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Nebraska Bird Review

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union

1-1934

WHOLE ISSUE Nebraska Bird Review (January
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Nebraska Bird Review (January 1934) 2(1), WHOLE ISSUE.
Copyright 1934, Nebraska Ornithologists' Union. Used by permission.

VOLUME II JANUARY, 1934 NUMBER 1

THE

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

A Review of Nebraska Ornithology

Published quarterly, in January, April, July and October by the Ne¬
braska Ornithologists’ Union, as its official journal, at Lincoln, Nebraska,
U. S. A.

Sent free as issued to all members of the N. 0. U. who are not in
arrears for dues (one dollar a year). Subscriptions taken from non¬
members, libraries and institutions at one dollar a year in the United
States, and at one dollar and twenty-five cents a year in all other
countries, payable in advance. Single numbers twenty-five cents each.
All dues and subscriptions should be remitted to the Secretary-Treasurer.

Edited by Myron H. Swenk, 1410 North Thirty-seventh Street, Lin¬
coln, Nebraska. Articles or notes for publication should be in the hands
of the Editor by the first day of the month of publication.

OFFICERS OF THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION FOR
1933-34

President.Mrs. L. H. McKillip, 149 North 15th Street, Seward, Nebr.

Vice-President.Miss Mary Ellsworth, 3107 Redick Avenue, Omaha, Nebr.
Secretary-Treasurer.Myron H. Swenk, Lincoln, Nebr.

CONTENTS

Page

Twenty-one Years of Bird Study at Red Cloud, Nebraska.

By J. M. Bates. 3

General Notes. 5

Editorial Page. 10

The 1933 Migration Season. 11

Christmas and New Year’s Day Censuses. 19

Here and There with the N. 0. II. Members. 22

In Memoriam. 23

Outline History of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. 28

Actual date of publication, February 24, 1934

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

A Review of Nebraska Ornithology
Published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union

VOLUME II JANUARY, 1934 NUMBER 1

TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF BIRD STUDY AT RED CLOUD,
NEBRASKA
By J. M. BATES*

My ornithological activities while residing at Red Cloud, Webster
County, have been directed more toward creating an interest in birds
on the part of others than in a search for new or rare bird forms for
the state. During the last four years I have had charge of fifteen differ¬
ent outstations in the mission field, so that I have been out of town
much of the time. This duty has also kept me pretty well occupied
with the necessary reading and writing, so that my tramps have been
but few, and those mostly botanical. Since 1889 I have been reporting
on the migration of our birds to the Department of Agriculture at
Washington, D. C. In order to do this, I found it necessary to interest
a corps of new bird students, whose observations, checked by my own
sharp questioning and previous experience, would enable the making of
a decent showing of forty or fifty species each year. Two or three
different years a bird census was taken on an eighty acre farm owned
by Mr. Charles S. Ludlow, our efficient local weather reporter, and my
most helpful co-worker. Being in a section of Nebraska that had not
been much worked before has given our reports an added importance.
I do not recall recording any bird previously unknown to the Nebraska
list, except the Gray-headed Junco taken by Mr. Ludlow on April 18,
1911, and recorded (as of April 19) by Dr. R. H. Wolcott (Proc., N. O. U.,
v, p. 38; April 29, 1911), but we have noted several species near Red
Cloud that are rare in the state.

I identified the Evening Grosbeak here on April 20, 1904. I saw a
Rocky Mountain Say Phoebe at Naponee, Franklin County, thirty-five
miles west of Red Cloud, on June 3, 1905. I think it breeds there. We
noted the Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Red Cloud on the very late
date of October 23, 1909. The Wilson Pileolated Warbler was taken at
Red Cloud by Mr. Ludlow on September 28, 1910. A flock of about forty
Pinon Jays spent the winter of 1910-11 at Red Cloud. They were again
seen there during the winters of 1916-17 and 1919-20. We have identi¬
fied at Red Cloud three subspecies of the Horned Lark; the Saskatche¬
wan, the Prairie and the Hoyt. The Pink-sided Junco was taken at Red
Cloud by Mr. Ludlow in December, 1911. A specimen of the Gray¬
cheeked Thrush, found dead by Mr. Ludlow in his yard on May 15, 1917,
where it was being picked at by chickens which had somewhat mangled
its head, was sent to Prof. Swenk at the time and identified by him, but
I have no further data concerning the species. In May, 1917, Dr. H.
Hapeman of Minden, Kearney County, saw a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
in the town. The owner of the place where it was seen had noted it
previously on several occasions. The Lazuli Bunting was also seen at

*This article is an abridgment of a paper that was written by Rev.
Bates on April 10, 1924, and read by him on the program of the twenty-
fifth annual meeting of the N. O. U., held at Lincoln on May 9, 1924.—Ed.

— 3 —

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Minden, on May 10, 1918. I found the Western Warbling Vireo nesting
near Chesterfield post office, in Cherry County, on July 13, 1918, and
was informed that it came there every year. On April 20, 1922, we saw
the Eastern Phoebe with young, at Red Cloud. On April 24, 1922,
fledglings of the Bronzed Grackle were out of the nest here, and well
feathered. On May 4, 1924, Mrs. George W. Trine saw an Avocet on
the Republican River near here. I have had two reports of the Scarlet
Tanager on the Republican River at Red Cloud, but it certainly is rare.
Two or three years ago I noted the Western Sandpiper in this region.

On July 3, 1913, near Whitman, Grant County, the Western Willet
was quite fierce in scolding me from its young. The Wilson Phalarope
was also breeding at the same place, and showed great distress at my
presence. During the same month I found a large colony of the Amer¬
ican Black-crowned Night Heron nesting on muskrat houses on an island
in Lone Tree Lake near Kennedy, Cherry County, and was informed
that the birds nested there every year. Near Valentine, Cherry County,

I found the Pinon Jay summering that month for the first time. Mr.
W. H. Kennedy reported to me that he saw the Eastern Cardinal near
the bridge across the Niobrara River about eight miles southwest of
Valentine, about 1909. Several reported in 1917 of having seen the bird
on the Middle Loup near Arcadia, Valley County, in late years, and I
found it nesting fifteen miles north of Minden, Kearney County, on June
18, 1917. In the summer of 1917 a pair of Western Blue Grosbeaks
nested in a Virginia creeper over the window of W. H. Kennedy’s sod
house at Chesterfield post office, within reach of the hand from the
sitting room. So much for faunal ornithology.

My experience with actual and potential bird lovers has been most
interesting. When I had been in Red Cloud only five months, I was
called upon, with three hours notice, to substitute for a bureau lecturer
before the local High School graduating class. I addressed about five
hundred people on “Birds and Man”, from the economic and aesthetic
viewpoints, and received many thanks for my effort. A year later, at
Beaver Crossing, I gave a similar address before the Teachers’ Institute,
to an audience of about one hundred and fifty. Since then I have given,
by request, several “bird talks” to the lower grades in Red Cloud,
Arcadia, St. Paul, Wood River, and other Nebraska towns. Twice in
Red Cloud I have been called upon by the P. E. O. Club to address the
members on phases of bird study. They have been stimulated to put
the subject into the annual program and frequently to consult me about
certain species of birds that are nesting or appearing near the homes of
various of the members.

I have induced five or six persons in Red Cloud, and other towns, to
join our Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. But chiefly I congratulate
myself upon the enlistment of Mr. Ludlow in this good cause. Without
his assistance, I should now have practically no report to make. I was
introduced to him not far from twenty years ago, as a man who took
an interest in nature study, but was without chart or rudder. I quickly
supplied him with both, and no one could have made better use of them.
He is well situated to note the migration and nesting of birds, his farm
being located one mile south of the post office, with a cottonwood grove
on the north, a large orchard on the east, and on the south a stream
with willow, boxelder, cottonwood, ash and black walnut trees widely
bordering it. Alfalfa fields and pastures offer a shelter for the ground
sparrows and other shy birds. I do not know who has enjoyed and
profited the most by our union of forces, he or I. He is a natural
naturalist, and has taken to the plant world as readily as to the denizens
of the air. If one could establish one such observer in every center of
population, we should get results that would mean much for our increase
in knowledge of animal and plant life.

GENERAL NOTES

A Midsummer Red Crossbill Record for South-central Nebraska.—On
or about July 12, 1933, a flock of fifty or more Red Crossbills (Loxia
curvirostra subsp.) was noted feeding in the two Douglas Fir trees in
the yard at my home here. The birds spent most of their time feeding on
the cones in these two trees, and remained for about the following ten
days before departing. — Miss Ruth M. Mauck, Nelson , Nebr,

An Early Fall Record for the American Bohemian Waxwing.—On Sep¬
tember 19, 1933, I noted two American Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycllla
garrula pallidiceps ) in the pear trees at this place. I had never seen this
species before, but very distinctly saw the black throat patch and the
characteristic white markings on the wings. I am told that this is an
unusually early fall date for the species in Nebraska. — Miss Ruth M.
Mauck, Nelson, Nebr.

The Clark Nutcracker at Kearney, Buffalo County.—On October 1, 1933,
I was in a duck blind on the Platte River two miles east of the Kearney
bridge. Happening to look toward the north bank, to my surprise I
saw a flock of ten Clark Nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana) flying across
the river from the north to the south bank. They flew within a few
yards of me, and there can be no possible mistake in their identification.—
Cyrus A. Black, Kearney, Nebr.

A Sixth Nebraska Record of the European Starling.—I note in the
columns of the Nebraska Bird Review (antea, i, pp. 15, 30 and 61) that the
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris) has been reported in Ne¬
braska from near Western, Saline County; from seven miles northwest
and from three miles north of Lincoln, Lancaster County; from five
miles north of Crete, Saline County; and from Saint Edward, Boone
County. A sixth Nebraska record is that of a bird that I noted in the
yard at my home at 3103 South 35th Street, Lincoln, on or about Sep¬
tember 10, 1933. It was in company with five or six Bronzed Grackles,
and my attention was first drawn to it by its peculiar note. I then
noticed its spotted plumage, stubby tail and other Starling charac¬
teristics. — Miss Louisa E. Wilson, Lincoln, Nebr.

The Seventh Nebraska European Starling Record.—On November 26,
1933, a farmer living here in Dodge County near Hooper brought me a
live European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris). He stated that there
were a number of these birds roosting in his barn, and that they had
been there all fall. I asked him to watch these birds and report to me
if they left or if they stayed there all winter. So far I have heard noth¬
ing from him, and infer that the birds are still present on his farm.—
Joseph E. Stipsky, Hooper, Nebr.

The Lewis Woodpecker and Other Birds in Logan and Lincoln Coun¬
ties, Nebraska.—During the latter part of November, 1933, I was at the
Shadonix farm, located in northeastern Lincoln County, seven miles
south of Stapleton, Logan County. I had driven into the yard and was
talking to Mr. Shadonix, when a bird that appeared all black and looked
like a half-sized crow came flying past, with a swoop and glide resem¬
bling that of a flicker. The following day I took my field glasses and
studied this bird more closely. I was thrilled to find that while it was
mostly greenish black, there was a silver-gray band around its neck,
widening to form a bib-like area on the breast, and that the remainder
of the underparts was deep red. On consulting my books I positively
identified the bird as an adult Lewis Woodpecker (Asyndesmus lewis),
probably one that had wandered southeast to our section from the Black

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Hills region. The bird was still wintering about the Shadonix farm on
January 20, 1934, and had become quite tame, at least with that family.
I am inclined to think that it is a rare visitor in this section. Last fall
we noted two other species of birds around Stapleton for the first time.
These were the Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina subsp.), and
several finches that were identified as the Cassin Purple Finch (Car-
podacus cassinii). —Earl W. Glandon, Stapleton, Nebr.

A Hybrid Between the Common Mallard and American Pintail Ducks.—■
On November 23, 1933, Mr. John Den of North Platte, Lincoln County,
Nebraska, shot a beautiful male specimen of what I regard as a hybrid
between the Common Mallard and American Pintail ducks, and sent the
specimen to me for mounting. This bird is about the size of a medium¬
sized Common Mallard. Its head is green with rich brown feathers
mixed in, about half Mallard and half Pintail. There is a broad band
of white nearly around the neck, as in the Mallard, but also a short
white stripe up the lower sides of the neck, much as in the Pintail. The
underparts also share about half and half the characteristics of the two

species. The bill closely resembles that of the Pintail, and the colora¬
tion of the back is also of the Pintail. The tail is a combination. For
the basal few inches the central tail feathers resemble the long tail
feathers of the Pintail, but the rest of the tail is that of the Mallard,
with the long tail feathers curling upward. The speculum is the size of
that of the Mallard, but of a bright green color, about like that of the
speculum of a Green-winged Teal. The breast is purplish chestnut like
that of a Mallard, but the color is very pale. The tarsi and feet are
pale orange colored, as in the Mallard. I carefully mounted this unusual
specimen, which is shown in the accompanying illustration. —Cyrus A.
Black, Kearney, Nebr.

A Nebraska Record of the Whooping Crane for the Fall of 1933.—In
his paper on the Whooping Crane in the October, 1933, number of the
Review, Prof. Swenk closed the Nebraska record with the spring of 1933.
For the fall of 1933, I have at least one additional record. On October
1, 1933, before the hour of duck shooting began (at noon), Mr. James
Flannery, of Kearney, saw a lone bird standing on a sandbar in the
Platte River, two miles east of the bridge at Odessa, Buffalo County.
Mr. Flannery says that this crane was pure white, stood about five feet

GENERAL NOTES

tall, and looked like the mounted specimens in my collection, so I think
there is no chance of an error in identification.— Cyrus A. Black, Kearney,
Nebr.

Notes on Some Birds of Prey Observed in Webster County in 1933.—
Between September 19 and November 30, 1933, I noted the Ferruginous
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo regalis) rather frequently, and my impression
is that these birds were fairly common in this locality during the past
fall. Two specimens in the immature plumage were mounted by me for
my collection. On the evening of September 30, a flock of about forty
Swainson Hawks (Buteo swainsoui) > with a sprinkling of Ferruginous
Rough-legged Hawks among them, was noted not far from Sand Creek.
They seemed to be moving leisurely, frequently alighting upon the
ground. Specimens of both the Swainson Hawk and the American
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus s. johannis) in the black color phase
have been noted this fall, the former earlier in the season, the latter
more recently. A single individual of the Pigeon Hawk (Falco colum-
barius subsp.) was noted on September 28, and the same or another one
on October 5, in both instances near Sand Creek.

On April 23, 1933, I discovered a pair of unusually dark colored adult
Eastern Great Horned Owls (Bubo mrginianus virginianus), with their two
young birds, on Sand Creek. I collected the four of them the next day,
and mounted them for my collection. On December 7, 1933, Mr. Peter
Hansen shot a first-year male Great Horned Owl, apparently a dark
colored example of Bubo virginianus occidentalis, near Holstein, in Adams
County, about ten miles north of this place, which specimen he brought
to me for mounting. —Harold Turner, Bladen, Nebr.

Notes on a Winter Collecting Trip in Northern and Western Nebraska.—

During the latter part of December, 1933, we went on a short collecting
trip for winter birds to northern and western Nebraska. We left Lincoln
on December 20. December 21 was spent en route through northern
Nebraska from Butte, Boyd County, to Chadron, Dawes County, and
we reached Squaw Canyon, in Sioux County, on the morning of Decem¬
ber 22. We collected in Squaw Canyon on December 22 to 26, inclusive.
On December 27 we drove from Squaw Canyon to near Kilgore, Cherry
County, on the Minnechaduza, where we remained over December 28
and 29. On December 30 we resumed the return trip through eastern
Cherry, Brown, Keyapaha and Boyd Counties to Butte, returning to
Lincoln on December 31. The weather while we were in Squaw Canyon,
on December 22 to 26, was not especially severe, particularly in the pro¬
tected canyon itself. On the afternoon of December 22, in Squaw Canyon,
the temperature stood at 60° F., but by the following afternoon it had
dropped to 39° F., and at dawn on December 24 it was down to 7.5° F.
At 8:00 A. M. on December 25, in Squaw Canyon, it was 5.5° F. Decem¬
ber 25 at 11:00 P. M., it was -4° F., our lowest reading on the trip, and at
8:00 A. M. on December 26, it was -1.5° F. Thirty-two species of birds
were noted on the trip. Subspecific identifications of the specimens
taken were made with the cooperation of Prof. M. H. Swenk. The list
follows:

American Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus s. johannis). —Five or six
of these hawks were seen on December 27 in Sioux, Dawes, Sheridan
and Cherry Counties between Squaw Creek and Kilgore.

American Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysa'etos canadensis). —Seen along
Squaw Creek every day that we were there. On December 23 we saw
two of these birds as they ran three Sharp-tailed Grouse into the brush.

Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius). —Two seen near Neligh, Antelope
County, on December 31.

Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius subsp.).—One seen near Warbonnet
Creek, on December 22, and another seen near Genoa, Nance County,
December 31. Probably the former was F. s. phalaena and the latter

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

F. s. sparverius, but as no specimens were taken one cannot be sure of
this.

Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris). —One
noted near Eli, Cherry County, on December 21, and thirty-two in a cut¬
over meadow near that place on December 27; three seen along Squaw
Creek, in the valley, on December 23; four seen in a tree near Crawford,
Dawes County, on December 27, one of which, an immature female, was
collected; and a large flock of about 125 seen along the road near
Brocksburg, Keyapaha County, on December 30. No Greater Prairie
Chickens were noted on this trip.

Bob-white (Colinus virginianus subsp.).—Two seen along Squaw Creek
on December 23, and again on December 24, when one specimen, a young
adult female, was collected.

Wilson Snipe (Capella delicaia). —An adult female seen, and collected,
at open water in Squaw Canyon, on December 26.

Western Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus occidental^). —Noted along
Squaw Creek, one in the valley on December 23, two in the pines on the
ridge on December 24, and one in the valley on December 26. No speci¬
mens taken, but referred to this form as it is the known resident sub¬
species in the region.

Common Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes cafer collaris). —Two birds be¬
lieved to be this species were seen in the pines on December 22, and one
definitely identified along Squaw Creek in the valley on December 26.

Rocky Mountain Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus monticola). —An
immature male collected in Squaw Canyon on December 23, the only one
seen.

Batchelder Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens leucurus). —Several
seen in Squaw Canyon on December 23 and 24. Two immature females
were collected there on December 23 and an adult male on December 24.

Saskatchewan Horned Lark (Otocoris alpestris enthymia). —Horned Larks
were common in Cherry County on December 21, in company with the
Common Lapland Longspurs. Hundreds of Horned Larks were seen in
the road, out of the snow, between Squaw Canyon, Sioux County, and
Kilgore, Cherry County, on December 27. An adult male collected at
Harrison, Sioux County, on December 27, is referable to this subspecies,
if the same is regarded as distinct from O. a. leucolaema.

American Magpie (Pica pica hudsonia). —In Squaw Canyon, about eight
were noted on December 22 and 23, about fifteen on December 24, and
about twenty on December 26, one adult female being collected there on
the latter date. One was seen near Neligh, Antelope County, on De¬
cember 31.

Eastern Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos). —Became increas¬
ingly less numerous from east to west, and none at all seen west of
Gordon, Sheridan County. Many hundreds were seen along the road in
Boyd, Holt and Antelope Counties, between Butte and Neligh, on De¬
cember 31.

Pinon Jay (Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus). —A flock of about twenty-five
was seen in Squaw Canyon on December 24. No Clark Nutcrackers
were seen on the trip.

Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee (Penthestes atricapillus septentrio-
nalis). —Common in Squaw Canyon and along the creek. Seen every day
we were there. A typical adult male was collected in Squaw Canyon on
December 23.

Rocky Mountain White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis nelsoni ).—
An adult male collected in Squaw Canyon on December 22, the only one
seen.

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). —Two seen in Squaw Canyon
on December 22. An adult male was collected at the same place on
December 24.

Rocky Mountain Brown Creeper (Certhia familiaris montana). —First

GENERAL NOTES

heard and seen in Squaw Canyon on December 22, and heard on two
subsequent occasions. Referred to this subspecies as it is known to be
the wintering form in the Pine Ridge.

Eastern Robin (Turdus migratorius migratorius). —About ten seen along
the Niobrara River in Brown County north of Ainsworth on December 30.

Eastern Common Bluebird (Sialia sialis sialis). —One seen and heard
calling near Kilgore, Cherry County, on December 29.

Townsend Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi). —An adult male was col¬
lected in Squaw Canyon on December 22, and a bird of the same species
was seen there on December 24.

Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis subsp.).—One was seen near Butte,
Boyd County, on December 21, another between Squaw Canyon and Kil¬
gore on December 27, and one at Kilgore on December 29. None was
collected, as these individuals were too shy to permit approach, so the
subspecific identification is lacking. Probably, however, they were L. b.
invictus.

Western Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina brooksi). —About
fifteen of these birds were noted along Squaw Creek on December 23,
and an adult male and immature female were collected. About a dozen
were noted at the same place on December 26, when another adult male
was collected. The first two of these birds collected are quite typical
H. v. brooksi, but the second male is somewhat intermediate between H. v.
brooksi and H. v. vespertina. No Pine Grosbeaks were seen on the trip.

Common Redpoll (Acanthis linaria linaria). —One seen by Beed in Squaw
Canyon on December 22.

Pale American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis pallidus). —About fifty were
seen along Squaw Creek in the valley, on December 23, and an immature
female, seemingly referable to this form, was collected. Several were
seen there on the following day also, and again on December 26. No
crossbills whatever were seen on the trip.

White-winged Junco (Junco aikeni). —Noted at Harrison and Squaw
Canyon, Sioux County. An immature individual was collected at Har¬
rison on December 22, and an adult male in Squaw Canyon on the same
date. About a dozen were seen in Squaw Canyon on December 24.

Eastern Slate-colored Junco (Junco hyemalis hyemalis). —A few were
seen in a flock of Shufeldt Oregon Juncos near Johnstown, Brown
County, on December 30.

Shufeldt Oregon Junco (Junco oreganus shufeldti). —About fifteen in a
flock, with a few of the preceding species, near Johnstown, Brown County,
on December 30. One adult male was collected.

Pink-sided Junco (Junco mearnsi). —One adult (female?) collected in
Squaw Canyon on December 24, and an adult male near Johnstown,
Brown County, December 30.

Western Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea ochracea). —Common along
Squaw Creek in the valley, on December 23, 24 and 26. No specimens
were collected. S. a. ochracea is of course the form found in winter in the
Pine Ridge.

Common Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus). —These
longspurs were common in Cherry County, in company with Saskatche¬
wan Horned Larks, on December 21 and 30. Two adult males were col¬
lected near Wood Lake, Cherry County, on December 21, and another
adult male and a female were collected at the same place on December

30. An immature male bird was collected in Squaw Canyon on December
22. All five of these specimens are closest to C. 1. lapponicus, though dis¬
tinctly paler than most eastern Nebraska specimens of that subspecies.
The species was common along the roadside between Valentine, Cherry
County, and Ainsworth, Brown County, on December 30. A flock of
about 500 was seen in a field near Neligh, Antelope County, on December

31. —George E. Hudson and Watson E. Beed, Dept. Zoology, Univ. of Nebr.,
Lincoln, Nebr.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Published at Lincoln, Nebraska, by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union.
Myron H. Swenk, Editor, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Subscription price one dollar a year in the U. S. A. Single numbers
twenty-five cents each.

EDITORIAL PAGE

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS

The Executive Committee of the N. 0. U. announces that our Thirty-
fifth Annual Meeting and Thirty-second Annual Field Day will be held
at Omaha on Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19, 1934. The Board of
Trustees of the Society of Liberal Arts, in charge of the Joslyn Me¬
morial, has graciously accorded to the N. O. U. the privilege of holding
its meetings in that beautiful new building. President McKillip has
appointed Mr. L. 0. Horsky as Chairman of the Committee on Local
Arrangements, so our members may rest assured that all local plans
will be most carefully made and conscientiously carried out. Every
effort will be put forth to make this coming meeting a notable one.
There will be the usual program, open to the public, on Friday afternoon
and evening, and an exhibit worthy of the distinguished setting open
all day Friday and Friday evening. This exhibit is planned to include
a representation of the various devices for attracting birds to the home,
books on birds, and original bird paintings and photographs. The usual
Field Day will be held in the Fontenelle Reserve and elsewhere on Satur¬
day, May 19. More detailed announcements of the meeting will be made
in the April number of the Review.

A year ago the outstanding ornithological feature of the season was
the invasion of the eastern half of Nebraska by Canadian Pine Gros¬
beaks. This past fall and the present winter have been marked by an
eastward movement of Corvidae. American Magpies have been noted
in various counties in central and even in southeastern Nebraska—
Antelope, Merrick, Polk, Hall, Adams, Thayer, Jefferson, Saline and
Lancaster—and Pinon Jays have worked eastward to the North Platte,
O’Neill, Holdrege, Superior and Fairbury vicinities, while even the Clark
Nutcracker has been seen as far east as Kearney and Superior.

If the winter of 1932-33 was set down as an “open” one, that of
1933-34 would have to be designated as a “very open” winter. As stated
in the column in this issue entitled the 1933 Migration Season, this
winter so far has been phenomenally dry and warm. There were some
cold spells for just a day or a few days in December (24 to 28) and
January (1 to 3, 25, 29 and 30), but for the months of November, De¬
cember, January and the first half of February, as a whole, the mean
temperatures were much above the normal. Last year we made an
analysis of the Holiday bird censuses, and compiled from them a com¬
posite list of forty-seven species. This season the number in a similarly
compiled list is just ten less. At Omaha and Lincoln the censuses of
the present winter were better than a year ago; at Fremont and Fair¬
bury they were almost the same in both seasons, while at Hastings the
list this year was not quite half of the list a year ago. It is hard to
account for this on any other basis than a lesser food supply, for the
prevailing temperatures certainly have been encouraging for the birds
to remain with us.

THE 1933 MIGRATION SEASON

The fall and early winter season of 1933 was warmer than normal
throughout, and mostly dry and bright. September was unusually warm
and moderately wet. There have been only two Septembers since 1876
(1897 and 1931) that averaged warmer. The September mean tempera¬
ture at Lincoln was 71.5° F., which is 5.1° above the normal mean
temperature of that month. Eleven days had maximum temperatures
of 90° F. or higher at Lincoln, and maxima of 100° or above occurred
in all parts of the state. At Lincoln the first ten days of September
all had maxima of 89° F. or higher, from 5° to 18° above the normal,
following which was a heavy rain on the 11th, with a subsequent cool
period from the 12th to the 15th, inclusive, with temperatures from 1°
to 11° below the normal, and this in turn followed by warm weather
again, only three days (the 20th and the 26th and 27th, following a rain
on the 25th) of the last half of the month being below the normal.
There was no general freeze in September, and the lowest recorded
temperature anywhere in the state was 29° F. Along with the warm
weather were good rains in most sections. At Lincoln there were rains
of 2.44 and 1.39 inches, on the 12th and 25th, respectively, with light
rains on the 2nd, 15th and 26th, making the rainfall of the month 4.81
inches, or 1.83 inches above the normal. While southern Nebraska in
general received more than the usual amount of rain, in the northeastern
section the rainfall was only slightly more than normal, while in the
northwestern section it was only 76% of normal. September sunshine
was everywhere above the normal.

October continued warm, and turned very dry and bright. The average
temperature for the state was 53°, which was 1.9° above normal, the
western half of the state averaging above normal and the southeastern
section slightly below normal. The highest temperature for the state was
91°, recorded at two different stations respectively on the 4th and 14th.
The October mean temperature at Lincoln was 53.8° F., which while .04°
below the normal mean temperature of that month, was still quite warm.
The mean maximum daily temperature at Lincoln was 66.2° F., which
is .2° above the normal and on the 14th, 30th and 31st maxima of 80°
or more obtained, these being from 13° to 23° above the normal. A
general freeze occurred in the western half of the state on the 1st, and
in most of the eastern half of the state on the 8th, but in a few places
in southeastern Nebraska freezing did not occur until October 22. The
average precipitation for the state was only .06 inch, making this
October the driest on record, the previous record being .22 inch in 1895,
and drier than any month on record except December, 1905, with .02 inch
and November, 1914, with .01 inch. At Lincoln, the only rainfall for
the entire month of October, the normal precipitation for which is 1.88
inches, was .09 inch, which fell on the 15th.

The warm, dry, bright weather continued through November, over the
whole state. It was the warmest November in a decade, although all
but two of the last ten Novembers have been warmer than normal.
Maximum temperatures of 70° or above occurred in all parts of the
state and in southeastern Nebraska reached 80° on one or two days.
The November mean temperature at Lincoln was 43°, which is 3.9° above
the normal, while the mean maximum daily temperature was 5° above
the normal of 50°. November 1 registered a maximum of 80° F., while
the maximum temperatures on the 10th to 13th, 18th to 20th, 25th and
27th were above 61° or higher, from 2° to 20° above the normal. Like
October, the month was exceedingly dry. For the state as a whole, the
average precipitation was only 40% of the normal, ranging from 31%
in the central and western part of the state to 49% in the southwestern
section. A quarter of an inch on November 2, with slight precipitation
on November 1, 4, 5 and 23, to a total of .60 inch, which is .47 inch below
the normal for the month, brought the accumulated deficiency of pre-

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

cipitation for 1933 at Lincoln to -2.31 inches. The sunshine for Novem¬
ber was greater than normal.

December was the warmest in Nebraska for the last thirty-eight years.
Only three Decembers in fifty-eight years of record, 1877, 1889 and 1896
were warmer. Temperatures ranged from 4° above normal in the
northeastern section to over 8° above normal in the southwest. The
warmest days during December were the 21st to 23rd, which at Lincoln
registered 61°, 70° and 61° maximum, which were respectively 18°,
26°, and 22° above the normal, and these three very warm days were
followed by the coldest weather of the month on December 24 to 28,
inclusive, with minimum temperatures from -4° to 12°, which were from
3° to 23° below the normal. Minimum temperatures over the state as a
whole ranged from zero to ten below, but in northeastern Nebraska
three stations registered 17° below. At Lincoln the December mean
temperature was 32.8°, which is 5.2° above the normal, while the mean
maximum daily temperature was 43.2° or 8.1° above the normal. How¬
ever, the excessive dryness of October and November was broken in
December, when at Lincoln good rains fell on the 1st and 2nd, and slight
precipitation occurred on the 25th and 26th, making a rainfall of 1.67
inches, which is .87 inch above the normal, and reducing the accumu¬
lated deficiency of precipitation for 1933 at Lincoln to -1.44 inches.
For the state, the rainfall was 167% of normal, most of it falling on
the first two days of the month. The remainder of the month was dry,
except for an occasional light snow, especially on the 14th and 15th, and
25th and 26th. In the extreme northeastern part of the state some snow
remained on the ground through the last half of the month.

Miss Mary Ellsworth, our Vice-President, spent the first two weeks
in August of 1933 visiting at Alliance, Box Butte County. She reports
that at a small lake called Bronco Lake, about three miles from town,
she saw about 100 American Eared Grebes, in pairs, the males diving
for food and feeding the females; a Western Willet, several Pectoral
Sandpipers, several Semipalmated Sandpipers and an Avocet; and about
seventy-five American Black Terns. At another lake farther away she
saw three (Eastern?) Great Blue Herons, numerous ducks and three
Avocets. Along the roadsides she noted hundreds of Saskatchewan
Horned Larks, Lark Buntings and Western Lark Sparrows. Near
Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff County, she noted the Northern Violet-green
Swallow and Common Rock Wren.

Under date of November 1, Mrs. Glen Chapman of Aurora writes that
on August 28 two female (or immature male) Ruby-throated Humming¬
birds appeared at the salvia blossoms in her neighbor's yard, and were
seen there each day up to and including September 3. One hummingbird
was seen on September 11, 14, 15, and 17, at the same place, by Mrs.
Chapman, and one was seen again on October 3 and 6, just before the
coming of the frost that killed the salvia. On September 3, Mrs. Chap¬
man noted a Wilson Pileolated Warbler in an ash tree in her yard,
and on September 26 two female Western Blue Grosbeaks were noted
eating berries from the matrimony vines in a neighbor’s (Mrs.
Nothomb’s) yard. On October 22, Mrs. Chapman saw a Tufted Titmouse
in a wooded spot along the Big Blue River south of Aurora, this being
the first record of this species in the Aurora vicinity, and extending its
known distribution in Nebraska considerably to the northwest. On
October 28, at a little pioneer cemetery on the Blue River south of
Aurora, Mrs. Chapman had the thrill of seeing a Townsend Solitaire,
where it stayed all afternoon among the junipers and pines of the ceme¬
tery, occasionally flying out, after the manner of a flycatcher, to catch
insects from the air. Other birds noted in this cemetery on the same
day were the Eastern Screech Owl, Long-eared Owl, Eastern Hairy Wood-

THE 1933 MIGRATION SEASON

pecker, Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, Eastern Brown Creeper,
Eastern Robin, Eastern Common Bluebird, Eastern Golden-crowned
Kinglet, Eastern Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern
Cardinal, Eastern American Goldfinch, Harris Sparrow, White-crowned
Sparrow, Tree Sparrow (subsp.?), Eastern Chipping Sparrow, Swamp
Sparrow and Song Sparrow (subsp.?).

Under dates of November 6 and 12, Mrs. Lulu Kortz Hudson of the
“Bow and Arrow Ranch”, near Simeon, Nebraska, reports that on
October 8 she and Mr. Hudson noted some large birds on their lake,
from their sitting room windows. Getting into the car and driving
down to the lake, and walking over onto what formerly was an island
in the lake, with the field glasses they observed two pure white adult
and two immature swans, the immature birds being plainly washed with
gray. The swans swam leisurely about, not disturbed by the nearness
of the Hudsons, and finally swam quietly away to the northwestern
shore of the lake. On each of the next seven days these birds were
observed; then one of the hired men went duck hunting on the lake and
the swans promptly left when the guns were fired, even though the
hunters were on another part of the lake. Eleven days later, on October
19, the Hudsons saw four swans again, but all of these were pure white
adults and obviously not the same birds that they had seen on October
8 to 14. Like the others, they were unafraid when they were approached
quite closely by the automobile. They stayed until October 23, when
they flew away following some shooting on the lake again. Mr. and Mrs.
Hudson did not see the swans in flight. These are the first swans that
the Hudsons have noted on their lake during the past twenty-five years,
though Mr. Hudson, who has lived on the place for the last fifty years,
says that formerly large flocks of swans visited the lake in the spring
migration, and smaller numbers in the fall. About twenty-five years
ago Mrs. Hudson saw a pair of swans on the lake in the fall. The
Hudsons were not able to determine whether these swans were the
Whistling Swan or the Trumpeter Swan, though quite possibly the
latter. At the same time that the swans were on the lake there were
also flocks of Canada Geese and Common Mallard, Gadwall, Baldpate,
Lesser Scaup and Northern Ruddy Ducks, as well as Northern American
Coots. On November 5, Mrs. Hudson reports that they caught a
Northern Ruddy Duck alive. Under date of February 14, she reported
that while the lake did not yet show open water, several flocks of the
American Golden-eye had visited the marsh on their place in migration
this winter.

Mr. Wilson Tout of North Platte reports under date of November 20
that about November 6 a flock of Pinon Jays put in an appearance in
that town, and have since been reported by a number of people as seen
in various parts of the town, as well as in the surrounding countryside.
He further reports that a flock of Mountain Bluebirds had recently been
seen at the State Experiment Substation near North Platte, where they
previously were noted during early March of 1933 (antea, i, p. 49).
Mr. Tout was informed of the presence of the birds at the Substation
by Mr. L. L. Zook, Agronomist at the Substation, and, with Mrs. Tout,
he went out and saw them. Later Mrs. Tout saw Mountain Bluebirds
near Bignell, Lincoln County, about twenty miles southeast of North
Platte and also along the river, and several other North Platte residents
have reported seeing flocks of Bluebirds recently, which Mr. Tout judged
were either the same flock, or at least Mountain Bluebirds, since the
Eastern Common Bluebird is not known to occur in the North Platte
vicinity during the late fall and winter.

Under dates of November 8 and 30, Mr. A. M. Brooking of Hastings
reports that he had received a specimen of the Northwestern Great

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Horned Owl (B. v. lagophonus) that was shot four miles west and three
miles south of Ayr, Adams County, by Mr. William Gingrich, on October
29, 1933, and also a Western Great Horned Owl (B. v. occidentals) that
was shot in Custer County in the vicinity of Broken Bow, on November
3, and sent to him. Both these specimens were preserved, and the
identification of the former carefully checked by both Mr. Brooking and
M. H. Swenk. On November 2, an immature Bald Eagle was shot near
Glenvil, Clay County, and was brought to Mr. Brooking by Mr. Ray
Ebert of Hastings, for whom Mr. Brooking mounted the bird. On
November 5, Mr. George Maxwell, of Hastings, shot an immature male
White-winged Scoter on the Platte River in Hall County, somewhere
between Wood River and Grand Island, and this specimen was mounted
by Mr. Brooking for his collection. On the same day, Mr. Lester Nune-
maker, of Hastings, shot three male American Golden-eyes on the Platte
River south of Wood River, one of which was brought to Mr. Brooking
for mounting. Several male American Buff-breasted Mergansers were shot
on the Platte River in Hall County on November 9 by Mr. G. A. Huffer,
of Hastings, one of which was mounted for him by Mr. Brooking, who
mentions that he has had other reports of that bird this fall and that
there seems to have been something of a flight of them. Mr. Brooking
also mentions that he has received several reports of American Magpies
having been seen along the Platte River in Hall County during Novem¬
ber. Furthermore, one was shot by Mr. George Tilden, of Hastings, on
November 26, a little west of Hastings, and mounted by Mr. Brooking,
while a flock was reported to him by Mr. Junior Brooks, of Angus, as
present on a ranch one mile north and one mile west of Hebron, Thayer
County, on November 21. Mr. Brooking says that American Magpies
have nested for the last two or three years, at least, around Elwood,
Gosper County, that two nests were reported by a farm owner in the
same county, between Smithfield and Bertrand, as being located on his
farm, while these birds have also been reported as nesting around
Oxford, in Harlan County.

Under date of November 12, Miss Mary Ellsworth reports that on
November 11, at Carter Lake near Omaha, she noted about forty Com¬
mon Pied-billed Grebes, a White Pelican standing on a pile of reeds, two
American Pintails, twelve Blue-winged Teals, two Shovellers, four Red¬
heads, forty or fifty Lesser Scaups, about a hundred Northern American
Coots, a Northern Killdeer, a Black-bellied Plover in the winter plumage,
a Ring-billed Gull in the immature plumage, several other unidentified
gulls, fifteen Red-winged Blackbirds, fifty Bronzed Crackles and a large
flock of Tree Sparrows. She returned to Carter Lake on November 12,
and again saw the White Pelican, at exactly the same place, and saw
also a Wilson Snipe. Later it developed that the White Pelican was a
wounded bird, unable to fly. It was finally killed by the Humane Society,
to prevent its death by starvation, according to a letter dated December
10, received from Miss Emma Ellsworth. On November 26, Miss Ells¬
worth saw thirty Lesser Snow Geese and a number of unidentified ducks
at Carter Lake. Under date of January 6, Mr. L. O. Horsky comments
upon the absence of the American Golden-eye along the Missouri River
this winter, which species of duck has been observed on the river at the
Fontenelle Reserve for several successive winters past, and also upon
the absence of the Long-eared Owls from Elmwood Park this winter.
Mr. Horsky observed Red Crossbills in Elmwood Park on December 3,
but they have not subsequently been seen, and are absent from the
Holiday bird censuses taken in the Omaha area this. year. Mr. Horsky
also comments on the absence of the Red-headed Woodpeckers from
Spring Lake, Riverview and Hanscom Parks this winter, where they
were numerous the past two winters. Two were seen, however, in
Forest Lawn Cemetery, as recorded in the census taken on January 1.
Two Eastern Robins were common visitors to the bird baths of Mrs. J.
Franklyn Holly, 5062 Leavenworth Street, up to December 15. Mr.

THE 1983 MIGRATION SEASON

Horsky further reports, on January 6, that during the period between
December 15 and January 1, two Eastern Sparrow Hawks were seen on
the grounds of Mr. F. J. Jodeit, 69th and Grover Streets; Eastern
Screech Owls were observed by Mr. Horsky near his home at 5952
Franklin Street and by Dr. C. A. Mitchell near his home at 2565 Crown
Point Avenue, and in and near Miller Park; a Red-bellied Woodpecker
was observed by Dr. Mitchell at Bellevue; and fifteen Tree Sparrows
were observed by Mr. Horsky himself, near his home.

Under date of December 1, Mr. Cyrus A. Black of Kearney reports
that he had just returned from the second of two hunting trips to the
North Platte River in Garden County, north of Oshkosh, taken November
26 to 28, 1933, inclusive, and that he found a great concentration of
ducks there. He writes: “I believe that I never in my life saw so many
ducks as I saw on our last trip. While of course I realize that they are
all bunched in Garden County, nevertheless I never saw anything like it
before. They are uncountable. They fly up off the Garden County
Reserve in swarms that are miles long and look like smoke. Last week
while I was there a man was taking moving pictures of these flights.”
Under date of December 30, Mr. Black further writes that Greater
Yellow-legs were quite numerous along the North Platte River in Garden
County in October, and that while hunting ducks and geese in the same
locality, on the November dates mentioned, he found the Wilson Snipe
very numerous. On the Reserve he saw eagles, both the Golden Eagle
and the Bald Eagle, chasing ducks and geese. The Reserve, he says,
seemed to be a fine hunting ground for them, and they could be seen there
almost any time. Mr. Black reports also that recently he received for
mounting an albino Eastern Crow with the entire plumage snowy white.

On December 2, 1933, the University of Nebraska Museum received a
fine specimen of Bald Eagle, in the fully adult plumage (with pure
white head and neck, and tail), apparently shot but a day or two previ¬
ously, from Mr. Cecil McCullough, Box 285, Bassett, Rock County,
Nebraska. This specimen had a wing measuring 581 mm. and the chord
of its culmen measured 56 mm., indicating a bird of about the maximum
size for the Southern Bald Eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus leucocephalus),
and almost large enough to be referred to the Northern Bald Eagle (H. 1.
alascanus), which, however, typically has a wing 600 mm. long or over,
and a culmen around 63 mm. long or over. Like many other Nebraska
Bald Eagles taken in winter, this one must be regarded as more or less
intermediate between the two subspecies. The specimen is being pre¬
served in the University collection.

Under date of December 3, Mrs. H. C. Johnston of Superior writes
that she recently had learned that about November 1 four Superior boys
shot a swan on the Republican River west of that town. It seems that
these four boys were hunting, and saw a lone large white bird fly down
on the river. They thought it was a goose, and between them shot at it
seven times before they killed it. After they had killed and retrieved
the bird, they saw that it was not a goose at all, so they brought it to an
experienced hunter for identification. This hunter correctly told them
that the bird that had been shot was an immature swan, and that there
was a heavy penalty for shooting swans. The boys were frightened,
and promptly got rid of the bird by burying it. When Mrs. Johnston
learned of the occurrence and where the bird was buried, some time
later, she had it dug up and took measurements of the wing spread and
length, bill proportions, tarsus and middle toe. She noted also that its
plumage was washed with brownish gray, and the ends of the wing
feathers were a pale soft gray. The bill was black with “quite a bit of
salmon color” and the tarsi and feet were blackish. From the plumage
description and measurements thus secured, it i's evident that the bird
was an immature Whistling Swan in its second year plumage, presenting

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

rather maximum measurements for the tarsus and middle toe, but with
the general size and bill proportions of the Whistling Swan. Mrs. John¬
ston raises the question as to what the boys might better have done in
this case. Mr. F. B. O’Connell, Secretary of the Nebraska Game, Fores¬
tation, and Parks Commission, states that if any one, unintentionally
and through ignorance of its true identity, shoots a bird protected by
law in the belief that it is a game bird, in the open season for that kind
of game bird, if the circumstances are promptly reported to him and the
bird held subject to his orders, the person making the mistake is pro¬
tected from state penalty. Such birds are usually ordered turned over
to the nearest game warden, or to the Commission directly, and such
disposal is made of the same as best to conserve any scientific value
that the specimen may have.

Under dates of December 8 and 17, Mrs. J. R. Swain of Greeley,
Greeley County, reports that on November 30, 1933, her renter, Mr.
Edward Ryan, shot a large Golden Eagle on his place near Greeley. Mr.
Ryan reports to Mrs. Swain that he shot the bird while it was sitting
quietly on a fence post. He brought the dead eagle in for Mrs. Swain
to see, and to say what should be done with it. It was decided to have
the bird mounted, and to place it in the Court House. It had a wing
spread of eight feet and weighed twelve pounds. Mrs. Swain writes
concerning it: “It was a splendid specimen of the Golden Eagle, the
first I had ever seen, and it seemed a pity that it had to be killed.” As
an excellent example of how popular prejudice is unjustly developed
against the Golden Eagle, and our other birds of prey, witness the fol¬
lowing account of the killing of this bird, as it was published in the
Greeley Citizen for December 7, 1933, under the captions “A Huge Eagle
Attacks Barry. A Monster Bird Rips Off Coat, Shirt Sleeves”: “A huge
eagle made a savage attack on Tom Barry at the Edward Ryan home
Thanksgiving evening. The monster eagle was discovered in a hog lot
at the Ryan home. The bird of prey was engaged in a battle with a
brood sow which was attempting to defend her brood of suckling pigs.
Ryan and Barry ran to the hog lot. The former carried a gun. When
Barry arrived on the outside of a woven wire fence, the eagle rose from
the ground and made a dash at Barry. The latter ducked behind the
fence and threw up his right arm. The eagle caught his coat sleeve in
its talons and ripped off not only the coat sleeve but that of his shirt
as well. Barry’s arm was scratched. Ryan shot the bird after the
attack on Barry. It had almost a 12-foot wing spread. It stood about
three feet in height and weighed fourteen pounds. The ears of the
brood sow were riddled by the sharp talons of the eagle. The eagle
probably will be mounted. It is of the golden species.”

Under date of December 22, Misses Agness and Susie Callaway of
Fairbury report on some bird records made at that place the past fall.
They saw the first Eastern Brown Creeper on October 9. Mrs. C. B.
Callaway saw a Pinon Jay on October 29. The Misses Callaway first
noted a flock of twenty or thirty Rusty Blackbirds on November 6, this
flock remaining about for a week or more, during which time they
trapped and banded three of them. Mrs. R. L. Gray saw an American
Magpie on November 23. Mrs. Charles Richardson saw an Eastern
Belted Kingfisher on December 20. Under date of January 9, the Misses
Callaway further report that Mrs. Richardson has four Tufted Titmice
and the same number of Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadees as regular
visitors at her feeding station, in addition to one pair each of the Eastern
Hairy Woodpecker and Northern Downy Woodpecker. The Misses
Callaway have the same kinds of birds visiting their feeding station
also, except that they do not have the Tufted Titmice. Since January 1
they have noted also the Northern Sharp-shinned Hawk, Marsh Hawk,
Eastern Bob-white, Eastern Crow, Cedar Waxwing (large flock), Eastern

THE 1933 MIGRATION SEASON

Cardinal, Eastern Slate-colored Junco, Tree Sparrow and Harris Spar¬
row. They banded nine of the Eastern Bob-whites, and had one return
from last year. Other birds noted by the Misses Callaway during Janu¬
ary and early February include the Common Pintail, Eastern Belted
Kingfisher, and Eastern Common Bluebird. They saw the first Eastern
Robin on February 4, and on February 9 banded a Brown Thrasher with
No. 278847.

Under date of January 4, Mrs. George L. Day of Superior writes that
on or about October 15, at dusk, they had a flock of Harris Sparrows in
the thicket near their house, and with them were several each of the
Arctic Spotted Towhees and Eastern Cardinals. Miss Marian Day, her
daughter, saw a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on October 20, while in
November she saw a Townsend Solitaire. Two Golden Eagles were seen
in November. A Brown Thrasher was seen on November 21, and on
the date of her writing, January 4, a Northern Blue Jay and an Eastern
Robin were present in the yard. The suet basket in the yard was being
visited daily by Eastern Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Downy Wood¬
peckers and Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadees, some of the latter
being there most of the time, while the Eastern Cardinals were visiting
the feeding table and bird bath every day. Mrs. Day comments on the
large number of hawks that they have found shot in the Superior vicinity
this fall and winter.

Under date of January 7, Mrs. A. H. Jones of Hastings continues the
1933 migration record at that place from where it ended in the last
report (antea, i, p. 140). Eastern Common Bluebirds were noted on
October 13, a flock of ten, by Mesdames J. D. Fuller, A. H. Jones, A. M.
Jones, A. E. Olsen and J. Roelse, while Mrs. E. R. Maunder saw a flock
of them on the late date of November 11. The group just mentioned
noted a Great Blue Heron also on October 13. On October 14, Mrs. A. M.
Brooking noted the first Harris Sparrows of the season. Mrs. A. M. Jones
saw two Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglets on October 15, on which same
date Mrs. A. H. Jones saw two American Magpies and flocks of Eastern
Cowbirds along the Platte River north of Hastings. On October 20, a
field party of the Brooking Bird Club noted the Marsh Hawk, Long¬
tailed Black-capped Chickadees, Eastern Brown Creeper, two Eastern
Golden-crowned Kinglets, flocks of Western Meadowlarks, Eastern
American Goldfinches, Red-eyed Eastern Towhee, Eastern Slate-colored
Junco, Tree Sparrow (subsp.), Harris Sparrow, several White-throated
Sparrows and Song Sparrow (subsp.). Mrs. Dwight Thomas noted
Red-winged Blackbirds on October 29. On October 30, Mrs. A. M. Jones
saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch in her yard, and the same or another
individual of this species was noted by Mrs. A. H. Jones in her yard on
November 7. Miss Margaret Diemer noted one in the woods along the
Platte River north of Hastings on November 5. Mrs. C. A. Heartwell
saw six Eastern Brown Creepers in her yard on November 20. On
December 11 a Bronzed Grackle was noted in her yard by Mrs. A. M.
Brooking, and was repeatedly seen subsequently during the month. A
Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker was observed on December 15 by Miss
M. Caryle Sylla, a Redhead on the Platte River north of Hastings on
December 17 by Mrs. A. H. Jones, and a dozen American Rough-legged
Hawks on December 25 by Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Brooking. Mrs. A. E.
Olsen saw the Shufeldt Oregon Junco on January 3, and Mrs. C. A.
Heartwell noted an Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch on January 6.
Mrs. Harold Erickson reports that a flock of Pinon Jays appeared at
Holdrege, Phelps County, about December 25, and were still there at the
time of writing (January 7). However, none have been seen at Hastings
so far this winter.

Under date of January 14, Miss Louisa Wilson of Lincoln reports that
on September 10, and for several days subsequently, she noted several

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

male individuals of the Wilson Pileolated Warbler and American Red¬
start at her home at 3103 South 35th Street. Also on September 10 she
noted a male Eastern Purple Finch, which showed considerable of the
pinkish color on the head and breast. She thought she saw it or another
one again on September 12, but was not entirely sure of the identifica¬
tion in the second case. This species is a decidedly uncommon one at
Lincoln. As stated in the last number of the Review (i, p. 139), a Red-
breasted Nuthatch appeared in a large pine tree in the yard of Mr. and
Mrs. M. H. Swenk on October 14. It was seen at intervals afterward,
during October, and on November 1 a second one appeared in company
with it. Both birds of this pair (a male and a female) have since been
constantly present on or about the Swenk premises, up to January 22 for
the male and February 4 for the female. They were constant visitors at
the suet, along with several Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadees and a
pair each of the Eastern Hairy Woodpecker and Northern Downy Wood¬
pecker. A pair of Northern Blue Jays are also almost daily visitors.
Eastern Slate-colored Juncos appeared in a small flock on October 21
and have remained since. A male Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker
which first appeared at the suet on November 17 was seen almost every
day until December 27. On November 21, a Townsend Solitaire ap¬
peared in the back yard of the Swenk home, and remained there for
several minutes, affording an excellent identification before it flew away
to the north. On December 17, two Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglets and
two Eastern American Goldfinches made their first visit, and the former
have since been seen nearly every day, the latter species even more
numerously. A pair of Eastern Cardinals have also been daily visitors,
seeking sunflower seeds at the Swenks’ feeding board. Under date of
February 18, Miss Wilson further reports that on January 17 there were
two Northern Pine Siskins at her home, and that on January 21 she saw
two or three Red-breasted Nuthatches in the Salt Creek woods near the
Penitentiary. At Nebraska City, on February 7 she saw the Eastern
Common Bluebird and Red-bellied Woodpecker, both of which were
reported to her as having wintered there, along with many Eastern
White-breasted Nuthatches, Eastern Brown Creepers, and Eastern
Cardinals. She saw Harris Sparrows, and heard them singing, at Lin¬
coln on February 13, and saw and heard Western Meadowlarks on
February 15. A Bronzed Grackle remained in her neighborhood all
winter, and an Eastern Robin was seen there about Christmas time and
again in mid-February. Other wintering birds noted by her were
Northern Blue Jays, Eastern Slate-colored Juncos and Tree Sparrows.

Mrs. Addison E. Sheldon saw an immature male Pine Grosbeak, with
pronounced yellowish-red on the crown and rump, at the water in the
bird bath in her yard at 1319 South 23rd Street, Lincoln, on November
15. This bird has been seen on several occasions subsequently, according
to Mr. Sheldon. This is the only record of the noting of this species in
the Lincoln vicinity during the present winter. On November 20, Mrs.
George O. Smith saw an American Magpie between Raymond and Mal¬
colm, in northern Lancaster County.

On November 5, Messrs. G. E. Hudson and W. E. Beed made a one day
trip to Rock Bluff, in Cass County, and noted ten species of birds, viz.,
an adult male Marsh Hawk (collected), an immature male Common Red-
shafted Flicker (also collected), several Northern Blue Jays, about
fifteen Eastern Robins, several Eastern Common Bluebirds, about forty
Cedar Waxwings (a female collected), one Bronzed Grackle, and numer¬
ous Eastern American Goldfinches, Tree Sparrows and Harris Sparrows.
A freshly shot male Short-eared Owl was brought to Mr. Hudson at the
Zoology Department of the University on December 2. Miss Louisa
Wilson says a pale gray-colored Eastern Screech Owl has been a visitor
to a cedar tree in her yard during the month of December. Other bird

THE 1933 MIGRATION SEASON

visitors at her home during December have been the Eastern Hairy
Woodpecker, Northern Downy Woodpecker, Northern Blue Jay, Long¬
tailed Black-capped Chickadee, Eastern Cardinal, Eastern Slate-colored
Junco and Shufeldt Oregon Junco.

Under date of January 20, Miss Mollie Taylor of Battle Creek, Madi¬
son County, states that the omission of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in
her bird list for the Battle Creek vicinity for the period April 1 to June
10, 1933 (antea, i, pp. 84-85) was an oversight. She says they had many
of these birds all summer long, and that they hopped among the potato
vines helping themselves to the “potato bugs”, to which they were wel¬
come, and often visited the bird bath. As late as last November an
Eastern Robin was a visitor at the bird bath. A Northern Yellow-
shafted Flicker visited her place in January, and two or three Northern
Blue Jays have been eating and drinking at her home throughout the
winter to date. Other regular visitors have been the Northern Downy
Woodpecker, Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee and Eastern White¬
breasted Nuthatch. During the early part of the winter an Eastern
Screech Owl was present, roosting on the bracket underneath the eaves
on the shady north side of the house, but had not been seen for a few
days prior to January 20. Miss Taylor encloses some clippings from the
Norfolk Daily News for November 11 and 18, 1933, which tell that on
December 1, 1910, a flock of Pinon Jays appeared for a time at Plain-
view, Pierce County, and that during the fall of 1930 and winter of
1930-31 a flock of about forty of them wintered among the jack pines
in the cemetery north of that town. Also that a flock of about one
hundred Pinon Jays spent the winter of 1931-32 in the vicinity of O’Neill,
Holt County, only to leave in the spring, and that this fall about No¬
vember 11 a flock of these birds again appeared in that vicinity. The
press story comments: “They drift about in flocks, chattering in
musically whistled notes. On dark days one may approach them within
a few feet but on bright ones they are very shy.”

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S DAY CENSUSES

Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.—December 16, 2:00 P. M. to 4:00
P. M. (Mr. Horsky), and December 23, 3:00 P. M. to 4:30 P. M. (Misses
Ellsworth), from northwest entrance to Fontenelle Forest Reserve to
Burlington tracks, and along the tracks south through the Reserve.
Red-tailed? Hawk, 1; Eastern Sparrow Hawk, 2; Northern Yellow-
shafted Flicker, 2; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2; Eastern Hairy Wood¬
pecker, 2; Northern Downy Woodpecker, 6; Northern Blue Jay, 4;
Eastern Crow, 15; Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, 20; Eastern
White-breasted Nuthatch, 12; Eastern Common Bluebird, 6; Eastern
Cardinal, 2; Eastern American Goldfinch, 6; and Eastern Slate-colored
Junco, 50. Total, 14 species, 130 individuals.—L. O. Horsky and Misses
Emma and Mary Ellsworth.

Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.—December 23; 2:00 P. M. to 3:00
P. M. in Spring Lake Park, 3:00 P. M. to 4:30 P. M. in Riverview Park.
Eastern Hairy Woodpecker (2 in Spring Lake, 2 in Riverview); North¬
ern Downy Woodpecker (2 in Spring Lake, 4 in Riverview); Long-
tailed Black-capped Chickadee (8 in Spring Lake, 15 in Riverview);
Tufted Titmouse (1 in Riverview); Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch
(4 in Spring Lake, 6 in Riverview); and Eastern Slate-calored Junco
(15 in Riverview). Total, 6 species, 59 individuals.—L. O. Horsky.

Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska—December 24; 1:00 P. M. to 2:00
P. M. in Hanscom Park. Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Northern Downy
Woodpecker, 4; Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, 10; Eastern White¬
breasted Nuthatch, 4; Eastern Brown Creeper, 2; and Eastern Slate-
colored Junco, 12. Total, 6 species, 34 individuals.—L. O. Horsky.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.—December 31, 1:00 P. M. to 3:30
P. M. (Misses Ellsworth and Swanson and Mr. Horsky), and January 1
(Mrs. Holly), in Elmwood Park. Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker, 2;
Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Northern Downy Woodpecker, 4; Eastern
Crow, 10; Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, 20; Tufted Titmouse, 1;
Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch, 8; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 6; Eastern
Brown Creeper, 2; Eastern Cardinal, 6; Northern Pine Siskin, 1; East¬
ern American Goldfinch, 2; Eastern Slate-colored Junco, 25. Total, 13
species, 89 individuals.— Misses Mary Ellsworth and Effie Swanson, Mrs.
J. Franklyn Holly and Mr. L. O. Horsky.

Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.—January 1, 1:00 P. M. to 3:30
P. M. in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker, 2;
Red-headed Woodpecker, 2; Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Northern
Downy Woodpecker, 1; Northern Blue Jay, 10; Long-tailed Black-capped
Chickadee, 15; Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch, 10; Eastern Brown
Creeper, 8; Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet, 4; Eastern Cardinal, 1;
Eastern Slate-colored Junco, 15; and Harris Sparrow, 12. Total, 12
species, 81 individuals. —Misses Marjorie Disbrow, Mary Ellsworth and
Effie Swanson.

Homer, Dakota County, Nebraska.—January 7, in northeastern Dakota
County; snowing and quite cold. American Rough-legged Hawk, 2;
Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker, 3; Common Red-shafted Flicker, 1;
Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, 3; Northern Downy Woodpecker, 15; East¬
ern Crow, 2; Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, 6; Eastern White¬
breasted Nuthatch, 4; Eastern Cardinal, 25; Eastern American
Goldfinch, 6; Eastern Slate-colored Junco, 40; Tree Sparrow, 20; and
Harris Sparrow, 1. Total, 13 species, 128 individuals. Owing to the
coldness of the weather I did not get into the places where I would have
been likely to find the Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpeckers. The
Harris Sparrow record is my first one for this locality in January; pre¬
viously, however, I have noted it in December. —Wm. Youngworth.

Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska.—December 23; 8:00 A. M. to 12:00
M. and 1:30 P. M. to 4:00 P. M.; clear, temperature 42° at start, up to
58° at close. Cemetery, MacLean’s Island, HormeTs Island and country
roads. Marsh Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 1; Eastern Screech Owl, 1;
Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker, 12; Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, 8;
Northern Downy Woodpecker, 16; Northern Blue Jay, 1; Eastern Crow,
90; Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, 45; Eastern White-breasted
Nuthatch, 25; Eastern Brown Creeper, 15; Eastern Robin, 36; Eastern
Common Bluebird, 30; Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet, 10; Cedar
Waxwing, 25; Western Meadowlark, 1; Eastern Cardinal, 14 (8 males
and 6 females); Northern Pine Siskin, 8; Eastern American Goldfinch,
40; Eastern Slate-colored Junco, 50; Harris Sparrow, 8; and Tree
Sparrow, 75. Total, 22 species, 512 individuals.— Mrs. Lily Ruegg Button.

David City, Butler County, Nebraska.—January 6; three hours spent
along the Platte River near Schuyler and in the wooded ravines toward
David City. Marsh Hawk, Ring-necked Common Pheasant, Northern
Yellow-shafted Flicker, Common Red-shafted Flicker, Eastern Hairy
Woodpecker, Northern Downy Woodpecker (seen in town), Eastern Crow
(flocks of thousands of birds), Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee,
Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Brown Creeper (the last
three species were seen in town lief ore start of trip), Eastern Slate-
colored Junco, and Tree Sparrow. Total, 12 species. During the next
few days following the census Common Mallards have been seen along
the Platte River. One of our members, Mrs. Ross, had a pair of Red¬
breasted Nuthatches about her home for about a month prior to De¬
cember 21, when they left, and others were seen in town. —Three Mem¬
bers of the David City Nature Study Club.

HOLIDAY BIRD CENSUSES

Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.—December 25, 1933; all day.
In back yard, around feeding station, and in Wyuka Cemetery; mostly
cloudy, slight north wind, cold (temperature around 12° all day), ground
partly covered with a slight snow. Eastern Pigeon Hawk, 1 (in Wyuka);
Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker, 1 (male); Eastern Hairy Woodpecker,
2 (male and female); Northern Downy Woodpecker 2 (male and female);
Eastern Crow, 1; Northern Blue Jay, 2; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 (male
and female); Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, 3; Eastern Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 2; Eastern Cardinal, 2 (male and female); Eastern
American Goldfinch, 2; Eastern Slate-colored Junco, 3 (two males, one
female); Harris Sparrow, 2; and Tree Sparrow, 6. Total, 14 species, 31
individuals.— Myron H. and Jane B. Swenk.

Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.—January 21. Along Salt Creek
south of Lincoln. Ring-necked Common Pheasant, 4 (all in a tree);
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1; Northern Downy Woodpecker, several; East¬
ern Crow, about 20; Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, common;
Tufted Titmouse, several; Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch, several;
Eastern Brown Creeper, about 6; Western (?) Meadowlark, several;
Eastern Cardinal, about 8; Eastern Slate-colored Junco, several; Tree
Sparrow, abundant; and Harris Sparrow, about 12. Total, 13 species.—
George E. Hudson and Watson E. Beed.

