at dav tn - brooks bird club · 2020. 3. 11. · 1944 i'tctes on a cowbird parasi tizing a...
TRANSCRIPT
Junsa 1952 Pages 46 .... 72
w.. R. DeGarmo
,. Page
Notes on a Cowbird Removing an Egg a� Dawn • • • .. • a � & .. • .. .. " .. " .. ...
Hal H .. Harrison 46
The Orni�hologieal Year in west Virginia: 1951 . .. .. ... .. . � • • � . ..
Uaurice Brooks 49
1952 "Century Day" Re-ports .. .. ... .. ,. • '" • .. .. George H .. Braiding 52
Field Notes .... The Spring Season .. • • .. " 0 ..... George A. Hall 61
Mosquito Lake Field Trip .. & , .. p • " � D • • Charles Le Conrad 69
King Rail Breeding Record at l'1!osquito Lake .. .. .. . .. .. .. . " .. " • • " (J
Howard Heimerdinger 70
The 1952 Hawk Count .. .. .. • • 4IJI • • 4 " 4- • • Vi. R. DeQarmo 71
The Redstart Vol .. XIX No .. 3 Pa�e q,6 ..................... ;.;;,;,,;; ......... ------_ ......................... -------........ -..:;....,;::;.,.-----.:;...', -----
NOTES Ol-! A COWBIRD REf,DVING AN EGG AT DAV�TN By Hal H. Herris on
Numero us observations have been made regar ding the time of day chosen by the Eastern co�bird (I�lothrus �) for laying its eggs in the nests of other birds and als o the time of day chosen f or rem oving eggs fr om the nests of h ost species.
With one exception, all observations made on c owbirds depositing eggs i n the nests of other birds have establ is hed the fact that the eggs are lai d at dawn, or before sunrise. Friedmann ( 1929:185 ) watched a cowbird go to a robints nest and deposit an egg after he had examined the nes t at about 7:30 A.M. In five observatio ns during 1944 and 1945, Norris ( 1947:91 ) clocked the arrival time of the co�bird for the purpose of l aying eggs at 4:30, 4:30, 4:50, 4:42 and 4;36 a.m. (Eastern :3t.andard Time)" Harm's ( 1937:201; 1941:215 ) f ive observations of coV'!bird s parasitizing the nests of ovenbirds �ere also recorded at dawn.
The time of day at V'-}hich co'::birds remove eggs from the nests of bos ts is much more irregular than the rather definitely established laying time. Hann ( 1941:220 ) declared that "These eggs are not removed at the time of laying , but during the forenoon of the pr evious day, or the day of laying, or rar el y on the f o 1 10 1.'i i ng day.1I
Observations by Norris and Hi ce agree \d th those of Hann. Norris ( 19-'14:130 ) Sighted a cOYibird carrying off an egg from a s ong sparro�'s nest at 9:45 A.U. Nice ( 1937:157 ) observed rer.101fals f rom s ong sparroY,'s I nests by cO\-'Jbirds at 9:15 and 8:45 A.M.
Blincoe ( 1935:158 ) wa�ched a cowbird remove an egg from a robin I i':. n es t at 5:SJ P . E . ; .. nhile Olson ( 1943 :195 )
,reported a co�bird carrying away and eating a small egg, resembling that of a song sparrow, at 5:15 P.�.
i-iannts ( 1937:203 ) three records of rerliova 1 o f ovenbird eggs by cowbirds were during the forenoon � two being recorded at 9:01 and 9:10 A.M.
R.:::·berts ( 1932 :�25) a while pho tographing a scarlet tanager's nest was surprised by the arrival o f a cowbird at the s ide of the nest. Tile bird rer::oved an egg and Roberts photographed the action. ffi10ther ob se rv ation by Roberts was that of a cowbird removing an eg g from a chipping sparrow's
'!he Redstart Vol .. xn: No .. 3 Fage 47
nest. No time is given, but since photography was in progress. it may be assumed that it was during the daytime, not at dawn at any rate.
At dawn (4:34 A..M .. , E .. S .. T.) 1:iay 25, 1946, near Cooperstown in Butler County� Pennsylvania, I photographed a female cowbird removing an egg from the nest of a chestnut-sided warbler. The photograph was taken on 3� x 4i prof essional Kodachrome and a black and "".ihi te reFroduction appears with this article.. Tne camera VlaS operated by remote control from a blind 30 feet f"r0l11 the nest. Vernon Norrisl of Cooperstown, Penna., was in the blind If) i th me ..
Norris discovered the nest in a wild c urrant bush about three feet from the ground in a woodlot near his farm on May 22 .. It contained one egg of the �arbler. At dawn the next morning, May 23, Norr is and I were in the blind hoping to catch a cowbird laying in the warbler's nest. No cowbird appeared near the n est. Later that morning. the warbler laid her second egg .
The next morning, :.:ay 24, Norris and I did not attempt photogra phy " That morning, �'ihen we visited the nest at 8 A.M., it contained trio eggs of the chestnut-sided warbler and one egg of a cowbird.. The evening before U'lay 23) the nest had held only the t�o eggs of the aarbler; thus, the cowbird laid its eGg be t\yeen davm and 8 .:-\ .. M. on !:.lay 24 .. Since the host should have laid her third egg that morning, it may be assumed that the cowbird also removed an egg from the ';�arbler's nest prior to 8 A.G., for no eggs �ere added during the day, �ay 24�
Working entirely on the supposition that the cowbird would deposit a second egg in the \"Iarbler�s nestt Norr is and I were i n the blind before daylight on the morning of way 25.. At 4:29� a female cowbird landed in the trees overhead. At 4:32, she flew to the ground several feet in bacl<: of the warbler's nest ..
At 4:35, the cO�'Jbird fle\'; to the rim of th e nest .. lfy ringGr on the remote control button �as tense" I waited now
f or her to enter the nest and sit down to lay her egg.. suddenly, the cowbird reached into the nest and pierced a warbler egg with her bill. Her bill �as open wide as the tips of both mandibles w ere used to lift the egg slo�ly from the n est. As it appeared above the rim� I pressed the button� the flash went ofT, and the picture �aS madea
The cowbird fle� away and out o f sight� carrying the stolen egg.
The only photograph ever taken of a female cowbird (Molo. thru� ater) cau-'Q-ht in the act of removing an egg from tfhe nest of a ch-estnut.side-d warbler (Dendl'Oiea pensylvanica). The photo was taken by Hal H. Harrison at 4:34 a. m. (E. €. T. ) May 25, 1946, in Middlesex Township, Butler County. Pennsylvania.
The .above ptlotograp.-h of a female chestnut4llded warbler on r nest was taken shortly after the history.making picture of the cow. bird removil1o9 an egg from this "est. The camera, on a tripod and operated by Mmote control, was not disturbed between pictures and both were taken frol1ll the same position. Note string sed by the warbler in constructing the -nest.
Th e Redstart . . Vol. XIX No. 3 Page 48
Although rie wai ted several hours. the cowbird did not return. The chestnut-sided Y!arbler female came to the n est and incubation started that day. The nest contained tVIO eggs of the host; one of the cowbir d.
Norris and I returned to the blind the next morning. Eay 26 t and again on May 27, but we never saw the cowbird again.
While there is s till no evidence to prove that the cow-"'i rd: like the European cuckoo� ever removes an egg from the nest of t�e host at the ti�e it deposit s it s own egg� yet. the appearance of this female at da�',;n (the accepted time of laying for co'!;birds) and her SUbsequent removal of an egg at that time, leaves the matter open for further examination.
In my own mihd $I I continue to 1:Jonder wh at mig..lJ. t have hap�ened that corning of May 25� if we had not frightened and disturbed tho cowbird with our flash and resulting change of film and bulb at the cacera. Would she h ave returned at once to replace the egg she had just stolen?
=::::;ee=== == _= s==_
Literature Cited
BLIFCOE, BEI':E:JICT "i Ii> 1935 f.. Cowbird Remov es a Robin's Eggt, '"/i190n Bull. _ 47 :152
FRIEDi�.';NN 1; t-'::ERBERT 1929 The CO\"Jbirds. Charles Co Thomas, Springfield, Ill.
HANN" HARRY YI" 1937 Life Histo ry of the Ovenbird in Southern :iichigan�. 'Nilson Bull s" 49; 145-237 1941 The Cowbird at the �est� �ilson Bulld 53: 209-221
}JICE" �:ARGARET :=. 1937 Studies in the Life History of the Song Sparrow� Fart 1." Trans. Li��. Soc •• N. Y.
