CONTENTS

A Message from the Editor 1 Anthony Bledsoe THE

The 1984-1985 Connecticut Christmas Counts 2 Fred Sibley CONNECTIClJT Connecticut Birds - Bald Eagle 5 Gene Billings , -1\ WARBLER Food Storage by American Crows in Winter 8 Lawrence Kilham A Journal of Connecticut Ornithology

Connecticut Field Notes- Summer 1984 9 Dennis Varza

Book Review - Field Guide to the Birds of North America 11 Anthony Bledsoe

NOTES&NEWS 12

The Connecticut Warbler is a quarterly publication devoted to the advancement of the study of birds. It is published by the Connecticut Ornithological Association . Address all correspondence to 314 Unquowa Road , Fairfield, CT 06430.

·r The Connecticut Audubon Society Non-Profit Org. J14 Unquowa Road F•irfield, CT 06430 U.S. Postage PAID Fairfield, Conn. Permit No. 95

Volume V Number 1 January 1985 Pages 1-13 CONNECTICUT ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR President: Roland C. Clement, Norwalk Vice-President: Elizabeth Kleiner, Simsbury The October issue of volume 4 of The Connecticut Warbler introduced several changes in Secretary: Winifred Burkett, Storrs the appearance, format, and content of the journal. Readers may have noticed that the Treasurer: Robert Fletcher, Cheshire journal has returned to a type-set print, that the type face is new, and that the inside front Assistant Treasurer: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield cover has been revised to reflect the province the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) now holds over the publication of the journal. Board of Directors Indeed, COA has created options for improving the journal, and the changes introduced Term expiring ____ _ last issue make The Connecticut Warbler a more pleasing, easier to read publication. In addi­ tion, the journal has broadened its scope to include a variety of articles and features of in­ December 1986 December 1987 terest to all ornithologists, amateur and professional alike. The Connecticut Warbler thus Stuart E. Mitchell, Portland Neil W . Currie, Watertown provides the Connecticut ornithological community with a range of information about the Joseph C. Zeranski, Greenwich Shirley S. Davis, Mansfield Center birds of our state and those who study them. The link between professional and amateur Julio de la Torre, New Canaan Donald A. Hopkins, Windsor gives the publication and its host organization, COA, special meaning, and a special Robert C. Dewire, Pawcatuck Philip R. Schaeffer, Greenwich flavor. In the current volume, our editorial staff has supplemented last issue's changes with December 1988 some further innovations. This issue introduces two regular features . George W . Zepko, Middletown The first, "Connecticut Birds", describes the status, distribution, and site localities of a George A. Clark Jr., Storrs selected Connecticut species each issue. In this issue Gene Billings discusses the occurrence Fred C. Sibley, Guilford of Bald Eagles in Connecticut and provides information about where and when our readers Stephen P. Broker, New Haven can see them. The second new feature, the "Book Review", presents reviews of volumes of especial in­ THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER terest to our readership. The current "Book Review" critiques the National Geographic So­ ciety's Field Guide to the Birds of North America, a new, comprehensive field guide to the Editor: Anthony H . Bledsoe, New Haven birds of Connecticut and the rest of the North American continent. Managing Editor: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield We continue to provide COA field observers the opportunity to publish interesting ob­ Field Editor: Dennis E. Varza, Fairfield servations and to contribute to our knowledge of birds, their lives, and their habits. We The Connecticut Warbler is published quarterly (January, April, July, and October) by the also continue to offer a standard complement of original, full-length articles plus the regu­ Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). Membership to COA is based on a calen­ lar "Connecticut Field Notes" and "Notes and News" features. Our editorial staff wel­ dar year, with membership renewable in January. New members of COA receive all four comes comments and suggestions from the readership on past and future improvements of issues of The Connecticut Warbler for that year. Make checks payable to The Connecticut Or­ The Connecticut Warbler. nithological Association, and mail checks to 314 Unqoowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06430. Anthony H. Bledsoe Membership Fees Editor Member $10.00 Contributing $20.00 The Connecticut Warbler Family $15 .00 Sustaining $30.00 Founder $300.00, payable in three annual install­ ments and conferring life membership.

The editors invite submission of articles, notes, black and white photographs and line drawings for publication in The Connecticut Warbler. Manuscripts should be typewritten, double-spaced and on one side of the sheet only, with ample margins. The style of manu­ scripts should follow the general usage in recent issues.

Cover Photograph: Mew Gull, photographed in West Haven Dec. 23, 1984 by Mark Szantyr 1 / CONNECTICUT ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR President: Roland C. Clement, Norwalk Vice-President: Elizabeth Kleiner, Simsbury The October issue of volume 4 of The Connecticut Warbler introduced several changes in Secretary: Winifred Burkett, Storrs the appearance, format, and content of the journal. Readers may have noticed that the Treasurer: Robert Fletcher, Cheshire journal has returned to a type-set print, that the type face is new, and that the inside front Assistant Treasurer: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield cover has been revised to reflect the province the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) now holds over the publication of the journal. Board of Directors Indeed, COA has created options for improving the journal, and the changes introduced Term expiring ____ _ last issue make The Connecticut Warbler a more pleasing, easier to read publication. In addi­ tion, the journal has broadened its scope to include a variety of articles and features of in­ December 1986 December 1987 terest to all ornithologists, amateur and professional alike. The Connecticut Warbler thus Stuart E. Mitchell, Portland Neil W . Currie, Watertown provides the Connecticut ornithological community with a range of information about the Joseph C. Zeranski, Greenwich Shirley S. Davis, Mansfield Center birds of our state and those who study them. The link between professional and amateur Julio de la Torre, New Canaan Donald A. Hopkins, Windsor gives the publication and its host organization, COA, special meaning, and a special Robert C. Dewire, Pawcatuck Philip R. Schaeffer, Greenwich flavor. In the current volume, our editorial staff has supplemented last issue's changes with December 1988 some further innovations. This issue introduces two regular features . George W . Zepko, Middletown The first, "Connecticut Birds", describes the status, distribution, and site localities of a George A. Clark Jr., Storrs selected Connecticut species each issue. In this issue Gene Billings discusses the occurrence Fred C. Sibley, Guilford of Bald Eagles in Connecticut and provides information about where and when our readers Stephen P. Broker, New Haven can see them. The second new feature, the "Book Review", presents reviews of volumes of especial in­ THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER terest to our readership. The current "Book Review" critiques the National Geographic So­ ciety's Field Guide to the Birds of North America, a new, comprehensive field guide to the Editor: Anthony H . Bledsoe, New Haven birds of Connecticut and the rest of the North American continent. Managing Editor: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield We continue to provide COA field observers the opportunity to publish interesting ob­ Field Editor: Dennis E. Varza, Fairfield servations and to contribute to our knowledge of birds, their lives, and their habits. We The Connecticut Warbler is published quarterly (January, April, July, and October) by the also continue to offer a standard complement of original, full-length articles plus the regu­ Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). Membership to COA is based on a calen­ lar "Connecticut Field Notes" and "Notes and News" features. Our editorial staff wel­ dar year, with membership renewable in January. New members of COA receive all four comes comments and suggestions from the readership on past and future improvements of issues of The Connecticut Warbler for that year. Make checks payable to The Connecticut Or­ The Connecticut Warbler. nithological Association, and mail checks to 314 Unqoowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06430. Anthony H. Bledsoe Membership Fees Editor Member $10.00 Contributing $20.00 The Connecticut Warbler Family $15 .00 Sustaining $30.00 Founder $300.00, payable in three annual install­ ments and conferring life membership.

The editors invite submission of articles, notes, black and white photographs and line drawings for publication in The Connecticut Warbler. Manuscripts should be typewritten, double-spaced and on one side of the sheet only, with ample margins. The style of manu­ scripts should follow the general usage in recent issues.

Cover Photograph: Mew Gull, photographed in West Haven Dec. 23, 1984 by Mark Szantyr 1 / THE 1984-1985 Ibis was found at New London, an Ameri­ population inland. Comparing coastal and corded only on the coast. The lase two can Oyscercaccher stayed on in the inland counts, one observes that there were counts their numbers have increased inland CONNECTICUT Westport area, and the Greenwich­ 38 species for which more than 60% of the while decreasing coascally, so that only CHRISTMAS Stamford counters recorded both a Black­ individuals were found on the inland 23% of the birds seen this year were on and-white Warbler and a Blue-gray Gnat­ counts. Inland counts had 406 observers coastal counts. Are the inland increases due COUNTS catcher. A second Blue-gray Gnatcatcher compared to 479 for the coast, so the differ­ to better winter survival in warm winters or was recorded on the New Haven count. ence in numbers of individual birds is sig­ to more stocking? Bluebirds by comparison FRED C. SIBLEY These 5 species were new for the state nificant. Species such as Canada Goose, have increased dramatically inland while Christmas Count lise. Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Hairy decreasing only slightly on the coast. As a Without question the 1984-85 Christ­ Ocher regional firsts of almost equal Woodpecker, and American Tree Sparrow result the coastal counts now record only mas counts were most unusual. People were rarity were Marsh Wrens at Salmon River have become consistently more common in­ 17% of the bluebirds in the state; formerly bitten by mosquitoes, surprised by earth­ and Litchfield Hills for the first inland re­ land during the last 15 years. However 18 over half the birds were found there. The worms, buzzed by flies, and generally per­ cords, Blue-winged Teal (Hartford) and species have shifted markedly in just the increase has been most pronounced on mid­ plexed by basking turtles and hopping Northern Shoveler (Litchfield Hills) for first last few years with some showing a shift state counts where numbers have increased toads. The 885 observers who turned out northern Connecticut records, Lincoln's only during this year. In a normal year 90% each of the last six years. for the 6 coastal, 5 mid-scace,and 4 north­ Sparrow (Woodbury-Roxbury) and North­ of the Ring-necked Ducks are seen on Rarities (those species seen fewer than ern counts (plus a new northern count at ern Oriole (Oxford) for first mid-state re­ coastal counts, compared to 30% this year. four times in ten years) were numerous this Barkhampscead) were treated to the cords, and finally a Wilson's Warbler at For Common Merganser the figures were year with an average of ten per count. Those warmest count period in many years. New London for the first coastal record. 41% and 7%. A similar pattern held for seen only once before in the state were Despite the warm weather, the number With the prolonged fall and mild De­ Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed mainly on coastal counts. High counts were of observers dropped to the level of 10 years cember one expected great numbers of late Cowbirds, and American Robins. There relatively few and low counts were mainly ago and was nearly 30% below the record lingerers, and even though this was the were very few Pine Siskins and Evening confined co the coast. Some of the more in­ total in 1981. The state species coral of 176 third warm year in a row everyone was look­ Grosbeaks, apparently the resulr of a late teresting sigh rings are summarized below. was high for recent years, as were the ing for some record high numbers. A few departure from more northern sites. It is in­ COMMON LOON : A single bird on the coastal, mid-scate,and northern species to­ species responded. Northern Flickers were teresting that some of the late lingerers Salmon River count is only the second tals of 169, 105, and 116, respectively. found in record numbers on every count but (Brown Thrasher, Common Yellowthroat, sighting on mid-scare counts. The total number of individuals seen one. Yellow-rumped Warbler numbers and Vesper Sparrow) were more common on DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: (573,000) established a record, yet the were double the previous high and they mid-state counts than on the coast. Although still found mainly on the New coastal counts recorded the fewest birds in were found in record numbers on 11 of 14 Some of the other shifts reflect longer London count, individuals were recorded on 10 years. Hartford recorded the most indi­ counts. Belted Kingfishers were present in term trends than one warm December. The most coastal counts and at Litchfield Hills viduals (132,000), followed by Stratford­ high numbers across the state and broke re­ owl numbers have shifted sharply in the last in the north. The total count is 4 times the Milford (75 ,000). cords on 8 counts. Other species responding five years. Most Barred Owls (55%) were previous record. Only three counts exceeded previous spe­ to the warm weather were Golden-crowned previously found on the coastal counts, but HERONS: Great Egrets seen at cies totals: Greenwich-Stamford (119), and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Cedar Wax­ this year only 24% were there. Similarly Greenwich-Stamford and Stratford-Milford Hartford (91), and Litchfield Hills (76). wing, White-throated Sparrow, and Dark­ Long-eared Owl has shifted from 90% to were the second records in ten years. Great New Haven had the most species (124), eyed Junco. All of these birds were recorded 33% and Northern Saw-whet Owl from Blue Herons were 50% more common than Woodbury-Roxbury and Salmon River had in record numbers state-wide. 65% to 22%. Eastern Screech-Owl and last year and found in record numbers all the highest totals in the mid-state region Although the state species coral and in Great Horned Owl sighcings have exhibited along the coast. A Green-backed Heron at (78), while Hartford (91) continued to most cases the coastal and northern species a less dramatic shift. These changes can eas­ New London was a rarity. dominate the northern counts. totals did not strongly reflect the warm ily be attributed to the better birding in­ MUTE SWAN: This species continues to The warmest December in memory was weather, the mid-state counts blossomed land rather than a shift in populations. increase; it reached new highs on all the expected to produce great rarities and did. with new records, and over 40% of the spe­ Northern Bobwhite and Eastern Blue­ mid-state counts and was recorded on half A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron appeared cies mid-state were seen in record numbers. bird present different but possibly related the northern counts. The population is now on the Stratford-Milford count, a Glossy Several species showed marked shifts of trends. Prior to 1982 Bobwhite were re- three times what it was 12 years ago.

2 3 THE 1984-1985 Ibis was found at New London, an Ameri­ population inland. Comparing coastal and corded only on the coast. The lase two can Oyscercaccher stayed on in the inland counts, one observes that there were counts their numbers have increased inland CONNECTICUT Westport area, and the Greenwich­ 38 species for which more than 60% of the while decreasing coascally, so that only CHRISTMAS Stamford counters recorded both a Black­ individuals were found on the inland 23% of the birds seen this year were on and-white Warbler and a Blue-gray Gnat­ counts. Inland counts had 406 observers coastal counts. Are the inland increases due COUNTS catcher. A second Blue-gray Gnatcatcher compared to 479 for the coast, so the differ­ to better winter survival in warm winters or was recorded on the New Haven count. ence in numbers of individual birds is sig­ to more stocking? Bluebirds by comparison FRED C. SIBLEY These 5 species were new for the state nificant. Species such as Canada Goose, have increased dramatically inland while Christmas Count lise. Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Hairy decreasing only slightly on the coast. As a Without question the 1984-85 Christ­ Ocher regional firsts of almost equal Woodpecker, and American Tree Sparrow result the coastal counts now record only mas counts were most unusual. People were rarity were Marsh Wrens at Salmon River have become consistently more common in­ 17% of the bluebirds in the state; formerly bitten by mosquitoes, surprised by earth­ and Litchfield Hills for the first inland re­ land during the last 15 years. However 18 over half the birds were found there. The worms, buzzed by flies, and generally per­ cords, Blue-winged Teal (Hartford) and species have shifted markedly in just the increase has been most pronounced on mid­ plexed by basking turtles and hopping Northern Shoveler (Litchfield Hills) for first last few years with some showing a shift state counts where numbers have increased toads. The 885 observers who turned out northern Connecticut records, Lincoln's only during this year. In a normal year 90% each of the last six years. for the 6 coastal, 5 mid-scace,and 4 north­ Sparrow (Woodbury-Roxbury) and North­ of the Ring-necked Ducks are seen on Rarities (those species seen fewer than ern counts (plus a new northern count at ern Oriole (Oxford) for first mid-state re­ coastal counts, compared to 30% this year. four times in ten years) were numerous this Barkhampscead) were treated to the cords, and finally a Wilson's Warbler at For Common Merganser the figures were year with an average of ten per count. Those warmest count period in many years. New London for the first coastal record. 41% and 7%. A similar pattern held for seen only once before in the state were Despite the warm weather, the number With the prolonged fall and mild De­ Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed mainly on coastal counts. High counts were of observers dropped to the level of 10 years cember one expected great numbers of late Cowbirds, and American Robins. There relatively few and low counts were mainly ago and was nearly 30% below the record lingerers, and even though this was the were very few Pine Siskins and Evening confined co the coast. Some of the more in­ total in 1981. The state species coral of 176 third warm year in a row everyone was look­ Grosbeaks, apparently the resulr of a late teresting sigh rings are summarized below. was high for recent years, as were the ing for some record high numbers. A few departure from more northern sites. It is in­ COMMON LOON : A single bird on the coastal, mid-scate,and northern species to­ species responded. Northern Flickers were teresting that some of the late lingerers Salmon River count is only the second tals of 169, 105, and 116, respectively. found in record numbers on every count but (Brown Thrasher, Common Yellowthroat, sighting on mid-scare counts. The total number of individuals seen one. Yellow-rumped Warbler numbers and Vesper Sparrow) were more common on DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: (573,000) established a record, yet the were double the previous high and they mid-state counts than on the coast. Although still found mainly on the New coastal counts recorded the fewest birds in were found in record numbers on 11 of 14 Some of the other shifts reflect longer London count, individuals were recorded on 10 years. Hartford recorded the most indi­ counts. Belted Kingfishers were present in term trends than one warm December. The most coastal counts and at Litchfield Hills viduals (132,000), followed by Stratford­ high numbers across the state and broke re­ owl numbers have shifted sharply in the last in the north. The total count is 4 times the Milford (75 ,000). cords on 8 counts. Other species responding five years. Most Barred Owls (55%) were previous record. Only three counts exceeded previous spe­ to the warm weather were Golden-crowned previously found on the coastal counts, but HERONS: Great Egrets seen at cies totals: Greenwich-Stamford (119), and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Cedar Wax­ this year only 24% were there. Similarly Greenwich-Stamford and Stratford-Milford Hartford (91), and Litchfield Hills (76). wing, White-throated Sparrow, and Dark­ Long-eared Owl has shifted from 90% to were the second records in ten years. Great New Haven had the most species (124), eyed Junco. All of these birds were recorded 33% and Northern Saw-whet Owl from Blue Herons were 50% more common than Woodbury-Roxbury and Salmon River had in record numbers state-wide. 65% to 22%. Eastern Screech-Owl and last year and found in record numbers all the highest totals in the mid-state region Although the state species coral and in Great Horned Owl sighcings have exhibited along the coast. A Green-backed Heron at (78), while Hartford (91) continued to most cases the coastal and northern species a less dramatic shift. These changes can eas­ New London was a rarity. dominate the northern counts. totals did not strongly reflect the warm ily be attributed to the better birding in­ MUTE SWAN: This species continues to The warmest December in memory was weather, the mid-state counts blossomed land rather than a shift in populations. increase; it reached new highs on all the expected to produce great rarities and did. with new records, and over 40% of the spe­ Northern Bobwhite and Eastern Blue­ mid-state counts and was recorded on half A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron appeared cies mid-state were seen in record numbers. bird present different but possibly related the northern counts. The population is now on the Stratford-Milford count, a Glossy Several species showed marked shifts of trends. Prior to 1982 Bobwhite were re- three times what it was 12 years ago.

2 3 CANADA GOOSE: A slight increase in northern counts. Herring Gulls increased counts. Savannah Sparrows set records on 7 enjoy this experience by finding one of the total numbers, with high counts in the for the fourth time in 5 years with a 4-fold of 10 counts. Dark-eyed Juncos and White­ 30 plus eagles wintering in our state. northern and mid-state regions. increase mid-state. The Great Black-backed throated Sparrows were recorded in high During the rest of the year, it is unusual DUCKS: Numerous rarities, new highs, Gull population was double the size of 6 numbers state-wide. to see a Bald Eagle in Connecticut. Golden and new species for mid-state and northern years ago. BLACKBIRDS: A Yellow-headed Black­ Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are even rarer, counts. On the coast there were record lows WOODPECKERS: An excellent year for bird at Storrs, a third Christmas Count though individual birds are occasionally re­ for Canvasback, Greater Scaup, Black Northern Flicker, while Yellow-bellied sighting for the state, provided the only ported in the fall at hawk-watching loca­ Scorer, and American Black Duck, but re­ Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker,and Red­ excitement. tions or in winter along the coast. cord high counts for Bufflehead. bellied Woodpecker also increased. The Bald Eagle is listed on the Federal HAWKS: Discovery of a large Turkey CREEPERS, WRENS, AND MIMIDS: SUMMARY Endangered Species List and is rare Vulture roost on the Old Lyme count Brown Creeper totals were high .on coastal What is the big picture? The 1984-1985 throughout most of the United States. Ea­ boosted the state tOtal ro a record 14 5. and northern counts. Carolina Wrens were Christmas Counts, held during one of the gles were never abundant in Connecticut, Northern Harriers were back in record not only new ro mid-state and northern warmest count periods ever, produced a lot but formerly nested and were not uncom­ numbers on 8 of 10 counts after a few poor counts but were found in record numbers of enjoyable birding and a record number of monly seen. A widespread decline in Bald years. A Golden Eagle at Old Lyme was along the coast. Gray Catbirds were re­ new species, but the number of new count Eagle numbers started in the late 1940's, only the second Christmas Count sighting corded in high numbers on coastal and mid­ species and of record species totals was not and continued for the next two decades. By for the state. American Kestrel numbers state counts although Northern Mocking­ overwhelming. the early 1970's only 400 breeding pairs continued to drop, particularly along the bird numbers were unexceptional and Rarities and new species were concentra­ were left in the lower 48 states, and Bald coast, where counts are half what they were Brown Thrashers were at a record low for ted along the coast although a number of Eagles had virtually disappeared from many 10 years ago. The Peregrine Falcon seen on the state. normally coastal species penetrated to inte­ areas, including New England. A prime the Hartford count was only the second for WARBLERS: An exceptional number of rior counts. The 5 new species added to the cause of this near-extermination was the use the northern counts in the last ten years. warblers were seen this year.In addition to count set a one year record. The mid-state of the agricultural pesticide DDT, banned AMERICAN COOT: Ten years ago they the 1200 Yellow-rumped Warblers and the counts in particular recorded a large num­ in 1972. were regular on most counts, with a state­ Black-and-white Warbler (new to the ber of new high counts evidently related ro Since that time, Bald Eagles have been wide tOtal of close ro 1000. This year there state), 7 other wood-warblers were seen. the warm weather, while the coast had making a slow but steady comeback. Sys­ were only 228, and the species was virtually Any warbler inland is a rarity and the Pine some all time lows of sea ducks for the same tematic nationwide counts of Bald Eagles absent from the coast (62 individuals). ·Warbler at Woodbury-Roxbury and Com­ reason. Many species continued long term have been made only recently, but the re­ SHOREBIRDS: A Semipalmated Plover mon Yellowthroat at Hartford were second increases with Double-crested Cormorant, sults are encouraging. The 1983 winter at New Haven was the second Christmas sightings respectively for mid-state and Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Ring-billed count for the lower 48 states was 13,807 Count sighting for the state. Shorebird northern counts. The Common Yellow­ Gull, and Eastern Bluebird being the most and represented the fourth consecutive numbers are back ro the levels of 10-15 throats on the Salmon River count were notable. yearly increase. years ago, ·with continuing increases for new ro the count and represented only the Most of the Bald Eagles in North Black-bellied Plover. American Woodcock third occurrence in ten years on a mid-state Peabody Museum, Yale University, New America are found in Alaska, Canada, the and Common Snipe numbers usually follow count. The Nashville Warbler at Haven, CT 06511 northwestern states, the central Mississippi the same pattern, but this year Common Greenwich-Stamford, Northern Water­ Valley, and Florida. In summer most of the Snipe were at record lows and American thrush at Stratford-Milford and Wilson's CONNECTICUT BIRDS northeast's Bald Eagles are found in the Ca­ Woodcock at record highs. The American Warbler at New London constituted rari­ nadian Maritime Provinces, Quebec, and Woodcock seen on the Litchfield Hills ties, while the 5 Palm Warblers at • Maine. Bald Eagles are usually found near count was only the second sighting for New London were a record high. The stan­ BALD EAGLE large bodies of water, since these provide a northern counts. dard Common Yellowthroat and Yellow­ good source of food. When inland lakes and GULLS: Ring-billed Gulls were up state­ breasted Chat rounded out the coastal list of GENE BILLINGS rivers freeze, most eagles move south. wide for the eighth year in a row, with a wood-warblers. Few events are as exciting to a birder as During migration Bald Eagles seem to 15-fold increase on mid-state counts in 4 SPARROWS: Generally unexceptional seeing a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocepha­ move shorter distances and at a slower rate years, and a 12-fold increase in 3 years on although. Vesper Sparrows were seen on four lus). Fortunately Connecticut birders can than is typical of other migrating raptors.

4 5 CANADA GOOSE: A slight increase in northern counts. Herring Gulls increased counts. Savannah Sparrows set records on 7 enjoy this experience by finding one of the total numbers, with high counts in the for the fourth time in 5 years with a 4-fold of 10 counts. Dark-eyed Juncos and White­ 30 plus eagles wintering in our state. northern and mid-state regions. increase mid-state. The Great Black-backed throated Sparrows were recorded in high During the rest of the year, it is unusual DUCKS: Numerous rarities, new highs, Gull population was double the size of 6 numbers state-wide. to see a Bald Eagle in Connecticut. Golden and new species for mid-state and northern years ago. BLACKBIRDS: A Yellow-headed Black­ Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are even rarer, counts. On the coast there were record lows WOODPECKERS: An excellent year for bird at Storrs, a third Christmas Count though individual birds are occasionally re­ for Canvasback, Greater Scaup, Black Northern Flicker, while Yellow-bellied sighting for the state, provided the only ported in the fall at hawk-watching loca­ Scorer, and American Black Duck, but re­ Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker,and Red­ excitement. tions or in winter along the coast. cord high counts for Bufflehead. bellied Woodpecker also increased. The Bald Eagle is listed on the Federal HAWKS: Discovery of a large Turkey CREEPERS, WRENS, AND MIMIDS: SUMMARY Endangered Species List and is rare Vulture roost on the Old Lyme count Brown Creeper totals were high .on coastal What is the big picture? The 1984-1985 throughout most of the United States. Ea­ boosted the state tOtal ro a record 14 5. and northern counts. Carolina Wrens were Christmas Counts, held during one of the gles were never abundant in Connecticut, Northern Harriers were back in record not only new ro mid-state and northern warmest count periods ever, produced a lot but formerly nested and were not uncom­ numbers on 8 of 10 counts after a few poor counts but were found in record numbers of enjoyable birding and a record number of monly seen. A widespread decline in Bald years. A Golden Eagle at Old Lyme was along the coast. Gray Catbirds were re­ new species, but the number of new count Eagle numbers started in the late 1940's, only the second Christmas Count sighting corded in high numbers on coastal and mid­ species and of record species totals was not and continued for the next two decades. By for the state. American Kestrel numbers state counts although Northern Mocking­ overwhelming. the early 1970's only 400 breeding pairs continued to drop, particularly along the bird numbers were unexceptional and Rarities and new species were concentra­ were left in the lower 48 states, and Bald coast, where counts are half what they were Brown Thrashers were at a record low for ted along the coast although a number of Eagles had virtually disappeared from many 10 years ago. The Peregrine Falcon seen on the state. normally coastal species penetrated to inte­ areas, including New England. A prime the Hartford count was only the second for WARBLERS: An exceptional number of rior counts. The 5 new species added to the cause of this near-extermination was the use the northern counts in the last ten years. warblers were seen this year.In addition to count set a one year record. The mid-state of the agricultural pesticide DDT, banned AMERICAN COOT: Ten years ago they the 1200 Yellow-rumped Warblers and the counts in particular recorded a large num­ in 1972. were regular on most counts, with a state­ Black-and-white Warbler (new to the ber of new high counts evidently related ro Since that time, Bald Eagles have been wide tOtal of close ro 1000. This year there state), 7 other wood-warblers were seen. the warm weather, while the coast had making a slow but steady comeback. Sys­ were only 228, and the species was virtually Any warbler inland is a rarity and the Pine some all time lows of sea ducks for the same tematic nationwide counts of Bald Eagles absent from the coast (62 individuals). ·Warbler at Woodbury-Roxbury and Com­ reason. Many species continued long term have been made only recently, but the re­ SHOREBIRDS: A Semipalmated Plover mon Yellowthroat at Hartford were second increases with Double-crested Cormorant, sults are encouraging. The 1983 winter at New Haven was the second Christmas sightings respectively for mid-state and Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Ring-billed count for the lower 48 states was 13,807 Count sighting for the state. Shorebird northern counts. The Common Yellow­ Gull, and Eastern Bluebird being the most and represented the fourth consecutive numbers are back ro the levels of 10-15 throats on the Salmon River count were notable. yearly increase. years ago, ·with continuing increases for new ro the count and represented only the Most of the Bald Eagles in North Black-bellied Plover. American Woodcock third occurrence in ten years on a mid-state Peabody Museum, Yale University, New America are found in Alaska, Canada, the and Common Snipe numbers usually follow count. The Nashville Warbler at Haven, CT 06511 northwestern states, the central Mississippi the same pattern, but this year Common Greenwich-Stamford, Northern Water­ Valley, and Florida. In summer most of the Snipe were at record lows and American thrush at Stratford-Milford and Wilson's CONNECTICUT BIRDS northeast's Bald Eagles are found in the Ca­ Woodcock at record highs. The American Warbler at New London constituted rari­ nadian Maritime Provinces, Quebec, and Woodcock seen on the Litchfield Hills ties, while the 5 Palm Warblers at • Maine. Bald Eagles are usually found near count was only the second sighting for New London were a record high. The stan­ BALD EAGLE large bodies of water, since these provide a northern counts. dard Common Yellowthroat and Yellow­ good source of food. When inland lakes and GULLS: Ring-billed Gulls were up state­ breasted Chat rounded out the coastal list of GENE BILLINGS rivers freeze, most eagles move south. wide for the eighth year in a row, with a wood-warblers. Few events are as exciting to a birder as During migration Bald Eagles seem to 15-fold increase on mid-state counts in 4 SPARROWS: Generally unexceptional seeing a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocepha­ move shorter distances and at a slower rate years, and a 12-fold increase in 3 years on although. Vesper Sparrows were seen on four lus). Fortunately Connecticut birders can than is typical of other migrating raptors.

4 5 Many of the birds that winter in southern Connecticut River from Haddam and East Old Lyme Area West Branch of the Farmington River be­ New England probably summer in Maine, Haddam south to Old Saybrook and Old tween Riverton and Pleasant Valley. In 1) The town landing at Calves Island is left while those wintering in Maine probably Lyme. Getting a close look at them can be a some winters, eagles have been seen at the off Rt. 156 about 0.6 miles north of the breed in Nova Scotia o-r mainland Canada. problem - the river is quite wide along Nepaug Reservoir, about 10 miles away in I-95 bridge on east shore of Connecticut Bald Eagles leave their breeding grounds in this stretch and finding access to the river is New Hartford. River. Maine as early as late August, and begin to difficult. However, several boat launches appear in their winter locations during De­ and other public areas offer views of sections 2) The Great Island boat launch is a right CONNECTICUT RIVER NEAR ENFIELD. cember. Peak winter numbers are recorded of the river. All of these locations are also turn off of Rt. 156 about 2 miles south of During recent winters several eagles have in mid-February with northward movement good places to look for wintering ducks and " I-95. been seen on the Connecticut River within commencing in early March. Bald Eagles other water birds. HOUSATONIC RIVER. The best location in five miles of the Massachusetts line, in the migrate to localities near rivers , lakes , or vicinity of King's Island. The birds seem to Haddam Area .,,, the state to get a really good look at a Bald reservoirs , and the major winter popula­ Eagle is at the Shepaug Dam in Southbury. arrive here late in the year, often not until tions m southern New England and 1) The Marine Park excursion boat landing The dam and its access road are now closed mid-January. Several boat launch areas and downstate New York are at the Quabbin is located at the west end of the Route 82 to the public, but pull-offs along River other overlook points provide opportunities Reservoir m Massachusetts, along the bridge. Road south of the dam are good eagle­ to view this stretch of river. Hudson River within fifty miles of New Enfield Area 2) Goodspeed Airport is just south of the watching sites. In really cold weather, this York City, at several reservoirs in the part of the river may be frozen , reducing Route 82 bridge on the east side of the 1) At the east end of the Route 140 bridge Catskill Mountains, and along the lower your chances of seeing an eagle. Eagles can nver. go north on River Road 0.8 mile to over­ Connecticut River Valley . also be seen under similar circumstances at look point. 3) The boat launch area on the east side of the Stevenson Dam about eight miles CONNECTICUT 'S BALD EAGLE the Connecticut River at the mouth of the downstream. 2) From Route 5 just south of the Enfield POPULATION Salmon River is a left exit off Rt. 149 ap­ Street School, in Enfield, go west on Bridge There have been only scattered, although proximately 1. 2 miles north of the Rt. 82 Shepaug Dam Street 0 . 6 miles to the river and then south increasing, summer reports of Bald Eagles bridge. 0.8 miles along the river to the launch area. in Connecticut and no confirmed evidence Take exit 14 fn?m westbound I-84 and go 4) To reach Salmon River Cove take Rt. 3) From the west end of the Route 190 of nesting. Each year a few Bald Eagles are right at end of ramp and left at traffic light 149 north 2.6 miles from the Rt. 82 bridge go south on Route 159 0 .2 miles to seen in the early fall passing over hawk­ intersection. Follow this road 1 mile until bridge, turn left on Johnsonville Road and Canal Road. Follow this east to the river watching locations in Connecticut. Winter it crosses over I-84 and turn right on Fish turn left again on Cove Road to a small and launch area at Enfield Dam . sightings of Bald Eagles are numerous with Rock Road at far end of bridge. This be­ parking area overlooking the cove. over 30 birds present in the state at that comes River Road and follows the east bank The best time to see eagles is mid­ time. of the Housatonic 3 miles to the dam . Chester and Lyme Area morning and the best months are January The largest group of wintering Bald Ea­ and February. However, weather conditions gles in Connecticut occurs along the lower Either landing dock of the Chester­ Stevenson Dam are always an important factor and you may Connecticut River, within a few miles of Hadlyme ferry provides access to the river. This is 8 miles downstream from Shepaug 1) see lots of eagles on a March or December Long Island Sound. A smaller but predicta­ Dam where Route 34 crosses the afternoon. ble group winters at two hydroelectric dams Essex Area Housatonic River. While Bald Eagles are in Connecticut, on the Housatonic River, and occasional 1) Great Meadow is 2.2 miles north from NORTHWEST RESERVOIRS.' Eagles have they are extremely vulnerable to the actions birds are reported at reservoirs in the north­ the rotary in the center of Essex following been reported for several years at of birders and others. Their winter quarters western part of the state, and along the Main Street-River Road. Turn right on Barkhamsted Reservoir, near Winsted, are tiny remnants of the wilderness that was Connecticut River near Enfield. Pettipaug Road to river. where several overlook points offer a chance theirs until we chopped it up with roads, of getting at least a distant view of them. factories and homes. If we wish to continue LOWER CONNECTICUT RIVER. Over half of 2) The historic landing and steamboat dock There have also been reports of eagles - to enjoy their presence, we must take pains the wintering Bald Eagles reported in are only a few blocks east on Main Street perhaps the same ones - along the nearby to avoid actions that might disturb or Connecticut are found along the from the central rotary.

6 7 Many of the birds that winter in southern Connecticut River from Haddam and East Old Lyme Area West Branch of the Farmington River be­ New England probably summer in Maine, Haddam south to Old Saybrook and Old tween Riverton and Pleasant Valley. In 1) The town landing at Calves Island is left while those wintering in Maine probably Lyme. Getting a close look at them can be a some winters, eagles have been seen at the off Rt. 156 about 0.6 miles north of the breed in Nova Scotia o-r mainland Canada. problem - the river is quite wide along Nepaug Reservoir, about 10 miles away in I-95 bridge on east shore of Connecticut Bald Eagles leave their breeding grounds in this stretch and finding access to the river is New Hartford. River. Maine as early as late August, and begin to difficult. However, several boat launches appear in their winter locations during De­ and other public areas offer views of sections 2) The Great Island boat launch is a right CONNECTICUT RIVER NEAR ENFIELD. cember. Peak winter numbers are recorded of the river. All of these locations are also turn off of Rt. 156 about 2 miles south of During recent winters several eagles have in mid-February with northward movement good places to look for wintering ducks and " I-95. been seen on the Connecticut River within commencing in early March. Bald Eagles other water birds. HOUSATONIC RIVER. The best location in five miles of the Massachusetts line, in the migrate to localities near rivers , lakes , or vicinity of King's Island. The birds seem to Haddam Area .,,, the state to get a really good look at a Bald reservoirs , and the major winter popula­ Eagle is at the Shepaug Dam in Southbury. arrive here late in the year, often not until tions m southern New England and 1) The Marine Park excursion boat landing The dam and its access road are now closed mid-January. Several boat launch areas and downstate New York are at the Quabbin is located at the west end of the Route 82 to the public, but pull-offs along River other overlook points provide opportunities Reservoir m Massachusetts, along the bridge. Road south of the dam are good eagle­ to view this stretch of river. Hudson River within fifty miles of New Enfield Area 2) Goodspeed Airport is just south of the watching sites. In really cold weather, this York City, at several reservoirs in the part of the river may be frozen , reducing Route 82 bridge on the east side of the 1) At the east end of the Route 140 bridge Catskill Mountains, and along the lower your chances of seeing an eagle. Eagles can nver. go north on River Road 0.8 mile to over­ Connecticut River Valley . also be seen under similar circumstances at look point. 3) The boat launch area on the east side of the Stevenson Dam about eight miles CONNECTICUT 'S BALD EAGLE the Connecticut River at the mouth of the downstream. 2) From Route 5 just south of the Enfield POPULATION Salmon River is a left exit off Rt. 149 ap­ Street School, in Enfield, go west on Bridge There have been only scattered, although proximately 1. 2 miles north of the Rt. 82 Shepaug Dam Street 0 . 6 miles to the river and then south increasing, summer reports of Bald Eagles bridge. 0.8 miles along the river to the launch area. in Connecticut and no confirmed evidence Take exit 14 fn?m westbound I-84 and go 4) To reach Salmon River Cove take Rt. 3) From the west end of the Route 190 of nesting. Each year a few Bald Eagles are right at end of ramp and left at traffic light 149 north 2.6 miles from the Rt. 82 bridge go south on Route 159 0 .2 miles to seen in the early fall passing over hawk­ intersection. Follow this road 1 mile until bridge, turn left on Johnsonville Road and Canal Road. Follow this east to the river watching locations in Connecticut. Winter it crosses over I-84 and turn right on Fish turn left again on Cove Road to a small and launch area at Enfield Dam . sightings of Bald Eagles are numerous with Rock Road at far end of bridge. This be­ parking area overlooking the cove. over 30 birds present in the state at that comes River Road and follows the east bank The best time to see eagles is mid­ time. of the Housatonic 3 miles to the dam . Chester and Lyme Area morning and the best months are January The largest group of wintering Bald Ea­ and February. However, weather conditions gles in Connecticut occurs along the lower Either landing dock of the Chester­ Stevenson Dam are always an important factor and you may Connecticut River, within a few miles of Hadlyme ferry provides access to the river. This is 8 miles downstream from Shepaug 1) see lots of eagles on a March or December Long Island Sound. A smaller but predicta­ Dam where Route 34 crosses the afternoon. ble group winters at two hydroelectric dams Essex Area Housatonic River. While Bald Eagles are in Connecticut, on the Housatonic River, and occasional 1) Great Meadow is 2.2 miles north from NORTHWEST RESERVOIRS.' Eagles have they are extremely vulnerable to the actions birds are reported at reservoirs in the north­ the rotary in the center of Essex following been reported for several years at of birders and others. Their winter quarters western part of the state, and along the Main Street-River Road. Turn right on Barkhamsted Reservoir, near Winsted, are tiny remnants of the wilderness that was Connecticut River near Enfield. Pettipaug Road to river. where several overlook points offer a chance theirs until we chopped it up with roads, of getting at least a distant view of them. factories and homes. If we wish to continue LOWER CONNECTICUT RIVER. Over half of 2) The historic landing and steamboat dock There have also been reports of eagles - to enjoy their presence, we must take pains the wintering Bald Eagles reported in are only a few blocks east on Main Street perhaps the same ones - along the nearby to avoid actions that might disturb or Connecticut are found along the from the central rotary.

