AucLubon Society The Western Tanager

VOLUME 29 FEBRUARY 1963 NUMBER 6 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN-1962 LOS ANGELES AUDUflON SOCIETY, INC. PLUMMER PARK 7377 SANTA MONICA BLVD. By HUGH KINGERY LOS ANGELES 46, The downtown parks, Echo and MacArthur Parks, present excellent places to observe water- fowl, and Elysian Park has a surprising variety If finaL totals for the 1962 Christmas Bird of land birds. Twenty observers were counting Census were: 135 species, 27,060 individuals. in and their diligence shows in the This is three fewer species than last year (the large numbers recorded from there. One pheno- same number as I960), bat twice the number of menal total which came out of the Census was the individuals. It is, in fact, the largest number of huge number of birds tallied by observers at home individual birds recorded since 1958. The reason watching their feeders, yards or neighborhood. for this is simply--more observers; we had 107 These watchers counted 38 species, 2167 indivi- participants this year, 45 last year. duals, including three species not found otherwise in the city. Among the more striking observations were: We noted these trends from the Census: 505 Anna's Hummingbirds—180 more than we scarcity of Robins and Thrushes so far this year; have ever recorded (perhaps due to more feeders no Bluebirds (all this despite & bumper crop of plus the mild winter), & Bald Eagle over Echo berries in the chaparral); Herons and Egrets dis- Park, a Swainson's Thrush in Elysian Park, one appearing along with their habitat; Coots and Hooded Oriole and four Western Tanagers attend- 3horebirds, Western Gulls and Savannah Sparrows ing feeders, and a Black-headed Grosbeak in decreasing for the same reason; the Sparrow Hawk, Griffith Park. Red-tailed Hawk and Wren-Tit seem to be declin- A surprising aspect of the Christmas Census ing as the chaparral makes way for housing devel- is its revelation of the large number of birds opments; also decreasing are the Oregon Junco, which can be seen a. short distance from our Fox Sparrow and Audubon's Warbler. homes. We can go out any morning and find a We missed seven species which we had re- good variety of species within five miles. The corded without exception for the previous six count indicated the following as the best places years. These were the Green Herpn, Black- in the city to bird: crowned Night Heron, Semi-palmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Dowitcher, Western Blue- Playa del Rey 58 spec. 2099 indiv. bird and Hutton1 s Vireo. Spotted Doves , Eng - Stone Canyon 43 " 780 " lisn Sparrows and Scrub Jays, however, seem to Franklin Canyon 45 671 be increasing. We had higher counts on many Downtown Area 48 3809 species due to better coverage --gulls (except Griffith Park 48 5166 (Continued on page 55) 47 THE WESTERN TANAGER OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE LOS ANGELES AUDUBON SOCIETY 7377 SANTA MONICA BLVD , LOS ANGELES 46, CALIFORNIA HOUYWOOD 7-9495 FREE TO MEMBERS OTHERS $1.50 ANNUALLY

Mrs. J. Bader Editor Robert E. Blackstone 26022 Eshelman, Lomita Mr, Donald D. Carmony 10363 Calvin Ave., LA 25 Art Editor. .Bob Sandraeyer 10628 1/2 Eastborne, L. A. 24 Audubon Activities. . .Elizabeth Rose Mrs. W. Clements Conservation Frani Little 5255 Glasgow Way, L. A. 45 Field Notes Arnold Small Miss Pauline T. Cole T yping .Helen Sandraeyer 956 Lucile Ave. , L. A. 26 Caroline Adams Miss Helen F. Connors Folding & Mailing ...Marion Wilson 1618 S. Hauser Blvd., L. A. 19 Bill Watson Mis3 De Churchill 218 Spalding Dr. , Beverly Hills Miss Catherine Dicks 1901 Palm Ave. , Manhattan Beach Mr. David S. DuVal 843 N. Sierra Bonita Ave., L. A. 46 Mr. 8t Mrs. Lee Eppler •"•• 1939 Talmadge St., L. A. 27 Mr. Robert W. Gould 3 98 Alma Real Dr. , Pacific Palisades Miss Lillian Haig BY ELIZABETH ROSE 1068 West Blvd. , L. A. 19 Miss Bernice I. Johnson 117 N. Ave. 55, L. A. 42 Mr. Allan H. Kurtzman December, calendar-wise, looked like a quiet 10371 Northvale Rd. , L. A. 64 month for birders, bat future reports will reveal Miss Rebecca McClean that many members were taking advantage of vaca- 5217 Highland View Ave., L. A. 41 tion opportunities for birding in Mexico (a trip list Miss Barbara J. Satten of 247 birds in ten days I), Arizona and the Sacra- 1811 S. Beverly Glen Blvd. , L. A. 2,5 mento Valley. Some members aided other soci- Mr. M. E. Settle eties in their Christmas Census, 2107 Eaatlake Ave. , L. A. 31 Dr. & Mrs. Gerald S. Veregge 3433 West 82nd St. , Inglewood Miss Ruth Volk 152 N. Kenmore Ave., L. A. 4 Mr. Robert H. Waterman 5 825 Harold Way, Apt. 8, 28 Miss Helen M. Woodard 6521 Lindenhurst Ave. , L. A. 48

Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth R. Barr On the home front, Wayne Thomas, who 114 1/2 S. Kenmore Ave. , LA 4 sparks his widely viewed Million Dollar Matinee Miss Barbara Ann Fisher on Channel 9 with interviews of the great and the 1414 Silver Lake Blvd. , LA 26 near great, learned about the Audubon Society*" Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Hubbard an exchange with our President, Arnold Small. 2 071 Balmer Dr. , LA 3 9 He cleverly opened the fifteen minute session wife Mrs. Harold Swanton the destruction of the usual image of the "bird- 17232 Nordhoff St. , Northridge watcher" by presenting non-bespectacled, virile Arnold smoking a cigarette. Arnold then showed various tools of the birder, such as the Field Guide and binoculars. He told of projects such elcome! as bird banding and demonstrated how this Is done> He displayed several feeders and spoke of met»° for attracting birds to the yard. The national scope of the Audubon organization was illustrated througn the Audubon Magazine. A large dien (Continued on page 50) 48 LOS ANGELES AUDUBON SOCIETY

HEADQUARTERS, NATURE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY LOCATEO AT AUDUBON HOUSE, ARNOLD SMALL, President PLUMMER PARK, 7377 SANTA MONICA BLVD., LOS ANGELES'46, HO-7-9495 MRS RUSSELL WILSON, Executive Secretary

Open Mon. , Wed., Thurs., Sat. 2-4 P.M. t963 FEB. 196S 1963 MAR. 1963 Youth groups by appointment 3-5 P.M. S M T W T F 9 S M T W T F S Open before and after each meeting I 2 1 2 3 4 S 6 7 a « 3 4 S & 7 S 9 Telephone: HO 7-9495--Mon. , Wed., Thurs. --10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P. M. 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 PO.l-7635--Tues. , Fri. 17 IE I?2O2I 11 23 17 l« I? 20 21 2Z23 24 25 26 27 28 24 IS 26 27 28 29 30 31

Feb. SATURDAY JUNIOR NATURALISTS 9:45-11:15 A. M. Meet at Griffith .Park Zoo. "Kelkies, Training and Obedience" For further information call John Peebles: HO 7-1661.

Leader: George Ray

Feb. 7 THURSDAY EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING 7:3 0 P.M. Audubon House.

Feb. 9 SATURDAY FIELD TRIP 8:00 A.M. Harbor Park (Bixby Slough). Drive south on Vermont Ave. to Pacific Coast Highway, cross the highway and go about one block, turn left into the parking lot. Ducks, shorebirds, rails, herons, etc. Bring lunch and binoculars.

Leader: Frank Little GL 4-4875

Feb. 12 TUESDAY EVENING MEETING 8:00 P.M. Great Hall, Plummer Park. Dr. Thomas R. Howell of the Department of Zoology of U. C. L. A., who has just returned from seven months of field work in Nicaragua, will show slides and speak on "Animal Life in Nicaragua". Dr. Howell's work was directed primarily toward birds, and his special interest is in the systematic s, distribution and ecology of the birds of this region.

Program Chairman: Russ Wilson PO 1-7635

Feb. 24 SUNDAY FIELD TRIP - 8:00 A.M. Meet at the corner of Reseda Blvd. and Roscoe Blvd. Birding will be at Chatsworth Reservoir in the . Ducks, Geese, possibly Whistling Swans, Mergansers, Lewis1 Woodpeckers. Bring lunch and binoculars.

Leader: Reg Julian CR 4-3685

Feb. 28 THURSDAY MORNING MEETING - 10:00 A..M. Long Hall, Plummer Park. Walt Disney Nature Film will be shown by Norman McGary and Bill Lorencz.

Chairman: Catherine Freeman CL 7-7038

Mar. 2 SATURDAY - FIELD TRIP 8:30 A.M. Headquarters of Audubon Center of South- ern California, 1000 N. Durfee Ave. , El Monte. Take San Bernardino Freeway to Rosemead Blvd. , south on Rosemead to San Gabriel Blvd. , left to N, Durfee, left to Audubon Center. Soup will be served. Bring lunch and binoc ulars.

Host: Paul Howard, Director

CALENDAR CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE-

49 Mar. SATURDAY JUNIOR NATURALISTS 9:45-11:15 A. M. Meet at Plummer Park to tour Audubon House, Headquarters of the Los Angeles Audubon Society. For further information call John Peebles: HO 7-1661.

