VOL. XVI, No .. 2 March, 19491 Tssue

tIl. R. DeGarmo

Editor

CON TEN T S

The Ornithological Ye ar in 'Nest Vir'ginia .;.. 1948 Maurice Brooks . • . � • • • • • • • . . :

The 1948 Christmas Bird Count . . . (I <.* • e • • . .

Pages 18-36

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Page

19

21

The 1949 Foray . • • ., • • • • . • • • • • • • . • . • . • • 33

Mid-Winter Meeting . . . q • • � � � • • � • • D • . 0 .

Field Notes = Swainson1s t'larblE:r in Cabell County, tV. Va.

King Hail Nesting in 1!layne County, ViI � Vao .

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33

34

35

Northern Horned Lark Reported in Ohio County. 35

Late Record for Green Heron in Monongalia County 36

1:lhi te-Winged Crossbills in Ohio County

Horned Grebes in Preston County •

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• 9 o • '"

36

36

American Egret Observed • • • . • • � • • • • • 36

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Marcl!:-'l--1949

Th'E ORNITHOLOGICAL YEAR IN "lEST VIRGI:UA - 1948

By IIaurice Brooks

}�S in past years, I shall attempt a Slmmary of ornithological happenings and developments in 'Jest Virginia during 1948. Many of the observation s and studies which I shall mention have been pub.· lished, or are aWLiting publication, elsewhere. The recapitulation, however, gives us a chance to measure our progress during the year.

Organizati OTIS of bird students continue to flourish in the state. There are st.rong, active clubs ln ';!heelin g, Huntington, and Charle s-, ton, and much work of an informal n ature is being done in Morgon ... town, Fairmont, and other centers. The Redstart and The Chat have appeared regularly, both c.dding constantly to our knm'lledge of the state's bird life. AudubGn Screen Tours have been successfully sponsored in Euntirtgton and ''lheeling, these doing much to spread 6rnithological intetest.

Outstandinc in they-ear's field work is the series of breed�ng­bird censuses carried out at the Brooks Bird Club Foray, unner the general direction of '.'1. R. DeGarmo. These population studies were made at high elevations in Pocahon tas and Randolph counties. Five areas were intensively studied, these including virgin spruce­northern hardwGod forest, young spruce forest, young deciduous for­est, mature deciduous forest, and mixed evergreen�deciduous river-bottom forest. ElevE'.tions ranged from 2950 to 4445 feet. '

11. th '. v:':'rgin spruce·-northern harnwood tr ,ct 381 breed .... ng pairs per 100 c..;rss were couhted. This is .'. J:l�ew high figure for a forest of this type, c<nd sho1!!s a Darked incre ase over the Do-pulation of 322 pairs l'l:cord.ed in the same area by Aldrich and Ste�vart in 1947. In young spruce forest on Gaudineer Knob 345 pairs per hundred acres were counted. In young deciduous forest 2. total of 261 pairs per hundred. acres was found. Mature deciduous forest had the unusually. high to tal of 362 pairs per hundred acres, In the mixed river­bottom forest the density was 273 pE:drs per hundred acres,

Particul8rly among the wood w arblers, some very high populations were found. In virgin spruce Blackburnian warbler (Dendroica fusca) led the list iNi th 65.6 pairs per hundred, acres followed by map"­nolia wU'bler (I!�_12dr::oi.2'§ .!I@gnolia) with 52.8 p �irs. Young spr�ce forest hbd the phen�menally high to tal of 127.3 �ai� of magnolia warb�rs per hundrea &cres. Juncos, with 67.0 pairs were in second pO.$ition .. In y<?ung decidu?us forest veeries (Hylocichla fuscescens) �ea the IlSt, wlth 50.2 p�lrs, and chestnut-sided warblers {Den­groica �nsyl ycg�i£9.J, with 33.5 pairs, were in second place. - Black­thro�ted green warblers (Dendroica virens), with 93.8 pairs p er hundred acres, dominated in the mature deciduous forest, followed by oyen-birds (�ei�rus auroc�illu2) with 67.0 pairs. In the mixed rlyer-bottom,1orest magnoT�a warbler and red-eyed vireo (Vir§Lo_ Ol1:Y§cius) tled at 42.0 palrs each. There was no evidence of any u�usua lnse�t ou�breok, or of other factors to produce abnormally hlgh populatlons ln any of the areas under study. DeGarmo's report of these censuses was made the feature article in the November, 1948, issue 01· Audubon Fie Id :fITotes. ----- -

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voL. XVI, No. 2 THE REDSTART r.n:arch, 1£49

The year w�s also notable for the number of unusual observations made. Haller, during the autumn, collected three examp�es of �el­son's sharp-tailed sparrows (AmmqpRiza £��dacuta Nelson�), a b�rd new to our state list, at Beech Bottom, Brooke county. On October 12, Dr. Robe�t.C. Conn, of Bound Brook, N, J�, found three pine grosbea� q (1?�nlcol� �11clec,tor leuc1:l£.§) at Lake Lynn, near Horgan­'town. 1hllu',m-ryyIle Qlscovered� white-winged crossbills (Loxia leucoptera !�ucopteral at T'!heeling on December 24. These birds were also seen by Haller.

During spring migration there was a com)aratively heavy flight of Holboell's grebes (golymQ� B!is�gen� D9lbollii) at Lake Lynn. �or a period of two weeks six to eight of these birds could be seen fr'Jll1 the Ice's Ferry. bridge, and variations of plumage showed that the2e were constantly shifting population s. In early s.eptember there VT6.;:' � phenomenal flight of pied-billed grebes (,fodi1yrribus £9dic�12§ .2ccli· ce�s). Baggs found between 200 and 300 in one mornng along the l'Jest Fork river, at Jackson I s Mill, Lewis county. I fo und flocks of 20 or more on a number of small limestone sinkhole ponds in Green­brier and Monroe counties.

A feature of late fall and early winter bird life has been the unusual abundance of lingering warblers.. IlIyrtle warblers (�droi£.§. £Q£..Q.g§ta £.Q£.Qn§1§J are far more common throughout the state than is normal for the species. There have been a number of reports (ex­tending into the new year) of wintering pine (D�ndroi£.§. �inUq) and and western palm (�droica �. pc.lmaruIl1) warblers. Most remarkab2.e of all, Alston and Louise Shields, of Charleston, report a redstart i§etopha� rYtiQt�+§) Wintering at their feeding shelf. Ot::er �9E.?�E:8 which normally winter fartb'�r south have lingered. Leg�, ::-J?- lhch�las cour;ty, has re'pC'I-ted Bevdck' s wrens (1hr1l0m&D.§§ be�]�l�l�), sna there 18 � reco rd for December 22 at Huntington. The Huntl:lgi;.-?n group reportee. a Bachman ! s sparrow (Jiimophila aeqtiv&lis bachmaTI�) on their Christmas count. --- -- ----------

Each ye�r bri�gs u�_further knowledge of Swainson's warbler (Lim­noth�� �D§Qll1�?in �he st�te. The Charleston group, and-oUler obseryers1 ha"te c:ontlnuea studles of this species. I'fe may now ex­pect to flnd 1t ln every county in south-central ana. southwestern -,jest Virginia. Handley and DeGarmo were also able to locate the nest of a p&ir of yellow-throated warblers (Dendroica dominica) (race undetermined) near Charleston. . --------

Somewhat belatedly, information comes to hand that the winter of 194E brought a number of snowy owls Ctlygtea gmgiacE.) to the state. One record from Eonroe county has been published previously, but FrB-rll< Johnson reports that a taxidermist in Marion county mounted two speci mens taken near Rivesville. l'Jevertheless, they seem largely to hav e escaped the attention o f bird students.

