$4.95
The quarterly journal of Oregon field ornithology
Volume 20, Number 4, Winter 1994
Oregon's First Verified Rustic Bunting 111 Paul Sherrell The Records of the Oregon Bird Records Committee, 1993-1994 113 Harry Nehls Oregon's Next First State Record Bird 115 Bill Tice What will be Oregon's next state record bird?.. 118 Bill Tice Third Specimen of Nuttall's Woodpecker {Picoides nuttallit) in Oregon from Jackson County and Comments on Earlier Records ..119 M. Ralph Browning Stephen P. Cross Identifying Long-billed Curlews Along the Oregon Coast: A Caution 121 Range D. Bayer Birders Add Dollars to Local Economy 122 Douglas Staller Where do chickadees get fur for their nests? 122 Dennis P. Vroman North American Migration Count 123 Pat French Some Thoughts on Acorn Woodpeckers in Oregon 124 George A. Jobanek
NEWS AND NOTES OB 20(4) 128
FIELDNOTES. .131 Eastern Oregon, Spring 1994 131 Steve Summers Western Oregon, Spring 1994 137 Gerard Lillie Western Oregon, Winter 1993-94 143 Supplement to OB 20(3): 104, Fall 1994 Jim Johnson
COVER PHOTO Clark's Nutcracker at Crater Lake, 17 April 1994. Photo/Skip Russell. CENTER OFO membership form OFO Bookcase Complete checklist of Oregon birds Oregon s Christmas Bird Counts Oregon Birds is looking for material in these categories: Oregon Birds News Briefs on things of temporal importance, such as meetings, birding trips, The quarterly journal of Oregon field ornithology announcements, news items, etc. Articles are longer contributions dealing with identification, distribution, ecology, is a quarterly publication of Oregon Field OREGON BIRDS management, conservation, taxonomy, Ornithologists, an Oregon not-for-profit corporation. Membership in Oregon Field Ornithologists includes a subscription to Oregon Birds. behavior, biology, and historical aspects of ISSN 0890-2313 ornithology and birding in Oregon. Articles cite references (if any) at the end of the text. Editor Owen Schmidt Names and addresses of authors typically appear at the beginning of the text. Assistant Editor Sharon K. Blair Associate Editor Jim Johnson Short Notes are shorter communications dealing with the same subjects as articles. Short Notes typicallycit e no references, or at most a few in parentheses in the text. Names OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS and addresses of authors appear at the end of President George A. Jobanek, Eugene (1994-95) the text Secretary David R. Copeland, Keizer (1994-95) Treasurer Barbara Combs, Eugene (1994-95) Bird Finding Guides "where to find a Past President Tim Shelmerdine, Aurora in Oregon" (for some of the rarer Directors Cindy Lawes, Beaverton (1994-96) birds) and "where to find birds in the Gerard Lillie, Portland (1993-95) area" (for some of the better spots). Don MacDonald, Corvallis (1993-95) Reviews for published material on Oregon Paul T. Sullivan, Beaverton (1994-96) birds or of interest to Oregon birders. Photographs of birds, especially photos OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE taken recently in Oregon. Color slide duplicates are preferred. Please label all Secretary Harry Nehls, Portland (1994) photos with photographer's name and address, bird identification, date and place the Members Tom Crabtree, Bend (1992-94) photo was taken. Photos will be returned; Jeff Gilligan, Portland (1993-95) contact the Editor for more information. Hendrik Herlyn, Corvallis (1992-94) Jim Johnson, Portland (1993-95) Deadline for the next issue of Oregon Birds — Nick Lethaby, Santa Clara, CA (1994-96) OB 21(1), Spring 1995 — is 20 January 1995. Larry McQueen, Eugene (1994-96) The next issue should get to you by the first week Craig Roberts, Tillamook (1993-95) of March 1995- Material can be submitted any Owen Schmidt, Portland (1994-96) time, and the sooner the better. Please send Steve Summers, Klamath Falls (1992-94) materials directly to the Editor, 3007 N.E. 32nd Avenue. Portland. OR 97212, 503-282-9403. Alternates Colin Dillingham, Brookings (1994) Richard Hoyer, Corvallis (1994) Oregon Birds Board of Editors: Kamal Islam, Corvallis (1994) David A. Anderson. Range D. Bayer, Charlie Bruce. Alan Contreras. Tom Crabtree, Jeff Gilligan. Steven G. Herman. Mike Houck, George A. Jobanek. Jim Johnson, CD. Littlefield. Roy Lowe. David B. Marshall, Harry Oregon Birds B. Nehls. Mark Stern, Paul Sullivan, Clarice Watson. OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE ©1994 OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS P.O. Box 10373 Eugene, OR 97440 Printed on Recycled Paper. Oregon Birds 20(4): 110 Oregon's first Verified Rustic Bunting
Paul Sherrell, 3528 Regent Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401
I first noticed the bird on or before ing as pictured in the National Geo• up for the day. Just as I was prepar• 31 March 1994. For a week the bird graphic Guide. Viewed from behind, ing to walk out the back door, the first reappeared irregularly for 2-5 second the back of the neck was very light. carload of Portland birders arrived. intervals. Any movement caused the It appeared that the eye stripes were Jeff Gilligan, Sheran Jones, Jim bird to fly into the lilac bush or into continuous with this area.There were Johnson and Gerard Lillie had hastily the trees near my feeder. The feeder some dark inclusions within this area. departed Portland upon hearing of is located under a filbert tree.To the No eye ring was evident at any time. the bunting. A telephone call later I east the yard is well covered by an By this time I had ruled out most had rearranged my departure for 3:00 apple tree and an Atlas cedar. A 10- of the local sparrows and longspurs. pm. Don Schrouder, a local birder, foot evergreen hedge is 20 feet to the This bird hopped; it did not walk like agreed to come by and open the south of the feeder with the house a longspur. I strongly suspected it was house until 6:00 pm and to open it 20 feet to the west.The area directly a Rustic Bunting. When I saw the again Sunday morning. above and to the southeast of the sharply pointed yellow bill with a For the next few days I received feeder is open to the sky.The ground dark culmen and wide white outer numerous telephone calls from behind the feeder is covered with tail feathers, I was certain of my iden• around the state which by mid-week bark mulch and in front of the feeder tification. At that time I called Alison became calls from around the United is a small dormant garden area cov• and Tom Mickel to confirm my iden• States. I received calls from Texas, ered with dried leaves.The bird usu• tification, which was completed Sat• Louisiana, and Washington D.C., in ally flew to a low perch for a few sec• urday morning 9 April. We called the addition to many from California (es• onds and then to another several feet Oregon Rare Bird Phone Network and pecially from the Bay Area), Washing• higher and then would be gone for ton, and Oregon. John and Judy hours. At no time was an effort McCluny from Annapolis, Mary• made to "chase the bird" through land, flew out specifically to see the yard. the bunting They were waiting pa• Gradually I accumulated a list of if tiently for me to open the house characteristics and developed a list at 6:45 am Saturday morning 16 of specific details to search for at 0 April. Bruce and Brenda Barrett, each new sighting.The first char• Ursula Atkinson, and Steve and acteristics that I noted were the Pamela Goodbred all from north• peaked head or crested appear• ern California were also present ance and the broad, distinctive fa• Saturday morning. Lee Snyder of cial stripes. The bird appeared St. Petersburg, Florida, as I recall, bright for a sparrow and the head was already in Oregon when he always caught my eye first. Chest• learned of the bunting's presence. nut colored flank streaking was ap• Fortunately all of those who ar• parent. Further sightings estab• rived early that day saw the bird. lished the fact that there was no For those arriving after noon, a central crown stripe and that the sighting could not be guaranteed. crown appeared "speckled" or The third weekend produced "variegated." There was no solid fewer and fewer sightings and to color field. A collar across the my knowledge the bird was not back of the neck appeared gray to seen after Sunday 17 April. brown depending upon the light .This During the time that the bunting collar was wide and had very distinct Rustic Bunting, 9 April 1994, Eugene, lane Co. was present, the color pattern of the Photo/Ship Russell. anterior and posterior borders. The head changed considerably, darken• collar strongly contrasted with both the word was out. Local birders ing in general.The bright, light head the head and the back. Careful obser• showed up within 10 minutes and that had originally caught my atten• vation showed a thin chestnut-col• soon I had 17 birders in my living tion now appeared rather dark. Spe• ored line bordering the anterior edge room staring out the window in per• cifically, the crown above the imme• of the collar. Additional observations fect synchrony. diate forehead darkened considerably as did the ear patch. The thin chest• showed reddish-pink legs and sup• As luck would have it, my week• nut border to the neck collar also ported my belief that the chestnut end was to be quite complicated. Due appeared to widen slightly. color of the flanks extended over the to a previous commitment I needed rump. The color, however, was not to leave Eugene by noon that day. By Behavioral characteristics of note solid but was broken up by irregular that time most of the local birders include the skittishness of the bird lighter lines much as shown in the who had arrived early had seen the especially in the vicinity of my feeder. rump area of the female Rustic Bunt• bunting or they were willing to give The bird hopped rather than walked.
Oregon Birds 20(4): 111 of these changes I concluded that the remarkable videotape of the bird pro• bird was a male molting into breed• duced by Owen Schmidt. Unfortu• ing plumage. Two similar species, nately, or fortunately, by this time the Reed and Little Buntings, are ruled bird had departed. For weeks I re• out by the reddish not black flank and ceived phone calls varying from re• breast markings as well as by the ports of the bird in numerous back white spot on the dark ear coverts yards to a spiritual encounter involv• and the crested appearance. ing the bird. A telephone call by my next door I wish to thank all of those who Rustic Bunting, 9 April 1994, Eugene, Lane Co. Photo/Skip Russell. neighbor led to front page coverage came for their exemplary behavior. by the Eugene Register Guard which The bird was seen by 100-150 or Once the bird flew from the ground in turn produced a flurry of media more birders. Neighbors commented around the feeder I never saw it re• activity. Portland and Eugene radio on how orderly people were and how turn within an hour. Normally it stations called asking for brief on-the- patient the observers were in explain• would fly up into a tree several feet air interviews and 2 local television ing to them just what was going on. above the ground, wait for a few sec• stations interviewed me in the yard. If you visited without "signing in" I onds, fly up another 3 feet or so, pos• KEZI led off their evening news pro• would appreciate hearing from you sibly repeating this procedure again, gram with 2 minutes of coverage in• so that I may add your name to the then flying out of the yard. During cluding an interview with me and a list of observers. 0 the first 10 days the bird was never seen at the feeder until several other birds were already feeding. Usually this was 3-4 juncos with or without a couple of House Sparrows. As of the weekend of 17 April the juncos were not seen and the bunting spent more time in my west yard feeding in an area covered with bark mulch, often alone. By this time I had become aware that the bird had been seen by some birders during the day in an undeveloped park 1 block west of my house.This in fact was where Owen Schmidt videotaped the bird near the top of a mature oak tree. I know of no other sites where the bird was seen. I was not at all familiar with the species before seeing it at my feeder. Originally I checked the following field guides: National Geographic's Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Peterson's Western Birds, the Audubon Master Birding Guide, and Lars Jonsson's Birds of Europe. Later I had the opportunity to observe field guides to the USSR and Japan. When the bird first appeared, it seemed to very closely match the fe• male illustrated in the National Geo• graphic guide. Over the next couple of weeks the bird darkened on the crown and face to where I would now say it most closely matched the Master Birding Guide's illustration of the female Rustic Bunting — a plum• age representation unlike that shown in any other field guide that I have seen. A white spot in the ear patch became evident. There appeared to have been some slight broadening to Above: A series ofstill images capturedfrom video of the Rustic Bunting, 11 April 1994. The bird remained the chestnut edge of the anterior edge perched high in an oak tree at dusk, defying attempts on this occasion at film photography. Photos/Owen of the neck collar and a general dark• Schmidt. ening of the face patch. On the basis Oregon Birds 20(4): 112 The Records of the Oregon Bird Records Committee, 1993-1994
Harry Nehls, Secretary, Oregon Bird Records Committee, 2736 S.E. 20th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202
From October 1993 to October 1994 species, the second 2 are the year in Dillingham, and Richard Hoyer. the Oregon Bird Records Committee which the record was observed, and The OBRC thanks the following (OBRC) completed the following the last numbers are the consecutive organizations for having made finan• records.The first group of records are numbers for the records as they are cial contributions in the past year to those for which the written report filed with the OBRC. help with expenses: Cape Arago and/or photographs or specimens The members of the OBRC for 1994 Audubon Society, Corvallis Audubon supported the stated identification are Tom Crabtree, Jeff Gilligan, Jim Society, Grant County Bird Club, Lane and are accepted records. If photo(s) Johnson, Larry McQueen, Nick County Audubon Society, Grande or specimen is indicated for a record Lethaby, Owen Schmidt, Hendrik Ronde Bird Club, Rogue Valley it was accepted as verified. Other Herlyn, and Steve Summers. The al• Audubon Society, and Umpqua Valley records were accepted as sight ternates are Kamal Islam, Colin Audubon. records. Of the 33 records reviewed by the Committee and the 2 records brought up for reconsideration during this 19 94 Records period, 31 were accepted and 4 were Deferred Being Reviewed not accepted.The Ruff and the Black- Records throated Blue Warbler were removed from the OBRC Review List. 213 Information presented below for Not Accepted each species includes location of Records sighting, number of birds, sex and age if known, special information (such as collection and museum number) and date(s), initial of the observer(s) submitting written or other evidence 846 for accepted records, and the OBRC Accepted record file number.The OBRC record Records file number reads as follows: the first Status of All Records Submitted 3 digits are the AOU number for the to the OBRC to October 1994
RECORDS ACCEPTED Mottled Petrel 099-93-12 Bayocean Beach, Tillamook Co., 1 bird dead on the men to Oregon State University Collection No. 10,917. beach 14 April 1993 (photos by HN). Details (HN).
Broad-winged Hawk Yellow-billed Cuckoo 343-89-04 "P" Ranch, Harney Co., 1 immature on 26 May 1989 (DPa). 387-92-12 Fields, Harney Co., 1 bird 4-5 June 1992 (HN). 343-92-05 Roaring Springs, Harney Co., 1 immature on 23 May 1992 (DB, photos by BA). Boreal Owl 343-92-06 Hq. Malheur NWR, Harney Co., 1 immature on 19 Sep• 371-92-04 Jet. FSR 64-65, Wallowa Co., 1 bird on 24 October tember 1992 (KKe,TG). 1992 (photo by CD). Costa's Hummingbird Gyrfalcon 430-93-23 Sawyer Park, Deschutes Co., 1 adult male 10-16 May 354-89-16 Klamath Marsh NWR, Klamath Co., 1 gray phase bird 1993 (CM, SS,TJ). on 1 November 1989 (SS). Least Flycatcher Elegant Tern 467-92-21 Near Gilchrist, Klamath Co., 1 singing bird 19-22 June 066-92-19 Lincoln Co., several flocks 28 June to 12 July 1992 1992 (SS). (KM). 467-93-22 Hq Malheur NWR, Harney Co., 1 singing bird on 31 May 1993 (AC). 066-92-20 CoosandLincolnCos.,severalflocks30Julyl992 (SF). 467-93-23 Hot Springs CG, Hart Mountain NAR, Lake Co., 1 sing• ing bird 1-18 June 1993 (AC, HGH). Thick-billed Murre 467-93-24 Blue Sky, Hart Mt. NAR, Lake Co., 1 singing bird on 5 031-72-09 So. Jetty Columbia River, Clatsop Co., 1 bird dead on June 1993 (AC). the beach 15 September 1972. Museum Record. Speci• Oregon Birds 20(4): 113 467-93-2 5 15 mi. N. Owyhee Dam, Malheur Co., 1 singing bird 13 Indigo Bunting June 1993 (AC, HGH). 598-92-15 Trout Creek, HarneyCo., 1 adult male on 7 June 1992 (BT). Vermilion Flycatcher 598-92-16 Roseburg, Douglas Co., 1 adult male on 1 August 1992 471-92-02 Myrtle Point, Coos Co., 1 adult male 6-7 December (MH). 1992 (SW) Clay-colored Sparrow Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 561-91-28 Astoria, Clatsop Co., 1 bird on 15 December 1991 443-92-03 Cascade Head, Tillamook Co., 1 bird on 16 May 1992 (Photo by MP). (PK). 443-92-04 Fairview, Multnomah Co., 1 bird on 25 May 1992 (PO). Lark Bunting 443-92-05 Cape Blanco, Curry Co., 1 bird on 28 June 1992 (DAH). 605-93-11 West Salem, Marion Co., 1 summer plumaged male 15-16 May 1993 (RRa, WT, AC). Brown Thrasher 705-75-15 Hq. Malheur NWR, HarneyCo., 1 bird 31 October 1974 CONTRIBUTORS to 15 April 1975 (BT). Bob Archer** (BA) Patricia Kemner** (PK) 705-92-16 Near Fossil, Wheeler Co., 1 bird on 13June 1992 (PM). Don Baccus** (DB) KathyMerrifield (KM) Alan Barron (AB) Craig Miller (CM) Cape May Warbler Alan Contreras (AC) Patrick Muller (PM) 650-92-07 Harris Beach St. Pk., Curry Co., 1 adult male on 30 Colin Dillingham (CD) Harry Nehls (HN) May 1992 (AB). Shawneen Finnegan (SF) Paul Osburn** (PO) David Fix (DF) Mike Patterson (MP) Blackpoll Warbler Paula Frazier** (PF) Dennis Paulson** (DPa) 661-92-27 PortOrford, CurryCo., 1 immature 4 September 1992 RoyGerig (RG) Russell Raney** (RRa) (DF). TonyGreager (TG) Steve Summers (SS) Don Alan Hall** (DAH) William Tice (WT) Summer Tanager Hendrik Herlyn (HGH) Bill Tweit** (BT) 610-92-05 DeMoss Springs Park, Sherman Co., 1 second year male Matthew Hunter (MH) Stanley Wilson** (SW) on 24 May 1992 (RG). Timjanzen (TJ) Karen Kearney (KKe) ** new on all-time master Rose-breasted Grosbeak contributor list 595-92-23 Brookings, Curry Co., 1 immature male 17-18 April 1992 (CD, photos by PF). 595-93-24 Brookings, Curry Co., 1 adult male 15 May 1993 (photo by CD). RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED Gyrfalcon
