TUFTEDTITMOUSEANDCATBIRD …list were Canada Goose, Peregrine Falcon, Mourning Dove, and Vesper Sparrow. This was the 6th SBC count in the Troy area and the six additions makes the

Published by Schenectady Bird Club, Inc.

Vol.16 No.l January, 1934

TUFTED TITMOUSE AND CATBIRD AT SCHENECTADY, AND

GREEN-WINGED TEAL AND SCAUP AT TROY AMONG

FEATURES OF LOCAL CHRISTMAS COUNTS

New High for Schenectady, 42 - New High (or Troy, 34 - Baltimore Oriole Is

Also Recorded during Week of Count - Four Bald Eagles and Ninety-four

Mourning Doves Found — Northern Species Mostly Absent and So Was

Winter — Schenectady*s 25-year Composite Reaches Eighty Species

The 1953 Christmas Counts in S B C territory set several

records. In both the Schenectady and Troy areas there were

new highs for species seen — 42 for Schenectady, and 34 at

Troy. Previous records were 40 in 1944 for Schenectady, and

30 in 1952 at Troy.

The Tufted Titmouse, which had been visiting several

feeding stations in Niskayuna since hovenber 29, was the

outstanding record. B. D. filler kept track of the bird,

recorded it on the necessary day, and a couple of hours la

ter recovered the dead bird — it was found under a bush

near a feeder. Its death was not witnessed, but a Northern

Shrike had been seen for several days in the vicinity and

the Titmouse had a crushed head — a frequent story when the

Shrike attacks. There seems to be only one previous region

al record for the Titmouse; one visited I.Irs. C. G. Grace

for one day in Hay, 1952.

The Catbird was another addition to the Schenectady list.

It was recorded at the feeder of Stephanie Podrazik, where

it had been seen regularly since Thanksgiving. Still other

species new for the local count were the Old-squaw and Bald

Eagle. This was Schenectady's 25th consecutive Christmas

Count, and the four additions brought the composite total to

80 species, plus two subspecies.

Highlighting the Troy count were two previously on neither list — Scaup (sp?), and Green-winged Teal. Although thespecies of Scaup could not be determined at the distance onTomhannock Reservoir, a Greater Scaup had been determined a

week previous on the Hudson Hiver. Also new on the Troy

list were Canada Goose, Peregrine Falcon, Mourning Dove, and

Vesper Sparrow. This was the 6th SBC count in the Troy area

and the six additions makes the composite total 45 species.

The hiigi counts were attained without benefit of many ofthe northern species. There were no Grosbeaks, few Finches,

no Hed-breasted Nuthatches, no Waxwings, no Snowy Owls, fewHawKs. There was more open water than usual, ground surface

was thawed, and snow was lacking. 'Twasn't winter.1

8 by car. 91Totals, 34 spe-

KATHERS January, 1954

FEATHERS is publiakedmonthly by

SCHENECTADY -BIRD CLUB, INC.

Editor: Guy BaetUtt, 1053 Tarfewood BUL

Circulation; "Kabel Barnes, Ilk McCUUan Si'"Viola Tvtabb, Treasurer, 1624 Becker Stecet

Anmial Membership Dues: Sustaining, $5; Active, 93; Associate, $2; Junior, $1

Composite Lists

SCHENECTADY COMPOSITE: Same overall area as in recent years;

Saturday, December 26; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., plus 9:30 p.m.;temperature at start, 24° at Thacher Park, 30 in city;temperature maximum 38°; partly cloudy to cloudy; windsouth, 4-8 mph; no snow, ground surface thawed; streams

open, reservoir and river partky open, ponds frozen. 19

observers in 7 parties of 2 or more, plus feeding stations;

47 party-hours, 30 on foot, 17 by car. 189 party-miles,

33 on foot, 156 by car. Totals, 42 species, 3708 individuals. Dr. Malcolm E. McDonald, leader.

TROY COI4POSITE: Same area as in previous 5 years; Sunday,

December 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 20° to 30 ; partly cloudy;wind north, 0-10 mph; no snow, Hudson River open, Hoosic

and Llohawk Rivers and Tomb,annock Reservoir partly open,

small streams partly open, ponds frozen. Four observers

in 2 parties. 12 party-hours, 4 on foot,

party-miles, 10 miles on foot, 81 by car.

cies, 1161 individuals.

Sohenectady Observers

Party 1 - Collins Lake, Gordon Road, Poentic Marshes,

Schermerhorn Road; 9 party-hours, 7 afoot, 2 by car; 16 party-miles, 6 afoot, 10 by car. Rudolph Stone, Frazer R. Tur-rentine.

Party 2 - Collins Lake and environs; 2 party-hours afoot,

2 party-miles afoot. t.'x, and Mrs. E. V/. Scott.

Party 3 - Niskayuna, Lock 7, Crescent wide waters; 10

party-hours, 8 affot, 2 by car; 38 party-miles, 8 afoot, 30

by car. Kr. and LIrs. R. E. Eitelman, Dr.Malcolm E. McDonald,

Robert Yunick.

Party 4 - Vischers Ferry and ponds, area north of river;

7 party-hours, 2 afoot, 5 by car; 40 party-miles, 3 afoot,

37 by car. Alice Holmes, ?. Schuyler Killer, ilellie Silli-

man, Nelle G. Van Vorst.

Party 5 - V/atervliet Reservoir and environs; 8 party-

hours, 4 afoot, 4 by car; 36 party-miles, 6 afoot, 30 bycar. Guy Bartlett, Donald Tucker.

Party 6 - Thacher Park, Altamont, tleadowdale, Voorhees-ville, State Farm Road; 7 party-hours, 3 afoot, 4 by car; 54

party-miles, 5 afoot, 49 by car. Mrs. C. G. Grace, 3yron T.

Hippie, Jr., Samuel R. J&dison.

Party 7 - Central Park, Parkview Cemetery, Balltovra Road;

3 party-hours afoot, 4 miles. Stephanie Podrazik, Agathe

Schuurmann.

Party 8 - reeding stations of Mrs. R. M. Brockway, i-Irs.C. G. Grace, B. D. ICiller. Also included are the 700 Starlings in city roosts* The Shrike, Hobin and Oriole records

in parentheses in the table were not seen on the day of thecount but on neighboring days.

2

FEATHERS

Party

Species

Individuals

Common Loon

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Mallard

Black Duck

Green-winced Tea!

Scaup (Sp?)

American Golden-eye

Old-squaw

American Merganser

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Marsh Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Sparrow Hawk

Ruffed Grouse

Ring-necked Pheasant

Killdeer

Herring Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Mourning Dove

Screech Owl

Horned Owl

Belted Kingfisher

Yellow-shafted Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Horned Lark

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Winter Wren

Catbird

(American Robin)

Golden-crowned Kinglet

(Gray Shrike)

Common Starling

House Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

(Baltimore Oriole)

Purple Grackle

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Vesper Sparrow

Slate-colored Junco

American Tree Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Song Sparrow

T

3708

1

3

1

10

1

2

1

2

8

4

8

911

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522

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SCHENECTADY, December 26

26

463

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ay*

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60

110

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28

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32

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ianuory# 1954

TROY, Dec. 27

27

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3140

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32

FEATHERS January, 1954

Troy Observers

Party A - Hudson, Koosic and Mohawk Rivers, and environs;

8 party-hours, 3 afoot, 5 by car; 46 party-miles, 6 afoot,40 by car. G.L&lcolm Andrews, Guy Sartlett.

Party B - Troy to Tamarack Swamp (Cropseyville), to Tom-

hannock Reservoir; 4 party-hours, 1 afoot, 3 by car; 45 par

ty-miles, 4 afoot, 41 by car. ;.ir. and Lira. 3yron T. Hippie.

Some Records

First Records, Schenectady: Old-squaw, Bald Eagle, Tuft

ed Titmouse, Catbird. (Also Baltimore Oriole, near date).

First Records, Troy: Green-winged Teal, Scaup (Sp?)f Canada Goose, Peregrine Falcon, Mourning Dove, Vesper Sparrow.

New Maximum Counts, Schenectady: I-fourning Dove 91 (24previously); Pileated Woodpecker 5 (3); Winter V/ren 6 (3) ;Golden-crowned Kinglet 35 (31). Also tied for maximumcount, Great Blue Heron 1, Sparrow Hawk 8, Killdeer 1.

New Maximum Counts, Troy: Loon 2 11); Old-squaw 2 U);Bald Eagle 3 ID; Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 U)"» Red-winged 'Blackbird 3 (l); Tree Sparrow 134 (54); Swamp Sparrow 3 11).Also tied for maximum count, Belted Kingfisher, 1.

Gallupville Count

Beyond the limit for Schenectady counts, Mrs. Chester

dimmer fisted her feeding-station visitors on December 26 atGallupville, Schoharie County, îx species: Hairy Wood-

pecker, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, 'Vhite-

breasted Nuthatch, Common Starling, House Sparrow. Also on

near dates: Pileated Woodpecker, Tree dparrow, Song Sparrow.

•Amsterdam Count

Also beyond "limits territorially was the Christmas Countmade December 26 by Llrs. Gerald Fitzgerald at her home in

Amsterdam. Twelve species: 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Pile

ated Woodpecker, 4 Hairy Woodpeckers, 8 Downy Woodpeckers,

4 Black-capped Chickadees, 10 White-breasted Nuthatches,

2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 8 Cedar v/gxwirigs, house Sparrows,

15 Purple Finches, 5 American Goldfinches, 35 'i'ree Sparrows,

Also, December 27, Sparrow Hawk and American Robin.

SBC FIELD TRIP REPORTSEsly HoHenbeck and Leon A. Wiard, Co-chairmen

SNIPE Vlscher Ponds. Hov. 1

A clear and sunny day — warm for November — gave 20

species for the four observers on the SBC field trip of No

vember 1. The list: Pied-billed Grebe, 1; Great alue Her

on, 1; Mallard, 2; Green-winged Teal, 2; Wilson's Snipe, 2;Pectoral Sandpiper, 4; Hairy Woodpecker, 8; Downy Woodpeck

er, 6; Horned Lark, 4; blue Jay, 4; Urow, 3; tilack-cappedChickadee, 10; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1; Starling, 3; Red-

winged Blackbird, 150; furple Grackle, 1; American Goldfinch,

13; White-throated Sparrow, 7; Swamp Sparrow, 1; Song Spar

row, 4. — Dr. Malcolm E. McDonald(The Grebe record was by Allen aenton; the Heron record

by Jiir. Bruce.)

4


NOT COLD ENOUGH Saratoga Lake. Uov.15

The beautiful November 15 lured six SBC members into the

field; the annual convention of the National Audubon Society

was in session, so some of our members v.ere there instead.

On many very windy, cold days the S3C folk have listed a

wide variety of ducks, geese, and gulls; but this tine the

watchers enjoyed a calm and sunny da3r somewhat affected by

the smog, sniaze or whatever you wish to call it. Iviost of

the rlucks were not in the Saratoga Lake area. It takes a

cold spell north of us really to bring the waterfowl down

to local waters.

A pauze at Round Lake, where a group of four or five de

coys made the telescopes coiae forth. The only waterbirds

were the Herring Gulls. However, a Red-winged Blackbird

caused some excitement when he flashes his red epaulet as he

flew with some Tree Sparrows through the marsh.

On to Saratoga Lake, and the usual walk to dtony ôint,

which furnished no startling rewards. From the ôint, where

there used to be the old summer house, a welcome shelter for

birders, a group of Buffleheads, one brilliant male and

three females, were noticed. The Horned Grebes, showing all

their winter white, were easily recognized.

Many Golden-eyes, both sexes, formed a large raft which

shifted from place to place. A few female Mergansers were

enjoying the waves as they tossed about in their sleep.

Brown's Beach always has some good birding. This time

the usual Ring-billed Gulls equalled or outnumbered the Her-

ring Gulls. Standing on a sand bar with two h.illdeer were a

few Bonaparte's Gulls, some Herring and Ring-billed, so

their sizes were easily noted.

V.Tien the trip terminated at Kayderos Park the folks re

luctantly started home, feeling that a pleasant naming had

been spent — but the birding had been rather poor as isoften the case when fine weather prevails. The 23 species:

Common Loon, 5; Horned Grebe, 12; Redhead, 2; Lesser Scaup,

75; American Golden-eye, 250; Bufflehead, 4; American i..er-

ganser, 2; Killdeer, 3; Herring Gull, 50; Ring-billed Gull,

12; 3onaparte*s Gull, 5; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Hairy 7<ood-

pecker, I; Downy V/oodpecker, 2; 31ue Jay; Crow; Black-cappedChickadee; Y/hite-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Starling; House Spar

row; Red-winged Blackbird, 1; Goldfinch; Tree Sparrow.

— Nelle G. Tan Vorst

BRIEFING THE RECORDFrazer R. Turrentine, Records Cemmittee Chairman

Reporting on the period from mid-October through Novem

ber in our local area, the weather was warm and dry, summer

birds were remaining late, and northern species were failing

to arrive.October was the secorid warmest on record, with average

daily temperature of 53.9 d'egrees. November was the thirdhighest, with 43.4 degrees average, or 4.8 above normal.Both months were deficient in precipitation. November had

two inches of snow, half on the last day. Tall canker moths

and other insects were in flight through November, and

night-crawlers were out November 22. As was the case in5


early fall, there were no appreciable waves of migrants,

whether water-biros, hawks, or song-birds.

LOONS - DUCKS: llo Loons were seen. Horned and Pied-

billed Grebes were in usual numbers at Saratoga Lake through

rJovember. Ivlallards, Blacks, Teal and other early ducks con

tinued late in numbers; Golden-eyes, Buffle-heads and Mer

gansers were in by mid-November, but their numbers and most

other late species had not yet arrived at month1s end.

liAV.'KS - O'VLS: The region is not noted for hawk flights,

and no wave was apparent. End-of-November indications were

that Sharp-shinned, Sparrow and Red-shouldered Hawks were

tarrying. Several Sharp-shinned and Sparrow Hawks were be

ing seen regularly at the banding station of Mrs. Gerald

.Fitzgerald, Amsterdam.

Two Wilson's Snipe and 4 Pectoral Sandpipers were listed

on the November 1 field trip. November records of the Ring-

billed Gull indicated increased abundance; four Bonaparte's

Gulls were at Saratoga Lake November 15.

StiIFES - SHRIKES: A few Kingfishers remained through No

vember. City and suburban records of the Pileated Woodpeck

er were fairly common.

A Tufted Titmouse appeared regularly at several feeders

in Niskayuna, beginning Nov. 29; and about the same time

another at feeders in Woodlawn, 3 or more miles away. There

is one previous regional record for the species, in the

spring of 1952.

A Catbird appeared regularly at the feeder of Stephanie

Podrazik, staring November 26.Robins continued in flocks, but by November's end were

few. A Hemit Thrush was at Jenny Lake uov. 21. Bluebirds

were scarce. Cedar Y-'axwings, abundant in early fall, were

also scarce. A few Northern Shrikes were recorded by late

iMOvember.

VIREOS - V.rAR3LERS: Last vireo record was a Solitary on

October 17 IHallenbeck;. Myrtle Warblers continued through

October 27 ILIrs. French). Transient Bay-breasted Warblers

were more common than usual, with a flock of eight continu

ing in one city block three weeks to October 1^ (Bartlett).

BLACK3IRDS - SPARSOV.'S: keadowlarks, Red-winged Black

birds, Purple Grackles, and Cowbirds all continued through

November.

Two Baltimore Orioles were listed. One was visiting

feeders at Ballston Lake, for the third successive winter.

Another was eight miles west of Amsterdam, at a feeder (Re

ported to lirs. Fitzgerald).

There were small flocks of Purple Finches after Nov. 2,

and a flock of Pine Siskins at Jenny Lake wov. 21. Evening

Grosbeaks were unrecorded; Juncos and Tree Sparrow were

light migrants. Last date for the *'ox Sparrow was Nov. 8

I Jenny Lake; and -UDudonville, ivirs. French).

SBC CALENDAR

Nellfe Silliman, Secretary

Monday, .February 15 - Audubon Screen Tour; Auditorium, Cen

tral Park Junior iiigh School, Mm and Bradley Streets,


8 p.m. Roger Tory Peterson of Washington, D. C., "Wild

America."

Sunday, February 21 - Regular SBC field trip, upper iiudson

Kiver area. Meet at union Street and Gainer Avenue,

8 a.m., or at Saratoga and Ontario Streets, Cohoes, at

8:30 a.m.

Lionday, February 22 - Annual meeting of Schenectady Bird

Club, inc.; ?ine Room, First Methodist Church, State

and Lafayette Streets, 8 p.m. Officers and Jirectors

will be elected.

jp N E W S AND NOTES IN BRIE ff^V

1953. WEATHERWISE

1953 was a warm year, setting several heat records. It

was the second consecutive year with no below-zero readings;

we already know 1954 will not be the third consecutive.

Snowfalls were less than normal.

Twenty-one heat records were set, and the year's average

daily temperature was 4.2 degrees above normal, or 51.4 .

May had 7.04 inches of rain, and it was the v/ettest May ever.

Snov.1 during the year was 19g inches below normal, with a

mere 40 inches. Total precipitation in 1953 was 1.34 inches

above normal, with a total of 36.59 inches. There was a 25-day dry spell — August 11 to September 5 — with hardly a

trace of wetness.

V/armest day of the year was July 18, at 99 degrees; cold

est was February 5f at 5 above. Readings of )0 or higher

were attained on 17 days.

The last three months of the year were all of interest so

far as temperatures were concerned. October, with 53.9°average daily temperature, was the second hottest on record.

November had 43*4°, and was the third highest on record. Andthen came Deceaber which broke the record, with 35.3°, which

is 9.4 above normal. High reedings included 460 on Dec. 15and 52° on Jec. 21. Records were also tied with 49° onJec. 12 and 42° on Jec. 30. i'he nonth ranged between 9° onthe 19th and 55° on the 4th, 5th and 8th. There were 2.87inches of precipitation, 0.44 inch above normal. Snowfall

was 4*75 inches. There were 15 clear, 7 cloudy, and 9 part

ly cloudy days.

AMST3RDAK RECORDS

In addition to the records for Amsterdam elsewhere in

this issue (pages 4 and 6), Lira. Gerald Fitzgerald had rec

ords of the Northern Shrike November 28, an immature Red-

winged Blackbird in early December, Purple Grackles and

-burning Doves in December. Evening Grosbeaks did not ap

pear until 1954 — four on January 2; a fev; had been in theBroa'.ialbin area earlier, however. Purple Finches v.ere rela

tively abundant.

G-E OWL

A 3srred Owl visited General Electric Nov. 23. Said the

Schenectady 7,'orks itews: "It v.as a mystery to early birds at


GE "londay 'nornin?; why they were greeted in the cold gray

hours by the proverbial late bird. A large, somewhat sleepy

owl perched atop a tall tree between 31dRS. US and 52."

SIJOV.T INVASION?

A winter migration of Snowy Owls fro::i the Arctic tundra

into northern and central states has been reported by Na

tional Audubon Society. Field observers have reported the

owls from widely scattered areas, though the tabulation in

dicates a considerably smaller flight than in 1949-1950.

An exodus of Snowy Owls froa the Arctic has occurred

every four years since 1926-1927, except in 1937-1938 whenthey carue after on^y a three-year interval, NAS states. The

migrations have closely coincided with the cyclic die-offs

of learnings, which often serve as breakfast, lunch and din

ner for the owls. Reports indicate a scarcity of leanings

this season. <Vhen the mouse-like creatures vanish, the owls

head south in search of food.

It is then that startled housewives, farmers and other

solid citizens sometimes report excitedly they have seen

"white ghosts." NAS explains that the silent-winged spectre-

like Snowy Owls are often a shock to people whose acquaint

ance with birds is limited to pigeons and sparrows.

The white owls have had little experience with man and

hence are quite unafraid. They soraetimes cone into cities,

including Albany and Schenectady, and perch on buildings or

poles from which they can survey the area for food.

Vhe Snowy Owl, with its five-foot wingspread, makes an

easy and imposing target. Although many states protect the

owls by law, large nunbers of then are shot by people who

apparently can't believe their eyes and shoot to make sure.

In New York State the Snowy Owl is protected by law.

I-i>st of the Snowy Owl records so far this winter are from

the northern states, mainly from New England to the Dakotas.

One owl has been seen in Maryland, however, and it is likely

that others will penetrate farther south. Four years ago a

New York woiaan saw the first Snowy Owl ever to be reported

in Florida.

Unlike most of their tribe the Snowy Owls hunt for ro

dents and other food by day, so are more often seen than the

owls which roost during the day and hunt at night. Shores

and dunps are particularly likely spots to find them. By

Ivlarch most of the owls have disappeared. Some naturalists

believe the majority of them fall victims of gunners, but

some have been known to return to their Arctic haunts.

CHATHAM CARDINAL

An early January note from Anna M. Mickle, Chatham, spoke

about a male Cardinal which for six days had been, and stillwas, at her feeder, in company with Juncos and Tree Sparrows.

It was the first time she had had the bird in her yard.

Speaking of Chatham, a Pileated V/oodpeckei/ last autumnregârly made early-mornins visits to the very large stump

of an elm which had been blighted and cut down. The stump

was only 20 feet fron the house, and quickly was surrounded

by large chips.

And, speaking of Pi.leateds, the Frazer Prices had one intheir Rosendale Road yard during November.

8

Published by Schenectady Bird Clubjnc.

Vol.16 No.2 February, 1954

"EASTERN NEW YORK* IS NOW ELEVEN-COUNTY AREA

For yeara SBC has talked glibly of its ten-county area,

and has referred to the territory as "Eastern New York." In

its publications and in its record books, ten counties have

been included. Admitted, however, is the fact that some of

these counties have been poorly covered, so far as field

trips and records have been concerned. The counties — Al

bany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Sa

ratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington.

An enlarged and renamed region has now been set up by The

Federation of New York State Bird Clubs. Warren County has

been added, and it has been designated Region 8, Hudson-Iiab-

hawk. The new region will be used in publishing the region-

al reports in The Kingbird, the Federation's quarterly, and

in compiling records for the new state bird book the Federa

tion is promoting. In the interests of uniformity, S B C is

planning on using the same territorial limits. In the re

gion at present there are only two known bird clubs — Sas

safras Bird Club of Amsterdam, and SBC. Albany is, of

course, well re-

I presented in SBC.

j As pointed out1 by the Federation,■j added clubs or/ individuals con

tributing data

are needed at

Glens Falls, Scho-

i\ harie, Hudson and

M\ Catskill, and pos-'- sibly Saratoga

Springs. Data ob-

TBE ELEVEN COUNTIES

which now comprise

SBC's "Eastern

New York"

Region 8, Hudson - Mohawk,inoludes all of Warren,

Washington, Saratoga,Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, Albany, Schoharie,

Rensselaer, Columbia, andGreene Counties

bers should be

given to the SBC

Records CommitteeChairman for lo

cal use or trans-

mittal to other

regional offices.

FEATHERS ftbrectry, 1954

FEATHERS is published montkly bySCHENECTADY 'BIRD CLUB, ING

Editor: GuyBartlett, 1053'Paefewood Blod..

Circulation: 'Mabel Barnes, 114 Mcdellan Si.

'Viola *Mabb, Treasurer, 1624 BeckerStreet

Annual MembersKip Duea: Sustaining, $6; Active, $3; Associate, #2; Junior, $ 1

TUFTED TITMOUSE IN SCHENECTADY

According to ray observations the Tufted. Titmouse is a

pretty rare bird in these parts. Some local bird students

agree. Even Forbush does not include New York in its range,

and apologizes for not having had a good opportunity to -stu

dy its habits. Forbush gives its range as New Jersey south.

Reed says they are common in the southern states and breed

from the Gulf to New York and Illinois.

Considering what the books tell us about this bird, I was

much surprised when one appeared at our feeding station on

Myron Street November 27. We saw only one specimen but, as

it perched only 10 or 15 feet outside our kitchen window, we

had an excellent opportunity to study its markings, without

glasses. The gray or slate color above, and prominent head

crest made it a conspicuous bird, easy to identify.

As one of its visits was made while a Y/hite-breasted Nut

hatch was also feeding, it was easier to make a comparison

and note its different shape.

* * *

The above item was written at the time by fl. D. Miller,

probably the first to have seen and identified Schenectady's

Tufted Titmouse or this winter. His feeding station, inci

dentally, has had other strange visitors, including a 15ock-

ingbird for several days in the very early spring of 1939.

In the next few days the Titmouse was identified and re

ported at several other Niskayuna feeders. Mrs. L.A.Taylor

of Myron Street, Mrs. Vf. C. Hutchins of Almeria Road, and

Mrs. F. L. Lamprey of Grand Boulevard were among those to

identify the bird at their feeders.

All continued to see the Titmouse regularly until Decem

ber 26, the day of Schenectady's Christmas Count. It was

then recorded early in the morning, as related in FEATHERS

last month, and at noon was found dead at the base of a bush.

A Northern Shrike had been in the vicinity, and is con

sidered as possibly to blame for the bird's death. The re

port of the biologists at State College, Albany, where the

Titmouse is now a specimen skin, shows a crushed skull.

Possibly Schenectady had another Tufted Titmouse. There

were records of one in late November and early December in

the vicinity of Livingston Avenue and Kings Road, a considerable distance from the Niskayuna feeders.

There is at least one earlier reoord for the Tufted Titmouse in the looal area. Mrs. C. G. Grace of Slingerlandsin the spring of 1952 recorded one in her yard throughout awhole day.

10

FEATHERS February, 1934

SBC FIELD TRIP REPORTS

Esly Hollenbeck and Leon A. Wiard, Co-chairmen

DUCKS AND CROWS Upper Hudson. Jan. 24

Twenty degrees above zeroI Could this reading be right,

after so much sub-zero weather, for the morning of January

24 when the SBC trip was scheduled for Cohoes and the Upper

Hudson?

Although the reading was 20° the wind at the Ford GreenIsland plant was almost unbearable. Black Ducks with a few

Mallards filled the small space of open water and also occu

pied some of the ice.

Not muoh time was given to the area in Cohoes and Green

Island, so the seven birders were on their way up the river,

stopping where open water could be seen, and at the locks.

In a wooded section near Lock 1 a small flock of Chicka

dees and Golden-crowned Kinglets was found enjoying the win

ter morning. Just south of Mechanicville a large flook of

Crows were scattered in the trees and along the river edge.

A dozen species were recorded: Mallard, 40; Black Duck,

850; American Golden-eye, 41; American Merganser, 25; Sparrow Hawk, 3; Pheasant, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Blue Jay, 1;

American Crow, 510; Blaok-capped Uhiokadee, 6; Golden-

crowned Kinglet, 5; and Tree Sparrow, 20.

