Vol. XXXVIII No. 3 Sept. 1968 IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

Vol. XXXVIII No. 3 Sept. 1968 Published by the IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 66 IOWA BIRD LIFE - XXXVIII, 1968 VOL. XXXVIli No. 3 SEPT. 1968 PAGES 65-104 CONTENTS BIRDS IN THE DAVENPORT AREA 67 - 85 FALL CONVENTION 86-87 FIELD REPORTS 88-90 OBITUARIES 90-91 GENERAL NOTES 92-93 BOOK REVIEWS 93-95 MEMBERSHIP ROLL 96- 104 NEW MEMBERS 104 OFFICERS OF THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION President - Robert L. Nickolson, 2314 Helmer St., Sioux City, Iowa 51103 Vice-President - Mrs. Robert Vane, 2220 Grand Ave. S.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403, Secretary - Mrs. M. K. Hallberg, 4 Rock Bluff Road, Ottumwa, Iowa 52501 Treasurer - Woodward H. Brown, 4815 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50312. Editor - Peter C. Petersen Jr., 235 McClellan Blvd. Davenport, Iowa 52803 Librarian - Miss Frances Crouter, 2513 Walnut St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 Executive Council: Keith Layton, Oskaloosa, Iowa Mrs. Charles Ayres, Ottumwa, Iowa Mrs. Russell Nicholson, Des Moines, Iowa Miss Myra Willis, Cedar Rapids, Iowa The Iowa Ornithologists' Union was organized at Ames, Iowa, February 28, 1923, for the study and protection of native birds and to promote fraternal relations among Iowa bird stu- dents. The central design of the Union's official seal is the Eastern Goldfinch, designated State Bird of Iowa in 1933. Publication of the Union: Mimeographed letters, 1923-1928; THE BULLETIN 1929-1930: IOWA BIRD LIFE beginning 1931. SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $3.00 a year, single copies 75£ each except where supply is limited to five or fewer copies, $1.00. Subscriptions to the magazine is included in all paid memberships, of which there are five classes as follows: Life Member, $100.00, payable in four equal installments: Contributing Mem- ber, $10,00 a year; Supporting Member, $5,00 a yean Regular Member, $3.00 a year; Junior Member (under 16 years of age), $1.00 a year. EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION OFFICE 235 McCLELLAN BLVD. DAVENPORT, IOWA 52803 Published quarterly by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union at 235 McClellan Blvd., Davenport, Iowa. 52803. Second class postage paid at Davenport, Iowa. Subscription $3.00, single copies 75*. BIRDS IN THE DAVENPORT AREA 67 Notes Of Birds In The Davenport Area THOMAS Jo MORRISSEY DAVENPORT LINE DRAWINGS BY E. W. STEFFEN CEDAR RAPIDS PART II HAWKS TURKEY VULTURE A casual transient. I did not observe Turkey Vultures while studying birds in the Davenport area. The only reliable report I received of this species was from Decker Lardner who saw a single individual drifting southward at a considerable altitude, September 18, 1943, south of Moline. (Another record for the Davenport area was three seen on May llf 1956, east of McCausland in Scott Co. by Peter Petersen. In this area Lewis Blevins sees several each year in migration.-ed.) During the course of this study Turkey Vultures were reported by other observers as regular but uncommon summer residents in the hilly, wooded portions of eastern Iowa. Their absence from the Davenport area was probably attributable to the efficient farming methods practised here. Dead livestock was removed from fields immediately for rendering or other disposal. Thus a source of food available in other districts where farmers were less ener- getic was denied to vultures here. Undoubtedly the many hunters and the absence of extensive forest or other refuge areas were also limiting factors. A bird as conspicuous as a vulture would have invited persecution. Before 1880, Turkey Vultures were probably not rare in the Davenport area. Less efficient farming in those days probably provided more carrion in the form of livestock dead from disease or accidents. Before 1830 buffalo and deer were probably numerous enough to sustain a high population of these birds. GOSHAWK A casual winter visitor. Not recorded by the author, but one was seen March 6r 1960, along Harbor Road within the city limits of Davenport and an immature November 29, 1964, at Pine Hill Cemetery by Peter Petersen. Elton Fawks has several other winter records within the past ten years. Goshawk has been recorded on three of eighteen Christmas Counts at Davenport.—ed.) 68 IOWA BIRD LIFE -XXXVIII, 1968 TURKEY VULTURE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK A rare spring migrant; a very rare summer and winter visitor, an uncommon fall migrant. These little accipiters were recorded once or twice each spring from late March to the middle of May. Never more than one was observed on any day in spring. In fall they were somewhat more numerous. From the first week of September until the third week of October from 1 to 3 might be observed on those days when hawks of all species were migrating southward. However, never more than 11 were observed in any fall. (The first week of October is usually the peak. —ed.) BIRDS IN THE DAVENPORT AREA 69 Atf/iMvL* '•*#?'