Reviewing select subspecies 354-91-11 Harbor. Cum Co., 1 gray bird on 30 November 1991. At the April 1994 Oregon Bird Records Com• Not accepted as the description was too brief and did mittee meeting in Netarts the Committee voted not rule out an immature Peregrine Falcon. to review records of select subspecies that may become full species in the near future .The OBRC Painted Redstart is asking for details on sightings of the following 688-91-03 Salem. Marion Co., 1 bird on 5 October 1991. Not ac• subspecies. The reports will be handled and cepted as the sighting was too brief and the descrip• voted the same as a rare species, but will not be tion was too incomplete to entirely rule out similar added to the Oregon State List until such time species. that they become full species. Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii RECORDS RECONSIDERED Siberian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Tufted Duck variegatus 149.1-87-06 Monmouth Sewage Ponds, Polk Co., 1 adult male 12- Kamchatka Gull Larus canus 31 January 198". Originally accepted, but was Not Ac• kamtschatschensis cepted on reconsideration as the bird returned the next Kumlien's Gull Larus glaucoides kumlieni 2 winters and was subsequently identified as a hybrid Eastern Solitary Vireo Vireo solitarius bird (probable Tufted Duck x scaup), and was so pub• lished in American Birds 44(2): 318. solitarias Plumbeous Solitary Vireo Vireo solitarius plumbeus Common Grackle White-winged Junco Junco hyemalis 511-91-07 Frenchglen, Harney Co., 1 female on 24, May 1991- caniceps Originally Not Accepted as description and photograph Grey-headed Junco Junco hyemalis caniceps did not rule out Brewer's Blackbird. Not accepted on Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula galbula reconsideration as details and photograph were incon• clusive. 0
Oregon Birds 20(4): 114 Oregon's Next first State Record Bird
Bill Tice, 750 Wood Street, Falls City, OR 97344
This article is a comparison ofWest flock. Oregon's record of Fulvous Pipits really flying non-stop over the Coast accidental species from British Whistling-Duck was a flock of 11 Pacific directly to California?) Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and birds. As you read the tables it will be California. It deals only with what the There may also be what appear to painfully obvious that California has rare bird records committees from be inaccuracies to the reader. Some- the market on rarities. Some of us those areas deem to be valid, includ• - times the birding grape vine through north of there may even feel a little ing not only documentation from which we have heard of a certain jealous. A word of explanation may photos and specimens, but sight sighting may not appear to have be needed. First, California is larger records as well. Limiting this treat• panned out via the committees and (except for B.C.). It has all the neces• ment in this way will avoid a lot of then onto this paper. (The front page sary habitat to which vagrants are of• confusion and make easier guidelines of the winter edition of Oregon Birds ten found. It also is closer to Mexico, to follow. for 1991 had a photo of a Philadel• increasing it's likelihood for more It should be understood that a phia Vireo; no written documentation tropical-type species. It also has an straight across-the-board comparison of it has been submitted; you may also appropriate climate to induce what is simply not possible due to differ• have noticed that California's Orien• rarities that do come to stay for a ent standards used by these commit• tal Greenfinch did not pass the test.) while. (What birds beside waterfowl tees. For example, California, being Take them for what they are worth, want to hang around where it rains more cautious or strict, continues to and be glad you don't have to make all the time?) It has more birders. A review most species up to around 100 the decisions rare bird committees comparison from the American Bird• before dropping them from the re• •wrestle with. If you sit on one of ing Association membership has Cali• view list. The other states and B.C. those committees, your job is usually fornia with 1800 members, Oregon usually make the break at about not enviable. You simply cannot at 200, Washington with 400+, and 20-25. It also may be that they vary please everyone. B.C. at 130. Many California birders somewhat in what they may accept Have you ever thought what it live on the coast, where what little to be valid due to their own particu• would be like without having a bird vegetation there is concentrates the lar policies, opinions, and observer records committee in Oregon? The birds that do show up into small ar• experience. Nevertheless, what fol• word "chaos" might accurately de• eas. Also, the saying," Go west, young lows should be useful to those inter• scribe our state's unusual avifauna. man, go west" might apply here to a ested in rare birds of the West. No doubt there would be birds on the number of species. Many of the birds The information provided is reason• list that shouldn't be there and more arriving south of us simply may be ably up-to-date, though there are al• unusual birds not on the list that coming from equal latitudes to the ways records pending acceptance. should be. Having a group of birders east. Where appropriate, when certain with a wide range of experience who After the table below I will make species are still under review, it is in• can adequately judge submitted re• some observations from having dicated with an asterisk (*)• Sight ports still has to be the best way to looked over this material.The lack of records are indicated with their num• get the most accurate picture of our certain species in Oregon, or greater ber in parentheses ( ). R = regular, t state list. If you can think of ways for numbers of them elsewhere, may be = only reviews this species after 1990, improvement you ought to submit due to obvious reasons — especially Id = introduced, E = extirpated, % = them to the Oregon Bird Records the pelagics. Neither we nor B.C. ar• records reviewed since 1978 only. Committee. range near the number of boat trips It is hoped that the reader will use Since this is intended for Oregon off the coast as Washington or Cali• common sense. It should be known Birds readers, a specific statement of fornia. Other reasons may not be as that Short-tailed Albatross, which was purpose is in order. My goal is to alert obvious. once numerous along the West Coast, Oregon's birders as to what may be I take responsibility for most mis• is now considered extremely rare, passing through our state as yet not takes or omissions.There was a lot of and thus what records are accounted documented, and to the amazing pos• material to go through coming from for are from recent years. Occasion• sibilities as to how far away from it's the 4 committee secretaries, who are ally there will be an R where it is normal range a certain species may to be most graciously thanked: thought that there should be a num• travel, as was evidenced by the recent Michael A. Patten from California, ber, or a blank space where it is record of a Streak-backed Oriole in who also provided many helpful sug• thought there should be a number. Oregon. Seeing what has occurred to gestions, Harry Nehls from Oregon, In such cases it would be well to re• the north and south of us and which Phil Mattocks from Washington, and member that I have simply recorded could reasonably be expected to be Wayne Webber from B.C. what these committees have relayed seen in our state may motivate some to me. It should also be noted that to research the habits and migration each record indicated does not nec• patterns of those and search for them essarily represent one particular bird. at the appropriate times in probable It could be a pair or it could be a places. (Are all those Red-throated
Oregon Birds 20(4): 115 Observations CA OR WA BC CA OR WA BC Arctic Loon 2 Gyrfalcon 8 12 R R Yellow-billed Loon 54 23 R R Yellow Rail 67 R 2 1 Clark's Grebe R R R 20 Purple Gallinule 2 Wandering Albatross 1 Common Moorhen R 6 1 Short-tailed Albatross 4 2 1 1 Mongolian Plover 5 3 Shy Albatross 1 Snowy Plover R R R 10 Laysan Albatross R R R 15 Wilson's Plover 7 Mottled Petrel 52 11 2 Piping Plover 3 (1) 1 Murphy's Petrel R 1 1 Mountain Plover R 4 1 Cook's Petrel R Eurasian Dotterel 8 2 Stejneger's Petrel 10 American Oystercatcher 13 Streaked Shearwater 5 Spotted Redshank 5 1 4 Greater Shearwater (1) Gray-tailed Tattler 1 1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater 2 Terek Sandpiper 1 1 Black-vented Shearwater R Upland Sandpiper 14 R R Manx-type Shearwater 4 4 9 Little Curlew 3 Manx shearwater 5 Bristle-thighed Curlew (1) 1 2 Wilson's Storm-Petrel R (1) 1 Hudsonian Godwit 12 12 14 Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (11 Bar-tailed Godwit 15 12 R 10 Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel 5 Great Knot 1 1 Black Storm-Petrel R 1 Rufous-necked Stint 8 5 5 Magnificent Frigatebird R 7 2 1 Little Stint 6 2 3 Great Frigatebird 1 Temmick's Stint 1 White-tailed Tropicbird 1 Long-toed Stint 1 2 Red-billed Tropicbird R 1 White-rumped Sandpiper 12 3 Red-tailed Tropicbird 9 Curlew Sandpiper 17 7 5 11 Masked Booby 7 Spoon-billed Sandpiper 1 Blue-footed Booby 74 1 Ruff R R R R Brown Booby 42 Jack Snipe 2 (1) Red-footed Booby 11 Laughing Gull R 1 2 Neotropic Cormorant 4 Little Gull 53 6 R R Red-faced Cormorant 1 Common Black-headed Gul! 17 2 7 24 Anhinga 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull 6 1 Least Bittern R R 2 Slaty-backed Gull 1 2 4 Snowy Egret R R 12 6 Great Black-backed Gull 1 Little Blue Heron R 3 2 1 Red-legged Kittiwake 7 3 Tricolored Heron 12t 3 Ross' Gull 1 1 Reddish Egret 65 Ivory Gull 5 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 16 1 Black-tailed Gull 1* White Ibis 3 Elegant Tern R R R 12 Roseate Spoonbill 4* Least Tern R 3 1 Wood Stork R Aleutian Tern 3 Fulvous Whistling-Duck R 1 1 Sandwich Tern 3 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 11 Sooty Tern (1) Whooper Swan 3 (1) Thick-billed Murre 31 3 6 R Trumpeter Swan 21 R R R Kittlitz'sMurre 1 1 Emperor Goose 56 R R R Xantus' Auklet R 5 29+ 1 Baikal Teal 5 1 Parakeet Auklet 62 8 12+ 1 Falcated Teal 1 Least Auklet 1 American Black Duck 1 1 Id Id Crested Auklet 1 Garganey 16 2 2 Ruddy Ground-Dove 60 Common Pochard 1 White-winged Dove R 3 3 3 Tufted Duck 70 13 R R Black-billed Cuckoo 13 4 24 King Eider 33 4 14 R Yellow-billed Cuckoo R 13 E Common Eider 2 Grove-billed Ani 9 Steller's Eider 3 1 1 4 Snowy Owl 69 R R R Smew 1 1 3 3 Northern Hawk-Owl 2 20+ R White-tailed Kite R R R 5 Boreal Owl R R R Mississippi Kite 26 Lesser Nighthawk R Common Black-Hawk (1) Chuck-will's-widow 2 Red-shouldered Hawk R R 4 Whip-poor-will R Broad-winged Hawk R 8 3 R Chimney Swift R Zone-tailed Hawk 42 White-collared Swift (1) Eurasian Kestrel 1 Broad-billed Hummingbird 44
Oregon Birds 20(4): 116 CA OR WA BC CA OR WA BC Xcintus' Hummingbird 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler R 25 7 10 Violet-crowned Hummingbird 3 Magnolia Warbler R 21 6 R Blue-throated Hummingbird 1 Cape May Warbler R 7 1 R Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler R R 2 1 Costa's Hummingbird R 23 6 Hermit Warbler R R R 2 Allen's Hummingbird R R 1 Black-throated Green Warbler R 5 1 R Broad-tailed Hummingbird R R 1 Golden-cheeked Warbler 1 Red-headed Woodpecker 4 1 Blackburnian Warbler R 4 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker R 7 1 Yellow-throated Warbler 73 1 Nuttall's Woodpecker R 1 Grace's Warbler 29 Three-toed Woodpecker (1) R R R Pine Warbler 53 (1) Greater Pewee 29 Prairie Warbler R 4 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 1* Bay-breasted Warbler R 7 R Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 7 R Blackpoll Warbler R 28 5 R Acadian Flycatcher 1 Cerulean Warbler 13 Alder Flycatcher 1 2 R Prothonotary Warbler 95 4 2 Least Flycatcher R 21 It R Worm-eating Warbler 73 1 Eastern Phoebe R 1 2 R Louisiana Waterthrush 6 Black Phoebe R R 2 2 Kentucky Warbler 109 2 1 Vermillion Flycatcher R 2 1 Connecticut Warbler 66 Dusky-capped Flycatcher 31 Mourning Warbler 87 (4) Great-crested Flycatcher 38 Hooded Warbler R 6 1 Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher 11 Canada Warbler R 3 3 Tropical Kingbird R 12 11 Red-faced Warbler 9 Thick-billed Kingbird 12 Painted Redstart R 1 Gray Kingbird 1 Summer Tanager 87 5 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 89 7 12 Scarlet Tanager 81 4 1 Fork-tailed Flycatcher 1 Pyrrhuloxia 13 Eurasian Skylark 1 Id Id Rose-breasted Grosbeak R 24 14 R Cave Swallow 1 Blue Grosbeak R 2 1 Pinyon Jay R R 1 Indigo Bunting R 20 7 15 Blue Jay 9 R R R Varied Bunting 2 Scrub Jay R R R 1 Painted Bunting 42 2 1 Sedge Wren 4 Dickcissel R 5 3 4 Dusky Warbler 4 Green-tailed Towhee R R R 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher R R 3 3 Cassin's Sparrow 38 Red-flanked Bluetail 1 Clay-colored Sparrow R 30 20+ R Northern Wheatear 6 2 1 Field Sparrow 5 Veery 8 R R R Black-chinned Sparrow R 2 Dusky Thrush 1 Black-throated Sparrow R R R 8 Gray-cheeked Thrush 15 1 1 R Sage Sparrow R R R 4 Wood Thrush 10 3 Lark Bunting R 11 8 5 Brown Thrasher R 18 6 Baird's Sparrow 3 1 California Thrasher R (1) Le Conte's Sparrow 25 2 R Siberian Accentor 1 Sharp-tailed Sparrow R 1 Loggerhead Shrike R R R 25r + McCowan's Longspur R 3 3 Yellow Wagtail 10 3 Smith's Longspur 2 Gray Wagtail 1 Chestnut-collared Longspur R 5 2 4 White Wagtail 2 2 Little Bunting 1 Black-backed Wagtail 4 1 (2) 1 Rustic Bunting 3 2 2 3 Black-backed/White Wagtail 7 2 Snow Bunting 57 ; R R R Red-throated Pipit R 2 3 McKay's Bunting 1 2 1 Sprague's Pipit 22 3 Rusty Blackbird R 6 22 R Phainopepla R 3 Great-tailed Grackle R 12 1 1 Brown Shrike 2 Common Grackle 34 10 5 White-eyed Vireo 31 1 Orchard Oriole R 4 1 Bell's Vireo R (1) Hooded Oriole R 13 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 55 Streaked-backed Oriole 5 1* Philadelphia Vireo 95 1 R Scott's Oriole R 1 1 Yellow-green Vireo 37 Brambling 5 5 10 15 Blue-winged Warbler 19 1 White-winged Crossbill (1) R R R Golden-winged Warbler 50 2 Common Redpoll R R R Virginia's Warbler R 5 Hoary Redpoll ° 2 4 R Lucy's Warbler R 1 Black Rosy-Finch 5 R Northern Parula R 21 6 Lesser Goldfinch R R R 2 Lawrence's Goldfinch R 1 Oregon Birds 20(4): 117 "Birds have wings! "This was what territory near Juneau, Alaska. From prophet, but if I were to predict what someone told me after I told him that South America have come a Spotted new species will make it through the such and such a bird was "guaran• Rail to Pennsylvania, an Azure Gall- OBRC by the end of this century, I teed" if he would just go around the inule to New York, a Paint-billed Crake would venture to guess the follow• corner to find it. He obviously didn't to Virginia, a Large-billed Tern to New ing: Yellow Wagtail, Red-throated agree, and for good reason. We never Jersey, and a Brown-chested Martin Pipit, Reddish Egret, Great-crested know when they will fly or where to. to Massachusetts. A Common Crane Flycatcher, Cook's Petrel, a booby or That may be the underlying theme of from Eurasia has made it to Nebraska, two,and, my, this list could go on and this comparison. and a Varied Thrush has made it all on. This must just reflect Oregon Did you notice how B.C. has had the way to England! And just think of birder optimism. visitors like Gray Kingbird and all the pelagic possibilities! Keep the comparison chart and Painted Redstart? A Shy Albatross vis• Now, getting back to reality, the study it from time to time.Then do ited Washington? One wonders what following is a list of birds that have your homework and figure out some might show up next. been recorded over 30 times in Cali• logistics for where and when certain I couldn't help but notice how a fornia and (bite your tongue) could species are most prone to show up. number of species seem to just pass thus be "logically" expected in Or• This method will not work every by Oregon for sunny California. Why egon: Blue-footed Booby, Brown time, but is calculated to pay off is it that California has many more Booby, Reddish Egret, Red-throated sooner or later. Rare birds have the records of King Eider, Little Gull, Pipit, Great-crested Flycatcher, uncanny ability to show up about Thick-billed Murre, Red-throated White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated anywhere, even in your own back Pipit, Parakeet Auklet and numerous Vireo, Connecticut Warbler, and yard! warblers than we do. And Yellow Broad-billed Hummingbird. The more knowledgeable we be• Wagtail has shown up 10 times south The following species have been come the better our chances are of of our border as well! And then there recorded in Humbolt/Del Norte finding those rare birds. And for a is the Broad-winged Hawk. Scores are Counties, the northernmost coastal birder, there is no greater thrill than seen every year in migration in Cali• counties in California and not yet re• that of finding a state first. fornia and the species is far removed corded in Oregon: Eurasian Dotterel, 0 from the review list. No doubt many Black-billed Cuckoo, Chuck-will's- seen there breed to the north of us widow, White-collared Swift, Broad- in B.C. and Alberta. Has anyone the billed hummingbird, Red-headed time and energy to see if these are woodpecker, Dusky-capped fly• migrating through eastern Oregon? catcher, Great-crested Flycatcher,Yel• Steens Mountain area?The Cascades? low Wagtail, Red-throated pipit, Phila• The almost total lack of sightings from delphia Vireo, Yellow-green Vireo, the well-known hawk watch post in Blue-winged Warbler, Cerulean War• the Goshutes Mountains indicates bler, Connecticut Warbler, Cassin's they are not passing though eastern Sparrow, and Sharp-tailed Sparrow. hat will be Oregon's Nevada. These are among the more The following is a list of species that next state record bird? probable examples of birds escaping have been recorded in other counties How about the next 5? Oregon's borders — or birders. of northern California but not yet re• W In recent years we've been Then there are dozens of species corded in Oregon: Chimney Swift, treated to the Eastern Wood- that have been recorded north and Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Pewee, Rustic Bunting, Streak- south of us yet to be seen here. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Greater backed Oriole, Eastern Phoebe, rough count totals about 70+ species Pewee,Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Sul• etc. Which 5 species will be here to the south and 30+ species to the phur-bellied Flycatcher, Thick-billed next? Send your list of the 5 birds north, all of which theoretically could Kingbird, Forktailed Flycatcher, Eur• you predict will next vie for the have passed through Oregon. I feel asian Skylark, Sedge Wren, Dusky this gives us hope to see and docu• Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, Gray cover of Oregon Birds. Only ment many more species in the fu• Wagtail, Sprague's Pipit, Brown those who send in their lists be• ture. I also believe that the birders in Shrike, White-eyed Vireo, Golden- fore the next first state record bird this state cover the area very well and cheeked Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, is discovered are eligible! The that we don't have to apologize to Painted Redstart, Field Sparrow, winner will receive a complemen• anyone for what is not yet on the list. Baird's Sparrow, and Smith's Long• tary 1-year subscription to OB. Optimism and listing drive us to find spur. These last 2 lists ought to give Send your list directly to Bill Tice, new species, and this is certainly bet• us something to think about! And 750 Wood Street, Falls City, OR ter than pessimism. (I think I know then there are always the common 97344. only one pessimistic birder). ones to the south not yet found across Other birds like Whip-poor-will and the border like Lesser Nighthawk, Chimney Swift have reached Alaska, Yellow-billed Magpie, and and Fork-tailed Flycatcher has Rufous-crowned Sparrow. reached Idaho. If we need more rea• As said before, "birds have wings." sons for optimism we could find them This literally means that anything is in the record books. Steller's Sea Eagle possible, although some things are has returned for over 6 years to its more probable. I'm not much of a Oregon Birds 20(4): 118 Third Specimen of Nuttall's Woodpecker (Picoides nutUUlii) in Oregon fromJackso n County and Comments on Earlier Records
