The Bluebird March 1999 Vol

The Bluebird March 1999 Vol. 66, No. 1

The Audubon Society of Missouri Founded 1901 The Audubon Society of Missouri

Officers* Directors•

Mike Beck,President (2000) Dave Bedan(2000) 1001 s. 19th Columbia (573) 445-9834 Blue Springs, MO 64015 (816)229-6811 Dennis Wheeler, (2000) [email protected] Jackson (573)243-3167

Susan Hazelwood, VP (2000) Steve Kinder (2000) 3005 Chapel Hill Road Chillicothe (660) 646-6516 Columbia, MO 65203 (573)445-4925 David Easterla (1999) [email protected] Maryville (660) 582-8468

Jean Graebner, Treasurer (1998) Hill Reeves (1999) 1800 S. Roby Farm Rd Farmington (573) 756-4160 Rocheport. MO 65279 (573) 698-2855 Hill Clark (2000) Columbia (573) 474-4510 Susan Dornfeld, Secretary. (1998) 700 S. Weller Paul Bauer (2000) Springfield, MO 65208 Florissant (314) 921-3972 (417) 831-9702 Larry Herbert (2000) Edge & Jerry Wade, Hotline (1998) Joplin (417) 624-3065 1221 Bradshaw Ave. Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 445-6697 [email protected] Honorary Directors Bill Clark, Historian 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. Richard A. Anderson, St. Louis** Columbia, MO 65202 Sydney Wade, Jefferson City (573)474-4510 John Wylie, Jefferson City Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia** Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph** Leo Galloway, St. Joseph Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth • Year Term Expires Rebecca Matthews, Springfield **Deceased Dave Witten, Columbia The Bluebird Quarterly Magazine o[the Audubon Society ofMissouri Editors: Seasonal Survey Editors: Bill & Kay Palmer Fall '98: Chris Hobbs 15100 S. Clinkenbeard Rd. 13121 Swartz Road Ashland, Mo 65010 Bonner Springs, KS 66102 (573)657-1076 (913)441-2473 palmer [email protected] Winter: Brad .Jacobs Christmas BirdCount Editor: P.O. Box 180 David A. Easterla Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 Dept. Of Bioi. NWMSU (573) 751-4115 Maryville, MO 64468-6001 jacobb@ mai !.Conservation .state.mo. us Office (660) 562-18 133 Home (660) 582-8468 Spring: Randy Korotev 01.001 [email protected] 800 Oakbrook Lane St. Louis, MO 63132 MO Bird Records Committee: (314) 993-0055 Paul M. McKenzie-Chair rlk@ levee. wustl.edu U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 608 E. Cherry Street Summer: Jim D. Wilson Columbia, MO 65201 P.O. Box 180 Office (573) 876-191 1 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 Home (573) 445-3019 . (573)751-4115 [email protected] Conservation Editor: Bill Rowe-Secretary Dave Bedan 9033 Big Bend Road 2001 Chapel Wood Road St. Louis, MO 631 19 Columbia, MO 65203 (314) 962-0544 (573) 445-9834 [email protected] [email protected]

Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird

Manuscripts for The Bluebird--to the editors by: Feb. I for March Issue; May I for June issue Aug. I for Sept Issue; Nov. I for Dec. issue

Seasonal Surveys: Winter-to Brad Jacobs by March 10 Spring-to Randy Korotev by June 10 Summer-to Jim D. Wilson by Aug. 10 Fall-to Chris Hobbs by Dec. 10 Photographs in this issue by Bill Palmer

I of

March 1999 THE BLUEBIRD Volume 66, No. 1

ARTICLES

5 Unfrecedented Numbers of Sedge Wrens in Late Fa! and Early Winter, Mark Robbins

7 Touring Northeastern Minnesota, Lester Pannell

20 But Everyone Has to Eat Something! Paul Bauer

21 Winter Memories from a Northwest Missouri Birder, Kirby Goslee

24 Marsh and Water Bird Nesting at Squaw Creek Wildlife Refuge 1992-1997, Jack Hilsabeck and Ronald Bell

Center Insert-Spring Meeting

DEPARTMENTS

3 President's Corner 33 MBRC Eleventh Annual Report

10 Conservation Report 45 Announcements

2 PRESIDENT'S CORNER Mike Beck

tion and preservation of birds. They emphasized the intent of this society to be: to disseminate to the citizens of Missouri information about birds, especially the children, in order to create a sentiment that would ensure the protection and preservation of song and insectivorous birds. ost of us study birds How far have we come since fort he enjoyment that 1901 in carrying out these we getM from the avocation. Few ideals? As members of this of us would consider our pas- society do we still hold the ideals ttme to be study. We usually . of our founders to be our goals? don 'tconsider it to be a scientific Do we move into the twenty- endeavor. Somehow we got firSt century in support of our hooked. Anyone who has got- founders? ten hooked on bird watching We have opportunities as quickly becomes aware of citizen scientists, bird watchers, mankind's roll in the protection and nature lovers to create a sen- and preservation of birds and the timent that will ensure the environment. protection and preservation of In 190 I our founders set birds. Get People Hooked on forth the following ideals. The Birds! Then they will see the purpose of this society shall be value of protection and preser- to promote among the citizens of vation of birds, habitat, and the Missouri a study ofornithology, environment. Are you willing to to educate citizens ofMissouri to put fifty cents or a dollar in your a proper appreciation of the piggy bank every time you go value of song and insectivorous birding to support a scholarship birds; and to secure the protec- 3 program, the state Audubon of- birding in our vehicles. Our goal fice, children's education pro- is to have it ready for sale at the grams, and other worthy en- spring meeting. vironmental organizations? It is A committee was formed by my goal to respond to the call of the ASM Board to evaluate the our founders. Guess what? We feasibility of supporting college can have fun doing it!! We can students with funding to attend have great spring and fall meet- the spring and fall meetings. ings. We can see birds, socialize, This, I hope, will be our first step and stand tall in support of the in developing a scholarship pro- ideals of our founders. gram to support environmental education in Missouri. Our goal What is Happening in ASM? is to use our resources wisely to The revised Missouri Bird reach as many Missourians as Checklist has gone to the printer. possible. It should be available when you read this or very shortly there We plan to have the revised after. If you see a member of the bird finding guide ready for sale Missouri Bird Record Commit- at our centennial celebration in tee tell him thanks for all of his the spring of2001. Please revisit hard work on this revision and on any sites that you provided for the committee. the book and make sure informa- The MOBIRDS list serve has tion is current. You can also pro- been running hot and heavy with vide input on sites that should be news about rare birds in Mis- added or deleted. Please send souri, impromptu field trips to any corrections or revisions to areas of the state, and other bird- Kay Palmer by November of this ing news. This and the ASM year. If you would like to volun- Web Page are great ways to in- teer to help in some other troduce Missourians to the world capacity, contact Edge Wade or of birding. Kay Palmer.

What's in the Works? Please feel free to contact me There is a reusable decal with any comments or questions being designed to alert the public concerning ASM. to our activities when we are out

4 Unprecedented Numbers of Sedge Wrens in Late Fall and Early Winter Mark B. Robbins

edge Wrens (Cis- on 17 Decembe~ and repeated Slothorus platensis) are my previous survey route which found casually, about 15 resulted in a total of 29 wrens. records, after the end of October Although the. number recorded in Missouri, with only a single at Prairie State Park on those two observation from November dates was nearly identical, I through the winter involving believe there was a significant more than one individual (Rob- difference in the number of in- bins and Easterla, 1992, Birds of dividuals involved. On the 17th Missouri. Their distribution and I surveyed an area at the north- abundance). The single excep- eastern part of this area that was tion involved two individuals on not checked on the 4th, where I 15 January 1995 (Missouri Bird ·recorded three birds. Records Committee, 1996, 8th Furthermore, I failed to Annual Report, Bluebird 63:38- record any birds at four sites on 48). the 17th where I recorded nine While at Prairie State Park, individuals on the 4th. Because Barton County on 4 December all individuals on both dates 1998, I heard two Sedge Wrens were acting territorial (they im- giving call notes at dawn. I mediate! y responded to the tape pulled out a prerecorded tape of by approaching and responding the song and call notes of this with call notes), I believe a min- species and began systematical- imum of 43 individuals were ly surveying the park and abut- recorded at Prairie State Park ting prames. Using the from 4 to 17 December. On the prerecorded tape to entice birds 17th, I found an additional two to respond, between dawn and wrens at Osage Prairie, Vernon noon I located a mind-boggling County, and one in a field west 31 wrens! I returned to this area of the northern unit of Horton-

5 Four Rivers CA, Bates County. This cold period was followed Thus, a total of 33 Sedge Wrens by three days of above average were recorded on 17 December. tern peratures before another On 8 December, Chris Hobbs front brought about a week of and Eric Preston located four below normal tern peratures to Sedge Wrens in the same field the region. near Four Rivers CA where 1 had This inconspicuous species found one the previous day. is easily overlooked when not I repeated my survey for singing. Given that this wren wrens at Prairie State Park and responds relatively strongly to the adjacent prairies on 18 prerecorded tapes of its call January 1999, which resulted in notes during the nonbreeding locating only a single wren. Sur- season, I recommend that ob- veys on 4 and 17 December were servers use this tool to help made under warm conditions elucidate the status of it at this with almost no wind. Although time of the year. there was a stronger wind, 10-15 mph, on 18 January I do not believe it had a negative in- fluence on birds responding. The single bird that was found on the latter date responded imme- diately to the tape recording. The unprecedented number of wrens present in the late fall and early winter of 1998 un- doubtedly was the result of the warmest fall and early winter on record for this region of the country. I suspect that most of the Sedge Wrens left the above area on the nights of 19 or 20 December when a major front from the northwest caused temperatures to plummet to well below normal for about a week.