Fairbury, Jefferson County, Nebraska.—December 22; 9:30 A. M. to
3:00 P. M.; clear, very light westerly wind, temperature 42° to 64°.
Observers in two groups, Miss Callaway and Mrs. Richardson on prairie
land, along the thickets bordering the Little Blue River, and through
the timber at Crystal Springs Park (a walk of six miles altogether),
and Mrs. Bogardus and Miss Holly by auto six miles to Bowers’ on Rose
Creek and return, and four miles on foot along Rose Creek. Cooper
Hawk, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 3; Marsh Hawk, 1; Northern Yellow-
shafted Flicker, 3; Common Red-shafted Flicker, 1; Red-bellied Wood¬
pecker, 7; Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, 6; Northern Downy Woodpecker,
32; Prairie Horned Lark, 20; Eastern Crow, 31; Long-tailed Black-
capped Chickadee, 80; Tufted Titmouse, 15; Eastern White-breasted
Nuthatch, 11; Eastern Carolina Wren, 1; Eastern Common Bluebird, 8;
Eastern Cardinal, 10; Eastern American Goldfinch, 3; Eastern Slate-
colored Junco, 37; Harris Sparrow, 75; and Tree Sparrow, 325. Total,
20 species, 670 individuals.— Mrs. C. M. Bogardus, Miss Susie Callaway,
Miss Bertha Holly, and Mrs. Charles Richardson.

Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska.—December 26; 2:00* P. M. to 4:00
P. M. Crystal Lake and vicinity. Marsh Hawk; Red-bellied Wood¬
pecker (one, or probably two, males, the second observation being made
some distance from the first); Eastern Hairy Woodpecker; Northern
Downy Woodpecker; (Saskatchewan ?) Horned Lark; Eastern Crow;
Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee; Eastern Cardinal; Eastern Amer¬
ican Goldfinch; Eastern Slate-colored Junco; Tree Sparrow; and Harris
Sparrow. Total, 12 species. Also, on December 26, Mrs. C. A. Heartwell
saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker in her yard in town. These are the first
winter records of this species for the Hastings vicinity. —Mrs. A. M.
Brooking, Mrs. J. D. Fuller, Mrs. A. II. Jones, Mrs. A. E. Olsen, and Miss
M. Caryle Sylla.

Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska.—January 1; same territory as on
December 26. Eastern Hairy Woodpecker; Northern Downy Wood¬
pecker; (Saskatchewan?) Horned Lark; Eastern Crow; Long-tailed
Black-capped Chickadee; Bronzed Grackle (one); Eastern Cardinal;
Eastern Slate-colored Junco; and Tree Sparrow. Total, 9 species.—
Mr. and Mrs. Adison A. Adams, Mrs. A. M. Brooking, Mrs. J. D. Fuller, Mrs.
A. H. Jones, and Miss M. Caryle Sylla.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

HERE AND THERE WITH THE N. 0. U. MEMBERS

The Brooking Bird Club of Hastings has completed its program for
the year 1933-34. Seven of its eight meetings are scheduled for the third
Monday of each month—October 16, November 20, December 18, Janu¬
ary 15, February 19, March 19 and April 16, with the Annual Field Day
and Business Meeting in May. The program this year in part consists,
as beiore, of treatments of bird groups by various members—the Bobo¬
link and Cowbird by Miss Martha Cousley, the orioles by Miss Carrie
Hansen, and the blackbirds and Bronzed Grackle by Mrs. Dwight Thomas,
on October 16, and the swallows by Mrs. Charles K. Hart on April 16;
but in addition there are planned brief reviews of the current numbers of
Bird-Lore, Nature Magazine, etc., on each of the seven stated program
meetings, and, what is more or less of an innovation, brief accounts by
various members of the lives of the ornithologists Wilson, Audubon,
Harris, Swainson, Cooper, Baird and Chapman at the November 20,
January 15 and February 19 meetings. Other features planned for are
accounts on African migratory birds, on December 18, by Mrs. A. M.
Brooking; on bird enemies, by Miss M. Caryle Sylla, on January 15; on
curious bird nests, by Mrs. A. H. Jones, on February 19; on the Whoop¬
ing Crane, by Mr. A. M. Brooking, on March 19; and on wild birds as
pets, by Mrs. Mahony, on April 16.

Mrs. Lily Ruegg Button of Fremont visited with her sister in Port¬
land, Oregon, from September 24 to October 31, during which period she
renewed her acquaintance with some of the birds of the Portland region.
While there, she gave a talk on “Nebraska Birds” before the Oregon
Audubon Society at one of its meetings, and presented the greetings of
the N. 0. U. to that organization. In this talk she gave the songs of
several Nebraska birds in musical notation, and also played a group
of bird numbers. She joined a bird trip of the Audubon Society while
there, and reports that she had a most wonderful time, even though the
birds were scarce at that time of the year. She learned the song of the
Winter Wren on this trip, and afterward found the bird right at her
sister’s home. She also heard the notes of the Varied Thrush. Upon
her return to Nebraska, she prepared an article upon the birds seen, for
the Fremont newspaper, entitled “Bird Cousins of the Western Part of
the Country”, in which she compares some common Nebraska birds with
their closest western relatives.

Nebraska, its University, and the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union all
have just reason to feel gratified at the recognition that recently has
come to two of its men who have entered the field of professional scientific
ornithology. At the recent Semi-centennial Meeting of the American
Ornithologists’ Union, held in New York City, November 13 to 16, 1933,
the single vacancy in the list of Fellows of that organization was filled
by the election of Mr. John T. Zimmer, now Associate Curator of Birds
of the Western Hemisphere in the American Museum of Natural History
at New York. Mr. Zimmer grew up at Lincoln, and earned two degrees
at the University of Nebraska, in 1910 and 1911, where he majored in
entomology but developed an even greater interest in ornithology. He
joined the N. O. U. in 1907, and served as our Secretary-Treasurer in
1912-13 and 1913-14. At our twenty-fifth annual meeting, on May 9,
1924, he was elected to honorary membership in the N. O. U., following
noteworthy work by him on Philippine and Papuan birds. Before his
association with the American Museum, for several years he was in the
ornithology department at the Field Museum of Natural History at
Chicago, and made bird collecting expeditions to South America and
Africa. The number of A. 0. U. Fellows is strictly limited to fifty, and
election to this body is generally regarded as the highest recognition
that can come to a professional ornithologist in this country. At this

WITH THE N. O. U. MEMBERS

same meeting, Mr. Melbourn A. Carriker, Jr., now of Beachwood, New
Jersey, but at present on his fourth expedition to Peru for the purpose
of collecting and studying the birds of that country, was elected a
Member of the A. O. U. This membership group is second only to the
Fellows, and likewise a recognition of meritorious work done. Mr.
Carriker grew up at Nebraska City, where he was active in the 1890’s,
and became a charter member of the N. O. U. in 1900, resigning when
he removed to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, in 1903, after having visited the
country in the spring of 1902 with Professor Lawrence Bruner of the
University of Nebraska. Field work with the birds of Costa Rica done
in 1902 to 1907 gave the basis for his monumental 915-page work on the
birds of Costa Rica, published by the Carnegie Museum in 1910, which,
with his field work and other publications on ornithology is the basis of
the recognition above mentioned.

Mr. Fred M. Dille, our N. O. U. member who for many years after its
establishment in 1912 was in charge of the Niobrara Bird and Big Game
Reservation maintained by the Federal Government near Valentine, in
Cherry County, but who now resides at Rapid City, South Dakota, is at
present at Phoenix, Arizona, studying the birds of the Arizona Desert.
In a few weeks he plans to locate farther south, in the vicinity of Tucson,
for the purpose of observing and collecting birds in that region until
next May. In a letter dated January 13, written from Phoenix, he states
that he has found the desert colorful and intriguing, with a set of birds
quite unfamiliar to him. Although the Tucson region has been con¬
siderably worked by ornithologists in years past, it is safe to say that
Mr. Dille will be able to add some things to the knowledge of the winter
birds of that region during the next three or four months.

On February 22 to 24, inclusive, the Hastings Municipal Museum will
reopen its exhibits to the public, after having been closed for several
weeks for repairs under a C. W. A. grant. Not only has the entire
building been completely renovated, but twenty-four cases of new
exhibits have been installed. On these reopening days the Museum will
be open all day, with special exercises in the afternoons. Congratula¬
tions are due the City of Hastings upon its progressiveness in sponsor¬
ing and supporting such a worthy institution as the Hastings Municipal
Museum, which is rapidly becoming recognized as one of the important
institutions of this sort in the West. Its director, Mr. A. M. Brooking,
is particularly deserving of commendation for his untiring efforts to
develop this institution, and make it useful not only to the citizens of
Hastings but also to those of the entire state.

IN MEMORIAM

Never before in the history of the N. O. U. has our organization within
the short period of a quarter-year lost two of its past Presidents. Yet
that has been our misfortune since the appearance of the last number
of the Review, in the deaths of Frederick G. Collins and Robert H.
Wolcott.

FREDERICK GEORGE COLLINS

Frederick George Collins, President of the Nebraska Ornithologists’
Union for the year 1930-31, and for the past ten years associated with
Dr. E. H. Barbour as Assistant Curator of the University of Nebraska
Museum, at Morrill Hall, died in Lincoln, after a brief illness, on the
morning of November 13, 1933, at the age of sixty-seven years.

Mr. Collins was born and also lived most of his life at Exeter, Eng¬
land, where he was in business with hi's brother until he and Mrs. Collins
followed their children to Lincoln, in 1921, their son Oliver having been

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

appointed as an instructor of mathematics in the University. Mr. Collins
was educated at Oak House school at Axmmster and at University
College of the Southwest. He was governor and lecturer in the Albert
Memorial Museum at Exeter, and a fellow of the Royal Geographic
Society of London, having earned a position of authority, through his
researches, on the geology of Devonshire. While still living at Exeter
he founded the Exeter Field Club, an oi*ganization of amateurs inter¬
ested in all branches of natural history, and headed this group for some
years. After his removal to Lincoln he continued this enthusiastic
interest in natural science, especially that of the amateur, and his
weekly Museum Talks, broadcast from the University, made him widely
known over the state. He was also in demand for lectures on popular
science before Nebraska groups, and many members of the N. O. U.
must well remember with pleasure his splendid talk on “Bird Names”,
given on the occasion of the thirty-second annual meeting of the N. 0. U.,
as his address as retiring President, on May 15, 1931.

Though interested in all branches of natural science, Mr. Collins
especially loved the birds, and was most enthusiastic in his work and
plans in enlarging the collection of mounted birds on the basement floor
of the University Museum, which collection he had rearranged in con¬
formity with a modern classification. His never-failing cheerfulness
and courtesy made friends of all who came into contact with him, and
your editor recalls innumerable occasions when Mr. Collins quite obvi¬
ously discommoded himself personally to be helpful in researches involv¬
ing the examination of mounted material in the University collection.
He will be much missed by all Lincoln bird lovers, among which group
he was a leader, especially in the Bruner Nature Club during the years
of its activity. Mr. Collins was buried on November 16, in Wyuka Ceme¬
tery, at Lincoln, and is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

ROBERT HENRY WOLCOTT

Robert Henry Wolcott was, throughout his life, a brilliant student of
Nature in all of her forms, and in his mature years he became an au¬
thority in several branches of natural science; but always, it seemed,
his earliest interests in the birds and insects dominated those that de¬
veloped later. To him, and to Prof. Lawrence Bruner, probably more
than to any other persons, the birth of the Nebraska Ornithologists’
Union is due. In 1899, Dr. Wolcott was completing his fourth year at
the University of Nebraska, where he was holding the position of
Adjunct Professor in the Department of Zoology. Their mutual interest
in birds had brought him and Prof. Bruner into a pleasant friendship.
Interest in birds had grown considerably in Nebraska since the estab¬
lishment of the Department of Entomology and Ornithology, under the
chairmanship of Prof. Bruner, in 1895, when regular instruction in
ornithology and taxidermy began to be given at the University, followed
as it was by the publication in 1896 of his Some Notes on Nebraska Birds.
It was felt by both Prof. Bruner and Dr. Wolcott that the time was ripe
for a state-wide ornithologists’ organization, and Dr. Wolcott, with the
successful organization of the Michigan Ornithological Club at Grand
Rapids four years previously (1895) fresh in mind, favored a similar
organization in Nebraska. So early in 1899, the Nebraska Ornithological
Club of Lincoln was organized. It happened that at almost exactly the
same time, but quite independently, Mr. I. S. Trostler, then of Omaha,
had also effected a preliminary organization called the Nebraska Orni¬
thologists' Association. Correspondence through a committee of the
Nebraska Ornithological Club, under the chairmanship of Mr. W. D.
Hunter, looking toward the consolidation of these two organizations, led
to the formation of a combined and expanded group of forty-three
Nebraskans interested in birds, who on July 15, 1899, elected their

IN MEMORIAM

officers, consisting of Prof. Bruner as President, Mr. Trostler as Vice-
President, Dr. Wolcott as Recording Secretary, and Mr. Hunter as Cor¬
responding Secretary. The first annual meeting of this organization,
called the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, was held at Lincoln the
following December 16.

Dr. Wolcott was born at Alton, Illinois, on October 11, 1868, son of
Robert N. and Agnes (Swain) Wolcott. He was graduated from the
High School at Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1885, following which he
continued his education at the University of Michigan. At that institu¬
tion he earned three degrees; the Bachelor of Law in 1890', Bachelor of
Science in 1892, and Doctor of Medicine in 1893. Although qualified to
practice law or medicine, Dr. Wolcott chose to follow the career of a
biologist. He engaged in two summers of work, in 1893 and 1894, on a
biological survey of the waters of the state of Michigan, for the Michi¬
gan Fish Commission, and a semester of graduate work at Michigan
Agricultural College. In 1894 he received a call to continue his graduate
studies and to act as the only assistant to Dr. H. B. Ward in the Depart¬
ment of Zoology at the University of Nebraska, where in 1895 he re¬
ceived the degree of Master of Arts.

In the field of ornithology, Dr. Wolcott’s especial interest was in the
nesting habits of birds. His first publications, in the Ornithologist and
Oologist (1884), dealing with bird observations in the vicinity of Grand
Rapids, Michigan, and later in the Bulletin of the Michigan Ornithological
Club (1899), dealing with the nesting of different species of Michigan
birds, show this special interest. After his removal to Nebraska he
continued the publication of bird notes, first in 1899 in a short paper in
the Bulletin of the Michigan Ornithological Club, on the birds noted in
Nebraska in the fall and winter of 1898-99, and later in the Proceedings
of our own organization. Both at Michigan and Nebraska he had been
keenly interested in entomology as well as ornithology. He once showed
the writer of these lines a large number of notebooks, in which he had
copied verbatim for future reference, in his beautifully legible flowing
handwriting, a great mass of original descriptions of butterflies, moths,
beetles and other insects. Three years after his removal from Michigan
he published in the Proceedings of the Nebraska Academy of Science a list
of the twenty species of sphingid moths and the sixty-nine species of
bombycine moths then known from the state. Throughout his activity
at Nebraska he always maintained a keen interest in the Lepidoptera
and Coleoptera, and it was one of hrs cherished projects to prepare, in
cooperation with Mr. R. A. Leussler of Omaha, an exhaustive treatment
of the Nebraska butterflies. He had a special interest, also, in a study
of the color variations in the family of tiger beetles, especially those of
Nebraska.

But the most serious interest of Dr. Wolcott in the Arthropoda was
not with the insects so much as with the mites. Probably largely as a
result of his early work in Michigan on fresh-water biology, he de¬
veloped an especial interest in the mites (Acarina) and especially in the
family of American water mites (Hydrachnidae). In the latter group
he became, through his researches carried on at Nebraska during the
decade beginning about 1898, the generally regarded American authority.
In 1899, he published two important papers on the North American
species of Atax, and other important papers followed regularly during
each of the following four years, including revisions of the North Amer¬
ican species of the genera Curvipes and Limnesia. In 1905, he published a
most important synopsis of the genera of water mites. His great col¬
lection of these tiny creatures, and his library relating to them, are un¬
doubtedly among the best extant.

As previously stated, Dr. Wolcott was the first Recording Secretary
of the N. O. U. He retained that office by successive re-elections during

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

the years 1900-01 to 1903-04, and the first three volumes of the Proceed¬
ings of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union were brought out under his
editorship, in 1900, 1901, and 1902, respectively. At the close of his
fifth year as our Secretary, in 1904, Dr. Wolcott desired to accept the
secretaryship of the American Microscopical Society, so at his insistence
the secretaryship of the N. O. U. was handed over to the writer. Dr.
Wolcott retained the secretaryship of the American Microscopical Society
for the following five years, producing for that organization a series of
beautifully edited annual volumes, comparable in quality to the 1902
volume of our own Proceedings. His retirement as Secretary of the
N. O. U. also made it possible for our organization to elect him as its
sixth President, on January 30, 1904.

The year after his arrival in Nebraska to assist Dr. Ward in the
recently established Department of Zoology at the University, Dr. Wol¬
cott was made an instructor in that Department. Three years later
(1898) he was promoted to be Adjunct Professor of Zoology. In 1902,
he became Assistant Professor of Zoology and Demonstrator in Anatomy,
and the following year was again promoted, to be Associate Professor
of Zoology, in charge of the Anatomy Laboratory, which was located on
the top floor of Mechanic Arts Hall. Two years later (1905) he was
given the rank of a full professor, with the title of Professor of Anatomy.
It was he, largely, who developed the pre-medical work in the University
of Nebraska, then under the administration of the Zoology Department.
In 1909, Dr. Wolcott was made Chairman of the Department of Zoology
and acting Dean of the College of Medicine. When a permanent location
for the College of Medicine of the University was to be chosen, Dr.
Wolcott selected Omaha, but he himself chose to stay at the main Uni¬
versity in Lincoln, as Dean of the Junior Medical College there, and to
continue his administration of the Department of Zoology. In 1915 he
severed official connection with the College of Medicine, and assumed
the more restricted duties of Professor of Zoology and Chairman of the
Department, which remained his status until his death, after forty years
of continuous service at the University. When he came to Nebraska, in
1894, to assist Dr. Ward, there were probably a hundred students in the
Department of Zoology. At the time of his death he had associated with
him in the Department three professors, two instructors and five assist¬
ants, to teach the courses in zoology to several hundred students. He
was also acting as Chairman of the Department of Bacteriology and
Pathology in the University at the time of his death.

Dr. Wolcott fortunately was able to broaden his personal knowledge
of zoological conditions in various parts of the United States through
his summer teaching work. He was in charge of the biology courses at
the University of Missouri', at Columbia, in the summers of 1901, 1904,
1905, 1907, 1924, and 1925. He also did summer work at the Marine
Biological Station at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and in the summers
of 1923, 1926 and subsequently, carried on similar work at the Puget
Sound Biological Station in Washington state. However, it probably is
not too much to say that Dr. Wolcott’s primary interest was in the
Nebraska fauna and the principles governing its distribution. Graduate
students in zoology were frequently encouraged by him to carry on re¬
searches along this general line, often with highly valuable results.

For almost the whole of his very active life, Dr. Wolcott apparently
was in splendid health, due in large part, no doubt, to his love of the
out-of-doors, to which he resorted at every opportunity in his busy life.
He was an enthusiastic sportsman, and was honored by election to hon¬
orary membership by the Lincoln chapter of the Izaak Walton League.
The illness which was to claim his life began, in fact, while he was on a
hunting trip, during the open season on pheasants, last fall. At first
this was not regarded as dangerous, but, growing steadily worse, it be-

IN MEMORIAM

came necessary to remove him to a hospital, in December, and he passed
away on the evening of January 23, 1934. On June 2, 1897, Dr. Wolcott
was married to Miss Clara Buckstaff of Lincoln, who, with a brother,
son and daughter, survives him.

Dr. Wolcott was always a very popular leader in the N. O. U. He
shares only with Prof. Bruner the distinction of having been elected
more than once to the presidency of our organization. Prof. Bruner
was our first and also our fifteenth President. Dr. Wolcott was our
President four times, in 1904-05, 1916-17, 1923-24, and 1924-25. He
joined the American Ornithologists’ Union in 1901, and in 1903 was
honored by that organization through election to the restricted class of
Members. In 1909, he was invited by the magazine Bird-Lore to represent
Nebraska in the Advisory Council of that magazine, succeeding Dr. E. H.
Barbour, who had held the position for the preceding decade. In 1924,
he became a member of the Wilson Ornithological Club. He was a
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and
a member of the American Society of Zoologists, American Society of
Naturalists, American Microscopical Society, Ecological Society of Amer¬
ica, Entomological Society of America, Nebraska Academy of Science,
and an honorary member of the Michigan Academy of Science. He
belonged also to the Society of the Sigma Xi, Phi Delta Theta fraternity,
and the American Association of University Professors. He was
a thirty-third degree Scottish rite Mason, and his burial in Wyuka
Cemetery in Lincoln, on January 25, was in charge of Lincoln Lodge

No. 19, A. F & A. M. His interest in philately is shown by his activity

in the Lincoln Stamp Collectors Club, of which he was the President.

The ornithological contributions of Dr. Wolcott consist chiefly of a
number of short articles and scattered notes on bird observations, pub¬
lished in the principal ornithological periodicals. He was one of the co¬
authors, with Prof. Bruner and the writer, of the Preliminary Review of
the Birds of Nebraska, published in 1904, and author of An Analysis of

Nebraska’s Bird Fauna, published in 1909 (Proc. N. O. U., iv, part 2, pp.

25-55, pi. i-vi). He wrote also a number of articles on other phases of
natural history, and on conservation. But his magnum opus was his
splendid Animal Biology, a text-book in beginning zoology, to which he
devoted a great deal of labor during the last few years of his life, and
which was published late in 1933, only a few weeks before the onset of
his fatal illness.

Dr. Wolcott was a thorough scientist, with broad and varied interests
and a sound fundamental training. He was most painstaking in all of
his research. A task undertaken by him never needed revision by an¬
other. As a teacher he was inspiring to his students, and stood for high
standards and ideals. He was a man of great enthusiasm for the task
in hand, and possessed of a most kindly and lovable personality. Associa¬
tion with him in the field, that testing-place of human character, only
added to one’s respect for his personality and his knowledge of Nature.
No one had a sharper eye for the birds, or a keener ear for their songs.
As one who was associated with him in bird work at the University for
a third of a century, the writer fully realizes how much he will be missed
by his colleagues. His example is, however, imperishable, and will in¬
spire the N. O. U. to carry on the good work.

To all of the surviving relatives of its two deceased Presidents, the
N. O. U. extends its most sincere sympathy.

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE NEBRASKA
ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION

1899 University of Nebraska, Lincoln, December 16, organized.

1900 Neligh, January, Volume I Proceedings published.

1901 Omaha, January 12, 2nd Meeting.

Lincoln, October, Volume II Proceedings published.

1902 Lincoln, February 1, 3rd Meeting.

Lincoln, December, Volume III Proceedings published.

1903 Lincoln, January 24, 4th Meeting.

Lincoln, May 9, 1st Field Day.

1904 Lincoln, January 30, 5th Meeting.

Lincoln, May 14, 2nd Field Day.

Omaha, December 31, 6th Meeting.

1905 Dunbar, May 6, 3rd Field Day.

Lincoln, December 29, 7th Meeting.

1906 Peru, May 4, 4th Field Day.

1907 Lincoln, January 19, 8th Meeting. Last winter meeting.
Weeping Water, May 18, 5th Field Day.

1908 Lincoln, February, Volume IV Proceedings started.

Bellevue, May 8 and 9, 9th Meeting and 6th Field Day.
July, Field Check-List of Nebraska Birds published.

1909 Lincoln, May 14 and 15, 10th Meeting and 7th Field Day.

1910 Peru, April 29 and 30, 11th Meeting and 8th Field Day.
Lincoln, August 20, Volume V Proceedings started.

1911 Lincoln, May 5 and 6, 12th Meeting and 9th Field Day.

1912 Lincoln, May 10 and 11, 13th Meeting and 10th Field Day.

1913 Lincoln, May 9 and 10, 14th Meeting and 11th Field Day.

1914 Lincoln, May 15 and 16, 15th Meeting and 12th Field Day.

1915 Omaha, May 7 and 8, 16th Meeting and 13th Field Day.
Affiliation Agreement between N. O. U. and W. O. C. adopted.
Lincoln, July 10, Volume VI Proceedings started.

1916 Omaha, May 5 and 6, 17th Meeting and 14th Field Day.

1917 Lincoln, May 4 and 5, 18th Meeting and 15th Field Day.

1918 Omaha, May 10 and 11, 19th Meeting and 16th Field Day.

1919 Hastings, May 9 and 10, 20th Meeting and 17th Field Day.

1920 Lincoln, May 14 and 15, 21st Meeting and 18th Field Day.

1921 Omaha, May 13 and 14, 22nd Meeting and 19th Field Day.

1922 Lincoln, May 19 and 20, 23rd Meeting and 20th Field Day.

1923 Fairbury, May 11 and 12, 24th Meeting and 21st Field Day.

1924 Lincoln, May 9 and 10, 25th Meeting and 22nd Field Day.
Affiliation Agreement between N. O. U. and W. O. C. ended.

1925 Lincoln, January 1, Letter of Information started.

Superior, May 8 and 9, 26th Meeting and 23rd Field Day.

1926 Omaha, May 14 and 15, 27th Meeting and 24th Field Day.

1927 Hastings, May 13 and 14, 28th Meeting and 25th Field Day.

1928 Lincoln, May 11 and 12, 29th Meeting and 26th Field Day.

1929 Sioux City, Iowa, May 10 and 11, 30th Meeting and 27th

Field Day, jointly with I. O. U.

1930 Omaha, May 16 and 17, 31st Meeting and 28th Field Day,

jointly with I. O. U.

1931 Lincoln, May 15 and 16, 32nd Meeting and 29th Field Day.

1932 Hastings, May 13 and 14, 33rd Meeting and 30th Field Day.

1933 Lincoln, January, Nebraska Bird Review started.

Fairbury, May 12 and 13, 34th Meeting and 31st Field Day.

1934 Omaha, May 18 and 19, 35th Meeting and 32nd Field Day.

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

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WHOLE ISSUE Nebraska Bird Review (April 1934)

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Nebraska Bird Review (April 1934) 2(2), WHOLE ISSUE.

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

A Review of Nebraska Ornithology

Published quarterly, in January, April, July and October by the Ne¬
braska Ornithologists’ Union, as its official journal, at Lincoln, Nebraska,
U. S. A.

Edited by Myron H. Swenk, 1410' North Thirty-seventh Street, Lin¬
coln, Nebraska. Articles or notes for publication should be in the hands
of the Editor by the first day of the month of publication.

OFFICERS OF THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION FOR
1933-34

President.Mrs. L, H. McKillip, 149 North 15th Street, Seward, Nebr.

Vice-President.Miss Mary Ellsworth, 3107 Redick Avenue, Omaha, Nebr.
Secretary-Treasurer.Myron H. Swenk, Lincoln, Nebr.

CONTENTS

Page

Notes on Some Logan County Birds. By Mr. and Mrs. Earl

W. Glandon . 31

General Notes. 37

Editorial Page . 40

The 1934 Migration Season. 42

Here and There with the N. 0. U. Members. 51

Principal Ornithological Organizations of the United States. . 52

Actual date of publication, April 28, 1934

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

A Review of Nebraska Ornithology
Published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union

VOLUME II APRIL, 1934 NUMBER 2

NOTES ON SOME LOGAN COUNTY BIRDS

By MR. and MRS. EARL W. GLANDON

For many years past we have been students of bird life, but it was
not until during the past year that we started to make a formal list of
the birds that we have seen in the vicinity of Stapleton, Logan County.
Therefore many of these records are from memory only, and the definite
dates have not been preserved. There are a few birds on our list that
we have not personally seen, but concerning which we do have reliable
information that they have occurred here. Our list to date follows:

1. Lesser Common Loon (Gavia immer elasson). Very rare migrant.
We have only one record. One was shot in October, 1932, by B. R.
Gould, a grocer in Stapleton. The bird was mistaken for a goose by a
party of hunters at Tarbox Lake, seven miles northeast of Stapleton.
Mr. Frank Hanes, a local taxidermist, who lived at Cody Lake, fourteen
miles north of Stapleton, mounted the bird and it is now on display
here. It has a wing 331.5 mm. long and the culmen is 69.5 mm. long.
Prof. M. H. Swenk states that these measurements indicate a small
example of G. i. elasson, probably a female.

2. Common Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps podiceps). Common
summer resident.

3. White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). Rare migrant. We have
seen specimens that were shot at Cody Lake and mounted by Mr. Hanes.

4. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias subsp.). Common summer resi¬
dent.

5. Little Blue Heron (Florida caerulea caerulea). Very rare straggler.
We are not quite sure that the Little Blue Heron should be included in
this list. Mr. Glandon saw one of these herons, and identified it beyond
question, in a swamp near Pleasanton, Buffalo County, many years ago.
Again, in the autumn of 1932, while driving along the highway about
six miles southwest of Stapleton, he noticed perhaps five or six herons
in the branches of a huge cottonwood tree. As he approached they took
flight, but returned to the tree as soon as he had passed. He was not
near enough to distinguish coloring or markings well, but because of
their size and general appearance, concluded that they would not fit
with any other species than this one.

6. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). Very common summer
resident. Nests here.

7. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis subsp.). Common migrant.

8. Lesser Snow Goose (Chen hyperborea hyperborea) . Rare migrant,
according to statements of local sportsmen.

9. Common Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos) . Abundant
migrant and casual nester here.

10. Common Black Duck (Anas rubripes tristis). Rare migrant. Dur¬
ing the open season of 1932, while hunting five miles west of Stapleton,
Mr. Glandon shot two ducks which he took to be female Mallards.
When he examined them more closely later he found that the general
coloring was darker and that the bill and feet were wholly dusky instead

— 31 —

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

of the bright orange-red feet and more or less orange bill of the Mal¬
lard. Several months later he found a description by Forbush that
fitted these ducks so well that he felt certain that there could be no
doubt but that they were Common Black Ducks. They were in a little
open water surrounded by thin ice. There were five in the flock. That
fall he believed that he saw others in flight, but had not seen any during
previous years, nor has he seen any since.

11. Baldpate (Mareca americana). Rare migrant. Mr. Glandon shot
one occasionally several years ago, but cannot be sure that he has seen
one in the last few years.

12. American Pintail (Dafila acuta tzitzihoa). Abundant migrant and
casual nester here.

13. Green-winged Teal (Nettion carolinense). Very common migrant.

14. Blue-winged Teal (Querquedula discors). Very common migrant
and casual nester here.

15. Shoveller (Spatula clypeata). Common migrant and casual nester
here.

16. Redhead (Nyroca americana). Uncommon migrant. We see them
occasionally during the spring migration, but do not know that one has
been taken here for several years.

17. Canvas-back (Nyroca valisneria). Same as preceding species.

18. Lesser Scaup (Nyroca affinis). Common migrant.

19. Northern Ruddy Duck (Erismatura jamaicensis rubida). Rare mi¬
grant. We have seen a specimen shot at Cody Lake and mounted by
Mr. Hanes.

20. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis subsp.). Common winter resi¬
dent.

21. American Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus s. johannis). Com¬
mon winter resident.

22. Golden Eagle (Aquila c/irysaetos canadensis). Common resident.

23. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus subsp.). Common resident.

24. Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius). Common resident. Probably
nests here.

25. Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus). Winter resident. During the
winter of 1933-34 Mr. Glandon saw several of these falcons, or else a
few individuals were seen many times, on the tableland south of Staple-
ton. Usually they were seen on fence posts and when one was ap¬
proached it flew straight away with rapid wing beats, occasionally varied
by a short glide, not rising much higher than the post it had left.

26. Pigeon Hawk (Falco columbarius subsp.). Uncommon visitor. We
see one chasing through our trees now and then.

27. Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius subsp.). Very common summer
resident. May nest here.

28. Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuckus cupido americanus). Com¬
mon resident and nester.

29. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris).
Becoming rare. Resident and breeder.

30. Bob-white (Colinus virginianus subsp.). Uncommon resident and
nester. This bird has almost disappeared here. Every spring we see a
few. One pair came into the edge of the village every year for a period,
but we have not heard nor seen them now for two springs.

31. Ring-necked Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus torquatus).
Abundant resident. Nests here.

32. Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis tabida). Uncommon migrant.

33. Northern American Coot (Fulica americana americana). Abundant
summer resident. Nests here.

34. Northern Killdeer (Oxyechus vociferns vociferus). Abundant sum¬
mer resident. Nests here.

35. Wilson Snipe (Capella delicata). Common summer resident. Pos¬
sible nester.

NOTES ON SOME LOGAN COUNTY BIRDS

36. Southern Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus americanus).
Uncommon summer resident. Nests here. Mr. Glandon has seen sev¬
eral in the lake country of McPherson County. Mr. Hanes has seen
them at Cody Lake in this county.

37. Upland Plover (Bartramia longicauda) . Common summer resident.
Nests here.

38. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia). Common summer resident.
May nest here.

39. Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria subsp.). Common in migra¬
tions.

40. Western Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus). Uncom¬
mon migrant. Mr. Glandon saw a few of these birds during the spring
migration in 1933.

41. Lesser Yellow-legs (Totanus flavipes). Common migrant.

42. Avocet (Recurvirostra americana). Uncommon migrant. We saw
mounted specimens, shot by Mr. Hanes at Cody Lake.

43. Wilson Phalarope (Steganopus tricolor). Uncommon migrant. Mr.
Glandon has seen them occasionally during the spring migration; how¬
ever, not every year

44. Franklin Gull (Larus pipixcan). Common migrant.

45. American Black Tern (Chlidonias nigra surinamensis). Very com¬
mon summer resident. Probably nests here.

46. Western Mourning Dove (Zenaidura macroura marginella). Abun¬
dant summer resident. Nests here.

47. Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus americanus ).
Very common summer resident. Nests here.

48. Barn Owl (Tyto alba pratincola) . Common resident. Nests here.

49. Screech Owl (Otus asio subsp.). Very common resident and
breeder.

50. Western Horned Owl (Bubo mrginianus occidentalis). Common
resident. Seen and heard calling at night in a cottonwood grove. Al¬
most every year one to several are captured here.

51. Western Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia hypugaea). Common
summer resident and nester.

52. Sennett Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor sennetti). Very common
summer resident. Breeds here.

53. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). Uncommon
or casual summer visitor. We see from one to a few in our yard now
and then, but not every year.

54. Eastern Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon alcyon). Common
summer resident. May nest here.

55. Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus luteus). Very
common summer resident and breeder.

56. Common Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes cafer collaris). Uncommon
summer resident. Occasionally at the bird bath and among the trees
about our yard. Not known to nest here.

57. Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) . Abundant
summer resident. Nests here.

58. Lewis Woodpecker (Asyndesmus lewis). Very rare winter resident.
One wintered at Shadonix farm seven miles south of Stapleton in
1933-34 (antea, ii, pp. 5-6).

59. Eastern Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus villosus). Very
common resident. Probably nests here.

60. Northern Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens medianus).
Abundant resident.

61. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus). Very abundant summer
resident. Nests here.

62. Arkansas Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis). Very abundant summer
resident. Nests here.

63. Northern Crested Flycatcher (Myiar chus crinitus boreus). Rare
migrant. One in the yard under the spray a few years ago.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

64. Alder Traill Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii traillii). Summer resi¬
dent. One seen ten miles south of Stapleton in the summer of 1933.
Mr. Glandon believes that he has seen these little flycatchers other times
also.

65. Saskatchewan Horned Lark (Otocoris alpestris enthymia). Very
abundant resident. Nests here.

66. Common Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia riparia). Abundant sum¬
mer resident. Nests here.

67. Barn Swallow (Hirundo erythrogaster). Abundant summer resi¬
dent. Nests here.

68. Northern Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata cristata). Very abundant
summer resident. Nests here.

69. American Magpie (Pica pica hudsonia). Common summer resident.
Nests here.

70. Eastern Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos). Abundant
resident. Nests here.

71. Pinon Jay (Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus). Uncommon visitor. Al¬
most every year a small flock appears in the fall or spring and stays a
few weeks.

72. Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee (Penthestes atricapillus septen-
trionalis). Abundant resident. Nests here.

73. Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis carolinensis).
Common winter resident.

74. Eastern Brown Creeper (Certhia familiaris americana). Common
winter resident.

75. Western House Wren (Troglodytes a'edon parkmanii). Common
summer resident. Casually nests here.

76. Long-billed Marsh Wren (Telmatodytes palustris subsp.). Common
summer resident. Nests here.

77. Western Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos leucopterus). Common
summer resident. Nests here

78. Catbird (Dumetalla carolinensis). Very common summer resident
Nests here.

79. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). Very common summer resi¬
dent. Nests here.

80. Eastern Robin (Turdus migratorius migratorius). Very abundant
summer resident. Nests here.

81. Olive-backed Swainson Thrush (Hylocichla ustulata snvainsoni).
Abundant migrant.

82. Veery (Hylocichla fuscescens fsalicicola). Common migrant.

83. Eastern Common Bluebird (Sialia sialis sialis). Common summer
resident. Nests here.

84. American Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrula pallidiceps).
Common migratory visitor.

85. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). Common migratory
visitor.

86. White-rumped Loggerhead Shrike (Lanins ludo-vicianus excubitori-
des). Very common summer resident. Nests here.

87. Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus). Common summer resident.
Nests here.

88. Black and White Warbler (Mniotilta varia). Common migrant.

89. Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina). Common migrant.

90. Eastern Yellow Warbler (Dendroica aestiva aestiva j* Very com¬
mon. May nest here.

91. Eastern Myrtle Warbler (Dendroica coronata coronata). Very com¬
mon migrant.

92. Black-poll Warbler (Dendroica striata). Common migrant.

93. Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus). Common migrant.

94. Grinnell Common Water-Thrush (Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis).
Uncommon migrant.

NOTES ON SOME LOGAN COUNTY BIRDS

95. Maryland Yellow-throat (Geothlypis trichas subsp.). Common sum¬
mer resident. Nests here.

96. Long-tailed Chat (Icteria wrens longicauda). Common migrant.

97. Wilson Pileolated Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla pusilla). Common
migrant.

98. American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). Common migrant.

99. English House Sparrow (Passer domesticus domesticus). Very abun¬
dant resident and nester.

100. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). Abundant summer resident.
Nests here.

101. Eastern Common Meadowlark (Sturnella magna magna). Summer
resident. Nests here. Keeps to the low grounds and damp meadows
and has a call that we describe as “ sweet-tee-oo”, the “sweet” on an
ascending note and the “tee-oo” on a descending note, drawn out and
slurred.

102. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). Very abundant sum¬
mer resident and nester on the uplands.

103. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus). Abun¬
dant summer resident. Nests here.

104. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus subsp.). Very abun¬
dant summer resident. Nests here.

105. Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius). Very common summer resident.
Nests here.

106. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). Abundant summer resident.
Nests here.

107. Bullock Oriole (Icterus bullocki), Rare summer visitor. On a
very hot afternoon during the summer of 1933, we were watching from
the window as various birds came to bathe in the spray on the lawn.
Mrs. Glandon discovered an oriole that was different from either of the
preceding species. It stayed for some time and was only a few feet
from the window so we had an excellent chance to study it, and identify
it as the Bullock Oriole. We believe we may have seen other specimens,
but cannot say positively.

108. Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus). Common visitor in fall
and winter.

109. Brewer Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus). Very common sum¬
mer resident.

110. Bronzed Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula aeneus). Very common sum¬
mer resident. Nests here.

111. Cowbird (Molothrus ater subsp.). Very abundant summer resi-
dent.

112. Rocky Mountain Black-headed Grosbeak (Hedymeles melanoce-
phalus papago). Very common summer resident. Nests here.

113. Western Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea interfusa). Common
summer resident. Nests here,

114. Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena). Rare migrant. During the
spring migration of 1933, probably in May, Mrs. Glandon discovered
one or two of these buntings in wild grass and on a post not far from
the house. The following forenoon a flock of eight or ten were in the
back yard on the lawn, fence and in the alley. Here we had an excellent
chance to study them for about an hour.

115. Dickcissel (Spiza americana). Abundant summer resident. Nests
here.

116. Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina subsp.). Very rare
migrant. During October of 1933, Mrs. Glandon heard strange bird
notes while walking about the yard. We positively identified this bird
as the author. It was eating the seeds of the ash trees. This was the
only one we have seen

117. Cassin Purple Finch (Carpodacus cassinii). Rare migrant. Dur¬
ing the spring migration of 1933, Mrs. Glandon saw one of these finches

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

and heard its notes, one forenoon. We did not identify it at that time,
but in October of that year, at the same time that the Evening Grosbeak
appeared, two males, one immature, and one female stayed for about a
week, eating* seeds from the ash trees and visiting the bird bath.

118. Pale'American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis pallidus). Very abundant
resident. Nests here.

119. Arctic Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus arcticus). Abundant
migrant.

120. Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys). Very common summer
resident. Nests here.

121. Western Grasshopper Sparrow (A mmodramus savannarum bimacu-
latus). Common summer resident. Nests here.

122. Western Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus strigatus). Very
common summer resident. Nests here.

123. Eastern Slate-colored Junco (Junco hyemalis hyemalis). Very com¬
mon migrant.

124. Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea subsp.). Common winter resi¬
dent.

125. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina subsp.). Common migrant.

126. Western Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla arenacea). Common sum¬
mer resident. Nests here.

127. Harris Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula). Common migrant. On a
few occasions we have identified these large sparrows. We believe it
has always been during spring migration. We generally see them in
the garden or other open plots, not among the trees.

128. Gambel Sparrow (Zonotrichia gambelii). Common migrant. Prob¬
ably also includes the White-crowned Sparrow (Z. leucophrys).

129. White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). Common mi¬
grant.

130. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia subsp.). Common migrant.

131. Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus subsp.). Very abundant
winter resident. Found feeding with Saskatchewan Horned Larks dur¬
ing the winter, principally in open fields. During the snow storm in
February, 1934, great numbers of them were observed feeding on patches
swept clear of snow in the fields.

132. Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus). Commonly seen
in winter.

Since the above list was completed and sent in for publication, during
the spring of 1934 we have identified four additional species of birds in
the Stapleton vicinity. These are the following:

1. Whooping Crane (Grus americana). On March 16, 1934, Mrs. Glan-
don saw a flock of eight cranes flying low over our yard. They were
white in color, with black tipped wings. Their notes were similar to the
tremolo notes of the Sandhill Crane. They were directly overhead when
first seen, and soon disappeared behind some trees.

2. Greater Yellow-legs (Totanus melanoleucus). Uncommon migrant.

3. Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides). Uncommon migrant.

4. Shufeldt Oregon Junco (Junco oreganus shufeldti). Common migrant.

This brings the Logan County list to 136 birds. Logan County, Ne¬
braska, is located along the mid-southern boundary of the Sandhill Re¬
gion of Nebraska, a little west of the geographic center of the state,
about midway between the 100th and 101st degrees of longitude and the
41st and 42nd degrees of latitude. Physiographically it is on the line
of tension between the sandhills and the prairies, its northern portion
being sandhills and its southern portion prairie. The headwaters of the
South Loup River cross the southern part of the county.

GENERAL NOTES

The European Starling at Red Cloud, Webster County.—Early in Oc¬
tober of 1933, an European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris) appeared
in this locality. Though its identity was suspected from the first, it was
so shy that a positive identification was difficult. After having been
noticed in this vicinity for several days, on October 13 it was found
dead by our pool. The cause of its death is unknown, as no injury was
evident upon an examination of its body. With the finding of the dead
bird, all doubt as to its identity was removed. This record antedates
that of Mr. Stipsky from Hooper, Nebraska (antea, ii, p. 5), and becomes
the seventh Nebraska record for the species, while Mr. Stipsky’s be¬
comes the eighth.— Mrs. George W. Trine, Red Cloud, Nebr.

The Ninth Nebraska Record of the European Starling.—On February
24, 1934, two young men from near Ithaca, Saunders County, brought a
bird to Mr. Arthur Anderson, who identified it as the European Starling
(Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris). After having the identification of the bird,
the young men took it to a man at the printing office. However, when
I went there to see it on February 26, 1 was disappointed to find that in
trying to transfer the bird from one box to another it had gotten out,
and the man in the printing office had opened the door and allowed it to
escape. He said “it was such a pretty bird that he did not like to see it
die.” This record constitutes, I believe, the ninth record of this bird for
Nebraska. They seem to be coming in rather fast now. — Miss Mary St.
Martin, Wahoo, Nebr.

The First Record Specimen for Nebraska of the Caspian Tern.—On
May 5, 1893, Dr. F. L. Riser shot a Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia im-
perator) at the Capitol Beach salt basin west of Lincoln. This was the
first record of the species for the state. It was originally recorded by
Prof. Bruner in his “Some Notes on Nebraska Birds” (Rept. Nebr. State
Hort. Soc., 1896, p. 60) simply as “Lincoln, spring 1893 (Dr. F. L. Riser).”
In Bruner, Wolcott and Swenk’s “Preliminary Review of the Birds of
Nebraska,” published in 1904 (p. 20), a little more information regard¬
ing the record is given in the statement: “Our only record is of a speci¬
men shot at Salt lake, near Lincoln, May 5, 1893, by F. L. Riser, and now
in the Wesleyan University collection.” Prof. M. H. Swenk informs me
that this specimen was secured by Prof. Bruner shortly thereafter, and
for several years it was kept in his office in Mechanic Arts Hall, but
about 1919 when an effort was made to locate this specimen, it was not
to be found. Recently, I discovered a very dirty and greasy mounted
specimen of the Caspian Tern in the Department of Zoology of- the
University, which Prof. Swenk recognized with certainty as the specimen
collected by Dr. Riser in 1893. I cleaned and degreased the specimen,
which will now be placed for permanent preservation in the University
of Nebraska Museum. It presents the following measurements in milli¬
meters: Wing, 414; tail, 152; tarsus, 43; culmen, 68.5; depth of bill at
base, 22.— George E. Hudson, Dept. Zoology and Anatomy, Univ. of Nebr.,
Lincoln, Nebr.

Some 1917 Bird Records.—Recently, in searching over my old bird
notes, I found the exact date on which I saw the Bewick Wren (Thry-
omanes bevuickii subsp.) in a hackberry tree near my house at Seward,
Seward County, Nebraska, which date had been reported from memory
as about April of 1918 (Swenk, antea, i, p. 100). It was really on May 2,
1917. Reviewing my notes, taken at the time, makes me more positive
than ever that my identification of the bird was correct. I wish also to
report that on June 5, 1917, Mrs. H. C. Johnston and I, with others, saw
the Eastern Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus ludovicianus) several
times in Griffen’s pasture, five miles east of Superior, Nuckolls County.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

This was my first observation of this species, but I think Mrs. Johnston
had previously observed it at Superior. This record comes between the
finding of the first Bewick Wren at Superior, in the spring of 1925, and
the finding of the first nest of the Eastern Carolina Wren there, on June
10, 1928 (l. c., pp. 100-101). The year 1917 was ornithologically a lucky
one for me, for it was on May 13, 14 and 15 of that year that I had two
male and two female Cape May Warblers (Dendroica tigrina) in the same
hackberry tree in which I saw the Bewick Wren earlier in the month.—
Mrs. L. H. McKillip, Seward, Nebr.

Records of the Red Phalarope and American Scoter from Cherry
County, Nebraska.—On October 15, 1921, I shot a specimen of the Red
Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) on Dads Lake, south of Wood Lake, in
Cherry County, Nebraska. This bird is now in my collection, and accord¬
ing to Prof. M. H. Swenk forms the first definite record of the species
for Nebraska. On October 21, 1930, I shot an American Scoter (Oidemia
americana) about thirty miles south of Wood Lake, in Cherry County,
that being the first time I had seen this duck in Nebraska. Prof. Swenk
informs me that there are only one or two previous records of it for the
state. On October 15, 1933, I shot an Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
in the same general region, that being the first time I had noted this
species in Nebraska.—H. B. Conover, Chicago, III.

The Desert Sparrow Hawk in Lincoln County in November.—On or
about November 18, 1933, a male Sparrow Hawk was caught alive in a
bam near here. It was brought to me while it still was alive, but it
died on the night of November 19. The specimen being in very good
condition, on the following day I sent it to Prof. M. H. Swenk at Lincoln,
who informed me that it was an almost typical specimen of the Desert
Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius phalaena), in the winter plumage. The
specimen was preserved by Prof. Swenk. While Sparrow Hawks migrate
abundantly each April and October through all parts of Nebraska, and
breed sparingly in suitable situations over the state, they also occa¬
sionally are to be found during the winter in most sections of Nebraska.
This specimen indicates that at least some of such occasional wintering
individuals of this species in western Nebraska are the Desert Sparrow
Hawk, of which there are as yet relatively few definite records in the
state, as was shown by Prof. Swenk in the October, 1933, number of the
Nebraska Bird Review (i, pp. 130-133).— Wilson Tout, North Platte, Nebr.

The Platte River as a Migration Route for Birds.—Apparently there
are two different routes that birds may follow to reach eastern Wyoming
from the south, one being through New Mexico and Colorado into
Wyoming, and the other through Kansas to Nebraska and then up the
Platte River and its north branch to Wyoming.

One bird that I believe comes into Wyoming along the Platte River
is the Eastern Least Tern (Sterna antillarum antillarum). The first record
for the bird in this state was of the one seen at Torrington, Wyoming,
by the writer, on June 11, 1929. Eight or ten seen by Dr. J. W. Scott
at Fort Laramie on June 25, 1932, constitute the second record. In 1933,
four were seen near Torrington on May 27, and on a drive down the
river on May 29 I saw several in Nebraska, between Scottsbluff and
the state line. This bird has been seen only along the river. Forster
Terns (Sterna forsteri) and American Black Terns (Hydrochelidon nigra
surinamensis) were observed at reservoirs quite a distance south of the
river, but no Eastern Least Terns. This tendency to stay close to the
Platte River is what leads me to believe that they follow this river all
the way from the Missouri River to Wyoming.

Another bird that follows this route into Wyoming is the American
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) . In May of the years 1931,

GENERAL NOTES

1932, and 1933, many of these birds were seen patrolling the river, with
the Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis), in search of food. This habit
would naturally lead the birds to follow the North Platte River from
Nebraska into Wyoming. Since there are no records for the American
Herring Gull in New Mexico, it follows that they do not use the direct
route from the south. There are several records from Colorado, but all
are from near the South Platte River or its tributaries. Do these birds
enter and leave Colorado via the South Platte River?

Because of the more favorable climate at lower altitudes, birds could
migrate north through Kansas, to the Platte River in Nebraska, follow
the North Platte into Wyoming and reach here earlier than those
migrating along the base of the front range of the Rocky Mountains.
By comparing records for Cheyenne and Torrington, Wyoming, I find
evidence that this has been done, but it is almost impossible to prove
anything.— Otto McCreary, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo.

A Recent and Former Occurrences of the Whooping Crane in Sas¬
katchewan and North Dakota.*—Apropos of the article on “The Present
Status of the Whooping Crane” in the October number of the Nebraska
Bird Review (i, pp. 111-129), a note in the Western Sportsman, Bismarck,
North Dakota, for October, 1933 (p. 14), reports that although “accord¬
ing to all rules and regulations the Whooping Crane should be extinct,
a few of the big birds persist in bobbing up in North Dakota each
season”, and also that “C. M. Bryant, the old-timer of St. John, reported
seeing a flock of about twenty-five near that town on April 18, 1933.
Charlie knows his stuff, and his identification was so accurate that there
can be no question of the identity of the birds seen by him. This is the
largest number that has been reported in recent years.” The Western
Sportsman requests hunters to “keep your eyes open for these exceedingly
rare and beautiful birds this fall”, and adds that it will “deeply appre¬
ciate immediate notification of the appearance of Whooping Cranes
within the state (of North Dakota) this season. These birds, with their
immense size, their snow-white plumage and black wing-tips, and their
typical crane flight and call, cannot possibly be mistaken by anyone
within a shotgun range of them, and there can be no excuse for killing
the last few birds of a noble race.”

When I went to North Dakota shooting in the early 1880’s, I used to
see a good many Whooping Cranes, sometimes eight or ten together,
but most generally there would not be more than four. I have two fine
mounted specimens of this bird. One very large one was shot out of a
flock at Buffalo Lake, which is about twenty miles north and a little
east of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. This was about 1904 or 1905. It
was just at dusk, and my companion and I were returning to our camp
after a day’s duck shooting, when suddenly a great clamor was just
over our heads and my companion seized his gun and fired without really
knowing what he was shooting at. I could only estimate that the flock
may have been of seven to nine birds—it may have been of ten or twelve
—as it was pretty dark. But this great big fellow came down with a
broken wing, and we had quite a time gathering him into the boat.

I saw one of these birds about midway between Saskatoon and Dun-
dern, Saskatchewan, October 3, 1927, and learned of one killed by a
farmer near Estavan, Saskatchewan, on October 29 of the same year, as
recorded in the Auk, xlv, pp. 202-203, April, 1928.— William B. Mershon,
Saginaw, Mich.

* This note on the Whooping Crane in Saskatchewan and North Dakota
is included in this number of the Review as supplemental to the extended
article on that bird in the October, 1933, number.—Ed.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Published at Lincoln, Nebraska, by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union.
Myron H. Swenk, Editor, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Subscription price one dollar a year in the U. S. A. Single numbers
twenty-five cents each.

EDITORIAL PAGE

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS

As announced in the January number of the Review, the Thirty-fifth
Annual Meeting of the N. O. U. will be held in the Joslyn Memorial at
Omaha on May 18, 1934, followed on May 19 by our Thirty-second
Annual Field Day. Plans for these occasions are proceeding rapidly.
It is planned to assemble for registration at 10:00 A. M. in a room in
the Memorial that has been assigned to us for our exhibit, and to hold
the annual business meeting in the Lecture Hall near by, before noon.
Following the luncheon hour, it is planned to make a tour of the Joslyn
Memorial at 1:30 P. M., again assembling in the Lecture Hall at 2:00
P. M. to hear an address of welcome by Mayor Towl of Omaha, and the
address of our retiring President, Mrs. L. H. McKillip, after which a
program of papers will occupy the time until 4:15 P. M., when Mr.
Victor Overman of Omaha will lecture on Nebraska wild flowers, illus¬
trating his talk with slides showing his many wonderful photographs
of living wild flowers. In the program it is expected to make appro¬
priate recognition of the fact that about a century ago Prince Maximilian
of Wi'ed passed up and again down the Missouri River, along the eastern
boundary of our state, observing the birds and recording his observa¬
tions of them between April 26 and May 13, 1833, and May 5 and 14,
1834. The afternoon program will end at 5:00 P. M., and the annual
N. O. U. banquet will be held at six o’clock sharp at the Knights of
Columbus Club, 2027 Dodge Street, almost directly across the street
from the Joslyn Memorial. Plates will be seventy-five cents each. Im¬
mediately following the banquet we will enjoy a talk by Mrs. R. E.
Chesebrough of Omaha, well known as a radio speaker, after which a
return will be made to the Lecture Hall in the Joslyn Memorial to view
several reels of moving pictures of birds. A recess will be taken at
8:30 P. M. to permit those who so desire to attend a concert being given
at that hour by the Matinee Musicale of Omaha in the Concert Hall of
the Joslyn Memorial. The Joslyn Memorial is located between 22nd and
24th Streets on Dodge, just west of the Central High School. Several of
Omaha’s leading hotels are located within a few blocks of the Memorial.

In a room in the Joslyn Memorial close by the Lecture Hall there will
be on exhibit, from 10:00 A. M. to 5:00 P. M. on Friday and Saturday,
a display of devices for attracting ‘birds to the home, such as bird boxes,
feeding trays and bird baths, provided through the courtesy of our
N. O. U. member, Mr. Dana Anderson of St. Edward. The series of
water-color bird paintings that have been prepared by Miss Iva B. Swenk
for the projected, but now temporarily latent, monograph of the Fringil-
lidae of Nebraska, will also be represented by the display of a selection
of a dozen or more subjects. Through the courtesy of the Omaha Public
Library, there will be an exhibit of bird books, including Audubon’s
Birds of America, and Alexander Wilson’s American Ornithology, as well as
other more recent books on ornithology. Bird photographs will also be
shown, and N. O. U. members are invited to contribute to this exhibit.

EDITORIAL PAGE

The Field Day will be held in the Fontenelle Reserve on Saturday,
May 19, and additional field trips to include the heronries of Great Blue
Herons and Black-crowned Night Herons on the Gifford Estate will also
likely be taken, late on Saturday or on Sunday, May 20.

When the mimeographed Letters of Information of our organization was
started early in 1925, the impelling idea was that it should be made to
serve as a medium of intercommunication among our members, in telling
each what the other was doing in bird study and what birds were being
seen, as well as keeping a current record of the seasonal migrations of
the birds. The Letters gradually grew in popularity and length, as well as
in the scientific value and importance of some of the included data,
until, after eight years of the Letters, it became obviously desirable to
replace them with a recognized form of publication to form a permanent
record, and thus the Nebraska Bird Review came to be started. While the
L. O. I. was being published the thought was for the immediate needs
only, and the mimeographed edition of each letter was, for purposes of
economy, made to conform closely with the current N. O. U. member¬
ship and mailing list, no extra or duplicate copies being prepared or
preserved. This is now to be regretted, for during the past few years
there has been a considerable demand from libraries for complete sets of
the Letters of Information, and these unfortunately cannot be furnished.
All members with complete sets should have them bound for permanent
preservation, either in their own library or else in the library of some
public institution, where they always will be available for reference.

Mr. Wilson Tout of North Platte has recently made a suggestion in
regard to the series of articles entitled “A Brief Synopsis of the Birds
of Nebraska” that was begun in the July number of the Review with the
loons and continued in the October number with the grebes, to the effect
that “it would be a good thing to indicate at the close of each of these
articles which group will appear in the next issue, so that any of us who
have late records can send them right in.” The plan is to take up the
families of birds, one after another, in the exact sequence of the fourth
(1931) edition of the A. O. U. Check-List of North American Birds. Know¬
ing this, members can anticipate the groups that will be the subject of
each next succeeding article in the series, and all recent records in such
groups will be most warmly welcomed by the editor.

In this column a year ago (antea, i, p. 17) comment was made on the
excessive amount of cutting of trees then going on everywhere in Ne¬
braska, and quotation was made from a letter written by Mr. J. E.
Stipsky of Hooper in transmitting his report for 1932 on the nests, eggs
and young birds that he found in his neighborhood that season. Mr.
Stipsky has recently transmitted his report on birds nesting for 1933,
and again comments: “I am sorry to report that my territory was
ruined this year and also for next year. The old river bed next to the
town was drained, and to do this a large number of trees was cut down
and practically all of the underbrush alongside of the old river bed was
removed. In doing this many nests were destroyed. In other places
the trees are being cut down for fire-wood, and they are also cleaning
up a lot of underbrush, so it looks like there will not be many birds in
my territory next year.” It is estimated that probably six million trees
have been cut in Nebraska during the past two years. It is patent that
we cannot continue thus cutting more and more trees and shrubbery,
and not plant anew, unless we expect to return the Nebraska prairies
to their original bleak treelessness and paucity or lack of woodland
birds, thus undoing the constructive work of the pioneers who planted
many of the trees that have recently been cut. The correct move¬
ment to encourage “the planting of a tree for every stump” is a most
worthy one.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

The months of January and February in 1934 continued to be warmer
than normal and mostly dry and bright, as during the fall and early
winter season of 1933. Over the state as a whole January was decidedly
warm, with an average temperature of 31.5° F., which is 9.0° higher
than the normal, and which has been exceeded only four times since
1876. It was, however, slightly (1.4°) lower than for January, 1933.
At Lincoln, on January 27, the maximum temperature was 68° F. and
on January 23 it was 62° F., while maximum temperatures of over 60°
F. occurred during January throughout the state except in the four
extreme northwestern counties. At four places in southern Nebraska
the thermometer reached 70° F. during January. The coldest periods
were January 1 to 3, inclusive, January 25 and January 28 to 30, when
at Lincoln there were temperatures from 1° to 17°, which were from

I to 17 degrees below the normal. Over most of the state minimum tem¬
peratures varied from zero to 13° below, but in southwestern Nebraska
January minimum temperatures did not drop to zero. Precipitation
ranged from 33% in central Nebraska to 91% in the northwestern sec¬
tion, averaging about 50% of the normal. It came in the form of small
snow storms, and the snow disappeared shortly after falling, so that the
ground was bare throughout the state most of the month. The heaviest
snowfall at Lincoln was 1.2 inches on January 29, and the total for the
month was 2.1 inches, which is more than most of the central and west¬
ern sections of the state received, but much less than fell in some locali¬
ties in northern Nebraska, where the snowfall for the month ran from
5 to 10.5 inches. Precipitation periods at Lincoln were January 2 to 9,

II and 12, 21, and 27 and 28, to a total of a quarter of an inch. Hu¬
midity and sunshine were about normal throughout the state in January.

The month of February, over the state as a whole, was warmer (5°)
than normal, especially in the northwestern section, but not so much
warmer than normal as were the preceding months of November, De¬
cember and January. The first seventeen days of February were all
warmer than normal, but this was counteracted by the coldness of the
last eleven days, which, except for one day (February 20) were all
colder than normal, with zero temperatures or lower over most of the
state on February 25, 26 and 27. At Lincoln, the warmest days were
February 2, 3, 13 and 14, which were respectively 23, 27, 23 and 22 de¬
grees above the normal, reaching a maximum of 69° on the 13th and 68°
on the 3rd, while the temperature dropped to 9 degrees below zero on
February 26, which was the coldest day of the month throughout the
state, the temperature dropping to -31° in Sheridan and Cherry Counties,
along the northern border of the state. Precipitation over the state as
a whole was about one-fifth greater than the normal, the northwestern
and southwestern sections receiving the most, the northeastern section
the least. At Lincoln the month was drier than normal, with .40' inch
on the 17th, .27 inch on the 24th, .06 inch on the 18th, .04 inch on the
21st, .01 inch on the 25th, and traces of precipitation on the 8th, 11th,
22nd and 23rd, totaling .17 inch less than the normal of .95 inch. At
Lincoln there was snowfall on February 8 and 11 (traces), 18, 21, 22
and 23 (traces), 24 and 25, the only considerable snow being that on
February 24, when 4.5 inches fell. Snows were general over the state
from February 17 to 25, heavier in the southern parts than in the
northern. For the most part, the February precipitation was rain, and
the snow did not accumulate to any considerable depth at any time, the
ground being bare most of the month. There was more than the average
amount of sunshine, relative humidity was less than normal, as was also
wind movement.

