The Gull

San Francisco, California. (Marina, Presidio, Ocean Beach, Golden Gate
Parlv and Lake Merced.) December 29, 1940, 97 species, 16,929 individuals, as
follows: Red-throated Loon 8; Horned Grebe 2; Eared Grebe 123; Western Grebe
151; Pied-billed Grebe 69; White Pelican 1; Brown Pelican 26; Farallon Cormo-
rant 73; California Heron 1; Black-crowned Night Heron 1; American Bittern 4-
Mallard 706; Gadwall 8; Baldpate 47; Pintail 8; Cinnamon Teal 2; Shoveller 26-’
Wood Duck 1; Red-head 35; Ring-necked Duck 130; Canvas-back 128; Scaup 137 :
American Golden-eye 9; Buffle-head 9; White-winged Scoter 1,463; Surf Scoter-
497; Ruddy Duck 195; Red-breasted Merganser 13; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1*
Cooper Hawk 2; Red-tailed Hawk 2; Red-bellied Hawk 3; Sparrow Hawk 10-
California Quail 207; Virginia Rail 2; Sora 1; Florida Gallinule 2; Coot 1,511-
Snowy Plover 30; Killdeer 6; Surf-bird 23; Ruddy Turnstone 9; Black Turnstone
36; Wilson Snipe 21; Least Sandpiper 8; Sanderling 515; Red Phalarope 2-
Glaucous-winged Gull 1,574; Western Gull 1,087; Herring Gull 19; California Gull
690; Ring-billed Gull 143; Short-billed Gull 987; Bonaparte Gull 91; Heermann
Gull 4; Anna Hummingbird 174; Belted Kingfisher 2; Red-shafted Flicker 57-
Downy Woodpecker 2; Black Phoebe 27; California Jay 4; Chestnut-backed
Chickadee 190; Bush-tit 193; Red-breasted Nuthatch 3; Brown Creeper 4; Wren-
tit 3; Winter Wren 2; Bewick Wren 40; Tule Wren 7; Robin 292; Varied Thrush
109; Hermit Thrush 48; Golden-crowned Kinglet 24; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 126;
Pipit 151; Shrike 1; Hutton Vireo 3; Myrtle Warbler 16; Audubon Warbler 463;
Townsend Warbler 26; Yellow-throat 39; English Sparrow 191; Western Meadow’-
lark 30; Brewer Blackbird 1.311; Cowbird 4; Purple Finch 10; House Finch 143;
Pine Siskin 45; Willow Goldfinch 19; Green-backed Goldfinch 7; Spotted Towhee
86; Savannah Sparrow 62; Junco 315; White-crowned Sparrow 1,479; Golden-
crowned Sparrow 89; Fox Sparrow 64; Song Sparrow 201.

Enid Austin, Frances Blake, Gordon Bolander, Robert Failing, Edward
Greenhood, Don Heyneman, Junea Kelly, Harold Kirker, Francis Mathews, Edwin
McClintock, William McGill, Arthur Myer, Albert Stephens, Laura Stephens.

Gordon Bolander.

Bird Census at Nixon, Nevada

Nixon, Nevada. (Pyramid Lake shore and canyons, Junction of Nevada
Routes 33 and 34 to mouth of Truckee River and Nixon to mouth of Truckee
River.) Sagebrush (Upper Sonoran) desert, cottonwoods along river, and lower
part of Juniper-Pinyon desert, (Transition) on sides of canyons. December 27,
1940; 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Overcast; light, persistent rain, clearing in late
afternoon; light snow above 5,000 feet. Three observers together. Total party
hours afield: 10% (8% afoot, 2% by car); total party miles: 43 (13 afoot, 30 by
car). Eared Grebe 1; Canada Goose 60; Mallard 1; Red-breasted Merganser 2;
Cooper Hawk 1; Red-tailed Hawk 1; California Quail 51; Coot 21; Killdeer 1;
Wilson Snipe 1; California Gull 62; Say Phoebe 1; Horned Lark 127; American

— 3 —

[February

1941]

THE GULL

Magpie 16; Raven 1; Townsend Solitaire 1; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1; American
Pipit 1; House Sparrow 10; Western Meadowlark 1; House Finch 60; White-
crowned Sparrow 45; Song Sparrow 7. Total 26 species, 549 individuals. Seen
on the 26th: Prairie Falcon 1; Shrike 1; seen on the 28th: Whistling Swan 4.

David G. Nichols, Joost Ter Pelkwijk, Robert W. Storer.

