( MARYLAND BIRDLIFE -'~ ~ulletin of t~ ..~ar~la~d Orni~o[oqlcal Soclet¢, . ~ .

~,o, Jolto,, St~t, :~,lt~,,~ '7, .3~a~d~

V o l u m e 13 S E P T E M B E R 1 9 5 7 N u m b e r 3

THE MARYIAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC7~TY, INC. 2101 Bolton S t r e e t , Baltimore 17, Md.

State President= Richard Dt Cole, 625 Valley L~ne, Towson 4, Mde State Secretary: Shirley H. Geddes, 503 Overbrook Rde, Balto. 12, Md. State Treasurer: Richard M. Bouglass, 511 Talbot St., Cumberland, Md. First Vice President: William Shirey, 121 Fairview Ave.~ Frederick, Md. Second Vice Presidents: A. J. Fletcher, Evelyn Gregory, Herbert C.

Beiner~an, Richard L. Kleen, Carl C. Long, W. Bryant Tyrrell, Elmer G. Worthley.

Trustees: Edith Adkins, Dr. J. T. Ambler, Edwin Barry, Rodney Jones, Dr. Chas. Stine, Stephen Simon, Marvin Hewitt, Naomi Hewitt, John Richards, Melvin Partridge, Mrs. Ro~ald Nevius, Elsie Hovey, Goldie Thcmsen, Mrs. Rebecca Munnikhuysen, Walter Braun, Capt° J.E.M° Wood~ John Workmeister, Mrs. Helen Miller.

IECAL CHAFT~S

Allegany County Bird Club Avid Avists of Anne Arundel Co. Balto. Chapter, M.O.S.. Ins. Caroline County Bird Club

Frederick Branch, M. O. S. Harford County Bird Club Takoma Park Nature Club Talbot County Bird Club

Out-of-state membership (Maryland Birdlife only) Junior membership (under 18 years)

$'2.00 $.5o

C~T~2~TS, SEFr~B~ 1957

Pleasant Valley - A Junior Nature and Helen B; Miller 47 Conservation Camp i n Western Maryland

A Bewick's Wren Nest in Allegany County Helen B. Miller 51 The Season - April, May, June, 1957 Chandler S. Robblns 53 Announcements 58 Coming Events 59

COVER: Junior Campers and Helen B. Miller. Photo by W. Bryant Tyrrell

HEADINGS: By Irving E. Hampe. Art Editor

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Maryland

Editors Chandler S. Robbins, Fatu~ent Refuge, Laurel, Md. Editorial Board: Mrs. Roberta Fletcher, Mrs. Mabel Hoyler,

Richard L. Kleen~ Gordon Knight, Mrs. Martina Luffp Mrs. Helen Miller, Charles Stlne, W. Bryant Tyrrell

$~ni~ Editorial Board: Wilbur Rittenhouse, Gordon Knight, ~ames VOshel

Production: Charles Buchanan, Shirley Geddes. Dorothy Krimm. Hans Krlmm, Maggie Murison

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

n,o, ~ St~, ~alt~,~ '7, .A~,,~l~

Volume 13 SEPTE~B~ 1957 Number 3

PLEASANT VALLEY - A JUNIOR NATURE AND CONSERVATION CAMP IN ~ST~N~t~RYLAI~D

Helen B. Miller

"I looked up as I came out of my cabin this morning and there was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the top of a tree,- Sandra, age eleven, exclaimed excitedly.

'Tome quick - we,ve found a Redstart's nest near our cabin. The female is there now," a command from two sixth-grade boys.

,Pl~ase, If we get an adult leader can we plan a five-thirty (A.M.) trip to the Upper Bog. We do want to go there an~ there's no time during the rest of the day."

These words and many more of similar expression have been the keys which are "opening the doors" of nature to young people and their adult leaders at the Pleasant Valley Junior Nature and Conservation Camp in Garrett County, ~aryland, during one week in June each year since 1949. The site is a @-H Camp area owned by the University of Maryland Extension Service and is a particularly rich location for bird and plant life. This camp is co- sponsored by the Allegany County Board of Education and the Allegany County Bird Club, a Chapter of the ~ryland Ornitho- logical Society, and affiliated with the National Audubon Society. The venture began i n 19@8 with 26 Juniors, 4 adult leaders and 2 cooks at a weekend camp lo~ cared at the Green Ridge Nountain Club shelter in Alle~uy County. The adults who served as leaders have been the back- bone of the staff in succeeding years; 3 have attended the Audubon Nature Camp in Maine, and l the Oglebay Park Nature SChool in Whelllng, West Virginia. From the first all adult leadership has been voluntary and has proved to be the best possible group of leaders. During each Pileated Woodpecker at nest

48 ~%EYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 13~ No. S

Gladys Cole bands one of 39 birds in camp

devoted to handicraft, art, @ames and swimming. around i n f o r m a t i o n , specimens, and interests discovered in the morning classes. Thus fern and tree leaf spatter prints appear to decorate the dining hall, animal tracks are molded, sketches drawn, and fingerpalntlng done; all be- come related to the world many are exploring for the first time. Evening activities are varied depending upon weather conditions. At least twice a campfire is held with singing, nature observations, and Just watching the fire burn--while the last thrush calls and the frogs begin their chorus.

week Soil Conservationists, Game Wardens, and Forest Wardens visit and talk with the campers.

The classes, which are an hour long with a recess between, r un from 9:30 to 12 o ' c l o c k and are planned according to the in- terests and knowledge of the staff for that year. Basically these include birds, flowers and ferns, insects, and trees. How- ever, in 1954 beavers moved into the area and have changed the ecolog~v of the stream and added a class all their own. After an hour's rest, the afternoons are

Handicraft is developed

Most recent beaver dam built in 1957 The magic of a campfire circle by a quiet lake

overhung w i t h huge Sugar Maples i s an i n s p i r a t i o n to young and old. On other evenings rolick- ing square dance music and calls ring out and folk dancing has full swing. The dances used are those taught in the schools; they prove very popular. Nature films are on hand to use if it rains but the other activities come first. Each day which be- gan with the early bell at 6:30 for the pre-breakfast bird walk ends with sing~ of taps at 9:15.