During the year AuduQ9� lieJd li£tes instituted a series of regular reports covering the Appal&.chian region. These regional reports make possible the systeL£tic publication of bird data relative to the un­glaciated Appalachian highlands. ":est Virginia students are able to assess and cor.1pare their findings with those from other portions of the area.

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___ -___ ._ lA:arg.fh. 1949

Practically all organized groups in the state held Ilcentury daysll in the spring, and made Christmas bird counts. The Huntington Bird study Club led their competitors in both of these activities, a tribute both to the acti vi ty c,f its inembers and to the richness of the bird life in the lower Ohio Valley.

There are many evidences that ornithology in t.'lest Virginia is growing up_ No longer are we dependent on faunal lists alone, although th�y still have their place, and there is need for nn.lch work of this na-­ture in certain sections, particularly the southwest portion of the state. There is, doubtless, mucb taxonomic worl:: to be done, al­though in the present day of hair-line races more and more bird stu­dents are losinF: interest in such work. Modern ornithology is plE..r�­ing ever greater stress on sound ecological and life history studi,::.:�, The accomplishments of the 1948 Foray stand as a shining example of what can be done along these lines by an energetic and alert group.

Division of Forestry "lest Virginia University Morgantown, �'lest Virginia

THE 1948 CHRISTLTP.S BIRD COUNT ------.-.-----�------

The 1948 ChI'istmas Bire. Count, scheduled for the dates of December 26, 1948 to J&nuary 2, 1949, was taken in what must have been one of the mildest winters on record in the eastern half of the United States. The bird reports, both in number of species and of indi­viruals � refler;t this condition. Accordingly, a ch,s,r't has been pre­pared :::;;1owing the various points a;:' which counts were taken in TJest Virginic. &nd. borde:cing are&s in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvanict. Numbers of each species IT£Y be obtained by referring to the individu­al accounts which follow these remarks.

The editor cannot resist the te!:'1ptation to r,lake a few comments on the occurrence of several species throughout the �ea covered by these lists.

T::aterfowl, except for a good representation of speCies, present only one very interesting highlipht. The occurrence of blue geest iQhen caerulescens) and snow geese (Q� h-Y2erbQ�g§) in the Youngs­town area reflects only one part of the pattern of migration for the two species, as both have been recorded during l-Tovember migration over widespread areas along the Appalachian mountains. At Youngs­town large numbem of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have been seen in migration or were wintering in the-area. Loons-and gulls, on the other hand, wer� extremely scarce.

Mild winter weather has contributed to a number of records for species �anging far north of their usual wintering range. A few are notable, and call for some cownent. Red-bellied woodpeckers (Cen­turus carolinu§l have been unusually common and widespread, having been recor6.ed in 14 of the 16 counts represented in this comparison. The occurrence of the phoebe (.§aY9J.:nis .2hQ§.be) at Youngstown is a new record for thLt area. Bewick IS vvrens . (Thyroman� bewickii) were noted at both iJt. Lookout and West Alexander, Pennsylvania, the

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\IoL. XVI, No. 2 TIrE REDSTART

latter probably a northern record f or that area. It might also be added that the editor noted the winter occurrence of the sp ecies at · !ellsburg, Brooke County, I:,!. Va., just north of ''Jest Alexander.

At Charleston, the first winter record for the catbird (�metella �arolinensis) was obtained. Among the warblers, the occurrence of the -llyrtle ( Dendroi£.§, caronata) at Blacksburg , Lexington, Portsmouth, , :untington , CharlE::ston, and Morgantown is consistent for the south­ern end of the territ ory. The presence of the p ine warbler (Den-­g£Qica P3nus) at Huntington and western palm warbler (�gndroica �. palmarum in Charleston marks the second cons.ecutive year in which these two species have wintered in those areas.

To find occasional cowb irds (Molothru8 ater) wintering is to be ex­pected, but it is certainly unusuaI-to find them at Portsmouth , huntington, Charleston, and Youngstown. Pine siskins (§2� £. pinus) were found in some numbers in Portsmouth and at Mt. Lookout. At Charleston, the lark bunting ( Cal amospi za melanocorys) represented one of the few records for the Las�, and prObaoIY·a new winter reco rd for this area. It is also an addition to �'lest Virginia I s avifauna . At Huntington, a new winter record for the state was also obtained in the Bachman I s sparrow (:8-im o'Qhil1?- aesti valis bach manjJJ.

This has been a truly reniarkable winter, and has yielded many inter­esting records to the ornitholo�ists who have been able to get into the field regularly.

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Black§bllr.�

Blacksburg (Eont8'omery Co.), Va, (\'. F'. I . ccimpus and farm, Strouble t s Creek.to N-;.w River, Er�sh Ht. and 'loc's Cre ek to New River, along New Rlver Irom mouth OI Strquble ' s Creek to Goodwin's Ferry; same course as last year; woods 45%j farmland 357�, river-bottom 20jb). Dec. 27, 1948; 6:30 a.m. to 5:�0 p.m. Clear; temp • • 30 to 300 F; vdnd ST7, 8-12 m . p . h . on mountain tops early a.m.; t alm in val�eys; ground covered with 1-3 inches snow; all rrarshes except about springs frozenr Six observers in 4 parties. Total hours 38 (36 on fo ot, 2 in car used by one party in shifting from place to place and in�ck� ing up two other parties at end of day); total miles 85 (55 on foot, 30 by car), Common loon, 1; pied -billed grebe, 2; mallard, 218; black duck, 2 1 1; gadwall , 4; b aldpate, 29; pintail , 1; green-winged teal, 2 1; blue-winged te al , 1; wood duck, 2; ring· ... necked duck, 2; Am. golden-eye , 12; buffle-head, 2, hooded rns:..rganser, 17; duck (uni­dentified, probably Am. golden-eye) , 75; turkey vulture� 13; bl�ck vulture, 8; sharp-shinned hawk, 1; Cooper's hawk, 1; red-tailed hawk, 3; red-shouldered hawk, 1; marsh hawk, 1; sparrow hawk, S; ruf fed grouse, 2; bob-white , 44 (6 coveys); coot, 1; killdeer, 14; '!iilson's snipe, 14; rock dove (feral), 22; mourning dove, 36 ( remains of an­other which had been killed by a red fox during the previous night) ; screec h owl , 3; great horned owl , 1; barred owl, 2; belted kingfisher� 5; yellow -shafted flicker , 7; pileated woodpecker, 3; red-bellied woodpecker , 5; red-headed woodpecker, 3; yellow-bellied sapsucker, 1; h airy woodpecker, 4; downy woodpecke r , 25; e ast ern phoebe, 1; horned lark, 95; blue jay, 24; crow, 161; Carolina chickadee, 160; tufted titmouse, 86; white-bre&sted nuthatch, 21; red-breasted nuthatch , 10;

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VOte X.V!, No. 2 THE REDsTART March, 194�

brown creeper� 15; winter wren, 14; Carolina \vren, 85; mockingbird, 14; hermit thrush, 9; eastern bluebird, 23; golden-crowned kinglet, 85; ruby-crowned kinglet , 2; loggerhead shrike, 5; starling, 224, myrtle wcrbler, 2; English sparro'w, 121; eastern meadowlark, 00; red-1!fing, 2; rusty ,blackbird, 10; cardinal, 156; purple finch, 24; Am. goldfinch! 152; towhee, 1; slate-colored junco, 729; tree sparrov", 282; fiela Si)arrow , 60 ; white-crowned sparrow, 119; whi te-throaten. s1?�rrow, 10;

, son€, sparrow, 167. Total 73 species; about 3,706 ind=-­

vlduals. (Seen ln area Dec. 25: green heron 1 - found dei:.i.d on D�-::!, 27; Dec. 26: robin, 1,) - C. O. Handley, Sr. 'cc Jr. John hI. Handley Robert J T',r"'tson J "/ T,7 "1 R D G ' , - o .!'-' , . . .I. ,ill rray , 10 1 . e armo.

