AMERICAN BIRDS 1989 A seasonaljournal devotedto the birds of the Americas Published by the National Audubon Society AMERICAN BIRDS Summer 1989 ... from the editor's desk Volume 43, No.2 NYONEWHO READS THE REGIONAL REPORTS CAREFULLY WILLHAVE NO- Peter A. A. Berle ticed that someof our longest-term,most experiencededitors have retired. To each of them we extend our warmest thanks for their years of devoted President and Publisher service,their excellentjob of chroniclingbird life seasonafter season,and their J. R Myers thoughtfulinsights into the avian dynamicsof their regions. Senior Vice President for Science and Sanctuaries When Daniel D. Gibson was a university student in 1967, he became the first American Birds Regional Editor for the Alaska Region. At that time Susan Roney Drennan Editor-m-Chief preciouslittle wasknown about the statusand distributionof many of Alaska's geographicallyrestricted species. Back in the late 1960s,Birds of Alaska, by Vice President for Gabrielsonand Lincoln (1959), wasthe referenceof authority. Gabrielsonand Science Information Lincoln discussed312 speciesof birds known from the state. Now, upward of Donna M. Pisacano 430 speciesare known to have occurred in Alaska. Many of those additions Managing Editor were documentedin American Birds by our correspondents.Gibson worked Kenn Kaufman diligently to transform raw data into readable, cogent reports. He built a Associate Editor network of careful observers. He stirred our imaginations and opened a window on a little-known world. Under Dan's editorship over these past 22 Geoff LeBaron years,readers have learned about the exciting endemicsin Beringia, as well as Christmas Bird Count Editor the stray migrant or casual "Asiatics", most of which can only be seen in this Irene Connelly country in Alaska. Gibson has unfailingly provided our readerswith views of Administrative Assistant the spectacularbirdlife of this 5800 squaremile region. His reporting ability has been astounding.His column has been a delicately balanced enterprise Phyllis Lutyens betweenultra-rarities and trends.His sterlingreports have been sheerpleasures Assistant to the Editor to read. We feel incomparablyfortunate and gratefulto have had him on our Tyrone A. Horton sidefor so long. Thanks so much, Dan. Circulation/BusinessManager Janet Witzeman joined the ranks of the Regional Editors in 1975. As one Chandler S. Robbins of the few women editors she brought a new level of cohesionand unity to Technical Editor the SouthwestRegion. Her reportstook on a new intensity and her standards AIdeen and Willet T. Van Velzen were exceedinglyhigh. She had a specialappreciation for the discoveriesof Co-editors her observersand placed the acceptanceof new recordson a more scientific Breeding Bird Censuses level. Janet continuesin that role as the current Secretaryfor the Arizona Bird RecordsCommittee. We have alwaysadmired her ability to weavetogether a Calvin L. Cink and Roger L. Boyd harmoniouscombination of careful recordsand self-restrainedand trustworthy Co-editors observations.Her last report appearedin the Fall 1988 (Vol. 42, No. 4) issue Winter Bird-Population Studies of American Birds. We have all benefitedfrom the accuracyand precisionof her columns,and her particular viewpointregarding Arizona bird life. Thanks, ADVISORS Janet, your contributionto American Birds has been incalculable. Carl E. Bock Phillip W. Mattocks, Jr., 12-year veteran Regional Editor for the Northern Mary H. Clench Pacific Coast Region, has retired. The Region has an incomparablewealth of John Farrand, Jr. Frank B. Gill marine life whose birds function in its health. Inland there is a profusion of Thomas R. Howell birdlife, on which Phil conscientiouslyreported. The subtledifferences between Frances C. James the biologicallyproductive areasin the Region were always worth note. The Kenneth C. Parkes cumulativeeffect of his seasonalsummaries is a much more thoroughunder- standingof the birdlife of the Northern Pacific Coast. Phil's ornithological Roger Tory Peterson knowledgeis respectedthroughout the Northwest.He epitomizesthe excellent Olin Sewall Pettingill, Jr. field observerand the quality and quantity of his field experienceis enviable James V. Remsen indeed. He is an accomplishednatural historian. For the past dozen yearshe Joseph R. Siphron has created a world in which his contributors have been proud to live. Thank Alexander Sprunt, IV you, Phil, for your dedication, hard work, and almost equal curiosity. Glen E. Woolfenden Dale A. Zimmerman Lyn and Brooks Atherton, after seven years of co-authoringthe Florida Regional Report have put aside their word processor,picked up their binoc- AMERICAN BIRDS is pubhshedfive l•mes a year ulars, and are out in the field again. The last report of these really active Ed•lonal and bus•ness offices are located a1950 Third Florida birders was publishedin Spring 1989 (Vol. 43, No. 1). Since 1982, the Avenue,New York,N.Y. 10022 (212) 546-9191 Sub- scriptions,all in U.S. $: One year $27.50, Two years Athertons have submitted the Autumn Migration report for Florida. They $50., Canadaand Foreign$32.50, Librariesand In- have been instrumental in the discovery of numerous rare birds and, in stitutions$35. Singlecop•es: Christmas (Bnd Count) exemplary fashion, spread the word along the intricate communications net- Issue$15.. SpringIssue (Autumn Migration), Summer work that links birdersthere. We have enjoyedtheir observationsand consider Issue(Winter Season), Fall Issue(Spring M•gralion). their reportsreal contributionsto the developmentof ornithologyin the state. WinterIssue (Nesting Season) all $5.00 each.Checks andmoney orders m U.S.