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6 /KINGBIRD

VOLUME IX, No. 1 ___MAY • 1959

FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC.

fe /KINGBIRD

PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS. INC.

Vol. 9 No. 1

May, 1959

Pages 1-52

CONTENTS

The January Waterfowl Counts: IV and V_Leo J. Tanghe

The Jamaica Bay Bird Sanctuary_Emanuel Levine

Warblers in Southern New York___Fritz Scheider

Suggestions for the Bird Watchers Library_Allen H. Benton

Field Notes:

The White-headed Eagle Survey--

Varied Thrush in Jefferson County__

A Franklin's Gull ni Spring Plumage at Oswego__

Some Golden Eagles in New York___

Unusual Song Sparrow Diet _

Large Flights of Red Phalaropes on Long Island_:-

A Partially Albino Chickadee_

Hawk Owl in Jefferson County_

A Note on the Roosting Behavior of the Brown Creeper __

The Behavior Pattern of some Ruffed Grouse Chicks in Captivity (Part II) __

Highlight of the Winter Season

December 1 - March 31_James K. Merritt

Regional Reports for the Winter, 1958 - 1959 ___

26
26

Editor — Minnie B. Scotland

John B. Belknap
Leslie E. Bemont
Allen H. Benton
Eugene Eisenmann

Editorial Board

John J. Elliott
Sally Hoyt
James K. Meritt
Fritz Scheider

Business and Circulation Manager —- Allan S. Klonick
Cover Design — Douglas L. Howland

THE KINGBIRD is published four times a year (May, July, October and January)
by the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc. Publication office is
42 Continental Ave., Cohoes, New York. Publication is sent free to all individual
members of the Federation. Membership in the Federation is $2.50 per year.
Single copies: Seventy-five cents.

APPLICATION for membership should be sent to the chairman of the member¬
ship committee, Albert W. Fudge, Larchmont Road, Elmira.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS is handled by the Treasurer, Mrs. Dayton Stoner, 399
State Street, Albany 10; EXCHANGES by the Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. South-
gate Y. Hoyt, Etna; BACK COPIES by Allan S. Klonick, 901 Sibley Tower Building,
Rochester 4, N. Y.

Accepted as controlled circulation publication at COHOES, NEW YORK.

THE JANUARY WATERFOWL COUNTS: IV AND V
Leo J. Tanghe

This years report represents a belated effort to bring these waterfowl
counts up to date with the inclusion of the 1958 data. Counts for previous
years are given in the Kingbird: Volume 5, pages 34-6 (1955); Volume 6,
pages 40-2 (1956) and Volume 7, pages 6-7 (1957). The value of these
counts increases as the data accumulate,

After five years it is natural to examine these data for trends, especially
with respect to the question “Is the total number of wintering waterfowl
increasing or decreasing' 5 ” Following are the grand totals of wintering water-
fowl of New York State for the past five years:

Ground Count Aerial Count

1955 _ 189,234 197,015*

1956 _ 222,408 238,768*

1957 _20^,509 214,154

1958 _ 169,819 315,300

1959 _ 183,972 208,930

‘Revised slightly from the numbers given in the Kingbird

The ground counts were made by the Federation of New York State Bird
Clubs, and the aerial counts by the New York State Conservation Depart¬
ment. 1958 gave the lowest, and 1959 the second lowest ground counts for
the five year period. However, the aerial count for 1958 was the highest
for the five year period, due mainly to an additional 100,000 Scaup Ducks in
Long Island waters. No trend is discernible from these data.

Neither is any definite long term trend yet discernible for any individual
species. To be sure, there are many instances where the count of a given
species is greatly different, say more than double or less than half the count
of the previous year. Such an instance is the Mute Swan, whose population
on Long Island in 1959 is about double that of previous years. All such
instances should be examined carefully in search for a plausible reason, such
as weather and food supply in the wintering and breeding areas, hunting
pressure, etc. Data covering at least ten years will probably be necessary to
reveal any long term trends.

Except for 1958 there was surprisingly good agreement between the totals
for the ground and aerial counts. However, when the totals were in
reasonable agreement, there were usually discrepancies in the counts of cer¬
tain species. The following interesting examples may be cited from a com¬
parison of the 1959 ground and aerial counts. Details of the aerial counts
were kindly supplied by Mr. Dirck Benson, Game Research Investigator for
the Conservation Department of the State of New York.

The aerial count for Black Ducks on Long Island was about 10,000 higher
than the ground count. Both counts showed Black Ducks around the entire
periphery of the island, with biggest concentration in Jamaica Bay.

The aerial count for Mallards was about 2500 less than the ground count.
In this case the Long Island aerial count was lower than, but in reasonable
agreement with the ground count. The aerial count did not cover the Sus¬
quehanna and its tributaries, but a flock of 350 Mallards was seen by ground
observers on the Chemango River near Oxford, N. Y. The aerial count

The Kingbird

did include the Niagara River but did not report any Mallards. Buffalo
ground observers reported 740 Mallards, about two thirds of which were on
the Niagara River above the Falls.

The ground count of Redheads in the Finger Lake Region was 11,630,
about twice the aerial count for that area, and about four times the average
Redhead count for 1955 to 1958. Mrs. J. Southgate Y. Hoyt forwarded me
the records from this area. Local observers reported 6360 Redheads on Jan
18, 1959, the major counts being 1500 on the East Short of Cayuga Lake,
north to Union Springs, 740 on the West Shore of Cayuga Lake, north to
Canoga, 3300 on Seneca Lake, and smaller numbers on Keuka and Canan¬
daigua * Lakes. On Jan 17, Mr. Fritz Scheider of Syracuse reported 5270
Redheads from the north end of Cayuga Lake, from Canoga on the West
Shore to East Varick on the East Short. Mrs, Hoyt, commenting on the
possibility of duplicate counts on the same birds, wrote as follows:

"Most of our groups were out on the 18th, but on the 17th Fritz Scheider
worked around on the north end of Cayuga Lake, concentrating on the
Canoga marshes on the west side, going in at six different places, on foot.
I feel that the five or six thousand ducks he got there were different ducks
from any of the others counted the next day, and that this is not duplication.
However, since the ice-line changes from day to day in that area, and since
the waterfowl do move around somewhat, I thought I should at least show
his count separately, as a matter of interest. But you might as well use the
totals, as I doubt if duplication would be more than 1000/'

The aerial count for the Finger Lakes Region on Jan 23, 1959 showed
1050 Redheads on Canandaigua, 665 on Keuka, 2125 on Seneca, 845 on
Cayuga north of Sheldrake, 400 on Cayuga south of Sheldrake, and 200 on
Skaneateles Lake, for a total of 5285.

The aerial count on Oldsquaw was about 4000 less than the ground count.
Mr. Bernard Nathan of Buffalo reported 2800 on the Niagara River below
the Falls, but the birds escaped detection on the aerial survey.

The aerial count of Scoters was only 1367, whereas the ground count
was over 13,000, mostly from Long Island.

In the above instances the ground counts were greater than the aerial
counts. This situation was drastically reversed for the Brant where the
ground count was only 2962 and the aerial count was 34,300. These were in
large off-shore flocks along Long Island from South Oyster Bay to Jamaica
Bay.

The reasons for some of the discrepancies are obvious; others may never be
resolved. These instances have been presented to alert both ground and
air observers in the future.

The instances of excellent agreement between ground and aerial counts
are far more numerous than the occasional discrepancies. ;;

Mr. Thomas Lesperance, reporting for Region 7, could find no waterfowl
or open water in the Adirondack area. He pleaded for a later date for the
count so that this magnificent area of our state would be represented in the
Waterfowl Count. However, a later date would defeat the purpose of the
count, which is to record wintering waterfowl.

In conclusion, may I extend by thanks to all observers who braved, the
winter elements to make this count possible.

852 Stone Road, Rochester 16

The Kingbird 3

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THE JAMAICA BAY BIRD SANCTUARY
Emanuel Levine

The date is May 1st, 1958. The time is 7:00 P. M. Standing on the
north shore of a large fresh-water pond are four bird-watchers. In the back
of them, one can see the skyscrapers of Manhattan. All four observers had
spent the day in that morass of concrete and steel, engaged in their various
breadwinning tasks. Now they had binoculars and telescopes trained on
seventeen spinning, whirling Phalaropes. The final tally proved to be
fifteen Red Phalaropes and two Northern Phalaropes. According to other
observers, the highest count during that day had been thirty-five Phalaropes
at any one time.

While searching for more Phalaropes on the southern end of the pond,
one of the party called attention, gleefully, to a European Teal, (pardon me,
a Common Teal according to the new AOU Checklist — a change I do not
think I will ever get used to). This rare visitor to our shores was in with a
little group of Green-winged Teal. Also on the pone were Blue-winged
Teal, Black Duck, Ruddy Duck, and some lingering Buffiehead, which had
not yet departed for more northern climes.

Stalking their watery prey on the margins of the pond were several
Common and Snowy Egrets. >

A Green Heron had flapped away uttering an indignant “quawk,” when
they had taken their positions at the pond's edge.

Overhead, a Nighthawk rubbed wing coverts with several Tree Swallows,
both species engaged in feasting on airborne insects.

Had more daylight been left, they no doubt would have gone searching
for migrating warblers in the willow trees on the west side of the pond. But
since the light was rapidly fading, these four reluctantly folded up their
tripods, and stole away.

Several days later, a Wilson's Phalarope obligingly entered the same
pond to complete the list of Phalaropes and a Glossy Ibis dropped in to keep
company with the Egrets.

Where is this avian paradise in sight of the Manhattan skyline?

I have chosen the above paragraphs to introduce you to the Jamaica Bay
Bird Sanctuary.

Jamaica Bay consists of some 18,000 acres of water, marsh and meadow-
land, bordered on the west and north by the Boroughs of Brooklyn and
Queens, on the east by Nassau County, and on the south by the Rockaway
Peninsula.

As far back as fifty years ago, there were plans afoot to transform this
wild area into a vast industrial port and shipping terminal. Some thirty
years ago, this plan still appeared on the official planning map of New
York City. Fortunately, this grandiose scheme never got off the drawing
board, even though now, one of the world's largest airports, The International
Airport, or “Idlewild", dominates the northeastern portion of the bay area.

There were also plans to turn Jamaica Bay into the dumping grounds
for the refuse and garbage of New York City's millions, to actually create a
huge garbage island. This plan was also scrapped.

Probably the individual most responsible for the Jamaica Bay Bird Sanc¬
tuary as we now know the area, is Mr. Robert Moses, Commissioner of the

Q The Kingbird

New York City Park Department. Mr. Moses also holds several other-
positions that have to do with the park systems and public works throughout
the State of New York, and has always been in the forefront in the never-
ending battle to conserve our natural resources.

The formal presentation of his plan for Jamaica Bay is dated July 1st,
1938, Work toward the full realization of this plan, is still going on right
now, 20 years later.

The Jamaica Bay Bird Sanctuary, that part with which we are concerned,
was officially opened in the Spring of 1954. Mr. Herbert Johnson was in
charge, and he is still the man in charge of an area encompassing some
12,000 acres.

Mr. Johnson, incidentally, is a horticulturist by training. By his own
admission, four years ago, he usually gave no more than a passing glance
to even the more striking birds which entered his domain. Now, however,
you are sure to find a pair of 7x50's in the cab of Mr. Johnson's light truck,
as he makes his ceaseless rounds taking care of his numerous daily chores.
The ornithological bug bit, and bit hard!

The heart of the sanctuary consists of two fresh-water ponds, separated
by the six lane Cross Bay Boulevard, traffic artery to the Rockaways. These
ponds are simply and unromantically called East Pond and West Pond.
The West Pond is approximately 40 acres and the East Pond is about 100
acres.

Both ponds were created artificially and coincidentally with the extension
of the New York City subway system to the Rockaways. A huge dredging
operation had to be carried out to build the necessary roadbed for the subway
tracks across the Jamaica Bay. For those not familiar with the area, we
hasten to explain that part of the ''subway” system, runs above ground. We
would also like to point out, that the creation of the ponds was not an
accident, but an interrelated project.

After the ponds were "manufactured”, the work of creating a sanctuary
began in earnest. Huge aquatic plantings were put in, such as Eel Grass,
Widgeon Grass, Musk Grass ,and Sago Pond Plant. These ,of course, were
to attract and feed ducks and geese. Artificial grain feeding is not resorted
fo except around the water traps used for the banding of waterfowl.

Beach grasses of several varieties were planted around the ponds as cover
and to thwart erosion of the sandy soil. Additional terrestrial plantings
included Russian Olive, Aronia, Rosa rugosa, Rose multiflora, and Hercules
Club. In the way of trees, a large number of Willows and Poplars were
installed.

Growing in their native state throughout the sanctuary are large stands
of Bay berry, Wild Blackberry, Wild Cherry, and Poison Ivy. And of
course, as is always the case in such areas, we have the omnipresent Phrag-
mites.

The stocking of the sanctuary with plantings is an eternal task. Mr.
Johnson, and staff, maintain their own nursery for propagation and replace¬
ment of plantings. The staff of personnel varies from two to five persons,
according to the season of the year.

We have above described an area which has all the makings of great bird
country, but do we have the birds?

Well, as all bird students know, wild birds can read signs. No sooner

The Kingbird.

than the signs, “Jamaica Bay Bird Sanctuary/’ went up, than in they flocked.
Of course, we are taking some poetic license in this statement, but let us
present some breeding data gathered over the last four years.

The Black Duck bred on the sanctuary immediately. The next year, the
Ruddy Duck and the Blue-winged Teal nested within the area. In 1956,
two pairs of Shoveller raised their young on the West Pond. The breeding
season of 1958 brought the successful nesting of two pairs of Florida Galli-
nule. It is certainly to be expected that the numbers and species will increase
in the following years. It is hoped that Gadwall, which have bred with
varying success over the last dozen years at the Jones Beach Bird Sanctuary,
will branch out to Jamaica Bay. The Jones Beach Sanctuary is approxi¬
mately twenty miles east of Jamaica Bay and unfortunately is at present
being allowed to “go to pot”.

All in all, twenty-seven different species of ducks and geese have been
recorded on sanctuary waters, including Blue Goose, Snow Goose, European
Widgeon, and Common Teal. An active observer should be able to list
most of these twenty-seven during his bi'rding year.

The sanctuary also houses a considerable sized heron rookery. As regular
breeders, the rookery includes Green Heron, Black-Crowned Night Heron,
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Common Egret and Snowy Egret. The area
is also visited by Little Blue Heron, Louisiana Heron, and, of course, the
Great Blue Fleron. A rare visitor has been the Glossy Ibis.

Special mention must be made of the breeding of a pair of Louisiana
Herons in 1955, as reported by A. J, Meverriecks in the Wilson Bulletin,
Vol. 69, No. 2, June 1957.

Also worthy of special mention is the recording of Purple Gallinule on
the West Pond, seen by more than a score of observers, during the first week
of May 1958.

As for Rails, the normal checklist complement has been recorded in full.
The Clapper Rail is an abundant breeder. The breeding status of the other
rails must await an actual breeding census and study.

To this list of water and marsh birds, we then add an imposing list of
shore birds. The shore birds are to be found on the margins of both ponds,
as well as the tidal flats, adjacent to the West Pond. The list includes such
rarities as Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Hudsonian
Godwit, Marbled Godwit, American Oyster-catcher, Golden Plover, and all
three Phalaropes as already pointed out. As a matter of fact, both Godwits,
Ruff, and Curlew Sandpiper, have been recorded every year since the opening
of the sanctuary. Those of us who can visit the area on a regular basis at the
right times of the year have come to expect these birds, classing them as rare,
but at the same time, regular visitors. Whether this is due to the close
attention given to the area by scores of active watchers, or to other factors
cannot readily be determined. Experienced observers have pointed out that
it may be a mistake to put these birds in the “regular” class, as changing
conditions may halt reoccurrences. This has happened many times in the
East, causing unexplained absences for long period of time.

A complete listing of the shorebirds would total 32 species.

South of the West Pond, between the pond itself and the tidal flats
mentioned previously, there is a large sand area which has been taken over
by hundreds of Common Terns, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers, as a

8 The Kingbird

breeding ground. In addition to these, the sanctuary is visited regularly by
Black Terns, less often by Forsters and Roseates, and Royals and Caspians
are rare visitors.

Did someone mention Gulls? Yes, we get them too, including Glaucous
Gull, Iceland Gull, Kittiwake, and Little Gull. The Herring Gull breeds
on islands in Jamaica Bay which are part of the sanctuary.

So far, no mention has been made of land birds. If the reader would

consult a map of the area, he would realize at once that this area, located

right on a migration flyway, is a sort of “oasis” both during the spring
and fall migrations. Just to give a sampling of the diversity of land birds,
we chose such migrants as Prothonatary Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Blue
Grosbeak, Lapland Longspur, and Cliff Swallow.

Again, we must state, that an accurate list of breeding land birds in the
sanctuary, awaits further study.

The one visitor which has caused the most excitement since the opening
of the sanctuary was the European Redwing (Turdus musicus). This

species has never been recorded on the North American mainland before.

It was first spotted on February 21st, 1959, and stayed at the sanctuary until
February 25th. It was seen by hundreds of people and received nationwide
notice thru an article published in the New York Times. Sunday, February
23rd, brought three hundred observers for a glimpse of this unusual visitor.
About a week after the bird departed for parts unknown, a carload of bird¬
watchers showed up bearing a Texas license plate. This is probably the
longest trip made by any sanctuary visitors, to date.

By now, some of the readers who are familiar with the general area,
might be saying, “So what, the place was always wonderful for birds”. Let
those readers not overlook the simple fact that before the Jamaica Bay Bird
Sanctuary was created, actually encompassing an area of some 12,000 acres,
this whole water and marsh wilderness was “up for grabs”, with speculators
and real estate developers, waiting for the signal. Once again, we must
stress how much, we, who are conservation-minded, owe to Mr. Robert Moses.

Here, the bird-watcher has a place “to hang his hat”. He can park his
car in a lot provided for that purpose, just adjacent to the West Pond, The
West Pond is completely encircled by a gravel walk. By departing from the
path for a very short distance, the mud flats can be easily birded. With
just a little more effort, the East Pond can be readily worked.

There are not many places in New York City where the amateur orni¬
thologist can pursue his hobby in such sympathetic surroundings. The
hazards in some places run the gamut between actual molestation by vandals,
to Suspicious questioning by the police. There is also one sanctuary near
New York City, which is impossible to enter.

If all this sounds as though the sanctuary was created for the watchers
and not for the birds, this is only because L and countless others, are de¬
lighted to have an area so readily accessible and so rewarding. This is a most
unusual combination, in this age of urban development.

The sanctuary can be reached by auto or subway. Any map will show it.
If one is going to spend any length of time there, and most of the day can
easily be spent in the sanctuary, it is a good idea to bring lunch, since there
are no eating places in the immediate vicinity.

Officially, one must possess a permit to enter the sanctuary. To date,

The Kingbird 9

more than one thousand permits have already been issued by the Park De¬
partment, which officially administers the sanctuary. Some of the permits
have been issued to persons in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, and Washington, D. C. A weekend rarely passes without at
least one out-of-state car finding its way into the parking lot.

I would like to stress the official permit, even for those of us who visit
the sanctuary regularly, and are well known to Mr. Johnson and his staff.
As already pointed out, the sanctuary is officially attached to the New York
City Park Department, and is dependent upon that body for funds with which
to run and maintain the sanctuary.

The best way in which we can show our appreciation* and our need, and
our continued interest, is to renew our permits every year, and to see that
others do likewise. I am quite sure that the most regular visitors, including
the writer, have not renewed their permits since they first obtained them.
I am going to take care of that chore just as soon as I finish typing this article.

You may obtain your permits by writing to:

The Department of Parks
Arsenal Bldg.

Central Park

New York City, N. Y.

Besides regular maintenance of the sanctuary, work is constantly going
on to improve the existing plant, and to develop some new area within
sanctuary bounds. The present project centers on Canarsie Pol. Canarsie
Pol is an island which lies in the bay about a mile west of the West Pond.
It is the largest of several islands in Jamaica Bay. Sludge is being dredged
out of the bay and being deposited on to Canarsie Pol. After chemical
treatment, the sludge will be converted into artificial topsoil. Once this
has been accomplished grain will be planted for the feeding of migratory
waterfowl.

Projects such as these need your support and we once again ask that you
write for your permits, or renew them if they have expired.

Another project on the docket, is the lowering of the water level in the
East Pond. Primarily, this pond is to attract waterfowl, for breeding,
feeding, and wintering. However, the abnormally high water level of the
last two years has cut down the visiting shore bird population. The water-
level can and will be lowered without affecting the status of the waterfowl,
and at the same time exposing more marginal area for shorebirds.

Those of us who live in New York City or environs, are indeed fortunate
to have such a wonderful place at our disposal. I am sure that many bird¬
watchers come to New York City on business or for other reasons. I am also
sure, that like myself, they never travel without a pair of binoculars. Each
new place brings new birding experiences. In a strange place, one always
wants to find the “best spots”. Left to one's own devices, the birder will
eventually find the “best spots”, but waste many valuable hours doing so.
I recommend the Jamaica Bay Bird Sanctuary, not only for the varied bird
life it offers, but also as a place for meeting others interested in the same
thing as he is. After all, will any of us deny that one of the reasons we
enjoy birding so much, is the cultivation of friends with the same interests?
585 Mead Terrace , South Hempsted , New York

The Kingbird

BIRDS OBSERVED IN JAMAICA BAY — 1958

Loon, Common
Grebe, Horned
Pied-billed
Eared

Cormorant, Great
Double-crested
Heron, Great Blue
Egret, Common
Snowy

Heron, Louisiana
Little Blue
Heron, Green

Black-crowned Night
Yellow-crowned Night
Bittern, American
Bittern, Least
Ibis, Glossy
Swan, Mute
Goose, Canada
Brant

Goose, Snow
Blue
Mallard
Duck, Black
Gadwall

Widgeon, European
American
Pintail

Teal, Common
Green-winged
Blue-winged
Shoveler
Duck, Wood
Redhead

Duck, Ring-necked
Canvasback
Scaup, Greater
Lesser

Goldeneye, Common
Bufflehead
Duck, Ruddy
Merganser, Hooded
Common
Red-breasted
Hawk, Broad-winged
Eagle, Bald
Hawk, Marsh
Osprey

Falcon, Peregrine
Hawk, Sparrow
Pheasant,' Ring-necked
Rail, King
Clapper
Virginia
Sora

Gailinule, Purple
Common
Coot, American
Oystercatcher, Am.
Plover, Piping

■-\v?

