THE BLUEBIRD September 2003, Volume 70, No

THE BLUEBIRD September 2003, Volume 70, No. 3

The Audubon Society of Missouri, Missouri's Ornithological Society Since 1901 THE AUDUBON SOCIETY OF MISSOURI

Officers* Directors* Jerry Wade. President (2004) Paul Bauer (2003) 1221 Bradshaw Ave. Florissant (314) 921-3972 Columbia. MO 65203 Mike Beck (2003) (573) 445-6697 Blue Springs (816) 229-6811 [email protected] Lisa Berger (2005) Susan Gustafson. Vice Pres. (2004) Springfield (417) 881-8393 429 Belleview Ave. Webster Groves. MO 63119 David Easterla (2005) (314) 968-8128 Maryville (660) 582-8468 [email protected] Hope Eddleman (2004) Joyce Bathke. Treasurer (2004) Cape Girardeau (573) 335-1507 813 Cornell St Steve Kinder (2004) Columbia. MO 65203 Chillicothe (660) 646-6516 (573) 445-5758 Larry Lade (2003) [email protected] St. Joseph (816) 232-6125 Jim Zellmer. Secretary (2004) Ed McCullough (2005) 2001 NE 4th St. Kansas City (816) 505-2840 Blue Springs. MO 64014 (816) 228-3955 Clare Wheeler (2004) tow [email protected] Lake Ozark & Canton (573) 365-2951 Honorary Directors Chairs Nathan Fay, Ozark** Bonnie Reidy, Membership Richard A. Anderson. St. Louis** 501 Parkade Sydney Wade. Jefferson City** Columbia. MO 65202 John Wylie, Jefferson City** (573) 442-2191 Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia** [email protected] Floyd Lawhon. St. Joseph** Edge Wade. Bird Alert Leo Galloway, St. Joseph 1221 Bradshaw Ave. Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth** Columbia. MO 65203 Rebecca Matthews, Springfield (573) 445-6697 Dave Witten. Columbia [email protected] Jim Jackson. Marthasville Bill Clark, Historian * Year Term Expires 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. **Deceased Columbia, MO 65202 (573) 47 4-4510 Cover Photo: Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, by Dm•id Note the spectacular Loess Easter/a. Squaw Creek NWR. Mounds in the background! r Page i THE BLUEBIRD THE BLUEBIRD

Bluebird Editor: Patrick Harrison, 3867 Highway K, Shelbyville, MO 63469, (573) 633-2628, [email protected] Christmas Bird Count Editor: Randy Korotev, 800 Oakbrook Lane, St. Louis, MO 63132, (314) 993-0055, [email protected] MO Bird Records Committee: Bill Eddleman-Chair, (see Seasonal Survey Editors) Bill Rowe-Secretary, 9033 Big Bend Road, St. Louis, MO 63119, (314) 962-0544, [email protected] Seasonal Survey Editors: Summer: Andy Forbes, 2620 Forum Blvd. Suite C-1, Columbia, MO 65203, [email protected] Fall: Bill Eddleman, 1831 Ricardo Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, (573) 335-1507 (h), [email protected] Winter: Brad Jacobs, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, (573) 751-4115, [email protected] Spring: Roger McNeill, 2520 Red Bridge Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64131, (913) 226-3254, [email protected] Conservation Editor: Dave Bedan, 2001 Chapel Wood Road, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 445-9834, [email protected] Communication Services: Patrick Harrison, The Bluebird, [email protected] Susan Hazelwood, Listserv, [email protected] Mike Beck, Webmaster, 1001 S. 19th, Blue Springs, MO 64015, [email protected] Robert Fisher, Electronic Newsletter, 3608 S. Northern, Independence, MO 64052, [email protected] Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird Manuscripts for The Bluebird-to the editor by: Feb. 1 for March issue; May 1 for June issue; Aug. 1 for Sept. issue; Nov. 1 for Dec. issue Seasonal Surveys: Winter (Dec. 1-Feb. 28)-to Brad Jacobs by Mar. 10 Spring (M:ar. 1-May 31)-to Roger McNeill by June 10 Summer (June 1-July 31)-to Andy Forbes by Aug 10 Fall (Aug. 1-Nov. 30)-to Bill Eddleman by Dec. 10

Page ii THE BLUEBIRD TABLE OF CONTENTS

September, 2003 Volume 70, No.3

1 President's Circle, Jerry Wade 5 MBRC Update, Bill Rowe 6 First Breeding Record of Hooded Warbler in Northwest Missouri, David Easterla & Tommie Rogers 12 Missouri Checklist Revised, Bill Rowe 16 Conservation Report, David Bedan 20 Trinidad and Tobago, Jean Graebner 25 Book Review by Edge Wade: Birding on Borrowed Time 28 Letter from the Editor, Patrick Harrison 29 Seasonal Survey, Spring, Roger McNeill 38 Christmas Bird Counts, Randy Korotev 58 Interview with THE Missouri Roadrunner, The Bluebird Reporter Blue Insert-Fall Meeting Materials

Postage; is Postmaster:·· w. Broadway ·. pressed in s necessarily represent souri or its officers, cles, photographs,andartw

Page iii THE BLUEBIRD PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE-JERRY WADE

'm writ- souri than most people re- I mg this alize. Do we fully appreci- while com- ate how much we have and mg home the quality of our public from a areas-the national wild- week-long life refuges, The DNR state trip to New parks and historic sites York. We and the MDC conservation did the return trip loafing areas and centers? From through the countryside on our experiences, it is clear. black highways. We got to Missouri is the best! thinking about our travel Sometimes we grumble and experiences. Since the and complain about how first of the year, Edge and they could be better, and I have had the pleasure of that is as it should be- AS doing several road trips, LONG AS we are willing to birding on all of them share those complaints and (Surprise!). We've been in suggestions in open and a dozen states that were a honest conversation. How- true cross section of the ever, I think there is an- country. We birded na- other message for each of tional parks, wildlife ref- us and the ASM. Every uges and forests, state time we bird a public area, parks and wildlife areas we are using an invest- and county parks and con- ment in a public resource. servation areas. In six If we are to keep what we states, we had to pay to have and make it better, visit a state park. In the we need to become aggres- west, we had to pay to sive in giving back. It is park in national forests not enough to pay our pub- just to bird along the road. lic bills (our taxes and fees) In reflecting on our ex- for the public goods we re- periences, we had the over- ceive; more is needed. I whelming feeling that we have three suggestions. have it a lot better in Mis- First, be sure you let

Page 1 THE BLUEBIRD your elected and appointed is no way to overstate the officials and the non- importance of the dedi- elected party leaders know cated 1/2 of 1/10% sales tax how important these public for state parks and the services are to you and to 1/8% sales tax for conser- the future well-being of vation. We will stay the Missouri. Don't tell them best if we keep those com- just once; tell them every mitted funds. chance you get. We've had conversa- Begin your own educa- tions with birders, staff tion campaign to let and volunteers in several friends and the organiza- states. The common thread tions you belong to know that makes Missouri differ- how special Missouri's pub- ent is the legitimate atten- lic lands are and how im- tion, that is, in philosophy, portant it is to keep them authorization and practice AND the resources to to commit funds and time maintain and manage to benefit all species, not them for use by all. just game species, in a And, it is not just about habitat context. Missouri places. It is also about the stands unique and, I be- public employees. We ob- lieve, actually ends up served that Missouri is the with better opportunities best not only because of for all outdoor activities - the quantity and quality of consumptive and non- our public facilities and consumptive. lands, but also because of I used to think it was the quality and the profes- strictly funding that made sionalism of the employees a difference. Now I believe of DNR, MDC and the it is a combination of fund- F&\VS. This goes hand-in- ing and attitude/ hand with a philosophy philosophy. Which comes and attitude that they first? Doesn't matter. What serve all. is critical is that both are Missouri is different necessary and probably than most other places and evolve together. I sure am glad of it. There Second, GET TO

Page 2 THE BLUEBIRD WORK! Pick out a state for a conservation educa- pa rk, a conservation area tion center. or a national wildlife ref- I can't calculate how uge that is a special place much the work and funds to you and find out how of the group extends the you can help. Work on a refuge budget, but it cer- project. Help organize a tainly makes the refuge support group. Raise standout. We recommend a money to fund a project or visit anytime you are activity. Become a part of "birder close" to southern "'Makin' It Better." Indiana. There are some excel- My third suggestion is lent examples in Missouri, to do what you can to make such as the Friend of ASM a stronger, more vi- Squaw Creek NWR. We brant organization. Here need many more. are several ideas on what We found one wonder- you can do. ful example of the differ- Get a supply of mem- ence volunteers can make bership forms at the check- at the Muscatatuck NWR in table at the Fall Meet- in southern Indiana. The ing or download them from volunteer support group the ASM website. Then, has organized as The Mus- constantly look for chances catatuck Wildlife Society. to recruit new members. Their activities include Bring beginning birders providing volunteers at the and non-members to ASM refuge, running the gift functions. Especially urge shop, providing labor and those non-members who raising funds for projects. use our services such as The projects we noted were the listserv to get on board. a raised wetlands trail, a The size of the member- bird garden and a bird- ship affects several things. viewing room attached to It impacts our budget. The the visitor's center. The more members, the larger current project is a build- the budget to do things mg under construction with. Perhaps most impor- next to the visitor's center tantly, the members are

Page 3 THE BLUEBIRD the pool of resources we April 23 - 25 to join bird- have to get things done. ers from all over the state The more members, the in West Plains. more we can do and the The most underbirded larger the group to draw part of the state is the upon for leadership. south central area, but it Volunteer to work for has some of the finest bird- ASM. Don't wait until ing sites. There is no bird- asked. Tell any member of ing or Audubon organiza- the Executive Committee tion in the area. An enthu- that you would be willing siastic group has been to work on a project, com- formed to be the local hosts mittee or task if asked. Be for us. They have already sure to say what you are met twice and their excite- especially interested in ment is evident. and like to do. We will use We will experience su- that information to put perb birding with the pos- new efforts together. It is sibility of seeing some spe- much easier if we already cial birds and we will learn know who the willing about more of the wonder- hands are and what they ful birding opportunities in like to do. Missouri as we contribute Be an active participant to the birding know ledge in ASM events. Elsewhere base in the area. Who in this Bluebird is the in- knows - maybe this will formation on the fall meet- provide the stimulus for a ing September 26 - 28. It new local organization. will be both an educational This should be a special and fun weekend. If you meeting. Plan to be there. haven't made your plans to Better yet, add a day on be there, do so. I look for- the front or stay an addi- ward to seeing you at tional day or two and Camp Clover Point. really enjoy the area. More And, a special an- information will be avail- nouncement about the able at the fall meeting. Spring 2004 meeting. Mark your calendar for

Page4 THE BLUEBIRD MBRC UPDATE-BILL ROWE, SECRETARY

Election of Members birders and localities m Missouri, a commitment to he members of the the documentation of bird T Missouri Bird Re- records, and a commit- cords Committee (MBRC) ment to accomplishing the are elected to four-year work of the Committee in terms, which expire one or a timely fashion... Com- two at a time in successive mittee members shall be- years. As the current members' terms expire long to the ASM." they may stand for re- Person wishing to election, and other candi- make a nomination should dates may also be nomi- follow these guidelines: (1) nated. Nominators may not nomi- One position (called Po- nate themselves. (2) A sition 4) will be open for nominator must affirm the election at the Commit- nominee's willingness to tee's annual meeting on serve on the Committee. September 27. Bill Rowe (3) A nominator should file occupies this position and the nomination in writing, will stand for re-election. including a description of ASM members may also the nominee's qualifica- nominate other candidates tions. Please send nomina- with the appropriate tions to the Chair, Bill Ed- qualifications, as stated in dleman, 1831 Ricardo Dr., the MBRC by-laws: Cape Girardeau, MO "Qualifications for 63701. They should reach Committee membership him no later than Septem- should include expertise in ber 20. identification of birds, know ledge of Missouri birds, familiarity with

Page 5 THE BLUEBIRD FIRST RECORD OF HOODED WARBLER BREEDING IN NORTHWEST MISSOURI DAVID EASTERLA, PH.D. & TOMMIE l. ROGERS June 11, 2003, Rogers identified by call onRogers was conduct- (about 9:30A.M.) what she ing the Tarkio breeding believed to be a Hooded bird survey which tran- Warbler that sang sects Brickyard Hill Con- tween five and seven servation Area that is times, but she could not owned by the Missouri De- see the bird. On June 13, partment of Conservation, 2003, she returned to the and located five miles same area (about 9:00 north and 1/2 mile east of A.M.) hoping to see the Rock Port, Atchison bird; again it called four or County, Missouri (only five times, but the bird eight miles from the Iowa was not observed. On June line). The area consists of 17, 2003, the event was 2,262 acres on the eastern repeated again (about edge of the Missouri River 11:00 A.M.), but no bird floodplain in the loess was seen despite one and (Pleistocene/Ice Age wind a possible second bird blown deposited soil dur- singing. On July 1, 2003, ing the Sangamonian In- Rogers again visited the terglaciation) hills. The area (about 1:00 P.M.) this area consists primarily of time with a tape of the rugged, mature (some vir- Hooded Warbler's song, gin) hardwood forested hoping to finally see the hills and ravines inter- bird. Again it sang eight to spersed with dry "loess" ten times, but was not ob- hill grasslands on some of served. the blufftops (mainly on On July 8, 2003, the southwest part). At Rogers and Easterla re- one of her count stops (for turned at 6:20 A.M. to the three minutes) at Bluff same area with a tape, de- Woods Conservation Area, termined to observe this