M. Ralph Browning, Birds, MRC-116, National Biological Survey, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20560 Stephen P Cross, Department of Biology, Southern Oregon State College, Ashland, OR 97520
The third specimen of Nuttall's collected in northern California. that Newberry's omission of Oregon Woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii) Jobanek (1994) suggested that it also in his account of nuttallii is not rea• from Jackson County, Oregon, a male, was possible the bird was collected son to reject (Short 1965) Umpqua was found dead on West Fork Trail in the Rogue Valley, Oregon. Valley as the locality of USNM 4471; about 2.5 miles northwest of Trail on Roberson (1980), who listed only the Henshaw (1880) also did not mention an unknown date in fall 1991 The red two 1881 specimens from Ashland, the species yet the data of his speci• crown of the bird indicates that it is stated that a specimen was "taken in mens were undoubted by Short at least 2 months old (Short T971). this area inAug 1851," but this was in (1965) and others. Newberry's The bird weighed 47.8 grams. It is reference to Newberry's specimen (1857) omission of nuttallii in Or• now specimen SOSC 1697 in the col• (Roberson, in litt.).The Oregon Bird egon, as well as a specimen (USNM) lection at Southern Oregon State Col• Records Committee (Watson 1986) of Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes lege, Ashland. cited the two 1881 specimens from formicivorus) from the Umpqua Val• The first 2 specimens of Nuttall's Ashland as the only verified records ley (he mentioned only that the spe• Woodpecker from Jackson County, an for Oregon. cies occurs in Oregon west of the adult male and female (British Mu• The oldest label of the Newberry Cascades) and a specimen (USNM) of seum [Natural History]), were col• specimen bears the preprinted name Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) lected at Ashland on 3 and 4 Febru• of the expedition, with the locality from the Calapooya Mountains, sug• ary 1881 by H.W Henshaw (Hargitt "Umpqua Valley" followed by name gest that Newberry may not have 1890; Ridgway 1914; Short 1965). "Newberry" written in ink. No date been aware of all the specimens that According to Bendire (1895), a single appears on the label. A second and Abbot's party obtained. We do not specimen from Ashland was in the newer label bears the month Novem• agree with Jobanek (in litt.) that the former collection of the United States ber, the same as in the USNM cata• collector possibly confused the Department of Agriculture, Washing• logue. Short (1965) concluded that Umpqua and Rogue Valleys and there• ton, D.C. The collection was trans• the specimen was not collected by fore mislabeled the specimen; neither ferred to the Smithsonian Institution, Newberry and that it was possibly locality was confused in Abbot's di• but there is no evidence of the speci• from California because of its slightly ary (Sawyer 1932) and report (Abbot men mentioned by Bendire. Accord• worn fresh fall plumage and because 1855). The locality Rogue Valley for ing to Merrill (1888:140), Nuttall's Newberry (1857) did not mention the woodpecker (Jobanek 1994) is Woodpeckers were seen "among the nuttallii in Oregon. We agree with very unlikely as Abbot's party were oaks" about 30 miles west of Ft. Kla• Short (1965) only that Newberry did under protective military escort.We math, a locality equivalent to the not collect USNM 4471. In conclude that USNM 4471 was col• Rogue River in Jackson County. Newberry's absence, Lt. H.L. Abbot lected in the Umpqua Valley some Browning (1975) referred only to the led members of a survey expedition time in late October 1855 by the sur• 2 Henshaw specimens as evidence of in interior western Oregon through vey expedition. P. nuttallii in Jackson County. the Umpqua Valley from 28 to 31 According to Grinnell and Miller Baird et a/. (1858) reported the ear• October 1855 and crossed the Or• (1944), A.O.U. (1957), and Small liest record of nuttalli from Oregon, egon-California boundary on 6 No• (1974), nuttallii is a resident in inte• a specimen (USNM 4471 [U. S. Na• vember (Abott 1855).We believe that rior California near the head of the tional Museum]) from the Umpqua Newberry's name is on the original Sacramento Valley. Short (1982:298), Valley, Douglas County, collected in labels of the woodpecker and other stated that P. nuttallii "ranges from August 1855, by J.S. Newberry (Pa• specimens that were collected in in• southern Oregon [Short 1965] cific Railroad Survey of California and terior Oregon because he did most through interior and coastal Califor• Oregon Expedition). Gabrielson and of the collecting of the entire expe• nia ...."The A.O.U. (1983) listed Jewett (1940) doubted the locality of dition. nuttallii as casual or accidental, and Newberry's specimen, and because The amount of wear on the wing possibly breeding, in southern Or• they overlooked Henshaw's speci• feathers (Short 1965) is not unlike egon, and "resident from northern mens placed Nuttall's Woodpecker on that of specimens from California California (Humboldt County) south their hypothetical list of Oregon collected in late October and early ..." Based on specimens, nuttallii has birds. Short (1965) concluded that November, the period the expedition occurred in Oregon once in Douglas Newberry's specimen was possibly explored interior Oregon.We believe County and only 3 times in Jackson
Oregon Birds 20(4): 119 County. There are no specimens or ... route for a railroad from the 67:269-270. sightings to suggest that the species Mississippi River to the Pacific Short, L.L. 1971. Systematics and be• breeds in southern Oregon. Ocean .... Vol. 6. Report on the havior of some North American birds, pp. 73-110, Washington, D. woodpeckers, genus Picoides Acknowledgments C. (Aves). Bulletin of the American We thank Richard C. Banks and RidgwayR. 1914. Birds of North and Museum of Natural History George A. Jobanek for commenting Middle America. Part 6. United 145:1-118. on the manuscript. States National Museum Bulletin Short, L.L., Jr. 1982. Woodpeckers of 50:1-882. the world. Delaware Museum of LITERATURE CITED Roberson, D. 1980. Rare birds of the Natural History Monograph Series Abbot, H.L. 1855. Report. Explora• West Coast. Woodcock Publica• Number 4. tions and surveys for d railroad tions, Pacific Grove, California. Small, A. 1974. The birds of Califor• route from the Mississippi River Sawyer, R.W 1932. Abbot Railroad nia. Winchester Press, New York. to the Pacific Ocean. Pp. 105-111, surveys, 1855- Oregon Historical Watson, C. 1986. OBRC report Sep• Washington, D. C. Quarterly 33:1-24; 115-133. tember 1985-September 1986. Or• American Ornithologists^ Union. Short,L.L. 1965.Specimens of Nuttall egon Birds 12:323-333 1957. Check-list of North Ameri• Woodpecker in Oregon. Condor 0 can birds. Fifth ed.American Orni• thologists' Union, Baltimore, Md. American Ornithologists' Union. 1983- Check-list of North Ameri• can birds. Sixth ed.American Or• nithologists' Union, Washington, D. C. Baird, S.F., J. Cassin, and G.N. Lawrence. 1857. Reports of explo• rations and surveys ... to ascer• tain ... route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean .... Vol. 9, Birds.Washington, D. C. Bendire, C. 1895. Life histories of North American birds ....U.S. Natl. Mus. Spec. Bull., Washington, D. C. Browning, M.R. 1975. The distribu• tion and occurrence of the birds of Jackson County, Oregon, and sur• rounding areas. North American Fauna 70:1-69. Gabrielson, I.N., and S.G. Jewett. 1940. Birds of Oregon. Oregon State Monograph Number 2, Corvallis. Grinnell and Miller. 1944. Distribu• tion of the birds of California. Pa• cific Coast Avifauna 27:1-608. Hargitt, E. 1890. Catalogue of birds in the British Museum. Vol. 18. British Museum (Natural History). Henshaw, H.W. 1880. Ornithological report from observations and col• lections made in portions of Cali• fornia, Nevada, and Oregon Appen• dix. L. Annual Report United States Geological Survey West of the 100th Meridian. Pp. 282-335. Jobanek, G.A. 1994. Dubious records in the early Oregon bird literature. Oregon Birds 20:3-23. Two views of a specimen of Picoides nuttallii collected in fall 1991 in Jackson County, Oregon. Merrill, J.C. 1888. Notes on the birds The specimen is now #1697 at Southern Oregon State College. Photos/M. Ralph Browning. of Fort Klamath, Oregon. Auk 5:139-146. Newberry, J.S. 1857. Report of explo• rations and surveys, to ascertain Oregon Birds 20(4): 120 Identifying long-billed Curlews Along the Oregon Coast: A Caution
Range D. Bayer, BO. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365
Although Whimbrels (Numenius crown stripe) are flecked with brels looking for Long-billed Curlews. phaeopus) are common from spring brown, which at a distance under Also, in fall, juvenile Long-billed Cur• through fall and occasional in winter, cloudy skies on a mudflat appear lews have much shorter bills (e.g., Long-billed Curlews (N. americanus) darker and blend in with the darker Scott 1987, Farrand 1988, Peterson appear to be uncommon or rare along bands. Thus, the head striping of a 1990), so they could be mistaken as the Oregon Coast (Rogers 1982, Whimbrel can be much more subtle Whimbrels, if only bill length is used Bayer 1984, Bayer and Krabbe 1984, than many field guides have sug• to identify them. Eltzroth 1987, Sawyer and Hunter gested, a point borne out by the pho• 1988). However, the true status of tographs in the previously mentioned Conclusions Long-billed Curlews is not clear be• works or by examining specimens. I am not suggesting that distinguish• cause some may have been over• The result is that birders unfamiliar ing these 2 species is impossible, es• looked while others may have been with Long-billed Curlews may see a pecially for birders familiar with Long- misidentified. Whimbrel without black and white billed Curlews or who look for the or striking head striping and mistak• cinnamon underwing linings that Curlew misidentifications enly assume that it is a Long-billed confirm the identification of Long- While compiling Lincoln County Curlew. billed Curlews. But, unfortunately, bird records, I have come across sev• Second, some field guides indicate Long-billed Curlews appear to be eral Long-billed Curlew reports that I that Whimbrels can be distinguished uncommon along the Oregon Coast, think are dubious. Suspicious curlew from Long-billed Curlews because of so birders can't easily become famil• reports are those where an observer their smaller bill and overall smaller iar with how much they really differ reports curlews but no Whimbrels, an size (e.g., Robbins et al. 1983: 118). from the much commoner Whim• observer notes more curlews than While adult Long-billed Curlews are brels. Whimbrels, or an observer reports indeed much larger than Whimbrels, As a result of the potential for curlews at a time when no one else these field guides fail to mention that misidentification, the true status of can find any. the bills of female Whimbrels average Long-billed Curlews along the Or• In questioning reporters of suspi• 13 percent longer than males (Cramp egon Coast is unclear. They may be cious Long-billed Curlew records, I 1983) or that adult Whimbrels can less or more common than the avail• often find that they have based their have longer bills than juveniles able records indicate, or they may be identification on mistaken or incom• (Terres 1980: 787, Johnsgard 1981, as uncommon as they appear because plete information in field guides and Cramp 1983, Hayman et al. 1986, the number of misidentified Long- the misperception that curlews are Farrand 1988). Accordingly, birders billed Curlews is about equal to the common along the Oregon Coast. inexperienced with Long-billed Cur• number of misidentified Whimbrels. Whimbrels appear to be misidentified lews may mistakenly assume that if I urge birders to look for Long- as Long-billed Curlews 3 ways. birds differ somewhat in size or bill billed Curlews along the Oregon length that the larger one must be a First,Whimbrels can appear to have Coast but to be cautious in their iden• Long-billed Curlew, when, in fact, it much less distinct head striping than tifications and to write down details may be a large Whimbrel among some field guides state. For instance, of their sightings. smaller Whimbrels. Terres (1980:787) and Robbins et al. (1983:119) indicate that Whimbrels Third, there is a perception among Acknowledgements have distinct black and white head some birders that a Long-billed Cur• I thank Harry Nehls and Darrel stripes, and other field guides (e.g., lew is likely to be found along the Faxon for their constructive com• Scott 1987, Farrand 1988, Peterson Oregon Coast if one looks hard ments on an earlier draft of this pa• 1990) note that distinct head strip• enough. Accordingly, some birders per. ing separates Whimbrels from Long- can search so hard for a curlew that billed Curlews. However, drawings, they unconsciously may make a LITERATURE CITED photographs, and specimens of Whimbrel into a Long-billed Curlew. Bayer, R. D. 1984. Oversummering of Whimbrels clearly show that what Whimbrels, Bonaparte's Gulls, and head striping they have is not black Whimbrel misidentifications Caspian Terns at Yaquina Estuary, and white but is dark brown alternat• While some Long-billed Curlew Oregon. Murrelet 65: 87-90. ing with light buff bands (e.g., records may be misidentifications, Bayer, R. D. and J. Krabbe. 1984. CBC Udvardy 1977, Terres 1980: 804, some Whimbrel records may be of analysis: comparison of coastal Cramp 1983, Hayman et al. 1986, Long-billed Curlews. For example, Christmas Bird Counts. Oregon Scott 1987, Farrand 1988, Richards the lack of Long-billed Curlew Birds 10: 115-125. 1988, Peterson 1990). The lighter records could be because birders Cramp, S.(Ed.) 1983- The birds of the bands (especially the very narrow don't carefully sort through Whim• Western Palearctic. Volume III:
Oregon Birds 20(4): 121 waders to gulls, Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, England. Birders Add Dollars to Local Economy Eltzroth, M. S. 1987. Checklist of the birds of Oregon. Audubon Society of Corvallis, Corvallis, Oregon. Douglas Staller, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, HC 72 Box 245, Princeton, OR 97721 Farrand, J., Jr. 1988. An Audubon Handbook: Western birds. Tourism often gets little respect as a Trips to Malheur were often listed Chanticler Press, McGraw-Hill Book generator of dollars in the economy as part of a larger trip which included Co., New York. of an area. In the western United other resource-based destinations. Hayman, P., J. Marchant, andT. Prater. States, where there are vast areas of Half of the respondents said they had 1986. Shorebirds: an identifica• public land, the tourist is looked at visited another National Wildlife Ref• tion guide to the waders of the as a tank of gas and maybe a meal. uge in the last year.The average num• world. Houghton Mifflin Co., Bos• The importance of visitors to the ber of refuges visited was 3 A total of ton. local economy became evident when 75 different refuges were listed.The Johnsgard, PA. 1981. The plovers, the results of a recent study were re• most poplar were Klamath Forest, sandpipers, and snipes of the leased. The study, which ran from Nisqually, Finely, Ridgefield, and Hart world. Univ. Nebraska Press, Lin• June 1993 through May 1994,focused Mountain. coln, Nebraska. on birders because that is the primary Currently economic figures are Peterson, R.T. 1990. A field guide to user group that visits Malheur Na• being analyzed to project economic Western birds. Houghton Mifflin tional Wildlife Refuge.This study and impact. More information should be Co., Boston. 20 others conducted at sites across forthcoming. 0 Richards, A. 1988. Birds of the the United States and in LatinAmerica tideline: shorebirds of the North• were funded in part by the National ern Hemisphere. Dragon's World Fish and Wildlife Foundation, New Ltd., Surrey, Great Britain. England Biolabs Foundation, New Jer• Robbins, C. S., B. Bruun, and H. S. sey Audubon Society, and Cape May Zim. 1983. Birds of North America. Bird Observatory. Golden Press, New York. Malheur NWR is an important des• Rogers, D. 1982. Curry County check• tination for birders. Located in the list. Oregon Birds 8: 116-121. high desert country of southeastern Sawyer, M. and M. Hunter. 1988. Oregon, Malheur has a variety of habi• Where do chickadees Checklist: Douglas County coast. tats including freshwater marshes, Oregon Birds 14:93-106. alkali playa, riparian areas, and sage• get fur for their Scott, S. L. (Ed.) 1987. Field guide to brush. The primary draw of the ref• the birds of North America. Sec• uge is its diversity. In spring, water• nests? ond Edition. National Geographic fowl, Sandhill Cranes, and Bald Eagles Society, Washington, D.C. migrate through, making an unforget• 24 May 1994, Galice Ranger Dis• Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon So• table spectacle. At other times, va• trict, Siskiyou National Forest. ciety encyclopedia of North Ameri• grants make an appearance. Between Today I observed a Chestnut-backed can birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New migrations,Trumpeter Swans, Greater Chickadee land on the ground and York. Sandhill Cranes, and other refuge peck for some time at something. Udvardy M. D. F. 1977. The Audubon wildlife still attract visitors. With the aid of binoculars I could see Society field guide to North Ameri• Birders who visit Malheur tend to it fly off after a bit with large amounts can birds: Western region. be middle-aged,well-educated (85.4% of whatever it was in its bill. I walked Chanticler Press, Alfred A. Knopf, reported some college), and had in• to the site and found it had collected New York. 0 comes that were well above the na• a large amount of fur (mouse or other tional average (34.5% had incomes in rodent fur) from a fox or coyote drop• excess of $50,000). A majority of ping, well rinsed by rain water and these visitors do not fish or hunt.Visi- bleached by the sun. Chestnut- tors came from 28 different states, 30 backed and Mountain Chickadees use counties in Oregon, and from foreign a large amount of fur to construct countries.Visitors averaged 3-4 days their nests. They are not known to in the area (3 nights camping or 2 be killers of rodents! I was always cu• nights in a hotel), and 2.6 meals in rious as to where they got all that fur local restaurants. Fewer than one- for their nest. They are also consid• third reported purchasing duck ered a secondary cavity nester (they stamps. use cavities made by other species). In 1993, 53,470 visitors came to A recycling bird! I guess ecosystems Malheur. Nearly 93% reported mak• are "more complicated than we ing other purchases in the area of the think." refuge .The average amount was $45. Over 90% purchased at least 1 tank Dennis P. Vroman, 1465 N.E. 7th of gas in the area. Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526
