Maryland birdlife

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

J3ulletin of tke ^Maryland Orniiko Logical Society
si 03 Bolton Street, Baltimo re ij, ^Maryland

VOL. I

JULY - AUGUST, 1945

HO, 3

THE IHCUBATIOH PERIODS OF SOME BIRDS AT BALTIMORE

In the determination of birds 1 incubation periods opportun-
ity and luck so greatly outweigh patience and will that there
are not too many closely calculated figures on record* A few
observations that I have made in Baltimore are therefore given
here; some of these are not as precise as could be wishdd, but
they at least f ix the periods within vefy narrow limits. All
of the times given are Eastern Standard.

"KILIDEER ( Charadrius vociferus) — One observation: about 25
days.

Set of four* eggs ’completed April 4, 1939; before 4:37 pirn*,
hatched between 5 p.m. on April 28 and 3:50 p.m. on April 29.

The nesting was on a stony slope in Hanlon Park.

ROBBT ( Turdus migratorius ) — Two observations: from a few
hours more, ■tcTaTfew hours less, than 12 days.

~Third of 'four marked eggs, laid July 6, 1943, between 12:01
and 12:27 p.m., hatched July 18 between 6:39 and 7:18 a.m.;
maximum possible period 11 days 19 hours 17 minutes. Hanlon
Park vicinity.

Third of three marked eggs, laid May’ 12 t 1945, at 11:30 a c m 0 ,
hatched May 24 between 1:19 add 3:04 p.m.; minimum possible per-
iod 12 days 1 hour 49 minutes. Hillsdale Park.

WOOD THHfrSH ( Hylocichla mustelina ) — Six observations: 12 1/3
to perhaps 13 days.

Third of four marked eggs, laid May 17, 1943, between 9:29

- 12 -

and 11:14 a.m., hatched May 29 between 5:05 a.m. and 5:42 p.m.;
maximum possible period 12 days 8 hours 13 minutes . Hanlon Park
vicinity.

Third of thrSe marked eggs, laid June ‘4; 1943, between 6:56
a.m. and 7:17 p.m. f hatched between 7:38 p.m. on June 16 and 6:27
a.m. 'on June 17; maximum possible period 12 days 23 hours 31 min*
utes. Hanlon Park vicinity.

In my experience, the last egg of this specie s* clutches
usually hatches at night. This makes precise determination of
the incubation period very difficult, but at the same time ’in-
dicates a normal period within the range that I have shown.

COWBIHD (Molothrus ater ) — One observation: about 11 1/3 days 0

Egg laid May 18, 1944, before 8:47 a.m., in Wodd Thrush nest
and incubatGd steadily. Hatched May 29 at 1:25 p.m. Hanlon Park
vicinity.

SCHG SPARROW ( Mglospiza me 161 ia )— One observation: between
13 days and 13 days id 1/2 hours.

* Third ' of * three marked eggs, laid May 15, 1945, between 4:53
and 5:27 a.m., hatched on May 28 between 5:20 a.m. and 3:46 p.m.
Howard Park section.

Hervey Brackbill

TEE LESSER SCALP BT MARYLAND BJ LATE SUMMER

On August 26, 1945 I observed a male Lesser Scaup Duck on
the Severn River at Annapolis, Maryland. The bird was in the
eclipse plumage.. When first observed it wa3 sitting on a board
at the edge of the water. It allowed me to approach within six
feet before it took to the water and swam away. Late the same
afternoon, the bird was discovered in the same spo$.

Wildfowl occassionally are found during tho summer in what
is normally their wintering area. Due to gunshot wounds, 6r
other reasons they are 'unable to join the migrating flocks.

Another observation of this type was made on July 12, 1939
when Haven Kolb and I found a male Ruddy Duck on the Patapsco
River marsh near the Hanover Street bridge.

Irving E. Hampe

- 13

A LATE SUMMER BIRD TRIP

Seldom, does the amdteur bird student realize the need for
year round observations • The spring migration and breeding sea-
son over, the presence of the summer residents are only casually
noted and very little Is recorded of the subsequent behavior*

Late summer is an interesting period in the life of birds* Fam-
ily cares are over, most of the species have molted or are molt-
ing into winter plumage, mdny birds are forming into floats and
some have begun to migrate*

The notes made on a recent trip along the Chesapeake Bay
may serve to illustrate 'some of the interesting data that can be
obtained at this season* On the afternoon of August 12 » 1944
Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel and the writer Sailed from Annapolis in
the twenty-foot sailboat, The Boa Gull* A hdrried departure gave
little opportunity to observe birds on shore* Purple Martins
were flying about as we left. Several Laughing Gulls were perch-
ed on wharf pilings and six Common Terns were observed fishing
near shore* Birds were scarce in the Harbor and nothing of in-
terest was seen. During an earlier trip, late in May, I had ob-
served Purple Grackles flying out over the harbof and fluttering
down to pick up food of some sort from the water* This time I
searched carefully hoping to discover what sort of food they pro-
cured, but no grackles were observed* Approximately twenty
Herrihg Gulls were resting on the platform of the Greenbury Point
Light* They paid little or no attention to our boat and we ap-
proached close enough to see the flesh-dolored legs, one of the
distinguishing features of 'this species* Yery few immature birds
were observed* in the group* In spring the immature birds were
very numerous*