Page 6 THE BLUEBIRD elusive, singing bird. We loess hilltop with mature stationed ourselves m deciduous woodland on a slightly different areas steep western slope dis- and played the tape. Im- sected by steep ravines; mediately Easterla ob- the woodland is beside served an adult male open fields. Some of this Hooded Warbler. The bird woodland had been selec- seemed quite alarmed and tively cut five to nine carried food in its mouth. years ago resulting in an Easterla observed this almost impenetrable un- male off and on for the derstory of saplings and next 10 minutes. At 6:30 herbaceous growth. This A.M. Rogers observed an woodland periphery is bor- alarmed female Hooded dered and partly tran- Warbler in the same area. sected by a grassy road- At 6:37 A.M. Easterla ob- way, the edge of which is served this same female. almost an impenetrable During this entire time "fence" of wild rasp berry the male sang only twice, and stinging nettle! Sur- but numerous call notes prisingly, the overstory or were heard from both canopy of this woodland birds. Later, between 7:10 hilltop beside the grassy - 7:45 A.M. and adjacent road (where we played the to this area (50 yards?), tape) is dominated by and down in a deep black locust trees, an in- wooded ravine with tre- troduced (European) spe- mendous understory, we cies. The dominant under- heard a male singing story "jungle" here of wild (numerous times), but raspberry and stinging could not prove it was not nettle makes walking al- the same male observed most impossible. Once one earlier. walks west and beyond At first glance this area this area and begins down does not seem to be ideal the steep slope and into Hooded Warbler habitat the rugged ravines, the until one traverses the tree composition immedi- woodland. The area is on a ately changes into native

Page 7 THE BLUEBIRD I hardwood species involv- (2), Kentucky Warbler (2), ing a mature forest inter- Scarlet Tanager, Eastern spersed by selective cut- Towhee, Chipping Spar- ting; here the under- row, Rose-breasted Gros- growth is overpowering. beak, Indigo Bunting, and Other plants identified Brown-headed Cowbird. around the black locusts A review of the litera- and near the edge were: ture revealed several in- hawthorn, redbud, rough- consistencies in the breed- leaved dogwood, smooth ing range of the Hooded sumac, elderberry, green- Warbler. First, no breed- brier, coralberry, wild ing records exist for north- grape, giant ragweed, west Missouri; in fact, marijuana, and wood sage Easterla had never previ- mint. Away from the black ously observed this species locusts and down the slope in northwest Missouri dur- into the ravines, species ing 38 years of birding replacement occurred with (but there are several re- northern red oak, black cords of migrants for the walnut, bitternut hickory, area). Robbins and East- hackberry, slippery elm, erla (1992, pp. 305-306) ironwood, and white ash. state that the species is a Bird species observed rare summer resident in or heard in the Hooded the Mississippi low lands Warbler habitat were: Yel- and the southern and east- low-billed Cuckoo, Red- ern portions of the Ozarks, bellied Woodpecker, and has declined since Downy Woodpecker, East- Widmann's time (in the ern Wood-Pewee, Great early 1900's). They do Crested Flycatcher, Yel- mention a single extra- low-throated Vireo, Tufted limital record of a singing Titmouse, White-breasted male at St. Joseph, July 3- Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, 7, 1976, by John Hamil- House Wren, Blue-gray ton. Jacobs (2001, p. 246) Gnatcatcher, Wood shows a similar breeding Thrush, American Robin, range in the southern and Gray Catbird, Ovenbird eastern Ozarks and the

Page 8 THE BLUEBIRD boot heel; of interest, Ja- east Kansas and the other cobs mentions nesting in in Leavenworth County thickets on north and east (west of the Missouri sloping ravines (our birds River and across from were on a western slope). Platte County, Missouri). Jacobs and Wilson (1997, Busby and Zimmerman pp. 286-287) mention for (2001 , pp. 352-353) did not their breeding bird atlas confirm breeding for this project that no nests of species during their Kan- this warbler were found sas atlas project, and only and the species was re- one singing male was recorded only as a possible corded (Leavenworth breeder. County). They did mention Dunn and Garret that the Hooded Warbler (1997, p. 545), National often nests in dense un- Geographic (1987, p. 384), derstory vegetation in for- Peterson (2002, map 377), ests with large trees and Evans Ogden and where treefalls create can- Stutchbury (1994, p. 1) all opy gaps and a dense show a similar breeding shrub layer develops in range for this warbler in response to greater light; Missouri. However, Sibley also the species often (2000, p. 455) adds parts breeds in forests where of southwestern Iowa, selective cutting has re- northeastern Kansas, and sulted in a well developed all of northwestern Mis- understory layer. souri! This is in error and Sharpe, Silcock, and should be corrected in his Jorgensen (2001, p. 375) next revision. state for Nebraska that Kent and Dinsmore ... there is no evidence (1996, p. 314) show breed- that this species ever ing of the Hooded Warbler nested in the state." They only in eastern and central state that previous reports Iowa, and Thompson and of this species probably Ely (1992, p. 252) mention breeding in southeast Ne- breeding only in two Kan- braska are based upon an sas counties, one in south- observation by Aughey

Page 9 THE BLUEBIRD along the Nemaha River missouri and adjacent re- during September, 187 4! gions. Unfortunately, the Ameri- can Ornithologists' Union David A. Easterla, Ph.D. (1998, p. 561) still states Northwest Missouri State for the Hooded Warbler Univ. ... and west to southeast- 800 University Drive ern Nebraska (formerly), Maryville, MO 64468 ... This oversight should be corrected in the next Tommie L. Rogers edition (8th). Sharpe, Sil- 305 Weightman Road cock, and Jorgensen do Mound City, MO 64470 mention an extralimital Hooded Warbler collected Literature Cited by a cat in northwest Ne- American Ornithologists' braska on June 17, 1982, Union. 1998. Check-list and another bird (singing of North American male) at Hummel Park, Birds (7th edit.). Allen Omaha, June 20, 1999. Press, Lawrence, Kans. Based upon published re- 829 pp. cords it appears that our Busby, W.H. and J.L. Zim- Atchison County, Mis- merman. 2001. Kansas souri, record is probably Breeding Bird Atlas. the northwestern most Univ. Press Kans., breeding record for this Lawrence. 466 pp. Eastern United States Dunn, J .L. and K.L. warbler. Based upon the Garrett. 1997. A Field dense habitat that this Guide To Warblers of species prefers, and its se- North America. Hough- cretiveness and difficulty ton Mifflin Co., Boston. in observing, we suspect 656 pp. that in the proper habitat, Evans Ogden, L.J. and this species (although B.J. Stutchbury. 1994. rare) may be overlooked, Hooded Warbler and possibly may be re- (Wilsonia citrina). The corded breeding in other Birds of North America areas of northwest Mis- (110); A. Poole and F.

Page 10 THE BLUEBIRD Gill, edit. Phila; Acad. and J.G. Jorgensen. Nat. Sci., Wa h., D.C.; 2001. Birds of Ne- Amer. Ornith. Union. braska. Univ. Nebra. 20 pp. Press, Lincoln. 520 pp. Jacobs, B. 2001. Birds in Sibley, D.A. 2000. The Missouri. Mo. Dept. Sibley Guide to Birds. Cons., Jeffer on City. Nat. Aud. Soc. Alfred 375 pp. A. Knopf, N.Y. 544 pp. Jacobs, B. and J.D. Wil- Thompson, M.C. and C. on. 1997. Missouri Ely. 1992. Birds in Breeding Bird Atlas. Kansas (Vol. 2). Mu . Mo. Dept. Cons., Jeffer- Nat. Hist., Univ. Kans., son City. 430 pp. Univ. Press Kans., Kent, T. H. and J.J. Lawrence. 424 pp. Dinsmore. 1996. Birds in Iou·a. Thomson- Shore. Inc., Dexter, Mich. 391 pp. National Geographic. 1987. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. National Geo- graphic, Wash., D.C. 480 pp. Peterson, R.T. 2002. A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. 427 pp. Robbins, M.B. and D.A. Easterla. 1992. Birds of The photographs above were Missouri - Their Distri- taken from the InternE't with bution and Abundance. the permission of the photogra· Univ. Mo. Press, Co- pher: Mike Danzenbaker lumbia. 399 pp. Sharpe, R.S., W.R. Silcock,

Page 11 THE BLUEBIRD MISSOURI CHECKLIST REVISED BILL ROWE, SECRETARY, MBRC

ver the past year, the summer resident 0 Missouri Bird Records ("common" rather than Committee (MBRC) has nothing at all). We have been revising and updating made the requisite changes the Annotated Check-list of in nomenclature to conform Missouri Birds (previous to the most recent Ameri- version 1998), which ASM can Ornithologists' Union publishes in handy card check-list supplements: form and also puts online at Oldsquaw has become www.mobirds.org for every- Long-tailed Duck, and Com- one's easy reference. This mon Snipe has become Wil- project began with fairly son's Snipe. We even took modest expectations care to delete the little ("Guess we won't have to check-mark line for Bach- change too much; we can man's Warbler, so you are get this done in a month") no longer encouraged to re- and then, inevitably, cord how many Bachman's dragged on as we located Warblers you saw on your more typos in the previous April 29 field trip. verswn and decided on For the sake of a com- more changes in the status plete historical record, how- of various birds. By now, ever, Bachman's does re- however, the project is es- main on the list as an sentially completed, and we "extirpated" species--i.e., a hope to have the new list in bird that has disappeared print for the annual fall from the state of Missouri ASM meeting. but exists elsewhere, or at I won't bore the reader least has not been declared with most of the typo- officially extinct by the graphic corrections. Suffice AOU (even though, in this it to say that the list no case, it almost certainly is). longer includes Double- Its companions in the crested "ormorant", and "extirpated" category are that Common Grackle now Eskimo Curlew and Ivory- has an actual status as a billed Woodpecker (also

Page 12 THE BLUEBIRD probably extinct) and Red- species. Some, for instance, cockaded Woodpecker, have recently shown up at a Common Raven, and season when previously un- Brown-headed Nuthatch known; thus Pacific Loon (former residents). In addi- now reads "T r; SV & WR a" tion, our list contains two since there is now an ac- once-numerous species that cepted summer record of are unquestionably extinct: this loon, a bird in alternate Carolina Parakeet and Pas- plumage. Likewise, Vir- senger Pigeon. ginia Rail, Lesser Yellow- These eight species, now legs, and Spotted Sandpiper gone, formed part of the all have "WV a" added to previous Missouri list of their status, since they 397 positively-recorded spe- have recently been found in cies, plus 19 more that were winter for the first time. considered "hypothetical," a Other species previously term meaning that the evi- listed as "accidental" have dence of occurrence is moved up to "casual," as the strong but the species has number of records is now not met the criteria for a more than five (but still less first state record (specimen, than fifteen); these include photograph, or satisfactory Great Egret in winter, written documentation by Black-bellied Whistling- more than one observer). In Duck, Greater Yellowlegs the new list, two previously and Least Sandpiper in hypothetical species receive winter, White-winged Dove, full acceptance (Gyrfalcon Anna's Hummingbird, Ru- and Common Poorwill) fous Hummingbird in the along with three new ones east, and Clark's Nut- (Smew, Eurasian Collared- cracker. Dove, and Calliope Hum- One important "break mingbird). This brings the point" is the move from grand total of fully accepted "casual" to "rare," for this species for Missouri to 402, means that formal docu- and leaves the hypothetical mentation of the species, list at 17. with review by the Commit- We have made changes tee, is no longer necessary. in the status of quite a few A few such changes have

Page 13 THE BLUEBIRD already been described in souri; consequently we have articles of The Bluebird. listed the Blackpoll as Tricolored Heron and Mar- "accidental" in fall and have bled Godwit, for instance, bracketed it as well, to read are now considered merely "[a (fall)]", indicating that it rare statewide, White Ibis is only hypothetical at that is rare in southern Missouri season. This is a result of (still casual in the north), the Blackpoll's fall migra- and Western Kingbird is no tion pattern, which takes it more than rare in any part well to the east of Missouri, of the state. Moving beyond plus the difficulty in sepa- rarities, a few birds have rating it from the fall Bay- become common statewide breasted Warbler, so that in recent years, including earlier reports without de- American White Pelican (as tails are suspect. a migrant) and Wild Turkey Some birds have a com- (as a resident); their new plex pattern of occurrence status descriptions reflect in Missouri that is hard to this. capture in a few brief sym- Conversely, we have bols; if the previous check- treated a few species more list no longer came close to conservatively than before. reality, we had to debate a White-rumped Sandpiper, a new version, and some of bird for which documenta- these came out a little un- tion of fall records has been wieldy but the best compro- difficult to find, is now mise we could reach. Mis- listed as "casual" in fall sissippi Kite, for instance, rather than rare. As re- will now be listed as "SR u quested in recent articles of (Miss. R.), r (sw,wc); T r The Bluebird, we would ap- (elsewhere)." This is meant preciate careful, detailed to summarize the kite's documentation of any fall- fairly continuous residency migration sighting. Even (now certainly uncommon more striking, there does rather than rare) up the not seem to be a single well- Mississippi valley, its documented (much less patchier occurrence as a photographed) fall record of breeding bird on the other a Blackpoll Warbler in Mis- side of the state, and its

Page 14 THE BLUEBIRD status as a migrant every- cided to simplify by restrict- where else. In every entry, ing the checklist to full spe- whether complicated or cies only and leaving the simple, we tried to keep subspecies issue for a fu- pace with any recent shifts ture article that might ap- in distribution and abun- pear in The Bluebird or on dance, boiled down to the the web site. symbol code on at most a We hope all Missouri couple of lines. We continue birders will obtain the new to believe that the symbol checklist and enjoy using it, code, simplistic though it is, whether as a quick, simple gives birders a great deal reference or as an actual more information in handy field list for their trips. It is form than would a mere list certainly not perfect, and so of species. Those who want we also hope to hear from more details about any birders who see possible er- given species' status and rors, and thus possible revi- distribution can consult sions for next time. Bear in Birds of Missouri, by Mark mind, though, that every Robbins and David Easterla status as stated in the list (the authoritative treatise is meant to be only a rough, on our birds), or the fine brief summary of the bird's maps and text of the more occurrence statewide, in ap- recent Birds in Missouri, by propriate habitat. If you Brad Jacobs. have any suggestions for One issue we side- the next round (which I stepped this time is that of hope will not come sooner subspecies. The previous than five more years from list arbitrarily included just now!), please mail them or a single subspecies pair, the e-mail them to me and I "Myrtle" and "Audubon's" will archive them for the forms of Yellow-rumped future. Warbler, while leaving out other field-identifiable sub- Editor's Note: Bill Rowe's species like "Red-shafted" mailing and e-mail ad- Flicker and "Oregon" Junco. dresses are available on Rather than try to include Page ii near the beginning more of these forms, we de- of The Bluebird.