6 7 threaten them. In the long term, the con­ tuft of grass. Two crows, for example, kept flew directly to a storage area, 15 m from western Crow. Behavior 85: 276-291. tinued existence of Bald Eagles in flying north 10-30 m from calf remains on where the sheep had been, walked a meter, Kilham, L. 1959. Territorial behavior of Connecticut will depend on our ability to 13 December. Noting two places with dug through the snow, uncovered a scrap wintering Red-headed Woodpeckers. protect the habitat they need while they are 8 X 50 binoculars, I later found a piece of and fed on it for 5 min. A crow in another Wilson Bull. 70:347-358. here. Several organizations, including the fat in one and a piece of stomach wall in an­ place recovered an item with equal promp­ -- 1984. Foraging and food scoring of State Department of Environmental Protec­ other, each 2-3 em long. Both were well titude. When I visited these sites I found American Crow in Florida. Florida Field tion, are striving to do this, and they need concealed in the center of clumps of thick that the crows, in digging, had scattered Nat. 12:25-31. and deserve our support. curly grass. On the following morning the grass blades and small leaves over the snow. Swanberg, 0. 1951. Food Storage, terrirory crows were storing in the same areas as well American Crows in Florida (Kilham and song in the Thick-billed Nutcracker. Sunset Ridge, Norfolk, CT 06058 as in others 100-120 m beyond. The crows 1984) stored on the ground as well as in Proc. lOth Int. Ornithol. Congress occasionally (n = 11) carried scraps in their trees, but often covered their stores with 10:545-553. FOOD STORAGE BY bills, but most carrying was done in the debris. In both sites caching appeared to be Verbeek, N.A.M. and R.W. Butler. 1981. sublingual pouch, as indicated by the bulge of short duration, a way, primarily, of mak­ Cooperative breeding of the Northwest­ AMERICAN CROWS in their throats. ing the most of a surplus before it was lost ern Crow (Corvus caurinus) in British Co­ IN WINTER When crows were storing, they some­ to food competitors. In New Hampshire, lumbia. Ibis 123:183-189. times (n = 12) flew to trees along a wood­ caching was possibly essential in winter land border, returning in 1-2 min . Al­ when food supplies were irregular. George Lyme, New Hampshire 03768. LAWRENCE KILHAM though I could not see through the and Kimmel ( 1977) noted storage of a sur­ branches, it seemed likely that the crows plus, when three crows killed and cached Except for isolated instances (George and were storing food. I twice watched crows in 79 of 100 laboratory mice dumped on the Kimmel 1977, Hess 1978), little has been CONNECTICUT FIELD December fly to a tree, start searching, then field in February. American Crows are written on the food caching behavior of remove an item that rook 5-8 minutes to cooperative breeders holding group territo­ NOTES American Crows (Corvm brachyrhynchos). My consume. ries (Kilham 1984). Northwestern Crows studies include one of caching during the Not all days were favorable for feeding (Corvus caurinus) are also territorial cooper­ nesting season in Florida (Kilham 1984) Summer: June 1-July 31, 1984 and storing. On 28 November I dragged a ative breeders (Verbeek and Butler 1981) and the present one on a group of three sheep carcass onto the frozen pasture and that cache food (James and Verbeek 1983). crows on a farm in Lyme, New Hampshire DENNIS E. V ARZA cut away some skin and abdominal wall. Because most avian species that store during November and December of 1982- The crows came to the sheep for only 15 food are territorial (e.g. Thick-billed Nut­ 83 (observation time 150 hours). June started with peak spring move­ min on the first day and not at all on the cracker Nucifraga caryocatactes [Swanberg Food cached was from carcasses or viscera ments of the high arctic nesting shorebirds second . On the second night coyotes (Canis 1951} and Red-headed Woodpecker Mela­ of sheep, calves , turkeys, and hens that be­ such as Black-bellied Plover and Semipal­ latrans) removed all the viscera. On the nerpes erythrocephalus [Kilham 1959]) terri­ came available at irregular intervals. I made mated Sandpiper, the end of the passage of next morning the crows worked steadily on toriality may be essential to the protection my observations from the vicinity of farm boreal nesters like Yellow-bellied Fly­ the scattered remains from 0700 to 0935, of stores. buildings at distances of 150-200 m . It was catcher, Swainson's Thrush, and Mourning flying to store repeatedly. This and other Warbler, and the dispersal non-breeding difficult at such distances to see exactly LITERATURE CITED of what the crows were doing when they flew experiences suggested that a carcass worked individuals of local species like Orchard repeatedly from animal remains to other on by coyotes is more available to the George, W.G. and T. Kimmel. 1977. A Oriole and American Redstart. At the end parts of the pasture and returned, making crows . On the third night the coyotes re­ slaughter of mice by Common Crows. of June wandering non-breeders (from sev­ as many as 8 trips in 10 minutes on one day moved almost all traces of the sheep. The Auk 94:782-783. eral climatic regions) included Kentucky and 20 in 45 minutes on another. I was able crows came to their storage areas to feed for Hess, G.K. 1978. Possible food storing by Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, White­ to make checks on days of light snow when the next three mornings. On the last of a Common Crow. Delmarva Ornithol. crowned Sparrow, Oldsquaw, and Horned tracks made it easy to locate where a scrap these, 5 December, the pasture was covered 13:21. Grebe. At the end of July there were aggre­ was hidden. The crows usually walked 5-7 with 20-22 em of fresh snow. When the James, P.C. and N.A.M. Verbeek. 1983. gations of post-breeding and non-breeding m after alighting before hiding food at a three arrived from their roost at 0730, one The food storage behavior of the North- herons, shorebirds, gulls, terns, swallows,

8 9 threaten them. In the long term, the con­ tuft of grass. Two crows, for example, kept flew directly to a storage area, 15 m from western Crow. Behavior 85: 276-291. tinued existence of Bald Eagles in flying north 10-30 m from calf remains on where the sheep had been, walked a meter, Kilham, L. 1959. Territorial behavior of Connecticut will depend on our ability to 13 December. Noting two places with dug through the snow, uncovered a scrap wintering Red-headed Woodpeckers. protect the habitat they need while they are 8 X 50 binoculars, I later found a piece of and fed on it for 5 min. A crow in another Wilson Bull. 70:347-358. here. Several organizations, including the fat in one and a piece of stomach wall in an­ place recovered an item with equal promp­ -- 1984. Foraging and food scoring of State Department of Environmental Protec­ other, each 2-3 em long. Both were well titude. When I visited these sites I found American Crow in Florida. Florida Field tion, are striving to do this, and they need concealed in the center of clumps of thick that the crows, in digging, had scattered Nat. 12:25-31. and deserve our support. curly grass. On the following morning the grass blades and small leaves over the snow. Swanberg, 0. 1951. Food Storage, terrirory crows were storing in the same areas as well American Crows in Florida (Kilham and song in the Thick-billed Nutcracker. Sunset Ridge, Norfolk, CT 06058 as in others 100-120 m beyond. The crows 1984) stored on the ground as well as in Proc. lOth Int. Ornithol. Congress occasionally (n = 11) carried scraps in their trees, but often covered their stores with 10:545-553. FOOD STORAGE BY bills, but most carrying was done in the debris. In both sites caching appeared to be Verbeek, N.A.M. and R.W. Butler. 1981. sublingual pouch, as indicated by the bulge of short duration, a way, primarily, of mak­ Cooperative breeding of the Northwest­ AMERICAN CROWS in their throats. ing the most of a surplus before it was lost ern Crow (Corvus caurinus) in British Co­ IN WINTER When crows were storing, they some­ to food competitors. In New Hampshire, lumbia. Ibis 123:183-189. times (n = 12) flew to trees along a wood­ caching was possibly essential in winter land border, returning in 1-2 min . Al­ when food supplies were irregular. George Lyme, New Hampshire 03768. LAWRENCE KILHAM though I could not see through the and Kimmel ( 1977) noted storage of a sur­ branches, it seemed likely that the crows plus, when three crows killed and cached Except for isolated instances (George and were storing food. I twice watched crows in 79 of 100 laboratory mice dumped on the Kimmel 1977, Hess 1978), little has been CONNECTICUT FIELD December fly to a tree, start searching, then field in February. American Crows are written on the food caching behavior of remove an item that rook 5-8 minutes to cooperative breeders holding group territo­ NOTES American Crows (Corvm brachyrhynchos). My consume. ries (Kilham 1984). Northwestern Crows studies include one of caching during the Not all days were favorable for feeding (Corvus caurinus) are also territorial cooper­ nesting season in Florida (Kilham 1984) Summer: June 1-July 31, 1984 and storing. On 28 November I dragged a ative breeders (Verbeek and Butler 1981) and the present one on a group of three sheep carcass onto the frozen pasture and that cache food (James and Verbeek 1983). crows on a farm in Lyme, New Hampshire DENNIS E. V ARZA cut away some skin and abdominal wall. Because most avian species that store during November and December of 1982- The crows came to the sheep for only 15 food are territorial (e.g. Thick-billed Nut­ 83 (observation time 150 hours). June started with peak spring move­ min on the first day and not at all on the cracker Nucifraga caryocatactes [Swanberg Food cached was from carcasses or viscera ments of the high arctic nesting shorebirds second . On the second night coyotes (Canis 1951} and Red-headed Woodpecker Mela­ of sheep, calves , turkeys, and hens that be­ such as Black-bellied Plover and Semipal­ latrans) removed all the viscera. On the nerpes erythrocephalus [Kilham 1959]) terri­ came available at irregular intervals. I made mated Sandpiper, the end of the passage of next morning the crows worked steadily on toriality may be essential to the protection my observations from the vicinity of farm boreal nesters like Yellow-bellied Fly­ the scattered remains from 0700 to 0935, of stores. buildings at distances of 150-200 m . It was catcher, Swainson's Thrush, and Mourning flying to store repeatedly. This and other Warbler, and the dispersal non-breeding difficult at such distances to see exactly LITERATURE CITED of what the crows were doing when they flew experiences suggested that a carcass worked individuals of local species like Orchard repeatedly from animal remains to other on by coyotes is more available to the George, W.G. and T. Kimmel. 1977. A Oriole and American Redstart. At the end parts of the pasture and returned, making crows . On the third night the coyotes re­ slaughter of mice by Common Crows. of June wandering non-breeders (from sev­ as many as 8 trips in 10 minutes on one day moved almost all traces of the sheep. The Auk 94:782-783. eral climatic regions) included Kentucky and 20 in 45 minutes on another. I was able crows came to their storage areas to feed for Hess, G.K. 1978. Possible food storing by Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, White­ to make checks on days of light snow when the next three mornings. On the last of a Common Crow. Delmarva Ornithol. crowned Sparrow, Oldsquaw, and Horned tracks made it easy to locate where a scrap these, 5 December, the pasture was covered 13:21. Grebe. At the end of July there were aggre­ was hidden. The crows usually walked 5-7 with 20-22 em of fresh snow. When the James, P.C. and N.A.M. Verbeek. 1983. gations of post-breeding and non-breeding m after alighting before hiding food at a three arrived from their roost at 0730, one The food storage behavior of the North- herons, shorebirds, gulls, terns, swallows,

8 9 and blackbirds. At the same time local was seen in Old Greenwich July 10 (MT). Contributors: James Blair, Doris Bova, Polly guide thus treats 809 species, 806 of which nesting warblers began their initial migra­ Willow Flycatcher was reported across the Brody, Milan Bull, George Clark, are illustrated (Northwestern Crow, Red­ tory movements. state, making it the most common breed­ Greenwich June Count, Buzz Devine, breasted Flycatcher, and Golden-crowned ing Empidonax. Its sibling species the Alder Townsend Dickinson, Jay Kaplan, Frank Warbler are not). On the page facing the il­ LOONS THROUGH TERNS Flycatcher was reported only from Mantlik, Russ Naylor, Mianus Field Notes, lustrations of each species, the guide gives a At Greenwich Pt. a summering Horned Litchfield June 10 (DV). Uncommon for an many observers (m.ob.), Ron Rosa, David short account of the species' field marks, Grebe, present all season (m.ob.), was inland site, two nests of Carolina Wren Sibley, Mark Szantyr, Michael Terry, habits, and habitat, as well as a map of its joined by a Red-throated Loon June 22-24 were found in Brooklyn and Mansfield Dennis Varza, Connie Wood. geographic distribution. The common and (DB). A pair of Pied-billed Grebes with (GC). A late Swainson's Thrush was ob­ scientific names are from the current edi­ four young at Lordship (DV) constituted served i~Middlebury June 6 (MS). tion of the American Ornithologists' Un­ the first confirmed nesting since the David Sibley checked out a population of ion's "Check-list of North American Birds" Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas began; the Golden-winged Warblers nesting along BOOK REVIEW (1983). The common names used in the ·pair present at Sharon did not produce River Road in Cornwall and found the fol­ previous edition of the A.O .U. check-Jist .young. Summering waterfowl included 7 lowing: 8 0 Golden-winged Warblers (5 Field Guide to the Birds of North Amer­ (1957) are listed in the species accounts and· Brant at Greenwich Pt. July 7 (MFN), 3 with some Blue-winged characteristics), 12 ica. National Geographic Society, 1983 . are cross-referenced in the index. Th~guide l3rant at Milford Pt. July 26 (MS), an o Blue-winged Warblers (4 with some Published by the National Geographic So­ is a sturdy, well-bound volume with a soft, ,American Wigeon in Lordship July 28-30, Golden-winged characteristics), and three ciety, Washington, D.C. 464 pp. ISBN water-resistant cover, good paper, and fine 3 Oldsquaw in New Haven Harbor July Brewster's Warblers. A non-breeding 0-87044-507-3. $13.95 plus $3.00 ship­ color reproduction. 17-30 (m.ob.), and a Red-breasted Mer­ Nashville Warbler was observed In ping from National Geographic Society, The most impressive feature of the guide ganser at Greenwich Pt. July 9 (DB). Burlington July 10 (]K). From Kent to Dep. 100, WashingtOn, DC 20036. is the large number of illustrations it offers. A rare spring Western Sandpiper was Storrs many Dendroica warblers were re­ Ornithological texts and guides seem to Plumages that differ according to sex, age, found in a large flock of Semipalmated ported into mid-June, including Black­ be published in spurtS. In 1983 alone, three season, or geographic locality are illustrated Sandpipers at Milford Pt. June 7 (DV), and burnian, Blackpoll, and Yellow-rumped. field guides to the birds of North America as the rule. For instance, there are seven il­ a very late Least Sandpiper was there June Single singing Northern Waterthrushes were published - the second edition of lustrations of Horned Lark (encompassing 14 (DV). Presumably on their way south, 6 were observed in Greenwich, Southbury, Birds of North America (C.S. Robbins eta!.), five subspecies, two ages, and both sexes), Semipalmated Sandpipers were at Milford and BurlingtOn. In Hartford a Prothonotary the new Audubon Master Guide to Bird Find­ while Snow Bunting is illustrated eight Pt. June 30 (MS) and 3 Least Sandpipers Warbler was singing on territory for a week ing(]. Farrand, ed.), and the new National times. It is not at all uncommon to find were at Harkness St. Pk. July 11 (]B). beginning June 17 (]K, RR, et a!.). Geographic Society's Field Guide to the Birds four or five illustrations per species. The Other early shorebirds included 7 Lesser Kentucky Warblers, another typically of North America . The near simultaneous plethora of illustrations is the major innova­ Yellowlegs and 15 Short-billed Dowitchers southern species, were observed with no publication of the guides is mute testimony tion of the guide and goes a long way to­ at Harkness St. Pk. July 2 (]B). There were hint of nesting in Greenwich, Fairfield, and to the breadth of the field guide market and ward acknowledging in graphic form the two reports of Bonaparte's Gulls, one at Salem during June. A Hooded Warbler was to the intensity of the competition to cap­ variation that so often pleases (and occasion­ Milford Pt. June 6 and one at Greenwich banded in Hampton June 30 (MB, GC), ture it. Indeed the competition has led to ally confuses) us in the field. The wealth of Pt. July 2 (DB). The tern migration the first indication of possible breeding in three fine guides. illustrations, produced in just three years, sneaked by most birders. Large flocks of that ~egion.Finally there was a o Mourn­ '·· The National Geographic Society guide was made possible by the use of 13 artists. terns at Milford Pt. during the last half of ing Warbler singing on territory for the is perhaps the best field guide to North The style and quality of the artwork there­ July included a Forster's Tern on July 17 second year in a row in Danbury June 3 American birds. The guide includes all spe­ fore varies, but I find myself Jess bothered (DV). (PB). A White-crowned Sparrow in full cies known to breed in North America, as by the differences in style the more I use the plumage was seen in Woodbury on July 17 well as those species seen in North America book. There is an occasional poor plate (like CUCKOOS THROUGH FINCHES (RN) and on June 15 there were two widely at least three times in the past five years or the cuckoos and, worse, the perched Com­ The shortage of cuckoos continued separated reports of Pine Siskin, 2 in five times since 1900, introduced species mon Raven), but even these are usable, if through the summer, making the Black­ Woodbury (RN), and one at Storrs (GC). with established breeding populations, and not esthetically pleasing. billed Cuckoo in Fairfield July 17 (DV) a 10 species of waterfowl that commonly es­ Another fine feature is the inclusion of good find. A transient Common Barn-Owl cape from zoos and private collections. The the most up-to-date information on field

10 11 and blackbirds. At the same time local was seen in Old Greenwich July 10 (MT). Contributors: James Blair, Doris Bova, Polly guide thus treats 809 species, 806 of which nesting warblers began their initial migra­ Willow Flycatcher was reported across the Brody, Milan Bull, George Clark, are illustrated (Northwestern Crow, Red­ tory movements. state, making it the most common breed­ Greenwich June Count, Buzz Devine, breasted Flycatcher, and Golden-crowned ing Empidonax. Its sibling species the Alder Townsend Dickinson, Jay Kaplan, Frank Warbler are not). On the page facing the il­ LOONS THROUGH TERNS Flycatcher was reported only from Mantlik, Russ Naylor, Mianus Field Notes, lustrations of each species, the guide gives a At Greenwich Pt. a summering Horned Litchfield June 10 (DV). Uncommon for an many observers (m.ob.), Ron Rosa, David short account of the species' field marks, Grebe, present all season (m.ob.), was inland site, two nests of Carolina Wren Sibley, Mark Szantyr, Michael Terry, habits, and habitat, as well as a map of its joined by a Red-throated Loon June 22-24 were found in Brooklyn and Mansfield Dennis Varza, Connie Wood. geographic distribution. The common and (DB). A pair of Pied-billed Grebes with (GC). A late Swainson's Thrush was ob­ scientific names are from the current edi­ four young at Lordship (DV) constituted served i~Middlebury June 6 (MS). tion of the American Ornithologists' Un­ the first confirmed nesting since the David Sibley checked out a population of ion's "Check-list of North American Birds" Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas began; the Golden-winged Warblers nesting along BOOK REVIEW (1983). The common names used in the ·pair present at Sharon did not produce River Road in Cornwall and found the fol­ previous edition of the A.O .U. check-Jist .young. Summering waterfowl included 7 lowing: 8 0 Golden-winged Warblers (5 Field Guide to the Birds of North Amer­ (1957) are listed in the species accounts and· Brant at Greenwich Pt. July 7 (MFN), 3 with some Blue-winged characteristics), 12 ica. National Geographic Society, 1983 . are cross-referenced in the index. Th~guide l3rant at Milford Pt. July 26 (MS), an o Blue-winged Warblers (4 with some Published by the National Geographic So­ is a sturdy, well-bound volume with a soft, ,American Wigeon in Lordship July 28-30, Golden-winged characteristics), and three ciety, Washington, D.C. 464 pp. ISBN water-resistant cover, good paper, and fine 3 Oldsquaw in New Haven Harbor July Brewster's Warblers. A non-breeding 0-87044-507-3. $13.95 plus $3.00 ship­ color reproduction. 17-30 (m.ob.), and a Red-breasted Mer­ Nashville Warbler was observed In ping from National Geographic Society, The most impressive feature of the guide ganser at Greenwich Pt. July 9 (DB). Burlington July 10 (]K). From Kent to Dep. 100, WashingtOn, DC 20036. is the large number of illustrations it offers. A rare spring Western Sandpiper was Storrs many Dendroica warblers were re­ Ornithological texts and guides seem to Plumages that differ according to sex, age, found in a large flock of Semipalmated ported into mid-June, including Black­ be published in spurtS. In 1983 alone, three season, or geographic locality are illustrated Sandpipers at Milford Pt. June 7 (DV), and burnian, Blackpoll, and Yellow-rumped. field guides to the birds of North America as the rule. For instance, there are seven il­ a very late Least Sandpiper was there June Single singing Northern Waterthrushes were published - the second edition of lustrations of Horned Lark (encompassing 14 (DV). Presumably on their way south, 6 were observed in Greenwich, Southbury, Birds of North America (C.S. Robbins eta!.), five subspecies, two ages, and both sexes), Semipalmated Sandpipers were at Milford and BurlingtOn. In Hartford a Prothonotary the new Audubon Master Guide to Bird Find­ while Snow Bunting is illustrated eight Pt. June 30 (MS) and 3 Least Sandpipers Warbler was singing on territory for a week ing(]. Farrand, ed.), and the new National times. It is not at all uncommon to find were at Harkness St. Pk. July 11 (]B). beginning June 17 (]K, RR, et a!.). Geographic Society's Field Guide to the Birds four or five illustrations per species. The Other early shorebirds included 7 Lesser Kentucky Warblers, another typically of North America . The near simultaneous plethora of illustrations is the major innova­ Yellowlegs and 15 Short-billed Dowitchers southern species, were observed with no publication of the guides is mute testimony tion of the guide and goes a long way to­ at Harkness St. Pk. July 2 (]B). There were hint of nesting in Greenwich, Fairfield, and to the breadth of the field guide market and ward acknowledging in graphic form the two reports of Bonaparte's Gulls, one at Salem during June. A Hooded Warbler was to the intensity of the competition to cap­ variation that so often pleases (and occasion­ Milford Pt. June 6 and one at Greenwich banded in Hampton June 30 (MB, GC), ture it. Indeed the competition has led to ally confuses) us in the field. The wealth of Pt. July 2 (DB). The tern migration the first indication of possible breeding in three fine guides. illustrations, produced in just three years, sneaked by most birders. Large flocks of that ~egion.Finally there was a o Mourn­ '·· The National Geographic Society guide was made possible by the use of 13 artists. terns at Milford Pt. during the last half of ing Warbler singing on territory for the is perhaps the best field guide to North The style and quality of the artwork there­ July included a Forster's Tern on July 17 second year in a row in Danbury June 3 American birds. The guide includes all spe­ fore varies, but I find myself Jess bothered (DV). (PB). A White-crowned Sparrow in full cies known to breed in North America, as by the differences in style the more I use the plumage was seen in Woodbury on July 17 well as those species seen in North America book. There is an occasional poor plate (like CUCKOOS THROUGH FINCHES (RN) and on June 15 there were two widely at least three times in the past five years or the cuckoos and, worse, the perched Com­ The shortage of cuckoos continued separated reports of Pine Siskin, 2 in five times since 1900, introduced species mon Raven), but even these are usable, if through the summer, making the Black­ Woodbury (RN), and one at Storrs (GC). with established breeding populations, and not esthetically pleasing. billed Cuckoo in Fairfield July 17 (DV) a 10 species of waterfowl that commonly es­ Another fine feature is the inclusion of good find. A transient Common Barn-Owl cape from zoos and private collections. The the most up-to-date information on field

10 11 identification of many difficult groups. An NOTES AND NEWS Turks and Caicos, and 1 on Hispaniola. Or­ • • • occasional group lacks such information nithologists and birders visiting Caribbean The Common Barn-Owl (Tyto alba) nests (e.g., the pipits), but these are exceptions, Islands should note the possibility of the oc­ uncommonly in Connecticut. For a survey The periodical British Birds has chosen the not the rule. The excellent textual material currence of Kirtland's Warblers, particu­ of the Connecticut populations of Common National Geographic Society's Field Guide larly in dry coppice vegetation resembling on distinguishing similar species is re­ Barn-Owl, send information about its to the Birds of North America as the Best Bird Sonoran desert habitat. Send records of flected in the illustrations - even whe11 breeding status in Connecticut to George Book of 1984. such is not the case (as in several of the winter observations to Craig Faanes, U .S. Zepko, Barn-Owl Nesting Project, Box FWS, School Forest Resources, Univer­ kingbirds on p. 278, whose differences are of 966, Middletown, CT 06457 sity of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. more pronounced than illustrated), the text • • • (203-347-1133). Least Terns (Sterna antillarum) are being provides the field observer with the perti­ color-banded on Long Island this summer. nent distinguishing marks. • • • • • • Adult birds will carry three color bands and The Fish and Wildlife Service is cur­ Although the species accounts include The National Geographic Society tele­ the usual aluminum FWS band; chicks will rently assessing the status of Ivory-billed the important field marks of each species, vises a weekly cable television series, Ex­ carry a single striped color band and a FWS Woodpecker (Campephi/us principalis) to de­ the style of writing often fails to convey plorer, on Sundays from 5-8 PM on the band. Report sightings to Seatuck Research termine if it is extinct and thus should be that certain marks are critical to the proper Nickelodeon network. Each week the series Program, Box 31, Islip, N .Y. 11751 or removed from the Federal list of endangered identification of a species. Occasionall) presents 5-10 films (shorts or full-length) tel.(516) 581-6908. and threatened species. Information about such critical marks are buried in lengthy most never seen on U.S. television. the current status of the species should be description. This will not hinder the inter­ sent by August 8, 1985 to Regional Di­ mediate or advanced observer, but a begin­ • • • Seven captive Whooping Cranes (Grus rector U.S. FWS, P.O . Box 1306, Albu­ ner might find the species accounts difficult americana) at Patuxent Wildlife Research querque, NM 87103. to use. Another drawback is the relative Center, Laurel, Maryland contracted e,ast­ paucity of habitat depictions. The illustra­ ern eq11inine encephalitis between mid­ tions typically contain bits of habitat, a September and early November 1984 and pleasing touch that compliments the died. The birds died quickly without clin­ illustrated species, but full habitats, such as ical signs of the illness. The rest of the cap­ those frequently portrayed in Birds of North tive flock may be vaccinated against the dis­ America, would have conveyed visually the ease, caused by a virus transmitted by the important sense of where to find particular mosquito Cu/iseta me/anura. species. The volume measures 5 X 8 inches (12.7 X 20.3 em), slightly too large to fit easily into one's back pocket, and the maps • • • The XIX International Ornithological are often too small, especially for species Congress will be held June 22-29, 1986 in with continent-wide distributions. How­ Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For information, ever, these are relatively minor criticisms write the Secretary-General, Henri Ouellet, of an otherwise excellent field guide, and National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ot­ I highly recommend the National Geo­ tawa, Ontario, Canada KIA OMS. graphic Society's Field Guide to the Birds of North America for birders of all levels of abil­ ity. If I had to buy only one of the new field • • • guides, the National Geographic Society Biologists of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife guide would be my choice. Service observed 11 Kirtland's Warblers (Dendroica kirtlandii) on Caribbean Islands Anthony H . Bledsoe in early 1985- 5 in the Bahamas, 5 in the

___13 12 identification of many difficult groups. An NOTES AND NEWS Turks and Caicos, and 1 on Hispaniola. Or­ • • • occasional group lacks such information nithologists and birders visiting Caribbean The Common Barn-Owl (Tyto alba) nests (e.g., the pipits), but these are exceptions, Islands should note the possibility of the oc­ uncommonly in Connecticut. For a survey The periodical British Birds has chosen the not the rule. The excellent textual material currence of Kirtland's Warblers, particu­ of the Connecticut populations of Common National Geographic Society's Field Guide larly in dry coppice vegetation resembling on distinguishing similar species is re­ Barn-Owl, send information about its to the Birds of North America as the Best Bird Sonoran desert habitat. Send records of flected in the illustrations - even whe11 breeding status in Connecticut to George Book of 1984. such is not the case (as in several of the winter observations to Craig Faanes, U .S. Zepko, Barn-Owl Nesting Project, Box FWS, School Forest Resources, Univer­ kingbirds on p. 278, whose differences are of 966, Middletown, CT 06457 sity of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. more pronounced than illustrated), the text • • • (203-347-1133). Least Terns (Sterna antillarum) are being provides the field observer with the perti­ color-banded on Long Island this summer. nent distinguishing marks. • • • • • • Adult birds will carry three color bands and The Fish and Wildlife Service is cur­ Although the species accounts include The National Geographic Society tele­ the usual aluminum FWS band; chicks will rently assessing the status of Ivory-billed the important field marks of each species, vises a weekly cable television series, Ex­ carry a single striped color band and a FWS Woodpecker (Campephi/us principalis) to de­ the style of writing often fails to convey plorer, on Sundays from 5-8 PM on the band. Report sightings to Seatuck Research termine if it is extinct and thus should be that certain marks are critical to the proper Nickelodeon network. Each week the series Program, Box 31, Islip, N .Y. 11751 or removed from the Federal list of endangered identification of a species. Occasionall) presents 5-10 films (shorts or full-length) tel.(516) 581-6908. and threatened species. Information about such critical marks are buried in lengthy most never seen on U.S. television. the current status of the species should be description. This will not hinder the inter­ sent by August 8, 1985 to Regional Di­ mediate or advanced observer, but a begin­ • • • Seven captive Whooping Cranes (Grus rector U.S. FWS, P.O . Box 1306, Albu­ ner might find the species accounts difficult americana) at Patuxent Wildlife Research querque, NM 87103. to use. Another drawback is the relative Center, Laurel, Maryland contracted e,ast­ paucity of habitat depictions. The illustra­ ern eq11inine encephalitis between mid­ tions typically contain bits of habitat, a September and early November 1984 and pleasing touch that compliments the died. The birds died quickly without clin­ illustrated species, but full habitats, such as ical signs of the illness. The rest of the cap­ those frequently portrayed in Birds of North tive flock may be vaccinated against the dis­ America, would have conveyed visually the ease, caused by a virus transmitted by the important sense of where to find particular mosquito Cu/iseta me/anura. species. The volume measures 5 X 8 inches (12.7 X 20.3 em), slightly too large to fit easily into one's back pocket, and the maps • • • The XIX International Ornithological are often too small, especially for species Congress will be held June 22-29, 1986 in with continent-wide distributions. How­ Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For information, ever, these are relatively minor criticisms write the Secretary-General, Henri Ouellet, of an otherwise excellent field guide, and National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ot­ I highly recommend the National Geo­ tawa, Ontario, Canada KIA OMS. graphic Society's Field Guide to the Birds of North America for birders of all levels of abil­ ity. If I had to buy only one of the new field • • • guides, the National Geographic Society Biologists of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife guide would be my choice. Service observed 11 Kirtland's Warblers (Dendroica kirtlandii) on Caribbean Islands Anthony H . Bledsoe in early 1985- 5 in the Bahamas, 5 in the

___13 12 CONTENTS

A Message from the Editor 1 Anthony Bledsoe THE

The 1984-1985 Connecticut Christmas Counts 2 Fred Sibley CONNECTIClJT Connecticut Birds - Bald Eagle 5 Gene Billings , -1\ WARBLER Food Storage by American Crows in Winter 8 Lawrence Kilham A Journal of Connecticut Ornithology

Connecticut Field Notes- Summer 1984 9 Dennis Varza

Book Review - Field Guide to the Birds of North America 11 Anthony Bledsoe

NOTES&NEWS 12

The Connecticut Warbler is a quarterly publication devoted to the advancement of the study of birds. It is published by the Connecticut Ornithological Association . Address all correspondence to 314 Unquowa Road , Fairfield, CT 06430.

·r The Connecticut Audubon Society Non-Profit Org. J14 Unquowa Road F•irfield, CT 06430 U.S. Postage PAID Fairfield, Conn. Permit No. 95

Volume V Number 1 January 1985 Pages 1-13 CONTENTS

President's Message 14 Roland C. Clement THE

COA's First Annual Meeting 15 Julio de la Torre CONNECTIClJT A Barnacle Goose in Southbury, with Comments about the 11 Status of Barnacle Goose in North America 16 MarkS . Szantyr WARBLER Dust-Bathing by a Great Crested Flycatcher 19 A Journal of Connecticut Ornithology Ruth Lof

Connecticut Field Notes- Fall 1984 19 Dennis E. Varza

Connecticut Birds- Blue-winged & Golden-winged Warblers 23 Anthony H . Bledsoe

NOTES & NEWS 26

The Connecticut Warbler is a quarterly publication devoted to the advancement of the study of birds. It is published by the Connecticut Ornithological Association. Address all correspondence to 314 Unquowa Road , Fairfield, CT 06430.