Fern structure is explained by Jim Cook All photos by W. Bryant Tyrrell

September 1957 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 49

Always an interesting feature is the museum. Empty containers placed in the Library soon fill with snakes, frogs, toads, newts, insects, leaf galls, fungi--anything of interest which can be carried in. Conservation laws are stressed and no picking of plants or flowers is allowed in the camp area. If specimens are needed a leader tells the campers where and what to pick. "Litterbug" activity is an integral part of the camp pro- gram. The camp superintendent has stated that this camp is one of the cleanest during the season. A nature library of reference books, record- ings, and charts is taken to camp each year; but these, too, are used mainly whan it rains. Outdoor living, appreciation of the world around us,

Billie Taylor inspects new beaver work

a kindred feeling with those who share these experiences ere the criteria on which the camp hopes to bui~id a better life for those who attend.

Since the camp is for Juniors from fifth to ninth grades inclusive, higher level work is expected of the eighth and ninth grade boys and girls. Special projects are set up for them, such as check lists, ma~s, ecological studies, and wall charts. Complete lists of birds, other animals, nests, a~ plants found are kept each year. A few Juniors have attended all through High School, then, while in college, have returned as adult leaders or have gone to other camps as counselors. The Allegany

50 ~IARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 13, No. 3

Handicraft exhibit

County Bird Club has furnished nature leaders for local Scout and 4-H camps from former Junior and adult campers.

The food is excellently planned and handled by the head of the County School Cafeteria system, and prepared by two efficient cooks who head a kitchen and dining room staff of 4 or 5 older boys and girls. Transportation to the area is by school bus and delivery truck (for

~arsh Hawk nest foun~ by campers

baggage). Insurance is main- tained for everyone who attends during the week. All these services are paid for by the camper's fee which is kept at a minimum by the interested co- operation of the Allegany Coun- ty Board of Education. Rustic cabins which sleep ten cam~ers each are scattered among the tall maples and oaks, while the center of activity is the large Dining Hall. In 1957 a much- needed new shelter was added which proved invaluable during the few wet periods of camp.

September 155V ~Aa/RYLAND BIRDLIFE 51

Over the nlne-year span at Pleasant Valley attendance has averaged at 90 Juniors. Of these at least half are first year campers. In 1957 ll5 persons attended for the week of June le-22. This includes 102 Juniors and 13 adults.

Pleasant Valley is located in the middle of Garrett County with the ele- vation ranging from 2,500 to 3,000 feet in the area covered by trails used by this camp. Deep Creek Lake is ten miles away, and beautiful SWallow Falls State Park an hour's drive. The new Deep Creek Lake State Park is closest to the area and in the future should provide accessible lake shore study. As a spot for nature study the site is ideal and the Allegany Bird Club hopes to be able to con- tinue this activity as an integral part of its year's program.

Jean Worthley explains the role of fungi in nature

Mrs. Gilbert M. Killer, Director Junior Nature and Conservation Camp Spring Gap, A/legamy County, ~d.

A BNWlCK'8~qENNEST ZNALLF-DANZCOUN2T

Helen Burns ~iller

Several years ago we realized that we had Bewick's Wrens (Thryomanes bewickii) and House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) nesting here on Martins ~ountain in Allegany County--three moun~ east of Cumberland--Jus$ off Route 51. In 1956 we had only Bewick's ";;tens. I didn't pay too much attention to their activities but was very happy to have the cheery little wrens whose song is much sweeter and less hectic to live with than the House Wren's. The male arrives early in April and his clear "Oh, Sweet Marie-e-e" with a rising inflection at the end is most welcome along with the songs of the Eastern Phoebe and Robin. I mlght add tha~ because we llve in a far@e, commercial orchard our bird population is quite limited owing to the constant spray and cultivation program.

52 ~ BIRDLI/~ Vol. 15~ No. 3

This April we were building a new porch on the back of our house end this fact is most important in the account of my friendship with a Bewick's Wren family. These were birds I could not ignore because they moved in with us end now we can boast of a built-in Bewick's Wren nest. Here is how the story goes.

The ma le had been b u s i l y p a t t i n g s t i c k s a n d odds and ends i n e v e r y c o n c e i v a b l e nook and c r a n n y . We would s u r p r i s e e a c h o t h e r g o i n g i n and ou t o f t h e g a r a g e , t o o l and wood s h e d . The po rc h a t t h i s t ime was r a f - t e r s and u p r i g h t s w i t h a r o o f . The wren l i k e d to p e r c h and s i n g on t h e braces and we would enjoy a "coffee break" together. At close view the Bewick's Wren is so beautiful with his Jaunty eye stripe end spectacular spotted tail. It was a busy time of the year for both of us and after a time I noticed he was concentrating on a corner of the porch up under the eaves. By now the female had Joined him and in no time they had a nest. Now came the problem: the wrens had beat the carpenters who were due anytime. Of course we wanted the porch finished but we wanted the wrens to stay, too. They did and soon had five eggs. Then we were wor- ried, but each week passed and the carpenters did not arrive. So ell was well. It was such fun watching them and I'm sure they had as much fun watching us. From her vantage point she could see me wash dishes and hang out clothes. He sat on the clothes llne and TV antennae near by and entertained us both. With the help of a mirror I noted the arrl- vel of five young, end activity stepped up. There was no more singing and the adults could sllp in and out of that corner with a variety of insects wonderful to behold. They never minded people on the porch--by this time the floor had been laid but the screening still had to be put up. The parents frequently approached the nest together with food, and after she fed her tidbits he would give her part of an insect which she would "chew" and then feed to the young.

Then it happened. On Monday, June 3rd, five carpenters descended on t h e p o r c h and hammer ing r a n g o u t f rom one end to t h e o t h e r . The young were so large I knew they would be leaving soon, but what a tra- gedy t o h av e s o m e t h i n g happen now. The men were mos t u n d e r s t a n d i n g end s a i d t h e y c o u l d " f i x i t . " Whi l e t h e y a t e l u n c h on one end o f t h e p o r c h t h e p a r e n t s would f r a n t i c a l l y f e ed t h e i r p a t i e n t f a m i l y . The r e s t o f t h e t ime t h e y f u s s e d a t the men, a t me and a t e v e r y t h i n g i n g e n e r a l . I t i s a n e x p e r i e n c e to s e e a wren s c o l d i n g w i t h i t s beak f u l l o f a n i n s e c t .

