The Gull

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BULLETIN

Volume 29 San Francisco, California, July, 1947 Number 7

Migration ol Eastern Warblers

No literary pilgrim or amateur historian would think of passing the gates
of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, without turning in
to read the stones marking the remains of many generations of celebrated New
Englanders. In a more modest sense, few local bird lovers will absent them-
selves from these extensive rolling lawns, woodland paths, lakes and green
meadows during the hectic but splendid days cf the spring warbler migration.

Looking into Mt. Auburn on the 9th of May, 1946, I found the winter
birds still in the majority. Slate-colored Juncos scratched along the path with
White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows; Yellow-shafted Flickers and
Phoebes accounted for most of the singing. Already ahead of me however,
were slick Black and White Warblers, feeding along the tree trunks and the
elegant Parula, chasing in and out of the new green of the elms among large
flocks of Myrtle Warblers.

The 10th of May was clear and warm. A day which made one know
that nowhere is the spring so tender, so fragile and alas, so brief as in New
England. By this date several new heads could be counted among the visiting
warblers at Mt. Auburn: dainty little Black-throated Blues looking like desert
gnatcatchers; yellow-faced Black-throated Green Warblers seen and lost again
and again amid the bronze foliage of the beeches; handsome Chestnut-sided
Warblers visiting high among the elms and the Redstarts, an incessant flutter
of black and red about the branches of the firs. But still the list was small
and there was even time to watch the Mockingbirds and Thrashers hunting
around the granite headstones.

For almost a week the bad weather continued and the warbler population
remained static and scarce. Then early on the morning of the 17th of May,
I awakened to a vast chorus of song and found the great elms in the quadrangle
below alive with warblers. The sky that afternoon at Mt. Auburn was literally
filled with warbler wings; the air vibrant with warbler calls. They surged
among the trees in wave after wave; not in formation of a single species, but
all kinds and colors in a sort of wild jubilee of feathered strength and posses-

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July

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1947

sion. Settling down before a screen of evergreens, I awaited their attack.
There were all the old acquaintances: the Parula, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated
Blues and Greens. Then in a burst of orange, a wave of Black burnians came
through my defenses, supported by the beautifully marked Magnolia Warblers.
Beyond the little hill came the Canada Warbler and the plain little Black
Polls; the Redstarts and Black and Whites mingling through them all. There
were hundreds, no, thousands! And as they crossed and recrossed the glasses,
forgotten was the grey sky and the dripping leaves, for here was a whirr of
wings and a flash of color that repeated itself until I came to know every
feather and beak, each little eye and wing.

And there were more than warblers to gladden my eye that day. On one
occasion I looked up into a dark pine and saw the scarlet of the tanager,
brilliant against the blackness cf the sky. And beside a little pool where the
Magnolia Warblers flashed among the flowering cherry, I watched those shy
woodland creatures, the Catbird and Veery, the Hermit Thrush and Oven-
bird, nervous, quiet little fellows that seem to lead such sober and endearing
lives beneath the brush. As the early evening came on I found the Northern
Water Thrush feeding among the Yellow-throats on the margin of the pool.
But with the darkness came no end of the warbler calls. Far into the night
I heard them going overhead, reminding me how small a part of the warbler
world was my little area in Mt. Auburn.

October 2 5, 1946. — Harold Kirker, Hochst, Germany.

June Field Trip

Sunday, June 12, was a beautiful clear day with gentle breezes, which
made the trip to Dimond Canyon, Oakland, a perfect birding day. The group
was led by the president, Dr. T. Eric Reynolds, substituting for Miss Plymell.
Anna and Allen hummingbirds flashed their brilliant gorgets as they darted
over the scarlet cannas; Russet-backed Thrushes sang to us; warblers and
vireos kept our ears alert to their scngs, in a setting of many trees, bending
over a trickling stream and bubbling spring, enlivening a few colorful wild
flowers. Surely a bird’s paradise! A Hutton Vireo was busy feeding a young
Cowbird, which undoubtedly had been forced upon her in the egg stage, and
she had raised it with her own brood. It was considerably larger than herself.