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

With the coming of March the cold wave of February 21 to 28 ended,
and the weather for the first several days of March was much warmer.
At Lincoln, temperatures on March 1 to 6 ran from 1 to 15 degrees
above the normal, with the minimum at 25° and a maximum of 59° occur¬
ring on both March 2 and 4. This warm period was followed by some¬
what colder weather during the second week in March. At Lincoln, the
temperatures from March 7 to 10 were from 3 to 10 degrees below the
normal. Then followed several days of warmer weather, when at Lin¬
coln the temperature varied from 2 degrees below the normal to 22
degrees above it. A sharp cold spell on March 17 and 18, when the
minimum thermometer readings at Lincoln were 12° and 8°, respectively,
was followed by a third warm period, extending at Lincoln from March
19 to 21, with temperatures from 6 to 17 degrees above the normal. The
last ten days of March were all cooler, with temperatures varying from
normal to 19 degrees below the normal, except for March 28, which was
7 degrees warmer than normal and had a maximum temperature at
Lincoln of 69°. Taken as a whole, at Lincoln the month was very
slightly warmer than normal. It was also a very dry month. On March
3 and 23 at Lincoln, there was precipitation of .04 inch, .02 inch fell on
March 9 and 16, .18 inch on March 17, .17 inch on March 22, traces on
March 21, 28, 29 and 31, and .33 inch on March 30. This precipitation
was all rain except that on March 9, 17, 22 and 30, on the three last
mentioned dates the snowfall at Lincoln amounting to 1.9, 1.8 and 1.7
inches, respectively. However, the snow soon disappeared on the ground.
There was less than the average amount of sunshine, relative humidity
was less than normal, and wind movement also was less than normal.

Common Mallard Duck banded No. 555414 on November 29, 1927, on
her right leg, and No. A604109 on May 27, 1933, on her left leg, re¬
turned unusually early this spring to Mr. F. J. Keller’s Rainbow’s End
Game Refuge near Antioch, Sheridan County, the actual date of return
being February 4 (cf. antea, i, p. 83). This makes her seventh con¬
secutive spring return to her nest on Mr. Keller’s barn roof, and her
eighth known year of residence at his Refuge. How many years more
she will live and be able to escape the gun of the hunter is problematical.
Banded individuals among her descendants have been shot as far north
as Canada and as far south as Arizona, Texas and Louisiana. Last
year her fourteen eggs were all undersized and infertile. Her 1934
history will be followed with much interest by N. O. U. members.

Mrs. Paul T. Heineman, of Plattsmouth, Cass County, reports under
date of February 26 that she has maintained a full food tray for the
birds for the last five winters, and that among the more usual visitors
to it are to be listed the Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker, Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Hairy Woodpecker,
Northern Downy Woodpecker, Northern Blue Jay, Black-capped Chicka¬
dee, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Brown
Creeper, Eastern Cardinal, Eastern Slate-colered Junco, and, in the
early spring, the Tree Sparrow. As unusual visitors to the food tray
was a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets in January of 1930 and an
Eastern Carolina Wren in January of 1933. Mrs. Heineman confines
her bird observations largely to her own yard, which is very favorably
situated near a small wooded ravine and within sight of the Missouri
River. She adds: “The times that I find most interesting are the very
cold weather when I have the most visitors at the food trays; the spring
period, before the leaves are out, with the new migrant arrivals; and
the summer, when some of my winter bird friends bring their young to
the suet and trays. It is surprising to note the many different kinds of
birds one may see in a restricted area by constant watchfulness and the
use of glasses.”

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Additional records of the occurrence of the Pihon Jay in Nebraska
localities continued to be received during the spring. Mr. George Back
of Gothenburg, Dawson County, Nebraska, reported on February 16
that a group of Pihon Jays, sometimes as many as eight together, had
been seen in that vicinity during the winter. He gives its call as “a
single note, puk, puk.” Mr. Back also stated in his letter that Eastern
Robins and Eastern Cardinals were present in the Gothenburg vicinity
during the past unusually warm Winter. Dr. Walter D. Jensen of Grant,
Perkins County, reported on February 19 that a Pihon Jay appeared
there last autumn and remained through the winter. He says further:
“Its note is similar to that of the Catbird but much louder, and when
startled it has a purring whistle similar to that of the Flicker. It is
found most of the time working around trees infested with borers, so you
see it is quite a welcome guest.” Miss Marian Day of Superior, Nuckolls
County, reported on March 8 that while driving, about February 15,
eighteen miles west of Superior, she and her mother saw a flock of from
twelve to fourteen Pihon Jays.

Mrs. H. C. Johnston of Superior reports under date of March 1 that
Mrs. Paul Schmeling saw two pairs of the Red-eyed Eastern Towhee
along the Republican River near Superior on January 16, and that Mrs.
Charles Groves saw one of these birds on the Little Blue River near
Oak, also in Nuckolls County, on February 11. Mr. Groves on January
5 saw two flocks of the Greater Prairie Chicken, containing altogether
about fifteen birds, four miles east of Superior.

Mrs. George W. Trine of Red Cloud, writes under date of March 2
that but few birds stayed within that town during the winter of 1933-34.
Not a single Eastern Cardinal was seen there all winter. Usually they
are to be noted rather frequently along the Republican River. One
Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker, some Eastern Hairy Woodpeckers and
several Northern Downy Woodpeckers came to Mrs. Trine’s feeding
table regularly, along with some Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadees,
and one Eastern Brown Creeper was seen daily practically throughout
the winter. Up to the date of writing no Eastern Robins had been seen.

Under date of March 6, Mrs. Lily R. Button of Fremont reports that
Eastern Robins and Eastern Common Bluebirds were numerous on one
of the islands in the Platte River opposite Fremont all through the
winter. On February 1 an Eastern Robin appeared in the town of Fre¬
mont, but did not stay. The last week in February they appeared in
town quite generally. Mrs. Button says two Northern Blue Jays have
been about her house all winter.

Mr. W. E. Brooks of Elgin, Nebraska, reports through Mr. Dana
Anderson of St. Edward, under date of March 15, that he had a flicker
box on his premises that was occupied last summer but that blew down
during the winter in one of the wind storms. A few days before the
date of reporting, a pair of Northern Yellow-shafted Flickers were in
the tree in which the flicker box had been located, and seemed to be
looking for their last summer’s home. Mr. Brooks got a ladder and put
the house up in its accustomed place. The birds did not even fly out of
the tree, but as soon as the box was up and Mr. Brooks had returned to
the ground they immediately entered the old home and took possession.

Under date of March 29, Mr. V. W. Binderup of Minden, Kearney
County, writes that at that time there was an unusually large number
of Lesser Snow Geese and American Pintail ducks on the Platte River
along the northern boundary of that county. Many local bird observers,
he states^ contend that they never have seen so many of these birds
there before at this time of the year, which he regards as an encourag¬
ing indication. He states that, if adequate protection could be given by

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

the state at the concentration points along our streams during the proper
periods, he believes that we would soon again have these birds present
consistently in abundance.

Under date of March 29, Mr. Harold Turner of Bladen, Nebraska,
states that a Sparrow Hawk (subsp. ?) was noted a few miles west of
Norman, in Kearney County, on January 15, and that a female of this
species took lodging about his farm home, located in Adams County
between Holstein and Bladen, during the stormy night of March 17.
He mentions also that he saw a Marsh Hawk on January 20, and several
others of that species since then. On March 17, a Cooper Hawk in the
immature plumage, several American Rough-legged Hawks, and an
American Barn Owl were noted during a walk up Sand Creek Valley, in
Adams County, the last mentioned species having been observed at close
range. On March 18, in the same locality, a Red-tailed Hawk and an
American Rough-legged Hawk were noted. On March 28, a very dark
specimen of the Red-tailed Hawk was seen, and identified as probably a
Harlan Red-tailed Hawk. Mr. Turner states that during the snow storm
on February 25, a female Eastern Hairy Woodpecker appeared in his
yard, and what presumably was the same bird was again seen there on
March 5.

From the Omaha Nature Study Club, through Mr. L. O. Horsky, comes
under date of April 12 a report on the birds observed in that vicinity
since the Holiday season. On December 23, 1933, Mr. William Marsh
observed a Bronzed Grackle and six Harris Sparrows at Elmwood Park.
The Bronzed Grackle was subsequently seen once in January by Mrs. J.
Franklyn Holly, while Harris Sparrows were seen by Miss Elizabeth
Rooney on January 20 and again by Mr. Marsh on March 18. Mr. 0. L.
Stoltenberg noted a Western Meadowlark on his farm between Florence
and Bennington on December 25. Tree Sparrows were seen by Mr.
Marsh near Elmwood Park on December 31 and by Miss Mary Ellsworth
at Carter Lake on March 27. An Eastern Screech Owl was noted in
Elmwood Park by Mr. Marsh on January 7. A Sparrow Hawk (subsp. ?)
was seen in Forest Lawn Cemetery on January 20 by Miss Mary Ells¬
worth. Mr. L. 0. Horsky saw wintering Eastern Robins and Eastern
Common Bluebirds in the Fontenelle Reserve on January 20, and the
latter species were also present in Mrs. Fred Grouseman’s bird sanctu¬
ary throughout the winter. Mr. Horsky noted Pine Siskins at Riverview
Park on January 27, and Mr. Marsh saw them at Elmwood Park on
March 4. Two of the more striking features of this winter’s bird popu¬
lation were the abundance of Red-breasted Nuthatches in Elmwood
Park, where they were observed throughout the winter subsequent to
the Christmas Census by Messrs. Marsh and Horsky, and the compara¬
tive absence there of Red Crossbills, which are usually to be found in
Elmwood Park when in the Omaha vicinity. The Long-eared Owls,
which had been regular residents in this park for over twenty years,
seem now to have disappeared, probably frightened away by the C. W. A.
work on the new golf course.

Two coveys of Bob-whites were seen by Messrs. William Frenking and
George Weir on a farm near Nashville, Washington County, where they
were being fed, on February 6, and the farmer reported to them that
about a half-dozen Eastern Robins had frequently been seen by him
feeding with the Bob-whites. A pair of Eastern Purple Finches was
noted by Mr. Marsh near Brownell Hall on February 11. The first
seventeen days of February were decidedly above normal in tempera¬
ture, and on February 14 Miss Elizabeth Rooney noted four Eastern
Robins in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Mrs. J. Franklyn Holly in Keystone
Park and Mrs. Fred Grouseman at her home reported hearing Western
Meadowlarks on the same day. On February 11 and 19, Mr. Richard

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Abboud reported a large flock of Canada Geese on Carter Lake, and on
the latter date they were walking on the ice as there was a decided
change to colder weather between those dates. Beginning with the 18th
the temperature for the remainder of February was decidedly below
normal with snow on that date and again on the 24th and subzero tem¬
peratures on the 26th and 27th. Dr. C. A. Mitchell of Omaha reports
that he saw two Red-bellied Woodpeckers near Kountze Park in Omaha
on February 20.

The first five days of March averaged from 8 to 12 degrees above
normal, and on March 9 Miss Mary Ellsworth reported the first migrant
Eastern Robin, while Mr. Horsky saw his first migrant Eastern Robin
in Elmwood Park on March 11. Mr. Marsh noted Lesser Scaups at
George’s Lake on March 11. On the following day, with the tempera¬
ture 21 degrees above the normal, there was a migration wave of
Canada Geese, Eastern Robins and Eastern Common Bluebirds. On
March 15, Mr. Horsky heard his first Eastern Robin in song, and on the
next day the Sparrow Hawks returned to their old haunts on his home
premises. On March 19, he saw four Bronzed Graekles and on March 20
heard the first Western Meadowlark on his home grounds and the first
early morning robin chorus, when the minimum temperature was at 41°,
the highest for the month both before and after that date. The re¬
mainder of the month, beginning with the 22nd, was subnormal, with
the exception of the 28th and 29th, and it was during this period that
Miss Mary Ellsworth noted a flock of Redheads, carefully estimated at
300 birds, on March 24 on Carter Lake, of which there were still about
100 left on March 31 and about 40 on April 8. At Carter Lake on March
24 Miss Mary Ellsworth saw also thirty Lesser Scaups, four American
Pintails and from 100 to 150 Northern American Coots, as well as the
Northern Killdeer and Red-winged Blackbirds. Mr. Horsky noted the
Northern Shrike on his home grounds on March 25, and on March 26
Mayor Roy N. Towl noted waxwings (American Bohemian ?) on his
home grounds. Mayor Towl states that his family looks for the arrival
of the waxwings each year, to eat their Russian cranberries. On March
27, Miss Ellsworth noted two Baldpates, twenty-five Shovellers, two
Lesser Yellow-legs, two American Herring Gulls and one Eastern Belted
Kingfisher. Northern Purple Martin scouts were first observed by
Mr. Leonard Nichols on his martin house on March 28, and by Mr. F. J.
Jodeit on his martin house on April 3. Also on March 28, Miss Marjorie
Disbrow observed the first Western Mourning Dove and Miss Mary
Ellsworth and Mrs. Arthur Greer in Hummel Park saw four Eastern
Phoebes, six Eastern Common Bluebirds and an American Goldfinch,
the latter in process of molting to summer plumage.

Mr. William Marsh saw Eastern Common Bluebirds nest-building in
Elmwood Park on April 1. Mr. Horsky heard his first Western Field
Sparrow on April 3. A pair of Eastern Robins had completed their
nest in the yard of the Misses Emma and Mary Ellsworth on April 5.
Miss Mary Ellsworth noted the arrival of the Red-eyed Eastern Towhee
and Eastern Chipping Sparrow on April 7. On April 8, in addition to
the forty Redheads, Miss Ellsworth saw ten Baldpates, six Lesser
Scaups and fifteen Northern Killdeers.

Under date of April 1, Mrs. A. H. Jones of Hastings reports on the
migration record at that place covering the first quarter of 1934. She
mentions first a previously overlooked observation of the American
Magpie at Homer, Dakota County, Nebraska, on December 26, 1933, by
Miss Carrie Hansen of Hastings. The Hastings record proper then
follows. On January 13, Mrs. E. R. Maunder noted the Common Red-
shafted Flicker, and on January 14, Mrs. A. H. Staley recorded the first

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

Eastern Robin of the year, a singing bird. Mr. A. H. Jones noted nine
Greater Prairie Chickens eight miles northeast of Minden, Kearney
County, on January 19. The Harris Sparrow was seen by Mrs. A. E.
Olsen on January 29. American Pintails were seen near Hastings by
Dr. Laird on February 4, while Mr. A. M. Brooking noted heavy flights
of these ducks on February 16, and on February 18 Miss Margaret
Diemer saw thousands of them, and also a few Green-winged Teals, on
the Platte River in Hall County, north of Hastings. Miss M. Caryle
Sylla noted the Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker on February 11.

The Sparrow Hawk (subsp. ?) was noted by Mrs. A. E. Olsen on
March 2, and a migrant Eastern Robin by Mrs. A. M. Brooking on
March 3. On March 10, Mrs. A. M. Jones saw three Red-winged Black¬
birds (subsp. ?) and the Misses Zetta and Nelle Rowe saw an Eastern
Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The first Eastern Common Bluebird was seen
by Miss Carrie Hansen on March 11, on which date she noted also a
Long-eared Owl, while also on this day Mr. Vernon Taggart recorded
the first Northern Killdeer, Mrs. Brooking and Miss Sylla noted large
Horned Larks which they believed to be the Hoyt Horned Lark, and Mr.
Addison Adams saw twelve Western Meadowlarks. Prof. John M. Moul¬
ton’s ornithology class from Hastings College noted the Canvas-back
and Lesser Scaup ducks on March 12. On March 14, Mrs. A. H. Jones
observed Lesser Snow Geese, the American Buff-breasted Merganser
and the (Migrant ?) Loggerhead Shrike. Miss Margaret Diemer, on
March 18, noted the American Rough-legged Hawk, saw fifty-five Sand¬
hill Cranes feeding in a pasture, observed some gulls identified as the
Ring-billed Gull, and noted the arrival of the American Common Pipit
and Eastern Meadowlark.

On March 19, Mrs. A. M. Brooking noted a Red-tailed Hawk and the
Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch at Grand Island, Hall County, and on
this same date Mesdames A. H. and A. M. Jones and Miss Martha
Cousley saw seventeen Cedar Waxwings. On March 20, a fine warm
day, Mr. and Mrs. Brooking flushed a covey of about fifteen Bob-whites
on the road near Bladen, Webster County, and Mrs. Brooking saw a
Red-bellied Woodpecker, and heard its rasping call, in the timber along
the Republican River south of Naponee, Franklin County, which is
believed to be the farthest west that this species has yet been recorded
in Nebraska. Canada Geese (subsp. ?), Blue Geese and White-fronted
Geese were all noted by Mrs. A. H. Jones on March 26, and the Shoveller
was also seen on that date, as well as the (Saskatchewan ?) Horned
Lark. Mr. Winston Jones recorded the Western Mourning Dove for
March 26. Mesdames A. H. and A. M. Jones found the Tufted Titmouse
and Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch at Nelson, Nuckolls County, on
March 27. This record of the Tufted Titmouse is a little farther to the
west than the observation of the species at Oak, in the same county, on
January 21, 1933, by Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Brooking (antea, i, p. 44), and
about the same distance west as Mrs. Glen Chapman’s observation of
the species south of Aurora, Hamilton County, on October 22, 1933
(antea, ii, p. 12). All of these westernmost records for the Tufted Tit¬
mouse are from along the 98th meridian. Five Bronzed Grackles ar¬
rived in Mrs. A. H. Jones’ yard on March 28. On March 29, Mr. A. H.
Jones saw several hundred Sandhill Cranes feeding in a field near Kear¬
ney, Buffalo County, and on April 1, Mrs. A. H. Jones, with Miss Sylla,
saw a flock of seventy-six Sandhill Cranes fly low over her house in
Hastings, calling loudly enough that their calls were heard inside the
house. A Greater Prairie Chicken was seen near the Fort Kearny
road on March 29. On April 1, Mrs. Brooking and Miss Sylla found
Northern Killdeers common in Heartwell Park and noted numerous
Loggerhead Shrikes. On April 2, Song Sparrows were noted by Mrs.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

A. M. Brooking and Mrs. Jesse Marian. On April 4, the flickers arrived
in full force; many of both the Common Red-shafted and Northern
Yellow-shafted species were reported in the parks by Mrs. A. M. Jones
and Mrs. J. D. Fuller.

Mrs. Jones further reports that on January 21 she and Mr. Jones
noted a large flock of Greater Prairie Chickens five miles west of Thed-
ford, Thomas County. They counted sixty-six birds in the flock, which
they estimated to contain a total of about seventy-five individuals, as
the birds flew rather low across the road ahead of them. On a lake
near Alliance, on January 23, Mrs. Jones saw four male and four female
Common Mallards. On March 14 she and Mr. Jones were over-night
guests of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Nelson, at the Nebraska National Forest
Reserve near Halsey, Thomas County, of which Mr. Nelson is Super¬
intendent. Early on the morning of the 15th she was awakened by a
bird song which she thought bore some resemblance to that of the Red¬
eyed Vireo, but was much more beautiful. After hearing the song repeated
many times, she located and identified the songster as the Townsend
Solitaire, of which there were two individuals in the cedars near the
house. When not flitting about and singing, they were busy feeding in
their characteristic manner. Mr. Nelson informed Mrs. Jones that these
birds had been singing about the Reserve since about March 1. On this
same date Mrs. Jones noted the Northern Pine Siskin in the Reserve,
and also on March 15 at the edge of one of the lakes in the sand hills
near Alliance, she identified twenty-four American Herring Gulls, in
company with thousands of American Pintail ducks. On March 18,
Mrs. Jones saw a Greater Prairie Chicken near Sidney, Cheyenne County,
and on that day near the same place saw also eight American Magpies.
Hundreds of Sandhill Cranes were seen in flight on the same day near
Cozad, Dawson County, and also great numbers of male Red-winged
Blackbirds in the marshy ditches along the roadside, while hundreds of
American Pintails were feeding in the corn fields.

Under date of April 14, Mrs. A. M. Brooking reports that on April 7
she, with Mr. Brooking, visited the Platte River in Hall County, north
of Hastings, and in following along the south side of the river encoun¬
tered large flocks of Lesser Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes. But the
thrill of the day was when near to the Wood River bridge a flock of thir¬
teen Whooping Cranes were sighted flying very high. They came down
to the river, affording an excellent view of them.

In the last number of the Review (antea, p. 18) mention was made of
a freshly shot male Short-eared Owl that was brought to Mr. G. E.
Hudson at the Zoology Department of the University on December 2,
1933. On January 6, 1934, another freshly shot male of this same
species was found dead in the road by Miss Florence Schrepf, and was
also brought to Mr. Hudson for preservation. Dr. W. J. Himmel of
Lincoln reports noting the following resident species during January:
Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker (26th), Eastern Hairy Woodpecker
(27th and February 14), Northern Downy Woodpecker (6th), Northern
Blue Jay (27th), Prairie Horned Lark (26th, and February 14), Eastern
Crow (6th), Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee (5th), Eastern White¬
breasted Nuthatch (17th), Eastern Cardinal (5th), Eastern Slate-colored
Junco (6th), and Tree Sparrow (17th). On January 6, and again on
February 11, Dr. Himmel noted a Sparrow Hawk (Eastern ?), and on
January 6 two Short-eared Owls. On this same date he noted a flock
of geese. On January 27 he saw about fifty American Pintails sitting
on the ice of a pond north of Lincoln on 27th Street, and at this same
place saw about 100 of these ducks on February 10 and thirty-four of
them on February 14. On February 11, Mr. Hudson saw about ninety
of these ducks, of which about one-third were females, sitting on the ice.

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

Mr. E. F. Powell reports that he observed a male Bronzed Grackle in
the garden at his home at 1136 South 40th Street, on February 4, and
Dr. Himmel likewise noted an individual of this species on February 17.
Dr. Himmel noted two Marsh Hawks on February 10 and nine Western
Meadowlarks on February 14. On February 11, Mr. Hudson saw an
American Rough-legged Hawk, several Prairie Horned Larks, numerous
Eastern Crows, several Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadees, four East¬
ern Cardinals and numerous Tree Sparrows. On February 18, in com¬
pany with Mr. W. E. Beed, Mr. Hudson camped out over night at Rock
Bluff, Cass County, on the Missouri River. At this location they noted
two Eastern Red-tailed Hawks and an immature male Northern Yellow-
shafted Flicker, and collected one of the hawks, an adult male, and
the flicker. Other species noted by them there were one Western
Mourning Dove, several Northern Downy Woodpeckers, one Northern
Blue Jay, about twenty-five Eastern Crows, an abundance of Long¬
tailed Black-capped Chickadees (a male collected), one Tufted Titmouse,
about twenty-five Rusty Blackbirds, numerous Eastern Cardinals, a
towhee somewhat doubtfully identified as the Red-eyed Eastern Towhee,
numerous Eastern Slate-colored Juncos, several Shufeldt Oregon Juncos,
an abundance of Tree Sparrows, and numerous Harris Sparrows.

The first Eastern Robin and Eastern Common Bluebird (male) were
seen on March 4, on which date Prof. Don B. Whelan noted more flocks
of geese. The first Eastern Robins were seen in town at Lincoln on March 5,
on which date they were noted by several observers. Dr. Himmel noted
eighty-four American Pintails on North 27th Street on March 5, while on
March 11, according to Mr. G. E. Hudson, these ducks were present at
Capitol Beach to the total number of several thousand birds, mostly
males, but including also many females, along with a few (about ten
per cent) of Common Mallards of both sexes, four male and two female
Shovellers and four male Lesser Scaups. There were also present
twelve Blue Geese in the adult plumage. On March 12, Dr. Himmel
noted ten male and nine female Common Mallards, a male Shoveller,
three male Lesser Scaups and about thirty Red-winged Blackbirds. On
March 17, Mr. Hudson noted about 125 Lesser Snow Geese in a flock,
along with about seventy-five Blue Geese, and collected one immature
bird of the latter species. Ducks noted on this date included about 100
American Pintails, representing both sexes, about eight Green-winged
Teals, about a half-dozen Redheads, and about eight Lesser Scaups.
Other birds noted on March 17 by Mr. Hudson included an (Eastern ?)
Sparrow Hawk, a Short-eared Owl and numerous Western Meadowlarks,
several of which were singing.

On March 25, Mr. Hudson noted as new arrivals about thirty White-
fronted Geese, about six Baldpates (both sexes represented), three male
Northern Ruddy Ducks, four Northern Killdeers, two gulls somewhat
doubtfully identified as the Ring-billed, the Eastern Common Meadow¬
lark (one heard singing) and the Red-winged Blackbird, of which latter
species a male was definitely identified and heard singing, while several
flocks of from thirty to sixty blackbirds, too far off to identify, may
also have included Red-wings. Other species seen on March 25 included
about twenty Common Mallards, 300 to 400 American Pintails, about
fifteen Green-winged Teals, a pair of Shovellers, about thirty Lesser
Scaups (all these ducks including both sexes), an American Rough¬
legged Hawk, two Marsh Hawks, two Short-eared Owls, a very shy
shrike which may have been a Northern Shrike, numerous Western
Meadowlarks, and several Tree Sparrows. The arrival of the Western
Mourning Dove was noted by Prof. Raymond Roberts on March 26.
These birds disappeared with the storm of March 29 to 31, but re¬
appeared in force on April 1. Dr. J. P. Williams reported seeing a
Cedar Waxwing in the trees in his yard at 2930 Van Dorn Street about

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

March 28, and Mrs. Addison E. Sheldon saw a small flock of them in
her yard at 1319 South 23rd Street on April 1.

On April 1, on a trip to King’s Pond and then to Capitol Beach, Mr.
Hudson noted a flock of geese containing twenty-five White-fronted
Geese, about 100 Lesser Snow Geese, and about fifty Blue Geese, in a
wheat field near Capitol Beach. Separately from these, he noted three
Lesser Canada Geese, about five White-fronted Geese, and about twenty
Lesser Snow Geese. On this day he observed also about five Common
Mallards, about twenty-five Baldpates, about 300 American Pintails,
about forty Green-winged Teals, about sixty Shovellers, two male Red¬
heads, about sixty Lesser Scaups, a scaup duck with a greenish head,
clearly seen reflected in the sun, which may have been a Greater Scaup,
about six Northern Killdeers, three Short-eared Owls, a Western Bur¬
rowing Owl that flew out from under a culvert at Capitol Beach, five
gulls identified as probably the Ring-billed, and two shrikes identified
as probably the Migrant Loggerhead Shrike. The arrival of the Purple
Martin was reported on April 2 by Prof, and Mrs. Don B. Whelan, who
saw them at their home at 3855 Orchard Street. Although the first
migrant Red-winged Blackbirds had been noted on March 12, by April 1
these birds were present abundantly in the Lincoln vicinity, as noted by
M. H. Swenk, large flocks of them roosting at night in the trees in
Wyuka Cemetery, along with an almost equal abundance of Bronzed
Grackles. On April 3 and 4, many Sparrow Hawks of both sexes, several
of them rather definitely identified at close range as the Eastern Spar¬
row Hawk, were observed between Lincoln and Omaha by M. H. Swenk,
who noted also a Cooper Hawk, two or three American Rough-legged
Hawks, and several Northern Killdeers and Western Mourning Doves.
On April 5, on a trip to King’s Pond on the Little Salt and then to
Capitol Beach, Mr. Hudson noted nine Lesser Canada Geese (a female
collected), about seventy-five Lesser Snow Geese, and about thirty Blue
Geese. New arrivals on that day included a male Gadwall, about twenty
Blue-winged Teals, seven cranes identified as probably the Sandhill
Crane in a pasture on Little Salt, a Wilson Snipe, eight Lesser Yellow-
legs, and one each of the Pectoral Sandpiper and Baird Sandpiper.
Other water birds noted by Mr. Hudson on this trip were about fifteen
Baldpates, about 100 American Pintails, about fifty Green-winged Teals,
about 150 Shovellers, about fifty Lesser Scaups, numerous Northern
Killdeers, and two gulls identified as probably the Ring-billed. Other
birds noted as new arrivals were the Brewer Blackbird (about twenty,
apparently all males), and the Eastern Cowbird (seven). Nine Short¬
eared Owls were flushed from the grass along Little Salt, numerous
Saskatchewan Horned Larks were seen, including a juvenile bird that
could have been caught, several Loggerhead Shrikes identified as prob¬
ably the Migrant, several Eastern Common Meadowlarks heard singing
along Little Salt (with the Western Meadowlark heard also singing at
the same time from the higher ground), and several Tree Sparrows.

Another migrant added for Lincoln by Mr. Hudson on April 5 was the
Eastern Phoebe. On April 8, he added the Leconte Sparrow (one seen)
and the Western Field Sparrow. Other species seen on April 8 were six
Lesser Snow Geese, about twenty-five Baird Sandpipers, and seven
Short-eared Owls. Fresh Eastern Crow eggs were likewise found on
April 8. On April 14, Mr. Hudson noted eight Franklin Gulls and one
Common Lincoln Sparrow, as new arrivals, and on this day observed
also Great Horned Owls, three Northern Purple Martins, two Tufted
Titmice (heard), and several Harris Sparrows. A nest of the Eastern
Common Bluebird with fresh eggs was found, as well as several East¬
ern Crow nests, with fresh to well incubated eggs. Prof. Raymond
Roberts noted the Eastern Chipping Sparrow on April 15, and Northern
Purple Martins were common by that date.

WITH THE N. 0. U. MEMBERS

HERE AND THERE WITH THE N. 0 . U. MEMBERS

The last year of the N. 0. U. has been a very unusual one in the
number of members it has lost by death. The passing of Mrs. A. T. Hill
of Hastings on July 14, 1933, of Mr. Frederick G. Collins on November
13, 1933, and of Dr. Robert H. Wolcott on January 23, 1934, have
already been sorrowfully recorded. We regret that we must now also
announce the decease of Mr. Thomas D. Griffin of Hardy, Nuckolls
County, on December 6, 1933. Mrs. Griffin joined the N. 0. U. in 1924,
and Mr. Griffin became a member with her some years later. Mr.
Griffin had a very genuine interest in bird life, and members of the
N. 0. U. will recall the notes that he sent in from time to time for our
Letter of Information. He will be much missed by the Nuckolls County
group of bird students, especially, and we are sure the members of the
N. 0. U. join with us in extending sincere sympathy to Mrs. Griffin at
this time.

Under date of March 5, Mr. Dana Anderson of St. Edward, Boone
County, Nebraska, writes as follows: “You know how difficult it is to
get an Eastern Cardinal visitor in this part of Nebraska. We had a
male living and roosting in my bird garden. Its favorite roosting place
was in a trimmed cedar. It was caught, evidently at night, in this
favorite roost, and nothing was left but the bill, feet and some feathers.
Since then no cats have been getting away on my place.”

On the evening of April 7, 1934, ten bird lovers and students met at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Tout and organized the North Platte
Bird Club.. Mr. Tout was elected as President, Mr. J. C. Hollman as
Vice-President, and Mrs. A. H. Bivans as Secretary-Treasurer, of the
new organization. As most members of the N. 0. U. know, Mr. Tout
has from its start been actively interested in our organization; in fact
he is now, with Mrs. Tout, Prof. Bruner and your Secretary-Treasurer,
one of the four surviving active Charter members of the N. 0. U., and
served us as President in 1905-06. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tout (nee Miss
Nell Harrison) joined the N. O. U. in 1900. Mrs. Tout, as well as Mr.
Tout, has kept up her interest in bird study through the years, and has
given many talks on birds before women’s clubs, schools and other
organizations. Miss Rebecca Tout, their daughter, also helped in organ¬
izing the club, as she is both active and interested in bird study. Mr.
Hollman is an attorney of North Platte, who became interested in bird
study when taking a course in ornithology at the University of Iowa
about twenty years ago, and Mrs. Hollman subsequently became inter¬
ested in bird study through contagion. Mrs. Bivans also became in¬
terested in bird study through the college courses which she took.
Others who assisted in forming the organization were Miss Ruth Moon,
a teacher in the North Platte schools, who previously had been a mem¬
ber of the Bruner Bird Club of Lincoln; Miss Frances Kimball, another
teacher in the North Platte schools, who became interested in bird study
through her work as a Campfire Guardian; Mrs. Carl Collister, whose
mother was an active member of the Brooking Bird Club at Hastings
before Mrs. Collister left there; and Mr. Harry Weakley, who became
interested in bird study while a student at the University of Nebraska,
later causing Mrs. Weakley to become interested also. Others also have
had considerable experience in the study of birds in the field. Mr. Tout
says that Charter membership in the North Platte Bird Club will be left
open for a month, and then closed. Monthly meetings, with a program
at each meeting, substituting field trips for meetings in the summer
months, are planned. He further states that it is the intention to have
every family represented in the membership of the N. 0. U. as soon as
they become members of the North Platte Bird Club. We extend our
greetings and best wishes to our newest local bird club, and hope and
believe that it will accomplish a great deal.

PRINCIPAL ORNITHOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONS OF
THE UNITED STATES

The Nuttall Ornithological Club. Organized in 1873. Publishes
Memoirs occasionally. Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The American Ornithologists’ Union. Organized September 26,
1883. Publishes The Auk quarterly. Subscription four dollars
a year. Editor Dr. Witmer Stone, Academy of Natural
Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Wilson Ornithological Club. Organized December 3, 1888.
Publishes The Wilson Bulletin quarterly. Subscription one
dollar and fifty cents a year (in the United States) and two
dollars (outside of the United States). Editor: Dr. T. C.
Stephens, Mornmgside College, Sioux City, Iowa.

The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club. Organized February 3,
1890. Publishes Cassinia annually. Academy of Natural
Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Cooper Ornithological Club. Organized June 22, 1893. Pub¬
lishes The Condor bimonthly and Pacific Coast Avifauna irregu¬
larly. Subscription three dollars a year (in the United
States), three dollars and twenty-five cents (outside of the
United States). Editor: Dr. Joseph Grinnell, Museum of
Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, California.

The Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. Organized December 16,
1899. Publishes The Nebraska Bird Review quarterly. Sub¬
scription one dollar a year. Editor: Prof. Myron H. Swenk,
1410 North 37th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

The National Association of Audubon Societies. Organized in
1902. Publishes Bird-Lore bimonthly. Subscription one dollar
and fifty cents (in the United States), one dollar and seventy-
five cents (outside of the United States). Editor: Dr. Frank
M. Chapman, American Museum of Natural History, New
York City.

The Essex County (Massachusetts) Ornithological Club. Organ¬
ized in 1918. Publishes Bulletin of the Essex County Ornithological
Club. Salem, Massachusetts.

The Iowa Ornithologists’ Union. Organized February 28, 1923.
Publishes Iowa Bird Life quarterly. Subscription one dollar
(in Iowa) or fifty cents (outside of Iowa) a year. Editor:
Mr. Fred J. Pierce, Winthrop, Iowa.

The Tennessee Ornithological Society. Publishes The Migrant
quarterly. Subscription sixty cents a year. Editor: Mr.
George B. Woodring, 1414 Stratton Avenue, Nashville, Ten¬
nessee.

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

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Nebraska Bird Review (July 1934) 2(3), WHOLE ISSUE.

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

A Review of Nebraska Ornithology

Published quarterly, in January, April, July and October by the Ne¬
braska Ornithologists’ Union, as its official journal, at Lincoln, Nebraska,
U. S. A.

Edited by Myron H. Swenk, 1410 North Thirty-seventh Street, Lin¬
coln, Nebraska. Articles or notes for publication should be in the hands
of the Editor by the first day of the month of publication.

OFFICERS OF THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION FOR
1934-35

President.Miss Mary Ellsworth, 3107 Redick Avenue, Omaha, Nebr.

Vice-President.L. M. Gates, 5234 Adams Street, Lincoln, Nebr.

Secretary-Treasurer.Myron H. Swenk, Lincoln, Nebr.

CONTENTS

Page

The Interior Carolina Paroquet as a Nebraska Bird. By

Myron H. Swenk. 55

General Notes. 60

Editorial Page. 67

The 1934 Migration Season. 68

Here and There with the N. 0. U. Members. 89

Minutes of the Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. .. . 90

Report on the Thirty-second Annual Field Day. 96

Membership Roll of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. ... 97

Published Lists of the Birds of Nebraska. 100

Actual date of publication, August 15, 1934

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

A Review of Nebraska Ornithology
Published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union

VOLUME II JULY, 1934 NUMBER 3

THE INTERIOR CAROLINA PAROQUET AS A
NEBRASKA BIRD
By MYRON H. SWENK

During the territorial days of Nebraska, flocks of the interior sub¬
species (Conuropsis carolinensis ludovicianus) of the Carolina Paroquet
occurred in the heavily wooded bottoms and on the wooded islands of
the Missouri River, along the eastern edge of the state. They were not
migratory, but were of a roving disposition and often wandered in flocks
for a considerable distance from their breeding and sleeping haunts,
sometimes appearing in the trees in and about the early settlements
along the river. By the time Nebraska had become a state (1867) they
had completely disappeared from this region, never to return, for the
bird is now extinct. This is especially unfortunate, since this species
was the only parrot native to the United States, except for the Thick¬
billed Parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachryhyncha) of Mexico, which casually
reaches the mountains of southern Arizona.

All of the naturalists that early visited this region noted these bril¬
liant little parrots. William Clark, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition,
recorded that “Parotqueet is seen as high as the Mahar (— Omaha) vil¬
lage” (“Codex N” in: Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition,
edited by R. G. Thwaites, vii, p. 122; 1904), which means that these
birds were seen along the Nebraska shore between July 11, 1804, when
the party passed latitude 40° N., and the following August 19, when it
left the old Omaha Indian village, located near the present site of
Homer, Dakota County, and possibly also between September 4 and 10,
1806, on the return journey. Thomas Say next states that the “Caroline
peroquet” occurred at Engineer Cantonment, which was located in south¬
eastern Washington County near the present Fort Calhoun, and was
“seen several times during the winter (of 1819-20)” (Long’s Exped., i, pp.
265 and 270; 1823). On May 14, 1834, Maximilian von Wied saw some
of these parrots on his return trip down the Missouri River, at the
mouth of Weeping Water Creek, in Cass County, and below it in Otoe
and Nemaha Counties (Reise in das Innere Nord-Amerika, ii, p. 345;
1839). In 1843 on his trip up the Missouri River, Audubon noted “Para¬
keets” several times — on May 7 they were “plentiful” opposite Richard¬
son and Nemaha Counties; on May 8 they were again seen opposite
Otoe County; on May 9 at Bellevue in Sarpy County; and again on
May 10, a little below the Council Bluff (=Fort Calhoun, Washington
County) at which latter place they were still “plentiful” (Audubon and
his Journals, i, pp. 476, 477 and 481; 1897). None of these early natural¬
ists seemed to regard this then common paroquet as particularly im¬
portant, and so far as can be learned none of them collected and preserved
any specimens from the Nebraska region.

For the first specimens collected and preserved in this region we are
indebted to the activities of Lieutenant Governeur K. Warren, Topo¬
graphical Engineer of the U. S. Army, and Dr. Ferdinand V. Hayden,
his scientific assistant, who, on April 16, 1856, started up the Missouri

— 55 —

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

River for Fort Pierre in Captain Throckmorton’s steamboat Genoa.
This party passed the Kansas-Nebraska line and the mouth of the
Nemaha River on April 23, and the following day reached the “Bald
Island” of Lewis and Clark in the Missouri. There, or close by, on April
24 and 25, Lieutenant Warren and Dr. Hayden collected a series of these
paroquets, as recorded by Spencer F. Baird in 1858 (Reports of Explora¬
tions and, Surveys of a Railroad Route to the Pacific Ocean, ix, p. 68). Ac¬
cording to this record, Lieutenant Warren and Dr. Hayden each shot a
female specimen on “Bald Island” on April 24 (Nos. 4617 and 4609,
U. S. N. M., respectively), and Dr. Hayden shot two more females and a
male there on April 25 (Nos. 4610, 4612 and 4613, respectively). Two
females and a male shot by Dr. Hayden (Nos. 4611, “4618” ? =4619 and
4614, respectively) and a male shot by Lieutenant Warren (No. 4615)
were also taken on “Bald Island”, and since the party was there only on
April 24 and 25, reaching the mouth of the Platte River on April 26,
these four must also have been collected on April 24 or 25. A male
(No. 4616) and a female (No. 4618), both collected on April 25 by Dr.
Hayden, if not taken on “Bald Island” must necessarily have been taken
somewhere close by. A female (No. 4608) taken by Lieutenant Warren
labeled simply “Nebraska”, measured “fresh”, bore the original No. 28,
which came between Nos. 4611 (26) and 4614 (27), both collected on
“Bald Island”, and Nos. 4616 (29), 4612 (30) and 4613 (31), the latter
two, at least, collected on “Bald Island”, so with little doubt was taken
on one or the other of these same two days. One may fairly conclude,
therefore, that Lieutenant Warren collected three and Dr. Hayden nine
of these paroquets, on or near “Bald Island”, on April 24 and 25, 1856.

Now, just where was this “Bald Island”? Judging from the probable
progress of the steamboat on April 23, it must have been located at
about latitude 40° 30', or somewhere near the present Nemaha-Otoe
County line. Doubt on the matter is dispelled, however, on consulting
the map accompanying Lieutenant Warren’s official report (Preliminary
Report of Explorations in Nebraska and Dakota in the Years 1855, 1856 and
/8sp in: Presidents’ Messages and Documents, Report of the Secretary of War,
Appendix, December, 1858. Reprinted in separate form, from Office of
Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, August, 1875, pp. 1-125). There it is
seen to be a large “island” then located in a deep, rounded “horseshoe”
bend to the eastward of the main channel of the Missouri River, a few
miles above the present location of the town of Peru, Nemaha County.
When Nebraska was organized as a territory, in 1854, this area, which
had water practically only on the north, east and south sides, was in¬
cluded therein, the main channel of the Missouri constituting the eastern
boundary of Nebraska Territory. At the flood of 1865 the river effected
a cutoff of a part of this “island” and transferred it to the Missouri side,
though it still remains legally a part of Nebraska. By that time it had
come to be known as McKissock Island, which name it still bears, and a
new island that was formed in the new channel to the west of it, at the time
of the cut-off, became Hog-Thief Island, which before 1890 had fused with
McKissock Island through the abandonment by the river of its eastern
channel (Cf., Bengston, Meanders of the Missouri River and their Effects,
Rept. Nebraska State Board of Agriculture for 1908, pp. 362-366).

Just how far up the Missouri these paroquets occurred is uncertain.
In 1862, Dr. Hayden wrote that it “was very abundant along the thickly
wooded bottoms as far up the Missouri as Fort Leavenworth, possibly
as high as the mouth of the Platte, but never seen above that point”
(Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc., xii, p. 154). However, Maximilian states that in
1833 he noted this bird along the Missouri at Fort Clark, in the present
Oliver County, North Dakota, and north of the 47th parallel, and that
his pilot Mr. Gardner noted them at the mouth of the Niobrara River
on the return journey, May 5, 1834 (op. cit., p. 345). On the return

INTERIOR CAROLINA PAROQUET AS A NEBRASKA BIRD 57

journey of the Audubon party, J. G. Bell reported that he “heard Par-
rakeets” on September 16, 1843, as far north as a little below Old Fort
George, Stanley County, central South Dakota (op. cit., ii, p. 165). Dr.
Guy C. Rich, formerly of Sioux City, Iowa, has reported that “many
years ago the paroquets were noticed just across the river from Sioux
City, in (Dakota County) Nebraska. Some were captured and kept as
cage pets” (Anderson, Proc. Davenport Acad. Sci., xi, p. 271).

Of the last days of the Interior Carolina Paroquet in Nebraska, Ex-
Governor Robert W. Furnas has left us an interesting record. He states
that when he came to Brownville, in Nemaha County, in the spring of
1856, there was an abundance of these birds in that vicinity. Their
home and breeding place was on an island (very probably “Bald
Island”) in the Missouri River ten miles north of Brownville, where
they nested in the hollows of old trees on the island. Many of the young
ones were taken from their nests by the boys, and raised by hand for
pets. In one season some young men raised a hundred or more of them
for sale, sending them to other states. They could not be taught to
talk. They often came into the trees in and about the town, and were
very noisy and quite tame. During the year 1866, or thereabout, they
all suddenly disappeared and were never since seen or known in that
vicinity (Proc. N. O. U., iii, p. 107; 1902).

This bird was one early marked for complete extermination. From
the first its gaily colored plumage caused it persistently to be killed in
large numbers for its feathers and to be heavily trapped by bird-catchers
for pets. Then when these unfortunate birds revealed an injurious
fondness for cultivated fruits and corn in the milk, the pretext was at
hand for killing them wantonly, especially as their flesh, though dark,
was not unpalatable when served as a pot pie. It was very easy to
slaughter these paroquets, for if one bird from a flock was wounded,
the others would devotedly hover around the injured bird until the entire
flock was killed, as was usually the case. Sometimes forty or more
birds would be killed with a few discharges of the gun. Small wonder,
then, that as fast as civilization advanced into its range the paroquet
disappeared.

As early as 1832 Audubon noted that these birds were not as abundant
as formerly, and that where they had been abundant a quarter of a
century previously they were then scarcely to be found at all. By 1840
they were practically gone in West Virginia and Ohio. They disap¬
peared from Indiana about 1858 and from Illinois about 1861. The
Colorado birds were gone by about 1862. In Kansas they were gone by
about 1867, and during the years 1875-1880 they disappeared from Ken¬
tucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Their last stand
was made in Missouri and along the Arkansas River and its tributaries
in Arkansas and central Oklahoma, but by 1890 they were practically
gone in these localities also.

By this time it was everywhere recognized that these birds were on
the very verge of extinction. In 1891 Hasbrouck predicted their exter¬
mination by 1911 (Auk, viii, p. 369); in 1892 Butler stated that their
extinction was but a matter of a few years (Auk, ix, p. 49); and in 1895
Bendire predicted their extermination by 1900 (Life Histories of N. A.
Birds, ii, p. 1). The accuracy of these predictions was well borne out.
The very last records of living Interior Carolina Paroquets are of lone
individuals shot at Atchison, Kansas, in 1904, and seen at Notch, Stone
County, Missouri, in 1905 (vide Widman, Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis, p. 116;
1907). In 1904 Chapman found the Eastern Carolina Paroquet locally
present about Lake Okechobee, Florida (Bird Lore, vi, p. 103), but it,
also, apparently has subsequently disappeared.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

These paroquets were sociable birds, and, until they were on the verge
of extinction one was rarely seen alone. During the warmer months
they were most active and noisy during the morning, before seven
o’clock, and in the evening, after five o’clock, when they roamed about
in compact flocks, originally of hundreds of birds but toward the end
of six to twenty birds, foraging for food. The common call notes con¬
sisted of a loud, shrill series of rapidly uttered, discordant cries, given
incessantly when the birds were in flight, resembling “qui'-qui', qui', qui’,
qui’, qui-i-i-i”, with a rising inflection on each i and the last cry drawn
out. Another call resembled the shrill cry of a goose and was frequently
uttered for minutes at a time. When at rest they had a low, conversa¬
tional chatter. Their flight was remarkably swift and graceful, and
more or less undulating like a woodpecker’s, but even the largest and
most compact flocks were able to fly through dense timber with ease.
When feeding they moved about on the slenderest stems, frequently
hanging head downwards or swinging themselves, with the aid of their
powerful beaks, from one branch to another. On the ground they were
clumsy. During the heat of the day they rested in the shade of the
thick foliage of trees, with which their plumage blended so as to make
them very difficult to find, especially since at such times they were
silent. At night they retired to their regular roosting places, usually
in the hollow of some large sycamore, where they suspended themselves
to the rough inner wall of the cavity by means of their sharp claws and
hooked beak. During the winter they spent much of their time in these
retreats in the hollows of trees, and in extreme weather sometimes
perished there. They nested in a hollow or cavity in some large syca¬
more, oak or other tree, the eggs being deposited on the chips at the
bottom of the cavity. Their eggs were about two, white, faintly tinged
with yellowish, glossy, rather pointed ovate, with the shell thick and
deeply pitted, and measuring about 35 by 27 mm. The eggs were usually
laid in the spring.

The food of the Interior Carolina Paroquet, though all vegetable, was
highly varied, and they seemed to delight in the fruits of spiny or
thorny plants. One of the most relished foods was the seeds of the
cocklebur (Xanthlum canadense), and they fed also on the seeds of the
sand-bur grass (Cenchrus tribuloides) and of the various species of thistles
(Cirsium). In the fall they ate the seeds of the honey locust (Gleditsia
triacanthos) and the tender buds and fruit of the osage orange (Maclura
pomifera). In the spring they ate the buds of the red maple (Acer
rubrurn) and birch (Betula spp.). During the summer they ate much
fruit, especially mulberries, wild grapes, hackberries and pawpaws, and,
after the planting of cultivated apple orchards, were likely to visit them
and peck out the apple seeds in the fall, sometimes doing injury in this
way. Corn in the milk was also sometimes injured, but not extensively.
Other favorite items of food were the seed balls of the sycamore and
beech and pecan nuts. In the South cypress seeds were much eaten.

Prior to 1913 all of the paroquets of the eastern United States were
considered to belong to one form, Conuropsis carolinensis, but in that year
Mr. Outram Bangs found that the paroquets which formerly ranged over
the interior of the United States, from Illinois to eastern Colorado and
south to Texas, had the green color of a more bluish cast and the yellow
color paler than in the paroquets from the South Atlantic coast region,
whereupon he named the western birds C. carolinensis interior, selecting
as the type of the new subspecies one of the specimens from “Bald
Island” (= McKissock Island), Nebraska, collected there by Lieutenant
Warren’s party in 1856 (Proc. New England Zool. Club, iv, p. 94). Three
years later, however, Mr. Robert Ridgway showed that Mr. Bangs was
misled in deciding that his single adult specimen from Louisiana was
referable to the Atlantic coast form, since the supposed Florida speci-

INTERIOR CAROLINA PAROQUET AS A NEBRASKA BIRD 59

men with which he compared it without doubt came from some locality
in the interior of the country, and the birds formerly inhabiting Louisi¬
ana really belonged to the interior form, and not to typical carolinensis
(Bull. 50, U. S. N. M., vii, pp. 147-150). As a result, Gmelin’s name
Psittacus ludovicianus (Syst. Nat., i, p. 347), based on Louisiana birds, had
to supplant Bangs’ name interior, and the type locally of the interior sub¬
species was transferred to Louisiana. As now understood, the Interior
Carolina Paroquet formerly inhabited the entire wooded portion of the
Mississippi Valley, from eastern Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi north
in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana,
casually to the southern parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, the shore of
Lake Erie in Ohio and western New York, and west to eastern Oklahoma
and Kansas, southeastern Colorado and extreme eastern Nebraska. The
Eastern Carolina Paroquet formerly occurred throughout Florida, north
along the Atlantic Coast to Virginia and west to Georgia and Alabama,
casually as far north as Pennsylvania and Maryland, and casually to
New York.

Early this year (January 24, 1934), the writer corresponded with Mr.
P. A. DuMont of Des Moines, Iowa, regarding the possibility that these
Warren-Hayden specimens of 1856 might form “preserved specimen”
records of this bird that might be satisfactory for the exacting require¬
ments of that group of ornithologists that would otherwise, absurdly
enough, deny the species a place on the Nebraska-Missouri-Iowa state
lists. Mr. DuMont on June 18 wrote the U. S. National Museum, re¬
garding the present whereabouts of these specimens, and on June 21
Mr. J. H. Riley, Assistant Curator of Birds, sent him the following in¬
teresting reply:

“There were originally eleven* specimens of paroquets received
through Lt. Warren, all presumably from Bald Island. The locality of
three of these is in doubt, however, as it was not so specified in the
catalogue.** Baird, Pacific Railroad Reports, vol. 9, 1858, p. 68, gives
12 specimens, but one of this number is duplicated and the specimen
marked ‘fresh’, and it may not have been saved. Three of his numbers
are also not definite as to locality, one simply marked ‘Nebraska’ and
other two blank. Of the eleven specimens only one skin remains in the
study series of the National Museum, though a few may have been used
in an old mounted group of which the individual data have been lost.
Seven were exchanged or given away. Four were sent to Verreaux,
Paris, two to the University of Michigan, and one to Dr. Henry Bryant,
(this) later becoming the property of the Museum of Comparative
Zoology, and the type of Conuropsis carolinensis interior Bangs, Proc. New
England Zool. Club, vol. 4, 1913, p. 94. The skin remaining in the study
series is a typical Conuropsis carolinensis ludovicianus.”

*However, in his “catalogue of the collections in geology and natural
history, obtained in Nebraska and portions of Kansas during several
expeditions under your (Lt. Warren’s) command” (op. cit., p. 95), Dr.
Hayden lists the number of specimens of “Conurus carolinensis" collected
as twelve, agreeing with the Baird list.

**But see the discussion of these specimens in a preceding paragraph
of this article.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

GENERAL NOTES

A Recent Nebraska Record of the American Brant.—On or about Oc¬
tober 7, 1930, Mr. William Lemburg of Boelus, Nebraska, shot what he
recognized as an unusually-colored goose while hunting on the Platte
River near Kearney, Buffalo County. He mounted the specimen, which
was recently examined by Mr. C. A. Black of Kearney, and myself,
and we agree in identifying it as an immature American Brant (Branta
bernicla hrota). The head and neck are brownish gray, without any
whitish streaks on the neck, the white edgings of the wing coverts are
unusually prominent, and the very small black bill has the culmen only
31 mm. long. We estimate the total length to have been about 575 mm.
The wing measures 312 mm., the tarsus 64 mm., and the middle toe 51
mm. As far as I know, this is the second definite record for this species,
based on a specimen preserved. An adult of this species taken near
Phillips, Hamilton County, Nebraska, November 10, 1916, is now pre¬
served as a mounted specimen in the Hastings Municipal Museum.—
A. M. Brooking, Hastings, Nebr.

A Summer Record for the American Bohemian Waxwing in Nebraska.—
On June 6, 1931, I had a flock of waxwings in the early cherries at my
home. I identified them as the American Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla
garrula pallidiceps) . The white markings on their primaries were very
prominent, the wax-like tips on the secondaries were plain, and they
gave a hissing note. On reporting them, Dr. Frank M. Chapman sug¬
gested that I might have been mistaken, and that the birds were really
Cedar Waxwings, as the American Bohemian Waxwing would be un¬
common in this locality on that date. However, on the morning of April
12, 1934, on investigating a weak, lisping sound in the oaks, I discovered
a flock of about twenty or twenty-five Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla
cedrorum). They stayed about all day and disappeared the next morning
sometime after eight o’clock. They were very trim and lovely, and while
the wax-like tips on the secondaries were plain, as with the larger
species, there was no suggestion of white markings on the wings. I am
now quite satisfied in my own mind that the birds seen on June 6, 1931,
were really the American Bohemian Waxwing. —Mrs. Paul T. Heineman,
Plattsmouth , Nebr.

A January Assemblage of Juncos in Scotts Bluff County.—On January
28, 1934, a sunny, still day, with another member of our local Bird Club
I went to a favorite place which we call “Young’s ice house”. It is cut¬
over ground, with a stream of running water through it. The birds were
thronging the trees and bushes, and distributed through a large weed
patch, most of them singing. At this spot we listed all five of the Ne¬
braska species of juncos, viz., the White-winged Junco, the Eastern
Slate-colored Junco, the Shufeldt Oregon Junco, the Pink-sided Junco
and even the Gray-headed Junco. Along with these juncos were White-
crowned Sparrows, Gambel Sparrows, hundreds of Tree Sparrows, and
Song Sparrows. I never had seen the White-crowned Sparrow in the
winter before, my earliest previous date for it in the last twelve years
being April 1, 1927.—Mrs. J. W. Hall, Mitchell, Nebr.

Returns on Banded Harris Sparrows.—We have been notified by the
Biological Survey at Washington, D. C., that a Harris Sparrow (Zono-
trichia querula) that we banded here on April 4, 1929, with No. 344861,
was captured November 25,1933, by Lyle Nichols, at Braman, Oklahoma;
and also that a Harris Sparrow that we banded here on October 22,
1933, with No. H62901, was captured December 2, 1933, by William Allen,
at Loveland, Oklahoma. Our records show that we had the latter indi¬
vidual in our traps on January 10, 1934. —Misses Susie and Agness Calla¬
way, Fairbury, Nebr.

GENERAL NOTES

Additions to the List of Logan County Birds.—Since we listed 136
species of birds for Logan County in the April number of the Review
(antea, ii, pp. 31-36), we have identified nineteen additional species for
the county in 1934, bringing the list up to 155 species. The additions are
as follows:

1. Sora (Porzana Carolina). First seen May 14. Summer resident.
May nest here.

2. Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) . First seen May 20.
Common migrant.

3. Least Sandpiper (Pisobia minutilla). First seen April 29. Common
migrant.

4. Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus subsp.?). First seen May 27. Un¬
common migrant.

5. Northern Phalarope (Lobipes lobatus). First seen May 27. Uncom¬
mon migrant.

6. Forster Tern (Sterna forsteri). First seen June 10. Common mi¬
grant. May possibly nest here.

7. Tree Swallow (lridoprocne bicolor). First seen May 6. Summer
resident. Probably nests here.

8. Northern Purple Martin (Progne subis subis). Three seen June 2.
Rare straggler.

9. Hermit Thrush (Hylocichla guttata subsp.?). One seen May 2.
Rare migrant.

10. Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis subsp.?). One seen March 30.

Probably an uncommon migrant. __

11. Northern Bell Vireo (Vireo bellii bellii). First seen May 20. Un¬
common migrant.

12. Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus subsp.?). First seen May 9. Com¬
mon summer resident. Nests here.

13. Eastern Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla ruficapilla). Two
seen May 5. Uncommon migrant.

14. Alaska (?) Yellow Warbler (Dendroica aestiva f rubiginosa). A
dark-colored bird, believed to represent this form, was seen in migra¬
tion, May 2.

15. Northern Audubon Warbler (Dendroica auduboni auduboni). First
seen May 7. Common in migration.

16. Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia). One seen May 23. Un¬
common migrant.

17. MacGillivray Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei). One seen May 9. Rare
migrant.

18. Western Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus confinis). First seen
April 18. Very common summer resident. Nests here.

19. Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana). Several seen in a swampy
area of about five acres along the Loup River north of Stapleton, July 1.
They were singing and occasionally sitting on top of the rushes. Prob¬
ably they were nesting. That is the only place we have seemed to be
able to locate them.

— Mr. and Mrs. Earl W. Glandon, Stapleton, Nebr.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Eastern Whip-poor-will in Adams
County, Nebraska.—During the spring of 1934 I had the pleasure of
observing two species of birds that are rare in this locality. On April
28, I observed at close range a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Muscivora for-
ficata) near Sand Creek, four miles southeast of Holstein, in Logan Town¬
ship, Adams County. I presume it was a male bird, as its tail seemed
extremely long. It perched for several minutes, seemingly unafraid, on
the top of a small bush. This location is not far from the place where
my neighbor, Leonard Shaw, saw one of these birds on May 15, 1933, as
recorded by me in the July, 1933, number of the Review (antea, i, p. 62).
On May 18, I observed an Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

vociferus) resting in the shade of a tree on Sand Creek, in the same gen¬
eral locality. The bird so closely resembled the ground that it was not
easily seen until it flew. This is the first individual of this species that
I have seen in this locality.— Harold Turner, Bladen, Nebr.

The Eastern Carolina Wren Nests Again at Superior in 1934.—In the
October, 1933, number of the Review (antea, i, pp. 130-131) I recorded
the nesting of the Eastern Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus
ludovicianus) late in August of 1933 inside of the warehouse or store¬
room of the cement plant near Superior. I now wish further to record
the nesting of this species again in May of this year at the cement
plant, but not in the warehouse or store-room, as last year, but in the
electricity repair shop. The nest this year was behind a pasteboard
box that had carelessly been placed in one of the pigeon holes in the
repair shop, about seven feet from the floor. The entrance to the nest
was at the side. The nest was beautifully made of fine grass and lined
with white silk thread used for winding armatures, which the electrician
had cut in lengths for the birds, but which they refused to use until
they were ready to line the nest. The birds entered the room through a
broken window pane, and the row of boxes containing their nests was
on the other side of the room, about twenty feet away. The electrician
would talk by the hour about the habits of these wrens, and he had
placed a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the box. On May 4, 1934, the birds
began bringing food to the nest. Four birds had hatched out and one
egg failed to hatch. On May 8, I personally visited the nest, in company
with Mrs. L. H. McKillip of Seward. The men tell us that a pair of these
birds nested in the electrical repair shop in April of 1933, before Mrs.
Groves and I learned of the nest in the store-room the following August.

On the morning of June 7, Mrs. John Aldrich and I went again to the
cement plant, and found a pair again nesting in the warehouse or store¬
room, where they nested last year. About a week after the young birds
that were reared in early May in the repair shop had flown, a pair of
Eastern Carolina Wrens came to the store-room, and the male bird
coaxed the female to the nest of last year. They then both investigated
all of the pigeon holes in the store-room, and finally, on May 31, they
began repairing the old nest. There were eggs in it on June 7. Mrs.
Aldrich and I climbed the ladder and had a good look at the female on
the nest. The male took his turn incubating. There were seven or eight
men in the store-room, working near the nest, and they let heavy pieces
of iron fall on a platform above the incubating female, but she did not
even quiver.— Mrs. H. C. Johnston, Superior, Nebr,

Albino Blackbirds and a Horned Lark in Logan County.—During the
latter part of April, 1934, three families, two living on adjoining farms
north of Stapleton, Logan County, and the third family about five miles
southwest of the same place, reported seeing a “white blackbird”. None
of them were able to identify the blackbird as to species, but their de¬
scriptions would lead us to believe that it was either a Brewer Black¬
bird or a Bronzed Grackle. On May 29, 1934, Mr. Glandon saw a Sas¬
katchewan Horned Lark with all of the plumage of a soiled white, except
that the black markings about the head were normal.— Mr and Mrs. Earl
W. Glandon, Stapleton, Nebr.

The European Starling and Other Birds at Weeping Water, Cass
County.—On May 12, 1934, while I was driving toward Weeping Water,
Cass County, in company with Mr. Watson E. Beed, and was still two
or three miles west of that town, we saw a European Starling (Sturnus
vulgaris vulgaris) fly across the road in front of us. We observed it care¬
fully through the binoculars, to make certain of the identification, then
I shot at it at a distance of fifty feet, but failed to secure it. On the
same date, in the woods around Weeping Water, we noted an Eastern ( ?)

GENERAL NOTES

Red-tailed Hawk, a Broad-winged Hawk, dozens of Red-headed Wood¬
peckers, several Arkansas Kingbirds, several Northern Crested Flycatch¬
ers, several Tufted Titmice, a Wood Thrush (just arrived), a Red-eyed
Vireo, several Eastern Yellow Warblers, several Kentucky Warblers, a
Yellow-breasted Chat, numerous American Redstarts, and in several in¬
stances, groups of from six to eight male Indigo Buntings collected to¬
gether along the road.— George E. Hudson, Dept. Zoology and Anatomy,
Univ. of Nebr., Lincoln, Nebr.