Page 15 THE BLUEBIRD urrent trends in the ability to develop laws to CMissouri General As- protect Missouri's unique sembly are very disturbing resources such as our for anyone who cares streams, caves, springs about the conservation of and wetlands. Another bill Missouri's natural re- (SB 36) would have im- sources. Dozens of bills posed extreme new re- and budget cuts were in- quirements for troduced which would "risk/benefit" analysis that have rolled back the gains would virtually paralyze in environmental protec- DNR's ability to adopt tion and the conservation rules to protect human of natural resources that health or the environment. Missourians have made These two bills would have over the last 30 years. entangled DNR's rulemak- However, when the 2003 ing ability in a hopeless legislative session ended maze of red tape. And SB on May 16, nearly all of 360 would have allowed the worst bills were de- unregulated gravel dredg- feated. But some of the ing (up to 5,000 tons per worst were only defeated year per business) in Mis- in the Senate on the last souri's streams. day of the legislative ses- Many of the worst pro- siOn. visions of these and other bills, including the gravel Threats to Environ- dredging provisions, were mental Protection combined into one large Many bills would have bill (SB 36) which many rolled back the authority conservationists dubbed and capability of the DNR the "Environmental De- to protect Missouri's envi- struction Act." It was ronment. A "no stricter amended many times and than" bill (HB 215) would it was still alive down to have restricted Missouri's the last day of the legisla-

Page 16 THE BLUEBIRD tive session. Staunch op- feeding operation s ponents of the bill in the (CAFOs) which concen- Senate led by Minority trate thousands of animals Leader Ken Jacob finally (e.g., hogs or poultry) in killed the bill on the last confined facilities. These day. industrial-style facilities On the other hand, the produce such enormous l legislature failed to renew quantities of livestock ma- the fifty cent per tire nure and an incredible Waste Tire Fee that ex- stench that they threaten pires in January. The pro- the water, soil and air ceeds from this fee , paid quality of the surrounding when a new tire is pur- community. House Bill 257 chased, is used by DNR to would have rolled back ex- cleanup and recycle many isting regulations that have huge waste tire dumps been put in place to protect which sometimes burn in those who live near CAFOs. catastrophic fires The wa- For example, it would have ter that collects in dis- eliminated a requirement carded tires is also a su- that CAFO facilities notify perb breeding ground for the public before construct- mosquitoes. Apparently ing a new facility and it also the Missouri General As- removed the buffer require- sembly hasn't heard about ments for CAFOs, which West Nile Fever. would have allowed CAFOs to be constructed as close as CAFO Bill Passed but a few feet from a nearby Vetoed family's home. Due to the One bill passed so sur- use of open lagoons for ma- reptitiously that conserva- nure storage and handling, tionists did not even real- the impacts of CAFOs on ize that it had passed until the health of families in several weeks after the surrounding communities legislative session ended. can be severe. Finally, HB 257 virtually nullified House Bill 25 7 removed the all state regulations re- requirement for CAFO op- garding confined animal erators to notify their af-

Page 17 THE BLUEBIRD fected neighbors and au- as the Outreach and Assis- thorities of any pollution tance Center. GR also sup- spills. In late June and ports DNR's Geological early July conservationists Survey and Resource As- and family farmers sessment Division which mounted a successful cam- is an important part of the paign to convince Governor department's scientific ex- Holden to veto this outra- pertise. Yet another bill, geous bill. SB 675, "sweeps" all or part of the balances in Cuts to DNR's Budget many special funds into The budget process is general revenue. This bill being used to drastically will impact several DNR weaken the Missouri De- dedicated funds including partment of Natural Re- funds that are supposed to sources (DNR) which is be used only for activities responsible for the imple- related to hazardous mentation of most of Mis- waste, air pollution, water souri's existing environ- pollution and drinking wa- mental protection laws. ter supplies. There is no doubt that Missouri, like many other Fish and Wildlife Con- states, is facing a severe servation Jeopardized budget crisis. But the cuts Missouri's fish and to DNR's general revenue wildlife conservation pro- (GR) funds have been grams were also under at- greater than those of any tack in the General As- other department. While sembly. A bill in the Gen- DNR depends on relatively eral Assembly (SJR21) little GR (most of DNR's would have jeopardized funds are earmarked fees the 118 cent Conserva- and taxes or federal funds) tion Sales Tax by forcing these vital funds are often a public vote on the tax used to match federal every four years. This funds and support innova- would threaten the loss of tive approaches to envi- about three fourths of the ronmental protection such funding of the Missouri

Page 18 THE BLUEBIRD Department of Conserva- on Missouri legislators to tion. Also, the public may inform voters of their leg- be confused and become islators' votes on key envi- less willing to vote for re- ronmental issues. newal of DNR's 1110 cent No doubt most of these Parks and Soils Sales ill-considered bills will be Tax which must be reintroduced again next newed every ten years. year. In fact, some legisla- Another bill (SJR 23) tors have promised that would have diverted half they will be back. Conser- of the conservation tax for vationists will need to be non-conservation pur- on the alert once again. poses. Due to strong oppo- sition neither of these bills passed. Birding Web Sites From The Editor... Conclusion: Citizens' The use of the Inter- Actions are Crucial net as a resource for Hundreds of Missouri birders continues to conservationists, including grow. Each month, we many Audubon members, will try to offer a new worked to help stop these site and give you a brief bills. Audubon Missouri, description of its con- the state office of the Na- tents. Send your sug- tional Audubon Society, gestions to the Editor. has also been cooperating The Provincial M u- with a new organization, seum of Alberta (PMA) Missouri Votes Conserva- has an on-line field tion (MVC). Josh Camp- guide with over 300 bell of MVC and Karla bird egg images. Klein of the Sierra Club both worked tirelessly and http://www.pma.edmont effectively to represent on.ab.ca/vexhibit/eggs/v conservation interests be- exhome/egghome .htm fore the General assembly. MVC is now developing an environmental scorecard

Page 19 THE BLUEBIRD TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO JEAN GRAEBNER turns for very little time invested whether walking or driving. · That is my al- pha memory of my Trini- dad and Tobago trip- birds around all the time, . Arima colorful, vocal, fascinat- T Sar or Trinidad ing-whether relaxing on \ A the verandah of the main ' lodge, (more about this Point later!) walking on trails, or riding in the van. In February we left be- he two islands that hind the snows of mid- T comprise the country Missouri for the tropical Trinidad and Tobago landscape of the Asa are small. Trinidad, the Wright Nature Centre lo- southernmost of the Carib- cated on 200 acres in the bean islands in the West Northern mountain range Indies, a small chip off the of Trinidad's rain forest. Venezuelan coast, is 50 Other birders in our tour miles long by 37 miles group of 10 came from wide. Tiny Tobago is 28 Oregon, Pennsylvania, miles long by about 8 and Wisconsin. The tour miles at its broadest. A 20 proper began on the flight minute flight gets you from Miami to Port of from one to the other. Spain, Trinidad's capitol Compare that with their city. Because of late arri- impressive species list: val, it was already night 108 mammals, 400 birds, when our guide pulled the 55 reptiles, 25 amphibians van up at the Centre and 617 butterflies. where we would spend the These facts add up to a next seven days. The hos- birding jackpot-big re- pitality that is a hallmark

Page 20 THE BLUEBIRD was already evident and mountain valley stretch- before dispersing to our ing in the distance. Hum- rooms, we toasted the up- mingbird feeders hang coming "lifers" with rum from the rafters. Immedi- punch. In our rooms we ately below are eight or found sandwiches and hot ten feeding stations which tea waiting. regularly attract about 30 The Centre is a former bird species. Scopes are coffee and cocoa plantation set up to scan the far trees now managed as a nature for larger birds. reserve funded by a trust Birds we saw at the established by the owner, feeders: So many tana- Mrs. Asa Wright. Rooms gers: Blue-gray, Palm, Sil- are in cabins, very com- ver-beaked, White- fortable with good beds shouldered, White-lined, and private bath. There Red-crowned Ant Tanager; are no telephones and no about eight Hummingbird television and in compen- species; Blue-crowned sation, each cabin opens Motmots; Purple Honey- onto a screened-in porch creeper, Red-legged with comfortable chairs, Honeycreeper, Green which overlook lush tropi- Honeycreeper; Ba- cal greenery that always nanaq ui t; Bare -eyed displays a colorful bird or Thrush, Cocoa Thrush; two. All meals are served Great Kiskadee; Chestnut in the Lodge which retains Woodpecker ... Well, you the elegance it had as the get the picture. main estate house. Birds seen in the nut- The first morning be- meg trees close to the ve- fore breakfast we discov- randah or seen at a dis- ered the spacious veran- tance by scope: Channel- dah which became our fa- billed Toucan; Lineated vorite spot. It runs the en- Woodpecker (looking much tire length of the Lodge like our Pileated); and the and is lined with stools ever-present Crested Oro- from which you have a pendula, colorful and loud. stunning v1ew of the The guide book says their

Page 21 THE BLUEBIRD call "defies accurate de- ground, but each fiercely scription "and is accompa- defends his court." nied by "wing-flapping and The unique Oilbird is feather-rustling." the most unusual bird on One afternoon while the Reserve. This strange following one of the many species forms a family of trails that fan out into the its own, showing resem- Reserve, we came on a blance to the nightjars and sign "Manakin Lek." After owls in general appear- not more than ten minutes ance, but differing in other of quiet waiting, we saw ways. It lives and breeds what became my "favorite in colonies in dark caves bird sighting." At first we during the day and comes heard the sound we had out at night to feed. The been told to listen for-the breeding cave is off-limits click you make when you except for guided walks. A snap your fingers. Then Centre naturalist led our we saw them-two or group down the Oilbird three fluffy, white balls Trail to Dunstan cave, a bouncing like ping-pangs "beautiful riparian grotto." in a random pattern. It At the cave entrance, the was the courting dance of group paused while each the White-bearded Ma- took a turn being guided nakin, a 4 1/2 inch black individually by the natu- and white ball of energy ralist's flashlight over the with bright orange legs. A slippery wet rocks of the small tree seems to be cen- cave floor to a point where ter-stage for each of these she flashed her light diminutive performers and briefly, illuminating a as each returns to his se- ledge and there were two lected sprout, he eventu- nesting Oilbirds. It is com- ally sweeps a noticeable mon for several nests to circle around it. This is form a group on cave over- called his "court" and, hangs. reads the guide book, Typical of the bird-rich "neighboring males toler- Centre, on the walk to the ate each other on neutral cave we had seen a Com-

Page 22 THE BLUEBIRD mon Potoo, resembling a Roodal and his young van large long-tailed nightjar, driver would serve a pre- perched for the day's rest pared picnic lunch. And if on a tree limb; a Barred "tea time" arrived in late Antshrike, looking like a afternoon and we were convict in his bold black still on the road, rum and white; and heard the punches and cookies were elusive Bellbirds, whose served. loud calls sounding like a The field trip to an hammer striking an anvil abandoned U.S. airstrip ring out through the for- (left over from \V.W.II) be- est. gan in late afternoon. In Except for the occa- the savannah grasslands sional free afternoon, our surrounding the concrete, tour included regular trips we saw Red-breasted to explore Trinidad. Our Blackbird, Sulphury Fly- expert guide was Roodal catcher, Yellow-bellied Ramial, a local naturalist Elaenia, and in the who had vast knowledge Moriche Palms that dot and local experience. On a the savannah, the rare trip to Nariva Swamp on Moriche Oriole. We had Trinidad's east coast, Ru- stunning views of the dal called in a Black- Ruby-topaz Hummingbird. crested Antshrike. We saw Mostly brown, but with several Savannah Hawks, crown and nape ruby red Plumbeous Kite, a Zone- and throat and breast me- tailed Hawk, which regu- tallic gold, it was a flying larly flies with Vultures jewel. and whose white tail bars After dark, Rudall distinguish it. That eve- probed into the gTassy bor- mng we watched Red- ders with his spotlight bellied Macaws and Yel- while the van circled the low-crowned Parrots com- edge of the airstrip run- ing in to roost in a Royal way. We spotted the Com- Palm Tree grove. mon Potoo, White-tailed Anytime we were on a Nightjar, the Pauraque, field trip during mid-day, Barn Owl, Screech Owl

Page 23 THE BLUEBIRD and bats. twos. Then in flocks of 10- These daily field trips 12. Within a half hour, the gave us bird species to be reflected glow of the sun- found in a variety of habi- set made the trees look tats: Freshwater herba- like vast Christmas trees ceous swamps, lowland decorated with a thousand habitats, coastal areas, sa- red lights. vannah, forest, and per- The final two days of haps, most memorable of our tour were spent at a all, Caroni Marsh. seaside resort on Tobago, Caroni is a very spe- perfect for relaxing and cialized Mangrove forest enjoying a respite from that "contains several gen- what was almost overload, era and species of man- given the bird diversity groves, showing classic ex- and sheer numbers of the amples of plant adapta- last seven days. The bay is tion" according to a Centre very moderate in tempera- brochure. The best way to ture and the beach is in- experience the canals and viting-sharing it with us lakes of Caroni is by skiff. were small foraging flocks We sighted the Pinnated of Ruddy Turnstones, even Bittern, a huge tree boa scurrying underfoot in the coiled on a limb, Striated open-air bar. Heron, Pied Water-tyrant, But there was more and a Common Potoo. A birding to do. Highlight of little before sunset, the the Tobago portion of our boat was anchored at the trip was a glass-bottom edge of a large lagoon. Out boat ride to Little Tobago came the rum-punch and Island, one of the nation's cookies (even on the boat most important wildlife in the middle of a swamp!) sanctuaries. There, we And then we were treated climbed a steep trail to to a never-to-be-forgotten reach a lookout from spectacle: Scarlet Ibis which we saw nesting colo- coming in to roost in the nies of Red-billed Tropic- Mangroves. They came as birds trying to outwit a trickle at first, in ones or Frigatebirds that were I Page 24 THE BLUEBIRD stealing fish meant for Collared Trogon their chicks; Red-footed (recovering after being and Brown Boobies, and decimated by the 1963 Noddy Terns. On the trip hurricane); and Olivaceous over, we enjoyed the spec- Woodcreeper. tacular view of a Carib- Home the next day bean coral formation from with indelible memories of the vantage of our glass- an island nation small in bottomed boat. size but incredibly rich in The final field trip of all things birders prize. the tour was to the Rain- forest Preserve which has been a refuge since the mid-1700's. Tobago spe- cialties seen here were Blue-backed Manakin,