Oregon Birds 20(4): 122 North American Migration Count
Pat French, Oregon NAMC Coordinator, 400 E. 31st Avenue, Eugene, OR 97405
Have you ever wondered," What is the count, and compiling and submitting shape of migration"? The first North count results for the county. American Migration Count was com• As the state NAMC coordinator, I pleted in the eastern half of the plan to recruit county coordinators United States in May 1992, in an at• during December and January. That tempt to begin compiling data to an• will give us time to make adequate swer that question. county-level preparations and to re• The stated goals of the North Ameri• cruit additional participants. While can Migration Count include obtain• you're thinking about it,give me a call ing a snapshot of the progress of mi• to let me know that you will be avail• gration, and gathering information on able for the spring NAMC as either a the abundance and distribution of county coordinator or a counter. 0 each species while having a great day of birding.The NAMC is an event not associated with any national organi• zation.There are no fees.And partici• pation is relatively simple. A partici• pant may choose to count wherever they wish. Counts are coordinated to insure that only one person or party Pat French counts in a specific area. Oregon NAMC Coordinator Oregon birders have participated 400 E. 31st Avenue in both the 1993 and the 1994 May Eugene, OR 97405 counts. In 1993, a small forward-look• ing group from the Umpqua Valley 503-683-4292 before 9:00 pm Audubon Society turned in counts for [[email protected]] 2 counties. In 1994, 51 Oregon par• ticipants turned in counts from 10 counties.These 51 observers contrib• uted 246 total party hours with 244 species reported. In 1995, the 4th annual North American Migration Count will include both a spring and a fall count. The spring count will take place on Saturday, 13 May 1995. The fall count will be done on Saturday, 16 September 1995. With the addition of these 2 annual migration counts to the existing Christ• mas Bird Counts and Breed• ing Bird Surveys, we will have a snapshot of North American distribution data for all 4 sea• sons. Many Oregon counties still need county coordinators for next year, and all counties need counters. County coor• dinators can be an individual or a team of individuals. Re• sponsibilities include recruit• ing count participants, coor• dinating the locations where participants are going to North American Migration Count, Oregon Counties Participating in 1994
Oregon Birds 20(4): 123 Some Thoughts on Acorn Woodpeckers in Oregon
George A.Jobanek, 2730Alder, Eugene, OR 97405
The Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes Mountains of Tillamook County in clude this species in a list of birds formicivorus, is a familiar bird in the June and July" are anomalous. He collected in Oregon (Lord 1864). southern Willamette Valley.Its clown• considered it rare (Woodcock 1902). Bendire (1895) considered it rare like appearance, the flash of white in The first records of the Acorn near Pelican Bay, Upper Klamath the wing when it flies, its communal Woodpecker in Eugene, Lane County, Lake, Klamath County. Verner (1965) nature and energetic vocalizations came shortly after Shelton's field observed 2 Acorn Woodpeckers on make it a bird easily noticed when work of 1914-19l6,On 24April 1920, several occasions in the early 1960s present. Although not common, dili• H.W Prescott discovered 2 birds in at The Dalles, Wasco County, in a gent observers can usually find it in ponderosa pine snags in west Eugene. mixed ponderosa pine-scrub oak oak groves along the western side of On several days in May 1920, Prescott habitat. the Willamette Valley, from Eugene to and H.B. Holmes found several on the At present, the Acorn Woodpecker McMinnville .The Acorn Woodpecker McCormack ranch in the Crow Road occurs in western Oregon in the has achieved this status and distribu• area west of Eugene. Prescott thought Rogue, Umpqua, and Willamette Val• tion only within the past 40 years, that it was very abundant at this loca• leys, with additional communes in however. In extending its range tion. Wasco County and Curry County northward, it now occupies territory For many years after this, Eugene (Marshall 1992). Although there are not ideally suited for it. This affects appeared to be the northern limit of locations in the Willamette Valley its populations in the Willamette Val• the Acorn Woodpecker's distribution where Acorn Woodpeckers have been ley. in Oregon. Neff (1928) recorded the present for several years, Marshall The historical center of distribution colony at the McCormack ranch, as (1992) notes that locations of com• of the Acorn Woodpecker in Oregon well as birds occasionally visiting in munes change periodically. This has been the valleys of Douglas, Jack• late summer and autumn a location woodpecker is restricted in distribu• son, and Josephine Counties (Brown• in Cottage Grove, Lane County. tion to oak woodlands. ing 1975).Newberry (1857) recorded Gabrielson and Jewett (1940) listed During the winter months, Acorn it in the Umpqua Valley, Douglas only 1 record for Lane County, at Eu• Woodpeckers feed almost exclusively County (although others of gene, their northernmost record. on acorns they have stored in large, Newberry's Umpqua Valley records Gullion (1951) thought the Acorn communal granaries.The woodpeck• are suspect; see Short 1965 and Woodpecker was a common perma• ers use these stores throughout the Jobanek 1994) and Bendire (1895) nent resident and that Eugene was its year, except in late summer and au• noted its abundance near Jackson• northern distributional limit. tumn, when acorns are eaten off the ville, Jackson County. Anthony In the early 1950s, the Acorn Wood• tree (MacRoberts 1970; MacRoberts thought it common on Cow Creek be• pecker began extending its range in and MacRoberts 1976; Koenig and tween Roseburg and Grants Pass Oregon northward. Walker (1952) Mumme 1987). During spring and (Woodcock 1902).A.C.Shelton found noticed a single Acorn Woodpecker summer, sap and insects become the Acorn Woodpecker at Roseburg in an oak grove in Corvallis, Benton principal parts of the woodpecker's in 19l4.Gabrielson (1931) described County, in July 1950. The next year, diet, and other items, such as oats, it as "one of the characteristic birds at the same location, he observed 2 buds, leaves, and flowers, and fruit of the lower parts of the [Rogue birds,presumably a mated pair, catch• may be taken (MacRoberts and River] Valley." Neff (1928) and ing insects. The birds' behavior sug• MacRoberts 1976) .Acorn Woodpeck• Gabrielson and Jewett (1940) wrote gested they were nesting nearby but ers have also stored commercial nuts that this woodpecker was either com• although Walker discovered numer• such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, as mon or abundant from Roseburg ous excavations, he did not find the well as wild hazelnuts (Ritter 1938; south. nest. Weathered acorn stores indi• Bent 1939); I have not heard of Acorn Early observers in the Willamette cated the woodpeckers' presence in Woodpeckers storing commercial fil• Valley failed to find the Acorn Wood• previous years. On 27 September berts (hazelnuts) in Oregon. Regard• pecker. Johnson (1880) made no 1952, Ed Butcher recovered an Acorn less of their use of these other food mention of its occurrence at Salem, Woodpecker carcass from a highway resources, it is clear that Acorn Wood• Marion County, nor did Pope (1895- 1 mile east of Salem, Marion County peckers depend heavily on acorns; 1896), writing from Yamhill County, (Jewett 1954). Koenig and Mumme (1987) detail the include it on his state bird list.Wood- There are few records in the litera• strong correlation between available cock (1902) did not find it at ture of this species occurring east of acorn stores and breeding success, Corvallis, Benton County. Shelton the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. and Hannon, Mumme, Koenig, Spon, (1917) did not list it for Lane County, Lord (1866) mentioned seeing Acorn and Pitelka (1987) show that poor despite his extensive field work in Woodpeckers, and collecting 2, 25 acorn crops adversely affect Acorn areas where the Acorn Woodpecker May I860, at the "headwaters of the Woodpecker populations. now occurs. Hadley's records of Des Chutes or Fall river," Klamath Relating this dependence to the Acorn Woodpeckers in "the Coast County [?], although he did not in• distribution of the Acorn Wood-
Oregon Birds 20(4): 124 pecker, Bock and Bock (1974) sug• gested that the northern distribu• tional limit of the Acorn Woodpecker is determined by oak species diver• sity: the woodpecker occurs in areas that have more than 1 species of oak. This is related to the woodpecker's dependence on acorns; 2 or more species of oaks increase the depend• ability of acorn crops available to the birds. In fact, the greater the number of oak species (to a point), the Bocks Year of Count suggested, the greater the number of woodpeckers. Roberts (1979) has Figure 1. Acorn Woodpeckers counted/year on theMedford Christmas Bird Count also demonstrated a correlation be• tween Acorn Woodpecker population densities and oak species diversity in theAmerican Southwest and Mexico. From 1920 to 1950, the northern limit of the Acorn Woodpecker in Oregon was near Eugene, which cor• responded with the northernmost point in the state where 2 species of oak occur, the California black oak, Quercus kelloggii, and the Oregon white oak, Q.garryana (Peck 1961; Franklin and Dyrness 1973). How• ever, in the early 1950s, the Acorn i i i i i 11 i i HI iii 11 i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i 11 i CN'*COCDOe\J,*C0COC> CMM-tDCO OC\J^-(OCOOc\J^-CQCOOC\ Woodpecker extended its range
Oregon Birds 20(4): 125 Woodpecker "may show drastic Willamette Valley Christmas counts of populations already affected by a re• changes in abundance over short pe• Corvallis, Salem, and Dallas, as illus• duced acorn crop. riods of time, especially at its [north• trated in Figure 3-A trend, either While it seems clear that winter ern] limit in the Willamette Valley." downward or upward is not appar• populations of the Acorn Wood• To determine variation of Acorn ent. For the most part, population pecker fluctuate in western Oregon, Woodpecker winter populations in highs and lows match for these what is the nature of this fluctuation? Oregon, I have examined Christmas counts, suggesting that the popula• Are low woodpecker numbers indica• bird count results for Medford, Jack• tion fluctuations of Acorn Woodpeck• tive of a population reduction son County; Eugene, Lane County; ers in the mid-Willamette Valley have through death, or does the local Corvallis, Benton County; Salem, a common reason. population disperse into nearby ar• Marion County; and Dallas, Polk If the Acorn Woodpecker in the eas? What are the winter movements County. Medford is in the Rogue Val• Willamette Valley is as dependent of Acorn Woodpeckers in western ley, the others in the Willamette Val• upon acorns as suggested by the lit• Oregon? What are the factors affect• ley. Salem and Dallas are at present erature, then these population fluc• ing the local nature of the Acorn just south of the northern limit of the tuations are probably related to an• Woodpecker's distribution in western Acorn Woodpecker's range in Or• nual acorn production from the single Oregon? If the Willamette Valley is egon. Because within each count oak species, a 2-year fruiter.A year of marginal habitat for the Acorn Wood• circle the Acorn Woodpecker is highly a low woodpecker count must follow pecker, how does this affect popula• local in distribution, I have charted a year of low acorn production; a high tion structure and dynamics? What number of birds seen per year, rather count of woodpeckers will follow a precipitated or facilitated the expan• than birds seen per party hour per year of a good acorn crop. Even in sion of the Acorn Woodpecker into year, as done by Bock and Smith the Rogue Valley, where 2 species of the Willamette Valley? (I hope to ad• (1971) in their analysis of Christmas oak occur, woodpecker numbers dress this question of northward ex• bird counts. Raynor (1975) has show cyclical fluctuation; possibly pansion, for the Acorn Woodpecker pointed out the difficulty and inap- the 2 oak species have a synchronous and other species, in a future paper.) propriateness of treating localized fruiting schedule. Bock and Bock This paper no doubt suffers from a species in the same way as more (1974) suggested that "it is probable lack of statistical analysis. I shall leave widely distributed species. that acorn woodpeckers living in ar• this more rigorous endeavor to some• Figure 1 shows Acorn Woodpecker eas with fewer than 4 oak species are one with a greater statistical fluency numbers for the Medford Christmas subject to random but frequent acorn and comfort. My aim here is to be Bird Count,from 1953 through 1992. crop failures which act in a cata• suggestive and speculative, rather Woodpecker numbers showed a clear strophic and density-dependent man• than exhaustive in my analysis. Be• fluctuation, following a 2-year cycle, ner." cause of work, family, and other exi• with years of high numbers of wood• The Willamette Valley, then—in• gencies, I am not certain of the time peckers alternating with years when deed, all of western Oregon—seems or rigor I have available for an inves• fewer woodpeckers were found. In to be poor habitat for the Acorn tigation of the questions I have posed, general, the population trend for Woodpecker. Several questions or so I hope others are as intrigued as I Medford seems to be upward, indi• avenues of research warrant further am by the curious nature of the Acorn cating an overall increase in abun• investigation. A more vigorous con• Woodpecker in the Willamette Valley, dance of the Acorn Woodpecker in nection should be made between the and will consider this as a challenge the Rogue Valley, despite the asser• acorn crop and Acorn Woodpecker to learn more of this remarkable bird. tion of Marshall (1992) that the Acorn numbers. What causes acorn crop The Acorn Woodpecker once did not Woodpeckers had declined in the failures? Are crop failures local in na• occur in the Willamette Valley. Why Rogue Valley. ture or more broadly geographical in does it now? Will there come a time Figure 2 showsAcornWoodpecker scope? What are the food resources when it will be absent from valley oak numbers for the Eugene Christmas of the Acorn Woodpecker in western groves, its numbers diminished be• Bird Count, from 1942 until 1992.As Oregon? How much do winter popu• yond recovery by successive years of for the Medford count, a clear cycle lations of Acorn Woodpeckers in Or• poor acorn crops? As someone whose is apparent, although the differences egon rely on granaries? How are the heartbeat always quickens when I between highs and lows are more quality of granaries related to crop hear or see one of these delightful extreme for Eugene.Following a high production? Are granaries well- birds, I certainly hope not. count in 1977,very few Acorn Wood• stocked for winter use at the end of peckers have been counted on the each growing season? Is climate a fac• Acknowledgments Eugene Christmas Bird Count. tor in the quality and availability of I wish to thank Rebecca Goggans The same population fluctuations, granaries? If poor winter weather re• for critically reviewing the manu• while not appearing as neatly cycli• duces the quality of granaries, this script. cal, is apparent for the mid- could further affect woodpecker
Oregon Birds 20(4): 126 17 December 1994 - 2 January 1995
Paul T. Sullivan, 4470 SW Murray #26, Beaverton, OR 97005
These are the Oregon CBC's made known to Oregon Birds. All phone numbers are area code (503) unless otherwise indicated. Thursday, December 15 Ruggs-Hardman P Ranch Stephen Brownfield (h)676-9696(w)676-9138 Rick Vetter (h) 573-5601 (w) 493-2612 Contact the compiler Meet at P Ranch, Malheur NWR, at 7:00 am Roseburg , December 17 RonMaertz (h) 496-3847 Antelope Contact the compiler Pete Weigel (h) 489-3280 Contact the compiler Salem Bend Steve Dowlan (h) 370-9083 Contact the compiler Tom Crabtree (h) 388-2462 Meet at Pioneer Park at 7:30 am Salisbury (Baker Valley) Grants Pass Laura Hayse (h) 523-9254 Meet at scale house on Hwy 7,1/2 mi S of Baker City at 7:30 Dennis Vroman (h) 479-4619 (w)476-3830 am Contact the compiler Tillamook Klamath Falls Owen Schmidt (h) 282-9403 Kevin Spencer (916)667-4644 Meet at the Fern Restaurant, Hwy 101, Tillamook, at 7:00 am Contact the compiler Union County Lower Owyhee Elizabeth S. Stewart (h) 963-3516 Bonnie Jakubos (w) 473-3144 Meet at Range & Wildlife Habitat Lab, Gekeler Lane, La Meet at Cairo School at 7:15 AM 5 mi SW of Ontario; Grande, at 8:00 am W of Jet 201 & 20/26 Sunday, December 18 Baker Columbia Estuary Laura Hayse (h) 523-9254 Mike Patterson (h) 325-1365 Meet at the Oregon Trail restaurant, Baker City, at 7:30 am Meet at the Pig-n-Pancake, Astoria, at 7:00 am Contact the compiler Saturday5 December 31 Coos Bay Brownsville Larry Thornburgh (h)756-4281 Paul Adamus (h) 745-5625 Contact the compiler Contact the compiler Meet at truck stop at N Brownsville exit off 1 -5 at 6:45 am Forest Grove Mary Anne Sahlstrom (h) 640-9215(w)691-1394 Hart Mountain Meet at Elmer's Pancake House, Hillsboro, at 7:00 am Bill Pyle (h) 947-3315 Contact the compiler; accommodations available at CCC John Day Camp; meet at CCC Camp at Hart Mt. Refuge at 7:30 am Tom Winters (h) 575-2833 (w) 575-2570 Contact the compiler for owling; meet at the Mother Lode Medford restaurant, John Day, at 6:00 am Joseph Shelton (h) 772-4490 Contact the compiler Sauvie Island Jim Johnson (h) 282-5492 Portland Meet at the Sauvie Island bridge at 7:15 am John Biewener (h) 645-0368 Contact the compiler Upper Nestucca Larry Scofield (h) 787-3833 (w) 375-5630 Port Orford Meet at Coyote Joe's restaurant, Willamina, at 7:15 am Jim Rogers (h) 332-2555 Meet at Driftwood Elementary school, Hwy 101, at 7:15 am Utopia Pete Weigel (h) 489-3280 Silverton Contact the compiler Roger Freeman (h) 873-3742 Meet at Towne House restaurant on Main Street at 6:30 am Wallowa County Frank Conley (h) 432-9685 Umatilla County Meet at Toma's restaurant, Enterprise, at 6:30 am Kevin Blakely (h) 276-2344 Contact the compiler Monday, December 19 Yaquina Bay Florence Paul Reed (h) 265-7386 Meet at Hatfield Marine Science Ctr, Newport, at 7:00 am Jim Carlson (h) 485-4491 (w) 687-4436 Meet at Safeway, Hwy 101, Florence, at 7:30 am Contact the compiler Sunday, January 1 Sodhouse (Malheur NWR) Cowlitz-Columbia Rick Vetter (h) 573-5601 (w) 493-2612 Bob Reistroffer (h) (206) 636-5125 Meet at Malheur NWR headquarters at 7:00 am Contact the compiler Eugene Tuesday, December 20 Herb Wisner (h) 344-3634 Corvallis Contact the compiler Rich Hoyer (h) 752-6888 Contact the compiler Hood River David A. Anderson (h) 775-5963 Summer Lake Contact the compiler Marty St. Louis (h) 943-3180(w)943-3152 Meet at the (Best Western) Inn at Hood River at 7:00 am Meet at Summer Lake Wildlife Area headquarters at 8:00 am Prineville Tom Crabtree (h) 388-2462 Monday, December 28 Contact the compiler Coquille Rich Hoyer (h) 752-6888 No information has been received about the Nestucca Bay count. Contact the compiler There will be no count in Waldport or Lincoln City this year. 0 Tuesday^ December 27 Dallas Roy Gerig (h) 623-6884 (w)375-5686 Meet at Farrell's restaurant, Rickreal, at 7:00 am
