March 2004, Volume 71, No. 1

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

Officers* Directors* Jerry Wade, President (2004) Lisa Berger (2005) 1221 Bradshaw Ave. Springfield (417) 881-8393 Columbia, MO 65203 Anne Downing ( 2006) (573) 445-6697 Edina (660) 397-3260 [email protected] David Easterla (2005) Susan Gustafson, Vice Pres. (2004) Maryville (660) 582-8468 429 Belleview Ave. Webster Groves, MO 63119 Hope Eddleman (2004) (314) 968-8128 Cape Girardeau (573) 335-1507 [email protected] Steve Kinder (2004) Joyce Bathke, Treasurer (2004) Chillicothe (660) 646-6516 813 Cornell St Larry Lade (2003) Columbia, MO 65203 St. Joseph (81 16) 232-6125 (573) 445-5758 Ed McCullough (2005) [email protected] Kansas City (816) 505-2840 Jim Zellmer, Secretary (2004) Mike Thelen (2006) 2001 NE 4th St. University City, (314) 862-6642 Blue Springs, MO 64014 (816) 228-3955 Clare Wheeler (2004) [email protected] Lake Ozark & Canton (573) 365-2951 Honorary Directors Chairs Nathan Fay, Ozark** Bonnie Heidy, Membership Richard A. Anderson, St. Louis** 501 Parkade Sydney Wade, Jefferson City** Columbia, MO 65202 John Wylie, Jefferson City** (573) 442-2191 Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia** [email protected] Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph** Edge Wade, Bird Alert Leo Galloway, St. Joseph 1221 Bradshaw Ave. Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth** Columbia, MO 65203 Rebecca Matthews, Springfield (573) 445-6697 Dave Witten, Columbia [email protected] Jim Jackson, Marthasville Bill Clark, Historian * Year Term Expires 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. **Deceased Columbia, MO 65202 Cover Photo White-throated (573) 474-4510 Sparrow, Courtesy of: Margy Terpstra. r Page i THE BLUEBIRD THE BLUEBIRD

Bluebird Editor: Patrick Harrison, 3867 Highway K, Shelbyville, MO 63469, (573) 633-2628, [email protected] Christmas Bird Count Editor: Randy Korotev, 800 Oakbrook Lane, St. Louis, MO 63132, (314) 993-0055, [email protected] MO Bird Records Committee: Bill Eddleman-Chair, (see Seasonal Survey Editors) Bill Rowe-Secretary, 9033 Big Bend Road, St. Louis, MO 63119, (314) 962-0544, [email protected] Seasonal Survey Editors: Summer: Andy Forbes, 2620 Forum Blvd. Suite C-1, Columbia, MO 65203, [email protected] Fall: Bill Eddleman, 1831 Ricardo Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, (573) 335-1507 (h), [email protected] Winter: Brad Jacobs, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, (573) 751-4115, [email protected] Spring: Roger McNeill, 2520 Red Bridge Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64131, (913) 226-3254, [email protected] Conservation Editor: Dave Bedan, 2001 Chapel Wood Road, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 445-9834, [email protected] Communication Services: Patrick Harrison, Editor, The Bluebird, and Webmaster of mobirds.org, See Above, [email protected] Patrick Harrison, Interim Editor, Missouri Birding E-zine. Susan Hazelwood, Listserve, [email protected]

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; Aug. 1 for Sept. issue; Nov. 1 for Dec. issue Seasonal Surveys: Winter (Dec. 1-Feb. 28)-to Brad Jacobs by Mar. 10 Spring (Mar. 1-May 31)-to Roger McNeill by June 10 Summer (June 1-July 31)-to Andy Forbes by Aug 10 Fall (Aug. 1-Nov. 30)-to Bill Eddleman by Dec. 10

Page ii THE BLUEBIRD TABLE OF CONTENTS

March, 2004 Volume 71, No. 1

1 President's Comments, Jerry Wade 3 What is a Harris's Sparrow Doing in Missouri During Summer? David A. Easterla, Ph.D. 6 Come to the Spring Meeting, an Open Letter of Invita- tion, David Plank 7 Status and Distribution of Merlin (Falco columbarius) Subspecies in Missouri, with Comments on Subspecific Identification, Mark B. Robbins 12 ASM's Ornithological Survey of Missouri's Colleges and Universities-Part II, Susan Gustafson, ASM Vice Presi- dent 16 16th Annual Report of the Missouri Bird Records Com- mittee, William C. Rowe, Secretary 33 The Genesis of COMAL, Edge Wade 37 From Your Webmaster, Patrick Harrison 38 Ruddy Duck Nest on Squaw Creek National Wildlife Ref- uge, Holt County, Missouri, Ronald L. Bell and Francis E. Durbian 40 Rare Bird Chasing: How the Times Have Changed, Susan Hazelwood 46 Season Survey Fall Report 1 August to 30 November 2003, Bill Eddleman 67 Order Forms for the 2003 Checklist of Missouri Birds and A Guide to Birding in Missouri. BLUE INSERT: ASM SPRING MEETING 2004, WEST PLAINS, MISSOURI-FORM AND INFORMATION

The Bluebird is published quarterly by The Audubon Society of Missouri. Postage is paid at Jefferson City, Missouri, nonprofit organization status. Postmaster: send address changes to The Audubon Society of Missouri, 2101 W. Broadway, #122, Columbia, MO 65203-1261. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine arethose of each contributing writer and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of The Audubon Society of Mis- souri orits officers, Board of Directors, or editors. Thesubmission of articles, photographs,and artwork is welcome. and encouraged. L Page iii THE BLUEBIRD PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS-JERRY WADE

avid Plank is a long-time ASM D member, a birder and a nation- ally known wildlife artist from Salem. He has contributed artwork to ASM's silent auctions and is the creator of ASM's bluebird logo. His works grace many of our homes. As I write this, I am looking at our signed prints of the Eastern Bluebird and the Northern Cardinal. He commented to me that there are not many birders down there and he was excited about having fellow birders to talk and bird with, even if it is for only a weekend. Many ASM members will look forward to renewing friendship with David. We urge new members to take this opportunity to make his acquaintance. Hope to see you all in West Plains. My congratulations to everyone who participated in COMAL. To Joe Eades, Josh Uffman and Patrick Harri- son: Well done for breaking 300 in a Missouri Big Year! Let's not forget to recognize their families who supported them and made it happen. The real winner is Missouri birding, because COMAL exemplifies the cooperation, sharing and caring of Mis- souri birders. It also demonstrates the important role and effect of new communications tools, the cell phone and the listserve, especially in getting the word out mak- ing it possible to hear of and follow up on a reported sighting immediately. We all become better birders and receive more from the sport when we look for the oppor- tunities to help each other and work together. ASM has been asked by the Missouri Prairie Founda-

Page 1 THE BLUEBIRD tion to be a partner in a project to acquire land and begin restoring tall grass prairie habitat in northeast Missouri. It will be a very modest effort, probably not more that 40 acres. However, it is an extremely important effort. There is no known natural prairie left in northeast Mis- souri, although it was all once part of the tall grass prairie ecosystem. This, if successful, will be the start. More can be added later, but you have to begin. The proposal requests funds from the Missouri De- partment of Conservation along with the contributions of the partners. The Board has approved a contribution by ASM of $3,000 and 100 hours of volunteer labor. A few years ago, ASM participated 'vith Audubon Missouri and MDC in a marsh breeding bird census. Our members' efforts earned $3,000 from that project. This prairie project represents an investment of that money into new bird habitat. Certainly this is an appropriate use. The partnership also represents the first small suc- cesses of the Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative. MoBCI is a new organization, a coalition of 30 organizations, with the purpose of supporting the well-being of bird populations and bird habitat in Missouri. This requires a new day of collaboration among all those who care. I feel honored that ASM has been invited into this project. We will know by June if the proposal is approved. ASM has been asked to be a partner in another project involving the restoration of substantial acres of wetlands for enhancement of waterbird, shorebird and marsh bird habitat in the upper ends of Truman Reser- voir. More on that opportunity will be forthcoming in March. Information will be posted on MoBirds. ASM members are out there, not just enjoying birding, but providing many things that make Missouri a better place to live, work and play. Well done, Folks!

Page 2 THE BLUEBIRD WHAT IS A HARRIS' SPARROW DOING IN MISSOURI DURING SUMMER?-DAVIDA. EASTERLA, PH. D.

he Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) has not T been recorded in Missouri during summer (Robbins and Easterla, 1992, p. 343; Jacobs, 2001, p. 264; Jacobs and Wilson, 1997). However, it is a fairly common transient and an uncommon winter resident in western Mis- souri (Robbins and Easterla, 1992, p. 343). During the summer this sparrow breeds in extreme North-central Canada (mainly northern Manitoba, extreme northwest Ontario and the Northwest Territories) and nests in the open spruce woods and stunted boreal forests near tun- dra (Peterson, 2002, p. 294; Sibley, 2003, p. 385; Na- tional Geographic, 1999, p. 416; Norment and Shackle- ton, 1993, p. 2). Thus, in early July, 2003, Dean Heflin mentioned to Easterla that he believed he had a Harris's Sparrow hanging around his home (between Parnell and Pickering, Nodaway County, Missouri), but wanted East- erla to observe the bird for confirmation, since obviously the sparrow was supposed to be in North-central Canada during summer. On July 27, and 29, 2003, Easterla observed and confirmed identification, but could not obtain photographs. Finally on August 19, 2003, with the help of Heflin, East- erla photographed the bird. The bird evidently stayed around the Heflin residence all summer. Heflin first observed the bird on July 10, 2003, and then almost daily during that month. During Au- gust, Heflin observed the bird around his yard every three - five days but quit specifically looking for the bird. Heflin had several observations during September, and last observed the bird on October 18, 2003. The bird was an adult in nuptial plumage and seemed perfectly healthy (Fig. 1). When first observed on July 10, 2003, the bird was tailless, but flight seemed un-

Page 3 THE BLUEBIRD hindered. By the middle of July the bird's tail had grown out one-half way, and by the end of July it appeared full length (Fig. 1). Habitat for this bird in Heflin's yard seemed ideal - it was a wildlife ("jungle") paradise! In fact, the most common breeding species in his yard was the Song Sparrow! Heflin's backyard was a mixture of weeds, shrubs, and an impenetrable grove of small, mixed conifers. His front yard had one mowed area of grass and a barbed-wire fence irregularly covered with clumps of bittersweet vine. Near Heflin's residence the habitat consisted of fenced in cornfields and weedy road- sides. The Harris's Sparrow was usually observed in areas surrounding Heflin's residence, but was never known to wander away more than approximately one-half block into weedy roadside ditches beside fenced in cornfields (Fig. 1). Why this Harris's Sparrow summered in northwest Missouri is anyone's guess - the bird certainly was not injured (and prevented from migrating), and its flight seemed normal. A review of the literature of states surrounding Missouri did reveal the following summer records. Kent and Dinsmore (1996, p. 344) mention two Iowa records (9-15 June), Thompson and Ely (1992, p. 337) state for this species in Kansas "casual in summer", and list six records (9 June - 28 August), and Sharpe, Silcock, and Jorgensen (2001, pp. 412-413) mention for Nebraska "rare casual summer visitor south and east" and give 10 records (3 June- 13 August). The latter authors also mention summer records for South Dakota, but give no specifics. Thus, Missouri now has its first summer record for the Harris's Sparrow- when will the next occur?

Literature Cited

Jacobs, B. 2001. Birds in Missouri. Mo. Dept. Cons., Jeffer- son City. 375 pp.

Page 4 THE BLUEBIRD Jacobs, B. and J.D. Wilson. 1997. Missouri Breeding Bird Atlas. Mo. Dept. Cons., Jefferson City. 430 pp. Kent, T.H. and J.J. Dinsmore. 1996. Birds in Iowa. Thom- son-Shore, Inc., Dexter, Mich. 391 pp. National Geographic. 1999. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. National Geographic, Wash., D.C. 480 pp. Norment, C.J. and S.A. Shackleton. 1993. Harris' Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula). The Birds of North America, No. 64 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). Phila; Acad. Natu- ral Sci.; Wash., D.C.; Amer. Ornith. Union. 20 pp.

Peterson, R.T. 2002. A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. 427 pp. Robbins, M.B. and D.A. Easterla. 1992. Birds of Missouri - Their Distribution and Abundance. Univ. Mo. Press, Columbia. 399 pp. Sharpe, R.S., W.R. Silcock, and J.G. Jorgensen. 2001. Birds of Nebraska. Univ. Nebra. Press, Lincoln. 520 pp. Sibley, D.A. 2003. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of East- ern North America. Alfred A. Knopf, N.Y. 433 pp. Thompson, M.C. and C. Ely. 1992. Birds in Kansas (Vol. 2). Mus. Nat. Hist., Univ. Kans., Univ. Press Kans., Law- rence. 424 pp.

Fig. 1 - Adult Harris's Sparrow on wire fence six miles west Parnell (or six miles east Pickering), Nodaway County, Missouri, August 19, 2003. Photographer D.A. Easterla.

Page 5 THE BLUEBIRD COME TO THE SPRING MEETING-DAVIDPLANK

Elsewhere in this issue of The Bluebird you will find more information about this year's Spring Meeting, but this letter is to personally invite you to attend the meeting at West Plains, April 23, 24 and 25. The meeting is sponsored and arranged by the Missouri Ozarks Regional Explorers (MORE); a recently formed group representing 15 counties in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. Their purpose is to find ways of promoting tourism in there- gion. Last summer, Floyd Clark, Community Development Special- ist at Eminence, asked me to attend one of the meetings of MORE and talk to them about perhaps promoting birding in the Ozarks. They responded favorably, so I called Jerry and Edge Wade about the possibility of having the ASM Spring Meeting in that area. Jerry and Edge are long-time friends of Floyd, so they attended a meeting of MORE and the result is this spring event. Ken Lewis of MORE attended the fall ASM meeting to learn more about such gatherings of birders. The group plans a brochure detailing birding spots within the large areas of public land in the Ozark region. It is not often birders have the opportunity to help a tourism group promote birding. Not only is this a benefit to birders and the communities in the region, but residents of the area, through promotional efforts and visiting birders, become more aware of birds and the fact that people are willing to travel to an area to see birds. This can have a very positive effect on conservation in general, and birds in particular. Again, I invite you to come and enjoy the evening events as well as the birding trips. The beauty of the Ozark hills in spring, along with many birds, is a wonderful combination. I hope to see you there!