BIRDING on BorrowedTime A REVIEW BY EDGE WADE

Birding on Borrowed lian outback, or the South Time. Phoebe Snetsinger. African Karoo, she is spo- 2003. American Birding ken of with respect and Association. 307 pp. Soft- fondness, and remembered cover. 45 Illustrations (16 for her skills, her tenacity, color plates) by H. Douglas and graciousness to other Pratt; map of birding des- birders. tinations. $19.95. If you know Phoebe's name, you probably al- ften, when I meet ready know she lived in 0 other birders and tell Webster Groves, MO, was them I am from Missouri, the first person to see I'm asked if I knew more than 8,000 bird spe- Phoebe. I wish I had. In cies and, at her death in conversations at the bub- Madagascar in November, bler in Tower Grove Park, 1999, had seen more than St. Louis, or in the Austra- 8,400 species (the highest

Page 25 THE BLUEBIRD life list in the world). birdwatcher knows the ex- Birding on Borrowed citing, satisfying glow that Time was published post- just seemg a bird can humously, but it is obvious bring. Every birder with a that Phoebe wrote her life list knows firsthand ,. memo1rs expecting to the thrill of living a goal- share the story of her bird- driven wanderlust, the de- mg adventures-the evo- licious tension of seeking, 1uti on of the driving fer- the joy of a life look, the vor, the careful trip plan- frustration of failure, the nmg, the absorption m energizmg effect of re- field guides, the meticu- newed effort. lous record-keeping, the Is this a book for bird- physical demands, discom- ers, only? No. Most people fort and very real dan- will find Birding on Bor- ger-with people who rowed Time entertaining; would nod, understand, the adventure of it 1s accept, and applaud: other enough to grip and hold a birders. reader. Phoebe's low- Phoebe's personal bird- keyed, "just the facts, ing saga is the stuff of leg- ma'am," style serves well ends. Her golden fleece to share the emotional ex- were living feathered crea- periences with birders and tures. She sought them to provide non-birders an out on seven continents inkling of the dynamics and the seas between. She that birders find so irre- crawled up mountains, sistible. trekked deserts and The oft-lamented di- steppes, slogged and lemma of so many species, struggled in the muck of so many places and so lit- rain forests and survived a tle time is the drive shaft shipwreck. She tells the of Phoebe's story. Her tale of it all as openly and sense of urgency is but a boldly as she lived it. heightened version of the You do not need to sensation all birders feel. have known Phoebe to Her ability to act in the know her passiOn. Every face of that urgency with

Page 26 THE BLUEBIRD decisiveness unhampered For others, the discussion by limited funds is some- and proposal will stir up thing most birders envy, birders' second passion: but it's an envy without heated debate. resentment. It's without If so much emphasis on resentment because she far away places is aggra- did what most would like vating to xenophobes, or to do, and she did it so the names of non- well and with such elan. American birds are daunt- Phoebe lived many of ing to birders of provincial our dreams. And there persuaswn, a study of were some harrowing Doug Pratt's illustrations nightmares. She relates should mollify them, ignite episodes of both dreams the spark of desire to see and nightmares simply, the real thing, and g1ve directly. She experienced, some insight into Phoebe's she rested, recuperated, compelling quest. and set off again. No, I never met It's an honest book. Phoebe. But now, I've She IS candid about the birded with her from Bra- compulsion of birding. She zil to Borneo to the Bering is frank about the consum- Sea. Now I know her, and ing nature of birding and I know myself a little bet- the role of that aspect of it ter. in her reaction to the diag- nosis of cancer. And she is Edge Wade open about the effects of 1221 Bradshaw Ave. competitive birding on re- Columbia, MO 65023 lationships. [email protected] If the book has short- comings, they are probably different for each reader. The non-lister (and some listers) will find her discussion of taxonomy and proposed percentage method of listing esoteric.

Page 27 THE BLUEBIRD lmER FROM THE EDITOR

s I sit here working like to offer a personal in- A on the September is- vitation to every reader of sue, I find myself thinking The Bluebird to consider of Kay and Bill Palmer contributing articles, anec- and their years of devotion dotes, pictures, artwork, to the publication of The etc. Bluebird. Our birding ex- The Bluebird is OUR periences have been en- magazine. As such, it de- hanced over the years due pends upon the input of its to the efforts of these fine readers. This is "my first people. Their presence in issue" and as such is likely Missouri will be missed. to be "full of errors". I wel- We wish them well in come and encourage com- their new adventures. By ments and criticisms. the time this is being read, Please feel free to contact Bill will be the Executive me via email, snail mail Director of the Rocky (USPS), or phone. I look Mountain Bird Observa- forward to hearing from tory (RMBO). you and hope to see you at The Palmer's g1ve the Fall Meeting. Please, much credit for the suc- come find me and intro- cess of The Bluebird to the duce yourselfl! authors who, and I quote, "consistently submitted Patrick Harrison their manuscripts on time 3867 Highway K and well written." As I be- Shelbyville MO 63469 gin this process, I would (573) 633-2628 like to take this opportu- [email protected] nity to thank the Execu- tive Committee of The Audubon Society of Mis- souri for extending to me the honor of being editor of The Bluebird. I would also

Page 28 THE BLUEBIRD SEASONAL SURVEY-SPRING REPORT MARCH 1, 2003-MAY 31, 2003 ROGER McNEILL, SEASONAL SURVEY EDITOR

pring 2003 was "cool", 10 day period. Twenty- S"wet" and "late". Fre- nine Red-shouldered quent showers provided Hawks, 204 Acadian Fly- significant drought relief; catchers, 570 Northern filling many lakes and Parulas, 304 male Ceru- ponds. The birds re- lean Warblers, 721 Ameri- sponded with good diver- can Redstarts, 29 Swain- sity but in limited num- son's Warblers, 347 Lou- bers. The rains did not ar- isiana Waterthrushes, 3 rive soon enough to hold Connecticut Warblers and migrant waterfowl and 17 Hooded Warblers. most divers moved on LOONS THROUGH early in the season. The HERONS winter of 02-03 exhibited Late for multiples; 3 no regional invasions, so first year Common Loons spring reports of interrup- were reported at Smith- tive species were very low ville Lake 19 May (Kathy to non-existent. Passerine Lewis). An impressive 75 migration was lackluster birds were found on Lake with many observers find- Springfield, Dade County, ing small numbers of ex- 29 March (Nobies). (RM) pected species. lucked into an Anhinga 3 Migrant breeders were May while birding the back in most of their nor- Kansas side of the Mis- mal spots and many re- souri River near Weston porters documented new Bend. Fortunately, the locations or expanded wide spirals of the soaring numbers from years past. bird took it over both A seventy mile Current states' banks for a rare River survey conducted by state "two-fer". A second Mark Robbins tallied some bird was reported in a impressive counts over a more likely spot, Ten Mile

Page 29 THE BLUEBIRD Pond, Mississippi County, numbers continue to ex- 19 April (LK). 2 American pand significantly with an Bitterns were at Squaw amazing count of 77 birds Creek 12 May (TR), and (TR) Squaw Creek 12 up to three birds were re- March. The region's high ported most of the early count of Snow Goose came season at Riverlands Pe- from Squaw Creek with can Pond (m. ob.) A Tricol- 200,000 tallied 15 March ored Heron was a one day (TR). Snows are tending to wonder at 10 Mile Pond 29 linger later and later into April (Shawn Club). Scat- the season and singles are tered White-faced Ibis re- not unexpected, however a ports came in from across good count of 20 birds 'way the state with no one re- down' in the bootheel 29 porting a Glossy. Three May (BL) was noteworthy. White-faced were at Banded Trumpeter Swans Squaw Creek 10 May are now regularly found (TR), Doug Willis found 1 each winter at Riverlands, at Riverlands 26 May and but appear to be expand- 4 were at Schell-Osage 28 ing their "Missouri" range. April (J&P M). An imm. A bird in Jasper County White Ibis was called into between 5 April and 20 the hotline by Four Rivers April (Jeff Cantrell) was refuge personnel, Vernon notable this far southwest. County, 12 May. One of the least common WATERFOWL "regular" dabblers, Ameri- THROUGH RAPTORS can Black Duck reports A pair of Black- were down this season bellied Whistling-Ducks with only 2 found at delighted ASM birders at Squaw Creek 7 March Squaw Creek 26 April (TR). (SD). Four hundred fifty On 8 March Goeran Greater White-fronted Bylund discovered a nice Geese were at Squaw drake Cinnamon Teal at Creek 15 March whittling Clarence Cannon, Pike down to 7 birds on 23 County. A pair was re- April (TR). Ross' Goose ported at the same loca-

Page 30 THE BLUEBIRD tiona month later, 6 April, row's Goldeneye was (Ian Hunt). A drake was discovered at Riverlands 3 also at Leach Conserva- March (Ed McCullough). tion Area 29 March (SS) Hooded Mergansers breed and another male at Lewis in scattered locations & Clark SP 10 May (MG). across the state, but 10 TR reported a good count were notable 16 May at of 662 Northern Shoveler Squaw Creek (DE). Com- 12 March at Squaw Creek. mon Mergansers are the A female Canvasback at least likely of our three Squaw Creek 10 May (DE) mergansers to linger, so a was a lingerer and a 22 female at Riverlands 18 May pair of Redheads May was past her prime were our late spring re- (Mark Mittleman). Two cord - Lewis and Clark SP late female Red-breasted (BF). Two pair of Greater Mergansers were reported Scaup lingered at Wil by Jim Zellmer on 31 May, Mar's Lake, Clay County, Bean Lake Platte County. 15 April, (Terry Miller) Only a single Northern with 7 at Squaw Creek 6 Goshawk was reported May (DE). The West Alton this season with a 8 March Boat Ramp at Riverlands bird in Lincoln County was a good scoter spot, (SS). Broad-winged Hawks with a winter Surf Scoter again set up territories in discovered there 6 March Swope Park, Jackson (George Barker) and two County and at least two "spring" White-winged pair were observed along Scoters there the following the Blue River throughout day (JU). The regions only late April and May (RM). Black Scoter was an imm. Swainson's Hawks were at Big Lake, Holt County, back on their breeding 11 March (TR). A pair of grounds around Spring· Long-tailed Ducks lin- field, with multiple ob- .. gered at Riverlands over servers reporting up to 3 the winter, last reported pairs and two confirmed 15 March. Becoming al- nests. A regional high of most annual, a male Bar- 12 Swainson's Hawks

Page 31 THE BLUEBIRD were reported kettling State Park. A high of 58 near Horseshoe Lake, Bu- 2002 birds dropped to 46 chanan County, 10 May in 2003 with only 14 (MG). An imm. Golden Ea- booming males on 3 leks. gle was spied at Swan A high of 20 males were at Lake, on 7 March (SK). Dunn Ranch 22 March Merlin were scarce this (LL). 12 to 15 birds spring, with one reported (including females) were 4 March in St. Jons (David observed near Lockwood Blevins). Peregrine Falcon Golden City 6 April (m.ob.) were reported in small and 20 birds were at the numbers, usually bother- Hi Lonesome lek on 12 ing shorebirds, and terri- April (JU). The region's torial birds were back in only Yellow Rail was seen downtown KC with two at Bradford Farms, Boone presumed nest sites (RM). County (PMc), 10 May and A Prairie Falcon was re- Prairie Slough hosted mul- ported from Hwy 59, 3 tiple King Rails this sea- miles south of St. Joseph 1 son (m. ob). Least Bittern March (Jack Hilsabeck). is rarely found away from Declining significantly, suitable habitat, therefore Ruffed Grouse are still re- a bird at Kansas City's ported in scattered MO Discovery Center 9 May, locations. A pair flushed was more than a little odd from a Henning C.A. tail, (Larry Rizzo). A surprised Taney County, 28 May Patrick Senseing found a were a surprise (Fred Can- Virginia Rail hiding in a ton). More expected, was a patch of dead leaves in his single drumming bird back yard in Tunas 10 heard at Massas Creek, May, obviously a tired mi- Warren County reported grant. Two Columbia by the Ruffed Grouse Soci- Waste Water Plant Com- ety. Greater Prairie- mon Moorhens on 12 April Chickens were reported were the season's only re- from booming grounds port (JU). Large for MO, a across the region with sig- flock of 60 Sandhill Crane nificant drops at Prairie cranes were spotted flying

Page 32 THE BLUEBIRD ASM FALL MEETING 2003 CAMP CLOVER POINT

lake of theOzarks

REGISTRATION $55.00 per person: Includes registration, lodging for Fri- day and Saturday evenings, and all meals through Sunday Lunch (six meals). $43.00 per person: Includes registration, Saturday night lodging only, and four meals beginning at noon Saturday. Meals only: $7.00 per meal plus a $10.00 registration fee. Students: $25.00 per person: Includes registration, lodging for Friday and I or Saturday evening(s), and all meals while in attendance. Children under 13 are free.

ACCOMMODATIONS Cabins include bunk and mattress, shower and rest rooms. You must bring bedding, towels, and toilet articles.

I AGENDA

Friday, September 26 3:00 p.m. Registration begins 7:00p.m. Dinner 8:00p.m. Program - Missouri Department of Conserva- tion (MDC): Management Philosophy and Techniques 9:30p.m. Individual slide presentations by members

Saturday, September 27 7:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Field Trips 12:00 p.m. Lunch 1:00 p.m. Workshop, Bill Rowe's Photo Identification Quiz 2:30p.m. Workshop, MDC round-table discussion 2:30 p.m. Field Trips 2:30p.m. ASM Board meeting 2:30 p.m. Missouri Bird Records Committee meeting 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:15p.m. Program: Stephen Mahfood, Director Missouri Department of Natural Resources

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING TO FOLLOW PROGRAM

Sunday, September 28 6:30a.m. Worship service 7:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Field trips 9:30a.m. Hawk Watch 12:00 p.m. Lunch and weekend bird species summary

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

Friday The Friday evening program will be presented by management level Missouri Department of Conserva- tion staff and will focus on management topics of interest to birders. This will be followed by our annual ASM n slide show in which members are invited to bring their favorite slides to share with the group.

