Birds of the Brigham Young University Campus

Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive

Theses and Dissertations

1956-06-01

Birds of the Brigham Young University campus

Barid Baran Mukherjee Brigham Young University - Provo

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BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Mukherjee, Barid Baran, "Birds of the Brigham Young University campus" (1956). Theses and Dissertations. 7832. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/7832

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BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

A Thesis Submitted to the Department of

Z,oology and Entomology

Brigham Young University

in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

iV[ast.er of Science

Barid Baran Mukherjee

June 1956 ACKNOV,·LEDGEMENTS

The completion of this thesis, to a large extent, was possible because of the aid and assistance of several persons, and the writer here wishes to acknowledge very gratefully their contribution and expresses his deep appreciation to each one of them.

The writer finds it difficult to express in words his sincere gratitude a-nd deep appreciation to Dr. C. Lynn Hayward, his Committee

Chairman, who spent much of his precious time in helping and guiding this work, and without whose constant encouragement and assistance it

would have been impossible for the writer to carry on and complete this

study.

Appreciation is especially extended to Dr. Lawrence Morris,

the writer's committee member, who helped him immeasurably with con-

stant encouragement.

The author is indebted to Dr. Vas co M. Tanner, the Chairman

of the Department of Zoology and Entomology, Brigham Young University,

for the many helps and suggestions which he received during this study

and for making available his library to complete this problem .

.Appreciation is given to Dr. D. Elden Beck, Dr. A. Lester

.Allen, and other members of the Zoology Department, who in various

ways helped the writer during this study. The writer is also grateful to

Dr. Bertrand~~. Harrison, Dr. Howard C. Stutz, Dr. Earl M. Christensen

iii of the Botany Department, and Professor Ernest .F. Reimschiissel of the

Horticulture Department for helping him in identifying the trees and shrubs of the study area.

Finally, the writer wishes to thank Mr. Carr Greer, Campus

Engineer, who helped him to prepare the map of the campus, and Mr.

Travis Haws, the writer's very close friend and fellow graduate student, who constantly helped him in various ways to complete this study.

iv T1U3LI...; OE' CONTENTS

Page

Li st of Tables . vi

List of ll lustrations vii

Introduction . 1

Description of the Study Area . 2

?rocedure and Methods

Evaluation of Data . • 15

Check list of Campus Birds .

Summary • 47

Bibliography 49

V LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

I Common Trees of the Brigham Young University Campus ...... 6

ll Common Shrubs of the Brigham Young University Campus • . . . • • . . . . 7

Ill a Weather Data of Census Days 13 Illb Weekly Weather Data ...... 14 IV Relative Abundance of Different Species Found on the Campus . . . • • . • • • • • 20, 21

V Nesting Data • • • 23

vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure Page 1 Aerial Photograph of the Study Area . . . • . • • . . . • 4 2 Outline Map of the Study Area Showing Distribution of Species ...... 10

3 Distribution of Species by Month and Their Relative Abundance . • • . • • • • . • • 16

4 Total Number of Species and the Number of New Arrivals by Month . • . . • . . • . . . • ...... • 17

5 Average Number per Hour by Months of Five Most Common Species . • . . . . . • • . . . • • • . • • • 17

6 Representative Habitats of the Campus . • 24. 25

vii INTRODUCTION

Ornithologists are generally interested in studying the bird life of a limited area, in different seasons, due to the fact that it gives so much information regarding the distribution, seasonal variation, food, and nesting habits of different species. Although much work has been done on the birds of Utah by many workers. very little information has been published regarding the bird life of particular areas of Utah Valley. ~Nith the idea of determining the bird population of an area of this valley, which has not been studied before, the Brigham Young University campus was chosen for investigation.

Situated on a bench, at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains and facing Provo City to the west and south, the campus seemed to provide an excellent habitat for many birds with its trees and bushy areas, orchards, cultivated lands, fields and lawns, canal and pond, and protection against hunting.

In his study, the writer has tried to furnish some information about the bird life of this area, which includes the seasonal distribution, relative abunciance, habitat preference, and a brief account of the activities of different species of birds which visit or live on the Brigham Young

University campus from late summer to early spring. The author has also tried to furnish information concerning the deservability of this study area as a bird habitat.

l 2

Previous Literature

Regarding previously published work in this field, Hayward

(1935) has studied the winter bird population in Bear Lake (Idaho), and has compared that with Utah Lake valleys. He (l948) has also studied the winter bird population of the V1,asatch Chaparral. Besides these two published works, the passerine birds, wintering at Utah Lake, have been studied recently by Murphy (1951). The food habits of English sparrows in central Utah and the food habits of the birds of Utah have also been studied respectively by Liddle (1936) and Frost (1947). Of course, the last two works are not quite applicable to the present area of study.

Description of the Study Area

The Brigham Young University Campus chosen for this investigation is a relatively small area on the northeastern side of the city of

Provo, in the east central part of Utah Valley. According to Cottam (1926),

"Utah Valley, with its average elevation of 4, 500 feet, occupies about 560 square miles in the north central part of the state of Utah. It lies in the eastern limits of the Great Basin immediately northeast of the intersec- tion of the 40th parallel with the ll2 meridian, and comprises the political division of the state known as Utah County. The valley, which is approximately 38 miles long and 15 miles wide, is separated from Salt Lake

Valley on the north of Traverse Mountain, and is limited on the south by a group of low hills which form a spur to the East Tintic Mountains near

Mount Nebo. :F'lanking the valiey on the west is Lake Mountain which 3

slopes rather gradually from the western shores of Utah Lake to a height of 3, .JuO feet above them. This m.ountain extends in a north-south direc- tion for 15 miles and is connected by low hills, with the east Tintic Moun- tains on the south and the Oquirrh slopes of Utah Valley suddenly termin- ated by the magnificent and picturesque Wasatch Mountains, which rise above the valley floor from heights of 5, uOufeet to more than 7,000 feet,

Mt. Timpanogos, with its elevation of 12, 000 feet, overlooks the valley from the northeast and is the northern member of a huge 1nountain cres- cent that skirts Utah Valley on the east. 11

The study area which includes the Brigham Young University campus only, is situated at an elevation of approximately 4, 600 feet, at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains which form the dominant topographical feature of this region.

The whole campus can be divided into two levels. The upper level is situated on the Provo bench which was formed by deposits laid down by the Provo River and other mountain streams issuing into ancient

Lake Bonneville. The other level is situated about forty feet lower in elevation at the base of this alluvial deposit.

The total area of the campus where this study was made is 201 acres, excluding the lower campus which is not adjacent to this area and which was not included in this study. About two-thirds of this area is covered by buildings and lawns. The south, west. and north sides are bordered with roads. Between the upper and lower flats there is a canal, Fig . 1 Aerial P ho to g rap h of t he Stud y Ar ea 5

about eight to ten feet wide and three to four feet deep, running from the northwestern corner, turning tov,ards the south and then to the east .

.An important type of vegetation on both sides of this canal is

composed of different kinds of trees, n1ixed with shrubs which form dense

undergrowth in certain places. Besides this vegetation area, there are two orchards, :mostly of pear trees, one on the north central and the other

on the north•weste:rn corner of the carnpus. There are also trees scatter-

ed throughout the campus. The open spaces between the buildings are mostly lawns, with a few flower gardens and clumps of shrubs. .Recently- planted saplings are located on the sides of the foot paths. There are also

a .few plots of fallow lands near the orchard, on the north side of the campus. Wheat is grown on some of these fields.

vVater is always available on the ca:rnpus, and the lawns, fields,

and orchards are irrigated very often throughout the sun1mer. The irri-

gation canal which passes through the campus furnishes a nearly constant

supply of water for birds. There is also a small pond and a marshy area

on the southern border of the carripus.