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Lexin,g-ton -..---.---

C. O. Handley, Sr. Charleston, T'l. Va.

Lexington, Va. (Almost the same area as in former years; town 5N, 3ig SBfing Pond 5'i9, f armland 25�;j, cedar w oods 35�", oak woods 20iO; scrub 1 �) - Dec. 27, 19�8; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; 40 minutes out for Innch. Clear all CLay, temp. 90 to 430 F.; practically no wind; ground frozen; streams bordered with ice, Big Spring Pond open. Seven observers in one pa rty six all day and one half time. Total hours, 8i; total miles 31.7 (11.4 on foot, 20.3 in car). Great b:l.�le heron, 3; mallB.rd, 13; black duck; 15; turkey vulture, 19; red-ta::'Jo.:3. haw k, 1; marsh hawk, 1; sparrow hawk, 2; "lilson's snipe, 1; belter:. k ingfisher, 3; f lick er; 2; pile ated woodpecker, 3; red-bellied WO')·:",·, pecker, 3; red-headed woodpecker, 1; hairy woodpecker, 1; downy WCFJ(}­:0eC''l:er, 4; hornea 1 c:; rk , 6; blue jay, 15; ero"!, 132; Caroli.na chicK:c>­dee, 32; tufted ti trr:ouse, 16; whi tE.-bre8stsd nuthatch, 6; brown creeper, 2; wintel' v!ren, 2; Carolir:..a wren, 10; mockingbird, 9; robin, 3; hermit thrush, 1; bluebird, 15; golden-crowned kinglet, 6; migrCint shrike, 3; starling, 45; myrtle warbler, 14; English sparrow, 66; meadowlark, 11; c ardi nal , 44; p urple finch, 13; goldfinch, 7; junco, ' J.OO; tr�e spnrroW, 52; f'ield sparrow, 4; white-throated sp arrow , 1�?2j scng sparrow

l 15. Total, 42 species; 743 individuals, R. P. C.s.rroll

"\lice Carrol , T'j. L. Richards, F. 11. Yellott, T'{obert Paxton, Robert :,;foses, Joe Me-gee.

E2ttsmouth

R. P. Carroll Lexington, Va.

portsmouth, Ohio ( same are� covered as in 1947, along river and creek banks, edges of cultivated fields and in deciduous forest ). Dec. 26, 1948:. dawn to dusk. Temp. 130 F. at start with clear skies and no 'Hind; ground and ponds frozen, streams open. Five observers in two groups. Total miles 105 (85 by car and 20 on foot) . Mallard, 300 (est.); black duck, 700 (est.); An. merganser, 2; Cooper's hawk, 1; r p.6.-tai1ed hawk, 3; red-shouldered hawk, 1; bald eagle, 1; sparrow r'c.wk, 20; bob .. white, 10; killdeer, 5; mourning dove, 81; belted king­fisher, 1; yellovv-shafted flicker, 1; red-bellied woodpecker, 12; hairy woodpecker, 4; downy woodpecker , 27; blue jay, 13; c::,ow, 101; . Ca rolina ch ickadee , 63; tufted titmouse, 92; white-breastea. n uthatch , 12; brown creeper, 1; winter wren, 1; Caroline:.. wren, 13; robin, 7;

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VOL. XVI, No. 2 THE REDSTARrr March, 1949

hermit thrush, 2; eastern bluebird, 6; golden-crovmed kinglet, 10; cedar waxwing, 4; starling, 15000 (est.); myrtle warbler, 2; English sparrow, 125; red-wing , 150; rusty blackbird , 200 (e s,t, ) ; cowbi rd, 55; gr ackle, 320 ( est. ) ; cardinal, 304; purple finch, 54; pine siskin � 20; Am. goldfinch, 107; towhee, 13; junco, 254; tree sparrow, 95; field sp arrow, 1 (examined at close range with 8X glasses, C. R.); white-thro&ted sparrow, 2; song sparrow, 64. Total , 46 species; ap­;)roxirnately 18,285 ind ividuals. Conrad Roth, }i'loyd B. Chapman, George R, Barr y , Tom Gallaugner , Gusty Hall .

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Hunting1Qu

Virginia Cavendish Huntington, �:J. Va.

Huntington, W. Va., (Game area as 1940 and subsequent counts; open fields, decid.uous woodlands , mixed conifers, river, sanctuory, p5r1-:s) etc,) Dec. 26, 1948; 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Clear ; tempo 50 to 2'2.') 1; ':j,uiet; ground bEtre, Thirty-three observers in 12 p &rties . Tota l hOllrs 73 (68 on foot, 5 by car); total miles 144 (52 on foot, 92 by car ) . CEmadc� goose, 6; mallard, 2; black d uck, 1; scaup duck, 2 ; hooded merganser, f); sh&rp-shinned hawk, 1; Cooper! s hawk, 1;.

red­shouldered hav,rk, 1; ���)arrow hawk, 5; r uff'ed grouse, 1; bob-whl te, 1; killdeer , 7; ring-billed gull, 2; rock dove, 20; mourning dove, 4; barn owl , 1; screech oV/l i barred owl, 1; flicker, 14; red-belli:!ll woodpecker, 2; yellovv-beilled sapsucker, 4; h airy woodpecker, 13; downy w oodpecker, 54; blue jay, 46; crovv, 42; Sarolina ch ickadee, 242; tufted titmouse, 179; �Nhite -breasted nuthatch, 8; red -L reasted i1U\ .. h&tch, 2; b;.-own creeper, 3; winter wren� 2; C&rolina v'lren, 59; mockingbird, 7; robin, 12; hermit t1:rush; 6; bluebird, 73; golden­cJ:'own�d kinglet, 7; cedar ,vmX\ving, 26; _st&rling, 168; myrtle war:-bler, ?l: plne vfc:"r'bler, 3; .,�ngllsh sparrowi 20�; me adm'dark, .4; red-vvElg, .1..07; cowblra, 4; caraJ,nal, 341; purp e flnch, 5; golfJ-flnch, 127; towhee, 82; ve.3per s l'Prrow , 6; Bachman I s sparrow, 2; junco , 254,: t!'ee sparrow, 91; white throo.ted sparrow, 86; fox s�)arrow, 2; s'\"ramp spar row, 13L_s0!lg sp<?-r'row, 134. TotC:1.1 57 species; 2532 individ�C':.ls.

, O;)servers: N. i:: 8.y ard Green, John H, Dawson, Kathryn Cren shaw, t.l os;:;:';:, Ro bert s, Jr., Lois Garrett, I'lIrs. liial ter Kerr, George H. Gunnoe, DE:;, v'��c. Fox, Rachael E. Vlilson, Dorothy Fisher, Olive LTort lson, Mrs. H. r.:. Hale , Nell Rose Hale , t'lrS, Ira No wlan , i�'1rs. ",7illiam Scringeon, Mrs. Vada Mc1Nilliams, James Shir8s, Larry Garges, Jr" Mrs. C. S. Yv'agGr.s, I:-, a�� hiIrs

r,' Le� R'r, Stor,S y , �Mrs, H, AT' Resener, John Fo�, Virginia,

Cavenalsh, .L1Tr. 6.l1d J"tTrs. , . h. Odell, .. ,Irs. George Long, 1.ll'S , L. c� A,lex&nde!,., �ugh Land \ Ho w�ll Land.� I,:TI's .. Grady Risen , George llartin, hI'S. S. 1,1. Lartley. (Huntlngton Blrd Study Club)

*Observed while s:inging b y J. S.

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Ralph M. Edeburn Huntington, �I{, Va.

