean City pond, remained throughout the present
period, providing the first winter record for the State. For the eighth
year (out of 10 ) a drake European Widgeon is wintering at Gibson Island;

12

MARYLAND BIRD LIFE

Vol. 18, No. 1

it arrived this year on Nov. 2 (Mesdames Tappan and Henderson). Two Com-
mon Eiders , a female and an immature male, were seen frequently at the
Ocean City inlet. Two female Harlequin Ducks were seen at the inlet on
Nov. 4-5 (Hackman; Dyke, Scheider) and 1 was found there on Dec. 27
(Jackson Abbott, David Cutler and others). Unusual concentrations of
several species were reported on the Dec. 31 St. Michaels Christmas count:
9,548 Whistling Swans, 6 l, 715 Canada Geese, 15,544 Redheads, 11,293 Can-
vasbacks, 368 Ring- necked Ducks, and l,4l0 Common Goldeneyes.

Vultures , Hawks . The best hawk count of the period was made at Rock
Run Sanctuary, Harford County, on Nov. 11: 25 Red- tails, 21 Red- shoulders,

2 Rough-legs, 1 immature Bald Eagle, and 2 unidentified accipiters (Hack-
man). A Broad-wing migrating over White Marsh on Oct 25 , is the second
latest on record for Maryland; this bird, as well as 11 other hawks of 4
species, passed over Hackman's home in one hour at midday. On Dec. 27, 64
Black Vultures were counted in the Ocean City Christmas Count circle; this
is by far the largest concentration ever reported from the Eastern Shore
of Maryland. Other high totals obtained on the Christmas counts were: 72

Red- tails, 19 Red- shoulders, and 47 Sparrow Hawks in Lower Kent County on
Dec. 30; 56~Red- tails, 4 Pigeon Hawks, and 66 Sparrow Hawks at St. Michaels;
18 Red- tails, 16 Rough-legs, and J8 Marsh Hawks in Southern Dorchester
County on Dec. 26.

Eagles . The only Bald Eagles reported from west of the Chesapeake
were at Gibson Island (l adult and 1 immature on several dates by Mrs.
Henderson), at Sandy Point (maximum of 2 by the Wierengas), and at Rock
Run Sanctuary: 1 on Nov. 4 (Erana Lubbert), 1 Immature on Nov. 12 (Hack-

man), and 2 immatures on Nov. 19 (Hackman). Eastern Shore reports prior
to the Christmas count period were: Kent Island on Oct. 29 (Charles

Buchanan); Talbot County, 1 adult on Oct. 26 and Nov. l4 (Reese); Black-
water Refuge, maximum of 2 adults and 1 immature on Nov. 5 (M.O.S. trip);
and Savannah Lake, 2 adults on Nov. 12 (Scheider). On the Christmas
counts there were 3 in Lower Kent County, 10 in Talbot County, 12 in
Southern Dorchester County, 1 in Caroline County, and 1 adult at Ocean City.
A Golden Eagle was seen on the Southern Dorchester County count, and 1 was
electrocuted at Warwick on Oct. 29 (N. Hox in Audubon Field Notes).

Gallinaceous Birds , Rails , and Gallinules . Bobwhites were reported
as scarce in the Bay Hundred district of Talbot County, but very satis-
factory numbers were found on Christmas counts at Catoctin Mountain ( ill ).
Lower Kent County ( 121 ), St. Michaels (195), and Ocean City (204). The
Catoctin counters obtained a high count of 23 Ring-necked Pheasants . A
Clapper Rail was noted as late as Dec. 2 in Talbot County (Reese), but
by Christmas time the cold weather had depleted the population of all
Maryland rails to the extent that except for 10 Virginias in Southern
Dorchester County, only single rails or none were found on the tidewater
counts. Two Common Gallinules at the Patuxent Research Center on Oct. 7
were late for this inland locality (Scheider).