Natural food is abundantly available for the birds of the campus.

Pear, apple, cherry, and pium trees, pods of locust, seeds of olives,

fruits of some shrub.s, wheat fields, seeds of grasses and weeds, provide

excellent foods for many species of birds.

Undergrowths of shrubs and dense tree foliage, as well as the

orchards, provide ample cover and nesting habitats. TABLE I

COMMON TREES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Common Name Scientific Name Total No.

Pear Pyrus communis 507 Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia 265 Narrowleaf Cottonwood Populus angustifolia 121 Arr1erican E L1n Ulmus americana 60 Box Elder negundo 60 Siberian Elm Ulmus pumila 48 Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos 39 £uropean Ash :;"raxinus excelsior 31 Lombardy Poplar Populus nigra italica 27 Scotch Pine Pinus sylvestris 26 Apple 11/falus sylvestris 25 Russian Olive Elaeagnus angustifolia 25 Green Ash Jtraxinus pennsylvanica var. lanceolate 24 Carolina Cottonwood Populus canadensis 23 Mulberry Morus alba 20 Silver Maple Acer saccharinum 19 Fremont Cottonwood Populus freemonti 16 Willow Salix ..!l?· 12 Cherry Prunus avium 11 CL1tleaf Birch Betula pendula dalecarlica 10 Norway Maple plantanoides 9 Black vValnut Juglans nigra 6 Austrian Pine Pinus nigra 4 European White Birch Betula pendula 3 Japanese Red Pine Pinus densiflora 3 Ailanthus Ailanthus glandulosa 3 Catalpa Catalpa speciosa 2 Blue Spruce Picea pusens 2 Ginkgo Ginkgo bi lob a 2 Rose Lea£ Mt. Ash Sorbus aucuparia 1 Ohio B1.1ckeye Aesculus glabra 1 Linden Tilia americana l American Hazelnut Corylus americana 1 White Pine Pinus strobus 1 Wier Maple Acer saccharinum wieri 1 Smoke tree ------Cotinus coggygria l Red Oak Quercus borealis l .English Elm Ulmus procera 1 Hawthorn Crataegus 2: l Horse Chestnut ~sculus hippocastanum l Tamarack Larix decidua l Unidentified 4

6 CO'.v1MON f;H1~ UBS Of' l'HZ Ci\

Con'lmon Name :Scientific N'.a:me

English yew Ta.xu:-: baccata

Chinese juniper J v 1.iperas chinensis

Pfi tzer juniper Juni:perus chinensis pfitzeriana

Creeping juniper Juniperus sabina E:I1owy rnagnolia --·--Magnolia soulangeana Flowering quince Chacnomeles japonica

Japanese pagoda Sophora ja:ponica

Native sumac Rhus cismontana

Shining S u1nac .Rhus copalina

Smooth sumac Rlms glabra

Squawbush Rhus trHobata

Btaghorn sumac Rhus typhina

Fern-leaf staghorn sumac R hus typhina laciniata

.,forsythia Forsythia s.ispensa

Common lilac Sy:dnga vulsaris

Privet Ligustrum vulgare

Honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica

E:lderberry Su.mbucus glauca

7 PROCEDURE .AND Jvnr.:THOIX3

In order to give a fair picture of the bird population of the study area from late summer to early spring. the investigation was continued for ten months, from July 13, 1955 to .April 15, 1956. Before beginning the field work, an outline map of the Brigham Young University campus was prepared by the writer, with the help of the campus engineer, and the different areas, such as the main vegetation area, buildings and lawns, fields and meadows, were plotted on the map. 1-\n aerial photograph of the whole campus, including the adjoining areas, was also obtained frorn the

Photography Department of the University, which provided much information regarding the topography and position of the study area. Several photographs of different habitat areas were also taken by the investigator at different times during the study period.

The writer also toured around the campus several tirnes before starting the actual field wori~, in order to acquaint himself with the study area and to find out the route of census. :t3'our to five censuses were taken in each month, and a. total of forty-one censuses were taken during the study period. A total of 93 hours was spent in the field on the regular census tours, but the investigator also visited the study area almost every day and watched very carefully for new arrivals between census dates.

In addition, about 80 hours were devoted to field work studying vegetation 9 types, the general ecology of the whole study area, and also in the observation of nests. The censuses were taken mostly in the early morning, but some were also taken at noon and in the evenings for purposes of con'l• parison. The aim of the census was to find out the different species of birds in the study area, and to calculate their relative abundance.

Kendeigh's (1944) method of meas1iring the relative abundance

of different species of birds in a particular area was followed. Birds

simply flying over the area were not counted, unless they were seen to

alight inside the limited area. Although the same general route was follow-

ed for each census, the starting point on the route was varied. During

the census, as much time was devoted as was required to adequately cover the whole area, and no particular walking speed was maintained. More time was spent on the tree areas than on the fields and lawns. A map was

carried in the field, and the kinds of birds, but not the numbers, were

spotted on it. The numbers of each kind were then listed in a notebook.

A new map was used in each census. .After completion of the study, the maps of all censuses were compiled, and the location of different species of birds found in the whole study period was plotted on a single map (Fig.

2). An effort was also made to show the location of different species on

the same map in relation to various kinds of habitats. Numbers were used in order to designate the different species on the 1nap.

For the purpose of comparing the relative abundance of each

species found in the study area, the number per hour was designated. l 1,'.'estern Robin 29 \V estern V'

Fig. 2. (continued) 6) /J 0 @

<( 8 ® w 0: 0 <( ® liJ T E) I- e 0 z 0 U) e w (:;i, 6 0 w n @ e (; ® [- 0' @) >' ® C-1 0 I' .@ c:: @ I- ®6 ® l.J U) I'."! 6 ® IL C:,1 LL @ LL r:;, @ C5 0 8 1_1_ e--- ) 8 2- () f -

' )

0 0 11

This was calculated by dividing the total number of each species by the total time spent for each census. Finally, the average number of a species seen per hour by the month was also calculated in order to give an idea of the relative abundance of a particular species throughout the seasons rep- resented in the study. Graphs (l•-ig. 3 & 4) were prepared to indicate the total number o:f species found, the distribution of each species, their frequency of occurence, and the new arrivals by months. Comparison was also made ( Fig. 5) of the five most common birds of the study area, showing their relative seasonal distribution and abundance.

During the field study, as well as at other times, the activities of the different species of birds were observed as far as practicable.

For the identification of birds, the help of the field guide of

Peterson (1941) and the collection of the Brigham Young University

Museum were used. No specimens were collected during the study, since the campus is a protected area, but some live trapping was done for close observation.

From June 13 to July l5, 1955, nests of nine species living on the campus were under observation by the writer.

Several surveys were made of the general ecology of the study area. In order to give a better picture of the vegetation of the campus, the number of common trees was counted. Since there a.re many small trees rriixed with shrubs and undergrowth, only the trees which are over twenty feet tall were counted. The list of the different kinds of trees and 12 common shrub types has been given separately ( Table I, II).