VoL. XV I, No. 2 TEE REDSTART March , 1£4£

Bluefieid, ''I. Va" (same area as former years, including portions of Mercer Co. '.'1. V&., and Tazwell Co, Va., meb.dow with brushy r02.d­S�Qe 72>0, lc::.ke and m arshy creek bottoms 20;9, woods 5�, urban 3%). Dec. 29, 1�A8; 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. �nd 1:30 I?m. �o 5:00 p. m. Rain until 3: 00 p. m., overcast; temp. ;)00 F.; "'/lnd S'J, moderate to strong; snow in hills, some iCi on lake. Two observers in a.m. Total hours, 111 (5 on foot, 62 by . car); total miles 48 ( 3 on foot, 45 by car). Sparrow hawk, 1; downy woodpecker, 4; blue jay, 3; Carolina chickadee, 4; tufted titmouse , 4; white-breasted nuthatch, 2; winter v.Jl"'en, 1; Carolina wren, 3; mockingbird, 2; bluebird, 5; starling, 288; English sparrow, 4O ( est . ); c�rdinal, 27; ju�co , l� (est.); swamp sparrow, 1; song sparrow, ll� Total �8 sI?ec�es; 407 individuals. (Recorded,on area, Deco 28, towh�e ana,w��te�thr9&t�� sparrow; Dec. 30, mourn�ng dove,,) Observers� l'JTrs. M�m�am G. D�cklll�' son, Mrs. C. L. seyler.

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Charle ston ---...........--

Miriam G. Dickinson Bluefield, 'V. Va.

Charleston, "!. Va. (suburbs, Great Kanawha River Valley and adj b.cent hills and valleys from Marmet to Institute, Elk River and vicinity from Big Chi�ley to Charleston, So. Charleston to Kana wha State For� est; open farmland nnd grassland 10%, woodland 60�o, wooded river­bottom 30%). - JS.n. 1 1949; 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m . Clear to partl.�· cloudy; temp. 22° to �60 F.; w ind SW, 12-15 ffi.p.h; 0 .. 1 inch snow ()n grour:d; still yv>.ter aretls frozen over. �wenty-fi ve observers in 16 part�es. Tota.L hours 81 (15 at feeders, 61 on foot, 5 by car); total miles, 159 (73 on_foot, 86 by car). Iftallard, 1; pintail, 1; hooded merganser, 1; rea-shouldered hawk, 1; sparrow hawk, 11; ruffed grouse, 4; bob -white , 44; killdeer, 19) rock dove (feral), 65; mourning dove, 30; barn ovvl, 1; flicker, 14; red-bellied woodpecker, 1; red- headed woodpecker, 5; yellow-bellied sapsucker, 1; hairy wood­peck3:P, 4; downy woodpecker, 70; phoebe, 1; horned lark, 75; blue jay, 21; crow, 29; Carolina chickadee, 335; tufted titmouse, 181: white-breasted nuthc....tch � 48; brown creeper, 4; winter wren, 6; Caro­lina wren� 94; mockingb�rd, 1; catbird (COH Jr.), 1; hermit thrush, l:?; bluE:b �rd, 16; golden -crowned kinglet, 16; cedar waxwing, 2; star­l�ng, 783; myrtle w&rbler , 2; Vfestern p alm warbler, 1; English spa;"'­row, 546t red-wing, 2; cowbird, 1; carninal. 534; Am. goldfinch, 1151; purple f�nch � 6; towhee, 159; lark bunting (tll. R.D.), 1; Savannah sparrow, ]q Junco,�629; tree sparrow, 142; field sparrow , 240; white­throated sparrowi 244; fo� sparrow, 21; swamp sp&rrow, 5� song spar­row, 442. (The ark bunt�ng was collected on Jan. 3, 1849.) Total 52 spec ies, about 5036 individuals. Observers: - R. ':layne Bailey, Sybil Ball, Lucy Barber, Sarah Barber, '}. R. DeGarmo, Richard Englano j:: •. • B. ShiE:lds, J2mes E. T'IcCarty, Mr. 6:. 1',:Trs. John '1. Eandlan, Jonnie T.Villiamson, C. 0 t. Handley , Sr., C. 0 .. Handley, Jr., John M. Handley, Rr ' il.& Mrs, RO�Ter:t D : , Ketc:hum, Gladys Murrey, ')illiam F. Strunk, Mrs� T. 4. Trout, J.!;rs� Rc..J.ph !l Orwood , George Hurley, Hrs. A. C. Clark, R. G. Walsh, Blsle Jones, Ethel Jones, Robert Stephens. (Charleston Chapter of the Brooks Bird Club.)

-25-

C. O. Handley, Sr. Charleston, ','I. Va.

VOL. XVI.! No. 2 THE REDSTART

Mt. Lqokollt:

Barch, 1949

Mt. Lookout (Nichol5.s Co,), ly. Va. (same area as in 1941 and later counts; deciduous and hemlock woodland 745o, pine grove 110, farmland 25%). - Jan. 2, 1949; 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Cloudy; temp. 190 to 330 F.; wind S, 1-7 m.p.h.; ground covered with snow. Two observ��s, separate in a. m., together most of p. m. Total hours, 14; total mLLes 17 (on foot). Ruffed grouse, 2; mourning dove, 2; flicker, 1; pile­ated woodpecker, 5; red-bellied woodpecker, 2; hairy woodpecker, 6, downy woodpecker, 16; blue jay, 21; crow, 7; chickadee, 13; tufted titmouse, '57 ; white-breasted nuthatch, 9; bro'wn creeper, 1; winter wren, 1; Carolin& wren, 3; Bewick's wren, 2; robin, 71; hermit thrush, 14; bluebird 3; golden-crowned kinglet, 27; cedar waxwing) 75; starling, 6; Engii sh s parrow, 118; cardinal, 75; purple fincr.; 3; pine Siskin, 27; goldfinch, 8; towhee, 11; tiunco, 500; tree spar­row, 69; song s parrow, 5. Total 31 species; 1160 individuals. Observers: ':1. C. Legg , Alton ;\ilcClung.

"IV. C. Legg NIt .. LookoUG, W. Va�

- - - - - � - - - -

Sago

Sago (Gilmer C o .) �V. Vb.. (Roads and fields wi thin one mile of resi� dence; road$ides 25{:;J, woods 50�o, open fields 25%). Dec. 25, 1948; Jl:OO a,m,. to 1:00 pAm, Partly cloudy; temp. 150 F�; wind s light t) strongi One observer. Total hours, 2j total miles 2 on foot, Pj.],,;, a.ted woodpecker, 4; red-bellied 'woodpecker l' doVv'1ly woodpecker ; ; tufted'titmouse., ; mockingbird, 1; bluebird., 4; junco, 40; tree'E.p;"s.:,� row, 20; song sp Elrr ow , 2. Total 9 species; 75 individuals. (Seer' in area Dec. 26: white-breasted nuthatch, 2; cardinal, 2.) E. R. Grose.

- - - - - - - -

Middle2�n�

E. R, Grose Sago, '1;'1. Va.

Middlebourne, '.'I. Va., (edge of town tQ brushy pastures, deciduous 'Noodlands E:.nd brushy roadsides). Dec ."" 27, 1948; about 6� hours; t�NO observers in one group a Cooper I s hawk, 1; ruffed grouse, 1; flicker, 5; red-bellied WOodpBcker, 2; downy woodpecker, 6; crow, 4; chickadee

i 46; tufted titmouse, 13; white-breasted nuthatch, 2; br:ill:

creep�r, � CaroliI?-a wren, 6; mockingbird, 1; robin, 8; bluebird� 22; starl�ng, 44; Engl�s h s parrow, 82; cardinal, 40; goldfinch , 16; tel\" hee, 6; junco, 7; tree sparrow, 36;. song sp 5rrow, 5. Total 22 spe­cies ; 354 individuals. Observers: Edna Gregg, Pearl Gregg.

