The Gull

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M&O
Serials
QL 671
.G84

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MONTHLY

Volume 38

CULL

RNIA Aife

£ T I N

FEB 3 19-6

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Berkeley, California, FebruaryT“1‘95^

Number 2

SAN FRANCISCO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Dec. 26, 1955. Areas covered; Marina, Lincoln Park, Twin Peaks, Sutro Forest, Land’s
End, Presidio, Golden Gate Park, Stern Grove, Treasure Island, Yerba Buena Island,
San Francisco Bayshore, Pacific Ocean Beach, Seal Rocks, Lake Merced, Fleishhacker Area,
Marin Shoreline, McLaren Park, and 22 smaller City parks and boulevards.

21 (Pac.) Arctic Loon
32 Red-throated Loon
17 Loon, unidentified

1 (Holboell's) Red-
necked Grebe
35 Horned Grebe
114 Eared Grebe
631 Western Grebe
42 Pied-billed Grebe
117 Brown Pelican
369 Double-cr. Cormorant
421 Brandt’s Cormorant
38 (Baird’s) Pelagic
Cormorant

172 Cormorant, unident.

3 Great Blue Heron

1 American Egret

2 Green Heron

5 Bl.-cr. Night Heron
693 Mallard

2 Gadwall
24 Shoveller

629 Am. Widgeon
31 Ring-necked Duck
125 Canvas- back
35 Greater Scaup
174 Lesser Scaup

3 Am. Golden-eye

1 Buffle-head

1 Old-squaw
34 White-winged Scoter
349 Surf Scoter
237 Ruddy Duck
20 Red-br. Merganser
20 Ducks, unident.

1 Cooper’s Hawk

3 Red-tailed Hawk

Total:

1 Peregrine Falcon

15 Sparrow Hawk
100 California Quail

1015 Am. Coot.

7 Snowy Plover
43 Killdeer

3 Black-bellied Plover

1 Long-billed Curlew
30 Black Turnstone

2 Spotted Sandpiper
6 Wandering Tattler

16 Willet

4 Red-backed Sandpiper
577 Sanderling

2 Am. Avocet

1 Northern Phalarope
(no details, Ed.)

793 Glauc.-winged Gull
2385 Western Gull
124 Herring Gull
2680 California Gull
2216 Ring-billed Gull
648 Short-billed Gull
212 Bonaparte’s Gull

3 Heermann’s Gull
1725 Gulls, unidentified

48 Forster’s Tern

2 Common Murre
11 Mourning Dove

1 Horned Owl
15 Anna’s Humminbird

3 Belted Kingfisher
55 Red-shafted Flicker

1 (Red-breasted) Yellow-
bellied Sapsucker
3 Downy Woodpecker
41 Black Phoebe

15 Horned Lark

6 (Calif.) Scrub Jay
9 Common Raven

1 Am. Crow

45 Chestnut-b. Chickadee
38 Common Bush-tit

7 Red-br. Nuthatch

2 Brown Creeper

3 Wren-tit

4 Winter Wren

2 Bewick’s Wren

1 Marsh Wren
234 Am. Robin

24 Varied Thrush
32 Hermit Thrush

2 Golden-cr. Kinglet
36 Ruby-cr. Kinglet

70 (Am.) Water Pipit
4 (Calif.) Loggerhead
Shrike

4 Hutton’s Vireo

67 Audubon’s Warbler

5 Yellow-throat
446 House Sparrow

79 Western Meadowlark
494 Brewer’s Blackbird
785 House Finch
70 Pine Siskin
2 Am. Goldfinch

6 Spotted Towhee
1 Lark Sparrow

238 Oregon Junco
1040 White-cr. Sparrow
430 Golden-cr. Sparrow
66 Fox Sparrow
151 Song Sparrow

101 species, 21,611 individuals.

— 5 —

February

THE G U L L

1956

Observers (*indicates group leader): L. W. Bartow*, T. C. Bartow, A. J. Bennett*,
Dr. A. Boles*, S. Bozant, G. Braunstein, M. Browne, C. L. Carson*, R. R. Chase*, D.
Crane, S. Crane, Dr. A. L. Curl*, J. R. Fobres, J. T. Hedgpeth*, T. Hermsen, E. Hevel,
C. Hines, Jr., J. Kilfoil, T. Kilfoil, E. Kilham, G. T. Kilman, J. Lawry, L. R. Leinbach*,
M. B. Leinbach, E. S. Lennon*, W. S. Lennon, A. H. Myer, M. Noe, A. Parkinson, H.
G. Peterson*, S. Pulver, H. A. Reese, Dr. T. E. Reynolds*, A. M. Smith, L. P. Smith*,
Mrs. L. P. Smith, R. Stallcup, T. Trautman, P. A. Veitch*, F. Zografos, Jr.* Total, 40
observers.