By Wednesday the screen was up and it was pitiful to see the mother flying around and the father "raising Cain" at this development. However, a carpenter cut a hole in the framework beside the nest and placed a s m a l l s t r i p o f wood i n i t . The w r e n s d i d n ' t f i n d i t and I s u ~ e s t e d a l a d d e r m ig h t be p l a c e d unde r i t s i n ~ e t h e y had been u s i n g t h e l a d d e r when i t was a v a i l a b l e . I m m e d i a t e l y t h e m o t h e r went up and was a l m o s t c a t a - p u l t e d i n t o t h e n e s t . ¢~e wa tched h e r d i s c o v e r h e r way ba c k out t h e open- i n g . L a t e r when the s p o u t i n g was p u t up t h e men c u t a h o l e i n i t a l s o . From t h e n f o r two days t h e b i r d s n e v e r m i s s e d e m i n u t e ' s work . The l a s t day t h e c a r p e n t e r s s e a l e d t h e c e i l i n g so we m i s s e d t h e e x o d u s f rom t h e n e s t . But I h e a r d and saw them a l l i n t h e b e r r y v i n e s and we hope t h e whole f a m i l y w i l l l i v e t o t e l l the s t o r y t o t h e i r g r a n d c h i l d r e n .

September 1957 . ~ D BIRDLIKE 53

J HESEASO J APRIL, B~AY, JUNE, 1957

Chandler S. RobbIns

Nhy was the Slring mlgration so disappointing? Where were the tran- sient warblers? Why were the thrushes so late? Why didn't the migrating birds come through in flocks as they usually do? And when the ,~y tran- sients were so late in arriving, why weren't they also late In departing?

Under similar circumstances a generation ago we might have asked these same questions. But most likely we would not have been able to supply satisfactory answers. Now, thanks to a much better network of ac- tive field observers interested in solving migration puzzles--and thanks also to more accurate knowledge of the complex sea of slr through which the migrants travel--we can offer logical explanations for some of our present problems.

No soone r had t h e m i g r a t i o n g o t t e n under v.my t h a n l e t t e r s began to f l y back and f o r t h between key o b s e r v e r s i n t h e e a s t e r n h a l f o f t h e coun- t r y . They contained reports of abundance, of scarcity, of lateness, of tremendous waves of migrants grounded by violent weather fronts, of streams of transients blown far off course. As each day passed, new clues were received and were gradually pieced together with the aid of weather maps. At the hub of this reportin~ network was Aaron M. Bag~ of Dover, ~ass., who was preparing The Chan@IJ1~ Seasons report for the August 1957 issue of AUDUBON FTk~n NOT~q. Those interested in further details of a fascinating story ere referred to Mr. Bag~'s excellent analysis, replete with weather maps.

Very briefly, this is the way ~laryland fitted into the picture. The latter half of ~pril was quite uniformly warm, with an abundance'of southerly winds. In fact, despite cool weather in the first half of the month, April ended up as the sixth warmest on record' What an ideal situation for producing a rash el ~ early arrival dates. ~Je could not ex- pect to encounter marked waves of transients because we did not have the alternations of good and poor flying conditions that dam up the birds and cause hordes of them to move or to be grounded on certain days. But scattered individuals of several species did arrive a week or more ahead of schedule. Nighthawks, for instance, were noted as early as Apr. 20 (within one day of the Stats record) at Towson (Dick and Gladys Cole) and Apr. 25 st Easton (Dick k~leen). In almost any other year 2 Ruby-throated

54 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 15 ~ No. 3

~,mml-gblrds seen at Silver Spring on Apr. 24 (John H. False), or singles at Denton on Apr. 26 (Roberts Fletcher) or Hagerstown on Apr. 27 (Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Stauffer) could have qualified for earliest arrlval dates. But this year a Ruby-throat that tied the State record at Gibson Island on Apr. ii predated the advent of mild weather, and forced us to conjec- ture that it was swept into our area by a violent storm that passed through Texas on Apr. 7 and whipped through ~nn~polis with gusts of 80 m.p.h, at dawn on the 9th. Chimney Swifts arrived Just as we would have expected under the circumstances: None' until the weather turned warm, a s i n g l e b i r d a t Denton (Mrs. F l e t c h e r ) on t h e second day o f warm w e a t h e r , and t h e n s m a l l numbers a t new l o c a l i t i e s e v e r y d a y - - b u t no g r e a t s u r g e a t any one t i m e .

Although the stage appeared set for a grand parade of early arrivals at the end of April, the cast failed to put in an appearance. What hap- parted down in the tropics to detain them I am unable to say. But there is ample evidence to show that while we were combing Maryland on our State-wlde Bird Count on ~ 4, many of the migrants we were seeking were still more than a thousand miles southwest of here, wlngin~ their way across the Gul$ of Mexico. Francis M. ~eston, of Pensacola, Florida, has been reporting to the Eish and Wildlife Service on bird migration for exactly 50 years; on May 4 and 5 he observed -the greatest precipitation of m~grants that I have ever seen." Other reports of unusually heavy in- fluxes of transients came in from Louisiana and the upper Texas coast at t h e same t i m e . Many o f t h e s e b i r d s d o u b t l e s s s t o p p e d in o r p a s s e d o v e r Maryland l a t e r i n t he month, but w i t h o u t a l t e r n a t i n g warm and c o o l a i r masses t o keep them c o n c e n t r a t e d i n c o n s p i c u o u s waves .