Maximum and minimum temperatures of each week and on the dates of census, condition of the sky, number of rainy and snowy days during the whole study period, have been provided through the courtesy of the Provo Municipal Airport 'l,h eather Station. ':femperature ( f"O) ::.-·at;;;: ,:,,fin. ·i\{a:~. ::)k.y Rain- Snow _July B 55 }.:1 -- 2,·, .::l'.11}1V - 5g ,9 -doudt J . ., ,' , _,.uL '-·<:i 61 Bo ~iotui:r Au§ust l 57 3b A. u r1;,;.:1.st 6 65 88 -- AuJ.;;ust 12 56 91 doud:y .,•) /:, UJr:(,1.lSt '°"v :)4 iH ;;_t1~ust Z? _ ~- $2 Z'l .~,·, •• ~"'11- ~;e,etemper 3 45 ·-·/ -· - September lJ 45 :::,2 September 17 54 7d cloudy :rain September 2 43 63 clolldy rain Octob~r l 4J 11 ,,.,. ()ctcib~:r 0 31 77 Octobt:u· 15 4[) 72 - t)ctobc:r 22. 46 6:, cloudy rain Octobe1· 29 26 .19 cloudy Noveinbe:r 5 35 ·-SJ Nove1nber --l2 2J 41 Noven1ber 19 26 5) -Nove:rnber 26 24 46 - ••• I! Dece;:-:nber 3 31 :>'i cloudy Dece:xnber w 2.5 39 cloudy - December l7 2} 47 Decen1ber 24 50 51'V clou.dy Decernber 31 4J 45 January 7 35 5 cloudy-- .~?,nUarx 14 .... 32 ~il clouciy light rain January 21 33 39 frosty -· Janc1ary 28 13 3""1 9'TOl4"ld fog Jebruarv 4 7 ZB cloudy - ---snow ll f"ebruarx .... 14 35 frosty & <:Loudy ~?eb:ruary ltl - 1 '1 ..., u·~ frosty i'ehruary 25 2'.) 48 l,,farch ,::;" 32 62 clot1dy Mar,:;h l,) 27 }v1arch L7 33 59 - ~.{arch 2.,1 7,~ 38 " .C::tarch 31 53 62 cloudy A.pril 7 28 68 ~ust_y :' •"t llprit l !:: 4J (.I.,) -

t3 TABLE III b

'NEEKLY EATHl~R DATA

Date Ternperature (F 0 Cloudy Rainy Snowy From To Min. Max. Days Days Days

July 6 July 13 47 94 July 14 July 20 57 95 4 July 21 July 26 59 90 6 July 26 August l 53 91 August 2 August 6 64 94 2 .August 7 August 12 56 92. l August 13 August 20 54 92 2 l lrngust 21 August 27 52 92 3 August 28 September 3 45 94 September 4 September lJ 45 94 l September n September l 7 4,1, 89 1 1 September 18 September 24 38 63 l 1 September 25 October 1 36 77 l l October 2 October 8 28 81 October 9 October l5 34 80 October 16 October 22 37 79 3 1 October 23 October 29 26 69 4 l l October 30 November 5 19 67 2 November 6 Novemberl2 20 62 November 13 November 19 -5 50 2 2 3 November 20 November 26 16 62 4 l November 2 7 December 3 27 51 5 4 2 December 4 December 10 12 39 4 l 1 Decemberll December 17 17 47 4 2 December l8 Decen1ber 24 29 59 6 l December 25 December 31 25 58 3 1 December 31 January 7 24 63 4 January 8 January 14 Z4 59 3 l January 15 January 21 29 43 6 4 1 January 22 January 28 13 56 3 2 January 29 February 4 -2 38 February 5 February 11 3 35 3 l 2 February 12 February 18 13 43 3 2 February 19 February 25 -9 56 2 2 February26 March 3 19 62 l March 4 March lO 17 63 March 11 March 17 13 59 2 March 18 March 24 28 69 March 25 March 31 20 72 l Aprill April 7 23 68 4 l l April 8 April l5 28 70 4

l4 iS

EV.AI..,U.t\TION OF D.ATA

The Brigham Young University campus, where this study was

carried on, provided an excellent habitat for many birds. During the per-

iod of investigation from the middle of July, 1955 to the middle of April,

1956, fifty-five different species were identified.

·when the field data were compared and studied it was found that the V estern Robin, California Cuail, Red Shafted Flicker, English Sparrow,

and Song Sparrow were continually found throughout the whole study period.

The nests of California Quail, Song Sparrow, Znglish Sparrow, and Robin

were also found on the campus. It is apparent from the graph that the

number of Red Shafted J:t""lickers showed less fluctuation than did the other

four most common species, although they were found in very srnall nurn- bers in each census. The number of Song Sparrows was fairly constant in

all months except lvfarch, when the nu.mber suddenly increased. A large

number of California Quail were observed in Septe:rnber, while comparativ-

ely few were observed in January, although they were present in all seasons

on the campus. Hobin population changes were very interesting. In July

and August their number was fairly constant. Then it increased to almost

double in September and suddenly dropped in October, when very few o.f

them were seen around the can1pus. From November, the nu1nber gra.ci-

ually increased and the peak population was reached in :F'ebruary. .From

.F'ebruary to April it gradually came down to approximately the same RO BIN ENG. SPARROW CALIFORNIA QUAIL SONG SPARROW RED- SHAFTED FLICKER ------HOUSE Fi NCH --•·········------PALE GOLDFINCH CAL/FORNI/\ GULL LONG-T/\ILED CHAT ROCKY MT. YELLOW WARBLER CATBIRD WESTERN L/\RK SPARROW DOMESTIC PIGEON OREGON WARBLING VIREO AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK B/\R N SWALLOW NESTERN MOURNING DOVE LITTLE FLYC/\TCHER BL/\CK-HE/\DED GROSBE/\K AUDUBON W/\RBL ER GE DAR WAXWING LAZULI BUNTING f\RFWERS SP/\RROW GOWBIRD SAYS PHOEBE RED CROSSBILL YELLOW-HE/\DED BLACKBIRD HUMMINGBIRD U.J. WHITE-THROATED SW/FT SAGE HEN(?) DUCK U.I. DOWNY WOODPECKER GREEN-B/\CKED GOLDFINCH BREWERS BLACKBIRD WESTERN TAN/\GER MOU r,T /\ I N C H I C K /\ D E E ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER ______J ___ _ STARLING CASSINS PURPLE FINCH OREGON JUNGO G/\MBELS SPARROW SPURRED TOWHEE SHARP-SHINNED H/\Wt'\ C/\SPI/\N TERN OREGON WHITE-CROWNED SP,.,RROW WESTERN TREE SP/\RROW TOWNSEND SOLIT/\IRE ROCKY MOUNT/\IN CREEPER ROCKY MOUNTAIN PIPIT WESTERN CROW EVENING GROSBEAK ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY WE S 'I' E RN PI NE SI S K IN WESTERN MEDOW LARK RUBY·CROWN KINGLET

Fl G. 3. DISTRIBUTION OF. SPECIES AND THEIR RELATIVE ABUNDANCE BY MONTH. TOTA&. NUIYNII - NCW 11.1111n,11.&.1C:::, n• 11

M to • I AUG SEPT NOV DtC .JAN ,1:e MAIi APR r IG, 4 T~AL NUMeER Of SPIEGIE& AND THE NUMIIEII Of NE.V AIIIUVALI lll!COIIOED r IN EAC.H MONTH o, ITUOY.

-- ROBIN ,·, --· ENC.. SPARROW I \ -- CALlr. 0.UAIL 90 ··-·· SONG.SPARROW ······ .. RED•St1ArTED FLICKER I \ ao \ \ '10 \ \ 10 \ \ /- I ~, I \ I ' 1· . ,o I / ' ' .....___ ..,/

l0 .,,,-- _____ ,,,_,,,/""' ---- ~-- ___ .)ULY AUG NPT OCT NOW .iAN n:e IIAA "'"" f'IC..S AVERAGE Nlllal:11 PEIi HOUA - ... YE IIOIIT COIIIION SHCIEII. l8 number as was found in July. Persons who have observed birds on the campus for many years noted that Robins were present in unusual num- hers during the winter of 1955-56. :8nglish Sparrows showed fl uctua- tion in number in different months, but it was not as variable as the

Robin. The maximum number of l;,.';nglish Sparrows was seen in March.