Friday, December 30 Adel Blythe Brown (h) 947-4560 Meet at Adel store at 7:30 am Csiliitpiiltil ©ItiielcIIitf tif ©«iii|«ti#ll
Red-throated Loon American Wigeon * Mongolian Plover Thayer's Gull Pacific Loan Canvasback Snowy Plover * Slaty-backed Gull Common Loon Redhead _ Semipalmated Plover Western Gull * Yellow-biUed Loon Ring-necked Duck _** Piping Plover Glaucous-winged Gull Red-billed Grebe * Tufted Duck Killdeer Glaucous Gull Horned Grebe Greater Scaup _* Mountain Plover Bl.-Iegged Kittiwake Red-necked Grebe Lesser Scaup _ Bl. Oystercatcher * Red-legged Kittiwake Eared Grebe * King Eider _ Bl.-necked Stilt * Ross' Gull Western Grebe * Steller's Eider _ American Avocet Sabine's Gull Clark's Grebe Harlequin Duck _ Greater Yellowlegs Caspian Tern ** Short-tailed Albatross Oldsguaw _ Lesser Yellowlegs Elegant Tern Bl.-footed Albatross Bl. Scoter _* Spotted Bedshank Common Tern Laysan Albatross Surf Scoter _ Solitary Sandpiper Arctic Tern N. Fulmar White-winged Scoter Willet Forster's Tern * Mottled Petrel Common Goldeneye _ Wandering Tattler * Least Tern * Murphy's Petrel Barrow's Goldeneye _ Spotted Sandpiper BI.Tern Pink-footed Shearwater Bufflehead _ Upland Sandpiper Common Murre Flesh-footed Shearwater * Smew _ Whimbrel * Thick-billed Murre Huller's Shearwater Hooded Merganser _** Bristle-thighed Curlew Pigeon Guillemot Sooty Shearwater Common Merganser _ Long-billed Curlew Marbled Murrelet Short-tailed Shearwater Red-breasted Merganser _* Hudsonian Godwit * Xantus' Murrelet " Wilson's Storm-Petrel Ruddy Duck _* Bar-tailed Godwit Ancient Murrelet Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Turkey Vulture _ Marbled Godwit Cassin's Auklet Leach's Storm-Petrel _ Huddy Turnstone *E California Condor * Parakeet Auklet * Bl. Storm-Petrel _ Bl. Turnstone Dsprey Rhinoceros Auklet American White Pelican White-tailed Kite Surfbird Tufted Puffin Brown Pelican Bald Eagle _* Great Knot Horned Puffin Double-crested Cormorant N. Harrier Red Knot I Rock Dove Brandt's Cormorant Sharp-shinned Hawk Sanderling Band-tailed Pigeon Pelagic Cormorant Cooper's Hawk Semipalmated Sandpiper * White-winged Dove * Magnificent Frigatebird N. Goshawk Western Sandpiper Mourning Dove American Bittern Red-shouldered Hawk _* Rufous-necked Stint * Yellow-billed Cuckoo Least Bittern * Broad-winged Hawk _* Little Stint Barn Owl Great Blue Heron Swainson's Hawk _* Long-toed Stint Flammulated Owl Great Egret Red-tailed Hawk Least Sandpiper Western Screech-Owl Snowy Egret Ferruginous Hawk Baird's Sandpiper Great Horned Owl * Little Blue Heron Rough-legged Hawk Pectoral Sandpiper Snowy Owl * Tricolored Heron Golden Eagle Sharp-tailed Sandpiper * N. Hawk Owl Cattle Egret American Kestrel Hock Sandpiper N. Pygmy-Owl Green Heron Merlin Dunlin Burrowing Owl Bl.-crowned Night-Heron Prairie Falcon _* Curlew Sandpiper Spotted Owl White-faced Ibis Peregrine Falcon Stilt Sandpiper Barred Owl * Fulvous Whistling-Duck * Gyrfalcon Buff-breasted Sandpiper Great Gray Owl Tundra Swan I Gray Partridge Ruff Long-eared Owl ** Whooper Swan I Chukar Short-billed Dowitcher Short-eared Owl Trumpeter Swan 1 Ring-necked Pheasant Long-billed Dowitcher * Boreal Owl Greater White-fronted Goose Spruce Grouse Common Snipe N. Saw-whet Owl Snow GDOSB Blue Grouse Wilson's PhalarDpe Common Nighthawk Hoss' Goose Ruffed Grouse Red-necked Phalarope Common Poorwill Emperor Goose Sage Grouse Red Phalarope Bl. Swift Brant *E Sharp-tailed Grouse Pomarine laeger Vaux's Swift Canada Goose I Wild Turkey Parasitic Jaeger White-throated Swift Wood Duck I N. Bobwhite Long-tailed laeger Bl.-chinned Hummingbird Green-winged Teal California Quail South Polar Skua Anna's Hummingbird * Baikal Teal Mountain Quail * Laughing Gull * Costa's Hummingbird * American Bl. Duck Yellow Rail Franklin's Gull Calliope Hummingbird Mallard Virginia Rail .* Little Gull Broad-tailed Hummingbird N. Pintail Sora .* Common Bl.-headed Gull Rufous Hummingbird * Garganey * Common Moorhen Bonaparte's Gull Allen's Hummingbird Blue-winged Teal American Coot Heermann's Gull Belted Kingfisher Cinnamon Teal Sandhill Crane Mew Gull Lewis' Woodpecker N. Shoveler Bl.-bellied Plover Ring-billed Gull Acorn Woodpecker Gadwall American Golden-Plover California Gull * Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eurasian Wigeon Pacific Golden-Plover Herring Gull Red-nap ed Sapsucker Red-breasted Sapsucker Ruby-crowned Kinglet Common Yellowthroat Bustic Bunting Williamson's Sapsucker Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Hooded Warbler Snow Bunting Nuttall's Woodpecker : N. Wheatear Wilson's Warbler McKay's Bunting Downy Woodpecker Western Bluebird Canada Warbler Bobolink Hairy Woodpecker Mountain Bluebird Yellow-breasted Chat Bed-winged Blackbird White-headed Woodpecker Townsend's Solitaire Summer Tanager Tricolored Blackbird Three-toed Woodpecker Veery Scarlet Tanager Western Meadowlark Bl.-backed Woodpecker Gray-cheeked Thrush Western Tanager Yellow-headed Blackbird N. Flicker Swainson's Thrush Rose-breasted Grosbeak Rusty Blackbird Pileated Woodpecker Hermit Thrush Bl.-headed Grosbeak Brewer's Blackbird Dlive-sided Flycatcher Wood Thrush Blue Grosbeak Great-tailed Grackle Western Wood-Pewee American Robin Lazuli Bunting Common Grackle Eastern Wood-Pewee Varied Thrush Indigo Bunting Brown-headed Cowbird Alder Flycatcher Wrentit Painted Bunting Orchard Oriole Willow Flycatcher Gray Catbird Dickcissel Hooded Oriole Least Flycatcher N. Mockingbird Green-tailed Towhee N. Oriole Hammond's Flycatcher Sage Thrasher Rufous-sided Towhee Streak-backed Oriole Dusky Flycatcher Brown Thrasher California Towhee Scott's Oriole Gray Flycatcher * California Thrasher American Tree Sparrow Brambling Pacific-slope Flycatcher Bl.-backed Wagtail Chipping Sparrow Gray-crowned Rosy Finch Cordilleran Flycatcher American Pipit Clay-colored Sparrow Bl. Bosy Finch Bl. Phoebe Bohemian Waxwing Brewer's Sparrow Pine Grosbeak Eastern Phoebe Cedar Waxwing Bl.-chinned Sparrow Purple Finch Say's Phoebe Phainopepla Vesper Sparrow Cassin's Finch Vermilion Flycatcher N. Shrike Lark Sparrow House Finch Ash-throated Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike Bl.-throated Sparrow Red Crossbill Tropical Kingbird European Starling Sage Sparrow White-winged Crossbill Western Kingbird ' Bell's Vireo Lark Bunting Common Hedpoll Eastern Kingbird Solitary Vireo Savannah Sparrow Hoary Redpoll Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Hutton's Vireo . Grasshopper Sparrow Pine Siskin Horned Lark Warbling Vireo Le Conte's Sparrow Lesser Goldfinch Purple Martin Red-eyed Vireo Fox Sparrow Lawrence's Goldfinch Tree Swallow Golden-winged Warbler Song Sparrow American Goldfinch Violet-green Swallow Tennessee Warbler Lincoln's Sparrow Evening Grosbeak N. Rough-winged Swallow Orange-crowned Warbler Swamp Sparrow House Sparrow Bank Swallow Nashville Warbler White-throated Sparrow Cliff Swallow Virginia's Warbler Golden-crowned Sparrow Barn Swallow Lucy's Warbler White-crowned Sparrow Gray Jay N. Parula Harris' Sparrow Steller's Jay Yellow Warbler Dark-eyed Junco Blue Jay Chestnut-sided Warbler McCown's Longspur Scrub Jay Magnolia Warbler Lapland Longspur Pinyon Jay Cape May Warbler Chestnut-collared Clark's Nutcracker BL-throated Blue Warbler Longspur Bl.-billed Magpie Yellow-rumped Warbler American Crow Bl.-throated Gray Warbler Northwestern Crow Townsend's Warbler This list is basEd on the records of the Oregdn Bird Records Committee (DBHC) and uses the laxonomic sequence and nomenclature Df the American Ornitholo• Common Baven Hermit Warbler gists' Union (AOU), as published in AOU, 1983, Check-list of North American Bl.-capped Chickadee Bl.-throated Green Warbler Mountain Chickadee birds, 6th edition (Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS), as supplemented. The DBHC Blackburnian Warbler asks for reports of any bird species recorded in Dregon not on this list, and all Chestnut-backed Chickadee Yellow-throated Warbler species represented on this list with one asterisk (*) or two ("). Write: Plain Titmouse Pine Warbler OBRC, P.O. Box 10373, Eugene, OR 97440. Bushtit Prairie Warbler Red-breasted Nuthatch Palm Warbler * A review species. At least I Introduced species - 8 White-breasted Nuthatch Bay-breasted Warbler one record verified by species. Pygmy Nuthatch Blackpoll Warbler photograph, specimen, or Total species: 464. Brown Creeper Bl.-and-white Warbler video or sound recording — Bock Wren American Redstart 99 species. Bl Black Canyon Wren Prothonotary Warbler ** A review species. Sight N Northern Bewick's Wren Worm-eating Warbler records only, no verification House Wren Ovenbird Prepared by - 13 species. Winter Wren Kentucky Warbler Harry Nehls, Secretary, Oregon Bird E Extirpated. No modern Marsh Wren N. Waterthrush Records Committee records — California Condor American Dipper Mourning Warbler Owen Schmidt, Editor, Oregon Birds Golden-crowned Kinglet MacGillivray's Warbler and Sharp-tailed Grouse. Dctober 1994 1994 OREGON LISTING 1994 OREGON LISTING Year Life 1994 REPORT FORM Baker REPORT FORM Baker Benton Benton WW. Clackamas Clackamas Clatsop 15 FEBRUARY 1995 Clatsop Columbia Columbia
Coos Coos Your Name Your Name Crook Crook
Curry Curry Your Address Your Address Deschutes Deschutes
Douglas Douglas City State Zip City State Zip Gilliam Gilliam
Grant Grant Your Telephone Harney Your Telephone Harney
Hood River Hood River
I. OREGON STATE LIST Jackson I. OREGON STATE LIST Jackson
Jefferson Jefferson .(threshold is 3001 Oregon Life List /threshold is 3001 Oregon Life List Josephine Josephine
Klamath Klamath .{threshold is 2501 ./threshold is 250) 1994 Oregon Year List Lake 1994 Oregon Year List Lake
Lane Lane 2.1994 OREGON COUNTY LISTS Lincoln 2.1994 OREGON COUNTY LISTS Lincoln Linn Linn Fill in the blanks in the next column, right. Malheur Fill in the blanks in the next column, right. Malheur Marion Marion
Note: threshold for County Life totals is 100, for Morrow Note: threshold for County Life totals is 100, for Morrow
County Year totals is 150. Multnomah County Year totals is 150. Multnomah
Polk Polk
3. COMPLETE ANO RETURN BY Sherman 3. COMPLETE AND RETURN BY Sherman 15 FEBRUARY 1995 Tillamook 15 FEBRUARY 1995 Tillamook Umatilla Umatilla
Union Union
Send completed form to Wallowa Send completed form to Wallowa
Wasco Wasco
Washington Washington Jim Johnson Jim Johnson Wheeler Wheeler
3244 N.E. Brazee Street Yamhill 3244 N.E. Brazee Street Yamhill Portland, OR 97212 Portland, OR 97212 FOR OB 20(4) Oregon Field Ornithologists EACH ORDER FOR OB 20(4) Special Publication No. 6 — Birds of Northeast Oregon: An Annotated Membership in Oregon Field Ornithologist s brings you .... Checklist for Union and Wallowa Counties. Second Edition (Rev'd), • Oregon Birds— OFO's quarterly journal with news briefs • status ISBN 1-877693-20-0, 1992, by Joe Evanich $5.00 ...$ and identification of Oregon's birds • bird-finding guides to Oregon Birds back issues as available (write for availability, prices) Volumes 5-19, price varies $ Oregon's better birding spots and rarer species. OFO's Checklist 1.. .$1.00 $ • Proceedings of the Oregon Bird Records Committee — Stay (field checking card fits into field guide) 3 ... $2.00 $ current on the rare birds of Oregon. 10...$5.00 $ • Annual meetings — Participate in OFO's birding meetings, held at OFO Lapel Pin (1-inch, OFO logo) $7.00 $ OFO T-Shirt (specify M, L, or XL) $14.00 $ ^ some of Oregon's top birding spots. OFO Window Decal (4-inch, OFO logo) $2.30 $ „ • Publications — OFO publishes an Birds of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. authoritative and useful checklist accurate CD. Littlefield. 1990, 294 pp $16.00 $ according to the records of the Oregon The Birders Guide to Oregon. Bird Records Committee. The Special Joe Evanich. 1990, 288 pp $13.00 $ Cumulative Index to Oregon Birds: Vols. 1-17 (1975-1991). Publication series brings titles of particular Alan Contreras. 1992, 41 pp $5.00 $ interest to Oregon's birders. A Birder's Guide to the Klamath Basin Steve Summers. 1993, 85 pp $10.00 $ Birds of Oregon: Status and Distribution . Jeff Gilligan, et al. 1994, 330 pp., softcover $24.95 $ wJQf Natural Sound Cassettes by Eleanor Pugh Learn to Identify Birds by Ear - Western U.S $9.00 $ Learn to Identify Birds by Ear - Eastern U.S 9.00 $ Birds of Foothill Woodland Edges '. 9.00 $ 1. • $19.00 Individual 2. • Renewal Birds of the High Desert 8.00 $ • $25.00 Family • New member Birds of the Southwestern Desert 8.00 $ Birds of the Wetlands 9.00 $ • $35.00 Sustaining Backyard Bird Songs 8.00 $ • $12.00 Students (under 18 years) Night Birding: Owls and Others 8.00 $ Confusing Species 9.00 $ • $ Tax-deductible contribution An Almanac of Bird Habitats: Vol. I (Northwest) 9.00 $ • $ Oregon Fund for Ornithology Beautiful Bird Songs of the West 8.00 $ Wildlife Voices by Family (choose any 2 per cassette) 9.00 $ 3. • Do NOT put my name and phone number in OFO Directory Owls, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, Four Difficult Flycatchers (Pacific-slope, Cordilleran, • Do NOT sell or pass along my name from the OFO mailing list Hammond's, Dusky), Mammals, Warblers I, Warblers II, Sparrows I (humid), Sparrows II (arid), Wrens, Thrushes, Finches, Swallows & Swifts, Pacific Tidelands 4. Make check payable to Oregon Field Ornithologists or OFO TOTAL $ All items postage paid • checks to Oregon Field Ornithologists or OFO 5. 6.
Mai lOFO Bookcase to: Mai l OFO Membership form to: Your name OFO Publications Your name OFO Your address c/o Clarice Watson Your address c/o Treasurer City State Zip 3787 Wilshir e Lane City State Zip P.O. Box 10373 Eugene, OR 97405 Eugene, OR 97440 Your telephone Your telephone Volunteer positions available with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: InternatjonaI BiRd Tours • Volunteer field assistants are needed from 1 April - 1 September 1995 (4 positions), and 1 June - 1 September 1995 (2 positions), at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and Sheldon National Wildlife Hefuge, in southeastern Oregon and northeastern Nevada. "This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in wildlife management. Work includes assessment of habitat condition,- surveys of wildlife including bighorn sheep, sage grouse, and waterfowl,- collection of big game pellet groups for study of diet composition and quality,- removal of The Bird Guide barbed wire fence,- and other projects.* "WHERE TO GO. WHAT TO DO. WHERE TO SLEEP. • Volunteer field researchers are needed from 1 April - 1 September 1995 (2 positions), to work on sage WHAT TO EAT." wiTrH MARk SrVliTrl grouse research project at Hart Mountain National THE BIRD GUIDE IS A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER WHOSE Antelope Hefuge in southeastern Oregon. "Project will PURPOSE IS TO INTRODUCE BIRDING AS A MEANS FOR MANY OFO MEiwbERS TRAVEI RKJUIARIV with OREGON NATURAIIST MARI< Sivthh 10 SFF biRds Arvd focus on study of radio-collared sage grouse hens to FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUAL STO ENJOY OREGON'S SCENIC IN b\Nds. YOU AN TIHESE STlldy NATURE diSTANT doN'T hAVE TO bs ExpERJENCcd biRdER TO ENJOy determine habitat use and selection." BEAUTY AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE BIRD TOURS. 199 dspARTURE5 S JNcludE: FWS provides $15 per day stipend, housing, transportation, GUIDE FEATURES THE FOLLOWING COLUMNS :TRAVEL and equipment on the refuge. Food and personal gear will GUIDE , BEGINNING BIRDER, ADVANCED BIRDER, HARD be your responsibility. Job requires work in adverse and COSTA RicA IANUARY JO - FEbRUARy 14 & ApRil 5 - 18 TO FIND ,BIRDS OF NOTE (LAST MONTH) ,BIRDS TO primitive field conditions (temperature extremes, night WATCH FOR (NEXT MONTH) ,PLUS LOTS OF OTHER BElizE-TikAl FEbRUARy 24 - MARCH 9 & MARCN 5-26 work, no modern conveniences). Applicants with INFORMATION FOR THE ACTIVE BIRDER. S.E. ARJZONA MAy 7-17 background in wildlife science or range science are SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1 YEAR (12 ISSUES) $12. GREAT BRITAIN MAy 15' 28 (kd by BRIT.) desired,- internships possible. Deadline for application is 20 February 1995. The Bird Guide AUSTRAUA OcrobER 5 ' 28 Greg Gillson PATAqONiA NovEMbER 4-24 Bill Pyle, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 311 Park Street AfRiCA PRJVATE - SMAll qROUpS ARRANqEd Sheldon-Hart Mountain Refuge Complex, Banks, OR 97106 P.O. Box 111, Lakeview, DR 37630. (503)324-0508 ENU'VEN youR lisT vj'nU TOUCANS, QUETZAIS, MACAWS, ANd IAWRUS! FOR A bROCHURE, WRITE: MARI< SMITIH c/o PAM DAvis, WHLAMETTE TRAVEI 505-225-77 16 755 S.W. SECONd AVENUE #108 505-224-0180 PoRTUNd, OR 97204-51 16 1-800-821-0401 * mflatm& Ram a«mm 8js Phyllis Thurston Scott Lukens You are invited to join 5I5I N.W. Cornell Road 352 B Avenue British Columbia Field Ornithologists Portland OR 97210 Lake Oswego OR 97034 503-292-6855 503-635-2044 A society devoted to the study and enjoyment of birds in British Columbia. We offer members the following: - an annual journal (about 40-50 pages per issue), including articles, seasonal summaries of noteworthy bird sightings, and book reviews; Marcia J. Martyn - a quarterly newsletter (20 pages per issue), featuring birding site guides, news Bookstore Manager items, and listing reports; 40 East 5th Avenue HC72 Box 260 - an annual meeting with field trips and invited speakers (4th annual meeting 13-15 Eugene OR 9740I Princeton OR 9772I May 1994, at Kamloops, B.C.) 503-465-9453 503-493-2629 Annual dues for 1994: $20 single or $25 family (U.S. members please pay in U.S. dollars to cover extra postage, etc.). Please send cheque or money order, payable to "B.C. Field Ornithologists" to Field Ornithologists, Treasurer, B.C. Box 34081, 5790 175th Street, Surrey, Mike Uhtoff B.C. V3S 8C4, Canada Beth Rose I54 Oak Street 3893 S.W. Hall Boulevard Ashland OR 97520 Beaverton OR 97005 503-482-324I 503-626-0949 LITERATURE CITED of the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Woodpecker and La study in com• Bendire, C.E. 1895. Life histories of American Naturalist 14:485-491, parative zoology in which are set North American birds, from the par• 635-641. forth numerous facts and reflec• rots to the grackles, with special Koenig, WD., and R.L.Mumme. 1987! tions by one of us about both of reference to their breeding habits Population ecology of the coopera• us. University of California Press, and eggs. United States National tively breeding Acorn Woodpecker. Berkeley, CA. Museum Special Bulletin 3:1-518. Monographs in Population Biology Roberts, R.C. 1979. Habitat and re• Bent, A.C. 1939. Life histories of no. 24. Princeton University Press, source relationships in Acorn North American woodpeckers. Princeton, N.J. Woodpeckers. Condor 81:1-8. United States National Museum LordJ.K. 1864. List of birds collected Shelton, A.C 1917. A distributional Bulletin 174:1-334. by J. K. Lord, F.Z.S., and presented list of the land birds of west cen• Bock, C.E., and J.H. Bock. 1974. Geo• by the British North American tral Oregon. University of Oregon graphical ecology of the Acorn Boundary Commission to the Royal Bulletin, n.s. 14:1-51. Woodpecker: diversity versus abun• Artillery Institution. Minutes of the Short, L.L., Jr. 1965. Specimens of dance of resources. American Proceedings of the Royal Artillery Nuttall Woodpecker from Oregon. Naturalist 108:694-698. Institution 4:110-126. Condor 67:269-270. ,and R.B.Smith. 