Iowa bird life

IOWA BIRD LIFE

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE

IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

VOL. XXIV DECEMBER. 1954 NO 4

OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION

President — Dr. Edward L, Kozicky. Ames, Iowa
Vice-President — Woodward H. Brown. Des Moines, Iowa
Sec’y-Treas. — Mrs. George Crossley, Farley, Iowa
Librarian— Dr. J, Harold Ennis, Cornell College, Mt, Vernon, Iowa
Editor — Fred J, Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa

Executive Council:

Walter W, Barrett, Sioux City, Iowa
Albert C. Berkowitz, Des Moines, Iowa
Miss C. Esther Copp, Wheatland, Iowa
Mrs, R. S. Ruegnitz, Dubuque, Iowa

The Iowa Ornithologists' Union was organized at Ames, Iowa, February 28.
1923, for the study and protection of native birds and to promote fraternal re-
lations a menu Iowa bird students.

The central design of the Union's official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, desig-
nated State Bird of Iowa in 1933.

Publications of the Union : Mimeographed letters, 1323-1928 ; ‘The Bulletin,”
1929-1930 ; "Iowa Bird Life," beginning' 1931.

SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $2 00 a year. Single copies 50c each.
! Subscription to the magazine is included in all paid memberships,

! of which there are four classes, as follows: Contributing Mern-

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EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE
WINTHROP, IOWA

Entered as second-class matter February 9, 1932. at the post office at Winthrop,
Iowa, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

62

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV. 1954

WHITE-CROWNED and GAMHEL'S SPARROWS

Upper section shows immature or fall birds. In the lower view Gambel’a Sparrow is on
the lower limb: White -crow tied on the upper. The birds were mounted by Walter Thietie for
the Natural History Museum of University of Iowa, Photographs by Fred W. Kent

WHITE-CROWNED AND GAMBEL'S SPARROWS

63

WHITE-CROWNED AND GAMBEL'S SPARROWS
!N THE WESTERN HALF OF IOWA

By M. L. JONES

Fort Definnce State Pai-k
ESTHER VI LLE, IOWA

For the past several years it has been the wish of the writer to make an
all-out effort to trap as many as possible of White-crowned and Gambel's
Sparrows to try to determine more conclusively their relative abundance.
The following report is based mainly on banding records, with further refer-
ence to “Iowa Bird Life" census reports.

Each season a few are seen but large concentrations are not often found
in convenient areas for trapping. Then, too, this matter of making a living
always cuts down on available time,

In checking back over the past 21 years of banding records the following
figures are available.

Table 1. Banding Records of the Past 21 Years: Comparing the All-species

Total with the White-crowned and Gambel Catch,

Total for

Year

County

White -cr.

Gambel's

all species

1934

Calhoun

9

0

648

'35

”

23

1

896

'36

7

6

1416

'37

”

11

5

1293

38

5

0

866

’39

"

0

3

388

1940

Story

0

0

86

’41

(No station)

0

0

45

’42

Fremont

0

0

262

’43

0

0

676

’44

Boone

0

0

256

45

8

2

300

46

s *

5

8

215

'47

,5

0

1

252

'48

n

10

9

468

'49

2

2

251

1950

”

0

1

445

51

0

0

204

’52

0

0

460

’53

Emmet

0

I

135

’54

w

3

8

176

According to the table of banding records, the 1934 and 1935 total was
32 White-crowned Sparrows as against only one Gambel's, but it should be
pointed out that at this date the writer had not attempted to split off the sub-
species. Therefore, only the 1936 and later banding records give an accurate
picture of their comparative numbers.

The banding totals for the years 1936 to 1954 inclusive yield the interest-
ing totals of 56 White-crowned Sparrows and 46 Gambel's Sparrows, covering
quite a number of counties.

Personal trapping results reveal that most Gambel's Sparrows were caught
during the month of May. Records to date include 38 trapped during May
as compared with only three during April and four in October. Of the
White-crowns, 41 were caught in October; 30 in May; one in April and one in
November.

Judging by trapping and banding data only, it would appear that the peak
and duration of the migration of the White-crowned and Gambel’s coincides

64

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV, 1954

rather closely with that of the White-throated Sparrow. Comparing numbers,
the White-throated would be about six times more numerous.

For the years 1934 and 1935, a total of 1,544 birds of all species were band-
ed. This, compared with only 176 for the 1954 season but showing 8 White-
crowned and 8 Gambol's, indicates a much higher percentage of these spar-
rows taken. However, this is merely a result of a little less concentration
on banding numbers and more on certain species of special interest at the
moment.

No reason can be given for the complete lack of data on the White-
crowned and Gambel’s sparrows in Fremont County, Iowa. Quite a number
of Harris’s Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, and others were trapped;
therefore, the trapping habitat appeared suitable but the record for October.
1942, while including no Gambel’s or White-crowned Sparrows, does include
Purple Finch, 28; White-throated Sparrow. 42; Junco, 30; Tree Sparrow, 1;
and Lincoln’s Sparrow, 1.

It would appear that a great deal more observation and study are needed
in the southwest corner of Iowa,

In ‘Iowa Bird Life' 1 the Christmas Bird Census was first tabulated for
the 1937 season. In checking all such census reports for the past 17 years, no
important information appears on the relative abundance of the two spar-
rows, largely perhaps because no one bothered to try to separate them in the
field and so report them.

The White-crowned Sparrow was reported* however, from Des Moines
from 1939 to 1952 as follows: 1939. 2; 1940. 2; 1943, 2; 1946, 1. In 1951 Harper's
Ferry, 1; 1952. Des Moines, 1; Ottumwa, 3; 1953, Cedar Rapids, 4; Des Moines,
5; Sioux City, 1.

The Spring Bird Census reports which were published in “Iowa Bird
Life" as a wartime substitute for our annual meeting are about equally un-
informative as they were lumped together in 1943, and apparently most ob-
servers made no effort to report Gambel’s Sparrows in the three later
censuses.

In order to present the idea that there are undoubtedly many more to
report than are being reported, the spring bird census records are presented
in the following table;

Table 2. State-wide Spring Bird Census Reports, as Published in “Iowa
Bird Life,”

E

<

u

’c

<

—

a

13

L

Q

tffl

s

I-

Q

c

o

X

S3

O 1

to

‘5

3

to

0/

L.

O

SI

e

4)

a)

a

£

Q

tu
3
c*
3
A 5

Q

Jm

5

Q

£

U

&

>

s

X

E

3

6

U

e

u

o'

if

&

o

X

3

<S)

HU

X

d

J

00

qj

U)

C

o

J-

d

£

104* Both

1

1..,,

■i

1 .... |

! — 1

1 41 17

1

1 3

1944 Wh-cr

1 31

9

....

....

1

| 14| j

....

....

| 3|....

4

a

Gamb. .......

....1 .1 — ]....| — 1 — 1 — !....[ 2

1945 Wh-cr

1

1

8

\ 2\ 35

f — f

. . . .

....

....

!■■■■

! 4

Gamb. . . .

| 1

... .

....

. ...

| 1

1....]

....

....

|....

1 ii

194 6 Wh-cr

1 7

4! 30| 7

I

| 29

10| 2|

i;....

|....

