$4.50 oregon birdscite references (if any) at the end text of th. e names and addresses of author...

$4.50

Oregon Birds ^ ^ The quarterly journal of Oregonfield ornithology

Volume 18, Number 3, Fall 1992

Oregon's First Steller's Eider 67 John Griffith

Oregon's Only Baikal Teal 68 Harry Nehls

What the AOU Has Planned For Your Life List 69 Tom Crabtree

PRELIMINARY DRAFT: Oregon County Maps 71 Steve Summers

Binding the North Coast 73 Anthony Floyd, Martin Campbell

Black Turnstone Seen Eating Millet 74 Mike Denny

Hawking 75 Brian Doyle

Hot Pursuit 76 Paul T. Sullivan

Birding Ethics: You Be The Judge 76 Alan Contreras

High-altitude, Owrland Migration of Common Loons Near Cape Blanco, Curry County, Oregon 77 Roy Lowe, Range D. Bayer

Leach's Storm-Petrel—From Land! 78 Colin Dillingham

Oregon Birds Crossword Puzzle No. 4 79

Karen Kearney

News and Notes 80

Oregon's Sensithe Bird Species 81

Hearing Aid for Birders 86 Barbara M.Haas

FIELDNOTES 87 Eastern Oregon, Winter 1991-92 87

JoeEvanich Western Oregon, Winter 1991-92 91

Jimphnson

COVER PHOTO Steller's Eder. Photo/Tom Crabtree.

Oregon Birds The quarterly journal of'Oregon field ornithology

OREGON BIRDS ' s a quarterly publication of Oregon Field Ornithologists, an Oregon not-for-profit corporation. Membership in Oregon Field Ornithologists includes a subscription to Oregon Birds. ISSN 0890-2313

E d i t o r

Associate Editor Assistant Editor

O w e n S c h m i d t

Jim Johnson Sharon K. Blair

OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS President Tim Shelmerdine, Lake Oswego (1993) Secretary Karen Kearney, Portland (1993) Treasurer Dennis Arendt, Eugene (1993)

Past President David A. Anderson, Portland Directors Colin Dillingham, Brookings (1992-94)

Hendrik Herlyn, Corvallis (1992-94) Gerard Lillie, Portland (1991-93) Don MacDonald, Corvallis (1991-93)

OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE Secretary Harry Nehls, Portland (1992)

Members Jim Carlson, Eugene (1990-92) Tom Crabtree, Bend (1992-94) Jeff Giliigan, Portland (1990-92) Jim Johnson, Portland (1990-92) Nick Lethaby, Santa Clara, CA (1991-93) Larry McQueen, Eugene (1991-93) Owen Schmidt, Portland (1991-93) Steve Summers, Klamath Falls (1992-94) Linda Weiland, Portland (1992-94)

Alternates Hendrik Herlyn, Corvallis (1992) Kamal Islam, Corvallis (1992) Ron Maertz, Glide (1992) Craig Roberts, Tillamook (1992)

Oregon Birds OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

©1992

OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS P.O. Box 10373

Eugene, OR 97440

Oregon Birds is looking for material in these categories:

N e w s B r i e f s on things of temporal importance, such as meetings, birding trips, announcements, news items, etc.

A r t i c l e s are longer contributions dealing with identification, distribution, ecology, management, conservation, taxonomy, behavior, biology, and historical aspects of ornithology and birding in Oregon. Articles cite references (if any) at the end of the text. Names and addresses of authors typically appear at the beginning of the text.

S h o r t N o t e s are shorter communications dealing with the same subjects as articles. Short Notes typically cite no references, or at most afew in parentheses in the text. Names and addresses of authors appear at the end of the text.

B i r d F i n d i n g G u i d e s "where to find a in Oregon" (for some of the rarer

birds) and "where to find birds in the area" (for some of the better

spots).

R e v i e w s for published material on Oregon birds or of interest to Oregon birders.

P h o t o g r a p h s of birds, especially photos taken recently in Oregon. Color slide duplicates are preferred. Please label all photos with photographer's name and address, bird identification, date and place the photo was taken. Photos will be returned; contact the Editor for more information.

Deadline for the next issue of Oregon Birds— OB 18(4)—is 23 October 1992. The next issue should get to you by the first week of December 1992. Material can be submitted any time, and the sooner the better. Please send materials directly to the Editor, 3007 N.E. 32nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97212, (503)282-9403.

Oregon Birds B o a r d o f E d i t o r s : David A. Anderson, Range D. Bayer, Charlie Bruce, Alan Contreras, Tom Crabtree, David Fix, Jeff Giliigan, Steven G. Herman, Mike Houck, George A. JobanekjimJohnson, CD. Littlefield, Roy Lowe, David B. Marshall, Harry B. Nehls, Mark Stern, Paul Sullivan, Clarice Watson, _

Oregon Birds 18(3): 66, Fall 1992

Oregon's first Steller's Eider John Griffith, P.O. Box 701, Coos Bay, OR 97420

While fly fishing for l ingcod o n 10 February 1992,1 saw an amazing-looking b i r d i n the r ip alongside the nor th jetty o f Coos Bay. I didn ' t k n o w just then, but the b i r d was an adult male Steller's Eider — Oregon's first.

I started b i rd ing very casually about 2 years ago and have little knowledge o f the birds I see. But o n the jetty that day, I had enough experience to k n o w that the duck bobbing i n the surf 50 feet away was uncommon. I had just enough experience to k n o w I should make a sketch. I got m y binoculars f rom the car, a cheap pair for the beach, and made a sketch i n m y little fishing notebook.

Getting back to m y fishing, every so often I ' d look at the duck to see what he was doing. He appeared very contented, just hanging out w i t h a few dozen scoters, d iv ing under waves, preening, standing o n the water and flapping his wings, r iding the r ip out and making short flights back. He was a strikingly handsome bird . The sun was out and it made his colors radiant. W h e n I got home, I keyed out the b i rd i n the "Audubon Society Field Guide to Nor th American Birds" and the National Geographic Society's "Field Guide to the Birds of Nor th America." It was easy work . My sketch and recollection o f the bird's appearance matched exactly the pictures i n the books. I read that the Steller's Eider lives i n the Aleutians and may winter south to the coast of British Columbia.

That was o n a Monday. I was back out to the jetty 2 days later: same business, l ingcod o n fly tackle. The eider was i n the same place, apparently w i t h the same gang o f scoters, just do ing what sea ducks do. I decided to put m y sighting i n the local paper, for w h i c h I wri te a weekly sport-fishing column. "Bird o f the week: Steller's Eider, i n the rip o n the north side o f the nor th jetty o f Coos Bay," I wrote. The co lumn ran the next day, Thursday, 13 February. Not k n o w i n g it was an Oregon first, I thought the eider was merely a pretty neat-looking bird .

At the advice o f birder L.J. Fagnan, M.D. , who 's a friend, I called Larry Thornburgh, to make a positive identification o f the eider. I called h i m Thursday afternoon and w e wen t to the jetty. The duck was right where he 'd been the past 4 days.

Larry immediately put the news over

the rare b i rd hotline. I started getting calls w i t h i n an hour after w e got back to town . I went back to the jetty that Saturday for another attempt at l ingcod (got one, too).

I arrived at dawn. W i t h i n 2 hours, I met 2 4-wheel drives full o f birders. Dr iv ing back u p the spit, I saw 7 more birders easier to identify than sea ducks because they carry scopes and tripods. Harry Nehls to ld a Medford reporter that 50-60 birders traveled to Coos Bay to see the eider.

As nearly as I can tell, the eider stayed at the jetty for 1 week. I saw h i m o n a Monday afternoon. The last person saw h i m the fo l lowing Monday afternoon. He hasn't been seen in Coos Bay since. I f I ' d k n o w n the eider w o u l d cause such a stir, I w o u l d have to ld Larry about

i t the first day I saw it, so more people could have shared the experience.

I've been called a maniac fisherman, because I spend so m u c h time trying w e i r d approaches to catching fish most people don' t like. I've had great success at it, make a good part o f m y income wr i t i ng about it. I started birding largely to get more out of m y fishing. I started by going o n a couple o f Christmas Bird Counts and joining Oregon Field Orni thologists.

Getting an Oregon first sighting is among the finest accomplishments i n my life as an outdoorsman. It's something I ' l l always cherish. A n d I promise never to let 4 days pass before reporting such an event i f I ' m lucky enough to have it happen again. 0

Steller's Eider, right, north jetty ofCoos Bay. Surf Scoter on left. Photo/L.J. Fagnan, M.D.


Oregon's Only Baikal Teal Harry Nehls, Secretary, Oregon Bird Records Committee, 2736 SE. 20th Avenue,

Portland, OR 97202.

O n 12 January 1974, Dav id Horn ing shot a full adult male Baikal Teal wh i l e hunting t w o miles east o f Finley NWR. Mr. Horn ing donated the specimen to the U.S. Fish and Wildl i fe Service. The b i r d was mounted b y Dav id Hagerbaumer and was placed o n display at the Finley NWR Headquarters. Jeff Giliigan observed the mount several years later and reported it to the Oregon Bi rd Records Committee.

W h e n the Bi rd Records Committee attempted to obtain photos to verify the record, the specimen cou ld not be relo

cated. The Fish and Wildl ife Service had placed i t i n the Oregon State University Collection. W h e n that collection was b roken u p the Baikal Teal moun t disappeared.

D u r i n g M a y 1992, R ich H o y e r searched the University for this b i rd . He eventually found it o n a shelf i n a Biology Department classroom, and was able to take several excellent photos for the OBRC files.

This record constitutes the first, and so far, the only record o f a Baikal Teal for Oregon. 0

Baikal Teal, 12 January 1974, Irish Bend, Benton Co. OBRC Record No. 1391-74-OlE. Photos/Rich Hoyer.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 3 I t : •

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What The AOU Has Planned For Your life list Tom Crabtree, 1667NWIowa, Bend, OR 97701

The 7th edit ion o f the American Orn i thologists' Un ion "Check-list" is i n preparation for release in 1993. What the final decision o f the A O U Committee o n Nomenclature and Classification (usually referred to as the Checklist Committee) w i l l be o n the question o f what species are recognized is a closely held secret. However, a preview o f what is l ikely to come can be obtained by studying Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World by Charles G. Sibley and Burt L. Monroe, Jr. (Yale University Press, 1990). This b o o k contains the authors' views o n what are the recognized species around the wor ld .

The book is essentially a distributional list o f all the birds o f the wor ld . The taxonomic decisions are based to a large degree o n the D N A - D N A hybridization studies b y j o n Ahlquist and Charles Sibley. The species are listed i n the n e w phylo-genetic order envisioned b y these n e w studies. The accounts consist o f the scientific name, author o f the scientific name, year o f the publicat ion of the original description, the accepted English name of the species, the W o r l d List number (which for A O U species is the A O U number) and the species accounts. This consists o f a description of the habitat and range o f the species and then comments relating to the species.

It is beyond the expertise o f this author to detail the approach o f h o w scientists determine species status using D N A research. For a description of this process, see DeBenidictis, "Gleanings from the Technical Literature," Birding 20:322; 20:391 (1988).

Perhaps the biggest change suggested by this book is the new phyloge-netic order o f species. The new order reflects the authors' views o n w h i c h families are most closely related to one another. It presents the species of North American birds i n the fo l lowing order:

Galliformes — grouse, pheasants, quail Anseriformes -— swans, geese, ducks Picaformes — woodpeckers Trogoniformes — trogons Coraciiformes — kingfishers Cuculiformes — cuckoos, anis Psittaciformes — parrots Apodiformes — swifts Trochiliformes — hummingbirds Strigiformes — owls, nightjars Columbiformes — pigeons, doves

Gruiformes — cranes, rails, coots Ciconiiformes — this is a new order

w h i c h contains the families for shore-birds, gulls, terns, alcids, hawks, falcons, grebes, tropicbirds, boobies, anhingas, cormorants, herons, pel i cans, vultures, storks, penguins, loons, and tubenoses — i n that order

Passeriformes—this order contains the fo l lowing families ( in the new phylo-genetic order) flycatchers, shrikes, vireos, crows & jays, orioles, wax-wings, dippers, thrushes, chats, starlings, mock ingb i rds & thrashers, nuthatches, wrens, gnatcatchers, tits, swal lows, kinglets, larks, weaver finches, wagtails & pipits, goldfinches & crossbills, buntings/longspurs/to-whees, w o o d warblers, tanagers, cardinals, meadowlarks & blackbirds This alone w i l l cause every current

field guide to be out o f date and in need o f revision. Perhaps the most interesting changes for birders are the many proposals o f the authors as to what constitutes a separate species. Some of the changes have been anticipated for years, but others w i l l come as quite a surprise. Sibley and Monroe use a triage approach to species changes: those that are definite and are given their o w n name, heading and number in the book; those that are probably distinct species or at the other extreme, conspecific; and those that may be separate species or conspecific. The

Lesser Golden-Plover. ttisbird,qfthedominica race, would be called an American Golden-Plover— split from birds ofthe fulva race, to be called Pacific Golden-Plovers. Photo/Owen Schmidt.

first category o f changes is considered to be almost certainly accepted by the A O U . After all, Burt Monroe is the chairman of the Checklist Committee.

I. Species changes that are listed as Definite The Northern Flicker complex is

considered to consist o f 2 species, the Northern Flicker (consisting o f "Red-shafted" and "Yellow-shafted" Flickers) and the Gi lded Flicker.

There are 2 species of Pygmy-Owl i n N o r t h A m e r i c a : ( 1 ) Glaucidium californicum, the Northern Pygmy-Owl, w h i c h is the species found i n Oregon and occurs in the coniferous forests from Alaska to Central Ar izona , and (2) Glaucidium gnoma, w h i c h occurs i n the pine-oak forests o f SE Arizona south into Mexico. The latter species, w h i c h differs in vocalizations, morphology and ecological requirements is to be called the Mountain Pygmy-Owl.

The Lesser Golden-Plover is finally recognized as 2 distinct species: (1) the American Golden-Plover and (2) the Pacific Golden-Plover.

The 2 races of Iceland Gul l and Thayer's Gulls are l umped into a single species. " A l l these forms constitute one cont inuum o f breeding populations representing a single species." This change was anticipated since it was discovered that the original research leading to the recognition o f Thayer's Gul l as a separate species was falsified. See, Snell, R.R., "Status of Larus Gulls at Home Bay, Baffin Island," Colonial Waterbirds 12:12-23 (1989).

The authors indicate that Solitary Vireo complex actually consists o f 3 species: (1) Cassin's Vireo, the common west coast form; (2) Plumbeous Vireo, the blue-gray colored form that occurs i n the central Rocky Mountains; and (3) the Solitary Vireo, the blue-headed eastern form.

The Warbl ing Vireo consists o f 2 species, the Eastern Warbl ing Vireo and the Western Warbl ing Vireo. These species are said to differ morphologically, vocally and genetically. There is no information on h o w they can be separated by plumage i n the field.

The Scrub Jay, Sibley and Monroe note, consists o f "at least" 3 species. Those elevated to species status are the Florida Jay and the Santa Cruz Jay, the


latter being an endemic to Santa Cruz Island, California, off Santa Barbara. The western mainland species retains the name Scrub Jay.

The Black-crested Titmouse is once again split f rom the Tufted Titmouse and elevated to full species status.

Another re-splitting is o f the Rosy Finches. Gray-crowned, Brown-capped and Black Rosy Finches are all restored to full specific status.

The final 2 splits come as somewhat of a surprise. The first is the Brewer's Sparrow, split into that species and the Timberline Spanow, w h i c h breeds i n montane and dwar f b i rch habitat i n the mountains o f interior western Canada as far west as SW Y u k o n Territory and N W interior British Columbia and winters i n the southwest Uni ted States. It is said to differ i n vocalization, morphology and ecology. By range this species almost certainly migrates through Oregon.

Finally, a third species o f Meadow-lark is created, Lillian's Meadowlark, wh ich formerly was considered a race o f the Eastern Meadowlark that occurred i n the southwestern United States.

The final count for new species listed by Sibley and Monroe is 13 n e w species split off and 1 species lumped, for a net gain o f 12 species. I n Oregon we w i l l gain a plover and a rosy finch, most l ikely a sparrow and potentially a vireo or two , subject to Oregon Bird Records Committee approval.

II. Probable Species Changes The next category o f species changes

are those that Sibley and Monroe consider "probably distinct species" or "probably conspecific." The AOU's ultimate decision on what to do w i t h these taxo-nomic recommendations is uncertain.

The first o f these is a split o f the Blue Grouse into the Dusky and Sooty Grouse. Sibley and Monroe note that the 2 differ in morphology and ecology and are probably distinct species, bu t intermediates have been reported. Both species occur i n Oregon.

The Canada Goose complex is more o f a problem. Sibley and Monroe say that this complex probably consists of "several" species. I n a recent article i n Birding, Paul DeBenedictis concludes that there are 2, and no more than 2 species i n volved i n each o f the Canada Goose and Brant complexes. "Gleanings from the Technical Literature: Branta Geese," Birding 23:357-359 (1991).

The Black Brant is also considered to be a probable species by the authors. DeBenedictis has indicated that the Black

Brant is definitely a separate species. A change that has little impact i n

Nor th America is their v i e w that the Yellow-legged Gul l is probably a species distinct f rom the Herring Gull . This species normally occurs in Europe. There is at least one record for the Washington D.C. area.