O the r i n d i v i d u a l s t h a t n o r n m l l y would have p a s s e d t h r o u g h ou~ S t a t e were e v i d e n t l y th rown o f f c o u r s e i n l a t e A p r i l a s t h e y w~re c r o s s i n g f rom t h e West I n d i e s t o t he U n i t e d S t a t e s m a i n l a n d . The Bermuda "High" was s t r o n g e r and c l o s e r t o the F l o r i d a c o a s t t h a n i s u s u a l f o r A p r i l and May, and i t s c l o c k w i s e c i r c u l a t i o n p r o d u c e d s t e a d y e a s t e r l y winds a l m o s t c o n - t i n u a l l y f rom Aim'. 14 to May 2 in t he v i c i n i t y of t h e F l o r i d a p e n i n s u l a . A B l a c k - w h i s k e r e d V i r e o was c o l l e c t e d on t h e s o u t h w e s t c o a s t o f L o u i s i a n a , t h e f i r s t r e c o r d f o r t h a t S t a t e . A l s o , t y p i c a l e a s t c o a s t t r a n s i e n t s s u c h as t h e Cape May and B l a c k - t h r o a t e d Blue W a r b l e r s were c a r r i e d w e s t - ward t o t h e G u l f s h o r e s o f w e s t e r n F l o r i d a , Alabama, L o u i s i a n a and Texas . With them, u n d o u b t e d l y , were many t h o u s a n d s o f i n d i v i d u a l s o f o t h e r s p e - c i e s t h a t a r e n o t r a r i t i e s i n t h e s e a r e a s , and so were not r e c o ~ l z e d a s b e i n S d i v e r t e d f rom t h e i r normal r o u t e s . Even i f t h e s e b i r d s e v e n t u a l l y found t h e i r way t o t h e i r a n c e s t r a l n e s t i n g grounds i n e a s t e r n Canada and t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n s t a t e s , i t i s r e a s o n a b l e to assume t h a t ~umy o f them t o o k r o u t e s t h a t l i e t o t h e wes t o f Maryland ( o r a t l e a s t t o t h e wes t Of t h o s e c o u n t i e s where ou r most a c t i v e o b s e r v e r s a r e l o c a t e ~ .

Heavy n i g h t t i m e showers can p roduce p r e c i p i t a t i o n s o f b i r d s i f t h e t i s ~ t ~ i s r i g h t - - t h a t i s , i f t h e r a i n s t a r t s l a t e enough a t n i g h t so p l e n t y o f m i g r a n t s a r e i n t h e a i r , and i f c o n d i t i o n s to t h e sou th o f us a r e such a s encourage b i r d s t o takB f l i g h t . On the morning o f May 15, C h a r l e s Buchanan was f o r t u n a t e enough t o w i t n e s s s u c h a l o c a l wave a t h i s B a l t i m o r e homo. A h~avy shower o c c u r r e d in t h e mi d d l e o f t h e n i g h t , and on t h e f o l l o w i n g morning Mr. Buchana n i d e n t i f i e d 12 s p e c i e s o f w a r b l e r s

September 1957 ~NIrLAND BIRDLIFE 55

in less than an hour -Just by walking around and around the house. . No other Maryland observer wrote of such an experience this spring. At my home in Laurel, the only transient warblers fOund on the morning of My 15 were 6 Black-polls and a Canada.

Table o f S p r i n ~ Arrival D a t e s . - - F o r t h o s e o b s e r v e r s whD w i s h to Com- p a r e t h e i r a r r i v a l d a t e s w i t h t h o s e r e p o r t e d f rom o t h e r c o u n t i e s , o r t o compare 1957 d a t e s w i t h t h o s e o f o t h e r y s a r s , we a r e p r e s e n t i n g a t a b l e o f f i r s t d a t e s f o r e i g h t Maryland c o u n t i e s . Da te s e a r l y enough to c o n - s t i t u t e S t a t e r e c o r d s w i l l be g iven in d e t a i l under t h e Family h e a d i n g s . The f i r s t two columns o f d a t e s a r e t h e median a r r i v a l d a t e s f o r l e s t y e a r and t h i s . The median i s n o t a computed a v e r a g e , bu t t h e mi d d l e number o f a s e r i e s ~ a t has been a r r a n g e d in o r d e r o f i n c r e a s i n g v a l u e s . Where t h e r e were 6 or 8 d a t e s in t h e t a b l e ( t h a t i s , no midd le d a t e } , I u sed the ave r age b e t w e e n the two d a t e s n e a r e s t t h e midd le o f t h e s e r i e s . By u s i n g median d a t e s r a t h e r than t h e e a r l i e s t d a t e s we can compare t h e approximate times of general arrival instead of single isolated dates. Hedlan dates have an advantage over mean dates, also, because a single extremely early or extremely late date will affect the mean, but not the median. From these median dates it is evident that the bulk of the 1957 arrival dates were not m~ch earlier or later than those of 1958; in fact, Just about as ~ dates were earlier in 1958 as in 1957.

Thanks a r e ex t ended to t h e dozens of o b s e r v e r s who c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e d a t e s i n Table 1. Space does n o t p e r m i t a comple t e l i s t o f names, b u t t h o s e members who c o n t r i b u t e d t h e l a r g e s t number o f r e c o r d s f rom e a c h c o u n t y were t h e f o l l o w i n g : A l l e ~ n y Co.- -Helen B. M i l l e r , C h a r l o t t e R i c h a r d s o n and Dan Fo lk , J r . ; ; ; a s h i n g t o n C o . - - D r . and Mrs . H. S. S t a u f f e r and h i t s . Lloyd ~ a l l o n e e , J r . ; F r e d e r i c k C o . - - S a r a h E. Quinn, ~ r s . A u s t i n L. H o f f m ~ , end John W. R i c h a r d s ; Montgomery C o . - - S e t h H. Low, John H. Fales and Orville W. Crowder; Baltimore City and Co.--Charles M. Buchanan, Stephen ~. Simon and ~rs. Albert Walker; Prince Oeorges Co.--Chandler S. Robblns, Robert E. Stewart and John H. Feles; Anne Arundel Co.--Mrs. W. L. Henderson, Hrs. G. Tappan and Prof. and }/rs. David Howard; and Caroline Co.--~Lrvln ~I. Hewitt, ~Irs. Roberts B. Fletcher and Mrs. Allcla Enotts.