Saturday Field trips will begin Saturday morning and will include a choice of trips to Pin Oak, Brumley Hollow, Ozark caverns, airport "wetland", or the State Park savannah area. No need to sign up in advance; groups will organize according to field trip interest. After lunch, there will be a birding workshop. The workshop will be the ever-popular Bill Rowe photo identification quiz. Slides will range from common, easy to identify birds to rare and difficult to identify birds. Af- ter participants have made their ID, the answers will be given and an analysis of the field marks will be presented. Following the bird identification workshop, several activities will be available. Field trips will resume or members can participate in a round-table discussion with MDC staff members that will follow-up on Friday evening's presentation. In the evening, Stephen Mahfood, Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will talk with us about DNR and the birding community.

THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING WILL FOLLOW

Sunday Activities begin with a worship service at 6:30 a.m. Field trips will begin following breakfast. After lunch, the birds seen over the weekend will be compiled. Have your cabins cleaned and be ready to go home by 2:30 p.m. PLEASE do your part in the clean-up activities!

!!!I HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY TRIP HOME !!!I

Ill RESERVATIONS Deadline for registration is September 12, 2003 Send registration form with check or money order payable to: The Audubon Society of Missouri 2101 W. Broadway, Box 122 Columbia, MO 65203 Make checks payable to The Audubon Society of Mis- souri. Meals requested after September 12 cannot be guaran- teed.

REFUND POLICY Full refund with cancellation before September 12. After September 12 a partial refund will be given on a pro- rated basis from any excess funds left after all of our ex- penses for the fall meeting are paid. Refund requests must be made in writing by October 30, 2003 to Joyce Bathke, ASM Treasurer at the above address. REGISTRATION

NAME(S): _ STREET: ______CITY/STATE/ZIP: ______PHONE: ______EMAIL: ______

1. Full registration $55.00 X_ (#of people) = 2. Partial registration $43.00 X_(# of people) = 3. Registration and Meals Only: a. Registration $10.00 X_(# of people) = b. Meals $7.00 X _ (#of meals) X_(# of people)= 4. Students $25.00 X _ (#of people) = TOTAL=

IV over Mingo (Neal Young) 4 at Squaw Creek 19 April March. 13 other birds (TR) and 5 at Schell-Osage were reported this season 29 April (J&P M). Two from 5locations (m. ob). Whimbrel at Riverlands , SHOREBIRDS 25 May were found by Dan American Golden- Kassebaum. JL reported 3 Plovers pulsed through birds at Eagle Bluffs, the State this season with Boone County, 29 May. a high count of 150 birds Good numbers of Hud- 13 April (SS) Prairie sonian Godwits were re- Slough C.A.; 82 birds were ported from the western discovered at St. Joe's fringe with a Squaw Creek Horseshoe and Muskrat flock up to 40, 27 April Lakes 9 April (LL) and 72 (LL), and a seasonal high birds were at Horseshoe of 57 at Bean Lake 22 May Lake 7 April (TR). Two (BF). A Marbled Godwit Snowy Plovers were dis- was found at Riverlands' covered 8 May (SK) as Ellis Bay, 25 April and well as 2 grouping of Pip- later that same day a sec- ing Plovers; 2 on 6 May ond bird was at Lincoln (DE) and one 12 May (TR); Shields, St. Charles all at Squaw Creek. County, (CM). Rare in Twenty-eight American Spring, 3 Western Sandpi- Avocets were a good pers were found from the spring count at Smithville western edge of the state. Lake 18 April (Chris Val- Two at Squaw Creek, 4 entine), with singles at April (TR) and 6 May Squaw Creek 22 April (DE); a third was detected (TR), Horseshoe Lake 28 at Schell-Osage-Osage 29 April (LL) and The Big April (J&P M). Three Muddy refuge 31 May Hundred was the magic (Troy Gordon). Four yel- number for Least and lowlegs (sp). were reported White-rumped Sandpi- by Doris Fritchert at Per- pers, both seasonal highs, shing Park, Linn County, and both at Squaw Creek. 3 March, early for either The Least Sandpipers species. Seven Willet were were 8 May (DE) and

Page 33 THE BLUEBIRD White-rumped Sandpipers Good gull diversity was 13 May (TR). Five hun- reported, mostly singles or dred Pectoral Sandpipers small numbers. A Laugh- at Squaw Creek 19 April ing Gull at Riverlands 18 was a good day's count. May (DB) stayed a week. Dunlin were found Rare in the east, River- throughout the first full lands hosted 11 Franklin's week of May at Squaw Gulls 11 May (BR), mostly Creek, with a peak of 7 on adults in pink alternate 6 May (DE). A notable plumage. Bonaparte's count of 120 birds were Gulls lingered longer than found upstream of the usual, with an alternate Riverlands' Dam by Mike plumaged bird at Bean Grant on 25 May. Sev- Lake (LL) 15 May and a enty-two Wilson's Snipe bird still in winter dress at at Squaw Creek 2 April Riverlands (BR), 25 May. (TR) for the state's best Riverlands hosted the rest snipe hunt. A very early of our "good gulls" starting female Wilson's Phalarope with 5 "messy'' first- was reported by Dave summer Herring Gulls Silverman at Squaw Creek there until 25 May (BR). 18 March. With the large An adult Iceland Gull number reported this sea- was reported 2 March son, 1,025 from Squaw (JM) pressing on from the Creek 10 May (DE), it is winter. A few black-backs not surprising that a few were found this season Red-necked Phalaropes with up to 2 Lesser Black- would be sorted out. An backed Gulls 2 March individual first reported (DB) and a first winter from Riverlands 25 May Great Black-backed Gull 1 (BR) lingered throughout March (JM). The first win- the season; for part of the ter bird was later joined • time a male was also pre- by another first winter sent (DB). A female found and second winter Great .. at Eagle Bluffs 19 May Black-back Gull later the (Tim James), hung about same weekend (JU). Late for a few days (m. ob.) May is the time for Com-

Page 34 THE BLUEBIRD mon Tern in Missouri and only one report of Long- by the time Common show eared Owls was docu- up, Forester's should be mented, 10 birds were mostly gone. As such, 15 found south of Chillicothe, birds at Riverlands 23 21 March (LL, SK). The May were expected and day before, the same duo separated from 2 lingering found 3 Short-eared Owls Forster's Terns (CM). Ten in the same area. The sea- Mile Pond, Mississippi son's first Ruby-throated County was flooded 22 Hummingbird was found 1 May, well to the liking of April at Shell Knob, Barry 75 Least Terns (LK). The County (Nancy Ro- region's high of 140 Black chovansky). Empidonax Terns were found over the flycatchers were reported marshes at Squaw Creek in strong numbers with 12 May (TR) . MO's only many migrants lingering Greater Roadrunners were very late into May. Late from Polk County (Bo reports of Yell ow-bellied, Brown) 24 May and 27 Least and Alder Flycatch- May at Henning C.A. ers were noted across the (J&PM). RK reported a state. Western Kingbird good number of Black- continue their eastern billed Cuckoos this season, push and reports came in with 6 separate birds from all over eastern MO. found in Forest Park, St. LK reported one in the Louis between 5 and 26 bootheel, Wolf Bayou, May. Randy was alone Pemiscot County, 28 May however, as most other and BL reported a nest in birders reported nary a Charleston. Western King- one. JL was able to host a birds were found in St. Cuckoo ID session at Ea- Louis County by Joe gle Bluffs, when a Black- Eades and CM and one in billed was spotted in the Callaway County (Susan same tree with two Yel- Hazelwood). A pair of Scis- low-billed Cuckoos. Ab- sor-tailed Flycatchers re- sent from many of their turned to the KCI Airport usual haunts this season this Spring, representing I Page 35 THE BLUEBIRD the northernmost known Taberville S.P 26 March MO nesting location (RM). (SD) were the first in a Fish Crows keep pushing few years. north and west. A bird in WARBLERS THROUGH residential Kansas City 9 FINCHES April was a surprise (RM) For at least the fourth and a single bird 10 May year in a row, a male at Weston Bend (MG) was Brewster's Warbler re- the season's northernmost turned to Weston Bend 7 sighting. Lingering a bit May (Nancy Leo) and lin- later than normal, a 27 gered throughout the pe- April Winter Wren was riod. A good find for west- found on a private farm in ern MO was a male Cape Webster County (Andrew May Warbler 17 May at Kinslow). Possibly MO's Bluff Woods C.A. (LL). bird of the season was a Pine Warblers are not sup- male Mountain Bluebird posed to be in the glaci- discovered at Taberville ated plains of MO, and a Prairie 26 March (J &PM). first year female at Foun- Unfortunately, this bird tain Grove 11 April was an was not rediscovered and overshoot (LL). A Prairie is under review by the MO Warbler discovered at Records committee. Her- Watkins's Mill, MO mit Thrushes are rarely (Kristy Mayo) the third reported in double digits, week of May, was seen so 25 birds reported by throughout the season. John Berger at the Tower Weston Bend appears to Grove bubbler 14 April be the northern breeding was exceptional. LL re- MO limit for Cerulean ported hearing an early Warbler and 4 males re- Gray Catbird 9 April Bluff turned this year (WT). Be- Woods. Sprague's Pipit is sides the Current River rarely reported in the Swainson's Warblers, ad- Spring and years may go ditional MO birds were by with no reports. A bird reported at the Greer 5 April near Lake Con- Springs Campground 31 trary (LL) and 2 birds at May (Mark Mittleman)

Page 36 THE BLUEBIRD and at Roaring River S.P., colored Sparrows from a Barry County, 27 April mixed spizella flock was a (Lisa Berger). Connecticut mce find m down town Warblers, when found, are Kansas City 9 May, (RM, f often one of the latest mi- MG). Mike Bradley found r grants of the Spring; sur- MO's only Le Conte's Spar- prisingly early was a sing- row off the Epstein Prairie ing male found 26 April, Trail m southwest St. Springfield MO (PMc). RK Louis 9 March. Also more also reported an early bird common than records in Forest Grove Park on 5 would suggest, MO's only May. His sighting in the Nelson's Sharp-tailed same location on 21 May Sparrows were 2 at Squaw was more in line with nor- Creek 13 May (TR). Two mal movements. Tower Lazuli Buntings were re- Grove usually hosts a Con- ported this season, a tran- necticut or two and this sitional bird was found 11 season a bird was found on May (J &PM) at Bluff 17 May (m. ob.). A very Woods CA, and in the east, good count of 10 Mourning a female was sighted at Warblers were found at Tower Grove SP m St. Weston Bend 17 May Louis (DB) both records (WT). North of their MO require review by the Mis- nesting range, a Hooded souri Records committee. Warbler was found at Wat- Last year's Katy Trail kins Mill SP 2 May (Steve Painted Buntings were Dillinger). Five male Can- back in St. Charles County ada Warblers along a quar- (m.ob.). ter mile stretch of the Blue Multiple Contributors: River in Kansas City rep- David Becher (DB), Dave Easterla (DE), Bob Fisher (BF), Matt Gearheart (MG), resented MO's seasonal Steve Kinder (SK), Leslie Koller (LK), high 18 May (RM). Only a Randy Korotev (RK), Larry Lade (LL), Jean Leonatti (JL), Bob Lewis (BL), single Spotted Towhee re- Charlene Malone (CM) Jim Malone port came in this season (JM), Paul McKenzie (PMc) Roger McNeill (RM), JoAnn and Pete Moroz with a 13 May bird from a (J&PM), Tommie Rogers (TR), Bill suburban Kansas City Rowe (BR), Scott Schuette (SS), Will Chatfield-Taylor (WT), Josh Uffman yard (RM). Eighteen Clay- (JU), Doug Willis (DW)

I Page 37 THE BLUEBIRD Missouri's2002-2003-CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS RANDY L. KOROTEV

n the "old days" Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) were I actually done on Christmas day. On the first CBC, on Dec. 25, 1900, a total of 25 "Christmas bird censuses" were made across the country. One of these counts was done in La Grange, Missouri, by a Ms. Susan M. John- son. La Grange is a small town on the Mississippi River north of Quincy, Illinois, and a few miles north of the present Quincy CBC count circle. Ms. Johnson did the census because Frank Chapman, the editor of Bird-Lore magazine, suggested that his readers go out and count birds on Christmas day and send him their results. Ms. Johnson recorded 14 species of birds between 9 a.m. and noon (Table 1). rrable 1. Results of the first CBC in Missouri on Dec. 25. 1900. by Susan M. Johnsonin La Grange, Lewis Co. Species names as reported. Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Chickadee 30 Downy Woodpecker 6 TuftedTitmouse 18

Hairy Woodpecker 5 White-breastedNuthatch 7 Flicker 1 TreeSparrow 1

!Northern Shrike 1 Junco 75

!Blue Jay 14 Cardinal 9 Crow 15 Purple Finch 15

From Bird-Lore, Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 32 (1901).

Ms. Johnson's list is curious by today's standards and raises many questions. There are nearly the same number of Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. Today the ratio is typically 6 or 7 to 1 (Table 2). She saw a Northern Shrike! Even if she misidentified it and it was really a Loggerhead, it would be a good bird in that location to-

Page 38 THE BLUEBIRD day. There are no pigeons, starlings, nor House Sparrows listed. (These species apparently weren't counted in the early years.) What about Mourning Doves? She lived in or near a town on the river. Where are the ducks? hawks? eagles? The total number of Purple Finches seen on all Missouri counts this past winter was 31 (very low, below), with 9 birds being the maximum seen on any one count. By that standard, Ms. Johnson's 15 birds is very respectable. But what about goldfinches and White- throated Sparrows? Did she have binoculars, or perhaps opera glasses, like my grandmother used to see birds? Did she bird alone? Did she have a bird feeder? Did she bird in town or did she bird a place in the country? The

Table2. Abundance ratios for some common species on Missouri CBCs.