Another surprise is that 2 races of the Plain Titmouse, inornatus and ridgwayi, the latter o f w h i c h occurs i n SE Oregon and the former in SW Oregon are stated to be "as genetically distinct at a level equivalent to other species pairs in Parus." The n e w species w o u l d be ca l led Ridgway's Titmouse. One o f the best places to see "Ridgway's Titmouse" i n Oregon is along Deep Creek between Lakeview and Adel .

A potential change that might be a surprise only i n the sense that i t is so l imited is Red Crossbill, w h i c h Sibley and Monroe state "there are apparently t w o sibling species w i t h different morphol ogy and vocalizations that are presently sympatric i n the southern Appalachians." Perhaps additional research into western races w o u l d produce similar results.

The final probable split is the Fox Sparrow. Sibley and Monroe indicate that more than 1 species is l ikely included i n the present Fox Sparrow complex. They do not indicate w h i c h or h o w many n e w species are likely to be recognized.

There is one probable lumping wh ich comes as no surprise to Northwesterners. The authors consider the Northwestern Crow probably conspecific w i t h the Comm o n Crow, but they indicate the conservative approach is to consider it an "allospecies."

There are a lot o f potential changes i n specific status that Sibley and Monroe consider to be "possible." Most o f these probably w i l l not be acted u p o n by the A O U , but they are interesting and do bear watching for the future.

III. Possible Splits • Tule Goose to be split from Greater

White-fronted Goose • Northern and Southern Spotted Owls

to be recognized as full species • C o m m o n Snipe to be split into 2

species, the Eurasian species breeds i n the outer Aleutians

• Kamchatka Gull may be a separate species from M e w Gul l

• Dusky Flycatcher to be separated into 3 species, the C o m m o n Dusky Flycatcher, the Very Dusky Flycatcher, and the Semi-Dusky Flycatcher [just k idd ing about this one, folks, but the rest are all legitimate]

• Bicknell 's Thrush to be split f rom the Gray-cheeked Thrush, creating an instant endangered species.

• Marsh Wrens—possible these w i l l be split into 2 species

• Cave Swal low — the 2 populations that occur i n the Uni ted States maybe separate species

• Red-winged Blackbird — there may be more than 1 species i n the taxon k n o w n as Agelaius phoeniceus i n cluding the "Bicolored Blackbird"

• Swainson's/Olive-backed Thrushes — Sibley and Monroe indicate these groups probably are conspecific but note they differ i n morphology and i n winter ing areas

IV. Possible Lumps There are quite a few candidates i n

this category, including: • Lesser and Greater Prairie Chickens • American Black Duck and Mallard —

these may be conspecific but current evidence still suggests specific status for each

• Yel low-bel l ied, Red-naped and Red-breasted Sapsuckers

• Western and Eastern Screech Owls • Eskimo and Little Curlews • Long-toed Stint and Least Sandpiper • Purple and Rock Sandpipers • Black and American Oystercatchers • Semipalmated and C o m m o n Ringed

Plovers — the same person w h o d id the now-discred i ted research o n Thayer's/Iceland Gulls d i d the research o n these species

• Glaucous-winged and Western Gulls • Craveri's and Xantus' Murrelets • Long-billed and B r o w n Thrashers

On ly members o f the A O U Checklist Committee k n o w h o w many o f the foregoing proposed changes are l ikely to result i n A O U action, bu t it is clear that the publicat ion o f the 7th Checklist w i l l lead to many changes i n the number o f species recognized. It w o u l d be possible, though not very likely, to have 28 n e w species created.

O n the other hand it is also possible to lose 15 species to " lumping" by the Committee. Given the direction o f the committee i n recent years, it seems more l ikely to be the former rather than the latter. For some o f us, it might be the best chance w e have to get 700 species i n Nor th America. I n any event, birders w o u l d be wise to make a note o f any separately identifiable forms they see i n the field. W i t h the w i d e range o f changes being proposed there is no telling where the changes w i l l end. 0


PRELIMINARY DRAFT: Oregon County Maps Steve Summers, P.O. Box 202, Silver Lake, OR 97638

Editor's Note: This is the lightly-edited preface to a new publication by Steve Summers now in press by Oregon Field Ornithologists. The publication is expected to be available before the next issue of Oregon Birds, where ordering information wi l l be available. Oregon birders who take advantage of Summers' request for input wi l l help to build an unprecedented database of county-bird information.

I n early 1991, after w o r k i n g on m y county list report for Oregon Birds, I thought it w o u l d be nice for Oregon's county birders to have some w a y of k n o w i n g ( i n a general way) the status o f a b i r d i n each o f Oregon's counties. I figured I was i n a good posi t ion to start such lists b y solicit ing the information I w o u l d need from some o f the top county birders i n the state. T o compile such lists on m y o w n — b y searching the literature and field reports i n various journals — was way beyond the effort and time I had to spend o n such a project. A l l or most o f that information was i n the heads o f various county birders throughout the state. Therefore, acting as an editor o f sorts, I sent out inquiries to see what k i n d o f response I w o u l d get. I sent a rather complex looking 11-page chart to 37 o f the top county listers w h o had sent i n county lists that year, and to a few other selected people. This chart listed all Oregon counties across the top and all species o f Oregon's birds d o w n the side. I asked them to fill i n the blanks, where they felt they could make a contribution to any county, using a number code that rated h o w easy i t is to find that species there.

Over the next year I received 24 responses, a nearly 65 percent return. This was great to get the project started but the chart was so cluttered that it was enough to repel anyone from trying to extract information about a particular species or county. At that point, Craig Miller o f Bend suggested that he try using his computer to put all that information d o w n o n maps. So, he went to w o r k and came u p w i t h a mapping program that has w o r k e d out great and is easy to use and change. I then decided to go directly to publishing a rough draft o f the maps, instead o f m y original intent ion of publishing the chart first to get everyone involved and then the maps.

So n o w I ' m at the point where I ' d like to get everyone who's interested i n volved. I k n o w the maps are far from complete and accurate. M y hope is for you to use them, to find what needs to be changed, added, or subtracted, then write to me telling me what y o u think should be corrected. After I receive lots o f additional input (hopefully in a year or 2), a n e w revised and updated set o f maps w i l l be published.

As I ment ioned above I ' m really just

acting as an editor. A l l the people w h o contributed information are really the authors of this project. Craig and I , however, d id make changes where there seemed to be some real incongruities. There was a wide variation in h o w people interpreted the codes and/or the status o f a bi rd . I received ratings as far apart as 1 to 4 and 2 to 5 for the same b i rd i n the same county from various people. Therefore i f y o u sent me information that doesn't fit w i t h what y o u n o w see an editorial decision was probably made based o n all the input for that county or species.

I ' d l ike to thank all those w h o responded to m y initial inquiries for information, your help is greatly appreciated and I hope y o u w i l l continue that help after seeing and using these maps: Dav id Anderson, Jack Corbett, T o m Crabtree, Elsie and Elzy Eltzroth, Joe Evanich, Ben Fawver, Roy Gerig, Greg Gillson, Steve Heinl , Jan and Rick Krabbe, Donna Lusthoff, Alan McGie, Ron Maertz, Craig Miller, Harry Nehls, Mike Patterson, Phil Pickering, Lewis Rems, Mike Robbins, Dennis Rogers, T i m Shelmerdine, Paul Su l l i van , O t i s Swisher , a n d Lar ry Thornburgh. It is m y hope that this list o f contributors w i l l greatly increase w i t h the next publicat ion o f these maps.

Below are the codes used on the maps and a map key showing what shading goes to what code. These codes are not based o n a species' absolute abundance. They are based on a species' "detectability" and conspicuousness or relative abundance. I n other words, h o w l ikely is it that an active birder, b i rd ing i n the proper habitat at the proper season, w i l l find that bird? The map and codes do not show season o f occurrence. They are only meant to show the status o f a species w h e n it is at its peak relative abundance in the county. I th ink most observers w i l l

be able to figure out w h i c h season each species is most l ikely to fit the given status. O n l y accepted records were used for species o n the Oregon Rare Bird Committee review list (marked w i t h *). There are however a few exceptions where I felt a pending record is almost certain to be accepted or where a species has been off the list and then recently put o n (or back o n i n some cases).

1. Nearly a lways detected, usually wi thou t any special searching. This is due to large numbers and/or widespread distribution and/or conspicuous behavior. Normally these are species you should expect to find w i t h no to minimal effort; basically just be i n the proper habitat at the proper season.

2. Infrequent ly to often detected, usually requires some sort o f special searching. This is due to lower numbers and/or l imi ted distribution and/or secretive behavior. Finding some of these species may require a moderate amount of effort, whi le others may be almost as easily detected as category 1 birds. This is a broad category meant to fit i n between the more restrictive 1 and 3 codes. I f conscientiously searched for there should be a somewhat to fairly good success rate i n locating many or most o f these species.

3. Scarce a n d h a r d to find, usually requires intensive, specialized searching. This is due to extremely l o w numbers and/or extremely l imited distribution and/ or extreme secretive behavior. These species, though, are expected to occur every year i n the county.

4. O n l y occas ional ly found, not expected to occur every year. These species can occur i n 2 ways: (1) although not expected every year, these species are still w i t h i n their accepted range (irregular though it may be) and can be scarce to often detected w h e n present or


(2) a vagrant (a species out o f expected or normal range) w i t h 5 or more records for the county.

5. L e s s t h a n five records for the county.

I feel a few additional notes are needed o n a couple o f species. First, I believe the Northwestern Crow map should be taken w i t h "a grain o f salt" so to speak. Many people I've talked w i t h recendy don' t believe that this "species" can reliably be identified i n Oregon. I f ind many crows farther south o n the Oregon coast and even into California to be as small-appearing or even smaller than the crows o n the northwestern coast. These more southern small crows even sound different f rom the interior crows. I've included a map for "Northwestern Crow" only because it's still o n the official Oregon state list.

Another b i r d of recent concern and confusion is the Western Flycatcher. W i t h the recent splitting o f this species into the Pacific-slope and Cordilleran Flycatchers, birders have been scrambling to figure out exactly w h i c h is w h i c h and where it occurs. There has been some confusion w h e n it comes to voice (call) recognition o f the 2 species. There are 2 primary papers that resulted in the splitting of the Western Flycatcher (Johnson, Ned K., 1980, Character variation and evo lu t i on o f s ib l ing species i n the Empidonax diffxcilis-flavescens complex (Aves: Tyrannidae), University of California Publications in Zoology 112: 1-151; and Johnson, Ned K., and Jill A. Marten, 1988, Evolutionary genetics o f flycatchers, n . Differentiation i n the Empidonax difficiliscomplex, TheAukl05:177-191). Both papers give the d iv id ing line i n Oregon between the 2 species as the crest o f the Cascades. Everything breeding west o f the crest is Pacific-slope and anything east is Cordilleran. I have fol l o w e d that for this project as far as breeding birds are concerned. I w o u l d recommend bo th these papers for anyone interested i n t rying to find a deeper understanding o f these 2 species. The first paper can answer the question "Why don't eastern Oregon Cordilleran Flycatchers sound as different f rom Pacific-slope Flycatchers as the Rocky Mounta in Cordillerans do?"

At any rate, here are the first r ound maps. Use them, wri te o n them, find out what's w r o n g and right about them and then let me hear f rom you . I heartily encourage all to participate, the more w h o do the better the final result! 0

Surf Scoter

OREGON COUNTIES

SPECIES TOTALS FOR EACH COUNTY

Page 4


Birding the North Coast Anthony Floyd, Zoology Department, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164 Martin Campbell, 200 NW53rd #55, Corvallis, OR 97330

W h e n w e left Corvallis at midnight, 18 August 1991, and headed for the coast w e had no idea that i t was to be our biggest day. We merely hoped to see some o f the unusual shorebirds that had been noted along the northern Oregon coast i n recent weeks. We ended u p pi tching our tent (at 2:00 am.) at Whalen Island Campg r o u n d near Sand Lake (T i l l amook County) and fell asleep to the raspy lullaby o f a Black-crowned Night Heron.

W e were u p and about b y 6:00 am and after confirming the presence o f the aforementioned heron sitting in a conifer just nor th o f Sand Lake, w e headed nor thward along the Three Capes Road to Lake Meares. Noteworthy birds seen along this route included 12 Band-tailed Pigeons seen i n the woods just west o f Sand Lake, 1 Wrentit and 1 Hutton's Vireo seen at the Cape Lookout Trailhead, 1 C o m m o n Yel lowthroat and 2 Black-headed Grosbeaks seen i n a boggy area just south o f Oceanside, and 1 male Harlequin Duck seen in the breakers at Cape Meares State Park.

We then spent a couple o f hours bi rd ing the Ti l lamook Bay area, spotting 1 juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper and 2 Dun l in at Bayocean Spit, 1 American Bittern and 1 Purple Martin at Lake Meares 4 American Pipits and 2 C o m m o n Terns at the cobble beach near Lake Meares, and 2 Brant o n the bay itself. As we l l as we were doing, w i t h 58 species noted i n the Ti l lamook Bay area, I cursed myself for missing 2 Parasitic Jaegers seen by another observer as they harassed the gull flocks at Bayocean Spit. One lifer missed whi le concentrating hard o n identifying another (the Semipalmated Sandpiper)!

The fields just north o f Ti l lamook yielded several interesting sightings in cluding 1 Black-shouldered Kite, 4 Vaux's Swifts, and a fence/hedgerow roost o f over 100 Turkey Vultures — surely the largest group o f vultures either of us had ever seen o n the Oregon coast! The Hayes Oyster Plant stop produced good sightings o f 1 Ruddy and 18 Black Turnstones as w e l l as p rov id ing an excellent opportuni ty to photograph a few of the dozen or so Purple Martins present.

A t h o r o u g h e x p l o r a t i o n o f the Nehalem Meadows area rewarded us

w i t h sightings o f 1 Hooded Merganser, 2 Rufous Hummingbirds, and 1 Lincoln's Sparrow. The drive nor thward to Seaside yielded 11 species n e w for the day i n cluding 1 Black Oystercatcher and 2 Surfbirds at Cannon Beach.

Despite a terrible lack o f sleep, Mart in drove doggedly nor thward to the southern exit off o f Highway 101 to Fort Stevens State Park. An thony dozed off, coming to full alert only to note a pair o f Osprey and a W i l l o w Flycatcher dur ing a bog stop just south o f the aforement ioned exit.

Fort Stevens State Park proved as productive as always w i t h 46 species seen, 10 o f w h i c h were n e w for the day including 1 Western Bluebird seen at the m i l i t a r y c e m e t e r y , 1 R e d - n e c k e d Phalarope and 2 breeding-plumage Black-bell ied Plovers seen at the base o f the jetty, and 6 Green-backed Herons seen in the bogs near Battery Russell.

The light was d imming as w e headed eastward to Astoria and along Highway 30 to Westport. The only productive stops were at the Warrenton Sewage Ponds where 3 Lesser Yellowlegs were added to the list, and at the base o f the bridge to Astoria where 4 Black Scoters were picked out o f a large group o f other scoters.

At this point we had b i rded from 6:00 am to 8:20 p m and had garnered a list o f 119 species whi le touring the coastal section only o f 2 counties (Ti l lamook and Clatsop). Only 1 more species, the Barn O w l , was added to our daily total and it was seen in Longview, Washington, as we made a dash for Vancouver. The total o f 120 species for the day took us by surprise as w e had noted very few un usual species and felt w e had missed quite a few common ones. I n fact, our pre-count guess was 80-90 species. Needless to say, w e were quite pleased by our biggest day thus far wh i l e b i rd ing as a team.

I t should be pointed out that our day is i n no way comparable to a "Big Day" as there were only 2 observers, as w e had no intention o f doing particularly we l l , as our route was not designed to hit all of the state's habitats and as 120 species w o u l d not be noteworthy on a state-wide route. What is particularly noteworthy about

our tr ip is that it highlights the productivity o f the northern Oregon coast in terms of b i rdwatching opportunities. Again, on ly a couple of somewhat unusual species were noted (Semipalmated Sandpiper and C o m m o n Tern) and w e missed 15 species that can be easily seen along our route.