MORE ABOUT EVENING GROSBEAKS

Y/ith reason, there is considerable local interest in the

Evening Grosbeak — that is why, in reoent months, so much

space has been devoted in LEATHERS to items concerning this

bird.

Through January of this 1953-1954 winter the local records of the bird have been far from numerous. Hone appeared

on the Christmas Counts. There were a few early-winter rec

ords for Broadalbin, but apparently none elsewhere. It wasnot until January 4 that Mrs. Gerald Fitzgerald, who has

banded so many of them at Amsterdam, had her first four of

the winter.

Wllliamatown Report

At V/illiamstown, Mass., Willis J.. Milham reports, thesituation is much the same. "October, 1953, oame and passedand not a single grosbeak deigned to give even a passing

glanoe at V/illiamstown. On November 1 an observer thought

she heard a grosbeak, but none was seen. On JMov. 27 and la

ter two or three were seen at the feeders in the Williams

inn area. This can thus be considered the date of their ar

rival. During the first part of December there were nogrosbeaks in or near V/illiamstown. On December 15 five or

six suddenly appeared near Williams inn. They remained justone day. During the last half of uecember there were no

grosbeaks in the area."

Still other areas have similar reports on record dearths.

11


Llore Summer Data

In FEATHERS of December, 1953, page 89, several SBC members reported on summer observations they had raade of Even

ing Grosbeaks in flew ¥ork state. Additionally, the Jf'razer

Prices observed the birds regularly during their summer va

cation at Lake Pleasant.

In its report on the nesting season of 1953, Audubon

Field notes. October, 1953, said in its report for the

Kudson-St.Lawrence Region:

"For a number of years the Evening Grosbeak has been

known to breed in eastern Canada and reports of this sum

mer's observations indicate an extension of the nesting area

in Quebec. ... For several summers some have nested in the

Adirondacks near Saranac and there have been sporadio rec

ords of breeding in northern New England. In the past sum

mer there has been an extraordinary expansion of the terri

tory occupied in northern New York and New England and the

birds have pushed south in considerable numbers. In the

Adirondacks they were seen about Trudeau all summer and a

nest with young was found at Saranac Lake (G.M.Meade); atPaul Smith's about ten miles to the northwest an immature

male apparently just off the nest was seen on June 28; this

bird's bill was yellowish-green and not horn-colored as is

usually described (James Bond, C.C.Ross); a flock summerednear Lake Placid (Betty Ball). During the first two weeksof July at Indian Lake about 40 miles south of Saranac a

flock of about 25 was present, some of them immatures being

fed by adults (G.Davenport); at Blue Mountain Lake, also in

the Adirondacks, on June 30 two males and a female were

seen; they were there during the week following, feeding on

the ground and frequently flying into the tall trees nearby,

but there was nothing to oonfirm nesting (R.Arbib). About75 miles south of Saranao and near Lake George a small flock

was present up to July 10 (Krs.R.S.Carpenter); at StonyCreek, also near Lake George a pair was seen in early July,

and others during the summer in not distant Speculator (J.J.Elliott). Throughout the Green Tabuntains, Vt., EveningGrosbeaks sunmered in considerable numbers and were well

scattered throughout the area. ... In extreme northern New

Hampshire a few Evening Grosbeaks were seen throughout the

summer."

"Survey News" Report

"Shortly after the general departure of the Evening Gros

beaks for their northern nesting grounds, more people than

usual were surprised to see a number of birds remaining in

their vicinity and frequenting their feeders throughout the

month of June," said Evening Grosbeak Survey News in its

December, 1953, issue. "July brought the answer — the

birds had remained to raise their young oh the fringe of an

ever-widening breeding range, or the density of the breeding

population had inoreased to the extent that the appearance

of the Evening Grosbeak was far more frequently observed.

Both of these situations are welcomed, for the Evening Gros

beak appears to be nearly a perfect bird insofar as our ag

ricultural economy is concerned. In addition it brings

pleasure to a large number of people during its winter vi

sits. Only occasionally has anyone been heard to remark orwrite about the bird's undesirability. Owing to the fact

12


that it eats sunflower seeds almost exclusively one can eas

ily discourage visits from the Evening Grosbeak by elimina

ting this seed from the feeding trays. As one reads through

the records it is quite evident that we will probably have

the delightful Evening Grosbeak with us over a large part of

the winter range again this v;inter.

"Summer records of the Evening Grosbeak were received

from 33 areas in New York, New England and the Liaritime Pro

vinces, with 11 of these reports including immature birds.Prior to 1953 the total of all breeding records in this area

was only 11. It is not unlikely that the reports involving

only mature birds in some cases reprsent breeding areas andthe young were not noted in the tabulation of birds or con

fused with the adults. Of the reports of summer birds for

1953t 10 came from the area previously reporting EveningGrosbeaks between June 1st and September 1st, and 23 from

new regions. This may indicate an extent ion of the breeding

range to the south, especially in Vermont. Isolated reports

of adults and immatures have come in the past from points

considerably to the south of the main breeding area. These

isolated cases, although few in number, may indicate a grad

ual expansion of the breeding area to the south.

"Two breeding localities are of especial interest. At

Saranac Lake, where young Evening Grosbeaks have been repor

ted every summer since 1947, Greenleaf Chase estimated a

larger breeding population than ever before. He observed

the courting of males and the nest building by a female in a

mature red spruce in his yard. Unfortunately nesting was

not successful here but young were raised in two nests he

located high in hard maples on the upper slope of Shingle

Bay Mountain outside Saranac Lake Village."

ffNEWS AND NOTES IN BRIEF,

PFTT.T.TiiTS

Walter H. Shackleton, in his very fine lecture of Decem

ber 10, showed pictures of and told us about the hooks on

the tongues of predator birds such as hawks. Their function

is to assist in swallowing the hair, feathers, etc. of ani

mals preyed upon, he said. This was news to me, and mostinteresting.

I wish he had told us something about how these same

birds disgorge the indigestible portion of their diet. I

have never found an explanation as to how this is done.

Maybe some of our readers oan tell us how it is accomplished.

The owl pellets I have examined consist almost entirely

of hair, with a few larger bones and teeth of mice. They

are football-shaped, surprisingly compact and free of any

thing with food value. The mechanism doing the work, what

ever it is, must be highly effioient.

I have watched crows regurgitate and reject such pellets.

With them it is done with little effort, consisting of a bowor two. I assume all hawks, owls and crows are in this

class. Are there others, and how do they do it?

— B. D. Miller

13

FEATHERS F«bw»«ry, 1954

IN COMB BUNTINGS

Comments concerning birdlng In December were that north

ern speoies had failed to arrive. Then in early January-

came first reports for Evening Grosbeaks.

A flock of Snow Buntings was seen in Central Park January

16 by Alioe Holmes. Within a few days more buntings in thearea were seen separately by Hellen Cole and Frazer Hunt.

WINTER RUBY

Additional to the few local winter records for the Ruby-

orowned Kinglet is one four years ago — Dr. R. H. Harring

ton of Keyes Avenue had one in his yard December 9-11, 1950.

LIKE BIRD-LIME

It was — and maybe still is — that Europeans were inthe habit of oatching birds by spreading bird-lime, a sticky

mess, on perches. Last summer there was a looal incident of

similar nature.

The roof of a Holland Road garage had just been freshly

tarred in mid-August. A flock of 22 House Sparrows landed

en masse on the roof. There they remained until removed in

dividually with a bamboo pole, but they did not survive.

WREN HELP

Did you ever watch a House Wren struggling to get twigs

through the standard 7/8-inch circular entrance of most nesthouses. Helene Joel has called attention to a suggestion in

"Handbook of Attracting Birds" by Thomas P. McElroy. "An

oblong entranoe 7/8 x 2-1/2 inohes will keep out EnglishSparrows and make it easier for the Wren to get sticks in,"

the book says.

Another idea to accomplish the same objective. Mark cen

ters for two holes 1-5/8 inches apart horizontally. Bore7/8-inch holes with those centers, and saw out between them.

STATE FEDERATION NEWS

CONSERVATION CHAIRMAN

Stanley Oliver Grierson of Katonah has been appointed as

chairman of the Conservation Committee of the Federation. He

succeeds Samuel R. Madison, SBC member, who at the last Fed

eration meeting asked that he be relieved after 1953. Mr.Madison is currently chairman of the SBC conservation com

mittee.

NEXT CONVENTION

The seventh annual convention of the Federation of New

York State Bird Clubs will be held at Ithaca on Saturday and

Sunday, September 11 and 12, 1954» at the invitation of the

Laboratory of Ornithology of Cornell University. Committee

meetings will be held there Friday evening, September 10.

It will be recalled that Schenectady was host for the

fifth convention, held in Ivlay, 1952.

14

FEATHERS frbwory, 1934

ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE

IT SAID SO IN THE PAPERS

Maybe there was a follow-up story with added information,

but herewith is an Associated Press dispatch of last Oct.25:

"Oneida, N.Y. — State police today held the carcass of a

Golden Eagle shot down by a 26-year-old automobile mechanicwho said the big bird attacked him in woods near Sylvan

beach.

"The eagle had a wingspread of more than six feet, al

though troopers said it was a young bird.

"Robert Skellham of Oneida told the state police that he

was starting out of heavy woods late yesterday when two rab

bits darted from a clump of maples and raced between his

legs,. Skellham said he looked up, saw the eagle coming at

him and just had time to slip the safety from his shotgun

and fire two or three blasts of birdshot.

"Skellham notified the troopers when he returned hone.

Eagles are rare in this section of the country and it is il

legal to shoot them. Troopers filed no charges against

Skellham, however."

BIG FLIGHT

WGY News of last October 31 quoted a United Press item

from down-the-river Kingston, reporting on a Starling flight

10 miles long and a half mile wide, headed south, that blot

ted out the early-morning sun.

A daytime train trip to New York City on January 28 re

vealed few ducks, chiefly because of so little open water.

Two pairs of mature bald eagles were seen, one pair at rest

in a tree; the other, a few miles away, walking on the river

ice. Gulls became more common as New York City was neared,

with an occasional Great Black-backed Gull Identified. There

were Black Ducks on the outskirts of the big city.

ROCKLAND SANCTUARY

Rockland Audubon Society is well known to SBC members who

attended the Federation Convention at Bear Mountain last

spring — it was the host club. It has just been announced

that a 20-aore plot from the estate of the late Thomas W.

Lamont has been turned over to the Rockland Audubon Society

for use as a nature sanctuary.

The property is in the southeast corner of RocklandCounty, next to the New Jersey border and just south of Co

lumbia University's Lamont Geological Observatory. The

sanctuary is bounded on its south by Palisades Interstate

Park, on the west by U. S. Highway W, and on the east bythe cliffs of the Palisades. It overlooks the Hudson River,

400 feet below, and it has a set of waterfalls.The plot has a large variety of trees, including syca

more, hickory, maple, oak and birch. The property is, too,

thick with shrubbery.

15

FEATHERS ftbrnmy, 1954

1 CONSERVATION CONSENSUS""^/Samuel R. Madison,Committee Chairman

SOME DEFINITIONS

A recent NBC Public Affairs network broadcast had four of

America's leading conservationists in a panel discussion of

"These Are Your Lands." During the program, definitions

were given of "national park," "wildlife refuge," and "wild

life management."

Conrad V/irthf director of the National Park Service, said"A national park is an area of superlative scenery set aside

for the American people and kept in its natural condition

for the use and enjoyment of the people and also for the use

and enjoyment of generations yet to come."

Albert Day, director of the IT. S. Fish and Wildlife Ser

vice, stated "The wildlife refuges are a series of areas set

aside for the protection and preservation for future genera

tions of various forms of wildlife. The federal government

has about 300 of them scattered throughout the country con

taining about 17-1/2 million acres, and for many differentforms of wildlife — big game as well as waterfowl and other

birds."

Dr. Ira Gabrielson, director of the Wildlife Management

Institute, had this definition: "Wildlife management is a

comparatively new phrase to cover something which we have

been doing for a great many years, with some new things

added — new xaethods and new techniques — but essentially

it's the control of human activities and the management of

land and water and vegetation in a condition to maintain

strong and healthy populations of wildlife species that we

want to preserve.

John H. Baker, president of the National Audubon Society,

was the other panel member* "John James Audubon was a great

American naturalist and bird painter,"he said, "and it

therefore is appropriate that the Society, devoted to public

awareness of the need of conservation of soil, water, plants

and wildlife in relation to human progress, should bear his

name."

In summarizing the panel discussion Miss Rea King of National Audubon Society and leader of the discussion, said;

"It would certainly appear that we are all agreed that na

tional and state parks and wildlife refuges constitute an

important phase in our American way of life, that these

lands represent such a small acreage of our country that no

counercialization of any kind can ever warrant their sacri

fice in any way. V,re are also agreed that it's important to

each of us that these lands be kept available, not only for

us to enjoy but so that we shall fulfill our responsibility

to future generations by preserving the great natural herit

age with which our country has been so magnificently en

dowed. Our panel members tell us that there are constant

threats to the security of some of the most scenic areas in

our country as well as to many of the areas that are essen

tial to the preservation of our wildlife. And they also

tell us that each one of us must voice active opposition

whenever any danger threatens! The organizations represent

ed here today express the sentiments of all the conservation

organizations that are fighting to preserve America's natur

al heritage."

16

Published by Schgnectady Bird Club, Inc.

Vol.16 No.3 Math, 1954

1953 FIELD TRIPS HAD 173 SPECIES LOCALLY,

INCLUDING TITMOUSE AND WHITE-EYED VIREO

Esly HaHenbeck and Leon A. Wlard, Co-chairmen

Including the Tufted Titmouse and Y/hite-eyed Vireo among

its local rarities, SBC accounted for 173 species in local

field trips during 1953• Record high counts were set in the

Century Run in Kay and in both Christmas Counts. Also of

interest were numerous out-of-season records, such as the

Christmas Catbird.

In addition to the 173 species on 25 local trips, there

were 13 more kinds, including a hybrid, on the Bear Mountain

trip of the State Federation, so well attended by SBC.

In the following table the page references are to the de

tailed reports in FEATHERS during 1953. In the next table

the birds shown with (*) were seen only on the Bear Mountaintrip. The list:

Date Place No. Seen Page

Jan.11

Feb.15Mar. 8

Mar.22

Mar.29Apr. k

Apr.18

Apr. 19

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

(N)0

P

QRS

T

U

V

w

X

T

Z

Kay

May 3May 6May 9

May 16May 24

May 30

June 7

Aug.22

Sep.13Sep.19

Sep.20Oct. 4

Oot.17

Nov. l

Nov.15

Dec.26Dec.27

Upper Hudson

Upper Hudson

Collins Lake

Campbell-Schermerhorn Roads

Saratoga-Round Lakes

Watervliet Reservoir

Vischer Ponds

Vischer Ponds

Washington Park, Albany

Central Park

Rosendale Road (Vespers)

Century Run

Indian Ladder, &eadowdale

(Bear Mountain Park)Kerners Sand Barrens

Alcove Reservoir

Vischer Ponds

Lower Hudson

Indian Ladder (Hawk Count)'iVatervliet Reservoir

Karners Sand Barrens

Central ParkVischer Ponds

Saratoga-Round Lakes

Schenectady Christmas Count

Troy Christmas Count

24142326

3730

444323

2719

15460

110

40

6252

456

451412

20

2342

34

720

29

2935353536

454546

414646

478383838484

851954 - 4

51

1

17

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

American Egret

Green Heron

Black-cr. Night Heron

American Bittern

Least Bittern

Canada Goose

Mallard

Black Duck

American Widgeon

Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Wood Duck

Redhead

Ring-necked Duck

Canvas-back

Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

American Golden-eye

Buffle-head

Old-squaw

White-winged Scoter

Hooded Merganser

American Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Turkey Vulture (*)

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Bald Eagle

Marsh Hawk

Osprey

Peregrine Falcon

Sparrow Hawk

Ruffed Grouse


Virginia Rail

Son

Florida Gallinule

American Coot

KilldeerAmerican Woodcock

Wilson's Snipe

Upland Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Greater Yellow-legs

Lesser Yellow-legs

Pectoral Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Herring Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Laughing Gull (* )Bonaparte's Gull

Common Tem

Black Tern

E

F

C

F

A B

A B D E F

A

D F

E F

E

E

A D E

E

E

A B E

C

J?"

B F

B D F

ABC F

c. n *

ABODE

B C E

G H K

G H

G U

G H

H

G H

H

G H

G H

G H

G

G H

G H

G H K

G

0

K

G I

L

L

L

L

L

L N 0 P

L N

LM N

L N

L N

L NO

L OP

L

L

L

L N

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

N

L N

L

L N

L

h

L

L P

L N P

L N

L N 0 P

L N

L

L

L

T. M Iff 0 P

L

L

T. N P

L 1!

L N

L

L N

L N

L N

H

L

£

T

QR T

R

QRQR

QR

T

Q R T

QR

T

Q R T

Q T

S

S

R

R

QR S T

R

S

R S T

QR

QT

QR TT

T

QT

QR

R

x zX

w

W Y "

Z

w z

Y Z

w z

X

X ZX Z

X

Y Z

X Y Z

Y

Y Z

Y Z

y

z

Y Z

Y Z

V Y Z

w

w

X Y Z

X Z

X

18

Mourning Dove

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Black-billed Cuckoo

Screech Owl

Horned Owl

Whip-poor-will

Common Ni^hthawk

Chimney Swift

Ruby-thr. Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher


Pileated Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsuciscr

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Kingbird

Crested Flycatcher

Eastern Phoebe

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher *

Traill's Flycatcher (*)

Least Flycatcher

Eastern Wood Pewee

Olive-sided Flycatcher (*)

Homed Lark

Tree Swallow

Bank Swallow

Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Purole Martin

Blue Jay

American Crow


Tufted Titmouse


Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

House Wren

Carolina Wren (*\

Winter Wren

Long-billed Marsh Wren

Catbird

Brown Thrasher

American Robin

Wood Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Olive-backed Thrush

Veery

Eastern Bluebird


Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Water Pipit

Cedar WaxwinR

Common Starling

White-eyed Vireo

Yellow-throated Vireo

Solitary Vireo

Red-eved Vireo

Philadelphia Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Black and White Warbler

A E F

E F

AC E F

A CD

A C D E F

E F

A C

E F

A B C D E F

A B C D E F

A B C D E F

A D E F

E

A E

D E F

D E F

E

E

ABODE

G H I J

K

G J

G H I J

G H J

GHIJK

G H I

G H

G H

h

G H K

GH J

G H J

GH J K

H J

J

I

I J

I K

J

GHIJK

J K

I

K

G H J

G

G H I J

G

GUl'j

L N 0 P

N P

L N P

L

L N

L M N P

LOO

L N P

L N 0 P

L N

L

L

L M N 0

L M N

LOOP

LOOP

LUN P

N

N

L N 0 P

LUN P

N

L P

LUN P

L N P

L n

1 M N 0 P

L

L

LMNOP

LISNOF

LUN

N

LUN

L

L

LMNOP

N

L

L N

LMNOP

L N 0 P

LMNOP

L M N P

L U P

L N

L N 0 P

LUN P

L

L

L

L N P

LMNOP

N

L N

L N

LUNOP

L

L N

LUN

QR T

QR

QQR T

Q R T

S

T

Q R T

Q R

Q

Q R T

Q

Q

QQ R

Q

QR

Q R T U

QR TU

Q R T

Q R T

Q

R

Q R T

Q R TU

R T U

Q R T

Q T U

Q

Q

Q T

Y Z

Y

Y

XYZ

Y

V Y

W X Y Z

W X Y Z

W Y

v w x y z

V W X Y Z

V W Y Z

T

V X Y

Y

Y

Y

V

W Y Z

V

V WX Y Z

19

Wonn-eating Waibler

Golden-winged Warbler

Blue-winsed Warbler CM(Lawrence's Warbler)(*)

Tennessee Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Parula Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Black-thr. Blue Warbler

Myrtle Warbler

Black-thr. Green Warbler

Blackbumian Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Black-poll Warbler (*)

Pine Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Palm Warbler

Oven-bird

Northern Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

Mourning Warbler (*)

Common Yellowthroat

Yellow-breasted Chat

Hooded Warbler (*)Black-capped Warbler

Canada Warbler

Redstart

House Sparrow

Bobolink

Eastern Meadowlarlt


Orchard Oriole (* )Baltimore Oriole

Rusty Blackbird

Purple Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Scarlet Tanager

Cardinal (♦)Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Evening Grosbeak

Purple Finch

Common Redpoll

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Red Crossbill

Eastern Townee

Savannah Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow

Henslow*s Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Slate-colored Junco


Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Sons Sparrow

20

F

ABODE

D E F

C D E F

A C D E F

F

E

A CD

D

A CD

A D F

ABODE

E

D

C

C

C D E F

K

H I J K

G H

K

J

G H I J

G H

G H

G

GHIJ

GHIJK

I

G H

I

H K

I J K

GHIJ

I J

H K

I J

G H

GHIJK

L M N

L H N P

N

N

M N

L

L

L M N 0 P

L N

LU

L N

L M

LHNFQ

L N

LMNOF

N

N

L 0

L NO

L

LOOP

L M N 0

L M N

N

L M NO P

L N P

N

N

L M N

L M N P

LMNOP

LMN P

LMN P

L M N 0 P

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V X T Z

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W Y

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V WX Y Z

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V Y Z

X Y Z

W

W Y Z

W Y Z

FEATHERS March, 1954

SBC CALENDARNellie Silliman, Secretary

tSun. March 7: Collins Lake - Sunnyside Road field trip;

Nellie Silliman, leader. Since the Sunnyside 3ridge is

closed, meet in front of Glen Sanders Mansion at Scotia

end of Gateway Bridge at 8:30 a.m.

Mon. March 29: Audubon Screen Tour, Robert C. Hermes, "Once

Upon an Island." Central Park Junior High School, 8 pm.Sun. Apr. /»: Watervliet Reservoir field trip; Stephen C.

Fordham, leader. Meet at Van Curler Garage, Washington

Avenue, at 8 a.m. or at Reservoir flridge at 8:30 a.u.

Sat. Apr. 10: Vischer Ponds - Crescent Lake field trip;

Welle G. Tan Vorat, leader. I.'eet at Union Street and

Palmer Avenue at 8 a.m.Sun. Apr. 25: Central Park field trip; Viola Kabb, leader.

Meet at Fire Tower at 7-30 a.m.

Mon. May 17: Final Audubon Screen Tour; Olin Sewall Pettin-

gill, "In the Hills of Gold."

NEWS AND NOTES IN BRIEF,

JANUARY WEATHER

January was about normal in temperature, and had somewhat

more snow than normal — and it was iauch more wintry than

was December, fifteen days — about half of the month —

featured thav/ing weather, but there were three sub-zero days.

It dropped to -15° on the 15th.- High for the month was 46°.Average temperature for the month v/as 20.7°, or 0.8° belowthe average. Snowfall amounted to 25.2 inches; the total for

a whole winter averages 50.3 inches.

COLLINS Y/INTERERS

Among the species featuring the Christmas Count in the

Uollins Lake area were wintering Great tJlue Heron and Kill-deer. During January and early February both were still

there, ftsly Hallenbeck found. He also recovered a dead

Robin there, missed on the Christmas Count but seen on sev

eral trips.

WILLIAMSTOVJN GROSBEAKS

During the first 16 days of January no Evening Grosbeakswere seen or heard in Williamstown, Uass. On the 17th four

or five came to feeders in the Williams Inn area. It was

the same on the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st. Suddenly on Jan

uary 22 some 50 or 60 appeared. On January 23 the numberincreased a little, and the birds spread out over a larger

area of the town. From the 24th to the end of the month the

number in Williamstown was about 70, strongly concentrated

in the V/illiams Inn area. Males predominated, about two to

one, and no marked or banded birds were seen.

— Willis I. Milham

21


JENNY LAKE BIRDS Barrington S. Havens

A glance at the indexes of FEATHERS shows that Jenny Lake

is frequently mentioned. There are several reasons — it is

only 40 road-miles and one hour from Schenectady; it is in

the Adirondack State Park at 1100-feet elevation; several

SBC members own camps there and spend considerable time

there in summer; there are some who are there frequently in

spring and autumn; and there's at least one who is there for

most winter week-ends.

Most reports from Jenny have been for summer birds, but

there have been some springtime Century Run additions to the

composite list from there; and on occasions there have been

Christmas Counts.

Allen H. Benton ("Some Rensselaer County Notes," FEATHERS,November, 1953, p. 82) has pointed out that Rensselaer County has many sections that need study. The same can be said

of Saratoga County; Saratoga Lake and the southern part of

the county receive most of the attention. Saratoga County

has its peaks and forests in the northern part, but field

trips into the area have been few — back in 1947 SBC did

have one trip to Jenny Lake.

The following list of 98 species definitely does not in

dicate all the birds of Jenny Lake and its environs. Ra

ther, it summarizes the list of species which have been re

ported in FEATHERS by various observers in notes since 1942,

plus a few unpublished notes. It is probably a fair indica

tion of the breeding species, but insufficient with regard

to transients and stragglers. Species shown in bold-face

type are permanent or summer residents; the others are tran

sients or winter visitors. The list:

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

American Egret

American BitternCanada Goose

Black Duck

Wood Duck

American Merganser

Red-shouldered Hawk

Broad-winged HawkOsprcy

Ruffed Grouse

American WoodcockSpotted Sandpiper

Herring Gull

Rock Dove

Mourning Dove

Horned Owl

Barred Owl

Whip-poor-willChimney Swift

Ruby-lhr. Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

22


Pileated Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Crested Flycatcher

Eastern PhoebeYellow-bellied Flycatcher

Traili's Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Eastern Wood PeweeOlive-sided Flycatcher

Tree SwallowBarn SwallowBlue Jay

American Crow



Red-breasted NuthatchBrown Creeper

House WrenWinter Wren

Catbird

Brown Thrasher

American Robin

Wood ThrushHermit Thrush

Olive-backed ThrushVeery

Eastern Bluebird



Cedar Waxwing

Common Starling

Solitary VireoRed-eyed Vireo


Nashville WarblerYellow WarblerMagnolia Warbler


Myrtle Warbler


Blackburnian WarblerChestnut-sided Warbler

(Cont.)


FEATHERS ia publi-ned monlnly bySCHENECTADY SIRD CLUB, INC

Editor: GuyBactlett, 1053 Tarlntfood BWd.