Leader: Staff of Los Angeles Audubon Society

Mar. 7 THURSDAY EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING 7:30 P.M. Audubon House.

Mar. 9 SATURDAY FIELD TRIP To be announced in March Tanager.

Mar. 12 TUESDAY EVENING MEETING 8:00 P.M. Great Hall, Plummer Park. Pro- gram to be announced in March Tanager.

Audubon Activities

was enlightened on the subject of "birdwatching" through this effort of Mr. Thomas and Arnold. The article beginning on the opposite page, SO YOU DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT BIRDS, is being reprinted by permission, of the author, Dr. Robert C. Miller, from PACIFIC DISCOVERT, The change of date and place for. the January the excellent magazine of the California Academy evening meeting was evidently carefully noted by of Sciences of which Dr. Miller is director. It is a large number of members, who were rewarded the first of a series of monthly articles on birds with a skillfully prepared picture-lecture by Herb to be published in this magazine. We felt that it Clarke and Company, was the best introduction to the study of birds that Prior to the presentation of the program, we had ever seen. Those of our readers who have President Arnold Small conducted a brief business progressed beyond the stage represented by Dr. meeting. Hugh Kingery reported on the Christmas Miller's young friend, can surely see its possibili- Census. One hundred and seven participants re- ties as a means of introducing some of their fiieiw! ported 135 species. The largest number of birds to "birdwatching" were reported by the group covering the downtown We unreservedly recommend PACIFIC DIS- Los Angeles area! The commonest bird accord- COVERY to those of our readers who are not yet ing to the number count was the House Finch. acquainted with it. Associate membership in the Etta L. Ross of the Los Angeles Geographic California Academy of Sciences (which includes Society announced a proposed Alaskan yachting subscription to PACIFIC DISCOVERY) is avail- trip and gave telephone numbers TR 79929 and able at $4. 00 per year. Address the California PO 91128 as sources for further information. Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Dennis M. Power asked for help in obtaining Francisco 18, California. information for a Biology Master's thesis on the subject of the Ringed Turtle Dove and the Chinese Spotted Dove. The selection of the annual nominating com- AUDUBON CENTER FIELD TRIP MARCH H mittee was completed when Mrs. Betty Jenner was Paul M. Howard, Director of the Audubon unanimously chosen from the membership at large. 1 At the conclusion of these reports and an- Center of Southern California, has invited me" nouncements. Program Chairman Russ Wilson bars of the Los Angeles Audubon Society and t ^ friends to attend „ special "Spring" Field Trip presented the Society's own photographer-lec- 1 turer Herb Clarke and his wife, Olga. As Russ Audubon Center on March 2, 1963. The trip *' pointed out, Olga "caddies" for her husband, and begin at the Headquarters building at 8:30 A.^ and conclude about noon. Hot tomato soap *i (Continued on page 56) furnished; each person should bring a sack l°n Consult the calendar page for further details. 50 Pacific Discovery

SO YOU DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT BIRDS!

by Robert C. Miller

[pjEOPLE WHO KNOW that I am a bird watch- She admitted this, and I said, "All right, put Lr er in my spare time, often say to me—usually by down on the paper CHICKEN, DUCK, TUR- WAV of making conversation at social functions—"I KEY, Then go on from there." just love birds, but I don't know a thing about She began to get interested, and wrote down, them." Generally my reply is formally polite, such "OWL, CROW, SEA GULL." as, 'Tm sure you would find much pleasure in the "Keep it up," I told her. "You're doing fine." study of birds if you really got into it," or "Why Presently she came to SPARROW. She said, don't you get book and start identifying the "I know there are a lot of different kinds of spar- birds in your own garden?" rows, but I don't know one from another." As a rule it is useless to say more than this, "Just write down SPARROW," I said. "That's because the people who make the statement I all we need for the present." have quoted have no serious interest or they From there she went on, and presently came would know something about birds. The late Jo- up with the following list: seph Grinnell, famed ornithologist of the Univer- sity of California, once told me that his colleagues CHICKEN around the Faculty Club were constantly express- DUCK ing a desire to know more about birds, until he TURKEY offered to take them on a bird walk around the GOOSE Berkeley campus at 5:00 a.m. He made the offer OWL seriously, but there were no takers, CROW Nevertheless, there are people who say, "I SEA GULL wish I knew more about birds," who mean it, and HAWK who really don't know how to start. To them this EAGLE brief article is addressed. RORIN A few years back a girl about twenty years SPARROW old made the statement to me which I have quoted MEADOWLARK in the first paragraph. She was an intelligent girl, JAY and the circumstances were in my favor. We were HUMMINGBIRD both guests in the home of her aunt. We had noth- PIGEON ing in particular to do at the moment. I was more WOODPECKER than twice as old as she and in a position to bully SWALLOW her, so I decided to do something about this an- cient figment of conversation. Here she bogged down, so—like the master "So you don't know a thing about birds!" I of ceremonies on a quiz program—I gave her a said. "The fact is that you know a great deal little help. about them, and are in a fair way of becoming an "You wouldn't by any chance know a pelican ornithologist." if you saw it?" "Oh, no," she said. "I don't know one bird "Of course," she said. "One couldn't mistake from another.' a pelican, I just didn't happen to think of it." "You do, too," I said. "You have a great deal "Then how about a parrot?" I inquired. of basic ornithological information, and I can "Sometime you must have seen one." prove it. Now take this piece of paper and write "Rut that's not a native bird," she objected. down the names of all the birds you know." "It used to be," I replied. "The Carolina para- "But I don't know any," she said, feeling sud- keet, now extinct, was formerly abundant over denly trapped. much of the eastern United States, and into the "Oh, yes you do,1' I replied, "You know middle west. And the thick-billed parrot of Mex- chicken, a duck, and a turkey." ico is sometimes seen in Arizona.