Shorebirds . Sam Dyke reported an interesting migration record for
the Woodcock; at dawn on Nov. 11 one flew in from the ocean at the Ocean
City Inlet. A good variety of shorebirds was found at Ocean City on the

March 1962

MARYLAND BIRD LI RE

13

Oct. 20 A.O.U. field trip: 35 Semipalmated Plover , 4 Piping Plover , 1

Ruddy Turnstone , 3 Knots , 25 Pectoral Sandpipers,, 1 White-rumped Sand-
piper, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher, 10 Western Sandpipers, and seven of the
common species in normal abundance . The best find of the season in the
Order Charadriiformes was a Hudsonian Godwit that was studied at Sandy
Point, Anne Arundel County, on Oct . 12 by Harold and Hal Wierenga. The
Semipalmated and Piping Plovers, Ruddy Turnstone, and Least, Western,
and Semipalmated Sandpipers are becoming so regular on the Ocean City
Christmas count that we almost take them for granted in a day of inten-
sive coverage of that coastal area; five of these six species were seen
on this year's count in numbers ranging from 2 to 11. The Semipalmated
Plover was missed. More unusual was the finding of 5 Knots at Ocean City
on Dec • 2? (Scheider, Hackman, Garland) and a dowitcher in Southern Dor-
chester County on the preceding day. A Least Sandpiper (Dr. Daniel Z.
Gibson) and a Lesser Yellowlegs (Daniel D. Gibson) in Lower Kent County
on Dec . 30 were first winter occurrences for the upper portion of the
Chesapeake .

Gulls , Terns . Sam Dyke estimated 1,000 Bonaparte's Gulls at Ocean
City Inlet on Dec. 12. Forster's Terns were unaccountably scarce at
Gibson Island during the fall, but 1 was seen in Talbot County as late
as Dec. 2 (Reese). An astonishing number wintered along the Maryland
coast, where 70 were enumerated on the Ocean City Christmas count as
compared with the previous high tally of 8. Royal Terns were seen as
far up the Bay as Hillsmere Shore in Anne Arundel County, where the
Wierengas noted them on six dates from Oct. 15 to Nov. 2, with a maximum
of 11 birds on Nov. 2.

Cuckoos, Owls. A late Yellow-billed Cuckoo was banded for the A.O.U.
field trip at Ocean City on Oct. 20 by Pan Minke, one was seen at Fairplay
in Washington County on Oct. 24 (Alice Mallonee), and one at Denton on Nov.
4 (Roberta Fletcher). While watching migrants at the Ocean City Inlet on
Nov. 11, Dr. Scheider saw a Short-eared Owl fly in from the ocean in late
afternoon and disappear behind the houses of the city. For most non-
flocking species the Maryland Christmas counts furnish a measure of rela-
tive abundance from year to year when properly corrected for the slight
variations in coverage . An important exception should be pointed out
in the owls, for which specialized coverage is required. In the past
few years there has been a marked increase in the number and proficiency
of owl callers and in the effort expended to hear owls on the Christmas
counts. For example, 15 Screech Owls were recorded 6 years ago; 27, 4
years ago; 42, 2 years ago; and over 125 this year (including 4l in Talbot
County, 25 at Triadelphia Reservoir, 21 at Catoctin, l4 at Ocean City, and
12 in Southern Dorchester County). The Great Horned Owl in Kent County
dropped to 25 this year because of poor weather conditions, but 38 were
heard in Talbot County, 35 in Southern Dorchester County, and l4 at Ocean
City. If we ever perfect a system for calling Saw-whet (Vis, we shall be
amazed at the increase in their apparent abundance; single individuals
were listed on two Maryland counts and both birds were seen, not heard.

The presence of more Short-eared Owls than usual, however, actually does
reflect their abundance this winter; this diurnal species was seen as
follows: 11 in Southern Dorchester County, 8 at Seneca, 2 at Ocean City,

l4

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Vol. l8, No. 1

and 1 at Catoctin.

Woodpeckers . It is a pleasure to report a continued increase in
Pileated Woodpeckers. New high totals were obtained on the Southern Dor-
chester County (l^), Allegany County (ll), and Catoctin (5) Christmas
counts. A scattering of Red-headed Woodpeckers lingered into the winter
in spite of the scarcity of acorns. This species was found for the first
time on the Southern Dorchester County county one wintered at Remington
Farms in Kent County, 4 were seen on the Catoctin count, and one was seen
at Oxford, Talbot County, on Nov. 19 (Richard Kleen). One seen at Crowns-
ville on Oct. 25 may have been a late migrant (Dr. Hildegard H. Reissmann).
High Christmas counts included 175 Yellow- shafted Flickers, 104 Red-bellied
Woodpeckers, 4j Hairies and 216 Downies at St. Michaels.