Skimmer, Black
Dove, Mourning
Cuckoo, Yellow-billed
Black-billed
Owl, Short-eared

Nighthawk, Common
Swift, Chimney
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated
Kingfisher, Belted
Ficker, Yellow-shafted
Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied
Kingbird, Eastern
Flycatcher, Great Crested .
Phoebe, Eastern
Flycatcher, Alder
Least

Lark, Horned
Swallow, Tree
Swallow,

Bank

Rough-winged

Barn

Cliff

Martin, Purple
Jay Blue
Crow, Common
Fish

Chickadee, Black-capped
Titmouse, Tufted
Creeper, Brown
Wren, Carolina
Long-billed Marsh
Short-billed Marsh
Mockingbird
Catbird

Thrasher, Brown
Robin

Thrush, Wood
Hermit
Veery

Kinglet, Golden-crowned
Ruby-crowned
Pipit, Water
Waxwing, Cedar
Shrike, Northern
Starling

Vireo, Red-eyed
Philadelphia

Warbler, Black-and-white
Blue-winged
Orange-crowned ..
Nashville
Yellow
Cape May
Myrtle

Black-throated Green

Blackburnian

Chestnut-sided

Blackpoll

Pine

The Kingbird

Plover, Semipolmated
Wilson's
Killdeer
Golden
Black-bellied
Turnstone, Ruddy
Woodcock, Am.

Snipe, Common
Whimbrel
Sandpiper, Spotted
Willet

Yellowlegs, Greater
Lesser
Knot

Sandpiper, Purple
Pectoral
White-rumped
Baird's
Least
Dunlin

Dowitcher, Short-billed
Long-billed
Sandpiper, Stilt
Semipalmated
Western
Buff-breasted
Godwit, Marbled
Hudsonian
Sanderling
Phalarope, Red
Wilson's
Northern
Gull, Glaucous
Iceland

Great Black-backed

Herring

Ring-billed

Laughing

Bonaparte's

Little

Tern, Forster's
Common
Roseate
Least
Caspian
Black

Warbler

Prairie

Palm

Waterthrush, Northern
Warbler, Kentucky
Connecticut
Yellowthroat
Chat, Ye low-breasted
Redstart, American
Sparrow, House
Bobolink

Meadowlark, Eastern
Blackbird, Redwinged
Oriole, Baltimore
Grackle, Common
Cowbird, Brown-headed
Tanager, Scarlet
Cardinal

Grosbeak, Rose-breasted
Blue

Grosbeak, Evening
Finch, Purple
House

Goldfinch, American
Towhee, Rufous-sided
Sparrow, Ipswich
Savannah
Sharp-tailed
Seaside

Junco, Slate-colored
Sparrow, Tree
Chipping
Field

White-crowned

Sparrow

White-throated

Fox

Swamp

Song

Longspur, Lapland
Bunting, Snow

MONTEZUMA REFUGE RESTRICTS DIKE TRAVEL

Waterfowl are at the lowest numbers of the last two years. To increase
waterfowl production, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is restricting
public use of Federal refuges during the nesting season.

Organized groups may arrange for conducted tours by contacting the
refuge manager in advance. Simply, address a letter to: John S. Morse,
Refuge Manager, R. D. #1, Seneca Falls, New York.

The Kingbird

WARBLERS IN SOUTHERN NEW YORK
Fritz Scheider
I. “SOUTHERN” WARBLERS

Central New York represents an aggregate of breeding warblers that
offers many ornithological opportunities, both in questions asked and in
possibilities of problems solved. (It should be noted at the outset that this
article will raise many problems in local distribution and solve very few.)
The fact that Central New York is a portion of the northern limit of certain
“southern” warblers and similarly the southern limit of certain more
“northern” warbler forms permits a careful study of small, restricted popu¬
lations of the species in question.

Further, the small number of individuals of any single species (see below)
would indicate that very few local areas meet the species' requirements and/or
that the small population present has some special adaptive factors, either
greater range of tolerances of conditions or acceptance of ecological conditions
not suitable to a greater percentage of the individuals of the species at, say,
the species' population center. One can not uniformly call the areas
involved “marginal” breeding areas, as the birds are apparently successful in
yearly production of young, return year after year to the same area, and, in
some cases, give evidence of expansion to sectors known to have been un¬
occupied previously. Such a sequence of species phenomena would not
support the premise that these “oases” of southern warblers are marginal
Babitat.

First, of course, one must ask, “What area?” Briefly, the area to be dis¬
cussed encompasses the four counties around Oneida Lake (Madison, Oneida,
Onondaga, and Oswego Counties), and Cayuga County north of Route 31.
Anyone may well say that this is not all of Central New York, and that such
a narrow delimitation ranks at least provincial, if not inaccurate. Let us strike
a middle position, accept the definition as chauvinistic in principle, and call
it regional in fact.

Second, how have the species in question been studied? The present
picture stems from a ten-year (1948-1958) study of the warblers in question
by the author, plus a compilation of data from other local birders through this
period, with earlier material from various annotated checklists, local and
regional publications, and theses of summer works published through the
New York State College of Forestry (see Bibliography).

The major question that each record or observation of a “southern”
warbler (for list of same, vide infra) raises is simply, “Why does this
species occur only in limited numbers or limited sectors of the area under dis¬
cussion?” And the answer presented here is frankly an evasion, as what can
be given is only “Where ' this species occurs, and, indeed, this is known only
in part. A further problem exists as to why a species occurs regularly in a
specific area with apparent complete absence from, or avoidance of, similar,
even larger, adjacent areas. What is tolerable about one area, intolerable
about the other? The only prospect at present is to give indications of what
appear to be requirements and/or distribution and, on the basis of comparison
with other areas, both locally and range-wide, find common factors or specific
differences;

The Kingbird

One of the major problems is determination of 'successful’' breeding of
the species. The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs has established
criteria for evidence of nesting, but any of the criteria extend only through
a single season. The repeated presence of a species through several breeding
seasons would also seem to be a logical but indirect proof of successful
breeding, particularly if increasing numbers of individuals are involved.
Admittedly a single singing male could summer at the periphery of the
species range, but it is doubtful whether individuals would do this persistently,
or that apparent pairs would also (i. e. without breeding).

A further consideration is the problem of reoccupancy of an area yearly
versus rechecking of an area by local observers. Camillus Valley, the two
and a half mile stretch along Nine Mile Creek valley south of Camillus in
Onondaga County, and Selkirk Shores State Park near Pulaski in Oswego
County have become locally famous as sites where “southern” warbler species
may be seen regularly, even with a fair degree of certainty, granted June
and a good ear. Consequently, these areas each spring and early summer
produce a wealth of data out of all proportion to their geographical size. Yet
the concentration of birders in such areas and the attendant wealth of data
are not to be decried, for such concentration has led to a maximum of nest
observations there, and the observations of species’ characteristics and par¬
ticularly of song have been responsible for the discovery of other local sites
of the warblers in question.

Of interest but little overall significance are migrational reports of the
species in question. Certainly at the northern fringe of their range, indi¬
viduals seen in spring migration may just as well be migrational strays as
individuals on the way to specific local breeding sites. However, in fall
migration, particularly if young or immature birds are seen, one may well
speculate as to the area of their origin, (c. f. Hooded Warbler).

The data to follow attempts to give a ten year synopsis of the available
material on the species in question. Some species follow a neat geographical
distribution (why?), others a specific plant distribution (see Pine and
Cerulean Warblers), others a mixture of these two forms of distribution.
The majority show an accumulation of records and some confusion attendant
thereon.

As to patterns of future distribution and/or spread of these “southerners”
one can only project further those trends and advances that have developed
over the past ten years. One could bemoan the lack of earlier data (e. g.
1930-1940 or 1940-1950), and would wish for a greater detail and extent
of observations from older reports (see Bibliography), but such stone¬
throwing is certainly unbecoming and mildly hypocritical in all who bird
much but publish little, present company included.

PHOTHONOTARY WARBLER (Protonotaria citrea). On August 6,
1944 an adult male was seen feeding a young bird well able to fly in the
Short Point Bay area of the south shore of Oneida Lake. The occurrence
was duly noted, carefully filed, and forgotten. It was not until late May
1953 that, on the basis of this one record, a foray into the area disclosed at
least one pair of birds present. The first report in 1954 was five seen on
May 13, and on May 22 of that year a nest (with three eggs) was found in
a low, rotted willow stump (Minor). In 1955 five singing males were located

The Kingbird

in this area and a second nest was located. In 1956 nest-building was
observed on May 23.

The first migrational record occurred when a single male was seen May
18, 1957 at Green Lakes State Park (B. Peterson), this at a time when the
usual three to five males had established singing posts around the periphery
of Short Point Bay. The same year, a new location ,the first extension in
five years, was noted, complete with nest and two successfully fledged young,
June 5 to July 10, at Muskrat Bay, Oneida Lake, about two miles west of
the formerly restricted colony. In 1958, the first bird, a singing male, was
seen there on May 7, a record arrival date. And on June 1 a female was seen
nest-building in a three-foot stump in a new sector of the swamp.

Since the discovery of this species at Short Point Bay in 1944, the area
has changed considerably. In 1944 there were on the edge of the bay just
two camps, reached by boat or a very muddy footpath. Starting in 1953
a dirt road was inched around the bay, and this has by yearly improvements
been expanded to a two-lane dirt road and the hay has become rimmed
with camps and some year-round houses. This road is flooded over each
spring by the rise of Oneida Lake; the red maple swamp about the periphery
of the bay correspondingly floods. However, when the flood waters recede,
the water is held in the swamp to dwindle gradually through the late spring
and early summer. This flooding has not particularly changed the char¬
acter of the red maple swamp, but. will probably do so, as the trees are
much more susceptible to blow-down in this permanently soft bottom.
Those trees that have succumbed to wind action provide many tangles for
the Prothonotaries to feed about and have allowed a very small growth of
young willow (mostly along the road), swamp dogwood, and buttonbush
to grow up. However, the extensive area of buttonbush found in and
around the Prothonotary colony in the Oak Orchard Creek near Batavia is
not present here; similarly it might be noted that the Prothonotary colony
at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Seneca Falls, has a very restricted
amount of buttonbush and consists largely of a mixed red maple - elm swamp.

Other areas in Central New York (limited definition) may support
colonies of Prothonotaries. Peter Scott swamp, northeast of Phoenix, Oswego
County, has extensive red maple swamps with almost constant flood con¬
ditions (it is actually a huge backwater of the Oneida River) and has large
areas of buttonbush and dead trees intermingled. However, this area would
be accessible only to a well-provisioned muskrat with a waterproof compass
or to someone canoe-rich and wisdom-poor. A similar area exists around the
western, northern and eastern edges of Howland’s Island Game Management
Area near Port Byron, Cayuga County. Though this area could be reached
by land, it would probably best be covered by boat or canoe.

Neither Hyde nor Spiker gives any reference to the Prothonotary in their
various summer studies in Central New York. Stoner, however, found a
pair in June (2nd and 7th) 1928 in the willows along Chittenango Creek
north of Bridgeport. Intermittent checks there over the last ten years have
failed to disclose any sign of the species’ presence, and the area has become
most unsuitable through the channel dredging for boat docking over the
past eight years.

GOLDEN-WINGER WARBLER (Vermivom chry softer a'). Probably
the most rapidly spreading “southern” warbler now present in Central New

The Kingbird

York. Spiker briefly mentions them as present in the Potter Swamp area
(1929-1931). Hyde gives only one record for two summers' work (1935-
1936), this a probable migrant near Rochester. Stoner mentions a single
male June 11 and 28, 1928, in the Chittenango Creek area as was the
Prothonotary, and a much more significant record on June 20, 1928 on the
north shore of Oneida Lake near Cleveland, How long this rare status per¬
sisted is hard to determine. There are three or four late May records of
migrant birds from 1943-1950 from Oakwood cemetery at Syracuse, but no
suggestion of breeding birds.

On May 18, 1951 four singing males were discovered in the brushy fringes
of the bottom-lands of Camillus Valley by F. Scheider and Wilson Schramm.
In 1952 two males were again seen there, and at this time the Onondaga
Audubon Society, now alerted to their possibility, found four singing males
at Three Rivers Game Management Area near Baidwinsville. Note that
the numbers in these cases can be counted on a single hand.

In 1953 up to ten singing males were located in Camillus Valley and
seven or eight in the Three Rivers GMA. In the spring of 1954 five new
stations were located, three in northwestern Onondaga County (Beaver Lake,
Lysander, West Phoenix) and two in southeastern Oswego County (Big
Bay Area, Constantia). The last site was definitely a new station, as the
area had been birded regularly for the previous eight years by the writer,
and Golden-wings had never been observed there. Most surprising was a
singing male found on June 20 at the periphery of an alder bog in eastern
Oswego County, north of Williamstown. This station is on the southern
edge of the Tug Hill Plateau country, a remarkable extension of range (if it
was that; cf. Stoners earlier record).

In 1955 the Camillus Valley sector seemed to reach saturation level with
eight to nine pairs established. (Three years of exploration was to show this
estimate only one-third correct). Two more stations were located in early
June 1955, the most significant in Rock Cut Valley, Onondaga County, the
first reported southeast of Syracuse and the first breeding station south of
Oneida Lake and east of Route 11. In the spring of 1956 it was first re¬
ported established at Selkirk Shores State Park, definitely a new area, for this
particular park had been vigorously birded by Mrs. E. Evans for the previous
five years. And in May, a single 1 male was first seen at Oneida, Oneida
County. At least three different stations were located in the Plainville area,
Onondaga County (M. Bitz).

By 1957 the species had become accepted as a regular and dependable
breeder, though still quite uncommon, and new sites at Otter Lake, Cayuga
County, and at Pleasant Valley, near Marcellus, Onondaga County, were
no surprise. Quite surprising, however, was a pair established in a patch
of pine-oak barrens between Phoenix and Caughdenoy, Oswego County.
All previous sites had been predictably the same — slightly wet areas with a
scattered growth of red maple, ash, pin cherry or aspen saplings, with
adjacent wet brush and drier alder and higher stands of maple, elm, ash,
and cherry, and some large standing dead trees for singing posts. 1958 pro¬
duced only two new sites ,both along the Oneida River near Euclid, Onon¬
daga County, but scattered reports of singing males along Onondaga Creek
south of Syracuse and near Tully, Onondaga County, were made too.

Two points need yet to be made about the explosive spread of this species.

The Kingbird

To date, no indications, not even persistently singing males, have been
found around the periphery of Cicero Bog or, for that matter, any place in
the flat lands along the south shore of Oneida Lake. The areas around
Rome and Oneida have yet to see breeding Golden-wings, and the Rome
Pine Plains, an excellent hodgepodge of wet brush and dry pine flats,
through the past three years has been a complete blank for them.

On September 9, 1956, a single male Golden-winged was seen at Bridge¬
port; on August 17, 1958, six Golden-winged Warblers were seen migrating
down the Sandy Pond dunes and through the outer woods at Selkirk Shores
State Park; again a single male was seen there August 30, 1958, moving with
a flock of Bay-breasted, Wilsons, and Tennessee Warblers and Redstarts.
All these observations give cause for considerable speculation for, to date,
no known colonies are present north of Selkirk Shores State Park, yet birds
which could be suspected of migrating are seen each fall. These observa¬
tions raise the question on whether there are breeding stations north of the
known sites. And, if so, where? Of interest in this regard is a report of
Golden-winged, Blue-winged, and Brewsters Warblers seen May 25, 1956,
near Watertown by J. and A. Blake (Kingbird vol. V, No. 2, p. 65).

BLUE-WINGED WARBLER ( Vermivora V mus) and BREWSTER'S
WARBLER CVermivora leucobronchialis') . On May 17, 1953 a singing
male Blue-winged was observed in the west gulf of Camillus Valley; it was
seen repeatedly through the last spring and early summer there, without
evidence of breeding (numerous observers). On May 9, 1954 a singing male
was again seen there and intermittently through the late spring; a second
male was seen two miles further north in the main valley in early June. As
in 1953, no evidence of breeding was detected. On May 8, 1955, a singing
male was again observed in the same area and later in the season was observed
courting a female Golden-winged. In May 1956 a singing male Blue-winged
was again located and a singing male Brewster's was also located in the
same area. However, in May 1957 no Blue-winged Warbler was noted but
four Brewsters Warblers were noted along the main valley and in the west
gulf in one day (May 12). However, a male Blue-winged was reported
near Oneida Castle May 4, 1957. N.b: The previous spring had seen the
first Golden-winged Warbler record for the latter area.

In May 1958 no Blue-winged Warblers and only a single male Brewsters
was located at Camillus.

On August 5, 1957 a group of four Blue-winged Warblers was seen near
Otter Lake by D. Whitman; this and the presence of Brewster’s Warblers
are the strongest breeding evidences to date of the Blue-wingd Warbler for
the area.

Presently the Blue-winged is at best a very rare and frankly erratic
breeder, but the expanding Golden-winged colonies mentioned heretofore
should be regularly checked to see if Blue-winged Warblers eventually move
in (e. g. the Taylor Hollow situation near Buffalo, Region I).

CERULEAN WARBLER ( Dendroica cerulea). This warbler usually
arrives about the fifth or sixth of May and in favored areas can be a fairly
common breeding bird. The breeding stations presently known read like a
west-to-east chain from Howland’s Island GMA, Cross Lake, south through
Camillus Valley, Marcellus, Pleasant Valley South Onondaga, and east to
Cicero Bog, Bridgeport, and Stockbridge Valley south of Oneida. North of

The Kingbird 0 17

the immediate Seneca River drainage and the south shore of Oneida Lake
it is an extremely rare bird, and I know of just one record for the north
shore of Oneida Lake in 15 years of observation. It has been noted in late
spring at Tully Lakes, Onondaga County, and Selkirk Shores State Park,
Oswego County, but is not known to breed in any of these places.

Of major interest regarding this species is the rapidly spreading Dutch
Elm disease and Elm Bark Beetle, for these elm pests are likely to create a
rapid and nearly complete loss of this species’ major habitat requirement —
stands of tall open trees near sluggish water courses, a requirement almost
universally fulfilled by the elms of the area. The fact that this is the pre¬
ferred habitat is evidenced by the location of only one breeding station away
from such habitat, said station located in a stand of magnificent red oaks on
the east side of Cross Lake.

Sample singing male counts should be taken yearly, as this is a readily
counted species (singing males can be heard 1 /5th of a mile or more) and
its status is likely to change as rapidly as the decrease and eventual loss of
elm trees progresses.

High count to date is 41 singing males May 25, 1953, Camillus Valley,
but for the last three years the high counts there have ranged 15-20 indi :
viduals. It will be particularly interesting to see if the species remains of
its major habitat tree species is significantly reduced or wiped out, and, if the
bird remains, what will be the secondary tree-species chosen. The situation
seems currently quite comparable to the loss of the American Chestnut and
its effect on breeding bird populations five decades ago.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT Qcteria Virens'). This bird has virtually
no migratory history in the area. Records are basically breeding records and,
with one exception, a singing bird July 4, 1957, Howland’s Island, GMA,
are confined to the Camillus Valley - Marcellus - Otisco Lake axis. For ten
years the bird was known to occur sporadically (one bird per two to three
years) but not known to breed in the area despite the numerous protestations
of bird manuals, field guides, and local and state texts. In May 1956 a
single singing bird was located in a wet brushy swamp in the west gulf of
Camillus Valley; there was no evidence that it bred.

In June 1957 two nests were discovered; the first was a nest with five
young located in a heavy patch of dry brush June 23, on the east side of
Camillus Valley; a second nest was discovered in late June on the west side
of Nine Mile Creek valley just north of Marietta, Onondaga County. In
1958 three different singing males were located about Camillus Valley, and
one nest with four fledged young nearby (June 22) was located.

One cannot help asking whether the linear distribution (parallel to the
outlet of Otisco Lake) of this species prevails on the dry, brushy hillsides
above outflow streams from Skaneateles Lake, Jamesville Reservoir, and Caze-
novia Lake. Future summers with further exploration should confirm or
deny this speculation.

HOODED WARBLER (\Vihonia citrina ). Stoner reported a single
male and a pair at Constantia and Panther Lake respectively in 1929. To
the best of my knowledge, the bird has not been observed again on the north
shore of Oneida Lake, and its present distribution peculiarly and neatly
avoids that sector. Hyde mentions that this species occurs as a breeder in
lakeside woods from Irondequoit Bay to little Sodus Bay. The present num-

The Kingbird

ber o£ located pairs of this species in the area approximates a dozen, all con¬
fined to three very distinct areas. Five pairs are located south of Camillus
and east of Marcellus. Three pairs are located east of Fayetteville and in
Green Lakes State Park. And four pairs are known from the Mexico-
Selkirk Shores State Park area. In every case the birds are found in well-
drained open maple woods with a thick but not impenetrable undergrowth of
sapling maples. The constancy of this habitat choice has led to the finding
of breeding stations by locating hillsides with such wooded cover about the
periphery of a single known breeding pair’s territory. Probably regular sum¬
mer checking will produce more stations, but the apparent specificity of
habitat will cause some losses (e. g. one pair at Selkirk Shores State Park lost
to a new parking lot and a Second pair there has moved because of loss of
understory saplings by shading).

In 1958 Dr. Spofford located two active nests, one with two eggs (and
two Cowbird eggs) June 15 at Selkirk Shores State Park, and a second with
one egg and three Cowbird eggs June 29 south of Onondaga Hill.

There are two fall migrant records, both of adult males, along the Sandy
Pond dunes. As in the case of the Golden-winged Warblers seen there, one
wonders, whence their origin? Are there breeding stations to the north of
that area? ^

PINE WARBLER ( Dendroica pinus ). Though not a strictly southern
warbler, this species has the “confinement” of some of the previously con¬
sidered species. One to two pairs are regularly found in a small grove of
huge white pines just south of the Salmon River in Selkirk Shores State
Park. And since June 1954, at least one and up to three singing male Pine
Warblers have been found in the pine oak scrub of the Rome Pine Plains
between Sylvan Beach and Rome, Oneida County' The latter area will
probably be productive of more individuals if regularly worked, but the
recent invasion of roads and permanent homes in the area makes one wonder
how long this locally unique area of pitch, white, and red pine will persist.