6 Touring Northeastern Minnesota Lester Pannell

he second Show Me temperature was 8 degrees in an TTours of Northern Min- area where temperatures often nesota was recently con- dip to -30 degrees. A foot of ducted.The tour group this year snow covered the entire area. consisted of six participants; That same day, six Barbara Sapp of Columbia, Bob Bohemian Waxwings were seen Ball of Springfield, Jack Revare but flew after being seen by only of Shawnee Mission, and Lester three of us. They could not be Pannell of Lebanon. Our leaders relocated. were Edge Wade and Paul Mc- That ·afternoon we drove to Kenzie of Columbia. the Superior, WI landfill where We met at the Kansas City more than 1000 gulls were seen. International Airport, drove all Species seen included Thayer's, night, and arrived in Duluth ·Herring, Glaucous, and Great shortly before daylight. In an en- Black-backed. Three Bald vironment in which European Eagles and several American Starlings and House Sparrows Crows and Northern Ravens were sparse, we looked for birds were also seen. not usually found in other parts An attempt to find Northern of the United States. Three-toed Woodpeckers was One of the more elusive unsuccessful. The day ended species we sought was the when we found 20 Bohemian Snowy Owl. Hours of searching Waxwings in the town of Two the Duluth area produced a very Harbors. distant owl on Lake Superior. In The following day we drove the meantime we found one north into a thinly populated Peregrine Falcon, also on Lake area of mixed spruce, pine, Superior. birch, and aspen forest. Once This first day the high again we searched for the

7 elusive Northern Three-toed few miles from its source, frozen Woodpecker and Spruce over as were most streams. We Grouse, but without success. The worked very hard searching for best discoveries in this area were a Northern Hawk Owl, but Gray Jays, Pine Grosbeaks, Eve- without success. We met anum- ning Grosbeaks, Black-capped ber of other birders, but none had Chickadees, and Pine Siskins. found this owl either. We soon The most often seen birds located three Boreal Chickadees seen on the trip were Black- in a large flock of Black-capped capped Chickadees and Red- Chickadees. breasted Nuthatches. Only one Ruffed Grouse were seen White-breasted Nuthatch was eating berries in tree tops, but we seen. Two very black moose were also unsuccessful in locat- were seen along the road. ing Sharp-tailed Grouse, even The third day we drove though we searched a prime southwest to Aiken County. Our location-a rice and cranberry main area of searching were the farm. Tammarac Bogs of Sax and Zim. A Rough-legged Hawk was We saw the Mississippi River a located and several more sightings of Ruffed Grouse were made. A tall tree yielded a Northern Shrike. Thousands of ducks were seen at the Minneapolis sewage ponds. Species seen included Ring-necked, Mallard, Ameri- can Black Duck, Gadwall, Com- mon Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Hooded Mergansers. A few Canada Geese and American Coots were also observed. Our trip home gave us more sightings in Iowa. Snow Bunt- ings, always found in large flocks in open farm country, were seen on five occasions. We

8 estimated as many as 500 birds. -Life list totals were: Barbara A flock of 30 White-winged 15, nine for me, eight for Bob, Crossbills were seen near the and Jack, who has an impressive road. When they were flushed by 600 life bird list, was able to add a passing pickup, they circled three. Our leaders even added and landed in a tree only a few White-winged Crossbills and feet from us where all got great Bohemian Waxwings to their looks. A flock of Ringed-necked lists. Our total trip numbers con- Pheasants were seen near Ran- tained 55 species. dall, Iowa. After leaving the Kansas Two Black-billed Magpies City airport, Bob Ball and I con- were seen on a dairy farm. A tinued to add numbers to our trip spotting scope was quickly set up list and concluded with five for a better look. This resulted in Common Mergansers seen at an interesting view of a Magpie Truman Lake south of Clinton. sitting on top of a Holstein cow.

Rough-legged Hawk

9 CONSERVATION REPORt Dave Bedan

of Missouri's forests were clear cut and then farmed or over- grazed resulting in widespread soil erosion and wildlife habitat destruction. The resulting devas- tation led to the creation of Missouri's national forests as a partial attempt to heal the land. But then the practices of the Forest Service itself became questionable and various issues Dave Bedan is the new Con- regarding Missouri's national servation Editor. Dave has been forests have been on the environ- an active Audubon member for mental agenda for nearly 30 years. He and his wife, Nancy, years. Recently the Sierra Club are very active with the River raised questions about forestry Bluffs Audubon group. They practices on Missouri Depart- recently moved to Columbia and ment of Conservation lands. now participate in both the Columbia and Jefferson City But eighty-five percent of chapters. Dave has been ap- Missouri's forest lands are pointed by Governor Carnahan privately owned and that is to serve on an advisory committe where the health of Missouri's on chip mills. forests will largely be determined. In the past two years a High Capacity Chip Mills: a major new threat has appeared. New Environmental Chal- Missouri is now home to two lenge for Missouri high capacity chip mills: the For many years Missouri Canal Industries mill at Scott citizens have wrestled with dif- City and the Willamette In- ficult forestry issues. In the late dustries mill at Mill Spring. nineteenth century and early These highly mechanized mills twentieth centuries virtually all employ a handful of people and 10 chip logs for export out-of-state regarding high-capacity chip or even overseas for processing mills and to report to the Gover- into paper and other products nor by December.!, 1999. The with very little economic benefit executive order also placed to Missouri. They also en- restrictions on any permits is- courage rapid, highly mech- sued to chip mills during the anized forms of timber harvest; study period. frequent clear cutting with little The Committee is to make regard for sustainable forestry; interim recommendations to the soil erosion; a loss of water Governor by January I, 1999 quality and wildlife habitat. and issue a final report by Many people feel that these two December I, 1999. The Com- mills are but the first of a coming mittee will be composed of at chip mill invasion of Missouri. least 14 members: the directors This has already happened (or the directors' designees) throughout the southeastern from the Departments of Natural states where nearly 150 chip Resources, Conservation, Econ- mills are now operating. Ap- omic development, Agriculture, proximately 1.2 million acres of two state representatives, two forests are clear cut each year to state senators, two forest feed these mills. Each mill in products industry repre- Missouri could result in the clear sentatives, two representatives cutting of I 0-20,000 acres per of citizen environmental conser- year. In addition, out-of-state vation groups, a forest land- chip mills are also buying logs in owner, a representative of an Missouri. organization representing private property owners, and any In response to citizens con- other members which the Gover- cerns about the startup of these nor may, from time to time, ap- two high-capacity chip mills point. Until the committee Missouri Governor Carnahan is- makes its recommendations to sued an executive order on Sep- the Governor, all state agencies tember 18, 1998. This order "... shall refrain from providing established an Advisory Com- new economic incentives to mittee on Chip Mills which is to develop or expand chip mills in develop recommendations the State of Missouri."

II greater than one year from · Until the Committee com- the date of permit issuance. pletes its study the order also directs DNR to: On November 6, 1998 Gov. condition future permits to Mel Carnahan announced the ap- require logger training of pointment of the citizen mem- all contractor and bers of the new Advisory employees of chip mills in Committee on Chip Mills: the use of sustainable log- Deirdre K. Hirner, of Colum- ging practices and Best bia is the Executive Director of Management Practices the Conservation Federation of designed to protect water Missouri. quality; David E. Bedan, of Columbia include a requirement in fu- is a member of the Missouri ture permits for chip mills Audubon Council, the Ozark to provide the location of Chapter of the Sierra Club, the supplies and harvest areas Missouri Coalition for the En- of forest resources to be vironment, and is the newly ap- processed. This would give pointed Conservation Editor professional forest resource for ASM. managers the opportunity David A. Day of Dixon is a to offer assistance in member of the Farm Bureau developing sustainable State Board of Directors repre- forestry plans and Best senting District Eight. He is Management Practices to also an Advisory Member of protect water quality; the Farm Bureau Forestry Com- include in future permits modity Committee and a mem- "Re-Open Clauses" that ber of the Hazardous Waste would allow reopening per- Management Commission for mits in order to address the State of Missouri. documented adverse im- Jon D. Smith of Mountain pacts from industry opera- View is the President of Smith tions; and Flooring, Inc. He is the limit the duration of per- Secretary(freasurer of the Mis- mits related to the opera- souri Forest Products Associa- tion of chip mills to no tion.