(Continued on page 52) 51 SO YOU DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT BIRDS.' (Continued from page 51)

"You play golf, 1 believe?," I continued. "Have Falconiformes means built like a falcon, and so you ever seen any large, black, somewhat dumpy- on. Most of the names you will find unfamiliar looking birds hunting for worms on a golf course?" unless you have a better than average knowledge "Oh, yes," she said. "Miidliens." of Latin and Greek, but the idea is the same "Coot," I replied, "is a somewhat more accept- throughout. For example, gallus is the Latin word able name. Though sometimes used as a term of for chicken, and members of the order Galli- derision, Tennyson thought it a poetic word." formes are all built in recognizable degree like chickens. I come from haunts o£ coot and hern, "Passer is the Latin word for sparrow. Passeri- I make a sudden sally, formes, commonly known as perching birds, con- And sparkle out among the fern stitutes the largest and most widespread order. To bicker down a valley. Without knowing it, you have recognized this as the largest order by putting in your list more birds "Since we have for the moment disposed of of the order Passerifcrmes than of any other coots," I said, "how about herns? Have you ever group. seen a heron?" "Perching should not be taken too literally as "Oh, yes," she replied, "I see them often when a definitive characteristic. The term is easily un- I am fishing—or swimming." derstood in contradistinction to diving birds, wad- "Well, then," I said, "Since you fish and swim, ing birds, etc. But it should be noted that a num- maybe you just possibly know a kingfisher when ber of non-passeriform birds do perch. For exam- you see it." ple, falcons perch, owl perch, kingfishers peich. "Why, that's right," she answered. "I not only But taking them by and large, perching is the know a kingfisher when I see it, but even when characteristic which all passeriform birds have in I hear it." common, and they share skeletal characteristics "Now," I said, "you have named twenty-two that adapt them to the perching habit. birds. Can you really tell these birds apart?" "So on to our list. And don't be afraid of sci- "Of course I can," she replied. "I don't know entific names. They won't hurt you, and they all them by the names that you would call them, but mean something, If you familiarize yourself with I certainly know an owl from turkey and this list, using the knowledge ymi already have sea gull from a duck." and adding a little more, you will have a good "Very well," I said. "You have named twenty- knowledge of the major groups of North American two birds which you say you can tell apart, and birds and of their place in the accepted system of can recognize on sight Students of classification classification. have divided the birds of North America into "You will find some surprises, such as that twenty major groups, called orders. The list of swifts and hummingbirds are in the same order. twenty-two birds you have written out includes But this will call your attention to the reasons for representatives of FIFTEEN of those orders. classification, which you will have a long and 1 "This proves two things. One is that—as I told trust happy time finding out. Here is where we you at the beginning—you know a good deal more start" about birds than you think you do. The other is Since the name of the young lady whom I that the system of classification that we use is a thus shanghaied into being an ornithologist was natural system, since even an untrained person Charlotte, we shall refer to her list as "Charlotte's can tell most of the major groups apart. list," and place it—duly rearranged-on the adja- "Now I am going to take your list of twenty- cent page. Then we shall list the scientific names two birds, rearrange it according to the system ol of the orders, next the common names, and then classification, fill in the gaps, and give you a list shall present some thumbnail sketches to try to of the orders of North American birds, three- make these orders "come alive." Classification fourths of which you are at least partly acquainted serves an important purpose, and even the begin- with already. ner will be well advised to learn something about "The names of the orders all end in formes, the major groups. But let us think primarily of which 1 am going co freely translate as btnU like. birds as living organisms, with an extraordinary Thus Pelccaiiiforines means built like a pciicd". variety of interesting habits.