6

1 1

1

1 5

1 1

1

al 1

To quote DuMont's ‘Birds of Iowa”: — “Roberts reported that at a band-
ing station at Spirit Lake, Dickinson county, more Gambel’s Sparrows than
White-crowned Sparrows were taken.”

The writer attempted in 1949 to prove such a conclusion but the season’s
total was two of each. The next four years netted no White-crowned and
only two Gambel's Sparrows,

ECOLOGY OF THE VIRGINIA RAIL

65

One must conclude that the field is wide open for a great deal more trap-
ping and field observation. These birds are not shy and may be observed
at close range. There should, therefore, be no difficulty in separating them
in the field.

In all specimens trapped so far there has appeared no lack of distinct pat-
tern — no overlapping. Even in the immature individuals so often encounter-
ed during their fall migration, the brown pattern seems to be an exact dupli-
cate of the black pattern of the adults.

If you need a memory jog to recall which is which, just think— if the
white line over the eye is confined to the crown, it's a White- crowned Spar-
row. If the white line runs through to the beak, it’s a Gambel's.

ECOLOGY OF THE VIRGINIA RAIL
IN CLAY COUNTY, IOWA

By WARD D. TANNER and GEORGE O. HENDRICKSON

Dept, of Zoology and Entomology
Iowa State College
AMES, IOWA

The ecology of the Virginia Rail was studied on prairie marshes within
Dewey's Pasture Public Shooting Ground, Clay County, Iowa, from April to
September 1951, from April to October 1952, and in April, 1953, The 402-acre
research area included 28 marshes lying in the hollows between gently slop-
ing prairie knolls. These marshes ranged in depth from several inches to 4
feet and in area from 0 2 acre to 18,0 acres. Of the total 96-4 acres of marsh,
81.4 acres supported emergent vegetation habitable by rails. The remaining
15.0 acres consisted of open water.

The predominant species of emergent vegetation in the shallowest water
along the shores were blue-joint grass, prairie cordgrass. tussock sedge, and
fox sedge. The most abundant species of emergent plants in water of inter-
mediate depth were river grass, lake sedge, sweet flag, and water smartweed.
In deeper water the predominant species were broad-leaved cat-tail, narrow-
leaved cat-tail, river bulrush, hard-stemmed bulrush, pale great bulrush, and
large bur-reed. The plant names follow Hayden, 1943.

The methods of study included daily counts of rails flushed with the aid
of a Labrador retriever during the season of spring migration; systematic
search for and weekly inspection of nests; and trapping, banding and re-
capturing both juvenile and adult rails. In the two years of study a total of
37 active nests of the Virginia Rail were under observation and an additional
44 inactive nests ascribable to either the Virginia Rail or the Sora were dis-
covered. In the absence of eggs or egg shells, nests of these two species could
not be distinguished with accuracy. In the two years a total of 143 Virginia
Rails were captured in traps, banded and released. Of 57 Virginia Rails of
all ages captured in 1951, six (10.5 per cent) were downy young, 17 (29.8 per
cent) were medium-sized juveniles not yet capable of flight, 19 (33.3 per cent)
were large juveniles capable of flight, and 15 (26.3 per cent! were adults. Of
86 Virginia Rails captured in 1952, 24 (27.9 per cent) were downy young, 17
1 19 S per cent) were medium-sized juveniles not yet capable of flight, 18 (20,9
per cent) were large juveniles capable of flight, and 27 (31.4 per cent) were
adults.

In northern Iowa and southern Minnesota it appears that the Virginia
Rail is normally in residence from about the last week of April until the
middle of October. Roberts (1932) stated that the average date of first ar-
rival and the average date of final departure of this species at Heron Lake in
southern Minnesota were April 27 and October 12, respectively, Bailey <1905)

i

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV, 1954

66

found that April 24 was the average date of first arrival of the Virginia Rail
at Cedar Rapids. Iowa, and Youngworth (1932) stated that October II was
the latest date that he had seen this species at Sioux City, Iowa. During the
present study, the Virginia Rail first appeared on the research area April
30 in 1951 and 1953, and on April 29, 1952. The latest date that this species was
seen on the research area was October 3, 1952, although one adult Virginia
Rail banded on the research area July 11, 1952, was reported to have been
caught in a muskrat trap December 1, 1953, near Glenwood, Minnesota, some
175 miles directly north of the research area. It was interesting to note that
this bird is thus far the only Virginia Rail banded by the writers for which
there has been a record from another area.

Records of the number of Virginia Rails seen per hour of observation in
the marshes seemed to indicate that the mam wave of migrants reached
Dewey's Pasture during the first week of May, 1951. Nesting began almost
immediately after the arrival of the birds.

In 1951. the observed nesting season began about May 13 and extended
for a period of about 61 days until July 12. In 1952, the observed nesting sea-
son began about May 15 and extended for a period of about 43 days until
July 1. Probably those few nests found to be active during July represent-
ed late renesting attempts following the destruction of earlier nests,

Virginia Rail nests were shallow, basket-like structures built of dead
leaves or stalks of the species of marsh plants available at the nest sites. In
most cases the nest material consisted of only one species of plant, never of
more than three. The material in 27 (73.0 per cent) of 37 nests examined dur-
ing the two years of study was lake sedge primarily. Four (10,8 per cent)
of the 37 nests were built of river bulrush alone, two ( 5.4 per cent) of tus-
sock sedge primarily, two (5.4 per cent) of cat-tail alone, one (2.7 per cent)
of bur-reed primarily, and one (2.7 per cent) of river grass primarily, The
nests were suspended a few inches above the water surface from stalks of
emergent plants, or less frequently, were built within clumps of grass or
tussock sedge. Nearly always the surrounding vegetation was bent down and
loosely intertwined over the nest to form an arch or canopy partially or en-
tirely concealing the eggs.

The nests were nearly identical in size and appearance with Sora nests and
had about one-half the diameter of King Rail nests. Based on 15 nests meas-
ured to the nearest half-inch, the outside depth from the bottom of the nest
to the rim ranged from 4.0 to 8.0 inches with a mean of 5.9-h0.4 inches and a
standard deviation of 1.3 inches, while the inside depth from the floor to the
rim ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 inches with a mean of 1.7 -hO.I inches and a stand-
ard deviation of 0.5 inches. The outside diameter ranged from 5.0 to 10. 0
inches with a mean of 6.7 + 03 inches and a standard deviation of 1.3 inches,
while the inside diameter ranged from 3.5 to 6.0 inches with a mean of
4,5 0.5 inches and a standard deviation of 0,6 inch.