12 Mark S. Garnett of West Department of Economic Plainsis the Vice Presi- Development. dent/General Manager of Gar- Sara Tyree of Jefferson City nett Wood Products Co., Inc. is the Staff Assistant Planner and the President of Garnett for the Missouri Department of Company, LLC. Agriculture. Emily R. Firebaugh of Far- mington owns and operates The Advisory Committee Ferguson Timber Company. met in December, January and She also serves on the Univer- February and heard presenta- sity of Missouri's School of tions from various points of view Natural Resources Advisory on the chip mill issue. At the Board. January meeting the committee heard a presentation from Rick The following legislators Cantrell of the American Forests and agency representatives have and Paper Association. At the also been appointed to serve on February meeting the committee the committee: heard presentations from Hank Rep. Jerry McBride of Edgar Dorst of Mark Twain Forest Springs. Watchers and Scott Banbury of Rep. Bill Foster of Poplar the Dogwood Alliance and the Bluff. Memphis Audubon Society. Sen. Wayne Goode of St. Louis. The committee meets on the Sen. Doyle Childers of Reeds first Monday of each month and Springs. plans to have a draft report by Marvin Brown of Jefferson August I, 1999. The committee City is the State Forester for also plans to take a field trip to the Missouri Department of view various timber harvesting Conservation. practices, probably in June. The Steve Mahfood of Jefferson public is welcome to attend all City is the Director of the Mis- meetings. Contact Llona Weiss souri Department of Natural of DNR at (573) 751-4732 or Resources. [email protected] for Joe Driskill of Jefferson City information on meeting agen- is the Director of the Missouri das, time, and place: 13 Monitoring and improvement of Another major activity on cutting operations can only the chip mill issue was the occur if the source areas are DNR 's issuance in July of 1998 known. Willamette is strongly of a draft site-specific permit for protesting this condition. How- the Willamette mill at Mill ever, many citizens spoke at the Springs. DNR held a public Rolla hearing to support the meeting on January 12, 1999, at DNR 's permit conditions. the University of Missouri-Rolla to consider additional public This issue of improving input regarding a site-specific forestry practices on private land National Pollutant Discharge will also be the main challenge Elimination System (NPDES) of the advisory committee. This permit for the Willamette issue is dramatized by the fact facility. This facility produces that logs are already leaving wood chips and currently Missouri and are being sent to operates in Mill Spring, Wayne chip mills in other states. Some County, Missouri. Willamette, a combination of education, in- multinational corporation based centives, and regulations will be in Oregon, was allowed to necessary to improve timber har- operate under a general permit vesting by private landowners. when it opened its mill, the first in the state, in 1997. That permit A conference on sustainable expired and was not renewed, forestry on private land to be but the mill is continuing to held at the University of Mis- operate until a new permit is is- souri-Columbia on March 4-5 sued. will consider many of these is- As directed by the sues. Copies of the proceedings Governor's executive order, can be obtained by contacting DNR 's new draft permit imposes Dr. Susan Flader, Department of some precedent-setting condi- History, 102 Read Hall, Univer- tions which link the mill to its sity of Missouri, Columbia MO sourcing areas in the forest. The 65211, (573) 882-8264 or most important condition re- [email protected] or quires the mill operators to Dr. Jan Weaver, Director, En- reveal the sources of their logs. vironmental Studies Initiative,

14 220 Gentry, University of Mis- public land along the shores of souri, Columbia MO 65211, the otherwise heavily developed [email protected] lake. In 1946 the property was or (573) 882-7116. given to the state.

Further information on the The park is noteworthy for wood chip mill issue can be much more than its size. The found on the Missouri Chip Mill park, a remnant of the Osage Page which is pan of the Mis- River terrain, has extensive souri Audubon Council's Web areas of forests, glades, caves, site. The Internet address is and wildlife. Missouri's first hllp://www.audubon.<>rg/chaplcr/mo state wild area, Patterson Hoi- . /mo. low, is located here. There are ample recreational facilities: Lake of the ()zarks State trails, campgrounds, group Park Threatened by Airport camps, boat launch facilities, Expansion and a swimming beach. Roger Pryor, Senior Policy Director, Missouri Coalition In the late 1960s, in order to for the Environment accommodate a major conference and later regional (This is an important issue for economic development, a small ASM members since Lake of air strip was constructed near the the Ozarks State Park is the very center of the park. Named traditional site of the ASM fall for former parks director, Lee C. meeting. ed.) Fine, the air strip has been ex- Missouri's largest state park, panded over the years under Lake of the Ozarks State Park, is pressure from local commercial now threatened by expansion of resorts (Tan-Tar-a, Lodge of the an existing air strip. The 17,210- Four Seasons, et al). The air strip acre park wraps itself around the has never been very useful to Grand G laize Arm of Lake of the park visitors; instead it creates a Ozarks. Originally, this property noisy and intrusive eyesore. Yet, was purchased by the federal the air strip is actually main- government as a recreation tained in part from the parks and demonstration area, the only soils sales tax revenues.

15 The Missouri Department of term convenience,local officials Natural Resources has tried to would create long-term havoc resolve this conflict by propos- for the park. ing that a new airport be This is an important issue developed for private and com- that transcends this one park be- mercial use outside the park. cause it could set a precedent for Former DNR director, David use of other state park lands for Shorr, had reclassified the air commercial purposes. strip downward for general avia- tion with a proposed 17-yearexit ( 14 years from now) to allow the surrounding area time to develop a regional airport. Now the local communities and business inter- ests want to cancel that proposed phase-out and improve the air strip to allow larger commercial planes and jets to land there. The town of Osage Beach is seeking a 20-year lease from the state to operate the Lee C. Fine Airport and has applied to the FAA for permission to improve the facility. Some local politicians have threatened to take the matter to the Legislature if DNR does not cooperate. The pressure on state officials is powerful. Even if this were a good idea Grassland Coalition Seeks on the merits, the air strip is lo- Prairie Preservation, cated on a ridge top in the park Restoration that does not really allow for Jim Auckley development of the kind of facility that Osage Beach and the The Missouri Prairie Foun- lake resorts need. For their short- dation has committed $50,000 to

16 restoring native grasslands in the Audubon Society, the Coalition state. The foundation's effort to for the Environment, the state restore a measure of health to departments of Conservation Missouri's prairies is stimulated and Natural Resources, the by a concern for the dwindling federal Natural Resources Con- n urn ber of Prairie Chickens and servation Service, and others. other grassland birds. The Prairie Foundation is "1 think their vision is in- using the $50,000 it pledged to credible," says Dennis Figg, a raise public awareness of the natural history programs super- need to better manage both visor with the Conservation public and private lands for the Department. The Prairie Foun- sake of grassland wildlife and to dation is leading a group of more raise money to assist in that than a dozen conservation or- management. The foundation ganizations and agencies in the will launch a campaign aimed at Grassland Coalition. The goal is involving thousands of school to restore native plants and children and hundreds of or- animals to thousands of acres of ganizations, such as garden land in the western and northern clubs, conservation groups, and reaches of the state. fraternal organization. "The partners in the coalition The Grassland Coalition have high hopes," Figg says. hopes to raise $350,000 from Those partners include The Na- three projects. One is developing ture Conservancy, Quail Un- an educational curriculum on na- limited, the Conservation tive grasslands for Missouri Federation of Missouri, the schools. Another is to sponsor a

17 Lek Trek, an event similar to a with urgency. The Grassland walkathon where volunteers Coalition hopes neighboring solicit sponsors and walk a route private landowners will adopt that travels from one established management practices they see prairie to another. The trek will in the focus area to ensure the begin at Pawnee Prairie on the survival of Prairie Chickens and Iowa state line and end at Prairie other native grassland animals. State Park, near the Kansas state border in Barton County. Public "There are two things I events will be held along the would like to see in the focus route to publicize the Lek Trek areas five years from now," says and teach people about the value George Nichols, president of the of grassland wildlife. Missouri Prairie Foundation. "I would hope to encounter sub- The third, and most daunting stantial improvements in the project, is to raise $1 million for numbers of Prairie Chickens, conserving Prairie Chickens and other grassland birds and other grassland birds. This wildlife. Also, I hope we can money will be used to design and create an awareness of the value implement grassland manage- of grassland ecosystems and ment practices that have wildlife among the people who reasonable prospects of halting live in the focus areas." the rapid decline of native Nichols says Coalition grassland species in nine large members will consider their focus areas. If these efforts are work successful if they get half successful, the Grassland Coali- the landowners in the focus areas tion will increase the size and to cooperate. number of focus areas. Each focus area includes a According to the Conserva- core area and a buffer area. Each tion Department, Prairie Chick- will have a 2,000-acre core of ens continue to experience a quality grasslands and 8,000 long-term decline and could be acres of surrounding land, of gone from the state in as little as which 25% must be useful five years, a fact that is motivat- habitat for grassland birds. Other ing the Prairie Foundation to act criteria for selecting focus areas

18 included the percent of existing County, the area from Prairie grassland cover and its quality, State Park to Shawnee Trails CA the vigor of Prairie Chicken in Barton County, the Pawnee populations, an analysis of land Prairie area in Harrison County, ownership, owners willingness and the area around the historic to participate, and the existence community of Mystic in Sul- of state and federal programs for livan and Adair counties. Other funding conservation projects. areas included in the program are the land from Hi Lonesome The Coalition says it made Prairie to Friendly Prairie CA in every effon to select landscapes Pettis and Benton counties, the that meet the needs of grassland Eldorado Springs area, the area wildlife and that can be im- from Stoney Point Prairie CA to proved through aggressive Horse Creek Prairie CA in Dade management. The Missouri County, and the area from Gold- Prairie FtJundation' s 320-acre en Prairie to Dorris Creek Prairie Golden Prairie is a good ex- CA in Barton County. These ample of what can be done. focus areas contain nearly At one time Golden Prairie 200,000 acres of land that is harbored six or eight Prairie mostly in private hands, along Chickens. Three or four years ·with a core of high-quaility, ago the Foundation began more publicly owned prairie. aggressive management on the area, with controlled burns and After drafting strategic plans brush removal. The past two for the focus areas, the Coalition winters, Foundation members will form planning teams to have counted up to 40 Prairie develop detailed management Chickens on the area. It is this plans .in cooperation with local kind of management the Coali- landowners, community leaders tion hopes to apply to grasslands and regional resource biologists in the focus areas. and managers. The Coalition The areas selected by the hopes to implement the plans in Coalition include Green Ridge three to five years. Work will Township southwest of Sedalia, include tree removal, replace- the Taberville Prairie Conserva- ment of exotic grasses with na- tion Area (CA) in St. Clair tive grasses, changes in haying

19 (There are great things to see each and every time you go birding. Following are two stories from ASM members. ed.)