NOrLr\IS $> RUSSELL Teo 1944 I'Tctes on a Cowbird Parasi tizing a Song Sparro1[J,. �ilson Bull. 56: 129-132 1947 The CovIbirds of Preston Fri th� \iilson Bull. 59: 83-103
The Redstart Vol. XIX
OLSCN� ADA A�
t' · .. : No� 3 Page 49
1943 Covibird Carrying AVlay and Ea ting a Bird' s Egg in the Evening,. l:Yilscn Bulle 55: 195
ROBERTS it THOliAS S ... 1932 The Birds or Minnesota .. Vol .. 2,. Univ .. l1inn .. press,. Minneapolis
1102 Highland Street Tarentum� pennsylvania
THE ORNITliOLOOrCAL YEAR IN '!lEST VIRGINIA: 1951 By �aurice Brooks
During the year of 1951 we have begun to reap the full harvest of an expanding ornithological interest in �est Virginia.. ':J1 th active centers at Wheeling� Huntington&> Charleston .. Elkins, and liorgantown" and with capable observers in other sections of the state� we are gettin g a coverage which� only a few years ago. would have been undreamed of .. There is still a wide area in southern West Virginia which is practically terra incognita� but gaps in our field knowledge are closing.
No events of the ornithological year were quite so spectacular as the great southward eruption of evening grosbeaks and� in lesser degree, the incursion of pine grosbeaks .. Evening grosbeaks appeared in the r.:organtorm area on October 2):1> and by the end of the calendar year they were being reported from almost every section of the state, the Huntington area being an exception. At Morganto�n a number of the birds were trapped and banded by ;'.1ar ion Hu..l1dley, while George Hall, ;9ayne DaVis,. Robert Birch" Dr. Earl McCue, and others kept constant wa tch over their movements" In the Elkins region IT}. R. DeGarmo and others made regular o bservations, �hile the late Bill Legg in Nicholas County, Calvin Price in Pocahontas County, Judbe H .. N. Kran::er in Greenbr ier County $ 1:r s. Harlan Calhoun in Hardy County, and many others contributed valuable data"
Pine grosbeaks spent the winter at �heeling. where George Breiding,. Charles Conrad, and others had them under constant observation. TIley �ere seen at high elevations by DeGarmo. and Hundley and the \7l}ri ter sat'! them near :i::organtown.. No specimens were taken, so racial determination was not possible, but the f light was Obviously of considerable scope.
In the norgantown region, particular attention v'U8S paid to the foo::! of \�lni",ering even ing grosbeaks. Wherever there were box e1c1er tr�es the birds appeared, very quickly stri pping the trees of see:1B.. \;Jhi te ash seeds were also extEmsively eaten, as were t;J.8 seeds of tulip poplar. Hundley and the nriter� on two oocas ions , watched the birds feeding on scarlet oak acorns, a nS\;-:j type of food so far as we can determine fr om li terature.. Since southward incursions of this sP8ci�s seem to be coming at regular inter vals 9 bird students !.!.ight seriously consider planting box elder trees as an attraction to evening grosbeaks ..
During the ear ly days of November ther e was the greatest flight of water fo\"ll of modern times throughout the state .. !)ucks, geese) srians , loons, coots, and greb as appeared in hundreds and thousands at every suitable place� On Nov. 1 ther e were by act1. .. �al coUt."1t over one thou§and common loons on Cheat Lake" Vihi te-winged s coters, usua lly uncommon, 1,"Jore present in good numbers. Charles Handley found the much rarer American scoter at Charleston, '-7hile old=squa'i�s:p. entirely ' absent some years, �ere common throughout the state. Snow and blue geese cont inue to appear , and Whistling swans �ere numbered in hundreds ..
It rJou l d have taken a brave prophet$ thirty or for.ty year s ago, to pred i ct a time ,,"jheD V')ood ducks v!ould be common and �idely distr ibute d in �est Virginia. yet within r ecent years , due to lexge and small '."Jater impoundments, this has become a re � l i ty . The state is no longer t!du.ck::'essll, and we can look for�ard to increased breeding popu�ations of mallards, blect\: and �".;ood ducks, b lue .... winged teal, and perhaps other species ..
Hawk watchi ng on an organized basis was ca rried on by �any observers fro� vantage points on mount a in ridges during the fall flight season. I.':ost of the \-,'Orl{ 'lias dOD'3 on week-ends and apparently these dates d i d not coincide with the major haWk flights, s i nce birds c01..mteo \Jere i n hu.ndreds rather than in t housands . Too. it may h�ve been tha t the hawks flew over a Viider area, si::-h�8 Legg repo��ted lar ge numbers from Nicholas County , out Sld8 the more mom'ltainous region" Liore than the usual numbers of pigeon haviks weore noted>
Ruffed grouse , boblJlhitesll' and r:ild turkeys Viere at, or near, packs in their pop�lations during 19S1y If grouse and bobrJh5, tes fol1o�:' a patte:.'n v':il1ich 388ms to 0'3 1:'811 established. we IT,ay i,;xpe;:}t a s pec.taculer (11' op in tha :i,:' ·r:',;.m�) sr s during the next yea r or s Oo If �-!ild turl:eys a:-e cy,�]_ir.� '{ie do not kn01J'J about it, so their n��ber s may increase as better habitat becomes availableo
American "'Joo d c o ck a s b r e e ding bir.ds, and Wi l s on's s nipe a s migrants, were pr esent in gr atifying numb ers. Water impoundm e nt s which enc oura ge water fo�vl a l s o provid e a lillider variety of h ab itats for mi gr ating shorebir ds, p articul ar l y whe r e f luctuating �ater l e v e l s l e ave �ud f lats in autumn. Notab l e sight r ecords inc lud e an ob serv ation of thre e pha l arope s, two of them �;i lsonts a nd one red pha l a rope (first state re cord ) �ade by Edward S e eber ne ar Huntington o n Oct. 28� and thr e e Fors terts tern s ( a ls o a s tate recor d ) re p orted by Hugh Land ne a r Huntington on Novo 3.
From s ome u nd et ermined caus e p a numb er o f pas s erine b ir ds have, through the past s e ve ra l ye ars, b e en e xt ending the ir r anges in West Virginia. TIle se e xt ensions are b oth h orizontal a�d vertic a l; some s pe ci es spr eading out dir ection a l ly. and oth ers nesting at higher or l ower e l ev ations. N otab l e shift s in terri tory h a ve b ee n m a d e b y summe r tana ger, whi t e - e y e d vireo� l e ast flycatche rjlt ald e r f ly catch e r, Kentucky warblerlit prairie ',Ja rb l erj> ce rul e an warb l er, ye l l ori-bre a st e d chat" and oth�rs" This spr e ad c ontinue d in 1 951 .. There w a s a notab l e increase in the breeding pcpu l ati on of l e a st f l ycatch e rs n e a r 110rgantown, at e levatio ns und er 1 000 fe et. Lark s parrows were m ore common in centra l Dest Virgini a than in �any ye a rs p a st.
During the Brooks B ird Club f oray� Geor ge and H a l Harris on found and photogr a ph e d the first authenticated nest of Nashvi lle "'Jarbler to be locat ed in the state" mis was ne ar Davis. Tucke r C ounty. S':iains on·s warb l er was found in Gre enb rier County, �ear R ainelle� Legg and oth e rs co l l ected additi ona l in formation on this most intere sting s p ecies.
There l�ia s a poor bloom o n r ed spruce. and a lffiost a comp l ete failur e in th e spruce end fir con e cr op = hence it was a poor year for cro ssbills in many places, although some ','Vere noted in June" Siskins 'riere abund ant in th e spring a nd e arly summer a t Auror a, Pr eston C ounty, wher e Ha l l and D avis had a f l oc k of about 200 und er observationo They w ere n ot common in th e s prnce b el t horieve r.. Th ere w e r e no winter repo rts of snow buntings or red po l lse
Throughout th e ye a r Hundle y d id intensive fie l d work o n winter mov e m e nts of cardinals9 He tr apped and b and e d ab out 225 individual s� and painted over 100 for e a sier fie ld study. His ';.IOrk ha s yie l d e d interesting results which v'Vi ll b e re porte d on e lse'T�here <> I n l a t e Octob e r h e trap2 e d$l b ande d t and photographed the first Gamb e l l·s white-crowned sparro� to be recorded in �e st Virginia�
Through its summer foray� the B ro o ks Bird Club has continued its go od YJork in ma king intensive studies of the b ir ds
The R edstar t Vol. XIX No. 3 Page 52
or a particular area. The 1951 f oray made headquarters at Davis. �ith excellent o rnithological results. The foray for 1952 is planned for Cabwaylingo state Forest. in southwestern Vlest Virginia.. From this study ','ve may hope for increased knowledge o f the bird life in this neglecte d portion o f the s tate.