The Connecticut Audubon Society Non-Profit Org. 114 Unquowa Road Fairfield, CT 06430 U.S. Postage PAID Fairfield, Conn. Permit No. 95

Volume V Number 2 April1985 Pages 14-26 CONNECTICUT ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

President: Roland C. Clement, Norwalk During May, 1985 a flurry of letters and news items in The New York Times expressed Vice-President: Elizabeth Kleiner, Simsbury concern about the "creeping decline" of wildlife species in this country and elsewhere. I Secretary: Winifred Burkett, Storrs was pleased to see this concern articulated by the editors of my local newspaper, The Hour, Treasurer: Robert Fletcher, Cheshire in Norwalk. We are seeing a timely restatement of the alert sounded by Rachel Carson's Si­ Assistant Treasurer: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield lent Spring in the early 1960's. Board of Directors Such public concerns are always vaguely felt and expressed, and are often put down as Term expiring ____ _ unscientific by some who don't like such concerns raised. And, true enough, there are so many factors involved, and the reactions of species to habitat changes and pollution are so December 1986 December 1987 different, that it is difficult to document the decline of wildlife species except in piecemeal Stuart E. Mitchell, Portland Neil W. Currie, Watertown fashion. It took ten years to document Rachel Carson's concerns and to begin the task - Joseph C. Zeranski, Greenwich Shirley S. Davis, Mansfield Center still unfinished - of regulating the use of chemicals more carefully. We now know, for ex­ ample, that several of our summer resident birds require large, undisturbed blocks of Julio de Ia Torre, New Canaan Donald A. Hopkins, Windsor Robert C. Dewire, Pawcatuck Philip R. Schaeffer, Greenwich woodland in which to nest. Along our shorelines the Piping Plover and the Least Tern can barely hold out against disturbance of their beach nesting sires. Many other species are December 1988 finding their wintering grounds made over by the unrest that currently rocks Central George W. Zepko, Middletown America. A few bird species are actually increasing their ranges at present, but many more George A. Clark Jr., Storrs are losing ground. In the second volume of The Connecticut \'(/arb/er, Fred Sibley provided a Fred C. Sibley, Guilford "blue list" of Connecticut bird species whose status we must watch. Stephen P. Broker, New Haven The very uncertainty about the decline of so many of the planet's species calls for a deter­ THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER mined effort to fill the gaps in our knowledge of what is indeed happening ro us and our environment. We need to forestall premature reactions by the general public and can do Editor: Anthony H. Bledsoe, New Haven Managing Editor: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield this by clarifying which species have adequate populations, and which are in decline - and why. We also need to speed the recognition of real hazards already impinging on par­ Field Editor: Dennis E. Varza, Fairfield ticular species, so that corrective action may be initiated in good time. The Connecticut Warbler is published quarterly (January, April, July, and October) by the No group is better situated to help gather the necessary information on bird populations Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). Membership to COA is based on a calen­ in our State than the membership, some 15,000 strong, of the several Audubon Societies. dar year, with membership renewable in January. New members ofCOA receive all four The Audubon Council of Connecticut is currently hard at work completing an atlas of the issues of The Connecticut Warbler for that year. Make checks payable to The Connecticut Or­ breeding birds of our State. This field study, in which some 1400 people have partici­ nithological Association, and mail checks to 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06430. pated, will provide sound baseline data on the distributional status of our birdlife by 1986. Membership Fees We can build on it in many ways in succeeding years. All of us need a regular medium of exchange for this new flood of information, where Member $10.00 Contributing $20.00 the facts can be reported, assessed, and argued over if necessary. Science moves ahead by in­ Family $15.00 Sustaining $30.00 viting criticism from all qualified students when a new proposition about reality is offered. Founder $300.00, payable in three annual install­ So far as our State's birdlife is concerned, that exchange medium is now The Connecticut ments and conferring life membership. Warbler. The COA was formed to provide the interface between the scientific community The editors invite submission of articles, notes, black and white photographs and line and the public interested in birds. The interface is essential in clarifying the import of in­ drawings for publication in The Connecticut Warbler. Manuscripts should be typewritten, formation about those bird species which may be caught in the net of the creeping decline double-spaced and on one side of the sheet only, with ample margins. The style of manu­ we are all properly concerned about. scripts should follow the general usage in recent issues. We hope, therefore, that all of the fifteen or so Audubon groups will share actively in Cover Photograph: Barnacle Goose (far right), Richardson's Canada Goose (far left), the growth of the COA and its journal, The Connectimt Warbler, both as subscribers and and two Barnacle Goose X Canada Goose hybrids (center) in contributors, and then as ambassadors to their communities and to that large majority of Southbury, Connecticut November 25, 1984. Photograph by Frank W. Mantlik. 14 CONNECTICUT ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

President: Roland C. Clement, Norwalk During May, 1985 a flurry of letters and news items in The New York Times expressed Vice-President: Elizabeth Kleiner, Simsbury concern about the "creeping decline" of wildlife species in this country and elsewhere. I Secretary: Winifred Burkett, Storrs was pleased to see this concern articulated by the editors of my local newspaper, The Hour, Treasurer: Robert Fletcher, Cheshire in Norwalk. We are seeing a timely restatement of the alert sounded by Rachel Carson's Si­ Assistant Treasurer: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield lent Spring in the early 1960's. Board of Directors Such public concerns are always vaguely felt and expressed, and are often put down as Term expiring ____ _ unscientific by some who don't like such concerns raised. And, true enough, there are so many factors involved, and the reactions of species to habitat changes and pollution are so December 1986 December 1987 different, that it is difficult to document the decline of wildlife species except in piecemeal Stuart E. Mitchell, Portland Neil W. Currie, Watertown fashion. It took ten years to document Rachel Carson's concerns and to begin the task - Joseph C. Zeranski, Greenwich Shirley S. Davis, Mansfield Center still unfinished - of regulating the use of chemicals more carefully. We now know, for ex­ ample, that several of our summer resident birds require large, undisturbed blocks of Julio de Ia Torre, New Canaan Donald A. Hopkins, Windsor Robert C. Dewire, Pawcatuck Philip R. Schaeffer, Greenwich woodland in which to nest. Along our shorelines the Piping Plover and the Least Tern can barely hold out against disturbance of their beach nesting sires. Many other species are December 1988 finding their wintering grounds made over by the unrest that currently rocks Central George W. Zepko, Middletown America. A few bird species are actually increasing their ranges at present, but many more George A. Clark Jr., Storrs are losing ground. In the second volume of The Connecticut \'(/arb/er, Fred Sibley provided a Fred C. Sibley, Guilford "blue list" of Connecticut bird species whose status we must watch. Stephen P. Broker, New Haven The very uncertainty about the decline of so many of the planet's species calls for a deter­ THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER mined effort to fill the gaps in our knowledge of what is indeed happening ro us and our environment. We need to forestall premature reactions by the general public and can do Editor: Anthony H. Bledsoe, New Haven Managing Editor: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield this by clarifying which species have adequate populations, and which are in decline - and why. We also need to speed the recognition of real hazards already impinging on par­ Field Editor: Dennis E. Varza, Fairfield ticular species, so that corrective action may be initiated in good time. The Connecticut Warbler is published quarterly (January, April, July, and October) by the No group is better situated to help gather the necessary information on bird populations Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). Membership to COA is based on a calen­ in our State than the membership, some 15,000 strong, of the several Audubon Societies. dar year, with membership renewable in January. New members ofCOA receive all four The Audubon Council of Connecticut is currently hard at work completing an atlas of the issues of The Connecticut Warbler for that year. Make checks payable to The Connecticut Or­ breeding birds of our State. This field study, in which some 1400 people have partici­ nithological Association, and mail checks to 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06430. pated, will provide sound baseline data on the distributional status of our birdlife by 1986. Membership Fees We can build on it in many ways in succeeding years. All of us need a regular medium of exchange for this new flood of information, where Member $10.00 Contributing $20.00 the facts can be reported, assessed, and argued over if necessary. Science moves ahead by in­ Family $15.00 Sustaining $30.00 viting criticism from all qualified students when a new proposition about reality is offered. Founder $300.00, payable in three annual install­ So far as our State's birdlife is concerned, that exchange medium is now The Connecticut ments and conferring life membership. Warbler. The COA was formed to provide the interface between the scientific community The editors invite submission of articles, notes, black and white photographs and line and the public interested in birds. The interface is essential in clarifying the import of in­ drawings for publication in The Connecticut Warbler. Manuscripts should be typewritten, formation about those bird species which may be caught in the net of the creeping decline double-spaced and on one side of the sheet only, with ample margins. The style of manu­ we are all properly concerned about. scripts should follow the general usage in recent issues. We hope, therefore, that all of the fifteen or so Audubon groups will share actively in Cover Photograph: Barnacle Goose (far right), Richardson's Canada Goose (far left), the growth of the COA and its journal, The Connectimt Warbler, both as subscribers and and two Barnacle Goose X Canada Goose hybrids (center) in contributors, and then as ambassadors to their communities and to that large majority of Southbury, Connecticut November 25, 1984. Photograph by Frank W. Mantlik. 14 Connecticut citizens who are not yet involved in making the modest annual contributions A BARNACLE GOOSE south and west along the eastern and central necessary to keep such ventures going. Working together we can soon make the Nutmeg IN SOUTHBURY, flyways. State a leader in rallying the citizenry to the cause of nature protection, where birds shall On 22 November 1984, Russ Naylor WITH COMMENTS discovered a Barnacle Goose on a pond at continue to provide that litmus test of the quality ~fthe environment we all share. the Southbury Training Academy, South­ Roland C. Clement ABOUT THE STATUS bury, New Haven Co., Connecticut. The President OF BARNACLE GOOSE pond is about three acres in size and is bor­ Connecticut Ornithological Association IN NORTH AMERICA dered on two sides by lawns and on the other two sides by scrubby second growth. COA'S FIRST broaden support for COA. President Ro­ Cornfields abound in the vicinity, and in land Clement, who chaired the meeting, MARK S. SZANTYR the past years the fields have proved attrac­ ANNUAL MEETING then outlined the events of the past year, tive to large groups of Canada Geese. These with emphasis on the problems of incor­ Controversy surrounds the occurrence of geese include both local breeders and wild The sixty or more members and guests porating COA, and on changing the edito­ several species of waterfowl in North migrants from breeding populations ro the who gathered on May 11, 1985 rial arrangements for COA's journal, The America, and records of such species as north. The geese normally stay through un­ at Trail Wood-the late Edwin Way Connecticut Warbler. Joe Zeranski then pro­ Tufted Duck and Barnacle Goose always til freezing of ponds forces them southward. Teale's farm in Hampton, Conn., now a posed minor revisions of the By-laws on be­ seem to be in question. Certainly the large At 0700 on 24 November 1984, Dennis sanctuary of the Connecticut Audubon half of the committee he chaired for this number of private waterfowl collections and Varza, Ray Schwartz and I observed the Society-were unanimous in declaring this purpose, and these were approved. Stuart the likelihood that birds may be lost from birds on the pond. Naylor suggested that first annual meeting of COA a most pleas­ Mitchell's Nominating Committee pro­ such collections give good reason ro doubt the Barnacle Goose, the small Canada ant combination of field work and business. posed continuing most officers and direct­ exrralimital records of "popular" avicultural Goose, and the two hybrids were a family Nellie Teale was hostess and delighted in ors, except that Winnie Burkett of Storrs waterfowl. Thus, when Russ Naylor, a group and our observations suggested the having everyone sign her guest book. As should replace Julio de Ia Torre as secretary, Branta enthusiast, reported a Barnacle same. The four birds stayed together, outgoing secretary Julio de Ia Torre later re­ while he becomes a direcror. This was ap­ Goose (Branta leucopsis) accompanied by a amidst about 750 Canada Geese, for the du­ ported in the minutes of the meeting, "The proved, and Stephen Broker, George Clark, very small Canada Goose (B. canadensis) and ration of our observation, and were regu­ setting, the halcyon weather, and a conviv­ Philip Schaeffer, and Fred Sibley were two hybrid young on a farm pond in larly seen by others arriving at and de­ ial crowd blended to produce a most re­ added to the Board of Direcrors. Southbury, most observers in the region parting from the pond rogerher. The warding day and a memorable milestone in After the business meeting Anthony dismissed the birds as escapees. In this arti­ proportions of the neck and bill, and the the history of our organization. " Bledsoe discussed the interesting problems cle, I describe the circumstances of occur­ overall size of the small Canada Goose indi­ After introductions at 10:30 AM, ecol­ involved in the only warbler species that rence of these birds and discuss rhe status of cated it was either the Cackling (B. c. min­ ogist Anron Damman of the University of hybridize in Connecticut, the Blue-winged Barnacle Goose in North America. ima) or Richardson's (B.c. hutchinsii) race . Connecticut (Storrs) faculty led a woodland and Golden-winged warblers, and their hy­ The Barnacle Goose is a small Old World Because the small Canada Goose was so walk; John McDonald, the University's li­ brids, the so-called "Brewster's" and goose that nests on the eastern coast of light in color, it was most likely B.c. brarian, led short bird walks; and a bird­ "Lawrence's" warblers. He invited the bird­ Greenland and on the islands of Spitzbergen hutchinsii, a very small race that nests on banding crew organized by Carl Trichka, watching community ro help keep track of and Novaya Zemlya in the Arctic Ocean. It the coastal tundra of SouthamptOn Island, George Clark, Shirley Davis, and Winnie the fare of this hybridization, in which the is closely related ro the Canada Goose, al­ southwest Baffin Island, and parts of Burkett provided birds in the hand for Golden-wings are retreating northward as though it is more similar to the Brant (B. Ellesmere Island and the Melville and those who had never practiced this art. the Blue-wings expand into New England bernicla) in habits and appearance. Barnacle Boothia peninsulas, and winters in Texas After an alfresco lunch, a short business from the south. Geese forage _primarily on mud flats bur and Mexico (Bellrose 1976). Descriptions of meeting heard COA Treasurer Robert also graze in grasslands and agricultural the Barnacle Goose, Richardson's Canada Fletcher and Assistant Treasurer Carl Julio de Ia Torre fields . They winter from northern Europe Goose, and the two hybrids are on file with Trichka give an interim accounting of COA Secretary south to the British Isles and have been re­ the Rare Records Committee of the finances . Membership Committee chairman The Connecticut Ornithological corded in North America from Baffin Island Connecticut Ornithological Association. Stephen Broker reported on his attempts to Association 16 15 Connecticut citizens who are not yet involved in making the modest annual contributions A BARNACLE GOOSE south and west along the eastern and central necessary to keep such ventures going. Working together we can soon make the Nutmeg IN SOUTHBURY, flyways. State a leader in rallying the citizenry to the cause of nature protection, where birds shall On 22 November 1984, Russ Naylor WITH COMMENTS discovered a Barnacle Goose on a pond at continue to provide that litmus test of the quality ~fthe environment we all share. the Southbury Training Academy, South­ Roland C. Clement ABOUT THE STATUS bury, New Haven Co., Connecticut. The President OF BARNACLE GOOSE pond is about three acres in size and is bor­ Connecticut Ornithological Association IN NORTH AMERICA dered on two sides by lawns and on the other two sides by scrubby second growth. COA'S FIRST broaden support for COA. President Ro­ Cornfields abound in the vicinity, and in land Clement, who chaired the meeting, MARK S. SZANTYR the past years the fields have proved attrac­ ANNUAL MEETING then outlined the events of the past year, tive to large groups of Canada Geese. These with emphasis on the problems of incor­ Controversy surrounds the occurrence of geese include both local breeders and wild The sixty or more members and guests porating COA, and on changing the edito­ several species of waterfowl in North migrants from breeding populations ro the who gathered on May 11, 1985 rial arrangements for COA's journal, The America, and records of such species as north. The geese normally stay through un­ at Trail Wood-the late Edwin Way Connecticut Warbler. Joe Zeranski then pro­ Tufted Duck and Barnacle Goose always til freezing of ponds forces them southward. Teale's farm in Hampton, Conn., now a posed minor revisions of the By-laws on be­ seem to be in question. Certainly the large At 0700 on 24 November 1984, Dennis sanctuary of the Connecticut Audubon half of the committee he chaired for this number of private waterfowl collections and Varza, Ray Schwartz and I observed the Society-were unanimous in declaring this purpose, and these were approved. Stuart the likelihood that birds may be lost from birds on the pond. Naylor suggested that first annual meeting of COA a most pleas­ Mitchell's Nominating Committee pro­ such collections give good reason ro doubt the Barnacle Goose, the small Canada ant combination of field work and business. posed continuing most officers and direct­ exrralimital records of "popular" avicultural Goose, and the two hybrids were a family Nellie Teale was hostess and delighted in ors, except that Winnie Burkett of Storrs waterfowl. Thus, when Russ Naylor, a group and our observations suggested the having everyone sign her guest book. As should replace Julio de Ia Torre as secretary, Branta enthusiast, reported a Barnacle same. The four birds stayed together, outgoing secretary Julio de Ia Torre later re­ while he becomes a direcror. This was ap­ Goose (Branta leucopsis) accompanied by a amidst about 750 Canada Geese, for the du­ ported in the minutes of the meeting, "The proved, and Stephen Broker, George Clark, very small Canada Goose (B. canadensis) and ration of our observation, and were regu­ setting, the halcyon weather, and a conviv­ Philip Schaeffer, and Fred Sibley were two hybrid young on a farm pond in larly seen by others arriving at and de­ ial crowd blended to produce a most re­ added to the Board of Direcrors. Southbury, most observers in the region parting from the pond rogerher. The warding day and a memorable milestone in After the business meeting Anthony dismissed the birds as escapees. In this arti­ proportions of the neck and bill, and the the history of our organization. " Bledsoe discussed the interesting problems cle, I describe the circumstances of occur­ overall size of the small Canada Goose indi­ After introductions at 10:30 AM, ecol­ involved in the only warbler species that rence of these birds and discuss rhe status of cated it was either the Cackling (B. c. min­ ogist Anron Damman of the University of hybridize in Connecticut, the Blue-winged Barnacle Goose in North America. ima) or Richardson's (B.c. hutchinsii) race . Connecticut (Storrs) faculty led a woodland and Golden-winged warblers, and their hy­ The Barnacle Goose is a small Old World Because the small Canada Goose was so walk; John McDonald, the University's li­ brids, the so-called "Brewster's" and goose that nests on the eastern coast of light in color, it was most likely B.c. brarian, led short bird walks; and a bird­ "Lawrence's" warblers. He invited the bird­ Greenland and on the islands of Spitzbergen hutchinsii, a very small race that nests on banding crew organized by Carl Trichka, watching community ro help keep track of and Novaya Zemlya in the Arctic Ocean. It the coastal tundra of SouthamptOn Island, George Clark, Shirley Davis, and Winnie the fare of this hybridization, in which the is closely related ro the Canada Goose, al­ southwest Baffin Island, and parts of Burkett provided birds in the hand for Golden-wings are retreating northward as though it is more similar to the Brant (B. Ellesmere Island and the Melville and those who had never practiced this art. the Blue-wings expand into New England bernicla) in habits and appearance. Barnacle Boothia peninsulas, and winters in Texas After an alfresco lunch, a short business from the south. Geese forage _primarily on mud flats bur and Mexico (Bellrose 1976). Descriptions of meeting heard COA Treasurer Robert also graze in grasslands and agricultural the Barnacle Goose, Richardson's Canada Fletcher and Assistant Treasurer Carl Julio de Ia Torre fields . They winter from northern Europe Goose, and the two hybrids are on file with Trichka give an interim accounting of COA Secretary south to the British Isles and have been re­ the Rare Records Committee of the finances . Membership Committee chairman The Connecticut Ornithological corded in North America from Baffin Island Connecticut Ornithological Association. Stephen Broker reported on his attempts to Association 16 15 From 25-30 November, the geese re­ Goose in North America. David A. Sibley mained at the pond, leaving only tO feed in provided a list of records gleaned from re­ and of the possibility of North American National Wildlife ·Refuge in Oklahoma for the nearby cornfields. During this period, gional checklists, bold-faced entries in nesting. Perhaps more fully documented information on 6 Barnacle Geese that spent many people saw the family group. Birders American Birds, and other sources. I have records will help fill in the puzzle of the sta­ time there in the late 1970's. familiar with the Richardson's race and its added several additional records for a tOtal tus of Barnacle Goose.. in North America. call noted 8 to 12 other Richardson's Can­ of 72 sightings of 89 individuals in 20 LITERATURE CITED ada Geese in the flock. On 1 December states, 7 Canadian provinces, and Green­ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1984, the family group was observed on a land. Those records with exact dates are I wish to thank Ed Hagen and the mem­ Bellrose, F.C., 1976, Ducks, geese and private farm pond 8 km north on Squires plotted in Fig. 1 according tO date of initial bers of the Western Connecticut Bird Club swans of North America. Harrisburg, Road in Roxbury. In the following days the sighting. The peaks in Ocrober-November for their data and assistance in monitOring Pennsylvania, Stackpole Books. geese moved between this pond and the and March-April coincide with the main the birds' activities. I owe special thanks to Ryff, A.J. 1984. The long sea flights: A Southbury pond. They were last seen on 10 migration periods of wild geese in North Russ Naylor for finding the bird and precise tradition. Birding 16:146-154. January 1985 by Russ Naylor. America. All of the records come from ma­ submitting his daily notes on the behavior ·Runde, O.J. 1984. Bird-ringing report Are any members of the family group jor flyways, with the greatest number being of the goose for citation in this article. 1981, Stavanger Museum. Sterna wild or did they escape from captivity? The reported from the Atlantic and Mississippi Thanks also to Larry Balch and Dan 17:129-155. Barnacle Goose may have joined a flock of flyways . Williams for information on a Barnacle Richardson's Canada Geese in the arctic, Ryff (1984) suggested that Barnacle Goose which occurred in early 1984 in mated with one of them, and moved south Geese south of the Maritime Provinces of Rockford, Illinois; tO Anthony H. Bledsoe with them during their fall migration. Sev­ Canada be considered as escaped aviary for bringing to my attention the banding eral facts lend credence tO this idea. The birds and that the origins of even the Mari­ recovery in Newfoundland; and to Jim Barnacle Goose occurred along a major time Province birds be questioned. His Harmon and the staff of the Tishomingo 2 Treat Street, West Haven CT 06516 flyway at the "correct" time of year for Bar­ suggestions were based in part on the sup­ nacle Goose "vagrants" (see below) and at a position that an Atlantic crossing by Barna­ well-known migration point. It was mated cle Geese is highly unlikely. However, at to an individual of a subspecies of Canada least one such crossing has occurred: a Bar­ Goose that breeds close to the Greenland nacle Goose banded as an adult on 6 population of Barnacle Goose. It acted like Spitsbergen in the Old World arctic in July a wild bird, avoided humans, and was fully 1977 was shot by a hunter at Ladle Cove 5 flighted. None of these facts alone gives near Fogo Island on the northeast coast of (/) 4 conclusive proof of the origin of the Barna­ Newfoundland in Ocrober 1981 (Runde 0 cle Goose. However, taken together, they 1984). The bird was accompanied by two 0 3 argue for an arctic origin. It is remarkable other Barnacle Geese (Stuart A. Tingley, uw that an identical group of geese - a Barna­ pers. comm. to David A. Sibley). Q:: 2 cle Goose, a Richardson's Canada Goose, The Newfoundland record and the pat­ 1 and two hybrids with the same individual tern of records depicted in Fig. 1 suggest # markings as the Connecticut birds - was that many North American Barnacle Geese 0 sighted in Rochester, New York during are of wild origin. However, many North J F M A M J J A s 0 N D March 1985 (Clay Taylor, pers. comm.). If American occurrences have never been doc­ this was the same group it would indicate umented beyond a passing comment, be­ MONTH they were engaging in the regular migra­ cause observers have not considered Barna­ tion typical of wild birds. cle Geese in North America as wild. Figure 1. Histogram of Barnacle Goose records from North America, plotted The Southbury sighting prompted an in­ Enough questions have been raised to war­ according to date of initial sighting. Only records with exact dates are plotted. vestigation of other records of Barnacle rant a full study of North American records Each month is divided into 5 intervals. The height of each line indicates the number of records for that interval. 17 18 From 25-30 November, the geese re­ Goose in North America. David A. Sibley mained at the pond, leaving only tO feed in provided a list of records gleaned from re­ and of the possibility of North American National Wildlife ·Refuge in Oklahoma for the nearby cornfields. During this period, gional checklists, bold-faced entries in nesting. Perhaps more fully documented information on 6 Barnacle Geese that spent many people saw the family group. Birders American Birds, and other sources. I have records will help fill in the puzzle of the sta­ time there in the late 1970's. familiar with the Richardson's race and its added several additional records for a tOtal tus of Barnacle Goose.. in North America. call noted 8 to 12 other Richardson's Can­ of 72 sightings of 89 individuals in 20 LITERATURE CITED ada Geese in the flock. On 1 December states, 7 Canadian provinces, and Green­ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1984, the family group was observed on a land. Those records with exact dates are I wish to thank Ed Hagen and the mem­ Bellrose, F.C., 1976, Ducks, geese and private farm pond 8 km north on Squires plotted in Fig. 1 according tO date of initial bers of the Western Connecticut Bird Club swans of North America. Harrisburg, Road in Roxbury. In the following days the sighting. The peaks in Ocrober-November for their data and assistance in monitOring Pennsylvania, Stackpole Books. geese moved between this pond and the and March-April coincide with the main the birds' activities. I owe special thanks to Ryff, A.J. 1984. The long sea flights: A Southbury pond. They were last seen on 10 migration periods of wild geese in North Russ Naylor for finding the bird and precise tradition. Birding 16:146-154. January 1985 by Russ Naylor. America. All of the records come from ma­ submitting his daily notes on the behavior ·Runde, O.J. 1984. Bird-ringing report Are any members of the family group jor flyways, with the greatest number being of the goose for citation in this article. 1981, Stavanger Museum. Sterna wild or did they escape from captivity? The reported from the Atlantic and Mississippi Thanks also to Larry Balch and Dan 17:129-155. Barnacle Goose may have joined a flock of flyways . Williams for information on a Barnacle Richardson's Canada Geese in the arctic, Ryff (1984) suggested that Barnacle Goose which occurred in early 1984 in mated with one of them, and moved south Geese south of the Maritime Provinces of Rockford, Illinois; tO Anthony H. Bledsoe with them during their fall migration. Sev­ Canada be considered as escaped aviary for bringing to my attention the banding eral facts lend credence tO this idea. The birds and that the origins of even the Mari­ recovery in Newfoundland; and to Jim Barnacle Goose occurred along a major time Province birds be questioned. His Harmon and the staff of the Tishomingo 2 Treat Street, West Haven CT 06516 flyway at the "correct" time of year for Bar­ suggestions were based in part on the sup­ nacle Goose "vagrants" (see below) and at a position that an Atlantic crossing by Barna­ well-known migration point. It was mated cle Geese is highly unlikely. However, at to an individual of a subspecies of Canada least one such crossing has occurred: a Bar­ Goose that breeds close to the Greenland nacle Goose banded as an adult on 6 population of Barnacle Goose. It acted like Spitsbergen in the Old World arctic in July a wild bird, avoided humans, and was fully 1977 was shot by a hunter at Ladle Cove 5 flighted. None of these facts alone gives near Fogo Island on the northeast coast of (/) 4 conclusive proof of the origin of the Barna­ Newfoundland in Ocrober 1981 (Runde 0 cle Goose. However, taken together, they 1984). The bird was accompanied by two 0 3 argue for an arctic origin. It is remarkable other Barnacle Geese (Stuart A. Tingley, uw that an identical group of geese - a Barna­ pers. comm. to David A. Sibley). Q:: 2 cle Goose, a Richardson's Canada Goose, The Newfoundland record and the pat­ 1 and two hybrids with the same individual tern of records depicted in Fig. 1 suggest # markings as the Connecticut birds - was that many North American Barnacle Geese 0 sighted in Rochester, New York during are of wild origin. However, many North J F M A M J J A s 0 N D March 1985 (Clay Taylor, pers. comm.). If American occurrences have never been doc­ this was the same group it would indicate umented beyond a passing comment, be­ MONTH they were engaging in the regular migra­ cause observers have not considered Barna­ tion typical of wild birds. cle Geese in North America as wild. Figure 1. Histogram of Barnacle Goose records from North America, plotted The Southbury sighting prompted an in­ Enough questions have been raised to war­ according to date of initial sighting. Only records with exact dates are plotted. vestigation of other records of Barnacle rant a full study of North American records Each month is divided into 5 intervals. The height of each line indicates the number of records for that interval. 17 18 DUST-BATHING BY surface of the body in good condition by waves occurred September 1-3, when over occurred in late September and early Octo­ A GREAT CRESTED removing moisture, excess preen oil, and 25 species of warblers were reported. A ber. No Least Bitterns were reported. Is external parasites from the skin and feath­ third wave occurred September 6-9 with anyone seeing them? Great and Snowy FLYCATCHER ers. The behavior often involves related ac­ smaller movements September 28-29 and egrets stayed until early November. A Lit­ tivities such as preening, bathing and October 6-8. Many vireos left the state with tle Blue Heron lingered at Greenwich Pt. sunning. All birds employ behaviors de­ the second wave of warblers September 1-3. until October 1 and a late Cattle Egret RUTH LOF signed to keep the surface of the body in Sparrows provided plenty of excitement, worked the grassy lawns of Hammonasset good condition, but the details of the be­ with Lark, Clay-colored, and Henslow's November 4-11. On 12 June 1984, shortly after noon in haviors and their functions vary from spe­ sparrows and large numbers of Lincoln's bright sunlight, I observed at a distance of cies to species. Like Ruth LOf, other readers and White-crowned sparrows. Other high­ WATERFOWL THROUGH FALCONS 80 feet a Great Crested Flycatcher of The Connecticut Warbler can contribute to lights included Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarch11scrinitus) dusting itself in my veg­ Small numbers of Snow Geese arrived in our knowledge of bird behavior by paying (the first report for the state), Lesser Black­ etable garden at Storrs, Connecticut. The early October, with a major flight October attention to unusual behaviors and report­ backed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, bird visited the garden for about five mi­ 20-30. Brant arrived October 27-29 with ing them. Chuck-will's-widow, Western Tanager, nutes and dusted at least three times in dry, large flocks reported all along the shore and and a troupe of Common Ravens. loose, tilled, and mulched soil that was a spectacular 1500 seen in two hours raked the previous week. The soil was not CONNECTICUT passing over Stratford October 29 (DV). A dusty, and at a distance no dust was seen in FIELD NOTES LOONS THROUGH HERONS Brant, rare inland, was observed in Great the air. During each dusting the bird flew Pond State Forest, Simsbury November to the ground from a garden stake and, An unusual inland record of a Red­ 4-12 (JK et al.). The most controversial re­ while flapping its wing~.turned and FALL: AUGUST 1 - throated Loon came from Lake Congamond port was a Barnacle Goose in Southbury twisted from side to side in one spot, mak­ NOVEMBER 30, 1984 on the Massachusetts border October 29 to (RN et al.). The bird, apparently mated to ing a slight indentation. Each dusting November 4 (SK). Summering Common a Canada Goose and accompanied by two occurred at the same spot and lasted no DENNIS E. VARZA Loons were seen through August with mi­ hybrid young, was first seen November 22 more than 15 seconds. During one dusting grants arriving mid-September and peaking and stayed through the report period. the bird stopped, spread a wing,and was The fall season included many rantJes October 21-30. The Stratford pair of Pied­ Greater Scaup were scarce except for a flock momentarily still. Because the bird flapped and an excellent migration of both billed Grebes and their young stayed ro of 2500 at the Thimble Islands October .) I its wings steadily when dusting, I was shorebirds and landbirds in early Septem­ mid-October, while migrants arrived mid­ (MB). An Oldsquaw at Stratford September unable to determine if the bird turned com­ ber. For waterfowl enthusiasts, a Barnacle September. A Horned Grebe spent the first 23 and an American Wigeon in Stratford pletely around. Goose and two Canada x Barnacle hybrids half of August off Greenwich Pt. , two August 8 (DV) were early. Hundreds of George A. Clark, Jr. (pers. comm.) re­ in Southbury sparked a lively debate about months before the first winter bird arrived Oldsquaw were found along the coast No­ ports that dusting is frequently observed in their origin. Hawk-watchers enjoyed a in Stratford October 14 (DV). A remarka­ vember 25. Inland there were one Black a few species such as the House Sparrow grand Broad-winged Hawk migration, ble flight of 500 Horned Grebes was ob­ Scorer on Lake Congamond October 5 and (Passer domestims) but that the behavior is increasing numbers of Peregrine Falcons, served on November 25 along the shore three there October 29 (SK). On Nepaug unrecorded for most passerines. My report and record numbers of both eagles. To top from Westport to Stratford. The same areas Reservoir there were 40 October 20, 14 Oc­ is apparently the first of dusting in the off the raptors a Gyrfalcon turned up in the next day did not have a single bird! tober 28 (JTT, ]oTT, MH), and one Great Crested Flycatcher, and perhaps the New Haven. Single Red-necked Grebes on Lake White-winged Scorer October 21-23 (JK). first record of such behavior for any member Shorebird specialists had the opportunity Congamond November 7 (SK) and at Mil­ A heavy White-winged Scorer influx Octo­ of the New World flycatchers (Tyrannidae). to study 36 species of shorebirds this fall ford Pt. November 4 (DV) were the only re­ ber 28-31 yielded reports across the state including American Avocet and Marbled ports. Dolible-crested Cormorants lingered and over 2000 birds at the Thimble Islands 74 Willington Hill Rd., Storrs, CT 06268 Godwit. The first wave of vireos and war­ through November. A Great Cormorant off October 31 (MB). Scorers became scarce blers occurred August 20-23, after which Greenwich Pt. September 25 (MFN) was and local in November. Ruddy Ducks were Editor·s note. Dusting, like bathing and many of the state's nesting species became early; the next ones arrived October 13. seen across the state from October 30 to sunning, is a behavior that maintains the scarce . The second and largest of the fall The few American Bittern sightings November 25.

19 20 DUST-BATHING BY surface of the body in good condition by waves occurred September 1-3, when over occurred in late September and early Octo­ A GREAT CRESTED removing moisture, excess preen oil, and 25 species of warblers were reported. A ber. No Least Bitterns were reported. Is external parasites from the skin and feath­ third wave occurred September 6-9 with anyone seeing them? Great and Snowy FLYCATCHER ers. The behavior often involves related ac­ smaller movements September 28-29 and egrets stayed until early November. A Lit­ tivities such as preening, bathing and October 6-8. Many vireos left the state with tle Blue Heron lingered at Greenwich Pt. sunning. All birds employ behaviors de­ the second wave of warblers September 1-3. until October 1 and a late Cattle Egret RUTH LOF signed to keep the surface of the body in Sparrows provided plenty of excitement, worked the grassy lawns of Hammonasset good condition, but the details of the be­ with Lark, Clay-colored, and Henslow's November 4-11. On 12 June 1984, shortly after noon in haviors and their functions vary from spe­ sparrows and large numbers of Lincoln's bright sunlight, I observed at a distance of cies to species. Like Ruth LOf, other readers and White-crowned sparrows. Other high­ WATERFOWL THROUGH FALCONS 80 feet a Great Crested Flycatcher of The Connecticut Warbler can contribute to lights included Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarch11scrinitus) dusting itself in my veg­ Small numbers of Snow Geese arrived in our knowledge of bird behavior by paying (the first report for the state), Lesser Black­ etable garden at Storrs, Connecticut. The early October, with a major flight October attention to unusual behaviors and report­ backed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, bird visited the garden for about five mi­ 20-30. Brant arrived October 27-29 with ing them. Chuck-will's-widow, Western Tanager, nutes and dusted at least three times in dry, large flocks reported all along the shore and and a troupe of Common Ravens. loose, tilled, and mulched soil that was a spectacular 1500 seen in two hours raked the previous week. The soil was not CONNECTICUT passing over Stratford October 29 (DV). A dusty, and at a distance no dust was seen in FIELD NOTES LOONS THROUGH HERONS Brant, rare inland, was observed in Great the air. During each dusting the bird flew Pond State Forest, Simsbury November to the ground from a garden stake and, An unusual inland record of a Red­ 4-12 (JK et al.). The most controversial re­ while flapping its wing~.turned and FALL: AUGUST 1 - throated Loon came from Lake Congamond port was a Barnacle Goose in Southbury twisted from side to side in one spot, mak­ NOVEMBER 30, 1984 on the Massachusetts border October 29 to (RN et al.). The bird, apparently mated to ing a slight indentation. Each dusting November 4 (SK). Summering Common a Canada Goose and accompanied by two occurred at the same spot and lasted no DENNIS E. VARZA Loons were seen through August with mi­ hybrid young, was first seen November 22 more than 15 seconds. During one dusting grants arriving mid-September and peaking and stayed through the report period. the bird stopped, spread a wing,and was The fall season included many rantJes October 21-30. The Stratford pair of Pied­ Greater Scaup were scarce except for a flock momentarily still. Because the bird flapped and an excellent migration of both billed Grebes and their young stayed ro of 2500 at the Thimble Islands October .) I its wings steadily when dusting, I was shorebirds and landbirds in early Septem­ mid-October, while migrants arrived mid­ (MB). An Oldsquaw at Stratford September unable to determine if the bird turned com­ ber. For waterfowl enthusiasts, a Barnacle September. A Horned Grebe spent the first 23 and an American Wigeon in Stratford pletely around. Goose and two Canada x Barnacle hybrids half of August off Greenwich Pt. , two August 8 (DV) were early. Hundreds of George A. Clark, Jr. (pers. comm.) re­ in Southbury sparked a lively debate about months before the first winter bird arrived Oldsquaw were found along the coast No­ ports that dusting is frequently observed in their origin. Hawk-watchers enjoyed a in Stratford October 14 (DV). A remarka­ vember 25. Inland there were one Black a few species such as the House Sparrow grand Broad-winged Hawk migration, ble flight of 500 Horned Grebes was ob­ Scorer on Lake Congamond October 5 and (Passer domestims) but that the behavior is increasing numbers of Peregrine Falcons, served on November 25 along the shore three there October 29 (SK). On Nepaug unrecorded for most passerines. My report and record numbers of both eagles. To top from Westport to Stratford. The same areas Reservoir there were 40 October 20, 14 Oc­ is apparently the first of dusting in the off the raptors a Gyrfalcon turned up in the next day did not have a single bird! tober 28 (JTT, ]oTT, MH), and one Great Crested Flycatcher, and perhaps the New Haven. Single Red-necked Grebes on Lake White-winged Scorer October 21-23 (JK). first record of such behavior for any member Shorebird specialists had the opportunity Congamond November 7 (SK) and at Mil­ A heavy White-winged Scorer influx Octo­ of the New World flycatchers (Tyrannidae). to study 36 species of shorebirds this fall ford Pt. November 4 (DV) were the only re­ ber 28-31 yielded reports across the state including American Avocet and Marbled ports. Dolible-crested Cormorants lingered and over 2000 birds at the Thimble Islands 74 Willington Hill Rd., Storrs, CT 06268 Godwit. The first wave of vireos and war­ through November. A Great Cormorant off October 31 (MB). Scorers became scarce blers occurred August 20-23, after which Greenwich Pt. September 25 (MFN) was and local in November. Ruddy Ducks were Editor·s note. Dusting, like bathing and many of the state's nesting species became early; the next ones arrived October 13. seen across the state from October 30 to sunning, is a behavior that maintains the scarce . The second and largest of the fall The few American Bittern sightings November 25.