Flycatchers , Swallows . A late Western Kingbird was seen at the
Ocean City banding station on the late date of Nov. 5 (Hackman, Mrs. Cole
and others). Eastern Pboebes continued to be scarce on the Christmas
counts, but 1 was found as far inland as Catoctin. The W. and R. Hender-
sons saw a flock of 15 Barn Swallows fly past their boat in the Chester
River near Queenstown in a howling gale on Oct. 21. One was seen at Ocean
City as late as Oct. 29 (Scheider).

Jays , Chickadees . The heavy southward migration of Blue Jays con-
tinued through the first half of October. On Oct. 8 the Patuxent Bird
Club counted 2,671 flying past the Rocky Gorge observation tower two miles
northwest of Laurel. Because of the poor mast crop, many of our local
Blue Jays also departed; by Christinas time the population was below normal
in most parts of Maryland. The Black-capped Chickadee invasion reached
as far south as Montgomery, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, Talbot, and Kent
Counties .

Nuthatches , Creepers . A good scattering of Red-breasted Nuthatches
and large numbers of White -breasted Nuthatches terminated their south-
ward movement in Maryland. Numbers of the White-breasted species on the
Christmas counts were quite impressive: 109 at Catoctin, 95 at St.

Michaels, 4l in Kent County, 27 (all-time high) at Ocean City, and 12 (tie)
in Southern Dorchester County. The St. Michaels counters tallied $6 Red-
breasted Nuthatches . The Ocean City netters banded 77 Brown Creepers on
Oct. 20; this species wintered in normal numbers.

Thrushes , Kinglets , Vireos . There were several late thrush reports,
as follows: Swainson's at Kent Island on Oct. 29 (Buchanan), Gray-cheeked

at Rock Run Sanctuary on Oct. 11 (Hackman) and Baltimore on Oct. 12 (Betsy
Schaffer), and Veery at Gibson Island on Oct. 18 (Mesdames Henderson and
Tappan). Eastern Bluebirds continued very scarce; there were 65 on the
Ocean City Christmas count and 32 at St. Michaels, but only 5 or fewer on
most of the other counts. Among the 4-0 species seen in larger numbers
than in any of the 8 preceding years of the St. Michaels Christmas count
were 282 Golden- crowned and l6 Ruby- crowned Kinglets; the loblolly Pines
of Talbot County are especially attractive to the Golden- crowned Kinglets.

A very late White-eyed Vireo was banded at the Ocean City Operation Re-
covery station on Oct . 20 by Pan Minke .

March 1962

MARYLAND BIRD LIFE

15

Warblers . Operation of several banding stations into the month of
October netted several late records of migrating warblers: parula at

Ocean City on Oct . 20 (Garland) , Black- throated Green at Patuxent Re-
search Center on Oct . 28 (2 seen, Kenneth Libby) and Kent Island on Oct.

29 (seen, Buchanan J7 Ovenbird at Gibson Island on Oct. 22 (l seen, Mrs.

W. L. Henderson) and at Sandy Point on Nov . 2 (seen by Harold and Hal
Wierenga), Northern Waterthrush at Loch Raven on Oct. l4 (l seen, Bucha-
nan), Connecticut at Patuxent on Oct. 28 (recapture of bird banded on Oct.
15, Robbins), Yellow-breasted Chat at Ocean City on Nov. 4 (recapture by
Hackman of bird banded on Sept. 27), and Wilson's Warbler at Patuxent on
Oct. 17 (l seen by Scheider).

Orioles , Tanagers . Only one winter oriole has been reported to
date: a male at Towson on Dec. 22 only (Mrs. Philip ftyers, Jr.). One

late Baltimore Oriole was at the feeding station of Friel Sanders and
Elizabeth Slater at Churchton on Nov. 2k. A female Summer Tanager seen
at Gibson Island on Oct. 4 and Oct . 8 broke the State fall departure re-
cord (Vera Henderson, Elise Tappan, Etta Wedge).