Occurrence of the American Woodcock within the City of Lincoln.—
Early on the morning of May 17, 1934, Mrs. Della Scott of 1331 North
37th Street, in East Lincoln, looking out of her back window, saw a
peculiar appearing bird unknown to her. It was probing about in the
Wet soil surrounding a sunken bird bath that had overflowed and the
almost equally wet soil under the surrounding peonies which recently
had been thoroughly wetted down. Mrs. Scott immediately called her
daughter, Mrs. W. W. Burr of 1300 North 37th Street, the wife of Dean
Burr of the College of Agriculture, who lives almost directly across the
street from Mrs. Scott, and told her of her strange bird visitor. Dean
and M^s. Burr, with their two children, have been interested in Nebraska
birds for years, and they immediately came to see this new bird, which
Dean Burr tentatively identified as an American Woodcock. Mrs. Burr
then telephoned to me about the bird, and Mrs. Swenk and I also went
to the Scott home to see it. It was still feeding about the bath and
under the peonies, within a few feet of the back window, and was viewed
for several minutes by the seven of us, and later by several others who
were subsequently advised of its presence. I was able immediately to
identify the bird beyond any question as the American Woodcock (Philo-
hela minor). It finally left the peonies, and, walking south into the next-
door neighbor's yard, squatted contentedly at the back of the garage
alongside a roll of wire fencing. There it was subsequently seen by
many other persons. On searching for it later in the morning, however,
Mrs. Scott found that it had moved, and she did not see it again.

Four days later, on May 21, Dr. David D. Whitney, Chairman of the
Department of Zoology of the University of Nebraska, living at 1234 A
Street, in South Lincoln, and removed nearly four miles from the Scott
home, saw an American Woodcock in his yard at noon. In the evening
it could not again be found there, but on the evening of May 22, Mr.
Fred W. Tyler, residing at 1204 A Street, a few doors removed from the
Whitney home, noted what he thought was “an odd-looking Flicker”
feeding at a wet place in his lawn. He called Mrs. Tyler, who has been
a close student of birds for many years, to see it, and she also identified
it as an American Woodcock. Mrs. Tyler immediately telephoned me,
but I did not return home that evening until it was too dark to see the
bird. However, Mrs. Tyler was to look for it the following morning, and
if she found it, notify me by telephone at once. But the next morning
it had again disappeared, and was not subsequently reported by any one.

Considering the fact that the American Woodcock has always been an
uncommon to rare bird in Nebraska, and that it has been reported as
seen anywhere in the state only four or five times during the past thirty
years, with only one previous and thirty-five year old record from the
Lincoln vicinity, this repeated observation of what was with little doubt
the same individual bird, at three different places all within the con¬
gested portion of the city of Lincoln, between May 17 and 22, inclusive,
forms a really very remarkable record. Formerly, the American Wood¬
cock was an uncommon migrant in Nebraska, chiefly in April and Sep¬
tember, along the Missouri River, and a rare one farther west. It is
now very rare everywhere in the state. Most of the records of its past
occurrence are from the eastern parts of Otoe, Cass, Sarpy, Douglas and
Washington Counties. Stragglers have been seen or taken during the

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

past seventy-five years at Clearwater, Columbus, West Point, Lincoln,
Beatrice, Red Cloud and Funk, all east of the 100th meridian. It un¬
doubtedly bred in the Missouri River bottoms before it became so rare.

Thomas Say recorded the arrival of the American Woodcock at En¬
gineer Cantonment (—Fort Calhoun, Washington County), on April 8,
1820. F. V. Hayden, with Lieutenant G. K. Warren’s party, took a male
specimen (No. 9040, U. S. N. M.) on July 18, 1857, at “Loup Fork, Ne¬
braska”, that being in the present Platte County, near Columbus. A. L.
Child recorded its arrival at Plattsmouth, Cass County, on April 7, 1867
(Proc. N. O. U., i, p. 14). Samuel Aughey in 1878 recorded two shot in
Sarpy County in September, 1874, and one shot in Otoe County in Sep¬
tember, 1876. Merritt Cary reported in 1900 that a few were killed
“years ago” on the Clearwater, ten miles west of Neligh, Antelope
County (Proc. N. O. U., i, p. 23). A specimen shot near Beatrice, Gage
County, in the early 1890’s was mounted by Fred Wesphal of that place,
and reported to Bruner by F. A. Colby. I saw this specimen myself in
Beatrice in the late 1890’s. A specimen on exhibit for years in a store
at Kearney was said to have been shot near Waterloo, Douglas
County, along the lower Elkhorn River. A mounted specimen now in
the Hastings museum (No. 1628) is from Omaha, no other data. A. M.
Brooking says that many years ago at Funk, Phelps County, he saw an
American Woodcock, but he has never known of its occurrence at Hast¬
ings, where he has lived for a number of years, or seen it elsewhere in
the state. C. A. Black gives me the same report for Kearney, where he
has lived and observed birds for many years.

On April 19, 1900, M. A. Carriker shot an American Woodcock, while
it was feeding among some willows along Oak Creek, west of Lincoln,
Lancaster County. This specimen is now preserved in the N. O. U. col¬
lection. “In the fall of 1916 a Woodcock lingered in one of the smallest
parks in the heart of the residence district of Omaha from August 10 to
September 24, thanks to the underbrush which had been left undisturbed
in the park” (L. O, Horsky, Wilson Bulletin, xxx, p. 18). The last speci¬
men of the Woodcock known to have been collected in Nebraska is one
that was shot by J. E. Wallace and Roy Mullen in Mill Hollow near
Child’s Point, Sarpy County, about 100 yards up the creek, about 1910,
which was disposed of to Fred Goodrich of Omaha, and was for years
in the Goodrich collection at the Omaha Public Library before this col¬
lection was removed to the Museum of the University of Nebraska.
C. S. Ludlow reports having seen one at Red Cloud, Webster County, on
April 25, 1931.

It has been generally believed that the Woodcock “bred occasionally
along the bottomlands of the Missouri River and other wooded streams
flowing into it (Bruner, Wolcott and Swenk, Preliminary Review of the
Birds of Nebraska, p. 39; 1904), but the supporting evidence is rather
meager. Samuel Aughey in 1878 said that the Woodcock was “occa¬
sionally seen in Nebraska and breeds here”. I. S. Trostler recorded in
1895 that this bird was not common as a migrant and rare as a (sum¬
mer) resident, gradually diminishing in numbers, in the vicinity of
Omaha, and L. Skow at about the same time recorded it as a breeder
near Omaha (Bruner, Some Notes on Nebraska Birds; 1896). Neither cites
specific data. L. Bruner in 1901 reported it as a breeder at West Point,
Cuming County, on his own authority, and at Omaha on the authority
of L. Skow (Proc. N. O. U., ii, p. 51). A. C. Bent includes West Point,
Nebraska, and London, Nebraska, in the breeding range of the species.
The best evidence of the breeding of the species that I have is that J. E.
Wallace told me that, about 1909 or 1910, he found a pair of these birds
located in the willow thicket across from Coffin Spring, near Child’s
Point, Sarpy County. The birds would hide closely in this thicket during
the daytime, but at dusk would sometimes be seen coming out to the

GENERAL NOTES

spring across the road and elsewhere in the vicinity. Quite early in that
spring, in May, Wallace flushed a whole brood of young Woodcocks from
this thicket, but did not secure any of them. The next year, in June, he
flushed a young but practically grown Woodcock from this thicket, and
it flew about twenty feet into a pile of brush where it hid and Wallace
caught it. The bird was nearly full grown, but the soft bill and down
showed it to be a young one.— Myron H. Swenk, Lincoln, Nebr.

Blue Geese Raised in Captivity in Nebraska.—Mr. William Lemberg,
who propagates wild game on his farm near Boelus, Howard County,
told me this spring that he had a female Blue Goose (Chen caerulescens)
that was wing-tipped several years ago, which he has had in captivity
since, that was producing eggs for the second season. On May 28, 1934,
in company with Mr. H. G. Smith, I drove to Mr. Lemberg’s place and
found that this bird had hatched its brood of goslings and was mother¬
ing them. It is my impression that Blue Geese have been raised in cap¬
tivity in only a relatively few instances. On his game farm, Mr. Lem¬
berg has not only the nesting Blue Geese, but also nesting Lesser Snow
and Lesser Canada Geese, as well as Common Mallards, American Pin¬
tails, Wood Ducks and many varieties of pheasants.—A. M. Brooking,
Hastings, Nebr.

Some Notes on Thrushes.—On May 29, 1934, I noted the female of a
pair of Wood Thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) that had located in our
yard gathering pieces of paper from the ground and carrying them to a
maple tree near our back door. I found that she had a partially con¬
structed nest in this tree, and had been using the rag strings that I had
put out for the Catbird two days before. Since she had shown no fear,
venturing even closer to me than our Robins, I secured a piece of cloth
and began tearing it into little strips, as I stood, dropping them at my
feet. She came and picked them up and carried them to the nest. Then
I sat down and spread the strings on my shoes and ankles, and again as
I talked she came and took them without the least hesitation. The male
bird took no part in the nest building, but he certainly did splendid duty
guarding as she worked. Our family all left town before the young
Wood Thrushes hatched, but when Mr. Jones returned he found the nest
had blown down during a windstorm. The neighbors, however, were
inclined to think that the young had left the nest before the storm.

On June 1, I was awakened at 5:40 A. M. by a bird song that I could
not promptly identify. The bird was in a tree near my bedroom window.
I dressed quickly and was soon out in the yard searching for the singer,
which, to my surprise, proved to be an Olive-backed Swainson Thrush
(Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni). He repeated the song again and again,
and was here for at least three hours. I had heard this song only once
before, at Nelson, Nuckolls County. This time there seemed to me to
be a similarity in it to the song of the Eastern Warbling Vireo. This
thrush returned to the yard on three different days during the following
week, and on each of these days sang constantly as before. —Mrs. A. H.
Jones, Hastings, Nebr.

A Bullsnake Robs a Red-headed Woodpecker’s Nest.—At the office of
the Niobrara Game Preserve near Valentine, Cherry County, there is a
cottonwood tree having a circumference of fifty-one inches from which
a limb broke off eight feet above the ground. A Red-headed Woodpecker
enlarged the opening for a nest. During the last week in June, 1934,
some workmen heard the bird scolding and found a bullsnake in the
nest. The snake was killed and found to contain three young wood¬
peckers. This cottonwood had no limbs below the nest, which seems to
establish as a fact that the bullsnake can climb cottonwood trees of large
size and free of limbs.— Watson E. Beed, Dept, of Zoology, Univ. of Nebr.,
Lincoln, Nebr.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

The Western Blue Grosbeak at Lincoln, Lancaster County.—Though
there are numerous records of the occurrence of the Western Blue Gros¬
beak (Guiraca caerula interfusa) in the Lincoln vicinity, I believe the
species has been regarded as quite uncommon, or perhaps rare, here.
However, two recent experiences with it raise the question as to whether
it is not becoming more common in this vicinity. About 6:00 A. M. on
July 11, 1934, as I was driving slowly toward Lincoln along South 56th
Street, after an early morning bird trip, I saw a male sitting upon a
telephone wire along the road. He was shy, and when I stopped abruptly
to view him through the field glasses he flew to the top of a near-by hay
stack, where he stayed just long enough for me to note the details of his
form and coloring. About a week later, on July 19, I took another early
morning bird study trip, and when I turned to the west some miles
south of Lincoln, I saw another male Western Blue Grosbeak, upon the
ground in a recently cut alfalfa field. Through the field glasses I en¬
joyed his lovely blue coloring as it caught the full early morning light,
and I watched him for fully ten minutes as he flitted about, searching
lor food. The approach of the farmer raking his hay finally frightened
him away.—Miss Iva Swenk, Lincoln, Nebr.

The Wilson Snipe Occurs in Saline County in Midsummer.—On July
15, 1934, while I was walking disconsolately along the fringe of woods
bordering Turkey Creek, near Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska, with
the temperature breaking the record for the day at 115° F., my atten¬
tion all centered on the withering corn next to the woods, 1 noted a
Wilson Snipe (Capella delicata) come flying directly toward me, momen¬
tarily alighting under a tree not more than fifteen feet away. It is
needless to say that this unusual observation for the time modified the
intensity of my thoughts regarding the apparently doomed corn.—L. O.
Horsky, Omaha, Nebr.

The American Egret and Other Herons at Fairbury, Jefferson County.—

On or about July 25, 1934, an American Egret (Herodias albus egreita)
appeared at the sand pit ponds north of our farm, a few miles west of
Fairbury. It was seen daily, feeding about the ponds, and on the morn¬
ing of July 31 was joined by two smaller herons, which we have identi¬
fied as the Little Blue Heron (Florida caerulea caerulea) in the immature
white plumage. The smaller ones are only about half as large as the
Egret, and, like it, have the legs all black, but the bill is not so yellow.
Mrs, Charles Richardson saw an American Black-crowned Night Heron
here during this same general period. Also, on July 31, while watching
various small sandpipers at this sand pit lake, we had the thrill of see¬
ing a Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres morinella) alight near by.—
Misses Susie and Agness Callaway, Fairbury, Nebr.

Water-bird Concentrations Due to Drouth.—At the end of July, 1934,
there was no water in the North Platte or the South Platte Rivers west
of the Lincoln County line and none in the Platte River east of the Lin¬
coln County line. The water present in this vicinity comes from Bird-
wood Creek and the drainage ditches, and from this scant supply the
river here is the lowest that we have known it in years. On the evening
of July 30, on the sandbars east of the Lincoln Highway bridge, I saw
twelve Great Blue Herons, two Eastern Green Herons, several American
Black-crowned Night Herons and some Spotted Sandpipers. On July
31, again on the sandbars, at one time I saw twelve American Bitterns,
several Piping Plovers, several Northern Killdeers, several Spotted
Sandpipers, a small flock of Least Sandpipers and dozens of Eastern
Least Terns. I think that this is probably a concentration of these birds
at these limited water areas on account of the general drouth, as I have
no records of any such numbers or abundance of these species here in
former years.— Wilson Tout, North Platte, Nebr.

EDITORIAL PAGE

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW
Published at Lincoln, Nebraska, by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union.
Myron H. Swenk, Editor, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Subscription price one dollar a year in the U. S. A. Single numbers
twenty-five cents each.

EDITORIAL PAGE

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS

For the second time in its history the American Ornithologists’ Union
is bringing its annual meeting to the Middle West. The meeting-place
this fall is at Chicago, in the Field Museum of Natural History, October
22 to 27. It is hoped that all who can will attend these sessions, thus
brought so close to us. The Wilson Ornithological Club will hold its
1934 meeting at Pittsburgh later in the year, in connection with the
meetings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science,
on December 28 and 29, this being the second time the W. O. C. has met
at Pittsburgh.

As these lines are written, at the end of July, we are in the midst of
the worst year of drouth in the history of Nebraska. Since the close
of the 1934 migration season, the weather for which is discussed in
detail under that heading in this and the preceding issue of the Review,
the drouth has continued with increased severity. June was hot and dry,
with the average temperature for the state nearly six degrees higher
than normal, making it, except for 1931 and 1933, the warmest June of
record. At the end of June, the precipitation deficiency for the state was
5.68 inches and for Lincoln 8.65 inches. July continued and intensified
the torridity and aridity. At Lincoln, twenty-one of the thirty-one days
of July exceeded 100° F.; in fact, the mean maximum temperature for
the month was 100.2°. From July 11 to 25, inclusive, maximum tem¬
peratures for each of these fifteen days at Lincoln varied from 101° to
as high as 112° (on July 15). Mere traces of precipitation, with a few
slight showers, altogether totalling only .40 inch, brought the accumu¬
lated 1934 precipitation deficiency at Lincoln at the end of July to 12.10
inches. As day followed day with monotonously cloudless skies and
glaring sun, the pastures and fields became seared brown, the corn
withered, and the leaves of many of the trees curled and dried.

Under these circumstances it has been very interesting to note the
effect of the drouth on bird life. In the country birds are abnormally
few. Even the ubiquitous Dickeissels have been very little in evidence
along the roadsides. A few Western Meadowlarks and Crows, with
some straggling Bronzed Grackles, are the birds most commonly seen.
Unusual birds, seeking water, apparently have been attracted into town,
or away from their normal habitations during their migrations — as
witness the occurrence of an American Woodcock in the city of Lincoln
on May 17 to 22, and the occurrence of a Northern Virginia Rail in a
farm yard near Hastings on May 21. Wherever there persists a little
accumulation of water anywhere, may be found unusual concentrations
of herons, Northern Killdeers and a few other waders and water birds.
In the towns, where water is available and there is some artificially
maintained greenery, the birds seem to be at least ordinarily numerous
and in many instances more so. Insects are closely picked up, and
scarce as compared to their abundance in the bird-neglected open fields.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

The months of April and May of 1934 were very warm, bright and
exceedingly dry, with frequent windy dust storms, thus continuing the
warm weather and rainfall deficiency that began in October of 1933 and
became accentuated into a drouth of exceeding severity during the spring
of 1934. In April the average precipitation for the state, 0.54 inch, was
only 22% of the normal for that month, and May was only slightly better,
with an average of 1.06 inches, or 30% of the May normal. Only two
previous Aprils (1926 and 1928) and only one previous May (1894) have
been recorded as drier than these respective months in 1934. The April
precipitation deficiency varied from 14% of normal in the southeastern
section of Nebraska to 29% of normal in the northwestern section, the
precipitation falling during the first five days of the month in eastern
Nebraska, but also on the 14th to 16th in the western section of the
state. In May, the precipitation deficiency was greatest in the central
and eastern parts of Nebraska, varying from 17% of the normal in the
central section to 54% of the normal in the western section. The gen¬
eral moisture deficiency for Nebraska as a whole at the end of May was
4.89 inches for the five months of 1934 and 6.43 inches for the preceding
eight months, making the total average rainfall only about 40% of the
normal for these periods. At Lincoln the 1934 moisture deficiency was
6.80 inches, there having been but 0.35 inch of precipitation in April and
0.49 inch in May.

Average temperatures during April (52.1°) ran well (2.9°) above the
normal over the state, being especially high during the first ten and the
last two or three days of the month; so that, although during the rest
of the month the temperatures were normal or below, the average de¬
partures varied from 3.7 degrees above normal in the southwestern sec¬
tion to 2.3 degrees above normal in the northwestern section, and made
the month as a whole warmer than all but seven of the Aprils during the
last fifty-eight years. May of 1934 was the warmest of record in Ne¬
braska, exceeding by 16.4 degrees the average temperature for that
month and by 4.7 degrees the warmest previous May (1881). May was
actually warmer than a normal June. Northern Nebraska showed the
greatest departure from normal. The periods of highest May tempera¬
tures were from the 15th to the 21st and from the 28th to the 31st.
Maximum temperatures over 100° were reported from all over eastern
and central Nebraska. The lowest May temperatures were on the 13th
to 15th. The unpleasant and damaging effects of the high temperatures
were intensified, both in April and May, by frequent dust storms, a de¬
ficiency of cloudiness and low humidities.

This severe drouth and heat of April and May of 1934 had a pro¬
nounced effect upon the land bird migration through Nebraska. While
the waterfowl migration during February and March was normal in
western Nebraska and up to par or better in eastern Nebraska, and was
reported as better than normal through Iowa (lift. P. A. DuMont, April
25, 1934), there seemed to be something of a falling off in central Ne¬
braska, where the moisture deficiency was greatest, except at certain
concentration points. But by the beginning of April and on through
May, with the whole eastern two-thirds of Nebraska suffering from a
very pronounced drouth, the resultant paucity of bird life over the
countryside was very obvious. Bird migration reports for these two
months are consistent in reporting fewer than the usual number of
birds. The results of the Annual Field Day of the Brooking Bird Club
at Hastings on May 12 — an exceedingly dry, windy and dusty day —
published on another page of this issue of the Review, were quite dis¬
appointing to the club members. Also the composite list at the N. O. U.
Field Day at Omaha on May 19, likewise published on another page, was
the smallest in many years. However, in the cities and towns, where

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

the water supply was more plentiful and more food was available, the
bird population was more nearly normal; but even there, in spite of the
implied concentration in these spots, birds were not particularly numer¬
ous. They either swung to the eastward from their normal course
across Nebraska and the Dakotas, or else passed on so rapidly that they
were less in evidence than usual.

Continuing the bird migration record from the middle of April, where
it ended in the last number of the Review (aniea, ii, pp. 48-50), it may
first be noted that the Migrant Loggerhead Shrikes, which were first
seen April 1, were nesting by April 19, on which date Mr. G. E. Hudson
found a nest with six slightly incubated eggs about twenty-two feet up
in a boxelder tree. Prof. D. B. Whelan noted the return of the first
Brown Thrasher on April 20. They were not common, however, until
April 26 and 27. Mr. Hudson, with Mr. W. E. Beed, spent part of April
22 along Little Salt, and noted the arrival of the Least Sandpiper
(three), Semipalmated Sandpiper (one), Savannah Sparrow (subsp.?)
(common) and Vesper Sparrow (one). Other species observed by him
on this trip included (+ or —) eight Baldpates, six American Pintails,
sixty Blue-winged Teals, thirty Shovellers, ten Lesser Scaups, two Wil¬
son Snipes, ten Lesser Yellow-legs, thirty Baird Sandpipers and twenty-
five Franklin Gulls. Twelve Northern Short-eared Owls were flushed
from an area about the size of a city lot in the grass in King’s pasture.
One adult male Marsh Hawk was seen, while several Eastern Common
Meadowlarks and many Western Meadowlarks were heard singing. Miss
Louisa Wilson noted the Hermit Thrush (subsp.?) at her home on April
25, and Mrs. George O. Smith noted two Sprague Pipits along the road
south of Lincoln on April 26. On April 27, Mr. Hudson noted afout fif¬
teen Chimney Swifts near Auburn, Nemaha County, and a Barn Swallow
near Denton, Lancaster County, while M. H. Swenk noted the return of
the Western House Wren (common) in Lincoln. The Arctic Spotted
Towhee was noted in her yard by Miss Wilson on April 28, and a fine
male was seen in his yard by M. H. Swenk on May 6. Also on April 28,
between Lincoln and Omaha, M. H. Swenk noted Blue-winged Teals,
Shovellers and Lesser Yellow-legs very commonly at roadside ponds.
New arrivals found by Messrs. Hudson and Beed on April 29 at Capitol
Beach and King’s pasture on Little Salt were the Hudsonian Godwit (a
fine male, which was collected), Stilt Sandpiper (one), Wilson Phalarope
(about twenty-five, with both sexes represented), Eastern Kingbird
(one), Rough-winged Swallow (two) and Yellow-headed Blackbird (flock
of about fifteen males). Other species seen on April 29 included about
forty-five Blue-winged Teals, about twenty Shovellers, Lesser Yellow-
legs (common), Baird Sandpiper (common), Least Sandpiper (two),
Semipalmated Sandpiper (fairly common), Barn Swallow (one) and
Brown Thrasher (two). The nest of a Western Meadowlark with two
eggs and one egg of the Cowbird was also found. M. H. Swenk noted
the arrival of the Eastern Warbling Vireo on April 30, Mr. Hudson next
noting this species on May 5.

On May 1 the Eastern Yellow Warbler was observed by M. H. Swenk,
who found the Common Lincoln Sparrow plentiful on that date. Mr.
Swenk noted the arrival of the Chimney Swift at Lincoln on May 2, on
which date Prof. Raymond Roberts saw a male Baltimore Oriole. M. H.
Swenk noted that Baltimore Orioles were fairly common the following
day, May 3, and noted also that the Eastern Kingbirds had become com¬
mon. New arrivals noted on May 4 by Mr. Hudson at Capitol Beach and
King’s Pond included the Northern American Coot (about eight), Semi¬
palmated Plover (two), Red-headed Woodpecker (several) and Dick-
cissel (several). Other birds noted by Mr. Hudson on May 4 were a
male American Pintail, about thirty-five Blue-winged Teals, about six
Shovellers, Lesser Yellow-legs (abundant), Pectoral Sandpiper (com¬
mon), Baird Sandpiper (abundant), Least Sandpiper (common), Semi-

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

palmated Sandpiper (common), Wilson Phalarope (common; fifty or
more seen) and a male Yellow-headed Blackbird. MrVHudson reported
the first Catbird (one) on May 5, and Prof. Raymond Roberts next re¬
ported one on May 7. Prof. Roberts reported a male Rose-breasted
Grosbeak on May 8, on which date the arrival of the Clay-colored Spar¬
row was noted by M. H. Swenk. Also on May 8, an Ovenbird was found
dead by a pupil in the yard at Clinton School in Lincoln and brought to
M. H. Swenk. Mrs. B. A. George, 1826 South 26th Street, reported that
she found a male and a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak dead in her yard
on the morning of May 9, after some extensive spraying had taken place
in her yard the preceding day. Miss Wilson reported the arrival of the
Tennessee Warbler on May 12. The arrival of the Wood Thrush was
noted by M. H. Swenk on May 13, on which date Mr. Hudson noted the
arrival of the White-rumped Sandpiper (one), Forster Tern (two) and
the Lark Sparrow (subsp. ?), and observed also the Lesser Scaup (four
males), Lesser Yellow-legs (several), Pectoral Sandpiper (fairly com¬
mon), Baird Sandpiper (common), Least Sandpiper (several), Semipal-
mated Sandpiper (common), Hudsonian Godwit (five), and a Savannah
Sparrow (subsp.?). Red-headed Woodpeckers were common by May 14,
on which date two male American Redstarts were seen (M. H. Swenk).
Miss Wilson also saw two American Redstarts on May 24, and noted a
lone Cedar Waxwing on May 15, where flocks of them had been seen
during late March and much of April. On May 17, 21 and 22, an Amer¬
ican Woodcock was seen in Lincoln, by different observers, and the arrival
of the Arkansas Kingbird and Common Bank Swallow was noted by
M. H. Swenk. Other birds noted as common on May 17 were the Blue¬
winged Teal, Shoveller, Pectoral Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper and
Dickcissel, between Lincoln and Omaha. The Yellow-throated Vireo was
noted by Miss Wilson at her home on May 20. May 24 Miss Wilson
noted the Northern Gray-cheeked Thrush and Mrs. Fred Tyler reported
the Black-throated Green Warbler. Miss Wilson reports a return
migrant Ovenbird in her yard on July 30 and August 3 to 6.

Continuing the migration record of the Omaha Nature Study Club
from where it concluded in the April number of the Review (antea, ii, p.
46), Mrs. Mary Belle Shook reported seeing an American Osprey and
Lesser Yellow-legs on April 22. Mr. L. O. Horsky noted the arrival of
the Brown Thrasher on April 29. Mr. Horsky noted also the arrival of
the Red-headed Woodpecker and Eastern Yellow Warbler on May 1, of
the Western House Wren on May 2, and of the Baltimore Oriole and
Dickcissel on May 3. On May 5, Mrs. Shook noted the Eastern Myrtle
Warbler and Miss Elizabeth Rooney identified the Eastern Meadowlark.
A flock of eight Common Mallards was observed by Miss Rooney at
Linoma Beach, near Ashland, Nebraska, on May 5, and a flock of fifty
Common Mallards and American Pintails was flushed on the Elkhorn
River, near Elkhorn, Nebraska, by Mr. George Gautier on the following
day, May 6. Mr. Horsky recorded the arrival of the Catbird and North¬
ern Bell Vireo on May 6, of the Eastern Kingbird on May 7, the Chimney
Swift on May 9 and the Eastern (?) Nighthawk on May 16. Mr. F. J.
De la Vega reported the arrival of the Eastern (?) Mockingbird on May
20, and Mrs. F. J. Havel and Mr. Walter Lipper observed the Ruby-
throated Hummingbird on June 3. Mr. Horsky found both the Prairie ( ?)
Long-billed Marsh Wren and the White-eyed Vireo nesting near Omaha
on July 7.

Continuing the migration record of the Nature Department of the
Fairbury Woman’s Club sent in by the Misses Agness and Susie Calla¬
way for the first half of 1934, from where it was barely started in the
January number of the Review (antea, ii, pp. 16 and 17), and eliminating
such resident forms as the Eastern Bob-white, Eastern Hairy Wood¬
pecker, Northern Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Screech Owl, Prairie

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

Horned Lark, Eastern Crow, Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee,
Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Cardinal and Eastern American Goldfinch, we
have the following dates of first observation of 130 species: January 1—
Marsh Hawk, Eastern Brown Creeper, Eastern Slate-colored Junco, Tree
Sparrow and Harris Sparrow. January 8—Northern Sharp-shinned
Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Bohemian Waxwing and Cedar
Waxwing (large flock). January 13—Rusty Blackbird. January 14—
Eastern Belted Kingfisher. January 16—Red-eyed Eastern Towhee.
January 30—Red-breasted Nuthatch. January 31—American Magpie
and Northern Shrike. February 4—Eastern Robin. February 6—Amer¬
ican Pintail, Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch and Eastern Common
Bluebird. February 7—Northern Turkey Vulture. February 9—Brown
Thrasher (banded with No. 278847). February 16—Eastern Sparrow
Hawk. February 26—Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker.

March 3—Red-winged Blackbird (subsp. ?). March 6—Northern Kill-
deer and Western Meadowlark. March 11—Canada Goose (subsp. ?),
Lesser Snow Goose, Blue Goose and Eastern Cowbird. March 16—Song
Sparrow (subsp. ?). March 18—Eastern Phoebe. March 19—Bronzed
Grackle. March 20—Common Mallard. March 25—Gadwall. March 27—
Redhead and Migrant Loggerhead Shrike. March 28—Baldpate, Shovel¬
ler and Canvas-back. March 30—Brown Thrasher (migrants) and East¬
ern Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

April 1—Blue-winged Teal, Cooper Hawk, Eastern Red-tailed Hawk,
Western Mourning Dove, Eastern (?) Vesper Sparrow and Western
Field Sparrow. April 3—Franklin Gull. April 6—Western Burrowing
Owl, Northern Purple Martin, Eastern Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Ben-
dire (?) Red Crossbill, Savannah Sparrow (subsp. ?) and Clay-colored
Sparrow. April 8—Northern American Coot and Tree Swallow. April
11—Eastern Lark Sparrow. April 14—Eastern Great Blue Heron and
Arctic Spotted Towhee. April 15—Green-winged Teal and Common Lin¬
coln Sparrow. April 16—Rough-winged Swallow and Western House
Wren. April 17—Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Common
Meadowlark, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Chipping Sparrow and
Swamp Sparrow. April 19—Common Bank Swallow and Mockingbird
(subsp. ?). April 20—Eastern Green Heron, Baird Sandpiper, Barn
Swallow and Western Grasshopper Sparrow. April 23—Wilson Snipe
and American Barn Owl. April 26—Common Pied-billed Grebe, North¬
ern Broad-winged Hawk, Eastern Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellow-
legs, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Wilson Phalarope, East¬
ern Great Horned Owl, Northern Crested Flycatcher (in yard), Northern
Blue Jay (migrants), Eastern Myrtle Warbler and Yellow-headed Black¬
bird. April 27—Eastern White-crowned Sparrow and Gambel Sparrow.
April 29—Eastern Warbling Vireo. April 30—Chimney Swift, Eastern
Kingbird and Tennessee Warbler.

May 1—Arkansas Kingbird, Wood Thrush and Baltimore Oriole. May
3—Red-headed Woodpecker, Catbird, Eastern Yellow Warbler and Dick-
cissel. May 5—Louisiana Water-Thrush and Northern Maryland Yel¬
low-throat. May 6—Upland Plover, Olive-backed Swainson Thrush,
Northern Bell Vireo, American Redstart, Orchard Oriole and Rocky
Mountain Black-headed Grosbeak. May 8—Lesser Scaup; American
Buff-breasted Merganser, Eastern (?) Nighthawk and Grinnell Common
Water-Thrush. May 10—Yellow-throated Vireo (in yard), Black-poll
Warbler and White-throated Sparrow. May 12—Least Flycatcher. May
15—Spotted Sandpiper, Black-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Wood Pewee, Red¬
eyed Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Bobolink, Scarlet Tanager, Western
Blue Grosbeak (in yard) and Indigo Bunting. May 17—Eastern Yellow¬
billed Cuckoo. May 25—Ruby-throated Hummingbird. May 27—Amer¬
ican Bittern. June 3—Sora Rail (Mrs. Charles Richardson).

Under dates of May 15 and June 5, Mrs. A. II. Jones of Hastings re-

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

ports on the migration record at that place for the spring of 1934, in
continuation of the record previously published (antea, ii, pp. 46-48). On
April 8, Miss M. Caryle Sylla observed the Lesser Canada Goose, Cooper
Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Greater Yellow-legs, Rocky Mountain Say Phoebe,
(Western ?) Mockingbird, Savannah Sparrow (subsp. ?) and Western
Lark Sparrow; Mrs. A. H. Jones noted the Baird Sandpiper. Mrs. A. M.
Jones noted the Blue-winged Teal, (Eastern ?) Bob-white and Eastern
Belted Kingfisher; Mrs. Jesse Marian the American Barn Owl; and Mrs,
A. E. Olsen the Eastern Phoebe. Mrs. A. H. Jones noted the arrival of
the Northern Purple Martin on April 9, and on April 13 Mrs. E. R.
Maunder saw the Eastern Fox Sparrow. On April 14, Miss Margaret
Diemer saw the (Western ?) Vesper Sparrow. Miss Diemer added the
Baldpate, Redhead and Northern Ruddy Duck on April 15. The Western
Field Sparrow was seen by Mesdames A. H. and A. M. Jones on April
17. Mr. A. M. Brooking saw the Common Bank Swallow on April 18.
On April 19, Mesdames A. M. Brooking, J. D. Fuller, A. H. and A. M.
Jones and A. E. Olsen noted as new arrivals the Pectoral Sandpiper,
Barn Swallow and Sprague Pipit. Miss Diemer added the Northern
American Coot, Franklin Gull and Yellow-headed Blackbird on April 21.
Miss Diemer and Mrs. A. H. Jones noted the Swainson Hawk, Western
Burrowing Owl and Red-eyed Eastern Towhee on April 22, on which
date Messrs. Kenneth Eaton and Lee observed the White Pelican. On
April 27, Mesdames Brooking, Fuller, A. H. and A. M. Jones, Olsen and
Miss Sylla noted the White-rumped Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Wilson
Phalarope, Tree Swallow, Western House Wren, Eastern Orange-
crowned Warbler, Eastern Myrtle Warbler, Eastern Cowbird, Arctic
Spotted Towhee and Gambel Sparrow, and Mesdames A. M. Brooking
and A. H. Jones added the Eastern Chipping Sparrow. On April 29,
Mrs. Brooking and Miss Carrie Hansen saw the Black-crowned Night
Heron, and they, with the Misses Nelle and Zetta Rowe and Miss Sylla,
saw also the Spotted Sandpiper, (Eastern ?) Solitary Sandpiper, Eastern
Great Horned Owl, Arkansas Kingbird, Northern Crested Flycatcher,
Rough-winged Swallow, Brown Thrasher, Black and White Warbler,
Brewer Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, White-crowned Sparrow, White-
throated Sparrow and Common Lincoln Sparrow. On this same date,
Mrs. A. H. Jones saw the American Bittern, Semipalmated Sandpiper
and migrant Northern Blue Jays, and the Misses Rowe and Miss Sylla
noted the Long-billed Dowitcher. Mrs. Fuller observed the Clay-colored
Sparrow on April 30.

The May arrivals began with the Eastern Kingbird on May 1, seen by
Mrs. A. M. Jones. On May 2, Miss Diemer added the Chimney Swift,
Mrs. J. R. Glassey the Catbird and Miss Sylla the Rocky Mountain
Black-headed Grosbeak. On May 3, Mrs. Marian added the Red-headed
Woodpecker and Northern Bell Vireo, Mesdames A. H. and A. M. Jones
the Eastern Warbling Vireo and Eastern Yellow Warbler, and Mr. A. M.
Brooking the Northern Maryland Yellow-throat, Bobolink and Western
Grasshopper Sparrow. May 4 arrivals were the Eastern Green Heron,
seen by Mesdames A. H. and A. M. Jones, the Red-bellied Woodpecker
seen by Mrs. Olsen in her yard, and the Wood Thrush and Western Palm
Warbler noted by Mrs. A. M. Jones. Miss Diemer saw a Bewick Wren
(subsp. ?) on May 5. May 6 arrivals were the Upland Plover seen by
Mrs. A. H. Jones, the Olive-backed Swainson Thrush and Black-poll
Warbler seen by Miss Diemer and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak seen by
Mrs. Roy Youngblood. Mr. Winston Jones noted the Northern Gray¬
cheeked Thrush on May 7, and on May 9 Miss Diemer added the Common
Pied-billed Grebe, Eastern Cliff Swallow and Red-eyed Vireo. A female
Ruby-throated Hummingbird was seen by Mrs. A. E. Olsen inside of a
greenhouse on May 10, where it was feeding from the snapdragons.
She watched it as it flitted about for some time before it left through an
open window in the top of the greenhouse. The workers there said that

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

it had been coming in to feed on previous days, and that hummingbirds
had been seen doing the same thing in other seasons. Miss Diemer
added the Least Flycatcher and Mrs. Olsen the Orchard Oriole on May
11. The Field Trip of the Brooking Bird Club on May 12 added six species
as follows: Florida Gallinule (seen by Mrs. A. H. Jones, Mrs. Olsen and
Miss Baehr), Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Grinnell Common Water-
thrush, American Redstart, Western Blue Grosbeak and Dickcissel (seen
by the Misses Rowe and Miss Sylla). Mesdames A. H. and A. M. Jones
saw the Long-tailed (?) Chat on May 13, on which date the latter flushed
three Bob-whites from the yard of a vacant house in the center of the
town of Hastings. Mr. and Mrs. Brooking saw the Lark Bunting on May
18, the Sora on May 28, on which latter date Mr. Winston Jones noted
also a (Sennett ?) Nighthawk, and Mr. Brooking added the American
Black Tern on May 29.

Under date of June 8, Mrs. H. C. Johnston of Superior, Nebraska,
writes that very few warblers were seen at Superior during the spring
of 1934, and then only one or two of them at a time. On May 13, a flock
of about forty Bobolinks appeared in an alfalfa field west of town and
stayed for a week, which is unusual for the Superior locality, Mrs.
Johnston says. An Ovenbird stayed in her yard from May 10 to 24 be¬
fore it passed on northward. A Yellow-breasted (?) Chat was in her
yard from May 14 until the 28th, on which day it sang all day long,
from early morning until the sun went down. Mrs. Johnston noted the
first Black-billed Cuckoo ever seen by her at Superior on May 25, this
bird also being seen in her yard.

Under date of June 19, Mr. Harold Turner of Logan Township, Adams
County, near Holstein, sends in the following dates of first arrival of
birds in that locality during the last week in April and through May,
1934: April 23—Franklin Gull. April 26—Western House Wren and
Western (?) Mockingbird. April 27—Brown Thrasher. April 28—Barn
Swallow. April 29—Northern Blue Jay (migrants). April 30—Ar¬
kansas Kingbird. May 1—Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird
and Eastern Cowbird. May 2—Baltimore Oriole. May 8—Rocky Moun¬
tain Black-headed Grosbeak. May 9—Orchard Oriole. May 10—Amer¬
ican Bittern. May 12—Eastern Green Heron. May 17—Western Blue
Grosbeak. May 18—Catbird. May 20—Yellow-billed Cuckoo. May 21—
Sennett (?) Nighthawk. Mr. Turner states that on May 28, in company
with Mr. A. M. Brooking of Hastings, he observed a Northern Virginia
Rail in a farm yard a few miles northeast of Hastings. He adds that
the Migrant Loggerhead Shrike was quite numerous in his locality the
past spring, but that the Red-eyed Eastern Towhees were not so numer¬
ous as a year ago. Bob-whites (subsp. ?) were heard calling on May 6
and again on June 16.

Under date of July 14, Mr. Charles S. Ludlow of Red Cloud writes
that the birds came earlier than usual in his locality, and moved on more
promptly. This accounts, he says, why his 1934 list lacks a number of
species that he usually sees each spring on his place. He has also sent
in his migration record at Red Cloud for the first five months of 1934.
During January, he noted one (Eastern ?) Red-tailed Hawk, two Swain-
son Hawks, two Prairie Falcons, four Ring-necked Common Pheasants,
two Great Horned Owls (subsp. ?), six Northern Short-eared Owls, two
Eastern Hairy Woodpeckers, four Northern Downy Woodpeckers, eight
(Prairie ?) Horned Larks, two Hoyt Horned Larks, five Pinon Jays, four
Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadees and five (Pale ?) American Gold¬
finches. Three Harris Sparrows were seen on January 13.

The first Eastern Robin, a male, was seen on February 4 (it was com¬
mon on March 12), on which former date four American Goldfinches
were also seen. Fourteen Red-winged Blackbirds were seen on February

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

5, and an Eastern Brown Creeper on February 13. A Northern Yellow-
shafted Flicker was noted on March 2. On March 4, was the first flight
of wild fowl, Mr. Ludlow noting on this date fifteen Canada Geese
(subsp. ?), sixteen Common Mallards, about sixty American Pintails
and twelve Blue-winged Teals. Also on March 4, he saw the first East¬
ern Cardinal for 1934. Two Eastern Belted Kingfishers were seen on
March 9. The Eastern Common Bluebird appeared on March 10, a single
individual. Two Northern Killdeers were seen on March 11. On March
12, the arrival of the Western Meadowlark (twelve), Bronzed Grackle
(thirty-five), and Eastern Cowbird (flock) was noted, and the last East¬
ern Slate-colored Junco was seen. A pair of (Eastern ?) Sparrow
Hawks was seen on March 13. A flock of about forty-eight Sandhill
Cranes was seen on March 20, thirty-seven Lesser Snow Geese on March
21, and two Western Mourning Doves on March 30.

On April 3, five Shufeldt Oregon Juncos were seen. Mr. Ben Pegg
saw two Spotted Sandpipers on the early date of April 10. On April 14,
Mr. Ludlow saw eighty Franklin Gulls and four (Eastern ?) Chipping
Sparrows. A White-rumped Loggerhead Shrike was seen on April 18.
Two (Western ?) Lark Sparrows were seen on April 23, two Rough¬
winged Swallows on April 24, four migrant Northern Blue Jays and one
each of the Western House Wren and Brown Thrasher on April 28. On
April 29, Mr. Ludlow noted an Eastern Phoebe, four Common Bank
Swallows, ten Eastern Cliff Swallows, an Eastern Warbling Vireo, a
Baltimore Oriole and two Red-eyed Eastern Towhees. Three Barn Swal¬
lows were noted on April 30.

The May arrivals began with six Eastern Myrtle Warblers, two Audu¬
bon Warblers and one Northern Maryland Yellow-throat, on May 1.
May 2 brought two (Western ?) Mockingbirds. On May 3, the Eastern
Orange-crowned Warbler and Rocky Mountain Black-headed Grosbeak,
one each, were noted. May 4 arrivals included one Eastern Wood Pewee,
two Eastern Yellow Warblers, two Gambel Sparrows and two White-
throated Sparrows. May 5 arrivals were the Red-headed Woodpecker,
Eastern Kingbird and Savannah Sparrow (subsp. ?). Two Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks were seen on May 6. On May 7, Mr. Ludlow added the Ar¬
kansas Kingbird (two), Black-poll Warbler (three), American Redstart
(one), Orchard Oriole (three), and Western Blue Grosbeak (pair). Birds
seen on May 8 were two Swainson Hawks, a pair of Bob-whites
(subsp ?) and two Arctic Spotted Towhees. Two Catbirds were seen on
May 9. The Red-eyed Vireo (two) and Black and White Warbler (three)
were recorded for May 10. Two Wood Thrushes were seen on May 11.
A pair of Eastern Green Herons was noted on May 13, and they again
nested in an old shot-out crow’s nest in the apple tree where they had
nested in previous years. A Sennett Nighthawk and two Northern Bell
Vireos were seen on May 14. An Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo was seen
on May 16, and three Dickcissels on May 20.

Mrs. George W. Trine of Red Cloud also sends in her bird migration
list for 1934. She noted her first Eastern Robin on March 4, and her
first Eastern Cardinal on March 5, the day after Mr. Ludlow first noted
the species. A Northern Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen on March 12.
Her first date for the Eastern Common Bluebird was March 18, on which
date she noted also the Western Meadowlark and Red-winged Blackbird
(subsp. ?). The Western Mourning Dove was noted March 19. On
March 20, she noted the Lesser Snow Goose and Northern Killdeer. Mrs.
Trine noted her first Bronzed Grackle on March 24 and her first White-
rumped Loggerhead Shrike on March 25. The Northern Purple Martin
arrived at Mrs. Trine’s home on April 1, on which date she noted also
the (Prairie ?) Horned Lark. On April 2 she saw the Shufeldt Oregon
(?) Junco and on April 14 the Northern Pine Siskin. Her first dates

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

for the Western House Wren and Brown Thrasher were April 22 and
April 21, respectively. Migrant Northern Blue Jays were first seen on
April 26. The Western Grasshopper Sparrow was noted April 28, and
April 29 brought the Common Bank Swallow, Eastern Warbling Vireo
and Red-eyed Eastern Towhee, this being exactly the same date that
Mr. Ludlow also observed the arrival of these three species. Mrs. Trine
noted the first Rocky Mountain Black-headed Grosbeak and White-
crowned Sparrow on April 30.

May 1 brought the Arkansas Kingbird and Baltimore Oriole to Mrs.
Trine’s list, followed on May 2 by the Eastern Kingbird and Cedar Wax¬
wing. May 4 brought the Eastern Yellow Warbler and Orchard Oriole
and May 5 the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. An Eastern American Goldfinch
was also observed on May 5. Mrs. Trine saw an American Bittern on
May 7 and noted the arrival of the Catbird and Northern Maryland
Yellow-throat on May 8. The Wood Thrush and Olive-backed Swainson
Thrush were noted on May 10 and the Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo on
May 12. As stated elsewhere in this issue, Mrs. Trine added the Wood
Duck, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Wilson Phalarope and
Northern Phalarope on May 13, on which date she added also the North¬
ern American Coot, Western (?) Mockingbird and Dickcissel. Other
arrivals were the American Redstart (a male on the grape trellis in her
yard) on May 14, Northern Bell Vireo on May 15, and American Eared
Grebe, Spotted Sandpiper and Sennett (?) Nighthawk on May 17. Addi¬
tions on May 20 were the Marbled Godwit and Western Lark Sparrow.
A Screech Owl was seen by Mrs. Trine on May 21.

The list by Mrs. Trine beautifully supplements the list by Mr. Ludlow,
so that their combination gives a good picture of the 1934 migration at
Red Cloud. Mrs. Trine includes in her list sixteen species not listed by
Mr. Ludlow, viz., the American Eared Grebe, American Bittern, Wood
Duck, Northern Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern American Coot, Long¬
billed Curlew, Least Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Wilson Phalarope,
Northern Phalarope, Northern Purple Martin, Olive-backed Swainson
Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Pine Siskin, Western Grasshopper
Sparrow and Eastern White-crowned Sparrow. She gives earlier dates
also for sixteen species, viz., the Lesser Snow Goose, Western Mourning
Dove, Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Kingbird, Arkansas King¬
bird, migrant Northern Blue Jays, Western House Wren, Catbird, Brown
Thrasher, Wood Thrush, White-rumped Loggerhead Shrike, Orchard
Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Rocky Mountain Black-headed Grosbeak,
Dickcissel and Shufeldt Oregon Junco. On the other hand, Mr. Ludlow
notes thirty-two species not observed by Mrs. Trine, viz.. Eastern Green
Heron, Canada Goose (subsp ?), Common Mallard, American Pintail,
Blue-winged Teal, Swainson Hawk, Sparrow Hawk (subsp ?), Sandhill
Crane, Franklin Gull, Eastern Belted Kingfisher, Northern Yellow-
shafted Flicker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood
Pewee, Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Cliff Swallow,
Eastern Brown Creeper, Red-eyed Vireo, Black and White Warbler,
Eastern Orange-crowned Warbler, Eastern Myrtle Warbler, Northern
Audubon Warbler, Black-poll Warbler, Eastern Cowbird, Western Blue
Grosbeak, Arctic Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow T (subsp. ?), East¬
ern Chipping Sparrow, Harris Sparrow, Gambel Sparrow and White-
throated Sparrow. Mr. Ludlow’s dates for sixteen species, viz., the
Northern Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Sennett (?) Nighthawk, West¬
ern ( ?) Mockingbird, Eastern Robin, Eastern Common Bluebird, Northern
Bell Vireo, Eastern Warbling Vireo, Eastern Yellow Warbler, Northern
Maryland Yellow-throat, American Redstart, Western Meadowlark, Red¬
winged Blackbird (subsp. ?), Baltimore Oriole, Bronzed Grackle and
Western Lark Sparrow, are earlier than Mrs. Trine’s, and he also gives
the last date for the Eastern Slate-colored Junco.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Under date of June 28, Mr. and Mrs. Earl W. Glandon of Stapleton,
Logan County, have sent in their migration list for 1934. During the
winter and spring the following residents and winter residents were
observed by them: American Rough-legged Hawk (very common),
Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Marsh Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Greater Prairie
Chicken, Ring-necked Common Pheasant, Western Horned Owl, Lewis
Woodpecker, Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Downy Woodpecker,
Saskatchewan Horned Lark, Eastern Crow, Long-tailed Black-capped
Chickadee, Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch, English House Sparrow,
Lapland Longspur and Chestnut-collared Longspur. On account of the
mild weather, a few Eastern Robins and several Western Meadowlarks
remained all winter, disappearing when the cold spells came and return¬
ing with milder weather. Beginning with February 1, their migration
list is as follows:

Several White-rumped Loggerhead Shrikes were seen on February 1,
and this species was present every month thereafter. Twenty-five or
thirty Canada Geese (subsp. ?)were noted February 5. On February 11,
fifty to seventy-five American Pintail Ducks were seen. It was reported
to them that these ducks were present by February 1. Tree Sparrows
were noted on several occasions through the month of February. A
Sparrow Hawk (subsp. ?) was seen March 2, and an Eastern Slate-
colored Junco on March 3. On March 5, a flock of forty-five male and
one female Red-winged Blackbirds (subsp. ?) was seen. A month later
a flock of about 200 females was noted. Two Western Field Sparrows
were seen on March 12. On March 16, a flock of eight Whooping Cranes
(antea., ii, p. 36) was noted, and also two American Magpies. Five Sand¬
hill Cranes were seen on March 17. A Red-tailed Hawk (subsp. ?) was
noted March 19. On March 26, the arrival of the Eastern Common Blue¬
bird was noted, and the following day one each of the Common Red-
shafted Flicker and Eastern Common Meadowlark was seen. Two
Northern Killdeers were observed March 28, an Eastern Brown Creeper
on March 29, and on March 30 a Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker and a
Northern Shrike (subsp. ?), the latter being an addition to the Logan
County list.

April 1 brought the Mountain Bluebird (four males and three females),
several Bronzed Grackles and a White-crowned Sparrow. There were
many Shufeldt Oregon Juncos on April 3. On April 8, many Blue¬
winged Teals, Shovellers and Redheads were seen, and also three Greater
Yellow-legs and an Eastern Belted Kingfisher. A Western Mourning
Dove and two Yellow-headed Blackbirds were noted on April 10. Many
Brewer Blackbirds appeared on April 14. An American Black Tern was
seen April 15, and on April 18 several Western Vesper Sparrows were
identified, these being new to the county list. A flock of twenty-four
Franklin Gulls was seen April 19. On April 20' the Song Sparrow
(subsp. ?) was identified. Birds seen April 21 included three Great Blue
Herons (subsp. ?), several Green-winged Teals, four Lesser Yellow-legs,
a Western Burrowing Owl and an Eastern Myrtle Warbler. An Alder
Traill Flycatcher arrived April 23 and a Western House Wren April 25.
On April 26, two Arctic Spotted Towhees and several Gambel Sparrows
were seen. A Cowbird (subsp. ?) was seen April 27. Fifteen Least
Sandpipers were identified on April 29, another addition to the county
list. April 30 identifications included a Northern American Coot, two
Northern Blue Jays, a Tennessee Warbler and a Pale American Gold¬
finch.

On May 2 a dark-colored Yellow Warbler was identified as the Alaska
Yellow Warbler, and on the same day a Hermit Thrush (subsp. ?) was
seen, these both representing additions to the county list. May 3 ar-

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

rivals included two Arkansas Kingbirds, a Northern Crested Flycatcher,
a Brown Thrasher and a Black and White Warbler. On May 4, one
each of the Black-poll Warbler and Rocky Mountain Black-headed Gros¬
beak was seen. May 5 arrivals included two Eastern Nashville Warblers
(new to the list) and a Chipping Sparrow (subsp. ?). Birds noted May
6 included an American Bittern, a Wilson Snipe, two American Barn
Owls, an Eastern Kingbird, a Tree Swallow (new to the list), three
Maryland Yellow-throats (subsp. ?) and two Bobolinks. May 7 brought
a Northern Audubon Warbler (new to the list), four Lark Buntings,
two Western Grasshopper Sparrows and three Western Lark Sparrows.
May 9 arrivals included one each of the Red-headed Woodpecker, Olive-
backed Swainson Thrush, Warbling Vireo (subsp. ?) (new to the list),
Long-tailed Chat, MacGillivray Warbler (new to the list), American
Redstart and Orchard Oriole. May 11 brought one each of the Upland
Plover and Ovenbird. A Screech Owl (subsp. ?) and two Baltimore
Orioles were seen on May 12. May 13 a Yeery (subsp. ?) was noted.
May 14 one each of the Sora (new to the list) and Catbird was seen.
May 16 the Western Mockingbird and Wilson Pileolated Warbler were
seen, one of each. Two Sennett Nighthawks were seen May 17. May
18 brought one each of the Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Barn Swal¬
low. May 20 arrivals included two Semipalmated Plovers (new to the
list), two Spotted Sandpipers, one each of the Red-eyed and Northern
Bell Vireos (the latter new to the list) and two Dickcissels. A Magnolia
Warbler was seen May 23 (new to the list), a Bullock Oriole on May 24,
and a Dowitcher (subsp. ?) and Northern Phalarope, both new to the
list, on May 27. A Lesser Scaup duck was seen on May 30.

June 2, three Northern Purple Martins were seen, this bird being also
new to the list. June 4 two Western Blue Grosbeaks were noted. June
10 a Forster Tern (new to the list) and several Common Bank Swallows
were seen. Mr. Glandon saw a Mountain Bluebird across the highway
from the Shadonix farm on June 25.

Under date of April 16, Mrs. John Truman of Bristow, Boyd County,
Nebraska, sends a list of forty-seven species of birds that she has iden¬
tified in that vicinity, as follows: Common Pied-billed Grebe, Goshawk,
Sparrow Hawk, Greater Prairie Chicken, Bob-white, Ring-necked Com¬
mon Pheasant, Northern American Coot, Northern Killdeer, Franklin
Gull, Eastern Least Tern, Western Mourning Dove, Eastern Yellow¬
billed Cuckoo, Eastern Screech Owl, Sennett Nighthawk, Eastern Belted
Kingfisher, Common Red-shafted Flicker, Red-headed Woodpecker, East¬
ern Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird,
Arkansas Kingbird, Common Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Northern
Blue Jay, American Magpie, Eastern Crow, Long-tailed Black-capped
Chickadee, Western House Wren, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern
Robin, Eastern Common Bluebird, White-rumped Loggerhead Shrike,
Western Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard
Oriole, Bronzed Grackle, Eastern Cowbird, Eastern Cardinal, Rose¬
breasted Grosbeak, Dickcissel, American Goldfinch, Arctic Spotted Tow-
hee, Western Lark Sparrow, Eastern Slate-colored Junco and Tree
Sparrow.

Under date of April 18, Miss Vera Maunder of Hastings tells of a trip
afield taken by her mother, Mrs. E. R. Maunder, and her sister, Mrs.
C. N. Collister of North Platte, on the morning of April 13. Although
the wind and dust interfered with the trip, a number of interesting birds
were seen, including the Sparrow Hawk, Western Mourning Dove, East¬
ern Phoebe, Saskatchewan Horned Lark, Long-tailed Black-capped
Chickadee, Eastern Robin, Western Meadowlark, Eastern Cardinal,
Eastern Fox Sparrow (seen near Nash’s Grove along the edge of the
running water), and Song Sparrow (several in song).

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

The Hastings Daily Tribune for April 18, 1934, gives an extended ac¬
count of the observations of a field party headed by Director G. E.
Condra of the Division of Conservation and Survey of the University
of Nebraska and Secretary Frank B. O’Connell of the Game, Forestation
and Parks Commission of Nebraska, and piloted by Mr. F. J. Kingsley
of Minden, which visited the Great Bend region of the Platte River,
between Kearney and Odessa, on April 3 in order to secure some pictures
of the migrating waterfowl that were then thronging the Platte River
at that point. The strip of the Platte River between Kearney and
Lexington, and an area farther west through Garden and parts of Keith
and Morrill Counties, are the two principal normal migration routes for
these wildfowl across Nebraska. Although because of heavy clouds and
a light mist that fell most of the day, the fine motion and still pictures
that the party planned to secure did not exactly materialize, there was
no lack of subjects, for great flocks of wildfowl passed and repassed
close to the submerged blind in the river, in which the photographers
and Secretary O’Connell were concealed. The press reporters for the
Tribune with the party, Messrs. H. G. Smith and Francis Robertson, de¬
scribed some of their observations as follows:

“Pelicans this year are more numerous than ever. Over on the river
a large flock of (White) Pelicans, the largest, in fact, seen on the Platte
in these parts for many years, put on a show which was all their own.
At rest in the stream, headed into the wind and as dignified as a com¬
pany of soldiers at attention, they were packed so close together that
from the banks they formed an unbroken strip of white. At intervals
of a half hour or so all would take off. They flew in wide open ranks,
up and down the river, over a strip of two or three miles, but always
coming back sooner or later to the starting point. The photographers
were able to register several good pictures of the pelicans despite the
heavy air.

“Canada Geese, some (Lesser) Snow Geese, several species of ducks
and Sandhill Cranes were present in unlimited numbers, though they
were not bunched as closely as they had been during the earlier days
of the northward flight. A few miles west of Odessa the party discov¬
ered a location where there were enormous flocks of cranes and geese,
the latter in corn stubble on one side of the road and the cranes on the
other in a meadow. Both species began coming to the location late in
the afternoon. Altogether, they covered a space of many acres.

“Probably this strip of the Platte is crossed twice a year by more
Sandhill Cranes than any other strip of similar length in the same lati¬
tude anywhere from coast to coast. The Whooping Crane, though now
reduced almost to the vanishing point, follow the course of the sandhill
variety. Swans are sometimes seen in the same strip. A couple of
hundred yards from a road some (Sandhill) Cranes started a dance.
This dance is a spectacular thing, possibly not as well organized and as
complicated as a somewhat like maneuver which Prairie Chickens in¬
dulge in, but with fully as much action. About two dozen cranes were
in the flock. They kept up a constant flapping of wings, rising several
feet from the ground as they danced about their mates. Toward the end
of the day a large flock of cranes, isolated from all the other birds, took
off in four or five successive groups of a hundred or so each, giving an
exhibition that suggested army air corps maneuvers on a grand scale.
Each section split about in two, and these smaller sections, flying one
above the other, circled almost directly upward until they could no
longer be seen without glasses. Detachments followed about three or
four minutes apart, until the last were gone. The call of the cranes
filled the air from all directions, and yet for some minutes after the last
of the flock had passed from sight not one of the birds could be seen.
After awhile they reappeared in smaller groups, and settled down at

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

almost exactly the same place on the river whence they had taken off.”

Under date of April 29, Mrs. J. W. Hall of Mitchell, Scotts Bluff
County, comments as follows: “It has been interesting to watch the
new birds come into this country during the past twenty-eight years
that we have been here, and to note how rapidly they have increased.
The most outstanding ones in this respect have been the Rocky Mountain
Black-headed Grosbeak and the Western Maryland Yellow-throat. In
1932, from March 6 on for some time, there was quite a flock of Evening
Grosbeaks at the Experimental Substation near here.” Mrs. Hall adds
that she saw her first Myrtle Warbler for that vicinity on the preceding
day, April 28.

Under date of April 29, Mr. Cyrus A. Black of Kearney, Buffalo
County, Nebraska, reports that the Sandhill Cranes began to arrive in
the Kearney vicinity on March 16, and at the date of writing were still
present in that locality by the thousands. He reports that at Kearney
there has been much windy weather and dust, with some cold spells
intermixed, and that the Blue Goose migration through that vicinity has
been much below par this spring, in marked contrast with the heavy
migration of these geese up the Missouri River and along the eastern
edge of the state.

Under date of May 3, Mrs. H. C. Johnston of Superior reports that in
April a pair of Eastern Cardinals built a nest on her back porch, only
two feet from the door and about seven feet from the ground. The
female laid two eggs, and spent most of the afternoon of April 24 on the
nest. The next day she did not come near the nest at all, and an ex¬
amination showed that one egg was gone. Mrs. Johnston blames the
Bronzed Grackles, as there were a number of these birds in her yard,
and she noted them watching the nest. She says that she has not seen
or heard a Pine Siskin this year. On account of the wind and dust the
past spring was a bad one for bird observation in the Superior vicinity,
and not many birds were seen there.

Mrs. 0. W. Ritchey of David City, Butler County, writes under date
of May 5 that she with Mrs. Gartle Osterhout had taken thirty-seven
children upon a bird observation field trip sponsored by the Nature
Study Department of the Ingleside Club. The trip was taken chiefly in
and around the David City Park with its little lake and near-by marshy
ground. Nineteen species of birds were identified by the party on this
trip, as follows: Eastern Green Heron, Lesser Yellow-legs, Wilson
Phalarope, Western Mourning Dove, Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker,
Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Northern Purple Martin,
Northern Blue Jay, Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, Western House
Wren, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Robin, Western Meadowlark, Red-
winged Blackbird, Brewer Blackbird, Bronzed Grackle, Eastern Cowbird
and Eastern American Goldfinch. Also, on April 12, Mrs. Ritchey com¬
mented on the presence of the Shufeldt Oregon Junco in that vicinity.