Drawings of birds by Elizabeth L 52 CHARLOTTES LIST ORDERS EXAMPLES

1. Gavijormes Loons

2. PodicivedIformes Grebes

3. PraceiUiriiformes Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels

Pelican 4. Pelecaniform.es Pelicans. Cormorants, etc.

Heron 5. Ciconiifofmes Herons, Bitterns, Ibises, etc.

Duck, Goose 6, AnserifoTmes Swans, Geese, and Ducks

Hawk. Eagle 7. Falcaniformes Vultures, Hawks, and Eagles

Chicken, Turkey 8. Galliformes Quail, Pheasants, Turkeys, etc.

Coot 9. GrtiifoTmes Cranes, Rails, Coots, etc.

Sea Gull 10. ChaTodriiformes Shore Birds (Gulls, Sandpipers, Auks. etc.)

Pigeon 11. Columbiformes Pigeons and Doves

Parrot 12. PsittacifOTmes Parrots

13. Cuculiformes Cuckoos, Roadmnners, etc.

Owl 14. Strigiformes Owls

15. Caprimulgiformes WhippoorwiLls, Nighthawks, etc.

Hummingbird 16. Apodiformes Swifts, Hummingbirds

17. Trogoniformea Trogons

Kingfisher 18. Corociiformes Kingfishers

Woodpecker 19. Piciformes Woodpeckers Crow, Swallow, 20. Passeriformea Perching birds Sparrow, Jay, Meadowlark, [' Robin COMMITTEE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE TULE ELK Help Save This Beautiful Animal From Extinction

5502 MARKiAflO DRIVE LOS ANGELES 22, Cv. Dear Fellow Conservationist, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The Tule Elk teeters at the danger-point of extinction while annual hunts in special exception to the law keep the RODPfEY ELLSWORTH number of the wild, free herd in the Owens Valley between 250 and 300. Ironically, due to conflict of interests in its present Beula Ed mis too range, California's Tule Elk (Dwarf Elk-Cervus nannodes) is Secretary denied the full protection California gave its elk in 1873. Until, G. WALTER DOW this Committee was formed in 1960, few people knew or cared Titmntr about the plight of the Tule Elk, hence the pres3nt situation. The late Aldo Leopold wrote of a threatened mammal, "It ADVISORY BOARD will be a sorry answer to say he went under while conservation- ists weren't looking.11 HORACE M. ALBRIGHT REGARDING THE TULE ELK, CONSERVATIONISTS ARE NOW LOOKINGI ANSEl. ADAMS This Committee now numbers more than 1000 individuals and GERHARD over 50 organizations dedicated to the preservation of the Tule AHTHTTCl BAKU Elk by securing a permanently protected habitat, or NATURE RESERVE, embracing some 240 square miles in the south half of WILLUK H. BVFT the Owens Valley (the chosen range of the major part of the herd) DEVEREUX BUTCHER on lands owned by the City of Los Angeles for the purpose of water rights or on adjacent public lands withdrawn for watershed VICTOR CAHAUNE protection. JEAN DELACOUR This NATURE RESERVE will afford maximum chance of survival for the Tule Elk and other resident wildlife and will afford C. II. GUTEHMUTH a great garden of the wild with wide variety of native plants, in a setting of matchless beauty and great historic and geo- B. RAYMOND HAIO, logical significance. CAKL, HtTBBS Observation, study, and aesthetic enjoyment will not EDMUND C. JAEGER deplete, but rather will promote life, for it will foster HAKHT C. JAMES knowledge, understanding, appreciation, and reverence for it. GEORGE MAHEHALL Will you do two things now to help? ROBERT C. MIL.LEH 1. Join the Committee for the Preservation of the Tule Elk? $2.00 or more for 2 years.-^2!^£>^-'«-- ^r**— ' OlAUS J. MUH1E 2. Write us a letter in behalf this proposal which we may KENNETH STAGER to show widespread support for the NATURE RESERVE? ^

WAtTEIl P. TATLOB Generations yet to come may well be grateful for your JACH C. VON BJJ3EKEB, 3n. Sincerely,

A nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of one of the world's rarest mammals. CHRISTMAS C0UNTD0WN-I9G2 CONTINUED. . .

Western), doves, towhees, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows for example. With so many participants we can't give cre- dit to them all individually in this report. How- ever, we should like to compliment four who have participated in the Census each year since 1946-- may they continue to do so for many more years: Caroline Daugherty, Merritt Dimlap, George *•*• Hastings, and Bess Hoffman. J It's an exciting affair, whether you count one year or fifteen years. We can conclude that even A TRIBUTE TO THE COMMON BIRD though the numbers have diminished considerably and the variety somewhat, our Los Angeles area (with my respects to Mr. Kingery'a still boasts a. very large and varied population of thorough instructions) Mrds.

