March 2001

The Bluebird

The Audubon Society of Missouri Founded 1901

Vol. 68, No. 1

The Audubon Society of Missouri

Officers* Susan Hazelwood, President (2002) 3005 Chapel Hill Road Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 445-4925 shazelwood@socket.net

Jerry Wade, Vice President (2002) 1221 Bradshaw Ave. Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 445-6697 wade@missouri.edu

Jean Graebner, Treasurer (2002) 1800 S. Roby Farm Rd Rocheport, MO 65279 (573) 698-2855 phoebe@trib.net

Susan Dornfeld, Secretary (2002) 700 S. Weller Springfield, MO 65802 (417) 831-9702 dornfelds@ hotmail.com

Honorary Directors

Richard A. Anderson, St. Louis** Sydney Wade, Jefferson City John Wylie, Jefferson City** Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia** Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph** Leo Galloway, St. Joseph Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth Rebecca Matthews, Springfield Dave Witten, Columbia

* Year Term Expires **Deceased

Directors*

Paul Bauer (2003) Florissant (314) 921-3972 Mike Beck (2003) Blue Springs (816) 229-6811 Dave Bedan (2001) Columbia (573) 445-9834 Lisa Berger (2002) Springfield (417) 881-8393 David Easterla (2002) Maryville (660) 582-8468 Steve Kinder (2001) Chillicothe (660) 646-6516 Larry Lade (2003) St. Joseph (816) 232-6125 Ed McCullough (2002) Kansas City (816) 505-2840 Dennis Wheeler (2001) Jackson (573) 243-3167

Chairs Bonnie Heidy, Membership 501 Parkade Columbia, MO 65202 (573) 442-2191 bheidy@socket.net

Edge Wade, Bird Alert 1221 Bradshaw Ave. Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 698-2855 edgew@socket.net

Bill Clark, Historian 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. Columbia, MO 65202 (573) 474-4510

cover photo: Smew by Kay Palmer (taken at the St. Louis Zoo)

The Bluebird Quarterly Magazine of the Audubon Society of Missouri

Editors: Bill& Kay Palmer 15100 S. Clinkenbeard Rd. Ashland, MO 65010 (573) 657-1076 palmer! 076@aol.com

Christmas Bird Count Editor: Randy Korotev 8 0 0 Oakbrook Lane St. Louis. MO 63132 (314) 993-0055 rlk@ levee.wusll.cdu

MO Bird Records Committee: Bill Eddleman-Chair (sec Seasonal Survey Editors)

Bill Rowe-Secretary 9033 Big Bend Road St. Louis, MO 63119 (314) 962-0544 wr@tjs.org

Conservation Editor: Dave Bedan 200 1 Chapel Wood Road Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 445-9834 davebcdan@sockets.net

Seasonal Survey Editors: Summer: Jim D. Wilson P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 (573) 751-4115 wilsojd@mail.conservation. state.mo.us

Fall : Bill Eddleman Dept. of Biology - MS6200 Southeast Missouri State Univ. Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 (573) 335-1507 (H) 651-2363 (B) weddlema@ biology .semo.edu

Winter: Brad Jacobs P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 (573) 751-4115 jacobb@mail.conservation.state. mo.us

Spring: Randy Korotev 800 Oakbrook Lane St. Louis, MO 63132 (314) 993-0055 rlk@ levee. wustl.cdu

Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird

Manuscripts for The Bluebird--to the editors by:

Seasonal Surveys:

Feb. 1 for March Issue; May 1 for June issue Aug. I for Sept. Issue; Nov. 1 for Dec. issue

Winter (Dec. !-Feb. 28)--to Brad Jacobs by March 10 Spring (March !-May 31)--to Randy Korotev by June 10 Summer (June !-July 31)--toJim D. Wilson by Aug. 10 Fall (Aug. !-Nov. 30)--to Bill Eddleman by Dec. 10

I

Table of Contents

March 2001 Volume 68, No.1

THE BLUEBIRD

3 President's Corner, Susan Hazelwood

8 Seasonal Survey-Fall, Bill Eddleman

29 Addendum to Summer Seasonal Survey, jim Wilson

31 ASM Trip to Dunn Ranch, Steve Kinder

33 Why Riverlands? Edge Wade

40 Birding In Missouri, March-May, Robert Fisher

44 Conservation Report, Dave Bedan

57 Thirteenth Annual Report of the MBRC, Bill Rowe

INSERT ASM Spring Meeting

PRESIDENT'S CORNER Susan Hazelwood

Did you go "Smewing" at the Corps of Engineers' River-lands Environmental Demon-stration Area (REDA) in St. Charles County? The Smew, a bird from the merganser fami-ly that is normally found in northern Eurasian waters, was a beautiful drake that in-spired poetry from many weathered birders and enabled friends from years-gone-by to renew relation-ships with one another. If you missed the hoopla this bird generated it's probably be-cause you don't listen to the MO Bird Alert or subscribe to MOBirds-L.

The MO Bird Alert is an ASM sponsored telephone service. Its intent, and (most

3

of the time) practice, is to pro-vide bird sighting and direc-tion information to as many bird species as are reported in which birders would be inter-ested. With so many avid Smew listers from across the country visiting Missouri, Edge Wade, our hardworking compiler, altered her style of reporting birds from across MO to report almost ex-clusively on the Smew, Eurasian Tree Sparrows, and unusual gulls being seen at REDA. For weeks now, Edge has been updating the MO Bird Alert almost daily with Smew news. A hearty thank you is deserved for a job well done.

The MOBirds-L listserve (see side bar for subscription information) is a com-puterized listserve . s e r v i ~ e sponsored by ASM. It i s avail-able to anyone with an e-mail connection to the Internet. It provides up-to-the-minute information from birders

throughout the region. Its purpose is to further discus-sion on wild birds and wild bird related matters of inter-est to birders. It offers the op-portunity to ask questions and to hold conversations of interest to all.

Lest you think I'm men-tally wandering, this is all in-terconnected. The Smew was first.noticed on January 12. By January 30 the Bird Alert telephone service had received no messages updat-ing Edge about the Smew. However, messages rolled in from MOBirds-L. The num-ber of folks listening to the outgoing telephone bird alert messages had risen from a weekly average of 15 to over 50. MOBirds-L always has subscribers coming and going, but normally has about 250subscribers. (Yes, many of you are lurkers rather than posters.) During the Smew's visit, MOBirds-L has averaged 275 subscribers. Visitors from across the country have noticed, and ap-preciated, the services ASM provides.

4

Sherry McCowan, with assistance from Mike Beck and Art Swalwell, is design-ing a web page that is a sup-plement to ASM's web page. The new page is a Missouri Bird Sightings Database. It provides a means for Mis-souri birders to post sightings electronically by way of an online checklist, and to see which birds have been sighted where within a calen-dar year in the state of Mis-souri. The page will be updated regularly so that it will be a current resource. A database of sightings will be maintained so that records from 2001 on will be available as well. As soon as Sherry completes her coding work, all birders will be in vi ted to post their Missouri sightings. Check the ASM web page, www.mobirds.org, for the link to Sherry's page.

By the way, if you haven't recent! y visited our ASM web site you really should. Mike Beck is steadily adding to it. He is posting Edge Wade's MO County of the Week series with links to relevant

information on birds, maps, and conservation areas men-tioned in the text. He has added a photograph of the magnificent Smew. Did you know you could obtain a copy of the Annotated Checklist of MO Birds from this site? Go see what else is new ... on a regular basis.

David Ringer, one of Springfield's most ardent and youthful birders, has created an archive for MOBirds-L messages. While his space is limited for storing MOBirds-L messages, we think about a month's worth can be ar-chived. Go to http:/ /user.ne-tomia.com/mobirds-1/ to read back issues of birder chatter.

Steve Kinder is organiz-ing an ASM sponsored field trip to Dunn Ranch on Sun-day, May 20. (See his article on this event elsewhere in this issue.) I'll see you there!

Audubon Missouri (AM) Board of Trustees will hold their spring meeting on May 19. While I have yet to find a meeting location (you can get specific directions from me

5

later) we're going to try for so mew here in Bethany so AM Board members can join ASM members on the Dunn Ranch field trip. If you can't attend the AM general membership meeting in Columbia on March 3 and you've been wanting to learn more about AM, or if you've been want-ing to talk one-on-one with AM Board members, this field trip will be an opportunity to do so.

Other AM news includes the resignation of interim Ex-ecutive Director Cheryl Riley effective March 4. If you've met Cheryl you'll understand what a disappointment her resignation was but how thrilled folks are that she has agreed to remain on the AM Board of Trustees. As interim executive director Cheryl has gotten Board seats filled, an AM office operational in Columbia, has visited several chapters, has organized the general membership meeting, gotten a newsletter written and distributed, and has con-tinued the development of ac-tivities begun by Russ Sewell.

Katy Burkett, the AM office manager hired in mid-January, will keep the AM of-fice running while the search for a permanent executive director continues. Katy can be reached at 573/442-2583.

Stay tuned on this one. It is still in the discussion stages but ASM, AM, the MO Department of Conservation (MDC), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are talking about a collaborative project. FWS grant money would provide funds, MDC would provide training, maps, and forms, and ASM and AM members would pro-vide coordinating staff and volunteer hours to conduct breeding bird survey work concentrated on locating tar-geted species of birds. Species of interest, at this preliminary stage, include marsh nesting birds (Pied-billed Grebe, Least Bittern, Sora, Common Moorhen, Marsh Wren, Vir-ginia Rail, King Rail, Black Rail, American Bittern, Yel-low-headed Blackbird), Bachman's Sparrow, Logger-head Shrike, and Swainson's

6

Warbler. This work must be completed by June 30, 2001. Call me (573/445-4925, even-ings) or email me ( shazel-wood@socket.net if you're interested in participating. ASM' s contribution to this project will be our volunteer's time so we won't be success-ful unless you help. (There might be funds to reimburse volunteers for mileage and overnight lodging.)

A draft of the new edition of A Guide to the Birding Areas of Missouri, edited by Kay Pal-mer and published by the Audubon Society of Mis-souri, 1993, was sent to the American Birding Associa-tion (ABA) last October. It is the ASM Board's hope that ABA will publish this revision as a part of their "Lane" Bird Finding Series. While we are awaiting an ac-ceptance or rejection from ABA, the Guide is still under-going revisions to make it an even stronger and more use-ful book. You're going to like this new edition; count on it! (If you can't wait any longer for the new edition to come

out we still have a few copies of the 1993 version available for $10 each, plus shipping and handling. Contact ASM treasurer Jean Graebner at phoebe@trib.net or 573/698-2855 to purchase one.)

I want to conclude this column with a special invita-tion to each and every one of you. Please come join your ASM brethren in celebrating 100 years of ASM' s existence. Paul Bauer, with assistance from too rrlan y others to name, has done a tremen-dous job of organizing a very exciting weekend of activities for us. Please mark May 4-6 on your calendars and plan to attend the ASM spring meet-ing in St. Charles County.

Barrow's Goldeneye

7

Subscribing to MOBirds-L, the MO Birds Listserve 1. Go to http:/ /muhealth.org/ -majordomo/info.html on the web using your Internet brow-ser. 2. Open the "select the list drop" down box. Select "MOBirds-L" from the list by clicking on it. 3. Make sure the "command" box is on subscribe (instead of unsubscribe). 4. Fill your email address into the empty box. 5. Select the "send message"

·button. 6. Within minutes you should receive an email message in-dicating that you are now sub-scribed to MOBirds-L. 7. You can post messages to MOBirds-L only if you are a member. Messages to be posted are sent to mobirds-l@muhealth.org

SEASONAL SURVEY

Fall Report August 1 to November 30, 2000

Bill Eddleman, Seasonal Survey Editor

Drought continued in western and parts of southern Missouri during the beginning of the fall season. Por-

tions of central and northern Missouri received normal precipitation, and the remainder of the state began to catch up by the end of November. The effects on birds ranged from profound to none. Many summer residents in western and southern Missouri left the area in late August and early Sep-tember, as noted by several observers and the lack of later records for many species. The big rivers (Missouri and Missis-sippi) were very low, exposing much shoreline. However, other areas, Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge for example, had excellent water conditions throughout the fall season. Water bird reports from other parts of the state were sporadic in August through early October, but traditional sites began to improve in late October and November. Good migratory movements of birds were reported in early September from some areas; early October (4-6 October); and early November when geese and other winter species began to arrive. A few good migratory waves of passerine birds were reported (notab-ly the warbler migration in northwest Missouri and at Tower Grove Park in St. Louis). The sparrow migration was generally very good. Temperatures were warmer than normal through October, but then began to cool, with some areas in northern Missouri frozen over by mid-November. Berry production was poor in many areas of the state, but there appears to have been an excellent berry crop near Rolla; where bluebirds, robins, Cedar Waxwings, and Hermit Thrushes were abundant.

8

Highlights of the season included Tricolored Heron, a very cooperative Roseate Spoonbill, Northern Shrike, Little Gull and Sabine's Gull at Riverlands Environmental Demonstra-tion Area, excellent numbers of migrating Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and an eastward invasion by Harris's Sparrows. Those unusual sightings requiring documentation are desig-nated with an asterisk (*). These are subject to acceptance by the Missouri Bird Records Committee.

LOONS THROUGH VULTURES Three Red-throated Loons were noted; one juvenile on 14

October in Ellis Bay at REDA and adjacent Illinois stayed for a few days (DB, BR), while two were found on 26-27 November at SL (CH, Mike Beck). Pacific Loons sighted at SL included one on 28-29 October (Bob Fisher, EW) and two on 26-28 November (CH, JH, JiZ). Small numbers of Common Loons were sighted in mid to late November, but high counts of 30 occurred on 7 November at SLR (DF), and 50 occurred at SL on 3 November (fide EW). Pied-billed Grebes were reported from most expected sites, the first on 19 August at EB (Kathleen Anderson), and with a high count of 49 on 27 September at SLR (SK). The first Horned Grebe of the season was reported on 16 September at SLR (SK, TR, DF), and small numbers were noted until the end of the season, seven on 22 November at REDA (Doug Corbett), and one at SL on 27 November (JH). All reported sightings of Eared Grebes were in November, begin-ning with one seen on 4 November at MSL (DE) and five on 4 November atTHR in Randolph Co. (BG); and ending with four on 26 November at SL (CH). Single Western Grebes were found in western Missouri on 3 November at Lake Jacomo (Norma Zier), 4 November at THR (BG), and 24-28 November at SL (BG, JH, JiZ). This species is casual in eastern Missouri, but one Western Grebe* was reported on 30 November at REDA (fide John Soladar).