Grebes, Gannets.--Small numbers of Horned Grebes show up each spring on inland ponds and lakes. A count of 39 individuals at Frederick on Apr. 26, however, is the best inland concentration ever recorded in Mary- l end in s p r i n g . C~nne ts occur more f r e q u e n t l y i n t h e Maryland p o r t i o n o f Chesapeake Bey t h a n i s i n d i c a t e d by p u b l i s h e d r e c o r d s . F l y i n g o v e r t h e lower Bay on Apr. 3, Bob Stewart estimated 15 to 20 Gannets in Pocomoke Sound, and 8 to 10 o t h e r s i n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e Bey o f f C a l v e r t and Dor- c h e s t e r C o u n t i e s . On 'May 4, P h i l i p A. Du~ont and o t h e r s c o u n t e d 48 @an- n e t s o v e r t h e ocean a t Ocean C i t y , b u t by a week l a t e r n e a r l y a l l Gannets and s e a ducks had l e f t f o r Canada.

Herons.--We have few early spring arrival dates for the Yellow- crowned Night Heron, simply because no one has bothered to make systema- tic checks on their few known nesting areas during early and told-April. One seen 5 miles above Seneca on Apr. 13 by Orville Crowder was 5 days ahead of the earliest Maryland record. The only "white herons" seen out-

56 MARYLAND B ~ L ~ _. Vol. 13 i No.

Table i. Spring Arr iva l DateS, 1957

Median 1956 1957 ~le Wash Fred ]~ont Balt Pr.G AnUS C~o

S~ean Heron 4/~ 4/24 -- 5/ i .... 4/27 4/18 4/16 4/~ Broad-wined mwk 4/22 . . . . . 4/El 4/20 4/20 4/21 0 Spotted Sandpiper 4/24 5/ 2 - - 5 / 1 5 / 4 5/ 4 4/27 4/22 5/ 4 Solltar~ s~.dplper 4/27 4/25 - - ~ / 4 - - 4/28 5 / 4 4/14 4/22 4/16 Yello.-baled cuc~o 5/ 5 5/ 4 -- ~/11 -- 4/29 5/ 4 514 5/11 5/ 4 B~mck-billad Cuckoo 5/11 -- 5/11 .... 5/18 5/25 5/19 0 "~Ip-poor-will 4/19 4/21 . . . . . . 4/18 4/~ 4/18 4/21 4/21 ~i~t~.k 51 3 51 2 -- 41~ 51 7 5111 4/2o 5111 --- 4/26 o ~ e y ~ 4/ e 4/20 4/2e 4/22 4/20 4/n 4/19 4/18 41~1 4/17 ~_.~-t~. ~to@Ird 5/ 3 41~ 51 4 4127 -- .4/~ 5/ 4 ,~18 41n 41~ ~astera magbir~ 4/28 4 / ~ - - 4/28 4/27 4 / ~ M2e ~ / ~ 4120 4/21 Crested Flycatcher 4/27 4/28 - - 4/28 5/ 4 4/27 4/28 4/28 5/ 4 4/28 Acadian Flycatcher 5/ 5 5/ 4 -- 4/28 -- 4/28 5/ 4 5/ 5 5/11 5/ 9 F~stern Wood P~e -~/ 6 5/ 4 -- 5/10 -- 4/B 4/27 5/ii 5/11 4/27 R o u ~ - ~ , l ~ ~,811o,, 4/18 - - 4 / ~ - - 4/'~ 4/1~ 4/22 ~12.~ 4/1~ Barn s, ,aLto. 4/ 4 4/ ~ - - ~ 4 4/~0 4 / 7 4/1~ 4/ 1 4 / 4 3/~0 ClitrSwellow 51 4 -- 4/26 5/ 4 514 5/ 4 5/11 5/ 4 5/ 4 P u ~ l e ~ar t in 3/27 5127 4118 -- Z12.5 4/28 4120 ~/27 4/~1 ~/22 House Wren 4/26 4/16 4/~ 4/~ 4/12 4/13 4/~ 4/12 4/~ 4/18

Bro~ Thrasher ~ 5 w-- 4/~'? 4/17 4/12 4/ 1 4/12 5/26 4/ 1 4/ 2 ~ood Tt~h 4/27 4/22 4/Z~ 4/~ 4/14 %/22 4/22 4/~ 4/20 4/~ 011ve-bac~d Tl~h 5/ 5 5/ 4 5/ 4 -- 5/ 4 4/29 5/~ 5/ 4 5/17 5/ 4 G,~-o~eeked ~us~ 5/~ 0 511~ 0 5118 ' 51~ o 51~,~ ves~ , ~ 514 -- 0 , 5 / 4 579 5 /4 5 / 4 ~ / 1 ~/1,, B l u e - ~ a y Gnatcatcher 4/ 7 4/1~ 4/21 4/27 - - 4/15 4/11 4/ 9 4/19 4/ 7

• 4/27 4/~ 4127 4/~ Jhite-eyed Vireo 4128 4127 4/28 -- 51 4 4 /~ 4128 4 / ~ - - - - 51 5 Yellow-throated Vireo 4/BO 4128 4/27 51 4 - - ~ue-~esded vireo 4 / ~ 4/22 5/ i 5/11 - - 4/18 4 / ~ 4/1~ 4 /~ 4/28 ,,:d--. ,edvireo 4/2 5 / , 4/27 ,21 4/2 ,124 4/20 4/2, Warblin~ Vireo 4/27 ~ 5/11 4/27 4/2g 0 5/ 5 Black & ~hlt9 ~a rb le r 4 /~ . 4/22 4/27 4/27 4/27 4/2~ 4/~0 4/18 4/19 4/12 Worm-eetin~ Warbler 4/~ 4/28 4/27 4/28 -- 5/ 4 4/~ 4/27 4/21 0 Blue-wln~ed Warbler 51 4 4/28 0 4/28 5/ 4 0 . 4/29 4/28 5111 4/28 Tennessee Warbler 0 0 -. 4/~ 5/15 4/~ 5/10 0 P~ru~- War'bler 51 1 4/~I 4/~I 4/22 -- 4/~ 4~I 4/~ 4/21 4/28 Ye l l ow Wsrbler 4/28 4/~1 4 /~ 4/22 -- 4 /~ 4/27 4 /~ 4/~t 4/20 I /a~no l ta Warbler 5/ 4 - - 0 - - 5/ 4 5/ 4 51 4 5111 4127 Cape I~ Warbler 4/27 0 4/27 - - 4/27 - - 4/27 4/50 5/ 4 ~ o ~ - ~ ~ u e ~ b l e r 5/ 2 4/28 4 / ~ . . . . 4/28 4 / ,27 ~/.~ 5/ 4 4/28 Myrtle ~erb ler 4/21 4/28 4/25 4/20 4/21 4/20 4/19 4/25 - - Blk-thr Green 71~bl~ 5/ 2 5/ 4 51 4 5/10 5/ 4 4/24 4126 4127 5/ 4 0 Blackbu~nlan Ws.vble~ 5/ 1 - - "51 4 . . . . 51 4 4/50 5/ 4 0