After several hours of birding, we gathered at the heme of Dr. and Mrs.
T. Eric Reynolds. Here was a delightful landscaped setting for both birders
and birds. On the lawn to greet us was "Joe”, a six-weeks old, half-grown
Raven, a foundling bi ought from San Luis Obispo. Joe ’ appears very happy
and friendly and consented to eat bits of apple, but really prefers meat. Among

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July

1947

THE GULL

the many enticements for birds, was a snowball
bearing red ripe cherries.

tree which apparently was

social lunch hour in the garden was followed by a most interesting talk
V ert aiwell, one of our own members and now representing the National
Audubon Society, who has just returned from a speaking tour across the
continent. o testify to the perfect whistling of bird songs by Mr. Harwell
Horn the nearby trees came an answer by the Black-headed Grosbeak.

Forty members and guests enjoyed the gracious hospitality of Dr. and Mrs.
Reynolds.

The following 39 species were observed:

Cooper Hawk
California Quail
Killdeer

Anna Hummingbird
Allen Hummingbird
Red-shafted Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Western Flycatcher
Wood Pewee
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Cliff Swallow
Steller Jay
California Jay

Plain Titmouse
Bush-tit

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Wren-tit

Robin

Swainson Thrush
(Russet-backed)
Hutton Vireo
Cassin Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
(Lutescent)

Yellow Warbler
Pileolated Warbler

English Sparrow
Brewer Blackbird
Brown-headed Cow bird
Black -headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Purple Finch
House Finch
Arkansas Goldfinch
(Green-backed)

Spotted Towhee
Brown Towhee
Oregon Junco
White -crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow

Young, Historian i

— Minnie H.

May Meeting

The 3 56th meeting of the Audubon Association of the Pacific was held
Thursday evening, May 8, 1947 in the Assembly Room, San Francisco Public
Library, San Francisco, California. President, Dr. T. Eric Reynolds presided.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.

Miss Ivander Mac Iver reported a new member, Eugene Worthington, Jr.

Miss Watkins discussed the nature camp to be organized at Tilden Regional
Park. She suggested that the camp would provide a way for Audubon members
to aid in a constructive junior Audubon program.

Mrs. T. Eric Reynolds reported on her National Audubon Screen Tour in

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July

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1947

the east and emphasized the importance of providing leadership for junior
members.

Dr. Reynolds introduced the speaker of the evening, Mr. Joseph T. Mars-
hall. Mr. Marshall discussed the relationship of bird distribution to specific
vegetation areas.

Thirty-four members and guests were present.

The meeting was adjourned by Dr. Reynolds at 9:45 p. m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joan E. Kirk, Recording Secretary

The editor wishes to thank Miss Cleiia A. Paroni for editing the
June issue of The Gull.

July Meeting

The 3 5 8th meeting of the Audubon
Association of the Pacific will be held
on Thursday, July 10, at 8:00 p. m.,
in the Assembly Room of the San
Francisco Public Library at Larkin
and McAllister Streets.

Mrs. Otis H. Smith, who is an
experienced bird-bander, will talk
about "Marin County Bird Trails.”

July Field Trip

The July field trip will be held
Sunday, July 13. For a summer
change the party will meet at Pt.
Lcbos Avenue and Camino Del Mar,
San Francisco at 7:00 o’clock. Ter-
ritory to be explored will be the
Veteran’s Facility, Lincoln Park,
Land’s End, Sutro Heights and Seal
Rocks. Take #2 car. Bring your
breakfast, friends and binoculars.
Leader, Arthur H. Myer.

Audubon Association oi the Pacific

Organized January 25, 1917

For the Study and the Protection of Bird*

President Dr. T. Eric Reynolds 140 Estates Drive, Piedmont 11

Corresponding Secretary Mr. Joseph J. Webb 519 California St., San Francisco 4

Treasurer Miss Ivander Maclver 2414 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley 4

Editor Miss Grace Irene Crowe 1420 Henry St., Berkeley 7

Monthly meetings second Thursday, 8:00 p. m.

Assembly Room, San Francisco Public Library, Larkin and McAllister Sts., San Francisco
Membership dues, payable January 1st, $3.00 per year

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

Subscription, $1.00 per year

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