Grosbeaks . Cardinals were especially abundant on the Eastern Shore
necks! 988 were counted in Lower Kent County, and 662 at St. Michaels on
the Christmas counts. Evening Grosbeaks arrived at record-early dates:
a female at the Ocean City banding station on Oct. 8 (earliest Maryland
record, Dyke), 17 at Laurel on Oct . 10 (Robbins ) . Numbers built up
slowly as most of the early birds seemed to pass on through our State;
the highest November counts were 35 at Rock Run Sanctuary on Nov. 11
(Hackman) and 30 at Tilghman on Nov. 12 (Reese). Even by Christmas time
Evening Grosbeak totals remained low, except in Allegany County where
this was the commonest species ( 2 63 individuals) on the Christmas count.
The Pine Grosbeak was seen only in the two westernmost counties: 1 on

Iron's Mountain east of Cumberland on Nov. 25 (Mel Garland and Pan Minke)
and 1 at Herrington Manor in Garrett County on Nov. 19 (George A. Hall).

Other Finches . A Dickcissel patronized the feeding station of
Friel Sanders at Churchton on Nov. 24 and Dec. 1. This species was noted
for the first time on the Catoctin (Bert Haines) and Ocean City (David
Cutler) Christmas counts. Pine Siskins were very scarce except near tide-
water on the Eastern Shore (maximum 60 at Ocean City on Nov. 5, Hackman).
American Goldfinches also were comparatively low In numbers except for a
count of 4p0 in the Bay Hundred district of Talbot County on Nov. 12
(Reese ) .

Sparrows, Buntings . The first Maryland Christmas count records of
Grasshopper Sparrows were established this year. One was seen in a
brushy field at West Ocean City (Cutler and others) and ,3 were studied
at leisure on a wire fence at Rocky Ridge in Frederick County when the
fields were completely snow-covered (Robbins, Libby). Snow Buntings were
seen regularly at Sandy Point from Oct. 28 (Harold and Hal Wierenga) on,
with a high count of 55 on Dec. 3 (Prof, and Mrs. David Howard). A single
Lapland Longspur was identified at Fort Detrick in Frederick (Joseph R.
Jehl).

Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, laurel

16

MARYLAND BIHDLIFE

yol.l8,No. 1

WILDERNESS BILL

This bill passed the Senate overwhelmingly in the last session of
Congress. It is now buried in the House Interior Committee; Hon. Wayne
N. Aspinall is Chairman of this Committee. For names of other members
of the Committee and for more information see page 332 of the November-
December issue of Audubon Magazine . For six years a bill to preserve
wilderness areas for posterity has been debated. With sufficient popular
support, this bill can be brought out of Committee and on to the floor of
the House and passed. It is number S. 174.

This bill, H.J.Res. 479, is before the House Subcommittee on Fisher-
ies and 7/ildlife. The Hon. Frank W. Baykin is Chairman of this Sub-
committee; names of the other 11 members are in the February 1 issue of
Audubon Leaders Conservation Guide. The National Audubon Society and
other conservation groups are pushing this legislation, but it needs
additional support.

Several members have asked the Conservation Committee of the Balti-
more Chapter to tell them the proper way to write to their elected repre-
sentatives in Washington and Annapolis. Ideas of what is absolutely
correct vary from state to state, and organization to organization. The
important thing is that your representatives do want you to write; this
is your privilege and your responsibility. You may use this guide in
writing to those who represent you, but you do not need to worry about
using 100 per cent correct form.

Send either a card or a letter. If you send a letter, use only one
side of the paper. Mention only one issue in one letter or card. Be
brief. Be sincere. Be yourself. Know your facts. Be as hard-hitting
as you like, but toss a bouquet when it is deserved.

GGLDKN EAGLE PROTECTION BILL

HOW TO WRITE YOUR REPRESENT IVES IN NATION AND STATE

How to address them

(National)

(State of Maryland)

President

The President
The White House
Washington, D. C

Governor

His Excellency, the Governor
Annapolis, Md.

March. 1962

MARYLAND BIRDLIKE

17

Senator

Hon. John Doe
Senate Office Bldg.
■Vashington, D. C.
Congressman
Hon. John Doe
House Office Bldg.
Washington, D. C.

State Senator

The Honorable John Doe
State House
Annapolis, Md.

Delegate

The Honorable John Doe
State House
^nnapolis, Md.

