The Bluebird March, 1992 Volume 59, N0.1 The Audubon Society of Missouri The Audubon Society of Missouri Founded 1901 Officers* Directors *· President Bill Reeves (1992) Bill Clark ( 1994 P.O. Box 454 Columbia Farmington, MO 63640 (314) 474-4510 (314) 756-4160 Paul Bauer (1994) Vice President Florissant (314) 921-3972 Mark Goodman ( 1992) 104 Pinewood Dave Easterla (1993) Columbia, MO 65203 Maryville (314) 443-4261 (816) 582-8468 Treasurer Leo Galloway (1992) St. Joseph Randy Washburn (1992) (816) 232-8035 659 Oak Creek Ct. Jefferson City, MO Joan Jefferson (1992) 65101 Freeman (314) 636-2765 (816) 899-2844 Secretary Bob Lewis ( 1993) Farmington Emily Bever (1992) (314) 756-5484 704 Bitterfield Ballwin, MO 63011 Pat Mahnkey (1994) (314) 391-6693 Forsyth (417) 546-3791 Hotline Rebecca Matthews (1992) Susan Hazelwood (1992) Springfield 2710 W. Rollins Rd. (417)881-5775 #C12 Columbia, MO 65203 Nathan Fay (Honorary) (314) 445-4925 Ozark Historian Sydney WaLde (Honorary) Jefferson City Bill Clark 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. John Wylie (Honorary) Columbia, MO 65202 Jefferson City (314) 474-4510 * (Year Term Expires) Cover by David Plank The Bluebird- Quarterly Magazine of the Audubon Society of Missouri :c:: Editor Seasonal Survey Editors Dave Witten Winter: 601 Covered Bridge Rd. Brad Jacobs Columbia, MO 65203 P.O. Box 180 (314) 442-7991 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 Conservation Issues (314) 751-4115 James P. Jackson Spring: 631 Loop Road Dick Anderson Marthasville, MO 63357 114 7 Crenshaw Dr. (314) 433-2433 St. Louis, MO 63137 (314) 868-2009 Summer: Christmas Bird Count Jim D. Wilson David A. Easterla P.O. Box 180 1420 N. Dewey Jefferson City, MO Maryville, MO 64468 65201-0180 (816) 582-8468 (314) 751-4115 Fall: Dick Anderson 114 7 Crenshaw Dr St. Louis, MO 63137 (314) 868-2009 Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird: The Bluebird - Manuscripts to the Editor, Dave Witten for: March-----due Feb. 1 June---due May. 1 September---due Aug. 1 December----due Nov. 1 Seasonal Surveys Winter---to Brad Jacobs by Mar. 10 Spring---to Dick Anderson by June 10 Summer---to Jim D. Wilson by Aug. 10 Fall---to Dick Anderson by Dec. 10 Note: Authors' addresses are provided for the convenience of readers. Addresses of authors are not repeated if they appear on the inside cover or on two or more articles. The Bluebird is printed by Ketch's Printing, Jefferson City. Many thanks to Jim Ketcherside for the many services he provides. Thanks to Randy Washburn and Jim Shaddy for labels and mailing. Printed on recycled paper The Bluebird 59(1): 1, Mar. 1992 Join The Audubon Society of Missouri Membership Brings You: * The Bluebird - quarterly magazine of the ASM. * Birding Fellowship. * Spring and Fall Birding Weekends. * Organized Input Into Conservation Issues. * National Audubon Society Issues. * Birding Education. Application for Membership ASM Name: __________________________ Address: _______________________ City/State/Zip:_________________ _ Phone:___________________________ _ Annual Membership Categories: Regular ........... $10.00 Contributing........ $25.00 Family............ $15.00 Benefactor........... $50.00 Student........... $8.00 *Affiliate{lndiv) ... $8.00 Sustaining....... $15.00 *Affiliate(Org) ..... $12.00 Patron(life) ...... $100.00 *Organizations in accord with the purposes and activities of the Audubon Society of Missouri may affiliate with ASM by paying $12.00 for the first 200 members and $12.00 for each additional400 members. Individuals belonging to an affiliated organization may then join the ASM at the reduced $8.00 rate. Send checks (payable to Audubon Society of Missouri) to: Randy Washburn, 659 Oak Creek Court, Jefferson City MO 65101 The Bluebird 59(1): 2, Mar. 1992 ASMThe Bluebird March, 1992 Volume 59, NO.1 Contents President's Message . 5 Bill Reeves ASM Spring Meeting .................. Centerfold Kay & Betty Johnson Features: Mulberries . 7 Paul M. McKenzie Just Birding Around . 9 JoAnn Garrett Backyard Birding . 11 Larry Rizzo New World Checklists . 13 Phoebe B. Snetsinger The Copperhead . 16 Aaron Barfield Site Guides: Roaring River State Park . 17 Vada Jenkins Birding in the Joplin Area . 24 Linda Childers Regular Sections: Book Review - My Tibet . 27 William H. Elder Conservation Report . 29 James P. Jackson Missouri Audubon Council Report . 31 James P. Jackson Missouri Bird Records Committee Report . 33 Mark Robbins Seasonal Survey - Fall Report . 39 Mark Robbins Contents continued page 4 The Bluebird 59(1): 3. Mar. 1992 Opinion - Where Do The Members Fit In? John Stampe . 46 Editor's Notes . 47 - Dave Witten Area Rare Bird Alerts Missouri: Statewide ............... (314) 445 - 9115 Burrows Au d. Soc.- Greater Kansas City ...... (913) 342- BIRD Webster Groves Nature Study Society ........... (314) 938 - 5349 Arkansas: Statewide. ............. (501) 753 - 5853 Kansas: Statewide. ............. (913) 329 - 4499 Oklahoma: Statewide ............... (405) 373 - 4531 Nebraska: Statewide ............... (402) 453 - 0724 Iowa: Statewide ............... (319) 338 - 9881 Sioux City .............. (712) 262 - 5958 illinois: Chicago ................ (708) 671 - 1522 Central Illinois ........... (217) 785 - 1083 Tennessee: Statewide ............... (615J 356 - 7636 The Bluebird 59(1): 4, Mar. 1992 President's Message Bill Reeves Marking the trend toward generally warmer winters, this year has been no exception. CBC's at Mingo and Taney County together netted over 100 wintering species of birds. Wetlands normally encrusted with ice and snow have remained at least partially open most of the winter season, producing some unexpected surprises. Mud flats at the Riverlands area in St. Charles County produced the phenomenal first-record Ross' Gull. Wintering Sandhill Cranes have remained on the ASM hotline from 3-4 separate locations throughout the winter season. Wintering Eared Grebes have been reported from at least three locations statewide, including a single bird in breeding plumage at Mingo NWR in January. Significant movements of geese through the greater St. Louis metropolitan area were detected by late January, considerably earlier than usual. To the same extent that we anticipate an early transition toward spring weather, we should already set our sights on this year's spring meeting in the southwestern quadrant of the State. Late April usually means small trickles of warblers and vireos for the rest of the State, the woodland passerines should be present in relatively good numbers at this year's locale. Blue-winged, Parula, Yellow-throated and Prairie Warblers will already be establishing territories, and early-arriving Painted Buntings should be showing up by then. Permanent resident Pine Warblers, Black Vultures, and Greater Roadrunners will be lurking around, and prairie country may boast nesting Swainson's Hawk and Harrier. Holdover loons of any species remain possible at Table Rock Lake, even in late April. The Bluebird 59(1): 5, Mar. 1992 Whether it be visions of "specialty" birds or simply the call of spring migration that lures us, the annual spring meeting is clearly one of the best opportunities for birders of all types to enjoy the pursuit ofbirdwatching. It was an ASM spring meeting some 12years ago which enticed this President (then a complete novice at birding) into banding together with other birders to form the East Ozarks Audubon Society. What followed was a succession of memberships in the National Audubon Society, Audubon Society of Missouri, and a host of other birding organizations. Rubbing elbows and jawing with top-notch birders and wildlife biologists leaves a lasting impression that fuels a lifelong enthusiasm for birding. Most of us can probably harken back to exciting and memorable experiences during past spring meetings which will likely remain forever etched in our men1ories. Make your experiences a reality for someone else by inviting them to the best we have to offer at our spring meeting. The Audubon Society of Missouri gratefully acknowledges receipt of a memorial made in memory of Jeremiah Lee Pulley (June 5, 1974 - December 30, 1991) by Patrice and George Shalda, Rosemary and Joseph Fisher and Krista and Michael Klein. The memorial is to be used to help fund the Missouri Audubon Camp for the Missouri teacher who is selected this year. The Bluebird 59(1): 6, Mar. 1992 Mulberries - Concentration Sites for Rare Birds Paul M. McKenzie U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 608 E. Cherry St. Columbia, MO 65201 While. birding in the Columbia area this past spring, I noticed numerous mulberry (Moros rubra) trees in fruit along Brush Creek. From past experiences in Louisiana, fruiting mulberry trees can be hot spots for vagrant birds, especially grosbeaks, buntings, tanagers, orioles, and other fruit-eating species. Fruiting mulberries in southwestern Louisiana in April and May have attracted such rarities as Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, and Hooded Oriole. Although mulberries in Missouri ripen later (mid May- mid June) than - those in Louisiana, they are still worth checking for rarities. In addition to stream sides where I observed the species this spring, Steyermark (1963) listed the habitat for red mulberry as ... "rich woods, or open rocky places, either in lowland or upland, along roadsides, fields, and pastures." In addition to red mulberry, white mulberry (Morus alba) is common in Missouri, but not nearly as widely distributed as red mulberry [Steyermark (1963) indicated that red mulberry was probably in every county of the state]. Reporting on white mulberry, Steyermark (1963) stated, "Escaped from cultivation and commonly found in low wet ground along streams and stream banks, and along fence rows and pastures." Thus, because both red and white mulberry are common throughout Missouri and may occupy some of the same habitats, they provide excellent opportunities for state birders to look for unusual birds during spring migration. Birders can locate mulberry trees by searching the above- mentioned habitats in April when the trees first leaf out. Once trees are located, they should be checked on a regular basis (preferably, at least once a day) as soon as the berries begin to ripen. The best time to check trees is early in the morning or late in the afternoon.