Rare Southern Warblers

PRAIRIE WARBLER ( Dendroica discolor'). Prior to 1954 one to two
Prairie Warblers per year were seen in migration at Selkirk Shores State
Park, but since then the bird has become an unknown in the area. A single
bird was carefully studied on the late date of September 27, 1958 at Selkirk
Shores State Park. It is suspected that all of these lakeshore individuals, both
spring and fall, come from the small colony of Prairie Warblers located some
35 miles north of Kingston, Ontario.

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER ( Dendroica dominica). At present
a single local record, that of a singing male, April 30, 1954 at Syracuse
(Schreider). This bird allowed such a-close approach that the observer was
able to determine the presence of complete white eye-lines bilaterally, and
the suspicion that this was the Mississippi Valley subspecies “albilora” is high.
Eaton, Birds of New York , vol. II, 1909. Bibliography : Part I
Hyde, A. Sidney, Roosevelt Wildlife Bulletin , vol. VII #2, 1939.

Stoner, Dayton, Roosevelt Wildlife Annals , vol. 11 # 3 & 4.

Spiker, Charles J., Roosevelt Wildlife Bulletin , vol. IV #1, 1931, and vol.
VIII #1, 1935.

Kingbird, vol. IV # 2 & 3, 1954; vol. V # 2 & 3, 1955; vol. VI # 2 & 3,
1956; vol. VII #2 & 3, 1957; vol. VIII #2 & 3, 1958.

151 Seventh North Street, Syracuse 8

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE BIRD WATCHERS LIBRARY
Allen H. Benton

In books, as in art, everyone has his own tastes. This list will reflect

mine. There are, however, no poor or useless books in the list, and the bird¬
watcher who has these on his shelves will, I am sure, use each one frequently.

Identification

Peterson, Roger T. Field Guide to the Birds. Houghton-Mifflin Co. This
is the sine qua non for the bird-watcher, and most of us have worn out
several. If you travel, the Field Guide to Western Birds, same author
and publisher, is highly recommended.

R eferenc e

Allen, A. A. The Book of Bird Life. D. VanNostrand Co. Inc, or

Wallace, George J. An introduction to Ornithology. Macmillan Co. These
are the leading textbooks for college courses, and either one will prove
useful and interesting.

Chapman, Frank. Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America. Second
Revised Edition. D. Appleton and Co. A classic, and deservedly so.
No ornithological library should be without it. It contains a wealth
of information in a small package.

Pettingill, O. S. A Laboratory and Field Manual of Ornithology. Burgess
Publishing Co., Minneapolis. Though designed for college courses,
this large book contains much of general interest, and is particularly good
for the abundant references to books, journals, and articles about birds.

Eaton, E. H, Birds of New York. 2 vols. New York State Museum, Al¬
bany. You’ll have to pick this up second hand, if you don’t have a copy,
and it will probably cost you $12 to $15. But no New York State
birder can afford to be without it. Try to get the first printing, with
the magnificent Fuertes plates printed on double-weight stock.

American Ornithologists’ Union. Check-list of North American Birds. Fifth
Edition. Probably each individual would not need a copy of this, but
there should be at least one in each club for reference use.

Pough, Richard H. Audubon Bird Guide. 2 vols. Doubleday and Co.
Somewhat more inclusive than Peterson’s books, these two volumes
contain a lot of background information as well as identification data.
The plates by Don Eckelberry are beautifully done.

Bent, A. C. Life Histories of North American Birds. , U. S. Nat’l. Museum.
Twenty volumes of this great work are now out. Older ones bring a
premium in the used book market, but several have been reprinted. Not
every riiember can afford them, but each club should try to build up
a complete set.

Attracting Birds

McKenny, Margaret. Birds in the Garden and how to attract them. Univ.
of Minnesota Press. There are many other books of this type, but 1
like this one best. It is attractive as well as functional, and covers the
subject pretty thoroughly.

Bird Banding

Lockley, R. M., and Rosemary Russell. Bird Ringing: the art of Bird Study
by Individual Marking. Crosby Lockwood and Son Lt., London. There
are American books on this subject, but I think you’ll like this one.

The Kingbird

Bird Photography

Allen, A. A. Stalking birds with color camera. Natl. Geog. Society.

Bailey, A. M. Nature Photography with Miniature Cameras. Mus. Piet.
No. 1, Denver Mus. of Natural History.

Shumway, Herbert D. Nature Photography Guide. Greenberg, Publisher.

Yeates, G. K. Bird Photography. Faber and Faber Ltd., London. Each of
these books presents a different point of view, but each is well written
and illustrated.

Bird Study

Griscom, Ludlow. Modem Bird Study. Harvard Univ. Press.

Hickey, J. J. A Guide to Bird Watching. Oxford Univ. Press.

Fisher, James. Watching Birds. Penguin Books.

Saunders, A. A. The Lives of Wild Birds. Doubleday and Co. Any of
these, an dthere are others as well, will give a good introduction to
modern methods of scientific bird study. It might be well to look
them over first, and pick the one which meets your own needs.

Pettingill, O. S. A guide to Bird Finding East of the Mississippi. A guide
to Bird Finding West of the Mississippi. Oxford LIniv. Press. To
organize your bird-watching, and to fit it into your travelling, use these
two books. They tell you when and where to look for the most inter¬
esting birding spots in each of the 48 states.

Most bird-watchers have interests in nature beyond the bird group. For

those, a few semi-popular and popular works of various types are listed here.

Storer, John. The web of life. Devin Adair Co. A popular survey of
general ecology.

Grange, Wallace B. Those of the forest. Flambeau Publ. Co., Babcock,
Wisconsin. Written as fiction, but bulging with fact, this book may
become a classic of natural history writing. Better give it a try.

Hillcourt, William. Field Book of Nature Activities. G. P. Putnam’s Sons,
New York. A survey of techniques, ideas for young people’s nature
study, etc. Not technical, but good.

Eli complete the list with a few personal favorites, which cover ground
not included in those already listed.

Campbell, Bruce. Finding Nests. William Collins Sons and Co., Ltd.
The art of nest-finding is not quite lost, and if you want to practice, this
will tell you how.

Kortright, F. H. The Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America. Ameri¬
can Wildlife Institute. I like this book as much for its illustrations as
*br its text. It’s a beautiful book, and a useful one.

Saunders. A. A. A Guide to Bird Songs. Doubleday and Co., Inc. As a
’ supplement to your bird song records, this little classic will help you

remember and recognize unfamiliar songs. \

And if vou want to know what the professional ornithologists are doing:

Wolfson, Albert, Editor. Recent Advances in Avian Biology. Univ. of
Illinois Press, Urbana.

Last, just for fun:

Lorenz, Konrad Z. King Solomon’s Ring. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.

Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac and Sketches here and there.
Oxford University Press, N. Y.

Here’s to good reading; N. Y. S. College for Teachers, Albany 3

The Kingbird 21

FIELD NOTES

The White-headed Eagle Survey — Although considerable information about
nesting locations and the breeding status of eagles in New York has been gathered
in the last few years, there is considerable confusion about the significance of summer
records. Summer eagles consist of two separate but not easily separable popula¬
tions: the potential breeders, and the summer visitors. The breeding population is
a small group presently known only from parts of the Adirondacks and the St.
Lawrence - Lake Ontario Basin. The other and perhaps larger group is the Florida
population which comes north after breeding, along with their young of the year,
to spend the summer on our lakes and waterways. Since these two populations are
regularly confused in the field, the survey at present is unable to come to any real
appreciation of the size of either group.

Using the fact that the breeding population is on location by March and stays
throughout April, May and June, whereas the Florida group does not arrive until late
May or June, it is hoped that more systematic recording of the coming, the stay and
the departure of eagles will allow further insight into their relationships than we now
have. Of course, in many cases the |l(ste will reflect not the time of the eagle's
appearance but the arrival of the observer! In spite of this and other such mis¬
leading factors, we hope that some significant information will turn up.

Other things to keep in mind are the late August or September departure of the
Florida birds for the south to breed in November, while the New York breeders may
stay on into late fall or winter. A third population of birds that have bred north of
the St. Lawrence comes down in winter to keep below the freeze-up line. During
late February and early spring these birds are passing north again, where they
may be confused with resident birds, except that they do not stay long in one place.
With three separate categories of eagles to keep account of, it is difficult to
classify any particular bird unless known to be nesting.

The White-headed Eagle Survey Committee would welcome the aid of bird
watchers generally in gathering information on eagles in New York and surrounding
areas. . When sufficient records are assembled it may be possible to construct a fair
picture of our own breeding population, and of the comings and goings, the size and
age categories of summer and winter visitant groups. Similar studies of the status
of the eagle are underway in Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, and just recently New
Jersey. It is hoped that the information gathered may be of assistance in the
coming three-year, continent-wide survey of the eable by the National Audubon
Society under the direction of Dr. Harold S. Peters.

Information about eagles, and particularly concerning present and past nesting
sites, may be sent to your regional KINGBIRD editor, to such other members of the
committee as Mr. Robert Andele, 59 Blantyne Road, Buffalo; Mr. Greenleaf Chase,
Ambersand Bay Road, Saranac Lake; Mr. John Wilson, Rt. 37, Watertown; Mr.
Jayson Walker, 89 Church St., Waterloo, N. Y. or to the writer — Walter R. Spofford,
766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse.

Varied Thrush in Jefferson County — During the first week of December 1958 a
"strange bird" was seen on the grounds of the Jefferson County Hospital, 1240
Cofeen St., Watertown. It stayed in a protected corner planted with ornamental
yews and could readily be observed from inside the hospital. On December 8 Dr.
T. S. Montague, the hospital director, informed me of its presence, and, after it had
been identified as a Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius meruloides), arrangements were
made to collect the bird. This was done the following day and a study skin was
prepared by John Kelly of the Watertown High School faculty. The specimen has
been presented to the New York State Museum in Albany where it is catalogued
as No. 18665.

The Varied Thrush is a bird of the far west and is of accidental occurrence in
the east, most of the vagrants appearing in November or December. Insofar as I
have been able to determine, there are only three previous speciment from our state.
These were all taken on Long Island over fifty years ago (Eaton, Birds of New York,
1914 p. 534). There is an additional Staten Island record in 1936 which is authenti¬
cated by a photograph (Auk, V.54 p. 394). — John B. Belknap, 92 Clinton Street,
Gouverneur.

Tke Kingbird

A Franklin's Gull in Spring Plumage at Oswego — On March 15, 1959, a day of
very strong southerly winds, there were relatively few ducks and gulls at Oswego
Harbor, on Lake Ontario. Scanning the gulls for a possible "white-winger" I saw a
small black-headed gull circling below the just west of Fort Ontario. The striking
wing pattern showed a clear gray mantle, with a white band along the trailing
edge which laterally crossed the primary feathers as a white bar, separating the
black wing tip from the gray mantle. It was completely unfamiliar to me, and
Peterson's “Eastern Field Guide" was consulted. The bird proved to be identical
with the drawing of Franklin's Gull shown on Plate #33. At this point the gull was
flying 1 0 to 15 feet over the surface of the water, dropping down to feed at frequent
intervals. After about ten minutes it settled on a submerged rock and began a
series of bathing maneuvers, for perhaps five minutes. Then it flew in a half circle
and alighted on the ice flow just below the Fort, scarcely 100 yards from me.
Here it began a prolonged preening of its feathers. During this period of at least
twenty minutes it was watched through a 30X Balscope and 10 x 50 binoculars
mounted on a tripod, and its plumage could be noted in detail. Close in front of it
were two Ring-billed Gulls and behind it were both Herring and Black-backed Gulls.
This bird was decidedly smaller than the Ring-billed, and all its markings identified
it as a Franklin's Gull in spring ("alternate") plumage. The identification was con¬
firmed by Mr, and Mrs. Charles Farnham and Dr. Walter Spofford, who also enjoyed
the opportunity to see this rare vistor.

Although Franklin's Gull is known as a visitor to Lake Ontario, previous records
are for the fall and winter months, when the bird is in the winter ("basic") plumage.
The KINGBIRD has records of one or more each year, in either the Niagara or Roch¬
ester areas. This appears to be the first record of this species for the eastern end
of Lake Ontario, and specifically for Region 5 of New York. Examination of pub¬
lished weather maps for the preceding several days suggests that the bird may have
been carried from its wintering grounds along the western Gulf Coast up into the
Mississippi Valley, then up into the Ontario Basin. The lengthy bathing and preening
in the protection of Oswego Harbor further suggest a long journey. — Robert W.
Seaman, 1 0 Onondaga Street, Skaneateles.

Some Golden Eagles in New York — The following occurrences seem worthy of
record: on October 2, 1953 a Golden Eagle was shot near Sylvan Beach (Oneida
Lake), N. Y., by a hunter who said he shot the bird in self-defense! A photograph
of the bird taken at the Oneida barracks of the N. Y. State Police shows the eagle to
have been a first year bird with extensive white at the base of the tail and inner
primaries.

On April 25, 1953 Dr. and Mrs. Axtell and the writer watched a Golden. Eagle
fly from a perch on the west side of the Genesee River in Letchworth Park, circle over
the gorge, and then perch in a live pine tree above a bluff on the other side. A
Red-tailed Hawk harassed the eagle continuously, the latter sometimes rolling over
to meet the nearly vertical stoops of the screaming buzzard. After the eagle had
perched among the limbs of the pine, the Red-tail continued his assault for several
minutes, the eagle turning his head up and crouching at each onslaught. Some
time later the eagle flew to another perch and then disappeared through the trees
of a small ravine. This bird was immature, showing white at the base of the tail,
but little or none on the wings.

On June 1, 1955 Mr. Robert Bauer, Game Technician at the Howland's Island
State Game Preserve a few miles north of Montezuma, noticing that the breeding
ducks were showing hawk alarm, looked up to see two adult Golden Eagles a few
hundred feet above the marsh, engaging in aerial play. The two birds were circling
together and approaching each other with lowered feet, occasionally grasping talons
in mid-air, in a "courtship" type display, as they slowly made their way northward
out of the refuge area. Both were fully adult eagles without showing any white.
Since no breeding Golden Eagles are known within one hundred miles of this location,
it must be assumed that these were non-breeding birds passing north at the end of
the spring migration period. Eagles and large buzzards such as the Red-tail fre¬
quently engage in flight displays, and at any time of the year, although usually these
are considered to be part of territory occupancy. Other such late spring migrant
eagles have been recorded previously, including one at Rochester on May 20, 1951;
an immature near Degrasse on May 23, 1953 (Trimm), and one over Pinnacle Hill,
Branchport on May 25, 1 954.

The Kingbird

Besides the two adult birds recorded above, Mr. Bauer recalls seeing a first year
Golden Eagle with white at the bases of inner primaries and tail over Howlands
Island, but he did not record the date. Only a few miles south, at the Montezuma
Refuge, Dr. Fritz Scheider saw a similar bird passing south on November 12, 1950.

— Walter R. Spofford, 766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse.

Unusual Sang Sparrow Diet — On June 23, 1958 I observed a Song Sparrow in
my garden feeding two Cowbird fledglings a rather unusual diet. The bird made
quick and frequent trips to the rows of sunflower seeds which were sprouting and
unfolding their first seed leaves. These he would nip off, leaving only the stem
stubs, and cram them into the throats of his two Cowbird foster children as they
sat on the fence nearby. I wonder whether anyone can report a similar observation.

— Mrs. Lewis H. Stratton, Route 2, Oxford.

Large Flights of Red Phalaropes on Long Island r— On April 28, 1958, at about
9:30 A. M., Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Goldsmith of Center Moriches noted several hun¬
dred Red Phalaropes swimming in the water near their fishing station on the north
shore of Moriches Bay. Mrs. Goldsmith notified her mother, Mrs. John Lukert of
East Moriches, an amateur ornithologist, on whose farm the first Cattle Egret was
recorded for New York State. Mrs. Lukert estimated there were from 1,500 to 2,000
Red Phalaropes at about 3:30 P. M. and alerted other bird observers in the
area. It was foggy all day with a south wind blowing about 31 miles per hour from
10:00 A. M. to 12:00 noon.

By 5:00 P. M. only about 200 were seen. When I arrived at 5:30 P. M. they
had reduced to 50 and two hours later only 12 were left. Some were feeding on
shore, or in the water very close to shore, and appearing to be eating the tiny shell.

Gemma gemma, great quantities of which were floating close to shore.

They may have been feeding on jellyfish further out in the bay, as Mrs. Gold¬
smith saw the first ones of the year the day before. In the late afternoon, also
on April 28, several hundred were seen in or near the boat basin at Shinnecock Inlet
by Supervisor Meschutt of Southampton Town.

The next morning Gilbert Raynor of Manorville saw 90 at Westhampton Beach
at 11:00 A. M., but none were at Shinnecock Inlet by 12:00 noon. April 29 was

a foggy day, with a south wind blowing at 26 miles per hour at 1 1:00 A. M. At

Remsenberg at 1:45 P. M. that day, I saw 50 Red Phalaropes in five minutes in small
groups, flying east, close to the north shore of Moriches Bay. I hastily drove eastward
about a mile and saw them still flying in the same direction. About 2:15 P. M., at
West Bay bridge, Westhampton Beach, I was surprised to find about 2,000 Phalaropes
in the water ranging to about one-half mile to the west where, three hours earlier,
Saynor had found only 80. Small groups were arriving from the west while others,
up to about 20 in a flock, were attempting to fly east but were having great diffi¬
culty in getting over the wires.

I drove about three-quarters of a mile east to the next bridge (Rogers) and
found about 300 in the water west of the bridge. About three miles further east
at Shinnecock Bay a spot check revealed 55 in five minutes, flying east over the
ocean close to shore. The visibility was about 1,000 feet. At Shinnecock Inlet
I saw 100 at 3:00 P. M. The flight was probably just reaching there, as Raynor
had none there three hours earlier.

At 6:00 P. M. there was still about 1,000 at West Bay bridge, and as birds were
continually arriving from the west and others leaving by flying east over the bridge,
this must have been an entirely new population from those seen at 2:15 P. M. They
were leaving at an estimated rate of 600 an hour.

I found nine dead under the wires at West Bay bridge, two dead at Rogers bridge
and eight at Ponquogue bridge, the latter near Shinnecock Inlet. One was still alive
with one wing entirely sheared off and three, stunned by hitting the wires, were
banded and released.

I estimated that I saw 3,728 Phalaropes from 1:45 P. M. to 7:00 P. M. on
April 29. On April 30, at 5:30 A. M., there were only 12 at West Bay bridge,

eight at Rogers bridge, 40 at Ponquogue bridge and 20 at Shinnecock Inlet. There

were 18 in the ocean off Mecox Bay at 7:15 A. M. April 30 began cloudy with a
moderate north wind and no fog. At 2:00 P. M., clear, with a light north wind,

there were five at West Bay bridge, seven at Rogers bridge, two flying east over

the ocean in five minutes, and by 3:00 P. M. six were seen at Shinnecock Inlet.

The Kingbird

At 4:10 P. M. I left Shinnecock Inlet on a trawler and went three and one-half
miles out into the ocean, returning at 5:25 P. M. There were four flocks in the
water from the Inlet to one-half mile offshore comprising 111 individuals. The
following flocks, all flying south away from the land, were: thirty, five, five, twelve,
thirty-two, twelve, five, four, four, six, three, eight, four, (one individual) and four.
There were 150 in the bay near the inlet after returning at 5:25 P. M., making
a total count of 396.

The ocean was not rough as it had been on the 28th and 29th. There was a
north wind all day, but there was still a little roll, or swell, on the ocean. On May 1,
with a light south wind, 1 1 were feeding in the surf near Tiana Coast Guard
station at 2:00 P. M., 13 in the surf at Ponquogue bridge and six at Shinnecock Inlet.
On May 2 there were seven in the surf near Tiana Coast Guard station at 3:00
P. M. On May 3 the only ones seen were three in the surf at Tiana station.

In all of the above observations the flocks were comprised of about 90 percent
Red Phalaropes and 10 percent Northerns. Only about 20 percent of the Reds
were in full breeding plumage. On May 7 at 3:00 P. M., there were 572 Northern
and Red Phalaropes, as follows, all in the surf: 93 in one-half mile west of Tiana
Station, 64 in one-half mile east of Tiana Station, 1 15 in one-half mile at Ponquogue
bridge and 300 near Shinnecock Inlet, also about 90 percent Reds and 10 percent
Northerns.

The last seen was a flock of 12 on May 8 at 6:00 P. M., just off Shinnecock
Inlet, by the fisherman who took me out on the ocean in the trawler.

For the seven days of my observations I saw an estimated 3,955 Reds and 943
Northerns. This is the third and probably the largest flight of Phalaropes recorded
in New York State. In the 1958 flight I did not observe any dead jellyfish on shore
as I did on April 28, 1937 when I estimated there to be 1,500 Reds and 500
Northerns, which was the first large flight recorded for Long Island. In this flight
I caught four in a trap baited with jellyfish and also caught two with a scoop net.
All six were banded and released. Up to that time, according to the records, only
four others had been banded in North America. The additional three banded in

1958 make nine now banded by me. A search revealed that at the present time

only 31 have been banded in North America with the others as follows: Alaska, 10;
California, two; Kansas, nine and Kentucky, one.

The only other large flight of Phalaropes for Long Island was 3,000 at East
Hampton on May 16, 1939 by the late Dr. William T. Helmuth. I believe these
were not all Reds but think some were Northern. I can find no record of Phalaropes
being driven ashore in numbers between Florida and Long Island. If a storm should
hit the birds as they are migrating north they are apparently just driven ashore from
their feeding grounds. In 1937 and 1958 they were about 70 miles east of New

York City, or the mainland; and in 1939 they were about 100 miles east of New

York City. — LeRoy Wilcox, Speonk, Long Island.

A Partially Albino Chickadee — On February 1, 1959 at Selkirk Shores State
Park in Oswego County at the mouth of the Salmon River, hearing chickadees in
the mixed hemlock-hardwood growth about 50 feet in from the Lake Ontario shore
bluffs, I stopped to "spish" them in hopes of attracting a Red-breasted Nuthatch or
kinglets. A few moments of "spishing" drew about a half-dozen chickadees toward
me since the wind was only moderate. I turned to see what birds had approached
from behind, and I noted a bird facing me perched on a twig and hammering a seed.
In the first instant I couldn't identify it by color pattern as any local species, but
then recognized from its size, shape, and actions that it was a chickadee. Its gray
back and light buffy-gray belly feathers were pigmented normally as far as I could
tell with the bird facing me. The coloration of these parts contrasted in a unique
way with the cap and throat. The crown, chin, and throat were white except for a
narrow fringe of black between the throat and the normal gray chest. The lighting
was good as I looked north at the bird at about 3:00 P. M. of a clear day. The
Chickadee flew before I could observe the albinism in more detail. — Margaret S.
Rusk, 1 00 Stadium Place, Syracuse 1 0.