— Arthur H. Myer, Compiler.

OAKLAND CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Jan. 2, 1956. Areas covered (Parts of a 15-mile diameter circle centered at Moraga
Ave. and Estates Dr.): Bay Farm Id., San Leandro Bay, Alameda, Lake Merritt and Lake-
side Park, E. shore of San Francisco Bay from Bridge approach to Pt. Isabel, Sunset View
Cemetery, Berkeley City parks, Univ. of California campus. Strawberry Canyon, Claremont
Hotel area. Lake Temescal, Mountain View Cemetery, Dimond Park, Joaquin Miller
Park area. Mills College and Leona Heights to Devil’s Punchbowl area, hills and canyon
N. of Oakland Naval Hospital, St. Mary’s College to Moraga to Redwood Canyon, Tilden
Regional Park, Orinda and Bear Creek area and most of San Pablo Reservoir.

1

Common Loon

10 Sharp-shinned Hawk

155

Band-tailed Pigeon

12

(Pac.) Arctic Loon

9 Cooper’s Hawk

232

Mourning Dove

20 Red-throated Loon

47 Red-tailed Hawk

5

Barn Owl

1

(Holboell’s) Red-

1 Marsh Hawk

1

Screech Owl

necked Grebe

44 Sparrow Hawk

10

Horned Owl

115

Horned Grebe

346 California Quail

3

Short-eared Owl

96 Eared Grebe

2 Clapper Rail

14

White-throated Swift

260

Western Grebe

1664 Am. Coot

79

Anna’s Humminbird

24

Pied-billed Grebe

1 Snowy Plover

3

Belted Kingfisher

29

Brown Pelican

63 ( Semipalmated )

202

Red-shafted Flicker

329

Double-cr. Cormorant

Ringed Plover

21

Acorn Woodpecker

28

Brandt’s Cormorant

185 Killdeer

8

(Red-br.) Yellow-

1

Pelagic Cormorant

289 Black-bel. Plover

bellied Sapsucker

39

Great Blue Heron

5 Black Turnstone

2

Hairy Woodpecker

121

American Egret

1 Wilson’s Snipe

17

Downy Woodpecker

18 Snowy Egret

49 Long-billed Curlew

4

Nuttall’s Woodpecker

25

Bl.-cr. Night Heron

8 Hudsonian Curlew

28

Black Phoebe

289

Canada Goose

4 Spotted Sandpiper

1

Say’s Phoebe

635

Mallard

2455 Willet

69

Horned Lark

1

Gadwall

1 Greater Yellow-legs

119

Steller’s Jay

66

Pintail

172 Least Sandpiper

222

(Calif.) Scrub Jay

12

Shoveller

1250 Red-b. Sandpiper

15

Am. Crow

94 Am. Widgeon

6 Dowitcher

272

Ch. -backed Chickadee

2

Wood Duck

7264 Western Sandpiper

131

Plain Titmouse

16 Ring-necked Duck

1311 Marbled Godwit

557

Common Bush-tit

22005

Canvas-back

695 Sandering

11

White-br. Nuthatch

307

Lesser Scaup

2317 Am. Avocet

35

Red-br. Nuthatch

25 Scaup, unident.

991 Glauc.-winged Gull

2

Brown Creeper

145

Am. Golden-eye

392 Western Gull

117

Wren- tit

52

Buffle-head

51 Herring Gull

3

Winter Wren

1

Old-squaw

558 California Gull

11

Bewick’s Wren

53

White-winged Scoter

250 Ring-billed Gull

16

Mockingbird

212

Surf Scoter

392 Short-billed Gull

4

California Thrasher

2479 Ruddy Duck

326 Bonaparte’s Gull

15524

American Robin

11

Am. Merganser

276 Gulls, unidentified

194

Varied Thrush

46 Red-br. Merganser

70 Forster’s Tern

78

Hermit Thrush

2381

Ducks, unident.