9

There were numerous reports of American White Pelican, starting with 500 seen on 7 September at SLR (SK). Larger numbers observed included 2000 on 16 September at Schell-Osage CA (BB), 5000+ on 24 September at Schell-Osage CA (GB), and 3000 on 27 September at Horseshoe Lake in St. Joseph (LL). One flock, estimated at 400-500, was sighted over south-west St Louis Co. on the morning of 29 October (MB), and a similar-sized flock was observed over Cape Girardeau by 4:30 that afternoon (NY). Twelve late American White Pelicans were reported on 25 November on a lake north of Lebanon, Laclede Co. (LP); and a single bird was lingered until at least 26 November in St. Francois Co. (Bob Lewis). The largest number of Double-crested Cormorants reported was 1000 seen on 20 September at SLR (HL-D).

Single American Bitterns were first reported on 31 August at SLR (SK) and last on 4 November near Clifton Hill (BG). Four adult and two immature Least Bitterns were noted beginning on 18 August at SLR, and one remained by 14 October (SK). Observers reported few large concentrations of post breeding herons and egrets. One mixed heron-egret roost with 400+ birds was at Interstate 270 near Riverview in north St. Louis on a sandbar (JZ). One of the largest concentration of Great Egrets ever recorded for the state numbered 750-800 on 2 August, at a site about 11 miles northwest of Clinton in the northwestern part of Henry Co. (MR). Another large number of 226 occurred on 21 September in Buchanan Co. (MR). Very few Snowy Egrets were reported, including one on 4 August at SCR (DE, JH), and 32 on 16 September at Schell-Osage CA (BB). Several observers commented on the low numbers of Little Blue Herons in the northern and western parts of the state (fide MR, GS). There was a high count of only five (three adults, one juvenile, and one second year bird) at Four Rivers CAin Bates Co. on 27 August (MR), while only one was reported in the southwestern region on 7 October at Lake Springfield, Greene

10

Co. (DeR). However, up to 1,017 were counted at a roost in St. Louis Co. near Lambert Airport on 11 August (MT). A highlight of the season was an immature Tricolored Heron* observed from 12 August (DW) until27 August at Four Rivers CA (CH, MR).

The only report of Cattle Egret was a single bird seen on 17 October at REDA (GB). The only report of Black-crowned Night Heron that was not at SLR was at Lake Springfield, Greene Co., where a high count of 18 occurred on 1 September (KJ). Sightings at SLR included 31 on 23 September and three immatures on 31 October (SK). Four adult and two immature Yellow-crowned Night Herons, were seen at SLR on 11 August, SLR (SK), and one observer was quite amazed to see an immature in her yard in the middle of Chillicothe on 14 August (DF). A single White-faced Ibis was sighted at EB from 27 to 30 August (JL, Lee Kraft), and a very late bird was at Horseshoe Lake, St. Joseph on 4 November (LL). Other ibis observations were noted as Plegadis sp., including one on 9 September at Montrose CA, Henry Co. (MR), one at Horseshoe Lake near St. Joseph in Buchanan Co. on 3 September (MR), three at SLR on 19 September (SK), three reported by Missouri Department of Conservation personnel on 24 October at SLR (fide SK), two on 26 October at REDA (CM), and 20 on 28 October at SCR (Matt & Katy Fain). The third state record (not second as reported in the last issue of The Bluebird) Roseate Spoonbill proved to be very cooperative, remained at SLR through August, and was last sighted on 18 September after being seen by dozens of observers (SK). A Black Vulture at Schell-Osage CA on 16 September was farther north and west than normal (BB). The mild weather resulted in a two observa-tions of Turkey Vulture farther north than their traditional fall range-still at Ha Ha Tonka SP on 29 November (LP), and 12 at a roost in Columbia on 27 November (BG).

WATERFOWL THROUGH FALCONS Greater White-fronted Geese were first noted on 18 Oc-

tober when six were at THR (SK). Peak numbers of migrants included 4000-5000 seen on 20 October at SLR (SK, TM) and 4060 at SLR on 16 November (HL-0). There were still 700 present at SLR on 29 November (HL-D). Migrating Snow Geese were first noted on 10 October when 50 were at SLR. By 10-11 November many were migrating over Weston, Platte Co. (Elaine Crafton). Near normal numbers for winter were at SCR by 24 November, when 400,000 were counted (JiZ). Twelve Ross's Geese were among 200,000 Snow Geese at SCR on 21 November (DE & class). Numbers of Canada Geese only reached 30,000 at SLR by 16 November (HL-D). Small groups of Trumpeter Swans were seen at several sites, including 11 adults and five immatures on 19 November at REDA (Ken Thompson), two adults and four immatures on 28 November at SCR (EW), and a single bird on 28-30 November at a pond north of Smithville, Mo. (FY). A single adult Tundra Swan occurred at SCR from 18 November to 26 November (EM, JiZ, Matt Gearheart).

Dabbling duck migration was about average in both num-bers and timing. The highestcountofWood Duck was 175 seen on 18 August at SLR (SK). American Black Ducks were reported only at SLR, including one on 10 October and two on 30 November (SK). A total of 58,000 Mallards was reported on 29 November at SLR (SK). Blue-winged Teal were first recorded on 4 August when there were two at SCR (DE, JH). A late bird was still present at SLR on 15 November (SK). Five early Northern Shovelers were at SLR on 18 August (SK), and the peak count was 1630 on 16 November at SLR (HL-0). A female Northern Pintail was the earliest recorded at SCR on 4

August (DE, JH). A high count of 21,150 was reported on 16 November at SLR (HL-D).

A high count of 935 Redheads occurred on 16 November at

12

SLR (HL-D). Two female Greater Scaup at MSL seen on 15 November were expected for that site (DE). Surf Scoter obser-vations included one' at REDA on 21 October (CM), four at REDA on 4 November (M. Nelson), and one female on 10 November at MSL (DE). A single White-winged Scoter was at THR on 8 November. Two Black Scoter females were seen on 22 October at Lake Jacomo (CH), and one bird was at SL on 22 November (Randy Knotts). Two single tong-tailed Ducks, probably arriving winter birds, were at SL on 24-27 November (John Ford, David Staehling), and at REDA on 27 November (III. side) (fide EW). The first Bufflehead, a single bird, was seen on 4 November at THR (BG), and the season's high count was 72on 16 November at SLR (HL-D). There were only two reports of Common Goldeneye; one on 24 November at SL (BG), and 12 on 29 November at SLR (HL-D). All reports of Hooded Mergansers were in mid to late November with a high count of 50 on 30 November at SLR (SK). A high of 12 Common Mergansers was counted on30 November atSLR (SK). The first reports of Red-breasted Mergansers were on 15 November, when one was seen at MSL (DE) and five at SLR (SK). A high count of 20+ was recorded on 27 November at SL (JH). Ruddy Ducks were first reported at Horseshoe Lake, St. Joseph, on 14 August, when two males were seen (LL). A high count of 2000 at SLR on 16 October was noteworthy (HL-D).

Single Osprey were reported from a number of sites throughout the state, with the. earliest report being of an adult on 2 August at Stockton Dam, Cedar Co. (MR), and the latest report being from Grindstone Lake, Dekalb Co. on 30 October (SK). A Mississippi Kite nest located in late July at Sunset Hills, St. Louis Co. fledged one young, which was last observed 13 August (BR). Kites were also noted repeatedly over Webster Groves, with the last observation on 1 September (BR). Other kite sightings included two seen on 5 August on Grand River at Fountain Grove CA, Livingston Co. (SK), six noted on 27

13

August about 11 miles northwest of Clinton, Henry Co. (MR, CH), and three seen at Diamond Grove CA, Newton Co. on 4 September (JC). Bald Eagles were seen at several expected sites, and a high count of 50 was noted on 21 November at SLR (SK). The earliest observation of Northern Harrier was of a single bird seen on 3 September at Milo (JH). Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks were observed in small numbers, and no migration concentrations were noted. A Northern Goshawk seen on 7 October at LCCL was relatively early (John & Nancy Solodar et a!.)

The largest migrating flock of diurnal rap tors was a flock of 465Broad-winged Hawks seen on 24 September, when a series of kettles were seen over Shaw Arboretum, Franklin Co. be-tween 1130 and 1400 (BR). One other migrating flock was noted on 16 September at Columbia (Chris F. Snook). The largest concentration of Swainson's Hawk was a group of 18 in a harvested soybean field west of Forest City, Holt Co. on 21 September (MR). This species was also regularly seen in south-west Missouri (LB). A Krider's Red-tailed Hawk was seen sporadically at REDA, where it was first noted on 5 October (CM), and was regularly seen in November (12 & 25 Novem-ber) (BR). AnotherwasseenatSLR(SK, HL-D). Only one report of a single dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, at SLR on 16 November, SLR (HL-0). Two Golden Eagles were observed; an early individual at EB on 8 October (JL), and an immature on 12 November in St. Charles Co. (BR). Single Merlin were seen from 2 October, when one was observed at Browning Lake, Buchanan Co. (JH), until15 November at STR (BD). Two occurred at SLR on 3 October (SK). Seven observations of single Peregrine Falcons were reported, ranging from 9 September at STR (BD) until6 November at Jefferson City (JL).

GROUSE THROUGH TERNS Few observations of the declining Greater Prairie-Chicken

14

were reported, with t h e largest being 11 seen at PRSP on 14 October (DaR). An extremely early sighting of Yellow Rail* from 26 August was reported from SLR {John Guthrie), but this species is often difficult to distinguish from juvenile Sora at this time of year. Two Yellow Rails were flushed during a rail walk led by SK and Grand River/Columbia Audubon members at SLRon 7 October(SK, EW). Two relatively late King Rails were heard calling at SLR on 22 October during a Big Sit (SK). Virginia Rail is often difficult to detect in fall, so a sighting of three on 31 August at SLR was interesting (SK). A late in-dividual was flushed on 22 November at Blue Lick CAin Saline Co. (Jim Rathert). While Sora is our most common migrating rail, it is very difficult to count. The record high count of 140 recorded on 7 September at SLR is a notable exception. This rail was first detected on 18 August when three were recorded at SLR (SK), and last reported on 7 October at Schell-Osage CA (BD). Seven Common Moorhens were seen on 26 August at SCR (LL). A Sandhill Crane that summered at SLR remained until early October (SK), and a maximum of four were at SLR on 12 September (HL-D). A high count of 10 seen in a flock on 14 November at Bilby Ranch CA, Nodaway Co. is one of the larger flocks seen in Mo. (DE).

Only two observations of Black-bellied Plover were reported, one on 2 September at Lisbon Bottoms, Big Muddy NWR {JL), and five on 2 November at REDA (Bob McFall). Early observations of Semi palma ted Plover were 12 seen on 4 August at SCR (DE, JH), and five seen on 9 August, Horseshoe Lake, St. Joseph (LL). A single unmarked adult Piping Plover, always a rare sighting, was seen on 9 September at Truman Dam, Benton Co. (MR). The highest count of Killdeer during the season was 125 from THR on 18 October (SK). There were a number of American Avocet observations, including 48 seen on 14 October at MSL, which is a second high fall countfor Missouri (DE). Another flock of 24 was present on Lake Con-

15

trary, St. Joseph on 20 October (LL). Single birds were present at Montrose CA from 2 August until3 November (MR, FY),and at Schell-Osage CA on 16 September (BB). This species is more common in western Missouri, so the single bird seen at REDA on 2 & 5 November is noteworthy (Bob McFall, MT). Greater Yellowlegs were observed in small numbers, and two seen at SLR on 21 October (SK), and two seen at EB on 24 October (BG) were somewhat late. Single Lesser Yellowlegs were first seen on 4 August at SCR (DE, JH), and last seen on 24 October at EB (BG). The highest count recorded was 25 on 16 September at Schell-Osage CA (BB). Solitary Sandpipers were observed on 4 August, when one was at SCR (DE, JH), and 9 August, when two were at Lake Contrary, St. Joseph (LL). Single Willets were at Teal Pond, REDA on 6 August (KT), and at EB on 18-21 August (BG, Susan Hazelwood). Few Spotted Sandpiper were seen, including two on 9 August at Lake Contrary, St. Joseph (LL), one on 17 October at Thousand Hills SP (SK), and one on 18 October at Wakonda SP (SK). A record high fall count of 43 Upland Sandpipers was seen at Rosecrans Airport, Buchanan Co., on 3 September (MR). The first October record for Missouri was also recorded when two were seen south of Montrose CA on 7 October (CH eta!.). Whimbrel* is an accidental fall tran-sient in Missouri, so a report of one bird at Horton-Four Rivers CA on 21 October would be an interesting record if accepted by the Missouri Bird Records Committee (FY eta!.).

Sanderling observations were scattered through Septem-ber, including three observed on 9 September at Truman Dam, Benton Co. (MR), two on 11 September and 26 September at Horseshoe Lake, Buchanan Co. (JH), and two at Montrose CA on 24 September (EW). Peeps, with the exception of Least Sandpiper, were sparingly noted this fall. High counts of 32 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 58 Western Sandpipers were recorded on 16 September at Schell-Osage CA (BB) The earliest single Western Sandpiper and three Least Sandpipers were

16

seen 9 August at Lake Contrary, St. Joseph (LL). Least Sandpiper observations started with three seen on 9 August at Lake Contrary, St. The high count for Least Sandpiper was 40 seen at THRon 18 October (SK), and the latest observation was two birds seen on 17November at Columbia (BG). Two Baird's Sandpipers were seen at SCR on 4 August (DE, JH), and the latest seen were nine birds observed on 21 September in Buchanan Co. (MR). A late Pectoral Sandpiper was at MSL on 10 November, MSL, and was studied closely for about one hour (DE). A high of 45 was recorded on 9 August at Lake Contrary, St. Joseph (LL). One Dunlin was the first observed on 26 October at REDA (TB), and a flock of 15 was seen on 11-12 November at ED (JL, BG). Flocks of Stilt Sandpipers included 100 birds on 10 August at Horseshoe Lake, St. Joseph (LL), and 55 on 21 September in Buchanan Co. (MR). The latest individual was a winter-plumaged bird seen on 4 November at Montrose CA (CH).

