The Bluebird the Bluebird

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BLUEBIRBLUEBIRDD The voice of ASM since 1934 March 2015 Volume 82, No. 1

The Audubon Society of Missouri Missouri’s Ornithological Society Since 1901 THE AUDUBON SOCIETY OF MISSOURI

Officers Regional Directors

Shari Harden*+, President (2016) Charles Burwick+ (2017) 513 NE Grant Drive; Blue Springs, Springfield (417) 860-9505 MO 64014; (816) 229-3979 Jeff Cantrell+ (2017) [email protected] Neosho (471) 476-3311 Mark Haas*+, Vice-President (2016) Allen Gathman+ (2015) 614 Otto Drive; Jackson MO 63755; Pocahontas (573) 382-7306 (573) 204-0626 [email protected] Susan Hazelwood+ (2015) Columbia, (573) 819-9252 Scott Laurent*+, Secretary (2015) 610 W. 46th Street, #103; Kansas Brent Galliart+ (2015) City, MO 64112; (816) 916-5014 St. Joseph (816) 232-6038 [email protected] Terry McNeely+ (2016)

Pat Lueders*+, Treasurer (2015) Jameson, MO (660) 828-4215 1147 Hawken Pl., St. Louis, MO Larry Olpin+ (2016) 63119; (314) 222-1711 Warrensburg (660) 747-5228 [email protected] Louise Wilkinson+ (2017) Honorary Directors Rolla (573) 364-9552 Richard A. Anderson, St. Louis** Phil Wire+ (2016) Nathan Fay, Ozark** Bowling Green (314) 960-0370 Leo Galloway, St. Joseph**

Jim Jackson, Marthasville Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia** Chairs Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph** Bill Clark, Historian Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth** 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. Rebecca Matthews, Springfield Columbia, MO 65202 Sydney Wade, Jefferson City** (573) 474-4510

Dave Witten, Columbia** Kevin Wehner, Membership John Wylie, Jefferson City** 510 Ridgeway Ave. Jim Jackson, 2012 Recipient of the Columbia, MO 65203

Rudolf Bennitt Award (573) 815-0352 [email protected] Dr. David Easterla, 2006 Recipient of the Rudolf Bennitt Award Paul E. Bauer, 2004 Recipient of the Rudolf Bennitt Award

+ Board Position * Executive Committee Member **Deceased

Page i THE BLUEBIRD THE BLUEBIRD

The Bluebird Editor: Bill Eddleman*+, 1831 Ricardo Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, (573) 335-1507, [email protected] Christmas Bird Count Compiler: Randy Korotev, 800 Oakbrook Lane, St. Louis, MO 63132, (314) 993-0055, [email protected] Communication Services: Patrick Harrison Webmaster, http://mobirds.org, Susan Hazelwood and David Scheu, Co-owners Listserve, [email protected],edu ASM Scholarship Committee: Sue Gustafson, Chair, 429 Belleview Ave., Webster Groves MO 63119 (314) 968-8128, [email protected] MO Bird Records Committee: Brad Jacobs+—Chair, 11300 Vemers Ford Road, Columbia, MO 65201, (573) 874-3904, [email protected] Bill Rowe—Secretary, 9033 Big Bend Road, St. Louis, MO 63119, (314) 962-0544, [email protected] Seasonal Survey Editors: Spring: Josh Uffman, 707 Ashton Way Circle, Eureka, MO 63025 (636) 587-6016; [email protected] Summer: Kristi Mayo, 1807 Clear Creek Dr., Kearney, MO 64060 (816) 289–7828, [email protected] Fall: Joe Eades, 517 Willow Lane, Kirkwood, MO, 63122, (314) 835- 0353, [email protected] Winter: Mary Nemecek, 7807 N. Merimac Ct, Kansas City MO 64151- 0000; (816) 210-5148; [email protected]

* Executive Committee Member + Board Position

Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird Manuscripts for The Bluebird—to the editor by: Feb. 1 for March issue; May 1 for June issue; Jul. 15 for Sept. issue; Nov. 1 for Dec. issue Deadlines for submissions to the Seasonal Survey Editors Winter (Dec. 1-Feb. 28)—to Mary Nemecek by Mar. 10 Spring (Mar. 1-May 31)—to Josh Uffman by June 10 Summer (June 1-July. 31)—to Kristi Mayo by Aug 10 Fall (Aug. 1-Nov. 30)—to Joe Eades by Dec. 10

Page ii THE BLUEBIRD TABLE OF CONTENTS

March 2014 Volume 82, No. 1

177 President’s Corner—Shari Harden

178 We Welcome our New ASM Members—Kevin Wehner

178 Missouri’s Top-Ranked Conservation Model Threatened by Pro posed Legislation—Edge Wade

183 400 in 2014--Part IV—Bill Eddleman

191 Top Ten Species for 2013—Missouri Bird Records Committee

192 Twenty-Seventh Annual Report of the Missouri Bird Records Com- mittee—William C. Rowe, Secretary

202 Summer 2014 Seasonal Report—Kristi Mayo

212 A Birder’s Guide to Missouri Public Lands—Edge Wade & Others

170 Peer-edited Paper: Repeat of Winter Raptor Survey Along In- terstates I-55 and I-70, 1-2 Jan 2015—Paul M. McKenzie

Front Cover—A pair of Mississippi Kites feed young in this nest in Webster Groves, St. Louis County, on July 11. Photo by Doug Hom- mert-used with permission.

THE BLUEBIRD is published quarterly by The Audubon Society of Missouri. The submission of articles, photographs, and artwork is welcomed and encouraged. The views and opinions ex- pressed in this journal are those of each contributing writer and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of The Audubon Society of Missouri or its officers, Board of Directors, or editors. Send address corrections to ASM, 2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122, Columbia, MO 65203-1261.

Page iii THE BLUEBIRD PRESIDENT’S CORNER—SHARI HARDEN

Dear Fellow Birders, It’s hard to beat an Ivory Gull to start a new year of birding. With cold winds whipping across the river, I was one of the birders who managed to get good looks at the arctic visitor in Quincy, Illinois. Although I failed to spot the bird on the Missouri side of the river, it made a nice addition to my life list, and it was nice to meet many friendly birders from Missouri and surrounding states.

A new year tends to bring thoughts of change and improvement. One of the issues that has been discussed at the past several board meetings is the transition to an online newsletter. With paper, ink, printing, mailing, storage, and recycling concerns in mind, online access would be the most environmentally responsible way to deliver The Bluebird. We will still print and deliver issues for librar- ies and for members who may not have access to the internet, may have trouble viewing documents online, or still want The Bluebird in hand.

If you would like to see what the Bluebird looks like online, you can access old issues today by going to the ASM website.

To access The Bluebird online: 1) Go to: http://mobirds.org 2) Click on the ASM menu in the navigation bar at the top. 3) Click on Bluebird Online. 4) Log in to gain access.

In this issue, you will find a form to fill out if you would like to continue to have a paper copy delivered to your home. This form will be in this issue and the next. Please send it in before July 15. New members will also be given the option to receive The Bluebird by mail or via the website.

The Spring Meeting is fast approaching. St. Louis Audubon will host the meeting, April 24-26. I am always envious of the variety of birds

Page 177 THE BLUEBIRD the St. Louis area hosts during spring migration, and I can’t wait to visit the favorite birding areas of the local birders. I hope to see you there. Please remember to go birding at the sites designated for special attention under our new CACHE/SPARKS agreement. The sites have been posted on the list serve and reminders will posted periodically. We must contribute our data to eBird to continue to keep our partnerships strong. Thanks to all of you who have been birding and contributing data!

Shari Harden President, The Audubon Society of Missouri

WE WELCOME OUR NEW ASM MEMBERS!! Kevin Wehner

Remember, new members are our future. If a new member lives near you, say, “Howdy and welcome to ASM.” In addition, recruit another new member. Welcome to these 11 new ASM members in the 1st quarter of 2015.

Carla Bascom & Kevin Hogan Birch Tree MO Ken Detring Jackson MO Mark Glenshaw St. Louis MO Nancy Helmer Chesterfield MO Micky Louis Overland Park KS Christie Lundy Jefferson City MO Samantha Logue Springfield MO Julie Patz & David Sprecker Owensville MO Georgia Sneed Columbia MO Sheryl & Ron Wachter Rogersville MO Lorinda Cruikshank Columbia MO

MISSOURI’S TOP-RANKED CONSERVATION MODEL THREATENED BY PROPOSED LEGISLATION Edge Wade

The Missouri Plan for Conservation Few if any human creations or accomplishments are perfect, but some come close. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is one of those exemplary endeavors.

Page 178 THE BLUEBIRD In 1936 the people of Missouri overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to create a new model for state conservation agencies. A politically independent conservation commission with authority to oversee a professional department was established. In 1976 we affirmed our support of that model by voting to tax ourselves with the Design for Conservation 1/8-cent sales tax to fund MDC in a manner independent of the political agendas of any gover- nor or session of the state legislature.

These two voter-determined constitutional authorizations are the bases of a firm foundation to ensure the professional management and operation of MDC, allowing the agency to be free to function solely on science-based wildlife management principles and prac- tices.

The “Missouri Plan” is the envy of wildlife conservation professionals throughout the U.S. and around the world. This foundation of political independence in oversight and funding is the critical factor in the department’s ability to attract and retain the highest quality personnel available. The avant garde philosophy, ecosystem-based management, and habitat restoration accomplishments are examples others study and strive to equal.

Chiseling Away at a Firm Foundation In recent years there have been several attempts to bring Missouri’s conservation department under the control of the legislature by un- dermining that solid independent foundation. These efforts typically focus on ways to reduce MDC’s funding or to require specific kinds of expenditures, thus crippling its ability to operate free of political agendas. The motivations and ramifications of some bills are less obvious, but are detrimental to sound conservation efforts, nonetheless.

Several bills have been introduced in this legislative session. The list below is current at the time of the writing of this article. You may see the full texts of these bills online at http:// www.senate.mo.gov/BTSSearch/Default.aspx. Take the time to fa- miliarize yourself with the content and intent of these measures.

HJR27 and HJR28 are two attempts to chip away at the (as of 2012) 59.3% of MDC’s annual funding obtained from the conservation sales tax.

The other bills apply restrictions or interfere with the independence of MDC in several ways. All have potential hamstringing effects on

Page 179 THE BLUEBIRD the professional activities of the agency. Examples of the implications of just two of these bills give some understanding of what is at stake. No Permit Fees? Not Really Some bills are not as straightforward as they seem. An example of duplicity is SB56. In 2012 the $32,850,045 from permit sales ac- counted for 19.4% of MDC’s operating budget. The dual purpose of this bill is to deny this income to MDC, and to fill the coffers the legislature draws upon for other purposes.

The wording within the bill begins, “The department of conservation and its permit issuing agents shall not charge a permit fee for the acquisition of a hunting, fishing or trapping permit for a Missouri resident…”

Note that the bill doesn’t really say no fee will be charged [for hunting, fishing or trapping licenses]. It says only that the conservation department and its permit issuing agents cannot charge for these permits. This bill’s summary description on the Missouri Senate webpage is written to garner support of those who would welcome free hunting, fishing and trapping. That is unlikely to come about even with passage of the bill. These are privileges that under current law may be suspended or revoked for wildlife code violations or non-payment of child support.

If SB56 passes, the legislature can then authorize hunting, fishing and trapping permits to be issued by any entity of the legislature’s choice with the proceeds designated for the general fund. Missouri- ans would still pay the permit fees (with the amounts determined by the legislature), MDC would not have direct (if any) access to these funds to support managing and policing these activities, and the funds would be available for the legislature to use in any way members choose, whether or not related to wildlife resources. Making it Illegal to Work Together SB337 and the identically worded HB763 are truly pernicious. The bills clearly state that MDC would be prohibited from partnerships with any 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization “whose primary or inci- dental purpose is to benefit the commission or the department of conservation by advancing the conservation and appreciation of Mis- souri’s forest, fish and wildlife resources”.

If passed, it would be illegal for MDC to work with not-for-profit or- ganizations for the benefit of wildlife, habitat, or wildlife appreciation in which anything of value is exchanged. “Anything of value” is

Page 180 THE BLUEBIRD defined in the bill as including professional or clerical services, money or work product.