Circulation.: Tv(abel Barnes, 114 McOellan St.*Viola'Mabb, Treasurer, 1624 BeckeeSteeei

Annual Membership Dues: Sustaining, S^, Acttai, $3; Associate, $2; Junior, $1

Oven-bird

Mourning Warbler

Common YellowthrocrtCanada Warbler

Redstart

House Sparrow

Eastern Mcadowlark


Baltimore OrioleRusty Blackbird

Purple Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbtrd

Scarlet Tanager

Rose-breasted GrosbeakIndigo Bunting

Evening Grosbeak

Purple Finch

Pine Grosbeak

Common Redpoll

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Red Crossbill

Eastern TowheeSlate-colored Junco

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow


Fox Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Song Sparrow

FEATHERS Morch, 1954

1954 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS ARE NAMED

Nelle G. Van Vorst was reelected president of Scheneotady

Bird Club, Inc., at the annual meeting held February 22 in

the Pine Room, First Methodist Church.

Samuel R. i&dison was named vice president. Viola Mabb

was reelected treasurer. Mildred D. Crary was elected sec

retary.

Three two-year directors were named. Guy Bartlett was

reeleoted, and Paul O'Meara and Dr. Minnie B. Scotland were

newly eleoted. Directors remaining in office until the next

annual meeting are Alice Holmes and Leon A. Wiard.

Committee chairmen appointments awaited the next meeting

of the board — the nine officers and directors.


Esly Hollenbeek and Leon A. Wtard, Co-chairmen

SPRING — EARLY ? Upper Hudson. Feb. 21

Red-wings, Crackles and a Song Sparrow were included in

the count of the Upper Hudson field trip on February 21. In

fact there were two flocks of Red-wings seen, one just south

of Cohoes and the other on the Schenectady-Clifton Park

road. It was the latter flock that contained the Grackles.

The cloudy day did not bring the large number of water

birds expected. The Black Ducks on the Hudson were not in

large rafts, and the Llergansers and Golden-eyes were scat

tered individuals. I-Iallards were diligently sought. Both

the Ifohawk and Hudson rivers were open except for a stretch

in the Hudson between Mechanicville and Stillwater, where a

surface of ice still remained.

One species that was sought without success was the Great

Black-backed Gull. Two days earlier, on Friday the 19th, 10

of them had been seen flying north over the Hudson River in

Troy. The ornithology vlass at State College, Albany, had

this rare opportunity to observe these shore-inhabiting

birds in this inland region. The gulls gave the class a

view of them also riding on the surface of the water. The

first-mentioned appearance of these large gulls in this area

was in 1943. Again in 1947, 1948 and 1951 reference to themwas made in FEATHERS.

Also missed on the SBC field trip was the Tufted Titmouse.

A stop was made at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Crandall,

RD 1, Cohoes. They had had a Titaouse at/their feeder since

November 25, practically daily; it simply was not there,

however, when the SBC members stopped. The bird had been

photographed by the Crandalls.

Eighteen species were noted: Mallard, 9; Black Duck, 150;

American Golden-eye, 20; American Merganser, 25; Sparrow

Hawk, 2; Herring Gull; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Horned Lark, -1;

31ue Jay, 10; Crow, 10; Black-capped Chickadee, 1; White-

Breasted Nuthatch, 1; Starling; House Sparrow; Red-winged

Blackbird, 20+8; Purple Grackle, 2; Tree Sparrow, 10; and

Song Sparrow, 1. __ Dr< ^^^ ^ Scotland

24

Published by Schcnectady Bird Club, Inc.

Vol.16 No.4 April, 1934

BIRDS OF THE ALBANY COUNTY PINE-OAK BARRENS

Edward D. Traacy

The pine-oak barrens, lying between Albany and Scheneota-dyt New York, have an unusually Interesting avifauna. For

some years the Sohenectady Bird Club has made annual field

trips to this locality, but little intensive work has been

done. This study was initiated for the purpose of determin

ing the actual bird population of a portion of this area

during the breeding season.

The author is indebted to Dr. Minnie B. Scotland and Dr.Allen H. Benton of the Hew Tork State College for Teachers

at Albany for advice and encouragement and to Mr. Rueben

Warrell for assistance in the field work.

The total area of these barrens is now approximately 35

to 40 square miles. The soil is predominantly sandy, its

upper portions being somewhat loamy fine sand, the deeper

portions a coarse compact sand (Bitter, Alice M. 1941 —A biological survey of a sandy area west of Albany, Albany

Co., N.Y. Unpub. thesis, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N.Y.), Theelevation of the area varies from 200 feet above sea level

at the southern border to 360 feet in the northern portion.This large area of sand originated as a delta formed in a

glacial lake, known as Lake Albany.

Its Trees and Shrubs

Fart of the area was forested, at one time, with white

pine, but at present the trees and shrubs of the area in-

olude these prominent species — Scrub Oak (Querous ilici-

folia, Wang.), Dwarf Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinoides, Wild.),Black Locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia L.), Sweet Fern (Compto-nia peregrina (1) Coult.), Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida, Mill.),Large-toothed Aspen (Populus grandidentata, Michz.), Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides, Michz.), Smooth Sumac(Rhus glabra L.), and Staghom Sumac (Rhus typhina L. ).

The history of the barrens is one of disturbance. After

the original pine-oak growth was out or burned off by theearly settlers, attempts at farming were made. Poor soil

conditions and wind-blown shifting sands soon discouragedmost attempts, but remnants of orchards and cleared fieldsstill persist. More and more the periphery of the barrens

is being populated, and residential districts of considerable size are springing up. The New York State Thruway fromNew York City to Buffalo, to be completed soon, is cuttingthrough the heart of the area and is but one of the manydisturbing agents. The area is used extensively for reorea-

25

FEATHERS April, 1934

FEATHERS is publishedmontkly bySCHENECTADY *BIRD CLUB, INC

Editor: GuyBartlett, 1053 <Parkw»od BlwL

Circulation: 'Mabel Bacnee, 114 McCtellan St

Viola. *Mabb, Treasurer, 1624 BeckerSteset

Annual MembecsKip Dues: Sustaining, $6; Actwe, $3; Associate, $2; Junior,

tion, with bridle paths transversing it in many plaoes. Evl-

denoes of past pionio sites are everywhere, and wholesale

dumping of trash and refuse has unfortunately marred many

ravines. Almost yearly vast areas are burned over by fire,

springing from carelessly attended picnic fires and unat

tended dumps. It is probable that this periodic firing of.

the.area plays a major role in controlling the present bird

population.

A Thirty-acre Study Area

In February 1951 a study area was selected in the center

of the sand barrens new Karner, Albany County. A 30-aore

tract was marked off in a grid on lines 208 feet 8 inches

apart in the manner described by Pough in 1947. During May

1952 on eleven separate occasions a census was made by walk-:

ing slowly along each line with map, pencil.and binoculars.

Each bird seen or heard was noted on the map and after each

trip the records were transferred to maps for each species.

Forty-two species of birds were observed during these

trips, but only eighteen species appeared to be resident on

the study area (Table 1). To this number may be added theCowbird which was seen frequently on the study area.

TABLE 1 Territories of eighteen species established on area

Field Sparrow. ... 6 pairsRed-eyed Towhee. . . 5

Black-cap.Chickadee. 4

Brown Thra'sher ... 4

Chestnut-s.V/rblr . . 4

Chipping Sparrow . . 4

Kingbird 2

Blue jay 2

Bluebird 2

Total 45

Starling 2Pine Warbler 2

Indigo Bunting .... 2

Flicker. ....... 1

House Wren 1Catbird 1

Yellowthroat ..... 1

Scarlet Tanager. . • . 1

Vesper Sparrow . . . . 1

pairs

pairs

It will be seen from Table 1 that forty-five pairs of

birds, representing eighteen species, had established territories on this thirty-aore tract. Disregarding the faot

that many of these territories extended beyond the study

area this represents 1.5 pairs per acre.

Of the forty-five breeding pairs, twenty-seven belonged

to six species. These six — Field Sparrow, Red-eyed Towhee, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Thrasher, Chestnut-sidedYterbler, and Chipping Sparrow — are the only ones which

oould be considered oommon.

The chickadee territories were in areas where Pitch Pine

was present. Probably this tree was the only plant speciesof the area of sufficient size to provide nesting holes. The

towhee was found in areas where Scrub Oak was the dominantplant, although one territory included a locust grove. All

four pairs of Chipping Sparrows were in and around an open

26

FEATHERS April, 1934

area where an abandoned farm existed* Three of the four

pairs of Chestnut-sided Warblers were found in groves of lo

cust, although their territories extended beyond these

groves in every case. A possible explanation for this dis

tribution is that the males have the habit (here) of singingfrom relatively high perches.

No consistent pattern of ecological distribution could be

determined for the Field Sparrows and Brown Thrashers which

occurred more or less uniformly over the entire area.

Of the less common species, several were limited in habi

tat. Two apirs of Starlings had territories on the aban

doned farm. Pine Warblers were restricted to Pitch Pine

groves; both Indigo Bunting pairs were found in locustgroves; Catbird and Vesper Sparrow were near the abandoned

farm, though the latter was usually heard singing from a lo

cust tree.

Records of the Schenectady Bird Club show that several

other interesting species probably breed in this sand barrenhabitat, although they were not found in the study area.

These species are Red-shouldered Hawk, Crow, Yellow Warbler,

Prairie Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat,

Cedar Waxwing, and Song Sparrow. Most of these are local in

distribution over the area. The Prairie Warbler colony is

of considerable extent and is probably the largest such

group in upstate New York*

(This article by Mr. Treacy is reprinted from The Kingbird* Vol. Ill, No. 4, December, 1953, pages 84-857 TheKingbird is the quarterly publication of The Federation of

New York State Bird Clubs. Mr. 'xreacy now resides at Highland Falls, N.Y. )


Dr. Roy E. Hvnt and Pauline Baker, Co-chairmen

AN EARLY PIPIT Scotia* March 7

There was no doubt about the most interesting record of

the SBC field trip along Collins Lake and Sunnyside Road in

Scotia on March 7. A Pipit was spotted and identified byNancy Harrington, and observed by several others of the dozen trip participants. Several others among the 20 listed

species also indicated early spring. The list:

Black Duck, 17; American Merganser, 10; Killdeer, 2; Her

ring Gull, 50; Mourning Dove, 1; Belted Kingfisher, 1; HairyWoodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Blue Jay, 5» Crow, 15;

Black-capped Chickadee, 5; Robin, 1; Pipit, 1; Starling, 30;

House Sparrow, 5;.Red-winged Blackbird, 4; Purple Grackle,3;Goldfinch, 2; Tree Sparrow, 7; and Song Sparrow, 3»

It was a three-hour field trip, from 8 to 11 a.m. It wasa sunny day, with a moderate wind, and a below-freezing 25

degree temperature* The itilldeer was not an unexpected

record; there were several previous winter records for thebird there this season. The Pipit, however, really was an

unexpected, and welcome, addition to the day's list.

— .Nellie Silliman

27

FEATHERS April, 1»84

BRIEFING THE RECORDDr. Alton H. Button, Retards CommHte* Chairaian

\

JANUARY - FEBRUARY

Although January was unusually cold (4. degrees below normal), several species wintered locally, somewhat north oftheir usual winter range* One Killdeer wintered at Collins

Lake (EHallehbeok), and a Great Blue Heron was seen in January (EH7. Robins were reported several times in mid-winterfrom Albany (ABenton) and Soheneotady (EH). A small flockof Bluebirds spent the winter near Slingerlands (Mrs.CGraoe),coming grequenlt to Mrs. Grace's feeding station. AnTmma-ture Baltimore Oriole spent the winter at this same feeding

station, and was observed daily. Occasional Red-wings werereported through the winter. Song Sparrows winter regular

ly, In a few favored spots; at least one has spent the pastseveral winters at Six-mile Reservoir (AB).

Other notable records during January include: Gray Shrike,

Scotia, Jan. 9 (NSilliman) and Jan. 14 (EH); Snow Buntings,four, at Schenectady Jan. 12 (MAndrews). This is our onlyrecord for Snow Buntings this year.

After a few cold days February was warmer than usual,with most of the precipitation in the form of rain. This

resulted in a flood of early migrants at the end of the

month. Grackles appeared in Sohenectady as early as Feb. 19

(GMeader), and Red-wings appeared soon thereafter. A Cow-bird was seen in Albany on Feb. 22 (HHarrington). Robinsbegan to appear in some numbers about Feb. 25, and were wide

spread by the end of the month. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was

seen at Warrensburg on Feb. 28 (EH); they wintered as usualat Jenny Lake (GBartlett). Other noteworthy records includea Short-eared OwT near Rensselaer on Feb. 7 (NH); GrayShrike at Delmar Game Farm on Feb. 26 (MScotland).

The numbers of our winter birds were for the most part

normal or below* Purple Finches, however, were present in

unusual numbers. They were present at feeding trays in

Scheneotady (Mrs. WButler. EH), Scotia (NS), Amsterdam (Mrs.HDeGroff), Ballston Lake (Mrs. EUuraane), and SlingerlandsTSG). Evening Grosbeaks oame leTe and in small numbers. Onereport was reoeived of their appearance at Ballston Lake on

Jan. 9 and 15, but most observers reported them as arrivingin late January or February. Small numbers were seen at Amsterdam on Jan. 26 (HD), Schenectady three times in February (WB), at Ballston Lake beginning on Feb. 5 (Elf), and atWarrensburg Feb. 28 (EH). Tree Sparrows were common everywhere. Horned Larks were reported in small numbers. Lar

gest flock was about 50 seen along Shaker Road, Colonla, on

Jan. 16 (AB). Other small flocks were reported by Hallen-beck and the SBC Hudson-Mohawk trip of Feb. 21.

Although March records are not due at this time, two are

of such special interest that they may be included. An Ice

land Gull was seen beneath the Western Gateway Bridge, Sche

nectady, on Maroh 2 (EH). Three Shovellers were seen atVlscher Ponds on Maroh 7 by Mr. and Mrs. Foote and Nancy

Harrington. Other noteworthy reoords of the field trip of

March 7 will be found in the regular report of the trip.

28

Published by Schenectady Bird Club, Inc.

Vol.16 Ne.5 May. 1954

It's for the BirdsOwners and tenants of Schenectady buildings, like those

in many other communities, will be interested in the experi

ment in the City of State College, Pa., which resulted in

getting rid, temporarily at least, of the thousands of star

lings which annoyed the community.

In three square miles there are 10,000 to 12,000 star

lings and the racket they set up when they congregated on

buildings and in trees was enough to drive honest folk out

of their minds. Many devices have been used in various ci

ties in effort to get rid of starlings, short of turning a

machine gun on them, but each method has either failed or

has been impractical.

At State College, scientists tried something different.

They captured one starling and shook it, making it squeal in

anger, protest, or whatever it is birds do when shaken. A

recording was made of the chirping, and then amplified many

times. Then the amplified sound was directed up into the

trees where thousands of starlings mey for their daily song-

fest. Either they were tricked into thinking some of them

were having their necks wrung, or they just didn't like the

noise; in any event they left in a hurry and didn't come

back — to that spot.

From all the stories of anti-starling devices which look

good at first but proved futile in the long run, we respect

fully decline tc hail the "recorded starling voice" as THE

solution. Starlings, pigeons and other dumb creatures have

too often proved themselves not so "dumb." VJe also wonder

whether the cure night not be worse than the disease if it

is necessary to blast starlings out of their wits with even

greater noise than the starlings make. However, we pass

along the idea in case anyone wants to try it locally.* * *

The above item appeared as an editorial in a recent is

sue of The Sohenectady Gazette. It might be further sug

gested that Cornell bring out a special album of records,

including not only the starling, but also the pigeon and thehoure snarrow.

t BRIEFING THE RECORDDr. Allon H. Benton, Record* Committee Chairman

March started off pleasantly enough, but King Winter as

serted himself before the middle of the month and continued

to hold sway until April 1. The unseasonable cold slowed

29

FEATHEBS Mqy, 1954

migration and brought winter birds swarming to feeders. By

the end of the month, however, nost of the expected species

had appeared.

Pied-billed Grebe was seen at Collins Lake on March 31

(EHallenbeck), Horned Grebe at Saratoga Lake on March 28(NHarrington). Canada Geese were first seen on March 15(Rl?itelman). Ducks were present in.good nunbers, with unusually numerous reports of Hooded Mergansers. Others seen

and worthy of note include Shovellers, Redheads, Vischer

Ponds, March 11 (EH); Bufflehead, Alcove Reservoir, March 21.(-SMadison). Saratoga Lake March 28 (Nil); Red-breasted Mergansers, Collins Lake, Maroh 31 (EH).

Killdeers began to appear in numbers about March 20.

Kingfishers were first reported at East Nassau on &arch 28(ACNewman). A Tree Swallow was seen at Saratoga Lake March28 (NH) and a Barn Swallow was reported at Schenectady onthe same day (HE). Phoebes were first reported on March 29from Albany (ABenton) and Vischer's Ferry (NVanVorst).

Robins straggled along through the month, nost observers

reporting arrival dates between the 10th and 20th. Blue

birds appeared in numbers after March 20. Meadowlarks were

seen on March 19 (AB) and 21 (EH), Mrs. Grace's BaltimoreOriole burst into song on March 29, and is now in adult maleplumage, lira. Fitzgerald reports a Rusty Blackbird at Am

sterdam on March 30, and a Cardinal on-March 24 and 28. Cow-birds, reported twice in February, as possible wintering

birds, arrived as migrants on March 9 (AB) and were commonby the 20th. A Savannah Sparrow arrived at Gallupville on

March 30 (GZimmer). Fox Sparrows in small numbers were reported throughout the month. A Flicker was reported from

Burnt Hills on February 28, but missed last Month's records.

Wintering birds held on to the end of March, with several

new speoies reported. A delayed report is that of a Snowy

Owl in the vicinity of Chatham through mid-February. Sever

al additional January and February reports of Snow Buntings

have also reached us. New species include Goshawk, March 15

at Schaghticoke (ACN): Pine Grosbeaks, four seen near Voor-heesville April 1 (GZj; and Pine Siskins from Jenny Lake(GBartlett) and Gallupville (GZ). Evening Grosbeaks continued in small numbers, with 15-20 at Amsterdam throughout

March (Fitzgerald), 30-40 at Gallupville March 30 (GZ), and40 at Ballston Lake April 3 (GHackett). Four Gray Shrikeswere seen at Vischer Ponds March 12 (EH). A single Golden-crowned Kinglet was seen at Saratoga Lake March 28 (EH).

t SBC FIELD TRIP REPORTS

Dr. Roy E. Hunt and Paulina Baker, Co-chairmen

NOT MUCH LIKE SPRING Schermerhorn-Campbell Roads. Inarch 21

The combination of a 15 to 20 mile "breeze*, a tempera

ture of 30 to 34, and a snow squall did not contribute to a

long list of species for the Schermerhorn-Campbell Roads

trip of March 21. There were nine participants, 16 species;Black Duck, 2; Killdeer, 4; Herring Gull, 6; Ring-billedGull, 2; Hairy V/oodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Blue Jay,2; Crow, 12; Bluebird, 1; House Sparrow; Meadowlark, 1; Red-

30

FEATHERS

FEATHERS ia published monthly by

SCHENECTADY «BIRD CLUB, ING

Editor: Guy Bartlett, 1053 Tackwtood Blvd.

Circulation: 'Mabel Barnes, 114 McCUllan St

Viola *Mabb, Tccaeucec, 1624 Becker Street

Annual Membership Dues: Sustaining, $6;

May, 1954

Active, $3; Associate^ $2; Junior $1

winged Blackbird, 6; Goldfinch, 25; Tree Sparrow, 4; FoxSparrow, 1; and Song Sparrow, 4. — Esly rlallenbeck

COLD. AGAIN Saratoga and Round Lakes, frlarch 28

It was a raw raorning (22°) with a penetrating breezesweeping across the lakes, but the ducks didn't seem to mind.

The Greater Scaup, American Golden-eyes, and American Mergansers were plentiful. It was partly cloudy, but the sun

broke through often enough to let our scopes pick up sharp

iioages of brilliant pluriuges afloat.

A large flock of Golden-eyes and Scaup were viewed with

the sun shining on our backs, and the greenish cast on the

ureater Scaups' heads was clearly seen by all. Nine Canvas-backs alternately bobbed up and down on the waves and took

off on short flights for our inspection. American Widgeon,

Buffle-head and a Hooded Merganser added their colors to the

list. Song Sparrows sang everywhere. A Sharp-shinned Hawk

sailed overhead as we were jotting down the score. The 34

species:

Pied-billed Grebe, 2; Black Duck, 15; American V.'idgeon,3;Ring-necked Duck, 4; Canvas-back, 9; Greater Scaup, 700;Lesser Scaup, 50; American Golden-eye, 400; Buffle-head, 2;

Hooded Merganser, 1; American llerganser, 200; Sharp-shinned

Hawk, 1; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; American Coot, 1; Killdeer,

5; Herring Gull, 100; Uourning Dove, 2; 3elted Kingfisher, 1;

Hairy V.'oodpecker, 1; Blue Jay, 3; American Crow; Slack-

capped Chickadee, 4; White-breasted Nuthatch, 1; American

Robin, 12; Eastern Bluebird, 3; Concaon Starling; House Spar

row; Red-winged Blackbird; Purple Grackle; Purple Finch, 1;

American Goldfinch, 4; Slate-colored Junco, 3; American Tree

Sparrow, 12; Song Sparrow, 40. Also, en route, Eastern Msa-

dowlark. — Samuel R. Madison

SIGN OF SPRING Watervliet Reservoir. April 4

At 8:30 a. n. the two early ones were at the bridge at T"a-

tervliet Reservoir, and saw'a dozen Hooded Mergansers in

good light. By the time the leader and the Schenectady del

egate had arrived, the birds had reached shore and were

harder to see. 3y climbing and approaching from the side,

all agreed to the Hooded Mergansers.

Though it was plenty chilly, the ducks seemed to be enjoying the lake. The Wood Duck flotilla did not display

their colors well but the pattern was clear and sure. The

31ue-winged Teal flirted their wings and displayed the light

blue patches in all their width. The Golden-eyes were clean

and the white spot very evident. The Ring-necked Ducks were

in good form and showed their white crescents. The sudden

flight of the Flicker was a welcome surprise, and the wag-

wag of the Phoebe on the wire was a true spring sign. The

Chickadees came near when they heard the saueak of Eslyfs

bird-caller.The call of the Nuthatch; the singing on the wing of the

Meadowlarks, and the five busy Downy Woodpeckers were good

31

Moyt 1954

sights. The Downy can certainly do a stripping job! The

Tree, Song, Fox Sparrows amd Junco nixed sociably. But the

best was the last stop off Hurst Road, toward G-uilderland,

where five Red Crossbills were swinging and chatting as they

gnaweo. the hemlock cones. V/e could not miss thera for the

shower of shells that came down. And on the ground below

were Pine Siskins. It was a good morning! — Pauline Baker

NEWS AND NOTES IN BRIEF.

The Human Ornithological Perch Society (HOPS) foundersrecently held their first meeting since the society was

founded. The meeting was for the sole purpose of tightening

up the requirements for membership.

Some persons have qualified for membership through the

establishment of feeding stations at which the wild birds

have become so tame they light on their benefactors. Al

though this may be considered a slight stretching of the

qualifications for membership, yet we have felt that such

bird lovers, who have worked hard to win the confidence of

their free boarders, deserve the distinction of membership.

»Ve do not feel, however, that we can extend this attitude

to cover friends of feeding-station operators. The mere

fact of a visit to a feeding station where birds have lost

their fear of man and have lit on the visitor as well as the

proprietor of the station, should not in itself be consi

dered a qualification for laembership in HOPS.

So, from now on, the regulations of the society will be

considered to have been amended to conform to this philoso

phy. V,:e thought you ought to know.

— Uelle G. Van Vorst and BHrringtbn S. Havens

MIGRATION DATES NEEDED

Of course you are, as requested, sending in all your mi

gration dates and other records to Dr. Allen H. Benton by

the 5th of the following month.

For his use in compiling a special report in a cooperative study of bird migration. He needs all possible reports

on 1954 arrival dates of:

Canada Goose, Marsh Hawk, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Mourn

ing Dove, Nighthawk, Chiraney Swift, Ruby-throated Humming

bird, Yellow-shafted Flicker.

Eastern Kingbird, Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, E.

Wood Pewee, Barn Swallow, Purple Llartin, Common Crow, House

Wren, Catbird, Brown Thrasher.

7,'ood Thrush, E. Bluebird (male); E. Bluebird (female);Red-eyed Vireo, Black and White V/arbler, Yellow V/arbler,

Myrtle Warbler, Oven-bird, American Redstart.fled-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager,

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo 3unting, American Goldfinch,

Slate-colored Junco, Chipping Sparrow, Y/hite-crowned Spar

row, White-throated Sparrow.

Dates for individuals which wintered should not be inclu

ded. Departure dates should be included, if known, if so

marked.

Benton's address — 11 Saradale Street, Albany, N. Y.

32

Published by Schenectady Bird Club, Inc

Vol.16 No.6 June, 19S4

CENTURY RUN IS WETTEST EVER --

BRANT FEATURES LIST OF 129 SPECIESG. MALCOLM ANDREWS. Century Run Chairman

Rain was the order of the day on Saturday, May 8. Sever

al times anxious birders scanned the low-hanging clouds for

signs of clearing, and several times the sun almost broke

through, but each time the rain slowed down it came gushing

forth again to dampen birds and birders alike.

In spite of the one-inch rain, which incidentally may

have made many species less wary and more approachable, SBC

birders came through with a tidy total of 129 species. Only

one observer topped the century mark, with 101 species.

It was the first year in which the Sacandaga Reservoir

area v/as covered on a Century Run. One interesting result

of this coverage was the finding of Evening Grosbeaks well

established as probable summer residents at Day, Edinburgh

and Broadalbin, not too many air-miles from the Albany-Sehe-

nectady area — it is an area which should experience more

intensive exploration by SBC members in the future.

One species was added to the grand total for all local

Century Runs. Flocks of Brant were seen at Saratoga and

Round Lakes, and oh the Mohawk River at Rexford bridge.

'•There were 22 well-soaked participants, in eight groups.

Those participating, their areas and their totals were:

Group A Mr. and Mrs. William R. Foote, Carrington How

ard, Nancy Harrington, Richard Booth, Dr. Roy Hunt, Mrs.

Howard E. Fuller; 5:30 to 9 a.m., 10:30 to noon, 3:30 to

6:30 p.m. Alplaus, Burnt Hills, Vischer Ponds, BallstonLake, liohawk River at Rexford; 62 species.

Group B Samuel R. Madison, Leon 7/iard, Ellen Bair; 4:20

a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Y/ashington Park in Albany, Delmar, L'ea-

dowdale, Indian Ladder. 58 species.

Group C Mrs. Chester Zimmer; all-day watch at home.