Next to these five most com1non species, the House Finch was recorded in all months of study except February, when they seemed to completely disappear from the area. The California Gull and

Cedar Waxwing were seen inconsistantly in different months.

In addition to the common species mentioned above, new arrivals were found in every month. Some of these were winter visitants, some stayed for only a few weeks or days, and a few were seen only once or twice during the whole study period.

The most unusual species noted on the campus was the H ed

Crossbill. Only one of them was observed on August l, sitting on the roof of an old house near an orchard. Two Sage Hens were found on

August lZ on the campus. Although the writer was almost definite about their appearance on the campus, it deserves further confirrr;ation because of the fact that this species is very uncommon in this area, and they were found only once during the whole study period. The ducks were foand in the orchard on August 27. The maximum number of species was found in July and the minimum in December.

\Vhen the map of the study area showing the location of differ- l9 ent species was studied, it was found that the tree area on both sides of the canal provided shelter for most of the species found on campus. The orchards, lawns, and fields were also found to be very good habitats for a number of species. Very few species were found on the elevated, dry, treeless eastern part of the campus. Some of the buildings provided nesting places for the English Sparrows and Starlings.

During the field study the investigator tried to find out the relation, i£ there was any, of a particular species of bird to a particular kind of tree or shrub, but the results were inconclusive. However, it was observed that some species definitely had a limited range or area where they were strictly or mostly located.

vVhen the important features of the campus, which made it a good habitat for so many different types of birds, were considered, it was found that the different kinds of trees, shrubs, and undergrowths, buildings and lawns, fields and meadows, provided excellent habitat for all these species found on the campl1s. The canal, with the trees and bushy areas on both sides, made the campus all the more attractive to the birds.

The sm.all pond and the marshy area on the south side of the campus also provided a very favorable habitat for some birds. The irrigated g1·een lawns, flower gardens, fields and n1eadows covered with weeds and grasses, drew the attention of certain species. California Gulls, Robins, Brewer's

Blackbirds and Cowbirds were found on the irrigated fields.

Food was also available on the campus for many birds. During TABLE IV

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF DIFFERENT SPECIES FOUND ON THE CAMPUS

July August Sept. October Nov . Dec . Jan . Feb . March April Name of Species P.H. T. * P.H. T. P.H. T. P.H. T. P.H. T . P.H. T. P.H. T . .P.H. T. P.H. T. P.H. T. Western Robin 21.2 l06 22 .8 228 44.7 355 Z.4 2.9 3.6 36 12.Z no 34.6 381 95 .5 955 42 .4 509 zo 120 Endish Sparrow 35 175 11.6 116 18.4 147 512 )15 i9 .l 391 39.4 355 65 715 71.5 715 100 zoo52. 7 316 California Quail 5.Z 2.6 9.6 96 18 144 6 71 9.5 95 5.66 51 2..9 32 5. 5 55 5.9 70 7.l -43 Mountain Song Sparrow l 5 l 10 2.25 18 4.4 53 4.1 41 3.2. 29 5.l 57 8.Z 82 19.7 2.86 17.5 105 Red - shafted Flicker : .6 3 .5 5 .12. l 3.3 40 2.9 2.9 1.55 14 .54 6 l 10 l 12. . 33 z Common House Finch 77 385 70.8 708 32. 2.56 45.3 544 2.6 260 16.6 150 18 198 11.3 136 2.7.1 163 Pale G oldfinch 1.4 7 • 6 6 1.5 12. .7 8 l.8 18 Calif o rnia Gull lZ.Z 61 11.3 113 4 48 .3 3 l.9 2.1 z 2.4 3.5 Zl Long - tailed Chat l.2 6 . 5 5 .75 6 .17 2. Yellow Warbler 3.2. 16 ~-9 19 1.9 15 .75 9 Western Catbird 3 15 12.7 Z 7 3 2.4 .17 z Lark Sparrow 1.8 9 .z 2. .62. 5 .33 4 .9 9 Domestic Pi1teon 1.6 8 i.3 43 2..5 20 .4 5 Warbling Vireo 1.2. 7 z zo 2..4 19 American Sparrow Hawk .z l .5 6 . l l Barn Swallow 1.8 9 l 10 l.2.5 10 Western Mournin1t Dove 2. 10 iL4 2.4 L i ttle Flycatcher .4 z .5 4 Black-headed Grosbeak .4 z .62. 5 Audubon's Warbler .4 z .l l Cedar Waxwing .4 z 3.1 38 1.4 14 l.l 10 1.9 19 .2.5 3 4.7 2.8 Lazuli Bunting .8 4 Brewer 's Sparrow l 5 .4 4 C owbird 3.2 16 Say's Phoebe .2. l Red Crossbill .l l Yellow - headed Blackbird .z 2. Hummingbird (U . I.) .1 l

*P . H . Per Hour T. Total zo TABLE IV (cont'd)

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF DIFFERENT SPECIES FOUND ON THE CAMPUS

July Au1 ust Sept. October Nov . Dec. Jan. Feb. March April Name of Species P.H. T. P.H. T. P.H. T . P.H. T. P.H. T. P.H. T. P.H. T. P.H.1 T. P.H. T. P.H. T Western White -throatedSwift .4 5 Saae Hen .z 2 I I Duck (unidentified) I .6 6 Downy Woodpecker l.ZS 10 .17 2 .ZS 3 .7 4 Green - backed Goldfinch .75 6 I Brewer's Blackbird 6 47 1.5 15 2 12 Western Tanaaer tl.5 12 .17 z Mountain Chickadee .25 2 Orange - crowned Warbler .25 z Starling 1.6 19 .7 7 1 9 412 453 16.1 161 1 6 Casein's Purple Finch t . 6 7 l.3 13 .5 6 Oregon Junco i1• 1.33 16 26 .1 261 Z0.4 184 Z4 265 6.7 67 4.1 50 Gambel ' s Sparrow i .08 l .33 3 .45 5 Spurred Towhee r . 5 6 1.3 13 166 15 2.27 25 1.2 12 . 6 12 Sharp - shinned Hawk I .08 l Caspian Tern I .1 1 White - crowned Sparrow .5 5 Western Tree Sparr ow .Z2 2 .18 2 Townsend 's Solitaire . 54 6 . 5 5 Rocky Mountain Pipit l .54 6 .2 2 Rocky Mountain Creeper .18 2 .08 l Western Crow i .18 z .z 2 . 16 2 Evenina Grosbeak ' l.Z 12 6.7 81 7.8 47 Ro cky Mountain Jay ii .1 1 Western Pine Siskin .z 2 1 13 Z.l l3 Western Meadowlark 3 35 1 6 Ruby - crowned Kinalet ..-- .17 l ' ...-- Zl 22 the field study, Waxwings were very often found on the Russian olive eating the seeds. In the orchard, House .Finch, Robins, and English Sparrows were found eating cherries and pears. Tanagers were very fond of plums and some wild fruits. Evening Grosbeaks were noticed to eat the buds of box el.der, ash, and possibly other species. California Ouails and Mourn- ing Doves were seen eating weed seeds. The wheat field, adjacent to the orchard, provided an excellent feeding ground for pigeons and English

Sparrows. Robins, Brewer's Blackbirds and California Gulls were seen eating insects and worms from the irrigated fields a.nd lawns.

The dense bushy areas, trees and cornices of the buildings, provided very good nesting ground for many species. Frorn June 13 to July

14, 1955, nests of ten different species were found. These included the

.Robin, Song Sparrow, English Sparrow, California (;uail, Long-tailed Chat,

Starling, Black-headed Grosbeak, Mourning Dove, Pine Siskin, and House

.Finch. Cowbird eggs were found in the nests of the House .F'inch. Details of nesting data are found in Table V.