Division o f Forestry. west Virginia University,. 1.Iorgantovmt W. Va.
1952 "CEI'.}TURY DAY" REFORTS By George H. Breiding
Eird students freely admi t that there is little real value in the annual Ilbig day!! bird lists.. The occasion does prompt a large number of bird r:atchers to get afield to find as many kinds of birds as they can. This is an interesti ng game. As a result some unusual finds or observations are made.
Below are general comments and a composite list from rive points in west Virginia and three from Ohioo The source of material in the order listed belorJ along vdth the date the count \';as made is:
�
:May 4
Llay 4
May 11
Vlay 11
Uay 11
Hay 18
Locality
Charleston (Chiefly Kanawha Oounty)
Hunting ton
Elkins (chiefly within 5 mile radius of Beverly� Randolph County)
i.!organtown 01onongalia Ii> Preston Counties)
Ashtabula (Plymouth Marshes)
�heeling (parts of Ohio� Brooke II ivIarshall counties)
Source
Charleston Gazette (J ohn Handlan)
R alph Edeburn
Yi .. R .. DeGarmo
George A. Hall
Lewellyn P. Barbour
Char 1 e s Conr ad George Bre iding
The Redstart Vol .. XIX ,No. :3 Page 53
May 18
May 18
Localit�
Cleveland ( western half of Lake County )
Source
Lewellyn F. Barbour
You ngstown O.iahoning" Youngstown Vindicato! Columbiana. Trumbull Counties) (Vincent ;,lcLaughlL.)
Number of Ob servers and VVeather Data (Not complete or entirel}! accurate for all areas.)
Area
Charlest on
Elkins
Huntington
L1organto';m
Wheeling
Ash tabula
Cleveland
Youngst own
No .. of Observers
24
1
5
Time in field
4 :00 a"m. to 4:00 p .. rn. (10 hours)
4 :15 a .. m .. to 6 �00 p .. m", (35 party hours)
35 6:00 a.m. to (varying through-6:00 p .. m.
out ciay)
1 2
1 5
15
8:30 aom. to 11:30 a em ..
6:30 a .. m" to 12:30 porno
Weather
Hot gi ven
55° - 4: 00 a .. m. 520 = 4:00 p .. rn .. Rainy" low clouds ninds & :NIl\! J 3-4 l'."'PH
LOV'J 40' s in a .. m.,. 70"s in p .. m ..
C ool. overcast 'IJvith sho\"Jers in a .. m ... rain most of p.m.
o 50 - 6 a .. m. 6 8° - noon 700 = 6 p...m..Cloudy, shorters t o 9 ·a .. m. cl earing . viar!:;, sunny rest of day.
55°" fresh, NY" w inds ; cloudy s overcast, light rain, clearing later
Cloudy, heavily overcast; rain about! of time �-J arm 1 i gh t variable winds.
The Redstart Vol. XIX No .. 3 Page 54
Comments On The Val" ious Areas --
Charleston - Unusual bird s for the area
American egret. semi-palmated plover, lesser yellow-legs, 1:alson's snipe (C" 0 .. Handley)" The egret is the first one li sted on a century da y count; bobolink (stewart and Harian Freeman) ...
Gaps in the list: t!lockingbird, cedar w aXV'Jing, blackthroa ted blue warbler, lea st flycatcher. rose-brea sted grosbeak; i:tood w arblers scarce; only one example of a bay -breastec\ observed. This species was abunda nt last year.
Elkins
Cne observer (Vi .. R., DeGarmo) recorded 107 speCies of bird::: under trying conditionsl> Ten pine siskins observed in Be�erly; hermi t thrush and brown creeper 'i�Jhich should have been on breeding grounds in the Cheat country "Nere not listed due to fog and rain ..
Huntington
Ralph Edebur n commented p 1 1 1\;0 f"actors helped to make the 1952 Century Day count break a ll pre�ious records.. First of all Deather was good being clear during the entire day • •• Secondl�T, the energy and good fie Id '-!�ork of Ed .. Seeber added 13 of the species unreported for previous Century Day counts ..
The observers in this are a recorded 153 species; last year� 113; 132 species in 1950 and 1949; 124 in 1948 ..
Morgantown
George Ao Hall added the following to his list. Outstanding record, the black-bellied plover a t Universityts new athletic field; another unusual record, the black tern, at Reedsville 0
At one spot on the Eonongahela River on University property II six species of swallows were recorded 0
�]o resident species, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers were not located; thrushes greatly retarded with olive-backs not recorded untlil l��ay 14; veeries ab sen t at Terra Alta on the day of count but abundant li£ay 17 II>
The Redstart Vol. XIX No. 3 Page 55
Some �arblers were l o� in number; only one magnolia was reported and chestnut-sideds were not found in IEorgantown but plentiful a t Lake Terra Alta; blackburnians ';'Jere uncommon.
Fringillids considered about normal, but f ailed to find Henslow's sparrow at station where bird is known to occur ..
Heavy rain and fog at Terra Alta prevented the finding of several speaies known to be in the locality ..
Added Notes and Corm�ents on i\�organtO\'m List
"\�Je had thought that perhaps our da te was one v'leek too early and so the f ollowing comments taken frorn my personal records alone are noteworthy.. On May 11, the count day my personal list was 96 spe cies. On Nay 18. over the same route, but with less time I listed 87.. A total of the species I listed on �f.ay 17 and 18 nas 104.. The following are noteworthy re cords for the weekend of :day 17 and 18: Ring-necked duck» semipalmated sandpiper. both species of ye11ov)legs� red-backed sarldpiper; ':!i1son "s vvarbler; mourning r;arbler; Lincoln·s sparr01;"J" wood duck. By the 18th most warbler species Viere in much better numbers" magnolias� chestnut-sideds and black� burnians .. Canadas had made their appearance but Cape-I�ays and p arulas '1'1ere n ot f ound... Neither \'Vhi te-throats nor whi tecrowns 'i1ere f ourld.. The weather on I.:ay 18 was about the same as on lJay 11, 1[:ithout the heavy a fternoon rain ..
UFor the three days� i.:ay 11, 1 7 � 18, my personal list was 126 species. a good representation of what this area offers in migration ... tl
'.'Vheeling
The observers in this area recorded its highest list to date, 117 species. Several species such as whip-poor-will. s creech owl!> sapsucker, bobolink were tlmi ssed "; twenty-siX spe cies of wood warblers were recor ded; the Henslow's sparrow was a newcomer to the list; reports of mockingbird and grosbeak were made after official count time ..
AS Vias ob served in other areas, the migration was believed to be retarded or some unknown f a ctor caused a shift or considerable f luctuation in the abundance of some species.
In Oglebay Park during the sesond and third weeks of Llay .. olive-backed thrushes were in constant chorus at dawn and dusk. Veeries, too,with their IIburry" call notes were very conspicuous. Hermit thrushes were infrequently observed.
The Redstart Vol .. XIX No.. 3 Page 56
Tennessee warblers were e i ther the most abundant wood warblers Or were more active v6cally than many other of thed. r fellow migrant s . Tv�o reports of palm warblers were made. 'Ih is specie s is generally m i ssed or ·is not very common.
Oh i o Areas
Detailed reports lacki ng except the Youngstown sect i on reported a scarcity of o�ls. a good representation of hawks and a bald eagl) and five spe c i es of vireos. Twenty-e ight k i nds of warblemwere listed as compared to 23 last year.
A compos i te list follows. The symbol (x) indicates the spec ies was recorded; the dash( ---) not recorded.