The shorebird highlight of this fall was the widespread and numerous Buff-breasted Sandpipers across much of central and western Missouri on large mowed areas. High counts included 50+ on 28 August north of Jefferson City (Carl Ger-hardt), 100+ on 30 August next to the runway at the downtown airport, Clay Co. (Kyle Driggers), 60+ on 2 September at the Peeman Sod Farm near New Franklin (JL), and 64 seen on 3 September at in Buchanan Co. on 3 September (MR). The earliest observation was of two birds seen on 22 August at the Keller Fish Farms near Buckner in Jackson Co. (Mike Beck), and the latest was of three birds on 9 September at STR in Polk Co. (BD). A single Long-billed Dowitcher was the earliest ob-served on 9 August at Horseshoe Lake, St. Joseph (LL), and two were seen on 12 November at EB (BG). Common Snipe were observed beginning with a single bird on 4 August at SCR (DE, JH). Only two sightings of single American Woodcock were reported, 4 November at Bois D'Arc CA, Greene Co. (LB eta!.),

17

and 15 November 1.5 mile northeast of Cape Girardeau (BE). A single Wilson's Phalarope was first observed on 23 August at the Keller Fish Farms near Buckner in Jackson Co. (RS), and the last observation was a single bird seen on 8 October at SL (JiZ).

Rare gulls provided much birding excitement this fall. A Laughing Gull was seen at REDA on 4 October (Kevin Rich-mond). Franklin's Gulls were seen at expected sites, but in relatively small numbers; the largest flock was 2000 seen on 21 September at Horseshoe Lake, St. Joseph (LL). A juvenile Little Gull* was found at REDA on 29 September, and observed through 14 October (DB, BR, m. obs.). A second individual in first winter plumage appeared later. Bonaparte's Gulls first appeared on 27 August, when a single bird was at Horseshoe Lake, St. Joseph (LL). A maximumofaboutlOO was seen atTHR on 8 October (BD), and 11 were present on 19 November in Greene Co. (GB). A second gull highlight was Sabine's Gull*, first seen at REDA on 24 September (BR). Several were present through October at REDA, often in Ellis Bay. By 14 October, there were three juveniles and one to two adults (a minimum of 5) (Jeff Lundt, BR). A Black-legged Kittiwake* seen 18-19 October at Lake Jacomo was early; most Missouri observations have been in November (Mike Beck, RM).

Caspian Terns were seen in locations and on dates as expected; the highest count was 51, including two juveniles, on 9 September at Montrose CA (MR). A count of 25 Forster's Terns at STR on 9 September was relatively high for fall migra-tion (BD). Fifteen late breeding Least Terns were observed at Rones Loop southeast of Portageville, New Madrid Co., on 7 August (Leslie Koller). Only two sightings of Black Terns were received, six on 9 September at STR (BD), and 70 seen on 29 August at SLR (SK)

18

DOVES THROUGH WOODPECKERS Additional sites for Eurasian Collared-dove continue to be

reported largely from cities and grain elevators. A high of 16 was counted on 13 August at a grain mill in Marshfield, Webster Co., where the birds had apparently been for about a year (CB). Two or three at a time were seen in Portageville (Leslie Koller), and one was observed in Sunset Park, St. Louis Co. (George Barker). Ringed Turtle Doves, escaped captives probably, are still quite numerous in south St. Louis (JZ). Observers should use caution in distinguishing these escapees from Eurasian Collared-doves. Two single Black-billed Cuck-oos were seen, one at Schell-Osage CA on 16 September (BB), and one on 8 September at WB (RM et a!.). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo observed on 26 October at Rock Bridge SP was some-what late (BG) .. The only Greater Roadrunner record was of a single bird in Taney Co. seen on 13 August (C&BN). A Barn Owl was seen perched in Chillicothe on 1 November, but was later gone (OF). A group of four Long-eared Owls found on 28 November in a pine grove on Poosey CA, Livingston Co., were the only ones reported (SK). A very early observation of a Short-eared Owl on 7 October at REDA was reported, but other observers saw a Northern Harrier in the same vicinity (Kevin Richmond). The high count for this owl was 15-20 seen at dusk on 11 & 12 November, northeast of Trenton, Grundy Co. (Kyle Driggers).

Common Nighthawk flocks were observed on 20 August in St. Clair (100+; Barbara Estill), and in Columbia (40+; Chris F. Snook). Two late birds were seen over Columbia on 30 October (JL). A single

Whip-poor-will was heard calling on 16 September at PSP (SK et a!.). A late Chimney Swift was seen on 23 October in Springfield Mo (GB). A leucistic Ruby-throated H u m ~ mingbird reported on 20 August in Taney Co. 'Was of interest (BB). The latest bird reported in Cape Girardeau was on 18

19

October (BE). An immature male Rufous Hummingbird was captured and banded at a feeder on 8 October in Kirkwood, St. Louis Co., by Lanny Chambers. It was still present at the end of period (Anne McCormack, m. obs.). A Selasphorus sp. hum-mingbird appeared at a residence in Springfield, Greene Co. on 29 October (BD). The earliest Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ap-peared on 27 September atTGP (SM). Three observers reported single Northern (Red-shafted) Flickers, on 21 October at Bel-ton, Cass Co. (Tom Martin), 27 October at Poosey CA, Livingston Co. (DF), and 12 November in north Kansas City (EM).

FLYCATCHERS THROUGH WRENS Single Olive-sided Flycatchers were noted between 20

August at TGP (MT) and 11 September at Bluffwoods CA, Buchanan Co. (JH). An observation of five Eastern Wood-pewees on 26 September at Rock Bridge SP was the only observation submitted (BG). Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were consistent! y seen at TGP throughout migration period, with the earliest 19 August (BR). The lastone seen in the Columbia area was seen on 13 September at Rock Bridge SP (BG). In a 7.5 mile float of the Niangua River below Bennett Spring SPin Laclede Co., four Acadian Flycatchers were detected on 9 September (MR). An Alder Flycatcher, a species difficult to detect during migration, was recorded at WB on 4 September (CH). A count of 15 Eastern Phoebes at Lake Springfield on 7 October was high, considering the solitary nature of this species during migration (DeR). The last Great Crested Flycatcher seen in the Columbia area was at Rock Bridge SP on 5 September (BG). A single Western Kingbird was observed on 14 August west of Springfield in Greene Co. (Dave Catlin), and a late Eastern Kingbird was seen on 25 September at Horseshoe Lake, St. Joseph (LL). Small numbers of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were seen in October, including three on 14 October in Barton Co.

20

(BJ) and one on 21 October, two miles east of Clinton (James Bair). Two single Northern Shrikes*were detected during the period; one in Randolph Co. southeast of THR on 27 October (EW), and one at SLR on 30 November (SK).

White-eyed Vireo is scarce in northern Missouri, so the individual detected on 22 August in Livingston Co. was of interest (SK). Another was observed on 26 September at WB (JH). Several Bell's Vireos were found along Grand River during August in Livingston Co. (SK), and two were seen on 4 September at WB (CH). The latest Yellow-throated Vireo found in Columbia was observed on 24 September (BG). Single Blue-headed Vireos were found in Columbia on 17 and 24 September (BG). A single bird found on 6 November at Hen-ning CA in Taney Co. was very late (BoB). The first of many Philadelphia Vireos observed were two birds seen on 8 Sep-tember at WB (RM eta!.). The last Red-eyed Vireos observed in Columbia were seen on 24 September (BG). Three adult Fish Crows seen about 11 miles northwest of Clinton, Henry Co. on 27 August, represent a range extension (MR, CH). This species continues to extend its breeding range north and west up major river systems in the state.

Hundreds of thousands o f swallows again staged over Locust Creek Bottoms south of PSP in mid-September through mid-October (SK). Two late Tree Swallows were at EB on 8 November (BG), and a late Barn Swallow was at MSL on 4 November (DE). Red-breasted Nuthatches arrived early this year, with one to two present in St. Joseph starting 1 August (LL), and one appearing on 27 August in Madison Co. (NY). Brown Creepers were first seen on 40ctober in Columbia (BG), and 5 October at TGP (TB). The earliest arriving Winter Wren was at TGP on 26 September (TB). No observers reported Bewick's Wren. Good numbers. of Sedge Wrens were reported over a wide area. One was building a nest in an unmowed hayfield and singing in northern Dallas Co. on 7 August (PS).

21

A high count of 20 was recorded on 4 August at SCR (DE, JH). One individual was seen as late as 2 November at REDA (Bob McFall). Marsh Wrens were also widely observed in Septem-ber-October, especially in the St. Louis area (fide JZ). Two late individuals were at Lake Contrary, St. Joseph, on 4 November (LL).

KINGLETS THROUGH WARBLERS Kinglets arrived about on schedule, with a single Golden-

crowned Kinglet appearing at TGP on 5 October (TB), and two R u b y - c r o w n e d Kinglets arriving on 12 September at Lees Summit (RS). The last Blue-gray Gnatcatcher seen in the Columbia area was observed on 5 September (BG). Observers in the Rolla area reported large numbers of Eastern Bluebirds (Linda Frederick). A brief observation of a Townsend's Solitaire* on 24 October at Henning CA, Taney Co would be a record early date for the species in Missouri (BoB). The observer got both a view of the bird and heard a call note, but the final decision on this record will be up to the records committee. Observation of a single Gray-cheeked Thrush and two Swainson's Thrushes on 4 September at WB were early (CH). Hermit Thrush was first detected at TGP on 7 October (MT). More than normal were seen in the Rolla area through late fall (Linda Frederick), but no abnormal! y high numbers were noted elsewhere. The latest Wood Thrush found was located on 11 October at Bluff Woods CA, Halls (LL). Enormous flocks of American Robins were observed in Phelps Co. (Linda Frederick). However, a roost of a few thousand in Cape Girar-deau that has persisted all winter for several years had disap-peared by early November this year (BE). A rare (for northern Missouri) Northern Mockingbird was seen on 4 November at MSL (DE). The first American Pipits recorded were 50 ob-served at Bradford Farm in Boone Co. on 17 October (BG), and two were still present on 24-26 November at SCR (JiZ, Kim

22

March). There were numerous reports of Sprague's Pipit in western and northern Missouri, with the earliest being nine found in Holt and Buchanan Cos. in northwest Missouri on 21 September (MR). Other high counts were 10 seen near Montrose CA on 7 October (CH) and nine seen in the same are on 28 October (RM). Additional observations were five seen on 29 September on private land in Henry Co. (EW), one seen on 1 October at Bradford Farm (EW), three+ seen on 2 October at Rosecrans Airport, St. Joseph (JH), one seen on 5 October at Montrose CA (LB), and five seen on 16 October in Caldwell Co. (TM). Large numbers of Cedar Waxwings were reported in the Rolla area (Linda Frederick).

There were more warblers than normal in northwest Mis-souri (JH), but not in other regions of the state. A late Blue-winged Warbler was seen on 13-14 September at TGP (David Rabenau, Susan Eaton). A Lawrence's Warbler seen on 4 Sep-tember at TGP was a treat (MB). Orange-crowned Warblers were seen regularly from 12 September to 17 October in Colum-bia, with the last observation being three birds seen on 1 November (BG). Nashville Warblers were seen regularly from 7 September to 7 October in Columbia (BG). The latest obser-vation of Northern Parula was a single bird seen on 26 Septem-ber in Columbia (BG). One or more late Yellow Warblers were in willows at August A. Busch CA on 17 September, Busch CA, St. Charles Co. (BR). Chestnut-sided Warblers were observed

·from 20 August to 26 September in Columbia (BG). The latest report was of two birds seen on 7 October in Kirkwood, St. Louis Co. (Anne McCormack). Two Cape May Warblers, a species that is casual in October, were seen at TGP on 5 October (Doug Corbett). A late Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen on 24 November at St. Joseph (JH). Black-throated Green Warblers were common from 5 September to 26 September in Columbia (BG). The Blackbumian Warbler seen on 19 August at TGP was three days earlier than the earliest date reported in

23

Birds of Missouri (BR). The latest date reported for Palm Warbler was 18 October at Wakonda SP (SK). Single Bay-breasted Warblers were reported near Lake Springfield, Greene Co., on 30 September (DT), and at WB on 1 October (Matt Gearheart).

The latest Worm-eating Warbler seen in the Columbia area was seen on 7 September, and the latest Ovenbird on 13 September at Rock Bridge SP (BG). A late Northern Waterthrush was seen in Lebanon on 14 October (LP). No Louisiana Waterthrush was observed in a 7.5 mile float of the Niangua River below Bennett Spring .SP in LaClede Co. on 9 September (MR). The fall data in Robbins and Easterla is er-roneous, and clearly tower kill data for this species is bogus (MR). MR tracked down a couple of specimens from those kills and. they were Northerns, not Louisiana. The last Kentucky Warbler seen in Columbia was observed on 2 September (BG), and three were observed at WB on 4 September (CH). A single Connecticut Warbler seen on 23 September at South Creek, Greene Co. was the only individual reported (DT). Two Mourning Warblers were at TGP on 14 September (TB). A stunning sighting of what was probably a breeding pair of Hooded Warblers was reported on 3 August at Roaring River SP, Barry Co (EW). There were several reports of Wilson's Warbler, beginning with one seen on 2 September four miles west of Kearney, Mo. (Judi Farris) and ending with one seen at Cape Woods CA, Cape Girardeau on 1 October (Lisa Asmus). Single Canada Warblers were seen in Greene Co. on 26 August (DT), Guilford on 9 September and St. Joseph on 10 September (JH), and PSP on 12 September (SK). Yellow-breasted Chat is rarely seen in migration, so the sighting of one at TGP on 18 August is of interest (TB)

TANAGERS THROUGH FINCHES Late Summer Tanager observations included single birds

at Rock Bridge SP (BG) on 26 September and at Poosey CA on

24

9 October (SK). A Scarlet Tanager was seen at Rock Bridge SP, also on 26 September (BG). Spotted Towhee individuals were seen on 9 October at Bluff Woods CA (LL) and 11 November at Fellows Lake, Greene Co. (GB). One observer reported num-bers of American Tree Sparrow were down in north-central Missouri (SK), but ten were observed during the LeConte's Sparrow count on 29 October at Houf Ranch in Callaway Co. (BJ). Chipping Sparrow was common into late November in Springfield area, resulting in new record late dates (fide GS); single birds were seen in Greene Co. on 25 November (DaR), Shelbyville on 26 November (Patrick Harrison), and Carter Creek Trail, Phelps Co. on 26 November (Mike Doyen). Single Clay-colored Sparrows were seen on 3 October on the St. Louis University Campus (N. Barber), 6 October near Competition, Laclede Co. (SM), 11 October at PSP (SK), and 14 October at Browning Lake (JH). Vesper Sparrow observations included three seen on 21 October at Fountain Grove CA (TM), and one feeding with Eastern Bluebirds and Yellow-romped Warblers on 25 November in northern Dallas Co. (PS). Savannah Spar-rows lingered well into November in good numbers. The highest count was 200 at CCR on 22 October (TB). One was observed on 22 September at Muskrat Lake, St. Joseph (LL). On the LeConte's Sparrow count on 29 October, ten were seen at HoufRanch in Callaway Co. and 46 at Bradford Farm in Boone Co. (BJ). Late Savannah Sparrows were observed at MSL, including 10 on 4 November and six on 10 November (DE), and three at Bois D'Arc CA, Greene Co. on 4 November (LB et. a!).