About the Author... Were you wakened from your slumber By the homely mockingbird? Hugh Kingery came to Los Angeles from his native Colorado a little over a year ago, and has Then count him in the number taken part in many of the Society's activities. A Of the species that you heard. graduate of Cornell University, he is now employed in an administrative capacity at International Busi- Yes, count him in the list you make. ness Machines Corporation. Hugh has been inter- Though the species that you crave is ested, in birds since he was thirteen years old The one that some would even take: (thanks once again to the Boy Scouts). He has par- The lovely rara avis . ticipated in about a dozen Christmas Censuses in Colorado, where large numbers of birds (and ob- servers) are not a problem at that time of the Have you a little time to spare year. Last summer he conducted a Breeding Bird While working on this census? Census in Griffith Park which was published in the Then you can check the urban air, December 1962 issue of Audubon Field Notes. The roof tops and the fences . Hugh deserves our whole-hearted thanks and con- gratulations for the excellent job he has done con- Yes, check the urban neighborhood ducting the 1962 Christmas Census. And other dismal places . List all the birds, some bad, some good. Not Just the rara avis . CHRISTMAS COUNT SUMMARY Were you up, into the mountains Before light, to find the owl? Horned Grebe 3 Eared Grebe 16 Then also check at fountains Western Grebe 231 For the common waterfowl. Pied-billed Greba 5 Brown Pelican 12 Check trees , however hoary Double-crested Cormorant 11 And in need of work by Davey's Brandt's Cormorant 6 Do not leave your territory Pelagic Cormorant 1 Though it lacks the rara aves. Great Blue Heron 8 Canada Goose 3 White-fronted Goose 1 Check bog; check wash; check beach and bay Mallard 2 08 For birds of every station, Pintail 19 And do not let the others say Green-winged Teal 12 You showed discrimination. Shoveller 1 Redhead 1 For if your choice was narrow Ring-necked Duck 20 Canvas-back 2 With none that will amaze us , Lesser Scaap Duck 7 94 Think, His eye is on the sparrow Common Golden-eye 5 Not just the rara avis . Buffle-head Z Old-squaw 1 Christopher Adams (Continued on page 57) 55 AUDUBON ACTIVITIES CONTINUED

this evening she was operating the projector. After lunch the party headed for the rizo, The springtime trip, now titled by Herb approaching it this time from the southern end, "Holiday in Mexico", is the same one reported On the way down the mountain a Lewis' Wood- in d different vein in the September TANAGER by pecker and a Clarke's Nutcracker were seen by Jim Clements under the heading "Fiasco in Pen- some of the group. The Carrizo Plain was, as asco" The humor in many of the situations re- usual, the winter home of thousands of Horned mained unchanged but the beauty of the colored Larks, among which rarities such as the Lapland slides added an incomparable dimension. San Longspur were sought in vain. It was while look- Jorge Island, where one literally walks among ing at one of these flocks that a Short-eared Owl the birds, was pictured. There were close-ups was sighted; no less than twelve more of these of Boobies, showing the distinguishing white head were shortly flushed from the fields adjacent to of the males, and comical young Boobies as the highway. Two Ferruginous Hawks were seen large as the parents. The photographs were well by most of the group; somewhat less satis- arranged in a sequence which began in Arizona's factory views were had of the two Prairie Falcons Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, proceed- seen. ed across the border into Mexico and back past Quitobaquito, Madera Canyon, Tucson, Yuraa, the California State Line and finally ended at Glendale's city limits. In addition to bird pict- ures, there were excellent shots of cactus, shells and starfish, lush green areas, and the Yuma Territorial Prison. The program reflect- It was nearly dark when the caravan arrived ed the many hours of preparation, editing and at the north end of Soda Lake to wait for the Sand- rehearsing required of the Clarkes, An added hill Cranes. However, only a distant view of some attraction was a picture taken in Malibu of what twenty-five of them, silhouetted against the Herb originally took to be - Whimbrel but which sky, was had as they came in to roost. is now believed to have been a Bristle-thighed Curlew! Such are the rewards of photographic collecting. OXY STUDENT SEEKS INFORMATION ON DOVES

