PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS Volume 14, No. 2 Apr - Jun 2000 Issued September 2000 PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS Department Editors Journal of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology NAMC Gregory Keller 313 W Main St VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2, APR – JUN 2000 Boalsburg, PA 16827 814-466-7182 [email protected] Franklin C. Haas & Barbara M. Haas —Editors-in-chief (717) 445-9609 FAX 445-8283 [email protected] Site Guides Rudy Keller http://users.desupernet.net/pabirds/pabirds.htm 71 Lutz Rd Boyertown, PA 19512 610-845-7310 Contents [email protected] Rare Bird Reports Nick Pulcinella 57 Editorial 210 Welcome Ave. 58 A History of Northern Bobwhites in Pennsylvania. Nicholas C. Bolgiano Norwood, PA 19074 610-583-3201 68 First Documented Nesting Records of Hooded Merganser in [email protected] Berks County, PA............................... Bill Uhrich CBC Report 69 Highlights of the 2000 North American Migration Count.... Greg Keller Nick Bolgiano 711 W. Foster Ave. 94 Spring Raptor Migration Summary 2000 State College, PA 16801 .......................Jennifer Ottinger and Keith L. Bildstein 814-234-2746 [email protected] 97 BOOK REVIEW - Important Bird Areas in Pennsylvania. A Guide to Identifying and Conserving Critical Bird Habitat... Gene Wilhelm Hawk Watch Reports Jennifer Ottinger 98 Documenting Rare Birds: What the Records Committee Needs Keith Bildstein .............. Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee Hawk Mountain Sanctuary 1700 Hawk Mountain Road 99 Large Catharus Thrush Migration in Hamburg, Berks Co., Pa.K. erry Grim Kempton 19529 100 Poplar Forest.................................... Gene Wilhelm (610) 756-6961 [email protected] 101 Photographic Highlights Book Reviews 105 Official List of The Birds of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Gene Wilhelm, Ph.D. Ornithological Records Committee.. Nick Pulcinella - Secretary 513 Kelly Blvd. Slippery Rock 16057-1145 109 Another Sooty Tern from Hurricane Fran............. Nick Pulcinella 724-794-2434 110 Some Northern Butler County Field Notes............. Gene Wilhelm [email protected] 111 Summary of the Season Pennsylvania Birdlists 112 Birds of Note Peter Robinson P. O. Box 482 114 Local Notes Hanover, PA 17331 126 Seasonal Occurrence Tables – April through June 2000 [email protected] 145 Compilers and Observers ILLUSTRATIONS: COVER: Long-tailed Jaeger, Washington Boro, Lancaster, 5/23/2000. Photo by Rick Wiltraut. from the Editors... Transition Provisional List. This list affirms Gull (pictured in the last issue). the credibility of the sighting, but Frank would not have seen it had The transition to new editors demonstrates that without physical he not been out daily checking the is proceeding apace. Several evidence there is always room for gull flocks, looking for Greater individuals have stepped forward doubt. Black-backs. and are under consideration by the The other interesting gull note Pennsylvania Society for NAMC Back on Track is that while there was only one Ornithology Board of Directors. It Greater Black-backed Gull that he appears that there will be a Chief With this issue, we get the could find, there were dozens of Editor and four Seasonal Editors, North American Migration Count Lesser-backed Gulls. This appears plus a “Data Input Technician” report back on schedule. Greg to be a result of the Greater Black- (someone to do the “grunt” work). Keller has done a terrific job on backs staying at the local landfill We have also received volunteers this year’s data. In spite of past (just outside the township) while for some of the other tasks as well. problems, Pennsylvania has one of the Lesser Black-backs were We are pleased with these the best participation rates in this willing to also forage in the nearby developments and feel confident event. You (and we) are all to be fields. that Pennsylvania Birds will congratulated. He also found a pair of nesting continue with no interruption in Cooper’s Hawks and found Acadian service (or quality). We will publish “Local” Big Years Flycatcher and Louisiana more details as they get approved. Waterthrush on the one wooded We all read about the “Big stream in the township. Official List Years” done state-wide each year. The spring warbler migration These efforts take a lot of time, was much poorer than normal, so As per their charter, the travel, and resources. They are we are hoping the fall migration Pennsylvania Ornithological certainly fun and the birder gets to makes up for it. Record Committee has published know the state intimately. So far, it has been a very the newest installment of the However, what about smaller rewarding experience. It obviously Official List of Pennsylvania Birds areas? County? Township? Back is not being done as a in this issue. They have made one yard? competition—who else would do it? major change (which we had This year, Frank is doing a Big It is being done for the fun of it and advocated when we were on the Year in Caernarvon Township, to learn more about the local area. committee, but were out-voted). In