$ only shouldbe madepay- They have always been full of curiosity and eager to explore new areas of able to AMERICAN BIRDS Secondclass postage interest. Their data gathering has given us the context to understand more •a•d at New York, N.Y. and additional Post Offices about migrationpatterns in the South.The one real objectof RegionalReports Copyright¸ 1989 by The NationalAudubon Society. is to leaveus in a conditionof continuallyasking questions, and in this regard, Postmaster:Send address changes to AMERICAN the Athertonshave won their laurels.Thank you for your diligent effortson BIRDS, 950 Third Avenue, New York. N.Y. 10022' ISSN 0004-7686 our behalf, Lyn and Brooks, we are very grateful. Cheers, S.R.D. 1989 Birdathon Sponsors We did it/Thanks to you, this year's Birdathon was our most successfulfundraising event ever! We wouMlike to express our most sincerethanks, and dedicatethis issue,to thefollowing personswho so generously supported our 1989 Birdathon.Through their support,we raisedover $25,000 on behalfof American Birds. Stanley Abualy Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Calmes Anne Fitzsimmons Crmg F. Adams Alexander A. Cameron, Jr. Adrian E. Hatt John Albanese Sara Casmer Mary R. Ford Mr and Mrs. Lee Winfield Alberts Evelyn T. Chace David B. Freeland John J. Alexander Helen S. Chindgren Mrs. Peter Frelinghuysen Mr and Mrs. John B. Allan Herbert L. Cilley Anne Freytag Mrs. Avis M. Anderson George A. Clark, Jr. Karen E. Galley O Kenneth Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Clayton, Jr. Edwin F. Gamble Jon Andrew Mary H. Clench Joan M. Geils Mr and Mrs. Richard E. Andrews Julia P. Cocke Harriet E. Gleaton Henry T. Armistead Dr. and Mrs. Malvin Cole Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Godchaux Mr and Mrs. Joe Armstrong Irene Connelly Mr. and Mrs. John L. Grant Keith A. Arnold Anne F. Cooper John C. Griffith Robert D. Arnold Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cordiner Deborah Grimes Norma S. Assadourian F. William Crandall David C. Grimwood Jeanne Azen Mrs. Edwin G. Crocker William H. Groce Mr and Mrs. Sidney Bahrt Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Crowell Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin A. Groves Stephen F. Bailey Hope A. Curtis Ann Gurka lan Baldwin Eric Cutler Grace Guthrie Bob Ball Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Cutler Mr. and Mrs. Virgil J. Haggart,Jr. Chnton S. Banks Mr. and Mrs. James D. Dana Bryan Hale Burt Barnow Dorothy M. Davis Mrs. Henry W. Happel John Barrasso J. Walter Davis Dr. and Mrs. Paul Harper Stanley E. Bates Mr. and Mrs. William D. DeCamp Ed N. Harrison George Beal Maria DeGuard Elizabeth A. Harth Wdliam Belton William P. Delaney Theo R. Haugen Mr and Mrs. Carlton Belz Bix Demaree Bolling W. Haxall Karl Bergey Albert L. Demorest Marian S. Heiskell Peter A.A. Berle StephenB. Dempsey Robert F. Helmick Chades H. Bernstein Mr. and Mrs. Jim Diamond Mrs. Philip Hendricks Kathleen Bertram John E. Dineen Karen J. Herman Mr and Mrs. William C. Beutel Anne F. Dithrich Mr. and Mrs. Jim Herold GeorgeF. Bing Ricky Dockins Mr. and Mrs. Cowles W. Herr Marcella Bishop David S. Dodge Theodore M. Hiatt Mr and Mrs. Van Lear Black Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Doll Mr. and Mrs. Jack Higgins Donald L. Blackstone, Jr. David D. Dominick Ann Hines Daniel Bliss Mary F. Donald H. F. Hines Mr and Mrs. Robert C. Boardman Francis M. Dorer W. T. Hinkle Charles A. Boling Jean Wallace Douglas John E. Hinman D H.M. Bowen Matthew Paul Drennan Hal D. Hoag Gerald L. Boyd Maureen Roney Drennan Mr. and Mrs. Randall Hobbet Mr and Mrs. Otis T. Bradley Susan Roney Drennan Dennis K. Hodsdon Wdliam J. Brennan, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred T. Driscoll George K. Hollingsworth Mrs Morison Brigham Stephen H. Ducatman Virginia B. Hoover Robert S. Brinker William D. Dugan Tyrone A. Horton Mr and Mrs. Howard P. Brokaw Mr. and Mrs. Noel Lee Dunn Mr. and Mrs. Bruce S. Howard Mr and Mrs. Irving Brown James A. Edgar, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred H. Howell Mr and Mrs. Owsley Brown, II Howard M. Einspahr Jean Howell Charles Browne Carmen R. Emmert Mrs. Mede L. Hoyt Mrs Donald J. Bruckmann Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Engel Gloria S. Hunter Dorothy T. Bryan Mr. and Mrs. Richard Evans Mr. and Mrs. Warren B. lsdal Joyce H. Bryan Rosemary Hall Evans Mr. and Mrs. John G. Jenkins Mr and Mrs. Kirk Bryan Stuart M. Faison Mr. and Mrs. Hans Jensen Wdhelmus B. Bryan, III John L. Ferrell David B.