A steady wind and a choppy sed made it almost Impossible to
hold binoculars steady on any bird*' Sailing across the bay to
Kent Island we observed a few gulls, mostly Herring Gulls and a
few laughing Gulls* The Laughing Gulls were in all stages of
molt* The majority showed the black head but a few of them had
molted the black and were in almost complete plumage* Immature
Laughing Gulls were scarce, only a few were observed on the wh ole
trip. As we approached Kent Island we observed and heard Common
Terns flying Just off shore* Rarely more than one or two indi-
viduals were seen at any one time*

Rounding Love Point a pound net immediately attracted our
attention* On nearly every pole was a bird* Gulls were most
numerous, one Osprey and four Great Blue Herons were seen* The
herons were uneasy at our approach and flew off toward the shore.
The gulls scarcely paid any attention to us. The Osprey was the
first to fly away. ’ Two Osprey had been observed just before
reaching the point* One of them flew low over the water carry-
ing a large eel. We anchored near Love Point ferry pier just be-
fore dusk*

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After our evening meal we hoisted sail and set out for deep-
er water where we enjoyed a swim. The light on our b6at cast a
feeble glow on the dark water as we plunged overboard* Immedi-
ately the water around uS sparkled with the glow of innumerable
phosphorescent creatures.' Every movement set up a flash as we
swam through the darkness. Back at our anchorage we prepared our
sleeping bags in the bottom of the boat and settled down to sleep
with the gentle slap of the waves against the side of our boat.

The hoarse Gall of Pish. Grows woke us just as the sun peeped
over the horizon* We ate breakfast with our binoculars beside us
as every bird in sight was carefully observed and notes taken.
Several Eastern Green Heron and one Great Blue Heron were observ-
ed along the shord* Red-winged Blackbirds wore very numerous
back of the beach. * A flock of ten small sandpipers flew swiftly
out across the bay. We nearly fell overboard in our rush to grab
binoculdrs but the birds were out of sight before we could focus
on them. A Spotted Sandpiper feeding along the ‘shore was seen
and a flock of eleven Black Ducks flew overhead*

Hoisting sail we set out for Sandy Point on the western
shore. A choppy sea and heavy winds kept us busy but we noted
the same species at the pound nets. The reactions of the birds
to our presence were the same as noted the previous evening*

The Gspreys took wing first, the herons followed, and the gulls
merely moved on to other poles* A few Cammbn Terns were perched
on the poles at the net and ‘they watched us, shifting uneasily
about, but did not fly away.

Anchoring off Sandy Point f we waded ashore and set out for
a short walk. Red-winged Blackbirds were numerous in the marsh
back of the point. Several immature Red-winged Blackbirds were'
begging for food from the adults, but seemingly without success*
Eight Black Ducks were flushed from a small pond in the marsh.
Farther on a pair of Green Herons were furitively moving along
the edge of the marsh, hesitating occassionally, and with quick
jabs procuring their food. Small fish ‘and frogs were seen to
disappear down their capacious gullets. ‘ Reaching higher ground
we walked along the edge of a cornfield. A small flock of
Mourning Doves wefe perched in the trees and allowed us to ap-
proach very close. A month hence, when the gunning season opens,
these birds will be very wary; and one needs to stalk carefully
to get within gunshot of them.

The wind began to change and we hastened back to our boat,
stopping only long enough to observe a Summer Tanaaer and several
Indigo Buntings. As we hoisted the sails a Great Blue Heron
flapped heavily across the swamp. The hot, feted smell of the
salt marsh, the heron overhead, and the salty spray against our
faces as we sailed homeward, added the final touches to a picture
of late summer in tidewater Maryland*

Irving E. Harnpe

15

ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR

BIRDS OF BALTIMORE AND TLCmiTI

Winter Residents

Kinglet, Golden- crowned

Summer Residents

Arrives
11/ /43

Departs

4/ /43 (common)

Kingbird

5/4/43

Transient Migrants

Duck , ' Ring-ne eke d ( 17 )
Eagle, Golden (adult)
Hawk, Pigeon
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
Siskin, ’Pine (24)

Sparrow, Savanna h
Tern, Caspian
Warbler; Black-thr. Green
Warbler, Western Palm

3/16/44

3/22/44

4/24/43

4/13/43

3/19/44

3/26/44

4/18/43

5/4/43

5/4/43

(common)
(Marley Creek)

Francis T* ElkiHs
Glen Bumie, Md #

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MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Organized April 9, 1945

^ fT The ^ object of this Club shall be to record the observations
of bird life in Maryland; to disseminate in a popular manner the
results of such ob servations; to collate the scientific data fur-
nished by bird students throughout the State, and to supply such
available information to other groups as requested; and - to pro-
mote the cultivation 'of public sentiment in the preservation of
our native bird life."

Irving E. ’Hampe, President
Orville Wo Crowder, Vice-President
Mrs. Millard C. Kent, Recording Secretary
Miss Helen Klinke, Corresponding Secretary
Millard Co Kent, Treasurer

OFFICERS

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Mrs # John L* Cotsworth
Miss Helen Coggins

Miss J, Pearl Heaps
Roy J*. Beasley

Andrew Simon

COMCCTTBES

PROGRAM

Miss J. Pearl Heaps

Ray J* Beasley

PUBLICATION

Ray J # Beasley
Miss Helen Klinke

Millard C. Kent
Irving E« Hampe

MEMBERSHIP

Miss Harriet L, C asp an

Miss Helen Coggins

HIKE

Miss Florence H* Burner

Orville w« Crowder

BIRD RECORDS

Miss Ruth Fishpaugh

Miss Helen Klinke

Irving E. Hampe