The only Grasshopper Sparrow observation of the season was of four at La Petite Gemme CA, Polk Co. on 2 August (BB). Three Henslow's Sparrows were observed at the same time and place. An additional Henslow's Sparrow observation was very late for this species; three at HoufRanch, Callaway Co. on 29 October (BJ). The LeConte's Sparrow count conducted on 29 October tallied 27 at Bradford Farm, Boone Co. and 31 at

25

Houf Ranch, Callaway Co. (BJ). This species had a great year in the St. Louis area (JZ). Additional observations were of a single bird on 10 October at SLR (HL-D), 5-6 on 26 October at Poosey CA (SK), and two on 4 November at Bois D'Arc CA, Greene Co. (LB et. a!). Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow also had a great year in the St. Louis area (JZ). Two were found at Montrose CA on 5 October (LB), and three were recorded on 4 November at Bois D'Arc CA, Greene Co. (LB et. a!). All other observations were of single birds, including 19 September at SLR (SK), 9 October at Poosey CA (SK), 22 October at both SLR (SK) and EB (JL), and 31 October at SLR (SK). The earliest Fox Sparrow report was a single individual seen on 28 September at Bluff Woods CA (LL). A very early Lincoln's Sparrow was observed at PSP on 16 September (TM). The latest observation was a single individual seen on 4 November at Bois D'Arc CA, Greene Co. (LB et. a!). The sparrow was seen regularly from 10 October to 1 November in the Columbia area (BG). Early single Swamp Sparrows were seen at SLR on 16 September (SK), and near Rosecrans Airport, Buchanan Co. on 21 September (MR). The first record of a White-throated Sparrow was from TGP on 8 October (SM), and more than 100 were seen at one site in Columbia on 18 October (BG). A large number of sightings of Harris's Sparrow were farther east than expected, many of them at feeders. Single birds were recorded at Wakonda SP on 18 October (SK), REDA on 5 November (MT), Columbia on 10 November (Vicki Neill), and Macon, Mo on 20 November (Nicholas March). Other easterly locations were in northern Dallas Co., where up to three were seen on 14-25 November (PS), and Lebanon, Laclede Co., where two first year birds were at a feeder from 14-27 November (LP). A high count of 52 was obtained in Daviess Co. on 4 November (TM), and 16 at Poosey CA on 28 November (SK). The first records of Dark-eyed Junco were single birds found on 21 September in Greene Co. (DaR) and Daviess Co. (TM). Two Smith's Longspurs seen near

26

Montrose CA on 7 October are a very early record for this species (CH).

Two late Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were at Bluff Woods CA on 9 October (LL). Single Blue Grosbeaks included one in Christian Co. on 9 August (GS) and a female at Schell-Osage CA on 7 October (CH). A flock of at least 25 Bobolinks was observed on 1 September at Somerset Farm, northern Mercer Co. (Robert Brundage). Two more were seen on 1 October at Bradford Farm (BJ) and several on the same date at REDA (fide Barbara Johnson). The most interesting observation was of one at CCR on 28 October. This is a very late date, since the latest date in Birds of Missouri is 9 October (BR). A single Yellow-headed Blackbird was observed on 26 August at SCR (LL),and another individual was seen in a blackbird flock on the Katy Trail north of Jefferson City on 28 October (Julie Lundsted). Three Great-tailed Grackles were recorded at SCR on 4 August (DE, JH), and 15 on 24 November (JiZ). A flock of eight was at St. Joseph on 11 September (JH). A high count of 115 occurred on 12 November at EB (BG). This species is casual in eastern Missouri, and a single bird with Common Grackles at CCR, Pike Co. on 28 October was noteworthy* (BR). A Baltimore Oriole seen on 21 October at Sumner, Chariton Co. was late (TM). Few Purple Finches were observed, with the first being a single female seen on 5 October at Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Clay Co. (RS). Four adult male and three brown Red Crossbills were found at Lake Jacomo on 5 Novem-ber (Nan Johnson & Jo Garrett). The first Pine Siskin observa-tion was of a single bird seen in St. Louis on 8 October (SM). Single birds continued to be seen at feeders until17November (Bob Lewis). The largest number seen was 36 observed at August Busch CA on 17 October (fide CM).

27

Observers: Geoff Baggins (GB), Bob Ball (BB), David Becher (DB), Lisa

Berger (LB), Torrey Berger (TB), Mike Brady (MB), Charles Burwick (CB), Jeff Cantrell (JC), Betty Dyer (BD), Dave Easterla (DE), Bill Eddleman (BE), Doris Fitchett (DF), Bill Goodge (BG), Jack Hilsabeck (JH), Chris Hobbs (CH), Jan Horton (JHo), Brad Jacobs (BJ), Kay Johnson (KJ), Steve Kinder (SK), Larry Lade (LL). Heather Lambert-Doherty (HL-D), Jean Leonatti (JL), Charlene Malone (CM), Sherry McCowan (SM), Terry McNeely (TM), Roger McNeill (RM), Bonnie and Charles Noble (C&BN), Lester Pannell (LP), Jim Rathert (JR), Ted Rights (TR), David Ringer (DaR), Dean Rising (DeR), Mark Robbins (MR), Bill Row.e (BR), Greg Swick (GS), Patrick Sensenig (PS), Ruth Sim-mons (RS), Mike Thelen (MT), Dorothy Thurman (DT), Edge Wade (EW), Dave Williams (DW), Fred L. Young (FY), Jim Ziebol (JZ).

Abbreviations for commonly mentioned places: CCR-Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge (Pike Co.) EB-Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area (Boone Co.) LCCL-Little Creve Coeur Lake (St. Louis Co.) MSL-Maryville Sewage Lagoons (Nodaway Co.) PRSP-Prairie State Park (Barton Co.) PSP-Pershing State Park (Linn Co.) REDA-Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area (St.

Charles Co.) SCR-Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge (Holt Co.) 51-Smithville Lake (Clay Co.) SLR-Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Chariton Co.) STR-Stockton Reservoir, Aldrich area (Polk Co.) SP-State Park THR-Thomas Hill Reservoir (Randolph Co. and Macon Co.) TGP-Tower Grove Park (St. Louis) WB-Weston Bend State Park (Platte Co.)

28

Addendum to Summer Season Report

Jim Wilson

Common Loons were at Fellows Lake (Greene Co.) on 25 July (Charles Burwick). Yellow-crowned Night-Herons bred

. near Efindale in Springfield based on the sighting of a newly hatched young on 3 June (Kay Johnson). An Osprey was at Fellows L a k ~ (Greene Co.) on 25 July (Charles Burwick). Swainson's Hawks were again seen regularly around Springfield, including a pair near the Campbell Ave./James River Expressway (Charles Burwick) and one near Sun-shine/65 Bypass (Greg Swick). An American Avocet in breed-ing plumage was at the Aldrich Arm of Stockton Lake (Polk Co.) on 9 June (Greg Swick, Phil Moran). Five White-rumped Sandpipers were there on 9 June and Solitary, Least, Semi pal-mated, and Pectoral sandpipers and Forster's and Black terns (David Ringer) on 29 July. A Least Flycatcher was in Taney Co. on 7 June (Bo. Brown). An Empidonax flycatcher, reported as silent, but possibly a Least, was in Greene Co. on 19 July (Dorothy Thruman).

29

CASTLEVIEW BED & BREAKFAST

ON THE QUIET WATERS OF THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS

Escape the stress of everyday life at Castleview Bed & Breakfast, a modern Victorian bed & breakfast with a beautiful view of The Lake of the Ozarks. We are located on the lower part of the Big Niangua Arm where the lake narrows into the Big Niangua River. No Party Cove here or noisy big boats. Simply enjoy the peace that is Castleview.

Nestled next to beautiful Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Castleview is a nature lover's paradise.

Bring your canoe and explore the caves at the water's edge along the Big Niangua River.

Hike the many beautiful trails of Ha Ha Tonka State Park

Walk along our stream and watch the Blue Heron wait patiently for dinner.

Count the many varieties of birds that frequent our fecders-21 counted by an Audubon Society member as he waited for breakfast.

Watch the deer as they feed on our hillside.

Or simply relax in our gazebo by the pond and let us pamper you with home-baked treats.

We offer 4 guest rooms each with private bath and a full gourmet break-fast. Visit our web page to learn more about Castleview Bed & Break-fast.

Castleview Bed & Breakfast Toll Free 877-346-9818

573-346-9818 email - allers @ usmo.com

www.lakelinks.com/castleview

Let us Pamper You

Member of Audubon Society of Missouri

30

ASM Field Trip

ASM Trip to Dunn Ranch Steve Kinder

T he Audubon Society of Missouri is spon-

soring a spring field trip to the Nature Conservancy's Dunn Ranch. This is an area of approximately 3,000 acres of open, rolling, grassland in Harrison County. A major ef-fort is underway here to re-store native prairie.

Our focus will be on the grassland birds that nest here, particularly Greater Prairie-Chicken, Bobolink, Upland Sandpiper, and Henslow's Sparrow. Other birds to be found include good numbers of Grasshop-per Sparrows, both Eastern and Western Meadowlarks, Eastern Kingbirds, and Northern Harrier. Logger-head Shrikes can usually be located in the surrounding area.

The date for this trip has been set for May 20. Besides other conflicts, this has been set on a Sunday because of another event in the area on

31

this weekend. On Saturday the 19th a workday has been scheduled for planting seed-lings at nearby Pawnee Prairie. This is a joint project of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Na-ture Conservancy of Mis-souri. An area of seedling beds for native prairie plants has been established for use as a seed source for restoring prairies. These are being ex-panded, and this would be a good opportunity for ASM members to be involved in a hands-on way to benefit grassland birds and wildlife. Anyone interested in this would be welcome to assist on Saturday as all volunteers are appreciated. Hopefully, if time permits, we will be able to tour this area as well on Sunday.

Camping will be available at Dunn Ranch, and there are RV sties just off I-35 in Eagleville and others south on Hwy 69. There is a motel at

the truck stop at the I-35 exit and a Super 8 and others 15 miles south in Bethany for anyone needing overnight ac-commodations.

We plan to have someone from the Grand River Audubon Chapter leaving from the Super 8 parking lot at 8:30 a.m. on the 20th. Otherwise we will meet at Dunn Ranch at 9:00a.m.

To reach Dunn Ranch from the I-35 exit at Eagleville turn left on Hwy N and go west to Hwy 69 in Eagleville. Turn right and go north about one-half mile to Hwy M. Turn left and go west out of town for about five miles. Look for

32

the junction with Hwy W. Continue west past this to the next gravel road on the right. You should see boundary signs on the fences by now. This is road W 180 Ave. Turn right and go north to the double metal gates on the left. This is the main area of Dunn Ranch where we will meet.

Come join us for a fun day or weekend of birding on the prairie and the rare, not to be missed, landscape of Dunn Ranch.

For more information or questions you can contact me at dmkinder@yahoo.com or 660/646-6516.

Why Riverlands? Edge Wade

T he discovery of an adult male Smew

(Merge/Ius a/bel/us) January 13, 2001, at Riverlands En-vironmental Demonstration Area, the Corps of Engineers property in St. Charles Coun-ty, prompted several birders to ask, "Why are so many rare birds reported from River-lands, especially compared with other places in Mis-souri?" As compiler of the Missouri Bird Alert, I've had the question put to me before, but never given it the thorough, thoughtful re-sponse it deserves.

Riverlands (a shorter name that retains the essence of the place and doesn't sound like an electric utility as does REDA) appears fre-quently in Missouri Bird Alerts-more often than any other site-as the location of a

33

rare (casual or accidental) species sighting. The interac-tions of three sets of variables work toward this end. These variables are:

Geography, that is, how birds get toRi ver-Iands;

Habitat, or why birds come and stay at Ri verlands; and,

Birders, their num-bers, actions and habits.

GEOGRAPHY

The Funnel Effect Geography has to come

first. Picture the North American continent (or look at a map). The whole con-tinent is shaped a bit like a funnel. On a macro scale,

Costa Rica and Panama at the bottom of the continental fun-nel are birders' paradises, so numerous are the birds within their small landmass. On a micro scale, the funnel effect is what makes some places, especially peninsulas, good for birdfinding during migration. Birds "stack up" at the ends of peninsulas (Cape May or Pt. Pelee, for example) before making the jump over water.

The funnel effect is a major factor in Ri verlands' at-traction of birds. And River-lands benefits from more than one funnel. How?

The Great Lakes Go back to the map. One

funnel begins with the western Great Lakes-Supe-rior, Michigan, and Huron-the big ones. They form the top of the funnel; the narrow part begins at aboutSt. Louis. From Lake Superior, the Mis-sissippi is nearby and can be followed south; from Lake Michigan, projecting far south, it is an easy flight along the Illinois River to the Mis-

34

sissippi a little above River-lands. Birds leaving Lake Huron, except from the east end, are led toward the Mis-sissippi by following any watercourse.

Several species of gulls and ducks listed as accidental in most parts of the United States may be casual on the Great Lakes. Some, notably Lesser Black-backed Gull, have made their first breed-ing toe-hold on this continent along the Great Lakes. The Lakes are a fountainhead of species and the big end of a funnel to Riverlands.

The Rivers and The Flyways A second funnel is formed

by the river systems essen-tially independent of the Great Lakes in combination with the migratory flyways favored by many species.