~The 37 occupied nests of the Virginia Rail found during the two years
of study were distributed in six cover-types as follows: 24 (64.9 per cent) in
lake sedge, four (10,8 per cent) in hard-stemmed and pale great bulrushes,
four (10.8 per cent) in river bulrush, three (8.1 per cent) in cat-tail, one 2.7
per cent) in river grass and one (2.7 per cent) in blue-joint grass. The
cover-types, named for the dominant plant species in the stand, usually in-
cluded other plant species as well. An analysis of the plant species to which
the nests were actually attached and anchored indicated that of the 37 nests,
23 (62.2 per cent) were suspended from lake sedge, five (13.5 per cent) from
round-stemmed bulrush, four (10.8 per cent) from river bulrush and two
(5.4 per cent) from cat-tail, while two (5.4 per cent) were built within clumps
of cordgrass, and one (2.7 per cent) within a clump of bluejoint grass. In
evaluating nesting cover it is important to bear in mind that the Virginia Rail

ECOLOGY OF THE VIRGINIA RAIL

67

uses different plant communities in the various parts of its breeding range.
Probably it is not the species of plant to which the bird responds, but rather
the physical characteristics of that species and its value as nesting substrate
(Beecher, 1942), Other plants growing in other regions of the Virginia Rail's
breeding range may function as nesting substrate equally as well as those
mentioned above. For example, Walkinshaw (1937) stated that along the
Great Lakes in Michigan soft-stemmed bulrush afforded wonderful habitat
for Virginia Rails.

The water-depth was measured to the nearest half-inch at 27 occupied
nests in 1951 and at eight occupied nests in 1952. In the former year, the
water-depth ranged from 6.0 to 18.0 inches with a mean of 12.1 + 0,6 inches and
a standard deviation of 3.2 inches, while in the latter it ranged from 11.5 to
22.0 inches with a mean of 14.8 + 1.2 inches and a standard deviation of 3.2
inches. Biliard (1947) reported that the mean depth of water at Virginia Rail
nests in Connecticut was 2.6 inches, and Walkinshaw (1937) found that in
Michigan the Virginia Rail nested over water 4 to 6 inches in depth. It seems
likely that this species responds not to water-depth as such but rather to the
plant community which is influenced by water-depth.

The average rate of egg-laying was about an egg a day, as shown by the
histories of four nests as follows: eight eggs in eight days, five eggs in six
days, seven eggs in eight days and four eggs in five days. Walkinshaw (1937)
and Biliard (1947) likewise concluded that the rate was an egg a day.

Although the first egg was laid in one nest as early as May 13, 1951, and
as early as May 15, 1952. it was estimated that eggs were not laid in the
majority of nests until the last week of May and the first few days of June.

In 1951, 23 complete clutches contained from four to 10 eggs and averaged
8.1 +0.4 with a standard deviation of 1,8, and in the following year the num-
ber of eggs in five complete clutches ranged from seven to 10 with a mean
of 8,2 + 0,6 and a standard deviation of 1.3. In Connecticut. Biliard (1947)
found that the average number of eggs per clutch was 9.33, based on 15 com-
plete clutches. Walkinshaw (1937) found that the average number of eggs
per clutch was 10.44 for nine nests in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and
8.06 for 13 nests in southern Michigan,

In some nests incubation began the day before the last egg was laid, and
in others it began at the time the last egg was laid. As yet, the incubation
period of the Virginia Rail has not been fully established. Bent (1926) be-
lieved it to be at least 15 days, while Walkinshaw (1937) and Wood (1937)
concluded that it was 20 days, and Mousley (1940) and Biliard (1947) found
that it was 18 days. In the present study, the histories of four nests were
known in sufficient detail to permit estimation of incubation periods. The
periods were determined by noting the number of days which elapsed be-
tween the date that the last egg was laid and the date that the last egg in the
nest hatched. In two of the four nests the incubaion periods were 22 and 18
days, respecively. In the third nest the incubation period was determined to
be at least 18 days and in the fourth nest at least 18 days. In the latter nest,
all the eggs were destroyed by a predator on the 18th day of incubation. At
that time three of the eggs had begun to pip.

In individual nests hatching was completed within a period of from one
to five days, usually two. The eggs were pipped from 24 to 48 hours before
they hatched. In 1951 hatching occurred in the various nests from about June
6 until July 12. The eggs in the majority of the 20 nests, for which hatching
data were available, hatched during the second and third weeks of June, those
in six nests (30.0 per cent* between June 16 and June 20, and those in eight
nests (40.0 per cent) between June 21 and June 25.

Of the 27 nests under observation in 1951, 21 (77.8 per cent) produced at
least one chick. Of 190 eggs in the 27 nests, 144 (75.7 per cent) hatched. Bil-

68

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV, 1954

lard (1947) in Connecticut found that 16 (64.0 per cent) of 25 nests under ob-
servation produced at least one chick, whereas 95.7 per cent of 139 eggs in 15
nests hatched. In the present investigation egg destroyers in order of their
importance were small birds of unidentified species, raccoons, flood, and hail.
Of 190 eggs in 27 nests under observation in 1951, 13 (6,8 per cent! in two nests
were destroyed by small birds, 10 (5,3 per cent) in one nest were destroyed by
raccoons, 10 (5.3 per cent) in one nest were destroyed by flood and nine
(4.7 per cent) in one nest were broken by hail. Only two (1,1 per cent) eggs,
one in each of two nests, were infertile. Two (1.1 per cent) eggs, disappeared
from a clutch which otherwise remained unharmed. There were no cases of
desertion.

Billard (1947) reported that avian predators destroyed the eggs in four
(16.0 per cent) of 25 nests under observation in Connecticut. She believed
that most of this destruction was caused by the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Al-
though in the present study the species of birds responsible for destruction of
Virginia Rail eggs were not determined, it was believed that the Prairie
Marsh Wren, the Red-wing, and the Black Tern were among the more likely
suspects. Judging from the size of the punctures, the culprits were of rather
small size, certainly smaller than a Crow, They neatly pecked away an end
or side of the egg, removed and presumably ate the contents and left the
empty shells stacked one inside the other in the nest. Allen (1939) stated
that the Marsh Wren sometimes punches holes in the eggs of the Virginia
Rail, and Walkinshaw (1937) reported that he had observed Prairie Marsh
Wrens attempting to puncture Virginia Rail eggs.

Egg parasitism involving the Virginia Rail as the host and the Sora as
the parasitic species was noted in one nest. The unusual history of one nest
perhaps indicated intraspecific egg parasitism. When the nest was discovered
June 5, 1951, it contained nine warm eggs. On June 9 an adult Virginia Rail
was flushed from the nest. In the nest were one downy Virginia Rail chick,
a tiny piece of egg shell and nine warm, unpipped eggs. Since the nine eggs
did not hatch until sometime after June 26, it seemed probable that the egg
from which the first chick hatched was laid much earlier than the others,
perhaps by a different parent Allen (1939) stated that the Virginia Rail and
the Sora sometimes lay eggs in each other's nests and often successfully hatch
the foreign eggs.

In 1951, 27 occupied nests, an average of a nest per 3 0 acres of cover, were
found on 81.4 acres of habitat on Dewey's Pasture. All the 28 marshes on
the research area were examined for nests in that year, and Virginia Rail
nests were found on 12 (42.9 per cent) of them. In 1952, 10 occupied nests of
this species, or a nest per 2.6 acres, were discovered on 26.5 acres of cover in
the 10 ponds searched for nests. The highest nesting density, a nest per 0.3
acre, was found on an isolated 0.3-acre marsh covered by a dense stand of
broad-leaved cat-tail. This marsh contained only one rail nest The highest
nesting density found by Billard (1947) in Connecticut was a nest per 0.7 acre,
as noted on 6 acres of a 20-acre cat-tail marsh.

