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OREGON BIRDS Volume 12 Number 4, Winter 1986

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OREGON BIRDS Volume 12 Number 4, Winter 1986 OREGON BIRDS Volume 12 Number 4, Winter 1986 Bibliography of ID Articles Townsend's Sesquicentennial Christmas Bird Counts OBRC Report OREGON BIRDS is a quarterly publication of Oregon Field Ornithologists. Oregon Birds is printed at the University of Oregon Press. Articles apppearing in Oregon OREGON BIRDS Birds may be reprinted with permission of the author or the Editor, and must credit the source as Oregon Birds. Membership in Oregon Field Ornithologists is on an annual basis Volume 12 Number 4, Winter 1986 ISSN 0890-2313 and includes a subscription to Oregon Birds. ISSN 0890-2313 Editor Owen Schmidt NEWS BRIEFS 229 Assistant Editor Sharon K. Blair Associate Editor Jim Johnson SHORT NOTES OFO President's Message 239 Alan Contreras OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS OFO High Desert Weekend 239 President Alan Contreras, Eugene (1987) Editor Secretary Pam Neumann, Portland (1987) Bushtits Forage on River Bank 245 Treasurer Tom Mickel, Eugene (1987) ]im Johnson Directors Barb Bellin, Salem (1985-87) Taxonomy: Garbielson & Jewett Update 246 David Fix, Idleyld Park (1986-88) Range D. Bayer Roger Robb, Eugene (1985-87) Oregon Birding Trivia 247 Larry Thornburgh, North Bend (1986-88) ]im Johnson OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE David Bailey Information Wanted 248 Secretary Clarice Watson, Eugene (1986) Editor Studies in Oregon Ornithology 251 Members Jim Carlson, Eugene (1985-86) Tom Crabtree, Bend (1986-88) Range D. Bayer Jeff Gilligan, Portland (1984-86) Steve Heinl, Eugene (1986-88) David Irons, Portland (1984-86) ARTICLES Larry McQueen, Eugene (1985-87) John Kirk Townsend Sesquicentennial 253 Harry Nehls, Portland (1985-87) George A. Jobanek Owen Schmidt, Portland (1985-87) Bibliography of Bird Identification Articles 277 Steve Summers, Klamath Falls (1986-88) Clarice Watson Oregon Bird Records Committee Report 323 Alternates Joe Evanich, Portland Clarice Watson David Fix, Idleyld Park Rating Oregon's Listers 333 Matt Hunter, Roseburg Oregon Lister Rating Committee Ken Knittle, Glide Richard Smith, Portland Handicapping Oregon's Listers 335 Oregon Alternative Lister Rating Committee OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE P.O. Box 10373 OREGON BIRDS 12(4):227 Eugene, OR 97440 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS CBC Odyssey Revisited Paul Sullivan NEWS BRIEFS Dates for the 87th CBC Editor • This is your last issue of Oregon Birds unless you renew your HELDNOTES membership in Oregon Field Ornithologists. A handy pull-out sheet in the center of this issue — as in every issue — makes it easy to begin or Eastern Oregon, December 1985—May 1986 renew membership. Oregon Birds readers are urged to give OFO mem• Steve Summers Western Oregon, Winter/Spring 1985 —1986 berships this holiday season! Steve Heinl • The 1986 Oregon listing report form is due to Steve Summers by 31 January 1987. See the pull-out center page of this issue. A compilation SITE GUIDE of listing results is scheduled to appear in the next issue of Oregon Idlewild Park, Harney Co. Birds. Steve Heinl • Oregon Birds welcomes David A. Anderson as the new fieldnotes editor for eastern Oregon. David brings with him extensive birding CENTER experience in eastern Oregon, especially Hood River County. Steve Summers "retires" as fieldnotes editor with this issue. Oregon Birds OFO Bookcase & Membership Renewal 1986 Listing Report Form readers are indebted to Steve for accurate, concise, and timely field reports for many years. COVER • Oregon Birds has an "ISSN number." See the inside front cover for Short-eared Owl. Photo by Owen Schmidt. ISSN 0890-2313. The International Standard Serial Number is an internationally accepted code for the identification of serials, like OB. The ISSN provides abstracting and indexing services, librarians, and others "a tool for economically communicating basic bibliographic information with a minimum of error." OB will be entered into a data base at the Paris headquarters of the International Serials Data System. The National Serials Data Program is part of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540. • Corvallis birder Don Alan Hall has published a new book on bird watching titled A Bird in the Bush. "The 160-page book is directed at beginners to one of the fastest-growing pastimes in North America, but the book is equally enjoyable to veteran birders," says Hall. There are how-to sections on bird identification, picking field guides and optics, reporting bird sightings, dressing, and keeping score. There are sections on conservation and birding ethics, and cartoons by Salem birder Jack Hande. The book is available at select book stores or from the publisher by sending $7.95 (postpaid) to Words & Pictures Unlimited, 1257 N.W. Van Buren Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97330. OREGON BIRDS 