Gallupville; 22 species.

Group D Nelle G. Van Vorst, Dr. Minnie B. Scotland, and

Alice Holmes in one car; Esly Hallenbeck, G. Malcolm An

drews in second car. Two cars together half of time; 3:30

a.m. to 8 p.m. Areas covered together, Kosendale Road, Nis-

kayuna, Wide Waters, Crescent Bridge, Vischer Ponds; first

car only, Saratoga Lake and city, Round Lake, Slingerlands;

seoond car only, Central Park, Meadowdale. Composite total,

89 species.

Group E Guy Bartlett, Barrington S. Havens (part time);

33

FEATHERS

FEATHERS w published monthly bySCHENECTADY *BIRD CLUB, ING

Editor: GuyBartlett, 1053'Padewood Blwd.

Circulation: *Mabel Barnes, 114 McCleUan St.

Viola.Tvtabb, Treasurer, 1624 BeckeeSteeei

Annual MembersKlp Dues: Sustaining, $5;

June, 1954

Active, $3; Associate, $2} Junior, $1

5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Jenny Lake, Saratoga Lake, Sacandaga Res

ervoir, Mayfield, Schuylerville, Northville,Efner Lake, and

Stafford's Bridge; 200+ miles by car; 101 speoies.

Group F Mrs. Lillian C. Stoner, Pauline Baker; 8 a.m. tonoon. Washington Park, Routes 32 and 144, Van Wie Point onHudson River, Cedar Hill; 25 miles by car, 1/2 mile on foot.36 speoies.

Group G Allen Benton; 5*30 to 8 a.m. Albany, Jiarners,

Troy, laenands Bridge; 38 species.

Group H l«3rs. G. M. Eddy; Stone Ridge Road at Sohenectady,

and Gallupville; 21 species.

The 129 species on the composite total for the day:

Common LoonHorned Grebe

Pied-billed GrebeGreat Blue Heron

Green HeronBlk-cr.Night Heron

American Bittern

Canada Goose

American Brant

Mallard

Black Duck

American Pintail

Blue-winged Teal

Wood Duck

Lesser Scaup

Soaup (sp?)Amer. Golden-eye

Ruddy Duck

Amer. Merganser

Red-br. Merganser

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered tiawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Bald Eagle

Marsh Hawk

Osprey

Sparrow Hawk

Ruffed Grouse

Ring-necked .fheas.

Virginia Rail

Sora

Florida Gallinule

Killdeer

Woodoock

Upland Plover

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

a

a

a

a

b

a

b

b

a

b

b

b

ab

b

ab

b

ab

a

a

e

e

d

d

de

de g

de

d

de

d

def

d

de

e

d

d

e

de

e

e

e

d

e

e

de

d

e

e

d fg

e

d

de

de

e

d

de

Pectoral Sandpiper

Semipalm. Sandpiper

Herring Gull

Rins-billed Gull

Common Tern

Mourning Dove

V/hip-poor-will

Chimney Swift

Ruby-thr.Hummingbird

Belted kingfisher

flicker

Pileated WoodpeckerYel-bel. Sapsucker

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Kingbird

Crested Flycatoher

Phoebe

Traill's Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Horned Lark

Tree Swallow

Bank Swallow

RouRh-winaed Swallow

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Purple Martin

Blue Jay

Crow

Blk-cap.ChickadeeWhite-br.Nuthatch

Red-breasted nuthatch

Brown Creeper

House Wren

Long-b.Marsh Wren

Catbird

Brown Thrasher

Robin

d

d

ab def

de

d

ab defg

e

b de

e

ab de g

abedefgh

e

e

bede h

a cdef h

d

ab de

abedef h

e

cde Eh

a de

abede

ab de g

b d

abede ghab de

de

abedefghabedefg

ab de h

cdef h

e

e

ab defghb de

ab def£

ab defg

abedefgh

34

FEATHERS 19S4

Wood Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Veery

Bluebird .

ab defg

be e

ab de g

bede h

La. Water-thrush d

Common Yellowthroat ab defg

Canada Warbler e

American Kedstart de

Golden-cr. Kinglet

Ruby-cr. Jiinglet

Water Pipit

Cedar Waxwing

g

House Sparrow abedefgh

Bobolink ab d f

ileadowlark ab def

Red-winged Blackbird abode gh

Starling

Solitary Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Warbling Vireomg

~Wh1

abedefgh

ef

ef

b d g

Baltimore Oriole

Purple Grackle

CowbirdScarlet Tanager

abedefg

abedefgh

abedefgh

ef

Blk & White Warbler

Golden-wing.Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Nashville V/flrbler

de g

d

Se g

Rose-br. urosbeak def

Evening U-rosbeak e

Purple Finch b def h

.Fine Siskin e

Yellow Warbler ab def

Magnolia Warbler a e

Blk-thr.Blue Wrblr. ab de

Myrtle Warbler ab defg

Goldfinch

Red-eyed Townee

Savannah Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

abedefgh

ab defg

b e

a de

Blk-thr.Green Wrblr. de

Blaokburnian Warbler d

Chestnut-sided Wrblr a de g

Pine Warbler eg

Slate-colored Junco e

shipping Sparrow abedefgh

.Field Sparrow ab defg

Wh-crowned Sparrow a

Prairie Warbler

Oven-bird

Worth.Water-thrush

ab de

a e

S White-thr. Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

| Song Sparrow

a defg

ab de

abedefgh

t BRIEFING THE RECORDDr. Allen H. Benton, Records CommHtM Chairman

APRIL, although not so wet as last year, had precipita-

tion slightly above normal. The weather behaved in typicalApril fashion, with some very hot periods and some cold,

rainy days. Average temperature was about three degrees

above normal, xaigration was for the most part normal after

the first cold days of the month.

Pied-billed Grebes were seen throughout the month. Amer

ican Bittern was first seen at Vischer Ponds on Apr.22

(MBScotland and NWorst). Black-crowned wight Herons were

seen there Apr. 30 IMBS). Fourteen Whistling Swans droppedinto Vischer Ponds Apr. 4 (WRFoote). Other waterfowl wereobserved in fair numbers at widely scattered localities.

Some April arrival dates were: Blue-winged Teal, Apr.l, Vis

cher Ponds INW & EHallenbeck); Wood Duck, Albany, Apr. 1

(AHBenton).

JSJost of the expected hawks have been reported, but with

no large flights noted. A Cooper's Hawk was seen on the SBC

Central Park trip of April 25. Pigeon Hawks were reported

near Tomhannock Keservoir Apr.2 (JffiS) and vischer ronds onApr. 4 IWRF). No reports of Broad-winged Hawks have been

received.

No new shore-birds had been reported by April 30. *ourBonaparte's Gulls and nine Common Terns were seen on the m>-

hawk Kiver at Frazier's Ferry on Apr. 17 iFRTurrentlne and

RStone).

35

FEATHERS J»n«, 1934

Flickers appeared in numbers in early April. Yellow-bel

lied Sapsucker was first seen at Gallupvilie Apr. 8 (CZim-mer) and appeared in Albany and Schenectady before the 15th.A Crested Flycatcher v/as seen near Slingerlands on Apr. 29

(LGrace), a Least Flycatcher at Vischer Ponds on the 30th(MBS). Swallows were on time, with reports of Rough-wingedApr. 22 (MBS & NW); Bank on Apr. 30 (MBS); Barn on Apr. 10(SBC Vischer Ponds trip); Purple Martin Apr. 27 at Gallup-ville ICZ).

A Tufted Titmouse has been patronizing a feeder in Oohoes

and was reported on Apr. 3 (jTCrandall). Both iiouse Wren and

Winter Wren were reported by several observers, earliest

dates for both being Apr. 9 \FLLaiaprey, MBS). Catbird wasfirst seen on Apr. 27 IFLL), Brown Thrasher Apr. 24 (AHolmes,AHB). The earliest nermit Thrush was reported on AprT~l9(GMeader). Ruby-crowned Ainglets were first seen Apr. 13l3HB) and were migrating in large numbers about the 25thwhen they were reported in large numbers by several obser

vers. A laggard Northern Shrike was seen at Tomhannock

Keservoir on Apr. 3 (NVT, JiE).

April vireos included Ked-eyed, Apr. 9 iFLL) and Solitary

Apr. 25 ISBC Central Park trip). Warblers were bellow, Apr.

30 IMBS); Myrtle, Apr. 22 (MBS, DlW)j alack-throated ureen,Apr. 24 lAH); jfarula, Apr. 25 IFLL); Pine, Apr. 30 (AHB);and Louisiana Water-thrush, Apr. 22 (MBS, JHW).

Rusty Blackbirds were reported from loudonville Apr. 1

(MFrenchJ and vischer ronds Apr. 4 IV/RF). Evening Grosbeaks

were still at Ballston Lake Apr. 3 (Ilrs. liHackett). Pine

Grosbeak, Apr. 1 ICZ), Ked Crossbill Apr. 4 (SBC WatervlietReservoir tripj, and .fine Siskin Apr. 1 INVV, EH) were late

individuals of wintering species. Towhees were first seen

Apr. 20 (MF), Vesper Sparrow Apr. 19 ILG), Field SparrowApr. 10 (SBC Vischer .rond trip); White-crowned Sparrow Apr.28 (FLL), and Hiite-throated Sparrow .Apr. 9 IFLL).

CONSERVATION CONSENSUJ""^Samuel R. Madison,Committee Chainnan

CORMORANT. PROTECTED

Governor Dewey has signed the bill which removes the cormorant from the list of unprotected birds in Wew Xork State.

Two species are protected, the Double-crested Cormorant of

ooastal and inland waters, and the Common uormorant which

frequents coastal areas only. The only present nesting

place of the Double-crested Cormorant in New York State of

which we know is Gull island, in Lake untario between Sack-

etts Harbor and Henderson Bay, and not far from General El

ectric 's Association Island. .During the past two years

there have been about 20 nests on Gull Island. John B. Bel-

knap of the North Country Bird Club reports that very few

young have been successfully hatched, however, beoause of

ruthless shooting. It is extremely doubtful that the birds

would continue such unsuccessful attempts at nesting on Gull

Island without protection. Only the House Sparrow, Starling,

Crow, Horned Owl, Grackle, Kingfisher, Sharp-shinned Hawk,Cooper's Hawk and Goshawk and now unprotected in this state.

36

Published by Schcnedady Bird Club, Inc.

Vol.16 No 7 July, 1934

EASTERN NEW YORK -- WHAT IT ISDr. Allen H. Benton

Scheneotady Bird Club territory consists of the eleven

counties of Fulton, Montgomery, Scheneotady, Schoharie,

Greene, Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga, V/arren and

Washington. It is an area of lakes, rivers, and mountains,

oultivated in the valleys and completely wild in many parts.

The most prominent streams are the Hudson River, which

traverses the entire area from north to south, and the Mo

hawk River, which crosses most of the area in a general west

to east direction. Hundreds of lakes dot the landscape, of

which the largest are Lake George, Sacandaga Reservoir, Saratoga Lake and Round Lake.

Elevation above sea level varies from about 25 feet at

the Hudson River south of Albany, to 4,000 feet at the top

of several of the Catskill peaks. The highest point in the

region is Hunter Mountain, in Greene county, which towers

In025 feet above sea level. None of the higher Adirondack

peaks occurs in this region, but several respectable moun

tains of about 3,000 feet elevation are found in Warren

County.

Besides the Adirondack and Catskill ranges, several other

mountain chains, enter the region. Outliers of the Berkshire

mountains, locally known as the Grafton Mountains, enter

northeastern Rensselaer county at elevations of about 2500

feet. The Taconic Range extends along the eastern border ofRensselaer and Columbia counties, with the highest peaks

reaching about 2,000 feet. The Helderberg Escarpment, an

outlier of the Catskills, lies slantwise across Albany-

county, reaching elevations of more than 1,600 feet. In

these mountainous areas, much of the land is covered with

some type of forest, although practioally all of it has been

forested at some time.

Ecologically, most of the forests are of the oak-hickory,or Appalachian forest association, and the hemlock-northern

hardwoods association. At the higher elevations, the northern coniferous forests of spruce and balsam may be found.

Besides these dominant formations, there are numerous bogs,

(The above article is adapted slightly from Dr. Benton»sdescription in the Regional Reports in the May, 1954 issueof The Kingbird, the publication of the Federation of NewYork State Bird Clubs, pages 21-22. In those reports the SBC"Eastern New York" is known as the Mohawk-Hudson Region.)

37

FEATHERS Jwly, 1954

cat-tail marshes of considerable extent, and other minor but

interesting areas. Among the largest and most interesting

of these smaller areas is the pine barrens near Albany and

Schenectady. In this area of sand, pitch pine is the onlycommon tree, and the entire area is covered with scrubby

plants such as scrub oak, hazelnuts, sheep laurel, and New

Jersey tea. This is the only known breeding habitat in ourregion for the prairie and pine warblers, and has many in

teresting plants and animals.

Two bird clubs are at present located in this region. The

Sassafras Bird Club at Amsterdam and the Schenectady Bird

Club, Inc., with members in Schenectady, Albany and Troy, aswell as in outlying districts, cover Montgomery, Schenectady

and Albany counties with a fair degree of effectiveness. Un

fortunately, the highly interesting areas in Greene, V/arren

and Rensselaer counties are poorly covered by these groups,

and additional bird clubs in these counties would be very

helpful. A club with headquarters in Glens Falls could co

ver Warren, Washington and parts of Saratoga counties, one

in the area of Catskill or Coxsackie would improve coverage

of Greene county, while a' Rensselaer-Columbia county group

is needed to adequately survey these neglected spots.

Well studies spots include Amsterdam, Schenectady, Alba

ny, Vischer Ponds along the' I/Iohawk River north of Albany,the pine barrens, the upper Hudson River above Albany, the

Tomhannock Reservoir in Rensselaer county, and the Mohawk

River from Schenectady to Cohoes. A summer colony at Jenny

Lake in Saratoga county has led to a careful study of the

summer birds in that locality. Work at the Huyck Preserve,

near Rensselaerville, Albany county, has resulted in ade

quate knowledge of the birds of that vicinity. Many other

areas remain relatively poorly known.

THOSE TANTALIZING AUTUMN WARBLERSDorothy W. Caldwell

Warbler migration in the spring in the northeast is a

source of Joy and stimulation to most of us bird-watchers

once we succumb to the lure of these exquisite little crea

tures. Identification of migrating warblers in the autumn

is more difficult, and often tantalizing. They seldom sing

for us, and they are no longer in gay nuptial plumage. Thefoliage of trees and shrubs is still luxuriant, and it is

often hard to get a good look at the little sprites as they

emerge momentarily and then flit back into dense leafy co

verts.

Until the past few years I have never been able to follow

the fall migration regularly in one locality. Since 1951 I

have been at work part of each week at a sanatorium north of

Woroester, Mass., looated on a pleasant hilltop (elevationabout 700 feet) with extensive grounds but lacking brooks orponds. Apparently we are out of the spring migration fly-

ways, and I was surprised late in the summer of 1952 to dis

cover that migrating warblers find our woodlands much more

interesting in the fall than they do in the spring. Not

38

FEATHERS July, 1954

FEATHERS i» published monthly bySCHENECTADY*BIRD CLUB, INC.

Editor: GuyBartlett, 1053'Packwood Blvd.

Circulation: *Mabel Barnes, 114 McCUllart St.*Viola *Mabb, Treasurer, 1624 Becker Street

Annual Membership Duea: Sustaining, $6; Actwe, $3; Associate, $2; Junior, f1

that I have ever experienced anything like the fall migra

tion of land birds that Maurice J3roun reports from the Look

out at Hawk I<fountain in his "Hawks Aloft", but I have had

fun enough to inspire a special effort to make certain early

evening walks as regularly as possible from mid-August into

October on the few days each week that X happen to be "in

residence.*

One favorite short walk down the western slope through

pine woods with a few oaks and maples makes a pleasant

stroll, but the birding is usually limited to occasional

chickadees, robins and oven-birds. Farther down the hill

side, between the woods and a grassy field bordered by an

old stone wall, lies a strip of low shrubby growth about 200

feet or more in width. The shrubs and small trees are pre

dominantly gray birch, wild cherry, thorn, and sweet fern,

where thrashers and towhees abound.

Season of 1952

August 15, 1952 I found the woodland walk as birdless as

usual, but when I reached the lower shrubby stretch I was

surprised and delighted to find an appreciable number of

warblers feeding busily. Among them I identified two Black

and Vfliite, one Golden-winged, one I^rrtle, four Chestnut-

sided, and one Prairie Warbler.

It was August 19 before I could revisit the territory.

I found only several Ifyrtle V/arblers, an immature Black-

capped, and a Least Flycatcher.

Un August 27 I was rewarded by a Magnolia Warbler andeight to 10 Blackpolled.

September 4 gave one House Wren, one Olive-backed Thrush,

three Chestnut-sided Warblers, one Bay-breasted, six Black-

polled, one Common xellowthroat, and one Canada Warbler.

September 9 I was able to identify only two Oven-birds,

three Blackpoll and one Ruby-crowned Kinglet, though there

were other small birds about.

It was late in the month before I could make the rounds

again. There were a few Black-poll Warblers still present,

but the Juncos, V/hite-throated and Chipping Sparrows had

pretty well taken over.

The Story of 1953

In August 1953 I tried to visit my little birch-oherry

grove more frequently, but saw no evidences of fall migra

tions at any time, Meanwhile 1 had found a gravel road

leading through similar territory a bit farther along on the

same western slope, and there I had my good hunting lastfall. At times the shrubs and small trees simply teemedwith birds, and 1 always felt that I was missing many more

individuals and species than 1 was able to identify. Occa

sionally 1 was rewarded with fine close-ups for a few moments that gave real thrills, as my really good views of a

39

FEATHERS July, 1954

Prothonotary and a Mourning Warbler, a Philadelphia Vireo, a

Gray-cheeked Thrush, and a Lincoln's Sparrow. These were

offset, however, by many frustrating glimpses of birds that

emerged momentarily and then disappeared forever from my

view.

liiy 1953 fall migration really started on August 12 near

the Sanatorium buildings with a small wave of flycatchers,

including nine Kingbirds, one Olive-sided Flycatcher, a Wood

Pewee and three Phoebes. No warblers were seen this date.

August H, on ray western slope, I found a Solitary Vireo,

a Red-eyed Vireo, a Nashville VJarbler, one Blackburnian, two

Chestnut-sided and one Prairie 'Yarbler, and one Redstart.

August 18 gave one Blaok and V/hite, one Prothonotary,

three Nashville, one Chestnut-sided, three Pine, one Black-

capped, and one Canada 7/arbler.

August 19 I saw well one Red-eyed and one Philadelphia

Vireo, three Blaok and White Warblers, three Nashville, one

Myrtle, two Black-throated Green, one Blaokburnian, two

Chestnut-sided, two Prairie V/arblers, and a Redstart.

August 20 gave essentially the same species and numbers,

but minus the Philadelphia Vireo and adding a Mourning

Warbler.

August 25 I saw no warblers. On August 26 I had a flockof abour 20 Chimney Swifts overhead, and on September 2 a

flock of nine Nighthawks. On September 9 two Pine 7/arblers

and one Black-throated Green were seen.

September 16 the warblers were moving through again. Ifound a B\aek and V/hite vYarbler, five Black-throated Green,and two Redstarts. The birch trees were simply alive with

Black-poll Warblers, at least 50 and probably more.

September 22 I found only two Black-poll V/arblers and one

Nashville. September 24 I saw no warblers, but had an ex

cellent view of a Lincoln's Sparrow.

October 1 brought me a Lyrtle V/arbler, two Black-throated

Green, one Bay-breasted, and about a dozen Black-poll and

two Palm Warblers, as well as a Gray-cheeked Thrush. On Oc

tober 4 I found a %rtle and six Black-poll Warblers still

about, and one Olive-backed Thrush. October 8 closed my

season's warbler chapter at the Sanatorium, with a lone

Black-poll V/arbler.

Now I am looking forward to the fall season of 1954.

f~CONSERVATION CONSENSUS"^Samuel R. Madison, Committee Chairman

CORMORANT BACKGROUND

The Cormorant is now protected in New York State. It was

a year ago when the Conservation Committee of the Federation

of New York State Bird Clubs determined to sponsor legisla

tion to protect the bird. The New York State Conservation

Council agreed to support the measure. Scientific studiesshow the bird is helpful in the regulation of fish popula

tions; it lives largely on ooarse, shallow-water and bottom-

feeding species — generally undesirable kinds.

40

Published by Schcntctady Bird Club, Inc.

Vol.16 Np.8 August, 1954

BIRDS AT YOUR BACK DOOR ciaxe,.

It will soon be that time of year when the available food

supply for the birds must be running very low, especially

for those that seem to contain themselves within about the

same area day after day. They have inspected all possible

twigs for insect eggs, hunted along all crevices, and have

chipped off rough pieces of bark here and there in. hopes of

finding something palatable thereunder.

So, to make sure our winter birds do not starve and will

have all the energy possible to attack in force the hordes

of bugs and other insects when they appear on the scene la

ter, it is important that we augment the wild feed of the

most useful of our winter birds. In feeding them, we haveto admit, there is an excusable selfish reason too. We only

have to reflect on the enormous number of pests the birds

keep out of our hair; of course if we dish them out a little

extra food, they will be more apt to linger around our imme

diate neighborhood.

The birds like their natural wild food well enough so

they will not ask you to feed them when woods and field have

quantities of worms, bugs and other insects. One will find

that, as their natural food increases with warmer weather,

they will visit your feeding station less and less often.

The visits practically cease along toward the end of April

or in May, and you might as well take in your feeding trays

for the summer. But let the middle of November come, and

cold weather settle down, and here they come again. We did

find that a Downy Woodpecker visited us frequently during

the summer. Not only that, but he brought along an offspring.

Six Feeders

In our back yard we now have six feeding stations. One

is a covered tray on the window sill, for sunflower seeds;

another is a glass-covered box about six feet from the win

dow, in which sunflower seeds also are scattered. Suspended

horizontally from branches of trees are two small timbers

about one foot long (we call them swings), on the top sideof which are bored six to eight holes an inch in diameter

and 3/4 inoh deep. In these holes are packed a number ofdifferent foods — ground suet, peanut butter, and vegetableshortening. The other two feeding boards are like these but

are tied vertically on the sides of small trees about sixfeet from the ground. We use only suet in them.

41

FEATHERS Amvst. 1954

FEATHERS la publishedmoniklyby

SCHENECTADY 'BIRD CLUB, 1NCEditor: GuyBartlett, 1053 Tadatfood Blvd.

Circulation:'Mabel Barnes, 114 McCUUan St*"Viola"Mobb, Treosuwwi 1624 BackerSteoftt

Annual Memberahip Dues: Sustaining, #6; Acttoa, $3; Associate, $2; Junior, $1

By actual count we have had two Nuthatches, two Hairy

Woodpeckers, four Downy Woodpeokers, two Brown Creepers,nine Chickadees, and three or four Jays. These are the num

bers of each kind seen at any one time, but we have no as

surance, of course, that there may not have been others that

came around. The Creepers, although occasional visitors, donot feed at the boards much. The Jays, Nuthatches and the

Chickadees feed at all stations, while Downy seems to confine himself to suet and shortening. Hairy, although an

early visitor, did not stay with us last winter. Juncos

come around some but, being infrequent visitors, we have not

been able to devise a satisfactory feeding station for them;

our feeding facilities so far have not covered the birds

that eat seeds only.

Our Hamburg Street home is at the end of an L-shaped

growth of small trees. We feel that this has some advantage

because Chickadees seem to travel by very short flights, and

apparently in groups. There may not be one in sight. Then

one flies onto a board, and in a moment it seems as if

Chickadees are coming from several directions to attack you.

Hardly ever is there only one around alone. Without quite a

number of trees near, we are sure our feeding stations would

not be visited nearly so much.

"Peaoeful" Eaters

You have probably seen pictures of many birds feeding to

gether. Not so with ours. Wo two birds of the same or dif

ferent species will eat together at the same tray. Two Jays

may do so very rarely, but they will drive away all others.

The Downy takes precedence over the Nuthatoh lor "Nutty" as

we call him) and he in turn drives off the Chickadees. Even

a Chickadee will drive away another for some unfathomed rea

son — seniority rights, probably — or else will sit nearby

and wait until the first is finished.

Each species has its peculiar and often amusing manner.

Downy eats very deliberately, and wags his head from side to

side between pecks. Nutty picks up a sunflower seed, then

runs either up or down a tree, looking for a crevice to hold

the seed while he pecks off the outer casing. The Jays and

Chickadees will hold a seed under their claws while breaking

Into the meat, either at the feeder or on a limb of a tree.

Sometimes a Jay will swallow sunflower seeds whole, as many

as six or seven in succession.

Chickadees are the most active. They flit from place to

place so energetically that it is almost impossible to count

them when there are more than five. We did oatoh them oneday — and that was the only time when they were sitting

around rather quietly — and that was the time nine were

counted*

We do not know yet where any of them roost at night, pre

sumably back in the thicker part of the woods, but they usu-

42

FEATHERS Auqurt, 1954

ally show up shortly after daybreak, and a dozen times a day

until late afternoon.

We do notice that Downy and Nutty sometimes stay around

for quite long periods, hardly moving — Downy clinging up

right on a tree, and Nutty in his characteristic pose upsidedownt giving rise to his being called the "upside-down bird.1*

Because some of our birds then seem content just to rest

and not to be always on the move looking for a small mite to

satisfy their hunger, the impression is given that they must

be sufficiently feasted at our backyard table so they will

be strong and healthy for the nesting season, and In fine

fetter to march against our enemy pests come another spring

and summer.

BRIEFING THE RECORDDr. Allen H. Benton, Receids Committe* Chairman

MAY was slightly oooler than usual, with considerably

more rainfall than normal. Migration was unusually slow,

and diffuse, with relatively few noticeable waves. Most

birds arrived at near normal times, but In small numbers,

and the greater numbers of birds were late. Myrtle War

blers, for example, were first seen on April 22, but the

migration continued until near the end of May.

The Century Run reoords, with 129 species, have already

been reported (June, page 33). Other notable records forMay inoludet

Two American .Egrets at Hudson May 27, SMadison (This spe

cies is now seen in our area almost every spring; we must be

on the watch for possible nesting colonies); one blue-wingedTeal and one Coot, Vischer ±*onds, May 31, KHnilenbeok; Turkey Vulture, iiarner SBC trip, May 30; White-rumped Sandpi

per, Visoher Ponds, May 31, EH; two Gray-cheeked Thrushes,

Loudonville, May 25, MFrenoh; one Water Pipit, umdonville,

May 23, MF; Blue-winged Warbler, tfiscaer Ponds, May 31, EH;Black-capped Warbler, May 14, Delmar, SM.