2000-1 2001-2 2002-3

BaldEagle: adult I immature 55145 53147 54146

AccipiterSharp-shinned I Cooper's 58142 55145 55145 RaptorRed-tailed Hawk I Amer. Kes- rel 81119 74126 76124

Owls: Great Horned I Barred 67133 55145 69131

Woodpecker: Red-bellied I Red-headed 74/26 64/36 63137

Woodpecker: Downy I Hairy 88112 87113 85115 Nuthatch: White-breasted I Red- breasted 97/3 90/10 99/1 Kinglet: Golden-crowned I Ruby- rowned 80/20 80/20 91/9 Sparrow White-thr. I White-cr. I Har- iris's 56/36/14 69/21/10 65/29/6 Birdersmale I female 60/40 60/40 57143 record does not say. This past winter was different. Missouri hosted 27 CBCs in the 2002-3 season, tying the high of three years earlier (Figs. 1 and 2). A new count this year included the Clarence Cannon NWR. In total, there were 369 participants (0.007% of Missouri's population), many of whom did 2 or 3 counts for a total of 442 person-counts.

Page 39 THE BLUEBIRD J------On average, 16 persons participated in each count and 69 species were seen (Table 3). No counts were held on Christmas Day and none of the counts were in the north- east, where Ms. Johnson did the first count. (CBCs cen- tered near Quincy, IL, and Keokuk, IA, do include some Missouri real estate, however.) Except for the Big Oak Tree count, which experienced high sustained winds, counts were not adversely affected by poor weather or snow. However, compilers of several counts in the western part of the state noted that the se- rious summer and fall drought was responsible for low water levels, poor food supplies, and, consequently, low numbers of certain bird species. The most unusual species reported were Surf Scoter (1, Squaw Creek NWR), Virginia Rail (6, Columbia), Sora (1, Columbia), Least Sandpiper (1, Horton-Four Rivers), Pectoral Sandpiper (1, St. Joseph), American Woodcock (1, Columbia), Say's Phoebe (1, Horton-Four Rivers), House Wren (1, Liberal), American Pipit (70, Horton- Four Rivers; 4, Trimble), Orange-crowned Warbler (1, Taney Co.), and Palm Warbler (1, Mingo). All of these reports represent documented sightings that have been evaluated by the MBRC (Missouri Bird Records Commit- tee). Except for part of the west, conditions were good for water birds. Common Loons were reported from four counts, Pied-billed Grebes from ten, and Horned Grebes from three. Great Blue Herons were observed on all counts but one. Twenty-seven species of waterfowl were reported (discounting Mute and reintroduced Trumpeter Swans, which are not reported in Table 3). Goose numbers were high. Greater White-fronted Geese occurred on seven counts. Sixteen counts observed Snow Geese for a total of almost 400,000 birds. Fifty Ross's Geese (32 at Trimble) were tallied. Bald Eagles soared over all but two count circles for a total of 743 birds. Party-hour normalized numbers of

Page40 THE BLUEBIRD cc co CR OF

°KN wso JC HF ML osu f MS Ll

Figure 1. Locations of recent Missouri Christmas Bird Counts (See Table I for key).

CBC year 1

1 15

c 3 5 f numbercounts of r 1 ~ calendar y yearr (December)

) Figure 2. Number of Christmas Bird Counts with centers in Missouri each year. 3 Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks continue to rise, with the highest numbers in over 40 years this past season (Fig. 3). For the fourth year in a row, Merlin num- 1 bers were good, with six reports on five counts, plus a count week (CW, Table 3) report from a sixth count. Numbers of Red-tailed Hawks were normal (Fig. 4) but for the third year in a row American Kestrel numbers e were down from the rising trend of the previous 40 years

Page 41 THE BLUEBIRD (Fig. 3). Numbers of Great Horned Owls were near their highest ever (Fig. 4) and Log-gerhead Shrike (101 birds total) were the highest since the 1995-96 season and equivalent to some years in the 1960's. Blue Jays and American Crows, which were hit hard by West Nile Virus in some metropolitan areas during the summer of 2002, were both at 78% of their respective means for previous 10 years, but well within the usual year-to-year scatter (Fig. 4). Only 11 Red-breasted Nut- hatches appeared, numbers of Purple Finches were the lowest in many years (Fig. 5), and overall, it was a poor year for northern erratics. Lapland Longspurs occurred on eight counts, with 275 birds at Liberal. Eastern Blue- birds graced all counts, with 236 in Taney Co. Twelve other species were seen on all 27 counts: Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Wood-pecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eurasian Starling, White- throated Sparrow, American Goldfinch, and House Spar- row (six of these species occurred on Ms. Johnson's first CBC list). Other high species counts include >20,000 Mallards (Big Oak Tree, Clarence Cannon, Horton-Four Rivers, and Squaw Creek), 53 Northern Harriers (Liberal), 171 American Turkeys (Squaw Creek), 458 Red-headed Woodpeckers (Mingo), 2820 (only) American Robins (Weldon Spring), 946 American Tree Sparrows (Grand River), and 619 Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Orchard Farm). Range-expanding Eurasian Collared-Doves appeared on four counts and Great-tailed Grackles on six counts. Mute Swans, presumably feral, were reported on the Jefferson City (1) and Springfield (8) counts. Only one Trumpeter Swan was reported, a count-week bird in St. Joseph. Three swans unidentified as to species were observed on the Liberal CBC. In total. Missouri CBC observers found 139 species of birds, plus one additional count-week species. Mingo had I Page 42 THE BLUEBIRD the highest species total (96) with Columbia (88) and Horton-Four Rivers (86) coming in second and third. Nearly every report for which the Missouri Bird Re- cords Committee (MBRC) requires documentation was, in fact, documented. Your editor appreciates the effort that was put into this documentation, and it made his job easier. I deleted a report of 11 Brewer's Blackbird from one count report for lack of documentation; all Brewer's Blackbird must be documented because the species is easily confused with the more common Rusty Blackbird. I have also deleted the following reports, which have been reviewed by the MBRC and not accepted: 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 1 Ferruginous Hawk, 1 Northern Waterthrush, and Brewer's Black- birds reported on two counts. The MBRC report will appear in a future issue of The Bluebird. Acknowledgments: Thanks to Troy Gordon, Ruth Simmons, and Anne Downing for acquiring the information from Bird-Lore.

Page 43 THE BLUEBIRD 1.5 -

Red-tailed Hawk

0.1

GreatHorned Owl

American Crow

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 " Blue Jay

year

Figure 3. Total numbers of birds of four species per party hour on all Mis- souri Christmas Bird Counts from the 1947-48 season through the 2002-03 season. For the first 15 years depicted, there were only 4-7 counts held in the state each year (Fig. 2) with an average total of about 50 observers.

Page 44 THE BLUEBIRD Purple Finch 2.5

1.5 1-

House Finch n 2.5 n numberperbirdshourpartyof s 1.5 r

1 AmericanGoldfinch 8 l 6 E 4

House Sparrow

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 year

Figure 4. Purple Finch numbers were very low this past winter. House Finches numbers were the lowest since shortly after their arrival in Missouri in the late 1980's. Goldfinches remain steady. House Sparrows appear to be decreasing over the last 30 years.

Page 45 THE BLUEBIRD 0.00 1 Cooper's Hawk 0.05

Sharp-shinned Hawk

numberbirdsof per party hour 002 c. l c.

Merlin

E c

. I Amencan Kestrel

1960 1970 1980 2000 year

Figure 5. Numbers of wintering accipiters and falcons have been increasing over the past 30-40 years.

Page 46 THE BLUEBIRD Table3(a): Results of Missouri's 2002-2003 Christmas Bird Counts :cc ommon Loon 1 Pied-billed Grebe 5 26 Homed Grebe AmericanWhite Pelican Double-crestedCormorant 4 1 3 GreatBlue Heron 23 1 41 1 6 1C Black Vulture urkey Vulture 6 cw vulture sp? GreaterWhite-fronted Goose cw 21 now Goose 18 2573C Ross's Goose 1 anada Goose 62 22 15 1281 728 4234 ruswa Swan WoodDuck 15 1 1 Gadwall 16 41 1 13 56 348 Wigeon 2 9 AmericanBlack Duck 25 2 Mallard 34250 26524 9682 14 cw 24 333 Blue-wingedTeal Northern Shoveler 21 7 Northern Pintail 1 35 29 2 Green-winged Teal 25 937 4 anvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck 4 42 8 Greater Scaup esser Scaup 15 45 Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Bufflehead ommon Goldeneye 4 5 Hooded Merganser 4 2 99 ommon Merganser 8 CW 21 Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck duck sp?

BaldEagle 4( 18 3 16 2 4 Northern Harrier 1 9 8 34 1 ISharp..shinned Hawk 8 4 1 Cooper'sHawk 1 7 2 accipiter so? 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 Red-tailedHawk 2 121 14 13 33 6 11( Harlan's 1 Krider's Rough-leggedHawk buteo sp? Page 47 THE BLUEBIRD trable 3a, cont.: Results of Missouri's 2002-2003 Christmas Bird Counts BC bs cc cc do GR H JC JC KC Golden Eagle 1 AmericanKestrel H 1 14 2G 39 2 26 38 Merlin 1 cw Prairie Falcon falcon sp? Rinq-necked Pheasant 6 Greater Prairie-Chicken Wild Turkey 14 79 7C 109 4 1 38 Northern bobwhite 1 2 52 3 22 3 Virginia Rail ora 1 American Coot 23 4 Killdeer 4 1 11 6 east Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe 6 6 6 AmericanWoodcock 1 Bonaparte's Gull Rinq-billed Gull 9 21 1 1 281 5 1691 Herring Gull 1 gull sp? 2 Rock Dove 5 52 380 148 51 181 141 311 urasian Collared-Dove 4 mourning Dove 25 171 1S 30 31 19 89 11 Greater Roadrunner Eastern Screech-owl 6 1 real Homed owl 1 1 2 3 5 1 2 Barred owl 2 11 7 7 2 1 2 ong-eared owl Short-earedowl owl sp? BeltedKingfisher 1 3 1 4 cw 4 10 Red-headed Woodpecker 4 8 12 2 f 4 17 91 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 26 48 195 18 60 98 27 93 51 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 5 1 6 1 1 1 1 [)owny Woodpecker 39 26 229 1 78 5 30 60 7 Hairy Woodpecker 6 28 7 14 4 14 Northern Flicker 3a 33 30 9 21 41 167 14 38 red-shafted Pileated Woodpecker 5 25 9 29 7 7 10 9 6 Eastern Phoebe 4 1 Say'sPhoebe 1 LoggerheadShrike ' 9 9 1 !3lue Jay 54 51 48 512 297 219 4 276 141 AmericanCrow 19<1 35 524 322 651 268 80 Horned Lark 61( 435 21 40 14 76 CarolinaChickadee 6 205 Black-cappedChickadee 37 609 130 10 203 chickadee sp? 1 28 5 17

Page 48 THE BLUEBIRD Table3a, cont.: Results of Missouri's' 2002.::2003 ChristmasBird counts cc co GR HF ufted Titmouse 22 53 33 351 53 53 147 43 Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 17 26 29 186 24 47 4 45 Brown Creeper 8 4 3 24 4 4 9 1 1 15 arolina Wren 5 126 7 26 26 House Wren winterWren 3 3 9 1 2 1 4 Marsh Wren 1 Golden-crowned King kinglet 22 14 51 8 2 15 1 1 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 11 1 4 3 Eastern Bluebird 18 194 26 182 25 87 96 54 Hennit Thrush 3 2 1 1 American Robin 67 55 65 5 2 8 3 26 !Northern Mockinbird 8 2 11 6 4 16 16 42 BrownThrasher 2 1 1 !European Starling 54 389 351 611 429 743 AmericanPiptt CedarWaxwing 12 217 49 cw 2 3 71 Prange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumpedWarbler 13 8 17 14 3 2 Pine Warbler 2 Palm Warbler ommon Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee 1 Eastern Towhee 1 2 1 2 American Tree Sparrow 3 359 227 33 946 55 5 358 ield Sparrow 9 2 5 1 1 1 1 Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow 18 79 91 e Conte's Sparrow 3 ox Sparrow 6 15 7 19 5 1 4 8 !Song Sparrow 26 26 115 263 15 49 89 21 46 incoln's Sparrow 1 2 1 2 Swamp Sparrow 14 1 47 1 1 88 3 White-throated Sparrow 169 73 78 387 66 15 59 21 131 64 Harris's Sparrow 6 cw 44 29 White-crownedSparrow 2 12 95 8 142 12 35 sparrow 96 1 34 Dark-eyedJunco 28 262 327 236 193 298 1225 461 Oregon 2 5 apland Longspur 1 longspur sp? NorthernCardinal 115 961 178 282 331 637 276 Red-wingedBlackbird 22 73 4237 1142 125 245 Eastern Meadowlark 1 27 32 1 WesternMeadowlark 3 13 1 meadowlark sp? 9 34 35 67 34 Busty Blackbird 5 7 42 33

Page 49 THE BLUEBIRD Table 3a, cont.: Results of Missouri's 2002-2003 Christmas Bird Counts cc cc GR HF Brewer'sBlackbird ommon Grackle 15 8 337 Great-tailedGrackle 32C 2 brown-headedCowbird 35C 27 3 blackbird sp? 423 Purple Finch 3 8 HouseFinch 6 1 2 46 American Goldfinch 3r 5( 345 4 234 218 House Sparrow 26 368 517 9 537 23 urasian Tree Sparrow