Si-ECIES
1 Loon 2 Horned Grebe 3 Pied-billed G" <4 ··l)ouble-cr .. Cormorant 5 Gr ... Blue Heron 6 AlilCer .. Egret 7 Little Blue H ... 8 Green Heron 9 B. C .. Night
.-
n. 10 Am. B i t.tern 1 1 Least B ittern 12 Whistling Swan :t3 Canada Goose 14 Mallard .5 Bl<ack Duck .:.6 Gadwall
7 Baldpate :.8 Pintai l ... 9 Gr .... w i nged Teal �o BI-YJinged Teal .:l Shoveller
32 Wood Duck 23 Redhead ::4 Ring-necked De-.�5 Scaup 86 Bufflehead 27 Ruddy Duck
CENTURY D�Y LIST - ·1952
LOCALITY AND DATE
5/4 5/11 5/4 5/11 5/18 5/11 5/24 5/18 ChaSe Elk. Hunt. Mgtnl> Whg .. Ashtb" Cleve .. Ygtn ..
x x --- -- -- X "'-= x --- --
x x x X --- .... -- X ... _- - -- X -.... - x X X X X
x --- ",, -= -_ ... --- - - --
-- ... - ... -.... -- X --- _.- --
x x x X -- X X - -- x -- --- -- X X
.... _- -- - )t. -- --- -- X ... _- -- -- -- X X
-- ....... - --= -- --- -- X - -- --- --- -- X X --- --- x X --- X X ......... ---- -- --- -....... X .... -- .... _ ... - - -- --- -!="--- X
x x x X - X X --- "" .. ""'- x -- -- -- .....-
............ _ ... x -- - -- -- - ---
-- x x x X -- X X -- -- -- - -- X -- x x - -- X X
-- -= -- -- -- -- -- X
x -- -- -=- X -- .".-- X - x x -- X -- X X
- - _e- X x - -- --- X --- --- -- -- -- X X
The Redstart
SPECIES
28 Red .... br ... Merg. 29 Turkey Vulture 30 Sh-shinned H. 31 Cooper Hawk 32 Red-tailed H. 33 Red-sh. Hawk 34 Br-winged H. -35 Bald Eagle =·6 Mar sh Hawk
�,7 pigeon Hawk �9 Spar ro w Hawk 3'9 Ruf'f"ed Grouse 40 Bob-white .41 R.N. Pheasant 42 King R ail 43 Sora 44: Fla. Gallinule 45 Coot 46 Semip. Plover 47 Killdeer 46 Bl-be ilied Po. 49 Woodcock 50 Wilson Snipe 51 Upland Plover 52 Spotted Sand" 53 Solitary � 54 Gr. Yellowlegs 35 Ls. Yello wlegs 56 Feetoral 5. 57 Least Sandp. 58 Semipalmated S. '9 Western Sandp 9-
,/) Herring Gull >1 Ring-billed G ..
,2 Bonaparte G. ) 3 Common Tern ,)4 Ca spian Tern ':'5 Black Tern �6 Rock Dove ')7 Mourning Dove 38 Y...B. Cuckoo &9 B.8.. Cuckoo
Vol. XIX No ... 3 P age57
LQCALITY AND DATE
5/4 5/11 5/4 5/11 5/18 5/11 5/24 5/18 Chas ... Elk. Hunt..- i>.Igtn. '!'fug .. Ashtb ... Cleve . ygtn.
x _ ... -
--
x
_ --
--
-- --
--
-- -
-- -""
x �
x x
:x x
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Ihe B;dstart
SPECIES
70 Barn Owl 71 Screech Owl 72 Gr. Horned Owl T!.J Barred Owl 74 Whip-poor-will '15 Nighthawk 76 Chbmey S-wirt ',;7 Hul .... ing« .d '73 Kingfister 73 Flicker 20 Pileated Wpk .. 51 Red-bellied Wpk. 82 Red-headed Wpk. 83 S?iPsu.eker 84 Hairy Wpk ..
85 Downy Wpk. 86 Kingbird 87 Crested Fly-c. 88 Phoebe 89 Acadian Flilc. 90.Alder F1ycatc. 91 Least Flyc. 92 Wood Pewee 93 N.. Horned Lar k: 94 P .. Horned Lark 95 Tree Swallow 96 Bank: Swa 11 (j1l'V 97 R-\'V. S'aallo\"J 98 Barn Swallow 99 Oliff· Swallow
100 Purple Martin 101 Blue Jay .i.02 Cro\1 103 B.C. Chic kadee 104 Car. Chic kadee 105 Titmouse 106 W.B .. Nuthatch 107 R...B. Nuthatch 108 Br,. Creeper 109 House 'Nr en 110 Winter Wren 111 Bewick's �ren 112 C arolina Wren
Vol, XIX No .. 3 Page 58
LOCALITY AND DATE
5/4 5/11 5/4 5/11 5/18 5/11 5/24 5/18 Chas. Elk. Hunt . Ugtn. ��g. Ashtb. Cleve. Ygtn.
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The Redstart
SPECIES
113 Pr ... Harsh Wren 114 Sh-b '" I.�arsh 'H G
115 Mockingb ird 116 Catbird 117 Bro�n Thrasher 118 Robin 11S Wood Thrus h 120 Hermit Thrush 121 01ive-bk� Th. 1;22 Gray-chk. Th .. 123 Veery 124 Blueb ird 12 5 Gnatcatcher 126 G. C. Kinglet 127 R. C� King l et 128 Cedar Waxwing 129 St arling 130 Wn-eyed Vireo 131 y-thr .. Vireo 132 Blue-beaded V� 133 Red-eyed Vireo. 134 Philadelph ia V� 135 �arbling Virec 136 Bl .. & tfui te ';i .. 137 Prothonotary Wo 138 S'i'�a inson t s \":J .. 139 VJ orm-eating iN .. 140 Golden-Vig.. Vi., 141 Blue-winged � .. 142 Tennessee W ... 143 Na shvi lle ri tI> 144 Paru la W .. 145 Yellow 'fJ .. 146 �.lagno 1 ia �V .. 147 Cape Hay VlJo 148 Bl-th-Blue W .. 149 Nyrtle Warbler 150 Bl-th-Gre en 'PI <>
151 Cerulean Warb le r 1.52 Bla ckburnian 'JV" J.53 Che stnut-sided �7 <>
154 Bay-breasted W.
Vol. XIX No .. 3 Page 59
LOCALITY AND DATE
5/4 5/11 5/4 5/11 5/18 5/11 5/24 5/18 Chas ... Elk ... Hunt .. ilgtn .. 'Nh g ... As htb ... Cleve .. ygtn ..
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The Redstart Vol. XIX No .. 3 Pa6e 60
SPECIES LOCALITY AND DATE
5/4 5/11 5/4 5/11 5/18 5/11 5/24 5/ 18 Chas. Elk .. Hunt .. Mgtn. Wh g. Ashtb. Cleve. Ygtn ..
1 55 Black-poll W .. -- - - - x x x x x x 156 Pine Warbler x --- x - - --- --- ... -- --
157 Prair ie ':1arble1' x x :x: x _ ...... ---
15S Palm \"'arbler x --- x x x x x ---
159 Ovenbird x x x x x x x x 160 Northern and
Grinnellts Water-thrush -- _e. X --- ..... ... ... -- X X
161 .L .... VJaterthrusb. X X X X X X X X 162 Kentucky Warbler x X x x x --... ...... - x 163 Connecticut w. -- ... -- ...... - _ ...... ""' ...... :It X x 164 Hourning '.Varb ler .... _- --- _ ... "" _ ..... --- ... _- _ ...... x 165 Yellowthroat x x x x x x :x: x 166 Chat x x :Ie X X X --- x 167 Hooded '�'!arbler x x x x x .. � ... X x 168 Wilson t s ':Jarb1er _ ...... ........ .. c:.o e-C'.II>_ ......... X � 169 Canada ':!arbler --- x x x x 170 Redstart x x x x x x x x 171 English Sparrow x x :x: x x x x x 172 Bobol ink x x x x _ ... V' X X ",.. 173 Meadowlark v x x x x :x: x " ",.. .A 174 Redwing x x x x x x x x 175 Orchard Oriole x x x x x .... --
176 Baltimore Oriole x x x x x x x x 177 Rusty Blackbird v -_ ... x --- - _ ... ...-- --oh 178 Grack le x x x x x x x x 179 Cowbird x x x x x x x x 180 Scarlet Tanager x x x x x ..... - x x 181 Summer Tanager x --- x -... - --... ---
182 Cardinal oX x x x oX x x x 183 Rose-br. Grosbeak x -- - x x x x x 184 Indigo Bunting x x x x x x x x 185 Purple Finch --- x x x x x x 186 Pine Siskin -- x --- --- .... - ---
187 Goldfinch x x x x x x x x 188 TOltl1hee x x x x x x x x 189 Savanna h Sparrow x x x x x x x 190 Grasshopper Spo x x -- x --- -- x 19 1 Hen slol,'I} Sparr o\'V ......... x x x x 192 Nelson Its Spo ... -- .,.-- x 193 Vesper Sparrow x x X x x x x x 194 Lark Sparrow ... -- x --- ---
195 Bachman fS Sparrow x - --
The Redstart Vol .. 'XIX No .. 3 Page 61
SPECIES "LOCAl ITY AND DATE
5/4 5/11 5/4 5/11 5t18 5/11 5/24 5/18 Chas ... Elk. Hunt. 1.:gtn .. Whg .. Ashtb. Cleve. Ygtn.
