FEATHERS Published by the SchenectcuJy Bird Club Vol. 4. No. 1 January. 1942 FLICKERS AND BLUEBIRDS ARE FEATURED IN CHRISTMAS COUNT Chester N. Moore, Chairman, Christmas Count Committee Sohenectady, N.Y. (Mohawk River from Lock 8 to Mohawk View, Collins Lake, Woestlna Sanctuary and lower Rotterdam Hills, Central Park, Vale and Parkwood Cemeteries, Meadowdale, Indian Ladder, Puller and Oxford Road sections of Albany, Albany Air port, Consaul Road, Watervllet Reservoir, and Intervening ter ritory. ) — Dec. 21; 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Clear; wind moder ate, northwest; fields mostly covered with light, crusted snow; minimum of open water; temp. -4° at start, 13 at noon, 11° at return. Twenty-five observers working In eight par ties. Total party hours afield, 47; total party miles, 198 (40 afoot, 158 by 'ar, Incidental to trips afoot). Black Duck, 1; American Merganser, 6; Red-tailed Bawk, 2; Red- shouldered Hawk, 1; Rough-legged Bawk, 9; Marsh Hawk, 3; Spar row Hawk, 2; Ruffed Grouse, 9; Ring-necked Pheasant, 37; Her ring Gull, 4; Great Horned Owl, 2; Flicker, 2 (In distinctly separate localities, one by B. D. Miller, Moore and Stone, the other by Preese, Kelly and OleBon); Hairy Woodpecker, 15; Downy Woodpecker, 47; Blue Jay, 110; Crow, 1133; Black-capped Chickadee, 240; White-breasted Nuthatch, 42; Red-breasted Nut hatch, 1; Brown Creeper, 3; Bluebird, 2 (first found by call notes, then seen at close range by Havens and P. S. Miller); Golden-orowned Kinglet, 4; Northern Shrike, 2; Starling, 559; English Sparrow, 547; Meadowlark, 2; Redpoll, 188; Pine Sis kin, 6; Goldfinch, 94; Slate-colored Junco, 69; Tree Sparrow, 748; Song Sparrow, 15; Snow Bunting, 30. Total, 33 specieB; 3935 individuals. — Mr. and Mrs. George H. Bainbridge, Paul ine Baker, Guy Bartlett, Edna Becker, Dorothy Caldwell, Edna DromB, Frank Freese, Esly Rallenbeck, Barrington S. Ravens, Idella M. ffeacox, Alice Holmes, John Kelly, B. D. Miller, P. Schuyler Miller, Mrs. C. N. Moore, Harry Oleson, Vincent J. Schaefer, Dr. M. B. Sootland, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Steele, Ru dolph Stone, Nelle Van Vorst, John Voght, and Chester N. Moore, Christmas Count Chairman (Schenectady Bird Club). The composite report for the bon Magazine, Is in the above third annual Christmas Count summary. Everything consi of the Schenectady Bird Club, dered — particularly with re in the form required by Audu- gard to the unannounced sudden -1- •FEATHERS Party Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Number of Species 33 9 25 6 20 23 10 14 9 Number of Individuals 3935 272 426 78 1135 29 268 Black Duck 1 1 American Merganser 6 6 Red-tailed Hawk 2 l 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 Rough-legged Hawk 9 7 (1) 1 1 Marsh Hawk 3 3 Sparrow Hawk 2 1 1 Ruffed Grouse 9 1 4 4 Rinp;-necked Pheasant 37 8 19 8 I herring Gull 2 1 1 Great Iferned Owl 1 1 Flicker IOfO£r I Hairy Woodpecker 15 3 2 4 4 2 Downy Woodpecker 47 4 10 23 8 2 Blue Jay 110 3 2 15 32 30 28 Crow 1133 14 27 2 500 500 8 75 7 Black-capped Chickadee 240 40 25 20 53 .68 6 16 12 White-breasted Nuthatch 42 2 4 20 11 1 2 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 1 Brown Creeper 3 1 1 1 Bluebird 2 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 3 1 Northern Shrike 2 2 Starling 559 72 43 1 49 157 2 68 167 English Sparrow 547 11 15 8 108 276 3 36 90 Meadowlark 2 2 Redpoll 188 12 40 100 36 Pine Siskin 6 6 Goldfinch 94 16 12 54 12 Slate-colored Junco 69 14 7 35 11 2 Tree Sparrow 748 126 200 200 191 5 26 Song Sparrow 15 3 1 10 Snow Bunting 30 30 low temperature and the both self, particularly In the Mea- ersome, cold, cutting, north dowdale section. It was more west wind — the count was a common than the red-shouldered good one. There were no glar and red-tailed, sparrow and ing examples of birds missed, marsh hawks combined. except for the owlB, and there were some unexpected, finds. Those participating In the 1941 Christmas Count included; The flicker now appears as No. 61 on the composite list Party 1 - Watervllet Reser for Schenectady Christmas rec voir, Carman, Gullderland Cen ords of the most recent twelve ter. Eight hours, 9 miles a- years. Tree sparrows were un foot, 34 miles by car. MessrB. usually common, outnumbering Ibllenbeck and Voght, the house sparrow and starling and being surpassed in numbers Party 2 - Meadowdale, Indian only by the crow. Among the Ladder, Voorheesville. Eight birds of prey, the rough-leg hours, 5 miles afoot, 35 miles ged hawk was in a class by It by car. Messrs. B. D. Miller, -2- January. 