But Everyone Has to Eat Something! Paul Bauer

very time I go birding years to look at every bird, since E some unique experience that is how you find the unusual occurs. After more than 50 years or rare bird. I was hoping for a of birding, I might worry about Hairy Woodpecker. getting jaded, since I have seen With my binoculars raised to it all! NOT TRUE!! Early in view the woodpecker, I was 1998 I experienced an event in aware of a flash of movement the St. Louis area that I had never out of the right side of my eye. seen before. The very fact that With my binoculars trained on this can occur after 50 years of the Downy, I witnessed a Sharp- active birding in your home shinned Hawk swoop in, flair for town is proof that the thrill of a landing, pluck the woodpecker birding never ends. off of that tree trunk, and return Mike Treffert and I had to land on a limb overhanging planned a full day of birding the creek. There the hawk even though it had snowed light- proceeded to pluck feathers off ly. The new snow would make it of the small woodpecker. more interesting since birds In all those years of birding, would be very actively feeding. I had never before witnessed this We were at Busch Conservation experience. I had seen other kills Area in St. Charles County, had of waterfowl or shorebirds, but parked behind the Lake 33 dam, never a forest bird caught by a and walked to Dardeene Creek. hawk. Of course Mike and I felt Birding was slow at first, but sad forthe woodpecker, but then then I noticed a small woodpeck- reflected that we were happy be- er across the creek, high in a tree, cause the hawk caught a good creeping up the trunk. My first meal. Our excitement and dis- thought was, "It's a Downy." cussion caused the hawk to However, I have learned over the move twice to a different perch,

20 and then finally to fly off carrying the meal to a more private eating place. This experience was the highlight of birding that day! However, that may be hard for some to understand.

Winter Memories from a Northwest Missouri Birder Kirby Goslee

wish I were sharing ob- and a Merlin that whizzed by. A I servations of the imma- Swamp Sparrow, American ture Ferruginous Hawk that Tree Sparrows, and many dif- Mark Robbins spotted on the ferent songbirds also shared my Christmas Bird Count at Squaw day. I thought how lucky I was, Creek National Wildlife Refuge. seeing all nature had to offer. This tale does result from Marks Then something unexpected asking me to go to the refuge to happened. Something that in- search for the Ferruginous Hawk stantly brought back memories and to take pictures of this rare of two similar situations from Missouri hawk. But, even after four years ago involving two dif- several days of looking, I don't ferent species of birds ... Long- think I ever saw it. eared Owl and immature I did see a lot of birds. It's Northern Goshawk. The Long- really fun to sit and watch for eared Owl spiraled upward gain- hours the wonders of the wild. I ing altitude fast with a tight saw a Savannah Sparrow, seven circular flight. The Goshawk Short-eared Owls, six different flew straight up toward the owl. Northern Harriers, three dif- As the owl continued this defen- ferent Red-tailed Hawks, five sive upward spiral, the Goshawk different Rough-legged Hawks, continued to close in until con-

21 tact was made. This is nature in Short-eared Owls before many its purest fonn. It made my heart times, but this was the first time pound and my mind roll with I ever saw one go after a Short- anticipation of what would hap- eared Owl. I mean the harrier pen next. was pumping its wings hard and Personally I a! ways hoped climbing upward at about a 50 the owl would get away. And degree angle closing the gap such was the case the first time I very fast. I was trying to tell Jack saw this. The two birds locked what I was seeing, phone in one talons for a couple of seconds, hand, head cocked as far left as made some very quick evasive my neck could stand, binoculars moves and went their separate in the other hand. Then it hap- ways. The second time I saw a pened! The harrier nailed the Long-eared Owl and a Northern owl. They locked together and Goshawk encounter was at a did at least two complete 360 Christmas tree farm. This time degree turns in mid-air. I was so the owl wasn't so lucky. Al- excited I didn't even think to though the owl was injured, he take a picture (mainly because I did manage to fly away without didn't anticipate a deadly con- the Goshawk pursuing him. frontation between these two Months later while telling predators). Brad Jacobs this story, I learned I put my binos down and told from Brad that Goshawks love to Jack the sad news. The owl was eat Long-eared Owls! Brad said falling almost straight down. I he had witnessed this many thought for sure he was mortally times. wounded and would hit the ground with such force it would Well, back to my winter day finish him for sure. But at the last at Squaw Creek looking for the moment the owl recovered long Ferruginous Hawk. The sun was enough to glide along the top of almost gone. I was talking on my the grass for several hundred cell phone to Jack Hilsabeck. It feet before I lost sight of him. I was then that I saw a Short- told Jack, "Well, I guess all that eared Owl spiraling upward with is left is for the harrier to follow a Northern Harrier in pursuit. him down and enjoy his meal." I've watched harriers harass

22 But strangely, and even more mean after all, haniers do eat upsetting, was the observation birds. that the hanier didn't make one Then, as I focused in on the move toward the fallen owl. He bird still way up in the sky, my just stayed way up in the air heart suddenly beat with joy. It where they had initially locked was the Short-eared Owl who talons. had emerged victorious, not the Jack and I were still on the harrier. phone while I grabbed my binos Being an owl lover, that real- for a final look at the victorious ly made my day. I said goodbye harrier. I paused for a moment to Jack, looked up at the ever thinking how cruel to kill an owl darkening sky' and thanked the and not at least have him for din- Almighty for being so ner. It seemed out of character to priviledged to once again see na- kill just for tenitorial rights. I ture in its purest form of reality.

23 Marsh and Water Bird Nesting at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge 1992-1997 Jack Hilsabeck and Ronald Bell

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to survey wetland habitat to determine marsh and water bird nesting at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co., Missouri. Primary species studied include Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymhus podiceps), Least Bittern (lxohrychus exilis), and Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). In Missouri, the moorhen, grebe, and bittern are listed as local, rare summer residents and the bittern is determined to be on the watch list, MDC ( 1995). The authors were the principle observers though many others helped on a limited basis. Nest searches were conducted from late May until early July, 1992-97. Nest observations in 1992 and 1993 were largely conducted by wading in some of the available habitat. However, it quickly became obvious that these searches were very futile and produced few results. Limited searches were conducted by air boat and/or track truck in these two years. From 1994 through 1997 searches were conducted by air boat.

Air boat searches were conducted by slowly motoring through vegetation in a pattern with the width of the bands determined by the density of the emergent vegetation.

RESULTS

The following table shows the total of nests found each year during the study.

24 NUMBER OF NESTS

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 P.B.GREBE 3 8 17 29 32 151 L. BITTERN 17 57 59 39 185 135 C. MOORHEN 3 9 6 2 7 18

1992 Much of the 1992 nest searching was accomplished by wading in the various pools. It was mostly unsuccessful due to water depths (in excess of I meter), mud, and tall (3 meters and taller) emergent vegetation. A single Least Bittern nest was discovered after several hours of wading. Eagle Pool was searched by air boat for four hours on 5 June 1992. The deepest part of Eagle Pool was about 0.67 meter. Approximately one third of Eagle Pool was searched. We discovered three Pied-billed Grebe nests but did not see any adult birds. We also found seventeen Least Bittern nests and observed 121 adults as well as three Common Moorhen nests and six adults.

1993 Eagle Pool was surveyed via air boat: Snow Goose Pool South, South Pintail Pool, and Pelican Pool Moist Soil Unit were surveyed by wading; while Eagle Pool North, Mallard Marsh, Rice Paddy Moist Soil Unit, Cattail Pool, Moist Soil Unit Five, and Moist Soil Unit Three were surveyed by using a track truck. Eight Pied-billed Grebe nests were discovered. The largest single day number of birds was 15. Fifty-seven Least Bittern nests were located. The largest single day number of birds was 149. Nine Common Moorhen nests were found with the largest single day count being 20. Use of the track truck was an important tool in nest searching, as it was much more successful than wading. However, there were still important drawbacks because the track truck could not go into water deeper than 0.5 meter. The air boat required more than 0.67 meter of water in order to negotiate vegetation-thus only about one third of available habitat in Eagle Pool and Mallard Marsh could be searched.

25 1994 This year all refuge pools were surveyed by using a smaller, more maneuverable air boat than used during the previous years. This air boat madeit much easier to find nests in thick vegetation (usually cattails) and would also maneuver in water as shallow as three or four inches. As a result all available wetland habitat was nest surveyed. The following pools were searched: Pintail Pool, Mallard Marsh, Cattail Pool, Moist Soil Unit Five, and Eagle Pool. This year, each Pied-billed Grebe, Least Bittern, and Common Moorhen nest was marked with orange flagging tape tied to vegetation near the nest. A total of 17 Pied-billed Grebe nests and the high number of nine birds was observed. We located 59 Least Bittern nests and 176 birds were seen. Six Common Moorhen nests were found and II birds were sighted. Water levels in 1994 seemed comparable to 1993 (before the flood). Eagle Pool had little suitable nesting habitat because of the 1993 flood, thus the primary nesting area of 1993 contained only one nest in 1994. The dominant plant in 1994 was Three-square (Scirpus americanus) rather than cattail in 1993. Much of Eagle Pool was open water. 1995 The following refuge pools were surveyed in 1995: Pelican Pool, Mallard Marsh, Pintail Pool, Long Slough, Eagle Pool, Pintail Pool South, Pelican Pool South Moist Soil Unit, and Rice Paddy Moist Soil Units. Water levels in tht various pools seemed comparable to that in 1994 and 1993 (before the flood). All pools were surveyed by using the smaller air boat that was utilized in 1994, thus for the second year the observers were able to survey all available habitat. This year, each nest was marked with flagging tape that was placed on pre-cut Pied-billed Grebe

26 willow saplings which were then pushed into the marsh three meters north of each nest. Previous experience with attaching flagging tape directly on the cattails had proven unsuccessful as the tape did not stay on the cattails very long. Twenty-nine Pied-billed Grebe nests were marked this year and the one day high count of adult birds was 17. Least Bittern nesting seemed to be somewhat lower than the previous two years as only 39 nests were discovered. One day high totals were also lower, as only 74 were observed. Common Moorhen nest numbers were also fewer, as only two were observed this year. The one day high count of Common Moorhen was three. Eagle Pool was drained in the spring of 1995 in an attempt to reestablish the emergent vegetation which was destroyed in the flood of 1993. Thus for the second year this pool, which was formerly the most productive pool on the refuge, was not suitable for nesting.