No. of Species 67 88 54 55 86 6 71 81 No. of Persons 6 78 11 11 17 24

Table 3(b): Results of Missouri's 2003-2003 Christmas Bird Counts KN MA M PE ommon Loon Pied-billedGrebe 1 4 1 12 Homed Grebe 2 American White Pelican 8 Double-crestedCormorant 1 34 Great Blue Heron 1 1 1 1 1 28 Black Vulture 4 urkey Vulture 1 31 vulture sp? Greater White-fronted Goose 1 Snow Goose 12 65872 7 2 1 Ross's Goose 1 anada Goose 162 61 3816 653 truswa undra Swan Wood Duck 29 2 Gadwall 24 9 3 112r 189 AmericanWigeon 1 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 117 136 731 4138 251 421 Blue-wingedTeal 1 Northern Shoveler 4 11 4 Northern Pintail 1 1 Green-wingedTeal 1 31 anvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck 24 3184 16 GreaterScaup 21 lesser scaup 1 SurfScoter White-winged Scoter Bufflehead 1 19 6 ommon Goldeneye 4 11 4 Page 50 THE BLUEBIRD Hooded Merganser 2 4 361 24 ommon Memanser 39 Red-breasted Memanser RuddyDuck 1 6 duck sp? 11 46 Osprey BaldEagle 3 3 12 49 22 9 3 Northern Harrier 53 7 33 17 1 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1 3 2 3 2 8 Cooper'sHawk 3 1 2 4 7 3 accipiter sp? Red-shouldered Hawk 1 24 1 5 1 Red-tailed Hawk 54 3 191 2' 4C 49 164 47 5 171 Harlan's 3 Krinder's Rough-leggedHawk 5 2 buteo sp? Golden Eaole American Kestrel 11 45 19 13 41 Merlin Prairie Falcon 1 1 falcon sp? Ring-necked Pheasant Greater Prairie-Chicken 21 Wild Turkey 59 66 42 9 49 27 Northern Bobwhite 1 6 26 14 18 24 Virginia Rail Sora American Coot 1 3 14 3 Killdeer 3 21 2 1 east Sandpiper Pectoral Sand piper Wilson's Snipe 1 2 12 American Woodcock Bonaparte's Gull 6 Ring-billed Gull 5 68 398 23 Herring Gull 8 14 _gulls!)? Rock Dove 26 11 66 4 4 15 1510 187 1464 Eurasian Collared-Dove 11 9 Mourning Dove 96 42 142 157 74 33 18 252 Greater Roadrunner astern Screech-Owl 3 2 1 1 4 4 GreatHomed Owl 1 4 7 4 21 Barred Owl 1( 1 7 1 3 1( 2 Long-earedOwl Short-eared Owl 1 13 5 owl BeltedKingfisher 1 2 1 1 12 5 4 27

Page 51 THE BLUEBIRD trable 3b, cont.: Results of Missouri's 2002-2003 Christmas Bird Counts KN MA Ml MC PB IRed-headed Woodpecker 6 1 458 37 IRed-bellied Woodpecker 24 11 81 3 116 18 7 Yellow-belliedsapsucker 2 1 15 2 4 DownyWoodpecker 1 32 36 112 19 21 Hairy Woodpecker 8 11 19 6 1 3 Northern Flicker 17 89 41 2( 121 red-shafted 25 31 PileatedWoodpecker 5 4 16 25 astem Phoebe 1 7 1 Say's Phoebe Loggerhead Shrike 4 22 1 1 11 Blue Jay 7 34 79 8 BE 311 81 84 154 242 American Crow 224 141 285 18 147 116 35 27 124 Homed Lark 275 16 CarolinaChickadee 3 73 11 171 27 Black-cappedChickadee 7 chickadee sp? 11 56 Tufted Titmouse 4C 51 3 127 81 3 IRed-breasted Nuthatch 1 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 13 7 48 64 65 16 38 13 75 Brown Creeper 11 19 5 1 4 CarolinaWren 12 18 1 15 19 67 House Wren 1 WinterWren 1 2 5 1 Marsh Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 31 86 1 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 17 1 astem Bluebird 145 82 117 1 156 81 1 174 Hermit Thrush 4 3 American Robin 31 125 34 6 77 7 111 Northam Mockingbird 1 2 42 1 21 14 4 39 81 Brown Thrasher 1 1 13 cw 1 Europeanstarling 791 336 744 587 166 660 522 American Pipit edar Waxwing 15 122 1 2 5 8 )range-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 15 Pine Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 1 ommon Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee EasternTowhee 14 6 merican Tree Sparrow 87 48 11 ield Sparrow 11 2 61 76 VesperSparrow 1 avannah Sparrow 13 8 3 e Conte's Sparrow ox Sparrow 1 12 1 3 Song Sparrow 25 2 1 293 2 71

Page 52 THE BLUEBIRD Table 3b, cont.: Results of Missouri's 2002-2003 Christmas Bird Counts

KN l MC OF PB incoln's Sparrow Swamp Sparrow 4 219 1 3 White throatedSparrow 1 24 11 426 6C 281 Harris'sSparrow 38 1r _E White-<:rowned Sparrow 144 113 8( 14 71 11 Sparrow sp? 14 Dark-eyedJunco 28 151 172 29 224 31 129 149 Oregon Lapland Longspur 1 longspur sp? 21 NorthernCardinal 19( 381 45 54 Red-winged Blackbird 119( 1 1 69 397( 368 astern Meadowlark 66 1 19 1 WesternMeadowlar1< meadowlar1< so? 5C 521 2 24 Rusty Blackbird Brewers Blackbird ommon Grackle 1 13 78C Great-tailed Grackle 9 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 331 1 7 4 183 blackbird sp? purple finch 9 1 1 1 4 House Finch 11 1 1( g 15 AmericanGoldfinch 149 78 25 2 342 HouseSparrow 139 274 514 856 13 19 urasian Tree Sparrow 619

of Species 61 69 61 7( 74 73 56 74 of Persons 14 15 1r 24 3 rrable 3(c): Results of Missouri's 2002-2003 Christmas Bird Counts sc SJ TR ws sum Common Loon 1_C 1 4 Pied-billed Grebe 9 1 68 Homed Grebe 11 3 AmericanWhite Pelican 9 4 Double crestedCormorant 9 1 74 8 GreatBlue Heron 4 4 8 43 26 BlackVulture 260 Turkey Vulture 26( vulture sp? 1 1 GreaterWhite-fronted Goose 17 158 Snow Goose 17 Ross's Goose a 3 5( 6 anada Goose 2144 297 113 291 24 ruswe c undra Swan 1 Page 53 THE BLUEBIRD Table 3(c): Results of Missouri's Christmas Bird Counts sc SJ TC TR ws sum counts Wood Duck 1 1 316 1 Gadwall 79 6 128 34E 87 7 4848 24 American Wigeon 1 15 5 AmericanBlackDuck 1 1 57 Mallard 148 41 111 166697 24 Blue-wingedTeal 2 14 NorthernShoveler 569 8 Northern Pintail 44 7 44 664 11 Green-wingedTeal 2 4 5 12 11 anvasback cw 2 8 3 Redhead 1 1 1 Ring-neckedDuck 341 7 3672 14 GreaterScaup 81 esser Scaup 7 15 168 11 Surf Scoter 1 1 1 White-winged Scoter 2 1 Bufflehead 2 1 1 125 ommon Goldeneye 46 11 23 378 1 Hooded Merganser 8 6 19 7 14 ommon Merganser 333 18 77 15 524 8 Red-breasted Merganser 2 1 Ruddy Duck 1 11 6 duck sp? 3 7 Osprey 1 1 1 BaldEager 39 85 18 16 124 5 743 25 Northern Harrier 2 15 3 5 1 253 24 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 1 7 62 21 Cooper'sHawk 1 4 51 accipiter sp? 2 9 ' Red-shouldered Hawk 3 8 92 Red-tailed Hawk 84 66 31 21 6( 48 27 Harlan's ' 6 24 7 krider's 1 1 rough-leggedHawk 1 5 2 buteo sp? 4 GoldenEagle 1 1 AmericanKestrel 24 4 13 24 569 2E Merlin 1 Prairie Falcon falcon sp? 1 1 Ring -necked Pheasant 1 5 GreaterPrairie-Chicken 21 1 Wild Turkey 171 117 68 14 5 12 2 Northern Bobwhrte 33 61 21 2 Virginia Rail 6 1 Sora 1 1 American Coot 1 9 1 11 deer 1E 33 cw 2 161 19 east Sandpiper 1 1

Page 54 THE BLUEBIRD Table3(c): Results of Missouri's 2002-2003 Christmas Bird Counts sc SJ SL TC TS TR ws sum counts PectoralSandpiper 1 1 1 Wilson's Snipe 6 45 1C American Woodcock 1 1 Bonaparte's Gull 2 26 Ring-billed Gull 4 238 29 12 3017 Herring Gull 21 1 3 6 gullsp? 24 26 RockDove 29 83 38 44 239 5556 urasian Collared-Dove 34 Mourning Dove 29 244 78 28 21 260 3436 2 Greater Roadrunner 1 1 1 astern Screech-Owl 1 2 6 1 1 42 Great Homed Owl 8 5 3 2 199 Barred Owl 4 6 21 long-eared owl 3 3 1 Short-eared owl 24 4 sp? 1 2 Belted KingfiSher 1 4 2 1 1 7 139 24 Red-headed Woodpecker 1 1 39 37 17 2 984 2 Red-belliedWoodpecker 66 75 99 36 7 103 1663 2 Yellow-belliedSapsucker 1 6 1 2( DownyWoodpecker 69 62 53 44 38 51 131 152 2 HairyWoodpecker 26 6 6 3 23 263 2E Northern Flicker 43 107 51 19 99 red-shafted 1 Pileated Woodpecker 3 12 3 25 280 2 EasternPhoebe 1 Say'sPhoebe 1 1 LoggerheadShrike 15 101 Blue Jay 9 104 106 147 246 148 4011 2 American Crow 8 155 603 63 111 284 7540 2 Homed Lark 21 138 14 27 102 3373 2C CarolinaChickadee 216 11 Black-cappedChickadee 121 171 51 44 179 1969 chickadee sp? 305 481 ufted Titmouse 63 33 289 34 7 173 2495 2f Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 11 5 White-breasted Nuthatch 6 45 57 27 35 107 2 Brown Creeper 6 9 1( 12 186 24 CarolinaWren 16 21 5 15 1 53 26 House Wren 1 1 Winter Wren ( 3 4 1 59 Marsh Wren cw 12 Golden-crownedKinglet 3r 11 21 1 11 34 419 24 Ruby-crownedKinglet 1 1 43 astern Bluebird a 32 24 236 13 4 160 2530 2r Hermit Thrush 4 7 9 American Robin 24 289 29 1 4584 25 Northern Mockingbird 2 2 29 619 25

Page 55 THE BLUEBIRD table3(c): Results of Missouri's 2002-2003 Christmas Bird Counts sc SJ SL TC TS TFi ws sum counts Brown Thrasher 1 23 uropean Starting 3243 746 162 391 5973 149746 2 American pipit 74 CedarWaxwing 39 191 867 Orange-crownedwarbler 1 1 1 Yellow-rumpedwarbler 1 2 23 1 182 15 Pine Warbler 3 Palm Warbler 1 1 ommon Yellowthroat c Spotted Towhee 1 1 3 EasternTowhee 11 1 American Tree Sparrow 195 1 121 537 211 5115 sparrow 8 271 Vesper Sparrow 1 1 Savannah Sparrow 3 1 3 325 1 e Conte's Sparrow 1 ox Sparrow cw 2 8 15 1 45 174 2 songSparrow 5 95 53 57 1914 26 incoln's Sparrow 1 5 swampSparrow 17 17 4 184 21 White-throatedSparrow 23 33 327 55 21 45 2 Harris's Sparrow 5 15 1 1 3 White-crownedSparrow 9 7 29 49 19 1439 sparrow 1 146 Dark-eyed Junco 69 715 10086 2 Oregon 9 laplandLongspur 1 cw longspur 21 1 Northern Cardinal 219 229 176 294 473 26 Red-winged Blackbird 317 55 2593 33512 26 astern Meadowlark 5 44 5 884 16 Western Meadowlark 25 84 6 meadowlark sp? 1 33 18 1486 17 RustyBlackbird 1 15 586 13 Brewer'sBlackbird 1 CommonGrackle 13 95 1 9691 1 Great-tailedGrackle 1 344 Brown-headedCowbird 6 5 9 148 blackbirdsp? 94C 149364 purpleFinch 2 31 House Finch 4 91 6 1 764 AmericanGoldfinch 77 153 286 161 213 439 4365 2 House Sparrow 392 89 366 75 7569 2 urasian Tree Sparrow 665 no. of species 8 68 69 8 46 75 68 No. of Persons 11 14 22 5! 13 25

Page 56 THE BLUEBIRD Key to Figure 1 and Table 3 countname compiler BO Big Oak Tree State Park Bill Eddleman BS Big Spring Bruce Beck cc Clarence Cannon NWR Bruce Schuette co Columbia Susan Hazelwood DC Dallas County David Blevins GR Grand River TerryMcNeely HF Horton-Four Rivers FredYoung JC Jefferson City JulieLundsted JO Joplin awrence Herbert KC Kansas City !Donald Arney KN Knob Noster VernonElsberry LC Laclede County LesterPannell LI Liberal awrence Herbert MS Maramec Spring Linda Frederick MA Maryville David Easterla MI Mingo NWR Bill Reeves ML Montrose Lake Wildlife Area John Belshe OF Orchard Farm Randy Korotev PB Poplar Bluff Bruce Beck SJ St. Joseph val Lawhon sc Squaw Creek NWR Mark Robbins SP Springfield David Blevins su Sullivan notdone in 2002-3 SL Swan Lake NWR SteveKinder TC Taney County CharlesBurwick TS Ted Shanks Wildlife Area !Ken Vail TR Trimble KristiMayo ws Weldon Springs Torn Parmeter

Page 57 THE BLUEBIRD INTERVIEW WITH THE MISSOURI ROADRUNNER

Editor's note: Subse- far. quent to a spate of sight- GR: We won't get much ings of Greater Roadrun- further unless you title it, ner in southwest Missouri "Interview with THE Mis- in the early summer of souri Roadrunner." 2003, The Bluebird as- BR: Why? signed a reporter to inves- GR: Because I am THE tigate the presence and Missouri Roadrunner. natural history of the bird That's it. Just me. from a unique perspec- BR: But, how do you active-through an inter- count for the many sight- view with the bird, not ings-admittedly brief- birders. This article is a from several locations, and transcript of that meeting. people occasionally seeing The reporter's identity is two together, even nest- being withheld as a pro- ing? tective measure, given the GR: Easy. It's like this. I number of Missouri bird- get special status for being ers who have expressed an in Missouri-you know, especially keen desire to kinda like hazardous duty see this species. pay. I'm like a vanguard. BR =Bluebird Reporter You see, there were no GR =Greater Roadrunner roadrunners in Missouri Transcript: until the mid 1950s. We BR: Thank you for meet- worked our way slowly up ing with me today. from Texas through 0 Oklahoma GR: Glad to be here. It's a homa and Arkansas, ex- good chance to set the re- ploring and finding what cord straight. you'd call appropriate BR: Uh, what record? habitat. One of that first GR: Well, let's start with brave bunch was Flick- what you're going to call hey, don't look so sur- this article. prised, of course we have BR: I hadn't gotten that names. And I'm not talkin'