Nesting records for May include: Black Duck, Six-mile

Reservoir, 10 eggs, four of which hatched May 29, ABenton;Ruffed Grouse, near Vborheesville, May 2k, PLemon;~7eery,Shaker Road, two eggs, one hatched June 10,""SB; Meadowlark,Gallupville, May 31, HEddy; Field Sparrow, Karner, two eggs

on June 1, AB; Chipping Sparrow, Karner, May 30, SBC trip.♦ * *

JUNE was a very normal month, with temperature only 0.7

degree warmer than usual, and precipitation about a half

inch less than normal. A rather cool first half was followed by a heat wave from the 20th to the 22nd, but the rest

of the month was normally comfortable. Heavy rains occurred

on the 15th and 22nd.

Few reports reached this committee during June, but the

few that appeared have been very interesting. Most unusual

is the report of a Mockingbird, aeen at Burnt Hills June 9by Mrs. W.R.Foote. A Peregrine Falcon was reported nearSouth Berne June 26, SM. An SBC field trip to Crawford Road

43

FEATHERS August, 1954

on June 6 turned up 27 species, and Mrs. French turned in

a list of 36 species for the month. Highlights of her listincluded:

Young Barn Swallows out of nest June 25; young Blue Jay

out of nest June 21; Baltimore Oriole, young out of nest

June 23 and 24; two or more Slate-colored Juncos singing

in Thacher Park June 19 — this may indicate breeding birdsof this species in the park.

Records from your committee chairman's file include:eight singing Prairie Warblers and four singing Pine War

blers between Six-mile Reservoir and Karner in early June;

Horned Lark, Shaker Road, June 28; Canada Warbler and Black-

throated Blue Warbler, ttreat Bear Swamp near tfesterlo, June

29; Whip-poor-will singing nightly near Shaker Road until

about the 20th; Chipping Sparrow, young out of nest June 16;

Blaok-oapped Chickadee, pair digging nest hole near Six-mile

Reservoir, June 12.

* ♦ *

JULY was a month of approximately normal temperature,

with precipitation only about 50 per cent of normal, in

deed, the first 27 days of the month had only about a half

inch of rainfall, and the rain of the last four days was

almost equal to this total.

Few July records were submitted to your committee. A

list from the vicinity of Warrensburg, July 17 to 24, wassupplied by Esly Hallenbeck. included in that list werethese species:

American Merganser, Mourning Dove, Kingfisher, Flicker,

Crow, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Least Flycatcher,

Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Robin,

V/ood Thrush, House Wren, Yellow-throated Yireo, Northern

Yellow-throat, Red Crossbill, American Goldfinch, Eastern

Towhee, Field Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow,

and Song Sparrow.

Mrs. Emma Rogers of North Creek, Warren County, reported

a family of Evening Grosbeaks, parents and three young, in

early July. Apparently the Adirondack population is in

creasing.

Students and faculty of the biology Department, N. Y. S.

College for Teachers, Albany, have been studying bird life

in the sand-plain area in and near the city of Albany. The

following pertinent notes are extracted from their reoord

books:

July 3, male and female Prairie Warbler feeding Oowbird;

July 8, two singing male Pine Warblers; July 8, male and fe

male Canada Warbler; last week of July, Bluebird feeding two

young; Towhee feeding two young out of nest; Prairie Warbler,

immature seen. Dates of song cessation include: Field Spar

row, July 27; Indigo bunting, August 7.

Esly Hallenbeck submitted not only the Warrensburg list

already mentioned, but also some notes for Sootia, and one

for Loudonville. Included were: Scotia - July 1, WarblingVireo, Purple Finch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blaok-crowned

Night Heron, Wood Thrush; July 7, Yellow-billed Cuckoo. AtLoudonville, July 7, a pair of Brown Thrashers seen withyoung.

44

mutpmi —

Publiihcd by Sduncctady Bird Club, Inc.

Vol.16 No.9 S*ptomber, 1954

BIRDS IN SPAIN Pauline E. Baker

On July 2 I flew to Spain and remained there and in Por

tugal to tour for five weeks. I returned by ship, Andrea

Doria, from Gibraltar, reaching home August 16. Most of mytravel was by bus and so 1 was close to the land, passing

through little towns and villages as well as the country

side, as we went along, I tried to see all the wild life I

could, as well as to observe the Spanish way of life.

Spain has very many birds. Many of them are strikingly

marked with black and white. Most of the birds I saw were

south of a line from Coimbra, Portugal to Valencia, Spain.

The Tuitle Dove and House Sparrow were common near the

wheatlands, and that harvest was going on all over Spain.

Also there were many hawklike birds which I now feel must

have been Buzzards above the fields.

Hoopoe, A Surprise

The Hoopoe with his plumage lighter than our Flicker. t»nd

about his size, but with bold bars of black and white across

his back and tail (he looked like a prisoner) and long,

slightly curved bill — and with a crest of bright, tawny

tipped-with-black feathers — was a surprise. He usually

flew low over orchard-field areas of the southland to the

north and west of Granada.

Another — the brightest of all birds I saw — was the

Golden Oriole. I was riding to Salamanca, and he was hust

ling to a wire from a low, woodsy area. You can imagine my

delight when at Cornell for the convention of the State Fed

eration I beheld a specimen in the case. I made inquiry of

Dr. Hewitt and he told me it was a foreign oriole, found in

southern Europe. My_ Spanish bird was at Cornell, and in

much the same pose as the live bird I saw in his native land]

I saw one small owl in a tree which seems like the Tawny

Owl; and a Skylark on the ground and a Robin sitting on awire. All of these were in the greener sections of thesouth — not on wheatlands between Madrid and Granada.

There were countless Magpies in the open and often instony fields flying toward scrubby little trees, showingtheir smart black and white. I saw the first ones on theway from Madrid to Valencia. There were many more in thesouth, approaching the Portuguese line.

Near Seville a White Stork stood guard over his nest on a

45

FEATHERS

chimney. In a park area near Lisbon there were others alongthe water's edge. Birds build nests in the eucalyptus ofPortugal, and House Sparrows were about. I could not see

any birds in the cork oaks nor in the pines along the Span

ish-Portuguese border. Sparrow Hawks had a nest over the

entrance of Seville Cathedral, and one swooped outside mywindow in Coimbra, Portugal. The market was across the way.

Voluble Blackbird

The Spotless Starling was in the south too, and I am sure

it was a Fied Flycatcher sitting like our Kingbird over theManzanares wheat district. The Blackbird was the most volu

ble, and could be heard in city straets and from trees in

front of buildings. I heard him first in the Barcelona-

Montserrat region; his song is loud and a rather melodious

carol. The Woodchat of the southern olive regions (Granada

to Seville) was certainly striking in white patches on black

and chestnut-red crown. There were many aged olive trees on

Mallorca, with lovely holes for nesting, but I saw no birds.

There were many Swallows and Swifts. The Swifts especially were noisy and active at Montserrat, way up high by the

topmost cliffs. There were House Martins too in that dis

trict. Swallows were often found. At Aranjuez I went into

a wood-milling shed where the bus had stopped, and saw sev

eral nests with young and parents coming to feed and to rest

on the nearby wire.- Malaga also had its swallows.

Down at Gibraltar where I was awaiting my ship, a Coaltit

was acting and sounding like our Chickadee, in a tree in the

garden before the Rock Hotel. And then leaving Gibraltar,

the Herring Gulls screamed, and again when we approached the

Azores there were young ones and a Tern, probably Common.

I have studied Peterson's "Field Guide to the Birds of

Britain and Europe." I feel quite sure of these birds —

and find I have missed many in the book. I shall have to go

again — which I most sincerely hope will happen. Peter

son's illustration of the Bee-eater and the Azure-wingedMagpie are enough to make one want to go again. And — the

elmwoods of Granada failed — I have yet to hear the song of

the Nightingale;

CALIFORNIA OBSERVATIONS b°°« i.

During a California visit early in 1954 we found the mostcommon birds in Highgrove, one mile from Riverside, to be

the Mockingbird, California Blue Jay, Brown Towhee, Brewer's

Blackbird, Anna Hummingbird, Mourning Dove, Green-backed

Goldfinoh, and House Sparrow.

In January and February we saw large flocks of White-

crowned Sparrows, and once saw a Spotted Towhee and a Robin

near the house. The Blue Jays around the orange groves have

no crest — brown on back; and head, tail and wings a beautiful blue, and underparts gray.

The Anna Hummingbird is the only one that stays all

46

FEATHERS Sfrtambw, 1954

FEATHERS is published monthly bySCHENECTADY 'BIRD CLUB, ING

Editor: Guy Bartlett, 1053 Torkwood Blwd.

Circulation; 'Mabel Barnes, 114 McClellan St.*Viola Tvtabb, Teeaeuww, 1624 Becker Street

Annual Membership Dues: Sustaining, $B; Active, $3; Associate, $2; Junior, $1

winter, and is the largest of all the hummingbirds. He has

a moat "beautiful ruby-red head and throat. At the Audubon

Tucker Sanctuary we saw nine at one time feeding from bottles filled with red-colored, sweetened water on the other

side of the screen of the observation platform, about three

feet away. The birds did not mind at all our talking, but

flew away immediately if we pointed to them.

Mrs. Vaughn, president of San Bernardino Wild life Con

servation Audubon Society, invited me to go on a field trip

to the Tucker Bird Sanctuary — 16 miles east of Orange inModjeska Canyon, about 70 miles drive one way.

On our way to the sanctuary we got out to watch the hawks

flying low and very near. They were not at all afraid. We

saw two Turkey Vultures, two Red-tailed Hawks; Red-bellied,

Red-shouldered and Sparrow Hawks, and a pair of White-tailed

Kites sitting side by side on a low, dead tree. They hardly

moved for half an hour.

On the way, in Irvine Park, we saw flocks of Valley Quail

with thair waving plumes.

f BRIEFING THE RECORDDr. Allan H. Benton, Records Committe* Chairman

AUGUST was a cool period, 2.5 degrees below normal, with

the highest temperature only 88°. Rainfall was slightly

above normal for the month, because of a tremendous 2.25-

inch fall on the 31st; otherwise the precipitation was con

siderably below normal.

Two field trips were reported to your Records Committee.

The SBC Watervliet Reservoir trip of August 22 recorded 47

species. Only one duck, the Wood Duck, and three species of

shore birds, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Yellow-

legs, wefre reported.

Among interesting land birds on that trip were Cooper's

Hawk, TJellow-billed"Cuckoo, and six species of warblers, including several fall migrants: Black and White, Black-

throar-ed Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Northern

Yellow-throat, and Redstart.

A trip made by Rudd Stone, Frazer Turrentine and Bob Yu-nick on August 29 covered Watervliet Reservoir and Indian

Ladder. They reported only two shore-birds, a Killdeer anda Woodcock.

Among their notable land birds were an Olive-sided Fly

catcher, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Worm-eating Warbler, and

Junco. Their total list was kk species.47

FEATHERS

t SBC FIELD TRIP REPORTSDr. Roy E. Hunt and Pauline Baker, Co-chairmen

(A) Geese, and Wind Vlsoher Ponds, April 10

The April 10 trip to Vlscher Ponds was a very windy one.

Sixteen observers braved 35- to 45-mile winds to count 41species. Because of the high wind the 51-degree temperatureseemed on the cool side. The sky was mostly clear.

One of the outstanding flights of the morning was 45 Canada Geese overhead. .Another 65 were close to shore on the

Mohawk. Eight Canvas-backs, 60 Herring Gulls and a Ring-billed Gull were mixed with the geese on the river. Pin

tails and Blacks were constantly overhead, flying in slow

motion because of the winds. Some 50 Ring-necks were on the

ponds, and several Wood Ducks were flushed up from the ponds

close to the road. Other ducks counted were a pair of Buf-

fleheads, a dozen Mallards, and six Blue-winged Teal.

A thrill to all was an Oaprey with his fish. A Red-

tailed Hawk also soared over our heads.

The Tree Swallows were everywhere, and numbered about

110. Two Barn Swallows were also seen. The Woodpecker fam

ily was represented by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, one Hairy

and three Downy Woodpeckers, and four Flickers. Two Savan

nah, two Vesper and a Field Sparrow were counted, as well as

Tree and Song Sparrows. — Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Foots

(B) First Warblers Central Park. April 25

The morning was cloudy and threatening but there was no

wind when an even dozen birders met at the Fire Tower in

Central Park at 7:30 a.m. on April 25.

Several Fliokers were heard, and Brown Thrashers sang

loudly in the tops of the tall trees. Many Myrtle Warblers

had arrived, as was to be e-xpected, but the Black-throated

Green seemed to have broken the standard pattern of first

migration by showing up with the Myrtles.

White-throated Sparrows were fairly numerous, and the

Ruby-crowned Kinglets, in full song, pu-t on a fine display.

The list added up to 33 species. — Viola Mabb

(C) More Warbiers Central Park Breakfast, May 2

The annual breakfast hike in Central Park was again high

ly successful — in an ornithological as well as gustatory

sense. This was despite the somewhat damp and unpromising

prospects when Trip-leader Hunt and Maitre d8Skillet Silli-

man conferred by phone at 4:25 a.m. on May 2. However, the

slight drizzle stopped shortly thereafter. Seven persons

worked up an appetite on the pre-breakfast trip, including

Mr. and Mrs. .Arthur C. Brattle of Hamburg, N. Y., who were

visiting Esly Hallenbeck. The Brettles, active members of

the Buffalo bird group, were en route back home after a win

ter of bird ing across Florida.

a combined total of 54 species were counted by the main

party and two supplementary groups covering the park. Al

though no spectacular listings appeared, an early warbler

count of 13 varieties seemed a good omen for the Century

Run a week hence. (Ed. note: In retrospect, some of these

48

FEATHERS Swtwwbw. 1954

songsters must have been discouraged by the weather and

headed baclc south before the following Saturday!) Towheeaand Brown Thrashers were abundant — or at least seemed so.

Particularly, the five thrashers, apparently strategically

deployed through the park, provided much more than theirshare of the vocal background, as well as an occasional

disappointing "false alarm."At breakfast, for whioh 18 turned out to sample Nellie

Sllliman's golden-brown flap-jaoks and the steaming coffee

kindly provided by the visiting Brettles, two Solitary Vi-reos added their notes from a nearby elm-top. About 9:30

thirteen well-filled participants headed off through the

park once again. By the sand quarry off Oregon Avenue a

song ascribed at first to a Yellow Warbler turned out to be

a handsome Nashville Warbler, whose gray head and eye-ring

served to confirm his identity for several members adding

him to their life-lists. — Hoy Hunt

(D) Evening Woodcook Rosendale Road, May 5

A cool, persistent westerly wind made sweaters and top

coats the order of the evening during the "Woodcock Walk,1*

held near the gravel pits off Roaendale Road May 5. Al

though several members had heard him a day or two previously

in his usual location, the experts were not at all reassur

ing about the prospect of getting\£im to perform for the 16club members and guests who attended this annual SBC func

tion. As darkness approached, however, the group were re

warded for their patience. At least two birds could be

heard while climbing to the sky for their rapid descent, ao-

oompanied by the characteristic nighthawk-like "peenk-ing.11

Another expected evening visitor, the Whip-poor-will, appar

ently found the weather too cold, and failed to put in an

appearance, despite a special caravan to several swampy

areas of Vly Road. The evening's list totalled 20 species,

including a striking silhouette of four Black-crowned Night

Herons against the nearly faded twilight sky. — Roy Hunt

Century Run May 8

Chronolpgicallym the annual Century Run of Saturday, May

8, was the next scheduled SBC field program. The Run, with

its 129 speoies, has been separately reported (June, p.33).

(E) Worm-eater Indian Ladder, May 16'

The day was perfect and conditions good all around for

our little group of seven on the Indian Ladder trip May 16.

We were very glad for the escort of Roy Hunt and also for

the fact that the Zimmer family know the territory well.

Although the old Carriage Road is barrloaded below, we

were able to walk down from above for a good distance and

hear the Worm-eating, Black-tor oatad Blue and Black-throated

Green Warblers, Crested Flycatcher, Orioles, Tanagers, and

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. The Yellow Warbler and Canada War

blers put on good shows.

Many of our finds were made in the valley at the foot of

the carriage road, others in the park itself or along thecountry roads, Tygert, Picard, Altamont. On the return tripthe leader stopped at the sanctuary of Mrs. Grace and added

Bluebird, Purple Pinch, and Warbling Vireo. The count for

the trip itself was 53 species. — Pauline Baker

49

FEATHERS Sophwnbor, 1954

(F) Black-capped Nlskayuna, May 23

There were a half dozen participants out for the late-May

visit to Niskayuna Wide Waters, to which the strong wind didnot contribute favorably. The 61 recorded species containedrelatively few water- and ahore-birda, but a dozen kinds of

warblers, including the Black-capped. — Mrs. W. R. Foote

(G) Vulture Karner, May li^

May 30 was a glorious late-spring day, with bright sun

shine and moderate wind, temperature in the 60's. ElevenSBC members were on hand at 8 o'clock for the half day of

good birding. Among the better results of the trip were

unusually good views of Turkey Vulture, Chestnut-sided War

bler, Prairie Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and Indigo Bunting.

Chet Zimraer had his movie camera in action, and SBC members

can expect to see the results at our next movie session.

The total list included 170 individuals of 44 species, plusa probable Red-shouldered Hawk. — Allen Benton

(H) Mew Area Crawford Road, June 6

In spite of the gray cold of the morning, seven SBC mem

bers mat at the WGT parking lot at 7:30 a.m. June 6. Wetraveled west on Route 5S for about five miles, turned left

up the hill on Crawford Road, and parked about a half mile

from the new State Thruvsay construction. Taking off across

the open fields on the south side of the road, we came to a

wooded area bordering a deep ravine. Here the Tanager and

the Veery were singing as we walked up the path along the

edge. After a while we came back to the road and, as we

climbed, we cams to the Shipper residence, where the magnificence of the view is exceeded only by the beauty of the

garden. Mr. Shipper, a very pleasant and genial gentleman,

invited us in to see both, and we spent nearly an hour ad

miring the flowers, in addition to continuing our birding.

It was the conclusion of all those attending that, in spite

of the inclement weather, with 27 species seen or heard and

the fine views, this area should be visited more often.

— Fraser Price

(I.) Yellow-legs Comparison Vlscher Ponds, July 18

Th«> half dozen observers on the Vischer Ponds trip of Ju

ly 18 had opportunity to study the field marks of the Great

er and Lesser Yellow-legs, for one of each were together.

What the 20 young ducks were, mixed in with 30 Mallards and

16 Black Ducks, was more difficult to say. The windless,partly cloudy morning offered a list of 47 species, with the

American Egret, Ringed Plover and Least Sandpiper among the

more interesting. — Donald Tucker

(J) Hummers Watervllet Reservoir, August 22

Their count of 10 made the Ruby-throated Hummingbird one

of the eight most common species for the 16 observers at Wa-tervliet Reservoir August 22. The highest oounts among the

47 species for the day were: Red-winged Blackbird, 35; Ce

dar Waxwing, 25; Goldfinch, 18; Barn Swallow, 12; Chickadee,

12; and Wood Duok, Red-eyed Vireo and Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 10 each.

It was not a trip featuring hoped-for shore-birds.

— Lucille Grace50

FEATHERS

SBC Field-trip Summaries

TRIP

Great Blue Heron

American EgretGreen Heronaiack-cr.Nt .Heron

American BitternCanada GooseMallard

Black Duck

Pintail

Blue-winged TealWood Duck

Ring-neoked DuckCanvas-back

Buffie-headTurkey Vulture

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's HawkRed-tailed Hawk

Osprev

Sparrow Hawk

Ruffed Grouse

Ring-nk.Pheasant

Ringed PloverKilldeer

American Woodcock

Spotted Sandpiper

Great.Yellow-legs

Lesser Yellow-legs

Least Sandpiper

Herring Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Mourning Dove

Yel-billed Cuckoo

Chimney Swift

Ruby-thr.Hummingbd.

Belted .Kingfisher

Yel-shaft.Flicker

Yellow-be1.Sapskr.

Hairy WoodpeckerDowny Woodpecker

Eastern Kingbird

Crested -Flycatcher

Eastern Phoebe

Least Flycatcher

East.Wood PeweeTree SwallowBnnU- Swallow

Rough-wing. Swallow

Barn Swallow

Blue JayAmerican Crow

Blk-oap.Chickadee

White-br.NuthatohBrown CreeperHouse Wren

Winter Wren

Long-b.Marsh Wren

ABC

a

a

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September, 1954

195L April 10 through August 22

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Catbird

Brown Thrasher

American Robin

Wood Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Olive-back.Thrush

VeeryBluebird

Golden-or.Kinglet

Ruby-or. Kinglet

Cedar Waxwing

Common Starling

Yellow-thr. Vireo

Solitary Vireo

Red-eyed VireoWarbling Vireo

Blk.& White Warbler

Worm-eating Warbler

Golden-wing .Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Parula Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Cape Mar Warbler

Black-thr.Blue Wblr.

Myrtle Warbler

Blk-thr.Green Wblr.Blaokburnian Wblr.

Chestnut-side .Wblr.

Black-poll Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Oven-bird

North .Yellow-throat

Black-capped Wblr.

Canada Warbler

American RedstartHouse Sparrow

Bobolink

Eastern Meadowlark

Red-wing .Blackbird

Baltimore Oriole

Purple Grackle

Brown-hd. Cowbird

Scarlet Tanager

Ro se-br. Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Eastern Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Slate-col. Junco

Amer.Tree Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

White-thr.Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Song Sparrow

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51

FEATHERS September, 1954

Sun.,

Mon.,

Sun.,

Oct

Oct

Oct

. 3

.11

.17

Sun., Oct.31

SBC CALENDAR

Mildred D. Crary, Secretary

Field trip, Niskayuna Wide Waters; Stephen C.

Fordham, leader, Delmar 9-3805. From Union

and Palmer, 8 a.m.

Audubon Screen Tour, Central Park Junior High

School .auditorium, 8 p.m.; Allan Cruickshank,

"River of the Crying Bird."

Field trip, Meadowdale Swamp; Leon A. Wlard,

leader, Delmar 9-2010.. Meet at Yan Curler Ga

rage at 7:30 a.m., or Route 156 and HenneseyRoad (Opposite Government Warehouse at Guil-

derland Center) at 8 a.m.

Field trip, Alcove Reservoir; Pauline Baker,

leader, All). 6-9782. Start from State andFehr Ave., Schenectady, at 7:30 a.m., or Dela

ware and Kenwood Aves., Delmar, at 8:15 a.m.

tDOME ISLAND

CONSERVATION CONSENSUSSiroud R. Midlson, Committee Chairman

Help Preserve It

Quoting from Nature Conservation Hews, published by The

Nature Conservancy:

"Dome Island, in New York's Lake George, is being set

aside in its wild state as a permanent nature preserve

through the efforts of the Eastern New York Chapter of the

Nature Conservancy and conservation-minded residents of the

lakeshore.

"Rising from the oenter of the lake's widest part to aheight of 75 feet, the oak and pine-oovered island is one of

the area's prime scenic attractions. It is a glacial kame

with a rounded boulder and pebble base, about 2300 feet long.

Covered by a forest of old-growth black and white oak, white

and red pine, hemlock, beech, basswood and canoe birch, witharbor vitae along the waterline, it is the scenic gem of

Lake George.

"Mr. John S. Apperson (of Scheneotady), owner of Dome Is

land for the past 15 years, acquired it to preserve its nat

ural beauty undisturbed. He now seeks a more permanent form

of preservation, and will turn it over to the Nature Con-

servanoy. if adequate funds are raised for its continued care.

An endowment of $20,000 is being sought."Dr. Irving Langmulr, Nobel prize-winning physicist and

retired scientist of General Electric's research laboratory,has been appointed by the Nature Conservancy's board of gov

ernors to head the Dome Island committee. Working with him

are Alvin G. Whitney, Albany, as New York representative of

the Conservancy, Mr. Apperson, members of the Eastern New

York chapter, and summer residents of Lake George.

"Headquarters of the Dome Island committee are at Dr.Langmulr's home, Schenectady. Contributions should be

marked "Dome Island Fund."

52

Published by Schenectady Bird Club, Inc

Vol.16 No.10 October. 19S4

LOCAL RECORDS, 1952 & 1953 FrazerR.Wntine

In 1952 SBC members recorded 208 species and one hybrid in the 11-

county local area, and in 1953 191 species and a hybrid. The fieldtrips of the two years have already been summarized (FEATHEHS, Feb-53

and liar-5b) • The following, greatly condensed list gives first and lastdates recorded, and indication of the periods of the year commonly pre

sent. Hare species and extreme dates are-underlined, and in most cases

the observers indicated. SBC field trips have not been designated par

ticularly. Abbreviations of observers' names are tabulated on page 60.

Dates shown are inclusive. The records!