Species seen ( i n chronological order) 18August 1991, Sand Lake to Astoria

Total Species - 119 (120 i f the Barn O w l in W A is included)

Percent seen b y bo th observers - 96 (95 w i t h Barn O w l )

Black-crowned Night Heron Belted Kingfisher Barn Swallow Great Blue Heron Western Gul l Glaucous-winged Gul l American Crow Song Sparrow Swainson's Thrush Savannah Sparrow White-crowned Spanow American Robin European Starling Brewer's Blackbird Steller's Jay Band-tailed Pigeon . Greater Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Whimbre l House Sparrow Double-crested Cormorant H e n i n g Gul l Black-capped Chickadee Winter Wr en Golden-crowned Kinglet Wilson's Warbler Wrentit Hutton's Vireo Red Crossbill Brandt's Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant C o m m o n Yellowthroat Black-headed Grosbeak C o m m o n Murre Pigeon Guil lemot Harlequin Duck Heermann's Gul l Caspian Tern Dark-eyed Junco Fox Spanow


Rufous-sided Towhee Red-tailed H a w k Blue-winged Teal Great Egret American Goldf inch Sharp-shinned H a w k Violet-green Swallow Red-winged Blackbird C o m m o n Loon B r o w n Pelican Northern Flicker Cedar W a x w i n g Surf Scoter Whi te-winged Scoter Pied-billed Grebe W o o d Duck Purple Mart in D o w n y Woodpecker American Pipit Mallard

Green-winged Teal Semipalmated Plover Least Sandpiper Western Sandpiper KiOdeer Black-bellied Plover Bald Eagle D u n l i n Sanderling Brant Bufflehead Semipalmated Sandpiper Bonaparte's Gul l C o m m o n Tern American Bittern Purple Finch Rock Dove Northern Rough-winged Swallow House Finch Northern Harrier Turkey Vulture Black-shouldered Kite American Kestrel Vaux's Swift Ring-billed Gul l Black Turnstone Ruddy Turnstone M e w Gul l Western Wood-Pewee C o m m o n Raven H o o d e d Merganser Rufous H u m m i n g b i r d Western Meadowlark Cliff Swal low Yel low-rumped Warbler Hncoln's Spanow Pacific Loon Black Oystercatcher Surfbird Pine Siskin W i l l o w Flycatcher Osprey

Western Bluebird American Coot


Yel low Warbler Greater Scaup Short-billed Dowitcher Red-necked Phalarope Cinnamon Teal Green-backed Heron Marsh W r e n Ruby-crowned Kinglet Gadwall Lesser Scaup California Gul l Lesser Yellowlegs C o m m o n Snipe Black Scoter Varied Thrush Barn O w l

Species each observer missed: M G . - Black-crowned Night Heron,

American Bittern, Western Meadowlark, Barn O w l

A.F. - Hutton's Vireo, Fox Sparrow Common species missed during the day:

Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Wandering Tatder Long-bil led Dowitcher Parasitic Jaeger (see body of paper) Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingb i rd Red-breasted Sapsucker Pacific-slope Flycatcher Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Warbl ing Vireo Orange-crowned Warbler Townsend's Warbler Brown-headed Cowbi rd

0

Black Turnstone Seen Eating Millet Mike Denny, 323 Scenic View Drive, Col

lege Place, WA 99324

O n the morn ing o f 19 December 1991, whi le b i rd ing the t o w n of Depoe Bay, Lincoln County, m y wife MerryLynn and I noticed a flock o f Brewer's Blackbirds, Rock Doves, and House Sparrows gathering i n the observation area o n the nor th side o f the M A D E I N O R E G O N store. We entered this store and watched out the nor th side w i n d o w .

The blackbirds, doves, and sparrows were feeding o n millet that had been scattered o n the observation deck. As w e watched, a Black Turnstone flew in and li t near the edge o f this flock o f seedeat-ers. I n a few seconds the turnstone was i n the crush o f birds inhaling millet at such a rate that it put the Brewer's Blackbirds to shame.

Not believing that we were seeing a shorebird devouring millet, MerryLynn took a photograph. Has this behavior ever been seen or heard of before in any species o f shorebird? Do all Black Turnstones eat millet? Or only Oregon turn-stones? 0

Black Turnstone, 19 December 1991, Depoe Bay, Lincoln Co. Photo/MerryLynn Denny.

Hawking Brian Doyle, Editor, University Publications, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Boulevard, Portland, OR 97203-5798

I grew up on the edge of a marsh, and so was int roduced to its creatures early: industr ious m ice , g lut tonous rabbits, quicksi lver foxes, b rawl ing mobs of starlings and blackbirds. An imals wh i r l ed about my c h i l d h o o d in waves and circles. Above them a l l , and above all the long-l i t days of my boyhood , hovered the marsh hawk, a s l im bird whose enormous wings carr ied it buoyant ly through the air and into the red nightmares of its prey.

There were always a coup le of these hawks in v iew, f loat ing lazi ly a long the marsh at dawn , si ipp inggracefu l ly along a fence-row, cruis ing quiet ly along a stream l ine. They hung, w ind-buf fe ted, only a few feet above the ground, unl ike the bigger b i rds—falcons, eagles, gulls, crows—that soared disdainful l yover the faraway hi l ls.

L iv ing in that sandy t o w n , we were far f rom farmers and their hatred of hawks, far f rom the fusi l lade of gunfire that ostensibly protected chickens and their i lk f rom maraud ing raptors. W e had duck hunters and goose gunners in the marsh, in season, and the occasional trapper lookingfor coon and mink, but my young years were long before wet lands were considered anyth ing but wasted land, and so it was a blessedly solitary life among the long reeds and woven grasses. " In-between land , " my mother cal led it: not qui te soi l ; not yet water.

There, over the years, I learned the lives of each creature, and the circles that bound them to each other. W h i l e very young I cr ied over their carcasses and cursed their deaths, but came, in t ime, to read the slaughter of duckl ings, or the casual beheading of a b lackb i rd , as normal . Death bred life in a s imple, inevitable calculus. Tears—for the rent

b i rd , for the gaunt corpse of a starved fox, for smothered hawk ch icks—were misplaced, and were better saved for the heartbreaks of human creatures, w h o tore each other w i t h a bitter hunger no food cou ld satisfy.

As I grew, I watched the hawks w i t h inc reas ing respect and a f fec t ion . I learned that they were cal led Northern Harriers in the books, and they were the on ly harrier on the cont inent. I learned that they were l ike us, earth-bound and earth-conscious, attached by eye and ear to theground and its denizens. W h e n they come to ground they come qu ickly, d ropp ing w i t h a spinning rush on a mouse, or s l ipping suddenly out of the air onto their nests. Otherwise they f loat gently at head-height; wa l k ing across the marsh at dusk, I'd see hawks at eye level against the tree- l ine, r id ing the breeze, vigi lant and silent.

They are th in birds, almost fragi le, dwarfed b y t h e i r o w n huge wings. W h e n fu l ly mature they we igh less than a pound of butter. Their legs are long ye l l ow penci ls armed w i t h razor-sharp talons. The male is bright gray, w i t h wingt ips so black they seem d ipped in ink. The female is larger and b rown . Their vis ion is astonishing—they can see a rabbit 's ear tw i t ch f rom a mi le away—but they hunt by ear, swing ing quiet ly over the ground and l isteningfor sudden terror be low.

The males, in season, perform a loop ing dance in the air to draw their mates to them. In this they're no different f rom a mi l l i on other creatures; I remember w e l l the odd ri tuals and dances my high-school cronies performed, to impress the girls w h o pretended not to wa tch . After the hawks choose partners they settle a nest together and br ing up a fami ly . The male

does most of the hunt ing wh i l e his partner stays w i t h the eggs, and then w i th the a w k w a r d chicks. W h e n the male makes a k i l l , he flies over the nest and drops the prey; the female rises into the air and catches it, in a smooth and graceful transfer. O n l y once d id I ever see this maneuver go awry. A male dropped a b lackb i rd , but before his mate cou ld catch it the stunned blackbird recovered itself and darted away.

They are migratory, for the most part, sai l ing off in the late fall to Cuba and points south. Some few hardy adventurers stay in the marsh through the winter , edi t ing rabbits and starlings f rom the terse pages of the coldest season. In Ap r i l , when the marsh is muddy and asleep, the main body of hawks come back and drift acrossthe sinuous waters, l isteningfor first frogs and careless mice. I n the open softness of spri ng they choose their mates and bu i ld grass nests and slide a long the moist air. By June chicks teeter precariously on the edges of nests, f lapping their stubby wings w i t h exuberant fury.

For me that first f lush of fu l l summer is pr ime hawk ing t ime . Sometimes, on a quiet evening, I wa lk in the marsh at dusk, dec ipher ing the r idd l ing loops of the hawks, wa tch ing the wash of the fading l ight over quiet waters. I stare at the graceful birds swoop ing across the mirrored waters. Their wind-buf feted voyages across the ye l l ow and blue lines of the marsh lift my heart. They sw im pat ient ly through the air. The lines they f ly are musical to me. Against the sun, in the last l ight, they shine like beauti ful knives. Beneath them, in the endless coursing of reedy waters, is a dense symphony of bright creatures. Here and there I p ick out a note; I hope, w i t h pract ice, to learn the song. 0


Hot Pursuit Paul T. Sullivan, 4470 9. W. Murray Boulevard #26, Beaverton, OR 97005

I t was a sunny, w a r m 10 September morn ing w h e n I met Barb Bell in at St. Paul, Oregon, for a bit o f Mar ion County birding. We found a Baird's Sandpiper at the slough east o f town. By late morn ing w e were at the sewage ponds. One p o n d held water, W o o d Ducks, Mallards, Cinnamon Teal, etc. We concentrated o n the nearly dry middle pond, studying shore-birds.

We searched through half a dozen yellowlegs o f b o t h species, small flocks o f Western Sandpipers and Red-necked Phalaropes, and a few Least Sandpipers to study a Short-billed Dowitcher. Suddenly the birds i n our scopes exploded. A raptor! W e looked u p to see a large dark b i r d make 2 or 3 passes through the swirl ing flock o f shorebirds. We quickly identified the dark helmet, pointed wings, striped underparts, and light axillaries o f a young Peregrine Falcon.

The Peregrine soon fixed o n a yellowlegs and began a steady, determined pursuit. It made a couple passes w h i c h the yellowlegs dodged, crying. The yellowlegs circled and c l imbed to deny the falcon the advantage o f a stoop. The Peregrine lunged again, and again. The yellowlegs dodged.

We continued to watch the aerial duel. The Peregrine f lew w i t h powerful strokes, bu t couldn't gain the speed or height needed for a lethal stoop. The yellowlegs was fast and agile.

Our necks tired, w e looked d o w n . We congratulated ourselves on such a sighting. I t was our first sighting o f a Peregrine i n Marion County, a b i r d long sought b y Barb. We talked about the juvenile plumage of the falcon. The m u d before us was empty.

We looked u p again. The falcon was a small dark dot h igh above us. Through binoculars w e could see the circling bird . It was still i n pursuit, making attacks. Then w e cou ld see the flash o f whi te as the yellowlegs flared its tail or wings to dodge and change direction. Spectacular.

Again our necks t ired and w e looked down . I commented on h o w an experienced adult falcon w o u l d break off the chase i f it lost the element o f surprise. The young b i rd was inexperienced. Barb commented that it might also be hungry. I thought its hunt ing strategy was energy-wasteful.

We looked up . The chase was still on. The yellowlegs seemed to be losing speed. The Peregrine attacked, and attacked again, and again. Still the ye l lowlegs had the strength to dodge. I t was still alive i n this desperate game.

The yellowlegs began a long, circling descent, not giving the falcon the height advantage i n large increments. It continued to evade every strike the falcon attempted. They came lower and lower. More attacks. More dodges. Still alive.

At last they were right over us. A n other circle, attack, dodge, a whoosh o f wings over our heads and across the pond. The yellowlegs hit the water, ducked. The Peregrine's feet splashed. The yellowlegs skipped l ike a stone off water into the tall grass, alive. Safe! The Peregrine pul led up, empty. I t s lowly circled away, pursued b y a mi l l ing flock of Bam Swallows.

T w o birders in the box seats cheered. 0

Pygmy Nuthatch. Source: Sensitive Species of Oregon, 1992, Oregon Dept. Fish & Wildlife.

Birding Ethics: You Be The Judge Alan Contreras, 4098Market Street N.E.

#22, Salem, OR 97301

The second state record o f Magruder's Teal (Anasfhsubmergible) has appeared at the Bay City sewage ponds. Y o u are there i n the drizzle at 7:00 p m o n Saturday night a few hours after the b i rd was reported. As far as y o u k n o w no one has seen the b i r d since the initial report, and no photos have been obtained. No other birders are present in the 20 minutes that you have been watching the bird.

Y o u th ink that such a rarity needs to be photographed. The b i r d stays along the east bank o f the south pond, where it cannot be photographed from the back road or the turnaround. Since birding ethics do not a l low you to trespass by jumping the posted back fence and approaching the b i r d along the southern bank, y o u choose to approach it by wa lk ing south o n the railroad tracks from the substation. As you reach the south pond, y o u flush a group o f dowitchers. They fly over the p o n d and the Magruder's Teal flushes as we l l , f lying out of sight over the trees to the south. A l l o f the other ducks remain on the ponds. Y o u fail to obtain photos.

W h e n you return to your car, you notice that other birders have arrived and are look ing for the bird . Y o u tell them what happened. The b i rd does not return for more than 24 hours, and many birders search for it unsuccessfully during the intervening day. Some succeed in seeing it w h e n it returns to the ponds during the fo l lowing weeks.

Have you violated bi rding ethics by flushing the b i rd under the conditions described?

Y o u b e t h e j u d g e . Write your answer (typewritten, or on computer disk, please), and mail it to the Editor by 23 October 1992. Your answer wi l l be presented in a subsequent issue of Oregon Birds (after customary editing) along with your name (unless you request anonymity). What do you think? Were you ethical in this situation, attempting to get a photograph but succeeding only in flushing this bird so that other birders were not successful in seeing this rare bird. You be the judge!


High-altitude, Overland Migration of Common Loons Near Cape Blanco, Curry County, Oregon Roy W. Lowe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365 Range D. Bayer, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365

The Oregon Coastal Refuges Office o f the U . S. Fish and Wildl ife Service (USFWS) i n Newport , Oregon, conducts a variety o f aerial surveys annually along the Oregon coast in a single-engine airplane. Surveys beginning at Newpor t and going south are generally conducted at a l o w altitude o f 200-300 ft above sea level (ASL) unt i l the southern destination is reached at Smith River or Crescent City, California. The return flight nor th is conducted at altitudes ranging f rom 1000-4000 ft ASL whi le using telemetry equipment to scan for radio-tagged birds. O n 3 occasions, high-altitude C o m m o n Loon (Gavia immer) flights were observed just south and east o f Cape Blanco, Curry County. Altitudes o f the aircraft and loons reported for the observations are expressed as above ground level (AGL) altitudes. The AGL altitudes were estimated b y subtracting g round elevations as indicated o n U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps from the ASL altitude o f the aircraft's altimeter.

O n 13 A p r i l 1987 at 1702 Pacific Standard Time (PST), the aircraft was flying nor th at an altitude o f 3960 ft AGL over the Elk River east o f U.S. Highway 101 and about 4 miles east o f the coastline. A flock o f 18 C o m m o n Loons was observed flying north approximately 1000 ft be low the aircraft at about 2960 ft AGL. About a minute or so later wh i l e over the Sixes River, 2-3 miles east o f the coastline, a second flock o f 20 C o m m o n Loons was observed flying nor th at about 2960 ft AGL.

O n 18 A p r i l 1990 at 1430 PST, the aircraft was f lying nor th about 1060 ft AGL over the Sixes River and U.S. H ighway 101, approximately 2-3 miles east o f the coasdine. A flock o f 6 C o m m o n Loons was observed f lying north at the same altitude as the aircraft. As the aircraft approached the flock, the loons took evasive action to avoid collision w i t h the plane.

O n 14 November 1991 at 1254 PST, the aircraft was f lying nor th at about 1740 ft AGL mid-way between the Elk River and the city o f Port Orford about 0.3 miles

east o f U.S. Highway 101 and 2-3 miles east o f the coasdine. A loose flock o f 25 C o m m o n Loons was observed flying south at about the same altitude as the aircraft.

Migrating loons are often seen i n large numbers flying l o w over the ocean from shore dur ing Apri l -May and November along the Oregon coast (pers. obs.), bu t w e are not aware o f any other records o f C o m m o n Loons migrating at such high altitudes or above land along the Pacific Coast. At an inland site i n Florida, C o m m o n Loons were recorded flying at an estimated 1500 ft (Williams, 1973, Wilson Bull. 85:230) and i n eastern N e w York state C o m m o n Loons were recorded at altitudes ranging from 3192-7110 ft AGL (Kerlinger, 1982, Condor 84:91-100). The lack o f Oregon records, however, may reflect a lack o f observat ion effort, as biologists and birders o n the ground probably have not attempted to observe loons and waterbirds flying inland at such high altitudes. Even i f attempts had been made by setting u p

spotting scopes to look direcdy overhead, loons flying i n small flocks at 1060-2960 ft AGL may be inconspicuous and easily missed.

A l o n g the Oregon coast this phenomenon may be l imi ted to the Cape Blanco area as C o m m o n Loons may choose to fly over the Cape rather than the long way around. However, it w o u l d seem much more energetically demanding for a l oon to cl imb to an altitude o f 3000 ft for the short flight over the Cape than to fly around it i f it were not maintaining this altitude for some distance. High-altitude (1000-4000 ft) loon migrations have not been observed at any other location along the Oregon coast between Nehalem Bay and the California border dur ing annual Apr i l and November aerial surveys conducted by the USFWS since 1986. Nevertheless, we urge biologists, birders, and pilots flying along the Oregon coast to look for and report migrating loons i n the spring and fall to determine i f this phenomenon is more widespread. 0

MarbledMurrelet. Source: Sensitive Species of Oregon, 1992, Oregon Dept. Fish & Wildlife.


Leach's Storm-Petrel — From Land! Colin Dillingham, 437Azalea Park Road, Brookings, OR97415

Leach's Storm-Petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhod) are w e l l k n o w n to be a comm o n to abundant breeding species i n the region (Evanich 1990, Ramsey 1978). However, they are rarely seen, presumably because they are nocturnal o n their breeding colonies and forage far offshore (Speich and W a h l 1989, Y o c o m and Harris 1975). I have discovered a locat ion near Brookings, Curry County, Oregon, where Leach's Storm-Petrels can be easily seen from land.

Goat Island, located off Harris Beach State Park near Brookings, has a k n o w n breeding colony o f Leach's and Fork-tailed iOceanodromafurcatd) Storm-Petrels (Evanich 1990). W i t h i n a quarter mile o f this nesting colony, a lumber mi l l operates 24 hours per day. Dur ing the night, the mi l l operates bright lights, and on foggy nights, these lights appear to attract Leach's Storm-Petrels i n fairly large numbers. Apparently the birds get disoriented during foggy conditions w h e n coming to their nesting colony and fly around the lights. I presume that other species such as Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels also occur at this site, bu t i n lower densities. O n e d e a d Cassin 's A u k l e t (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) has been found at this site o n 27 September 1991.