-26-

Pearl Gregg Hiddlebourne, W. V5.

VOL. XVI, No. 2 THTI REDSTART March, 1949

Morgantown

Morgantown , W. Va. (Vicinity Morgantown a nd Cheat Lake, same gen­eral areas as in past several years; farmlands, forestlands and water). - Jan. 2,

-1949; 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cloudy with brisk

win� temp. 300 F., at start, slightly higher at mid-day, lower again at finish. Six observers in two parties. Total miles, 50 (35 by car 15 on foot). Goose (sp.?); black duck, 19; sparrow h�wk, 1;_ bob!white, 1; flicker, 3; pileated woodpecker, 1; red-bell�ed WOOd­pecker, 3; hairy woodpecker, 7; downy woodpecker, 11; horned lark, E6'; blue jay, 7; cro,\;'!, 41; chickadee, 32; tufted titmouse, 71; . v{hite-breasted nuthatch, 11; brown creeper, 2; Carolina wren, 10; . �ermit thrush, 2; bluebird, 3; golden-crowned kinglet, 1; starlrr�g, 350; myrtle warbler, 9; English sparrow, 157; meadowlark, 8; cardl­nal, 68; goldfinch, 1; junco, 30; tree sparrow, 13; song sparrow, 59. Total 29 species; 978 individuals. Observers: Herman and .

Lucretia Bowers, Wayne Davis, l'lilliam Lo '.'lylie, Robert McCausland, I. B. Boggs.

- � - - - - - - - -

�fueeling

I. B. Boggs Morgantown, W. Va.

ifueeling (Ohio Co.), �J. Va. (city proper, Ohio River, Warwood to Beech Bottom, Hiddle 1:1heeling Creek, Big T'Jheeling Creek, 'ATheeling Park, 'west Liberty, Oglebay Park, Ohio County Airport, It''lest Alex­ander, Pa.; open farmlands and fi elds 3050, deciduous woods 25�, mixed conifers 5;0, brushy roadsides 2070, Big T'Jheeling and Middle \,lh�eling Creeks 205'0). Jan. 2, 1949: 6:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Morning general�y over�ast to clear bright in afternoon. Sharp wind, l5-20 m.p.h. ln mornlng to almost calm in evening. Temp. 280 to 340 F., ground frozen and nearly bare of snow except in sheltered spots, Ohio River open but pools and small lakes completely frozen over. Twenty-one observers in six groups. Total hours, 35 (18 by car, 17 on foot); total miles, 205 (162 by car, 43 on foot). Sharp-shinned hawk, l; red-tailed hawk, I; sp arrow hawk, 2; ruffed grouse, 2; ring-necked pheasant, 2; rock dove, 82; screech owl, 3; great horned owl, 3; belted kingfisher, 2; pileated woodpecker, 3; red� bellied woodpecker, 2; yello"vV-bellied sapsucker, 1; hairy wood­pecker, 6; downy woodpecker, 49; prairie horned lark, 37; northern horned l&rk, 3; crow, 774 (est.); Carolina chickadee, 157 (est.); tufted titmouse, 117 Cest')

i' white-breasted nuthatch, 13; brown creeper, 2; Bewlck's wren, ; Carolina wren, 23; robin, 2; golden­crowned kinglet, 12; starling, 907 (est.); house sparrow, 670 (est.� meadowl�rk, 1; rusty blackbird, 1; cardinal, 63 (est.); goldfinch, 14� junco, ll� (est.); tree sparrow, 260 (est.); field sparrow, 1; whlte-throatea sparrow, 1; song sparrow, 45 (est.)" Total 36 spe­cies; 3,183 individuals. (Dec. 24, white-winged crossbill, 2; cat­bird, 1; Dec. 29, herring gull, 1; Dec. 31, scaup duck, 3.) Ob ­servers: 1.'f. R. DeGarmo, Karl Haller, Elizabeth Etz, Mr. & Mrs. 1.'lm.

Bruhn, Robert :;JlcCausland, \,\fm. T'lylie, Pierre Roberts, Carolyn Conrad, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Conrad, Don Bole, Terry Bole, Edna Bowles, George Scheetz, t,/lr. &: Mrs. Thomas Smith, Rosemary Smi th, liIr. & Mrs. Orlo Mast.eller, Billie Brasch. (The Brooks Bird Club)

-27-

Elizabeth Etz "/heeling, 1,V. Va.

VOL. xV I, No. 2 THE REDST Ac"CtT March, 1949

Cadiz,. Oh�o(Gardens,"

Cadiz and vicini t?.ic brush and,.., weedfie�ds

. 25%,

open f1.elCls 25/.:7, WOOClS 2570, roadsides 2b,o ). Dec . G8, 1948, 8.30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mostly cloudy, few sunny periods; temp. 280 to 400 F.; wind S';';, light; ground bare, frozen. Seven observers in one party. Tot&l hours 7�' (6 on foot, It by car); total miles 21 (5 on foot, 16 by car). Red-tailed hawk, 1; sparrow hawk, 3; ruffed grouse, 1; belted kingfisher, 2; flicker, 1; pileated wood­pecker, 1; red-bellied woodpecker, 2; hairy woodpecker, 2; downy woodpecker, 13; horned lark, 14; crow5 3; chickadee, 35; tufted titmouse, 7; white-breasted nuthatch, 6; Carolina wren, 2; blue­bird, 7; starling, 64; Snglish s p�row, 100; cardinal, 11; gold­finch, 5; towl).ee, 1; j�nc<?, ,41; tree sparrow, 122; song sIBrrow, 14" Tot al 26 spec1.es, 585 1.Ud1.v1.duals. Observers: Mr. & ��s. John G. Worley, John ";or1ey, David T>Jorley, H. ;). HcConnell, John McArthur.

Steubenville

H. B. McConnell Cadiz, Ohio

Steubenville, (Jefferson Co.) Ohio, (area from Ohio River along Island CreEk road to Richmond, to Jeff€rson Lake, from Richmond to Townfork V&11ey to Jefferson State Park, through park area to west of park and vicinity, ')i11s Creek are& fromRoute 43 to Ohio River, up over hill from '.Iills Creek to golf course area, around golf course and through Union Cemetery to Calvary Cemetery to area around Braebarton Audubon trail; deciduous wooG.s 40�0, farm land 25%, bottom land lS,c?, coniferous 5;0, swampy brush land 15�.:7). Dec .. 26, lS48' 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Clear; temp. 60 to 200 F.; no wind, Eight observers, 3 parties part time. Tot al hours, 21; total miles, 30. Black duck, 35; scaup duck, 4; American merganser, 4; red­tailed hawk, 2; TI1E, rsh hawk, 1; ruffed grouse, 4; screech owl, 2; belted kingfisher, 2; flicker, 2; pileated woodpecker, 1; red­bellied woodpecker, 3; hairy woocipecker, 3; downy woodpecker, 31; horned l&rk, 6; crow, 1; Carolina chickadee, 94; tufted titmouse, 45; white-breasted nuthatch, 7; brown creeper, 1; Carolina wren, 5; hermit thrush, 1; bluebird, 5; golden-crowned kinglet, 2; starling, 588; English sp5.rrovv, 228; cardinal, 113; goldfinch, 2; junco, 110; tree sparrow, 150; field sparrow, 5; song sparrow, 54. Total, 31 species; 1511 individuals. Observers: Albert Tenney, Lois Lee Te�ey, Don

nRarey, G?il Ash, Dave Patton, Peter Dyke, Richard Banks�

Cl1.nton S. banks.. (Members of the Forest Audubon Club). (Seen in area during count week: Cooper I s haNk, 1.)