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe

Dbl-cre$led Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

American Egret

little Blue HeronGreen Heron

Black-cr. Night Heron

Yellow-cr. Night Heron

American Bittern

Least Bittern

Glossy Ibis

Blue Goose

MallardBlack Duck

52 Trans.vis. Apr.l2-May 17 and Oct.12-Nor.l6

53 Trans.vis.Mar.29-ltoy 9 & Oct.5-Nov,15; winter

vis.Dec.27(Troy Christmas Count)

52 Trans-vis.Apr.12 & Oct.l2(RY)-Nov.l

52 Trans.vis.Apr.U-26 4 Oct.12-Nov.16

53 Trans.vis.far.21-May 9 & Nov.12-15

52 Summer resident, tar. 22 - Nov. 11

53 Trans.vis.Apr.k-May 9 & Sep.20-Mov.19 (EH)52 Trans,vis .liay 17-18 4 Sep.U,

52 Winter vis.Jan.27;summer res.Mar.9-Nov.l

53 Winter vis.Jan.k} trans.vis.Feb.16-I!ay 9 &Aug.lii-Mov.lj winter vis. Dec.26-31

52 Summer visitor, June 21 - Sep. 1U

53 May 9} summer visitor Aug.lh - Oct.1152 Ore, VischBr Ponds, Aug.2 (McD)

52 Summer res. May 10-Sep.21; also Nov.11 (EH)

53 Summer res. Kay 8-Sep.l352 Summer res. Mar.29 - Sep.lh

53 Summer res. Apr. 18 - Sep. 1352 Second local record, May Zh (FNTfSBC Conv.trip)

52 Summer resident, Apr. 12 - Oct. 5

53 Summer resident, Apr. 18 - Oct. 13

52 Summer resident, recorded Jun.21,Sep.7 & 27

53 Summer resident, recorded May 9

52 First local record, May 17-19, Vischer Ponds

52 Winter vis. Jan.11; trans.vi8.Mar.22-Apr.13

52 Trans .vis ..Mar.22-May 17 & Aug.2lj-0ct,l6j bred

at Watervliet Rsvrj winter vis. Dec.27

53 Trans.vis.Mar.lli-Uay 17 & Aug.7-Oct.9; few local breeders; winter vis.Jan.5 & Dec.27

53 First local record, one, Mar.15, State Farm Rd.(AH,SH,NW)

Both years: Resident

Both years: Common resident

FEATHERS October, 1954

Gadwall

European Widgeon

American Widgeon

Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Shoveller

Wood Duck

RedheadRing-necked Duck

Canvas-back

Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

American Golden-eye

Barrow's Golden-eye

Buffle-head

Old-squaw

White-winged Scoter

Ruddy Duck

Hooded Merganser

American Merganser


Turkey Vulture

GoshawkSharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed HawkRed-shouldered Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

54

52 Trans.vis. Apr. 13 - 2753 Trans.vis. Apr. 2k52 Third local record, 1 male, Vischer Ponds

Apr. 6 (RS) - Apr.20

52 Trans.vis. Mar.22 - Apr. 20 & Oct. 11

53 Trans, vis. Mar. 22 - May 952 Trans .vis .Mar.22-May 11 & Sep.7-Nov.llj winter

vis. Dec.28 (Troy Xmas Count)

53 Trans.vis. Mar.l-May 9j winter vis. Jan.11

52 Trans .vis .Mar. 22-k'ay 18 & Oct.5-12 J one June 21at Vischer Ponds (RS)

53 Trans.vis.Mar.22-Apr.2U & Sep.20-Nov.lj wintervis. Dec.27

52 Trans.vis.Apr.6-May 18 & Sep.lU-0ct.l8j simmer

res. at Vischer Ponds

53 Trans.vis.Apr.l8-May 9 & Sep.13-0ct.Hij summer

res. at Vischer Ponds

52 Two, Vischer Ponds, May 18 (RS, FT)52 Summer res.Mar.22-Sep.21jincreasing locally

53 Summer resident Mar.22 - Noy.15 (EH)53 One, Saratoga Lake, Nov.]5 (SBC)

52 Trans .vis .Mar.21-May 10 & Nov.2j Dec.lU (EH)53 Trans, vis. Mar. 22 - May 9

52 Saratoga Lake, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7

53 Saratoga Lake, Mar. 29

52 Trans, vis. Kar.22-Apr.6j also Dec.lU (EH)

53 Trans, vis. Mar. 21 - May 9

52 Trans.vis.Mar,30-May 17 & 0ct.19-Dec.10j two,

upper Hudson, Feb.23 (RS,DT)53 Trans.vis. Mar.21-May 9 & Nov.12-1552 Winter and trans.vis. to Apr.26j returned Nov.l

53 Winter and trans.vis. to May 9j returned Nov.12

52 Saratoga Lake, Mar. 30 and April 6

52 Trans.vis. Mar.30 - May 10j Dec. lli (EH)

53 Trans, vis. Uar. 18 - May 9 & Nov. 1553 Recorded Feb.20, Mar.29, Dec.26-2752 Trans.vis. May 18 & Nov.2-Dec.llj

53 Recorded May 9

52 One, Saratoga Lake, Nov.16 (SBC)

52 Trans.vis. Mar.21-23 & Nov.l-Dec.17

53 Recorded Jan.l, Mar.22. and May 9

52 Winter vis. to May 18 j returned Oct.1353 Winter vis. to May 9j returned Nov. 15

52 Trans.vis. Apr.12-26 & Nov.l-l6j also Dec.l7(EH)

53 Trans.vis. Uar.8-May 952 One May 17j eight, Cookesburg Aug.10 (LW)

53 Mar.29 (lt)j Apr.l, Apr.21*, June 152 One Dec, 27

52 Winter vis. to Feb.l6j summer res.Mar.l2-Wov.9

53 Winter vis.to Jan.lSj summer res.May 9-4ug.21

52 Winter vis.Feb.28 & Dec.27Jsummer res.Mar.20-

Sep.753 Recorded Apr.b and Dec.26


52 Recorded Feb.2"June 8 and Aug.23-Sep.lli53 Recorded Jan.l7-May 9 and Sep.13

52 Trans.vis.Apr.20-Kay 17 & Sep.7-Oct.l8j suiaaer

res. at Jenny Lake

53 Recorded May 9, Aug.l3-21,0ct.23, & Jenny Lake


Rough-legged Hawk

Bald Eagle

Marsh Hawk

Osprey

Peregrine Falcon

Pigeon Hawk

Sparrow Hawk

Ruffed Grouse


Virginia Rail

Sora

Florida Gallinule

American Coot

Ringed Plover

Killdeer

52 Recorded May 17 and Sep, 29

53 Recorded Dec. 8 and 12

52 Recorded Apr.17 (EH)53 Recorded Mar.l & 21, May 9, Dec. 26 & 27

52 Summer resident March 8 - Oct. 19

53 Summer res.Mar.6-0ct.liii winter vis.Dec.26

52 Trans.vis.Apr.1;-May 3 & Aug.23-Oct.ll}Jul.2O53 Trans.vis.Apr.18-June 7 and Aug.1352 Recorded Oct. h and Nov. 2

53 Recorded Mar. 23, Aug. 19, Dec. 2752 One adult, Ravena, May 18 (DT)Both years: Resident



52 Siunmer resident, Apr. 27 - Oct. lx

53 Recorded May 9

52 Summer resident May 25 - Sep. 21

53 Recorded May 9

52 Simmer resident Apr. 27 - Oct. 11

53 Recorded May 9 and Aug. 22

52 Trans .vis, Apr.l3-May 25 & Sep.27-Oct.1953 Trans.vis. Apr.l8 - May 9 & Oct. 2-25

52 Trans.via. May 17-25 & Aug. 2li

52 Summer resident March 17 - November 9

53 Summer resident Mar.22-Nov.l5; winter straggler, Collins Lake, Jan. Feb. Dec.

52 Second local record five, Vischer Ponds,Kay 2552 Summer resident, arrived March 3153 Summer resident Apr. 2li - Sep. 20

52 Summer resident Apr. 19 - Nov. 9

53 Recorded Oct. 13 and Nov. 1

52 Summer resident, arrived May 2753 Recorded May 952 Summer resident Apr. 26 - Sep. 21

53 Summer resident May 9 - Aug. 1652 Trans.vis. May 10-2b & Aug.23-2ij

53 Trans.vis. May 9-31 & Aug.LU-2252 Trans.vis.tfay 17-18 &. Oct.12

53 Trans.vis. May 9-15 & Sep. 2052 Trans.vis. May l8,Aug.2U, Sep.lli, Oct.li

53 Trans.vis. May 9 & 1552 Trans.vis. Sep. 21 - Nov. 1

53 Trans.vis. May 15 and Nov. 1

White-rumped Sandpiper 52 Trans.vis. May 17-25 and Aug. 23

53 Trans.vis. May 15 and Oct. UiLeast Sandpiper 53 Recorded May 9 and 15

Red-backod Sandpiper 52 Trans, vis. May 2b-25 and Sep.27-Oct,i;

Eastern Dowitcher 52 Vischer Ponds, twenty-one, May 18 (RS)Semipalmated Sandpiper 52 Trans.vis. May 17-25; July 20, Aug.23-2li

Ruddy Turnstone

American Woodcock

Wilson's Snipe

Upland Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Greater Yellow-legs

Lesser Yellow-legs

Pectoral Sandpiper

Sanderling

Northernj'halarope

Great Black-backed GullHerring Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Bonaparte's Gull

Common Tern

53 Recorded May 3, Collins Lake (EH)

52 One, Saratoga Lake, Nov.l(FT,RS)-Nov,5

53 Seven,three sites Feb.23(RY); three Mar.l; (RS)

52 Recorded every month except June and July

53 Recorded every month except June, July, Oct.

52 Winter and trans.vis.to Kay 18; arr.Aug.23

53 Winter and trans.vis.to May 9} arr. Sep. 1352 Recorded Apr .11: and May 2k

53 Recorded May 7 and 9, and Nov. 15

52 Trans, vis. May 11-25

53 Recorded May 955

FEATHERS

Black Tern

Mourning Dove

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Black-billed Cuckoo

Barn Owl

Screech Owl

Horned Owl,

Snowy Owl

Barred Owl

Whip-poor-will

Common Nighthawk

Chimney Swift

Ruby-rhr. Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher


Pileated Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker


Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Kingbird

Crested Flycatcher

Eastern Phoebe

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Acadian Flycatcher

Traill's Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Eastern Wood Pewee

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Horned Lark

Tree Swaflow

Bank Swallow

Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Purple Martin

56

October, 1954

52 Recorded May 25, July 27, August 23 and 2\i

53 Recorded Kay 952 Seer, each month; summer res. Mar. 16 - Oct. 15

53 Recorded each month

5? Sumner resident L'ay 1? - Sep. Hj

53 Summer resident, arrived May 15

52 Sumirer resident May 17 - Oct. li

53 SUi-nroer resident, arrived Way 952 One, Scotia, June 3 (PM) - early AugustBoth years: Resident


52 Recorded late November, French's Hollow (EH)




52 Summer resident May Ik - Sep. 29


52 Summer resident Apr. 22 - Aug. 2li


52 Summer resident May 11 - Oct. 9


52 Recorded each month except Jan. and Feb.

53 Recorded each month except Jan,

52 Summer resident Mar. 2 - Oct. 16

53 Summer resident Mar.8-Oct.12jJan.iijDec.26Both years: Resident, increasingly common

53 Recorded May 952 Trans.vis.Apr.l-May 17jSep.23-Oct.3953 Trans, vis. Apr. 22 - May 9 and Oct. li - 7Both years: Resident


52 Summer resident May 10 - Aug. 2U


52 Sumner resident May 10 - Sep. 7

53 Summer resident May 9 - Aug. 22



52 Transient visitor May 6-17 and Sep. 3-11

53 Transient visitor Aug. lU - Sep. 2li52 One, Loudonville, Sep. 29 (MWF)52 Summer resident, arrived May 2U



52 Summer resident May 2ii - Sep. 15

53 Summer resident May 9 - Aug. 2952 Recorded May 30

52 Winter visj summer rea. Mar.2-Nov.ll53 Winter visitor and summer resident

52 Summer resident Mar.30 - Oct.5

53 Summer resident Mar. 29 - Sep. 1352 Summer resident Apr. 27 - Aug. 2U53 Summer resident Apr. 18 - Aug. 2252 Summer resident, arrived April 26

53 Summer resident, arrived April 19

52 Summer resident Apr. h - Sep. 7

53 Summer resident Apr. 18 - Sep. 13

52 Summer resident May 17 - Aug. 2lj


52 Local sum.res.Saratoga, recorded June 2

53 Recorded May 9, Saratoga

FEATHERS

Gray Joy

Blue Jay

American Crow


Tufted Titmouse



Brown Creeper

House Wren

Winter Wren

Long-billed Marsh Wren

Mockingbird

Catbird

Brown Thrasher

American Robin

Wood Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Olive-backed Thrush

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Veery

Eastern Bluebird



Water Pipit

Cedar Waxwing

Gray Shrike

Common Starling

White-eyed Vireo


Solitary Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Philadelphia Vireo

Warbling Vireo

October. 1954

53 One, Delmar Qame Farm, Mar. 15 (NW)




52 First local record, March 31 (Mrs.C.J.Grace)53 At Niskayuna feed stations Nov.29-Dec.26


52 Winter and trans .vis. to May 18j arr.Sep.25

53 Winter & trans .vis* to May 9; arrived Sep.lii

52 V/inter & trans .vis. to May 17 J arrived Sep.23

53 Winter & tran3.vis.t0 May 9jarrived Oct.l

52 Summer resident Apr. 25 - Oct. 11

53 Summer resident Apr. 26 - Sep. 1352 Winter &. trans.vis.to May 17; returned Sep.2lj

53 Winter & trans.vis.to May 9l returned Oct.8

52 Summer resident May 17 - Nov. 1 (RS)


53 One at Loudonville Aug. 17 (MWF)52 Summer resident May 2 - Oct. 5

53 Summer res.May 2-Oct.l3j Dec.26 at feeder

52 Summer resident, arrived April 27

53 Summer resident May 3 - Oct. 352 Summer resident Mar.l5-Oct.26,plus -winter dates

53 Summer resident Feb.23-Mov.19i and Dec.252 Summer resident Apr. 25 - Oct. 5

53 Summer resident Apr. 30 - Sep. 2\\

5? Trans.vis.Apr.l8-June 8 L Oct.5-1953 Winter vis* Jan.9-18,Feb.23; trans.vis.Apr.2U-

June 6 and Oct.2-26; local summer resident

52 Trans.vis.May 10-23 & Sep.l-Oct.lt53 Trans, vis. May 7-17 and Sep. 10 - 2552 Trans, vis. May 17 and Sep. 22 - Oct. 19

53 Transient visitor Sep. 23 - Oct. 1

52 Summer resident, arrived Kay 10

53 Summer resident May 6 - Aug. Ill

52 Summer resident Var. 22 - Nov. 11


52 Trans .vis .Mar.30-May 10 & Sep.25-Nov.l6jwinter

visitor

53 Winter & trans.vis.to May 9jarrived 0ct,7

52 Trans.vis. Apr.lO-May 16 and Sep*27 - Nov. 2

53 Trans, vis. Apr. 18 - May 9 and Oct. 1-2352 Trans, vis. Apr.12 - May 19 and Oct. 5 - Nov. 9

53 Oib record, May 9

52 Summer resident Mar.l6-Oct.19j winter visitor53 Summer res. Mar.21 - Oct.28j winter vis.Feb.28

52 One record, March 16

53 One record, March 2


53 First since 1937j June 7(SBC),Aug.l6(MWF)52 Summer resident Apr. 23 - Sep. lli

53 Summer resident May 9 - Aug. 22

52 Trans.vis.May Ii-18 &. Sep.23^3ct.l8; Iocs.res.

53 Trans.vis .Hay 9 & Sep.l6-Oct.17j loc.s.r.52 Summer resident Kay 9 - Oct. 653 Summer resident May 9 - Sep. 2552 Recorded May 25 and Oct. 3

53 Recorded May 9 and Sep. 2552 Summer resident Apr. 29 - Sep. 1353 Summer resident, arrived May 6



Worm-eating Warbler

Golden-winged Warbler

Blue-winged Warbler

(Brewster's Warbler)

Tennessee Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Parula Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Cape May Warbler


Myrtle Warbler


Blackburnian Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Black-poll Warbler

Pine Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Palm Warbler

Oven-bird

Northern Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

Mourning Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Yellow-breasted Chat

Black-capped Warbler

Canada Warbler

Redstart

58

52 Summer resident May 3 - Sep.27

53 Summer resident, arrived May 652 Local summer resident, arrived May 11

53 Local summer resident, arrived May 9

52 Summer resident, arrived Kay 10


52 Vischers Ferry, May 17-2li and June 21

53 Recorded Aug.lt (W7F)

52 Recorded Kayl753 Recorded May 16

52 Transient visitor May 17 - 21*53 Transient visitor May 12 - 1652 Transient visitor May li-lfl and Sep. 20 - Oct. $

53 Transient visitor May 6-10 and Aug. II4 - Sep.25

52 Transient visitor May 10-25 and Sep.lO-Oct.553 Transient visitor May 9-16 and Sep. 25

52 Summer resident May U - Oct. 5


52 Trans.vis. May 10-2U and Aug.23 - Oct. 1253 Trans, vis. May 7-9 and Aug.22 - Oct. 8

52 Trans, vis. Vay 10-21* and Aug.U - Oct.8

53 Trans, vis. May 2-17 and Sep. 20

52 Trans, vis. May 10-18 and Sep.25-Oct.ll

53 Trans.vis. May 7-9 and Sep.2U52 Trans.vis.Apr.22-May 18 and Aug.2l4-Nov.3

53 Trans.vis.Apr.19-May 17 & Aug.22-Oct.27jFeb.23

52 Summer resident May 3 - Nov. 3


52 Trans, vis. May 10-18 and Aug. 23 - Sep. 753 Recorded May 8 and 9



52 Trans.vis. ilay 17-2U &. Sep.6-Oct.6 (RY)53 Recorded May 15 and Sep. 20

52 Trans.vis. May 15-25 and Sep. 7 - Oct. Ik

53 Trans, vis. May 16 - 29 and Sep. 20 - Oct. 11


53 Summer resident Apr. h - Sep. 28

52 Summer resident, Karners, arrived May 17

53 Summer resident, Karners, arrived May 9

52 Trans, vis. Apr. 23 and Oct. 5

53 Trans, vis. April 18-19 and May 9



52 Trans, vis. Apr, 26 - June 8 and Sep. 7-20

53 Trans, vis. May 9 - 30 and Aug. 20



52 Trans, vis. May 17 - 2052 Summer resident May 8 - Oct. 26



53 Stumer resident, arrived May 9

52 Tpans. vis. May 17-23 and Aug. 2ij

53 Trans, vis. Sep. 20

52 Trans, vis. May 17-30 and Aug.2U - Sep. 1053 Trans.vis. May 8-16 and Aug.1752 Summer resident May 6 - Sep. 26



House Sparrow

Bobolink

Eastern Meadowlark


Orchard Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Rusty Blackbird

Purple Grackle


Scarlet Tanager

Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Evening Grosbeak

Purple Finch

Pino Grosbeak

Common Redpoll

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Red Crossbill

Eastern Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow

Henslow's Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Slate-colored Junco


Chipping Sparrow

Both yearst Resident

52 Summer resident May k - Aug. 2k53 Summer resident May 3 - Aug. 22

52 Summer res.Uar.22-Oct.l8; also Feb.2l4,Mar»2

53 Summer res.Mar.15-Nov.lUj also Jan. 152 Summer resident Mar.13 - Nov.3Oj Dec. 27

53 Su-rmer resident Kar.lj-Nov.2ii; Jan. and Dec*

52 Recorded at Ravena May 11 and 17


53 Summer res. May 6-Aug.31» one immature, Ball-

ston Lake feeders thru Dec, and one at

Slingerlands Dec. 31 et seq.

52 Trans.vis. Mar.22-Apr.26 and Sep.2t4-Nov.l

53 Recorded Mar.22 and Apr. 18

52 Summer res. Mar.13-Nov.l6j Jan.6, Dec.2353 Summer res. Mar.U-Nov.l; Jan.l & ll, Dec.2652 Summer res. Mar.21-Nov.llj live Jan.6 (RY)

53 Summer resident March 22 to November lli

52 Summer resident May 11 - October k

53 Summer resident Kay 9 - Sep. 2k52 One, Loudonville, Jan.l-Mar.21(MWF); Apr.17 and

Nov.13, Catskillj May 19, Elsmere

53 One, Collins Lake, Scotia, Aug.1652 Summer resident May 7 - Sep. 25


52 Summer resident May 15 - Oct. 5 (RS)53 Summer resident May 9 - Sep. 20

52 Common winter vis; large flocks to Kay 18;arrived Nov. 2

53 Conmon winter vis. to Mar.18; also May 9 and

Dec.13; no fall influx recorded

52 Common wint.vis.; summer res.Mar.U-Nov.2

53 Winter vis; summer res. Mar. 29 - Nov. 2

52 Winter visitor to Mar. 30

53 Winter vis. to Mar.22; also Apr.l8-19(SBC)

52 Winter vis. to Apr. k} returned Nov. 1

53 Winter visitor to Apr. 19; no fall dates

52 Winter &. trans.vis. to May 2k; arr.Oct.ll

53 Winter & trans .vis .to Kay 9; no fall dates .


52 Flock of 200 Mar.7,Indian Ladder; Nov.2

53 Trans, vis. Apr, 18 - May 9




53 Summer resident Apr. 2k - Sep. 1352 Summer resident, arrived Kay 17

53 Summer resident, arrived May 952 Summer resident, arrived May 11


52 Summer res. Mar.3O-Oct.5j also Fab,2ft (RS)53 Summer resident Apr. 2k - Aug. ll*52 Winter and trans .vis.to May 17; air. Sep. 2553 Recorded each month except June and September

52 Winter visitor to Apr.l3j returned Oct. 2553 Winter visitor to Mar.29; returned Oct. 30

52 Summer resident Apr« 17 - Oct. 3053 Summer resident March 21 (EH) - Oct. 8

59


FEATHERS is published montkly bySCHENECTADY 'BIRD CLUB, INC.

Editor: Guy Bartlett, 1053 "Parkwood Blod,

Circulation: *Mabel Barnes, 114 McCUllan St.

Viola itCabb, Treaeueec, 1624 Beckec Steeet

Annual Membership Dues: Sustaining, $5; Active, $3; Associate, $2; Junior, $1

Field Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

White-lhroafed Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lapland Longtpur

Snow Bunting

KEI to Abbreviations:


53 Summer resident Mar, 22 (SBC) - Oct. 8

52 Trans, vis. May I0-2U and Sep.13 - Oct.19;also Feb. 3, 5, 11 (D.C.Prince)

53 Trans, vis. May 6-17 and Sep. 25 - Oct. 13

52 Trans.vis.Apr.20-May 19 & Sep.2lHfov.l6; localsummer res.; also Feb.13, Mar.22, Apr.7

53 Trans.vis.Apr.20-May 16 & Sep.9-Nov.l; local

summer res; Jan.ii-Mar.29 at Collins Lake52 Trans, vis. Mar. 23 - Apr. 25 & Nov. 1 - 1153 Trans, vis., recorded Kay 3 and Nov. 852 Trans, vis. Sep. 2li - Oct. 11$3 Recorded Sep. 23

52 Summer res. Apr. 10-Oct. 19$ straggler Nov.l &

16j also Bee. 2353 Summer resident Apr. 18-Nov. 1; also winter

visitor both winters


53 Recorded Jan. 1 and Feb. 2252 Winter vis, to Mar. Uj; returned Nov. 2

MBFrench

EHallenbeck

ATTolmes

MEMcDonald

FMHTerRStone

DTucker

FTurrentine

NWorst

LWiard

RTunick

SBC CALENDAR

Mildred D. Crary, Secretary

Sun.,Wov.lit? SBC field trip, Saratoga and Round Lakesj leader, Dr. Minnie B. Scotland, Albany 2-3J&L. Start from Union andPalmer at 8 a.m. or meet at Round Lake at 8:30 a.m.

Wed.jNov.l?: Second Audubon Screen Tour, Central Park Junior High School

Auditorium, 8 p.m. Murl Deusing, Milwaukee, "Outlaws inNature." Season tickets only.

A story of wildlife creatures that live by fang and claw —

the predators — a veritable rouge's gallery of theworld of nature. In color and action, a dramatic and understanding portrayal of the struggle for existence.

Thu.jDec. 9: Third Audubon Screen Tour, Central Park Junior High SchoolAuditorium, 8 p.m. G. Harrison Orians, Toledo, "GreatSmoky Skyland."

Purple mist, towering trees and sky-high ridges. The village names tell the storyj Balsam, Skyland, Boone, Chim

ney Rock, Highlands, Lake Lure, Little Switzerland, Mount

Airy, Pocahontas. One of our greatest remaining "wilder

ness areas. Birds and other "wildlife, scenic beauty,

hidden wildflowers and primitive civilization of mountainfolk.

60

Published by Schcnedady Bird Club, Inc.

Vol.16 No.11 November, 1954

WE WERE THERE, IN NUMBERSThe seventh annual meeting of the Federation of New York

State Bird Clubs was held at the scenic campus of Cornell

University, Ithaca, August 27-29, under the auspices of the

University's Laboratory of Ornithology, the Cayuga Bird Cluband the Cornell Field Ornithology Club. This year the Sche-

nectady Bird Club did not attend in a greater number than

did the local club, but it led the remainder of the clubs.

Wo group transportation or hotel accommodations were arj

ranged, but by diverse routes, singly or in pairs and occa

sionally in greater numbers, by auto and by air 22 SBCers

descended upon Ithaca.

The convention started with committee meetings Friday

evening. Registration went along smoothly that evening and

was completed Saturday morning. A total of 215 was regis

tered, decidedly bettering the previous high of 161 set atSchenectady in 1952. After registration some spent the

morning birding on .local field trips, while others enter

tained and educated themselves at the various exhibits in

i'ernow Hall.

The Council meeting commenced at 9>3O a.m. Saturday with

^resident Harold D. Mitchell presiding. Twenty-nine dele

gates, representing 19 clubs, answered the roll call. Miss

Audrey Wrede, chairman of the Membership Committee, reported

the total membership of the Federation as 27 clubs and 320individual members.

The .fublications and Kesearch Committee reported that ur.

Stephen Jiaton needs more papers for publication in The King

bird, with special emphasis upon reports of extensive data

accumulated by several years' study in any interesting localarea. This is a matter which SBC members should heed since

we should be able to contribute much in this respect.

To incorporate

The Council voted to consider the incorporation of the

Federation. Three members of SBC were appointed as members

of a committee to study the matter and to take the steps

they deem necessary to have the Federation incorporated. The

SBC members so appointed are Samuel A. ],ladison, Ouy Bartlett

and Mrs. Dayton Stoner. The Council also voted to accept

the proposal of the finance Committee to increase individual

dues from #2 to $2.50 per year, and to submit this proposalto the member clubs for ratification.

The Conservation Committee proposed that a resolution beadopted by the Council expressing its opinion that the con-

61

FEATHERS Novmber, 1954

FEATHERS is published montnly bySCHENECTADY *BIRD CLUB, INC

Editor: GuyBactlett, 1053'Parkwood Bltfd.

Circulation: T*abel Barnes, 114 McCUUan St"Viola"Mabb, TreasucOT, 1624 BeckeeSfcegt

Annual Membership Dues: Sustaining, $5; Active, $3; Associate, $2; Junior, $1

stitutional provision that tlie State forest preserve lands

be kept forever wild be retained in its present form. The

following resolution was adopted:

"RESOLVED that the federation of flew York State Bird

Clubs favors retention of Article ilV, Section 1 of the

wew Xork State Constitution which proteots the forest

preserve by requiring it to be forever kept as wild fo

rest lands, without modification or amendment, and that

the Conservation Committee be authorized to take such

action as it deems necessary to achieve this result."

Mrs. atoner presented a plan to the council whereby mem

ber clubs and other organizations sponsored by member clubs

could sell Barton-Cotton note paper and other wild life il

lustrated items at a profit. By having an officer of the

local bird club sign the orders forwarded to Barton-Cotton,

with a statement on the order that it is to be credited to

Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, the Federation

would receive a percentage of the amount which the oompany

would receive for the items sold — a percentage beyond that

given the local club. The Council voted to approve this

plan for raising much-needed funds to meet Federation ex

penses.

