STERN LOS Angeles AudllbOn Society Volume 50 Number 9 June 1984

Terms of Emberizment: Taxonomic Changes and the Innocent Birder

he AOU Check-list, originally a publication intended for profes- sional scientists, has assumed a role far beyond that envisioned by the authors of the 1st edition in 1886. It is now the official source of information on nomenclature and distribution for all legislation affecting North American and for all management and law enforcement agencies, and its is followed by almost all authors and editors of ornithological publications. The Check- list thus has a tremendous impact on birders as it affects their life lists and the arrange- ment and sequences of taxa in their field guides and reference books. The 6th edi- tion, issued late in 1983, includes rearrange- ments (especially among, families) Purple that have destabilized some of its users. Not lished a new classification of birds based on surprisingly, we tend to think of the first about 40 characters, mostly anatomical. system of classification that we learned as Gadow was very thorough and clearly ex- being standard and correct, and any subse- plained his methods, so his work was per- quent major changes seem radical. Let us suasive. Alexander Wetmore used Gadow's then look at the roots of the system. study as the basis for his first classification Traditionally, birds have been classified of birds of the world (1930), and this was largely on the basis of structural characters— followed in the 4th (1931) and 5th (1957) the skeleton, muscles, viscera, and syrinx, editions of the AOU Check-list. Few con- and external features such as the bill, tarsi temporary birders have consulted taxonomic and feet, and feathers. In 1888, the German references (or field guides, if any) published anatomist Max Furbringer published a two- prior to 1931, so for the past half-century volume treatise on avian structure and clas- the Gadow-Wetmore classification has been sification that was the most complete of its our standard. time. It was also an example of the kind of Even by the late 1930s, though, winds of Golden-masked Tanager 19th century work that dismayed generations change were stirring. New data from genet- of later students—ponderous, highly detailed, affected mainly the classification of species ics led to fresh (neo-Darwinian) ideas about (mostly in the direction of "lumping") and excruciatingly boring to read (even for those evolution and the concept of the species; fluent in German), but important and influ- some intrafamilial rearrangements, as in the the renaissance of behavior study Anatidae (ducks and geese). More recently, ential. It was the basis for the work of another gave evidence that behavioral characters German-born anatomist, Hans Gadow, who since the discovery of the structure of DNA could be just as important as anatomical and the genetic code, biochemical taxon- emigrated to England and spent most of his ones in classification, and physiological and career there. Completely bilingual, he criti- omy took on new importance. If the molec- biochemical research showed promise of ular structure of proteins is a direct read-out cally analyzed Furbringer's work and pursued providing precise laboratory tests of rela- his own studies. In 1892-93 Gadow pub- of the genetic code, then a comparison of tionship. In the next two decades, this work similarities and differences in protein struc- Continued top next page ture should indicate degree of genetic simi- not logically be retained as separate fami- larity—i.e., true relationship. Blood serum lies. Part of the problem is that they were proteins and egg-white proteins were exten- based too much on external characters such sively analyzed. Some valuable results were as bill-shape that readily evolve differences obtained, but analysis and interpretation of in accordance with dietary adaptations. This protein structure is extremely complex and is dramatically demonstrated by the Hawaiian some results were equivocal or seemed to , which all evidence suggests be contradicted by other evidence. At pres- were derived from a single ancestral stock ent, there is very active research on deter- that colonized the islands from a mining genetic similarities by more sophis- continent. They include sickle-billed nectar- ticated analysis of proteins, by direct com- feeders to grosbeak-like seed-crushers, and parisons of chromosomes, and by what is all types in between. If they were not all called DNA-DNA hybridization. The last- V X confined to a single group of islands, they named technique is particularly promising might well have been placed in several dif- as DNA molecules (which make up the ferent families. genetic code) from different kinds of birds The provide another example. are directly tested in the laboratory to deter- Within the U.S. we have four species, all in mine how closely they match each other. the same (Piranga) and very similar; The theory is that the closer the matching, to most of us, they provide our "image" of the closer the relationship must be. The the tanager which we find easily recogniz- results of this method, which have gener- Palica able. But when one gets to the multiplicity ated much controversy, have given rise to of species and genera in the tropics, the some surprising proposals but more often Committee placed the flamingos in a sepa- image breaks down. Tanagers become rate order, Phoenicopteriformes. Other re- smaller or larger and differently-proportioned, markable finds include giant flightless pen- slender-billed or thick-billed. Evidence now guin-like pelecaniform birds from the north indicates that most of the "Coerebidae" are Pacific region, a tody from Wyoming, a mot- not part of a separate and distinct group but mot from Switzerland, and ancient land birds are slender-billed "tanagers" adapted for that may be the common ancestors of the