Under date of May 7, Mrs. Paul T. Heineman of Plattsmouth writes
further concerning the birds that visited her food tray during the past
winter. The Eastern White-breasted Nuthatches made their first visit
to the tray on October 5, 1933, and last visited it on April 8, 1934. On
October 6, 1933, a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers came, but some time
in the following January the male disappeared, the female continuing
to come to the tray until March 22, 1934. Mrs. Heineman says that a
pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers stayed in her neighborhood all through
the summer of 1933, and, in July, brought their young to the suet. She
has observed the Baltimore Orioles like to come to the suet, also. Both
the Eastern Brown Creeper and the Eastern Slate-colored Junco first
appeared at the food tray on October 17, 1933, and the former species

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

was last seen there this spring on April 8, and the latter species on
April 9. Tree Sparrows visited the food tray only between February 27
and March 30, 1934. Up to the time of writing (May 7), a pair of
Tufted Titmice, an occasional Black-capped Chickadee and an Eastern
Cardinal were still coming to the tray for sunflower seeds. Mrs. Heine-
man mentions also that lately she has seen the males of the Northern
Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse and Eastern Cardinal feeding their mates
there. This spring the first Eastern Robin appeared in the Heineman
yard on March 4. On March 15, four Eastern Common Bluebirds were
seen and heard singing in the oaks, somewhat arousing the curiosity of
the Northern Downy Woodpecker and the pairs of Eastern White¬
breasted Nuthatches and Tufted Titmice that were regular visitors to
the yard. The Western House Wren arrived on April 18.

Mrs. Heineman writes that on April 15, 1934, she drove to the heronry
near Council Bluffs, Iowa, and found ten nests of the Great Blue Heron
in various stages of construction in one tree, and the same number in
another tree some yards away. The birds were flying about calmly, or
standing guard. The heronry was visited also on April 9, 1933, but at
that time the birds were very much excited, flying about nervously and
calling raucously. Stains of fresh blood were visible on the ground be¬
neath the nests. On that occasion about fifty feet of 16 mm. cine film
of the herons were taken, using a telephoto lens. On the return from
the heronry, at Lake Manawa, a huge flock of White Pelicans, estimated
as containing at least several hundred birds, was seen, making a beauti¬
ful sight. Other birds seen on the trip were the Sparrow Hawk, Migrant
Loggerhead Shrike and Red-winged Blackbird.

Birds observed on Saturday, May 12, 1934, by the Brooking Bird Club
of Hastings on the Annual Field Trip are as follows: Eastern Green
Heron, American Black-crowned Night Heron, Blue-winged Teal, Shovel¬
ler, Lesser Scaup, Marsh Hawk, Eastern Sparrow Hawk, Bob-white
(Eastern?), Florida Gallinule, Northern Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper,
Greater Yellow-legs, Lesser Yellow-legs, Pectoral Sandpiper, White-
rumped Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western
Mourning Dove, Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Western Burrowing Owl,
Chimney Swift, Eastern Belted Kingfisher, Northern Yellow-shafted
Flicker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, Northern
Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Arkansas Kingbird, Northern
Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Rocky Mountain Say Phoebe, Sas¬
katchewan Horned Lark, Tree Swallow, Common Bank Swallow, Barn
Swallow, Northern Purple Martin, Northern Blue Jay, Eastern Crow,
Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, Western House Wren, Mock¬
ingbird (Western?), Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Robin, Wood
Thrush, Olive-backed Swainson Thrush, Eastern Common Bluebird,
Migrant Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Bell Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo,
Eastern Warbling Vireo, Eastern Yellow Warbler, Eastern Myrtle War¬
bler, Grinnell Common Water-Thrush, Northern Maryland Yellow-throat,
American Redstart, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-headed
Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird (subsp. ?), Orchard Oriole, Baltimore
Oriole, Bronzed Grackle, Eastern Cowbird, Eastern Cardinal, Rose¬
breasted Grosbeak, Western Blue Grosbeak, Dickcissel, Eastern Amer¬
ican Goldfinch, Western Grasshopper Sparrow, Western Lark Sparrow,
Eastern Chipping Sparrow and Clay-colored Sparrow. Total, 73 species.

Under dates of May 13 and 17, and June 8, Mrs. George W. Trine of
Red Cloud, Webster County, Nebraska, reports upon a number of bird
observations made in that vicinity this spring and summer. A friend
reported to her that he had seen a Sora along Elm Creek during the first
week in May, and also Lark Buntings and Lazuli Buntings, at about the
same time, at a point some distance west of Red Cloud. On the morning

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

of May 13, while out driving, Mrs. Trine herself saw a number of water
birds, some of them rather unusual. On an artificial spring-fed lake in
a private recreation ground near Red Cloud, she saw a pair of Wood
Ducks at rest on the water. When this lake was next visited, on the
evening of May 17, a glimpse was had of the male Wood Duck as he
silently disappeared. Mrs. Trine says that a very few Wood Ducks
have nested occasionally along Elm Creek for the past ten or twelve
years. Also on May 13, at a small roadside pond, Mrs. Trine noted a
Least Sandpiper, three Wilson Phalaropes, three Northern Phalaropes,
and a lone Long-billed Curlew. The two species of Phalaropes were in
close company. They made darting, quick movements as they appar¬
ently fed on what she thought might be water bugs on the surface of the
water. “When the Least Sandpiper came near the Long-billed Curlew,
the latter would reach for him with that scandalous bill, as though the
little fellow were some insect! The Sandpiper seemed lonesome, and so
confiding.”

Mrs. Trine says that this spring and summer the birds have been un¬
usually numerous in her yard, which fact she attributes to the plentitude
of water on her large lawn and garden during the prevailing drouth,
and the further facts that there has been ripening fruit there and that
wandering cats on her premises get an unwelcome reception from a 22-
caliber rifle loaded with shot shells. As to the birds noted while driving
in the country, Mrs. Trine says: “It is noticeable how few birds are to
be seen. A few Eastern and Arkansas Kingbirds, Western Meadowlarks
and blackbirds are about all. Food is scarce, and I am wondering if the
birds will be forced to leave us. Many are in town, trying to find food.
I notice very few insects in my garden and give the birds the credit.
They follow me when I use the hose, hopeful that I will drive out some
winged insect, or, perchance, toss a fat grub their way, as I often do.”

So far this year, Mrs. Trine says, she has listed about fifty-four
species of birds. The bird migration this spring seemed slow, and few
warblers were noted. She has twenty-one pairs of Northern Purple
Martins nesting on her premises, this being the one large colony in the
town, as the only other colony consists of but three or four pairs of the
birds. Although there are about a dozen martin houses in Red Cloud,
all but these two are monopolized by the English Sparrows. Eternal
vigilance in combatting the English Sparrows is the reason assigned by
Mrs. Trine for her success in maintaining a large Purple Martin colony
on her place. On May 16, English Sparrows so exasperated her that
she “sat down with the rifle and picked off fourteen of them and then
had peace for a while! That is the only effective way I have of coping
with these little pests.” The Martins come to her bird bath frequently
for a drink, which is somewhat unusual for that species, but, as Mrs.
Trine says, “shows good judgment”.

In addition to the large colony of Northern Purple Martins, Mrs.
Trine reports that on June 8 she had on her place numerous pairs of
nesting Western Mourning Doves, six or seven pairs of second-nesting
Eastern Robins, two pairs each of the Orchard and Baltimore Orioles,
and one pair each of the Eastern and Arkansas Kingbirds, Western
House Wren, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Warbling Vireo and
(close by and in her yard daily) Rocky Mountain Black-headed Gros¬
beak. She also reports the following recent experience with a pair of
Northern Bell Vireos in her yard: “I had put out material for nests, as
I always do for the Eastern Kingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, etc. I find
the Northern Bell Vireos prefer fine ravelings and a bit of cotton while
Baltimore Orioles prefer wrapping twine, preferably white (in fact,
they refuse colored twine) which disproves to my entire satisfaction the
contention that birds have no color sense. I am sure they do have it.
Eastern Kingbirds are entirely satisfied with their strips of soft white

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

cloth, and the Eastern Robin and Catbird are not adverse to using some
of the rags too. I was much amused today (May 17) watching a Catbird
struggling with a staked-down twenty-foot piece of cord in a neighbor’s
garden. He would brace himself and pull, but had to give up that nice
string eventually!”

The Omaha Evening World-Herald for May 14 contains an interesting
story of how Mrs. N. F. Nielsen of 2204 C Street, Omaha, across the
street from Spring Lake Park, noted an Eastern Carolina Wren at her
bird bath one day early in May, and determined to find its nesting place
in the park. For several days she continued the search for the nest,
and finally found it, on May 11, in a cave-like washout in the clay side
of a deep ravine, into which had been pitched many old bottles, tin cans
and similar rubbish. Mrs. Nielsen found the nest by seeing the birds
enter the mouth of this washout, after which it required considerable
effort to get to the nest itself. But when this was attained, she found
the nest, which contained four young wrens. The nest was made out of
coarse grass, corn leaves, hay and similar material, and was lined with
horse hair, feathers and fine grasses. Mr. Morton Downey, World-Herald
photographer, took a picture of the nest, which was used to illustrate
the story.

Under date of May 15, Mrs. Lulu Kortz Hudson of Simeon, Cherry
County, reports that there was a White Pelican on the lake near their
ranch home, it having arrived there a couple of days previously.

Birds observed on Wednesday, May 16, 1934, by the members of the
Nature Study Department of the Fairbury Woman’s Club on the Annual
Field Trip are as follows: Blue-winged Teal, Shoveller, Lesser Scaup,
Marsh Hawk, Northern American Coot, Eastern Bob-white, Ring-necked
Common Pheasant, Northern Killdeer, Lesser Yellow-legs, Baird Sand¬
piper, Least Sandpiper, Franklin Gull, Western Mourning Dove, Black¬
billed Cuckoo, Eastern (?) Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Eastern Belted
Kingfisher, Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Downy
Woodpecker, Prairie (?) Horned Lark, Eastern Kingbird, Arkansas
Kingbird, Northern Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Least Fly¬
catcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow,
Northern Purple Martin, Northern Blue Jay, Eastern Crow, Long-tailed
Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Western House Wren, Mock¬
ingbird (subsp. ?), Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Robin, Wood
Thrush, Eastern Common Bluebird, Eastern Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Migrant Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Bell Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo,
Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Warbling Vireo, Eastern Yellow Warbler,
Louisiana Water-Thrush, Northern Maryland Yellow-throat, Yellow¬
breasted Chat, American Redstart, Bobolink, Eastern Common Meadow¬
lark, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Red-winged
Blackbird (subsp. ?), Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Bronzed Grackle.
Eastern Cowbird, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Cardinal, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, Western Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Dickcissel, Eastern
American Goldfinch, Red-eyed Eastern Towhee, Western Grasshopper
Sparrow, Eastern Lark Sparrow, Eastern Chipping Sparrow and West¬
ern Field Sparrow. Total, 75 species.

Under date of May 28, Miss Edith Bowler of Bartlett, Wheeler County,
reports that for the fourth year a pair of Rocky Mountain Black-headed
Grosbeaks have returned to her yard, where they are regular visitors at
the supply of chick feed and the water in the yard.

Under date of June 21, Mrs. J. R. Swain of Greeley, Greeley County,
sends a clipping from the Greeley Citizen of that date, stating that a cat
caught a Bronzed Grackle as it was drinking from a water tank on the
farm of Henry Nekoliczak east of town, and that it bore a Biological

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

Survey numbered band on one of its legs. It is presumed that the band
number was forwarded to Washington for record.

Under date of June 22, Miss Mary Ellsworth of Omaha, Our N. O. U.
President, writes that on the previous evening (June 21) Mr. William
Matthews of that city found a young Northern Blue Jay, just recently
out of the nest, that had developed only one wing. The right wing was
fully formed and normal, but, with the feathers of the left side undis¬
turbed, there was no obvious indication whatever of a wing there.
Careful examination of the spot on the side where the left wing should
be showed merely a slight projection. The other young bird from the
same nest was likewise defective, for though its wings were normal it
lacked a part of its beak. Mr. Matthews kept the one-winged young
bird on his porch until the evening of June 22, when he devised a cage
for it and placed it in a tree. The parent birds fed it continuously for
the next two days, and even brought it water. They soon grew used to
the presence of Mr. Matthews, and did not seem to mind his being near
the unfortunate young bird, but Miss Ellsworth states that as soon as
she came into the yard she heard the alarm calls of the parents, and
when she ventured to pick up the young bird, she “thought they would
pick my eyes out”. Since the defective young bird was physically in¬
capable of surviving independently, it was thought best to send it to
Lincoln for preservation and for making a detailed scientific study of
the anatomy of its highly rudimentary left wing.

Under date of June 26, Mr. William A. Wilson of Arlington, Washing¬
ton County, writes that a honeysuckle vine in his yard was being visited
every noon and evening by a pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. He
comments on their behavior as follows: “They go head-on into these
long honeysuckle flowers, from which they not only get the nectar but
clean the flower of insects as well. When ready to visit the next flower
they come straight out, and of necessity backward, far enough to clear
the way to make a dart for the next flower. These backward flights
may be from five to twenty feet, according to where the next flower is.
They are very rapid, considering the short distance of the flight. I
wonder if the Hummingbird is the only bird capable of doing this, and
how it manages so quickly to reverse its flight. The birds are almost
continually on the wing, though sometimes they will alight on a wire line.
So far I have not happened to see them alight on a tree or branch of any
kind.”

Under date of July 14, Mrs. A. H. Jones writes that at McCook, Red-
willow County, on June 11, 1934, she stopped at the cemetery there to
look at some birds, and found Western Lark Sparrows nesting in almost
every bush. They were then feeding their young. She found the nests
at varying heights; one in a cedar about four feet from the ground, and
another about ten feet up in a tree. None were found on the ground, as
is the more usual nesting location of this bird.

Under date of July 14, the Misses Agness and Susie Callaway reported
that during the week then ending they had banded two fledgling Eastern
Green Herons and two Common Bank Swallows, which brought their
banding activities since October 1, 1933, to 222 individual birds, repre¬
senting nineteen species.

The 1934 migration record is herewith summarized in a condensed and
tabulated form, continuing the N. 0. U. Cooperative Bird Migration List
began in 1925. As usual, only the date of first arrival is given. This
year, in addition to Lincoln, Omaha, Fairbury and Hastings, Red Cloud
and Stapleton are included as representative migration stations. The
authorities for the various dates are given in the preceding pages and
on pages 42 to 50 of the April number of the Review.

NAME OF BIRD

LINCOLN OMAHA FAIRBURY HASTINGS RED CLOUD

American Eared Grebe.

Common Pied-billed Grebe.

White Pelican.

Great Blue Heron (subsp.).

Eastern Green Heron.

American Black-crowned Night Heron

American. Bittern.

Canada Goose (subsp.).

White-fronted Goose.Mar. 25

Lesser Snow Goose.Mar. 17

Blue Goose.Mar. 11

Common Mallard.Mar. 11

Gadwall.Apr. 5

Baldpate.Mar. 25

American Pintail.Jan. 27

Green-winged Teal.Mar. 17

Blue-winged Teal..Apr. 5

Shoveller.Mar. 11

Wood Duck.

Lesser Scaup.Mar. 11

Redhead.Mar. 17

Canvas-back.

Northern Ruddy Duck.Mar. 25

American Buff-breasted Merganser.

Northern Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Cooper Hawk.

Red-tailed Hawk (subsp.).Feb. 18

Northern Broad-winged Hawk.May 12

Swainson Hawk.

American Rough-legged Hawk.Feb. 14

Marsh Hawk.Feb. 10 .

American Osprey.

Sparrow Hawk (subsp.).Feb. 11

Whooping Crane.

Sandhill Crane.Apr. 5

Northern Virginia Rail.

Sora.

.Apr. 26.May 7

.Apr. 22

May 19.Apr. 14.

May 19.Apr. 20.May 4

May 19.Apr. 29

.May 27.Apr. 29

..Mar. 11.Mar. 25

Feb. 17.Mar. 25

.Mar. 11.Mar. 14

.Mar. 11.Mar. 25

May 5.Mar. 20.

.Mar. 25

Mar. 27.Mar. 28.Apr. 15

Mar. 24.Feb. 6.Feb. 4.

.Apr. 15.Feb. 16

.Apr. 1.Apr. 8

Mar. 27.Mar. 28.Mar. 25

, Mar. 24.May 8.Mar. 12

Mar. 24.Mar. 27.Apr. 15.

. May 19.Mar. 28.Mar. 12

.Apr. 15

.May 8.Mar. 14

.Jan. 8.

.Apr. 1.Apr. 8

.Apr. 1.Mar. 19.

.Apr. 26

.Apr. 22

.Mar. 18

May 19.Jan. 1.Apr. 8

Apr. 22

Jan. 20.Feb. 16.Mar. 2

.Mar. 18

.May 28

June 3.May 28

May 17

May 13

May 7
. Mar. 4

Mar. 20

Mar. 4

Mar. 4.
Mar. 4
May' 13

Mar. 12

May 8

Mar. 13
Mar.'20

STAPLETON

Apr. 21

May 6
.Feb. 5

Feb. 11
Apr. 21
Apr. 8
Apr. 8

May 30
Apr. 8

Mar. 19

Mar. 2
Mar. 16
Mar. 17

May 14

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

NAME OF BIRD

LINCOLN OMAHA FAIRBURY HASTINGS RED CLOUD STAPLETON

Florida Gallinule.

Northern American Coot....

Semipalmated Plover.

Northern Killdeer.

American Woodcock.

Wilson Snipe.

Long-billed Curlew.

Upland Plover.

Spotted Sandpiper.

Eastern Solitary Sandpiper...

Greater Yellow-legs.

Lesser Yellow-legs.

Pectoral Sandpiper.

White-rumped Sandpiper. . . .

Baird Sandpiper.

Least Sandpiper.

Dowitcher (subsp.).

Stilt Sandpiper.

Semipalmated Sandpiper. . . .

Marbled God wit.

Hudsonian Godwit.

Wilson Phalarope.

Northern Phalarope.

American Herring Gull.

Ring-billed Gull.

Franklin Gull.

Forster Tern.

American Black Tern.

Western Mourning Dove....
Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Black-billed Cuckoo.

Western Burrowing Owl.

Northern Short-eared Owl. . .

Nighthawk (subsp.).

Chimney Swift.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern Belted Kingfisher. . .

May 4
May 4
Mar. 25
May 17
Apr. 5

Apr. 5
. Apr. 5
May 13
Apr. 5
Apr. 22

Apr. 29
Apr. 22

Mar. 24
Mar.'24

, Apr. 8
Mar. 6
Apr. 23

.May 12
Apr. 21

Mar. ii

.May 6.May 6

.May 15.Apr. 29

May 19.Apr. 26.Apr. 29

.Apr. 8

Mar. 27.Apr. 26.

May 19.Apr. 19

.Apr. 27

.Apr. 20.Apr. 8

May 19.Apr. 26.Apr. 27.

.Apr. 29

.Apr. 26.Apr. 29

Apr. 29

Apr. 29.May 19.Apr. 26.Apr. 27

.Mar. 27

Mar. 25.Mar. 18

Apr. 14.Apr. 3.Apr. 21.

May 13.

.May 19.May 29.

Mar. 26.Mar. 28.Apr. 1.Mar. 26.

.May 19.May 17.May 12.

.May 15

Apr. 1.Apr. 6.Apr. 22.

Jan. 6

.May 16.May 8.May 28

May 2.May 9.Apr. 30.May 2

.June 3.May 25.May 10

.Mar. 27.Jan. 14.Apr. 8

May 13
Mar.'11

May 13
Apr. io

May 13

May 20

May 13
May 13

Apr. 14

Mar. 19
May 12

May 14
Mar. 9

Apr. 30
May 20
Mar. 28

May 6

May 11
May 20

Apr. 8
Apr. 21

Apr. 29
May 27

May 27

Apr. 19
June 10
Apr. 15
Apr. 10
May 18

Apr. 21

May 17

Apr. 8

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

NAME OF BIRD

LINCOLN

OMAHA

FAIRBURY

HASTINGS

RED CLOUD

STAPLETON

Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker.

. . . .Feb. 18...

. . . May 19 . . .

. . Feb. 26. . .

. . .Feb. 11...

...Mar. 2....

. . Mar. 30

Common Red-shafted Flicker (migrants). . .

. . . Apr. 4. . .

. . Mar. 27

Red-bellied Woodpecker.

. .. Feb. 20. . .

...Jan. 8....

. . May 4

Red-headed Woodpecker.

. . . . May 4. . .

. . . May 1. . .

. . . May 3. . .

. . May 3 . . .

. . . May 5. . . .

. . May 9

Eastern Kingbird.

. . . .Apr. 29. . .

. . . May 7. . .

. . . Apr. 30. . .

. . May 1. . .

. .. May 2. . .

. . May 6

Arkansas Kingbird.

. . .Apr. 29. . .

. . . May 1. . . .

. . May 3

Northern Crested Flycatcher.

. . . . May 12. . .

. . .May 19. . .

. . .Apr. 26. . .

. .Apr. 29 .

. . May 3

Eastern Phoebe.

. . . .Apr. 5. . .

. . . Mar. 28. . .

. . .Mar. 18. . .

. . . Apr. 8. . .

. . .Apr. 29

Rocky Mountain Say Phoebe.

Acadian Flycatcher.

. . . May 19

. . .Apr. 8

Alder Traill Flycatcher.

. . . May 19. . .

. .Apr. 23

Least Flycatcher.

. . .May 19. . .

. . . May 12 . . .

. . . May 11

Eastern Wood Pewee.

. . .May 19. . .

. . . May 15. . .

. . . May 4

Eastern Olive-sided Flycatcher.

. . . May 19

Tree Swallow.

. . . Apr. 8. . .

. . .Apr. 27. . .

. . May 6

Common Bank Swallow.

.... May 17. . .

. . . May 19. . .

. . .Apr. 19. . .

. . .Apr. 18. . .

. . .Apr. 29_

..June 10

Rough-winged Swallow.

.... Apr. 29. . .

. . . May 19. . .

. . .Apr. 16. . .

. . . Apr. 29. . .

. . .Apr. 24

Barn Swallow.

. . . .Apr. 27. . .

. . . May 19. ..

. . .Apr. 20. . .

. . .Apr. 19. . .

. . . Apr. 30 ... .

. . May 18

Eastern Cliff Swallow.

. . . Apr. 6. . .

. . . May 7. . .

. . Apr. 29

Northern Purple Martin.

. . . .Apr. 2. . .

. . . Mar. 28. . .

. . . Apr. 9. . .

. . . Apr 1. . . .

. .June 2

Northern Blue Jay (migrants).

. . Apr. 26. . .

. . .Apr. 29. . .

. . . Apr. 26... .

. .Apr. 30

American Magpie.

.. Jan. 31...

. .Mar. 16

Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Western House Wren.

. . . .Apr. 27. . .

. . . May 2. . .

.. Jan. 30
. . .Apr. 16. . . .

. . Apr. 27... .

. . .Apr. 22. . . .

. .Apr. 25

Bewick Wren (subsp.).

Mockingbird (subsp.).

. . . May 20 . . .

. . Apr. 19. . .

. . . Apr. 8. . .

. . .May 2. . . .

. . May 16

Catbird.

.... May 5. . .

. . . May 6. . .

. . . May 3. . .

. . .May 2. . .

. . . May 8 . . . .

. . May 14

Brown Thrasher.

.... Apr. 20. . .

. . Apr. 29 . . .

. . . Mar. 30. . .

. . . Apr. 29. . .

. . .Apr. 21... .

. . May 3

Eastern Robin (migrants).

.... Mar. 4 . . .

... Mar. 9. . .

...Feb. 4...

. . . Mar. 3 . . .

...Feb. 4...

. .Wintered

Wood Thrush.

Hermit Thrush (subsp.).

.... May 13. . .

. . . .Apr. 25. . .

. . . May 19. . .

. . . May 1. . .

. . . May 4. . .

. . . May 10

. . May 2

Olive-backed Swainson Thrush.

Northern Gray-cheeked Thrush.

. .. May 19. . .

. . . May 6 . . .

. . . May 6. . .

. . . May 7

. . . May 10... .

. . May 9

.... May 24 . . .

Veery (subsp.).

. . May 13

Eastern Common Bluebird.

.... Mar. 4. . .

.. . Mar. 12. . .

...Feb. 6...

. . .Mar. 11. . .

. . . Mar. 10... .

. . Mar. 26

Mountain Bluebird.

Eastern Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

. . .May 19. . .

. . . Mar. 30

. Apr. 1

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

NAME OF BIRD LINCOLN OMAHA FAIRBURY HASTINGS RED CLOUD STAPLETON

Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet.

Eastern Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

. . .Apr. 17
. . . Apr. 6. . .

. . . Mar. 10

American Common Pipit.

. . . Mar. 18

Sprague Pipit.

American Bohemian Waxwing.

.Apr. 26. . .

. . .Mar. 26. . .

...Jan. 8

. . .Apr. 19

Cedar Waxwing.

.Mar. 28. . .

. . . Mar. 26. . .

...Jan. 8...

.. .Mar. 19. . .

. . . May

Northern Shrike (subsp.).

. . .Mar. 25. . .

. . . Mar. 30

Loggerhead Shrike (subsp.).

.Apr. 1. ..

. . . May 19 . . .

. . . Mar. 27. . .

. . . Mar. 14

M ir.

2 j . . .

...Feb. 1

Northern Bell Vireo.

. . . May 6. . .

. . . May 3 . . .

. . . May 14 . . .

. . . May 20

Yellow-throated Vireo.

. .May 19. . .

. . . May 8

Red-eyed Vireo.

.May 12 . . .

. . . May 19 . . .

. . . May 15. . .

. . . May 7 . . .

. . . May 10. . .

. . . May 20

Warbling Vireo (subsp.).

.Apr. 30. . .

. . . May 19 . . .

. . .Apr. 29. . .

. . . May 3 . . .

. . .Apr. 29. . .

. . . May 9

Black and White Warbler.

. . . May 19. . .

. . Apr. 29. ..

. . . May 10 . ..

. . . May 3

Tennessee Warbler.

Eastern Orange-crowned Warbler.

.May 12 . . .

. . . May 19 . . .

. . .May 19. . .

. . .Apr. 30. . .

. . . May

. . .Apr. 30

. . .Apr. 27. . .

Eastern Nashville Warbler.

. . . May 5

Yellow Warbler (subsp.).

.May 1. . .

. . . May 1 . . .

. . . May 3. . .

. . . May

May 2

Magnolia Warbler.

. . . May 23

Eastern Myrtle Warbler.

. . . May 5. . .

. . Apr. 26. . .

. . .Apr. 27. . .

. . . May

1. . .

. . .Apr. 21

Northern Audubon Warbler.

Black-throated Green Warbler.

.May 24

. . . May

1. . .

. . . May 7

Black-poll Warbler.

. . . May 8. . .

. . . May 6. . .

. . . May

7. . .

. . . May 4

Western Palm Warbler.

Ovenbird.

.May 8 . . .

. . . May 19. . .

. . . May 4

. . .May 11

Grinnell Common Water-Thrush.

Louisiana Water-Thrush.

. . . May 19. . .

. . . May 8. . .

. . . May 5

. . . May 12

MacGillivray Warbler.

Kentucky Warbler.

. . . May 9

Maryland Yellow-throat (subsp.).

. . . May 19. . .

. . . May 5. . .

. . . May 3 . . .

. . . May

1. . .

. . . May 6

Chat (subsp.).

.May 12 . . .

. . . May 15

May 13. . .

. . . May 9

Wilson Pileolated Warbler.

. . .May 16

American Redstart.

.May 12 . . .

. . . May 19. . .

. . . May 6 . . .

. . . May 12 . . .

. . . May

7. . .

. . . May 9

Bobolink.

. . . May 15. . .

. . . May 3 . . .

. . . May 6

Eastern Common Meadowlark.

.Mar. 25...

. . . May 5. . .

. . .Apr. 17. . .

. . . Mar. 18. . .

. . . Mar. 27

Western Meadowlark.

.Feb. 14. . .

. . .Feb. 14. . .

. . . Mar. 6. . .

. . .Mar. 11. . .

. . . Mar. 12 . . .

. . .Wintered

Yellow-headed Blackbird.

.Apr. 29,. .

. . .Apr. 26. . .

. . .Apr. 21. . .

. . .Apr. 10

Red-winged Blackbird (subsp.).

.Mar. 12...

. . . Mar. 24. . .

. . . Mar. 3 . . .

. . . Mar. 10. . .

. . .Feb.

5. . .

. . .Mar. 5

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

NAME OF BIRD LINCOLN OMAHA FAIRBURY HASTINGS RED CLOUD STAPLETON %-

Orchard Oriole.

. . . May

19. . .

. . . May

6. . .

. . . May

11...

. . . May

4. . .

. . . May

Baltimore Oriole.

... May

2. . .

.. . May

3. ..

. . . May

1. . .

. . .Apr.

29. . .

. . .Apr.

29. . .

. . . May

Bullock Oriole.

. . . May

Rusty Blackbird.

. . . .Feb.

18. . .

...Jan.

Brewer Blackbird.

5. . .

. . .Apr.

29 . . .

. . .Apr.

Bronzed Grackle.

. . . Mar.

19. ..

. . . Mar.

19. . .

. . . Mar.

28. . .

. . . Mar.

12. . .

. . .Apr.

Cowbird (subsp.).

5. . .

. . . May

19. ..

. . . Mar.

11. ..

. . .Apr.

27. . .

. . . Mar.

12. . .

. . .Apr.

Scarlet Tanager.

. . . May

19. . .

. . . May

Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

. . . . May

8. . .

. . . May

19. . .

. . .Apr.

17. . .

. . . May

6. . .

. . . May

Rocky Mountain Black-headed Grosbeak. .. .

. . . May

6. ..

. . . May

2. . .

. . .Apr.

30 . . .

. . . May

Western Blue Grosbeak.

. . . May

15. . .

. . . May

12. . .

. . . May

7. . .

. . .June

Indigo Bunting.

12. . .

. . . May

19. . .

. . . May

Dickcissel.

. . . . May

4. . .

... May

3. . .

. . . May

3. . .

. . . May

12. . .

. . . May

13. . .

. . . May

Eastern Purple Finch.

.. .Feb.

Northern Pine Siskin.

...Jan.

27. . .

. . .Apr.

Red Crossbill.

. . Apr.

Red-eyed Eastern Towhee.

7. . .

...Jan.

16. . .

. . .Apr.

22. . .

. . Apr.

Arctic Spotted Towhee.

. . . . Apr.

28. . .

. . . Apr.

14. . .

. . .Apr.

27. . .

. . . May

8. . .

Lark Bunting.

18. . .

.. . May

Savannah Sparrow (subsp.).

22. . .

. . .Apr.

6. . .

. . .Apr.

8. . .

. . . May

Western Grasshopper Sparrow.

. . . May

19. . .

. . .Apr.

20. . .

. . . May

3. . .

. . .Apr.

28. . .

. . . May

Leconte Sparrow.

Vesper Sparrow (subsp.).

22. . .

. . .Apr.

1. . .

. . .Apr.

14. . .

. . . Apr.

Lark Sparrow (subsp.).

. . . . May

18. . .

. . .Apr.

11. . .

. . .Apr.

8. . .

. . .Apr.

23. . .

. . . May

Eastern Slate-colored Junco (last seen).

12. . .

... Mar.

Shufeldt Oregon Junco.

2. . .

.. .Apr.

Eastern Chipping Sparrow.

. . . .Apr.

15. . .

. . .Apr.

7. . .

. . .Apr.

17. . .

.. . Apr.

27. . .

. . . Apr.

14. . .

. . . May

Clay-colored Sparrow.

.. . . May

8. . .

. . . Apr.

6. . .

. . .Apr.

Field Sparrow (subsp.).

8. . .

. . . Apr.

3. . .

. . .Apr.

1. . .

. . .Apr.

17. . .

. . . Mar.

Harris Sparrow.

. . . Apr.

14. . .

...Jan.

Jan.

1. . .

...Jan.

29. . .

...Jan.

Eastern White-crowned Sparrow.

. . .Apr.

27. . .

. . .Apr.

29. . .

. . .Apr.

30. . .

.. . Apr.

Gambel Sparrow.

.. . Apr.

27. . .

. . .Apr.

27. . .

. . . May

4. . .

. . . Apr.

White-throated Sparrow.

. .. May

8. . .

. . Apr.

29. . .

. . . May

Eastern Fox Sparrow.

. . .Apr.

Common Lincoln Sparrow.

. .. . Apr.

14. . .

. . . Apr.

15. . .

.. . Apr.

Swamp Sparrow.

... Apr.

17. . .

...July

Song Sparrow (subsp.).

. . . Mar.

16...

... Apr.

2. . .

. . . Apr.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

WITH THE N. O. U. MEMBERS

HERB AND THERE WITH THE N. O. U. MEMBERS

Mr. George Blinco of Chadron, Nebraska, reports under date of May
14 that he would not be able to attend the N. O. U. annual meeting at
Omaha this year because he was getting ready to start about June 1
with his wife and son for a trip to the Big Horn Mountains and Yellow¬
stone Park, to be gone about twenty days. Mr. Blinco enclosed with his
letter a splendid picture of a nest of the American Magpie which he
found in a clump of deerberry bushes and says that their favorite nest¬
ing place is in the thorny bushes. The nest measures about two feet in
width and three feet in height, and is roofed over with an opening at the
side.

The Omaha Nature Study Club enjoyed two delightful and interesting
Sunday field trips on June 3 and 10, through the kindness of Mrs. N. F.
Nielsen, 2204 C Street, Mr. F. J. De la Vega, 70th and Grover Streets,
and Mr. O. L. Stoltenberg, Florence Station. Mrs. Nielsen led the Club
into Spring Lake Park, to hear the Eastern Carolina Wren, whose nest
she had found earlier in the season in this park (see page 82 of this
issue of the Review), and to see the several other nests of various species
which she then had under observation. On the beautiful farm of Mr.
Stoltenberg, on June 10, the Club members were shown the nest of an
American Barn Owl, in a graded bank on well-traveled highway No. 36,
and a nesting pair of Arkansas Kingbirds, which are as yet uncommon
in the vicinity of Omaha. Mr. Stoltenberg also has had a pair of East¬
ern (?) Mockingbirds on his farm for at least the past five years, the
male of which has the habit of frequently perching on Mr. Stoltenberg’s
water tower at night and singing whenever a light is turned on in the
house during the night. Mr. Stoltenberg also showed the Club members
a collection of mounted birds taken by him and his brothers during
pioneer days. These include three Golden Plovers, taken on his farm,
and Wood Ducks, American Avocets and Caspian Terns taken on the
Missouri River near Blair, in Washington County. Forty-eight live wild
geese, including the Greater Canada, Lesser Canada, White-fronted,
Lesser Snow and Blue Geese, and a number of American Pintail Ducks,
have the run of the larger part of Mr. Stoltenberg’s farmyard. The
Eastern Lark Sparrow was also found nesting on this date by members
of the Club. The objective at the home grounds of Mr. De la Vega was
the nest of a pair of Eastern (?) Mockingbirds in an elm sapling about
five feet from the ground and only about thirty feet from the house.
This is the second year that Mr. De la Vega has had Mockingbirds in
the vicinity of his house, and he is confident that there must be a second
pair this year. He has also noted an Arkansas Kingbird near his home
since the Club visited there. It is the hope of the Omaha Nature Study
Club that with these beginnings the Arkansas Kingbird and the Mock¬
ingbird will become firmly established as regular nesting species in the
Omaha vicinity.

Under date of June 17, Mr. George E. Hudson, of the Department of
Zoology of the University of Nebraska, who left Lincoln with his family
early in June to study the breeding birds and collect bird material in
South Carolina for Clemson College, the data to be used in a report on
the birds of that state projected by Professor Franklin Sherman, reports
that he has established his headquarters at Clemson and started his
summer’s work. “I have been engaged on my collecting work for a
week now”, he writes, “and already have obtained some rather interest¬
ing data. I have seen the Cairns Warbler and Cowbird, neither of which
is known to breed in South Carolina. About every other day I make a
trip to one of the mountains in the northwestern pari; of the state.
These mountains are mostly remote, unsettled, forested regions. They
range in altitude up to 3,600 feet, hence some northerly forms breed
there. These include the Ruffed Grouse, Mountain Solitary Vireo, Worm-

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

eating Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler and Scarlet Tanager.
Ravens formerly bred there and perhaps still do. I hope to find that
out. This week I expect to climb Mount Pinnacle, where Mr. Leveritt M.
Loomis worked about forty-five years ago. I hope to collect Cairns
Warbler in the rhododendron thickets. You may be interested to know
that four years ago I sent Professor Sherman two live specimens of the
common thirteen-striped ground squirrel, one of which was mounted and
the other escaped. About a week ago I saw the escaped one on the
Clemson College campus, and it appeared to be thriving.”

Our President, Miss Mary Ellsworth, wrote on June 22 that after July
1 she would be in attendance at the Alleghany School of Natural Science
in the Alleghany State Park, Quaker Bridge, New York.

Mrs. A. H. Jones writes on July 14, from Evergreen, Colorado, where
she is summering, that from her observation point on her cabin porch
she could see nests of the Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Northern Violet-
green Swallow, Western House Wren, Western Robin (two of these) and
Western Chipping Sparrow, as well as the last season’s nest of a Plumbe¬
ous Solitary Vireo. A short distance away was another nest of the Broad¬
tailed Hummingbird, this one built on a low-hanging spruce bough by
the edge of the river, and quite close to a bridge. At the date of writing
it contained two young. On July 12, a male Rufous Hummingbird
perched on the light wire within fifteen feet of the porch. This was the
second Rufous Hummingbird that Mrs. Jones had seen in Colorado, the
other one having been observed, however, on the other side of the Divide.
On July 7, in the same pine tree, she noted the Western Wood Pewee,
Western Robin, Western Tanager, Cassin Purple Finch, Northern Pine
Siskin and Western Chipping Sparrow, most of them feeding their
young.

Our honorary member, Mrs. H. F. Hole of Crete, is sojourning this
summer at Underhill, Vermont, where she finds the mountain air and
cool nights most invigorating, and has renewed her acquaintance with a
number of the breeding birds of that part of New England. Under date
of July 16, she reports: “While I cannot get out to tramp after the
birds very much, they come to me. Both the Acadian and the Least
Flycatchers are quite common here. I have had a lot of fun with the
swallows — Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows and Eastern Cliff Swallows —
all sitting on the wires at the same time and indulging in occasional
bickerings. With my young nephew I watched the latter species build
their nests under the eaves of a big hay barn. Along the creeks I find
the Veery, and the Bobolinks are in all of the meadows. An Eastern
Nashville Warbler sings every morning in a little apple tree near my
window. My big thrill, however, was a pair of Kentucky Warblers that
I found near the river one day. I have tried to remember the song of
this bird, which I recognized immediately as different from that of the
Northern Maryland Yellow-throat. I find the Eastern Vesper, White-
throated, Common Lincoln and Eastern Song Sparrows resident here
through the summer. I am enjoying the study of ferns again, and have
listed twenty-one varieties. They are not as elusive as the birds.”

MINUTES OF THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION

The thirty-fifth annual meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union
was held at Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19,
1934. At this meeting the members of the N. O. U. were the guests of
the Omaha Nature Study Club and the Fontenelle Forest Association.
The Board of Trustees of the Society of Liberal Arts, in charge of the
Joslyn Memorial, located on Dodge Street between 22nd and 24th Streets,

THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING

just west of the Central High School, graciously accorded to the N. O. U.
the privilege of holding its meetings in that beautiful new building.

The members began assembling at 10:00 A. M. in the room in the
Joslyn Memorial where the special exhibit of the N. O. U. was set up,
registering at the registration table as they arrived. The first business
session was called to order by President Mrs. L. H. McKillip at 11:00
A. M. in the Lecture Hall of the Memorial. The minutes of the thirty-
fourth annual meeting as published on pages 90 to 104 of the Nebraska
Bird Review for July, 1933, were approved, after which President Mc¬
Killip and Vice-President Mai'y Ellsworth each gave brief and informal
official reports. Secretary-Treasurer M. H. Swenk next reported, his
report dealing with the condition of the organization. The most im¬
portant statements of this report may be summarized as follows:

“In July of 1933, the total membership for the year ending May 1,
1934 (1933-34), was 133 (8 honorary and 125 active), as explained in the
footnote on page 91 of the July, 1933, number of the Review and also as
given in the membership roll of the N. O. U. in the same issue (antea,
i, pp. 105-107). That was the largest enrollment the N. O. U. has had
for many years, and was due to an intensive drive for membership on the
part of several N. O. U. members. Unfortunately, we were not able to re¬
tain all of these new members for the year 1934-35. Three members, Mr.
F. C. Collins, Mrs. A. T. Hill and Dr. R. H. Wolcott were lost by death
during the year. Thirty-three members did not renew their membership
for 1934-35. These were Mesdames Roscoe C. Abbott, Jessie Dettman,
H. L. Fabrique, John G. Hansen, C. A. Heartwell, Ruth Howard, A. M.
Jones, D. P. Jones, J. H. LeRoy, William Madgett, Jesse Marian, Wade
R. Martin, Mervin Ross, Paul Schmeling, Lou Sharpe, Mary Belle Shook
and Dwight Thomas; Misses Margaret Chambers, Martha Cousley,
Margaret Diemer, Edith Ogle and Grace Stillwell; Messrs. Ralph R.
Brosius, H. P. Doole, Fred Fouts, J. Woodward Jones, F. J. Keller, W. J.
Kent, C. E. McCafferty and F. X. Rudloff; and the Brooking Bird Club,
Hastings Public Library and Seward Public Library. On the other hand
there have been three reinstatements, Mrs. J. W. Hall of Mitchell, Mc¬
Gill University Library at Montreal and Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Sheldon of
Lincoln, which brings the old membership to exactly 100. Twenty-six
names of applicants for membership are before us, and with the election
of these our membership for 1934-35 will be restored to 126, a net loss
of seven members for this year, as compared with last.*

“On May 1, 1933, the N. ©. U. had cash on hand of $298.13, to which
was added during the fiscal year to May 1. 1934, $2.00 for one annual
dues for 1932-33, $60.00 for sixty annual dues for 1933-34, $90.00 for
ninety annual dues for 1934-35, and $2.00 for two advance annual dues
for the year 1935-36. There was also added during this period $4.00 for
subscriptions to the Review for the year 1933, $21.00 for subscriptions
for 1934, $2.00 for subscriptions for 1935 and 1936, $13.50 for publica¬
tions sold and $42.50 from interest on investments, making total re¬
ceipts of $535.13. Of this amount, $37.37 was spent for postage, $6.00
for stationery, $375.88 for printing the July and October, 1933, and
January and April, 1934, numbers of the Review, $22.35 for engravings
for these numbers, and .36 as a tax on eighteen checks, leaving a balance
on hand, on May 1, 1934, of $94.76.

“The July and October, 1933, and the January and April, 1934, num¬
bers of the Nebraska Bird Review have continued to be well received, both
by our members and by ornithologists and bird lovers, not members,
both within and without the state. The four numbers of Volume I of the
Review, totalling 160 pages, were gotten out in editions of 300 copies for

*The names and addresses of these 126 members are given in the
membership list on a following page.—Ed.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

the April and July numbers and 350 copies for the January and October
numbers. They cost $456.60 for printing and $24.77 for engraving, a
total of $481.07. The cost per copy has varied from twenty to fifty-two
cents, an average of thirty-seven cents. The 1934 volume will be planned
to run a fewer number of pages, probably around 148, with a correspond¬
ing reduction in the per copy cost. The more members we are able to
secure, and the more subscriptions to our magazine, the more pages of
the Review can be printed each year.”

Following the report of the Secretary-Treasurer, President McKillip
appointed the following committees to report at the postponed business
session called for 1:30 P. M.: Auditing, Mr. Fred Eastman (Chairman)
and Mr. Dana Anderson; Nominating, Mrs. 0. D. Corey (Chairman) and
Mrs. J. D. Fuller; Resolutions, Mrs. Glen Chapman (Chairman) and Miss

M. Caryle Sylla. The meeting then adjourned to reconvene at 1:30 P. M.

The proposal of names and election of new members was first in order

of regular business at the afternoon session. Twenty-six names were
then proposed for membership in the N. 0. U., as follows: Misses Bertha
Calvert, Marjorie Disbrow, Ellen Mahoney and Mayme Philpot and
Messrs. Ben L. Cash, D. B. Marshall and Henry Scherer of Omaha;
Messrs. Watson E. Beed, T. J. Fitzpatrick and John L. Morrison of Lin¬
coln; Mrs. Paul T. Heineman of Plattsmouth; Mrs. R. E. Norris of
Weeping Water; Mrs. Charles W. Anderson of Arlington; Mrs. Walter
Ren of Oak; Mr. Clyde E. Pearson of Genoa; Mrs. Dana Anderson and
Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Fischer of St. Edward; Mr. W. E. Brooks of Elgin;
Mr. I. R. Alter of Grand Island; Mr. George Back of Gothenburg;
Mesdames Carl Collister and A. H. Bivans, Miss Frances Kimball, and
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Collman and Harry Weakley of North Platte; and
Mr. and Mrs. Earl W. Glandon of Stapleton. On motion of Miss Mary
Ellsworth, seconded by Mr. Fred Eastman, all were accepted and de¬
clared members of the society.

Reports of committees were next called for. Mr. Fred Eastman re¬
ported for the Auditing Committee that the financial report of the
Secretary-Treasurer had been examined and found to be correct. On
motion the report of the Auditing Committee was approved and adopted.
The Nominating Committee then reported through its Chairman, Mrs.
O. D. Corey, proposing the following officers for 1934-35: President—
Miss Mary Ellsworth, Omaha; Vice-President—Mr. L. M. Gates, Lincoln;
Secretary-Treasurer—Prof. M. H. Swenk, Lincoln. On motion this re¬
port was unanimously approved, and the Secretary was authorized to
cast the ballot of the society for the persons nominated by its committee.
The Resolutions Committee requested that its report be postponed until
after the banquet, which request was granted by the President.

New business being in order at this point, the 1935 meeting-place was
discussed. The Secretary-Treasurer extended an invitation for the

N. O. U. to meet in Lincoln in May, 1935. On motion of Mr. Fred East¬
man, the determining of the place of meeting for 1935 was left to the
Executive Committee, which was instructed to be in a receptive mood
toward any invitation to join with the Iowa Ornithologists' Union in a
joint meeting at Sioux City in May, 1935. The N. O. U. also pledged its
cooperation with the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union and the Sioux City Bird
Club in making the proposed meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Club
at Sioux City in the fall of 1936, a success.

The business meeting being concluded at 2:00 P. M., a tour of the
Joslyn Memorial building was made by the members, following guides
provided especially for the N. O. U. by the Joslyn Memorial, and ending
with the N. O. U. exhibit room. Every one expressed pleasure in this
opportunity to view to advantage this splendid building.

The afternoon program in the Lecture Hall began at 3:00 P. M. with
an interesting address of welcome by Mayor Roy N. Towl of Omaha, a

THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING

charter member and Vice-President of the Fontenelle Forest Associa¬
tion. Mr. Towl emphasized the value of bird study as a means of the
individual employing leisure time with great returns, both physically
and educationally. A fitting response was made by President McKillip.
At 3:15 P. M., Mr. George Scheer of Council Bluffs, Iowa, in a scholarly
paper, discussed “Prince Maximilian of Wied from the Historical View¬
point”, pointing out some of the errors regarding the history of this
period that have come to be more or less generally accepted. This was
followed by a discussion of “Prince Maximilian of Wied as a Nebraska
Ornithologist” by Prof. M. H. Swenk at 3:45 P. M„ in which some of the
observations on Nebraska birds made by this pioneer ornithologist as he
passed up and again down the Missouri River, along the eastern bound¬
ary of our state, between April 26 and May 13, 1833, and again between
May 5 and 14, 1834, were given. At 4:00 P. M., Mr. Frank T. B. Martin
of Omaha showed moving pictures of “The Forest Lawn Bird Sanctu¬
ary”. This was followed at 4:20 P. M. by a most enjoyable lecture on
“Wild Flowers of the Fontenelle Forest”, beautifully illustrated with
colored slides, by Mr. Victor Overman of Omaha. The program was
concluded by a practical talk on “Trees of the Nebraska Forests”, by
Mr. Fred Eastman of Omaha, beginning at 4:40 P. M. Adjournment
came at 5:10 P. M.

In connection with this meeting, a special exhibit was set up in one
of the rooms of the Joslyn Memorial, close to the Lecture Hall where
the programs were held. This exhibit was open from 10:00 A. M. to
5:00 P. M., on: both Friday and Saturday. It included a display of de¬
vices for attracting birds to bird sanctuaries and to homes, such as bird
boxes, feeding trays and bird baths, provided through the courtesy of
our N. O. U. members, Messrs. Dana Anderson and H. J. Fischer of St.
Edward. Several new numbers in the series of water-color bird paint¬
ings that are being prepared for the projected publications of the N.
O. U. on the birds of Nebraska by Miss Iva Swenk were represented by
a selection of subjects. A series of photographs of living birds, by Mr.
Thomas R, Gardner, and of wild flowers by Mr. Victor Overman, both of
Omaha, were also on display. Through the courtesy of the Omaha
Public library there was an exhibit of bird books, including John J. Audu¬
bon’s Birds of America, published in New York in eight volumes, in 1839,
with 70 colored plates, and Alexander Wilson’s American Ornithology,
published in three volumes, in London, in 1876. Last, but far from least,
may be mentioned an exhibit relating to the century-ago visit to Ne¬
braska of the ornithologist Prince Maximilian of Wied. This Maximilian
exhibit included a copy of the original German edition of the Reise in das
Innere Nord-Amerika, with the accompanying large portfolio, including
some Nebraska views, owned by the Nebraska State Historical Society,
and also a bust of Prince Maximilian which Dr. Addison E. Shelcfon,
Secretary of the Nebraska State Historical Society, obtained at his
palace on the Rhine in December, 1918. Both of these extraordinary
exhibits were made possible through the courtesy of Dr. Sheldon. There
was also an exhibit of quotations from Maximilian’s book, as translated
by Dr. Sheldon and published in his History and Stories of Nebraska, shown
with his permission, giving the beautiful and poetic descriptions by
Maximilian of the primeval Nebraska forest and its life, which was then
barely touched by the white man’s ax and was still dominated by the
Indians. These quotations were illustrated by a dozen or more water
color paintings, made especially for this exhibit by Mr. Thomas R. Kim¬
ball, Omaha’s widely known ai*chitect and artist, and a charter member
of the Fontenelle Forest Association, and his pupils. Maps, paintings
and photographs of the Fontenelle Forest Reserve were shown, this
Reserve having been created to preserve as far as possible a remnant
of this primeval forest for future generations.

The annual N. O. U. banquet was held at 6:30 P. M. at the Knights of

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Columbus Club, 2027 Dodge Street, which is almost directly across the
street from the Joslyn Memorial. Forty-seven persons were present.
At the close of the dinner, those present were vastly entertained by a
humorous Swedish dialect talk by our member, Mrs. R. E. Chesebrough
of Omaha, who is “Hilda”, familiar to listeners over KOIL on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays between 1:15 P. M. and 2:00 P. M., and occa¬
sionally also over KFAB. President McKillip then called for the report
of the Committee on Resolutions, and through the Chairman of the
Committee, Mrs. Glen Chapman, the following were presented:

Whereas, the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union is now holding its thirty-
fifth annual meeting in Omaha, and has been the recipient of many
courtesies and kindnesses, therefore be it

Resolved, that we extend our grateful appreciation and heartiest
thanks to the trustees of the Society of Liberal Arts, in charge of the
Joslyn Memorial, for the use of that beautiful building for our meetings;
to Mr. Roy N. Towl, Mayor of Omaha, and to the Chamber of Commerce
of the City of Omaha, for their cordial welcome to us and for our
badges; to the Fontenelle Forest Association and the Omaha Nature
Study Club, whose committee, Mr. L. O. Horsky, Mr. Fred Eastman,
Mr. Martin E. Larson, Miss Elizabeth Rooney and Miss Mary Ellsworth,
have by their efficient planning, made this one of our most educational
as well as enjoyable conventions; to Miss Iva Swenk for her remarkable
exhibit of water color bird paintings; to Dr. Thomas Gardner for his
series of photographs of living birds; to Mr. Victor Overman for his
series of wild flower photographs; to Mr. Dana Anderson for his display
of devices for attracting birds to bird sanctuaries and to homes; to Dr.
Addison E. Sheldon and to Mr. George Scheer for their courtesy in
loaning the Maximilian exhibit; to Mr. Thomas R. Kimball for his water
color paintings, and the maps and photographs supplementing the Maxi¬
milian exhibit; to the Colorado Museum of Natural History through
Director J. D. Figgins and Mr. R. J. Niedrach, and to the National
Museum of Canada through Acting Director W. H. Collins, for the
courtesy of loaning us the reels of pictures of bird life for our evening
program; and to all local citizens who have assisted in the program and
helped to make our stay enjoyable; and

Whereas, during the year we have mourned the passing of Mr. F. G.
Collins, whose voice was often heard in radio bird talks; Mrs. A. T.
Hill, one of our newer members; and Dr. R. H. Wolcott, a pioneer in
Nebraska ornithology; therefore be it

Resolved, that we express our appreciation of their membership in the
Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, and of their interest and helpfulness in
our organization, as well as our sense of deep loss in their passing; and
be it also

Resolved, that the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union express its general
approval of the conservation program of the Nebraska State Game,
Forestation and Parks Commission, and of its efficient Secretary, Mr.
Frank B. O’Connell, whose interest in Nebraska bird life and its con¬
servation is recognized, and that we recommend to the Commission and
the Governor the retention of the services of this able public servant;
and

Whereas, the Omaha Nature Study Club at its meeting on May 6,
1934, adopted the following resolutions:

“Whereas, the destruction of sea birds and fish is steadily increasing,
and has now reached the point where it has become a fearful scourge,
by reason of the discharge of oils from oil burning vessels at sea and in
harbors, and

“Whereas, this evil cannot be checked without the cooperation of other
nations, therefore be it

“Resolved, that the good offices of President Roosevelt be sought with

THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING

a view to having the subject considered by the League of Nations, to
secure concerted action by the United States and foreign countries;”
therefore be it

Resolved, that the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union endorse this action
of the Omaha Nature Study Club and join with it in urging the action
indicated.

On motion, the resolutions as read were approved and adopted, after
which the members made their way back to the Joslyn Memorial for the
evening program.

At 7:30 P. M., through the courtesy of Director J. D. Figgins and our
honorary member Mr. R. J. Niedrach, both of the Colorado Museum of
Natural History, and also through the courtesy of the National Museum
of Canada, especially of Acting Director W. H. Collins of that institu¬
tion, there were shown seven reels of bird life in the Lecture Hall of
the Joslyn Memorial. The three reels from the Colorado Museum of
Natural History showed splendidly scenes in the life history of the
Common Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern
King Rail, Northern American Coot, Piping Plover, Northern Killdeer,
Upland Plover, American Black Tern, Prairie Horned Lark, Long-billed
Marsh Wren, Robin, Brown Thrasher, Red-eyed Eastern Towhee, Field
Sparrow and Song Sparrow. The photography was the work of Messrs.
Alfred M. Bailey and R. J. Niedrach. The four reels of Canadian bird
life were taken by Mr. P. A. Taverner, Dominion Ornithologist. Two
reels dealt with “Some Birds of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence”, and illus¬
trated the Double-crested Cormorant, Common Cormorant, Gannet,
Eider Duck, American Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Tern,
Razor-billed Auk, Black Guillemot, Common Murre and Puffin. The
two other reels of Canadian bird life dealt with the Holboell Red-necked
Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Ruddy Duck, Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson
Hawk, Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Northern Amer¬
ican Coot, yellow-legs, Dowitcher, godwits, Wilson Phalarope, Franklin
Gull, American Black Tern, Nighthawk, Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern
Kingbird, Northern Say Phoebe, Black-capped Chickadee, Common Rock
Wren, Yellow-headed Blackbird and Red-winged Blackbird. Over 400
people viewed these films, and expressed much pleasure over them.
They were interpreted by a running comment by M. H. Swenk. When,
at 8:30 P. M. a short recess was taken to permit those who so desired
to attend a concert being given at that hour by the Matinee Musicale of
Omaha, in the Concert Hall of the Joslyn Memorial, only a relatively
small number of persons in the audience elected not to remain through
these moving pictures of bird life.

Thirty-six members of the N. O. U. were present at this thirty-fifth
annual meeting, as follows: Mesdames Dana Anderson, C. W. Andrews,
A. H. Bivans, Lily R. Button, Glen Chapman, R. E. Chesebrough, Carl
Cfollister, O. D. Corey, Jessie Dettman, H. J. Fischer, John D. Fuller,
Paul T. Heineman, L. 0. Horsky, Ruth Howard, H. C. Johnston, A. H.
Jones, E. R. Maunder, L. H. McKillip, O. W. Ritchey, Addison E. Shel¬
don and M. H. Swenk; Misses Emma Ellsworth, Mary Ellsworth, Eliza¬
beth Rooney, Mary St. Martin, Elfie Swanson, M. Caryle Sylla and
Florence Taylor; and Messrs. Dana Anderson, L. C. Denise, Fred East¬
man, H. J. Fischer, L. O. Horsky, Martin E. Larson, Henry Scherer and
M. H. Swenk. Guests of members attending the programs or the ban¬
quet included Mrs. Fred Eastman, Mrs. Greer, Miss Jeannette McDonald,
Miss Alma Peters, Miss Sasstrom, Miss Scott, Dr. Mabel Sasstrom and
Mr. Frank Howard, all of Omaha; Mrs. J. R. Vinchel of Arlington;
Mrs. Blanche Scott Lee of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Miss Iva Swenk of
Lincoln; Miss Mary E. Nothomb of Wahoo; and Miss Rose M. Anderson
of St. Edward.

Myron H. Swenk, Secretary-Treasurer, N. O. U.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

REPORT ON THE THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL FIELD DAY
OF THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION

On Saturday, May 19, the Thirty-second Annual Field Day of the
N. O. U. was held. The day was entirely clear and quite warm, reaching
95° F. during the hottest part of the day. There was a moderate south
wind. The field party numbered about sixty persons. The start was
made in two groups, one at 6:00 A. M. and the other at 6:30 A. M., both
from Dodge Street just south of the Joslyn Memorial. Visit was made
to the 700-acre Fontenelle Forest Reserve and the adjoining 1500-acre
Dr. Harold Gifford Estate. Provision was made both for those desiring
a strenuous walk through the forest and for those wishing to limit their
walking. Noonday lunch was served at Camp Gifford, Omaha’s Boy
Scout camp, with the Omaha Nature Study Club as hosts. In the after¬
noon, the nesting colonies of Eastern Great Blue and American Black-
crowned Night Herons on the Gifford Estate on the Iowa side of the
river were visited, and a trip made to Carter Lake for a study of the
water birds. The heat and drouth detracted greatly from the enjoyment
of the Field Day, and reduced the number of species of birds observed.

The composite list for the day totalled 79 birds, as follows: Eastern
Great Blue Heron, Eastern Green Heron, American Black-crowned Night
Heron, Shoveller, Canvas-back, Lesser Scaup, Marsh Hawk, Eastern
Bob-white, Eastern Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral
Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Wilson Phalarope, American Black Tern,
Western Mourning Dove, Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern (?)
Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Eastern Belted Kingfisher, Northern Yellow-
shafted Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, East¬
ern Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird,
Northern Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Acadian Flycatcher,
Alder Traill Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Common Bank Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow,
Barn Swallow, Northern Purple Martin, Northern Blue Jay, Eastern
Crow, Eastern Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern White¬
breasted Nuthatch, Western House Wren, Catbird, Brown Thrasher,
Eastern Robin, Wood Thrush, Olive-backed Swainson Thrush, Eastern
Common Bluebird, Eastern Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Migrant Loggerhead
Shrike, Northern Bell Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo,
Eastern Warbling Vireo, Black and White Warbler, Tennessee Warbler,
Eastern Yellow Warbler, Black-poll Warbler, Ovenbird, Grinnell Common
Water-Thrush, Kentucky Warbler, Northern Maryland Yellow-throat,
American Redstart, Western Meadowlark, Eastern Red-winged Black¬
bird, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Bronzed Grackle, Eastern Cow-
bird, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo
Bunting, Dickcissel, Eastern American Goldfinch, Red-eyed Eastern
Towhee, Western Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Chipping Sparrow and
Western Field Sparrow.

An all-day field trip by auto was held on Sunday, May 20, in conjunc¬
tion with the Omaha Nature Study Club and the Rocks and Minerals
Association of Omaha. The joint parties met in front of the Joslyn
Memorial on Dodge Street between 23rd and 24th Streets at 9:00 A. M.
and proceeded by automobile to Meadow, Sarpy County, and thence west
along the Platte River to the State Fish Hatcheries six miles west, noting
the bird life on this scenic drive. From the Fish Hatcheries return was
made to Meadow, where the Platte River was crossed and a visit made
to the nesting colony of the Eastern Cliff Swallow in the vicinity of
Louisville, at which locality the interesting and commercially important
rock and sand formations were studied. From Louisville, the party pro¬
ceeded on south to the Weeping Water vicinity, to note the bird life
along picturesque Weeping Water Creek and to view carboniferous lime-

MEMBERSHIP ROLL

stone, polished and grooved by glacial action. From there the drive
was made east to the vicinity of Nehawka to study rock formation in
quarry and the ancient Indian houses and flint mines. These latter were
explained by Dr. Robert F. Gilder, the pioneer Nebraska archeologist of
Omaha. The Indian house sites are estimated to be at least 500 years
old. Dr. G. H. Gilmore was secured to address the group at the site of
one of the Indian houses recently opened by him. As local director,
Mr. Victor Overman led in the study of the rock formations on this
annual field day of the Rocks and Minerals Association.

MEMBERSHIP ROLL OF THE NEBRASKA
ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION

HONORARY MEMBERS

* Bruner, Prof. Lawrence, 3033 Deakin Street, Berkeley, California. .1900
Grinnell, Dr. Joseph, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of

California, Berkeley, California ..1932

Hole, Mrs. H. F., 1610 Ivy Street, Crete, Nebraska.1919

Loveland, Mrs. G. A., River Road, Norwich, Vermont.1901

Niedrach, Mr. Robert J., Colorado Museum of Natural History,

Denver, Colorado .1932

Oberholser, Dr. H. C., 2805 18th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.. .1924

Stephens, Dr. T. C., Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa.1911

Zimmer, Mr. John T., American Museum of Natural History, Cen¬
tral Park, New York, New York.1907

ACTIVE MEMBERS

Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Adison, 1812 West 4th Street, Hastings, Ne¬
braska .1927

Aldrich, Mrs. John, 849 Washington Street, Superior, Nebraska. . .1933

Allen, Mrs. Harry B., Route 4, Cozad, Nebraska.1933

Alter, Mr. I. R., First National Bank, Grand Island, Nebraska. .. .1934

Anderson, Mrs. Charles W., Arlington, Nebraska.1934

Anderson, Mr. Dana, St. Edward, Nebraska.1933

Anderson, Mrs. Dana, St. Edward, Nebraska.1934

Appleget, Mrs. Willard D., 1314 North 9th Street, Beatrice, Ne¬
braska .1933

Babcock, Mrs. E. C., 1127 South 22nd Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. . .1926

Back, Mr. George, Gothenburg, Nebraska.1934

Baldrige, Mr. Joseph, 141 North 39th Street, Omaha, Nebraska. .. .1932
Beed, Mr. Watson E., 1633 North 62nd Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. .1933

Binderup, Mr. V. W., Minden, Nebraska. ..1929

Bivans, Mrs. A. H., 1418 E. 2nd Street, North Platte, Nebraska. . .1934
Black, Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus A., 1404 Tenth Avenue, Kearney, Ne¬
braska .1902

Blinco, Mr. George, 411 Morehead Street, Chadron, Nebraska.1933

Blinco, Mrs. George, 411 Morehead Street, Chadron, Nebraska.1919

Brooking, Mr. and Mrs. A. M., 622 East 7th Street, Hastings, Ne¬
braska .1918

Brooks, Mr. W. E., Elgin, Nebraska.1934

Burnett, Mrs. E. A., 3256 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.1933

Button, Mrs. Lily Ruegg, 616 West 8th Street, Fremont, Nebraska. 1915
Callaway, Misses Susie and Agness, R, F. D. No. 3, Fairbury, Ne¬
braska .1925

Calvert, Miss Bertha, 5715 North 30th Street, Omaha, Nebraska. . .1934

* Charter Member.