I observed greater densities o f petrels i n the 2000-2300 hour per iod than at later nighttime hours. Forty-one detections have been recorded i n 103 minutes of observation during the 2000-2300 hour period, compared w i t h 1 detection i n approximately 120 minutes o f observation dur ing nighttime observations between 2300-0500 hours.

The season dur ing w h i c h petrels may be found at this location are un k n o w n at this time. Speich and Wahl (1989) believe that Leach's Storm-Petrels are present o n their breeding colonies from 1 March through late November. My l imi ted records show that they are present at the m i l l f rom at least mid-July (based o n carcasses found at site) through 15 October.

A point o f interest is that although this site provides excellent v iewing opportunities for Oregon birders, i t is also quite fatal to petrels. Whi le circling the bright lights i n dense fog, many petrels fall v ic t im to the abundant power lines, power and light poles, and buildings.

Kevin Sands observed a petrel collide w i t h a light pole and fall to the ground o n 27 September 1991. The b i r d was observed later to fly f rom the g round by all 4 observers present (Kevin Sands, Howard Sands, James Livaudais , a nd C o l i n Di l l ingham). I observed another petrel collide w i t h a power line o n 8 October 1991; this b i rd was also able to fly away.

Communicat ion w i t h m i l l workers and personal observations lead me to believe that u p to 5-15 petrels die dur ing each foggy night. The South Coast Lumber m i l l can be found b y going 1.7 miles nor th o f Brookings o n H w y 101 a n d h e a d i n g 0.1 mi les i n l a n d o n Carpenterville Road. A private security guard patrolled parking lot is located under the lights. D o not park i n this lot. Rather, park o n Carpenterville Road. I w o u l d be more than happy to personally

lead any birders to the site. Please send a copy of any field notes from this site to me.

LlTERATDRE ClTED

Evanich, J.E. Jr. 1990. The Birder's Guide to Oregon. Portland A u d u b o n Society. 288 pp.

Ramsey, F.L. 1978. Birding Oregon. A u d u b o n Society o f Corvallis. 176 pp.

Speich, S.M. and T.R. Wahl . 1989. Catalog of Washington Seabird Colonies. U.S. Fish W i l d l . Serv. Biol . Rep. 88(6). 510 pp.

Yocom, C.F. and S.W. Harris. 1975. Status, Habitats, and Distribution of Birds of Northwestern California. Humbold t State University. 68 pp.

0


Oregon Birds Crossword Puzzle No. 4 Karen Kearney, 6875S.W. 158th Avenue, Beaverton, OR97007

Across I Historically, one of the best places to hope

for a Homed Puffin: Cape 4 Duck similar to a Tufted Duck, without a tuft 8 Environmental disaster spill 10 Deschutes Co. campground known for its

Green-tailed Towhees and woodpeckers I I Jaeger most often seen inland 14 Sea duck that nests inland along rivers 16 This oriole visited the Kearney's

hummingbird feeder in Beaverton, May 1990

17 Overlook at Sauvie Island: Point 20 Smallest hummer 21 It winnows 23 The Clay-colored Sparrow has a gray one 25 This owl has the most monotonous call in

the world 26 A fall Garganey closely resembles a Blue-

winged 27 Oregon CBC that boasts the most species:

Bay 29 The mountain variety has straight head

plumes 31 Pale redpoll 33 Common winter

shorebird 35 The Evening

Grosbeak belongs to this family

37 Oregon's most common bird is probably the Sooty

38 Says "teacher, teacher, teachef!

41 Smallest goose 44 Kinglet crown

patch color 45 Shorebird habitat

at taw tide 46 Our most

widespread phoebe: 's

47 The way to find the rarity is to get out your scope and the flock

48 Our titmouse 49 Adult accipiters

have red ones 51 The Great Knot

breeds here

52 Rare waibler seen on the fall 1991 pelagic out of Brookings

53 Black-billed egret 54 River that flows through Maupin

Down 1 The college library in this town hosted Pine

Grosbeaks in 1985 Icterus blackbird Winter sea ducks common in Puget Sound,

rare here Large Old Work) shorebird Many argue this crow does not exist in

Oregon Flycatcher genus that drives birders nuts Birds are most active at dawn and Second state record of this sparrow was

found by Lillie and Johnson, October 1991 in Fields

12 Uncommon vireo that breeds at Virginia Lake

13 Rare kingbird, best looked for in the fall 15 Campground north of Bums good for

Ponderosa Pine species 18 The hoped-for first state record of this bird at

Commonwealth L. wasn't 19 Red-tailed tyrant flycatcher 22 Annoying, constant companion at Malheur

during the summer 24 Bird's "shoulders" 28 The best seawatch in Lincoln County 30 Yellow-billed murrelet 32 Larry McQueen may never be forgiven for

not reporting his Scissor-tailed 34 Unlike the Cassin's, this finch has

unstreaked undertail coverts 36 Rare but regular wintering sparrow species 39 The Marsh Wren used to be Long-40 Orange-breasted thrushes 42 The spring and the vegetation at Fields 43 Extensive Lake County marsh 50 Favorite spring birding month

Crossword puzzle answer on page 85

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49

I I I I I


News and Notes Pease check your mai l ing label. The

volume and issue number o f your last issue o f Oregon Birdsis pr in ted i n the upper right hand comer. O B is n o w sent o n a 1-year basis, not o n a volume-year basis. I n other words, your membership runs for 4 quarters — 4 issues o f O B — wi thou t regard to the quarter i n w h i c h y o u first subscribed. I f the number 18(3) or earlier appears—this is your last issue. I f the number 18(4) appears, the next issue is your last. So its t ime to send i n your membership dues! I f the number 18(4) or 19(1) appears, feel free to send your dues a litde early. Y o u ' l l be guaranteed an extension o f 4 issues at today's rates, y o u w o n ' t have to w o r r y about your subscription for the next year, and you ' l l make the accounting at OFO a little easier. The entire O B team thanks you!

New logo, n e w T-Shirts. OFO has adopted a n e w official logo — a

Hermit Warbler inside a circular Oregon Field Ornithologists banner. The n e w logo has been pr inted onto quality T-Shirts i n striking black-and-white w i t h radiant ye l low i n the appropriate places. See the "bookcase" tear sheet i n the center o f this issue for an order fo rm — $14 postpaid, specify size (M-L-XL). The T-Shirts w i l l be available for first-hand inspection and w i l l be offered for sale at

the upcoming Fall Birding Weekend at Malheur, see be low and tear sheet. Treasurer, Oregon Field Ornithologists, P.O. Box 10373, Eugene, OR 97440.

Sheran Jones has once again pu t together the Fall Birding Weekend at

Malheur. Birders enjoying Malheur i n the fall w i l l wan t to take advantage o f this program, for w h i c h a tear-sheet appears i n the middle o f this issue. 25 - 27 September 1992. Please call Malheur Field Station at (503)493-2629 to make your lodging and dining reservations, or wri te to MFS at HC 72 Box 260, Princeton, OR 97721. Sheran Jones, 9785 S.W. Ventura Court, Tigard, OR 97223, (503)246-5594.

Oregon Shorebird Festival, 11-13 September 1992, at the Oregon Institute

o f Marine Biology, Charleston, Oregon, sponsored b y Cape Arago A u d u b o n Society i n cooperation w i t h Oregon Field Ornithologists. Events include field trips to Bandon Marsh, Pony Slough, Nor th Spit, and the N e w River estuary, pelagic trips out o f Charleston, and programs. Keynote speaker o n Saturday night is Mark Stern f rom the Oregon National Heritage Program speaking on Snowy Plovers o n the Oregon Coast. Registrat ion is $12 per person, $20 per family, the pelagic tr ip is $40, lodging is $ 10 per night

i n the O I M B do rm w i t h your o w n bedding and towels.

For more information, contact Lyn Topits (267-

7208), Barb Griff in (756-5688), or Ken

k Dazey(756-7280). Cape A r a g o

A u d u b o n Society, P.O. Box

3 8 1 , N o r t h Bend, OR 97459.

OFO's new logo appears on a new TShirt, available now through the OFO Bookstore (see center tear sheets), and at OFO's Fall Birding Weekend at Malheur Field Station.

County birders' hotline. Birders w h o w o u l d l ike to be included on a

county b i r d hotline, please send your name and phone number along w i t h the county(ies) i n w h i c h y o u wan t to be placed. I am invo lved i n a project o f producing checklists for each of Oregon's counties. A l o n g w i t h the checklists, I p lan to publ ish the names and phone numbers o f any person(s) want ing to be contacted i f a rare b i r d for the county is located. This w o u l d w o r k i n a similar fashion to the statewide ne twork n o w active bu t w o u l d not take its place. State rare birds should still be called i n to the state hotline. Craig Miller, P.O. Box 6376, Bend, OR 97708.

Oregon Shorebird Festival, 11-13 Sept. 1992

Trie Oregon Department o f Fish and Wildlife has published Sensitive Spe-

ciesof Oregon, First Edition, June 1992, b y David B. Marshall. "It is the pol icy o f the State o f Oregon to prevent the serious depletion o f any indigenous species. *** One tool used to help avert the listing o f fish and wildl i fe species is the Oregon Sensitive Species List, required under OAR 635-100-040. This is a 'watchlist' o f species that cou ld qualify for listing as threatened or endangered species in the future and serves as an early-warning system for land managers and the public. *** This publ icat ion is a summary o f the most up-to-date information o n fish and wildl i fe species curcently o n the state's Sensitive Species Hst. *** W e at the Oregon Department o f Fish and Wildlife hope y o u w i l l use this information and jo in i n our efforts to protect Sensitive Species and their habitats." Claire A. Puchy, Chief, Nongame Wildlife Program, Oregon Department o f Fish and Wildl ife , 2501 S.W. First Avenue, P.O. Box 59, Portland, OR 97207, (503)229-5400.


Cheek your label • • • • • If the number in the upper right hand corner of your mailing

label is 1£>(3) — th is is your last issue! Please renew now\ • If the number is 18>(4), the next issue is your last. Please renew

early t o ease the bookkeeping burden here at OFO. Thank you! • Use the handy tear sheet on the center pages of t h i s issue of

Oregon Birds. Don't miss an issue!

Buy a T-shirt • Sizes M - L - XL • $14 postpaid • High-quality cotton printed in white, black, and yellow • Order using the handy tear sheet in the middle of th is issue

Mark these dates • •. . • 11-13 September 1992, Oregon Shorebird Festival at Charleston • 25-27 September 1992, Third OFO Fall Weekend a t Malheur • 2 3 October, deadline for next issue of Oregon Birds — 03 13(4) • 10 December, deadline to send Fall f ieldnotes t o field notes

editors • 4 - 6 June 1993, Oregon Field Ornithologists annual meeting a t

Malheur Field Station

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th,

74

5-

78

06

i 9

97

-8

97

8

) Um

atill

a/He

rmis

ton

Ma

rio

n C

or

de

r,

92

2-

36

53

Cr

aig

C

or

de

r,

56

7-

89

44

) Can

yon

City

T

om

W

inte

rs

, 5

75

-2

83

3

ugen

e fl

m

Ca

rls

on

, 4

85

-4

49

1

Cla

ric

e W

ats

on

, 4

85

-6

13

7

Kit

L

ar

se

n,

34

4-

95

74

To

m

Mic

ke

l,

48

5-

71

12

Ba

rb

Co

mb

s, 6

89-6

660

)Ben

d T

om

C

rib

tre

e,

38

8-

24

62

Zoo

a Ba

y/No

rth B

end

3a

rb

ar

a G

riff

in,

75

6-

56

88

'

Ly

n T

op

its,

2

67

-7

20

8

La

rry

Th

or

nb

ur

gh

, 7

56

-4

28

1

)Por

t Orfo

rd

Jim

R

og

er

s,

I C

ar

rie

O

sb

or

ne

, 3

32

-2

55

5

Broo

king

s

Rose

burg

/Glid

e A

lic

e P

ar

ke

r,

67

2-

15

49

Me

re

dit

h J

on

es

, 672

-636

7 \R

on

Ma

er

tz,

49

6-

38

47

Ashl

and/

Med

ford

M

arj

ori

e M

oo

re

, 4

82

-1

30

3

/"Pho

ne nu

mbe

r in

italic

s

mea

ns yo

u ma

y rea

ch an

\an

swer

ing

mac

hine,

y

Silv

er L

ake

Ste

ve

Su

mm

er

s,

57

6-

21

90

Co

lin

Dil

lin

gh

am

, 4

69

-9

62

4 B

. J

un

e B

ab

co

ck

, 8

26

-70

11

Are

a C

ode

for

Ore

gon

is 5

03

Rules

for a

netw

ork

are si

mple

: rar

e bir

ds on

ly (no

east/

west

or w

est/e

ast O

regon

bird

s); bi

rders

wh

o ge

t call

s ha

ve to

mak

e ca

lls (th

is m

eans

long

dist

ance

tolls

); an

d on

ce on

the

netw

ork,

keep

it go

ing

by ke

eping

your

addr

ess

and

phon

e nu

mbe

rfs) c

urre

nt. M

inimum

infor

mati

on on

a ra

re b

ird ca

ll sho

uld

includ

e sp

ecies

, age

and

sex (

if no

t kno

wn, s

ay so

), nu

mbe

r of b

irds,

who

found

it (th

em), a

nd w

ho to

call

for m

ore in

form

ation

, if a

nyon

e. Bi

rders

who

wou

ld lik

e to

repr

esen

t the

ir loc

al bir

ding

areas

shou

ld w

rite to

The

Edito

r, Or

egon

Bi

rds,

3007

N.E.

32n

d Av

enue

, Por

tland

, OR

972I

2 Ple

ase

feel

free

to s

end

ideas

and

sugg

estio

ns, to

o!

^ Oregon Fie

ld Ornithologists' Fa

ll W<

2S -

27

Sept

embe

r f 9

92

Agoo

d tim

e wa

s ha

d by

all b

irder

s at

last

Sep

tem

bers

OFO

Fall

Wee

kend

at M

alheu

r, de

spite

the

slow

est f

all b

irding

at M

alheu

r NW

R—an

d thr

ough

out O

rego

n fo

r tha

t mat

ter—

in re

cent

m

emor

y. Al

thou

gh la

st ye

ar's

fall

birdin

g at

Malh

eur f

ound

low

num

bers

of m

igrati

ng b

irds,

an

d st

ill fe

wer

rarit

ies, s

ome

unus

ual s

pecie

s we

re n

oted

: Am

erica

n Re

dsta

rt, a

male

M

agno

lia W

arbl

er, a

n ou

t-of-p

lace

Scru

b Ja

y, an

d (2

wee

ks a

fter t

he O

FO w

eeke

nd) t

he

seco

nd st

ate

reco

rd of

Le C

onte

's Sp

arro

w (a

t Fiel

ds).

In ad

ditio

n, a

fem

ale P

hain

opep

la w

as

foun

d in

near

by (s

ort o

f) La

kevie

w. In

rece

nt ye

ars,

Fall

bird

ing at

Malh

eur h

as p

rodu

ced

such

no

table

spec

ies as

Sol

itary

San

dpip

er, S

emip

almat

ed S

andp

iper

, Stilt

San

dpip

er, R

ed-e

yed

Vire

o, C

ape

May

War

bler

, Bl

ackb

umian

War

bler

, Te

nnes

see

War

bler

, Pa

lm W

arbl

er,

Ches

tnut

-sid

ed W

arbl

er,

Bay-

Brea

sted

War

bler

, No

rther

n W

ater

thru

sh, W

hite

-thro

ated

Sp

arro

w, R

osy

Finc

h (S

teen

s M

tn.),

and

Sum

mer

Tan

ager

. So

set

asid

e th

e da

tes

of 2

5 - 2

7 Se

ptem

ber 1

992

for t

he T

hird

OFO

Fall

Wee

kend

at

Malh

eur.

We

will

once

aga

in re

ques

t per

miss

ion

from

Ref

uge

pers

onne

l to

walk

out

on th

e Be

nson

Boa

t La

ndin

g Ro

ad. L

ast y

ear

man

y sa

ndpi

pers

and

wad

ers

were

obs

erve

d,

| inc

luding

Wes

tern

, Lea

st, a

nd P

ecto

ral S

andp

iper

s, L

ong-

bille

d Do

witc

hers

, bot

h Ye

llow

legs,

Mar

bled

God

wits

, a G

olde

n an

d se

vera

l Blac

k-be

llied

Plov

ers.

A P

rairi

e Fa

lcon

and

2 Sn

ow G

eese

wer

e als

o ob

serv

ed th

ere.

M

alheu

r Fi

eld S

tatio

n (M

FS) m

embe

r do

rm ra

tes

are

$10/n

ight

plus

$1/p

erso

n/ni

ght i

f co

oking

facil

ities

in th

e dor

m ar

e us

ed. S

ome

traile

rs ar

e st

ill av

ailab

le at

$18

/nig

ht m

inim

um

I to

$38/n

ight

max

imum

(for

4+ o

ccup

ants

). A

few R

V sp

aces

are

also

avail

able

(RVs

mus

t be

com

pletel

y co

ntain

ed).

MFS

non-

mem

ber

rate

s ar

e sli

ghtly

hig

her.