nectar-feeding. This view was supported by Coraciiformes (kingfishers, motmots, horn- a mating in the San Diego Zoo between a bills, etc.) and Piciformes (woodpeckers, Blue Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus) barbets, toucans, etc.). Clearly, avian paleon- and a Golden-masked Tanager (Tangara tology is a lively field of research. larvata) that produced hybrid offspring. If Although Wetmore based his classification the parentage of the hybrids were not known, in large part on Gadow's, his sequence of they might have been taken for a species in passerine families differed from that favored the "honeycreeper" genus Dacnis. In The by European ornithologists. Wetmore put Auk for July, 1976, Lowery and Tallman de- the family Fringillidae (including grosbeaks, scribed a new genus and species (Nephe- finches, buntings, and many other seed- lornis oneilli) from which they could eaters) at the end of his sequence, preceded not classify as to family—"tanager, honey- by the Thraupidae (tanagers), Icteridae creeper, or finch". (blackbirds and orioles) and the Parulidae (wood warblers). He felt that these groups What all this points up is that the group of were "the modern expression of a main "families" listed earlier cannot be defined core or stem that has given rise to special- -and distinguished from one another as sepa- ized assemblages that we now recognize as rate families. Examples from each group distinct families". Europeans, however, put have been studied anatomically, biochemi- the starlings, Old World orioles, and the cally, and genetically to various extents, and Corvidae (crows, jays, etc.) at the end of the the present consensus is as follows: Crested Honeycreeper sequence. That system is still followed in The Coerebidae is an artificial group; the most European works (such as the Peterson Bananaquit (Coereba jlaveold) may be a have confirmed previously proposed classi- et al. Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and distinct form, but the rest are not separable fications. Stay tuned! Europe) and in the 15-volume Peters' Check- from the tanagers, or in some cases perhaps Meanwhile, there have been many new list of Birds of the World and in some other the finches. and exciting discoveries of fossil birds, and authoritative American references. The Parulidae, Icteridae, and Thraupidae the interpretation of what they indicate about are still considered recognizable groups, but relationships and evolutionary history of The AOU Check-list uses a modified ver- some forms bridge the gaps between them birds has also generated heated and unre- sion of Wetmore's sequence on grounds and they can't be defined objectively as solved controversy. These include some that, in general, the great assemblages of separate families; they are therefore reduced astonishing finds in Hawaii of extinct pas- seed-eating represent an evolu- in taxonomic rank to subfamilies. We still serines, a flightless ibis, and an array of tionary main line that has radiated success- have warblers, orioles, and tanagers—we just differently-sized flightless geese. Abundant fully into virtually all kinds of terrestrial have to change the ending of their scientific fossils from Wyoming first seemed to indi- habitats throughout the world. The AOU and group name from -idae to -inae (Parulinae, cate a close link between flamingos and the Europeans agree, however, that such Icterinae, Thraupinae). ducks (not heron-like birds), but further familiar groups as the Coerebidae (honey- The family Fringillidae is divided up. In study has led to the proposal that flamingos creepers), Drepanididae (Hawaiian honey- the 5th edition, this family included the are closest to the avocets and stilts. Because creepers), Parulidae, Icteridae, Thraupidae subfamilies Richmondeninae (now Cardi- of unresolved controversy, the Check-list and Fringillidae (as previously defined) can nalinae: cardinals and related grosbeaks, buntings, and the Dickcissel) and Emberi- zinae (including most of what we called Birding in Australia noon return, the Red-necked Rail. Andre "fringillids"—towhees, sparrows, juncos, Griffin, a local birdo, took us to see two longspurs, plus some largely tropical gen- Part III: East and South male Golden Bowerbirds arguing over who era). These two subfamilies, and all of the owned the six foot high bower, a sight never subfamilies listed above, are now assembled to be forgotten. Noisy Friarbirds and Ground into a large family Emberizidae. This name ost birders will be starting here in Cuckooshrikes were seen along the road. is used as it is the earliest family name the most densely populated area Travel south from Townsville towards among all the others, based on the genus M of Australia. The land form and cli- Brisbane was uneventful. Roads, however, Emberiza Linnaeus 1758. mate is similar to the United States and Eng- were the worst we experienced in Australia— land, but the avifauna contrasts spectacularly. narrow and heavily traveled—but they got The Fringillidae as reconstituted consists better as we got south. The country is mostly of three subfamilies: the Fringillinae, an Almost every seen from now on will be new. devoted to grazing and was suffering from a entirely Old World group (except for the drought of five years' duration. The birding casual occurrence of the Common Chaffinch Townsville in Queensland is the recom- mended entry point from Los Angeles, as it was rather bleak. However, we did find the and the Brambling in North America); the Apostlebird, Fan-Tailed Cuckoo, Scaley- Carduelinae (siskins, goldfinches, canaries, saves considerable time and money getting to Cairns. The crowds and traffic are lighter Breasted Lorikeet, Painted Button Quail, Pale Carpodacus finches, crossbills, Pine Gros- Yellow Rosella and Striated Pardalote. beak, Evening Grosbeak, etc.), originally an and one can get used to "wrong side" driv- Old World group which long ago invaded ing at a less hectic pace than in Sydney or Cooloola National Park. Near Gym the New World; and the Drepanidinae The Great Barrier Reef nearby. The only pie (believe that name?) we stayed with (Hawaiian honeycreepers), derived from other entry point is Sydney, which should Peter Hughes and family on his pineapple cardueline-like ancestors that colonized be avoided. farm. The Grey Butcherbird and Jacky Win- Hawaii. The chief sticking point for most birders in these rearrangements is the break-up of the former family Fringillidae and the merg- i ing of the largest part of it into the even bigger family Emberizidae. At first, it is diffi- cult to think of some groups of seed-eaters being more closely related to, say, insectiv- •9. 