No evidence was obtained that the Virginia Rail defended a territory
against members of its own or of other avian species. Occasionally the Least
Bittern nested successfully within 6 feet of the nest of a Virginia Rail. Once,
two pairs of Virginia Rails nested successfully within 56 feet of one another,
and on another occasion a pair of Soras nested successfully within 56 feet of
an occupied nest of the Virginia Rail. Billard (1947) in Connecticut found
an occupied nest of the Virginia Rail as close as 15 feet to an occupied nest
of the Sora,

The Virginia Rail is monogamous in its breeding habits. If it be assumed
that each of the 27 nests found on the research area in 1951 represented a
breeding pair of Virginia Rails, and that all of the nests present on the area

ECOLOGY OF THE VIRGINIA RAIL

69

were discovered, there were 54 breeding adults, or one per 1,5 acres of cover,
on the area in that year. Although it was, of course, probable that some first
nests went undiscovered and that some of the nests which were found repre-
sented renesting attempts, these errors probably tended to compensate for
one another. Nesting data gathered in 1952 were insufficient to serve as a
basis for estimation of the population.

In the 21 successful nests on Dewey‘$ Pasture in 1951, 160 downy young
hatched, an average of 7.6 chicks per successful nest and about two per acre
of habitat.

The young birds developed rapidly. Almost immediately after hatching
they were able to walk, swim and even dive. By the second week of July,
a number of the young birds already had lost the black natal down and were
beginning to attain the dark-brown juvenal plumage. At this time an occas-
ional bird was found to be in full juvenal plumage and capable of flight. By
the second week of August, nearly all the juvenile birds were in full plumage
and were able to fly. After the middle of September nearly all the young
birds had finished molting into the reddish-brown adult plumage. At this
time they could not be distinguished accurately from adults.

During the postnuptial molt in July and August, the adult Virginia Rail
temporarily loses the power of flight when it molts all of its wing feathers
simultaneously (Roberts, 1932). In 1.951, three such flightless molting adults
were trapped, the first of these on July 27, the second on August 13, and the
third on August 29. In 1952, two were trapped, one on July 15 and the other
on July 30, The flightless bird trapped on the former date was found to be
in full plumage when recaptured August 24.

For several days after hatching the brood seemed to stay near the nest.
According to Walkinshaw (1937), the young brood spends the night on the
nest. As the season progressed and the young birds grew larger, they traveled
farther from the nest site. For example, six (66,7 per cent) of a total of nine
records of recaptured downy chicks were from the original point of capture
and the remainder were from localities less than 200 yards distant, while of
a total of 15 records of recaptured medium-sized juveniles not yet on the
wing 10 (66,7 per cent) were from the original point of capture, four (26.7
per cent) were from localities between 100 and 200 yards distant and one (6.7
per cent) was from a point between 200 and 300 yards away from the original
locality of capture.

After the young became fully fledged and capable of flight, they wander-
ed more widely. Presumably it was when they were at this stage of growth
that they first became independent of their parents. In any case, the trap-
ping records seemed to indicate that the large juveniles traveled greater
distances than did the adults. For example, nine (21.9 per cent) of the 41
records of recaptured large juveniles capable of flight were from the original
point of capture, 10 (24.4 per cent) from points less than 100 yards distant,
13 (31.7 per cent) from points between 100 and 200 yards distant, five (12.2
per cent) from localities between 200 and 300 yards distant, one (2.4 per cent)
from a point between 300 and 400 yards distant and three (7.3 per cent) from
localities between 400 and 500 yards distant from the original site of capture.
On the other hand, of 16 records of recaptured adults, seven (43.8 per cent)
were from the original point of capture, three (18.8 per cent) from localities
less than 100 yards distant and six (37.5 per cent) from localities between 100
and 200 yards from the original site of capture. No adults were recaptured at
sites farther than 200 yards from the original point of capture.

The writers are indebted to the Iowa State Conservation Commission for
permission to use Dewey's Pasture Public Shooting Ground as a research area,
and to Conservation Officer B. I. Severson, and Area Manager Howard Walsh
for their fine cooperation and aid throughout the investigation.

l

70

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV, 1954

In summary, at the 402-acre Dewey's Pasture Public Shooting Ground,
with 23 small marshes. Clay County, Iowa. 42 adult and 101 young Virginia
Rails were banded and released, 1951 and 1952, The only band return known
to the writers was reported from an adult Virginia Rail banded July 11. 1952.
and caught in a muskrat trap December 1, 1953, near Glen wood, Minnesota, 175
miles directly north of the study area, April 29, 1952. was the earliest arrival
date, and the latest sight record was October 3, 1952. On 107 acres of cover
searched. 37 occupied nests were found in lake sedge primarily. Of 190 eggs
in 27 nests 144 hatched between June 6 and July 12,. 1951. In 28 complete

clutches of both years were 227 eggs, an average of about 8 a clutch. The
estimated time of incubation for 3 closely observed nests was 18 days, and 22
days for a fourth. An estimated 160 downy young hatched from 21 success-
ful nests, 1951, to average 7.6 a clutch, or about 2 an acre of 81.4 acres of suit-
able cover.

LITERATURE CITED

Allen, Arthur A, 1939, The Golden Plover and other birds. Ithaca, N. Y,
The Comstock Publishing Co.

Bailey, B, H. 1905, 200 wild birds of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Audubon

Nature Publications Co.

Beecher, William J. 1942, Nesting birds and the vegetation substrate. Chi-
cago, 111. Chicago Ornithological Society,

Bent, Arthur C, 1926. Life histories of North American Marsh Birds, U.S.
Nat, Mus. Bull. 135.

Billard, Ruth S. 1947. An ecological study of the Virginia Rail (Rallus limi-
cola limicola) and the sora (Porzana Carolina) in some Connecticut
swamps. Unpublished M S. Thesis. Ames, Iowa. Iowa State College
Library.

Hayden, Ada. 1943. A botanical survey in the Iowa lake region of Clay and
Palo Alto Counties. Iowa State College Journ. Sci. 17:277-416,

Mousley, H. 1937. A study of Virginia and Sora Rails at their nests. Wilson
Buil. 49:80-84.

Roberts, Thomas S. 1932. Birds of Minnesota. Vol, 1. 2. Minneapolis, Minn.
Univ. of Minn. Press.

Walkinshaw, Lawrence H. 1937. The Virginia Rail in Michigan. Auk
54:464-475,

Wood, Harold B. 1937. Incubation period of the Virginia Rail. Auk 54:
535-536.

Youngworth, William. L932. Fall migration dates from Sioux City, Iowa.
Iowa Bird Life. 2:52.

THE FALL IOU PICNIC AT DAVENPORT

The Tri-City Bird Club was host to the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union in
its annual fall picnic, held Sunday, September 19, at Credit Island. Davenport,
Peter Petersen. Jr. was chairman of the Fall-get-together Committee, and the
local arrangements made the meeting a success. The weather man cooperated
in giving us a fine, clear, warm day for the event— one of those days when it
is pleasant driving and ideal for outdoor luncheons.