Mea

ls m

ay b

e ta

ken

at

the

MFS

dining

hall

or y

ou m

ay b

ring

your

own

food

. Tra

ilers

and

som

e do

rms

have

cook

ing

facil

ities.

Dini

ng h

all m

eal r

ates

are

bre

akfa

st $5

.50,

lunc

h $5

.00

(a sa

ck lu

nch

you

prep

are

at br

eakf

ast t

ime)

, and

dinn

er $7

.00

Plea

se ca

ll MFS

at (

503)

493-

2629

to m

ake

your

lodg

ing

and

dining

rese

rvat

ions

, or w

rite

to MF

S at

HC

72 B

ox 2

60, P

rince

ton,

OR

9772

1. T

his

year

|

MFS

has a

pol

icy th

at th

e fir

st n

ighf s

lodg

ing fe

e an

d the

firs

t day

's m

eal f

ees

(if ta

king

mea

ls

in the

dini

ng h

all) m

ust b

e pa

id at

leas

t 2 w

eeks

in ad

vanc

e as

a de

posit

to h

old r

eser

vatio

ns.

The

OFO

regis

tratio

n fe

e, be

sides

supp

ortin

g OF

O, c

over

s th

e ra

re bi

rd s

lide

show

to b

e pr

esen

ted

again

this

year

by H

arry

Neh

ls a

fter t

he S

atur

day

night

coun

t-dow

n di

nner

. Har

ry

will s

how

diffe

rent

slid

es th

an th

ose s

een

last y

ear.

MFS

direc

tor L

ucile

Hou

sley

has a

rrang

ed

| fo

r a s

pecia

l sea

ting

in th

e din

ing h

all a

t 6:3

0 p.m

. Sat

urda

y nig

ht fo

r OFO

mem

bers

. Tho

se

not r

egist

ering

may

dine

in th

e din

ing h

all at

5:30

p.m

. The

Sat

urda

y nig

ht m

eal w

ill be

a

chick

en d

inne

r. Th

ose

who

requ

ire ve

geta

rian

mea

ls w

ill ne

ed to

mak

e th

at s

pecif

icatio

n to

MF

S no

late

r tha

n 12

Sep

tem

ber.

Othe

r tha

n a g

et-to

geth

er F

riday

nigh

t to sh

ow a

few o

f ou

r ow

n be

st s

lides

(plea

se b

ring

your

favo

rite

Oreg

on b

ird s

lides

— no

t mor

e th

an 20

) and

the

pres

entat

ion b

y Ha

rry S

atur

day

night

, the

wee

kend

will

be u

nstru

cture

d —

you'l

l be

free

to

| ex

plore

Malh

eur

Natio

nal W

ildlife

Ref

uge

and

surro

undin

g ar

eas

at y

our

own

pace

. De

scrip

tions

of/d

irect

ions

to p

oints

of i

nter

est,

bird

chec

klist

s, a

nd o

ther

info

rmat

ion

are

avail

able

at R

efug

e he

adqu

arte

rs.

So fo

r gre

at b

irdin

g, N

O M

OSQ

UITO

ES, a

nd a

n op

portu

nity

to s

uppo

rt bo

th O

FO an

d MF

S, fi

ll out

the

atta

ched

regis

tratio

n fo

rm a

nd jo

in us

at M

FS in

Sep

tem

ber!

Sher

an J

ones

, 978

5 SW

Ven

tura

Cou

rt,

Tiga

rd, O

R 97

223,

(50

3)24

6-55

94

This

page

pri

nted

on

recy

cled

pap

er.

feekend at Malheur

Frid

ay. 2

B S

epte

mbe

r 19

92

• 8 p

.m.,

potp

ourri

slid

e sh

ow, d

on't

forg

et to

brin

g yo

ur fa

vorit

e Or

egon

slid

es to

sho

w;

MFS

dining

hall

. Sa

turd

ay, 2

b Se

ptem

ber 1

99

2 • 6

:30 p

.m.,

dinne

r in

MFS

dinin

g ha

ll (or

mak

e yo

ur ow

n alt

erna

te d

ining

arra

ngem

ents

). • 7

:30 p

.m.,

Harry

Neh

ls, h

ighlig

hts

from

the

Oreg

on B

ird R

ecor

ds C

omm

ittee

(diffe

rent

sp

ecies

than

show

n la

st ye

ar);

MFS

dini

ng h

all.

Sund

ay, 2

7 Se

ptem

ber %

992

•Bird

ing

on y

our o

wn ..

..

Regi

stra

tion

dead

line

I Sep

tem

ber

I992

. Fo

r lat

er r

egis

tratio

ns, c

all S

hera

n Jo

nes

(pho

ne b

elow

). M

ake

your

lodg

ing

arra

ngem

ents

sep

arat

ely.

Fi

ll in

for

each

par

ticip

ant

1. Na

me

Phon

e

Addr

ess

City

St

ate

Zip

2.

Nam

e Ph

one

Addr

ess

City

St

ate

Zip

Use

addi

tiona

l she

ets

if ne

eded

Regi

stra

tion

OFO

mem

ber

$6.0

0 no

n-OF

O m

embe

r $8

.00

1-yea

r OF

O m

embe

rship

Ind

ividu

al

$18.

00

Fam

ily $

24.0

0 TO

TAL

ENCL

OSED

M

ake

your

che

ck p

ayab

le to

OFO

or O

rego

n Fi

eld

Orn

ithol

ogis

ts

For

lodgin

g an

d m

eals,

con

tact

: M

ail t

his

form

by I

Sept

embe

r 199

2, to

: Lu

cile

Hous

ley, E

xecu

tive

Dire

ctor

M

alheu

r Fi

eld S

tatio

n HC

72 B

ox 2

60

Prin

ceto

n OR

977

21

(503

)493

-262

9

Sher

an J

ones

97

85 S

.W. V

entu

ra C

ourt

Tigar

d OR

972

23

(503

)246

-559

4

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Oregon's Sensitive Bird Species Sensitive Bird Species (in alphabetical order) Acorn Woodpecker American White Pelican, Breeding

Populat ion Bank Swallow Barrow's Goldeneye, Breeding

Populat ion Black-backed Woodpecker Black Rosy Finch {Leucosticte arctoa

Western Bluebird, Coast Range, Western Interior Valleys, and West Slopes o f Cascades

White-faced Ibis White-headed Woodpecker Williamson's Sapsucker Yel low-bi l led Cuckoo Ye l low Rail

atrata), Basin and Range (Steens Mountain)

Black Swift, Assumed Breeding Population

Bobol ink Bufflehead, Breeding Populat ion Bur rowing O w l , Western Interior

Valleys, Columbia Basin, and Blue Mountains

Dusky Canada Goose {Branta canadensis occidentalism

Ferruginous H a w k Flammulated O w l Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Breeding

Population Franklin's Gul l Grasshopper Sparrow Great Gray O w l Greater Sandhill Crane ( C m s

canadensis tabidd) Harlequin Duck, Breeding Population Horned Grebe, Breeding Population Least Bittern Lewis' Woodpecker, Western Interior

Valleys, West and East Slopes o f Cascades, and Columbia Basin

Marbled Murrelet Northern Goshawk Northern Pygmy-Owl Pileated Woodpecker Purple Martin Pygmy Nuthatch Red-necked Grebe, Breeding

Population Sage Grouse, East Slopes o f Cascades,

Columbia Basin, and Blue Mountains

Snowy Egret, Breeding Population Spruce Grouse Streaked Horned Lark (Eremophila

alpestris strigatd), Western Interior Valleys

Three-toed Woodpecker Tricolored Blackbird Upland Sandpiper

Source: David B. Marshall, Sensitive Species of Oregon, First Edition, June 1992, Oregon Department o f Fish and Wildlife. 0

Great Gray Owl. Source: Sensitive Species of Oregon, 1992, Oregon Dept. Fish & Wildlife.

Birders wanted! " I need a couple o f g o o d birders w h o want to share their

knowledge and passion for b i rd ing w i t h our membership. We are looking for contract teachers to instruct adult classes i n a variety o f topics and formats this year. "Jennifer Devl in , Portland Audubon Society, 5151 N.W. Cornell Road, Portland, OR 97210, (503)292-6855.

Western Fie ld Orni thologists announces their 17th annual meet

ing, hosted by the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, 18-20 September 1992, i n Sunnyvale — strategically located in Silicon Valley w i t h ready access to the San Jose airport, San Francisco, and Monterey. Highlights include pelagic trips, other field trips, a barbecue, and banquet speaker Dr. Luis Baptista o f the California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 247, Alviso, CA 95002.

Bustards i n Oregon? D o n Alan Hall's article o n "bustards" reported from

the south Oregon coast i n the 1820s asked for thoughts and suggestions on what those birds might really have been. The article appeared at O B 17(4): 112, Winter 1991. D o n is still accepting input whi le preparing a fo l low-up note. Contact h i m soon o n what birds y o u think were identified as "bustards" i n Oregon. D o n Alan Hal l , 37112 Moss Rock Drive, Corvallis, OR 97330-9351.

U p c o m i n g p e l a g i c t r i p s :

- 1 9 September 1992, departs llwaco, 12 hours, Bob O'Brien/ Jim Johnson. Portland Audubon Society, 292-6855.

- 26 September 1992, departs Brookings, 8 hours, Colin Dill ingham, 469-9624.

- 24 October 1992, departs Newport, 8 hours, Bob O'Brien/ Jim Johnson. Portland Audubon Society, 292-6855.


Reports of Harlequin Duck sightings in the Cascade Range and Wallowa

Mountains are requested. The breeding population of Harlequins in the Pacific Northwest is on the U.S. Forest Service's Region 6 sensitive species list. Very little is known about this duck's breeding behavior or habitat needs, however. As a first step in assessing the habitat requirements and breeding ecology of the Harlequin Duck in the Pacific Northwest, the Willamette National Forest and the International Harlequin Duck Working Group are cooperating in developing a complete record of sightings of Harlequin Ducks in Oregon. "We are interested in any occurrences of Harlequins, winter or summer records, whether recent or historic. While dates andlocations of sightings are most important, other relevant data pertaining to habitat characteristics is desirable and can be recorded on sighting report forms. These data wi l l be used to map the current and historical range of Harlequin Ducks in Oregon and to prioritize stream systems for more intensive survey efforts." Steven Latta, Wildlife Biologist, Willamette National Forest, 211 East 7th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401, (503)465-6320.

If you have papers, reports, or unpublished material on Double-crested Cor

morants, I would be pleased to receive copies for the species account for the Birds of North America project. "We are trying to produce a draft of the account in time for the symposium on the species at the meeting of the Colonial Waterbird Society in Oxford, Mississippi, in October 1992." Jeremy J. Hatch, Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, fax (617)287-6650.

Birders interested in butterflies wi l l be interested in the Portland-based

Xerces Society. Why be interested in invertebrates? "Invertebrates account for 90 percent of the animal biomass of our planet and 95 percent of all animal species. They drive the world's biological systems. These organisms are a major source of food for birds, fishes, frogs, lizards, and many mammals; they pollinate plants and crops; recycle nutrients in soils and water; produce active compounds for life-saving medicines; and indicate the health of ecosystems. Invertebrates are critical to maintaining life on earth." Regular membership is $25.00.

The Xerces Society, 10 S.W. Ash Street, Portland, OR 97204.

These items by Tara Wertz appeared in The Wildlife Society's Summer 1992 Oregon Chapter Newsletter: • Sharp-tailed grouse were again released in

Wallowa County this spring to supplement last year's reintroduction. Forty-eight birds were turned loose, 20 with radio transmitters. About half the radioed birds are still in the area, and several are missing. Ten to 15 of the males did form an active lek near the release site, but we do not know if any of the females attended the site. As with most releases, there was a lot of dispersal from the release site. Some positive changes took place with this release compared to last year's. The grouse were flown from Idaho instead of being trucked to Wallowa County. This cut down the travel time from 5 days to less than 24 hours. The birds arrived in much better shape. Also, a tape of Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse calls was available for playing at the release site and lek. This was used instead of the taped Plains Sharp-tailed Grouse calls used last year. The calls are different and we hope that the birds were positively associated with the Columbian calls.

• After an initial release of 10 Peregrine Falcons last year, 8 birds are due to be hacked this spring in northeastern Oregon. Two sites were used in 2 different counties last year. This spring, folks were scouting areas in the region and found 2 sites being occupied byperegrines. All the birds are thought to be immatures; therefore the chance of the birds nesting is small. However, the birds could possibly defend the sites over the winter and nest next spring. Two more sites will be used this spring to hack the birds. Birds are delivered to the hack boxes, which are kept closed for a short period until the birds are acclimated to the site. The box is opened and the birds are free to leave. Food is supplied at the box until the birds are no longer using the site. This way the young birds can get a free lunch if their first hunting forays are unsuccessful. Perhaps next spring's update will be on the first peregrine nest in our area in recent history.

Tiese items appeared in Ornithological NewsletterNumber 88, June 1992,

published by the American Ornithologists' Union, Cooper Ornithological Soci

ety, Wilson Ornithological Society, and the Association of Field Ornithologists:

• Mexico has instituted strict requirements for the temporary (less than 6 months) entry of private vehicles from the U. S. The restrictions apply to vehicles that will be driven beyond the approximately 20 km "free zone" south of the border. The free zone includes all of Baja California. You must (a) provide documentary evidence that the vehicle canies full U.S. auto insurance valid for at least 2 months or (b) post a bond based on the value of the car (as determined by Mexican Customs), which may be as high as 50 percent value (the bond is reimbursable but an additional processing fee is not). For additional information, potential travelers by private auto should contact the Mexican Embassy in Washington DC, or the Mexican Consulate nearest their residence. Further, in an effort to reduce air pollution, Mexican authorities restrict tourist vehicular traffic in Mexico City. Vehicles of non-Mexican registration are restricted from driving 1 day a week, based on the last digit of the license plate. The Department of State has a publication Tips for Travelers to Mexico. It is available for $1.00 from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20401.

• Mail sent to the republics that formerly comprised the USSR should not show USSR or Soviet Union as the country destination. The name of the republic should show on the last line of the address as the country name. The following names should be used: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Byelarus, Republic of Georgia (to avoid confusion with the state of Georgia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation (Russia), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Postage rates, size and weight limits, and restrictions now shown in the International Mail Manual continue to apply for the republics until further notice. Requirements of the USSR no longer apply to Estonia, Latvia, and Uthuania; restrictions for those countries are listed separately.

• The American Birding Association and the Bureau of Land Management have signed a cooperative agreement to enhance inventories and monitor management of nongame birds and their habitats on the 270 million acres of public lands administered by BLM. The 2 organizations will cooperate to monitor key bird habitats, and educate the recreational public on the importance of birds to the American heritage.

• Authors of articles or publications on owls and wishing them to be listed in the second edition of a Working Bibliography of Owls of the World are asked to send reprints to Richard J. Clark, The Owl Bibliography, c/o Dept. of Biology, York


College of Pennsylvania, York, PA 17405-7199.

• We want to contact observers who have salvaged migrating birds from broadcast tower collisions. We would like to compare species frequency and trends from our 17-year study with those of other areas. Most valuable would be data collected over several years, or where salvage continues. Randy Jones, 417 S. Main St., Youngstown, OH 44514 (216-757-2126).

• If you have any unwanted cameras cluttering up the back of a drawer, I can help you clear them away. I am studying nest predation and am using cameras to catch predators in the act. It doesn't matter how old or how simple the cameras are — I can put them to good use. If you would like to donate a camera (I will gladly refund postage), please send to David Haskell, Section of Ecology and Syst., Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701.

Ornithological Societies of North America, Ornithological Newsletter, Richard C. Banks, Editor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., fax (202)357-1932.

If you are using C.J. Pennycuick's bird flight computer program, you should

know that there is an enor in Program 2. Une 910 contains a bracket (b*2) which should be (b^2). This is the statement that tells a gliding bird how much to flex its elbows and reduce its wingspan. It is a sneaky error, because many typical soaring birds have a wingspan of about 2 meters, in which case b*2 equals b A 2. Users with interpreted versions of the program can make the corrections themselves. Those who obtained a compiled version for the Macintosh should send the disk back for replacement. Fred Schaffner, c/o P.O. Box 510, Boqueron PR 00062.

A new series of ornithological monographs, The Birds ofNorth America,

is published by the American Ornithologists' Union and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. The first 8 monographs are: Barn Owl, Piping Plover, King Rail, Indigo Bunting, Spruce Grouse, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Northern Mockingbird, and Mexican Chickadee. "The Birds of North America has been designed to replace Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds as the primary comprehensive reference on what is known (and not known) about the biology and behavior of our native nesting

birds. Each illustrated profile is being prepared by the expert(s) on that species and will include a major bibliography of references as well as unpublished information. Accounts wil l be released in sets of 8 as completed over the next decade resulting in 18 volumes of 40 accounts each. Four or five sets of eight wil l be produced this year with as many as ten sets in the following years. Special slip cases wi l l be available for each volume of individual species profiles." A charter subscription to the full series is $1875 up front, a regular subscription is $175 for each volume of 40 species accounts. Discounts are available to authors and to those who secure institutional subscriptions. The Birds of North America, c/o The Academy of Natural Sciences, P.O. Box 687, Holmes, PA 19043, (800)345-8112, fax (215)586-3232.