1996 Pelican Pool, Eagle Pool, Long Slough, Mallard Marsh South, Pintail Pool, Pintail Pool South, Davis Creek Moist Soil Unit Three, Cattail Pool, Pelican Pool Moist Soil Unit, and Snow Goose Pool South were refuge areas searched in 1996. Water levels seemed comparable to that of 1993, 1994, and 1995 and higher than those for 1992. Again, the smaller air boat facilitated nest searches in available habitat. Marsh nest searches were very successful locating 32 Pied- billed Grebe, 185 Least Bittern, and seven Common Moorhen nests. This year our nest marking system (placing flagging tape on willow saplings and pushing the sapling into the marsh near the nest) enabled us to return to many of the nests. Thus we were able to obtain data concerning reproductive success. Nineteen Pied-billed Grebe nests were revisited. Eleven of the nests had successful hatches (57.9%), seven nests were still being incubated (36.8%), and one nest had been destroyed (5.3%). Least Bittern nesting success was more difficult to evaluate. Seventy-one Least Bittern nests were revisited. Eleven of71 nests had successful hatches-(15.5%), 28 nests were still being incubated (39.4% ), 27 nests were empty (38.0% ), and five nests had been destroyed. We do not know if the empty nests had success-

27 fully hatched or if something had eaten the'eggs. (If so the nests had not been tom up.) Six Common Moorhen nests were revisited. Two of the six had successful hatches (33.3% ), three were still being incubated (50.0% )), and one nest had been destroyed (16.7% ). Highest one day counts were as follows: Pied-billed Grebe-13, Least Bit- tern-105, and Common Moorhen-nine. Eagle Pool had some success as a nesting area for the first year since 1993, though the dominant vegetation was still Three-square and not cattails.

1997 Nest surveys were conducted in the following refuge areas in 1997: Eagle Pool, Pelican Pool, Long Slough, Pintail Pool, and Cattail Pool. Water levels seemed comparable, or slightly higher, to the previous three years. All nest surveys were conducted in the air boat first used in 1994 and all suitable habitat was searched. Pied- billed Grebe nests were extremely abundant as researchers marked 151. Of this total 141 were found in Eagle Pool. A single day high count of 14 birds were observed, but a large number were also calling. Least Bittern nesting was slightly lower than in 1996 as we found 135 this year compared to last season's record high of 185. Single day high count of77 birds were recorded in 1997. Eighteen Common Moorhen nests were marked this year, also a new nesting season high for Missouri. Seven birds were recorded for a single day high count. Nesting data at Squaw Creek in the sum mer of 1997 indicate that 228 of 304 nests (totals of Pied-billed Grebe, Least Bittern, and Common Moorhen) were located in Eagle Pool. Thus Eagle Pool seems to have regained its preflood nesting productivity.

Common Moorhen

28 CONCLUSIONS

Data are somewhat difficult to analyze because of many variables including date of survey, number of pools surveyed, depth of water, different pools were surveyed in different years, and manner in which pools were surveyed (wading, track truck, large air boat, smaller air boat). Surveys during several years were begun at earlier dates than other years because of our various other work responsibilities. The number of pools surveyed varied from year to year. The water depth of an individual pool as well as the type of vegetation seemed to determine what species would nest in a pool in a particular year. Pied-billed Grebe and Common Moorhen seemed to prefer Three- square for nesting sites, while Least Bittern had a very noticeable partiality for cattail. Average water depth at nest site for the three species; grebe 0.88 meters, bittern 0.57 meters, and moorhen 0.57 meters. In 1992 and 1993 only parts of the available habitat was searched because of our searching methods. Yearly totals of nests were reponed for each species (Fig. 1). A low of three Pied-billed Grebe nests were located in 1992 and a high of 151 nests were discovered in 1997. Peak nest totals for Least Bittern were 185 in 1996 and a low of 17 in 1992 Low numbers of Common Moorhen nests were two in 1995 and a high of 18 nests in 1997. A comparison of population densities is also shown for each species (Fig. 2). Popula- tion densities were determined by adding the total number of birds seen the first time observers were in each pool, and adding all of these observations together. In larger pools, such as Eagle Pool, it takes more than one day to completely survey the pool, thus observers attempted to total birds by areas of the pool surveyed each day. For these reasons nest records are probably more accurate than population densities.

According to Robbins and Easterla (1992) the following new records were established. New high counts include: 151 Pied-billed Grebe nests, 185 Least Bittern nests, and 18 Common Moorhen nests. Two other Least Bittern high counts also seem to have been added to the literature. They include a new one day high total of birds observed

29 SQUAW CREEK MARSH NEST SURVEY

200~········ ......

140

N u M 120 B E R

0 100 ·········· ...... F

N E s 80 .... T s

80 ... 59 ...

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 YEAR P.B. Grebe L. Bittern • C. Moorhen

Figure I. A comparison of nesting densities of three selected marsh birds.

30 SQUAW CREEK MARSH BIRD SURVEY

500

400

N u M 300 B E R

0 F

B R 200 D s

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 YEAR P.B. Grebe L. Bittern C. Moorhen

Figure 2. A comparison of population densities of three selected marsh birds.

31 and a new high for a one day total of birds in the spring season. The new one day high total of birds is 149, up from 31 birds; and the new one day total for the spring season is 124, up from five. Ronald Bell, David EasterIa, and Jack Hilsabeck were the observers that set both of the new one day totals. The new one day total of birds observed was set on 9 June, 1993. The new spring high total of birds was set on 31 May, 1994. These censuses produced unprecedented results. In order to monitor populations of these patchily distributed species, nest surveys should continue on an annual basis with an attempt to stand- ardize census protocol. We recommend that censuses be conducted at other federal and state wetland areas.

LITERATURE CITED

MDC. 1995. Rare and Endangered Species Checklist of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation. Natural History Database. Jefferson City, Missouri. 31 pp. Robbins, M. B., and D. A. Easterla, 1986. Birds of Missouri: their distribution and abundance. University of Missouri Press, Columbia. 399pp.

32 MISSOURI BIRDS RECORD COMMITTEE

Eleventh Annual Report

Chris Hobbs, Secretary 1997-1998 and William C. Rowe, Secretary 1998-1999

This report summarizes records evaluated by the Committee .between 30 September 1997 and 26 September 1998.lt 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 A. 0. U. Checklist of North American Birds, Seventh Edition ( 1998). For Not Accepted records, observers names are omitted and a brief explanation is provided as to why the record was not accepted. All photographs are now archived in Mylar envelopes and deposited in the Committee's files, which are currently housed in the Division of Ornithology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, Kansas. Of those records that were finalized (including recirculated and unresolved records from prior reports), a total of 59 were accepted, with 19 not accepted. Members participating in the decisions were Paul McKenzie (Chairman), Chris Hobbs (Secretary), David Easterla, Bill Eddleman, Brad Jacobs, Mark Robbins, and Bill Rowe. Outside reviews were provided by Peter Pyle, Dave DeSante, Steven N. G. Howell, and Keith Hansen (Black-headed Grosbeak, MBRC #1997- 27); and Dennis Paulson (Ruff, MBRC #1995-63). One species, Curlew Sandpiper, was added to the Missouri state list. This makes a total of 397 fully accepted species for Missouri, including six formerly occurring species that have been extirpated from the state and two extinct species. There are also 19 hypothetical species on the list (which means that there are one or more reports meeting normal acceptance criteria, but none meeting the criteria for a first state record).

33 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. The next report will appear in March 2000.

RECORDS ACCEPTED

RED-NECKED GREBE (Podiceps grisegena), 1998-06; I adult, 26 November through 6 December 1997, Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis Co. A. John Solodar. Also documented by James and Char- lene Malone. A very rare migrant.

WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occiderztalis), 1998-16; I adult, 27 December 1997, Table Rock Dam, Taney Co. Bo Brown and Jane Fitzgerald. An accidental winter visitant.

CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii), 1998-18; 1adult, 27 December 1997, Table Rock Dam, Taney Co. Bo Brown and Jane Fitzgerald. Third documented state record.

TRICOLORED HERON (Egrctta tricolor), 1998-58; I adult, 16 April 1998, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard Co. Wil- liam Reeves and Steve Dilks. A casual transient; this is the second- earliest spring record.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax), 1998-48; 2 immatures, 19 December 1997, Four Rivers CA, Ver- non Co. Photographed and documented by Mark Robbins and Roger McNeill. Casual winter visitant.

WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus a/bus), 1998-57; 1immature, 13 April 1998, Big Oak Tree State Park, Mississippi Co. Dan Kluza and Thomas Ryan. Twelfth record and earliest spring record.

34 WHITE IBIS, 1998-78; I immature, 7-10 July 1998, Bushwacker CA, Vernon Co. Randy Haas. Photographed. Thirteenth record.

WHITE IBIS, 1998-71; 1immature, 23 July through 26 August 1998, Lake Springfield, Greene Co. Documented by Kay Johnson (photographs) and Lisa Berger; also by David Easterla (photographs) and Dean Rising. Fourteenth record, and first to provide photographic documentation for Missouri.

BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus), 1998-66; I, 25 July 1998, Linn Co. David and Netta Witten. The northernmost documented record for Missouri, although there is a pre-1960 report for Squaw Creek NWR.

BRANT Brantabernicla), 1998-44; 1adult, 24 October through 8 November 1997, Stockton Lake, Cedar Co. Knox and Nelda Mc- Crory, Carl Pepmiller. Also documented by Paul McKenzie and Susan Hazelwood. Casual transient.

BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors), 1998-10; 1male, 1 female, 19 December 1997, Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. Mark Robbins and Roger McNeill. A rare winter resident.

BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 1998-28; I male, 4 females, 27 Decem- ber 1997, Duck Creek CA, Bollinger Co. Bill Reeves and Jude Vickery. Photographed by Linda Cheek, Teresa Oyler.

OSPREY (Pandionhaliaetus), 1998-09; 1 adult, 20 December 1997, Easley, Boone Co. David and Michael Witten. Casual winter visitant.

SANDHILL CRANE (Grus Canadensis),1998-01; I adult, 24 September 1997, east of Springfield, Greene Co. Documented by Greg Swick. Rare migrant.

35 BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus), 1998-68; 1; 25 March 1998, Otter Slough CA, Stoddard Co. Photographed- and documented by Robert Lewis. Earliest spring record.

BLACK-NECKED STILT, 1998-69; 17 May 1998, Bigelow Marsh, Holt Co. Photographed and documented by David Easter- la. Casual transient outside the southeast corner of the state.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca), 1998-11; 2, 19 December 1997, Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. Mark Robbins and Roger McNeill. First winter record.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1998-53; I, 5 February 1998, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. Linda Frederick. Second winter record.

WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri), 1998-61; male and female, 9 May 1998, Eagle Bluffs CA, Boone Co. Timothy Barksdale. One of few documented records of this species in May.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris melanotos), 1998-47; I, 19 December 1997, Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. Documented and photographed by Mark Robbins and Roger McNeill. First winter record.

CURLEW SANDPIPER (Calidrisferruginea), 1998-70; I adult male, 14-15 July 1998, Eagle Bluffs CA, Boone Co. Discovered and documented by Tom Curtis and Bill Goodge. Photographed and documented by Eric Preston. Also documented by Paul Mc- Kenzie and Susan Hazelwood. First state record.

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus), 1998-12; I, 19 December 1997, Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. Mark Robbins and Roger McNeill. First winter record.

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridactyla), 1998-07; I,

36 first winter, 6 November 1997, Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis Co. Charlene Malone. Casual transient.

WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica), !998-65, 1adult, 18 July 1998, Springfield, Greene Co. Lisa Berger. Third documented record for the state.

GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyxcalifornianus), 1998- 85,2 adults, 16 June through 17 July 1998, Marquand, Madison Co. Photographed and documented by Daisy and Bob Roe. North- east of expected range. Number assigned is out of sequence because of an error (last number in this record year is 1998-78).

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colubris), 1998-45; I adult male, I 0 November 1997, Miller Co. Deborah and Brian Yount residence. Photographed by Jim Rathert and documented by James D. Wilson. Very late.

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna), 1998-03; I female, 3-10 November 1997, Lees Summit, Jackson Co. Residence of Pauline Chamberlin. Documented by JoAnn Garrett and Chris Hobbs. Fourth Missouri record.

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD,I998-46; I immature male, 14-19 December 1997, Des Peres, St. Louis Co. Faith Phillips residence. Identified by James Malone (documented) and David Becher. Photographed and documented by Bill Rowe. Fifth Missouri record.

Selasphorus sp., 1998-50; I immature male, 29 October through 15 December 1997, Southwest City, McDonald Co. Documented and photographed by Mrs. Billy Brown. Submitted as a Rufous Hummingbird (Se/asphorus rufus) but identifiable only to genus; not possible to rule out Aliens Hummingbird (Se/asphorus sasin).

Selasphorus sp., 1998-43; I female, 31 October through 2 Novem-

37 ber 1997, Carthage, Jasper Co. Richard and Mary Campbell residence. Photographed and documented by Larry Herbert.

EASTERN PHOEBE (Sayornis phoebe), 1998-13; 1, 19 Decem- ber 1997, Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. Mark Robbins. North of expected winter range.

EASTERN PHOEBE, 1998-20; I, 28 December 1997, Plattsburg, Clinton Co. JoAnn Garrett and Nanette Johnson. North of expected winter range.

EASTERN PHOEBE, 1998-31; 1 adult, 3 January 1998, north St. Louis Co. Paul Bauer. North of expected winter range.

ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus), 1998-67; 1, 18 December 1997, below Bagnell Dam on the Osage River, Miller Co. Videotaped and documented by Kevin Muenks for the ninth state record.

HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon), 1998-24; I, 27 December 1997, south of Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard Co. Stephen Dilks and Neil Gunn. Casual winter visitant.

HOUSE WREN, 1998-52; 1, 27 December 1997, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard Co. Documented by Bill Eddleman. Casual winter visitant.

HOUSE WREN, 1998-27; I, 27 December 1997, Duck Creek CA, Bollinger Co. Bill Reeves and Jude Vickery. Casual winter visitant.

HOUSE WREN, 1998-25; I, 28 December 1997, northwest of Bayouville, New Madrid Co. Bill Eddleman and Helena Wood. Casual winter visitant.

38 MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris), 1998-08; II individuals, 19 December 1997, Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. Mark Robbins and Roger McNeill. Equals record high count for winter period.

MARSH WREN, 1998-14; 2, 20 December 1997, Cole Co. Jude Vickery.

VARIED THRUSH (lxoreus naevius), 1998-76; 1male, I February 1997, south of Chamois, Osage Co. Karen Sieg. Seventh state record.

VARIED THRUSH, 1998-55; I female, 6 April 1998, under the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis, St. Louis Co. Rob Wil- liams. Eighth record.

GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetel/a carolinensis), 1998-19; 1, 27 December 1997, Jellystone Park area, Taney Co. Bo Brown. About the fourteenth winter record.

GRAY CATBIRD, 1998-38; 1, 17 January 1998, James A. Reed CA, Jackson Co. Don Arney. About the fifteenth winter record.

BLUE-WING ED WARBLER (Vermivora pinus), 1998-77; 1 male, 25 August 1998, Bluff Woods CA, Buchanan Co. Jack Hil- sabeck. First fall record for northwest Missouri.

BREWSTER'S WARBLER (Vermivora pinus x V. chrysoptera), 1998-62; 1 adult male, 9 May 1998, Boone Co. Paul McKenzie. Rarely-encountered hybrid.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Vermivora ce/ata), 1998- 23; I, 27 December 1997, east side of Lake Wappapello, Wayne Co. Stephen Dilks and Neil Gunn. About the tenth winter record.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 1998-37; 2, 27 December 1997, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard Co. Neal

39 Young, Bill Eddleman, and Ken Rampley. About the eleventh winter record.

CAPE MAY WARBLER (Dendroica tigrina), 1998-49; I male, 28 December 1997 through mid-January 1998, Chillicothe, Livingston Co. Photographed and documented by Steve Kinder at his home. Fifth winter record.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (lcteria virens), 1998-02; 7 Oc- tober 1997, Springfield, Greene Co. Bird struck a window and was revived and released. Documented by Jeff Cantrell. Late record.

FIELD SPARROW (Spizella pusilia), 1998-32; I, 2 January 1998, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. Mark Robbins. Rare winter resident in northern Missouri.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus), 1998- 34; 7 males, 17 December 1997, Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. Mike Beck and Susan Hazelwood.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula 1998-51; immature female, about 3 January through 17 January 1998, Phelps Co. Documented and photographed by Ann and Bob Wethington. Casual winter resident. lctems, sp., 1998-39; 1, 27 January through 22 March 1998, Lake Wappapello, Wayne Co. Documented by Stanton Hudson and William Reeves. Photographed by William Reeves. Although the bird most closely resembled a first-year Baltimore Oriole, a hybrid with Bullocks Oriole(/. bul/ockii) could not be ruled out.

RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra), 1998-42; I adult female, through the summer of 1997, Doniphan, Ripley Co. Photographed and documented by Mary Ann Ensz. Casual summer visitant.

40 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL (Loxia /eucoptera), 1998-04; 1 female, 13 November 1997, Jefferson Co. Peter Hoell.

COMMON REDPOLL (Carduelisflammea), 1998-15; 1, 20 December 1997, Lake Jacomo, Jackson Co. Robert Fisher.

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus), 1998-36; 25- 30, from November 1997 through 9 January 1998, Palmyra, Marion Co. Travis and Kathi Moore. Casual away from the St. Louis area.

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW, 1998-40; 1, 8 May 1998, northeast of Frankford, Pike Co. James Malone. Casual away from the St. Louis area.