2 Caspian Tern

89

Western Bluebird

1 Turkey Vulture 3 Golden-cr. Kinglet

— 6 —

February

THE GULL

1956

154 Ruby-cr. Kinglet
181 (Am.) Water Pipit
165 Cedar Waxwing
20 Loggerhead Shrike
10 Hutton's Vireo
1 Orange-cr. Warbler

3 Myrtle Warbler-
206 Audubon’s Warbler

4 Townsend's Warbler
875 House Sparrow

363 Western Meadowlark

1164 Brewer’s Blackbird
9 Brown-hd’d. Cowbird
36 Purple Finch
843 House Finch
1250 Pine Siskin
70 Am. Goldfinch
68 (Green-backed)

Lesser Goldfinch
106 Spotted Towhee
511 Brown Towhee
58 Savannah Sparrow

12 Lark Sparrow
3 Rufous-cr. Sparrow
1 Slate-col. Junco (S.T.)
1115 Oregon Junco

1 Harris’s Sparrow (I.T.)
1156 White-cr. Sparrow
369 Golden-cr. Sparrow
1 White-throated
Sparrow (I.T.)

101 Fox Sparrow
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
239 Song Sparrow.

180 Red-winged Blackbird
Total: 140 species, 78,992 individuals.

Observers (*indicates group leader): Betty Adamson, Harry Adamson*, Warren
Armstrong, Richard Bailey, Leslie W. Bartow, Tyra C. Bartow, Philip H. Baukol, Albert
Boles*, Sadie Bozant, Myra Browne*, Mike Carboni, Bessie Cogswell, Howard Cogswell*,
Herold Connon, Paul Covel*, Alan Craig*, David Crane, Stephen Crane, A. Laurence
Curl*, C. D. Fisher, John Ripley Forbes, Alice Gray, Tom Grimes, Jack Guggolz, Lillian
Henningsen, Charles Hines, Jr.*, Bill Jensen, Leroy Jensen, Junea W. Kelly*, L. R.
Leinbach*, Mary Leinbach, Elizabeth Lennon, Walter Lennon, Phyllis Lindley, Roberta
Long, Gardner Marshall, Arthur Morley, Arthur Myer*, Ethel L. Myer, Tim Newcomb,
Paul Opler, Harold Peterson*, W. M. Pursell, Mrs. W. M. Pursell, Jean Pyle, Amy Rine-
hart, Elsie Roemer, Gene Schwiezer, Frank A. Scott, Jean Stallcup, Kenneth Stallcup,
Lee Stallcup, Richard Stallcup, Sally Steller, John Thomas, Mrs. John Thomas, Sylvia
Thomssen, Betty Trousdale, Inez 'Troxell, Marjorie Van Scyoc, Peter Veitch, Henry
Wagner, "Thomas Wharton, Bev Wilder, Herb Wong*, Pete Wright, Minnie H. Young.

— Lee Stallcup, Compiler

NEW OFFICERS

The new officers elected at the January 12 meeting are listed in the box at the bottom
of page eight. The nominating committee consisted of Mrs. Dorothy Dean Scott, Miss Alice
Leet, and Mrs. Laurel Reynolds.

NEW MEMBERS

We welcome the following new members to our society: from Berkeley, Mrs. John
B. Cuno and Mrs. Ralph R. Glass; from Oakland, Miss Louise Capelle, Mrs. Vida Coen,
Miss Alice Gramm, Mrs. Alice G. Gray, and Mr. Warren W. Kirk; from San Francisco,
Miss Barbara Cox, Mrs. Edith M. Rutledge and Mr. Gene Schweizer.

OBSERVATIONS

White Pelican, 7 on bay near Pt. Isabel, Jan 15 (A.L.Curl); Golden Eagle, pair at
Conn Lake, Jan. 8 (ALC); Mockingbird, 1 at Berkeley Aquatic Park, Dec. 27 (A.S.
Campbell); Robin, a total of nearly 36,000 counted on Jan. 8 approaching the Joaquin
Miller Park roost, by nine parties observing simultaneously along as many radii within
a mile of the roost (H. L. Cogswell) ; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 30 to 40 in oak forest at
St. Mary’s College, Jan 9, associating with White-breasted Nuthatch and Creeper (ASC);
Evening Grosbeak, flock of about 15 flew southward from the Joaquin Miller Park area
at dawn on Jan. 9 (HLC), and a female observed near Mills College, Jan. 16 (Kenneth
Stallcup); Slate-colored Junco, 2 on Buenaventura St., Oakland, Jan. 16 (Lee Stallcup);
White-throated Sparrow, adult at a feeding station in N. Berkeley repeatedly since Nov. 9
(Inez Troxell); Harris's Sparrow, immature at this same location since Dec. 20 (I.T.) and
an adult in S.E. Berkeley in January (Mrs. E. Fritz, per I.T.).

NOTICE TO CHRISTMAS BIRD-COUNTERS

The members present at the January meeting of the society voted to authorize pay-
ment from the treasury of the 50c observer’s fee charged by Audubon Field Notes maga-
zine, in which the counts are published. Those who paid this fee personally may receive
a refund of it upon request from the treasurer or his representative at any meeting of the
Society during the next four months.