1971. An , 1866. The naturalist in Sudworth, G.B. 1967. Forest trees of analysis of Colorado Christmas Vancouver Island and British Co• the Pacific slope. Dover, New York, counts. American Birds 25:945- lumbia. R. Bentley, London. NY. 947. MacRoberts, M.H. 1970. Notes on the Verner, J. 1965. Northern limit of the Browning, M.R. 1975. The distribu• food habits and food defense of the Acorn Woodpecker. Condor tion and occurrence of the birds of Acorn Woodpecker. Condor 67:265. Jackson County, Oregon, and sur• 72:196-204. Walker,K.M. 1952. Northward exten• rounding areas. North American , and B.R. MacRoberts. sion of the range of the Acorn Fauna 70:1-69. 1976. Social organization and be• Woodpecker in Oregon. Condor Franklin, J.F., and C.T. Dyrness. 1973- havior of the Acorn Woodpecker in 54:315. Natural vegetation of Oregon and central coastal California. Ornitho• Woodcock, A.R. 1902. Annotated list Washington. United States Depart• logical Monographs 21:1-115. of the birds of Oregon. Oregon ment of Agriculture, Forest Service Marshall, D.B. 1992. Sensitive verte• Agricultural Experiment Station General Technical Report PNW- brates of Oregon. Oregon Depart• Bulletin 68:1-118. 8:1-417. ment of Fish and Wildlife, Portland. 0 Gabrielson, I.N. 1931 The birds of the Neff, J.A. 1928. A study of the eco• Rogue River Valley, Oregon. Con• nomic status of the common dor 33:110-121. woodpeckers in relation to Oregon , and S.G. Jewett. 1940. horticulture. Free Press Print, Birds ofOregon .Oregon State Col• Marionville, MI. lege, Corvallis. NewberryJ.S. 1857. Report upon the Gullion, G.W 1951. Birds of the south• zoology of the route. Chapter II. ern Willamette Valley, Oregon. Con• Report upon the birds, pp. 73-110. dor 53:129-149. In: Report of explorations and sur• Hannon, S.J., R.L. Mumme, WD. veys, to ascertain .. . route for a Koenig, S. Spon, and F.A. Pitelka. railroad from the Mississippi River 1987 Poor acorn crop, dominance, to the Pacific Ocean... 1854-1855, and decline in numbers of Acorn Vol. VI, Part IV, Zoological Report, Woodpeckers, fournal of Animal no. 2. Beverly Tucker, Printer, Wash• Ecology 56:197-207. ington, D.C. Harrison-Tweit, B., P.W Mattocks, Jr., Peck, M.E. 1961 A manual of the and E. S. Hunn. 1979. Northern higher plants of Oregon, 2nd edi• Pacific coast region. American tion. Binfords and Mort, Portland. Birds 33:890-893. Pope, A.L. 1895-1896. A list of the Jewett, S.G. 1954. Northward exten• birds of Oregon. Oregon Natural• sion of the range of the California ist 2:141-143, 157-160; 3:1-3- Woodpecker. Murrelet 35:14. Raynor, G.S. 1975. Techniques for Jobanek, G.A. 1994. Dubious records evaluating and analyzing Christmas in the early Oregon bird literature. bird count data. American Birds Oregon Birds 20:3-23. 29:626-633. Johnson, O.B. 1880. List of the birds Ritter, WE. 1938. The California
Oregon Birds 20(4): 127 metal band. It is important that we know which leg carries the particu• Portland Audubon House, First Tuesday (except Jun, 5151 N.W. Cornell Road, lar color(s) and, where used together, Jul, Aug), 7:30 pm whether the color band is above or Portland Third Wednesday of the The Dye House, Mission Mill, below the metal band. We are espe• month (except Jun, Jul, Aug), 1313 Mill Street S.E., Salem cially interested in migration routes 7:00 pm social, 7:30 pm and the locations of wintering Southern Wlllanialla Lane Memorial Blood Bank, Second Wednesday of the 221 1 Willamette Street, grounds. Sightings are possible over month, 7:00 pm Eugene — contact Clarice vast areas including the insular Pa• Watson, 485-6137 Hatfield Marine Science V..c,uln. Bird.r. «nd Every third Tuesday (except Center, Meeting Room 9, cific, Pacific coast, and Argentina." Jul, Aug) South Beach Oscar Johnson, Department of Biol• M^^Mmmm mmmm Si :::;:x:::::;:.;i::ix:S:-: ' : • ogy Montana State University, are birds — running tally of the -10-13 January 1995, 22nd Annual Meeting ofthe Bozeman, MT 59717, 406-994-4548, Rbirds of the Oregon rare bird Pacific Seabird Group, San Diego, California. The or Phillip Bruner, Natural Sciences phone network: meeting will include general papers and a sym• posium on Island Restoration and Seabird En• Division, BYU-Hawaii, Laie, HI 96762, - 20-25 September 1994, Brown Thrasher, Malheur hancement. Symposium papers are invited for the 808-293-3820, or WHSRN, c/o NWR headquarters; following topics: Predator Control, Vegetation Manomet Bird Observatory, P.O. Box - 26 September 1994, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Management, Habitat Rehabilitation, and Legal 1770, Manomet, MA 02345, 508-224- Malheur NWR headquarters; Perspectives. William T. Everett, Western Foun• 6521. - 29 September 1994, Blue Jay, Malheur NWR head• dation of Vertebrate Zoology, 439 Calle San Pablo, quarters, by Tom Crabtree; Camarillo,CA 93012. - 29 September 1994, Prairie Warbler, Cape Blanco ransplanted Trumpeter Swans (caught in a mist net), Curry Co., by Colin -10-15 January 1995, The 8th North American Arc• T have been neck-banded and Dillingham; tic Goose Meeting and Workshop, Albuquerque, some have also been marked with - 9 October 1994, Indigo Bunting, a male along the New Mexico. "The meeting will bring together in• pink or yellow dye. Each neckband nature trail at the Marine Science Center, Lincoln dividuals interested in the biology and manage• bears a unique alpha-numeric code. Co., by Skip Russell; and ment of this important group of birds. The last Most neckbands are bright green with - 6 November 1994, Gyrfalcon, a gray-phase bird meeting was attended by over 300 participants a white code, and contain 1 large up• at Ankeny NWR, by John Lundsten. representing several different countries." John Taylor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bosque del right letter or number and 2 sideways Apache NWR, Socorro, NM 87801, or Evan Cooch, regon Birds is printed on 65- letters or numbers. This code must Dept. of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser Univ., pound Simpson Ecopaque Text be read from bottom to top (base of O Burnaby, BC V5A 1 S6. neck to head). Some older red col• Recycled paper, and the cover is 65- - 22 January 1995, OFO Board meeting, Corvallis. lars from Canada must be read from pound Simpson Ecopaque Cover Re• OFO members wishing to bring matters to the at• top to bottom (from head to base of cycled. The interior pages are 70- tention of the OFO Board should contact an OFO neck). Please sketch the neckband if pound Concept Sandstone Recycled. Board member in advance ofthe meeting. George necessary. "Since 1990, 965 Trum• Text font is Adobe Garamond Book A. Jobanek, President, Oregon Field Ornitholo• peter Swans have been transplanted and other members of the Adobe gists, 2730 Alder, Eugene, OR 97405, 503-343- to alternate wintering sites in Oregon, Garamond family are used through• 8547. Idaho,Wyoming, and Utah. Hundreds out. Just in case you were wonder• - 7-8 February 1995, Annual Meeting ofthe Oregon more have teen dispersed by hazing. ing .... Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Eugene Hilton, "Adapting to Change in the Wildlife Profession." As a result, last winter Trumpeters Cheryl Friesen, McKenzie Ranger District, were reported in all western states Meetings, events & deadlines McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413, 503-822-3381. for the first time this century" Report - 17 December 1994 - 3 January 1995, inclusive, -1-2 May 1995, Second Annual Wildlands Confer• sightings to Ruth Shea, 3346 E. 200th 95th Christmas Bird Count. National Audubon ence, Hyatt Regency, Dearborn, Michigan. Meth• N., Rigby ID 83442, 208-754-8756. Society, 950 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022. ods, technologies, and human dimensions for - 7-11 January 1995, American Birding Associa• creating positive opportunities for the enhance• tion conference, San Diego, California. "In Janu• ment and restoration of ahbitat and naturla re• ary the area is delightful — for both birds and sources on corporate lands. Wildlife Habitat Coun• birders. Each winter, Southern California plays cil, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 920, Silver Spring, host to wintering shorebirds, gulls, and songbirds MD 20910, 301-588-8994 fax 301-588-4629. in numbers, as well as being the home of Califor• - 4-7 May 1995, Hawk Migration Association Of I23H5678F0 nia specialties. For example, the San Diego area North America Conference VII, Ramada Inn, is perhaps the best place to find reliable numbers Windsor, ON, Canada. Field trips to Pt. Pelee Na• Numbers used on green collars are sylized.of California Gnatcatchers near a large popula• tional Park, paper sessions, and keynote speak• tion center. We also plan observe Black Turnstone, ers. Robert C. Pettit, HMANA Conference Chair• Surfbird, Wrentit, California Thrasher and Tricol- person, Monroe County Community College, 1555 ored Blackbird, among others. Our Conference South Raisinville Rd., Monroe, Ml 48161, 313- speakers will cover such topics as pelagic birds, 242-7300 fax 313-242-9711. identification of gulls on the Pacific coast, and the - 5-11 August 1995, V Neotropical Ornithological recovery project for the California Condor. Plan Congress, Asuncion, Paraguay. Nancy Lopez de to join us in January in San Diego." Presentations PpBj ^| Kochalka, c/o Comite Organizador Local del V include "The Birds of the Region," by Richard CON, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Para• Webster, "Oceanic Birds of the California Coast," guay, Sucursal 19, Campus, Central XI, Paraguay, by Arnold Small, and "Gulls of the West Coast," (595-21)505075. by Guy McCaskie. ABA San Diego Regional Con• - 18 December 1995 - 3 January 1996, inclusive, ference, P.O. Box 6599, Colorado Springs, CO 96th Christmas Bird Count. National Audubon Left: "N69" Center: "6N9" Right: "96N"80934-6599 . Society, 950 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022.0 Oregon Birds 20(4): 130 FDELDNOTES: Eastern Oregon, Spring 1994
Steve Summers, P.O. Box 202, Silver Lake, OR 97638
This fall season did not produce a checklist, along with Craig Miller, in Horned Grebe great number of rarities but a first hopes of getting another one pub• 65 on Wickiup Res. 18 Apr. beats state record Eastern Wood-Pewee lished. Thanks to all who submitted Deschutes previous high count of 57 was very cooperative, staying long reports to me over this past couple (CM). One breeding-plumaged bird enough for many to see. Grackles of years; without you there would be was at Malheur N.WR. 27 May continue to rack up records for the no Fieldnotes. (CCJS).They have bred here before. state.This season there were 2 Com• Eared Grebe mons and 6 Great-taileds in the re• Abbreviations used in this report On 28 Apr. a carefully estimated gion; western Oregon also got its include: wild guess came up with 30.000 on share. Vagrant warblers were sort of C.G. campground Lake Abert,Lake, (SS). For more care• ho-hum and a Summer Tanager was HQ headquarters fully estimated wild guesses here at only seen by a small handful of m.ob. many observers LakeAbert on this day see shorebirds birders. N.A.R. National Antelope Refuge below! LakeAbert continues to come As most of you may know by the N.M. National Monument up with impressive numbers of time you read this I will have moved N.WR. National Wildlife Refuge waterbirds both in fall and spring. to Utah. Thus ends my second, but OBRC Oregon Birds Records American White Pelican short, tenure as Eastern Oregon Re• Committee One was found near Mt. Vernon, gional Editor. I hope you have en• S.R State Park Grant, 17Apr. (TH//rfeTUS),they are joyed the few reports I have been able W.M.A. Wildlife Management Area not regular in this county. to put together this time. I enjoyed written or verbal descrip• Least Bittern writing them. I do intend to continue tion submitted A bird heard calling at Klamath working on the Oregon maps and Marsh N.W.R., Klamath, 26 May, pro-
Regional Editors Western Oregon Jeff Gilligan 26 N.E. 32nd Avenue •Fall 231-0971 Portland, OR 97232
Western Oregon Gerard Lillie 329 Gilham • Spring 257-9344 Portland, OR 97215 Oregon Birds and Audubon Field Noteshave synchronized reporting areas, periods, and deadlines. Field reports for eastern and western Oregon are Western Oregon Jim Johnson 3244 N.E. Brazee Street due to the OB Regional Editor and AFN Regional Editor at the same time. • Winter/Summer282-549 2 Portland, OR 97212 Season Months Due date Spring March—May 10 June Eastern Oregon Steve Summers 2146 N. Chandler Drive Summer June—July 10 August • Spring '94 801-586-0438 Cedar City, UT 84720-9382 Fall August—November 10 December Winter December—February 10 March Eastern Oregon Paul T. Sullivan 4470 S.W. Murray Blvd. #26 •Fall'94/Spr'95646-788 9 Beaverton, OR 97005
Eastern Oregon Tom Crabtree 1667 N.W. Iowa • Winter/Summer389-772 3 Bend, OR 97701
Audubon Field Notes Regional Editor All of Oregon Bill Tweit P.O. Box 1271 206-754-7098 Olympia, WA 98507
Audubon Field Notes Sub-Regional Editors Eastern Oregon Tom Crabtree 1667 N.W. Iowa 388-2462 Bend, OR 97701
Western Oregon Harry Nehls 2736 S.E, 20th 233-3976 Portland, OR 97202
Salem area Barb Bellin 4730 Elizabeth St. N. 393-0243 Salem, OR 97303
Corvallis area Hendrik Herlyn 680 Lawrence Street #18 754-5137 Eugene, OR 97401
Rogue Valley Marjorie Moore 4729 S. Pacific Hwy. #11 535-5138 Phoenix, OR 97535
Oregon Birds 20(4): 131 vides another record for this area fide HN). showed up at the mouth of the (BT). Possibly Klamath Marsh and Ross' Goose Deschutes R., Wasco/Sherman (DB Upper Klamath N.W.Rs. are the only One was near Wamic 23 Apr. for a fide HN).This species is rare at both place this species is regular in Or• rare Wasco record (DL). these locations. egon. Eurasian Green-winged Teal Red-breasted Merganser Great Egret Not often reported in the region, One female was at Summer Lake One on an irrigation pond near one was at Summer Lake W.M.A., WM.A. 4 Apr. were they are nearly Metolius 11 Apr. was probably about Lake, 28 Mar. (SS). There are previ• annual visitors (CM). From 15 Mar. to the 4th Jefferson record. ous records from here and probably 23 Apr. either a male or female or a Cattle Egret more would show up if people took pair were seen on several dates at the Up to 16 were being seen near the time to search for this form. mouth of the Deschutes R. (DB fide Malheur N.W.R. HQ through much of Eurasian Wigeon HN). May. By Memorial Day weekend only The only ones reported were one Northern Goshawk a few were still around (CM, MRFR). at Malheur N.WR. HQ 22 Mar. (ES fide Malheur N.W.R. HQ hosted one on Lakes second record came 28 Apr. at MRFR),1 at Summer Lake W.M.A. 28 17 Apr. (GI fide MRFR). Summer Lake W.M.A. (DL,MS fide Mar. (SS), 2 (a pair) at Krumbo Res., Virginia Rail HN). Harney, 13 Apr. (ES fide MRFR), and One was s. of Lonerock 22 May Green Heron 1,3 mi. w. of Riley on along Hwy. 20, (PaS) and 4 were heard calling at a One at Lower Bridge 19 May pro• Harney, 28 May (RLSfide MRFR) The very small farm pond in Lost Valley vided Deschutes with one of its few last sighting is very late for the region. 29 May (DL); both are Gilliam rari• records (DF). One was at Hood River, Greater Scaup ties but are now considered to occur Hood River, 22 May, this species is One male was reported with Lesser regularly in the county. now considered regular here in very Scaups in a small pond along the Cen• Semipalmated Plover low numbers (DA). Another was at tral Patrol Road 5 miles north of "P" High counts of 43 and 65 were Benson Pond, Malheur N.W.R. 28 May Ranch, Malheur N.WR. 21 May (TJ)- made 26 & 28 Apr. at Summer Lake (MG fide MRFR). This is a very late record for the re• W.M.A. (SS,CM). These are quite Tundra Swan gion if correct. healthy counts for eastern Oregon. One imm. near Wamic, Wasco, 28 Oldsquaw Elsewhere one at Rufus 4 May was in May was very late (DL). A male was at McNary Dam 7 Mar. Sherman where they are casual (DB Trumpeter Swan for a very uncommon Umatilla fide HN). Nine at Hatfield Lake, Deschutes, record QNfide HN). American Avocet 10 Apr. wore the green neck collars White-winged Scoter Two at a ranch pond off Waterman and pink wings of the birds intro• A male was at Biggs, Sherman, 3 Rd., Wheeler, 15 May may be a county duced at Summer Lake W.M.A. (TC Apr. (JJ,DB fide HN) while a pair first (DL,DP)
Left: Cattle Egret, 28 May 1994, at The Narrows, Harney Co. Center: Common Snipe, 16 May 1994, Logan Valley. Right top: American Redstart, 29 May 1994, Malheur NWR headquarters, Harney Co. Rightbottom: "Plumbeous" Solitary Vireo, 29May 1994, Fields, Harney Co. Photos/ Skip Russell.
Oregon Birds 20(4): 132 Solitary Sandpiper Least Sandpiper where they are uncommon but regu• One at the Narrows, Malheur 5.000 were judged to be at Lake lar. N.W.R. 24-26 Apr. (CM,MRFR); one at Abert 28Apr.(SS). Bonaparte's Gull Mud Lakc,Hamey, 29 Apr. (GI,ES,RW Dunlin 11 at Wickiup Res. 18 Apr. were fide MRFR), 2 at Klamath Marsh 3.000 were judged to be at Lake considered Deschutes earliest record, N.WR. 4 May (SS); and one at Wasco Abert 28Apr.(SS). the previous earliest county record sewage ponds, Sherman, 7 May (DA), Baird's Sandpiper was 22 Apr. (CM). were the only ones reported. Two at Summer Lake W.M.A. 28 Herring Gull Upland Sandpiper Mar. were a little early for this uncom• Very rare in Harney, 1 imm. was at On 30 May one was seen in short mon spring migrant (SS). Three at the Narrows, Malheur N.WR. 26 Apr. grass prairie type native vegetation Hatfield Lake, Deschutes, 2 Apr. (TC (CM) and 1 was at Malheur HQ 29 near Lost Valley, Gilliam, for a first fide HN), 2 at Summer Lake W.M.A. Apr. (GI,JY,CB/«e MRFR).These are county record (DL). Could there be 14 Apr. & 1 there 28 Apr. (CM), 6 at also rather late date departure dates an undiscovered nesting population Malheur L. 28 Apr. (RV,RW,CB fide for eastern Oregon. in this area? MRFR), 2 at Harney L. 29 Apr. Thayer's Gull Long-billed Curlew (GI,RW,ES/zVfe MRFR), 3 at the Nar• Always a good find in e. Oregon, An impressive flock of 51 were in rows 29 Apr. (QMfide MRFR), and 3 one was at McNary Dam, Umatilla, a wet field 3-1/4 mi. w. of Heppner, at Malheur N.W.R. 29 Apr., were all 13 Mar. (SR fide HN). Morrow, 24 Mar. (SS,PrS), while an• more in season (CM). Western Gull other large flock of 31 were in a farm Red Phalarope An even better find for e. Oregon, field along Rock Creek south of Ar• The Lakeview sewage ponds pro• 2 were at McNary Dam 13 Mar. (SR lington, Gilliam 26 Mar. (CCJS). Un• duced Lake's second record on 24 fide HN).This makes at least the 4th reported numbers were at 3 Gilliam May (RRfide HN). record for Umatilla. locations 7 May (DA); this species is Franklin's Gull Common Tern rare in that county. Thirty at Willow Reports away from the Malheur Two at Bully Cr. Res., Malheur, 28- Creek 3 Apr. was a good count for N.WR. area included 3 at Lake Abert 29 May are probably a county first Sherman (J],DB fide HN). 28 Apr. (SS), 2 there 20 May (CM), and (PaSJM). Western Sandpiper 4 at Summer Lake W.M.A. 28 Apr. Snowy Owl 12,000 were judged to be at Lake (CM), and 6 at Bully Cr. Res.,Malheur The Umatilla bird which spent the Abert 28 Apr. (SS). 28 May (PaSJM). All are counties winter remained until 12 Mar. (CC
•HHP
Forester's Tern, 15 May 1994, Summer Lake, Lake Co. Photo/Skip Russell.