Hawk Owl in Jefferson County —- On December 1 1, 1958 I saw a Hawk Owl in
the town of Lyme, about three miles northeast of Three Mile Bay. The bird was
identified differ being studied at close range under good light conditionqs. It re¬
mained in the same area until the end of December and was seen by a number of
people.

The Kingbird

The Hawk Owl is considered a rare and irregular late fall and winter visitor in
New York State, most reports coming from the northern and central counties. The
only other recent record for the state that has come to my attention is a bird seen
in Saratoga County on December 20, 1955 (Audubon Field Notes), Vol. 10, No. 3,
p. 237.

Due to its diurnal habits and fondness for opeh country the Hawk Owl lends
itself to easy observation. The paucity of recent records for the state suggests that
it may be the rarest of the northern owls which penetrate our borders during cold
weather. — John B. Belknap, 92 Clinton Street, Gouverneur.

A Note on the Roosting Behavior of the Brown Creeper — The Brown Creeper is
a rather common winter bird in the wooded areas of western New York. On January
31, 1959, four to six creepers were observed feeding in a mixed hemlock-deciduous
woodland in Wilson Cemetery bordering the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Niagara
County. They were observed in company with Golden-crowned Kinglets for nearly
an hour in late afternoon by a party consisting of Miss M. Edna Blowers, Mr. Arthur
R. Clark, Mr. Anthony Krayna and the writer.

At 4:05 P. M. (EST), while we were standing near an abandoned house on the
edge of the woodland, a creeper flew past us and landed on the shingles which
covered the house. Upon further investigation we saw that the creeper had moved
upward to a corner made by two walls directly under the eaves. The bird used its
tail as a prop while the bill rested on a painted board about one-fourth inch higher
than the shingled surface. The paint on this board was chipped off in the area
where the bill was placed, thus indicating the possibility that this exact roost was
used on previous occasions.

Further inspection of this roosting area revealed no additional creepers. How¬
ever, at 4:25 P. M. (EST), a second creeper landed on the shingled surface on the
opposite side of the house. This bird proceeded to move upward and take a position
similar to that of the first bird in the opposite corner of the house. The body of the
second bird rested on a mud wasps' nest.

No further activity was noted and our presence within four feet was completely
ignored by . both birds. The light intensity was considerably lower under the eaves
than in the surrounding open woodland when the birds first came into these roosting
areas. Both roosting places were well sheltered from a steady north-northwest wind.
(Editor's note — On June 24, 1950 I observed a Brown Creeper's hiding place back
of a window shutter. The bird climbed up to the second floor level of a lodge that
was adjacent to pine woods. It moved up on the shingles until it reached a point
exactly half-way between two windows. Then it sidled toward the left one, where
the blind had been opened back against the house, and disappeared behind it). —
Richard C. Roscge, 48 Dartmouth Avenue, Buffalo 15.

The Behavior Pattern of some Ruffed Grouse chicks in captivity (Part II) — It is
now pertinent to remark about the sequence of moulting from the juvenile form to
the first year adult form. This is a somewhat slower procedure than in Pheasant
chicks of the same age. The body feathers arrive first, and they grow slowly while
the primary feathers of the wings develop fully. Then the “forest strewn-floor"
pattern that we have come to recognize comes into full bloom over the backs of the
birds. The breast feathers come in much lighter in color than in the juvenile stage.
Feathers begin to appear on the lower legs, and webbing on the toes becomes evident.

At age four months the birds were still relatively tame, and after some coaxing
they could be picked up and held. Their consumption of food was tremendous, indi¬
cating a higher metabolism than a Pheasant would perhaps have. I make this com¬
parison with Pheasants because I have raised many of them. The birds were kept in
a large enclosed area (the old Pheasant yard) where they had as companions two old
Canada Geese. After an intial period of resentment on the part of the Geese, the five
birds got along well. The food of the Grouse consisted of grasshoppers, worms,
varied insects, apples, wild grapes (fruits are taken to them), sweet corn on the cob,
and turkey mash in pellet form. They £till did not seem to require much water,
even on the hottest and driest days. They were more prone to dusting than Pheasants
in similar circumstances and delighted in stretching full length in a dust wallow in
the bright sun.

As I mentioned earlier the birds would, during the early part of their captivity,
run and hide and remain motionless for several minutes at the sound of our dog's

The Kingbird

bark. Slowly, however, the birds became used to his bark and did not run and
hide, although they kept a wary eye open just the same. If another dog were to
bark, they would dash away for cover immediately. Therefore they can and do learn
by association the difference between relative sounds.

As the Grouse grew older, they no longer came to a call which was a low whistle,
having apparently attained a certain degree of independence on their own in the
larger yard. Their curiosity, however, often prompted them to stalk sedately to you,
to see what delicacy you might have brought. Blackberries were considered the
peak of delicacies when they were in season. After that it was tough old sweet
corn fed on the cob. I suggest that many a farmer with a marginal corn field has
blamed some damage to the grain on everything else but the Ruffed Grouse, but I
now know that a Grouse is capable of ruining an ear of corn on the stalk as easily
as a racoon, squirrel, or Pheasant.

Plump and dainty these three birds have won their way into our hearts, and it will
be with reluctance that we will turn them loose in some remote area away from man
and after the hunting season. The ability of Ruffed Grouse to hide in the wild
state has always amazed me. Upon being flushed, they burst out in a flurry of
feathers, like some rocket, this being to the complete consternation of my reflexes
as a hunter and to the utter resignation of my dog that I was not a very good wing
shot. I could never quite fathom the telepathy with which they communicated a
potential danger to one another over comparably vast distances and under the most
adverse conditions until I elected to undertake the task of raising these orphans.
Now I know how it is done, and it is one of nature's own secrets open to me for the
first time. Rare is the time you have approached a Ruffed Grouse undetected,
and observed the bird before it saw you.

A friend of mine recently came, to call, and I was so intent on watching the
birds that 1 did not see nor hear him come. When he saw me down in the yard
and started toward me, the birds were in the deep grass chasing grasshoppers and
other food. They could not have seen him coming. I don't know how close my
visitor was before the three birds scooted to a quick halt and assumed the motionless
stance of intimate hiding reserved for real danger. This was accompanied by an
almost imperceptible danger alarm which sounded as a drawn-out "took-took". As
my visitor continued to approach, the birds' actions indicated they were still com¬
municating, but the sounds were too low for my ear to interpret.

I have enjoyed immensely and gotten considerable knowledge from the raising
of these Ruffed Grouse. I would wish others to have such a heart-warming and
educational experience in nature's world -— Tom Lesperance, Keeseville.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WINTER SEASON
DECEMBER 1—MARCH 31
James K. Meritt

The various regional editors were generally agreed that the winter season
really did provide winter weather. Snowfall was excessive in all areas of
the state except the extreme southeastern part. The storms and blizzards in
the Oswego area, particularly early in the winter, made national headlines.
Either because of the weather or in spite of it, the season provided generally
interesting birding. In this the regional editors were also agreed. The
seasons birds can be split into four distinct and separate categories: (1) late
fall migrants or winter holdovers, (2) regular winter birds, (3) accidentals
or strays into the state, and (4) early spring arrivals.

Among the late holdovers of note were a Blackpoll Warbler found dead
in Westchester County and a Parula Warbler found in a weakened condition
at Endwell in Region 4. Both of these records are remarkable. Yellow¬
breasted Chats were in Regions 9 and 10. Late Brown Thrashers were found
in many areas. Robins put in a good late and mid-winter showing, and

The Kingbird

three were even seen in the central Adirondacks in February. There were
more Towhee reports than normal.

The Evening Grosbeak flight was in most areas only a moderate one,
and the other winter finches, i. e. Pine Grosbeaks, Redpolls, Pine Siskins,
and Crossbills, were reported in even lighter numbers. Late in the season,
however, Purple Finches were very conspicuous in most areas. The flight of
Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Shrikes, and Snow Buntings was generally
poor, and there were relatively few Snowy Owl reports. There was the
usual smattering of reports of the Oregon Junco. Red-breasted Nuthatches
were scarce in most areas, although Region 7 was an exception. One of the
winter’s rarities was a Hawk Owl seen in the Watertown area. The Bar¬
row’s Goldeneye was again observed in Region 8 and this season also brought
a report from Region 1, White-winged gulls were scarce throughout the
state, but of note among the gull group were a Little Gull and Lesser Black-
backed Gull on Long Island and a Franklin’s Gull in Region 5. There were
only three or four reports of the Three-toed Woodpecker.

Among the real strays into the area was a European Redwing seen in
December on Long Island, And a Varied Thrush, a visitor from the west,
was collected in the Watertown area (I would hope that Watertown would
save a few of its ornithological highlights for the Federation meeting). A
Bullock’s Oriole, another westerner, put in an appearance at a feeder in
Region 9.

Early Bluebird reports indicated more observations than last year, but
they were not otherwise encouraging. It will probably take several years
at least to make up last year’s losses. Snow geese were seen late in the period
along the central Hudson, and a few were also noted in Region 3.

REGION 1 — NIAGARA FRONTIER
Robert F. Andrle

The cold and snow of late November continued through December
which proved to be the coldest since 1917. On twenty-six days in the month
the average temperature was below normal (maximum -17° on Dec 21).
Although precipitation was below normal near Buffalo, heavy snowfall was
experienced in the plateau area with considerable drifting and poor visibility.
Sunshine, however was plentiful with twelve days of the month having over
75 per cent of the possible. The January average temperature was the
same as that in December (22.3°F), but this was only 3.2° below normal
compared to 6.7° in December. Total precipitation in January was 6.47
inches, a new all-time record for the month. It was a severe month weather-
wise and a thaw during the 21st to the 23rd caused floods which resulted
in heavy damage. Wintry conditions continued through February and
March with the former averaging about normal in most respects and having
no periods of unusual weather. Ice formed early on Lake Erie and accumu¬
lated steadily through most of the period. Lake Ontario had one of the
widest sections of shore ice that has ever been observed by the writer. The
ice bridge at Niagara Falls build up soon after mid-December and remained
solid until it showed signs of breaking up in late March. The last month
of the period was in marked contrast to the quiet weather of March 1957

The Kingbird

and 1958. The total snowfall (29.2 inches) was the third greatest on record
for the month. Several gales, notably on the 6th and 7th and the 15th
and 16th, caused considerable damage. The temperature for the month
averaged only 2° below normal but an indication of the harsh weather during
the period was given by the fact that the first minimum temperature above
32° F since Dec 4, 1958 was not recorded until Mar 20. Bird activity during
the period was interesting in that half-hardy species were at least as numerous,
if not more so, than in other winters. The great numbers of gulls on the
Niagara River decreased significantly during December with the continued
cold weather and icing conditions. White-winged gulls were not so num¬
erous as they have been in other winters and very few of the “puzzling”
individuals were noted. No great influx of northern fringillids materialized
but Evening Grosbeaks were numerous. Oregon Juncos turned up perhaps
more frequently than at any time previously.

Loons — Ducks: Only a few Common Loons were reported on the Niagara
River in December and one in January. The first migrants appeared in March as
usual. A Red-throated Loon off Athol Springs on Lake Erie Dec 4 (Bourne), and
another on the Niagara River Jan 3 (Coggeshall et al) were noteworthy. About Dec
12 several Horned Grebes were picked up on the ground in scattered inland localities,
possibly the result of certain weather conditions which are not apparent from the
data at hand. During March an unprecedented number of Red-necked Grebes
occurred mostly on the Niagara River> the maximum number in one day being about
45 on Mar 22 (Axtefls). Only one Great Blue Heron was reported before March;
this was a single bird flying over Elma on Jan 18 (Gampp). Black-crowned Night
Herons were noted as usual in Buffalo through the winter. The first American
Bittern reported was at Frewsburg on Mar 30 (Knott, Anderson). Whistling Swans
first appeared at Celeron Mar 9 (Beal) with a flock of 55 and thereafter occurred
frequently all over the region including two flocks of 175 and 280 individuals.
Canada Geese were first reported on Feb 16 when 75 were sighted at Jamestown
(Brolin rep. Anderson). They had reached a maximum of about 7,800 in the
Wolcottsville - Oak Orchard Swamp region by the end of March (Brockners). A
male Green-winged Teal apparently remained in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo
from late December to mid-February; an American Widgeon appeared there Jan 1
(Brockners). Surface feeding ducks arrived at normal times but their numbers were
low, especially in the Oak Orchard Swamp and sink areas where ice remained until
the end of the period. A very interesting observation on Mar 29 was a Green-winged
Teal-Common Teal hybrid on a sink near Clarence (Nathan, Axtels). Diving ducks
seemed to be in normal abundance on the Niagara River and Lake Ontario through
the winter. An outstanding observation was a male Barrow's Goldeneye at Niagara
Falls on Jan 3 (Andrle, Coggeshall, Axtell).

Hawks — Owls: A very early Turkey Vulture was reported over Olean Feb 28
(Meyer rep. Eaton). Red-tailed Hawks were noted in slightly more than average
numbers through the period. However, Rough-legged Hawks were apparently very
scarce, the only ones being reported were individuals at Lockport Dec 7 (Cornish rep.
Broadbent), at Batavia Dec 19 (Buckland), and on Mar 15 at Newfane, (Lehrer).
A Red-shouldered Hawk near Sturgeon Point on Jan 20 (Bourne) and another at Busti
on Feb 28 (Anderson) were of interest, the latter possibly being an early migrant.
Two reports of Bald Eagles were received, an adult at Greenhurst on Chautauqua
Lake Dec 24 (Rhubottom) and an immature Mar 28 at Pinehurst on Lake Erie
(Bourne). Marsh Hawks were not reported this winter except for two on Feb 12
at Williamsville (Rubach, Clark). Sparrow Hawks appeared to be more abundant
than usual this winter in many locations. According to Eaton, Turkeys fed mainly on
the good crop of beechnuts through the winter and were noted in small flocks
throughout southern Cattaraugus County. Elderkin reported 20 at Allegheny State
Park on Mar 1. The first Coot was observed at Celoron on Mar 14 (Elderkin). The
only shorebirds in March other than Killdeer, American Woodcock, and Commpn
Snipe, were two Pectoral Sandpipers reported from Frewsburg on Mar 29 (Anderson,
Hiller). A Snowy Owl Feb 5 at Pinehurst on Lake Erie (Bourne) was the only
individual of this species seen through the period.

The Kingbird

Goatsuckers — Shrikes: Belted Kingfishers seemed to be mostly absent from the
region this winter. The only reports before March were of one at Vandalia on
Dec 24, two there on Jan 21, and two at Olean Dec 26 (Eaton). Several Yellow-
shafted Flickers were observed in scattered localities. Of interest was the record
of a Red-bellied Woodpecker Feb 1 and Mar 1 at Java Lake (Rosche, Blowers). Appar¬
ently this bird was present all winter. Two more of these woodpeckers were re¬
ported Mar 24 at Pavilion (Annabel rep. Rosche). Phoebes appeared from Mar 22
on. Four Horned Larks (alpestris) on Feb 1 1 at Bay View (Bourne) were unusual.
No swallows were reported in March. Tufted Titmice continue to be observed regu¬
larly in widespread areas but the Carolina Wrens were little in evidence in the
region. The only reports were on Jan 4 at Jamestown (Raistric rep. Anderson) Mar
8 at Angola (Brockners) and Mar 19-31 at Chautauqua Lake (Knott, Mealy). A
Mockingbird appeared Dec 31 at Snyder and was still there at the end of the period
(Knox et al). Another was seen Dec 3 at Niagara Falls and on Mar 26 at the same
place (Heilborn). On Dec 18 and 28 a Mockingbird was observed at Lakewood,
Chautauqua County (Beal et al). Robins wintered in a number of localities in the
region. On Jan 25 and Feb 22 individual Hermit Thrushes were noted (Rosche, Clark,
et al) on Grand Island. In the same place a Brown Thrasher was found on Jan 25
by these observers. Another Thrasher which probably wintered was seen on Feb 1 2
and 28 at Williamsville (Clark, Rubach). Bluebirds continued rather scarce, the
first notappearing until Mar 18 in Hamburg (Bourne).

Vireos — Warblers: At least 1 1 Myrtle Warblers were located in the vicinity
of bayberry bushes and evergreens on Jan 4 near Alden (Wolfling). Ten were
noted at the same place On Feb 14 (Andrle, Thill). One Myrtle Warbler was seen
for three days in Dec in Wellsville (Davie rep. Maddren) and another was observed
at Corwin Jan 12 (Lehrer).

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Redwinged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and Brown¬
headed Cowbirds wintered in a number of widespread localities. One Rusty Black¬
bird remained near a feeding station from Dec 2-20 at Hamburg (Avery, Bourne).
The first migrants of this species was a flock of 25 at Chautauqua Lake Mar 19
(Anderson). American Goldfinches seemed to be more numerous than usual while
a few small flocks of Pine Siskins were reported through the period. The only
White-winged Crossbills to appear were eight near Vandalia Dec 26 (Eaton), five at
Youngstown Feb 1 (Wendlings), and one on Mar 22 at Allegheny State Park (Wheeler
rep. Rosche). Rufous-sided Towhees were reported from four places in the region
during December and January. Vesper, Savannah, Field, and Fox Sparrows appeared
during the last week in March. A male Oregon Junco came to a feeder at Lewiston
all through the period (Klabundes et al), while another appeared from Jan 22 to
Feb 14 at a feeding station in Kenmore (Webster et al). Several others were re¬
ported from various places in the region. An unusual occurrence was that of a
Chipping Sparrow at a feeder from Jan 1 to at least Mar 1 in East Aurora (Loersch
rep. Rosche). Single White-crowned Sparrows appeared at three feeding stations
in Hamburg and East Aurora through most of the period. In Dec and Jan from
two to three White-throated Sparrows were observed at a feeder in Hamburg (Bacon,
Bourne). On Jan 31 a Swamp Sparrow was seen at Wilson (Rosche et al). Also at
Wilson a flock of 200 Lapland Longspurs on Jan 1 1 was most interesting and from
12 to 15 were also reported from the Youngstown area on Feb 15 (Vanderbles et al).
Buffalo Museum of Science , Buffalo

REGION 2 —GENESEE
Howard S. Miller

This area experienced a real old-fashioned winter. The snowfall was
within one inch of the greatest total ever recorded in this region. While the
lowest recorded temperature was -2°, temperatures averaged below normal
most of the time. However, occasional brief thaws prevented as heavy an
accumulation of snow on the ground as was present during the winter a year
ago. Pheasants seemed to have come through the winter in good shape, and

The Kingbird

some at least of the semi-hardy species wintered successfully. The northern
finches made a rather poor showing, only the Eevning Grosbeak and Pine
Siskin being regularly reported. The northern white-winged gulls were
also scarce. In spite of the fact that the winter s heaviest snowfalls came late
(19 inches on March 13 and 9 inches on March 27), the spring migration
seemed more advanced than last year.

Loone — Ducks: Two Common Loons on Conesus Lake Dec 6 (GO$ hike) were
the last seen for the period. A single Red-throated Loon on March 31 at Webster
Park (Kemnitzer) was the only report of this species. A Red-necked Grebe was
present on Irondequoit Bay from Mar 8 to 14, and 38 were seen Mar 31 at Webster
Park (Kemnitzer), Twelve Horned Grebes were seen on Canandaigua Lake Jan 1 8
(Whites), about six wintered on Sodus Bay (G. Jones), and a very few were reported
along Lake Ontario. No Pied-billed Grebes were reported. A single Gannet was
seen Dec 7 near the Russell Station (W. Lloyd). Eight Great Blue Herons were noted
Mar 26 at 1000 Acre Swamp (Kemnitzer), and a wintering bird was seen in Pittsford
Feb 3 (Cameron). No other herons were reported during the period. Last spring
Whistling Swans were almost unreported in this area. This spring, however, there
was a heavy flight, peak numbers being 58 Mar 21 at Ducand (Tanghe), 191 on
Mar 22 at Braddock's Bay by the same observer, and 220 Mar 23 in the same place
(L. Moon). The spring flight of Canada Geese seemed about overage. Some Mallards
and Black Ducks were the only wintering "puddle" ducks except for a single
Green-winged Teal seen Dec 21 and Feb 22 at Ling Road and a Wood Duck Dec 21
at Irondequoit Creek (Klonick). Three Blue-winged Teal were seen Mar 28 at
Sandy Creek (O'Hara et al). Nine Shovellers and 30 Ring-necked Ducks were seen
Mar 21 at Sodus Bay (GOS hike). Some 300 Redheads and 130 Canvasbacks were
on Canandaigua Lake Jan 18 (Dakin), and 50 of the former and 60 of the latter
were seen Jan 25 on Sodus Bay (E. Brown, Miller). 2500 Common Goldeneyes were
seen Jan 18 in the Manitou area (Listman). A flock of about 20 Buffleheads
wintered at Rigney's Bluff. 5000 Oldsquaws on Dec 31 and 2000 on Mar 26 along
the east lake shore (Kemnitzer) are high counts for this species. Some 1000 White¬
winged Scoters Dec 31 and 750 Mar 26 in the same area and by the same observer
are also noteworthy totals. Ten Surf and two Common Scoters were seen Dec 2
at Oklahoma Beach (Listman). A Ruddy Duck was noted Jan 18 at Summerville
(Rising). Four Hooded Mergansers were seen at Sodus Bay Mar 21 (GOS hike).

Hawks-Owls: A Goshawk seen Dec 11-14 in Powder Mill Park (Whites,

Dakins, Zeitler) was the year's first record of this bird. Redtailed Hawks were rather
common this winter. A fairly good early hawk flight under favorable wind con¬
ditions Mar 20 brought 30 Red-shouldered Hawks in addition to some of the other
early migrating species along the west lake shore (Starling). Rough-legged Hawks
were rather scarce this winter. A Pigeon Hawk was reported from the vicinity of
her feeder at Avon during December (Haller). Twelve Ruffed Grouse were seen at
Canadice Lake Dec 27. Twelve American Coots were at Canandaigua Lake on Jan
1 8(Dakin). A Killdeer was seen Dec 21 at Charlotte (Tanghe) and the first migrants
were three birds reported Mar 1 at Conesus Lake (W. Lloyd). The first American
Woodcock was reported Mar 20 from Hamlin (GOS hike).