Salutations: My dear Mr. President; Dear Senator Doe; Dear Governor Doe;

Dear Senator Doe, and Dear Mr. or Dear Delegate Doe.

Mrs* O.J. Theobald

Conservation Chairman, Baltimore Chapter
13 Maryland Ave., Towson 4 VA 3-6867

ALLEGANY COUNTY CHRISTMAS COUNT

This count does not appear in the Audubon Field Notes and
therefore will be included in this issue of Maryland Birdlife.

ALLEGANY COUNTY, MD.— The area extends from Big Savage Moun-
tain east to the C & 0 Canal at Little Orleans. Dec. 27 j 9:30
a.m. to U:00 p.m. Humidity 90 %$ cloudy, drizzling and snow later
in the afternoon; temp. 37° to Li3 0 F.; intermittent fog and mist.

Eight observers in four parties. Black Duck, 10; Red- tailed hawk,

1; Ruffed Grouse, 2; Bobwhite, 31 j Yellow-shafted Flicker, 1;

Pileated Woodpecker, 11; Red-belUsd Woodpecker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker,

7; Downy Woodpecker, Ulj Blue Jay, 1 5; Common Crow, 80; Black-cap-
ped Chickadee, 118; Tufted Titmouse, $h ; White-breasted Nuthatch,

31; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Carolina Wren, 2; Mockingbird, 2;
Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 6; Cedar Waxwing,

3; Starling, 185; House Sparrow, 208; Cardinal, 37} Evening Gros-
beak, 265; Pine Siskin, 8; Am. Goldfinch, 38; Slate-colored Junco,

131*; Tree Sparrow, 29} Field Sparrow, 9; White -throated Sparrow,

7} Song Sparrow, 16; White-crowned Sparrow, 6; Purple Finch, 10.

Total, 33 species; about 1,283 individuals. — Mrs. C. Gordon Tay-
lor, Mrs. Dan Fold, Mr. & Mrs, Edgar Reynolds, Anderson Martin,

Miss Nan Livingston, Gary Minke, Pan Minke, Mr. & Mrs. John Work-
meister.

THANKS AND THANKFUL

BELATED THANKS to Mrs. Raymond Geddea and Malcolm Thomas for com-
piling, editing and the final typing of the Membership List, which
appeared in the December issue.

TIE HASTINGS-MIRAMAR, site of our Annual Convention, was not seriouslv
damaged by the March 7 storm, which caused heavy damage” other parts
of Ocean City. The "Operation Recovery" netting area was flooded-
some of the vegetation probably will die from exposure to salt water
but there is no serious erosion. There is a NEW INLET through Assa-
teague Island just north of the Maryland-Virgin! a State Line.

18

MARYLAND BIHDLIfS

Vol. 16. No. 1

BIRD BANDING AT ROCK RUN SANCTUARY
Mel Garland

The aluminum band is fastened around the leg, the wing is measured,
the fat deposit between the breastbone checked and given a numerical
rating, and the bird is weighed and the information recorded. Another
bird is now ready to be released at the Rock Run Banding Station. Add-
itional information concerning eye color, plumage, and unusual charact-
ers is recorded for a number of species and during the breeding season
all birds are checked for broodpatches.

Banding at Rock Run has been carried on by licensed banders ever
since a few breeding birds were banded during the i 960 summer at the
sanctuary. The one thousandth bird was banded at the station on Decem-
ber 3, 1961, and quite a few have been added to the growing list of
about eighty species since this date.

A number of most interesting birds have been banded at the sanctuary.
The Nashville, Palm, Tennessee, Mourning and Connecticut Warblers and a
Saw-whet Owl have been added to the sanctuary list by the banding program*
Two other interesting birds to receive numbered bracelets were the
Screech Owl and the Sharp-shinned Hawk; after banding these magnificent
birds of prey, one can readily understand how their food is captured.

Also ten of our smallest bird species, the Ruby-throated Huron ingbird,
received miniature bands and were released to go on their busy way to
the great clumps of jewelweed growing on the sanctuary.