David Plank

Page 6 THE BLUEBIRD STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF MERLIN (FALCO COLUMBARIUS) SUBSPECIES IN MISSOURI, WITH COMMENTS ON SUBSPECIFIC IDENTIFICATION 1 MARK B. ROBBINS

he status and distribution of Merlin (Falco colum- T barius) subspecies outside the breeding range are poorly known (Palmer 1988, Sodhi et al. 1993). The pri- mary reason for this is that most observers are not aware that the subspecies are relatively easy to distinguish in the field (Clark and Wheeler 1987, but see below). The nominate subspecies, that breeds from the northern limit of boreal forests south into extreme northern and northwestern United States, is a regular migrant across the entire continent. It winters in smaller numbers in the southern portion of the continent south to northern South America (AOU 1998). The "Black" subspecies, F. c. suckleyi, that breeds in the Pacific coastal forest of British Columbia and southeastern Alaska, is documented in migration and winter south to New Mex- ico and southern California (Clark and Wheeler 1987). The pale "Prairie" subspecies (F. c. richardsonii), that breeds in prairie-parkland areas in south-central Canada and the northwestern Great Plains, occurs as a regular migrant throughout the west and east through the Great Plains. This subspecies winters from the breeding area south to northern Mexico (Palmer 1988, Clark and Wheeler 1997). Even within the Great Plains the status of Prairie Merlin is poorly known with some state avifauna! trea- tises not mentioning subspecies. There is even less information for richardsonii at the eastern fringe of its migration and wintering range. Palmer (1988) listed southern Ontario as the easternmost record for richardsonii, however, no information is provided on the level of documentation of that statement. Clark and Wheeler (1987) state

Page 7 THE BLUEBIRD that this subspecies occurs east to Minnesota. In Mis- souri, Robbins and Easterla (1992) listed only four records for richardsonii, whereas Kent and Dinsmore (1996) simply stated that it was reported for Iowa. In Illi- nois, Bohlen (1989) listed a single, old record without date. In Arkansas, James and Neal (1986) provided no information on Merlin subspecies. In order to ascertain the status and distribution of subspecies within Mis- souri, beginning in the late 1970s, I attempted to identify to subspecies Merlins that were encountered. My observations of richardsonii prior to 1991 are listed in Robbins and Easterla (1992). Status in Missouri. From the fall of 1993 through 2003, I observed a total of 37 Merlins in Missouri; 13 of the nominate subspecies, 19 richardsonii, and 5 unidentified to subspecies. With the exception of two records, all observations were from the two western tiers of counties. My observations were heavily biased towards fall and winter, as typically I was out of the country during the peak spring Merlin migration for the above decade. My observations included: nominate subspecies: 2 in spring, 7 in fall, and 4 in December/January; richardsonii subspecies: 4 fall, 15 in December/January. The earliest fall Merlin record for Missouri, 31 August 1968, is of a bird that was unidentified to subspecies (Robbins and Easterla 1992). The earliest definite fall record for richardsonii is of a female that was found sick on 5 Sep- tember 2002 at Parkville, Platte County (University of Kansas Natural History Museum [KUNHM] 94617). Al- though there are no spring observations, except for lingering winter birds, of richardsonii I observed a female richardsonii as late as 7 May 2002 at Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, Kansas. So, presumably this subspecies at least occasionally passes through Missouri until early May. I have recorded the nominate subspecies as late as 14 May (1994; St. Joseph).

Page 8 THE BLUEBIRD Distribution maps for Merlin in Clark and Wheeler (1987), Palmer (1988), and Sodhi et al. (1993) depicted none wintering in Missouri; however, Widmann (1907) stated that there were a few winter records and Robbins and Easterla (1992) considered the species to be a rare winter visitant with records spanding the entire winter and state. Given the paucity of Missouri observers in the late 19th century, as compared to now, Merlin winter status then may have been similar to today: a low den- sity, but regular winter resident statewide. Today, both nominate and Prairie subspecies rou- tinely winter in the state. Based on my winter observations, the Prairie Merlin is more likely to be encountered than the nominate subspecies in western Missouri. For example, as many as three (2 females [KUNHM 89660], 1 male) Prairie Merlins spent the 1998-9 winter in the Taberville Prairie area, St. Clair County (B. Barber, pers. comm.; pers. obs.). At this same locality on 29 De- cember 2003, I observed simultaneously four adult male Merlins (3 richardsonii, 1 nominate). Both subspecies have been recorded at the same time foraging on blackbirds on the Squaw Creek CBC in mid-to-late December. The easternmost record of richardsonii for the state is of an apparent female that was seen on 1 January 2004 on the Orchard Farm CBC, St. Charles County by Randy Korotev, Amy Doebber, Alex and Brien Meilleur. Prior to this record the easternmost record was of a migrant seen by Paul McKenzie on 24 October 1998, at Bradford Farms, Boone County. I presume that the vast majority of Merlins wintering in the eastern part of the state are of the nominate subspecies, but this needs confirmation. Comments on subspecific identification. Although there are no confirmed records of Black Merlin (F. c. suckleyi) east of New Mexico, it is possible that this subspecies might occur as a vagrant to Missouri. However, because of plumage overlap between suckleyi and the nominate subspecies coupled with possible intergrada-

Page 9 THE BLUEBIRD tion between these two subspecies makes field identification, especially of extralimital records, problematic (Clark and Wheeler 1987, J. Ligouri, pers. comm.). For example, a female taken on 30 March 1901 at Pittston, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania (KUNHM 33511) is very dark and might under field conditions, especially if seen in western North America, be mistaken for suckleyi. The entire cap (there is only a hint of a superciliary line), face, nape, and remaining upperparts are very dark brown. The underparts, including the throat, are heavily streaked. Aside from location, the only indication that the bird is a dark nominate individual is discontinuous, huffy spots/bars on the dark tail (Clark and Wheeler 1987). Apparently males are more difficult than females to identify to subspecies because male suckleyi can have some tail banding and a dark bluish (instead of very dark gray/black) upperparts (Ligouri, pers. comm.). Thus, any extralimital report of suckleyi should be thor- oughly documented and any bird banded or found dead should have a few feathers removed and preserved that might enable provenance determination via analysis of stable isotopes (Chamberlain et al. 1997). I thank Paul McKenzie, Brian Barber, and Randy Korotev for sharing their observations. Jerry Ligouri kindly shared his expertise on the identification of Black vs. nominate Merlin subspecies. 1Divison of Birds, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, KS 66045 [email protected].

Literature Cited

American Ornithologists' Union. 1998. Check-list of North American birds. 7th ed. American Ornitholo- gists' Union, Washington, D.C. Bohlen, H. D. 1989. The birds of Illinois. Indiana Univ. Press, Bloomington.

Page 10 THE BLUEBIRD Chamberlain, C. P., J.D. Blum, R. T. Holmes, X. Feng, T. W. Sherry, and G. R. Graves. The use of isotope tracers for identifying populations of migratory birds. Oecologia 109:132-141.

Clark, W. S. and B. K. Wheeler. 1987. A field guide to hawks. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

James, D. A. and J. C. Neal. 1986. Arkansas birds. Their distribution and abundance. Univ. of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville.

Palmer, R. S., ed. 1988. Handbook of North American birds. Vol. 5. Diurnal birds (part 2). Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, Connecticut.

Robbins, M. B. and D. A. Easterla. 1992. Birds of Mis- souri. Their distribution and Abundance. Univ. of Missouri Press, Columbia.

Sodhi, N. S., L. W. Oliphant, P. C. James, and I. G. Warkentin. 1993. Merlin (Falco columbarius). In The Birds of North America, No. 44 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sci- ences; Washington, D.C.: The American Orni- thologists' Union.

Widmann, 0. 1907. Preliminary catalog of the birds of Missouri. Academy of Science of St. Louis, Missouri.

Page 11 THE BLUEBIRD ASM's ORNITHOLOTGICAL SURVEY OF MISSOURI'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITEIS-PART II SUSAN GUSTAFSON, ASM VICE PRESIDENT

his is the second of a three part series of articles T summarizing the results of ASM's survey of ornithological activities at Missouri's colleges and universities. This article will focus on the University of Missouri- Columbia (UMC). As Missouri's ornithological organization, the Audu- bon Society of Missouri is strengthening its efforts to in- volve our state's colleges and universities in our organization. In order to determine the current ornithological educational and research activities in Missouri, ASM de- signed a survey that was sent to professors at ten state universities and two large private universities. The survey asked 1) if the university offered an ornithology or ornithology-related degree, 2) if the university offered any ornithology courses, 3) if applicable, to list the title of any graduate level ornithological thesis/dissertation research projects in progress or recently completed, and 4) if the university library subscribes to The Bluebird. The information gained by the survey will be used to identify ways that ASM can support and enhance ornithological education and research, in addition to providing professors and their students an opportunity to present their research at our semi-annual meetings and/or publish their research in The Bluebird. Responding for UMC and providing the information for this article was Dr. John Faaborg and Dr. Mark Ryan. UMC offers ornithology-related Bachelor, Master, and PhD degrees. The Fisheries-Wildlife and Biological Sciences departments offer courses titled Ornithology, Avian Ecology, and Waterfowl Biology. UMC subscribes to The Bluebird. For over 30 years, a report entitled Missouri Coopera-

Page 12 THE BLUEBIRD tive Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Report has been produced which highlights the research projects, scientific publications, technical reports, and presentations made by the unit. In addition to the University of Mis- souri, cooperating agencies include the Missouri Depart- ment of Conservation, the U. S. Geological Survey, and the Wildlife Management Institute. The following recently completed and current avian research projects are grouped by professor (principal investigator):

Dr. Ronald D. Drobney • Population dynamics and ecology of local Giant Can- ada Geese in Central Missouri. • Benefits provided to migrant waterfowl by intentional spring flooding. • A test of the morning covey call count technique for estimating population densities of Northern Bob- whites in Missouri. Energetic nutritional role of the cecum in Canada Geese. • Physiological ecology of wintering Northern Bob- white. Bobwhite fitness and habitat structure: a di- rect investigation within intensively managed areas.

Dr. John Faaborg • Predation of Golden-cheeked Warbler nests. • Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP) birds subproject: The Dynamics of Avian Use of Cle- arcuts.

Dr. Leigh H. Fredrickson. • Intraspecific parasitism, kinship, and effects of nest- box placement on Wood Duck population dynamics. • Management of invertebrates for waterbirds. • Nutrient reserve dynamics of female Mallards breeding in the grasslands. • Effects of land management practice on seasonal patterns of waterbird habitat use within the San Luis

Page 13 THE BLUEBIRD Valley of Colorado. • Waterbird use of Missouri River floodplain wetlands. • Hooded Merganser/Wood Duck Project, Mingo Swamp 1996-2002. • Macroinvertebrate and waterbird response to altered hydrologic regime and vegetative structure at Gray Lake NWR. • Distribution and abundance of resident and migrant songbirds in fragmented wetland forests of southeast Missouri. • Ecology and management of American Bitterns in marsh and grassland habitats of Minnesota. • Ecology of the American Bittern in the prairie and pothole region of west central Minnesota. • Least Bittern ecology: nest success, philopatry and habitat selection on a landscape scale. • Development of habitat-based strategies for waterbirds associated with Rio Grande corridor and inte- rior Mexican highland corridor flyway. • Evaluation of the role of managed vs. unmanaged seasonal wetlands for waterbirds in mid-Missouri. • Response of vegetation communities to water draw- downs on montane wetlands and assessment of Trumpeter Swan habitat use. • Shorebird use of sandbars, side channels, and shallow floodwaters on Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and surrounding lands. • Recruitment and survival of Wood Duck and Hood Merganser ducklings. • Reproductive success and habitat selection of Least Bitterns.

Dr. Joshua J. Millspaugh. • Habitat use, movement patterns, and survival of post-fledging grassland birds in Missouri.

Page 14 THE BLUEBIRD Dr. Mark R. Ryan. • Effects oflandscape composition and multi-scale habitat characteristics on the grassland bird community. • Optimization modeling for recovery of great plains Piping Plovers. • Evaluating avian use and reproductive success in her- baceous riparian filter strips in northeast Missouri. • Effects of short-term rotational cattle grazing on nest success of grassland passerines.

Dr. Frank R. Thompson III. • Demography of shrubland birds in the Missouri Ozarks. • Effects of riparian corridor configuration on breeding songbirds.

Results of avian research projects at UMC are consis- tently published in such prestigious professional journals as Condor, Annual review of ecology and systematics, Journal of Wildlife Management, Auk, Wilson Bulletin, Wildlife Society Bulletin, Journal of Field Ornithology, American Midland Naturalist, and Bird Populations. The Audubon Society of Missouri is appreciative of the information received from our survey respondents. We look forward to expanding our relationship with our state's colleges and universities. The next article in this series will highlight the ornithological educational and research activities at the University of Missouri St. Louis.

Page 15 THE BLUEBIRD 16TH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MISSOURI BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE-WILLIAM C. ROWE, SECRETARY

his report summarizes records evaluated by the T Committee between 5 October 2002 and 27 Septem- ber 2003. It is divided into two sections: Accepted and Not Accepted. Birds are listed in phylogenetic order under each of the above two categories. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow the American Ornithologists' Union's Checklist of North American Birds, Seventh Edition (1998), and subsequent supplements. For Accepted records, comments are added to indicate the record's significance, and some- times to mention the details that made it persuasive. For Not Accepted records, observers' names are omitted, and a brief explanation is provided as to why the record was not accepted. All photographs will be archived in Mylar envelopes and deposited in the Committee's files, which are currently housed in the Division of Ornithology, Uni- versity of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, Kansas. Of the 70 records that were finalized during this period, 51 were accepted and 19 were not accepted, for an acceptance rate of 73%. Two records that had been carried over from the previous year (Red-necked Stint, 2002-46 and 2002-50) were finalized, and no records were carried over into the next year. Members participating in the decisions were Bill Eddleman (Chair), Bill Rowe (Secretary), Bill Goodge, Brad Jacobs, Paul McKenzie, Roger McNeill, and Mark Robbins. Outside reviews (for 2002-46 and 50) were obtained from Lars Jonsson, Paul Lehman, Urban Olsson, Dennis Paulson, and Richard Vei t. From the records covered by this report, two species have been added to the main state list, one that was pre-

Page16 THE BLUEBIRD viously hypothetical (Common Poorwill) and one that was new (Calliope Hummingbird). Thus Missouri's total now stands at 402 fully accepted species, including 6 formerly occurring species that have been extirpated from the state and 2 extinct species. There are an additional 17 hypothetical species on the list. "Hypothetical" means that there are one or more reports of the species that are probably valid and would meet normal acceptance criteria, but none that meet the more stringent criteria for a first state record. In general, the Committee reviews records of species that have been found fewer than 15 times in Missouri and are thus considered "casual" or "accidental" statewide (examples: casual, Varied Thrush; accidental, Com- mon Poorwill). It also reviews records of species that are casual or accidental for the season when reported (example: Harris's Sparrow in summer); records of species that are casual or accidental in the part of Missouri where reported (example: Whimbrel at St. Louis); and other records of unusual interest, including first nesting records. The Committee extends its thanks to the many birders throughout Missouri who submitted their observations, and to the Audubon Society of Missouri for its continued support and funding of the Committee's efforts. Observers who would like a status report on their current submissions can write the Secretary or e-mail him at [email protected]. The next report will appear in the March 2005 issue of The Bluebird. • REDA = Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area • SCNWR =Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge • MNWR = Mingo National Wildlife Refuge • BC = Christmas Bird Count • NAMC =North American Migration Count

Page 17 THE BLUEBIRD RECORDS ACCEPTED

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis), 2003-34: Two, 26 April 2003, SCNWR, Holt Co. Found by Steve Dilks; documented by David Easterla (with photographs) and Brad Jacobs; also seen by m.ob. Casual transient; fifth state record.