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Cash, Mr. Ben L., 2904 North 59th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.1934

Chapman, Mrs. Glen, Aurora, Nebraska.1927

Chesebrough, Mrs. R. E., 4311 Cass Street, Omaha, Nebraska.1933

Collister, Mrs. Carl, North Platte, Nebraska.1934

Corey, Mr. O. D., 3040 Georgian Court, Lincoln, Nebraska.1925

Corey, Mrs. 0. D., 3040 Georgian Court, Lincoln, Nebraska.1921

Cross, Miss Fannie B., 4th Street Apartment, Fairbury, Nebraska. .1933

Day, Mr. Fred I., 210 East 6th Street, Superior, Nebraska.1933

Day, Mrs. George L., 631 Kansas Avenue, Superior, Nebraska.1923

Day, Miss Marian, 631 Kansas Avenue, Superior, Nebraska.1932

Denise, Rev. Larimore C., 2020 Spencer Street, Omaha, Nebraska.. 1928

Dille, Mr. Fred M„ P. O. Box 428, Rapid City, South Dakota.1921

Disbrow, Miss Marjorie, 5829 Florence Blvd., Omaha, Nebraska... .1934

Eastman, Mr. Fred, 2628 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska.1925

Ellsworth, Miss Emma, 3107 Redick Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska... .1925

Ellsworth, Miss Mary, 3107 Redick Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.1917

Fischer, Mr. and Mrs. Herman J., St. Edward, Nebraska.1934

Fitzpatrick, Prof. T. J., 211 Bessey Hall, University of Nebraska,

Lincoln, Nebraska .1934

Fuller, Mrs. J. D., 609 North Denver Avenue, Hastings, Nebraska. .1930
Gates, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy M., 5234 Adams Street, Lincoln, Ne¬
braska .1913

Gere, Miss Ellen, 2811 South 24th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.1933

Glandon, Mr. and Mrs. Earl W., Stapleton, Nebraska.1933

Greenleaf, Mr. Miles, 4806 Douglas Street. Omaha, Nebraska.1933

Griffin, Mrs. Rosalind M., Hardy, Nebraska.1924

Hall, Mrs. J. W., Mitchell, Nebraska..1926

Hansen, Miss Carrie C., 820 North Denver Avenue, Hastings, Ne¬
braska .1933

Hart, Mr. Charles K., Prosser, Nebraska.1921

Hart, Mrs. Charles K., Prosser, Nebraska.1925

Hauke, Mr. Harold A., Shelton, Nebraska.1933

Heineman, Mrs. Paul T., Plattsmouth, Nebraska.1933

Helvey, Mr. Frank E., 711 Terminal Building, Lincoln, Nebraska. . 1933

Hilton, Dr. David C., 305 Richards Block, Lincoln. Nebraska.1909

Himmel, Prof. Walter J., Bessey Hall 309, University of Nebraska,

Lincoln, Nebraska .1933

Hitchcock, Mr. and Mrs. O. J., 4206 Touzalin Avenue, Lincoln, Ne¬
braska .1933

Hollman, Mr. and Mrs. Carl, 1106 W. 5th Street, North Platte, Ne¬
braska .1934

Holly, Miss Bertha, 922 6th Street, Fairbury, Nebraska.1927

Holly, Mrs. J. Franklyn, Angelus Apartment No. 21, Omaha, Ne¬
braska .1933

Horsky, Mr. and Mrs. L. O., 5952 Franklin Street, Omaha, Ne¬
braska .1910

Hudson. Mr. George E., Bessey Hall 223, University of Nebraska,

Lincoln, Nebraska .1933

Hudson, Mrs. Lulu Kortz, Simeon, Nebraska.1919

Johnston, Mrs. H. C., 856 Idaho Street, Superior, Nebraska.1919

Jones, Mrs. A. H., 1114 North Denver Avenue, Hastings, Nebraska. 1924

Jones, Mr. Harold C., 352 West College Street. Oberlin. Ohio.1933

Kimball. Miss Frances, 614 W. A Street, North Platte, Nebraska. . .1934

Koch, Mrs. H. C., 1620 Otoe Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.1931

Krohn, Miss Bertha, 1837 C Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.1933

Larson, Mr. Martin E., 3320 Burt Street, Omaha, Nebraska.1925

Lionberger, Mrs. Earle L., 333 Kansas Avenue, Superior, Nebraska. 1925

MEMBERSHIP ROLL

Ludlow, Mr. Charles S., R. R. No. 4, Box 137, Red Cloud, Nebraska. 1912
McCreary, Mr. Otto, Agricultural Hall, University of Wyoming,

Laramie, Wyoming .1930

McKillip, Mrs. L. H., 149 North 15th Street, Seward, Nebraska... .1919
Mahoney, Miss Ellen, 2104 Davenport Street, Omaha, Nebraska.. .1934
Marsh, Mr. William, 4157 Davenport Street, Omaha, Nebraska... .1933

Marshall, Mr. D. B., 5211 Jackson Street, Omaha, Nebraska.1934

Mauck, Miss Ruth M., Box No. 7, Nelson, Nebraska.1933

Maunder, Mrs. E. R. and Miss Vera, 818 Ash Avenue, Hastings,

Nebraska.1933

Mitchell, Dr. C. A., 2565 Crown Point Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.. .1926

Mitchell, Miss Lucy, 930 Idaho Street, Superior, Nebraska.1933

Morrison, Mr. John L., 640 South 55th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. . 1934

Nason, Miss Helen, 745 North 57th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.1933

Norris, Mrs. R. E., Weeping Water. Nebraska.1933

Northrup, Mrs. David, 2720 Ames Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.1933

Omaha Public Library, Miss Blanche Hammond, Librarian, Omaha,

Nebraska .1907

Overing, Mr. Robert, Landover, Maryland.1928

Pearson, Mr. Clyde E., c/o First National Bank, Genoa, Nebraska. .1934
Philpot, Miss Mayme, 3621 South 24th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.. .1934

Ren, Mrs. Walter, Box 144, Oak, Nebraska.1933

Richardson, Mrs. Charles, Fairbury, Nebraska.1924

Ritchey, Mrs. O. W., David City, Nebraska.1933

Robbins, Miss Ida L., 1941 B Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.1933

Rooney, Miss Elizabeth, 2802 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska.1915

St. Martin, Miss Mary, 244 Chestnut Street, Wahoo, Nebraska. . . .1920

Scherer, Rev. Henry, 4324 Marcy Street, Omaha, Nebraska.1934

Sheldon, Mr. and Mrs. Addison E., 1319 South 23rd Street, Lincoln,

Nebraska .1904

Slocum, Miss June M., 4512 South 22nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska. .1925
Smith, Mr. and Mrs. George O., 1837 C Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. .1923

Staley, Mrs. A. H., 1212 West 7th Street, Hastings, Nebraska.1930

Stipsky. Mr. Joseph E., Hooper, Nebraska.1928

Swain, Mrs. J. R., Greeley, Nebraska.1926

Swanson, Miss Elfie, 119 North 40th Street, Omaha, Nebraska. .. .1933
*Swenk, Mr. and Mrs. Myron H., 1410 North 37th Street, Lincoln,

Nebraska .1900

Sylla, Miss M. Caryle, 808 North Denver Avenue, Hastings, Ne¬
braska .1928

Taylor, Miss Florence (Omaha Public Library), 2618 Davenport

Street, Omaha, Nebraska.1931

Taylor, Miss Mollie A., Battle Creek, Nebraska.1930

Timmler, Mr. Rudolph, 3136 North 57th Street, Omaha, Nebraska. .1933
*Tout, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Tribune Printing Company, North

Platte, Nebraska .1900

Towne, Miss Mary A., 1502 North 54th Street, Omaha, Nebraska. .1932

Trine, Mrs. George W., Red Cloud, Nebraska.1923

Turner, Mr. Harold, Route 2, Bladen, Nebraska.1933

Watson, Mr. Lucius H., 4123 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, Nebraska.. .1917
Weakley, Mr. and Mrs. Harry, Experimental Substation, North

Platte, Nebraska .1934

Wilson, Miss Louisa E., 3103 South 35th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1924
Wilson, Miss Susan, 1010 First National Bank Building, Omaha,

Nebraska .1933

Wing, Mr. M. J., Associated Press, Lincoln Star Building, Lincoln,
Nebraska .1933

PUBLISHED LISTS OF THE BIRDS OF NEBRASKA

1878. Notes on the Nature of the Food of the Birds of Nebraska.
By Prof. Samuel Aughey. First Report of the United States
Entomological Commission, Appendix ii, pp. 13-62. Wash¬
ington: Government Printing Office. Lists 251 native
species and subspecies.

1888. A Catalogue of Nebraska Birds Arranged According to the
Check List of the American Ornithological Union. (By)
W. Edgar Taylor, State Normal, Peru, Nebraska. Annual
Report of the State Board of Agriculture for the Year
1887, pp. 111-118. Lincoln, Neb.: State Journal Company.
Lists 314 species and subspecies.

1888-89. Notes on Nebraska Birds. By W. Edgar Taylor and A. H.

Van Vleet, Peru, Nebraska. Ornithologist and Oologist,
xiii, No. 4, pp. 49-51 (April); No. 11, pp. 169-172 (Novem¬
ber); xiv, pp. 163-165 (November). (No more published).
Notes on 137 native species and subspecies.

1896. Some Notes on Nebraska Birds. (By) Lawrence Bruner.

Annual Report of the Nebraska State Horticultural So¬
ciety for the Year 1896, pp. 48-178. Lincoln, Neb.: Pub¬
lished by the State. Reprinted under same title with
addition of: A List of the Species and Subspecies Found
in the State, with Notes on their Distribution, Food-
Habits, etc. Corrected to April 22d, 1896. Lists 415 na¬
tive species and subspecies.

1904. A Preliminary Review of the Birds of Nebraska With
Synopses. By Lawrence Bruner, Robert H. Wolcott (and)
Myron H. Swenk. Annual Report Nebraska State Board
of Agriculture for the Year 1903, pp. 1-127 (separately
paged from body of report). Omaha, Neb.: Klopp &
Bartlett Co. Reprinted, with revisions, in separate form.
Lists 399 native species and subspecies.

1908. Field Check-List of Nebraska Birds. (By Myron H. Swenk).

Published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, pp. 1-4.
July, 1908. Lists 404 native species and subspecies.

1909. An Analysis of Nebraska’s Bird Fauna. By Robert H. Wol¬

cott. Proceedings of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union,
iv, part 2, pp. 25-55, plates i-v. August 25, 1909. Lists
404 native species and subspecies.

1915. The Birds and Mammals of Nebraska. By Myron H. Swenk.

The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register (for)
1915, pp. 835-855. A Publication of the Nebraska Legis¬
lative Reference Bureau, Addison E. Sheldon, Editor, Lin¬
coln. Lists 418 native species and subspecies.

1918. The Birds and Mammals of Nebraska. By Myron H. Swenk.

Ibidem (for) 1918, pp. 392-411. Reprinted as Contribution
of the Department of Entomology, University of Ne¬
braska, No. 23, pp. 1-21; March, 1919. Lists 427 native
species and subspecies.

1920. The Birds and Mammals of Nebraska. By Myron H. Swenk.

Ibidem (for) 1920, pp. 464-483. Lists 431 native species
and subspecies.

Present (unpublished) list is 461 native species and subspecies.

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

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Nebraska Bird Review

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union

10-1934

WHOLE ISSUE Nebraska Bird Review (Oct 1934)
2(4)

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Nebraska Bird Review (October 1934) 2(4), WHOLE ISSUE.
Copyright 1934, Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. Used by permission.

VOLUME II OCTOBER, 1934 NUMBER 4

THE

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

A Review of Nebraska Ornithology

Published quarterly, in January, April, July and October by the Ne¬
braska Ornithologists’ Union, as its official journal, at Lincoln, Nebraska,
U. S. A.

Sent free as issued to all members of the N. O. U. who are not in
arrears for dues (one dollar a year). Subscriptions taken from non¬
members, libraries and institutions at one dollar a year in the United
States, and at one dollar and twenty-five cents a year in all other
countries, payable in advance. Single numbers twenty-five cents each.
All dues and subscriptions should be remitted to the Secretary-Treasurer.

Edited by Myron H. Swenk, 1410 North Thirty-seventh Street, Lin¬
coln, Nebraska. Articles or notes for publication should be in the hands
of the Editor by the first day of the month of publication.

OFFICERS OF THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION FOR
1934-35

President.Miss Mary Ellsworth, 3107 Redick Avenue, Omaha, Nebr.

Vice-President.L. M. Gates, 5234 Adams Street, Lincoln, Nebr.

Secretary-Treasurer.Myron H. Swenk, Lincoln, Nebr.

CONTENTS

Page

A Systematic Analysis of the Measurements of 404 Nebraska
Specimens of Geese of the Branta Canadensis Group,
Formerly Contained in the D. H. Talbot Collection. By

Philip A. DuMont and Myron H. Swenk. 103

General Notes .117

Editorial Page . 122

The 1934 Migration Season... 123

Here and There with the N. 0. U. Members. 126

A Brief Synopsis of the Birds of Nebraska.

III. Totipalmate Swimmers (Pelecaniformes). 128

A History of Nebraska Ornithology. I. The Ancient Period

(Continued). Aboriginal Man and Bird Life. 137

Index . 144

More Important Published Lists of the Birds of States Adja¬
cent to Nebraska. 152

Actual date of publication, October 19, 1934

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

A Review of Nebraska Ornithology
Published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union

VOLUME II OCTOBER, 1934 NUMBER 4

A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE MEASUREMENTS OF
404 NEBRASKA SPECIMENS OF GEESE OF THE
BRANT A CANADENSIS GROUP, FORMERLY
CONTAINED IN THE D. H. TALBOT
COLLECTION

By PHILIP A. DUMONT and MYRON H. SWENK

During the falls of 1884, 1885 and 1886, and the spring of 1885, the
late D. H. Talbot and his collectors secured a series of 593 specimens of
the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) from the Mississippi Valley area,
this probably comprising the largest series of this type of goose ever
assembled from a single region. Four hundred and four of these speci¬
mens were collected in central Nebraska, twenty-six were taken in
northwestern Iowa, and a few were secured in South Dakota and Texas.
The remainder were without data. These specimens were stored for
some time in packing cases on the Talbot farm near Sioux City, Iowa,
prior to the donation of the entire series to the Museum of Natural
History of the University of Iowa in the late 1880’s or very early 1890’s.
During this period of storage many of the specimens became grease-
burned, dermestids caused depredations among them, and labels became
soiled or lost. In 1923, Professor C. C. Nutting, Director of the
Museum, gave a series of thirty-two of these specimens (twenty-two of
which were from Nebraska) to the Biological Survey of the U. S. De¬
partment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Later the residue of the
series was removed from the Museum and burned.

Fortunately, a complete record of these geese has been preserved in a
thesis written by Frank Russell at the University of Iowa in 1892. This
dissertation, entitled “Variation of Birds in a State of Nature”, contains
measurements of 500 of the Canada Geese. It contains also, incidentally,
measurements of 250 selected specimens of meadowlarks from Iowa,
Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas; of 100 specimens of the Bob-white
from the same states; of fifty specimens of the Snowy Owl from Iowa,
Nebraska and South Dakota; of twenty-five specimens of the Man-o’-
war-bird from Texas, and so on. All of the specimens listed were
secured by or through Mr. Talbot. While the purpose of Russell’s thesis
was to corroborate Darwin’s theory of individual variation, as opposed
to the doctrine of special creation, still its greatest value is in the
preservation of these measurements.

In Russell’s thesis the total length of the bird, as measured in the
flesh, was taken from the field label. A summary of these measurements
of total length discloses that three males, three females, and six of
unindicated sex, had a length of between 23 and 25 inches; that one
hundred and thirteen males, one hundred and twenty-five females, and
fifty-seven of unindicated sex, had a length of between 25 and 34 inches;
and" that twenty-five males, seven females, and ten the sex of which was
not indicated, had a length of between 34 and 42 inches. But the meas¬
urements of the lengths of the wing, exposed culmen, tarsus and middle
toe were all taken by Russell directly from the specimens themselves.

— 103 —

104

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

As to the accuracy of Russell’s measurements of these specimens, it may
be stated that Dr. H. C. Oberholser recently verified the measurements
of four of the specimens from Iowa. Two of his wing measurements
agreed exactly with Russell’s figures; the other two Dr. Oberholser
found to be .13 inch and .20 inch greater, respectively, than the measure¬
ments given by Russell. Culmen measurements agreed nicely, but
Russell’s tarsal figures were a little high. On the whole, however, it is
evident that reliance can be placed in the approximate accuracy of Rus¬
sell’s measurements. The measurements, as taken by Russell, of the
wing, exposed culmen and tarsus of the 404 Nebraska specimens are
given below in inches, under the number assigned by him to each speci¬
men, together with the sex of the same where it was indicated on the
original label, arranged in order from smallest to largest.

TABLE 1. Measurements in Inches of the Wing, Culmen and Tarsus of
404 Specimens of Geese of the Branta Canadensis Group Taken by
Frank Russell and Recorded in His Thesis.

Russell’s

Number

Sex

Wing

Culmen

T arsus

Russell’s

Number

Seje

Wing

Culmen

Tarsus

12.50

1.50

2.70

383

15.00

1.60

2.90

246

13.50

1.50

2.60

256

15.00

1.60

3.00

201

13.75

1.40

2.70

412

15.00

1.60

3.30

441

14.00

1.50

2.40

182

15.00

1.70

3.00

235

14.00

1.60

2.80

307

15.00

1.70

3.00

244

—

14.00

1.60

2.80

427

15.00

1.70

3.00

184

14.00

1.70

2.70

15.00

1.70

3.10

263

14.00

1.70

2.90

192

15.00

1.70

3.10

145

14.00

1.80

3.00

264

15.00

1.70

3.10

252

14.50

1.50

2.90

272

15.00

1.70

3.10

284

14.50

1.50

3.00

410

15.00

3.10

14.50

1.60

2.70

411

15.00

1.70

3.10

142

14.50

1.60

2.80

262

15.00

1.80

3.00

14.50

1.70

3.00

398

15.00

1.90

3.00

440

14.70

1.40

2.70

495

15.00

2.50

3.10

14.75

1.50

2.60

332

15.25

1.40

2.90

374

15.00

1.30

2.80

203

15.25

1.50

2.80

245

15.00

1.40

2.80

178

15.25

1.60

3.00

196

15.00

1.40

2.90

291

15.25

1.60

3.00

279

15.00

1.40

2.90

282

15.25

1.60

3.10

312

15.00

1.40

2.90

305

15.25

1.60

3.10

260

15.00

1.40

3.00

117

15.25

1.80

3.00

343

15.00

1.40

3.00

166

15.25

2.00

3.00

15.00

1.50

2.70

15.50

1.40

2.60

287

15.00

1.50

2.70

15.50

1.40

2.80

104

15.00

1.50

2.80

298

15.50

1.40

2.80

207

15.00

1.50

2.80

151

15.50

1.40

3.10

270

15.00

1.50

2.80

15.50

1.50

2.60

294

15.00

1.50

2.80

15.50

1.50

2.70

304

15.00

1.50

2.80

148

15.50

1.50

2.70

226

15.00

1.50

2.bit

419

15.50

1.50

2.70

238

15.00

lift

2.90

255

15.50

1.50

2.80

258

15.00

1.50

2.90

429

15.50

1.60

2.50

259

1500

1.50

2.90

15.50

1.60

2.70

318

15.00

1.50

2.90

15.50

1.60

2.70

134

15.00

1.50

3 00

367

15.50

1.60

2.70

334

15.00

1.50

3.00

118

15.50

1.60

2.90

397

15.00

1.50

3.00

266

15.50

1.60

2.90

15.00

1.60

2.80

176

15.50

1.60

3.00

261

15.00

160

2.90

372

15.50

1.60

3.10

315

15.00

1.60

2.90

15.50

1.70

2.70

ANALYSIS OF 404 CANADA GEESE FROM NEBRASKA 105

Russell’s

Number

Sex

Wing

Culmen

Tarsus

Russell’s

Number

Sex

Wing

Tarsus

15.50

1.70

2.80

198

16.00

1.60

3.10

15.50

1.70

2.80

232

16.00

1.60

3.10

15.50

1.70

3.10

275

16.00

1.60

3.10

354

15.50

1.70

3.10

324

16.00

1.60

3.10

15.50

1.70

3.20

327

16.00

1.60

3.10

103

15.50

1.80

2.90

352

16.00

1.60

3.10

181

15.50

1.80

3.00

309

16.00

1.60

3.20

386

15.50

1.80

3.00

162

16.00

1.60

3.50

468

15.50

1.80

3.20

368

16.00

1.70

2.80

464

15.50

1.80

3.30

16.00

1.70

2.90

223

15.50

1.80

3.50

135

16.00

1.70

2.90

399

;

15.50

1.90

3.30

363

16.00

1.70

2.90

420

15.60

1.50

3.10

16.00

1.70

3.00

15.75

1.50

2.40

113

16.00

1.70

3.00

316

15.75

1.50

3.00

141

16.00

1.70

3.00

15.75

1.60

2.80

317

16.00

1.70

3.00

15.75

1.60

2.80

16.00

1.70

3.10

15.75

1.60

2.90

16.00

1.70

3.10

15.75

1.65

2.70

167

16.00

1.70

3.10

497

15.75

1.70

2.90

173

16.00

1.70

3.10

395

15.75

1.80

2.80

131

16.00

1.70

3.20

221

15.75

1.80

3.10

177

16.00

1.70

3.30

128

16.00

1.20

3.00

379

16.00

1.70

3.30

16.00

1.40

2.80

430

16.00

1.70

3.40

211

16.00

1.40

2.90

233

16.00

1.80

3.00

348

16.00

1.40

2.90

239

16.00

1.80

3.00

170

16.00

1.50

2.80

445

16.00

1.80

3.10

161

16.00

1.50

2.90

16.00

1.80

3.20

189

16.00

1.50

2.90

300

16.00

1.80

3.20

236

16.00

1.50

2.90

16.00

1.80

3.30

115

16.00

1.50

3.00

310

16.00

1.80

3.30

150

16.00

1.50

3.00

111

16.00

1.80

3.40

229

16.00

1.50

3.00

112

16.00

1.90

3.10

314

16.00

1.50

3.00

147

16.00

1.90

3.10

385

16.00

1.50

3.00

285

16,00

1.90

3.20

394

16.00

1.50

3.00

406

16.00

2.00

3.00

428

16.00

1.50

3.00

391

16.00

2.20

3.70

158

16.00

1.60

2.70

458

16.00

2.30

4.00

146

16.00

1.60

2.80

273

16.10

1.90

2.90

16.00

1.60

2.90

16.25

1.40

2.90

16.00

1.60

2.90

331

16.25

1.50

2.80

16.00

1.60

2.90

16.25

1.50

2.90

228

16.00

1.60

2.90

16.25

1.50

3.00

253

16.00

1.60

2.90

303

16.25

1.50

3.10

254

16.00

1.60

2.90

16.25

1.60

2.70

281

16.00

1.60

2.90

185

16.25

1.60

3.00

350

16.00

1.60

2.90

271

16.25

1.60

3.00

414

16.00

1.60

2.90

160

16.25

1.70

3.10

16.00

1.60

3.00

322

16.25

1.70

3.20

16.00

1.60

3.00

179

16.25

1.70

3.30

102

16.00

1.60

3.00

16.25

1.70

4.00

119

16.00

1.60

3.00

408

16.25

1.80

3.00

183

16.00

1.60

3.00

204

16.25

1.80

3.10

217

16.00

1.60

3.00

16.25

1.80

3.20

286

16.00

1.60

3.00

16.50

3.20

302

16.00

1.60

3.00

213

16.50

1.50

2.80

306

—

16.00

1.60

3.00

292

16.50

1.50

2.80

413

16.00

1.60

3.00

16.50

1.50

3.00

106

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Russell’s
N limber

Sex

Wing

Culmen

T arsus

Russell's

Number

Se.r

Wing

Culmen

Tarsus

431

16.50

1.50

3.00

405

17.00

1.50

3.30

439

16.50

1.50

3.00

17.00

1.60

2.90

209

16.50

1.60

2.80

154

17.00

1.60

3.00

432

16.50

1.60

2.90

345

17.00

1.60

3.20

110

16.50

1.60

3.00

433

17.00

1.60

3.30

194

16.50

1.60

3.00

17.00

1.70

2.90

242

16.50

1.60

3.00

17.00

1.70

3.00

283

16.50

1.60

3.00

378

c£

17.00

1.70

3.00

353

16.50

1.60

3.10

338

17.00

1.70

3.10

120

16.50

1.60

3.20

346

17.00

1.70

3.10

392

16.50

1.60

3.20

17.00

1.70

3.20

422

16.50

1.60

3.20

347

17.00

1.70

3.20

251

16.50

1.60

3.30

17.00

1.70

3.30

16.50

1.70

2.80

449

17.00

1.70

3.30

16.50

1.70

3.00

472

17.00

1.70

3.30

297

16.50

1.70

3.00

100

17.00

1.80

2.80

366

16.50

1.70

3.00

105

17.00

1.80

3.00

171

16.50

1.70

3.10

296

17.00

1.80

3.00

224

16.50

1.70

3.10

17.00

1.80

3.10

401

16.50

1.70

3.10

17.00

1.80

3.20

127

16.50

1.70

3.20

205

17.00

1.80

3.20

499

16.50

1.70

3.20

247

17.00

1.80

3.20

340

16.50

1.70

3.30

337

17.00

1.80

3.20

197

16.50

1.70

3.40

267

17.00

1.80

3.30

200

16.50

1.80

2.70

492

17.00

1.80

3.30

122

16.50

1.80

3.00

342

17.00

1.80

3.40

165

16.50

1.80

3.10

434

17.00

1.80

3.40

174

16.50

1.80

3.10

335

17.00

1.80

3.50

16.50

1.80

3.20

404

17.00

1.80

3.60

157

16.50

1.80

3.60

152

17.00

1.90

3.10

101

16.50

1.90

2.80

478

17.00

1.90

3.20

16.50

1.90

2.90

108

17.00

1.90

3.40

16.50

1.90

3.20

361

17.00

1.90

3.40

339

16.50

1.90

3.20

447

17.00

1.90

3.40

206

16.50

1.90

3.30

459

17.00

1.90

3.40

344

16.50

1.90

3.40

467

17.00

1.90

3.40

231

16.50

2.00

3.30

149

17.00

2.00

3.30

16.75

1.50

2.80

114

17.00

2.10

3.40

237

16.75

1.50

3.00

107

17.00

2.20

3.20

16.75

1.60

2.60

438

17.00

2.20

3.50

16.75

1.60

2.80

172

17.00

2.20

4.00

16.75

1.60

2.80

234

17.20

1.90

3.40

180

16.75

1.60

3.00

210

17.25

1.40

3.10

16.75

1.70

2.90

341

17.25

1.60

3.00

16.75

1.70

3.00

126

17.25

1.80

3.10

129

16.75

1.70

3.00

227

17.25

1.80

3.10

16.75

1.70

3.20

17.25

1.90

3.00

355

16.75

1.70

3.30

257

17.25

1.90

3.20

16.75

1.80

2.80

461

17.25

1.90

3.20

16.75

1.80

2.85

187

17.25

2.00

3.40

16.75

1.80

3.00

288

17.40

1.90

3.00

138

16.75

1.80

3.00

396

17.50

1.50

3.30

16.75

1.80

3.20

155

17.50

1.60

3.10

109

16.75

1.80

3.30

17.50

1.60

3.20

290

16.75

1.80

3.30

488

17.50

1.60

3.20

299

16.75

1.80

3.30

415

17.50

1.70

2.90

222

16.75

1.80

3.60

17.50

1.70

3.00

248

17.00

1.50

2.80

402

17.50

1.70

3.10

ANALYSIS OF 404 CANADA GEESE FROM NEBRASKA 107

Rttsseli's Russell's

Number Seat Wing Culrnen Tarsus Number Sex Wing Culmen Tarsus

469 ?

26 3

381 3

471 3

311 $

336 3

486 3

144 $

156

18 3

186 3

421 3

143 3

230

382

444 3

140 $

163 3

49
362

470 3
466

460 3

403

485 3

212 3

21 3

202 3

390 3

219 3

407 3

349 3

463 3

225

250 3

364 ?

308 3

481 3

384 3

356 2

328 2

82 3

137

329 2

17.50

1.70

17.50

1.70

17.50

1.70

17.50

1.70

17.50

1.80

17.50

1.80

17.50

1.80

17.50

1.80

17.50

1.80

17.50

1.80

17.50

1.80

17.50

1.80

17.50

1.90

17.50

1.90

17.50

1.90

17.50

1.90

17.50

1.90

17.50

1.90

17.50

2.00

17.50

2.00

17.50

2.00

17.50

2.00

17.50

2.00

17.50

2.10

17.50

2.20

17.75

1.70

17.75

1.70

17.75

1.80

18.00

1.70

18.00

1.70

18.00

1.70

18.00

1.75

18.00

1.80

18.00

1.80

18.00

1.80

18.00

1.80

18.00

1.80

18.00

1.80

18.00

1.80

18.00

1.80

18.00

1.90

18.00

1.90

18.00

1.90

18.00

1.90

18.00

1.90

3.10

3.20

132

3.30

388

3.30

208

3.10

289

3.20

365

3.20

443

3.30

446

3.30

450

3.40

462

3.40

483

3.30

436

3.30

373

3.30

277

3.30

320

3.40

409

3.50

265

3.30

490

3.30

426

3.40

457

3.50

387

3.60

475

3.70

153

3.10

452

3.20

496

3.20

491

3.00

465

3.10

116

3.70

330

3.00

3.20

437

3.20

474

3.30

425

3.30

489

3.40

451

3.50

423

3.60

476

3.70

393

3.10

482

3.20

484

3.30

477

3.30

448

3.40

473

3 18.00

J 1 18.00

18.00

2 18.00

3 18.00

2 18.00

18.00

3 18.00

18.00
18.00

3 18.10

3 18.25

18.50
3 18.50

2 18.50

3 18.50

18.50

2 18.75

3 18.75

2 19.00

3 19.00
19.00
19.00

3 19.00

2 19.00
19.00

3 19.00

3 19.25

3 19.50

3 19.60

3 19.75

3 20.00

3 20.50

3 21.00

1.90

3.60

2.00

3.40

2.00

3.40

2.00

3.50

2.00

3.50

2.00

3.50

2.00

3.50

2.00

3.50

2.00

3.50

2.00

3.60

2.00

3.70

2.10

3.30

2.10

3.60

2.20

3.30

1.70

3.20

1.70

3.20

3.30

1.60

3.30

1.70

3.20

1.80

3.70

1.90

3.40

2.00

3.70

2.40

3.90

2.50

4.00

2.20

3.70

2.50

4.00

1.50

4.10

1.70

3.60

2.00

3.60

2.10

3.50

2.10

3.50

2.20

3.60

2.20

3.60

2.30

4.00

2.00

3.50

2.10

3.70

2.10

3.50

2.00

3.50

2.40

4.00

2.30

3.80

2.40

3.90

2.10

4.20

2.20

4.00

2.10

3.90

2.50

4.20

108

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

The complex relationships and definition of the various named forms
of the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) have long been a source of much
puzzlement to ornithologists. As recognized at the present time in the
fourth edition of the A. 0. U. Check-List, all forms (five in number) are
treated as subspecies of Branta canadensis. With the two Pacific Coast
forms, both of which have the breast and underbody dark-colored (“hair
brown” of Ridgway, vide Taverner, 1931 1 )—the larger B. c. occidentalis
(White-cheeked Goose), practically resident on the southeastern Alaskan
Coast from north of Prince William Sound south to the Queen Charlotte
Islands, British Columbia, and the much smaller true B. c. minima (Cack¬
ling Goose), which breeds on the Bering Sea Coast and Aleutian Islands
of northwestern Alaska west of Point Barrow, and winters on the
Pacific Coast from British Columbia to the Sacramento and San Joaquin
Valleys of California, occurring only occasionally inland east of the
Cascades, in British Columbia) and not known to occur at all east of the
Rocky Mountains — this study obviously has no relation. It does, how¬
ever, have to do with the remaining three recognized (all light-breasted)
forms which are to be found as migrants over the Missouri Valley,
including Nebraska, and which in the case of the typical form (B. c. can¬
adensis) formerly occurred not only as a common spring and fall migrant
but also as a breeding bird on the islands in the Missouri and Platte
Rivers and at the lakes in the sandhills of the state, and still remains on
large bodies of open water throughout mild winters.

These three forms are (1) the large Common Canada Goose (B. c.
canadensis), which breeds across the North American continent from
northern Labrador, northern Quebec, Mackenzie and upper Yukon south
to Newfoundland, central Quebec, northern Ontario, the northern parts
of South Dakota, Colorado, Utah and Nevada and northwestern Cali¬
fornia (formerly to Tennessee, Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska) and west
to the central part of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, win¬
tering chiefly in the United States, south to Florida, the Gulf Coast and
southern California; (2) the intermediate-sized Lesser Canada Goose
(B. c. leucopareia) , until recently known as the Hutchins Goose (a name
now relegated to the following form), which breeds on the Arctic Coast
of Alaska, Yukon and Mackenzie east to the west coast of Hudson Bay
and on Southampton Island at its northern end, and southward for an
undetermined distance, migrating south through the interior west of
the Great Lakes and along the Pacific Coast to winter from northern
Washington to southern Mexico; and (3) the very small true Hutchins
Goose (B. c. kutchinsii), which breeds on Southampton Island, southern
Baffin Land, Melville Peninsula, and probably other parts of eastern
Arctic America, migrating through Hudson Bay, southern Manitoba and
the Mississippi Valley (casually to the southern Atlantic Coast) to its
winter home on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. 2

1 Taverner, P. A. A Study of Branta canadensis (Linnaeus) The Canada
Goose. Annual Report of the National Museum of Canada for 1929, pp.
30-40, pi. 1 (head), fig. 1 (of bills). Ottawa, 1931.

2 J. L. Peters, in his Check-List of Birds of the World, i, p. 150 (1931),
does not separate B. c. leucopareia and B. c. hutchinsii, but applies the latter
name to both.

ANALYSIS OF 404 CANADA GEESE FROM NEBRASKA 109

The chief characters, other than quality of voice, action and habits,
for differentiating between these three forms of Branta canadensis are
those relating to size, since they are all similar as to coloration. Meas¬
urements of wing length, length of exposed culmen and length of tarsus
are all available in the Russell record of the Nebraska series. The fol¬
lowing table summarizes these measurements as ascribed to these three
forms, compiled from several authoritative sources.

TABLE 2.—Measurements in Inches of the Wing, Culmen and Tarsus
Assigned by Several Authorities to Three Forms of Branta Canadensis.

Authority

Form

Wing Length

Exposed Culmen

Tarsus

r,. . ,

hutchinsii

13.60_14.50

95 _i 15

2.40_2.75

Kiagway

leucopareia

14.75—17^75

1.20—1 ‘ 90

2.25—3.20

canadensis

15.60—21.00

1.55—2.70

2.45—3.70

Coues 1 2

hutchinsii

13.75—14.75

circ. 1.00

leucopareia

15.00—17.00

1.50

? —3.00

canadensis

18.00—20.00

circ. 2.00

3.00—3.50

Swarth 3

leucopareia

15.31—17.90 (16.47)

1.31—1.72 (1.53)

canadensis

16.43—20.84 (19.68)

1.84—2.28 (2.09)

. K".

Forbush 4 5

leucopareia

14.75—17.93

1.20—1.50

2.25—3.20

canadensis

15.60—21.00

1.55—2.80

2.40—4.10

Taverner 6

hutchinsii

13.56—14.56 (14.25)

1.19—1.37 (1.25)

2.62—2.75 (2.65)

leucopareia

14.56—17.50 (15.81)

1.47—1.68 (1.53)

2.75—3.40 (3.08)

canadensis

15.93—19.62 (18.37)

1.84—2.12 (2.00)

3.13—3.90 (3.40)

1 Measurements from Robert Ridgway’s Manual of North American Birds,
p. 117; 1887. His “hutchinsi” is referred to leucopareia and his “minima”
measurements are cited as a combination of hutchinsii and true minima.

2 Measurements from Elliott Coues’ Key to North American Birds, fifth
edition, pp. 904-905; 1903. Names referred as in Ridgway.

3 Measurements taken from Swarth’s paper “A Study of a Collection
of Geese of the Branta Canadensis Group from the San Joaquin Valley,
California (University of California Publications in Zoology, xii, No. 1, pp.
1-24, pis. 2, figs. 8 , November 20, 1913), and translated from millimeters
into inches. Swarth’s “hutchinsi" measurements are properly to be re¬
ferred to leucopareia, but those of minima are not referable to hutchinsii,
as that form is believed not to winter in California. The extremes are
based on thirty-six specimens of leucopareia and forty-one of canadensis,
the averages on ten male specimens of each form.

4 Measurements taken from E. H. Forbush’s Birds of Massachusetts and
Other New England States, pp. 292 and 295; 1925. His “ hutchinsi” = leuco¬
pareia.

5 Measurements taken from Taverner’s paper (op. cit.) and translated
from millimeters to inches. Measurements based on eight specimens of

hutchinsii and fourteen each of leucopareia and canadensis.

110

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

As the first step toward analyzing the applicability of these rather
widely variable size criteria, advanced by the five authorities cited, for
the differentiation of the mentioned three forms of Branta canadensis,
it is helpful to tabulate in gradated groups Russell’s measurements
of the length of the wing, culmen and tarsus, with sex indicated where
known. In thus tabulating the wing lengths (Table 3), a gradated pro¬
gression of .25 inch has been adopted, since the great majority of his
measurements of the wing length fall into such groupings. In the cases
of eight exceptions, when the wing measurements as given by Russell is
either .10 inch greater than the nearest gradated .25 inch group (5
cases), or .05 inch (2 cases), or .10 inch (1 case) less than the nearest
.25 inch group, the tabulated Russell measurement is here made to con¬
form to the nearest .25 inch group, it being regarded that this much
difference was not unlikely well within his limits of error in measuring.
However, for the sake of accuracy in the record, these eight exceptions
may specifically be cited as follows: One (No. 440, sex ?) from 14.70 to
14.75; one (No. 420, ?) from 15.60 to 15.50; one (No. 273, sex ?) from
16.10 to 16.00; one (No. 234, 6) from 17.20 to 17.25; one (No. 288, 2)
from 17.40 to 17.50; two (Nos. 277 and 320, both c?c?) from 18.10 to
18.00; and one (No. 423, rf) from 19.60 to 19.50. In the table of meas¬
urements of exposed culmen (Table 4), where the gradated progression
is in .10 inch groups, only two changes have been necessary, viz., one
(No. 1 , 2) from 1.65 to 1.60; and one (No. 4, sex ?) from 1.75 to 1.70.
In the tarsal measurements (Table 4), which likewise are in gradations
of .10 inch, the only change (No. 3, sex ?) is a change of 2.85 to 2.80. It
should also be mentioned that while the tables of wing length and of
tarsal length involve 404 specimens, that of length of culmen involves
only 101 specimens, because in the case of three specimens (Nos. 70,
sex ?; 409, and 410, 2) the length of the culmen was not given by
Russell.

It is obvious in a glance at Tables 3 and 4 that there is no trenchant
line of division, as to size, between the three forms of Branta canadensis
under consideration. From the extremes in wing length it seems obvious
that all three of the forms are represented in the Nebraska series. It is
equally obvious that the larger number are of intermediate size, thus
indicating a preponderance of B. c, leucopareia in the series. The main
difficulty is in deciding just where to draw the line between the three
forms which thus so obviously overlap in measurements. The largest
ones (with the wing over 19 inches) are certainly all old males of B. c.
canadensis. Smaller males, and females in increasing numbers, referable
to canadensis, appear as the wing size drops below 19 inches for an inch.
At 17.50 and 17.75 inches, males again preponderate. These might be
called either small canadensis or the larger individuals of leucopareia.
Females again appear in increasing trend, as the size drops from 17.5
inches to 15 inches, though around the average size (16 inches) the sexes
approach equality in numbers. All this would seem to argue for Coues’
minimum of an 18-inch wing for really typical canadensis. Below 15
inches the specimens are too few, and too few of them are sexed, to
follow this analysis very clearly, but as no authority refers specimens
with a wing length of 14.50 inches or less to leucopareia, the fourteen
specimens in that group may probably safely be referred to B. c.
hutchinsii; and to these may be added the two with the wing measuring
14.75 inches and a very short-billed (No. 374, ?; culmen 1.30 inch) indi¬
vidual in the 15-inch wing length group. It is noteworthy at once that
even the smallest birds in this Nebraska series in the character of wing
length have bills too long for the culmen length typically ascribed to
hutchinsii, and that the tarsal length also may in some specimens run too
high, although this latter may in part be due to Russell’s method of
measuring the tarsus. Ascribing 14.75 inches as the maximum wing
length for hutchinsii, unless a slight excess over that figure is accom¬
panied by an unusually short culmen, and 18 inches as the minimum for

Win

eng

12 .

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20 .

21 .

!. Measurements in Inches of the Wing Length of 404 Specimens of Geese of the Branta Canadensis
n by Frank Russell and Recorded in His Thesis, Arranged in a Gradated Progression of .25 Inch,
ated Where Known.

Number of Specimens, ?, (2 and o (not sexed)
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ANALYSIS OF 404 CANADA GEESE FROM NEBRASKA 111

TABLE 4. Measurements in Inches of the Culmen Length of 401 and Length of Tarsus of 404 Specimens of Geese of the
Branta Canadensis Group, as Taken by Frank Russell and Recorded in His Thesis, Arranged in a Gradated Progression
of .10 Inch, With Sex Indicated Where Known.

Exposed

Culmen Number of Specimens, $, 6 and o (not sexed)

Length

1.20

1.30

1.40

1.50
1.60
1.70
1.80
1.90
2.00
2.10
2.20

2.30

2.40

2.50

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NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

ANALYSIS OF 404 CANADA GEESE FROM NEBRASKA 113

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114

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

really typical canadensis, we would have in these 404 specimens, 17 speci¬
mens referable to hutchinsii, 62 to typical canadensis and 325 to the
intermediate form, leucopareia, which is probably a very fair approxima¬
tion of the truth. This would give the scale of measurements for the
three forms shown in the following table:

TABLE 5. Extremes and Averages of Measurements in Inches of the
Wing, Culmen and Tarsus of 404 Specimens of Geese of the Branta
Canadensis Group, Based on the Russell Measurements of the Talbot
Collection and Segregated as to Forms and Sexes.

F orm

Number of
Specimens

Extreme and Average Measurements

2 2 S S ' ? Total

wing, ? ?, 12.50-15.00 (14.08) ; S ?, 13.75-14.75 (14.42)

hutchinsii

6 2 9 17

(6? ?, 3 cf ?)

culmen, $ ?, 1.30- 1.80 ( 1.50) ; c? ?, 1.40- 1.60 ( 1.47)
tarsus ? ?, 2.40- 3.00 ( 2.79); d* ?, 2.60- 2.80 ( 2.70)

leucopareia

130 124 71 325

wing, 9,15.00-17.50 (16.01); cf, 15.00-17.75 (16.48)

culmen, 9, 1,40- 2.50 ( 1.66); S, 1.20- 2.30 ( 1.69)

tarsus 9, 2.40-3.70 ( 3.01); S, 2.60-4.00 ( 3.11)

canadensis

12 37 13 62

404

wing, 2,18.00-19.00 (18.09); #, 18.00-21.00 (18.70)

culmen, 9, 1.50- 2.20 ( 1.93); S, 1.70- 2.50 ( 1.99)

tarsus, 2, 3.10- 4.10 ( 3.53); S, 3.00- 4.20 ( 3.53)

These 404 Nebraska specimens of Branta canadensis were all collected,
so far as the locality data show, in the Great Bend region of the Platte
River, in the vicinities of Wood River, Hall County; Gibbon, Kearney
and Elm Creek, Buffalo County; and Gothenburg, Dawson County,
chiefly between October 1 and December 11, 1884, and March 18 and
April 11 , 1885. A few were collected in the spring of 1884 and in the
fall of 1885. The full recorded data for all of the specimens of the three
forms as above distinguished are as follows:

Branta canadensis hutchinsii —17 specimens

Wood River, Hall County. Fall of 1884, two (No. 142, J 1 ; No. 440,
sex ?). October 19, 1884, one (No. 441, ?). October 24, 1884, one (No.
145, $). October 30, 1884, two (No. 201, rf; No. 374, 2). November 2,
1884, one (No. 235, 2). November 4, 1884, one (No. 284, sex ?). No¬
vember 5, 1884, one (No. 244, sex ?). April 1, 1885, two (No. 12, sex ?;
No. 46, sex ?).

Kearney, Buffalo County. Fall of 1884, one (No. 184, sex ?).

Elm Creek, Buffalo County. 1884, two (No. 50, 2; No. 263, sex ?).
November 3, 1884, one (No. 89, 2). November 4, 1884, one (No. 252,
sex ?). November 5, 1884, one (No. 246, sex ?).

Branta canadensis leucopareia —325 specimens

Nebraska. No date, three (No. 350, 2; No. 204, sex ?; No. 402, S).
1884, four (No. 316, sex ?; No. 62, c?; No. 392, sex ?; No. 42, sex ?).
Fall of 1884, four (No. 141, 2; No. 205, sex ?; No. 486, No. 444, <$).
October, 1884, one (No. 341, <$). October 22, 1884, two (No. 298, <$; No.
342, d 1 ). November, 1884, two (No. 296, 2; No. 337, J). November 5,
1884, one (No. 39, 2). December 1, 1884, one (No. 344, <$). December
11, 1884, two (No. 102, sex ?; No. 472, sex ?).

ANALYSIS OF 404 CANADA GEESE FROM NEBRASKA 115

Wood River, Hall County. No date, twelve (No. 54, 2; No. 28, sex ?;
No. 233, sex ?; No. 331, ?; No. 209, 2; No. 283, d; No. 297, d; No. 200,
sex ?; No. 129, d"; No. 126, d; No. 288, 2; No. 311, 2). 1884, nine (No.
64, 2; No. 178, sex ?; No. 291, 2; No. 211, sex ?; No. 314, 2; No.
317, 2; No. 11, sex ?; No. 292, 2; No. 100, d). Fall of 1884, five
(No. 464, sex ?; No. 213, d; No. 431, sex ?; No. 467, sex ?; No. 421, d)-
October, 1884, five (No. 270, 2; No. 315, 2; No. 187, sex ?); No. 144, 2;
No. 143, d). October, 1884, one (No. 254, d). October 2, 1884, one (No.
93, d). October 9, 1884, one (No. 345, d). October 17, 1884, one (No.
439, 2). October 20, 1884, one (No. 176, 2). October 21, 1884, one
(No. 372, 2). October 22, 1884, four (No. 20, 2; No. 103, 2; No. 147,
sex ?; No. 149, d). October 23, 1884, two (No. 238, d; No. 382, sex ?).
October 24, 1884 three (No. 429, 2; No. 146, 2; No. 127, 2). October 26,
1884, one (No. 352, d). October 27, 1884, two (No. 267, 2; No. 438, 2).
October 30, 1884, one (No. 332, 2). November, 1884, four (No. 32, d;
No. 348, d; No. 430, 2; No. 466, sex ?). November 1, 1884, one (No.
148, 2). November 2, 1884, two (No. 203, sex ?); No. 79, d). Novem¬
ber 3, 1884, one (No. 202, d). November 4, 1884, two (No. 312, 2; No.
294, 2). November 5, 1884, one (No. 128, d). November 8, 1884, one
(No. 422, sex ?). November 9, 1884, one (No. 266, 2). November 13,
1884, one (No. 207, 2). November 14, 1884, eleven (No. 383, 2; No.
468, d; No. 420, 2; No. 497, d; No. 324, d; No. 185, d; No. 110, 2;
No. 340, 2; No. 15, 2; No. 13, 2; No. 49, sex ?). November 15, 1884,
twelve (No. 61, d; No. 428, d; No. 232, 2; No. Ill, d; No. 160, sex ?;
No. 94, 2; No. 206, 2; No. 40, 2; No. 378, d; No. 338, d; No. 107,

sex ?; No. 234, d). November 23, 1884, one (No. 461, 2)- December,

1884, one (No. 339, 2). December 1, 1884, one (No. 381, d). December

11, 1884, three (No. 386, 2; No. 303, 2; No. 271, 2). Spring of 1885,
three (No. 161, 2; No. 251, sex ?; No. 449, sex ?). April 1 , 1885, six
(No. 318, d; No. 427, 2; No. 150, d; No. 2, 2; No. 237, d; No. 9, 2).
April, 1885, one (No. 177, d). April 3, 1885, four (No. 385, sex ?; No.
210, d; No. 460, d; No. 212, d). April 4, 1885, six (No. 151, 2; No.

419, 2; No. 183, sex ?; No. 8 , d; No. 231, d; No. 447, d). April 6 ,

1885, two (No. 27, sex ?; No. 485, d). April 7, 1885, one (No. 31, sex ?).
April 11, 1885, one (No. 279, d). October 2, 1885, one (No. 99, d). De¬
cember 16, 1885, one (No. 170, 2)-

Gibbon, Buffalo County. No date, four (No. 368, d; No. 85, d; No.
432, 2; No. 401, d). November, 1884, two (No. 101, 2; No. 488, sex ?).
November 29, 1884, one (No. 334, 2). March 19, 1885, one (No. 1, 2).
March 27, 1885, one (No. 253, 2). March 30, 1885, one (No. 162, d).
March 31, 1885, one (No. 140, 2)- April 2, 1885, two (No. 433, 2; No.
21 , d).

Kearney, Buffalo County. No date, two (No. 23, d; No. 68 , d). 1885,
one (No. 138, d). Spring of 1885, one (No. 248, sex ?).

Elm Creek, Buffalo County. No date, two (No. 5, 2; No. 76, 2).
1884, one (No. 257, 2). April 3, 1884, one (No. 236, 2). Fall of 1884,
one (No. 264, 2). November, 1884, nine (No. 245, d; No. 104, 2; No.
282, 2; No. 305, 2; No. 217, d; No. 310, sex ?; No. 120, d; No. 171,
sex ?; No. 224, d). November 1, 1884, five (No. 166, sex ?; No. 165,
d; No. 478, 2; No. 227, d; No. 362, sex ?). November 2, 1884, five
(No. 71, d; No. 90, d; No. 492, 2; No. 155, d; No. 470, d). November
4, 1884, eleven (No. 118, 2; No. 189, 2; No. 58, 2; No. 302, d; No.
413, d; No. 275, d; No. 113, sex ?; No. 56, d; No. 47, 2; No. 30, 2;
No. 163, d). November 5, 1884, fourteen (No. 258, sex ?; No. 410, 2;
No. 55, d; No. 221 , 2; No. 80, d; No. 59, 2; No. 135, sex ?; No. 70,
sex ?; No. 157, 2; No. 3, sex ?; No. 105, d; No. 95, d; No. 335, d;
No. 396, d). November 6 , 1884, fifteen (No. 226, 2; No. 259, sex ?; No.
397, d; No. 117, 2; No. 281, sex ?; No. 306, sex ?; No. 379, sex ?;
No. 239, d; No. 184, 2; No. 69, d; No. 10, 2; No. 57, d; No. 404, 2; No.
361, sex ?; No. 186, d). November 7,1884, twelve (No. 87, 2; No. 255,2;

116

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

No. 395, S', No. 167, sex ?; No. 19, ?; No. 63, S', No. 73, 2; No. 222,
sex ?; No. 77, Si No. 247, S’, No. 469, $; No. 230, sex ?). November
8 , 1884, twenty-three (No. 60, sex ?; No. 287, ?; No. 304, 5; No. 45, S;
No. 261, 2; No. 256, S; No. 412, ?; No. 307, S', No. 272, S’, No. 411, 2;
No. 35, sex ?; No. 399, $; No. 7, ?; No. 394, S', No. 44, 5; No. 286,
2; No. 309, $; No. 300, sex ?; No. 285, sex ?; No. 366, S', No. 197,
sex ?; No. 108, S’, No. 156, sex ?). November 9, 1884, nine (No.
223, sex ?; No. 115, sex ?; No. 119, Si No. 96, 5; No. 353, Si No. 25, S',
No. 355, S; No. 109, rf; No. 346, ?). November 10, 1884, twelve (No.
196, 2; No. 83, sex ?; No. 181, $; No. 229, S', No. 445, $; No. 273,
sex ?; No. 53, ?; No. 242, S; No. 174, ?; No. 415, S; No. 26, S; No.

18, S). November 11, 1884, seventeen (No. 260, S', No. 134, $; No. 192,

sex ?; No. 398, 2; No. 495, 2; No. 354, $; No. 228, 2; No. 98, 2; No.

327, 2; No. 173, S; No. 322, 2; No. 408, S', No. 290, 2; No. 299, 2;

No. 154, 2; No. 152, sex ?; No. 172, sex ?). November 12, 1884, four¬
teen (No. 182, 2; No. 262, 2; No. 158, sex'?; No. 414, S', No. 198, S',

No. 131, S', No. 458, S’, No. 179, 2; No. 74, 2; No. 180, sex ?; No.

405, 2; No. 52, S’, No. 29, S', No. 471, S). November 13,1884, one (No. 367,
2). November 14,1884, one (No. 499, 2). November 15,1884, one (No. 112,
November 14, 1884, one (No. 499, 2). November 15, 1884, one (No. 112,
S). November 16, 1884, one (No. 36, 2). November 17, 1884, four (No.

78, S', No. 363, S', No. 406, sex ?; No. 336, cT). November 18, 1884,

four (No. 343, sex ?; No. 24, S', No. 459, 2; No. 114, sex ?).

Gothenburg, Dawson County. No date, two (No. 122, sex ?; No.
347, 2). November 26, 1884, one (No. 434, sex ?). November 29, 1884,
three (No. 391, 2; No. 92, S; No. 403, sex ?).

Branta canadensis canadensis —62 specimens
Nebraska. Fall of 1884, one (No. 457, S). November, 1884, three
(No. 4, sex ?; No. 250', Si No. 137, sex ?). 1885, two (No. 356, 2; No.

491, S). Spring of 1885, four (No. 463, S', No. 476, S', No. 477, S', No.

473, S).

Wood River, Hall County. No date, two (No. 219, S', No. 448, S).

1884, two (No. 384, S', No. 388, sex ?). Fall of 1884, one (No. 483, S).

October, 1884, one (No. 496, 2). October 22, 1884, three (No. 426, S',

No. 465, sex ?; No. 330, S). October 24, 1884, one (No. 423. S). Octo¬

ber 30, 1884, one (No. 482, <$). October 31, 1884, one (No. 475, sex ?).
November 1, 1884, three (No. 387, sex ?; No. 38, 2; No. 425, c?). No¬
vember 4, 1884, one (No. 484, c?). November 9, 1884, one (No. 373,
sex ?). 1885, one (No. 489, S). Spring of 1885, one (No. 451, S). April,

1885, one (No. 436, sex ?). April 1 , 1885, two (No. 208, 2; No. 450 2).
April 4, 1885, three (No. 452, S\ No. 474, S', No. 437, sex ?).

Gibbon. Buffalo County. March 18, 1885, two (No. 277, S', No. 320, S ).
March 19, 1885, one (No. 328, 2). March 21, 1885, one (No. 443, c?).
March 30, 1885, one (No. 481, S). April 2 , 1885, two (No. 88 , S', No. 265,
sex ?).

Elm Creek, Buffalo County. 1884, one (No. 364, 2)- October 3, 1884,
one (No. 153, 2)- November 1 , 1884, one (No. 409, S). November 2,
1884, one (No. 407, S). November 4, 1884, one (No. 82, c?). November
6 , 1884, one (No. 490, 2). November 8 . 1884, three (No. 225, sex ?; No.
446, 2; No. 393, S). November 10, 1884, one (No. 365, S)- November
11, 1884, one (No. 116, sex ?). November 12, 1884, one (No. 16, 2). No¬
vember 15, 1884, two (No. 308, S’, No. 289, S). November 16, 1884, one
(No. 349, S). November 17, 1884, one (No. 132, S)-

Gothenburg, Dawson County. No date, one (No. 390, S). November
26, 1884, one (No. 462, sex ?). November 29, 1884, two (No. 329, 2;
No. 75, S).

GENERAL NOTES

117

GENERAL NOTES

The Whooping Crane in Nebraska in Forty Years of Observation.—

Practically every day my work takes me along the Platte River between
Cozad in Dawson County and Brady Island in Lincoln County. For the
past forty years I have seen Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) in both
the spring and fall. Usually three to nine birds are as many as are seen
any one spring or fall. Before the spring shooting was closed I would
see an occasional lone bird. In the spring of 1931 there was a flock of
nine Whooping Cranes that fed on the 96 Ranch, south of Gothenburg,
Dawson County, and in the spring of 1933 there were three birds at that
place. In years past I have shot Whooping Cranes and mounted a few
of them. After arriving in this locality they usually keep well to them¬
selves, both when feeding and when on the river. I have not seen any
this spring, up to April 23, but there has been a decided increase in the
numbers of White Pelicans, Lesser Snow Geese and Whistling Swans
migrating through this locality.— John P. Kennedy, Willow Island, Nebr.

Whooping Cranes Near Wood River, Hall County. —Our place is located
two miles west and one-half mile south of the bridge over the Platte
River at Wood River, Hall County. Mr. Burmood has lived here all of
his life, and I have lived here for the past thirty-five years. Mr. Bur-
mood has hunted in this vicinity ever since he was a boy. We see
Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) here nearly every year. In 1931, we
saw three of them standing in the river. We did not see any in 1932 or
1933. On April 17, 1934, we saw a flock of thirty of these birds, just as
they were leaving the river. We noted clearly their large size, white
plumage with black tipped wings and the red areas on their heads. They
did not return to the river, as we thought they might.— Mrs. Will Bur-
mood, Wood River, Nebr.

The Whooping Crane in the Spring of 1934.—Early in April of 1934, I
wrote a short article on the Whooping Crane (Grus americana), and sent
it to the various newspapers published in towns along the Platte River.
In this article I requested that persons seeing any of these birds this
spring should report their observations to me. I learned of the follow¬
ing occurrences of this species: On April 7, I, with Mrs. Brooking, saw
a flock of thirteen Whooping Cranes near the Solon Wells farm, one
mile west of the Wood River bridge, in Hall County (antea, ii, p. 48).
On April 8, a party of Hastings observers, consisting of the Misses
Annette Frantz, Carrie Hansen, Nelle Rowe and M. Caryle Sylla, saw
twenty of these birds in the same locality. On April 12, Irene and Marie
Sorenson saw about twelve Whooping Cranes one mile east of the bridge
at Gibbon, Buffalo County. Mrs. Sorenson was formerly a student with
Dr. R. H. Wolcott at the University, and is careful in her bird identifica¬
tions. Mr. James Samms of Hastings saw a flock of “considerable” size
one mile west of Newark, Kearney County, on April 14. About April
15, Mr. Walter Vance, living a mile and a half north and the same dis¬
tance east of Lowell, Kearney County, saw about twenty of these birds
on the Platte River opposite to his home. On the same day, Mr. and
Mrs. A. C. Porter, living one mile east and one mile north of Lowell, saw
about twenty near the bridge at Gibbon. On either April 15 or 16, Mr.
Chris Zwink, living four miles north and east of Lowell, saw five Whoop¬
ing Cranes in a large flock of Sandhill Cranes on his farm, which is on
Section 5, Township 8, Range 13. Mr. and Mrs. Will Burmood saw a
flock of thirty as they were leaving the river two miles west of the Wood
River bridge on April 17 (see above note). A “large” flock was reported
as seen near Farwell, Howard County, on April 21, on or about which
same date another flock of sixty or seventy birds was reported seen near
Lexington, Dawson County, flying high and calling loudly. Finally, Mr.
S. W. Wells, who lives on the south side of the river two miles west of

118

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

the Wood River bridge, and who is an old hunter, was quite positive that
he saw two Whooping Cranes on May 2. Obviously there was a flock of
twenty or thirty of these birds in the Wood River vicinity from about
April 8 to 17. It is interesting to note that many Whooping Cranes
crossed the state somewhat to the east of their regular route this year,
there being as many or more reports of these birds having been seen
east of Kearney than west of that place.—A. M. Brooking, Hastings, Nebr.

The Whooping Crane in the Spring of 1934.—I have learned of the
occurrence of the Whooping Crane (Grus americana) in several instances
along the Platte River from Kearney westward, during the spring of
1934. These are as follows: During the first week in April, the exact
date being uncertain, Mr. Bert Proctor, a ranchman who lives at the
Burlington bridge east of Kearney, in Buffalo County, saw six or seven
Whooping Cranes flying high overhead, going northwest. On or about
the same day he saw three more of these cranes flying low up the river,
on one foggy morning. This probably was the morning of April 3,
which was a foggy morning, and on this morning Mr. Jack Chapman of
Kearney saw also nineteen Whooping Cranes, as he was driving along
the highway between Brady and Maxwell, in Lincoln County. He first
heard their loud calls, which caused him to stop and get out of his car.
The birds flew over his head about 100 yards high, going northwest.
He had his field glasses and looked them over carefully. He could see
the areas of red skin on their heads and even the joints on their legs.
Nine of them seemed somewhat larger than the other ten. Mr. Chapman
knows the Whooping Crane very well, so there can be no question of this
identification.

