The Gull

M&O
Serials
QL 671
-G84

T H

month

L Y

Volume 1 1

SAN FRANCISCO, MAY, 1929

Number 5

MAY MEETING: The next regular meeting of the Audubon Associa-
tion of the Pacific will be held on Thursday evening, the 9th of May, at 8
0 clock, in the Board Room of the State Board of Harbor Commissioners, Room
19, Second Floor, Ferry Building.

The speaker of the evening will be Mrs. Amelia S. Allen. Her subject will
be “Birding in the Santa Cruz Mountains”, illustrated with colored slides.

Directors’ Meeting after regular meeting.

* * * v

MAY FIELD TRIP will he taken on Sunday, May 26th, to Livermore.
Mr. C. H. McCoy has very kindly invited the Audubon Association of the Pacific
to visit his ranch, which is a short distance out of Livermore. Many interest-
ing species of birds nest here. Another interesting animal, not a bird, makes
his home here, the horned toad.

More automobiles are badly needed. A sufficient number to carry the
members desiring to go has not been offered up to this time. Several members
are forming their own parties; this is desirable, provided preference is given
to members. The names of all members of a party should be sent to the leader.
Non-members of a member’s family are cordially invited.

Detailed instructions will be mailed each member as soon as possible after
receiving his or her name.

It is hoped that every member interested will cooperate to make the trip
a success, both in organization and execution. Visitors will be welcome but
must furnish their own transportation.

As a matter of courtesy and fairness to all, no party is expected to go be-
yond Livermore until final instructions are had from the leader.

Round trip from Oakland about ninety miles. Bring luncheon and filled
canteens.

Address all communications to C. A. Bryant, Room 1011, 65 Market St.,
San Francisco, Calif.

* * *

JUNE FIELD TRIP will be taken on June the 16th to Alpine Lake over
a new and easy route away from automobile roads. Distance about eight miles.
Purchase round trip tickets to Ross, 60c. Bring luncheon and canteens.

NOTE: It is desired to arrange trips to new places. Members having
suggestions to offer will please write to C. A. BRYANT, Room 1011, 65 Market
St., San Francisco, Calif.

Also suitable material for publication in The Gull is requested from the
members. Many of us certainly have interesting trips and observations that
ought to be shared, at least in written form, with others. If each member will
contribute a short article and get a new member, The Gull will be happy and
our organization will be prosperous.

THE GULL

[May

PROCEEDINGS OF THE APRIL MEETING: The regular 14th

monthly meeting of the Association was held on the 11th of April, 1929, in the
Board Room of the State Board of Harbor Commissioners, Ferry Building,
President Harwell presiding.

The President opened the meeting by making reports on personal field ob-
servations, and was followed by others as here recorded :

President Harwell: A Short-eared Owl observed for nearly an hour during
broad daylight, flying about grain fields and ditches, diving full speed into as
many as 'fifteen different holes (presumably for prey) with remarkable sw'ft-
ness and accuracy.

Mr. Lockerbie: Two White-tailed Kites and Sparrow Hawks on Angel

Island.

Mr. C. A. Bryant: Three Anthony Green Herons at Greenbrae on April
16 and Western Kingbirds along Tennessee Cove Road on April 7.

Mrs. Laura Stephens: Myrtle Warbler at Presidio, Russet-backed Thrush
singing (several days previous — unusually early for his migration).

Mr. Carl Smith: 24th of March, American and Red-breasted Mergansers
from Golden Gate Ferry off Berkeley, 27th March, two Bald Eagles above foot-
hills of Mt. Diablo near Clayton, Say Phoebe on Crow Canyon road out of Oak-
land and one in Mt. Diablo region, 7th of April at Dumbarton Bridge, a single
Northern Phalarope and on same day, in Niles Canyon, a number of Rough-
winged Swallows and White-throated Swifts.

The Corresponding Secretary reported having heard authoritatively that
apparently there was no intention on the part of the State Legislature to take
up the selection of a bird to be designated as a State Emblem and accordingly
the matter was dropped. Progress in the State Bird Campaign was reported by
President Harwell to the effect that the Native Daughters are reacting enthusi-
astically and that the Boy Scouts in Oakland were facilitating the taking and
collecting of the votes.