0 U T H QUEENS L/A N D r * orous warblers than to other types of seed- i \ Lamin eaters. Yet, that combination of types does not bother us in the case of the Hawaiian '•jkjt S T R A| drepanidines or the Galapagos finches, which also include warbler-like to grosbeak-like types. The grouping of subfamilies into the Emberizidae is supported by studies of the body skeleton, hind limb musculature, jaw musculature, tissue proteins, DNA, and even some behavior patterns. As one author has put it, the emberizines merge with the car- dinals and tanagers and the tanagers merge with the warblers, and some icterines merge with one or more of the others. For birders living in the continental U.S., the changes can be simplified by noting that the only resident fringillids are the carduelines (see above; siskins, goldfinches, House Finch, crossbills, etc.); the other former fringillids are either cardinalines (grosbeaks, buntings) or emberizines (the sparrow-like types) in the family Emberizidae, along with the sub- Southeast Australia families Parulinae, Thraupinae, and Icterinae. A similar situation results from the recog- By prior arrangement with our travel agent, ter (the Brown Flycatcher) greeted us at the nition of a large family Muscicapidae that a Toyota Campervan, fully equipped for house. This part of the east coast still has a includes the gnatcatchers, kinglets, thrushes, cooking and sleeping, was waiting for us. low population density and is most enchant- and the Wrentit as well as the Old World We loaded up with the necessities in a vari- ing. Around the farm we saw the White- flycatchers. This does not mean that the other ety of stores, all well-stocked, and which Throated Scrubwren, Southern Figbird, Var- groups mentioned resemble flycatchers, but had almost all the items we were used to at ied Sittella, White-Throated and White-Tailed that they include forms (mostly Old World) home. Warblers, Red-Browed Tree Creeper, Stubble- that bridge the gaps between them and they Our first stop was at Paluma, 90 km. to the quail, and Tawny Grassbird. At night the are thus reduced to subfamilies such as north and west. At the Ivy Cottage Tea House, Boobook Owl called. Turdinae (thrushes) instead of Turdidae. The famous among Australian "birdos," we had A visit to Cooloola National Park with the Wrentit is included because it is really a a "cuppa" and watched the Lewin's and Hugheses and Chief Ranger Ron Turner babbler (Timaliinae), an otherwise entirely Maclay's Honeyeaters (15 at a time on the turned up the Brush Bronzewing, White- Old World group that is also considered a feeder), Eastern Spinebill (a gorgeous hum- Cheeked Honeyeater, Gannet, Peregrine, subfamily. mingbird-like honeyeater), Paradise Rifle- Pied-Oystercatcher, White-Headed Pigeon, man (a Bird-of-Paradise) and on a late after- Southern Emu-Wren, and the rare Ground (to be continued) Adelaide, South Australia. Enroute to Adelaide, we were sorry to see that Emus populated country. became a common road-killed item and At Hattah and Wyperfield we found: dead kangaroos averaged ten to the kilome- Yellow Rosella ter. All cars, vans and trucks are equipped Brown Tree Creeper with special front bumpers to preserve them Yellow-Plumed Honeyeater from this often-unavoidable type of accident. White-Fronted Chat New birds seen were Southern Shoveler, Splendid Wren Brown Songlark and Chestnut-Breasted Tawney Frogmouth (on nest!) Sheldduck. Dusky Woodswallow Mt. Lofty near Adelaide provided a good White-Breasted Woodswallow morning's birding with Red Wattlebird, Ade- Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo laide Rosella, Purple-Gaped Honeyeater, Regent's Parrot Musk Duck Raven, Western Whipbird, Samphire Southern Scrubrobin Thombird, and the incredibly beautiful Scar- New Holland Honeyeater Parrot. Our lunch was accompanied with let Robin. We returned to New South Wales Chestnut-Crowned Babbler the traditional "boiling of the billy." A Tawny through the lovely wine-making Barossa Little Falcon Frogmouth welcomed us upon our return Valley, although regrettably before the tast- Yellow-Rumped Pardalote after dark. ing rooms were open. Brown-Capped Honeyeater O'Reilly's, Lamington National Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo Park, Queensland. No birder going to Major Mitchell's Cockatoo Australia should miss this spot. It is one of Orange Chat the Earth's lovely places and has fabulous Purple-Crowned Lorikeet birds. Species of birds usually quite wild are Little Wattlebird tame here and easily approached. The spec- White-Naped Honeyeater tacular Regents and Satin Bowerbirds will Diamond Firetail feed from your hand while Crimson Rosel- Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo las sit on your head. Brush Turkeys and At Hall's Gap in the Grampian Mountains, Wonga Pigeons casually feed at 20 feet. koalas were everywhere. The telephone Superb Wrens flit along the fences. Pade- poles had koala guards to prevent these melons, small kangaroos, feed on the grass. lovable beasts from electrocuting themselves. Eastern Whipbirds actually let you