Comparatively larger numbers of birds were found in the morning censuses than in the afternoon censuses. TABLE V

NESTING DATA

No._ of Nes~~ Date of Condition Species Observed___. Observation of the Nest Location

Robin 19 June Z6, 28 2 withhali- Cherry, pear, July 6 grown young. black locust and 3 with eggs. box elder trees

Starling 3 April l3 With eggs Cornices of buildings

California 2 July 4 With eggs Over the ground in Cuail a bushy area

Song Sparrow 3 June 28 With eggs Shrubs and young

House Finch 5 June 24, 26 4 with eggs Cherry. pear l with young trees

Long-tailed 2 July 8 Eggs Bushes Chat

Mourning Dove 1 July lJ Eggs Pears

Blackheaded l June 26 Empty Pear Grosbeak

Pine Siskin 1 June 22 Empty Pine

.i!:nglishSparrow many June, July .Empty Cornices of Eggs & young Buildings

23 Fig. 6 Representative Ha b itats of the Ca:mpus Fig. 6 (cont'd.) Repres enta tive Ha bi tats of the Caxnpus 26

ANNOTATED CHECK-LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

The different species of birds found on the campus during the period of study will be discussed in the following pages according to the information collected during the period of investigation. They have been

' arranged here according to the ·1Annotated Check-list of the birds of Utah" by v:oodbury, Cottam and Sugden (l949).

Duck (unidentified)

Six Ducks were found in the orchard on August 27. The orchard was irrigated and the ditches and places between the two rows of trees were flooded with water. The lower end of the orchard was covered with weeds and tall grasses. These six Ducks were inside the grasses. v\hen the investigator unknowingly came very near to them, they suddenly came out from the grasses and flew away. They could not be identified.

Accipiter striatus velox (Wilson), SHARP-SHINNED HAV'K

Only one Sharp-shinned hawk was seen on October 22 on the top of a building.

Falco sparverius sparverius Linnaeus. AMERICAN SPARROW HA vVK

Only one Sparrow Hawk was found on July 20 sitting on an elec- tric pole near the orchard. In October, six oi them were seiJn sitting on the top of a building (Joseph Smith Memorial). and the J~nglish Sparrows 27 were chattering all around them.

Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte) SAGE HEN

Appearance of Sage Hen on the campus was a very uncommon phenomenon. On August 12, two of them were found inside a. ditch covered with grasses and weeds, on the side of an orchard which was also full of weeds and tall grasses. Although the investigator was quite definite about their appearance on the campus, it deserves further confirmation because they are very uncommon in this area and they were found only once during the entire study period.

Lophortyx californica (Shaw) CALIFORNIA QUAIL

California Quail were another very common species on the campus. They were recorded in every month during the period of investigation, and showed comparatively less variation in abundance with the change of season than Robins and English Sparrows. They were found only in the tree areas where there was considerable undergrowth. In the month of

August a large number of young Quails were noticed to come out of hiding and were seen in the open fields with their parents. They seemed to be very shy and were always in flocks. In the winter when the study area was covered with snow, large flocks were seen to come out of the bushes and sit in the sun. They were seen to eat n"lostly seeds of grasses and weeds, and insects.

Two nests of California Quail were observed on July 4, L955 in 28 a bushy area at the foot of black locust trees. Both of these nests were on the ground and were constructed with old leaves and grasses. There were twelve and ten eggs respectively on those nests.

Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, RING-NECKED PHEASANT

They have previously been recorded on the campus by members of the Zoology Department of the Brigham Young University. In the spring of 1955, the investigator also found Pheasants on the carnpus.

Charadrius vociferus vociferus Linnaeus, 7-JLLDEl~R

Killdeers have been found on the campus previously by other workers, but they were not found during this study.

Capella gallinago delicata (Ord), vnLSON 1f SNIPE:

The appearance of Wilson's Snipe on the campus has been noted by members of the Zoology Department, Brigham Young University, but they were not observed during this study.

Larus delawarensis Ord, RING-BILLED GULL

Ring-billed Gulls have been recorded previollsly by other workers on the campus in winter. It may be possible that the Gulls recorded in January during this study were Ring-billed, but the writer could not identify them.

Larus californicus Lawrence, CALIFORNIA GULL

California Gulls were most frequent visitors to the campus. 29

They were seen in this area in July when this study was first started, and then in August, October, November, January, March, and April. Large numbers of them were found in July and .August when the fields and lawns were frequently irrigated. Although they were seen flying over the entire campus, they were seen to alight only on the grounds and lawns when they obtained water. On August 6, abou.t 204 California Gulls were counted on the irrigated field on the west side of the campus, where they were busy in search of food. On the same day when a Robin was seen with an earth- worm in its mouth, a Gull from the side chased after him and snatched away that earth.worm. In April, they were more frequently seen flying over the campus, especially on cloudy days. Although no Ring-billed Gulls were found in this area, it may be possible that those seen in January were Ring- billed Gulls, but the writer could not identify them.

Hydroprosne caspia (Pallas), CASPIAN TERN

On November 19 one Caspian Tern was seen on the campus.

Colu:mba livia, DOMESTIC PIGEON

Domestic Pigeons were found on the campus from July when the study was first started through October. In the winter they left this area and appeared again in April. From July to October a £lock consisting of about fifteen or sixteen individuals were seen almost in every morning census on a field covered with weeds and wheat. On August 6, two pigeons were found in the orchard. 30

Zenaidura macroura marginella ('Woodhouse), V,'ESTERN MOURNING DOVE

Mourning Doves wer•~ observed in the study area in small numbers during the rnonth of Jaly when this study was started, and in August.

They were found in the orchard,b. a black locust area, and also on a meadow near the orchard. On July 1.0 one nest of a ~ourning Dove was collected fron, a pear tree. It was four feet above the ground on an open branch, and ·was so loosely constructed with a few twigs that the eggs were in dan- ger of rolling out. There were three eggs in the nest ~nd the female bird was fr. the nest when the investigator came near to it. ,rhen he gradually came very close to it and finally touched the Dove, she shut her eyes. A few seconds after that she flew away. Mourning Doves were seen eating the weed seeds and wheat in a field near the orchard.

Aeronautes saxatalis sa.xatalis (Woodhouse), WESTERN ViJHITE-THROAT- ED SV.:IFT

White-throated Swifts were seen on the campus on August 6.

Selasphorus platycercus platycercus (Swainsen), BROAD-TAILED EUM-

MING BIRD

This species has been previously reported on this campus by the staff members of the Department of Zoology, Brigham Young Univer- sity. Only one hummingbird was seen on August 6. It could not be identified.

Stellula calliope (Gould), CALLIOPE HUMWJNG BIRD

The appearance of this species on the campus has been reported 3l previously. Only one humrningb:.rd was seen on August 6 during this study, but it could not be identified.

Colaptes cafer collaris Vigors, RED-SHAFTED FLICKER

Although the Flickers were very few in number around this area,

they were consistantly present during the whole period of study , and show-

ed little variation in abundance in different months. Comparatively more

of them were seen during October than in any other month of study .

.Asyncesmus lewis Gray, LEVdS WOODPECKER

They have previously been reported on the campus by other work-

ers, but they were not seen during this study.

Dendrocopos pubescens le..icurus (Hartlaub} ROCKY MOUNTJUN DOWNY

WOODPECKER

During the period of investigation Downy Woodpeckers were seen

only in the months of September, October, and March. Two of them were

recorded consistantly on September 3, 5, 6, and 10, on a dead tree. A

few were also spotted on the other tree areas. Almost every day they

were observed to peck the tree, making a sharp sound. One Woodpecker was seen very often to enter inside a sn1all hole on a dead tree, but on investigation no nest was found.