Mrs. Junea Kelly was the speaker of the evening on the subject, “Shore
Birds”. The lecturer opened with an apology for specialized interest in Shore
Birds, but after her attractive presentation of her subject, her audience appre-
ciated the merits that led to her choice. Beginning with instructions to shore
bird observers for the use of the tide tables and advice to be at the beaches
about one hour after high tide, she briefly sketched the birds’ life histories and
habits, drawing comparisons between those of different species where a simi-
larity exists. She gave an instructive description of the idiosyncratic probing
with the bills of different birds, how the different lengths of the bills, reaching
to different depths classified the supply of food, distributing it among the
different species, explaining additionally this same result in the foraging by
some in mud, others in sand above the tide and to the very edge of receding
breakers and among the rocks on open shores and in indentations. Her obser-
vations included explanations of the gregarious, communal and segregated
habits of the different species. With the aid of specimens she gave minute
descriptions of various birds, in which special emphasis was made of the fiel 1
identification marks, with careful comparisons between similar species. In
conclusion she explained how permission to kill snipe opened the way to the
abusive killing of many otherwise protected species.

* * ¥

DIRECTORS’ MEETING: After the general meeting the Directors held
a short session in which they elected the following to membership in the As-
sociation: Mr. A. Gamboni and Mrs. C. W. Lockerbie, San Francisco; Mr.

Adolph A. Oliver, Mt. Eden; Mr. William R. Penny, Berkeley; Miss E. Chilton,
Atlas, Napa Co.

THE GULL

DAWSON’S BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA

mate1:i'!?3np1HnnI>S?rt,U-nIty procure “Dawso"’s Birds of California” at a
Fditi, ,n Vto *r, H , ?r,ce ai'(Lon convenient terms is now offered. Students’
Ldition $30-^50 , Booklovers $75 ; Santa Barbara $200; De Luxe $350 Only a

Sif pfeVcf/n ArlreSr S Whneeler Publishing Co., 256 Sutter St., San Francisco,
t ant. l lease mention Tire Gru..

V * *

UNUSUAL WINTER VISITANTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO

BAY REGION

One does not usually associate birds, except English Sparrows and Domes-
ic Pigeons, with a city as large as San Francisco. The varied associations that
are round m San Francisco’s city limits attract many species of birds which
iiie more or less common. But the winter just passed in spite of a longer and
colder spell than usual has been, one might say, one long round of pleasure —
crnithologically and many of us have added new birds to our life lists.

In November Surf Birds were reported at Land’s End, with them were
Ruddy Turnstones and Black Turnstones. All three species were present till
the end of March. Along the Marina fifty or more Short-billed Gulls could be
observed in one flock at any time one cared to visit the place. However, when
the Christmas census was taken on December 23rd not a single Short-billed
Dull was present. But to compensate for this Florida Gallinules were found
on Lake Merced on the same date and were observed often up to April 11th.
Myrtle Warblers also were present in fair numbers around the south end of
the lake and were observed up to April 14th.

On San Francisco Bay, American Scoters were present along the Key
Route Pier and along the San Francisco Drawbridge. A lone individual in
front of the Oakland Ferry slip on April 19th was unable to fly away from the
ferry boats’ course, evidently had been injured or the feathers were oil-soaked.
Farther north on Tomales Bay during February more American Scoters were
present as were countless thousands of Black Sea Brant.

On Lake Merritt in Oakland seven Horned Grebes were recorded by the
Audubon Association on the field trip to that locality.

On January 20th a lone Road-runner was observed near the parking place
on the Alameda County end of the Dumbarton Bridge, a most unusual associa-
tion for road-runners.

A Mocking Bird in Berkeley and another in Burlingame rather made one
feel that perhaps southern California may not long enjoy its monopoly on this
attractive bird.

The climax came on March 17th on the Audubon trip to Point Bonita when
four Glaucous Gulls were discovered along the Sausalito shore.

Concerning birds more or less common, Turkey Vultures have an all year
’round roost not far off a much traveled road above Mill Valley. Twenty-five
or thirty vultures may often be seen apparently resting or asleep. In other
localities Turkey Vultures are found all winter. It would seem now that this
species should be classed as a permanent resident rather than as a summer
visitant.

A pair of White-tailed Kites evidently live near Greenbrae and were more
recently observed on Angel Island.

Robins and Varied Thrushes have been unusually abundant.