A single Glaucous Gull was seen Feb 4 at Summerville (Starling), and another wa-
seen Feb 15 at Sodus Bay (E. Brown, Miller), An Iceland Gull was noted Feb 28
on the Genesee River (Starling, Miller). Six Mourning Doves were seen at Powder
Mill Park Dec 1 1 (Starling) and 18 at Avon Jan 15 (Haller). In addition, about 30
birds of this species frequented the feeders north and northwest of Rochester.
The Snowy Owl was reported Jan 20 and 26, Feb 8 ad Mar 5 and 19 from
Braddock's (Listman et al). These reports apparently represent two birds, a large
dark one and a smaller whiter one. Two Long-eared Owls were seen Feb 7 in
heavy evergreen growth on Frisbee Hill Road (Starling, Miller). A few Short-eared
Owls wintered around Braddock's with the maximum number of eight being seen Mar
28 (Tanghe, Listman). This last figure may in part represent migrating birds. A
Saw-whet Owl was observed Dec 29 in Penfield (Liestman).

Goatsuckers — Shrikes: The Belted Kingfisher was seen Dec 21 and Jan 21
at Powder Mills Park (Starling), Dec 21 at Irondequoit Creek (Miller), and Mar 21
at Summerville (Starling, Miller). The last bird may well be a migrant. The

The Kingbird

Yellow-shafted Flicker was noted Jan 3 in Irondequoit (O'Hara et al). Three birds
were seen Jan 15 at Avon (Haller), and two birds were noted in Reed Road Swamp
Feb 8 (Kirvin). Five Pileated Woodpeckers were seen in the "upland lakes" area
Dec 27 (Christmas census), two were seen Jan 2 at Avon (Haller), one was observed
Jan 21 at Powder Mill Park (Starling), and still another was seen four times during
the period on the east side of Irondequoit Bay (Sunderlin). Ten Red-bellied Wood¬
peckers were seen Jan 15 at Avon (Haller) and one was noted Jan 4-31 at Pelleth
Road (Starling, Miller). A Red-headed Woodpecker was seen Jan 31 at Avon
(Haller). A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen Dec 6 and Feb 1 in the Reed Road
area (Kirvins) and another bird was seen Dec 1 1 and Jan 25 in Powder Mill Park
(Starling, Listman, Brown). The only Phoebe reported was a bird seen Mar 31 at
Honeoye Lake (Listman). Fifty Horned Larks were noted in Webster Jan 17
(McNetts).

A maximum of eight Tufted Titmice spent the winter around feeders on the
east lake shore. This species seems to be well established in that area. Twelve
Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen Dec 14 in Durand (Dobson). Brown Creepers
seemed more common than usual this past winter. No Carolina Wrens were re¬
ported. A Brown Thrasher was seen Dec 17 in Powder Mill Park (Starling) and
again on Feb 15 in the same place (Kirwin, Starling). Forty-five Robins were noted
Dec 21 (Christmas census), but only a few of these spent the entire winter in the
area. Two Bluebirds were seen Dec 29 in Powder Mill Park (Starling). The first
migrant appeared Mar 21 at Manitou (GOS hike). Twelve Bohemian Waxwings
were seen in Duran Dec 21 (Christmas census). Four birds seen Jan 4 (Whites,
Miller) was the last report of these unusual visitors. Northern Shrikes were regular
but rather scarce this winter, not more than one appearing on any single report. Two
Loggerhead Shrikes seen on Mar 21 (GOS hike) were the first of the season.

Vireos — Sparrows: A Myrtle Warbler was seen Dec 6 and Feb 8 at Cedar
Springs (Starling, Kirvins), and four were noted in Durand Dec 21 (Christmas Census).
These latter birds were not reported subsequently. A Yellowthroat was seen Dec 21
at Ling Road (O'Hara), and another was seen Jan 1 1 at Powder Mill Park (Starling).
An Eastern Meadowlark was noted Dec 7 at Ling Road (Zeitler), and eight were
observed oh Mar 20 migrating at Braddock's Bay (Starling). About 1000 Redwinged
Blackbirds were seen Mar 20 at Braddock's (Listman). For the second straight year
a Baltimore Oriole was reported on the Christmas census, a bird being present in
Irondequoit from Dec 1-21 (Leubner et al).

A single Rusty Blackbird was noted Mar 1 at Ling Road (Brown and Miller),
and another was seen Mar 28 at Manitou (O'Hara et al). Ten Brown-headed Cow-
birds were seen at a feeder in Irondequoit Feb 8 (Denison). A record number of
91 Cardinals was reported on the Dec 21 Christmas census. Evening Grosbeaks
seemed to be mostly confined to the east lake shore, where flocks of up to 75 were
reported from the McNett and Sunderlin feeders. Fifteen Purple Finches from
Durand Mar 8 (Davis) was the high count for the area. The Pine Grosbeak was
entirely absent, and the only Common Redpolls reported were two birds in Webster
Dec 21 and four Mar 31 in Irondequoit (L. Moon). Pine Siskins were regular in
medium flocks, the largest being one of 30 birds in Durand Mar 22 (Dobson,
Tanghe). A flock of 150 Goldfinches was seen Jan 21 on Pelleth Road (Starling,
Miller).

Four White-winged Crossbills were noted Dec 13 at Pelleth Road (Kemnitzer and
Listman), A Rufous-sided Towhee was reported all of December at Durand, and two
birds were also seen at Pelleth Road throughout the same month (Kemnitzer). One
of these birds was still present Mar 1 (Suber et al). An immature White-crowned
Sparrow appeared Jan 17 at the McNett feeder just north of Irondequoit Bay and
was still present Mar 31. This is our first winter record for this species. Nineteen
White-throated Sparrows were seen Dec 21 (Christmas census), and many of these
wintered successfully. Some 105 Song Sparrows were noted Dec 21 (Christmas
census) with one observer (Tanghe) recording 78 along a stretch of the lower Genesee
River. Lapland Longspurs were reported in small flocks, the largest being one of
15 birds seen in Webster Mar 29 (Davis), The largest flock of Snow Buntings
reported was one of 300 in Webster, also on Mar 29 (Davis).

61 Richland St., Rochester 9

The Kingbird

REGION 3 — FINGER LAKES
Sally F. Hoyt

This winter offered strange and interesting contrasts with last winter.
We shuddered, as December wore on, wondering if it was a promise of a
year worse than last. Heavy snows and record-breaking low temperatures
for the month covered natural food early and drove waterfowl from small
lakes and ponds onto large ones farther south. Horned Grebes were caught
by the early freeze-up. The first part of Janary was similar — then came a
thaw, with floods on Jan 22, removing almost entirely the snow cover. Feb¬
ruary and March had below normal temperatures, but almost no snoW.
Consequently the birds were able to find plenty of food to provide the needed
heat and energy, and probably made out better than in 1958. Frost pene¬
trated deep into the ground, and it remains to be seen if there will be much
plant damage from winter "burn” and drying conditions.

Among winter visitors, there were few Snowy Owls, Northern Shrikes
and Rough-legged Hawks. Purple Finches, Pine Siskins and Evening
Grosbeaks were our winter finches this year, but not in record-breaking
numbers by any means.

Loons — Ducks: Again there have been very few reports of Loons. Four
Red-necked Grebes were seen on Cayuga on Mar 31 (D. Mcllroy). Many Horned
Grebes were trapped by early freezes, and, weakened by lack of food, "crash-landed”
in odd places. At least four were brought to the Laboratory of Ornithology in De¬
cember and January. A Pied-billed Grebe was found on the street in Waterloo
on Mar 17 and was banded and released by Jayson Walker, A Great Blue Heron
Was seen at Montezuma on Jan 31, and from then on an occasional one was seen
until this species became common ip late March. Of interest is the appearance of
Whistling Swans in the region this spring. On Mar 9 five were reported flying over
the Refuge Main Pool at Montezuma, and others were seen from that date until
the end of March ,the largest number being 16 on Mar 26. Other small groups
were seen on Cayuga Lake, one remained near Penn Yan on Keuka in March and
early April (Lerch), and four stopped off at the south end of Seneca the last week
in March.

Due to the early severe winter conditions, all geese, except for two Canadas
that joined the captive flock, left Montezuma during the first week of December
(quite in contrast to last year). Six Canadas arrived Feb 27. The numbers built up
slowly, until by Apr 1, 2500 geese were roosting nightly on the ice of the Main
Pool. Old-timers said they had never seen as many Canada Geese on Cayuga Lake.
Spofford estimated 20,000 on Mar 28, in the Farleys Point - Union Springs area,
but this may not represent the peak count. Seven Snow Geese and one Blue
were seen with the Canadas on Mar 31 (D. Mcllroy) and there were other reports of
one and two at a time for several weeks.

Three Black Ducks were recorded on the Big Spring at Montezuma on Jan 1 and
may have wintered there. Blacks came with Mallards in a mixed flock of up to 200,
to feed daily at the Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary during the winter. Ward reported
Blacks in good numbers on Seneca on Dec 28. There were four Blacks on the
Conhocton River at Avoca on Mar 22 (Carter). A female American Widgeon
appeared some days at Sapsucker Woods in the early part of the winter, and three
males were seen on Mar 12; four were at Union Springs on Mar 14 (Spofford) and
21 at Watkins Glen on Mar 17-27 (Bardeen). The first Pintail was recorded at
Montezuma on Feb 27, but one had been seen at the south end of Cayuga on Jan 12.
An early Green-winged Teal showed up at Sapsucker Woods on Mar 9, A pair of
Wood Ducks flew back and forth daily from the Stewart Park duck pond to Sap¬
sucker Woods Sanctuary.

The cold early winter brought diving ducks in early and in good numbers on
Cayuga, especially at the north end. For example, Scheider counted over 5,000 Red
heads, mostly near Canoga, and 1300 Canvasbacks on the census on Jan 17. The
total Region 3 count of these divers on the waterfowl census was 1 1,630 Redheads,

The Kingbird

5,689 Canvasbacks and over 3,000 Scaup, the highest for these three species in
some years. Canvasbacks and Redheads were not so common on Seneca at the
first of the year (Ward), but increased in late February and early March, and 500
(mixed) were seen at the south end of Seneca at that time (A. Robinson). An early
Ring-neck was seen by Spofford on Cayuga on Mar 8. Not as many Goldeneyes
were reported on Cayuga as in other winters. Two Buffleheads were at Union Springs
on Mar 14 (Spofford). There were no Old-Squaws on Keuka this year, but five
were seen on Cayuga on Feb 22 (Walker) and more were reported as March wore on.
Reports of Scoters were almost completely absent on all lakes. Fewer reports this
winter of Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, although 14 Commons were seen on
the Chemung River on Jan 1.

Manager Morse of the Montezuma Federal Wildlife Refuge reports that the
first waterfowl census of the year, taken on Mar 20 there, showed: Mallards 18,
Blacks 11, Pintail 6, American Widgeon 4, Shoveller 6, Ring-necks 43, Canvasback
1, Scaup 1, Bufflehead 3, Hooded Merganser 1 1, Common Merganser 2, Red-breasted
Merganser 1, Goldeneyes 20. The peak for the period, during the week of Mar 22
to 28, showed: Mallards 450, Blacks 550, Pintails 550, Green-winged Teal 4,
American Widgeon 700, Shovellers 2, Wood Ducks 8, Ring-necks 40, Scaup 7,
Goldeneyes 15, Hooded Mergansers, 4, Red-breasted Merganser 1 (Total ducks 2,331).

Hawks — Owls: The Turkey Vulture was seen at Montezuma on Mar 31 (D.
Mcllroy). Again there have been almost no reports of Sharp-shinned Hawks, but one,
possibily two, hung around the Aviary and feeding station at Sapsucker Woods Labora¬
tory for a week in mid-January, as did a pair of Cooper's Hawks off and on during
January and February. A Cooper's was seen at Avoca on Mar 20 and again Mar
30 (Carter). Red-tailed Hawks were reported regularly all winter. For example,
the Laboratory of Ornithology census group tallied 14 of them on Jan 1. On Feb.
14 Spofford saw ten at Montezuma. Most interesting is the fact that Spofford also
saw a pair nest-building in an oak near Union Springs on Feb 1. There was at
least one egg in the nest on Mar 8, and the bird was incubating on Mar 14. This
is the earliest egg date in Spofford's voluminous records. The first Red-shouldered
Hawk returned to Sapsucker Woods on Mar 15. Compared to the last two years
there were few Rough-legged Hawks this winter, although scattered reports came in,
and Spofford saw four of them on Feb 14 at Montezuma. There was a small Hawk
flight over Ithaca on Mar 24 — mostly Buteos and Sparrow Hawks. The pair of
eagles at Montezuma was seen sitting on the nest on Nov 22, spotted briefly on Dec
13 (Morse), and then not reported again until Feb 22, when Spofford saw one over
the storage pool. Twe were present on Mar 14, and they were noted off and on at
the nest in the next two weeks. They definitely were not incubating by the end of
the month, although they have usually started sitting in late March in other years
(Spofford).

An extremely interesting observation is reported by Manager Morse of Montezuma.
On Mar 28 a first year Golden Eagle flew over the storage pond and was circled by
the pair of White-headed Eagles. Morse at first thought the bird was a Rough¬
legged Hawk, but as the male White-head approached the other bird, it was evident
that the newcomer was distinctly larger than the White-head, and was undoubtedly
a Golden Eagle. This would be a first record of this species for the Cayuga Lake
Basin. No reports of Peregrines. A Pidgeon Hawk was seen a little south of
Branchport on Feb 3 (Spiker). None reported there last year.

Ruffed Grouse and Ring-necked Pheasants were scarce throughout the region,
although the Chemung Valley census group reported seeing 24 Pheasants on Jan 1.
Not one appeared in my hedges or yard all winter. Coots were missing from the
south end of Cayuga this winter, except for an occasional individual. Twenty of
them, however, were at the south end of Seneca from Feb 19 into March (Bardeen),
and the first one appeared at Montezuma on Mar 14 (Morse).

Killdeer came in on time, in usual numbers. The first Woodcock at Ithaca was
reported by Harold Cox on the Coddington Road on Mar 16, and this species has
been reported at more stations this year than recently. The first one at Avoca was
Mar 17 (Carter) and at Horseheads Mar 23 (Bates). An early report of a Pectoral
Sandpiper is that from Avoca on Mar 26 (Carter).

No White-winged Gulls were reported this winter, but this may represent poor

34 The Kingbird

coverage of the lakes and dumps. Great Black-backed Gulls were fewer at Ithaca —
only nine seen on the Jan 1 census. One wintered at Watkins Glen on Seneca, and
one was seen on Jan 18 at Penn Yan (Lerch et al). Until- last year this Gull was a
rare visitor on Keuka. The January first census at Ithaca likewise produced far
fewer Herring Gulls (325) and somewhat fewer Ring-bills (8) than in past years
(for example, in 1940 2500 Herring Gulls were counted).

Arthur Lane had a maximum number of 35 Mourning Doves at his station in
Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, as opposed to 60-80 the year before. In Avoca four
appeared at a feeder on Mar 6. Screech Owls appeared to be scarce everywhere, and
there were a Isp fewer reports of Horned Owls. There was just one report of a Snowy
Owl near Ithaca — in mid-January, on Hanshaw Road Extension (E. Adams). The
Barred Owl was heard calling from time to time in Sapsucker Woods, and one was
also reported from Mt. Pleasant, east of Ithaca, in January (L. Pearsall). A Long¬
eared Owl spent most of January and February on a slope behind Fernow Hall on
the Cornell campus. Short-eared Owls were found by Scheider in the Canpga
marshes on Jan 17.

Swifts — Shrikes: One wintering Belted Kingfisher was found, at Myers, on
several occasions (D. G. Allen). Flickers wintered in small numbers, and came to
feeders. Six were seen at once in Stewart Park in Ithaca in early January, feeding
on wild fruits (Hoyt). Pileateds were reported at several new stations around Ithaca,
and one pair appeared on the Cornell campus at intervals. One and possibly two
Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen regularly from Dec 14 on, in Stewart Park or just
to the west, along Cayuga inlet, and these, with two found at Montezuma by
W. Spofford, made a high count of probably four for the Ithaca census group on Jan 1.
As the Cayuga Basin has not had the same number of Red-bellied Woodpeckers
that the Onondaga region has had in the past couple of winters, this winter's report
is encouraging. A Red-bellied was also found in Hornell from Nov 1 to Mar 30,
in the same place as it was seen in 1951 (Groesbeck). In several areas it was noted
that Downy Woodpeckers were scarcer this year. As Avoca this decrease was re¬
ported as 50 per cent (Carter),

Ithaca's first Phoebe was seen by Mrs. Doris Brann in Ellis Hollow on Mar 21.
Prairie Horned Larks were not reported in January, but began appearing by the end
of February, and on the weekend of Mar 27-30 were abundant.

Two most unusual reports are of Tree Swallows, in December and January.
Jason Walker saw three of them on Dec 28, a few miles northwest of Waterloo,
"insecting" over a small stream. They could not be found the next day. Twice
during early January three were seen just north of Lyons (Spencer)

Most feeding station operators felt that Blue Jays had increased considerably,
and I myself banded 12 in December and had one return of an old bird. And from
my own observations around the countryside. Crows either have increased a lot, or
have adopted new flight plans. Tufted Titmice were down slightly in numbers; one
wintered on the Keuka College campus (Guthrie) and a few appeared at Ithaca
feeders. There was a partial albino White-breasted Nuthatch at a feeder in Odessa
in February (Graham). No reports of wintering Red-breasted Nuthatches. Brown
Creepers fed regularly outside the Laboratory windows at Sapsucker Woods; else¬
where they were reported as scarce. There were fewer Carolina Wrens in the Ithaca
region, but one wintered at Keuka successfully, one at Watkins Glen (Mrs. Louise
Hope), one at Geneva (L. Ward) and one was seen by the Chemung Valley group
on Jan 1. Winter Wrens were not reported from anywhere in the region. The
Mockingbird was seen all winter at Esperanza (just north of Branchport), and one
appeared for a short time at the Shepherd feeder at Ludlowville, then disappeared
in January. A Brown Thrasher was seen in December in the Cornell Rose Garden
(Gebhart).

Only one or two reports of Robins around Ithaca this winter, and few elsewhere
in the region, except a "small flock" in the Glen area at Watkins Glen on Dec 7
(Brubaker). No Bluebirds by the end of March at Avoca, one at Reading Center on
Mar 30 (Kopp), reported as scarce at Keuka (Guthrie), but cautiously we report
that early Bluebirds have been somewhat more numerous this year in Ithaca area
than last year (Hartshorne, Hoyt). Almost no Kinglet reports all winter. Cedar
Waxwings were seen frequently and in numbers at Watkins Glen, Burdett, and

The .Kingbird 35

around Ithaca. Two Water Pipits were seen at Myers Pt., on Cayuga on Feb 28 and
Mar 6 (Gebhart). A Northern Shrike spent the whole winter, through March, at the
Gustav Swanson farm south of Ithaca and sang frequently. Spofford saw and heard
one singing at Montezuma Feb 22 and again Mar 22, and one was seen n. e. of
Sapsucker Woods on Jan 1 (A.A.A.). Otherwise unreported. A Loggerhead was
seen at Horseheads on Mar 27 (Bates) and one near Sapsucker Woods Mar 31 (Hoyt).

Vireos — Sparrows: A Myrtle Warbler was seen near Seneca Lake at Watkins
Glen on Dec 27 (Brubaker) and one at Indian Pines at the head of Keuka Lake on
Jan 6 (Orcutt). Up to three were reported quite regularly in Stewart Park, Ithaca,
all winter, but there were no feeding station reports this year.

The only winter Meadowlark report I received was of four near Interlaken on
Jan 19 (Taylor Merrill), but they arrived in large numbers the last weekend in March.
Only a couple of Redwings were seen during the winter, only a few Grackles, and no
Rusties, but the wintering Icterid this year was the Cowbird. Everywhere in the
region they were descending on feeders, especially in December and January. Mal¬
colm Lerch banded almost 1 00 Cowbirds at Penn Yan in December. The Sapsucker
Woods flock of 40 had dwindled to six or eight in early February, but I had 20 or
so through February at Etna. An albino Cowbird was seen Jan 23 at Elmira (K.
Fudge and Mary Smith). The first large flock of Grackles was reported Mar 3
(D. West). Cardinals were down somewhat in numbers in most places, although Mrs.
Carter reports that they now seem well established at Avoca where none were known
prior to 1 948.

It was an odd year as far as Evening Grosbeaks were concerned, for while they
were very abundant at some feeding stations, others, who normally have them in
Grosbeak years, reported having none. They were much scarcer at Keuka and Penn
Yan, but in fair numbers at Geneva, where sometimes they do not occur. At Avoca
they were more numerous than they had ever been (Carter) and 100 Grosbeaks fed all
winter at Hornell. They were at feeders in Odessa/Watkins Glen, and Montour
Falls, but rarely at rural feeders there. My flock at Etna varied from 35-75, about
the same as last year's.

The predominant Winter finch was the Purple Finch — although it was not until
late January or early February that this was evident. Numerous calls were received
at the Laboratory about "raspberry-colored birds" at feeders, and small flocks of
them were found in sheltered areas. After Feb 15, they were found in small
numbers at Avoca, and Hornell. Early in the reporting period. Pine Siskins were
noted, but except at Keuka, there were not many of these later. The usual small
flocks of Goldfinches occurred. The hoped-for Crossbill invasion did not occur,
and Pine Grosbeaks were absent. There were just a few scattered reports of Red¬
polls. At least three Rufous-sided Towhees wintered in the region: one in Forest
Home, Ithaca, one at Clifton Springs (Paris Trail) and one was seen Jan 1 at Elmira.
A Vesper Sparrow was seen at Geneva Jan 12 (Smith). Juncos occurred in Avoca,
where they do not usually winter (Carter), and they were in usual numbers elsewhere.
Tree Sparrows were down in numbers at Ithaca, Etna, Keuka and Avoca. Mrs.
Carter, at Avoca, reports that she fed 22 this winter, in contrast to her usual flock
of 50, and that they were later in arriving, earlier in leaving. Julian Shepherd saw
two Field Sparrows at Myers Pt. on Cayuga on Jan 8, and two were found at Elmira
on Jan 1. One White-crowned Sparrow was seen in Geneva Dec 28 (P. Trail). Pair
of White-throats were at the Hungtington feeder east of Ithaca in December, one
spent the first half of the winter at A. Lane's feeder at Sapsucker Woods, then
disappeared, one was seen in Geneva on Jan 17 (Murden) and a one-legged one
appared in Trumansburg during January (Townsend). Lane had the first Fox
Sparrow reported on Mar 21, four were seen at Hornell on Mar 28, none appeared
at Avoca. While a flock of 100 Snow Buntings was seen at Reading Center on Dec
28, another flock of 100 at Watkins Glen on Mar 4 (Beardsley), and another at
Geneva on Jan 5 (Peck), no large flocks appeared this year; the largest number I
saw at one one time was ten.