4/~ 511 .~14 514 c~ssto~t-slded W~bier 4/~0 51 2 4/~ 51 4 -- 5/~2 51~2 5110 51n 0 B~,v-breasted Warbler 5/ii 0 0 -- B~ack-poll Warbler 5/ 5 51 4 --i 5113 ~ "5 / 4 51 8 5/ 4 5/ 4 o~-b~ 4/28 4/~ 4/27 5/ 4 5/ 4 4/2~ 4/~ 4/~1 5/ 4 4/21 Northern Water-t~usb 4/29 5/ 2 5/ 4 0 4/~ 5/22 5/ i 4/27 5/15 ~ulei~n~ ;~a~er-~ 4/15 4/1~ 4/i~ -- 4/14 4/~4 4/1~ 4/18 4/12 4/6 ~.~o' vWarblar 514 5 / 4 o 5 / 4 5 / 4 , .~/4 5/22 4/28 5 / 9 5 t 4 yellow-throat 4/28 4121 4121 51 i 5--4/ 4121 4127 4 1 2 4 4120 4/18

5/ 4/27 4/28 5/ 4 4/27 Yellow-breasted C/rot 5/ i 51 4 5/ 4 51 4 4 Hooded Warbler 4/29 4/~o 51 4 5/ 4 51 4 51 8 4/27 4122 4/24 4126

Anerioan Redstar t 4/28 5/ 4 4 -- 51# 4 5/ 4 Bo~ollak ' ' 5/ 3 5/ 4 0 5113 -- 4/22 -- 5/ 4 5/11 .~/ 4 orchard Oriole 4/50 4/28 0 4/28 5/ 4 4/27 5/ 4 4/27 5/ 1 4/24 Balt imore Oriole 4/28 4/27 5/ 4 4/27 5/ 4 4/28 4/26 4/26 - - 4/24 Scarlet Tanager 4129 4/28 4/27 5/ 4 5/ 4 4128 4/27 4127 51 4 4/21 .~s~ ~ 5 /7 o o o 5 / n 5/17 5/7 5/t- ~ / ~ Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5/ 5 5/ 4 514 5113 5/ 4 51 4 4/23 4/24 5/ 7 0 ~dl~o ~ u . ~ 4129 4/~ 4127 51 2 - - 514 4127 4/~ 4/27 41~ Grasshopper Sparrow 4/29 4/25 0 4/24 - - 4/20 4/27 4/25 0 4/20

• S e p t e m b e r 1957 HARYLANDBIRDLIFE 57

s i d e o f t h e i r n e s t i n ~ a r e a s were an immature L i t t l e B lue a t Den ton on Apr . 26 ( R o b e r t s Y l e t c h e r ) end C a t t l e E g r e t s n e a r E a s t o n on U,y 6 ( r e - p o r t e d t o J e r r y F l e t c h e r ) . The l a t t e r s p e c i e s m,mmered i n ~ a r y l a n d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e ; 5 were c o u n t e d a t t h e M i l l s I s l a n d h e r o n c o l o n y on June 1 (Nell Hotchkiss), but no nests or young were recognized. Louisiana H e r o n s , which were f i r s t d i s c o v e r e d i n t h e M i l l s I s l a n d c o l o n y i n 1946 and had i n c r e a s e d to a n e s t i m a t e d 8 p a i r s i n 1953, Jumped t o a n e s t i m a t e d

5 0 p e l t s t h i s y e a r . They now ou tnumber b o t h t h e L i t t l e Blue Heron and t h e Amer i can E g r e t . As many as 11 G l o s s y I b i s e s were p r e s e n t on J u n e 1 ( H o t c h k i e s ) and 2 c u t o f a b r o o d o f 4 l a r g e young were c e u E h t and banded on J u n e 12 ( S t e w a r t ) . The M i l l s I s l a d d c o l o n y a p p a r e n t l y had a s u c c e s s - f u l s e a s o n t h i s y e a r .

W a t e r f o N 1 . - - T h e o n l y s i g n i f i c a n t o b s e r v a t i o n s r e p o r t e d were a s c a t - t e r l n E o f l a t e d e p a r t u r e d a t e s , a s f o l l o w s : / 5 e a c h o f Snow Geese and Blue Geese a t E a s t e r n Neck I s l a m a i n Kent County on A p r . 11 ( S t e w a r t ) and 7 Snow Geese o v e r n e a r b y Kent Nar rows on May 4 (D i sk a M ~ a r t h a D u b o l 8 ) ; an Amer i can G o l d e n - e y e a t G i b s o n I s l a n d (Mesdames Tappan and Henderson)

a n d 7 i n T a l b o t County (Dick Kleem) , a l l on Hay 4; add 3 Redheads a t G ib - son I s l a n d on h~ay 11. The l e n t B u f f l e - h a a d s a n d 01d- squaws were o b s e r v e d a t G i b s o n I s l a n d on Apr . 21, bu t t h e r e wa re i n l e z d r e p o r t s o f B a f f l e - heads on Apr . 25 i n Wash ing ton County (Dr . add H r s . S t a u f f e r ) and on Apr . 26 (12 b i r d s ) i n F r e d e r i c k Coun ty ( B i l l S h i r e y ) . I n l a n d Old- squaws were r e c o r d e d a t F r e d e r i c k (12 b i r d s ) on Apr . 20 (Shlx.ey) a n d W t l l t s t o n on Apr. I0 (G. Guthrie).