Lancaster County. This is the As of this writing the list order to get onto the Official List, township in which we live. It is stands at 158. This is far lower the record now has to be supported amazing how many nooks and than a statewide list would be by a photograph, recording (video crannies we have found so close to (probably in the high 200s). We will or audio), or specimen. Previously, home while searching for birds. let you know the final tally at written descriptions were all that The township is 90 percent year’s end. was required. farmland—most in intensive use. This is in line with most other There are no large bodies of Frank & Barb Haas states’ committees, although there water—the largest pond is less Chief Editors are a few exceptions. We applaud than a half acre. The largest track this decision by the committee and of forest is bisected by the feel it will make the Official List turnpike. So, as you can see, it is much stronger to defend. not an ideal birding area. Species for which only However, going out almost acceptable written documentation every day has brought surprises. exists will be placed on the The best bird so far was the Little PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS (ISSN 0898-8501) is published four times a year by Pennsylvania Birds. Editorial and business offices are located at 2469 Hammertown Road, Narvon, PA 17555-9726. Subscriptions, all in US$: One year U.S.A. $20.00, Canada $35, Foreign $45. Library rate $30. Single copies:, $5.50. Checks and money orders in U.S.$ only should be made payable to PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS. Copyright © 2000 by Franklin C. Haas and Barbara M. Haas. SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT NARVON, PA 17555 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS, 2469 Hammertown Road, Narvon, PA 17555-9726. PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS 57 2000 – VOLUME 14 NO. 2 A History of Northern Bobwhites in Pennsylvania by Nicholas C. Bolgiano As the years pass, we observe al. 1999). renesting is usually attempted. fewer grassland and early successional Bobwhites’ preferred nesting Sometimes the male will incubate a birds in Pennsylvania. The purpose of cover in eastern North America second clutch while the female mates this article is to document the history consists of scattered shrubs and briars with another male and incubates a of one of these species, the Northern interspersed with moderately dense third nest herself (Burger et al. 1995b; Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). If herbaceous or grassy vegetation. Too Taylor et al. 1999). This life history present trends continue, bobwhites much grass or woody vegetation is strategy allows bobwhites to maintain may disappear from Pennsylvania as a undesired. Nests tend to be or increase their population levels breeding species. concentrated on idle land, especially if when favorable habitat is present. The conservation of grassland and it is about two years past agricultural Bobwhites’ historical abundance early successional species in eastern use, in pastures, hayfields, roadsides, followed a common pattern across North America has often been or fencerows, although not where these much of their range. Before human neglected, in part from the perception occur in isolated patches. This habitat settlement, a small number of that their presence dates from requirement means that bobwhites bobwhites lived around natural forest European settlement. But in reality, have a relatively short window of openings. Then the fires and crude many of these species may have been nesting opportunity during the plant agriculture of humans created present for thousands of years (Askins succession cycle. After about 7-10 landscape mosaics and bobwhite 1999, 2000). The bobwhites’ history is years, too much woody vegetation has populations reached their zenith. As relevant for an array of grown and a disturbance, such as fire farming was practiced more grassland/shrub species because or clearing by humans, is needed to intensively, bobwhite populations bobwhites are sometimes thought of as maintain the successional mosaic declined in response to the diminished an indicator of wildlife-habitat (Klimstra and Roseberry 1975; food and cover, although they interactions in these ecosystems Roseberry and Klimstra 1984; Taylor sometimes temporarily increased as (Church et al. 1993). Because et al. 1999). farm abandonment once again created bobwhites are easily recognized and Newly hatched bobwhites require favorable habitat (Leopold 1931; were much utilized for human food, our a diet high in protein for rapid growth Schorger 1944). This scenario occurred knowledge of their history surpasses during their first few months. This is in Pennsylvania as well. that of most other grassland and early provided by insects that can most successional species. easily be found in low-growing Bobwhites in Early Pennsylvania The declines in grassland and herbaceous vegetation, preferably early successional birds have been where there is bare ground for easy Following the retreat of the documented since 1966 by the U.S.