The Gull

M&O

Serials

Birds of the Cazadero Region

The permanent summer camp of the San Francisco Area Council of the
Boy Scouts of America is situated at Watson Station, near Cazadero, Sonoma
County California. The country is typical Coast Range and affords good op-
portunities tor birding. 1

t i B^!°WjS lis,t °f sjxty‘six species observed during the months of June and
July 1J29 by Ennle R. Jacob and Ins group of bird students, submitted through
Arthur H. Myer:

California Great Blue Heron

Anthony Green Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

Wilson Snipe

Northern Turkey Vulture

North American White-tailed Kite

Cooper Hawk

Western Red-tailed Hawk

Sooty Dusky Grouse

Coast California Quail

Northern Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Western Mourning Dove

California Coast Screech Owl

Northern Short-eared Owl

Vaux Swift

White-throated Swift

Anna Hummingbird

Allen Hummingbird

Western Belted Kingfisher

Monterey Red-shafted Flicker

Western Pileated Woodpecker

California Acorn-storing Woodpecker

Willow Downy Woodpecker

Nuttall Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Northern Ash-throated Flycatcher

Black Phoebe

Yellow-bellied Western Flycatcher
Northern Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow

Western Purple Martin

Coast Stellar Jay

California Jay

Chestnut Backed Chickadee

California Plain Titmouse

Pacific Coast Bush-tit

Slender-billed Nuthatch

Tawny Brown Creeper

Ruddy Wren-tit

Northern American Dipper

Nicasio Bewick Wren

Western Winter Wren

Western Robin

Monterey Hermit Thrush

Pacific Russet-backed Thrush

Western Mexican Bluebird

Lutescent Orange-crowned Warbler

California Yellow Warbler

Golden Pileolated Warbler

Western Meadowlark

California Brewer Blackbird

Western Tanager

Pacific Black-headed Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting

California Linnet

Willow American Goldfinch

Green-backed Arkansas Goldfinch

San Francisco Spotted Towliee

San Francisco Brown Towhee

Western Lark Sparrow

Oregon Junco

Marin Song Sparrow

Western Chipping Sparrow

In the November 192G issue of The Gull, a list of fifty-one species for this
region was compiled by Harold E. Hansen. It is interesting to note that while
the present list contains twenty-three species not recorded in the 1926 list, the
earlier list contained eight species not mentioned in the more recent list. Both
lists together give a total for this region of seventy-four species. Editor.

THE GULL

1930]

[ May

Specific Versus Varietal Names in Audubon Field Reports

Why use a cumbersomely long name, when a conveniently short one will
serve the purpose just as well?

Why “Northern” Western Gull, when just Western Gull indicates the bird
one has observed?

Why “Cones” Caspian Tern, instead of plain Caspian Tern?

Why say “Intermediate” Wren-tit, “California” Brewer Blackbird, or “Santa
Cruz” Chestnut-backed Chickadee, when one is identifying a Wren-tit, a Brewer
Blackbird, or a Chestnut-backed Chickadee?

In certain types of ornithological study varietal names are necessary to
designate groups of birds whose sub-specifically varying anatomy, range, or
behavior, is under examination. For this purpose Latin trinomials are pro-
vided for the use of scientists when so engaged. All right. But the amateur
bird student in the field, the general user of English names, is not engaged in
sub-specific studies. He is interested in the birds that he “can name without
a gun,”— that is, in species. Why then should he burden his writings or his
speech or his memory with long sub-specific appellations?

The essential fact is this: sub-specific diffei’ences are not recognizable in
the field. To this rule the exceptions are few indeed. The amateur needs
names that will differentiate the birds which he can habitually identify, di-
rectly and with certainty; a Song Sparrow and a Fox Sparrow, for instance.
He has no use for names like “Samuels” Song Sparrow and “Salt Marsh” Song
Sparrow, or like “Kadiak” Fox Sparrow and “Yolla Bolly” Fox Sparrow. These
latter indicate varietal differences that can only be recognized by comparing
specimens in hand, or dubiously inferred from localities and dates.

Another reason: in Latin nomenclature a name with two words always indi-
cates a species and a name with three words a sub-species. Simple and useful.
But in English what do Lead-colored Bush-tit and Pacific Coast Bush-tit indi-
cate? Are they two species of Bush-tit? Wrong! Are they two sub-species of
Bush-tit? Wrong! One is a species and the other a sub-species, but you can-
not tell which is which by the name. The use, then, of varietal names in Eng-
lish is confusing and misleading because it is impossible to tell from such a
name whether a species or a sub-species is referred to.