19 20 Lighthouse Pt. September 23 (m.ob.) and Common Ravens in Massachusetts appears Osprey continued their multi-year in­ rare but regular fall migrant, were reported; Hammonasset October 27 (JM). The only to be expanding into Connecticut. A Com­ crease, with Lighthouse Pt. almost dou­ singles were at Milford Pt. September 4-5 Black Tern was seen August 26 at Sandy mon Raven at Larsen Sanctuary Hawk bling its 1983 count. In southern New (m.ob.), October 8 (RE), October 18 (FM), Pt ., West Haven (RE), and the sole Black Watch, Fairfield September 13 (CTr) was England a record 46 Bald Eagles and 14 and November 3 (FG). One at Hammonas­ Skimmer occurred at Milford Pt. August followed by reports of up to five birds No­ Golden Eagles were reported this fall. set September 15 (m.ob.) was followed by 6 31 to September 2 (m.ob.). vember 2-5 at Barkhamsted Reservoir, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, October 20 with 2 staying until November Salisbury. A Boreal Chickadee was found Cooper's Hawk, and Peregrine Falcon were 5 (m.ob.). One Marbled Godwit was at OWLS THROUGH WOODPECKERS October 17 at Chatfield Hollow Park in more numerous this year than last, with Milford Pt. September 5 (DV). Western Killingworth (NP). Large numbers of Lighthouse Pt. recording 29 Peregrines. Sandpipers arrived at Milford Pt. August Long-eared Owls were scarce this fall; Golden-crowned Kinglets arrived in early The hawk migration started slowly but ex­ 27, peaked at 20 birds in early September, one was at Lighthouse Pt. October 6 (AB) October with an early pair at Goshen Sep­ ploded September 16-17 when over 48,000 and stayed until late October. On the and another at Hammonasset October 8. tember 6 (MS,DV). Nearly all contributers Broad-winged Hawks were reported across Naugatuck River in Oxford October 6, a Snowy Owls were absent and Short-eared commented on how abundant they were the state, possibly the largest movement flock of shorebirds contained 12 Western Owls were very scarce. Common Night­ this fall. Late thrushes included a Veery at ever of this species in Connecticut. Rough­ Sandpipers, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, hawk flights occurred August 13 to Sep­ Hammonasset October 27 (BD,MS) and a legged Hawks were again scarce, with 10 and 8 Pectoral Sandpipers (BD,MS). A tember 10, with a peak August 23-26, Swainson's Thrush in Canton November 26 birds at Lighthouse Pt. and on November single Baird's Sandpiper was observed at when observers reported numbers in the to December 5 (JK). A large flock of 200 19 one feeding on a rabbit at Hammo­ Milford Pt. August 28 to September 5 (JF thousands. A Chuck-will's-widow was Water Pipits was in Middlebury October nasset. The rarest rap tor of the season was a et al.). An early Stilt Sandpiper at Stratford seen in Branford September 18 (NP), and a 21 (WCBC). gray-phase Gyrfalcon at New Haven Har­ August 5 and two September 1-5 at Silver Whip-poor-will was at Lighthouse Park bor November 11-18 (DV,RS et al.). Sands State Park were the only reports October 22 (ABet al.). Scattered reports of VIREOS THROUGH FINCHES (DV). The occurrence of Stilt Sandpipers in Red-headed Woodpeckers included one SHOREBIRDS THROUGH SKIMMER Connecticut depends on the availability of September 3 in West Hartford (JTT, ]oTT) Philadelphia Vireos and large numbers of shallow pools in secluded marshes. When and another November 1 in Suffield (SK). Red-eyed Vireos pushed through the state Many shorebird species peaked from such habitat is available (as in Stratford in September 6-9. Two Orange-crowned War­ early to mid-August. September produced a the mid-seventies) up to a dozen birds can FLYCATCHERS THROUGH PIPITS blers were reported, an early one August 21 great variety of birds in low numbers, and be found at a time. Only two Buff-breasted at Milford Pt. (DV) and a second September October marked the departure of most Sandpipers were reported, one in North There were scattered reports of Olive­ 12 in Ledyard (PB). Mourning Warblers shorebirds. Lesser Golden-Plovers were Greenwich September 5-6 with a Lesser sided Flycatchers across the state the first were seen September 1-3 only. Connecticut found in small numbers from early Septem­ Golden-Plover (GZ,TBa) and one at three weeks of September. A late Least Fly­ Warblers were seen from September 30 to ber to mid-October. Three very late Semi­ Hammonasset October 5 (NP et al.). A catcher, the only Empidonax species to be October 9. Late were an American Redstart palmated Plovers stayed in the Milford - Ruff was at Hammonasset September 20 expected after mid-September, was seen at October 14 in Greenwich, a Black-throated New Haven area through November, while (CTa). Single Long-billed Dowitchers were Hammonasset October 7 (AB,DV). The Blue Warbler the same day in Ledyard Piping Plover was last reported September found at Milford Pt. August 21 (DV) and first Connecticut report of Ash-throated (PB), a Yellow-breasted Chat at Hammo­ 23 at Milford Pt. (DV). Single American Killingworth October 17 (NP). Two Flycatcher came from Bethany October 6 nasset November 7 (RS,DV), and a Black­ Avocets at Silver Sands State Park, Milford Wilson's Phalaropes were in the Milford Pt. (BD,MS,DV). Single Western Kingbirds throated Green Warbler November 9 in September 4-6 (DV et al.) and Madison Oc­ -Silver Sands area September 1-10 (m.ob.). were found at New Haven Airport Septem­ New Haven (AB). A late Scarlet Tanager tober 6 (NP) were unusual. Willets were Single Lesser Black-backed Gulls were ber 27 (NP) and Greenwich Pt. October 31 was at Storrs October 4 (SD). A Western regular in the Stratford - Milford area; the seen September 15 at Hammonasset (NP, to November 5 (m.ob.). A late Tree Swal­ Tanager was reported in Greenwich No­ last was reported September 23 at Milford CTa), September 19 at Milford Pt. (NP), low was in Woodbury November 10 (RN). vember 24 (DB,JBo). Two Rose-breasted Pt. (SK). Up to 3 Upland Sandpipers were and October 13 near Greenwich Pt. A Cliff Swallow October 8 in Suffield (SK) Grosbeaks were in Southbury October 17 at Stratford August 25 to September 3 (MFN). A Black-legged Kittiwake was at and one October 4 at Hammonasset (DV) (RN). A Blue Grosbeak was in Greenwich (DV), and one was at Watertown Septem­ New Haven Harbor November· 20 (NP). were the only reports. The population of October 1<;1(TBa,JZ). Several Dickcissels ber 16 (MS). Eleven Hudsonian Godwits, a Single Caspian Terns were reported from 22 21 Lighthouse Pt. September 23 (m.ob.) and Common Ravens in Massachusetts appears Osprey continued their multi-year in­ rare but regular fall migrant, were reported; Hammonasset October 27 (JM). The only to be expanding into Connecticut. A Com­ crease, with Lighthouse Pt. almost dou­ singles were at Milford Pt. September 4-5 Black Tern was seen August 26 at Sandy mon Raven at Larsen Sanctuary Hawk bling its 1983 count. In southern New (m.ob.), October 8 (RE), October 18 (FM), Pt ., West Haven (RE), and the sole Black Watch, Fairfield September 13 (CTr) was England a record 46 Bald Eagles and 14 and November 3 (FG). One at Hammonas­ Skimmer occurred at Milford Pt. August followed by reports of up to five birds No­ Golden Eagles were reported this fall. set September 15 (m.ob.) was followed by 6 31 to September 2 (m.ob.). vember 2-5 at Barkhamsted Reservoir, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, October 20 with 2 staying until November Salisbury. A Boreal Chickadee was found Cooper's Hawk, and Peregrine Falcon were 5 (m.ob.). One Marbled Godwit was at OWLS THROUGH WOODPECKERS October 17 at Chatfield Hollow Park in more numerous this year than last, with Milford Pt. September 5 (DV). Western Killingworth (NP). Large numbers of Lighthouse Pt. recording 29 Peregrines. Sandpipers arrived at Milford Pt. August Long-eared Owls were scarce this fall; Golden-crowned Kinglets arrived in early The hawk migration started slowly but ex­ 27, peaked at 20 birds in early September, one was at Lighthouse Pt. October 6 (AB) October with an early pair at Goshen Sep­ ploded September 16-17 when over 48,000 and stayed until late October. On the and another at Hammonasset October 8. tember 6 (MS,DV). Nearly all contributers Broad-winged Hawks were reported across Naugatuck River in Oxford October 6, a Snowy Owls were absent and Short-eared commented on how abundant they were the state, possibly the largest movement flock of shorebirds contained 12 Western Owls were very scarce. Common Night­ this fall. Late thrushes included a Veery at ever of this species in Connecticut. Rough­ Sandpipers, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, hawk flights occurred August 13 to Sep­ Hammonasset October 27 (BD,MS) and a legged Hawks were again scarce, with 10 and 8 Pectoral Sandpipers (BD,MS). A tember 10, with a peak August 23-26, Swainson's Thrush in Canton November 26 birds at Lighthouse Pt. and on November single Baird's Sandpiper was observed at when observers reported numbers in the to December 5 (JK). A large flock of 200 19 one feeding on a rabbit at Hammo­ Milford Pt. August 28 to September 5 (JF thousands. A Chuck-will's-widow was Water Pipits was in Middlebury October nasset. The rarest rap tor of the season was a et al.). An early Stilt Sandpiper at Stratford seen in Branford September 18 (NP), and a 21 (WCBC). gray-phase Gyrfalcon at New Haven Har­ August 5 and two September 1-5 at Silver Whip-poor-will was at Lighthouse Park bor November 11-18 (DV,RS et al.). Sands State Park were the only reports October 22 (ABet al.). Scattered reports of VIREOS THROUGH FINCHES (DV). The occurrence of Stilt Sandpipers in Red-headed Woodpeckers included one SHOREBIRDS THROUGH SKIMMER Connecticut depends on the availability of September 3 in West Hartford (JTT, ]oTT) Philadelphia Vireos and large numbers of shallow pools in secluded marshes. When and another November 1 in Suffield (SK). Red-eyed Vireos pushed through the state Many shorebird species peaked from such habitat is available (as in Stratford in September 6-9. Two Orange-crowned War­ early to mid-August. September produced a the mid-seventies) up to a dozen birds can FLYCATCHERS THROUGH PIPITS blers were reported, an early one August 21 great variety of birds in low numbers, and be found at a time. Only two Buff-breasted at Milford Pt. (DV) and a second September October marked the departure of most Sandpipers were reported, one in North There were scattered reports of Olive­ 12 in Ledyard (PB). Mourning Warblers shorebirds. Lesser Golden-Plovers were Greenwich September 5-6 with a Lesser sided Flycatchers across the state the first were seen September 1-3 only. Connecticut found in small numbers from early Septem­ Golden-Plover (GZ,TBa) and one at three weeks of September. A late Least Fly­ Warblers were seen from September 30 to ber to mid-October. Three very late Semi­ Hammonasset October 5 (NP et al.). A catcher, the only Empidonax species to be October 9. Late were an American Redstart palmated Plovers stayed in the Milford - Ruff was at Hammonasset September 20 expected after mid-September, was seen at October 14 in Greenwich, a Black-throated New Haven area through November, while (CTa). Single Long-billed Dowitchers were Hammonasset October 7 (AB,DV). The Blue Warbler the same day in Ledyard Piping Plover was last reported September found at Milford Pt. August 21 (DV) and first Connecticut report of Ash-throated (PB), a Yellow-breasted Chat at Hammo­ 23 at Milford Pt. (DV). Single American Killingworth October 17 (NP). Two Flycatcher came from Bethany October 6 nasset November 7 (RS,DV), and a Black­ Avocets at Silver Sands State Park, Milford Wilson's Phalaropes were in the Milford Pt. (BD,MS,DV). Single Western Kingbirds throated Green Warbler November 9 in September 4-6 (DV et al.) and Madison Oc­ -Silver Sands area September 1-10 (m.ob.). were found at New Haven Airport Septem­ New Haven (AB). A late Scarlet Tanager tober 6 (NP) were unusual. Willets were Single Lesser Black-backed Gulls were ber 27 (NP) and Greenwich Pt. October 31 was at Storrs October 4 (SD). A Western regular in the Stratford - Milford area; the seen September 15 at Hammonasset (NP, to November 5 (m.ob.). A late Tree Swal­ Tanager was reported in Greenwich No­ last was reported September 23 at Milford CTa), September 19 at Milford Pt. (NP), low was in Woodbury November 10 (RN). vember 24 (DB,JBo). Two Rose-breasted Pt. (SK). Up to 3 Upland Sandpipers were and October 13 near Greenwich Pt. A Cliff Swallow October 8 in Suffield (SK) Grosbeaks were in Southbury October 17 at Stratford August 25 to September 3 (MFN). A Black-legged Kittiwake was at and one October 4 at Hammonasset (DV) (RN). A Blue Grosbeak was in Greenwich (DV), and one was at Watertown Septem­ New Haven Harbor November· 20 (NP). were the only reports. The population of October 1<;1(TBa,JZ). Several Dickcissels ber 16 (MS). Eleven Hudsonian Godwits, a Single Caspian Terns were reported from 22 21 were reported from Greenwich to Branford Clark, New Haven Bird Club, Western continue to have the benefit of observing (1877: 14) considered it a local, "rather rare October 25 to November 5. At least two Connecticut Bird Club, Neil Currie, such interactions firsthand. summer resident." In the 1890's Golden­ Clay-colored Sparrows were at Hammo­ Shirley Davis, Buzz and Debbie Devine, wings increased markedly at some locali­ nasset from October 27 to November 3 Robert Dewire, Townsend Dickinson, HISTORICAL DISTRIBUTION ties, such as Portland (Sage 1893) and New (DV,RS et a!.). One was banded October Richard English, Andrew Farnsworth, John Britain (Bagg and Eliot 1937). These in­ 28 (CTr). Two Lark Sparrows were in the Farrand, Frank Gallo, Mike Hays, Jay The status of the V. pinus - V. chrysoptera creases were short-lived - by 1909 same area October 27-29, and another was Kaplan, Seth Kellog, Betty Kleiner, Ruth complex in Connecticut has changed mark­ Golden-wings were rare in New Britain in North Guilford October 11 (NP). A Lof, Frank Mantlik, Jim Mockalis, Russ edly in the last 150 years. The Blue­ (Bagg and Eliot 1937) and by 1913 only Henslow's Sparrow was seen at Neck Naylor, Mianus Field Notes, m.ob. winged Warbler became established in "small numbers" were recorded in Portland Road on the Madison - Guilford line Octo­ many observers, Alison Oliveri, Noble Connecticut sometime in the mid-1800's (Sage and Bishop 1913). At the turn of the ber 11 (NP). A Grasshopper Sparrow was Proctor, Fred Purnell, Tom Rochovansky, (Gill 1980), probably from populations in century, Golden-wings were rare breeders reported at Hammonasset September 23 Phil Rusch, Ray Schwartz, Vicki Slingo, the lower Hudson River Valley. By 1880, elsewhere - in New Haven (Burr 1908), (RD). Vesper Sparrows, less frequent this Mark Szantyr, Clay Taylor, Carl Trichka, Blue-wings were common at the mouth of "southern Connecticut" (Bishop 1905), and fall than last, occurred October 7 to No­ Dr. John Trover-Trend, Jonathan Trover­ the Connecticut River and uncommon to Litchfield (Woodruff 1906). Since then, vember 22 with most records from October Trend (]oTT), Dennis Varza, Connie rare elsewhere in southern Connecticut Golden-wings have bred in very small num­ 21-28. Lincoln's Sparrows were more com­ Wood, George Zepko, Joe Zeranski. (Merriam 1877). The coastal populations bers locally in the northern two-thirds of mon than usual, with some fields having up increased rapidly, and by 1890 the species Connecticut. In the early 1960's, they in­ to six birds at once September 2 1 to Octo­ was common along most of the shoreline creased locally at Thomaston (Gill 1980) ber 10. White-crowned Sparrows made an CONNECTICUT BIRDS (Bishop 1889), including Bridgeport and, apparently, near Storrs (Manter 1965). impressive showing this fall. They arrived -BLUE-WINGED (Averill 1892, contra Bishop 1889). These increases, like those at the turn of the September 30, and from October 5-28 cer­ Around 1890, Blue-wings spread rapidly century, were ephemeral, and Golden­ tain areas had up to a dozen birds at a time. AND GOLDEN­ up the Connecticut River to Portland, wings are now rare, local breeders in the A small movement of Lapland Longspurs WINGED WARBLERS where they were common by 1900 (Sage Thomaston and Storrs regions. and Snow Buntings occurred in mid­ and Bishop 1913). Blue-wings reached As Blue-winged Warblers spread and October with the main movement peaking Massachusetts along the Connecticut River came into contact with local populations of on November 10. ANTHONY H. BLEDSOE by 1925 (Bagg and Eliot 193 7) and were Golden-wings, the two species hybridized. A late Northern Oriole was in Woodbury "almost common" along the lower third of The main hybrid types, "Brewster's" and November 1 (RN). The "winter finch" mi­ Since the late 1800's, naturalists m the Connecticut River in Massachusetts by "Lawrence's" warblers, were frequently ob­ gration started our well in mid-September, Connecticut have had the opportunity to 1955 (Griscom and Snyder 1955). Along served along the coast and the Connecticut with a Pine Grosbeak in Fairfield Septem­ observe the interactions between Blue­ the Naugatuck River, Blue-wings were River Valley in the late 1800's. Fifty years ber 13 (DV) and small flocks of Red and winged (Vermivora pinus) and Golden­ common at Seymour by 1889 (Eames later, Golden-wings and hybrids were vir­ White-winged crossbills at the same rime. winged (V. chrysoptera) warblers. Connecti­ 1889). They spread upriver from there and tually absent at these localities. The se­ After that things went downhill; even Pur­ cut ornithologists such as L.B. Bishop and colonized the hills of northwest and north­ quence of initial contact, hybridization, ple Finches and American Goldfinches ] . H . Sage' figured proiT)inently in the study central Connecticut, apparently in and subsequent decrease in the abundance weren't around in the usual numbers. Even­ of these interactions at the turn of the cen­ 1930-1950 (Gill 1980). At about the same of Golden-wings and the hybrids is typical ing Grosbeaks and Pine Siskins appeared tury. Their work in part led to the discov­ time, they increased in the hills of northeast of the course of interactions between Blue­ sporadically from late September on, but ery that "Brewster's" and "Lawrence's" war­ Connecticut. winged and Golden-winged warblers. Gill were rare by the end of the period. blers are hybrids between V. pinus and V. Before the mid-1800's, the Golden­ (1980) studied the history of interaction in chrysoptera. winged Warbler was a rare migrant in Connecticut and described 5 stages: stage 1 Contributors: James Bair, Tom Baptist, Connecticut continues to play a major Connecticut (Lindsey 1843). It was first - mostly Golden-wings and a few Blue­ Carol Bedworth, Anthony Bledsoe, Peter role in the ongoing studies of the hybridiza­ collected in the state in 1875 and was first wings; stage 2 - equal numbers of Blue­ Bono, Doris and John Bova, Milan Bull, tion between Blue-winged and Golden­ recorded breeding in 1876 at Suffield wings and Golden-wings and a few hybrids Tom Burke, Winnie Burkett, George winged warblers, and observers in the state (Merriam 1877). At that time, Merriam (mostly "Brewster's"); stage 3 - many

23 24 were reported from Greenwich to Branford Clark, New Haven Bird Club, Western continue to have the benefit of observing (1877: 14) considered it a local, "rather rare October 25 to November 5. At least two Connecticut Bird Club, Neil Currie, such interactions firsthand. summer resident." In the 1890's Golden­ Clay-colored Sparrows were at Hammo­ Shirley Davis, Buzz and Debbie Devine, wings increased markedly at some locali­ nasset from October 27 to November 3 Robert Dewire, Townsend Dickinson, HISTORICAL DISTRIBUTION ties, such as Portland (Sage 1893) and New (DV,RS et a!.). One was banded October Richard English, Andrew Farnsworth, John Britain (Bagg and Eliot 1937). These in­ 28 (CTr). Two Lark Sparrows were in the Farrand, Frank Gallo, Mike Hays, Jay The status of the V. pinus - V. chrysoptera creases were short-lived - by 1909 same area October 27-29, and another was Kaplan, Seth Kellog, Betty Kleiner, Ruth complex in Connecticut has changed mark­ Golden-wings were rare in New Britain in North Guilford October 11 (NP). A Lof, Frank Mantlik, Jim Mockalis, Russ edly in the last 150 years. The Blue­ (Bagg and Eliot 1937) and by 1913 only Henslow's Sparrow was seen at Neck Naylor, Mianus Field Notes, m.ob. winged Warbler became established in "small numbers" were recorded in Portland Road on the Madison - Guilford line Octo­ many observers, Alison Oliveri, Noble Connecticut sometime in the mid-1800's (Sage and Bishop 1913). At the turn of the ber 11 (NP). A Grasshopper Sparrow was Proctor, Fred Purnell, Tom Rochovansky, (Gill 1980), probably from populations in century, Golden-wings were rare breeders reported at Hammonasset September 23 Phil Rusch, Ray Schwartz, Vicki Slingo, the lower Hudson River Valley. By 1880, elsewhere - in New Haven (Burr 1908), (RD). Vesper Sparrows, less frequent this Mark Szantyr, Clay Taylor, Carl Trichka, Blue-wings were common at the mouth of "southern Connecticut" (Bishop 1905), and fall than last, occurred October 7 to No­ Dr. John Trover-Trend, Jonathan Trover­ the Connecticut River and uncommon to Litchfield (Woodruff 1906). Since then, vember 22 with most records from October Trend (]oTT), Dennis Varza, Connie rare elsewhere in southern Connecticut Golden-wings have bred in very small num­ 21-28. Lincoln's Sparrows were more com­ Wood, George Zepko, Joe Zeranski. (Merriam 1877). The coastal populations bers locally in the northern two-thirds of mon than usual, with some fields having up increased rapidly, and by 1890 the species Connecticut. In the early 1960's, they in­ to six birds at once September 2 1 to Octo­ was common along most of the shoreline creased locally at Thomaston (Gill 1980) ber 10. White-crowned Sparrows made an CONNECTICUT BIRDS (Bishop 1889), including Bridgeport and, apparently, near Storrs (Manter 1965). impressive showing this fall. They arrived -BLUE-WINGED (Averill 1892, contra Bishop 1889). These increases, like those at the turn of the September 30, and from October 5-28 cer­ Around 1890, Blue-wings spread rapidly century, were ephemeral, and Golden­ tain areas had up to a dozen birds at a time. AND GOLDEN­ up the Connecticut River to Portland, wings are now rare, local breeders in the A small movement of Lapland Longspurs WINGED WARBLERS where they were common by 1900 (Sage Thomaston and Storrs regions. and Snow Buntings occurred in mid­ and Bishop 1913). Blue-wings reached As Blue-winged Warblers spread and October with the main movement peaking Massachusetts along the Connecticut River came into contact with local populations of on November 10. ANTHONY H. BLEDSOE by 1925 (Bagg and Eliot 193 7) and were Golden-wings, the two species hybridized. A late Northern Oriole was in Woodbury "almost common" along the lower third of The main hybrid types, "Brewster's" and November 1 (RN). The "winter finch" mi­ Since the late 1800's, naturalists m the Connecticut River in Massachusetts by "Lawrence's" warblers, were frequently ob­ gration started our well in mid-September, Connecticut have had the opportunity to 1955 (Griscom and Snyder 1955). Along served along the coast and the Connecticut with a Pine Grosbeak in Fairfield Septem­ observe the interactions between Blue­ the Naugatuck River, Blue-wings were River Valley in the late 1800's. Fifty years ber 13 (DV) and small flocks of Red and winged (Vermivora pinus) and Golden­ common at Seymour by 1889 (Eames later, Golden-wings and hybrids were vir­ White-winged crossbills at the same rime. winged (V. chrysoptera) warblers. Connecti­ 1889). They spread upriver from there and tually absent at these localities. The se­ After that things went downhill; even Pur­ cut ornithologists such as L.B. Bishop and colonized the hills of northwest and north­ quence of initial contact, hybridization, ple Finches and American Goldfinches ] . H . Sage' figured proiT)inently in the study central Connecticut, apparently in and subsequent decrease in the abundance weren't around in the usual numbers. Even­ of these interactions at the turn of the cen­ 1930-1950 (Gill 1980). At about the same of Golden-wings and the hybrids is typical ing Grosbeaks and Pine Siskins appeared tury. Their work in part led to the discov­ time, they increased in the hills of northeast of the course of interactions between Blue­ sporadically from late September on, but ery that "Brewster's" and "Lawrence's" war­ Connecticut. winged and Golden-winged warblers. Gill were rare by the end of the period. blers are hybrids between V. pinus and V. Before the mid-1800's, the Golden­ (1980) studied the history of interaction in chrysoptera. winged Warbler was a rare migrant in Connecticut and described 5 stages: stage 1 Contributors: James Bair, Tom Baptist, Connecticut continues to play a major Connecticut (Lindsey 1843). It was first - mostly Golden-wings and a few Blue­ Carol Bedworth, Anthony Bledsoe, Peter role in the ongoing studies of the hybridiza­ collected in the state in 1875 and was first wings; stage 2 - equal numbers of Blue­ Bono, Doris and John Bova, Milan Bull, tion between Blue-winged and Golden­ recorded breeding in 1876 at Suffield wings and Golden-wings and a few hybrids Tom Burke, Winnie Burkett, George winged warblers, and observers in the state (Merriam 1877). At that time, Merriam (mostly "Brewster's"); stage 3 - many

23 24 Blue-wings, few Golden-wings, a range of cided with the spread of Blue-wings in LITERATURE CITED Connecticut, Natchaugh Ornithological hybrid combinations and the appearance of Connecticut (Gill 1980). Society. the "Lawrence's" type; stage 4 Golden-wings are rare in migration and Averill, C. K., Jr. 1892. List of birds found Merriam, C. H. 1877. A review of the birds introgressed Blue-wings, no Golden-wings, nest in very small numbers at scattered sites in the vicinity of Bridgeport, Connecti­ of Connecticut. Trans. Connecticut and a few hybrids; and stage 5 - Blue­ in northwest Connecticut. Golden-wings cut. Bridgeport, Connecticut, Bridge­ Acad. 4:1-165. wings with some variability in wing-bar nest sporadically in very small numbers port Scientific Society. Sage, J.H . 1893 . Notes on Helminthophila color. elsewhere in northern Connecticut. The Bagg, A. C. and S.A. Eliot, Jr. 1937. Birds chrysoptera, pinus, leucobronchialis, and The series of stages takes roughly 50 Golden-wing's preference for successional of the Connecticut Valley in Massachu­ lawrencei in Connecticut. Auk 10:208- years and results in the replacement of areas with few trees limits it to fields that setts. Northhampton, Massachusetts, 209. Golden-wings by Blue-wings. Nearly all have been abandoned within the last 30 Buckingham and Brewer. --,and LB. Bishop. 1913. The birds of Connecticut localities are now at stage 5. years (Confer and Knapp 1979). Golden­ Bishop, LB. 1889. Helminthophila pinus, Connecticut. Bull. Connecticut State The Litchfield, Kent, and Sharon popula­ wings have the potential for rapid but H. chrysoptera, and H. lawrencei in Con­ Geol. Nat. Hist. Survey No. 20. tions are at stage 3 (pers. obs.; David short-lived increases, both as breeders (see necticut in the spring of 1888. Auk Woodruff, E.S. 1906. A list of the birds of Sibley, pers. comm.). above) and as migrants (Bagg and Eliot 6:192-193. Litchfield, Connecticut. Litchfield En­ 1937). --. 1905. The status of Helminthophila quirer 81:3. (Original not seen.) CURRENT DISTRIBUTION Golden-winged Warblers can be found leucobronchialis and H. lawrencei. Auk nesting regularly only at a few sites - 22:21-24. Peabody Museum, Yale University, New Blue-wings migrate commonly through­ River Road in Kent, Miles Sanctuary on Burr, F.F. 1908. List of the birds of the Haven, CT 06511 out Connecticut and nest commonly to West Cornwall Road in Sharon, and White New Haven region. New Haven, Con­ abundantly in appropriate habitat in south­ Memorial Sanctuary in Litchfield. The typi­ necticut. Publ. New Haven Bird Club, ern Connecticut and along the Connecticut cal Golden-wing song is thinner and less Bull. No. 1. and Naugatuck River valleys, and com­ buzzy than the Blue-wing song, and Confer, J.L and K. Knapp. 1979. The monly to uncommonly throughout the rest consists of a thin bee followed by three buzzz changing proportions of Blue-winged NOTES AND NEWS of the state. notes. Blue-wings occasionally sing a simi­ and Golden-winged warblers in Blue-winged Warblers can be found in lar song, and hybrids can sing either typical Tompkins County and their habitat se­ Sixty-six AMERICAN KESTRELS (Falco suitable habitat almost anywhere in parental song, an atypical song, or a combi­ lection. Kingbird 29:8-14. sparverius) were marked while on winter Connecticut, particularly during spring mi­ nation of typical and atypical song com­ Eames, E.H. 1889. Notes on the Blue­ territories in south Florida during Decem­ gration (late April - late May) and early in ponents. winged Warbler and its allies (Helmintho­ ber 1984 and January 1985. The marking the nesting season (mid - late May), when phila pinus, H. leucobronchialis, H. consists of an imped central tail feather that territorial males sing a distinctive, buzzy ACKNOWLEDGMENTS lawrencei, and H. chrysoptera) in extends about one inch beyond the other song, bee-buzzzz. Some specific locations Connecticut. Auk 6:305-310. tail feathers, is yellow-orange, and bears a are: East Rock Park, New Haven; Birdcraft The Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas Gill, F.B. 1980. Historical aspects of hy­ two-digit number. These birds of course Museum, Fairfield; Durham Meadows, kindly provided breeding season records of bridization between Blue-winged and scattered northward in spring, and should Durham; Devil's Hopyard State Park, East Golden-winged Warbler from 1982-1984. Golden-winged Warblers. Auk 97:1-18. you see one in Connecticut please note the Haddam; and Old Saybrook and Old Lyme I thank David A. Sibley for his descriptions Griscom, L and D.E. Snyder. 1955. The time, place, and, if possible, the two-digit at the mouth of the Connecticut River. of the Sharon population in June 1984. I birds of Massachusetts. Salem, Massa­ number on the feather, and send the in­ Blue-wings nest in successional habitats am grateful especially to Frank B. Gill for chusetts, Peabody Museum. formation to: John Smallwood, Dept. of such as abandoned farm fields, young stimulating my interest in Blue-winged Lindsey, J.A. 1843. A catalogue of the Zoology, 1735 Neil Ave ., Columbus, OH second-growth forests, and open edges of and Golden-winged warblers and for his birds of Connecticut, arranged according 43210. streams, rivers, and marshes. The abandon­ discussions and suggestions about their to their natural families. Amer. J. Sci. ment of farms in Connecticut in the late hybridization. Arts 44:249-274. ••• 1800's and the subsequent succession from Manter, J.A. 1965. Birds of Storrs, old fields to second-growth forests coin- Connecticut and vicinity. Storrs,

25 26 Blue-wings, few Golden-wings, a range of cided with the spread of Blue-wings in LITERATURE CITED Connecticut, Natchaugh Ornithological hybrid combinations and the appearance of Connecticut (Gill 1980). Society. the "Lawrence's" type; stage 4 Golden-wings are rare in migration and Averill, C. K., Jr. 1892. List of birds found Merriam, C. H. 1877. A review of the birds introgressed Blue-wings, no Golden-wings, nest in very small numbers at scattered sites in the vicinity of Bridgeport, Connecti­ of Connecticut. Trans. Connecticut and a few hybrids; and stage 5 - Blue­ in northwest Connecticut. Golden-wings cut. Bridgeport, Connecticut, Bridge­ Acad. 4:1-165. wings with some variability in wing-bar nest sporadically in very small numbers port Scientific Society. Sage, J.H . 1893 . Notes on Helminthophila color. elsewhere in northern Connecticut. The Bagg, A. C. and S.A. Eliot, Jr. 1937. Birds chrysoptera, pinus, leucobronchialis, and The series of stages takes roughly 50 Golden-wing's preference for successional of the Connecticut Valley in Massachu­ lawrencei in Connecticut. Auk 10:208- years and results in the replacement of areas with few trees limits it to fields that setts. Northhampton, Massachusetts, 209. Golden-wings by Blue-wings. Nearly all have been abandoned within the last 30 Buckingham and Brewer. --,and LB. Bishop. 1913. The birds of Connecticut localities are now at stage 5. years (Confer and Knapp 1979). Golden­ Bishop, LB. 1889. Helminthophila pinus, Connecticut. Bull. Connecticut State The Litchfield, Kent, and Sharon popula­ wings have the potential for rapid but H. chrysoptera, and H. lawrencei in Con­ Geol. Nat. Hist. Survey No. 20. tions are at stage 3 (pers. obs.; David short-lived increases, both as breeders (see necticut in the spring of 1888. Auk Woodruff, E.S. 1906. A list of the birds of Sibley, pers. comm.). above) and as migrants (Bagg and Eliot 6:192-193. Litchfield, Connecticut. Litchfield En­ 1937). --. 1905. The status of Helminthophila quirer 81:3. (Original not seen.) CURRENT DISTRIBUTION Golden-winged Warblers can be found leucobronchialis and H. lawrencei. Auk nesting regularly only at a few sites - 22:21-24. Peabody Museum, Yale University, New Blue-wings migrate commonly through­ River Road in Kent, Miles Sanctuary on Burr, F.F. 1908. List of the birds of the Haven, CT 06511 out Connecticut and nest commonly to West Cornwall Road in Sharon, and White New Haven region. New Haven, Con­ abundantly in appropriate habitat in south­ Memorial Sanctuary in Litchfield. The typi­ necticut. Publ. New Haven Bird Club, ern Connecticut and along the Connecticut cal Golden-wing song is thinner and less Bull. No. 1. and Naugatuck River valleys, and com­ buzzy than the Blue-wing song, and Confer, J.L and K. Knapp. 1979. The monly to uncommonly throughout the rest consists of a thin bee followed by three buzzz changing proportions of Blue-winged NOTES AND NEWS of the state. notes. Blue-wings occasionally sing a simi­ and Golden-winged warblers in Blue-winged Warblers can be found in lar song, and hybrids can sing either typical Tompkins County and their habitat se­ Sixty-six AMERICAN KESTRELS (Falco suitable habitat almost anywhere in parental song, an atypical song, or a combi­ lection. Kingbird 29:8-14. sparverius) were marked while on winter Connecticut, particularly during spring mi­ nation of typical and atypical song com­ Eames, E.H. 1889. Notes on the Blue­ territories in south Florida during Decem­ gration (late April - late May) and early in ponents. winged Warbler and its allies (Helmintho­ ber 1984 and January 1985. The marking the nesting season (mid - late May), when phila pinus, H. leucobronchialis, H. consists of an imped central tail feather that territorial males sing a distinctive, buzzy ACKNOWLEDGMENTS lawrencei, and H. chrysoptera) in extends about one inch beyond the other song, bee-buzzzz. Some specific locations Connecticut. Auk 6:305-310. tail feathers, is yellow-orange, and bears a are: East Rock Park, New Haven; Birdcraft The Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas Gill, F.B. 1980. Historical aspects of hy­ two-digit number. These birds of course Museum, Fairfield; Durham Meadows, kindly provided breeding season records of bridization between Blue-winged and scattered northward in spring, and should Durham; Devil's Hopyard State Park, East Golden-winged Warbler from 1982-1984. Golden-winged Warblers. Auk 97:1-18. you see one in Connecticut please note the Haddam; and Old Saybrook and Old Lyme I thank David A. Sibley for his descriptions Griscom, L and D.E. Snyder. 1955. The time, place, and, if possible, the two-digit at the mouth of the Connecticut River. of the Sharon population in June 1984. I birds of Massachusetts. Salem, Massa­ number on the feather, and send the in­ Blue-wings nest in successional habitats am grateful especially to Frank B. Gill for chusetts, Peabody Museum. formation to: John Smallwood, Dept. of such as abandoned farm fields, young stimulating my interest in Blue-winged Lindsey, J.A. 1843. A catalogue of the Zoology, 1735 Neil Ave ., Columbus, OH second-growth forests, and open edges of and Golden-winged warblers and for his birds of Connecticut, arranged according 43210. streams, rivers, and marshes. The abandon­ discussions and suggestions about their to their natural families. Amer. J. Sci. ment of farms in Connecticut in the late hybridization. Arts 44:249-274. ••• 1800's and the subsequent succession from Manter, J.A. 1965. Birds of Storrs, old fields to second-growth forests coin- Connecticut and vicinity. Storrs,

25 26 CONTENTS

President's Message 14 Roland C. Clement THE

COA's First Annual Meeting 15 Julio de la Torre CONNECTIClJT A Barnacle Goose in Southbury, with Comments about the 11 Status of Barnacle Goose in North America 16 MarkS . Szantyr WARBLER Dust-Bathing by a Great Crested Flycatcher 19 A Journal of Connecticut Ornithology Ruth Lof

Connecticut Field Notes- Fall 1984 19 Dennis E. Varza

Connecticut Birds- Blue-winged & Golden-winged Warblers 23 Anthony H . Bledsoe

NOTES & NEWS 26

The Connecticut Warbler is a quarterly publication devoted to the advancement of the study of birds. It is published by the Connecticut Ornithological Association. Address all correspondence to 314 Unquowa Road , Fairfield, CT 06430.

The Connecticut Audubon Society Non-Profit Org. 114 Unquowa Road Fairfield, CT 06430 U.S. Postage PAID Fairfield, Conn. Permit No. 95

Volume V Number 2 April1985 Pages 14-26 CONTENTS

The Effects of Mute Swans on Native Waterfowl 27 THE Maria O'Brien and Robert A. Askins The Natchaug Ornithological Society 31 CONNECTIClJT Dolores T . Hilding

Connecticut Field Notes-Winter 1984-1985 32 Dennis E. Varza I\ WARBLER

Connecticut Birds-Red-bellied Woodpecker 35 A Journal of Connecticut Ornithology Joanne A. Luppi

Book Review- The Encyclopedia of Birds 38 Anthony H . Bledsoe

NOTES&NEWS 38

The Connecticut Warbler is a quarterly publication devoted to the advancement of the study of birds. It is published by the Connecticut Ornithological Association . Address all correspondence to 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield , CT 06430.