- - - - - - - - - -

'-28-

Clinton S. Banks Steubenv ille, Ohia

VOL. A'VI , No. � ivlarch, 15<±�

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pa., (city suburbs, Frick Park, Riverview Park, Schen­ley Park, Castle Shannon, Ben Avon, Forest Hills, Fox Chapel; de­ciduous wooded hillsides 40%, uncultivated fields 40�, lru�s 20�). Dec. 26, 1948. Clear, temp. 120 to :�30 F.; wind NT'f, 0 to 5 m.p.h.; ground covered t inch snow. Thirty-two observers in 13 parties. Total hours 38 \on foot) ; total miles 29 (on foot) . Cooperts hawk, 2; pheasant, 34; screech owl, 1; hairy woodpecker, 12; downy woodpecker, 34; blue jay, 4; crow, 7; chickadee, 73; tufted tit­mouse, 86; white-breasted nuthatch, 35; brown creeper, 6; winter wren, 2; Carolina -wren, 3; robin, 1; gol<ien--crowned kinglet, 1; starling, 2,�1; I;nglish sparrow, 424; cardinal, 99; goldfinch, 3; junco, 102; tree sparrow, 51; white-throated sparrow, 1; song spar­row, 43. Total 23 species; a�proxirrLtely 1245 individuals. Ob­servers: I'lIr. and Mrs. Alex Hardie, Bessie Hardie, Elizabeth Mc­Clelland, Janett.e Dickson, Alan Kirk, John 1':1ehner, 1'1. L. Black, Mrs. J. Bruce Paterson, Helen Reitz, Helen Blair, Mrs. Graham Netting; Anthony Netting, Mrs. Marie Oberho1tz, Comly B. Shoemaker, and friends (Audubon Society of Hlestern Pennsylvania.)

- - - - - -

Youngstovm

Comly B. Shoemaker Pittsburgh, Pat

Youngstown� o�to ( same area as in previous years; lakes and shore­land 50,0, a.eC1QUOUS woods 30%, open flat land and pasture 20�b). Jan 2, 1949. Clear; temp. 50 to 200 F; vvind none; lakes frozen, trace of snow. seventeen observers. Total miles 440 (90 on foot, 350 by c ar ) . Cccillccda goose, 400; snow goose, 35; blue goose, 15; mallard, 100; black duck, 500; baldpate, 10; pintail, 1; .�. golden­eye, 5; ShE:.rp- shinned hawk, 1; Cooper I S hswk, 3; red-tailed hawk, 1; rea-shouldered hawk, 1; roueh-legged hawk, 1; bald eagle, 2; marsh havvk, 4; sparr01,'V hawk, 10; bob-white, 27; pheasant, 8; her­ring gull, 12; mourning dove, 10; barn owl, 2; great horned owl, 2; barred owl, 1; flicker, 1; pileated woodpecker, 1; red-bellied woodpecker, 6; hairy woodpecker, 17; downy woodpecker, 63; .;Jhoebe, 1; horned lark, 52; blue jay, 101; crow, 1350; chickadee, 90; tufted titmouse, 45; v.Thite-breasted nuthatch, 74;, red-breasted nuthatch, 4; brown creeper, 4; winter wren, 1; golden-crowned king­let, 6i st&rling, 334; English sparrow, 319; red-wing, 80; rusty blackblrd, 53; cowbird, 20; cardinal, 105; goldfinch, 10; towhee, 2; junco, 154; tree sparrow, 421; swamp spar�"'ow, 2; song sparrow, 34; snow bunting, 1. Total 52 species; 4506 individuals 0 Observers: Misses Cook, Murray,,- Turner; Messrs. McLaughlin, Hauer, Hartly, Marshall, St.ewart, Dressel, Minnich, I,.Tiller, Johnson, Ferris, Bar­row, Vickers, Brown, Hei@erdinger.

-29-

Howard Heimerdinger Youngstown, Ohio

VOL. XVI , No. 2 THL REDSTART

l;inelli11e

March, 1945

Linesville, (pymatuning Lake) Pat (Territory south and east of Line6ville, around the sanctuary lake and across the large lake to J.ndover; woods 40'1b

i old fi elds 3090, lake shore .10Jo, swamp ar�as

2050). Jan.l, lS4�,; 1 :30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. One lnch of snow wlth frequent snow storms in afternoon; wind 1"'-", 25-40 m.p.h., temp. 290 - 320 F. Two observers to£ether. Total hours 5; total miles 25 (20 by auto, 5 on foot). :Mallard, 6; Am. golden-eye, 5; red­t ailed h&wk, 1; red-shouldered h awk, 1; sparrow hawk, 1; doWny woodpecker, 3; black-capped chickadee, 28� tufted titmouse, 3; white-bre&sted nuthatch, 2; bro\� creeper, 3; golden-crowned kiI€­let, 1; starling, 1; EngllSh sparrow, 65; cardinal, 10; junco, �2�1 �ree sparrow, 25; snow bunting, 19. Total, 17 species;.

400 lnCi.lVlduals. Note: The adverse weather and la te start comblned to keep list small. Observers: Marion Skaggs and H. B. Skaggs.

(See Ch&rt on Following Pages)

-30-

M. B. Sk aggs Cleveland, Ohio

VOL. XVI, No. 2

Species

Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Canada Goose Snow Goose Blue Goose l1allard Black Duck Gadwall Baldpate Pintail Green-1'li .. Tlged Teal 13lue-vTil1ged Teal Wood Duck Ring-necked Duck Scaup Duck Am. Golden-eye Buffle-head Hooded Nerganser Am. Merganser Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Sharp-shinned Hm-rk Cooper t s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Rough-legged HaHk Bald Eagle Harsh Hawk Sparro\.j" Hawk Ruffed Grouse Bob-vrhite Ring-neck-d Pheasant Coot Killdeer \-lilson! s Snipe Herring Gull Ring-billed Gull Rock Dave l.fourning Dave Barn Owl >

Screech Owl Great-horned Owl Barred Owl

THE REDSTART 1 -2 '.3 4 ;5 6 , 7 �8

:X x

x

-x x x x �x x �x x ,x 'x x

x -x x

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-31-

Murch, 1949 9 10 _-11 :12 :13,14 '15 n6

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VOL. XVI! N o . 2 THE

Species 1 , 2 3 4

Belted Kingfisher x x x Flicker

,

x x x x Pileated Hoodpecker x x Red-bellied Hoodpecker 'r x- x X -"" , .-Red-headed vloodpecker x x Yellow-b � Sapsucker � x ...

Hairy vloodpecker x- x , x X DO\ffiY Hoodpecker x x x x Phoebe : x H orned Lark � x x

-

Blue Jay x x v X ...