On or about April 17, Mr. Arthur Hunnell, an old hunter living at
Lewellen, Garden County, on the North Platte River, was engaged in
conversation at that place with Mr. Ray Croft, my next-door neighbor
here at Kearney, who had just asked Hunnell if he had seen any Whoop¬
ing Cranes recently. Hunnell had replied that he had not seen any for
about ten years now, when he looked around and exclaimed “There are
some now!”, and, sure enough, a flock of twenty to twenty-five of them
was at the moment flying over town. They alighted in a field north of
town. On April 18, Mr. Benjamin Armitage of Kearney saw five Whoop¬
ing Cranes in a field about ten miles east of Kearney, along the north
side of the river. What apparently was this same flock of five was re¬
ported to Mr. Armitage by Mr. Harley Smith, a farmer in the vicinity,
and also by a game warden who had likewise received a report of them.
On the next day (April 19), at about the same place, Mr. Armitage saw
one lone Whooping Crane among a large flock of Sandhill Cranes.— Cyrus
A. Black, Kearney, Nebr.

An Unusually Small Little Brown Crane.—Mr. Sam W. Wells, who
lives on the south side of the Platte River, in Hall County, two miles
west of the Wood River bridge, found a wounded Little Brown Crane
(Grus canadensis canadensis) on April 25, 1934. An effort was made to
save it, but it died on May 3, and was brought to the Hastings Municipal
Museum for preservation. It was made into a study skin, and is now
No. 12566 of the Museum. In measurements it is the smallest of this
species that I have ever seen, and there is no question as to its identi¬
fication. Incidentally, Mrs. Brooking and I saw about forty Lesser Snow
and Blue Geese feeding on the Sam Wells farm on May 3.—A. M. Brook¬
ing, Hastings, Nebr.

The White-eyed Yireo in Northeastern Nebraska.—On May 14, 1934,
the writer found a male White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus griseus) near
Homer, Dakota County, Nebraska. This species is decidedly rare in this
region, with the last specimen record being Dr. Guy C. Rich’s specimen
from Woodbury County, Iowa, on April 18, 1900. Other uncommon birds
seen on this same trip were the Northern Turkey Yuulture and the
Olive-sided Flycatcher. — Wm. Youngworth, Sioux City, Iowa.

GENERAL NOTES

119

A Further Observation of the American Woodcock within the City of
Lincoln.—I read the account of the occurrence of the American Wood¬
cock (Philohela minor) within the city of Lincoln in the July number of
the Nebraska Bird. Review with much interest, for I also had the good
fortune to see one of these birds in Lincoln on the lawn at the southeast
corner of 38th and Holdrege Streets, shortly after the noon hour on
May 23. I observed the bird for several minutes at a distance of only
about twenty feet as it fed in the soft sod and bare spots about the
shrubbery, and could have made no mistake as to its identity. The bird
that I saw was with little doubt the same one as was first seen close by
on 37th Street, on May 17, and probably was a different bird from the
one seen on May 21 and 22 on A Street in South Lincoln by Dr. Whitney
and Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Tyler. In such case, it would indicate that
this bird must have remained in the immediate vicinity of 37th and 38th
and Holdrege Streets, in East Lincoln, from May 17 to 23, at least.
Although this was the first time I had ever seen this species, I did not
fully realize its rarity in Nebraska or I would have more promptly re¬
ported my observation for inclusion in the July number of the Review.
It is my opinion that we can assume from my observation that there
were at least two individual American Woodcocks in the city of Lincoln
at the same time. —Roscoe E. Hill, Lincoln, Nebr.

Summer Bird Life on the Niobrara Game Preserve.—During the pres¬
ent summer (1934) I have been making some ecological studies on the
Niobrara Game Preserve in Cherry County near Valentine. My head¬
quarters are on the Preserve in a cabin in one of the canyons. I have
been impressed with the abundance of birds here, thousands of them
nesting on the Preserve. Each of the numerous canyons has its tiny
stream of spring water, with a fringe of trees to furnish plenty of nest¬
ing places. The Federal Government is building twenty dams on these
little streams, eighteen of them being already completed. Each of these
dams floods from two to three acres of land, the edges of the ponds
thus formed being planted to wild rice and other aquatic plants suitable
for duck food. These artificial ponds will be fenced with vermin-proof
fences, and enough room will be allowed to provide for nesting places
for waterfowl and other birds. Many fields of corn, millet, buckwheat
and other grains suitable for winter feed of birds have also been planted
and will be left for the birds to harvest. The birds on the Preserve are
not molested in any way. The sandhill lakes around here still have
plenty of water, in spite of the severe drouth, but yet the waterfowl
seem less numerous this year than last.

On the open plains the Western Lark Sparrow is the most common
bird. A close second in commonness is the Saskatchewan Horned Lark.
The Western Meadowlark is third. Common Rock Wrens are plentiful
on the rocky hillsides, and by July 1 the young of most of these birds
were large enough to fly. There are many Nuttall Poor-wills here and
their concert begins early in the evening. I have not succeeded in find¬
ing a nest of this bird, but I have found a nest of the Sennett Nighthawk.
The young of the Nighthawk were still downy and their color blended
perfectly with the rocky knoll on which they were located. The female
tried to attract my attention from her young by acting as if she were
crippled and flying low, but she did not strike the ground or vegetation
as some other kinds of birds do under these circumstances. I found
nests of both the Red-tailed Hawk (subsp. ?) and the Swainson Hawk.
The Red-tailed Hawk nest was in a Western Yellow Pine on the side of
a steep cliff, and it contained two young. The nest of the Swainson
Hawk was on the ground and had four young. In both cases the young
hawks were quite large when found.

In the canyons Bob-whites are very numerous, and may be heard
calling from morning to night. Many warblers nest here. The North¬
ern Maryland Yellow-throat and the Black and White Warbler are the

12.0

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

most common species. American Redstarts are also common. The
Arctic Spotted Towhee is another common bird in the canyons. Both the
Scarlet Tanager and the Western Tanager occur here, but they are un¬
common, and I have seen only six or seven of each altogether. The
Western Blue Grosbeak is also uncommon, but I have seen five of them.—
Watson E. Beed, Dept. Zoology, Univ. of Nebr., Lincoln, Nebr.

A Flight of Buzzard Hawks. —On the afternoon of August 31, 1934, I
noticed an unusual flight of Buteo hawks over northeast Lincoln. Due
to their movements it was impossible to obtain an accurate count of
their numbers, but I should judge that there were between seventy-five
and one hundred of them. Some were soaring quite high in the air while
others were but a few hundred feet up. All were too high to be certain
of their identity, but I believe that they were Swainson Hawks ( Buteo
swainsoni) .•— Don B. Whelan, Lincoln, Nebr.

The 1934 Fall Hawk Migration in Adams County. —As I walked up the
valley of Sand Creek, near Holstein, Adams County, on August 16, 1934,
I observed several Red-tailed Hawks ( Buteo borealis subsp.), one imma¬
ture Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo regalis) and several Spar¬
row Hawks (Falco sparverius subsp.). The first real hawk flight of the
season was not observed, however, until September 24. On the after¬
noon of that day the wind suddenly changed from south to north, and
as suddenly it became very much cooler. Just ahead of the cool wave I
noticed dozens of hawks come drifting over. They were mostly Swain¬
son Hawks (Buteo swainsoni), among which were a few in the black or
melanistic plumage, together with a sprinkling of Northern Sharp-
shinned Hawks (Accipiter velox velox) and Cooper Hawks (Accipiter
cooperi ).— Harold Turner, Bladen, Nebr.

The Fourth Taking of the Nelson Sharp-tailed Sparrow in Nebraska.—
On September 9, 1934, in a clump of small willows on an island in the
Platte River near Cedar Creek. Cass County, I flushed about four small
sparrows, of which I succeeded in collecting one. It proved to be an
(immature?) female of the Nelson Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammospiza
caudacuta nelsoni). I thought at the time that all of the birds were the
same, but the others may have been Leconte Sparrows or even Swamp
Sparrows, for I was not able to see them well or to flush them again.
The specimen collected measures in millimeters: Length, 128; wing, 54;
tail, 46; tarsus, 19.5; culmen, 12.5; depth of bill at base, 6.7. This
specimen is now No. 740 in my collection. Prof. M. H. Swenk informs
me that this constitutes the fourth definite record of the occurrence of
this rarely encountered sparrow in Nebraska. The first state record was
based on an immature male collected out of a flock of about a dozen, in
association with Leconte Sparrows, in a marsh surrounding a pond
northeast of Lincoln, on October 8, 1904, by Dr. R. H v Wolcott, and was
recorded by him the following year in the Auk, xxii, p. 210. This speci¬
men is now in Prof. Swenk’s collection. The species was next encoun¬
tered by Dr. Wolcott and Mr. J. T. Zimmer, again on marshy land near
Lincoln, on May 30, 1910, when several were seen and two adult females
were collected by Mr. Zimmer (Nos. 292 and 293, collection of J. T. Zim¬
mer), and recorded by him in Proc. N. O. U., v, pt. 3, p. 36, April 29, 1911.
The third record is that of a previously unrecorded adult female col¬
lected at the lagoon near Inland, Clay County, Nebraska, by Mr. A. M.
Brooking, on May 25, 1919, and now forming No. 2587 in his collection
at the Hastings Municipal Museum.— George E. Hudson, Dept. Zoology and
Anatomy, Univ. of Nebr., Lincoln, Nebr.

The Eleventh Nebraska Record of the European Starling. —On October
7, 1934, while I was driving from Lincoln to Cedar Creek, Cass County,
in company with Mr. John Morrison, three European Starlings (Sturnus
vulgaris vulgaris) were seen to fly up from the road and alight in a
near-by cottonwood near the village of Manley, in Cass County. On our

GENERAL NOTES

121

return trip, late in the afternoon, what were undoubtedly the same three
birds were again seen in the same locality, where they may have bred
the past summer.— George E. Hudson, Dept. Zoology and Anatomy, Uni<v. of
Nebr., Lincoln, Nebr.

A Very Late Nebraska Date for the Scarlet Tanager.—On October 7,
1934, at Cedar Creek, Cass County, Nebraska, I collected a male Scarlet
Tanager in full winter plumage. This bird has its beak considerably
misshapen, which may account for its having remained so late in this
locality. Normally this species has gone southward by September 1, the
departure usually beginning in this latitude by the end of July and con¬
tinuing through August.— George E. Hudson, Dept. Zoology and Anatomy,
Univ. of Nebr., Lincoln, Nebr.

Some Bird Notes from Lincoln in the Fall of 1934, —During the fall
of 1934, I observed the following birds at my home at 3103 South 35th
Street. On September 17, I saw the Cedar Waxwing (also on October
10 eight were seen), Tennessee Warbler (seen also October 5 and 14),
Eastern Nashville Warbler (seen also September 28), Ovenbird (remain¬
ing to September 19), and Common Lincoln Sparrow (seen up to Oc¬
tober 7). On September 25, I noted the Olive-backed Swainson Thrush,
Eastern Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Eastern Orange-crowned Warbler.
The White-throated Sparrow was noted on September 27. On October 3,
I saw the Northern Pine Siskin, and the Eastern Slate-colored Junco
arrived on that date. On October 5, I saw an Arctic Spotted Towhee
(which remained until October 7) and a Song Sparrow (subsp. ?). On
October 8, among a large number of migrating Franklin Gulls, I saw
two or three American Herring Gulls.—Miss Louisa E. Wilson, Lincoln,
Nebr.

An Unusual Flight of Franklin Gulls in October, 1934. —On Sunday,
October 7, 1934, many residents of Lincoln commented upon the large
number of Franklin Gulls (Larus pipixcan) to be observed circling over¬
head at various points in and near the city. The writer of this note and
Mrs. Swenk noted numbers of them circling overhead at Antelope Park,
and scores of them flying over and north, east and south of the Salt
Basin. Mr. G. E. Hudson noted them in numbers near Cedar Creek,
Cass County, on the same day. Several persons reported them as pres¬
ent in abundance at Pioneer Park southwest of the city. Many Lincoln
citizens reported having seen many of these birds circling over town on
the evenings of October 8 and 9. The writer saw large numbers of
them in the air circling over the College of Agriculture campus at five
o’clock on the evening of October 10, and it was reported to him that
toward the evening of that day they came in by the thousands and
settled for the night at the Stewart Tract just west of Lincoln. Large
numbers of migrating Franklin Gulls were seen by the writer at Ash¬
land, Saunders County, on October 12, and during the Nebraska-Iowa
football game on the afternoon of October 13 numbers of them were to
be seen circling in the air over and about the University of Nebraska
Stadium.— Myron H. Swenk, Lincoln, Nebr.

The Townsend Solitaire at Lincoln, Lancaster County.—On October 16,
1934, I saw a Townsend Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) as it fed on the
Japanese barberries on the bushes in my yard at 1319 South 23rd Street,
Lincoln. —Mrs. Addison E. Sheldon, Lincoln, Nebr.

122

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

THE NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Published at Lincoln, Nebraska, by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union.
Myron H. Swenk, Editor, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Subscription price one dollar a year in the U. S. A. Single numbers
twenty-five cents each.

EDITORIAL PAGE

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS

The general situation regarding conservation in Nebraska was very
tersely and effectively expressed by Mr. Frank B. O’Connell, Secretary
of the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, in a paper
read by him before the Nebraska Division of the Izaak Walton League of
America, convening for its Twelfth Annual Meeting at Grand Island on
September 10 and 11. Mr. O’Connell said in part: “I would appeal to all
forward-looking Nebraska conservationists and outdoor lovers to join
hands in putting a stop to indiscriminate drainage, and to work for the
restoration of lakes, swamps, lagoons, marshes and natural reservoirs.
During the past decade there has been too much tinkering with Nature
by half-baked experimenters not satisfied to till the land that Nature
intended for that purpose. They must carry on a great program of
indiscriminate drainage. They must irrigate thousands of arid acres in
order to raise more agricultural products in a land burdened with agri¬
cultural surpluses. They must drain every lake, marsh and swamp,
straighten every little meandering stream, rob rivers of their natural
flow. They must remove and break down Nature’s barriers against
erosion and floods. The result of all this interference with natural laws
and processes has been to leave us utterly helpless whenever we experi¬
ence a dry cycle. New laws are needed to protect the state’s natural
resources, and to bring back the old crooked stream with its numerous
‘swimmin’ holes’ and sluggish movements.”

The preceding paper on the Canada Geese of Nebraska, based on
hundreds of specimens taken fifty years ago, when the great Bend of
the Platte River was one of the greatest concentration areas of migrat¬
ing wildfowl in North America, brings to mind, by contrast, the present
situation in this same area. Due to a water shortage caused by the
summer’s drouth, and to the utilization of the available waters of the
Platte farther up that stream for irrigation purposes, the Great Bend is
now practically wholly without water. Of course there is still some
water in the upper branches of the Platte, but the traditional Platte
River shooting grounds around Elm Creek, Kearney, Gibbon, Wood
River, Grand Island, Clarks and intermediate points are now mostly
broad stretches of dry sand. Only after the waters of the Loup enter
the Platte below Columbus, is that stream now really a living one. The
open season on waterfowl in Nebraska opened October 16 for a season
of thirty consecutive days. The Nebraska Commission, adopting as a
conservation and more enforceable measure this open season of con¬
secutive days, rather than some form of a staggered season such as was
adopted by nearly all of the other states, has been the recipient of much
local unfavorable criticism. But under the extremely grave situation
confronting numerous species of our ducks—some of which are in actual
immediate danger of an early extinction—the Nebraska Commission
should receive commendation, rather than condemnation, from all Nature
lovers, conservationists and true sportsmen, for its more advanced
policy on this matter.

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

123

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

Under date of August 7, Mr. Guy C. Thompson of Norfolk, Nebraska,
reports that for the past three or four years the Bronzed Grackles have
used the numerous very large elm trees in his neighborhood in Norfolk
for roosting purposes each spring and fall. The past summer, however,
the grackles roosted in these trees throughout the summer, damaging
the trees and becoming a serious pest. Last year efforts to break up
the roosts by shooting at the birds were made by the police and by
several authorized individuals, but were unsuccessful. Mr. Thompson
asks for suggestions as to how this roost might be broken up.

Under date of August 7, Miss Mollie A. Taylor of Battle Creek, Madi¬
son County, writes concerning her bird observations in that locality
during the past several months, from which the following may be quoted:

“The birds that came to and ate at our feeding places during the whole
of last winter included Northern Yellow-shafted Flickers, Eastern Hairy
Woodpeckers, Northern Downy Woodpeckers, three Northern Blue Jays,
Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadees, Eastern White-breasted Nut¬
hatches and Eastern Brown Creepers. Eastern Slate-colored Juncos
came in the spring. One of the teachers saw an Eastern Robin in her
yard the last of January, and a high school student reported seeing sev¬
eral of them as early as February 8.

“Early in the spring when I was in town one day, a barber asked me
to name a little bird that had flown against his plate glass window and
become stunned, afterward recovering and becoming very lively. It was
an Eastern Brown Creeper. For about three weeks in the spring a
thrush that we identified as the Hermit Thrush visited this vicinity,
several of them having been seen by different people. Later, a little boy
brought a dead Sora Rail in to school. That same evening another little
fellow came with one that he had picked up in the west part of town.
A day or two later another boy found one in the southwestern part of
Battle Creek, and two little girls who live at the edge of town found a
fourth one. We could not determine the cause of their death.

“We had a great many Rose-breasted Grosbeaks this spring. One day
when the potato bugs wei*e plentiful a boy came to me with a male gros¬
beak that he had picked up in front of the hardware store on main street.
While we were looking at it, another boy ran up with another one. One
said the bird was dead when he found it, while in the other case the
bird drew up its legs and died as the boy came near. It was the time
that people were poisoning potato bugs, and I think that the birds ate
some of the poisoned bugs. One of them seemed to have a little frothy
material around its mouth, but I could find nothing else wrong with
either of them.

“We still have some suet upon a limb. The Northern Downy Wood¬
peckers came and ate during the late spring, and in the summer the
mother brought her young one and fed it from the suet. These birds
seem to fall an easy victim to the cats, for we found two or three around,
partly eaten, and some of the school children have found them and
brought them to me. As the Northern Blue Jays and Bronzed Grackles
did not build this year in our evergreen tree by the kitchen door, a pair
of Catbirds built there and raised their young. They did good service by
eating the larvae on the currant bushes. They fought a good deal with
the Western House Wrens that were nesting near by. The day before
the young wrens left the nest the mother wren disappeared and did not
return, and we do not know how the little ones fared, as they disap¬
peared also. Subsequently another brood of young wrens left the box,

124

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

and these are still around. For the past three weeks a Brown Thrasher
and her three little ones have been feeding in our yard, bathing in the
bath and eating from the feeding tray. They came quite close to the
kitchen door and must have nested near by. The Northern Yellow-
shafted Flickers, Arkansas Kingbirds and Bronzed Grackles also all
bring in their babies for feed and water.

“Other birds coming to our yard this summer are Western Mourning
Doves, Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Ar¬
kansas Kingbirds, Black and White Warblers, Eastern Yellow Warblers,
Orchard Orioles, Baltimore Orioles, Eastern American Goldfinches and
Eastern Chipping Sparrows. We also have many Eastern Robins, that
do much bathing. Out in the country we see Bob-whites, Northern Kill-
deers, Crows, Bobolinks, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Red-winged Black¬
birds and Eastern Cowbirds. I have heard the Bob-whites calling here
in town, but not as far into town as our home, though they have done
that a few times in other years. My friends who live near the Yellow
Banks have the Eastern Cardinal, both winter and summer, and my
brother often sees the Scarlet Tanager in the woods along the Elkhorn
River. Several times this spring I have heard and seen a Mockingbird.
Many Eastern Belted Kingfishers are along the creek. I can hear our
Eastern Screech Owl in the trees at night, but do not see it very often.

“We never have had the birds as tame as they are this summer. This
may have been due to the prevailing dry weather. A friend of ours who
does much fishing along the Elkhorn River told me that he never had
seed as many wading birds in the Elkhorn River as he has seen this
summer. While I was at summer school, early one morning my sister
picked up a shivering little nestling Northern Blue Jay. She taught it
to eat and drink, and finally it would bathe itself. It ate bread, worms,
flies, pressed ham and the like, and kept us busy trying to keep it satis¬
fied. We had it for almost a month, and it grew very tame and seemed
to like all of us. It would snuggle up to my brother and he would rub
its feathers. One day this summer, between Wayne and Battle Creek,
I saw a large hawk flying quite high overhead with a long glistening
snake in its talons. My school boys who accompanied the men on the
wolf hunts this past spring said that some of the hunters shot every
hawk and owl that they saw. Their wolf hunts have probably done
more harm than good, for they did not succeed in destroying many
wolves. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird recently has been visiting the
gladiolus blossoms, and when tired resting itself upon the electric light
wires near by.”

Mr. L. M. Gates reports that on August 19 he spent an hour, from
7:00 to 8:00 A. M., making a bird list at the old railroad bridge in “Hid¬
den Paradise” near Long Pine, Brown County. He saw one each of the
Great Blue Heron and Least Bittern. A number of Eastern Crows wer,e
seen pestering a Great Horned Owl. Other species observed were the
Western Mourning Dove, Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Blue Jay,
Long-tailed Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Robin,
four or five Black and White Warblers, numerous Eastern Yellow War¬
blers, a half dozen American Redstarts, some Eastern (?) American
Goldfinches and two female Rocky Mountain Black-headed Grosbeaks.

Under date of September 27, Mr. Harold Turner of Bladen, reports on
some of his bird observations made during the past summer and fall.
On June 22, by a strange coincidence, both Mr. Herbert Hansen and
Mr. Edward Johnson, farmers of near Holstein, independently reported
a crippled White Pelican in their respective pastures. Mr. Turner
visited one of these farms and found a White Pelican with one wing
injured, although the bird did not appear to have been shot. He states
that there had been a rather hard storm on the preceding night, with a
strong northwest wind, and wonders if this could have any bearing as to

THE 1934 MIGRATION SEASON

125

why these two birds should be found crippled in the same way at the
same time. However, June 22 is far later than the normal spring migra¬
tion period of the White Pelican. Mr. Turner identified the Warbling
Vireo near the pool in his yard on July 20, and saw an American Barn
Owl along Sand Creek on August 1. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird
was observed at close range, as it hovered over some flowers by the pool,
on August 10. On September 25, a flock of about twenty-five Franklin
Gulls was noted flying low over a corn field. A Long-eared Owl was
seen perched in a tree along Sand Creek on September 26. Mr. Turner
also makes mention that James Morey of Bladen dug four young Red
Foxes out of a den just outside of the town limits of Bladen on May 30.
Mr. Turner mounted one of them, a male, for Fred Turner of Bladen.
The old foxes were not captured. Three of the young were kept alive
for some time, but later escaped.

Miss Louisa Wilson of Lincoln reports that she again noted an Oven-
bird in her yard on August 18. This individual was without a tail, and
may have been a different bird from the one or ones seen in her yard on
July 30 and August 3 to 6 (antea, ii, p. 70). About 2:00 P. M. on August
23, she saw a young Eastern Screech Owl with an Eastern Robin that
it was not yet large and strong enough to carry. A pair of Orchard
Orioles nested in a poplar tree on her place this past summer, and made
their nest entirely of excelsior which they gathered from Miss Wilson’s
flower beds, where she had placed it for mulching purposes. Mrs. H. F.
Reid of Lincoln reported having seen a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on
August 2 and 15, one each time, at her home at 1643 Harwood Street.
These were the only reports of this bird at Lincoln during the past sum¬
mer and early fall. Baltimore Orioles were actively singing from
August 16 to 22, the latter being the last date upon which they were
observed at Lincoln. The Eastern Warbling Vireo likewise was last
seen on August 22. Mrs. M. H. Swenk noted a female American Red¬
start on the bird bath in her yard on August 30.

During September and early October of 1934, the following observa¬
tions that seem worthy of record were made: Mr. G. E. Hudson saw a
flock of about sixty White Pelicans flying down the Platte River near
Cedar Creek, Cass County, on September 14. Great Blue Herons
(subsp.?) were common in the same locality on the same day. On the
following day, September 15, again in the same locality, Mr. Hudson
saw several small flocks of ducks that were identified as Gadwalls. He
likewise noted two Red-tailed Hawks and an American Rough-legged
Hawk near Cedar Creek on October 7. An American Osprey carrying a
fish, was observed by him at the Platte near Cedar Creek on September
9, and a bird of this species was again noted by him at the same place
on both September 14 and October 7. A Prairie Falcon was seen by
him near Lincoln on September 8. Migrating Sparrow Hawks (subsp. ?)
were noted commonly by Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Swenk near Tamora,
Seward County, on September 11, and near Louisville, Cass County, on
September 12, while Mr. Hudson counted thirteen of them on September
15, near Cedar Creek. Three Soras were flushed from dense stands of
small willows and smartweeds on an island in the Platte River near
Cedar Creek on September 14, by Mr. Hudson, who noted them there
again on October 7. Mr. Hudson and Mr. W. E. Beed found about fif¬
teen Golden Plovers along the muddy edge of King’s Pond near Lincoln,
and in company with them two Black-bellied Plovers, on September 30.
The Golden Plover was again encountered near Cedar Creek, on October
7, a flock of about twenty-five of them in an alfalfa field. Northern
Killdeers were reported as common near Lincoln on September 8 and
30, by Mr. Hudson, and near Louisville on September 12, by M. H. Swenk,
who found them again very common near Lincoln on October 7 and 12.
Mr. Hudson saw three Wilson Snipes on September 30, on which date he

126

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

observed also the Baird Sandpiper (seven), Least Sandpiper (two), and
Stilt Sandpiper (two). Mr. Hudson saw two Spotted Sandpipers along
the Platte near Cedar Creek on September 15, and at the same time and
place saw about eight Greater Yellow-legs. About the same number of
Lesser Yellow-legs were noted by him near Lincoln on September 8.

Western Mourning Doves were common up to the middle of Septem¬
ber, after which they were much fewer. At Lincoln, in the late after¬
noon of September 22, Mr. Hudson saw two Nighthawks (subsp.?)
flying toward the south, and subsequently noted another individual of
this species on the late date of October 4, also at Lincoln. Northern
Yellow-shafted Flickers were noted commonly by various observers
between September 8 and 12, apparently migrating birds. A young
Red-headed Woodpecker was noted by the Swenks near Tamora, on
September 11. Mr. Hudson noted two Eastern Kingbirds near Lincoln,
on September 8. Mr. and Mrs. Swenk noted one near Louisville on
September 12, and Mr. Hudson made the last 1934 observation of the
species when one was seen between Lincoln and Cedar Creek on Sep¬
tember 14. The last Arkansas Kingbird of the season was noted by
Mr. and Mrs. Swenk near Tamora, on September 11. Mr. Hudson noted
about ten Barn Swallows on September 8, near Lincoln, and on Sep¬
tember 12 the Swenks noted that the wires around Louisville were at
spots crowded with Common Bank Swallows and Barn Swallows, in the
proportion of three to one, all sitting facing the wind. The last dates
for the Barn Swallow were three seen by Mr. Hudson on the Belmont
Prairie near Lincoln on September 26 and five seen by him near King’s
Pond on September 30. Eastern White-breasted Nuthatches began appear¬
ing in town at Lincoln on October 4. Mr. Hudson saw and collected a female
Western House Wren on September 15. The last Catbird was noted by
the Swenks in their yard on September 20, and the last Brown Thrasher
ten days later. Eastern Robins were still common in town at Lincoln
on October 19. Mr. Hudson saw a flock of about thirty American Com¬
mon Pipits on September 30. The Eastern Myrtle Warbler was seen at
Lincoln by M. H. Swenk on October 4, and the Eastern Orange-crowned
Warbler was seen at Cedar Creek by Mr. Hudson on October 7. The
Northern Maryland Yellow-throat was seen and heard, and a female
collected, by Mr. Hudson at Cedar Creek on September 15. Mr. Hudson
heard a Western Meadowlark in song on the Belmont Prairie on Sep¬
tember 26, and at the same place on October 3 many of both the Western
and Eastern species were heard singing repeatedly. Bronzed Grackles
were flying in large flocks during the first ten days in October. Savan¬
nah Sparrows (subsp.?) were noted by Mr. Hudson on September 8
(about eight) and 30 (about twenty). A Vesper Sparrow (subsp.?) was
noted by him on the Belmont Prairie on October 3. Swamp Sparrows
were seen, and one collected, by him at Cedar Creek on September 14.

HERE AND THERE WITH THE N. 0. IT. MEMBERS

Our honorary member, Mrs. G. A. Loveland, now of River Road,
Norwich, Vermont, writes under date of August 27 that she and Mr.
Loveland had a most interesting time with the Vermont Botanical and
Bird Clubs at their annual meetings and field trips, at Rochester, Ver¬
mont, on June 26 and 27. While fewer species were seen than on similar
trips in Nebraska, many more flycatchers, thrushes and warblers were
observed. Mrs. Loveland writes that this summer they had numbers of
birds about their own door yard and in the near-by meadows and woods.
The Eastern Whip-poor-wills sang at night down by the river, and were
heard as late as August 20. Numerous Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
visited the petunias, phlox and delphiniums. In the dead trunk of a big
old maple tree an Eastern Yellow-bellied Sapsucker dug enormous
trenches. Eastern Phoebes and Barn Swallows nested under the eaves

WITH THE N. 0. U. MEMBERS

127

of the barns. The Eastern House Wrens insisted on building in the
mail box. In the deep woods west of the house the Hermit Thrushes and
Veeries sang. The Eastern Common Bluebirds raised three broods in
the houses that Mrs. Loveland put up for them, and the Tree Swallows
raised one brood. In the bushes or trees, within sight of the windows,
the Eastern Kingbird, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Robin, Red-eyed Vireo,
Eastern Warbling Vireo and Eastern Purple Finch were nesting. In
the meadows north and east of the house were Bobolinks and Eastern
Common Meadowlarks. The Cedar Waxwings enjoyed the berries on
the bush honeysuckle. Eastern Vesper, White-throated and Eastern
Song Sparrows were also present in the vicinity. Mrs. Loveland also
reports that last winter, at Daytona Beach, Florida, she identified 106
species of birds and added nine new ones to her life list, these being the
Eastern Brown Pelican, Ward Great Blue Heron, Northern Louisiana
Heron, Florida Gallinule, Black Skimmer, Ground Dove, Florida Jay,
Brown-headed Nuthatch and Boat-tailed Grackle.

Under date of September 3, Mr. Miles Greenleaf of Omaha sends a
clipping from the Beardstown (Illinois) Illinoian-Star of June 22, 1934,
which tells an interesting story of an English Sparrow “adopting” five
small House Wrens at the residence of Joseph Maskell, 1211 Washington
Street, Beardstown. The House Wren nest was in a tree. After the
young hatched, one of the parent wrens, believed to have been the male,
was killed. Another subsequent accident caused two of the small birds
to fall out of the nest to the ground below. It was then that the
English Sparrow was noted by numerous observers to be feeding the
young wrens on the ground and also the three left in the nest, by carry¬
ing them “worms and seeds.”

Under date of September 21, Dr. Mary Price Roberts, who, with her
husband, Dr. F. L. R. Roberts, a past president of the Iowa Ornitholo¬
gists' Union, has long been actively interested in that organization, re¬
ports that during the present school year she is serving as a visiting
teacher in the Grand Island public schools. Mrs. Roberts is enjoying
her work in Nebraska and intends to contact our members and other
bird students in the Grand Island vicinity for cooperative bird work.

The Brooking Bird Club of Hastings has issued its program for the
1934-35 season. Eight meetings are planned. On September 17, various
club members will report upon their summer bird observations. On
October 21, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Adams will present “A Study of the
Wrens”, and Miss Eva Evans will report upon the life of Thomas
Bewick. On November 19, Mrs. A. M. Brooking will review Henry
Revoil’s “History of the Passenger Pigeon”, and Mrs. A. E. Olsen will
review Beebe’s “Birds of the Galapagos”. On December 17, Mrs. E. R,
Maunder will report on unusual bird occurrences in Nebraska during the
past year, and Mrs. C. W. Rants will discuss the spread of the European
Starling. On January 18, Miss Annette Frantz will review T. Gilbert
Pearson’s “Fifty Years of Bird Protection in the United States”, and
Mrs. Dorr Mahoney will talk on the subject “What Birds Do for Us”.
On February 22, Mrs. A. M. Jones will discuss “How to Study Birds”,
Mrs. J. Roelse will give a talk on “Birds’ Eyes”, and Miss Martha
Cousley will discuss “The Bathing of Birds”. The March 18 program
will be papers on “The Return of the Birds” by Mrs. F. L. Youngblood,
and “Songs and Courtship of Birds” by Mrs. A. H. Staley. A motion
picture film of bird life will be shown on April 15. The annual field trip
and business meeting will be held in May.

Mr. Wilson Tout, of the Tribune Printing Company of North Platte,
has recently published a “Bird Lovers’ Monthly Record” and a “Bird
Lovers’ Nest Record”, in response to a demand from the recently-
organized North Platte Bird Club, made up according to a form that he

128

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

has been using for the past seven years and that he has improved from
time to time. The “Bird Lovers’ Monthly Record” consists of a pad of
thirteen sheets, each about 7x9 inches in size, printed on a 20-pound
linen finish bond paper that will take either ink or pencil and that will
retain its white color for many years. At the head of each sheet is a
place for entering the month and year, under which is a wide vertical
column in which the name of the bird may be written. To the right of
this wide name column are narrow vertical columns for each day in the
month, in which an “x” can be placed on the date that each species
listed has been identified, or the number of individual birds identified
may be put in the space instead of the “x”. Experience has shown that
a blank form of this sort brings about the recording of observations
that never would be preserved in an ordinary note-book. Mr. Tout posts
the sheet each month on the wall in his living room, with a pencil at¬
tached, so as to make the putting down of each day’s records an easy
matter. The “Bird Lovers’ Nest Record” is a pad of 3 x 5 inch light
weight cards, having a place to record the name of the bird, the location
of the nest, the date, the contents of the nest, and other pertinent notes
such as the kind of tree in which the nest is placed, its height from the
ground, the shape and composition of the nest, the actions of the parent
birds, and so on. Mr. Tout sells the monthly record sheets at twenty
cents per pad of thirteen sheets.

A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE BIRDS OF NEBRASKA
III. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS (PELECANIFORMES)
PELICANS (PELECANIDAE)

9. WHITE PELICAN .—Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin.

The White Pelican was formerly a very common, and is still a fairly
common, regular migrant each spring and fall across Nebraska. West
of the 103rd meridian it is, and may always have been, less common than
farther east. Yet there is probably no section of the state in which it
is at all seasons entirely absent. During its migrations it is particu¬
larly prone to follow up and down the Missouri River, and to rest in
flocks on the normally broad waters of the Platte. Sometimes it still
passes through the state in flocks of considerable size, numbering hun¬
dreds of birds.

Our records show that it has been reported as a more or less common
migrant in the following counties: Richardson (Humboldt; J. V. Cor-
telyou), Nemaha (mouth of the Little Nemaha; Maximilian), Gage
(Beatrice; A. S. Pearse, F. A. Colby, M. H. Swenk), Lancaster (Lincoln
Salt Basin; many observers), Cass (South Bend; M. H. Swenk), Doug¬
las (Omaha; I. S. Thostler, L. Skow, Miss Mary Ellsworth, etc.), Wash¬
ington (Engineer Cantonment; Say), Burt (Pelican Island; Lewis
and Clark, A. J. Donelson), Thurston (Lewis and Clark; Maximilian),
Dakota (Lewis and Clark; Maximilian), Knox (mouth of the Niobrara;
Maximilian), Antelope (Neligh; M. Cary), Madison (Norfolk; L. Ses¬
sions), Cuming (West Point; L. Bruner), Dodge (Fremont; University
collection), Butler (Linwood; W. W. Cooke), York (York; Wilson Tout),
Saline (Dorchester; A. Eiche), Clay (Inland; Glenvil; A. M. Brooking),
Adams (Hastings, A. M. Brooking, Mrs. A. H. Jones, Miss M. Diemer,
Harold Turner, etc.), Kearney (Wilcox; A. R. Marsteller), Buffalo
(Kearney; C. A. Black), Hall (Wood River; D. H. Talbot), Merrick
(Silver Creek; F. C. Foster), Brown (Long Pine; Will Smith), Cherry
(Wood Lake; J. M. Bates, and Simeon; Mrs. Lulu K. Hudson), Thomas

TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS

129

(Halsey; R. H. Wolcott), Logan (Cody Lake; Mr. and Mrs. Earl W.
Glandon), Lincoln (North Platte, regular but uncommon; Wilson Tout),
Frontier (Curtis; Rees Heaton), Sheridan (Rushville; L. Bruner), and
Garden (Crescent Lake, Swan Lake; C. A. Black, A. M. Brooking).

The White Pelican spends the winter along the Gulf Coast, from
northern Florida westward, along the Pacific Coast from northern Cali¬
fornia southward, and along both coasts and in the interior of Mexico
and Central America, south to Panama, casually visiting the islands of
the Caribbean Sea. The western coast birds move north in April and
May to their breeding grounds from the interior of California, southern
Oregon and western Nevada to central British Columbia and northern
Utah. The Gulf Coast birds move north up the Mississippi Valley,
during the same period, to the lakes of the great mid-interior breeding
areas of the species, from central Manitoba, central North Dakota and
northwestern Wyoming north to Great Slave Lake. Formerly the in¬
terior breeding range extended much farther south, at least to north-
central Wisconsin, southern and western Minnesota, South Dakota and
Colorado. East of the Mississippi River the White Pelican is a more or
less casual migrant or straggler, but it has been recorded from most
of the eastern states, and even to New England and New Brunswick.

The northward movement of the White Pelican from the Gulf Coast
begins in March, and by the early part of that month the extreme van
of the migration has reached northern Texas (Gainesville, March 7) and
southern Kansas (Cimarron, March 9). These earliest birds do not
reach the latitude of Nebraska and Iowa (Mt. Pleasant, March 18;
Grinnell, March 30) until the latter half of March. The earliest re¬
corded Nebraska date is March 15, 1931, when A. M. Brooking recorded
it from near Hastings, Adams County (L. O. /. No. 57, p. 3). The next
earliest date is March 21, 1900, on which day two individuals were seen
at Beatrice, Gage County (M. H. Swenk) and the species was also noted
on the Platte River at Silver Creek, Merrick County (F. C. Foster). A
large flock of what were apparently White Pelicans was reported from
O’Neill, Holt County, on March 30, 1932 (antea, i, p. 119).

Ordinarily, however, the first White Pelicans are not seen in Nebraska
until early or middle April. M. Cary reports it for Neligh, Antelope
County, on April 3, 1899 (Proc. N. O. U., i, p. 21). F. J. Keller reports a
flock of fifty at Kicken Lake, Sheridan County, April 6, 1932 (L. O. I.
No. 66, p. 8). Thomas Say records the arrival of the “Rough-billed
Pelican” at Engineer Cantonment on April 8, 1820 (Long's Exp., i, pp.
266-270). Eight early April dates at Lincoln include one seen at the
Salt Basin on April 5, 1899 (A. Eiche); a flock of fifteen seen at the
same place on April 9, 1913 (M. H. Swenk); seven shot on a pond near
Lincoln by a hunter (of which four were mounted by M. H. Swenk), on
April 10, 1902; several seen by workmen at Capitol Beach at the Salt
Basin on April 10, 1926, and reported to L. G. Worley, and these or
others again seen there on April 13, 1926 (Mrs. G. O. Smith); some
seen by C. E. Mickel on April 11, 1919; some seen by L. G. Worley at
the Salt Basin on April 12, 1925; a flock of 100 seen at the Salt Basin on
April 16, 1911 (H. B. Lowry); and some seen by R. W. Dawson on
April 16, 1916; an average date of April 11.

These late March and early April birds constitute the beginning of
the first migration flight. This flight continues, less heavily, from the
middle of April until the very end of the month. Reports of the same
are from Omaha, April 14, 1930 (L. O. Horsky, L. O. I. No. 51, p. 8) and
April 15, 1934, a flock of several hundred birds (antea, ii. p. 80); from
Linwood, Butler County, April 16, 1885 (W. W. Cooke); from Hastings,
Adams County, April 16, 1913, and Glenvil, Clay County, April 18, 1916
(A. M. Brooking); from between Kearney and Odessa, Buffalo County,

130

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

April 18, 1934 (antea, ii, p. 78); from Omaha, April 19, 1925 (Miss Mary
Ellsworth, L. O. I. No. 7, p. 7); from Wilcox, Kearney County, April 19,

1930 (A. R. Marstellar, antea, i, p. 127); from Holstein, Adams County,
April 21, 1933 (Harold Turner, antea, i, p. 73); Irom Hastings, Adams
County, April 22, 1934 (Kenneth Eaton, antea, ii, p. 72); from Wood
River, Hall County, April 23, 1881 (D. H. Talbot); from Salt Basin,
near Lincoln, April 23, 1910 (J. T. Zimmer); from Omaha, April 26,

1931 (C. A. Mitchell), and April 28, 1930 (L. O. Horsky, L. O. I. No. 59,
p. 4, and 51, p. 8), and large flocks from the Nemaha and Otoe County
coast, April 28 and 29, 1833 (Maximilian).

The bulk of the White Pelicans moves across Nebraska in the next
heavy migration wave, which means during the early part of May.
Maximilian records seeing flocks at the mouth of the Niobrara River on
May 6, 1834, near the mouth of the Big Sioux on May 9, and along the
Dakota and Thurston County coasts on May 10 (Reise, i, p, 287). Audu¬
bon records seeing several White Pelicans below the mouth of the Little
Sioux on May 11, 1843 (Journals i, p. 484). At Lincoln dates of early
May arrival in six years are: May 1, 1927 (Mrs. Fred Tyler); May 4,
1919 (R. W. Dawson); May 6, 1919 (C. E. Mickel); May 6, 1899 (J. S.
Hunter, one dead at Salt Basin), May 7, 1907 (M. H. Swenk) and 1910
(J. T. Zimmer) and May 14, 1929 (H. P. Doole); an average date of
May 6 or 7. They were seen at Hastings on May 1, 1927 (Miss M.
Diemer) and May 6, 1929 (Mrs. A. H. Jones). Mrs. Lulu K. Hudson
reports the species from Simeon, Cherry County, on May 15, 1934 (antea,
ii, p. 82). White Pelicans are seldom seen after May 15. The latest
Lincoln dates are May 21, 1916 (R. W. Dawson) and May 28, 1898
(specimen shot, and mounted by L. Skow of Omaha).

During their migrations White Pelicans tend to follow the valleys of
the larger rivers of the interior. Identifications of this species by
hunters, and other persons who are not trained ornithologists, may
usually be accepted with a reasonable degree of safety. Out-of-door
observers are mostly fairly familiar with the good-sized assemblages of
these big white birds, following a leader in V-shaped flocks or circling
high in the air and almost out of sight, with slow and measured strokes
of the great black-tipped wings. Sometimes when they alight on mud
flats or sandbars on the Missouri or Platte, they form great white
masses of birds.

After the close of the spring migration, White Pelicans are occa¬
sionally to be seen during June about the larger lakes of Cherry and
Garden Counties. J. M. Bates has recorded seeing fifteen of them on a
lake south of Wood Lake, Cherry County, June 5, 1897 (Proc. N. O. U.,
i, p. 15). They were seen by R. H. Wolcott on Dewey Lake, Cherry
County, from May 28 to June 8, 1903 (Prelim. Rev. Bds. Nebr., p. 23).
C. A. Black and A. M. Brooking saw a flock of eighteen at Crescent Lake,
Garden County, June 20 to 24, 1917. They bore the horny excrescences
on the culmen characteristic of the breeding season. Ranchmen said
that this flock had been present there all spring, and Andrew Richard¬
son, a Kincaider living in the vicinity, told Mr. Brooking that the peli¬
cans were present also that summer, and breeding, on Swan Lake,
northwest of Crescent Lake. This questionable breeding report was not
verified, and the White Pelican cannot definitely be listed as a breeding
bird in Nebraska, for the mere presence of the species during the nesting
season does not necessarily signify breeding. No doubt there are groups
of non-breeding individuals of this species that sometimes linger in flocks
in favorable places through the breeding season, and that these June
records represent such birds. Flocks of White Pelicans are reported as
occasionally seen during the summer on the larger lakes of eastern
South Dakota and western Minnesota, where they formerly bred, their
numbers increasing from June to early August, probably from the ar-

TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS

131

rival during July of additional individuals from the North Dakota and
Manitoba nesting grounds.

There is a bare possibility that during the explorational period White
Pelicans may have bred along the sandbars of the Missouri in north¬
eastern Nebraska, especially on a long island sandbar in the Missouri
River northeast of Tekamah in Burt County, that was named Pelican
Island by Lewis and Clark. When these explorers were ascending the
Missouri in 1804, they reached this place on August 8, and found hun¬
dreds of White Pelicans gathered and feeding on the upper point of the
island, which they located as about two miles above the mouth of the
Little Sioux River. Captain Lewis killed one of them and five gallons
of water was poured into its pouch. Another was killed by John Dame,
one of the soldiers in the party. In the afternoon the sandbars were
covered white with pelicans. Private Whitehouse says that there were
better than 5,000 or 6,000 of them flying, and that they kept before the
party all that day (see journals of Captains Lewis and Clark and of
Sergeant Ordway for this date). This constitutes the first Nebraska
record of the species. On the return of the party, White Pelicans were
noted on the river along Dakota County on September 4, along Thurston
County on September 5, and a large flock again along Burt County “near
the mouth of the Little Sioux” where two or three were killed.

In 1853 Lieutenant A. J. Donelson of the U. S. Corps of Engineers
was ascending the Missouri by steamboat, making a survey of the river
between St. Louis and Fort Union, and on June 6 noted White Pelicans
at this same place. He writes; “On the 6th we halted for wood on the
left (Iowa) bank, near which occurs the only settlement to be met with
on the river between Council Bluffs and Sergeant’s hill. Just opposite
is a spot called Pelican Island, from the fact of its being a great resort
for pelicans. We here first met with this species of fowl. The island
received its name from Lewis and Clark, I believe, on account of their
having noticed the same fact.” (Rept. Expl. and Surv. for Railroad from
Miss. R. to Pacific Ocean, i, 1855, p. 238).

The latest dates of migrating White Pelicans at Lincoln and for all of
eastern Nebraska fall during the month of May. The normal nesting
season for the White Pelican on the islands or shores of the fresh-water
lakes of the Canadian interior is June and the first half of July, and
especially June, with the earliest young hatching in middle or late
June and leaving the nest in July. Lieutenant Donelson noted the birds
at Pelican Island at the very earliest part of the normal nesting season
(June 6) and Lewis and Clark at its close (August 8). Whether eggs
would have been found there in late June or early July cannot now be
known, but it is at least possible that they might have been.

The earliest Nebraska fall migration date is based on the observation
of an individual at the Kernan Lagoon near Hastings, Adams County,
August 15 to September 4, 1932, reported by Miss Margaret Diemer
(antea., i, p, 20), and on a specimen in the University Museum shot at
Humboldt, Richardson County, August 29, 1898 (J. V. Cortelyou). Ordi¬
narily, however, fall migrants are not seen in the Nebraska latitudes
until after the middle of September. Typical early dates at Lincoln are
September 17 (C. E. Mickel) and 23 (M. H. Swenk) 1916, September 22,
1900 (J. S. Hunter) and September 30, 1899 (M. A. Carriker, J. S.
Hunter, R. H. Wolcott). The main fall migration extends through the
month of October, especially its first half. October dates of observation
in various localities include: Mouth of the Little Sioux, Burt County,
October 3, 1844, several (J. J. Audubon); below Fort Croghan, October
6, 1844, killed two (J. J. Audubon); Lincoln, October 6, 1907 (M. H.
Swenk); Omaha, October 11, 1927 (C. A. Mitchell, L. O. I. No. 29, p. 3)
and October 12, 1900 (L. Bruner, R. H. Wolcott); South Bend, October

132

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

12, 1907 (M. H. Swenk); Hastings, October 13, 1928 (A. M. Brooking,
L. O. I. No. 34, p. 3); Beatrice, October 14, 1933 (antea, i, p. 139); Dor¬
chester, October 15, 1907 (A. Eiche), two specimens; Wahoo, Saunders
County, October 21, 1931 (L. O. I. No. 63, p. 2) and Omaha, October 21,
1931 (L. O. I. No. 63, p. 4); Neligh, October 25, 1898 (M. Cary); and
Lincoln, October 27, 1899 (A. Eiche). L. Bruner records seeing White
Pelicans at Rushville, Sheridan County, early in November of 1900, this
being our latest normal Nebraska date for the species, though a wounded
bird was present at Carter Lake in the fall of 1933 until November 11
and 12, as reported by Miss Mary Ellsworth (antea, ii, p. 14).

10. EASTERN BROWN PELICAN.— Pelecanus occidentalis occidentalis
Linnaeus.

While the breeding range of the Eastern Brown Pelican in the United
States is confined to the Gulf Coast and northward along the South
Atlantic Coast to South Carolina, and the species ordinarily is resident
within its breeding range, nevertheless during any of the warmer months
of the year, and especially in the early summer or fall, individual birds
(almost invariably immature ones) rarely may wander northward, some¬
times for long distances. There are records of the Eastern Brown Peli¬
can, chiefly based on such wandering young birds, from Nova Scotia,
several New England localities, New Jersey and New York, and in the
northern interior from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Colo¬
rado and Wyoming. These numerous records would seem to justify
regarding this species as a possible occasional accidental visitor in any
of the north-central states.

The first Nebraska record of the Eastern Brown Pelican is undoubt¬
edly that of Thomas Say, who recorded the “Brown pelican (Pelecanus
fuscus)” in the list of birds seen by him at Engineer Cantonment, near
Fort Calhoun, Washington County (Long’s Exped., ii, p. 266). This record
must have pertained either to the fall (from September 19 on) of 1819
or the spring or early summer (before June 6) of 1820.

The second record is probably the following note published in the
Nebraska State Journal for Wednesday, July 10, 1872: “Sea Pelicans.—
Stephen Morgan shot a couple of Sea Pelicans this morning in the
vicinity of the Salt basin (just west of Lincoln, Lancaster County). One
of them, the largest, was killed, and weighed ten pounds; the other is
only crippled and is now in Mr. Morgan’s possession. They are the first
ever seen in this vicinity.” This record seems quite acceptable for the
following reasons: (1) as a bird type, pelicans are wholly unmistakable
to anyone, so these birds were undoubtedly pelicans; (2) if they had
been the White Pelican the matter would not likely have received any
special comment, for that species was a common migrant through the
region each spring and fall, while these pelicans were aptly called “Sea
Pelicans”, and the statement definitely made that they were the first
ever seen in the Lincoln vicinity; (3) the larger of the two birds weighed
only ten pounds, which would have been entirely too small for an adult
White Pelican (which would have weighed somewhere from fifteen to
twenty pounds), and the season was too early for any young White
Pelicans to be wandering or migrating — in fact on July 10 the oldest
young White Pelicans in the interior region could have been only a few
weeks old and scarcely out of the nest (the nesting period being chiefly
in June, and the young remaining in the nest two or three weeks), while
young Brown Pelicans could have been wandering northward by that
date (the nesting period on the Gulf Coast being from February to April,
with the oldest young of the year flying by early June).

The third record is that of a male specimen collected by or for D. H.

TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS

133

Talbot at St. Paul, Howard County, on October 10, 1885, and preserved
(at least up to 1896, when it was reported upon to Professor Bruner by
H. F. Wickham) in the Talbot collection at the University of Iowa
Museum. Also, early in the 1890’s, L. Skow of Omaha reported to L.
Bruner that he had seen fragments of six Brown Pelicans in a hog-pen
where they had been thrown by the man who had shot them at Honey
Creek lake, near Omaha, Douglas County. This was in the spring of
the year. These two records are reported by Bruner in his Notes on Ne¬
braska Birds, 1896, p. 62.

The fifth and last Nebraska record of this species to date, and the
only Nebraska specimen known to be now preserved, is also from the
Omaha vicinity. In the spring of 1912 a Brown Pelican was killed at
Carter Lake (or “Cut off Lake”) near Omaha, Douglas County. It was
noticed among a flock of tame ducks by the owner of the ducks, a woman
living on the border of the lake. Seeing this large bird with its tre¬
mendous beak and pouch among her ducks, she thought it was going to
kill them, and accordingly brought out her husband’s shotgun, and, rest¬
ing it in the fork of a tree, she took a shot at the bird. One shot only
struck the pelican, this penetrating the eye and killing the bird. She
drew the bird in, and when her husband returned it was taken to the
Northwestern School of Taxidermy at 15th and Harney Streets. There
it was turned over to Mr. L. Skow for mounting. The bird was a male
and bears the number 254 in the Elwood collection at the Northwestern
School of Taxidermy. It is evidently an immature bird, in the first year
juvenal plumage, for the under parts are grayish white and the upper
parts are a dark gray with whitish edgings to some of the larger
feathers. The neck is dark brown and of the peculiar velvety feathering
characteristic of this species, and the crest on the hind neck is well de¬
veloped. The whitish margins of the pouch are not clearly developed,
owing to a mixture of brownish feathers with the white ones. The
measurements are: Wing, 525 mm.; tail, 145 mm.; culmen, 313 mm.;
middle toe with claw, 115 mm. These measurements are the maximum,
or a little more than the maximum, measurements for the Eastern Brown
Pelican.

Mr. Skow said that he noticed that the pouch had crimson streaks on
it and identified the bird as the California Brown Pelican (P. o. californicus
Ridgway) because of this character, following the description in Coues’
“Key”. Although the bill and pouch have been painted, they at present
show the pouch having a reddish cast, especially toward the tip, but this
much obscured by blackish streaks, especially toward the base, where
there is little suggestion of a reddish color.

CORMORANTS (PHALACROCORACIDAE)

11. NORTHERN DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. —Phalacrocorax
auritus auritus (Lesson).

12. FLORIDA DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. —Phalacrocorax au¬
ritus floridanus (Audubon).

The Double-crested Cormorant is an uncommon but regular migrant
each spring and fall across Nebraska, west at least to the 102nd meridian
and probably completely over the state. Usually it is noted as indi¬
viduals or pairs, but sometimes in small flocks, frequenting the larger
ponds, lagoons and smaller streams as well as the Missouri and Platte
Rivers.

Distributional records at hand are from the following counties: Gage
(Beatrice; James Cady), Jefferson (Fairbury; A. M. Brooking), Lancas-

134

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

ter (Lincoln Salt Basin; A. Eiche, J. S. Hunter, G. M. Pinneo, L. Worley,
etc.), Otoe (Nebraska City; M. A. Carriker), Douglas (Omaha; I. S.
Trostler, L. Skow, F. J. Brezee, and Florence, J. Budd), Washington
(Engineer Cantonment; Say), Antelope (Neligh; M. Cary), Madison
(Norfolk; L. Sessions), Cuming (West Point; L. Bruner), York (York;
J. S. Hunter), Clay (Inland, Glenvil; A. M. Brooking), Buffalo (Kear¬
ney; C. A. Black), Hall (Platte River; A. M. Brooking), Brown (Long
Pine; Will Smith), Cherry (J. M. Bates), Grant (Thorp Lake; F. M.
Uhler), Lincoln (North Platte; Wilson Tout), and Frontier (Curtis;
Rees Heaton).

The Northern Double-crested Cormorant winters in the southern
United States, from the Gulf Coast north to North Carolina and south¬
ern Illinois, well south of the southern boundary of Nebraska. In the
spring these birds migrate up the Mississippi Valley to their breeding
grounds in Maine, Minnesota, northern Iowa (formerly), the Dakotas,
Saskatchewan and Utah northward into Canada. The northward move¬
ment begins in March, and by the end of that month the extreme van
has reached Missouri and southern Iowa. The earliest recorded Nebraska
date is a specimen shot at the Salt Basin at Lincoln, April 4, 1911, by
G. M. Pinneo, now in the August Eiche collection at the University.
This specimen is typical auritus (wing 322 mm.). The second earliest
record is that of a specimen shot at Glenvil, Clay County, April 9, 1927,
and mounted by A. M. Brooking (L. 0. I. No. 23, supplement, p. 6). This
bird is also referable to auritus. The third earliest record is that of a
specimen shot near Nebraska City, Otoe County, April 13, 1900, and
sent to the University, where it was mounted by M. A. Carriker. The
first record of the species for the state is that of Thomas Say, who noted
the arrival of the “Corvorant, Pelecanus carbo’’ at Engineer Cantonment,
Washington County, on April 20, 1820. The next earliest record is that
of a specimen of auritus shot at York, York County, April 22, 1899, and
sent to J. S. Hunter at the University.

The height of the spring migration is during the second half of April
and the first half of May. Latest dates of record are the following:
May 14, 1926, at the Salt Basin near Lincoln (Leonard Worley; L. O. J.
No. 17, p. 8), May 15, 1899, on the Elkhorn River near Neligh, Antelope
County (M. Cary; Proc. N. O. U., i, p. 21), and May 17, 1930, on the Mis¬
souri River near Omaha, on the twenty-eighth annual N. O. U. field day
(L. O. I. No. 51, pp. 7 and 8).

The Northern Double-crested Cormorant has long been known to nest
in northeastern South Dakota, there being several recorded colonies of
the bird there (Lake Albert, Waubay Lake, Fort Sisseton, etc.), but
until very recently the species was not known to nest in Nebraska. Mr.
Harrison F. Lewis has placed on record (Auk, xlviii, 1931, p. 210) the
observations of Mr. F. M. Uhler of the Biological Survey, who reports
that on July 30, 1930, he visited Thorp Lake, several miles northeast of
Hyannis, Grant County, and found a mixed colony of American Black-
crowned Night Herons, Great Blue Herons and Northern Double-crested
Cormorants. The cormorant nesting colony consisted of at least twenty
to thirty nests, situated in low willows within twenty feet of the ground.

This species begins to migrate southward from its breeding grounds
during the latter part of September, but the earliest fall date for Ne¬
braska is that of one killed near Kearney, Buffalo County, October 5,
1918, and mounted by C. A. Black for the B. J. Olson collection. This
specimen is very small, with a wing only 300 mm. long. The southward
migration continues through October and early November, reaching its
height during the first week in November. A very large specimen of
auritus (wing 327 mm.) was shot near North Platte, on the Platte River,
November 1, 1932, and sent to M. H. Swenk for preservation (L. O. I.

TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS

135

No. 65, p. 3). Several were reported as seen during the first week in
November of 1930, and one that was shot on the Platte River in Hall
County north of Hastings on November 2, 1930, was preserved by A. M.
Brooking (L. O. I. No. 54, pp. 1 and 2). M. Cary records a specimen
from the Elkhorn River in Antelope County in November, 1896.

The Florida Double-crested Cormorant (P. a. floridanus) is a smaller
subspecies that is resident along the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina
southward, both coasts of Florida and the coast of Louisiana, as well as
some of the Bahama Islands. Formerly the breeding range of this sub¬
species was thought to extend north up the Mississippi Valley to the
southern parts of Ohio and Illinois, and it has been recorded as a straggler
from Nebraska and other northern states. L. Bruner recorded it from
Omaha on the authority of himself and F. J. Brezee, and also from Lincoln,
West Point and the Platte River on his own authority (Some Notes on
Nebr. Bds., 1896, p. 61). J. S. Hunter also has recorded it as rare at
Lincoln (Proc. N. 0. U., i, p. 19). In recent years, however, the interior
Mississippi Valley records of floridanus have been discredited, and these
birds all referred to the northern subspecies. That is probably the cor¬
rect disposal of them, but nevertheless it is easy to see how the Nebraska
records of floridanus have come to be made. The northern subspecies is
supposed to have a wing length of 300 to 325 mm., averaging about 313
mm., while the southern subspecies has the wing 280 to 312 mm. long,
averaging about 294 mm. In the B. J. Olson collection is a skin from
Kearney, Buffalo County, with a wing only 300 mm. long, which is thus
the very minimum for P. a. auritus and much nearer the average of
floridanus than to that of typical auritus. It might easily be referred to
the southern form. In the Rees Heaton collection is a specimen from
Curtis, Frontier County, with a wing only 306 mm. long and the tail 163
mm, long. This is closer to the average P. a. auritus, but it also comes
within the size range of floridanus. Another specimen from Fairbury,
Jefferson County, in the Brooking collection at Hastings, has a wing 309
mm. long, which is also less than the average auritus or maximum
floridanus. One does not nearly so readily refer these specimens to P. a.
auritus as other specimens, as for example two April birds in the Eiche
collection from Lincoln, Lancaster County, with wings measuring 316
mm. and 322 mm., and other measurements in proportion, or a specimen
from North Platte, Lincoln County, with the wing measuring 327 mm.
in length. A. C. Bent (Life Histories of North American Petrels and Pelicans
and Their Allies, 1922, p. 255) says of these Mississippi Valley birds that
“perhaps they may be intermediate”, and in that statement I think he is
correct.

[MEXICAN OLIVACEOUS CORMORANT. —Phalacrocorax olivaceus mexi-
canus (Brandt).

This smaller species of cormorant, of which the adults in the breeding
season easily may be distinguished from the preceding one by the
pointed (not rounded) tips of the darker-edged brownish slate (not
bronze-gray-edged glossy black) feathers of the back and scapulars, the
filamentous white plume-feathers on the sides of the head, neck and
belly and the narrow border of white feathers on the gular sac (all lack¬
ing in auritus), and the lack of the long, curly feather tufts behind the
eyes (forming the characteristic double crest in auritus), has accidentally
wandered north to New Mexico (Fort Thorn, April, 1854; Carlsbad, July
25, 1901; Silver City, November 12, 1916); Colorado (Denver, October
15, 1899); Kansas (Lawrence, April 2, 1872); southern Illinois (Cairo,
spring of 1878); and possibly also to Nebraska. Bruner included it
from West Point, Cuming County, in his 1896 list (Notes on Nebraska
Birds, p. 61) on the identification of a friend, but in the 1904 list (Prelim.

136

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Rev. Bds. Nebr., p. 22), this record was dropped as probably a misidenti-
fication of auritus. It may not have so been, however, and the accidental
occurrence of this species in Nebraska may yet be verified.]

DARTERS (ANHINGIDAE)

13. WATER-TURKEY. —Anhinga anhinga (Linnaeus).

In the early 1890’s
a wandering speci¬
men of this bird
was shot, suppos¬
edly in the vicinity
of Omaha, Doug¬
las County, and
mounted by F. J.

Brezee, an Omaha
taxidermist of that
time. This record
was reported by
Bruner in his Notes
on Nebraska Birds
(p. 61; 1896), but
in the Prelim. Rev.

Bds. Nebr. (pp. 21-
22) was not fully
accepted as a Ne¬
braska record be¬
cause there was a
possibility that the
specimen might
have been shot
across the Missouri
River in Iowa, or
possibly even in
northwestern Missouri. The species was definitely added to the Nebraska
list, however, by a specimen caught with a fish spear by Oscar Blevins at
the Josh Woods ranch on the South Loup River in Buffalo County, north of
Kearney, on September 20, 1913 (tVilson Bulletin, xxx, p. 113; 1918).
This specimen, shown in the accompanying illustration, was mounted at
Omaha by the Northwestern School of Taxidermy for the late B. J.
Olson of Kearney, and is now in the C. A. Black collection at the latter
place.