Officers Named

Officers elected for the calendar year 1955 were: Presi

dent, Harold D. Mitchell, Buffalo; Vice President, Guy Bart-

lett, Schenectady; Recording Secretary, Elizabeth A. Feld-

husen, Saratoga Springs; Corresponding Secretary, Elizabeth

S. Manning, New York; and Treasurer, H. Everest Clements,

Rochester.

The Council voted to accept the invitation of the Chemung

Valley Audubon Society to hold the Eighth Annual Convention

at Elmira in 1955.

After the Council meeting everyone adjourned to tfillard

Straight Hall on the campus for lunch. The afternoon ses

sion, which commenced at 1:30, filled Fernow Hall to over

flowing.

Movies and Talks

Harold D. Mitchell presented a paper, accompanied by mo

tion pictures, of an unusual Killdeer nesting — on a flat

roof in downtown Buffalo.

Dr. Stephen Eaton read a paper on "The Birds of the High

Plateaus of Southwestern New York." His observations showthat fewer species nest in these areas than in the nearby

lowlands.

Mrs. Edward C. Ulrich read a paper on "The Arctic Wood

pecker Invasion of Western New York During the Past Winter."Her talk was illustrated by motion pictures of this northern

species which appeared in western New York in greater thanusual numbers.

62

FEATHERS Novmbefr 1954

Edward L. Seeber read a paper on "A Recent Extension of

the Ranges of the Blue-winged and Golden-winged ./arblers

into the Ithaca Areas." This interesting paper represented

the results of much intensive field work.

Mrs. Southgate Y. Hoyt presented a paper on "Bewick's

Wren in New York State." Her paper was illustrated with a

short motion picture of this member of the wren family whichhas made some appearances in New York State recently.

In the absence of Dr. Allen H. Benton (caused by the arrival of another bird, the stork), a paper he had preparedon "Birds and Utility Lines'* was read by title into the pro

gram.

Lawrence S. Smith, refuge manager of Montezuma tfild Life

Refuge, described the scene of Sunday's field trip and pre

sented an entertaining history of the Refuge.

The annual banquet was held at Cornell Heights Residen

tial Club at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Mitchell delivered the annualpresidential address, followed by William Dllger's humorous

and fictitious account of a scientific expedition to a re

mote island. The evening was brought to a close by Drs.

Peter Paul Kellogg and Arthur A. Allen, who told of their

recent trip to Churchill and the surrounding tundra terri

tory. Their talks were illustrated by motion pictures ofthe birds and their own activities in photographing and re

cording the songs of the northern species.

The Aliens Cook, and Cook

Those who attended the field trips to Kontezuma Swamp

were invited to breakfast at G-lenside, the home of Dr. and

Mrs. Allen, at 7 a.m. Sunday. After a hearty repast, we

were prepared for the coldness and dampness (polite for

rain) at the swamp.

The large pond immediately north of the refuge headquar

ters was drained and afforded little opportunity for bird-

ing. The best results were obtained by taking Route 4.14 to

the northwestern part of the swamp and following the dike

which passes along the northeastern edge of that portion of

the swamp (See map of Ivlontezuma Swamp, FEATHERS, Hay, 1950,page 36). The total number of species seen at the swamp bySBC members was not too impressive, partly because of the

weather but also because the strenuous activities of the two

preceding days had sapped the determination of most of the

birders to cope with the elements.

The woodpecker family furnished the high spot of the

birdlng activities. A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers were

first spotted by a member of SBC. Then a pair of Red-bel

lied Woodpeckers were seen at a nest hole not over 200 feet

from the dike. The hole was on the dike side of the tree

and afforded a beautiful chance for observation of this alltoo rare species. Just as we were leaving the swamp two

Red-headed Woodpeckers were seen.

A Whistling Swan was working its way through the swampywoods, but could be seen clearly by careful observationthrough the telescope. Several Least Bitterns showed themselves clearly as they flew about in the swampy area. Flo

rida GalUnules allowed themselves to be observed for a long

63

FEATHERS November. 1934

time, and once several Gallinules and Coot were in the fieldof the telescope at the same time. Two Bald Eagles and an

Osprey were seen. In all, a total of at least 70 specieswere identified by SBC members in the field — they are tab

ulated on page 65.


Dr. Roy E. Hunt and Pauline Baker, Co-chairmen

HERONS. DUCKS AND HAWKS Hudson River Trip. Sept. 25

Twelve SBC members participated Saturday, September 25,

in the Stoner Hudson River Trip — the trip named for the

late Dr. Dayton Stoner. The Albany weatherman reported 47°at 7:30 a.m. and 65° at 3:30 p.m. daylight time. However,the overcast sky and increasing wind made it seem colder as

we drove from the capital city down the east side of the

Hudson River and across the Rip Van Winkle bridge to the

small park where we had our lunch stop.

Some ten stops were made on this round trip of 80 miles.These stops gave observers an opportunity to get a good view

of two Long-billed Marsh Y/rens, two Green Herons, Great Blue

Herons, American Egrets, and other kinds of birds.

It is quite interesting that 15 of the total of 16 Black-crowned Night Herons were seen together in one area.

The 16 Green-winged Teal were the most outstanding ducks

recorded, as they are not now so frequently reported here.

The two flocks (six in one and 10 in the other) were in dif

ferent localities. They were studied by telescope by Mr.

and Mrs. Foote and others. Our list also contained two Wood

Ducks, eight Mallards, and 100 or more Black Ducks.

The one Turkey Vulture, fir3t seen by Ella Robinson, was

distinguishable from the nearby flock of flying Crows by its

V-shaped wings, dix Marsh Hawks and six unidentified hawks

were also noted.

The one Yellow-throated Vireo was identified by Esly Hal-

lenbeck on one of the early stops. Then, when we were about

20 miles south of Albany on main Highway 9. we watched a

Black-billed Cuckoo as it flew about in the foliage of one

of the roadside trees; the Cuckoo was first noted by lir.

Howard.

Other especially interesting solitary records were the

Spotted Sandpiper, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Flicker, Phoe

be, (these last two noted by Pauline Baker), Ueadowlark, andVVhite-breasted Nuthatch (noted by Misses Abel, Holmes, Ker-

ley and Maxon).

Although the River Trip was later than usual this Septem

ber, we were glad to see two each of Chimney Swiftg and Yel-

lowthroats, and three each of Catbirds, Purple Finches, andChipping Sparrows.

The 35 Blue Jays were by actual count, but estimates were

made of the 100 Black Ducks, 65 Crows, 50 Starlings, 25House Sparrows, 1500 Red-winged Blackbirds IThis could havebeen 2,000 or more as the swampy reeds seemed full of these

birds, besides the many flocks in the air), and 25 Goldfinches, which were heard frequently.

Although we kept watching, no Bald Eagles, 0spreys,burning Doves or Bluebirds were visible to us. Had the

64

FEATHERS November, 1954

tide been low instead of high and the weather more favorable,

v;e had hoped that Bess Wood might have secured a picture of

soiae of the 2,000 individual birds or at least one of the 42

species we listed on the trip.

As usual, one of the main objectives of this trip is the

number of American Egrets that we can see on this eastern

flyway. Out of a total of 31 that were recorded, 22 were

counted at one place just a short distance north of the Rip

Van Winkle bridge. This was on the return trip on the westside of the river. Prom a rather precipitous vantage point

above the water we looked across to the east bank of the ri

ver and saw 17 American Egrets resting in two trees. These

large white birds were perched on midway branches of the

fairly tall trees. Three others, not too distant, were set

tled in a tree top, and two more were seen flying above the

water. Although a large boat went by, the birds were not

especially disturbed.

So, our beautiful view of the Hudson with these large

white Egrets in the trees on the river bank made a striking

memory picture for our last stop — and one we will long re

member. — Lillian C. Stoner

NISKAYPNA, AND &EADOYJDALE Details Later

The October 3 trip to Niskayuna Wide Voters and the Octo

ber 17 trip to Keadowdale were chronologically next on the

SBC field-trip program. Those trips will be reported later.

RUDDIES. AND EVENINGS Alcove Reservoir, Oct. 31

Although October 31 was chilly and there was a fog, nine

SBC members joined the leader in Delmar and proceeded to Al

cove, and by way of Routes 32 and 143 were able to cover the

reservoir area. The first sight was a flock of ducks but

the light was not good, so the party reversed its route and

was able to account for 25 species. There were four Common

Loons, a Horned Grebe, 31ack Ducks, and, at the very last, a

dozen Ruddy ihacks and four Canvas-backs. They were a joy to

behold, and the party lingered long near the causeway to en

joy them. Hawks included three Red-tailed and a Sparrow

Hawk. Two Robins and two Bluebirds were noted, and two Myr

tle Warblers. About 25 Goldfinches and 25 Meadowlarks added

to the day. We were glad to welcome the Evening Grosbeak,

to the number of four. As the day went on the sun failed

and the clouds thickened. It was rather cold when the party

returned to Delmar. — Pauline E. Baker

PINE GROSBEAKS Round-Saratoga Lakes. Nov. 14

With temperatures from 38 to 50 degrees and skies from

gray cloudy to blue with the sun shining, the SBC birders

had a satisfactory trip to Saratoga Lake on November 14.

There were 18 adults and four children participating. When

Round Lake was given a survey it seemed as though the day

was not going to produce many birds. A mere five Black

Ducks and three Herring Gulls were found there. However, at

Saratoga Lake the ducks were relatively near, and could be

easily identified by the skilled observers with the aid oftelescopes — of which several were in use. The numbers^

were not great. Junday was, incidentally, a closed day in

the duck-hunting season.

Scaup were the most common, with Golden-eyes trailing. Of

65

FEATHERS Novmbor, 1954

the grebes the Horned out numbered the Pied-billed 6:1 (or36 to 6, to be exact). Outstanding were two Old-squaws inth6 midst of some Scaup and Buffle-heads. About 16 Canvas-

backs were observed, and four White-winged Scoters and two

Ruddy Ducks were spotted. A Killdeer appeared almost at our

feet. The three species of gulls — Herring, Ring-billed

and Bonaparte's — obligingly grouped themselves so that

with one look through a scope all three were on the field.

The Bonaparte was in winter plumage. At Brown's Beach a

Kingfisher occupied one of the posts usually claimed by

gulls. Bluejays were heard, as well as Chickadees. At theend of the trip a White-breasted Nuthatch sounded off. The

search for Grosbeaks was not in vain, as four Pines were

counted. Only three Tree Sparrows could be stirred up. The

total of 24 species was the result of a fine morning of

birding. Conspicuous misses were Mergansers, Hawks, Wood

peckers, Goldfinches, Juncos, and Song Sparrows.

— Dr. Minnie B. Scotland

FOUR TRIPS 93 Species

In the following reports on 93 species the key is: (A)Montezuma, August 29; (B) Hudson River, September 25; IC)Alcove Reservoir, October 31; (D) Round-Saratoga Lakes, No

vember 14*

Common Loon od Ringed Plover aHorned Grebe cd Killdeer ab dPied-billed Grebe a d Spotted Sandpiper abPiedbilled r

Great Blue Heron

American Egret

Green Heron

ab

ab

ab

Black-crowned Night Her. ab

American Bittern a

Least Bittern a_

Solitary Sandpiper a

Herring Gull abedRing-billed Gull ab d

Bonaparte's Gulld

Common Tern a

Mourning Dove a

7/histling Swan

Canada Goose

Mallard

Black Duck

American Widgeon

Green-wineed Teal

Black-billed Cuckoo b

Chimney Swift ab

Ruby-thr. Hummingbird ab

abed Belted Kingfisher ab d

a Yellow-shafted Flicker ab

b Pileated Woodpecker a

a

a c

ab

Blue-winged Teal

Wood Duck

Canvas-back

a Red-bellied Woodpecker a

ab Red-headed Woodpecker a

od Hairy Woodpecker a c

Lesser ScaupAmerican Golden-eye

Buffle-head

cd Downy Woodpecker t

d Eastern Kingbird a

d Crested Flycatcher a_

Old-squaw

White-winged Scoter

Ruddv Duck

d Eastern Phoebe

d Wood Pewee

a_od Tree Swallow

ab

a

ab

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Bank Swallow

Barn Swallow

Blue «Tay

a

a

abed

Bald Eagle

Marsh Hawk

Osprev

a

ab

a

Sparrow Hawk a c

Hawk (Sp?) bRing-necked Pheasant bFlorida Gallinile a.

American Coot a

66

American Crow abed

Black-capped Chickadee abed

White-breasted Nuthatch abedLong-billed Marsh .i/ren ab"Catbird ab

American Robin aboBluebird

Cedar YJaxwing

a c

ab

FEATHERS

Common Starling


Black and White WarblerYellow ./arbler

Myrtle Warbler

Common YellowthroatRedstart

House Sparrow

Bobolink

Eastern Meadowlark


Baltimore Oriole

abed

b

a

a

c

ab

a

abed

a

abc

ab

a

November, 1954

Purple Grackle


Evening Grosbeak

Purple Finch

Pine Grosbeak

American Goldfinch

Slate-colored Junco


Chipping Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Song Sparrow

ab

a

c

b

d

abc

c

d

ab

a

abc

t BRIEFING THE RECORDDr. Allen H. Benton, Records CommHfe* Chairman

September, like most of 1954, was slightly cooler than normal, with a high of 86° on the 5th. Precipitation was morethan an inch below normal, although clouds obscured the sun

much of the time, and sunshine was 24$ lower than normal.Bird migration has been good, with warblers especially being

much more obvious and in larger waves than was true during

the spring.

Pied-billed Grebes were seen at Vischer Ponds on Sept.24.The Stoner Hudson River trip (page 64) featured 31 AmericanEgrets. Black-crowned Wight Herons were seen at Collins

Lake on Sept. 21 lEHallenbeckJ. Hawks reported include Os-prey at Vischer Ponds on Sept. 24 (EH), Cooper's iiawk atSchenectady on Sept. 29 (HEddy), and a Turkey Vulture on the

Stoner trip Sept. 25.

Last date for the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is Sept. 24 at

Loudonville (MFrench), Nighthawk Sept. 26 \1ZF), Chimney

Swift Sept. 20 IMF), Kuby-throated Hummingbird Sept. 24 \15F).

.First dates for fall migrants are Yellow-bellied Sapsuck-

er, Sept. 25 (MF); Yfinter Y/ren Sept. 21 {UF); Ked-breastedNuthatch Sept. 25-26, Slingerlands. (LGrace); ulive-backed

Thrush, Sept. 21, Collins Lake IEH); Kuby-crowned Kinglet

Sept. 21, Collins Lake (EH); Solitary Vireo Sept. 12 (MF);

Philadelphia Vireo Sept. 22 {IZF).

Warbler records, migrant and resident, are abundant this

month. Thirteen species were reported, as follows lfirst

records only): Black and White, Sept. 15 U^FJ; Washville,Sept. 15 (EH); Magnolia, Sept. 9 U&1); Black-throated Blue,Sept. 21 (MF); Black-throated Green, Sept. 6 (i/j'j; Parula,Sept. 26, Shaker Road (ABenton); ,yrtle, Sept. 24, VischerPonds (EH); Yellow, Sept. 29 (HE); Black-poll, Sept. 10 (LE1);

Oven-bird, Sept. 21 (JSP); Yellowthroat, Sept. 24 (MF); Black-capped, Sept. 10 [ME); Cape liay, Sept. 27 (MF); and Redstart, Sept. 6 (ItfCB1).

Other first dates include: V/hite-throated Sparrow, Sept.

15, Scotia (EH); White-crowned Sparrow, Sept. 24, VischerPonds (EH); Lincoln's Sparrow, Sept. 21, Loudonville (MF).

October was about 5 degrees warmer than average, with an es

pecially wana spell from the 10th to the 16th. Precipitation was slightly below normal. A low temperature of 25 to30 degrees on the 8th effectively ended the frost-free season, and set a new low record for that date at Albany.

The fall migration proceeded in a satisfactory manner,

67

FEATHERS Novmber, 1954

and several species occurred in unusual nunbers or at unusu

al dates. Coramon Loons v/ere reported by GBartlett from Jen

ny Lake on Oct. 2 and by SBC from Alcove Dam on Oct. 31. One

American Egret still lingered at Niskayuna until Oct. 3,

where it was seen by members of the SBC field trip. Water

fowl moved south by the end of the month, and five species

of ducks and geese, as well as Horned Grebe and Loon, were

recorded at Alcove Dan on the 31st by the SBC trip. Stand

out among the ducks were 12 Ruddy Ducks.

Late date for the Yellow-billed Cuckoo was Oct. 11 (MF),Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were reported several times, last

date on Oct. 23 (MF). Three reports of Pileated V/oodpeckerswere received (NHarrington, NWorst. GB). Last date for theHouse Wren was Oct. 1 (MF), and for Winter Wren Oct. 16-17(BLWilson). Olive-backed Thrushes were seen on Oct. 7 and11 at Loudonville (ivIF).

Both species of Kinglets were migrating throughout themonth, with heavy concentrations of Golden-crowned reported

from several areas. Red-breasted Nuthatches were reportedfrom feeders at Schenectady (HE) and Jenny Lake (GB). Reports of warblers and vireos were too numerous to list indi

vidually, but the following species were reported, most of

them by more than one person: Red-eyed and Solitary Vireos;

Nashville, Parula, Ivlagnolia, Cape l.Iay, Black-throated Blue,

Myrtle, Black-throated Green, Blackpoll, Palm, Black-cappediVarblers and Common Yellowthroat.

The biggest news in the grosbeak-sparrow family is that

it appears to be another Grosbeak Year. By November 1 Even

ing Grosbeaks had been reported on four occasions from wide

ly scattered areas. Pine Grosbeaks, normally much less com

mon, were reported twice: Oct. 24, Thacher Park, 2 (NH); andOct. 28, Loudonville, 5 (Iff). First date for the EveningGrosbeak was Oct. 17, one male at Mrs. LGrace's feeding station at olingerlands. All members should be on the lookout

for these birds, in expectation of an excellent season.

f NEWS AND NOTES IN BRIEF,

CHRISTMAS COUM1 Sunday. December 26

The local (Schenectady) Christmas Count will be made Sunday, December 26. Yet to be decided is the date for theTroy count — either Saturday, January 1, or the followingday. Plans for both will be completed at the December meet

ing of SBC, on Monday, the 13th, in the Pine Room of the

First Methodist Church, State and Lafayette Streets.Those who expect to participate in the Christmas Count

but cannot attend the meeting on the 13th should communicate

with Guy Bartlett, 3-0014, concerning coverage.

"MYSTERY" BIRD Heron. Of Sorts

A long-necked, green-legged, speckled-feathered bird baffled the Gazette of November 15. The bird, apparently with

an injured foot, was found in an alley next to 1391 StateStreet. Green Heron, said the Gazette.

It was an American Bittern. It was taken to the DelmarFarm for recuperation and liberation.

68

Published by Schencctady Bird Club, Inc.

Vol.16 Wo.12 December, 1954

A (Quarter (ttetttunj of GUfrteimaH Qtauttte

Eighty Species and More than 100,000 Individuals Have Been Counted —

Only Ten Kinds Show on All 25 Lists -- 160 Participants Went 4134

Miles — Starling, Crow, and House Sparrow Represent Three-fourths of

Total within Schenectady's Fifteen-mile Circle

It was a little more than a quarter century ago when a

few Schenectady birders drew a circle of 15 miles diameter,

so situated that it would encompass as many as possible of

their favorite birding areas ia v/inter — the top of Indian

Ladder for its local rarities, Lock 8 of the Barge Canal for

its open water, Vischer Ponds and Niskayuna Wide V/aters for

their Lock 7 and other possible open waters, as well as Mea-

dowdale liarshes, V.'atervliet Reservoir, and Schenectady's

Central Park.

On December 22 and 23, 1929, seven observers were afield,

finding 1029 counted individuals of 20 species of birds.

Since then, within a few days of Christnas each year, a si

milar count has been made within the sane territory — 25

such enumerations have now been completed.

Eighty species have been recorded, and in addition therehave been two recognized subspecies. The total count has

passed the century-thousand mark — 102,751 is the figure.

The observers traveled 4,134 miles in groups, 1128 miles ofit afoot and the rest by cars.

The 15-uile Circle

The same area of 15 miles diameter has been used for all25 Christmas Counts, but the area is "the same" geographi

cally only. Much has happened to it. Its population has

increased and hence farm lands have become suburban, andsuburban have become urban. Favorite dirt roads of thenhave become traffic-laden paved highways; major routes havebeen straightened and extended; and now the new New YorkState Thruway bisects the area. Many of the favored smallmarshes and swamps of then have been drained or filled, and

are now back-yards. V.'ooded areas have been cut back, butformer brush-covered areas have become light woods. Visaher-ônds have been developed by the state as one of its twelveV/aterfowl Management Areas. The map (pages 76-77) hardlyreflects all these changes.

(Text continued on Page 81}

69

FEATHERS

Table 1, Section 1

Year

December:

Number of Observers

Number of Parties

Party-hours, Total

On Foot

By Car

Party-miles, Total

On Foot

By Car

Time

Temperature

Wind

Weather

SpecieSjTotal

Number of Individuals

Added, Near Dates

Horned Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Mallard

Black Duck

American Golden-eye

Old-squaw

American Merganser


Goshawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Bald Eagle

Marsh Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Sparrow Hawk

Ruffed Grouse

European Partridge


American Coot

Killdeer

Herring Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Mourning Dove

Screech Owl

Homed Owl

Snowy Owl

Year

70

Ho.

Ira

1

31

315

l

21

1

10

I187

ii

l

151

2423

25

2

22

312

11

12

2

Total

Count

160

193

1273

944329

413411283006

80102751

2

1•z

12

1397141

288

24

11

rl

ii21

1

21

1

HI

147/

505

i

2

1B7

'i144

13H

Total

SUIE.JIRIES

Ufiff.

'onnt

4312

5620

301

76225

7am

8pm-22

56

427700

1

1

12

9

2311

66

24

6

9

1

31

b"

137

90

4

443

2

32

Has

'29(1)

23

61

10

91

29

920

75816

slN

ed

838

3

1

#

;s

•29

(2)22

1

1

4

1

44

ft2b

si

W

00

an

9191

3

3

2

•29(2)

and

1930

21

52

18

15. 3

771760

74

3542si

n

Pod

283100

4

#

7

l

#

1

2

1

2

1

ti

2

1

1930

1929 -

III2b

16

7

715120

190

30

lbO

75

1520

vstr

HW

ol

756b

9

2311

66

24

1

1

2

13

0

233

1

•31(1)

•31(2)27

1

1

7*4

10

10

812

12

32si

BW

ol

11

202

♦31(2)

December,

1933

1932(1)

24

10

5

50

30

20

11520

95

75

32

45-

0

el

297700

1

1

22

b

47

5

1

1

#

1954

Incl.

1932

2b

152

3621

15

105

20

85

75

3240

0 to

atrW

P

ed

22

1300

1

9

1

3

1932(2)

1933

23

145

50

3020

120

30

90

75

20

29

0

ed

322010

1

1

45

1

1

8

54

10

1933

FEATHERS December, 1954

Table 1, Section 1 (Cont'd)

Year

Barred Owl

Long-eared Owl

Belted Kingfisher


Pileated Woodpecker


Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Homed Lark

(Northern, subsp.)

Blue Jay

American Crow


Tufted Titmouse



Brown Creeper

Winter Wren

Carolina Wren (#)

Catbird

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Eastern Bluebird



Cedar Waxwine

Gray Shrike

Common Starling

Mvrtle Warbler

House Sparrow

Eastern Meadowlark

Red-wineed Blackbird

Baltimore Oriole (Tf)

Purple Grackle


Cardinal

Evening Grosbeak

Purple Finch

Pine Grosbeak

Common Redpoll

(Greater, subsp.)

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

White-winged Crossbill

Vesper Sparrow

Slate-colored Junco



Fox Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lapland Longspur

Year

16

710

1

2325

f252525

2514

12

t1

11

4

20

2

812

25

2559

341

59b

11

f8

25

2

2425

1

24

\

Total| Max.

CountCount

12

627

lb

25

271

8131

Ib2

1576

5270

93038

ggg

24

1

21

6

27b

2(J17

399721

10591

M21

6801

171631

3271726

2

4

400

25

Total

2

6

4

b

5

29

651

f195

4200

376

12

26b

1

52

20

352

141

396b*l

1400

511

375i

2971

580

24b

3742

2

748

3

20

200

SUKKARIE3 1

•29(U

1

10

r

3759

#

268

90

12

10

1

6

#

27

l)

•29

(2)

1

277

2

129

1Y

•29

(2)

1930

1

1

3

f

3

#

15Ibl7

85

742

19

945

135

5

30

192

7

1930

and 1929-1933 incl.

1931(1)

1

1

8

52000

88

5

13

3

6

3600

1400

2

75

6

9

23121

7

•31(1)

2

2

12

20

21

53

2

1

35

70

•31(£)

1

1

6

23

20

484200

163

20

10

3

1

6

1

2200

1

30

7214

21

1932(2)

CMCM1

4

10

10

400

164

18

lB

200

100

5

55

56

1

1932(2)

1933

1

4

519

18

550

76

252

2

1

9

l

700

100

12

29211

4

#

1933

FEATHERS

Table I, Section 2

Year

December:

Number of Observers

Number of Parties

Party-hours, Total

On Foot

By Car

Party-miles, Total

On Foot

By Car

Time

Temperature

Wind

Weather

Species,TotaI


Added, Near Dates

Horned Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Mallard

Black Duck

American Golden-eye

Old-squaw

American Merganser


Goshawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Bald Eagle

Marsh Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Sparrow Hawk

Ruffed Grouse


American Coot

Killdeer

Herring Gull

Ring-billed GuD

Mourning Dove

Screech Owl

Horned Owl

Snowv Owl

Year

72

193423

13550

3?18

125

7*5

7-18

0

od

307390

3

2

1

2

2

lb

2

5

i

1934

193521

12

5

4530

15

105

3570

7-4

5-10

vstr

w

od

263070

1

2

2

6

7

z

1

1935

193626

12

3622

14

95

87-53»-56si

sv

Od

272444

12

1

1

b9

9

3

1

1936

19372b

20

7

63

81364690

7-530-

450 to

IB 81

p ed

,.352609

2

3

52

1

1

6

13

15

2

1

1

1

1937

193?26

22

9

5620

152

S

7-510 •

30

0

ol

344439

2

7

1

1

1

3

17

8

5

1

1

1938

1934 .

1939

23

247

6

119

8 -

4*30IS .