Empidonax traillii brewsteri, Oberholser, LITTLE FLYCATCHER

Little Flycatchers were found in the study area in the month of July and also in September during the study pe:riod, in the trees on the north side d the campus.

Sayornis saya saya (Bonaparte), SAY'S PHOfi:BE

Say•s Phoebe was a rare visitant during the whole study period and only one was seen on July 2.6.

Hirundo rustica erythrogaster Boddaert, BARN SW'ALLQV;

A few barn swallows were seen consistantly in the study area from 1:h,:.'!beginning of thh, study in July through September. Most o.[ them were seen flying aro,lnd over a grou.nd on the northwe,;,te:rn side of the earn- pus, and were observed to light on the grou.1.d a.fter certain intervals. A few were also noticed to be f,~eding over the eastern side of the campus, which is dry and comparatively treeless.

Perisoreus canadensis capitalis Ridgway, ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY

Only one of this species appeared on the campus on :F'ebruary 25.

It was seen sitting on the top of a dead. black locust tree. Although it is a permanent resident of coniferous forests of the high mountains throughout

Utah, its appearance on the camp•..is was quite unusual.

Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis Ridgway, WESTERN CROW

Crows were il'regularly seen on the campus during the months of January, February, and March. They were found on the tree area, particularly on a dead cottonwood tree. A few were also seen over the buildings. 33

Parus atricapillus nevadensis (Linsdale), PALLID BLACK-CAPPED

CHICKADEE

They have previously been reported on the campus by othe:r workers, but during this study they were not found.

Porus gambeli, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE

.According to Cottam, Iviountain Chickadees were a fairly common resident throughout Utah, inhabitants of the wooded mountain sections in the summer and the lower valleys during the winter. He also collected this species at Provo in November. Only two of these species were spotted on September 17 on the campus on a cottonwood tree by the side of the canaL

Certhla famiiiaris montana Ridgway, ROCKY MOUNTAIN CREEPER

Only one Creeper was seen on a tree trunk on January 21 and 28.

It was not found in :February, but was observed again on March 24, sitting on the same tree. It was not found on the campus after this time.

DumeteHa carolinensis ruficrissa Aldrich, VI.ES TERN CATBIRD

These interesting birds were noticed on the campus in July,

August, September, and October during the study period. They were located only on a particular region of the tree area on the southwestern corner of the campus, near the canal. Their particular cat-like mewing call was very interesting. 'Nhenever observed, they were slinking through the bush• es and branches of the trees. After October 29, they were not seen on the campus. ------

Turdus migratorius propinquus Ridgway, \VESTERN ROBIN

Robins are one of the permanent residents of the campus. They were found distributed on almost every part of the study area, but were more abundant in the tree areas and irrigated fields and lawns. Their nests were also distributed throughout the tree areas, but a comparatively large number of them were located in the orchard, adjacent to the Brigham

Young University Poultry Laboratory. Nineteen nests of Robins were observed during the months of June and July. Two with half-grown young and three with eggs were observed closely and frequently. Robins were found in large numbers in February, when the counted average was 95.5 per hour.

Very few were around the study area during October. On February 11, a huge flock of approximately 408 individuals was counted on the northwestern side of the campus, sitting in olive trees .

.Although many Robin!; were seen in the orchards; very few of them were seen eating fruits. V1hcn the lawns and fields were irrigated, a l.arge number of Robins with many California. GuHs were observed feeding npon worms and insects.

Sialia currucoides (Bechstein), MOUNTAIN Bi..U.EBIR D

They have been previously seen by other workers on the carnpus, but they were not found during this study.

Myadestes townsendi (Audubon) TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIR r:

This bird was strictly a winter visitant in this axea. When the entire campus was covered with snow, they were seen. sitting silently on the small trees on the lawn. They were also found in the tree area.

Regulus cale~ cinera~ Grinnell, WESTERN HUBY-CROWNED

KINGLJ~T

One Ruby-crowned Kinglet was found early in the morning on

.Apr it 15 on a shrub near the main tree area of the campus.

Anthus spinoletta alticola Todd, .i.~ DCKY l\t!OUNTAIN PIPIT

The .Pipit was another winter visitant to the campus. It occurred in .5rnall numbers on several days during January and .Teb.ruary on the snow- cov-c:cec.. lavvn3.

Bombycilla ~arrulus pallidiceps R eichenow, BOHE \IIIAN 1.V}\XWING

These waxwings have previously been found as irregular winter visitants on the campus by other workers, but they were not seen during this investigation.

Bombycilla cedrorurn Vieillot, C fCDAR '\IYAXWING

Cedar "Waxwings were irregularly found in the study area in July and October through April. They were genexally seen in small flocks in the tree areas by the sides of the canal on the south and western part of the ca:.11pu6. On .February 11, two V'axwings were caught in a live trap.

They were aeen eating the seeds of russian olive, and othe1· wild fruits.

Sturnus vulgaris v"!l&aris Linnaeus, STARLING

Starlings were observed in this location through the months of 36

")ctober to April except during March. On January 28, a large flock of about 450 Starlings was seen sitting on Rllssian olive trees on the northwestern part of the campus. During the winter a few Starlings were seen almost every day, sitting on a television aerial on the top of the

Joseph Smith Building. '!'hey were very often seen to enter the cornices of that building, and on April LS, three nests with four. eggs in each were found there.

Vireo gilvus leucopolius ( Oberholser) OR EGON ·wARBLI NG VIREO

They were found on the campus from July, when the study was started, through September in the tree area by the side of the canal on the western and southern parts of the ca.rnpus. More Vireos were seen in September than in July and August.

Vermivora celata orestera Oberholsen, ROCKY !'.-{OUNTAI N OR.ANGE-

CROViiNED WARBLER

Only a few of these species we.re recorded in the study area during September.

Dendroica petechia, Y SLl ...OV./ ARBLER

Yellow Warblers were r:.een in the study area from the day oi starting this study to October.. They seemed to be ·more abundant in the month of July and only a few were seen in October. They were mostly located in the trees by the side of the canal on the southern and northwestern side of the campus. 37

Dendroica auduboni, AUDUBON'S ViARBLl:;R

Audubon's Vl'arblers were observed on the campus during this study on July 20 and August L On both days they were found in a parti c- ular cottonwood tree. ,".rrival of two species of Audubon's Vv'arblers on the campus has been reported previously by other workers. They are

Northern Audubon's Warbler (Dendroica audoboni audoboni ( Townsend) and Rocky Mountain .Audubon's V· arbler ( Uendroica audoboni memorabidis

Oberholser) . It was not determined which of these two species was on the study area as noted above.

I cteria virens auricollis (Lichtenstein), LONG-T .AI LED CHAT

Long-tailed Chats were seen around the campus from the beginning of this study until October. .According to previous records, they appear on the campus by May 10 and leave after the first week of October.

They were located only in the tree areas on the southern and western part o the carr1pus. They seemed to be very shy and carefully kept them- selves screened when the investigator tried to get a better view of them.

Two nests of Long-tailed Chats were found in the bushy area by the sides of the canal on July 8. Both of them were located three to four feet above the groLlnd on shrubs. They were constructed of dead leaves, dried grasses, weed stalk, and were tined with fine grasses. There were four eggs in each nest.

Passer domesticus domesticus Linnaeus, ENGLISH SPARROW

.8nglish Sparrows were found in large numbers during every 38 month of the study and were distributed throughout the whole campus.

They were seen in large flocks on the buildings and over the lawns. Al- though they we:::-e widely distributed, each flock had a very limited range and was confined in its activities to that particular area. Generally they were found not to associate with other birds except on the top of the Joseph

Smith. Building where English Sparrows and Starlings were seen together.

They became more abundant on the campus area in March and April.