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

It should be understood that not accepted does not always mean that the identification was considered to be incorrect. In some cases the Committee did believe the bin:! 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 most bird record committees.

YELLOW-BILLED LOON (Cavia adamsii), 1998-05; I, 3-4 Oc- tober 1997, William Fields Lake, Maries Co. Description did not rule out other loons.

YELLOW RAIL (Coturnicops noveboracensis), 1998-59; I, 22 April 1998, Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area, St. Charles Co. Field marks that distinguish Yellow Rail were not

41 noted. Size and behavior were consistent with Sora (Porzana carolina).

RUFF (Philomachus pugnax), 1995-63; 1 male, 6 August 1995, near Marais Temps Clair CA, St. Charles Co. Originally accepted by the MBRC after two rounds of voting, this record was later scrutinized by shorebird authority Dennis Paulson. From the description and the finely detailed sketch submitted, he concluded that most features of the bird (including size, structure, and plumage) suggested a male Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) rather than a Ruff. Upon consideration of his comments, the Committee reversed its decision in a third round of voting. The Committee was pleased that one observer made an excellent drawing of the bird, but on the other hand was discouraged that no one else submitted documentation even though many good observers saw it. All decisions have to be made on the basis of what is actually submitted, not on hearsay or reputation, and in many cases it is very helpful to get several independent writeups of a rare species.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto), 1998- 56; 2 adults, 13 April 1998, Delta, Cape Girardeau Co. Although this species, having first colonized Florida, is now naturally expand- ing across North America, there have also been releases of captive birds in some areas, raising origin issues. Furthermore, its similarity to the domestic Ringed Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia risoriacomplicates field identification. This particular report did not describe field marks that would eliminate Ringed Turtle-Dove.

BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus), 1998-64: 1 immature, 12 June 1998, Oronogo Bottoms, Jasper Co. Description did not rule out other hummingbird species.

SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya), 1998-60; 2 adults, 4 May 1998, Springfield, Greene Co. The size (comparable to Eastern Kingbird)

42 and early evening light conditions were problematical, and the description was minimal.

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Seiurus noveboracensis), 1998-54; 29 March I 998, Three Creeks State Forest, Boone Co.· Description did not rule out Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacil/a), which would be much more likely on this date.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW (Spize/la arborea), I 998-73; 5, 9 May 1998, northern Knox Co. No description of distinguishing pill or face pattern. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, 1998-74; 2, 9 May 1998, Liberty, Clay Co. The description was written from memory nearly three months after the observation.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, 1998-75; I 9 May 1998, near Watkins Mill State Park, Clay Co. Description did not eliminate Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) .

CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR (Ca/carius ornatus), 1998-17; I, 260ctober 1997, near Montrose, Henry Co. Details of the tail pattern, as described, were not consistent with this species.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus), 1998-35; I female, 30 December 1997. Ha Ha Tonka SP, Cam- denton Co. Description did not rule out a female Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus).

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus), 1997-27; I, 13 December 1996, Springfield, Greene Co. In the opinion of the Committee as well as the outside reviewers of this record, the photos and written details did not eliminate a hybrid with Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Certain features suggested both species.

43 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, 1998-63; 1 female, 16 May 1998, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt Co. Descrip- tion did not eliminate Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena), 1997-16; 1, 8 May through 15 May 1997, Fairfax, Atchison Co. No description was furnished.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanoceplzalus), 1996-68; l, 28 December 1996, north of Mingo NWR, Wayne Co. Descrip- tion did not eliminate Rusty Blackbird (Euphaguscarolinus).

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, 1998-33; 1, 19 December 1997, Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. Description did not eliminate other blackbird species.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, 1998-26; 4, 28 December 1997, Mis- sissippi Co. Description strongly suggested Rusty Blackbird.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, 1998-29; 1, 30 December 1997, Chariton Co.Description strongly suggested Rusty Blackbird.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, 1998-30; 5, 3 January 1998, St. Char- les Co. Description did not eliminate Rusty Blackbird.

44 ANNOUNCEMENTS

everyone's patience in the com- Revised Birds of Missouri pletion of this long awaited Checklist Completed! product. Paul M. McKenzie The checklist will be similar At long last, the revised to the last revision ( 1986) of the Audubon Society of Missouri's checklist in that it will be in Annotated Checklist of Mis- folded card form (four pages, souri Birds, compiled by the eight sides), but on white card Missouri Bird Records Commit- stock (not green). One added tee (MBRC), has been com- feature to this checklist is that pleted. By the time you read this there is enough room on the last note in the March issue of The page of the checklist to jot down Bluebird, the revised checklists field notes or to draw a small will be in the hands of ASM's sketch. If anyone has any ques- treasurer, Jean Graebner. Please tions regarding the format of the contact Jean if you would like to checklist, or the status of any of purchase copies ahead of the the species recorded, please con- spring meeting in Cape Girar- tact me or any other member of deau. They will be sold for $.50 the MBRC. each. A special thanks goes to Dave Witten for the many hours he contributed in placing the checklist in the final format needed for printing, to Jim Ketcherside for printing, and to all the members of the Missouri Bird Records Committee who spent numerous hours assem- bling, discussing, and format- ting the information into checklist form. We appreciate

45 1999 North American compiler or send you the infor- Migratory Count mation to become a county com- Jim Cast, State Compiler piler. Compilers are especially Christmas Bird Counts are needed in northeast and north over, spring is in the air, and central Missouri. migratory birds are on their way north. In other words, it will Special Attention to Mid-Mis- soon be time for the North souri Birders American Migratory Count! The Bridget Olson count is part of International WHSRN stands for Western Migratory Bird Day. Birders Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve will be counting in North Network. WHSRN was estab- America, the Caribbean, and lished "to promote and support South America. The lMBD the conservation of truly hemis- counts provide information on pheric shorebirds shared by all the location and number of birds. countries from pole to pole. To Last year 241 species and safeguard critical habitats for 83,998 individuals were counted shorebirds, WHSRN works to in 26counties in Missouri. If you identify principal wetland sites have never been involved in and bring them into the interna- Migratory County Day, you may tional network. Membership in want to consider it. It is a great the network, including public way to spend a spring day! and private lands, is completely International Migratory Bird voluntary and is based on Day and the North American biological criteria." Migratory Countare always held Sites are nominated as on the second Saturday in May. having Hemispheric, Interna- This year's count will therefore tional, or Regional importance. be on SaturdayMay 8. If you are For example, Cheyenne Bot- interested in participating, and toms is recognized as a Hemis- have never done so, please con- pheric site and Quivira is a tact me at (573) 442-1481 or Regional site. [email protected], or I've recently completed a 3009 Lynnwood Dr., Columbia packet nominating Swan Lake 65203. I will either put you in National Wildlife Refuge as a contact with the current county

46 Regional site. The nomina- recording shorebirds at the same ·tion criteria for Regional Site is site for as many years as you care that it hosts >20,()()() shorebirds, to participate, at the least every or 5% of a flyway population. I 6days between April 1and Oc- Adding the peak shorebird num- tober 31. bers from all years' data is avail- So you birders that visit able, (which is allowable for the Eagle Bluffs regularly, this is nomination) Swan Lake reaches your opportunity to contribute about 22,000 shorebirds. significantly to shorebird con- While I was looking through servation! The Bluebird to document peak I encourage you to visit numbers of shorebirds at the Manomet's web site at refuge, I became increasingly http://www.manomet.org. You impressed with the shorebird can access separate pages for numbers and species recorded at WHSRN as well as ISS from Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area. their home page. You can re- If someone would care to under- quest protocols and data sheets take the nomination process, I for the ISS. Manomet's phone believe Eagle Bluffs is eligible as number is (508) 224-6521. If part of WHSRN as a Regional you would like the field ob- Site. servers prospective you can con- A person may need to docu- tact me at (660) 856-3323. ment several years worth of shorebird numbers to hit the 20,000 mark, but I think Eagle Bluffs definitely has the potential. The best way to document shorebird numbers is to join the International Shorebird Survey (ISS). ISS is conducted by volunteers from around the western hemisphere and the data is compiled by Manomet Bird Observatory in Manomet, MA. The survey is easy and consists of identifying, counting, and

47 You are cordially invited to attend the ASM Spring Meeting, April 23, 24, and 25, 1999

Hosted by Four Seasons Audubon Society

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

I Registration for ASM Spring Meeting:

Please register by April 20, 1999 to assure your place at the banquet. Those not registering for the banquet are welcome at the evening panel discussion. Mark the field trips you would like to attend so we can decide which ones to run, or add trips to more popular sites. Also, please indicate if you are willing to volunteer to lead field trips. Be sure to pick up your registration packet at the registration desk outside Room 121 Rhodes Hall during the following times: Friday, 3 p.m. to 7:00p.m., and after the evening presentation until 9:30p.m; Saturday 7:00 to 8:00a.m. and 5:00 to 7:00p.m.

Send registration form(s) to: Jean Graebner, 1800 S. Roby Farm Road,Rocheport, MO 65279. Phone: (573) 698-2855

Name

Address

Phone( )

Registration: $5.00 Adults $I 4.50 Banquet Tickets for Adults $8.00 Banquet Tickets for Children under 13

Total Enclosed: $ ______

I volunteer to lead field trips: YES NO

Please attach field trips you would like to attend.