EDITOR’S CORNER

In this space will frequently appear brief announcements of recent literature of interest,
sueeestions for study projects or places to visit, etc., as well as requests for information.
The common names used for birds in "The Gull’’ are the official LI. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service names, as published in Audubon Field Notes, vol. 4 (1950): pp. 37-39, 260.

— 7 —

February

THE GULL

1956

FEBRUARY MEETING

The 46lst regular meeting of the Golden Gate Audubon Society will be held at 7:30
p.m. on Thursday, February 9, in the Assembly Room (3rd floor) of the Main Library
in San Francisco (Larkin and McAllister Sts., no. 5 bus). Miss Lee Crouch of the U.S.
Forest Service will speak and show a film, "Chaparral, the Elfin Forest." Scoop; Richfield's
brand new film, "The Conservation Story,” will be shown at the end of the program.
Guests are welcome.

— Mrs. Budd J. Smith, Program Chairman.

FIELD TRIPS FOR FEBRUARY

On Sunday, February 12, to Ritchie Ranch and other areas west of Lodi, San
Joaquin County, where for the past two years excellent views of Sandhill Cranes, many
geese, ducks, gallinules. While-tailed Kites, etc., were had. The area is one of moist valley
farmland with marshy ditches and tree-bordered sloughs near the Mokelumne River. Al-
though partly flooded this winter, the paved roads are expected to be passable. Exact
areas visited will depend on water conditions. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of
State Route 12 (Iselton to Lodi road) and Thornton Road, which is marked by the Rodeo
Inn and a service station on the s.w. corner. This point is 81 miles from Oakland via U. S.
Route 40 to Fairfield, thence via State Route 12 to 6 miles beyond Terminous. Leader, Lee
Stallcup. Bring binoculars, telescope, lunch, warm clothing, and interested friends. Those
needing transportation who can meet drivers enroute in the city and those able to take
such passengers (sharing of expenses suggested) will be put in contact if both will call
the field trips chairman, LO 9-3185.

On Saturday, February 23, to San Francisco Zoo grounds, adjacent beach, and
Lake Merced. Meet at 9 a.m. at the north entrance to the Fleishhacker playground, Sloat
Boulevard near Great Highway (L car from downtown San Francisco). If interest warrants,
a special session in identificaton of gulls in various plumages will be offered by H. L.
Cogswell. Those participating in this can expect to spend a couple of hours at it, and should
do their"homework” in advance by studying diligently the differences in the various species
and ages to be found here, as described in Hoffmann’s "Birds of the Pacific States, ’
Peterson’s "Field Guide to Western Birds", or other books. Others present may make a
circuit of Lake Merced to sec a variety of waterbirds. Marsh Wren, and probably Town-
send’s Warbler and Allen’s Hummingbird, which are common here at this season. Bring
binocular, telescope, books for identification, interested friends, and lunch. Meet at S.
entrance to the zoo at 12:00 noon for discussion.

— Lee Stallcup, Field Trips Chairman.

GOLDEN GATE AUDUBON SOCIETY. INC.

Established January 25, 1917

President Mrs. George C. Browne 2435 Ivy Drive, Oakland 6, TW 3-5469

Vice President Dr. T. Eric Reynolds 140 Estates Dr., Piedmont II, AN I-7I2I

Vice President Mrs. Budd J. Smith 555 Dewey Blvd., San Francisco 16, OV 1-7635

Treasurer Harold G. Peterson 3548 65th Av., Oakland 5, LO 8-7534

Rec. Secretary Mrs. Roberta J. Long 45 Clarendon Ave., San Fransisco 14, LO 4-7767

Cor. Secretary Mrs. Hermine H. VanGelder 2409 Bowditch St., Berkeley 4, AS 3-9740

Director Arthur J. Bennett 836 Mills Ave., San Bruno, JU 8-6702

Director Dr. Albert Boles 854 Longridge Rd., Oakland 10, GL 1-6267

Director

and Editor Howard L. Cogswell Box 486, Mills College, Oakland 13, TR 3-6419

Distribution

Chairman Miss Alice Leet 1050 Spruce St., Berkeley 7, LA 4-2488

Membership

Chairman Mrs. Frank A. Scott. 1508 La Loma Ave., Berkeley 8, AS 3-1253

Claims for missing numbers of THE GULL should be sent to the Distribution Chairman.
Changes of address should be sent to the Membership Chairman.

Monthly meetings second Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Joint Membership, Local and National,
$5.00 per year, includes AUDUBON MAGAZINE and THE GULL. Subscription to THE
GULL separately, $1.00 per year.

Branch of NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, California Office — 2426 Bancroft Way

Berkeley 4 — TH, 8-4042

— 8 —