There could be no agreements with the Audubon Society of Missouri (ASM) to monitor and report birds or provide workshops involving MDC personnel. There could be no projects conducted with the Mis- souri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHV), which since its inception in 1999 has contributed about twenty million dollars to conservation activities as diverse as MO Girls Discover Nature, Stream Teams, and feral hog eradication. There could be no partnership agreements for management activities with groups like The Nature Conservancy or Missouri Prairie Foundation. There could be no MDC involvement in the Green Leadership Academy for Diverse Ecosystems (GLADE) conducted by the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society. Currently, MDC contributions include instruction and pro- viding and plants for and heavy equipment operation for the cane restoration project. There could be no MDC-related bird surveys conducted by St. Louis Audubon Society or the Missouri River Bird Ob- servatory. There could be no grant funding through Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative (MoBCI) for habitat improvement of wetlands or prairies funded in part by MDC or used on MDC properties. There could be no joint efforts to work with Ducks Unlimited, Quail Forever, or the National Wild Turkey Federation to provide habitat or manage for those species.

In short, MDC could not function as we know it. Current agreements and relationships with the active members of not-for-profit groups who are on the ground working to improve wildlife management and habitat in Missouri as an extension of the abilities and resources of MDC professionals would be illegal. And all of Missouri would lose. What We Can Do? Read the texts of these bills. Be informed. Consider the implications of the passage of any of them. Work to preserve the politics-free foundation of our independent state conservation agency. • SB56 (Munzlinger) - Eliminates hunting, fishing and trapping permit fees for Missouri residents.

• SJR1 (Munzlinger) - Modifies the membership composition and terms of service of the commissioners on the Conservation Commis- sion.

• SB178 (Munzlinger) - Modifies provisions relating to captive cer- vids.

Page 181 THE BLUEBIRD

• SB337 (Munzlinger) - Bans the Conservation Commission and the Department of Conservation from engaging in prohibited conduct with a connected not-for-profit corporation.

• HJR27 (Spencer) - Proposes a constitutional amendment reducing the sales tax from 1/8 of a cent to 1/16 of a cent.

• HJR28 (Spencer) - Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the conservation sales tax to be approved by voters every 10 years.

• HB315 (Brown) - Requires the Department of Conservation to conduct testing of deceased deer found along state highways for chronic wasting disease.

• HB316 (Brown) - Requires Conservation Commission members to register as lobbyists upon appointment by the Governor and to follow all lobbyist rules and regulations.

• HB317 (Brown) - Requires the Department of Conservation to re- imburse automobile owners up to $500 for damages inflicted upon their vehicles by deer.

• HB479 (Houghton) - Exempts data collected by state agencies under the federal Animal Disease Traceability Program from disclo- sure under Missouri's Sunshine Law.

• HB710 (Basye) - Allows nonresidents who own property or pay income taxes in Missouri to receive resident hunting and fishing permit privileges.

• *DID YOU KNOW:

 MDC’s budget is less than 1% of the total State budget.  MDC receives no funds from the general revenue of the State of Missouri  MDC receives none of the revenue generated from enforcement violations; the revenue goes to the school system in the county in which the offense occurs. Any court costs assessed stay with the county government.  More than $60 of economic activity is generated for each dollar in MDC’s annual budget.  Over one fourth of tourism dollars in Missouri are spent on forest, fish, and wildlife recreation.

*Source: Conservation Facts Handbook 2012-2013

Page 182 THE BLUEBIRD 400 in 2014—Part IV

Bill Eddleman

I added 13 species of birds during June and July—mainly while conducting Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS). These included such local gems as Bell’s Vireo, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, and Lark Sparrow (found relatively commonly on sand prairies in the Bootheel—and on my Blodgett route), but also a few that I missed earlier, such as Green Heron, Broad-winged Hawk, and my first Northern Bobwhite of the year on my lone southern Illinois BBS route on June 27. A definite highlight of the local summer was the lone Black-bellied Whistling Duck that appeared near Cape Girardeau’s airport on July 6 and lingered for a few days. Total by the end of June: 256 species.

The next scheduled trip, again in association with a professional meeting, was to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. Dave Starrett and I were both going, along with Dave’s wife Chao-hui, also an avid birder, and we agreed to go a day early to get in a day of birding

(and maybe an extra morning as well).

Drivin’ Away to Key Largo The next scheduled trip, again in association with a professional meeting, was to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. Dave Starrett and I were both going, along with Dave’s wife Chao-hui, also an avid birder, and we agreed to go a day early to get in a day of birding (and maybe an extra morning as well). Dave and Chao-hui were there a day sooner than I arrived, and had already scouted and birded as far away as Key Largo. I lacked a number of mangrove and south Florida specialties for my life list, so we agreed to return the next day.

Of course, one of the oddities of birding south Florida is the large number of exotics—some countable by ABA rules, and some not. I had the current countable list, fortunately. The first new addition was Common Myna—not exactly a wilderness experience because we saw it at a convenience store in Homestead. The real highlight of the morning, though, was getting through the toll booth on Highway 1 and onto Key Largo. Just beyond the toll booth and before the bride over the inlet is a birder-famous pull off where one can see (and we did see) the Cuban Golden Warbler (still considered a Yel- low Warbler, though), Prairie Warbler, and Yellow-throated War- bler. Needless to say, for a Missouri birder, mangroves are a pretty

Page 183 THE BLUEBIRD weird place to see these species! Magnificent Frigatebirds floated over the inlet and high above the bridge—yet another life bird for me. We also saw a number of White-crowned Pigeons flying along and across the highway in the mangroves.

Dave and Chao-hui had spotted a number of “key” birds along a loop drive on the way to Key Large proper (Luquat Drive), and just past Crocodile Lake Wildlife Refuge. We turned in, and stopped where they had seen several new species (for me) the day before. Of course, by this time it was getting hot, and mosquitoes were ubiquitous. Af- ter some listening and walking the road, we were able to find a Black-whiskered Vireo (new for me), but nothing else of merit except some gorgeous butterflies.

Next we headed on down the road to Dagney Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, seeing a Gray Kingbird at a distance on the way. This is a really gorgeous little park, featuring native plants. However, if they ever need another name, I would sug- gest Mosquito Hades Park (I’m being polite here). I’ve seen mosquitos that bad before (in the Missouri Bootheel), but these were out in the sun and voracious! I think the repellent we had put on just attracted them. Nothing new in terms of birds, either. Dave thought we should try the loop again, and he was right! A family of Gray Kingbirds greeted us around the corner from where we spied the vireo earlier, and we got good, close looks. As we walked along trying to get good looks at the kingbirds, a movement caught our eyes along the other side of the road, and a Mangrove Cuckoo appeared! By the time we were done, there were three cuckoos in a small tree, and they cooperated for nearly 10 minutes.

We were treated to a number of wading birds along the highway in the refuge, and headed back to Homestead for lunch. Next stop: pursuing the Purple Swamphen. This large rallid has become established in south Florida, mostly in artificial wetlands. A reliable spot is Dolphin Mall in south Dade County. We headed over to the mall, parked near the wetland at the outer rim of the mall parking lot, and walked over. It took a while, but we did see Common Gallinules after a time. Next, a couple of us spotted a Least Bittern as it flew a short distance between vegetation clumps. Finally, I spotted a large immature swamphen, and we began to see others as we stood by the trees on the lawn. A Least Tern rounded out the species we added at this site. I will confess, however, that I always feel a little strange adding exotics to my life list, especially when they occur mostly in such heavily-altered landscapes.

Page 184 THE BLUEBIRD To the Edge of the Everglades Our last stop of the day was a drive down part of Alligator Alley in the Everglades. My goal was to see a Snail Kite, and I was not dis- appointed. We stopped at a picnic area at Shark Valley, and got rea- sonably good, if distant, views of two kites. Well, by that time it was getting uncomfortably hot, so we elected to call it a day.

Our meeting did not get underway until the next day at noon, so we decided to try another Everglades access point—the south end of Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. We got out before dawn, to try and see a Spot-breasted Oriole that had regularly been seen in Fort Lauderdale. Dave and Chao-hui had seen it two days earlier. Despite diligent attempts, we did not see it that day, though. We proceeded on to Glades Road to access the refuge. It was a relatively cool (for July) morning, and so we parked and walked a gated gravel road. Not a bad morning—we saw quite a number of waders, a Com- mon Ground Dove (finally), and mostly other birds we had already seen. We slowly drove back, and stopped at a canal at the edge of a new development (yes, they are STILL developing parts of the Ever- glades), and saw the first Limpkins of the trip. The rest of the morning was spent in trying to access a private development where there were sightings of a few new species posted to e-bird. However, the- place was gated, and we were not allowed in. We tried again at the Spot-breasted Oriole site, still did not see it, but were rewarded with sightings of Red-crowned Parrots.

That about ended our birding for the trip—the meeting began. I defi- nitely learned, despite adding 10 species to my life list, that summer is not a good time to bird in south Florida! Final tally for the year on

July 31: 294 species.

A Long-delayed Return to the Lower Rio Grande Valley After I returned to Cape Girardeau, it became obvious that I was way too short of the goal to make it. All the planned meeting-related trips were done. So, Dave Starrett and I started brainstorming another special trip. I narrowed it down to two locations: southeastern Arizona in August or the Lower Rio Grande Valley in October. Once my August schedule solidified, it became obvious that I could not get away, so that was out. Lower Rio Grande Valley over a long week- end, then!

First of all, I should probably say that I took three trips to the Lower

Rio Grande between 1975 and 1982. I had not been back since. There were still some nemesis species that escaped me on the earlier

Page 185 THE BLUEBIRD trips, but I had known from a trip farther north in Texas and from reading that the avifauna of the region had changed in the last 33 years. So, we found ourselves in Brownsville on October 10, ready for Friday-Monday trip to see how many species I would add.

Our first stop, and the outlier in terms of distance from our seat of operations in Harlingen, was Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. I had the pleasure of actually camping near refuge headquarters during my graduate student days, with a class from Miz- zou. Things were very different since that trip. First of all, more woody vegetation had grown. Not a bad thing, just different. Sec- ondly, the prime birding on the refuge was on the drive along the lake. All this is now closed for Ocelot conservation. Therefore, unless you are there when a guided drive is available, one is left with nib- bling around the edges for birding. This is not to say it isn’t still out- standing, though! We birded around the Refuge Headquarters, and got some of the obligatory species: Plain Chachalaca, Roadrunner, Inca Dove, White-tipped Dove, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Olive Sparrow, and others. A drive out to the edge of the lake got us Crested Caracara, and a few other new species for the year. We headed back to the entrance, and in the deepening dusk along the entrance road, spotted a White-tailed Hawk. It was getting dark by

this time, and

Page 186 THE BLUEBIRD our headlights found the eye shine of a Common Paraque. All-in-all, a nice afternoon and a good start to the trip.

The next day we headed to Estero Llano Grande State Park, although we started the day with a huge flock of Green Parakeets at our hotel parking lot. The park had me perplexed, because I did not remember it from years past. As it turns out, when I was in the area last, most of it was onion fields. The entire park has been restored, and part of it was originally a trailer park and second home development, largely for “snow birds.” That part is full of exotic plants from the landscaping. We had checked in advance, and a bird walk was planned for the day. This, in my estimation, was the highlight of the trip. We managed to see, among many other species, my regional nemesis birds: Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Green Kingfisher, and Groove-billed Ani. The latter was very lucky, because it was on the late side for the species to still remain in the area. In the former development, we saw three Clay-colored Thrushes at one site near a water source. Contrast this with my first Clay-colored Thrush in 1982. It was the only one seen that entire winter in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Now, they are regular. Toward the end of the walk, we were lucky to see a kettle of migrating hawks overhead, and picked out a Swainson’s Hawk from the group. I can highly recom- mend this site!

After discussing our next move, we decided to try the South Padre Island Birding Center/Convention Center. We arrived toward the end of the afternoon, and discovered that the birding visitor center was just about to close for a wedding. The contrast between Dave and I and all the “dressed to kill” wedding party was pretty amus- ing, and the manager of the center could not get us onto the boardwalk fast enough!