Common Grackle, 8 May 1994, Silver Lake Ranger Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female, 30 May 1994, Malheur NWR headquarters, Harney Co. Photo/ Station, Lake Co., OBRC Record Number 511-94- Skip Russell. 16D. Photo/Steve Summers. Oregon Birds 20(4): 133 fide HN). from the Malheur (P Ranch) area this Brown Thrasher Short-eared Owl spring. For the first time I was there One was reported from Malheur Although this is a regular species to hear one of these birds giving N.WR. HQ 24 May 014). The details of eastern Oregon several observers what's referred to as the Breeeoo received do seem to indicate this spe• (including this editor) felt that it was song of the Alder Flycatcher. This cies. more numerous this season through• sound does indeed sound like some Bohemian Waxwing out the region, especially in Lake & of the songs of Alder Flycatcher given Eight reported from Lower Rock Harney. on the available commercial record• Creek Rd., Gilliam, 28 May were very Northern Saw-whet Owl ings (e.g., National Geographic and late (DC fide BB). Summer Lake had one 16Apr.,pre• Peterson recordings). However, the Loggerhead Shrike sumably at HQ, which is not far from same bird (at least in my experience Twelve in 9 Gilliam locations 26 where they probably breed (PaSJM on 29 May at P Ranch) was also giv• Mar. show how locally common this fide HN). ing the same call note as the Willow species can be (CC JS). White-throated Swift Flycatchers it was with. Alder Fly• Plumbeous Solitary Vireo Two at Smith Rock S.P., 17 Mar., catchers are suppose to have very A very cooperative individual of beats the previous early arrival date different call notes from that of Wil• this race was present at Fields, for Deschutes by 9 days (CM). low Flycatchers. Are there really Al• Harney, from 22 May through the end Anna's Hummingbird der Flycatchers at Malheur? Probably of the month and into June (JG, One male was at summit of the Old not. Apparently Willow Flycatchers m.ob.). It sang constantly and per• Dalles Rd., s.e. of Hood River 22 May can give these calls that are being at• haps thought it was on territory. Sev• (DA).Apparently this species has un• tributed to Alder Flycatchers and that eral observers felt it sounded slightly dergone a range expansion in recent all records from Oregon are probably different from the normal cassini year in that region as it was quite rare really Willow Flycatchers. It is impor• Solitary Vireos, slower and sweeter. there not too many years ago. tant that this word gets out before it Another was at Malheur N.W.R. HQ Broad-tailed Hummingbird is too deeply ingrained in the litera• 23 May QG fide HN).This form may A well described female was com• ture and in people's minds that Alder turn out to be somewhat regular in ing to a feeder at Mosier, Wasco, 13 Flycatchers are present in Oregon. s.e. Oregon as records mount from May (DLt.DP), there are less than 5 Western Kingbird there at this time of year. records for this county. This species is quite uncommon in Red-eyed Vireo Hummingbirds Hood River so one at Panorama Point A bird at DeMoss Park near Moro, Four species of hummingbirds Lookout, s.e. of Hood River 22 May Sherman, 27 May should probably be (Black-chinned, Anna's, Calliope & is noteworthy (DA). considered a vagrant for that county Rufous) were coming to a feeder in Eastern Kingbird (DB fide HN). Pine Grove, Wasco, 21 May (DL, et One was in the Beaty's Butte area, Tennessee Warbler al.). Lake-Harney, on 26 May (DM). This One was at Malheur N.W.R. HQ 20 Lewis Woodpecker is a little west of where they are nor• May (JN,DC fide MRFR) One north of Condon, Gilliam, 15 mally known to occur but could be Northern Parula May, was in a county where they are regular out in this hardly ever birded One was at Malheur N.W.R. HQ 27- not recorded every year (DL). area of the state. 29 May (m.ob.) EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE Scrub Jay Blackburnian Warbler If circumstances are ever such that Records are mounting for Two were reported, one at Malheur an Eastern Wood-Pewee can be iden• Deschutes, 1 was in Bend 6 Mar. N.W.R. HQ 23 May (JG fide HN, tified in the West it happened at (CM). One seen in the Beaty's Butte m.ob.) and one on the Central Patrol Malheur N.W.R. HQ. on 28 May. A area on the Lake-Harney line 26 May, Rd. near Krumbo Rd. 24 May (JY,GL pewee singing like crazy an Eastern was in an area where they have not fide MRFR). There are only 5 previ• Wood-Pewee song was found that been reported from before (Barbara ous records for the state so if ac• morning (TJ). It was subsequently McAllister fide DM). This area is in- cepted these would be the 6th and seen and heard by many for 3 days, between the ranges of the pacific 7th state records. until 30 May. It gave typical clear, form and the interior form of Scrub Black-throated Gray Warbler whistled, slurred "pee-wee calls in Jays so it would be interesting to This species is quite rare in s. cen• addition to full pee-ya-wee followed know what form is out there. tral Oregon as a breeding species, so by peee-yyurr songs, consisting of Gray Catbird 3 considered territorial at Mahogany plaintive, rich, pure slurred whistles. A sparse migrant outside of north• Butte s.e. of Pine Mt., Deschutes, 23 As far as looking at the bird it was, east Oregon, one was at Malheur HQ May are noteworthy (CM).Also note• on average, lighter in all plumage as• 27-28 May (BC,CCJS). worthy, considering this species' pects than Western Wood-Pewees. Northern Mockingbird patchy distribution in the region, The one character that was consis• Mockingbirds are becoming regu• were 4 at Leslie Gulch, Malheur, 29- tently found on this bird and on no lar spring occurrences in the Malheur 30 May (PaSJM). Westerns was its totally all yellow-or• to Fields area of Harney (MRFR, Blackpoll Warbler ange lower mandible Tape recordings m.ob.).This spring 6+ were reported The only Blackpoll reported was 1 were made so this looks like a good from there between 28 Apr. to the at Malheur N.W.R. HQ 26 May (PaS). solid record! end of the period. Reports away from Black-and-white Warbler Alder Flycatcher the Malheur area were: 1 at Silver Reported ones were 1 at Malheur This species was again reported Lake Ranger Station 14 May (SS.PrS)- N.W.R. HQ 13-14 May (LP,SP,DF/aWe Oregon Birds 20(4): 134 Common Gracklewith blackbirds, 8 May 1994, Silver Lake Ranger Station, Lake Co., OBRC Record Number 511-94- 16C. Inset: Common Grackle, OBRC'RecordNumber 511-94-16B. Photos/Steve Summers.
Oregon Birds 20(4): 135 MRFR,DL fide HN) and 1 (or 2?) at are very few records for Harney.Two Malheur N.WR. HQ area 25 Apr.-31 Fields 22 & 28 May (Dlfide MRFR JG birds n. of Turner Butte and 1 n. of May (m.ob.fide MRFR). fide HN,CCJS). Condon, 22 May, were both in Gilliam Common Grackle American Redstart where this species is not considered A male spent the morning and Up to 3 were at Malheur N.W.R. HQ regular (PaS). evening of 8 May at the Silver Lake over the Memorial Day weekend 28- White-throated Sparrow Ranger Station eating sunflower seeds 29 May (m.ob.). One was along up• On 22 Apr. a tan-striped adult from a feeding station, this is a Lake per Succor Cr., near Rockville, 30 May showed up at the same Silver Lake first. Another was reported from for at least the 2nd Malheur record Ranger Station, Lake, feeder where 2 Malheur N.W.R. HQ 13-14 May (DL.PA (PaSJM). Harris' Sparrows were wintering fide MRFR). There are about 13 pre• Northern Waterthrush (PrS.SS). It stayed until 1 May.This set vious records for the state. Outside of their normal breeding the stage for a week of Grand Slams Purple Finch areas in Klamath they were reported (seeing all 4 species of Zonotrichia Very rare for Gilliam, 25 were at from Fields (2) 22 May (JG fide HN) sparrows at the same spot), includ• Lost Valley 30 Apr. (DL), this is an un• and Malheur N.W.R. HQ 26-28 May ing at times all in the same binocular usually high number. Twelve were (BC.CCJS). field of view.The only other reported noted in Wheeler 15 May (DL,DP,PaS SUMMER TANAGER ones were: one at Canyon City, Grant, fide HN). One was reported from Frenchglen 2-16 Mar. (CG/zVfeTUS); one at Can• Common Redpoll 27 May (BM fide MRFR). Details were yon Creek, Grant, 2 Mar. (LEH fide A male was found at McNary Dam not provided so I hope this record TUS); one at Smith Rock S.P. 4 May 7 Mar. QNfide HN). finds it way to the OBRC. (TS); and one at Malheur N.W.R. HQ Lesser Goldfinch Rose-breasted Grosbeak 15-22 May (DMc,BTfide JS.MRFR). More regular than usual in Harney, A regular vagrant now in Oregon, Harris' Sparrow Lesser Goldfinches were found with this year being no exception, the The 2 that wintered (starting 13 throughout the Malheur area 28-30 following were found: a male at Nov. 1993) at Silver Lake Ranger Sta• May (m.ob.) Malheur N.W.R. HQ 20-21 May tion, La&e, were last seen 7 May (DMc,BT fide JS); a female at Malheur (SS,PrS). Both were in full breeding Erratum N.WR. HQ. 28-31 May (m.ob.); 1 sing• plumage by that time and at least one The Red-eyed Vireo record at Ser• ing male 28-29 May at and near Page was singing (as was the White- vice Cr. in OB 20(2): 69, Summer Springs C.G.,Harney (mob.),and 1 throated Sparrow above). Unfortu• 1994, was in Wheeler Co. not Gilliam male along the Central Patrol Rd.near nately the Golden-crowned Sparrow Co. Benson Pond, Malheur N.W.R. 28 May present was never heard singing so a (MG,BG/i'rfe MRFR). Grand Slam of all 4 Zonotrichias sing• Initialed observers Brewer's Sparrow ing was missed by one! Other reports Bold faced observers are those who Rarely reported from Gilliam one were a late one at Double O Ranch, submitted reports or reported was near Arlington 15 Apr. (CCJS). Harney, 24 May QC,WYfide BB) sightings directly to me: David Ander• Black-throated Sparrow Lapland Longspur son, David Bailey, Barb Bellin, Carl Most years this is a sparsely distrib• Remarkably late was one bird along Brudin, Dave Copeland, Barbara uted species throughout the sage• Double 0 Rd.,Harney, 27 May (PaS). Combs, Jack Corbett, Craig Corder, brush country of southeastern Or• Bobolink Tom Crabtree, Dick Cronberg, Mike egon. This spring, though, they Five were in the Juntura area, Denny, Darrel Faxon, David Forsyth, seemed to turn up wherever there Malheur, 28 May where they are rare Cecil Gagnon, Mike Gebhart, Jeff was habitat (mainly sagebrush cov• (PaSJM). Gilligan, Barb Griffin, Lee & Eva Har• ered rocky slopes) throughout Lake Tricolored Blackbird ris (LEH), J. Houle, Gary Ivey, Tim and Harney.The first 2 were reported Thirty near Wamic, Wasco, 10 Apr. Janzen, Jim Johnson, Gretchen Lech, from the eastern shore of Lake Abert were at a location where they have David Lukas, John Lundsten, Donna 28 Apr. (SS). Numbers also seemed been found the last 4 years, but no Lusthoff, Don MacDonald (DMc), higher than normal as evidenced by nesting yet (DL). Another 30 were David Marshall, Barb McDonald,Judy the 15 found in an hours walk along found at Painted Hills, John Day Fos• Meredith, Craig Miller, Harry Nehls, the northern end of the Summer Lake sil Beds N.M.,Wheefer, 17 Apr. (DA) Jim Nestler, Don Pederson, Stacy Basin on 13 May (SS). Not unex• and 10 were seen at Bridge Cr. pond, Perterson, Russell Rogers, Skip pected, then, were some county Wheeler, 14 May (DL,DP).This recent Russell, Laura Peterson, Eric firsts. Wheelers first was at a farm arrival to Wheeler, may turn out to be Scheuering, Jamie Simmons, Mark pond along Waterman Rd. 15 May regular here around the reservoir and Smith, Rich & Laura Spillane (RLS), (DL,DP). Deschutes first was on 26 pond. One male at Bear Valley, Grant, Paul Sullivan (PaS), Priscilla Summers May along Hwy. 20, 2 mi. east of 22 Mar. was in a county where there (PrS), Steve Summers, Bill Hampton (CM), the birds were sing• are still less than 5 records (MD fide Thackaberry Bill Tice, DaveTrochlell, ing on territory. Expect to see some TUS). In recent years this species has Rachel White, Jan Yacabucci, Walt remarkable high numbers in the sum• undergone quite a range expansion Yungen mer report. in eastern Oregon. It was not too long Other initials: Malheur Refuge Field Grasshopper Sparrow ago that there were no records north Report (MRFR); TUS (The Upland Klamath. A bird at Foster Flats, Harney, 28 of Sandpiper, Grant Co. Bird Club news• May was at an unusual location for Great-tailed Grackle letter, Apr. , May, June 1994). Italicized this species (DT fide MRFR). There At least 2 were in the Double O/ names are county names. 0 Oregon Birds 20(4): 136 FIELDNOTES: Western Oregon, Spring 1994
Gerard Lillie, 329 S.E. Gilham, Portland, OR 97215
The weather patterns this spring pro• ber. Cattle Egret duced conditions that were drier and Eared Grebe Another egret made a rare Rogue warmer than normal. However, heavy One was at Charleston on 20 March Valley appearance when a Cattle early spring rains produced very fa• (MJ.SJ), and 1 was at the SJCR on 2 Egret was near the Medford Airport vorable conditions for observing the April (MP). on 14 May (ES). spring shorebird movement. As a re• Clark's Grebe Black-crowned Night Heron sult, birders participating in the Four reports were received with no The only reports came from south• Willamette Valley Shorebird Census supporting details. One was at west Oregon where 3 were seen fly• found large numbers throughout the Yaquina Bay 7 March (HH), and 2 ing north along the coast 2 miles Valley in April. were at the mouth of the Rogue River southeast of Brookings 25 April (DM) Later, the good weather apparently 15 March (CD). One at Yaquina Bay and 7 were at the mouth of the allowed for an inconspicuous passage 19 March (PM) was possibly the same Chetco River 18 April (KW) of passerines, which on the whole bird observed there on 7 March.And Green Heron were lightly commented on. The 1 again, 1 at the mouth of the Rogue This species was widely reported exception was the invasion of Black- River 31 March (DM) was likely the from many locations with the earli• throated Sparrows, which created same bird as on 15 March. est date being 23 April from Scoggins quite a lot of excitement in the re• Tubenoses Valley Park (SR) . gion. There were no reports for the pe• White-faced Ibis Abbreviations used in this report riod. A group of 21 visited Diamond Lake include: American White Pelican south marsh 14 May (KG) for the only FGSP Forest Grove Sewage Unusual in western Oregon, 8 were western Oregon report. Ponds circling Minto-Brown Park in Salem Tundra Swan m.ob. many observers on 28 May (TR).The observer could The species lingered a little longer NWR National Wildlife Refuge not tell from his vantage point if they than usual in the Lower Columbia SJCR South Jetty Columbia landed or not. River region with 150 on Sauvie Is• River Brown Pelican land 9 March (HN). They were last SJYB South Jetty Yaquina Bay As an indication of the continuing reported 26 March from Finley NWR S.P. Sewage Pond effects of the El Nino, this species 0R,KR). WMA Wildlife ManagementArea arrived very early. One bird was noted Greater White-fronted Goose at Chetco Point on 27 April (FFD.By They were reported from the usual Pacific Loon 7 May, 1 was at the SJCR (MP). northwest Oregon locations with the Perhaps reflecting the common• American Bittern largest concentrations occurring at ness of the species, only 1 report was This was a banner year for sightings Scappoose Bottoms 9 March (HN) received, that being "hundreds" mi• of this species. Up to 5 were seen at when there were 200 birds and grating past Yaquina Head on 16 April. the Cedar Canyon Marsh outside of McFadden Marsh 17 April when there This is a typical date for heavy Pacific Banks from 3 April through the end were 125 (KM) Loon migration (KRJR). of the period (GG et al.). One was at Snow Goose Red-throated Loon the FGSP on 16 April (DL), and they The last wintering bird was seen 1 The only sighting away from the were noted at Fern Ridge Reservoir April on Sauvie Island (HN). coast was of a single bird on the Co• on both 17 April and 24 April Ross' Goose lumbia River at the Portland Airport (DK,MH,BC). Another was reported This species is always rare west of on 29 April (BS). from the Rogue Valley in early April the Cascades. One was on Sauvie Is• Common Loon (HS). land 12 April QM), 1 was atAumsville, Few were noted away from the Great Egret southeast of Salem, 14 April (JL, pho• coast.Two were observed migrating One put in an unusual Clackamas tos) and 5 were on Sauvie Island from north in the Cascade Mountains east Co. appearance from 8 March to 17 18 April to 20 April (HN et al.). of Larch Mountain 8 May (JG,GL). Is April (DK,TJ, et al). There were up Emperor Goose this the normal route taken by the to 5 on Sauvie Island throughout the Rare anywhere in Oregon, 1 win• Common Loons that spend time in period (HN). tered near Cushman on the Siuslaw the Cascade Mountains? Snowy Egret River and was last observed 24 March Yellow-billed Loon One at Kirtland S.P.on 25 April was (PS). There were no reports for the pe• a rare Rogue Valley sighting (JW). One (Black) Brant riod. was at the mouth of the Rogue River There were few reports. The larg• Horned Grebe on 15 March (CD) and again on the est concentration noted was of 350 35 at Tillamook Bay on 16 April pro• 31 March (DM). Another was seen birds 6 March at Yaquina Bay (SR). vided the only report (JJ,DB).This is along the Winchuck River on 22 April Cackling Canada Goose a fairly late date for such a large num• (DM). They lingered at Finley NWR longer