Two exciting recoveries of birds banded elsewhere were made at
Rock Run. A White-throated Sparrow, number 27-10f>52li, was banded by
Mrs. James Downes on September 21, 1961 at South Londonderry, Vermont,
and was recaptured there on September 27. Eleven days later this bird
was caught at Rock Run Sanctuary. A Black-capped Chickadee, number 101-
9921*5, which was banded by Burton Whitman at Brunswick, L&ine, on October
2, 1961, was captured at the sanctuary on November 26 and repeated on
December 3 and 9. Twenty-five other birds of this species were banded
at Rock Run during the influx of this species in the 1961-62 winter.

An Operation Recovery Station was manned in cooperation with the
U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service for seventeen days during September and
October. Over this period 1*98 birds of 1*9 species were banded. A spring
banding program has been started at the sanctuary and will he operated
during MArch, April, and May,

March 1952

MARYLAND ' BIRDLIFE

13

Banders plan to make a breeding -bird census at Rock Run during the
summer months of 1962, and there is hope that the Operation-Recovery
Station at Rock Run will be in operation during the months of August,
September, and October with much better coverage than was possible in
1961 *

The information collected by the banders at the sanctuary is
available to ornithologists who are studying such things as the
relationship between wing length and age and sex, the relationship
of fat deposits to departure of migrants, and the color of eyes and
plumage characteristics as they relate to the age and sex of certain
species. As soon as any new data on determining age or sex is dis-
covered it is used by other banders in their studies.

A male Indigo Bunting, number 6U-18U29 , banded at Rock Run on
August 7* I960, returned on May 26, 1961. The season ahead is
awaited most anxiously by all the banders. Will any of the ten
Ruby- throated Hummingbirds banded in 1961 be recaptured after
spending the winter in Mexico or Panama? Will any of the birds that
passed through the sanctuary boundaries on their way south be
recaptured traveling to northern breeding grounds? Perhaps, Indigo
Bunting number 6I4-I8U29 will return to the sanctuary again in 1962,

We wait, but while we are waiting more birds are banded and more
information is being collected at the Maryland Ornithological
Society *s Rock Run Wildlife Sanctuary.

36 Burke Ave, Towson

COMING EVENTS

Apr. 1
Apr. 3
Apr. 5

Apr. 5
Apr. 7
Apr. 8
Apr. 8
Apr. 8

Apr. 10
Apr . 13
Apr. 14
Apr. 15

Apr. 15
Apr. 15
Apr. 17
Apr. 18
Apr. 18
Apr. 20

TALBOT breakfast hike, 7 A.M. Jiaston Library.

BALTIMORE trip to Lake Roland, 8 A.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.
FREDERICK meeting, 8 P.M. Lecture by Dr. William V. Schultz
from AEG on Radio Neuclides, Radiation, and Birds.

TALBOT special AUDUBON film, Mt. Pleasant School, 8 P.M.
BALTIMORE banding demonstration at Cylburn, 8 & 10 A.M.
ALLEGANY trip to Lake Gordon. Meet Nave T s XRds. Dan Falk
TALBOT breakfast hike, 7 A.M. Easton Library.

PATUXENT woodcock trip to Greenbelt; meet 8A Ridge Rd. 6:40
P.M. Leader: David Bridge

BALTIMORE trip to Lake Roland, 8 A.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.
BALTIMORE annual meeting and election, Pratt Library, 8 P.M.
BALTIMORE trip to Camp Woodbine, 8 A.M. Betsy Schaffer.
BALTIMORE and PATUXENT trip to Patuxent Research Center.

Meet Montgomery Wards, 7 A.M, Chandler S, Robbins.

TALBOT breakfast hike, 7 A.M. Easton Library.

FREDERICK bird walk, 1:30 P.M. Baker Park. Band Shell.
BALTIMORE trip to Lake Roland- a A.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.
BALTIMORE bird walks at Cylburn 7 & 9 A.M. Mrs. Carl Lubbert
ALLEGANY "Warblers" C. S. Robbins, 7:30 P.M. 75 Brdwy.

TALBOT meeting Easton Library, 8 P.M. Comdr, E. P. 'Wilson.

20

MARYLAND BIKDL1FS

Vol. 18. No. 1

Apr. 21 BALTIMORE children* bird walk at Cylburn 8 A.M.

Apr. 21 PATUXENT owl trip to Howard County. Meet 9th & Montgomery
Sts, Laurel, 3:00 A.M. Leaders: Ted Stiles and David Bridge.