196 Junco - x x - x - x x 197 Chipping Sparro� 133 Fie l d Sparrow
x x
x x x x
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139 'Nhi te-cro�ned Sp" seo '::hi te-throated Sp � 201 Fox Spar 1"0';:"1 :02 Swamp Sparrow �:C3 Song Sparrow
Total
1952
x x x x x x x x
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X 107
X X X X X X
107 153 107
FIELD NOTES
THE SPRING SEASON By George A. Hall
x -"'- x x x x x x
.... -- --- --- ----- X X X
X X X x 117 82 123 160
Oglebay Park, \Yhee 1 ing � IN. Va.
April 1 to June 30
The Spring migration in 1952 was universally commented on as being unusual and remarkable... As was to be expected the v.e5ther �as largely responsible for many of the vagaries observed", Early April was cold and net) with sno�'1 occurring in some 10ca11 ties as l ate as April 15. Late April was exceedingly �niarm and rather dry but vlhile the vegetation developed early and rapidly no pronounced early migration waS noted� TI�is again emphasizes the fact that it is not local weather but rather the widespread continental ',"Jeather picture that influences bird migration. May was mild$ �ith no late frosts. but was one of the wettest on record, raining on 25 days at MorgantolJm.. While the rain which concentrated on week-ends hampered the bird watching, it did not seem to particular ly bother the birds. June was very dry and �as one of the hottest on record.
By the first of April most of the migration was about on schedule but it s oon fell rapidly behind. The mid-April group of migrants were up to ten days late in most localities and by the end of the month the season was still behind. L:ost of the l ate April-ear ly ;,:ay migrants made their appearances about on time but not in any numbers. The peak arrivals v�ere a week to ten days behind schedule. Un like some years .. hO'."Jever, a late migration did not turn out to be a short one, since the main migration was stretChed over three weeks and
The R e d s ta r t Vo l .. XIX N o ... 3 P age 62
v� a s s t i l l in pr ogr e s s on rilay 25 . ev en in the b i o t i c a l ly more s outhern E a s tern P anh a nd le .
I.: o st ob s er ve r s f ound tha t severa l : : ay m ig r ant gr oups w er e b a d l y m i xe d up .. S p e c i e s exp e c ted \"l i th the f ir st inf lux , l i ke the o l ive -b a ck e d thru sh , Cam e v'lith the 1 a t er ' gr oup , irvh i l e some of th e n orma l l y l a t e s p e c i e s , a s f or e xample the b l ac kp o l l w a rb l e r , a r r ived w i th the e a r ly f l i ght s .
E i ther b y luc k o r b y a j ud ic i o us cho i c e of da t es mos t r eg ions had v e r y geod C entury Day C ount s , d e s p i te the b ad l(J e a ther ..
Common L o on : H eavy f l i ght i n the Young s to1iJn re g i on on A pr i l 2 2 O.:cLaugh l i n ) ; a b ig f l ight in the Tygar t v a l l e y whe re b ir d s l,'\l e r e s e en a s l a t e a s l:ay 11 ( DeGa rmo ) ..
Hor ne d Greb e : S i x b ir d s in f u l l b r e e d ing p luma g e a t Stony River R e se r vo ir on A pr i l 30 ( De G a rm o ) and one a t Re e d svi l l e on Apr i l 28 ( Da v i s a nd Ha l l .. )
P ie d -b i l l ed Gre b e : S��mer ed a t Le e t own (M i l l er ) � b ut w a s not f ound at the s ta t i on in the Canaan Va l le y wher e it br e d i n 195 1 ( DeGarmo ) .
Doub l e -c r e s t e d Co rmor ant : One o r two pa ir s ' ... i ere found on the S tony Ri ver R e s e rvo i r on Apr il 29 - Liay 1 ( D eGarmo ) .. Thi s b ird m a y w e l l ne st a t t h i s s t a t i on and the i nve s t i ga t i o n o f th i s p o s s ib i l i ty shoul d s tand high i n p r i o r i ty f or future inve s t ig a t ion .
Gr e a t-b lue. H er o n : Numb e r s wer e dorm in Le e town 0;:111e r ) t and in the Tyg ar t va l le y ( DeGa rm o ) � Ab out no rm a l in Youngs t o�n ( McLaughl i n ) .
B l a c k-c ro�ne d N i ght Heron � F i ve se en in one d ay a t Le e t own .. The b i rd pr o b ab l y ne s t s in thi.s v i c in i ty and the f ind ing or t�e r ooke ry is a no the r p r ob l e m d e s er v ing a t tenti on . �no a l ong the �Jg a r t R iver in n e ar ly the s ame spot a s Ob s e rv e d i n 19 51 . Only one r ecDrd a t Youngs town .
Ame r i c an B i t te r n : Fair ly c omm on a t L e e town ( M i ll e r ) .
Le a s t B i t t e rn : Uncommon 1n th e Youngs town r eg ion (McLaugh l in ) and a t Wi l l oughb y . O . (B a rb our ) . One w a s s e en a t Le e town on May 2 5 b y the Sutton Warb l e r S e a rch p a r ty ..
1Nh i st l ing Swan : A b ig f l i ght a t young s town :. and one s e en a s l a te a s I.�ay 15 ( i,�cL a ugh l in ) ..
111.e Red s tar t Vol XIX N o . 3 P age 6 3
C anad a G o os e : S t i l l a t Young st o�m on :�iay 1 5 ( McLaugh li n ) .
Ma l l a rd : Summ e r e d a t Le e town but no young f ound (Md l l er ) . P os s ib le b r e e d ing b i rd s in R ando l ph Coun ty on Ap r i l 26-27 (DeGarmo ) .
B la c l.;: Duck : F e\:"i a t L e e t ovm (m l l e r ) " Common a g a in on the b e aver p ond s in t he moun t a in c oun t ry .
Wood Duck : App a r e nt ly a ve ry g o o d b r e ed ing ye ar i n W e s t Virginia " �.li l l er f ound a ppr o xin:a t e ly fif ty b i rds " mos tly male s SI at Le e t ovm on J une 13 II> a nd s ari f our b r ood s o f young o n one p ond a t the F e d e r a l Fish Hat che ry .. Al ong ten m i l e s of the Tyga r t Rive r DeGarmo and Uh li g c ounted 12 b r o od s l\f a ve r a g ing nine young e a ch . on May 28 . Thre e add i t i ona l b r oo d s w e r e f ound on J une 2 6 a l ong the s ame se c t i on of s t r e am .
Sc aup : A p a ir of f emale s s t i 1 1 p r e s ent a t Lee t o\'V n on rIlay 25 ..
R in g-ne c ke d Duck : �� o fema l e s l inge r e d a t Re ed sv i l le unti l a f t e r :.1ay 18 ...
B uf f l ehe a d : A fe ma le r ema ine d a t Ree d s v i l l e unti l a f te r t':ay 18 ( Ha ll ) ..
Ho od e d i"Cer g an se r : DeGarmo and Uh l i g f ound !'e ma le w i th se ye n y oung on the T�'gar t River n e a r E l kins on ::ay 2 8 . This i s p rob ab l y the f i r s t � e s t Virginia b r e eding r e c ord a
Br oa d-'7J inge d Hawle l'.10r e than the usua l numb e r of r e p o r t s of migrating f l igh t s a l ong the A l l e gheny R id ge s th i s spring (DeGa rm o ) .
Osp r e y : l:lor e numerous than u su a l a l ong the mounta in s tr eams (DeGa rm o ) .
P ig e o n Hav;/ k : One ne a r youngs t own on May 1 5 (He ime rd inge r ) ..
B ob -whi te : H ad a f i ne ye ar a t Young s t o'lm ( i.:cLaughlin) and s ee n i n 'J'J i ll oughbY lii 0 .. f or the f ir s t t i me in s even years (S a rb our ) ..
S o r a : One i n Jef fe r son County on iViay 2 5 ( Mi l l er ) and one a t A r thur d a l e on i\;:ay 1 7 ( Ha l l and Dav i s ) ..
Fl orid a G a l l inule : D eGarmo f ound one i n Gr ant C ounty on .Apr i l 29 and iji l l er r e p o r t s a t l e a st s ix a t the Le etovvn Ha tche ry ...
'The Red s t a r t V o l . XIX No . 3 P a ge 6 4
Sh or e b i r d s : Th e young s t ovm g r oup r e po r t ed an unusua l ly good S pr ing f l i gh t thi s y e ar b ut at ';i i l l oughb y � O. B arb our f ound the rl lgh t to b e p oo r � ra e se tw o r eg i o n s c a n e xp e c t shor eb i r d s but i n mo s t o f 'iV e s t V i r g in i a they a r e rar e ly s e en . HOYl eVer a t b oth E l kins an d L or bant olJ'Jn g oo d shor eb i r d f l i ght s w e r e ob s e r v e d and b ot h r eg io n s c ont r ibu t e d an o ut s t anding r e c or d .. I n the l" lor gant ovm r e g i on ob s er v e r s ar e f ind ing go o d shor eb ir d ing on m any o f the ponds r e sul t in g f r om s t r i p m in i ng and o th e r m ining oper a t i o n s .