This is a must-see if you are birding in the area. We saw most of the common species that would be expected in the salt marshes and mudflats of the area: Mottled Ducks, numerous waders, shorebirds, terns, Clapper Rail, Common Gallinule, and others. Furthermore, the birds allow visitors on the boardwalk to get very close! To close out the day, we viewed birds at mud and sand flats northeast of the Convention Center. One of these, when I checked later, was not on my life list: Sandwich Tern. An Altered State: Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park First thing on Sunday we headed to Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park and the World Birding Center. I had been there on earlier trips, and this site really shocked me. Formerly, “winter Texans” camped in

Page 187 THE BLUEBIRD

REALLY close view of Willet and White Ibis, South Padre Island Birding Center boardwalk, October 11, 2014.

easy to find the season’s rarities—anyone with binoculars could tell you. The campground was dominated by stately old trees, and an open understory. Unprecedented cold, followed by a flood in the 1990s, killed many of the old trees, and even worse, spread seeds from an exotic pasture grass—Guinea grass—throughout the park. Today it is semi-open, and chocked with grass everywhere (Guinea grass grows up to six feet tall, and is a dense bunch grass). Free guided birding tours are offered, and as it turned out, Dave and I were the only ones to show up for this one. Our guide, Roy Rodriquez, was a good one, and we spent a very nice few hours birding the park, helping a bit with a hawk watch (added Gray Hawk), and unsuccessfully pursuing Northern Beardless Tyrannulet.

Once we returned to the World Birding Center at the park entrance, a Hooded Oriole was at the feeder (another lifer). Roy gave us directions to another site for the tyrannulet. So, we headed over to An- zalduas State Park. Once we got there, we strolled through the picnic area. Dave kept thinking he heard a likely song, but I could not pick it out. Roy had recommended the levee area. So we walked atop it for a short distance, and lo and behold, the bird was in a tree along the levee. Big mistake walking up on a levee, though. We had

Page 188 THE BLUEBIRD

View at Bentsen-Rio Grande, showing lots of Guinea grass, October 12, 2014.

30 seconds of viewing the bird as it flitted around, before we got to chat with the nice highway patrolman who drove up. Really, he was nice, but asked that we get off the levee. So, we did! On the way out, we saw over half a dozen Border Patrol trucks, so something must have been up. Fortunately, we did see the Northern Beardless Tyr- annulet!

We were left with plenty of time in the afternoon, so we headed west to the Yturria Tract, a U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service property right on the north side of Highway 83 west of La Joya. It is desert scrub habitat, and gave us some different birds: Bewick’s Wren, Pyrru- loxia, Black-throated Sparrow, and Cassin’s Sparrow. For future reference, there is NO loop road or trail through this property. We had to walk out the same way we came in, and on a hot and sunny day it conjured up visions of old prospectors dying of thirst! From there, we headed back to Harlingen, managed to pick up Bronzed Cowbird on an athletic field, and called it a day. Seeking Aplomados and Sabal Palm Our flight the next day was in late morning, so we packed up early and headed out to a site Roy had suggested for a possible view of Aplomado Falcons. No luck on those, but we did see some nice open

Page 189 THE BLUEBIRD country birds. Our final stop was Sabal Palm Grove. I’d not been there before, but the grove is also choked with Guinea grass. The mosquitos were ferocious that morning as well. We had a nice walk, but did not add any new species (Tamaulipas Crow is almost never seen there these days). The highlight was super views of families of Least Grebes, from a relatively mosquito-free blind. So, as we headed out, I took stock of the trip. It was really a great trip—the only target bird missed was Ringed Kingfisher (for some reason). We tallied well over 100 species, 54 of which were new for the year list. Final species count as of October 13: 352.

Odds and Endgame Well, there was not much more to report after the Texas trip. I picked up five more species by year’s end, including Wilson’s Snipe, Lapland Longspur, and Brewer’s Blackbird on the Big Oak Tree State Park Christmas Bird Count, and Purple Finch on a trip to Smithville Lake while we visited my son and daughter-in-law in In- dependence for Christmas. Lastly, as I topped a hill checking out back roads for the Union County, Illinois CBC near Trail of Tears State Park on December 29, a Vesper Sparrow flew up into a small tree, to become species number 358 for the year. Chest finis!

Well, despite some valiant efforts, I didn’t make it to 400. However, as I often tell Boy Scouts I work with on attaining Eagle rank—it’s not the destination, it’s the journey that is important. I got to bird in a bunch of areas of the U. S. where I had never birded, did some great birding with most of my birding friends, and added 44 species to my U. S. life list. Probably my best birding year since my under- graduate days or the year of my Ecuador trip! In closing, another thought that comes to mind is the following from Theodore Roose- velt:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devo- tions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor de- feat.”

Page 190 THE BLUEBIRD TOP TEN SPECIES FOR 2013

Missouri Bird Records Committee

1) GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER (Setophaga chrysoparia): Adult male, 19-22 April 2013, Creve Coeur, St. Louis Co. Found and documented by Josh Uffman (photographs); also documented by David Becher, Pamela Bachman, and Paul McKenzie. Definitive State Record. The breeding range of this Federally-endangered species lies entirely within Texas, and this is apparently only the fourth documented United States record outside of that state (others are from California, Florida, and New Mexico).

2) SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER (Calidris acuminata): Adult, 3 and 5 August 2013, Columbia Bottom CA, St. Louis Co. Docu- mented by David Becher, Ken Hollinga, and Pat Lueders. There were no photographs, but the written descriptions of this Asian vagrant were sent to three outside reviewers, who concurred that, col- lectively, they fit an adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper; moreover, the date fell within the typical pattern for adults of this species in North America. This was sufficient for acceptance to the state list as a Pro- visional species.

3) GARGANEY (Anas querquedula): Male, 19-21 April 2013, Sum- ner, Chariton Co. Documented by Al Smith (with photographs) and Paul McKenzie. Accidental transient. First located by Amara Weiss, this is only the second Missouri record of this Old-World vagrant.

4) INCA DOVE (Columbina inca): One, 26 September 2013, Joplin, Newton Co. (documented by Chris Pistole), and two, about 10-25 December 2013, near Buffalo, Dallas Co. (documented by Greg Swick and Greg Samuel, with photographs). Casual transient and winter visitor; sixth and seventh state records.

5) VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus): Adult male, 2 May 2013, Crews residence in Pleasant Hill, Cass Co. Docu- mented by Teresa Crews (with photographs) and Charles Crews. Casual transient; ninth state record.

6) COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea): Adult female, 21 April to 8 May 2013, Palmer residence near Ashland, Boone Co. Documented by Bill Palmer (with photographs) and Kay Palmer. Latest spring departure date by nearly a month.

Page 191 THE BLUEBIRD 7) BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Setophaga striata): One bird, 4 Octo- ber 2013, Terpstra residence, Kirkwood, St. Louis Co. Documented with photographs by Margy Terpstra. Common in spring but accidental in fall, when the migration path of the species swings sharply eastward. This is only the third documented fall record for Missouri, and the second with photographs.

8) RED-THROATED LOON (Gavia stellata): One, 23-26 January 2013, Table Rock State Park, Taney Co. Documented by Paul McKenzie. Accidental in winter; third record.

9) PACIFIC LOON (Gavia pacifica): Two, 23-26 January 2013, Ta- ble Rock State Park, Taney Co. Documented by Paul McKenzie and by Greg Samuel (with photographs). Accidental in winter; fourth record.

10) SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus): One, 21 April 2013, Weldon Spring CA, St. Charles Co. (documented by Christine Kirmaier) and another, 14 August 2013, Routes O and 72, Phelps Co. (documented by Larry Houf, Garry Houf.) Casual transient and summer visitor; twelfth and thirteenth modern records.

TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MISSOUI BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE William C. Rowe, Secretary

This report summarizes records evaluated by the Committee between 16 December 2013 and 15 December 2014. It is divided into two sections, Ac- cepted and Not Accepted, with birds listed in phylogenetic order under each of these two categories. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow the American Ornithologists’ Union’s Checklist of North American Birds, Seventh Edition (1998), and subsequent supplements. The latest AOU list is available on line at http://checklist.aou.org. For Accepted records, comments are added to indicate the record’s significance. For Not Accepted records, observers’ names are omitted, and a brief explanation is provided as to why the record was not accepted.

Online documentation and review of records is now the norm. Most docu- mentations are posted by the observer to a secure web site, where the secretary prepares them for review; to get started, go to www.mobirds.org and click on Documentation Form under “Bird Records.” Photographs in .jpg format, with a size limit of one MB, can be uploaded to accompany documen- tations. Observers are strongly urged to use the online system for both the report and the photographs, but if this proves unworkable for some reason, any part of the documentation can be mailed or emailed to the secretary. All records from the point of changeover (December 2007) have been elec-

Page 192 THE BLUEBIRD tronically archived. In addition, all photographs will be archived in Mylar envelopes and deposited in the Committee’s files, which are currently housed in the Division of Ornithology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, Kansas (KUNHM). The Committee once again thanks Patrick Harrison for his continuing work in refining this system, Ann John- son for her partnership with Patrick in this effort, and Joshua Uffman for his continuing work in assembling data on the occurrence of Missouri birds at www.showme-birds.com.

Of the 66 records that were finalized during this period, 55 were accepted and 11 were not accepted, for an acceptance rate of 83%. Members partici- pating in these decisions were Joe Eades, Brad Jacobs (Chair), Kristi Mayo, Paul McKenzie, Mark Robbins, Bill Rowe (Secretary), and Josh Uffman. Three records (Iceland Gull 2014-15, Thayer’s/Iceland Gull 2014-27, and Purple Finch 2014-53) were sent to outside reviewers; see details in those accounts.

No new species were added, and so Missouri’s total as of December 2014 remained 420 fully accepted species; these include four formerly occurring species that have been extirpated from the state and four extinct species. There are an additional 11 Provisional species on the list. The Annotated Checklist of Missouri Birds, with its latest updates to reflect changes in Missouri status as well as changes made by the AOU, can be viewed at www.mobirds.org.

The Committee reviews records of species that are considered “casual” (5-15 records) or “accidental” (1-4 records) statewide. It also reviews records of species that are casual or accidental for the season when reported (example: Rose-breasted Grosbeak in winter); records of species that are casual or accidental in the part of Missouri where reported (example: Northern Shrike in the Ozarks); and other records of unusual interest, including first nesting records and extreme arrival and departure dates. The Review List, also maintained at www.mobirds.org, lists all species that require review due to their year-round casual or accidental status in all or part of the state, plus a few for which the Committee still wishes to receive documentation despite their status as only “rare” (e.g., California Gull). The Review List does not cover out-of-season status; for information on seasonal occurrence, consult the Annotated Checklist.

The Committee extends thanks to the many birders throughout Missouri who submitted their observations, and to the Audubon Society of Missouri for its continued support and funding of the Committee’s efforts. Observers who would like a status report on their current submissions can email the Secretary at [email protected]. The next report will appear in the March 2016 issue of The Bluebird..

RMBS = Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles Co. SCNWR = Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. MNWR = Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Bollinger/Stoddard/ Wayne Cos. CBC = Christmas Bird Count

Page 193 THE BLUEBIRD CA = Conservation Area SP = State Park NWR = National Wildlife Refuge

RECORDS ACCEPTED MOTTLED DUCK (Anas fulvigula), 2014-43: One, 22-30 May 2014, near Hornersville Swamp CA, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). This species was previously listed as an accidental transient and summer visitor, with four records; this record, the fifth, moves it to “casual” status. Photographs showed sufficient detail to eliminate a Mallard x Mottled Duck hybrid.

MOTTLED DUCK, 2014-64: Male, 11 November 2014, SCNWR. Michael Stewart (documentation with photographs). Casual transient and summer visitor; sixth state record. Photographs showed sufficient detail to eliminate a Mallard x Mottled Duck hybrid.

REDHEAD (Aythya americana), 2014-16: Male and female, 14 June 2008, Columbia Bottom CA, St. Louis Co. Joshua Uffman (documentation with photographs). First record as a summer visitor outside northwestern Mis- souri.

PACIFIC LOON (Gavia pacifica), 2014-50: Immature, or adult in non- breeding aspect, 15-18 June 2014, Stockton Lake, Dade Co. Steve Martin and Greg Swick (documentation with photographs). Accidental as a summer visitor.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax), 2014-24: Four adults, present winter 2013-14, St. Louis Zoo, City of St. Louis. Eric Jeltes (documentation with photographs). Casual in winter in southern half Missouri, accidental in northern half. The observer documented these birds as of 6-7 February 2014, stating that they “are seen every day of the year on the zoo grounds and are not part of the zoo’s bird collection.” Birds of this species are in the collection but are kept in the 1904 flight cage, not outside around the ponds where these birds reside.

GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus), 2014-40: One, 1 May 2014, SCNWR, Holt Co. Dan Cowell (documentation with photographs). Casual transient in western half of Missouri. Found in a flock with almost 30 White-faced Ibis. Photographs clearly showed the dark eye and the thin pale-blue border that went around the bird’s gray facial skin but not behind the eye. Precise details of facial color and pattern are important in separating a pure Glossy Ibis from a White-faced x Glossy Ibis hybrid, which has become more fre- quent in recent years as the breeding range of Glossy Ibis has expanded westward into White-faced Ibis range.

WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi), 2014-59: 7 or more birds, 19-30 Oc- tober 2014, Eagle Bluffs CA, Boone Co. Karen Wosilait, Andrew Kinslow,

Steven Pearson (documentation with photographs), Jack Foreman (documentation). Latest fall record of Plegadis ibises identified to species.

Page 194 THE BLUEBIRD This group contained 11 birds, at least 19-23 November; out of these, Kins- low determined that seven were identifiable as White-faced by their red eyes and/or a reddish tint to the facial skin, features that were visible in some of the photographs. By 30 November, the group was apparently down to 6 birds (Pearson). In general, dark ibises in fall are almost certainly White-faced, as there is no documented record of a Glossy after August; nonetheless, a solid identification requires noting of characters (red eye, reddish facial skin) whose absence may leave the identification in doubt, since juveniles of both species initially have brown eyes and dull facial skin.

WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana), 2014-49: 1-2 immatures, at least 8 June to 1 August 2014, Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. Chris Daniel and Steve Martin (documentation with photographs). Casual summer visitor. Initial reports were of one bird, but the number reported rose to 2 by at least 27 June.

BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus), 2014-61: One, 11 October 2014, 350 Highway, Jackson Co. Larry Rizzo. Locally accidental; probably a first record for Jackson County.

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis), 2014-22: Juvenile, 29 January 2014, along Mississippi River, New Madrid Co. Mark Greene (documentation with photographs). Transient and winter visitor, accidental in eastern Missouri. The photograph submitted showed several key characters; together with the description, they distinguished this species from Red -tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, with which it is easily confused.

WHOOPING CRANE (Grus americana), 2014-66: Adult and immature, 15 November 2014, Stockton Lake, Polk Co. David Blevins. Casual transient. Despite the absence of photographs (always especially desirable for records of this federally endangered species), the description provided thorough detail and left no doubt that the birds were Whooping Cranes. In addition, correspondence with Eva Szyszkoski of the International Crane Foundation established that the birds did not come from the experimental population established in Wisconsin, and therefore must have come from the wild population that migrates from Canada to the Texas coast.

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis dominica), 2014-28: 21 birds, 22 February 2014, County Road 723, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). Record-early spring arrival date.

WILSON’S PLOVER (Charadrius wilsonia), 2014-41: Female-plumaged bird, 4 May 2014, RMBS. Found and documented by Larry Beeson; also documented by Charlene and James Malone and by Allen Smith (with photographs). Accidental transient; second state record of this southern coastal species.

DUNLIN (Calidris alpina), 2014-29: 8 birds, 23 February 2014, County Road 730, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). Very early spring arrival date.

Page 195 THE BLUEBIRD WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (Calidris fuscicollis), 2014-55: One, 17 September 2014, Cora Island Road, St. Charles Co. Allen Smith (documentation with photographs). Casual fall transient. This species, fairly common in late spring, takes a different migration route in fall; the bulk of the population moves east to the Atlantic coast before turning south.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 2014-56: One, 20 September 2014, RMBS. Found and documented by Bill Rowe; also documented by James Malone (with photographs) and Charlene Malone. See comments on 2014- 55, above. This individual appeared to be different from the one in 2014-55, though the locations are within a mile of each other.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (Tryngites subruficollis), 2014-47: Adult, 23-24 May 2014, Eagle Bluffs CA, Boone Co. Brad Jacobs (documentation with photographs), Sherry Leonardo (documentation). Cas- ual in eastern and central Missouri in spring.

LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla), 2014-35: Two adults, 13 April 2014, County Road 723, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). Casual transient away from the Mississippi River.

LAUGHING GULL, 2014-54: Juvenile, 14-22 September 2014, Smithville Lake, Clay Co. Mary Nemecek (documentation with photographs), Marky Mutchler. Casual transient away from the Mississippi River.

ICELAND GULL (Larus glaucoides), 2014-15: First-cycle bird, 29 Decem- ber 2013, Long Branch Lake SP, Macon Co. Brad Jacobs (documentation with photographs). Accidental away from the Mississippi River. With me- dium-brown head and body, tertials of the same tone, and somewhat paler- looking primaries (brown centers and wide white edges), this bird represented the darker end of the extremely variable “Kumlien’s Gull,” currently treated as the North American subspecies (kumlieni) of the Iceland Gull. To substantiate this identification more fully, photographs were sent to Bruce Mactavish of Newfoundland and Alvaro Jaramillo of California, both of whom agreed that the bird was kumlieni and that it was not a Glaucous- winged Gull (Larus glaucescens), which it resembled somewhat in plumage but not in structure.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus), 2014-42: First-cycle bird, 18 May 2014, RMBS. Bill Rowe. Latest spring record.

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus marinus), 2014-30: First-cycle bird, 24 March 2014, RMBS. James Malone (documentation with photographs), Charlene Malone. Latest spring record. Two or possibly more first- cycle birds of this species were observed on various dates at this location, January-March 2014. While many Great Black-backed Gulls in their second cycle may lack the incoming blackish mantle feathers and thus resemble first-cycle birds, this bird showed indications of being in the first cycle (bill black to tip, wing coverts with bold whitish barring and checkering).

INCA DOVE (Columbina inca), 2014-9: Two, early December 2013 through 4 January 2014, then one until 5 February 2014, Buffalo, Dallas Co. Greg

Page 196 THE BLUEBIRD Samuel and Greg Swick (documentation with photographs). First reported by Lester and Paul Hostetler. Casual transient and winter visitor.

CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus calliope), 2014-65: Immature male, 12-29 November 2014, Swick residence, Ozark, Christian Co. Found and documented by Greg Swick (with photographs); also documented by Allen Smith (with photographs) and banded by Sarah Driver. Accidental transient; second state record. Measurements and photographs taken while banding confirmed not only identification to species but also age and sex. Banding data are provided in Swick documentation.

LEAST FLYCATCHER (Empidonax minimus), 2014-36: One, 16 April 2014, Hornersville Swamp Levee Road, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). Earliest spring arrival date. Visual characters all correct for Least, and gave the che-bek song.

NORTHERN SHRIKE (Lanius excubitor), 2014-23: Adult, 5 February 2014, County Road 103A, Iron Co. Matt Jones (documentation with photographs). Accidental in the Ozark region.

WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus), 2014-63: One, 29 October 2014, St. Francis Levee Road, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones. Latest fall record.

BLUE-HEADED VIREO (Vireo solitarius), 2014-25: One, 8 February 2014, St. Francis Levee Road, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). Accidental in winter.

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides), 2014-17: Adult male, 27 January 2013, near Salem, Dent Co. Rob Francis. Casual transient and winter visitor.

TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (Myadestes townsendi), 2014-19: One, 2-10 February 2014, Young CA, Jefferson Co. Found and documented by Joshua Uffman (with photographs); also documented by Jim Malone (with photographs). Winter visitor, accidental outside of northwest Missouri.

GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis), 2014-7: One, 14 December 2013, Yarrow, Adair Co. Peter Kondrashov (documentation with photographs). Casual in winter in northern Missouri.

GRAY CATBIRD, 2014-18: One, 27 January 2014, Raytown, Jackson Co. Joseph Mosley. Casual in winter in northern Missouri.

AMERICAN PIPIT (Anthus rubescens), 2014-12: One, 28 December 2013, Smithville Lake, Clay Co. Kristi Mayo. Casual in winter in northern and central Missouri. CBC record.

BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora cyanoptera), 2014-62: One, 17 October 2014, Hornersville Swamp Levee Road, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones. Latest fall record.

Page 197 THE BLUEBIRD ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata), 2014-10: One, 27 December 2013, Hamburg Ferry Access, Pike Co. Scott Schuette. Casual in winter in northern Missouri. CBC record.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 2014-11: One, 27 December 2013, Nor- ton Woods Access, Lincoln Co. Scott Schuette. Casual in winter in northern Missouri. CBC record.

AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla), 2014-3: Female-type, 18 October 2013, St. Francis Levee Road, Dunlin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). Latest fall record by five days.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Setophaga pensylvanica), 2014-48: Adult male, 5-8 June 2014, Domke residence, New Bloomfield, Callaway Co. Henry Domke. Probably to be considered a record-late spring migrant, not a potential breeding bird.

PALM WARBLER (Setophaga palmarum), 2014-8: One, 19 December 2013, Ten Mile Pond CA, Mississippi Co. Bill Eddleman (documentation), Keith Pulles. Casual in winter. CBC record.

PALM WARBLER, 2014-44: Male, 27-28 May 2014, Creve Coeur, St. Louis Co. Josh Uffman (documentation with photographs). Latest spring record.

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Setophaga dominica), 2014-4: One, 18 October 2013, St. Francis Levee Road, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). Latest fall record by five days.

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, 2014-58: One, 14 October 2014, Simp- son Park, St. Louis Co. David Rudder. Another very late record (see 2014-4, above).

CANADA WARBLER (Cardellina canadensis), 2014-5: Female-type, 19 October 2013, St. Francis Levee Road, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). Very late fall record; latest since 19-21 October 1944.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens), 2014-2: One, 16 October 2013, St. Francis Levee Road, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs). Latest fall record by four days.

CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina), 2014-6: One, 14 December 2013 through 5 January 2014, Alwood residence, Ferguson, St. Louis Co. Cornelius Alwood (documentation with photographs). Casual in winter in northern and central Missouri.

SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis), 2014-51: One, 23 June to 3 July 2014, Highway A and Barry Road, Moniteau Co. Chris Barri- gar (documentation with photographs). Accidental as a summer visitor and possible nesting summer resident. Heard singing from a grassy pasture through the period stated above.

Page 198 THE BLUEBIRD NELSON’S SPARROW (Ammodramus nelsoni), 2014-33: One, 11 April 2014, Eagle Bluffs CA, Boone Co. Susan Hazelwood (documentation), Betsy Garrett. Second-earliest spring record, and far earlier than typical for the relatively few Nelson’s Sparrows seen on spring migration in Missouri, which usually occur in mid- to late May.

SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra), 2014-32: Female, 11-12 April 2014, Peculiar, Cass Co. Ginny Culver (documentation with photographs). Record- early spring arrival date.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus), 2014-14: Im- mature male, 13 January to 26 February 2014, Haas residence, Jackson, Cape Girardeau Co. Mark Haas (documentation with photographs), Kathy Haas. Accidental winter visitor.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, 2014-34: Adult and immature males, 12 April 2014, Goodwin residence, near Jackson, Cape Girardeau Co. Mark Goodwin (documentation), Crystal Goodwin. Earliest spring record. It is possible that the immature bird was the individual in 2014-14, above.

BOBOLINK (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), 2014-60: Adult, 22 October 2014, Litz- inger Ecology Center, Ladue, St. Louis Co. Linda Tossing. Latest fall record. The bird was banded, #2711-01608.

PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpurea), 2014-53: Juvenile, 8-13 Septem- ber 2014, near Spring Lake, Adair Co. Peter Kondrashov (documentation with photographs). Earliest fall record. Photographs were sent to Tony Leu- kering for an outside opinion on the possibility of a vagrant Cassin’s Finch; he confirmed it as a Purple Finch.

RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra), 2014-1: Groups of males and females, 26 April to 1 August 2013, Chamberlain residence, Marshfield, Web- ster Co. Greg Samuel (documentation with photographs), Linda Chamber- lain (homeowner). Casual summer visitor. From a high count of 15 in late April, birds were observed daily by the homeowner and periodically by Sam- uel through June and July, with 9 on 5 June, dwindling to 2, late June through July, and a final observation of one on 1 August. An audio recording by Samuel was sent to Mark Robbins and diagnosed as Type 2.

LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria), 2014-26: Green-backed adult male, 15 February to 23 March, Berg residence, Stone Co. Greg Samuel (documentation), Emily Berg (photographs). Casual transient and winter visitor.

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus), 2014-21: Two, 2 Janu- ary to 4 February 2013, farm of Eldon and Cindy Walter, Jackson Co. James Gorski (documentation with photographs). Casual away from St. Louis and the northern Mississippi corridor.

Page 199 THE BLUEBIRD RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED “Not accepted” does not necessarily mean that the identification should be assumed to be incorrect. In some cases the Committee may indeed believe that the bird was misidentified, but in other cases, while it seems possible that the identification was correct, the information provided is insufficient to rule out other species completely. The Committee may be unable to ac- cept even a likely record if the description is too sketchy or vague, or if it fails to mention critical field marks that would distinguish that species from all others. Our belief is that a report should go into the permanent scientific record only if it is free of reasonable doubt. This is the standard ap- proach of bird record committees everywhere.

GLOSSY IBIS, 2014-46: Two, 4 May 2014, Eagle Bluffs CA, Boone Co. The description of these birds eliminated pure White-faced Ibis but did not eliminate a Glossy x White-faced hybrid.

WHOOPING CRANE, 2014-45: One, 29 April, Excelsior Springs, Clay Co. This bird may have been a Whooping Crane, but it was observed without binoculars and the details were incomplete.

THAYER’S/ICELAND GULL (Larus thayeri/glaucoides), 2014-27: First or second-cycle bird, 15 February 2014, Little River CA, Dunklin Co. In a se- ries of photographs of this bird, a couple of images appeared to show an un- derwing pattern consistent with Thayer’s Gull, but otherwise the bird appeared to be a Herring Gull. The images were sent to David Irons of Oregon, who agreed with the identification as Herring Gull.

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax flaviventris), 2014-38: One, 27 April 2014, County Road 645, Cape Girardeau Co. The description suggested a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, but due to the difficulties of identification in this genus, any early or late report of any Empidonax will nearly always require photographic evidence, and often also a voice recording or accurate description of the voice. It is not sufficient simply to note that the voice matched an audio recording.

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, 2014-39: One, 27 April 2014, Inde- pendence, Jackson Co. Description included a number of anomalous details, such as an estimated length of 6-7 inches (size of a phoebe or pewee) and also an estimated size slightly larger than Acadian Flycatcher (no indication how determined; in any case, Yellow-bellied is smaller than Acadian, not larger). There was no way to determine what species may have been observed.

FISH CROW (Corvus ossifragus), 2014-20: Two, 2 February 2014, Lake Jacomo, Jackson Co. The voice described was not recognizably that of a Fish Crow. Differences in size and shape from American Crow were described, but it was not clear that these were observed in side-by-side comparison.

Page 200 THE BLUEBIRD SPRAGUE’S PIPIT (Anthus spragueii), 2014-52: One, 3 September 2014, Levasy Bottoms, Jackson Co. While the description was hard to interpret at some points, it seemed clearly to refer to a juvenile Horned Lark, which can easily be misidentified as Sprague’s Pipit. The described patterns of the head and the back were much more like those of a Horned Lark than a Sprague’s Pipit, and the “dark brown primaries” mentioned were also a lark character, as the primaries of Sprague’s and other pipit species are nearly or fully covered by the tertials and thus are not usually visible in the field. One good source of comparative photographs is found at http:// prairieice.blogspot.com/2010/07/spragues-pipit-or-horned-lark.html.

BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (Setophaga castanea), 2014-37: Male, 19 April 2014, Phelps Co. Some important details were not observed (pale neck patch) or were not mentioned in the description (black face, olive back with dark streaks). More information would be needed for a date that would be a new early record for this species.

BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Setophaga striata), 2014-57: One, 6 October 2014, Blue Springs Wetland Mitigation Bank, Jackson Co. Some of the characters described did fit a fall Blackpoll Warbler, but the details were insufficient to rule out other species, notably a Pine Warbler. There was no mention of streaked or unstreaked back, leg color, or other details that might have identified it as a Blackpoll.

SCARLET TANAGER (Piranga olivacea), 2014-31: Male, 10 April 2014, county road in Phelps Co. This may have been a record-early Scarlet Tana- ger, but the bird was viewed without optics and the description left some uncertainty (bill color was described as yellow).

BREWER’S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus), 2014-13: Flock of 30, 4 January 2014, rural Butler Co. The details offered were insufficient to identify these birds as Brewer’s Blackbirds. While the observers felt they had eliminated Common Grackle, parts of the description suggested that species. The birds were said to be “glossy blue, purple, and green” with no indication what parts of the body showed these colors (a bird with a glossy blue head would be a grackle). The call note, as described, sounded more like that of a grackle than a Brewer’s. Moreover, all members of this flock of 30 were black with pale eyes; this would be true of any grackle flock but extraordinary for a similar-sized flock of Brewer’s, which would almost certainly contain some brown females (with dark eyes). CBC record.

Page 201 THE BLUEBIRD SUMMER 2014 SEASONAL REPORT Kristi Mayo

A late spring gave way to a cloudy and cool first half of June, followed by expected warm and muggy conditions the second half of the month. Statewide, June precipitation averaged 1.5 inches above normal, continuing to improve upon drought conditions (Guinan, Jul 2014). The heavy precipitation trend did not continue into July, but the second half of the summer season did prove to be the tenth cool- est July on record for Missouri (Guinan, Aug 2014). These combined conditions resulted in a later-than-normal haying season, reported Steve Kinder, and this benefited grassland birds such as Bobo- links.

Highlights from the season included nesting Sandhill Cranes at SLNWR (where the pair was unsuccessful) and SCNWR (where an estimated two-week-old chick was photographed with the adults on 5 Jul). A group of 5 Ruffed Grouse in Oregon was unexpected. Chaseable rarities included a Pacific Loon in Dade, Wood Storks in Vernon, White Ibis in Boone and Dunklin, and a Lesser Gold- finch in Lawrence.

WATERFOWL

Two lone Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were found in each of the state’s southern corners: 1, first spotted 28 May at a pond in an apartment complex in Springfield Greene, was still present 4-5 Jun (DeMa, GSw, AK, DB, m.ob.), and 1 was found in a drainage ditch near the Cape Girardeau Air- port Scott 6-9 Jul (Todd Cannon, Bill Eddleman, AG). As is typical, small groups of Snow Geese—likely injured or sick—remained through the summer in several locations: 2 at Lewis and Clark SP Buchanan 8-9 Jun (Jason Huck); 1 at Shawnee Mac Lakes CA Dent on 17 Jun (JD); 15 at Big L SP Holt on 21 Jun (Susan Hazelwood); as many as 4 at SCNWR from 25 Jun-5 Jul (Joy Keown, CR); and as many as 9 at Otter Slough CA Stoddard from 17-19 Jul (Auriel Fournier, GSa). Two Gadwalls were still present at SLNWR on 3 Jun (SK), and a single m lingered until 22 Jun at RMBS (BR). Blue-winged Teal occurred primarily along the Missouri R. corridor, in numbers from 1 to 9. An exception was a total of 21 at Perry Memorial CA Johnson on 4 Jun. Birds away from the Missouri R. included 1 at FRCA (GSa), 1 at Center Creek Lagoon Jasper (LH), and 2 at a farm pond in Web- ster on 5 Jun (GSa). The only report of nesting activity came from LVL, where 1 ad and up to 8 juv were found between 4 Jun and 2 Jul (Karen Davis). Northern Shovelers were found in three locations: 2 at SCNWR on 14 Jun (Mike Stewart); 2 at RMBS on 26 Jun (Jamie Goodspeed); and 1 m at PSP-Zell on 5 Jul (SK). Single m Northern Pintails turned up at RMBS

Page 202 THE BLUEBIRD 7 Jun-24 Jul (CMa, †JM) and FRCA from 11 Jun-1 Jul (GSa, CW, BJ). A lone m Green-winged Teal lingered at PSP-Zell 3 Jul (SK). A drake Can- vasback was present at RMBS 1 Jun-24 Jun (Dave Gibson, PL, MT, BR, DMa, †MAM). A Ring-necked Duck was still at EBCA on 5 Jun (KA). Sin- gle Lesser Scaup turned up at EBCA on 5 Jun (KA) and PSP-Zell on 6 Jul (SK). A m Bufflehead was observed 7 Jun-26 Jun at RMBS (†BR; Jamie Goodspeed, m.ob.). A f Common Goldeneye at L Remembrance on 26 Jun appeared to be wounded (†MB). Hooded Mergansers were reported in several locations away from the southeast and the immediate St. Louis area: 2 at L Remembrance Jackson on 26 Jun (MB); 6 at at Mosby Clay on 11 Jul (Carla Kjellander); 1 at SL on 12 Jul (Carol Cobb); 3 at EBCA on 18 Jun (BJ); 1 at Forum Nature Area Boone on 28 Jul (Carol Weston); 6 at Cla- rence Cannon NWR Pike on 5 Jul (PL); and 7 imm at Thompson River Wet- land Reserve Program area Livingston on 30 Jun (SK). Two lone Ruddy Ducks were reported: 1 at FRCA-Unit 3 on 11 Jun (GSa); and 1 ad m at Little River CA Dunklin on 18-31 Jul (TJ).

GROUSE THROUGH WADERS

It had been nearly ten years since a Ruffed Grouse was reported in the state, so a sighting of 5 on 1 Jul at Greer Access on the Eleven Point River Oregon came as a surprise. The group was observed from a vehicle crossing Hwy 19 about 30 ft. away (AK). Greater Prairie-Chickens were observed in four locations: 2 at Prairie SP Barton on 17 Jun (JCa); up to 5 at DR on 25-31 Jul (Sherry Leonardo, Daniel Smith); 2 at Niawathe Prairie Dade on 16 Jun (JCa); and the high count of 8 came from Taberville Prairie CA St. Clair on 15 Jul (JCa). A single imm/non-breeding ad Pacific Loon (acc.) caught observers’ attention at STOL 15-18 Jun (found by Tim Barksdale; ; †GSw; †SM). Up to 3 Common Loons were present on McDaniel L Greene 7-14 Jun (DB, DeMa, SM). An imm Wood Stork (acc.) was first observed at FRCA-Unit 3 8 Jun-1 Aug (†Chris Daniel, †SM); the number reported rose to 2 imm by at least 27 Jun. Neotropic Cormorant is becoming easier to find in the western part of the state, but the sole report this summer came from Schell-Osage CA Vernon on 14 Jun (SK, LL). The highest count of American White Pelicans during the season was 300 at PSP-Zell on 22 Jul (SK). An American Bittern was at EBCA on 8 Jun (Kevin Wehner). Least Bitterns were found in five counties: 1, heard calling from City of Columbia Wetland Cell #2 Boone, on 8 Jun (GL); as many as 2 at SCNWR from 14 Jun-28 Jul (Mike Stewart, Jon King, DW); at least 2 at Marais Temps Clair CA St. Charles on 15 Jul (PL); 1 at BKL-Bittern Basin Unit on 31 Jul (PL); at least 12, including one imm following an ad, at Marais Temps Clair CA St. Charles on 13 Jul (Mike Brady); and a pair attending a nest with four eggs on a private WRP wetland Linn on 15 Jul (SK). Peak Great Egret numbers included 175 at a private wetland in Dunklin on 23 Jul (TJ); 184 at RMBS on 20 Jul (BR); 220 at Firma Rd St. Charles on 25 Jul (CMa, JM); and the highest season count was 450 at Dalbow Rd St. Charles on 30 Jul (DMa, MAM). Snowy Egrets were seen in numbers of 1- 9 from June through mid-July, mainly on the Mississippi R. (m.ob.). The only sightings away from the Mississippi R. corridor included 2 in Cass on

Page 203 THE BLUEBIRD

This winter-plumage Pacific Loon was an unexpected find at Stockton Lake, Dade County. The bird was first found by Tim Barksdale, and later photographed by Steve Martin. It was observed June 15-18.

One of two immature Wood Storks found at Four Rivers Conservation Area Unit 3, Vernon County. One was present June 8-July 31+., the other first appeared June 27. Photo by Steve Martin.