Bird Census at Benicia, California

Benicia, California. December 28, 1940, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Heavily overcast
throughout the day; light east wind; temp. 48° at start, 49° at return. Both
observers traveling together by automobile with occasional stops to canvass the
marsh and hills along highway between Benicia and Cordelia, the two towns
being 14 miles apart. Total man-hours 15. Horned Grebe 1; Western Grebe 9;
California Heron 3; American Egret 10; Brewster Egret 17; Mallard 8; Baldpate
4; Pintail 300; Shoveller 150; Canvas-back 600; Lesser Scaup 50; American
Golden-eye 8; Surf Scoter 2; Ruddy Duck 300; White-tailed Kite 1; Red-tailed
Hawk 8; Marsh Hawk 14; Prairie Falcon 3; Sparrow Hawk 26; Coot 2,000;
Glaucous-winged Gull 6; Western Gull 55; California Gull 10; Bonaparte Gull 25;
Burrowing Owl 1; Anna Hummingbird 2; Kingfisher 1; Red-shafted Flicker 40;
Willow Woodpecker 1; Black Phoebe 2; Say Phoebe 3; Nicasio Jay 25; Plain
Titmouse 1; Suisun Marsh Wren 5; Mockingbird 1; Western Robin 3,000; Varied
Thrush 20; Western Bluebird 20; Mountain Bluebird 50; Ruby-crowned Kinglet
16; Pipit 6; Shrike 22; Audubon Warbler 45; House Sparrow 30; Meadowlark
350; Red-winged Blackbird 125; Tricolored Blackbird 10; Brewer Blackbird
5,000; House Finch 10; Willow Goldfinch 100; Green-backed Goldfinch 6; Spotted
Towhee 4; Savannah Sparrow 50; Junco 85; Nuttall Sparrow 140; Golden-
crowned Sparrow 27; Song Sparrow 22. Total 57 species, about 12,830 individuals.

The White-tailed Kite was well observed with 8-power glasses at 200 feet.
This species is never common, though at least one may usually be seen during
the course of a day’s trip. The most I have observed in one day in this area is
nine. Shorebirds, which are usually found on the mud flats at low tide, were
entirely absent during the census due to high flood-waters throughout the day
following eleven consecutive days of rainfall. Many waterfowl seen in the dis-
tance could not be definitely identified because of poor visibility.

Emerson A. Stoner, James M. Barkley.

Bird Census at Boulder City, Nevada

Boulder City, Nevada. (Lake Mead shore, Recreational Center Beach for
five miles north, desert and canyons to the west, Boulder City, and Boulder Dam
area. Creosote bush-cactus (Lower Sonoran) desert and suburban.) December
29, 1940, 6:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Overcast, light rain from noon on. Three observ-
ers together. Total party hours afield: 7% (5% afoot, 2 by car); total party
miles: 32 (8 afoot, 24 by car): Pied-billed Grebe 1; Great Blue Heron 5; Shovel-
ler 1; American Merganser 5; Golden Eagle 1; Prairie Falcon 1; Ring-billed
Gull 1; Say Phoebe 2; Raven 3; Rock Wren 2; Crissal Thrasher 2; Robin 5;
Plumbeous Gnatcatcher 2; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2; American Pipit 2; Shrike 1;
Audubon Warbler 1; House Sparrow 30; Brewer Blackbird 6; House Finch 19;
Lark Bunting 6; Savannah Sparrow 2; Sage Sparrow 77; White-crowned Spar-
row 16. Total species 24, 193 individuals.

David G. Nichols, Joost Ter Pelkwijk, Robert W. Storer.

December Field Trip

The December field trip was taken on the fifteenth to the Berkeley campus
of the University of California and Berkeley Aquatic Park. Rather disagreeable
weather, presumably, deterred many members, but at 9:30 a.m. a small group of

— 4 —

[February

THE GULL

1941]

birders assembled near Sather Gate from whence the trip was begun. Gray and
impenetrable clouds hung over the Bay region all day, sending down occasional
showers, but despite these unpromising conditions a very profitable trip resulted.

Approximately two hours were spent on the campus, during which the
appeal ance of an unusually handsome male Purple Pinch amongst some Coton-
east er pannosa, and more particularly a Slate-colored Junco considerably bright-
ened the dreary day for us. Eleven-thirty found us at Berkeley Aquatic Park
where another pleasant surprise awaited our notice, which after careful scrutiny
iv as detei mined to be a Short-billed Gull; quite an unusual sight for most birders.

After completing our observations we were welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
H. Myer to their home for refreshments. As always it was a very enjoyable
occurrence. The following twenty-five species were seen on the University
campus :

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Quail

Anna Plummingbird
Red-shafted Flicker
Coast Jay
California Jay
Titmouse
Bush-tit

Hermit Thrush
Varied Thrush
Robin

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Pipit

Audubon Warbler
Brewer Blackbird
English Sparrow
Purple Finch

House Finch
Spotted Towhee
Brown Towhee
Junco

Slate-colored Junco
Nuttall Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow

The following thirty-four species were found

at Berkeley Aquatic Park :

Western Grebe
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Farallon Cormorant
California Heron
American Egret
Mallard

Canvas-back Duck
Lesser Scaup
American Golden-eye
Surf Scoter

Ruddy Duck
Red-breasted Merganser
Sparrow Hawk
Coot

Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer

Black Turnstone
Least Sandpiper
Red-backed Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Sanderling

Glaucous-winged Gull
Western Gull
Herring Gull
California Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Short-billed Gull
Bonaparte Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Pipit

English Sparrow
Nuttall Sparrow

Members attending were: Mesdames Enid Austin and Kelly; Messrs. Green-
hood, Heyneman, Myer and Pike.