-• t? (' SR^RP-SHINNED HAWK Sharp-shias were usually observed while on their southward migrations. At such times they flew at altitudes of 100 to 300 feet, usually at the lower level, and gliding for long distances. They were observed in a wide variety of habitats but when hunting seemed to prefer weedy sedge meadows with many willows perhaps because of the abundance of small birds to be found there. When- ever one of these fierce little hawks appeared all the small birds which had been busily seeking food, calling, or singing, ceased their activity and an unnatural silence fell. These sudden silences were so marked that I was often able to tell that a Sharp-shinned Hawk (or, more often, the larger Cooper's Hawk) was in the vicinity before I saw the bird itself. (Sharp-shinned Hawks still seem to be present in about the same numbers. They are very susceptible to mist nets and the number banded is quite biased. Two were seen July 12, 1958, near McCausland by Peter Petersen. Seen on 9 of 18 Christmas Counts and in Jan- uary and February.--ed.) 70 IOWA BIRD LIFE - XXXVI 963 COOPER'S HAWK A fairly common spring migrant; an uncommon summer resident (now rare); a fairly common fall migrant; a rare winter resident. The spring migration of Cooper's Hawks was poorly defined. From early March to the middle of May from one to five were observed each week but there was no sudden influx of migrants nor was there any period of marked abundance. The fall migration was more distinctly marked. It apparently began about August 20 and from that date until the last part of October from one to eight of these birds could be recorded every day. Like the Sharp- shinned Hawk they flew southward at a relatively low altitude. These migrants were most often seen when light northerly winds prevailed. Birds which were to be winter resident has usually established wintering territories by early November. I was unable to determine the exact size of any of these territories BIRDS IN THE DAVENPORT AREA 71 but a bird apparently occupied all of Credit Island (420 acres) during the winter of 1948-49. About half of all wintering territories selected were deserted by the first part of January. Altogether, less than 75 Cooper's Hawks wintered in the area and the number was much smaller in very cold winters. Most of the winter residents were in the immature plumage. (Seen on 11 of 18 Christmas Counts with a maximum number of five.—ed.) I found only two nest of this species although there was ample evidence in the form of paired birds that it was nesting in all the more extensive woodlands of the area. One nest was started about May 15, 1948, on the lower half of Credit Island in a tall basswood. The female was seen sitting for several days but the neat was abandoned at the end of May. Another nest about 35 feet from the ground in a white oak in Duck Creek Park was vigorously defended by a male and female beginning May 6, 1950. The female did not begin incubation until May 16 and I was not able to determine whether the nesting was a success. Wilson (1906) found a nest with 3 eggs, May 9, 1891, and another with 4 eggs on May 7, 1892. (This species has been much reduced as a breeding bird today.—ed.) The Cooper's Hawk was recorded in many different habitats ranging from bottomland forest edges to upland pastures. Except in the vicinity of nesting territories only single individuals were seen. They were usually observed flying low along the edges of woodlands, clearings and fence rows obviously seeking their prey. Like the Sharp-shinned Hawk their sudden appearance frightened small birds into silence but inactive individuals were often scolded by Blue Jays, Robins, and Blackbirds. After the nesting pair of Cooper's Hawks had takes up residence at Duck Creek Park, I frequently found wings and tails of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles in the vicinity of their nest. Under a clump of spruce trees I found the remains of eight Red-winged Blackbirds. There was no evidence of owls in the vicinity at the time and it seems probable that the hawks retired to the shelter of the evergreens to pluck their victims. The stomach of an immature Cooper's Hawk which I examined in September, 1939, contained the remains of a White-throated Sparrow. RED-TAILED HAWK An uncommon spring migrant, a fairly common summer resident and fall migrant; rare winter resident (now fairly common.—ed.) From the end of March through the first two weeks of April, seven to ten Red-tailed Hawks were observed each week. Later in the spring single birds or occasional pairs were recorded almost every week but their occurence was quite unpredictable and in some years none of these hawks were observed in May.

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