English Sparrows were seen eating the seeds of grasses and various weeds, as well as waste materials on the streets and lawns. In the orchard they were found eating cherries and pears, and in the gardens destroying the flower buds and seedlings. During June and July many

English Sparrow nests were found with eggs and young on the cornices of the b~ilding s.

Sturnella neglecta neglecta Audubon, EST.ERN MEADOW LARK

They were first seen in the study area on M'.arch l0, on a meadow on the north side o.f an orchard. E'rom that time forward they were seen almost every day of census on the same locality.

Xanthocepha1us xanthocephaL.1s ( Bonaparte), YELLOiN-HEADED BLACK-

BIRD

The appearance of the Yellow-headed Blackbird was uncommon to this area. On August l one of them was seen sitting on a black locust tree on the north side of the campus. No other Yellow-headed Blackbird was recorded during the whole period of the investigation. 39

Ieterus bullockii bullockii ( Swainson), BULLOCK'S ORIOLE

Their appearance on the campus has been reported previously by other workers, but they were not seen during this study .

.&:;uphasus cyanocephalus (Vlagler), BREV,':!I:R 'S BLACKBIRD

Brewer's Blackbirds were observed in this area in September and November. They were located mostly around the orchard adjacent to the University poultry farm.

Molothrus ater artemisiae Grinnel, NEVAD.A COWBIRD

'INhen this investigation was started in the month of July, a large number of Cowbirds were found in the orchard adjacent to the Brigham

Young University Poultry Laboratory on the northwestern corner of the campus, but after July 26 they seemed to completely disappear from this area. In the middle of July, eggs of Cowbirds were found in alrriost every nest of the Robin and House Finch in the orchard. It was interesting to no.e that when the investigator climed a pear tree to collect a nest of the

House Finch in which there were some eggs of House Finch as well as

Cowbird, the mother Finch flew away fron:1 the nest, but within a few seconds five Cowbirds came and attempted to drive the intruder away.

Since they said eggs in almost every nest in the orchard. the Cowbirds began to chatter as soon as anybody approached the nests and were far more aggressive in the defense of the nests than were the House Finches and Robins. Cowbirds were also found on the irrigated field associating with Robins. 40

Pi:ranga t11doviciana { \\/iison), V/CSTERN TANAGER

This beautiful bird was mostly seen around the campus in

September, but a few were also recorded in October. According to

Cottam (1927), Henshaw collected this species at Provo in July. During this study they were first seen on the campus in September. They were always in a group and were seen in a particular area for alrr1ost the whole day. They were very often seen on a plum tree, eating plums. Accord- ing to Woodbury, Cottam and Sugden ( 1949), the Tanagers are common summer residents throughout Utah known from May 12 to September 26.

Pleucticus melanocephalus melanocephalus (Swainson), ROCKY MOUNT-

AIN BLACK-HEAD~D GROSBEAK

During the study pe1·iod, two Black-headed Grosbeaks were found in July and five of them were seen in September in the orchard.

On June 26, one nest of Black-headed Grosbeak was collected from the orchard, about five feet above the ground on a pear tree. The nest was very loosely constructed and the young birds had left the nest only a few days before it was collected.

Passerina amoena (Say), LA2ULI BUNTING

Only four Lazuli Buntings were found on the campus during the entire study period, two on July 20 and two again on July 26, in a box elder tree by the side of the canal on the southwestern side of the

campus. According to Woodbury ( l949), they are common summer residents throughout Utah, known from April 26 to September 15. 4L despcrlphona vespertina brooksi Grinnell, V,ZSTE.RN EVENING GROSBEAK

This beautiful bird arrived on the campus on Febr,J..ary 25.

After that they were seen continuously up to Ap1·il ...vhen this study was closed. They became more abundant in .April than in any other month.

They were seen mostly on the tree area and were found to eat the leaf and flower buds of the trees, and probably some seeds.

Carpodacus cassinii Baird, CASSI.N'S PURPLE:: F"INCH

This species was noted in the area studied in October and Nov- ember, but seemed to disappear for three months and appear again in

March and were seen through April, when the study was ended. They were mostly located in the orchards and in the black locust area associated with House Finches. According to Cottam (1927), they were abundantly found around Provo during winter months, but they were not recorded on the campus during that time.

Ca:rpodacus mexicanus frontalis ( Say), COMMON HOUSl:C Fl NCH

House !!"'"'inches were around the campus during the whole period of investigation, except in ,l:<"'ebruary. They were more abundant in this area in the months of July and August. Their number gradually declined through January, and in February none were seen in the study area. In

March, they appeared again, and in April they became comparatively n1ore abundant.

Most of the House Finches were located in the orchards, but a few were also found in other tree areas, near the buildings, and over the 42 lawns. Altho1..1gh a few individual birds were found scattered here and there, they were generally in floe~~::;. Large flocl{S were observed during the ..·nont.a.s of July and Allgust In the o:rchard they were found eating cherries and pears.

House Finch nests were noted in diife1·ent areas, but most of them were seen in the orchard. On June 24 and 2o, iive House l:i'inch nests were observed. Four of then-i were in pear trees whz:.e eggs were found.

One was iou.nd in a cherry tree with half-grown young in it. Many old nests were found in the orchard. The nests were compactly constructed with grass anci. plant fibers.

Spinus pinus vagans Aldrich, v;ESTERN PINE-SISKIN

Pine-Siskins appeared in this area in late winter and were seen through April, when the study was t:nded. A few of them were located on a meadow near an orchard associated with .Meadow La:::.-ks, and some were found in the tree area. ;.)ne nest of Pine-f'iskin was seen on .June 22. in a pine tree on the southern slope of the campus. However, this nest was not closely examined.

Spinus tristis pallidus Mearns, PALE GOLDFINCH

Pale Goldfinches were seen in the ::.tudy area frorn July to Nov- ember, in the tall cottonwood trees on the sou.thern part of the cam.pus.

Although they were seen in every month from July to Nove1nber, they were very irregular. l'hey occurred on the carr1pus for son-:.e tinie and again disappeared for several tla.ys. They were not seen on the ca:rnpus after 43

November 26 until the middle of April, when a large number of them were

seen again. A few of them were found eating leaf buds of trees.

Spinus psaltiria hesperophilus (Oberhaolser). GRE:EN-BACKED GOLDFINCH

Greenbacked Goldfinches were spotten in this area on September

10 and 17 on a tree area on the south side of the campus. They have also been noted by other observers in April and May, but their summer status

is uncertain.

Loxia curvirostra, R.ED CROSSBILL

This was one of the very uncommon species found on the campus on August l, sitting on the roof of an old house near an orchard. No previous record had been made of the appearance of a Crossbill in this area.

Piplo erythropthalmus montam1s Swarth, SPURRED TOWHE~~-:;

They were first noted on the campus area on October 22 and were consistantly seen up to March lO. .Although they were found only a few at a time, they were one of the most common wintering birds on the

campus. They were mostly located on the bushy area on the southwest

slope between the upper and lower levels of the campus. At the time of

snow and also when the study area was covered with snow, they were ob-

served slinking through the shrubs. According to V/oodbury (1933), the

Spurred Towhee was a perching bird that had entered the field of scratching to earn a living. It was primarily a ground living bird, nesting among the thickets _and hunting its food chiefly among the trash and leaves, but it 44 did not hesitate to ascend the trees and brush at other times.

Chondestes grammacus strigatus SJiinson, WESTERN LARK SPARROW

Lark Sparrows visited the campus in the sun1mer, and were seen from the first day of census until November. These shy, beautiful birds seemed to be very fond of bushy areas and carried on their activities very close to these areas.

Spizella a:rborea ochracca Brewster, Vi ES TERN TR SE SP.ARRO'\V

Tree Sparrows caxne to the cdn:1pus as short winter visitants.