ROSS'S GOOSE (Chen rossii), 2003-50: Adult, 12 May and 24 & 31 July 2003, Lewis and Clark State Park, Bu- chanan Co. Bob Fisher (documentation), Gareth John- son. Accidental in summer; this is the second record. The bird was presumed not to be crippled because it (and the seven Snow Geese it was with) were seen at widely sepa- rated locations on different dates, implying that it must have flown.

CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera), 2003-33: Male, 29 March 2003, Kings Lake, Lincoln Co. Scott Schuette (documentation), Bruce Schuette. Casual in eastern Mis- soun.

GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila), 2003-5: 21 birds, 14 December 2002, Mozingo Lake, Nodaway Co. David Easterla (documentation), Peter Kondrashov. CBC record; documentation required for CBC's, though not for other records.

SURF SCOTER (Melanitta perspicillata), 2003-11: One in female plumage, 17 December 2002, SCNWR, Holt Co. Mark Robbins (documentation), Frank Durbian. Casual in winter. CBC record.

SURF SCOTER, 2003-35: One in female plumage, 10-19 May 2003, Bethel Park, Boone Co. Jean Leonatti (documentation), Carl Gerhardt (photograph), Susan Hazelwood, Joyce and Mike Bathke, Edge Wade, Bonnie

Page18 THE BLUEBIRD Reidy. NAMC record.

BLACK SCOTER (Melanitta nigra), 2003-6: One in female plumage, 7 December 2002, Mozingo Lake, No- daway Co. David Easterla (documentation), Peter Kondrashov.

WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis), 2002- 62: One, 2-4 November 2002, Lake Wapappello, Wayne Co. Doug Willis (documentation), Steve Dilks, Bob Lewis. Casual in eastern Missouri.

WESTERN GREBE, 2003-20: One, 8-12 November 2002, REDA, St. Charles Co. Jim and Charlene Malone (documentation), Lou Haynes, Daniel and Michael Friedel, m.ob. Casual in eastern Missouri.

ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga), 2003-38: Apparent adult male, 3 May 2003, Platte Co. Roger McNeill (documentation), Charles Andersen, Mike Radar. Origi- nally a summer resident of the Bootheel lowlands, this species disappeared by the early twentieth century and has been only casual in Missouri in recent decades. This appears to be the twelfth modern record.

GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba), 2003-24: One, 13 January 2003, Otter Slough Conservation Area, Stoddard Co. Bob Lewis. Casual in winter.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja), 2003-52: Ap- parent immature, 30 June to 2 July 2003, Boone Co . Dis- covered by Emily Steffans; documented by her and by Lee Schiffel. Accidental summer visitor; fourth state record.

OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus), 2003-42: Adult and juvenile on nest, 6 July 2003, Jacksonville, Randolph Co. Bill

Page 19 THE BLUEBIRD Goodge (documentation), Eleanor Goodge; originally discovered by Tom Skinner, Missouri Department of Con- servation. There was no evidence that the bird was hacked. The Osprey is only just beginning to return to Missouri as a breeding bird; the first successful nesting in over a century occurred in 2000.

PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexican us), 2002-59: One, 28- 29 October 2002, Little Creve Coeur Lake area, St. Louis Co. Jim Malone & Joshua Uffman (documentation), David Rogles, George Barker, Mary Anne Auer, Mark Paradise. Casual in eastern Missouri. While the descriptions made it clear that this was a Prai- rie Falcon, some disparity in the details of the underparts left its age uncertain.

YELLOW RAIL (Coturnicops noveboracensis), 2003-37: Adult, 10 May 2003, Bradford Farm, Boone Co. Paul McKenzie. NAMC record, and the latest spring date for Missouri.

VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola), 2002-68: Six, 14 De- cember 2002, near McBaine, Boone Co. Bill Goodge (documentation), John Besser, Ellen Ehrhardt. Acciden- tal in winter. CBC record; heard only, by observers famil- iar with calls and in location where found in migration and summer, and also December 2000.

VIRGINIA RAIL, 2003-44: Two or three, 23 June to 4 July 2003, near McBaine, Boone Co. Bill Goodge. Casual in summer; heard only.

SORA (Porzana carolina), 2002-67: One, 14 December 2002, near McBaine, Boone Co. Bill Goodge (documentation), John Besser, Ellen Ehrhardt. Acciden- tal in winter. CBC record; heard only, by observers famil- iar with calls and in location where found in migration

Page 20 THE BLUEBIRD and summer.

SORA, 2003-43: One or two, 23 June to 4 July 2003, near McBaine, Boone Co. Bill Goodge. Casual in summer; heard only.

SANDHILL CRANE (Grus canadensis), 2003-21: Seven, 2 February 2003, St. Genevieve Co. Joe Eades, Jim Malone. At the time of the observation, this species was listed as casual in eastern Missouri; now, as of the 2003 checklist revision, it is considered rare statewide and no longer requires documentation.

WHIMBREL (Numenius phaeopus), 2003-40: Two, 25 May 2003, REDA, St. Charles Co. Bill Rowe (documentation), Dan Kassebaum, Randy Korotev, m.ob. Casual in eastern Missouri. Although these birds were on mudflats rather far out in Ellis Bay at REDA, Korotev established with reasonable certainty that they were on the Missouri side of the state line, using GPS measure- ments.

RED KNOT (Calidris canutus), 2003-46: Adult, alternate plumage, 5 June 2003, Horseshoe Lake, Buchanan Co. David Easterla (documentation), Jack Hilsabeck, Peter Kondrashov, Larry Lade. First summer record for Mis- soun.

SANDERLING (Calidris alba), 2003-48: One, 5 June 2003, Horseshoe Lake, Buchanan Co. David Easterla (documentation), Jack Hilsabeck, Peter Kondrashov. Only the third or fourth June record for Missouri.

LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla), 2003-9: One, 14 December 2002, Four Rivers Conservation Area, Vernon Co. Mark Robbins (documentation), Roger McNeill. Casual in winter. CBC record.

Page 21 THE BLUEBIRD PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris melanotos), 2003-2: One, 14 December 2002, Buchanan Co. Ival Lawhon (documentation), Barry Birr, Renee Lawhon, Larry Lade. Accidental in winter. CBC Record.

AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor), 2003-27: One, 14 December 2002, Boone Co. Paul McKenzie. Cas- ual in winter so far north in Missouri. CBC record.

COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii), 2002- 60: One, found by Barbara Kluepfel in her yard in Kan- sas City, Jackson County, 18 April 2002; kept in rehabili- tation; identified as a Common Poorwill by Mark Rob- bins in October and submitted for Committee review; documentation includes photographs. First confirmed state record; formerly hypothetical based on one probably-valid observation from 1945; other previous reports are doubtful (see Robbins and Easterla, Birds of Mis- souri, 1992).

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colu- bris), 2002-65: Immature male, at least 21 November to 4 December 2002, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Murray, Florissant, St. Louis Co. Banded and documented by Lanny Chambers. Latest fall record except for the.following.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, 2002-72: Imma- ture female, at least 9-15 December 2002, at the home of Mrs. Martha Jolly, Columbia, Boone Co. Banded and documented by Troy Gordon; photographs by Janine Gordon. Latest fall and first winter record of a hummingbird confirmed to be this species, although an unidentified Archilochus (either Ruby-throated or Black-chinned) lingered until 22 December 1994 in St. Louis Co. (see eighth Annual Report, Bluebird, Vol. 63, #1).

Page 22 THE BLUEBIRD CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Stellula calliope), 2002- 61: Immature male, present mid-October to at least 8 November 2002, at the home of Harold and Kathleen Anderson, Columbia, Boone Co. Banded, measured, and documented by Troy Gordon; photographs by Troy Gordon, Janine Gordon, and Jim Rathert; also documented by Bill Goodge, Paul McKenzie, and Chris Snook. First state record. The Committee extends special thanks to bander Troy Gordon for his exceptionally thorough documentation of this bird.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus), 2002- 63: Adult female, 6 October to 24 December 2001, home of Anne McCormack, Kirkwood, St. Louis Co. Docu- mented by Anne McCormack with information from bander Lanny Chambers. When captured, the bird was discovered to be wearing a band, number Y02859, that had been applied by Nancy Newfield in Metairie, LA, in No- vember 2000; the bird had been identified at that time as an adult female Rufous. This is the second recovery of a banded Rufous Hummingbird in Missouri (see The Blue- bird, Vol. 61, #1 for the first). The species remains casual in eastern Missouri, and documentation is requested there.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, 2002-66: Immature female, 7 December 2002, home of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Reeves, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau Co. Banded and documented by Lanny Chambers. Casual in eastern Missouri.

SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya), 2003-8: One, 14 Decem- ber 2002, Four Rivers Conservation Area, Vernon Co. Mark Robbins (documentation with photograph), Roger MeN eill. Seventh state record. CBC record.

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forfica- tus), 2003-41: Male, 9 June 2003, Scott Co. Leslie Koller

Page 23 THE BLUEBIRD (documentation with photographs), Kathy Cramner. Cas- ual in summer outside of southwestern and west-central Missouri.

CLARK'S NUTCRACKER (Nucifraga columbiana), 2002- 71: One, 21 December through at least 23 December, 2002, Busch Conservation Area, St. Charles Co. Found and documented by Rich Kostecke; also documented by Bill Rowe and Randy Korotev (with photographs) and Michael Grant. Casual winter visitor and resident. First record for the St. Louis area; sixth record for Missouri, and first since 1972.

HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon), 2003-15: One 4 January 2003, Barton Co. Barry Jones. Casual in winter in southern Missouri. CBC record.

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides), 2003-32: Male, 25 March 2003, Taberville Prairie Conservation Area, St. Clair Co. Pete and JoAnn Moroz. Casual in migration and winter; tenth state record, and the first in ten years.

VARIED THRUSH (Ixoreus naevius), 2003-17: Male, 23 January 2003, Kirkwood, St. Louis Co. Margy Terpstra. Casual winter visitor and resident; eleventh state record.

VARIED THRUSH, 2003-18: Male, 26-28 January 2003, Licking, Texas Co. Susan and Ralph Ford (documentation includes photographs). Casual; twelfth state record.

AMERICAN PIPIT CAnthus rubescens), 2003-10: Total of 71 birds at two sites, 14 December 2002, Four Rivers Conservation Area, Vernon Co. Mark Robbins (documentation), Roger McNeill. Casual in winter outside southeastern Missouri; this was the largest number

Page 24 THE BLUEBIRD recorded in Missouri in winter. CBC record.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Vermivora celata), 2003-12: One, 28 December 2002, Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery, Taney Co. David Catlin (documentation), Bo Brown, Ann Catlin, Kathy Lee. Casual in winter in southern Missouri. CBC record.

PALM WARBLER (Dendroica palmarum), 2003-7: One, 28 December 2002, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard Co. Bill Eddleman (documentation), Bruce Beck, Paul Kaufman. Casual in winter. CBC record. This bird was assignable to the subspecies hypochrysea (which breeds in the northeast) as it had entirely yellow underparts.

CONNECTICUT WARBLER (Oporornis agilis), 2003-36: Male, 26 April 2003, Springfield Nature Center, Greene Co. Paul McKenzie. Very early date for this late- migrating species.

HOODED WARBLER (Wilsonia citrina), 2003-45: Pair, 8 July 2003, Brickyard Hill Conservation Area, Atchison Co. David Easterla (documentation), Tommie Rogers. This observation of a male and female together consti- tutes indirect evidence of breeding-the first such record for northwestern Missouri. See article in The Bluebird, Vol. 70, #3 (September 2003).

SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra), 2002-64: Appar- ent adult female, 5-6 December 2002, campus of St. Louis University, City of St. Louis. Nick Barber. Acciden- tal in winter (one previous record).

VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus), 2003-14: One, 4 January 2003, Barton Co. Robert Mangile (documentation), Mavis Benner. Casual in winter in

Page 25 THE BLUEBIRD southern Missouri.

HARRIS'S SPARROW (Zonotrichia querula), 2003-49: Adult, seen from 10 July into October at the home of Dean Heflin in Nodaway Co. Discovered by Heflin, documented with photographs by David Easterla. First summer record for Missouri of this subarctic breeding bird; no doubt prevented from migrating by the complete loss of its tail, as noted by Heflin when discovered (the tail subsquently grew back).

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus), 2003-22: Flock of 100, 28 December 2002, Livingston Co. Terry McNeely (documentation), Dena McNeely. CBC record; documentation required on all CBC's.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, 2003-23: Five, 28 December 2002, Livingston Co. Terry McNeely (documentation), Dena McNeely. Though seen on the same CBC as the birds in the above record, these were elsewhere and are treated as a separate record.

GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus), 2003-1: Nine, 1 January 2003, Bryan Island Stables, St. Louis Co. Bill Rowe (documentation), Tom Parmeter. Casual in eastern Missouri. CBC record at same site where found in 2001.

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus), 2003- 28: Six, 29 January 2003, Canton, Lewis Co. Bob Cecil. Documented as evidence of the species' residence in the northernmost counties along the Mississippi River. It is also now found in southeastern Iowa. This range expan- sion is reflected in the revised Missouri checklist (2003).

Page 26 THE BLUEBIRD RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

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

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax), 2003-25: Two juveniles, 14 December 2002, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, Boone Co. The identification of these birds was most likely correct; yet the committee could not accept the record because there was almost no description of them. The written account did not even establish clearly that they were herons, much less eliminate the rare possibility of an American Bittern or a Yel- low-crowned Night-Heron.

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis), 2002-13: One, 4 January 2003, Barton Co. Nothing in the description of this bird suggested that it was truly a Ferruginous Hawk rather than a pale Red-tailed Hawk of some type. The observer remarked on the bird's very large size, but the size estimate given was actually too large even for a Fer- ruginous and was not based on side-by-side comparisons. The bird was observed at a great distance, and other than the general whiteness of the underparts and the tail, none of the important field marks of Ferruginous

Page 27 THE BLUEBIRD Hawk was noted. This species, very rare in Missouri and challenging to identify, requires thorough details for acceptance.

FERRUGINOUS HAWK, 2003-30: Adult, 9 March 2003, McDonald Co. This bird was observed briefly, from a car traveling on the highway, and without binoculars. The few features seen suggested Ferruginous Hawk, but there were simply too many important details missing for this to be counted as a valid record.

PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus), 2003-51: One, 2 August 2003, Boone Co. This bird appeared to show some features of a Prairie Falcon, but it was observed briefly and at a great distance (estimated at half a mile to a mile ). The description thus lacked much detail. A Prai- rie Falcon so far out of season would need closer observation and fuller detail for acceptance.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes), 2002-69: One, 15 November to 5 December 2002, Laclede Co. This bird was clearly a yellowlegs, but no details of plumage, structure, or voice were offered to distinguish it from Greater Yellowlegs. The observer considered it to be too small for a Greater but gave no explicit size comparison with any other bird, such as a nearby Killdeer.