It happens. But it doesn't just happen. What does it take to put out an issue of

OregonBirds? Photographs. OregonBirds is indebted to Oregon's bird photographers — all of whom submit photos at their own expense and without compensation — just to have them trashed on the pages of this journal. Photographs are the "last frontier" for any publication; that is certainly the experience with OB. Some photos arrive in very poor shape (bird photographers know the problem). Then

the photos usually go through 2 generations before the printing press (first, a black-and-white or color print is made, then a "halftone" is made from the print and that halftone is pasted onto the original plates that go to the press). The press was selected for its favorable prices, not its fine quality — so that is the final death for some photos. Thus many photos are not the best quality to begin with, and even for those that are, the OB process pretty much ruins them. In all, photos are the most difficult part of OB. There is the keeping track, the filing, the production, the final layout, returning the originals, etc. Photos are expensive to produce. Yet, to the eye of most readers, photos are the final ingredient for a quality publication. To get quality photos into this journal, ultimately, wil l require more revenues than are now available. Membership wil l have to rise. For example, if membership were to double— there would be enough revenue to print black-and-white photos as well as in any publication. That's where you, the OB reader, come in. Please be sure your membership is up to date. Do what you can to advertise OB to birders who may not know about us. If each OFO member recruited one other member, we could all enjoy the highest quality black-and-white journal that can be produced today.

Rare birds — running tally of the birds of the Oregon rare bird phone net

work (and a few we learned about too late for the phone network) (reports of these birds might not have been verified, and, in fact, may be in error): - 17 May 1992, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, an

adult male at Cascade Head, Tillamook Co., by Pat Kemner;

-19 May 1992, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male at feeders in Brookings, Curry Co., by Mike and Paula Frazer;

-19 May 1992, Blackpoll Warbler, male at Headquarters, Malheur NWR, Harney Co., by Martha Gannett and Maurita Smythe;

Group M « « t s At

Portland First Tuesday (except Jun, Jul, Aug)

Portland Audubon House, 5151 N.W. Cornell Road, Portland

Yaquina Birders and Naturalists (Lincoln County)

Every third Tuesday (except Jul, Aug)

Hatfield Marine Science Center, Meeting Room 9, South Beach

I Add your group! Write to the Editor.... 1

\


-22 May 1992, Magnolia Warbler, in woods at Fields, Harney Co., by Kamal Islam;

-22 May 1992, Parula Warbler, female at Headquarters, Malheur NWR, Harney Co., by Craig Corder and Judy Smith;

-23 May 1992, Broad-winged Hawk, subadult flying over Catlow Valley, Harney Co., by Don Baccus and Portland Audubon Society Field Trip participants;

- 23 May 1992, Great-tailed Grackle, a bird at Madras, Jefferson Co., by Jeff Gilligan;

-24 May 1992, Summer Tanager, a subadult male at DeMoss Springs County Park, Sherman Co., by Roy Gerig;

-25 May 1992, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, adult on fenceline along Marine Drive, near Blue Lake Park, Multnomah Co., by Paul Osburn;

-25 May 1992, Parula Warbler, male near Frenchglen, Harney Co., by Jeff Gilligan and Gerard Lillie;

-28 May 1992, Ovenbird, territorial male near Blue River, Lane Co., reported by Barb Bellin;

-29 May 1992, Parula Warbler, male at Headquarters, Malheur NWR, Harney Co., by Tom Crabtree;

-29 May 1992, Least Flycatcher, one at Fields and one near Frenchglen, Harney Co., by Tom Crabtree;

-30 May 1992, Chestnut-sided Warbler, male near Frenchglen, Harney Co., by Tom Crabtree;

-30 May 1992, Common Grackle, one at Malheur Field Station feeders, Hamey Co., by Gerard Lillie;

- 30 May 1992, Hooded Warbler, a male at Malheur NWR headquarters, Harney Co., by Owen Schmidt, Tom Crabtree, and Dan van den Broek;

-ljune 1992, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, in woods at Fields, Harney Co., by Dan van den Broek;

- 2-10June 1992, Great-tailed Grackle, a bird coming to a feeder in Port Orford, Coos Co., by Alice Pfand;

-4 June 1992, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, in woods at Fields, Harney Co., by Harry Nehls;

-6 June 1992, Least Flycatcher, 2 birds at Clyde Holliday State Park, Grant Co., by Joe Evanich;

-6 June 1992, Eastern Phoebe, territorial male at Falls City, Polk Co., by Bill Tice;

-7 June 1992, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a bird along Lightning Creek, near Imnaha, Wallowa Co., reported by Frank Conley;

-9 June 1992, Brambling, singing adult along Grande Ronde River at Rhinehart, near Elgin, Union Co., by Laurel Ruben;

-9 June 1992, Ovenbird, territorial male 30 miles east of Glide, Douglas Co., by Ron MaertZ;

- 10 June 1992, Common Grackle, a male and female exhibiting nesting behavior, coming to a feeder in Port Orford, Coos Co., by Alice Pfand;

- 13 June 1992, Brown Thrasher, near Fossil, Wheeler Co., by Linda Weiland and Pat Mueller;

-18 June 1992, Brown Booby, one among a large feeding flock of birds off Cape Arago, Coos Co., reported by Barbara Griffin;

-19 June 1992, Tennessee Warbler, male in woods at Bayocean Peninsula, Tillamook Co., by Phil Pickering;

-20 June 1992, Chestnut-sided Warbler, at Jordan Valley, Malheur Co., by John Gatchett;

-26 June 1992, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, adult on fenceline along access road to Cape Blanco, about a mile from Highway 101, by Don Hall;

-29 June 1992, Common Grackle, 2 birds corning to feed at Garrison Lake, Port Orford, Curry Co., by Horst and Alice Pfand;

-4 July 1992, Elegant Tern, 5 birds at Hunter Creek, Curry Co., by Paul Sullivan;

-6 July 1992, Elegant Tern, 48 birds at mouth of Siuslaw River, Lane Co., by Bill Stotz;

- 22 July 1992, Orchard Oriole, an adult male coming to a feeder in Toledo, Lincoln Co., by Chuck Philo; and

- 26 July 1992, Masked Booby, a flyby at the mouth of Yaquina Bay, Lincoln Co.

Meetings, events & deadlines 11-13 September 1992, Oregon Shorebird

Festival, at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Charleston, Oregon, sponsored by Cape Arago Audubon Society in cooperation with Oregon Field Ornithologists. See note above. For more information, contact Lyn Topits (267-7208), Barb Griffin (756-5688), or Ken Dazey (756-7280). Cape Arago Audubon Society, P.O. Box 381, North Bend, OR 97459.

- 18-20 September 1992, Western Field Ornithologists announces their 17th annual meeting, hosted by the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, 18-20 September 1992, in Sunnyvale — strategically located in Silicon Valley with ready access to the San Jose airport, San Francisco, and Monterey. Highlights include pelagic trips, other field trips, a barbecue, and banquet speaker Dr. Luis Baptista of the California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 247, Alviso, CA 95002.

- 22-25 September 1992, Neotropical Migratory Bird Symposium and Workshop, at EstesPark, Colorado. Paper presentations, roundtable sessions, and panels to review management needs, conservation priorities, and state-of-the-art knowledge of

neotropical migratory birds. Tom Martin, Arkansas Coop. Fish & Wildlife Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.

- 25 - 27 September 1992, Third OFO Fall Weekend at Malheur. Malheur Field Station (MFS) member dorm rates are $10/ night plus $l/person/night if cooking facilities in the dorm are used. Some trailers are still available at $18/night minimum to $38/night maximum (for 4+ occupants). A few RV spaces are also available (RVs must be completely contained). MFS non-member rates are slightly higher. Meals may be taken at the MFS dining hall or you may bring your own food. Trailers and some dorms have cooking facilities. Dining hall meal rates are breakfast $5-50, lunch $500 (a sack lunch you prepare at breakfast time), and dinner $7.00 Please call MFS at (503)493-2629 to make your lodging and dining reservations, or write to MFS at HC 72 Box 260, Princeton, OR 97721. Sheran Jones, 9785 S.W. Ventura Court, Tigard, OR 97223, (503)246-5594.

- 2-4 October 1992, Association of Field Ornithologists and the American Birding Association will hold a joint meeting at Connecticut College, New London, CT, The program will include a symposium on conservation of neotropical migrants and workshops on field techniques; 1-, 2-, and 3-day field trips with a special mid-week pelagic trip out of Gloucester. Robert Askins, Box 5461, Department of Zoology, 270 Mohegan Avenue, Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320.

- 23-25 October 1992, Western Bird Banding Association, at the University of California's Motte Rimrock Reserve near Perris, 15 miles south of Riverside. Barbara Carlson, Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, (714)657-3111.

- 17 December 1992 - 3 January 1993, inclusive, 93rd Christmas Bird Count, National Audubon Society, 950Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022.


• 11-15 January 1993, International Shrike Symposium, Archbold Biological Station. Reuven Yosef, Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, FL 33852, (813)465-2571.

• 9-13 February 1993, Pacific Seabird Group, 20th annual meeting, Seattle, Washington, will include a symposium on the status and conservation of Pacific Northwest seabirds. Lora Leschner, Washington Department of Fish and Game, 16018 Mill Creek Boulevard, Mill Creek, WA 98012, (206)774-8812.

• 2-4 March 1993, The Wildlife Society, Oregon Chapter, 1993 Annual Meeting, at the Hotel Newport. Workshop on overview of the Endangered Species Act. Mike Wisdom, Forestry and Range Sciences Lab, 1401 GekelerLane, La Grande, OR97850.

• 29 April -1 May 1993, Wilson Ornithological Society, at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario. Alex Middleton, Zoology Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N I G 2W1.

• 4-6 June 1993, Oregon Field Ornithologists annual meeting at Malheur Field Station. Tim Shelmerdine, President, Oregon Field Ornithologists, 6873 S.W. Montauk Circle, Lake Oswego, OR 97035, (503)620-5105.

-8-12 June 1993, American Ornithologists' Union, 111th stated meeting at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. Edward C. Murphy, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775-0180; Robert H. Day, Alaska Biological Research, Inc., P.O. Box 81934, Fairbanks, AK 99708.

- 17 December 1993 - 3 January 1994, inclusive, 94th Christmas Bird Count, National Audubon Society, 950 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

• 21-26 June 1994, American Ornithologists' Union, Cooper Ornithological Society, and Wilson Ornithological Society, 1994 joint annual meeting at the University of Montana, Missoula, MT.

Crossword puzzle, from page 79-

Cooper Ornithological Society

- 21-27 August 1994, XXI International Ornithological Congress, Vienna, Austria. Interconvention, A-1450, Vienna, Austria.

0

WANTED 5ack i s s u e s of Oregon dirde

The Nat ional Museum of Na tu ra l H i s to ry (Smi thsonian) is looking for a complete s e t of Oregon birds. If you have 5W0C Talk volumes 1-3, or Oregon dirds volumes 3 onward — and would like t o make a tax-deductible donation — please contact t h e Editor. If you have any volume or issue o f SW0C Talk or Oregon dirds, that you would be willing t o donate or sell, please c o n t a c t t he Editor. Put t hose m u s t y old issues back t o work!

The Editor 3007 N.E. 3 2 n d Avenue Por t land, OP 97212


Hearing Aid for Birders Barbara M. Haas, Haas Hearing Center, 2469Hammertown Road, Narvon, PA 17555-9726, (215)445-5010

Can you hear a Grasshopper Sparrow at 100 yards? Or a Blue-winged, Golden-winged, or Black-and-white Warbler? If not, then you may have a high frequency hearing loss.

For twenty years I have worked with hearing-impaired people and hearing aids. I have constantly endeavored to provide amplification which would furnish the extended high frequencies so birders with hearing loss could again hear warblers, sparrows, etc., in the field.

Hearing aids in the past had high frequency emphasis, but not the extended high frequencies necessary for birders. Other inherent problems in the devices often made them unsuitable for field listening, most noticeably the amplification of loud sounds, for example, traffic, etc.

That is, until the BIRDER was developed. I have worked closely with one manufacturer to the point that I now have the BIRDER available. Originally developed for those individuals with mild-to-moderate high frequency losses, it now has a significantly broader range of fitting. I can state with assurance that most hearing losses can be fitted successfully, especially those with pure high frequency loss!

The patented amplifier has a unique feature: it only amplifies quiet sounds. Other sounds that present problems for most hearing aid wearers (dishes clattering, paper cmnching, wind howling, someone shouting) pass through without amplification, just as if the hearing aid were not there. Gain for loud sounds is available if the user chooses it, but it usually wil l not be necessary. In essence the BIRDER gives the most treble boost for quiet sounds by having a built-in sensor that detects and amplifies only quiet sounds, and it is acoustically transparent for loud sounds.

Fortunately for me, my husband (unfortunate for him) has a moderate high frequency hearing loss bilaterally, so I used his ears for empirical studies. When birding together it was apparent to me that he was missing many of the Blue-winged and Black-and-white Warblers and Grasshopper Sparrows, for example, unless we were exceptionally close to them. I tried everything available to help him, but there were always disparaging

comments about the instruments. Until the BIRDER.

He tried one and then, not unexpectedly, said that although he could now hear these birds, he could not localize them. So now he is wearing 2 BIRDERS, one for each ear, for birding and all other less-than-ideal listening situations. I might add that when he is wearing them, the volume of the TV in the house and the radio in the car is significantly lower.

There is an added feature. They serve as active ear protection. When wearing them, you can be around noise such as power tools without excessive noise causing further damage to hearing. I use them when mowing the lawn.

And there is a further advantage for birders. I wear them on bird counts! It is amazing how much more one can hear. They should prove to be outstanding for Breeding Bird Survey routes, since birds in the zone between stops may be picked up. Wait till they catch on for Big Days! No comer of New Jersey will be safe for the World Series of Birding!

To demonstrate it to birders, I play a tape of Blue-winged Warbler and other species with high-pitched songs with the volume of the tape recorder set low and have the individual stand across a 30-foot room. With the BIRDER they are able to hear it clearly. Many have remarked that they are hearing the full song once again. Without the BIRDER they often are just a couple of feet away from the speakers before they can pick up part or all of the song. And when appropriate, we also go outside and listen.

The BIRDER has been a tremendous success for non-birders as well. The extended high frequencies allow for the high-pitched consonants to be amplified, thereby making speech, a crucial aspect in our lives, more easily understood. To date, everyone I have fit has been extremely pleased. A bonus is that music is more enjoyable.

Will it "cure" a hearing loss? No. Nor is it intended to do so. Will it aid most birders to hear birds from a greater distance than they can without' You bet. A panacea, no. A significant breakthrough, yes.

The BIRDER in-the-ear (ITE) instrument is only available in a full shell model. For this model it is imperative that

the wearer have an adequate-sized ear canal. In December 1991 our company wil l have a behind-the-ear (BTE) model available for those without adequate-sized canals. The BIRDER can be made in a smaller model, but does not have the extended range that I feel is critical for birders.

It all boils down to the fact that I have never been so excited about being able to help birders... ever. The BIRDER is doing what it is supposed to do. If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in following up on this dramatic breakthrough, please let me know.

Editor's Note: This item first appeared in Pennsylvania Birds 5(3): 114, 1991. It is reprinted here as a service to Oregon Birds readers who may have high-frequency hearing loss. Oregon birders who have tried the BIRDER are invited to share their experiences. Please write to the Editor. ' 0

Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Source: Sensitive Species of Oregon, 1992, Oregon Dept. Fish & Wildlife.


FIELDNOTES: Eastern Oregon, Winter 1991-92 JoeEvanich, 5026N.E. Clackamas, Portland, OR 97213

Winter 1991-92 was merely a continuation of the mild dry fall that preceded it. The most common adjective describing the weather throughout Eastern Oregon was warm. Malheur NWR had its warmest winter ever since records began in 1939; this was par for the course in all of Eastern Oregon. There was also a noticeable lack of precipitation throughout the region up to mid-Feb when a few minor storm fronts passed through — unfortunately, the little precipitation that did fall was only the proverbial drop in the bucket. With snowpacks well below normal in all regions (58 percent of normal on Steens Mm., 49 percent of normal near Baker City), Eastern Oregon is heading into its sixth consecutive year of serious drought.

In general, birds wintering throughout this half of Oregon found the mild conditions very easy for survival. Many species that typically depart by Nov remained to overwinter this year — most notably grebes, ducks and geese, rails, and other waterbirds. Most passerines that overwintered were widespread and frequently difficult to locate, but some (especially finches, spanows, crossbills,

and other seed-eaters) appeared in bet-ter-than-usual numbers. In response to the warm and dry weather, many species arrived on their summering grounds as early as mid-Feb.

The following abbreviations appear in this report:

NWR... National Wildlife Refuge WMA ...Wildlife Management Area

USFWS ...U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service NARBA... North American Rare Bird Alert

CBC ...Christmas Bird Count Co. ...County Lk....Lake

Res. ...Reservoir R.... River

m.ob.... many observers etal. ...and others fide...reported by

All county names appear in italics. Christmas Bird Count (CBC) dates

for Eastern Oregon counts are as follows (1991-92): Baker City 29 Dec; Bend 14 Dec; Hood River 1 Jan; John Day 21 Dec; Klamath Falls 14 Dec; P-Ranch (Malheur NWR south) 14 Dec; Salisbury (Baker Co.) 14 Dec; Sodhouse (Malheur NWR north) 16 Dec; Union Co. 14 Dec; and Wallowa Co. 15 Dec.