see them, Nearby we found the Crested Shrike-Tit, a difficult accomplishment anywhere else. Hooded Robin, Gang-Gang Cockatoo, Yel- The Albert's Lyrebird is a local specialty along low-Tufted and Tawny Honeyeaters, South- with many other difficult- to- locate species. ern Yellow Robin, and Crescent Honeyeater. Short-timers in Australia should plan to Brush Turkey spend at least four days here. Near Linton, at the Bird Observer's Club Northern Victoria. As Mildura is the Sanctuary, Reg made us the famous damper Western New outh Wales. Travel- sister city of our home town of Upland, pro- bread and enroute showed us the Musk ing west, we passed through a number of tocol mandated a visit with city officials and Duck, a black duck with a ridiculous, blad- towns in New South Wales whose distinc- birders here before we pushed on to Hatah der-like structure hanging from its lower tion was the increasing frequency of Ken- National Park, where we met and started mandible, as well as Chestnut Teal, Speckled tucky Fried Chicken and McDonalds. Before two glorious weeks of birding with Reg and Warbler, Golden Bronze Cockoo, Ground entering the large area of mallee scrub, we Kathy Johnson of the Bird Observers Club Thrush and a magnificent flock of 150 passed extensive fruit orchards—a contrast of Melbourne. Oh, the country, birds and Yellow-Tailed Cuckatoos. to the cattle and sheep ranches of Queens- kindness they showed us! The Melbourne Area. South of this land. The distance between birding spots be- city at the salt works we were overjoyed to Leaving Nygan, N.S.W., to drive due west came smaller as we drove from northwestern get views of the Broad-Billed Sandpiper, for a day to Broken Hill, we found the main Victoria towards Melbourne. Hattah and Fieldwren, Spotted Crake, and 5,000 wild road to be our own. We had left the people Wyperfield National Parks were but a few Black Swans. behind. We passed about 20 vehicles, going hours apart. This area is normally dry but An overnight at Phillip Island is a must for in either direction. This made sudden stops was drier than usual from the five-year birders. The nightly parade of the Little Blue for the birds less suicidal. And stop we did drought. The Mallee Fowl, a bird famous for Penguin is one of the all-time great birding for the constant flocks of parrots feeding or its incubation of the eggs by burying them experiences. Muttonbirds (Slender-Billed obtaining gravel at the side of the road. in a mound constructed by the male, and Shearwaters) were in flight overhead as we Thousands of Mallee Ring-Necked, Red- which has its job done by the heat of fer- watched the penguins. A Pacific Gull topped Rumped, Turquoise, Blue-Bonnet Parrots, mentation of rotting organic matter in the off our return to Melbourne. Cockatiels and even an occasional Bourke's mound, were not active at their mounds as Our last day with Reg included a trip to Parrot were seen. Emus became common as the lack of water prevented the fermenta- Sherbrooke Forest for glimpses of the Superb we approached Broken Hill. The guidebooks tion process. Tragically, the following sum- Lyrebird and the Rose Robin. Then we went at home had recommended extra tires and mer much of the areas we visited was burned over the hill to Yerringbo and saw the Hel- water when going to this outback town, but and thousands of square miles of bird habi- meted Honeyeater, one of Australia's rarest we needed them as much as if we were tat destroyed. birds, and had a delightful visit with a South- going to Hemet. We will not try to describe all the locali- ern Emu-Wren. The next day, on a short trip north of the ties, nor the birds seen for the first time; Part IV, the final chapter of our experi- town, we found without much effort both the suffice it to say that in this area not too far ences in Australia, will describe our short White-Browed Hall's Babblers, Wedgebill, from Melbourne there are tremendous op- trip to Tasmania and our week in Western Red-Capped Robin and Southern Whiteface. portunities to see many species in sparsely Australia, south of Perth. 35 Conservation Conversation

by Sandy Wohlgemuth

uproar ensued and efforts were made to and the bulldozer, along with the artificial hose of us in the environmental trap the goats and find homes for them on monsters of chemistry, have altered the movement yield to no one in our the mainland. But with all our ingenuity we world, perhaps irrevocably. There are few concern for life. It is not only our have not been able to catch them all. Sturdy places left where the balance is unbroken. own precious skins we are trying to protect clusters of them manage to find inaccessi- Driven by guilt or understanding many of us but all planetary protoplasm. We watch with ble hiding places where they prosper and are trying to patch up the disruption. We dismay as the fecundity and technology of multiply. ban DDT, we set aside refuges, we develop Homo sapiens create an infinity of endan- The feral burros in the California desert The Pill, we try to educate ourselves and our gered species. We are surrounded by hob- are an even more perplexing case. They are neighbors. goblins of ecological disaster. much more appealing than goats. They re- The fate of the earth is our responsibility. We know that the bell tolls not for the mind us of soft, cuddly stuffed with We have an obligation to attone for our condor but for all of us. So we often find soulful eyes: they are "cute!" like the cast- moral felonies. The condor's predicament is ourselves defending unpopular creatures like away goats they were set free or escaped primarily man-made: dwindling habitat, fire- coyotes, grizzly bears and rattlesnakes. Some- years ago and have multiplied, predator- arms, "varmint" poisoning. It is up to us to times, to the disadvantage of our own cause, free. They vigorously consume great quanti- try and save the