RED-NECKED STINT (Calidris ruficollis), 2002-46: One in alternate or transitional plumage, 28-30 July 2002, Lake Contrary, Buchanan Co. Photographs . Ultimately, after much research, this potential first state record could not be identified to species. Divided opinions from several expert outside reviewers left it uncertain whether this bird was a Red-necked Stint, a Little Stint, or even possibly a hybrid. In any case, it was a remark- able record. The complexities of trying to identify it are discussed under "News from the Missouri Bird Records

Page 28 THE BLUEBIRD Committee" m The Bluebird, Vol. 70, #4 (December 2003).

RED-NECKED STINT, 2002-50: One, 20 July 2002, Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area, Mississippi Co. This record was circulated along with 2002-46 to the same outside reviewers. No photographs were available, and the results of the review were equally uncertain, although some reviewers thought the details did suggest a Red- necked Stint.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus griseus), 2003-47: One, basic plumage, 6 June 2003, SCNWR, Holt Co. This bird was clearly a dowitcher, but the plumage characters described were not sufficient to distinguish between the two species with certainty (a difficult task in basic plumage), nor was the voice heard.

LITTLE GULL (Larus minutus), 2002-70: One, 10 No- vember 2002, Lake Jacomo, Jackson Co. The sketchy description of this bird included some characters of Little Gull but omitted others. Moreover, the observation was very brief (a minute or less), the observer took no field notes, the documentation was not written up until two weeks later, and the observer had had no prior experience with the species. The committee could not feel as- sured that the bird was a Little Gull.

CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus), 2002-57: Juve- nile, 23 September 2002, Smithville Lake, Clay Co. While it is possible that this bird may have been a Cali- fornia Gull, the documentation did not provide various critical details that would be needed for acceptance; in particular, a one-year-old Herring Gull was not ruled out. California Gull in its immature plumages can be very difficult to identify, and the observer had no previous experience with the species.

Page 29 THE BLUEBIRD MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens), 2002-58: Male, 14-18 August 2002, Lafayette Co. It is quite possible that this was a Magnificent Hummingbird, but the description provided was not detailed enough to meet the criteria for a first state record even at the "hypothetical" level. Some members of the committee believed that Green Violet-ear was not ruled out. Moreover, the observations were made without binoculars, and the documentation was written many days after the bird was last seen.

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna), 2002-56: female, 19-20 August 2002, Miller Co. A series of photographs showed conclusively that this bird was a Ruby- throated Hummingbird. It lacked the overall grayish underparts with green flank mottling shown by typical Anna's. Moreover, its 5 or 6 inner primaries were notably narrower than the outer primaries, a feature of the genus Archilochus; the other member of that genus, Black- chinned Hummingbird, was ruled out by the presence of red throat feathers.

PILEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus pileatus), 2003- 3: One 14 December 2002, Buchanan Co. Reluctantly, the committee could not accept this record of a very likely Pileated Woodpecker in northwestern Missouri. The report was based solely on voice, which the observer seemed to know well, but the voice was not described. Just as a visual record must contain a description of what the observer saw, a heard-only record must contain a description of the vocalizations. Without this, the committee has no information on which to evaluate the record.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea), 2003-31: One, 21 March 2003, Big Oak Tree State Park, New Madrid Co. Very few details were offered about this

Page 30 THE BLUEBIRD bird, and the description did not rule out other small birds with long tails and decurved bills, such as Bewick's Wren.

AMERICAN PIPIT, 2003-16: Four, 21 December 2002, Clinton Co. These birds may well have been pipits, but a majority of the committee did not think the identification was firm. The birds were seen only in flight, briefly, and both the visual description and the voice description seemed ambiguous.

NORTHERNWATERTHRUSH (Seiurus noveboracensis), 2003-29: One, 14 December 2002, Montrose Lake, Henry Co. The observer's description of this bird (including huffy underparts) and its habitat and behavior (walking along a lake shore, bobbing its tail) strongly suggested an American Pipit rather than the unprece- dented occurrence of a Northern Waterthrush in winter.

LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena), 2003-39: Fe- male, 11 May 2003, Tower Grove Park, St. Louis City. Some characters described for this bird (such as un- streaked underparts with tan breast and white belly, and the presence of whitish wingbars) did suggest a female Lazuli Bunting, and the date fits the pattern of the species' previous occurrences. Yet in spite of the average differences between female Passerina buntings as illus- trated in field guides, they are quite variable, and the extent of overlap in various characters is not fully understood or agreed upon by experts; discussion of this issue comes up from time to time on the listserve "Frontiers of Bird Identification." There is also the issue of hybrids between Indigo and Lazuli, which are fairly frequent and would be difficult to discern in female plumage. The committee believes that, on present knowledge, only a specimen or an excellent photograph could establish the occurrence of a female Lazuli in Missouri.

Page 31 THE BLUEBIRD BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, 2003-19: Flock (number not stated), 4 January 2003, Barton Co. This identification was questionable. The flock was stated to contain both sexes, but the females' crucial eye color was not noted, and the description of the males did not eliminate Rusty Blackbird or even Common Grackle completely. As is so often the case with reports of Brewer's Blackbird, the documentation was not sufficient to rule out other spe- Cies.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, 2003-26: Male, 14 December 2002, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, Boone Co. The description of this bird suggested a young Common Grackle. The bill was described as large. "Purple" head color was mentioned, but not body color, leading the committee to wonder whether the head color was misinter- preted. It is the contrast between dark purple head gloss and blue-green body gloss, among other things, that separates male Brewer's from Rusty Blackbird (little or no gloss, and no contrast) and Common Grackle (rich blue head gloss and bronzy body).

Page 32 THE BLUEBIRD ASM SPRING MEETING 2004 WEST PLAINS, MISSOURI

REGISTRATION FORM: April 23-25, 2004 Name(s): ______

Address: ______

City/State/Zip: ------Phone Number: _____ Email: ______

Registration Fee: $50.00 x Number of Persons___ =$ ___ (Includes field trips, Friday night reception, and Saturday night banquet).

Box Lunches: $9.95 x Number of Persons___ =$ ___

Commemorative T-shirts are $15.00 each. Add $1.00 more for sizes greater than X-Large:

S __M __L __XL XXL __XXXL=$ ______

Registrations received after April 1, 2004 will be as- sessed an additional $10.00 per person. Late Fee: $10.00 x Number of Persons ___ =$ ___

TOTAL $ ____

Make checks payable to TOP OF THE OZARKS RC&D and mail, along with registration form to: Tammy Scheets, Top of the Ozarks RC&D, 6726-D South Hwy 63, Houston MO 65483. No refunds will be made after April 16, 2004. The Ramada Inn in West Plains has a reduced rate on their rooms of $56.95 plus tax for attendees. Participants are responsible for secur- ing their own accommodations. The phone number for the Ra- mada Inn is 800 2RAMADA. !!!Make selections for Field Trips on Reverse Side!!!

I Saturday Full Day Field Trips: ___ Eleven Point River/Greer Springs/Falling Spring Mill/ Turner Mill ___ Caney Mountain __ Alley Spring

Saturday Half Day Field Trips: ___ Noblett Lake/Pine Forest ___ Tingler Prairie ___ Patrick Bridge/Althea Spring-North Fork River ___ Grand Gulf State Park __ Udall/Bridges Creek at North Fork Lake

Sunday Full Day Field Trip: ___ Caney Mountain

Sunday Half Day Field Trips: ___ Hamilton Wildflower & Seed Company ___ Tingler Prairie

Please indicate if special dietary needs are required:

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, politi- cal beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."

II Field Trips To Highlight The Spring Meeting

The Missouri Ozarks Regional Explorers, host of the Audubon of Missouri's Spring meeting, have put together several educational and interesting field trips. The Ozarks in the Southern part of the State contains many types of habitat that attract a variety of birds. All of the field trips will be on public lands except for the Hamilton Wildflower & Seed Company trip. Volunteers from the U.S. Forest Service, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the National Parks Service, and others will act as guides on the field trips. Check out the description of these trips and make your selections on the registration form. Eleven Point River/Greer Spring/Falling Spring Mill/ Turner Mill This field trip includes riparian, oak/hickory/pine forest, and aquatic habitat. Greer Spring, Missouri's second largest spring is accessed by a gently sloped woodland trail 1 mile long, which is all downhill to the spring, and all uphill back to the parking area. There are benches for those who need to rest along the trail. Driving is approximately 40 miles to Greer Spring, which is the first stop on this field trip. Another 6 miles will bring you to Falling Springs, the second stop. Six miles later will find you at Turner Mill, the third stop on the trip. On the way to Greer (between Alton and Greer) Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Logger- head Shrikes might be seen. Swainson's Warbler, Cerulean War- bler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Acadian Flycatcher, Worm-eater Warbler, Riparian species, and migrating warblers can be seen on this trip. The areas on this trip are maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Caney Mountain Habitat is glades, savannas, and a creek with bottomland hard- woods. The Prairie Warbler, Bachman's Sparrow, Blue-winged Warbler, Chat, Field Sparrow, Summer Tanager, migrant hawks, and spring migrants might be seen in this area. The Missouri Department of Conservation maintains the area. Alley Spring Alley Spring is on the Jack Fork of the Current River, managed by the National Park Service as the Ozark National Scenic River- ways. At Alley Spring is an historic mill, spring, and school house. Habitat includes open areas, riparian, and forest. Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Acadian Fly-

III catcher, Bewick's Wren, Cedar Waxwing, American Redstart Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Green-backed Heron, and Belted Kingfisher might be sighted. Noblett Lake and Pine Forest Habitat in this area includes small openings in grass around the lake and pine forest. This field trip is approximately twenty miles from West Plains. Birds that might be found in this area include the Great Blue Heron, Acadian Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Summer Tanager, Cooper's Hawk, and Pine Warbler. This area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Tingler Prairie Habitat includes prairie with wooded area around a sinkhole. Grassland sparrows, sedge and marsh wren, meadowlark, edge species in wood area, and lots of migrants may be seen on this field trip. The Missouri Department of Conservation is responsible for maintaining this area. Patrick Bridge/Althea Spring- North Fork River Habitat includes large trees, bottomland flood plain with some open areas. Spring song birds, Cerulean Warbler, Black Vul- tures, and Red-shouldered Hawks could be viewed in this area managed by the U. S. Forest Service. Grand Gulf State Park The Grand Gulf State Park is often referred to as Missouri's "Little Grand Canyon". The Grand Gulf is a collapsed cave sys- tem with one of the largest natural bridges in the State. Migrat- ing hawks, warblers, and Turkey Vultures inhabit this area. Udall/Bridges Creek at North Fork Lake The habitat in this area includes secondary growth, some agri- cultural and old field and contains highly variable water birds, migrants, wrens, orioles, flycatchers and swallows. Hamilton Wildflower & Seed Company Heading North from West Plains on your way home, stop at the Hamilton Wildflower & Seed Company to see native wild flowers and grasses grown on their farm. The Hamilton Wildflower & Seed Company is located between and Houston and Cabool at Elk Creek approximately thirty-five miles North of West Plains on Highway 63, then East on H Highway. Stop at the Hamilton Flower & Seed Company to see native wild flowers and grasses grown on their farm. Dickcissel, Indigo Bunting, Purple Martin, Field Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird are some of the birds that might be seen here. IV THE GENESIS OF COMAL-EDGE WADE

OMAL had its beginnings around a table in a condo C near Escondido, CA, February 27, 2001. Barb Dun- can, Janice Gaston, Jean Leonatti, Susan Hazelwood and I had just finished a nightly count of a day's birding that included Barn Owl, California Gnatcatcher, California Thrasher, Townsend's Warbler, and Mew Gull. The day before, we'd seen Nutting's Flycatcher. High spirits? Endorphins were bouncing off the cathe- dral ceiling. Conversation drifted into the joys of birding, shared experiences, and how fortunate we were to be part of Missouri's birding community with its enthusias- tic, supportive people with the strong commitment to sharing information. We began to bandy about ideas of how we could en- courage people to increase time in the field and expand their birding range in Missouri. It was probably Susan who began the train of thought that evolved into what we named the Challenge of Missouri Annual List- COMAL. How to implement it was left hanging. It wasn't until mid April that COMAL was announced on MOBIRDS. At 8 a.m., April 12, I sent an email that included the following:

As Susan Hazelwood promoted this activity/friendly rivalry [ reporting species seen this year in Missouri] as a fun way to increase our in- centives to get into the field, I propose that anyone participating in the friendly COMAL (Challenge of Missouri Annual List) send the current total to Susan each Monday. She who has nothing better to do (now that Chris Snook has relieved her of Mobird duties) can then compile a simple list-name and number.

Page 33 THE BLUEBIRD Susan responded by posting a list of 17 birder's 2001 totals as of 9 p.m., April 12, and COMAL was launched. She wrote:

"I do hope all MOBirders remember that this is a friendly competition and that birders of all skill levels and interest are invited to join the challenge. Perhaps you just want to observe and report from your own backyard. Perhaps you enjoy venturing further afield. As Becky Matthews wrote, "having just a great time. That, after all, is what it is all about. FUN! Enjoying the diversity of nature which is nowhere more evident than with birds."

Susan faithfully filed the list each Monday evening (yes, COMAL was a weekly tally at first) until the dol- drums of late June slowed us all down and we became accustomed to the monthly tally. That first year 44 people participated. Jean Leonatti and I tied with the highest total-281. Steve Kinder tal- lied 274, and Susan Hazelwood was right behind with 273. Larry Lade, Mike Warnock, Joyce Bathke, and Matt Gearheart all saw 260 or more species. Twenty-two (50%) ofthe participants saw at least 225 species.

Susan's year-end comments included:

Each (Jean and Edge) has said and written many times that they wouldn't have had anywhere near that number of species on their lists were it not • for the help of other birders. Thanks to all of you who functioned as teachers, group leaders, etc., whether in an official capacity or informally. Sharing of knowledge is one of the things that MOBirders do best.