Apr. 21 BALTIMORE two trips-Loch Raven, 8 A.M. Mr. Charles Buchennan.

Lake Roland 8 A.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.

Apr. 24 PATUXENT monthly meeting, Laurel City Hall, 7:45 P?M.

Apr. 24 BALTIMORE trip to Lake Roland, 8 A.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.

Apr. 25 BALTIMORE bird walks at Cylburn, 7 & 9 A.M. Mrs. Carl Lubber t.

Apr. 27-28 Eastern Bird Banding Assn. Convention, Cape May, New Jersey.
Apr. 28 BALTIMORE two trips - Loch Raven, 8 A.M. Mr. Charles Buchannan
Lake Roland, 8 A.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.

Apr. 29 BALTIMORE trip to C & 0 Canal. Meet Great Falls 8:30 A.M.

Mrs. Joshua Rowe and Mrs. 0 .J. Theobald .

Apr. 29 TALBOT breakfast hike, 7 A.M. Easton Library,

May 1 BALTIMORE trip to Lake Roland, 8 A.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.

May 2 BALTIMORE bird walks at Cylburn, 7 & 9 A.M. Mrs. Carl Lubber t

May 3 FREDERICK meeting, 8 ?. M. Bert Haines on Birds of Florida.

May 5 STATE WIDE BIRD COUNT. Count individuals as well as species in
area of your choosing. Turn in list, together with party-hours,
at Ocean City Convention or mail to Editor by May IT.

May 5 ALLEGaNY meeting, 511 Talbot 3t. Cumberland.

May 6 TALBOT breakfast hike, 7 A.M. Easton Library.

May 8 BALTIMORE trip to Lake Roland, 8 a.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.

May 9 BALTIMORE bird walks at Cylburn, 7 Sc 9 a.M. Mrs. Carl Lubbert

May 10 BALTIMORE trip to Woodstock, Howard Co, 8 A.M. Mrs. Lubbert.
May 11-13 ANNUAL M.G.S. CONVENTION, Hastings Hotel, Ocean City.

May 13 FREDERICK bird walk, 1: 30 P.M. Baker Park. Band Shell.

May 15 BALTIMORE trip to Lake Roland, 8 A.M, Mrs. Robert Kaestner.

May 16 BALTIMORE bird walks at Cylburn, 7 & 9 A.M. Mrs. Carl Lubbert.
May 19 BALTIMORE banding demonstration, Cylburn, 7 A.M. Mrs. R.D. Cole
May 19 BALTIMORE trip to Beckley's Bridge. Meet 8 A.M. Hutzlers park
ing lot. Dr. Elizabeth Fisher.

May 19-20 PATUXiJIT warblers-in-the-hand trip, 8 Ridge Rd., Greenbelt.
May 20 BALTIMORE trip to Patapsco State Park. Meet at end of No. 3
bus line in Halethorpe, 7 A.M. Mr. Irving Hampe.

May 22 BALTIMORE trip to Lake Roland, 8 A.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.

May 23 BALTIMORE bird walks at Cylburn 7 St, 9 A.M. Mrs* Carl Lubbert.
May 27 BALTIMORE trip to Rock Run, 8:30 A.M-. Mr. Douglas Hackman.

May 27-28 ALLEGANY trip to Cranberry Glade, Marlington, W.Va. Mr.

Wm. M. Leeson.

May 29 BALTIMORE trip to Lake Roland, 8 A.M. Mrs. Robert Kaestner.

Jun. 8-10 STATEWIDE ADULT WEEKiiHD AT PLEAS. JIT VALLEY? Garrett Co.

Jun. 11-16 JUNIOR NATURE AND CONSERVATION CAMP, Pleasant Valley.

Jun. 15-17 JUNIOR NATURE CaMP at Camp Woodbine, Woodbine, Maryland.

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

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

Editorial Board: C. Douglas Hackman, Vernon Kleen, Miss Nan Livingstone,
Mrs. Helen Webster, Mrs, Jean Worthley.

Production: Gladys Cole, Betty Fisher, Melvin Garland, Douglas

Hackman, Bert Haines, Pan Minke, Vernon Kleen, Betsy
Schaffer, Ann Taylor, Billie Taylor.