Addition: Omitted from my report from the fall season, and worthy of mention

now, is a Goshawk seen by David Allen over Connecticut Hill on Nov 10.

Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca

The Kingbird

REGION 4 — SUSQUEHANNA
Leslie E. Bemont

It has been a decidedly cold winter with little snow. The only major
snow storm came March II and 12 when about twelve inches fell. About
five inches on Jan 16 takes second place. At Norwich and Bainbridge ice
was the major hardship. It was the second coldest December on record and
the coldest month of the season. Freezing temperatures or lower occurred
every day of the month in Binghamton and on only ten days did the tempera¬
ture go above freezing at all. Consequently what little snow fell lasted a
long time and there were one to five inches on the ground at all times. Jan¬
uary was closer to normal but still averaged on the cold side. Snow cover
was almost as persistent as in December but was reduced to a trace several
times, although it never disappeared. February was close to normal in
temperature but was remarkable for the lack of snow. On few days in
the month was there more than a trace of snow on the ground. March
brought more snow than any other month, mostly as a result of the one
big storm, but there were several minor snowfalls, too. Temperatures,
although averaging below normal, were high enough so there was appreciable
snow cover only a few days at a time. The coldness of the winter was
largely a matter of persistence and average, rather than extremes, since there
were only four days when the temperature went below zero in Binghamton
and only six days at the weather station at Broome County Airport during
the whole period.

There was a good flight of “winter finches", mainly Evening Grosbeaks,
Pine Siskins and Goldfinches, but most other species were represented, too.
There was also a pretty good representation of species that normally winter
farther south. The most surprising were a Parula Warbler and a Baltimore
Oriole, but the number of wintering Robins and Cowbirds was noteworthy,
too. The relatively light snow cover and the good fruit and seed crop of last
fall were, no doubt, responsible for all but the mast startling of the ^laggards",
but the former condition did not produce the Rough-legged Hawk records
one might expect. The persistence of the December snow cover, rather than
its depth, probably caused them to move farther on early in the season. This
has been one of the most interesting winter seasons in recent years.

Loons — Ducks: No Loons and only one Horned Grebe was reported during
the period. The grebe was on the Susquehanna River at Endicott from Mar 15 to
20 (Misner). A Pied-billed Grebe on the Susquehanna just west of Endicott Jan 1 1
(Bemont), was likewise the only one reported. There were no' reports of wintering
Great Blue Herons. The first migrant of the species was at the Whitney Point Flood
Control Dam Mar 25 (N. Washburn, H. Marsi, Doren).

Fifty-five Canada Geese at Whitney Point Mar 16 (Linaberry, Marsi), the first
ones reported, and four flocks heard flying over Oxford the night of Mar 19
(Stratton) are the highlights of a somewhat late, but so far fairly heavy flight.
Wintering Mallards were about normal — 350 at the Sherburne Game Farm
(Whites) and the usual small numbers here and there on the rivers of the region.
Wintering Black Ducks showed a similar pattern, except there were only about 70
at the Sherburne Game Farm and about 50 at a second “headquarters" on the
Susquehanna River just inside the western city line of Binghamton. A distinct
increase in the number of both species was apparent in the reports from most parts
of the region about Mar 20. Our first American Widgeons were two at Greene Mqr
22 (Bartlett, Gilbert, Maxon). Twenty were on Little York Lake, near Homer, Mar
28 (Gustafson) and twenty more were at Whitney Point Dam Mar 29 (Sheffields, E,

The Kingbird 37

Washburn, Saunders). A Pintail on the Susquehanna at Endicott Mar 4 was our first
(Misner). There were no more reported until Mar 25, but on Mar 29 there were
over 50 at Whitney Point (Sheffields, E. Washburn, Saunders), an unusually large
concentration for this species in this region. A lone Green-winged Teal wintered at
the Sherburne Game Farm (Whites), but our first migrant was one at Greene Mar 22
(Bartlett, Gilbert, Maxon). A male Wood Duck' was found at Chenango Valley
State Park, near Binghamton, Dec 28 on the Christmas Census (Sheffields) and
another Wood Duck wintered at the Sherburne Game Farm (Whites). Five migrants
were at Greene Mar 22 (Bartlett, Gilbert, Maxon).

Three Redheads were found Jan 18, during the Waterfowl Census, on the
Susquehanna just inside the western Binghamton City Line (Hannans) and have not
been reported since. Ring-necked Ducks were first found at Whitney Point Mar 25
(Marsi, N. Washburn, Doren). Four Canvasbacks were on the Susquehanna west
of Endicott Jan 1 1 (Bemont). There were also two Feb records; two on the 18th
at Homer (Gustafson) and five at Endicott on the 25th (Misner), and two Mar records.
A female Lesser Scaup was reported from Homer Feb 18 (Gustafson). Eight Lessers
were at Endicott Feb 25 and 26 (Misner) and a number of Scaup sp? reports came
in during March, usually of four to six birds. The 57 Common Goldeneyes re¬
corded during the Waterfowl Census indicate a comparatively high wintering popula¬
tion this year. In the Binghamton area reports show a definite increase in numbers
early in March that spread to the rest of the region during the latter half of
the month. Only one Old-squaw reported; that one on Little York Lake at Homer
(Gustafson). Two male Hooded Mergansers at Deposit Mar 17 (Wilson) were our
first. Many more were reported before the end of the period, the best numbers
being twenty or so near Greene Mar 22 (Bartlett, Gilbert, Maxon). The 149
Common Mergansers recorded during the Waterfowl Census is the lowest total
in four years.

Hawks — Owls: There were several Sharp-shinned Hawks reported during the
period, but only two Cooper's Hawks; one on the south side of Binghamton Jan 26
(Marsi) and one at Unadilla Mar 26 (Wisner). The pair of Red-tailed Hawks that
have nested on Ingraham Hill, south of Binghamton, in the past are nesting there
again this year (Howard) but no other nests have been located so far. A Red¬
shouldered Hawk near Binghamton Mar 19 (Marsi, Doren) was our first. On Mar
28, after a good look with special attention paid to the tail bars, a Buteo was
identified as a Broad-winged Hawk (Sheffields). This is about two and a half
weeks earlier than the previous earliest record, but in Eaton's "Birds of New York"
four of the local lists, including Eaton's own, list earlier first dates. In spite of the
generally open winter there were no Rough-legged Hawks reported. There were no
Marsh Hawks reported betwen the one south of Binghamton Dec 1 (L. Mackey) and
the one at Whitney Point Mar 16 (Linaberry, Marsi). There were several more
reported after the latter date. Two Killdeer on Mar 1 were our first; one at
Kattelville (Sheffields) and one at Chenango Valley State Park (E. Washburn, Doren).
They did not become common until Mar 19. Woodcock were at Choconut Center
Mar 24 (Sheffields). A Glaucous Gull was reported in a field near Preble, in Cort¬
land Co., Feb 3 (Heppell). The 48 Herring Gulls recorded on the Binghamton
Christmas Census is the highest count of the season. Ring-billed Gulls were not
recorded until Mar 4 at Binghamton (Sheffields).

A Mourning Dove was found between Sidney and Unadilla Jan 12 (Wisner) and
another was at Newark Valley Feb 28 (Loomis). The one at McGraw Mar 19
(Horak) is more representative of the beginning of the main migration. Except for
the two recorded on the Binghamton Christmas Census, Screech Owls were unreported
during the period. There were quite a few Horned Owls reported from various parts
of the region. A Snowy Owl was seen near Lisle, in Broome Co., Mar 29 (Yeatman).
There was another report of a "big, dirty white bird" Dec 30 from near Binghamton.
A Barred Owl was seen near Deposit Dec 2 (Wilson). A Saw-whet Owl, unrecorded
from the region in the last seven years, was seen Jan 6 and heard Feb 17 near
Deposit (Wilson).

Goatsuckers — Shrikes: There were several reports of Belted Kingfishers; only
from Jan 19 to Mar 14 were we without them. Besides the four recorded on the
Binghamton Christmas Census wintering Flickers were reported Jan 10 at Choconut
Center (Sheffields) and Feb 15 in Binghamton (Doren). One at Kattelville Mar 1 may

The Kingbird

have been a migrant but they were still not common at the end of the period.
Pileated Woodpeckers were reported fairly frequently from several parts of the
region and are apparently increasing. A Red-headed Woodpecker in a sugar bush
at McGraw Mar 25 (Wilson )is believed to have been around all winter.

A Phoebe was seen just a few miles south of the Pennsylvania border Mar 21
(Washburns) but they were first seen on the New York side Mar 29, one near
Windsor (Nielsons) and one near Maine (Beaver), but no more were found in the
next two days. Horned Larks were inconspicuous until a flock of 30 was reported
near the Broome County Airport Feb 5 but they were reported frequently after that.
A flock of 25 reported from Bainbridge Mar 22 (E. J. Smith) was probably made up
of either migrants or local birds whose nests were destroyed by the Mar 11-12
snowfall since actively nesting birds would probably be more dispersed. Five or so
Tree Swallows seen at Windsor Mar 28 (Nielsens) were the only ones reported in
March.

Blue Jays have been much more common than usual in Bainbridge (E. J. Smith),
Unadilla (Wisner), Binghamton and Deposit (Wilson). Mr. Wilson banded 166
of them during the period. At Binghamton 299 were counted on the Christmas
census where the previous high was 134 the Christmas of 1954. At Deposit Crows
were also unusually common (Wilson). At Binghamton they were also quite common
but not much more so than in previous peak years. At Unadilla Black-capped
Chickadees were "not especially numerous" (Wisner) but in Binghamton the Christmas
Census figures show a peak year —-459 as compared to the previous high of 412
the Christmas of 1957. A Tufted Titmouse has been around the house of Mr. S.
Wilson near Deposit since Feb 16. On Mar 20 and again the next day a Tufted
Titmouse was found near Willow Point, across the river from Johnson City, a new
location (Washburns). Several Red-breasted Nuthatches were reported in late
December and early January, the last one Jan 1 1 a little north of Binghamton (Benyi).
They were next reported Mar 8 at Maine, in Broome Co., where four or more were
found together (Beaver).

A Winter Wren was at Port Dickinson, just north of Binghamton, Dec 14
(Dechen) and one was found on the Binghamton Christmas Census at Chenango
Valley State Park Dec 28 (Sheffields). At Norwich one was seen Jan 14, Feb 26
and Feb 27 (Whites). No Carolina Wrens. There were twenty-four reports of
Robins from Dec 1 to Feb 28; seven in Dec, twelve in Jan and five in Feb. Only
the reports of 16 in a flock just north of Binghamton in January (L. Young) and
10-15 in Unadilla from Feb 12 to 15 involved more than three birds. The one at
Homer Feb 28 (Roy) was probably the first reported migrant. They could be seen
in good numbers from Mar 8 on, but it wasn't until Mar 18 that they became really
common. Four early Bluebirds were reported in Binghamton Feb 23 (P. Wall). They
were next seen north of Binghamton Mar 20 (Marsi, Doren) and there have been
a fair number of reports from several parts of the region since, but at Cortland,
Deposit and Norwich, all areas covered by active observers, there were none re¬
ported before the end of the period. At Deposit Golden-crowned Kinglets were
fairly common all winter (Wilson), but at Binghamton there were very few reported
after Jan 4. On Dec 12 a Ruby-crowned Kinglet was at Port Dickinson (Dechen)
and another was found on the Binghamton Christmas Census (Hannans). There were
many reports of flocks of Cedar Waxwings numbering up to 72 birds in a flock until
Jan 27; however a flock of 50 at Sidney Feb 16 (E. J. Smith) was the only report
between Jan 27 and Mar 14. There were only seven Northern Shrike reports,
four of them from Oxford (Stratton). An immature was banded Dec 10 at Deposit
(J. Wilson) an done was collected near Oneonta Mar 21 (J. New). The other one was
at Whitney Point Mar 25 (H. Marsi, N. Washburn, J. Doren).

Vireos —■ Warblers: On Dec 3 a Parula Warbler was found in Endwell in such a
weakened condition that it could easily be caught by hand when cornered in a
garage. It was kept in a cage inside the house and fed peanut butter, suet and meal
worms. It apparently regained its strength but about a month later it weakened
and died (Raiter). The specimen was turned over to Cornell University. A Myrtle
Warbler was seen and heard singing in Cortland Mar 24 (Hall).

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Three reports of wintering Meadowlarks; one at Homer
Dec 6 (Gustafson) was perhaps a late migrant, one at St. John's Pond north of
Binghamton Jan 2 (Saunders) and one at Sidney Jan 18 (Wisner). The first spring

The Kingbird

migrant was near Choconut Center Mar 1 (Sheffields). Reports were scattered until
Mar 22 when a flock of 100 was found near Bainbridge (E. J. Smith) and from
then on they were common. One Red-winged Blackbird stayed at Unadilla until
Dec 3 (Wisner). No more until Feb 20 when one was in south Binghamton (Schmidt).
Then Feb 28 some were at Newark Valley (Loomis) and three were at the IBM
Country Club (Carter). After that they became numerous with the females appearing
about Mar 22. A "nicely plumaged male" Baltimore Oriole was still at Unadilla
Dec 14 feeding on apples left on the tree (Wisner). A Rusty Blackbird was found
Dec 28 near Greene (Bartlett, Gilbert, Maxon) and another was at Norwich Dec 31
where it was seen again Jan 8 (Whites). The first reported spring migrant was at
Greene Mar 22 (Bartlett, Gilbert, Maxon). Two Common Grackles were found on
»the Binghamton Christmas Census Dec 28 and two more were seen in Johnson City
Jan 3 (Wilkins). There were no more until Mar 1 when two were at Endwell
(Bemont). They became really common after Mar 21. There was an unusual
number of winter Cowbird records. A flock of 30 was at Norwich Dec 20 (Whites),
and another flock of 30 was at Maine Feb 22 (Beaver). A flock of about that
number made irregular visits to a feeder in Binghamton most of the period (More¬
house). They were becoming numerous at Unadilla Mar 19 (Wisner). At Deposit
147 were banded during March (Wilson).

It was another big Evening Grosbeak year. At Cortland they were more common
than last year (Gustafson), and at Deposit 780 were banded during the period
(Wilsons). Around Binghamton they did not seem to be quite as common as last
year and it was almost mid January before they were coming to feeders regularly.
There have been many more reports than usual of Purple Finches around Binghamton
all during the period. Total numbers were small during December, January and
February but they were becoming more numerous during March. At Deposit 72
were banded during the period, 55 of them in March (Wilsons). They didn't appear
at Unadilla until Feb 28 or at Oneonta until mid March (J. New). Some Pine
Grosbeaks were just outside Oneonta at the end of February but then disappeared
(J. New). A few were reported around Binghamton and Oxford in the middle of
March. At the latter location a large noisy flock of mixed finches, including
Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Redpolls and perhaps Crossbills and Goldfinches, was
observed feeding in the treetops of a birch, maple, hemlock woods (Stratton). There
were no other reports of Redpolls during the period, but Pine Siskins have been
quit common since five were found on the Binghamton Christmas Census Dec 28,
Several rather large flocks were reported and on Mar 29 a "huge" mixed flock of
Siskins and Goldfinches was found at Whitney Point (Sheffields, E. Washburn,
Saunders). Goldfinches were unusually common throughout the period. 351 were
recorded on the Binghamton Christmas Census. This compares with the previous
high of 70 the Christmas of 1953. There have been a number of White-winged
Crossbill reports from Norwich, Sherburne, Pitcher in Cortland Co., Oxford and
Oneonta. The first ones were at Norwich Feb 17 (Whites). They were still present
in several areas at the end of the period.

A Rufous-sided Towhee spent the winter at a feeder in Newark Valley (Durie)
and another was found near Binghamton Mar 1 CH. Marsi). No more before the
end of the period. Slate-colored Juncoes were about normal in numbers, but as
usual were unevenly distributed so that at Bainbridge (E. J. Smith) and Unadilla
(Wisner) they were rather scarce. Tree Sparrows were normal. There were three
reports of wintering Field Sparrows; four Jan 1 1 west of Endicott with a flock of Tree
Sparrows (Bemont), one at a feeder in Unadilla Jan 18 (Wisner) and one banded
at Deposit Jan 27 (Wilsons). Dec 3 a White-throated Sparrow was banded in south
Binghamton (H. Marsi). On Dec 28 one was found during the Binghamton Christmas
Census at Chenango Valley State Park (Sheffields) and Jan 1 1 one was at a feeder
in Endicott (Bemont). For the first time a Fox Sparrow was found on the Binghamton
Christmas Census Dec 28 (Wilkins) and around the 10th of Jan one was at a feeder
just north of Binghamton (Benyi). An unusually heavy Fox Sparrow migration was
first recorded in Deposit Mar 12 (Wilsons) and has since spread to most other
areas and lasted to at least the end of the month. Top count so far was twelve,
some singing, at State Park Mar 21 (Sheffields). Most areas reported wintering
Song Sparrows. The first one heard singing was at Endicott Feb 10 (Carter). They
became common around Mar 8 at Binghamton. Small flocks of Snow Buntings were

The Kingbird

reported all during the period. The largest flock reported was 200 or more at
Unadilla Jan 7 (Wisner).

A report of a small flock of Red Crossbills at Sempronius, in Cortlad Co., on
Nov 29 (Wilson) was received too late to go in the last issue.

710 University Ave., Endwell

REGION 5 — ONEIDA LAKE BASIN
Fritz Scheider

Winter was rough, cold, and snowy, early in coming and late in leaving.
Dec saw 9-18 inches of snow from the last three days of Nov and introduced
a bout of unremitting cold (9.7 degrees/day lower than normal) and con¬
siderable cumulative ground snow (20 inches in excess). Beaver Lake froze
by Dec 7, Oneida Lake by Dec 8 and snow at Oswego made national head¬
lines and local winter-long trouble. Late Dec saw slight relief in a three-day
thaw but Jan promptly negated this and added fresh insult, snow (48 inches),
and cold. Feb had similar cold but normal snowfall; an extensive thaw oc¬
curred in the last week of Feb. Severe cold weather in the first half of
Mar froze the flooded marshes solid and various creekside flooded areas,
usually excellent for ducks, became masses of jammed and jumbled ice.
The remainder of Mar saw more snow (twice the normal amount to add to a
near-record total of 137 inches) and very gradual thawing with minimal
flooding and little migration in effect. The spring flight to date (Mar 31)
has been marked by discouraged ducks seeking open water, icterids seeking
snow-free fields, and birders seeking Bluebirds; all of the above have been
awarded with little of the sought.

Despite the very rugged winter, the number of wintering half-hardies
was amazing. Perhaps the late Nov snow and/or the early Dec freezing and
storms grounded many of this group or forced them to seek food and shelter
for such a prolonged period that subsequent migratory activity was nil.
Whatever the cause, the winter of '58-’59 will go down as an outstanding
one for half-hardies, e.g. all three mimids, Long-billed Marsh and Winter
Wrens, Myrtle Warbler, Killdeer. Christmas counts at Syracuse (66 species,
Dec 21) and Oswego-Fulton (44 species, Jan 1) and Dr. Burtt's weekly
feeder surveys for Jan, Feb, and Mar gave proof to the presence, and in the
latter case, to the persistence of many half-hardies. Also outstanding thru
this season were 1) the winter finch flight which became progressively
better thru Feb and Mar, 2) the numbers of wintering dabblers, and 3)
a fair Northern Shrike flight. On the negative side were 1) poor counts
of certain diving ducks (Canvasback, Redhead, Old-squaw), 2) low tallies
of wintering Buteos, and 3) an extremely meager "white-winged” gull flight.

Notable rarities for the season were Franklin's Gull, Goshawk, Black-
backed Woodpecker, and Oregon Junco.

Loons-Ducks: No wintering Loons. Red-necked Grebe: singles at Oswego Har¬
bor, Jan 18 and 25, and at Fulton, Mar 14. Horned Grebe: winter numbers down
with a high of three at Oswego and of 3 1 on Skaneateles Lake. Pied-billed Grebe:
two wintered at Fulton, none at Oswego; a grounded Pied-billed at Baldwinsville in
the third week of Dec is reminiscent of the grounded grebes of Feb '58 and points
to severe freezing to the north. Great Blue Heron: three wintering along Carpenter
Brook west of Camillus, Jan 2-11; first migrants on Mar 15.

The Kingbird

Canada Goose: up to 80 wintering at Howland's Island Game Management Area
(HIGMA), feeding both in the breeding stock pens and in adjacent unharvested corn¬
fields; arrival date is Mar 15, 125, Port Byron. Wintering Dabblers: higher counts
of Black Duck and Mallard (2200 and 400, respectively) at HIGMA, probably due
to the protection afforded from the protracted hunting season and to the winter-long
feeding; in other areas (Oswego, Baldwinsville, Manlius) winter numbers had dropped
considerably by mid-Jan, e.g. 337 and 48, respectively, at Oswego. Pintail: 14
wintering with the breeders at HIGMA; a male stayed at Oswego until Jan 1 but
was either shot or forced out by ice conditions thereafter. Baldpate and Soveler: two
and one, respectively, wintered at HIGMA. Wood Duck: wintering pairs at HIGMA
and Manlius and a single male at Fulton.

Migrant Dabblers: Arrival dates are Gadwall, Mar 20, one near Texas; Green¬
winged Teal, Mar 15, one, HIGMA; Baldpate, Mar 15, five, Brewerton; Shoveler,
Mar 28, one, Seneca River flats. Numbers of Baldpate and Green-winged Teal have
been low to date; migrant Black Duck, Mallard, and Pintail totals in.the 2000 plus
range.