Picnic lunches were spread on tables at the north end of Credit Island
shortly after noon, The local club furnished coffee, ice cream and cake,
which rounded out a fine luncheon. Several hours of visiting followed, and
those who felt so inclined went on bird trips around the island, led by mem-
bers of the Tri-City Club. Late in the afternoon members left for their
homes in various Ipwa cities, and another pleasant fall meeting ended. . ,

SCENES AT THE FALL PICNIC. CKEDlT ISLAND. SEPTEMBER 10
Upper photo, officers attend ini' -President Kozicky, Librarian Ennis, Editor Pierce.
Lower view, a group around the lunch tables.

Photographs by Norwood Hazard,

I

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV, 1954

72

Attendance Register. — AMES, Dr, Geo. Hendrickson, Dr. E, L, Kozicky;
CEDAR RAPIDS, Dorothy Brunner. Lavina Dragoo, Isabel Hoyman, Lillian
Serbousek, Pauline Wershofen, Myra Willis; DAVENPORT: Mr. and Mrs.
Lang Baily and two children, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Carl, Mr. and Mrs. C. C.
Hazard. Norwood Hazard, Thos. Morrissey, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Petersen, Bev-
erlee Scolara. Joey Scolara, Willie Wulf; EAST MOLINE, Mr. and Mrs. Elton
Fawks, David Fawks, Patty Fawks; IOWA CITY: Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Kent,
Dr. and Mrs. P. P. Laude; MOLINE, Mrs, Dorothy Cowley, Dave Johnson;
MT, VERNON. Mrs. Marie West Berry, Mrs, Bessie Scobey, Dr. J. H. Ennis;
ROCK ISLAND, Greg Cudworth, Dale Dickinson, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Deoring,
Dick Haley, Larry Johnson, Larry Kott, Chas. Stewart, Kent Stewart, Bob
Wise, Don Wolverton; SIGOURNEY, Mr, and Mrs. Forrest Millikin; STATE
CENTER, Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Hilleman, Mrs. Manley Smith; WHEATLAND.
Dollie Copp, Esther Copp; WINTHROP, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Pierce, Mr. and
Mrs. J. M. Pierce; NAPERVILLE. ILL., Dr. Warren Keck, Roy Kern; RICH-
MOND, VA,, Jack Seibert. Total registered. 61.

IOWA DISTRIBUTIONAL CHECK-LIST

The Iowa Distributional Check-list is the result of a growth of the feeling
that a state check-list which attempts to give the status of each species on a
state-wide basis may be misleading to some extent. Although wholly within
the prairie region, the State, with its area of 56,000 square miles, contains a
number of types of terrain and has considerable variation in climate. The
distance from the Minnesota line to the Missouri border is sufficiently great
that some species which are migrants only in the south are nesters in the
north, while other species which spend only the summers in the north are
seen the year around in the south. There are also species to be seen in the
west but occurring rarely, if at all, in the east, and <uice versa.

The State has been arbitrarily divided into 9 sections by using north-and-
south highways U S. 169 and U S. 63, and east-and-west highways Iowa 3 and
Iowa 92 as the dividing lines. The status of each species, according to the in-
formation available, is given for each of the sections. To make the list re-
flect present-day conditions as far as possible, no records older than 15 years
have been used.

The classifications used are:

SR, summer resident, seen during the greater part of each summer,

SV, summer visitor, seen in summer for short periods and not necessarily
each year.

WR. winter resident.

WV, winter visitor.

M, migrant, seen yearly, usually both spring and fall.

SM or FM, spring or fall migrant only.

P, permanent resident, for presumably non- migratory species.

C, casual, seen very infrequently, although not out of its range
A, accidental, denotes a species whose range does not include Iowa.

No indications of relative abundance have been attempted.

There are species which are to be seen the year around, but where it is
believed the wintering population differs from those seen in the summer, these
are designated as SR-WR. Many individuals of some species remain to nest
in the State, or sections of it, while many others continue north to nesting
grounds. Where it is felt that as many nest here as can find suitable nesting
territories the species is considered a summer resident rather than a migrant.
When only scattered nestings have been reported the classification of the
species is given as migrant-summer resident. Isolated records of individuals
which are not representative of the species, or a significant portion of it,

IOWA DISTRIBUTIONAL CHECK-LIST

have been disregarded. All species' names are those of the A. O. U, Check-
list, 4th edition.

The information used in the compilation of the Distributional Check-list
was supplied by the following members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union:
Northwest — B O. Wolden. Estherville; C. S, Fitzsimmons, Sibley.
North-central— Mrs. W. C. DeLong. Lament; Miss Pearl Knoop, Marble Rock.
Northeast — Arthur Palas, Postville; Oscar P. Aliert, McGregor.

Central — Myrle Jones, Estherville; Mrs. Helen King. Grundy Center; Mrs.
D. R. Hilleman, State Center.

East-central— Miss Esther Copp, Wheatland; Mrs. Helen G Pike, Coggon;
Peter Petersen. Jr., Davenport; Fred Kent, Iowa City; E W Steffen, Ce-
dar Rapids; George Crossley, Farley.

Southwest — Myrle Jones; Mrs. Lawrence Pickering, Red Oak; Mrs. Frances
Bordner, Shenandoah.

South-central — Mrs. W. C. DeLong.

Members of the Committee furnished data and, in many instances, the
records of the Museum in the State Historical Building were relied upon to
furnish the species’ classifications.

The Distributional Check-Ust is shown in two sections; I, a list of species
which are seen with some regularity in one or more sections of the State,
and II. a list ol stragglers and accidentals. As a matter of historical interest,
there are also listed species which were not reported for inclusion in the pres-
ent compilation, but which are represented by specimens taken in the State
at some time in the past These are taken from Jack Musgrove’s “Check-list
of Iowa Birds - ' published in 1949. These are divided into III, species extinct
in Iowa prior to 1954, and IV, accidentals and stragglers into the State.

There are shown in addition species mentioned by Anderson in ,l The Birds
of Iowa". 1907, and DuMont in a “Revised List of Iowa Birds", 1934, but for
which no Iowa specimens are known. These are divided into V. reported by
Anderson but placed by DuMont in the hypothetical class; VI, listed by Ander-
son as hypothetical; and VII, additional hypothetical listings by DuMont.

I

74

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV, 1954

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Grebe, Horned m

Grebe, Eared ............. m

Grebe, Western

Grebe, Pied-billed , . - sr

Pelican, White m

Cormorant, DbL-created . . , , m

Heron, Great Blue sr

Egret. American sv

Heron, Little Blue .........