They were seen very irregularly during Decem.ber and January, in the tree areas.

Spizella passerina arizonae Coues, WESTERN C:HlPPING SPARROW

They have been previously seen on the campc.1s by other workers, but d:.uing this study they were not fourid. Acco:?:"ding to \Yoodbury (1949), it is a connnon su1niner resident throughout Utah, known fro1n April 13 to

October l4.

Spizella breweri breweri Cassin, BRE'f,iVER 'S SP ..'-\RROVi

They were sum.mer visitants to the campus. They were first noted in this area on July 20, and \Vere not seen after .August l.

Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha Oberholser, OR:E:GON WHITE-CROV'NED

SPARRO,v

This species appeared in the study area for a very short time 45 in November. .According to Ridgeway (1877), it was a common summer species in the elevated parks of the 1'.as3.tch and U:i.nta mountains.

Z,onotrichia leucophrys gambe lii (Nutta.ll), GA MB.EL'S SPARROW

One Gambel's Sparrow was found on October 22, and a few were found in December and January. According to ·woodbury (1949), they arc abundant migrants, especially along the west base of the \Vasatch mountains and high plateaus, known from September 6 to June 10.

1v1elospiza melodia montana .Henshaw, ~.1OUNTi\IN SONG SPi\RR01N

Song Sparrows wer,~ found all thro•.lgh the study period. They indicated less variation in number per month than any other species. Fig.

5 shows the only sudden increase in number in March. .Although many

Song Sparrows were found in one area, they were never seen to form flocks.

They were mostly present on the tree areas where there was an undergrowth of shrubs and weeds. Although they were heard singing in October and Nov- ember, their song was not typical of the spring song. The latter started from the last of ~---ebruary and continued until the close of the study period.

Three nests of the Song Sparrows were observed in different bushy areas on June 28. There were four and three young, respectively, in two nests, and four eggs in the other.

Junco oreganus, OREGON JUNCO

This species was one of the common wintering birds found on the campus area. They were found abundantly from October through March. 46

After !v1:arch l 7 they were not Aeen in this area.. ~'.'hey were always in a flock and located on a pa:cticular region in the tre'e area. PTevious expe:r- ience indicates that flockG of Juncos seen in this area in winter may include several subspecies, bat no attempt was made to distinguish these in the present study. 47

SUMMARY

1. An investigation of the birds of Brigham Young University campus was carried on from July l3, 1955 to April 15, l956. The main campus, cover- ing an area of 201 acres, situated in the northeastern part of the city of

Provo, Utah, was chosen for this study. The object of this study was to deterrnine the different species of birds which visit the Brigham Young

University cainpus from late sum.mer to early spring, their seasonal dis-

tribution, relative abundance, location on the study area. with a brief account of their activities. A total of 173 hours was devoted to census work

and to a study of the general ecology of the area. Four to five censuses

were taken in each month of study. In order to measure the relative abun-

dance of different species, the total number of each species seen per hour

was calculated. The location of different species at each census was plot-

ted on an outline map of the campus. The activities of the birds on the

campus were also studied whenever possible.

2. }fifty-five different species were seen on the campus during the period

of investigation. Five species were constantly present in the area observed

from July 13 to April 15. These are Western Robin, English Sparrow,

California Quail, Song Sparrow, and Red-shafted Flicker. Two rather un-

common species, Sage Hen and Red Crossbill, were found on the campus.

Twenty-five different species were noted in July, 23 in August, 23 in Sept-

ember, 23 in October, 17 in November, 13 in December, 16 in January, 48

15 in February, 17 in March, and 16 in April. Nests of ten different species were found. These were House Finch, Western Robin, Blackheaded Gros- beak, Song Sparrow, Long-tailed Chat, California Quail, Mourning Dove,

Pine Siskin, Starling, and English Sparrow. New arrivals were noted in every month. The majority of the species were located on the tree area by the side of the canal.

From this study it was found that the Brigham Young University campus is a suitable habitat for rnany species of birds; it provides food, shelter, and nesting ground to many species. The changes of the bird population varied with the seasons.

The writer believes this study will provide new information regarding the population, relative abundance, and seasonal changes of birds for this particular area. Ll TERATURE Cl TJ~D

Breckenridge, W. J. 1933. A Bird Census Method, Wilson Bul., Vol. 47 ( 3), pp. 195-197.

Cottam, Clarence 192.7. Distributional List of the Birds of Utah, M. S. Thesis, Brigham Young University.

Cottam, Walter P. 1926. An Ecological Study of the Flora of Utah Lake, Utah. University of Chicago, Ph.D. Dissertation.

Frost, Herbert 1947. A Seasonal Study of the Food of Some Birds of the Wasatch Chaparrel. M. S. Thesis, Brigham Young University.

Hayward, C. Lynn 1935. A Study of the Winter Bird Life in Bear Lake and Utah Lake Valleys. Wilson Bul., 47: pp. 278-284.

1948. Biotic Communities of the Wasatch Chaparrel, Utah Ecol. Monagr., 18: pp. 473-506.

Kendeigh, S. Charles 1944. Measurement of Bird Population, .Ecological Monograph, 14: pp. 67-106.

1934. The Role of Environment in the Life of Birds. Ecol. Monograph, 4: pp. 299-417.

Liddle, J. Dyle 1936. A Study of the Food Habits of the English Sparrow in Central Utah. M. S. Thesis, Brigham Young University.

Peterson, R. T. A Field Guide to Western Birds. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

Swank, A. Wendell. 1955. Nesting and Production of the tvfourning Dove in Texas, Ecology, 36: No. 3, pp. 495-505.

49 Woodbury, A. M. 1933. The Scratching of the Spurred Towhee. Condor, 35:p. 70.

Woodbury, A. M., Cottam, C., and Sugden, J. v'V. 1949. Annotated Check-list of the Birds of Utah. Bul. Univ. of Utah, Biol. Series, 11: pp. 1-40

50 BIRDS OF THE

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Abstract of

A Thesis Submitted to the Department of

Zoology and .tl;ntomology

Brigham Young University

in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Master of Science

Barid Baran Mukherjee

June 1956

'' '<\ ·;/ ;ii •., .,, ABSTRACT

BIRDS OF THE BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIV1l:RSITY CAMPUS

This paper deals with the seasonal distribution, relative abundance, and location of the different species of birds which visit or live on the Brigham Young University campus from late summer to early spring, with a brief account of their activities. The upper campus, where this investigation was carried on, covers an area of 201 acres and is situated on a bench at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. The study was continued from July 13, 1955 to April 15, 1956.

A total of 173 hours was devoted to census work and to studying the general ecology of the area. Four to five censuses were taken in each month of study. In order to measure the relative abundance, the total number of each species seen per hour was calculated. The location of each species found during this study was plotted on an outline map of the campus.

Fifty-five different kinds of birds were seen on the campus during this study. The ·western Robin, English Sparrow, California Quail,

Song Sparrow and Red-shafted Flicker were seen constantly in every month of study. The Red Crossbill and Sage Hen, two most uncommon species in this area, were observed. The maximum number of species was found in July, and the minimum in December. Nests of House Finch, Western

Robin, Blackheaded Grosbeak, S..>ng Sparrow, Long-tailed Chat, California

l Quail, Mourning Dove, Pine Siskin, Starling and English Sparrow were found in this study area. New arrivals were noticed in every month. The majority of these species. as well as individuals, were located in the tree area bordering the canal.

From this study it was found that the Brigham Young University campus provides a very suitable habitat for many species of birds. Ample cover, food, and water are available, and firearms are prohibited. The movement of students and other traffic about the campus does not seem to hamper the birds in their normal activities to any appreciable degree.