Edwin P. Pike, Historian.

January Field Trip

The January field trip was taken on the 12th to Lake Merritt, Oakland. The
day was overcast but not unpleasant. There were no outstanding observations
made; in fact, the ducks were not very numerous, the recent heavy rains having
sent them on their way farther south. However, a census was taken with the
following result:

Eared Grebe 72
Western Grebe 1
Pied-billed Grebe 45
American Egret 2
Black-cr. Night Heron 12
Mallard 3
Baldpate 303±

Pintail 48

Green-winged Teal 4
Shoveller 2
Canvas-back Duck 205
Lesser Scaup 141

— 5 —

Amer. Golden-eye 41
Ruddy Duck 480
Quail 2
Coot 237

Glaucous-winged Gull 145
Western Gull 4
California Gull 17
Heermann Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 21
Bonaparte Gull 68
Anna Hummingbird 1
Red-shafted Flicker 2

California Jay 2
Bush-tit 30
Hermit Thrush 1
Ruby.-cr. Kinglet 1
Robin 12

Cedar Waxwing 50
Audubon Warbler 3
English Sparrow
Brewer Blackbird 50
Nuttall Sparrow 12
Song Sparrow 2
35 species

[February

THE GULL

1941]

Eighteen members attended the trip, as follows: Messrs, and Mesdames
Dunshee, Myer, Stephens; Mesdames Courtright, Saunders; Misses Berg, Blake,
Cohen, Maclver, Stanton; Messrs. Greenhood, Kirker, Leffler, Provoo, Robert
Taylor, and seven guests: Mesdames Boot, Johnson; Miss Johnson; Messrs.
Glenn, Kett, Landels and Roush.

Laura A. Stephens, Historian.

Audubon Notes

February Meeting: The regular meet-
ing will be held on Thursday evening,
the 13th, at 8 o’clock, in the Ferry
Building.

The speaker of the evening will be
Dr. Alden H. Miller, Director of the
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Univer-
sity of California. His subject will be
“Territorial Behavior in Birds.”

The lecture will be illustrated.

February Field Trip will be taken on
Sunday, the 16th, to the region of To-
males Bay, Marin County, by private
automobiles. The party will meet at
Manzanita Station at 7 a.m. A short
stop will be made for observations.
Then we will meet again at Point Reyes
“bus station” at 8 a.m. Here the leaders
will take charge.

Please advise Miss Frances J. Blake,
1505 Holly Street, Berkeley, by Febru-
ary 10th, whether you need or can fur-
nish transportation.

vt lE it

<7™

January Meeting: The 24th annual
and the 281st regular meeting was held
on Thursday, the 9th, in the Ferry
Building with thirty-four members and
guests present. President B. K. Dun-
shee presiding.

Officers and directors for the year
1941 were elected as follows:

James K. Moffitt President

Gordon Bolander 1st Vice-President

David G. Nichols 2nd Vice-President

Joseph J. Webb Corresponding Secy.

Frank G. Watson Recording Secy.

Mrs. Albert B. Stephens Treasurer

B. K. Dunshee Director

Miss Frances J. Blake Director

Laidlaw O. Williams Director

Mr. Laidlaw O. Williams gave a very
brief talk on “Courtship in Birds,”
stressing the possibilities in the study
for the amateur bird student. He cited
as possibilities certain points in the
mating behavior of the Brandt Cormo-
rant, a study he has gone into rather
extensively.

Mr. Andrew S. Gibb exhibited his ex-
cellent colored motion pictures which
he took for Mr. Williams, illustrating
the points in the latter’s talk.

iE

77*

1941 Dues: The annual dues for the
year of 1941 are now payable and all
members are asked to make their re-
mittances as early as possible to the
Treasurer. It is requested that all
checks be made in the name of the
Audubon Association of the Pacific.

Audubon Association of the Pacific

Organized January 25, 1917

For the Study and the Protection of Birds

President. Mr. James Moffitt 1879 Broadway, San Francisco

California Academy of Sciences,
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Corresponding Secretary Mr. Joseph J. Webb 519 California St., San Francisco

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

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

Address Bulletin correspondence to Mrs. A. B. Stephens, Editor, 1695 Filbert St., San Francisco.

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

Student memberships, $1.50 per year. Life memberships, $50.00.

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

— 6 —