Page 34 THE BLUEBIRD Indeed, that first year COMAL had encouraged the birding activity we had hoped it would, and, although several felt the frantic pace was more than they wanted for a second year, many people wrote Susan asking that COMAL continue in 2002. Participants increased to 61 in 2002. Larry Lade and .. Mike Warnock were neck and neck most of the year . Larry finished with 289 and Mike with 291. Again, 50% (31 people) saw 225 or more species. High counters included Steve Kinder at 279 and Jean Leonatti at 271. The year's COMAL activities had other results. More birders were participating and exchanging information about where to find difficult species. It was apparent that people were enjoying the seeking and the sharing. Most wanted COMAL to continue. Susan agreed to compile the list for another year. The stage was set for an assault on Tim Barksdale's all time Missouri annual total of 314. In the third year, 63 people reported numbers. From the outset, it was clear that a dead heat was probable. Joe Eades, Patrick Harrison and Josh Uffman enter- tained us with accounts of their efforts. They shared sit- ing information freely, met one another in the field, and assisted others in finding species. With all the crossed fingers across MOBIRD land, they were sure to make that magic 300. And they did: Joe and Patrick reached 301, and Josh 303! Each of them wrote to thank one another and the many Missouri birders who helped them. The accomplishments of Josh, Joe and Patrick were applauded by all, but equally great were those of the several birders who finished the year with their personal best. Many, like the horse named Bill of song who ran so fast he could not stand still "fell exhaustionized" on De- cember 31st , yet most were ready to start ticking anew in 2004. The January 2004 tally included numbers for

Page 35 THE BLUEBIRD 40 people. In the first three years of COMAL, 94 people publicly reported totals of birds seen. Many others played along silently. The list gives a context and the positive feedback of being a part of an activity. The activity, itself, en- courages the sharing of the joy of birding. COMAL seems to fit well with a variety of approaches to birding. You can pick your own windmill to tilt. That is, you can play with the goal of bettering your own last year's total, or of achieving or surpassing a certain number, say 200, 225, or 250, or even 300. You can "shoot the moon" and try to break Tim Barksdale's record. It's your game, your numbers, reported in a list with other participants pursuing their own goals.

Courtesy of Jack Hilsabeck

Page 36 THE BLUEBIRD FROM YOUR WEBMASTER-PATRICK HARRISON

he Audubon Society of Missouri Web site, T http://mobirds.org, has continued to grow and change with the desires and needs of the membership. Many individuals felt we needed some added services to assist the membership. Following up on these suggestions, I created • three new services. These are accessed from the ASM Ser- vices button on the homepage. Services include: 1) Loaning Library, 2) Trading Post, and 3) Lost and Found. The Loan- ing Library is a list of birding reference materials (guides and the like) that are being made available to our members for loan. Currently over 100 titles are available at your re- quest! The Trading Post allows individuals to "advertise" their birding-related goods that they would like to sell or trade. Birders know a bargain when they see one. The Lost and Found is where individuals can report lost or found items so that the rightful owners can quickly regain posses- sion of their belongings. I wish this service was available years ago when I inadvertently left a copy of Sibley's at a birding location. A significant change in the COMAL process includes a data input form for COMAL!MoBirdSMO. Participants in either of these activities no longer need to email Susan Hazelwood their end of the month totals. Instead, they enter the data in the Submission Form and the information is immediately added to a database and displayed onscreen, sorted alphabetically by last name. This frees Susan to bird more! We do appreciate the years of dedication Susan put into organizing and publishing the COMAL data. With the advent of the MoBirdSMO component, I felt the "number crunching" was going to be more than Susan needed, par- ticularly because I knew the process could be automated! If you have any comments about mobirds.org, please use the feedback button on the site. I look forward to reading your comments and implementing as many of your fine suggestions as is prudent and feasible. REMEMBER, mobirds.org is YOUR SITE. It is what you make it!

Page 37 THE BLUEBIRD RUDDY DUCK NEST ON SQUAW CREEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, HOLT COUNTY, MISSOURI- RONALD l. BELL AND FRANCIS E. DURBIAN

he first documented Ruddy Duck (Oxyurajamaicen- T sis) nest in Missouri was found at Squaw Creek Na- tional Wildlife Refuge on June 17, 2003. The nest was located in North Pintail Pool (UTM = 306470 East, 4440267 North), on the northwest portion of the refuge in Holt County, Missouri, USA. The nest was discovered in a relatively dense cattail (Typha sp.) stand and consisted of a platform of dead cattail attached to live plant material, similar to those described by Bent (1962). The nest platform was approximately 28 em in diameter by 10 em deep and contained seven eggs. No down or other feathers were present in the nest. The white-colored eggs were approximately 62 mm long and 45 mm wide. The appearance and size of the eggs falls within the limits of those reported by Bent (1962). Although a pair of Ruddy Ducks had been observed in the same area, prior to locating the nest, attempts to detect an adult on the nest were not successful as observers were likely detected prior to viewing the nest. Approxi- mately 2 weeks after discovery the nest was checked and appeared to have been abandoned. No prior nesting records for Missouri could be located for this species which is considered a "rare summer visitant" (Robbins and Easterla, 1992) however, the Ruddy Duck does nest in several states adjacent to Missouri including Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. In Nebraska Ruddy Ducks are considered a "locally uncommon regular breeder in the Sandhills," a "rare breeder in the Rain- water Basin" and a "rare casual breeder elsewhere" (Sharpe et al., 2001). They are considered a "rare summer resident" where "a few regularly nest in marshes with thick emergent vegetation in northwestern and

Page 38 THE BLUEBIRD north-central Iowa" ( Kent and Dinsmore, 1996) and they are also known to nest at Cheyenne Bottoms State Wild- life Area in Kansas (Thompson and Ely, 1989). This discovery extends the breeding range of this species into northwestern Missouri and further emphasizes the im- portance of wetland habitat that occurs in this portion of the state.

Literature Cited

Bent, A.C. 1962. Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl: Part Two. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, NY. 314 pp +appendices.

Kent, T.H and J.J. Dinsmore. 1996. Birds in Iowa. Pub- lished by the authors, Iowa City and Ames, IA. 391 pp.

Robbins, M.B. and D.A. Easterla. 1992. Birds of Mis- souri. University of Missouri Press, Columbia, MO. 399 pp.

Sharpe, R.S.; W.R. Silcock and J.G. Jorgensen. 2001. Birds of Nebraska: Their Distribution and Temporal Occurrence. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE. 520 pp.

Thompson, M.C. and C. Ely. 1989. Birds in Kansas: Vol- ume One. University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History, Lawrence, KS. 320 pp.

Page 39 THE BLUEBIRD RARE BIRD CHASING: How THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED- SUSAN HAZELWOOD

lin S. Pettingill wrote "As frustrating as it is to Owaste valuable time looking for a particular kind of bird and perhaps not find it at all, it is even more frustrating to be near an unusual bird and miss seeing it out of total ignorance." I began watching birds in 1978. By 1980 I was birding at the national level and beginning my life list. In 1982 I started target birding and my goal, set during the blahs of winter, was to see all three birds on the cover of my field guide, the Golden bookl. I started visiting with other birders about my goal. After several weeks I heard that a graduate student at MU named Norris, studying under Dr. William Elder, had just completed research on Painted Buntings and their habitat choices in MO. I made my way to MU's Ellis Library, found Norris' disser- tation2, and began reading. I eventually learned that he had found Painted Buntings nesting near Protem, a very small town near the Arkansas border in southwest Mis- souri. Getting this information took several weeks and having access to University faculty and a University library. Now fast forward in your mind to a week ago. I turned on my computer, went to www.google.com and typed in "Painted Bunting." I had 33,500 hits within a couple of seconds. I did a search within a search, adding "Missouri" to my search profile. In less than a minute I was at a Missouri Department of Conservation web site3, reading about the phenology, distribution, and habitat preferences of Painted Buntings, and studying a map of Missouri that indicated the six counties where Painted Buntings were found during the Breeding Bird Atlas surveys. I also went to the archives from the MOBirds-L listserve and did a search on Painted Bunting. Again,

Page 40 THE BLUEBIRD within minutes, I had 89 hits starting chronologically with the most recent with many detailing locations where Painted Buntings had been seen in Missouri over the past three years. I rapidly knew about sightings in 2003 at the Katy Trail in St. Charles county and Hen- ning Conservation Area near Branson. Birding trips in the 70's and early 80's were studi- ously planned after studying Christmas Bird Count data that was published annually in Field Notes (now published as North American Birds). Most of the time wasn't spent looking at the names of the birds seen on the CBCs; rather I was seeking names of birders. Then there would be directory assistance calls to find the telephone numbers of those birders. I'd phone the birders to ask about whether a bird species I was seeking could be found in their part of the country. About half the time the birder reached wasn't really a birder. I would get referred to someone else. It was a slow and arduous process. There was also Rickert's A Guide to North American Bird Clubs4. For example, in Missouri it detailed Audu- bon Society of Missouri membership services, dues ($4/year in 1978), and information on how to contact leaders in the nine bird clubs in our state. Olin S. Pettin- gill's Guide to Bird Finding East of the Mississippi5 and Guide to Bird Finding West of the Mississippi6 were also used to find bird hotspots. James A. Lane authored several books, 1979-1986, for finding birds in places like CA, CO, FL, southeast AZ and TX. Many of books in this series were later updated by Harold R. Holt and eventually became what we know today as the ABA Birdfinding Guides. Those early years were the days of books and long distance phone calls as mechanisms to find birds. Meeting birders in the field, ones that you'd persuade to call you if a rare bird showed up in their home territory, made for a tight network of rare bird chasers. As I recall, Bob O'Dear was the first to start a national bird alert. It

Page 41 THE BLUEBIRD used the "new" technology of a telephone answering rna- chine to carry sighting reports of rare birds. Tim Barksdale was the originator of the Missouri Rare Bird Alert. It was one of the earlier bird alerts, beginning around 1985. An outgoing telephone message detailing "good" bird finds and their locations was placed on the answering machine. It was updated about every week, more frequently when rare birds were located. Ob- servers could report their sightings by leaving messages on the answering machine. Susan Hazelwood, Charlene Malone, Donna Brunet[te] and Edge Wade were additional MO RBA voices/compilers over the years. Another decade passed. The national bird alert became known as N AREA, the North American Rare Bird Alert7. Houston Audubon Society now runs NARBA as a way to raise dollars to support their land purchases and birds sanctuaries along the Texas coast. NARBA has a basic "you call us" membership and a "we call you" membership that has several levels of service. The "we call you" costs more but means a rare bird chaser knows when a targeted rarity has been seen in Canada or the U.S. NARBA birds are broken into categories of North American Firsts, Occasionals (aka Group B birds) and Accidentals (aka Group C birds). The MO Rare Bird Alert became just the MO Bird Alert. The "Rare" got dropped as the service moved into reporting bird sightings and migration news in addition to rare birds. This change was driven by more people becoming interested in bird observation, but not necessarily in rare bird chasing. Technology moved us all forward with more and more homes having computers and more birders becoming computer literate. The MO Bird Alert text is posted elec- tronically to BirdCntr, a listserve that subscribers join so they get bird alerts from the middle states of the de- livered to their email boxes. BirdCntr, BirdEast and BirdWest still exist, courtesy of the National Bird Hot-

Page 42 THE BLUEBIRD line Cooperative and the University of Arizona. Only bird alert compilers are authorized to post to these listserves but anyone with an Internet connection can subscribe and receive the postings. BirdChat, also hosted by the University of Arizona, was the listserve that many joined to "chatter on-line" with other birders from across the country and around the world about wild birds. Bird- Chat was so successful that the list owners eventually had to limit the number of messages that subscribers (now numbering 2,890) could post each week. With the success and heavy use of BirdChat individuals began cre- ating state-delineated listserves for wild bird discussion. The University of Missouri-Columbia hosts the MO- Birds-L listserve. Dr. David Witten was the creator and first MOBirds-L list owner, followed by Chris Snook and Susan Hazelwood. MOBirds-L now has 364 subscribers and a real sense of community. Many birders, being the independent folks that most birders are, have created their own web sites that many other birders visit for information. One of the best known is Jack Siler's www.Birdingonthe.net. Ed Matthews8 helped many a birder figure out what optical gear to buy for birding. Before we knew it, birding journals were ap- pearing on-line, too. Birders eager to learn the technical details of bird identification now subscribe to the BIRDWGOl list (NBHC ID-FRONTIERS, Frontiers of Field Identification). One could go on indefinitely about the many things to be found about birds and birders through the Internet. The organization built by and for birders, the Ameri- can Birding Association9, grew their membership so rapidly they could hardly keep up. ABA produces a widely read and respected journal, Birding and a monthly news- letter, Winging It. The later often contains articles on how to find certain birds or how to most effectively bird certain locations. Ornithological organizations exist at the state level. Missouri's, the Audubon Society of Mis-

Page 43 THE BLUEBIRD souri10, is now 103 years old. ASM sponsors MOBirds-L, publishes The Bluebird quarterly, and maintains an E- zine as part of its web site on wild birds, in addition to hosting state birding days, bird identification workshops, fall and spring meetings and supporting the costs associated with the MO Bird Records Committee. Field guides now used to identify birds are more numerous and filled with more information than in the days when I began birding. Bird field guides now include computer-enhanced images of birds, more detailed habitat descriptions and range maps that are much more re- liable. There are many more books available that de- scribe birding hotspots and how to bird them. I particu- larly like Cooper's Guide to Planning North American Bird Trips11 and Mlodinow and O'Brien's America's 100 Most Wanted Birds12 . There are competent bird guides and bird tour companies, too. The most amazing changes that have occurred with the increased communication and improved resources available to birders are a lessening of the competitive, big year chase aura. I've realized that friends who share common interests (in this case birds and birding) can enjoy themselves immensely while finding new bird species at the state or county level and working to save habitat in which those birds live. In my mind, the networks of birders, and the large and still expanding resources available to them, make chasing birds easier than it once was but is still a challenge to the mind, a workout to the body and a way to fill the inner spirit. P.S. I did find that Painted Bunting near Protem so many years ago!

1 Robins CS, Bruun B, and Zim HS. A Guide to Field Identification: Birds of North America. Golden Press: NY, NY. 1966.

2 Dissertation by DJ Norris summarized m Norris DJ

Page 44 THE BLUEBIRD and Elder WH. Distribution and habitat characteristics of the Painted Bunting in Missouri. Trans Mo Acad Sci 16: 77-83, 1982.

3 http://www. conservation. state. mo. us/na this/birds/birda tlas/maintext/04000 18.htm

4 Rickert JE. A Guide to North American Bird Clubs. Avian Publications, Inc.: Elizabethtown, KY. 1978.

5 Pettingill OS. Sutton GM (Illustrator). A Guide to Bird Finding East of the Mississippi. 1977.

6 Pettingill OS. Sutton GM (Illustrator). A Guide to Bird Finding West of the Mississippi. Oxford University Press. 2nd Edition.1977.