Ring-necked Duck: no wintering birds for the first time in eight years; this may
be due to severe ice conditions or the late hunting season preventing these half-hardy
ducks from finding and remaining in the available, sheltered open-water areas.
Redhead and Canvasback: low tallies (peaks of 235 and 592 respectively in Jan)
thru the winter with a steady rise in Canvasbacks at Brewerton from 35 in Feb'
to 2000 by mid-Mar. Greater Scaup: a collection of 7000 plus birds wintered at
Minetto and in Oswego Harbor; Scaup showed only a slight Mar rise at
Brewerton (cf. Canvasback). Common Golden-eye: large numbers thru Mar with
a peak of 2500 on Oswego River, Mar 29. Bufflehead and Old-squaw: both scarce
thru the winter (peak tallies of 69 and 153, respectively) with an increase in Buffie-
heads (120 on Mar 14) thru Mar and a strange absence of Old-squaws at Oswego
from Feb 15 to Mar 29. Common Merganser: maximum winter count was 2500,
about two-fifths of normal figures; no increase in numbers in mid-Mar to indicate
returning migrants but Red-breasted Mergansers, scarce all winter at Oswego, had
risen to 600 plus actively courting birds by Mar 28 at that place.

Hawks — Owls: Goshawks: singles reported at Three Rivers GMA, Dec 14;
Syracuse, Dec 21; Oneida, Dec 28; and singles in small hawk flights on Feb 28 and
Mar 29, Selkirk Shores State Park. Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks: two to
three each noted haunting (and hunting) feeders in Jan and Feb (Dr. Burtt's feeder
survey).

First spring hawk flight, mostly Red-tailed Hawks and Harriers, noted Feb 28
at Derby Hill near Texas (Scheider) and at Selkirk Shores State Park (Spofford).
Red-tailed Hawk: wintering numbers poor with a maximum count of 1 1/day. Rough¬
legged Hawk: steady drop in wintering birds until the late Jan thaw; a brief increase
to a peak of 10/day (Feb 7) in first half of Feb, then the bird became downright
scarce (1-2/day) thru late Feb and Mar. Red-shouldered Hawk: an adult seen re¬
peatedly from Dec 31 to Feb 13 near Baldwinsville (Mathis) is the latest overwinter¬
ing here; arrival date is Feb 28. Harrier: just two thru the winter; eight on Feb 28
at Texas were obvious migrants. Peregrine: one seen in the Feb 28 flight (Spofford)
is very early; a second noted migrating over Syracuse Mar 20.

Ring-necked Pheasant: steady fall in winter numbers with flocks still separated
by sex in the first week of Mar. Kilideer: one attempting to winter at a pigsty near
Tully, seen to Jan 1 1 (Propst). Woodcock and Wilson's Snipe: arrival dates are Mar
19 and 26, respectively, both near Euclid; active courtship evident thru last week in
Mar but none in the two-day storm of Mar 27-28.

Glaucous, Iceland, and Kumlien's Gulls: irregularly reported as singles from Os¬
wego River and Harbor area with totals of nine, two, and two, respectively (very
poor); a first-year Glaucous at Syracuse on Dec 21 is an early "up-river" record. Her¬
ring and Ring-billed Gull: counts low thru Jan and Feb with peak counts of 8000
and 4000, respectively, at Oswego, Mar 14; Ring-billed Gulls increased steadily after
Feb 22 (this flight is as indicative of spring as the Feb Crow flights) and by mid-Mar
there were more Ring-billed than Herring Gulls at Brewerton (not true at Oswego)
though the ice conditions had changed but little there. Franklin's Gull: an adult
with nearly complete hood seen from Mar 15 (Spofford, Farnham) to Apr at Oswego
Harbor is a Regional first and may be a spring state record.

The Kingbird

Mourning Dove: wintered in numbers (50 plus) at Fayetteville and in smaller
numbers (2-20) at HIGMA, Bridgeport, and Cicero Swamp. Screech Owl: either
very active vocally or more of them this winter; up to eight along two miles of road
at Camillus, Feb 16, and three to four in concert at various woodlots about Fayette¬
ville and Euclid. Snowy Owl: only one reported, near Nobleboro, Herkimer Co. Dec
31 (Wilkins), no reports along Lake Ontario-. Long-eared Owl: two active roosts,
each with a minimum of five birds, found at Syracuse and Bridgeport; both deserted
by Mar 2. Short-eared Owl: scarce all winter with one to three reported from
known roosts and marshes. Saw-whet Owl: one reported Dec 8, HIGMA (Ernst) and
two seen Mar 14-19 at Syracuse (Recher); the above dates probably represent the
last of the fall flight and the onset of the spring return, respectively, since there
were no mid-winter records.

Swifts.-Shrikes: Belted Kingfisher: one noted on Dec 21; none later and no

spring migrants by Mar 31.

Flicker: about six times the usual number of wintering birds with peak of

eight on Dec 14 and 21 at Fayetteville; a female Flicker on Feb 7 is most unusual
since heretofore winter birds have been males. Pileated Woodpecker: a total of five
on the Oneida Christmas Count, Dec 28. Sapsucker: a male. Mar 15, Bridgeport
(Griffin) is very early. Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers: the Syracuse Christmas
Count netted 29 and 87 respectively, the Oneida Count 11 and 20 respectively;
Burtt's feeder survey showed a Hairy:Downy ratio of 77:151 for Jan, 84:158 for
Feb, and 83:190 for Mar, roughly 1:2 thru the whole winter. Black-backed Wood¬
pecker; a male observed Dec 21 in Thornden Park, Syracuse (Estoff, Propst) and a
female seen in Oakwood Cemetery (Five blocks away), Syracuse, Feb 12-28, are
notable; in every case, the birds were feeding by scaling bark from dying elm trees.

Phoebe: first arrival, Mar 1 1, Fayetteville is early and most exceptional in view
of the local weather. Horned Lark: few winter birds with a good spring flight (up
to 100/flock) from Feb 8 to Mar 20. Blue Jay: Burtt's feeder survey showed 305,
342, and 135 for Jan, Feb, and Mar, respectively; surprisingly common (35-40 plus)
in eastern central Herkimer Co, Feb 22, a date when very few Crows were present.
Black-capped Chickadee: Burtt's feeder survey showed a peak of 325 for Feb and
a drop to 240 in Mar, a situation comparable to the Mar decline noted in the field.
Red-breasted Nuthatch: scattered wintering individuals (20 plus) about equally di¬
vided between feeders and natural conditions; many noted in spruce groves in east
central Herkimer Co. Feb 22. Brown Creeper, at least five reports of this species
using suet feeders thru the winter.

Winter Wren: three on Syracuse Christmas Count and three singles in Jan; none
in Feb. No Carolina Wrens. Long-billed Marsh Wren: one irregularly at a feeder in
Syracuse thru the last week of Jan (fide Burtt). Catbird: one wintered successfully,
apparently entirely on natural foods at Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse (Peterson, Rusk).
Brown Thrasher: one spent the winter at a DeWitt feeder (MacAndrews). Mocking¬
bird: a single stayed at the Teall's feeder in Little Falls; Mr. Teall indicates this is a
repeat performance as one, perhaps the same bird, wintered there in 1957-58. Robin:
small numbers (one to 15) stayed over in various cedar swamps south and east (to
Oneida) of Syracuse; first migrants on Mar 1. Hermit Thrush: last noted on Dec
4, Syracuse; first noted this spring Mar 29, Selkirk Shores State Park. Golden-crowned
Kinglet: very scarce thru the entire period with no count above ten; no flight in the
last week of Mar. Northern Shrike: a good flight (1-3/day with few immature birds,
definitely not up to past three winters; high of seven, Dec 21; departure date Mar
20. Loggerhead Shrike: one, Mar 29, near Texas is the first of the season.

Vireos — Warblers: Myrtle Warbler: singles, found at Fulton and near Minetto
on Jan 1 and 4, are most unusual in view of the 30 plus inches of snow gracing
the ground then.

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Meadowlarks: no wintering records, a condition directly
attributable to the early, persistent, deep ground snow; hundreds grounded and forced
to roadsides Mar 27-29 by five inch snowfall on Mar 27. Red-winged Blackbird,
Grackle, Cowbird: counts of 18, 7 and 85, respectively, for Burtt's Jan feeder survey,
113, 12 and 145, respectively, in Feb, and the Mar survey found all three icterids
back by the 10,000s and frequenting feeders by the hundreds; especially surprising
were the numbers of Cowbirds (40 plus) wintering in the snow-pelted snow belt of
the Rome-Boonville area (May, Aspinwall). Rusty Blackbird: singles reported Dec 6,
Lakeport and on Dec 21, Syracuse; none in Jan.

The Kingbird

Cardinal: winter counts excellent with 59 on Syracuse Christmas Count; reported
at Westernville, Rome, and up to six at Oneida; peak feeder survey tally 170 in Jan.

The entire winter finch flight is most confusing. Thru Dec, Jan, and early Feb
large numbers of Evening Grosbeaks (thousands) and Tree Sparrows were noted with
lesser numbers (dozens to 50) of Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, and White-winged Crossbill,
very few Purple Finch, and Red Crossbill, and no Pine Grosbeak. Late Feb thru Mar
saw a steady rise in all the previously reported winter finches except Evening Gros¬
beaks with a rapid increase in Siskins and Purple Finches. It is doubtful if this pat¬
tern reflects a return of more southerly wintering birds because of the dates involved
and the rather poor finch flight last fall. This incursion was very likely from more
northern wintering areas, a hypothesis strengthened by the presence of hundreds of
Goldfinch, Siskin, and Whte-winged Crossbill with lesser numbers of Purple Finch
and Red Crossbill with very few Evening Grosbeak in eastern Herkimer Co. (Wilmurt-
Nobleboro area) Feb 22. What can not be determined at present is whether the
above observation points to the source of the late winter incursion at Syracuse and
Oneida or only to an earlier, i.e. further north, locality of a more widespread dispersal,
perhaps secondary to exhaustion of available food supply. High tallies to date are
Evening Grosbeak — 1960, Pine Siskin — 200, Purple Finch — 102, Goldfinch —
655, White-winged Crossbill — 152, and Red Crossbill — 27. Redpoll: a single
on Dec 28, Oneida is the only winter report. Pine Grosbeak: only three reports, all
late Feb and Mar; two males, Feb 23, Westernville (May), three females. Mar 20,
Selkirk Shores State Park (Spofford), and a flock of 12, Mar 14-21, at Camden
'°>-att). Towhee: three wintering birds, all in Dec at Syracuse.

Savannah Sparrow: one. Mar 28, north of Montezuma, Cayuga Co. is very early.
Oregon Junco: a pair wintered thru at a feeder along the Oswego River north of Ful¬
ton, Feb 14 to Mar 14 (numerous observers). Slate-colored JCinco: Dec numbers up
considerably; a marked Feb drop (Jan 144, Feb 83) at feeders, parallelling field
counts. White-crowned Sparrow: three individuals sighted, first winter records here;
a single at port Ontario thru Dec (fide Evans), an adult at a feeder near Manlius Dec
21 (Gould), and one thru Jan at a feeder in Camden (Pratt). White-throated Song,
and Swamp Sparrows: early winter counts up noticeably (3, 32, and 2 on Dec 21)
but a sharp drop in all three (e.g. White-throats in Jan, 13; in Feb, 2), most marked
in Song Sparrows, thru Jan and early Feb. Fox Sparrow: arrival date is Mar 11,
Syracuse; small numbers to end of period but larger numbers (20 plus) are strictly
an Apr phenomenon.

151 Seventh North Street, Syracuse 8

REGION 6 — ST. LAWRENCE
Frank A. Clinch

The winter of 1958-59 gave Watertown the heaviest snowfall in seven
years and the greatest number of zero or lower temperature readings in ten
years. In many places the snow that fell at the end of November was still on
the ground on the first of April. The 110 inches of snow to March 21 was
above normal and twice as much as a year ago.

In March the snow melted gradually, but by the end of the month there
was snow on the ground in many places. Ice still covered all ponds and lakes
and in most places the streams. During the winter mice did much damage to
vegetation, and especially to the bark of small trees and shrubs.

John Belknap is preparing more detailed reports about two of the more
unusual birds seen in this region this winter, the Varied Thursh and the
Hawk Owl (Ed. — see field notes section, this issue).

Loons — Ducks: A Great Blue Heron was seen near Lowville Mar 23, and
an American Bittern near Evans Mills Mar 30. There were no Canada Geese. Be¬
cause so much of the water was frozen few ducks could be seen during the winter.
In the few places where streams were free from ice Wood Ducks and Hooded Mer¬
gansers seemed plentiful the last of March.

The Kingbird

Hawks — Owls: An adult male Goshawk was seen near Theresa Jan 31. There
were several observations of Cooper's^ Hawks near Watertown in late Dec and early
Jan. Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks remained in the region all winter. A
Bobwhite was found dead in the southern part of this region in the middle of the
winter. It is likely that this bird had escaped and died of starvation. Two Virginia
Rails remained at Beaver Meadows near Watertown until Dec 20. There were few
reports of owls. Snowy Owls were scarce and Belknap had only about six reports. A
Hawk Owl was seen by several persons from Dec 1 1 to Jan 1. The first time I saw
it it seemed unafraid and we were able to approach close enough to observe the bird
well for several minutes. Allen reports a Barred Owl Mar 29 and a Short-eared Owl
Mar 22. In late Mar a Long-eared Owl was shot near Watertown.

Woodpeckers — Sparrows: Belknap reports a Black-backed Three-toed Wood¬
pecker near Gouveneur Dec 27. He also says that Blue Jays were numerous all
winter, but that Northern Shrikes were scarce. Five Bluebirds were noted in southern
Jefferson County Mar 30. A Varied Thrush was collected in Watertown Dec 12, and
the specimen is now in the State Museum, Albany. Gordon saw many Cedar Wax-
wings in February. In late December a Redwing appeared at a feeder in Watertown
and remained most of the rest of the winter, and another was reportd in Potsdam.
Allen found three Cardinals Dec 3, and it is reported that Cardinals came frequently
to a feeder in Watertown. Some Evening Grosbeaks appeared in Watertown in Dec,
but they seemed very well fed and showed little interest in the sunflower seeds. How¬
ever, by early Jan they were coming to feeders in large numbers. They have been
reported in many places in this region and they must be at least as numerous as last
winter. Gordon reports many Purple Finches in Feb. and Mar. There is only a
single record of Pine Grosbeaks, seven on Mar 8 near Perch River Marsh. On Dec
26 there were about 40 White-winged Crossbills near E. Chase Mills, St. Lawrence
County. A White-throated Sparrow came daily to a feeder in Watertown for several
weeks (Elitharp) and Allen saw one Feb 14. Gordon and Mayhood found about 20
Lapland Longspurs near Dexter Dec 6.

173 Haley St., Watertown

REGION 7 — ADIRONDACK - CHAMPLAIN

Agnes Amstutz

From the first snowfall in the latter part of November up until the present
time, this section of the Adirondacks has been buried in snow many feet deep.
Blizzards, snowstorm after snowstorm, and sub-zero weather made up our
winter. During January and February all records for zero weather and
snowfall were broken. Yet, in spite of all this, we had more winter birds than
we have had for many years! There was an abundance of spruce, hemlock,
and pine cones. There was little open water at the end of the period.

For this summary I have no reports from the Lake Champlain region. I
would appreciate notes from observers in that area, especially since spring
migration is now at hand.

Loons — Shrikes: No waterfowl to report. Blue Jays seemed especially com¬
mon this winter. It was a rare hike that did not produce at least one, and some
sayed at the feeders all winter. Small flocks of Canada Jays were found in the woods
around camps. Around in larger than usual numbers were the Red-breasted Nut¬
hatches; there seemed to be more of them than the White-breastd. And on Valen¬
tine's Day there appeared three Robins. These stayed for two weeks, feeding on the
berries growing in protected areas of our hospital grounds. They came in the winter's
worst blizzard. Then none were seen until a few arrived on Mar. 15.

Our highlight of the winter was a Bohemian Waxwing. This bird came in with
a group of Cedar Waxwings on Dec 17. The Cedar Waxwings left, but this fellow
stayed around Mrs. Perron's feeder from then until Feb 7. There were mountain ash
trees across the road from the feeder, and he fed on these. Raisins were provided,
but he took none of them. This is the first time a Bohemian Waxwing has been
reported in this immediate section.

The Kingbird

Blackbirds — Sparrows: Several Meadowlarks were seen from Mar 20 to 28.
Redwings came in about Mar 28, but one woman in Tupper Lake had a Redwing at
her feeder all winter long. Crackles and Cowbirds arrived Mar 15. From Dec 6 on
we have had Evening Grosbeaks in flocks from 50 to 100 at feeding stations. The
number began tapering off around Mar 1, but there were still quite a few around.
Pine Grosbeaks were present in small flocks during January and February.

Pine Siskins and Goldfinches were around in large flocks from early Dec on, but
Redpolls were not noted until the latter part of Feb. One could see flocks of these
birds feeding along the roadsides. This has been a fine year for the White-winged
Crossbill. These showed up about Dec 1. Many flocks fed upon the gravel and sand
in the roads, and as a result there were many casualties. Dr. Kingsbury, on a trip
from Tupper Lake to Saranac Lake, counted 25 dead birds. Only a few small flocks
of Red Crossbills were occasionally seen. One or two Purple Finches made regular ap¬
pearances at the feeders. It was not until the latter part of March that they came in
larger numbers and even started singing.

Tree Sparrows were not as plentiful this year as in other years. The first Fox
Sparrow put in an appearance on Mar 31. No Snow Buntings were seen in this
immediate area.

I would like to point out that my address is not Tupper Lake, but rather Sunmount.

Veterans Administration Hospital, Box 63, Sunmount

REGION 8 — MOHAWK - HUDSON
James K. Meritt

The winter season provided no real extremes from a weather standpoint,
but general cold seemed to persist for extended periods. And almost constant
winds added to the discomforture. However, the season was one which did
provide a good bit of interesting birding. There were late holdovers and
early arrivals among the small land bird population. The spring waterfowl
season got off to a good start, and the Barrow's Goldeneye was a feature of
mid-winter trips to the central Hudson.

Evening Grosbeaks were present in good numbers throughout, and the
other winter finches were represented to a lesser degree. Robins appeared
in flocks beginning in mid-January, and Purple Finches early in March be¬
came more conspicuous than they have been for years.

Forty species were seen on the Schenectady Christmas Count; thirty-sev,en
were at Troy, and thirty-five were at Chatham, with an additional ten species
being recorded on near dates at the latter locality.

Loons — Ducks: Ten species of waterfowl were observed on the Christmas count
at Troy on Dec 27 (Schenectady Bird Club), possibly a record. Of especial interest
was a male Barrow's Goldeneye; this bird remained for the Federation waterfowl
count on Jan 18 but was not seen thereafter. This marks the third winter in the
last four that the Barrow's Goldeneye has been seen along the Hudson above Albany.

1 would doubt that there was any other spot in the state that could boast of such
regularity. Also of note at Troy on Dec 27 were a Pintail, a Lesser Scaup, a White¬
winged Scoter, and four Red-breasted Mergansers. Six Red-breasted Mergansers were
seen on the count at Chatham also on Dec 27 (Alan Devoe Bird Club).

Other mid-winter records of waterfowl were scarce, but there was a notable
movement of these birds along the Hudson in late March. The Hudson below Al¬
bany provided poor pickings until .Mar 27 although it was largely free of ice after
early in the month. On the 27th a group of some 60 Snow Geese was seen at
% Ravena (Madison). Two days later about 28 of these birds — probably part of
the original group — were seen at Schodack Landing (Foote). This is the first
spring record of the Snow Goose locally in several years. Among the other waterfowl
species seen on Mar 27 along the lower Hudson were six Pintail, eight Wood Ducks,
600 Lesser Scaup, and 50 Hooded Mergansers. About ten additional Hooded Mer¬
gansers were seen that day along the Hudson above Albany and on the Mohawk River

The Kingbird

near Schenectady (Hollenbeck, Meritt). This may be a record count for this species
in the area. A few Red-breasted Mergansers were also observed on Mar 29. Four
American Widgeon were at Tomhannock Reservoir on Mar *26 (Austin).

Hawks — Owls: The period's only report of the Goshawk is of one at Schenectady
on Dec 20 (SBC), There were several reports of Rough-legs, but the incursion of
these birds this year was relatively light. Three were seen on several occasions
in late January at Castleton (Cook), and one was seen at Nassau on Feb 3 in aerial
combat with a Redtail (Turner). A partial albino Redtail was at Schenectady on Jan
14 (SBC). There were two or three reports of Turkey Vultures from the southern
part of the region.

Ruffed Grouse and Ring-necked Pheasants were inexplicably scarce. A few
Bobwhite were reported, all from Columbia County in the southern part of the region
where they are resident (but uncommon and local). Two Common Snipe were seen
near Meadowdale Marsh on Dec 20 (SBC) and one present at the same locality on
Mar 1 (Hollenbeck, Meritt) leads to the speculation that the species might have
wintered. Fourteen Great Black-backed Gulls were seen along the lower Hudson on
Mar 29 (Foote), and there were other reports of individual or small groups. White¬
winged gulls were unreported this winter. A flock of about 25 Mourning Doves
was at Gallupville on Feb 28 (Zimmer).

A Long-eared Owl was reported from Delmar in December, exact date unspeci¬
fied (Cahalane). There were many reports of the Screech and Great Horned Owls
and several of the Barred, On Jan 1 a Barn Owl was seen at Old Chatham (Reilly).

Goatsuckers — Shrikes: No Three-toed Woodpeckers were observed in the
region this winter, but the resident Pileated was quite frequently seen. There were
quite a few March Phoebe reports from Columbia County (ADBC) and on from Niska-
yuna (Angst); this species was unreported locally in March of last year. Horned
Larks were quite widely reported during February and March. The first Tree Swal¬
lows of the season were two at Old Chatham on Mar 29 (Reilly). Red-breasted Nut¬
hatches were very scarce again this winter. One was seen on the Schenectady Christ¬
mas Count (SBC), and the species was at Albany on Jan 25 (Thomas). One was seen
at Ghent on three occasions in March (Erlenback). I know of no other reports.
Several Tufted Titmice were reported. On Feb 1 one was at a Catskill feeder (Feld-
husen), and another was at a Delmar feeder for some time after Dec 4 (Pense).
Still another was at an Old Chatham feeder on Mar 20 and 21 (fide Reilly), and a
fourth feeder report comes from Niskayuna, also during March (fide Bartlett). Brown
Creepers were present in good numbers, 13 being seen at Schenectady on Dec 27
(SBC). It was definitely a bad winter for Carolina Wrens, there being far fewer re¬
ports than normal. Several Winter Wrens were seen.