Oregon Birds 20(4): 137 than usual this year, keeping the ref• was no evidence of fledged young or Pacific Golden-Plover uge closed an additional week. They nesting attempts. Rogue Valley The only sighting was of a single departed by 22 April (HH). sightings included single birds on 5 bird at Yaquina Bay 8 May (SR). Aleutian Canada Goose March, 19 March and 9 April (MM). Snowy Plover Two were observed among the Three were in the general area of Unfortunately, none were reported Cacklers at Finley NWR 12 April (HH). Denman on 14 May (RS). Other from western Oregon. Hopefully it is Canada Goose Willamette Valley sightings included because nobody looked for them. Demonstrating their ability for singles on 5 March near the Corvallis Black-necked Stilt rapid departure from Oregon, HN ob• Airport (AF), 26 March at Finley NWR This species staged an unprec• served up to 20,000 on Sauvie Island (MJ,SJ,GG) and 3 May again at Finley edented invasion into western Or• 20 April and only 12 four days later. NWR (AH,BH,DH). There was 1 egon this spring. Up to 30 were in Eurasian Green-winged Teal coastal record ,7 March at Nute the Willamette Valley from 25 March One was at Virginia Lake on Sauvie Slough in Lincoln Co. (HH). to 5 May (m.ob.), while reports from Island 5 March (GB et al) and 1 was Bald Eagle the Kirtland S.P. in the Rogue Valley at Kirtland SP in the Rogue Valley 25 A pair built a conspicuous nest on spanned 27 March to 4 May (m.ob.). March (CB). Sauvie Island for the first confirmed Greater Yellowlegs Blue-winged Teal Island nesting attempt in quite a As usual, Greaters were widely re• The first of the season was ob• while, but the young died after 2 days ported both coastally and inland Two served 2 3 April (RP). By 8 May, 9 were (HN). Five immatures remained on noteworthy concentrations were 100 along Fenk Rd. outside of Tillamook the island through the end of the pe• in Lebanon 9 April (PS) and 92 at (DL,PSu). riod (HN). Kirtland S.P. 9 April (MM). Cinnamon Teal Northern Goshawk Lesser Yellowlegs The season's first was at Denman There were 8 reports for the pe• Lessers also made a very good in the Rogue Valley 5 March (MM). riod, an unusually high number. The showing this spring with the follow• Eurasian Wigeon most dramatic sighting occurred on ing reports noted: 8 were at the E.E. The latest lingering were at Mt.Tabor in Portland, where an adult Wilson WMA 15 April (MN), 3 were Tillamook Bay 16 April (RG), not an Goshawk and an adult Cooper's at FGSP 16 April (DL.GG ,et al), 2 unusual coastal date. Hawk chased each other for half an were north of McFadden Marsh 16 Redhead hour, screaming loudly at each other April (HH,OH), 25 were at Kirtland There were 5 reports involving 7 the whole time (GL). S.P. 17 April (SR), 5 were at Finley birds for this uncommon visitant to Red-shouldered Hawk NWR 19 April (HH,LDJS), 2 were on northwest Oregon. As usual, most reports came from Sauvie Island 22 April (DB), 3 were at Tufted Duck southwest Oregon (CD,DM) with an Tillamook 24 April (JG), 2 were in A drake was at Bay City S.P. from 9 active nest outside Harbor for the north Portland 25 April (HN) and fi• April to 17 April (HN,DB et al.). An• second year. Elsewhere, 1 was seen nally, 7 were at the South Slough other drake was at Hammond 8 May at Whitehorse Park, Grants Pass 21 Siuslaw River 26 April (AM,TM). (MP).The species is a vagrant in Or• May (m.ob.) and a very vocal indi• Solitary Sandpiper egon. vidual was at Drift Cr. Meadows Siletz This is another species that made a Oldsquaw Bay 30 April (BB,DF,FS). very impressive showing in western One was at the SJCR from 17 April Golden Eagle Oregon, especially the Willamette to the end of the period (MP et al), a There were 4 reports away from Valley. They were widely noted by male was at the SJYB on 20 March the Rogue Valley. One was at Finley many observers from 17 April to 14 (MJ,SJ), and 2 were at Seal Rock on NWR 25 March to 27 March (LD), 1 May. Reports indicated the presence 27 March and 10 May (KM). was along the Winchuck River 31 of up to 30 birds. Even though this Barrow's Goldeneye March (DM), 1 was in Eugene 17 April was an unusually dry spring overall, A male at the SJYB from 19 March (DL.CL), and 1 was at Mollala St. Park TM felt the early spring rains provided to 1 April provided the only non-Cas• 31 May(ESp). ample stopping places for shorebirds cade Mountains lake report. Merlin on the northward migration in the Red-breasted Merganser The last report was of an individual Willamette Valley. The only report away from the im• at Tillamook 24 April (SR). Wandering Tattler mediate coast was of a female on the Sora As is typical, scattered coastal re• Willamette River 13 March (AM,TM). This species was widely reported ports were received, with the 12 at Turkey Vulture from mid-April through May through• Seal Rocks State Park 8 May a nice Surprisingly, the first report came out the region (HN). concentration (SR). not from the Rogue Valley but from Sandhill Crane Willet North Plains 7 March (MA). Reports 2500 on Sauvie Island 1 April was There were 2 rare inland sightings followed quickly from throughout the the probable peak of migratory num• this spring. The first was at the region. bers (GL), There were no regional Kirtland S.P. in "late April" (MM) and Osprey reports of nesting attempts this year. the second was a bird seen and heard As is usual, they returned to most Lesser Golden-Plover 20 and 21 May at Ankeny NWR areas during March. Three at Astoria 5 May and 1 at (JLu.BB, et al. ).The second bird was White-tailed Kite Clatsop Beach 14 May were not iden• a probable first Marion Co. record. Although there were several birds tified to species (MP). There were only 2 other reports, both sighted throughout the region, there coastal. Oregon Birds 20(4): 138 Oregon Birds 20(4): 139 Whimbrel Short-billed Dowitcher Caspian Tern There were the usual coastal re• Reports indicated a coastal move• This spring's northward movement ports from 16 April to 22 May with ment in mid-April with "many" still at typified Caspian Tern progression up the 60 noted at Tillamook 16 April a SJCR 1 May (MP). the Oregon coast and Columbia River. "normal" high number QJ.DB). How• Long-billed Dowitcher They were first noted 20 March in ever, there was a rare inland sighting There were the normal observa• southwestern Oregon (DM,CD), at the St. Paul Sedimentation Ponds tions from favored coastal and inland were at the SJCR 30 March (MP), and 24 May (BB, details). This is another locations during March and April. were at Sauvie Island 1 April (JJ). probable first Marion Co. record. Wilson's Phalarope Common Tern Long-billed Curlew Very few were reported, but the One and possibly 2 (the second Always a rare regional guest, there ones that were observed arrived dur• bird had its head under its wing were 3 reports including 1 inland: 1 ing the expected May migration "win• throughout the viewing period) were was at Harris Beach St. Park 26 March dow." Four were at FGSP 7 May (PSu), at the Kirtland S.P. 11 May (DC) for a (CD), 1 was north of Eugene 9 April 2 were at Tillamook 7 May (SJa), and very good Rogue Valley sighting. (RJ), and 1 was at South Beach St. Park 1 was at Mollala St. Park 26 May (ESp). Arctic Tern 8 May (SJ). Red-necked Phalarope The only report was of 50 at the Marbled Godwit Observations indicated normal SJCR 7 May (MP). There were the usual scattered re• numbers along the coast.At times the Black Tern ports from along the coast from mid- movement was heavy as indicated by One was at the Kirtland S.P. 14 May April to early May (MP,HN,SJ,KM). the 2000+ flying north past the SJCR (MM) and a small colony returned to Ruddy Turnstone 7 May (MP). 100 at the Kirtland S.P. Fern Ridge Reservoir for the third Surprisingly, only 3 birds were re• in the Rogue Valley 14 May was a nice year (SG). ported, all coastal: 1 at Nehcotta 30 concentration (DC). Common Murre April (HN), 1 at SJCR 7 May (MP), and Red Phalarope Further evidence of the ill effects 1 at Yaquina Bay 8 May (SR). By con• Two at the Kirtland S.P in "the first of El Nino, HN observed that very few trast, Spring 1992 concentrations of week of May" (DC) were one of only dead murres were found along the 175 at Bandon and 86 just north of a very few inland spring records for beaches all winter and spring long. the Rogue River were noted. western Oregon. Additionally, the nesting rocks were Red Knot Jaeger sp. only half full by the end of the pe• This species was also in low num• The only jaeger sighting was of a riod. bers this spring. Five were at SJCR 7 Parasitic at the SJCR 30 April (MP). Pigeon Guillemot May (MP), 17 were at Agate Beach in Bonaparte's Gull Breeding birds were first observed Newport 7 May (JR,KR), 1 was at Not much mention was made of 7 March by HH.This is an early date Tillamook 7 May, and 1 was at this regular spring migrant, but there for actual breeding, as usually birds Tillamook 13 May (HN). were a few inland sightings. One was in nuptial plumage are just returning Semipalmated Sandpiper at the Sheridan S.P. 9 April (DL, CC, at that date. Over 300 were at Yaquina A rare spring migrant, 3 were JS) and 1 was at Roslyn Lake east of Head 27 March (KM). KM noted this found: 1 was at Tillamook 7 May to Portland 13 April.The largest coastal is the third year in a row that an early 13 May (SJa.HN, et al.), 1 was at report was of 200 at the SJCR 7 May spring concentration has occurred Warrenton 14 May (DB), and 1 was (MP). there, prior to dispersal to nesting in the Rogue Valley, where it is very Heermann's Gull sites. rare, at Kirtland S.P. 14 April (MM). The only report was a very good Burrowing Owl Western Sandpiper inland find. An adult was at the The owl that wintered along Green The usual passage was observed Monmouth S.P. 20 March (CC), an Valley Rd. in Linn Co. was seen until throughout March and April with the exceptionally early date. 18 March (CP). largest concentration at Youngs Bay- Mew Gull Barred Owl Warrenton 1 May, where 6000 were Again, hardly any mention. How• Barred and Spotted Owls were seen (MP). ever, 400 on Sauvie Island 9 March heard calling in the same area in the Baird's Sandpiper was a high number for that location Winchuck River drainage 6 March This is another rare spring migrant (HN). (DM). A pair was heard at Wilhoit that made a very good showing this ICELAND GULL Springs Park in Clackamas Co. from spring. Two were at Kirtland S.P. in One in first winter plumage was at 7 May to the end of the period the Rogue Valley 14 April (DC), 3 the mouth of the Winchuck River 19 (TJ,ESp). were at Basket Slough NWR 15 April March (CD). No details. Long-eared Owl (RG,PB, details), 1 was at Nehalem S.P. Glaucous Gull A juvenile was taken into a reha• 14 April (WC), 10 (a remarkable num• Considering how many were bilitation center from the Cresswell ber) were on Sauvie Island 22 April around the previous 2 winters and area for the first indication of nesting (DB), and 1 was at the Bay City S.P. 1 springs, it is surprising how few were in Lane Co. (AM,TM). One was seen May (SJ,GL). seen this spring. Three were on near Banks 7 May (PSu) and 1 was Dunlin Sauvie Island 4 March (SR), 1 was at seen at The Narrows on Sauvie Island Normal numbers were along the Seaside 21 March (MP), and 1 adult 28 May (HN). coast from March through mid-May at Nehalem S.P. 13 May was "missing Black Swift with 300 at FGSP 16 April — a good its bill tip" (HN). Ouch! Difficult to detect in migration, 1 number for an inland location (GG). was seen flying low and calling over Oregon Birds 20(4): 140 Lost Lake Rd. in Hood River Co. 22 the Hatfield Marine Science Center 8 not exactly a migrant trap).This con• May (DL). May (SJ).A female at Jack Hays Cr. was stitutes the eighth Oregon record. White-throated Swift only the third Lane Co. coast range Lazuli Bunting Two were observed at Lower Table record (AM,TM). This species made a fairly good Rock in the Rogue Valley 14 May (RE). Horned Lark showing in the Willamette Valley this This is the only known breeding site A pair at the Eugene Airport 24 April spring. Two were north of Corvallis in western Oregon and the third year may indicate the first nesting attempt 5 May (JS), 2 were on Mt.Tabor 7 May in a row they have nested here. in Lane Co. in many years (PSh,DS). (PSu), and "many" were at the mouth Calliope Hummingbird Swainson's Thrush of the Sandy River 22 May (BA). Three were reported from lowland One seen in West Salem 10 April Clay-colored Sparrow locations where they are scarce mi• was very early (RR, details). Other• This species is a rare transient and grants. A male was in Eugene 9 April wise, arrival dates were normal. winter visitant and only once before (AM,TM,SS), a male was in Salem 14 Northern Mockingbird has been found west of the Cascades April (CY), and another male was in Five spring sightings were very as a spring migrant.Two sightings this Turner 25 April (KP). unusual, considering most records spring then are very good. One was Flycatchers are for fall and winter. One was at singing in Tillamook 16 Apr but could Flycatchers were not reported very Denman 5 March and 9 April not be relocated after that (JJ,DB). often and in smaller numbers than (RS,MM), 1 was near Brookings 5 Another was at a feeder in West usual. Perhaps the pleasant spring April (CD), 1 was on Sauvie Island 1 Roseburg 11 March (KG). weather allowed for a speedy and in• May (TJ), 1 was at the SJCR 14 May BLACK-THROATED SPARROW conspicuous migration. The arrival (MP), and 1 was in Springfield 14 and This spring witnessed a major in• dates were slightly later than normal 15 May (MS). vasion of Black-throated Sparrows for all reported. Loggerhead Shrike into western Oregon as well as other Willow Flycatcher There were 2 rare western Oregon areas of the state. They were found First noted 14 May in Timber, Wash• sightings this spring. One was on in virtually all areas of western Or• ington Co. (GG). Sauvie Island 19 March (MW) and 1 egon with a total of at least 19 birds Hammond's Flycatcher was in Mollala 7 May (ESp). being involved. Prior to this it is First noted 14 May in Willamette Red-eyed Vireo thought that approximately 35 indi• Park, Benton Co. (HH). This species has been detected in viduals had occurred in western Or• Dusky Flycatcher increasing numbers in the Portland egon. The dates of occurrence were This species once again made a metro area in recent years.The small from 1 May to 30 May (m.ob.). good showing in Mt. Tabor Park in breeding colony on Sauvie Island was Harris' Sparrow residential Portland. One was there active again this year (m.ob.). They There were 3 reports of this un• 27 April (GL) and 4 were there 29 have also been found increasingly usual spring migrant. One was at a April GG). along the Sandy River and Columbia Myrtle Cr. feeder 11-22 March (KG), Pacific-slope Flycatcher River. There also appears to be a an immature was in Corvallis 13 First noted 11 May along the colony on the Sandy River delta as March (TRe CR) and an adult was in Winchuck River in Curry Co. (DM). well (BA). Corvallis 6 May 0R,KR). Western Kingbird Warblers Lapland Longspur Three were in the Rogue Valley 16 The migration was not especially This is a scarce spring coastal tran• April (MM), 1 was in Harbor 21 April, thrilling this year, again I think due sient, so a male in Gladstone 25 April 1 was near the Portland Airport 22 to the good weather. They did not was very unusual (Gle). More typical April (DB), 2 were on Sauvie Island concentrate in any large numbers was a male at SJCR 7 May (MP). 24 April (MP), and 1 was on the Sandy with a couple of exceptions. Mt. Ta• RUSTIC BUNTING River delta 30 May (BA). bor Park in Portland continues to be This was the bird of the season and Eastern Kingbird an outstanding location to view the Oregon's second record. A probable Two reports were received, both spring passage.The best day for "num• male, it made itself at home at Paul from the same general area A pair was bers" was 22 April when there were Sherrell's feeders in Eugene 2-17 on the Sandy River delta 27 May (BA) 250 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 30 Or• April. Paul was kind enough to open and 1 was west of the Troutdale Air• ange-crowned, 4 Yellow, 40 Black- his house to the masses who got their port 30 May (BA).The pair on the throated and 15Townsend's (GL). State if indeed not Life Bird in indoor Sandy River delta was in the same area Nashville Warbler comfort (m.ob., photos). where BA observed a pair nesting in A remarkable 75 were on Mt.Tabor Snow Bunting 1993, which apparently was the first 24 May (GL). I have never heard of An injured bird was found in the documented nesting of this species such a number at 1 location in the Talent, Josephine Co. area for a very in western Oregon. Otherwise this region. unusual Rogue Valley record (MM, species is considered a rare visitant American Redstart photos). in late spring and summer. One at Selmac Lake in Josephine Tricolored Blackbird Purple Martin Co. in "mid- May" was a very good Three vocal males were at Basket Two were at the Portland Airport Rogue Valley record (KW). Slough NWR 30 May. At least 1 male 14 April (DFo),an impressive 32 were HOODED WARBLER was present over the next few days on Sauvie Island 3 May (DB), they One singing male in Beaverton 20 also (RG,BB ML). Perhaps this will be were nesting at Toledo by 7 May May was an outstanding find (SR). It the site of Oregon's next breeding (JR,KR) and nesting in new boxes at could not be relocated (Beaverton is Continued on page 144. Oregon Birds 20(4): 141 Right: Series of still-frame capturesfrom video of the Rustic Bunting, 11 April 1994. Photos/Owen Schmidt. Below: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 17 April 1994, Merlin Rest Area, Josephine Co. Black-chinned Humming• bird, 24 May 1994, Malheur NWR headquarters, Harney Co. Photos/Skip Russell.
Oregon Birds 20(4): 142 Above: Black-throated Sparrow, 16May 1994. atMt. Scott, Clackamas Co. Photo/Tim Janzen.
Black-throated Sparrow, 26 May 1994, near Hampton, first verified record in Deschutes Co. Photo/Craig Miller. HELDNOTES: Western Oregon, Winter 1993-94 See OB 20(3): 104, Fall 1994
Jim Johnson, 3244 N.E. Brazee Street, Portland, OR 97212
Addenda Corrigenda A Pacific/American Golden-Plover Tom Mickel was not a source of duck club west of Junction City (Tom was observed in Linn Co. on the White-tailed Kite reports from the Mickel). Alan D. Barron was the ob• Willamette Valley Shorebird Census Rogue Valley. Fifteen thousand Dun• server of the 14 Jan. Port Orford Palm 21 Jan. (Janet Hardin). Details were lin were in the Airport census area of Warbler, not Tom Mickel. The latest submitted for the Hermit Warbler the Willamette Valley Shorebird Cen• Palm Warbler was in Florence 13 Feb observed on the Eugene CBC 2 Jan. sus 22 Jan., but not actually at the (Tom Mickel, Jim Carlson). (Tom Mickel). Eugene Airport-they were at a private 0
Oregon Birds 20(4): 143 Continued from page 141. ence of more than 1 could never be DH Don Hall, OH Oscar Harper, HH colony? verified. CD also reported 1 male Hendrick Herlyn, FH Fred Hummel, Common Grackle along the Winchuck River 21 May. MH Manuela Huso, SJa Steve Jaggers, This species has been recorded Pine Grosbeak TJ Tim Jantzen, JJ Jim Johnson, MJ about 12 times in Oregon prior to this Two males and a female in the Marcella Johnson, RJ Rod Johnson, SC spring, so 5 reports this spring from Applegate area were a very good find Scott Johnson, DK Darlene Key, JL western Oregon is significant. It is (MM). Jack Lavalle, CL Cindy Lawes, GLe possible that some of the southwest Gerry Lee, GL Gerard Lillie, ML Marie Oregon reports could involve the I would like to thank the following Lofton, JLu John Lunsten, DL Donna same bird, but it is clear that there sub-regional editors: Barb Bellin, Sa• Lustoff, KM Kathy Merrifield, LM was more than 1 bird in the area. One lem area; Colin Dillingham, Curry Larry McQueen, Am Allison Mickel, was in Brookings 17 April (CD, de• Co.; Hendrick Herlyn, Corvallis/Eu- TM Tom Mickel, PM Pat Muller, DM tails), 1 was in Eugene 21 April (LM), gene area; Tom Mickel, Lane Co.; Don Munson, MM Marjorie MooreJM 1 was south of Brookings 13 May Marjorie Moore, Rogue Valley; Harry Joe Morawski, MN Mark Nebeker, HN (KW), 1 was in the Pistol River Valley Nehls, western Oregon; and Jamie Harry Nehls, KP Karen Peck, RP Ram 20 May (KW), and 1 was in Port Simmons, Corvallis/Eugene area. Papish, MP Mike Patterson, CP Orford (date?,Alice Pfand). Carolyn Paynter, CR Claudia Regier, Hooded Oriole Initialed observers TRe Ted Regier, TR Ted Richings, JR Dorothy Sevey's feeders at her BA Bob Altman, MA Marilyn Allen, Justin Rodecap.KR Kent Rodecap, RR home along Hunter Cr. south of Gold DB David Bailey, GB Greg Baker, BB Russ Raney SR Skip Russell, DS Don Beach have evidently hosted this spe• Barb Bellin, PB Patti Bernardi, CB Schrouder, HS Howard Sands, FS cies for several years now. CD re• Clint Brommitt.WC Wilson Cady BC Floyd Schrock, BS Barbara Scott, ESe ported 1 on 25 March and 15 April Barb Combs, CC Craig Corder, DC Eric Setterberg, PSh Paul Sherrell, JS and many other observers saw and Dick Cronberg, LD Laurel Devany CD Jammie Simmons, MS Mike Southard, photographed this bird as well. Mrs. Colin Dillingham, RE Ray Ekstrom, DF RS Ray Skibby, RSm Richard Smith, Sevey is also a most gracious host. Daryl Faxon, AF Anthony Floyd, RG ESp Elmer Specht, PSu Paul Sullivan, Mrs. Sevey and her son reported see• Roy Gerig, JG Jeff Gilligan, GG Greg JSt Judy Stevens, SS Steve Summers, ing 3 Hooded Orioles in a tree along• Gillson, SG Steve Gordon, KG Keith KW Ken Ward, JW Jerry Wahl, MW side their home at once, but the pres• Graves, AH Alice Hall, BH Bobbi Hall, Mike Weinholt, CY Carol Yates. 0
Oregon Birds NON-PROFIT ORGANIZA TION U.S. Postage PAID Oregon Field Ornithologists Portland, OR P.O. Box 10373 Permit #11 Eugene, OR 97440
Address correction requested
Dennis P. Vros-jn 21<2> • Check your mailing label; if your label 269 Shetland Dr. reads "20(4)" — this is your last issue! Grants Pass OR 97526 Please renew now! • 10 December 1994, Fall (August-November) field notes due to field notes editors • 17 December 1994 - 2 January 1995, 95th Christmas Bird Count • 7-11 January 1995, American Birding Association conference in San Diego • 22 January 1995, 0F0 Board meeting, Corvallis • 15 February 1995, deadline for 1994 listing report form to Jim Johnson
Oregon Birds 20(4): 144