Semi pa lrn a t e d P lov er : A sma l l f lo c k t urne d up a t R ee d sv i l l e o n cia y 24 (Dav i s ) �
Go lde n P lover : Found i n the Young s town r eg i on ( McLaugh l in ) .
B l a c k-be l l i ed P lo ve r : Found i n the Young st own r e gi o n a s w a s t o b e ex p e c t e d . The b e s t r e co r d o f the Spr ill; in Eorgant o';I'n ':J a s an ind i v i dua l in fu l l b r e ed ing p lum a ge f ound on th e Un i ve r s i ty B a seb a ll D iamond on 1�ay 11 b y B og g s a And e rs on , and H a l l �
Rud dy Turn s t one ; A f lo ck of e i ght a t f:lo squi to L a ke , O . ( He imerd inger ) ..
':.: i l son t s Sn i pe : A l a t e r e c o r d w a s ; �a y 18 a t '.7he e l ing ( C onr ad ) , The f i r st pos i t i ve b r eed ing r ec o r d f or the Young st own r e g ion w a s e st ab l i shed by B a ke r and 1.ia r sh a l l ..
Hud s on ia n Cur l ew : H e i merd ing e r f ound th em a t Youngs t own b e t·,7 e a n Ivlay 22 a nd June 2 � a f l oc k of t v""l enty b e ing seen on one o c ca s i on ..
Up l and P l ov er : M i l l e r r e p or t s a d e f i n i t e incr e a s e i n th e SUmme r popul a t i on in the Ea s t e rn P anhand l e ,. He ob s e rved thr e e young a t In� ood on June 23 ..
Gre a t er Ye l lo w le gs : A g ood f l ight w a s r e por t e d f rom Mo�gantown ,. E l ki n s ", and the Eas t ern F a.nhand 1 e ...
W i l l e t : D0Ganmo f ound a w i l l e t a t Stony Rive r R e s e rv o ir on May 1 . Thi s i s p r ob ab l y onl y the thi r d r e c o r d t o r the S t a te ..
Red -b a c ke d Sandpiper : One w a s s e en a t Re e d s v i l l e on May 1 8 (Ha l l ) ..
Da s tern Sand p ip e r : Found a t Youngs t o wn ( M cLaugh l in ) and a t �"Ji l l oughb y � 0 ... (B a rb our ) ..
" P The Red s ta r t Vo l . XIX No ... 3 P age 6 5
'N i l s on t s Pha la r o pe : H eimer d inger mad e the f ir st S pr ing r e c ord for th i s s pe c i e s in the Young s town r e g ion on t'ray 25 "
C a s p i an Te rn : DeG a r mo r e po rt s one in Canaan Va l l e y on Apr i l 2 8 . Th is i s o ne o f the f ew W e st Virg ini a r ec o r d s a w a y f r om the Oh io o r Kanawha Rive rs .
B la c k Tern ! And er son and Ha l l f ound one a t Re e d sv i l l e on May 11 ..
11lourning Do ve : l,�i l ler re por ts the m SC a r c e i n the Easte rn P anh an d l e ..
Ye l l ow-b i l l ed Cuc koo : Art e r tw o year s o f l ow numb e rs the s e b ird s h ave i no r e a sed in par t s o f the r e g ion. M i l l er ca l l s them very c o mmon in the Eas t e rn P anhand l e . DeGarmo r e po r t s them as c ommon in the Tyga r t va ll ey . and the For a y f ound the m qui te c ommon i n )pj'ayne . C o .. They sti l l r e ma i n SC a rce in the Youngs t ow n r e g ion ..
B l a c k-b i l l e d Cucko o : Thi s spe c ie s r e ma i ns a t l ow numb e r s thr oughout the r e g i on �
A l de r Fly c a t che r s : Thi s b i rd c on t i nues to sp r ead i ts b r eeding r ange i n 'N e s t Vi r gini a . DeGarmo r e po r ts a p rob ab le b re ed ing p a ir a l ong the Tygar t Riv e r . There are nmm s e ve r a l s ta t ion s i n th e M o r g ant own r e g i on . DeGarmo and Hal l f ound th em a l ong th e P o t om a c R iv e r a t She pher d s t own o n May 2 5 . but the s e ma y h ave b ee n migran t s "
Ol ive-s id ed Fly c atcher : One a t B e ve r ly on I'fiay 29 ( DeGa rm o ) and f ound o n Cana an Mount ain i n l a t e r.lay (Hund l e y and
B rooks ) .
Bank Swa l l ow : Th i s i s a r ar e b ird in m i g r a t i on i n �es t Vi rginia but they w e re obs er ve d on s e ve r a l occas i o ns a t � or gant own , and onc e a t HuttonSV i l l e ( DeGarm o ) .
Re d-b r e a s te d N utha tch : Mo r e c o mmon than usual i n spr i ng mig ra t i on a t I'.1organtown ( H a l l ) .
House W re n : Arrived 1a te i n mos t r eg i on s .
B e w i c k tis r;r e n : Ve ry few in the E a s te r n P anhanc11 e whe r e they had b e en ra ir ly c omm on (M i l l e r ) ...
Ca rolina ';"iren ! Be g an ne s ting ne a r ly a mon th l a te in Whe e l i ng (Conr ad ) .
The Red sta r t Vol .. XIX N o . :3 P age 66 ,
Catb ird : Arri v ed v ery l a te in a l l se c t i ons but th e who le f l ight a pp a r ent ly came in o ve r ni gh t .
Hermi t Thrush : Very rew re c or d s in mig r a t i o n .
Ol ive-backed Thrush : Wh i le n orma lly an e ar ly Hay arrival thi s b ird was qui te l at e i n mos t place s � no t ar r iv ing until the m i d d le of the month .. At Morgantown the r li ght w a s , very l ight .. One w a s s t i l l pr e s ent at W i ll oughb y II' O . on June 8 . DeGarmo r e por t s h i gh b re ed ing populat i ons i n the mount a in c ountry . S ev er a l ob s erver s comme nted on the unusua l amount o f singing dur ing mi grat i on .
Gray-cheeked Thrush : A t l ea st thr e e r e c o rd s wer e m ade in the Eas tern Panhandle on M a y 2 4 - 2 5 by the Su tton W a rb le r Se a r eh P ar ty 0-
Vee ry : A r r ived l a t e . N one wer e pr e s en t on the Ter ra A l ta b r e e d ing ground s o n May ll� but w e r e c omm� t he r e on r;\ay 17 (H all ) .
Kingl et s : N o pr onounce d �ave s .. The ruby-cr owned waS s t il l a t Wi l l oughb y s> 0 .. on �.ia y 24 (Barbour ) ..
Whi te -eye d Vir e o : Pr e s en t a t l"Vhe e l ing a ll thr ough June li'Jhe re i t is norm a l ly on ly a migr ant ( C onr a d ) � On the i nc r e a se i n the TygSFt Va l le y (DeGarmo ) e
B lue -he ade d Vir e o : F ound appar en t l y b r e ed ing in C abwayl ingo S ta te For e s t ll> Wayne County by the 19 52 For ay .
Warb l ing Vireo : Chand l e r r ep or t s thr e e s t a t ions f o r th i s b ird a t Che ster whe r e i t i s norm a l ly r are . Hore common than usual a t };iorgantown .,.
Warb le r s : Th e w a rb le r m igrat i on was full of anoma l i e s and surpr i se s th i s ye ar . The m i d Apr i l f l i @� t w a s very l a te and the e a r l y May f l i gh t w a s w out a w e ek l a t e .. DeGar mo r�orted t!fO · Pwav'es " in t.he Tygart Va lle y on �y 10-11 and � l a y 17 .... 18 .. B a rb o ur r epor t e d fl V'J av e s " on Hay 15 and on May 2 4 a t \'V i l l oughb y and remarked tha t this \'Y e s the b e st w a rb l e r f l i gh t in s om e y e ar s a t tha t pl a ee . A Very l a rge "wave " w a s r e p o r t ed f r om the young st own r eg i on on l:ay 14 .. No pr onounce d "wave s l! w er e ob s erve d a t 11organtowf a l tho ugh a b ig inf lux o ccur r e d o n R'Iay 6 and a sma ll wave w a s ob s er ve d on May 17 -18 . The f o l l owing a r e s ome of the more in te r e s t ing r ec o rd s but no a t te mp t i s m a de a t b eing eompl e te .