Heron, Green , sr

Heron, Black-crn. Night ... sr
Heron, Yellow-crn, Night . .
Bittern, American ......... sr

Bittern, Least sr

Swan, Whistling m

Goose, Common Canada ... m

Goose. White-fronted m

Goose, Snow m

Goose, Blue m

Mallard, Common . sr

Duck, Black m

Gadwall m

Baldpate m

Pintail. American m-sr

Teal. Green- winged m

Teal, Blue-winged * , , sr

Teal, Cinnamon

Shoveller m

Duck. Wood sr

Bedhead sr

Duck, Ring-necked m

Canvas-back , - m

Dur-k, Lesser Scaup m

Golden-eye, American m

thiffle-head m

Old Squaw C

Scoter, White-winced m

Scoter, Surf m

Duck, Ruddy sr

Merganser, Hooded ........ m

Merganser, American m

Merganser, Red-breasted . . ,

Vulture, Turkey

Goshawk wv

Hawk, Sharp-shinned ...... m-sr

Hawk, Cooper's m-sr

Hawk, Red-tailed p

Hawk. Red-shouldered P

Hawk, Broad- winged m-sr

Hawk, Swainson's sr

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IOWA DISTRIBUTIONAL CHECK-LIST

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Partridge, European p

Bob-white * V

Pheasant, Ring-neck p

Crane, Sandhill ■ — . m

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Rail, Virginia sr

Sora . . . sr

Rail, Yellow

Callinule, Florida . ► sr

Cott, American . sr

Plover, Piping m

Plover, Semipalmated m

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Plover, Amer. Golden m

Plover. Black-bellied ...... m

Turnstone. Ruddy m

Woodcock, American m

Snipe, Wilson's . m

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Sandpiper, Spotted sr

Sandpiper, Solitary m

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Sandpiper, Pectoral m

Sandpiper, White-rumped . . m

Sandpiper, Baird’s m

Sandpiper, Least m

Sandpiper, Red-Lacked m

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Gull, Herring m

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Owl. Snowy . wv wv wv

Owl, Burrowing sr

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Owl, Short-eared m-wr m wv

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Swift, Chimney . sr gr sr sr

Hummingbird, Ruby-throat . sr sr sr sr

Kingfisher. Belted sr sr sr-wv ar

Flicker, Yellow-shafted .... sr-p sr sr p

Flicker, Red-shafted wv

Woodpecker, Pileated ,

Woodpecker, Red-bellied ... p p

Woodpecker, Red-headed ... sr sr

Sapstieker. Yellow-bellied m m

Woodpecker, Hairy p p

Woodpecker, Downy ....... p p

Kingbird, E sr sr

Kingbird, Arkansas sr-m c

Flycatcher, Crested ........ sr sr

Phoebe, E. . sr sr

Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied m m

Flycatcher, Acadian m m

Flycatcher, Alder sr sr

Flycatcher, Least . . sr sr

Pewee, E. Wood sr sr

Flycatcher, Olive-sided m m

Lark, Horned p-wr p-wr

Swallow, Tree m m

Swallow, Bank . sr sr

Swallow, Rough-winged . . , sr sr

Swallow, Barn sr ar

Swallow, Cliff m sr-m

Martin, Purple sr sr

Jav, Blue , p p

Magpie, American wv c

Crow. Eastern p p

Chickadee, Black-capped , . . p p p

Titmouse, Tufted p p p

Nuthatch. White-breasted .. p p p

Nuthatch, Red-breasted .... m-wr m-wv wv

Creeper, Brown ........... wr-m wr-m wv

Wren, House sr sr er

Wren, Winter m m m-v

Wren, Bewick's rn

Wren, Carolina m m sr

Wren, Prairie Marsh ...... sr sr sr

Wren, Short-billed Marsh sr sr sr

Mockingbird c e csr

Catbird sr sr sr

Thrasher, Brown . sr sr sr $r

Robin sr sr sr sv-

Thrush, Wood , , . sr sr sr 3r

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Warbler, Cape May

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Warbler, Cerulean

Warbler, Blackburnian
Warbler, Chestnut-sided
Warbler. Bay-breasted . .
Warbler, Black-poll , , , . .

Warbler, Pine

Warbler, Palm

Oven-bird , , ,

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Water-thrush, Louisiana

Warbler. Kentucky

Warbler, Connecticut . . .
Warbler, Mourning , , . . ,

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Warbler, Wilson's ......

Warbler, Canada

Redstart, American

Sparrow, English .......

Bobolink . .

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Blackbird, Yellow-headed

Redwing

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Blackbird, Rusty

Blackbird, Brewer’s , , , , .

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Cowbird, E,

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Finch, Purple

Redpoll. Common

Siskin, Pine ,

Goldfinch

Crossbill, Red

Towhee, Red -eyed

Towhee, Arctic .

Bunting, Lark

Sparrow, Savannah ...

Sparrow, Grasshopper ....
Sparrow', Leconte’s .......

Sparrow. Henslow’s

Sparrow-, Nelson’s

Sparrow, Vesper

Sparrow’, Lark

Juneo, Slate-colored .

Sparrow, Tree .

Sparrow, Chipping

Sparrow', Clay -colored
Sparrow, Field ...........

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Sparrow', White-crowned , .
Sparrow, Gambel’s
Sparrow, White-throat

Sparrow, Fox

Sparrow. Lincoln’s

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Sparrow, Song

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Loon, Red-throated

II. ACCIDENTALS OR STRAGGLERS

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This, White-faced Glossy ....

Egret, Snowy . . . . .

Scoter, American . , . .

Eider, King . . . *

Scaup, Greater _ , , , . c e

Gyrfalcon a

Curlew. Long-billed

Sandpiper, Western

Gull, Glaucous

Wren, Rock

Warbler. Hooded

Warbler, Townsend’s

Bunting. Lazuli

Grosbeak, Pine .

Crossbill, White-winged ....

Sparrow, Baird's ,

Juneo, Montana c

Junto, Cassiar

Longspur, Smith’s c

a

a

sv

c

a

c a
c awv

CWV

a

c a

c

c c

sr

Sr

P

sr

sr

sr

ar

m

P

sr

wr

m

sr

sr

wr

wr

sr

m

sr

m

m

m

m

m

m

m

sr

wv

a

c

sr sr

m c

P P

sr sr

sr sr

sr sr

m-wv ffv-ui

wv

P P

c

sr sr

m m

sr sr

m

m m-sv

sr sr

sr sr

wr wr

wr wr

sr sr

m m

sr sr

m m

m m

m

m m

m m

m m

m m

Sr-wr sr-wr
wv wv

C

a

IOWA DISTRIBUTIONAL CHECK-LIST

79

The following species were not reported for inclusion in the Distributional
Check-list, but are represented by specimens taken in the State at some time
in the past.

III. EXTINCT IN IOWA PRIOR TO 1954.

Eskimo Curlew Louisiana Paroquet

Passenger Pigeon American Raven

IV. ACCIDENTALS OR STRAGGLERS

Trumpeter Swan
E. Turkey
Whooping Crane

E. Brown Pelican
Man-o-war Bird
Wood Ibis
European Widgeon
W. Harlequin Duck
American Eider
Black Vulture
Swallow-tailed Kite
Mississippi Kite
Harris’s Hawk
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Black Rail
Hudsonian Curlew

American Knot
Buff-breasted
Sandpiper
Ruff

Black-necked Stilt
Parasitic Jaeger
Long-tailed Jaeger
Atlantic Kittiwake
Sabine’s Gull
Rrunnich’s Murre
Groove-billed Ani
Great Gray Owl
Nuttall's Poor-will
Lewis's Woodpecker

Arctic Three-toed
Woodpecker
Say’s Phoebe
Clark’s Nutcracker
Carolina Chickadee
Russet-backed Thrush
Mountain Bluebird
Sprague’s Pipit
N. Prairie Warbler
Sycamore Warbler
Gray-crowned Rosy
Finch

McCown’s Longspur
Chestnut-collared
Longspur

No Iowa specimens for the following species are known,

V. REPORTED BY ANDERSON BUT PLACED BY DU MONT

IN THE HYPOTHETICAL CLASS.