Crow x � x x x \ Black-capped Chickadee :

C arolina Chickadee x x x x Tufted Titmouse

: X X X X Uhite-br . Nuthatch x - x - x x Red-br . Nuthatch

, x x Brown Creeper Yo: x x X Winter Hren , X , X X X Bewick' s Hren C arolina Hren ; x x x x Mockingbird i x x x C atbird Robin x x x Hermit Thrush -_ x x x x Bluebird : x x x x Golden-cr . Kinglet � x x x x Ruby-cr . Kinglet x Cedar "Imming x- x Shrike x- x Starling x x x x Myrtle Harbler x x x x Pine Harbler x H . Palm Harbler English Sparrow .: :c X x X Meadowlark ; v x .:: .J.. X Red-\ving � x x x Rusty Blackbird x x Grackle x C owbird x x Cardinal x x x x Purple Finch x -. x x x Pine Siskin x Goldfinch x x x � x Towhee x x : x Lark Bunting Savannah Sparrow Ve sper Sparrow : x Bachman' s Sparrow x Junco - x x x x Tree Sparrow : x x x i X Field Sparrow ; �� x x White-crowned Sparrou � x

REDSTART

5

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-32-

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March 2 1949

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VOL. XVI , No . 2

Species

White-throated Sparrow : x� Fox Sparrow '

THE REDSTART

x� x x� xi

Xf x�

<'X� x� x� Swamp Sparrow Song Sparrow Snow Bunting

: x' x. x xI x\ X! x : x, x; x � x ' x ; x

. -

l-iarch 1949

16i

x i

� x x i �

TOTALS - 102 �73 ; 42� 46 57h6� 52 � 31! 9' 22� 2B 3 5 {26 61 23 � 52 17 3

THE 1949 FORAY

The Tenth Annual Brooks Bird Club Foray will be held at the newly constructed Youth Camp near Jones S pring, Berkley County , 1'le st Virgin i a, from June 11 to 19, inclusive . Announcement of the date and place WE . .s. made by postal card on March 1, when some five hun­dred cards were mai le d . S ince then the Foray folder with comple te details , pr i c e s , and regi s tr ation blank has also been mailed . In c &se you uid not receive a fo lder ; or you would l ike one or sever al copies for interested persons, ma i l your request to BBC headquar­ters . Several reservations have already been received, including ones from outstanding men in the field of science . The Foray Director requests thE-,t all reservations be made by May 20, if pos­sible . The -territory selected for the 1 4£ Foray is in the heart of the Sutton ' s warbler c ountry , and r epr e s e nts the first organ­i zed grouj} study to be made for this species � This alone shou ld interest you enough to be a member of this year ' s Foray; however, add to thi s the opportunity to study all phases of field biology unaer outs t andi ng le adership in the Foray manner and you ' re sure to be pre sent . Uemernber the date, June 11 - 19, and remember to get that reservation in by May 20 .

MID-�.VINTER 1'!8ET ING

One of the most important mE: etin�s in the history of the Brooks B i rd Club w&s he ld over the week-end of February 18-20, a t club headqu.s.rters , ','ITl?-eeling , �.'l . V a . At the request of the membership, plans were outllned to change the Brooks Bird Club from a loc al group to a state -wide organization . The onl y official action takeI at this Lieeting was to combine the Annuc:.l Reunion, Annual Meeting, and Labor Day outing into one big event under the heading of The Brooks B ird C lub .!mnua l Me e ti ng , to be held in the future over the Labor D ay we ek- e nd . If arr angeme nt s c an be made, the 1849 me et­ing is to be held &t Tomlinson Run state Park. All other sug­gestions and ide .::.s were r e c orde d , with c ommitte e s to be appointed to work out the de tails and have them ready for presentation at the next J�nnual Meeting, at which time official action will be taken. This will afford every memb er of the Brooks Bird Club an opportunity to express his or he r opinion before any final action 1

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vOL. Xv 1 , N o . 2 THE REDST.4RT March , 1£48

i s taken . Some time b e fore the me e ting d ate a l i st o f pr opos als will be s e nt to e ach me mber s o he may be prepared for such d is­cus sion as . �e se e s fit . In the me antime i f y ou should have pro­po s �ls or �ae as _ th at are worthy of c onSideration, ple ase s end the m t o the c lub he aa�u Lrters and they wi ll b e forwarded to the ap­propr i ate c ommitte e for the ir pre se ntation o r c ornn1.ents . As you se e , this is go ing to give every pre sent member and additi onal new merrib ers a re al part in the growing Bro oks Bird Club . Every loyal member o f the BBC is expe c ted to be pre s ent at thi s al1-important Annu al Me e t ing t o b e he ld from September 2-5 . Make plans now to attend , and mark the dat e s today .

F IELD NOTES

swainson I S �Varbler in C ab e ll Count Va . - Although there were m�gra �on r e c or s or SWainson ' s warbler Limnothlxpis swains oni i ) in C ab e ll c ounty , t.y . Va . , in 1947 , the f irst evidence of i ts ne s t­ing there WaS f"athered the f o llowing y e ar . In 1948 the warb le r was first reported in Ens low Park , Huntington , on Apr i l 22 . Obs e rva­t ions at th i s lo c al ity over the sub s e quent we e ks reve aled the pre s­enc e of at le ast two male s . B o th b i rds o c cupied terri tor ie s with loo s e ly ce fine d b oundar i e s . S inginp on the s e terr itori e s fo llowed

a p attern that I had obs e rved at o ther l o c ali t i e s . Early in the s e a s on the s inging s e emed to b e confined to a per i od o f two or thre e hours fo llowing d aybre ak . By late June singing oc curre d er­r atic ally throughou t the day and not always in the e arly morning.

By July 8 , one of the male s was singing from a few we ll-de �ined singing perche s ov�r a small are a . The territory was a th�cket c lo s e t o the top o f a ricge and several hundred yards from the v alley flo or , where a stre am flowed through a r e s ident i al s e ction. The are a WE.:.S c overed with d e nse undE rgrowth in whi ch blackberry c an� s ( Rub1d� §J2 . ) and po i s on . ivy ( Rhu s Io�i c ociendron � v'!er:e the �om�nan�s w�th numerous s apl �ngs o f y e llow poplar ( L��odendron tul i2ifEir.� ) and GUE'ar map le ( Ac e r .§ac cha!:Y.m) adding to the de ns ity o f the c over .

Here the b ird was ob served for a per i od from July 8 to the 16th . Dur ing the e arly morning the male s ang for short pe r i ods from perche s s everal fe e t from the ground . At intervals it le ft the s e perche s and foraged for . I· ood in the le af litte r . On s everal o c ­c as ions I watched i t at a d i stanc e o f 20 fe e t . I t n aid no atten­t i o n to my movements as I maneuve r e d to ge t a better view through the dense tangle . It fre quently s ang from the ground as i t s e arched for food . Its movements were short hop s , and neVbr did I observe it walking as has b e en ment i oned by s o me authors . On the morning o f July 12 , and again on the 16th , i t was j o ined by an o ther member of its spe c i e s that also sought fo od c l o s e by , but never s ang . The s inging male made no e ffort to chase the new arrival away , and it might we ll have be en that the b irds were paired . On the morning o f the 16 th I ob served the "new" b ird c arrying food . Thi s new evi­dence po inted to young e i ther in or out o f the ne s t , but all e f­forts to loc ate the young or the ne s t were unsuc c e s sful . As I had to le ave town on the 17th for s everal we eks , I was unable to c on­t inue my obs ervat ions in order to arrive at a s atisfac tory answer to the problem . - N . B ay ar d Gre en , Dept . o f Zo o logy , Marshall Co11ege

VOL . XVI , No . 2 THE REDSTART March, 1949

King Rail NE:: sting in �:'layne CountY...:.... 1'1 . Va . - On .JunE; IS· , 1948, wh i le colle c ting in c::. SVlaIY,p nc ar Lhva lettc , ''1 . Va . , I ob served a k ing rail ( ]i.5.11u� � . e��g8n� ) with yO:1ng . The slNamp was about an acre in exterJ.t '

,an6 6"6"t'i8 CE£@rr� . . Vl�th E m E: xt::n s i,!8 grovV'th o f buttonbu�h

( Cephal�!.!:t1}ll§ /---··ml�'-·UICi.CK wl llo\"/ ( fi':'aJl2!;; llJ;ZT'.§) . The water, Wh l Ch wa s 18 inches ae ep in l,he deepest pEr t c c r,tai ned a growth of water p lantain ( C6,li§.fQE?: .t;1.§:nt�9;;::Q-.::,?:.9Y:aticp.) , spearwort ( B.?n,:!nr.!ulu8 .212 . ) , arrowhead (.§.§g1!�ari3. .§.J2. , ) , 5.nd aquatic smc:.rt\'Jeed q ���lY�.0nu!B £:2 . ) There were no c attE, i l s (j2Y'l2.hg _$£ . ) . B ir d l i fe cons i sted o f green herons C1211tC?:rjQ9§ YiI2g0 i"'d �!.J!:� 9C�Y.� ) , vloodcock ( Phi12h§..la Di-1.!2r) , yellow warb ler s , ( DE;Ddr' o i c a P9 tE'<;�L. &) , song sparrow s ( Me lo sp i z a me] odi§:) , 5.nd 1 5.I'g'G-nuriiOer s orreo-Wing b lackb irds ( AgeTalllS. :Q:­!2noenl c eu s ) 0