remnant population. Just so, we become advocates of obscure organisms ties of vegetation. When they invaded mil- it is up to us to try to save San Clemente and such as the snail-darter or the Furbish louse- itary airfields in the desert they became the desert bighorn. wort. We worry about worthless decaying genuine hazards to jet planes and their pilots. So what is the answer? The animal right- trees because they support owls and wood- Again, the armed forces attempted direct to-life people are sincere and heaven knows peckers on the edge of extinction. We speak action by shooting the animals and again they mean well. But they are undiscriminat- of ecosystems and the web of life they en- the organized animal protectors forced a ing sentimentalists. A starling is not a blu- compass and we fight for them with hard halt to the killing. Some burros were caught ebird; a burro is not a bighorn. A twist of work and dedication. and sold or given away to people who fate—or should we say a crick in the DNA The wild and the free are our principal wanted them as pets. But there are many molecule—seems to have favored the inter- clients but we love and appreciate the unique burros and few benefactors, so herds of bur- lopers with a vigor and a reproductive suc- qualities of our own pets. Many of us are ros still roam the desert chomping their way cess that far outstrips their victims. To a owned and tolerated by cats and dogs, and through Mohave yucca, leafy shrubs and reasonable person, if a choice must be made, we value what we hope is mutual affection. small trees. This is precisely the menu pre- the native fauna must take precedence. If This love and affection is extended by some ferred by the desert bighorn sheep. In fact it burros and goats can be captured and deliv- people to all living things without excep- is essential for the health and well-being of ered into friendly hands—fine. If this is not tion. It is a noble and a lofty attitude, this this shy, endangered animal. Birders who possible, and they remain a threat to the reverence for life. There are religious saints know that starlings drive bluebirds and survival of habitat and species, they will who will not step on an ant or swat the woodpeckers from their hole nests well have to be eliminated. Does this sound cruel mosquito that is biting them. There are understand the plight of a native species and unseemly coming from professed lov- tender souls who, if they were aware of it, overcome by an unopposed invader from ers of life? There are moral compromises would deplore the taking of city pigeons by another clime. most of us find we have to make in the real peregrine falcons. Even the starling has its There is a vision many of us have—often world. (Unclaimed strays at city pounds are defenders. deeply buried in our hearts—of an ecologi- destroyed. Regrettable, but the alternative is The environmentalist is faced with a cal Eden where the classical interrelations millionsd of unwanted cats and dogs and dilemma. How is one to respond to those of nature prevail undisturbed by man and nowhere to put them.) We wonder how who hotly defend the goats on San Clemente his works. Lower forms are preyed upon by many of the animal protectors are vegetar- Island who are methodically destroying the higher forms. The food chain is a series of ians. Do goats have a greater right to life habitat? The goats are warm (if aromatic) links from ocean plankton to sharks and the than lambs or cows? None of us is particu- living creatures. They do no harm to peo- toothed whales; from seed-eating rodents larly happy about slaughterhouses, yet the ple. It is not their fault that they were to golden eagles. We've learned that this is vast majority of us manage to sit down to a marooned there years ago by humans. Who the natural order of things. We no longer steak dinner without being troubled by the can deny them the right to live? Yet they are speak of nature "red in tooth and claw." We vision of hung carcasses and the warm, suf- inexorably consuming every bit of vegeta- are not horrified when the lion kills a zebra focating smell of blood and offal. tion on the island. As the habitat disappears, or a Cooper's hawk captures a warbler on The scientists who compiled the Global native and transient wildlife also disappears. the wing and eats it before our eyes. This is 2000 Report to the President estimated that A living ecosystem will die; San Clemente the way the world has evolved and it has by the end of the century, if current practi- will become a barren wasteland. And, as been a successful enterprise for millions of ces and attitudes prevailed, thousands of with deer that without predators reproduce years. But in the last few centuries (a mere species throughout the world would become and eat themselves into starvation, so the speck in time) homo sapiens has become extinct. May we hope for a life-giving change goats will eventually perish. To preserve the the dominant form of life, the true master of in attitude toward our own wildlife threat- island greenery, the Navy, which owns the the earth. Our drive for mastery has disrupted ened by undesirable competitors? island, decided to shoot the goats. A great the balance of the natural order. The machete Arctic Loons and 2 Common Loons pass ing by the point in four hours of observa- Birds of the Season tion. The Red-throated Loons tended to occur singly or in very small groups (24 singles, 14 pairs, 4 groups of three and one group of by Hal Baxter four). In contrast, Arctic Loons were often seen in larger groups (ten groups were of and Kimbatt Garrett five birds or more, with the maximum group size being 28). Nearly all of the loons ob- served were in full alternate plumage. Flocks ate March and early April brought of Surf Scoters and Black Brant were also the expected build-up of spring few and far between. While such