7 www.narba.org

8 http://www .optics4birding.com/optics/faq.htm

9 www .americanbirding.org

1o www.mobirds.org

11 Cooper, JA. Birdfinder: A Birder's Guide to Planning North American Trips. American Birding Association, Inc. 1995.

12 Mlodinow SG and O'Brien M. America's 100 Most Wanted Birds. Falcon Press: Helena, Montana. 1996.

Page 45 THE BLUEBIRD SEASONAL SURVEY, FALL REPORT 1 AUGUST TO 30 NOVEMBER 2003-BILL EDDLEMAN

eather conditions were variable in different parts W of the state during the fall season. An extreme drought continued in northwestern and north-central Missouri through most of the period, relieved only by heavy rains in late August and late November. Thus, many shallow lakes and ponds and most wetland areas were dry, limiting shorebird and waterbird habitat. Rainfall failed to fill these water bodies in northwestern and north-central Missouri, however, because of the extreme water deficit. In contrast, the southeastern part of the state and patches of the state outside the northwest were normal to wet. October was largely dry in most areas, but rainfall returned in November, providing some relief from the drought in the northwest, and heavy rainfall in the southeast. Temperatures began as normal to below normal in early August, but were well above normal in mid-August, especially in the northwestern and north-central parts of the state (4-5° above normal). Cool, moist conditions dominated most of the state in Septem- ber, although dry weather continued in western Missouri and the eastern Ozarks. The end of September and beginning of October were especially cool, with freezing temperatures recorded in northwestern Missouri and the eastern Ozarks. Temperatures warmed to above normal in October and November through much of the state. Few major migrational movements were recorded during the season. A number of breeding species lingered this fall, and shorebird observations were limited, especially in western Missouri. Highlights of the fall season were large numbers of Fulvous Whistling Ducks seen in rice fields in the Bootheel, a second year of an influx of western species into eastern Missouri, including a Prai- rie Falcon and six Rufous Hummingbirds, rare gulls l Page 46 THE BLUEBIRD away from the big rivers, including Little Gull and Sa- bine's Gull, and a possible influx of Common Redpolls toward the end of the period. A number of records for this report were provided by the banding station oper- ated by Jack Hilsabeck at Missouri Western State Col- lege, and the avid pursuit of species thanks to the CO- MAL efforts of Joseph Eades and Josh Uffman. Great records, guys! Sightings marked with an asterisk (*) require documentation for the Missouri Bird Records Com- mittee.

WATERFOWL THROUGH CORMORANTS

A highlight of this fall was large numbers of Fulvous Whistling-Duck* in rice fields in the Bootheel, continu- ing the sightings that began in the summer. Birds were in 2 locations: 1 near Dexter, Stoddard Co. on 16 Aug and 2 on the same day near Hornersville Swamp, Dunklin Co. (JE). Numbers at the Dexter site increased to a peak of 21 by 11 Oct, and the last report was of 11 seen on 17 Oct (JE). Greater White-fronted Geese ar- rived at BLSP on 18 Sep (MR), and several hundred were at SLNWR on 12 Oct (SK, m. obs.). Three late birds were at MZL on 22 Nov (DE, PK, et al.). The first Snow Geese (several hundred) were seen over Linn Co. on 12 Oct (SK), and the peak count as SCNWR was 330,000 on 19 Nov (TR). Sightings of Ross's Goose included 1 at Turkey Creek Water Treatment Facility, Jasper Co. on 4 Nov (Linda Childers) and 14 at SCNWR on 6 Nov (TR). A total of 34 Trumpeter Swan was at REDA on 8 Nov (MT), and 1 was at SCNWR on 19 Nov (TR). The high count of Wood Duck peaked at 25 on Lake Springfield, Greene Co. on 5 Oct (DRi et al.); 2 remained near McBane, Boone Co. on 20 Oct (BG). American Wigeon, uncommon in central Missouri, were at EBCA, where 4 were seen on 1 Oct, and 5 on 28 Nov (BG). Northern Mo. American Black Ducks included 12 at SLNWR on 29

Page 47 THE BLUEBIRD Oct (HL-D), and 1 at SCNWR on 12 Nov (TR). The high count reported for Mallard was 5000 in Pike on 26 Oct (MT). Blue-winged Teal first appeared on 1 Aug, when 1 was on a WRP area in Linn Co. (SK); 75 were at SLNWR by 21 Aug (SK); and 1 late bird was at MSL on 16 Nov (DE, PK). Northern Pintail peaked at 5000 at SLNWR on 18 Sep (HL-D). The earliest Canvasback sighting was of 8 at SCNWR on 4 Nov (TR); others included 1 at Little Dixie L. CA, Callaway Co. on 6 Nov (BG) and 6 late birds at MSL on 16 Nov (DE, PK). A single Redhead was at BLSP on 28 Oct (TR), and 5 were at EBCA on 29 Nov (BG). Fifty Ring-necked Duck were at SLNWR on 1 Oct (SK), but the count of 4180 at SCNWR on 4 Nov (TR) was the 2nd-highest of those reported for fall in Robbins and Easterla (1992). Greater Scaup again appeared at MZL and MSL; with the earliest sighting of 11 at MZL on 2 Nov, the latest being 4 at MZL on 22 Nov (DE, PK, et al). All three seaters appeared at several sites in n. Mo. this fall: single Surf Scoters were at THR on 3 Nov (JB), Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis Co. on 8 Nov (MT), and LC on 11 Nov (JH); 2 White-winged Scoters were at REDA on 2 Nov (Dave Becher), 1 at Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis Co. on 8 Nov (MT), and 1 female at MSL on 11 Nov (DE); and Black Scoter sightings included 2 at THR on 1-3 Nov (JU, Della Rhoades et al.) and 1 at Winfield Dam, Lincoln Co. on 8 Nov (MT). Single Long-tailed Ducks were seen at SCNWR on 4 Nov (TR), SL on 6 Nov (KM; a juvenile), and MSL on 9 Nov (DE; an immature). Bufflehead first appeared on 31 Oct, when 3 females were at MSL (DE). Peak counts included 20 at Little Dixie L. CA, Callaway Co. on 6 Nov (BG), and 200+ (higher than any fall count in Robbins and Easterla (1992)) at SLNWR on 24 Nov (SK). Only 1 Common Goldeneye was reported: a female at MSL on 9 Nov (DE). The single report of Red- breasted Merganser was 70 at SL on 11 Nov (TR). Ruddy Duck were first recorded when 30 were at

Page 48 THE BLUEBIRD SLNWR on 18 Sep (HL-D). High counts included a re- spectable 1683 at SCNWR on 3 Nov (TR) and 200 at Lit- tle Dixie Lake CA, Callaway Co. on 6 Nov (BG). Ring- necked Pheasant are not often reported in fall, so 21 at SCNWR on 27 Nov are worth mentioning (TR). The de- clining Greater Prairie Chicken is disappearing from many areas where it formerly occurred; the only reports were 29 seen at Dunn Ranch, Harrison Co. on 15 Nov (SK), and 1 at Montrose Pastures, St. Clair Co. on 21 Nov (JE). Single Red-throated Loons were at THR on 2 Nov (PH), and SL on 3-6 Nov (KM, RF, et al.). A single adult Pacific Loon was at MZL on 2 Nov (DE, PK, TR); while 2 were at SL on the same day (RF). One remained on 7 Nov (PH). Common Loons were at usual sites; the earliest on 1 Nov, when 6 were at THR (BG) and 1 at Fellows Lake, Greene Co. (D&BT). A record high seasonal count of 60 was at Stockton Lake, Cedar Co., on 2 Nov (JE). The earliest Pied-billed Grebes were 19 at Fountain Grove CA, Linn Co. on 30 Aug; possibly breeding individuals (SK). Horned Grebe first appeared on 1 Nov at Fellows Lake, Greene Co. on 1 Nov (D&BT); the highest count was 46 on Stockton Lake, Cedar Co., on 23 Nov (JE). Two single Red-necked Grebe occurred this fall: an early individual at THR on 1 Nov (JU et al.), the other at Green Hills Golf Course Lake, Chillicothe, Livingston Co., on 9 Nov (SK). Eared Grebes were reported from seven locations, the earliest being 1 at MSL on 31 Oct (DE), and the latest of 3 at SCNWR on 24 Nov (TR). Single birds at Binder Lake, Cole Co., from 3-22 Nov (SH, JL), and BCA on 22 Nov (MT) were the only ones reported in central and eastern Mo. There were only two reports of Western Grebe, both of single birds: SL on 7 Nov (EW), and THR on 8 Nov (JE). One Clark's Grebe* was at THR on 7 Nov (EW). American White Pelican were observed at the usual western Mo. sites, although no large numbers were seen in north Mo. (SK). The highest counts were 1000 at BLSP on 10 Sep (TR)

Page 49 THE BLUEBIRD and 2000 at THR 16 Oct-1 Nov (BG). A single bird lingered in St. Louis Co. until 3 Nov (KMc). Late Double- crested Cormorant included 1 at REDA on 3 Nov (KMc) and 4 at MZL on 22 Nov (DE, PK et al.).

BITTERNS THROUGH FALCONS

A single American Bittern seen on a private WRP area in Linn Co. on 1 Aug may have been a lingering breeder (SK). The count of 15 birds in the Dexter Rice Fields in Stoddard Co. on 5 Oct is higher than any recorded in Robbins and Easterla (1992) (JE). One late bird was at Hunkah Prairie, Prairie SP, Barton Co. on 5 Nov (Cyndi Evans). The peak count of Least Bitterns was 20 at SCNWR on 13 Aug (SK, LL); singles were also at CCNWR on 29 Aug (JE) and the Columbia Wastewa- ter Treatment Cells, Boone Co. on 1 Sep (EW). A total of 160 Great Egrets at SLNWR on 21 Aug was the highest count reported (SK). Lingering singles were near Savan- nah, Andrew Co. on 7 Nov (JH), REDA on 8 Nov (MT), and Mud Lake, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co. on 20 Nov (LL). Two observations of Snowy Egret are the latest records recorded for Mo.: 4 at REDA on 11 Oct (BR, MT) and an incredible single at Montrose Lake on 2 Nov* (JE). The latter is nearly 6 weeks later than the late date of 22 Sep in Robbins and Easterla (1992). Five Little Blue Herons in the Dexter Rice Fields, Stoddard Co., on 5 Oct were late (JE), as was a single Cattle Egret at OSCA on 17 Oct (JE). Notable sightings of Yellow- crowned Night Herons included 9 on a WRP area in Linn Co. on 1 Aug (SK), 3 immatures at SLNWR on 5 Aug (SK, LL), and 1 at Close Park and South Creek, Greene Co. on 13 Sep (DT et al.). There was only one report of Plegadis ibis: 4 White-faced Ibis at SCNWR on 22 Sep (TR). Turkey Vultures continue to be observed north of their "historic" range in Mo.--they were seen throughout the fall in Columbia, Boone Co. (BG). There

Page 50 THE BLUEBIRD were numerous reports of migrating Osprey, with the peak being 4 at SL on 10 Sep (SK, LL), and single late birds at SL on 6 Nov (JE) and Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis Co. on 8 Nov (MT). The peak count of Mississippi Kites in the Bootheel was 10 on 17 Aug: 8 over the Hornersville Swamp Rice Fields in Dunklin Co., and 2 others elsewhere (JE). Of great interest was the sighting of a pair with chick at Carl Junction, Jasper Co., on 25 Aug (Dave Henness). The latest sighting was a single at Creve Coeur, St. Louis Co. on 22 Sep (JE). Numbers of Bald Eagles peaked at 150 at SCNWR on 25 Nov (TR). Northern Harriers were scarce this year in north- central Mo. (SK). The earliest was a single at Old Mon- roe, Lincoln Co., on 14 Aug (JE); the first male was at SLNWR on 1 Oct (SK). Twenty (a high count) were seen over the Dexter Rice Fields, Stoddard Co. on 11 & 17 Oct (JE). Single Cooper's Hawk were at St. Joseph, Bu- chanan Co. on 13 Aug & 1 Nov (JH); the peak count was 3 at SLNWR on 11 Sep (SK). A peak of 4 Red- shouldered Hawks was at SLNWR on 25 Sep (SK). One kettle of 240 Broad-winged Hawks was seen over an area near McBane, Boone Co., on 21 Sep (CB); the only other flock reported was 50 at Creve Coeur, St. Louis Co. on 24 Sep (JE). A leucistic Red-tailed Hawk was reported near Chillicothe, Linn Co. throughout the fall (SK). A single Ferruginous Hawk* was reported at Wa-Sha-She Prairie, Jasper Co. on 18 Nov (JE). Rough- legged Hawks were scarce in north-central Mo. (SK). There were three reports, all single birds: Montrose Pas- tures, Henry/St. Clair Co. on 22 Nov (JE), SCNWR on 27 Nov (TR), and Wah-Sha-She Prairie, Jasper Co., on 30 Nov (JE). Four single Golden Eagles were observed: an immature at Powell Gardens, Johnson Co. on 23 Oct (Mike Stoakes, Elizabeth Kohler), Grand River Bottoms, Livingston Co. on 12 Nov (TRi), University City, St. Louis Co. on 16 Nov (RK), and Thousand Hills SP on 28 Nov (JL et al.). There were 10 reports of Merlin, most in

Page 51 THE BLUEBIRD western Mo., beginning with 1 at Winfield Dam, Lincoln Co., on 13 Sep (JE). Female richardsoni were reported from BLSP on 18 Sep (MR) and Muskrat Lake, Bu- chanan Co. on 18 Sep (MR). An immature male of the nominate race was at Rosecrans Airport, Buchanan Co., on 1 Oct (MR). The farthest easternmost was at the Caruthersville Catfish Farms, New Madrid Co. on 5 Oct (JE). Single Peregrine Falcon occurred at several sites between 1 Sep, when 1 was over the Dexter Rice Fields, Stoddard Co. (JE) and 17 Oct, when 1 was at OSCA (JE). Two were at SCNWR on 24 Sep (TR). Single Prairie Falcons were at BLSP on 28 Oct (TR), Dunn Ranch, Harrison Co. on 15 Nov (SK), and an unusual eastern site, CCNWR*, on 16 Nov (Michael Bathke, JB, PH).