A Brown Thrasher was one of the highlights of the Schenectady Christmas Count.
A few Robins were seen throughout the winter, and by mid-January flocks of 50
to 100 were reported from many areas. Such flockings continued in February. Their
winter occurrence was a frequent subject of comment in newspaper columns. Late
in March Bluebirds were reported in apparent normal numbers, unlike the spring of
1958. There were several reports of Northern Shrikes, and on Mar 31 a Loggerhead
Shrike was carefully studied at the Albany Airport (Thomas).

Vireos — Sparrows: A lone Myrtle Warbler was near Chatham on Dec 16, and
another was in the same area on Jan 14 (Radke). About ten were seen at Old
Chatham late in March (Reilly). The Eastern Meadowlark was at Ghent on Dec
4 (Erlenback), at Schenectady on Dec 20 and Troy on Dec 27 (SBC), at Cropseyville
on Feb 14 (Austin), and at Castleton on Feb 24 (Cook). The Redwinged Black¬
bird was also seen at Castleton on Feb 24.

It was again a good northern finch year. Evening Grosbeak flocks abounded,
and anyone who put out sunflower seed had them. There were scattered reports
of the Pine Grosbeak, principally from Columbia County in January and February
(ADBC). A lone female was seen in Warren County on Feb 23 (Foote). There were
a few reports of Pine Siskins and Redpolls, but the incursion of these birds this year
was not comparable to some that have taken place in the past. A few Purple Finches
were seen throughout the winter, but during February and March large flocks of
these birds were commonly seen — at feeders and elsewhere. As one observer
called it, it was a real explosion,

The Kingbird

The Red Crossbill was reported from the Chatham area during the last part of
December (ADBC) and again on Feb 22 and 23 (Reilly). On Mar 8 four White¬
winged Crossbills and th/ee Red Crossbills were seen feeding along a roadside near
the southern shore of Sacandaga Reservoir (Scott). The White-wings were singing.
It is not often that one sees both species of Crossbill together. Cardinals were re¬
ported in good numbers, especially in the Mohawk Valley.

A Towhee was at Schenectady on Dec 20 (SBC), and another was at Chatham on
Dec 27 (ADBC). No less than six were at Chatham on Jan 27 (LaPointe), and
the species was reported continually there thereafter. A Vesper Sparrow was at
a Nassau feeder on Jan 18 (Turner). Others were reported early in March from
Columbia. From Feb 15 to 28 a Fox Sparrow was seen daily at a New Concord
feeder (Radke) and most of the more frequent March reports of this species were of
single birds. The wintering population of Slate-colored Juncos was down in the
southern part of the area. An Oregon Junco put in an appearance at a West Sand
Lake feeder in mid-January (Bordt). The bird was present there at least until the
latter part of March and was seen by many observers. Snow Buntings were rather
frequently and widely seen during January, February and March, with reports from
Columbia, Greene, and Schoharie Counties as well as the capital district. Lapland
Longspurs were again unrecorded.

16 Ellen Lane, Scotia 2

REGION 9 — DELAWARE - HUDSON
Fred N. Hough

In this region we experienced a relatively open winter, smitten by a long
run of cold spells that drove the frost deep into the barren ground. In spite
of the consistant cold there were no recordings of extreme sub-zero tempera¬
tures. In the lower elevations, at least, most of the winter snow was gained
in March with up to a foot on the 12th and another 3-5 inches on the 27th,
the latter topped with winter’s last real chilly fling of 5 to 10 degrees above
zero on the 29th. So spring came slowly, as was evidenced by the belated
awakenings of the great chorus of Hylas which were, for the most part, un¬
able to help initiate the return of spring in March by being kept in their
cold winter beds longer than usual. Elngreeted as they were by the Hylas,
many of the spring migrants arrived close to within normal limits.

Studies and general observations of the winter bird populations in our
region showed a high number of lingering migrants from the fall migration
and a low normality among most of the visitors coming from the north.
Perhaps this status was best reflected in the tally of the various Christmas
counts.

L oons — Ducks: With sharp eyes afield the few Red-necked Grebes that
occurred in the Rockland-Westchester areas this season didn't have much of a
chance in escaping detection. John and Margaret Kelly first reported one on
Croton Lake, Westchester County on Dec 14, after which none were reported
until mid-March when there were several reports. On March 12 William Russell
saw a pair on the Cross River Reservoir, Westchester, and following this report sub¬
sequent observations were made on the Hudson River and Stillwell Lake, Rockland
Co. (Ed Treacy) and Lake DeForest, Rockland (Mr. and Mrs. Frank Steffens). Others
reporting this specie were Joseph Malone at Croton Point and Martin Breck and
Ralph Odell at Muscoot Reservoir, Westchester. Bob Deed says that this bird used
to be fairly regular before 1949.

An American Widgeon was added to the RAS Christmas count for the first time,
indicating a scarcity of this duck in our region during winter. The arrival of ducks
to our waters in March was concentrated toward the latter half of the month. The
beautiful Green-winged Teal seldom favors us with numbers and only one observation
was reported — a pair by Stanley Grierson at the Tri-Loba Hill Sanctuary near
Katonah, Westchester. On Dec 3 Mr. and Mrs. Bob Deed saw a sizable raft of

The Kingbird

Canvasbacks on the Hudson River at Stony Point, Rockland Co. and estimated about
1400 birds. Jn mid-March another large concentration was seen on the Hudson
River near Kingston, Uster Co. (Sam and Helen Hayes).

Hawks — Owls: The Turkey Vulture was first noted in the Ulster County area
on Mar 4 (Dan Smiley). The wintering hawk numbers seemed about normal with
the Red-tailed being most frequently reported. Mrs. George Little reports the find¬
ing of a Goshawk in the lower Putnam County area on Dec 27. Rough-legged
Hawks were found in the New Paltz section of Ulster (Robert Pyle) and the Katonah
section of Westchester (Wm. Russell). The Virginia Rail does not commonly stay
in our region during the winter, and so the finding of one is bound to be a thrill. On
Jan 18 one was discovered along the Hudson River at Crugers, Westchester, by
members of the Saw Mill River Audubon Society field trip party and afforded them
a pleasant surprise. Mr. and Mrs. John Kelly photographed a Virginia Rail at
Croton Point, below Crugers, on Jan 27, probably the same bird. Two Killdeer
were seen near Kripplebush, Ulster Co. on the rather late date of Dec 4 (Fred Hough).
The March return of the Woodcock seemed to be a little better than usual. An
Iceland Gull, down from the north, was observed about the Croton Point area by
many during the winter. Of the Owl populations the Saw-whet was the only one
to receive much mention and these reports came from Westchester. One was found
in the town of Bedford by Philip Ranieri on Dec 19, and Stanley Grierson spotted
one in the Todd Sanctuary, Katonah on Jan 7.

Swifts — Shrikes: The Woodpeckers made a good showing on many winter
lists. Flickers remained throughout most of the region. On Dec 1 7 Ruth and Stanley
Grierson observed near Katonah, Westchester a hybrid between the Yellow-shafted
and Red-shafted Flickers. They noted the typical black mustache line of the Yellow-
shafted and the underwing and tail pink of the Red-shafted. A Red-headed Wood¬
pecker was seen near Alligerville, Ulster on Jan 18, (Sanford Cross). The Yellow-
bellied Sapsucker was up in numbers. An all-time high count of four was made in
Rockland on the Christmas count. A female came to the feeding station of Mr.
and Mrs. Douglas Orbison in Mount Kisco, Westchester, from Nov. 26 to Dec 13.
Another Sapsucker was found in Hurley, Ulster Co. on Jan 10 (H. and I. Dunbar et
al). The Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker was again reported in northern
Westchester (Mrs. George Little). Phoebes started arriving in mid-March — the
18th at Katonah, Westchester (Wm. Russell); Mar 20 first noted in Rockland (Mrs.
Wm. Irving) and on Mar 21 up in Ulster at Kripplebush (Mrs, Fred Hough). There
was some indications that the Black-capped Chickadee population was in a low.
There were a few reports on Red-breasted Nuthatches, from most counties, with the
highest number (5 or 6) coming from Fahnstock Park, Westchester (Wm. Russell,
Ralph Odell).

Carolina Wrens were found but no increases were noted. The Christmas count
turned up two Long-billed Marsh Wrens in lower Rockland Co. (RAS). The Mock¬
ingbird put in another bid for its existence here in our cold winter climate. We
know of at least three records: one Mocker remained about the New City, Rockland
Co. nesting site; another wintered in Putnam Co. just north of Carmel (Mabel
Little), and still another was seen up in Ulster Co. on Dec 30 near New Paltz
by Dr. R. Pyle. The wintering Catbird number was up with reports com'ng from
nearly all of the counties. Two Brown Thrashers were found by Henry and Use
Dunbar near Alligerville, in Ulster Co. and represents the only winter record re¬
ceived. Last November many observrse were noting the large number of Robins
that were lingering behind and suspected that many would remain here to pass
on-coming season. The predictions came true and Robin counts were high in all
counties reporting. A few Hermit Thrushes were known to have wintered, probably
normal. Most areas reported Bluebirds, but they were considered scarce. Both
Kinglets were down in number as compared to some years. Cedar Waxwings were
unusually abundant in Rockland Co. (Bob Deed et al).

Vireos — Warblers: On the late date of Dec 2 Wendy Shedd and Joyce Pistone
found a dead Blackpol! Warbler in Bedford Village, Westchester, and turned it over
to Stanley Grierson's study collection. Of late years more records have been coming
Malone has given us a record for this winter. They found one on Croton Point,
in on wintering Yellow-breasted Chats and careful observing by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Westchester, on Mar 15.

The Kingbird

Blackbirds — Sparrows: A few Redwings arrived in the latter part of February.
In March a partially albino Redwing arrived for the third time in a nesting site at
the Tri-Loba Hill Sanctuary near Katonah, Westchester (Stan Grierson). The female
Baltimore Oriole reported in Kingston, Ulster last fall was last seen on Dec 7 (Arthur
Cragin). A female Bullock's Oriole, visitant from the west, was found many times
during the winter visiting the feeding station of Herbert Jacoby and other stations in
the neighborhood in Mt. Kisco, Westchester. It was carefully studied by several
people. The Cardinal population remains high throughout the Region. A Dickcissel
frequently visited the feeder of Betty Van Soosten in Hurley, Ulster Co. during the
forepart of the season but disappeared in January. Another immature male Dick¬
cissel was observed by Robert Hamershlag on Mar 15 at his feeder in Katonah, West¬
chester. Evening Grosbeaks did not winter in any great abundance. Purple Finches,
on the other hand, were very numerous. The Pine Grosbeak was virtually non¬
existent in this region. Redpolls and Pine Siskins were generally scarce. A solitary
White-winged Crossbill was found in Katonah, Westchester on Dec. 29 by Wm. Rus¬
sell and was the only winter report. Numerous Towhees remained in our region to
winter and were seen in Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and probably occurred
>n the other counties.

Eight Savannah Sparrows were tallied on the Rockland Audubon Society Christmas
count on Dec 27. This is a record high. Ed Treacy had a Oregon Junco at his feeder
in Highland Falls, Orange Co. on Mar 16. The lack of snow probably made the Tree
Sparrows less conspicuous than otherwise. The Rockland Christmas count found an¬
other high in the 23 Field Sparrows observed on that day (Dec 27). Two Field Spar¬
rows spent the winter in the vicinity of a feeder in Katonah, Westchester (Elizabeth
Odell). White-throated Sparrows were at a winter high in the Hudson Valley. Even
a few Fox Sparrows remained in our region. Three were observed up in Ulster during
latter December, and there were two down in Rockland at the same time. Song
Sparrows were generally common. Snow Buntings were notably absent.

Correction: The Purple Gallinule given on page 129 of THE KINGBIRD, vol.
VIII, No. 4 should be Common Gallinule.

Accord 1

REGION 10 — MARINE
John J. Elliott

Low temperatures occurred in early winter and stayed throughout Jan
uary with little snow. There were frequent strong northwest winds and in
places ponds and bays were almost, if not completely, frozen over.

Down in winter population were both loons, Horned Grebes, Common
and King Eiders, Rough-legged Hawks, Goldfinches, and Siskins. Almost
entirely if not completely absent were both crossbills, Pine Grosbeaks, and
Redpolls.

The waterfowl count was successful, with credit given to the fifty ob¬
servers, many of whom year after year respond to this challenge of facing
winters coldest blasts. Similar to last year, maximum freeze-ups of the winter
came on or about census time.

Outstanding was an adult Golden Eagle on January 3 at Manorville and
an immature Golden Eagle circling nearby (G. Raynor). A Bald Eagle and
a Great Horned Owl were also reported on the Central Suffolk Christmas
census on December 26 (D. Puleston).

A good late winter flock of some 25-30 Lapland Longspurs was present
in early March at Jamaica Bay Sanctuary and the much proclaimed European
Redwing, present from February 21-25, was viewed, or searched for, by an
estimated 300 people.

The Kingbird

Loons — Ducks: Loon records came mostly from Montauk. There were no
Red-necked Grebes on the waterfowl census this year ,and no records came in until
its appearance in March in several locations. Horned Grebes were far scarcer than
last year. Down also in numbers were Great Blue and Black-crowned Night Herons.
The Jan 17-25 Long Island and New York City waterfowl census, consisting of
Region 10's efforts in the entire state count, showed a grand total of 1 10,614. This
included 89,146 for Long Island and 21,468 for New York City (including Staten
Island, Bronx, and extreme lower Westchester County, bordering Long Island Sound).
Counts included loons, grebes, swans, geese, brant, ducks, and coot. Chris McKeever
at Water Mill again had the largest concentration of Canada Geese (879). Regarding
the Mute Swan, this year's 571 greatly exceeded last year's count of 311 and the

1957 total of 357. Of these 315 were found in the Shinnecock-Moriches Bays area.

Two Snow Geese this year compares to three in 1958, and there were three Wood
Ducks to last year's two. Both Eiders were down in numbers in 1959, and the
Horned Grebe which last year showed a total of 1,567 was only about one-third as
common this year. American Widgeon were down almost 1,300 from the 1958
total of 4,792, but there were larger numbers of some fresh-water ducks, particularly
Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveller, and Hooded Merganser, and among divers, Bufflehead
and Scaup.

The 1959 count of 1 10,614 was second poorest of all five years of the census
and, except for last year, the counts have been gradually decreasing from the 141,520
in 1956. Disparity came about principally in the reduced numbers of Scaup. Until

1958 the Black Duck was always second on the list of Long Island maximum totals
but gave way to the White-winged Scoter in 1958 and 1959, both species being
about equal in numbers for the last two years. The Red-breasted Merganser, a
typical salt water or bay duck, subject to the extended hunting seasons of recent
years, has suffered a rather steady decline with a reduction of over 25 percent from
last year.

Most remarkable this year was the almost complete absence of the Ruddy Duck,
with a meagre total of 66 (38 from Jamaica Bay) compared to 522 in 1958 and 437
in 1957. No matter what length the hunting season, the typical feral or semi¬
domestic Mallard maintains practically equal numbers with this year's count of
2,950 on Long Island and that of 2,941 in 1957, an increase of nine.

Previous to the census a King Eider put in an appearance at Atlantic Beach on
Jan 12 (J. Bull). In late February the Harlequin Duck, missing in the census, was
present in its old location near the Montauk Lake breakwater.

Hawks — Owls: Two Red-tailed Hawks and three Rough-legged Hawks were
at Brookhaven on Dec 26 (Puleston). A Rough-legged Hawk was seen near a garbage
dump at Greenridge, Staten Island, several times during the winter (H. Cleaves).
There were no Gyrfalcons this winter. A Pelegrine Falcon was at Jamaica Bay
on Feb 28 (Baldwin Bird Club). Two Virginia Rails were at Brookhaven Dec 26,
and a Common Gallinule was at Wantagh for a month or more. There were fairly
good numbers of Common Snipe early in the winter, with six daily at Tackapausha
Preserve (E. Morgan) and three wintering at Mt. Loretto, Staten Island (Cleaves).
Thirty to thirty-five Purple Sandpipers were at the Jones Beach jetty in January.
There were few reports on white-winged gulls. A second-year Glaucous was at
Fresh Kills dump, S. I., on Jan 18 (Wolfarth); another Glaucous was at Jamaica
Bay Sanctuary in late December (Whelan, Nielsen, Myerdierks), and one was at
Marine Park fill from Jan 14 to 17 (Whelan). Bonaparte's were uncommon; in¬
dividuals were in Massapequa and Meadowbrook in late December. A Little Gull
was at Far Rockaway Feb 14 (J. Mayer). Quite unusual was a Lesser Black-backed
Gull at Orient on Jan 8. According to Roy Latham it was standing on plowed land,
was Herring Gull size, and had yellow legs and a back not as dark as a Great
Black-backed Gull. Latham presumed it to be the British sub-species.

There were several Murre records. Two unidentified alcids and one Dovekie
were at Montauk on Mar 1 (M. Levine, A. Penberthy). At Seaford on Mar 9 a
Dovekie was found exhausted in a yard (Mrs. J. Carroll), taken to Tackapausha
Preserve, fed minnows, and restored that day to Zach's Bay at Jones Beach (Elliott,
Morgan).

The Kingbird

Two Barn Owls and two Long-eared Owls were at Jones Beach on Feb 7 (O.
Heck). Snowy Owl singles were at Orient on Jan 5 (Latham) and Spring Creek
Feb 15 (Mayer), the only two records for the winter. There were several records
of Long-eared Owls —- Montauk, Orient, Jones Beach, Shelter Rock pines, and a
maximum of six at Pelham Dec 30 (Heck). A Saw-whet Owl was at Sheter Rock
pines Dec 27 (L. Garland); two were at Meadowbrook Dec 30 and two daily at Jones
Beach in early February (Heck). Short-eared Owls were found principally around the
Jamaica Bay area, but surfacing the Spring Creek region has eliminated the vegeta¬
tion and driven them out of there, at least temporarily.

Swifts — Shrikes: A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Northport on Jan 10 was
feeding on the ground with Robins on rotten apples (E. Mudge). The first Phoebe
report was at Roosevelt on Mar 22 (C. Ward). Horned Larks were scarce this year
around Orient (Latham), and there were no wintering Tree Swallow reports. There
appeared to be less of a migration of Blue Jays off Long Island, but more found
during the winter. The Lyman Langdon Audubon Society, in its 1957-58 Christ¬
mas census, listed 58; this Christmas, 240. There was also a slight increase in
the number of Chickadees. Unusual was the record of a Brown-capped Chickadee
at Montauk on Mar 1 (Levine, Penberthy). No Tufted Titmice were reported. Red¬
breasted Nuthaches, Creepers, Kinglets and Hermit Thrushes were scarce on Christmas
counts and have been practically absent since. The Long-billed Marsh, however,
was well represented on the Christmas counts. Four Carolina Wrens were on North
Shore (L.L.A.S.), and two were at Seaford in February (Morgan).

A Mockingbird was at Baldwin during February (E. Simon). Five Robins were
at Babylon on Feb 20 (L Alperin), and a Hermit Thrush was at Lawrence Jan 18
(Bull). A Northern Shrike was at Mecox on Jan 2 (Puleston, Raynor).

Vireos — Sparrows: An Orange-crowned Warbler was noted at Shinnecock on
Jan 2 (Puleston, Raynor), and Myrtle Warblers were in regular numbers. A Chat
was seen in mid-December at Amityville (D. Warren). Tremendous numbers of
Cowbirds and quite a few Redwings were listed' on the southern Nassau Christmas
census. Cardinals were fairly numerous, with 42 being listed on the North Shore
Christmas count. A half dozen flocks of Evening Grosbeaks showed up on Long
Island during the winter, principally in eastern Long Island, House Finches ranged
westward to Brooklyn borders and north to Port Washington, with a colony averag¬
ing 26 for several years at the latter place (Mrs, A. Dove). There were several
records of the Ipswich Sparrow on Christmas censuses, but the old haunts at Gilgo
were temporarly up-rooted and sand-drifted with the widening (to four lanes) of the
Ocean Boulevard. Three Ipswich Sparrows were at Jamaica Bay Sanctuary during
the winter, and four were reported at Spring Creek before present surfacing opera¬
tions. Eight were recorded in early March at Jamaica Bay Sanctuary (Mayer,
Rose), and one was at Quogue on Mar 25 (Puleston).

Seaside Sparrows wintered well to all appearances at Jamaica Bay Sanctuary,
and on Feb 28 four came up into the top of the grass clumps for easy observation.
The 25 to 30 Lapland Longspurs that were found at Jamaica Bay Sanctuary in late
February and early March were occasionally accompanied by several Snow Bunt¬
ings. A fair flight of the latter was found on western Long Island in early winter.

3994 Park Ave., Seaford, Long Island

The Kingbird

REPORTING REGIONS

For descriptions of Regions see Kingbird Vol. IV, Nos. 1 and 2

ADVERTISING INCOME
HELPS TO DEFRAY PRINTING COSTS
FOR THE KINGBIRD.

Prospective Advertisers Are Invited to
Contact the Treasurer.

FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC,

1959 Officers

President

Allan S. Klonick-901 Sibley Tower Building, Rochester 4

Vice-President

Mrs. William Gary Irving ----Van Houten Fields, West Nyack

Corresponding Secretary

Mrs. Southgate Y. Hoyt----Etna

Recording Secretary

Mrs. William J. English-35V£ Lincoln Avenue, Amsterdam

Mrs. Dayton Stoner

T reasurer

399 State Street, Albany 10

Editor of THE KINGBIRD
Minnie B. Scotland
42 Continental Ave., Cohoes, New York

Standing Committee Chairmen

Bibliography: Allen H. Benton, N. Y. S, College for Teachers, Albany 3
Conservation: John J. Conway, Times Square Building, Rochester 14
Membership: Albert W. Fudge, Larchmont Road, Elmira

Publications and Research: Fred T. Hall, Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo 11
State Book: Joseph Wm. Taylor, 590 Alleys Creek Road, Rochester

Elected Committee Chairmen

Auditing: Guy Bartlett, 1052 Parkwood Blyd., Schenectady
Nominating: Gerald R. Rising, 72 Allen's Creek Road, Rochester 18

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