Unusual records like some of the above together with our usual records
make the San Francisco Bay Region a very interesting birding country in
which unusual species are apt to give us a thrill at any time.

THE GUL1

APRIL FIELD TRIP was taken to Lake Merced on Sunday, the 14th un-
der the efficient leadership of Mrs. Bracelin and Mr. Lockerbie. The usuia
route was reversed. The party formed at the head of the ravine below Daly
City, dividing into two groups and working both banks of the^ravine,^ uniting
again at the mouth of the ravine and proceeding
shore of the South Lake to watch for the Florida
wintering here and were incorrectly reported in
Gallinules. During our watchful waiting luncheon
were missing even though they had been observed
visit. We hope they were only temporarily absent

to a secluded spot on the
Gallinules that have been
the April Gull as Purple
was eaten. The Gallinules
only three days before our
After luncheon the party

again divided working both shores of both lakes and ending at Sloat Boulevard.

The day was ideal. Both species and individuals were out in numbers.
Several species of winter visitants seemed to have lingered a little longer to
welcome the spring arrivals. Pileolated Warblers were singing everywhere.
Affairs in Mexico must have hastened the departure of the Russet-backed
Thrush. His usual arrival is about two weeks later. The Eared and Pied-billed
Grebes were smart in new spring plumage. An Anthony Green Heron gave the
party a thrill. Rufous Hummingbirds were present. Purple Martins caused
some speculation but proved their identity upon close approach and several
of us added a new bird to our life list. The association was not typical for
Martins. A Cooper Hawk was discovered feeding on a coot. Myrtle Warblers
wintering around the South End of the South Lake were still present.

Bush-tits, Marsh Wrens and Song Sparrows had eggs for our inspection
in their respective nests. Male Mallards were loafing in the edges of the tules
as if guarding their nesting sites.

Birds observed were: — Western, American eared and pied-billed grebes;
Farallon double-crested cormorant; California great blue, Anthony green and
black-crowned night herons; American bittern; common mallard, lesser scaup
and ruddy ducks; northern turkey vulture, Cooper and western red-tailed
hawks; coast California quail; American coot; glaucous-winged, northern
western and California gulls; western mourning dove; Anna, rufous and Allen
hummingbirds; Monterey red-shafted flicker; yellow-bellied western fly-
catcher; California horned lark: northern violet-green, American bank, barn
and northern cliff swallows; western purple martin; Santa Cruz chestnut-
backed chickadee; Pacific Coast bush-tit, intermediate wren-tit; Vigor’s Be-
wick and tule marsh wrens; western robin, dwarf hermit and Pacific russet-
backed thrushes; western ruby-crowned kinglet, American pipit, Alaska
myrtle and Pacific Audubon warblers, San Francisco yellow-throat, golden
pileolated warbler; western meadowlark, San Francisco red-winged and Cali-
fornia Brewer blackbirds; California purple finch, California linnet, northern
pine siskin, willow American and green-backed Arkansas goldfinches. San
Francisco spotted towhee, Fox sparrow, Point Pinos Oregon junco, golden.
Nuttall white-crowned and Santa Cruz song sparrows. Fifty-nine species.

Members in attendance were: — Mrs. Bracelin, Fowler, Lockerbie; Misses
Cockefair, Gunn, Petit. Dr. Card, Messrs. Bremer, Bryant, Jencks, Lockerbie,
Myer. Guests: Mrs. Jencks, Ryan, Van Horn; Misses Frank, Beryl and Olive
Kautz, Osgood; Messrs. Bolander, Hawkins, Jacobs. Twelve members, twenty-
four guests. C. A. Bryant.

AUDUBON ASSOCIATION OF THE PACIFIC

FOR TITE STUDY ANI) THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS

President Bert Harwell 2626 Haste St., Berkeley

Recording Secretary Mrs. Bessie W. Kibbe Room 510, Russ Bldg,, San Francisco

Corresponding Secretary. C. B. Lastreto 260 California St., San Francisco

Treasurer ..Mrs, A. B. Stephens 1695 Filbert St., San Francisco

Meets second Thursday of each month at 8:00 p.m,, in the Board Room of the State
Board of Harbor Commissioners, Ferry Building, Second Floor, Room 19.

Address Bulletin correspondence to the Corresponding Secretary.

Subscription to Bulletin alone, 35c per year. Membership dues, payable January 1, $3.00 per year.