Mr. Dennis M. Power, a graduate student at Occidental College, is beginning research on tiie biology of two species of oriental doves which have been introduced in the Los Angeles area, the , .,'; Ji."iHHi - • ri,.J. V,. •„' ••••.Kill- .. - (Chinese) Spotted Dove and the Ringed Tar tie Dove. Mr. Power writes: . . . "My studies will involve Forty-six members and friends of the Los the present and historical distribution and density Angeles Audubon Societ/ braved below freezing of these two doves, their habitat, the amount and cold to assemble in Maricopa at 8:00 A.M. on nature of competition with other members of the January 12 for the Saturday Field Trip. These family Columbidae (for roosting and nesting sites, hardy souls, led by Arnold Small, headed out food, etc. ), and their behavior in the wild. . ..1 in a caravan of eighteen cars to seek the Le- am therefore trying to contact as many people as conte's Thrasher at a point a few miles south- possible who have watched these doves in the wild west of Maricopa where it has been seen many and may have kept accurate field notes {or mental times before. The bird was seen perched on a impressions) of their observations. If you have barbed wire fence near the highway. Then the made such observations, or know of anyone who party tramped into the field and Larry Sansone has, it would be of great value for me to talk ot herded the bird up the arroyo toward the waiting correspond with you. " group so that nearly everyone had a. good look at it as it approached and flew directly over them. Mr. Power anticipates that his finding will be the basla of a Master's thesis and will be publish After this auspicious beginning, the caravan in an ornithological journal. What informationhe drove to the summit of Ml. Abel {8312 feat!). receives and uses will be credited to the contri- Here it was bitterly cold and few birds were to butor. He may be contacted at the MOORE LABOH" be seen. In spite of this, however, nearly every- A TORY OF ZOOLOGY, OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE, one enjoyed it because of the scenery and the good LOS ANGELES 41. company as they birded and had lunch. 56 (Continued from page 55) CONSERVATION NEWS White-winged Scoter 45 from FRANK LITTLE Surf Scoter 977 Common Scoter 7 Although conservation is not currently mak- Ruddy Duck 44 ing the news nationally, it certainly is locally. Hooded Merganser 1 The national picture is quiet not due to any lack Red-breasted Merganser 9 of issues {wilderness protection, pesticide con- Turkey Vulture 1 trol, protection of Rainbow Natural Bridge to Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 name just a few), bat because the new Congress Cooper's Hawk 6 has not yet really got down to business. On the Red-tailed Hawk 12 local scene there are three major hot-spots. Red-shouldered Hawk 1 One, the plan to develop a portion of Buena Bald Eagle 1 Vista Lagoon, seems to be even closer to real- Sparrow Hawk 33 ity. Not only did Oceanside rezone some land California Quail 383 in favor of the development (as reported here Sora 1 last month), but at a preliminary hearing, the , American Coot 444 City Council of Carlsbad seems to have indica- Snowy Plover 70 ted that it will follow suit. The Nature Conser- Killdeer 256 vancy has been doggedly fighting this plan at Black-bellied Plover 473 every turn, and there is still » remote chance Surf Bird 30 that even at this late hour the plan may yet be Black Turnstone 42 defeated. Win or lose, all of us interested in Common Snipe 2 conservation owe a large thanks to the Conser- Long-billed Curlew 2 vancy and particularly to John Tyler who has, Whimbrel 12 at the expense of considerable personal incon- Spotted Sandpiper 3 venience, donated a tremendous amount of time Willet 587 and effort in this matter. • Least Sandpiper 90 Another sore point, one which has been . Dunlin 30 nagging, us for years, is the Big Tujung'a Wash. . Western Sandpiper 188 The gravel interests would like to make the . Marbled Godwit 169 area a quarry; the conservationists, under the Sanderling 210 joint leadership of the San Fernando Valley , American Avocet 2 Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy Glaucous-winged Gull 57 would like to preserve the area as n. natural Western Gull 71 park. The City of Los Angeles originally zoned Herring Gull 66 the Wash against the gravel interests only to have the ruling reversed by a district court. Caligornia Gull 783 This reversal was then reversed, however, by Ring-billed Gull 1629 Mew Gull the State Supreme Court, and this action was: 4 just recently upheld by the National Supreme Bonaparte's Gull 269 Court, Thus the area is now zoned against the Heermann's Gull 1 148 gravel quarry. However, the erstwhile belli- Forster s Tern 54 gerent gravel interests, realizing that force '- Caspian Tern 1 would get them nowhere, have recently become >' Band-tailed Pigeon 2 ; all sweetness and honey: they will, at their Mourning Dove 660 own expense, provide a'public park on the ex- • Spotted Dove 259 hausted portion of the quarry in return for a - Ringed Turtle Dove 68 zoning change in their favor. The conserva- i- Roadrunner 4 tionists immediately saw through the