dryness noted passing promontories such as Pts. Lmigrants and summer residents. must have an effect on concentrations of Dume and Conception in late March and And as we write this now in late April, the migrants and on breeding success in local April, with 140 brant and 456 scoters noted very peak of migration is just around the species, quantitative study is needed. on the LA.A.S. trip. corner. Perhaps more than any other spe- The spring migration of loons past our A very enticing report of a Common cies, the Hooded Oriole marks the arrival coastal promontories can be of spectacular Black-Hawk at Morongo Valley was received of true spring in southern California. Because proportions. In one morning, Paul Lehman from Reynaldo Espinosa; the bird was seen this species is common even within urban counted some 11,000 Arctic Loons pass- flying along the canyon on 8 April, but could areas, its flashy black and yellow plumage ing Point Conception, Santa Barbara County not be subsequently confirmed. This spe- and upslurred whistle escape few birders (21 April). He counted only a couple of cies must be considered "overdue" for during the latter half of March. Well, the hundred Red-throated Loons; the migra- reaching southern California; there are at orioles appeared on schedule, the Dodgers tion peak of this species is nearly a full least three spring records for the Arizona started on schedule, and springtime marches month earlier than that of the Arctic. The side of the Colorado River. forward with its procession of avian diver- L.A.A.S, field trip to Point Dume, near Malibu, sity. Only the weather was a bit unusual... Shorebird migration was in full swing in on 15 April (led by Kimball Garrett) afforded April, with the Lancaster area of the Ante- warmer and dryer than expected, with fre- excellent studies of our three common loon quent Santa Ana wind conditions. Coastal lope Valley providing some of the best local species, although the numbers certainly habitat. Jon Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer hillsides had taken on a cast of July brown didn't rival those of Pt. Conception. We by early April, and annual wildflowers were recorded Los Angeles County's first spring recorded 68 Red-throated Loons, 131 Baird's Sandpiper at Piute Ponds on 14

New Books at Audubon House AFIELD GUIDE TO THE In addition to those items in the March 1984 sales catalogue, the bookstore now has the following in stock:

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TEXAS BIRDS: WHERE THEY ARE & HOWTO FIND THEM, fext by WU) BRDSOOETYOFJ/1B4N Edward Kotac 9.95 BustrattonstySHNJWMNO HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF INDIA & PAKISTAN, COMPACT EDITION, SalimAli , 98.00 BIRDS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN & ALPS, Lars Jonsson 13.95 BIRDS OF THE ANTARCTIC, Edward Wilson 45.00 WADING BIRDS OF THE WORLD, Eric & Richard Soothill 29.95 CRANES OFTHE WORLD, Paul Johnsgard 37.50 HOW TO ATTRACT BIRDS, Ortho Books 5.95 FIELD CKLST OF BIRDS OF MEXICO, Steffee 2.95 COMMON BREEDING BIRDS SONGS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, 1 (cassette), Thomas Sander 8.95

On order, but not yet available: A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF CHINA, Meyer de Schauensee BIRDS OF PANAMA, vol 4, Wetmore A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF SCOTLAND, Eric Hardy A comprehensive field guide to Japanese birds, in English, and in color, using the Peterson GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF IRELAND, Gordon D'Arcy System of indicating field marks with arrows on BIRDS OF BURMA, Smythies the plates. FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF , Hilty, Brown, Tudor This book will also prove useful in identifying BIRDS OF INTERIOR SO. AMERICA, John Dunning birds in Alaska, Eastern Siberia and China. PIGEONS & DOVES OF THE WORLD, Derek Goodwin $25.00 Plus $1.50 shipping. Calif, res. add $1.63 new edition with color plates sales tax. FIELD GUIDE TO THE WARBLERS OF BRITAIN & EUROPE, Moore Los Angeles Audubon Society, Inc. 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90046 (213) 876-0202 Sole I'.S. Distributor April, and the next day they found the we have learned that vagrant warblers are Mono Lake county's first spring Semipalmated Sand- hardly expected before May. Grasshopper piper at the southwest corner of nearby Sparrows were present in La Jolla Valley Committee Rosamond Dry Lake ("dry" that is, except near Pt. Mugu as of the end of March; ths for the muddy stretch where Jon entombed species should be looked for in remnant Seeks Director his car for 24 hours!). The intriguing spring* grassland areas elsewhere in the region. A The Mono Lake Committee is seeking an migration of Whimbrels through the Ante- flock of at least 20 Evening Grosbeaks executive director to administer this 6,000- lope Valley (the species is very rare else- was noted along Route 2N10B behind Big member environmental public interest where on the deserts in spring) had begun Bear Lake on 25 March (Andy Starrett and group. The successful candidate will have at in earnest by 14 April, when 200+ birds Kathleen Kubach). least 5 years of experience in personnel and were present in the Lancaster area. Coast- The opening paragraphs of past Birds of financial management; familiarity with en- ally, spring migrant Surbirds and Wander- the Season columns for the month of June vironmental issues and politics; background ing Tattlers were readily seen along rocky have invariably contained inviting prose in working with the media and an over-all coastal stretches in late March and April. underscoring the productivity and pleasant- capability of managing an organization which The abundance of gulls of various species ness of our local mountains. We can hardly relies entirely on merchandise sales, mem- in our coastal areas in winter tends to mask improve