Bewks.--(}ibson Islanders i d e n t i f i e d 8 species of hawks on Apr. 21 in the flmst hawk fl~ ever observed at that bayslde looatlon; they ob- talned their first local record for the Eroad-wln~ed Hawk and their third f o r t h e Duck Hawk. A l a t e d a t e f o r m i g r a t i n g O s p reys was Uay 22 , on w h i c h day S e t h Low s p o t t e d 2 f l y i n g n o r t h a a m d o v e r h i e f a r m a t U n i t y .

M a i l s , S h o r e b i r d s . - - A r a r i t y f o r G ibson I s l a n d was a C l a p p e r R a i l d i s c o v e r e d t h e r e o n Apr . 15 by Mesdames Tsppan end H e n d e r s o n . These same s h a r p - e y e d o b s e r v e r s found 8 s p e c i e s o f s h o r e b l r d 8 t h e r e , i n c l u d i n g t h e i r f i r s t l o c a l Up land P l o v e r on A p r . 19 and t h e i r s e c o n d P i p i n g P l o v e r on Apr . 7 . A Woodcock found dead i n a r o a d n e a r Denton on J u n e 21 ( R o b e r t a F l e t c h e r end ~ L r E a r e t e B e t e n s c h o e n ) I s t h e o n l y p o s i t i v e e v i d e n c e o f sum- m a r i n e i n t h a t c o u n t y i n ' r e c e n t y e a r s . T h i s s p e c i e s i s b e l i e v e d t o n e s t a t l e a s t l o c a l l y i n e v e r y c o u n t y i n M a r y l a n d , b u t t h e r e a r e p l t i f l a l l y few n e s t r e c o r d s f rom some a r e a s . One o f t he most u n u s u a l b i r d s o f t h e s p r i n g s e a s o n was a W i l s o n ' s P h a l a r o p e t h a t a p p e a r e d i n t h e D u b o i s ' m a r s h a t Kent Narrows on June 6 ( H a r t h a Dubols} ; t h i s i s t h e f i f t h Mazyland r e - c o r d , and t h e s e c o n d f o r t h e s p r i n g m i g r a t i o n p e r i o d . O t h e r s b o r s b t r d s s e ldom s e e n i n l a n d i n ~ a r y l a n d were i d e n t i f i e d a t P a t u x e n t Refuge by F r a n c i s M. U h l e r a s f o l l o w s : N o r t h e r n P h a l a r o p e on ~ay 20, Whl t e - rumped S a n d p i p e r on ~ay ~ , and Red-backed S a n d p i p e r on ~ay ~5.

G u l l s , T e r n s end S k i m m e r s . - - L a u E h l n g G u l l s a r e c o n t i n u i n g t o i n - c r e e s e a s n e s t i n g b i ' ~ s i - ~ S i n e p u x e a t Bey a r e a , and t o d t e p l e c e t h e Common T e r n s t h a t f o r m e r l y n e s t e d so a b u n d a n t l y on c e r t a i n o f t h e ~ h a n n e l i s l a n d s . At l e a s t 200 n e s t s were p r e s e n t on i s l a n d s o f f S o u t h l~oint on

58 ~L~YLAND BI2DLIF ~- ~'oi. 13 a No. S

June 12, and 228 young were banded on t h i s and subsequen t v i s i t s by S tew- a r t , A l l e n Duva l l and R o b b i n s . F o r s t e r ' s Te rns had two l a y i n g s a t Robins ~rsh i n Chincoteague Bay, but few if any youn6 were raised this summer. Common Terns had only moderate production; there was very heavy mortality on several islands. One of the most successful colonies was the one at the Ocean City bridge. ~oyal Terns are showing an AmAzing increase, at the expense of the Black Skimmers, whose nestin6 habitat they are occupy- Ing off South Point. A total of 378 Royal Tern nests was tallied, all but 19 with one e~ each; 347 young were banded (Stewart and Duvall).

Thrushes.--0nly one observer (Charles Buchanan, May 25) reported any thrush as being common this spring. Several active reporters went all spring ~Ithout seeing a sin~e Her~t Thrush, Veery, G~ay-cheek, or a combination of two of these; note that no arrival date far the latter species in 1957 was as early as the median arrival date for 1956. For a while we held out hope that a late flight would pass through--but~ if it did, it was not evident in most of the areas that are visited re~tlarly by our members. The latest Gray-cheek date for Caroline County tied the May 21 date of last year; in every other case where comparisons are available, the last HereLtt, Very and Gray-cheek departed earlier in 1957 t h a n In 1956.

V i r e o s , W a r b l e r s . - - T h e on ly P h i l a d e l p h i a Vi reo r e p o r t e d was seen a t Hagerstmvn on May 11 by t h e S t a u f f e r s . As a l r e a d y men t ioned , w a r b l e r s were s c a r c e t h r o u g h o u t . For t h e f i r s t t ime s i n c e 1953 no Mourning War- b i e r was r e p o r t e d . ~ore s u r p r i s i n ~ t h a n t h i s was t h e t o t a l o f o n l y 7 N a s h v i l l e ; ' ; a r b l a r s ; b u t one o f t h e s e was o f c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r e s t , b e i n g one of the very few spring records from the Eastern Shore (Pocomoke Swamp, May 12, by l~arshall Johnston, Bob ~hlndell and Bill Shlrey). There is no indisputable Maryland record of the Sutton's Warbler (a supposed hybrid between the Parula end Yellow-throated .':arblers), although one or two are found every few years a few miles across the '.Jest Virginia llne. On Apr. 16 Orville Crowder watched a Yellow-throated Xarbler in full song 5 ~Liles downstream from Shepherdstown, W. Va., on the Y/aryland side of the Poto- mac; 6 days later Parula Warblers moved into this same area. A thorough search here mi@ht prove very rewarding.