smoke & Screech Owl 1 screen, and so the melee rages anew. We of C Horned Owl 10 the Los Angeles Audubon Society once more •;, Burrowing Owl I sent a resolution to the City Council protest- t White-throated Swift 99 ing any change of zoning in favor of the quarry. ;3 Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 Things are never quiet for long ! ; Anna's Hummingbird 505 . Belted Kingfisher 4 The third trouble arises over a proposed :: Red-shafted Flicker 82 plan to fill in the Playa Del Rey Lagoon to create a park. This lagoon, although nowhere Acorn Woodpecker 1 near as large as most of OUT other lagoons, is , H-airy Woodpecker 2 ;; nevertheless a valuable resting spot of migra- Downy Woodpecker 19 ting water birds. While we, of course, favor ^Nuttall's Woodpecker 7 parks in general, we feel that the public would >: Black Phoebe 64 : best be served by leaving the lagoon in a natural ^Say's Phoebe 11 state. Consequently, we sent protests to the .,: Horned Lark 15 Recreation and Park Commission, Mayor Yorty, ]=;Scrub Jay 863 and Councilman Rundberg. Most of the property [(.Common Raven 3 holders in the area did likewise. (Continued on page 58) •**••••*••••••••*•••••*••••••* birds also seemed to reflect this condition. The numbers of Robins and Cedar Waxwings reported on the various Christmas censuses was but a frac- tion of their usual numbers. Hermit Thrushe3, and even Audubon's Warblers were scarce as well. White-crowned and Golden-crowned Spar- rows could not be called abundant in some areas where formerly they were. A few species of special interest were found, however, to add some interest to the season. BY ARNOLD SMALL By far the most interesting report was the BIRDS CATTLE EGRET reputed to have been seen in Southern California is experiencing one of Orange County in late December. It was seen by its driest winters on record. Between July 1 and only one person, bat his description was accurate, Dec. 31 only 0.12 inches of precipitation had been and he had seen the species in Texas. Certainly, recorded in Los Angeles. There was some light this must be the first observation from the west, snow in the higher mountain reaches but the deptn and it will behoove all of us to watch the small was very shallow. In. the high Tehachapis, only wliite herons very carefully now. Another special small patches of snow were evident. By early bird--the RUFF was found on the same day near January, winter had arrived in name only, but Huntington Beach, in the Santa Ana River flood a severe cold snap in mid-January brought frost control channel. This is the fifth record of to the Loe Angeles basin and well-below freezing this species 'or California--and all came within weather to the outlying areas. a calendar year'. Another good bird, the RUSTY Winter birding reflected the mild season. BLACKBIRD was located by McCaskie and others Along the coast, and out at sea, there were not in that same area while they were searching in the usual winter species expected almost each vain for the Ruff. A few Red Crossbills were year. Very few alcids were noted--only 3 Anc- found by Dave Pearson on the summit of Mt. Pinos ient Murrelets off Huntington Beach Dec. 27, in late December while he was scanning for Con- for example. Similarly, no Fulmars or Black- dors from there (he found them also) . Olga Clarke legged Kittiwakes were there. Last year we re- reported a HARRIS SPARROW at her feeder in corded dozens of the former and hundreds of the Glendale early in January, but it remained only latter. Loons and grebes were down, and sea for owe day. On the Los Angeles Cn-ristmas Cen- ducks were generally scarce. sus, the best birds were the BALD EAGLE over Elysian Park and the HOODED MERGANSER at Waterfowl, away from the Imperial Valley, Stone Canyon reservoir. Let as see if the cold also were scarce. The number of ducks at Up- wave of mid-January doesn't start some birds per Newport Bay was about 50% of the usual moving south. 25,000 expected there during this season. Land- Cowbird ze CHRISTMAS COUNT SUMMARiYl Western Tanager 4 CONTINUED Black-headed Grosbeak 1 4 Common Crow 3 Purple Finch 4342 Mountain Chickadee 3 House Finch 75 American Goldfinch 252 Plain Titmouse 1 Common Bush-Tit 575 Lesser Goldfinch 8 ) Wren-Tit 2S9 Lawrence's Goldfinch 1 House Wren 8 Rufous -sided;Towhee 105 Bewick's Wren 19 Brown Towhee 738 Canyon Wren 3 Savannah Sparrow 32 Rock Wren 6 Lark Sparrow 52 Mockingbird 576 Rufous-crowned Sparrow 1 California Thrasher 91 Slate-colored Junco 1 American Robin 1 36 Oregon Junco 111 Varied Thrush 1 Chippiiig Sparrow 58 Hermit Thrush b White-crowned Sparrow 1102 Swainson's Thrush 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow 193 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 17 Fox Sparrow 45 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7 Lincoln's Sparrow •i Water Pipit 238 Song Sparrow 183 Cedar Waxwing 24 Loggerhead Shrike 43 Unidentified Ducks 3 Starling 16 Hawks 2 1 Orange-crowned Warbler Yellowlegs 3 Audubon's Warbler 1 806 Cormorants 2fc3 House Sparrow 2092 Gulls Owls I Western Meadowlark 148 Red-winged Blackbird 1 45 1 Hooded Oriole Total Species . . . .135 Individuals. . .27,060 Brewer's Blackbird 178-> i>8 /_