1942 Moore, and Stone. lett and Bainbridge. Party 3 - Central Park. 2$ party 6 - Collins Lake. Two hours, 3£ miles afoot. Misses hours,*■ 3 miles afoot. Mr. and Becker, Heacox, and Droms. Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Bainbridge. Party 4 - Vale Cemetery, Party 7 - Woestina Sanctu Rice Road, VIey Road, and in ary, Sohermerhorn Road, lower City of Schenectady. 6% hours, Rotterdam Hills to Lock 8. 5 milea afoot,40 miles by oar* Pour hours, 12 miles afoot, 50 Misses Van Vorst, Holmes, Gald- miles by oar. Messrs. Preese, well, and Mrs* Moore. Schaefer, Oleson, and Kelly. Party 5 - Niskayuna side of Party 8 - Puller and Oxford Mohawk River, Lisha Kill, Al Road sections, Albany. Pour bany Airport, Consaul Road* hours, 1/2 mile afoot, 11 by 12& party-hours, 11 miles a- car. Dr. Scotland and Miss foot, 26 miles by oar. Messrs. Baker. Havens and P. 3. Miller; Bart- — C. N. M* ELWOOD TO SPEAK Walter SIwood of the Sassa nominating committee will b« fras Bird Club, Amsterdam, was named. Four directors are to the SBC speaker a year ago. be elected at the February At our next meeting, Monday, meeting, to succeed Nolle Van January 26, he will again ap VorBt, secretary; Barrington pear here. The meeting will S. Havens, field activities; be in a new place, in the Girl W. R. Steele, conservation; Scout Headquarters, 4 South and Guy Bartlett, publica Church Street — between Union tions. and State Streets. SBC Calendar Colored motion pictures made by Mr. Elwood last summer will The next field trip of S B 0 feature his talk. Carrying on is scheduled for Saturday, with a program similar to January 31, in the Niskayuna those of other reoent summers, section under the leadership Mr. Elwood had his camera with of Guy Bartlett. In the case him while he oovered several of previous trips this season thousand miles of our country. those making the trips have Views he will show include simply met at Nott Terrace some made during a ten-day High School. la the case of hike in the Bob Marshall Wil this trip, however, those ex derness Area of Flathead Na pecting to go are to telephone tional Forest in northern Mon the trip leader, 4-1137, the tana; through King*8 Canyon; preceding evening or earlier. at Bonneville, including the famous fish ladder there; at Similar arrangements are to Bird City in Louisiana; Capie- be made in advanoe by those trano; the territory of Cali planning on the Sohermerhorn fornia's big trees; and sever Road trip on Sunday, February al otter famous sections. 15. Those planning to parti cipate should telephone B, S. At the January meeting the Havens, 6-4186, in advance. -3- FEATHERS CAPE MAY IMPRESSIONS Pauline B. Baker On Friday, October 17, I After an Informal breakfast left Albany by train for New at 4:45, we boarded vehicles York City. The sunset was a for a trip to tne point from brilliant one, and Immediately which we walked along the after passing Hudson I could shore — waves lapping up for see great blue herons standing our feet — to the choice and motionless In silhouette In high sand dune from which we the water of shallow places. were to watch for feathered The Gatskllls were very blue travelers. and beautiful. Soon flocks of ducks in lines stretching a- Confused Migrants cross the river or in stream ers flew upstream looking for Again the south wind was rest and food for the night. blowing, so movement web si on There were crowds upon crowds, At that point the birds are hundreds of trem. confused to see water on both sides of them, and fly back Overnight In New York was and forth searching for land followed by early rising and a ward routes. A flock of about trip uptown to Audubon Ibuse ten meadowlarks kept flying where I met friends of another back and forth above us. It year. We were off behind the was strange to see them with bus to Cape May, New Jersey, water breaking off to the some 250 miles south of New right; a tall holly tree, ber York. The trip was broken by ry-laden, behind us; fruited several stops In order to see persimmon trees and Junipers what shoreblrda were about. nearby on our sandy dune. A We reached the Jtotel Macomber flock of white-winged scoters, at Cape May about 5:30. At 6 skimming the water bo trimly - the 86 travelers met for din so speedily. A marsh hawk ner and Instructions. Richard slowly floated over a low Pough and Roger T. Peterson marsh* Flickers, a continuous were with us. After dinner sifting of myrtle warblers, the cars took us to the light cedar waxwings, a Carolina house to see If there were mi chickadee or two, tree swal grants passing through the lows, golden-crowned kinglets, slowly revolving beams of the and a oardinal were among the beacon* Occasionally a bright rewards.