Riverlands sits squarely astride the Mississippi Flyway, the flight path or aerial river of migrating birds that follow the Mississippi River. The Missouri River joins the Mississippi (one could argue that the Missis-

Your Invitation to a Spring Birding Celebration-ASM's JOOth Anniversary May 4, 5, and 6, 2001 in the St. Louis, Mo. area

The St. Louis Audubon Society is hosting the celebration of the Audubon Society of Missouri's lOOth anniversary in the city where it was born in 1901. All Audubon members and friends are invited.

The focus of our meetings and starting point for field trips will be in the St. Charles area. Our affairs on Friday and Saturday evenings will be near the heart of the city.

The 16 field trips on Friday, Saturday, and on Sunday morning will include the very best birding locations in the entire area at the peak of spring migration.

DON'T MISS THIS EXCEPTIONAL BIRDING CELEBRATION FOR ANY REASON!

REGISTRATION INCLUDES: (Fri. 8 a.m.- 9 p.m.) Commemorative enamel birding pin Booklet on ASM History and Leaders: "A Century of Birding in Missoun"'

16 FIELD TRIPS spanning 3 days to 10 destinations at peak of spring migration on the Mississippi River Flyway

FRIDAY NIGHT PROGRAM Birds and the St. Louis Zoo; Early Years, New Displays, Future Plans Displays by Audubon Chapters Share TEN of YOUR slides with us

SATURDAY NIGHT-PETE DUNNE, widely acclaimed birding author, will present our dinner program

Director of Cape May Bird Observatory Au thor of 5 humorous birding books; copies to be available for autographs (See page VI for Sat. night details)

I

FIELD TRIPS We are asking people to pre-register for all field trips by

April 15; we will limit the number on each trip to ensure a quality experience. All field trip registration will be on a first-come first-served basis, so register early.

On Friday and Saturday we will have morning and after-noon full and half-day trips. Sunday will have only morning trips. There are five trips on Friday to six locations in or close to St. Charles County; this is a work day, so we will avoid the rush hour traffic into St. Louis. Saturday will have seven field trips to all of the best areas, with a selected overlap of Friday's trips. Sunday has four morning trips to revisit the very best migrant trap birding locations. In total there are 16 trips to 10 locations

All field trips will departe from the DAYS INN and NOAH'S ARK MOTOR lNN parking lot at the Southeast corner of the I-70 and 5th St. exit. We will strongly urge car pooling to reduce the number of vehicles in each caravan. Departure Times for morning and all day trips will be 7:30a.m (except as noted** on page VIII). Afternoon trips will depart from the same location at 12:30 p.m. Bring your own food and drink. Your registration package will include simple maps and directions for each field trip, if you want to go earlier or later.

The Ten Field Trip Locations include: Busch and Weldon Spring Conservation Areas (CA), Marais Temps Clair CA, Riverlands EDA, Creve Coeur Park, Little Creve Coeur Marsh, Tower Grove Park (Gaddy Garden & Cypress Circle), Forest Park-Kennedy Forest (two starting points), Castlewood State Park, and Shaw Arboretum. Descriptions of each location are provided below to help in your selection.

II

LOCATION DESCRIPTIONS

1. BUSCH CONSERVATION AREA: Almost 7000 acres with a very large variety of birding habitats, including more than 30 lakes, mature second-growth upland, and mature bottomland forests, four large .pine groves, many weedy fields, creeks, modest marshes, and a shorebird/wetlands area. The largest lake (#33) covers 200 acres. Most birds that breed in eastern Missouri breed at Busch, and many migrants use this area. In early May it is possible to find more than 100 species by 10 a.m. We will focus on the best areas for migrants.

2. WELDON SPRING CONSERVATION AREA: More than 7300 acres adjacent to Busch CA with habitats that include extensive upland and bottomland forests and the Missouri River floodplain. Access is provided at four trailheads along a five mile stretch of MO Hwy. 94. We will focus on the Lost Valley Trail along sycamore-lined Little Femme Osage Creek. Considerable walking is involveci.

3. MARAIS TEMPS CLAIR CONSERVATION AREA: French for "fair weather marsh," MTC covers 935 acres in the floodplains between the !v1ississippi and Missouri rivers. Eight units are seasonally flooded and provide all types of wetland habitat for rails, large waders, and all other waterbirds. MTC is also good for hawks and sparrows. Access is possible at three spots on the south edge and at one entrance on the north side. With a modest amount of walking we can cover all of the pools of interest.

4. RIVERLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL DEMONSTRATION AREA: More than 1200 acres on the edge of the Mississippi River have been restored to flooded lowlands, bottomland

III

marsh, ponds, native prairie, and forest. A paved, elevated access road on the levee divides the area into the 500-acre Ellis Bay waterfowl refuge and headquarter facilities on one side, and six ponds, marshes, and water control channels with sur-rounding prairie grasses on the other. This area is premium for waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, terns, rails, large waders, hawks, and sparrows, including the Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

5. CREVE COEUR PARK: This is a sizable oasis of open upland forest with mature trees and some undergrowth along the edge of steep forested bluffs overlooking Creve Coeur Lake. Our visit on Friday will avoid weekend crowds; our focus will be near the Creenfelder Memorial area, a migrant trap.

6. LITfLE CREVE COEUR MARSH: This sizable marsh is now protected and under development to enhance the habitat. In just a few years we have had good views of several types of rails, plus herons, waterfowl, and sparrows. Also, if the marsh edge has mudflats, the area is excellent for shorebirds.

7. TOWER GROVE PARK: This is an exceptional migrant trap in the City of St. Louis with nearly 300 acres of very mature forest with an open understory. We will visit two special areas at opposite ends of the park-the damp Cypress Circle area near the east end, and the Gaddy Bird Garden in the northwest corner. The Bird Garden has a bubbler fountain and some dense understory.

8. FOREST PARK-KENNEDY FOREST: This is the largest St. Louis city park with nearly 1300 acres. Kennedy Forest is an 80-acre migrant oasis within the park with a nearly unique three-tier forest of more than 100-year-old trees, numerous younger trees, and about 50 acres with dense undergrowth. Excellent trails and bridges are now maintained by the MDC.

IV

9. CASTLEWOOD STATE PARK: Located in southwest St. Louis County, these 1800 acres straddle the Meramec River with extensive mature bottomland forest excellent for all breed-ing and migrant warblers. Trails also include upland forested areas. This is our best chance for Fish Crow, Mississippi Kite, and Red-shouldered Hawk. Substantial walking is required.

10. SHAW ARBORETUM: Located near Gray Summit in Franklin County, this 2400-acre nature study area, managed by the Missouri Botanical Garden ($3.00 entrance fee) has large stands of mature oak-hickory forest, open fields, glades, con-iferous plantings, and floodplain forests on the Meramec River. Our most southern field trip offers all migrants and breeders including Pairie Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Henslow's Sparrow, and Bewick's Wren. Walking of three to five miles is involved.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND FRIDAY NIGHT PROGRAM SITE

Registration will be at BLANCHETTE PARK in St. Charles at the Memorial Hall, VFW Room on Friday, May 4, from 8:00a.m. until 9:00p.m. Directions from 1-70 are shown on the map (page VI). Friday morning trip material will be mailed to those who choose these trips. NOTE: THIS SAME LOCATION IS USED FOR OUR FRIDAY NIGHT PROGRAM.

The full ASM Registration Package will have: Program for entire weekend-detailed List of a l l field trips by number and name tied to prior 10 text descnptwns List of field trips YOU signed up for each day Simple direction and sketch map--all trips Commemorative enamel birding pin Booklet on ASM history Detailed visitor's guide and maps to greater St. Charles, Mo

v

SATURDAY EVENING DINNER AND SPEAKER The catered buffet dinner will take place at the KNIGHTS

OF COLUMBUS HALL, 3 Westbury Drive. The hall is located off West Clay St. between Zumbehl Road (exit 227) and First Capital Drive (exit 228). This is near I-70, across from the police station. (PLEASE do not drive through the police parking lot). The Saturday evening program will begin with socializing at 6:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. Our special guest, PETE DUNNE, will speak about 8:30 p.m.

MAP FOR REGISTRATION, DINNER, & MOTELS

Exit # 225 s

Zembehl Ad.

ST. CHARLES

Fifth St. Exit #229

VI

w

N

E

Friday: Registration

Evening Program

ASM LODGING INFORMATION Listed are 11 motels in St. Charles located near four exits

along I-70. Reservations by April 15 are required to get any offered ASM motel discounts.

Ask for ASM special discounts at Baymont, Days Inn/Noah's Ark, and Best Western. Days Inn/Noah's Ark has also provided us with field trip parking privileges; please favor them if possible. Motels with complimentary continental breakfast are noted with an *.

I-70 and 5th St. (exit 229) Baymont Inn*: 1425 S. 5th: 140 rooms: 636-946-6936 Days Inn/Noah's Ark*: 1500 S. 5th: 164 rooms: 636-946-1000

(ask for Ina Watson, Mgr.) Ramada Limited*: 1377 S. 5th: 63 rooms: 636-947-5900 Fairfield Inn*: 801 Fairlane Rd.: 80 rooms: 636-946-1900

I-70 and Hwy 94/lst Capital Dr. (exit 228) Best Western Country Inn*: 2781 S. Service Rd.: 114 rooms:

877-303-8700 or 636-949-8700 Suburban Lodge: 1769 Fairlane Dr.: 130 rooms: 636-947-3400

1-70 and Zumbehl Rd./West Clay (exit 227) Econo Lodge*: 3040 West Clay: 52 rooms: 636-946-9992 Red Roof Inn: 2010 Zumbehl Rd.: 108 rooms: 636-947-7770

1-70 and Cave Spring Exit (225) Hampton Inn*: 3720 West Clay: 123 rooms: 636-947-6800 Holiday Inn Select: 4221 S. Outer Rd.: 195 rooms: 636-928-

1500 Motel 6: 3800 Harry Truman Blvd.: 109 rooms: 636-925-2020

VII

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Please pre-register for field trips and make discounted room reservations by April 15.

Name ~-------------------------------

Address---------------------

City/State/Zip ________________ _

Phone Number _________________ _

FIELD TRIP CHOICES: Select your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices for each day by placing 1, 2, or 3 next to the trip number.

(AD) = All Day; bring lunch and drink (**am) or(** AD) = Trip Starts at 5:30am

FRIDAY Trip Choices

__ 1&2 (AD) 3&4 (**am)

SATURDAY Trip Choices

7 (am) 8 (am)

_9&6(AD) 10 (AD)

SUNDAY Trip Choices

7 (am) 8(am)

Registration:

Speaker /Dinner

5&6 (am) 4 (pm) _6 (pm)

1&2 (**AD)

_4 (pm)

1 (am)

$15.00 X

$23.00 X

9(pm)

2 (am)

Total Enclosed = $

Make checks payable to Audubon Society of Missouri and send together with form to: Paul Bauer/ASM, 4 Club Grounds South Dr., Florissant, M 0 63033

VIII

sippi i s the tributary) just below Riverlands The Mis-souri River roughly forms the eastern edge of the Central Flyway as it courses from the Dakotas along the borders of Iowa and Nebraska before it makes the big bend east across our state at Kansas City, ·potentially bringing with it any bird that has strayed a tad east of the Central Flyway.

These two funnels bring birds from .the north (often gulls and ducks, especially in late fall and winter, and shorebirds in early fall). The route of arrival at the area that includes Riverlands isn't as obvious for post-breeding dispersal species (Wood Stork, for example), or for spring extralimitals such as Glossy Ibis, but a closer look at the map may offer a clue.

The Knob The bump, bulge, hump,

or knob, that eastern protrusion of the Missis-sippi's course around St. Charles County, increases the likelihood of a bird coming

35

over land from the north or northeast striking the river in this area and may serve as a piling up point for birds from thesouth. River lands is there, right on that bump, between the Missouri and the Missis-sippi.

HABITAT We've seen how location

benefits Riverlands in the at-traction of birds from great distances, now let's consider what makes the place attrac-tive to birds, especially gulls and ducks, as a place to linger.

Climatic Conditions Suitable habitat for most

bird species along the middle Mississippi drainage system in winter is very limited. Rivers are frozen, ice and snow frequently cover frozen ground on adjacent land. Human activities (building, paving, farming, channeliz-ing, etc.) have further reduced viable areas. Simply put, there are few optimal survival sites once a bird has reached the river.

Corps of Engineers' Habitat Creation

The Corps of Engineers at Riverlands has worked hard to make the place live up to its Environmental Demonstra-tion Area name. They have been successful in creating and maintaining an area at-tractive to a variety of bird species. The river, the bay, ponds, marsh, etc., are the components of a complex mix of relatively predator-free areas for feeding and rest.

Refuge Status and Food Sources

The results of the true refuge status of much of the area are apparent. Birds learn areas where no hunting oc-curs and stay within them as long as conditions permit.

Unintended or by-product effects of human ac-tivities and structures con-tribute to the attractiveness of Riverlands. The barge chan-nel is kept open; hence there is open water for gulls and ducks. And perhaps the big-gest draw of all, especially for the gulls, are the bite-sized

36

bits of fish chewed up by the tugs and lock and dam opera-tions.

BIRDERS O.K., the birds have ar-

rived and are busy feeding and preening, but why are so many found and reported?

Birding Patterns and Prac-tices Around St. Louis

Sure, there are a lot of bir-ders in the St. Louis metropolitan area-probably more birders by far per square mile than in any other part of Missouri; thus, River-lands is visited by many local birders, but that's only part of it.

St. Louis area birders engage in a friendly competi-tion of number of species found annually within a 50 mile radius. This encourages birders to get out often, and perhaps, to do a significanly higher percentage of their birding closer to home than birders in other parts of the state.

Local birders are likely to

bird Riverlands often and to learn how, when, under what conditions, and where to look for unusual species. The 50-mile radius pro eli vi ty and the conditions of winter combine to encourage them to visit Riverlands when other sites have limited species present.

Though far from univer-sal, there are a significant number of Riverlands reg-ulars who make an effort to share their sjghting informa-tion, some only locally, but others statewide, via email or telephone, so the ratio of birds found to birds reported is high.

Site Reputation Among Missouri Birders

The place has a reputation of good finds. Birders tend to return to places of success (their own finds or those of others), looking for the same species (even individual), or for other equally difficult-to-find birds, buoyed by the op-timism of past finds.