II AUDUBON SOCIETY OF MISSOURI SPRING MEETING CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI APRIL 23-25, 1999

The Four Seasons Audubon Society invites you to the Spring Meeting of the Audubon Society of Missouri (ASM) on April23-25, 1999, on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO. We encourage all ASM and National Audubon Chapter members to attend this meeting, which will showcase a number of excellent birding sites in and near Cape Girardeau, in both southern Illinois and Missouri. Students are especially encouraged to attend and learn more about the birds and habitats of this part of the state.

The agenda includes many field trips to sites within 25 miles of Cape Girardeau. A highlight of the meeting will the I. R. Kelso Wildlife Sanctuary, owned in pan by ASM. Both field trips and a mist-netting and banding demonstration will occur at the Sanctuary, located 2 miles from the Southeast campus. On Friday night Bill Eddleman, Associate Professor of Biology and a member of the Missouri Bird Records Committee, will present the highlights of his 7 years of research on Black Rails. After the banquet Saturday night, there will be a panel discussion on chip mills and their potential effects on southern Missouri's forests and wildlife.

The southeast Missouri and southern Illinois area contains many exciting birding areas, most of which are centered around Mississippi River wetlands and beech-tulip poplar forests more characteristic of the Appalachians than of Missouri.

Available field trips will include: Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area: Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area, near Olive Branch, Illinois, is an old oxbow of the Mississippi River, and the surrounding area is

III managed intensively for Canada Geese and other wintering waterfowl by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The site provides open shallow water, bottomland hardwood forest, cypress- tupelo forest, agricultural fields, food plots, and a few mudflats. Nearby areas include levee roads, flooded fields, and cottonwood- willow forest along the river. The area probably provides the best habitat for migrating songbirds in the region. Look for abundant warblers, vireos, and other birds feeding in cypress and oak trees along the lake. Nesting Bald Eagle, Barred Owl, Fish Crow, Prothonotary Warbler, herons and egrets, dabbling ducks, terns, swallows, and the occasional Missis- sippi Kite can also be observed on or near the refuge. Shorebird habitat may be available in the area, depending on water conditions.

Union County Conservation Area: Union County Conservation Area is near Ware, Illinois, and is managed for Canada Geese and other waterfowl by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. If offers bottomland forests, agricultural fields, open fields, food plots, and varied wetland habitats of Little Grassy Lake. It is the most reliable location to observe Mississippi Kites in the area, and the open fields are good for observing Bobolink and other grassland birds, depending on recent management of the area. A paved drive goes through the area, but most access is via gravel roads. Expect to observe a diversity of waterfowl, Bald Eagle, sparrows, and abundant migrating warblers and other songbirds.

LaRue-Pine Hills Ecological Area: The LaRue-Pine Hills Ecological Area is a portion of the Shawnee National Forest that is preserved for its unique ecological values. The site includes limestone bluffs above an old oxbow swamp. These hills mark the easternmost extent of the Ozark Plateau, and the easternmost natural occurrence of shortleaf pine in Illinois. Prairie-like glades also occur along the bluffs. The road at the base of the bluff is closed seasonally to allow migration of snakes from their hibernation sites in the bluffs to their

IV summer habitat in the swamp. The area is unique botanically because it includes many plants more characteristic of the east. Expect to see numerous migrating forest songbirds, summer resident Neotropical migratory birds, and wetland and marsh species. This site provides some of the best scenery in the area, so bring your camera!

Trail of Tears State Park: Trail of Tears State Park, 8 miles north of Cape Girardeau, is primarily upland forest, consisting of oak-hickory forest on the drier uplands, and beech-tupelo forestin moist ravines. A man-made lake and large pine stands are also available. The park was acquired by the state to preserve and memorialize the site where the Cherokee crossed the Mississippi River on their forced march to Oklahoma in the 1830s, deemed the Trail of Tears because of the death of so many of those who were removed from their homes in the Carolinas and Georgia during the march. The site has some superb mature forest, and is located on the Mississippi River. Migrants move in waves up the river, so look for birds in cottonwood and willow trees along the river bank. The river often floods in the spring, so access may have to be on foot. The park is an excellent site to hear and see owls, Chuck- will 's-widow, Mississippi Kite, various water birds (on the river), and warblers, vireos, orioles, and other migrants.

I. R. Kelso Wildlife Sanctuary/ Juden Creek/Twin Trees Park: This trip will include a complex of connected public lands on the northeast corner of Cape Girardeau. It will also include good views of the Mississippi River at Cape Rock. Expect to see Red-headed Woodpecker, Prothonotary and Yellow-throated Warbler, and typi- cal forest and edge birds. Migrants often work the edges of the river and old field habitat at the Sanctuary. Twin Trees Park, a city park, is on the east side of this complex of over 150 acres of protected land. The park is adjacent to the Missouri Department of Conservation's Juden Creek Conservation

v Area, purchased to protect a unique stand of American beech and tulip-poplar trees. The Natural Area adjoins 27 acres originally donated by Judge and Mrs. I. R. Kelso to the Audubon Society of Missouri in June 1937. An additional 7 acres was donated shortly thereafter. The Springdale Bird Sanctuary, as it was known at the time, was leased to Southeast Missouri State University for $!/year beginning in 1962, and the Kelso heirs donated an additional 3D acres as a buffer zone in 1964. An additional76 acres were acquired by the University in 1979 with additional donations and a Land and Water Conserva- tion Fund grant. The 133-acre Sanctuary contains mature forest, three ponds, open shrub habitat, and planted grassland. A series of mist nets will be set up on the south side of the Sanctuary during the meeting, and birds will be banded. A great opportunity to see those birds close at hand!

Maple Valley Trail/Cape Girardeau County Park: Maple Valley Trail, in the Cape Girardeau County Park between Cape Girardeau and Jackson, was developed by the Missouri Depart- ment of Conservation, and is an asphalt trail through second-growth forest near the MDC Regional Office. Birds observed in the forest edge and stream bottom tend to reflect the most abundant species migrating through the area at a given time. Birds breeding at the site include most of the common local forest birds, as well as Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebird, and Louisiana Waterthrush. This trip is recommended for those who want an easier walk that requires less time than some of the other trips.

Note: Field trips will organize on the parking lot of Dempster Hall at the corner of New Madrid and North Henderson streets on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. Four Seasons Audubon members will lead field trips to these places, and maps will be available for them. In addition, those interested might plan before or after meeting trips to Mingo National Wildlife Refuge (l hour away) or Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area/Big Oak Tree State Park (l hour away).

VI We hope you will join us for some Southeast Missouri hospitality!

Birding Field Trips: (circle starting hours for trips you want to attend; some field trips may be canceled if there is a lack of interest)

SCHEDULE Friday, April 23

3:00 - 7:00p.m. Registration 5:00- 7:00p.m. Field trip to Trail of Tears State Park 7:30- 9:00p.m. Evening Program, Room 121 Rhodes Hall of Science

Saturday, April 24

\ 11:30 a.m. Predawn field trip to LaRue-Pine Hills 6:00- 8:00a.m. Banding demonstration at!. R. Kelso 6:00- 11:30 a.m. Field trip to Horseshoe Lake CA 8:00- 10:00 a.m. Field trip to Maple Valley/County Park 8:00- 11:30 a.m. Field trip to Horseshoe Lake CA Field trip to Union County CA Field trip to Trail of Tears SP 8:30- 10:30 a.m. Banding demonstration at!. R. Kelso 8:30- 11:00 a.m. Field trip to I. R. Kelso/Juden Creek/Twin Trees l :00- 3:00p.m. Banding demonstration at!. R. Kelso Field trip to Maple Valley/County Park Field trip to I. R. Kelso/Juden Creek/Twin Trees 1:00- 5:00p.m. Field trip to LaRue-Pine Hills 1:00- 5:30p.m. Field trip to Horseshoe Lake CA Field trip to Union County CA Field trip to Trail of Tears SP 6:30- 9:00p.m. Dinner and Evening Panel Discussion, Show-me Center, Southeast Missouri State University campus

Sunday, April 25

5:00- 11:30 a.m. Predawn field trip to LaRue-Pine Hills 6:00- 8:00a.m. Banding demonstration at I. R. Kelso 6:00- 11:30 a.m. Field trip to Horseshoe Lake CA 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. Field trip to Maple Valley/County Park

VII 8:00- 11:30 a.m. Field trip to Horseshoe Lake CA Field trip to Union County CA Field trip to Trail of Tears SP 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. Banding demonstration at I. R. Kelso 8:30- 11:00 a.m. Field Trip to I. R. Kelso/Juden Creek/Twin Trees 10:00 - finished Missouri Audubon Council meeting 12:00 noon Field trip leaders convene to compile lists, Room 121 Rhodes Hall of Science, Southeast Missouri State University campus

Lodging for the ASM Spring Meeting: The Holiday Inn, near the Route K exit on I-55, has reserved a block of 50 rooms for April23 and 24. You may stay either night or both nights at the rate of $65 for a single or a double room. Reserva- tions must be made by April9 and confirmed with a major credit card. Call (573) 334-1711 and mention the Audubon Society. Numerous other motels are available near the Holiday Inn, including the Drury Lodge (573) 334-7151, Hampton Inn (573) 651-3000, and Pear Tree Inn (573) 334-3000.

Camping is available at Trail of Tears State Park on a first come, first served basis. The cost is $12/night ($10/senior or disabled) for sites with electrical hookups. The cost is $6/night ($5/senior or disabled) for sites withot electricity. The availability of some camp sites depends in part on whether the Mississippi floods, because the lower campground is adjacent to the river.

The Holiday Inn has an excellent breakfast buffet, and most motels are near dozens of other restaurants. A listing of restaurants will be included with the registration packet. Ask about specialty restaurants at registration.