Page 58 THE BLUEBIRD about that Geococcyx cali- Lizard. But eating the col- fornianus stuff. Some hu- lared ones is doubly good man named Lesson came because they eat a lot of up with that humdinger. the same things I do-so I Mine's Fugis. Soft gee. get a meal and eliminate You know, after the Latin competition in one pounce- for flier. pound -gulp). Anyway, Flick was sur- O.K., O.K. , don't look so veyin' for glades in Taney squeamish. I'm back to the County. He was a little point. We were doin' north of Branson on June pretty good until three 19, 1956, when he got dis- real bad winters in the tracted and was spotted by late 1970s. Some made it a human. So, you see, south; some died holdin' Flick was the very first their ground. We've been official Missouri Roadrun- making a slow comeback ner. I'm very proud to fol- since. Some gains, some low in his zygodactylous losses. The Missouri cli- footsteps. mate is quirky. There's al- BR: His what? ways the risk of a bad cold GR: Zygodactylous foot- snap-it's tough to make a steps. You know, we have livin' on insects, lizards two forward-facing toes and snakes when it's cold. and two pointed back. That's why I have to resort Like most woodpeckers, to hangin' around houses we're zygodacty1. It's a with feeders some winters. cuckoo thing. So, I'm now the official Now, as I was saying, our Missouri Roadrunner. I'm kind did find some good the one you all see. It glades (you got some works like this. I hitch mighty tasty lizards up rides on pick-ups. I can get here-1 especially like the from Henning Conserva- Northern Fence Lizard, tion Area on the Taney- it's not as tough to pulver- Stone county line up to ize as the Texas Horned eastern Greene County in Lizard and it's tastier three hours-less if the than the EasternCollared driver knows how to beat

page59 TH E BLUEBIRD the Branson traffic. Get- too. Lots of coos and ooohs. tin' east and west along Our voice has been de- Highway 160 isn't too bad, scribed as a slowing series either. I don't get carsick. of low, hollow moaning You're lookin' disbelieving. sounds, usually 5-8 in a If you want this to con- row. We can also make a tinue, you gotta at least briiipppping sound with look like you believe me. our bills. Now, about those BR: Speaking of relatives, "multiple birds seen" re- you're a part of the cuckoo ports. Simple. Sometimes I family, aren't you? get visits from Arkansas GR: Let's try to get our sci- relatives. I show 'em entific terms right, O.K.? around. And, now and That's easier said than then, there is the reward- done these days. Lately, ing conjugal visit. you people been changin' BR: I see. Well uh, let's taxonomy stuff faster than get back to names, uh, Fu- I can grab and gulp a gar- gis. You're a Greater ter snake. But it goes Roadrunner. That usually somethin' like this: means there's a lesser one. Greater Roadrunners are GR: Sure is. The Lesser a part of the Order Cuculi- Roadrunner, Geococcyx formes. Cuculiformes has velox, hangs out on dry sa- families and subfamilies. vannas in south Mexico, We're in the big family, down to Nicaragua. At Cuculidae. least their human-given First, you got your Old name indicates speed! World Cuckoos, about 80 Anyway, they're a good spec1es of them. They lookin' bunch, a lot like range from all around us, except they don't have Europe, Mrica, Asia, is- the rich brown streaks on lands like the Philippines, the fore neck and chest Indonesia, and a batch in like I do. They're about 16 Australia. There are some to 20 inches long to our 20- real dandies in that clan. 24 inches. For example, the Emerald They sound a lot like us, and Klaas's Cuckoos are

Page 60 THE BLUEBIRD metallic green. central South America or Then, there are Coucals, their very own tropical usually pretty chunky isle-usually one species guys, about 30 of them. per island-especially the They like scrubby stuff, ones people call Lizard- usually close to the Cuckoos. ground, and don't get Next, the subfamily Croto- around much-lots of en- phaginae-Anis. There are demics in fairly small ar- four of them-all black eas of Africa, Asia, and a with big bills. Two range bunch of islands. as far north as the U.S. Now, let's move our side of The Smooth-billed Ani can the globe. Of course, take the climate up as far there's the unique one, the as south Florida. They've Hoatzin. It's the one born been declining there re- with the claw on the wing. cently. The Grooved-billed When the chicks fall or is hardier. They're fairly dive out of the nest into common (if you know the river below, they swim where to look) in the and climb back up with Texas Rio Grande valley that claw. After a coupla and sometimes along the weeks, they can't swim coasts of Texas and Louisi- any more and the claw ana. falls off. They live in the Anis are real family folk. Amazon and Orinoco ba- They like togetherness. sins and the Guianas. Matter of fact, Alexander New World cuculids in- Skutch, the guy who intro- clude the subfamily Coc- duced people to the con- cyzinae, about 18 species. cept of avian cooperative You only get two of them breeding, you know, nest- in Missouri-Black-billed helpers that are usually and Yellow-billed. They older siblings of the young really go for tent caterpil- being tended, like with the lars. Mangrove gets to Florida Scrub-Jay?... well, south Florida (he's a real Skutch did some of his shy sort). Others in this early research on the topic subfamily like northern to studying Anis in Panama

Page 61 THE BLUEBIRD and Costa Rica. bare spaces around eyes Now, my closest kin, sub- blue and orange, feathers family Neomorphinae, of head and neck bristle- sometimes called Ground- tipped, eyelids lashed... Cuckoos and Allies. There He would have done just are about a dozen of us, fine if he'd stopped there, ranging mostly from but no, he had to go on, southern Mexico to Brazil. " ... his whole plumage We Greater Roadrunners coarse and harsh. Could are the exploring ones. you imagine such a look- Braving harsh elements, ing creature? Try and exploring new terri- think of a long striped tory ... well, I guess I am snake on two legs, a pretty proud of our expan- feather duster on his head sion the last 50 years. and another trailing be- David Sibley, you know, hind; or a tall, slim tramp that young hotshot, calls in a swallow-tailed coat, a us Roadrunners black and blue eye, and a "distinctive." That's quite head of hair standing an improvement over straight on end!" some of your early Feather duster! Tramp! 'experts.' Elliott Coues in and the perfidious, vile 1903 described us as, slander-Snake! "singular birds--cuckoos BR: You're absolutely cor- compounded of a chicken rect. You've been terribly and a Magpie." Really! maligned. Dr. George M. And this from J. L. Sutton wrote a very nice Sloanaker, 1913, piece about you in Bent "[Roadrunner] ... would cer- [Life histories of North tainly take first prize in American Cuckoos, Goat- the freak class at the Ari- suckers, Hummingbirds zona state fair." Sloanaker and their Allies] about continues, "He is about 1940, don't you think? two feet in length, with a GR: Well, yes, it was O.K. tail as long as his body, Cleared up some things. color above brown He really did appreciate streaked and with black, us for our attributes. And

Page 62 THE BLUEBIRD he did try to set that quail named Waldo McAtee thing straight. wrote an article in BIRD- BR: Er ... , quail thing? LORE in 1931. He brought G R: Yeah. Quail. I mean, our persecution to the at- here we are, well-known tention of the non-hunting for eating lizards, snakes public and tried to set the (including rattlers), spi- record straight as to our ders, grasshoppers and beneficial nature. Of crickets, even scorpions course, there are still and rats, and some people those guys out there that had to get upset at us claim every season quail takin' an occasional quail are hard to find to shoot egg. it's because turkeys or It sure didn't help things roadrunners are eatin' when the sainted Aldo 'em. Pshaw! Leopold shot one of us and BR: Speaking of eating, wrote an article about it in there are some very reli- 1922, titled, "Road-runner able reports of Greater Caught in the Act." He Roadrunners lying in wait said it had a light colored at feeders and taking object in its bill, and when small birds, even hum- he got to his victim [the mingbirds. dead roadrunner] he, GR: Let's not get testy, "found a dead [quail] here. You think you could chick, still limber and do it? I mean, it takes real warm but unmutilated ... " skill to grab one of those Talk about bad press! glucose-powered darning Nearly every game warden needles. One little miscal- in the southwest called for culation and you could lose shootin' us on sight! Why, an eye! Yeah. I eat 'em. several states even put a Taste sorta like an orange bounty on us; they even gum ball. A real treat, now had special hunts for the and then. "Chaparral Cock!" BR: I see. Well, perhaps BR: I didn't know that. we should talk about G R: Well, things began to something else. Cuckoos turn around when a guy are known as nest para-

Page 63 THE BLUEBIRD sites .. . quick, the egg tooth disap- GR: Hold it right there. pears and new feathers You're talking about Old come in, but the long World Cuckoos. And, I'll white ones often stay on have to admit it, there are even after they leave the three species, I think, all nest. down in South America, BR: I've taken a great deal that lay eggs in other of your time. You're look- birds' nests. But not Road- ing around and starting to runners! pace. We build our own nest. It's G R: Yeah, all this talk of usually at least 3 feet off food, then chicks. I got a the ground, maybe as high family to feed and a pick- as 15 feet. Occasionally, up to catch. I need to be it's right on the ground, gain'. though. It's about a foot in BR: Thank you, Fugis. I'm diameter and 6 to 8 inches sure your comments will high. We build a stick go a long way to clear up foundation and line it with some misconceptions leaves, grass, feathers, about Roadrunners. Do snakeskins, and some- you have any advice for times even bits of manure. birders who would like to Neat stuff like that. Some- spend some time with you? times we hide it, some- GR: Don't press your luck. times we don't. Gatta go. Usually we lay 3 to 6 eggs. Note from BLUEBIRD It takes about 18 days for REPORTER: Fugis didn't them to hatch, and since look back. I last saw him the missus starts incu- ducking under a blue Ford batin' as soon as the first pick-up. A red Chevy left one is laid, they don't all the lot soon after, and I hatch at once. And they're think I saw what looked somethin' to see! When like an old feather duster they come outta that egg in the shade of the bed. their black skin is only All reasonable attempts partly covered by long, have been made to verify whitish "hairs." Pretty Fugis's comments. All

Page 64 THE BLUEBIRD have been substantiated Princeton, NJ. pp. 109- except his claim to being 115. THE (as in 'only') or the Howell, Steve N.G. and "official" Missouri Road- Sophie Webb. A Guide runner, and his assertion to the Birds of Mexico of making use of human and Northern Central assistance (pick-up trucks) America. 1995. Oxford to move about the state. University Press, New York. pp. 346-352. Sources consulted to verify Leopold, Aldo. 1922. Road- Fugis' comments: runner Caught in the Bent, Arthur Cleveland. Act. Condor, VOL. 24, 1940. Life Histories of p.183. As quoted by North American Cuck- Sutton in Bent 1940, oos, Goatsuckers, Hum- p.44. mingbirds, and Their McAtee, Waldo Lee. 1931. Allies. Smithsonian In- A Little Essay on Ver- stitution. United States min. Bird-Lore, vol. 33, Government Printing pp. 381-381. As quoted Office. Washington, by Sutton m Bent D.C. pp.19-84. 1940, p. 44. Clements, James F. 1991. Peterson, Roger Tory and Birds of the World: A Edward L. Chalif. Check List. Fourth edi- 1973. A Field Guide to tion. Ibis Publishing Mexican Birds. Hough- Company, Vista CA. ton Mifflin Company, pp.139-147. Boston. p. 80 and Plate Coues, Elliott. 1903. Key to 15. North American Birds. Robbins, Mark B. and As quoted by Sutton in David A. Easterla. Bent 1940. p. 37. 1992. Birds of Mis- de Schaauensee, Rodolphe souri. University of Meyer and William H. Missouri Press, Colum- Phelps, Jr. 1978. A bia. p. 172. Guide to the Birds of Sibley, David Allen. 2000. Venezuela. Princeton The Sibley Guide to University Press, Birds. Alfred A. Knopf,

Page 65 THE BLUEBIRD New York. pp. 267- A GUIDE To BIRD- 270. 2001. The Sibley Guide to ING IN MISSOURI Bird Life & Behavior. Are you tired of birding Alfred A Knopf, New the same old places? Have York. pp. 332-335. you ever wondered if Skutch, Alexander Frank. those participating in CO- Correspondence to Ar- MAL are just lucky? If thur Cleveland Bent. you answered "yes" to ei- Bent 1940, pp. 21-22, ther of these questions, and 28-31. ASM's Guide to Birding Sloanaker, Joseph L. Missouri is a must have 1913. Bird Notes from reference. It provides di- the South-west. Wilson rections to and descrip- Bulletin, vol. 25, tions of 143 birding sites pp.187-199. As quoted in Missouri. There are 32 by Sutton in Bent sites that have been 1940, p.37. added to the descriptions Sutton, George Miksch. that did not appear in the Roadrunner. Bent original edition of the 1940, pp. 36-51 book.

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Page 67 THE BLUEBIRD FLIGHTS OF FANCY

Two friends stand on a cliff with their arms outstretched. One has bungee cords tied on each arm, the other has parrots lined up on his arms.

After a couple of minutes, they both leap off the cliff and fall to the ground.

Laying next to each other in intensive care at the hospital, one friend croaks to the other, "I don't think much of this bungee jumping."

The other moans back, ''Yeah, I'm not too keen on this paragliding either."

Proposed Amended Bylaws for the Audubon Society of Missouri are included in The Bluebird mailing envelope. Please read the inserted information on proposed amendments to The Audubon Society of Missouri bylaws. They will be voted on by the membership at the ASM business meeting on ~Saturday night at the fall meeting. ~One may also go to The Audubon Society of ~Missouri web site, www.mobirds.org, to view ~the existing bylaws and the proposed amend- too the bylaws for comparison. Jerry Wade

THE BLUEBIRD