While two o f my stuGents w ere s elnlng the water for newts, I ex­plored the m argin o f the sw amp and w c:.s surprised to hear the low, c ontinuous c l u c k in� of the rai l . The bird was at t.he edge of the w ater s c ar cely forl:.Y feet from me . As I watched it through 6 x 30 b ino culars , I noti c ed much s currying in the gras s c lose to the ad"Ll� t and c aught s ev�ral glimpses of dark, downy young that I con­c luaed were young I'cn ls . By the time I ha d recovered from mv su r­pri s.e ano. C.:.t te m.:.jted to c a ll;; ct one of them they h ad es caped, and al-though w e s e arched for some time a long the margin of the swamp we found no tra c e of the,n. The c lucking o f the a dult continued deeper in the Sh 2,d oVIY re c e s se s o f the swamp for some time as we eYp lored the e.rea for the ne s t .

I returned t o the swamp in August to search again for the nest. By this time much of the we.ter had evaporate d and the bas in was a lo.rge m�d puddle . Sa ndp ipers and an American b ittern (�Q�a��g§ lenti­K!:.�£�) wel"e for aging the remaining water for fooci . I sp ent s ome time s e arching fal" the nest witho ut any su c c e s s . - N . Bayard Gree n , Marsh &ll Co llege .

Northern Eorr�..9. Lark Reported i n Ohio County In search o f the prairie horneu 16rk ( ���mo ohila alne s tri s ) , s everal members of the B . B . C . who \/ere p art i c ip [nts in the ":nee linQ' Chri3tr:las B ird Count were a s signed to

-che c k l:.he Ohio c ounty .airpErt where thi s s pe c ies

can alw<...ys be listed. i:Je were thel' e but a sllOrt time when it was very evident tha t there were mo re hor ned l arks ure�::ent than any of u s had ever b e fore obs erved . As mos t of us know, these birds can be appro ached to 1,'ri thin a short di sta nc e wi thou t too muc h careful effort . This w as the c as e on Sunday , Janu ary 2 , when 'oNe had the opportunity to ob s e rve at lea st 37 prairie horned larks . It. was whi le che c l d.l1E thi s s�)e c ies that two 2...Tld po ssib ly three northern horned l [�rk s ( Ere lilophi l a aluestris al oe stri s ) were noted . The writer had vr eviou s ly c &lle d the attenti on�f Carolyn Conrad and George Sche e t z to the fi eld r,iEJ>ks o f th i s spe c ie s , and it was they who first noticed the d i fference in the b ir<is ob serve d . All thre e of u s watched the ncrthern horn2d l arks for s everal minut e s wi th 7 x 35 b inoculc.r s . Upon our return to our cars, we che c ked with Peterson ' s Fie ld Gu ide . ThiS , to the b e s t o f the write r ' s knowl­edge, repre s ents the fir st northern p anh5.ndle record . - Cht..rles L . Conr ad, ';',neeling, 'V . Va.

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VOL . XVI , No . :2 THE P8DSTART March , 1945

L�te Record foX Gre en Heron in Monon�ali a C ounty - On Sun�ay , No- . vember 'I , 194'8; at Sunse t B e a ch on Che at Lake in Monongall a county , We s t V irgini a , a litt l e gre en heron (Butor i4�� yire§£� ��a) w as ob s e rved . Th i s s e ems just a b it l ate for thi s spe c i e s around her e . - �Villi am L. Byl i e , Bob McC aus land , �'!al l& c e Hur d , Morgantown , ''I. V a .

l;lhi te -Winged Cro s sb ills tn-12hio_Qoun!:,y - On De c e mb �F 24 , . 19 �8 1 at approxi mat e ly 9 : 00 h. . M � at " Ihe e l ing , Ohio county , T. J e s t V lrglnla , I ob served two white -winged cro s sb i l l s ( l�.i a leuc opter & leu c opteD! ) fee ding on the c on e s of hemlo ck tre e s ( !§u� �) . The yard in whi ch the b irds wer e s e en is b ordered by 50 t o 60 mature he mlo ck tre e s . Afte r I watched the b irdS for ne arly a ' �lf hour fe eding in the tre e s , they dropped daVIn on the i c e o f a partie.lly fro ze n fi sh pond . A flo ck o f English sparr ows ( P asser d . do rr:e s t i cus) torme nte d them there , and they r e turned to the hemlo ck . The two birds were kept under c l o s e ob s erv ation all morning , and were ob served s everal time s in the afterno on� The tre e s were kept under ob servation from De c e mb e r 24 , 'till January 2, 1949 , but the b irds were not found again . - 'Vil l i am L . '.'lylie , Morgantovm , ;'1 . Va .

Horned Grec,e s in Pre s ton County - Ab out 7 : 00 A . M. on De c ember 3, 1548 , thr e e horned grebe s ( C 0 hID.bus auri tus ) were c aught on Route 26 , 'two mi le s we s t o f Tunnelton , Pre s to n county , T'le s t Virginia. Late r the s ame day o ther b irds o f the s ame s pe c ie s were obs erved e ast of 1unne l ton . The thr e e grebe s c aught by Iv1r # Thomas Hunt were put in a watering trough t till eve ning , when they were taken to N� . B irch o f the Dep artment o f Zo o logy , T.'le s t V irginia Univer s i ty . Afte r they were p o s i t ive ly id entifie d , two o f the b irds were r e l e a s e d at Che at Lake . The th ird b ird 'was kept for a spec imen , but l ater re ­le ased in the l1onongahe la Riv e r . Thi s b ird , although wi thou t fo od o r water for seve r al days , put on qu ite a performance o f diving anj flapping whe n r e turne d to the wat e r . The b ird did no t t ake to the a ir , but was last ob s erved dri fting with the current , and diving fre quently . At the t ime the grounded greb e s wer e found , the who le are a around Morgantown and Tunne lton was c overed by a very dens e fog . The gre � s were found five mi le s from the ne ar e s t body of water , and evidently h ad tr i e d landing on the highway during the he avy fog . Unab�e to ar i s e fro m the ground , they were s trande d high and dry 0 - William L . �'Jyli e , Morgantown , "1 . V a .•

- - - - - - ... -

Americ an Egre t Ob s e rved - !vIr . E lmer C onnor, o f Che sap e ake , TN . Va . , and I , whi le driving from·Che s ape ake to Gauley Bridge on July 17 , 1948 , stopped to ob s e rve an Ame r i c an Egr e t ( He rQgi as ggretta ) at the mouth of Slaughter ' s Cre ek , Kanawha C ounty . The egret , an immature b ird , was walking along a b ar o f s and and s i lt depos ited in s l �ck wate r . � sp� se c ov e r o f c attai l ( lyph� §£ . ) and other aquat lc growth eXl s ts ln the are a . The b ird appe ared to b e on the lookOl,lt for food , but was no t se en to devour anythin,r . Altho ugh c o nspicuous and in the vic ini ty of s everal hous es and the highway , i t had attracted no attent i on s ave our s at the time the observat ion was made . - R . TNayne B a i ley , Ch2rle s ton , ''1 . V a .

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