The Connecticut Audubon Society Non-Profit Org. J14 Unquowa Road fairfi•ld, CT 0&410 U.S. Postage PAID Fairfield, Conn. Permit No. 95

1 I

Volume V Number 3 .July 1985 Pages 27-39 CONNECTICUT ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION THE EFFECTS OF ses of sromach contents. In contrast we have MUTE SWANS ON focused on feeding behavior because rwo President: Roland C. Clement, Norwalk species can use rhe same type of food and Vice-President: Betty Kleiner, Simsbury NATIVE WATERFOWL nor compete if they consistently feed in dif­ Secretary: Winifred Burkett, Storrs ferent parts of the environment. Our obser­ MARIA O'BRIEN AND Treasurer: Robert Fletcher, Cheshire vations of feed ing techniques and habitat R OBERT A. ASKINS Assistant Treasurer: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield utilization by 4 species of waterfowl suggest swans and ducks depend on different food Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) were intro­ Board of Directors sources. duced intO the United States from Europe Term expiring ____ _ at least as early as 1900 (Long 1981), but MET HODS they did not become established in southern December 1986 December 1987 New England until the 1950's, when cap­ Mute Swans were studied at rhree coves Stuart E. Mitchell, Portland Neil W. Currie, Watertown rive birds apparently escaped from estates in along the Thames River in Quaker Hill, Joseph D . Zeranski, Greenwich Shirley S. Davis, Mansfield Center Newport (Palmer 1976). Since then swan Connecticut (Smith Cove and small coves Julio de Ia Torre, New Canaan Donald A. Hopkins, Windsor populations have increased rapidly in north and south of Mamacoke Island) from Robert C. Dewire, Pawcatuck Philip R . Schaeffer, Greenwich Rhode Island and Connecticut. In 1965 no September tO November, 1982 , and from December 1988 Mute Swans were recorded on the February ro May, 1983. The coves are part George W. Zepko, Middletown Connecticut mid-winter waterfowl survey of an estuary with tidal differences of ap­ George A. Clark Jr. , Storrs conducted by the Connecticut Department proximately 0. 5 m. Four species of ducks Fred C. Sibley, Guilford of Environmental Protection (Anon. 1983). were studied for comparison with swans: Stephen P. Broker, New Haven By 1970 over 200 swans were counted in Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), American the state and 1400 swans were recorded in Black Duck (Anas mbripes), American Wig­ THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER 1984. Because Mute Swans are aggressive, eon (Anas americana), and Canvasback Editor: Anthony H. Bledsoe, New Haven reproduce rapidly, have a low morcality (Aythya valisineria). Other species such as Managing Editor: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield rare, and ingest large amounts of aquatic Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes mmllatm) Field Editor: Dennis E. Varza, Fairfield vegetation, their effect on resident and and Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) were not The Connectimt Warbler is published quarterly (January, April, July, and October) by the wintering waterfowl has been a cause of included in the study because they do not Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). Membership to COA is based on a calen­ concern (Reese 1975 , 1980). rely heavily on plant food (Bellrose 1976) dar year, with membership renewable in January. New members of COA receive all four Like many resident and wintering ducks and thus are not likely to compete with issues of The Connectimt Warbler for that year. Make checks payable to The Connecticut Or­ in Connecticut, Mute Swans are primarily swans for food. nithological Association, and mail checks ro 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06430. vegetarians (Berglund et al. 1963). Mute A vegetation analysis using five east to Swans not only feed on the same type of west transect lines was conducted in North­ Membership Fees food needed by ducks, but they feed on veg­ ern Mamacoke Cove in the fall prior to ob­ Member $10.00 Contributing $20.00 etation throughout the year because they do servations. Vegetation samples were taken Family $15.00 Sustaining $30.00 nor migrate. On the basis of a comparison every 5 m with a benthic grab sampler and Founder $300.00, payable in three annual install­ of the diets of Mute Swans and various spe­ depth was recorded . Another transect line ments and conferring life membership. cies of ducks, however, Willey and Halla was run on the southern portion of Smith The editors invite submission of articles, notes, black and white photographs and line (1972) concluded that feeding behavior of Cove. drawings for publication in The Connecticut Warbler. Manuscripts sould be typewritten, swans probably does nor affect ducks ad­ Individual waterfowl were observed for double-spaced and on one side of the sheet only, with ample margins. The style of manu­ versely (although aggressive behavior by 2-5 minutes to determine the primary feed­ scripts should follow the general usage in recent issues. swans during the breeding season might). ing technique and the feeding distance from Previous comparisons of the diets of shore. Feeding techniques were classified Cover: John H . Dick's Connecticut Warbler sketch (see notes and news section). Mute Swans and ducks were based on analy- into four categories: ( 1) Dabbling; Food ob-

27 THE EFFECTS OF ses of stomach contents. In contrast we have focused on feeding behavior because two MUTE SWANS ON species can use the same type of food and NATIVE WATERFOWL not compete if they consistently feed in dif­ ferent parts of the environment. Our obser­ MARIA O'BRIEN AND vations of feeding techniques and habitat ROBERT A. ASKINS utilization by 4 species of waterfowl suggest swans and ducks depend on different food Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) were intro­ sources. duced into the United States from Europe at least as early as 1900 (Long 1981), but METHODS they did not become established in southern New England until the 1950's, when cap­ Mute Swans were studied at three coves tive birds apparently escaped from estates in along the Thames River in Quaker Hill, Newport (Palmer 1976). Since then swan Connecticut (Smith Cove and small coves populations have increased rapidly m north and south of Mamacoke Island) from Rhode Island and Connecticut. In 1965 no September to November, 1982, and from Mute Swans were recorded on the February to May, 1983. The coves are part Connecticut mid-winter waterfowl survey of an estuary with tidal differences of ap­ conducted by the Connecticut Department proximately 0. 5 m. Four species of ducks of Environmental Protection (Anon. 1983). were studied for comparison with swans: By 1970 over 200 swans were counted in Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), American the state and 1400 swans were recorded in Black Duck (Anas rubripes), American Wig­ 1984. Because Mute Swans are aggressive, eon (Anas americana), and Canvasback reproduce rapidly, have a low mortality (Aythya valisineria). Other species such as rate, and ingest large amounts of aquatic Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) vegetation, their effect on resident and and Greater Scaup (Aythya mari/a) were not wintering waterfowl has been a cause of included in the study because they do not concern (Reese 1975, 1980). rely heavily on plant food (Bellrose 1976) Like many resident and wintering ducks and thus are not likely to compete with in Connecticut, Mute Swans are primarily swans for food. vegetarians (Berglund et al. 1963). Mute A vegetation analysis using five east to Swans not only feed on the same type of west transect lines was conducted in North­ food needed by ducks, but they feed on veg­ ern Mamacoke Cove in the fall prior to ob­ etation throughout the year because they do servations. Vegetation samples were taken not migrate. On the basis of a comparison every 5 m with a benthic grab sampler and of the diets of Mute Swans and various spe­ depth was recorded. Another transect line cies of ducks, however, Willey and Halla was run on the southern portion of Smith (1972) concluded that feeding behavior of Cove. swans probably does not affect ducks ad­ Individual waterfowl were observed for versely (although aggressive behavior by 2-5 minutes to determine the primary feed­ swans during the breeding season might). ing technique and the feeding distance from Previous comparisons of the diets of shore. Feeding techniques were classified Mute Swans and ducks were based on analy- into four categories: ( 1) Dabbling; Food ob-

27 tained from the water surface or off rocks the shore along all of the transects; 15 m more likely to dig plants out of the mud was abundant in our study area, we can not without submergence of the body. (2) from shore it reached 1. 5-2 m at high tide. when they dive (Perry, 1982), while swans conclude from the single vegetation survey Neck-Plunging; Food obtained below the In both seasons the feeding areas and often only nip off the shoots, leaving the that food is always so abundant that water­ surface by submergence of the head and feeding techniques of swans were signifi­ roots intact (Berglund et al. 1963). Fur­ fowl never compete for food. However, neck. (3) Tipping; Food obtained from cantly different from those used by any of thermore, invertebrates (especially mol­ even if food is in short supply, swans may deeper water by upending with submer­ the duck species (chi-square test; p10m. All dis­ ply is large. Willey and Halla (1972) ar­ swans and ducks during different periods of feeding on floating vegetation approxi­ tances were measured from the water's edge gued that the situation is similar in Rhode the tide. (rather than the shore) to compensate for mately 20 m from shore (Fig . 2). Canvas­ Island, even on small ponds with large con­ Willey and Halla ( 1972) suggested the backs only used diving as a feeding tech­ tidal fluctuations. centrations of wintering swans. They con­ aggressiveness of swans during the breeding Any threat displays or aggressive behav­ nique and fed 5-10 m from shore when the cluded that competition between swans and season may interfere with nesting attempts ior shown by Mute Swans toward ducks or cove was ice free. When most of the study ducks was insignificant because there was by geese and ducks. Stone and Marsters other swans were noted . area was covered with ice, Canvasbacks fed no shortage of food. Although sea lettuce (1970) reported that territorial Mute Swans along the edge of the ice, at one time RESULTS 70-100 m from shore. In contrast, swans Ill z and dabbling ducks fed between the ice and 0 .------DIVING 146 Approximately 8 Black Ducks and 24 shore (l-5 m from the water's edge) where a -innl - 1- American Wigeon were present during small amount of open water remained. c both seasons, while Mallards increased from > II: 8 in the fall to 15 in the spring. A flock of DISCUSSION .., more than 500 Canvasbacks arrived in Feb­ Ill Ill ruary, decreased to 0 the first few days of The feeding techniques and feeding areas 0 March, after which 24 returned and re­ used by swans are distinctly different from 1&. mained through the first part of April. those used by any of the ducks. Thus, de­ 0 The 20-30 Mute Swans present in Sep­ spite the large winter concentrations of 1- tember increased to 130 by November, but Mute Swans in the coves adjacent to z .., were back down to 30 by February. In Mamacoke Island, there was little competi­ NECK PLUNGING CJ 20 March, 12-14 individuals, including 2 tion for food between swans and ducks. II: .., pairs, remained. It was evident from their Both swans and ducks fed primarily on sea II. aggressive behavior toward other swans that lettuce, but the swans usually foraged fur­ I IWffAA WUQ21 WAYAa m the two pairs had established breeding ther from shore and fed by neck-plunging. :.: territories. This permitted them to reach to a depth of wz CJc 0 ... c zz :.::.: Ill II: :::1~ "'o CJCJ c The vegetation analysis showed the en­ 1.2 m (Berglund et al. 1963) and obtain ::EIII !::!.., -' II:~ ~::I -' w- 1110 ~z c tire bottom of Northern Mamacoke Cove food unavailable to dabbling ducks. ::E ::E~ c supported a dense carpet of sea lettuce (VIva Canvasbacks tended to feed further from c CJ lactuca). The Smith Cove transect recorded shore than swans, but when they fed in sea lettuce out to 15 m from shore after shallow water they may have used the same Figure 1. Primary foraging techniques of five species of waterfowl. Sample sizes are shown which there was no bottom vegetation. The food supply. Even then food competition above the bars. depth of the water increased steadily from was probably limited. Canvasbacks are

28 29 more likely to dig plants our of the mud was abundant in our study area, we can not when they dive (Perry, 1982), while swans conclude from the single vegetation survey often only nip off the shoots, leaving the that food is always so abundant that water­ roots intact (Berglund et al. 1963). Fur­ fowl never compete for food. However, thermore, invertebrates (especially mol­ even if food is in short supply, swans may luscs) are a major component of the diet of not compete with ducks because they usu­ Canvasbacks in some regions (Perry, 1982). ally feed in deeper water than dabbling Berglund et al. (1963) concluded tha ducks and shallower water than Canvas­ Mute Swans have little effect on aquatic backs. Some competition could occur when vegetation in southeastern Sweden because ice forces swans to feed in shallow water or plant productivity is high and the food sup­ when the same vegetation zone is used by ply is large. Willey and Halla (1972) ar­ swans and ducks during different periods of gued that the situation is similar in Rhode the tide. Island, even on small ponds with large con­ Willey and Halla (1972) suggested the centrations of wintering swans. They con­ aggressiveness of swans during the breeding cluded that competition between swans and season may interfere with nesting attempts ducks was insignificant because there was by geese and ducks. Stone and Marsters no shortage of food. Although sea lettuce ( 1970) reported that territorial Mute Swans

Ill z 0 r------DIVING 146 16 .... c > ...Ill: Ill Ill DABBLING 0 ... 0 .... z ... NECK PLUNGING u Ill:... D.

wz .... c zz Q ::dl:: co cIIC :1!111 !:!w .... lli:C,ll .... w- :Eil': i c

Figure 1. Primary foraging techniques of five species of waterfowl. Sample sizes are shown above the bars.

29 killed a large number of ducks and geese in Swan nests without any signs of aggressive ments on drafts of this paper. Much of the Department of Natural Resources, Divi­ a zoo, but all of the waterfowl were pin­ behavior. field work was done in the Connecticut sion ofFish and Wildlife. Pamphlet No. ioned and were confined to a small enclo­ Our study near Mamacoke Island sug­ Arboretum. 8. sure. Swans apparently are not normally gests Mute Swans have relatively lil:rle ef­ this aggressive under more natural circum­ fect on wintering and resident ducks. Com­ LITERATURE CITED Department of Zoology, Connecticut stances. From an extensive study of Mute petition for food between swans and ducks College, New London, CT 06320 Swans in Great Britain, Eltringham (1963) may be limited by an abundance of food as Anonymous. 1983. Midwinter waterfowl concluded that attacks on other species are well as differences in feeding areas and feed­ survey. Region 5. U.S. F&WS, Dept. of rare. Likewise, during our extended obser­ ing methods. However, the steady increase Interior, N ewron Corner, Massacusetts. THE NATCHAUG vations of both territOrial and non­ in Mute Swan populations makes it impera­ Bellrose, F.C. 1976. Ducks, geese, and ORNITHOLOGICAL territOrial swans, we recorded no instances tive to continue monitoring the effect of swans of North America. Stackpole of aggressive behavior roward ducks. Also, swans on native waterfowl. Books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. SOCIETY Ann Balsamo (pers. comm.) observed no Berglund, B.E ., K. Curry-Lindahl, H . aggression against other species of birds in a ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Luther, V. Olsson, W. Rodhe and G. DOLORES T. HILDING 14 week study of courtship and territorial Sellerburg. 1963. The ecological signifi­ behavior of 5 pairs of Mute Swans on the We are grateful to Thomas Loureiro for cance of the Mute Swan (Cygnm olor) in The Natchaug Ornithological Society Thames River. Both Eltringham (1963) help with field observations, Karen Askins southeastern Sweden. Acta Vertebratica (NOS) of Mansfield , Connecticut, began as and Willey and Halla (1972) recorded wa­ and Bart Hoskins for help with the illustra­ 2:161-288 . an independent group for the study of birds terfowl nesting within a few meters of Mute tions, and Greg Chasko for valuable com- Eltringham, S.K . 1963. The British popu­ on 26 June 1956. Jerauld Manter, Professor lation of the Mute Swan in 1961. Bird Emeritus of Entomology, and James Slater, Study 10: 10-28. Professor of Biology, both of the University Ill Long., .L. 1981. Introduced birds of the z J of Connecticut, and two experienced orni­ 0 world. Universe Books, New York, NY. thologists, Frank McCamey and the late 76 .... 1 Palmer, R .S. 1976. Handbook of North Richard May, along with eleven other per­ c l'..}llL'Jll>lOmfrom shore American birds. Vol. 2. Yale University sons , selected the Society's name. They also > Press, New Haven, CT. II: dedicated the Society to the study, observa­ loll Perry, M .C. 1982. Distribution and food tion, sharing of sightings, and establish­ Ill ID 5 10m from shore habits of Canvasback in the Northeast. ment of a record of the birds of Mansfield 0 Transactions of the 39th Northeast Fish and the nearby rowns of Coventry, Tolland , ... and Wildlife Conference, 13-15 April Willington, Ashford, Chaplin, Windham, 0 1982 . Cherry Hill, New Jersey. and Columbia. Subsequently the NOS has .... Reese , J. G. 1975 . Productivity and man­ expanded its coverage to the town of Un­ z agement of feral Mute Swans in the ion. Storrs, the part of Mansfield in which loll u 1 Sm from shore Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Wildlife the University of Connecticut is located, II: Management 39:280-286. has been an area of special interest to the loll a. ---· 1980. The demography of Euro­ NOS. 0 1m from shore pean Mute Swans in the Chesapeake Bay. The Society's emphasis from the begin­ :.r:: 0 loiiZ Auk 97:449-463 . z :.r:: ning, and throughout all twenty-eight cz u:.r:: II: 1-C ~ cu c :::1~ Stone, W.B . and A.D. Marsters. 1970. ~e ..J:::I ..J :Ell! years , has been on the accurate reporting

ll:e,:~ IDO ..J w- ~ c Aggression among captive Mute Swans. and recording of where and when particular ~~ 5 ::E New York Fish and Game Journal. species have been seen , and , more recently, 17:51-53. on nesting , feeding, and ocher behavioral Figure 2. Primary feeding areas of five species of waterfowl. Sample sizes are shown above Willey, C. and B. Halla. 1972. Mute activities. A board of three members re­ the bars. Swans of Rhode Island . Rhode Island views unusual sightings, and one board

30 3 1 killed a large number of ducks and geese in Swan nests without any signs of aggressive ments on drafts of this paper. Much of the Department of Natural Resources, Divi­ a zoo, but all of the waterfowl were pin­ behavior. field work was done in the Connecticut sion ofFish and Wildlife. Pamphlet No. ioned and were confined to a small enclo­ Our study near Mamacoke Island sug­ Arboretum. 8. sure. Swans apparently are not normally gests Mute Swans have relatively lil:rle ef­ this aggressive under more natural circum­ fect on wintering and resident ducks. Com­ LITERATURE CITED Department of Zoology, Connecticut stances. From an extensive study of Mute petition for food between swans and ducks College, New London, CT 06320 Swans in Great Britain, Eltringham (1963) may be limited by an abundance of food as Anonymous. 1983. Midwinter waterfowl concluded that attacks on other species are well as differences in feeding areas and feed­ survey. Region 5. U.S. F&WS, Dept. of rare. Likewise, during our extended obser­ ing methods. However, the steady increase Interior, N ewron Corner, Massacusetts. THE NATCHAUG vations of both territOrial and non­ in Mute Swan populations makes it impera­ Bellrose, F.C. 1976. Ducks, geese, and ORNITHOLOGICAL territOrial swans, we recorded no instances tive to continue monitoring the effect of swans of North America. Stackpole of aggressive behavior roward ducks. Also, swans on native waterfowl. Books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. SOCIETY Ann Balsamo (pers. comm.) observed no Berglund, B.E ., K. Curry-Lindahl, H . aggression against other species of birds in a ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Luther, V. Olsson, W. Rodhe and G. DOLORES T. HILDING 14 week study of courtship and territorial Sellerburg. 1963. The ecological signifi­ behavior of 5 pairs of Mute Swans on the We are grateful to Thomas Loureiro for cance of the Mute Swan (Cygnm olor) in The Natchaug Ornithological Society Thames River. Both Eltringham (1963) help with field observations, Karen Askins southeastern Sweden. Acta Vertebratica (NOS) of Mansfield , Connecticut, began as and Willey and Halla (1972) recorded wa­ and Bart Hoskins for help with the illustra­ 2:161-288 . an independent group for the study of birds terfowl nesting within a few meters of Mute tions, and Greg Chasko for valuable com- Eltringham, S.K . 1963. The British popu­ on 26 June 1956. Jerauld Manter, Professor lation of the Mute Swan in 1961. Bird Emeritus of Entomology, and James Slater, Study 10: 10-28. Professor of Biology, both of the University Ill Long., .L. 1981. Introduced birds of the z J of Connecticut, and two experienced orni­ 0 world. Universe Books, New York, NY. thologists, Frank McCamey and the late 76 .... 1 Palmer, R .S. 1976. Handbook of North Richard May, along with eleven other per­ c l'..}llL'Jll>lOmfrom shore American birds. Vol. 2. Yale University sons , selected the Society's name. They also > Press, New Haven, CT. II: dedicated the Society to the study, observa­ loll Perry, M .C. 1982. Distribution and food tion, sharing of sightings, and establish­ Ill ID 5 10m from shore habits of Canvasback in the Northeast. ment of a record of the birds of Mansfield 0 Transactions of the 39th Northeast Fish and the nearby rowns of Coventry, Tolland , ... and Wildlife Conference, 13-15 April Willington, Ashford, Chaplin, Windham, 0 1982 . Cherry Hill, New Jersey. and Columbia. Subsequently the NOS has .... Reese , J. G. 1975 . Productivity and man­ expanded its coverage to the town of Un­ z agement of feral Mute Swans in the ion. Storrs, the part of Mansfield in which loll u 1 Sm from shore Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Wildlife the University of Connecticut is located, II: Management 39:280-286. has been an area of special interest to the loll a. ---· 1980. The demography of Euro­ NOS. 0 1m from shore pean Mute Swans in the Chesapeake Bay. The Society's emphasis from the begin­ :.r:: 0 loiiZ Auk 97:449-463 . z :.r:: ning, and throughout all twenty-eight cz u:.r:: II: 1-C ~ cu c :::1~ Stone, W.B . and A.D. Marsters. 1970. ~e ..J:::I ..J :Ell! years , has been on the accurate reporting

ll:e,:~ IDO ..J w- ~ c Aggression among captive Mute Swans. and recording of where and when particular ~~ 5 ::E New York Fish and Game Journal. species have been seen , and , more recently, 17:51-53. on nesting , feeding, and ocher behavioral Figure 2. Primary feeding areas of five species of waterfowl. Sample sizes are shown above Willey, C. and B. Halla. 1972. Mute activities. A board of three members re­ the bars. Swans of Rhode Island . Rhode Island views unusual sightings, and one board

30 3 1 member is co be called co verify sightings of coric Trust, American Littoral Society,. Si­ many species that normally leave or die in LOONS THROUGH WATERFOWL rare birds. Our three curacors, Margaret erra Club, and other ornithological and November to survive inco December. Meigs Skipper, Ruth Canfield, and, since conservation organizations. NOS members Highlights of the winter included a proba­ After the record number of Double­ 1962, Shirley Davis, have kept yearly re­ participate in the Connecticut Breeding ble Mew Gull, and the second record of crested Cormorants on the CBCs, it is not cords of members' observations and have Bird Atlas project, the U.S. Fish and Lark Bunting. Other records include two surpnsmg this species was recorded distributed copies of reports for May Counts Wildlife Service roadside surveys of breed­ Eurasian Wigeons, two Golden Eagles, nu­ through February. Two American Bitterns and Christmas Counts. ing birds, Christmas Counts, and the Hawk merous white-winged gulls, one Logger­ seen on the Stratford CBC remained into The NOS records were incorporated in Watch. head and one Northern Shrike, and a early January (MS). The Barnacle Goose two editions of Jerauld Manter's Birds of Bird-banding was introduced co NOS Yellow-headed Blackbird. Winter vagrants found in November was last seen January Storrs. Connectimt. and Vicinity (1965, members by Frank McCamey in 1957. He included Eastern Phoebe, Lincoln's Spar­ 10 (m.ob.). Individual Snow Geese were 1975), which was published by the NOS . instructed and supervised about ten mem­ row, Northern Orioles, and 8 species of found across the state including one bird in The book is a significant publication and bers as banders. Many of the data obtained warblers. For more details on Christmas Storrs, December 3 to March (m.ob.) and has some of the most detailed records for through this activity were included in his Bird Count sightings see The Connecticut one immature at Oyster River, West Ha­ any limited region within Connecticut. Mr. doctoral dissertation on the population bi­ Warbler 5:2-4. ven. The Eurasian subspecies of Green­ Manter has lived in Storrs since 1912 and ology of the Black-capped Chickadee (Pams December was unusually warm. There winged Teal was seen at Gulf Pond, has kept bird records ro the present. A com­ atricapillus). The master permit for banding were 10 days with temperatures over 50° F, Milford in a flock of Green-winged Teals, pact checklist of the birds of the Scorrs area was subsequently held by Ruth LOf, who, 15 days with mean temperatures over January 30 to February 10. This may be the by Dr. Robert Craig was published by the with her husband John, transferred the 40° F, and only 3 days with mean tempera­ same individual seen there last year. North­ NOS in 1978. More than 250 species have banding information to a computer in tures below freezing. All temperature read­ ern Pintails were fairly common with every been recorded in the NOS area. 1963. Today, banding continues at the ings are from Sikorsky Memorial Airport in area reporting one or two birds. Two The Society meets the first Friday eve­ Liifs' station and elsewhere, with George Stratford. This warm period was responsi­ Eurasian Wigeons were reported, one in ning of each month from Occober through Clark, Professor of Ornithology at Univer­ ble for many warblers and other insect eat­ Bridgeport Harbor (DV), December 23 to May at the Unitarian Meeting House in sity of Connecticut, holding the master per­ ers surviving to the Christmas Bird Counts. February 13 and the other at Merwin Pt. Storrs. Either a member or a guest presents mit. He and Shirley Davis have been the Major cold fronts occurred only on De­ Milford (AB,SB) December 20 to March. a program. Field trips co local areas, neigh­ principal banders at the Liifs' station in re­ cember 7 and December 24 (the latter ac­ Seaduck numbers were down the whole sea­ boring states, and the shoreline are led by cent years with help from Ruth Liif, NOS companied by snow). The first two days of son, while fresh water species, such as members from September through June . members, and university students. January were warm (50° F), but then tem­ Ring-necked Duck, Common Merganser, The membership of upward of one hun­ peratures dropped and 50° F was not and Hooded Merganser were more dred persons comprises tOwnspeople within 22 Southwood Rd., Scorrs, Connecticut reached again until February 19. Between common. fifteen to twenty miles, high school stu­ 06268 January 3 and February 10 there were only dents, university undergraduate and gradu­ 4 days with mean temperatures above HAWKS THROUGH TERNS ate students, and university staff, largely freezing. from the University of Connecticut and CONNECTICUT January 14-18 saw the major snow storm Twenty wintering Bald Eagles were some from Eastern Connecticut State FIELD NOTES of the winter followed by the lowest tem­ counted on a state-wide survey December University. perature of the season (- 3° F) on January 15 (SM). An immature Golden Eagle in The NOS remains an independent organ­ 21. Any surviving lingerers were wiped out Essex in December was followed by an adult ization but is affiliated with the National Winter: December 1, 1984- by this combination. in the same area from mid-January to Audubon Society and the Connecticut February 28, 1985 A second major storm and cold spell March (CT). Northern Harriers were wide­ Audubon Society (CAS). Members actively occurred February 2-9, followed by a rapid spread but in low numbers. Sharp-shinned participate in programs of the Connecticut DENNIS E. VARZA warming trend accompanied by rain. Mean Hawks were considered more common this Ornithological Association, Mansfield Con­ temperatures went from 14° F on February winter. Rough-legged Hawks were scarce servation Commission, Friends of Trail The winter season started mild, then 9 to 39° F on the 13th. This cleared the and all non-CBC records came from the Wood at the CAS Edwin Way Teale Sanc­ turned colder in January and continued cold bays of ice, opened the marshes, and pro­ Connecticut River area. Storrs had a pair of tuary, Joshua's Tract Conservation and His- into mid-February. The mild weather let duced the first spring flocks of blackbirds. Red-shouldered Hawks, possible early mi-

32 33 member is co be called co verify sightings of coric Trust, American Littoral Society,. Si­ many species that normally leave or die in LOONS THROUGH WATERFOWL rare birds. Our three curacors, Margaret erra Club, and other ornithological and November to survive inco December. Meigs Skipper, Ruth Canfield, and, since conservation organizations. NOS members Highlights of the winter included a proba­ After the record number of Double­ 1962, Shirley Davis, have kept yearly re­ participate in the Connecticut Breeding ble Mew Gull, and the second record of crested Cormorants on the CBCs, it is not cords of members' observations and have Bird Atlas project, the U.S. Fish and Lark Bunting. Other records include two surpnsmg this species was recorded distributed copies of reports for May Counts Wildlife Service roadside surveys of breed­ Eurasian Wigeons, two Golden Eagles, nu­ through February. Two American Bitterns and Christmas Counts. ing birds, Christmas Counts, and the Hawk merous white-winged gulls, one Logger­ seen on the Stratford CBC remained into The NOS records were incorporated in Watch. head and one Northern Shrike, and a early January (MS). The Barnacle Goose two editions of Jerauld Manter's Birds of Bird-banding was introduced co NOS Yellow-headed Blackbird. Winter vagrants found in November was last seen January Storrs. Connectimt. and Vicinity (1965, members by Frank McCamey in 1957. He included Eastern Phoebe, Lincoln's Spar­ 10 (m.ob.). Individual Snow Geese were 1975), which was published by the NOS . instructed and supervised about ten mem­ row, Northern Orioles, and 8 species of found across the state including one bird in The book is a significant publication and bers as banders. Many of the data obtained warblers. For more details on Christmas Storrs, December 3 to March (m.ob.) and has some of the most detailed records for through this activity were included in his Bird Count sightings see The Connecticut one immature at Oyster River, West Ha­ any limited region within Connecticut. Mr. doctoral dissertation on the population bi­ Warbler 5:2-4. ven. The Eurasian subspecies of Green­ Manter has lived in Storrs since 1912 and ology of the Black-capped Chickadee (Pams December was unusually warm. There winged Teal was seen at Gulf Pond, has kept bird records ro the present. A com­ atricapillus). The master permit for banding were 10 days with temperatures over 50° F, Milford in a flock of Green-winged Teals, pact checklist of the birds of the Scorrs area was subsequently held by Ruth LOf, who, 15 days with mean temperatures over January 30 to February 10. This may be the by Dr. Robert Craig was published by the with her husband John, transferred the 40° F, and only 3 days with mean tempera­ same individual seen there last year. North­ NOS in 1978. More than 250 species have banding information to a computer in tures below freezing. All temperature read­ ern Pintails were fairly common with every been recorded in the NOS area. 1963. Today, banding continues at the ings are from Sikorsky Memorial Airport in area reporting one or two birds. Two The Society meets the first Friday eve­ Liifs' station and elsewhere, with George Stratford. This warm period was responsi­ Eurasian Wigeons were reported, one in ning of each month from Occober through Clark, Professor of Ornithology at Univer­ ble for many warblers and other insect eat­ Bridgeport Harbor (DV), December 23 to May at the Unitarian Meeting House in sity of Connecticut, holding the master per­ ers surviving to the Christmas Bird Counts. February 13 and the other at Merwin Pt. Storrs. Either a member or a guest presents mit. He and Shirley Davis have been the Major cold fronts occurred only on De­ Milford (AB,SB) December 20 to March. a program. Field trips co local areas, neigh­ principal banders at the Liifs' station in re­ cember 7 and December 24 (the latter ac­ Seaduck numbers were down the whole sea­ boring states, and the shoreline are led by cent years with help from Ruth Liif, NOS companied by snow). The first two days of son, while fresh water species, such as members from September through June . members, and university students. January were warm (50° F), but then tem­ Ring-necked Duck, Common Merganser, The membership of upward of one hun­ peratures dropped and 50° F was not and Hooded Merganser were more dred persons comprises tOwnspeople within 22 Southwood Rd., Scorrs, Connecticut reached again until February 19. Between common. fifteen to twenty miles, high school stu­ 06268 January 3 and February 10 there were only dents, university undergraduate and gradu­ 4 days with mean temperatures above HAWKS THROUGH TERNS ate students, and university staff, largely freezing. from the University of Connecticut and CONNECTICUT January 14-18 saw the major snow storm Twenty wintering Bald Eagles were some from Eastern Connecticut State FIELD NOTES of the winter followed by the lowest tem­ counted on a state-wide survey December University. perature of the season (- 3° F) on January 15 (SM). An immature Golden Eagle in The NOS remains an independent organ­ 21. Any surviving lingerers were wiped out Essex in December was followed by an adult ization but is affiliated with the National Winter: December 1, 1984- by this combination. in the same area from mid-January to Audubon Society and the Connecticut February 28, 1985 A second major storm and cold spell March (CT). Northern Harriers were wide­ Audubon Society (CAS). Members actively occurred February 2-9, followed by a rapid spread but in low numbers. Sharp-shinned participate in programs of the Connecticut DENNIS E. VARZA warming trend accompanied by rain. Mean Hawks were considered more common this Ornithological Association, Mansfield Con­ temperatures went from 14° F on February winter. Rough-legged Hawks were scarce servation Commission, Friends of Trail The winter season started mild, then 9 to 39° F on the 13th. This cleared the and all non-CBC records came from the Wood at the CAS Edwin Way Teale Sanc­ turned colder in January and continued cold bays of ice, opened the marshes, and pro­ Connecticut River area. Storrs had a pair of tuary, Joshua's Tract Conservation and His- into mid-February. The mild weather let duced the first spring flocks of blackbirds. Red-shouldered Hawks, possible early mi-

32 33 grants, on February 24 (GC, WB). The state-wide. Common Flicker, sometimes a scarce from mid-December on. A Yellow­ Count recorded a Red-bellied Woodpecker Peregrine Falcon reported on the Hartford rare winter resident, was common every­ headed Blackbird, found on the Hartford in 1975. Since then a Red-bellied Wood­ CBC stayed through January. where this winter. CBC, remained in the area through Janu­ pecker has visited our feeder every winter (2 Three Semipalmated Plovers stayed Two Eastern Phoebes were seen on CBCs ary. Blackbird flocks were regular all period since 1977) and in 1983 12 were seen on through December in the New Haven Har·· plus one in New Haven in late December with the major spring movement starring the Salmon River count. In this paper I dis­ bor area (RS). A Little Gull spent the (DV ,DS,RS) and another in Storrs January February 20. Winter finches continued to cuss the recent changes in the status of Red­ winter in New Haven Harbor (m.ob .). This 31 (GC). Chickadees and Red-breasted Nut­ be scarce with scattered reporrs of only a bellied Woodpecker and irs current range was a good winter for white-winged gulls. hatches were considered scarce by many ob­ II few species (Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Sis­ expansion northward. Greenwich had 1 Iceland Gull February servers . House Wren reports included one kins, and Purple Finches) mainly in the 18-22 (TBa,JZ), Bridgeporr had 1 Iceland in Middlebury December 14 (MS,BD), one !. northern half of the stare. HISTORY PRIOR TO 1945 and 1 Glaucous Gull December 23 to in Stratford December 16-29 (DV) and one March (DV), New Haven had 4 Iceland and in Norwalk January 27 (RC). Cedar Wax­ Contributers: Tom Baptist, Anthony Linsley (1843 ), Merriam (1877), Sage 6 Glaucous gulls December 20 to March, wings and Golden-crowned Kinglets re­ Bledsoe, Milan Bull, Tom Burke, Winnie and Bishop (1913), Forbush (1927), Bagg Stonington had 1 Glaucous Gull mid­ mained plentiful through the period. Burkett, George Clark, Roland Clement, and Eliot (1937), Chapman (1937) and December to March (RD), and Hanford Ruby-crowned Kinglets, normally rare New Haven Bird Club, Western Con­ Cruickshank (1942) list only 4 Connecticut had 1 Glaucous Gull from mid-December after December, were reported by several necticut Bird Club, Maury Covington, Neil records of Red-bellied Woodpecker before to March. The Lesser Black-backed Gull observers. A lingering Swainson's Thrush Currie, Buzz and Debbie Devine, Robert 1900 and 1 after the turn of the century. seen the past four winters on the Greenwich in Canton was last seen December 5 (JK er Dewire, Angela Dimmitt, Rick Helprin, Eaton (1914) describes the Red-bellied -New York border returned again. A possi­ a!.). A Northern Shrike in Lyme mid­ Jay Kaplan, Berry Kleiner, Frank Manrlik, Woodpecker as "common on Long Island ble Mew Gull in West Haven would be the January (NP) and a Loggerhead Shrike in Stuart Mitchell, Russ Naylor, Mianus Field and in the lower Hudson Valley 50 years first confirmed record for the state (NC er Norrh Haven all December (m.ob.) were Notes, m .ob. = many observers, Noble ago." Cruickshank (1942) listed it as a resi­ a!.). In Westport a Common Tern on the sole shrike reporrs. Proctor, Ray Schwartz, David Sibley, Fred dent on Long Island until about 1850. He Compo Beach December 10 (MB) was December's warbler list was very impres­ Sibley, Mark Szantyr, Clay Taylor, Dennis reported only 9 sighrings in the New York unusually late. sive with 9 species reponed on CBCs. In Varza, Joe Zeranski. City-Long Island-northern New Jersey area addition a Palm Warbler was seen in since 1900. In Massachusetts on 15 Decem­ Stratford December 13(DV), a Northern ber 1945 one was sighted at a feeder in OWLS THROUGH WARBL ERS Warerthrush in Milford December 30 to CONNECTICUT BIRDS Swampscott (Records of New England Birds January 2(DV), and a Yellow-breasted Char 1945) and the editor remarked " . .. the Most owls were well represented on in Milford December 31 (DV,RS). northernmost record for the eastern United CBCs but a few species were scarce. The RED-BELLIED• Stares . . . the sixth for Massachusetts . . . only Snowy Owl reponed was at Sandy Pt. , SPARROWS THROUGH FINCHES the eleventh for New England (second in West Haven December 15-20 (GL,ML). WOODPECKER the twentieth century)." Saw-whet Owls and Shore-eared Owls were Two Dickcissels in Darien all December much scarcer this winter. The Long-eared were seen by many observers. Up to 4 JOANNE A. LUPPI EXPANSION SINCE 1945 Owl that wintered tn Hammonasset Ipswich Sparrows stayed through January (m.ob.) was the only one reported. on Long Beach in Stratford (DV). An im­ I first became interested in the Red­ During the 1950's The Records of New The normally uncommon Yellow-bellied mature male Lark Bunting in the company I' bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinm) England Birds published four records for Sapsucker was reported across the state all of several Snow Buntings was found in Bea­ when a male appeared at our feeder in Connecticut (two from Westport and one season. Red-headed Woodpeckers were re­ con Falls February 22-23 (BD, er a!), the Portland during December 1974. A little each from Farmington and Manchester) and poned in Roxbury for several weeks in De­ only rarity during the winter doldrums. research revealed that the species occurs pri­ two records from Massachusetts. Baird and cember (NC) and in Simsbury (JK) Febru­ Dark-eyed Juncos continued to be common marily in the southeastern United Stares Emery (1959) cited records from New­ ary 27. Red-bellied Woodpeckers, regular throughout rhe period. A small movement and that it was considered uncommon in buryport, Massachusetts, and Tamworth, in the 1960's only tn southwestern of Snow Buntings occurred February 22-25, Connecticut. My interest was renewed New Hampshire. Most of these sighrings Connecticut are now reponed regularly bur both these and Lapland Longspur were when the first Salmon River Christmas were at feeders and usually the birds were