RAILS THROUGH TERNS

Yellow Rails are difficult to detect during migration, so three reports are noteworthy for this season. One very early migrant was flushed during mowing at SLNWR on 27 Aug (John Guthrie); and 1 each was flushed at a WRP area in Linn Co. on 9 Oct (SK), and in the Dexter Rice Fields, Stoddard Co. on 11 Oct (JE). The earliest report of Virginia Rails was 2 at the Columbia Wastewater Treatment Cells, Boone Co. on 1 Sep (RF, SH, EW, Gary Johnson). A peak of 7 was recorded at the Dexter Rice Fields, Stoddard Co. on 11 Oct (JE). The latest report was a single at the Columbia Wastewater Treatment Cells, Boone Co. on 21 Oct (Chris Merkord). The first reports of Sora were 8 at CCNWR on 29 Aug (JE) and 5+ at the Columbia Wastewater Treatment Cells, Boone Co. on 1 Sep (EW). A record high count was logged during a rice harvest at the Dexter Rice Fields, Stoddard Co. on 11 Oct when 400 were counted (JE); and 8 were still at the Columbia Wastewater Treatment Cells, Boone Co. on 21 Oct (Chris Merkord). Common Moorhen bred once

Page 52 THE BLUEBIRD again at the Columbia Wastewater Treatment Cells, Boone Co., where 5 immatures were seen on 25 Aug and 3 immatures on 1 Sep (BG, SH, EW). American Coots were first observed at SLNWR on 16 Sep, when 55 were seen (SK); and on 22 Sep at Columbia, Boone Co., when 3 were seen (BG). The peak count was 1600 at SLNWR on 25 Sep (SK). Two Sandhill Cranes were seen at both Cattail Pool, SCNWR on 28 Aug (11), and at THR on 1 Nov (BG, JU, et al.). Shorebird habitat was scarce in central and western Mo. this year, so reports of many species were limited (BG, m. obs.) The latest date for Black- bellied Plover was 2 at SCNWR on 19 Nov (TR). There were eight reports of American Golden-Plover, beginning with 1 at a sod farm near Booneville, Howard Co. on 9 Aug (EW), and ending with 1 at SCNWR on 19 Nov (TR). The highest number was 12 seen at a turf farm in Warren Co. on 24 Sep (JE) and 12 at BLSP on 1 Oct (MR). There were relatively few reports of Semipal- mated Plover: 6 at STR on 17 Aug (CB), 2-3 on a Mis- souri R. sandbar, Boone Co. on 24 Aug (J1), and a high count of 11 at BLSP on 30 Aug (MR). One Piping Plover was observed at STR on 17 Aug (CB). A late report of Black-necked Stilt was of 2 at the Caruthers- ville Catfish Farms, New Madrid Co., on 12 Oct (JE). De- spite poor wetland conditions in much of the state, there were eight reports of American Avocet, the earliest being 1 at STR on 26 Aug (DRi), and the latest being 2 at St. Joseph, Buchanan Co. on 11-12 Nov (JH). Eastern Mo. sightings included 2 at the Caruthersville Catfish Farms, New Madrid Co. on 1 Sep (JE), and 19 at OSCA on 22 Oct (GM). The only two reports of Greater Yel- lowlegs were 2 at THR on 16 Oct (BG) and 1 at Hamil- ton Lake CA, Caldwell Co., on 10 Nov (SK). Lesser Yel- lowlegs was also only reported twice: 1 near McBane, Boone Co. on 4 Oct, and 1 at THR on 16 Oct (BG). There were three sightings of Solitary Sandpiper: 1 at EBCA on 19 Aug (BG), 1 at Columbia, Boone Co., on 25 Aug

Page 53 THE BLUEBIRD (BG), and 1 at the Forum Wetlands, Columbia, Boone Co. on 6 Oct (Harold Anderson, KA). Only one Willet sighting was reported, of 2 at SCNWR on 5 Sep (TR). The single Spotted Sandpiper seen at SLNWR on 24 Nov* is nearly three weeks later than any record in Robbins and Easterla (1992) (SK). Upland Sandpiper was reported three times this fall: 1 at a WRP area in Linn Co. on 1 Aug (SK), 1 at Old Monroe, Lincoln Co., on 2 Sep (JE, JU), and 8 at SLNWR on 18 Sep (HL-D). The single Ruddy Turnstone report was from the Missouri R. in Howard Co. on 21 Aug (Jack Finley fide Neal Young). There were four reports of Sanderling: 1-4 from near Rocheport, Boone Co. on 23 Aug (BG, JL), 2 juveniles at BLSP on 30 Aug (MR), 1 juvenile at LC on 18 Sep (MR), and a late adult at SL on 29 Oct (KM). Semipalmated Sandpiper was only reported once on 26 Aug, when 4 were at STR (DRi). The four reports of Western Sand- piper included 10 at STR on 17 Aug (CB), 3 at EBCA on 18 Aug (BG), 4 at STR on 26 Aug (DRi), and 12 at BLSP on 30 Aug (MR). Least Sandpipers were first seen on 17 Aug, when 10 were at STR (CB). The latest birds were 2 at SCNWR on 19 Nov (TR). The first sighting of Baird's Sandpiper was 1 bird at EBCA on 29 Aug (BG); the latest was 1 at LC on 3 Nov (LL, JH). A very high count (2nd highest of those reported in Robbins and Easterla 1992) of Pectoral Sandpiper was 550+ at BLSP on 13 Aug (MR); the last sighting was 4 at SCNWR on 19 Nov (TR). Dunlin were reported five times, with the earliest, and highest count, being 50 at STR on 1 Nov (CB). The latest observation was 3-5 birds at SCNWR on 13-16 Nov (TR). Stilt Sandpipers were first seen on 17 Aug, when 6 were at STR (CB). Large flocks of 60 were at SCNWR on 16 Sep 90 at BLSP on 3 Oct (TR). There were no fewer than 11 reports of small numbers of Buff-breasted Sandpiper from all across the state. The earliest was 2 at STR on 17 Aug (CB); the latest was 2 at BLSP on 16-23 Sep (TR). Most involved

Page 54 THE BLUEBIRD turf farm habitat or wetlands, but 1-3 were on sandbars on the Missouri R. Boone Co., from 20-26 Aug (BG, EW). Juveniles were at BLSP on 30 Aug, when 5 were seen, and 12 Sep, when 2 were present (MR). Rarely seen in the Bootheel, the species was also at the Caruthersville Turf Farm, New Madrid Co., where 3 were seen on 1 Sep (JE). A single male Ruff* was at Mud Lake, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., on 13 Oct (11). Good numbers of Long- billed Dowitchers were seen at three sites: 75 at SLNWR on 3 Oct (SK, LL), 66 at BLSP on 3 Oct and 68 at the same site on 24 Oct (TR), and a 2nd highest record count of 200+ at OSCA on 22 Oct (GM). Wilson's Snipe were widely observed in small numbers, beginning with 3 along the Missouri R., Boone Co. on 24 Aug (JL). The highest count was 40 at SCNWR on 26 Oct (TR). A late American Woodcock was in Newton Co. on 17 Nov (Jeff Cantrell). A single Red-necked Phalarope was at OSCA on 14 Oct (GM, Dennis Wheeler, Buzz Thompson). Small numbers of Franklin's Gull were seen at sites away from the migration corridor in western Mo.: 4 at THR on 16 Oct (BG), 19 at MSL on 2 Nov (DE, PK), and 3 at MSL on 6 Nov (DE, PK). What appeared at first to be one Little Gull* at Montrose CA 1 ., Henry Co., on Nov 2, was apparently two birds: an immature (JE), and a juvenile (EW et al.). Bonaparte's Gulls occurred at MSL between 2 Nov, when 30 were present, and 11 Nov, when there were 2 (DE, PK). The peak number at the site was 110. A single adult California Gull* appeared at REDA on 28 Nov (JU). Herring Gulls are relatively rare away from the Mississippi R., but 1 each was seen at SL on 22 Sep and BLSP on 3 Oct (TR). A juvenile Sa- bine's Gull* was at SL 18-22 Sep (Kyle Driggers, LL, TR). There were three reports of Caspian Tern: 2 at Fountain Grove CA, Linn Co., on 30 Aug (SK), 35 at SL on 26 Sep (SK), and 1 at Shoal Creek, Newton Co. on 13 Oct (LH). Common Terns were seen as expected between 22 Aug, when 1 was at LC (11), and 22 Sep, when

Page 55 THE BLUEBIRD 2 were at SL (TR). Two sightings ofForster's Tern were exceptionally late: 1 at SL on 30 Oct* (KM) 1, and 1 at BLSP on 5 Nov* (TR). There were two reports of Black Tern: 4 at BLSP on 10 Sep (TR), and a relatively high count of 80 at REDA on 24 Sep (JE).

DOVES THROUGH WOODPECKERS

Eurasian Collared-Doves continue to become more abundant, and were reported from several additional locations, usually in association with grain elevators or other food sources. The highest number was 7 at the MFA Grain Bins, Maryville, Nodaway Co. on 4 Oct (DE). There were three reports of Black-billed Cuckoo: a juvenile from near Easley, Boone Co. on 23 Aug (CG); 1 at BluffWoods CA, Buchanan Co., on 29 Aug (LL); and 2 at CCNWR on 5 Sep (JE). Last sightings of Yellow-billed Cuckoo were singles at Columbia, Boone Co. on 15 Sep (BG), and at REDA on 5 Oct (MT). Long-eared Owls were scarce in north-central Mo. (SK), and only 1 sighting was reported at Columbia, Boone Co. (KA). Short-eared Owls were also scarce in north-central Mo. (SK). The earliest report, and 2nd earliest record for Mo., was of 2 from the Mon- trose Area, Henry Co. on 18 Oct (JE). Others included 2 at REDA on 3 Nov (JE), 3 at BF on 15-16 Nov (m. obs.), and 4 at SCNWR on 27 Nov (TR). No large flocks of Common Nighthawk were reported this fall. The largest was several dozen over Chillicothe, Linn Co., on 26 Aug (SK), and 40 at Columbia, Boone Co. on 12 Sep (SH). The latest report was 1 bird at Columbia, Boone Co. on 13 Oct (BG). The largest number of Chimney Swifts reported was 1300 at St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., on 14 Sep (LL). The latest sighting in Columbia, Boone Co., was of 5 on 13 Oct (BG). Late dates for Ruby-throated Hum- mingbird included single birds at Springfield, Greene Co. on 12 Oct (DRi), Columbia, Boone Co. on 15 Oct (BG),

Page 56 THE BLUEBIRD and Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau Co. on 18 Oct (BE). There were six single Rufous Hummingbirds this fall, all surprisingly in eastern Mo., and all were captured and banded (LC). The earliest bird, an immature male, appeared on 12 Oct at a feeder 1.5 km northeast of Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau Co., and remained through the end of the fall (BE, LC). Others included an immature female in St. Louis Co. banded on 13 Nov; an adult female in Chesterfield, St. Louis, Co., on 14 Nov; a HY male in St. Louis, on 20 Nov; HY female at Farmington, St. Francois Co. on 25 Nov; and an immature male in St. Louis on 30 Nov (LC). Single Yellow-bellied Sap- sucker were at Columbia, Boone Co. on 7 Oct & 30 Nov (BG). Numbers of Northern Flicker peaked at 100 at TGP on 25 Sep (JE). The first sighting of Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker was of 1 at SCNWR on 2 Aug (LL). Pileated Woodpecker are relatively rare in northern Mo., so 1 on theW. fork of Grand R. and Hwy 46, Worth Co. on 4 Nov was noteworthy (PK).

FLYCATCHERS THROUGH WRENS

There were six reports of Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 at Nodaway Valley CA, Holt Co. on 13 Aug (MR); 2 at Nodaway Valley CA, Holt Co. on 30 Aug (MR); 1 at B.K Leach C.A., Lincoln Co. on 31 Aug (JE); 1 near Easley, Boone Co. on 6 Sep (CG); 1 at RBSP on 8-10 Sept (BG, EW); and 1 at SCNWR on 8-14 Sep (TR). Late reports of Eastern Wood-Pewee included 2 at Grindstone Nature Area, Columbia, Boone Co., on 24 Sep (BG); and 15 at TGP on 25 Sep (JE). There were a number of records of Empidonax flycatchers that were of interest. A Yellow- bellied Flycatcher was seen at RBSP on 1 Sep (RF, Gary Johnson), and 2 were banded on 14 Sep at MWC (JH). An immature Acadian Flycatcher was found dead in Columbia, Boone Co. on 10 Sep, and saved as a specimen (BG). Five Alder Flycatchers were found on

Page 57 THE BLUEBIRD 13 Aug: 3 at Nodaway Valley CA, Holt Co., and 2 at Bob Brown CA, Holt Co. (MR). Single Least Flycatchers were at Nodaway Valley CA, Holt Co. on 13 Aug, and McCormack CA, Holt Co. on 1 Oct (MR). An Eastern Phoebe was at Grindstone Nature Area, Columbia, Boone Co. on 24 Sep (BG); and 25 were at Lake Spring- field, Greene Co. on 5 Oct (DRi et al.). The last sighting of a Great Crested Flycatcher was 1 at Columbia, Boone Co. on 8 Sep (BG). A high count of 42 Eastern Kingbird was made at SCNWR on 1 Sep (TR). A juvenile Scissor- tailed Flycatcher was east of the normal range at BCA on 21 Sep (JE). There were two reports of single Logger- head Shrikes: at the Missouri Southern Campus, Joplin, Jasper Co. on 27 Oct (LH); and at Guilford, No- daway Co. on 31 Oct (JH). One Northern Shrike was reported from Bethel Prairie, Barton Co., on 30 Nov (JE). White-eyed Vireo reports included 3 at Grindstone Na- ture Area, Columbia, Boone Co. on 20 Sep (BG); and a late individual at Big Oak Tree SP, Mississippi Co. on 12 Oct (JE). Bell's Vireos were seen at three sites: 12 at SCNWR on 3 Sep (TR), 1 at Wilson's Creek Battlefield, Greene Co. on 14 Sep (DRi); and 1 along the Missouri R., Buchanan Co. on 18 Sep (MR). Only one Yellow- throated Vireo was reported, from Big Spring, Carter Co. on 11 Oct (MR). Single Blue-headed Vireos were at Little Tarkio Prairie CA, Holt Co., on 12 Sep (TR); BLSP on 3 Oct (TR), and Bur Oak Woods CA, Jackson Co. on 23 Oct (Craig Hensley). A Warbling Vireo seen at BLSP on 1 Oct tied the latest record in Robbins and Easterla (1992) (MR). An early Philadelphia Vireo was at South Creek, Greene Co. on 26 Aug (DT); and 1 was banded on 25 Sep at MWC (JH). Fears of West Nile Vi- rus notwithstanding, 210 Blue Jays were counted at BLSP on 3 Oct (TR). Fish Crows continue to expand their range in Mo., with 2 being seen at Montrose CA, Henry Co. on 26 Sep (MR). Late birds included 1 at Web- ster Groves, St. Louis Co. on 29 Sep (BR); 2 at the Way-

Page 58 THE BLUEBIRD meyer Access to Big Spring, Carter Co. on 11 Oct (MR); and 1 at Table Rock Lake, Taney Co. on 8 Nov (Jackie West). High counts of Horned Lark included 148 at Grand River Bottoms, Livingston Co. on 3 Aug (Myrna Carlton); and 300 near PCA on 25 Nov, mixed with Lap- land Longspurs (SK). An all-white Tree Swallow was seen at SLNWR on 18 Sep (HL-D); and high counts at REDA were 3000 on 5 Oct (MT) and 2000+ on 11 Oct; (BR). Red-breasted Nuthatch were present this fall, but in small numbers; the earliest on 28 Sep at TGP (JE). The earliest Brown Creeper appeared at BLSP on 24 Oct (TR). Single Bewick's Wrens occurred at War- renton, Warren Co. on 14 Sep (JE); and at Stockton Lake, Cedar Co., on 13 Oct (MR). The first Winter Wren was reported from RBSP on 4 Oct (BG). Sedge Wrens were reported in good numbers this year, with a relatively high 40 at SLNWR on 5 Aug (SK); 27 at Nodaway Valley CA, Holt Co. on 13 Aug (MR); 29 at Bob Brown CA, Holt Co. on 13 Aug (MR); and several sightings between 2 Aug and 21 Oct at Columbia, Boone Co. (BG). There were also a number of reports of Marsh Wren near Columbia between 22 Sep and 21 Oct (BG) and at the Boardwalk area of Fountain Grove CA, Linn Co. (SK). A single bird was at Lake Springfield, Greene Co. on 7 Oct (CB).