_T_h_e_R�ed_s_t_a_r�t=-__ -=�Vo l . XIX No ... 3
B l ac k & \"v'h ! te Warb ler : Ve ry l a t e '"
P r o thono tar y W arb l e r : ID i l 1 e r observed young b e ing f ed on June 22 a long the Shenandoah Rive r ne ar Har pe r ' s Ferr y . Thi s i s one o f the fe� po s i t ive b r e e d ing r e cor d s f or the s t a te .
Sw a in s on · s Warb le r : Found in Wayne C ounty b y the 1952 Foray .
\�lorm ... e a t ing Warb ler : Found in Young s town 'It"Jhere i t i s qu ite r a re ..
Go lde n-winged '. 'JJarb l e r : S c ar ce in rthea l i ng but ab out norma l e lsewher e ..
Tennes se e Warb ler : L a te and n o t a s c ommon a s u sual in Whe e l in€ ( C onr ad ) .. S c a r ce in Wi l l oughby (B arbour ) . Ano ther good ye ar in l.:organtovm . Found i n the E a ste rn P a nhandle wh� re i t i s usually ab sent (l:Ii l l e r ) ..
Or ange -c rowned Warb le r : Rep or te d from youngs t own O :lcLaughl in )
Na shv i l l e Warb ler : L a te and i n l ow numb e r s .. S c a r ce in Whe e l ing and M or gantown . C.omple te ly ab s ent in the Tygar t Va l le y . Common on the Grant-Tuc ker County b r e e d i ng ground s (DeGarmo ) .
1llyrt le W a rb le r : A he avy f l i gh t t;;hi ch s t ayed very l a te . Seve ral w e re seen in Be r ke le y C ounty on L�y 24 .
B la c k .... pol l "Harb ler : Ear ly a t Mor gan t o\'Yn J) Uay 1 1 .. B i g f li ght a s usua l in l a te May in m o s t r e g i ons .,
P i ne Warb ler : One a t Youngs t ow n on Apr i l 20 � �ui te r are there ( UcLaugh l in ) <l>
Pa lm Warb l e r : Unusua l l y common f or spr ing migra t i on in i'.1organtown ( Hall ) ., McLaugh l in r epor t s a dafini te r e cord f or the y e l lo w p a lm at YoUng s t owfl o
I:Iourning Wa rb le r : DeGarmo r e por t s them s c a r c e on the Shaver's Pork of the Cheat River b re e d i ng grounds in Rando lph County ..
C onne ct icut W a rb le r : Mor e r e co r d s than u sua l a t Young s town ( LlcLaughl in) ..
Hoode d Warb ler : F ive a t young st own w he r e i t i s rare .
C a pe-: ay '" a rb l er : B i C fl i C a t on : : a.y 11-12 in the TYLar t Va l le y ( De Ga rm o ) � only f ti l l" i n � . o r �an toljm and scarce in Yount,;s t ol."m ..
The Re d st a r t Vo l . XIX No . :3 P age 6 8
W i ls on ' s W a rb l er : One a t T e rr a A l t a on 1::ay 17 ( Dav i s and Ha l l )
Re d s t a rt : Unusua l ly e a r l y a t Mor gan t own on Apr i l 23 ( Ha l l ) .
B ob o l in k : Ver y he avy f l i ght in rtand o l ph C ounty " � :ay 10-11 ( DeG a rmo ) . N ot f ound a t Che st er wher e i t b r ed i n 1951 ( Chand l er ) •
Rusty B l ac kb ird � A l a t e b ir d wa s f ound a t Terr a Al t a on 1';ay 4 ( Ha l l ) .
Summer Tana ge r : S ev er a l Hay r e cord s a t Morgan to';V� it i s u sua l ly ab sent .
C a r d ina l : On the incr e a s e a t W i l l oughby ( B arb ou r ) ...
Even ing Gr o sb e a k : L a t e r e c or d s a r e ; tlay :3 at Bever ly ( DeGarm�i M ay 17 a t Ivloore f i el d ;, W I. V a .. ( H i et t � B ogg s ) I> H a y 25 at '}J i l l oughby ( B arb our ) .
Purple F inch : Sc ar c e at ':Vh e e l ing ( Conr ad ) b u t common a t Hor gan town and very c.otllJion i n th e E a s tern P anhand l e Oa l l eI' ) ..
Fine S i s ki n : A f lo ck o f t en a t B ever ly on I,l ay 11 ( peG a rmo ) 0
Go ld f inch : Very he avy f l i gh t s i n the E a s tern Panhan d l e , ana a t B ev e r l y and Mor gant o wn "
S avannah Spar r o� : B e com i ng r a t her s c ar c e a s a b r e e d ing b ir d a t \;'Jh ee l ing ( C onr a d ) " Qui te num er ous o n the Un i v er si ty Fa rms a t Mor gant own "
N e l s on ' s S p a r r ow : R epor te d f r om W i l l oughb y , 0 .. on ivlay 24 ( B arb our ) <>
B a chman ' s Sparr ow : A sing ing m a l e in Co lumb i ana C ountY t Ohio r e pr e se nt s the n or thernm o s t r e cor d f or that r e g i o n ' ( HcLau gh l i n ) "
Whi te -cr owned Spa r r ow : County ( DeGarmo ) . Whe e l i ng ( Conr ad ) �
H e av i e st f l ight in y ea r s in Rand o�ph Arr iv e d l a te bu t w a s v ery c ommon at
¥fu i te-thro a t e d Spa r r ow : St ay e d v e ry l a t e . St i ll p r e sent a \ \!m e e l ing on Eay 1 -3 ( Conr a d ) ; P ar s on s , �,Iay 21 ( DeGa r mo ) j and Ha r p e r t s Ferry � r.:a y 23 ( H a r r i s on ) .. Buchanan and G a n i e r f ound tln o o ccup i e d ne st s ne a r T er r a Al ts. in June 11 Th i s c on s t itu t e s the f i r s t b r e e d in g r ecor d f or the sta te .
Th e Red st a r t V o l .. XIX No .. 3 P a ge 69
Linc o ln t s Spar r ow : Da v i s a nd Ha l l f ound one a t Ter r a A l ta , wher e i t i s an uncommon Spr ing m i g r an t , on ilila y 17 ..
1!\1!organtown t VI. Va ...
Ob s erv a t i o n s f or the S e a s on June 2 5 t o Se p t emb e r 2 5 a re d ue on Septemb e r 30 . Le t ' s have mo r e contr ibu t o r s next t ime .
G . A . H � and the E d i t o r
MOSQUI TO LAKE FIELD TR IP
A s u su a l the w e a th er f or the annu a l f i e l d t r i p to i;lo squ i t o Lake '.'Vas b ad . Tha t is on S a turday t f.1 ar ch 29 j) 19 52 r!hen it r a i ne d s t e a d i ly m o s t of t h e d ay l i gh t h our s of the a f t e rnoon o On Sund a y m o rn ing i t w a s c le ar ing a nd b ef or e noo n 'the sun '[ia S sh ining b r i gh t l y . 'rfue ther the w e a ther h a d anyth ing to do w i th the numb er o f ',"<I a t er b i r d s , the re w e r e def ini t el g r e a te r numb e r s w hen i t w a s r a ining mo st ..
', ; e m e t a t the usua l p l a ce t the cr o s s r o a d s o f Ohi o r oute s 7 and 14 a nd had about 30 pe o p l e i n o ur c a r av a n o f 1 1 Cars .. Dur i ng the two-d a y f i e ld tr i p Vi e a l l v i s i t e d a t l ea s t onc e Evan s , P in e , � c e an d e r , G ir a r d and : :o squ i t o r e s e rvo i r s . Mos t of u s agr e e d ther e �Ie r e gr e a t er numb er s o f duc k s tha n w e h a d ev e r ob s e rv ed b ef o r e o n th i s annu a l f i e ld t r i p . Our c omp i l ed l i st f or the t � o d ay s r e a ched a t o t a l o f 61 s p eC i e s , of ':�hi ch 25 VJe r e '{v a t el" b i1" d s .
One o f the h i gh l i gh t s o f t he tr i p w a s th e opp or tun i ty f or a l l t o se e a f l o c k o f ab out 200 t o 2 50 whi s t l ing swan s . They a pp a r en t l y h a d m ad e an over �ni ght s to p and s om e w e r e s t i ll s l e eping whe n w e d i scove r ed the m . I t � a s n o t long b e f o r e they b e cam e a w a r e of our p r e s en c e and the f l o c k b e cam e r a th er a c t i ve . ALth ough we d id se e s eve r a l sma l l f lo c l{s take to the a i r the b i g f l o ck r em a ined on the w a ter o
l:V e w e r e a l s o f o r tuna t e in s e e ing gr e en-w ing ed t ea l , Ame r i can g o l d en -e y e , buf f l e -h e a d � rud dy duck a nd a l l o f the me r gan s er s . Thi s w a s a tre a t whe n i t i s cons i d e r e d tha t m any o f o ur gr o up have very f ew o ppo r tun i t i e s dur i ng the ye a r to ob s e rve th e s e s pe c i e s .