upon Shum Suffel's past discussions bership dues, donations and special events the interesting spring migration trends (it's of June birding in our mountains, other than for its funding. Salary range is $24,000- usually difficult to tell transients from win- to reiterate that there is still a great deal to $28,000. Extensive travel required within tering birds). We do know that a large peak be learned regarding the habitat require- California. Send resume, including refer- of spring migrant Ringbilled and Califor- ments and population sizes of many of our ences and salary history to: Search Commit- nia Gulls takes place at desert and moun- montane breeders. The standard localities tee, Mono Lake Committee, 1355 Westwood tain lakes (where few gulls winter) in March; of Charlton Flat, Buckhorn Camp, Baldwin Blvd., #6, Los Angeles, CA 90024. the Lancaster area is an excellent place to Lake, Mt. Pinos and the like will continue to EOE observe this migration. Coastally, observers be well worth a visit. But we would urge at coastal points should note the relative birders to explore more remote portions of abundance of Herring Gulls passing by in the mountains as well. Perhaps this fall we'll spring. On the 15 April Pt. Dume trip we be reporting some astounding summer finds observed some 30 adult Herring Gulls, a from these areas. number easily in excess of the total numbers of adults one is likely to see through the NOTE: Remember that significant observa- winter on the Los Angeles County coast. tions, along with detailed documentation, Where do these birds originate? One can should always be sent to the appropriate only guess the coasts of Baja California and Regional Editor of American Birds. Guy perhaps some of our Channel Islands; Her- McCaskie continues to act as the editor of ring Gulls are relatively common in both of the Southern Pacific Coast region. His ad- these areas in winter (as at the Salton Sea, dress is 954 Grove Street, Imperial Beach, where birds presumably go north in spring California 92032. Or, sightings maybe sent on an inland route). to the coordinator for each southern Cali- Long-eared Owls were again found nest- fornia county (see the latest American Birds WESTERN ing at a ranchyard east of Lancaster (Jim and report for their names). Sightings for Los TANAGEFL Ellen Strauss, early April; three fledged young Angeles County, for example, should be sent with two adults on 14 April—Jon Dunn). to Kimball Garrett at the Los Angeles County EDITOR Dexter Kelly Large numbers of migrant hummingbirds Museum of Natural History, 900 Exposition DESIGN Keith Lee were frequenting a stand of flowering locust Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90007. The PRINTER Artisan Press spring report, covering all of March, April CONSERVATION EDITOR Sandy Wohlgemuth trees east of Lancaster on 14 April, including ORNITHOLOGY CONSULTANT Kimball Garrett at least two male and three female Calliope and May, should be submitted by 10 June. Hummingbirds (Jon Dunn, Jonathan For Spring 1984 ONLY please send Los Published ten times a year by the Los Angeles Alderfer). A large push of Black-chinned Angeles County sightings directly to Guy Audubon Society, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., Los McCaskie. Summer reports for Los Angeles Angeles, CA 90046. Hummingbirds into coastal nesting habi- ne tat was noted by many observers around 10 County (Ju 1 to July 31) should be sent to PRESIDENT Bob Shanman April. An albino Nutall's Woodpecker in Kimball Garret as usual. 1st VICE PRESIDENT Ellsworth Kendig Sullivan Canyon, Brentwood, in early April EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Marge Wohlgemuth (Joan Mills) was likely the same individual Audubon membership (local and national) is that was found there in June 1983 by Judy $30 per year (individual), $38 (family), $15 Ross {fideThomas Howell). (student) or $17 (senior citizen), including A Rock Wren on Pt. Dume on 15 April AUDUBON Magazine and THE WESTERN TANA- may have been a lingering wintering bird, GER. To join, make checks payable to the although nesting should be watched for at National Audubon Society, and send them to this locality (they nest up the coast at Pt. Audubon House at the above address. Members Magu). Cedar Waxwings continued to be wishing to receive the TANAGER by first class mail abundant in suburban areas through April; Send any interesting bird observations to: must send checks for $5 to Los Angeles Audubon Hal Baxter Society. in some years flocks may linger until early Subscriptions to THE WESTERN TANAGER June. The normal western wood warbler 1821 Highland Oaks Drive Arcadia, CA 91006 separately are $8 per year (Bulk Rate) or $13 (First species were moving through in routine, if Class, mailed in an envelope). To subscribe, unspectacular, numbers by mid-April. No Phone # (213) 355-6300 make checks payable to Los Angeles Audubon unusual warblers were reported, but then Society. ©LA Audubon 1984 ^CALENDAR

Upcoming Special Trips Pelagic Trips