34 35 grants, on February 24 (GC, WB). The state-wide. Common Flicker, sometimes a scarce from mid-December on. A Yellow­ Count recorded a Red-bellied Woodpecker Peregrine Falcon reported on the Hartford rare winter resident, was common every­ headed Blackbird, found on the Hartford in 1975. Since then a Red-bellied Wood­ CBC stayed through January. where this winter. CBC, remained in the area through Janu­ pecker has visited our feeder every winter (2 Three Semipalmated Plovers stayed Two Eastern Phoebes were seen on CBCs ary. Blackbird flocks were regular all period since 1977) and in 1983 12 were seen on through December in the New Haven Har·· plus one in New Haven in late December with the major spring movement starring the Salmon River count. In this paper I dis­ bor area (RS). A Little Gull spent the (DV ,DS,RS) and another in Storrs January February 20. Winter finches continued to cuss the recent changes in the status of Red­ winter in New Haven Harbor (m.ob .). This 31 (GC). Chickadees and Red-breasted Nut­ be scarce with scattered reporrs of only a bellied Woodpecker and irs current range was a good winter for white-winged gulls. hatches were considered scarce by many ob­ II few species (Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Sis­ expansion northward. Greenwich had 1 Iceland Gull February servers . House Wren reports included one kins, and Purple Finches) mainly in the 18-22 (TBa,JZ), Bridgeporr had 1 Iceland in Middlebury December 14 (MS,BD), one !. northern half of the stare. HISTORY PRIOR TO 1945 and 1 Glaucous Gull December 23 to in Stratford December 16-29 (DV) and one March (DV), New Haven had 4 Iceland and in Norwalk January 27 (RC). Cedar Wax­ Contributers: Tom Baptist, Anthony Linsley (1843 ), Merriam (1877), Sage 6 Glaucous gulls December 20 to March, wings and Golden-crowned Kinglets re­ Bledsoe, Milan Bull, Tom Burke, Winnie and Bishop (1913), Forbush (1927), Bagg Stonington had 1 Glaucous Gull mid­ mained plentiful through the period. Burkett, George Clark, Roland Clement, and Eliot (1937), Chapman (1937) and December to March (RD), and Hanford Ruby-crowned Kinglets, normally rare New Haven Bird Club, Western Con­ Cruickshank (1942) list only 4 Connecticut had 1 Glaucous Gull from mid-December after December, were reported by several necticut Bird Club, Maury Covington, Neil records of Red-bellied Woodpecker before to March. The Lesser Black-backed Gull observers. A lingering Swainson's Thrush Currie, Buzz and Debbie Devine, Robert 1900 and 1 after the turn of the century. seen the past four winters on the Greenwich in Canton was last seen December 5 (JK er Dewire, Angela Dimmitt, Rick Helprin, Eaton (1914) describes the Red-bellied -New York border returned again. A possi­ a!.). A Northern Shrike in Lyme mid­ Jay Kaplan, Berry Kleiner, Frank Manrlik, Woodpecker as "common on Long Island ble Mew Gull in West Haven would be the January (NP) and a Loggerhead Shrike in Stuart Mitchell, Russ Naylor, Mianus Field and in the lower Hudson Valley 50 years first confirmed record for the state (NC er Norrh Haven all December (m.ob.) were Notes, m .ob. = many observers, Noble ago." Cruickshank (1942) listed it as a resi­ a!.). In Westport a Common Tern on the sole shrike reporrs. Proctor, Ray Schwartz, David Sibley, Fred dent on Long Island until about 1850. He Compo Beach December 10 (MB) was December's warbler list was very impres­ Sibley, Mark Szantyr, Clay Taylor, Dennis reported only 9 sighrings in the New York unusually late. sive with 9 species reponed on CBCs. In Varza, Joe Zeranski. City-Long Island-northern New Jersey area addition a Palm Warbler was seen in since 1900. In Massachusetts on 15 Decem­ Stratford December 13(DV), a Northern ber 1945 one was sighted at a feeder in OWLS THROUGH WARBL ERS Warerthrush in Milford December 30 to CONNECTICUT BIRDS Swampscott (Records of New England Birds January 2(DV), and a Yellow-breasted Char 1945) and the editor remarked " . .. the Most owls were well represented on in Milford December 31 (DV,RS). northernmost record for the eastern United CBCs but a few species were scarce. The RED-BELLIED• Stares . . . the sixth for Massachusetts . . . only Snowy Owl reponed was at Sandy Pt. , SPARROWS THROUGH FINCHES the eleventh for New England (second in West Haven December 15-20 (GL,ML). WOODPECKER the twentieth century)." Saw-whet Owls and Shore-eared Owls were Two Dickcissels in Darien all December much scarcer this winter. The Long-eared were seen by many observers. Up to 4 JOANNE A. LUPPI EXPANSION SINCE 1945 Owl that wintered tn Hammonasset Ipswich Sparrows stayed through January (m.ob.) was the only one reported. on Long Beach in Stratford (DV). An im­ I first became interested in the Red­ During the 1950's The Records of New The normally uncommon Yellow-bellied mature male Lark Bunting in the company I' bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinm) England Birds published four records for Sapsucker was reported across the state all of several Snow Buntings was found in Bea­ when a male appeared at our feeder in Connecticut (two from Westport and one season. Red-headed Woodpeckers were re­ con Falls February 22-23 (BD, er a!), the Portland during December 1974. A little each from Farmington and Manchester) and poned in Roxbury for several weeks in De­ only rarity during the winter doldrums. research revealed that the species occurs pri­ two records from Massachusetts. Baird and cember (NC) and in Simsbury (JK) Febru­ Dark-eyed Juncos continued to be common marily in the southeastern United Stares Emery (1959) cited records from New­ ary 27. Red-bellied Woodpeckers, regular throughout rhe period. A small movement and that it was considered uncommon in buryport, Massachusetts, and Tamworth, in the 1960's only tn southwestern of Snow Buntings occurred February 22-25, Connecticut. My interest was renewed New Hampshire. Most of these sighrings Connecticut are now reponed regularly bur both these and Lapland Longspur were when the first Salmon River Christmas were at feeders and usually the birds were

34 35 present for an extended period. The PRESENT STATUS WHERE TO FIND RED-BELLIED Buckley, P.A. and T.H. Davis. 1973. The standard pattern seems to be sightings of WOODPECKERS nesting season, June 1-July 31, 1973; single birds, then establishment of a feeder The species continues to spread in New Hudson-St. Lawrence Region. Amer. bird, and finally a resident pair. One won­ England and continues to increase in num­ Even in southern states, where the spe­ Birds 27:845-852. ders if suet feeders have played a role in the bers in Connecticut and states to the south. cies is abundant, it is surprising how few Chapman, F.M. 1937. Handbook of birds range extension of this species. We can expect further increases in numbers good looks one gets at Red-bellied of eastern North America. Appleton­ In the 1960's Audubon Field Notes and The and a spread into the higher elevations of Woodpeckers. The distinctive call, once Century, N.Y. Records of New England Birds listed 10 more Connecticut where the species is still rare. learned, makes it easier to detect the pres­ Cruickshank, A.D. 1942. Birds around Connecticut records, mostly coastal. The The range maps in the major field guides ence of the species. The birds are usually New York City. American Museum of l shy, move frequently in feeding and often Westport Christmas Count recorded the are only a little out of date, but the range ( Natural History, N.Y. species in 1961, Greenwich-Stamford in information given in The Woodpeckers of the inhabit dense woods. Any hardwood forest, Eaton, E.H . 1914. Birds of New York. 1962, Hartford in 1964. This decade was World (Short 1983) is misleading. Short particularly a wet bottomland forest, in the Part 2, New York; Univ. State of New characterized by a very gradual buildup in states, "Quite frequently, but irregularly, southern half of the state probably has Red­ York. Connecticut, although south of us Christ­ occurs and breeds well north of this range bellied Woodpeckers. If you do not know Finch, D. 1976. The spring migration, mas Count totals increased steadily as ... " (southern New Jersey). As shown be­ someone who has one at a feeder, or do not April 1-May 31, 1976; Northeastern illustrated by Baltimore, Maryland, and low the species is regular and resident in know a local contact who can give you pre­ Maritime Region. Amer. Birds Rehoboth, Delaware. Connecticut and still expanding its range. cise directions to a good site, try Hurd State 30:811-815 . In 1971 the first Connecticut nesting There is some local seasonal movement and Park near Haddam Neck. The species is Forbush, E.H. 1927. Birds of was reported in Fairfield County (Boyajian there are more sightings in the fall than at common here, the habitat is typical, and in Massachusetts and other New England 197 1) and three pairs were reported breed­ other seasons. The fall increase may be due a few hours birding you should have no states. Mass. Dept. Agriculture. ing on Long Island. During the 1970's to young birds dispersing. trouble finding one or more individuals. Linsley, ].H. 1843. A catalogue of the every year brought new Christmas Count There are 15 Christmas Counts in birds of Connecticut, arranged according records, new northward extensions, and Connecticut that have been in existence for ACKNOWLEDGMENTS to their natural families. Yale Natural new breeding records. Davis Finch (1976) more than 10 years and Red-bellied History Society, New Haven, CT. reported; "Along the Conn. shore, which Woodpeckers were recorded on all but the I wish to thank the Connecticut Breed­ Merriam, C. H. 1877. A review of the birds the species has colonized in the last decade, Hartford and Hidden Valley counts in ing Bird Atlas Project for the information of Connecticut, with remarks on their 'it was reported doing well', breeding at 1984. There were a record 93 individuals on breeding Red-bellied Woodpeckers in habits. Tuttle, Morehouse, and Taylor, Connecticut. least as far east as Madison (Noble Proc­ recorded on the 1984 count with 66 on 6 New Haven, CT. tor)." Peter Vickery (1979) quotes David coastal counts, 17 on 4 central Connecticut Paxton, R.O . , P.W. Smith and D.A. Cut­ Sibley as saying; "Along coastal Conn. Red­ counts and 10 on 3 northern counts. LITERATURE CITED ler 1979. The spring migration, March bellied Woodpeckers have apparently in­ Westport, with 1 in 1961, reported 12 in 1-May 31, 1979; Hudson-Delaware creased to the point where they are consid­ 1984 and Greenwich reported 1 in 1962 Bagg, A.D. and S.A. Eliot, Jr. 1937. Birds Region. Amer. Birds 33 :754-758. ered common and 10-15 are not unusual." and 31 in 1984. Red-bellied Woodpecker of Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts. Sage, ].H. and L.B. Bishop 1913. The Buckley and Davis ( 197 3) report the species is still rare on counts away from the coast Todd, Boston, Massachusetts. birds of Connecticut. Bull. Conn. State continues to increase as a breeding bird on and away from major river valleys. The Baird,]. and R.P. Emery. 1959. Winter Geol. Nat. Hist. Survey 20. Long Island and in New Jersey. By the end Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas project "' season, December 1, 1958- March 31, Short, L. L. , Jr. 198 3. The wood peekers of of the decade the species was no longer news has records of probable or positive nesting 1959; Northern Maritime Region. the world. Delaware Mus. Nat. Hist., in the Hudson-Delaware reporting area and from 59 blocks and possible nesting from Audubon Field Notes 13:275-277. Greenville, Delaware. nesting was reported in all five New York another 38. Only at higher elevation or Boyajian, N.R. 1971. The spring migra­ Vickery, P. 1977. The nesting season, June City boroughs (Paxton et al 1979). Vickery along the northern border is the species rare tion, April 1, 1971 to May 31, 1971; 1-July 31, 1977; Northeast Maritime (1977) reports what are probably the first or absent. The northwest corner of the state Hudson-St. Lawrence Region. Amer. Region. Amer. Birds 31 :1110-1114. nesting records for Massachusetts. has the fewest reports. Birds 25:710-716. 1979. The spring migration,

36 37 present for an extended period. The PRESENT STATUS WHERE TO FIND RED-BELLIED Buckley, P.A. and T.H. Davis. 1973. The standard pattern seems to be sightings of WOODPECKERS nesting season, June 1-July 31, 1973; single birds, then establishment of a feeder The species continues to spread in New Hudson-St. Lawrence Region. Amer. bird, and finally a resident pair. One won­ England and continues to increase in num­ Even in southern states, where the spe­ Birds 27:845-852. ders if suet feeders have played a role in the bers in Connecticut and states to the south. cies is abundant, it is surprising how few Chapman, F.M. 1937. Handbook of birds range extension of this species. We can expect further increases in numbers good looks one gets at Red-bellied of eastern North America. Appleton­ In the 1960's Audubon Field Notes and The and a spread into the higher elevations of Woodpeckers. The distinctive call, once Century, N.Y. Records of New England Birds listed 10 more Connecticut where the species is still rare. learned, makes it easier to detect the pres­ Cruickshank, A.D. 1942. Birds around Connecticut records, mostly coastal. The The range maps in the major field guides ence of the species. The birds are usually New York City. American Museum of l shy, move frequently in feeding and often Westport Christmas Count recorded the are only a little out of date, but the range ( Natural History, N.Y. species in 1961, Greenwich-Stamford in information given in The Woodpeckers of the inhabit dense woods. Any hardwood forest, Eaton, E.H . 1914. Birds of New York. 1962, Hartford in 1964. This decade was World (Short 1983) is misleading. Short particularly a wet bottomland forest, in the Part 2, New York; Univ. State of New characterized by a very gradual buildup in states, "Quite frequently, but irregularly, southern half of the state probably has Red­ York. Connecticut, although south of us Christ­ occurs and breeds well north of this range bellied Woodpeckers. If you do not know Finch, D. 1976. The spring migration, mas Count totals increased steadily as ... " (southern New Jersey). As shown be­ someone who has one at a feeder, or do not April 1-May 31, 1976; Northeastern illustrated by Baltimore, Maryland, and low the species is regular and resident in know a local contact who can give you pre­ Maritime Region. Amer. Birds Rehoboth, Delaware. Connecticut and still expanding its range. cise directions to a good site, try Hurd State 30:811-815 . In 1971 the first Connecticut nesting There is some local seasonal movement and Park near Haddam Neck. The species is Forbush, E.H. 1927. Birds of was reported in Fairfield County (Boyajian there are more sightings in the fall than at common here, the habitat is typical, and in Massachusetts and other New England 197 1) and three pairs were reported breed­ other seasons. The fall increase may be due a few hours birding you should have no states. Mass. Dept. Agriculture. ing on Long Island. During the 1970's to young birds dispersing. trouble finding one or more individuals. Linsley, ].H. 1843. A catalogue of the every year brought new Christmas Count There are 15 Christmas Counts in birds of Connecticut, arranged according records, new northward extensions, and Connecticut that have been in existence for ACKNOWLEDGMENTS to their natural families. Yale Natural new breeding records. Davis Finch (1976) more than 10 years and Red-bellied History Society, New Haven, CT. reported; "Along the Conn. shore, which Woodpeckers were recorded on all but the I wish to thank the Connecticut Breed­ Merriam, C. H. 1877. A review of the birds the species has colonized in the last decade, Hartford and Hidden Valley counts in ing Bird Atlas Project for the information of Connecticut, with remarks on their 'it was reported doing well', breeding at 1984. There were a record 93 individuals on breeding Red-bellied Woodpeckers in habits. Tuttle, Morehouse, and Taylor, Connecticut. least as far east as Madison (Noble Proc­ recorded on the 1984 count with 66 on 6 New Haven, CT. tor)." Peter Vickery (1979) quotes David coastal counts, 17 on 4 central Connecticut Paxton, R.O . , P.W. Smith and D.A. Cut­ Sibley as saying; "Along coastal Conn. Red­ counts and 10 on 3 northern counts. LITERATURE CITED ler 1979. The spring migration, March bellied Woodpeckers have apparently in­ Westport, with 1 in 1961, reported 12 in 1-May 31, 1979; Hudson-Delaware creased to the point where they are consid­ 1984 and Greenwich reported 1 in 1962 Bagg, A.D. and S.A. Eliot, Jr. 1937. Birds Region. Amer. Birds 33 :754-758. ered common and 10-15 are not unusual." and 31 in 1984. Red-bellied Woodpecker of Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts. Sage, ].H. and L.B. Bishop 1913. The Buckley and Davis ( 197 3) report the species is still rare on counts away from the coast Todd, Boston, Massachusetts. birds of Connecticut. Bull. Conn. State continues to increase as a breeding bird on and away from major river valleys. The Baird,]. and R.P. Emery. 1959. Winter Geol. Nat. Hist. Survey 20. Long Island and in New Jersey. By the end Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas project "' season, December 1, 1958- March 31, Short, L. L. , Jr. 198 3. The wood peekers of of the decade the species was no longer news has records of probable or positive nesting 1959; Northern Maritime Region. the world. Delaware Mus. Nat. Hist., in the Hudson-Delaware reporting area and from 59 blocks and possible nesting from Audubon Field Notes 13:275-277. Greenville, Delaware. nesting was reported in all five New York another 38. Only at higher elevation or Boyajian, N.R. 1971. The spring migra­ Vickery, P. 1977. The nesting season, June City boroughs (Paxton et al 1979). Vickery along the northern border is the species rare tion, April 1, 1971 to May 31, 1971; 1-July 31, 1977; Northeast Maritime (1977) reports what are probably the first or absent. The northwest corner of the state Hudson-St. Lawrence Region. Amer. Region. Amer. Birds 31 :1110-1114. nesting records for Massachusetts. has the fewest reports. Birds 25:710-716. 1979. The spring migration,

36 37 March 1-May 31, 1979; Northeast peers of the family's natural hisrory, often ence on March 22-23 in Northampton, Meggett, South Carolina. Earlier this year, Maritime Region. Amer. Birds 31: including the results of recent research. The Massachusetts at the Colonial Hilron Inn Karen Clarke of the Ostrom Enders Col­ 751-753. chapters are well written and liberally near Mt. Tom and the Quabbin Resevoir. lection at Trinity College, Hartford, sug­ illustrated. The quality of the photOgraphs The conference will explore various tech­ gested that John Henry Dick's line draw­ Thompson Hill Rd., RD #2, Portland, CT and drawings is uniformly good. niques for studying hawk migration for ing of the CONNECTICUT WARBLER 06480 A book of this size and scope is bound to both beginning hawk watchers and experi­ (Oporornis agilis) from page 206 would make contain errors. For instance, a few photO­ enced field researchers. Small group a good logo for the Connecticut Ornitho­ BOOK REVIEW graphs are mis-labeled: on page 411 the discussions will be emphasized. Specific logical Association. We wrote Mr. Dick male Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) is themes for the conference include: Eagle and promptly received his permission to use labeled as a female. Also, certain maps are and Peregrine migration in New England, this drawing. The publishers of the book, The Encyclopedia of Birds: Edited by poorly arranged. The map of the distribu­ aging and sexing migrating raptors, hawk Devin-Adair of 6 North Water Street, C.M. Perrins and A.L.A. Middleron, tion of creeper-like birds (p. 393) inexplica­ watching in schools, weather and migra­ Greenwich, CT 06830, also approved the 1985 . Published by Facts on File Publica­ bly lumps the ranges of the three families. tion, and use of personal computers to re­ use. We are grateful tO artist and publisher tions, New York, NY. xxxi + 447 pp. This is unfortunate, because recent DNA­ cord and analyze migration data. for agreeing so quickly and graciously to ISBN 0-8160-1150-8.$35.00. DNA hybridization studies indicate that The principal speaker will be Peter our use of this drawing. John Henry Dick's To satisfy the recent surge of interest in these families are not close relatives- they Dunne, Director of the Cape May Bird Ob­ Connecticut Warbler appears on the cover birds, ornithological publications have look similar only because they have inde­ servatOry. Other speakers include Edward of this issue and will also be the basis of a flooded the book market. Very few of these, pendently evolved similar feeding habits. Mair (Author of A Field Guide to Personal COA decal. however, present accurate summaries of the The Encyclopedia of Birds fares well when Computers for Bird-Watchers), and Brian • * * world's avifauna. As a result, the serious compared with the few good popular ac­ Wheeler (illustrator of a forthcoming OSPREYS: Julie Victoria, who recently amateur faces a frustrating search for a good counts of the world's avifauna currently Peterson Field Guide on the hawks of joined the State's non-game program, re­ account of the world's birds. available. It contains more information and North America). ports that Connecticut Ospreys fledged a The Encyclopedia of Birds offers just such illustrations than, for instance, Oliver Information on registration may be ob­ record 72 young this year. This is a 60% in­ an account. Irs introduction presents a con­ Austin's Birds of the World, recently tained from HAWKS, P.O. Box 212, crease over last year's record production. If cise, accurate description of the major fea­ republished by Golden Press after years of Portland, CT 06480 . you have comments, suggestions, or ques­ tures of avian biology in simple prose that being out of print. • • • tions about the Osprey program you can conveys a clear picture of what makes birds One wonders whether the edirors might FOUNDERS: The opportunity ro be contact Julie or Rita Maroncelli at Sessions distinctive. The panel "The body plan of not have produced an even more informa­ counted as a Founding Member of the Woods WMA, P.O. Box 1238, Burling­ birds" is particularly impressive, with sim­ tive volume by listing all of the species in Connecticut Ornithological Association ton, CT 06013 (phone 584-9830). ple, clear drawings of a bird's external fea­ each family, as does Facts on File Puplica­ will end on December 31, 1985. If you tures, the unique skeletal and respiratOry tions' The Emydopedia of Mam111als. The edi­ have been thinking of joining and thereby * * * systems of birds, and other distinctive tors might also have used South American gaining a foothold in the history of LEAST TERNS: They had a very successful characteristics. contributors for the accounts of the primar­ Connecticut ornithology, send your check year in Connecticut with the Sandy Point Following the introduction, 66 chapters ily South American groups such as the tina­ for $300 now (or $100 now and the rest in colony in West Haven containing over written by 87 contributors aad illustrated mous, which are poorly covered. two annual payments). All Founding Mem­ .~, 1000 pairs - a 3-4 fold increase over last by 12 artists address the diversity of birds. . bers will be listed in the January 1986 is­ year. Over 1000 chicks were banded and Each chapter reviews a family or several Anthony H. Bledsoe sue, as a special acknowledgment of their 300 adults trapped by Ray Schwartz and his families of birds. An information panel for Univ. ofWisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 contribution. assistants. Despite a week of cold weather each family accompanies the text and pres­ • • • and high tides in late June and early July, ents a map of the family's geographic distri­ CONNECTICUT WARBLER LOGO: In NOTES AND NEWS large numbers of young fledged and Sandy bution and a summary of its habitats, di­ 1957, The Warblers of North America, by Point was judged the most successful col­ mensions, plumage, voice, nest, eggs and NEW ENGLAND HAWK WATCH Ludlow Griscom, Alexander Sprunt, Jr., ony on Long Island Sound. diet. The text elaborates on the information CONFERENCE: The New England Hawk and a long list of contributOrs, was attrac­ in the panels and describes interesting as- Watch (NEHW) will hold irs 1986 confer- tively illustrated by John Henry Dick of

38 ' 39 March 1-May 31, 1979; Northeast peers of the family's natural hisrory, often ence on March 22-23 in Northampton, Meggett, South Carolina. Earlier this year, Maritime Region. Amer. Birds 31: including the results of recent research. The Massachusetts at the Colonial Hilron Inn Karen Clarke of the Ostrom Enders Col­ 751-753. chapters are well written and liberally near Mt. Tom and the Quabbin Resevoir. lection at Trinity College, Hartford, sug­ illustrated. The quality of the photOgraphs The conference will explore various tech­ gested that John Henry Dick's line draw­ Thompson Hill Rd., RD #2, Portland, CT and drawings is uniformly good. niques for studying hawk migration for ing of the CONNECTICUT WARBLER 06480 A book of this size and scope is bound to both beginning hawk watchers and experi­ (Oporornis agilis) from page 206 would make contain errors. For instance, a few photO­ enced field researchers. Small group a good logo for the Connecticut Ornitho­ BOOK REVIEW graphs are mis-labeled: on page 411 the discussions will be emphasized. Specific logical Association. We wrote Mr. Dick male Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) is themes for the conference include: Eagle and promptly received his permission to use labeled as a female. Also, certain maps are and Peregrine migration in New England, this drawing. The publishers of the book, The Encyclopedia of Birds: Edited by poorly arranged. The map of the distribu­ aging and sexing migrating raptors, hawk Devin-Adair of 6 North Water Street, C.M. Perrins and A.L.A. Middleron, tion of creeper-like birds (p. 393) inexplica­ watching in schools, weather and migra­ Greenwich, CT 06830, also approved the 1985 . Published by Facts on File Publica­ bly lumps the ranges of the three families. tion, and use of personal computers to re­ use. We are grateful tO artist and publisher tions, New York, NY. xxxi + 447 pp. This is unfortunate, because recent DNA­ cord and analyze migration data. for agreeing so quickly and graciously to ISBN 0-8160-1150-8.$35.00. DNA hybridization studies indicate that The principal speaker will be Peter our use of this drawing. John Henry Dick's To satisfy the recent surge of interest in these families are not close relatives- they Dunne, Director of the Cape May Bird Ob­ Connecticut Warbler appears on the cover birds, ornithological publications have look similar only because they have inde­ servatOry. Other speakers include Edward of this issue and will also be the basis of a flooded the book market. Very few of these, pendently evolved similar feeding habits. Mair (Author of A Field Guide to Personal COA decal. however, present accurate summaries of the The Encyclopedia of Birds fares well when Computers for Bird-Watchers), and Brian • * * world's avifauna. As a result, the serious compared with the few good popular ac­ Wheeler (illustrator of a forthcoming OSPREYS: Julie Victoria, who recently amateur faces a frustrating search for a good counts of the world's avifauna currently Peterson Field Guide on the hawks of joined the State's non-game program, re­ account of the world's birds. available. It contains more information and North America). ports that Connecticut Ospreys fledged a The Encyclopedia of Birds offers just such illustrations than, for instance, Oliver Information on registration may be ob­ record 72 young this year. This is a 60% in­ an account. Irs introduction presents a con­ Austin's Birds of the World, recently tained from HAWKS, P.O. Box 212, crease over last year's record production. If cise, accurate description of the major fea­ republished by Golden Press after years of Portland, CT 06480 . you have comments, suggestions, or ques­ tures of avian biology in simple prose that being out of print. • • • tions about the Osprey program you can conveys a clear picture of what makes birds One wonders whether the edirors might FOUNDERS: The opportunity ro be contact Julie or Rita Maroncelli at Sessions distinctive. The panel "The body plan of not have produced an even more informa­ counted as a Founding Member of the Woods WMA, P.O. Box 1238, Burling­ birds" is particularly impressive, with sim­ tive volume by listing all of the species in Connecticut Ornithological Association ton, CT 06013 (phone 584-9830). ple, clear drawings of a bird's external fea­ each family, as does Facts on File Puplica­ will end on December 31, 1985. If you tures, the unique skeletal and respiratOry tions' The Emydopedia of Mam111als. The edi­ have been thinking of joining and thereby * * * systems of birds, and other distinctive tors might also have used South American gaining a foothold in the history of LEAST TERNS: They had a very successful characteristics. contributors for the accounts of the primar­ Connecticut ornithology, send your check year in Connecticut with the Sandy Point Following the introduction, 66 chapters ily South American groups such as the tina­ for $300 now (or $100 now and the rest in colony in West Haven containing over written by 87 contributors aad illustrated mous, which are poorly covered. two annual payments). All Founding Mem­ .~, 1000 pairs - a 3-4 fold increase over last by 12 artists address the diversity of birds. . bers will be listed in the January 1986 is­ year. Over 1000 chicks were banded and Each chapter reviews a family or several Anthony H. Bledsoe sue, as a special acknowledgment of their 300 adults trapped by Ray Schwartz and his families of birds. An information panel for Univ. ofWisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 contribution. assistants. Despite a week of cold weather each family accompanies the text and pres­ • • • and high tides in late June and early July, ents a map of the family's geographic distri­ CONNECTICUT WARBLER LOGO: In NOTES AND NEWS large numbers of young fledged and Sandy bution and a summary of its habitats, di­ 1957, The Warblers of North America, by Point was judged the most successful col­ mensions, plumage, voice, nest, eggs and NEW ENGLAND HAWK WATCH Ludlow Griscom, Alexander Sprunt, Jr., ony on Long Island Sound. diet. The text elaborates on the information CONFERENCE: The New England Hawk and a long list of contributOrs, was attrac­ in the panels and describes interesting as- Watch (NEHW) will hold irs 1986 confer- tively illustrated by John Henry Dick of

38 ' 39 CONTENTS

The Effects of Mute Swans on Native Waterfowl 27 THE Maria O'Brien and Robert A. Askins The Natchaug Ornithological Society 31 CONNECTIClJT Dolores T . Hilding

Connecticut Field Notes-Winter 1984-1985 32 Dennis E. Varza I\ WARBLER

Connecticut Birds-Red-bellied Woodpecker 35 A Journal of Connecticut Ornithology Joanne A. Luppi

Book Review- The Encyclopedia of Birds 38 Anthony H . Bledsoe

NOTES&NEWS 38

The Connecticut Warbler is a quarterly publication devoted to the advancement of the study of birds. It is published by the Connecticut Ornithological Association . Address all correspondence to 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield , CT 06430.

The Connecticut Audubon Society Non-Profit Org. J14 Unquowa Road fairfi•ld, CT 0&410 U.S. Postage PAID Fairfield, Conn. Permit No. 95

1 I

Volume V Number 3 .July 1985 Pages 27-39 CONTENTS

The 1983 Colonial Seabird Survey 40 THE Fred C. Sibley and Ray Schwartz Purple Gallinule; The Deceptive Vagrant: CONNECTIClJT Its Occurrence in Connecticut. 43 Frank Gallo Eastern Screech Owl (Otus asio) Mortality in WARBLER Southern Connecticut 47 Arnold Devine and Dwight G. Smith A Journal of Connecticut Ornithology

Great Horned Owl Feeding on Sucker 48 Arnold Devine and Elston Stevens

Connecticut Field Notes-Spring 1985 49 Dennis Varza

NOTES&NEWS 52

The Connecticut Warbler is a quarrerly publicarion devored ro rhe advancemenr of rhe srudy of birds . Ir is published by rhe Connecricur Ornirhological Associarion. Address all correspondence ro 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06430.

The Connecticut Audubon Society Non-Profit Org . 114 Unquow• Ro•d U.S. Postage PAID f•irfi~ld,CT 01>430 Fairfield, Conn. Permit No. 95

Volume V Number 4 October 1985 Pages 40-52 CONNECTICUT ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION THE 1983 COLONIAL on Ram Island has increased from 80 pairs President: Roland C. Clement, Norwalk to 250 pairs in 6 years as disturbance of the Vice-President: Betty Kleiner, Simsbury SEABIRD SURVEY colony has decreased (see heron section). In Secretary: Winifred Burkett, Storrs the central section, the Goose Island popu­ FRED C. SIBLEY & RAY SCHWARTZ Treasurer: Robert Fletcher, Cheshire lation has faded from 153 pairs in 1977 to Assistant Treasurer: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield 72 in 1980 and 3 7 this year as the island Since 1977 all the gull, tern, and heron has continued to erode. Board of Directors colonies along the Connecticut coast have Term expiring ____ _ The Herring Gull population is not suf­ been censused every three years on or fering in Connecticut. There are 37 active slightly after June 1 (Erwin & Korschgen, colonies and any rock above the high storm December 1986 1979, Rozsa, 1980, Sibley, 1983). The tide level is a potential nest site. Five colo­ Joseph D. Zeranski, Greenwich E. Stuart Mitchell, Portland censusing was done from a helicopter in nies contain more than 100 pairs: Ram Is­ Robert C. Dewire, Pawcatuck Julio de la Torre, New Canaan 1977 and on the ground since. All nests land near Mystic (250), Long Ledge near December 1987 were counted in all colonies except Chimon Rocky Neck ( 102), Spectacle Island near Neil W. Currie, Watertown Shirley S. Davis, Mansfield Center and Ram Island where the dense vegetation Branford (183), Chimon Island (1,000) and Donald A. Hopkins, Windsor Philip R. Schaeffer, Greenwich made an exact count impossible. Tern sur­ Grassy Island (250), (both in the Norwalk veys have been conducted every year and Islands.) December 1988 data from the 1984 and 1985 surveys are GREAT BLACK-BACKEDGULL: This is George W. Zepko, Middletown George A. Clark Jr., Storrs included here. not a common nester in the Sound but one Fred C. Sibley, Guilford Stephen P. Broker, New Haven or more pairs nested at 26 colonies in 1983. RESULTS The total population of 129 pairs is down THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER Over 70 islands and sandbars were 20 percent from 1977, the result of declines Editor: Betty S. Kleiner, Simsbury checked in 1983. Sixty of these sites were in the western section. The largest colonies Associate Editors occupied by breeding gulls and/or terns. In are on Grassy Island (25) and Chimon Is­ Anthony H. Bledsoe, Madison, WI George A. Clark, Jr., Storrs the following discussion the shoreline has land (13) in the Norwalk group, Goose Is­ Jay Kaplan, Canton Fred C. Sibley, Guilford been divided into three sections: eastern land off Madison (12), and Ram Island near Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield Dennis E. Varza, Fairfield (Stonington to Westbrook) with 20 sites, Mystic (13). central (Madison to Branford) with 21 sites, This species nests earlier than any of the The Connecticut Warbler is published quarterly (January, April, July, and October) by the and western (New Haven to Greenwich) other species. By June 1 most eggs are Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). Membership to COA is based on a calen­ with 19 sites. hatched. In contrast only 5 percent of Her­ dar year, with membership renewable in January. New members of COA receive all four HERRING GULL: This is the most com­ ring Gull eggs are hatched by June 1. issues of The Connecticut Warbler for that year. Make checks payable to The Connecticut Or­ mon breeding bird on the offshore islands COMMON TERN: The Falkner Island col­ nithological Association, and mail checks to 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06430. with a total population of 2417 pairs in ony is still the only large colony in the Membership Fees 1983. A 20 percent drop from 1977 is the state. It continues to be protected by resi­ Member $10.00 Contributing $20.00 result of an apparent decline on Chimon Is­ dent researchers during the nesting season Family $15.00 Sustaining $30.00 land in the western section. Even the de­ and the population has increased slightly Founder $300.00, payable in three annual installments and conferring life membership. cline on Chimon Island should be judged each year (1300 in 1983). We still believe with caution; estimates are difficult in the the limiting factor is the availability of nest The editors invite submission of articles, notes, black and white photographs and line heavy vegetation and have been made by sites (Sibley, 1981), and the nesting at drawings for publication in The Connecticut Warbler. Manuscripts sould be typewritten, different people each year. small colonies elsewhere in the Sound is double-spaced and on one side of the sheet only, with ample margins. The style of manu­ Individual islands present some insight more a reflection of overflow from Falkner scripts should follow the general usage in recent issues. into the population dynamics of this spe­ than of nesting success at these outlying Cover Photograph: Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) photographed in Guilford, cies. In the eastern section the population colonies. Connecticut on 26 June 1985 by Ray Schwartz.