The Audubon field trip historian who reports a “Western” Ruby-crowned
Kinglet is not mentioning a variety of bird that he has identified. What he
saw and identified was a species, a simple Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The “West-
ern” is but an inference (and a very, very, shaky one at that). As the record
of the presence of a certain species the report of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet may
have scientific value — for the species can be directly and certainly identified.
But the sight report of a “Western,” or an “Eastern,” or a “Sitka” Ruby-
crowned Kinglet is valueless, for the sub-species cannot be directly identified
in the field with the certainty of scientific requirements.

So why make the Audubon field trip reports so difficult to read (especially
when they run to forty or more species) by cluttering them up with a profu-
sion of words that are often misleading, generally valueless and always un-
necessary to the amateur bird-student?

Herman He Fremery, January 31st, 1930.

There’s a little more gold in the clear winter sky,
A little more life in the trees you pass by.

A little more joy in a friend’s cheery words,

And life’s a bit sweeter because of the birds.

E. C. 0 ’Roke.

[ M a v

T H E G I I L L

1930 j

Audubon Notes

May Meeting will be held on Thurs-
day evening, the Stlx, at 8 o’clock, room
19, 2nd floor, Ferry Building.

The speaker of the evening will be
Dr. Harold C. Bryant. Subject: "In-
ter-relations pertaining to Birds.” The
lecture will be illustrated.

May Field Trip will be taken on
Sunday, the 11th, to the home of Mr.
John A. Brock, a noted aviculturist, in
Oakland. An excellent opportunity
will be afforded to study both native
and exotic species of caged birds as
well as native wild birds which are
attracted by feeding tables. The morn-
ing will be spent at Mr. Brock’s home.
In the afternoon a walk will be taken
into the nearby hills.

San Francisco members take South-
ern Pacific Ferry at 9 A. M. to Oak-
land pier and Seventh Street train to
Seminary Avenue, and walk two short
blocks south. Bring luncheon.

''O'. "o'. "o'.

An extra May trip will be taken to
McCoy’s Ranch near Livermore, on
May 18th. Members who have auto-
mobiles and are willing to take those
who have none will please send their
names and number of persons they can
accommodate to C. A. Bryant, 150
Franklin Street, San Francisco, as
soon as possible.

Members, without automobiles, who
wish to make the trip, send in their
names also.

April Meeting: The 159th regular

meeting was held April 10th, in room
19, Ferry Building with forty members
and guests present. President Brigh-
ton C. Cain, presiding.

The following new members were
elected:

Herbert F. Allen, Oakland and Clar-
ence F. Smith, San Francisco.

The matter of rats in Golden Gate
Park was brought before the Associa-
tion and a committee was appointed to
investigate and to take action that the
park authorities might be stimulated
in the work of eradicating this pest.

Field observations were made as
fo’lows :

Mrs. Stephens: March 23rd, Wren-
tit, Golden Gate Park.

Miss Griffin: (letter) March 22nd,

5000 or more Black Sea Brant, Bodega
Bay.

Mr. Lockerbie: March 22nd, 300

Black Sea Brant, Bolinas Bay; a col-
ony of White-throated Swifts, near
Stinson Beach, Marin County.

Miss Rinehart: March 23rd, hun-

dreds of Band-tailed Pigeons, east
shoulder of Mt. St. Helena.

Mr. Carl Smith: April 5th, Varied

Thrush, San Francisco; April 6th,
scarcity of shore birds noted on Bay
Farm Island, however, observed Long-
billed Dowitchers, Sandpipers, Wil-
lets, one Short-eared Owl and Black-
bellied Plovers, the latter in winter
plumage and at Dumbarton Bridge in
full plumage; Baumberg duck pond,
Long-billed Dowitcher, one pair of Cin-
namon Teal and Black-necked Stilt;
two Killdeer about 24 hours old.

Miss Werner: April 10th, nest of

Coots, Golden Gate Park.

Mr. Jencks: April 6th, Varied

Thrush, Oakland.

President Cain introduced the
speaker of the evening, Dr. William
E. Ritter, Director Emeritus of the
Scripps Institute of Oceanography who
spoke of the possibilities and needs of
extending field studies to serious re-
search. _

"o'. "o'. "o'.

Other Societies: The California
Audubon Society had a very large at-
tendance at its last meeting on the
10th ult., and heard an interesting illus-
trated talk on wild life on the Barro
Colorado Island in Gatun Lake.

Mr. Lastreto’s presence gave occa-
sion for expressions of mutual friend-
liness and co-operation with the Audu-
bon Association of the Pacific.