The !',;o squi to La k e t r i p i s b ec om ing mo r e popu l a r e a ch y ea r .. Vi e cer ta inly w ant t o thank the cha.irman o f the
The R e d st a r t Vol .. XIX No . :3 P a ge 70
oper a t i o n . How ard H e i me r d inger and a l l the memb er s of the Gr an t C o ok B i r d C lub wh o wher e s o ho spi t ab l e and �ho w e r e s o ins trumen t a l i n ma king the tr i p a suc c e s s .
Her e i s the l i s t o f 61 spe c i e s c om p i le d b y our g r oup .
Comm on L oon P i e d-b i l l e d Gr eb e Gr e a t B lu e H e r on ';Jhi s t l ing S \"v an C anada G oo s e 1',Ia l l er d B l a ck Duc k Gad\"� a l l B � l d pa t e P int a i l Gr een-w in ge d Tea l B lue -\"! inged T e a l Redh e ad R i ng� necked Duc k Canv a s-b a c k Sc aup Duc k Ame r i Can G o l d e n - e y e Buf f l e -he a d Ho o d e d I I er gans er Am e r i c an M e r gan s e r Re d -b r e a st ed M er g an s e r Tur k e y Vul ture
Red-t a i l ed Haw k Red- should er ed H awk Sp a r r ow Hawk Ri ng-n e c ked Phe a s ant C o o t K i l l d e er He r r ing Gul l R i ng-b i l l e d Gul l Ro c k Dove Mourn ing Dove B e l t ed K ingf i sh e r F l i c k e r Y e l l o'w -b e l l i ed S a psuc k er H a iry Wood pe c ker Do'rmy Woodpe ck e r Pho eb e H orne d Lar k B lue J a y Cr ow Wi'Li te -b re a s t e d Nuth a tch
Rob i n B lu eb ird Amer ic an Pip i t C edar Waxw ing S tar l ing E ng li sh Sparroi,'J He ad ow l a r k Re d-w i ng Rus ty B l ackb i rd Br onze Gr a ck l e C ov�b i rd C ard in a l G o l d f inch Towhe e Sw a mp Spar r ow S on g Spa r r ow Ruddy Duck rur-te d Ti tmouse B l ack- capped Ch i ck a de e
Cha r l e s L . C onr a d Wh e e l lng t> 'N .. Va ..
KING R A IL BREEDING RECORD A T 'i.:OS ::::U I TO LAKE
On July 22 , 1 95 1 . I � a s p r o sp e c t in g f or sh ore b ir d s in the N or thw e s t se c t i o n of Mo squ i t o Lak e .. Tne i mm ed i a te terr i t o r y includ e d IJV 1 1d m eadowl a nd v d t h kne e -hi gh c ov e r I'> sma l l ea t t a i l s ta n d s , a nd r ec en t ly e xpo s e d mud -f l a t s - a l l i n a v e r y c ompa c t ar e a . ab out 50 y ar d s s qua r e . �hi l e engag e d in c ount in g a f lo c k. o f W e s tern s a n d p i p e r s ( Er eun e t e s ma ur i ) , I no t i c ed' a sm a l l b l a ck bIrd ab out 50 I t . ' awa y ; on th e b ar e · mud -f lat t b e tw e en the ' sand pi per s and my s e lf . I s aw a t once tha t th ey c ould only b e R a i l ch i c k s in the d owny s t ag e , but wha t k i nd? I w a s a lr e a dy e xp o s ed and c ould not t a k e c ov er ;
The Re d s t a r t Vo l .. X D� No .. :3 P age 7 1
I c oul d only r e tr e at or a dvance . B ef ore I c ould m a ke up my m ind wh ich to d o , I h e a r d a har sh p shor t t scr ee ching c a ll c oming f r om the h i @l e r gr owth on the o the r si de o f the mud£l a t . The b ab y r a i l s pa id l i t t le or no a ttenti on but ke pt on turning about out i n the open. A f ter 2 or :3 m inute s c a l l ing pr o duc e d no r esul t s � the a dul t b ir d l e f t c ove r and went out on the mud f l a t a f te r th e b ab i e s . It w a S unmi s t a kably a king r a i l (Ra l lus e o e l egan s ) . It w a s put to s ome t r oub l e t o r ound up th e f am i ly � the b ab i e s w er e enj oy ing th e w ide op en spa c e s and w ere of no mind t o l eave thi s f a sc i na t ing p l a ce . Fina l ly the a du l t k ing r a i l r ounde d the m a l l up and they r e t i r e d in s ingle f i l e t o more Ra i l -l i ke surr ound ings in the t a l l gr a ss on the edge o f the mud f la t ... Wh i l e the adult b ird w a s g a th er ing the y oung o ne s toge the r , i t s t o ppe d i t s shr i ll c a l l s and used a so f te r clucki ng no te , whi c h i t c on t inue d a s it l e d the b ab i e s a l o ng i n the gr a s s . I w ould e s tima te tha t I had the m unde r ob s e rvat ion f o r per ha p s 10 t o 1 5 m inu t e s ..
On July 2 . 19 5 1 $" I f lushed an a du l t king r a i l f rom ta ll gr a s s ab out 100 y a r d s f r om the ab ove-menti one d spot .. Howe ver I C Quld n o t f ind a nes t .. That w a s the fi r s t t ime I ha d s e en a king r a i l in the ijosqu i to L a ke ter r i to ry .
A s far a s I a m aw are � thi s i s the f ir s t d ef ini te br e e d ing r e cord f or the Young s town ar ea . The Ohi o state iiu seum a t C o lumbus ha s a spe c i l7len co l l e ct e d b y S tewar t . r e po r ts h av i ng s e en tw o i mma ture k i ng r a i ls a t Mosqu i t o i n the SU�TIer of 1 9 51 .
Ho� ar d He im erd i nge r G ir a r d l'I> Ohio
THE 19 5 2 HA¥JK C OUN T
Hi lle Lake
S eptemb er 20-81 w i ll m a r k a b i g w e ek-end f or seve r a l hundred ha':J k w a tche r s ove r the ea s t e r n half o f the Uni t e d s tat e s Q On tho se t rJ o d ay s a coo r dina ted e ff o r t w i l l b e made to t r a c e the movement s and numb er s of haw k s migr a t ing from the shore s o f the Gre a t La kes � the Appa l a chian Mountains . and the Atl ant ic C o a st .
we s t V i rg ini a i s a s t r id e s ome of the m a j or mi gr a t ion r oute s of s outhb o und hawks , so i t i s to b e h op ed tha t enough ob s e rvers can be av a i lab le to ge t r e a l l y good cover age of a ll
The R e d s t a r t Vo l o XIX N o . :3 P a� e 7 2
o f our b e t t e r s p o t s . In s p i t e o f l a s t y e a r t s poor f l i ght . Y; e n orj know en ough of th e m i gr a t i on pa t t ern to e l i mina t e s e ve r a l unl i ke ly s p o t s and c on c en t r a t e o n e i th e r ch e c king the g o o d on e s o r f ind ing new r i d ge s .
Romney � i l l s t i l l b e a g p o d � o r k ing b a s e f o r thi s b ig r; e ek - e nd . The l.'ir i t e r i s onc e a ga i n a c t ing a s c oo r d in a t o r and � i l l m a ke a l l n e c e s sa r y a r r ange m e n t s f o r h o u s, ing in R omne y . I t i s r e que s t e d tha t a l l wh o a r e int e r e s te d i n the haw k c o un t s c onta c t t h e E d i to r , s o t h a t a p p r op r i a t e p l an s m a y b e ma d e . I t i s n o t n e c e s s ary tha t e v e ryb o dy c om e to Romne y . A r r angement s c an b e m a d e t o c o v e r any l i ke ly s p ot in W e st V ir g in i a . Whi l e i t i s d e s ir ab l e tha t the emph a s i s
b e on the \"J e e k - end of S e p t e mb e r 20 - 2 1 t any one w i sh i ng t o g e t out on e 1 the r the 1 3- l4 th o r 27 -2 8th m a y d o s o . I n f a c ·t a ny o r a l l c ount s ""Ii l l b e 1:"J e l c om e . P l e a s e a d d r e s s a l l c o r r e sp ond enc e in the se ma t t er s t o the Ed i t or .
w . R . DeG a rmo B ev er l y ) W . Va .