12(4): 228 OREGON BIRDS 12(4): 229 ffl A number of Oregon Birds readers responded to the news item about • 1986 donations to the Oregon Nongame Wildlife Program neared the new book Birding Northern California, by Jean Richmond. See OB $324,000 through the state tax checkoff. $8,000 came from donors who 12(2): 66. In the future, OB readers should be aware that the price of did not have a refund coming. More than 59,000 Oregon taxpayers the book is $10 plus $1.35 postage and handling. For a copy of the book donated all or part of their state tax refund. The average contribution postpaid, send $11.35 to Mt Diablo Audubon Society, P.O. Box 53, was an all-time high $5.37 per return. Walnut Creek, CA 94596. • A new publication for birders — Birders World — is slated to appear • Eugene birder Larry McQueen is one of the illustrators for a new book soon. It will be issued 6 times a year and will feature a wide variety of now in preparation on the birds of Peru. Other contributors include Ted Parker and John O'Neill. This item appeared in the summer 1986 issue materials of interest to 'bird enthusiasts." The editor is Eldon D. Greij; of Vic Emanuel Nature Tours' Newsletter: You are probably aware that Ted . subscription is $25 per year. For more information, write to Birder's Larry and others are in the process of producing a book on the birds of Peru that will assist World, 52 West 19th Street, Holland, MI 49423. you in identifying the birds and learning about their natural history. This group of dedicated people is working without the aid of any grants or university money, but they • What is the most-wanted bird in North America? Ross' Gull, accord• cannot continue this huge project without additional private funding. Some of you have already helped in this project, but more support is needed to help see this book to its ing to the September issue of the NARBA Newsletter. This is the completion. Checks should be made out to LSU foundation and then For Peru Bird Book species for which the most birders have asked for the "we call you" Fund should be put in the "Memo" section at the bottom of the check. Donations should be service. For more information on the North American Rare Bird Alert, sent to Dr. fohn P. O'Neill, 119 Foster Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. All donations write to Bob O-Link, Inc., P.O. Box 1161, Jamestown, NC 27282. are totally tax deductible. Approximately 45 of the plates have been done, but this is less than half of those to be included. Larry has almost finished the flycatchers and will soon start on the antbirds. * * * They want this book to be the best ever on Neotropical birds, • II you have or know of someone who has an automobile license plate but without funds the project will continue to be done on a calch-as-calch-can basis. Please with the common or scientific name of a bird—or a bird-related word— give this project a financial hand!" Send checks to the above address; write to you are asked to send your name, address, and the word on the plate to Vic Emanuel Nature Tours at P.O. Box 33008, Austin, TX 78764. James R. Hill III, P.O. Box 178, Edinboro, PA 16412. • Birders enjoying and appreciating the facilities of the Malheur • Portland Audubon Society will host a series of "construction parties" Environmental Field Station should consider "joining." Membership in this winter for building bluebird and martin houses. Birders wishing to the Malheur Field Station allows discounts on lodging and meals, pur• become more involved should contact Mike Houck at Portland Audubon chases at the store, and members receive newsletters and special mail• (?«>? 6855), or Dave Fonts, Purple Martin Project, 1001 N.E. Thompson, ings. Membership starts at $10 for students and $15 for individuals. For Portland, < >R 97212 (282-9263), or Earl Gillis, Western Bluebird Project, more information write to the Field Station at P.O. Box 260 E, Rt, 5 Box 20, Newberg, OR 97132 (538-3844). Princeton, OR 97721. • Oregon birder Norman Barrett is interested in obtaining an original • A new monthly newsletter on issues of concern to the Oregon desert has copy of Birds of Oregon by Gabrielson and Jewett for research purposes. appeared. The Sage Advisor Volume 1 Issue 1 contains information on If you have a copy to sell, or know where there is a copy, write to BLM land swaps and other issues of public land management. Volume 1 Norman at 2554 "F" Street, Springfield, OR 97477. Issue 2 includes information on the Malheur Canal. For information, or to subscribe ($5 per year), write to the editor, Ellen Mendoza, 4005 • Seven species of birds of prey have increased in numbers from 1970 to Grant Ct, Portland, OR 97214. 1983, according to a study of Christmas Bird Count data conducted under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant. Gyrfalcons (+500%), Prairie • Yaquina Birders & Naturalists holds monthly meetings and Falcons (+145%), Bald Eagles (+92%), Northern Goshawks (+68%), publishes The Sandpiper.
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