38vstr

w

el -

ed

26

34695

1

#

6

1

2

1

1

1

54

12

15

fi

1939

1940

22

299

51*4?9J-

220

48

172

4,30

3b-

39si

a

od -

rtla

30

3501

4

27

1

1

1

2

55

b«

f

#

1940

December, 1954

- 1943 incl.

194121

_%47

3219840

158

7-4*30

-4-13si

RW

el

333935

1

6

2

1

9

3

2

9

37

4

2

1941

194220

2310

40

*

95

7*-4

-22

-20

0 to

8lW

el

4

2

2

1

1

7

14

1

1

1942

194326

239

166

8-510 .

30si

3

p ed

302898

2

1

2

3

8

13

23

I

1

1

1943


Table 1, Section 2 (Cont'd]

Year

Barred Owl

Long-eared Owl

Belted Kingfisher


Pileated Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucfcer

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Homed Lark

(Northern, subsp.)

Blue Tav

American Crow


Tufted Titmouse


Red-breasted Nudiatch

Brown Creeper

Winter Wren

Carolina Wren [#)Catbird

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Eastern Bluebird



Cedar Waxwine

Gray Shrike

Common Starling

Mvrtle Warbler

House Sparrow

Eastern Meadowlark


Baltimore Oriole ($)

Purple Grackle


Cardinal

Evening Grosbeak

Purple Finch

Pine Grosbeak

Common Redpoll

(Greater, subsp.)

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch


Vesper Sparrow

Slate-colored Junco



Fox Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lapland LongspurSnow Bunting

Year

1

l

2b

20

24

34

9l

27

3943

495

374

21

296

43l

35

1934

l?3?l

312

32

12

1300

77

7

3

1

933

221

1

110

14

11

296

11

1935

1936

3

b

19

24

242

4B

52

4

2

772

193

2

34

62

93

4

2

1956

19?7

6

1

9

34

3

47

212

2

71

1

4B

•j

839

41B

52

16

197

12

1937

19^8

1

B28

3

24

2800

249

47

2

1

1

14

3

610

3b9

1

4

10

Jg

5

1938

1934

1939

724

14

2io8

21

I

*

314

145

1

2

1563

1

118

5

1939

1940

12

3b

#

703

266

8312

1

1

19

1

1

1250

225

2

1584

28446

lb

1940

- 1943 incl.

1941

2

1547

110

1133240

42

■*

2

4

2

599

5472

188

fa

94

748

15

30

1941

1942

1

B

54

12

125858ISO

32

37

1

1

lb

1

679

155

1

33

142

439

1320

51

1942

1943

toro#

21

65

8

92

792

1

31

f

969

443

1

483

13

84

20

194373

FEATHERS

Table I, Section 3

December, 1954

1944 - 1951 inr»1.

Year

December:

Number of Observers

Number of Parties

Party-hours, Total

On Foot

By Car

Party-miles, Total

On Foot

By Car

Time

Temperature

Wind

Weather

SpecieSjTotal


Added, Near Dates

Horned Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Mallard

Black Duck

American Golden-eye

Old-squaw

American Merganser


Goshawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Bald Eagle

Marsh Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Sparrow Hawk

Ruffed Grouse

European Partridge


American Coot

Killdeer

Herring Gull

Ring-bflled Gull

Mourning Dove

Screech Owl

Homed Owl

Snowv Owl

Year

1944*\329

443410

181

126

8-«j

lB -

320-5 ?

W

p od

403951

2

1

2

2

1

I

13

2

1944

194523

268

453510

148

106

7-4

l -

19

MO

el

291579

5

3

1

1

1

31

2

2

1945

194622

15037

21451

163

7-

28 -

5-35w

Od

ocol

333105

1

17

1

1

2

3

2

3

b

10

6

1946

194721

4312

765719

225

7-

20 -

31w-im

0-20

base

•nol

7156

7

1

Z

b

1

1

74

22

1

1

1

1

1947

194826

3311

564511

192

58134

7-

•10

1

HV-W

O-25

el

26^6

1

3

1

1

1

4

b

4

24l

1

1948

19492b

3510

35

213

7-

V3B-W

0-10

ed

slrn

565^

1

4

8

#•

12

1

72

10

1

23

1

#

1949

195023

2310

58

20b

69137

7 -

w

0-2

el -

ed

377012

7

1

2

1

8

1

5b

5

10

1950

195130

299

46

3214

23845193

7 -

35-45B-S

od

slrn

5528

8

1

1

I

4

1

5

90

1

2

1

1951

195227

2710

513120

17550

125

7-

30-

10

E-HH

0-25

p ed

ol

o392871

12

13

50

1

4

88

20

44

1

1

1952

19532b

19

4730

189

37-5

24 -

383

4-8

p ed

ed

4|3708

1

3

1

10

I2

1

2

8

4

25

1

8

911

1

1953

74

FEATHERS

Table I, Section 3 (Cont'd)

December, 1954

19LL - 1953 inol.

Year 1944 1945 1946 1947 19481949 1950 1951 195a 1953Barred Owl

Long-eared Owl

Belted Kingfisher


Pileated Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucfccr

I2 550 22 38

To i6~40 32

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

29 126

13 22

33 36

Homed Lark

(Northern, subsp.)

Blue Jay <**> JS 93

24

J35JMAmerican Crow


Tufted Titmouse

542150

427 1342205 296

7»4258 341

23b

261 341310 302178 221

1White-breasted Nuthatch


Brown Creeper

56 21

2

26 10

39 351 2

1A 20

55 301

20

T5-E5

14 8

"28 46

Winter Wren

Carolina Wren [j'f]Catbird

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Eastern Bluebird

52

20



Cedar Waxwing

18

108

8 10

2

16

141

35

Gray Shrike

Common Starling

Myrtle Warbler

1394 227 89439661

839 3033 383O 3642 918 1266

House Sparrow

Eastern Mcadowlark


710 267 219 531

1

409 682

11

515 5545

399 522

2Baltimore Oriole (if )

Purple Grackle


#1 2

Cardinal

Evening Grosbeak

Purple Finch

6 29

71Pine Grosbeak

Common Redpoll

(Greater, subsp.)5 27 580 5 50 164

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch


1682 8 114 17

24b

231 37 122 8e

Vesper Sparrow

Slate-colored Junco

American Tree Sparrow53


Fox Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

116 11308

2

45 75255 420

20

299

1

16 128

359 674

Song Sparrow

Lapland Longspur

SnowBunting

58 3

200 15 8

7 19

12

34 134

IB-

1944 1945 194& 1947 1948 1949 195« 1951 1952 195375

FEATHERS

Pocotnbw, 1954

KEY

SCHENECTADVS

15-mile Circle of

CHRISTMAS

COUNTS

(Adapted from U. S. Geological

Survey Topographical Kaps.

Some of main roads shown "by

heavy lines, with Highway

numbers boxed.)

Collins Lake, Scotia

Woestina Sanctuary

Vale Cemetery, Schenectady

Central Park, Schenectady

Parkview Cemetery

U. S. Army Warehouse, South

Schenectady

Lock 7i Barge Canal and Mo

hawk River

Lock 8, Barge Canal and Mo

hawk RiverNormans Kill

Watervliet Reservoir

Bozen Kill

Black Creek

Meadowdale Marshes

Altamont

Guilderland Center

Helderberg Escarpment —

Indian Ladder — Thacher

State ParkThompson's Lake

Vborheesville

Fuller Road — Six-mile Water Works — One of the

Albany municipal parks

Karners — Sand Barrens

Hunger Kill (includingGuilderland Reservoir)

Albany Airport

Lisha Kill

Kbhawk View

Crescent Lake — Niskayuna

Wide Waters

Vischer PondsVischer Terry

Stony CreekGrooms CornersAqueduct

Consaul Road

Niskayuna River Road

Vischer Ferry Road

77

FEATHERS

FEATHERS to published monthlybySCHENECTADY *BIRD CLUB, ING

Editor: Guy Bartlett, 1053 'PaefeuJood Bind.

Circulation: "Mabel Barnes, 114 McClellan St.

'Viola Ttfabb, Treasurer, 1624 Becker Street

Annual Memberaklp Duea: Sustaining, $6;

December, 1954

Active, ?3; Aauoriate, $2; Juntos $1

Table {I Relative Abundance

(A) Total,

Common StarlingAmerican CrowHouse Sparrow

Am.Tree Sparrow

25 years (B) llaximum one-year count(A) (B)

39972 396626922 4200

10591 14008026 748

Red-winged BlackbirdHorned Owl

Gray Shrike

Pine Grosbeak

21 1117 317 317 5

Blk-cap.Chickadee 5270 376

American Goldfinch 1726 374Common Redpoll 1631 580Blue Jay 1576 195

Yel-shafted Flicker 16 6

American Golden-eye 14 11

Eastern 1/Ieadowlark 14 5Mallard 13 9

Slate-colored Junco 1373 243

White-br.Nuthatch 930 83Downy Woodpecker 813 65Ring-neck.Pheasant 505 90

Screech Owl

Canada Goose

Barred Owl

Goshawk

13 212 12

12 2

11 2

Song Sparrow 400 58

Snow Bunting 353 200

Pine Siskin 327 246American Merganser 288 66

Red-shouldered Hawk 11 3

Swamp Sparrow 8 4

Cooper's Hawk 7 2

European Partridge 7 7

Golden-cr. Kinglet 27635Hairy Woodpecker 271 29

Cedar Waxwing 268 141Brown Creeper 222 26

Ring-billed Gull 7 3

Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 2Long-eared Owl 6 6Hermit Thrush. 6 2

Herring Gull

Horned Lark

Ruffed Grouse

Mourning Dove

187162

147

144

4432

13

Purple Grackle 6 3

American Coot 4 4l/Vhite-throated Sparrow 4 2

Great Blue Heron 3 1

Purple Finch 116 71Sparrow Hawk 111 8

Black Duck 97 23Brown-headed Cowbird 80 75

Snowy Owl 3 2

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 2

Vesper Sparrow 3 2

Fox Sparrow 3 3

Everting Grosbeak7529Red-tailed Hawk 43 6Red-br. Nuthatch 38 12

Eastern Bluebird _35 20

Killdeer 2 1

White-winged Crossbill 2 2

Horned Grebe 1 1

Old-souaw 1 1

Belted Kingfisher 27 4

Pileated Woodpecker 25 5

Lapland Longspur 25 20

Red-breast.Merganser 24 24

Bald Eagle 1 1

Peregrine Falcon 1 1Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 1

Eastern Phoebe 1 1

Marsh Hawk 24 3

Winter Wren 2k 6Rough-legged Hawk 21 9

American Robin 21 5

Tufted Titmouse

Catbird

Myrtle Warbler

Cardinal

1 1

1 1

1 1

1 1

Table II!American Crow 4200

Com. Starling 3966House Sparrow 1400

Am.Tree Sparrow 748

Common Redpoll 58O

Blk-c.Chickadee 376Am. Goldfinch 37478

Maximim one-year counts, 50 or more

Pine Siskin 246

Slate-col.Junco 243

Snow 3unting 200

Blue Jay 195Cedar Waxwing 141

Mourning Dove 91Ring-nk.Pheasant 90

Wh-br.Nuthatch 83Br-hd.Cowbird 75

Purple Finch 71Amer.j&rganser 66

Downy Woodpecker 65Song Sparrow 50

FEATHERS

Table IV

25 Years do gpecies)

Ring-necked PheasantDowny WoodpeckerAmerican Crow

Black-capped ChickadeeWhite-breasted NuthatchCommon StarlingHouse Sparrow

American GoldfinchAmerican Tree Sparrow

2L Years (3)Sparrow Hawk

Slate-colored JuncoSong Sparrow

2j Years (3)Ruffed Grouse

Hairy Woodpecker

Brown Creeper

22 Years (l)

Herring Gull

21 Years 11)

American Merganser

20 Years (1)


18 Years (1)Red-tailed Hawk

16 Years (1)Belted Kingfisher

15 Years (2)Black Duck

Marsh Hawk

14 Years (2)Horned LarkRed-breasted Nuthatch

12 Years (L)Mourning Dove

Horned OwlWinter Wren

Gray Shrike

11 Years U)Rough-legged Hawk

Soreech Owl

American Robin

Common Redpoll

10 Years (2)Goshawk

Pileat ed ./oodpeeker

9 Years (3)Barred Owl


?urple Finch

December, 1954

Number of years recorded

8 Years (3 species)Cedar WaxwingPine SiskinSnow Bunting

7 Years (2)Red-shouldered Hawk


6 Years (1)Cooper's Hawk

5 Years (5)Sharp-shinned Hawk

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Headowlark

Evening Grosbeak

Pine Grosbeak

U Years (2)Hermit Thrush


3 Years (7)Great Blue Heron

Mallard

American Golden-eye

Hing-billed Gull

Purple GrackleSwanp Sparrow

Lapland Longspur

2 Years (5)Killdeer

Snowy Owl


Vesper Sparrow

V/hite-throated Sparrow

1 Year (17)Horned GrebeCanada Goose

Old-squaw

Red-breasted MerganserBald Eagle

Peregrine Falcon

European Partridge

American Coot

Long-eared Owl

Yellow-bellied SapsuckerEastern Phoebe

Tufted Titmouse

Catbird

i..yrtle 7/arbler

Card inal

'.Vhite-winged Crossbill

Fox Sparrow

79


14

1?

12

11

10

9

8

7

6

Years

Years

Years

Years

iears

Years

Years

Years

Years

(1)

12)

U)

ID

(1)

14)

(2)

(2)

(9)

TabUV Participants

15 Years (2): Guy Bartlett (25), Alice Holmes (19)

Rudolph H. Stone (15)

3. D. Miller 119), JUelle G. Van Vorst (18)

Esly Hallenbeck U5J, P. Schuyler Miller 116)

Stephanie Podrazik

Dr. Vincent J. Schaefer 114)

Mrs. Laura o. Beck, .Frank Freese (11J, Dr.

Minnie B. Scotland, John H. Voght

George H. Bainbridge (14), Pauline E. Baker

Mrs. Chester N. Moore (10), Chester N.Moore (13)

Mrs. VI. E. Blowney, Mrs. R. M. Brockway, Mrs.

C. J. Grace, Edna Hallenbeck, Mrs. H. G. Kel

ley, Mrs. E. W. Scott, Benton R. Seguin (11),Donald Tucker, Leon A. Wiard

5 Years (5): Alice Abel, G. Malcolm Andrews, Mrs. George H.Bainbridhe, Idella M.Heacoz, Samuel A. Madison

4 Years (4)$ Mrs. VI. Lawrence Butler, Mrs. M. E. Rexford,Mrs. Lillian C. Stoner, Mrs. John H. Voght

3 Years(15): Mrs. Clarence C. Bailey, William G. Bartlett,Edna Becker (5), Dorothy Y/. Caldwell, Mary E.

Christie, Floyd Dov/ns. Agnes Eddy, Stephen C. Fordham Jr.,

Barrington S. Havens 111), Marilyn Kelley, Dr. Malcolm E.McDonald, Gloria Meader, Edna Sachs, E. VI. Scott, Robert

Yunick

2 Years (32): Henry V. D. Allen, James J. Anderson, Elizabeth Bigsbee, Mrs. Stephen C. Fordham Jr.,

Mrs. Frank Freese, J. V/. Freese (5), Robert Goble, Dr. Lawrence S. Hill, H. G. Kelley, Paul Kornecke, Mrs. Paul Kor

necke, Viola Mabb, Mrs. L. J. Llattimore, Mrs. W. S. McGraw,

Harry Oleson, David Pelton, Joseph Pollak, Mrs. Joseph Pol-lak, D. A. Ruddy Sr. (4), Peter Runge, Dorothy Sawyer, Agatha Schuurman, Michael Shepard, Nellie Silliman, Margaret A.

Smith, James Staley, Beatrice Sullivan, J. M. Tucker, Frazer

R. Turrentine, Robert Underwood (6), Dr. Franklin H. West,Glenn Vlilson

1 Year (45): Mrs. R. F. Abell, Mary Lou Aughenbaugh, Kyr-tice A. Blatchley, Hellen Cole, Mildred D.

Crary, Mrs. L. S. Davenport, Mrs. Anna Desinger, Dr. VJ.

Crawford Dunlap, R. E. Eitelman, Mrs. R. E. Eitelman, Mary

Ellis, Dan Fiscusi, Virginia Freligh, Chester Griffith, Jer

ry Hare, Arthur Hewitt, Byron T. Hippie Jr., Mrs. Hans Huth-steiner, Gary Jameson, John Kelly, Arthur L. Kimball, .Fred

erick A. Klenm, V/illiam Matthews, L. J. Mattimore, Lois M.

Maxon, Mrs. James MoMillan, Mrs. B. D. Miller, Joan Pollak,Mrs. David C. Prince, Frances Reeves, Carl Renscheid, Ruth

Retzloff, Edward Rindfleisch, D. A. Ruddy Jr. (3), PeterRumsey, James Schaefer, Susan Schaefer, W. Roy Steele (4)fMrs. W. Roy Steele, Robert L. Stone, Mrs. Leon A. Wiard,Mrs. A. K. Vlilley, Arthur J. Woodward, and James Zell.

80

FEATHERS Decwnbcr, 1954

Table VI Maxima and Minima

25-year Averages 9-1/2 hours per count; 26° I averaging 20°for day and 32° for high of day); 22 observers; 46 party-hours; 45 miles on foot,

120 by car; 32 species, 4110 individuals.

25-year Totals

Highest Count

Highest Total

80 species, plus 2 subspecies, plus two

added species on near dates; 102,751counted individuals. 160 different obser

vers; 1273 party-hours afield; 1128 miles

afoot, 3006 by car, 4134 miles total.

42 species in 1953; lowest, 13 in combined

trips of 1929.

9000 in combined trips of 932; or 7700 in

one of 1932 trips; lowest, 1029 in combined

trips of 1929.

Maximum duration 11 hours; minimum, S-l/2 hours.

Laxiraupi Temperature 560 in 1936; minimum, -22° in 1942.

Most observers 43 in 1947; fewest, 14 in 1929.

Max, party-hours 76 in 1938; minimum, 14 in 1929.

Miles On foot, from 13 (1929) to 76 11947)By car, from 20 (1929)to 225 U947)Total, from 33 (1929)to 301 (1947).

Twenty-five Years in Summary Table I

Table I (pages 70-75) summarizes the 25 years of Schenec-tady Christmas Counts but omits considerable information re

quired in any detailed study or analysis of the Counts. The

omission is because several issues of FEATHERS would be re

quired for all of the details. Who went where, who found

what — these and other data are in the annual reports inFEATHERS.

The first ten Counts — those before SBC existed — are

summarized in FEATHERS, Vol. 1, No. 7, pages 31-34 (Decem

ber, 1939). The count showed 59 kinds and 42,859 individuals.

A 15-year summary was published in FEATHERS, Vol. 6, No.2,pages 9-15 (February, 1944). It showed 62 kinds and 59,530individuals.

Still another summary, for 20 years, was in FEATHERS,

Vol. 11, No. 12, pages 89-95 (December, 1949). The totalsby then had reached 72 species and 77,977 individuals.

Complete details for all the 15 most recent trips have

been published in the January issues, page 1.

Table I uses the symbol (#) to indicate a species seen.ona day within the Christmas Count period but not on the count

itself. Two species are thus included: Carolina Wren and

Baltimore Oriole. Subspecies counts have been included in

the species itself.

81


Starlings and Crows — Common Table II

The statistics in Table II (page 78) leave no doubts concerning the abundance of three species — Starling, Crow and

House Sparrow. The Starling is by far the most common, but

it is of interest to note that for 18 years the Crow held

high total. Those were in the years when large flocks ofCrows could be seen overhead in early morning and late afternoon, leaving or returning to their roosts in Carnan and

Mechanicville. Those roosts are no longer used; the Carman

Barrens of then have become suburban. The roosts disap

peared more than the seven years ago, but it took a few

years for the Starling count to catch up on the lead the

Crow count had attained. The Crow roosts tell only part ofthe story, for the Starling roosts in down-town Schenectadyhave increased enormously, despite half-hearted attempts to

disperse the birds.

The Starling has accounted for 39 per cent of the total

count, and the Crow for 26 per cent. Together they repre

sent practically two-thirds of all. The House Sparrow shows10 per cent. Those three total 75 per cent — three of

every four. They with the Tree Sparrow and Black-capped

Chickadee are 88 per cent of the count. Ten species — aug

menting these five with the Goldfinch, Redpoll, Blue Jay,

Junco, and White-breasted Nuthatch — add up to 95.5 per

cent. That leaves less than 5 per cent for all the other 70

species on the composite list.

4200 of One Table III

It does not necessarily follow that those birds having

high totals for the composite list are the ones with the

highest one-year counts, it is shown in Table III (page 78).

In 1932 4,200 Crows were counted, and it looks as though

the record for that species will not be broken, for counts

in more recent years have been far smaller — well under a

thousand in each of the six most recent years.

Probably some year there will be a Starling count higher

than 4200 — 3966 is now the maximum.

In the case of 20 species there are counts of 50 or more

for at least one year. The list, however, contains several

species far less common than might thus be indicated — the

Cedar Waxwing, Mourning Dove, Purple Finch and Cowbird have

been, on the whole, relatively uncommon on Christmas Counts.

Ten without Fail Table IV

Table IV (page 79) features 10 species which have beenseen each time. No water- or shore-birds are included; there

have been winters when there was a real minimum of open wa

ters within the 15-mile circle. Nineteen species have been

recorded 20 or more years, including the Herring Gull and

American Merganser. Only 25 kinds have been found in at

least have of the Counts.

At the other extreme are 17 species recorded one year on

ly. The European Partridge, seen in 1932, was an introduced

species, and is considered extirpated* With few exceptionsthis one-year list can be considered as one of accidental

visitors or stragglers, as can those five species recorded

in only two years.

82


160 Participants Table V

There have been as many participants as 43 in 1947, andas few as 14 in 1929. In all, there have been 160 collaborators. Table V (page 80) lists those 127 who have taken partin any of the 15 SBC counts, there were 33 additional counters in pre-SBC days.

In the case of 20 names in Table V a parenthesized numberis shown. It indicates the complete total of trips, inclu

ding those of pre-SBC days. Fifty SBC members and guests

have participated in at least three of the Counts, and ninein at least ten of the recent ones.

IJostests. and Leastests Table VI

Averages and statistics can be misleading, as witness the

statistician who calculated the average depth of a stream as

only two feet and then was drowned when he attempted to wadeacross it. Nevertheless, as shown in Table VI, the average

local Christmas Count has had 32 species and 4110 individu

als, and was made on a day of 26° average temperature.

V.'hat's Ahead? Plenty

Eighty species and tv/o subspecies have been listed on

Schenectady counts, and there have Ijeen two additional spe

cies on near dates. Can more be expected?

Many more species are entirely possible. There are the

Carolina Wren and Baltimore Oriole, possible because they

have already been found here on near dates. There are the

Common Loon, Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Soaup, and

Hooded Llerganser, possible because they have already been

found on SBC Christmas Counts in the Troy 15-mile circle.

And there is the Red Crossbill, possible because It has been

shown on an SBC Jenny Lake count.

Those are only a few of the possible additions. A survey

of other New York State Christmas reports show many more,

particularly If winters continue to be warmer and to arrive

later, as is now indicated. With more open water there will

be plenty of opportunities of new species of loons, grebes,

swans, geese, ducks, herons, gulls and terns, shorebirds,

and even alcids. There are further possibilities among the

hawks, owls, woodpeckers, swallows, titmice, waxwings,

blackbirds, and finches and sparrows.

The possibilities are even beyond those. Feeding-stationrecords in New Jingland and around metropolitan New York show

that western stragglers can be expected. And Schenectady

counters have been frugal in the amount of time they have

given over to the investigation of the interior of large

wooded areas.

Very fev; trends in winter bird population can be drawn

from the local summaries, chiefly because specific areas

have not been covered annually under non-varying conditions.However, the same criticism holds for a large number of the

Christmas Counts throughout the country.

54 Years Ago

The nation*s 54th Christmas Bird Count was made in 1953.It was in 1900 that the first counts were made. There were

25 such counts published in Bird-Lore, made by 27 persons.

83

FEATHERS 1954

Audubon Field Notes, one of the successors to Bird-Lore,

carried 521 reports for 1953 in its April, 1954 issue. Total individuals were 9,480,000; 1952 3et the record with

12,100,000. There were 7384 participants in 1953; they were

afield 18,789 party-hours and covered 68,715 party-miles,including 13,715 afoot. The 1953 reports included 45 withmore than 100 species, with Wilmington's 162 the highest.Back in 1950 Harlingen, Texas, set the record of 172.

Among the published reports for New York State in 1953were the following:

Atlantic Ocean off Long Island 6 sp. 393 count

3rooklyn 89 50,495Central Suffolk County, L.I. 90 12,262

Montauk, L.I. 63 5,275Northern Nassau County, L.I. 67 9,462Quogue to V.'atermill, L.I. 63 6,894Smithtown, L.I. 74 6,628Southern Nassau County, L.I. 116 45*249V/estern Long Island 124 102,692Bear Llountain - Harriman Park 44 1,924Binghamton 41 7,204

Bronx-V/estChester 100 53,233

3uffalo 67 29,477Conesus and Hemlock Lakes 30 608Cortland 41 1,282

Deposit 17 362Elmira 44 1,733Fort Plain 21 216Geneva 52 8,369Gouverneur 13 591

Hamburg, Orchard Park,E.Aurora 44 8,536Jamestown 34 4,020

Keuka Park 57 2,379Kingston-Mohonk-Ashokan 43 1,257Manhattan Island 43 148,840Llonticello 24 1,281

Olean 25 872Port Chester - Stamford,Conn. 102 30,543

Rochester 77 21,624Rockland County 64 7,772Saranac Lake 23 729

(SBC) Schenectady 42 3,708Staten Island 67 18,487Syracuse 55 4,405

(SBC) Troy 34 1,161Watertown 33 1,650

Watkins Glen 26 71°

In the above list the Manhattan Island total included anestimated 140,000 Starlings; Nashville, Tenn., had 200,000

of them. Highest of all 1953 counts was that of the Red-

winged Blackbird, of which there were 540,000 at Eeelfoot

Lake, Tenn., of a grand total of 1,350,667. individual highcount was that of the Redhead — 555,157 at Laguna Atascosa,Texas.

Twenty-sixth Best Yet?

Schenectady Bird Club's 26th annual Christmas Bird Countis scheduled for Sunday, December 26; it could be the big

gest and best yet. — G. B.

84

Documents

TUFTEDTITMOUSEANDCATBIRD …list were Canada Goose, Peregrine Falcon, Mourning Dove, and Vesper Sparrow. This was the 6th SBC count in the Troy area and the six additions makes the