Arizona Scaled Quail Laughing Gull

Red Phalarope American Hawk Owl

Purple Gallinule Chestnut-backed

Bluebird

LISTED BY ANDERSON AS HYPOTHETICAL.

American Brant
Barrow’s Golden-eye
Mexican Goshawk

White Ibis
Emperor Goose
European Teal
Purple Sandpiper
Great Black-backed
Gull

Gull -billed Tern
Richardson’s Owl
W, Wood Pewee
Townsend's Solitaire
K inland’s Warbler

Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Hoary Redpoll
Bachman's Sparrow
Golden-crowned
Sparrow

VII. ADDITIONAL HYPOTHETICAL LISTINGS BY DU MONT
Fulvous Tree Duck Ground Dove

LOU. COMMITTEE ON BIRD DISTRIBUTION
Dr. J. Harold Ennis
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thos, J. Feeney
Thomas Morrissey
Jack W, Musgrove
William Youngworth
Woodward H. Brown, Chairman

(NOTICE TO READERS: Copies of this Distributional Check-List, made
up as an 8-page separate, are available at 25c each. Address our Librarian,
Dr, Harold Ennis, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa.)

80

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV. 1954

GENERAL NOTES

Glossy Ibis at Swan Lake,— On the evening of August 10, 1954, Mrs. Mey-
er and I observed a White-faced Glossy Ibis at Swan Lake, in Johnson
County. The lake had almost dried up at this date except for a few open
pools and some weed-grown marshy places. The ibis was feeding in one
of the pools in the company of a family of Wood Ducks, a number of Blue-
winged Teal, and a Great Blue Heron. On August 11, Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Kent observed the ibis in the same place during the afternoon. In the eve-
ning Dr. and Mrs. Peter Laude, Miss Lillian Serbousek and Miss Myra Willis
found it at the same spot. It was associated with the same group of ducks
and in addition there were large numbers of shore- birds feeding in the
vicinity. It was seen a number of times in the following week, and on August
21 it was collected by Walter C. Thietje. Curator of the Natural History Mu-
seum of the State University of Iowa. It may now be seen as a mounted speci-
men in the museum at Iowa City. This species is so rarely seen in the mid-
west, the record with accompanying specimen is an important one. — ALFRED
W. MEYER, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IUIS

Collected August 21, lQSd, specimen in, University of Iowa Natural History Museum.
Photograph hy Fred W. Kent.

GENERAL NOTES

81

White-winged Crossbills at Sioux City, — Strong, 50-mile-an-hour, north
winds on November 1, 1954, brought in a profusion of bird life, including some
White-winged Crossbills, While cleaning up the garden, I flushed a male and
female Crossbill, but they were tame and perched within 10 feet of me, I
heard others calling from an adjacent yard, so it was apparent that a small
flock had paid us a visit* — WM. YOUNG WORTH, Sioux City, Iowa,

Bell’s Vireo Nesting in Southeast Iowa. — On May 22. 1954, a Bell s Vireo
was found singing in a thicket about 4 miles north of Wheatland. In June a
pair hung a dainty nest of birch bark, spider silk and fine plant fibers from
a twig of hawthorn about 10 feet high. During the afternoon the sun shone
directly upon it. A mile east of town, in a willow thicket, another Bell's
Vireo was heard in June, but I did not search for the nest, — C, ESTHER
COPP. Wheatland, Iowa.

An "Anting*’ Robin,— Early in the fall of 1954 I saw what I believe was
my first "anting" bird. I was sitting on the front porch when a Robin came
to the front walk. The bird began reaching down into the crack between the
sections of walk, then would reach back and put its bill under its wings and
body. It did this repeatedly, and though I didn’t see any ants, it seemed
fairly certain that the bird was picking up the ants and using them as has
been described by several authorities. — RUSSELL M, HAYS, Waterloo, Iowa.

Snowy Owl from Muscatine County. — A lightly mottled adult male Snowy
Owl has been received by the Davenport Public Museum. The specimen was
shot by duck hunters on Geneva Island, Muscatine County, Iowa, on Novem-
ber 21.

The presence of this bird on an "off" cycle year indicates that the lem-
ming population of the far north may have not recovered from last year s
cyclic low. At best, it would be wise for birders to keep this species in mind
as a possibility this winter. — A. LANG BAILY, Davenport, Iowa.

Black-throated Bine Warbler.— It is with pleasure that I report the sight-
ing and identification of the Black-throated Blue Warbler, male and female,
in southwest Iowa. These warblers were sighted at the bird bath in my
yard on October 3, 1954. Verification was furnished by Mr. and Mrs, William
Collins and Mrs. Frances Bordner, all of Shenandoah. This bird bath is very
conducive to many types of migrating and resident birds due to its close prox-
imity to bushes* trees and feed. Other warblers observed in the fall of 1954
were: Wilson's, Nashville, Myrtle, Tennessee, Mourning, Orange-crowned, and
Canada.— EDWARD C. VAUGHN, Shenandoah, Iowa.

Sparrow Hawks Chasing Pigeons— On October 22, 1954, my attention was
attracted by what seemed to be an unusual amount of activity on the part of
the pigeons which are a part of downtown Des Moines. Upon looking more
closely, I noticed that from time to time one of the birds visible was a Spar-
row Hawk. It developed there were three Sparrow Hawks alternately soar-
ing high above the buildings or circling below the roof levels and occasion-
ally chasing the pigeons. One of the falcons made two passes at a pigeon
perched on a roof not 100 feet from my window. This pigeon seemed not
alarmed, merely pulling in its neck as the falcon passed overhead with not
more than 2 or 3 inches separating them. The whole performance was ob-
viously in a spirit of play. At intervals the Sparrow Hawks perched on the
building flagpoles, and after an hour or so they disappeared.— WOODWARD
H, BROWN, Des Moines, Iowa.

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV. 1954

82

AN EARLY SNOWY OWL RECORD IN CEDAR RAPIDS
On November 5, 1951. a big Snowy Owl chose ihe TV antenna on the F. A. Seolaro home.
2420 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, as a perch. A school boy sighted the owl at 7 -30 n.m..
and it was there several hours later. This photograph was taken by Tom Merryman and is
used through the courtesy of the Cedar Rapids "Gazette/'

RECENT BIRD BOOKS

WILD FOWL DECOYS, bv Joel Barber (Dover Publications, Inc.. New
York. 1954; cloth, 4to, pp, i-xxv-j- 1-156, with 4 colored plates & 134 other il-
lustrations from drawings & photographs; price. $8.50 ).

There is a certain affinity between duck hunters and bird students. They
both try to get their birds, but by different means. There is also a relationship
among collectors of duck books, duck stamps, and duck decoys. It is with the
latter that the present book deals. We believe there is enough related in-
terest in the subject to warrant a brief review of it here.

The late Joel Barber was fascinated by duck decoys and began to study
and collect them. His collection grew and he began to travel widely in search
of new and different decoys. He soon found himself an investigator of local
history as it pertained to hunting. He resolved to put his discoveries and re-
searches into book form. The book that grew out of this resolve was pub-
lished in 1934 and became a classic in its field. It went out of print in a
short time and is now a book collector's prize, bringing $50 to $100 on the
auction market.