Loons to Herons Common Loons were reported in

their usual small numbers from throughout the region; numbers wintering along the Columbia R. in Morrow'and Umatilla seemed up over last winter (MD, HN). The Common Loon at Christmas Valley, Lake on 4 Dec was very unusual (SS). A Pacific Loon at the Deschutes R. mouth, Sherman on 10 Jan (CM) was the only other loon species reported this winter. Single Pied-billed Grebes were very rare winter finds on the P-Ranch CBC (fide RV) and the John Day CBC (fide TW). Three Eared Grebes remained for the Klamath Falls CBC (fide MK), and even more unusual were the 3 Eared Grebes on the Union Co. CBC (JW). Horned Grebes were found in good numbers only along the Columbia R., and the 3 on the Wallowa Co. CBC were a notable find (fideVQ. Two Western Grebes on Phillips Res., Baker was a new species for the Salisbury CBC (KK, fide LH). A single Clark's Grebe at Cascades Locks, Hood River on 8 Feb was the only one reported (HN).

Two American White Pelicans overwintered at Harney Lk., Malheur NWR

Oregon Birds and American Birds have synchronized reporting areas, periods, and deadlines. Field reports for eastern and western Oregon are due to the OB Regional Editor and AB Regional Editor at the same time.

Season Fall Winter Spring Summer

Months August—November

December—February March—May June—July

Due date 10 December 10 March 10 June 10 August

Oregon Birds Regional Editors Western Oregon Jeff Gilligan — Spring/Fall

Western Oregon Jim Johnson — Winter/Summer

Eastern Oregon Joe Evanich

26 N.E. 32nd Avenue Portland, OR 97232 234-5961 3244 N.E. Brazee Street Portland, OR 97212 335-3103 5026 N.E. Clackamas Portland, OR 97213 284-4153

American Birds Regional Editor All of Oregon Bill Tweit P.O. Box 1271

Olympia, WA 98507 (206)754-7098

American Birds Sub-Regional Editors Eastern Oregon Tom Crabtree

Western Oregon Harry Nehls

Salem area Barb Bellin

Corvallis area Elzy Eltzroth

Rogue Valley Marjorie Moore

1667 N.W. Iowa Bend, OR 97701 388-2462 2736 S.E. 20th Portland, OR 97202 233-3976 4730 Elizabeth St. N. Salem, OR 97303 393-0243 6980 N.W. Cardinal Corvallis, OR 97330 745-7806 357 Taylor Street Ashland, OR 97520 482-1303


(GI, fide RV). Double-crested Cormorants wintered in good numbers along the Columbia; up to 150 birds, mostly juveniles, were noted at The Dalles Dam, Wasco on 7 Dec (DL). An extremely late Great Egret was reported from Sunriver, Deschutes on 15 Dec (D. Danley, fide TC), and 11 were reported on the Klamath Falls CBC (fideMK). Nineteen Black-crowned Night-Herons were also found on the Klamath Falls CBC (fide MK).

Waterfowl Wintering Tundra Swans were wide

spread but nowhere common except in the Klamath and Harney Basins. By 21 Feb, approximately 5000 were present in the meadowlands north of Lower Klamath NWR (HN, JE, m.ob.) About 800 migrant Tundra Swans were noted on Harney Lk. as early as 24 Jan (RV). An immature bird apparendy wintered in northern Wasco and was reported from a number of locations throughout the period (DL, et at). A collared Tundra Swan and its uncollared mate were observed at Krumbo Res., Harney during Feb (RV); this bird originated at the Yukon R. Delta in AK. and was banded in 1990 (C. Babcock, USFWS, Anchorage, AK).

The Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey at Malheur NWR found 26 adult and 13 immature Trumpeter Swans on 6 Jan (GI, RV). A small population of 100 Trumpeters was introduced at Summer Lk. WMA, Lake during Nov and Dec 1991; these birds, distinguished by their green neck collars and yellow-dyed wings, came from the traditional population at Harriman St. Pk. in ID. (USFWS personnel) . Birders should watch for these swans as they have already begun to wander away from Summer Lk. — one was noted at Harney Lk. on 6-9 Jan (GI, RV), and another was found at Ladd Marsh WMA, Union from 28 Feb into Mar (JW). Other Trumpeters not of the Summer Lk. stock included 1 noted on Ochoco Res., Crook from 21 Dec to the end of the report period (TC, CM, etal), and 4 adults noted with the introduced swans at Summer Lk. all winter (SS).

On 26 Nov 1991, Ray Eckstrom found an astonishing adult WHOOPER SWAN on the California side of White Lk. at Lower Klamath NWR. This bird spent the entire winter in the company of Tundra Swans, and was observed by hundreds of birders from across the continent. On at least 2 occasions — 7 Dec 1991 (MC) and 22 Feb 1992 (JE)—the bird was observed flying over the Oregon side of the border. There were a few other reports of the bird

being seen on the Oregon side, but no other details were submitted (/kfeUSFWS Refuge personnel, HN). It was last reported on 3 Mar (fide HN). This Asiatic species is considered a very rare but regular migrant and winter visitor to the outer Aleutians. Outside of AK., there are only 2 widely accepted reports of wi ld Whooper Swans in North America — an old specimen taken in Maine (1903), and a bird that wintered near Chico, California, about 10 years ago.

Numbers of non-Canada geese began showing up at their traditional migration areas as early as mid-Feb. Six Greater White-fronted Geese at Ft. Harney on 8 Feb (Tom Downs), and 50 Snow Geese on Harney Lk. on 19 Feb (RV) were the first north-bound migrants of those species reported. About 100 Ross' Geese were present in the Klamath Basin as early as 20 Feb (HN, JE). Two White-fronts were found on the Bend CBC; 3 were at Hatfield Lake on 17 Feb (TC); 1 was on the Prineville CBC (SS, LR). The 2 White-fronts and the Snow Goose near Odell, HoodRiveron 8 Feb (DA, JE) were very unusual local migrants.

Most ducks were reported in good numbers and many early spring migrants were noted. The annual Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey in the Harney Basin (USFWS) was conducted on 6 Jan; the following table includes the results (GI, RV):

American White Pelican 2 Great Blue Heron 17 Tundra Swan 160 Trumpeter Swan 39 Snow Goose 1 Canada Goose 11,992 Green-winged Teal 196 Mallard 1154 Northern Pintail 102 Gadwall 1121 American Wigeon 1177 Redhead 720 goldeneye, sp 740 Bufflehead 59 Hooded Merganser 8 Common Merganser 150

Major movements of Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, and American Wigeon were noted throughout Eastern Oregon beginning in early Feb. Eurasian Wigeon were found at their usual haunts in Hood River (up to 3 males) and in the Klamath Basin (at least 2 males). Singles were noted at Rowena, Wascohom 11 Jan to 1 Feb (DL, CC), and at Malheur NWR on 1 Mar (fideTW). Five Wood Ducks wintered at Pete's Pond in Enterprise, Wallowa (FC), and 2 were seen along the Grande Ronde R. near Elgin, Union on 1 Jan (TR); this species is extremely rare in Northeast Oregon during the winter (away from the Columbia R.). Up to 70 Wood Ducks wintered at McNary Wildlife Park, Umatilla (MD, CC); numbers at this site were down this winter due to construction disturbance.

Up to 100 scaup (mosdy Greaters) were rioted at Mosier, Wasco along the Columbia R. on 7 Dec (DL); 1000+ scaup, almost entirely Greaters, were found at Biggs, Shermanon 11 Jan (MD). Far more unusual was the single Greater Scaup at Prineville on 15 Dec (TC, SS, CM, second Crook record; see OB 17(4): 124 for the first record); and up to 3 were at Deschutes R. Crossing, Jefferson during late Jan (BB, JB, DL, PTS); 1 was at Hatfield Lake, Deschutes on 1 Feb (TC). Goldeneyes were well-reported; the largest concentration was 740 birds (mostly Commons) on Harney Lk. on 6 Jan (GI, RV). An amazing 100+ Banow's Goldeneyes were counted on the Columbia R. at Biggs on 11 Jan (MD, MLD).

The adult male SMEW returned for the second and probably third consecutive winter in the Columbia R. Gorge. It was first reported this season at Stevenson, WA. on 2 Jan (Canoll Davis, Charles Walker). It moved over to Government Cove, Hood River on 1 Feb (DL), and was observed thereafter by many birders. On 11 Feb, the bird was reported "with a bloodied head" (NARBA); subsequent observations found the duck with a damaged bill and possibly missing a leg. It was last reported on 16 Feb (Nancy

Smew, 9 February 1992, Cascade Locks, OBRC Record No. 1311-92-03B. Photo/Harry Nehls.


MacDonald, fide DL). It is believed that the unfortunate Smew was attacked by a mink or some other mustelid and did not survive its injuries. Red-breasted Mergansers, rare anywhere and at any time of year in Eastern Oregon, were noted at Pine Hollow Res., Wasco on 7 Dec (one bird, DL), and at the Deschutes R. mouth on 11 Jan (2 adults) and 8 Feb (2 adults and 1 immature; all DL, CC).

Hawks To Gulls Bald Eagles were widespread and

well-reported. More than 1000 were reported wintering in the Klamath Basin (The Grebe, JE, HN), and 79 were noted on the 19 Feb Harney Basin Roost Count (George Kiester,/fcfeRV). An amazing 96 eagles were counted in early Feb in the John Day Valley between Prairie City and Dayville, Grant (TW).

Accipiters put in a good showing. There were up to 20 reports of Northern Goshawks, most coming from Umatilla (6 reports) and Grant (A reports). A trip to northern Umatilla on 15 Feb (MD, MLD) found a Northern Goshawk, 2 Cooper's Hawks, and 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks! There were 2 early Ferruginous Hawk reports: an immature near the Crooked R. Bridge along Hwy. 97, Jefferson on 25 Jan (PTS, BB, JB), and an adult west of Pendleton on 29 Feb (HH). A "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk was observed in the Hood River Valley on 1 Jan (HN), and another was found on the Klamath Falls CBC (fide MK). A well-described Swainson's Hawk found at Hines, Harney on 22 Feb (RV, Joan Suther) was almost 2 months early.

There were 16 Merlins reported from 10 counties; Union came in first with 5 reports (fideJW). The single Peregrine Falcon found near Joseph, Wallowa on 15 Dec (FC) and 3 Feb (CC) was the only one reported.

The 7 Gray Partridge on the Wallowa Co. CBC were the only ones reported (PTS); 6 Chukar were also found on that count (FC). Unspecified numbers of Red-legged Partridge were reported throughout Dec and Jan in the vicinity of Ladd Marsh WMA near La Grande (fide JW); these birds were released in that area last fall. A flock of 24 Wild Turkeys was observed north of Elgin, Union on 4 Jan (TR,/fcfeJW). Twelve Sage Grouse were already present and displaying at their traditional lek west of Millican, Deschutes as early as 25 Feb (Matt Hunter).

The first migrant Sandhill Cranes (2 birds) were found south of Burns on 18 Feb, the average arrival date for the Harney Basin (Dave Ganskopp,_/fcfeRV).

A flock of 40 cranes was noted over Bear Valley, Grant on 22 Feb (TW), and another 40 were seen over the community of Warm Springs, Jefferson on 29 Feb (Ivy Hilty, fide TC). Four wintering Virginia Rails at John Day on were a first for their CBC (fide TW); 3 were found on the Sodhouse CBC (fide RV); and 4 others were noted at the Harney Lk. Hotsprings marsh on 17 Dec (fide RV). Far more unusual, however, was the Sora found near Benson Pond, Malheur NWR on 2 Feb (TW); this was believed to have been an overwintering bird rather than an early migrant.

Shorebirds went virtually unreported. Due to the mild conditions, Killdeer and Common Snipe were recorded on many more CBCs than usual for most winters. Eleven Greater Yellowlegs were found on the Klamath Falls CBC (fide MK), and 4 of that species were noted south of Merrill, Klamath on 21 Feb (JE). Noteworthy gull reports included 2 Californias on the John Day CBC (a first for them; TW); a Ring-billed on the Bend CBC (TC); and 14 each Ring-billeds and Californias on Wallowa Lk. for their CBC (fideFQ. The single Mew Gull at McNary Dam along the Columbia R. on 19-26 Jan (CC), and 2 at the Deschutes R. mouth on 8 Feb (DL) were well east of their usual range. Single Thayer's Gulls were found at the Deschutes R. mouth and at Hood River, both on 16 Dec (PTS), and 2 were noted on the Klamath Falls CBC (fide MK). Twelve Glaucous-winged Gulls were found at the Deschutes R. mouth, and 4 more were at Biggs, all on 11 Jan (MD, MLD). An adult Western Gull at McNary Dam on 25 Jan (CC) was an outstanding find.

Owls To Woodpeckers A Barn Owl was on the Prineville

CBC on 4 Jan (TC et a/.). Another was heard calling over Bend on 1 Feb (TC, KC). This species is very rare in Deschutes. The 15 Great Horned Owls found on the John Day CBC was an impressive total (fideTW). A rare Snowy Owl was found near 1-84 just west of Pendleton from 14-22 Feb for the only report of the species in Oregon this winter (CC, MD, MLD, et at). Up to 6 Great Gray Owls were observed in the vicinity of the Ft. Klamath Dump during Jan and Feb (fideHN), and another was heard calling 21 Feb at the north end of Agency Lk., Klamath (HN). A Northern Saw-whet Owl at McNary Wildlife Park on 15 Feb was the only one reported (MD, MLD). There were 16 Northern Pygmy-Owls reported this season from 6 counties; Grant led the way

with 6 reports. Three Long-eared Owls were found on the P-Ranch CBC (fide RV), and another was found on the Salisbury CBC (fidelH).

An Anna's Hummingbird appeared on the Bend CBC (TC); it or another lingered in Bend until 24 Dec (Kathi, Stefani, & Nathan Crabtree). This is a good 7 weeks late for the species in Central Oregon! Single Red-breasted Sap-suckers appeared on the Bend CBC (The Eagle Eye), and on the Klamath Falls CBC (fide MK). A Red-naped Sapsucker was also noted on the Klamath Falls CBC (MK). Williamson's Sapsuckers were noted in Fox Valley, Grantduring late Jan (fide TW). Black-backed Woodpeckers were reported a number of times in the new bum just outside Joseph (many birds; CC, PTS), and near Odell on 8 Feb (one bird; JE, DA). A Three-toed Woodpecker was also found at the bum near Joseph for their 15 Dec CBC (fideFQ.

Flycatchers To Shrikes The first Say's Phoebes of the "spring"

were singles found near Kimberly, Grant on 13 Jan (Tom Hunt); at Pendleton on 5 Feb (CC); at Dayville on 6 Feb (TW); and in Wheeler on 16 Feb (DL). A truly astonishing "Western-type" Flycatcher was reported without details from the P-Ranch on their CBC (fideRV). If verified, this would represent an extremely rare sighting (if not the only record) of a winter Empidonax flycatcher in Oregon.

Migrant Tree Swallows were first noted at Bend on 15 Feb (Kathi Crabtree); about 50-60 swallows, both Trees and Violet-greens, were found at the Deschutes R. mouth on 29 Feb (HH). Four Violet-greens were also noted in Jefferson on 29 Feb (Lew Rems).

Two BLUE JAYS were reported this winter. The one found last faff in Union was reported again on the Union Co. CBC (fideJW). fejferson had its second record of the species when one appeared in Metolius from early Dec into Jan (TC, CM). The Scrub Jay invasion that began last fall continued well into the winter. Singles wintered at feeders in Union(fide JW) and at Mt. Vernon, Grant (Pat & Sharon Sweeny), and were observed right up to 1 Mar. Crookhad its first Scrub Jay record when one appeared at the ODFW feeder from 6 Nov to mid-Jan (Greg Concannon, Chris Carey). Yet another was present in Bend all winter (TC, KC). Thirty Pinyon Jays found on the Bend CBC were the only ones reported (fide TC).

Bohemian Waxwings were scarce this winter. A flock of300+ in Joseph, and


another 55 in Pendleton were the only concentrations reported (CC, MD, PTS). Nine Bohemians were found on the Salisbury CBC {fide LH). Two Loggerhead Shrikes appeared on the P-Ranch CBC (fide RV), and 1 was at John Day during Dec (TW).

Vireos To Icterids A Hutton's Vireo, very rare any

where in Eastern Oregon, was reported from the Klamath Falls CBC (fide MK). Yellow-rumped Warblers were reported on only 1 Eastern Oregon CBC (Hood River; DA). A most unusual find was the Palm Warbler reported without details at the Deschutes R. mouth on 2 Feb (Skip Russell,/We HN); although regular along the coast in Western Oregon, there are still less than 5 records for the species from east of the Cascades.

American Tree Spanows were widely scattered, mainly in Northeast Oregon. There were 20 birds recorded on 4 CBC's, and up to 10 wintered at McKay Cr. NWR, Umatilla throughout the period (CC). Two were found at Enterprise on 3 Feb (CC), and 3 were found along the Sycan R., Lake on 10 Dec (SS). Unconfirmed Chipping Sparrows were reported from Bear Valley in Dec (fideTW), and on the P-Ranch CBC (fide RV). This species is virtually unheard of during the winter anywhere in Eastern Oregon; any reports should be supported with exhaustive details. Three very late Sage Sparrows were only the second record for that species on the Sodhouse CBC (fide RV). A number of Fox Spanows overwintered in areas where the species is normally

quite rare during winter. The only Lincoln's Sparrow reported was one at McNary Wildlife Park on 15 Feb (MD, MLD). The 2 Swamp Sparrows found last Nov at McNary Park remained there all winter (CC). There were 7 different White-throated Sparrows reported, 3 in Umatilla, 2 in Grant, and 2 in Hamey (m.ob.) Single Harris' Sparrows were noted at McKay Cr. NWR on 22 Dec (CC); at Summer Lk. WMA from 17 Dec to 6 Jan (SS); at Malheur NWR headquarters from 10 Dec to Mar (fide RV); Canyon City during Jan and Feb (fideTW); Enterprise on 3 Feb (CC); and at Deschutes Park, Sherman on 10 Jan (CM). Two different Harris' Spanows wintered at feeders in La Grande (fide JW).