40 CONNECTICUT ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION THE 1983 COLONIAL on Ram Island has increased from 80 pairs President: Roland C. Clement, Norwalk to 250 pairs in 6 years as disturbance of the Vice-President: Betty Kleiner, Simsbury SEABIRD SURVEY colony has decreased (see heron section). In Secretary: Winifred Burkett, Storrs the central section, the Goose Island popu­ FRED C. SIBLEY & RAY SCHWARTZ Treasurer: Robert Fletcher, Cheshire lation has faded from 153 pairs in 1977 to Assistant Treasurer: Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield 72 in 1980 and 3 7 this year as the island Since 1977 all the gull, tern, and heron has continued to erode. Board of Directors colonies along the Connecticut coast have Term expiring ____ _ The Herring Gull population is not suf­ been censused every three years on or fering in Connecticut. There are 37 active slightly after June 1 (Erwin & Korschgen, colonies and any rock above the high storm December 1986 1979, Rozsa, 1980, Sibley, 1983). The tide level is a potential nest site. Five colo­ Joseph D. Zeranski, Greenwich E. Stuart Mitchell, Portland censusing was done from a helicopter in nies contain more than 100 pairs: Ram Is­ Robert C. Dewire, Pawcatuck Julio de la Torre, New Canaan 1977 and on the ground since. All nests land near Mystic (250), Long Ledge near December 1987 were counted in all colonies except Chimon Rocky Neck ( 102), Spectacle Island near Neil W. Currie, Watertown Shirley S. Davis, Mansfield Center and Ram Island where the dense vegetation Branford (183), Chimon Island (1,000) and Donald A. Hopkins, Windsor Philip R. Schaeffer, Greenwich made an exact count impossible. Tern sur­ Grassy Island (250), (both in the Norwalk veys have been conducted every year and Islands.) December 1988 data from the 1984 and 1985 surveys are GREAT BLACK-BACKEDGULL: This is George W. Zepko, Middletown George A. Clark Jr., Storrs included here. not a common nester in the Sound but one Fred C. Sibley, Guilford Stephen P. Broker, New Haven or more pairs nested at 26 colonies in 1983. RESULTS The total population of 129 pairs is down THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER Over 70 islands and sandbars were 20 percent from 1977, the result of declines Editor: Betty S. Kleiner, Simsbury checked in 1983. Sixty of these sites were in the western section. The largest colonies Associate Editors occupied by breeding gulls and/or terns. In are on Grassy Island (25) and Chimon Is­ Anthony H. Bledsoe, Madison, WI George A. Clark, Jr., Storrs the following discussion the shoreline has land (13) in the Norwalk group, Goose Is­ Jay Kaplan, Canton Fred C. Sibley, Guilford been divided into three sections: eastern land off Madison (12), and Ram Island near Carl J. Trichka, Fairfield Dennis E. Varza, Fairfield (Stonington to Westbrook) with 20 sites, Mystic (13). central (Madison to Branford) with 21 sites, This species nests earlier than any of the The Connecticut Warbler is published quarterly (January, April, July, and October) by the and western (New Haven to Greenwich) other species. By June 1 most eggs are Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). Membership to COA is based on a calen­ with 19 sites. hatched. In contrast only 5 percent of Her­ dar year, with membership renewable in January. New members of COA receive all four HERRING GULL: This is the most com­ ring Gull eggs are hatched by June 1. issues of The Connecticut Warbler for that year. Make checks payable to The Connecticut Or­ mon breeding bird on the offshore islands COMMON TERN: The Falkner Island col­ nithological Association, and mail checks to 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06430. with a total population of 2417 pairs in ony is still the only large colony in the Membership Fees 1983. A 20 percent drop from 1977 is the state. It continues to be protected by resi­ Member $10.00 Contributing $20.00 result of an apparent decline on Chimon Is­ dent researchers during the nesting season Family $15.00 Sustaining $30.00 land in the western section. Even the de­ and the population has increased slightly Founder $300.00, payable in three annual installments and conferring life membership. cline on Chimon Island should be judged each year (1300 in 1983). We still believe with caution; estimates are difficult in the the limiting factor is the availability of nest The editors invite submission of articles, notes, black and white photographs and line heavy vegetation and have been made by sites (Sibley, 1981), and the nesting at drawings for publication in The Connecticut Warbler. Manuscripts sould be typewritten, different people each year. small colonies elsewhere in the Sound is double-spaced and on one side of the sheet only, with ample margins. The style of manu­ Individual islands present some insight more a reflection of overflow from Falkner scripts should follow the general usage in recent issues. into the population dynamics of this spe­ than of nesting success at these outlying Cover Photograph: Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) photographed in Guilford, cies. In the eastern section the population colonies. Connecticut on 26 June 1985 by Ray Schwartz.

40 A way from Falkner Island there were 15 limitations of the data preclude any confi­ OTHER SPECIES: Double-crested Cormo­ Connecticut surveys should be coordinated colonies and 536 pairs (479 in 1977, 589 in dence in this conclusion. (Note: The 1985 rants first nested in Connecticut in 1979 in with counts in Rhode Island and New 1980). Of 18 sites used since 1977 only two mid-June count tallied over 1000 pairs the Norwalk Islands. In 1983 one pair York. We also recommend that surveys of were successful in all three count years, an­ with most of them at Sandy Point in West nested there on East White Rock, and 13 Least Terns be made on June 20 rather than other 7 were used in all 3 years but fledged Haven). pairs nested on Goose Island off Madison. June 1. no young, 4 (2 unsuccessful) were used in 1 The frequent shifting of nesting sites In 1985 the population on Goose Island AcKNOWLEDGMENTS or 2 count years, and the last 4 were discov­ may be in response to predation. Ray numbered over 50 pairs. American Oyster­ ered in 1983 (2 successful). This is consist­ Schwartz found few birds fledging at catchers continued to increase with numer­ We wish to thank the Connecticut ent with the view that most small colonies Milford in 1982 and the terns have since ous pairs in the Norwalk Islands by 1985 Audubon Society (Peter Marra and Milan are composed of birds that could not nest on abandoned the site. Julie Zickefoose re­ and a few pairs between Mystic and Bull), Connecticut DEP (Rita Maroncelli Falkner Island and indicates that few such ported the Menunketesuck colony in Stonington. Green-backed Heron, Mute and Greg Chasco), Nature Conservancy colonies are self-sustaining. Appendix one Westbrook lost most of its chicks to Black­ Swan, Canada Goose, American Black (Julie Zickefoose), Falkner Island Project lists all colonies of Common and Roseate crowned Night Herons in 1983 and 1984. Duck, Mallard, Spotted Sandpipers and (Scott Hopkins), Andy Griswold, and Clay Terns in Connecticut. The terns virtually abandoned this site in several species of passerines also nested on Taylor for help with the 1983 survey. In 1984 and 1985 gulls had replaced 1985. Connecticut's islands. LITERATURE CITED breeding terns on Lyddy Island near Mystic HERONS: The numbers of nesting herons and White Island in New London Harbor. continue to increase. In 1977 there were CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY Baptist, T.R . 1982. First state breeding Once established, gulls exclude terns or 490 pairs of 8 species on Chimon Island. In Since 1977 three new species have colo­ record of Black Skimmer. Conn. War­ prevent them fledging young. Some cor­ 1983 the Norwalk Islands were home for nized the offshore islands (Double-crested bler 2:47-48. rective measures should be considered. 728 pairs and another 67 pairs nested on Cormorant, American Oystercatcher [De­ Dewire, R.C. 1981. A new nesting species ROSEATE TERN: As with Common Ram Island, near Mystic. wire, 1980), and Black Skimmer [Baptist, for Connecticut. Conn. Warbler 1: Terns, Falkner Island is the major nesting Black-crowned Night Herons have in­ 1982)), all species of herons have increased, 52-53. site (96 pairs). Tuxis Island, off Madison, creased slightly in the Norwalk Islands gull populations have declined some 20 Erwin, M.R . and C.E. Korschgen. 1979. was an important site in 1980 with 33 pairs (425) and have colonized Ram Island (40 ). percent, and tern populations have re­ Coastal waterbird colonies: Maine to (see appendix). Almost any Common Tern Yellow-crowned Night Heron (3 ) and Lit­ mained fairly stable. Virginia, 1977. An atlas showing colony colony could serve as a site for Roseate tle Blue Heron (4 ) are still rare. Great Research on Connecticut breeding water­ locations and species composition. U.S. Terns, but only seven pairs were found on Egrets have remained steady at 23 pairs. birds has increased from practically none in Fish & Wildlife Service, Biological Serv­ three islands in 1983 (down from 49 in Cattle Egrets have shot up from 4 to 20 1977. There are now research projects with ices Program, FWS/OBS - 79/08. 1980 and 14 in 1977). pairs and Glossy Ibis from 10 to 23 pairs. full time seasonal warden/researchers on Rozsa, R. 1980. Connecticut colonial LEAST TERN: These were surveyed on Snowy Egrets have increased the most (25 Chimon Island and Falkner Island. Two waterbird survey, 1980. Coastal Area June 1 but subsequent surveys indicate that to 225 in the Norwalk group) with an addi­ groups are working on Least Terns. Numer­ Management, Connecticut Department numbers double by mid-June. Counts tional 20 pairs on Ram Island. ous volunteers are involved in all these pro­ of Environmental Protection. Mimeo­ taken June 1 at Menunketesuck (5 7 ) and Ram Island's northern half has reverted jects, and the Connecticut Department of graph. Sandy Point (20 ) were followed by counts to natural vegetation (shrubs and vines) and Environmental Protection participates in Sibley, F.C. 1981. Common Terns in in early July of 100 nests and 60 nests re­ receives almost no human use. Its gull pop­ annual tern surveys and triannual surveys of Connecticut, a progress report. Conn. spectively. The numbers presented for June ulation has tripled in 6 years, Black­ all seabirds. Chimon and Falkner islands are Warbler 1:18-24. 1 surveys are inadequate but the only com­ crowned Night Heron colonized the island now part of the Connecticut Coastal Na­ Sibley, F.C. 1983 . Connecticut colonial parative figures we have. in 1982, Snowy Egrets in 1983, American tional Wildlife Refuge. The Connecticut waterbird survey, 1983. Peabody Mu­ The six sites used in 1983 include three Oystercatcher in 1983, and Glossy Ibis in Ornithological Association is coordinating seum, New Haven, Connecticut Mimeo­ not used in 1980. The 7 sites used in 1980 1984. The quick regrowth of vegetation the annual tern survey. The Nature Con­ graph. include 4 not used in 1983. The total and the utilization of this new habitat is en­ servancy has conducted a Piping Plover sur­ APPENDIX I Connecticut count of 131 pairs in 1977 , couraging and indicates that other islands vey for 3 years . 100 pairs in 1980 and 130 pairs in 1983 could potentially support breeding water­ Since the waterbirds of Long Island All the Common and Roseate Tern colo­ suggest no change in population but the birds if left undisturbed. Sound do not recognize state boundaries, nies used since 1977 are listed here with ap-

4 1 42 A way from Falkner Island there were 15 limitations of the data preclude any confi­ OTHER SPECIES: Double-crested Cormo­ Connecticut surveys should be coordinated colonies and 536 pairs (479 in 1977, 589 in dence in this conclusion. (Note: The 1985 rants first nested in Connecticut in 1979 in with counts in Rhode Island and New 1980). Of 18 sites used since 1977 only two mid-June count tallied over 1000 pairs the Norwalk Islands. In 1983 one pair York. We also recommend that surveys of were successful in all three count years, an­ with most of them at Sandy Point in West nested there on East White Rock, and 13 Least Terns be made on June 20 rather than other 7 were used in all 3 years but fledged Haven). pairs nested on Goose Island off Madison. June 1. no young, 4 (2 unsuccessful) were used in 1 The frequent shifting of nesting sites In 1985 the population on Goose Island AcKNOWLEDGMENTS or 2 count years, and the last 4 were discov­ may be in response to predation. Ray numbered over 50 pairs. American Oyster­ ered in 1983 (2 successful). This is consist­ Schwartz found few birds fledging at catchers continued to increase with numer­ We wish to thank the Connecticut ent with the view that most small colonies Milford in 1982 and the terns have since ous pairs in the Norwalk Islands by 1985 Audubon Society (Peter Marra and Milan are composed of birds that could not nest on abandoned the site. Julie Zickefoose re­ and a few pairs between Mystic and Bull), Connecticut DEP (Rita Maroncelli Falkner Island and indicates that few such ported the Menunketesuck colony in Stonington. Green-backed Heron, Mute and Greg Chasco), Nature Conservancy colonies are self-sustaining. Appendix one Westbrook lost most of its chicks to Black­ Swan, Canada Goose, American Black (Julie Zickefoose), Falkner Island Project lists all colonies of Common and Roseate crowned Night Herons in 1983 and 1984. Duck, Mallard, Spotted Sandpipers and (Scott Hopkins), Andy Griswold, and Clay Terns in Connecticut. The terns virtually abandoned this site in several species of passerines also nested on Taylor for help with the 1983 survey. In 1984 and 1985 gulls had replaced 1985. Connecticut's islands. LITERATURE CITED breeding terns on Lyddy Island near Mystic HERONS: The numbers of nesting herons and White Island in New London Harbor. continue to increase. In 1977 there were CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY Baptist, T.R . 1982. First state breeding Once established, gulls exclude terns or 490 pairs of 8 species on Chimon Island. In Since 1977 three new species have colo­ record of Black Skimmer. Conn. War­ prevent them fledging young. Some cor­ 1983 the Norwalk Islands were home for nized the offshore islands (Double-crested bler 2:47-48. rective measures should be considered. 728 pairs and another 67 pairs nested on Cormorant, American Oystercatcher [De­ Dewire, R.C. 1981. A new nesting species ROSEATE TERN: As with Common Ram Island, near Mystic. wire, 1980), and Black Skimmer [Baptist, for Connecticut. Conn. Warbler 1: Terns, Falkner Island is the major nesting Black-crowned Night Herons have in­ 1982)), all species of herons have increased, 52-53. site (96 pairs). Tuxis Island, off Madison, creased slightly in the Norwalk Islands gull populations have declined some 20 Erwin, M.R . and C.E. Korschgen. 1979. was an important site in 1980 with 33 pairs (425) and have colonized Ram Island (40 ). percent, and tern populations have re­ Coastal waterbird colonies: Maine to (see appendix). Almost any Common Tern Yellow-crowned Night Heron (3 ) and Lit­ mained fairly stable. Virginia, 1977. An atlas showing colony colony could serve as a site for Roseate tle Blue Heron (4 ) are still rare. Great Research on Connecticut breeding water­ locations and species composition. U.S. Terns, but only seven pairs were found on Egrets have remained steady at 23 pairs. birds has increased from practically none in Fish & Wildlife Service, Biological Serv­ three islands in 1983 (down from 49 in Cattle Egrets have shot up from 4 to 20 1977. There are now research projects with ices Program, FWS/OBS - 79/08. 1980 and 14 in 1977). pairs and Glossy Ibis from 10 to 23 pairs. full time seasonal warden/researchers on Rozsa, R. 1980. Connecticut colonial LEAST TERN: These were surveyed on Snowy Egrets have increased the most (25 Chimon Island and Falkner Island. Two waterbird survey, 1980. Coastal Area June 1 but subsequent surveys indicate that to 225 in the Norwalk group) with an addi­ groups are working on Least Terns. Numer­ Management, Connecticut Department numbers double by mid-June. Counts tional 20 pairs on Ram Island. ous volunteers are involved in all these pro­ of Environmental Protection. Mimeo­ taken June 1 at Menunketesuck (5 7 ) and Ram Island's northern half has reverted jects, and the Connecticut Department of graph. Sandy Point (20 ) were followed by counts to natural vegetation (shrubs and vines) and Environmental Protection participates in Sibley, F.C. 1981. Common Terns in in early July of 100 nests and 60 nests re­ receives almost no human use. Its gull pop­ annual tern surveys and triannual surveys of Connecticut, a progress report. Conn. spectively. The numbers presented for June ulation has tripled in 6 years, Black­ all seabirds. Chimon and Falkner islands are Warbler 1:18-24. 1 surveys are inadequate but the only com­ crowned Night Heron colonized the island now part of the Connecticut Coastal Na­ Sibley, F.C. 1983 . Connecticut colonial parative figures we have. in 1982, Snowy Egrets in 1983, American tional Wildlife Refuge. The Connecticut waterbird survey, 1983. Peabody Mu­ The six sites used in 1983 include three Oystercatcher in 1983, and Glossy Ibis in Ornithological Association is coordinating seum, New Haven, Connecticut Mimeo­ not used in 1980. The 7 sites used in 1980 1984. The quick regrowth of vegetation the annual tern survey. The Nature Con­ graph. include 4 not used in 1983. The total and the utilization of this new habitat is en­ servancy has conducted a Piping Plover sur­ APPENDIX I Connecticut count of 131 pairs in 1977 , couraging and indicates that other islands vey for 3 years . 100 pairs in 1980 and 130 pairs in 1983 could potentially support breeding water­ Since the waterbirds of Long Island All the Common and Roseate Tern colo­ suggest no change in population but the birds if left undisturbed. Sound do not recognize state boundaries, nies used since 1977 are listed here with ap-

4 1 42 proximate number of pairs in 1983 and rounded wings, stout bodies and seemingly compare dates and relative rates of occur­ to a stone wall on which it would alight for present status. Islands are listed from east awkward flight, would appear to be un­ rence with other New England states. a short time before flying off to roost in a to west. Islands marked .. fledged young likely vagrant candidates, yet as a group, The most recent sighting in Connecticut vine-entangled tree some 30 yards from the from fewer than 10 percent of the nests. they are found worldwide. was of an adult bird 25 June 1985 that re­ pond. Traversing the lawn, it would often Rock I. (64 Common and 10 Roseate terns The Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula mar­ mained until 28 July 1985. As recorded pass in close proximity to people or to the in 1980, 0 in 1983); Lyddy I. u (54 Com­ tinica), a Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) - with other vagrants, the bird appeared in a Littels' dog. mon, replaced by gulls 1985); Black Rock sized rallid, is no exception to the family somewhat unusual place: the back yard and According to the Lirtels, it was especially •• (14 Common); Hobb's Island (3 Com­ rule. As an adult its long yellow legs and small fresh water pond of Pat and John tolerant of them and their dog, having be­ mon); White I. (17 Common, replaced by feet, bright green back, and brilliant Litre! of Guilford, Connecticut. The pond, come accustomed to their presence near the gulls 1985); Shore Rock (139 Common and purple-blue head and underparts make it partially encircled by shrubs and a tangle of pond while they did yard or garden work, 4 Roseate); Waterford I. (48 Common and quite distinct from the adult Common vegetation and filled with aquatic plants, and to the dog from its frequent trips to 1 Roseate, in 1980 much larger numbers); Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) with its gray abuts a fresh water marsh on one end and bathe or drink in the pond. This accus­ Wigwam Rock (5 Common); North plumage and white side stripe. The Purple the lawn on the other. When alarmed, the tomizing behavior has also been noted by Brother (9 Common, back to 30 pairs in Gallinule's yellow-tipped red bill, topped Gallinule would retreat to the jewel-weed­ others (Ripley 1977). 1985); Duck Island (8 Common, 20 plus in by a blue frontal shield and conspicuous lined stream that feeds the pond and divides On one such evening excursion the Pur­ 1985); Gull Rock (10 Common); Tuxis I. white undertail coverts are also diagnostic. the marsh (pers. com. Littels). ple Gallinule was seen to alight, not on the •• (33 Roseate and 43 Common were pres­ As an immature it is light brown with a Its actions were typical of any Purple wall, but on the mast of the Littels' small ent in 1980. Rat predation starting in 1983 white throat, and lacks the white side stripe Gallinule, spending much of its time sailboat, which was lying adjacent to the reduced and then eliminated tern nesting): and face pattern of the immature Common rummaging methodically under and around house and quite close to the delighted Falkner Island (1300 Common, 96 Rose­ Moorhen. Purple Gallinules have appeared the pond vegetation for aquatic insects, ani­ onlookers. ate); Frisbie I. (83 Common, also a Roseate in such out of the way places as Tristan da mals and plants. In this effort it would de­ On another interesting occasion, the in 1984); Big Mermaid (44 Common, also a Cunha and Ascension Island in the south liberately and delicately, with a Mourning Purple Gallinule, chased by a strange dog, Roseate in 1985); Umbrella Is. (13 Com­ Atlantic, Newfoundland, and Quebec Dove or chicken-like strut, head scanning flew off and did not return for over an hour. mon in 1980, not used since); Long Beach (Ripley, 1977), thus supporting their fami­ from side to side, carefully place one foot in Having left in a direction opposite to irs I. u (6 Common); Bluff I. •• (64 Com­ ly's reputation. front of the other, all the while rhythmi­ normal escape route, the Litrels feared it mon); Diving I. .. (2 Common). These records seem even more remark­ cally bobbing its tail. When the bird was would not reappear. They were surprised able when one considers that their normal excited, irs tail action became more rapid then to see the gallinule return, not by fly­ Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale breeding range is Neotropical: from South and jerky. Quite nimble, it barely de­ ing to the pond as it usually did, but by University, New Haven, CT 06511. Carolina to Texas, south to northern Argen­ pressed the vegetation on which it walked walking in from the road adjacent to their 18 Lilac Avenue, New Haven, CT 06517 . tina and Chile (and including the West In­ and although methodic in its search for house. The gallinule crossed their lawn di­ dies). They are resident throughout most of food, was quite a swift runner, racing into rectly in front of their dog, which was tied PURPLE GALLINULE; their range, withdrawing only from the the tall grass when threatened, only to reap­ beneath the porch, to the pond some 20 more northerly sections in winter (Ripley pear with its familiar strutting gait when yards away. Neither the dog nor the Purple THE DECEPTIVE 1977, Bent 1926). the danger abated. It also diligently pur­ Gallinule appeared to show the slightest in­ VAGRANT: ITS There is little wonder then, given the sued its wanted food, racing out across the terest in the other. Purple Gallinule's vagrant tendencies, that pond's surface plants to snap up a tadpole or On 20 July 1985 the Purple Gallinule OCCURRENCE IN at least 21 records exist for Connecticut other aquatic morsel. left the pond 15-20 minutes later than CONNECTICUT since 1855, with 5 sightings in the past 7 When not feeding in the pond, the galli­ usual, not heading off to roost until after years . There was a similar trend in the late nule often spent time feeding on mulberries dark. The bird did not return the following twenties and thirties with 5 sightings in 6 on the adjacent lawn, or from the mulberry day but was heard by the Littels for a few FRANK GALLO years . One can only wonder about the fre­ tree ( Morus sp.) itself (pers. com. Littels). days thereafter. It was last heard 28 July quency of occurrence during the forties and In fact, it spent almost as much time on the 1985 . According to the Litrels, the bird Rails, coots, and gallinules, members of fifties when there were few observers and lawn as on the pond edge. was present at least a week (possibly two) the family Rallidae, with their short few records kept. It would be interesting tO Nightly it would saunter across the lawn before it was reported, making its actual ar-

43 44 proximate number of pairs in 1983 and rounded wings, stout bodies and seemingly compare dates and relative rates of occur­ to a stone wall on which it would alight for present status. Islands are listed from east awkward flight, would appear to be un­ rence with other New England states. a short time before flying off to roost in a to west. Islands marked .. fledged young likely vagrant candidates, yet as a group, The most recent sighting in Connecticut vine-entangled tree some 30 yards from the from fewer than 10 percent of the nests. they are found worldwide. was of an adult bird 25 June 1985 that re­ pond. Traversing the lawn, it would often Rock I. (64 Common and 10 Roseate terns The Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula mar­ mained until 28 July 1985. As recorded pass in close proximity to people or to the in 1980, 0 in 1983); Lyddy I. u (54 Com­ tinica), a Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) - with other vagrants, the bird appeared in a Littels' dog. mon, replaced by gulls 1985); Black Rock sized rallid, is no exception to the family somewhat unusual place: the back yard and According to the Lirtels, it was especially •• (14 Common); Hobb's Island (3 Com­ rule. As an adult its long yellow legs and small fresh water pond of Pat and John tolerant of them and their dog, having be­ mon); White I. (17 Common, replaced by feet, bright green back, and brilliant Litre! of Guilford, Connecticut. The pond, come accustomed to their presence near the gulls 1985); Shore Rock (139 Common and purple-blue head and underparts make it partially encircled by shrubs and a tangle of pond while they did yard or garden work, 4 Roseate); Waterford I. (48 Common and quite distinct from the adult Common vegetation and filled with aquatic plants, and to the dog from its frequent trips to 1 Roseate, in 1980 much larger numbers); Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) with its gray abuts a fresh water marsh on one end and bathe or drink in the pond. This accus­ Wigwam Rock (5 Common); North plumage and white side stripe. The Purple the lawn on the other. When alarmed, the tomizing behavior has also been noted by Brother (9 Common, back to 30 pairs in Gallinule's yellow-tipped red bill, topped Gallinule would retreat to the jewel-weed­ others (Ripley 1977). 1985); Duck Island (8 Common, 20 plus in by a blue frontal shield and conspicuous lined stream that feeds the pond and divides On one such evening excursion the Pur­ 1985); Gull Rock (10 Common); Tuxis I. white undertail coverts are also diagnostic. the marsh (pers. com. Littels). ple Gallinule was seen to alight, not on the •• (33 Roseate and 43 Common were pres­ As an immature it is light brown with a Its actions were typical of any Purple wall, but on the mast of the Littels' small ent in 1980. Rat predation starting in 1983 white throat, and lacks the white side stripe Gallinule, spending much of its time sailboat, which was lying adjacent to the reduced and then eliminated tern nesting): and face pattern of the immature Common rummaging methodically under and around house and quite close to the delighted Falkner Island (1300 Common, 96 Rose­ Moorhen. Purple Gallinules have appeared the pond vegetation for aquatic insects, ani­ onlookers. ate); Frisbie I. (83 Common, also a Roseate in such out of the way places as Tristan da mals and plants. In this effort it would de­ On another interesting occasion, the in 1984); Big Mermaid (44 Common, also a Cunha and Ascension Island in the south liberately and delicately, with a Mourning Purple Gallinule, chased by a strange dog, Roseate in 1985); Umbrella Is. (13 Com­ Atlantic, Newfoundland, and Quebec Dove or chicken-like strut, head scanning flew off and did not return for over an hour. mon in 1980, not used since); Long Beach (Ripley, 1977), thus supporting their fami­ from side to side, carefully place one foot in Having left in a direction opposite to irs I. u (6 Common); Bluff I. •• (64 Com­ ly's reputation. front of the other, all the while rhythmi­ normal escape route, the Litrels feared it mon); Diving I. .. (2 Common). These records seem even more remark­ cally bobbing its tail. When the bird was would not reappear. They were surprised able when one considers that their normal excited, irs tail action became more rapid then to see the gallinule return, not by fly­ Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale breeding range is Neotropical: from South and jerky. Quite nimble, it barely de­ ing to the pond as it usually did, but by University, New Haven, CT 06511. Carolina to Texas, south to northern Argen­ pressed the vegetation on which it walked walking in from the road adjacent to their 18 Lilac Avenue, New Haven, CT 06517 . tina and Chile (and including the West In­ and although methodic in its search for house. The gallinule crossed their lawn di­ dies). They are resident throughout most of food, was quite a swift runner, racing into rectly in front of their dog, which was tied PURPLE GALLINULE; their range, withdrawing only from the the tall grass when threatened, only to reap­ beneath the porch, to the pond some 20 more northerly sections in winter (Ripley pear with its familiar strutting gait when yards away. Neither the dog nor the Purple THE DECEPTIVE 1977, Bent 1926). the danger abated. It also diligently pur­ Gallinule appeared to show the slightest in­ VAGRANT: ITS There is little wonder then, given the sued its wanted food, racing out across the terest in the other. Purple Gallinule's vagrant tendencies, that pond's surface plants to snap up a tadpole or On 20 July 1985 the Purple Gallinule OCCURRENCE IN at least 21 records exist for Connecticut other aquatic morsel. left the pond 15-20 minutes later than CONNECTICUT since 1855, with 5 sightings in the past 7 When not feeding in the pond, the galli­ usual, not heading off to roost until after years . There was a similar trend in the late nule often spent time feeding on mulberries dark. The bird did not return the following twenties and thirties with 5 sightings in 6 on the adjacent lawn, or from the mulberry day but was heard by the Littels for a few FRANK GALLO years . One can only wonder about the fre­ tree ( Morus sp.) itself (pers. com. Littels). days thereafter. It was last heard 28 July quency of occurrence during the forties and In fact, it spent almost as much time on the 1985 . According to the Litrels, the bird Rails, coots, and gallinules, members of fifties when there were few observers and lawn as on the pond edge. was present at least a week (possibly two) the family Rallidae, with their short few records kept. It would be interesting tO Nightly it would saunter across the lawn before it was reported, making its actual ar-

43 44 Table I. Connecticut Sightings of Purple ery month of the year except December, tion. The last two Connecticut sightings Gallo, F. 1985. Purple Gallinule; the de­ Gallinules by Month January and February, but with most oc­ are from Guilford. In 1981, a female was ceptive vagrant: its occurrence in Con­ curring from April through June and in Oc­ found dead within a mile of the Littels' necticut. Conn. Warbler, in press. April 3• August 1 tober (Cooke 1914, Bent 1926, Palmer house, which may or may not be a coinci­ Griswold, G.T. 1935. Purple Gallinule May 5• September 1 1949). Massachusetts, for instance, had 32 dence with the 1985 sighting. (lonornis martinicia) in Connecticut. Auk June 5• October 2 (total of 3 birds) records from 1837 to 1954: 2 in March, 8 It is extremely likely that Purple Galli­ 52:80. undated 4 in April, 7 in May, 5 in June, 2 in July, 1 nules occur more regularly in the state than Hartford Audubon Society. 1964. Check in September, 4 in October, 1 in November is suspected. This is suggested by the num­ list and records of the birds seen in the A • following the number indicates one record extended ber of sightings despite the difficulty of ob­ into the next month. and 2 without dates (Bailey 1955). Of the vicinity of Hartford, Connecticut. Hart­ 16 records listed for New York (Bull 1964), serving them in their chosen haunts. As it ford Aud. Soc., West Hartford, Conn. rival date between 15-20 June. It was defi­ 8 have no date, 4 were in April, 3 in May, is, they have occurred almost annually dur­ Merriam, C. H. 1877. A review of the birds nitely present 21 June (Pat Litre!). The 1 in June and interestingly, none were re­ ing certain periods with only serendipity or of Connecticut. Tuttle, Morehouse and Littels were unsure of the bird's identity corded in August or September. guns as the traditional methods for finding Taylor, New Haven, Conn. until vegetation which had obscured their In Connecticut, records exist from 16 them. With deliberate searching, who Nichols, C.K. 1960. Regional reports, view had been cleared from around the April to 7 October with the majority of the knows what the annual tally could be. A spring migration, April 1 to May 31, pond. With a clear view they were able to sightings in May and June (Table I and II). May or June rail search in Connecticut may 1960, Hudson - St. Lawrence Region. identify and report it. The bird remained in The Purple Gallinule should be looked for be beneficial to this end. Aud. Field Notes 14:371. the area through all the work around the in other months, particularly April and Oc­ In any event, the next time you are out Packer, C. W. 1920. Purple Gallinule m pond. tober. Places such as Stamford, Fairfield, playing tapes to attract rails and you acci­ Connecticut. Bird Lore 22:160. Purple Gallinules have appeared fre­ and South Windsor each have two or more dently play the call of the Purple Gallinule, Palmer. R.S. 1949. Maine birds. Bull. of quently in the Northeast with dates for ev- sightings and may deserve special atten- do not shut the tape off! Better still, go out Mus. Comp. Zoo!. 102 purposely taping for them and prove to the Ripley, D.S. 1977. Rails of the world. Table II. Recordsof Purple Gallinule in Connecticut rest of us it can be done. David Godine, Boston, Mass. Number and (if kno wn) Sage, J.H. and L.B. Bishop. 1913. The LITERATURE CITED Date Locality sex (*specimen) Reference(s) birds of Connecticut. Bull. Conn. State Bailey, W. 1955. Birds in Massachusetts. 1855 near Middletown 1• Merriam 1877 Geol. Nat. Hist. Survey. 20. 1877 Stamford 1• Sage & Bishop 1913 When and where to find them. College Saunders, A.A. 1933. The Purple Galli­ Spring 1884 Stamford 1• Sage and Bishop 1913 Press, South Lancaster, Mass. 26June 1903 Bridgeport 1°M Sage and Bishop 1913 nule in Connecticut. Auk 50:99. prior 1919 Bridgeport 1• YPM # 956 Bent, A.C. 1926. Life histories of North Vickery, P.D. 1977. The spring migra­ 16 April 1920 Stratford 1 Packer 1920 American marsh birds. U.S. Nat. Mus. 30 May tO South Windsor I Griswold 1935 , Hartford Aud. Soc. 1964 tion, April 1 -May 31, 1977, North­ 10 June 1922 Bull. 135. eastern Maritime Region. Am. Birds 11 Occober 1924 Hadlyme 1°M YPM # 955 Bull, J. 1964. Birds of the New York City 28 May 1926 Stratford 1• Saunders 1933 31:973. 19 June 1928 Stratford 1• BCM # 1381 area. Harper and Row, New York, N.Y. Vickery, P.D. 1977. The spring migra­ 5 May 1932 Fairfield 1 Saunders 1933 Cooke, W.W. 1914. Distribution and mi­ 10-17 Sept. 1932 South Windsor 1 Hartford Aud. Soc. 1964 tion, April 1 - May 31, 1977, North­ 9 August 1934 South Windsor I Hartford Aud. Soc. 1964 gration of North American rails and their eastern Maritime Region. Am. Birds 9 Occober 1934 South Windsor 2 Griswold 1935 allies. U.S. Dept. Ag. Bull. 128. 1• 31:974. 24 June 1960 Wethersfield Nichols 1960 r\ 22 April 1963 Fairfield 1• Noble Proctor and Dennis Varza, pers . comm. Finch, D.W . 1970. Regional reports, the 22 April tO Madison 1 Vickery 1977 nesting season, June 1, 1970- August 31 May 1977 6 May 1979 Groton 1 Vickery 1979 15, 1970, Northeastern Maritime Re­ 23 May 1980 Pawcatuck 1 Noble Proctor, pers. comm. gion. Aud. Field Notes 24:662. 17 Pine Street, New Haven, CT 06513 19 June 1981 Guilford 1• F YPM # 96201 25 June to Guilford 1 Gallo 1985 28 July 1985

YPM = Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven, CT BCM = Birdcraft Museum , Fairfield, CT

45 46 Table I. Connecticut Sightings of Purple ery month of the year except December, tion. The last two Connecticut sightings Gallo, F. 1985. Purple Gallinule; the de­ Gallinules by Month January and February, but with most oc­ are from Guilford. In 1981, a female was ceptive vagrant: its occurrence in Con­ curring from April through June and in Oc­ found dead within a mile of the Littels' necticut. Conn. Warbler, in press. April 3• August 1 tober (Cooke 1914, Bent 1926, Palmer house, which may or may not be a coinci­ Griswold, G.T. 1935. Purple Gallinule May 5• September 1 1949). Massachusetts, for instance, had 32 dence with the 1985 sighting. (lonornis martinicia) in Connecticut. Auk June 5• October 2 (total of 3 birds) records from 1837 to 1954: 2 in March, 8 It is extremely likely that Purple Galli­ 52:80. undated 4 in April, 7 in May, 5 in June, 2 in July, 1 nules occur more regularly in the state than Hartford Audubon Society. 1964. Check in September, 4 in October, 1 in November is suspected. This is suggested by the num­ list and records of the birds seen in the A • following the number indicates one record extended ber of sightings despite the difficulty of ob­ into the next month. and 2 without dates (Bailey 1955). Of the vicinity of Hartford, Connecticut. Hart­ 16 records listed for New York (Bull 1964), serving them in their chosen haunts. As it ford Aud. Soc., West Hartford, Conn. rival date between 15-20 June. It was defi­ 8 have no date, 4 were in April, 3 in May, is, they have occurred almost annually dur­ Merriam, C. H. 1877. A review of the birds nitely present 21 June (Pat Litre!). The 1 in June and interestingly, none were re­ ing certain periods with only serendipity or of Connecticut. Tuttle, Morehouse and Littels were unsure of the bird's identity corded in August or September. guns as the traditional methods for finding Taylor, New Haven, Conn. until vegetation which had obscured their In Connecticut, records exist from 16 them. With deliberate searching, who Nichols, C.K. 1960. Regional reports, view had been cleared from around the April to 7 October with the majority of the knows what the annual tally could be. A spring migration, April 1 to May 31, pond. With a clear view they were able to sightings in May and June (Table I and II). May or June rail search in Connecticut may 1960, Hudson - St. Lawrence Region. identify and report it. The bird remained in The Purple Gallinule should be looked for be beneficial to this end. Aud. Field Notes 14:371. the area through all the work around the in other months, particularly April and Oc­ In any event, the next time you are out Packer, C. W. 1920. Purple Gallinule m pond. tober. Places such as Stamford, Fairfield, playing tapes to attract rails and you acci­ Connecticut. Bird Lore 22:160. Purple Gallinules have appeared fre­ and South Windsor each have two or more dently play the call of the Purple Gallinule, Palmer. R.S. 1949. Maine birds. Bull. of quently in the Northeast with dates for ev- sightings and may deserve special atten- do not shut the tape off! Better still, go out Mus. Comp. Zoo!. 102 purposely taping for them and prove to the Ripley, D.S. 1977. Rails of the world. Table II. Recordsof Purple Gallinule in Connecticut rest of us it can be done. David Godine, Boston, Mass. Number and (if kno wn) Sage, J.H. and L.B. Bishop. 1913. The LITERATURE CITED Date Locality sex (*specimen) Reference(s) birds of Connecticut. Bull. Conn. State Bailey, W. 1955. Birds in Massachusetts. 1855 near Middletown 1• Merriam 1877 Geol. Nat. Hist. Survey. 20. 1877 Stamford 1• Sage & Bishop 1913 When and where to find them. College Saunders, A.A. 1933. The Purple Galli­ Spring 1884 Stamford 1• Sage and Bishop 1913 Press, South Lancaster, Mass. 26June 1903 Bridgeport 1°M Sage and Bishop 1913 nule in Connecticut. Auk 50:99. prior 1919 Bridgeport 1• YPM # 956 Bent, A.C. 1926. Life histories of North Vickery, P.D. 1977. The spring migra­ 16 April 1920 Stratford 1 Packer 1920 American marsh birds. U.S. Nat. Mus. 30 May tO South Windsor I Griswold 1935 , Hartford Aud. Soc. 1964 tion, April 1 -May 31, 1977, North­ 10 June 1922 Bull. 135. eastern Maritime Region. Am. Birds 11 Occober 1924 Hadlyme 1°M YPM # 955 Bull, J. 1964. Birds of the New York City 28 May 1926 Stratford 1• Saunders 1933 31:973. 19 June 1928 Stratford 1• BCM # 1381 area. Harper and Row, New York, N.Y. Vickery, P.D. 1977. The spring migra­ 5 May 1932 Fairfield 1 Saunders 1933 Cooke, W.W. 1914. Distribution and mi­ 10-17 Sept. 1932 South Windsor 1 Hartford Aud. Soc. 1964 tion, April 1 - May 31, 1977, North­ 9 August 1934 South Windsor I Hartford Aud. Soc. 1964 gration of North American rails and their eastern Maritime Region. Am. Birds 9 Occober 1934 South Windsor 2 Griswold 1935 allies. U.S. Dept. Ag. Bull. 128. 1• 31:974. 24 June 1960 Wethersfield Nichols 1960 r\ 22 April 1963 Fairfield 1• Noble Proctor and Dennis Varza, pers . comm. Finch, D.W . 1970. Regional reports, the 22 April tO Madison 1 Vickery 1977 nesting season, June 1, 1970- August 31 May 1977 6 May 1979 Groton 1 Vickery 1979 15, 1970, Northeastern Maritime Re­ 23 May 1980 Pawcatuck 1 Noble Proctor, pers. comm. gion. Aud. Field Notes 24:662. 17 Pine Street, New Haven, CT 06513 19 June 1981 Guilford 1• F YPM # 96201 25 June to Guilford 1 Gallo 1985 28 July 1985