At the Cooper Club’s annual meet-
ing in Los Angeles, a paper by George
Willet on “The Status of some Alaska
Birds” led to a discussion on the pro-
posed eagle protection legislation, dis-
closing a preponderance of evidence
that the eagle is still very numerous
and in no danger of extermination and
does do damage particularly in such
a country dependent upon game; that,
however, no damage is done to fish of
game or food value.

The Board of Governors endorsed
the action of the Audubon Association

[ May

THE GULL

1930 ]

of the Pacific and the California Audu-
bon Society leading to the popular ex-
pression of preference for the Califor-
nia Quail as our State Bird. Nothing
is yet decided as to the next step to
be taken to have the designation made
official. ^ ^ ^

April Field Trip was taken to Lake
Merced on Sunday the 13tli. Early
morning showers of cloud-burst pro-
portions gave way to a day that was
ideal for birding. The forenoon was
spent along the ravine that leads from
Junipero Serra Boulevard down to the
lake, where luncheon was eaten. After
luncheon both sides of the lake were
worked, the party disbanding at Sloat
Boulevard.

Birds \vere abundant and active,
especially Anna and Allen Humming-
birds, Pileolated Warblers, Willow and
Green-backed Goldfinches. An inter-
esting feature was the presence of the
six species of swallows. Cedar Wax-
wings in the eucalyptus seemed out of
place. Jerusalem Crickets impaled at
frequent intervals on the barbs of a
wire fence indicated the activities of
a Shrike which was present. An im-
mature Gull furnished “the comic strip
of the air,'’ by circling over our heads,
holding a full length tule stalk in his
mandible.

Many nests of Allen Hummingbirds,
containing eggs, were found in Mon-
terey Cypress. Acacias and Poison
Oak at heights varying from two and
one-half to fifteen feet above the
ground.

Bush-tits were completing an un-
usually large nest in a willow bush.
A pair of Western Flycatchers were
building a nest under a piece of loose
bark on a eucalyptus tree. A pair of
Mallards had a nest, containing thir-
teen eggs, on the ground by a burned
stump about two hundred yards from
the water and within fifty feet of a
much used equestrian path.

Birds observed were: Horned,

American Eared, Western and Pied-
billed Grebes; Farallon Double-crested
Cormorant; American Bittern; Com-
mon Mallard; Ruddy Duck; Red-
breasted Merganser; Sharp-shinned
and Western Red-tailed Hawks; Coast
California Quail; American Coot;
Glaucous-winged, Northern Western,
California and Bonaparte Gulls; Anna
and Allen Hummingbirds; Monterey
Red-shafted Flicker; Black Phoebe;
Yellow-bellied Western Flycatcher;
California Horned Lark; Northern
Violet-green, Tree, American Bank,
Rough-winged, Barn and Northern Cliff
Swallows; Santa Cruz Chestnut-backed
Chickadee; Pacific Coast Bush-tit; In-
termediate Wren-tit; Vigor’s Bewick
and Tule Marsh Wrens; Western
Robin; Pacific Russet-backed Thrush;
Cedar Waxwings; California Logger-
head Shrike; California Hutton Vireo;
Lutescent Orange-crowned, Alaska
Myrtle and Pacific Audubon Warblers;
San Francisco Yellow-throat; Golden
Pileolated Warbler; Western Meadow-
lark; San Francisco Red-winged and
Brewer Blackbirds; English House
Sparrow; California Purple Finch;
California Linnet; Northern Pine Sis-
kin; Willow American and Green-
backed Arkansas Goldfinches; San
Francisco Spotted Towhee; Fox Spar-
row; Point Pinos Oregon Jun.co;
Golden-, Nuttall White-crowned and
Santa Cruz Song Sparrow. Fifty-nine
species and sub-species.

Members present: Mr. and Mrs.

Lockerbie, Mr. and Mrs. Stephens,
Misses Ames, Kautz. Messrs. Bryant,
Bunker, Jencks, Myer, James Smith.

Guests — Misses McNeal, Catharine.
Edith and Janette Smith. Messrs. Bol-
ander, Hawkins, Hussey, John Jencks,
Kaufner, Miller, Reed, Clarence and
Clifford Sandberg, Taranik.

Eleven members and fourteen
guests. C. A. Bryant, Historian.

Audubon Association of the Pacific

For the Study and Protection of Birds

President Brighton C. Cain. 221 Thayer Bldg., Oakland

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

Monthly meeting second Thursday, 8 P. M., Room 19. Ferry Building.

Address Bulletin correspondence to Mrs. A. B. Stephens, 1695 Filbert St., San Francisco.
Subscription to monthly Bulletin, 75c per year. Single copies, 15c.

Membership dues, payable January 1st, $3.00 per year.

Members are responsible for dues until written notice of resignation is received by Treasurer.