Page 204 THE BLUEBIRD 16 Jun (Joseph E. Mosley); as many as 2 at EBCA from 7-18 Jul (AK, Eric Mosley); 1 at FRCA on 11 Jun (GSa); 5 at Montrose CA Henry on 28 Jun (DC, VC); and 1 at SCNWR on 20 Jun & 28 Jul (Jeff and Bonnie Jorgensen, DW). Little Blue Herons were reported in six counties in western MO, with the high count of 8 at Perry Memorial CA Johnson on 2 Jul (DC). Sin- gles were found in Phelps and Boone on 6 Jun & 29 Jun, respectively (William Wood, GL). Finally, they were found in small numbers on the east side of the state, in six counties, with the peak count of 16 at Apple Creek CA Cape Girardeau on 26 Jul (AG). Cattle Egrets turned up in small numbers across the state, with a high count in the west of 9 in two locations in Henry 20 & 28 Jun (GJ, Don Stout, PH; DC, VC); and a high count for the season of 13 in Cape Girardeau on 22 Jun (AG). The largest number of Green Herons reported stood at 13, from EBCA on 26 Jul (JU, et. al.) Sin- gle, imm White Ibises were found at EBCA from 14 Jul-20 Jul (SM, DeMa, BJ, m.ob.) and at a private wetland in Dunklin 27 Jul (TJ). One White- faced Ibis*, an accidental summer visitor, was located at PSP-Zell on 24 Jun (SK).

OSPREY THROUGH CRANES

Ospreys were found at active nests in at least four locations: Randolph 12 Jun (KA); STOL 18 Jun (GSw, AK); Macon 22 Jun (BJ); and Truman Reser- voir Henry (CW, BJ). Other individual birds, likely representing post- breeding wanderers, were found from 14 Jul through the end of the season in Clay, Jackson, Polk, and Boone (eBird Basic Dataset). Mississippi Kites were distributed from the Missouri R. south to the northern edge of the Ozarks, and all along the Mississippi R. corridor, with a number of reports of birds at nests. The high count was of at least 20 at Creve Coeur L and County Park St. Louis on 1 Jul (Dylan Sheets). While kites expand their range in the state, the number of Northern Harriers reported was a dis- mal “1” in Cass on 1 Jun (Ginny Culver). Sharp-shinned Hawk, a rare summer resident in the south, was found in seven counties, all south of the Missouri R.: 1, Conco Quarry in Springfield Greene, 1 Jun (DB); 1 at Nia- wathe Prairie CA Dade on 17 Jul (JCa); 1 each at a private area as well as Low Gap Prairie & Wetland Area in Webster on 1 Jun and 2 Jul (AK); several seen throughout the season attacking birds at a feeder in Columbia Boone (Paul McKenzie); 2 at Little Dixie L CA Callaway on 15 Jun (Joseph Bieksza); 1 at Maramec Spring Trout Park Phelps on 31 Jul (JD); and single birds at two locations in Washington on 18 & 22 Jun (RF, Steve Smith). The only reports of Broad-winged Hawks north of the Missouri R., where rare, both came on 2 Jul: 1 at Thousand Hills SP Adair (BC) and 2 in Liberty Clay (Marky Mutchler). Swainson's Hawks continue to demonstrate a nice foothold in Greene, with birds reported in about five separate locations around Springfield. This included 2 ad and 2 juv at a nest 7 Jun-11 Jul (CBu, Sherry Leonardo, m.ob.). Single hawks were also reported at Shawnee Trail CA Barton on 17 Jun (SK) and near Ash Grove Lawrence on 7 Jun (JU). Common Gallinules were in three locations: 1 at McBaine Wetland Cell #2 Boone on 8 Jun (GL); up to 4 ad and 12 juv at SCNWR from 17-30 Jul (PH, Mike Stewart, m.ob.); and up to 2 at BKL from 4-17 Jul

Page 205 THE BLUEBIRD

This photo of an adult Sandhill Crane with chick is the only evidence of a successful nest by the species in the state this year. The pair nested at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt County, where Charlotte Ross took this photo on July 5. m.ob.). A pair of Sandhill Cranes successfully hatched a chick at SCNWR. Two adults were observed throughout the season by m.ob., and an adult was photographed with an approximately 2-week-old chick on 5 Jul (CR, ph). A pair at SLNWR, last reported on 25 Jun, spent many weeks on the refuge and attempted to nest, but were apparently unsuccessful (SK). Another two adults were seen throughout the season (as well as the summer of 2013) in Johnson near Mo. Rte 131 and the Blackwater R., but no chicks were observed with the pair (Alan Branhagen).

SHOREBIRDS THROUGH GULLS

A middle-of-the-season American Golden-Plover was found on 22 Jun at RMBS (Connie Alwood, BR), and as many as 6 at Dalbow & Firma Rd St. Charles 30-31 Jul were the first certain southbound migrants (DMa, MAM, PL). The highest count of Semipalmated Plovers was 16, also at Dalbow & Firma Rd St. Charles, 31 Jul (PL). Firmly established in the bootheel, Black-necked Stilts are also becoming more expected farther up the Mis- sissippi R.: 2 were at BKL-Bittern Basin Unit on 5 Jul (PL) and 2-4 were tallied at RMBS 7 Jun-1 Jul (BR, m.ob.). But as many as three pairs at PSP- Zell, 24-28 Jun, were quite notable (SK). American Avocets appeared at

Page 206 THE BLUEBIRD lakes and wetlands during the second half of July: 1 at a beach on LVL on 14 Jul (Karen Davis); 5 at a private WRP wetland in Linn on 15 Jul (SK); 2 ad at EBCA on 27 Jul (Susan Hazelwood, BJ); and 7 at a swimming area on STOL on 27 Jul (ES, GSa). Season high counts of 30 Greater Yellowlegs and 50 Lesser Yellowlegs were both made on Firma Rd. St. Charles on 26 Jul (JM, CMa). Upland Sandpipers were counted in numbers from 1 to 6 in the western tiers of counties, with a high count of 15 at DR on 8 Jun (Burroughs Audubon Society field trip). Sightings away from the west side of the state included 1 in rural Boone on 8 Jun (Ryan Douglas); 1 at EBCA on 28 Jun (BJ); and 1 at PSP-Zell on 22 Jul (SK). A group of 3 Baird's Sandpipers were found at SCNWR on 18 Jul (PH, GJ), and 1 was at RMBS on 26 Jul (CMa). The biggest counts of Least Sandpipers for the season totaled 75 at EBCA on 20 Jul (BJ) and 74 at a private wetland in Dunklin on 14 Jul (TJ). Late northbound White-rumped Sandpipers were reported in two locations in June: 65 at EBCA on 2 Jun (BJ) and 2 at RMBS on 15 Jun (Caitlin Andrews). Buff-breasted Sandpipers were spotted on their return trip south the last week of July: 2 at Hedeman L/England Pond Dade on 27 Jul (GSa); 1 at SCNWR on 28 Jul (DW); 5 at FRCA-Unit 3 on 31 Jul (BJ); and a season high count of 11 at Hedeman L/England Pond on 31 Jul (SM, DeMa, CBu, Jill Hays). The biggest group of Pectoral Sandpi- pers totaled 141 at Firma Rd. St. Charles on 26 Jul (JM, CMa). The Semi- palmated Sandpiper high count, representing late spring migrants, was 140 at EBCA on 2 Jun (BJ). A Short-billed Dowitcher was at PSP-Zell on 3 Jul (SK), and—sometimes better left unidentified to species—an estimated 30 dowitcher sp. were in Pemiscot on 31 Jul (TJ). Two late Frank- lin's Gulls were at private wetlands in Johnson on 4 Jun (LO). Southbound birds began showing up on 17 Jul at SL (Brian Sevy); by 31 Jul, the number in the evening roost at SL had grown to 6 (DW). Away from the Mississippi R., individual Ring-billed Gulls were found during June at Liberty Clay on 2 Jun (Ryan Willig) and at Watkins Mill SP Clay on 21 Jun (Carla Kjel- lander). They were found in small numbers (1-6) at SL from 3-10 Jul (Carol Cobb); numbers began to build 14 Jul, peaking at 120 by 31 Jul (DW). Else- where, 2 were at Fellows L Greene on 6 Jul (JCa); 1 was in Joplin Jasper on 9 Jul; as many as 8 were counted at STOL 27-28 Jul (ES, GSa, CBu, GSw, DeMa, SM); up to 2 were at LVL 26-31 Jul (Karen Davis, Sherry Leonardo); and 3 were on Long Branch L Macon on 29 Jul (Alexander Patia).

TERNS THROUGH NUTHATCHES

Least Terns were most easily found along the Mississippi R. in the southeastern part of the state, as expected, with a high count of 100, including 33 nests with eggs, at Tiptonville Bar New Madrid on 9 Jul (Scott Somershoe). Up to 20 adults were observed throughout the season at RMBS (m.ob.), but no nesting activity was reported there. Away from the Mississippi R., 2 ad were at EBCA on 15 Jun (KA), and 1 imm was found there on 9 Jul (BJ). Another single bird was at Perry Memorial CA Johnson on 4 Jun (LO). Cas- pian Terns turned up in four locations during the summer: up to 3 at RMBS on 28-29 Jun (JM, CMa, Garrett Sheets, Dylan Sheets); 1 at Binder L Cole on 5 Jul (GL); 5 at SL on 14 Jul (DW); and 3 at EBCA on 15 Jul

Page 207 THE BLUEBIRD (Karen Wosilait). Forster's Tern sightings were limited to the west side of the state. They were found at SL 10 Jul-31 Jul, with a peak of 14 on 14 Jul (Carol Cobb, DW). The largest numbers came from STOL on 27 Jul with a count of 33 (ES, GSa) and LVL on 30 Jul with a count of 30 (Karen Davis). Individual Black-billed Cuckoos were reported at RMBS on 7 Jun (BR, m.ob.), Harrisonville North L Cass on 9 Jul (MB), and EBCA on 28 Jul (AK). Greater Roadrunner observations were limited to 1 at Roaring River SP Barry on 6 Jul (JCa), 1 at Wells Hollow Ozark on 20 Jul (Bob and Ellen Fullen), and 1 ad f carrying a stick in Springfield Greene on 31 Jul (CBu). Barn Owl nesting activity included fledged young in Cape Girardeau 2 Jun -20 Jul (AG, SM, DeMa); fledged young in Jackson (Larry Rizzo); an active nest in St. Clair (Larry Rizzo); and an active nest in Vernon (BJ). Addition- ally, a single bird was reported in Johnson on 28 Jun (Albert Pietrycha). Juvenile Peregrine Falcons were banded at four nests in the Kansas City area: 3 f, 1 m at the American Century Investments Building, Kansas City Jackson; 2 f, 1 m at the Hawthorn Generating Station Jackson; 1 f, 1 m at the Sibley Generating Station Jackson; and 3 f, 1 m at the Iatan Generating Station Platte (Joe DeBold). Additional observations all involved single birds: RMBS, 24 Jun-11 Jul (DMa, MAM, JM, CMa, Woody Walters); Co- lumbia Bottom CA St. Louis, 28 Jul (Rosemary Paul); and an imm at SL, 31 Jul (DW). Late spring-migrant flycatchers included an Olive-sided Fly- catcher at Eagle L Phelps on 3 Jun (JD); a single Yellow-bellied Fly- catcher at Rockwoods Reservation St. Louis on 2 Jun (CMa, JM); 2 Alder Flycatchers observed tussling and vocalizing on a fencerow at the Univer- sity of Missouri Beef Teaching Farm Boone on 2 Jun, plus 1 at EBCA on 5 Jun (KA). A nesting pair of Willow Flycatchers was at Stony Point Prairie Dade on 26 Jun (JCa). An early fall-migrant Least Flycatcher was heard making a che-beck song and whit call note at EBCA on 26 Jul (Mark Rob- bins, m.ob.). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher’s distribution continues to creep north and east. More notable sightings from the bootheel included 2 apparently nesting 3 Jun-13 Jul in Cape Girardeau (AG), two individuals in different locations in Dunklin 7 & 17 Jun (TJ), 1 in Butler 11 Jun (TJ), and 1 in New Madrid on 30 Jul (MH). Loggerhead Shrikes were reported in singles and pairs in 14 counties: Barton, Clinton, Dade, Dunklin, Harrison, Henry, Johnson, Mississippi, Newton, Pettis, Phelps, Polk, Reynolds, and Saline (eBird Basic Dataset). Bell's Vireos were evenly distributed across the state north of the I-44 corridor, with a high count of 10 at Whetstone Creek CA Callaway on 16 Jun (KA). South of that line, single birds were reported at Little River CA Dunklin from 6-10 Jun (TJ); a private wetland in Dunklin 5 Jun-18 Jul (TJ); Canaan Conservation Area Gasconade on 25 Jun (Mike Doyen); Freeburg Towersite Maries on 9 Jun (JD); and Little Prairie CA Phelps on 23 Jul (JD). Up to 2 birds were at Maintz Wildlife Pre- serve Cape Girardeau from 2 Jun-20 Jul (AG, MH), and the high count for the southeast was 3 at White River Trace CA Dent on 2 Jul (Mike Doyen).