MAN-O’-WAR BIRDS (FREGATIDAE)

14. MAN-O’-WAR BIRD. —Fregata magnificens Mathews.

In the spring of 1884, at West Point, Cuming County, Bruner saw a
bird that he identified as a Man-o’-war bird, “and a later oceanic ac¬
quaintance with the species convinced him of the correctness of that
identification” (Prelim. Rev. Bds. Nebr., p. 22; 1904). However, in the
Preliminary Review the record was not included in the Nebraska list be¬
cause the specimen was not taken. Since this is so distinct a bird from
any other type, and the species has been known to occur many times
in summer on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas, and has strayed
north to Kansas (Osborne County, August 16, 1880), Wisconsin and Ohio,
it is here unequivocally added to the Nebraska list.

Myron H. Swenk

ABORIGINAL MAN AND BIRD LIFE

137

A HISTORY OF NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGY

I. THE ANCIENT PERIOD (CONTINUED)

Aboriginal Man and Bird Life

Subsequent to the evidences concerning ancient bird life furnished by
the palaeontologist and geologist in their studies of fossil bird remains,
as was outlined for Nebraska in a previous number of the Review (antea,
i, pp. 50-53), come those further evidences furnished by the palaeon¬
tologist and geologist, in collaboration with the archaeologist, anthro¬
pologist and ethnologist, in their studies of prehistoric man. For a
history of the development of ornithology must, subsequent to the
results from the study of bird fossils, parallel the history of human
culture. The existence of man in western Europe before the close of the
Pleistocene (or Glacial) age, thirty or forty thousand years ago or
longer, is abundantly proved by the presence of human artifacts of
many kinds, and even of human bones, buried under glacial soil and
gravel in deep deposits in caves and sheltered places. But proof that
man existed in North America during this same period is less definite.
Anthropologists have in general been of the opinion that man arrived
in North America in comparatively recent times; but a considerable
amount of palaeontological and archaeological evidence, mostly accumu¬
lated during the past decade, indicates that man may have been a much
earlier migrant to this continent than has previously been thought, and
that human beings may have lived in Nebraska contemporaneously with
extinct Pleistocene mammals.

Human artifacts found in immediate association with fossilized bones
of different species of extinct bison, under circumstances that point to
a great probability that the two were contemporaneous, indicate that
man was likely present on the Great Plains at least as early as the later
glacial period, which would mean the general occupation of this vast
region thousands of years ago by a people who hunted the bison many
centuries prior to the advent of the American Indians as we know them.
In 1895, H. T. Martin found a stone point artifact in the loess deposits
at Russell Springs, Logan County, Kansas, in association with a skeleton
of the extinct Bison occidentals (Williston, 1902; McClung, 1908). In
1924, H. D. Boyes found three grayish flint arrow points, of a workman¬
ship and culture stage different from similar artifacts occurring on the
surface in the same locality, in the matrix directly beneath the cervicals,
dorsal vertebrae and ribs and left femur, respectively, of a nearly com¬
plete articulated skeleton of an extinct species of bison, under conditions
indicating their contemporaneousness, in the bank of Lone Wolf Creek
near Colorado, Mitchell County, Texas (Figgins, 1927; Cook, 1927). In
1926, two flint arrow points, in general similar to those found in Texas
but of superior workmanship, were found by a party from the Colorado
Museum of Natural History under several feet of hard clay in associa¬
tion with the remains of an extinct bison closely related to B. occidentalis
(one of them in a fixed position adjacent to one of the bison’s rib-bones)
near Folsom, Union County, New Mexico. While all these finds relate
to late Pleistocene (or later), arrow points and other artifacts associated
in the same horizons with fossil mammoth, giant sloth, horse and camel
bones were found in a sand and gravel pit one mile north of Frederick,
Tillman County, Oklahoma, by A. H. Holloman of that place in 1927 and
previously, indicating a possible contemporaneousness of man with these
extinct mammals of the early or middle Pleistocene period (Figgins,
1927; Cook, 1927). Also, in 1932 E. B. Howard of the University of
Pennsylvania Museum found a “Folsom” type point in a cave near
Carlsbad, New Mexico, buried seven feet beneath the floor level in asso-

138

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

ciation with bones of extinct species of bison, musk-oxen, horses, camels
and a four-horned antelope (Renaud, 1932).

Similar associations of stone point artifacts with the bones of an ex¬
tinct species of bison (Bison occidentalis), in three separated Nebraska
localities, have come to light within the past decade. In 1923, Charles
and Earl Foster, two Grand Island High School students, found and dug
out the skull and some other bones of one of these bison from a bed that
was being exposed by the cutting of its right bank by the Platte River
in Hall County, Nebraska, eight miles southwest of Grand Island. The
following year F. G. Meserve, then of Grand Island College, collected
another skull and some more bones of fossil bison from the same bed,
and while doing so found a blue-gray flint dart point of good workman¬
ship under a bison scapula. In July, 1931, further excavation in this
same bed by a University of Nebraska Museum palaeontological field
party under C. Bertrand Schultz resulted in the finding of an almost
identical dart point among a cluster of rib and vertebra bones of this
same species (Meserve and Barbour, February, 1932; Strong, June,
1932; Barbour and Schultz, October, 1932). Two years previously, in
July, 1929, Mr. Schultz and his assistant Frank Crabill, of the Univer¬
sity of Nebraska Museum field party of that year, had found a small,
black flint dart point of fine workmanship, differing considerably from
the common points of the known plains Indians, in association with a
portion of rib bone of a fossil bison believed to be the extinct Bison occi¬
dentalis, about a foot back in the yellow loess bank and with about sixteen
feet of the loess above it, in a vegetation layer of presumably late
Pleistocene (Peorian) origin, in the South Loup Valley about seven miles
southwest of Cumro, Custer County, Nebraska (Strong, 1932; Schultz,
1932). Finally, in 1932 the University of Nebraska field party of that
year examined a deposit of fossil bison bones sixteen to thirty feet
below the ground surface near the base of Signal Butte, sixteen miles
west and three miles south of Scottsbluff on the north bank of Spring
Creek, and among these bison bones, toward the bottom of the bed,
several artifacts were found, including knives, scrapers and dart points
of good workmanship (“Pre-Folsom” type), apparently buried contem¬
poraneously with the bison bones themselves (Barbour and Schultz, De¬
cember, 1932).

The associations of human artifacts with bones of extinct species of
bison in Nebraska are believed to be all at earliest of late Pleistocene
origin, possibly very late in that period, or even to belong to the Recent
period. They probably represent, however, a very early and previously
unknown Nebraska human culture. But what may constitute'our earliest
glimpse of man in Nebraska is that of a human artifact, probably a
spearhead, made of blue-gray stone, that was found in August, 1931,
under the left scapula of an articulated fossil Columbian mammoth,
buried under almost sixteen feet of stratified sand and gravel, silt and
clay, in a stream bank near Angus, Nuckolls County, Nebraska, by
Junior Brooks, as he was assisting A. M. Brooking of the Hastings
Municipal Museum in removing this skeleton (Figgins, 1931; Strong,
1932). The evidence to date indicates the possibility that this scapula
and its associated artifact were lying in deposits of Mid-Pleistocene age,
which would carry the association back many thousands of years.

Dr. E. B. Renaud of the University of Denver has made careful typo-
logic studies of the flaked point artifacts to be found in the Great Plains
states (1931), and also (1932) in the Mississippi Valley states farther
east. He finds that some of these points are of a “different appearance,
shape, technique, or quality from the usual Indian artifacts,” especially
those of the grooved “Folsom” type, concerning which he states (1931)
that “competent geologists and palaeontologists agree that they come

ABORIGINAL MAN AND BIRD LIFE

139

from Pleistocene gravels and associated with large and extinct species
of bison and other fossils”, and were “likely made in the same general
period by tribes of the same culture hunting the bison and other game
of that time over the Western Plains.”

After examining a number of points found in the sand of blow-outs
along both sides of the North Platte River in the vicinities of Scottsbluff,
Bridgeport and Oshkosh, Nebraska, of the newly-named “Yuma” type
that occurs very commonly in northeastern Colorado, eastern Wyoming
and farther east in Nebraska, he again wrote (1932): “The numerous
old camp sites, blow-outs, mesa-top sites, and rock shelters scattered
over some hundred miles (in this region) prove that various tribes, at
different times, inhabited the region which offered shelter, game, water
and a natural highway for east-west migrations, hunting parties, trad¬
ing, and the search for good flakable materials such as exist in the
neighboring state of Wyoming. The discovery of ‘Yuma’ and ‘Folsom’
points suggests that such favorable conditions had been recognized and
enjoyed many centuries before the coming of the white man by the
skillful makers of these beautiful artifacts.” He also states (1932):
“New Mexico and Calorado furnish the majority of ‘Folsom’ points so
far known, and the Yuma district in northeastern Colorado seemingly
is the principal center of production of the points so named. The area
in which ‘Folsom’ and ‘Yuma’ points are at present known to exist has
been vastly extended eastward. My finding such flaked implements in
the collections of the Museums at Saint Louis and New Orleans proves
their existence in Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois and Ohio. These facts
show that very likely ‘Folsom’ and ‘Yuma’ points have been found in
most of the territory drained by the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and
tributaries, that is to say the ‘Mound Builder’ area.”

In the summer of 1932 a party under the direction of Dr. W. D. Strong
investigated the palaeolithic culture evidenced by artifacts to be found
at Signal Butte in Scotts Bluff County. Three separate strata of evi¬
dences of human occupation are reported to have been found. A tenta¬
tive estimate of the period of time from the first occupation to the
present has been made at 10,000 years; beyond doubt, it is thought by
those competent to judge, the period runs into thousands of years. But
evidences of palaeolithic man are not confined to the North Platte Valley
or the Plains region of Nebraska. Similar evidences have been forth¬
coming from the sandhill region of the state, the southwestern area and
the Republican Valley, the Loup and lower Platte Valleys, and especially
from the Missouri River front.

Before the coming of the white man to the region that is now included
within the boundaries of Nebraska, a prehistoric people made their
homes along the wooded hills bordering the bluffs of the Missouri River,
and on the elevated places near the mouths of the streams emptying
into it, from Richardson County to Washington County, in the vicinities
of the present towns of Rulo, Plattsmouth, Omaha, Blair and others,
where the remains of many of their house sites have been found. This
people was called the “Nebraska Loess Man” by those who investigated
skulls and other skeletal remains taken from a mound near Omaha in
1906-07 (Barbour and Ward, 1906; Barbour, 1906; Hrdlicka, 1907;
Gilder, 1907-09). A hunting people, they used arrow-heads, spear-heads,
knives and axes of stone; made bone needles and awls, and cups, jugs
and other vessels of clay; built earthen houses upon the rounded hill¬
tops, close to a supply of wood and water, and buried their dead in
mounds along with the stone, bone and pottery articles that they had
used in life. Where these people came from, and what became of them,
is not known, and now several feet of soil cover the remains of their
houses. The cultures of this people apparently extended over a con-

140

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

siderable period of time, and in various ways differed from those of the
Indian tribes that subsequently came to Nebraska, where they were
found by the first white men to penetrate to the region, only a few
centuries back. Just how long this more ancient people occupied these
Missouri River lodges is a question upon which scientists do not agree,
but several centuries to a milennium is generally admitted, while there
are those who would place it at some thousands of years. It is reported
that about these prehistoric lodges are to be found some bones of
animals that apparently had been used for food by their occupants of
the long ago, and cast into the ancient refuse dumps. A careful study
of any such remains of birds might give some valuable evidence of the
character and abundance of the bird life of eastern Nebraska before the
day of the Nebraska Indians as we know them.

When the early white explorers first came they found Indians of sev¬
eral tribes living in the area that is now Nebraska, but these tribes were
themselves relative newcomers to the region. Of them all, the Pawnee
nation was apparently the oldest in residence on Nebraska soil. The
evidence available indicates that they had come in from the southwest
some centuries previously, and by 1700 had occupied most of eastern
Nebraska. They had villages in the valleys of the Republican, Platte
and Loup Rivers, containing altogether about 10,000 people, and spoke
an entirely different language from the other tribes. East of the Paw¬
nees lived the Otoe, Omaha and Ponca tribes. The Otoes came into the
present southeastern Nebraska from what is now southwestern Iowa
and northwestern Missouri, and the Omahas later came into northeastern
Nebraska from northwestern Iowa. The Poncas were found established
about the mouth of the Niobrara River in 1789. These three tribes were
all related to the Sioux and spoke languages that were much alike.
Traditionally, they had migrated up the Missouri River from the south¬
east only a few hundred years before the coming of the white men.
The Otoes, numbering about 3,000, hunted in what is now southeastern
Nebraska, south of the Platte River and east of the Blue River, and
thence eastward to the Mississippi River. The Omahas, of about the
same strength as the Otoes, occupied the region north of the Platte
River and west to Shell Creek and the Elkhorn River. The Poncas,
numbering about one-half as many people as the Otoes or Omahas,
claimed the country west along the Niobrara River as their hunting
ground. All four tribes had villages in which they dwelt, when not
away hunting the bison, and about which they practiced a primitive
agriculture, growing corn, beans and melons. They lived not only in
skin tepees but also in stationary earth lodges.

During the last half of the eighteenth century, the Ogallala and Brule
Sioux came southeast into western Nebraska, as the southern portion
of a general migration of the Sioux nation, from across the Missouri
River in what is now eastern Dakota and Minnesota, and hunted over
the plains from the Black Hills and Big Horn Mountains south to the
Republican River. About 1800 the related Cheyenne came in, from
northern Dakota and Minnesota, and joined the Arapahoe, who were
already there, in hunting over the plains between the North Platte and
Arkansas Rivers. All three tribes lived in tepees and subsisted on the
products of the chase. The Sioux nation was the most powerful of the
Nebraska tribes, numbering somewhere between 10,000 and 20.000 people,
and hunted over the region to the north and west of the hunting grounds
of the Poncas, Omahas and Pawnees. The Cheyennes and Arapahoes
claimed the upper valleys of the two branches of the Platte River, but
hunted on the plains with the Sioux. They numbered about 3,000, and
spoke a language different from that of the Sioux or Pawnee, being
related to the Algonquin tribes of New England. This was the general
condition of Indian occupancy of Nebraska during the early part of the

ABORIGINAL MAN AND BIRD LIFE

141

nineteenth century. There began a warfare over bison hunting grounds
between the more sedentary eastern tribes — the Pawnees, with their
Ponca, Omaha and Otoe allies — and the war-like Sioux, with their
Cheyenne and Arapahoe allies, which lasted for many years. The com¬
ing of the white man injected a still newer factor into the situation.

Birds have always played an important part in the mythology and
religion of the Nebraska Indian tribes. This is especially true of the
tribes with more advanced culture, like the Pawnees and the Omahas.
In the Pawnee story of the Creation the Belted Kingfisher was a lead¬
ing actor. The Golden and Bald Eagles were important in their religious
ceremonials. The Indian mythology associated birds with the powers
of the air that dwelt in the sky. That was the abode of Thunder, the
God of War. The flight of birds brought them near to the Thunder god,
and they were regarded as his special messengers. The manifestations
of the Thunder god — thunder, lightning, windstorm and cloud — had a
close association in the mind of the Indian with particular kinds of
birds. Swallows flying before a storm were regarded as heralds of the
approach of the Thunder god. Destruction caused by the storm was
symbolized by the hawks and other birds of prey. In the Omaha tribe
the war rites were largely built around this mythology. Before the
Omaha undertook battle, rites connected with the Sacred Pack of War —
a skin bag containing the skins of certain kinds of birds — were con¬
ducted at a tribal meeting. Only after the conducting of these war
ceremonials with the Sacred Pack could the Omaha warrior have the
sanction of the war power of the tribe to go on the warpath. Through
this ceremony each member of the party placed himself under the
authority of the Thunder god of War, and the responsibility for his acts
rested with that deity. When the warrior engaged in battle, the birds
watched his every act, and reported all of his deeds to the Thunder god.
In the war dances headdresses emblematic of honors won in battle were
worn. With the Omaha this consisted chiefly of the tail of a Plains
White-tailed Deer and the tuft of coarse hair-like feathers from the
neck of a Wild Turkey.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aboriginal Man and Bird Life

1902. Williston, S. W. An Arrow-head found with Bones of Bison occi¬
dental's Lucas in Western Kansas. American Geologist, xxx, pp. 313-315
(1902).

Account of the finding of a stone point artifact in loess deposit in asso¬
ciation with a bison skeleton in Logan County, Kansas.

1905. Morton, J. S. and Watkins, A. Illustrated History of Nebraska.
Three volumes. Jacob North & Company, Lincoln.

Contains accounts of Nebraska Indians in volume i, pp. 33-34 and
volume ii, pp. 192-261.

1906. Barbour, E. H. and Ward, H. B. Preliminary Report on the
Primitive Man of Nebraska. Nebraska Geological Survey, ii, Part 5, pp.
219-327 (October 26, 1906).

Contains the first formal report on the “Nebraska Loess Man”.

1906. Barbour, E. H. Evidence of Loess Man in Nebraska. Nebraska
Geological Survey, ii, Part 6, pp. 331-347 (December 10, 1906).

Contains geological data regarding the “Nebraska Loess Man”, and a
bibliography of papers on the same to end of 1906.

142

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

1907. Hrdlicka, A. Skeletal Remains Suggesting or Attributed to
Early Man in North America. Bulletin 33 , Bureau of American Ethnology,

pp. 1-113.

A detailed report on the “Nebraska Loess Man” (pp. 66-98) concludes
that these remains are of but moderate antiquity and probably of early
Indian origin. Gives a full bibliography on the subject to March, 1907.

1907-09. Gilder, R. F. The Nebraska Culture Man. Archaeology of
Ponca Creek District, Nebraska. Excavations at Long’s Hill. Excava¬
tion of Earth Lodge Ruins in Eastern Nebraska. American Anthropologist,
ix-xi, new series.

Mr. Gilder’s reports on the “Nebraska Loess Mann’ and “Nebraska
Culture Man”.

1908. McClung, C. E. Restoration of Skeleton of Bison occidentals.
Kansas University Science Bulletin, iv, No. 10, pp. 249-254 (September,
1908).

Restoration of the Logan County, Kansas, specimen, with which a
stone point artifact was found.

1913. Sheldon. A. E. History and Stories of Nebraska. The Univer¬
sity Publishing Company, Chicago and Lincoln. Part ii, A Short History
of Nebraska. Chapter iii, pp. 226-229.

A brief account of “Nebraska Indians as the White Men Found Them”.

1920. Beattie, J. A. School History of Nebraska, Based on the His¬
tory of Nebraska by J. Sterling Morton and Albert Watkins. Western
Publishing and Engraving Company, Lincoln, Nebraska. Chapter ii, pp.
18-30.

Deals with the Nebraska Indians.

1927. Figgins, J. D. The Antiquity of Man in America.

Cook, H. J. New Geological and Palaeontological Evidence Bear¬
ing on the Antiquity of Mankind in America. Natural History, xxviii, No.
3, pp. 229-239 and 240-247 (1927).

Reports on the finding of flint points in association with fossils of
extinct bison at Colorado, Texas, and Folsom, New Mexico, and with
fossil remains of several Pleistocene mammals at Frederick, Oklahoma.

1930. Hay, O. P. and Cook, H. J. Fossil Vertebrates, Collected Near,
or in Association With, Human Artifacts at Localities Near Colorado,
Texas; Frederick, Oklahoma; and Folsom, New Mexico. Proceedings of
the Colorado Museum of Natural History, ix, pp. 4-40 (October 20, 1930).

Names of species of fossil bison with which artifacts were found asso¬
ciated.

1931. Renaud, E. B. Prehistoric Flaked Points from Colorado and
Neighboring Districts. Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural
History, x, No. 2, pp. 6-22, 5 plates (March 31, 1931).

A descriptive typologic study of flaked points found in Colorado,
Wyoming, New Mexico and Texas, based on a study of 104 specimens,
mostly from Colorado.

1931. Figgins, J. D. An Additional Discovery of the Association of a
“Folsom” Artifact and Fossil Mammal Remains. Proceedings of the Colo¬
rado Museum of Natural History, x, pp. 23-24 (September 26, 1931).

Brief account of the finding of a point artifact under the scapula of a
Columbian mammoth at Angus, Nuckolls County, Nebraska.

1931. Sheldon, A. E. Nebraska: The Land and the People. Volume
i, pp. i-xxxii + 1-1097. The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and
New York.

ABORIGINAL MAN AND BIRD LIFE

143

Chapter iv, pp. 78-92 gives an excellent summary of “Prehistoric Man
in Nebraska”, while Chapter v, pp. 93-137, deals fully with “Indians in
Nebraska”.

1932. Meserve, F. G. and Barbour, E. H. Association of an Arrow-
point with Bison occidentals in Nebraska. The Nebraska State Museum,
i, No. 27, pp. 239-242 (February, 1932).

Report on an association of an arrow point with bones of the extinct
Bison occidentals in a quarry near Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.

1932. Strong, W. D. Recent Discoveries of Human Artifacts Asso¬
ciated with Extinct Animals in Nebraska. Science Service Research An¬
nouncement No. 130, pp. 1-8 (June 27, 1932).

Report (mimeographed) on the Hall County association and advance
report on the Custer County association of point artifacts and bison
bones, and a critical account of the Nuckolls County point artifacts and
mammoth association.

1932. Barbour, E. H. and Schultz, C. B. The Mounted Skeleton of
Bison occidentals, and Associated Dart-points. The Nebraska State Museum,
i, No. 32, pp. 263-270 (October, 1932).

A further report on the Hall County bison specimens and their dart-
point associations.

1932. Renaud, E. B. Yuma and Folsom Artifacts (New Material).
Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural History, xi, No. 2, pp. 5-18,
4 plates (November 19, 1932).

A continuation of the previous study, based on 352 points mostly from
Colorado, Wyoming, Louisiana and Missouri, including one each from
Nebraska, Ohio and Kentucky. Also reference to the association of a
“Folsom” point with bones of extinct bison, musk-oxen, horses, camels
and antelope (p. 6) in a cave at Carlsbad, New Mexico, and an appendix
(pp. 17-18) report on the distribution of “Yuma” points in the North
Platte Valley of Nebraska.

1932. Schultz, C. B. Association of Artifacts and Extinct Mammals
in Nebraska. The Nebraska State Museum, i, No. 33, pp. 271-282 (Novem¬
ber, 1932).

Reports on the Custer County bison and artifacts association and a
review of the Hall County association. Also a good bibliography of the
entire subject (pp. 276-282).

1932. Barbour, E. H. and Schultz, C. B. The Scottsbluff Bison Quarry
and Its Artifacts. The Nebraska State Museum, i, No. 34, pp. 283-286 (De¬
cember, 1932).

Report on the association of bison bones and artifacts in the recently
discovered Scottsbluff bison quarry.

1933. Figgins, J. D. A Further Contribution to the Antiquity of Man
in America. Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural History, xii,
No. 2, pp. 4-8 (August 1, 1933).

Report on the discovery of a large flint blade and other artifacts in
close proximity to the fossil bones of a mammoth uncovered near Dent,
Weld County, Colorado, by Father Conrad Bilgery of Regis College,
Denver, and B. F. Howarter of the Colorado Museum, in the summer of
1932.

Myron H. Swenk

144

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

INDEX

A cant his linaria linaria, 9.

Accipiter cooperi, 120; velox velox,

120 .

Acer rubrum, 58.

Actitis macularia, 33.

Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Adison;
Brooking, Mrs. A. M.; Fuller,
Mrs. J, D.; Jones, Mrs. A. H.;
and Sylla, Miss M. Caryle, arti¬
cle by, 21.

Agelaius phoeniceus subsp., 35.

Ammospiza caudacuta nelsoni, 120.

Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos, 31;
rubripes tristis, 31.

Anhinga anhinga, 136.

Antrostomus vociferus vociferus, 61.

Aquila chrysaetos canadensis, 7, 32..

Archilochus colubris, 33.

Ardea herodias subsp., 31.

Arenaria inter pres morinella, 66.

Asyndesmus lewis, 5, 33.

A tax, 2 5 .

Auk, Razor-billed, 95.

Avocet, 4, 12, 33, 38, 89.

Baldpate, 13, 32, 46, 49, 50, 69, 71,

72, 84.

Bartramia longicauda, 33.

Bates, J. M., article by, 3-4.

Beed, Watson E., articles by, 7-9
and21 (with George E. Hudson),
65, 119-120.

Betula spp., 58.

Bison occidentalis, 137, 138, 142, 143.
Bittern, American, 31, 66, 71, 72,

73, 75, 77, 84; Least, 124.

Black, Cyrus A., articles by, 5, 6-7,

118.

Blackbird, 62; Brewer, 35, 62, 72,
76, 79, 88; Red-winged, 14, 17,
35, 46, 48, 49, 50, 73, 76, 77, 79,
80, 95, 124; Red-winged (sub¬
sp. ?), 47, 71, 74, 75, 80, 82, 87;
Eastern Red-winged, 96; Rusty,
16, 35, 49, 71, 88; Yellow-headed,
35, 69, 70, 71, 72, 76, 80, 82, 87,
95, 124.

Bluebird, 13; Eastern Common, 9,
13, 17, 18, 19, 21, 34, 44, 45, 46,
47, 49, 71, 74', 75, 76, 77, 80, 82,
86, 96, 127; Mountain, 13, 36,
76, 77, 86.

Bobolink, 21, 35, 71, 72, 73, 77, 80,
82, 87, 90, 124, 127.

Bob-white, 8, 32, 45, 47, 73, 77, 119,
124; (subsp. ?), 73, 74; (East¬
ern ?), 72, 80; Eastern, 16, 17,
70, 82, 96.

Bogardus, Mrs. C. M.; Callaway,
Miss Susie; Holly, Miss Bertha;
and Richardson, Mrs. Charles,
article by, 21.

Bombycilla cedrorum, 34, 60; garrula
pallidiceps, 5, 34, 60.

Botaurus lentiginosus, 31.

Brant, American, 60.

Branta bernicla hrota, 60; canadensis,
103, 104, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112,
114; canadensis subsp., 31; cana¬
densis canadensis, 108, 109, 110,
114, 116 ; canadensis hutchinsii, 108,
109, 110', 114; canadensis leuco-
pareia, 108, 109, 110, 114, 115;
canadensis minima, 108, 109; cana¬
densis occidentalis, 108.

Brooking, A. M., articles by, 60,
65, 117-118; (with Mrs. A. M.;
Fuller, Mrs. J. D.; Jones, Mrs.
A. H.; Olsen, Mrs. A. E.; and
Sylla, Miss M. Caryle), 21.

Brooking Bird Club, Program 1934-
35, 127.

Bubo virginianus lagophonus, 14; vir¬
ginianus occidentalis, 7, 8, 14, 33;
virginianus, 7.

Bunting, Indigo, 63, 71, 82, 88, 96;
Lark, 12, 36, 73, 77, 80, 88;
Lazuli, 3, 35, 80.

Burmood, Mrs. Will, article by, 117.

Buteo borealis subsp., 32, 120‘; lago-
pus s. johannis, 7, 32; regalis, 7,
120 1 ; swainsoni, 7, 120.

Button, Mrs. Lily, article by, 20.

Calamospiza melanocorys, 36.

Calcarius lapponicus subsp., 36; lap-
ponicus lapponicus, 9.

Callaway, Misses Susie and Ag-
ness, articles by, 60, 66.

Canvas-back, 32, 47, 71, 84, 96.

Capella delicata, 8, 32, 66.

Cardinal, Eastern, 4, 13, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 43, 44, 48, 49, 51, 71, 74,
77, 79, 80, 82, 96, 124.

Carpodacus cassinii, 6, 35.

Catbird, 34, 44, 65, 70, 71, 72, 73,
74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 86, 96, 123,
i26.

Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inorna-
tus, 33,

Cenchrus tribuloides, 58.

Certhia familiaris americana, 34; fa-
miliaris montana, 8 .

Charadrius semipalmatus, 61.

Chat, (subsp.), 87; Long-tailed
(?), 73; Long-tailed, 35, 77;

INDEX

145

Yellow-breasted (?), 73; Yellow¬
breasted, 63, 71, 82.

Chen caerulescens, 65; hyperborea
hyperborea, 31.

Chickadee, Black-capped, 43, 80,
95; Eastern Black-capped, 96;
Long-tailed Black-capped, 8, 13,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 34, 44, 48,
49, 71, 73, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 123,
124.

Chicken, Prairie, 78; Greater
Prairie, 8, 32, 44, 47, 48, 76, 77.
Chlidonias nigra surinamensis, 33.
Chondestes grammacus strigatus, 36.
Chordeiles minor sennetti, 33,

Cirrus hudsonius, 7, 32!.

Cirsium, 58.

Coccyzus americanus americanus, 33.
Colaptes auratus luteus, 33; cafer col-
laris, 8, 33.

Colinus virginianus subsp., 8, 32.
Conover, H. B., article by, 38.
“Conurus carolinensis,” 59.

Conuropsis carolinensis, 58; carolinen¬
sis interior, 58, 59; carolinensis
ludovicianus, 55, 59.

Coot, Northern American, 13, 14,
32, 46, 69, 71, 72, 75, 76, 77, 82,
85, 95.

Cormorant, Common, 95; Double-
crested, 95; Florida Double-
crested, 133, 135; Northern
Double-crested, 133-135; Mexi¬
can Olivaceous, 135.

Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhyn-
chos, 8, 34.

Cowbird, 22, 35, 69, 89; (subsp. ?),

76, 88; Eastern, 17, 71, 72, 73,
74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 96, 124.

Crane, Little Brown, 118; (Sand¬
hill), 78; Sandhill, 32, 36, 47, 48,

74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 84; Whooping,
6, 36, 39, 48, 76, 78, 84, 117, 118.

Creeper, Eastern Brown, 13, 16,17,

18, 19, 20, 21, 34, 43, 44, 71, 74,

75, 76, 79, 123; Rocky Mountain
Brown, 8.

Crossbill, Red, 5, 14, 45, 88; Ben-
dire ( ? ) Red, 71.

Crow, 67, 124; Eastern, 8, 15, 16,

19, 20, 21, 34, 48, 49, 71, 76, 77,
80, 82, 96, 124.

Cuckoo, Black-billed, 71, 73, 82, 85;
Yellow-billed, 73, 77; Eastern
Yellow-billed, 33, 71, 73, 74, 75,

77, 80, 85, 96, 124.

Curlew, Long-billed, 75, 81, 85;

Southern Long-billed, 33.
Curvipes, 25.

Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus, 8, 34.
Cyanocitta cristata cristata, 34.

Dafila acuta tzitzihoa, 32.

David City Nature Study Club,
Three Members of the, article
by, 20.

Deer, Plains White-tailed, 141.
Dendroica aestiva aestiva, 34; aestiva
? rubiginosa, 61; auduboni audu-
boni, 61; coronata coronata, 34;
magnolia, 61; striata, 34; tigrina,
38.

Dickcissel, 35, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74,

75, 77, 80, 82, 88, 96.

Disbrow, Miss Marjorie; Ellsworth,

Miss Mary; and Swanson, Miss
Elfie, article by, 20.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus, 35.

Dove, Ground, 127; Western Mourn¬
ing, 33, 46, 47, 49, 50, 71, 74, 75,

76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 96, 124,
126.

Dowitcher, 61, 95; (subsp. ?), 77,
85; Long-billed, 72.

Dryobates pubescens leucurus, 8; pu-
bescens medianus, 33; villosus mon-
ticola, 8; villosus villosus, 33.
Duck, Common Black, 31, 32; Eider,
95; Ruddy, 95; Northern Ruddy,
13, 32, 49, 72, 84; Wood, 65, 75,
81, 84, 89.

Dumetella carolinensis, 34.

Du Mont, Philip A., article by, 103-
116 (with Myron H. Swenk).

Eagle, Bald, 14, 15, 32, 76, 141;
Northern Bald, 15; Southern
Bald, 15; Golden, 15, 16, 17, 32,

76, 141; American Golden, 7.
Egret, American, 66.

Ellsworth, Miss Mary; Swanson,

Miss Elfie; Holly, Mrs. J. Frank-
lyn; and Horsky, Mr. L, O., arti¬
cle by, 20.

Empidonax traillii traillii, 34.
Erismalura jamaicensis rubida, 32,.
Euphagus carolinus, 35-; cyanocepha¬
lus, 35.

Falco columbarius subsp., 7, 32;

mexicanus, 32; sparverius subsp.,
7, 32; sparverius phalaena, 7, 38;
sparverius sparverius, 8.

Falcon, Prairie, 32, 73, 76, 125.
Finch, Cassin Purple, 6, 35, 90;

Eastern Purple, 18, 45, 88, 127.
Flicker, 44, 63; Common Red-shaft¬
ed, 8, 18, 20, 21, 33, 46, 48, 76,

77, 86; Northern Yellow-shafted,
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 33, 43, 44, 47,
48, 49, 71. 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 82,
86, 96, 123, 124, 126.

Florida caerulea caerulea, 31, 66.

146

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Flycatcher, Acadian, 86, 90, 96;
Northern Crested, 33, 63, 71, 72,
77, 80, 82, 86, 96; Least, 71, 73,
82, 86, 90, 96, 127; Olive-sided,
118; Eastern Olive-sided, 86, 96;
Scissor-tailed, 3, 61; Alder Traill,
34, 76, 86, 96.

Fox, Red, 125.

Fregata magnificens, 136.

Fulica americana americana, 32.

Gadwall, 13, 71, 84, 125.

Gallinule, Florida, 73, 80, 85, 127.
Gannet, 95.

Gavia immer elasson, 31.

Geothlypis trichas subsp., 35.
Glandon, Earl W., articles by, 5-6;
Mr. and Mrs. Earl W., 31-36, 61,
62.

Gleditsia triacanthos, 58.
Gnatcatcher, Eastern Blue-gray,
71, 82, 86, 96.

Godwit, Hudsonian, 69, 70, 85;

Marbled, 75, 85.

Golden-eye, American, 13, 14.
Goldfinch, American, 46, 73, 77;
Eastern (?) American, 124;
Eastern American, 13, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 71, 75, 79, 80, 82, 96, 124;
(Pale ?) American, 73; Pale
American, 9, 36, 76.

Goose, Blue, 47, 49, 50, 65, 71, 79,
84,89; Cackling, 108; Canada, 13,
31, 46, 78, 103, 122; Canada
(subsp. ?), 47, 71, 74, 75, 76, 84;
Greater Canada, 89; Lesser Can¬
ada, 50, 65, 72, 89, 108; Hutchins,
108; (Lesser) Snow, 78; Lesser
Snow, 14, 31, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50,

71, 74. 75, 84, 89; White-cheeked,
108; White-fronted, 47, 49, 50,
84, 89.

Goshawk, 77.

Grackle. Boat-tailed, 127; Bronzed,
4. 5, 14, 17, 18, 21, 35, 45, 46, 47,
49, 50, 62, 67, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77,
79, 80, 82, 88, 96, 123, 124, 126.
Grebe. American Eared, 12, 75, 84;
Common Pied-billed, 14, 31, 71,

72, 77, 84, 95; Holboell Red¬
necked, 95.

Grosbeak, Rocky Mountain Black¬
headed, 35, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75,
77. 79, 81, 82, 88, 124; Western
Blue, 4, 12, 35, 66, 71, 73, 74, 75,
77, 80, 82, 88, 120; Evening, 3,
6, 35. 36, 79; Western Evening,
9; Pine, 9, 18; Canadian Pine,
10; Rose-breasted, 19, 70, 71, 72,
74, 75, 77, 80, 82, 88, 96, 123.

Grouse, Ruffed, 89; Sharp-tailed, 7;

Prairie Sharp-tailed, 8, 32.

Grus americana, 36, 117, 118; cana¬
densis canadensis, 118; canadensis
tabida, 32,

Guillemot, Black, 95.

Guiraca caerulea interfusa, 35, 66.
Gull, Franklin, 33, 69, 71, 72, 73,

74, 75, 76, 77, 82, 85, 95, 121, 125;
American Herring, 38, 46, 48, 85,
95, 121; Ring-billed, 14, 39, 47,

49, 50, 85, 95.

Hallaetus leucocephalus subsp., 32;
leucocephalus alascanus, 15 ; leuco¬
cephalus leticocephalus, 15.

Hall, Mrs. J. W., article by, 60.
Hawk, Broad-winged, 63; Northern
Broad-winged, 71, 84; Cooper, 21,
45, 50, 71, 72, 84, 120; Marsh, 7,
16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 32, 45, 49, 69,
71, 72, 76, 80, 82, 84, 95, 96;
Pigeon, 7, 32; Eastern Pigeon,
21; Northern Red-shouldered, 95;
Red-tailed ?, 19; Red-tailed (sub¬
sp. ?), 76, 84, 119; Red-tailed,
21,32,45,47, 95, 120, 125; (East¬
ern ?) Red-tailed, 62, 73; East¬
ern Red-tailed, 49, 71; Harlan
Red-tailed, 45; American Rough¬
legged, 7, 17, 20, 32, 45, 47, 49,

50, 76, 84, 125; Ferruginous
Rough-legged, 7, 95, 120; North¬
ern Sharp-shinned, 16, 71, 74,

75, 84, 120; Swainson, 7, 72, 73,
74, 75, 84, 95, 119, 120; Sparrow,
7, 20, 32, 38, 46, 50, 77, 80, 120;
Sparrow (subsp.), 45, 47, 75, 76,
84, 125; Desert Sparrow, 38;
(Eastern ?) Sparrow, 48, 74;
Eastern Sparrow, 15, 19, 49, 50,
71, 80.

Hedymeles melanocephalus papaao, 35.
Heineman, Mrs. Paul T., article by,
60 .

Herodias albus egretta, 66.

Heron, Great Blue, 17, 31, 66, 80,
95, 124; Great Blue (subsp. ?),

76, 84, 125; (Eastern ?) Great
Blue, 12; Eastern Great Blue, 71,
96; Ward Great Blue, 127; Little
Blue, 31, 66; Eastern Green, 66,
71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 79, 80-, 83, 84,
96; Northern Louisiana, 127.

Hesperiphona vespertina subsp., 6, 35 ;
vespertina brooksi, 9; vespertina
vespertina, 9.

Hill, Roscoe E., article by, 119.
Hirundo erythrogaster. 34.

Horsky, L. O., articles by, 19, 66;

INDEX

147

L. 0., and Ellsworth, Misses
Emma and Mary, 19.

Hudson, George E., articles by, 7-9
and 21 (with Watson E. Beed),
37, 62-63, 120, 121.
Hummingbird, 83; Broad - tailed,
90; Ruby-throated, 3, 12, 17, 33,

70, 71, 72, 83, 85, 124, 125, 126;
Rufous, 90.

Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis, 38.
Hydroprogne caspia imperator, 37.
Hylocichla fuscescens ? salicicola, 34;
guttata subsp.?, 61; mustelina, 65;
ustulata swainsoni, 34, 65.

Icteria virens longicauda, 34.

Icterus bullocki, 35; galbula, 35;
spurius, 35.

Iridoprocne bicolar, 61.

Jay, Northern Blue, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 34, 43, 44, 48, 49, 71, 72, 73,

74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 86,
96, 123, 124; Florida, 127; Pinon,
3, 4, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 34, 44,
73.

Jones, Mrs. A. H., article by, 65.
Johnston, Mrs. H. C., article by, 62;.
Junco aikeni, 9 ; hyemalis hyemalis, 9,
36 ; mearnsi, 9 ; oreganus shufeldti,
9, 36.

Junco, 60; Gray-headed, 3, 60;
Pink-sided, 3, 9, 60; Shufeldt
Oregon ?, 74; Shufeldt Oregon,
9, 17, 19, 36, 49, 60, 74, 75, 76,

79, 88; Eastern Slate-colored, 9,
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 36, 43, 48, 49,
60, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 88, 121,
123; White-winged, 9, 60.

Kennedy, John P., article by, 117.
Kil’deer, Northern, 14, 32, 46, 47,
49, 50, 66, 67, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77,

80, 82:, 85, 95, 124, 125.

Kingbird, Arkansas, 33, 63, 70, 71,

72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 86,
89, 124, 126; Eastern, 33, 69, 70,

71, 72;, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80,

81, 82, 86, 95, 96, 126, 127.
Kingfisher, Belted, 141; Eastern

Belted, 16, 17, 33, 46, 71, 72-, 74,

75, 76, 77, 80, 82, 85, 96, 124.
Kinglet, Golden-crowned, 43, East¬
ern Golden-crowned, 13, 17, 18,
20, 21, 71, 87; Eastern Ruby-
crowned, 13, 47, 71, 87, 121.

Lanins borealis subsp. ?, 61; borealis
subsp., 9; borealis invictus, 9 ;
ludovicianus excubitorides, 34.

Lark, Horned, 3, 8, 47; Hoyt

Horned, 3, 47, 73; (Prairie ?)
Horned, 73, 74 ; Prairie (?)

Horned, 82; Prairie Horned, 3,
21, 48, 49, 71, 95; (Saskatche¬
wan ?) Horned, 21, 47; Sas¬
katchewan Horned, 3, 8, 9, 12,
34, 36, 62i, 76, 77, 80, 119.

Larus argentatus smithsonianus, 38;

delawarensis, 39 ; pipixcan, 33, 121.
Limnesia, 25.

Limnodromus griseus subsp.?, 61.
Lobipes lobatus, 61.

Longspur, Chestnut-collared, 36, 76;
Lapland, 36, 76, Common Lap-
land, 8, 9.

Loon, Lesser Common, 31.

Loxia curvirostra subsp., 5.

Maclura pomifera, 58.

Magpie, American, 8, 10, 14, 16, 17,
18, 34, 48, 71, 76, 77, 86, 89.

Mallard, 6, 31, 32; Common, 6, 13,
20, 31, 42;, 48, 49, 50, 65, 70, 71,
74, 75, 84.

Man-o’-war-bird, 136-137.

Mareca americana, 32.

Martin, 81; Purple, 50, 81; North¬
ern Purple, 46, 61, 71, 72, 74, 75,
77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 86, 96.

Mauck, Miss Ruth M., article by, 5.

McCreary, Otto, article by, 38-39.

McKillip, Mrs. L. H., article by,
37-38.

Mershon, William B., article by, 39.
Meadowlark, Eastern, 47, 70, 126;
Eastern Common, 35, 49, 69, 71,
76, 82, 87, 127; Western (?), 21;
Western, 17, 18, 20, 35, 45, 46,
47, 49, 67, 69, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77,
79, 80, 81, 82, 87, 96, 119, 126.
Megaceryle alcyon alcyon, 33.
Melanerpes erythrocephalus, 33.
Melospiza georgiana, 61; melodia
subsp., 36.

Merganser, American Bulf-breast¬
ed, 14, 47, 71, 84.

Mimus polyglottos leucopterus, 34.
Mniotilta varia, 34.

Mockingbird, 89, 124; (subsp. ?),
71, 82, 86; Eastern (?), 70, 89;
(Western ?), 72, 74, 80; West¬
ern (?), 73, 75; Western, 34, 77.
Molothrus ater subsp., 35.

Murre, Common, 95.

Muscivora forficata, 61.

Myadestes townsendi, 9, 121.
Myiarchus crinitus boreus, 33.

148

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Nebraska Loess Man, 139-140, 141,
142.

Nebraska Indians, 140-141.

Nettion carolinense, 32.

Nighthawk, 95, 96; (subsp.), 85,
126; Eastern (?), 70, 71, 82;
(Sennett ?), 73; Sennett (?), 73,
75; Sennett, 33, 74, 77, 119.

Night Heron, Black-crowned, 72;
American Black-crowned, 4, 66,
80, 84, 96.

Nucifraga Columbiana, 5.

Numenius americanus americanus, 33.

Nutcracker, Clark, 5, 8, 10.

Nuthatch, Brown-headed, 127; Red-
breasted, 8, 17, 18, 20, 21, 45, 71,
86; Eastern White-breasted, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 34, 43, 47, 48, 71,
76, 79, 80, 96, 123, 126; Rocky
Mountain White-breasted, 8.

Nyroca affinis, 32; americana, 32;
valisneria, 32.

Oidemia americana, 38.

Oporornis tolmiei, 61.

Oriole, Baltimore, 35, 69, 70, 71,
72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,
88, 96, 124, 125; Bullock, 35, 77,
88; Orchard, 35, 71, 73, 74, 75,
77, 80, 81, 82, 88, 96, 124, 125.

Osprey, American, 70, 84, 125.

Otocoris alpestris enthymia, 8, 34;
alepstris leucolaema, 8 .

Otus asio subsp., 33.

Ovenbird. 34, 70, 71, 73. 77, 87, 96,
121. 125.

Owl, Barn. 33; American Barn. 45,
71, 72, 77, 89, 125; Western Bur¬
rowing, 33, 50. 71, 72. 76, 80, 85;
Great Horned, 7, 124; Great

Horned (subsn. ?), 73; Eastern
Great Horned. 7, 71. 72; North¬
western Great Horned. 14: West¬
ern Horned, 8, 33, 76; Western
Great Horned, 14; Long-eared,
12. 14, 45, 47, 125; Screech. 33,
75; Screech (subsp.?), 77; East¬
ern Screech, 12. 15. 18, 19, 20, 45,
70, 77, 124, 125; Short-eared, 18,
48, 49, 50, 69; Northern Short¬
eared, 73, 85.

Oxyechus vociferus vociferus, 321 .

Paroquet, Eastern Carolina, 57, 59;

Interior Carolina, 55, 57, 58, 59.
“Parotqueet”, 55.

“Parrakeets”, 57.

Parrot, Thick-billed, 55.

Passer domesticus domesticus, 35.

Passerina amoena, 35.

Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris, 8 ,
32.

Pelecanus carbo, 134; erythrorhynchos,
31, 125; occidentalis californicus,
133; occidentalis occidentalis, 132.

Pelican, Eastern Brown, 127, 132-
133; California Brown, 133;
White, 14, 31, 72, 78, 80, 82, 84,
124, 125, 128-132.

Penthestes atricapillus septentrionalis,
8, 34.

“Peroquet Caroline", 55.

Pewee, Eastern Wood, 71, 74, 75,
82, 86, 96; Western Wood, 90.

Phalacrocorax auritus auritus, 133,
134; auritus floridanus, 133, 134;
olivacetis mexicanus, 135.

Phalarope, 81; Northern, 61, 75, 77,
81, 85; Red, 38; Wilson, 4, 33,
69, 70, 71, 72, 75, 79, 81, 85, 95,
96.

Phalaropus fulicarius, 38.

P/iasianus colchicus torquatus , 32.

Pheasant, Ring-necked Common,
20', 21, 32, 73, 76, 77, 82.

Philohela minor, 63, 119.

Phoebe, Eastern, 4, 46, 71, 72, 74,
75, 77, 80, 82, 86, 96, 126: North¬
ern Say, 95; Rocky Mountain
Say, 3, 72, 80, 86.

Pica pica hudsonia, 8, 34.

Pintail, 6; American, 6, 14, 32, 44,
46, 47, 48, 49, 50; 65, 69, 70, 71,
74, 75, 76, 84, 89; Common, 17.

Pipilo maculatus arcticus, 36.

Pipit, American Common, 47, 87,
126; Sprague, 69, 72:, 87.

Plover, Black-bellied, 14, 125;

Golden, 89, 125: Piping, 66, 95;
Semipalmated, 61, 69. 77, 85; Up¬
land, 32, 71, 72, 77, 85, 95,

Podilymbus pod'tceps podiceps, 31.

Pooecetes gramineus confinis, 61.

Poor-will, Nuttall, 119.

Porzana Carolina, 61.

Progne subis subis, 61.

Psittacus ludovicianus , 59.

Puffin, 95.

Querquedula discors, 32:.

Quiscalus quiscula aeneus, 35.

Rail, Northern King, 95; Northern
Virginia, 67, 73, 84; Sora, 71.

Raven, 90.

Recurvirostra americana, 33, 38.

Redhead, 14, 17, 32, 46, 49, 50, 71,
72, 76, 84.

Redpol 1 , Common, 9.

INDEX

149

Redstart, American, 18, 35, 63, 70,
71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 80, 82, 87, 96,
120, 124, 125.

Rhynchopsitta pachryhyncha, 55.
Riparia riparia riparia, 34.

Robin, 65, 95; Eastern, 9, 13, 17, 18,
19, 20, 34, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 71,

73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,

86, 96, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127;
Western, 90.

Sandpiper, 81; Baird, 69, 70, 71, 72,
82, 85, 126; Least, 61, 66, 69, 70,

71, 72, 75, 76, 80', 81, 82, 85, 96,

126; Pectoral, 12, 69, 70, 72, 80,
85, 96; Semipalmated, 12, 69, 70,
71, 72, 80=, 85; Solitary, 33, 96;
(Eastern ?) Solitary, 72; East¬
ern Solitary, 71, 85; Spotted, 33,
66, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 80, 85, 126;
Stilt, 69, 126; Western, 4; White-
rumped, 70, 72, 80, 85.

Sapsucker, Eastern Yellow-bellied,
126.

Scaup, Greater, 50; Lesser, 13, 32,
46, 47, 49, 50, 69, 70, 71, 77, 80,
82, 84, 96.

Scoter, American, 38; White-wing¬
ed, 14.

Seiurus aurocapillus, 34; noveboracen-
sis notabilis, 34.

Setophaga ruticilla, 35.

Sheldon. Mrs. Addison E., article
by, 121.

ShoveTer, 14, 32, 46, 47, 49, 50, 69,

70, 71, 76, 80', 82, 84, 96.

Shrike, Loggerhead, 47: Logger-

head (subsp.), 87; (Migrant ?)
Loggerhead, 47; Migrant Logger-
head, 50, 69, 71, 73, 80, 82, 96;
White - rumped Loggerhead, 34,

74, 75, 76, 77; Northern, 9, 46,
49, 61, 71; Northern (subsp. ?),
76, 87.

Sialia currucoides, 36; sialis sialis, 9,
34.

Siskin, Pine, 45, 77; Northern Pine,
18, 20, 48, 74, 75, 88, 90, 121.

Sitta canadensis, 8; carolinensis carol¬
inensis, 34; carolinensis nelsoni, 8.
Skimmer, Black, 127.

Snipe, Wilson, 8, 14, 15, 32, 66, 69,

71, 77, 85, 125.

Solitaire, Townsend, 9, 12, 17, 18,
48, 121.

Sora, 61, 71, 73, 77, 80, 84, 123, 125.
Sparrow, Chipping, 36; Chipping
(subsp. ?) 77; (Eastern ?) Chip¬
ping, 74; Eastern Chipping, 13,
46, 71, 72;, 75, 80, 82, 88, 96, 124;

Western Chipping, 90; Clay-col¬
ored, 70, 71, 72, 80', 88; English,

81, 127; English House, 35, 76;
Field, 95; Field (subsp.), 88;
Western Field, 36, 46, 71, 72, 76,

82, 96; Eastern Fox, 72, 77, 88;
Gambel, 36, 60, 71, 72, 74, 75,

76, 88; Western Grasshopper, 36,
71, 72, 75, 77, 80, 82, 96, 88; Har¬
ris, 13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 36, 45, 47,
49, 60, 71, 73, 75, 88; Lark, 70;
Lark (subsp.), 88; Eastern Lark,
71, 82, 89; (Western?) Lark,
74; Western Lark, 12, 36, 72, 75,

77, 80', 83, 119; Leconte, 88; Com¬
mon Lincoln, 69, 71, 72, 88, 90,
121; Savannah (subsp. ?), 69,

70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 88, 126; Nelson
Sharp-tailed, 120; Song, 36, 47,
60, 77, 95; Song (subsp. ?), 13,
17, 71, 76, 88, 121; Eastern Song,
90, 127; Swamp, 13, 61, 71, 88;
Tree, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21. 36,
43, 48, 49, 60, 71, 76, 77, 80; Tree
(subsp. ?), 13, 17; Western Tree,
9; Vesper, 69; Vesper (subsp.),
88, 126; Eastern (?) Vesper. 71;
Eastern Vesper, 90, 127; (West¬
ern ?) Vesper, 72; Western Ves¬
per, 61, 76; White-crowned, 13,

36, 60, 72, 75, 76; Eastern White-

crowned, 71, 75, 88: White-

throated, 17, 36, 71, 72, 74, 75,
88, 90, 121, 127.

Spatula clypeata, 32.

Speotyto cunicularia hypugaea, 33.
Spinus tristis pallidus, 9, 36.

Spiza americana, 35*.

Spizella arborea subsp., 36; arborea
ochracea, 9; pusilla arenacea, 36.
Starling, 5; European, 5, 37, 62,
120 .

Steganopus tricolor, 33.

Sterna antillarum antillarum, 38;
forsteri, 38, 61.

Stipsky, Joseph E., article by, 5.
St. Martin, Miss Mary, article by,

37.

Sturnella magna magna, 35; neglecta,
35.

Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris, 5, 37, 62,
120 .

Swallow, Common Bank, 34, 70,

71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 80, 83, 86, 96,
126; Barn, 34, 69, 71, 72. 73, 74,
75, 77, 80, 82, 86, 90, 96, 126;
Eastern Cliff, 72, 74, 75, 86. 90,
96; Rough-winged, 69, 71, 72, 74,
75, 82, 86, 96; Tree, 61, 71, 72, 77,
80, 86, 90, 127; Northern Violet-
green, 12, 90.

150

NEBRASKA BIRD REVIEW

Swan, Trumpeter, 13; Whistling,
13, 15.

Swenk, Miss Iva, articles by, 66;
?lvron H- 55-59, 63-65, 103-116
(with Philip H. DuMont), 121,
128-137, 137-143; Myron H. and
Jane B., 20.

Swift, Chimney, 69, 70, 71, 72, 80,
82, 85, 96.

Tanager, Scarlet, 4, 71, 82, 88, 90,
96, 120, 121, 124.

Tanager, Western, 90, 120.

Teal, Blue-winged, 14, 32, 69, 70,
71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 80, 82, 84;
Green-winged, 6, 32, 47, 49, 50,

71, 76, 84.

Telmatodytes palustris subsp., 34.
Tern, American Black, 12, 33, 38,
73, 76, 85, 95, 96; Caspian, 37,
89, 95; Forster, 38, 61, 70, 77, 85;
Eastern Least, 38, 66, 77.
Thrasher, Brown, 17, 34, 69, 70, 71,

72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,
86, 95, 96, 124, 126.

Thrush, Gray-cheeked, 3; Northern
Gray-cheeked, 70,72,86; Hermit,

61, 123, 127; Hermit (subsp.?),
69, 76, 86; Olive-backed Swain-
son, 34, 65, 71, 72, 75, 77, 80, 86,
96, 121; Varied, 22; Wood, 63,
65, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 80, 82, 86,
96.

Thryomanes benvick'i subsp., 37.

Thryothorus ludovicianus ludovician¬
us, 37, 62.

Titmouse, Tufted, 12, 16, 19, 20, 21,
43, 47, 49, 63, 77, 80, 82, 96.
Totanus flavipes, 33; melanoleucus,

36.

Tout, Wilson, articles by, 38, 66;

record blanks by, 127.

Towhee, Arctic Spotted, 17, 36, 69,
71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 88, 120, 121;
Red-eyed Eastern. 17, 44, 46, 49,
71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 82, 88, 95, 96.
Toxostoma rufum, 34.

Trine, Mrs. George W., article by,

37.

Tringa solitaria subsp., 33.
Troglodytes aedon parkmanii, 34.

Turdus miaratorius migratorius, 9 , 34 .
Turkey, Wild, 141.

Turner, Harold, articles by, 7, 61-

62, 120.

Turnstone, Ruddy, 66.

Tympanuchus cupido americanus, 32L
Tyrannus tyrannus, 33; verticals, 33.
Tyto alba pratincola, 33.

Veery, 34, 90, 127; (subsp. ?), 77,

86 .

Vermivora peregrina, 34; ruficapilla
ruficapilla, 61.

Vireo gilvus subsp., 61; griseus
griseus, 118; olivaceus 34.

Vireo, Northern Bell, 61, 70, 71, 72,

74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 87, 96;
Red-eyed, 34, 48, 63, 71, 72, 74,

75, 77, 80, 82, 87, 96, 127; Moun¬

tain Solitary, 89; Plumbeous
Solitary, 90; Warbling, 61, 125;
Warbling (subsp. ?), 77, 87;

Eastern Warbling, 65, 69, 71, 72,
74, 75, 80, 81, 82, 96, 125, 127;
Western Warbling, 4; White¬
eyed, 70, 118; Yellow-throated,
70, 71, 82, 87, 96.

Vulture, Northern Turkey, 71, 118.

Warbler, Audubon, 74; Northern
Audubon, 61, 75, 77, 87; Black
and White, 34, 72, 74, 75, 77, 87,
96, 119, 124; Black-poll, 34, 71,
72, 74, 75, 77, 87, 96; Cairns, 89,
90; Cape May, 38; Black-throat¬
ed Green, 70, 87, 90; Kentucky,

63. 87, 90, 96; MacGillivray, 61,
77, 87; Magnolia, 61, 77, 87;
Myrtle, 79; Eastern Myrtle, 34,

70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 80, 87, 126;
Eastern Nashville, 61, 76, 87, 90,
121; Eastern Orange - crowned,
72, 74, 75, 87, 121, 126; Western
Palm, 72, 87; Wilson Pileolated,
3, 12, 18, 35, 77, 87; Tennessee,
34. 71, 76, 87, 96, 121; Worm¬
eating, 90; Yellow, 76; Yellow
(subsp.), 87; Alaska Yellow, 76;
Alaska (?) Yellow, 61; Eastern
Yellow, 34, 63, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74,
75, 80, 82, 96, 124.

Water - Thrush, Grinnell Common,
34, 71, 73, 80, 87, 96; Louisiana,

71, 82, 87.

Water-Turkey, 136.

Waxwing, (American Bohemian?),
46; American Bohemian, 5, 34,
60, 71, 87; Cedar, 13, 16, 18, 20,
34. 47, 49, 60, 70, 71, 75, 87, 121,
127.

Whelan, Don B., article by, 120.
Whip-poor-will, Eastern, 61, 126.
Willet, Western, 4, 12, 33.

Wilson, Miss Louisa E., articles by,
5, 121.

Wilsonia pusilla pusilla. 35.
Woodcock, 64, 65, 67; American,
63, 64, 85, 119.

Woodpecker, Batche’der Downy, 8;
Northern Downy, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 33, 43, 44, 48, 49, 70, 73,

INDEX

151

76, 77, 80, 82, 96, 123; Hairy, 95;
Eastern Hairy, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 33, 43, 44, 45, 48, 70, 73,
76, 77, 80, 82, 96; Rocky Mount¬
ain Hairy, 8; Lewis, 5, 33, 76;
Red-bellied, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 43,
46, 47, 71, 72, 79, 82, 86, 96; Red¬
headed, 14, 20, 33, 43, 63, 65, 69,
70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 79, 80',
82, 86, 96, 124, 126.

Wren, Bewick, 37, 38; Bewick

(subsp. ?), 72, 86; Eastern Caro¬
lina, 21, 37, 38, 43, 621, 82, 89;
House, 127; Eastern House, 127;
Western House, 34, 69, 70, 71,
72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81,
82, 86, 90', 96, 123, 126; Long¬
billed Marsh, 34, 95; Prairie (?)
Long-billed Marsh, 70; Common
Rock, 12., 95, 119; Winter, 22.

Xanthium canadense, 58.
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, 35.

Yellow-legs, Greater, 15, 36, 72,
76, 80, 85, 126; Lesser, 33, 46, 69,
70, 71, 76, 79, 80, 82, 85, 96, 126.

Yellow-throat, Maryland, 35; Mary¬
land (subsp. ?), 77, 87; Northern
Maryland, 71, 72, 74, 75, 80, 82,
90, 96, 119, 126; Western Mary¬
land, 79.

Youngworth, Wm. articles by, 20,
118.

Zenaidura macroura marginella, 33.
Zonotrichia albicollis, 36, gambelii,
36; leucophrys, 36; querula, 36, 60.

MORE IMPORTANT PUBLISHED LISTS OF THE BIRDS
OF STATES ADJACENT TO NEBRASKA
MINNESOTA

1932. The Birds of Minnesota. By Thomas S. Roberts, Museum
of Natural History, University of Minnesota. Volumes i,
pp. i-xxii + 1-691, pis. 1-49 and ii, pp. i-xv + 1-821, pis.
50-90. Minneapolis: The University of Minnesota Press,
4to. Lists 356 species and subspecies.

1932. Manual for the Identification of the Birds of Minnesota and
Neighboring States. By Thomas S. Roberts. Pages
i-xiii + 459-738 excerpted from vol. ii of preceding work,
8vo. Lists 357 species and subspecies.

IOWA

1907. The Birds of Iowa. By Rudolph M. Anderson. Proceedings
of the Davenport Academy of Sciences, xi, pp. 125-417,
8vo. Lists 354 species and subspecies.

1934. A Revised List of the Birds of Iowa. By Philip A. DuMont.

University of Iowa Studies in Natural History, xv, No. 5,
pp. 1-171, 8vo. Lists 364 species and subspecies.

MISSOURI

1907. A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. By Otto
Widmann. Transactions of the Academy of Science of
St. Louis, xvii, pp. 1-288, 8vo. Lists 353 species and sub¬
species.

1932. Check-List of the Birds of Missouri. By Rudolf Bennitt,
University of Missouri. The University of Missouri
Studies, vii, No. 3, pp. 1-81, 4to. Lists 396 species and
subspecies.

KANSAS

1891. History of the Birds of Kansas. By N. S. Goss. Pages
1-692, pis. i-xxxv. Topeka. Geo. W. Crane & Co., 4to.
Lists 343 species and subspecies.

1913. The Birds of Kansas. By C. D. Bunker. The Kansas Uni¬
versity Science Bulletin, vii, No. 5, pp. 137-158. Lists 379
species and subspecies.

COLORADO

1897. The Birds of Colorado. By Wells W. Cooke. Bulletin 37,
Colorado Experiment Station, pp. 1-144. 1898. Further

Notes. Bulletin 44, pp. 145-176. 1900. Second Appendix,
Bulletin 56, pp. 177-240. 1909. Third Supplement, Auk,

xxvi, pp. 400-422. Lists, respectively, 363, 374, 387 and
397 species and subspecies.

1912. A History of the Birds of Colorado. By William Lutley
Sclater. Pages i-xxiv + 1-576. London: Witherby & Co.,
8vo. Lists 392 species and subspecies.

WYOMING

1902. The Birds of Wyoming. By Wilbur C. Knight. Bulletin 55,
Wyoming Experiment Station, pp. 1-174, 8vo. Lists 288
species and subspecies.

SOUTH DAKOTA

1921. Birds of South Dakota. By William H. Over and Craig S.

Thoms. Bulletin 9, South Dakota Geological and Natural
History Survey, xxx, No. 9, pp. 1-142. Lists 322 species
and subspecies.

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