The first Slaty-backed Gull reported in the lower 48 was found first downriver by

37

Bill Rudden in December, 1983, then seen and identified by other Missouri birders (Phoebe Snetsinger, Bill Rowe and Randy Korotev among them) near the old AI ton Dam site-the present Lincoln Shields and River lands. Other geat finds have included: Glaucous-winged Gull (first Missouri record), Great Black-backed Gull, Pomarine Jaeger, Neotropic Cormorant, Purple Gallinule, California Gull, Black-headed Gull, Barrow's Goldeneye, Black Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Wood Stork-species most Missouri birders dream of finding and scheme to get to when they hear of a find.

Reputation is certainly what drew Tim Barksdale to that stretch of the Mississippi River on December 31, 1991, to finish out a Missouri Big Year. He figured if he had any last chance of finding some-thing special to add, the Riverlands vicinity was where he should be. Result: Missouri's first Ross's Gull, his 314th annual Missouri species.

The Patagonia Picnic Table Effect

This phenomenon has contributed to the finding and reporting of birds at River-lands. The effect is named for the site in southeast Arizona where the report of one rare bird drew many birders who, due to their numbers and thorough searches for the first rarity, discovered others in the same locale.

There have been many oc-casions when the report of one out-of-range gull or duck has drawn many birders to Ri verlands with the result that at least one more rarity has been found and reported. WGNSS and Burrough's and St. Louis Audubon members were enjoying (or struggling to locate and enjoy) the Barrow's Goldeneye when the Smew was sighted near-by.

Contributions of a Few Good Birders

The so much owed to so few factor certainly applies to the finds and reports from Riverlands. The January 2001

38

issue of Birding, the journal of the American Birding As-sociation, carried an article by William Moskoff and Jeffrey Sundberg, Birding for Vagrants: A Look at Illinois. They note that for both the 1980s and 1990s, about 80% (540 in the 80s and 317 in the 90s) of the submissions of bird sightings to the Illinois Or-nithological Records Com-mittee were accepted as valid records. The surprising part to me is that 50% of all ac-cepted records were sub-mitted by just 10 people in each decade. The obvious in-ference is that a few very good, active birders turn up and report a lot of vagrant birds.

Among the Very Best The St. Louis area has a

long, rich tradition of very good, very active birders. A significant element in the equation of why so many vagrants are reported at Riverlands is the number of very good birders who have tromped the turf-people like Jack Van Benthuysen,

Dick Anderson, Pheobe Snet-singer, Connie Alwood, Bill Rowe and Paul Bauer-' people who have led the way, passed the word, and shared their skills. To them and to the many others who continue in their enthusiasm, the rest of us owe a good many birds on our life lists seen at River-lands.

Smew watchers at Riverlands

CONCLUSION Many factors contribute

to the seemingly out-of-proportion number of rare or unusual birds reported from Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area. Geographic phenomena, habitat availability, and the numbers and habits of bir-ders are stirred in the waters of the Mississippi to produce a heady brew of rarities and Class A birding adventure. Grab your scope and go!

39

Birding in Missouri, March-May Robert G. Fisher

Birders start March en-thusiastically since

spring officially begins then. They forget that the first two thirds of the month officially belongs to winter. On the first weekend they rush to their favorite lakes and conserva-tion areas. They find a few migrants, but most of the birds are still regulars, which have been around all winter. Song, Fox, and White-throated Sparrows are added to the usual White-crowned, Tree, and Harris's sparrows and juncos. A few of the blackbirds making strange, metallic noises in a wet, wooded area turn out to be Rustys. A sapsucker works around a tree trunk. Coots ap-pear along the lakeshore. Kingfishers, grebes, and Great Blue Herons return. Grebes and most species of

40

diving ducks, including par-ticularly large numbers of Common Mergansers, can be found on any big lake. Some-where around the middle of the month the Turkey Vul-tures return and the last Bald Eagle leaves.

March produces a few good birds, but not many. The longspurs-both Lapland and Smith' s-move in March, often in near summer plumage and sometimes in large flocks. The European Wigeon was found at Lake Redmond in March. Both species of pipits are possible near the end of the month, as is the LeConte's Sparrow. March is a good month to find a Ross's Goose among the Snows and Blues.

Some new birds arrive at the very end of March. Towhees and Brown

Thrashers scratch beneath the bushes. Tree and Rough-winged Swallows and Purple Martins skim lakes and ponds. The first yellowlegs arrive in the marsh along with the first pairs of Blue-winged Teal. The first Yel-low-rumped Warbler may be reported then.

March is most notable for its brighter, cheerier days and for the presence of. much larger numbers of geese, ducks, blackbirds, and other early migrants. The stage is now set for the excitement of April and May.

April All of the promises of

March are kept in April. Swollen buds open into flowers and leaves. Oc-casional warm days are fol-lowed by warmer days. Greening fields grow lush with grass. The birds come back and keep coming in greater and greater numbers.

Except for waterfowl, April is far from the height of bird migration, however. The

41

nights are still too cold for trees and shrubs to be suffi-ciently infested with insect larvae to sustain many warblers and vireos. Yet, every April birding trip seems to yield new species. Kinglets appear in the bare trees,. then Yellow-rumped Warblers. First Field, Song, and Fox, then Lincoln's, Vesper, Swamp, White-throated, and Lark Sparrows come in even as the Tree Sparrows and juncos disap-pear. Flocks of pelicans spiral up slowly into the sky. Sora and Virginia Rails squawk in the marsh. A dozen kinds of

shorebirds show up on mudflats. Kingbirds top the bushes in pasture fields.

April birders are torn be-tween making special trips for particular kinds of birds and just getting out to see what is new each week. April is the right month to tramp marshy grass at night for the elusive Yellow Rail or to try for Sprague's Pipit on a Kan-sas prairie. It is also the month when Golden Plovers and Hudsonian God wits, as well as the first Prothonotary and Parula Warblers show up at Schell Osage or Marais des Cygnes. An all-day trip to either of these refuges in April yields 85 to 90, perhaps 100 or more species of birds.

Some Kansas City birders go south to Roaring River State Park or west to central Kansas at the very end of April. Those who go to Roar-ing River hope to catch the migration early and to find Ozark birds such as Blue-winged, Hooded, Worm-eating, Pine, and Prairie warblers. Birders who go west find 25 to 30 different

42

kinds of shorebirds at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Management Area and Quivera National Wildlife Refuge. They reason that the midgrass prairie will be the wrong place to be when the warblers come through in May.

May The height of the Kansas

City region bird migration oc-curs during the first half of May. Now, even a few days make a tremendous dif-ference. A trip that might have yielded six or seven

warbler species on the last weekend of April produces 13 or 14 on the first weekend in May. April's reputation to the contrary, the largest num-bers of shorebirds come through in May. May is the month to see six kinds of swallows skimming the same pond, to find several kinds of herons and egrets in the same marsh, and to note the arrival of nighthawks, cuckoos, tanagers, and five or six kinds of flycatchers

The most avid birders get out daily from May 5 to 15, if only atdaybreakbeforegoing to work. Then even residen-tial neighborhoods have warblers in the taller trees. Parks and cemeteries yield more. The peak of the warbler migration usually occurs be-tween the 10th and 15th. Un-less the weather is cold or windy, a trip to Van Meter State Park during that period produces 20 or more species of warblers. A dawn to dusk day of birding in a variety of woodland and wetland habitats yields between 125 and 140 species.

43

Sometimes May birders conduct a midnight-to-mid-night Big Day, when they try to see or hear a record number of bird species in a single state.

The second half of May is somewhat anticlimactic. The numbers and variety of birds taper off, although they con-tinue to exceed even !ate April. Leaves have completed their growth by then, making birds hard to see. Many of those coming through are relatively drab females. By now, birders are beginning to lose interest, although some still visit shorebird habitat, if any is available, or look for those few species, like Mourning and Canada Warblers and Willow, Alder, and Olive-sided Flycatchers, which are usually late coming through.

CONSERVATION REPORT Dave Bedan

AUDUBON MISSOURI CONSERVATION COMMITTEE FORMED

Things are really heating up on the conservation front on both the national and state level. There's lots of news, both good and bad.

Audubon Missouri (AM), the new state office of the Na-tional Audubon Society, is responding to these and other challenges by organizing a Conservation Committee chaired by yours truly. This committee welcomes input from the members of the Audubon Society of Missouri. If you would like to receive e-mail alerts on issues of in-terest to Audubon contact me at davebedan@sockets.net and I will place you on the list. You can find more informa-tion on these and other issues on Audubon Missouri's web news page http:/ /www.aud-ubon.org/ chapter /mo/mo /news.htrn, which is updated regularly.

44

GOVERNOR: NEW STATE PARK TO BE CREATED AT CON-FLUENCE OF THE MISSIS-SIPPI AND MISSOURI RIVERS

On February 7, 2001, Mis-souri Governor Bob Holden announced that 202 acres have been acquired for a new state park at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers just downstream from the Riverlands Environmen-tal Demonstration Area on the Mississippi and across the Missouri River from the Columbia Bottoms Conserva-tion Area.

The acquisition was made possible through the generosity of the Danforth Foundation of St. Louis and assistance from the River Net-work, a national, nonprofit river restoration and protec-tion organization in Portland, Ore. The Danforth Founda-tion awarded River Network a $668,000 grant to acquire the land, and the River Network

in tum transferred the land to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. In addi-tion, the Danforth Founda-tion made a $275,000 grant to the department to help develop the site.

The River Network also purchased an additional 872 acres adjoining the new state park. The Department of Natural Resources will work with River Network to find funding sources to bring this land into public ownership. The Danforth Foundation provided an interest-free loan so that River Network could buy and hold the land until a donor could be found.

The Department of Natural Resources will begin developing access to the park this year, including an entrance road and a system of trails to take visitors to the confluence itself. The park will provide opportunities for day-use activities such as na-ture study, wildlife observa-tion, photography, and river-related recreation. In-terpretation of the area will be achieved through signs and

45

on-site programs. The inter-pretation will include infor-mation about the Lewis and Clark expedition, which will celebrate its 200th anniver-sary in 2004.

This is welcome news for Audubon members. This area is part of the Mississippi Flyway used by millions of migratory birds each year. Thousands of Missourians al-ready use the nearby River-lands and this will be a wonderful added oppor-tunity to see birds and wildlife where these two great rivers meet. Many years ago I visited the confluence point by canoe. I was very moved to be in this dramatic place so important to our nation's wildlife and history.

NATIONAL FORESTS ROADLESS AREA RULE

January 2001-In a huge step for conservation, nearly 60 million acres of roadless public lands on our nation's National Forests will be protected from road-building and logging under a final

Roadless Area Conservation Rule announced on January 5th by President Clinton. The new protections, encompass-ing an area larger than all of our national parks combined, will protect water quality and biodiversity, and ensure that much of America's last, best wildlands are preserved for future generations.

This was a momentous conservation step on the part of the Clinton Administration and the Forest Service. Reach-ing out to the American people in an unprecedented way, the Forest Service held 600 public hearings and received nearly two million comments from Americans, the vast majority of which spoke out in strong support for protecting the nation's last remaining wild forests. Their support ran across political, philosophical, and regional lines.

Even with this important victory, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule policy isn't entirely out of the woods yet (no pun intended). We ex-pect that the policy will be

46

challenged by the Congress and the Bush administration, and quickly. Stay tuned.

---- from the Wilderness Society - January 5, 2001

Conservation Editor's note: This rule would protect 25,000 acres in the 1.5 million-acre Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri.

CLINTON ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER ON MIGRATORY BIRDS

On January 11,2001 Presi-dent Clinton issued a landmark Executive Order that requires Federal agencies to avoid or minimize the negative impact of their ac-tions on migratory birds, and to take active steps to protect birds and their habitat. The Executive Order directs each Federal agency taking actions having or likely to have a negative impact on migratory bird populations to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop an agreement to conserve those birds. In addition to avoiding

or minimizing impacts to migratory bird populations, agencies will be expected to take reasonable steps that in-clude restoring and enhanc-ing habitat, preventing or abating pollution affecting birds, and incorporating migratory bird conservation into agency planning proces-ses whenever possible.

Most bird species in the United States are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, the domestic law that implements the United States' commitment to four interna-tional conventions for the protection of shared mi-gratory bird resources. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBT A) protects species or families of birds that live, reproduce, or migrate within or across international bor-ders at some point during their annual life cycle. The Ex-ecutive Order is designed to assist Federal Agencies in their efforts to comply with theMBTA.

---- from the U.s: Fish & Wildlife Service

47

Conservation Editor's note: This rule has been suspended by the Bush ad-ministration and is currently under review.

AUDUBON MISSOURI COMMENTS ON 2,000 ACRE QUARRY AND LARGEST CEMENT PLANT IN U.S. PROPOSED FOR ST. GENVIEVE COUNTY

I have concerns about the environmental impact that the proposed Holnam cement plant, 2000-acre open-pit quarry, harbor and in-river barge fleeting will have on habitat, wildlife, air quality, water quality, and public health. I understand that the proposed cement kiln would be one of the largest in the United States. I am asking the Corps to do two things: 1) Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, and 2) Hold public hearings in Mis-souri and Illinois to allow the public to address environ-mental and public health con-cerns.

I believe an Environmen-tal Impact Statement is needed to assess the cumula-tive impact of the project on the environment as a whole, as well as its impact on in-dividual species and their habitat. The Public Notice states that the operation of the quarry and cement plant would go on for more than 100 years. The impact of this project on the environment would be substantial and irre-versible. Only an in-depth study could address all the relevant environmental is-sues and assess their probable impacts.

An Environmental Impact Statement is also needed to examine the impact that this proposed cement kiln and quarry would have on air quality and public health. Ce-ment kilns emit various pol-lutants in significant quantities. The EPA has al-ready classified St. Louis as an ozone non-attainment area because our air quality does not meet the EPA's health-based standards. The proposed cement kiln would

48

be constructed just outside of the ozone non-attainment region, possibly subject to less stringent standards yet con-tributing to pollution throughout the area.

Certainly a public hearing is essential to allow the public to address all concerns, some of which were not mentioned in the Public Notice. I am re-questing that the Corps schedule well-publicized hearings after the close of public comment.