YPM = Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven, CT BCM = Birdcraft Museum , Fairfield, CT

45 46 EASTERN SCREECH The apparent seasonality of Screech Owl winter months only shrews, mice and small Smokey Mountains National Park. Mi­ mortality along roads may reflect seasonal birds were found in the stOmach samples. grant 24:3-5 . OWL (OTUS ASIO) behavioral differences. Screech Owls range The stOmach of a Screech Owl killed on 14 Sutton, G.M. 1927. Mortality among MORTALITY IN widely during winter months but have a March contained a House Sparrow (Passer Screech Owls of Pennsylvania. Auk much restricted home range during spring domesticus) and remains of three spiders 44:563-564. SOUTHERN and summer months when food is more ( Aranea). This is our earliest record of in­ Van Camp, L.F. and C.J. Henny. 1975. CONNECTICUT abundant (Smith and Gilbert 1984; Van vertebrate prey, although we have observed The Screech Owl: its life history and Camp and Henny 1975). Additionally, Screech Owls apparently preying on inver­ population ecology in northern Ohio. studies by Smith and Gilbert (1984) have tebrates in every month of the year except U.S. Dept. Int., Fish and Wildlife ARNOLD DEVINE AND shown Screech Owls often range more ex­ I January and February. Serv., North Amer. Fauna 71. DWIGHT G. SMITH tensively immediately prior co breeding Several authors (e.g., Sutton 1927) have (late February and early March in southern suggested that Screech Owls are frequently Biology Department, Southern Connecticut The Eastern Screech Owl is the most Connecticut), possibly in search of the most killed by vehicles while hunting on and State University, New Haven, CT 06515 common owl in the mosiac of habitats suitable nesting sites. Nesting begins in alongside roads . Our observations suggest found in southern Connecticut. As with mid-March and early April when Screech that Screech Owls are more frequently GREAT HORNED OWL most species of captors, non-breeding sea­ Owls restrict their movements tO a compar­ killed by vehicles because of their peculiar son mortality of adults remains largely un­ atively small area in the vicinity of the nest flight pattern, which consists of dropping FEEDING ON SUCKER known but a considerable number appear to site. Thus Screech Owl mortality is highest low and flying about 1m above the ground, be destroyed by vehicles (Schorger 1954, during non-nesting periods. rather than being struck while hunting on ARNOLD DEVINE AND Stupka 1953, Sutton 1927, Van Camp and The sex ratio of 84 birds was not signifi­ roads. Our field notes over a combined 20 ELSTON STEVENS Henny 1975). Herein we report our obser­ cantly different from 1: 1 suggesting the years indicate 12 cases of near misses and 2 vations of road killed Screech Owls col­ sexes are equally vulnerable. hits on Screech Owls flying low across roads The large size of the Great Horned Owl lected over a ten year (1975-85) interval. The color phase of 84 birds was 65% compared to only four instances when the (Bubo virginianus) and its use of a diverse gray, 27 % red and 7% intermediate. Of owl could definitely be considered hunting range of habitats permit it to capture a wide METHODS over 225 live Screech Owls observed 66% on the roads. variety of prey. Mammals and birds are the We collected 84 dead Screech Owls from were gray, 30% red and 4% intermediate. The road kill birds appear to represent a predominant prey, but reptiles, amphibi­ the roadways of New Haven and Fairfield Allowing for the difficulty of determining random sample of the general population. ans, fish, insects and other invertebrates are counties and found partial remains of 35 ad­ intermediates in the field at night the More work is needed to explain the absence also eaten (Bent 1938, Craighead and ditional individuals. As much of the follow­ samples are identical. of mortality along roads from May through Craighead 1956, Errington et al. 1940, ing information was recorded as possible: Wing and tail measurements of 61 road August. Interestingly, 4 Northern Saw­ Earhart and Johnson 1970). Fish are a mi­ weight, wing length (flattened), tail killed Screech Owls did not differ signifi­ whet Owls (Aegolius funereus) were the only nor component of the diet, although Bent length, sex, color phase, body fat, and cantly from a museum sample of 435 owls. other owl road kills we found . (1938) lists dace (Cyprinidae), bullhead stomach contents. Body weight of 17 males and 12 females (lctalurus), goldfish (Carassius), eel (An­ was generally less than for museum birds LITERATURE CITED guilla) and perch (Perea) as food items, and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION and highly variable. Males ranged from Errington et al. (1940) list sunfish 121-177 g in weight while females varied Schorger, A. W. 1954. Color phases of the (Lepomis), bass (Micropterus), carp (Cyprinus), All road kills were found between 20 from 125-249 g . The lowest weights were Screech Owl between Madison, Wiscon­ creek chub (Semotilus), sucker (Catostomus), September and 29 April except for one on owls that were unable to fly and were sin, and Freeport, Illinois. Auk 71:205. and buffalofish (lctiobus) from Iowa and 26 July. Most dead Screech Owls were starving when found. Highest weights were Smith, D .G., and R . Gilbert, 1984. East­ Wisconsin. This article reports an instance found from October through March and the from specimens collected in April. ern Screech Owl home range and use of of a Great Horned Owl feeding on a white highest number of individuals was recorded Excluding the starved owls, stomach suburban habitats in Southern Connecti­ sucker (Catostomus commersoni). in March. Sutton (1927) and Van Camp analysis of 32 owls showed that 42% were cut. J. Field Ornithology 55:322-329. At 0545 on 5 July 1982, Stevens was and Henny (1975) also noted increased empty, 45 % had one prey item, and 13% Stupka, A. 1953. Some notes relating to aroused by persistent calling from a small mortality during the winter months. had two or more prey items. During the the mortality of Screech Owls in Great flock of American Crows (Corvus brachy-

47 48 EASTERN SCREECH The apparent seasonality of Screech Owl winter months only shrews, mice and small Smokey Mountains National Park. Mi­ mortality along roads may reflect seasonal birds were found in the stOmach samples. grant 24:3-5 . OWL (OTUS ASIO) behavioral differences. Screech Owls range The stOmach of a Screech Owl killed on 14 Sutton, G.M. 1927. Mortality among MORTALITY IN widely during winter months but have a March contained a House Sparrow (Passer Screech Owls of Pennsylvania. Auk much restricted home range during spring domesticus) and remains of three spiders 44:563-564. SOUTHERN and summer months when food is more ( Aranea). This is our earliest record of in­ Van Camp, L.F. and C.J. Henny. 1975. CONNECTICUT abundant (Smith and Gilbert 1984; Van vertebrate prey, although we have observed The Screech Owl: its life history and Camp and Henny 1975). Additionally, Screech Owls apparently preying on inver­ population ecology in northern Ohio. studies by Smith and Gilbert (1984) have tebrates in every month of the year except U.S. Dept. Int., Fish and Wildlife ARNOLD DEVINE AND shown Screech Owls often range more ex­ I January and February. Serv., North Amer. Fauna 71. DWIGHT G. SMITH tensively immediately prior co breeding Several authors (e.g., Sutton 1927) have (late February and early March in southern suggested that Screech Owls are frequently Biology Department, Southern Connecticut The Eastern Screech Owl is the most Connecticut), possibly in search of the most killed by vehicles while hunting on and State University, New Haven, CT 06515 common owl in the mosiac of habitats suitable nesting sites. Nesting begins in alongside roads . Our observations suggest found in southern Connecticut. As with mid-March and early April when Screech that Screech Owls are more frequently GREAT HORNED OWL most species of captors, non-breeding sea­ Owls restrict their movements tO a compar­ killed by vehicles because of their peculiar son mortality of adults remains largely un­ atively small area in the vicinity of the nest flight pattern, which consists of dropping FEEDING ON SUCKER known but a considerable number appear to site. Thus Screech Owl mortality is highest low and flying about 1m above the ground, be destroyed by vehicles (Schorger 1954, during non-nesting periods. rather than being struck while hunting on ARNOLD DEVINE AND Stupka 1953, Sutton 1927, Van Camp and The sex ratio of 84 birds was not signifi­ roads. Our field notes over a combined 20 ELSTON STEVENS Henny 1975). Herein we report our obser­ cantly different from 1: 1 suggesting the years indicate 12 cases of near misses and 2 vations of road killed Screech Owls col­ sexes are equally vulnerable. hits on Screech Owls flying low across roads The large size of the Great Horned Owl lected over a ten year (1975-85) interval. The color phase of 84 birds was 65% compared to only four instances when the (Bubo virginianus) and its use of a diverse gray, 27 % red and 7% intermediate. Of owl could definitely be considered hunting range of habitats permit it to capture a wide METHODS over 225 live Screech Owls observed 66% on the roads. variety of prey. Mammals and birds are the We collected 84 dead Screech Owls from were gray, 30% red and 4% intermediate. The road kill birds appear to represent a predominant prey, but reptiles, amphibi­ the roadways of New Haven and Fairfield Allowing for the difficulty of determining random sample of the general population. ans, fish, insects and other invertebrates are counties and found partial remains of 35 ad­ intermediates in the field at night the More work is needed to explain the absence also eaten (Bent 1938, Craighead and ditional individuals. As much of the follow­ samples are identical. of mortality along roads from May through Craighead 1956, Errington et al. 1940, ing information was recorded as possible: Wing and tail measurements of 61 road August. Interestingly, 4 Northern Saw­ Earhart and Johnson 1970). Fish are a mi­ weight, wing length (flattened), tail killed Screech Owls did not differ signifi­ whet Owls (Aegolius funereus) were the only nor component of the diet, although Bent length, sex, color phase, body fat, and cantly from a museum sample of 435 owls. other owl road kills we found . (1938) lists dace (Cyprinidae), bullhead stomach contents. Body weight of 17 males and 12 females (lctalurus), goldfish (Carassius), eel (An­ was generally less than for museum birds LITERATURE CITED guilla) and perch (Perea) as food items, and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION and highly variable. Males ranged from Errington et al. (1940) list sunfish 121-177 g in weight while females varied Schorger, A. W. 1954. Color phases of the (Lepomis), bass (Micropterus), carp (Cyprinus), All road kills were found between 20 from 125-249 g . The lowest weights were Screech Owl between Madison, Wiscon­ creek chub (Semotilus), sucker (Catostomus), September and 29 April except for one on owls that were unable to fly and were sin, and Freeport, Illinois. Auk 71:205. and buffalofish (lctiobus) from Iowa and 26 July. Most dead Screech Owls were starving when found. Highest weights were Smith, D .G., and R . Gilbert, 1984. East­ Wisconsin. This article reports an instance found from October through March and the from specimens collected in April. ern Screech Owl home range and use of of a Great Horned Owl feeding on a white highest number of individuals was recorded Excluding the starved owls, stomach suburban habitats in Southern Connecti­ sucker (Catostomus commersoni). in March. Sutton (1927) and Van Camp analysis of 32 owls showed that 42% were cut. J. Field Ornithology 55:322-329. At 0545 on 5 July 1982, Stevens was and Henny (1975) also noted increased empty, 45 % had one prey item, and 13% Stupka, A. 1953. Some notes relating to aroused by persistent calling from a small mortality during the winter months. had two or more prey items. During the the mortality of Screech Owls in Great flock of American Crows (Corvus brachy-

47 48 rhynchos) harassing a Great Horned Owl. Earhart, C.M. and N.K. Johnson. 1970. Lapland Longspur on the beaches. A warm were a Great Egret and 2 Snowy Egrets at After locating the owl, perched on a branch Size dimorphism and food habits of front March 11-13 brought many new birds Sherwood Island State Park March 23 (RE). about 5 m above Little River in Oxford, North American owls. Condor 72: to the state and the flock of Bonaparte's The only Tricolored Heron reported was at Connecticut, he called Devine. We ob­ 251-264. Gulls at Oyster River in West Haven Milford Pt. May 8 (RE). The Snow Goose served the owl with 8x30 binoculars from a Errington, P.L., F. Hamerstrom, and F.N. peaked and contained Common Black­ that spent the winter at Oyster River, West distance of 25 m. We noted it held a white Hamerstrom, Jr. 1940. The Great headed Gull and Little Gull. The second Haven was last seen May 2 (MS). An excep­ sucker some 50 em long in its talons and Horned Owl and its prey in north-central major warm front of the spring March tionally early Common Tern was at Gulf appeared to be wet on the belly feathers. United States. Ag. Exp. Sta., Iowa State 25-29, brought large flocks of migrating Pond, Milford from March 23 to April 13. The owl leisurely picked at the fish while College of Agr. and Mechanic Arts. Res. Snow Geese. A Eurasian Wigeon was seen at Station 43, being mobbed by the crows but shifted sev­ Bull. 277:759-850. By early April most egrets, herons and S. Windsor March 3 to 9 (PD). There were eral times between its original perch and Glossy Ibis had arrived and were found two groups of Northern Shovelers reported, two other nearby trees before flying up­ 46 Clark St. , Naugatuck, CT 06770 close to their nesting areas; Osprey became a pair at Milford Point March 26 to April stream at 0905. In following the owl, we regular and Cooper's Hawk were the 18, and four birds at Station 43 April 4 accidently flushed it and caused it to drop commonest accipiter. New species brought (PD). Seaducks reported inland included an the fish. Approximately one-third of the CONNECTICUT FIELD in by a warm front April 4-6 included Oldsquaw on the Nepaug Reservoir, Can­ anttuor end of the fish had been eaten. NOTES Broad-winged Hawk, Tree and Northern ton April 26 (PC), and a White-winged Errington et al. ( 1940) found remains of Rough-winged Swallow, Pine and Palm Scorer in Suffield March 30 (SK). A pair of lower vertebrates (fish, reptiles, and am­ Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush and Chip­ Barrow's Goldeneyes were observed in New phibians) in only 2.4 percent of over 4000 Spring: March 1- May 31, 1985 ping Sparrow. Haven Harbor March 21-23 (DS). The first pellets and stomachs examined and these re­ The first big warbler wave, April 26-29, Osprey report was of a bird on the nesting mains were mostly of snakes, salamanders DENNIS V ARZA brought a large number of new species to platform in Rocky Neck State Park March and frogs. Yet at two study sites (Madison, the state and a secondary wave, May 4-6, 17 (fide RD). An adult and juvenile Bald Wisconsin and Ogden, Iowa) fish remains Spring migration is always exciting with brought additional migrants. Along the Eagle were spotted in Goodwin State Forest occurred in 6 and 30 percent of the pellets waves and waves of migrants, the ever­ coast there were moderate numbers of March 5 (GC). A flight of 200 Broad­ respectively. The Little River, in the area present chance of rarities, and the magnifi­ shorebirds - Ruddy Turnstones, Red winged Hawks was seen in Bloomfield the owl was first seen, is a slow moving, cent weather. Unfortunately, 1985 will not Knot, Semipalmated and White-rumped April 2 (PD) signaling the arrival of spring. sandy bottom stream about 0.5 m deep. be long remembered. There were waves of Sandpiper. The May 10-16 front brought Two Peregrine Falcons were reported, one Large suckers are common in this area of the migrants, but no single spectacular move­ warbler concentrations to their peak along March 17 in Prospect (BD), the other at river and we assume the fish was captured ment of birds, no massive invasions of num­ with the species of the spruce forest - Milford Point April 18 (FG). from the water and not picked up dead. We bers or species, no morning to talk about Olive-sided Flycatcher, Swainson's and assume this individual was a opportunist next year. The weather, much warmer and Gray-cheeked Thrush, Canada Warbler and RAILS THROUGH TERNS taking advantage of a local feeding situation dryer than usual, may have been the most Lincoln Sparrow. Flocks of Brant were seen The first Piping Plover arrived at Milford like those at the two study sites referred to enjoyable feature of the season. Rarities in­ offshore. In late May , shorebird numbers Point March 11 (DS), and 6 American by Errington et al. cluded Eurasian Wigeon, Barrow's Golden­ peaked. The warbler migration ended, al­ Oystercatcher arrived in Norwalk April 5 eye, American Avocet, Sedge Wren, though the first Mourning Warblers were (MB). An American Avocet, rare at any sea­ LITERATURE CITED Orange-crowned and Prothonotary War­ beginning to pass through Connecticut. son and almost never seen in spring, was bler, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, and found at Greenwich Point on May 15 (JZ). Bent, A.C. 1938. Life histories of North Yellow-headed Blackbird. LOONS THROUGH HAWKS An early Short-billed Dowitcher was ob­ American birds of prey. Pt. 2. U.S. Nat. March started with the northward move­ The last Great Cormorant for the season served at Milford Point April 18 (DV). Mus. Bull. No 170. 466 pp. ment of waterfowl. Flocks of ducks filled was seen at Greenwich Point on April 26 Upland Sandpipers returned to Hartford Craighead, J.J. and F.C.,Jr. 1956. Hawks, the marshes, while offshore there were large (MFN). There was a pair of inland Double­ April 26 (RiC). The shorebird migration at owls and wildlife. Stackpole Co., Harris­ rafts of Greater Scaup and other wintering . crested Cormorants in South Windsor April Milford Point included a Sharp-tailed Sand­ burg, Pa., and Wildlife Management In­ sea ducks. Birders found moderate numbers 11 (PD), and a Horned Grebe in Suffield piper May 18 (BD et al.), numerous White­ stitute, Washington, D.C. of Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and April 13 (SK). The earliest egrets reported rumped Sandpipers in groups of 20-30

49 50 rhynchos) harassing a Great Horned Owl. Earhart, C.M. and N.K. Johnson. 1970. Lapland Longspur on the beaches. A warm were a Great Egret and 2 Snowy Egrets at After locating the owl, perched on a branch Size dimorphism and food habits of front March 11-13 brought many new birds Sherwood Island State Park March 23 (RE). about 5 m above Little River in Oxford, North American owls. Condor 72: to the state and the flock of Bonaparte's The only Tricolored Heron reported was at Connecticut, he called Devine. We ob­ 251-264. Gulls at Oyster River in West Haven Milford Pt. May 8 (RE). The Snow Goose served the owl with 8x30 binoculars from a Errington, P.L., F. Hamerstrom, and F.N. peaked and contained Common Black­ that spent the winter at Oyster River, West distance of 25 m. We noted it held a white Hamerstrom, Jr. 1940. The Great headed Gull and Little Gull. The second Haven was last seen May 2 (MS). An excep­ sucker some 50 em long in its talons and Horned Owl and its prey in north-central major warm front of the spring March tionally early Common Tern was at Gulf appeared to be wet on the belly feathers. United States. Ag. Exp. Sta., Iowa State 25-29, brought large flocks of migrating Pond, Milford from March 23 to April 13. The owl leisurely picked at the fish while College of Agr. and Mechanic Arts. Res. Snow Geese. A Eurasian Wigeon was seen at Station 43, being mobbed by the crows but shifted sev­ Bull. 277:759-850. By early April most egrets, herons and S. Windsor March 3 to 9 (PD). There were eral times between its original perch and Glossy Ibis had arrived and were found two groups of Northern Shovelers reported, two other nearby trees before flying up­ 46 Clark St. , Naugatuck, CT 06770 close to their nesting areas; Osprey became a pair at Milford Point March 26 to April stream at 0905. In following the owl, we regular and Cooper's Hawk were the 18, and four birds at Station 43 April 4 accidently flushed it and caused it to drop commonest accipiter. New species brought (PD). Seaducks reported inland included an the fish. Approximately one-third of the CONNECTICUT FIELD in by a warm front April 4-6 included Oldsquaw on the Nepaug Reservoir, Can­ anttuor end of the fish had been eaten. NOTES Broad-winged Hawk, Tree and Northern ton April 26 (PC), and a White-winged Errington et al. ( 1940) found remains of Rough-winged Swallow, Pine and Palm Scorer in Suffield March 30 (SK). A pair of lower vertebrates (fish, reptiles, and am­ Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush and Chip­ Barrow's Goldeneyes were observed in New phibians) in only 2.4 percent of over 4000 Spring: March 1- May 31, 1985 ping Sparrow. Haven Harbor March 21-23 (DS). The first pellets and stomachs examined and these re­ The first big warbler wave, April 26-29, Osprey report was of a bird on the nesting mains were mostly of snakes, salamanders DENNIS V ARZA brought a large number of new species to platform in Rocky Neck State Park March and frogs. Yet at two study sites (Madison, the state and a secondary wave, May 4-6, 17 (fide RD). An adult and juvenile Bald Wisconsin and Ogden, Iowa) fish remains Spring migration is always exciting with brought additional migrants. Along the Eagle were spotted in Goodwin State Forest occurred in 6 and 30 percent of the pellets waves and waves of migrants, the ever­ coast there were moderate numbers of March 5 (GC). A flight of 200 Broad­ respectively. The Little River, in the area present chance of rarities, and the magnifi­ shorebirds - Ruddy Turnstones, Red winged Hawks was seen in Bloomfield the owl was first seen, is a slow moving, cent weather. Unfortunately, 1985 will not Knot, Semipalmated and White-rumped April 2 (PD) signaling the arrival of spring. sandy bottom stream about 0.5 m deep. be long remembered. There were waves of Sandpiper. The May 10-16 front brought Two Peregrine Falcons were reported, one Large suckers are common in this area of the migrants, but no single spectacular move­ warbler concentrations to their peak along March 17 in Prospect (BD), the other at river and we assume the fish was captured ment of birds, no massive invasions of num­ with the species of the spruce forest - Milford Point April 18 (FG). from the water and not picked up dead. We bers or species, no morning to talk about Olive-sided Flycatcher, Swainson's and assume this individual was a opportunist next year. The weather, much warmer and Gray-cheeked Thrush, Canada Warbler and RAILS THROUGH TERNS taking advantage of a local feeding situation dryer than usual, may have been the most Lincoln Sparrow. Flocks of Brant were seen The first Piping Plover arrived at Milford like those at the two study sites referred to enjoyable feature of the season. Rarities in­ offshore. In late May , shorebird numbers Point March 11 (DS), and 6 American by Errington et al. cluded Eurasian Wigeon, Barrow's Golden­ peaked. The warbler migration ended, al­ Oystercatcher arrived in Norwalk April 5 eye, American Avocet, Sedge Wren, though the first Mourning Warblers were (MB). An American Avocet, rare at any sea­ LITERATURE CITED Orange-crowned and Prothonotary War­ beginning to pass through Connecticut. son and almost never seen in spring, was bler, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, and found at Greenwich Point on May 15 (JZ). Bent, A.C. 1938. Life histories of North Yellow-headed Blackbird. LOONS THROUGH HAWKS An early Short-billed Dowitcher was ob­ American birds of prey. Pt. 2. U.S. Nat. March started with the northward move­ The last Great Cormorant for the season served at Milford Point April 18 (DV). Mus. Bull. No 170. 466 pp. ment of waterfowl. Flocks of ducks filled was seen at Greenwich Point on April 26 Upland Sandpipers returned to Hartford Craighead, J.J. and F.C.,Jr. 1956. Hawks, the marshes, while offshore there were large (MFN). There was a pair of inland Double­ April 26 (RiC). The shorebird migration at owls and wildlife. Stackpole Co., Harris­ rafts of Greater Scaup and other wintering . crested Cormorants in South Windsor April Milford Point included a Sharp-tailed Sand­ burg, Pa., and Wildlife Management In­ sea ducks. Birders found moderate numbers 11 (PD), and a Horned Grebe in Suffield piper May 18 (BD et al.), numerous White­ stitute, Washington, D.C. of Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and April 13 (SK). The earliest egrets reported rumped Sandpipers in groups of 20-30

49 50 birds (May 20 on), 3 Western Sandpipers (NP), one in Greenwich May 19 (TB,JZ), NOTES AND NEWS The Bald Eagle Study Group will con­ May 22 (RE) and a Baird's Sandpiper May and one in Groton June 7 (BKu). Three tinue to operate winter feeding stations to 26 (SP). At Old Saybrook there were two Blue Grosbeaks were reported as well: one BALD EAGLE STATUS REPORT (Stuart insure that the wintering eagle population Common Black-headed Gulls and a Little in Avon May 8-10 (JK), one at West Rock, Mitchell): Recently, an agreement was has a supplemental food supply, to identify Gull on March 13, while at Oyster River in New Haven May 19 (AB ,SB) and one in signed by Northeast Utilities, the banded eagles and to record biological West Haven there was a Common Black­ Milford May 25-27 (DV,MS). The last Tree Connecticut Wildlife Bureau and the Bald observations. headed Gull from March 23 to April 6 and Sparrow and Ipswich Sparrow reported were Eagle Study Group to develop a public Noble Proctor reported our first banded a Little Gull March 30 to April 7. An in­ one each in Stratford April 13 (DV). The viewing shelter at the Shepaug Dam eagle of the 85-86 season at Lake Guillard, land Glaucous Gull was seen on the Nepaug most talked about sparrrow activity was the wintering site in Southbury, Connecticut. October 28th. A colored leg band indicated Reservoir April 4 (]K), while an albino large number of White-crowned Sparrows The shelter will contain biological informa­ this was a 1982 sub-adult from Maine. The Ring-billed Gull at Sandy Point, West Ha­ across the state May 5-10. Some feeders had tion about the eagles and allow the public author maintains a file on all color mark­ ven confused many gull watchers in April. groups of 10-20 birds at a time. Another an opportunity to view these magnificent ings used on eagles. Reports of any The Caspian Tern at Sherwood Island State late sparrow record was a pair of Lapland creatures. sightings of marked eagles would be Park May 16 (EH,CW), was the only one Longspurs in Stratford May 8 (DV). Two The viewing site will be manned by per­ appreciated. reported. Yellow-headed Blackbirds were reported, sonnel from Northeast Utilities or the Con­ both present since February. One was inS. necticut Wildlife Bureau during normal ••• OWLS THROUGH WARBLERS Windsor until the first week of March (PD) hours of operation. During the season, a A Long-eared Owl was seen at the and the other was at a Milford feeder until study will be conducted by the Wildlife OWL MASCOT: In late October, 1985, Guilford Sluice on March 10 (BD,MS), the April 25 (MB,et al.). An early Northern Bureau to determine if the operation of the owls were the subject of a press release by only report. An early Eastern Kingbird was Oriole was in Woodbridge April 7 (CW). shelter represents any harassment or inter­ Southern Connecticut State University. In found in Canton on April 22 (]K). Acadian American Goldfinch, considered uncom­ feres with the eagles' normal behavioral the past, Dr. Noble Proctor, associate pro­ Flycatchers were reported in more areas this mon this winter, was very common this patterns. fessor of biology at the University, had been spring than ever before with many observers spring. There is a great deal of concern regarding approached by SCSU students and faculty commenting on their abundance. A Sedge the operational plan for the shelter. Studies who hoped to aquire an owl as a mascot Wren was reported from East Haven May conducted by the Bald Eagle Study Group, (school teams are known as "The Owls"). Contributors: Tom Baptist, Anthony 11 (NP) and a second from Southern Larry Fischer, Steven Faccio and Howard Feeling it was inappropriate to keep a wild Bledsoe, Polly Brody, Stephen Broker, Connecticut State University campus May Russock and the 1983 assessment by Fran for display purposes, Noble Proctor Milan Bull, Winnie Burkett, Paul Carrier, bird 15 (PM). An early Philadelphia Vireo was Gramlich of the Bald Eagle Recovery Team suggested that the University "adopt" an Rick Cech (RiC), George Clark, Roland sighted May 12 in Branford (NP). An would suggest that the site is too close to injured owl, rehabilitate it and when ready, Clement (RoC), New Haven Bird Club, Orange-crowned Warbler, a rare spring mi­ the eagles' feeding area. Assurances have release it to the wild. SCSU President Mi­ Western Connecticut Bird Club, Paul grant, was observed in Greenwich April 28 been given that the shelter will be modified chael Adanti approved and SCSU will as­ Desjardins, Buzz Devine, Robert Dewire, (TB,JZ) and a Prothonotary Warbler was or eliminated if harassment occurs. sume the cost of caring for an owl lind will Richard English, Frank Gallo, Rick found the same day (NP) in Guilford. There Concerning a second wintering site, a redesign its own, on-campus facilities to ac­ Helprin, Ed Hagen, Charles Hills, Jay were three reports of Kentucky Warbler: meeting attended by a coalition of conserva­ commodate the owl until its release. When Kaplan, Seth Kellogg, Betty Kleiner one at Stony Creek May 11 (NP), one at tion groups and individuals and officials one owl has been rehabilitated another will (BKe), Betty Klunk (BKu), Frank Mantlik, of Greenwich May 14 (TB ,JZ), and one at the Dexter Corporation and the Windsor be adopted. Peter Marra, Mianus Field Notes, m .ob. = West Rock, New Haven (AB,SB). Locks Canal Co. was held recently. Efforts Raptor rehabilitators have always re­ many observers, Noble Proctor, Stephen will be made to reduce harassment of the fused to rake their birds to schools for Potter, David Rosgen, Ray Schwartz, Da­ TANAGERS THROUGH FINCHES eagles at the Enfield Rapids site. is hoped stressful, non-educational activities such as vid Sibley, Natchaug Ornithological Soci­ It activity along the canal tow path pep rallies or athletic events. The adoption There were three Summer Tanagers re­ ety, Mark Szantyr, Dennis Varza, Chris human will be eliminated by erecting gates and program is an ethical and beneficial ported this spring: one in Branford May 6 Wood, Joe Zeranski. new signs, and through enforcement by the alternative to the concept of live wildlife Department of Environmental Protection. mascots.

51 52 birds (May 20 on), 3 Western Sandpipers (NP), one in Greenwich May 19 (TB,JZ), NOTES AND NEWS The Bald Eagle Study Group will con­ May 22 (RE) and a Baird's Sandpiper May and one in Groton June 7 (BKu). Three tinue to operate winter feeding stations to 26 (SP). At Old Saybrook there were two Blue Grosbeaks were reported as well: one BALD EAGLE STATUS REPORT (Stuart insure that the wintering eagle population Common Black-headed Gulls and a Little in Avon May 8-10 (JK), one at West Rock, Mitchell): Recently, an agreement was has a supplemental food supply, to identify Gull on March 13, while at Oyster River in New Haven May 19 (AB ,SB) and one in signed by Northeast Utilities, the banded eagles and to record biological West Haven there was a Common Black­ Milford May 25-27 (DV,MS). The last Tree Connecticut Wildlife Bureau and the Bald observations. headed Gull from March 23 to April 6 and Sparrow and Ipswich Sparrow reported were Eagle Study Group to develop a public Noble Proctor reported our first banded a Little Gull March 30 to April 7. An in­ one each in Stratford April 13 (DV). The viewing shelter at the Shepaug Dam eagle of the 85-86 season at Lake Guillard, land Glaucous Gull was seen on the Nepaug most talked about sparrrow activity was the wintering site in Southbury, Connecticut. October 28th. A colored leg band indicated Reservoir April 4 (]K), while an albino large number of White-crowned Sparrows The shelter will contain biological informa­ this was a 1982 sub-adult from Maine. The Ring-billed Gull at Sandy Point, West Ha­ across the state May 5-10. Some feeders had tion about the eagles and allow the public author maintains a file on all color mark­ ven confused many gull watchers in April. groups of 10-20 birds at a time. Another an opportunity to view these magnificent ings used on eagles. Reports of any The Caspian Tern at Sherwood Island State late sparrow record was a pair of Lapland creatures. sightings of marked eagles would be Park May 16 (EH,CW), was the only one Longspurs in Stratford May 8 (DV). Two The viewing site will be manned by per­ appreciated. reported. Yellow-headed Blackbirds were reported, sonnel from Northeast Utilities or the Con­ both present since February. One was inS. necticut Wildlife Bureau during normal ••• OWLS THROUGH WARBLERS Windsor until the first week of March (PD) hours of operation. During the season, a A Long-eared Owl was seen at the and the other was at a Milford feeder until study will be conducted by the Wildlife OWL MASCOT: In late October, 1985, Guilford Sluice on March 10 (BD,MS), the April 25 (MB,et al.). An early Northern Bureau to determine if the operation of the owls were the subject of a press release by only report. An early Eastern Kingbird was Oriole was in Woodbridge April 7 (CW). shelter represents any harassment or inter­ Southern Connecticut State University. In found in Canton on April 22 (]K). Acadian American Goldfinch, considered uncom­ feres with the eagles' normal behavioral the past, Dr. Noble Proctor, associate pro­ Flycatchers were reported in more areas this mon this winter, was very common this patterns. fessor of biology at the University, had been spring than ever before with many observers spring. There is a great deal of concern regarding approached by SCSU students and faculty commenting on their abundance. A Sedge the operational plan for the shelter. Studies who hoped to aquire an owl as a mascot Wren was reported from East Haven May conducted by the Bald Eagle Study Group, (school teams are known as "The Owls"). Contributors: Tom Baptist, Anthony 11 (NP) and a second from Southern Larry Fischer, Steven Faccio and Howard Feeling it was inappropriate to keep a wild Bledsoe, Polly Brody, Stephen Broker, Connecticut State University campus May Russock and the 1983 assessment by Fran for display purposes, Noble Proctor Milan Bull, Winnie Burkett, Paul Carrier, bird 15 (PM). An early Philadelphia Vireo was Gramlich of the Bald Eagle Recovery Team suggested that the University "adopt" an Rick Cech (RiC), George Clark, Roland sighted May 12 in Branford (NP). An would suggest that the site is too close to injured owl, rehabilitate it and when ready, Clement (RoC), New Haven Bird Club, Orange-crowned Warbler, a rare spring mi­ the eagles' feeding area. Assurances have release it to the wild. SCSU President Mi­ Western Connecticut Bird Club, Paul grant, was observed in Greenwich April 28 been given that the shelter will be modified chael Adanti approved and SCSU will as­ Desjardins, Buzz Devine, Robert Dewire, (TB,JZ) and a Prothonotary Warbler was or eliminated if harassment occurs. sume the cost of caring for an owl lind will Richard English, Frank Gallo, Rick found the same day (NP) in Guilford. There Concerning a second wintering site, a redesign its own, on-campus facilities to ac­ Helprin, Ed Hagen, Charles Hills, Jay were three reports of Kentucky Warbler: meeting attended by a coalition of conserva­ commodate the owl until its release. When Kaplan, Seth Kellogg, Betty Kleiner one at Stony Creek May 11 (NP), one at tion groups and individuals and officials one owl has been rehabilitated another will (BKe), Betty Klunk (BKu), Frank Mantlik, of Greenwich May 14 (TB ,JZ), and one at the Dexter Corporation and the Windsor be adopted. Peter Marra, Mianus Field Notes, m .ob. = West Rock, New Haven (AB,SB). Locks Canal Co. was held recently. Efforts Raptor rehabilitators have always re­ many observers, Noble Proctor, Stephen will be made to reduce harassment of the fused to rake their birds to schools for Potter, David Rosgen, Ray Schwartz, Da­ TANAGERS THROUGH FINCHES eagles at the Enfield Rapids site. is hoped stressful, non-educational activities such as vid Sibley, Natchaug Ornithological Soci­ It activity along the canal tow path pep rallies or athletic events. The adoption There were three Summer Tanagers re­ ety, Mark Szantyr, Dennis Varza, Chris human will be eliminated by erecting gates and program is an ethical and beneficial ported this spring: one in Branford May 6 Wood, Joe Zeranski. new signs, and through enforcement by the alternative to the concept of live wildlife Department of Environmental Protection. mascots.

51 52 CONTENTS

The 1983 Colonial Seabird Survey 40 THE Fred C. Sibley and Ray Schwartz Purple Gallinule; The Deceptive Vagrant: CONNECTIClJT Its Occurrence in Connecticut. 43 Frank Gallo Eastern Screech Owl (Otus asio) Mortality in WARBLER Southern Connecticut 47 Arnold Devine and Dwight G. Smith A Journal of Connecticut Ornithology

Great Horned Owl Feeding on Sucker 48 Arnold Devine and Elston Stevens

Connecticut Field Notes-Spring 1985 49 Dennis Varza

NOTES&NEWS 52

The Connecticut Warbler is a quarrerly publicarion devored ro rhe advancemenr of rhe srudy of birds . Ir is published by rhe Connecricur Ornirhological Associarion. Address all correspondence ro 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06430.

The Connecticut Audubon Society Non-Profit Org . 114 Unquow• Ro•d U.S. Postage PAID f•irfi~ld,CT 01>430 Fairfield, Conn. Permit No. 95

Volume V Number 4 October 1985 Pages 40-52