Tanagers, Si~arr~s.--The Swmner Tanager, a species which nested reg- ularly in Baltimore County at the turn of the century, is now a rarity there at any season. One seen near Cockeys~lle on May 17 was the hi6h- light of Charlle Buchanan's spring report. Juncos responded to the warm weather by leaving most localities between Apr. 18 and 25; only 4 indl- vlduals were found in May. ~;'hite-throated Sparrows also left ahead of schedule, with only snmll numbers seen after the first week of May. Ex- cept for one demented bird that was banded at Monkton on May 29 (Steve SIJnon), the latest departure was on M~y 16 at Laurel.

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September 1957 MA2YLAND BIRDLIFE 59

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C O M I N G E V E N T S Sept.

Oct.

7-22 Operat ion Recovery. I n t e n s i v e b i rd banding and migra t ion observations simultaneously at Ocean City (C. S. Robbins), Tilghman Island (R. L. Kleen), Claiborne (W. M. Davldson), and Kent Narrows (R. P. Dubols). Contact local leaders for details. Some stations will be operated until the end of September.

15 Frederick field trip to Thurment area. Leave Baker Park band shell, 2 p.m.

21-22 Talbot t r i p to Hawk ~ountain Sanctuary , Kempton, Pa. 22 Takoma field trip to Violet's Lock. Meet 419 Elm Ave., 7 a.m. 22 Baltimore trip to Owing s Mills. Bird andplant walks. Meet

at home of leaders, Dr. end Mrs. Elmer G. ,?orthley, Bonita Ave., 0wings Mills. Brink lunch and bathing suit. Relsterstown 732-J-3.

23 Caroline regular meeting, Camp Mardella, 8 p.m. 25 Frederick regular meeting. Movie: Exotic Birds of Florida

C. Burr Artz Library, Record end W. Second Sts.p6 p.m. 28 Baltimore trip to Upper Loch Raven. Meet Hutzler parkinK lot

Towson, 7:30 a.m., Leader, Charles Buchanan. 29 Talbot breakfast hike at Oakiey. Meet '~Easton Library)8 a.m. 4 Talbot monthly meeting. Bird ~'igr~tion by Chandler Robbins.

Easton Public Library, 8 p.m.

60 N~%HYiaND BIRDLIFE Vol. _13,.No. 3

Oct.

3O

Nov. 2- 3 4

8

17

22 Nov. 24

Dec.

5 Annapolis trip to Hillsmere Shores for waterfowl, 7:30-10 a.m. 6 Baltimore trip to Catoctin National Park. Meet at Catoctin

Headquarters gate, Route 77, 9 a.m. Bring lunch. 6 Talbot trip to Baltimore Zoo. 6 Frederick trip to Reich's Ford road. Meet band shell, 2 p.m.

ii Baltimore monthly meeting, Pratt Library, 8 p.m. "Land of the Curly Grass" - a trip to the New Jersey Pine Barrens, by Dr. Charles J. Stine.

12 Baltimore trip to Cylburn, newest link in Baltimore City Parks. Meet at Cylburn, 9 a.m. Leader, Mrs. Robert Eaestner.

13 Takoma trip to Skyline Drive, Va. Meet at 419 Elm Ave., 7 a.m. 14 Takoma monthly meeting. Identification of Trees. Movie. 2D Baltimore trip to Liberty Dam, new section of Patapsco State

Park. Meet at Liberty and Ward's Chapel Roads, 8 a.m. Bring lunch. Leader, Mrs. Carl G. Francis. N0rthfield 5-3943.

20 Frederick trip to Woodsboro and LeGore. Band shell, 2 p.m. ~5 Caroline monthly meeting, Greensboro High School, 8 p.m. 26 Annapolis trip to Blackwater Refuge. Meet at Dutch Mill,

8 e.m. Leader, Mrs. J. E. M. Wood. COlonial 3-3229. 27 Baltimore field trip to "Possum Cove", Pretty Boy Lake. Meet

at Hutzler Parking Lot, Towson~8 a.m. Bring lunch. Leader, Dr. Elizabeth Fisher, HOpkins 7-0676. Frederick monthly meeting. Travels in Africa by Dr. Alfred Webb. C. Burr Artz Library, Record & W. 2rid Sts., 8 p.m. Baltimare trip to Hswk Mountain. Dr. Elmer G. }','orthley. Talbot paid lecture. River of Wailing Bird by Allan D. Cruickshank. Tidewater Inn, Easton, 7:30 p.m. Baltimore monthly meeting. Isle Royale National Park (movie) by William 0vei'lease. Pratt Library, 8 p.m.

9 Baltimore bus trip to Blackwater Refuge. Meet at Sam Smith Park, 7:30 a.m. Bring lunch. Leaders, Dr. Elmer Worthley and Percy Jones. MOhawk @-2~1.

II Takoma.monthly meeting. Identification of Trees. Movies ii or 12 Annapolis Audubon lecture. Community Hall, 8 p.m.

Takoma field trip to Battle Creek Cypress Swamp. Meet at Elm Ave., 7 a.m. Talbot trip to Blackwater. Meet Easton Library, 8 e.m. Baltimare trip to Perry Point and Charlestown. Meet at Edge- wood Diner, Rt. 40, 8:30 a.m., or Perry Point Guard House, 9:30 A.M. Bring lunch. Leader, Rodney Jones. HUnter 6-3442. Oarollne monthly meeting. Health Dept. Bldg., Denton, 8 p.m.

27 Frederick monthly meeting. Movie to be announced. Artz Lib. 6 Baltimore monthly meeting. Highlights of the Natural History

of Calvert County by Romeo ~ansueti. Pratt Library, 8 P.m. 7 Annapolis "quickie" to Sherwood Forest, 7:30 to i0 a.m. Meet

at Douglas Miner's home, Sherwood Forest. 8 Baltimore trip to Sandy Pt. Meet Light & Redwood Sts., 8 a.m. 9 Takoma monthly meeting. Identification of Trees. Movie

21 - Jan. 1 Christmas Bird Counts. Ocean City, Blackwater, St. Michaels, Denton, Annapolis and Gibson Island, Seneca, Tridelphia, Catoctin Mountain, and McGoole. Dates to be arranged shortly. Write editor or local clubs for details.