---from a statement by Char-les Burwick, President of Audubon Missouri, to the Corps of Engineers -January 2, 2001

JOHN FLICKER: BUSH SHOULD EMULATE GOP CONSERVATIONISTS

Environmentalists often regard Teddy Roosevelt as our greatest conservation president. To him, being con-servative meant conserving our limited natural resources -{)ur capital assets-for fu-ture generations. Roosevelt's tradition of environmental leadership in the Republican

Party lasted most of the 20th century, highlighted by Presi-dent Nixon signing the Na-tional Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and estab-lishing the Environmental Protection Agency.

In 1980, the seeds of a much different Republican tradition sprouted with James Watt as Secretary of the Inte-rior, arguably the most anti-environment secretary ever. Rather than acting as a con-servative steward of natural resources, Watt opened the doors to the public estate for a fire sale to developers craving quick profits.

In 1994, then-Speaker Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America" attempted to revive the Watt environmen-tal philosophy; a move that voters overwhelmingly rejec-ted.

George W. Bush now car-ries the mantle of a Re-publican Party with deeply conflicting traditions on the environment. In the coming months, he will choose his

49

course for his administration. Will he reclaim the conserva-tive conservation philosophy of Teddy Roosevelt, or will he further cement his party to James Watt's anti-environ-ment crusade?

Bush's recent appoint-ment of Gale Norton, a Watt protege and former employ-ee, is potentially an ominous sign. But this new administra-tion and Norton still have the opportunity to define them-selves on environmental is-sues and instead to create their own positive agenda for conservation.

The Watt wing of the party is urging Bush to define his conservation philosophy im-mediately with two issues. First, they urge opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drill-ing. Second, they want to reverse President Clinton's executive order protecting more than 58 million acres of roadless areas in our national forests.

For Bush to take this ad-vice and pursue either policy would be misguided. Either

of these issues would ignite a protracted, bitter and polariz-ing national fight. In the end, Bush would lose on both is-sues in the Congress and in the court of public opinion. The only residue from such a fight would be to define his administration, and the Republican Party, as anti-en-vironment in the tradition of Jall'\es Watt. Bush said during the campaign that he sup-ported drilling in the Arctic, and opposed President Clinton's plan to protect road-less areas in national forests. Since then the voters have spoken, and sent a clear mes-sage. They want Washington to govern from the middle, not from the extremes.

The public understands that a clean and healthy en-vironment must go hand in hand with a strong economy. They reject the false choice be-tween the economy and the environment. They over-whelmingly want our public lands protected for future generations, and they reject the extremist approach of the Watt Republicans who are too

50

cozy with special interests, and too eager to destroy wildlife habitat and give away our parks, refuges and protected places to develop-ers.

The public does not sup-port development of the Arctic Refuge or roadless areas of our national forests, and the Congress won't either. We would all be better served if the new administra-tion avoided these unneces-sary battles, and instead proposed a positive conserva-tion agenda in the Republican tradition of Teddy Roosevelt and Richard Nixon.

---- by John Flicker, Presi-dent, National Audubon Society -January 15, 2001

Conservation Editor's note: The Senate confirmed the nomination of Gale Nor-ton to be Secretary of the Inte-rior on January 30, 2001.

Thirteenth Annual Report of the Missouri Bird Records Committee

William C. Rowe, Secretary

This report summarizes records evaluated by the Committee between 26 Sep-tember 1999 and 1 October 2000. It is divided into two sections: Accepted and Not Accepted.

Birds are listed in phlyogenetic order under each of the above two categories. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow the American Ornithologists Unions Checklist of North American Birds, Seventh Edi-tion (1998). For Accepted records, comments are added to indicate the records sig-nificance, and sometimes to mention the details that made it persuasive. For Not Ac-cepted records, observers names are omitted, and a brief explanation is provided as to why the record was not ac-cepted. All photographs will

51

be archived in Mylar en-velopes and deposited in the Committee's files, which are currently housed in the Division of Ornithology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, Kansas.

Of the 89 records that were finalized during this period (including one recircu-lated, unresolved record from the previous year), 73 were accepted and 16 were not ac-cepted, for an acceptance rate of 82%. No records were car-ried over into 2000-2001. Members participating in the decisions were Bill Eddleman (Chair), Bill Rowe (Secretary), David Easterla, Bill Goodge, Brad Jacobs, Paul McKenzie, and Mark Robbins. One out-side review was solicited (see under Eurasian Collared-Dove, 1999-57}.

Over the year covered by this report, no new species were added to the Missouri state list, which still stands at 398 fully accepted species, including six formerly occurring species that have been extirpated from the state and two extinct species. There are also an additional 19 hypothetical species on the list; this means that there are one or more reports of the species that are probably valid and would meet normal acceptance criteria, but none that meet the more stringent criteria for a first state record.

In general, the Committee reviews records of species that have been found fewer than 15 times in Missouri and are thus considered "casual" or "accidental" statewide (examples: casual, Barrow's Goldeneye; accidental, Roseate Spoonbill). It also reviews records of species that are casual or accidental for the season when reported (example: Baltimore Oriole in winter); records of species that are casual or accidental in the part of Missouri where reported (example: Red-shouldered Hawk in northwest Missouri); and other records of unusual interest, including first nesting records.

The Committee extends its thanks to the many birders throughout Missouri who submitted their observations, and to the Audubon Society of Missouri for its continued support and funding of the Committee's efforts. Observers who would like a status report on their current submissions can write the Secretary. The next report will appear in the March 2002 issue of The Bluebird.

RECORDS ACCEPTED PACIFIC LOON (Cavia pacifica), 2000-31: One, 19 Decem-

ber 1999, Smith ville Lake, Cia y Co. Chris Hobbs. Christmas Bird Count record. Accidental in winter.

HORNED GREBE (Podiceps auritus), 2000-32: Three, 19 December 1999, Smithville Lake, Clay Co. Chris Hobbs.

52

Christmas Bird Count record. Accidental in northern Missouri in winter.

CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii), 1999-87: One, 23-24 October 1999, Smithville Lake, Clay Co. Jim and Ellen Zellmer (documentation), Chris Hobbs, Lloyd Moore, Mark McKellar, David Staehling. Accidental; fourth documented state record.

AMERICAN BITIERN (Botaurus lentiginosus), 2000-37: One, 13 February 2000, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, Boone Co. Documented by Sandra Elbert, Bonnie Heidy, Susan Hazel-wood, and Jean Leonatti; also observed by Jean Graebner, Barbara Sapp, Barbara Allen, Sandra Kubal, Frank Schiffel, and Lee Kraft. Accidental in winter. Diagnostic features well described, and immature night-herons ruled out.

GREAT EGRET (Casmerodius a/bus), 2000-10: One, 31 December 1999, Bean Lake, Platte Co. Mike Beck (documenta-tion), Frances Cramer. Christmas Bird Count record. Acciden-tal in winter.

TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor), 2000-45: One, 15 April2000, Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Chariton Co. Terry McNeely, Steve Kinder. About the fifteenth state record of this casual vagrant, and the second-earliest spring record.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nyc-ticorax), 2000-8: One immature, 21 December 1999, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. Mark Robbins (documentation, photograph), Ron Bell; Richard Speer. Casual in winter.

53

WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus a/bus), 2000-75: One immature, 24 May 2000, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard Co. Bill Eddleman, with ornithology class. Fifteenth state record.

WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi), 2000-64: Four adults, 2 June 2000, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. David Easterla. Third summer record for Missouri.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Ajaia ajaja), 1999-43: One, 3-11 September 1999, Ray Co. Found and identified by Mike Mes-sick; documented by Don Arney. Accidental in Missouri; second state record.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL, 2000-73: One immature, 17 July 2000 (or earlier) till at least 18 September, Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Chariton Co. Heather Lambert-Doherty (dis-coverer), Scott Doherty, Steve Kinder (written documentation and photographs); also documented by Paul McKenzie. Ac-cidental in Missouri; third state record.

TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura), 2000-16: Two, 18 December 1999, Boone Co. Mark Fink (documentation), Alix Fink. Christmas Bird Count record.

TURKEY VULTURE, 2000-17: Two, 18 December 1999, Boone Co. Georgia Sneed, Christmas Bird Count record.

TURKEY VULTURE, 2000-18: One, 18 December 1999, Boone Co. Boyd Terry. Christmas Bird Count record.

TURKEY VULTURE, 2000-19: Two, 18 December 1999, Boone Co. Brad Jacobs (documentation), Russ Sewell, Stephanie Smith. Christmas Bird Count record.

54

TURKEY VULTURE, 2000-20: One, 18 December 1999, Boone Co. Barbara Sapp (documentation), Betty Overall. Christmas Bird Count record.

TURKEY VULTURE, 2000-21: One, 18 December 1999, Boone Co. Lesa Beamer (documentation),Jean Leonatti, Bonnie Heidy. Christmas Bird Count record.

CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera), 2000-59: One male, 4 June 2000, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. David Easterla (documentation), Jack Hilsabeck. Accidental in summer.

REDHEAD (Aythya americana), 2000-66: One male, 2-4 June 2000, and two females 2 June 2000, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. David Easterla (documentation), Jack Hilsabeck. Casual in summer.

GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila), 2000-25: Male and female, 18 December 1999, Lake Jacomo, Jackson Co. Mike Beck (documentation), Bob Fisher. Christmas Bird Count record.

GREATER SCAUP, 2000-33: Male and female, 19 Decem-ber 1999, Smithville Lake, Clay Co. Chris Hobbs. Christmas Bird Count record.

GREATER SCAUP, 2000-15: Male and female, 24 Decem-ber 1999, Joplin , Jasper Co. Barry Jones (documentation), Larry Herbert. Christmas Bird Count record.

COMMON MERGANSER (Mergus merganser), 2000-60: One male, 2-4 June 2000, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. David Easterla (documentation), Jack Hil-sabeck. Accidental in summer.

55

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Buteo lineatus), 2000-69: Two adults and two juveniles, 30 June and 5 July 2000, near Watson, Atchison Co. David Easterla (documentation), Jack Hilsabeck. See Easterla, "The Red-shouldered Hawk redis-covered nesting in northwest Missouri after 30 years," Bluebird, Vol. 67, No. 3 (September 2000). Very rare at all seasons in north west Missouri.

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regal is), 2000-6: One adult, 16 December 1999, Prairie State Park, Barton Co. Mark Robbins (documentation), Brian Barber. Accidental in winter; fourth documented and accepted state record for that season. Ob-served in the exact location where the same observer photographed an adult Ferruginous Hawk on the same date in 1994.

SANDHILL CRANE (Crus canadensis), 2000-56: Two, 6 May to at least 19 June 2000; one bird still present 7 July; Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. Documented by David Easterla (photographs), seen by m.ob.; Rick Speer ob-served on latest date. Previous late date in spring was 18 May; accidental in summer. There is a possibility that these birds nested on the refuge.

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis dominica), 1999-92: One adult, 10 December 1999, Cooley Lake, Clay Co. Randy Knotts. Latest fall record. Remarkably, this bird was mostly still in alternate plumage, with black underparts down to the undertail coverts.

SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius alexandrius), 2000-47: One adult, 22-23 April 2000, Little Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis Co. First found and identified by Mike Thelen (documentation); also documented by Jim Malone (photographs) and Paul and

56

Barbara Johnson (photographs) and seen by m.ob. First St. Louis area record and first for eastern corridor of counties in Missouri; third record away from northwest corner.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus), 2000-65: Three, 2 June 2000, Squaw .Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. David Easterla. Casual in June.

BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus himantopus), 2000-58: Two, 12-13 May 2000, Holt Co. David Easterla (documen-tation), Angelo Bufalino, Jack Hilsabeck. Casual outside southeast Missouri.

AMERIC{\N AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana), 2000-68: One, 9 June 2000, Stockton Reservoir, Polk Co. Greg Swick (documentation), Phil Moran. First June record for Missouri.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca), 2000-63: Two, 4 June 2000, Holt Co. David Easterla (documentation), Jack Hilsabeck. Casual in June.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringaflavipes),2000-41:Two, 19 February 2000, Winfield Lock and Darn, Lincoln Co. Paul McKenzie (documentation), Bill Goodge, Brad Jacobs, Bill Rowe. Nine days earlier than previous early arrival date (MBRC record 1999-55; see Twelfth Annual Report).

MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa), 2000-50: One, 20 April 2000, Busch Conservation Area, St. Charles Co. Jeannie Moe. Casual transient in eastern Missouri. Care must be taken with the identification of this species in spring, since female Hudsonian Godwits are not dark chestnut below like males; they have "color of underparts paler, approaching that of dowitcher or Marbled Godwit, often intermixed with white but

57

also barred" (Paulson, Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest, U. of Washington Press, 1993). The diagnostic black wing linings and black-and-white tail of a Hudsonian may not be visible at rest, nor is a good size comparison always available (Hudsonian barely larger than Greater Yellowlegs, Marbled much larger). This problem is not discussed in field guides and probably accounts for some reports of Marbled Godwit in Missouri. The bird in this report, however, was satisfactorily described, in-cluding the finely barred tail.

RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres), 2000-62: One, 2 June 2000, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. David Easterla. Accidental in June.

LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla), 2000-30: Five, 17 December 1999, Four Rivers Conservation Area, Vernon Co. Mark Robbins (documentation), Roger McNeill. Christmas Bird Count record. Casual in winter.

LEAST SANDPIPER, 2000-24: Two, 16 January 2000, at Montrose Conservation Area, Henry Co., and five at Aldrich arm of Stockton Reservoir, Polk Co. Mark Robbins. Casual in winter.

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (Calidris bairdii), 2000-61: One, 2 June 2000, Mound City, Holt Co. David Easterla (documenta-tion), Jack Hilsabeck. Accidental in June.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto), 1999-57: One, from 16 May 1999 into the summer at the home of Lewis Cox, Mexico, Audrain Co. Lewis Cox and Edge Wade (documentation, photographs). Some Committee members were initially skeptical of this record, believing that Ringed Turtle-Dove (or a hybrid) was not ruled out by the descriptions

58

and the photographs, which provide reasonable but not very close images. Ultimately the evidence was sent for outside review toP. William Smith, who wrote a comprehensive article about the species for American Birds (Vol. 41, No. 5, 1987). Smith's opinion was that, with reasonable certainty, the bird was a pure Eurasian Collared-Dove. On the next round follow-ing receipt of this opinion, the record was accepted. Diagnostic features included the much darker primaries, gray undertail coverts, and three-note cooing song. This rapidly-expanding species has been seen various places in Missouri, and an article about it has appeared in The Conservationist (Missouri Depart-ment of Conservation). The Committee encourages documen-tation of its occurrence. At this point only a handful of records have actually been submitted and accepted, thus keeping it on the Review List for now.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, 2000-36: Five on 31 January 2000 and 11-12 on 27 April, Malden, Dunklin Co. Tim Sage. See comments on 1999-57. Dark primaries and gray un-dertail coverts were described and sketched, and three-note cooing song was described well.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, 2000-57: One, 22 April, and two, 25 April2000, Saline Co. Mick McHugh, Chris Hobbs. See comments on 1999-57. Dark primaries and undertail coverts, and 'raspy mewing call,% were sufficient to establish the birds as this species.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, 2000-77: Sixteen, 12 August 2000, Marshfield, Webster Co. Betty Dyer (documenta-tion), Zelda Ellison, Bonnie and Charles Noble. See comments on 1999-57. Gray undertail coverts were the key point noted in this description.