The new edition which Dover has just published is a very handsome
book, but it has been limited to 1500 copies— which suggests that it too will
be sought-after in future years. The entire book has been reset. 14 new
illustrations have been added, and there is a preface written by Barber's
friend, Dr. George Ross Starr, Jr.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

All types of decoys are described, from the early American Indian decoys,
roughly fashioned from mud or dried grass, to the modern commercial kinds
which are familiar to all hunters. The greater portion of the book is devoted
to the carved wooden decoy, which originated in Colonial days and reached
its perfection about the time of the Civil War, Wood lent itself most readily
to knife and paint brush, and probably to the imagination of the carver.

The author gives various history sidelights. Passenger Pigeon decoys are
shown and described; we learn that the decoy played a part in the destruction
of the Wild Pigeon in the days of our grandfathers. There were also decoys
for snipe and various kinds of shorebirds. All these are pictured.

Ornithological literature is published on many angles and in a multiplicity
of forms. The subject of duck decoys may be but a distant relative, but it is
an interesting one. Those who peruse this book will agree on this point.—
F, J. P.

INTRODUCTION TO OUR BIRD FRIENDS, by L, B. Carson (Capper Pub-
lications, Inc., Topeka, Kans., 1954. Paper covers, pp. 1-27, with drawings by
Orville O, Rice; price, 25c >.

Mr. Carson, who is one of our IOU members, deserves a great deal of
praise for the hard work he expended on this booklet. The finished product
is a delight to the eye as well as a fine educational work. With the distribu-
tion that Capper Publications will be able to give it, it will certainly do a great
deal of good, reaching thousands of farm boys and girls and awakening in
them an interest in birds. Older readers will also enjoy the booklet.

There are 50 bird biographies, each illustrated by an unusually good
line drawing by Mr. Rice. Each bird is briefly described, and important facts
about its appearance, call notes or song, nest, food, habitat and migration are
included. Under each picture is an appropriate jingle — also intended to at-
tract youthful readers. — F. J, P.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Among those who attended the American Ornithologists 1 Union meeting
at Madison, Wisconsin, in early September were Dr. Harold Ennis of Mt. Ver-
non, Norwood Hazard, Lang Baily and Peter Petersen, Jr. of Davenport. Mr.
Bally read a paper entitled “A Bird Population Survey Method,” of which
John Chapin of the University of Colorado was co-author. Petersen reported
102 species of birds for the convention, including Pigeon Hawk and Old-
squaw,

Editor Pierce and wife, and Mr. and Mrs. J, M, Pierce, went on a short
vacation trip through the southeastern states in September. The first day of
the trip, September 19, included a stop at Davenport for the IOU fall pic-
nic. They went on to Kentucky where they visited Henderson (home of
Audubon lor nine years, now marked by the very fine Audubon Museum and
Memorial Park) and Mammoth Cave. From there they went on to the Smoky
Mountains, then visited parts of North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mis-
sissippi, with a return home through Arkansas and Missouri.

James Hodges, of Davenport, received a B,A. degree in Philosophy and
Economics from St. Ambrose College in June. He was married to Miss Bev-
erly Cassily of Davenport on July 17, and entered the University of Iowa
graduate school, Iowa City, in the fall term. He is working for the M.A. de-
gree in Labor Relations, and hopes to stay on for a Ph. D. in Industrial En-
gineering or perhaps a law degree. Mr, Hodges has long been interested in
the literature of Iowa ornithology, and lately has begun work on an annotated
bibliography of Iowa birds. A great loss to the University Library was the
third volume of a three-volume manuscript work, “The Literature of Iowa

i

84

IOWA BIRD LIFE— XXIV. 1954

Birds," by Paul Bartsch (presented to the State University of Iowa as a thesis
for the degree of Master of Science in 1899), Vol. 3 disappeared from the li-
brary files in about 1947-48 and has never been accounted for. Mr. Hodges’
voluntary work in this field is intended partially to make up for the loss of
the valuable Bartsch volume.

Dr. Herbert Brandt, one of our distinguished members and author of
"Texas Bird Adventures," "Alaska Bird Trails." and "Arizona and Its Bird
Life," had an unusually fine trip to the Arctic during the summer of 1954. He
wrote the Editor of “Iowa Bird Life" a long letter telling of his varied exper-
iences and sent him seven large photographs showing different scenes of
the expedition. We wish we had space for the entire letter, but shall have to
be content with the following excerpts (letter of September 24. 1954).

"Were I to tell you the actual story of my 42nd full-length expedition
seeking nature truths, you might deem it a fairy tale, or at best boasting
heroics; suffice it to say, that the Fourth Arctic Expedition of the Bird Re-
search Foundation was successful beyond even my most ambitious objectives.
Through the generous good offices of Robert Anderson, U. S. Deputy Secre-
tary of Defense, and an old Texas field companion ... I became a guest of
the Dominion of Canada. He persuaded Mr. C, M. Drury, Canadian Deputy
Minister of Defense, to fly my party by Royal Canadian Air Force to Coral
Harbour, on Southampton Island, which borders Hudson Bay on the north,
where we made our headquarters. Engaging an able Eskimo, who brought
together the 12 biggest dogs in the village, I sledded some 250 miles over
the sea ice and snowless tundra, where I made a careful ecological avian
transect of an influential Arctic delta, the Ford, covering an area of about 40
square miles ....

"On three occasions I had the excitement of camping out on the tundra
for considerable periods of time, often in some of the rawest weather that I
have ever endured in the North. That is really a rugged country when the
wind is off the Greenland Icecap. We were caught in a highly exciting early
break up of the ice, but luckily escaped and even saved our wonderful speci-
mens. In addition, later I had the thrill of flying by RCAF some 700 miles
farther north, where I visited the vicinity of northern Baffinland and Corn-
wallis Island, reaching a position about 1000 miles from the Pole . . .

"Although I wrote nest-side data on 40 species, nevertheless I was able
to add only 10 new forms to my personal list of life histories, When one has
reached a total of 710 such adventures, new experiences come along slowly,
I did have that wonderful thrill, however, that comes with meeting such birds
as the American Brant, and how I prize that social call. King Eider, Whistling
Swan. Hutchins Goose, Blue Goose, White-rumped Sandpiper, Bendire Pigeon
Hawk, American Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, and other fabulous
feathered creatures. To enumerate further, I have now gazed across the
threshold of 47 different shorebirds, 43 waterfowl, and 44 diurnal birds of
prey. Surely this is excitement rich enough for any old bird tracker!

"Of interest to you, perhaps, is that I brought home with my 400 speci-
mens, some 40,000 words that I wrote in my journal. This should provide suf-
ficient material, were I able properly to correlate it, to complete my manu-
script on ‘Birding in Florida and Manitoba Northward: A Naturalist’s Ad-
ventures Along the 82° Longitude West, from Tropics to Arctic.’ According
to my considered studies, this strip in many respects is the most interesting
ecological vertical transect in the Northern Hemisphere . . . The behavior of
the birds that I have met on their native heath, the entire length of Florida,
across the Smokies, through Ohio, Ontario, the Hudson Bay country, and
northward, together with the ecological impacts all the way from the Gulf
Stream to the Hudson Bay Icebox, creates lots to talk about,"