Eleven Lapland Longspurs were observed along the Sycan R. in Lake on 10 Dec (SS) for a rare Eastern Oregon report. Up to 200 Snow Buntings were noted north of Enterprise on 15 Dec (PTS), and one frequented a feeder at the town of Ft. Rock, Lake horn late Nov to late Feb (fide SS). Tricolored Blackbirds again wintered near Prineville (TC, LR); a "large flock" of blackbirds along Upper Klamath Lk. on 20 Feb was estimated to contain 20%Tricoloreds (HN). Forty were seen near Powell Butte, Crook also on 20 Feb (SS). An extremely late immature male Yellow-headed Blackbird was a first for the Salisbury CBC (fide Hi).

Fringillid Finches An adult male BRAMBLING in basic

plumage made a brief appearance at a feeder near Umapine, Umatilla on 8 Feb (MD, MLD, KK). Although well-described

by very competent observers, the bird was present for only a few hours and could not be relocated. If accepted by the Oregon Bird Records Committee, this would be only the fourth state record.

Rosy Finches were widespread but seldom encountered this winter. A flock of 50 appeared on the Baker City CBC (fide LH). An unspecified number were seen near Keating, Baker on 20 Jan 0 a n Messersmith). Cassin's Finches were seldom mentioned, but Red Crossbills, Pine Siskins, and American Goldfinches were found in good numbers after a poor showing last winter. Two White-winged Crossbills were reported without details from the Awbrey Hall Burn near Bend on 2 Dec (George Cruden). Single Common Redpolls continued to frequent feeders in La Grande and Joseph through the report period (fideJW, FC), and a flock of 200+ was found near Elgin on 23 Feb (Doug & Janet Eustace, fideJW). Another flock of 69 redpolls appeared on the Baker City CBC (fide LH). Far more unusual, however, was a single Common Redpoll at a Canyon City feeder on 8 Dec (fideTW).

Observers David Anderson, Barb Bellin, Jerry

Bellin, Michael demons, Frank Conley, Craig Corder, Tom Crabtree, Kathi Crabtree, Mike Denny, Merry Lynn Denny, Tom Downs, Joe Evanich, Cecil Gagnon, Laura Hayse, Hendrik Herlyn, Gary Ivey, Mark Kelley, Ken Knittle, Donna Lusthoff, Larry McCloskey, Craig Miller, Harry Nehls, Tom Rohn, Skip Russell, Paul Sullivan, Steve Summers, Rick Vetter (Malheur NWR), Jim Ward, Tom Winters. 0

Yellow-billed Loon, OBRC 008-91-26D, 14 December 1S>91, at Miami Cove, Tillamook Bay, Tillamook Co. Sketch/Greg Gillson.


FIELDNQTES: Western Oregon, Winter 1991-92 Jim Johnson, 3244 N.E. Brazee Street, Portland, OR 97212

What do you think? With this issue I am conducting an experiment. Instead of writing the fieldnotes in traditional American Birds style of prose, I am using a format adopted by other journals. I think it wi l l be easier on the readers' eyes and more accommodating to researchers. Please let me know if it works. Red-throated Loon

Inland reports: up to 5 on the Columbia R., Portland/Sauvie I . all winter (JJ). Yellow-billed Loon

One at Garibaldi 14 Dec.-l Feb. (DL, m.ob.). Red-necked Grebe

Inland reports: 1 at Yankee Cr. Res., Eagle Point, Jackson Co. 14 Dec. (fide MM); 1 at Sauvie I . 4 Jan. (SR).

toM&c CM " ^ '

Clark's Grebe Reports of 6 birds on the coast from

the Columbia estuary to Winchester Bay, all winter (m.ob.). Black-footed Albatross

One seen from the north jetty of Coos Bay 15 Feb. (GL).

A pelagic trip to about 20 mi. off Newport 8 Feb. reported the following tubenoses (BO, PS, m.ob.):

Black-footed Albatross 8 Laysan Albatross, up to 8 Northern Fulmar 5 Pink-footed Shearwater 10 Sooty Shearwater 2 Short-tailed Shearwater 5

Brown Pelican Late fall migrants: 1 at the Rogue R.

mouth 11 Dec. (CD) and 2 at the Coquille estuary 22 Dec. (fide FLN). An immature at Yaquina Head 20 Feb. (fide DF) may have wintered. MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD

One immature flying north past Cape Arago 1 Feb. (JK, excellent description). Snowy Egret

Five wintered at Coos Bay as usual (HN). Cattle Egret

Five at Myrtle Point 21-23 Dec. (fide HN); 2 at Corvallis 24 Nov.-l Dec. (HH);

Magnificent Frigatebird, a juvenile bird at Coos Bay. Sketch/Joe Kaplan.

bl.'f «r" v < *

will «(i"jfr«fA.-' t " j 4. 4t« »i.h- M t * «

Laysan Albatross, 8 February 1992, off Newport, Lincoln Co. Photo/Bob O'Brien.

Yellow-billed Loon, a bird that overwintered off Garibaldi, Tillamook Bay. Photo/Bob O'Brien.


and 1 at Glide Ranger Station, Douglas Co. 22 Jan. into Feb. (DFi). Black-crowned Night-Heron

Six in the Rogue Valley during the period (fide MM) were the only ones reported. "Bewick's" Tundra Swan

One on Sauvie 1.8 Feb. (HN) was the second Oregon record. The first was at the same location. Snow Goose

One at the Kirtland Rd. sewage ponds, Medford, 17 Feb.; unusual in the upper Rogue Valley (fide MM). Brant

One-2 at Sauvie I . all winter (fide HN) was the only inland report. Mandarin Duck (#\&*/$%#@!)

One male, no doubt an escapee, wintered at Scappoose and mated with a female Wood Duck in Feb. (fide HN). The outcome of this relationship is unknown. TUFTED DUCK

One male at the Sheridan sewage ponds to 9 Feb. (PS, m.ob.) KING EIDER

One female at Bandon to 29 Feb. (m.ob.) was the fifth Oregon record.

Left: King Eider female, OBRC 162-91-05M, 21 December 1991, between the jetties at Bandon, Coos Co. Sketch/Richard C. Hoyer.

Right: King Eider, 20January 1992, Bandon, Curry Co. Photos/Tim Janzen.


STELLER'S EIDER A male at the north jetty of Coos Bay

10-17 Feb. (JGr, m.ob.) was the first Oregon record. Oldsquaw

Seven reports of 14 birds were received, all from the coast. Surf Scoter

Two found on the Roseburg CBC 14 Dec. (HN) was the only inland report. Barrow's Goldeneye

Reports away from the Cascades foothills: 2 males at Garibaldi 14 Dec.-l Feb. (DL, PS, m.ob.); 1 at Troutdale, Multnomah Co., 15 Jan. (/fcfeHN); and 1 at the Nehalem sewage ponds 18 Jan. (GL). Red-breasted Merganser

One at the Forest Grove sewage ponds 15 Dec. (HN) was the only inland report. Turkey Vulture

First dates were given for the following locales: Rogue Valley, 22 Jan.; Euchre Cr., 8 Feb.; Brownsville, 17 Feb.; Salem, 21 Feb.; and Thornton Cr., Lincoln Co., 25 Feb. Black-shouldered Kite

Thirty-five were reported for the period including 11 in the Rogue Valley and 7 on the Cohimbia Est CBC, a high total for that northern location. Osprey

More out-of-season reports than normal. A late or wintering bird was near Ankeny N W R . 26 Dec. (MP). Wintering or very early birds were along Hwy. 105 n. of Springfield in Jim. and Feb. (MH), at the confluence of Rogue and Illinois Rivers 15 Jan (fide CD), and near Lebanon 20 Feb. (fide ME).

Below: Steller's Eider, 15February 1992, Coos Bay. Sketch/Hendrik Herlyn.

Oregon Birds 18(3): 93, Fail 1992

Red-shouldered Hawk Reports away from Curry and Coos

Cos.: 1 at the Wilson R. mouth, Tillamook Co., 14 Dec.-24 Jan. (JJ, JG); 3 at Fern Ridge Res. all winter (Ore. Dept. of Fish and Wild.); and 1 nearMedford 18-20 Jan. (MM). "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk

One was on Sauvie I . 22 Dec. (HN), and 1 was near Finley N.W.R. 23 Feb. (HH). FERRUGINOUS HAWK

An immature was near Central Point, Jackson Co., 12-18 Jan. (RE, photos, m.ob.) for the third or fourth western Oregon record.

Rough-legged Hawk A "regular showing in s. Willamette

Valley" (fide MH), while much below average in the northern Willamette Valley, particularly on Sauvie I . (fide JJ). Golden Eagle

Five wintered in the Rogue Valley while another 5 wintered in the Glide area of Douglas Co. Three were seen regularly in Dec. on Kitson Ridge n.e. of Hills Cr. Res., Lane Co., where they fed on elk carcasses (fide MH). Out-of-range reports were as follows: 1 at Baskett Slough N.W.R. all winter (fide BB); 1 at Independence 31 Dec. (fide BB) (maybe the Baskett Slough bird?); 50) in the vicinity of Corvallis 27 Feb. (RH); and up to 2 on Sauvie I . Jan.-Feb. (fide HN). Prairie Falcon

Ten reports from the interior valleys, 6 of which wintered in the Rogue Valley (fide MM). No coastal reports.

Red-shouldered Hawk, 8 February 1992, ModocRoad, CentralPoint, Jackson Co. Photo/ R. Cronberg.

Sora Two on the Medford CBC, 14 Dec.

(MM); 1 at Garrison L., Curry Co., 28 Dec. & 15 Feb. (CD). Sandhill Crane

Eighty to 100 wintered on Sauvie I . , fewer than average for the last few years; 1 was at Eagle Point 15 Dec. (fideMM)— unusual for the valley floor. The first migrating flocks were seen 28 Feb. flying over Lebanon and Beaverton. Snowy Plover

Wintering flocks were reported as follows: 23 at Bandon, 12 at Siltcoos, and 12 at Baker Beach (m.ob.). Al l 3 areas contained birds banded in the Coos Bay area. Lesser Yellowlegs

One with 30+ Greaters near North Bend, 19 Jan. (HH, excellent description). Rock Sandpiper

Seventeen at Bay City 18 Jan. and 13 at Depoe Bay 22 Feb. (GL, fide ME, respectively) were rather large concentration for the Oregon coast. Red Phalarope

Small numbers throughout the period until 22 Feb. when "hundreds" were at the Coos Bay mouth and "thousands" were at Yaquina Bay. Thayer's Gull

One first winter near Finley N.W.R. 22 Feb. (HH). Said to be extremely rare in Benton Co. Glaucous Gull

Ten reports. About average. Sabine's Gull

One in breeding plumage at Yaquina Bay, 22 Feb. was extremely early (HH, excellent description, m.ob.).

Sabine's Gull, 26 February 1S>92, Yaquina Bay, Lincoln Co. Sketch/Hendrik Herlyn.


Western Screech-Owl Fifty-five on the Roseburg CBC (fide

MH) not only beat the previous Oregon CBC record of 48, but it also surpassed the North American CBC record of 52 at Palo Alto, CA. Burrowing Owl

One at the north jetty of Chetco R. 1 Dec.-25 Jan. (CD); 1 at the north spit of Coquille R. 22 Dec. (fide CD); and 2 wintering in the Rogue Valley at Agate L. and Eagle Point (fide MM). Great Gray Owl

Two were near Howard Prairie L. in Dec. where they regularly breed (MM). Long-eared Owl

No more than 2 wintered at the traditional E.E. Wilson W.M.A. site, Benton Co. (HH. fide ME). One in the Coquille Valley 1 Jan. (SR) was an unusual "sub-coastal" record. Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird

First noted (a female) at Harbor, Curry Co., 23 Jan. (CD)—2 or 3 weeks early. Away from the south coast "Rufous" were first reported at Eagle Point 27 Feb. (fide MM), and in the Salem area 29 Feb. (fide BB). MP states that this was the first year that Rufous Hummingbird had not turned up in Astoria by 23 Feb. Lewis' Woodpecker

Alarmingly, only ~ were recorded on the Medford CBC. 14 Dec., compared with 204 of the previous year (fide MM). "Yellow-shafted" Flicker

Often reported, rarely described. A very good d e s ~ r _ : r . a : ; :~panied a report of 1 at Eagle Point, 31 Jan. (fide MM). Black Phoebe

None were found on the Medford CBC (fide MM). w W e 6 or 7 wintered in the Coquille Valley (JideHS). and 1 spent much of the winter at Eugene Sand and Gravel (MH). Say's Phoebe

Two on the Medford CBC (fide MM) was usual. Tree Swallow

The usual mish-mash of late/winter-

Brambling, with 3 Dark-eyedJuncos, at an Aloha feeder, Washington Co., "Feb.-Mar." 1992. Photo/Sam Riley.

Lawrence's Goldfinch, 26December 1991, OBRCRecordNo. 531-91-Olf. Photo/Tom Crabtree.

Lawrence's Goldfinch, 24December 1991, Florence, Lane Co. Photo/Bill Stotz.

Tp i

Glaucous Gull, 1 fanuary 1992, Bandon, Coos Co. Photo/Skip Russell.

Oregon Birds 18(3): 95, Fall r992

ing/early records: 4 near Medford 7 Dec.; 3 on the Roseburg CBC; and 1 in Salem 21 Jan. First noted at Finley N.W.R. 6 Feb., and the Rogue Valley and Lincoln Co. 23 Feb. Violet-green Swallow

Two were near Medford 24 Dec. (fide MM). First noted in Lincoln Co. 25 Feb. and the Rogue Valley 29 Feb. Pygmy Nuthatch

A well described bird frequented a South Salem feeder 19-20 Dec. (fide BB). Extremely rare west of the Cascade crest. Western Bluebird

One hundred and fifty-three on the Medford CBC was said to be low (fide MM). Northern Mockingbird

Three at the Denman Wildlife Area, Jackson Co., 18 Jan. (MM). Loggerhead Shrike

One in Central Point, Jackson Co., 1-18 Jan. (fide MM). TENNESSEE WARBLER

One male was at the Marine Science Center, Newport, 5-14jan. (BT, DF, mob.) for the third or fourth winter record. Black-throated Gray Warbler

One female at Grants Pass 18 Jan. (RE).

Palm Warbler A few scattered reports along the

coast in Dec, as usual. Wintering birds were at Pony Slough (fide LT) and the Marine Science Center, Newport (fide DF). Common Yellowthroat

One female at Salem 21 Dec. (SD); 1 near Knappa, Columbia Co., 23 Dec. (MP); and 1 female at Norway, Coos Co., 20 Jan. (DFi). YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT

One near the south jetty of Coquille R. 29 Dec. (DL, m.ob.) was only aboutthe second winter record. Chipping Sparrow

One well-described bird 'was in Bandon 21 Jan. (SS). Clay-colored Sparrow

One near Astoria 15-16 Dec. (MP); 1 in Bandon 22 Dec.-15 Feb. (CD, LT, PS, MD, mob.) ; and 1 at the Denman Wildlife Area, Jackson Co. 12-31 (RE, photo by HS, mob.) . Swamp Sparrow

A total of 57(0 birds was reported from throughout the region with the highest totals being 26 in the Coquille Valley and 10 at the Wilson R. mouth, Tillamook Co.

Harris' Sparrow Five reports was about average.

Tricolored Blackbird One hundred and thirty were found

on the Medford CBC 14 Dec. (fide MM). Yellow-headed Blackbird

One at Central Point, 14 Dec. (fide MM), and 1 on Sauvie I . , 22 Dec. (fideJJ). "BALTIMORE" ORIOLE

One at Brookings 1 Dec.-7 Mar. (CD, m.ob.). LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH

One male coming to a Florence feeder 24 Dec.- l l Jan. (BS, ZS, m.ob.) was Oregon's first record.

Observers Alan Banon, Barb Bellin, Mike Denny,

Colin Dillingham, Steve Dowlan, Ray Ekstrom, Merlin Eltzroth, Danel Faxon (DF), David Fix (DFi), Jeff Gilligan (JG), John Griffith (JGr), Hendrik Herlyn, Rich Hoyer, Sr., Matt Hunter, Jim Johnson, Joe Kaplan, NickLethaby, Gerard Lillie, Donna Lusthoff, Marjorie Moore, Harry Nehls, Bob O'Brien, Mike Patterson, Skip Russell, Howard Sands, Bill Stotz, Zannah Stotz, Paul Sullivan, Steve Summers, Larry Thornburgh, Bill Tice. 0

OregonBirds Oregon Field Ornithologists P.O. Box 10373 Eugene, OR 97440

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• 11-13-September 1992, Oregon Shorebird Festival a t Charleston

• 2 5 - 2 7 September 1992, Third 0 F 0 Fall Weekend a t _

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issue of Oregon Birds — OB 15f4)

• 10.December, deadline t o send Fall f ietdriotes t o field notes editors

• 17-#ecember 1992 - 3 January 1993, 9 3 r d Chr is tmas Bird Count

• 4 - 6 June 1993 , Oregon Field Ornithologists annual meeting a t Malheur Field Station

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