59

WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica), 1999-86: One, 1 September 1999, Barton Co. Scott Burger. Casual; ninth state record.

WHITE-WINGED DOVE,2000-78:0ne, 10-12 August2000, near Columbia, Boone Co. Documented and photographed by John Schulz. Casual; tenth state record.

PILEATED WOODPECKER (Oryocopus pileatus), 2000-9: One, 21 December 1999, Squaw Creek N a tiona! Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. Mark Robbins. This species is only casual in the northwest corner of Missouri.

EASTERN PHOEBE (Sayornis phoebe), 2000-1: One, 18 December 1999, Greene Co. Constance Tyndall (documenta-tion), Debby Good, Becky Matthews, et a!. Christmas Bird Count record. Casual in winter outside extreme southern Mis-souri.

EASTERN PHOEBE, 2000-5: One 29 December 1999, Cam-den County. Lester Pannell (documentation), Charlene Pannell. Casual in winter outside extreme southern Missouri.

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus), 2000-71: Nesting pair from 7 July 2000, Union, Franklin Co. Found and documented by Ron and Cheryl Delashmit; also documented by Charlene and Jim Malone (photographs). A casual breeding species in eastern Missouri.

NORTHERN SHRIKE (Lanius excubitor), 1999-88: One adult, 30 October 1999, Smithville Lake, Clay Co. Robert Fisher. Ties for the second-earliest fall record.

60

NORTHERN SHRIKE, 1999-91: One adult, 11 December 1999, Marais Temps Clair Conservation Area, St. Charles Co. Bill Rowe (documentation), members of birding class. First documented record outside the northwest and west-central sections of Missouri. This bird was never relocated after 11 December, but the following day the bird in the next account was discovered (which see).

NORTHERN SHRIKE, 1999-93: One adult, 12 December 1999 to at least 11 February 2000, Dwiggins Road, St. Charles

C o . Found and documented by Paul and Barbara Johnson; also seen by m. ob. Second documented record outside northwest and west-central Missouri. This bird was almost certainly the same as an unidentified shrike seen at the same spot on 5 December; thus it remained in residence at this site for over two months. Despite frequent observation during that period, it was never observed more than one mile in any direction from a center point along railroad tracks with small trees, and for this reason was almost certainly not the same bird as the one in 1999-91, which was 5-6 miles away with poor habitat in be-tween.

FISH CROW (Corvus ossifragus), 2000-43: Three, 24 March 2000, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, Boone Co. Bill Goodge (documentation), Eleanor Goodge. Several recent records in Boone County indicate that this species may be expanding its range westward along the Missouri River. The abrupt nasal calls, both single and two-noted, were heard clearly by an experienced observer.

FISH CROW, 2000-52: Two, 25 April2000, Big Sugar Creek State Park, McDonald Co. Paul McKenzie.

61

FISH CROW, 2000-74: Three, 2 August2000, near Hartwell, Henry Co. Mark Robbins. first record for Henry Co.

HOUSE WREN (Troglodytesaedon),2000-35: One,2January 2000, near Wappapello Dam, Wayne Co. Steve Dilks. Casual in winter.

GRAYCATBIRD (Dumetellacarolinensis),2000-22: One, 18 December 1999, Columbia, Boone Co. Georgia Sneed. Christmas Bird Count record. Casual in winter.

GRAY CATBIRD, 2000-7: One, 22 January- 2 March 2000, University City, St. Louis Co. David and Wilma Kennell (documentation, photographs), Jim Ziebol. Casual in winter. This bird remained for the winter around a suburban yard, coming to suet feeder and water baths.

AMERICAN PIPIT (An thus rubescens), 2000-3: 42 birds, 21 December 1999, Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area, Mississippi Co. Bill Eddleman (documentation), Wes Mueller. Christmas Bird Count record. Casual in winter.

AMERICAN PIPIT, 2000-4: One, 21 December 1999, Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area, Mississippi Co. Bill Eddleman (documentation), Wes Mueller. Christmas Bird Count record. This bird was seen about one to two miles from the location of the. flock of 42 (see above. record) and was therefore treated separately.

AMERICAN PIPIT, 2000-27: Three, 1 January 2000, Taney Co. Kay Johnson (documentation), Betty Johnson, Bob and Ruby Ball. Christmas Bird Count record. Casual in winter.

BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora pinus), 2000-53: One, 3 May 2000, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt

62

Co. Paul McKenzie. Casual migrant in extreme northwestern Missouri.

MAGNOLIA WARBLER (Dendroica magnolia), 1999-89: One, 7 November 1999, Busch Conservation Area, St. Charles Co. Jeannie Moe. Latest fall record for Missouri.

PINE WARBLER (Dcndroica pinus), 2000-28: One, 17 December 1999, Four Rivers Conservation Area, Vernon Co. Chris Hobbs (documentation), Brian Barber. Christmas Bird Count record. Accidental in winter away from pine groves in the Ozarks.

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas), 2000-29: Immature male, 17 December 1999, Four Rivers Conserva-tion Area, Vernon Co. Chris Hobbs (documentation), Brian Barber. Christmas Bird Count record.

FIELD SPARROW (Spizella pusil/a), 2000-26: One, 29 December 1999, Livingston Co. Terry McNeely (documenta-tion), Dena McNeely. Christmas Bird Count record. This species has been over-reported on Christmas Bird Counts in northern Missouri; in fact it vacates roughly the northern one-third of the state in winter and is quite rare there. Thus documentation is required on counts in that area. This in-dividual was carefully described and all field marks were noted.

SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis), 2000-67: One, 2 June 2000, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. David Easter Ia. Accidental in summer.

DARK-EYED JUNCO (Junco hyemalis), 2000-70: One, 13 May 2000, Sunbridge Conservation Area, Buchanan Co. Peggy

63

and Jim Voltz (documentation), John Kurtz. Unusually late record; seen on North American Migration Count.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR (Calcarius lapponicus), 2000-54: One adult male, 9 May 2000, Bradford Farm, Boone Co. Paul McKenzie. Latest spring record for Missouri.

LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena), 2000-51: One male, 13 May 2000, Boone Co. Jared Parks (documentation), Zach Parks, Lee and Frank Schiffel. Casual transient. Observed during North American Migration Count.

INDIGO BUNTING (Passerina cyanea), 2000-2: One male, 19 December 1999, Knob Noster State Park, Johnson Co. Timothy McKain, Kathy Schuster. Christmas Bird Count record. Casual in winter. Bird showed strong blue color.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus), 2000-11: One female, 21 December 1999, Fortescue, Holt Co. Don Arney, Mike Healy, Mike Beck. Christmas Bird Count record, thus requiring documentation. Dark eye and other features observed at close range.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula), 2000-12: One adult male, 18 December 1999, home of George Nelson, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co. Tom Nagel (documentation), John Rushin (photograph). Casual in winter; at least the sixth winter record. This bird, associating with Eastern Bluebirds in a hackberry tree, was entirely missing its tail!

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus), 2000-46: One, 16 April 2000, Marion Co. Jim Rathert (documentation), Anita Gorman, Jack Triplett, Larry Strobel. Casual outside the St. Louis area, although it is being observed with increasing

64

frequency along the Mississippi River corridor between St. Louis and the Iowa border.

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

It should be understood that "not accepted" does not always mean that the identification was considered to be incorrect. In some cases the Committee did believe the bird was misiden-tified, but in other cases, while it seemed possible or even probable that the identification was correct, the information provided was insufficient to rule out other species completely. The committee may be unable to accept even a very likely record if the description is too sketchy or vague, or if it fails to mention critical field marks that would distinguish that species from all others. Our belief is that a report should go into the permanent scientific record only if it is free of reasonable doubt. This is the standard approach of bird record committees everywhere.

THAYER'S GULL (Larus thayeri), 2000-14: One, 18 Decem-ber 1999, Daviess Co. The description was minimal and did not include any of the standard field marks of Thayer's Gull.

GLAUCOUS GULL (Larus hyperboreus), 2000-76: One, 19 May 2000, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau Co. Although there is a possibility that this was a late-lingering Glaucous Gull, the bird was observed without optical equipment, and all details mentioned are consistent with a faded immature Herring Gull in its first or second spring. The wear and bleaching that young gulls experience by spring or summer can make them quite different from field guide illustrations, and hard to identify.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes), 2000-39: One, 16 February 2000, Otter Slough Conservation Area, Stoddard Co.

65

The description of the bird and its call suggested a Greater Yellowlegs, not a Lesser.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus griseus), 2000-44: Three, 22 March 2000, and one, 29 March, Buchanan Co. A description and sketches were presented as evidence of short-billed Dowitcher of the eastern subspecies griseus (never recorded in Missouri). The description, however, was consis-tent with Long-billed Dowitcher in basic (nonbreeding) plumage, and the sketches tended to support that identification, showing a darkish bib on the breast with a distinct line of demarcation from the white belly. Long-billed is the expectable species at this date, since there is no definite record of Short-billed in Missouri before April27. Any dowitcher seen in March or most of April must be considered a Long-billed unless very carefully proven otherwise.

GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx calzfornianus), 2000-72: One, 29 May 2000, Herculaneum, Jefferson Co. It is possible that this bird was a roadrunner, but the description was too sketchy to make any definite judgment.

GRA YJA Y (Perisoreus canadensis), 1999-90: One, 13 Novem-ber 1999, Laclede Co. The description was too minimal to allow even a guess as to what this bird might have been.

FISH CROW (Corvus ossifragus), 2000-49: One, 30 April-14 May, Jackson Co. This birds call was simply described as more nasal than an American Crows; the description specifically stated that the observer never heard a two-note call during four different encounters. But a nasal sound alone is not diagnostic of Fish Crow, since young American Crows make nasal calls too. Fish Crow calls are abrupt and usually include a two-note version (something like "uh-uh") if one listens long enough.

66

Thus the Committee felt that the identification, though perhaps correct, was not proven.

HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon), 2000-55: One, 18 December 1999, Butler Co. The Committee was unable to ac-cept this record because no description at all was provided.

HOUSE WREN, 2000-40: One, 21-23 February 2000, Lebanon, Laclede Co. This bird, observed without optical equipment, was possibly a House Wren, but the description provided did not eliminate other wren species.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulus), 2000-48: One, 17 April2000, Duck Creek Conservation Area, Bollinger Co. Other than general grayness, the description did not in-clude any field marks of Bohemian Waxwing such as rusty undertail coverts, rusty facial color, or white markings on the wing.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Vermivora celata), 2000-38: One, 21 February 2000, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard Co. The details provided were insufficient to be sure of this birds identification. The observer had no pre-vious experience with this species.

NORTHERN WATER THRUSH (Seiurus motacilla), 2000-42: Two, 27 March 2000, Bennett Spring State Park, Dallas Co. The description was insufficient to confirm the identification. Louisiana Waterthrush is the expected species in March, and the date is far earlier than the normal migration period for Northern Waterthrush.

CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina), 2000-23: Five, 18 December 1999, Boone Co. The number reported would be

67

unprecedented for Missouri in winter (the previous high num-ber is two), and the description was sketchy. Committee mem-bers believed that other possible sparrows (including immature White-crowned) were not eliminated.

CHIPPING SPARROW, 1999-94: One, 19 December 1999, Springfield Lake, Greene Co. The minimal description was insufficient for positive identification. Clay-colored Sparrow (a rare possibility) was not eliminated, and some members believed that Swamp Sparrow was not eliminated. The bill was described as uniformly dark, which does not fit the standard pattern for any of the clear-breasted sparrows in winter.

VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus), 2000-34: One, 15 January 2000, Henry Co. This report left the Committee uncertain what species had really been seen, for some parts of the description cast doubt on the birds identification as a Vesper Sparrow. White outer tail feathers were observed, but the breast was described as clear (streaking along flanks only) and the head as small and flattened + details that do not fit Vesper Sparrow. More expectable possibilities such as immature female Lapland Longspur were not eliminated. In fact, the observers mentioned "chestnut secondary coverts," and if this refers to the greater coverts, then this detail favors the longspur and rules out Vesper Sparrow.

SMITH'S LONGSPUR (Calcarius pictus), 2000-13: Group of 20, 18 December 1999, Harrison Co. Seen among Lapland Longspurs (Calcarius lapponicus). Aside from the rarity of Smith's in winter and the low likelihood of a group of Smith's intermingled with Laplands, the description provided was con-sistent with immature female Laplands: a buff wash on the breast, with fine streaking but no blackish smudges, and a dark triangular facial pattern. Smith's would be entirely buff on the underparts, down to the belly (no mention of this), and at least some members of a group this size would show white on the lesser wing coverts (also not mentioned).

68

Join

The Audubon Society of Missouri

Membership Brings You

The Bluebird-quarterly magazine of the ASM

Birding Fellowship

Spring and Fall Birding Weekends

Organized Input into Conservation Issues

National Audubon Society Issues

Birding Education

Application for ASM Membership Name: _

Address:

City /State/Zip:

Phone:

Annual Membership Categories Student ......... $12.00 Contributing ....... $25.00 Regular ......... $15.00 Benefactor .......... $100.00 Family .......... $20.00 Patron (Life) ....... $250.00

Send checks (payable to Audubon Society of Missouri) to: Jean Graebner, 1800 S. Roby Farm Rd. Rocheport, MO 65279

Audubon Society of Missouri c/o Jean Graebner 1800 S. Roby Farm Road Rocheport, MO 65279

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID JEFFERSON CITY, MO PERMIT NO. 233