WRENS THROUGH FINCHES

A survey from the wildlife loop of SCNWR yielded the highest count of Sedge Wrens (23) and Marsh Wrens (32) on 30 Jul (MR). “Given that I

Page 208 THE BLUEBIRD was only able to survey the area near the road (about a quarter to a third of the entire area) there may have been over 100 territorial males in this area!” wrote Robbins. He added: “All were of the eastern species.” Marsh Wrens were also detected in numbers from 1 to 5 in Jackson, Johnson, Boone, Saline, and St. Charles throughout the season (eBird Basic Dataset). Bewick’s Wrens, at the eastern fringe of their range in the Missouri Ozarks, were found in singles and pairs in Benton, Camden, Cole, Dade, Dent, Lawrence, McDonald, Moniteau, Newton, and Phelps (eBird Basic Dataset). Ovenbirds turned up in four locations in the northern counties, where rare: 2 at Thousand Hills SP Adair on 2 Jul (BC); 1 at Heath CA Clark on 2 Jul (Laurie Shawver); 1 at Trice-Dedman Memorial Woods Clin- ton on 16 Jul (MB); and 1 at SCNWR on 28 Jul (DW). One Swainson's Warbler was at the Greer Spring Access on the Eleven Point R. Oregon on 4 Jun (Lee Western), and up to 2 were observed at Blue Spring Shannon on the Current R. 8 Jun-14 Jun (SM, DeMa, JU). Single, singing m Hooded Warblers away from their strongholds in the Ozarks-proper were found at Weldon Spring CA St. Charles on 15 Jun (Stan Chapman, BR), at Danville CA Montgomery on 5 Jul (Ryan Douglas), and at Old Town Access Bates on 9 Jul (MB). Up to 3 Yellow Warblers, rare summer residents in the south, were found at Roaring River SP Barry on 11 & 22 Jun (Tom Gannon, Jon Becknell). Other single Yellow Warblers in the south were found at Current River SP Shannon on 1 Jun (Terry McNeely); Rotary L Cape Girardeau on 4 Jun (MH); Apple Creek CA Cape Girardeau on 7 Jun (AG); Audubon Trails Nature Center Phelps on 21 Jun (Mike Doyen); Big Oak Tree SP Mississippi on 27 Jul (Karl Poetzl); and Lamine River CA Cooper on 30 Jun (Meret Wil- son). A singing m Chestnut-sided Warbler (acc.) was documented in Cal- laway 5-8 Jun (†Henry Domke). Pine Warblers were found in two locations away from the Ozarks: 2 at Thousand Hills SP Adair on 7-20 Jun (Edge Wade, SK); and 1 at Knob Noster SP Johnson on 13 Jun (DC, VC). A single, singing Savannah Sparrow (acc.) photographed on private farmland in Moniteau was present 23 Jun-3 Jul (†CBa). Henslow's Sparrows were found primarily in numbers less than 10 across the state, with high counts of 25 at Hi Lonesome Prairie CA Benton on 20 Jul (ML) and 19 at Prairie SP Barton on 17 Jun (JCa). Sightings away from the prairies of the southwestern quarter of the state included single birds in three Boone locations on 8 Jun, 7 Jul, and 20 Jul (Ryan Douglas, AK); 5 at Little Dixie L CA Callaway on 22 Jun (KA); 1 at another Callaway location on 12 Jul (Henry Domke); 5 at Harter CA Cass on 9 Jul (MB); 1 at SL on 31 Jul (DW); 1 in Russellville Cole on 8 Jul (CBa); up to 8 at White River Trace CA Dent on 27 Jun-2 Jul (Mike Doyen); 1 in Franklin on 20 Jul (JU); 2 at Indian Hills CA Scotland on 30 Jul (BC); and 1-2 at three locations in St. Charles (BR, eBird Basic Dataset). A White-crowned Sparrow photographed on 3 Jun in Lawrence represents a second summer record. It was noted that this bird appeared to be injured (†GSa). Painted Buntings are an established presence in the southwestern counties of Greene, Jasper, and Newton. Away from that region, 1 m was at Truman Reservoir-Windsor Crossing Henry on 14 Jun-1 Jul (SK, LL, CW, BJ); 1 m was at Perry Memorial CA Pettis on 2 Jul (DC); and 1 imm m was at Cover Prairie Oregon on 8 Jun (Paul McKenzie). The high Bobolink count was a conservative estimate of 82 at DR on 8

Page 209 THE BLUEBIRD

Only accidentally found in Missouri in summer, this Savannah Sparrow was an unexpected treat from June 23-July 3 at a private farm in Moniteau County, where it was found by Chris Barrigar.

Jun (Burroughs Audubon Society field trip). South of the Missouri R., up to 5 were private farmland in Moniteau from 2 Jun-2 Jul (CBa); 1 m was in Johnson on 20 Jun (Don Stout, GJ, PH); and 3 were at Hi Lonesome Prairie CA Benton on 19 Jul (ML). Yellow-headed Blackbirds had another slow year, with only 2 turning up at Harrisonville North L Cass on 9 Jul (MB) and as many as 4 reported between 15 Jul-18 Jul at SCNWR (Brian Sevy, m.ob.). A Lesser Goldfinch* was reported 1-2 Jul in rural Lawrence (CBu).

Literature Cited eBird Basic Dataset. Version: EBD_relAug-2014. Cornell Lab of Ornithol- ogy, Ithaca, New York. Aug 2014.

Guinan, P. (Jul 2014). June 2014 Weather and Its Impacts on Missouri. Missouri Climate Center. Retrieved from: http://climate.missouri.edu/

news/arc/jul2014b.php

Guinan, P. (Aug 2014). July 2014 Weather and Its Impacts on Missouri. Missouri Climate Center. Retrieved from: http://climate.missouri.edu/ news/arc/aug2014.php

Page 210 THE BLUEBIRD Observers Kathleen Anderson (KA), Chris Barrigar (CBa), Michael Beck (MB), David Blevins (DB), Charley Burwick (CBu), Jeff Cantrell (JCa), Bill Clark (BC), Dan Cowell (DC), Varick Cowell (VC), Jerry Decker (JD), Rob Francis (RF), Allen Gathman (AG), Mark Haas (MH), Paul Habiger (PH), Lawrence Her- bert (LH), Brad Jacobs (BJ), Gary Johnson (GJ), Timothy Jones (TJ), Steve Kinder (SK), Andrew Kinslow (AK), Larry Lade (LL), Greg Leonard (GL), Pat Lueders (PL), Marge Lumpe (ML), Charlene Malone (CMa), Jim Malone (JM), David Marjamaa (DaMa), Mary Anne Marjamaa (MAM), Debbie Mar- tin (DeMa), Steve Martin (SM) Larry Olpin (LO), Mark Paradise (MP), Mark Robbins (MR), Charlotte Ross (CR), Bill Rowe (BR), Emily Samuel (ES), Greg Samuel (GSa), Greg Swick (GSw), Mike Thelen (MT), Dorothy Thurman (DT), Joshua Uffman (JU), Doug Willis (DW), Chris Wood (CW) Key * Documentation needed for MBRC review † Documentation received by MBRC for review

Abbreviations acc. Accepted by MBRC ad Adult CA Conservation Area f Female imm Immature juv Juvenile L Lake m male MO Missouri m.ob. many observers MBRC Missouri Bird Records Committee R&E Robbins & Easterla, Birds of Missouri: Their Distribution and Abundance (1992)

Location abbreviations (counties are in italics) BKL B. K. Leach CA Lincoln DR Dunn Ranch Harrison EBCA Eagle Bluffs CA Boone FRCA Four Rivers CA Vernon & Bates LVL Longview Lake Jackson PSP-Zell Pershing SP – Zell Tract Linn RMBS Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary St Charles SL Smithville Lake Clay & Clinton STOL Stockton Lake Dade SLNWR Swan Lake NWR Chariton SCNWR Squaw Creek NWR Holt

Page 211 THE BLUEBIRD A BIRDERS’ GUIDE TO MISSOURI PUBLIC LANDS

HAWN STATE PARK

Paul Bauer and Edge Wade, fall 2014

4,955.66 acres Ste. Genevieve Co. DeLorme 49, H-8 ; GPS: 37.833830,- 90.240900; DNR owned; contact (573) 883-3603 during office hours; http:// mostateparks.com/park/hawn-state-park

Directions: From I-55 exit #154, take Rt. O toward Ste. Genevieve for 6 miles, then right onto MO 32 west for 5.2 miles to a left onto Miller Switch Rd. for about 1/3 mile to a left (east) onto MO 144, continuing straight onto Bauer Rd. At the park office on the right, there is paved parking and a pathway to a kiosk for information if the office is closed.

Western Ste. Genevieve County, on the eastern side of the St. Francois mountains, has some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes in the state. LaMotte sandstone features of canyons bluffs, native shortleaf pine, stands of white oak, hickory and maple, the springtime blossoms of dogwood and azalea, and the clear sand bottomed creeks combine to create a won- drous collage. We can thank Helen Coffer Hawn for her bequest of the origi- nal 1,459 acres for this park in 1952. This acreage was purchased parcel by parcel with her savings from a schoolteacher’s salary.

At the bottom of the hill in the park are the camping and picnic areas where several trails begin. Across the creek from the camping area is a trail that leads to the picnic area. Beyond the creek from the picnic area is another trail that leads high along the bluff (overlooking azaleas in the spring) and recrosses the creek to meet another trail coming from the picnic area. Where these two trails meet, a “figure eight” trail of 10 miles [Bauer: Whis- pering Pine Trail with north and south loops meanders through a mixed hardwood and pine forest, past exposures of sandstone and granite ridges, glades, and the River Aux Vases, which runs through the south part of the park. The scenic mile-long Pickle Creek Trail traverses sandstone bluffs, granite shut-ins, and Pickle Creek, which will remind visitors of a cascading mountain stream. It continues up the creek and ends at the camping area. See below for additional trail information.

When to Visit/Species to Expect: A trip to Hawn SP any time of year will be rewarding to attentive birders. Approaching the park after leaving the interstate, watch the wires and fences for Eastern Bluebird, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Dickcissel, and Lark and Grasshop- per Sparrows. The 114-species SPARKS checklist (with Wood Duck, Can- ada and Snow Geese the only waterfowl represented) includes 21 warbler species (and that does not show a Swainson’s Warbler found in 1990 or Ce- ruleans which are surely present).

Pine Warblers are most easily found in the conifers around the headquarters, especially March to mid-October. Chipping Sparrows also occur in the

Page 212 THE BLUEBIRD pines. Broad-winged Hawk, Wild Turkey and Wood Thrush nest in the park. In late April, watch for nesting Summer Tanager, and for Scarlet Tanager beginning in late April/early May. Worm-eating Warbler can be found on the hillsides, and Prairie Warbler can be found in the park glades and by driving the roads, such as Hawn Park Road, to the west of the park. Ozark streamside birds such as Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, North- ern Parula, Cerulean Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush are to be expected. Whip-poor-will can be heard in late spring and early summer. Henslow’s Sparrows may be found in summer along Hwy. 144 in grasslands on the right, BUT, this is private land, an inholding. You may pull over and listen and watch for the Henslow’s from the grassy road verge, but stay outside the fence. Wintering species take advantage of the protection of the pines. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creep- ers, Winter Wrens and Hermit Thrushes are winter residents. Watch and listen for both species of kinglet. American Tree, White-throated, Song, Fox and Swamp Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos winter here in appropriate habitats.