KINGLETS THROUGH WARBLERS

Golden-crowned Kinglets were first reported on 5 Oct, when 1 was at TGP (JE). The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet appeared at Little Tarkio Prairie CA, Holt Co. on 18 Sep (TR); the highest count was 10 at TGP on 25 Sep (JE); and 1 remained at Little Dixie Lake CA, Calla- way Co. on 6 Nov (BG). A Swainson's Thrush at Grind- stone Nature Area, Columbia, Boone Co. on 4 Sep was one day earlier than the early record in Robbins & East- erla (1992) (BG). Record late individuals were at Shaw

Page 59 THE BLUEBIRD Nature Reserve, Franklin Co. on 2 Nov* (MT); and at Fellows Lake, Greene Co. on 16 Nov* (Grace Jordan). A Hermit Thrush at SCNWR on 4 Nov was the first seen at that site in two years (TR). An early individual was found on 6 Oct at the KFVS-TV tower in Cape Girardeau Co. (BE). A late Gray Catbird was at Burr Oak Woods, Jackson Co. on 21 Nov (JE). Northern Mockingbird are rare in fall in northern Mo., so single birds at SCNWR on 7 Sep (TR) and at MSL on 16 Nov (DE, PK) are notable. There were two reports of American Pipit: 45 at BLSP on 24 Oct (TR), and 7 in St. Charles Co. on 5 Nov (Kmc). Sprague's Pipit was only reported once, 1 bird at Taberville Prairie, Barton Co. on 18 Oct (JE). Two juvenile Cedar Waxwings were at RBSP on 2 Aug (BG). The warbler migration was typical, with few unusual species or dates. Two reports of single Golden- winged Warblers were from RBSP on 9 Sep (EW) and Big Oak Tree SP on 12 Oct (JE). Single Tennessee War- blers were at the Springfield Nature Center, Greene Co. on 4 Oct (DT et al.), and BCA on 26 Oct (Jim Malone). Orange-crowned Warblers were observed beginning on 29 Sep, when 5 were at SCNWR (TR). All but 1 were in western Missouri; the sole exception being a single at Hawk Point Prairie, Lincoln Co., on 26 Oct (JE). A total of 52 was banded on the MWC (JH). Nashville Warbler bandings at MWC totaled 36 (JH). A Northern Parula at Big Oak Tree SP, Mississippi Co., on 12 Oct was late (10 days earlier than the late record) (JE). A total of 3 Chestnut-sided Warblers was banded at MWC on 30 Aug (LL). The latest report of Magnolia Warbler was an immature at Big Spring, Carter Co., on 12 Oct (MR). A single Black-throated Blue Warbler was at TGP on 2 Oct (JU). An adult female Black-throated Green Warbler at Watkins Mill SP, Clay Co., on 26 Oct was late (KM). Only one report of Blackburnian Warbler was received, 1 at SCNWR on 1 Sep (TR). The Yellow- throated Warbler at Lake Springfield, Greene Co., on 5

Page 60 THE BLUEBIRD Oct, was 6 days earlier than the record late date (Dave Catlin). The latest report of Palm Warbler was 1 bird at Fellows Lake, Greene Co. on 27 Sep (Jan Horton, Nancy Vandenbrink). A 1st fall female Bay-breasted Warbler banded at MWC on 6 Sep was the earliest reported (JH, LL). The latest reports were 2 at Big Spring, Carter Co. on 11 Oct (MR) and 4 at Big Oak Tree SP, Mississippi Co., on 12 Oct (JE). One Black-and-white Warbler at Big Oak Tree SP, Mississippi Co., on 12 Oct, was the latest report (JE). The high count for American Redstart was 15, which was the 2nd highest in comparison to counts in Robbins and Easterla (1992) (JE). A report of 2 Prothonotary Warblers at Winfield Dam, Lincoln Co. on 13 Sep was the latest report (JE). The sole report of a Louisiana Waterthrush was 1 at Close Park and South Creek, Greene Co. on 13 Sep (DT et al.). The single Kentucky Warbler at RBSP on 1 Sep is one of the few Sep records (BG, EW). The latest report of Common Yellowthroat was 1 at REDA on 27 Nov (JE). The high count of 18 Wilson's Warblers at Nodaway Valley CA, Holt Co. on 30 Aug was the 2nd highest record in comparison to Robbins & Easterla (1992) (MR). The earliest Canada Warbler was a female at Columbia, Boone Co. on 28 Aug (EW). Additional sightings were 3 at RBSP on 30 Aug (EW), and 1 at SCNWR on 1 Sep (TR). September records of Yellow-breasted Chat are limited, so three are of interest: 1 found at the KFVS-TV tower in Cape Girardeau Co. on 2 Sep (BE); 1 at Grindstone Nature Area, Columbia, Boone Co. on 12 Sep (BG); and 1 banded at MWC on 13 Sep (JH).

TANAGERS THROUGH FINCHES

Late dates for Summer Tanager included 2 at Big Spring, Carter Co. on 11 Oct; and 1 at Stockton Lake, Ce- dar Co. on 13 Oct (MR). A high count of 5 Scarlet Tana- gers was seen at TGP on 25 Sep (JE), and 2 at Big

Page 61 THE BLUEBIRD Spring, Carter Co. on 11 Oct were nearly record late (MR). Spotted Towhees were recorded from seven sites, with the earliest being banded on 28 Sep at MWC (JH). The female in se. Boone Co. on 21 Oct was the farthest east (Chris Merkord). The earliest American Tree Sparrows were 6 at SCNWR on 22 Oct (TR). Chipping Sparrows lingered until 5 Nov in St. Charles Co., where 2 were seen (KMc); and 6 Nov at PSP, where 1 was observed (SK). There were many sightings of Clay-colored Sparrow in north-central Missouri, with the earliest at the Chillicothe Wetland, Linn Co., on 15 Sep (SK). Three at LCCL on 3 Oct were the only ones reported in eastern Mo. (JE). The latest Field Sparrow in northern Mo. was 1 at MSL on 11 Nov (DE). A high count of 17 Ves- per Sparrow was obtained at Hawk Point Prairie, Lin- coln Co. on 26 Oct (JE). The earliest Savannah Spar- rows were 14 at SCNWR on 14 Sep (TR). High count was 20 at MSL on 2 Nov (DE, PK), and 3 remained at that site until 9 Nov (DE). Late Grasshopper Spar- rows included 1 at Bois d-Are CA, Greene Co. on 25 Oct (LB et al.) and 1-2 at B. K. Leach CA, Lincoln Co. on 26 Oct (BR). A migrating Henslow's Sparrow was at LCCL on 9-12 Oct (JE, MT). There were numerous reports of Le Conte's Sparrow, with the first being 2 at Green Hills Golf Course Lake, Chillicothe, Linn Co. on 29 Sep (SK). The highest count was 24 at LCCL on 9 Oct (JE). Small numbers of Nelson's Sharp-tailed Spar- row were also at several locations, the first being "several" at SLNWR on 11 Sep (SK). The latest was 1 at B. K. Leach CA, Lincoln Co. on 26 Oct (BR). A Fox Sparrow at MZL on 22 Nov was noteworthy (DE, PK). The total number of Song Sparrow banded at MWC was 41 (JH). A total of 31 Lincoln's Sparrows was banded at MWC (JH). The first migrant was a single bird at Columbia, Boone Co. on 26 Sep (BG). The latest report was also at Columbia, on 26 Oct (BG). Swamp Sparrows were first noted on 29 Sep, when 11 were at

Page 62 THE BLUEBIRD SCNWR (TR). The earliest White-throated Sparrows were single birds seen along the Missouri R., Buchanan Co. on 18 Sep (MR) and at McCormick CA, Holt Co., on 19 Sep (TR). The total banded at MWC was 44 (JH). A Harris's Sparrow that summered 6 mi. west of Parnell, Nodaway Co. remained on 19 Aug (DE). The earliest migrant was 1 at Green Hills Golf Course Lake, Chillicothe, Linn Co., on 29 Sep (SK). The easternmost birds were in Lincoln Co. on 26 Oct, where 2 were at Winfield Dam and 1 at Hawk Point Prairie (JE). The highest count was 20, at Pony Express CA, DeKalb Co., on 10 Nov (SK). The first White-crowned Sparrows were 3 early migrants at SCNWR on 29 Sep (TR). The peak count was 65 at the White River Trace, Phelps Co. on 18 Oct (Mike Doyen). The earliest date for Dark-eyed Junco was 5 Oct, when 1 was at REDA (JE, MT). The earliest reports of Lapland Longspur on 13 Nov included 300 at LC on 13 Nov (LL); 2 small flocks in the Grand River Bottoms, Livingston Co. (SK); and 280 at BLSP (TR). High counts included 800 near Prairie SP, Jasper Co. on 22 Nov (JE) and 1300 near Wah-Sha-She Prairie, Jasper Co. on 29 Nov (JE). Single Smith's Longspurs were at PCA on 31 Oct (SK), and a short grass prairie in Jasper Co. on 30 Nov (JE). A Snow Bunting in the Grand River Bottoms, Livingston Co. on 12 Nov was the only one reported (TRi). A high count of 45 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at TGP on 25 Sep was just less than the record in Robbins & Easterla (1992) (JE). The sole report of Blue Gros- beak was 1 at Lake Springfield, Greene Co. on 5 Oct (DRi et al.). A high total of 100 Indigo Buntings was at the Chillicothe Wetland, Linn Co., on 10 Oct (SK). Are- cord fall high count of 91 Dickcissels was logged at BF on 12 Sep (PM). Numerous Bobolinks were counted this season, with the earliest being 2 in the area of B.K. Leach CA, Lincoln Co. on 30 Aug (JE). The latest, 3 days later than the record late date, were single birds on 12 Oct at LCCL (MT) and a WRP area in Linn Co. (SK).

Page 63 THE BLUEBIRD High counts included 40 at CCNWR on 5 Sep (JE), 32 at BF on 12 Sep (PM), and 60 at CCNWR on 29 Sep (JE). Several Western Meadowlarks were at BF on 16 Nov (BG). An immature male Yellow-headed Blackbird was caught in a blackbird trap in Morehouse, New Ma- drid Co. on 9 Sep (Ryan Layton). Rusty Blackbirds first appeared on 26 Oct, when 2 were at SCNWR (TR). High counts included 58 at BLSP on 5 Nov (TR) and 80 in crop fields in St. Charles Co. on 27 Nov (JE). There were two reports of Brewer's Blackbird: 30 at B. K. Leach CA, Lincoln Co. on 26 Oct (BR), and 1 at a feedlot in St. Charles Co. on 28 Nov (JE). Great-tailed Grackle were reported from three sites: 50 at SCNWR on 22 Sep (TR), 21 at the UMC South Farm, Boone Co. on 7 Nov (BG), and 9 at Wah-Sha-She Prairie, Jasper Co. on 30 Nov (JE). In comparison to many recent years, there was an abundance of reports of Purple Finch. The earliest was a single bird at Weldon Springs CA, St. Charles Co. on 16 Oct (Connie Alwood), and the high count was 27 in Greene Co. on 16 Nov (CB). Common Redpolls were first observed at the end of the fall, suggesting a possible irruption year. The first was a single adult female at Jef- ferson City, Cole Co. on 27 Nov (Barb Duncan). In contrast, there were few reports of Pine Siskin, the earliest being 1 at Hannibal, Marion Co. on 16 Oct (Deb Priest). A single extralimital Eurasian Tree Sparrow*, first seen on 28 Nov, visited a feeder in Columbia, Boone Co. (Shane Pruett).

Observers: Kathleen Anderson (KA), Joyce Bathke (JB), Lisa Berger (LB), Charles Burwick (CB), Lanny Cham- bers (LC), Joseph Eades (JE), Dave Easterla (DE), Robert Fisher (RF), Carl Gerhardt (CG), Bill Goodge (BG), Patrick Harrison (PH), Susan Hazelwood (SH), Lawrence Herbert (LH), Jack Hilsabeck (JH), Steve Kinder (SK), Peter Kondrashov (PK), Randy Korotev (RK), Larry Lade (LL), Heather Lambert-Doherty (HL-

Page 64 THE BLUEBIRD D), Kristi Mayo (KM), Gene McDonald (GM), Paul McKenzie (PM), Keith McMullen (KMc), Bonnie & Charles Noble (B&CN), Mark Peters (MP), Ted Rights (Tri), Mark Robbins (MR), Dean Rising (DRi), Tommie Rogers (TR), Bill Rowe (BR), Mike Thelen (MT), Dorothy Thurman (DT), Dorothy & Bob Thurman (D&BT), Josh Uffman (JU).

Abbreviations for commonly mentioned places:

BCA August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area (St. Charles Co.) BLSP - Big Lake State Park (Holt Co.) BF-Bradford Farm, University of Missouri (Boone Co.) CA-Conservation Area CCNWR-Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge (Pike Co.) EBCA-Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area (Boone Co.) LC- Lake Contrary (Buchanan Co.) LCCL-Little Creve Coeur Lake (St. Louis Co.) MSL-Maryville Sewage Lagoons (Nodaway Co.) MWC-Missouri Western College campus, St. Joseph (Buchanan Co.) MZL-Mozingo Lake (Nodaway Co.) OSCA-Otter Slough Conservation Area (Stoddard Co.) PSP-Pershing State Park (Linn Co.) PCA-Poosey Conservation Area (Livingston Co.) REDA-Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area (St. Charles Co.) RBSP-Rock Bridge State Park (Boone Co.) SCNWR-Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge (Holt Co.) SL-Smithville Lake (Clay Co. and Clinton Co.) SLNWR-Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Chariton Co.) STR-Stockton Reservoir, Aldrich area (Polk Co.) SF-State Park

Page 65 THE BLUEBIRD THR-Thomas Hill Reservoir (Randolph Co. and Macon Co.) TGP-Tower Grove Park (St. Louis) WRP-Wetland Reserve Program

CORRIGENDA FOR FALL 2002 SEASONAL RE- PORT

* Delete Western Grebes seen at REDA on 8-12 No- vember * Delete Lesser Yellowlegs from near Lebanon in late November *Delete Black-necked Stilt at OSCA on 22 November * Delete Hudsonian Godwits from REDA on 7 & 22 September * Delete White-rumped Sandpiper from Spencer Road, St. Charles Co. on 13-14 September * Delete Laughing Gull from LC on 7 November * Delete Yellow-billed Cuckoo from Mingo NWR on 23 November * The first state record Magnificent Hummingbird was not accepted by the Missouri Bird Records Commit- tee *Delete Rock Wren from Henning CA on 14 October * The Spotted Towhee reported on 18 August should have been dated 18 October.

Page 66 THE BLUEBIRD 1 2003 MISSOURI CHECKLIST The 2003 edition of the checklist is for sale by the ASM in handy field-card format. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow the AOU Check-list of North American Birds ( 1998) and subsequent supplements (2000, 2002, and 2003). Your Name:

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