WEEKEND.JUNE9-10 — Kern River/Green- location and reservations, listen to the Phone Sunday, AUGUST 12 — Shearwater and storm horn Mountain Areas with Bob Barnes. Join Tape or send a SASE to Audubon House. We will petrel trip. Santa Barbara Island and out to this enthusiastic leader and see a wide variety of also announce the location at our June meeting. sea. Depart 6:00 a.m., return 6:00 p.m. Price is $22 bird species (150 last year) in four distinctly dif- per person. NO discount for 2. Paid Reservation Trips: (see policy require- ferent habitats. See Summer Tanagers and Indigo ments below) Sunday, SEPTEMBER 23 - Red-billed Tropic- Buntings at the So. Fork Kern riparian area, war- Bird Trip. San Clemente Island Depart 5:30 blers and Blue Grouse in the Greenhorn Mts., WEEKEND, JULY 7-8 — Sequoia National a.m., return 6:00 p.m. Leaders to be announced. Pinyon Jay, Gray Flycatcher and Williamson's Sap- Park: SATURDAY — Mineral King Area with Price is $25 per person. sucker on the Kern Plateau and Scott's Oriole and George San Miguel and SUNDAY — Giant Bendires' Thrasher in the Joshua tree, Kelso Creek Forest Area with Larry Norris. See beautiful All trips will be on the Vantuna, leaving from area. (Send self-addressed stamped envelope to areas, some wildflowers, and lovely vistas while Terminal Island, San Pedro. All prices are tentative LAAS, Attn: Marge Wohlgemuth with $1 for copy looking for Pileated Woodpecker, Winter Wren, and subject to fuel cost increases. Reserve spaces of specific info on area by Mr. Barnes.) Motels Dipper and other nesting mountain birds. Be pre- early. To take part in these pelagic trips, send your and camping at Lake Isabella. From Hwy. 99 near pared to drive over curving, high mountain roads, reservations with the names and telephone Bakersfield, take Hwy. 178 east toward Lake Isa- particularly for Mineral King Area. Suggest camp- numbers of all members of your party along with a bella, continuing on the south shore to Sierra ing or motels in the Three Rivers area for close self-addressed stamped envelope to Reservations Way (Kernville turn-off); turn left to the bridge access to meeting areas. Maximum participants: c/o Ruth Lohr, Los Angeles Audubon Society (see crossing the So. Fork of the Kern River. Meet at 5 20; $15 per person. address at left). There is no galley on board, so a.m. bring lunch and fluids. WEEKEND, JULY 28-29 - Tulare Lake Basin, SUNDAY, JUNE 10 - Mt. Plnos Area. Join Ed Creighton Ranch and Sequoia National For- CARPOOLING: Let's try to use conservation Navajovsky for a day of birding such species as est with Rob Hanson and Bob Barnes. SAT- measures to reduce gasoline consumption and Pygmy Nuthatch, White-headed Woodpecker, URDAY EVENING Natural History Program prevent additional air pollution whenever possible; Green-tailed Towhee, Brewer's Sparrow, Dusky by John Lindsay, "The Way It Was." One day keep in mind it costs 20* a mile for a typical car! Flycatcher, Calliope Hummingbird, Clark's Nut- we'll search for landbirds such as Blue Grosbeaks, cracker and Condor. Be prepared for a cold morn- Mountain Plover, Shorteared Owl and Vesper ing. Bring lunch, hat and lotion for a strong sun Sparrow, then on to Tulare Lake Basin (where we later. Meet at dirt triangle parking area at junction have been granted special access permission) to of Mil Portrero and Cuddy Valley Rd. at 8:30 a.m. see hundreds and thousands of breeding White Shearwater Trips Those wishing to carpool should meet across the Pelicans, Snowy and Great Egrets, Eared and both street from Denny's Restaurant at Rexford offramp W. Grebes, Wilson's Phalaropes, Black-crowned Sat. July 28 Monterey Seavelley & $27 of Hwy. 405 in the north valley and be prepared Night Herons and smaller quantities of stilts, Ascension Canyon to leave by 7 a.m.* avocets and even a possible Little Blue Heron. Chandik/tba Depending on timing and bird distribution, we Sat. Aug. 4 Cordell Banks $37 TUESDAY, JUNE 12 — Evening Meeting at 8 may go on to the Kern Wildlife Refuge. The other leader tba p.m. in Plummer Park. Naturalist Bill Cole- day will be spent in the Jack Flat area of Sequoia Sat. Aug. 11 Monterey Seavalley & $27 man, the "Butterfly Man", will discuss mysteries looking for Pileated Woodpeckers, Townsend's of the migration of the Monarch Butterfly in a Ascension Canyon Solitaire, Warblers, Hutton's Vireo and other Allison/Baldridge slide program entitled "The Silent Flyers". mountain birds. Suggest camping at Creighton Ranch or moteling at Porterville. Maximum par- Sat. Aug. 18 Monterey Bay $27 SATURDAY, JUNE 23 - Whittier Narrows Baldridge/Chandik Reg. Park. David White will lead a morning ticipants: 30; $20 per person. walk through a variety of habitats in search of Wed. Aug. 22 Monterey Bay $25 Shearwater/tba nesting migrant and chaparral birds, raptors and Please call 874-1318 prior to each trip for Sat. Aug. 25 Monterey Seavalley & $27 waterbirds. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Nature Center, possible special instructions or unexpected Ascension Canyon 1000 Durfee Ave., So. El Monte, near crossing of changes that may occur, at least through Baldridge/Chandik freeways 10 and 60. Thursday. SATURDAY, JUNE 23 - Charlton Flat to Buck- Sun. Aug. 26 Monterey Bay $27 horn. Meet Fred Heath at 7:30 a.m. at the en- leaders tba trance to Charlton Flat picnic area, along the Audubon Bird Reports * Wed. Aug. 29 Monterey Bay $25 Angeles Crest Hwy. above La Canada. Montane Los Angeles (213) 874-1318 • Shearwater/tba breeding birds to be seen in the San Gabriel San Bernardino (714) 793-5599 Thurs. Aug. 30 Monterey Bay $25 Mtns. include Mountain Quail, White-headed Santa Barbara (805) 964-8240 Shearwater/tba Woodpecker, Dusky Flycatcher. Bring lunch. Those San Diego (619) 435-6761 wishing to carpool may meet just north of the 210 Fri. Aug. 31 Monterey Bay $25 Fwy. at the Angeles Crest exit, being prepared to Shearwater/tba leave that point at 6:45 a.m. Los Angeles Audubon Headquarters, Library, WEEKEND, JUNE 30-JULY 1 - First Annual Bookstore and Nature Museum are located Reservations are made by sending a check payable L.A.A.S. Campout/Plcnlc. We hope that Table at Audubon House, Plummer Park, 7377 to Debra Love Shearwater, 362 Lee St., Santa Cruz Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046. Mountain in the San Gabriels will be the loca- 95060 (408) 425-8111. Include a self-addressed Telephone: (213) 876-0202. Hours: 10-3, tion, but at press time our reservation could not stamped envelope. yet be confirmed. For definitive information about Tuesday through Saturday.

Los Angeles Audubon Society Non-profit Organization 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. US. Postage Los Angeles, CA 90046 PAID Permit No. 26974 Los Angeles, CA