Features of interest to birders: The geologic features combine to sustain cool climate niches favorable to plants more common to climates farther north. Undoubtedly, birds familiar with more northern habitats find these areas in the park attractive as they migrate northward or come here to winter. The park boasts three natural areas: Botkins Pine Woods (30 acres); Lamotte Sandstone Barrens (81 acres); and the 120-acre Orchid Valley Natural Area closed to the public. The barrens area might be well worth a look for glade-loving birds. Check with park staff for additional information. There are two-tracks and non-trail-designated footpaths such as the one that leads from the campground into pines that offer access to habitat niches. Much of the park is in the Whispering Pines Wild Area (see the Whispering Pines Trail description below.) Several miles of official trails invite exploration.

Overlook Trail is a 300-ft. linear paved trail blazed in orange running from the picnic area between the park office and campground to a small overlook of Pickle Creek valley. It has interpretive signs describing the pine wood- lands and the Lamotte Sandstone formations.

Pickle Creek Trail is a .70-mile linear trail blazed in green running along the shut-in creek. The trailhead is in the picnic area between the park office and campground. Users may retrace the route or follow the Whispering Pines Trail from the junction.

Whispering Pines Trail is a 9.75-mile figure eight trail looping through the 2,880 acre Whispering Pine Wild Area (north loop 6 miles blazed in red; south loop 3.75 miles blazed in blue). The trailhead is at the wooden bridge beyond the parking area near the picnic area parking area. It is a favorite hikers and backpackers as it traverses bluffs and follows the banks of Pickle Creek and the River Aux Vases. It is signed counterclockwise (widdershins), and has spur trails to primitive campsites (no open fires allowed).

Page 213 THE BLUEBIRD White Oaks Trail is a 3.75-mile loop signed in yellow with the trailhead on the right near the park entrance at the end of Hwy. 144. It runs through mixed hardwood and shortleaf pine forest, crossing several wet-weather creeks and offering viewpoints atop exposed sandstone rock outcrops.

Toilets: Restrooms in the campgrounds (water turned off in winter) and vault toilets in picnic areas.

Camping: The campground has electric and basic sites (and can be very full in summer and on warm weekends). Pickle Creek runs along the edge. There are many picnic tables shaded by pines, a large open shelter and a paved pathway connecting the facilities.

Hazards/Limitations: Much of the area is rugged, rocky and steep; watch your footing. The natural beauty of this park attracts large numbers of visitors, so try to time your visit for birding to avoid high density visitor days.

Nearby Birding Sites: Pickle Springs NA, Horton Farm CA, St. Joe SP, Hickory Canyons NA, Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, Washington SP.

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GRAVOIS MILLS ACCESS

Edge Wade, summer 2014

63 acres Morgan Co. DeLorme 45, A-6; GPS: 38.308754, -92.819042; MDC owned; for additional information call 573-346-2210

Directions: On Hwy. 5 at the north end of Gravois Mills a brown MDC sign indicates the road to the east that leads into the access. A narrow strip of land on both sides of this road is part of the area before the parking lot is reached. From the water, the access is at the 10.1 mile marker for the Gravois Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks. This is a fairly small site well worth a stop to check anytime of the year. Migrants seem drawn to it, there is a good selection of summer nesters, and it has a good representation of resident species.

When to Visit/Species to Expect: The limited number of birding visits here has proven productive. Wood Thrush and Northern Parula nest near the large lot. It’s a good site for woodpeckers year-round, and flycatchers from spring into fall. Least Flycatcher has been seen in August; Olive-sided in mid-September. Listen for Yellow-billed Cuckoo, especially August into October. Throughout the summer, the parking lot is often guarded by a high-perched male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. White-eyed, Blue-headed, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos have been reported. Martins and swallows may be seen hunting the sky over the area on any summer day. Be sure to check the lake from various points along the shore, no matter what time of year. If it is not busy with people, ducks, geese, gulls, terns, cormo- rants, pelicans and herons are likely. Osprey and Bald Eagles may be present.

Page 214 THE BLUEBIRD Features of interest to birders: The area is mostly forested and much of it is not easily accessed due to the steep hills, but birding just by walking the edges of the 5-acre parking lot or very near it is likely to give some fine looks at several species.

The boat ramp, small dock and covered fishing dock all provide viewing platforms to peruse the lake, sky or the nearby trees. The small lawn area with a few trees between the ramp and the parking lot is always worth a few minutes of attention. Gnatcatchers, Carolina Chickadees, wrens, king- lets and other small birds feed here according to season.

Toilet: 1 privy

Camping: No.

Hazards/Limitations: Watch out for pick-ups and boat trailers as boats are being put in and taken out of the water. On weekends, especially, the shore end of the site can be very active with boaters and dock fishing.

Nearby Birding Sites: Hite Prairie, Manito Lake CA, Proctor Towersite, Ha Ha Tonka SP.

Page 215 THE BLUEBIRD Peer-Edited Article

Repeat of Winter Raptor Survey Along Interstates I-55 and I- 70, 1-2 Jan 2015 Paul M. McKenzie 2311 Grandview Circle Columbia, MO 65203

On 1-2 Jan 2015, I repeated the raptor survey that I initiated in 2011 (McKenzie 2011). As in 2011, 2012 and 2013 (McKenzie 2011, McKenzie 2012, McKenzie 2014), I counted all raptors perched or in flight within an approximate ~220 m (1/8 mi) transect along opposite sides of the interstate. I determined that this was likely the largest distance where birds could be safely and accurately identified without the aid of binoculars and would enable me to conduct the survey as a driver or as a passenger. I recorded, species, numbers, and divided I-55 into two sections: mile marker 0.0 at the Arkansas/Missouri line to mile marker 80.0 at Benton and from mile marker 80.0 to mile marker 191.0 in Arnold just south of St. Louis. These two sections correspond well to the Mississippi Lowlands or Bootheel and the Ozark Border Natural Divisions of Missouri described by Thom and Wil- son (1980) and Robbins and Easterla (1992). The third section surveyed was I-70 from mile marker 210.0 in Wentzville to mile marker 130.0 in Colum- bia. I surveyed a total of 270 miles (80 miles in section 1, 110 miles in section 2, and 80 miles in section 3. Surveys were conducted between 1300 and 1410 on 1 Jan, between 0800 and 0915, and between 1000 and 1115 on 2 Jan. Due to traffic congestion, sections of Interstates 270 and 64 (connecting interstates between I-55 and I-70) between Arnold and Wentzville were not surveyed. I compared species numbers and diversity observed in 2015 with those recorded in 2011, 2012 and 2013 (Tables 1,2).

Table 1. Species of raptors observed in 2015.

Section RTa RS UB NH SS AK Total

1-Bootheel 26 0 0 1 0 6 93

2-Ozarks 8 1 3 0 3 3 25

3-I-70 7 0 0 0 0 6 2

Total 41 1 3 1 1 15 120 aRT= Red-tailed Hawk, RS= Red-shouldered Hawk, UB= Unidentified Buteo, NH= Northern Harrier, SS= Sharp-shinned Hawk, AK= Ameri- can Kestrel (for scientific names of birds, see American Ornithologists’ Union 2015)

Page 216 THE BLUEBIRD Table 2. Comparison of species and raptor totals observed among years.

Species 2011 2012 2013 2015 Bald Eagle 1 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 5 0 Black Vulture 2 0 2 0 Red-tailed Hawk 126 59 103 41 Harlan’s Hawk 1 1 0 0 Krider’s Red-tail 0 1 1 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 0 0 1 Unidentified Buteo 1 5 0 3 Northern Harrier 1 1 0 1 American Kestrel 9 5 7 15 Cooper’s Hawk 0 0 1 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 0 1 3 Total individuals 144 75 120 64 Number of species 7 4 6 5

Raptor abundance was noticeably lower in 2015 than in 2011, 2012 or 2013. A total of 64 raptors of 5 different species was observed during the 2015 survey compared to 143 individuals and 7 species observed in 2011, 75 individuals and 4 species counted in 2012, and 120 raptors and 5 species tallied in 2013 (Table 2). Unlike surveys conducted in 2011, 2012, and 2013, highest species abundance during the 1-2 Jan 2015 count was observed in the Ozarks section (section 2) of the survey. As in 2011, 2012, and 2013, however, the largest number of raptors was recorded in the Bootheel section but the 41 Red-tails was the lowest tally recorded since the survey was initiated in 2011. Viewing and weather conditions were good during the 2015 survey, with overcast skies, light wind (~ 8-15 mph) conditions and relatively mild temperatures (~ 35-42º F.). Consequently, the low numbers of Red-tailed Hawks observed were somewhat unexpected but paralleled reduced numbers of this species observed during Missouri’s 2014 CBC’s (Mark Robbins, pers. comm., Dec 2014; W. R. Eddleman, pers. comm., Jan 2015).

On 2 Jan, the weather varied between light fog and misty conditions to partly-mostly cloudy skies towards the end of the survey along I-70, and wind speed moderated between 8-15 mph. Because of the overcast condi-

Page 217 THE BLUEBIRD tions and low wind velocities which prevented the development of thermals necessary for soaring, the lack of observations of any vulture species was anticipated. As in 2011 and 2013, no Rough-legged Hawks were observed during the survey. One noticeable highlight of the count was the increase in abundance of American Kestrels with 15 observed. This increase, however, was undoubtedly due to the low wind and mild temperatures rather than any real change in abundance. The same explanation is likely for the in- creased number of Sharp-shinned Hawks observed in the Ozarks Section of the survey, although this portion of the route provides the best habitat for this species. Additionally, the sample size is entirely too small to demonstrate any potential change in abundance of this species. One observation from this year’s survey is that raptors are more difficult to detect when skies are overcast. In such situations, a reduction in driving speed is recommended to improve detectability. The results of the 1-2 Jan 2015 survey provides additional support for the value of conducting winter highway surveys to assess raptor diversity and, at least with Red-tailed Hawks, changes in abundance. As recommended by McKenzie (2014), this technique should be expanded to include routes among all Natural Divisions of Missouri to further assess differences in relative abundance among raptors and vultures as well as Loggerhead and Northern Shrikes if road sections could be chosen that would allow for more time to stop and confirm identification of shrikes. It is further recommended, however, that weather and traffic conditions be assessed before initiating such surveys. As noted in 2013 (McKenzie 2014), surveys should be conducted when wind speeds are ~ 8-15 mph and driving speeds along interstate highways speeds should be between 65-70 mph. Results of this years’ surveys provide additional evidence that surveys should be conducted when skies are clear or mostly clear. Literature Cited American Ornithologists’ Union. 2015. Checklist of North and Middle American Birds. American Ornithologists’ Union, Accessed at:

http://checklist.aou.org/ on 15 February 2015.

McKenzie, Paul M. 2011. Winter Raptor Survey Along Interstates I-55 and I

-70, 1-2 Jan. 2011. The Bluebird 78:13-15.

McKenzie, Paul M. 2012. Winter Raptor Survey Along Interstates I-55 and I

-70, 1-2 Jan. 2012. The Bluebird 79:42-44. McKenzie, Paul M. 2014. Winter Raptor Survey Along Interstates I-55 and I -70, 28-29 Dec. 2013. The Bluebird 81:104-107.

Robbins, M.B. Robbins, and D.A. Easterla. 1992. Birds of Missouri: Their distribution and abundance. University of Missouri Press, Colum-

bia, 399pp.

Thom, R.H., and J.H. Wilson. 1980. The natural divisions of Missouri. Trans. of the Missouri Acad. of Sci. 14:9-23.

Page 218 THE BLUEBIRD THE BLUEBIRD

Awards Committee: The ASM Executive Committee

Conservation Area Checklist Project (CACHE) State Parks & Historic Sites Project (SPARKS) Patrick Harrison, Web Development; Database Administrator Mike Thelen, Editor

Executive Committee: Shari Harden, Mark Haas, Scott Laurent, Pat Lueders, and Bill Eddleman

Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative: Susan Hazelwood

Conservation Partnership Coordinator: Edge Wade

Grassland Bird Coordinator: Mike Doyen

Missouri Bird Records Committee: Brad Jacobs, Chair Bill Rowe, Secretary Brad Jacobs, Paul McKenzie, Mark Robbins, Kristi Mayo, Josh Uffman, Joe Eades, and Bill Rowe ———————————————————————————————————-

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